Darkangelsonic: I'm so-so-so glad I have a new reviewer!! So overjoyed!! (Jumping around the room)
Raiki: Get a hold of yourself, Angel. (Scolds)
Darkangelsonic: Right, right, yes Mr. Bossy.
Raiki: (sighs) Angel doesn't own Yu Gi Oh or Yu Gi Oh GX, only this plot and her OCs.
Bane-Teller: Thank you, thank you, thank you!! (Hugs) Surprised, he actually likes her? (Grins)
SS-lover06: Thank you so much for reviewing!! (Hugs her too) Hopefully this chapter will help clear things up. (smiles)
ASHLEY POV
I woke up 5:00 am as my PDA rang; my puppy ran to my bedside and started barking at me to get up. I stood up and patted him on the head as I remembered what happen the day before. I blushed at the thought of it. It was very embarrassing and yet again I proved to myself how useless I am with emotions.
I took my puppy and went to the shower to do mine and my puppy's morning routine. I grabbed a pair of baggy blue jeans and a red shirt with black lettering that said something like 'I'm a puzzle that you have to solve' and then I packed my two piece bikini and a ball for my puppy to play with at the beach later on.
I went out of my room and closed it, when two other door suddenly closing.
Ashley saw Raiki and Bastion who were also just heading out to the cafeteria to eat breakfast and the suddenly burst out laughing at each other.
"What are the odds of this ever happening again?" Raiki mused
"1 out of a 1,000." Bastion answered
"If I didn't know better, I'd say you two were stalking me or something!" Ashley shouted
"I wouldn't, but Raiki might."
"HEY!!"
Ashley laughed at the two Ras as they head to the cafeteria.
The threesome had sat down on their usual table like what they do every morning, laughing, teasing and talking, when suddenly a swarm of Ra boys had ambushed them and offering Ashley various foods to eat.
Raiki and Bastion were in shock, it was hard for them to get used to the idea of being swarmed by boys every time, while Ashley anime sweat drops and laughs nervously.
"Thank you guys, but I can get my own. Thank you for thinking of me though." Ashley smiled sweetly politely turning them down on their offers.
Raiki sighed.
"At this rate we can eat for free every time every meal, thanks to Ash here." Raiki said sarcastically
Ashley sticks out her tongue at him; Bastion snaps out of his shocked and gives them a weird look.
"So you guys have any plans for today?"
"Going to do my laundry."
"Studying for the exams."
I wonder if he's still mad at me for being so annoying yesterday…
"I see… Well, I'll go get me something to eat and head to my room, then probably hang out at the beach. Just e-mail me on my PDA if you need me, ok?" Ashley stood up from her seat
The two nodded and she smiled at them and went on her way. Ashley disappeared to the staircase after getting some food for her and her new puppy.
"I wonder what she saw in those two…" They heard someone say
Bastion and Raiki tried ignored the comment.
"Well, I get why she hangs out with Bastion being the top scorer and all that…" Another Ra student said
Raiki was feeling annoyed; they were talking about them, obviously.
"Raiki has been standing up for her for a while now… That's something."
The comments went on and on like a disease spreading in their cafeteria.
"I wonder who she likes best…" Someone mused all of a sudden that everyone went silent and stared at the two.
Bastion looked at Raiki when Raiki stood up suddenly in irritation.
"Will you guys just let her be? It's none of your business!" Raiki exits the room without a second thought in his mind, while everyone just stared at him
Bastion calmly exits not long after Raiki's exit.
ASHLEY POV
I gave my new puppy some milk in his bowl that Mokuba had obviously left for the puppy. I sat down next to it and it looked at me and bark, but I swear I saw it smile at me.
I still don't know what to call… You…
I stared at him as he finished his milk and then gave him a piece of bread but he pushed it to my direction then bark again, like he was saying you should eat too.
He's so cute…
I smiled at the puppy and took a small bite of the bread that was left on my plate; then he ate his bread.
His blue eyes reminded me of something… Like water, a big quantity of water that anyone can easily get drown in…
"An ocean? A lake… Laike… That's it!! Laike!! That's what I'm going to call you, Laike!!"
The puppy looked at me with his deep blue eyes and I smiled.
"I must have sacred you, huh?"
He barked at me and jumped on my lap, and I pat him on his head as he wagged his tail.
"Laike, we'll be great friends I promise."
I took out my PDA to look for someone to spend my Sunday with me and Laike.
RAIKI POV
I don't understand myself anymore. I felt like I'm angry when people talk about Ash… Well, in a bad way at least, but then again…
FLASHBACK
I was called in Seto Kaiba's office after taking my exam, my father had requested that my presence in the academy would be a secret after all an heir to an international company wouldn't be caught dead playing duel monsters as a career as he might put it. When I opened the door, I saw a girl wearing a high pony-tail sitting in one of the chairs, I recognized her from the previous tournaments I've watched, she's been playing since she was a kid and a close friend of 3 great pro-duelists, the Legendary King of Games, Seto Kaiba and Joey Wheeler. She seemed to be only about my age and as I remember she's talented, but she's pretty and cute too; rumors about her didn't do her justice.
Her topaz eyes were looking straight at me when she suddenly smiled then turn to Seto Kaiba again.
"Seto-sama, I'll see you later you seem to have a visitor. We can talk about convincing Ni-ni later."
"Ashley, stay we need to have a precaution about your enrollment…"
"We can talk about it later, Seto-sama. I can wait, HE can't."
I stood there for a long while as I realize they were talking about me. I froze as I saw Kaiba glaring at me.
"Seto-sama, I need to go and pack for the trip so I'll see you later."
She stood up and bowed at him with respect and walk to my direction.
"Don't be too intimidated with him; he's not a bad person." I heard her whisper as she left
"Come in, Raiki Caelum."
I nodded and walked to a chair to sit down.
"You ranked pretty high for a brat." He smirked
I thought personally he was trying to tick me off because I interrupted his meeting with the girl earlier.
"I don't want to be in Obelisk." Was all I had to say to him
"Why not?"
"I've done my research they're high class people correct?"
"Just like you are, why?"
"Let's just say I don't get along too well with high class."
"So you're saying you're declining my invitation to be an obelisk."
"I'm not completely declining it. I just want to be in Ra and be treated as a normal individual."
"Fine, but with one condition you have to keep an eye of the girl you saw earlier, she's… Shall we say an influential person and we don't want her in too much trouble."
"But isn't she a pro-duelist?!"
"She declined."
"Again." I heard him continue in a soft voice
"And don't get too attached."
Does he mean fall in love with her?
I nodded
END FLASHBACK
This is my first deal with Kaiba; father always said connections are everything… But how do stop falling in love?
Hold up… Did I just say 'How do I stop falling'?! Dear Ra!! No… Please don't do this…
I violently ruffled my hair with my two hands. I'm so confused.
BASTION POV
I had just left the dorm, people there were getting a bit too illogical for me, but more importantly… Why am I suddenly distracted as Raiki and Ashley said? I mean, I have to admit I'm pretty impressed with Alexis, but… I've always looked out for Ashley.
Wait what does Ashley have to do with any of this? I shook off the thought
Maybe I'm just trying to get use to Ashley having her eye sight again and those fan boys of hers.
Why do I snap at her all the time these past few days? I don't think I'm mad at her or anything…She's one of those few people I trust… I realized what I was thinking and shook it off
I should stop thinking about her right now, and then I started hearing a barking dog near the beach. I saw Ashley in her white two piece bikini holding a red ball with a small puppy running in circles around her.
A dog? I jogged to her and unfortunately I realized she wasn't alone.
NORMAL POV
"Jay, Sy! Come on, you promise to help me with Laike!" Ashley shouted at the two slifers splashing away in the beach water.
"So this is what you were planning to go to." Bastion said as he approach Ashley from behind and made her jump
Laike was barking at Bastion as if saying, 'Don't surprise my master like that! I could have been squished!!'
Ashley crouched down and picked up Laike and smiled at Bastion.
"Want to hold him?"
Bastion blushed and nodded.
She's completely different in terms of physical appearance… Without the bandages around her eyes, she's practically one of the most beautiful girls in Duel Academy.
Bastion took Laike out of Ashley's hands.
"Hey, Ash! Bastion! You two gonna swim or what?!" Jaden shouted
"Do want to swim too? Laike can swim too you know, but someone has to keep an eye on him."
"It's ok; I don't mind just keeping an eye on him."
"Thank you Bastion." Ashley smiled at him and ran to Jaden and Syrus.
The three started to have a water fight; Bastion on the other hand just watched them and as his eyes suddenly stopped at Ashley and he started to stare, when Laike suddenly bit him.
"OUCH!!"
Ashley hearing Bastion's yelp stopped what she was doing, and the three ran to their hurting friend.
"Bad Laike! Why did you bite Bastion?!" Jaden scolded at Laike who seemed to be sorry
Syrus took the puppy and carried it near Ashley who was searching for her first aid kit.
"Can you hold, Laike for a while, Sy? I'm sure he won't bit you if you play with him or talk with him." Syrus nodded and played with Laike along with Jaden
Ashley found her first aid and went over to Bastion's side, while Bastion was putting pressure in his bitten hand so it wouldn't bleed so much.
"Let me look at that, Bastion."
Bastion shows Ashley the bite.
"Thank Ra, it's not too deep."
"Your puppy has sharp fangs…"
Ashley puts out the alcohol, some anti bacterial ointment and bandages.
"Yeah, I guess it's meant to protect me." Ashley laughed nervously
"This may sting a little, Bastion…"
Bastion looked at her eyes and it displayed so much guilt and sadness that he was completely got lost in her topaz eyes. Ashley sprayed the alcohol on his wound.
"It… Stings." Bastion gritted his teeth together
Ashley started to blow closely on his wound, Bastion blushed. He never thought he would be in this predicament; his heart started to beat faster and faster as he watched Ashley blow on his wound.
"Hey, Bastion is something wrong? You're face is very red, do you have a fever?" A concerned Syrus noticed as he was watching, Laike and Jaden that were playing tug of war with a stick.
(A/N: Yes we can all see Jaden on his knees and hands biting the stick playing tug of war with the puppy. hehehe)
Ashley looked at Bastion to notice Syrus was right.
"I'm fine. It's just too hot here." Bastion lied
Ashley gently put some ointment on Bastion's hand and then wrapped it in some bandages.
"There, all better. We'll clean your wound before we start our study session for our exams on Friday. Oh, and I'll make sure Laike is behaved."
"Yes, thank you, Ashley."
"And you can take off you blazer now, since you said it was hot here."
"Of course." As he took off his blazer
There was a moment of silence between them, when the naughty Laike started to drag Ashley's bag of clothes to the beach water.
"JADEN, THE DOG!!" Bastion shouted at them
Jaden runs after the dog and knock down a blonde haired obelisk girl, Syrus runs after the dog as well and successfully catches the dog, but Ashley's clothes got wet.
"Sorry, Lex." Jaden muttered as he scratched his head, as he reached for the girl's hand with the other and pulls her up
"No, it's ok, Jaden."
Ashley and Bastion ran to Jaden.
"You ok, Jay?"
"I'm fine, Ash."
Ashley and Bastion saw Alexis. Ashley saw her best friend, Bastion start to blush again and was shaking nervously.
Bastion really likes Alexis…
"Hi Alexis." Ashley hid behind Bastion
"Hi, Ashley." Alexis raised her brow at her
"Ash, why are you hiding behind Bastion? I thought we were over that already!" Jaden whined
"Oh—I'm just feeling a bit embarrassed."
"Like I said earlier it doesn't matter how you look as long as you're having fun! Besides it's just us." Jaden countered
"Not anymore…"
I know you might hate me for this Bastion, but…
Ashley pushed Bastion toward Alexis and they both slipped on the sand. Bastion was now on top of Alexis; Ashley grabs Jaden's hand and pulls him away from the two.
Bastion and Alexis were both in shock for a little while, Bastion was furiously blushing. Alexis was the first one to get back to reality.
"Bastion…"
"…"
"Please get off of me, Bastion."
Bastion snaps out of his trance and blushed even more ferociously.
"I-I'm so sorry, Ms. Alexis."
Bastion slowly gets off Alexis; Alexis sits up and watches Jaden and Ashley walk away, like she was glaring at her.
"Just walk with me, Jaden."
"Why? Bastion just fell on Alexis shouldn't we help her?"
"Just let them be for a while, Jay."
Wait, Jay wants to help Alexis? Ashley shook the thought away
Ashley held Jaden by the arm with both her hands.
I want Bastion to have a moment alone with her, so he could ask her out. Sorry, Jay.
"Ash, I'm sorry but I couldn't save your stuff." Syrus said as he came running towards Jaden and Ashley
Ashley's eyes widened as they saw her bag float by, she couldn't swim.
"Don't worry, I'll get it." Jaden grinned
"Thank you, Jay."
Jaden ran to the beach and swim the ocean; getting Ashley's things back. Ashley turned to Syrus.
"Thank you, Sy. I don't know what I'd do without you and Jay." Ashley smiled at the blushing Sy who gave Laike back to her and was reminded of that day that she had come to the Duel Academy.
That's right if I hadn't met these guys… I would've been just another person in the background… I wouldn't be one of the people Crowler hated. I wouldn't be Ra's angel… I wouldn't be someone…
"Ash! I got your stuff."
Everyone looked at the brunet running towards Ashley.
If Jaden didn't stood up for me… If Bastion didn't take care of me during the time I couldn't see… If Raiki didn't look out for me… If Syrus didn't help me with most of the school basics… I would have gone back home by now.
Ashley hid her eyes in her reddish brown bangs as she felt her eyes about to water and her hands began to shake.
That's right…I've never had done anything for them, except bring trouble. Maybe I could start by helping Bastion with Alexis… But did I honestly think for one minute he'll always be there for me? They must think I'm so selfish…
"Ash… You ok? Why are you crying?"
"Huh?"
Ashley touched her face and felt something wet and concluded Jaden was right, she was in fact crying. Laike was crying too, as if worried to what had happen to his master, while Alexis and Bastion walked towards them to see what was wrong.
"Oh, this… I think I got sand in my eyes…" Ashley lied
"Oh… Do you want us to walk you home then?" Syrus offered
"No, its fine I can go home by myself…"
Jaden had taken his blazer and put it on Ashley unaware that he pulled her closer to him.
"We'll take you back to the dorm, Ash." Jaden being the most clueless guy ever just smiled at her, a girl that was inches away from him
"I can take her back to the dorm." Bastion offered
Ashley strongly disagreed, when more tears started to come down her cheek.
"What's wrong, Ashley?" Alexis asked
Ashley rested her head in Jaden's chest still crying. She was saying some stuff that no one else but her can understand.
ASHLEY POV
"I can never thank you enough… I such a bother to you… To everyone… I should have stayed home! I don't deserve friends like you!"
NORMAL POV
No one can understand what was happening or why she was crying all they knew was she was hurting inside for unknown reasons.
"You guys can go back to your dorms I'll take care of Ashley."
Ashley eventually lets Jaden go back to the Slifer dorm along with his blazer and of course, Syrus, Laike and Alexis. Bastion and Ashley were left alone on the beach, and they were quiet for a little while longer.
"Ashley, is this another prank or something? Because if it is, it's not—"
"I want you to stop worrying about me."
"WHAT?!" Bastion was now frantic and practically terrified; not knowing what to do
"I know how much you like Alexis."
"…"
"I've noticed you're nervous and speechless around her. You're hands even get sweaty."
"…"
"Go and ask her out."
"What even after what I told you yesterday? I..."
"ASK HER OUT!! I don't need you like you feel I do, that's why you can't ask her right? I'm the incompetent wall blocking you from your happy ending!"
ASHLEY POV
This feeling… It's happening all over again… Like before… But I'm not letting it happen again… I won't get in the way this time…
But at the back of her mind was a voice that muttered …But I don't want to be left behind too…
FLASHBACK
Ashley had her first crush on Atemu; she was actually the first to notice, during Duelist Kingdom, Yugi wasn't normal Yugi when he duels and actually confessed secretly that she knew and also confessed her heavy crushing on Yami aka Atemu, being a kid who didn't cared much of what other people think.
Atemu was being force by Yugi to go on a date with Tea, when she called to confirm what she heard from Tristan.
"Yami?"
"Ash, it's late what are you doing up?"
"Yami, I heard you were going on a date with Tea…"
"I am, why?"
"Why? Why did you agree?"
"Yugi likes her."
"I know that, but why you and not him?"
"Tea likes Yami." Yugi interrupted
"But… Yugi!"
"Ash, you're too young to date." Yami said
They were using mind shuffle on me…
"I know… But still!"
Why can't I do anything?!
"Ashley, we've decided already." Yugi told her
Ashley started to cry on the phone; Yugi and Yami could hear her crying.
"Ash, I promise when you're older."
"Uh! Sniff"
"Ashley, don't cry anymore, ok? We'll bring you lots of sweet next time."
"Uh! Sayonara, Yugi, Yami."
But is this really the right thing to do?
"Sayonara, Ashley."
"Sayonara, Ash."
END FLASHBACK
I started to cry again. But wondered why was I crying so much? I didn't cry this much before with Atemu. It's not like I'm losing him, we're still going to be friends, right?
"WHO THE HELL TOLD YOU THAT IDEA?!"
"I CAN TELL!!"
"THEN YOU'RE BEING ILLOGICAL!"
I heard Bastion take a deep breath.
"You're not a burden, Ashley."
"Then what am I?"
Bastion couldn't answer; I see he was trying very hard to find an answer, so I ran away from him as fast as I could. I didn't care how I looked just wearing the bikini and just ran to anywhere but there, any place but there would be good.
Raiki: Why didn't I get to go to the beach?!
Darkangelsonic: Because the laundry won't wash themselves (sweat drops)
Raiki: Fine. (crosses his arms)
Darkangelsonic: Please Review!! (Grins)