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SF4E: "Wow, only seven more chapters after this. Then I can start the sequel. Thank you all very much for reading and reviewing. I feel all warm and fuzzy inside." laughs "But for more than one reason. I just want to let everyone know that Divine Child and I have another account where all our co-written fanfics shall be going. I'll be writing some Harry Potter and Negima as well. So check out "Sisters of Eternity", our new account. Please Read and Review."
Disclaimer: I do not own YGO GX, the characters, or the events. I own all OCs except for the ones belonging to other ppl obviously. More Jaden and co centric this time instead of Season 3 cast. Onto the chappie!
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Chapter XXIII
Used To Be My Own Protection
"Jaden! Help us!" Alicia shouted along with Syrus.
How did they end up dangling over the side of a cliff, almost about to be dropped into the watery grave, and Jaden dueling the strange and talented Axel Brodie may anyone ask? It's called that Monkey Boy Brodie decided to play dirty and force Jaden to duel. The Obelisk and Slifer both began to let out small whimpers of horror when they noticed the rope starting to give away. Jesse was sitting on the tree holding them up, trying to stop the device currently threatening to send Syrus and Alicia to their demise.
Syrus blushed when Alicia's hands accidentally brushed across his backside as she tried to squirm free. "So this is how it's gonna end?!" It was only a split second before they heard the snap and they began to fall.
"I'm an Oracle for Pete's sake and I couldn't even see this?!" Alicia thought, just as Jesse snatched the rope, Tyranno holding on to his leg, and they prevented Syrus and her from falling. "You two better pull us up before I have Ami throw you over this cliff!" She hissed menacingly.
Once they were in safety's arms, all four turned to watch Axel and Jaden's duel...
Meanwhile...
"Anika?" Jim stopped suddenly when he noticed her lying unconscious on the ground. She had her duel disk on and her Bioband was glowing strangely. "Anika?!" Running to her side, the Aussie quickly checked her pulse, fear in his gaze. "Speak to me, sheila... tell me you're alright..." Jim gently pulled the limp girl into his arms. Surely, if he could carry a 500 pound croc, he could carry Anika to the infirmary.
"What's going on, Jim?" He stopped when he noticed Cameron and Tyler heading towards him, their fingers laced through one another's, and both had worried looks on their faces.
Tyler let out a small cry of alarm, "Anika!? Is she okay?!"
They rushed next to Jim's side, looking at the honey-blonde in his arms.
"I found her like this." He said quietly. "Her Bioband was acting strange."
"Bio..." Trailing off, Tyler had a flicker of rage in her eyes. She snatched the Bioband on her own wrist, and thankfully due to her enhanced strength due to the fact her day as a cat-teen was approaching rapidly, she managed to break it off her wrist and stomped it into the earth. "C'mon, let's get Anika to Ms. Fontaine."
Back with the Others...
"Listen here, you big jerk-off, nobody messes with Ami or her man, you got it!" Sheena shouted, jabbing her forefinger into Axel's chest, and looking ready to kill.
Ami was currently being held back by Zoe, Cyrah, Lauren, and Alicia. Syrus, Jesse, and Tyranno had taken the unconscious Jaden to the infirmary. Alicia had wanted to go too, but she was the only one who could control Ami's powers, and seeing how the raven haired Ra was behaving...
"I'M GONNA TIE YOU UP AND HANG YOU OVER A CLIFF, BRODIE! HOW DARE YOU DO THAT TO MY TEDDYBEAR! LEMME GO, GUYS! I WANNA MAKE HIM PAY FOR WHAT HE'S DONE!"
"I told you. Viper's the one who made me do it." Axel said again, looking ready to shove Sheena away from him.
Sheena glared, her sapphire orbs burning. "You better hope that I don't hear otherwise, Nobody."
Zoe giggled, "I get it. Because he shares the name with a nobody from Kingdom Hearts. Good one, Sheena."
"Uh-hmm." Someone cleared their throat and all of them turned to see Alexis and Chazz. "I'd hate to break up this interesting meeting, but we've got a problem. Anika's currently in the infirmary and won't wake." Alexis said, trying hard not to shove Chazz away. He was already invading her space and it was driving her mad.
Cyrah, Zoe, and Sheena all let out gasps, "Anika!"
Chazz was staring at Ami intensely, praying he wouldn't somehow end up in a tree again. Little did he know that when the time would come, she would be the one person who truly cared...
Infirmary...
"C'mon, Nika. You gotta wake up. You can't stay like this forever." Jim kept both of his hands gently grasped around hers. "Anika..."
Surprise struck him when she began to stir. Her dark chocolate eyes flickered open and Jim smiled in relief. Anika's eyes landed on him and she smiled warmly at him.
"Hey, Indiana Jones. What's going on?" She whispered hoarsely.
"You had me worried there, sheila. You alright now?" He gently brushed her side-swept bangs out of her face, handing her a glass of ice water, and watching her sip it slowly.
Anika looked around the dark infirmary, "I'm okay... just exhausted for some reason..."
Jim eased her back onto her pillows, "Do you remember what happened before you passed out?"
"I remember dueling some weird little pickle guy. Then nothing." Yawning, Anika tried to force herself to stay awake.
Jim tried not to twitch at the thought of a "weird little pickle guy". Very gently, he watched as Anika started to drift back into an innocent slumber.
"You get some sleep, Nika." He whispered quietly. Nodding, she fell asleep, Jim still watching over her. "What is goin' on here? Why is this happening to students? To Anika..." He couldn't understand why he had the sudden urge to deliver a jaw shattering blow to someone for harming Anika. Calming himself, Jim stood up, getting ready to leave, even though deep down he wanted to stay.
"Pleasant dreams, Anika." He whispered, before he walked quietly out of the room, a smile on his face.
After Adrian and Chazz's Duel...
"Don't you ever do something as stupid and arrogant again, Chazz Princeton!" Ami shouted.
Adrian had just woken up, only to get glomped by Zoe, who was shouting, "Addie!" and everyone else was standing close to each other. All eyes on Chazz getting scolded by Wonder-Midget...
"Yeah, yeah." Chazz muttered.
Ami's blue eyes flickered in concern and anger, "Don't you dare take that tone of voice with me, Chazz!" Then, she surprised everyone by hugging him tightly. "I was worried about you... Please don't do that again... Please..."
Syrus made a face of puzzlement, cocking his head to the side at the sight of his girlfriend hugging Chazz of all people. Everyone else shook off the shock, distinctively noticing that Cyrah was keeping her distance from Jesse, who looked both hurt and confused.
"This is getting chaotic fast." Tyranno commented, protectively holding Lauren, despite their height difference.
He spoke too soon, because Zoe had just decided to tackle Adrian in another huggle. Blushing horribly, he began to stammer again. All the guys giving him a knowing look.
"Um, Zoe, we need to go and do something." Cyrah spoke up, dragging her taller friend behind her, as they left the room.
Adrian stood there, trying to figure out what was wrong with him.
"What's wrong with me? I'm Adrian Gecko. Of course I can talk to girls' but-"
"You can't talk to Zoe because you are madly in love with her." He was cut off.
"Nobody asked you Chazz." Adrian scowled in annoyance.
Alicia turned to Jesse, "What's up with Cyrah, Rainbow Boy?"
Jesse flinched at the name that Zoe had come up for him after hearing his tale of the Rainbow Dragon. Very sadly, he looked at his boots, sighing. Everyone else exchanged a group glance of worry.
"S-She told me she loved me... and ever since... she's been avoidin' me..." He whispered, clearly in pain.
"Aw, it's okay, sweetie." Tyler stepped over to the teal haired adolescent, wrapping her arms around his neck in a friendly/comforting hug. One split second later, Cameron had pulled her off of Jesse, and was growling overprotectively again. Jesse sweatdropped as Tyler growled, "For the last time, Cam, I am not going after anyone else! NOW LEMME GO YOU BLONDE SQUIRREL!"
Cameron scowled, "I am not a squirrel, you monkey!"
SMACK!!
"I AM NOT A MONKEY!!"
A/N: And actual quote of mine... (sweatdrops)
Jaden and Alicia stepped in; separating them, "Alright, alright. Knock it off, kids." Lauren giggled.
Pouting, both refused to look at one another.
"Guys... there's somethin' I need to ask you." Jesse said softly.
"What is it, Jess?" Ami asked, blinking her eyes up at him.
"How can I protect a moon without hurting it?" He whispered, his lower lip trembling.
Silence filled the room as they realized what Jesse had just told them...
He was in love with Cyrah, but scared to tell her.
Anika spoke up, "S-She loves you, Jesse. She told me."
Sheena nodded, "She's also told us she accidentally told you."
"Yeah... she did..." He sighed.
Jaden placed an arm around Alicia's shoulders, "It'll be okay, Bro. You just gotta tell her how you feel."
Jim nodded, "Telling them how you feel is how you reel them in!" He laughed, quickly stealing a glance towards Anika. "This sheila's gonna drive me mad I tell ya... Mad..."
Axel had woken up, "What's going on?" He got up and looked at the group.
"Oh look who it is?" Sheena grumbled, crossing her arms.
Axel just glared at her then looked back at the group. Ami was ready to tackle him when she was held back.
"Hey listen... I want to apologize for the other day. I didn't mean to do but-"
"You still did it!" Sheena stepped up, shielding Ami.
"Yes, I know. Can I finish?!" He growled.
"Go ahead," Sheena shrugged.
Axel sighed, "Thanks... listen... everyone... I'm sorry but Viper told me to do it. It's kinda of complicated but... I'm sorry for my actions and that it caused a lot of distress."
"A lot?" both Sheena and Ami answered along with Alicia.
Ami sighed, "Apology accepted." She went around Sheena and hugged Axel.
"Um, thanks." Axel was confused as to why the girl was hugging him.
"Yep, from me too." Alicia spoke up.
Syrus grumbled, "Fine..." But only after Lauren had elbowed him.
Sheena opened her mouth, "Fine... Apology accepted... but that doesn't mean I have to like you."
"Fine by me," Axel glared, "You're an annoying twit anyways."
"A TWIT?!" Sheena did something the others couldn't catch, causing Axel to be knocked to the floor. "Excuse me Mister Nobody! Nobody messes with a ninja!" Sheena growled, threatening him with her fist.
"Ninja?!" the boys all repeated in bewilderment.
"Yep, Sheena's a ninja!" Anika smiled.
"Oh crickey," Jim muttered; stepping back away from the crazy ninja who was shouting threats of violence to the nobody. He quickly pulled Anika behind him, just in case, on impulse. "Nobody's safe."
"No he is not!" Sheena shouted.
He sweatdropped, "I was referring to everyone else, sheila..."
Syrus sweatdropped as well and came up with a simple, "We're dead."
"Got that right." Chazz grimaced, before he was suddenly face-first on the floor, groaning in pain from the swift kick he had received from Alexis.
That Night...
"Why won't you play with me, Jaden?" the creepy voice caused Jaden to jerk awake in a cold sweat. Again he had seen his friends all turned to stone and disappear before his very eyes. Winged Kuriboh appeared, chattering away, and nudging Jaden out of bed. The sleep-deprived Slifer looked out the window in surprise to see Ruby Carbuncle, Witch of the Black Forest, who was Ami's duel spirit, Nanobreaker, and Dreamsprite all outside.
"They're in danger... we must protect them." Dreamsprite said sadly.
"Ever since they unlocked their powers..." Nanobreaker sighed.
Witch of the Black Forest sadly looked towards her companions, "Ami, Alicia, and Tyler are in more danger than we first thought. We must protect them at all costs."
Jaden frowned, "I hope that they're wrong. The last thing I want to see is for Ali or her sisters to get hurt. I love her and Mi-Mi and Ty... those two are like irritating siblings..."
"Jaden..." Cameron appeared out of no where, giving said duelist a heart attack. "Sorry... I need you to come with me... its important..."
Following the blonde boy outside, Jaden's eyes widened at the sight of Lauren knocked unconscious. Tyranno was knelt next to her, his body visibly shaking, and there was blood soaking through Lauren's shirts. Ami was sobbing hysterically along with Tyler. Alicia was standing off to the side, her eyes darkened, and she was as still as a statue. Chazz and Syrus were also very still.
"What happened?!" Jaden exclaimed, running forward.
Cyrah and Anika were hugging each other and trembling. Sheena, Alexis, and Zoe staring at Lauren's limp figure. Axel, Adrian, Jim, and Jesse said nothing.
"She's been attacked..." Blair Flannigan's voice spoke up.
Everyone turned to the Slifer girl in surprise to see her with her friend, Marty.
"What do you know, Blair?" Jaden demanded.
Blair sniffled, "I saw a shadow outside my dorm and Lauren fall. She had been dueling. I ran out here and saw the blood and screamed for Hassleberry." Marty patted Blair's arm. "Is she gonna die?!"
Tyranno shook his head, "No... she's not..." He whispered, scooping her up in his arms. "We need to get to the infirmary ASAP! Move out!"
Alicia looked towards Cyrah and Anika, "You two stay here with Jim and Jesse and protect Blair and Marty."
"Yes ma'am." Cyrah whimpered out, before all four headed into Blair's dorm.
"You can't take Laurie... You can't..." Alicia thought.
A girl's voice filled her thoughts, "Oh, but I can... and I will... Jaden's mine..."
"You will pay..." She growled through gritted teeth. "I used to be my own protection... but not anymore..."
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SF4E: "Another chapter completed! Who was Lauren's attacker? What's gonna happen to her? Find out in Chapter 24!" is smacked upside the head. "Ow! What was that for?" Eidolon Twilight Princess shrugs "Evil Baka of a Cousin..." is smacked again. "Ow! Plz R&R. No flames."
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