Author's Note: I own nothing in relation to Yu-Gi-Oh GX.
CHAPTER 14 – SPIRIT DAY DRAMATICS
The sun rose, and for some reason I was being shaken awake.
"It's Saturday, no classes today," I murmured groggily, pulling the covers over my head. "Go away Jaden."
"I'm not Jaden," came the reply, "and you're gonna miss out on all the fun today if you don't get up." I flipped the covers off my head. That voice seemed oddly familiar. Imagine my utter surprise when my eyes opened to the sight of Alexis standing over my bed. I immediately flew out of bed, taking half the sheets with me and tumbling with a thud onto the ground. During that time, I'm not sure WHAT I said, but from the look on Alexis's face and the fact I could hear a car alarm going off (who drives cars on an island anyway?) I could safely assume it contained one or more inappropriate words. I managed to scramble to my feet, somehow, and draped the sheets over me in horror.
"WHY ARE YOU HERE!" I shouted from within my bedspread cocoon. "I AM NOT CLOTHED! OUT!"
"Okay, okay," Alexis said in a futile attempt to calm me down. "Just hurry up." Alexis grinned and stepped out of my room, shutting the door. I really ought to lock that more often. I rapidly changed into my silver and red overcoat and uniform before reopening the door, appearing somewhat disheveled and unkempt. But who wouldn't in my situation? Alexis giggled amusedly, and I just grumbled and rolled my eyes.
"Now what was the point of waking me at this UNGODLY hour?" I hissed restlessly.
"…Alistair, it's almost 11."
"Well it's 2 in the morning somewhere else!"
Alexis was persistent. She narrowed her eyes at me, as if studying my face would make me easier to deal with.
"You're going to miss the carnival though!" she complained. "Everyone's going. You should be there, Alistair."
"Sleep takes priority over carnivals," I insisted, opening my dorm doorway again and walking in. At least, I was walking until Alexis snagged my jacket and pulled me back.
"How about this?" she offered. "We'll play cards over it. If you win, you can go back to sleep, but if I win, you have to go with me to the carnival until it ends. Deal?"
I thought carefully at the proposition. Maybe my Envoy cards would teach her a thing or two about disrupting my rest.
"Fine," I agreed, and let her into my dorm.
---
"I win again!" Alexis cheered, gathering up all the cards that lay on the floor. I stared down at the pile, clearly displeased. She was sneakier than I thought, challenging me to a game I didn't even know how to play. What the hell is an Egyptian Rat Screw anyway?
"This is ridiculous," I argued with her, which only further humored her. "I don't even know how to play this game!"
"You agreed to play cards," she told me. "I never said it was Duel Monsters." I let out a defeated sigh and delved back into my thoughts for a brief moment. The carnival ended at 4, and the Costume Duel wasn't until 5, giving everyone an hour to get ready. I figured I could survive until then, but Atticus would likely be concerned. Either that or he would assume I was dating his sister and be overjoyed. Regardless, I would be getting a chat with him in the coming hours, one I was not exactly looking forward to. I crossed my arms, pouting like a little kid who was getting dragged to run errands. Because let's be serious, that was essentially the situation I had been put in. I made a last ditch effort to prolong the inevitable.
"Best out of thirty-seven?" I asked weakly. Alexis shook her head and began to drag me out of the dorm. "We're going."
---
If people weren't jealous of my Envoy cards, then they were most certainly jealous of how the Queen of Obelisk Blue was leading me all over the carnival as if I were on a leash. I'd have to admit, the carnival was rather entertaining. I'm still not quite sure how they convinced Crowler to be in the dunk tank, but figured by day's end the world would finally see what he looked like without makeup. I periodically checked my watch to stay updated on the time, and on occasion I could see Jaden, Syrus, Tyranno, and Bastion working on the massive poster that advertised the costume duel. Still itching to break away from my pact with Alexis, I tried to mouth a "HELP ME" to Jaden as he saw us pass by. What a stupid idea.
"What's that Alistair?" he shouted at me, prompting Alexis to whirl around and give me this disappointed look of betrayal. Jaden, you truly take the concept of idiocy to an entirely new level. I quickly formed the perfect excuse.
"I just wanted to check out that poster," I lied, leading Alexis over to the giant portrait that featured the Dark Magician and Dark Magician Girl standing side by side, as if ready for battle. I dug into my pocket and found my card deck, which I flipped through and pulled out the same two cards.
"Impressive work," I praised, comparing the card images to the ones that had been crafted on the poster. "Someone certainly has talent."
"Ahh, it was way better when Chumley made it," Syrus responded humbly.
"So who's going to be in the Costume Duel?" I questioned, my curiosity overcoming me. I got my answer when a short chubby man with a ridiculous moustache and an odd fascination with French phrases tapped me on the shoulder and handed me a sheet of paper.
"That's for YOU to determine, garçon!" he said to me. I rose an eyebrow and stared at the paper, which seemed to be a sign-up sheet, as the strange little man ranted on.
"Chancellor Sheppard has assigned you to take care of the entry process for this year's Costume Duel," he explained. "You're also charged with the task of picking out two opponents who would make a très bien match for our students to enjoy!" I looked at my watch again, noting that it was nearly 3. Sign-ups were apparently held for an hour, followed by a break for everyone to change into their Duel Monster costumes. I obviously didn't have a choice, so I accepted the task. Hell, it would get me away from all this insanity an hour earlier. The wannabe Frenchman waddled away, and I turned back to Jaden, Alexis, and the others.
"Who the heck was that?" was all I could ask.
"Vice Chancellor Bonaparte," Bastion answered me. "He usually doesn't like Slifers… I suppose your uniform threw him off." I stared back down at the table Bonaparte had given me.
"Hey Alistair, help us put up this poster!" Jaden called. My hand holding the sheet dropped and I sighed. The six of us carried the poster over to the outdoor duel ring that had been marked out and propped it up near the stands, just behind the sign-up table Crowler and Banner carried out. I figured I would be here for some time, so I rushed back to the Slifer Red dorm, grabbed one of my token newspapers and a chair, and took my place behind the sign-up table.
I didn't really pay much attention, what with my feet kicked up on the table, my chair tipped backwards, and the daily Sudoku puzzle absorbing my attention, but every so often I would notice the list of signatures get slightly longer as I peeked over the top of the newspaper. Some people were starting to change into their costumes, I realized, and considered breaking early. I finished up my Sudoku puzzle when my attention was caught by a chippery high-pitched voice.
"Is this the sign-up table for the Costume Duel?" I was asked. I gazed up at the girl who stood in front of the table, and nearly fell out of my chair. My eyes widened in surprise as I quickly dug out my deck and flipped through to find the card I was looking for.
The Dark Magician Girl. The rumors were true. I put my deck away and brought my chair back down to all fours and blinked at the girl before me. Blue and pink armor, helmet and all, it was definitely her.
"Done this before, have you?" I asked, causing her to smile.
"It's my favorite time of year!" she answered happily. I laughed quietly and slid the sign-up sheet across the table. I chuckled again and added, "I wouldn't sign as Dark Magician Girl, by the way."
She playfully stuck her tongue out at me and signed her real name, the one I remembered from Egyptian History class the week before: Mana.
"Better?" she asked with a wink. I nodded and folded up the sheet.
"Try not to get in too much trouble," I laughed, heading back off to the Slifer Red dorm with a wave. Mana smiled and literally disappeared in a shower of sparkles.
No, I didn't take any hallucinogens that morning.
Returning to my dorm, I changed into my Chaos Sorcerer outfit and decided to put it on display. Alexis was still in her Obelisk Blue uniform, thankfully. I still had the walkie-talkie on me.
"Silver to Blue, Standby Phase complete," I spoke. "Proceed to Main Phase." I looked around and smiled as I saw Atticus far in the distance, waving at me from the roof of the Obelisk girls' dorm. I'll never know how he managed to get up there. He had two barrels with him, concealed cleverly behind a pair of fireplaces. I silently hoped he was fast enough. I approached Alexis and put my arm around her shoulder.
"Alexis, shouldn't you go get changed into your costume?" I asked her innocently. "It's getting a bit late… the duel starts in just one hour. I can walk you back to your dorm."
I thought I could see her slightly blush, but she accepted.
"Uh… sure Alistair," she answered, following me as we set off to the girls' dorm. As we drew nearer, I started up conversation again.
"I must admit, I was surprised today," I told her. "The carnival was a lot better than I thought. I really ought to thank you for being so… well, persistent."
Alexis laughed and responded with a simple, "You're welcome, Alistair."
We reached the entrance to the dorm, and we faced each other. Alexis was nearly beaming at me from my sudden friendliness. I leaned in close and whispered, "But this doesn't make up for the pink walls."
I quickly backed away, just in time as Atticus dumped the first barrel, covering a shocked Alexis in gallons of maple syrup. He quickly followed up with the second barrel, a bombardment of feathers. As I had planned, Alexis would be the best Harpie Lady of the afternoon. I smiled and laughed, once again stepping toward the poor Obelisk Queen.
"Next time you steal my cards, I'll make sure you pay an even steeper price," I told her harmoniously. At that moment, I leaned in and gave her a light kiss on the cheek, leaving her even more speechless.
"Enjoy the Costume Duel," I concluded, giving her a polite bow and walking back off toward the duel ring, where people were already starting to gather.