Chapter Five- Second Prank

Jaden awoke early, dressed, and slipped down to the cafeteria. He imagined every table with a bottle of tartar sauce and soy sauce. The desired result appeared and Jaden smiled when he found he wasn't dizzy like last night. I'm definitely getting stronger. It's only Tuesday and I've only had magic since Sunday. He bounded back upstairs and roused his friends. "Come on guys! It's a new day."

Syrus moaned as he sat up, rubbing an eye. "Why? It's still early."

"Not that early," Jaden protested. "Breakfast will be ready before you know it."

"I assume you already put the bottles on the tables," Hassleberry said, voice muffled as his face was in his pillow.

"Yup and I don't feel dizzy or tired."

Syrus and Hassleberry finally roused themselves out of bed and started getting ready while Jaden made sure he had everything for school. He had just snapped his bag closed when his backside ached. He grimaced as he sat down, rubbing the spot. The aching got worse and started to burn and itch as well. He moaned softly, catching his friends' attentions.

"You okay, Sarge?" Hassleberry asked.

"I don't know. I feel a burning, itching feeling right here." Jaden groaned as he touched the spot. He gave a loud gasp and heard cloth tear before the feelings passed.

"Wow," Syrus said in soft amazement. "Ja, you've got a tail now."

"What?" Jaden looked back to see a bushy fox tail. It was red except for the end which was white. The tail twitched slightly. "Wow." He grinned at that. "Sweet."

"Now you really look like a half-fox," Hassleberry said.

Jaden nodded, his tail flicking to rest beside him. He reached out and stroked it. it was soft like his ears and felt good being stroked.

"Come on, Ja. Breakfast," Syrus said.

"Coming," he said, standing and grabbing his bag before following Syrus.

His entrance was met with applause and gasps. He knew the former was for the sauces while the latter was the sight of the tail. He couldn't help smiling as he got his food. He simply loved his tail and felt the novelty of it wouldn't wear off as quickly as it did with the ears as he had gotten them on Sunday and was used to them by lunchtime on Monday.

"Jaden, when did you get a tail?" Alexis gasped when he approached the front of the school.

"Just before breakfast." The tail swished. "Sweet, huh?"

"It's beautiful," she breathed. "I think a lot of girls will love it too."

Alexis' prediction proved true as girls would squeal at it or come up to see it better and ask to touch it. He would grant the request and savored the feel of their fingers running through the fur.

"It must have hurt, growing it," Jasmine said, stroking it.

"A little," Jaden admitted. "I felt an aching, burning, and itching before it came out."

"Well, it's cool and makes you cuter than before."

Jaden turned almost as red as his ears at the comment. He didn't think he looked cute; rather cool actually. He also sensed that his magic had gotten stronger since gaining the tail. I might be able to pull off bigger tricks.

He went to his next class and soaked up more admiration, but noticed at least one jealous look hidden under an expression of disgust: Chazz. He had had a rivalry with Chazz since their first duel at Duel Academy that had gotten interrupted. Their second one went to Jaden despite Chazz having rare, powerful cards in his deck. Jaden and Chazz didn't duel each other again until the School Duel. That was when Jaden realized that Chazz had changed. He refused his brothers' insistence in their rare powerful cards; the old Chazz would have used them. Since then, he considered Chazz a friend though Chazz didn't, at least sometimes.

Is he jealous of the attention I'm getting? Hey, it's not my fault people are attracted to my ears and tail. I couldn't exactly hide the ears and while I could have hidden the tail, everyone already knew I was half-fox.

Chazz watched Jaden with a jealous, disgusted look. It seemed like everything amazing happened to Jaden and he was tired of the brunette getting all the luck, fame, and attention. He wanted to embarrass Jaden, something that would get people to laugh at him. He wracked his brain before an idea came to him and he smirked.

Jaden brushed his tail as he and his friends talked about Zane's next duel that would occur in a day or two. A lot of people had stroked his tail and he felt the need to groom it. Maybe foxes are clean creatures, like cats. I've become more concerned about my appearance since getting my ears. Speaking of which, my sense are sharper now. I can see, hear, and smell better than before. As he put the brush away, he said, "Hey, let's head to dinner."

He led the way out the door and to the top of the stairs. He lost track of things after that. One moment he was at the top of the stairs, the next he was at the bottom, his head and back hurting and his friends calling his name in worried tones. He groaned in pain and said, "What…happened?"

"Looks like someone set a tripwire," Hassleberry said, holding up a length of string that he had removed from the stairs. "Something tells me you were the target."

"I've been pranked? Again?" Jaden couldn't believe it. He slowly sat up. "Who would do that? I could have broken my neck." He emitted a low growl of anger.

A laugh sounded and a familiar voice drawled, "Have a nice trip, Slacker?"

Jaden and his friends looked over to see Chazz with a satisfied smirk. "Chazz? You set that wire?" Jaden asked. "Why?"

"To embarrass you. Too bad it wasn't in front of the entire dorm, but I could spread it around. The famous Jaden Yuki falling down the stairs." Chazz headed inside the cafeteria.

Jaden felt rage pounding through him. He desired to lash out at Chazz, teach him a lesson. He staggered to his feet, wincing and putting a hand to his back. He had probably bruised it, but at leas he was awake and standing. He slowly and carefully entered the cafeteria, got his food, and gingerly sat with his friends. He glared in Chazz's direction and a quick cruel smile appeared. He focused his magic on his idea and as Chazz lifted his soup bowed, the contents exploded, covering his face in hot soup. Chazz howled in pain as he wiped his face and fled the room, no doubt going for cold water. Jaden felt satisfaction at his prank and at getting revenge. He ate his dinner, his head and back feeling a lot better.

"Jaden, that was mean," Syrus scolded in their room later on.

"After what he did, I think he deserved it," Jaden stated. "I didn't deserve to fall down the stairs. He started it by wanting to embarrass me."

"All right, son," Hassleberry said. "So, now you're even. Let's get some sleep. Tomorrow's a new day and a clean slate."

Syrus and Jaden nodded before getting ready for bed and climbing into them. Jaden found he couldn't lie on his back due to his tail and settled for lying on his side. He reflected on his prank on Chazz. He still felt good about it and didn't care what anyone else thought. He was aware that the prank was a bit mean, but so was the tripwire.

Maybe I am becoming evil like my dad. No, this was getting even with Chazz. Now that I have, I can go back to my normal self. I think I'll practice more of my magic. If I can change food into other food, maybe I can change myself to another form or even someone else, but only if they want to. I won't force them. After all, I'm not evil.