Chapter Twelve
When They Learned of Her True Naïvety
A few weeks had passed by since the Duel Spirit incident and by then, winter vacation was over. Classes have begun again, going back to their usual routines after students returned to the Academy. Jaden's room, after much time and hard work, was finally done with its construction, today being the day where she could finally move in since the paint had finally dried.
Aside from today being the day where Jaden was going to move out into her new room, at the current moment, it was gym class, usually the last class of the day. Ayukawa advised the current class to their post for today's physical activity.
"For today's PE class, we'll be playing tennis!" said Ayukawa.
Everyone replied back to Ayukawa after taking their respective posts on the tennis courts.
"Right!" they said.
And with that, they began to play. Junko and Momoe took their positions as the ball was served over to them. Junko hit the ball back to their opponents, who just so happened to be Jaden and Shou. The four of them were all in their new gym uniforms (Momoe, Junko, and Jaden wearing lilac-colored uniforms and Shou's being blue), much like their previous ones. However, unlike their last ones, they wore shorts with this uniform.
Momoe hit the ball back over the net, to which Shou reacted nervously as he held his racket in front of himself. Jaden sweat dropped as she saw Shou hop back on one foot nervously before hitting the ball back over the net, yelping slightly in anticipation. Jaden sighed and clenched her teeth.
"C'mon…what's tennis got to do with dueling?" whined Jaden.
Momoe ran to the side with her racket in hand as she looked at Jaden.
"You know, Ayukawa-sensei also really wanted to play volleyball!" Momoe said before hitting the ball over to Jaden.
Jaden reacted quickly and ran to the side, still rather unconvinced.
"Either way, it's the same," said Jaden.
Jaden pinpointed the ball's location in the air and made a remarkable leap off the ground to spike the ball back to the other side of the net. However, the ball's impact with the racket got it going in a direction that headed towards the adjacent court…right towards where Asuka was!
Jaden's eyes widened as gravity took its effect on her and had her landing back down on the ground.
"Oh, crap!" exclaimed Jaden. "Look out, Asuka!"
Asuka turned her head from her current game to see why Jaden had yelled out at her for. Her eyes widened as she saw the tennis ball soaring at an intense velocity in her direction. Frozen with a 'deer caught in a headlight' look, Asuka was fortunate that the ball was intercepted by someone, sending it off into a different direction. However, unlike Asuka, Professor Chronos was unfortunate seeing as he happened to be in the direction the ball was sent at.
Professor Chronos was currently sitting on a raised chair, having been the current chair umpire (A/N I looked it up, so don't question me). He was currently talking to Ayukawa, neither of them noticing the ball.
"Well, you see—" Professor Chronos was cut off as, once again, a ball hit him in the face, only this time, it hit him in the right eye.
Despite it being a different eye, the impact the ball had on Professor Chronos's right eye was still as painful…especially since the force caused him to fall back off his raised chair. Apparently, today was one of those days where everything seemed to turn against him in painful ways.
On a different matter, Asuka sighed in relief and stared at the person who saved her from the ball.
"U-Um…" Asuka stuttered, trying to find the right words to say.
Momoe and Junko ran over to their roommate, having seen everything.
"Asuka-san!" said Junko. "You're not hurt, are you?"
Asuka stayed quiet as the person who helped her out stood up from and turned to face her. The student was male, obviously by his tall stature and build (A/N I can't refer to him as a boy since it doesn't fit him, so male student it is!). He wore a blue, polo-shirt with the Academy's insignia on the left side of his chest and a pair of white shorts and had reddish-brown hair and grey eyes (not sure if they're grey or hazel, but I'm trying here!).
"You all right?" he asked Asuka. "You weren't hurt, were you?"
The male student gave Asuka a dazzling smile as the background behind him gleamed and sparkled. Whether this was his attempt at flirting or to reassure Asuka, this action caused Junko and Momoe to clasp their hands together and stared at him with hearts in their eyes. They sighed in a dreamy-like manner as a blush tinged their cheeks. Oh yeah, he got them good…
Asuka was not affected like her friends were and just replied back, "No, I'm fine."
Asuka bowed at the male student in gratitude. That was one injury she just avoided thanks to him.
"Thanks a lot for saving me so politely," said Asuka.
The male student looked at Asuka and ceased his smile as he finally got a good look at her. The uniform Asuka wore was close-fitting, accentuating the curves her figure had, especially around her well-endowed chest. With a flawless face like hers framed slightly by her small, dark-blonde side bangs with light, brown eyes embellished with long, black lashes staring at him, the male student fell for Asuka…hard.
The male student was completely smitten with the Obelisk Blue beauty, the background behind her sparkled as she smiled at him.
A/N I just love describing Asuka, why? I don't know, but I'm having fun, so back off!
"Is this Obelisk Blue's…" the male student thought as his eyes misted a bit and a blush tinged his cheeks, "…Asuka Tenjoin-kun?"
The male student was too overwhelmed in Asuka's beauty as any good male would when they've fallen head over heels for a girl (or boy if they swing that way…XD) to notice her change in expression.
"Um…is there something else?" asked Asuka.
The male student blinked and sweat dropped as he nervously looked at Asuka.
"No!" he replied, laughing awkwardly as he rubbed the back of his neck. "I was being rude. I didn't know there was a lovely lady like yourself in my Obelisk Blue."
During the moment, the Obelisk Blue student grabbed onto Asuka's hand somehow without even knowing about it himself. Asuka stared at him perplexed.
"U-Um…" she said.
"Huh?" said the Obelisk Blue.
The male student blinked and looked down, exclaiming as he immediately let go of Asuka's hand. He stared wide-eyed at the ground sheepishly, embarrassed.
"I was a bit pretentious, wasn't I?" he asked, laughing awkwardly to ease up his embarrassment. "Please forget that!"
The Obelisk Blue continued to laugh as he walked back, waving his racket around a few times before turning around.
"Man, being a teen, being a teen!" the male student exclaimed.
Asuka stared at the Obelisk Blue student perplexed as both Jaden and Shou popped up behind her, both looking clueless as to what just happened.
~later in the Main Academy Building's infirmary~
Professor Chronos stared at Jaden as she apologized to him.
"I'm really sorry!" Jaden said, bowing apologetically at the blonde professor who now sported a black eye. "Please forgive me…"
Professor Chronos scowled at Jaden and turned his head to face Ayukawa, whom had an ice-pack ready for the blonde-haired professor's black eye.
"I suppose with an apology, I won't need the police-no ne!" said Professor Chronos.
Ayukawa turned Professor Chronos's head a bit forcefully towards her, causing a few of his neck bones to pop.
"Signora Ayukawa, please be a bit more tender-no ne…" said Professor Chronos.
Jaden stared at Ayukawa and Professor Chronos, somewhat concerned. Ayukawa diverted her eyes on Jaden as she spoke to Professor Chronos in an attempt to defend the gender-mistaken girl.
"Jaden-kun didn't mean to do it, so why don't you forgive her for that accident, Professor Chronos?" Ayukawa asked as she placed the ice-pack on the professor's black eye.
Professor Chronos reacted negatively to Ayukawa's suggestion.
"Non!" he said. "Non! Non! That's like leaving beer lying around, is it not?"
Ayukawa took the ice-pack off of Professor Chronos and looked at him questioningly. Professor Chronos held up his finger.
"And a lukewarm on, at that," he added.
Ayukawa sweat dropped while Jaden looked to the side.
"He's making a pun?" Jaden muttered.
Professor Chronos turned to face Jaden on the desk chair he sat on. He placed his hand around his ear (which grew bigger in a comical way) as if he heard something.
"Oh?" he said. "Did you say something, Dropout Boy?"
"I'm just saying, it wasn't me who hit you like that," said Jaden.
Professor Chronos got up from his seat and walked over to Jaden.
"Be quiet-no ne!" snapped Professor Chronos. "To think you're blaming this on someone else… All right."
Jaden looked nervously at Professor Chronos as he stood in front of her.
"As your punishment, you are to join and spend one day in our Tennis Club!" said Professor Chronos.
Jaden blinked owlishly.
"Wait, what?" she said. "Aren't you mixed up?"
Professor Chronos looked Jaden in the eye with a serious expression.
"Don't, and you'll be expelled," Professor Chronos said darkly.
Jaden frowned.
"But they just finished building my room…" complained Jaden.
Sometime later within the Academy,
Jaden let out a mushroom sigh as Professor Chronos kept his hand on her shoulder while he conversed with a very familiar male student. Apparent, the professor didn't trust her to go alone and decided to escort her to the tennis courts. She looked down in dismay as Professor Chronos nodded and left her alone with the student, who just so happened to be captain of the Tennis Club. Just her luck…
"And he didn't even let me change out of this uniform…" Jaden thought as she tugged on her sweatshirt. "Is this supposed to be closefitting? Cause it's not…Huh?"
Jaden looked up after feeling someone tap on her shoulder. She narrowed her eyes when she was now staring at the captain. The captain of the Tennis Club smiled at Jaden, whom wasn't in the mood for this.
"Let's get this over with…" said Jaden. "…er…uh…"
"Mitsuru Ayanokouji," said the captain.
Jaden nodded and sighed.
"Right…Jaden Yuki," said Jaden. "Yah!"
Jaden yelped as Ayanokouji slapped her on the back in a friendly-like manner. Whether he intentionally meant to do it rough or not, Jaden didn't care and would love nothing more than to throw the Obelisk Blue onto the ground for that. However, she had self control…that, and she didn't want to risk getting another day of being in the Tennis Club…or expulsion.
"Damn Professor Chronos…" Jaden thought.
"Alright, let's get you in a uniform, Jaden-kun!" said Ayanokouji.
Jaden glared at Ayanokouji as he led her into an empty locker room, most likely the Tennis Club's locker room, but she didn't care. His hand was on her shoulder…his hand…
"Must resist judo throwing captain…" thought Jaden.
Ayanokouji let go of Jaden's shoulder, much to her relief, and walked over to a locker. He opened the locker after staring at Jaden in thought for a few minutes on what size the Osiris Red was. Jaden looked around the room, busying herself by looking at the tennis equipment right by her.
Suddenly, a hand was on Jaden's shoulder, causing the gender-mistaken girl to shriek a bit. She turned around quickly and backed up a few inches, narrowly avoiding the equipment that was behind her. When she realized it was just Ayanokouji holding a pile of neatly, folded white clothes, she sighed and rubbed the back of her head.
Ayanokouji was amused with Jaden's reaction and found it somewhat adorable, but more to the point, he needed to get her in that uniform quickly so he can begin practice. He handed her the pile of clothes and crossed his arms as she looked at it questioningly.
Jaden looked at the clothes Ayanokouji handed before looking at him questioningly. After a few moments of silence, Ayanokouji decided to ask what's wrong.
"Jaden-kun, why haven't you changed?" asked Ayanokouji.
Jaden blinked and just stared at him. Ayanokouji arched his eyebrow at her, wondering why she wasn't answering. He placed his hand on her shoulder and looked at her right in the eye, causing some tension for the gender-mistaken girl.
"Jaden-kun, you're still in your gym uniform," said Ayanokouji. "Get out of them and put on the uniform I gave you… unless you want me to do it for you?"
Jaden blinked and looked nervously at Ayanokouji. Once again, no answer, but he did get a reaction out of her. Ayanokouji was just teasing Jaden at first, but seeing as the only thing he got was a nervous expression from her…he decided to give her a little push.
"Do I really have to get you out of those clothes myself?" asked Ayanokouji.
Jaden was still trying to figure out if he was just teasing her or if he was really serious from the first time he asked her that. Her conclusion was simple as the zipper on her sweatshirt was tugged downward slightly. He was downright serious…
Ayanokouji stared at Jaden as she quickly moved her hand over her zipper to keep him from tugging it any lower. Her face turned red as she looked at the Tennis Club Captain, who smiled slyly at her.
"Well?" said Ayanokouji.
The next thing that happened wasn't what Ayanokouji had expect would happen. Instead of Jaden changing into the uniform he gave him (Professor Chronos left out one little thing) after a potential snap and insult, all he got was a high-pitched shriek and a fist to the stomach. For a rather scrawny first-year, the boy could pack a punch.
Jaden dropped the clothes in her hand onto the ground and picked up a racket from the equipment and started swinging it at Ayanokouji.
"Get out!" she screamed. "Get…out! Get the hell out!"
Ayanokouji dodged every swing Jaden sent at him, confused to why the Osiris Red would react this way.
"I mean, we're both men, right?" thought Ayanokouji.
Ayanokouji snapped out of his thoughts as a tennis ball was sent directly at him, to which he dodged. He looked at Jaden as she threw a tennis ball up and served it over hand forcefully at him. Seeing as he wasn't welcomed, Ayanokouji high-tailed it out of the locker room, narrowly avoiding a few more tennis balls followed by a thrown tennis racket at him.
Ayanokouji could help but think, "Wow, nice serves."
Jaden was hyperventilating as she held another tennis racket in her hand with a ball in the other. She stared at the door Ayanokouji shut behind him for a few moments. Her face still burned red, but it began to cool down once she started to breathe in deeply to calm her pounding heart.
Self-defense was beginning to prove its worth to Jaden aside from warding off bullies. After making sure Ayanokouji wouldn't open the door by locking it, she began to change.
"Sheesh, all I wanted him was to leave before I change!" thought Jaden. "Is privacy a little too much to ask for?"
A few moments later, Ayanokouji sighed as he waited patiently for Jaden to walk out. It didn't help that the Osiris Red locked the door and since he left the keys inside the locker room, there was not much to do except wait. A few minutes had passed before the doorknob clicked and turned.
Ayanokouji watched as the door opened before Jaden walked out wearing the uniform he gave her. She held a tennis racket in her right hand and had a red sweatband on her right wrist. She wore a white polo-shirt and shorts of the same color, which she was currently tugging at.
"Oi, Ayanokouji," said Jaden. "You gave me the wrong size shorts. These are too loose."
Ayanokouji scratched the back of his head.
"They are?" asked Ayanokouji. "Let me fix—"
"Get near me, and I'll bash you with this racket," Jaden said darkly as she held up the racket.
Ayanokouji looked at Jaden nervously.
A few moments later,
Jaden was grumbling as she stood by Ayanokouji, racket-less. Somehow, despite being at a somewhat upper advantage, the Tennis Captain had managed to snatch the racket out of her hand before dragging her back into the locker room to pick out shorts that were better suited to her size.
"Why me?" said Jaden.
Ayanokouji heard Jaden and sighed.
"By the way, sorry about that earlier, Jaden-kun," said Ayanokouji. "Didn't expect you to do that…"
Jaden glared at Ayanokouji.
"All I wanted you was to leave and let me change," said Jaden. "Was that too much to ask for?"
Ayanokouji turned from the box he was rummaging through for shorts and stared at Jaden.
"Then why didn't you say so?" questioned Ayanokouji. "Besides, we're both men, what difference does it matter?"
Jaden tightened her fists and scowled at Ayanokouji.
"I happen to find that it does matter!" snapped Jaden. "I like my privacy, thank you very much…"
Ayanokouji sighed and went back to searching for a pair of smaller shorts.
"For that, he gets 100 balls," thought Ayanokouji.
Meanwhile in the girls' locker room,
Asuka opened her locker and placed a neatly-folded, fluffy pink towel down on her gym clothes, having just finished changing back into her normal uniform. She turned her head when she heard her friends call out her name. Junko and Momoe walked up to her, both wearing ecstatic grins.
"We figured out who that gentleman was!" said Momoe.
Asuka glared at Momoe.
"Don't raise your voice like that!" snapped Asuka. "It's embarrassing! It almost looks like I told you to investigate, doesn't it?"
As if on cue, two girls sitting on the benches nearby Asuka turned their heads to see what was going on.
"Still!" said Junko.
"We were really interested!" added Momoe.
Few moments later outside the locker room,
Asuka crossed her arms as Junko told her about the student.
"Let's see…his name's…Mitsuru Ayanokouji," said Junko. "An Obelisk Blue Third-Year who's not just in charge of the Tennis Club, but also heir to Ayanokouji Motors!"
Asuka crossed her arms and sighed.
"Come on…" said Asuka.
"On top of that, he's apparently pretty skilled at dueling!" added Momoe. "His skills rival those of that great Ryou Marufuji, too!"
Asuka closed her eyes and looked down. Apparently, she wasn't interested and to prove it, she even stated it out herself.
"That's why I'm not interested, guys," said Asuka.
Suddenly, a loud and panicked voice caught the three girls' attention. They turned and spotted their fellow Osiris Red, Shou, who was surprisingly not with Jaden. He was currently running back and forth in a streak of panic.
"Oh, no!" he exclaimed quickly as he ran back and forth. "Oh, no! Oh, no! Oh, no! Oh, no! Oh, no! Oh, no! Oh, no!"
Shou stopped with his repetitive 'Oh, no!' and looked around frantically as he began to hyperventilate. Asuka, Momoe, and Junko stared at the blue-haired boy questioningly.
"What are you so fussy about?" asked Momoe.
"So noisy…" remarked Junko.
Shou ran in place and looked apologetically at Junko and Momoe.
"Oh, I'm sorry!" said Shou. "Do you know where the Tennis Club is?"
"The Tennis Club was playing at class today," replied Asuka.
"Oh, those courts, huh?" Shou said before running off. "Thanks, Asuka-san!"
After a few moments, Junko placed her hands on her hips.
"What's with him?" asked Junko.
Momoe turned to Junko and asked, "Did he just ignore us?"
Suddenly, Shou ran back up to the trio, surprising Momoe and Junko slightly.
"O-Oh, by the way…" Shou said as he ran in place. "Aniki took the brunt of Professor Chronos's anger, and he's having a private practice with the Tennis Club's captain! Well, there you have it!"
Shou broke into another run down the hall.
"Oh, no!" he exclaimed. "Oh, no! Oh, no! Oh, no!"
Both Junko and Momoe watched the blue-haired boy run off before looking at each other.
"Isn't that Ayanokouji-san?" asked Momoe.
"I don't really get much of it, but let's go, Momoe!" Junko said, running off into the direction Shou went in.
Momoe nodded and trailed after Junko.
"Right!" said Momoe.
Asuka was about to follow her friends when someone called out to her.
"Asuka-san!" said someone.
Asuka turned and saw Daitokuji walk up to her with Pharaoh in his arms.
"Daitokuji-sensei!" exclaimed Asuka.
Daitokuji chuckled and smiled as Pharaoh yawned.
"I have something to tell you-nya," said Daitokuji.
Meanwhile on the Tennis Courts,
Jaden continued to hit the tennis balls Ayanokouji had served overhand to her, up to the point of exhaustion. She swung her racket at a ball served at her before falling onto her knees. She breathed heavily, exhausted from running and hitting the balls. There was a slight feeling inside of her that Ayanokouji was going hard on her for the stunt that happened in the locker room.
"Still…this is harsh!" said Jaden.
Ayanokouji turned as one of the ball girls handed him another tennis ball. The Tennis Club captain served the ball to Jaden, to which she immediately stood up and backed up.
"Geez, that Chronos…I'll remember this!" Jaden said as she swung her racket a bit too early, and as a result, got hit in the head with a ball and knocked back.
Jaden fell back onto the ground, landing right on her tailbone…very hard. She clenched her teeth and winced as the pain coursed through her nerves. She was definitely going to feel that tomorrow.
"Ow, my coccyx!"said Jaden. (1)
Ayanokouji walked up to the net and looked at Jaden.
"Stand up!" said Ayanokouji. "Stand up, Jaden Yuki-kun! You can't be crushed by this much! What'll you do if you don't try your best now?"
"Beat ya senseless…" thought Jaden. "I'd do that right now, but I rather not get in trouble…"
"The day we call 'today' won't last for just today!" said Ayanokouji.
Jaden opened one of her eyes and looked at Ayanokouji as she lifted herself slightly off the ground.
"Isn't that obvious?" she said. "W-What's with this heated guy?"
Ayanokouji smiled at Jaden as he continued on.
"And the day we call 'tomorrow' is written as a bright day!" said Ayanokouji. "Now, hit 50 more balls for tomorrow's sake!"
Jaden sat up straight and ignore the pain as she stared at Ayanokouji in shock.
"Eh?" she exclaimed. "50 more balls?"
Jaden blinked and diverted her eyes as she spotted Shou, Momoe, and Junko standing a few feet away from the court she and Ayanokouji were using.
"Well?" said Ayanokouji. "Get in the spirit! Do your best with me! Your sweat and tears will lead to food for tomorrow! Hurrah for such lovely youth!"
Jaden groaned and rubbed her backside. Shou and Junko stared strangely at Ayanokouji.
"That club captain…" said Shou. "He's got a flirty smile, and what he's saying about winning is so dramatic…"
"Seriously, I don't get what he means, either," said Junko.
Momoe, on the other hand, closed her eyes and smiled dreamily.
"It's fine, isn't it?" asked Momoe. "As long as he's got good looks!"
~47 balls hit later~
Jaden hit another ball served at her while keeping her count. She was downright exhausted by the time she hit her last ball that when she swung her racket and hit the ball, she fell down forward onto the ground.
"50!" she said wearily. "I'm done!"
The ball Jaden had hit bounced on the ground and rolled over to where Asuka, who had just arrived, stood. Asuka bent down and picked up the ball, catching the attention of her roommates and Shou.
"It's Asuka!" said Momoe.
Ayanokouji perked up and turned his head at the mere mention of Asuka's name.
"Asuka-kun?" he said, giving a dazzling smile.
Asuka walked towards Jaden, to which Ayanokouji assumed she came to see him and was currently walking towards him and not the scrawny Osiris Red who had managed to make somewhat of a mess in the locker rooms. He ran up to Asuka and closed his eyes as he waved to her with a smile.
"Oi, Asuka-kun!" said Ayanokouji. "Glad to see you! To think you came to see—"
Ayanokouji trailed off as he realized that Asuka ignored him. He opened his eyes and stared wide-eyed at Asuka as she walked towards Jaden.
"Huh?" he exclaimed.
Jaden was on the ground faced down, her eyes closed as she tried to rest up. She had just finished hitting 150 balls, created somewhat of a mess in the locker room, was almost undressed by Ayanokouji (even though he wasn't actually going to do it) who was the reason she caused the mess, who's to say she isn't exhausted? She just landed on her tailbone for crying out loud and had to hit another 50 balls afterwards while enduring the pain and exhaustion! If her father ever found out what happened, lest assure he would go ballistic.
"Hey, Jaden!" said Asuka. "I've got something to tell you."
Jaden opened her eyes and lifted her head up in question as she looked at Asuka. Asuka walked around the net and over to Jaden before helping the gender-mistaken girl up.
"I heard it from Daitokuji-sensei a bit earlier, but it sounds like someone said they saw Manjoume-kun," said Asuka.
Jaden immediately perked up to Manjoume's name and forgot about her exhaustion and pain.
"Manjoume?" said Jaden. "Where is he?"
"Well…" said Asuka.
Ayanokouji watched as both Jaden and Asuka conversed. Imaginary flames emanated from the enraged Third-Year Obelisk Blue as he glared at Jaden with flames in his eyes.
"To think Asuka-kun's talking so intimately to Jaden-kun…" said Ayanokouji. "I'm filled with the burning rage of jealousy right now! Get away from him, Asuka-kun!"
Both Jaden and Asuka turned their head to Ayanokouji and looked at him perplexed. Ayanokouji walked over to the two girls (one of which he still thought was a boy).
"I don't really want to tell you this, but…" said Ayanokouji. "Asuka-kun, an Obelisk Blue fairy like you is out of an Osiris Red like Jaden-kun's league!"
Shou blinked owlishly.
"Obelisk Blue fairy?" repeated Shou.
Shou looked up as a small simulation played in his naïve mind which consisted of a couple of Winged Obelisk the Tormentors flying over a field of flowers. His face distorted into one of disgust at the thought of how an Obelisk Blue fairy looked.
"Ew…that's awful…" said Shou.
A/N Shou is so naïve and sweet…which is what makes him even more adorable and Yuri n' Chuka agrees with me, right?
Ayanokouji stared at Asuka and Jaden with red eyes as flames continued to emanate from him.
"Asuka-kun!" he said. "A man like me is most suitable for you!"
Jaden blinked and looked over Ayanokouji before scoffing at him.
"You can't call yourself a man in those tiny tennis shorts…" said Jaden.
Asuka blinked and looked over Ayanokouji. She snorted and covered her mouth immediately as she tried to keep herself from laughing.
"Damn it, Jaden," she thought. "Why did you have to say that? Pfft…"
Thankfully, Ayanokouji ignored Jaden and didn't hear Asuka as she giggled quietly. He continued to glare at Jaden.
"Now, please, don't blame me and get away from Jaden-kun!" said Ayanokouji.
Jaden blinked and put two and two together to why Ayanokouji was acing this way. It took her a few moments before she realized that the Tennis Club captain had it the wrong way.
"H-Hold it!" said Jaden. "Aren't you getting the wrong idea? Me and her aren't really…"
Suddenly, Ayanokouji popped up in between Jaden and Asuka, scaring the crap out of Jaden as she tried to prevent herself from acting out her taught reflex (the same one she used on poor Daichi and anything similar to that).
"I don't need you unsightly excuses, Jaden-kun!" snapped Ayanokouji.
Jaden sighed and realized why he was acting this way. He still thought she was a boy and had feelings for Asuka. She waved it off as she began to explain his misconception.
"N-No, I'm telling you…" said Jaden.
Ayanokouji laughed and stared Jaden right in the eye as he said, "You're calling Asuka-kun a 'her', are you? To think you've got such a close relationship…"
Something within Jaden snapped and she lost all control, as a result, she ended up acting out her reflex. She closed her eyes, shrieked, and punched Ayanokouji in the stomach all at once. Asuka stared wide-eyed at Jaden.
"Jaden!" exclaimed Asuka.
Jaden opened her eyes and stared at Ayanokouji, whom was currently holding on his stomach, Guilt took its effect on Jaden as she flailed her hands and looked sheepishly at the captain.
"Oh, crap!" said Jaden. "Sorry, Ayanokouji!"
Ayanokouji looked up at Jaden and glared at the Osiris Red. First he (remember, mistaken gender!) and Asuka talked intimately to each other, and then tried to make an excuse, now this!
"Jaden-kun!" growled Ayanokouji. "Duel with me!"
Jaden blinked and responded back to the captain's request, "Listen to what someone's telling you!"
Ayanokouji walked past Jaden and stopped by her side. She turned around and looked at him questioningly.
"If you're a duelist, too, then how about we use this duel to settle things man-to-man?" asked Ayanokouji.
"Oh, come on…just what are we settling?" asked Jaden.
Imaginary flames continued to emanate from the tennis captain as he stared out.
"To sum it up, the winner will become Asuka-kun's fiancée!" answered Ayanokouji.
Asuka's eyes widened.
"W-Wait a second!" she exclaimed. "What are you—"
Momoe cut off Asuka as the raven-haired girl clasped her hands together and sighed dreamily.
"My, did he say 'fiancée'?" said Momoe.
Junko placed her hands on her hips.
"When did that chat turn into something like that?" asked Junko.
Jaden smiled and held up her fist. She had no clue what Ayanokouji meant by fiancée, but after being challenged to a duel, she was not backing out despite her earlier attempts to prevent it. She was too stubborn to refuse a duel anyhow.
"Heh, I don't really get what you mean, but I'm a guy who'll take on any challenged duel!" said Jaden. "All right! I'll accept your duel!"
Asuka gasped as both Shou and Junko looked questioningly at Jaden. Momoe was too wrapped up in her emotions caused by the type of situation Asuka seemed to be in. If only she knew…
"You're accepting?" asked Junko.
"T-Things turned into such trouble…" remarked Shou.
Few moments later,
Ayanokouji tied his shoes after placing his duel disk on his left arm. He stood up and stared at Jaden, who had just finished placing on her duel disk.
"Let's do this, Jaden-kun!" Ayanokouji said as he activated his duel disk.
Jaden smiled and activated her duel disk as well.
"Right!" she said. "That's just what I wanted!" "And needed to get rid of this pent up rage…"
Both Jaden and Ayanokouji faced off for a few second before shouting, "Duel!"
Jaden:
LP
4000
Ayanokouji:
LP
4000
Asuka stood in between Momoe and Junko as she crossed her arms. Momoe smiled at Asuka.
"My, Asuka, to think those two gentlemen are dueling for you…" said Momoe. "It's too cool!"
Asuka looked down and closed her eyes.
"It's stupid…I'm fed up with this…" said Asuka.
Junko closed her eyes and grinned at Asuka.
"That's what you're saying, but you're still paying attention!" said Junko.
Asuka looked at Junko sternly.
"That Tennis Club captain, Mitsuru Ayanokouji…" Asuka said in a slightly aggravated tone.
Junko was taken aback with Asuka's reaction.
"I just want to see the dueling skills that are said to rival Ryou Marufuji's for myself!" stated Asuka.
Shou's eyes widened at Asuka's comment.
"That rival my Onii-san's?" thought Shou. "That's blasphemy…or is it? That flirting captain…is he that good?"
Ayanokouji grinned at Jaden, his teeth gleaming in the light. He reached for his deck.
"It's my turn," he said, drawing his card. "Draw!"
Ayanokouji looked at his hand.
"The first to strike is the first to victory!" he said, activating a Magic card. "The Magic card, Service Ace!"
Jaden blinked and stared at the Magic card on Ayanokouji's field.
"A Magic card right of the bat, huh?" said Jaden.
Ayanokouji grinned widely at Jaden.
"Well, this card's a gamble card that makes you guess the type of a card I choose," explained Ayanokouji.
Jaden stared at Ayanokouji as he held up a card, her mouth open slightly in wonder.
"Is it a Magic?" asked Ayanokouji. "A Trap? Or even a Monster? If you get it right nicely, you'll be okay. But if you get it wrong, Jaden-kun, you'll end up taking 1500 points of damage."
Jaden smiled and held up her fist.
"Sounds interesting!" she said, focusing her eyes on the card Ayanokouji held. "Okay…"
Jaden continued to stare at the card in Ayanokouji. Shou smiled and tightened his fists.
"Man, it's already nerve-wracking!" said Shou.
"It happens sometimes," said Momoe.
Jaden stared at the card in Ayanokouji's hand and clenched her teeth. Apparently, guessing took a lot on her since it seemed to be getting all worked up. Ayanokouji noticed and frowned as he sweat dropped.
"Hey, come on…" he said, closing his eyes and grinning afterwards. "You couldn't possibly be getting so worked up over this card?"
Jaden growled as she wracked through her head on the possibility of the card Ayanokouji held. After coming to a standstill, she held up her fist.
"It's a Magic card!" said Jaden.
Ayanokouji blinked and turned to Jaden wearing a grin.
"You sure about that?" he asked, waving the card a bit as if to tease Jaden. "If you want to change your mind, now's your chance."
Jaden blinked and clenched her teeth as a bead of sweat rolled down the side of her face.
"H-Hold on!" she said. "It's a Trap…I'm switching to a Trap card!"
Ayanokouji grinned at Jaden and turned the card over.
"A Monster card," said Ayanokouji. "Sorry, looks like you were wrong on both ends!"
Jaden clenched her teeth as a bead of sweat rolled down the side of her face.
"Shit…" said Jaden.
"Then, I'll remove this card from the game…" said Ayanokouji. "And with Service Ace's effect…I deal 1500 damage to the opposing player!"
A light shot out from the card on Ayanokouji's field and hit Jaden. Jaden shielded herself from the hit and yelped when it came in contact with her.
Jaden:
LP
2500
Jaden glared at Ayanokouji as he grinned.
"Fifteen Love!" said Ayanokouji. "Next, I'll set one reversed card, ending my turn!"
Ayanokouji set down a face-down card that appeared on his field. Jaden reached for her deck.
"All right, now it's my turn!" Jaden said, drawing a card. "Draw!"
Jaden looked at her card, her thoughts focused on the life points she lost.
"So I've already taken a lot of damage, huh?" thought Jaden. "He's got no monsters on his field…"
Jaden placed the card in her hand and switched it out with a different card.
"Here goes!" she thought as she played a card. "I summon Elemental Hero Avian!"
Elemental Hero Avian appeared on the field with his wings covering himself before he opened them.
ATK 1000
"Now, go!" said Jaden. "Attack that flirting club captain directly! Take this! Feather Flash!"
Avian jumped into the air and let out a cascade of sharp feathers from himself at Ayanokouji. Ayanokouji grinned and activated the card on his field.
"Reversed card, open!" said Ayanokouji. "The Trap card, Receive Ace! It negates a direct attack and deals 1500 damage to the opposing player!"
A strong gust of wing from the card on Ayanokouji's field sent the feathers Avian shot out towards Jaden. Jaden blinked and shielded herself from the gusty wind and feathers.
"Aniki!" exclaimed Shou.
Jaden:
LP
1000
Jaden glared at Ayanokouji as he grinned at her.
"Thirty Love!" said Ayanokouji. "As its cost, I send three cards from my deck to the Graveyard."
Jaden watched as Ayanokouji discarded three of his cards before she reached for her hand.
"I set one reversed card face-down, ending my turn," said Jaden.
Jaden stared at Ayanokouji. Junko blinked and turned to Shou.
"Is he all right over there?" asked Junko. "He's already down to 1000 life points, isn't he?"
Shou scowled since if Jaden kept this up, Ayanokouji would win.
"Snap out of it, Aniki!" yelled Shou. "At this rate, Asuka-san's going to be that flirting club captain's fiancée!"
Momoe smiled and clasped her hands together.
"I'm so jealous!" said Momoe.
Asuka crossed her arms and closed her eyes.
"When is she going to tell him?" thought Asuka.
Ayanokouji reached for his deck.
"It's my turn!" he said, drawing a card. "Draw! Let's get down to it…with this!"
Ayanokouji played the card in his hand.
"The Magic card, Smash Ace!" he said. "I flip over one card from the top of my deck, and if that card's a Monster…it'll deal you 1000 points of damage, Jaden-kun."
Jaden blinked.
"What's the deal?" asked Jaden. "Is that all you've got?"
"Sorry, but that's how I duel," Ayanokouji replied, giving Jaden a dazzling smile afterwards before reaching for his deck. "And the first card…is a Monster card!"
Jaden groaned and placed her hand on her head.
"Man, this guy's too lucky!" said Jaden.
"Heh, the luck of the draw is just one of my skills," said Ayanokouji. "Now, try my Smash Ace for size!"
A whirlwind appeared in the air and sent a blast of energy at Jaden. Jaden intervened and activated the card on her field.
"Not so fast!" she said. "Reversed card, open! I activate the Trap card, Feather Wind! It negates a Magic card's effect!"
Jaden smiled and held up her fist as she saw the shocked look on Ayanokouji's face.
"What?" he exclaimed.
Avian got in front of the blast and blocked it off using his wings. The blast was sent elsewhere, which just so happened to be where Shou, Asuka, Junko, and Momoe were. The four huddled up as the blast hit them and covered their surroundings with smoke. Once the smoke cleared up, they focused their attention back on the duel.
"What the—?" exclaimed Ayanokouji.
Jaden laughed and smiled.
"An eye for an eye, and a Trap for a Trap!" said Jaden.
Ayanokouji gritted his teeth and then grinned, showing off yet another dazzling set of teeth. Jaden narrowed her eyes.
"Can he stop it with the twinkling teeth?" thought Jaden.
"Not bad, Jaden-kun!" said Ayanokouji. "That makes you my rival! You're indeed a worthy rival!"
Jaden blinked as Ayanokouji began to laugh. She looked perplexed at the tennis club captain.
"Wha…?" she said. "You and me, rivals?"
Jaden smiled at the thought of it.
"That's something interesting!" remarked Jaden. "Man, that's a laugh!"
Jaden started to laugh along with Ayanokouji despite their 3000 life point difference. Shou sighed while Junko and Momoe stared at the laughing duo in question. Asuka kept her arms crossed as she closed her eyes.
"Come on…" said Shou.
"What could those two be doing, I wonder…" said Junko.
Momoe smiled awkwardly as a small blush tinged her cheeks.
"The game's gone in a weird direction…" commented Momoe.
Ayanokouji stopped laughing and smirked at Jaden.
"With 1000 life points left, this isn't the time to laugh, right, Jaden-kun?" Ayanokouji asked as Jaden continued to laugh. "Or could it be you're laughing to cover up your failure? But then, that's something an Osiris Red like you would do!"
That caught Jaden's attention as she stopped laughing and looked at Ayanokouji questioningly. After realizing what he said, Jaden scowled and held up her fist.
"You're the one who shouldn't be laughing, aren't you?" asked Jaden. "Take a good look at your field! Even if I got done in by your Trap earlier, this time, your field's empty! Here goes! My turn!"
Jaden drew a card and looked at it.
"Alright!" she thought, smiling as she held it up. "I activate the Magic card, Polymerization! I'll fuse Elemental Heroes Clayman and Burstinatrix…and summon Elemental Hero Rampart Gunner!"
Rampart Gunner appeared on the field after the fusion of Clayman and Burstinatrix.
ATK 2000
"All right!" said Shou. "Go on and finish him in one shot, Aniki!"
Jaden blinked and looked at Shou with a smile.
"Right!" she said as she tightened her fist. "Here goes! Get ready for it! I use Avian to attack directly!"
Avian jumped into the air and charged up a sphere of energy into his hand before throwing it at Ayanokouji. Ayanokouji yelled as flames engulfed him from the sphere of energy that hit him.
Ayanokouji:
LP
3000
"And next up, I use Rampart Gunner to attack directly!" said Jaden. "Rampart Shot!"
Rampart Gunner launched her missiles at Ayanokouji, creating a small explosion around the Tennis Club captain. Ayanokouji winced as the smoke from the explosion began to clear.
Ayanokouji:
LP
1000
Ayanokouji glared at Jaden, who held up her fist and smiled after closing her eyes.
"My turn's ended!" said Jaden.
Shou jumped up and pumped his fist into the air.
"All right!" exclaimed Shou. "You're awesome, Aniki!"
Jaden laughed and gave Shou a V-sign. Asuka looked at Jaden and sighed in annoyance.
"Geez…she really gets carried away so easily…" murmured Asuka.
Junko and Momoe heard Asuka and looked at each other questioningly.
"Well, with this, we're back to where we started!" said Jaden.
Ayanokouji smirked.
"But are we really?" asked Ayanokouji. "It's my turn. Draw."
Ayanokouji looked at the card he finished drawing.
"I've been waiting for this chance, Jaden-kun," he said, reaching for a card in his hand. "I activate the Permanent Magic, Deuce!" (2)
Jaden looked questioningly at Ayanokouji as she scratched the side of her head idly with her finger.
"Another Magic?" questioned Jaden.
Ayanokouji gestured at the Magic card on his field as he explained.
"This is a Permanent Magic that I can activate…when the opposing player's and my own life points are at an equal 1000 points," said Ayanokouji. "Both players are only allowed to attack with one monster during their Battle Phase."
Ayanokouji began to comb his hair with a comb he took out of his pocket.
"And life points are insignificant," he added. "Victory goes to the player who inflicts damage twice in a row."
Ayanokouji put his comb back in his pocket and gave Jaden a dazzling smile. Jaden looked at the Tennis Club captain questioningly.
"What the—?" said Jaden. "You changed the winning conditions?"
Asuka looked at Jaden.
"It's just like the rules of tennis," remarked Asuka.
Ayanokouji smiled.
"I'll end this duel right here and now," said Ayanokouji. "I summon Legendary Big Server!"
A tall, muscular man wearing a yellow polo shirt and blue shorts with a tennis racket for a right arm appeared on Ayanokouji's side of the field. The man clenched his teeth and tightened his fist as he swung his right arm.
ATK 300
"My Legendary Big Server is able to bypass my opponent's monsters and wage a direct attack," Ayanokouji explained, smirking afterwards at Jaden. "Now, go, Legendary Big Server! Big Serve!"
Legendary Big Server yelled and threw up a spiked-ball into the air before using his racket-arm to serve the ball overhand to Jaden. Jaden clenched her teeth and shielded herself, yelling out once the ball came in contact with her.
Jaden:
LP
700
Jaden opened once eye and looked at Ayanokouji. Ayanokouji smiled and held up a finger.
"Advantage: Ayanokouji!" he said, gesturing at the Magic card on his field. "And due to the effect of the Permanent Magic, Deuce, if I can deal you damage again in a row…I'll win this duel!"
Jaden clenched her teeth and grunted. A small little scoreboard appeared over the dueling duelists, indicating Deuce's affect. (A/N X= 1 point(s) O= 0 point(s))
Ayanokouji: XO
Jaden: OO
"Next, since I dealt damage to you, Legendary Big Server's Monster Effect activates!" said Ayanokouji.
Ayanokouji took out his deck and picked out a card before placing the deck back in his duel disk. He looked at Jaden and held up the card he took out of his deck.
"From my deck, I add the Magic card, Service Ace, to my hand!" said Ayanokouji. "And the opposing player draws one card. Well, Jaden-kun, go on and draw."
Jaden reached for her deck and drew a card. She looked at the card in her hand.
"All right?" said Ayanokouji. "Here goes! I activate the Magic card, Service Ace! Well, it's that time again, Jaden-kun!"
Ayanokouji picked out a card from his hand and held it up for Jaden to see and guess what it is.
"A Magic?" asked Ayanokouji. "A Trap? Or even a Monster?"
"Alright, this time, I'll get it right!" Jaden said, focusing her gaze on the card Ayanokouji held in his hand afterwards. "That other time, it was a…monster, I think…"
Shou looked nervously at the duel.
"The odds are one-in-three…" thought Shou.
Asuka looked at Jaden.
"Jaden…if you're the real deal, you should be able to guess it right…" thought Asuka.
Jaden's breath hitched as she stared at the card in Ayanokouji's hand.
"Now, prove to me you're the real deal!" thought Asuka.
Jaden closed her eyes and clenched her teeth.
"All right!" she said. "That's a Monster card!"
Jaden opened her eyes and looked at Ayanokouji. Ayanokouji's eyes widened as he gasped before he quickly smiled and turned the card over for Jaden to see.
"Pulled it off nicely," Ayanokouji complimented.
Jaden grinned and pumped her fist into the air.
"Awright!" exclaimed Jaden.
Shou pumped his fist into the air as he applauded his Aniki while Junko and Momoe stared at Jaden in awe. Asuka smiled at Jaden.
"Aniki did it!" exclaimed Shou. "Aniki guessed it right!"
Ayanokouji looked at the only card in his hand and played it.
"Finally, I activate the Equip Magic, Giant Racket!" said Ayanokouji. "I'll equip it to my Legendary Big Server!"
A bright light glowed around Legendary Big Server before a racket-like net appeared on his back.
"My turn's ended," said Ayanokouji.
Jaden smiled at Ayanokouji.
"Looks like the wind's direction has changed, doesn't it?" asked Jaden.
"Are you thinking I don't have a strategy?" asked Ayanokouji. "Then, let me tell you: The monster equipped with Giant Racket can reduce its Battle Damage to zero once!"
Jaden was taken aback.
"So you're saying…" said Jaden. "That combo you have with that Permanent Magic, Deuce…makes it so Legendary Big Server won't be destroyed!"
Ayanokouji grinned.
"That's exactly what I'm saying," he said.
Jaden smiled as a bead of sweat rolled down the side of her head.
"Not bad, you flirting club captain…" Jaden thought, clenching her teeth afterwards. "But it's time I won this! If I don't settle things now, I won't win."
Jaden looked at her duel disk.
"I'm counting on you, my deck!" she thought, reaching for her deck. "My turn! Draw!"
Ayanokouji kept his composure as Jaden drew a card. Jaden looked at her card and smiled, taking Ayanokouji completely by surprise.
"It's here!" said Jaden.
Ayanokouji's eyes widened.
"What?" exclaimed Ayanokouji.
"This duel's mine!" Jaden stated as she held the card she drew in her hand. "I activate the Magic card, De-Fusion! I'm splitting Rampart Gunner's fusion!"
Rampart Gunner split back into her two original selves from before Polymerization had been used. Clayman and Burstinatrix appeared on the field by Avian's side.
"With this, I've got three monsters!" Jaden said as she held up her fist. "Even if you dodge my first attack, with two more attacks following it, you'll lose this!"
Ayanokouji smirked and laughed at Jaden.
"This is why Osiris Reds are foolish!" Ayanokouji said, placing his hand on his head. "You've got three monsters? You're attacking three times?"
Ayanokouji pointed at the Magic card on his field and continued on, "As long as the Permanent Magic, Deuce, is activated, you can't attack with more than one monster!"
Jaden grinned widely and covered her mouth to prevent Ayanokouji from seeing her grin.
"This is why Obelisk Blues are idiots!" remarked Jaden.
Ayanokouji looked at Jaden perplexed.
"What?" he said.
Junko and Momoe glared daggers at Jaden for her remark. Asuka shook her head and sighed.
"I activate the Magic card, Feather Shot!" Jaden said as she held up her card.
Ayanokouji's eyes widened as Jaden explained the card's effect.
"This is a card that lets Avian attack for each monster on my field!" explained Jaden.
Avian crossed his arms again as he waited for Jaden to direct her attack. Ayanokouji was taken aback.
"N-No way!" said Ayanokouji.
Jaden grinned.
"It's the card I drew when you activated Legendary Big Server's effect!" she said, remembering what she was told before she drew Feather Shot.
"Well, Jaden-kun, go on and draw," Ayanokouji's voice echoed.
"Looks like the luck of the draw's one of my skills!" Jaden said with a grin. "Here goes the last battle!"
Avian took his stance as Jaden began to direct her attack.
"I attack with Elemental Hero Avian!" said Jaden. "Feather Shot K3!"
Avian flew up into the air and flapped his wings, sending a cascade of sharp feathers at Legendary Big Server. Legendary Big Server used the racket on his back to ricochet the feathers sent at him. Avian flapped his wings once more and sent another array of sharp feathers, destroying Legendary Big Server.
Ayanokouji gasped as Jaden smiled while the scoreboard appeared again.
Ayanokouji: XO
Jaden: XO
Asuka uncrossed her arms and cupped her hands around her mouth. She had had enough of Ayanokouji and since Jaden still haven't notified him of her true gender yet, Asuka decided to do it for the Osiris Red before the duel ended.
"Oi, Mitsuru Ayanokouji!" shouted Asuka. "Before you jump to conclusions, Jaden Yuki is a girl! You had it all wrong from the beginning!"
Ayanokouji's eyes widened at Asuka's statement as Avian leapt up into the air. Just before Avian let out his attack, Jaden crossed her arms and smiled at Ayanokouji.
"She's right, Ayanokouji," said Jaden. "This is why you should listen instead of making assumptions! Go, Avian!"
Avian nodded and let out his final attack with yet another array of sharp feathers directed at a wide-eyed Ayanokouji. Before the feathers hit him, Ayanokouji put two and two together about today's earlier events.
"That's why she reacted that way!" Ayanokouji thought before he was pelted by sharp feathers.
Ayanokouji: XO
Jaden: XX
WINNER: Jaden!
Out of the four students that consisted of Shou, Junko, Momoe, and Asuka, Shou was the only one currently cheering. He jumped up and pumped his fist into the air.
"All right!" exclaimed Shou. "Aniki won!"
Shou blinked and looked at the Obelisk Blue girls after noticing that he was the only one cheering.
"Oi, uh…who were you cheering for?" asked Shou.
Shou got no answer from Junko or Momoe as they were too busy staring wide-eyed at Jaden. Both were still very much shocked about what they just heard, however, it did make some sense to Junko when she remembered the incident involving Manjoume and SAL (A/N Go back to chapter 10 unless you still remember what happened).
Either way, Junko was still shocked at the discovery. Unlike her roommate, Momoe reacted differently after recovering from her shock. The raven-haired Obelisk Blue looked at Jaden, her eyes in a stunned trance-like state.
"Jaden-kun…is a girl?" Momoe muttered under her breath, an oddly blank look on her face.
Ayanokouji was on the ground on his knees, trembling as he lamented his loss.
"I lost…" he said.
Jaden pumped her fist into the air as her monsters disappeared from her field.
"Yay!" said Jaden.
Ayanokouji stopped and looked up as Jaden pointed two fingers at him and winked at him.
"Gotcha!" she said with a smile.
Despite after all that just happened… Ayanokouji couldn't help but find Jaden adorable despite her lack of feminine charm that Asuka had. Then again, what Asuka had just made her beautiful…speaking of Asuka.
Ayanokouji just realized that Asuka was now Jaden's fiancée and even though the Osiris Red was a girl, she didn't seem to mind and neither did Asuka. Which meant…Asuka was now out of his reach!
"H-How could I lose this?" wailed Ayanokouji.
Jaden blinked and looked questioningly at the Tennis Club captain. Tears were streaming down his eyes like waterfalls as he looked remorsefully at the gender-mistaken girl. He gave one last look at Asuka before running off, crying, leaving Jaden perplexed.
"Wha…?" she said.
Jaden watched Ayanokouji run off as Shou, Momoe, Junko, and Asuka walked up to her.
"You did it, Aniki!" Shou said with a smile. "You really are something!"
Jaden blinked and turned as her blue-haired friend latched onto her waist. She grinned widely and rubbed the back of her head.
"It was nothing!" said Jaden. "It was nothing!"
Junko and Momoe stared at Jaden as she ruffled Shou's hair. They were speechless at what they just learned a few moments ago. Their Osiris Red friend Asuka had introduced to them a few days after school had started was really a girl. All this time…Asuka never once told them about it!
Junko looked at Asuka.
"Asuka-san!" said Junko. "Why didn't you tell us?"
Asuka blinked and gave her friend a small smile.
"I told you now, didn't I?" asked Asuka. "Besides, even if you had asked, I would have only told you to go ask Jaden herself."
Junko crossed her arms and sighed.
"Still…is this okay?" asked Junko.
Asuka looked at Junko questioningly.
"Huh?" said Asuka.
Junko gestured at Jaden.
"She won," said Junko. "Wouldn't that make you her fiancée now?"
Asuka blinked and repeated, "'Fiancée'?"
Jaden blinked and took Shou off herself, having heard Asuka. She walked over to the dark-blonde Obelisk Blue scratching the back of her head as she smiled.
"Well, Asuka, I ended up winning, but…" said Jaden.
Asuka looked at Jaden as the gender-mistaken girl walked up to her.
"She isn't serious, is she?" thought Asuka.
Shou looked at Jaden perplexed while Junko smiled. Momoe was still staring at Jaden, her face blank.
"Huh?" said Shou. "Aniki, you couldn't…"
Junko clasped her hands together and looked at Jaden and Asuka. Neither seemed to protest about the 'fiancée' thing and Asuka never did show any interest in guys…or so Junko thought. Despite them both being girls, love did work in many ways and who's to say it couldn't happen?
"Love has no barriers," Junko thought as she sighed. "She's confessing her love!"
Asuka looked down at Jaden, having been a few inches taller than the Osiris Red girl. She arched her eyebrow at the clueless look the gender-mistaken girl gave her.
"Don't tell me…and at this age…" thought Asuka.
Sure enough, the words that came out of Jaden's mouth in the form of a question soon confirmed Asuka's assumption.
"What's a 'fiancée'?" asked Jaden.
That definitely broke the 'supposed' moment. Shou and Junko fell back anime-style while Momoe walked towards Jaden. Asuka looked at Jaden for a few moments before closing her eyes and looking down.
"You idiot…" said Asuka.
Jaden blinked and turned when someone placed their hand on her shoulder. It was Momoe and she was currently looking over at Jaden.
"You're…a girl?" asked Momoe.
Jaden blinked again and nodded. Momoe stared at the Osiris Red as if she was trying to comprehend what was in front of her. Asuka, Shou, and Junko stared at Momoe, wondering what was wrong with her.
Momoe slowly blinked when a sudden grin appeared on her lips as she made a noise that sounded eerily like a squeal of delight. She lunged forward and hugged Jaden in a friendly-like manner.
"Aw, so cute!" said Momoe. "I knew there was something different about you!"
Compared to how everyone took the Osiris Red's true gender, Momoe's was the most surprising one. She seemed pleased with the fact Jaden was a girl for some strange reason. Whatever it was, Junko seemed to have caught on and looked at Asuka.
"What's she doing in Osiris Red?" asked Junko.
Asuka looked at Junko and smiled.
"Registration mishap," replied Asuka. "Samejima-san himself didn't know until he got a call from Jaden's father on the day we arrived to the island. I was supposed to have escorted Jaden around the Obelisk Blue dorms, but…"
Junko nodded and looked at Jaden.
"Jaden-kun decided to stay in Osiris Red, huh?" said Junko.
"Right," said Asuka. "So, what's on your mind?"
Junko looked back at Asuka and smiled.
"I'd thought you'd never ask," said Junko.
Asuka crossed her arms and looked at Jaden and Momoe.
"So, I take it we're bringing her along with us to the Obelisk Blue dorms," said Asuka.
Junko placed her hand on her chin.
"That shirt does look a bit big on her…" said Junko.
Asuka sighed and gave a small smile.
"All right, we can bring her," said Asuka.
Junko immediately took no time to hesitate and dashed over to Momoe and Jaden. Jaden looked questioningly at Momoe and Junko as the latter whispered into the other's ear. Momoe looked at Junko and nodded, letting go of Jaden afterwards.
Jaden looked at Junko and Momoe as they stared at her. After a few moments, her expression tensed as an ominous feeling struck her. Something told her that the looks Momoe and Junko gave her weren't exactly a good sign…
Suddenly, Jaden felt herself lifted off the ground by her armpits in a certain twin-like manner by Junko and Momoe. Jaden looked questioningly at Junko and Momoe.
"Target…" said Junko.
"…captured!" finished Momoe. (3)
Jaden did not like the sound of that as her expression grew nervous.
"What are you doing?" asked Jaden.
Momoe and Junko looked at each other and giggled before dragging Jaden away. Jaden's eyes turned huge and shone with unshed tears after finding herself being dragged away against her will.
"Where are we going?" wailed Jaden.
Shou watched questioningly as Junko and Momoe dragged a puppy-dog-eyed Jaden along with them away. Asuka walked up to Shou's side and placed her hand on his shoulder.
"Don't worry, Shou-kun," reassured Asuka. "We're just taking Jaden with us to the Obelisk Blue dorms. She'll be back."
Shou blinked and nodded.
"Oh, okay…see you tomorrow, Asuka-san," said Shou.
Asuka nodded and smiled at Shou before breaking into a run as she tried to catch up with her roommates and their 'victim'. Shou watched as his friends dragged his Aniki away before sighing.
"Good luck, Aniki," said Shou.
After dragging their struggling Osiris Red friend, Junko and Momoe wondered how they managed to get into the girls' dorm without anyone spotting them whatsoever. Asuka wondered that herself since Jaden wasn't exactly going along that easily, what, with her dragging her feet across the ground and her short, but sudden outbursts.
Jaden felt like Asuka had turned against her when the dark-blonde Obelisk Blue helped her friends by opening the door to the dorm for them. A few moments later, Jaden sighed as Momoe and Junko finally let her go. At that time, they were in Asuka's room, which was rather roomy, in Jaden's opinion.
Jaden looked at Asuka as the dark-blonde Obelisk Blue walked over to her. Momoe and Junko quickly left the room. Jaden got a feeling they were going to come back again…
"Sorry about that, Jaden, but it was their idea," said Asuka.
Jaden glared at Asuka.
"Then why didn't you stop them?" asked Jaden. "I have a room to move into today!"
Asuka shrugged, annoying Jaden slightly.
"You're no help…" muttered Jaden. "And they didn't even give me a chance to get my gym clothes…"
"If it helps, I got one of the tennis club members to put them in your locker," said Asuka.
Jaden sighed.
"Why do I get the feeling I'm going to regret not escaping while I have the chance?" asked Jaden.
Asuka crossed her arms and looked at Jaden.
"You know you could go now before Junko and Momoe come back, right?" said Asuka.
At that moment, the door opened and in came Junko and Momoe, both holding a couple of neatly folded towels, clothes, and bags in their hands.
"Speak of the devil," said Asuka.
Jaden groaned inwardly.
"Why didn't I leave sooner?" thought Jaden. "Could this get any worse?"
"Oi, Asuka-san!" said Junko. "No one's in the bathhouse!"
Momoe nodded.
"That means we have the whole place to ourselves!" said Momoe.
Apparently, it just did…
"And c'mon!" thought Jaden. "Just when I think it…"
A few moments later,
Jaden was not happy after being dragged once again by Junko and Momoe…especially since they took her to the Obelisk Blue girls' dorm's bathhouse. Her clothes were taken off by Junko and Momoe rather forcefully seeing as she wasn't being cooperative. Thankfully, Asuka helped her out by giving her a towel, but that was just about it until they entered the bathhouse.
The Osiris Red stared in awe at the size of the bathhouse. Aside from its size, it was also quite exquisite in design with a three layer, fountain-like structure. Rocks were placed in different sections on the biggest, but lowest of the three layers. On the smallest, but the top layer of the bath, was a large pillar decorated with lion heads with open mouths, which was where part of the bath water was flowing out of.
Despite being in a rather awkward position that shouldn't be awkward since she was of the same gender as her friends, Jaden couldn't help but let out a small 'Wow'. Her voice echoed, emphasizing the emptiness and huge size that was the bathhouse. Compared to the Osiris Red bathhouse, the Obelisk Blue girls' dorm's bathhouse was bigger and also had more class to its style. However, compared to the hot spring that was often used by the Osiris Red dorm to bathe usually by choice or preference (mostly preference); Jaden would have to say it was a tie.
After one conversation-filled bath later,
Jaden would rather not ever speak about what had happened in the bathhouse. It wasn't like anything that bad had happened, but it was, however, embarrassing. She made a mental note that if she ever took a bath with her Obelisk Blue friends, the first thing she would do would be to distance herself from Junko. The last thing she needed was for the rufous-haired girl to come in contact with her chest. Dear Ra, never again…it was already embarrassing for the Osiris Red to bathe with her friends, but also with friends that happen to have better, and curvier feminine physiques than hers. The only good thing that came out of the experience was that she had finally gotten over the privacy-liking factor…by only a bit.
The thing she could've without aside from the bathhouse experience, was the choice in clothes Junko and Momoe picked out for her, which just so happened to consist of the Obelisk Blue female uniform. The white top with blue trimmings, she didn't mind despite its slightly baggy fit on her, but the blue miniskirt…she could do without. It was a bit too short for her tastes, but thankfully, Asuka helped out by giving her a pair of black shorts to wear under.
The four girls (three of which were in their nightwear) were currently having a conversation on Asuka's bed. Asuka began to wonder what was the point of Junko and Momoe having their own rooms when they usually preferred to stay in hers. She sighed and continued to listen as Jaden finished her conversation about her registration mishap.
"And that's how I ended up in Osiris Red," said Jaden. "They just finished building my room."
Momoe and Junko nodded, having been eagerly listening. Hey, it wasn't just every day you happened to discover one of your friends previously thought male was really female. Both girls were making most of their opportunity to exploit that occasion.
"So, when did you discover they made a mistake?" asked Junko.
Jaden blinked and crossed her arms.
"When they gave me the uniform," said Jaden. "I didn't mind…my dad did so when Samejima got the phone call…yeah."
Junko lied on Asuka's bed on her stomach with her elbows propped onto the mattress, her hands under her cheeks for support as she stared at Jaden curiously.
"So, Jaden-kun…I'm curious," said Junko. "What kind of products do you use on your skin?"
Momoe nodded and looked at Jaden.
"Yes, it's so pretty!" said Momoe.
Jaden blinked and ignored the question as she looked over at the window. She noticed that it was beginning to get late.
"Uh…can I go now?" asked Jaden.
Junko and Momoe were about to protest, but Asuka decided Jaden had had enough.
"You can," said Asuka.
Jaden got off Asuka's bed, picked up her bag with her clothes inside, and waved at the Obelisk Blue girls.
"See ya!" said Jaden.
Asuka, Momoe, and Junko watched as Jaden walked out and closed the door behind her. A few moments of silence had passed before Junko spoke.
"Asuka-san, why did you let her go?" asked Junko.
Momoe nodded.
"Yeah, we could've invited her to dinner…" said Momoe.
Asuka crossed her arms and sighed, giving her friends a small smile afterwards.
"You do know that it'll soon be Saturday," said Asuka. "We can get her then."
Junko and Momoe blinked and smiled as they all thought one thing…sleepover.
"I better go order some clothes for Jaden-kun!" said Momoe.
Junko held up her hand and smiled.
"I call undergarments!" said Junko.
Asuka sweat dropped and sighed.
"I think I just condemned Jaden…" thought Asuka. "Though, she does clean up nicely…"
Meanwhile,
Jaden avoided the stares from some Obelisk Blue guys as she walked out of the dorm's campus. As a result, she wasn't looking where she was going and ended up bumping into someone, a black-haired Obelisk Blue boy. She backed up and looked at who she bumped into as the boy apologized to her. Her eye twitched slightly as she recognized the boy she just bumped into as well as the boy who accompanied him.
They were the jerks who threw water on her and laughed at her inferiority, thinking them, Obelisk Blues, were far more superior then her, an Osiris Red.
"Oh, sorry about that," said the black-haired boy. "Didn't see you there…hey, do I know you?"
Jaden was taken aback with the Obelisk Blue's comment. She just remembered…she was still on Obelisk Blue territory and she was obviously not Obelisk Blue material…in fact, quite the opposite being an Osiris Red, but that's not the point. The last thing she needed was for these guys to start laughing at her current look in an Obelisk Blue female uniform.
"Aw, crap…think of something, Yuki-kun!" thought Jaden. "Uh…no-o?" "Ra dammit…"
The dark-brown haired boy looked at Jaden and smiled.
"I don't think so," said the dark-brown haired boy.
Jaden blinked a few times and inwardly sighed…only for her bubble to be burst as the dark-brown haired boy grabbed a hold of her hand.
"I don't think I would forget a pretty face like yours," said the dark-brown haired boy.
Jaden blinked a few times as she stared wide-eyed at the boy. This was the guy who threw water on her. You'd think he'd react differently…though that wasn't what Jaden was worried about. It took her a few moments, but she came to a conclusion…
"Are you hitting on me?" asked Jaden.
The dark-brown haired boy smiled at Jaden.
"Only if you want me to," said the boy.
Jaden narrowed her eyes and pulled her hand away from the boy's in a not so polite or even gentle manner. The dark-brown haired boy looked at her questioningly, wonder if he did something wrong.
"If you'll excuse me, I have to get going," said Jaden.
The dark-brown haired boy stuttered a few times as Jaden started to walk away. He grabbed onto her hand to keep her from going.
"Wait, hold on!" said the dark-brown haired boy. "You still haven't told me your—"
Bad choice of words paired up with grabbing onto her hand again. Jaden was not pleased and decided to show it by turning on her heel and deftly kicking the boy in the stomach. And bonus points! She wore the Obelisk Blue girls' royal blue boots…which had a heel to them.
Needless to say, the dark-brown haired boy wouldn't be bothering her any more at the current moment. Jaden nodded in approval as the boy keeled over onto the ground in pain after letting go of her hand. The dark-brown haired boy's friend ran to his side as Jaden began to walk away, feeling slightly better.
"Are you okay?" the black-haired boy asked his friend.
The dark-brown haired Obelisk Blue groaned and looked up, watching as Jaden walked away. Once she was out of earshot, he couldn't help but say, "I think I'm in love."
Sometime later,
The sun had just set on the horizon, giving the ocean a beautiful, sparkling look. Staring out at the sun set on a cliff, was none other than Mitsuru Ayanokouji, who was currently crying out his eyes as he yelled out.
"Dueling is the one thing…I hate the most!" yelled Ayanokouji.
His yelling was far from attention-grabbing, as this led Jaden to him, her curiosity having been piqued while she was making her way back to the Osiris Red dorms. Jaden blinked owlishly as she saw the bawling Obelisk Blue. Having heard his declaration (who hasn't with a voice like his?), she decided to see what was up.
Ayanokouji was rubbing his eyes as he sobbed when someone tapped on his shoulder. He sniffed and turned, finding himself face to face with the person he least expected. Jaden Yuki was definitely a sight for sore eyes in her current attire dressed in an Obelisk Blue uniform well suited for her gender. Though not exactly well-fitted for her figure, it still accentuated the feminine charm her usual attire hid.
It took him all his strength to keep himself from blushing when Jaden looked at him with her chocolate brown eyes. She was downright adorable from where he stood, so who's to blame him?
"Are you okay?" asked Jaden.
Ayanokouji was slightly taken aback with Jaden's sudden concern. After today's events, anyone would probably still be angry at him and yet, lo and behold, here was Jaden, comforting him.
After a few moments,
Jaden and Ayanokouji sat by the cliff on the ground as they stared out into the sunset.
"So you hate dueling…" said Jaden. "If you hate dueling so much, then why are you here in the first place?"
Ayanokouji, having calmed down, looked at Jaden, his eyes still red.
"I…don't really know," confessed Ayanokouji. "I guess…it was because of my parents."
Jaden nodded and looked back out at the sunset.
"Why don't you tell them?" asked Jaden.
Ayanokouji sighed and shrugged.
"I don't know…" said Ayanokouji.
Jaden, having been sitting on the edge of the cliff, swung her legs back and forth, alternating with the other she thought. Ayanokouji was slightly concerned with Jaden's daring sitting spot. He was held possibly responsible for her current well-being, having been a Third-Year and Jaden's senpai, so he had a good reason to.
Ayanokouji couldn't help but wonder about Jaden's attire, despite his concern and perplexity of her sudden kindness.
"Oi, Jaden-kun," said Ayanokouji. "What's with the Obelisk Blue uniform? Aren't you in Osiris Red?"
Jaden looked at Ayanokouji and sighed.
"Junko and Momoe dragged me to Obelisk Blue and, well…" said Jaden. "I rather not talk about it…"
Ayanokouji couldn't help but now question as to why Jaden was in Osiris Red. He heard of her dueling potential and skills and now recently, was notified about her gender. She should be in Obelisk Blue.
"Oi, Jaden…why aren't you in Obelisk Blue?" asked Ayanokouji.
One explanation later,
"And that's why I'm in Osiris Red," finished Jaden. "I was just about ready to move into my new room, today."
Ayanokouji blinked and nodded. After hearing Jaden's explanation, he understood everything. He also now found her a rather interesting girl since she never once minded the mistake on her registration form. One would think she would care a bit since her feminine physique was mistaken for a male's. Any of the girls he knew would throw a fit if that ever happened to them, and yet, Jaden was the first girl he now knew who wouldn't.
"Say, Ayanokouji…" said Jaden.
Ayanokouji snapped out of his thoughts and looked at Jaden.
"What is it, Jaden-kun?" asked Ayanokouji.
"What's a 'fiancée'?" asked Jaden.
Ayanokouji stared wide-eyed at Jaden.
"You gotta be kidding me…and at her age?" thought Ayanokouji. "Wha?"
Jaden diverted her eyes back on the sunset.
"I tried asking Asuka earlier, but she just called me an idiot," said Jaden. "Speaking of Asuka…"
Jaden looked back at Ayanokouji.
"You like her, don't you?" asked Jaden.
Ayanokouji blinked and blushed as he nodded. Jaden nodded and crossed her arms.
"Well, I'm sorry to say, but she's not interesting in guys," said Jaden. "Or anyone for the matter. She's not interested into getting in a relationship right now…"
Ayanokouji frowned and looked down.
"Oh…" he said.
Jaden backed up and crawled over to Ayanokouji.
"But…that doesn't mean you should get down!" said Jaden.
Ayanokouji looked up as Jaden looked at him right in the eye as she held up her finger.
"Cheer up!" said Jaden. "There are other girls in this school! You shouldn't completely give up just because one girl wasn't interested!"
Ayanokouji blinked and nodded.
"You're right," said Ayanokouji.
Jaden smiled and continued on, "And you shouldn't give up dueling just because you lost to a girl, like me!"
Ayanokouji narrowed his eyes at Jaden.
"Are you implying something?" he asked.
Jaden looked questioningly at Ayanokouji.
"No…am I?" she asked.
Ayanokouji and Jaden looked at each other before bursting into laughter. After a few moments, they started to calm down. Ayanokouji breathed in deeply and sighed before looking at Jaden.
"You know, Jaden-kun," said Ayanokouji.
Jaden diverted her eyes on Ayanokouji.
"Hm?" she said.
Ayanokouji looked back at the sunset as it began to disappear in the horizon. He grinned as he realized that he was having a great time with his once hated, now friendly rival.
"I had you wrong at first," said Ayanokouji. "But now that I got to know you…you're really a great person. I'm really glad I got to know you…thanks for helping me out."
Jaden nodded and smiled back.
"You're welcome," said Jaden. "And come to think of it…I just thought you were a flirting Tennis Club captain with a snobby personality most Obelisk Blues have against Osiris Reds… But I was wrong…so, friends?"
Ayanokouji stared at Jaden as she held out her hand. He smiled and took it as the sun had completely set.
"Friends," he said.
Later…IN THE TOOLSHED!
A/N Someone get the narrator a watermelon! Once again, for you, heartlessneko!
Hayato and Shou had just finished helping Jaden as she carried the rest of her stuff into her room. Jaden's room wasn't that much big, but yet it wasn't that much small. The design and structure was pretty much average as was the size of her bed. Either way, Jaden didn't mind since a room was a room and this one gave her a homey-feeling, much like the room she shared with Hayato and Shou.
Both Osiris Reds were taken aback with their female roommate's attire. Surprisingly, Hayato gave no smart aleck remarks as he, like Shou, was too shocked with how different Jaden looked like in an Obelisk Blue female uniform. For one, she finally looked her gender, and for another, she cleaned up nicely.
However, Jaden's gender-suited attire was something that didn't last very long as she changed out of it and into her pajamas (sweatshirt and pants). She got into her bed and pulled up the red covers as she tried to go to sleep, Hayato and Shou having left a while ago to go get ready for bed.
And so here she had it…Today was where she finally had a room to herself. For one, it was quiet and rather peaceful. Jaden turned in bed and buried her face into her pillow as she tried to get comfortable. As she tried to go to sleep, her thoughts focused on the positive things having a room to herself, had.
No Hayato's snoring…no Pharaoh suddenly jumping you in the middle of the night for some apparent reason at the sight of your rising and dropping sleeping form…no small room…Just one quiet, and peaceful room…all to herself…alone…
Jaden sat up in bed and grumbled.
"Screw it!" thought Jaden. "Maybe one more night wouldn't hurt…"
A few moments later, Hayato found himself opening the door after being woken up by someone's knocking on the door. He rubbed his eye as he opened the door, staring questioningly as he saw Jaden standing in the entrance in nothing but her pajamas. Shou peeked out from his bunk bed and blinked as Jaden walked into the room and made herself comfortable in her bunk bed.
Shou and Hayato stared at Jaden as she soon fell fast asleep. Both Osiris Reds looked at each other and shrugged. It was just like that of Jaden to do and they weren't complaining. She was the reason aside from the alarm clock, who kept them from being late to class. However, aside from that, both Hayato and Shou were somewhat glad that Jaden was still rooming with them since she made them feel safe, like they did her.
And so ends another day at Duel Academy…
A/N End of chapter and finally done! Okay, a little heads up! Does anyone want a girls' day out between Jaden, Asuka, Momoe, and Junko along with the sleepover? Reason why I'm asking is because I want to know if you want me to focus a chapter on that. If not, I could just mention it in a later chapter. Tell me what you think and remember! NO FLAMES! Constructive criticism is what keeps this fic from falling apart and reviews are like chocolate to me…damn, wrong simile…now I want chocolate and it's almost 3 fricken' AM!
Oh, and the moment between Jaden and the guy who threw water on her…I dunno. It just came to me and if you guys want him to appear in later chapters, tell me so I can give him a name or you give me a name! As for Jaden and Ayanokouji…cut the guy some slack! I know he's a flirty guy, but I couldn't help but feel sorry for him and…yeah…hope you enjoyed and if anyone was OOC, remember! Comic relief and it's about almost 3 AM! I just finished typing this chapter a while ago! BTW, this chapter is also there to tell you that aside from shounen-ai, there might also be shoujo-ai. Get used to it, dammit!
(1) Both an allusion to DarkSideIncorporated's Yu-Gi-Oh GX Abridged series and the fact that the coccyx is really the tailbone. And according to what I just learned, the majority of coccyx injuries occur in women because the female pelvis is broader, and the coccyx is more exposed. There, you learn something new every day and know why it hurts a lot more if you're a girl.
Sheesh, that so explains a lot when I fell down once…
(2) It was hard for me to not go into bad pun mode and say, "What the deuce?"
(3) Sorry, but I just had to do that! I just finished watching episode seven of Ouran High School Host Club when this idea suddenly popped up and…well, there it is. Hikaru and Kaoru Hitachiin for the win! In my eyes, they're like the anime versions of Fred and George Weasley and those two are epic!
Well, there you have it! Three chapters updated at almost 3 AM…wait patiently for the next cuz I need to know first on your reaction to the girls' day out thing as well as the Obelisk Blue guy and his friend in a review! Remember! Every vote counts! Unless you guys don't, then I'm going with the default which is listening to my three favorite reviewers!