Shadgirl2: This chapter's short, but it's here, at least. The next one will be longer.

Disclaimer: We don't own Yugioh GX.

Junko's POV

So far, the day had been like just about every other day: boring. Ever since that menace Ai had tried kidnapping Asuka-san, I'd been cooped up in the hotel room, feigning trauma. Not that there was anything wrong with that. When Asuka first asked me to help with this, I wasn't even sure I'd be of any use. I'm a terrible actor, I'm not very tough, and above all, I'm not really the "hero" type. More like a damsel in distress, if we're being honest. But Asuka-san thought I could help, anyway, so here I was, feeling more than useless.

Ever since Ai became suspicious of the idea that Asuka-san might have been with Judai, Asuka-san hadn't returned to our room. I figured everyone wanted her to stay closer to them for safety, which meant my little bit of uselessness was null and void now. Seriously. Why was I still here?

Anyway, I was sitting in the chair in the corner near a table by the window, reading some silly romance novel, when someone knocked on my door.

I looked up from my book and called, "Who is it?"

"It's me," Asuka-san answered. "I need to talk to you about something."

Wondering what that was all about, I put my book down on the table and went to answer the door, curious as to what Asuka-san wanted. She didn't sound too good, which worried me a bit. Was Ai onto me now as well?

When I opened the door, confused, I saw Asuka-san standing there with a look of uncertainty on her face. She also looked a bit glum. Wait... Uh-oh, could this be...?

I decided to ask, "Yeah? What's wrong?" Sensing the tension, I opened the door all the way. If I was right, I was about to hear it again. I knew there was more to the previous morning than Asuka-san let on. "You don't look so good."

Asuka-san looked at me with an unease I hadn't seen in quite awhile, about six or eight years. "It's, uh, well..." She looked over her shoulder and sweat. "...May I come in, please? It's kinda private."

Yep. Here we go again. That was Kyle's room she was looking at nervously. "Okay, sure," I said, standing aside. "Come on in, then." I braced myself for yet another discussion about a certain brunette I was really sick of hearing about. Seriously, why couldn't she just let go of the past already? She had Kyle to help her heal now!

Like she normally does when he's on her mind, Asuka came in a flopped down in the chair near the window, sliding down into a slouching position and looking as glum as ever. Great, what did that fool do now?

Well, whatever it was, Asuka-san didn't want to share it with anyone but me, so I closed the door and looked over at her in concern. "Wow, you're a mess. Something on your mind?" As I walked over, I knew the answer she'd give.

Asuka looked down and said, "It's...Judai."

See? Called it.

"See, I've been thinking about him a lot lately, and, well, I..."

I just stared at her, wondering what was going on. This wasn't sounding like the usual hate-filled words I'd grown so accustomed to the past six years. No, this sounded a lot more serious than that. C-could it be...?

She slowly looked up at me with those sad eyes. "...Am I making the right decision here?" Before I could answer, she averted her gaze back to the floor and elaborated, "I mean about dating Kyle, that is."

Oh, no. This could not be real. After six years of loneliness, Asuka-san finally had someone who could ease her pain, and now...

Feeling a bit worried now, I voiced my concerns, looking at her with genuine confusion. "What do you mean? I thought you liked the guy."

"I do, it's just...I'm not sure who I like better. Him or Judai. I know what you're thinking. It ended six years ago, right?" She sounded so broke as she said this. I sat down on the edge of my bed, looking at her with concern. I was afraid she'd say something like this. She looked up to the ceiling and continued, "But, if that were really true, then why do I still get goosebumps whenever he's around? Why am I happiest when he wraps his arms around me?" Upset, she returned her gaze to the floor and finished, "And why can't I stand seeing him with another girl, like Rei or something. I mean, Kyle's great, but..."

She kept staring at the floor, looking lost. I couldn't blame her—I was at a loss for words. I mean, I knew she had those feelings from time to time, but...this time, they were a lot stronger and deeper. And since when did she get jealous? That hadn't happened in six years!

I stared at her, my eyes wide with surprise and concern. "Wow. Those are some pretty deep thoughts you're having there."

"Yeah, I know."

The lifeless tone made me unsure of what to say. Asuka-san was still in love with Judai, that much was obvious. But that man was so unpredictable, and she had Kyle now. What would happen if she left him for Judai, and Judai left her alone again? Would she suffer the same regrets if he did stay and Kyle left? Talk about a serious case of being in love with two. Anything could happen, and it could be a lose-lose either way. What advice could I possibly give for that?

I thought about it for a bit, then shook my head. "I don't know what to tell you, Asuka-san. I mean, it sounds like you're having some pretty deep regrets, but do you think you'd have the same regrets if you broke up with Kyle?"

Asuka-san shrugged slightly, her eyes closed. "I don't know. Maybe." She opened her eyes and stared at the floor as she said, "I mean, he is a lot smarter than Judai, and his jokes are pretty funny, but..."

No. No, no, no. I couldn't do this again. She hadn't sounded this lifeless and upset since Judai'd left that first time, but now it was out of fear of losing him again. It was written all over her face. Her heart was set on one guy and one guy alone, and it had gotten so bad lately that she'd even slept with him—literally. Asuka-san was quickly headed for disaster again if something wasn't done quickly; and, since neither I nor Momoe would hear the end of it again, I gave the best advice I could think of: "I'm sorry, Asuka-san. I can't help you much with this one. All I can say is you should follow your heart. Take a good, long look at yourself and who you are now, and, hopefully, the answer will come to you."

Asuka-san sat there in silence a bit longer, lost in thought. Then she closed her eyes, smiling, and said, "Thanks, Junko. I think I know what to do now." She started getting up.

In that moment, I knew exactly what she was going to do, and I knew it was for the best, too. After all, it was clear he was the only one who could truly make Asuka-san happy. I just hoped he knew that, too.

"You're welcome. Well, good luck with that. I know you'll figure it out. You're one of the smartest girls I know." I gave her a reassuring smile. I knew she'd make the right decision this time, at least. After all, nothing hurts worse than six-year-old regrets.

Asuka-san made her way over to the door, still smiling. I got up to see her out. "Thanks, Junko. I appreciate it." She stopped in the doorway and waved to me, saying, "Well, it was nice talking to you. See you around."

"See ya!" I said, smiling at her as I grasped the doorknob. "Good luck with Judai, then!" And I closed the door, just knowing she'd confess her feelings this time.

Judai's problems were about to come to an end. Asuka-san would be his girlfriend, and hopefully he'd keep her this time! 'Cause, if he ran off without her again, I was going to track him down and slug him. Not just for her, but for everyone who got caught up in the grieving of a girl twice broken. Asuka-san deserved better than that, and he should know it, too!

Asuka's POV

"Good luck with Judai."

I blinked at that response in surprise. Junko sounded so sure I'd chose Judai instead of Kyle. ...Well, okay, then! Apparently Junko thought she knew what my heart was trying to tell me but hadn't said it herself, like she expected me to figure it out on my own.

Talk about being a good, unbiased friend. But...she was probably right. I had Judai on my mind so much, it would make sense. The guy just got more and more interesting with time, and now he was...

Yeah, she was totally right. Judai was the one, and this time I'd make sure he knew it, too! Rei was about to get a big surprise. She wasn't going to be the hero of this story, after all! Kinda cheesy, but...

I smiled, laughing slightly and shaking my head at Junko's reaction. Then I ran off to see if I could win Judai back from Rei, hoping I was making the right decision this time.

Ai's POV

An hour and a half. That was how long it had taken me to lose Jesse. I tried losing him by zigzagging through the streets in town, but he seemed to know the town better than me—he kept leaping out ahead of me.

I tried going to the mall, thinking there were a lot of people and plenty of hiding places, but everywhere I went, Jesse found me—under clothing racks, in bathroom stalls, even behind a food counter in the food court! He was impossible to escape! And he kept trying to grab me in a bear hug, which I managed to dodge every time, but still! Up the escalators, down the escalators, over and around the objects I threw at him in an attempt to slow him down. Nothing worked! His hunting skills were amazing!

During that chase, I was really wishing the bystander effect wasn't a thing! No one paid us any mind, probably thinking somebody else would deal with it. The only way I was able to lose him was by stopping a mall cop and telling him I was being pursued by a stalker. Needless to say, Jesse was never found. Yes, Jesse was definitely the creepiest guy I'd ever met.

"Geez... He's...persistent..." I said, catching my breath in the security office now that I'd finally lost Jesse. I wonder if this is how Judai feels with me chasing him around?

That's what got me thinking about my last encounter with him. He'd looked so panicked while I was undressing him, so helpless before remembering what he could do. And his reaction when he finally got me off wasn't any better.

"Maybe...that was the wrong way to go about it..."

I left mall security, deciding to stick to different approaches from now on. After all, I didn't want to scare him—or scar him.