PLEASE READ
Ok, instead of seperate responses ro reviews at the moment I'm just gonna do a bit authors not. I'm so greatful for all the reviews and they boost my confidence so much, I will respond to all of you individually later but a lot of stuff has happened reccently, I haven't given up on the story, I will still be writing it but it's probably gonna be extremely slow for a long time. My entire life's been turned upside down in the last couple of days because my mum had a huge stroke, she's still in critical condition at the moment so I'm really busy with other stuff that I'm afraid is more important than writing. I will repeat however that I'M NOT GIVING UP. It will just be a hell of a lot slower.
Jaden was humming to herself as she, Chazz, professor Banner and some so called 'detective' who was supposed to be helping them hide their Spirit keys, of course Jaden didn't trust him, she knew better than that. She could sense that he was a duel spirit and she was waiting to see what he was trying to pull.
Then Jaden grinned when she spotted Alexis and she jogged up to the other girl, the others following close behind her. Then Jaden noticed Atticus staring out of the window and she sighed, "How's he doing?" she asked softly. Alexis looked away at that, her eyes filled with sadness, "He's doing ok I guess, he's glad to be out of the hospital bed but he still can't remember most of what happened." she informed Jaden quietly.
The brunnet sighed at that, "He will get better, the Shadows can take a long time to recover from." she stated softly, thinkingof Bakura and Marik, "And sometimes he may act darker, you just need to try and help him through it." she told the other girl reassuringly.
Alexis gave her a small hug at that before pulling back and raising an eyebrow at the 'detective' "Why are you guys here anyway?" she asked slowly.
Professor Banner was the one to answer, "The law actually." he stated, glancing back at the 'Detective' who grinned and lifted his hat to her, "Good after noon Ma'am, I'm detective Zaloog." he informed her. Jaden resisted the urge to scoff as Alexis slowly stated, "Ok..."
Professor Banner sighed at that, "See Alexis since three of the seven Spirit keys have already been taken by the Shadow Riders and the fate of the world rests on the remaining four the Academy thought it best to call in the police." he explained.
Chazz grinned as he turned around and asked, "Where's your Key Alexis?" the tall blonde smiled at that, "Right here, around my neck." she informed Chazz, who nodded, "Mine too, what about you Slacker?" he asked, turning to face Jaden.
Jaden laughed, "It's somewhere here, burried with all my other necklaces." she joked lightly. Zaloog interrupted them at that, "Oh my, that's exactly what I was afraid of, you may think that's where it's safest but it's not, if they find you they find the key." he explained. Banner nodded.
"The dectective has suggested that we hide our keys somewhere." He informed the small group. Jaden grinned at that, a plan forming in her mind. "I know the perfect place." she declared before rushing off and using the Shadows to create a replica of her key. She replaced her real one with the fake and slipped the real one into her pocket, before she put a sheepish grin on her lips and ran back.
"Oops, I forgot that I told a friend about it, I know I should trust them but still." she stated, forcing herself to blush faintly. Chazz rolled his eyes, "And this is why you will always be known as Slacker to me." he stated monotonously while Alexis and Banner laughed, Zaloog however was just staring at her with an incredulous look on his face. Obviously marvelling at the stupidity of what she'd just done.
Jaden repressed a smirk at that and smiled, "C'mon, we have to find places to hide them guys!" she stated brightly.
Chazz's was hidden first, under the sink. And the janitor, who Jaden could sense was a duel spirit caught Zaloogs attention and suspicion.
Jaden hid her fake key in her draw in Zanes room, which Zaloog complimented her for because it was so cluttered that it would be hard to find. Then a student was caught evesdropping and jaden Jaden rolled her eyes, another spirit hiding in the school.
Alexis his hers in her jewlery box and a woman came in, who Alexis told them all was the school nurse, but again Jaden could sense that she was a spirit. She had to forced herself to bite her tongue and stop herself from bursting out laughing at how well they'd infiltrated the school, but they weren't even aware that there was a chance that someone could sense them.
Banner hid his in a safe and a spirit posing as a security guard walked past. In the end the second Jaden got back to her room she broke down laughing. Of course this made Zane look at her in confusion, and Jadens only response was to laugh louder.
It took her about half an hour to calm down and explain to Zane, he didn't find it as funny as she did, but he did smile.
Of course she fell asleep relatively quickly and Zane had to pick her up and carry her into her bed, making sure to drape the blankets around her.
Jaden slept through the theifs attack and woke up relatively early in the morning, she check for her Spirit Key and rolled her eyes, "Oh my, it's gone." she muttered sarcastically before shaking Zane, "Oy!" she hissed, "Zane, wake up." The older boys eyes fluttered open slowly and he gave her an annoyed glare.
Jaden giggled at that and rolled her eyes, "I was right, the key's gone." she told him, causing Zane to roll his eyes. "We knew this would happen, why are you waking me up?" he asked slowly. Jaden laughed at that. "We have to pretend to be outraged and tell the others." she explained as though it was simple. Zane pulled himself up slightly so that his head was propped up by his hand, "Jaden, couldn't you do that on your own? I'm tired." he stated slowly.
Jaden rolled her eyes. "Zane, this is me, I'm the most hyperactive and excitable person in this school, and you think I'd let you sleep if it was really stolen?" she asked incredulously. Zane groaned as he pulled himself up, "Fine, I'll get up." he stated slowly.
Jaden beamed at him as she jumped up and grabbed her clothes before rushing into the bathroom, laughing brightly.
Zane shook his head, rolling his eyes as he stared after her. It took Jaden less than five minutes to emerge from the bathroom fully dressed and Zane grabbed his clothes before going into the bathroom himself.
Jaden jumped onto her bed smiling brightly as she jumped onto her bed and brushed her hair out of her face, smiling as she waited for Zane before frowning to herself and taking off the Medallion that she'd gotten so long ago. Atticus had given her the other half and it was complete now. Jaden held it in her hand, squeezing it slightly in her hand and biting her lip as she stared at it indecisively.
When Zane walked out of the bathroom her frowned slightly at the look of pain on Jadens face and he sighed to himself as he sat next to her on the bed, "Jaden, what's wrong?" he asked softly. Jaden looked up at him slowly.
"I was just thinking." she stated softly. Zane raised an eyebrow at that before Jaden let out a soft sigh and looked down, "I gave you the Medallion because I thought it would protect you... but it didn't because I only had half of it." she told him slowly. Zane raised an eyebrow at that but he didn't comment.
Jaden stared at the Medallion for a moment before pushing some of her Shadow magic into it, "It'll protect you now." she told him softly as she held it out to him. Zane stared down at it for a moment before he slowly took her hands, "Help me put it on." he stated softly, a faint smile on his lips as Jaden slowly climbed to her knees and draped it over his neck.
Jaden wobbled slightly and placed her hands on Zanes shoulders to keep her upright. Jaden felt a blush taint her cheeks at the strange surge of a feeling that she didn't recognise rushing through her when their eyes met and his hands gently steadied her.
A second later the bedroom door burst open and Jaden let out a startled yelp as she saw Chazz, Alexis, Chumly, Syrus and professor Banner gathered around the door.
In her shock Jaden lost her balance and went tumbling towards the floor. Zane dove after her, his arms wrapping around her as he twisted so that she landed safely on top of him. Jadens face flushed scarlet as she jumped off the older boy and helped him up quickly. "Oh god Zane, I'm so sorry." she gasped out, her brown eyes filled with guilt.
Zane rolled his eyes, "I'm fine, you didn't do anything wrong." he informed her comfortingly. Jaden glanced over at the door and frowned at the look of annoyance in Chazz's eyes, "The Spirit Keys have been stolen!" he snapped. Jaden gave a small nod. "I know, that's why I woke Zane up." she told them, "I kinda freaked out and Zane was trying to calm me down." she lied and Chazz rolled his eyes.
"Yeah yeah." he snapped, "We need to find out who stole them." he stated as he barged into the room and the others followed him. Jaden gave a small nod as she sat on her bed and Zane sat next to her.
Jaden sighed, "So the Shadow Riders have been and took the Keys, doesn't anyone else find it a little bit suspicious?" she asked after a moment. Chazz frowned at that, "What do you mean suspicious?" he asked slowly as Alexis, Banner, Syrus and nodded and Alexis asked, "Yeah, what exactly do you mean by suspicious?" she asked slowly.
Jaden rolled her eyes, "Dear god, and they call me stupid." she muttered causing Zane to laugh and lift up her real Spirit key from the spot around her neck, "Jaden thought like something like this would happen so he made a fake." Zane explained as Jaden grinned proudly, "Damn right, and the fact that I did doesn't leave this room," she stated seriously.
Alexis beamed brightly at her, "Oh thank god, that means we still have one of the keys." she stated, her relief obvious. Chazz nodded slowly, "Yeah, Alexis is right, we haven't lost them all." there was a look of grudging respect on his face and Jaden grinned, "Now, let's get down to the matter at hand shall we?" she asked before grabbing a handfull of paper and neatening it on the deck like a professional.
Syrus and Chumly both laughed at that and Jaden grinned goofily. Alexis smiled at her friends adorablness and the way that Zane smiled faintly at her antics. Chazz rolled his eyes, "Right, who stole the keys." he stated slowly. Banner frowned, "Perhaps we should get Zaloog." he stated slowly.
Jaden shook her head at that, "No!" she stated loudly before shoving the papers away and crossing her arms over he chest, "We aren't getting him involved when we don't know if we can trust him." she explained when everyone looked at her in confusion.
Alexis frowned, "Jaden, he's a detective, why shouldn't we trust him?" she asked slowly. Jaden sighed. "I thought there was something off about him so I pulled some strings, apparently he doesn't even exist." she informed the small group, who gaped in shock at her revalation.
Banner frowned at that, "Are you sure?" he asked slowly. Jaden nodded curtly, "He was tricking us, and I think that it's not just him, probably a team of them, otherwise they'd never have been able to pull all this off." she explained simply.
Zane nodded at that, "I think Jaden's right." he agreed. Chumly frowned, "But who else would it be?" he asked slowly.
Syrus gave a small nod, "Yeah, it's one thing knowing that, but if we don't know who to go after..." he trailed off meaningfully. Jaden grinned, "I think I have an idea." she stated slowly, "But I don't think we'll have to wait long," and then she took a deep breath. "I have a plan, I'm not sure how much you guy's will like it but I think it's the only way to get the stolen Keys back." she informed them after a moment.
Chazz sighed, "Well, tell us your plan Jaden." he stated slowly. Alexis gave an encouraging smile, "We don't exactly have any other plans so yours will probably be better than none." she stated lightly.
Jaden gave her a grateful smile before she took a deep breath. "We tell them the truth, or at least part of it, because right now they'll be wondering why the keys don't work, we tell them that they need to be won in a duel." she explained slowly, "They'll demand a duel, and one of your guys accept." she stated as she slowly looked at Alexis, Chazz and Banner. "That's the only way we'll get them back without risking my key." she informed them, "No matter what happens they don't get the Sacred beasts."
Chazz nodded, "I'll do it." he stated loudly. Alexis' eyes narrowed, "Hey! Wait!" she yelled. Jaden scowled and smashed her fist against the wall, "Stop bickering!" she yelled furiously, "God, what are you, five?" she asked harshly, "Chazz will duel the Shadow Rider." she decided.
Alexis' eyes widened at that, "What?" she asked furiously, "But Jaden!" she started, Jaden cut her off with an icy glare. "This isn't a game, this isn't about pride or honour, this is about the fate of the world!" she snapped, finaly losing that calm thread of control.
"You have no idea how important this all is! You don't know what it feels like to really be duelling for so much more than you can ever truly imagine." she was shaking. "You have no idea what it's like to have so much weight on your shoulders! To know that one duel could end it all." tears were pouring down her face.
"I lost my dad when I was seven because of one of those kind of duels!" she screamed. "I watched his unconsious body be carried away and I chased after him desperately, I was terrified and I ended up practically catatonic." she was sobbing uncontrollably as she ran out of the room and went smashing into two people and stumbling back, plummeting to the floor and screaming in shock, half expecting Zane to grab her like usual and then her head his the floor with a resounding crack.
~~~Back with the gang~~~
Zane glared at them all, "God, you just need to grow up you guys." He stated sharply. Chazz scowled, "Jaden didn't need to freak out like that." he retorted, "He's so over the top." he snapped.
Alexis looked away guiltily, "I didn't mean it like that." she muttered. Syrus and Chumly both frowned, "You're being kinda harsh." stated Chumly softly, "I mean, Jaden did kinda over react, besides, surely he'd have told us about that before." he was looking down.
Syrus bit his lip, "I don't think Jaden would have." he whispered, "I mean, I think he's been holding that in for so long that it just burst." he looked guilty and Zane sighed as he got up. "I'm gonna go, I've got to find Jaden." he snapped before heading to the door and opening it, his eyes widening when he realised that Zaloog and his group were litterally about to knock.