Disclaimer: I own GX, well, not really but I can dream. Right? BACK YOU EVIL LAWYERS! After this, no updates till after Thursday or Friday because I suck and need to put my new computer together. Sorry if it sucks, I thought I'd update before I leave:O.

Thankyou to: Orochimarusgrl for the sweet review, as well as Beautyheart18 and Coco Gash Jirachi for motivating me to update. PenandpaperPoet gets a thank you as well. Damn those puppy eyes…

Chazz: The reviews made her smile. ;o

Atticus: Is it possible?

Me: I'm going to do something horrible to you both.

Chazz: You can't do worse, pea brain.

Me: It involves a chicken, handcuffs, lube and Atticus.

Atticus: Yay!

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There was that familiar burning feeling in his stomach, one that suggested a night being tossed about in arctic oceans, ones that threatened to drag you into their inky black depths were not the only concern on his mind. He tightened his grip on the guardrail and watched the familiar silhouette of Duel Academy waver in the thick miasma that blanketed everything.

Some would call him cruel, merciless and cold, but he simply knew what business entailed. Business was in a manner of speaking, fuck or be fucked – it was a case of treating those who're at their peak like mutts. You couldn't afford to be nice, sympathetic and kind to duellists who eventually faded into anonymity.

There were exceptions, the last King of Games was one of those – but from the new breed, most weren't all that talented, never pushed and when they lost, it was all over. He knew that there were… Some duellists who were bound to be long term cash horses.

A wicked smirk graced his lips; all four were in his grasp. What more could you expect from a man who held the world in his palm? No less than lies and treachery. No more than subtle manipulation that could make them or destroy them.

Aster Phoenix was one of those few, even though from his meeting with him he found him to be mostly blinding charisma – he had the potential to be what he needed. A new, pretty face he could toy with to his liking.

The next was Truesdale… He said he didn't need anyone, but even he knows what sitting just below the infamous Seto Kaiba can do.

There was another telltale smirk as he walked into the cosy, luxurious interior of the ship. He flipped open the laptop and eyed all the data he'd collected on this little 'gem' of a duellist. Attractive, easily manipulated by circumstances and he had the talent and charisma to back it up.

The other two were a challenge; one was arrogant and constantly lived under the shadow of one Jaden Yuki. He was a dark horse, talented, arrogant and making up what he didn't have in talent with looks and charisma – it wasn't meant to imply he was talentless, certainly. He came from an affluent family, which meant that Chazz Princeton could be what he wanted.

As for Yuki? Only time could tell with him.

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"Jaden?" There was a small silence as the darker haired boy stood up and held his hand out to a small, frail looking boy, pulling him down onto a small ledge where they could watch boats passing by Duel Academy.

"Hey Sy," he flashed a small smile at the smaller boy, sitting back down with his hand still around the other as he sat down, attempting to not fall off the edge to the jagged rocks below. Jaden nibbled his lip before wrapping his arms around Syrus and smiling and he kissed his cheek. I hope I don't lose him because of the Zane thing. I couldn't get his brother back.

"Come back to the dorm Jay? It's pretty cold out," Jaden shrugged and watched as Kuriboh squeaked and bounced around him in a bid to cheer him up. There was the unmistakeable feeling of failure and letting his friends down, and he couldn't get Zane out of his mind. He couldn't get anything he said out of his mind, how fragile he looked when he cried… Why would anyone feel sorry for him? I mean, he made his own grave.

"He was alone too," he detached himself from Syrus and pulled his knees to his chest, looking out to where a ship was docking – probably carting some new cards or food up to the academy. In a way, I guess I know how he feels.

"Please Jaden, don't beat yourself up over this? You're always trying to cheer me up," Jaden watched as Syrus gave him a warm smile, and latched onto him with his normal murmur of joy. He couldn't bring himself to return it, so he turned and watched as a tall, lean figure with what looked like a briefcase greeted what looked like a flustered Crowler.

"I always lose to Zane, was he always like that? So arrogant, so cold and sarcastic... Then he swings to this delicate little thing, kinda like a Kuriboh."

I always wanted to know if he was always like that. He doesn't seem happy when he duels, he doesn't enjoy it like I do. He smiled to himself, duelling always made him happy. People are too much hassle. He enjoyed the slightly warm feeling of the Kuriboh that sat itself on his shoulder.

"Well, before he got into Duel Monsters, he was the best big brother. He always looked after me, but then Mom and Dad realised how good he was, and they forced him to keep playing and keep getting better. All the girls wanted him too, he didn't even care."

Syrus sighed – and Jaden watched the miserable expression on his face and felt his stomach sink a little further into his boots. I should've known, Zane was right. He guessed that Syrus would have a reason though, but nothing felt quite right because nothing extraordinary had really happened, he didn't even know why it really affected him.

It just did.

"That sucks Sy," he cuddled up to the boy, "maybe it isn't my fault then."

"Jaden, you told me to believe in myself, you should take that advice," Syrus nodded and began to nuzzle against Jaden, pulling him close to him, more as protection against the piercing cold than anything else – but it didn't fix his unease over Syrus.

-

"I own this Academy, Crowler, you will take both applicants and all of the new rules, understand? I don't want to wipe you off my boots. Go back to obscurity, I'm going to see someone who matters."

The cold, arrogant voice had died down as Crowler fell to his knees and looked up into the piercing cobalt-blue eyes, as the tall man who Jaden realised was none other than the Seto Kaiba pushed Crowler against the floor and tossed his head up with a smirk. He had an unmistakeable air of grace that you could see from a distance – and from the way he held himself, one that suggested nothing more than disdain for anyone lower than him.

"Jaden?" Syrus pointed to servants who seemed to be carrying a large amount of luggage and boxes out of the hold, but his eyes were transfixed on the almost ethereal figure striding towards Duel Academy, briefcase in hand.

Jaden continued watching, his heart giving little jumps that scared him – they were out of time with his normal heart rate. There isn't any use fooling myself, he'll mean Zane and some other dude. I mean, who else could it be?

"My life is over, officially," he grumbled and stood up, worrying his lower lip as he grasped the cliff and climbed up, the palms of his hands aching from the feel of the sharp rock. Once again, he noted how quiet it could get as he hauled Syrus up. It was easier to talk about this stuff when we were just friends, damn it!

"Why is this bugging you so much Jay?"

How am I meant to know? I'm not smart-

"Atticus, I am not going to watch that with you, you faggot!"

"- But Chazzy, please?"

Syrus groaned as Chazz slammed his door shut, leaving a smiling Atticus leaning against the doorway with a DVD in his hand. He waved at them, still beaming at them while Chazz swore and cursed in his room.

"I'm going to bed Jaden, don't stay out too late, okay?"

Jaden nodded numbly, watching the other boy scamper off into their dorm – leaving him with the guilty unease that flooded into his stomach made him feel even worse. Atticus was still smiling, the goddamn know-it-all. He continued cursing until he felt a cold pair of hands push him away from the dorm, even though he could have sworn he could still hear Chazz swearing loudly.

"Sleeping Beauty."

I must have sounded dumb, but there'd be no surprise there then.

"What? Oh yeah, the movie was totally a ploy! Sissy didn't appreciate it, but it's cool," Jaden noticed how Atticus was still smiling as he dragged him back to his dorm-room, earning glares from students who were up past their bedtime and a nasty comment that Atticus brushed off with a wave of his hand.

"Atticus, what're you doing?"

"I dragged you across campus, and now you ask? It was cold out there, my nipples were getting chafed."

"…And I thought my day couldn't get any worse."

Jaden groaned and collapsed on the warm, soft bed with dark blue sheets, staring up at the brilliant, glaringly white ceiling of the dorm. Aside from the rubbish on the floor, this place was spotless compared to the Slifer dorms. No roaches, no coffee stains, no cracks in the ceiling.

"Stay here tonight, I'm sure your roomies won't mind. Speaking of which," he shoved the DVD back into the rack and continued, "why are you being less like a sugar high kid, and more like an angsty teenager?"

Jaden gawked at the boy who stood, still smiling with a twinkle in his dark eyes. It struck him how unlike his sister he was – immature but pretty easy going in comparison. He hadn't noticed really, he fit in with the background unless he was batting annoying fangirls away.

He wasn't very subtle though, he let a small smile grace his face.

"I don't know, I guess. I mean, I know what it is, I just don't know why… I know how Sy feels now." Atticus nodded and jumped on his bed happily, messing the neat covers up as he climbed under the sheets and threw Jaden a pillow. He stared at it with a confused expression before the other boy tied his hair back and cleared his throat.

"Sleep at the bottom of the bed. I'll sleep on it."

"You have ADD, don't you Atticus?"

"Quiet, you. And no kinky stuff, I'm saving it for 'the' Chazz. Awww, you're smiling now. Atticus has magic…"

"Sure thing."

Jaden smiled and felt his spirits lift a little; it was impossible to not be cheery around Atticus when he was obviously just trying to be friendly. He heard the click of the light and snuggled under the covers, within minutes, Atticus let out a soft snore and Jaden squeezed his eyes shut. There's somethin' missing from this room – even if it's Syrus kicking the blankets as he sleeps… Or the snores that you can hear 'cause our walls are paper-thin, or even if it's the feeling of matted blue hair…

He sighed and blinked to, or more exactly, at himself. He didn't even need Atticus to tell him what that meant. He still had a crush on Zane and he just felt guilty.

Yeah… And Crowler wants my babies…