Chapter 2

Okay, sorry for the long wait. It was really difficult going through the original and deciding just what parts to keep and what to totally redo. So far I like the pace of this one better and plan on possibly making it longer than the original. Thank you all for reading and for the reviews. They are deeply appreciated.

Aki waited until the guys left before looking back up at Carly who was staring at her with an amused grin on her face. "Wh, what?"

The dark haired journalist grinned and took out a notebook and pen. "So, Aki, how long has the duel champ been romancing you?"

The birthday girl found herself despising her friend at that moment. "Don't ask those questions!"

"I need a good story. The signer thing isn't going so well. I can't get Jack to talk about it for some weird reason. Female readers would love to know what it's like dating the winner of the Fortune Cup. So spill. What's he like when you're all alone?"

Aki groaned. "I'm telling you, it's not like that. I mean ….. the kiss earlier was my very first …. and it was so sudden …."

Carly's grin widened. "He kissed you?! Oh, this is so my lucky day!"

The magenta haired girl quickly shook her head. "You can't report that! I mean w, we, Yusei and I, need to figure out what happened just now."

"Fine, but when you do figure it out, I want an exclusive." Carly chuckled. "So, is Yusei a good kisser?"

Jack glared at the duel champion furiously. "I can't believe your bloody luck."

"Don't be a sore loser. Just keep up your end of the deal."

"How'd you two end up like that?"

"It's not that big a deal. It was just a little kiss."

" Oh? So you kissed her? Is that why you were holding her when we came in? And you never did explain what she was doing in your clothes."

Jack grinned as the usually calm Yusei squirmed under his scrutiny. "Sh, she was spending her birthday alone. Her clothes were soaked from the rain, so I let her use some of mine. Can we talk about something else now?"

"It's her birthday? Why didn't she say anything?"

"She didn't think anyone would care too much." Yusei admitted to his friend.

"Guess we'll have to give her a party. I wonder what I should get her."

"I was wondering the same thing. I don't know what she'd like."

"Well, you'd better find something now. You're gonna distract her while we set everything up."

"What? Why me?"

"Because, dolt, I got the distinct impression that you two needed some alone time to sort through a few things. Now, just do what I say and take her out for a while later."

When Jack and Yusei got to the garage, Carly and Aki had vanished. Then they heard Carly's pleading voice. "Come on, Aki, you can't stay in there forever! I just want an answer to one little question!"

The blond duelist sighed and went to get his girlfriend. "Come along, Carly, we have a lot to do. Yusei, remember to do your part and bring her to Rua and Ruka's when I text you."

"Right." Yusei nodded simply.

"What's going on, Jack?" Carly inquired as they went toward his car.

"It's Aki's birthday. We're going to get her a gift and throw her a party. I need your help to set everything up and … to pick out a gift." The proud, young man whispered the last part.

"I'll be glad to help you." The journalist smiled a sweet smile.

Jack adored that sweet smile. After what had happened to her because of him, Jack felt relief every time she smiled or laughed. He never wanted to see her get hurt again.

Yusei knocked on the door to the room Aki was taking refuge in. "Aki, it's me. Will you come out now, please?"

There was a moment of silence before the door opened. "What happened to Jack and Carly?"

"They said we needed some time to ourselves and went out." Yusei lied carefully. 'I hope she doesn't see right through me.'

"Oh, th … that was kind of them." A blush formed on her elegant face.

"Why were you in my room?" The azure eyed, young man requested.

"This is your room!? I'm sorry. I just had to get away from Carly. She kept asking questions."

"What kind of questions?" Yusei asked nervously.

Aki looked down and muttered. "Um, about you and … … and me. You know, like if we were an item or if you were a … … a good kisser."

He blushed brightly. "I, I see. About kissing you and all, I was wondering, are you mad?"

"Not really. I mean, I didn't try to stop you. I kind of liked you kissing me."

Yusei looked down, unsure of what to do next. Aki watched him and shifted nervously. 'Why isn't he saying anything? I wonder if I said something wrong.'

Finally, the azure eyed signer spoke. "So, are we, umm, a … … couple?"

Aki blushed. "Do you want us to be?"

"It's not just up to me. What do you want to do?"

"I'm not sure. After what Divine did, I'm a little scared." The girl whispered in an ashamed voice. "I'm sorry, I know that I shouldn't think like that, but I can't stop myself."

Yusei stared at her. "Aki, you really think I'd try to use you like he did?"

"No, of course not! I know you'd never do anything like that, it's just a sort of instinctive inhibition. I thought I loved Divine, but the feeling I get around you is different. Sweeter."

Jack glanced at Carly as he drove. "So, did you find out anything from Aki?"

"Not a thing." The young journalist pouted.

The young man laughed. "Well, there's always tonight, I guess."

"Yeah. Do you think those two will make it official now?"

"He'd better do something on the date I told him to take her on. It'll be pretty sad and cowardly if he doesn't."

"Aww, Jack, you gave him a pep talk to convince him to take her out? That's nice."

"Er, sure, a pep talk." The violet eyed signer replied with a grin.

The girl stared at him quizzically, but chose not to ask. "I should probably send Aki a change of clothes."

"Right. I'll see about getting Mikage to take them to her."

Aki and Yusei were in the middle of yet another awkward silence when Mikage arrived. Yusei stared at Jack's assistant with a puzzled expression. "What brings you here?"

"Jack asked me to bring this to you." She handed him a duffel bag. "He told me not to linger about, so I'd best be going. See you later."

Yusei opened the bag a peered inside the bag and grinned a little. "Aki, it looks like Carly sent you a change of clothes."

The rose haired signer smiled and took the bag. "I'll have to thank her, if she doesn't try to interview me again."

"Heh, heh. You want me to get Jack to ask her to stop?"

"I doubt that will work. She's got him wrapped around her finger."

Yusei had to laugh at the thought of his stubborn, prideful, friend being reigned in by Carly. He was aware that Jack had realized his feelings when the journalist vanished and became a dark signer. 'Sounds like Jack's got his hands full. Good thing Carly's oblivious.'

Aki grinned at him. "I'm going to go get changed."

"You can change here. I'll go out in the hall."

'His room seems so like him.' She smiled as she glanced around, taking it all in for the first time.

The walls were painted dark blue and the room was decorated with dragon statues. Aki looked at a pile of books, all about engineering, and chuckled. Then she examined the contents of the duffel bag. 'I'm scared that he might get to know me and start to think that I'm a witch or a … … a monster. My dad thought that for a while. I don't think I could take Yusei calling me that.' She stared at her reflection as memories of dueling the young man came back. 'I hurt him so much in those duels … .'

'Carly owns a dress?' Aki stared at the silk fabric of the dress she'd been sent. It was a black, spagetti strap dress with red roses on the skirt. As she put the dress on, Aki discovered that there were black heels with rose designs to go with it. She glanced in the mirror, the dress wasn't a bad fit. It had a sweetheart neckline and fell just above her knees.

Yusei stared at her when she emerged. "How does it look?" She asked, attempting to conceal the blush forming on her face.

"Y, you look … wow." He stammered and found himself blushing again.

"There are some clothes for you in there, too." Aki informed him.

"I'll wear my own clothes, thanks. I don't trust either of them to pick something for me." Yusei's azure eyes showed his amusement at the thought of Jack trying to help him.

"So, where are we going?" Aki requested after Yusei had gotten ready.

"Well, I thought we could start with getting something to eat and then have the birthday girl pick out the next destination." The young man grinned.