This chapter is on the shorter side, but there's quite a bit going on. Also, for anyone curious, this isn't going to be a crossover fic. There will be characters from other series mentioned, but it will still remain a Yu-Gi-Oh! story. With that, enjoy. ^^
Chapter 39
"What do you mean they're gone?!"
It was Wednesday morning, and Joey voiced out his disbelief, looking like he was about to lose it. He, along with Yugi and the others, was in the classroom, where Yugi just told them about Alex and Kaiba missing classes for a few days. Yugi sighed and replied,
"Calm down, Joey. I know this must be a surprise, but Alex told me that Kaiba wanted to go to Greece, and he invited Alex. I assume it's some work-related thing since Alex is working for him. At least, I don't have to drop by Kaiba Corp until they return."
Tristan replied, "It's great that you'll have more time to hang out with us, Yugi, but don't you think this is a little strange?"
Yugi replied, "It's unexpected, but we all know how Kaiba can be. He'll do what he wants."
Joey angrily muttered, "That doesn't mean he can just kidnap Alex."
Tea shook her head and replied, "She isn't being kidnapped, Joey, and Alex looks like she can take care of herself."
Joey muttered some angry words to himself, and all the while, Max observed the conversation. Although he agreed with Joey, feeling angry himself that Alex was with Kaiba and that he wouldn't be able to reach either of them without arousing suspicion, he was able to keep his feelings to himself. Tea noticed how quiet Max was and she asked,
"You ok, Max?"
Max nodded and replied, "Yeah. Sorry if I'm being quiet. I understand how Joey feels, but there's not anything we can do about it."
Yugi observed Max talking with Tea although it wasn't due to jealousy. Rather, Yugi thought it was unusual how calm Max seemed after the incident over the weekend. When Alex and Kaiba returned to school on Monday, they both deliberately avoided looking at Max. However, Kaiba was being more protective over Alex, not allowing Max any opportunity to be alone with Alex. This didn't go unnoticed by Max, but he expected as much. He knew he would have to change his strategy in regards to both helping Alex and completing his mission.
The homeroom teacher then entered the classroom, and having overheard Joey mutter angrily in regards to Alex and Kaiba being together, he said,
"The principal gave his permission for both Mr. Kaiba and Ms. Lawrence to miss classes, and they'll have homework to do, so they're not going on vacation."
Joey looked put out, but he didn't say anything more. Yugi smiled awkwardly and thought to himself how things were going to be awkward for the next few days.
A few hours later….
Alex had just left the ruins of the Parthenon, having passed all of the tests and obstacles presented before her. She looked at the prize in her hands, wondering how it was meant just for her. As she was lost in her thoughts, a voice called out,
"Hey, there!"
Quickly, Alex put away the item in her backpack and smiling, she approached the person who called out to her. Upon recognizing the person, she widened her eyes in amazement and said,
"You're Jaden, aren't you?"
The brown haired, brown eyed boy, wearing the Slifer uniform of Duel Academy, grinned at her and replied,
"Yup, but how did you know?"
Alex replied, "You're well known, you know, and don't deny it. You're an incredible duelist. What are you doing here? Last I heard, you graduated?"
Jaden replied, "That's right. I'm just traveling the world, seeing the sights and dueling other duelists."
Alex replied, "That's totally cool."
Jaden replied, "What about you? What are you doing here?"
Alex replied, "I had some study abroad-related things to take care of, but I'm all done now, so I guess I'm on a bit of a vacation."
Jaden nodded and thinking of something, he asked, "I forgot to ask, but what's your name? You obviously know mine."
Alex laughed and replied, "I'm Alexandra Lawrence, but call me Alex."
Jaden grinned and replied, "It's nice to meet you, Alex. Say, since we're here, do you want to duel? If you have a deck and duel disk?"
Alex nodded and replied, "I have both, but I'm not very good. I heard you've gone up against some really tough players."
Jaden replied, "Yeah, but it's fun just to duel, you know? That doesn't mean I won't hold back, but I'd like it if we could duel."
Alex smiled and replied, "Sure. I suppose one duel wouldn't hurt."
She took out her duel disk, placing it on her left arm, and then she inserted her deck into the appropriate slot. Then she and Jaden proceeded to have their duel.
Some time later, after the duel…
Jaden's life points went down to zero, while Alex's life points were at 1500, meaning that Alex had won the duel. Alex had to inwardly admit to herself that Jaden presented quite a challenge, but she still managed to win. Jaden grinned at her and said,
"You were awesome, but I thought you said you weren't very good."
Alex laughed awkwardly and replied, "I'm not, really."
Jaden replied, "Your dueling skills say otherwise. But thanks for the awesome duel. I had fun."
Alex nodded happily and replied, "Me, too."
From a nearby distance, a blue haired boy called out,
"Hey, Jaden! We have to get going."
Jaden called out, "I'll be right there."
He then turned to Alex and said, "I don't want to keep Jesse waiting, but it was great meeting you. I hope we'll get to duel again sometime."
Alex replied, "I'd like that a lot. I should get going as well."
The two of them shook hands and then parted ways. Suddenly, there was a darkness surrounding the area and the ground underneath shook. Alex was scared, wondering what was going on…
Suddenly, Alex woke up, feeling startled. It took her a minute to look around her surroundings before she realized that she was on a Kaiba Corp plane heading to Greece. She noticed Mokuba sleeping a little nearby and then she saw Kaiba staring at her, his eyes full of concern. Kaiba asked,
"You ok? You look like you just woke up from a bad dream."
Alex smiled a bit and replied, "It was actually a memory. Well, most of it, anyway. Only that last part was clearly a bad dream."
Kaiba looked curiously at Alex and asked, "What did you dream about?"
Alex glanced at Mokuba, who was still asleep. Thinking that it was safe to tell, she replied,
"I remembered one of my previous missions."
Kaiba nodded and replied, "You haven't told me much about them."
Alex shrugged and replied, "I guess the topic hasn't come up. But my other missions have been pretty routine although some would say they're a bit abnormal. I get to meet some great people, though."
She looked thoughtful and added, "I guess you should know, but I have been to Greece before on a previous mission. But this happened several years from now."
Kaiba looked surprised and replied, "I see. What happened?"
Alex replied, "I was sent to retrieve an item and then before I returned to the agency, I met a duelist. I'd tell you his name, but that would be major spoilers."
Kaiba replied, "Anyone I should be jealous of?"
Alex looked teasingly at Kaiba and replied, "So you admit you get jealous? But to answer your question, he was just a passing acquaintance. In a few ways, he kind of reminds me of Yugi."
She looked out the window of the plane and then thought to herself,
I wonder what Jaden's doing now. I hope he's ok.
Before Kaiba could reply, Mokuba woke up from his nap. He looked to his side towards Alex and Kaiba, who both noticed him. Alex smiled gently and asked,
"Had a good nap?"
Mokuba nodded and replied, "Yup. Are we almost there?"
Alex took another look out the window and then looking back at Mokuba, she replied,
"You can see Greece. We'll probably be landing soon."
Just after Alex gave her reply, the intercom on the plane turned on, informing Kaiba and everyone else that they were getting ready to descend towards the airport. Kaiba then said,
"We should get ready."
Alex and Mokuba nodded, and the group got ready as the plane headed towards the airport in Greece, where they would soon be taken to a hotel afterwards to rest up and get settled.
"Damn it! What have you done?!"
Jaden was standing next to Jesse, both of them looking tired and worn out. They were glaring at the figured cloaked in shadow and next to the figure, there was Zane Truesdale and Aster Phoenix. Both of them were unconscious and trapped in protective, impenetrable bubbles. The shadowed figure smirked and replied,
"They're not dead, if that's what's got you riled up. But I did take the liberty of defeating both of them and taking their ace monsters. They'll no longer be a threat."
Jesse exclaimed, "Why are you doing this?"
The figure replied, "All in good time, boy. But for now, it's time to finish this."
The three of them were engaged in a fierce duel, with Jaden and Jesse facing off against the shadowed figure. Jaden's and Jesse's backs were against the wall, but neither refused to give up. However, the figure was relentless, mercilessly summoning one powerful monster after another and using effective spells and traps, almost as though he was able to anticipate their moves.
A few turns later, both Jaden and Jesse were defeated, and the figure smirked, swiftly moving his right hand to take their ace monsters. Jesse was passed out while Jaden was barely conscious. He looked weakly, angrily at the figure and said,
"You don't need to do this."
There was a brief flash of sadness on the shadowed figure's face before it returned to its neutral expression. Then the figure replied,
"It's the only way. For what it's worth, I wish there was another option. But rest assured that I won't kill you or your friend. I need you both alive."
The figure then waved his hand towards Jaden, making him unconscious and unable to utter a reply. Jaden and Jesse were then encased in bubbles similar to those surrounding Zane and Aster. Then the figure snapped his fingers and the group disappeared, leaving only behind traces of the duel that was just concluded.