Ah yes. I'm back with Chapter 2 rewrite. I'm stretching out the mystery a bit more, so you won't find out "what" all these people are for another chapter or two. ;)

One more thing. A few facts from the old story will have changed. For example, the number of Shadow Fiends. *shrugs* It's what I had to do.

I don't do Disclaimers anymore, but I feel like it. So, Jaden, take it away!

Jaden: Vampiric Dragonrider only owns this story. Please do not steal her idea. And especially don't steal the OCs! They're not even hers. But if you do steal one, we've got an army of duelists that we're not afraid to put to use.


Man! Jaden complained silently. It's the first day, and I'm already running late! Why didn't Syrus wake me!? He hopped into his pale blue pants, a granola bar hanging out of his mouth. He shoved his deck into the black plastic holder around his waist, grabbed his bag and slung it over one shoulder. He just barely remembered his PDA as he ran out the door.

Tapping the screen a couple times, he managed to open his schedule on the hand-held device. It told him that his first class was Dueling Techniques, taught by a person named Dr. Crowler. Jaden faintly wondered what Crowler was a doctor of. Didn't they need PhDs, or something? He chomped down on his granola bar, relishing the peanut-y taste.

He raced down the dirt road leading up to the main building. Why did the Slifer dorm have to be so dang far away? It's like they're trying to make the Reds late every day. What a nightmare! He hoped this Crowler-person was a lenient teacher.

The main building's front doors slid open automatically for him. Jaden continued through without slowing down. He was near the room on the schedule when he rounded a corner and knocked into a girl. They both rebounded to the floor.

"Oh, geez!" Jaden exclaimed, flustered. "I'm so sorry!" He got a good look at her. She had strawberry blonde hair that spiked at the ends, cobalt blue eyes, and sun-kissed skin. She wore black dress pants, a green T-shirt, and black sneakers. Jaden could see a bronze heart-shaped locket around her neck, and a dull green ribbon tied around her left wrist.

She rubbed her head, picking up a thin book she had dropped. "Nah, it's okay. I should know better than to cut corners so tightly in a school… Ick, I think someone hexed me. I can't seem to find my way around at the moment." Jaden smiled, stood up, and held out his hand. The girl accepted it, and he helped her to her feet. "You don't happen to be heading to the Dueling Techniques class, do you?"

Jaden nodded. "Actually, I am! I'm Jaden, by the way. Jaden Yuki."

The girl actually looked surprised. "Jaden Yuki? Oh, you're the… um… never mind." She cut herself off. "I'm Leslie. C'mon, we're late. I heard Dr. Crowler is the meanest of them all."

Jaden gave a short laugh. "Just my luck."


Leslie stood in front of the teen with dark teal hair. It was after the first period, and he was behind a front row desk in an empty classroom.

"Zane," Leslie started. "I met him."

"Jaden?" Zane clarified. She nodded. "Is he still oblivious?"

Leslie nodded again. "Yeah. He's like… he's like a puppy. And… um, I accidentally mentioned I might have been hexed – I had a really bad headache, and my sense of direction was gone – and he didn't even pick that up. But I didn't know it was him…"

Zane sighed. "That's okay. As long as he follows the rules, the students won't be able to harm him."

Leslie wrung her hands together. "But… well, as I said, he's like a puppy. Puppies break rules, you know. What if he goes out at night? What if… Chazz gets a whiff of him?"

Zane sighed again and looked at the blonde. "We'll just have to keep an eye on him." The warning bell rang, a shrill clanging. "Get to your next class, Lez."

"Wait, but what about the other students?"

"They know about him. I wouldn't worry about it too much."

She nodded once more and started to leave, but paused. In a casual voice, she asked, "What about you? Where's your next class?"

He smiled slightly. "I'm a Prefect. They can't do much to me for being a few minutes late.


Jaden yawned. "Man, was that class boring or what?"

Syrus rolled his eyes. "Jaden, it's necessary. Not only is it teaching us different techniques we could try out, it's telling us how we can figure out the opponent's technique and counter it."

The brunet shrugged. "I thought that that's supposed to come naturally. A duelist is all about thinking on his feet. And that Dr. Crowler's a real mean one."

Syrus actually laughed. "Yeah. You're a few minutes late, and Dr. Crowler gives you a detention! It's so hard to tell what gender he – or she – is, too!"

Jaden snickered. "Heh, yeah. I think it's a 'he.' I mean, he does have a massive Adam's apple."

"Hey, Jay. If I ever grow up to look and sound like that, shoot me, okay?"

"You got it, buddy."

Chuckling, the pair continued on to their next class*. Suddenly, a dark brown cat streaked past them. Syrus had to jerk out of the way as to not step on the feline, causing him to stumble. He would have fallen if Jaden had not grabbed his arm. A young female followed the cat, but stopped near the two boys, panting. It was obvious she had been chasing the cat for a while.

"Alicia…" she moaned, slouching. She had waist-length purple hair that was slightly tangled and a little wild from her race. Her electric blue eyes stared after the cat. She wore a red DA jacket along with a matching red skirt – a Slifer uniform. She glanced around and saw Syrus and Jaden staring at her. She blushed. "O-oh. Hi. Sorry about that. Alicia doesn't like Alch–" She cut off, looking at Syrus, who had, behind Jaden's back, waved his hands in a symbol to stop. "I mean, Alicia doesn't like the cat food I give her. Ugh!" she added for emphasis. She stood up straight. "I'm Shara. You must be Jaden Yuki, am I right?"

Jaden smiled hesitantly. "Y-yeah. Heh, everyone seems to know my name already."

Syrus patted him on the arm once. "Well, you did defeat the Chancellor** in the entry duel," he said, his voice shaking a little. "That'll get you famous in a jiffy."

Jaden glanced strangely at Syrus. It sounded like the blunet had spoken that on the spot. It was a good excuse, the one Syrus gave, but he felt like that wasn't the real reason everyone knew his name. Still, he didn't press.

"So Shara," Jaden said, continuing the conversation. "You don't happen to be heading to Alchemy, with Professor Banner, are you?"

Shara's face lit up. "Actually, I am! I was headed there with a friend, but she decided she was going to skip for today. Can I go with you guys instead?"

Jaden grinned. "Sounds good to me! Let's go!"


*I am aware that this is technically in Japan, and students in Japan don't change classrooms (the teachers do), but this is easier, and allows for more interaction between students.

**originally, he defeated Crowler (duh) but I had to change it. I'll have to explain my reasoning later, so I don't spoil anything.

I actually really want to dissect my own chapter. I've dropped a kajillion hints. Not just hints as to what's really going on at this school, either. Small hints. Mmm…

So, you've met two (maybe three ;) ) OCs. And yeah, it's still not the longest thing ever, but it's getting longer! Hope you enjoyed. Cheers!