ASUKA'S BOOK OF LOVE

Author's Note: Well, there it is: the last chapter of 2007! Not that this is of much use, but I'm leaving for vacation this Friday and for the next two weeks I'll be skiing in the Alps (Kitzbuhel, Austria more specifically) and touring the Italian lakes. So, I give you this chapter a little early even though the other will come after Jan. 2nd. At least the revelation is finally here. Detention progresses and finally the name slips out! Yay, now you know what kind of conflict to expect after the New Year! A small note on japanese names: Principal Samejima is Chancellor Sheppard (hope I spelled that correctly) in the dub. Once again, I hope you have fun reading!


Mid-Chapter: The Revelation, Part B

Judai: I KNEW IT! I KNEW IT! I SO KNEW IT!

Asuka: You did? That kind of disappoints me…

Judai: But you two, you are destined to be together! I always sensed this connection, this aura circondating you! Asuka, that's great news!

Asuka: You really think so?

Judai: Of course I do. He's your ideal match and, you'd better believe me, I know who is and who isn't right for my best friend.

Fubuki: Has she confessed her love for my best friend, Ryo Marufuji, yet or are you just faking happiness, Judai?

Asuka: Eh? Um… Howdidyouknow?

Judai: Look at her, isn't she the cutest little thing? Fubuki, you made her cheeks turn pink with your remark. Well, really, how did you know?

Fubuki: Easy, I'm the Lovemaster after all. So, I pretty much know everything about love. Then Asuka is my specialty, considering she's my little sister and all. I know she can be very picky and that no guy without beauty, brains and a personality would stand a chance with her. Then I simply had to ask myself: who is the most handsome, intelligent, interesting, talented, benevolent, all-rounded…

Asuka: Yeah, yeah… we get the point.

Fubuki: …person in Duel Academia? And then I answered: why me, of course! But since it could be a little perverted to assume that my sister has an interest in me, I asked a second question. And who has all these qualities second to me? The answer was simply there again: my beloved friend, Ryo Marufuji. Well, technically he doesn't have a personality, but you get the point. Even that complex math twit, Misawa, could be capable of such plain reasoning. It was elementary, my dear Judai.

Asuka: So, you too think that Ryo and I…

Fubuki: …are perfect for each other? Yes, I do.

Asuka: Yay! At least I have big brother's approval. So you won't ever set me up again with no one, yippee! I'm free, I'm free, I'M FREE!!! La-la-la…

Judai: Maybe you'd like to keep the celebrations down, Asuka… Professor Hibiki is staring intensely at your direction…

Asuka: Oops… okay, I guess I got a little carried away! Well, I guess we are over and done with that dating thing, aren't we Fubuki?

Fubuki: Nope.

Asuka: What do you mean, "Nope?"

Fubuki: I already suspected you had a crush on someone, and Ryo more specifically. But confirming this, my dear sister, is only the beginning. Now we have to get you two together.

Judai: He's right, Asuka! I mean, you two have to start officially dating. Remember you explained to me what dating is?

Fubuki: She explained to you? Oh, Judai, you have so much to learn… especially about dating and girls and love.

Judai: I already know everything! Asuka explained to me…

Fubuki: Oh, really? Well, how are babies born?

Judai: Hello? The STORK brings them? Everyone knows that!

Fubuki: I'll slap myself… Please, hold me not to slap myself… Well, let's come back to the point. The Lovemaster's job is not completed until his victims… sorry objects of help get to share a first kiss…

Asuka: What? A first…

Fubuki: A first kiss, that's right. Don't faint.

Asuka: But… don't I need to know at least if he loves me back?

Fubuki: That's totally irrelevant! The Lovemaster can make love happen! Count on me to make this flower blossom, to trigger these sparks, to…

Asuka: Fubuki, I don't want it that way… Plus, I think Ryo already has a girlfriend. Isn't he supposed to go to this graduating students' tournament event and dance afterwards alongside Seika Kohinata?

Fubuki: Oh crap! I had completely forgotten about this one!

Judai: Wait! I know professor Chronos set them up to duel together, but I'm a little confused here. Does a tag duel technically count as a "date"?

Fubuki: Thank you there! See Asuka, even ignorant Judai has a point there. They are going to duel together, just that… There's nothing stopping you from becoming his date in the dance.

Asuka: Actually, there is. It's Seika…

Fubuki: Gee, have you got fewer brains than Judai? I already told you she isn't a problem! She's just going to be his tag partner, that's all. I believe we all will be assigned a tag partner too within the next few days for the mini tournament. I don't know how partners are assigned but I think it has to do something with professor Samejima's computer… it's random in any case…

Asuka: And yet, she likes him. I know for sure. She was chatting with her following crowd the other day of how she had this perfect plan of captivating Ryo's heart… a plan, yet so infallible-

Fubuki: You've got nothing to worry about! She has her plans, we have ours. And we're the perfect team. We have me, the Love Specialist, Momoe and Junko, our cupids…

Judai: And me!!!

Fubuki: Sigh, that's true. Judai too, he's your best friend, so we'd better count him in.

Asuka: Guys, this is sweet, but how could I ever compete with Seika?

Fubuki: But… you already have! You tied her in the pageant, didn't you?

Judai: And she's not half the duelist you are? Speaking of which, if you finally end up dating Ryo, will you arrange a duel between me and him? I've only dueled him once and lost so I want revenge!!!

Fubuki: Don't tell anywhere but a little blue bird out of Samejima's computer told me that you will be the single opponent at Ryo's graduation duel… Cool huh? You'll get to duel the best graduating duelist in front of the whole school!

Judai: OHMIGOODNESS! I'm so excited!

Fubuki: You needn't worry Asuka. I'll take care of everything.

Asuka: Well, that's mainly what I'm worried about.

Fubuki: So, tell me. How did you, of all people, fell in love? I'm not particularly curious, but then it would be interesting… since I am researching matters of the heart.

Judai: I'LL BE DUELING RYO!

Asuka: Well, he was teaching me these card strategies, all this year. This is why I've made so much progress as a duelist. The funny thing is, Fubuki that I wanted to become as good as you so this is why I asked for his help which he kindly gave. I mean, you two have dueled millions of times, haven't you? So, we had these lessons at first, by the lighthouse… Yet, what in the beginning was a simple way of self-improvement became a small pleasure in the process. It was the sole source of happiness, when you were gone, the way he spoke of dueling, life, philosophy…

Judai: I'LL BE DUELING RYO!

Fubuki: Oh… I see. Well, even though you'll never catch up to me as a duelist, little Asuryn, I am deeply and profoundly moved. I've known Ryo since we both were chibi little cute things and I can tell, you addressed the right person for your card strategy lessons. Well, I am kind of speechless, but I guess that having a competent duelist as my sister makes me… proud. And her being in love with my best friend makes me happy. What remains only is to find out the way he feels about you.

Judai: I'LL BE DUELING RYO!

Fubuki: Oh shut up, will you? We've heard! As to dueling now… I believe Hayato has given you Asuka, one of the special cards I ordered, hasn't he?

Asuka: Yes, it's a plain version of me, "Asuka Tenjouin: Duel Academia Student." At first I didn't think it could be used to duel but it seems I was wrong.

Fubuki: Take this one too. It's a fusion card I made for myself: "Asuka Tenjouin: Queen of Obelisk Blue". These cards are so much fun to incorporate in the game…

Asuka: Yeah, about that…

Fubuki: Don't worry. Production has ceased. They are now collectibles.

Asuka: Hey, that card you gave me… The attack is just the coolest! I mean, it is 3300 points! And the 2500 defense points are not bad either!

Fubuki: Well yes, but you have to use it wisely, fuse together one "Asuka Tenjouin: Duel Academia Student" with another Asuka-type monster-

Judai: Hey! Did you just called my friend a monster?

Fubuki: …and remove from play two monster cards in your graveyard. It would be too easy otherwise, wouldn't it? I created the system combo myself.

Judai: If you only used your genius to study more and not deal with trivial stuff you could have graduated…

Fubuki: Yeah, look who's talking!

Judai: …said professor Chronos.

Asuka: Okay… enough! Detention's over! Professor Hibiki opened the door so I guess we can leave now!

Judai: That was quick…

Fubuki: Time for the wheels to be set in motion…

Asuka: No… THAT was quick…


So, that was it... This fic will go on as royalshipping... Are you happy or disappointed? Or both? In any case, you can sense the conflict that's going on. It seems that Asuka has a rival now (Seika) to spice things up and that our favourite Love Master (Fubuki) won't leave her in peace. What about Momoe and Junko? What will their plans of helping Asuka be? To give you a small preview of what's to come, I'll give you three hints: 1. Asuka will go on a date with Sho, 2. Manjyome will be back (YIPPEE! He's my brother's favourite character, so he deserves more spotlight) alongside with Misawa..., 3. Seika wil be a tough opponent to beat (Poor Asuka... You really hoped I'd make it easy for you, didn't you?) And... what about Ryo himself? I'll guess you'll have to find out next year. What remains now is to simply R&R... For the time being, MERRY CHRISTMAS TO YOU ALL!!! I'll be looking forward to our next official meeting! Hope that your vacations will be the best, ever... SEASON'S GREETINGS!!!