Chapter Forty-Five
45
Chazz stood watch over the cliff side as his family's chopper flew away with his brothers inside and he sighed.
Now...there's just one last matter to settle...
XXXXX
Everyone gathered at the docks, waiting to see him off.
"Well, Chazz...Guess this is good bye." said Jaden.
"It was good to see you again." Connar said sweetly while her long pink hair flowed around her with the sea breeze. It was free flowing, without her white headband to keep it in place.
"Just don't forget to write Connar, okay?" said Norika.
The pink haired girl twitched and gave the red head a subtle leer as she blushed while Norika snickered.
"Heh Heh...don't worry...I won't have to." Chazz said with a chuckle.
Wait...Did Chazz Princeton just laugh at one of MY jokes!?
Norika blinked.
Who is THIS guy!?
"Uhh...will the real Chazz Princeton please stand up?" said Norika.
"Why? Are you blind" asked Chazz, "He's right in front of you...look a little harder."
Connar giggled and Chazz smiled, placing Gentle palm on her shoulder as he leaned down lower to her level.
"I won't be going back." he said softly.
His North Academy Followers gasped in shock, where as Connar, shared hers privately with relief.
"Look guys..." he said to them,"I don't belong with you." he said,"I belong right here." He glannced over toward the pinkette and smiled before returning his attention to them,"Duel Academy was always my home."
"But you're our best duelist, Chazz!" said one of the North Academy students,"Are you sure?"
"I am." said Chazz,"If Chancellor Sheppard will have me back that is."
"Well, Chazz..." Sheppard smiled,"You were one of the best duelists we had...How could I say no?" he chuckled,"But there is one thing Chazz..."
"What's that?" Chazz blinked.
"Oh, Banner~" Sheppard called.
"Well Chazz...since you dropped out of Duel Academy and are now coming back...you're technically a new student." Professor Banner stated, "And therefore must start from the bottom." he said,"At Slifer Red."
"Slifer!?"
"That's right!" Banner chuckled,"Welcome!"
"NOOOOO!" Chazz cried out,"I don't want iiiiiiiiiit~!"
"We'll be sure to find you a room mate." said Professor Banner.
"Room mate!?" Chazz huffed,"Listen up! Chazz Princeton rooms alone got that!?"
"Alone, huh?" Connar giggled,"Then maybe we can stay up late and exchange private messages~"
"Huh?" Chazz blinked,"Oh, that's right...you're also in the Slifer Dorm..." he said softly and smirked,"You know..." he chuckled and folded his arms,"Maybe this won't be so bad after all."
"How can it!?" said Norika, throwing her arms around her pink haired friend, "WIth neighbors like US~"
"Crap, that's right...!" Chazz gulped, "YOU'RE there too!"
"Yeah...no duh!" Norika laughed.
"AHHH!" Chazz cried as he was suddenly pulled away by the large crowd of the Slifer students who tossed him around in a celebratory welcome. Connar giggled as she watched, but large crowds like this often made her uncomofortable. She was glad to see that Princeton was back. And since they were in the same dorm now, it meant she'd probably get a chance to spend time with him once again. But as the ruckus worked for a worthy distraction, she soon ducked away from the crowd, and scampered off.
"Hey...Connar?" Norika blinked.
"Don't worry..." said Connar, "Crowds make me nervous...I just need some air." she smiled.
"Oh..." Norika blinked, "All right, hurry back then." she saod as she watched the pinkette walk against the wind, her long hair flowing behind her.
"Man...my new family is already dysfunctional~!" Chazz huffed as he ducked for cover.
"Haha...maybe so." said Jaden as he kneeled down beside him and nudged his head to motion toward the direction Connar was running off to.
"You know...you really should talk to her Chazz." he said softly,"She defneded you." he stated,"And she kept defending you... Even while you were gone."
"Hm?" Chazz blinked,"...Really?"
Jaden gave him a smile and said nothing more, rising back to his feet and retreating to his dorm with his room mates."
"Hmmm..." Chazz blinked, and averted his gaze in the direction Jaden said she had gone.
"..."
XXXXX
Her hair blew wildly around her as the closer to the shore, the stronger the winds seemed to be.
"Yeah...I thought I'd find you here." a familiar voice startled her from behind and she turned to be greeted by a pouty faced Chazz Princeton,"I can't believe you left me all alone with those nut jobs." He huffed as he took his place beside her while his black tail coats fluttered with the breeze.
"Heh...sorry..." she chuckled awkwardly,"It was...starting to get to be too much for me." she said,"But...I really am glad you're back, Princeton." She blinked as she blushed and exchanged a smile with him,"I mean it."
"Yeah..." he said as he returned her gesture,"I know you do."
A long comfortable and familiar silence fell between them, cradled by the sound of the waves.
"I owe you an apology..." he said softly.
"Hm? What for, Princeton?" she blinked.
"I always used to think I deserved praise and admiration. " he blinked,"Constant approval from everyone. All of my so called friends." he stated,"But it took being away from you...to realize that I didn't need all those fake friends...when I already had one true one." He smiled and let out a gentle sigh,"...I wasn't a very good friend to you Connar." he said softly,"To be honest...it's pretty clear now that I never really was your friend...but...I'd like to be." he said to her,"That is...if you'd be willing to have me."
"Princeton..." she blinked and blushed softly as she gave him a gentle smile,"Of course!"
"Heh..." he chuckled lightly, fidgeting with something in his jacket, pulling out Connar's deadly assault weapon of a white headband, "You...uh...dropped this." he chucked as he offered it to her with both hands,"...May I?"
She blushed silently and nodded with bright wide eyes.
He chuckled softly as he moved closer to her, reaching a hand toward her ears and tucking strands of her soft pink hair behind them. He then gently slid the band back into its proper place on her head, while he used this opportunity to lean in close to her and whisper in her ear.
"...Thank you,...Connie." he whispered, "Thank you for everything~"
In the passing days things soon began to settle down since Chazz's return to Duel Academy. Meeting him in the mornings and walking to class together soon became a common occurance for Connar. In fact so did sitting together during class times.
"Come on Connar...seriously!?" Norika huffed to as she tried to support the pink haired girl's dead weight as she snored away so peacefully against her shoulder, "My arm's going numb!" she sighed, "Being kept up by all your late night phone notifications-I should be the one sleeping in class!" she groaned and Chazz snickered on Connar's opposite side.
"Oops~ Sorry!" he snickered, resting his chin triumphantly in his palm.
Syrus blinked as he glanced up to the scene then leaned in close to his friends and whisper.
"Those three seem rather cozy lately...don't they?" Syrus blinked, "Especially Connar and Chazz."
"No joke." said Chumley,"They seem more attached to each other than two slices of bread with melted cheese in the middle."
"I think they are trying to rekindle their previous friendship." whispered Alexis,"Best not to get involved."
"What do you think, Jaden" Syrus blinked,"Jaden?"
Of course the brunette was snoring away yet another day's lesson and Syrus couldn't help but sigh. Jaden's sleeping in class however wasn't the only thing bothering him after having over heard a conversation the previous night about burying him in a tomb...
He let out a panicked cry as another explosion occured once again during Professor Banner's lesson, waking Jaden from his peaceful sleep to a scene of everyone ducking behind their desks.
"What's up guys?" Jaden asked,"So, learn anything good today!?"
"Yeah." said Syrus,"To Duck!"
"Huh?" Jaden blinked.
"Translation..." said Connar, who had also been woken up from the blast and was now ducked down behind her desk next to Norika and Chazz "Location! Location! Location!"
"HA~!" Chazz laughed which led Jaden only to blink in his own confusion.
"Oh, I forgot, students!" Profassor Banner called for their attention,"I am planning a little field trip." he said,"It will be a 10 mile hike to the ruins! Saturday, at 7am, don't be late~!"
"7am!? On a Saturday!?" Chazz huffed as he waved around the information sheet for the trip.
"No thanks!" Norika huffed.
"But Princeton..." Connar spoke up as she kept pace with him on their way back to their dorm. Jaden and his room mates decided to go grab a bite so it left Chazz to walk back with Connar and Norika.
"Yeah? What is it?" he blinked.
"...I'm pretty sure Professor Banner plans to have an exam on the material..."
"Are you serious!?" Norika sighed, "Come onnnnn~" she groaned.
"Puh-leze." Chazz scoffed as he shrugged his shoulder," If Connar Rose can sleep through a class lesson knowing there's gonna be an exam on it~ I'm sure Chazz Princeton will do fine...Can't say the same for Norika though~" he snickered.
Connar blushed looking away awkwardly, trying not to show her amusement.
"Uuuugh...remind me why you're hanging out with us again?" Norika muttered.
"I'm not hanging out with you." he stated, "We live in the same direction."
" Didn't Professor Banner threaten to give us detention if we don't go?" Norika asked.
"I'll take that risk." Chazz shrugged,"Besides~ Connar and I both have top marks in the class so, I doubt he will actually pull through on that threat."
"But Norika...you're not doing too well, are you?" COnnar blinked.
"Not even just that..." Norika sighed, "But Duel Theorem as well."
"Well..." Connar blinked while letting out a gentle sigh,"I did go ahead and study ahead on the lesson in Professor Banner's class." she said softly,"I already took notes and everything so...I guess maybe I will be okay if I don't go..." she stated
"Connie...you're an angel~!" Chazz beamed,"So then you won't mind if I come over to your room that day then?" he asked,"You know... for a little...study session~"
"What!?" Norika gasped, No way! Forget it!"
Chazz let out a low growl and leered at the red head.
"Ah...Princeton I...I dunno.." said Connar..."I'm the wrong person to talk to about Duel Theorem..."
"Awww come on Connie~!" Norika groaned, "I was really relying on your and your notes!"
"You know..." Connar pondered, "Duel Theorem is Misawa's expertise." she stated, "Maybe you should try talking to him. I bet he'd tutor you."
"Woah, you think!" Norika beamed, "All right! I'm gonna try my luck!" she stated, "I bet if I tell the Professor I'm trying to fix my current grades, maybe he'll let me skip out on the trip too!" she beamed, "Later!" she said before running off toward the Ra Yellow Dorm.
"...Good." said Chazz, "I thought she'd never leave." he stated.
"Princeton!"
"What~!?" he laughed, "Anyway...about that Study session?"
"I'm still not sure." said Connar, "Nori seemed pretty adamant..."
"Awe, come on!" Chazz huffed as he clapped his hands together beggingly, " I'll bring food~" he grinned,"And not any of that lay people's food either~ I mean the goos stuff!" he stated,"I'll have it imported!"
"Well..." she blinked,"it has been a while since I've had the good stuff..."
"Great! Then it's settled!" said Chazz,"Study session in your room on Saturday!"
Man...why do I feel like I just got conned?
She pouted.
Hi Connie~ It's been a long time!" The ojama beamed after popping up out of no where once again,"Remember me?"
"Huh?" Connar blinked,"You're an Ojama...the yellow one!" she stated, "Um...am I supposed to remember you?"
"Ouch...that's real hurtful little Connar!" he cried.
"Don't talk to her as though you know her, you little bug!" Chazz snipped,
"But Boss...I really DO know her~!"
"Wait..." he blinked,"Connar...you can see him!?"
Connar nodded.
"...Turns out, I've been able to see Duel Spirits for a very long time..."
"Huh...so you can see and hear Duel Spirits..." he pondered for a moment,"Wait...could that have been your big secret you were hiding back in prep school!?" he asked,"You know back when you wouldn't duel me with your full potential..." he stated," You seemed afraid or something." he thought," Was this why!?" he gasped as he pointed at the floating yellow goblin, " Because you could talk to Duel Spirits!?"
"Secret's out~" Connar chuckled awkwardly.
"I see..." Chazz blinked, "SO much makes sense now...!"
"Try not to hold it against , Yellow." said Kaibaman who appeared in an invisible form behind her,"Her memories are a bit scattered as of late..."
"Ooooh, I see." said Yellow,"But Kaibaman, why aren't you appearing for the Boss?"
"Hmph." Kaibaman huffed,"I do not wish to share my presence with...it." He leered over at Chazz who walked close to Connar, listening intently as she went on to explain everything he asked about from their past.
"Be nice!" Connar hissed to her Spirit Partner he seemed to be beahving more rather like her stubborn father.
"Who are you talking to?" Chazz asked as he looked to see the hidden presence that remained invisible to his eyes.
"Oh...just my stubborn spirit partner..." she stated,"I don't know what his problem is today...He doesn't feel like being seen for whatever reason...and he's being a grump!"She huffed, "But...what about you, Princeton?" she asked,"Since when could you talk to the duel spirits?"
"I picked up the ability pretty recently, actually." he stated,"I never really believed in Duel Spirits before." he said,"Thought they were just some made up myths...you know...Like the Millenium Items, and the Shadow Games."
"You know, Princeton..." Connar said softly as she thought back to the boy she met in her likeness at The Abandoned Dorm,"I'm not so sure The Shadow Games are a myth." she blinked,"I remember Professor Banner said something pretty interesting."
"What could that Quack have to say that could possibly be interesting?" Chazz asked with folded arms as they walked on.
"I remember he told us once, while we were messing around and telling ghost stories...that 'all stories generally need to have come from somewhere.' "
"Hmph. Whatever." said Chazz,"A quack is still a quack." he shrugged as they finally reached their destination,"I'm gonna go freshen up." he said.
Suddenly he beagan to chuckle.
"What's funny, Princeton?" Connar blinked. it seemed she was missing the joke.
"It's nothing." he said softly,"Just...this is the first time we've been alone together since Duel Prep School." he stated, "You know...without Norika hovering...and even back then it was a rare event." he chuckled.
"Oh...I guess you're right." Connar blinked and blushed shyly,"It must be kind of awkward, huh?"
"What's awkward about it?" Chazz asked,"So we're hanging out! You know... It's that thing that friends do?" he stated,"It's just...kinda nice, you know? To be doing that again..."
"You and me, Princeton?" Connar blinked,"We're friends?"
"You dork!" Princeton huffed as he gaver her a playful knock on the noggin,"Of course we're friends!"
This time Connar giggled.
"What's funny about that!?"
"It's nothing!" she giggled,"Just...this is the first time you actually said it, you know?" she blushed softly,"You know...admitted to it...out loud and all."
"Oh...I guess you're right." Chazz blinked as he thought back. It's true they used to hang out quite often on school grounds back at Duel Prep. But not once did he ever refer to her as "friend." It just never occured to him to do so until recently.
"Speaking of friends..." Chazz blinked, "WHat about Norika?" he asked, "Does she know?"
Connar blinked a few times and sighed, shaking her head slowly.
"She doesn't." said Connar, "And...until I can figure out how to tell her...I'd like to keep it that way for a little while."
"Right..." Chazz pondered, "Yeah, I suppose something like this would be a little weird to talk about." he blinked, "I mean...I'd sure think it's weird if I didn't have the ability myself." he sighed and shrugged, "Whelp...there's a first time for everything I guess." He snicked as he offered his hand to help her up the first few steps like a gentleman,"I'll keep your secret, Connie, I prmise." he stated, "See you on Saturday..."
To Be Continued