"I tell ya, Syrus, that Cyber End Dragon was just too cool! I can't wait to face it in another battle."

"I can." Syrus said glumly. "I can wait a long long time Jay. A really long time. I'm good at waiting."

Jaden laughed. "Come on Syrus, you mean to tell me that you don't want to see that sweet monster again."

"Yes, that is what I am saying." Syrus replied.

Jaden just rolled his eyes and turned to Chumley. "So, I hear you and Samantha have been spending a lot of time together."

Chumley blushed. "Not a lot…just talk in between classes."

"Come on Chumley, we all know you have a crush on." Jaden said, leaning in closer. "You can tell me…ya like her, don't ya?"

"Yes, I mean no! I mean…I don't know." Chumley allowed his head to sink into his hands. "She's an Obelisk, I'm a Slifer. It wouldn't ever work out Jaden. We're from two different worlds."

"Like the Montels and the Catapults." Jaden said with an air of wisdom.

"The who?"

Jaden shrugged. "I don't know…they were in that play by William Shake-n-Smear."

A few rows over, Candace Misawa shook her head. "And they are your friends Bastion? I see you still like slumming."

"I will admit Jaden is a bit…peculiar. But he does have his strong points."

"Like?"

"From what I have seen, he is an exceptional duelist. He has managed to defeat Dr. Crowler, as well as Chazz Princeton."

Candace made a face. "That whiny little man? The one that could not settle on a deck if his bloody life depended on it?"

"Quite." Bastion said. "And is it necessary to use such language? It really is below you, Candace."

Candace merely rolled her eyes. "I will talk how I want, you twit. I am older then you, so cut the 'big brother routine' Bastion. If I wanted to be babied, I would have stayed home."

"I am not babying you, Candace. I am merely saying that we have an image to maintain…"

"No, you have an image to maintain." Candace snapped. "Me, I have no image. None whatsoever. Look at me, with the no imaging. Great thing about being the new girl, no images."

Bastion sighed. "You could at least make a good impression."

"Which I did, when I dueled Hayden. And I thought we agreed that you wouldn't baby me!"

"I am not babying you!"

"Are so!"

The two cousins stopped their bickering when they heard a chuckle from behind them. Both looked up to see Hayden McGregor sitting down behind them, a grin plastered on his face. His shaggy red hair was all other the place, and his eyes held just a tint of mischief.

"So, it seems the lass here enjoys the sport of words more then you do, Bastion." Hayden turned to address Candace. "This one here, oh he loves to sit in his room and work on that computer of his."

"I know." Candace said. "My mum swears he is doing inappropriate things on that bloody thing."

"I am not!" Bastion stuttered.

"I think you nearly killed the lad." Hayden chuckled. "Calm down Bastion, no one said that was a bad thing. Find it rather enjoyable, myself. Only reason God invented computer…well, that and to play video games."

Bastion sighed. "Hayden, could you please not tell your perverted little jokes in front of my cousin? It isn't right."

"Because you say so?" Candace asked. "I personally find Hayden's attitude refreshing. Nice to see a man who is comfortable in his skin…" She glared at Bastion. "And not someone that pretends to be someone they are not."

Bastion's eyes narrowed. "What is that suppose to mean."

"nothing…" She said politely, eyes glancing back in forth.

Hayden chuckled. "Seems there is more to you then meets the eye, Miss Misawa." He leaned in close. "But if you want to see someone of interest, wait till you see that lad Arliss Lockehart, and the pretty little thing he keeps on his arm, Nessa Lockehart."

"Lockeharts…both of them? Brother and sister?" Candace asked.

"I would hope not, with the way those two keep…" Bastion muttered.

"snoggin?" Hayden asked. "That is the word you Brits use, right?"

"That it is." Candace said. "But if they aren't cousin…why the same last name."

"Rumor is the two got hitched…others say that they are engaged. Don't know for sure lass…if they are, they move quick. Just met about 2 months ago, give or take. But after a week, the two were inseparable." Hayden took out his notebook. "I can tell you though, lass, that Arliss Lockehart is an interesting fellow. When he first was here, he was Crowler's pet student, always nice and proper. And Nessa, she went by Vanessa back then, and she was just a shy little slifer. Now, the two are Obelisks, and they don't take lip from anyone. Most of the students hate them, fear them, or cheer for them. They act like they own the school."

"They are insane." Bastion said. "Both had potential, yet they waste it. They are lazy…they never show up for class anymore, and they have alienated themselves from everyone but a select few. And even those people only talk to them for but a few minutes. Arliss is cocky, and he is a suck-up. And that Nessa…she is just a crude, ill-patient woman."

"And what about you Hayden? What are your thoughts?"

Hayden shrugged. "They make life here more interesting."

Candace nodded, about ready to say more, when Professor Stilton walked in. he was dressed in a shirt and tie, and carried a bundle of unorganized papers. He hurriedly put them away and turned to the class. He looked around, then to his watch, then to the class, then his watch.

"IS it time to begin this thing?" He asked, looking at his watch in confusion. "Not quite sure when this class begins…"

"We have another few minutes, Prof. Stilton." Alexis Rhodes said.

"Uh…ok." He said, distracted. He looked around the classroom once more before he went over to his desk and began to gather up a stack of papers. He walked over to a Slifer sitting in the front room and asked him to pass the documents out to everyone in the class. Prof. Stilton waited a few more minutes before he cleared his throat, calling for the classes attention.

"Alright then class…I know that we are beginnin' this class a bit late in the semester…"

"The year." A student said

"Huh?"

Chazz rolled his eyes. "The year. We don't have semesters." He crossed his arms. "Shouldn't you know that?"

Prof. Stilton frowned, his emotions turning icy. "Fine, year. That make ya all happy?" He glared at the room, daring one of them to speak up. "Good, glad to hear it. Now then, let's just get thing over with." He said, before muttering, "I doubt you want to be pent up with me, and I have better things to do then deal with lectures." He cleared his throat. "Now then, this class will be…"

"Sorry we're late!" Arliss shouted, swaggered into the room, Nessa close behind. "Sorry there sir, totally forgot about this here class." Of course, no one questioned how they could forget, considering they had received their schedules not an hour before hand, after the big assembly.

Nessa nodded. "We didn't miss how to kill Voldemort yet, right? Because I'd hate to miss that…"

"Whatever." Stilton interrupted, not in the mood to deal with the two of them. "Just…sit down and lets get this over with. I don't care when you show up, as long as we can get this over with."

Syrus leaned over to Jaden, confusion written over his face. "Are we sure he's a teacher?"

"What do you mean?"

"He isn't acting like any professor we had before. When he came in here, he was sure about anything. He doesn't seem to want to be here, and he doesn't care if we are even here."

"Sounds like the perfect teacher to me, Sy."

"But Jaden…he just doesn't seem like a professor. He seems like he's just going with the flow."

Jaden shrugged. "Think you're reading way to much into this, Sy."

Prof. Stilton had been going over the grading system, which seemed to be a simple point based system. Once he was sure that the students understood what he wanted, he moved on to what the class was all about. "As you all know, this class is about dealin' with criminals, cheats and thieves that you might deal with at tournaments. I have a lot of…experience…when it comes to this, and I plan of share much of my knowledge with you all."

"Prof. Stilton?" Candace raised her hand. The professor sighed, annoyed that he was being interrupted, but motioned for her to speak. "I was just curious, will this class be covering past criminals? Or will we merely focus on tricks currently used by today's cheats?"

Prof. Stilton nodded. "Good question…we are just going to focus on how to protect yourself. There is little to be learned about the past cheats and thieves. We need to focus on the now."

"I disagree professor." Arliss said.

"Do you…"

"Arliss…Arliss Lockehart…surely you have heard of me?"

Stilton gave him a look. "It is hard not to, Mr. Lockehart. You've made quite a name for yourself…in such a short time." He shook his head. "And why exactly do you disagree with me."

"The past can teach us a lot. By learning about what was done in the past, we know what could happen in the future." He smiled tauntingly. "Take, for example, the Rare Hunters. What if someone should chose to resurrect them? It could take us weeks…months…maybe even years to full integrate their strategies into your lesson plans."

Stilton locked his eyes onto Arliss. "Maybe. But I will tell you this, Mr. Lockehart…I am concerned with only the here and now, as should you. Let us worry about the 'what ifs' another time." He turned to grab a text book, only to return his gaze to Arliss. "And I suggest you remember that this is not the place to talk about Rare Hunters. Now then, lets move on…"

&&&

Alexis sighed as she slide into her seat. She had just gotten out of Prof. Stilton's class, and she really wanted to talk to someone about it. The entire hour spent with the teacher had been…strange, to say the least, and she wanted to see if anyone else agreed with her on that fact.

Looking around, she noticed that even though class was about to start, only a few people were actually in the classroom. Bastion Misawa, Candace Misawa, and Hayden McGregor were sitting in the corner. Bastion was apparently sulking while Candace and Hayden laughed at something the Scotsman had said. Below her, Alexis could see a few slifers chatting with each other about something she couldn't hear. Other the that, she was alone.

"What are you thinking about, Miss Rhodes?" Samantha asked as she slipped into the seat next to the Queen of Obelisk Blue.

"Just wondering where everyone is." Alexis said absently.

Samantha shrugged. "I saw most of them in the hall. Their all reading about the announcement Doctor Crowler made…something about Mr. Yuki and Mr. Trusdale dueling?"

Alexis frowned. "Yea…Crowler's forcing them into an expulsion duel. They lose, they leave."

Samantha raised an eyebrow. "That Dr. Crowler is a strange man…Mr. Lockehart tells stories…" She paused suddenly, and blushed. "I forget myself. I am sorry Miss Rhodes."

"It's ok Samantha." Alexis said softly. "I have to get use to the fact that I saw what I saw…can't even say if it was Nessa's fault. Even if it was, I can't incriminate Arliss. He's just her boyfriend…he has to stick with her." Alexis sighed again. "It's just a pity, really."

"What is the story behind you 3, Miss Rhodes?"

Alexis smiled. "first, call me Alexis."

Samantha shifted uneasily. "I will try…Alexis. I am use to only calling family by their first names, or those I care about; even then, I still from time to time use their proper names."

"Second, Arliss and I were…are friends." Alexis smiled. "We met at the public tryouts for the academy. Arliss was a mystery to me…the school was talking about how he was the next king…the man that would replace Zane next year. A few even wondered if he could defeat Zane this year and steal the crown. For a student to be Kaiser for 2 years is amazing…but none have been for 3.

"We talked for a while, then we met Vanessa. She was…" Alexis sighed, closing her eyes. "She idolized me, I suppose. I didn't notice it back then…and I blew her off. I just assumed she was having a friendly chat. I later learned from Jaden that she use to have photos of me in her room, and knew all about my duels.

"I continued to talk to Arliss, until the day that he was attacked by those 3 girls. Vanessa was hurt too, but she still wanted me to duel…." Alexis' story trailed off. "I am an idiot."

"Huh?"

Alexis shook her head, looking down at Nessa Lockehart entered the classroom and sat down. "I told Vanessa I never duel other students outside official duels. Then, that night, I dueled Jaden. Vanessa must have found out…and well…you've seen the rest."

"She grew up and became Miss Lockehart."

"Yea." Alexis said.

Samantha nodded. "That is interesting…but that is not what was troubling you before I sat down."

IT was Alexis' turn to be confused. "Huh?"

"When I came to sit down, you were staring off into space."

"Oh." Alexis said simply, having forgotten her previous concerns to the revelation that she was, most likely, the cause of Vanessa's transformation into Nessa. That it was her own fault, for not paying attention and action like the very Obelisks she hated, that Nessa had tortured her in that duel. It was a bitter pill to swallow. "Just wondering about Prof. Stilton's class…did something seem off to you?"

Samantha smiled softly. "The fact that he did not seem to enjoy being here? Or the fact that he appeared to never have taught a class."

Alexis nodded. "So you noticed."

"Hard not to." She said, giving a small wave as Chumley, Jaden, Syrus, Johnny, Hector and Souta walked in and sat down several rows below them. "He seemed out of his element…edgy. Like a lion caught in a cage."

Alexis had to agree. It was a good analogy to describe their new teacher's approach. Prof. Stilton did not give the air of a man that belonged in a classroom. Yes, he commanded their presence well…but that was more like a general commanded his troops, or a police officer commanded citizens. The way he acted was not at all very teacher-like.

"I wonder why he was like that…do you think it was first day jitters? You know, all the nervous energy from starting out the first class at the academy made his a bit more tense and edgy?"

Alexis shrugged. "Maybe…I think we have to wait and see how he does a few weeks from now before we can be sure." The young woman watched as the students, who were now pouring into the classroom, hurried to settle into their seats. Prof. Milo had already entered, still dressed in his cord blazer, t-shirt and blue jeans. He sat on the desk, watching each person that entered with a carefully trained eye, as if looking for something no one else could see. After a moment, he slipped from his perch and shut the classroom door.

"Alright duelists, let's begin class." Milo said. "As you all remember, my name is Prof. Alexander Milo. I am going to be teaching you about different theories that have arisen in duel monsters, as well as how to think along different paths. This course will be a hard one, let me not fool you. It will force you to strategize beyond what you have learned and done in the past. I will challenge all your preconceived notions about this game, and in doing so, I promise that I will change how you play this game." He rubbed his chin, a smile playing along his face. "This class is going to be a personal one. I need to learn all about you in order for this course to work. By the end of the year, I will know about your deck, about how you duel, about how you view your opponents. In fact…" He chuckled. "I might know more about you then even…you! Now, I want to lay down a few ground rules. I am a strict teacher. I will not put up with backtalk. I do not mind if you question me, but I will mind the way you do it."

Johnny raised his head. "What do you mean by, 'the way we do it'?"

Prof. Milo smiled. "What I mean that when you show me respect, I will show you respect. Like right now. You asked me politely what I meant. Yu did not shout, "Dude, what does that mean!" while I was talking. Show me respect, I show you the same. You disrespect me, and I will disrespect you right back. My relationship with you is reflective of yourselves."

As if sensing the topic, Arliss chose that moment to enter the class room, walking down the aisle and sitting next to Nessa.

"Mr. Lockehart." Prof. Milo said. "So nice of you to join us today."

Arliss flashed the teacher a grin. "Sorry, I was busy."

"Too busy to attend class?" Prof. Milo asked. "What exactly were you too busy with?"

"Nothin' important."

"If it isn't important, you shouldn't mind telling me."

"I was just busy." Arliss said, his smile dropping from his face.

Prof. Milo nodded. "Well then, I guess you'll be able to make up that time after class."

"What!" Arliss exclaimed.

"You heard me Mr. Lockehart. 5 minutes detention, today after class. I expect all of you…" He addressed the class. "To remember that this class is important to your success here. Unless I get a reason why you can't attend, you will be hearing my lectures again on your own time."

"Hey, he was just…" Nessa began, but Arliss laid a hand on her shoulder, letting her know to let him handle it. She pouted, crossing her arms in defeat.

"Let me handle this." He stood up, glaring at Prof. Milo. "You, sir, can not punish me for refusing to answer personal questions."

"I am not punishing you for that, Mr. Lockehart." Alexander Milo said. "I am punishing you for being late. And now I am punishing you for interrupting my class. 10 minutes detention."

"You can't do that!" Arliss roared, storming towards Milo.

"Watch me!" Milo challenged. "20 minutes detention!"

"For what?"

"For talking back to the teacher! Now sit down, Mr. Lockehart. I don't want to hear another word out of you."

Arliss' left eye ticked as he stared down the man that dared to embarrass him in front of the class. He could hear them snickering, loving it that the mighty Arliss Lockehart was being taken down a peg. After a moment, Arliss began to smirk and raised his hand politely.

"Yes Mr. Lockehart?"

"Permission to be polite yet honest, Prof. Milo?" Arliss asked.

"Granted."

"F--- you, sir." Arliss said mockingly, flipping the professor off before going back to his seat. "And I will see you in detention."

&&&

"F--- you, sir. Idiot" Nessa said, rolling her eyes as she laid on their bed, staring up and wondering if she should paint a mural on the ceiling. Maybe a parody of "The Creation of Adam", with herself as Adam and Arliss as God, descending from the heavens to grant new life and open her eyes.

Nessa was on her own for lunch. Arliss' comment had earned him an hour detention, and only by her physically shutting his mouth had ensured that he not spent the entire 3 hours they had off in Prof. Milo's classroom.

So, she had warmed up some chicken and rice from last night's dinner, and ate her meal all alone in the bedroom, the company of Bob Barker and "The Price is Right" helping to ease the loneliness she felt a the lack of her lover. She had rarely left Arliss' side since her rebirth, and she found more often then not that she simply could not stand being separated from her boyfriend/creator. It was cliché to say, but Arliss held a part of her heart with him, and when he wasn't around, she could feel the hole just gap openand swallow up her good mood.

"Had to talk back, didn't you?" She muttered, sitting up and moving over to the dvd collection that lined their bookcase. "Hell, I'm the outspoken one, and even I knew not to talk back to that insane little man!" Nessa continued to rant to the empty room. "Yea, he challenged your man hood. But I know, you know, that you are so much better then him. You should have just let it go." Nessa paused. "Dear God…I think you should have let it go…I'm losing it."

Nessa selected a DVD at random and walked back to the bed, plopping down on the mattress. She knew that it would take Arliss another 30 minutes to get back from detention, assuming he didn't bitch during the whole thing. And assuming he rushed straight home, which he may not. Arliss had mentioned that morning that he had to meet a boat at the docks after class to grab some more supplies. Which meant that Nessa now had some time on her hands. She didn't feel like painting at the moment, so TV was the best option.

Slipping MALLRATS into the dvd player, Nessa leaned back, ready to enjoy an hour and a half of Jason Lee in a mall.

&&&

Arliss was in a good mood.

It was shocking, considering that he had just had detention, waiting for a boat to come only to argue with the captain about the wait… 'Note to self, have Arlen to notify the Japanese Government about good l' Captain Stoobings health code violations. Just a fine, nothing to serious.'…and then had to dodge Jaden Yuki, who was still on his tail to talk about Alexis.

He had managed to avoid the noisy little Slifer by taking the long way to the abandoned dorm. Otherwise known as walking to the Ra Yellow dorm and then taking a 15 minute hike to his home.

It was this hike, plus the toys he had in his briefcase, that had him singing.

"I'm happy, I'm feelin' glad. I got sunshine, in a bag. I'm useless, but not for long. The future…is comin' on."

He practically skipped up the steps and dancing past the wall mural Nessa had done. Pausing only to run his fingers through his hair, Arliss grinned and opened the door to his room.

"WHEN LORD? WHEN IS IT MY TURN TO SEE THE GOD DAMN SAILBOAT?"

Arliss raised an eyebrow at Nessa, who was watching the television in rapt attention. He made a move to ask her what had possessed her to watch one of his Kevin Smith films, only to get shhhed.

"I want to see how they get rid of that jerk from Fashionable Male…"

"They show a video of him having sex with Trish the Dish in an uncomfortable place."

"What, like in the back of a Volkswagen?"

Arliss grinned and watched as Nessa unpaused the tape, giggling with glee as Shannon Hamilton was beaten up by Brodie Bruce, the cops just letting it happen. The southern duelist threw his coat over a chair and began to remove his dress shirt. He had decided that he wanted a bit more of a professional look, and was experimenting with colored silk dress up shirts to go with his colored t-shirts.

"Look at Arliss the Bloody in his fancy clothing."

Or it might have been because Spike wore a similar outfit.

"Har har har." Arliss mocked, throwing the shirt off and pulling off the t. Nessa's mouth watered as she took in his sculpted chest. He hid it well with his clothing, but God was Arliss ripped. "Now then, what da ya want to do taday, sweetie." He said, letting his accent slip into overly southern mood, to the point of parody. "Movies, dancing, snuggling…I am skippin' the rest of class and spending it with my one and only girl, and that's you!"

She giggled as he kissed her on the nose. "What are you so happy about?"

Arliss grinned as he ran over to the Halliburton brief case he had brought with him. "Arlen got us some presents."

"Presents?" Nessa squealed.

Arliss nodded. "Yup, it ain't even your birthday."

"You don't even know when my birthday is!"

"February 26."

Nessa's jaw dropped. "How…"

"I stalked you before I turned you, you know that. Now shut your mouth and close your eyes." Nessa did as commanded, taking a deep breath as she felt Arliss move her hair and undo her choker. Placing a kiss to her throat, he then placed what felt like a new choker on. "Open your eyes." Nessa did, only to gasp.

The new choker was made of gold fabric, that seemed to shimmer in the right light. It fit her perfectly, snug but not tight to cut off air. The entire thing was so beautiful, and she couldn't help but run her fingers along it, surprised that there was no clasp. But as she thought this, one formed, and she realized this choker was magical in some form. How it was magical was answered when she looked back to the mirror and noticed the millennium symbol on the front.

"Is this…" She whispered.

"Your own shadow item, Nessa." Arliss whispered as he came behind her. He wore a gold chain, which attached to a small 4 point ninja star, the eye cut in the middle. "I got one too…and there are ones for a few rare hunters we bring in, as well as Mayday. Arlen already has his…not fair, really. He got the Shadow hilt, which is so cool!"

Nessa giggled. "Well, I think my choker is the best…but your star is a close second." She fingered the shadow item. "So, what do they do?"

Arliss grinned. "The shadow hilt allows for Arlen to make an unstoppable blade. My star will seek out any target and do whatever damage I want, as well as one day allow me to lend into the shadows." He grinned. "They reflect what our KAs are. Arlen has a swordsman, I a ninja. You have a shadow monster, a nightmare monster. So your item allows you to access…"

"Nightmares?" Nessa asked with glee.

"Any dreams. You can only read them now, but with training, you will be able to directly change them. You also can tell what people fear and use it too your advantage." He grinned. "You like?"

Nessa purred and shoved Arliss onto the bed, ripping her own shirt off. "What do you think, Mr. Lockehart?" Arliss could only grin. His other news could wait till tomorrow. The news about who he had seen leaving the abandoned dorm.

His news about Banner.

Next Time: Banner's secret is out, and now, Arliss wants to talk about it. When the two men meet, it will change everything, with not only both men learning of the plots for the island, but a certain MIB Agent. Of course, they aren't the only ones sneaking around, as Candace reveals a secret from her past that shows just how little Bastion knows about his 'sweet little cousin'.

Author's Note: Evolution of a Character: Nessa Lockehart.

The first notes I have of a female duelist is in the notes for the proposed fan fic "The Next Hunt", which I wrote up in the winter of 2003 when I should have been studying Spanish. in those notes, the fic was about rare hunters that would target Yugi's children. The character was Glenda, who used a witch deck. Actually, there isn't much of Glenda left in Nessa. The closest being they are both mages.

Nessa would first appear, without name or identity, as an undefined girl that would aid Arjuna (arliss' second reincarnation) in GX BLUE. No deck for our girl, not even a name. She was just girl one, though at one point I had her pegged as being one of Alexis' friends. This was in very early 2005, if not December 2004.

Zoom to Fall of 2005, and I have decided to make Arjuna the rare hunter Arliss (who didn't even have a last name. With the basis of the story ready, with the main character in place (Back then I didn't even have backbone character Arlen, who would later become my favorite character and almost the true hero of the stories at some points). When I began writing out the characters (on a page that still proudly calls the fic GX BLUE), I was drawn to an idea from Titan's second duel in GX: That if he won, Alexis would become a shadow duelist. Me, I love people turning into different people fics. My comp is filled with Buffy the vampire slayer stories where she gets vamped and gets all bitey with Spike; or where Kagome is turned into a half demon and runs about with Inuyasha. Hell, the first fan fic I read was the amgnificant Lucky Number 13- The Legend of Link, which had Link becoming a god (something that would be echoed in my first stories, Weapons-Ascensions.). So the idea that little sweet Asuka would become evil…well, I loved it. It would be several months later that my wish was granted and she joined the White Association (I also hint at this wish in the first few chapters, with Alexis being Arliss' first choice for queens, before setting his sights on Vanessa).

I don't know why I chose the name Nessa and Vanessa. I know Nessa came first, and the only thought I can gather on the subject is that I chose it because a character in Las Vegas is named Nessa, and I had already named Arliss after the show Arli$$.

This is what I first wrote about Nessa, almost 6 months ago:

"Vanessa- A slifer student who failed her test and nearly lost her duel because of her nerves. So is (I think I meant she) incredible positive and happy."

"Nessa-Arliss convinced Venessa (that's actually funny that I spelt it wrong) that the world is against people like her. Down and sad, Arliss told her that if you become a mask, you can be stronger and one day realize that Vanessa is the mask. Nessa dyes her hair and becomes a goth duelist like her secret crush, Bakura. Arliss arranges a duel between her and Alexis, who she beats, and moves them both into the abandoned dorm and makes her his queen."

Vanessa was originally a Blonde haired valley girl, much like Buffy in BtVS. With Arliss being created by mixing Spike, Sawyer (from LOST) and myself, Nessa was to be a mix of Faith and Buffy and Bakura. That all changed after watching a scene of BtVS which had Drusilla. I decided that instead of having a goth, I wanted a dark princess. So, Nessa was re-vamped (no pun intended), becomes a timid girl that transforms into a half crazed dark queen, and Arliss' equal.

Nessa's deck always was the same, just tweaked. It started as a Ha Des deck, then became a Nightmare deck. At one point, I considered a Dark World deck, but rejected that.

That's it for this evolution. There will be another one once the next new hunter appears. Untill then, I have two new ideas I want to write about: One about how I got started and my teachers: Galanodel, Raiachitoshi, writergoddess; and how they made me into the writer I am today.

The other mini section is what I call HUNTERS: THE MUSICAL THAT WASN'T; which is about how I see Hunters as a musical and how music plays a major role in the story.