Dr. Crowler, Chancellor Shepard, Miss Fontaine, Miss Dorothy, Prof. Banner and the head of the Ra Yellow Dorm all sat on the stage, waiting for the students to get seated so they could beginning this special presentation. The faculty was chatting amongst themselves, much like their charges were.

"So, what exactly are we doing today?" Dr. Crowler asked, annoyed that he had to cancel class so they could have this silly ceremony, for whatever reason. "I really do wish we could have waited, I have so much to do." He laughed to himself. 'Like figuring out who will be challenging those slifer slackers in that tag duel next week!' It had only been a few hours since he had allowed it to be known to the school's task force that Jaden and Syrus had broken campus rules. The looks on their faces had been priceless, and he had hoped to be able to taunt them in his class. Instead, he had to deal with Shepard and his silly school-wide meeting.

"We are here because we are introducing the new faculty, as well as a new student." Miss Fontaine said. "Or did you forget?"

"Oh yes, now I remember. My mind has been on other things recently. You know, dealing with the horrid news that Jaden Yuki and Syrus Trusdale dared to break campus rules…it's simply dreadful!" He proclaimed in mock horror.

"Oh yes, I heard about that." Miss Dorothy said. "Did you hear that Alexis Rhodes and Chumley Huffington were also there, but they are not being punished?"

"Why no!" Crowler lied. "I had not heard that." The head of Obelisk blue turned back away from the two women and sneered as they talked on. 'And who asked you to join the conversation, you big boned blabber mouth? Of course Alexis and Chumley will not get in trouble. Alexis is my prize student, and Chumley's father is a famous hot sauce maker. It would do me no good to get those two expelled. But Jaden and Syrus…they are expendable.'

Meanwhile, Professor Banner and the head of Ra Yellow were busy discussing the subject of this meeting.

"So, do you know anything about these two new teachers?" The ra yellow dorm master asked.

Prof. Banner shook his head. "Not much. I know they are suppose to be some of the best in their fields, as well as great duelists. No one seems to know much else about them though."

"I heard that Chancellor Shepard just met them today when they go off the boat. He didn't have a say in selecting them, it was all done at KaibaCorp."

"mmm, this should be interesting then." Prof. Banner replied, stroking Pharaoh. The large tabby let out a yawn and nuzzled back into his master's arms, purring contently. "I can't wait to find out what they are like. Hopefully, they are more friendly then some of the teachers here."

The Ra Yellow dorm leader let his eyes slide over to Crowler. "Yes, the last thing we need is another pompous teacher."

"You can say that again."

"The last thing we need is another pompous teacher."

Prof Banner sighed. "That is a figure of speak."

"…oh."

&&&

"Jaden, why are we even here? Shouldn't we be more concerned with things like packing up all our stuff and arranging for our parents to pick up us when we get expelled from here?"

Jaden laughed and punched Syrus playfully on the shoulder. "come on Sy, there is no reason to get all gloomy. I already told you that this afternoon we are going to head out and have a practice duel to get us warmed up, and then we can figure out what we need to do to get ready. You need to think positively"

"Ok, I'm positive we're going to get expelled."

"Oh Syrus." Jaden said with a sigh. "You really need to bring your confidence level up a few clicks."

"Sorry Jay…" Syrus mumbled. "But I'm going to get us both expelled."

"Sy, I don't want to hear another word about expulsions. Let's just take it one day at a time."

"Let's take exactly what one day at a time?" Bastion asked, sitting down behind Jaden and Syrus.

"Syrus is just freakin' out because we have to take this expulsion example."

"Excuse me…did you just say expulsion?"

"yea." Syrus said glumly. "The school found out we went to the abandoned dorm, and now we have to duel if we want to stay. And I just know we are going to loss, and everyone will laugh at us and look down at us…"

"You certainly a giant pot of sunshine, aren't you Syrus?" Bastion said with a slight smile.

"Pot of sunshine?" Jaden asked. "Is that like a card or something."

"No, it is merely something my grandmother use to say: that someone was a pot of sunshine."

"But a pot of sunshine would be a good thing…and I don't think Syrus' attitude is anywhere close to good." He paused to see Syrus slump in his seat. "er…that's not to say…"

"It's fine Jay." Syrus said sadly.

"I was being sarcastic Jaden." Bastion stated. "Now, I believe it is time we moved onto happier things, like this assembly."

Jaden looked up at the Ra Yellow. "Why is this a happy thing? It's just meeting more teachers that will give us homework. I know you enjoy homework Bastion, but I for one don't like it all that much."

"It's more then meeting teachers Jaden. You haven't heard the news yet?"

"Nah, what's up?"

Bastion grinned. "We are getting a new student, and I know who it is!"

"How do you know?" Jaden asked.

"Because this new student is someone I am very close too." Bastion said, still grinning. "And I am excited to see her."

Jaden grinned, slapping Bastion on the shoulder. "Oh, I get it! You have a little girlfriend, doncha?"

Bastion made a face of disgust. "Really Jaden, is that the only conclusion you can reach, that she is some trollop I am dating?"

Jaden blinked in confusion. "What is a trollop?"

&&&

"Hello Zane." Alexis said with a half smile, sitting down next to the Kaiser of the Academy.

Zane glanced over at Alexis. "You are chirper today."

"I'm not chirper."

Zane rolled his eyes. "Alexis, how long have we known each other?"

Alexis frowned, not really understanding the change-of-topic. "Uh, we met 3 years ago, just before you came here. You were my mentor at the prep school. Why do you ask Zane?"

"When I was your mentor, you and I spent a lot of time together. We learned all about each other…people naturally do when they work so closely with one another. They memorize the quirks, the traits of those they call friends and colleagues." He paused for a moment, looking around the arena. "I can read you like a book Alexis, and trust me when I tell you, you are chirper."

"Fine, I'm chirper." Alexis said with a sigh. "Happy?"

Zane shook his head. "No, you were chirper, now you are annoyed."

"I wonder why." Alexis muttered.

Zane merely watched on. "the question is, what has made you so chirper. The last I saw you, you were still under the effects of that duel with Nessa…so what has happened to break that 'spell'."

Alexis shrugged. "Just in a good mood."

"That mood wouldn't have anything to do with Jaden and Syrus and their little trip to the abandoned dorm?" Alexis quirked an eyebrow at that statement, startled Zane knew about all that.. "It's confidential news, only the highest in the school need to know it at the moment…so, naturally, everyone knows."

Alexis chuckled. "Of course they do." She licked her lips, suddenly nervous to admit what had happened to bring her out of her dark funk…and what she had been planning to do. When she had gotten back to her room, she had unpacked in a hurry, trying to make the room look somewhat lived in, so that none of the girls would ask questions if they came in. Luckily, she could claim a lot of stuff was packed away because she had been redecorating.

She had also hurried to get rid of the letters she had written, tearing them up and throwing them away in different garbage cans so no one knew she had been planning to leave. Other then her parents, who, while being thrilled she was staying, were none-to-happy that they had wasted the money on a boat driver to get her off the school, no one would ever know she had planned to leave.

Especially not Zane.

"I guess having a crazy man put me in a coffin for a few hours made me realize that it was silly to get scared over a hologram." Alexis said. She had decided to tell a half truth, as that would make it easier to keep everyone in the dark. 'Tell only that which you want', that was Alexis' current motto.

"I suppose so." Zane said. He didn't believe that Alexis was telling him the whole story, but he wouldn't push her. Better to allow her to admit her feelings when she was ready, then try and make her tell him the secrets she was hiding. Alexis, while being sweet most of the time, could be a fierce as a bear when it came to opening herself up to others. She kept people at arm's length, and heaven help the person that tried to force her to open her heart up.

'Keep your secrets Alexis…but you are going to learn soon enough that if you keep yourself closed off too long, no one will be around when you finally do decide to open your soul.'

&&&

"Why are you so down, Mr. Huffington?"

Chumley looked up and managed a smile as Samantha plopped down beside him. "Hello Samantha. H-how are you?"

"I'm fine…now why don't you tell me what is wrong?"

"Nothin' wrong." Chumley said quickly. "everything is perfectly fine."

"I bet it is." Samantha said sarcastically. "I know I always mope when I am perfectly fine."

"You do?" Chumley asked.

"I believe the chica was trying to be funny, amigo." The two duelists turned to see Hector and Johnny sit down in the row just above them.

Chumley nodded. "oh…I get it."

"Why do I get the feeling that you don't?" Johnny asked with a laugh. "Don't you worry none Chumley, we're just pulling your leg."

"Why would I worry?" Chumley asked quickly. "There is no reason to worry, not at all…"

"The man protests to much." Souta said, throwing himself in the aisle seat next to Johnny. "I don't suppose that your mood has anything to do with the rumors flying around about Jaden and Syrus being expelled?"

"Maybe…and they aren't being expelled!" Chumley snapped. "They just…have to duel and if they loss, they are expelled." He said the last part as a whisper, staring down at his hands.

Samantha frowned. "Mr. Yuki and Mr. Trusdale might be expelled? What would warrant that?"

"Rumor is that they went to the abandoned dorm, chica." Hector said, the words flying from his mouth. "Which is against the escuela rules. The officials, they were no happy with that, I can assure you."

"Please, in this school, everyone is pissed off…and I can assure you of that."

The group turned to see Arliss Lockehart standing in the aisle, Nessa a few steps behind him, bobbing her head as she listened to music from an ipod. The southern duelist smiled and held out his hand to Samantha, who gladly took it.

"Hello Mr. Lockehart, it is good to see you again."

"And a pleasure to see you too Miss Ciro." Arliss said. He turned to the rest of the group and nodded. "I don't believe we all have been properly introduced. My name is Arliss Lockehart…" He looked over at Nessa, who was dancing away in the aisle, with not a care in the world. "And the dancin' machine to my left would be Nessa Lockehart, my heart, soul and apparently the funkiest white woman any of us will ever see." Nessa continued to gyrate to the music. "Now then, I have met Samantha…but I haven't gotten to know all of you correctly."

Samantha, seeing that none of the guys were going to introduce themselves, took over the role of hostess. "Mr. Lockehart, this is Mr. Chumley Huffington."

"Hey." Chumley said.

"And let it never be said that you were a man of many words, Chumley."

"Thanks!"

Arliss rolled his eyes and turned to his left. "Nessa has told me a bit about you two young men…Johnny and Hector, is it?"

The Spanish duelist nodded. "Si. I am Hector Garcia, and this mucho bonito chico to my left…" He smiled, giving the Bronx duelist a squeeze on the thigh. "…is Johnny Salerizine."

Arliss shook each of their hands. "Well, It be mighty nice to meet you both. I remember catchin' glances of your duels, when I wasn't busy with watchin' Nessa here…was impressed by both of your skills…surprised you two are still in Slifer."

Johnny shrugged. "What can I say, me and Hector aren't the most dedicated when it comes to our studies."

"We have so much more interesting things to do." Hector said with a grin.

Souta grimaced. "Of course you do…why do you think I changed rooms? Damn walls so paper thin…hear everything." He held out his hand, which Arliss shook. "Souta Higurashi."

"Nice to meet you too Souta." Arliss said.

"So, what are you doing over here in the reject corner?"

Arliss raised an eyebrow. "You callin' Samantha a reject?"

Soua stuttered in surprise. "Well…the think is…"

"Do not worry about it Mr. Higurashi." Samantha said. "I don't think of this as the reject corner one bit."

"Thanks Samantha!" chumley said with a grin. "You are so nice, and great, and smart, and cool…"

"Chumley has a girlfriend." Hector sang.

"Shut up!" Chumley hissed.

Samnatha giggled at the antics. "This is why I came over here…all those other Obelisk Blues are so boring and uptight…" She glanced at Arliss. "Present company excluded, of course."

"Of course." Arliss said. "You be preachin' to the choir when it comes to dislikin' the Blues. Never will you find a group of more up-on-themselves-duelists then those Obelisks. Makes me wish I hadn't done so well on the exam, maybe gotten in with a better group."

"Is that why you hang out with Vanessa?" Chumley asked.

Arliss shrugged. "Partically. Nessa is a fun, vibrant woman that I enjoy being around. She always kows what to say or do to make me smile, and she lacks the stick that most duelists have up their ass." He turned to his girl and smirked. "Nessa is quite a catch, nearly perfect."

"Nearly?" Souta asked.

"She is the prom queen, I'm in the marchin' band!" Nessa sang, stomping her feet ot the rhythem. "She is a cheerleader, I'm sittin' in the stands!"

Arliss let out an exsaporated sigh. "Yes…nearly perfect." He reached overand pulled the ear phones out, causing her to blink. "Nessa, I am tryin' to carry on a conversation here, and you are singin' a Savin' Jane song…now what have I taught you about manners and being polite?"

"Uh…only be polite to people when they are around, then talk about them behind their backs?"

Arliss rubbed his forehead. "Quite…now, let's sit down and see what the school has in store for us."

Nessa crossed her arms and pouted. "Stupid school scheduling such an early meeting! They couldn't wait a few more hours?"

"It's nearly 11!" Johnny exclaimed.

"Exactly my point!" Nessa answered as Arliss slipped past Souta and sat down in the seat next to his. Nessa waited a momen before walking over to join him.

Samantha chuckled. "You are quite a character, Miss Lockehart."

"And don't you forget it." Nessa said, situating herself in Arliss' lap. She wiggled around a bit, causing the southern duelist to groan. "Now, would someone mind telling me why I had to leave my warm comfy bed and come to this arena at such an ungodly hour?"

Arliss frowned. "I told you why we had to come, Nessa!"

"I remember the word come being thrown around, but you never said why we needed to be here." Nessa replied. She turned her head to look back at the other duelists. "Now, which one of you is going to be real nice to me and tell me what the f--- we are doing here?"

Johnny and Hector raised an eyebrow at the use of such language. Samantha allowed a tin smile to form on her face, amused by Nessa's actions. Chumley was staring at Samantha, and as such was not paying attention. Souta began to laugh at Nessa's blunt comment. Arliss merely stroked her neck, drawing lazy patterns all along her back with his fingernail.

"We are here…" Samantha finally said. "…to meet the new teachers the school has hired."

Nessa slowly turned to look at Arliss, before she began to smack him. "You woke me up to meet some idiots that will assign us homework?" She continued to hit him, until her boyfriend grabbed her arms and pinned them behind her back. "Let me go Arliss! Let me…"

Arliss silenced her with a hard kiss, pulling her tight to his body. Nessa's hits became less pronounced, until she merely tangled her fingers in his hair. After a minute, Arliss released her, nuzzling her softly.

"Cheater."

The southern duelist kissed her neck. "You're just mad that I know how to press each and every one of your buttons, aren't you my dear?" Nessa let out a purr as Arliss ran his fingers along the small of her back. "and it's more then meeting 'some idiot that will assign us homework'. These teachers are decidin' all our fates, and I personally want to know all about them. Think of it like spyin' on an enemy camp, seeing what weapons they have." Arliss said this with a light tone, but Nessa knew he was clueing he into why they were really here.

'This is war'. She thought. 'We are doing battle with these people, and we need to scope them out as much as we can. Only then can we know for sure we can plot our rise to power in safety.' She sighed though, and laid her head on his shoulder. "but it's so boring!" she whined out loud.

"Life can't be all candy and puppies." Arliss said.

"They're starting!" Samantha whispered to the group, everyone turning to see Chancellor Shepard step forth.

&&&

'Ok Shepard, you can do this. Big smile, head held high! put out good vibes, and you get out good vibes! Remember what you learned from your Tony Robins' cds. Now get out their and shine!'

Chancellor Shepard smiled as he tapped the mike, signaling for the students to grow quiet. Once he was sure that everyone was ready, he began to address them. "Students of Duelists Academy! Today we are here to welcome 3 new members of our academic family: two professors and a new transfer student." The crowd murmured at this news, the only ones seemingly not surprised by this news Bastion Misawa, Jaden Yuki, Syrus Trusdale…and for some reason Arliss Lockehart and Nessa Lockehart. Shepard shook that thought off and continued. "First, I would like to introduce our new facility and let you know a little about each of them.

"First is Professor James Stilton. Prof. Stilton is 27 years old, from Tallahassee, and graduated from the University of Tennessee. He did is doctrine on the history of card thieves. He will be teaching our new class on how to protect yourself from cheaters and criminal duelists. Let's give him a hand, gang!"

The crowd applauded politely as Prof. Stilton stepped forward. He wore a black dress shirt, khaki slacks, and a white tie. He was about 6 feet tall, with shaggy brown hair and fierce eyes. The young man looked at the ground and nodded, sorting through his notes.

"Thank ya." Prof. Stilton said, his voice tinted with a smooth Tennessee accent. "I'd just like to say to ya'll that I am excited to be here. I know I have a lot to offer all yous, and I think a lot of you…" He glanced up at the crowd. "…have a lot to offer me. I know that by the end of this year…none of us will be the same. Thank ya."

Chancellor Shepard clapped again, approaching the mike. "Thank you Prof. Stilton. Now then, our next professor is Professor Alexander Milo. Prof. Milo is 24, and is a graduate of the University of Michigan, where he did his doctrine on advanced field strategy. He will be teaching our new Altering Control Theory Class. He will now say a few words, so let's give him a hand!"

The crowd once again began to applaud as Prof. Milo walked to the mike. Prof. Milo was just a bit taller then Prof. Stilton, with hair that started blond on top and grew brown as it moved down to the tips. His face was covered in thick dark stubble, making the man appear older then he was. He wore a gray t-shirt, cord blazer, and dark blue jeans. He moved with a ease and grace up to the mike and smiled cheerfully at everyone.

"Hello there." He said, his accent obviously Mid-Western American. He smiled weakly, looking around at the crowd. "I would just like to tell that...I'mmmmmm…glad to be here." He glanced down at some notes. "Not quite sure what to say here…I've heard a lot about this island, about what happens here…and I look forward to seeing if all the stories are true." He gave them a nodded and walked back to his seat, Prof. Stilton staring at him the entire time.

'Prof. Milo, hmm?' Prof. Stilton thought. 'I'm gonna keep my eye on you, boy.'

Chancellor Shepard once again took the mike, smiling like a fool. "Thank you both. I am sure everyone is anxious to get out of here and find out what you two will be teaching them."

"Not likely." Nessa muttered.

"But before that, we have one more person to introduce: A new student." He motioned towards a young woman sitting behind him, the student standing up and joining him near the mike. She had long straight black hair, sharp eyes and an hourglass figure. She was dressed in pink blazer and shirt, a duel disk on her left arm. The young lady smiled, looking out into the crowd.

"Wow…" Syrus said. "Since she isn't your girlfriend, can I date here Bastion?"

"You can try Syrus." Bastion said with a chuckle. "No man has ever struck her fancy…but you are welcome to go at it."

"Our new student…" Shepard said. "Comes from the Atlantic Girl's Duelist Academy, where she was ranked number one in her class and was in Magician Girl Pink, the highest of the dorm levels. She took part of her first year off to tutor one of our very one students, Bastion Misawa. Please say hello to Candace Misawa." Shepard clapped heartily along with the rest of the student body as Candace stepped up to the mike, adjusting it slightly.

" Hello." She said, her british accent more pronounced then Bastion's. "I'm glad to be here, and I look forward to meeting all of you. I have heard a lot about this academy from my cousin Bastion, and I personally can't wait to see if his stories are true."

"Telling stories about us Bastion?" Jaden teased.

Bastion scoffed. "Hardly."

"What do you think?" Nessa whispered, leaning close to Arliss' ear and giving it a little lick.

"I'm glad Arlen is here, but I don't like that other professor."

"Arlen's here?" Nessa whispered.

Arliss smirked. "OF course…it isn't obvious?" He said the last part in such a way that made Nessa feel like Arliss was playing a game with here, that maybe Arlen wasn't down there…

Chazz chuckled as he listened to the new girl prattle on about how glad she was to be at the academy. He leaned back in his chair, looking over at one of his stooges "You have to be kidding me…I thought when they said there would be a new student, we might get someone that would be worthy of my attention; not some reject another school is passing along to us. Besides she's just Ba-stupid's cousin, so we know she can't be any good at dueling."

"he isn't all that impressive."

"Yea Chazz, she certainly isn't that cool, is she Chazz?"

Chazz nodded. "I mean, big deal! So she was in 'Dark Magician Girl Pink'…" Chazz made a funny face, wiggling his fingers. "Oooo…so scary!"

"You should be scared, Chazz." Alexis said from behind him, not longer able to stay silent while listening to yet another one of Chazz's hate rants. "Do you know what the three colors of that academy are?"

"No, I don't make it a hobby to learn about colors." Chazz snarked.

"Maybe you should have." Zane said dryly. "Then you'd know that the color ranking at the Atlantic Girl's Duelist Academy is Venus Green, Amazon Brown, and Magician Girl Pink. Pink is the highest ranking, same as blue is here. And judging from the cut of that blazer, Candace must have been at the top of her class."

Chazz scoffed. "If she is so good, why would she come here?"

Alexis shrugged. "I'll be interested to find that out too."

&&&

Chancellor Shepard stepped to the mike one last time as Candace moved aside, standing at attention next to him. He gave her a soft smile and then turned to the audience. "Now then, it is normal protocol for any new student to enter Slifer Red, and after a month of observation, the school arranges a promotion duel based on recommendations of the teachers.

"However, because of Miss Misawa's record at her previous school, as well as…certain circumstances…we have decided to do something a little different. Right now, in front of this school, we will be having a special duel!" The audience burst into surprise chatter, wondering what this all meant. No one had ever heard of an instant promotion duel…they didn't even know how it would work. "We have selected one of our best Ra Yellow duelists to face Candace in a duel. She will face this duelist, and be judges on her performance by the teachers, including Prof. Milo and Prof. Stilton. These ratings will determine which dorm she goes into." Shepard paused for a moment, nodding to Candace as the young woman stepped off the stage and moved over to one side of the arena. "And now, my I present her opponent!"

The audience turned and watched as a young man stepped into the arena, giving Candace a lust filed grin.

"Hello lassie." Hayden McGregor said. "Are ya reada to duel?"

Next time: The Entrance duel between Candace Misawa and Hayden McGregor begins, with everyone watching to see what these two duelsts will throw at each other.. The duel begins slow, with each sizing the other, before Candace unleashes a super rare trap card that leaves Hayden reeling. But when Hayden plays his own super rare monster, will Bastion's cousin be able to survive? And more then that, how will Candace factor into Arliss' plans for the academy? Find out in RPD- Role Play Duel.