Thanks to those who reviewed the first chapter! Also, I did notice that Ryo was OOC in it, but, hey, jealousy can make people act weird sometimes. Don't worry, he's in character next time he shows up!
WARNING: OOC.
Flashbacks are in bold, duel spirits talking are in quotes and italics, and words echoing in people's heads are in bold and italics. You'll see what I mean soon enough. Anyway, enjoy! We don't own Yugioh GX.
Johan, after changing back into his own clothes, had taken Judai to Central Park to discuss the weirdness that was this wedding thing. They, along with Sho, sat down on a bench to discuss what, exactly, was going on. Kenzan stood off to the side, just listening for now. After all, Sho and Johan knew the story way better than he did.
"Ever since Asuka started dating my brother, she's been acting weird. Like a helpless princess who was just saved by her prince," Sho started.
"So that's why Fubuki was so worried. He told me that Asuka was looking for attention from anyone who so much as looked at her with a loving glance," Johan continued.
Sho nodded. "Yeah, I know. Every time she got a flower from some stranger, she started acting like she had fallen in love all over again. My brother had a hard time with her. But Manjoume did more than just give her a flower."
Johan picked up the story again. "Yeah. He showed much more by crashing her wedding to the Kaiser. What was it he said? 'True love lasts forever'? 'It was meant to be from the start'? 'No one can love Asuka more than he does'?" He looked at Sho for confirmation.
"Something like that," Sho said with a nod.
Judai felt that pain in his chest again. He grimaced.
"Anyway," Sho went on, "even though she was mad at first, after he said that, she agreed and started flirting with Manjoume. Then she turned to my brother and said, 'Sorry I led you on like that. I was only using you to lure out my true love! Right, my dear Manjoume-chan'?"
Judai groaned. "Okay, that doesn't sound like Asuka. What's wrong with her?" And what's wrong with me?
"Well," Johan said. "Fubuki has a theory..."
"Does it explain why you were dressed up as me?"
"Yup. Sure does!" Johan said with a grin.
"Then I'm all ears." That was one of the details of this weirdness that was still bothering Judai—why Johan was playing dressup as him.
"Okay, here's what Fubuki told me right before you showed up," Johan began. "He said that, way back when we graduated, Asuka couldn't seem to enjoy the graduation party. She went outside and never came back in, so he went looking for her. When he found her, she was talking to herself by the lake. 'I'll see him again. I know I will! One day...' She repeated that a couple of times before she saw Fubuki."
"Oh! Big brother! How long have you been there?" Asuka asked, seeing her brother.
"Long enough," Fubuki said. "Are you going to be okay, sis?"
He was concerned. After all, he knew what regrets could do to a person; he'd had a lot of girls graduate, then come back to him, demanding that he go out with them because they hadn't said anything before they left. They were crazy!
Asuka just stared at him for a moment, then smiled brightly. "I'm okay now! So what if he's gone? I'll see him again! Right?" She giggled a little. Fubuki officially thought he was looking at one of his fangirls who hadn't told him how she felt. Asuka was on the verge. "Anyway," she continued, "we should get back to the party."
"But, even though she said she's okay, Fubuki remembers she shed a tear after that. Anyway, sometime last year, he says she got lonely and wanted to find a boy to love who would always be there. He told me this was because she was still waiting on her one true love to return and that, without proper closure, she could never be happy. Since I act like you, he thought I could give her closure so she could move on," Johan finished.
"Wait, are you saying...that she's in LOVE with me?" Judai asked, stunned. "Or, at least, Fubuki thinks she is..."
Sho gave Judai a lame face and said, "Aniki. Are you serious? You really don't know?"
"Know what?" Judai asked, confused.
Kenzan chose this moment to speak up. "Aw, come on, Aniki! You're not really that dumb! Isn't that obvious!?"
Slightly frustrated, Judai said, "Look, I'm still trying to figure out what alternate universe I'm stuck in this time and if I'm dying or something."
With how much his chest kept hurting, he really was starting to think he should go see a doctor.
"Uh, no. No, I'm pretty sure this is Earth, and you're very much alive. Right, Ruby?" Johan looked at the spirit sitting on his shoulder.
"Bii bii!" was all she said.
"Yeah," Judai said, "but I was wondering if I'm dying, not dead."
"Aniki, Asuka loves you, and everyone knows it, too. Right, Kenzan?" Sho said, looking at the dino duelist.
Before Kenzan could answer, Johan interrupted, "Well, almost everyone. It's news to me!"
A familiar voice came from their left. "Well, I had my suspicions." Everyone turned to see Hayato, Judai and Sho's old roommate, standing there with a suitcase. "Hey, guys!"
"Hey, Hayato!" Judai said, glad to see his old friend. "What are you doing here?"
"I got invited to Asuka's second wedding. Hey, Sho? Is this one for real this time? I can't keep going on vacation for fake weddings."
"Well...I—" Sho started.
"She's not marrying Manjoume," Judai interrupted. "She's gone nuts, and somebody needs to slap some sense into her!"
Judai didn't know why Hayato's question had caused this fiery burst of emotion, but he didn't really care at the moment. He was too busy imagining Manjoume's death.
"Oh, no. Are you next, Judai?" Hayato asked.
Judai blinked, suddenly confused and slightly stunned by his own words. "Uh, actually, I think I should see a doctor. This can't be good."
"Oh, brother," Sho said before mumbling, "Talk about a huge mistake! I should have known bringing him was a bad idea."
Kenzan waved it off. "No, it's natural, Aniki. Don't worry. Everyone knew about that, too."
At this point, Johan and Hayato started laughing.
Judai cocked his head. "Huh? What's so funny?"
He didn't see anything funny about this, after all. There could be something seriously wrong with him, and his friends were laughing about it.
"Oh, it's nothing!" Johan said.
"Anyway, I'm gonna go see the groom," Hayato said, turning to leave. "Good luck, you three!"
Judai didn't get it. There were four of them, and he was the one who had to deal with this insanity. Why was Hayato wishing three of them luck?
Kenzan pulled Judai from his thoughts. "You know, it's not too late, Aniki."
"Hey, Kenzan," Sho said, "didn't we bring him here to 'fix' this mess? Not make it worse?"
"Oh. Yeah."
"Not too late for what?" Judai was still confused, and he was half focused on the pain in his chest when Hayato had said "groom." Man, what's wrong with me?
Asuka was looking for a new dress in the bridal store. She couldn't wear the one she had for her wedding to Ryo, after all, since Momoe had ruined it in a fit of rage. Outside, Sho, Johan, Kenzan, and Judai were watching.
"Okay, she's alone. Now's your chance!" Johan said to Judai. "Please talk some sense into her so I don't have to."
"It's up to you to fix all this. Hurry before someone gets hurt!" Sho said desperately.
"Good luck, Aniki!" Kenzan said.
Yeah, easy for them to say, Judai thought. Wonder if, maybe, I can fake terminal illness and get her out of this stupid shop...
"Okay, I'm going in," he said.
"Hmm, maybe this one," Asuka said, looking at the dress she was holding. "No, that's not it." She reached for a different dress.
"Hey, Asuka!" Judai said, walking up to his friend. "I bet you're wondering what I'm doing in a bridal shop..."
Besides feeling awkward, that is. Dang it, Sho! Why'd you have to drag me into this!? he thought.
Asuka turned, somewhat startled. "Judai!"
"Hey. So, how's the dress hunt going?" he asked, trying to work out how to breech the subject that was his reason for being here.
Asuka seemed to be feeling a little awkward herself, which didn't ease Judai's awkwardness. "Uh, it's going okay. But I wish someone was here to give me some feedback." An idea struck her, and she continued, "How about you? What do you think of this dress?"
Judai, now feeling even more awkward than before, said, "It looks good on you, Asuka. But, uh, I'm not sure that's the best one... How about this one?" He picked out another dress. Why am I giving her clothing advice!? I don't know anything about dressing for a wedding! What kind of sick nightmare is this?
Outside, the spies watched as Judai handed Asuka another dress and she went to try it on.
"...Aniki..." Sho was really starting to think this was a huge mistake.
"How exactly is that going to help?" Kenzan asked. He was wondering if they should go in and stop this disaster.
Johan stuttered, "I-I'm sure Judai has everything under control!" Silently, he added, I hope.
Looking at herself in the mirror, Asuka loved this dress. "It's perfect! Thanks for the help!" she said to Judai, who nearly smacked himself in the face for what he'd done.
"Uh, actually, Asuka, I wanted to...uh, talk to you...about... ... ... ..." He couldn't say it. "Nice weather we're having, right?"
There was a thud outside as the three spies all fainted.
Getting up, Sho said, "Aniki! Baka!"
Asuka looked at Judai with concern. "Uh, are you feeling okay? You're acting kind of weird."
Glad that somebody had finally asked how he was feeling, Judai said, "Actually, to be honest, I kinda have this weird pain in my chest, and it just keeps coming and going..." Suddenly, he remembered what he was supposed to be doing and realized what a disaster this was turning into. Agh, what am I doing!? This isn't going to help anything! Putting on a big smile, he said, "Never mind! I'm fine!"
Asuka, not totally convinced, looked at him for a moment before saying, "Well, okay, then. See you around!" Then she left to buy her dress.
The three spies came over. "Real smooth, Aniki," Sho said sarcastically. "That solves everything!"
"Yeah, you're usually a lot cooler than that. What happened?" Johan asked.
Extremely frustrated, Judai said, "I don't know, okay!? Will you guys just leave me alone!? Maybe I can't fix this, did you ever think of that?" He really didn't know why he was acting like this. It wasn't like him, but he was in a bad mood, and these guys weren't helping.
Kenzan, sensing imminent danger, said, "Okay. Maybe we should forget about Asuka for now and focus on the groom wars."
"Yeah, that works. I can totally talk sense to the Idiots on Parade." Judai had given up on figuring out why he was acting so out of character today. He just didn't care anymore.
Meanwhile, Manjoume had a visitor—his ex-girlfriend, Momoe. "Ah, come on! Why not!? You said a long time ago that you were over her! So why go back now!? I thought I was the only one for you! Remember!?" she said, desperately trying to get back her boyfriend. Hayato, who had come over to visit, had stepped out to give them some privacy. Currently he was in the kitchen, raiding Manjoume's fridge.
Manjoume snapped, "I never said any such thing!" His thoughts told the truth, however. Besides, if Tenjoin-kun has finally given up on that idiot, it means our love was meant to be after all! Momoe was just a test for me. Now that I've passed and got my girl back, she means nothing to me! He continued, "Now get out! I've got a wedding to plan!"
Hurt, Momoe ran to the door in tears. When she opened it, she saw Judai and the others, standing there like they were about to knock. She slapped Judai, knocking him to the ground, and ran off.
Sitting on the ground, rubbing his cheek, Judai sarcastically said, "Oh, I'm really popular with the ladies these days, aren't I?" He got up and, without bothering to knock, walked into Manjoume's home. "Oy, Manjoume! You here?" he called.
Manjoume looked at Judai and said, "Who said you could come in!?" He tisked. "You're the same as you were back then! No manners! Get out, you idiot!"
"Funny," said a very out of character Judai, "I've been using the same adjective to describe you lately, Manjoume. What's the deal? Dumping Asuka's friend so you can crash Asuka's wedding?" The other three were waiting outside, not wanting to get involved.
"That's none of your business!" Manjoume snapped. "Don't interfere, Judai! It's meant to be this way!"
Judai grimaced. "'Meant to be,' huh?" He fought back the urge to punch Manjoume, not sure where the urge came from.
"Of course!" Manjoume said. "Why wouldn't it be!? We all know she never really loved the Kaiser! She was just waiting on me to come to her side! We were close in high school! She was glad I crashed the wedding! See!? We're back together again! Just like in high school. Not that you would've known this, being so stupid back then!"
Manjoume was treading on thin ice; Judai's temper was barely in check as it was. "I may not have been the brightest guy, but I know that you two were never together, Mr. I-stole-the-Spirit-Keys-and-nearly-ended-the-world!"
"Hey, the geezer told us all that wasn't my fault, remember!?"
"I'm still not so sure!" Judai said, his eyes flashing orange and green.
"Anyway, yes! We were together!" Manjoume either hadn't noticed the brief change of eye color or chose to ignore it. "That one time you left the island because you couldn't see your cards? Yeah, it happened then! Although it didn't last long, it was only because I wasn't cool enough for her yet. But, after graduating and becoming a Pro, I am, and our love has been reborn! So we're getting married and no one will stop us! Not the Kaiser, not Fubuki, and not you! Now get out! I'm busy!"
The Ojama trio, watching this from nearby, thought that Manjoume's story was ridiculous. "He's at it again," Yellow said.
"Just smile and nod," Green said. "Smile and nod."
Judai retorted, "She never fell in love with you! You forced her into the Society of Light!" While he knew that Manjoume had been brainwashed by the Light of Destruction at that time—and, therefore, couldn't be held responsible for his actions—he couldn't help but point this out. "You brainwashed her!"
"So, I wanted her by my side. Is that really that bad? At least I didn't sacrifice her for power! Now, let's see, who did do that!? Well, Judai!?"
Things had escalated dangerously, and Judai's emotions were spiraling out of control. Manjoume bringing that up was the last straw. Judai's eyes turned orange and green as he tapped into Yubel's power. Manjoume recoiled, stunned by the sudden change.
"NIGHTMARE PAIN!" Judai yelled, attacking Manjoume with Yubel's power.
"NIGHTMARE PAIN!" the boys outside heard, followed by Manjoume screaming.
Johan got up and ran inside to stop whatever was going on. Junko walked over to Sho, who was sitting on the steps of Manjoume's porch, and sat down beside him.
"Wow, and I thought Momoe got mad! She did run off on her own, after all, but that sounds scary!"
Sho sighed, putting his head in his hands. "I knew this was a bad idea."
"Aw, come on!" Junko said. "You were just trying to help. Cheer up! I'm sure it'll all work out!"
"I hope," Sho said, his mind wandering to how many times Junko had sought him out like this in recent months. "By the way, Junko, you've been spending an awful lot of time with me lately. What's up?"
Junko, not wanting to end up like Asuka, said, "Well, you're a lot cooler than you used to be, Sho. I especially like how you handle that Pro circuit you and your brother are running. It's awesome that it's officially recognized now! Sho, you're really special. I like you a lot."
"Huh?" Sho said, wondering where this was going.
"So, I was wondering, if you're not too busy if, maybe, you'd like to take me to dinner sometime?" Junko asked, giving Sho a very flirtatious smile.
"Uh, wow! S-sure! Sounds great!"
Junko laughed at his shyness. "Great! Then why not come get me at seven tomorrow? See you then, sweety!" she said, getting up and running off.
While Sho was getting a date, Johan was holding Judai back so that he couldn't do whatever he was trying to do to Manjoume. "It's okay, pal! Whatever he said, I'm sure he didn't mean it!"
Judai either chose to ignore this or didn't hear. "Let me at him! I'll kill him! For real this time!" Judai screamed, struggling to get out of Johan's grip and pounce Manjoume. His eyes were still Yubel's eyes, and it was starting to freak Johan and Manjoume out.
Johan tightened his grip. "Just cool it okay!? You came here to help, remember!? Now, think! Is this helping!? Judai!"
Noticing that he didn't seem to be hearing anything going on around him, Yubel spoke to him in his mind. "Judai, calm down. You know you'll regret it later if you don't."
Realizing that Yubel was right, Judai closed his eyes, taking some deep breaths to calm himself down. When he finally opened his eyes, they were the brown ones everyone was accustomed to seeing on him.
Meanwhile, Manjoume, being insanely rich, had called for his security to throw Judai out. A couple of goons arrived at this moment.
"Quick!" Manjoume said, pointing at Judai. "Get him out of here!"
The security guards grabbed Judai and Johan and threw them out together.
As the two boys lay in a heap on the lawn, Manjoume called, "Just wait until I tell Asuka about this! I bet she'll freak!" He slammed the door.
Johan sat up and looked at Judai, who had gotten to his hands and knees. "Judai, are you okay?" he asked.
"No, I'm not okay! What kind of stupid question is that!? What's wrong with me!?" Judai snapped. The last part seemed directed at himself.
"You're jealous," Kenzan said. "Isn't it obvious?" He walked over to the two on the ground as he continued, "It's natural after all you've been through." Pointing at Sho, he said, "Unlike some people who just fell in love for the first time."
Sho's feet were barely on the ground. He looked as light as a feather, as if he might float away at any time, and he had hearts in his eyes.
Judai looked at Sho as he stood up. "I have no idea what's up, Sho, but, I swear, if you fly away, I am not going after you." He was still upset about his conversation with Manjoume, which wasn't like him; normally these sorts of things were like water off a duck's back with him. Besides, he had never taken his anger out on other friends like this before, but he didn't want to waste time wondering why he was acting like this. Turning to Kenzan, he asked, "What do you mean I'm jealous, Kenzan? What would I be jealous of, exactly?"
"Oh, come on!" said Kenzan, exasperated. "I know you know! Remember when Asuka dueled you for the SORA satellite key? Sure, you wanted to save her, but you got pretty upset about the whole thing. Remember how it felt?"
"Yeah, I remember," Judai said, shuddering. "It was awful. What's your point?"
"Well, remember how it felt to fight White Manjoume and compare the two. What hurt more?"
Off to the side, Sho was babbling about Junko. Johan was watching, worrying that he might actually float away.
"Dueling Asuka," Judai answered without a moment's hesitation. "Where are you going with this?"
Kenzan ignored his question and said, "Good! Now, think about your third year. That little party that us underclassmen threw for you guys. When you tag dueled with Asuka, you guys had a fight. I know you two are friends, but you've fought with Marufuji-senpai before, too, right? Which fight hurts more?"
While Kenzan was talking, Sho started floating off the ground. Confused, Johan grabs Sho's foot.
"Fighting with Asuka," Judai said. "I think. Hard to say since that last time I fought with Sho was, well..." Judai paused, thinking back to that time in Dark World.
Manjoume's words echoed through his head: "At least I didn't sacrifice her for power!"
"Anyway—" Kenzan started before Sho interrupted him with mindless babbling.
"So this is what love feels like! I feel lighter than air! Angels are singing! I'm sooo happy! I'll do my best to be all she ever needs! I'LL ALWAYS BE THERE FOR HER!"
Patience completely worn out, Judai turned to Sho and said, "Sho, if you don't tune back into Earth right now, I'm gonna go over there and POP YOU!"
He covered his mouth after he said that, looking stunned. Why did I just say that!?
Kenzan, on the other hand, was happy for the interruption. "No, that's perfect! Thank you, Marufuji-senpai! Aniki? Does that feeling sound familiar? Answer that, and you may understand!"
Judai stared at Kenzan for a moment before saying, "What, love? Heck, I..." He thought back to his time at Duel Academy.
Judai and Sho were in the Obelisk duel arena. They had been arguing with a blue boy with black hair, Manjoume, when a girl had interrupted and apologized for Manjoume's behavior.
"Could it be, you've fallen in love with me at first sight?" Judai said, being goofy and kidding around. At the same time, he was hoping that this was the case.
"Maybe..."
"Maybe...?" Kenzan said, trying to get Judai to say more.
Before Judai could say anything more, Hayato came up to them from Manjoume's house. "I'd say there's no 'maybe' about it!" he said, thinking that was the most uncomfortable visit he'd ever had with a friend and he didn't want to repeat it ever again.
Judai jumped slightly. "Hayato," he said.
"So," Hayato said, "it seems you've acquired some new powers."
"Oh, uh... Yeah, about that..." Judai started, but Hayato interrupted.
"Forget it. It's not important. But what is is how jealous you are Honestly, I've never seen anything like it!"
Judai stared at the ground and said, "Not sure that was jealousy..."
Hayato looked at Judai sympathetically. "Judai. I understand how you feel. After I started working at Industrial Illusions, I met this girl. Ruka. She was beautiful, intelligent, and kind. I used to stare at her from afar. I never had the courage to talk to her. But then, one day, I found out she was getting married. I realized that by being quiet, I had missed my chance to tell her how I felt. The pain was awful. In fact, it still hurts to this day. So I made a promise to myself to never let that happen again. Cause nothing hurts more than regret."
Sarcastically, Judai said, "Ever think of crashing the wedding? Apparently that works for some guys."
Taken aback by Judai's behavior—and the suggestion—Hayato said, "Uh, well, Ruka didn't know me. Sure, we worked together, but we never got to know each other. B-but that's not the point! The point is, don't keep how you feel a secret or one day it may be too late."
"Gee," Judai said, "thanks for the late advice."
"Well, think about it," Johan said, still holding onto a flying Sho like he was a balloon. "Is it really too late?"
Judai thought about it for a second. Then, Manjoume's words echoed through his head again.
"At least I didn't sacrifice her for power! Now, let's see. Who did do that!? Well, Judai!?
"She's better off with someone else anyway," Judai said. Everyone stared, except for balloon-boy.
"What's all that about!? I thought you loved her!" Kenzan said.
"Do you want to end up a lonely fool, like me!?" Hayato said. "Come on, Judai!"
Sho may not have been fully aware of what was going on around him right now, but he did say something relevant to the situation: "Love is eternal...it's never too late to fly... Aniki...come...let's both fly off together..."
Slightly disturbed, and worried about his friend, Johan added, "Uh, yeah! Like Sho said! Love is eternal, right!? Then what's stopping you!? Huh, pal!?"
Judai stared at the ground when he answered, keeping his face hidden from view. "He's better for her..."
Everyone but Sho had only one question for Judai: "Why!?"
Head still bowed, Judai started trembling when he answered, "He didn't—didn't k...ki..."
Judai never had the chance to finish what he was saying. Fubuki came seemingly out of nowhere, showing up behind them saying, "I disagree." Turning back to Manjoume's home, Fubuki yelled, "And, no, Manjoume! It's not because you never got a J.O.B.! Quit playing that stupid song every time you see me!"*
Turning back to Judai, Fubuki explained his reason for disliking his sister's choice of a husband. "It's because sissy isn't in love with him. She's just settling for being loved by someone she knows, and she's going to regret it eventually."
Judai hadn't looked up when Fubuki arrived, and he didn't look up now. "Well, it doesn't change the facts..."
"What facts?" Fubuki said. "The fact that you left without saying goodbye, leaving her waiting? The fact that, no matter what she does, you're always on her mind? Or do you mean the one about her missing you so much, she seeks comfort from your room at the red dorm during the school year? She made it her room, you know. But it's still exactly the same as it was back then. Did you know that?"
Judai still wouldn't look at Fubuki. There was a pause before he said, "I should talk to her..."
And set her straight, he thought. She shouldn't be waiting for me... I'm no good for her.
Fubuki took a moment to answer. "Okay, but be gentle." Then, he turned back to the mansion. "Now to deal with my future brother-in-law! Manjoume! I don't know where you got those actors for that thing, but cut it out!" He walked off, still yelling at Manjoume.
Judai left to go find Asuka. Kenzan and Hayato were about to follow when Johan called, "Hey, guys!? Is this supposed to happen!?" Looking back, they saw that Sho was flying away, with Johan still holding on! "A little help here!"
"Sho!?" Hayato called, confused.
Kenzan called, "Hold on, Johan! Marufuji-senpai! Wake up already! Get back down here!" He and Hayato tried to wrestle Sho back to the ground, wondering why he was literally on Cloud 9 anyway.
*This is inspired by a video on Youtube. It's Manjoume/Asuka, and the song is Crashed the Wedding by Busted. Shadgirl2, even though she's an avid Fianceshipper, likes the video, which is why I think it's the inspiration for this fanfic.
Man, these chapters are long! I should probably say that I, personally, don't own the plot. Shadgirl2 came up with it, and it took some strange twists and turns once I got involved. Anyway, review please! Let us know what you think!
