Disclaimer: I do not own Yugioh GX or its characters or the Devlin Twins. I also do not own anything Final Fantasy related. I only own Takari Maruzakashi and this idea. This is my 2nd fanfic! No Flamez please! Please R&R! Thx for reviewing the last chappie and I know I have the time messed up, but this is my fanfic. Okay, now onto the chappie!

Anime Goddess and Protector

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Chapter 7: The Phoenix Returns

"What'd they say?" Rae asked quietly as Kari appeared at the Slifer Dorms. "Kari?"

"My father and I are going to be getting to know each other." Kari replied, her eyes closed. "Next weekend, he's taking all three of his children out for some family time."

"So, you're happy... right?" Rae questioned, Kari nodded slightly. "Good... now, there's something else I wanna talk to you about."

"There is?" Kari jumped in surprise.

Rae grabbed her arm and gently led her out of earshot of the other students. She removed her goggles and put them on top of her head, smiling with her icy green eyes.

"How many people know?" Rae whispered.

Kari blushed, "I dunno what you're talking about, Rae."

"Don't lie. How many know about Cloud's true idenity?" smirked Rae.

"Five." Kari finally sighed.

"Make that six." Rae winked. "I'm not stupid, keep in mind I LIKE figuring out stuff."

Kari quickly grabbed her arm, "Y-You can't tell!"

Rae blinked, "Is it because of what'll happen with his brother... or is it because of something else?"

"Well... uh..." Kari was turning completely red by now. "Rae... It's really hard to explain..."

"Save it, I can tell you like him!" Rae exclaimed, "And besides..."

Rae closed her eyes and smiled brightly, placing a hand on the dark bruenette's shoulder.

"Your secrets are safe with me for life." Rae held her other hand up to her heart as she said those eight words.

"Alison..." Kari whispered. "You're a life savior."

"Not yet... but I will be." Rae muttered as Kari walked away. "You're in more danger than you think... Takari."

She froze when she felt something on her shoulder, she grabbed it and flipped them over it, anger marks on her forehead.

"WHAT'S THE BIG DEAL, YOU CREEP?!"

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Aelita paused when she reached the Ra Yellow gazebo. Curious, she sat down on the white bench and stared at the wind blowing the leaves and listening to them rustle. Her Amy Lee styled hair blew behind her shoulders gently as her soft dark jade green eyes stared at the orange, yellow, and red-brown leaves. In Aelita's arms was her light green Carbuncle.

"So peaceful..." sighed Aelita. "So... calming."

Aelita loved everything about everything at the moment. The warm gentle breeze on her face to the smell of the wild flowers to the warm autumn weather. She enjoyed the quiet peaceful moments she got to herself. Sure, her and Atilea were close, but they argued a lot. No matter how much they looked alike, they were individuals. Few people got this about the Devlin twins. Aelita's dark jade green eyes closed slowly and she pictured the boy that had been her friend for so long... she loved his accent, his smile, the way his eyes sparkled when he was being serious, his laugh, his brains. He was almost perfect... too perfect for a simple girl like Aelita.

"I'm officially insane about him." laughed Aelita, opening her eyes and leaning back, her arms crossed. "Ati was right, I have progressed from normal crushing to insane crushing."

Everything was quiet until Aelita felt something on her shoulder... something warm...

"HIYAH!" Aelita snatched the thing currently touching her shoulder and flipped them over it.

"Oof!" a surprised voice came from the thing that Aelita had just karate flipped. "Ow... not again..."

Aelita blinked in surprise before getting a close look at the boy's face. His eyes were closed and silver locks fell onto his shoulders. Her mouth dropped open at the sight of the Pro Duelist. Very slowly, he opened his icy blue eyes and sat up, rubbing his skull.

"Ouch! What is it with girls flipping me today?!" the one and only Aster Phoenix exclaimed as he felt a bump on his head. "First that psychotic girl that reminds me of Hassleberry, now you!"

"Aster?" Aelita said surprised. "You mean to tell me that Rae Andrews flipped ya?"

Aster nodded, "Where'd you guys learn to flip people like beanbags, anyway?"

"Kari Maruzakashi." Aelita replied, towering over him with her arms crossed. "Maybe if you didn't sneak up on us!"

"Sorry." Aster apoligized. "I really am..."

"I forgive you." Aelita's cold stare softened. "Sorry about flipping you."

"That really hurt y'know!" Aster laughed. "But I forgive you too."

Aelita pulled the silver haired boy to his feet, "So, why're you here at DA?"

"I'll tell you if you tell me." Aster smirked.

Aelita rolled her eyes, "Well, if you MUST know, Ati and I are competing in the Tag Team Competition for our own Duel Academy back in America."

"Well, that's why I'm here." Aster replied simply. "How is Atilea, anyway?"

"Upset." Aelita admitted. "She's depressed because she knows that she'll never be with Jaden, yet she can't get over him."

Aster got a thinking expression on his face, "Okay. I'll see ya later then, Aelita."

"Hey! Where're ya goin'?!" Aelita called after him.

"No where!" Aster called back. "Hey! And when you see Bastion, tell him I said hi!"

"How'd he know I was planning on going to see Bastion next?" Aelita whispered, her cheeks turning red at the sound of her crush's name.

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Aster walked down the windy path, his hands in his pockets. He tried hard not to think of Atilea, but he couldn't help it. She was so... full of life. It hurt him to know she was upset and in pain. Maybe he could help her somehow... maybe he could...

"Ouch!" Aster stopped staring at his feet long enough to look into a pair of light golden brown eyes. "You!"

Alexis Rhodes glared at Aster darkly, "Great, more memories coming to haunt me."

"Have you seen Atilea?" Aster demanded.

Alexis shook her head, "Why?"

"No reason." said Aster hastily. "Hey, by the way, you should talk to Jaden."

Aster started whistling to himself before he put his arms behind his head, walking away. Alexis stared after the icy blue eyed boy and tilted her head with confusion written on her face.

"That's strange... I was considering talking to Jay... but how could he possibly know?"

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Aster finally stopped once he reached the Slifer dorms. A girl had just came out of a dorm.

That's odd... there aren't suppossed to be girls in Slifer or Ra... Aster couldn't help but think. Wait... that hairstyle... I think it's Ati!

Her sandy brown pleated hair fell around her shoulders and her bangs fell into her closed eyes. Her red bandana was tied around her head like Tyranno's and she was wearing an intresting uniform. In her arms was a Moogle plushie. She sighed deeply as she leaned against the wall.

"What I wouldn't give to find someone to talk to." the American accented girl sighed.

Aster smirked, "You can talk to me."

Atilea jumped and let out a scream of surprise before she looked down at the Pro Duelist with a hard stare. The same stare her twin sister had given to Aster only a short while ago.

"Aster?!" Atilea did a double take before nearly fainting. "Why is this happening to me?!"

The silver haired boy laughed before he leaned on the stair railway. Atilea leaned over the landing with an evil glare.

"Long time no see." Aster smirked.

Atilea's eyes softened at once, she had always found enjoyment in Aster's company. They had met last summer during a competition. Atilea had lost, but she lost with a newfound pride.

"Nice to see you too, I guess." Atilea replied, crossing her arms. "How many girls have you stalked today?"

"Oh... I dunno... twenty... maybe thirty." kidded Aster.

Atilea giggled, "Always the magic man I can see."

"Wanna go somewhere comfortable to talk?" Aster asked. "My arms are starting to fall asleep."

"Kay." Atilea agreed, she walked down the metal stairs and met him at the bottom. She was only half an inch shorter than him. "Let's sit at the edge of the cliffs."

The two duelists made their way to their designation before sitting down on the grass, their legs hanging over the side of the cliffs. Atilea rested her Moogle in her lap. Aster only shook his head.

"And I thought I had seen everything." he grumbled.

"What?" demanded the sandy brown haired DMG Look-a-Like. "You have a problem with Moogles?"

"No!" Aster said quickly. "So, whatcha wanna talk about?"

Atilea smiled, "Nothing..."

"Nothing?" repeated Aster.

"I don't need to." Atilea said gently. "You're here... you've always been able to see right through me."

Aster actually blushed, "Er... well..."

"I know... that everythings going to be alright." Atilea continued. "I don't know how. I don't know why. I just know that it is. And I have you to thank for that."

"Hey! Atilea! Get your butt up here so I can beat you at Final Fantasy!" Aelita's voice shouted. "I'm almost at Mt. Gagazet in FFX! Hurry!"

"I gotta go." sighed Atilea. "I'll see ya around, Aster."

"See ya." Aster said sadly. She was halfway up the stairs when he turned around and called after her, "Hey!"

"Yeah?" Atilea replied.

"You wanna go to the TTC dance with me?" Aster blurted out, not knowing what had come over him.

Atilea blinked her dark jade green eyes in shock before she nodded slowly, her mouth not working. She waved somewhat before rushing into her dorm. Aelita was in the middle of battling with Tidus, Lulu, and Rikku when her older twin sister rushed inside, and flung herself onto her bed, squealing into her pillow.

"Geez. Did you manage to kiss Jaden or something?" Aelita teased.

Atilea looked up from her pillow, her cheeks red, and she was beaming.

"Even better! I'm going to the TTC dance with none other than Aster Phoenix!"

Aelita's mouth dropped open before she hopped up and the two twins hugged, squealing at the top of their lungs. An annoying pounding reached the door and they stopped, opening the door.

"What on earth is-?" Jaden began.

KONK!!

Jaden was out cold on the floor once more before Aelita and Atilea began squealing again.

Aelita the remembered something, "Dang it! I forgot! I gotta get over to the Ra dorms!"

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Rae walked down the windy path, her hands behind her head. She was humming one of the songs she thought reflected her. She had just walked near a group of Obelisks, who scowled in annoyance.

"Oh look, it's the Ra Rodent." snickered a boy. "Why don't you just stop trying to be one of us and go live in the Ra dorms, Andrews?!"

Rae grimaced, clenching her fists. Don't Let Me Get Me by Pink running through her mind as she restrained herself from tackling him. His friends began to join in.

"She doesn't even have a fashion sense." giggled a preppy looking girl. "I mean, look at what she's wearing!"

Rae blushed as she put her goggles back on top of her head. She was trying really hard not to go over to the prep and give her a swolen lip. The next thing said would definately cross the line...

"She's nothing but a Military Brat. Just because her daddy was a Major with Hassleberry's dad, she thinks she can walk all over us." snorted the boy again.

Rae lost it, she lunged at the boy, tackling him. He screamed and Rae began to punch him repeatedly. Lucky for her, Tyranno was just passing by, when he heard the Obelisk's pleading. His dark forest green-brown eyes widened in horror before he quickly pulled Rae off of the boy.

"LEMME GO, HASSLEBERRY! JUST ONE MORE PUNCH!" Rae roared, kicking and giving Tyranno a hard time trying to keep her back. He wrapped his arms around the ebony haired girl and started dragging her back into the forest. She finally stopped struggling and stared at her boots.

"You alright, Rae?" Tyranno asked gently, his sweet southern accent rolling perfectly with his words. "C'mon, chin-up." He tilted her chin. "Rae."

Rae looked up, tears brimming her icy green eyes, as she examined her bruised knuckles. Tyranno jumped when Rae, the one girl who forced herself not to cry, started sobbing hard. Tears rolled down her face and onto the ground. Tyranno quickly hugged his friend, coaxing her. Rae began to cry hard into his chest.

"It's okay now." whispered Tyranno. "I gotcha, Alison... it's okay now."

"I-I know." sniffled Rae. "Somehow... I know."

She looked up and into Tyranno's eyes, tearstreaks on her face. She smiled softly before she pulled out of the embrace. Wiping her eyes with her hand.

"Thank you." Rae whispered. "For stopping me."

"I got your back." Tyranno replied. "I always will."

"We still on for the dance?" Rae then asked, laughing. "Dino Nut?"

Tyranno nodded before he playfully picked Rae up and twirled her. Rae looked down at Tyranno's face, her bruised knuckles brushing against his cheeks as her icy green eyes widened. Very slowly, Rae leaned down and kissed Tyranno gently on the lips for a second or two. Tyranno blushed a deep scarlet before Rae pulled out of the quick kiss, smiling sweetly.

"Uh..." Tyranno was completely and utterly speechless. "Um..."

Rae smirked, "What's wrong? Dragon got your tongue?"

The dino teen looked at the Dragon Guardian's face, still holding her gently up. He could feel her icy green eyes searching his own dark forest green-brown ones. Tyranno suddenly felt his eyes dropping closed as he kissed Rae gently and longer than before. Rae's ebony black shoulder length bangs brushed against his face and began to tickle it. Rae had fallen straight into the kiss, surprise and happiness filling her heart the moment Tyranno had kissed her.

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Syrus put his head in his hands, the irritating song going through his mind. Syrus had been trying to get it out of his head for three hours straight. He had heard an Obelisk girl listening to it and he happened to know it, because of Kari. It was Girl You Shine by Aaron Carter. Lame! Well, to Syrus... but everytime he thought of it... he thought of Alexa. Did he know why? NOPE!

"Man! I can't stop thinking about her!" Syrus moaned, before he began to sing it softly.

I see you every day
And I can't seem to think
Of anything to say
Do you baby?
How can that be?
That it breaks my heart
When you're smilin' at me
The moment that I laid my eyes on you
I knew you'd be the one to make my dreams come true

Girl you shine like reflections on the water
Girl you shine like the sun in the sky
Girl you shine like the moon does in the night-time
Girl you shine like the stars in the sky

In you I see something I won't find ever again
Baby, you're always on my mind
If I could find a way to open up my heart
We'd be together, we'd not be apart
The moment that I laid my eyes on you
I knew you'd be the one to make my dreams come true

Girl you shine like reflections on the water
Girl you shine like the sun in the sky
Girl you shine like the moon does in the night-time
Girl you shine like the stars in the sky

Girl I can't imagine being without you
And I know you're gonna make my dream come true
You know I never would leave you
I'll never deceive you
I'll give you every piece of my heart

Girl you shine
Shine
Shine on me
Girl you shine
Shine
Shine on me
Girl You shine
Shine
Shine on me
Girl you shine
Shine
Shine on me

Girl you shine like reflections on the water
Girl you shine like the sun in the sky
Girl you shine like the moon does in the night-time
Girl you shine like the stars in the sky

You're all I need to survive
and girl you keep me alive
and girl you shine like the sun in the sky...

Syrus jumped when he heard female laughter from behind him. Whirling around, he was surprised to see Kari rolling on the ground laughing. Tears were streaming from her eyes. The shorter older Ra felt his cheeks turn deep red from embarrassment.

"OMG! You totally are in love with Alexa!" Kari shouted, still cracking up. "I can't believe you remembered that song! It's been, like, three years or something!"

"Takari! Will you shut up?!" hastily cried Syrus, covering her mouth with his hands. "Are you trying to have me tell Mokuba you like him!?"

Kari stopped laughing immediately. Her silver eyes narrowing at her mother's sister's son. Syrus finally removed his hands.

"I want you to keep quiet about this." Syrus growled. "Otherwise..."

Kari quickly stood up and nodded, "I understand. I'm sorry that things aren't working out between you two."

"Heh?" Syrus had never seen his cousin being so... nice. "Kari?"

The dark bruenette smiled, ruffled Syrus' hair, then walked away, smirking.

"Hey!" Syrus called after Kari.

"Yeah?" She replied.

"No tellin' Alexa! Got it! Or I'll sick Rae on ya!" threatened Syrus.

Kari laughed, giving him a thumbs up.

"Scouts honor, Cuz!"

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M: 0000

J: 2300

"Geez, Jay! Easy on the triple threat!" winced Mokuba, as he collapsed to one knee. "Uh... that really hurt!"

Mokuba and Jaden had been dueling for practice. Of course, Makouba was still weak compared to Jaden. The dark brown haired Slifer pulled his friend to his feet, smiling apologetically.

"So, have any luck on the TTC Dance yet?" Jaden asked curiously.

"No..." cried Mokuba. "And I really can't just go up to her and say it! It's hard!"

"It is?" Jaden repeated in surprise.

"Yeah, it really is." Mokuba sighed. "I just don't want to screw up, nor do I want to be heart-broken like Syrus."

Jaden nodded slightly, jolts going up and down his spine when he heard a familiar voice.

"Jaden!" Alexis cried from up above.

Mokuba elbowed Jaden, "Hehe. Looks like I'm not the only one. Now's your chance, Jay."

The raven haired boy chuckled, before he went up the cliffs and into the dorms, peeking out the window. Alexis walked down to Jaden looking somewhat... nervous. Jaden tried to look calm, but it only made him look completely freaked.

What was he to do?

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A/N: I am so sorry I haven't update in FOR-EVER!! I had no-inspiration syndrome aka WRITERSBLOCKAGE!! But, now I THINK I can attempt to finish this story. (After kidnapping Syrus Fanatic 4-Ever and Eidiolon Twilight Princess, formaly known as Atilea, and forcing them to help me!!) Yay! AlexisxJaden Fluff coming up!! Onto more insanity!!

Anime Goddess and Protector