Shadow rider final decision!
Nightshroud and Camula!
Mostly because these duels are incredibly personal for her. Nightshroud is possessing Atticus and Camula took Zane, her two best friends. So I will say that I'm gonna have fun with this.
Kaida might duel Kagemaru with Jaden, mostly so that she doesn't become part of the cheer squad for this one and she won't get a lot of dueling action for this arc. I haven't decided yet.
In canon Jaden beat ALL of them (minus Don Zaloog, who Chazz beat)! Like none of the other key holders (minus Chazz) DID ANYTHING! Sure they had duels but none of them that did duel a Shadow Rider won! They all lost! Banner turned evil so he doesn't count, and Chazz lost to a second Rider after winning against the first one he dueled. Alexis lost against Banner, the only Shadow Rider she faced through the entire arc! Crowler was practically useless, Zane lost to protect his brother, and Bastion lost cause he was to love struck!
Sorry...
I didn't mean to rant like that...
I've also been up all night cause my Cat doesn't want to eat and it's driving me crazy...
So...
Yeah...
Anyway, moving on!
It's my Birthday so I'm posting two chapters of this as a birthday present to myself. Make sure to read ch 7 since I'm updating them together.
Disclaimer: I only own Kaida and some of her deck. That's it.
Chapter 8: Courting Alexis
Winter break has come an gone and we are back at school. It was nice to see my family, even if Jaden didn't come with.
Not to mention, meeting Jesse...
But moving on!
It was tennis day. I was playing with Alexis in a singles game.
"Alright, class, get your game on!" Ms. Fontaine, the PE teacher and school nurse said trying to encourage us. "Tennis game, that is!"
Jaden was Syrus' partner against Jasmine and Mindy. From the looks of it, Sy wasn't doing too well.
Poor thing...
I returned a serve and ran to the other side, just before Alexis hit the ball back at me.
"Alexis, head's up!" Jaden called out.
Alexis and I turned just in time to see a tennis ball heading straight towards Alexis, but nether one of us could hit it.
"Lex!" I called out, worried. I was too far to do anything, I could only hope that she would be fast enough to move.
Suddenly some shadow hit the ball and sent it soaring at Crowler, hitting him in the face.
I cringed.
Yikes!
He's got some seriously bad luck when it comes to sports. First that baseball, now a tennis ball?
Hope football isn't in the syllabus this year...
"Thank you." Alexis said to the kneeling shadow, who turned out to be a red haired boy maybe a year or two older then us.
"Lex, you okay?" I asked. She nodded with a smile.
"Alexis, that ball almost creamed you." Jasmine said as she and Mindy made their way to us. "Are you okay?"
The guy got up and turned to us. "Yeah, would you like me to carry you to the nurse?" He smiled, his teeth practically shining.
"She doesn't need the nurse. The ball didn't even touch her." I said, a little bit disturbed.
"That's okay, thanks." She said, as the girls blushed and swooned.
The guy suddenly blushed and got a dazed look on his face. "Do we need to carry you to the nurse?" I asked. "Or maybe to a good psychologist?"
He snapped out of his daze and laughed nervously. "No, I'm good, it's just I know you from Obelisk Blue." He said to Alexis. "I've seen you around. Not that I've had the pleasure of talking to you." He took her hand.
I'm gonna smack this guy if he doesn't release her...
"Sweet." Alexis deadpanned.
He quickly released her hand, making me feel better. "Let alone touch you." He stuttered and laughed nervously, before going back to his game. "Anyway, back to my match. What was the score? Love something, I think."
"I don't like that guy." I muttered darkly, as the boys came over.
"That's only because you're way too overprotective sometimes, Kai." Jaden said.
"Alexis is my friend and Atticus would never forgive me if I didn't protect her from boys." I said, defensively.
"Thanks Kai." The Obelisk Blue girl said with a smile. "You don't need too though."
"I want too and like I said, your brother would never forgive me if some boy took advantage of you and I didn't try to stop it. Especially if you got hurt." I told her. "Just except it."
She sighed with an exasperated smile. "Thanks Kaida."
I grinned.
"JADEN YUKI!" We all jumped in surprise and looked over at the fuming Obelisk Blue teacher with a tennis ball stuck in his face.
"Uh-oh..." I muttered. "This can't be good."
Class finished quickly after that and we all headed out. Crowler grabbed my brother and took him to the nurse's office so that he could yell more. The others headed out to class while I stayed just outside the door to listen.
"I'm really, really, really, really, really sorry. How was that?" I heard Jaden say.
"Nope." Crowler said. "That's still not a good enough an apology."
Man what a hard-ass...
It wasn't even Jay's fault.
"A little harder next time." I heard him say. "Some of my vertebrae are still intact."
Was he still talking to Jaden?
"Ya know, Dr. Crowler, I saw the incident and technically Jaden wasn't even the one that hit you with that ball. If ya don't mind me saying." Ms. Fontaine said.
Well that answers my question.
And really Crowler needs to get his facts straight. If he wasn't so focused on trying to expel Jaden, he would have given who actually hit him a little more thought.
"Well, I do mind, because Jaden was the one who started it." Crowler said. "I saw the whole thing with my own two eyes."
I heard Fontaine gasp.
"Well, one eye." He corrected.
"Cyclops." Jaden coughed. I had to cover my mouth to contain my giggling, my whole body shaking from the repressed laughter.
"Hmm? Care repeating that, you Slifer sludge?" Crowler asked.
What a jackass...
"Look if you're gonna punish my, how 'bout I just promise to quit tennis?" Jaden asked, frustrated.
Don't do it Jaden...
"I don't even like it."
He did it.
Moron...
"Don't like tennis, eh?" Crowler mocked. "Well, then I can think of no better punishment for your crime, then."
What crime?
"I'll make you play under the strict tutelage of our captain. He'll whip you into shape in no time." Crowler said.
I pulled out my PDA and looked up the tennis captain in the student files.
"Come on, I said sorry." Jaden argued.
"Oh, yes, and you will be." Crowler said, before his footsteps got closer to the door.
I jumped out of the way just in time. He glanced at me, I giant ball shaped bruise on his right eye. "Miss Yuki." He greeted me grudgingly. "Is there something I can help you with?"
"Dr. Cy-*ahem*- Crowler." I quickly caught myself, causing him to narrow his eyes a bit. "Nothing, sir. I just have a headache and came to here to get some medicine for it. That way I can focus on my studies without any problems. That way I can someday achieve Obelisk Blue rank and be the best of the best."
I hated sucking up, but Uncle Mokuba always said, "There's nothing wrong with sucking up as long as you don't get caught."
"Hmm. It's good to see at least on of you Yuki's has a good head on your shoulders." He said. "Good day then, Miss Yuki."
"Good day, Dr. Crowler." I kept up a fake grin until he rounded the corner. I dropped my fake grin into a scowl. "Jerk." I turned to Jaden just as he was leaving the office. "You okay?"
"No. I don't even know you the captain is." He said, dejectedly.
"I can definitely help with that." I looked at my PDA and saw my search results. "Okay, the captain's name is Harrington Rosewood. According to his file he is an Obelisk Blue senior, and the heir to Rosewood Sporting Goods."
"That sport store chain?" Jaden asked.
"Uh-huh, and uh-oh." I scrolled down to his picture.
That can't be good.
"What?"
"He's also the guy that hit Crowler with your wayward ball." I said, turning my PDA around to show him.
"Oh come on!"
Harrington came by shortly after and picked Jaden up for his "punishment". I sent a message to Syrus telling him everything and where to meet us. I obviously followed because I wanted to support Jaden. I managed to sit on the on the referee chair that had been placed off to the side o the court.
Not to mention, I'm still a little bitter.
And what sibling doesn't enjoy seeing their siblings suffer?
After a few minutes of Jaden running back and forth hitting tennis balls, Jaden collapsed on to his hands and knees panting. "I thought that we were gonna be playing tennis, not runnin' speed drills."
Harrington served again causing Jaden to get up and start playing again. "Man, this guy doesn't let up." Jaden tried to hit the ball but ended up hitting the ground and the ball hit him in the head.
Ouch!
"Jaden! You okay?!" I called out.
"Come on, Jaden, no pain no gain." Harrington said, coming closer to the net. "You've gotta hustle to build that muscle. You need to sweat to become a threat. If you don't pickup the pace, you won't win the race."
Okay now it's getting cruel...
Is he being serious with all that rhyming?
"Dude, shut up!" I said.
"Okay, Harrington." Jaden said sitting up. "You can lay off with the sports cliches. I get it, I get it."
"Hey there's no letter 'I' in the word 'team', Jaden. Why, that's the very first rule in tennis." Harrington said.
"But there is an 'u' in the word suck!" I called out.
He glared at me and I just stuck my tongue out at him.
Okay so I'm being childish, but do you think I care?
"Really? Even when you're playin' singles?" Jaden asked.
It was then that Syrus and our Obelisk Blue girl friends showed up, right behind Harrington. I got off the chair and joined the others.
"Moving on, it's time we got to work on your forehand and backhand." Harrington said, demonstrating with his own racket. "I think a thousand strokes will help you make tennis more your racket. Get it? Get it?"
Okay that is cruel and unusual punishment.
I can't tell what's worse, the training or his puns.
Jaden groaned.
"I get it." Syrus said, mildly disturbed. "This guy's a nut. These cliches, this crazy practicing..."
"Yeah he is. He's been like that from the beginning." I told them.
"Ya know, he is a bit obsessive." Jasmine said.
"Let him obsess, over me!" Mindy gushed.
"Okay a few weeks ago she was in love with 'Chazzy' now this guy? Was she dropped on her head as a baby?" I wondered, deadpanned.
"Maybe." Syrus quipped.
Jaden got back up and the tennis training continued. The rest of us moved off to the side so we wouldn't get hit.
After a few more minutes, Harrington to finally called a time out. "And done..."
Jaden collapsed again and his ball rolled over to where Alexis was standing as he groaned. "Yeah, with the first ten."
"Hi, Alexis." Mindy greeted.
"Alexis?" Harrington repeated, suddenly a lot happier.
Alexis walked over with a determined look on her face, just as Harrington ran over to her. "Hey, there!" He said cheerfully. "Sorry I'm sweating so much. I've just been kicking this guy's-". But she just walked right by him, not even acknowledging him and went straight to Jaden.
"Jaden, you won't believe what I just heard." Alexis said, completely ignoring Harrington.
That-a girl!
Atticus would be so proud.
Jaden got up as Alexis continued talking. "I was on my way here and I ran into Professor Banner. He told me someone spotted Chazz."
"No kiddin'. Well, where is he?" Jaden asked.
Both were completely unaware of the fiery jealousy that Harrington was currently experiencing as he watched them talk.
I sighed. "This is not going to end well."
"A bench-warmer loafer like Jaden talking to a girl like Alexis?" Harrington muttered angrily. "No way! Time to run some interference."
This is gonna be bad. Let's just hope Jaden doesn't say something stupid.
"Hey, time out!" Jaden and Alexis turned to Harrington, who was practically on fire, with looks of confusion on their faces. "You can't talk to a first round pick like Alexis. I mean, you can't even return a buggy-whip with some top spin, so stay away from my little Obelisk pixie."
"Obelisk Pixie?" Syrus and I said.
"Wonder what that would look like." Syrus continued.
We looked at each other before imagining what that would look like.
Obelisk The Tormentor, with pixie wings flying around flowers...
"On second thought, no I don't." Syrus said, freaked out.
I, on the other hand, was practically rolling on the floor. I couldn't breath. The image was just too much. "Hahahah! O-Obelisk pixie! Hahahaha! I-I'd kill for someone to say that to Seto Kaiba! Hahahaha!"
"Listen, Jaden, I'm warning you, just step away from the beautiful girl. You're way out of your league. Do not make me go athletic on you."
Just as I had calmed down, that sent me right back into my laughing fit.
What a lame threat...
How do you go "athletic" on someone?
"Whoa, bro, cool off. Alexis and I are just talking here." Jaden said, before turning back to her. "Now you were sayin' Lex?"
"Lex?" Harrington repeats angrily, physically placing himself between the two, freaking Jaden out. "What is that, some kind of pet name? Where'd it come from? What's it mean? What's it short for?" He shot off quickly.
"This guy needs to chill." I said, finally over my laughing fit.
"Um, 'Alexis.'" Jaden said, managing to answer Harrington's last question.
"Sure, you'd like me to believe that, wouldn't you? Well I don't. I don't believe anything you say. Which is why this little huddle is over." Harrington said, still flaming.
"Great, so then beat it." Jaden said.
"No way, bro. Know your sports. When a huddle is over, you make your play. You don't run away." Harrington said.
"Where is he going with this?" I asked.
"Who knows." Syrus said.
"I get it, you wanna tennis match, right?" Jaden asked.
"No way. I want a duel, winner becomes Alexis' fiancé." Harrington said.
"Whoa! Fiancé?" Alexis asked in shock. "Slow down."
"WHAT!" I growled. Syrus quickly wrapped his arms around my waist, to stop me from killing this whack job. "Let me go Sy! I'm gonna feed him to my dragons! How dare he! Let me at him! I'll kill him!"
"Oh, I just love weddings." Mindy gushed.
"Yeah, but I'm not so sure about arranged ones." Jasmine said, grabbing my arm to help Syrus who was struggling to keep his hold on me.
"Well, I don't know about the stakes, but I never back down from a challenge. You got it Harrington, let's throw down." Jaden said.
"Huh?" Alexis asked.
"Here we go." Jasmine said.
"Yeah, and if this guy duels like he plays tennis, it'll be rough for Jaden." Syrus said, tightening his grip on me.
"Jaden! Pummel this guy or I will!" I growled.
Alexis quickly came over to our side and grabbed my other arm to make sure I didn't kill this guy and helped Sy move me farther back as the two boys grabbed their decks and duel disks. Jasmine let go and Syrus adjusted himself so that he was holding me from the side instead just as I had stopped struggling.
"Alright, you ready?" Harrington asked.
"Yep, and willing." Jaden replied.
"Let's do this!"
"Get your game on!"
Harrington (4000)
Jaden (4000)
"Two cutie pie boys dueling it out for your hand in marriage? How do you feel?" Mindy asked, gushing.
"Please, Mindy, I'm not getting married." Alexis said, just as unhappy about this as I am.
"Oh, fine, 'engaged.'" Jasmine corrected. "What are we going to split hairs here?"
"I'm not getting engaged either, Jazz." Alexis snapped. "The only reasons I haven't walked out of here yet is to see if the rumors are true. To see if Harrington's really as good as Zane."
"This guy? On the same level as Zane?" I asked, incredulously. "This whacko?"
"That's right." Alexis nodded.
I crossed my arms. "Now this I've got to see."
"Service. First, I'm gonna volley a spell card at you! Service Ace!" Harrington drew.
"A spell card already?" Jaden asked.
"You got that right, and just like a power serve, it's gonna make you sweat. Here's how it works. I pick a card, then you have to choose if it's a spell, trap, or monster. If you guess right, you're fine. But if you guess wrong, well then you get served with a stinging 1500 points of damage." Harrington explains, holding up a card.
"It's a one-in-three odds. This is not looking good for Jaden." I said.
"What do you mean, Kai?" Syrus asked looking up at me. "Jaden could get it right."
"He could, but he only has a 33% chance at being right. That's still a really low chance. I'm not liking his odds, especially if this guy is as good as Zane." I said. "It won't be easy."
"So I just guess?" Jaden asked.
"Wow, this really is making Jaden sweat." Syrus said.
"Yeah, and hum, too." Mindy added.
Jaden hummed and glared at the card, trying to will the answer.
"Look at you." Harrington said. "I bet this is probably he best workout you've had all week long."
"Alright, I'll guess. It's a spell card!" Jaden finally decided.
"You sure?" Harrington mocked. "You can still change your mind, ya know."
"Jaden got it wrong." I said, causing Syrus and the girls to look at me.
"How do you know?" Alexis asked.
"Simple. If Jaden was right Harrington would have been shocked or impressed, but he's not. He's mocking Jaden by asking if he's sure or if he wants to change his answer." I explained. "Even if Jaden switches his guess, there's still a 50-50 chance he's wrong."
"Then wait." Jaden scrambled. "I'll switch my guess and say it's a trap."
Harrington laughed before turning the card around. "Monster. Looks like we've found another thing you're bad at, huh?"
Jaden groaned.
"Anyway, now we'll put this card away and let loose the big stroke." The tennis captain said. "Service Ace! Good luck returning this shot, pal!"
The spell card glowed and shot a beam of light straight at Jaden, blowing up at his feet.
Jaden (4000 - 2500)
"15-love, and I'll place this card facedown to finish the set." Harrington said, as a hologram card appeared on the field. Your serve."
"Yeah, and I better make it count. Here goes!" Jaden drew.
"This is not looking good. Jay was always bad at guessing games, but this is like ten times worse." I said, biting my lip.
"Elemental HERO Avian!" The HERO appeared on the field.
Elemental HERO Avian(Atk: 1000/Def: 1000)
"Now, Avian, show Harrington why you're the real king of the court. Quill Cascade!"
Avian shot a multitude of feathers out at Harrington.
"Don't think so, birdbrain." Harrington suddenly said. "I active Receive Ace." The card on the field flipped up. "This trap card negates your attack then deals 1500 points directly to you. Good luck feathering this storm."
The trap card released a whirlwind out of it and sent Avian's attack right back at Jaden.
Jaden (2500 - 1000)
"That's 30-love. Thought I do have to pay 3 cards because of the trap I played." Harrington said.
"Well, I'm just gonna throw down a facedown, And that's it for me." Jaden said, as a hologram card appeared in front of him.
"It's only been two turns and Jaden is getting creamed. This guy has only played spell and trap cards, not summoning a single monster, it's unbelievable. Harrington might be a complete nutcase but he is definitely good. The rumors might not just be rumors after all." I said.
"But Jaden can turn this around right?" Syrus asked.
"Maybe, as long as he draws the right cards and Harrington doesn't." I said. "All I know is that if Jaden loses, I'm gonna feed tennis boy to the biggest dragon I have."
"Kai, Zane said you can't feed students to your dragons." Sy told me.
"What Zane doesn't know, won't hurt him."
"Boy, you are lazy, aren't you?" Harrington drew. "Hey, bro, that's fine! Makes it that much easier for me. I play Smash Ace."
Oh great another Ace card...
"It let's me flip the top card on my deck, and if it's a monster..." He trailed off.
"Let me guess, I get nailed, right?" Jaden asked.
"Hey, you're starting to get the swing of this, huh? And you will be getting swung at." Harrington drew the card and showed it. "Oh yeah! A monster."
"Lady Luck, she hates me." Jaden groaned, ruffling his hair in aggravation.
"Well she loves me, of course, most girls do. And now get ready for Smash Ace!" The card glowed and a whirlwind appeared above Harrington and launched a beam of light at Jaden.
"If this connects, Harrington is gonna get a date with my dragon!"
"Sorry, but I'm activatin' my facedown card." The card flips up. "It's a trap, feather wind. Ever hear of it? Or maybe I should say, have you ever caught wind of it?" Jaden quipped.
"What the-!?"
Avian flapped his wings together, pulling them into a protective position and sent a gust of wind at the beam, deflecting it.
The deflected attack hit the ground in front of us, kicking up dirt.
"Damn it, Jay! Watch where your hits go! That's what got you into this mess in the first place." I yelled.
"Sorry! Sorry, pal. But your Ace just got blown right out of bounds." Jaden said.
"Well, you know what they say, you win some, you lose some. Sometimes you've got to take hits to give 'em." Harrington laughed.
"Great, he's back on his cliche kick." Jaden and I groaned.
"Well here's mine. He who laughs last, laughs loudest." Jaden said, before laughing too.
"Oh great, the crazy is contagious..." I facepalmed.
The two of them just spent the next couple of minutes, laughing.
"This is pathetic." Syrus said.
"It's unbelievable. I have to ask Mom and Dad if Jaden was dropped on the head as a child." I said, embarrassed. "Maybe this is all Uncle Joey's fault."
I can not believe Jaden is related to our stone cold Father, sometimes. Then again he is related to Joey Wheeler.
"Now they're seeing who can laugh the longest?" Jasmine asked, in an unbelieving tone.
"Come on, Harrington. Just imagine me tickling you." Mindy tried to cheer.
"Okay there is something really wrong with you." I told her.
"I'm still laughing Jaden. Just 'cause I'm talking, it doesn't mean I'm not. You hear me?" Harrington said. "Hey I'm still laughing! I'm still laughing! You're gonna lose this contest just like you're losing this duel." Jaden stopped laughing after that.
"You know what, Harrington? You can win this lousy laugh fest, but this duel's a different story. Sure, you may have home court advantage, but it doesn't matter and do you wanna know why? 'Cause in a duel I'm always at home." Jaden finally started his turn and drew a card. "Sweet! I'm playing this! Oh yeah! Polymerization! Fuse Clayman with Burstinatrix into Elemental HERO Rampart Blaster!"
The two HEROs appeared on the field briefly before fusing into the armored HERO.
Rampart Baster (Atk: 2000/Def: 2500)
"Alright! That's how you duel Jaden!" Syrus cheered. "Nice work."
"Like that? Then you're gonna love this! Elemental HERO Avian, attack! Electric Orb!" Avian created a ball of light in between his hands and launched it at Harrington.
Harrington (4000 - 3000)
"And I'll follow it up with Rampart Blaster. Rampart Barrage!" She shot off several missiles at Harrington.
Harrington (3000 - 1000)
"All tied up." Jaden quipped.
"Way to go, Jaden!" Syrus cheered, causing Jaden to flash a peace sign at us.
"Well, at least they stopped laughing." Alexis said.
"Thank god." I said.
"So, got any cliches to say now?" Jaden asked.
Harrington smirked. "I suppose. But in this case I'll let my card do my talking for me. See this one says it all. Deuce!" A spell card with a tied score appeared.
"Another spell card?" Jaden asked, scratching his cheek.
"That's right, but I guarantee you've never seen one like this before. I can only activate it when we both have 1000 life points. And here's how it works. From now on, each of us can only attack with one monster during our battle phase and life points don't matter." Harrington explained, taking a comb out to fix his hair. "You win by being first to damage the other twice in a row."
"Wait, so it's just a straight up head to head match now?" Jaden asked.
"Makes sense." I commented, causing Syrus and the girls to look at me.
"What do you mean Kaida?" Jasmine asked.
"In tennis, when the score for a game point becomes tied it's called a deuce. The players now have to get two points in order for them to win the game point. Harrington's whole deck is based on tennis, so having a card with this kind of effect makes sense." I explained. "I just hope Jay can get the two points he needs. But you also have to wonder what kind of monster Harrington is planning on summoning."
"Right. I told you that card would say it all. I summon the Big Server! The reason his serve is so big is because it strikes directly at your life points."
A humanoid, half cyborg monster dressed like a tennis player with a racket for a hand appeared on the field. (Atk: 300/Def: 800).
"Now Big Server, attack with Spiked Serve!" The tennis monster serves and hits a spiked metal ball at Jaden, causing an explosion.
Jaden (1000 - 700)
"Advantage, Harrington. That was easy." He said. "Now one more strike and your finished. The duel will be over and Alexis will be mine."
A virtual counter with two dots appeared above them, one of the dots filled in counting Harrington's point.
I growled and the girls all grabbed on to me as Syrus tightened his grip on me. "Let me kill him! How dare he treat Alexis like this! I swear to Ra, I'm gonna feed you to my Red-Eyes Black Dragon! You hear me, Rosewood!"
"Oh, and by the way, the Big Server has a special ability that lets me take Service Ace from my deck and place it in my hand. You get a new card too, but it won't matter. I mean, let's be real here. There's no way it'll be as good as this one. How could it be? Now draw your card."
Jaden drew.
"Alright, And now I'm serving up the spell card Service Ace. You remember how it works, right?" Harrington mocked. "You choose the cards type. If you're right, you're good."
"Yeah, and if I'm wrong, I'm a goner." Jaden said.
"He only has a one-in-three chance, just like last time. He can't afford to be wrong." I said.
Jaden groaned, obviously making a decision. "Alright, I guess you drew a monster card."
Harrington was surprised, meaning Jaden was right. I released the breath I didn't even know I was holding. "You got it." He turned the card to show Jaden.
"Sweetness!" My brother cheered.
"Yeah, we're still in it." Syrus said, all of us relieved.
"Oh, yeah? Tell me if you still think you're in it after this." Harrington said, playing the last card in his hand. "I play Giant Racket and equip it to Big Server. So, ya still in it?" A giant red tennis racket strapped itself on to the tennis player's monster.
"To win it. I can take that Server guy down." Jaden said.
"Maybe, but you won't be able to do it on your first try. See, when a monster is equipped with Giant Racket, it has a one time power that allows it to turn any battle damage to zero." Harrington explained.
"Wait, and since your Deuce only allows me to attack with one monster per turn, I won't be able to destroy him." Jaden realized. "Big Server can't be beat by one attack."
"It's clever. With both Giant Racket and Deuce out on the field this backs his opponent into a no-solution trap, especially since Harrington's already got a point from his last attack." I said, grudgingly impressed.
"Exactly right. So, as you can see, you're not in it, you're not all over it, you're just about to lose it. Ha!" Harrington mocked.
"Here we go! Draw!" Jaden looked at the card. "Sweet! The ball's in my court now. First, I activate the sell card Defusion. With it, I'll defuse Rampart Blaster."
Rampart Blaster split back into Clayman and Burstinatrix.
Clayman (Atk: 800/Def: 2000)
Burstinatrix (Atk: 1200/Def: 800)
"Now I have three monsters on the field, which means even if you block my first attack, I can still hit you with two more. Then you'll lose the duel."
Harrington laughed. "I'm starting to see why you're ranked as a Slifer, because you don't listen. As long as my spell card's out, you can only attack with one monster per turn. It doesn't matter if you have three."
"He's right. There's nothing Jaden can do as long as that spell is out." Syrus said, sadly.
"Not necessarily." I said, causing him to look up at me. "If Jaden has the card I think he has, then he definitely has a shot."
Pun intended.
"I'm starting to see why you're a snobby Obelisk." Jaden mocked.
"What?"
"'Cause you really underestimate your opponents. I play the spell card Feather Shot. It lets Avian attack once for every monster I have on the field. I drew this card when you activated the Big Server's special effect. Remember what you said?"
You get a new card too, but it won't matter.
"Yeah, well, guess what?" Jaden continued. "It mattered. Go Avian, attack with Quill Cascade times three!"
Avian released a torrent of feathers, activating Giant Racket's ability.
"That's one."
Avian released another torrent of feathers, hitting and destroying Big Server. Jaden's Deuce counter lit up.
"That's two. And this third time will be the charm."
Avian released his last torrent of feathers at Harrington, causing Jaden's Deuce counter to light up again and winning him the duel.
Harrington (1000 - 0)
Mindy sighed happily.
"Well, that settles that!" Jasmine said.
"Alright! He's getting married!" Syrus cheered.
"You guys do realize that we are way too young for marriage right?" I asked, still not happy with this whole fiancé thing.
"I mean, someday he will, maybe." Syrus corrected, looking at Alexis.
"I bet Jaden doesn't even know what the word 'fiancé' means." I said.
Because that would be the classic Jaden thing to do.
"Lexi?" Mindy asked.
Alexis just let out a small laugh.
Harrington fell to his hands and knees. "No. This can't be."
"Yeah! That's game!" Jaden cheered as his monsters disappeared from the field.
"But she was my soulmate! My first draft pick!" Harrington wailed, getting up. "My Marquee girlfriend!"
"Please! Let me kill him!" I begged Syrus and Alexis, who have yet to let me go.
"No." They said.
Suddenly Harrington ran off, crying causing all of us to stare at him in disbelief.
"That's the guy whose suppose to be as good as Zane?" I asked in disbelief. "No, you guys were right. His blubbering would have just given my dragons indigestion."
"Wow, you had to work for that one, Jaden." Syrus said, finally releasing me as we walked up to my brother.
"Hey, no pain, no gain." He said.
"Please don't. I've taken all of the sports puns and cliches I could handle today." I said, my head hurting.
"Speaking of gain, has Jaden gained a wife?" Jasmine asked Mindy.
"So romantic."
I rolled my eyes.
"Well, Alexis, guess I'm your fiancé." Jaden said, walking up to her.
"He's going through with it?" Syrus asked, in shock.
"Oh, my." Jasmine said, excited.
"Jaden do you even know that that is?" I couldn't help but ask.
"Not a clue!" He said with a grin, causing the others to deflate in disbelief.
I sighed.
Called it...
"So what's it mean?" Jaden asked Alexis.
"It means 'friend'." She said. "At least for now, big guy." Jay just looked at her in confusion.
"Kai you can't keep trying to feed people to your deck." Alexis said, when we had a moment alone. "It's not okay."
"Attie would have totally supported it. Hell, he would have encouraged it." I defended.
Alexis just sighed. "I have no doubt about that."
I laughed. "You know when we were kids, he ranted and raved about all the things he wanted to do to that boy who took your favorite red hankerchief. He even swore that if he ever saw him again, he'd make sure I was there so that he would return it under threat of being eaten by a duel monster card."
Alexis laughed. "You're kidding?"
"No I swear! You can ask Zane, he was there too."
She sighed, a sad smile on her face. "Yeah that sounds like my brother."
I gave my own sad smile. It was hard talking about Atticus, given that he's only been gone for over a year*. But the pain of knowing there was a possibility of never seeing him again became a little more bearable with Alexis.
"Did your brother ever tell you how we met?" I asked suddenly.
"Huh? No he never did. He just came home one day talking about his new 'little dragon' friend and how he hoped that if we ever met, that we would get along." She said.
I shook my head.
Oh Atticus, that was so typical of you.
"Well when I first met your brother, he was already friends with Zane so I had met them at the same time. I was bout seven years old and my Mom wanted to go shopping. My Dad was busy and Jaden was spending the day with our Uncle Joey, Mom's brother, so I went with her, kinda like a girls day out.
"Anyway, we had gotten caught in this huge crowd and my hand slipped from her's and we got separated. When the crowd let up, she was gone and I was alone."
"What did you do?" She asked.
"I was so scared, I crouched down in the middle of the sidewalk, crying. Suddenly there was this voice."
Are you okay princess?
"He called you that?" Alexis asked in disbelief.
"Oh yeah. So I looked up and there stood your brother and Zane. Attie took my hand and pulled me up, before taking his hankerchief out and wiping my face."
A pretty girl like you shouldn't be crying.
"He is unbelievable. I can't believe he was like that even at that age." She shook her head.
I laughed. "Yeah he was pretty special, huh? Anyway, once I calmed down enough, I told them what happened and Atticus stood up and said that they would help find my Mom. It took an hour but they did find her. My Mom hugged me and thanked them.
"I thought it would have been that last time I would have ever seen them. But then the week after, my Uncle Joey took Jaden and I to the park. While my brother ran off to play with the older kids, a familiar voice asked me if I was lost again. I turned and lo and behold, there was Atticus and Zane. From then on, the three of us were practically inseparable. I actually cried the day they left for Duel Academy, knowing it would be a couple more years before I could go too."
"Wow that's incredible. I never knew how big your part in my brother's life was. Or in Zane's. I just can't believe we've never met before." Alexis said.
"I think Atticus wanted us to met when we got to DA so that the would be no jealous feelings. You know, like I was trying to steal your brother from you or something." I said.
"Haha! Maybe."
We sat in silence for a while, just enjoying the nice weather.
"You know if someone ever bothers you, I will gladly feed them to my deck."
"Kaida!"
"So what does 'fiancé' mean?" Jaden asked me later that night.
I looked up from my book and at my brother who was sitting in my desk chair. I marked my page and put my book down on my bed next to me.
"You sure you want to know?" I asked.
He nodded, an oddly serious look on his face.
I sighed. "Well, it's a French word that the whole world uses in different translations. It basically means that the person you call your fiancé is someone you intend to marry. Like Mom and Dad, who are Husband and Wife. It's a title you call a person before you call them that." I explained in the best way I could. "Do you understand?"
"I think so. So it means that we would be getting married." He said, looking down in thought.
"Basically. But since this was something some petty, snobbish senior decided to do because he's a jerk, it doesn't really count. Especially since 1) Alexis didn't agree to it and 2) we are way too young to consider wanting to spend the rest of our lives with one person." I said.
"But Lexi said 'for now', meaning what exactly?" He asked.
"Meaning if in the future, the two of you end up falling in love and date, after a year or two, it would be okay to consider asking her to marry you. But try not to worry about it, you've got a few years before you should give it any real thought. Okay, big brother?"
"Okay, sis. Thanks." He said with a smile.
I smiled back. "Anytime."
(*)- according to the official wikia, Atticus and the other missing student wer in the abandoned dorm at least a year before the series started. Meaning that at least a year has past since they disappeared, since there is no official timeline.
At one point I wanted to make it Kaida instead of Alexis but this was kinda the starting point for fiancéshipping so I kept it the original way.
I really wanted Kaida to have some bonding moments with Jaden and Alexis, so I hope you guys liked them.
Did you guys like overprotective Kaida? I had fun writing it.
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Go to my page and vote!
Also I hope everyone is safe and being careful during this pandemic. Please remember to cover your face and wear gloves when you go out. If you don't have gloves, please do not touch your face until you wash them thoroughly with warm water and soap.
And I just want to say thank you all those out on the front lines. Thank you so much for all that you are doing in this crazy time.
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10/13/20 edit: I've had this chapter done since the end of May. Chapter 7 took forever to finish, but I finally finished it last night. So make sure you don't miss it.