Author's Note: I own nothing in relation to Yu-Gi-Oh GX.

---

cheerleader101 asks: "Would you consider you and Alexis having a close friend relationship or a hate-love one?"

Alistair says: …It depends on how much of an absolute mischevious DEMON GIRL she decides to be, which can vary drastically on a day-by-day basis. And what do you mean a "hate-love relationship"? I don't need another Atticus on my case.

RPQ asks: "Apart from Mana, do you believe in monster spirits?"

Alistair says: I certainly do now. If Mana can wander around the real world, I don't see why others couldn't. Still, that doesn't make it any less awkward."

RPQ also says: "I suggest bringing in Mana to help with your plans.

Alistair says: No can do. This is a man's job. Mana would probably give away our position with an unfortunately-timed giggle fit anyway.

Keep on sending your questions and Alistair will keep on answering them. On with the story!

---

CHAPTER 21 – OPERATION HEAVY STORM

A few weeks and a flurry of swear words later, my foot was completely healed. Now was the perfect time to put my counterattack into motion. I still refused to leave my Ra dorm, half because I was still emotionally damaged from the loss of my Envoy cards which had to be confiscated for the duration of the term by Chancellor Sheppard, and half because the room was just too awesome to leave behind. Having sent a PDA message to Atticus earlier in the day, I expected a visit from him sometime today. And sure enough, there was a knock on my door at around eleven in the morning.

"You in there, Alistair?" Atticus asked from the other side. I hopped out of my bed and unlocked the door, letting him inside. He looked around the room, nodding his head in approval and mumbling things to himself like "nice", "sweet", and "awesome".

"So what's this new plan of yours?" he eventually asked me as I whipped out the notepad I kept in my pocket. I decided to unveil the newest feature I decided to add to my room, opening up the nearby closet doors and pulling out a giant whiteboard, complete with black markers. Copying the diagram from my notepad to the whiteboard, Atticus's expanding grin was evidence that he loved this idea. When it was finished, I threw down the black marker and faced him.

"I call it Operation Heavy Storm," I chuckled. "And it begins whenever you're ready."

"That means NOW!" Atticus declared excitedly. "I'll lead the way!" We left the Ra dorm immediately and advanced to the Obelisk Girls dorm. Like before, he was able to get us inside effortlessly, a talent that continued to puzzle me. I had to hold Atticus back so we could hide in the lobby momentarily, as he was ready to begin the operation right away when there were still a couple of preparations to make.

"What's the holdup?" he inquired eagerly. "Let's get this show on the road!"

"We have to make sure the coast is clear," I insisted, sending a pair of PDA messages to Mindy and Jasmine. To our fortune, they both reported that they were having lunch at the cafeteria, while Alexis stayed back at the dorm.

"Alright," I confirmed. "Let's move out."

If there was ever a time where the "Mission: Impossible" theme would play over real life, this would be that time. Atticus and I carefully crept through the maze of hallways in the Obelisk dorm as we approached Alexis's room. The hissing sound and warm scent of running shower water met my senses, assuring me that our timing couldn't have been more perfect.

"We are the two luckiest pranksters in the history of the universe," I told Atticus, sneaking quietly into the room. We secured the perimeter and re-examined the plans.

"Alright," I said, "one of us will have to cover the bathroom."

Atticus and I both glanced toward the bathroom, and then looked at each other as if to say "you do it".

"You should go for it," Atticus insisted. "Besides, you'll be seeing her like that a number of times in the future, if you catch my drift!" I took that moment to smack Atticus upside the head and point to the dresser resting against the wall.

"Fine, get the goods and I'll do the dirty work," I growled, cautiously approaching the bathroom door. I started to pick the lock without a sound as Atticus started opening the drawers and pulling out everything he could find, stuffing it all into a giant plastic bag. I turned to glare at him when he sounded like he was holding back a laughter fit, only to widen my eyes at the frilly pink Cyber Blader thong he was holding up.

"Put that AWAY, damn it!" I hissed at him as quietly as possible. "We're wasting time!"

I continued to work on unlocking the door when the dresser all of a sudden started buzzing. I whipped my head around to see Atticus's shocked expression.

"…I don't even WANT to know what that is," I whispered. "Turn it off!"

"Dude, I'm not touching that!" Atticus countered.

"I'm not going to the hospital wing again because of this! Turn it off!"

Atticus reluctantly reached into the dresser with his eyes closed. There was a faint click and the buzzing stopped. I rolled my eyes and finally managed to get the door open. Being as silent as possible, I crept into the bathroom, noticing Alexis's silhouette on the shower curtain and the pile of clothes on the floor. I swiftly gathered them up without being seen, and pulled a Post-It note from my pocket. I scribbled down a few words and stuck it next to the mirror where it could easily be seen, finally withdrawing back into the bedroom.

"Got it," I told Atticus, who still looked pale in the face. "Oh don't be such a child."

Atticus looked as if he was about to vomit, so I simply stuffed the remainder of the clothes into the bag, tied it up, and hauled it out of the door, dragging Atticus with me. We left the room completely empty of clothes, and a simple Post-It note by the bathroom mirror:

"CLOTHES ARE NOW BANNED. – LOVE, ALISTAIR AND ATTICUS"

---

It came as no surprise later in the day that Alexis was missing from Crowler's class.

"Pullman?"

"Here."

"…is present. Ratigan?"

"Here."

"…is present. Rhein?"

"Get off! It's not a wig! It's NATURALLY white!"

"…is present. Alexis Rhodes?"

Silence.

"It seems she's gone missing today, Professor," I chimed in, batting away the girls behind me who were trying to play with my hair. "Would you like me to go check up on her?" Crowler paused in thought for a moment before nodding his head and giving me permission to leave. I rubbed my hands together in anticipation as I smacked away the girls' hands once more and fled from the classroom, immediately heading for the Slifer Red dorm and banging loudly on Jaden's door.

"Jaden! Wake up!"

I heard a bit of rustling on the other side of the dorm doorway, but it quickly died down.

"…The cafeteria pizza is FREE today!"

A loud thud was heard and the door was quickly opened, revealing a wide-eyed but tired Jaden.

"Hm? Oh, what's up, Alistair?" he asked sleepily, apparently thinking the pizza bit was a dream.

"Alexis seems to have gone missing," I told him. "I was wondering if you'd go check up on her. I don't really know my way around the Obelisk Girls' dorm, so I'd likely get lost. You're better at sneaking around than I am."

"Oh… alright," he agreed. "I wonder if she's alright."

"She's probably just sick with something," I shrugged, knowing full well why she was staying in for the day. "Oh, and you're late for Crowler's class again."

And with that, Jaden was off and running. Curiosity forced me to follow. Sneaking behind Jaden ever so carefully, I traced his steps up into the Obelisk Girls' dorm. It wasn't long before the moment of glory was upon me.

"Hey Alexis?" Jaden asked stupidly opening the unlocked door. "Alistair said th- AHH!!"

"JADEN! GET OUT!!"

The door slammed shut, and I was on the floor holding my sides in laughter. Jaden walked right past me, red in the face and eyes wide in shock.