Welcome to my first update of Through the Ages in over seven years. The writing style has changed aplenty since the last one (I think?) using much less songfic and much more fleshing out of other things.

This chapter is focused on the events of Yu-Gi-Oh! Duel Monsters GX Episode 15 Courting Alexis/Youthful Duel Tennis. As such, it does follow much of what happened in the episode, focusing more on Asuka's perception of what happened.

This is Fiancéshipping-centric, so if you're not a fan, I don't recommend it. I did try to keep the characters mostly in line with their usual actions, but, seeing as I'm following an AU concept, the interpretation can easily be flawed.

Either way, hope you enjoy and please leave a review to tell me how I did and things I could work on or concepts you'd like to see written. Thanks!

V: How Ridiculous

Ludicrous.

Asinine.

Outrageous.

Those were just a few of the words that crossed the Obelisk Queen's mind to explain how exactly the events that played out in front of her unfolded. All she did was come to talk to Judai about what she learned from Daitokuji-sensei concerning Manjoume's recent disappearance from the island following his loss for Misawa and subsequent demotion from Obelisk Blue. Somehow, it led to Judai and the Captain of Duel Academia's Tennis Club, Ayanokouji Mitsuru, Dueling to be Asuka's fiancé!

It happened so fast and the conversation ran so far off-track that she could barely follow how the entire process even reached that point in the first place.

Pinching the bridge of her nose as the two Duel Academia students prepared their Duel Disks, Asuka tried to backtrack to understand how the situation had even gotten here. She supposed it started in Gym Class the day prior. Ayukawa-sensei had the first years playing tennis to practice teamwork, thinking on your feet, and endurance (Asuka and her friends more guessed the Obelisk Dorm Head just really liked tennis, but they didn't mind so much). Judai begrudgingly obliged to play doubles against Momoe and Junko. The Osiris Red had been planning on skipping to Duel or sleep, until the two Obelisk Girls threatened to tattle on his vanishing act. Asuka suppressed a fit of giggles as the duo practically dragged the brunette from the boy's locker room onto the court where his friend Shou awaited.

The blonde was slightly confused, however. She couldn't remember the last time her friends were so dead set on playing against anyone in anything. Judai did have a power to always bring out the best in his opponents, but she couldn't help wonder if there was more to it, this time.

Shaking the sidetracking from her head, Asuka continued to connect the dots. While playing, Judai made an errant hit that rocketed towards Asuka's face. Ayanokouji, who she later discovered was doing basic court maintenance as part of his Captain duties, appeared more suddenly than the ball and reflected it away effortlessly.

Her friends came to check to make sure she was all right, but then the Captain started to talk to her. Thanking the senior classmate, the red head was at a loss for words at her gratitude. When he finally found them, he became flirty and nervous, tripping over his words and grasping at her hand.

She had seen this effect on other boys all too often—she overheard Judai asking Misawa once what Shou meant when he called her a 'siren'—and was not particularly in the mood for it. Ayanokouji didn't seem to even know what he was doing, as when she inquired, he backed off and made a hasty retreat.

By the time Gym Class had finished and cleanup was well underway, the events had floated from her memory. That is, until Momoe and Junko brought him up the next morning, saying they checked up on him. Bemused, but knowledgeable enough to know her friends wouldn't let her blow them off on the topic of boys, she let them prattle on how he was the Tennis Club's Captain and the heir to Ayanokouji Motors. All of that was superficial and did little to pique her interest in him.

Then they mentioned his Dueling skills rivaled Marufuji Ryou's.

Now, she wasn't interested in him but his apparent prowess in Dueling was a different story. She could always use another rival and it wasn't every day you heard of a Duelist who could rival the Emperor of the Academia.

They continued to inform her of other superficial qualities of the red head, when they heard wailing like an alarm fading in-and-out of earshot. The cries emanated from the youthful brother to the aforementioned Kaiser. The two Obelisk Girls were increasingly annoyed by the interruption and barked at his noisiness.

Partially perturbed by his bawls and partially interested in escaping her friends' gossip, Asuka inquired about what the problem was. Shou barely allowed sense to exit his lips, but they were able to put together Judai had taken the brunt of what happened in Gym Class before (Chronos-sensei had taken the tennis ball straight in the eye, which explained the impressive shiner he had in class earlier) and was now being punished by having a personal Tennis lesson with the Club Captain.

At another chance to see their dreamboat, Momoe and Junko raced after the young Osiris Red to the tennis courts. At the mention of Judai somehow getting blamed for an accident, Asuka was going to follow shortly thereafter, but was called over by the Osiris Dorm leader. He had determined where Manjoume had gone to and was wondering if the girl would inform Judai about his whereabouts.

Judai had just finished up with his punishment when Asuka showed up. She made a beeline for the boy, walking right passed the Obelisk, who she didn't even really realize was trying to greet her.

As she was about to report her findings, Ayanokouji stepped between them. He started spouting nonsense like "Judai wasn't fit for her" and "he was a man most suitable" and demanding she step away from him. Judai tried to explain they weren't like that, but wasn't allowed to finish, and soon, Ayanokouji was challenging Judai to settle their problems like men in a Duel to be Asuka's fiancé.

Asuka couldn't even believe the idea was brought up, even as it was stated. "W-wait a second! What are you—" Even Judai wouldn't fight over something that idiotic, right?

She knew that wasn't the case the moment she saw the glint in his eye. "Hah! I don't really get what you mean, but I've never been one to back down from a challenge before!"

"My, Asuka-san!" her dark-haired friend swooned, breaking the Obelisk Queen from her reverie. "I'm so jealous! These two gentlemen are Dueling for you!"

"How utterly ridiculous..." she sighed inwardly.

Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Junko beaming with a strangely perceptive look. "For all your complaining, it seems like you're still interested in the outcome~" she cooed lightheartedly.

Asuka gave her best glare to insist the girl back off with her claims. "Please. The only reason I haven't left is because of what you said earlier." The red head pursed her lips questioningly. "Ayanokouji's Dueling—that his skills supposedly rival Marufuji Ryou's, himself."

Shou's eyes widened in amazement at the declaration. Junko just huffed and shook her head, grumbling how Asuka wasn't any fun.

As the Duel continued, Asuka could tell the rumors her friends heard weren't just that—the Tennis Captain was quite strong and mastered an interesting style she hadn't seen before. What's more, for an Obelisk Blue, he was quite respectful towards the Elemental HERO-user, despite his Osiris Red status. Under different circumstances, she would have been quite impressed by the Duel taking place.

That nagging condition tacked to the result of the contest weighed on her mind, despite the fact she knew if she rejected the winner, it wouldn't need to be carried out. Asuka didn't need to worry about such a provision if she didn't want to do it. Judai wasn't the kind of person to force others to do anything against their wishes, and Ayanokouji, while easily excited, didn't seem to be a bad person.

'But what if ...' A part of her mind posed the question to her. She felt her face heat up at the thought and shoved it away, preferring to study the match in front of her.

As the Duel continued, Judai climbed out of the large hole he found himself in and tied the Duel at 1000 LP apiece. He gloated to his group of friends who were watching.

"Geez..." Asuka breathed in exasperation. "He gets too carried away sometimes..."

Momoe agreed. "That's how he is, though..."

The Duel reached a climax. Ayanokouji had played his second Service Ace Spell of the Duel, ready to claim victory. The Obelisk's abilities were top notch, but had a fatal flaw—they adhered too much to the luck of the Duelist and the opponent. From what she had seen, Judai wasn't one to lose to anybody in luck.

'Judai...if you're the real deal...' she mused, '...you should be able to guess his card.' The boy glanced intensely across the field at the card held in his opponent's hand. Asuka gripped her upper arms tightly. 'Now, show me that you're the real deal!'

Next to her, Junko let a sly grin spread across her cheeks. 'For someone only interested in Ayanokouji's skills, Asuka-san seems to be in Judai-kun's corner.'

"Monster Card!" the boy announced.

Ayanokouji's face fell, but formed a grin. "Heh...called it nicely."

Asuka's friends cheered that he answered correctly, while Asuka exhaled a breath she didn't realize she held. An irksome idea tugged at the back of her mind, wondering why she was so involved with who won the duel.

But what if ...

Asuka grit her teeth. She didn't need a love life, only focused on her Dueling strategies and school. If it were up to her, she wouldn't even have the 'Obelisk Queen' nickname tied to her.

But what if...

'How ridiculous!' she cried in her mind.

Judai's turn came and through a combination of Elemental HERO Avian and Feather Shot, ended up winning the Duel. Again, her friends cheered for the spirited brunette's victory.

This caught Shou's attention. "Wait, who were you guys cheering for?"

Junko laughed awkwardly.

"Before you know it..." Momoe murmured.

Asuka smiled broadly. The Osiris Red had the ability to make friends with anyone and garner respect and admiration of the crowd. She didn't know whether it was charisma or charm or just his good nature, but it was something she liked about the boy, besides his Dueling skills.

She chose to ignore her subconscious using that word to describe it.

After Ayanokouji unbecomingly barreled away from the courts with tears streaming down his face, Shou and the others rushed to the victor.

"You did it, Aniki!" Shou applauded happily. "You're something else!"

Judai sheepishly rubbed the back of his head. "It was nothing; it was nothing!"

The two Obelisk Girls who approached both looked slightly flushed. "Is this OK?" Junko wondered aloud. "That means Asuka-san..."

Momoe shrieked giddily. "Her fiancé is...!"

"No way~!"

Judai seemed to pick up on the sudden change in mood and gulped anxiously. Even some random Tennis Club members and admirers of the Club Captain had collected to watch the Duel and, knowing the provisions, lingered behind to see what happened.

"Well, Asuka, I ended up winning, but..." he stated, walking towards her.

The air was heavy. Asuka knew what she was going to say, but for some reason, she couldn't speak. Her words were lost. She wondered why; all she had to do was tell the boy she wasn't interested in being courted at this time.

But what if...

The girl felt expectant eyes peering from everywhere. She always felt like she was being watched, due to her near-idol status in the Academia, but it was never as noticeable as it was then.

But what if...

She only realized at that moment how fast her heart was speeding; she was certain it was breaking some law. She wondered how red her face looked—it wasn't like she felt hot or nervous, but they had to be, right?

But what if...

What if what? What if she said no? Would Judai be upset? Would he be run off like Ayanokouji did after the Duel? Would it make things awkward between them? She wasn't really keen on losing the friendship she established with him. Would her rejection ruin that?

But what if...

"...What's a fiancé?"

Her friends reacted in much the same manner she felt. The heady atmosphere shattered like glass upon the floor his one innocently ridiculous question and she could hear numerous chuckles and cackles erupt from the remaining onlookers at the idiocy of the Osiris Red.

But it was fine this way. She let a small grin pass her lips.

"...You idiot."

She said it aloud to reprimand him, but it was also a subtle admonishment to her subconscious. Judai couldn't know—wouldn't know—what he did for her that day; he saved her from herself.

The boy arched his brow inquisitively as Asuka turned to leave. She heard Junko and Momoe irritable scold the young boy for his stupidity and ruining the moment and wishing he had someone like Asuka-san in her life and certainly a myriad of other things that the Obelisk Queen no longer heard as she exited the arena.

The Obelisk student merely released a breath, worried about the final thought that reverberated through her mind just before Judai unintentionally evaporated the mood following the contest.

But what if...

...what if he was your fiancé?

Asuka chuckled soberly, wondering if her imagination was trying to make up for the lack of her brother playing matchmaker for her. She replied as she always did to his antics, though with much less fervor.

"How ridiculous..."

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