Sorry for not updating again... I hope I didn't upset you all for that drug reference, and for Jaden acting OOC. Here is chapter 4.


Chapter 4: Flickering Neon Bunny Girl

Alexis approached the top door of the Slifer Red dorm. Atticus followed behind her. Out of breath, Atticus said, "Lex, man you can run!"

Alexis knocked a few times at the wooden door. At first, no response. Then, with a rusty cough, he replied, "What is it?"

Atticus looked at the unclean Slifer with mixed emotions. He couldn't make out Jaden's emotions from his face, just a blank, pale stare. Alexis gulped, trying not to show emotion herself.

Jaden looked worse than what he appeared yesterday, his hair looked like a spiked up mess, and when he opened his mouth you can see his gums were smoky black. He was a complete mess altogether.

"Make this quick, Alexis. I got somewhere I got to be." Jaden's voice was almost inarticulate by his scratchy tone. The "panda" bags under his eyes slumped down as he blinked slowly.

"Dude, Jaden you don't look so good. You want to go to the nurse?" Atticus asked as he tried to help Jaden by placing his arm on his shoulder. Jaden swiftly swatted it away, "No... I'm fine. Trust me, I'm feeling great." Jaden gave a weak smile to Atticus and Alexis, but they didn't buy it.

"Jaden, you said you got somewhere to be, and that's what I'm here about. Atticus' radio picked up this broadcast about this 'fair' on the island. We couldn't hear it clearly, because the low signal, but the guy on there said something about the special guest being the Panda Hero. You've been called that lately, so I want to know, please. Do you know anything about this 'fair', and if so, are you that special guest their talking about?" Alexis stated her question firmly, trying to get to Jaden seriously.

Jaden looked down at his feet to keep eye contact from Alexis away.

"Jaden, look at me and answer!" Alexis demanded.

Jaden looked up back at Alexis, ready for his answer.

"Alexis, please. This is something you can't learn or get involved with. I'm only trying to protect the rest of you. What I'm involved could hurt you if you knew." Jaden said with his grumbled voice.

Alexis balled up her fist tightly. "So you won't even tell your own friends what's going on? You just want me to ignore this problem? No, I can't, Jaden. I won't ignore this. Your my friend Jaden, and whatever is happening to you is hurting you. Your not the same anymore, Jaden. What happened to the hyper, happy-go-lucky guy we all knew? The guy who loved dueling, sleeping in class, stuffing his mouth with fried shrimp, and hanging with his friends?" Alexis voice was shaking in tone. She gritted her teeth tightly, staring into the eyes of the Slifer Red duelist.

Jaden's visage changed from emotionless, to sadness. Jaden never wanted to be in the current state that he was in now. It was all his fault. That awful man that dragged him into the undertow of depression. It was a week after he returned back from the Dark World...


Flashback

Jaden had taken a night walk through the island's forest. He always did after dinner or, if he was lucky enough, find an opponent to duel.

However, this night was slightly different. The air was strangely cool, which was weird for the island air around here to be.

Suddenly, a nearby scream filled the cold air. Jaden reacted by following were the scream came from. It sounded female. (Though of course guys can scream like that too.) He looked behind the bushes to see a tall figure. It seemed to be a man, wearing a long, black overcoat, with the collar conceiling his face. He wore a black top hat that also hid his face from being distigused. Is his hands, was the arm of a girl being pulled. On closer inspection, she was identified to be Alexis' friend, Mindy. She looked scared as tears fell from her eyes.

"So bitch, you think you could run away from our little 'family' just like that? You know, it brakes my heart to know a family member wants to run away. I guess now you realize there are dire risks for runaways." The man gruffly said. Mindy tried to brake away, but his grip was to powerful. Jaden had enough. He ran out of the bushes, reveiling himself to the tall man.

"Jaden!" Mindy gasped. The man gave a creepy grin.

"So, your the famed Jaden Yuki huh? I was hoping for someone tougher looking."

Jaden growled, "Let her go you basterd!"

The man laughed insanely. "Ohh... So intimidating! I would have to say no Mr. Yuki. You see, this little bunny girl here pretty mush sold herself out to me and my 'family.' So basically, I own her."

Jaden gritted his teeth. "What do you mean you own her?"

"In words Mr. Yuki, she's my 'pet.'" The man smiled evily.

Jaden snapped. He ran full-trottle, balled his fist, ready to punch. However, when his fist began to aim at the man's face, the man swiftly stoped his punch with his hand, and twisted Jaden's wrist.

"Aggghh!" Jaden screamed in pain.

"Mr. Yuki, how 'bout a duel? You win and you and this girl are set free. Lose, and you and this girl with respectfully belong to me. What do you say?" The man requested.

"No Jaden! Forget about me, and just get out!" Mindy begged. Jaden smiled with a cocky grin. "Alright, I'm game!"

Jaden took ot his duel disk, and activated it.

The man smiled. "Excellent, shall we begin?"


The duel ended quick and sudden. In the end, Jaden's life points have dropped to 0.

Jaden fell to his knees in defeat. "I...Can't believe it...I lost..."

What the hell is he! Jaden thought as he looked down in pure defeat.

Jaden Yuki, Duel Acadamy's greatest duelist, was defeated.

Mindy began to cry, "Jaden, no!"

The man walked over and bent down near the defeated Slifer. "Now your mine Mr. Yuki. Welcome to my family. As a welcoming gift, here you are."

The man handed Jaden a tissue. Jaden opened the tissue, and dropped it from what he saw. It was a needle, pills, and cigarettes.

"What the hell is all this?" Jaden growled.

"This, Mr. Yuki, is your present. As long as your mine, I would like you to try these. If you like these, I'll arrange you a few duels to win more. What do you say Mr. Yuki, want to try?"

"Never..." Jaden hissed bitterly.

The man frowned. "Mr. Yuki, you lost this duel, and since I one, really you got no choice. If you decline, this whole island, and everyone on it will be...Sleeping with the fishes."

"What do you mean by that?" Jaden yelled.

"I have ways to control others, Mr. Yuki. Weaknesses. I'll brake you down intill there is nothing left." The man laughed into the sky like a mad man

Finally, to Jaden, it seems there was no hope at all, and the only choice, was to give in.


Jaden stared back at the ground, sour from that awful memory. Pissed, Jaden ran off from Alexis and Atticus. Alexis tried to follow, but was stopped by Atticus.

"Let him go, Alexis. Let him blow some steam, and you should too."

Alexis took a deep breath. "Okay Atticus, but this doesn't mean I'm giving up on him."

Atticus smiled faintly, "Yeah, I know Lex."


Done! Thank you all for reading! I would also thank my reviewers, and hope your all not mad with me. I also apologize for not adding the duel scene, but I'm not very good at duel scenes. That's why for later chapters, I would like to ask if someone help me with the duel scene. I would really apreciate it!

Thank you all! ^_^ R&R