***Your POV***

It was my first day of Duel Academy and nervous isn't the word. I shouldn't be worrying really, seeing as I scored perfect on my entrance exam and almost perfect on my written exam. Boy, I sure am glad that there aren't any more of those! I met someone called Jaden along the way, both of us sprinting to make the exams. I know, I know, I should have woken up earlier. I did! But...I hit the snooze button way too many times.

Anyway, enough with what happened. My stomach is twisting and turning so badly. I hope that my cousin Alexis will help show me around, seeing as she is the only person I genuinely know. Atticus is still missing... I hope he is found soon.

I had to change into these ridiculous obelisk blue uniforms. I mean, have you seen the skirt? It is so short! Thankfully it still covers everything, but I would have preferred trousers.

I lugged my heavy suitcase behind me. I always over packed. I had that little voice in the back of my head that said 'just in case. You might need it. You never know'.

"Too much." I whined critically to myself.

"Mia!" I heard a familiar voice cry out my name. My face lit up as soon as I saw the waving girl.

"Alexis!" Her arms wrapped around me in a warm embrace.

"I'm so happy you are here! And I found out your room is down the hall from mine!"

"That's awesome!" I beamed. I was always open with Alexis. We were so close. She is basically a sister to me, my absolute best friend. She looked down to my suitcase and laughed.

"Over packed, again?" My cheeks reddened a little in embarrassment as my eyes lowered.

"You know me too well." I manage to stifle a small chuckle.

"Come on, I'll help you with your things."

I smiled in appreciation and we made our way to the dorms.

***Alexis' POV***

I was so excited to see my cousin joining Duel Academy! Things would be a lot brighter now ever since... No. I shouldn't let that dim our day, despite how much I miss Atticus.

I helped Mia settle into her room and unpack her things. Quickly, I picked up her cards and flicked through them.

"Wow, Mia. Your deck has got a lot stronger!" I awed at the cards that looked back at me. She smiled modestly.

"I guess it is better..." I smiled to myself. I then came across a familiar card.

"Mia...you still have this?" I held up a Cyber End Dragon card with a bemused look on my face. She stopped in her tracks, her shyness returning. Mia is sometimes very shy around people, but is still a great duellist. She nodded.

"Um...yes?"

I smiled to myself again. "You kept it after all this time..?" She was given this card a long time ago, before she moved away. I saddened at the thought. It broke my heart when she had to move away, we were so close and practically saw each other every day. I knew exactly who gave her this card, obviously. I decided to play with her a bit. I always did this with her as a game. She looked so cute when becoming shy. "Do you remember that day, Mia? When he gave this to you?"

"Yes..."

"The evening you left?"

"...y-yes." She started playing with her thumbs and avoided eye contact with me. I smiled towards her.

"It was his favourite card. Took him ages to find another one just like it." Mia blinked and regained eye contact with me.

"But...he said he had two?" I shook my head.

"He lied. I know that Syrus bawled his eyes out when you left." I chuckled at the memory, as did she. "I know Zane never showed his emotions," Her eyes darted down to her hands again. I smiled again. I just wanted to squeeze her with a hug sometimes! "but he was sad when you left, Mia. Really sad."

"Zane? Sad? Be serious, Alexis." Mia laughed dryly. I nodded.

"He hasn't changed much. Just a lot taller. Like, a lot. He inherited the tall gene. Bad news for Syrus though." Mia giggled, remembering how short Syrus was, and could still be. It was nice to see her happier. She wasn't comfortable with going to new places with crowds of people.

"...is he here?" I heard her whisper. I smiled again. I could never stop smiling around her.

"Yes, he is. And the top duellist here too."

"That doesn't surprise me."

"What do you expect?! He wouldn't exactly be the worst! This is Zane we're talking about here!"

We laughed and chatted until the welcome dinner that evening. I introduced Mia to Jasmine and Mindy who squealed over how cute her cheeks were and immediately started gossiping. She seemed to settle in just fine.

Every obelisk seemed to turn up for the welcome dinner. All accept one. No guesses who.

I decided to venture out into the dimming light outside. I asked if Mia was fine first of course, I didn't want to leave her if she felt uncomfortable. Jasmine and Mindy would look after her for sure.

I started walking out of the dorms and through the trees, knowing my exact location. It was a long walk to the lighthouse pier, but it was good to clear your thoughts from the day. It wasn't long before I reached the top of the cliff that overlooked the ocean. The sun's rays glistened beautifully over the horizon, glittering back the colourful light of the sun. I looked down at the lighthouse and saw him leaning up against it. Zane. His arms were folded and his focused frown travelled beyond the ocean, his famous pose.

I made my way down the path to the pier, gradually closing down the distance to the isolated guy.

"I figured you'd be out here." I called, finally stood beside him. He didn't move, but he grunted in greeting. "Hello to you too! You seem cheerful. Why weren't you at the welcome dinner?"

"I felt like being alone." He muttered. I snorted quietly.

"You've always been like that since then..." This earned me a questioning look from Zane as he turned his head. I chuckled in amusement and decided to tease him with the answers. "You know exactly what I am talking about Zane, don't you deny it. The new students have arrived,"

"Mhm."

"One of them I think you will find interesting."

"I doubt that." He muttered again, his focus not leaving the ocean. I desperately tried to hide my grin that started to form onto my face. I paused for a few minutes, seeing if he would respond. He didn't. No surprise. I turned on my heel and began to walk away.

"I'll just tell Mia you said hi then, shall I?" I waved my hand up in the air over my shoulder. It was then I saw a twitch in Zane's focus. I tried hard not to laugh at the tall teal-haired guy, I had to bite the inside of my cheeks to prevent the laughter from sounding. "Oh, do you remember her?"

"..." Zane was silent, his eyes drifting lower to the ground, arms still folded. I couldn't but feel bad for the guy. Despite his cold attitude towards others, he always cared for Mia and trusted her. My voice was more soft as I spoke.

"Zane. I know..." He faked a stern frown.

"Know what?" I sighed heavily.

"I was sad too when she left. It wasn't her fault. But she's back now, after all these years." He didn't give anything away at all, he stayed emotionless. I didn't know what to say.

A long pause dragged silently between us, the only sound was the light wind and the waves breaking against the shore. I looked up at Zane with the corner of my eye. His expression seemed to change when no one was watching him. It was quite sad really, hiding inside his shell. I sighed quietly to myself before braving to say some words gently.

"She's kept your card." Zane blinked, his coldness disappearing the slightest bit. I could see that what I said meant a lot. He treasured that card when he was little.

"How do you know that?" He said normally, not giving away anything.

"I looked through her deck when we finished unpacking, and found it in there."

Zane went quiet again. This was usual of him. He never showed his emotions to anyone. Not even his brother. I decided that it was best to leave him alone now, I felt like I had overstayed my welcome.

"You know where I am Zane if you need to talk. And if you do want to see her...you know where to find her too."

***Zane's POV***

I was sort of glad when Alexis left. What she had just sprung on me, it really knocked me back mentally. I haven't seen her since we were eight years old. Well...I was ten.

**FLASHBACK**

"You're leaving?" I asked, looking down at the girl. I was always taller than her. She nodded sadly.

"I'm sorry Zane. I want to stay."

"It's not your fault, Mia. We'll meet again some day."

"But...what if we don't?" She whispered, her words started to get wobbly.

"Don't say that. We will."

"Bu-"

"I promise." I stopped her and smiled. I didn't want her to leave and I was worried she might forget about me once she had gone to a new place and found new friends. I fished round to my back pocket and took out my deck. I flicked through every card until I found the one I was looking for, pocketing the rest of my deck back.

"Here." I offered her the card. Mia sniffed and wiped her eyes with the sleeve of her blue knitted jumper.

"W-what's this?"

"My Cyber End Dragon card. I want you to have it."

"But... Zane. This is your favourite card! I can't accept this..."

"I won't take a no as an answer." she fell silent as she clung her little hands to the card, more tears forming in her eyes. What she did next I didn't expect. She flung her arms around me, hugging me tightly, crying quietly.

"I won't forget you Zane. I promise." I couldn't help but smile. My eyes were pricked with a sting, but I didn't cry. I returned the hug and wrapped my arms around her.

"I won't forget you either. That is a promise."

"Cyber promise?" She whispered. I blinked. Ever since she could speak she loved making promises to people, and always kept them. With Alexis they had a promise that they nicknamed 'sister promise' and hugged each other. Mia had her little finger up. I smiled and linked mine around hers. It made me laugh inside how she knew how obsessed I was with Cyber Dragons.

"Yeah..." I muttered, a sad smile on my face. "cyber promise."

***Zane's POV***

She probably won't even remember that. I always thought that she would end up being more around Syrus because they seemed more similar. But she always chose me. I never knew why. I was quite horrible at first.

"Mia..." I said to myself out loud. My folded arms dropped slowly down to my side and my focus wasn't as harsh. Alexis had gone back to the rest of the welcome dinner. I feel like I should go too, but I wouldn't want to talk to anyone really. I never turned up to these dinner events. It was too crowded with supposedly 'intelligent' obelisks laughing loudly and making themselves heard over everyone else.

I couldn't help think about what she looked like now. Was she still the same? I hope she was. I need to duel her again. I want to see if what Alexis said was true, or if she was just playing with my head. It wasn't like Alexis to do that. But still, I wondered.

My face was still a blank canvas from any emotion. But my head was a mess.

I have to see her again, for old times sake.

What did you think of the first chapter? Let me know about what you thought and whether or not I should continue this along with my other stories! Thank you for reading! :)