If you've read the old version of this story/chapter of it, this is just undergoing slight editing. You know, fixing up spelling errors and that sort of stuff. The duel's been edited too.

And even though it's an AU, doesn't mean it doesn't follow canon at parts. 'kay?


Author's Note

I've finally finished my exams, and school for the year, but they (our teachers for induction) gave too much homework to be able to call this a holiday! I mean, seriously, they call this a break!

This story was originally ten chapters long, but my plan was pretty loose. Some stuff in this chapter was supposed to happen at least three chapters ago. But regardless, it is nearing the end. Anyway, I've opened up a poll to let you readers vote for which story you want me to start writing after this story is completed. Please vote. The poll will be closed once the epilogue for this story is posted up.

Anyway, new chapter is done, so read, enjoy and review (please! They really make my day).

Disclaimer: I don't own Yu Gi Oh GX or any of its characters. I only own the plot, and one character so far.


7 - Chapter 6: Darkness on the Move

Shadow Night walked calmly through the hallways, dressed in an Obelisk Blazer to blend in. Olive hair framed his pale face, and his blue eyes were hidden by his bangs. As he passed a storage room, he paused, hearing a voice within the room. A very familiar voice, which once had held a very high place in his heart.

'Honest,' he whispered, turning back to the door. He placed his hand on the handle, before withdrawing it sharply as pain temporarily clouded his mind. Images suddenly flashed through his mind: a young boy playing happily with a winged spirit, a car crash, a funeral, and a young boy crying.

He blinked, and the pain and images suddenly vanished. Pushing them out of his mind temporarily, he continued down the corridor, ignoring the cry of the trapped spirit. He may return later, if an opportunity presented itself, but now, he had orders to carry out.

FLASHBACK

'The darkness in these duellists is strong. Use it, and draw them into my world. Their darkness will fuel my might and enhance my power, and when the power of the Supreme King and his Maiden fail, all the worlds will be covered in the power of my darkness, with no-one to rage against it.' The speaker, hidden in the shadows, turned to the other, Shadow Night. 'Weaken their trust in each other. The more they fight, the more darkness they expel. Darkness that will build my power. Every duel they lose will make me stronger.'

'Yes Master.' Shadow Night bowed and left.

END FLASHBACK

He paused at the end of the hallway, his enhanced hearing (a gift from the darkness) picking up faint footsteps to the left, towards the Duel Academy Central Computer Room.

He smirked. Looks like he's found his target.


(Alexis' POV)

Darkness Dragon's attack neared, and I knew I had to act now.

'I play Mystical Space Typhoon,' I cried, flipping over my face-down cards. 'I destroy Megamorph.'

A wide cyclone erupted from the holographic projection of Mystical Space Typhoon and blew away the equip spell on Darkness Dragon, lowering its attack points to 3600. The weakened attack hit, knocking me to my knees again and leaving my life points stable at 2000.

Nightshroud: 200

Alexis: 1500

'I play Book of Moon to change my bug into face down defence position once more and end my turn,' Nightshroud said.

Praying under my breath, I drew my card, hoping it was what I needed to tip the table in my favour. Looking at it, I scowled. It was The Warrior Returning Alive. Like that was going to help. Thinking hard, I glared at the two cards in my hand, trying to pick apart a strategy, before an idea came to me.

'I play The Warrior Returning Alive to return Elemental Hero Bubbleman to my hand, and then I'll summon it.'

The water attribute hero appeared on the field once more, and I drew two cards due to its effect. I smiled at these new additions; I knew my deck wouldn't fail me. 'Next I summon Cyber Petite Ange;,' I declared, as the petite pink angel took the field. I chose to forgoe it's effect. After all, Machine Angel Ritual was already in my hand.

'Attack mode?' Nightshroud questioned, staring down my monsters. He was correct; both my monsters were in attack mode, but attacking wasn't their purpose. Not this time anyway. 'Neither of your monsters can defeat my Red Eyes.'

I shrugged, playing Machine Angel Ritual. 'With Machine Angel Ritual, I sacrifice Bubbleman and Petite Angel to summon Cyber Angel Benten.'

Bubbleman and Petite Angel disappeared from the field, to be replaced by my Cyber Angel in all her glory. 'Why go for your Red Eyes, when Man Eater Bug is an easier target?'

Nightshroud's eyes widened in fear behind the mask at his mistake, as I declared the final attack of Cyber Angel Benten. Her chains cut through the weak defence, and Nightshroud was forced to take a step back to protect himself from the explosion that followed.

'And I take it you know her special affect,' I said, smirking sweetly. 'When Cyber Angel Benten destroys a monster in battle, you take damage equal to its defence points. And that's 600.'

'No,' he cried, falling to his knees. 'Impossible!'

Cyber Angel Benten flicked her chains at Nightshroud. As the chains hit, I saw a flicker of my brother's kind (yet sometimes annoying) personality come through. It vanished as soon as it came however, and then all I could see was darkness surrounding Nightshroud as he screamed in rage and defeat as his life points dropped to zero.

Nightshroud: 0

Alexis: 1500

I watched, an expression of shock evident on my face, as the darkness disappeared. No trace of my brother remained. And of Nightshroud, all that remained was a card that held his mask in chains.

'No,' I whispered, tears starting to fall, much like the day my brother had returned. He couldn't be gone, I thought. Not after all it took to get him back, he couldn't just vanish again.

I felt Syrus' presence beside me, but I payed no heed to him. If only I had been nicer to him. If only I hadn't taken his brotherly affection and protection for granted. If only I hadn't agreed to this. If only...

'Life is too short to waste with the "if only's",' Syrus interrupted as though reading my mind. He answered my questioning look by saying, 'it was something Zane said to me, before ...' His voice choked up with emotion and he was unable to continue.

I nodded. He knew how I felt. He had seen his brother die right in front of his eyes, in the Dark World. And although the rest of us were revived after Jaden's duel with Yubel, he was yet to return.

My gaze flickered to the clock mounted on the wall, taking in its simplistic design. After staring at it for awhile, my tired brain finally registered the time.

'Shouldn't the bell have gone by now?'


(Jaden's POV)

The rare rays of light that had been reflected by the mirrors had now disappeared, due to the lack thereof. Partly, I was grateful, as that meant I wouldn't have to watch my crimes an uptenth time. Yet I yearned for that small sense of comfort; the small sense of light in this otherwise black darkness.

And it was cold ... so cold.

I had lost track of time. It meant nothing here. Minutes, hours, days ... it was all the same. It didn't matter.

'That's it little king,' a deep voice whispered. 'Despair, and become one with the darkness.'

'Aargh,' I cried, holding my head in my hands, feeling pressure building up in my head. The mysterious voice echoed in the emptiness, and the pressure increased, till the voice faded away, upon which it suddenly vanished.

I massaged my temples, attempting to reduce the pin of the aftermath, while looking for the owner of the voice. A pointless action, since the darkness made it impossible to see.

'Who are you?' I shouted, my voice echoing much as the other had done. It seemed as though volume had no relevance here either.

'Someone who can help you,' was the reply.

Help me?

I thought of my friends. That had all helped me in their own unique way. And they had paid dearly for it. Was I even worthy of this stranger's help now?

And he had addressed me as king. King? 'Haou?'

My voice echoed through the dark abyss again, but no answering call sounded. I exhaled deeply, then regretted the action as something in my chest flared up. I cried out in pain, clutching my chest and falling to my knees, only then realising I was standing, and waiting for the pain to release me once more.

The aftermaths lasted longer this time. For a while, each breath was an agony. But necessary.

'Do you want it all to stop?' the stranger asked me.

I didn't reply

'Do you want solitude? Do you want to feel nothing...no sorrow, no guilt, no pain?'

And still, I didn't answer. Was that what I wanted?


(3rd Person POV)

Golden eyes stared into the darkness, sensing his other half somewhere in the black abyss. He could hear every word the shadows spoke with nerve-wracking clarity, as he watched as the shadows of his past continued their work, this time in the heart of Jaden Yuki.


(Blair's POV)

I walked up to a set of double doors, and scanned by PDA. A small chime told me my identification was accepted, and I waited patiently for the doors to open.

As I waited, I heard footsteps to my left, and turned to be met with an Obelisk Senior with blue eyes, partially hidden by locks of olive hair.

He did look distinctly familiar, by as no name was coming to mind, I settled with a simple 'Hi.'

He vowed his head to me in reply. 'Hello Blair.'

'I know you?' it wasn't a question. Not really. I knew him, but I just couldn't recall from where.

'Don't you remember?' he asked, sounding hurt. I shook my head, ears ringing from his slightly hypnotic tone. I found I couldn't look away, and then suddenly I felt memories rush into me, ones that validated the truth of his words. The only problem was, they didn't feel exactly right.

I looked over my Slifer jacket. Even though I was now an Obelisk, I wore this jacket as a trademark, a reminder of the one person I truly fell in love with. Not some silly crush, but the real thing.

I hadn't realised I had talked out loud till my companion commented on it. The door had opened by now, but as it didn't look as though I was going anywhere soon, I let it close again.

'You may be in love with him,' Fujiwara said. 'But do you think he will ever fall in love with you?'

I knew the answer to that, but simply didn't want to admit it to myself. I knew he was in love with someone else, although for the most part he was oblivious. And that 'someone else' loved him too, but was too scared to admit it.

I may be a child, but I'm quite good at picking up hints of relationships. Jaden and Alexis are perfect for each other, and if I were to choose someone for him to spend the rest of his life with, I'd choose her in a heartbeat.

But then, where did that leave me?


(3rd Person POV)

Shadow Night smirked as Blair began to flicker in and out of focus. It was a shame really. She had such a strong sprit, yet so easy to break with a few well chosen words.

And he could sense others being absorbed by darkness without any probing at all. He snorted. How weak these students were.

Alexis and Syrus sprinted through the hallways, which were strangely empty for break time. But thinking about more pressing issues, the two ran for the infirmary. Till Syrus' PDA rang.

He stopped running, took it out of his pocket, and opened it. 'Hello,' he said, as Ms Fontaine's face appeared on the screen.

'Syrus,' Ms Fontaine replied. 'Can you come down to the Western Port of the school?'

'Why?' he asked, confused.

Tears started falling from his eyes at her reply. 'Zane's back.'

He glanced at Alexis, who was waiting a bit impatiently at the end of the corridor. 'I'll be right there,' he said, shutting off his PDA and replacing it in his blazer pocket.

He then cupped his hands over his mouth and yelled. 'Alexis, I need to go somewhere. I'll be back as soon as I can.'

Without waiting for a reply, he shot off towards the Western Port.


(Alexis' POV)

I watched as Syrus ran off somewhere. He looked exited about something, I mused. Putting it at the back of my mind to think about later, I continued on to the infirmary, my thoughts now dwelling on the prophecy.

Funning through it again in my head, I felt as though I was missing something. Something very important.

I entered the infirmary and sat beside Jaden, noticing that in out absence, Ms Fontaine had hooked him up to an electrocardiogram which was carefully monitoring his heart rate. The lines looked further apart than normal, and was it just my imagination, or was the distance between them increasing as each minute passed.

My eyes widened almost unconsciously. It wasn't my imagination. His heart rate really was slowing down. At this rate, I've only got a few minutes to understand what the prophecy meant and fulfil it before his heart stopped beating completely.

Come on Alexis, I berated myself mentally. Think!

Revising the prophecy in my head one more time, I realised something I hadn't realised before. If each stanza was made up of four lines, and you take the first letter of each line, they spelt LOVE.

It wasn't a secret crush anymore. Yubel knew it. Syrus knew it. My brother has been pestering me about it for years. And it wasn't a silly childhood crush either. It was the real thing. Because my heart ached to see him like this.

It was then that my thoughts caught up to me. Atticus…

A sudden, drawn out beeping filled my ears, and I sprung up in panic, leaning over Jaden's pale and icy cold face. Every stray thought was obliterated from my mind as his heart stopped beating.

Only one thought rang through my head.

Via expression of the heart's content.

Without thinking, without even considering the consequences of what I was just about to do, I knelt down, my face mere inches from his own.

'I love you,' I whispered, closing my eyes.

And I kissed him.