Disclaimer: I don't own any of this.. Not Duel monsters… not yugioh… not You Can't Hide beautiful by Aaron Lines… not the pope… Wait… the pope doesn't show up in this story…

Syrus: No… But I do and you don't own me.

Must you constantly remind me of that?

Syrus: …Yes

………………………………...

The Knight of the Red Bond

I'm Syrus Truesdale, 2nd year Slifer and little brother of Zane Truesdale. Well, to start I should probably sum up what has happened so far. First Loki and Melody meet and fall head over-heals, but Melody is in complete denial. Then when the power goes out a few weeks later, Jaden gets this bright idea to get the two together by having a big cook-out with food and drink and music, but he also spikes the punch with hot sauce. By eleven at night everyone's a little out of it and some crazy stuff begins to happen, Bastian is backed into a corner by two girls and they kiss him one after the other in front of the girl he is in love with, Loki and Melody really… Um…. Hit it off, and for some reason Melody is acting like she discovered she has the plaque, then Alexis confesses to Jaden that she is in love with him and what does he do? He pulls a memory blank on us the next morning… Oh… And I kinda… Accidentally stole Margarita from my brother, and now she clings to me like cellophane. I don't even like her all that much. In fact I'm beginning to despise her.. I have got to get Zane and Margarita back together, and it looks like it's up to me to me to do it, or I'll be stuck with her forever!

I wake up late again. It's been a week since the morning after and the affects of the drama are wearing off. Save a small group of people (myself included), who completely screwed up that night. This group includes Loki, Melody, Alexis, Bastian, Isabelle, Zane, and me. Zane won't talk to me and glares at me whenever he sees me. Margarita has become my shadow and follows me from the moment I step outside my room until I go back in, but she seems happy with it. The power is suppose to come on this afternoon. Tomorrow classes start again. I have to get rid of her today. I get up and get dressed. Today is going to be a long day. Checking to make sure the cost was clear, I sneaked off towards the school. As I approached the entrance someone called my name. Quickly I ducked in a bush, to find it was just Chumley. "Man, you're jumpy. You act like you're a groundhog that just saw it's shadow."

Getting out of the bush I brushed myself off, "If you had a shadow like mine you'd be jumpy too."

"It's that Margarita again, huh?"

"Yup. I can't get rid of her. She is so thick sometimes! She jus can't take a hint!
I then got on my knees. "Chumley you gotta help me! I am going to do something I swore never to do. I need support."

"Dude, this isn't about me."

"No but I'll make your life miserable if you don't."

"Fine, fine, what are you going to do?"

"I'm going to ask my brother for help."

"Okay but you gotta play it close to the vest."

A half an hour later after spending the whole time practicing how I would ask him I knocked on the door of Zane's dorm. When he opened the door my plans went out the window and I broke down. I fell to my knees and wailed. "You have GOT to help me! Margarita is driving me insane! I never wanted her! Please take her BACK!"

"Even if I wanted to I couldn't Margarita is stubborn. She'd never admit she was sorry, or wrong. Now go."

"NO! You are a lousy brother. And this time I will not accept no! I will sit out here for days until you agree." At first Zane didn't say anything but when he did he gave me a cool smile.

"You just stood up to me."

"Yeah… I think I did."

"Well, Syrus, I'll tell you what. You figure out a plan and I'll go along with whatever it is. But I won't help make it. Got that."

"Good 'cause I think I already got one."

SO an hour later I dragged Margarita out to a private spot on the island with a determined look on my face.

"Where are we going, Sy-why?"

Cringing at what she called me, I looked ahead, "I'm going to duel Zane!"

Margarita's eyes went wide, "Duel him? Why?"

"Because he challenged me of course. I don't know all the details but I know we're dueling for you."

"I am not a trophy."

"I know that but apparently Zane doesn't." Margarita growled at his name and was silent the rest of the way. In a clearing just within sight of the Slifer dorm Zane stood. I gave one last prayer up to Slifer and counter with my own determined stance. Zane's eyes were on Margarita. His determined look turned to a much softer one. THAT was not part of my plan. "Get your game on, Bro!"

And so it began, I summoned a Cyroid in attack mode and end my turn. Almost automatically my brother summoned a Cyber Dragon. He attacked my Cyroid. The game went on this way until we were tied at 300 and 300. Zane was following my plan perfectly. Or almost… Zane kept watching Margarita with that same soft look that was so unlike my brother. I knew my plan was almost complete. Next run he'd blow me away with his Cyber Twin Dragon. It was only a matter of time. But as he drew his card he sighed and put it back then rested his hand on his duel disk. "You win Syrus. I give up. I can't do this anymore. Margarita gasped. I decide he must know what he's doing. So I let out a victorious cheer. Zane turned and in just a loud enough voice said, "I can't win. And even if I did I'd lose. She'd hate me." Then he turned his head and smiled at Margarita, "Be happy, 'kay?" The girl was on the verge of tears. My brother was a genius. Not exactly how I planned it but it was still good. I turned and pretended to be confused.

"What's wrong Margie?" I ask and went to hold her hand supportively, as Zane began to walk away.

"Oh, Syrus I'm a terrible person!"

"What do you mean?"

"I've used you this whole time to make Zane jealous and now he hate me. I am just terrible."

Now I gave her a sad look, "If you want to be with my brother… I won't stop you, and from the sound of it I know he wishes you'd never fought in the first place."

Margarita hugged me with her vice grip, I gasped for breath, "Oh Syrus, thank you for being so understanding! How can I ever repay you?"

"Stop… Choking me?"

"Oh sorry." she said letting go and plant a kiss on my cheek. "Thank you." Then she ran off after Zane.

I smiled as I watched her go. When the pair were out of sight I jumped happily, "Free! I'm free! Halleluiah! Praise the heavens! I am FREEEEE!" I ran to our dorm and flung the door open and screamed, "I AM FREEEEEEEEEEEEE!" Jaden covered his ears.

"Keep it down. I'm not in the mood."

"Why not?"

"Alexis is ignoring me."

"Why?"

"How should I know? It took me three days to notice it. Now I'm suppose to know why?"

"Maybe it has to do with that cook out we had last week. I know that's where my problems started."

"I guess."

"I'll tell you what? I'll talk to the other guys and see what's up, 'kay?"

"That would be great, Sy! You're a lifesaver."

"I know. Just call me cupid."

"Who?"

"Never mind."

So I set out to find Bastian. He was hanging with Jaden. Maybe he knew. But he wasn't in his dorm. I searched all of the grounds and determined that he must be in the school. Following a long train of people pointing, I found him on the roof, staring at the sky. "The clouds look kind like hearts today." he said with a sigh. He was beginning to weird me out.

"Bastian do you know what's eaten Alexis?"

"That she became slightly drunk at the party you mean?"

"Well, I was kinda wondering if you knew why she's avoiding Jay?"

"Oh it's a long story and I'm not in the mood. I have problems too you know. Jaden can figure it out himself."

"How about if I help you?"

"Depends… How good are you with relationships?"

"Well, I fixed my brothers."

"You mean you got Margarita and Zane together? Impressive. Will you help me mend things with Isabelle then?"

"What do you know about her? Is there something she's afraid of?"

"She's afraid of the dark."

"Would Chumley be able to pick her up, even if she was struggling?"

"Yes… I believe he could."

I thought about this for a moment and it began to form in my head, "Hmmm… This could work."

"What?"

"Never mind, just be walking by the broom closet on the floor below this one at three."

Five minutes to three o'clock me, Chumley and Zane stood out side the broom closet casually. All of us were in blue Obelisk uniforms. Chumleys hair was spike up in a strange mountain of hair and grease. Zane wore a blue hat and his hair pulled back. I wore a blonde wig I found in the theater closet. All of us wore sunglasses. Right on schedule Isabelle turned the corner of the hall just as I heard Bastian stretching on the roof. I got on my best sneer and turned to the others, "Hey look at the pretty Canary, Sting! Hey Canary shouldn't you be at the nest with your momma!"

Isabelle's eyes lit with a dangerous fire, then she said quite loudly where we should go. Chumley cracked his knuckles. "I don't like her attitude boss. May I?"

I consider this and nodded with a sinister smile, "Yes you may, Sting my boy. Who am I to keep you from your fun." Chumley then scooped her up just as Bastian turned the corner. "Yeah boys. Looks like we got ourselves a mustard stain." Bastian glared. He didn't seem to know who we were. That'd make this all the more real. "Stuff girly in the closet for a minute would you, Sting? Let's teach him to look at us with more respect, Kane." Chumley opened the door and stuffed her in then me and Zane grabbed Bastian by the wrists and swung him in. Then we locked the door. We then came out of our disguises and walked down the hall towards the stairs. "Now all we have to do is wait about an hour. They'll be happily in love again when I come to get them."

"Playing match maker is hard work." Chumley said with a huff, "Think we could go make some grill cheese?"

"Sure we've got time." Zane said then looked at me, "Hey, were do you get his stuff from? That was brilliant. Putting them in a closet 'til they work it out." I didn't answer. I was formulating how I would explain how I found them, without telling them it was me. It'd all work out.

Two hours later I ran up the stairs. I'd lost track of time completely and left them up their to long. I open the door and found them both on the floor asleep with smiles on their faces. Silenltly I nudged Bastian awake. He shielded his eyes to the bright light of the hall way. "Syrus?"

"I am so sorry Bastian I fell asleep and totally lost track of time… What are you doing in here?… With Isabelle?"

"I came when you told me too ant there were three thugs outside pushing Isabelle around then the grabbed me and threw us both in this closet."

"I am so sorry. It must have been terrible."

"Not really… In fact close the door I am exhausted."

"Just tell me what happened between Alexis and Jaden and I'll gladly leave. I only have a few more hours of daylight left."

"Apparently Alexis told Jaden that she loved him. Then she pasted out and now she's completely embarrassed."

"Really?… Wow."

"Yes and Loki has a Polaroid of them asleep and leaning on each other, all peaceful like."

"Oh really? I might not need to work out a plan for that one. All I need it the picture."

"Loki might not give it to you. He's in a bad mood."

"If it's a woman problem, then maybe I can fix it."

"I hope so." Then I closed the door. This time I left it open. I walked down the stairs. Loki was sitting on the front steps. Staring at the sky.

"Loki?"

He turned and smiled, "Hey, Syrus."

"You have that Polaroid of Jaden and Alexis right?"

"Yeah but I'm not giving it to you. It's my tool for blackmail against Jaden for screwing things up between me and Mel."

"What if I fix it?"

"Huh?"

"Things between you and Mel. What if I could help you fix it?"

"I'd give it to you hands down."

"Good then I shall show you how to charm your Melody."

It was nightfall by the time I was ready to get my plan in motion. Me and Loki stood outside Melody's dorm room window, Loki with a guitar. "Are you sure this will work?"

"Positve. Now sing."

Taking a deep breath Loki walked a little closer. And strummed a few notes on his guitar. I ran and jumped into the bushes. Loki released his breath and began to play:

She says don't stare at me
She's afraid that I might see
Those 5 extra pounds she talks about
I don't know what she's talking about

She looks through Magazines

With every page she dreams of
Looking like somebody else
I wish she wasn't so hard on herself

Then she falls asleep with just my t-shirt on
But even when her hair's messed up and her make-up's gone

At the chorus Melody came to her window, she stared down in sheer awe of what was taking place beneath her window.

She can take a simple dress
Put it on and turn some heads, man
Every time she moves she gets me
She doesn't even know she's sexy

And the way she thinks sometimes
Out of nowhere she blows my mind
She, makes me laugh, makes me dream
I love the way she looks at things

A little piece of heaven god gave to this world
She might think she's just an ordinary girl

You can't hide Beautiful
You can't hide wonderful
There's nothing that she has to do
It just comes natural
She makes it look easy
I love what she does to me
No way to disguise
The way that she shines
You can't hide beautiful

Loki stared up at Melody. Other girls had open there window to listen to the boys song and they all clapped. Melody just gave him a soft smile. Loki grinned from ear to ear and bowed, "My fair Maiden, I must bid ye good night, until sweet morrow's morn when once more I can gaze upon you beauty with the love of a thousand suns." He then ran quickly off and jumped in my bush. "Here, now let's go! Jaden needs that picture more than I do." He said handing it to me and dodging out of sight. I scrambled to my feet and ran after Loki towards our dorm. There I found Jaden staring at the ceiling. I held the picture over his eyes to block his gaze from the roof of our room. "Stop sulking I have brought you news."

"Really?" he said sitting up. He stared at the picture in confusion. "When was this taken?"

"A week ago. Apparently you and Alexis got a little cozy and she's embarrassed because she remembers an you don't." Jaden let out a groan.

"That's just not fair!" he said falling backward. "Damn it! I wish I could see her right now…"

"Well let's go!"

"Wha?"

"Yeah, I got a feeling if we go now, you'll get your wish."

"Isn't it a little late? She's probably-"

"No excuses. We're going."

"We?"

"Yes WE. Now get up!" As we walked toward the Obelisk dorms, Jaden became more and more nervous. As if by fate there was Alexis sitting on the steps hugging her knees. I pushed Jaden out into the open, and ducked behind a tree. Alexis saw him and stood abruptly. Dusting herself off she looked toward Jaden, turning a light pink.

"Hey Alexis. I um…"

I slapped my forehead. He had the whole walk to think of something and he gets tongue tied. "Hey Jaden." she said shyly. This wasn't Alexis' usually disposition, and she didn't seem to know how to handle it. I crossed my fingers and sent out loud thought of encouragement to Jaden, hoping he heard them.

"Alexis… I… It just-you see… Oh, to hell with it!" then he stomped up to her pulled her close and kissed her. I almost fell over. That went better than I expected. I decided to leave the love birds alone and walked back toward the Slifer dorm. I had class tomorrow and it was getting late. Who knewplay Cupid took so muchout of you.

………………………………...

Syrus: And that's the story. What bugs me is why I had to be Duel Academy's cupid and the author didn't get me a girl. Come on! I got the longest of all the chapters but not a girl! I was gypped!

Now Syrus, there is a simple answer to that…. Because no one can have my Sy! (Tackles him)

Chumley: Then why didn't I get a cutie out of this story?

Um… (crosses fingers) Because you get one in the sequel…

Chumley: Sweet

Syrus: (Gasps) You are worse than Margarita!

Thank you, my dear Slifer-sweetie!

Syrus: (Groans)

Well everyone I thank you for your patience on this one. I got writer's block but then I had a creative epiphany. Maybe I'll make an Afterword for my loyal readers (wink)…