Jaden pounded his fist against dorm room door. "Come on Vanessa, time to get up, greet the day, all that good stuff!"
"Maybe she already left Jay." Syrus said, watching his friend.
"No way Sy, Professor Banner said he didn't see her at breakfast." Jaden commented.
"Maybe she skipped."
Jaden paled. "She better not have!" He began to pound harder. "Open up Vanessa! You owe me a muffin!" He backed up a few steps and brace himself against the railing. "I'm kicking it down!"
"Jaden, I don't think Professor Banner will like…
He gave the door a hard kick and it swung open, revealing Vanessa's dorm room.
Her empty dorm room.
"…that."
"Huh?" Jaden said, walking in, ignoring Syrus' frightened whines and mumblings about what punishment they would get. "Where is she?"
Syrus shrugged, satisfied that Jaden hadn't totally destroyed the and hopefully no one would notice. "I bet she just went to class early. You know, after the whole getting late thing yesterday."
"What thing?" Jaden asked, confused.
"You know, when Dr. Crowler yelled at us. And later, when she was only telling us to be quiet, she got kicked out." Syrus frowned. "Come to think of it, I haven't seen her since then. She avoided us in Professor Banner's class…maybe she's mad at us for getting her in trouble."
Jaden shook his head. "No way Sy. Vanessa isn't like that…she knows we didn't mean to get her in trouble. Besides, so she didn't have to sit in class…" Jaden laughed. "I would pay to get to do that!"
"Sure Jay, but you aren't Vanessa, and some people like to actually do well in class and not get in trouble."
Jaden shrugged. "Well, those people are strange. Now come on Syrus, stop worrying about Vanessa. I am sure she is fine."
"You think so Jaden?"
"Of course…probably already in class, just like you said."
&&&
I don't know what he did to me.
Not sure if I care to know.
All I do know is that I have changed. I have become something beyond mere human. Something…different, better.
Yes, I know you can see that. Kinda hard to miss the physical transformation, isn't it? I was a short, boyish girl just 17 hours ago. Now, I am almost 6 feet tall, with what my male cousins would call "f--- me legs", creamy skin, hair so long that it should be a pain yet behaves like a dream, the face of an angel, the simmering eyes of a devil. And let's not forget that I have magically grown breasts that would make Alexis pause and go, "Wow, wish I had those."
But there is more going on in me then new sexy deposits of flesh. My mind, it's been rewired, I think. I have this new sense of the world. It's strange, really. I can feel the life of everything around me, it's ebb and flow. I can feel this building all around me…I know next door someone is getting ready for class. Beneath me there are rats and bugs and other things scurrying through the floorboards. I know right where my deck is, and I know it is safe. And I can feel Arliss…my wonderful Arliss, the man that saved me. Father, mentor, master, friend…maybe more. I know right where he is, what he is doing. When I focus I can tell what he is feeling, even. I sense the magic of the world around me and it feeds me.
Of course, there also is the whole thing of talking to you. Arliss told me I would sense you, to just go with it. I don't think he even understands it. There's more then just that. Before all this, I saw people as…well, I know it's corny, but I saw them all as friends I hadn't met.
Hahaha. Just laugh it up all you want.
But all that is changed. While in the mall, I looked at all those people milling around me; the teens hanging out, old people wandering, families with little kids screaming and laughing...
All I saw was stupid cattle. Things to hunt…prey just waiting for Arliss and I, the great lions waiting in the long grass…to come in for the kill.
And I liked it.
&&&
Nessa murmured softly and pulled the bed sheets tighter around her form, not quite ready to wake up yet. One arm tugged the bedspread up to her chin, while the other wrapped around her Kuriboh plushie. She nuzzled her face into its soft fur and sighed, a smile gracing her lips.
Her mind went back to the wonderful day she had had yesterday. Yes, it had started out has a horrible morning, but that was for Vanessa. Vanessa, her weak willed, goodie goodie former self. Vanessa, who had been tempered by the flames of that horrible day into a stronger, more powerful being. Unleashed from the prison created by her parents, church and society, Nessa was at last free to do whatever she wished. All those horrible moments had let her become renewed.
Finally forcing herself to begin the waking up ritual, Nessa rolled onto her back, stretching her arms above her head, bones cracking. She then stretched her legs, allowing her toes to wiggle happily in the black silk of Arliss' bed. She hadn't been given a chance to look around his room when they had gotten in, and was shocked to find the massive dorm made her old one look like a pig pen. While her old dorm had merely served as a bedroom with a desk, this room was like a small apartment you saw on the sitcoms. Arliss had a bedroom, living room, kitchen and a walk-in closet. Plus, he had no roommate. Granted, Nessa hadn't had one either, but that's because she was the only girl in the Slifer dorms.
The bedroom alone was the size of her old dorm, with a large 4-poster bed covered in silk sheets and the fluffiest of pillows. She sat up and placed her feet into the carpet. Not onto…into, the fibers were so thick. A magnificent oak writing desk with matching dresser sat to one side, the top of the dresser covered with Arliss' collection of cologne. On the other side, where a large picture window sat giving her a view of the academy that made her gasp, sat a bookcase filled with binders. She knew that those binders were filled with rare cards, some of which had made it into her new deck.
Her new deck.
Nessa reached towards the nightstand, grabbing her new black leather deck case that sat next to the alarm clock. An alarm clock that showed that class started in 10 minutes. She giggled to herself, not caring anymore if she had to go to class. She had a much better teacher. Arliss had already promised that by the end of the year, they would never take another class again; no, they'd be simply living at the academy, with no care of what the teachers thought. Smiling at that thought, Nessa began to look over her deck, smiling at each new monster, spell and trap. Nothing of her old deck remained, not that she cared. Her old deck was a weak thing, just like her old self. This new deck was the one a queen would use.
'Queen Nessa.' She thought with a girlish laugh. 'Doesn't every little girl want to be a princess? Well, I guess I one-upped them. I'm queen, and I don't have to wait for a moronic needle d---ed prince. I already got my king…'
Speaking of her king…
She smiled as she turned to the bathroom. Arliss, being a gentlemen, had given her the bed while he slept on his couch. Deep down, she knew that he wanted nothing more then to lay beside her, but he understood that she wasn't ready for that.
She could hear the shower running, Arliss' smooth voice piercing her thoughts as the water came to a stop. His beautiful southern voice, no longer hindered by the fake, overdone accent he normally used, seemed to turn her bones to jelly.
"…now that the world isn't endin', it's love that I'm sendin' to you." He sang softly. "Isn't the love of a hero…and that's why I fear it won't do…" Nessa couldn't help but smile at that. No, Arliss' love (whether it be the love of friends, of siblings, or something much more that she didn't want to think about at the moment…) was not the love of a hero. It was not a soft love, the kind with soft nervous touches and quiet moments. His was the love of…well, a hunter. Every word, every caress was him drawing her closer, bringing her to him. He loved with force, with power and direction. Nothing like how a hero would love.
And after experiencing his type of love, she would never want to go back to the daydreams of hero love.
"Watchin' us…watchin' us as we all fly away! Whoooooooaaaaaa." Arliss finished, the door opening and steam pouring out of the bedroom. The King of the Rare Hunters stepped into his bedroom. His normally blonde brown hair was now a dark brunette, plastered to his head. Nessa couldn't stop herself from lowering her gaze and staring at his chiseled pecs.
'Whatever had happened to me yesterday must have done it's magic to Arliss, because no young man had abs like that!' She thought. It was only then that she realized that the only towel Arliss had was the one around his neck.
"Ohmygod!" She screamed, covered her eyes.
Arliss tilted his head sideways. "What?"
Nessa was trying to cover her head with a blanket. "You're all naked!"
"Yea…kinda hard to shower with my clothes on."
Nessa growl from beneath the blankets. "I meant you're naked right now!"
She could hear Arliss snicker as a drawer opened, something russling slightly. "Did I forget to put my towel on? I am so sorry Nessa."
"I bet you are!" She said. "Just how I like to start my day, walking up to see you prancing about naked." 'Never mind if I really would love to wake up like that…preferable joining you…'
"I don't prance." Arliss said sternly. "I swagger, I march…I have even been known to bust-a-move. But I never prance." Nessa felt him tap the lump in the bed that was her. "Now get up. You need to shower and get dressed, I'll make breakfast. We should be arriving in class just in time to be dismissed."
Nessa once again chuckled. "Really…and here I thought you were a good student."
"I am…just not for these teachers. Now git up girl! I've done put on some there clothin'. Time to rise again, just like…"
"NO, NOT THE ACCENT!" She giggled. "I'LL BE GOOD!" Nessa pulled the blanket from her head only to scream again.
Arliss was laughing so hard he was clutching his sides as she sat their slacked jawed, his still nude form inches from her face.
"YOU JERK!" She roared, grabbing a pillow and beating him over the head. Arliss continued to laugh as he began to back away towards the door. "OH NO YOU DON'T!" Nessa shouted, dashing after him as he tried to make his escape. She gave his ass a firm smack with the pillow as he leapt over the couch, pausing to laugh when he let out a yelp. "Serves you right!"
"Oh does it?" Arliss said with mock anger, turning back towards his queen and slowly stalking her. Nessa let out a shriek and made a dash towards the bathroom, hoping to lock Arliss out. Moving at almost superhuman speed, she had nearly made it, only to feel Arliss grab a hold of her ankle and tug her to the ground. The two of them laughed hard as they rolled around on his bedroom floor like a couple of children, each trying to get the upper hand.
Finally, Arliss ended up on top, pinning Nessa's hands above her head. She squirmed underneath him, both teens panting. They both paused, their gaze locked as they remembered two things: One, that they had never bought Nessa any pajamas the night before, so she had slept in her bra and panties; Two, that Arliss was still very much naked.
Arliss stared down at his fellow hunter, her hair fanned out wildly like a dark halo, her face flush, body slick with sweat, legs pinned between his as her chest rose and fell against his. He took a deep breath, trying to steady his nerves.
"Tell me Nessa…" he panted. "From what you did see…did ya like?"
Nessa stared back at him, his deep steely eyes burning into her own dark ones. "Yes…" She breathed. "And you?"
His face lowered towards hers, their lips almost touching to the point that she could feel the vibration as he spoke. "Oh yea…"
"HEY ARLISS!" Both duelists' headed whipped to the side to stare through the bedroom, into the living room and at the bedroom door. "We got class in five minutes…the rest of us are leaving without you…don't let any girls maul you!" There were several jeering laughs, then footfalls leading away.
"Stupid asses." Arliss growled. Nessa mimicked his curses in her head. They spell that had held them was broke, and then both reluctantly disengaged themselves from each other.
"I'm…going to take a shower." She whispered, hurrying to the bathroom ad slamming the door shut. Arliss hung his head and thought about how he would exactly remove the genitals of the Obelisks that had ruined the perfect moment he had had with his queen. Deciding not to dwell on it, Arliss stood up and began to get dressed, deciding which of the clothing Nessa had bought him to wear first.
Meanwhile, in the bathroom, Nessa sat in the shower, ice water pouring down her nude form and cuasing her hair to hang down in her eyes as she wondered what ahd just happened…and why the water, being as cold as it was, had done little to chill the warmth that was under her flesh.
&&&
It was 9:30 in the morning, and the Duelist Academy was already in full swing. The 3rd year students were already in the computer labs, working on their research papers over the history of their decks and how each set had helped or hindered them. The second years were with the Ra Yellow dorm leader, who was teaching them about obscure cards. Other teachers, like Professor Banner, were preparing their lesson plans, while Chancellor Shepard and his staff were making sure everything ran smoothly. The chefs were all cleaning up from breakfast, and the maintenance workers were busy mowing the lawn in front of the school and trimming some of the decorative plant life. Miss Dorothy and her staff were already getting the shop ready for the lunch time rush, resorting packs and putting out new orders.
And in Dr. Crowler's Dueling 101, all the first year students were busy writing in their notebooks.
Most were.
"Jaden…what is wrong?" Syrus whispered. His friend and bunkmate was sitting beside him groaning, clutching his stomach.
"I'm so hungry!" Jaden whined.
"But you just had breakfast! You had two breakfasts!" Syrus rebuked. "How can be still hungry?"
"I didn't get my muffin." Jaden said with a pout.
"What?"
Jaden frowned. "My muffin. Vanessa owed me a muffin, remember?"
"Your still hungry because of a muffin…you didn't even remember it until we reached her dorm!"
"My mind didn't remember, but my stomach did!" Jaden said with a chuckle.
"Jaden Yuki!" Dr. Crowler shouted. Both slifers gave a start and turned to look at the enraged head of the Obelisk Blue Boys. "I would like to know what you find so important that you can't help but discuss it rather then do the assignment I just gave you!"
Jaden shrugged. "I was just telling Syrus that I was hungry because I didn't get my muffin from…"
"I don't care!" Dr. Crowler shouted. "You are here to learn, not to discuss your breakfast…"
Dr. Crowler's rant was cut off by the sound of a door banging against a wall. The class turned and stared in shock as Arliss Lockehart lowered his foot, which had kicked the door in, and swaggered into the room with some dark, beautiful young woman, holding her hand. The two duelists looked at everyone for a moment before moving down the aisle. The woman frowned when she saw that the only two seats left were on opposite ends of the classroom. Arliss solved this by dragging her to the closest one and sitting down, pulling the giggling teen onto his lap.
"Mr. Lockehart…" Dr. Crowler stammered.
"Don't mind us." Arliss said simply, running a hand down the girl's neck. He could feel she was tense about their first public outing, and he wanted to calm her as best he could. She closed her eyes and smiled softly.
Dr. Crowler shook off his shock. "I will so 'mind you'! You come in here 30 minutes late, interrupting the entire class, and worst of all, bring some strange woman into this room!" Dr. Crowler sighed. Apparently, this young woman had gotten to his prize student, and had caused this behavior. He had seen more then a few promising duelists fall because of the wicked wills of a wild woman, and he wasn't about to let Arliss join that group. He turned to the woman that now sat on Arliss' late and glared at her. "I am afraid I must ask you to leave."
The young woman in question smiled mockingly at Dr. Crowler. "It seems you have a habit of kicking me out of this classroom." Dr. Crowler gave her a blank look. "Oh, you don't remember? About this time yesterday, you sent me out for shh-ing Jaden up there?"
Dr. Crowler's mouth moved up and down like a fish. "V-V-Vanessa Fox!" he managed to stammer. The students gasped as they looked at the stunning woman that was currently perched in Arliss' lap, remembering that just yesterday, she had been a tiny slip of a thing. Now, she was a tall, curvasous young woman that had almost every guy salivating or envying Arliss for getting to have in his lap a behind so firm and so full that even God would have to take a day off and admire it's beauty.
"I told you she didn't understand the shh-ing thing." Syrus muttered.
"Wow." One of Chazz's friends said muttered. "The Slifer sure did blossom!"
"Yea, don't ya think so Chazz?"
Chazz merely sat their dumbfounded.
'Look at her…' Bastion thought. 'there is no way that trollop could be Vanessa Fox. It's physically impossible. Must be a mistake.'
Alexis sat there, feelings of shock, awe, and just a bit of jealousy simmering in her. Yes, she had found Jaden interesting, and she did spend a lot of time with Zane…but Arliss Lockehart had been the teen that she had most recently dreamed about. It made her mad that Vanessa, if that truly was her, was being so cozy with hr secret crush. And that Arliss didn't mind.
"Vanessa, is that really you?" Jaden said in shock, saying what everyone was thinking. "What the heck happened? You take steroids or something?"
"No." She said with a sickly sweet grin. "Merely had a…growth spurt."
"I'd say." Chumley said.
"And the name is Nessa." She snapped. She turned to glare at Dr. Crowler. "I would suggest you remember it."
"Yes…well…I guess I did not recognize you, what with the sudden changes to your…uh…form…"
"You mean my t—s?" Nessa replied. The room once again was filled with startled chattered.
"QUIET!" Arliss roared, rearing back his head. Every grew quiet as Nessa stroked his hand, cooing softly to him. Though most couldn't see it, Jaden was surprised to find that a strange dark light had suddenly flared up around Arliss, and Nessa's words were calming him down. As fast as he could blink, the light was gone.
'What was that?' Jaden wondered, pondering if he had really seen what he thought he saw. 'Must have been an illusion.'
"Thank you. You all know how Dr. Crowler hates interruptions." Arliss turned to the Obelisk Blue teacher. "Now then…is there anythin' else?"
"Well…yes…yes there is! First off, I am afraid that Miss Fox must find a seat of her own…furthermore, I would like to know why you are both out of uniform?"
Arliss and Nessa stood up, allowing everyone to take notice of their clothing. Arliss had on a black button-up dress shirt on, which was untucked and hung over his dark blue jeans, a pair of rattle snakeskin boots on his feet. Nessa wore a red wifebeater tank top, her lacy red bra strap clearly visible. This shirt, like Arliss', was also untucked, and matched well with her baggy black jeans, said jeans covered with silver studs. She also had on her combat boots and her dog collar like choker. The entire piece shouted punker, yet on her also made her utterly sexy.
To top off both their outfits, the two duelists had chosen to wear instead of their school blazers the duster coats that Nessa had picked out. The long purple dusters hung from their long frames, looking almost like cloaks or robes. The two of them gave a spin for the class, their jackets billowing out around them.
"I am so sorry Dr. Crowler." Arliss finally said. "First off, there is no rule in the school charter statin' that Nessa here can't sit on my lap. You are free to go argue with the chancellor, but I will not allow her to move until told otherwise. Second, as you remember, a group of your students attacked us two days ago, and our jackets are still covered in blood. And since the school does not provide new blazers, we were forced to either wear them or go against the rules. Now, I certainly would never wear a school blazer tarnished with blood, and when I found out that Nessa had been forced to do so…well…" he grinned. "I simply couldn't allow that."
"Yes…well then…" Dr. Crowler stuttered. He couldn't help the blush that rose in his cheeks when he remembered the injuries some of his Obelisks had given Arliss. "I will overlook it for now…thought the tardiness…"
Nessa smiled. "Arliss and I were on time…but seeing my bloody jacket, he dragged me back to my dorm and had me changed. Would you rather I run around with stains on my school uniform?"
"No…no, that is quite alright." Dr. Crowler said. "We can continue with our lessons." Arliss and Nessa sat back down. "Now then…"
RING
"Well then, class is over." Arliss said, helping Nessa up. "I am afraid we must hurry on to our next class. See you tomorrow Dr. Crowler."
"BUT…" The sound of students storming to the door covered the Doctor's pleas, leaving him alone in the classroom wondering what had just happened.
&&&
"Did I do good?" Nessa asked innocently as they made their way outside. She placed a finger against her lips and give Arliss the cutest little girl pout, blinking her big bambi eyes at him.
Arliss laughed. Nessa was dressed like a punker, was queen of the rare hunters, and tied to shadow magic…and she was acting like a little girl wondering if she had done well with her dance recital.
The king of the rare hunters picked up his queen and twirled her around, Nessa squealing. He lowered her down so that she was only slightly higher then him, He looked up at her, the young woman grinning as she ruffled his hair. "Yes Nessa, you did very good." He grinned "I think Dr. Crowler ended up catchin' 40 flies, his mouth was hangin' open so long."
Nessa smiled, running a finger along his chin. "I think he was more shocked over you…I think he has a little crush." Nessa whispered, laughing at Arliss' look of disgust.
"Wonderful…I got women fightin' for me and hurting you, I have strange men lustin' after me…joy."
Nessa's fingers worked their way into his hair, her long legs wrapping around his waist. "I don't know…you should be flattered."
"You like it that all the boys were picturin' you naked?"
Nessa nodded her head rapidly. "Oh yea."
Arliss grinned. "Ok then, guess I am flattered." He leaned close to her ear. "And when I say boys, I also mean men…" He breathed on her ear, making her shudder. "Nearly lost it when you sat on my lap…"
The young woman moaned softly, her fingers tangling in his light brown locks. "Oh yea?" She whispered huskily.
"Yea…" Arliss whispered, leaning in close…
"Hey Vanessa!"
Arliss cursed under his breath as he saw Jaden and Syrus running towards them. "I know a spot in the forest…they'd never find the bodies…"
"maybe later. I'll bring the shovels." Nessa replied, hopping down from her perch. Arliss spun her around and wrapped his arms around her waist, pulling her behind tight to his groin and giving her a wiggle. "Stop that!" She giggled. "Not in front of Jaden and Syrus…would ruin them completely."
"Is that suppose to discourage me?" Arliss asked. Nessa slapped his hand and gave Jaden a slight grin as he came to a stop before her, his hands on his knees and body bent at the waist.
'Bowing to his queen.' Nessa thought with a snicker. 'Just like he should be, little runt.' She had never really liked Jaden when she was weak willed Vanessa…she had merely tolerated him. But as Nessa, she hated him so much. When she had first woken up from her transformation, Arliss had to restrain her, as she had been ready to storm into his dorm and snap his neck
"Now yet." He had told her. "Jaden Yuki has a part yet to play…as an enemy he is powerful. But if he were to join us…" Nessa remembered as he told her about his plans for each duelist here, and realized Arliss was right. Now was not the time for bloody mayhem.
"Wow, you run fast." Jaden panted.
"You just walk slow." Nessa replied.
Jaden chuckled. "Ya got me there…so tell me…what exactly did happen to you?"
"I think I told you in class Jaden."
Jaden frowned. "You mean all that happened was a growth spurt?" Nessa nodded. "Wow…seems a bit…strange to me."
Syrus nodded, who had caught up. "Yea…this doesn't seem like a normal growth spurt…this is like something you see in a bad movie."
Arliss pulled his queen closer. "Don't know what to tell ya boys…the lady was due for some changes."
The lady in questioned grinned. 'If only they knew how many changes.' She could feel the humor rolling off Arliss' aura, and knew he thought the same thing. "I guess it's just a medical mystery…not going to look a gift horse in the mouth thought." She ran her hands up and down her new and improved chest. "Whatever happened to me…I'm glad it did."
Jaden shrugged. "Well, I guess if you're happy..."
"I am." Nessa snapped. "Don't ever doubt that." Jaden and Syrus stared in surprised as Arliss held her tighter. Nessa had seen that comment as an attack on her king, and she could never allow that. No one was allowed to question how Arliss made her feel. "Now, we must be going."
"Where are you headed off too?" Syrus asked.
"Arliss is giving me a private dueling lesson."
"Can we come?" Jaden asked. "I heard you have some sweet moves Arliss."
Arliss frowned. "What part of private didn't you understand, boy?" He pulled on Nessa, turning her away from the boys.
"Hey Vanessa, are you coming over to study tonight?"
The young woman sneered, though Syrus and Jaden couldn't see it. "Sorry, Arliss and I have a study date…infact we have study dates planned for the rest of the year. But don't worry, I'm sure Alexis would love to join your party…you could even meet at her dorm…you know the way."
Jaden and Syrus paled as they watched Arliss and Nessa leave; their former friend and her 'study partner' laughing darkly as they disappeared from view.
Next time of GX Hunters: Arliss and Nessa have made their debut, and the school is talking. Now, Arliss must sweet talk his way into getting Nessa the perfect duel, a duel that will insure she is forever a queen of the darkness. It's a Queenly battle, when Alexis, Queen of Obelisk Blue, takes on Nessa, Queen of the Rare Hunters. Is Nessa ready to take on her former idol? Or does it take more to make you a good duelist then a better wardrobe and a new body? Find out next time in The Long Con Part One: Feminist Movement.
Author's Note: OF course, the song Arliss sings in this chapter is "Hero" from the Spider-Man soundtrack.