Chapter 16: Pro-Leagues
Kari and I got dressed and walked down to the dance hall. Jaden and TK had their suits on which they both had from last year, guys don't buy suits for every new occasion like girls buy dresses but they both looked very nice. We walked down the stairs and then to them. TK and Jaden were just staring at us, we both blushing as they couldn't help but stare at us.
"Hi TK, Hi Jaden." I greeted and then came over to Jaden's side, then kissed his cheek. "Everyone from the group here yet?"
"Yeah, everyone is here. I'm here, TK, Syrus, Danny, Marcelo, Chazz, Sebastian, and Atticus are all here. We can go with them, TK and I were just waiting here for you two."
"What do you say Kari?"
"Well now that dinner is just about to begin we'll talk then and then we'll dance and stuff."
"Who is doing the speeches this year?" I asked. Every year they pick some teacher to do a very boring speech about the school rules and such while we eat, we usually ignore it but with all the new teachers it might be a bit exciting.
"Professor Nans, he said that during the introductory of the lesson, weren't you listening Lex?" Jaden questioned me surprised I wasn't paying attention.
"Not to him bragging on about his accomplishments, it was boring and it's illegal to test us on that so I didn't pay attention. He's a bore but I have not to learn anything that I hadn't already known. But I guess I'll listen because it'll give me something to do." I replied. We sat down at a table, we were joined by the single parties of ME, Chazz, and Atticus.
ME who had two years of duelists' academy like us to go who we rarely saw because she's in the other group and she was dating Chumsley who had graduated and she missed him but had a good time talking with us.
Chazz who was a girl magnet and decided to rather not get involved with any girls but was just being followed around by everyone so he just joined us to escape which I being polite wouldn't go against the male contenders at the table who gladly accepted.
Atticus was in a relationship with Molly, so he was just being cool and hanging out with his friends, and sister which we didn't mind he was fine now that he accepted everyone how they were.
"So ME, what do you think you'll do when you graduate?" Kari asked politely, trying to bring up a conversation.
"I don't have a clue, working in duel industries would be nice because seeing how many different jobs there are seems interesting, I like creating card designs, but I can't draw, just thinking of card effects is enough for me."
"I'm sure there are tons of card techniques that duelists need that you could bring to the table, and with Chumsley working there I'm sure he could put in a good word for you." Jaden said happily, probably thinking the same thing as me about her missing him. "I know what I'm going to do, I'm going pro dueling for sure, it's going to be amazing, if I can beat all these top level duelists, think what I can do in the pro leagues." Jaden said jumping up, causing Kari and I to laugh.
"If anyone could make it big, I'd be you Jaden." I knew that voice, it was Zane, Jaden turned around and must have been thinking the same thing. "Knowing that you and I tied and I've already beaten most of those people in the pros is going to make you go far, you know that, right?"
"Of course I do, so how are you doing there Zane?" Jaden asked.
"He's been hanging around the school the whole time; you're just too tired to pay attention in classes. You like these new teachers?" Lisa asked.
"Some of them are okay, some are very interesting to say the least Lisa." I replied.
"Professor Nans is pretty strange and creepy, we haven't learned anything yet, except what we did for homework, tons of homework, none is for class." TK said.
"He's the top duelist in the pro leagues, I want to battle him but I have to defeat a few of the teachers yet, but I'll make it there soon, a few more points to go. He's strange but he knows everyone of you because he got the class list and studied it for weeks to make sure he knew us all, things most people don't know about us."
"I find that disturbing." Kari said.
"Most people do but it saves time to learn names and your behavior and how smart you are, that's why the questions. It's a unique style of teaching." Lisa explained.
"Well I don't think it's doing very well right now, I haven't learned anything new yet, even with all this homework to do."
"Lexy, there is nothing in these book you haven't read before, so give up on your expectations of the guy about teaching us anything you don't know. Okay?" Jaden asked politely.
"He's right Alexis, you have read all of the text books for the school, you know all this stuff. You expect Professor Nans to be like Banner where he taught from experience, not from the books, he's strictly books so don't expect too much. We got places to go, see you all later." I waved good-bye as did everyone else.
"Jaden's going to do something stupid Alexis." TK warned, I looked at Jaden who was in deep thought.
"He's going to challenge Professor Nans to a duel." I said.
"How'd you know?" Jaden asked surprised.
"She knew because one, that would be a challenge and you love challenges Jaden, two, she's your girlfriend, she knows you." Jaden nodded and then looked at me, and I just smiled.
"Just so you know Jaden, you have to beat 5 pro duelists before you can duel him. It's the rules at the level he's at right now. He's not like Crowler who'll take your challenge like a normal teacher, he's a pro duelist."
"I can do that, how many we have in the school?" Jaden asked.
"Quite a few, Professors Blain, Shawn, Larks, York and Nans, and Lisa and Zane but that's it, but you get a star from them if you beat them, 5 stars you get to him."
"Easy work, so when can I start?" Jaden asked. I sighed, grabbed a laptop from Sebastian's bag and then typed in the website http/ and then e-mailed the form to Jaden's palm pilot. "Thanks Lexy, so I just sign up and I'm good to go."
"Pretty much, then you print out the account number and you're done. Just relax for now then you can." Jaden smiled kissed me on the cheek.
We danced around and happily until it was the end of the night and finally time for the desert and the lecture. "Hey Students, I'm Professor Nans and you have me for you History of Dueling course but I know you better than you know me. I am the top pro duelist in the league I'm surprised that I haven't seen so many new duelists in the league but without a recommendation from your teachers so you can't join until you beat your class president, and then your teacher, 5 pro level duelists then me. I haven't seen such wonderful students and the types of students I met today in my many years of traveling, most of the students I expected her were kids who had nothing else to do with their lives but this but I see students with rare talent, I met students from royal families, students who they are all they have, students who are just normal and want to become duelists but their dreams, and reasons make them the duelists they are. I've met the future pro duelists but it all starts tomorrow when the teachers pick the class president during your exam it's elimination so the winners of each class battle the winners of the other to become president. So good-luck, hope to see you there. Bye."
"I think this is going to be a horrible match tomorrow, everyone is paired up, not upon the measures of disks, they just battle it up, all day to see who's the president but only one will be able to go pro and that will be the president because that's how it has to be." I stated.
"Alexis, you take everything too seriously. It's just a match, you don't need to worry, it's not like you need to go pro, on registration skills, you rank 2 in the school, behind Jaden who you are close to beating but you still haven't so relax, it's to put everyone in there levels, how far they go is there new level within their class then the top 4 of the class will battle the other groups and that's how it works, always has been." I heavily sighed then stood up, I felt light headed and Kari too noticed and came to my side holding me up.
"I think she has a fever, she's been tired all day, I'm going to take her back to her room, the night is over anyway." Everyone nodded and then walked off with me. Kari helped me get into the air conditioned room and she got my temperature, it was 99.3 which was very bad.
"Don't worry Alexis, I'll help you get to the infirmary." Kari supported me as she got me to the infirmary.
"Hello Miss. Kamiya, how is Miss. Rhodes doing?" The nurse asked.
"She has a fever, she should be okay but for now she should rest until it breaks." The nurse nodded and Kari sat next to me.
"I know exactly how you feel Alexis, when I was growing up until I was about 10 I constantly have pneumonia so I never felt well and always had a fever, just rest and hope you feel better." I fell asleep fast after taking some medicine, I wondered how I could have gotten sick so fast, I was fine earlier but I felt great now, my fever had broken and I felt great.
"You're awake, that's good, well it's only 6 and seeing that your fever broke and you look fine I'm allowing you to go to school, here is medicine if you don't feel well, take it, if you need more come back." I nodded and returned to my dorm to see Kari hadn't awoke, I got dressed, and prepared my deck for the tournament.
We arrived at homeroom but just sat there. "Students, thanks to a suggestion by Professor Nans the duels will be held outside and free so you all receive one star point and you defeat the person and take all their stars then when everyone has either has 2 stars or none we continue on, so get your star and go." All the students got a small gold star and went off for the battle, the first part was easy, all the first years were out and half of the second years were out as well a few first years did make it but only the Obelisk Blue first years, as expected. I had easily beaten some third year duelist who thought a girl like me would be easy.
The second round took out most second years and a lot of third years leaving only a few elite duelists, mostly obelisk blues, a few Ra Yellows, and Jaden from Slifer. TK got beaten by some Obelisk Blue and I didn't worry where I was going because no one I was challenge too by because it was easy to beat them, I really didn't care but the next rounds were just as easy.
Then we all took a break for lunch, Kari, Jaden, Chazz, Danny, and I were all still in it for the next remaining rounds, we sat down and talked, the people still remaining had to stay on the field, they'd bring food to those remaining, there were only 104 people left.
After lunch we battled and Chazz along with Danny were taken out, Danny felt bad but we only had 52 people left, then it was 26, then 13 and Kari was still doing very well, but she said that she couldn't make it very far longer, seeing as these would set up her levels it would be splitting us up. It turned out that Kari, Danny, Jaden and I were the last 4 picked and Jaden of course won, and I missed by 120 points which was a lot less than last time so I was improving, I sighed, Kari said that it was fine, Danny was also in our group so he'd have classes with us from now on, which was fine with me.
"You're student president, Jaden Yuki, with other council members Alexis Rhodes, Kari Kamiya and Daniel Rivinoff so thanks to all those who participated, your classes will be chosen based on how far you went so thanks to all those and congratulations." I guess we picked good friends seeing as all our friends made it.
"Out of breath Alexis?" Professor Nans asked me with Jaden behind next to me. "You and Jaden both put on the battle of the century, most would guess that you two being girlfriend and boyfriend would go easy but you didn't you were both very determined, out of curiosity how many times have you battled?"
"Three or Four, Lexy always does her best and I just have fun and give it my all too, we don't battle too much but she's good competition, I've never lost to anyone in this school, not even Dr. Crowler. I'm going pro too." Jaden told the professor.
"I'm glad, you would go far, I look forward to dueling you in the future, and you too Alexis, you also plan to go pro correct some time in the future, when you graduate." I nodded, in response to the question. "I liked all of the articles in your paper, and how you gave the audience your trust not to judge you two. I'm sorry how I treated you in class, I did judge you, and forgot what I had learned from the books, and your articles about you. The other teachers warned me, but I didn't listen. Take this as my apology to both of you. I didn't think highly of both of you seeing you a girl, Alexis and Jaden, as a Slifer. I am also giving you two the news that all the dorms will be arranged on this, dorms on this tournament will be picked and that should decide the classes, so I will be seeing you both in homeroom tomorrow, see you then."
"Apology accepted Professor, look forward to our duel." Jaden yelled, and I nodded.
"Never under estimate your opponent."
"I never do, never did, I just expect to beat you because I always do my best. If I did then Alexis would have beaten me the first time." He waved behind him as he walked away.
"I guess he's a good guy, a bit strange I guess but he's interesting and as soon as he feels comfortable around his students he'll make a great teacher, I'm sure." Jaden nodded, Jaden couldn't wait for the day he dueled him. "One day Jaden, you'll come back here to teach and they'll think you're that crazy teacher who asks everyone to duel him, except then, you'll be older and realize how it works."
"How what works?"
"Life Jaden, students become the teachers just as he was a student here once and I think he was once a aspiring young duelist here once, he's only 25, he could have gone here, maybe he did, you never known. One day you and I will come back and teach while our darling daughter Hailey goes here."
"So true, I'm sure she'll be able to beat me when she's seven, which would be sad." Where he gets this, I have no clue, I just shook my head.
"Think, if our skills are any reflection of our parents then with both of our skills she's going to be the best duelist here."
"Now I begin to understand that statement, just stick to the here and now for now; when times comes we'll see if the parents reflect the child, sometimes I don't know because my parents are nothing like me, I enjoy dueling and making friends, they just like their work."
"Lex, I'm sure you'll be indulged it your work when you grow up too, the only difference is your work will be dueling."
"So true, we have to get to our dorms, good-night Jaden." We kissed for a few seconds and broke to go to our dorm rooms. Kari sat in our room, sitting in the balcony. "Spying again Kari?"
"So what if I am? You and Jaden are so cute together and it's always great when you two are together. It's a good thing you are too indulged with Jaden, so you can't see me. So what was professor Nans saying?" Kari asked curiously.
"He was congratulating us, saying that he somehow expected us to go easy on each other but the duel we did had nothing short of perfection, and our very best and he was sorry for underestimating Jaden and I so that's what. We have first period with him. We're getting our new schedules tomorrow, or late tonight." It turned out it was 12:35 tonight, I wasn't up but when I woke up it said a message received.
All of the 600 students were divided into 6 groups, of 100 students. The group, Kari, Jaden and I were in also included the other people we defeated but it turned out that the top two groups we classified as Obelisk Blues, middle two were Ra Yellow, and lowest was Slifer Red so the table turned on many students but many stayed the same and Jaden was finally an Obelisk.
TK and Syrus were assigned to Ra Yellow level 2 which was the equivalent of year 2, class 2 which was what they were and they were happy to except the fate of a Ra Yellow, many Obelisk Blues did become Slifers which made me proud, I wrote an article about that. I'd write an article about this. I found out that everyone happily excepted their new fate because it was the level of duelist they were, and they had to beat the next level to move up. My Schedule along with Jaden, Kari and Danny's consisted of the classes in the following order: History of Dueling, Dueling, Gym, Card Recognition, Lunch, Analyzing, and Dueling. We no longer had Dueling with Professor York we had it with Professor Shawn.
All Slifer Students were required to Basic Dueling with P. Blain instead of analyzing, Ras and Obelisks took Analyzing. Since the groups were no longer upon how we did on years when you took take and pass a written exam, and win a duel against a teacher you passed, no years either so really I could graduate now but I had much more to learn, I hadn't taken Analyzing yet so it was something new even though I knew how to do it, plus I wanted to learn more so I'd be completely taught all things needed to know.
This system worked wonders for the picking on and names in the school there was some teasing from the obelisk who stayed to the obelisks who dropped but that was expected, I found the new system was wonderful and then I got a note from someone who wanted to thank me.
Dear Miss. Alexis Rhodes: I was sent a copy of all your articles. I have heard of your adventures and successes during the year along with your partner Jaden Yuki and I would not only thank you for bringing this to my attention but for arranging the best thing that happened to my school, your ideas made my school a better place, I know it wasn't you directly I set this up with your professor, Dr. Nans but you and everyone involved with the newspaper will be attending in 2 weeks the pro league festival with me and my associates. It is a thank you gift from everyone to you and the others, thank you for helping bring my school onward, they will do better now I'm sure. Keep up the good work, we need duelists like you and Jaden Yuki. Sincerely, Seto Kaiba. Also, you and Jaden are included in the pro league so start with your stars now.
At homeroom, I walked up to Jaden, I hadn't told Kari yet so I called her and Danny over too. "What is going on Alexis, you seem happier then normal?" Danny said.
"Simple: Jaden, Sebastian, Chazz, Zane, Kari, TK, Syrus, Marcelo, Atticus, and Lisa along with myself and you Danny are all going to a festival in honor of the new change that the school under went this letter is inviting Jaden and I into the pro leagues on his very request in our honor."
"Alexis that's wonderful, are you going to be going to school with us anymore?" I shrugged, I would think so but some things aren't certain and this is one of them, for now I would hope to stay and improve but to go would be such an honor, and I wouldn't ever want to disgrace that.
"So I thought I was already signed up Alexis, so what does this mean?"
"This is an honored entry which means we can move up stages even quicker, we don't have to be at school, or finish, we are on leave so we can take breaks for battle anytime while normally you'd have to graduate or wait until you're on break. This let's you leave and get free from all tests, if we choose to accept that is."
"Why wouldn't you?" Kari asked.
"Yeah, why wouldn't we?" Jaden questioned me further.
"Because it's a lot harder, to do that and with this we probably won't be seeing any of our friends for a very long time, that's why. It's a matter of what we want to do, I'm not sure yet but we have a week to decide because he's coming in a week to pick us all up on his boat."
"Wait, who's the one who is giving us this honor?" Jaden asked.
"Seto Kaiba himself, he thinks we were honorable for helping him better his school so we have to be on our best behavior.
"Okay." Then the next week was going fast. I knew we'd have to talk about what to do, a honor such as this shouldn't be turned down, but what would Jaden think, I'm sure he's happy, I just have to think about the future.