Ah, should I go hide? Oh, well. I'd deserve getting attacked for waiting this long, and then giving you this little jip of a chapter. Anyways, I'm just kinda glad to be making progress, even if it's only a little. This chapter will be replacing my little plea for help, just because it bothers me to leave in a note in the middle of a story.

Lastly, I'm really happy to find that there are still new people reading this story, despite how deep it already is into the story. I'm genuinely surprised and happy. I'd like to thank everyone who tried to help me out of my slump, and also *deep breath* Agana of the Night, Lucifer's Remnants, The Darkness Run-Away, princessamina 223 (for favoriting), Celtic Water Spirit, Cstan, Miffdogga, MoeLovegiR, anishirou, donalladd15 and lilo202 (for following). *Whew!* If I skipped someone, I'll feel horrible, so please tell me if I'm missing anyone!

There was a knock on Johan's door late at night. It was a good thing that Ruby kept him awake. Johan yawned as he went to answer the door, expecting Judai to be the one standing outside. What he didn't expect to see was an anxious Asuka.

"Ah, hey there, Asuka! I didn' know you were here!" he greeted pleasantly.

"I'm a teacher."

"Well, can' say I'm surprised. Wha brings ya here?"

"Why did you come back? You only decide to come back now, after ten years, to the academy?"

Johan was confused. Surely Judai had to know that Asuka was a teacher, right? And wouldn't he have talked to her about what was going on?

"Judai didn' tell you?" he asked.

"No, he didn't," Asuka answered, kinda sounding a little mad.

"Ya better come on in," Johan said, pulling Asuka into the room and closing the door behind her. "Do ya know about the Crimson Dragon?"

"Yes, I know that it is a dangerous card that has been harming students lately. A girl named Marie Windsford has it. Judai and I were looking into it."

"That dragon is why I'm here," Johan explained. "Judai called Hayato to get information on it, only Hayato got caught by Mr. Pegasus. It turns out that Pegasus had the card locked away tight. It's a bit of a mystery as to how it disappeared. Apparently it's some sorta unknown god or somethin' like that."

"So what does that have to do with you being here?"

"Mr. Pegasus set up the whole competition to get that card back, but he didn't want to just take the card, and he needed an excuse to hold that competition." Johan shrugged. "I was tha' excuse, I guess. I'm just wonderin' why Judai didn' tell you anythin'."

"I was wondering the same thing," Asuka sighed.

Near the I2 headquarters in Japan

Sho let himself into the apartment, groaning with exhaustion. Mr. Pegasus had made him stay up for the past few nights, organizing that tournament at North Duel Academy. And better yet, Sho had to pack for the trip to the academy tomorrow. He didn't really see why he had to be with, but orders were orders.

"Are you home Sho?" Ryo called from the apartment's kitchen.

"Yeah," he replied, flopping onto a couch and staring at the blank TV screen. Ryo appeared from the kitchen and silently passed a can of soda to Sho before opening his own. "I'm going to be gone for a few days to oversee the end of a tournament, but I should be back in a few days."

"Really? Where?"

"North Duel Academy. There's a card that Mr. Pegasus wants there, only he won't tell me why. It's something like the Crimson Dragon or something like that."

Ryo's dark eyes widened. He echoed the name quietly under his breath. "I'm coming with," he demanded, leaving no room for argument. Sho was going to resist, but he knew it was a futile effort. Ryo almost looked scared about something, and he was never scared of anything.

"Why?" Sho asked, suddenly concerned. His brother didn't answer, and didn't talk the rest of the night as he packed his bags for the trip.