Shadgirl2: To the "guest" who keeps reading a story s/he hates and leaving rude, snarky reviews, stop reading. Also, this story's written in first person point of view, meaning that some of the thoughts and feelings shown in narration are one person's thoughts and not necessarily true. Get your facts straight before you flame. Additionally, why don't you take another look at GX, particularly season 2, and tell me why that barrier would have done any good there. You're just looking for any reason possible to criticize. If you're going to do that, at least have the courage to log on and do it instead of hiding behind anonymity.

Disclaimer: We don't own Yugioh GX.

Natuko's POV

I showed Judai to one of the guest rooms, then headed to my own. I guess Judai must have had a rough night because he was still snoozing away when I got up around 10 the next day. I headed into the lounge and found Fubuki snoozing on the couch. He must have fallen asleep during all those phone calls of his.

Well, I wasn't about to sit around all day doing nothing! After all, I'd come for vacation. Just because Judai was in trouble didn't mean I was putting my vacation on hold. So I headed off to the beach to see about picking up some chicks!

Judai's POV

I woke up around 12:30. I hadn't really gotten any sleep, worrying about Ai. Yeah, I know, I was being paranoid. But she hadn't shown up, which had me thinking it really was safe here…as long as I didn't leave. She'd have a chance to find me and follow me if I did.

The phone rang at 1:00. Fubuki was still leaning against the couch, sleeping, so I figured I might as well answer the phone.

I picked it up and held the receiver up to my ear. "Uh, hello?"

"Judai!?" Manjoume answered, sounding surprised. Well, yeah, I was answering Fubuki's phone. Of course he'd be surprised. "Why are you answering the Tenjoins' private line? Where's the idiot?" With that last question, his tone sounded more like his usual—annoyed.

Funny, I thought I was the idiot. That had always been his nickname for me, after all.

"Fubuki's asleep. What's up, Manjoume?"

"What's up? I'm down at this stupid resort of theirs and need picked up, that's what's up! Where the hell are you guys?"

"Uh…like I said, Fubuki's asleep."

"Then why don't you come get me!? What? Is Ai really that scary?"

Well, if that wasn't just meant to lure me out, I don't know what else it could have been. And it was working. That was just embarrassing. I know, women can be tough, but the way Manjoume said it made me feel like a real wimp.

"…Uh… Where are you?" I asked.

"I just told you!" Manjoume snapped back. "At the resort on Isla de la Doncella! You know, the one with Ai in it?" He was pretty heavy on the sarcasm there at the end.

Yeah, he was making fun of me. So, of course, I had to go get him and prove him wrong. Otherwise I'd never hear the end of it.

Manjoume's POV

Seriously, could that guy be any stupider!?

"Manjoume? What are you doing here?" an annoying and way too familiar voice said behind me.

Damn it, not her again!

I covered the mouthpiece of my phone and turned to Ai, glaring. "Oh. Hi, Ai. What's going on? Get tired of stalking me, so you got another girl to do it?"

Yeah, I admit it—I had Ai stalking me for the last five years! Seriously! Everywhere I went, there she was! I'd only gotten rid of her about three weeks ago, when she'd apparently started stalking Judai! And, no sooner had she left me alone than another annoying girl started bugging me! Seriously, I had a girlfriend and was perfectly happy with her! Why did I need a stalker following me everywhere for the rest of my life!?

Ai looked at me like I was speaking Hebrew. "What on Earth are you talking about? I'm over you! You're too big a jerk for my liking. I found someone better!"

Yeah, I know she found someone else. She'd found a friend of mine to torment! And he didn't need anymore trouble in his life! We'd all had plenty of that back in school!

"Whatever, Ai. Point is that—"

"Juuuuunnnyyyy!" called an overly excited, high-pitched voice.

Shit. Her again. Can't I ever get a break?

I sweat and put a hand to my head, then got back to my phone call, more annoyed than I'd been earlier. Hey, can you blame me? My stalkers were meeting each other! They could share information about how to get what they wanted from me!

"Listen," I said to Judai. "I've gotta go, but you guys better send me an escort ASAP, or else! Understand!?" Before he had a chance to answer, I hung up.

"Wait, who better send you an escort?" Ai asked. "What are you doing here? And is this your girlfriend?"

"No, she's—"

"Juny! I'm so happy to see you!" my stalker said.

Incidentally, she wasn't bad-looking, but I was already taken, and this girl was getting on my nerves. She had long purple hair—today she'd arranged it in a half-up half-down hairstyle. Her eyes were a weird color—orange, for crying out loud!—set in a face of porcelain. There were no markings on her face at all, not even a single flaw on that tiny nose of hers. She gave new meaning to the term "hourglass figure" with how thin she was—probably a size 0 or something.

See what I mean? That description just came straight to mind the first time I saw her. Meaning I thought she was pretty, but she'd quickly turned into an annoying stalker! In other words, she wasn't at all attractive because having her like you was a curse!

Anyway, her name's Haruko Ishiyama, and she looked at Ai. "Oh! Who's this? Is she a friend of yours?" She put her hand to her mouth in what would be a cute gesture…if she wasn't more annoying than a fly!

Ai waved a hand dismissively and said, "No, no, you don't need to worry about me! You two are adorable together! So, I take it you're Manjoume's love?"

"No, Ai!" I snapped. Seriously! "This is Haruko. She's the new you."

"And what's that supposed to mean!?" Ai snapped, her hands on her hips. Like she didn't already know!

"But, Juny! That witch is too mean for you! You deserve so much better!"

There she went again, insulting my girlfriend! "Haruko! How many times have I gotta tell ya!? I'm happy with Momoe, so go stalk someone else!" I snapped, pointing off into the distance.

"I'm not stalking!"

"Honey, do yourself a favor: Find a better man," Ai said. "Manjoume doesn't know how to treat a lady."

Doesn't know how to treat a lady!? She was no lady! What the hell did she mean by that!?

I whirled on that stupid red-head. "Ai? I think ya got that backwards. Or aren't you the one who doesn't know how to treat a guy!? Haruko here never tries to force herself on me physically, at least!" I said, gesturing to her as I glared at that infuriating woman whose name was "love."

"Wait, you do what!?" Haruko shrieked, and I was glad to hear that the idea seemed repulsive to her. At least I didn't need to worry about her trying that any time soon.

Ai stuck her nose in the air and said, "Oh, go take a hike, Manjoume! Hmph!" She turned and stormed off. Like I was gonna miss her.

I let out a humph of my own and said, "Good riddance. Now, Haruko? It's been nice seeing you again, but I'm late for an important appointment, so, if you'll excuse me…"

Somehow I managed to keep my tone controlled when talking to her. I don't know how, but I did. That girl wasn't as bad as Ai, after all, so there was no reason to snap at her for nothing. Still, it didn't mean she wasn't annoying. I walked off, hoping she wouldn't follow.

She stood there for a second before I heard her say, "An appointment?"

"Yo! Anyone know where I can find a Mr. Fubuki Tenjoin 'round here!?" I yelled for the whole crowd. Hey, somebody had to know! I mean, it was his family's island!

Judai's POV

Well, that was a weird phone call.

"What was that all about?" Yubel asked as I headed out to meet Manjoume.

"I dunno. But, if Manjoume knows Ai, it makes sense he wouldn't wanna be stuck anywhere near her."

"Okay? And you think that's why he hung up so fast? What, Ai like both you guys at once?"

I shrugged and said, "I don't know. Maybe something else happened. Maybe Manjoume's got another stalker…"

Yubel snickered, thinking about that idea. Not that I saw anything funny about him having a new stalker. "You know, I'm gonna laugh so hard if that turns out to be true." She snickered again as we headed off to the resort.

Man, if Manjoume had another stalker, that would be seriously bad luck for him.

On my way to the resort, I tried extra hard not to let Ai see me. Winged Kuriboh and Yubel were both on the lookout for her or Manjoume. After all, Ai's threat sounded more sincere this time than it had before. If I wasn't careful, I might find myself outside in the rain.

Yubel saw Manjoume way before I did, and she tried not to laugh as she pointed him out to me. "Oh, geez. Judai? Look," she snickered, pointing.

I turned to see Manjoume, looking annoyed (but what else is new) with a girl with violet hair following behind. I recognized her, but I wasn't totally sure why at the time.

Manjoume stopped, turning to Haruko. "Haruko. Do you mind? This is a private meeting. No stalkers allowed!"

"But, Manjoume! If you're having trouble with that Ai woman, maybe I can help!"

Well, that was new. Manjoume and Haruko. And they clearly weren't dating.

Before Manjoume could answer her, I walked over and asked, "Manjoume? Who's that?"

He turned and said, "Nobody. Where's that clown at? Still unavailable? What? Have another one-night stand with some random girl?"

"Uh, actually, he was up all night calling people. You know, because of my little problem?"

"Really. Great, then let's go see him. Later, Haru. Private meeting to attend." He walked off the way I'd come from.

"Jun!" Haruko cried.

I stared at her for a second, then turned to Manjoume and asked, "She like Ai?"

Manjoume stopped walking, turning to Haruko with a forced smile. Well, that answered my question. No wonder Yubel was laughing—Manjoume had another stalker, after all! And, looking at her and knowing her name, I suddenly realized where I'd seen her before—she was a former classmate of mine back at Duel Academy.

Either way, it seemed Manjoume didn't want to admit that he had a stalker. Well, it was Manjoume, after all. His pride wouldn't let him.

His tone casual and falsely kind, Manjoume said, "Sorry, Haru. This is something you'd never understand. Come on, Judai, let's go already." He started walking off again.

"Okay," I said, following. After all, I didn't really want to stick around here, either.

"Fine! See if I care!" Haruko called after us.

I glanced back and saw her pull out her cell phone. I wondered who she was calling.

"Geez, that girl," Manjoume muttered. Then he asked me, "So? What's going on? Why is Ai so into you all of a sudden? She was into me, the last I knew."

"I don't know," I answered. Hell, I really didn't. I didn't even know how she knew about me! I mean, it wasn't like I was famous or anything. Ever since graduation, I'd been running around the world, helping people out wherever I could. But, while I'd been doing this, I hadn't exactly been looking for publicity. "She just called me here and said we'd make cute kids."

"Heh. That's Ai, alright. Did something similar to get me to come to her kingdom."

Wait, her kingdom!? Was he saying what I thought he was saying!?

"Who knew a little Misgarthian peasant girl could be so much trouble."

"Wait, she's a princess!?" I asked, totally freaked. If she was from Misgarth and a princess, then she was Ojin's sister and immune to the law!

Clearly I need to work on listening, seeing as Manjoume hadn't said that.

"Maybe," Manjoume answered. "Though she was posing as a homeless and needy peasant girl when I first met her. She wanted me to help her get out of poverty, then she drugged me during our first encounter, and, the next thing I knew, I was in bed with her."

Oh, boy… So I was right to be paranoid, see? She was crazy, and nothing would stop her!

"Geez… Glad I haven't wound up there yet…"

Manjoume turned to me with a start. "Wait, you haven't? What? She treating you better than she did me? She got me in there three times without me knowing it! Hell, I'm surprised she's not pregnant with my kid yet, all things considered."

Man, if that didn't put things into perspective, I don't know what did. Ai was sneaky and clever, and she wouldn't give up until she got what she wanted.

"I've just been really lucky so far," I told him. "Or you could say paranoid. I'm afraid to eat or drink anything that I didn't get myself because I'm worried she's drugged it or something!"

It was true. I really didn't want to eat or drink anything unless I saw where it was coming from because Ai might have messed with it somehow. She'd tried, too, because I'd had someone bring me a drink the other day in a restaurant, and I hadn't ordered anything. They said somebody else had it sent for me, a young woman. Needless to say, I hadn't drank it. Yubel had wanted me to go find Ai after that so that she could "give her a dose of her own medicine," but, as usual, I refused. If she kept this up, though, she'd make Yubel really angry.

Manjoume stared at me, then said, "Well, that's not fair. Geez…"

The two of us kept walking, heading back to the Tenjoins' villa.

"So, where's this villa of theirs, anyway?" Manjoume asked after a bit.

Well, that was kind of an awkward time to be asking that question, given where we were.

"Right in front of you," I answered.

Manjoume looked at it. "Hmm. Well, it's not as great as I expected, but I guess it'll do. Let's go." He headed in.

I followed, thinking that Manjoume had really high standards. I mean, the villa was three stories high, with more rooms than most people's houses!

Fuyuko's POV

My name is Fuyuko Iwagawa. I'm 29 years old, I work for the Japanese government (though what I do is secret), and I'm best friends with Natsuko. When he called me in, saying that he needed help in Mexico, I figured he needed bail money. Oddly enough, when he explained it, it seemed he wasn't the one in trouble this time. Either way, with Natsuko on vacation in a tropical area, I thought it best to call his sister and ask her to come. Besides, she could probably help with the situation going on, too.

When I arrived with his sister—a girl with a blond bob cut and blue eyes—we found a man with messy teal hair and green eyes. His skin was pale enough to say that he was from farther north than us. When he spoke, his accent gave him away as Norwegian. He said his name was Johan Andersen, and my companion asked if he was here because of Judai. When he said yes, we decided to head out in search of them together.

I tried calling Natsuko's cell, but he didn't answer. That was fine, though—I knew where Natsuko would be, so the three of us headed off to the beach.

Sure enough, I found that man on the beach. He was on the phone, as I'd expected. Judging from his gestures and reading his lips, I knew he was giving love advice to Haruko. Again.

"Well, Toots, all I can say is keep trying," he was saying as we approached. It was Haruko, alright—that was his nickname for her. "He's bound to notice you eventually, right?"

"You're putting ideas in her head again…" his sister told him.

"At least they aren't talking about getting my attention…" I said, knowing that must be the case. She'd left me alone recently, after all. Though I pitied whoever they were talking about.

Natsuko turned, and his expression lit up. "Yo! Hey! Fuyu! Aki! And, uh…"

"The name's Johan. Johan Andersen. Pleased to meet you, mister…?"

"Name's Natsu! Natsuko Tokugawa!"

"Nice to meet ya!" Johan said, shaking Natsuko's hand with a smile. "So, I'm guessing he's the guy who called you, Fuyuko?"

"Yes," I said, not entirely sure I wanted to be associated with Natsuko. "This is him."

"Great! Glad to hear it," Johan said. "So? What's the emergency going on with my best friend?"

"One sec!" Natsuko said. He turned back to the phone and said, "Haru, I'll call you back. Aki and Fuyu just got here." He hung up the phone and slipped it back into his pocket, then turned back to us. "Okay, so Judai's got a little girl trouble…"

"Yeah. So I hear," Johan said. "Hey, by the way, where is he, anyway? He is okay right now, isn't he?"

"Uh…I dunno where he is. I just figured he was around somewhere…"

Oh, no. Leave it to Natsuko to lose a person at risk of being molested.

"Idiot," Akiko chided.

"Okay? Then where are you guys staying? Maybe he's still there."

"We're staying with Fubuki at his place. Honestly, Judai was still asleep when I left, so he might still be sleeping. Let's go check." Natsuko headed off for the villa, and the rest of us followed.

Judai's POV

"So let me get this straight," Manjoume said after I'd filled him in. We were in the lounge in the villa, where Fubuki was still sleeping on one of the couches. "Ai's put up some barrier that can seal duel spirits inside and won't lift it unless you marry her? Heh. Now I feel lucky! She could never do something like that to me." He grinned, teasing me yet again.

"Yeah, well, she already got you to sleep with her, so…"

"Oh, shut up. So? Any ideas on how to break it? What have you tried so far?"

"I tried attacking it, but that didn't do me any good. Actually, it nearly got me killed."

"Okay? Have you tried using spells or traps to slay those ugly things? Surely they're not indestructible."

"She said those would do the same thing as attacking. I'm not in a hurry to die, so I haven't tried."

Manjoume stared at me lamely. I got the feeling he was wondering why he hung out with me. After all, he wondered that a lot. Sometimes I wondered why he did, too, but I'd always known back in school that he cared.

Come to think of it, he wouldn't have come to help if he didn't still care. Maybe I was wrong about him hating me, after all.

I heard the door open, then footsteps and voices came down the hallway.

"I tell ya, without my Crystal Beasts, I feel a bit lonely. You know what I'm saying?"

"Hm. Can't say that I do. I don't see spirits. At least, not that kind…" Natsuko answered.

"Zip it!" snapped a harsh female voice.

"Let's not go there…" another man said.

Then four people stepped through the double-wide doorway into the lounge, and I recognized three of them—Johan, my best friend; Natsuko, obviously; and Akiko, a former classmate known for her temper. The other one, a tall, well-built man with a mop of blue hair, yellow eyes, and a really strict-looking face, was unknown to me.

"Johan!" I called. It had been a long time since I'd last seen my best friend, and I was pretty thrilled to see him right then. You know, given the circumstances.

"Hey, there, bro!" he answered. "Long time, no see! How you been!? Well, other than right now, that is."

"Great! What about you?"

"I'm good. So? What's going on? I noticed there's four huge monsters out there standing guard. They wouldn't let my Crystal Beasts pass, either. What gives?"

"Those monsters create a barrier that won't let duel spirits in or out."

"Great. And why's it there? Fubuki mentioned something about a stalker?"

"Heh. Not only does he have one, but she's a complete nut-case," Manjoume said, grinning, his arms crossed. "Right, Judai?"

"Yeah, she's got that barrier up to keep me from leaving. Says she won't lower it until I marry her."

"Ouch," Johan sympathized. "So what are you gonna do about it? Surely there's some way to bring it down!"

"I don't know what I'm gonna do about it," I admitted.

"Okay, then let's see… That barrier is able to trap you due to you being part duel spirit," Johan said, thinking of what to do. "But you're also part human, right? So, maybe, there's a way to bust through it using your human side."

Dang. I was afraid he'd say that.

"Tried it."

"What?"

"When?" Manjoume asked. "All you told me was you attacked the thing. When did you try this?"

"When that failed," I said.

Manjoume and Johan were both staring at me, stunned into silence now.

"Hold on, what's this about him being half Duel Monster?" the new guy asked.

"That explains a lot," Akiko said, crossing her arms.

"Uh, yeah… Long story," I said. I really didn't want to go into it again. Especially not with somebody who'd been at the school the year Yubel attacked it.

Suddenly Fubuki shot up off the couch, saying, "Okay! So Manjoume's on his—" He cut himself off, seeing all of the people gathered there, then asked, "What are you people doing here?"

Manjoume looked at the new guy and said, "And who are you, anyway?"

"I'm Fuyuko Iwagawa, Natsuko's friend," the man with blue hair said. "He called me for help, and I brought along a guest."

"Yo, Tenjoin," Akiko said, waving a bit.

"Akiko! What a surprise! Who knew you knew these guys!" Fubuki said.

"Sadly, I do."

"Aw, come on, Kiki!"

"Don't call me that!"

Fubuki's eyes bugged out. "Wait, you're Kiki!? You sure!?"

"Unfortunately so. And do not call me 'Kiki!' Got it!?"

"…Wow… I do not see the family resemblance… That's so weird, bro…" he said, stunned.

Natsuko laughed. "Trust me, bro! It's there! Somewhere…"

"Uh, as interesting as this all is, can we please get back to the matter at hand?" Johan asked. "How are we gonna help Judai? Any ideas?"

"Don't look at me," Manjoume said. "When Ai gets hooked on a guy, nothing stops her until she finds another guy to love."

Eying Natsuko, Akiko said, "I see good bait."

"Whoa! Not cool, sis!"

"You're right. She's probably smarter than that."

"Well, we could try talking to her! Maybe she'll slip up and tell us how to undo it. What do you think, guys?" Fubuki said.

Me? I thought it was a dumb idea! Why would she ever tell us that? She wasn't that loose-lipped!

"It might work," Fuyuko said.

"Yeah! Especially if one of us does it, Fubuki!" Natsuko added.

Fubuki closed his eyes and waved his arms in front of him, grinning. "Oh, no. I couldn't possibly. She's more your speed, bro. Why don't you do it?"

"Dude!"

"He's right," Akiko said.

"There's nobody better for the job," Fuyuko agreed.

"Besides," they both said, lame looks on their faces, "you've got an immediate out if she gets too clingy."

Natsuko sweat. "Right… That little card…"

What little card?

"So, you think it'll work?" Johan asked.

"Yeah, I guess," Natsuko reluctantly agreed.

Okay… Well, that wasn't exactly the smartest idea ever.

"Uh, is that really a good idea? Won't you have a stalker then?"

"Aw, I've got a quick fix for that one! Like they said."

Maybe I should ask Akiko later.

"Yeah! It's awesome, too! Wait til you see it!" Fubuki said. Then he grabbed Natsuko around the neck and started whispering. "So, what is your trump card, anyway, bro? It better be something good."

"Uh…I'm not telling. Aki hates me enough for it as it is."

Well, that was weird. And it explained Akiko's way of saying it, too. Yeah, I'd have to ask about that later.

Fubuki sighed. "Fine. Have it your way. But you better tell me someday, alright? Bros being bros and all."

If not for that fusion improving my hearing, I probably wouldn't have heard any of that. Might as well just pretend I didn't.

"Then it's decided, then," Johan said. "Natsuko will talk to this Ai girl. Here's hoping he can get the info out of her."

"If he can't, he owes me a million bucks," Fuyuko said, his arms crossed.

Akiko took it a step farther, saying, "If he can't, he owes me a house in Europe."

I got the feeling she wasn't talking just a regular old house, either.

"Gee, guys, thanks," Natsuko said, looking a bit annoyed. I can't really blame him—that wasn't exactly the best area for your friends and family to have such faith in you, after all.

Yubel seemed just as surprised and disturbed by all this as she could be. "I don't want to know, do I?"

Somehow, I don't think so.

"Well, then, what are you waiting for!?" Manjoume demanded. "If you've got the balls to go out there and talk to Ai, then get going already! We need to get this over with before something irreversible happens!"

"Right! I'm on it!" Natsuko said before running out.

I still didn't think this plan would work.

"Huh. Think he'll be able to get answers out of her? She's pretty smart, after all."

Let's hope he can.

"Fifty bucks he comes back with a new girlfriend," Akiko said lamely.

"I'm not taking that bet! That's a loss just waiting to happen," Fuyuko said.

"Yeah? Well, I'm betting 1,000 bucks that Ai falls for him next," Manjoume said. "He seems like her type."

"Oh! I hope not," Fubuki worried. "That girl's pretty crazy, after all."

"So's Natsu," Akiko said. "They'll hit it off great."

"Or he'll meet a girl on the way to or from the resort and maybe actually make that trump card of his true at last," Fuyuko said without really seeming to believe it.

So his trump card involved a girl. What? Was he always saying he was married?

Akiko burst out laughing, as though that was the best joke ever told. "Yeah, right!"

"Wow. Heh. Better get yourself ready for a wedding, then," Manjoume said, grinning at me. "Sounds like this plan's doomed to failure."

I sweat. "Thanks…"