Disclaimer: see chapter one

Author's Note: I'd like to once again thank Gallantmon of the Hazard for the elements in this chapter.

Chapter 28: The Return of Chancellor Sheppard

As Crowler was busy fixing up his desk, he finds his door opening to see a shocked and horrified Bonaparte running into the room.

Bonaparte says, in his French accent, "Crowler, what we feared has come true!"

Crowler shouts out, worriedly, "The faculty cafeteria is out of pasta?!"

Bonaparte goes over to Crowler and says, "No. Actually, it is more of a trade off. Chancellor Sheppard is back and he is coming this way!"

Crowler yells out, worriedly, "Oh no. If Chancellor Sheppard stays here, then I will be demoted to Vice-Chancellor."

Bonaparte calls out, pretty fearfully, "Hey, I'm the Vice-Chancellor! You can bid me adieu right now!"

Crowler tells Bonaparte, with an annoyed look and tone, "Watch me little man."

Bonaparte tells Crowler, "Oh, yeah! Well, I will tell Sheppard of all the mess up that you made, including giving up power to the students and the chancellor position, nothing but a figurehead!"

Crowler tells Bonaparte, "You won't dare or I will tell him of your ridiculous stunts, including that new 'White Dorm'!"

Just then a familiar male voice calls out, "What new 'White Dorm'?" Crowler and Bonaparte look to see Chancellor Sheppard enter the room.

Crowler and Bonaparte yell out in shock and horror, "Chancellor Sheppard!"

As Chancellor Sheppard comes up to Crowler and Bonaparte, he states, with a sly tone and smile, "Thank you for keeping my seat warm, Crowler. But what is this that I hear that students have taken the power away from you?"

Just then another male voice calls out, "They just don't like him, sir! And you don't have to wonder why!" Chancellor Sheppard turns around to see Yusuke, Hikari, Hiei, Haruka, Keiko, Mina and Kino enter the room.

Yusuke tells Chancellor Sheppard, "No kidding, sir! Do you see how he looks in the first place?"

Hiei says, "You were a fool to leave the chancellor position with those two!" Hiei motions at Crowler and Bonaparte.

Crowler tells Hiei, in an annoyed tone, "Watch it!"

Chancellor Sheppard tells Mina and Kino, "Welcome, Mina and Kino Tucker. It is an honor to have you two here."

Mina tells Chancellor Sheppard, "No, the honor is all ours, sir."

Chancellor Sheppard nods his head and says, "Welcome to Duel Academy."

Kino bows and replies, "Oh, it's a real honor to be a student in this school, sir."

Chancellor Sheppard tells Yusuke and his friends, "Anyway, I heard that the students have taken control of the school."

Hikari takes out a roll of paper and says, "About that, Chancellor Sheppard. As of late, there has been a 'hostile takeover' of sorts in Duel Academy from Sartorius, a famous dueling manager that's Aster Phoenix's former dueling manager. He has come to this school as a student, but he has illegally assumed leadership of the Obelisk Blue dorm, turning it into the 'White Dorm'. He runs an organization known as the Society of Light, which is more like a cult of sorts, and we believe that as of late that he has been brainwashing students into his society through some kind of terrible magic of some sort. He had brainwashed nearly half of the student body and Dr. Crowler and Vice-Chancellor Bonaparte refused to do anything about this illegal activity for fear of their own lives or using the 'White Dorm' for their own 'vendettas', like tearing down the Slifer Red dorm."

Sheppard and the others glared at Bonaparte and he swallows a lot of air out of fear.

Keiko then says, in a calm tone, "The students had finally enough of this and so they decided to take things into their own hands. By banding together and getting us, the teachers, as well as the school's security force, the Disciplinary Action Squad, to aid them as well, we took power from Crowler and Bonaparte and created a temporary 'student council' run by students and teachers to run the school for the time being until the Society of Light was disbanded and the 'White Dorm' returned to the Obelisk Blue dorm or your return. Since rumors of your return have become wide-spread, the students and we, the teachers, have agreed to return the powers of running this school to you, Chancellor Sheppard, because, sir, we believe that you would run Duel Academy in a fair manner and not for some vendettas or personal gain." Everyone then glared at Crowler and Bonaparte, both of whom who laugh nervously and sweatdropped as well.

When Hikari gives the roll of paper to Chancellor Sheppard, he rolls it, reads what's written on the paper, and says, "Thank you, Hikari. I'm sure that conditions will improve with my return to Duel Academy."

Hikari says, in an angered tone, "But there's more…"

Sheppard says, perplexed and serious tone, "What do you mean?"

Hikari turns to the door where a male Slifer Red student came into the room, with a broken laptop in his arms and the student says, "Early, before the Domino Trip, I was giving my opinion on the Society of Light and Sartorius to my friends Slifer Red students, negatively. However, a few Society students heard this and decided to break my laptop."

Yusuke says, glaring at Crowler and Bonaparte, "However, when he told Dr. Crowler and Vice-Chancellor Bonaparte, they refused to do anything in the matter! They said that it was his fault that the laptop was destroyed."

Crowler and Bonaparte gulped and laughed nervously as Sheppard glared at them, "Gentlemen, explain yourselves!"

Keiko says, in a polite tone, "That's not all, sir! With the rumor about tearing down the red dorm, some of the Slifer Red students had no choice but to drop out of Duel Academy."

Sheppard exclaims, angrily, "WHAT! CROWLER!" He glared furiously at Crowler and Bonaparte, who were whimpering in fear, and says, "Who's idea was to tear down the Slifer Red Dorm at my absence!?"

Crowler yells out, "It was Bonaparte's idea! It was to make Duel Academy into a place for future stars!"

Mina hands a file to Sheppard and says, "There's a lot more you should know in your absence…"

(In the classroom)

Inside one of the classrooms within Duel Academy, we find a large body of students including Yusuke, Keiko, Jaden, Bastion, Atticus, Naruto, Sasuke, Sakura, Hinata, Mina, Kino, Kagome, Syrus, Hassleberry, Jordan, Jade, Ryoko, and Blair within all of them. All of the students in the seats are talking about the rumors about Chancellor Sheppard and his return.

Jaden says, with a smile, "It's so awesome! Sheppard is back! Isn't it great, Syrus?"

Syrus tells Jaden, with a smile, "Yeah, he's the best!"

Hassleberry tells Jaden and Syrus, "Anything is better than Crowler."

Kagome tells Hassleberry, "You said it, Hassleberry!"

Just then Chancellor Sheppard enters the room with Crowler and Bonaparte and everyone becomes immediately hushed.

Chancellor Sheppard calls out, with a sly smirk, "Hello, students! By the looks of your clothes, there is a popular new 'White Dorm' on campus."

When Sheppard glances to Crowler and Bonaparte, they say in unison and nervously, "Sorry."

Chancellor Sheppard tells the students, holding out the paper handed to him by Atem, "Despite these changes, I'm still in charge. Especially since you've decided to give up all of the power that you took away from Crowler when I returned to Duel Academy and return it to me."

The 'white students' gasp in shock and look angrily at the yellow, red, and blue clad students, who were giving wide grins.

Mina exclaims to the 'white students', slyly, "Gotcha!"

Chancellor Sheppard then states, "Plus, I hear that we've got some excellent new transfer students into Duel Academy! I can say that these are interesting times this semester, but now, I have something to add with a gift that I would like to offer you and the teachers." Immediately the students gasp and talk among themselves about Sheppard's announcement.

Yusuke and Jaden exclaimed, excitedly, "Awesome!"

Bonaparte exclaims, in a serious tone, "Let the poor man speak!"

When the student body quiets down, Chancellor Sheppard says, "Thank you, little man. Now before, I start, I want to announce the new Vice-Chancellor!"

Every student gasped in shock, while Crowler and Bonaparte hung their heads in shame and Sheppard says, "This person has done quite a good job running things around the school and I'd like to announce that this position will be given to a student in this school."

Chazz says, "A student taking the Vice-Chancellor position! No way!"

Alexis says, "It's obvious that Master Sartorius should be Vice-Chancellor."

Sheppard says, "I'd like to announce the new Vice-Chancellor I've appointed Ms. Hikari Urameshi!"

Every student gasped as Hikari made her way into the room to Chancellor Sheppard and Kagome says, "Kari? Vice-Chancellor?"

Mina says, "Of course, during our conference with Chancellor Sheppard, he decided that Crowler and Bonaparte couldn't be trusted with the power of the school and decided to allow Lady Hikari to be Vice-Chancellor."

Chazz yells out, annoyed, "Hold it!"

Everyone looks at Chazz and he yells out, as he jumped out of his seat, "You expect us to believe that Hikari will be Vice-Chancellor of this school!"

Sheppard nods in reply and says, "Yes and if you have any complains with it, Mr. Princeton, please have a talk with me and Hikari or should I say Vice-Chancellor Urameshi."

Chazz growled and sat down to his seat and Chancellor Sheppard then snaps his fingers and calls out, "And now, I give you the GX Tournament!" Just then the screen behind him lights up and an enlarged picture of the medal that he gave Zane appear behind him. Chancellor Sheppard calls out, "This is tournament for the next generation of duelists! It is nothing like you seen before! It starts one day from now! Students and professions are welcome and when the dust settles, the winner will be known as the world's greatest duelists!"

All of the students become immediately excitedly and Jaden says, excitedly, "Oh, yeah! That's me! I'll beat all of the pros!"

Syrus and Jade immediately becomes serious in his expression and thinks in their minds, 'Pros? Like my brother/cousin?'

Chancellor Sheppard calls out, in a serious tone, "This whole island will be your battlefield." Chancellor Sheppard shows off the same medallion that he gave Zane and exclaims, "To start off with, all of you will be given a GX medallion! The rules are simple: You must accept the first duel you are challenged to and you must be in one duel per day. When you win, you will get all of your opponent's medallions!" Syrus and Tyranno become nervous at this and back away from Yusuke and Jaden slightly, confusing them. Chancellor Sheppard calls out, "The final winner will be easy to spot since they will hold all of the medallions. During my travels, I met some of the most talented duelists. They have all been invited since I believe that you are as good as they are. Now, get out there and make your chancellor proud will you?!"

Jaden stands on his feet and exclaims, "Oh, yeah! What are we waiting for?! I've got a tournament to win!"

Syrus tells Jaden, tauntingly, "Don't forget last time. The prize was a kiss from Ms. Dorothy."

Yusuke and Jaden become nervous and disgusted and says in unison, nervously, "We think we will pass."

All of the students immediately begin to talk about the tournament and what it is all about.

(In the evening in the Slifer cafeteria)

Syrus is sitting in the Slifer cafeteria and stares at the GX metal that he placed on the table, while thinking about the GX Tournament. He remembers Sheppard explaining that all the duelists in the pro circuit will be competing and that meant that Zane will be there as well. He had to look at the pictures of his older brother, in his Hell Kaiser persona and didn't like seeing him like this. He imaged how he'll feel when he sees him up close, it'll was too much for him to bear.

Little did the little blunette knew, a pair of brown eyes were looking at him from the outside. She walked inside the cafeteria and walked towards Syrus, then spoke, "Syrus?"

Syrus turned to see Ryoko, behind him and says, "Hey Ryoko…Aren't you going to prepare for the GX Tournament?"

Ryoko then replies, "Yeah…but it looks like you're still depressed about Zane's new look."

Syrus says, "I've been doing some thinking about it. If my brother comes back, there will be a time that I'll duel him. That'll scare me, when he was Duel Academy's best last year and I never once ever beaten him. I'm lost and I don't know…what to do."

Ryoko could feel some sadness from Syrus's words and then an idea came to her head. Without a word, she grabs onto Syrus's wrist and says, "Come on!" Ryoko pulls onto Syrus and dashed out of the cafeteria.

Syrus says, "Ryoko, what are we going!?"

Ryoko says, "I'll show you!"

They dashed downstairs and towards the cliff, where his and Jaden's hiding place was. Ryoko sat onto the ground, with Syrus doing the same. Ryoko says, "Look at the sunset, Sy!"

Syrus looks at the setting sun and Ryoko says, "This is something that my mother used to tell me, when I was a little girl. When you look at the setting sun, you could feel your worries flowing away from you."

Syrus looks at the setting sun and he was amazed to feel his worries about dueling Zane going away. Syrus smiled and looks at Ryoko, who looking at the sunset. He was but then he looked over at Ryoko and saw how beautiful she was in the setting sun. She looked like an Angel, a very beautiful angel. Ryoko is one of the many friends that try to cheer Syrus up. That's what he loved about her. Since they met last year, he could remember the pity arguments they both got into. As they knew each other, they've grown quite fond of each other.

Every since their second year started, their feelings for each other have grown from friendship. They haven't told each other their feelings, yet. Syrus tells Ryoko, "Ryoko, thank you."

Ryoko looks at Syrus and tells him, "No problem, Sy." She moved closer to him and placed her hand onto his. He blushed at her touch, but didn't want to move his hand. Ryoko told him, "Besides, I planned on doing something for the both of us in Domino, but didn't get the chance, because of those Society Dorks kidnapping you and Hassleberry."

Syrus blinked twice and says, "You have?"

Ryoko leaned her face towards Syrus, causing him to blush, and Ryoko says, "Yeah? I guess this makes it up for it."

Syrus's heart began to beat faster, like he was running. Syrus says, with surprise, "Oh yeah…I forgot something." Syrus went to his blazer pocket, gets out box and gave it to Ryoko. Syrus says, "Here…I was meaning to give you this."

Ryoko asks, opening the box, "What is it?" She just found eight cards in the box.

Syrus says as Ryoko took out the card, "There some cards that I wanted to give you sometime. I started since last year and finished when we were in the Urameshi twins' grandfather's game shop. I wanted to give them to you for the things you've done for me."

Ryoko looked at the cards that Syrus gave her which was some of the cards that Alexis, Keiko and Kagome had, Cyber Prima, Fulfillment of the Contact and six others that she hadn't seen before.

Sea Angel Benten: Water/Level 6/Fairy/Ritual/Effect: This monster can only be Ritual Summoned with the Ritual Spell Card, "Sea Angel Ritual". You must also offer monsters whose total Level Stars equal 6 or more as a Tribute from the field or your hand. When this monster is Ritual Summoned successfully, you can return 1 card from the Graveyard to your hand. (A: 1600/D: 2000)

Sea Angel Dakini: Water/Level 8/Fairy/Ritual/Effect: This monster can only be Ritual Summoned with the Ritual Spell Card, "Sea Angel Ritual". You must also offer monsters whose total Level Stars equal 8 or more as a Tribute from the field or your hand. When this monster is Ritual Summoned successfully, you can select 1 monster on your opponent's side of the field and destroy it or you select 1 monster in your opponent's Graveyard and remove it from play. (A: 2700/D: 2400)

Sea Angel Idaten: Water/Level 6/Fairy/Ritual/Effect: This monster can only be Ritual Summoned with the Ritual Spell Card, "Sea Angel Ritual". You must also offer monsters whose total Level Stars equal 6 or more as a Tribute from the field or your hand. If this monster destroys a monster as a result of battle, inflict damage to your opponent's Life Points equal to its original DEF. (A: 1600/D: 2000)

Sea Angel Ritual: Ritual Spell: This card is used to Ritual Summon any monster that includes "Sea Angel" from your hand. You must also offer monsters whose total Level Stars equal or greater than the Ritual Monster that you are going to summon as a Tribute from the field or your hand.

Sea Petite Angel: Water/Level 2/Fairy/Effect: Move 1 "Sea Angel Ritual" from your Deck to your hand. (A: 300/D: 200)

Water Blast: Normal Trap: You can activate this card when your opponent activates an effect that destroys monsters. Negate that effect and destroy that card.

Water Wings: Equip Spell: When the equipped monster inflicts Battle Damage to the opponent's Life Points, inflict an additional 300 points of damage to your opponent's Life Points. When this card is sent to the Graveyard, draw 2 cards from your Deck.

Ryoko smiled at Syrus and says, "Thank you, Sy!" She places the box and cards on the ground, then threw her arms around Syrus's neck, hugging him. Syrus wraps his arms around the girl's petite form, pulling her close and Ryoko whispers in his ear, "I love it." She pecked Syrus's cheek, making the blue haired boy blush. Syrus took sniff at her delicious watermelon and strawberries scent and lost in the fragrance. Ryoko pulled back from the embrace and says, with a smile, "You're really sweet."

Syrus saw her lips were just lightly covers in gloss. Part of him wanted to know how they tasted. He move his head closer to hers.

A voice then echoed in his head, 'Careful there big boy. This looks a lot like dueling! Go to fast and miss read your opponent and you could loss the duel. You don't want to loss her as a friend do you?' Syrus paused as he processed that thought.

Ryoko smiled as she looked at Syrus. That kind face always made her smiled. He began moving toward her and she felt like something was going to happen. She knew she wanted to kiss him and now was a perfect time . She began to lean in to kiss him when he stopped.

She looked at him and could see the hesitation in his eyes. She wanted to let him know there wasn't anything worry about it. She pushed in further and made contact with his lips. Syrus thought he would never stop blushing. The feel of her lips against his was driving him insane. Closing his eyes slowly, he returned the kiss. She felt him nibble at her bottom lip and she moaned at the feel of it as she allowed Syrus's tongue to enter her mouth.

Ryoko allowed his tongue to dance with hers. The boy advanced in her mouth, tasting her tongue, gently touching the soft flesh. It was tasty, unlike anything he had ever felt before. Ryoko pressed his head closer to her face, taking as much as she could from Syrus. He breathed from the lovely scent all around her, feeling dizzy from the heavenly smell of strawberries and watermelon.

Syrus's hands wrapped themselves around her slim waist and pulled her body closer, and she placed her finger into his hair, all the while not breaking the kiss. After some time they broke the kiss and looked at each other, smiled and kissed again.

Syrus says, as he broke the kiss, "I love you."

Ryoko says, "I know and I love you, too." Syrus smiled as he presses his lips onto Ryoko's, kissing her, passionately. Syrus's hands began to move from her waist to her back, caressing it as he did so. Then they went to her sides, and ran up and down her sides. Just then, Ryoko threw her body weight onto Syrus and pulled him down to his back. Before Syrus can speak, Ryoko pressed her lips onto his, kissing him. Syrus's hands were up and wrapped his arms around her back. Neither of them wanted to stop for a minute and wanted this moment to last.