Hi everyone! :D

It's been a pretty good (productive-ish) week for me, how have you guys been?

Today's chapter is going to be in Aster's point of view (yay!), which is something we haven't had for quite a long time.

Hope you guys will enjoy the newest chapter of MAOD, and please review (I love replying to new reviews!)

Oh, I also want to mention, I might be doing another GX fanfic, but this time, our protagonist will be none other than Chazz Princeton! This will be my first comedy (I think I need to change genres and write a little bit of everything – my stories right now are quite serious D: )

The story will probably be set in a few years after GX and will focus on his pro league career :D Of course - our beloved Aster will be in the story as well (but as a minor role)! I am unsure as to when I will be able to write this story (since I have 2 fanfics that I have still yet to complete), but don't worry! I'll try my best! :D

Enjoy~!

Yoshi2112

Recap: Last time on MAOD

I heard a soft crack in the bushes, the sound of someone approaching us. I swallowed hard and hugged the bird plus scarf closer to myself. My knees were shaking, not just from the cold, but also from fear.

'Please don't let it be those guys…'

The footsteps were getting closer, and I was still paralysed with fear, unable to move from my kneeling position…

Chapter 12 Pursuit

It was past eleven in the morning when a call woke me up. Pro league duels usually ended late, and so, I was never a morning person. I sat up grumpily in my bed, head still groggy, and I reluctantly reached over to the other side of the bed to pick up the call.

"I'm sorry for waking you up so early, Aster," Sartorius said, in his usual, soft tone, "I just wanted to ask you how your duel with Ronald was."

"I won of course," I laughed, "there was no way Ronald would win against me! I am ranked as the fourth best duellist in the world after all. It was no sweat at all."

"Did you find out a little bit more about his family?"

I frowned, "Sartorius, I was under the impression that you weren't able to predict the future anymore."

"I can't, I just do my research well."

I smirked at his comment; Sartorius was indeed incredible at doing his research through various sources. Even though that his ability to see the future has gone, his ability in research emerged and compensated for it…

"And?" his voice interrupted my thoughts. "Did you find out anything interesting?"

"Funnily enough, I did," images of the sudden flash I had back during the duel replayed continuously in my mind, and even in my sleep, "Sartorius, I think I-"

"Oh yes," he interrupted me mid-way, once again, "you should act upon what ever you're thinking," he added supportively. I smiled, and was extremely glad that he could return to the original way he was after the Light of Destruction had possessed him.

"Oh, another one of my sources tell me that there will be a black out tonight, be sure to go home early."

I frowned at his comment, what did he mean by that? "Where did you get that from?"

"My most reliable source of course. I'll leave you to do your thing then, good bye Aster."

"Hey-" before I was about to ask him something else, he hung up. I guess he probably wanted me to investigate further about Ronald Robertson, and his ties with that little girl…

Casey Nagoya

I could feel my face turn slightly pink; each time I thought about her, and her brown, honest eyes, my heart would skip a beat. There has never been a girl that has made me feel this way…

It was an incredibly familiar feeling…

Was this normal for meeting someone for the first time? I wondered. Of course not, Aster.

Everything just seemed so strange; it was too bizarre to comprehend. And I bet Sartorius knew something – but he was unwilling to tell me about it.

There is some major investigation to be done.

With that thought in mind, I raced downstairs in my pyjamas.

The paparazzi sure would like to see me in my pyjamas right now.

I checked my duel schedule for the next few days – thank god there were no consecutive duels in the pro league. It was a spare day for me; a good opportunity to visit and ask Casey questions. But where would I be able to meet her?

One name popped instantly into my mind.

Expressivo Appassionata

7:00 p.m.

I deliberately arrived later than last time. As usual, Expressivo Appassionata was packed with people. I glanced towards the side of the piano, expecting to see her, but the piano covers were on, and the seat was empty. Just when I was about to rush off, I felt a tug on my shirt.

"Mr. Phoenix, what are you doing here?" asked Cindy, Jonathan's shy sister, "are you here to visit Jonathan?"

Her eyes were full of hope – it would have been awful of me to turn her down. So I said, "Sure! Why not?" and followed her inside the restaurant. I avoided eye contact, just in case I met people that I knew, which would have resulted in explaining what I was doing.

"MR. PHOENIX!" I heard Jonathon scream my name when he spotted me. I could feel all of the eyes in the restaurant were on me – but I was already used to that feeling already. Jonathan ran, tripped, picked himself up, and finally jumped onto me. I had to steady myself so Cindy, who was on my side, wouldn't be squashed to bits. I laughed as Jonathon and Cindy were fighting over whom I would be sitting next to. Kids were truly adorable.

"NO! Mr. Phoenix is sitting next to me!"

"No, I was the one who bought him here!"

"I want to duel him again, go with play with your dolls!"

"No!"

I was just about to say something, but was quickly interrupted by Chef Marconi.

"Mr. Phoenix! How nice of you to drop by again!" he smiled widely, reminding me of Santa. "Would you like to join Jonathan and Cindy for dinner?"

"Please?" both Jonathan and Cindy said in unison. Their green eyes shone in excitement.

I guess Casey would have to wait.

"Sure! Why not, I was just about to find a nice place for dinner…" my words were drowned in Jonathan and Cindy's argument once again as we walked towards a table full of food.

8:00 p.m.

"Jonathan, have you done your homework?" Tina, Jonathan's mother asked him as she sat down next to us. Jonathan gave her a sheepish smile, and then looked back at his cards.

Tina shook her head at him, "Jonathan, go and do your homework now."

"But mom, Mr. Phoenix is here! I want to duel him!" he pouted; his eyes were watering quite dramatically. Tina shook her head once again, and gently nudged him out of his seat. I watched as Tina escorted a sad looking Jonathan upstairs. I laughed and packed my cards away.

The atmosphere of the restaurant was warm and inviting, Chef Marconi had lit up all the candles and the air faintly smelt of lavender. I never really noticed, but there were quite a number of couples present in the restaurant.

I guess the only thing that was missing was her music…

"Mr. Phoenix?" I turned towards Cindy. She was eating her corn soup quite slowly; thin foam was already forming on the top.

"Yes, Cindy?" I said, with a smile. She smiled back, shyly.

"What's love?" she asked, in a cute, but very serious tone.

"Uh…" I stammered, feeling the heat coming to my face, "It's a very special feeling!" Why was a kid asking me this sort of question?

"Do you love duelling?" she continued. Her eyes were wide with curiosity.

"Yes I do," I answered truthfully. "Duelling means everything to me! What do you love, Cindy?"

Cindy thought about it for a while, and just when she was about to answer, Tina came back.

"Cindy," she said, "time to go for your bath now!" Cindy, unlike her brother, stood up without another word. I was slightly surprised when she rushed forward, gave me a tight hug, and then ran off.

"She's such a good girl," Tina murmured as we both watched her head upstairs without any delay, "Jonathan is a good boy too, but he's such a big fan of yours, he can't give up the chance of meeting you."

"He's getting better at duelling," I complimented, "one day, I'm sure he'll make a great duellist."

Tina smiled wistfully, "Giuseppe and I were hoping that he would inherit the family business, but I guess that's a little too early to think about." I nodded in agreement. "So, Mr. Phoenix, what is your true purpose for being here today?" she added. "You're here to see Casey, right?"

I coughed to cover my embarrassment. "How did you know?"

"Well, Mr. Phoenix, that's because you kept on staring at the piano," Tina said, "it just so happens Casey isn't going to come today."

"How come?" I felt shocked; it seemed extremely out of character for her to wag work.

"She called in the morning saying that she had to help out at her school for the upcoming interviews at Siemens College as Captain. She's such a busy body," laughed Tina, "but since she only does it rarely, it really is alright for her to take a day or two off. Our whole family adores her." She ended with a smile.

"What's her real family like?" I asked, trying to sound as natural as I could, without sounding too inquisitive. Tina's expression instantly darkened.

"She's not an orphan, she lives with her step family, but they aren't exactly the nicest people in the world." Tina looked at me sadly, "Mr. Phoenix, you do know that this story isn't exactly mine to tell?"

We both sat in silence. The sound track that was playing in the background and chatter around us could not fill in my curiosity about her.

"She first came in when she first started junior high to audition as the pianist here," continued Tina, "I still remember her little figure as she entered this restaurant." She smiled. "Giuseppe and I only just started this business back then, and we were looking for workers.

"She is a lovely person, with a lot of talent, Mr. Phoenix," Tina interrupted me, still musing, "sometimes, you just wish that someone like her, who has gone through so much, would have a happy ending…"

"I'm sure she would," I stated, in my most confident voice.

I decided, no matter how hard it was going to be, I wanted to be one of the people seeing this becoming reality.

Even if I had to overturn destiny.

to be continued...

Please R&R. Thank you! :)