"Arliss is down to his final 2000 lifepoints, and he hasn't even waged an attack yet! What is he waiting for?"

Bastion didn't even bother to look at Syrus, instead focused entirely upon the duel below. "I'm not sure Syrus. It could be that he has gotten bad draws, or that he has something else planned. But if it is the former, he is being awfully calm about it. And if it is the latter, then I simply don't see what he could be holding out to do. He is truly baffling."

"I already told you two the answer: He is all messed up because of what he did in that broom closet." Hayden said with a grin. "can't say I blame him…I would chose the closet over a duel."

"Of course you would." Bastion muttered.

Samantha smiled as she watched Arliss draw his next card. "I have one monster on the field, and you have one trap or spell. The lifepoints are in my favor, as are the hand totals." She flipped her hair back off her shoulder. "I am finding this all very anti-climatic…I heard such good things about you, and yet I have yet to see why some call you the next Kaiser."

Arliss shrugged. "Never myself said that I was the next Kaiser of this school. Have different plans in mind. But if you would like to see why people talk about me, I will be glad to give ya a demonstration." He held up a card. "First, I am going to summon Lady Ninja Yae, in attack mode."

Everyone looked up to see a shadowy figure climbing along the rafters. The ninja paused, then leapt gracefully down, landing silently beside Arliss. She had long green hair, wearing a purple skin tight uniform and a short ninja sword in her hand. Yae bowed to Arliss then took up her position.

"That is an interesting choice." Bastion said. "Lady Yae is one of the weaker of Arliss' ninjas. With an attack strength of only 1100, she is hardly a match for that Harpie's Brothers."

"but what about he effect?" Syrus asked. "The card shows that she is an effect monster… so maybe her effect…"

"Won't help him, lad. Yae allows you to discard a wind monster to send all the spell and trap cards on yer opponent's field back to their hand." Hayden frowned. "Even assumin' that Arliss has a wind monster, it's a useless effect without a spell or trap on Samantha's side of the field."

Samantha was thinking along the same lines. "What good is that, Mr. Lockehart? She can't stand up to my Harpie's Bro…do you expect me just to let you win the next battle? We greeks may be good hosts, but not that good!"

Arliss smirked, looking over at Nessa. "What do you think darlin'? Think I should show'um what I have in my hand?"

Nessa smiled right back, drawing the back of her thumb across her throat.

"I will take that as a yes." He turned back to Samantha. "You are right: My Lady Yae ain't much to look at, now is she? But you see, it isn't the person that makes a ninja special. It's what they have at their disposal."

"At their disposal?" Samantha questioned.

Arliss nodded. "Allow me to demonstrate: I equip my dear Lady Ninja Yae with the spell card Fuhma Shuriken!" The spell card flashed before fading, and from a concealed pocket on her uniform, Yae pulled out a shuriken, the cold metal gleaming in the light of the arena.

"Wait, what's a shuriken?" Syrus asked

"IT is…" Bastion began.

"Oh would you two shut up!" Nessa shouted, turning her head back to glare at the two duelists. "What is this, what is that…blah blah blah. I swear, if I hear one more word from either of you, I'll come up there, grab you both by the throats, and shove my foot up your…"

"Nessa!" Arliss called out. "Settle down my darlin'. Don't let those two both you." He turned to look at Syrus. "And shuriken is a fancy word for Ninja throwing star Syrus. Okay?"

Syrus nodded his head, sliding down into his seat.

"Now then, my shuriken might look all cool to ya, and let me assure ya, it is. But it also has a very interestin' effect. When a monster picks up these here thrown stars, they gain 700 attack points."

"That would put Lady Yae at 1800, the same as Harpie's Brother." Bastion said in interest.

"What did I tell you!" Nessa hollered, standing up.

"You've made the lass mad, I would say it would be best for you to be apologizin' to her."

Bastion frowned. "I will not…" He stopped as Nessa pulled herself up into the stands and stalked towards him. "I am sorry for interrupting the duel."

Nessa nodded. "I thought so." She turned to Arliss. "Go ahead baby, make your play."

"About time Nessa." Arliss grumbled playfully. "Now then, allow me to take care of that Harpie's Bro everyone is so worried about. Lady Ninja Yae, attack Harpie's Bro with Wind walker strike!" The female ninja nodded and leapt to the side, dashing along the wall of the arena, then straight up it into the shadows near the roof. Harpie's bro looked around, trying to find his opponent, only to let out a cry as her blade pierced his back. With his final strength, he whipped around and shoved his own weapon into Yae's stomach.

"You might have defeated my Harpie, but he still managed to take your ninja out with him!" Samantha said.

Arliss merely wagged his finger at her. "Are you sure you saw what you thought you saw?"

"What are you talking about?"

"Look at the field." Samantha looked at the remains of Yae, only to gasp in shock. Instead of a female ninja, Harpie's bro had instead cut into a cord of wood. Yae dropped down from the ceiling and gave Samantha a wave. "You see, when I attacked, I activated my trap card: Ninjitsu art of decoy. This card allows me to teach my Yae a new ability: The ability to switch herself with other objects and survive attacks. I will still take damage from the battles, but my Yae, she'll be stayin' with us for a while longer, if ya don't mind."

Samantha looked at the ninja and nodded. While many would have been upset with this turn of events, Samantha was thrilled. She had hoped for an exciting, no holds bar duel, and Arliss was finally giving it to her.

She drew her next card and smiled. "Mr. Lockehart, it's nice to see you finally bringing you're a game. But it's been too little, too late." She held up two cards. "And with these two cards, I will do just that! I will first summon another Harpie Lady 1 to the field." The red haired winged woman appeared on her side of the field, hovering 13 feet above the field. Her eyes glowed as she summoned a strong gust of wind, bringing her up another 3 feet. "And next, I will use Elegant Egotist! This card allows me to turn my one Harpie Lady into 3! So rise forth, my Harpie Lady Sisters!" The crowd watched as two mirrors appeared beside the one harpie. Her image shifted in each, before the glass shattered, revealing two more harpie ladies. "And my Harpie Lady Sisters have an attack of 1950! You see Mr. Lockehart, your little decoy card is good, but it's flaw is one you yourself admitted to: The battle damage is still done for you! Harpie Lady Sisters, attack Lady Ninja Yae with Triangle Ecstasy Spark!" The three women let out a scream as they got into formation, firing the attack right at Yae. She leapt into the rafters, the X blast following her. The arena shook from the explosion, and Yae fell back to the field, Arliss grunting as his lp dropped. "And I will end my turn by setting 2 cards facedown on the field. Your move Mr. Lockehart." (Arliss-1550)

Arliss nodded and drew. 'The girl is smart. She figured out that using that technique allows for my dear Yae to feels the damage done to her, meanin' my lp drops.' He sighed as he looked over his field. 'And I don't have anything in my hand that can help defeat those overgrown caneries.' He selected a card, placing it on the field. "I will be settin' these here 2 cards, and switch my Yae to defense mode, thus endin' my turn, Samantha."

Samantha nodded as her turn began. "So, you are building a wall, to try and keep me from your lifepoints. That is very foolish. We Greeks are notorious for our patience in battle. We laid siege to Troy for ten years, with little success, until we finally found the chink in their armor. Your little warrior is nothing I can't handle." She grinned as she touched her duel disk. "Allow me to show you how I will bring about your downface. Reveal trap card, Hysteric Party!" The trap card flipped u, revealing 5 harpie ladies all being summoned to the field. "This card allows me to send one card from my hand to the graveyard to summon all the harpie ladies I can to my side of the field. So, by sending my Magician of Faith from my hand, I bring back my first two Harpie Ladies, version 1!" The arena filled with screams as the two harpie ladies appeared on field next to their sister. "And next, I will activate my second trap card: God Bird Attack!"

"This is bad!" Bastion exclaimed.

"What do you mean?" Syrus asked.

"God Bird Attack is a move only winged beasts can perform. It allows them to sacrifice themselves, but in return, they can destroy two cards out on the field. That means that Samantha can take out any of the 5 cards on Arliss' field…any strategy he may have had is now at risk. More then that, he will not be able to survive more then one battle with the harpies. 2 attacks, and he is done."

Hayden nodded. "Ey, this lad is in trouble. But I am not ready to count him out yet. I think he has something planned."

"Now then Mr. Lockehart, I will sacrifice one of my Harpie Ladies, and use her final grand attack directly on you. The question is, what to destroy?" Samantha thought it over. "I have no idea what are under those two cards. I could destroy one of them and your Ninjitsu card, but that would still leave one open. On the other hand, if I destroy your Yae and her little spell, any cards designed to protect your monster are gone… Harpie Lady 1, I have decided!"

'This is it…" Syrus thought. 'If Samantha plays this right, Arliss is done for sure. If she doesn't, it might be his chance for a comeback.'

&&&

You have faith in me?

"Always."

Good, because I am about to pull off the biggest comeback in history.

"You know, that would sound exciting if I didn't know that you could sense what you were about to draw."

See, this is why no magician reveals his secrets.

&&&

"Harpie Lady 1!" Samantha called out. "I sacrifice you to perform the God Bird Attack! Destroy Mr. Lockehart' Ninjitsu Art of Decoy and Lady Ninja Yae!" The winged beast let out a cry as she launched herself into the air, her body rising higher and higher. As she reached the peak of her flight, she tilted down,dropping like a missile right at Yae and the trap card. Arliss shielded himself with his arm as the 3 cards exploded, rocking the arena. From the dust cloud, one of Yae's shuriken flew out, and as per it's effect, slicing into Samantha's shoulder. (Samantha: 3300)

"Wow." Nessa said, leaning back against the wall. "IF I had known there would be fireworks, I would have bought popcorn."

Samantha grinned at this comment. "I'm glad your girlfriend is enjoying this Mr. Lockehart, because I had hoped to end this duel with a bang!" She held up a card. "For you see, my Harpie might be gone, but she's not forgotten." She slipped the last card in her hand into the graveyard spot of her duel disk. The harpie lady that had been sacrificed flew back onto the field, screeching at her sisters. "Well…maybe that isn't exactly true. And with two Harpie Lady Ones on the field, I can increase all my Harpie Ladies' attack by 600." She smiled, looking directly at Arliss. "So, even if you manage to stop one attack, my other 2 will finish you off for sure! Harpie Lady One, attack Mr. Lockehart directly with Dagger Talon!"

"he's done for!"

"He's through!"

"He's finished."

"He's got it all under control." Nessa said calmly to herself. The dark duelist smiled as she watched her lover press a button on his duel disk, the Harpie's attack being blocked by a dark shield. "Negate Attack…not only is the attack put to a stop, but now that shield will end Samantha's battle phase." She couldn't help but allow the grin spread upon her face. "Now it's time…" She whispered softly, "…for Arliss to show why he is the one and only king."

"My my my…now that was mighty impressive. Truly shocking, truly awe-inspiring. I am gettin' the vapors…"

Samantha rolled her eyes. "Very well, I messed up. Would you just begin your turn already?"

Arliss smirked. "Sorry my dear, I was merely a-teasin' ya. But since you asked so nicely…" He drew his next card and grinned. "First, I'm gonna activate the spell card Pot of Greed. This card allows me to draw two cards from my deck, somethin' I need, considerin' that I have none in my hand." He did so and turned to Nessa. "You still awake darlin'?"

Nessa smiled. "Barely, Arliss. I have found all of this very slow. Are you sure you are at the top of your game?"

Arliss shrugged. "I might be a bit distracted, what with bein' bare-chested in front of the whole school."

"Poor baby." Nessa mocked. "You weren't complaining 30 minutes ago."

Arliss shrugged. "Was doin' things much more fun then duelin' then, my darlin'. Can't compare that." He paused, looking around. "Oh, is it still my turn? Where are my manners." He held up one of the two cards he had drawn. "I activate the spell card Swords of Concealing Darkness." Above the shadow mage, the arena' ceiling shimmered, transforming into a dark, stormy sky. The clouds began to twist and turn, until they formed into the image of a great grinning skull. It was at this moment that the obsidian swords fell to the ground, creating a prison around the harpies. They all flashed a sickly green, and each of Samantha's monsters transformed back into a face down defense card.

"Wait…what just happened?" Syrus asked.

"Arliss just played a rare card, Syrus. Swords of Concealing Darkness is a dark version of the spell Swords of Revealing Light. While the Light Version prevents attacks and forces monsters to be flipped face up, The Dark Version allows for the duelist to force each of his opponent's monsters into face down defense. Not only that, but now any monsters that Samantha may summon are forced to remain in their chosen position until Arliss' second Standby phase."

Arliss, meanwhile, was watching Samantha as she processed just what had happened. "Now, allow me to let you in on a little secret: The card you didn't destroy with your god bird attack? It was a bluff."

"What?" Samantha gasped.

"Go Arliss, show her your trump card!" Nessa cheered.

The young man nodded, holding out his hand. "I activate my facedown card: Nobleman of Crossout!" The spell flashed, and in Arliss' hand, a long two handed broadsword appeared. He gripped it tight and spun it, testing its weight. "This card is an interesting one. First, I can destroy one of your downface monsters!" he rushed onto the field, slamming his sword up to the hilt into one of the downface monsters. One of the Harpie Lady Ones appeared, letting out a weak cry as clutched the wound in her gut, before shattering.

"But that's not all!" Nessa sang.

"That's right. Because I can now force you to get rid of all other Harpie Ladies from you deck!" Samantha grumbled as she took out her deck and removed her last harpie from the game.

"Absolutely brilliant!" Bastion exclaimed. "I can't believe Arliss was able to pull that off!"

"What, what happened?" Syrus asked.

"Arliss was able to bluff his way into one more turn, Syrus. And with it, he just changed the entire duel."

"What do you mean? All he did was remove two cards."

"Exactly." Hayden said. "Think about it: the key card to a harpie deck is the Harpie Lady. Arliss just managed to get rid of two of them, leaving Samantha with only one of her ladies to use in all her combos."

"So, if she wants to continue to use all her harpie combos, she must keep that harpie on the field. That means that she must not only keep the Hysteric Party card on the field, but deplete her hand to use it."

"So…he did good?" Syrus asked.

"Yes." Bastion said with a sigh. "He 'did good'."

Samantha, however, was not sighing. Infact, she was smiling. 'This is what I wanted: A battle with the great Mr. Arliss Lockehart. Nice to see he finally came out of his shell.' She drew her next card. 'Now to destroy him' She turned to her opponent and nodded. "You did real good Mr. Lockehart. You have taken out my main monster. But if someone told you that the only cards I had were Harpie Ladies…somebody lied."

"Oooo!" Nessa said, perking up. "I love lying."

"Down girl." Arliss commanded playfully. Nessa pouted, going back to slouching on the ground.

"Because you see Mr. Lockehart…" Samantha continued. "My deck is a Harpie Deck…not a Harpie Lady Deck. I have a lot of different harpie cards, like this one: I summon Harpie Girl!"

On Samantha's side of the field, a soft squeal was heard as the blonde haired teen harpie flew onto the field, some of her pink feathers fluttering down around her as she hovered 5 feet off the ground.

"Awwww!" Nessa cried out. "She is so precious! With her little wings and pretty face…it will be so sad when you crush her Arliss." The last part of this was delivered with a mocking hiss.

"Cute ain't the word I'd use, boys." Hayden stated, shifting in his seat. "Damn…that lass is…" He growled happily.

Samantha nodded. "You are all right. Harpie Girl is a beautiful girl. But that doesn't mean she can't fight. Allow me to demonstrate: Harpie Girl, attack Mr. Lockehart directly with Flit Flight Fight!" The teen harpie nodded and rushed Arliss, slashing her claws across his gut. Arliss let out a grunt, but didn't move otherwise. (Arliss: 1250)

"Hey!" Nessa shouted, standing up and rushing the Harpie Girl. Arliss just restrained her just before his queen bitch slapped the girl to the ground. "That is my man, only I can scratch him!" The Harpie girl backed up, returning to Samantha's side. "Yea, you better run!"

"Settle down, Nessa." Arliss whispered, kissing her neck gently. His lover calmed down in an instant, becoming pudding in his very skilled hands as he rubbed up and down her shoulders. "You are the only girl for me, remember that, my darlin'." He turned her around and gave her a tender kiss, his arms sneaking under her coat and holding her tight to him. Nessa murmured weakly, pressing her body up to his, her fingers tracing the scratches and hickies she had given him, already planning where she would plant the next ones.

Finally breaking away, she kissed his chin before wobbling back off the arena floor, sitting down and catching her breath.

"Now then, I do believe it's my turn." Arliss managed to say, panting slightly. He held up his newly gotten card, and set it on his duel disk. "Yea, it isn't much, I know. But it will have to do."

Samantha nodded. "And I hope it was a good card Mr. Lockehart. Because if it wasn't, then you should know that for you, the game is about to end." The greek duelist held up a card, a brilliant smile alighting her face. "I activate a new field spell card, Harpie Hunting ground!" The arena quaked as the floor morphed from it's usual metal and holo panels into a barren, dusty plain. An updraft hit the field, causing some of the feathers from the Harpie Girl to drift about and lift her up 2 feet. "Now, it is true that this card doesn't boost my Harpie Girl up that much. But you see Mr. Lockehart, I am not planning for this turn, I am planning for the next one."

"What are you babbling about?"

Samantha smiled. "This card allow my winged-beasts an extra 200 boost in both attack and defense. But more then that, it also makes it that when I summon or special summon a Harpie Lady, I can destroy a trap or spell on your side of the field. That means that no matter what you draw, you won't be able to power up your monsters long enough to stop me. And should you destroy all my cards, next turn I can resummon my Harpie Lady and take out any little surprise you have for me." She chuckled. "Do you see why we Greeks are so good at dueling? Our patience allows us to hold off, prolong battles, until we can decimate our enemies. Allow me to show you first hand, Mr. Lockehart, how we Greeks duel! Harpie Girl, Hunter's Talon!"

Arliss stood his ground as the Harpie Girl rushed him, her talons gleaming wickedly in the light as she neared him, closer and closer, so close he could feel the beat of her wings on his face…

"I do believe it's time for some readin'." He pressed a button on his duel disk, a blue, leather covered book appeared in his hands. He cracked it open, ignoring the monster baring down on him, and began to chanting some forgotten tongue. "Lo doua ma, tryo Ki gious, daemas-ti-lunus!"

"What did he say?" Almost everyone in the arena asked.

Nessa smiled to herself. She knew exactly what Arliss had said, for it was in the tongue of shadows, one of the oldest languages ever recorded. He had mastered it through reading Marik's Diary, and could speak it fluently. Arliss was also beginning to teach her how to read and speak the archaic tongue, the language of the shadow realm and of duel spirits.

'Lo doua-ma, tryo ki gious, daemas-ti-lunus: In my name, come forth now, powers of darkness.'

Right as the Harpie Girl's claws were an inch in front of his face, Arliss held up his hand, blasting her with a shot of blue light. She cried out as she fell to the ground, clutching her head before transforming into a downface card.

"What did you do?" Samantha asked.

Arliss merely chuckled. "Remember that card that would, 'have to do'? You might know it by the name Book of Moon." Samantha sighed, no longer having any monsters left to do battle with, and now cards in her hand to play. She reluctantly passed to Arliss, annoyed that she had given him another opening.

He drew his next card and nodded. "I think we've played this game long enough." Everyone watched as Arliss fiddled with the card he had drawn. "Yes…I think I've done had enough of this cat and mouse game…it's time for you and I to finish this here duel, once and for all." As the Swords that surrounded the Harpies shattered, Arliss placed the two cards in his hand on the field. "First, I'm gonna summon Ninja Grandmaster Sasuke, in attack mode."As he spoke, the light night leapt from a vacant seat in the stands, landing silently on Arliss' side of the field. His purple-blue hair fell along his back, his robes billowing as he took out his two throwing daggers. "And now, I think it's time to show you why ninjas are just like them ol' Greeks: we too can wait for just the right moment. I equip to my Ninja Grandmaster the spell card Fusion Sword Murasame Blade!"

The Ninja raised his hand, watching with interested as his fingers fused together, elongating and transforming into steel, forming into a wicked katana. He did a few passes through the air, enjoying the whistling the blade made as it cut thought the air with ease and grace.

"Allow me to explain somethin' to ya: My Murasame Blade is now fused to my monsters arm. That means that it can't be removed by a simple chant or lucky spell. No, you must either rip it from his body with a trap, or remove it with an effect. Either way, your little field can't help you now…and with 800 attack points added to my Ninja Grandmaster Sasuke…"

"There is no card in your deck that can power up your Harpies enough to survive his assault." Nessa finished.

Arliss nodded. "Brains and beauty. Truly a powerful combination." He looked back at his ninja. "Speaking of powerful combinations…Grandmaster Sasuke, attack with Murasame's Wraths!" The ninja nodded, leaping into the air and slamming his blade down hard into one of the 3 defense cards. The dark mage smirked as the card flipped to reveal the three Harpie Lady Sisters, skewed upon Sasuke's blade. "And I'll end my turn."

Samantha frowned as she drew her next card. It wasn't any help at all, and now she was left with two defense monsters, a useless trap, and a spell card she couldn't use. "I'll pass, Mr. Lockehart."

The southern duelist nodded, drawing his next card. "I summon Mystic Swordsman Lv2, in attack mode." On his side of the field, joining the ninja grandmaster, was the small purple and white clothed swordsman. "This card has an interesting effect: Any monster he battles that is face down is instantly destroyed…and what do you know? You're cards are downface!" The two monsters nodded to each other, rushing at the two remaining monsters on Samantha's side of the field, cutting them to bits. "And next, I will use Mystic Swordsman's effect, to transform him to Lv 4!" The swordsman glowed as he aged, from 10 years old to about 16. "I end my turn…it's your move Samantha…make it count."

Samantha drew her card and looked at Arliss, a smile crossing her face. The audience watched as she stared at the card, examining it…before she lowered both her arms to her sides.

"You fought well Mr. Lockehart. I am not ashamed to loss to a man of your skill. And I won't rob you of your victory…you may attack."

The crowd gasped as she held out her arms, body exposed for the blow. They waited, sure that Arliss would attack, would send her flying, have his monster brutalize her violently. So, they were in for another shock as he simply walked over to her and held out his hand.

"Ya did well, Samantha my dear. It was a mighty fine pleasure duelin' with ya." Samantha glanced at him, then to his hand…before she accepted his offer and gave him a firm handshake.

"Well then…" Dr. Crowler stammered, emerging from his spot in the shadows. "It seems we have a winner…Mr. Arliss Lockehart."

The group remained silent, utterly confused by the about face from the southern duelist. He came out before lunch, insulting everyone and demanding Nessa defeat Alexis hard and fast. After lunch, he emerged happy, sated, and offering people handshakes and ice cream cones.

It didn't make any sense…what was Arliss all about?

&&&

"Noticed you seemed overly polite the Samantha…you don't have a thing for greeks, do you Arliss? Because I am not that freaky." Nessa made a face and Arliss chuckled at her actions. "I also noticed…" She reached in under his coat and removed a spell card that had been stuck in the waistband of his jeans. "…that you didn't use the Dark Hole spell card I snuck in for you during our little hug."

"No, I didn't. There was no need to, what with the final combo I pulled off with Murasame. Besides, don't think I would have used it anyway…I play fair with those that I feel are worthy of my attention. Samantha Ciro is one of those people."

His companion raised an eyebrow. "Are you saying she might be our next Rare Hunter?" Arliss merely smirked and continued on. "Arliss…is that what you are saying? Is it? No, it's not? Wait, it is…come on Arliss, tell me!" She whined, sounding very Vanessa-like. "Arliss, this isn't funny…tell me now…come on, please! Arliss…Arliss Lockehart…" At this, he grabbed her and lifted her up, carrying her bridal style as they made their way out of the arena, kissing Nessa behind her ears. "Ugh…no…no kissies…No Arliss, I am still mad at you…stop the kissies…no…" She giggled as he licked the back of her neck. "No kissies…" She whimpered halfheartedly, melting every second his lips were on her flesh. "ooooo…kissies"

Arliss smirked. 'now THAT…was a good choice.'

&&&

"Is there anything else I can do for you Alexis?" Jaden asked, itching his had as he stood in her doorway. He had spent the last hour calming her down, and finally, she had managed to settle her nerves enough. Now, the two of them stood at her dorm's door, not sure what to say.

"I'll be fine…just need to get a goodnight sleep."

Jaden nodded, shifting foot to foot. "Yea…I bet that's for the best. Maybe tomorrow we could meet up…"

"Won't you be busy moving into Ra Yellow?"

Jaden frowned. "I…I don't think I'll be moving to Ra yet. Slifer Dorm is my home, and I can't abandon Syrus…"

Alexis managed to smile. "You are a terrible liar Jaden…you just want to stay in slifer so everyone doesn't notice you." Jaden looked at her, confused. "You talk a big game…but in the end, you don't want to be the big man on campus. Dueling is about fun for you…plain and simple."

Jaden laughed nervously. "Yea…but it's really all about Syrus. He'd be heart broken… you know…"

The young woman nodded. "Sure Jaden…you get going now…don't want to worry Syrus."

Jaden chuckled. "Yea…bye Alexis. Hope you feel better"

"Bye Jaden, thanks for your help." Jaden gave her a wave and headed out, wanting to get out of the dorms before the girls caught him and tried to get him expelled again. That was the last thing he needed.

Meanwhile, in her dorm, Alexis looked around the room, thinking about something before she walked over to her desk and picked up a cellphone. She pressed the speed dial and held the phone up, listening to the familiar ring.

"Hello?" An older woman's voice asked.

Alexis bit her lip. "Mom…it's me…" She took a deep breath. "I want to come home."

Author's Note: There we go. Not quite the super evil duel people expected from Arliss…but another duel none-the-less. We've got to meet more characters, and hints of future plans from Arliss. From time to time, there will be chapters that I will ear-mark as ones you should read again later after we get through the first season. This would be the first one.

Next Time of G/X-Hunters: Arliss and Nessa have shown the academy they can back up their threats. And more then that, they've taken their next step and become lovers. But with the strict dorm rules, what are a king and queen to do? How about move to a more private home?

Meanwhile, the school has gotten the attention of a mysterious American Government Agency…run by a certain duelist some of you may remember from other fics. And let's just say that the good doctor is not happy with all the mystery and darkness around the academy.

And finally, what was that job that Arliss sent his brother on back in episode 9?

All this and more in Episode 16: Moving Day.