[Bang's head on the wall] I do not own Yu-gi-oh, Yu-gi-oh GX, or Princess Tutu.

Chapter 9: Jasmine's story

I woke up in the morning about 7:00 am.

No one else was awake. Even Mahad was sleeping on the wall. I decided to go into Mana's kitchen and make breakfast for everyone. I prepared some pancakes with eggs and hash browns with some scones and apple juice on the side. Everyone was still sleeping when the food was ready. I decided to sit down and read Eclipse while I wait for everyone else.

That was when I saw on Mana's notice board. Kaiba Corp Cruise tonight at 10:00 pm.

I was remebering my story. How I was supposed to save my prince from drowning. How in the end the prince would not realize it is me and I would turn into sea foam without a soul going to heaven.

No, I mustn't think of that. I will change the fate of my story. It can happen right?

I remember when I first wanted to come to this world.

"Atsuko-Oneechan*, what is the human world like?"

My oldest sister was Atsuko she had brown hair with blonde streaks, small brown eyes, and a long gleaming ruby red tail.

"Jasmine, the human world is no where near as wonderful as our world."

I would always get that reply when I ask Atsuko that question. It was the rule that I had to be 14 before I could go to the surface world and look at the wonders above. Around the same time was when I was called upon to be one of the story guardians. I was swimming around in my garden. It was nighttime and almost everything was pitch black. I heard someone talking to me.

"Hello there my little mermaid, how are you doing this lovely evening?"

"Who are you?" I called out to the darkness.

No one was there but, I knew that was impossible. Someone had to be here. Just then a huge face took up most of the palace wall. It was an old man with a long white beard and a big feather hat. He had the most peculiar smile.

"I choose you the little mermaid to fill out your destiny and become Maiden Pearl."

"Who's Maiden Pearl?"

"Why my darling, you are!"

That was when I saw my blue necklace that I had around my neck as long as I can remember started to glow. That was when my violet tail melted into legs and I was wearing a sea green tutu. I had noticed my hair was a darker color. I looked at myself with amazement. I just noticed that I could not breathe under water.

I tried to swim up but, legs were not very great at using for swimming.

"What is this? I forgot Maiden Pearl can't breathe under water. Well how about this? Anytime you touch water anywhere in your physical exterior you will turn back into a mermaid and only when you are completely dry then can you turn back into a human."

That was when my legs turned into a tail again and the tutu disappeared.

I went home to tell my sisters what happened and my father told me that I was only a story book character. My father then let me explore the world above. Of course in order to do that I had to cut my hair and give it to the sea witch. It eventually grew back.

I was pretty happy. I even saved Christine when I saw she almost drowned when being hit by an airplane over the water. We had become friends ever since.

I moved from New York to Japan just a year ago. That was when I met Mahad.

I was lost and I decided to into a near by office building. Little did I know that the office building I went into was actually the main building of Kaiba Corp.?

I saw some kids inside that went to my neighboring school. Those kids were actually Jounichi, Honada, Anzu and Yugi. They went into an elevator that went to the top floor.

My tear shaped necklace was glowing. I knew I had to follow them. When I went up the elevator by the time I got there Honada and Anzu were leaving with this old man that looked injured. I later found out he was Yugi's grandpa.

When I went into the duel arena I saw the boy that went to my neighboring school was battling this kid that I knew was the owner of Kaiba Corp that built the dueling systems. I knew he looked a tiny bit different then before. Even his voice was in a much deeper tone. Did he go through puberty in five seconds?

I knew what duel monsters were but I never took any interest in it and I never knew what a dueling arena was. When I saw the stadium it was huge*. All the monsters that were played came to life and actually battled.

That was when I saw him. A tall man about 18 years old appears on the field. He had this violet armor with a tall pointy hat. He also had beautiful blue eyes and long violet hair that came up to his shoulders. The kid called him the Dark Magician. I saw him battle and destroyed many monsters. I thought he was my prince at first. I knew he was ten times older then me but, come on I was too distracted to realize this.

That was when the rich kid summoned his big dragons on the field. All three of the monsters were going to attack the Dark Magician. I could not let that happen. I called upon my necklace.

"I am Maiden Pearl!"

I saw the magician look over at me while I transformed into Maiden Pearl. I couldn't talk when I was Maiden Pearl because I was supposed to fallow the basic story line. My feet also felt like knives were piercing through them anytime my feet touched the ground.

I jumped onto the field and put my arms around the magician's waist and lifted him up over the blast until we landed on this long bridge thing over the arena. The boy only lost life points.

The magician looked over at me with great curiosity. Then he spoke in a harsh tone.

"Why did you let my master take the powerful blast from the dragon?"

I looked at him shocked. I saved his life and he didn't care.

"If my master lost this duel I would have never forgave you."

Tears were starting to push their way out of my eyes.

"Do you have anything to say for yourself?"

I just looked at him having my tears push their way out of my eyes.

"Can you talk?" He said this in a softer tone.

I shock my head no and then ran away.

My tears were pouring out of my eyes.

"Wait, come back!"

I did not turn around I just kept on running. In school the next day I went to all my classes and getting mocked by all the students along the way. This was normal for me. I was always getting mocked because I was different from other students. I liked to read and write poems instead of going on chat rooms or going to parties.

This day seemed normal at first when I noticed there was another magic force lurking around. I did not know if it was good or evil. I was taking a stroll through the woods when I heard some foot steps behind me. I looked over my shoulder but know one was there. As I continued walking I had the feeling that someone is trying to follow me. That was when I turned around and saw something violet dash across the path.

"Who's there?"

No answer.

I was going to explore the spot where the thing had vanished when my blue necklace started glowing. I was about to transform into Maiden Pearl when two arms came around me and prevented me from doing so.

"Let go!"

I was trying to turn around when I heard a familiar voice.

"Do not worry. I am not here to hurt you."

He let go of his grip to see the Dark Magician was standing right behind me.

"You are the Magician I saw the other day."

"Yes, that was me. I want an explanation."

"I saved your life yesterday got yelled at by you for doing so and now you want an explanation?"

That was when I heard soft laughter come from behind me. That was when a Sylph* appeared before me. She had long silver hair and a white shimmering dress with matching toe shoes.

"What is that?"

Before I could explain the Sylph danced over to him and put her hand on his heart. The Dark Magician groaned in pain. The Sylph had taken a piece of his heart and held it in her hand.

I immediately transformed after that. I danced next to the Sylph for a minute then beckoned her to join me. After a few minutes of dancing the Sylph gave back the heart shard. I then got out my big book of stories and she stepped on the pages of La Sylphide and dissolved into the book.

I kneeled down against the Dark Magician and pressed the shard against his heart and it went back in. He seemed fine after that.

"How did you get her to give back the piece of my heart?"

I shook my head knowing that I couldn't reply. I ran away from him hoping to go back to the ocean to change back. I though I was alone when I felt a hand grab my wrist.

"You are not running away from me like you did last time."

I struggled with him knowing that he was not about to let go.

"Why do always keep running away from me"

That was when I fell into the waves. The current was strong that day since it looked like there was a storm coming. I heard the Dark Magician looking for me in the water.

I saw him dive under the waves looking for me. I did not want to reveal my identity as a mermaid. That was when I saw a huge wave crash over him taking him under.

I dove under the water hoping to find him. I did he was struggling with the current. I grabbed his arm and dragged him back to the shore. Before I could swim away he grabbed my arm to prevent me from going back in the water.

When he opened his eyes he saw my shimmering tail hiding behind my long hair. I said nothing knowing that someone was eventually going to come and see a mythical creature lying on the beach ready for the five o'clock news.

The last thing I expected from the Dark Magician was for him to pick me up use my dress to cover up my long tail and take me to his house. He helped me dry off and made some tea for me to drink. After a few minutes he spoke.

"This is why you were running away from me?"

I just nodded my head.

"I am sorry that I was ungrateful to you. You saved my life three times already. You do not have to tell me anything. I can understand if you still want to hide something."

"No, I will tell you everything."

I explained the whole thing of how I was the little mermaid and all of the other things that I explained to you a few paragraphs ago.

"Do not worry. Your secret is safe with me."

I was friends with him ever since. He eventually told me that his name was Mahad. He also introduced me to Mana and we talked about Twilight for the next two hours.

"Jasmine you are already awake?"

The flashback ended there. Mahad walked into the kitchen.

"Everyone else is still asleep but, I made breakfast."

"No thanks, I am not that hungry."

"There are blueberry pancakes."

"Maybe one would not hurt."

As he began eating while I made plans to get Mana to fall in love with him.

"How about you sort of propose to her in a romantic place like, the blooming gardens?"

"That would be too awkward."

We heard someone coming into the kitchen. I hid under the table while looking through the table cloth.

"Good morning Mahad."

"Good mourning Mana. Did anything happen to you last night?"

"No, I slept fine last night. Um… Mahad I want to ask you something."

"Go right ahead Mana."

"Well, you know how I always say I love you, which I do."

"Yes, I notice."

"I just wanted to know if you loved me back."

There was a long silence.

"Sorry, Mana I can not return your feelings."

"Oh… that's okay. I'll keep trying."

I heard Mana leave the kitchen when I came out of the table.

"You are the biggest idiot I have ever met in my entire life! Why didn't you say you loved her back?"

"I was panicking I do not think I would stay conscious if I told Mana I loved her."

"Well, I guess you will get another chance. By the way I wanted to ask you this last night. Yami said he invited his friends Otogi, Jounichi, Honada, Judai, Yugi, and Bakura for a sleep over."

"You wanted to ask?"

"Who's Bakura?"

Mahad was silent for a very long time.

"Bakura is a close friend of Yami and Yugi. They knew each other for a long time."

"Oh, okay." "So speaking about all your friends, are you going to the cruise tonight?"

"What does that have to do with my friends?"

"Are you going or not?"

"I won't be attending. I was thinking about taking a swim tonight"

*1- Oneechan is a phrase meaning older sister in Japanese.

*2- I know that in the manga the duel stadiums are very small but, I am using the anime version of the duel stadium.

*3- A Sylph is a forest fairy if you did not know.

I told you I did not forget. So Jasmine's story is very interesting is it not? Well the next chapter will also be in Jasmine's point a view. Keep on reading!