Title: Keeping in Touch
Author: Amm (SoulSeeker)
Pairing: Yuki Juudai/Tenjoin Asuka (Jaden/Alexis)
Fandom: Yu-Gi-Oh! GX
Theme: #2—news; letter
Rating: For Everyone (PG)
Disclaimer: I don't own the characters of Yu-Gi-Oh! GX. I am just playing 'Barbie' with them, cause god knows they're a lot more fun than real Barbies.
Summary: You never know how much you'll miss someone until after they're gone…
They say absence makes the heart grow fonder… 4/30.
Jaden never was the most popular student at Duel Academy.
He was always teased because of the color on his jacket, especially by the high-strung, pompous Obelisk Blues who seemed so convinced that they were just that much better than him. Very few people actually gave him any chance at all to prove how well he dueled—and there were only a handful of Obelisks who believed he even had any chance of surviving at the school for long.
One of them was Alexis Rhodes.
He couldn't explain it, but something about her had left a profound impact on him, even from the first moment he met her. She was an Obelisk—the top girl at the Academy—and Jaden knew that she would end up graduating the Academy before him. Perhaps he had conveniently forgotten, or perhaps he had chosen not to acknowledge the fact; but he knew it.
And before he could even admit it to himself, the time had come.
He was sitting in the audience, watching Crowler as he called out the names of the graduating students, just waiting to hear the name. He clapped, he cheered, he smiled—for all anyone could see, he was happy. And he was… after all, one of his best friends was finally graduating. Her hard work was paying off; besides, there was still time for him to be in denial about her leaving. At least until the next morning.
For the first time in all the days he spent at Duel Academy, Jaden had woken up on his own—early, even—and he was the one to wake up the others. Syrus and Chumley were friends with her too, and he knew they'd want to see her before she left. They weren't going to be seeing her for a while; she would be going to live with her brother, who had left the Academy just a year before and lived relatively far away from them all as it was, and they were going on vacation even farther.
She promised to write, he promised to reply; she promised to visit, and he promised her kisses— the chocolate kind, of course. It was just one of those things you did when you were about to part with your friend: you made promises. But how well would they be kept? That was what worried Jaden the most.
In a flash, the boat that was taking Alexis to the mainland was out of sight, and everyone who saw her off found themselves back in their dorm rooms, getting ready for the last day of classes before they would finally go home for the year to rest up for the next. And like any other day when Crowler lectured, class was bo-ring.
Hey Lex!
Yeah, I know you probably meant to write to me first, but I beat you to it. Sorry, but I mean, I have to do something during Crowler's class, right? Man, he's even more boring without you here. Don't get me wrong, the old geezer really knows his stuff! I don't doubt that. I just can't really focus.
Think I have ADHD or something?
I dunno. Anyway, I think he's looking over here, so I'd better stop before he catches me and tries to make me look like a fool in front of the whole class again.
Remember, you promised to come back and visit next year when we're back at the Academy again! For now though, just write back.
Your favorite Slifer-Slacker,
Jaden
He laughed a bit at the last words he wrote and then quickly put the short letter in his pocket to keep it from being taken. It was all right; no one ever did anything on the last day anyway. No one would notice.
Jaden looked over to the clock right behind Crowler as he took off his jacket to use it as a pillow. Five minutes down; eighty-five to go.
Crowler had given them some busy-work, and that actually had helped the time to pass; best of all, he allowed them to work in groups. It was usually him, Sy, Chumley, Bastion, and Alexis; but of course, it was just the four of them then.
From the moment he returned home, anyone could tell he was anxious to mail his letter; and from the moment he mailed it, it was obvious he wanted a reply.
And about a week later, he got one.
Jaden,
You know you're not a 'Slifer Slacker.' What, have you been talking to Chaz too much again?
Anyway, I haven't forgotten my promises, and you better not have forgotten yours either. Chocolate is a girl's best friend—forget diamonds!
I just got into my brother's house that he's been living in, and it's really great. Near the ocean, great view, great weather; I know you'd love it. Hey, who knows? Maybe you can come up sometime. Just don't get on Crowler's nerves too much or he won't let you graduate!
So how are Sy and Bastion and the others doing?
I've gotta go now but be sure to tell them I send my love, and I'll see you, hopefully soon, before you know it!
Love,
Lex
Jaden smiled at the letter and almost immediately rushed to reply. There wasn't a week that went by where the two didn't exchange letters—they wrote about anything, from friends or current events, to what they had for breakfast, or dueling.
They had avoided the topic of her visit until the beginning of the next Duel Academy year was finally approaching. Syrus and Jaden had been preparing for their next year together—talking about books they would be getting, what they were looking forward to; just trivial matters. Chancellor Shepard even informed him that he would have a second chance at testing into Ra Yellow, much to Crowler's dismay, and that made him look forward to the new year even more. Best of all, Syrus was testing too, and now they had the opportunity to move uptogether.
He immediately wrote to Alexis in hopes that she'd be able to come visit to see him 'get his game on,' and he even got some help from her with certain things in his deck. Nothing drastic—just little aspects of it that he decided needed second opinions. It was still the Elemental Hero deck he knew and loved.
The day finally came, and though he was glad he was finally going to be able to make some progress at the Academy and move up the supposed duelist 'food chain,' he seemed to be looking forward to seeing his old friend even more. In fact, he almost forgot his deck—the only thing he remembered clearly were the bag of Hershey's Kisses he bought for her. But luckily he remembered last minute.
He arrived at the school to meet up with Syrus and Chumley exactly where they had seen Alexis off at the end of the previous year. He had his deck in a neat little tin box he had recently gotten, and was throwing it up and down when finally he caught sight of an airplane approaching.
All three of them looked up excitedly as it landed and waited patiently for Alexis to show herself.
She walked off the plane with a smile, having already seen the three, and she approached them casually, as if she had seen them only yesterday.
"Guess what I still fit into!" Alexis laughed. She took off her coat to reveal her old Obelisk Blue uniform and grinned. "I thought I'd wear it for old time's sake."
Jaden just laughed, giving her a quick hug, and then broke away quickly to look at her with a grin. She still looked the same.
"Sweet!" he said smiling.
"You look great, Alexis!" Sy chirped. Alexis giggled and gave him a hug; he was still as short as ever.
"Thanks, Sy!" she said. "And I hear you're testing for Ra Yellow too, huh?"
He smiled with a blush. "Well, you know, I probably won't pass, but…yeah, I'm gonna try my best!" he grinned.
Alexis gave him a thumbs up. "Great!" she said. "And you, tough guy? You ready for your test?" She turned to Jaden.
"Naturally," he replied, holding up his deck with his chin high in the air.
"So when's the duel gonna start then?" Alexis asked excitedly. "I can't wait to see how much you guys have improved!"
Jaden looked at his watch. "Hmm…in…negative five minutes," he laughed. Yes, he was late again; some things never changed.
"Oh no! Come on, Jaden, let's hurry!" Syrus exclaimed in a panic.
"Relax, buddy," he replied. "We're already late anyhow. It's only five minutes. I'm sure Chancellor Shepard won't care."
"But Crowler…" Syrus reminded him.
Alexis folded her arms. "Hey Jaden! Where's my chocolate you promised me?" she demanded, suddenly remembering his promise.
Jaden smirked. "Oh gee, Alexis, I think I forgot the bag of Hershey's kisses …would you settle for an actual kiss instead?" he joked with a grin.
She blushed, raising an eyebrow at him. "Uh—"
"Psyche!" Jaden exclaimed quickly with a laugh. He tossed the unopened bag of Hershey's kisses towards at her, and she caught it with no trouble. "You thought I forgot, didn't you?"
Alexis just stuck her tongue out, stifling a laugh herself. "Jerk," she said, smacking him on the head.
They laughed all the way into the dueling arena, right up until Crowler began to yell at the two for being late for their matches.
But some things were worth being late for.
