March 15, 2007
Disclaimer: I do not own YGO GX. Nor do I own New York. Though that would be pretty neat.
Title: Flower of the Phoenix
Author: PurificationArrow
Rated: K
Genre: Romance/Humor
Summary: Placed in the middle of Baby Come Back to Me. Upon reaching New York City, Alexis and Aster decide to sit back and relax. The New Year is coming, and New York's New Year's Eve celebration will be just the thing to help bring them together.
Notes: This story is based in the same time period as Baby Come Back to Me. Alright? This is sort of a side trip while traveling for Alexis' dueling tournaments. I think you need to read BCBM (Baby Come Back to Me) before you read this. Just cause it might be a little confusing. Oh yeah, an estimate for the length of this is about 4 chapters since it's supposed to only be a mini-story.
Italics - Thoughts
Bold - Emphasis on a word
Bold and Underline - author's note
Chapter 2: Day 1
Last Chapter: This is just like a date... She froze up. A date... She repeated in her head. Alexis bit back a groan, if Atticus got wind of this he would NEVER let her live it down. She cried inwardly.
It was just two more days till New Years Eve, and Alexis instantly regretted that she hadn't gotten anything for her friends back at the Academy.
The thought that sending them something from New York would seem a little braggish, but there wasn't any way that she could go through the new year without sending her friends a little something.
That was the main purpose of her shopping.
As the blonde scanned the windows, she either saw things that amazed her, or completely disgusted her. (1)
First up, Bastion Misawa's gift. She'd found the perfect thing as well. Alexis was quite aware of the strange fact that Bastion wrote equations and whatnot all over the walls of his dorm. So, as a gift to the brainiac, she would get him a set of white paint and brushes. Just the thing he needed.
Second, Chazz Princeton's gift. The Princeton being the rich, snobbish type (in an affectionate sort of way) obviously liked expensive things. Still, he was a good friend, if not a little selfish. Just as well, the only fitting gift she could think of for him was a ticket to a private cruise. She was only hoping he wouldn't get her to come along as well.
Thirdly, Jazz and Mindy. They.Love.Boys. Three simple words that anyone could understand. So, she got them both a subscription to a magazine with lots and lots of "hott" men.
Fourth of all, was Tyranno Hassleberry. He was a dinosaur freak. And after not much racking of her brain, Alexis came up with the conclusion that, however strange it might look, she could get him an easy-in ticket to a dinosaur museum where a person could re-dig up dinosaur bones. Probably Hassleberry's dream.
Fifth is Syrus Truesdale. He was Zane's precious younger brother, and a kind person, just a little timid. She quickly decided that the best thing to get for him was a picture that she got of Zane after he'd won. The match before he lost to Aster.
Sixth came Jaden Yuki. Brunette, clueless, faithful. That was how she described him as. Alexis had known Jaden for a long time now, and she was glad that she'd met him. He'd given her something to try and reach for. To get better than he was. So, in addition to several packs of duel monsters cards, she would call him on New Years Eve, and promise that with his help, she'd bring Zane back to them.
Lastly was Zane Truesdale. Her good friend through all the tough times she'd had, a pillar of support to them all, and her first love. Though Alexis would never say it outloud, she cared deeply for him. In all honesty, Alexis hadn't been planning on giving Zane his gift like this, but it was the only thing that she could do. For Zane Truesdale, she would get him something that none of the others would get. Something just for him.
However, she wasn't sure anymore.
Here she was, walking the streets of Manhattan with Aster Phoenix who was her manager. Also, just recently, Alexis had been noticing a queer change between her and the silver-haired prodigy.
What that change was, she had no idea.
"Alexis, what else?" Aster asked her.
She broke out of her intense thoughts and looked at Aster. Both she and Aster were carrying several bags or boxes of presents. Her friends weren't the only ones she needed to get presents for of course.
There were the teachers, other students, and Atticus.
She'd nearly forgotten him.
Due to the fact that he'd been tormenting her nonstop with his ukelele, she'd lost her temper and had accidentaly snapped it in two. When that had happened, Atticus had been utterly crushed.
Now that Alexis thought about it, she actually felt a small prick of guilt.
So, in return, Alexis had gotten her brother a brand new ukelele. When she'd bought it, the store clerk stared at her a bit, and she had shook her head, saying, "Don't ask." The clerk had mumbled, "Wasn't gonna."
"Alexis?" Aster's voice jolted her once again from her thoughts.
"Huh? Presents? Um..." She shifted the weight in her arms and hands, "Nah, I think this is enough." She said, and chuckled when Aster sighed, not even bothering to supress it. He glared at her, "What?" He snapped, mildly annoyed.
The blonde smiled at him with cheerful grey eyes, "Nothing."
Aster frowned, but it came out as a childish looking pout, "What?!" He snapped again, losing patience.
She pointed at his face, "That. Your face," She laughed, "You look like Atticus when we were little." She said with a grin.
Finally, the silver-haired prodigy realized that she was teasing and calmed down somewhat, "How so?"
Alexis lowered her hand, but still spoke with a smile, "Atticus pouted just like that when he didn't get what he wanted."
Without his knoweledge, Aster put another involuntary pout on his face, "I do not act like him!" He exclaimed. Alexis laughed harder, "See? Atticus would do that same thing. I'd tease him about acting like a baby, and that's what he would do!"
Aster quickly turned his head away with a feh and another pout.
Alexis laughed as hard as she could, and Aster couldn't resist a smile as well. Her face seemed so happy whenever she laughed like that, and her pale cheeks became red with effort.
The sadness in her eyes also vanished.
Now, Alexis always had that constant look of sadness in her eyes. Especially when a conversation came to Zane, which it did often. "Well, anyways, I think it's time to head back to the hotel. I got everyone everything." She said with a smile.
Aster just nodded in reply.
The two stopped momentaily at a stop light sign, and waited until the image of a person walking appeared to them. They went with the crowd, silent, and not speaking. Aster quickly looked at Alexis, and the tip of her nose was red, and her cheeks were flushed.
She looked so pretty.
Aster almost froze in the middle of the road. Wait... just where the heck did that come from? He questioned himself. 'The less you know Aster, the better...'
This time Aster did freeze. In the middle of the road no less. What the...
"Aster!" Alexis shouted, and he blinked and looked up to see her running over to him, grabbing his wrist and dragging him off the roads. She panted, and glared a little at him. "Aster, what were you doing?" She asked.
The silver-haired boy blinked, "Thinking..." He mumbled stubbornly and looked away.
Alexis sighed impatiently, and ran a hand through her hair, "Fine." She grumbled after a little huff. "Well, we're here. So let's go." She said and turned, dragging Aster with her again into the hotel. He grunted his disapproval at being yanked around, but he other than that, he said nothing.
They entered, and instantly an elderly man rushed up to them.
"Miss Rhodes, Mister Phoenix, shall I take those boxes from you?" He asked in a British accent that made Alexis sigh and want to roll her eyes. Guys like this, as nice as they may be, were the reasons why people stereo-typed butlers with accents together.
"Yes please Zachary." Aster said.
The butler nodded, and snagged the boxes and bags from Alexis and Aster. Somehow, he managed to carry them all in a different direction without staggering once. Alexis watched the man walk away with a look of pity in her eyes.
"Are we going to go or what?" Aster said.
Alexis whipped her head around and glared, "I'm going." She growled, and yanked Aster's arm again.
He groaned this time, and pulled back, "Yeah, that popping sound you hear, yah. That's my arm." He reminded her that she was practically dragging his good arm out of its socket. "Deal with it." She grumbled back.
A vein on Aster's head twitched this time.
Was Alexis going throug a serious PMS case? He asked himself, wondering again why he agreed to be her manager in the first place.
The blonde dragged him into an elavator, and pressed the top button since they had the best room in the hotel. The doors closed behind them, and the elavator began going upwards.
The two stood in silence, and Aster stared at his wrist which Alexis still clung to.
"Ahem." He coughed, and Alexis looked down, then blushed and immediately let go.
Aster regained his arm back, and first ran it in a circle to make sure it was still attached properly. When he was satisfied, he sighed, and fixed his suit.
The bad thing about having the best room in the hotel, was that it was at the top, and getting to the top took a while.
Alexis and Aster stood in utter silence, and were both quite uncomfortable with the silence.
Alexis was fiddling her thumbs behind her back, and jumped when her phone began to vibrate. She reached back and grabbd it, and flipped it open. Atticus' face appeared, and she blinked.
"Atticus?"
Her brother gave her a thumbs up. "Yo sis!" He said in his usual happy-go-lucky voice. "Yo Aster!" He said, giving the silver-haired prodigy a thumbs up as well. Aster feh'd and turned his head slightly, though he was still listening to the conversation.
"Lexi, I had the strangest feeling just now." Atticus said with a completely earnest expression.
His sister sighed, "And what feeling would that be?" She asked in an exasperated tone.
"I felt that you might be having an awkward moment. So I decided to call and give you this bit of information that I taught Jay," In the background Alexis and Aster heard their brunette friend mumbling in a shaky voice, "The horror..."
Atticus laughed nervously, "Let's pretend you didn't hear that."
Alexis glared at her brother, "What did you do this time Atticus?" She asked in her no-funny-business tone.
"I just told him what ga--"
"Nevermind." She said quickly. After that, Alexis sighed. "Dare I ask what is it that you called me for again?"
Atticus perked up, "Oh yeah! Remember Lexi and Aster! Every time there is an awkward silence, a gay baby has been born!" With that, the line clicked off, and Alexis shut her phone with such force that made Aster wonder how it wasn't broken yet.
So I guess that's what happened to Atticus.
Alexis thought to herself.
"Alexis, we're here." Aster reminded her, and watched her as she opened her eyes, and quickly stepped out of the elevator. She brushed past Aster's arm which had been holding the elavator oh-so-graciously for her.
"Thanks." She said shortly.
"Yup." He replied.
They headed towards the room, and turned the corner when a young child came zooming from the opposite direction and crash landed himself into Alexis. She oomph'ed and fell backwards.
Aster acted completely on impulse, and jumped forward.
Alexis fell, and Aster caught her, in a completely clichéd bridal style catch.
He was certainly surprised at her weight though. From her height, he would've guessed that she be much heavier than this. No offense meant. She was surprisingly light though, and he barely realized he was still holding her until her said, "Ahem... um... Aster, I'm fine, so can you please put me down?" She asked, looking at her shirt, blush covering her pale cheeks.
"O-oh... yeah." He gingerly set her down, slightly disappointed. "Sorry..." He said quietly and hid his emabressed blue eyes underneath his bangs.
"Coup manqué désolé!" The French child said quickly. Alexis sighed, and knelt and smiled at the child, "C'est bien. Etes-vous bon?" The kid smiled, and grinned happily, "Oui! Merci beaucoup madame!"
He smiled cutely, and ran off.
Aster smiled at her, "You speak French?" He asked.
Alexis smiled, "Oui. Je parle Français." She said, placing a hand on her chest, and speaking French proudly.
"Que deviner-il? Je parle le français aussi." He grinned wolfishly. Alexis laughed, first thinking the smile didn't exactly suit Aster serious and handsome face. "Since when could you speak French?" She asked with a smile.
"For a while." Aster tilted his nose into the air, and began heading towards the room, "After all, I am a prodigy."
Alexis rolled her eyes and followed, "Modesty? I have none!" She said, mocking the "prodigy".
Aster rolled his eyes back.
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(A/N:) Finally, the next chapter is out!! Fwee hee! Sorry it took so long, I was loaded down with school and such... ew... I'm doing the best I can with these stories, and keeping up, and keeping people in character, etc. Yup. Well, until the next chapter. Toodles!
-PurificationArrow