Hi guys!

I'm so, so sorry that I've been absent from FanFiction, but I've been trying to work on my other stories, and I'm also starting to look at colleges and take exams. Life is hard, but I'm going to stick with this story because yes, I have finished the entire rough draft! So let's roll!

DISCLAIMER: I do not own Yu-Gi-Oh! GX.

His hands shaking, Johan carefully tucked his letter into Juudai Yuuki into an envelope. He had spent the better part of last night hammering it together, and he was about as confident as he could be, considering that he could not stop his trembling hands, nor quell his racing heart, nor stopper the sweat that beaded on his brow.

Oh, who was he kidding? Johan was nervous to his core. He didn't stop shaking even on his way downtown to give the letter to Rei Saotome, president of the Chicago branch of Juudai Yuuki's fan club!

Fortunately for him, Rei was a friendly girl a few years younger than Johan. Her parents ran an instrument repair shop downtown, and rumor had it Juudai's cousin, Yusei Fudo, worked there as well.

Yusei wasn't there, but Rei was, and she happily accepted Johan's letter.

"I've been totally swamped with mail since Juudai arrived in Chicago," she sighed, before grinning suddenly. "But I couldn't be happier to see Juudai!"

"Really? If you don't mind me asking, what's Juudai really like?" Johan asked timidly.

"He's a really nice guy, but he's under a lot of pressure during times like this, and he gets irritated easily," Rei explained as she tied Johan's letter up with the other letters from fans.

"Does he answer any letters from his fans?" Johan asked quietly. Hope briefly fluttered in his chest.

"Not usually," Rei sighed. Her stomach dropped upon seeing the dejected look in Johan's eyes. "Sorry."

Juudai had been in such a foul mood after Derek's announcement that he didn't bother to finish his bath. Draining the water, he dressed and sat on the bed, flipping through the channels to keep his mind occupied on anything else but the operas he would be playing at.

After a few moments of Mopey Juudai, Derek entered the room, carrying the bundle of letters from Rei. "You know, it wouldn't hurt for you to get your letters yourself."

"Why should I?" Juudai rolled his eyes. "The piles just keep getting bigger."

With a grunt, Derek dropped the pile on the table. Wiping his brow, he said, "You know, it also wouldn't hurt for you to answer some of your fan mail, either. At least start reading it today and chip away at the pile."

Juudai crossed his arms in front of his chest. "Why should I?" But at the same time, he had to admit that Derek had a point. Reading and answering his fan mail would give him something to do instead of being a lazy bum and sitting on his...bum. It would also take his mind away from the concerts. "All right, fine." Juudai untied the bundle and picked up the first letter.

"There's a good boy," Derek teased on his way out.

"I'm not a dog!" Juudai grabbed a pillow and waved it threateningly at his manager.

Derek was out the door before Juudai could throw the pillow. Sighing, Juudai turned back to the letter in his hand. Since the letters all went through Rei, no return address was needed on letters sent by fans from Chicago when Juudai was in the city. Rei kept track of the letters and their senders through a chart, just in case Juudai sent a letter back. Which he never did, of course, but just in case...

Outwardly, there was nothing special about this letter. The envelope was simple, with "Juudai Yuuki" written on the front in a smooth, elegant hand. Juudai snorted, ripping open the envelope and unfolding the letter.

Dear Juudai Yuuki,

How are you?

Juudai blinked at the letter. Interesting way to start...

My name is Johan. I'm a really big fan of your music. I started listening to your music after I heard Dreams of the Spirits on the radio. I think it's a beautiful piece. I love classical music. My whole family does. Everyone in my family plays an instrument...except me.

"Why not?" Juudai murmured to himself. It didn't make any sense. But he pressed on.

I really want to play an instrument. I really, really do. I don't want to just walk in my family's footsteps; I just want to play, to feel the same thrill and vibrations as I play, to make beautiful music, to complete my soul. I have the drive to do it. I have the skills of a musician, but...I just can't play. I don't know why. Every time I sit down to play an instrument, I fail. It comes out horribly. My family hates me because I can't play. I am a flat note where it doesn't belong. It hurts me. I am an outsider, looking in, my heart aching as I watch them play, with no talent of my own.

With a gasp, Juudai dropped the letter. "How terrible," he murmured softly. "All the desire and passion of a musician, but no medium to convey it. This 'Johan', whoever he is and wherever he is, must be under great and terrible anguish." To Juudai, who poured his very heart and soul into each performance-regardless of whether he wanted to play there or not-the absence of an instrument was like missing a piece of your soul. Juudai couldn't imagine living without his violin.

Picking up the letter, he continued to read.

But you have given me hope. Hope that one day, even I can play an instrument. I can feel my heart soar on the notes as I play. I am determined to try every medium of music, even if it ruins me. I will not fail this time. Thank you, for the hope you have brought to me.

Yours truly,

Johan

Silent tears dripped down Juudai's face as he clutched the letter close to his heart. "And some day you will play, Johan. Of that I am certain."

Putting the letter down on the table, Juudai's long, calloused fingers stroked the page reverently, as if talking to a lover. This 'Johan' had touched his heart and conveyed the pain and frustration of someone trampled and beaten, but who, at the same time, carried a kernel of hope, however fleeting, in his heart.

"I hear you Johan," the brunette violinist murmured, taking pen in hand and smoothing out a clean sheet of paper. "I hear you."

"Cora, Michael, we need to talk."

The cellist and conductor exchanged glances at their family. Annalise and Marcus's parents sat across from them.

"Eleanor, Thomas, what is this about?" Cora raised an eyebrow at her in-laws.

Thomas ran his fingers through his hair. "It's about Johan. Annalise told us that she and Marcus caught him trying to play the piano again today."

"So? He's an Andersen! He has a drive for music," Michael puffed out his chest proudly.

"That 'drive' barely makes him an Andersen," Eleanor responded. "Face it; your son can't play an instrument. He simply doesn't have talent."

Thomas held up a hand to silence his wife. "But we have a solution." Taking a piece of paper, he pushed it over to his brother and sister-in-law.

Cora bit her lip curiously. "Music classes?"

"We believe that classes may help your son overcome his...musical deficit. The classes take place in downtown Chicago, they're inexpensive, and they're every Tuesday and Thursday after school, and on Saturdays as well. The teacher is Fubuki Tenjoin, a renowned pianist."

Michael looked over the sheet before sighing. He loved his son, he truly did. He saw the pain in Johan's eyes, the longing of wanting to play an instrument. And if these classes were going to help him...

"Very well then. Johan!" He called for his son, who was studying in the other room.

"Yes, dad?" The bluenette entered, shrinking back slightly as he saw his aunt and uncle sitting at the table. "Hi Aunt Eleanor, Uncle Thomas. What's all this?"

Michael took the paper and handed it to Johan. "Music classes. You start next week."

As Johan looked over the page, his emerald eyes grew wide. "C-classes? Oh no, I couldn't! Not with school in session! I have tests and homework, and..." The color drained from his face as he saw that his parents were completely serious. 'There's no way I could take these classes,' he thought. 'What with my failure as a musician, I'd make a laughingstock of myself!'

"Johan, if you want to play an instrument, classes like these may be the only way," Cora said softly. "Classes are Tuesdays and Thursdays after school, and on Saturdays as well. They won't take up too much of your schedule that way."

The bluenette bit his lip nervously. It was a habit he inherited from his mother. "Okay," he said solemnly. Knowing when he'd been beaten, Johan handed the paper back to his family. "I'll be up in my room if you need me." And with that, he bolted up the stairs.

Johan threw himself on his bed and gave his pillow a good punch to let out his frustration. 'They didn't even ask me what I thought about it! It was just, "Hey Johan, we forgot to tell you this, but you're going to take these special classes." The nerve!'

The bluenette angrily buried his face in the soft fabric of his pillow. 'Those classes will only tell my family what they already know, anyway: I'm a failure at music, and I'm incapable of playing an instrument.' With a sigh, Johan rolled onto his back and stared blankly at his ceiling. 'If I could actually play an instrument, this wouldn't be happening.' He closed his eyes and tried to rest, the information churning round and round in his brain.

A sharp knock sounded at his door. "What?!" Johan snapped.

Silence. Then, "Geeze, is that how you talk to your older brother that way?"

"Lukas?" Johan sat up. "I'm sorry, Luke. I'm just...having a bad day right now. You can come in."

The bewildered pianist opened the door. "How bad was it?"

Sighing, Johan pulled his legs up to his chest. "Mom and dad are making me take special music classes. I start next week."

Lukas winced. "That's a low blow, even for them. But I've got good news for you."

Johan looked up at his brother. "What is it?"

"Rei Saotome called. Apparently, Juudai Yuuki answered your letter."

And there's the end of the fifth chapter! I hope you liked it! I had fun writing it, although there were a few gut-wrenching times when I was typing up Johan's letter to Juudai. Made me cry a little.

Please review and tell me what you think!