Disclaimer: We don't own Yugioh GX. Kenta belongs to Midna Azusa.

Judai's POV

Pretty much the moment I was no longer grounded, Sho came barging into my room, crying, "Aniki! I can't take it anymore! He's driving me mad!"

"Really?" I asked, looking up at him. I was lying on my stomach in my bed; my back was still bruised from my fall the week before.

"YES!" Sho screamed. "He keeps calling me shrimp, rubbing his stupid junior champion trophy in my face, and—"

I could only assume he was talking about the guy he'd sent for from Kalmar, given that Sho hadn't bothered saying any names. So, still not knowing who this guy was, I pointed out, "Well, you wanted him brought here."

"I know! Now I'm sick and tired of—"

"Knock, knock. What's up, wimpy princey? Care to go another round?" came a voice from my doorway.

A burly teen was leaning on my doorframe, grinning. He had long black dreadlocks, and a dinosaur-themed bandanna was tied around his head. Given that he was wearing a vest, his muscles were on full display for everyone to see.

Sho whirled on him, glaring, and said, "Listen, Kenzan! I could have you thrown out for making fun of me like that! Don't you ever learn!?"

"Whoa, hey. It's not my fault you told me to come and do battle with ya. You're the one who wanted to prove your 'skills,'" Kenzan mocked. He snickered, apparently amused.

"Laugh it up!" Sho said. "Someday, I'm—"

Given how worked up he was, I figured Sho could use a hand. Otherwise, a fight might break out in my room. I interjected, "He might have called you here to fight, but that doesn't mean you have the right to insult him. Learn some respect or you'll find yourself in the dungeon."

He was bullying a prince in his own home. With that in mind, I was surprised this guy hadn't gotten himself locked up already. Sooner or later, someone was going to decide enough was enough and do something about it. He'd be lucky if he just got thrown out and sent home, given how Neospace felt about Kalmar.

Kenzan held his hands up, looking more worried about upsetting me than anything else. "Whoa, hey. Didn't mean to offend you, my prince. But he's the one who wanted to—"

"No offense, Aniki, but this isn't your fight. So if you could just—" Sho cut him off, but he didn't get to finish telling me to mind my own business.

Kenzan cut in, saying, "No way. You're this shrimp's famous Aniki that everyone's been talking about? And how's that working out for ya?" He walked right past Sho as he entered my room, apparently intrigued.

"H-hey!" Sho protested, apparently annoyed at being ignored. "Who said you could just—"

"So? What's it like?" Kenzan asked me.

"You ignoring me!? Hey!"

"Who said you could come in?" I asked Kenzan. I wasn't a big fan of the people of Kalmar, especially those from Tiller who knew Sho and treated him like dirt.

"Aw, come on, your highness," Kenzan said, grinning. "There's no harm in me wanting to get a better look at the legend who was nuts enough to become Sho's guardian angel by choice, now, is there?"

Technically, there wasn't any harm in it except for the way he worded it and the fact that he was currently rubbing me the wrong way. I was already in a bad mood, and this guy's attitude was just making it worse.

I stood up, glaring at Kenzan, and said, "You know, it's people like you that make me hate your homeland."

"What's wrong with people like me?" Kenzan asked.

Sho pushed his way into Kenzan's face, demanding, "What do you think you're doing!?"

"What are you talking about!? I'm not doing anything!" Kenzan answered, glaring at Sho.

"Oh, yes, you are! You want my Aniki, don't you!? Why else would you be acting like this!?"

"What!? Why would I want that!? I'm not a needy little shrimp like you are! Guardian angels are for the weak! Especially a spoiled, almighty prince like him!"

I started twitching at that word. He couldn't be more wrong if he tried.

"I can take care of myself without having my guardian call for the guards at the drop of a hat!" Kenzan finished.

"Hey! Take that back! Aniki's strong on his own!" Sho countered.

"Oh, yeah!? Then why—"

They kept arguing, talking over each other, so that neither was very coherent from that point. They were so up in each other's faces at that point that their heads were touching, and they kept pushing each other back a few inches as they argued.

I really didn't give a damn what they were doing right then. I was still twitching, irritated by that one word. "Spoiled...?" I asked, my tone frigid. It was too quiet for the fighting fools to hear, though, even with them being right in front of me.

"You want some of this!?" they both said at the same time. "Bring it on! Hey! Quit saying everything I'm saying! I said quit it! Hey!" Then they both growled.

I stepped between the two, forcing Sho back away from Kenzan, and glared at the visitor from Kalmar. "I'm sorry, did you call me spoiled?" I asked in that same tone.

From the look on Kenzan's face, I was scary. He took a step back and, sounding nervous, said, "Well, not in a bad way, necessarily. J-just that you don't fight your own fights 'cause—"

"Oh, I don't? You sure about that?"

"Yeah, I'm sure. Why else would you threaten to throw dudes you don't like in the dungeon instead of—"

"That wasn't a threat," I cut him off firmly. "That was a warning. If the guards heard you talking like that, you'd be in for it. A 'threat' is what I'm gonna do now."

Seriously, this guy had the worst timing. I was already in a bad mood before, but now, I was mad. And my patience for this creep had already run out.

"Go ahead," Kenzan said. "Call the guards! See if I—"

"That wasn't what I was gonna do," I cut him off, narrowing my eyes.

He gave a start, then, showing he had no idea who he was dealing with, said, "Aw, c-come on. You don't have to go that far. I-I'm sure the king's got—"

"You and Sho were in karate together? So you can take Sho in a fight. Think you can take me?"

Kenzan gave another start at my challenge and said, "A-are you kidding? I'd kick your butt! Maybe you should reconsider that, noodle arms."

"Don't underestimate me," I said simply.

"Well, okay, then, if you really want to..."

"Yeah, Aniki! Show him what you're made of!" Sho cheered, pumping a fist in the air.

"Let's take this outside first," I said, heading for the door. "Wouldn't want to make too much extra work for the maids."

Kenzan sighed, following me out as he said, "Well, alright then. But you better not go telling on me if I happen to mangle ya!"

Eager to watch me put this bully in his place, Sho came along, too.

Out in the garden, Kenzan and I stood facing each other. Kenzan was jumping around a bit, his fists in front of him, ready for a real fight. Or, in his opinion, to beat up a scrawny, spoiled prince.

"Last chance, Prince. Care to throw in the towel now? You're facing the Junior Karate Champion, after all."

"I think I'll take my chances," I answered him, unimpressed.

"Alright, then! It's your funeral!"

Off to the side, Sho cheered, "Go, Aniki! You can do it!"

Kenzan lunged at me, aiming to grab me. I dodged to the side at the last minute, then elbowed him hard in the back, knocking him to the ground, before jumping back out of arms' reach. Hey, nobody said this was a karate match.

Kenzan got up, saying, "Not bad."

He charged again, apparently aiming to punch me. When he got close enough, I swept a leg under him, knocking his legs out from under him. He started to fall, but then he managed to get a handle on the situation, kicked me in the head, which knocked me down, and flipped over, landing on his feet.

Sho winced. "Ooh. That wasn't pleasant."

Yeah, no kidding, Sho. Kenzan kicked hard.

While I was still recovering from that, Kenzan jumped into the air and kicked at me again. I rolled to the side, getting up as I did, so that Kenzan's foot instead connected with a tree right behind me. He bounced off it and came at me again, clearly aiming to grab me, since both of his hands were in front of him. I grabbed them both and, using Kenzan's own momentum, managed to flip him over my head.

"W-w-whoa!" Kenzan cried out, then he hit the ground with a thud.

Sho clapped and cheered, "Go, Aniki! You're doing great!"

Kenzan sat up, legs folded under him, and shook his head as he recovered. Seeing an opportunity, I elbowed him in the head, sending him back to the ground. At least my dad could be sure that I'd learned how to defend myself, if nothing else.

"Oof!" Kenzan cried out. "Argh..." He rolled over and started to get up. "Okay. Enough playing around."

He stood up and aimed a punch at me, immediately following with a high kick. The punch connected, but it didn't phase me too badly. I ducked the kick, then aimed a punch at his gut. Kenzan blocked that with his leg, then kicked at my chest. I caught his leg and tried to pull him to the ground, but he used that against me, kicking me in the chest with the other leg as he started to go down.

"Oof!" Well, I wasn't ready for that one.

Kenzan leaped up off his back and quickly grabbed me, flipping me over his shoulder. Then, as I lay there recovering, he just waited.

After a moment, I got up, now suitably impressed. "Heh. Not bad."

"Not bad yourself," Kenzan returned. Then he lunged at me with a kick.

I caught his leg again.

"Gk!"

Instead of pulling, this time, I pushed Kenzan back away from me. He hopped backward a few steps before falling on his back, and I kicked him in the stomach while he was down.

"Ugh!"

And he just lay there for a second. I just waited for him to recover.

"Yahoo! Aniki, I knew you could do it!" Sho cheered.

"N...not...bad..." Kenzan breathed, still lying on the ground.

I didn't say anything. I just waited for him.

After another moment, he sat up, saying, "Alright. I think I've embarrassed you enough for one day." He stood up and held out a hand, smiling, adding, "Good fight. You're not too bad. For a prince, that is."

We shook hands, and I smiled at him. Given that part of my training as a prince involved fighting, I would hope I'd know how to fight. Then again, people didn't usually think of princes as the type to fight their own battles. They usually assumed, like Kenzan, that we just called for the guards when we needed protection. "Yeah, good fight."

"Ha! I told you ya didn't stand a chance!" Sho taunted Kenzan. "My Aniki's the greatest!" He turned to me and asked, "Right, Aniki?"

"Not now, Sho," Kenzan said dismissively. "I'm too tired to argue with you right now. Can't we just let bygones be bygones?"

"But you—"

"Besides, I'd like to spend some time getting to know Prince Judai a little better, if that's alright with him," Kenzan added, smiling at me.

"But—"

"Sure, why not?" I said. I mean, Kenzan couldn't be all bad, could he?

Sho was thoroughly upset by my change of heart. "B-but, Aniki! He's a—"

"Great! So what's it like being a prince? You must have some pretty awesome teachers to be able to fight like that," Kenzan asked me as we both walked off, heading back inside.

"H-hey! Wait for me! I was here first!" Sho called from behind us. Then I heard his footsteps as he ran to catch up with us.

By the end of the day, Kenzan started calling me "aniki," too, and said something about wanting me to help him evolve into a dinosaur. I didn't really get that last part, but I didn't mind. Sho, on the other hand, hated the new arrangement.

That evening before bed, Sho and I were playing a game of cards in my room. Sho was still mad, however, and kept complaining between turns.

"I still can't believe the nerve of that guy! Hanging out with my Aniki. Got any 5s?" Before I could answer that, he continued, "Why, next thing you know, he'll be stealing my clothes and wearing them! Hmph!"

"I don't think you need to worry about that, Sho," I said, taking a 5 from my hand and passing it to Sho. "Besides, it's not like I'm your personal property or something."

Sho took the card, saying, "No. But whatever I have, he always wants to steal! He's already stolen my spot on the team, my lunch box, and my locker space. Does he have to steal my best friend from me, too!? Hmph!"

So Kenzan had taken all of Sho's things in his karate class, which he'd never wanted to be in in the first place. How was this a problem? Even better, since this had been an ongoing thing, I'd already heard about all of this. The lunchbox thing was pretty pathetic. Apparently, Sho and Kenzan had identical lunch boxes, and Kenzan mistook Sho's for his once. When Sho pointed out that Kenzan had his lunch, Kenzan tried to give it back, but Sho wouldn't take it, saying Kenzan had already contaminated it with his "germs."

In other words, I'd spent the day learning that, in some cases, there might be a legitimate reason why people hated Sho. That didn't seem like the right response in that situation, even if they didn't like each other.

I didn't say anything about the lunch box, though, focusing on the important part. "Sho, you didn't even like that class. Besides, there's one thing he can't steal, and that's your family. Keep in mind that we're brothers now. Nothing's gonna change that." Then I asked, "Got any 3s?"

"Go fish," he answered. "Yeah, I guess you're right. But that still doesn't make it right. Promise you won't ever let him get between us, Aniki?"

"Promise," I answered.

A knock on the door interrupted our game. Without waiting for me to open it, my dad asked, "Judai? Can we talk?"

Oh, great. I was in for a post-punishment lecture about my behavior and how irresponsible and reckless it was. Given how often those had happened, I was probably in for a lousy surprise, too.

"...Sure," I answered.

"Good. Come to the study. I'll be waiting. And tell Sho that Nurse Ayukawa wants to see him." I heard him walking off after he said that.

"Aw, come on. Again? But I saw her yesterday," Sho whined.

I lay my cards face-down on my bed, answering, "Well, you've got a broken hand, so...yeah." That being said, at least it was recovering well. I got up then, looking at Sho expectantly.

He sighed and said, "Okay. I'm going." He set his cards down as he got up, adding, "Later, Aniki. Good luck with Dad," before heading for the infirmary.

"Yeah. Thanks," I said, knowing I'd need it. Then I headed for the study.

When I walked in, I saw my dad standing there with his back to me as he stared out the window. I stopped in the doorway, figuring this wasn't the time to just barge in unannounced.

He must have seen my reflection in the window. "Enter, Judai. We have much to discuss," my dad said, confirming to me that I was still in trouble for what happened a couple of weeks ago. He didn't turn around, just standing there with his hands clasped behind his back.

I did as I was told, shutting the door behind me.

"Well, I bet you're wondering what this is all about."

Figuring this was the time to be more formal and respectful, I answered, "Yes, your majesty."

"Have a seat," my dad commanded, and I did. He just stood there for a moment, staring out at the setting sun. Finally, he turned slightly and said, "Judai. Why do we have rules?"

This question again.

"To keep us out of trouble," I answered.

"That's right, Judai. They're there to protect us. And, when we break those rules, we set the stage for terrible things to happen. Now, imagine if everyone in the world never did as they were told. There'd be more missing children, more stolen objects, and more crime in the streets. So, when you break the rules constantly, you aren't setting a good example for everyone else, are you?" Dad said. He packed back and forth as he spoke until the end, when he stopped, standing beside me, and looked directly at me.

"No, sir," I answered, looking down. He sure had a knack for making me regret breaking the rules.

"That's right. Now, it's our job to set an example for everyone we protect. And now that you're turning 17, I believe it's time for you to find someone who will help settle you down and keep you out of trouble."

That wasn't really a shock. I'd always known I was expected to get married at 18. So I didn't say anything. At least he was still giving me a chance to pick someone myself instead of just sticking me with Yubel.

"Therefore! You shall be choosing a bride on the 31st of August out of one of the eligible young women that I have prepared for you. By the end of the night, if you have not yet chosen, I shall choose your bride for you. Is that clear?" my father asked, stern as ever. His tone left no room for argument.

"Yes, sir," I answered.

"Good. You're dismissed. Don't go disappointing me any further until then, understand?"

Ouch. Yeah, like I said, he had a knack for making me regret breaking the rules. I didn't aim to be a disappointment, and hearing him say that always stung. You'd think I'd have learned that by now and stopped doing that.

"Understood," I said, and I got up and left.

I couldn't tell my dad how I felt about his choice of a bride for me or how I hated that I had to pick one of the girls off his approved list (which, generally, was nothing but nobility from Neospace and Misgarth since Misgarth and Kalmar didn't have any princesses and Kalmar was an enemy kingdom). It wouldn't have bothered me so much if I hadn't recently met a girl I actually liked who, unfortunately, was from Kalmar and wasn't nobility. Somehow, given recent events, I doubted she'd be at this party my dad was planning for my 17th birthday.

In the hall, I punched the wall since nobody was there to care.

"You gonna be okay?" Winged Kuriboh asked.

"Oh, yeah, fine. Just gotta pick some random girl I don't know and marry her if I don't wanna be forced to marry Yubel. No big deal," I said sarcastically.

"Yeah. Nothing new for you, really," Yubel said before laughing through her lips.

Well, I thought I was alone. I turned, startled, then glared at the girl leaning against the opposite wall, her arms crossed and a grin on her face. "Hey," I said by way of greeting, which was a lot more polite than telling her to get lost.

"Hey," she returned. "What? Get chewed out again?" she asked, snickering. Still grinning in apparent amusement, she continued, "You know, if you'd quit doing that all the time, then maybe he wouldn't be so tough on you anymore. Ever thought of that?"

It was hard to take advice from someone who found me getting in trouble entertaining. "Yeah. Sure. Whatever," I said as I started walking down the hall.

"Well, look on the bright side. At least Johan behaves better than you."

"Go jump off a cliff," I retorted.

She just stood there, snickering. Man, I hate that girl!

Sho was waiting for me in my room when I got back.

"So, Aniki," he started. "How'd it—"

"Don't ask," I cut him off as I sat down. I didn't want to talk about it.

"Aniki, what's wrong? You're not still in trouble with him, are you?"

Technically, yes, I was. I just wasn't grounded anymore.

I didn't answer, instead picking up my cards and asking, "Who's turn was it?"

"Uh, I think it's mine," Sho answered. "Assuming you've drawn your card, but—"

"Great. Take your turn."

I really wished Sho would take the hint already. I didn't want to talk about it!

"Aniki? What happened? You're usually eager to talk about what goes on around here, so why—"

"Go fish!" I snapped, annoyed, as if Sho was asking me for something that I didn't have in my hand.

Sho leaned back, startled, his eyes wide. "A-Aniki..."

I sighed. None of my problems were Sho's fault, and it wasn't fair of me to snap at him because I was upset. "Sorry. I just...don't wanna talk about it, alright?"

Sho looked sympathetic as well as concerned after that. "Aniki..."

"So? You gonna take your turn, or are we done?" I asked.

Sho stared at me for a second longer before looking at his hand and asking, "Got any 2s?"

"Go fish."