A/N: It's December! Christmas is right around the corner! So here's a Christmas story, written by me and Shadgirl2 (who, incidentally, has an account with a story going on, also co-written with me). In this story, the GX gang and the 5Ds crew live in the same time (ten years after the original Yugioh), and went to school together. Everything that happened in GX still happened (Seven Stars, Society of Light, different dimensions, Darkness), but it happened with Yusei and friends tagging along as well. This story takes place 4 years after graduation. Enjoy! We don't own Yugioh GX or Yugioh 5Ds.
It was a cold day in December when Yusei picked up the phone to call an old friend. He hadn't seen the guy since graduation, and he figured it was about time that they talked, especially with the upcoming holiday. After all, this friend hadn't had very close family ties growing up, and none of their friends had heard from him much lately, save Yusei himself and Johan. It just didn't seem right to let the holiday season pass without at least calling him.
"Hey there, man!" Yusei said when he heard the voice on the other end of the line. "How's it going?"
"Hey, Yusei!" his friend—Judai—answered, cheery as always. "Not bad. What's up?"
"Oh, not much. Just getting ready for the holidays. I've still got to figure out what to get for Jack and Aki. How about you, pal? You got anything planned?"
"Nah, not really."
"Really, Judai?" Yusei asked, slightly surprised. "You're not doing anything for Christmas this year? Why not?"
"Christmas isn't really my thing," he answered. "I mean, my family never actually celebrates Christmas."
"Really? Sorry to hear that."
It shouldn't have surprised him—hadn't he learned during that incident their third year that Judai's parents were always busy working? Why would Christmas really have been any different?
"So what are you doing on December 25th this year?" he asked instead. "Surely you've got some idea on how to spend it."
Yusei could practically see Judai shrugging as he answered, "I wasn't gonna do anything special, Yusei. It's just another day."
"Well, sorry to hear that. Hope that changes someday. Well, I've gotta go. Talk to you soon, okay?" He put the phone down without waiting for an answer, then stood there for a moment, his hand still resting on the phone, as he thought about this latest development. "So, Judai doesn't have anyone to celebrate Christmas with. Maybe I should ask the others if he can join us this year."
He headed out for work, deciding that he would talk to Aki about it afterward.
"Hey, guys!" Crow said, popping into Jack and Manjoume's apartment. "What's up?"
"What's up?" Jack responded, standing in the kitchen in a blue bathrobe, a cup of ramen in his hand. "I think you already know what's up! We're broke, you moron! That's what's up! Why would you think anything different?"
"Whoa! Chill out, man! It's just a simple question."
Manjoume leaned against the kitchen counter. He humphed. "Try 'stupid question,' You know Jack can't find a job to save his life, and I'm working in a factory until the Pros reopen." Muttering, he added, "Gonna kill the idiot who blew up the Kaiba Dome."
"Aw, come on, guys. Are you still sore about that?"
"Yes!" they answered in unison.
"They blew it up just because they don't like dueling!" Jack snapped. "Why wouldn't we be mad!?"
"Besides, thanks to that guy, we're out of work and stuck together!" Manjoume added. "And Jack's not good at anything else!"
"That's kinda funny, coming from you!" Jack retorted.
"What's that supposed to mean!?"
"Aren't you the one who broke the microwave and nearly burned down the place!? You don't stick metal in those things, you idiot!"
"Yeah!? Well, at least I didn't screw around with the water heater so that we don't even have hot water anymore!"
"Yeah!? Well, at least I didn't—"
Crow turned away, his hands on his hips, and said, "Geez. I've said it before, and I will say it again. You two sound like an old married couple."
"Hey!" the insulted pros said.
"Take that back, Crow Hogan!" Jack demanded.
"Yeah! We're not married! And we're not getting married!"
Crow shrugged. "Whatever. So I take it this means you're not celebrating Christmas this year either?"
"When do I have time to go Christmas shopping!?" demanded Jack. "What with the burned dinners, the broken mirrors, and all the dirt and scum he drags in all the time, I've barely got time to relax! Let alone buy a bunch of useless gifts for everyone."
"And we don't have the money to buy anything either! Especially since Jack don't work!"
The man in question slammed his cup ramen down on the table. "Oh, drop it, will you!? It's not my fault if people around here don't know what I'm worth!"
Crow sighed, a hand on his head. "Oh, brother," he muttered. Looking at the two, he asked lamely, "So that means you're not doing anything for the holidays this year?"
"Well, duh! Why would we want to hang out with a bunch of losers, anyway?" the ebony-haired duelist asked.
Jack crossed his arms. "Yeah. Like he said. Besides, it's just a dumb holiday. Just a day when a bunch of poor guys get together and spend money they don't even have buying trash for people who don't even need it. It's just a big humbug to me."
Suddenly thinking of Scrooge, Crow sweat. "Tell me you didn't just say that."
No such luck—Manjoume said, "He's right. Christmas is just a waste of time."
He stood there for a moment, hardly believing his own ears. Finally, he said, "Well, fine, then, have it your way," before he took his leave.
"And that concludes our lesson on mastering Dragon combos," Asuka said to her class. "After break, we'll go over your reports on the importance of permanent effect cards. Have a nice break, class."
A girl with long green hair hanging down her back gathered up her books and shook a boy sleeping next to her in an attempt to wake him. The boy, whose green hair was pulled back into a ponytail, yawned and stretched as the girl ran down to the teacher, a wrapped present in hand.
"Merry Christmas, Miss Tenjoin!" she said, holding it out. "I made this just for you!"
Asuka smiled at the girl, taking the present. "Thank you, Ruka."
"I hope you like it. I worked really hard on it all week."
Asuka opened the gift to find a painting in a picture frame. It was Cyber Tutu figure skating at the Winter Olympics. The detail reminded her a great deal of the work of a friend of hers who had gone to work for Industrial Illusions when he had graduated from Duel Academy.
"It's beautiful, Ruka! Thank you."
"So what are you doing for the holidays, Miss Tenjoin?" Ruka asked curiously. "Rua and I are spending it with our friends." She gestured back to the boy she had woken. "Do you have anything planned?"
"Nothing special. I'll be spending a quiet Christmas by myself this year."
"Really? Why aren't you going home for the holidays? Everyone else is."
Asuka sweat. "Let's just say my family's idea of a good Christmas is far different from mine."
"Oh. Okay, then." She turned and ran out, calling back, "Merry Christmas to you! See you after the break! Oh! And a happy New Year, too!"
"Huh?" Rua watched her run by. "Hey, sis!" he called, getting to his feet. "Wait for me!"
A red-haired young woman dug through a box, pulling out a string of Christmas lights. She was about to go rig them up when the doorbell rang. She slung the lights over her shoulder and answered the door to find a blue-eyed man standing there.
"Yusei!" she said. "This is a surprise! Won't you come in?"
"Thanks, Aki," he said to her, stepping through the door of the mansion. "I'd love to." Looking around, he asked, "So, getting ready for Christmas, are we?"
Aki nodded, climbing up a ladder to hang up the lights. "My parents love to throw Christmas parties each year, so I'm helping them decorate."
"Hmm," he said thoughtfully. "A Christmas party, huh?"
Aki stopped what she was doing and looked down at him. "Okay, Yusei. What's up?"
"Well, I just had a talk with Judai, and he told me he don't do Christmas. His reasoning, however, suggested that he doesn't have anyone to celebrate with. It's just another day to him."
"Oh, that's terrible," Aki sympathized. "Want me to see if I can invite him over to one of our parties, then?"
"Actually, I was wondering if you could ask your folks if we could have one of our own here," he said. "We can invite all our old friends from Duel Academy over and have a little reunion. Do you think they'd let us?"
Aki put a finger to her chin, thinking about it. "Hmm. Maybe. They love hosting Christmas parties, after all. But how will you get them all over here? You don't even know the location of some of them, let alone if they'll even want to come."
"Well, I'll call them. We've got most of their phone numbers, and the ones we don't I'm sure gave them to someone, right? The tricky part will be getting them all over here in time for it. Think your dad will be willing to help?"
"I'll ask him. He's pretty busy with his own Christmas plans right now, so no promises."
"Thanks, Aki. Here's hoping he agrees. I'm gonna go tell Crow and the twins what I was thinking of doing. Let me know if they agree."
"Will do, Yusei! Good seeing you! Stop by again sometime when I'm not busy, alright?"
He nodded, a hand on the doorknob. "See ya, Aki. Good luck."
Aki went back to decorating for Christmas while Yusei headed out.
The next day, Crow, Ruka, Rua, and even Carly—a woman with long black hair and glasses—had been gathered in the garage Yusei rented from Zora. They stood in a semicircle, waiting for Yusei to tell them why he had called them all there.
"So what did you want to talk about, Yusei?" Ruka asked.
"And why'd you want me to come?" Carly added. "You got something big you're planning on sharing with everyone?"
"Not really, Carly," he admitted. "I'm just gonna need some help getting Jack involved, is all. See, I was planning on hosting a big Christmas party for everyone, and I need some help not only finding our friends, but convincing them to come."
Crow humphed. "Yeah, right. As if you're gonna get Jack and Manjoume to come. They told me they hate Christmas yesterday."
"That's the problem. It's been years since we've all been together, and a lot of 'em's stubborn as mules. But I really think this could be great for all of us to be able to see everyone again. Might be nice to have the chance to catch up, you know."
"That sounds great, Yusei!" Rua said enthusiastically. "I'd love to meet all your pals! Some are famous duelists, too, right!?"
"Just one problem with your plan," Crow pointed out. "Where are you going to have such a huge gathering? We've got a lot of friends, ya know."
"Simple," Aki said, walking in. "We'll be hosting it."
"Aki," Yusei said, looking up at her. "So I guess this means you were able to convince them."
"Well, they agreed to the party bit, but they'll have to find their own transportation to be able to attend. They're scattered all over, after all."
Yusei nodded, saying, "That's fine with me." Turning back to the others, he asked, "So, guys? Will you help?"
"Yeah!" Crow said. "I've got some of their numbers! Just leave the stubborn ones, like Sho and Sherry, to me! I'll have them over here in no time flat!"
Carly raised a fist in the air and said, "I've got Jack covered! I know something that he just won't be able to say no to!"
"I want to invite my teacher, Miss Tenjoin, so she can attend, too," Ruka said.
"Yuck!" Rua said. "You're inviting our teacher, sis?"
"Why not? She's got no one to be with this year either."
Yusei nodded, knowing full well who Ruka's teacher was. "Thanks, guys. Then let's get to work! We don't have much time, after all."
"Right!" they all said.
With that established, Carly headed out for Jack and Manjoume's apartment, and the others started making phone calls.