Asuka screamed when she saw the Decoy Dragon stuffed animal at the window of a shop. She complimented it as much as she was complimenting Phoenix. I bought it without any hesitation. She thanked me.

I bet she'd give him a kiss when he bought it for her. So I was beginning to wonder where mine was.

Well, at least she stopped talking about him. For now.

Chapter 10

Asuka glanced at her watch. "Kaiser, I think I'm going to have to leave."

"Leave?" I asked, "why?"

"Edo's about to finish his final duel. I'm going to go to the Kaiba Dome to meet up with him."

"Oh." I said. "Well, I guess I could come with you."

"Really?" Asuka said. "…Alright."

It was a long ride to the Dome. I shot a few glances at her at the car. She was sleeping. She was holding the Decoy Dragon in her arms. That lucky inanimate object.

Watching her while she slept reminded me of a time we had together, back when we were still studying at the academy. The school chose 10 students to spend a month at North Academy. Asuka and I were one of the 10 students (of course, the school chose the crème de la crème). She went to my room one night, said she was getting homesick. I comforted her. She kissed me. She told me she was happy that I was with her on the trip. I kissed her too. Then she asked me if she could stay with me that night. I agreed. I had her in my arms that night. Nothing happened. She just literally needed someone she knew to be there for her. I didn't sleep that night. I was probably too busy watching her do so.

The car stopped. The driver looked at me through the rearview mirror.

"We've arrived, sir."

- - -

Asuka was right. It was Phoenix's final duel of the night. And, so far, not a single point on the 'Lose' section has been etched on his dueling record.

We came just in time to see the last few turns of the duel.

"You destroyed my Clock Tower Prison," Phoenix told his opponent. He smirked. "Humph! You must be out of your mind."

The opponent seemed be unfamiliar with the Clock Tower's effect. "I destroyed it so that you'd be affected by damage," he explained, "If I didn't destroy it, none of my monsters could scratch you!"

"But if you did, something even worse would happen." Phoenix said. "Well, I guess I'll just show you. I Special Summon D-Hero Dreadmaster in attack position! And, using Dreadmaster's effect, I Special Summon 2 D-Hero Dashers from my Graveyard. Not only that, but my D-Hero monsters cannot be destroyed during this turn, and any battle damage I receive this turn becomes 0. You have no choice but to end your turn. And of course, once you do, all my monsters will attack! It's over."

"No! It's not!" the opponent said.

"What's the matter? Can't face your own destiny?" he asked arrogantly.

That sharp tongue. He used that on me during our duel.

"Dreadmaster! Finish him! Attack his Des Wombat!"

'And yet another amazing win from the Champion, Edo Phoenix! With 4200 attack power, his Dreadmaster literally wiped the field clean!'

"Yes!" Asuka exclaimed. Humph. She acts as if she's so surprised he won. Of course he won. He's Edo Phoenix. He can do anything.

Asuka ran towards the dueling field, calling his name. I doubt he could hear her with all these screaming people. Edo stepped out of the field and mingled with his crazed fans. I watched Asuka as she desperately tried to get through them and find her way to Phoenix.

I went closer out of curiosity. I heard the fangirls' constant bickering as I drew near. I couldn't stop staring at Asuka.

For some reason, I feel like something interesting is going to happen.

"Edo!" a voice louder than the rest stood out that even I heard it from a distance. A girl jumped out from the group of fangirls and threw her arms around Phoenix. I stole a glance at Asuka to see her reaction.

She looked as if she felt that the world had stopped turning for that moment. I went to her.

"Hey. You alright?" I asked.

"That girl…" her voice was completely monotonous.

I waited for her to finish. She looked mesmerized.

She finally spoke again.

"…that's Stephanie."