'Hey Jess?'

'Yeah, Sy?'

'Is it alright if I ask you a question? It might be a little personal'

'Sure, Sy, anything'

Syrus hesitated a little and pushed up his glasses. He looked as if he was fighting with himself on the words he was going to say.

'Do you like Rhia?'

'Rhia?'

'Yeah,' Syrus gave me a worried look, 'Jaden's sister?'

'Jaden has a sister?'

'Jesse that's not funny' Syrus was taken aback, he looked really shocked.

'I'm not joking around, Sy... Who's Rhia?'

Syrus POV.

I couldn't believe what I was hearing, I quickly excused myself and ran. I didn't know where. Somewhere. Anywhere. So Jesse doesn't remember Rhia. I have to find Jaden. Fast.

I ran to the Slifer dorm to see four familiar figures.

'Jaden!'

'Sy, What's wrong?'

Jaden asked as he, Zane, Alexia and Lina faced me with concern. My knees bent as I huffed breathlessly. Never. Running. Again.

'Jesse...Doesn't...r-...remember...Rhia...' I said through many breaths in between, Lina's hand fell on my shoulder as I spoke.

'We know, Sy' Alexis started, 'But we just need to talk to Rhia-'

'Talk to Rhia about what?'

Zane POV.

'Talk to Rhia about what?' Rhia stood a few steps away from us...

'Rhia...um...' I said as she approached us, arms folded and suspicion across her eyes.

'Well?'

'It's about Jesse'

'I know, I heard everything from that tree' Rhia pointed to an Oak tree behind her

'But you hate climbing...'

'I said I hated heights, not climbing'

'How does that work?' Jaden question, absentmindedly.

'Look, you guys need to stay out of this.'

'Rhia, this isn't good' Lina said, her eyes looking down at her feet and pain in her voice.

'Please, Rhia. If you don't do it, I won't ever talk to you again' Lina looked up and teasingly grinned with a sneaky smirk. I, then, felt Jaden tense up beside me.

'Lina, leave the poor girl alone' Jesse laughed.

'Jesse, How long have you been standing there?' Lina asked.

Rhia gave me a look of hurt before looking straight ahead and walking past Jaden, who stuck out his arm out in front of her as he whispered her name into her ear. Rhia exhaled. Her eyes were closed.

'Long enough,' Jesse looked towards Rhia who's back was turned to him.

'Who's this?'

Rhia's POV.

Shoot. What do I do now?

'Um, Jess, This is my sister, Rhiona Yuki'

Jaden placed arms on my shoulder and turned me around so I was facing Jesse. I avoided his blue eyes.

'Rhia...' I whispered.

'Rhia' Jaden repeated louder.

'You're Jesse Anderson, right?' I whispered

'Yeah, that's right... It's very nice to meet you, Rhia'

Stop.

That's when time stopped, that was the first thing we ever said to each other. Talk about Déjà vú.

I saw Zane's dark blue eyes heavily staring at me from the corner of my eyes. He looked, almost, discouraged.

Zane's POV.

I knew Rhia knew that I was staring at her. Her smile faded so quickly now-a-days. When we were kids, she'd always be the one who smiled in the bad moments, it was what made me stronger. But now, i guess, it's my turn to return the favor for her. Her eyes weren't bright and lively or bright brown, instead they were dark and isolated. Suffering, Guilt and Pain spread across her eyes. Jaden's elbow gently hit me as he gestured his head towards Jesse who stared at the young Yuki.

'Hey, why don't we grab something to eat? I'm starving...' Jaden said hastily

We all nodded as we walked to the Slifer dorm.

I walked slowly with Rhia at the back, her head hung low.

'Hey, smile, Big eyes...Or else you'll be stuck with that frown on your face forever'

Rhia huffed and laughed a little, but her eyes didn't look up

'Anything you want to talk about?'

'Not really,' Her voice was an inaudible whimper

'Are you sure? Because the last time I saw you like this was when we were kids, when you became friends with-'

'-Yeah, I know. And you got hurt because of it'

'Rhia...' I couldn't find the right words to say to her

'I'm all better now, though'

'Yeah, but before all that, you were suffering' her voice was a little louder now but it was still quite quiet.

There was a short silence.

The silfer dorm cafeteria was empty but the table candles were freshly lit.

Alexis sat beside Jaden, Syrus and Jesse whilst Lina, Zane and Rhia sat opposite them. Jesse's eyes never left Rhia's, his eyes showed nostalgia. He looked as if he was trying to put something together...

'Umm, Jess, I htink you're making Rhia feel quite uncomfortable...' Syrus broke the silence as well as breaking Jesse's concentration on Rhia.

'S-sorry... I-' Jesse still didn't move his eyes from Rhia.

'You just look really familliar...'

Rhia's head shot up

'I swear I've seen you before, have we ever duelled?'

Rhia shook her head slowly...

She exhaled deeply and turned to me, 'I'm just going to get some fresh air...'

'okay...' everyone replied, and she walked out of the cafeteria.

Rhia's POV.

I felt the light breeze smack my face as I exited the slifer cafeteria, and as soon as I was out of sight, I ran.

I ran to the harbour and a small tear fell from my eye.

I felt a familiar presence behind me, 'Rhia, I know something's wrong...'

'Well, you're very observant, Mr Truesdale...For I show no emotion'

'Rhia...' Zane chuckled a little,, 'As much as I love your 'Pride and Prejudice' accent, I hate the fact that I can't do anything to help you'

'I don't want your help'

'You don't have to 'want' it, Rhia...' Zane looked out into the sea, 'Do you remember when we were kids, and I had to always look out for Syrus because he got picked on a lot?'

I nodded

'At first, I didn't know what to do or say but you helped me stand up for him. You're the one who helped me with the payment for my operation...'

'It was just a good deed...Helping a friend'

'Well, is it wrong for me to do the same for you?'

'Yes,'

'Why?'

'Because I don't deserve it'

'Rhia...'

Zane's voice shook a little, he took a deep breath..

'I don't like awkward silences'

'Neither do I...'

'Can I ask you something, Rhia?'

'Shoot'

'Do you...like Jesse?'

'What?'

'Do you like Jesse?'

'Why would I?' I hesitated, I looked away to hide the tear that rolled down my cheek at the mention of Jesse's name.

'You do, don't you?' Zane teased a little

'I don't'

'Why are you so stubborn, Yuki?'

'Why are you so inquisitive, Truesdale?'

Silence.

Again.

Zane's gaze was heavy on me.

It wasn't one of those gazes...

No.

Zane Trusedale NEVER showed those gazes.

NEVER.

Instead it was one of those penetrating and forceful gazes. The ones that seep through your weaknesses and slowly break down your walls.

I exhaled, defeated.

'Okay, Fine, Fine! Id I tell you, would you please drop the subject?'

'Yes...'

'What if I do?'

'Well, do you?'

'...I-...If I said No...I'd be lying?'

'Okay'

'Okay? That's it? That's all I get?'

'Yeah,' Zane got up and started to walk away

'Hey! Don't do that, It's really rude!' I ran and jumped onto his back

He quickly spun around and accidentally let me go, I collapsed onto the floor half laughing, half crying...