I'm back! I'm back to writing :3 I been thinking about how this chapter would unfold so I hope you guys like it.

A Second Chance for the Soulless

Chapter 8: A Big Moment for Myself

While Orion and Camula spent their day in the Ra Yellow Kitchen, Alexis was on her lonesome, brooding by the entrance doors of the main building of Duel Academy. She couldn't help but snicker as she replayed the video for what seemed like the thirteenth time today.

This recording, spliced and edited to feature only Camula's cheating, was the perfect form of revenge. All she needs to do is to send it to everyone.

But as soon as her finger hovered over to the button...

"Yo Lex! What's so funny?" She heard from afar. Alexis quickly turned to see Jaden approaching her with a friendly wave.

"Ah, nothing Jaden…Just a way to get Camula expelled…" Alexis replied casually as she showed the video to Jaden.

"Oh, okay! Wait…What?" Jaden tilted his head.

Alexis raised a brow at Jaden, annoyed by his confusion. "What do you mean 'what'? Are you going to be like Sheppard? Act like she didn't do anything wrong?"

Jaden rubbed the back of his head. "I mean, I know she did all that terrible stuff…But…" He trailed off before giving Alexis a shrug.

"But what, Jaden?" Alexis growled impatiently.

"But she seems to be trying to be better. She made a friend, after all, that tall guy. He reminds me of Syrus in a way, hehe!" He chuckled absently.

"Look, what I'm trying to say is we should give her a chance." Then suddenly, Jaden laid his hand on Alexis' wrist, her fingertips still ready to send the video to everyone in the Academy.

Alexis was dumbfounded. Was she and Zane the ONLY people thinking straight in this Academy? A shadow rider has returned after she failed to murder her friends (and Crowler), yet no one seems to care.

With a forlorn sigh, Alexis stashed her PDA in her pocket. "Fine. What do you think I should do then?" She asked.

Jaden flashed a smile, "I got an idea!"

Camula slept without dreams, only awoken by the morning sunshaft and the rich scent of chocolate and sugar.

A lazy smile crept up on Camula's lips as she rose from her bed; just remembering what she helped Orion with yesterday.

She accompanied him in making cookies. The process was much more arduous and tedious than Camula anticipated; she expected it to be as simple as mixing things in a bowl and then stuffing them in the oven. There was mixing, a lot of it; Camula had to mix so much that her arms were sore when Orion said they were ready.

Despite her soreness, Camula was proud of what she helped make: two dozen freshly-baked chocolate chip cookies, one dozen for Orion, and one dozen for Camula.

She looked at a bowl of cookies on her desk, the fruits of her labor. While its steaming warmth had been long gone, its scent enveloped Camula's room like a bakery, the air pungent with sugar, flour, and chocolate.

After getting dressed and ready for the day, the first thing that Camula did was eat a couple of cookies for breakfast. She nibbled and chipped at the treat, part caution, part excitement. Camula smiled. It was sweet and crumbly, yet with a hint of sharp mint, providing a nice balance for the richness of the chocolate.

Camula remembered the looks on the other girl's faces when she strolled into to the dorm with the sweet treats in hand. The other girls could get desserts themselves from the dorm's many chefs, but it was nothing compared to the handmade gift that Camula strolled the dorm with.

Camula could understand. The Academy's cooking and baking were fancy, bolstered by the best chefs the school could afford, but their creations lacked the passion a heart-felt homemade meal had.

After her quick breakfast, Camula's PDA rang.

"Must be Orion," Camula believed as she quickly grabbed it.

It was a text message. Camula was still trying to get used to this device, so she scratched around the touchscreen, hoping her fumbling would take her where she needed to go.

After a series of random app launches and screenshots, Camula finally made it to the text message screen.

'Meet me at the Obelisk Arena at evening. Bring your friend,' Was all it said, sent by an unknown set of numbers Camula didn't recognize.

Camula curved a brow, as the message also had a video attached. After some fumbling, Camula got it open.

She only got more confused at the video that the stranger brought up. It was a scratchy recording of her duel against Alexis, except heavily edited to feature only Camula's turns.

Her confusion would be finally cleared as another text appeared as if the messenger knew Camula didn't understand the gravitas of the video.

'Giant Trunade is banned; if this video gets publicized, you will be regarded as the cheat that you are.'

This got Camula to fume. She should've known the duel for the key was just a ploy to get her kicked out of the academy.

"That Blonde…Bitch," Camula cursed as she seethed. Alexis formulated a devious plan involving locking Camula's only way to get to the dorm, wagering a duel just so she could record her using a banned card, which Camula didn't know then. Yet Alexis still thinks she's the hero of this story.

A tired groan escaped from Camula's lips. Why can't she get her soul back in peace? It's been only three days, and already she has Crowler and Alexis gunning for her expulsion.

She fumbled around the digital keyboard before she typed the unknown messenger a wordy response.

'I had no idea it was banned. Who are you, and what do you want of me?'

The stranger replied quickly, already having a plan in mind for the recipient.

'Someone interested in your skill as a duelist, bring your deck and duel disk. Your friend must do the same. If you beat my partner and I, I will delete the video'

Camula let out a scoff before they tapped out a reply.

'Another duel with high stakes, so be it. I shall trounce you just as I trounced Crowler and Alexis.' Camula promised, satisfied with her retort.

"I hope Orion's 'Showdown Persona' will come out for this tag duel…" Camula hoped as she meandered her way to her contacts, her skittish friend being the only one listed.

"A-A T-Tag duel? W-With me?" Orion exclaimed, pointing to himself in bewilderment.

After receiving a call from Camula, she and Orion went back to the Ra Yellow Kitchen, both to rendezvous about Camula's situation and so that she could swipe whatever goodies Orion was baking that day.

"Yes. This twerp told me that they recorded me using a banned card...Even though I have no idea it was banned in the first place." Camula explained as she folded her arms, annoyed about the whole situation.

"I'm going to need some help...And you're the only one who can," Camula admitted as she swallowed some of her pride.

As the skittish Orion opened the oven with pink girlish oven mitts, he said to Camula. "T-Then I'll do my best for you C-Cammy," He said as he unsheathed a tray of freshly baked cookies, enveloping the kitchen in a stuffy aroma of chocolate.

"Promise me you'll bring out your serious side for this duel. Now." Camula demanded from the boy.

"I'll t-try-" Orion stammered as he fumbled his oven mitts off, accidentally dropping them on the floor.

"Promise me. Now." Camula then gave Orion a stone-cold stare, expecting nothing but his best performance for the upcoming duel. Orion stared back at Camula, concerned. Even with his bruised eye muddling his vision, he could easily see what Camula tried to hide behind her amber eyes.

There was bitterness and frustration, yet there was also a hint of doubt behind her pouty scowl. A doubt that Orion is all too familiar with, a fear of being abandoned and hated because of a simple mistake.

"...Please," Camula added, her scowl breaking ever so slightly as she let a piece of desperation out from her voice.

Orion paused before without another word, he drove a hand through his hair. Like a blooming flower, the green strands that littered Orion's long black hair turned into a waning crescent in front of the boy's face. As his hair changed, so did everything else: his back straightened, his face washed away any uncertainty, his hands steadied, and his voice cleared.

Camula was a bit taken aback by the transformation. In one moment, Orion was his usual skittish and awkward self, and in another, it all washed away, replacing his self-doubts with...Nothing, no emotion, no life, as if he stowed away all of what made him human.

"Alright. I will." Orion promised with a nod as he took off his glasses, the bruise now oddly a little purple than before.

Orion would callously drop the tray of cookies on the serving table. Camula couldn't help but notice that he handled the scalding tray with his bare hands without signs of discomfort.

"How does that work exactly? Are you a split personality of the sort?" She asked, Camula would inquisitively pull the tip of Orion's bang, trying to understand his shift in personality.

Orion didn't seem to mind. "Not at all Cammy, I'm the same...I focus on the task at hand." He replied nonchalantly, his voice as still and cold as ice. Despite his reassurance, Camula couldn't help but feel suspicious.

"You don't even stammer like a toady...In our duel together, what monster did you summon first?" she knows that split personalities have no recollection of the other half's memories.

"Danipon. See? Do not worry Cammy. My father always told me that the providence to the heart..." Orion paused. Camula could swear Orion's crescent bang bristled like a porcupine.

"Is the reason why my persona shows up." Orion's hair then quickly straightened. "If I keep following the providence, then this will be my true state of being, no stuttering, no doubts."

"A shame...I like it when you stutter..." Camula whispered under her breath.

"Anyway, we have a duel to win, but a problem lays before us: our decks have no synergy, and we'll be fumbling over ourselves if we duel like this," Orion pointed out.

A smirk crept up on Camula's lips as she plucked a scattered cookie from the counter. "I got an idea." She said before she took a bite. "Hmm?" Orion's brow curved slightly.

"I don't know a thing about your insect monsters, but if you build your deck to support my vampires, our victory is assured," Camula suggested as she took another bite, hiding a smile that crept up on her lips, ushered by the sweet sensation from Orion's food.

"I...Disagree," Orion admitted in a stilted tone. "My insect cards, I use them because they resonate with me. I find a kindred spirit with them." He explained, his voice soft and meaningful.

Camula scoffed. Kindred spirit? They're playing cards and nothing more. They were as unique as pocket lint: replaceable, forgettable, and numerous. Orion was being ridiculous right now.

"Come now Orion, put yourself in My shoes for this moment; I will be ostracized if I lose this duel. I won't be able to get my soul back, and I would prefer an anchor rather than a millstone." She growled in frustration.

"I..." Orion tried to argue. Camula crushed the cookie in her hands before she glared at Orion. She will not accept nonsense, especially if her deal with the Light is in jeopardy. "Are you putting your cards before Me?" She accused.

For once, Orion's fixed face faltered, a slight frown inched at the corner of his lips as his bruised eye darted away for a split second."...No. I will change my deck for you." He relented.

"Good, now let's prepare," Camula instructed as she left the kitchen, unaware of a third party listening in behind the counter window the whole time.

Students from all dorms gathered around the arena seating, all murmuring in excitement for the upcoming tag duel.

It was just a normal day for the student body at Duel Academy until Alexis Rhode sent out a message to almost everyone she knew:

"Hello everyone! Come to the academy's main building if you want to see a fantastic duel! I'll be tag-dueling with Jaden Yuki!"

This single message made everyone drop what they were doing to watch the duel. It was not only rare to see Alexis in a tag duel, but with the rising slifer star Jaden as her partner, no less. Rumors and gossip spread throughout the crowd about the two's connection. Are they friends? Rivals? Or something more? This drama buzz was enough to encourage the entire student body to attend.

Alexis looked around at the crowd as she waited for their opponents. "I hope this is a good idea, Jaden..." Alexis grumbled to herself, a bit taken aback by the reception. The crowd was massive. It seemed like whoever Alexis sent her message to, they sent it to their friends, and they sent it to their other friends.

Jaden smiled and waved to the crowd, undeterred by their presence. "Don't worry Alexis! The crowd is gonna be wild!"

"That's not the point. How is this better than what I was going to do?!" Alexis fired back, frustrated by Jaden's lax attitude.

"If she cheats again, it'll be in front of the entire school!"

"That's if she cheats again! I bet she won't with this huge crowd!" Jaden replied without skipping a beat.

"So you're just gonna pressure her into not cheating. How is that going to make her stop at all?" Alexis questioned back.

"You'll see Alexis!" Jaden then winked at her.

"Don't dodge the question, Jaden!" Alexis snapped back.

An enamored sigh came from the audience as they overlooked the two's discussion. The crowd saw the two duelists arguing as a moment of romantic tension, as if they were like an old married couple, constantly at each other's throats while being inseparable.

Before Alexis could dispel these bubbling rumors, Camula arrived at the arena from the entranceway, accompanied by a calm and collected Orion. Their duel disks readied and their decks slotted, ready to duel together.

The crowd didn't know how to react to Camula, seeing her as a new, pretty face whose skill is implied so far. But they did know Orion.

"Hey, it's that bug freak!" An Obelisk Blue called out. The audience responded kindly, snickering and chuckling from the heckler's remark.

"Guess freaks of a feather flock together!" Another shouted back, earning another chorus of laughter.

"What the hell is wrong with his eye!?" One blurted.

Camula scoffed at the crowd, disgusted. They condemned Orion for his presence alone. Hopefully, this duel will make them leave him alone.

Orion stood firm in his showdown persona, undaunted by the crowd's heckling. It seems like his showdown persona was unshakeable, but only time will tell if that were true.

Alexis glared at Camula. "Look who finally showed up..." She remarked with a scoff.

The feeling was mutual: "Little Blonde girl...You will pay for making me duel you again..." She growled through gritted teeth. "I'll just trounce you like I did before. The only difference is now you have the whole school to witness your humiliation." Camula threatened as she edged out a smirk.

"I doubt it, especially since you can't cheat this time," Alexis replied smugly as she folded her arms haughtily.

"...I didn't cheat!" Camula protested, "No one told me the card was banned, you little tramp! You set me up!" She accused.

Alexis smirked back, amused that her antics were getting under Camula's skin. "Little tramp? You're the one who looks like a tot-"

"Then let's prove it!" Jaden interjected.

"Huh?" The two tilted their heads.

"Dueling brings out the best in everyone. If you can beat Alexis and I without your tricks, you've changed!" Jaden claimed.

"Yes. May the better tag team win." Orion replied with a small, friendly smile of his own. He bowed, not as an apology but as a sign of respect to Alexis and Jaden.

"This will be your big moment Cammy...We shall prevail!" He declared as his duel disk activated.

"Alright! Time to get our game on!" Jaden announced.

"DUEL!"

Jaden and Alexis' LP: 8000

Camula and Orion's LP: 8000

"We shall start first! I activate the continuous spell! Call of the Mummy!" As Camula started her turn, an ancient sarcophagus rose from the ground amidst a cloud of dust.

"Since we don't have a monster on our field, I can Special Summon Vampire Lady!" Bats swarmed the field as they joined the duel. When they cleared away, a noblewoman took their place, her skin deathly green, dressed in a royal purple dress draped in bat wings.

Vampire Lady

Level 4, DARK, Zombie, ATK: 1550, DEF: 1550

"Now, come forth, Vampire Lord!" The Lady faded away as a regal lord of the undead took her place, his skin just as green and his cape just as fancy as the woman he replaced.

Vampire Lord

Level 5, DARK, Zombie, ATK: 2000, DEF: 1500

"I set a card and I end my turn. Your move..." Camula finished before she glared daggers at Alexis.

"Hmph, fine! My draw!" Alexis declared. The audience responded in kind, hooting and hollering as they watched the queen of the academy start her turn.

"Go! Vampire Hunter!" A whip-wielding vampire slayer draped in black appeared on the field. Several girls in the crowd swooned at the monster, enamored by his handsome face and silvery locks.

Vampire Hunter

Level 4, Light, Warrior, ATK: 1600, DEF: 1600

"His name fits him! Because whenever he attacks a Dark monster..." The Whip-wielding hunter swung at his prey from afar, instantly slicing the vampire in two.

"He destroys it!" Alexis announced as she flashed a smug smile at Camula.

"Damn it..." Camula cursed under her breath, seething.

"But I'm not done yet! I use this spell! Arrivalrivals!" An elegant dancer of red accompanied the hunter. A light blue ribbon twirling around the woman, giving off an aura of grace and serenity.

Etoile Cyber

Level 4, EARTH, Warrior, ATK: 1200, DEF: 1600

"Attack Camula directly Etoile Cyber! Arabesque Attack!" Alexis ordered. The monster obeyed, gracefully twirling around before throwing a kick to Camula's stomach.

"And like last time we've dueled...Etoile Cyber's attack increases when she attacks directly!" Alexis gleefully pointed out.

"Damn it!" Camula repeated, shouting this time.

"Then you have activated my monster effect..." Orion chimed in ominously.

"Huh?" Alexis tilted her head, just realizing that she Camula wasn't dueling alone.

"Smoke Mosquito! Sacrifice yourself!" A dapperly dressed mosquito came to the field in a puff of magic smoke, its four spindly arms crossed in a defensive stance.

Camula and Orion's LP: 7150

"The damage you made is halved, and your battle phase ends..." Orion emotionlessly explained, his voice as cool as ice and just as still.

"Hmph, I was going to end my turn anyway, your move," Alexis responded carelessly with a shrug.

"Draw. I activate Burden of the Mighty," An ornate nest appeared on the field, filled with several baby chicks, they chirped about, begging for a mother to feed them.

"All monsters you control lost attack points equal to their level." The bird's petulant chirping made Alexis' monsters wince in irritation.

Etoile Cyber's ATK: 1200 - 800

Vampire Hunter's ATK: 1600 - 1200

"I then activate monster reincarnation, I send Mezuki to the graveyard to add my tag partner's vampire lord to my hand, so then I'll tribute my mosquito to summon him back to the field!" dark fog covered the field as the lord of vampires returned once more.

"Your hunter means nothing to me, as with all cards..."

"As with all cards?" Camula whispered, confused.

"I will send it to the graveyard with this! Offering to the Doomed!" The hunter disappeared in a flash of holy light.

"In exchange for skipping my next turn, your monster is destroyed...Along with your Etoile Cyber! Vampire Lord! Strike down that useless card!" The Lord obeyed, throwing his cloak out to blast a wave of bats in its seams.

Alexis and Jaden's LP: 6800

"Heh, nice move!" Jaden congratulated, giving his opponent a thumbs-up.

"I do not care for your words. I end my turn by setting two cards face-down." Orion coldly said back, filling the field with the rest of the cards in his hand.

"Geez, it was only a compliment..." Jaden replied, taken aback by Orion's rudeness.

Camula shared the same feeling. Orion said his showdown persona was only supposed to make him brave, strong, and confident. Not...This.

"But I bet you're gonna care about this! Go Polymerization!" A swirling storm of orange and blue brewed above the four duelists.

"I fuse Elemental Hero Clayman and Sparkman to create!" The two monsters jumped into the vortex, twirling and warping as they devolved into wispy motes of energy.

"Elemental Hero! Thunder Giant!" The Vortex exploded, unleashing the warrior of lighting that brewed within.

Elemental Hero Thunder Giant

Level 6,

LIGHT, Warrior, ATK: 2400, DEF: 1500

"Elemental HERO Sparkman" + "Elemental HERO Clayman"
Must be Fusion Summoned. Once per turn: You can discard 1 card, then target 1 monster on the field with original ATK less than the ATK of this card; destroy that target.

"Now Thunder Giant, take him down!" The monster crackled as bolts of light began to cusp within his claws before he fired a barrage of blinding light, turning the vampire lord to dust.

Camula and Orion's LP: 6750

"Wow, we're almost at the same lifepoints! Isn't that neat?" Jaden pointed out with a chuckle.

"End your turn already. We do not need your banter," Orion snapped back. Camula was once again unnerved by Orion's newfound assertion. Where did he get it from?

"Alright, alright! Dang I'll throw down a face-down. Your move, Camula!" Jaden declared.

"Finally, I draw!" Camula barked back as she threw her hand out, drawing a new card as she did so.

"I activate Call of the Mummy! I summon Zombie Werewolf in attack position!" Dashing to the field, on all fours came a werewolf, its fur an eerie grey.

Vampire Wolf

Level 4, DARK, Zombie, ATK: 1200, DEF: 1200

"I then banish Orion's Mezuki to special summon back Vampire Lord!" The dark mist loomed a third time as the monster returned to the field a third time.

"Then I use Orion's set card, Rising Energy! I discard a Mezuki of my own to give my Vampire Lord 1500 attack points!" A fiery aura enveloped Camula's monster, giving it a much-needed power boost.

Vampire Lord's ATK: 2000 - 3500

"Attack that Giant! Swarm of fangs!" Camula ordered. The Lord once again exhumed a wave of bats from his cloak. The giant tried to fight back, flailing his arms about in a desperate attempt to get the bats off of himself, but it was futile, the flying horde devoured him until nothing remained.

Jaden and Alexis' LP: 5650

"Ah dang my monster! Well, looks like Alexis is gonna have to do duel twice as much hehe!" He chuckled.

"It's not over yet! Zombie Werewolf! Attack these two twerps directly!" The monster then lunged at the two, biting Jaden and clawing Alexis.

Jaden and Alexis' LP: 4450

"Wow, you're doing well Camula. Let's see if Alexis has something to say about it!" Jaden chuckled.

"Oh I certainly do..." Alexis growled ominously. Her attention was focused on Camula, like a tiger eying their prey.

"Not much I can do right now, so I'll use Fusion Recovery to give Jaden back his Sparkman and Polyermizeration." The swirling fusion vortex returned. This time, it floated down a pair of cards to Jaden's hand.

"But before I end my turn...Orion, was it? I have a question for you: why are you doing this?" Camula could see Alexis was pointedly looking at her as she asked.

"I'm simply putting myself before Cammy, as she told me to." Orion coolly replied, interrupting his tag partner.

"Oh really? She told you to? So she's taking advantage of you," Alexis concluded with a shrug.

Orion paused before speaking, "...That's not true." he responded calmly.

"Then answer me this: ever since you met her, what has Camula done for you?" Alexis continued to push.

"I've seen you defend her, rationalize her actions, and give her the benefit of the doubt every time..."

"He doesn't need to answer your petulant questions!" Camula tried to intervene. Despite her insistence however, Orion would answer.

Despite being in his showdown persona, a slight stutter leaked out of his voice. "I-It's because she's n-nice to me."

"Nice?! She forced you to use cards you didn't want to use!" Alexis revealed with a grin.

"What!? How in the hell do you know that?!" Camula shouted in disbelief.

"Oh, it's easy. I got someone to spy on you two while you were in the Ra Yellow Dorm Kitchen. Thank you, Bastion!" Alexis' grin grew wider and wider, clearly enjoying this.

"You told her that those cards were special to you...And you know what she did? She ignored you. She manipulated you. She..." Alexis gave the killing blow.

"Rejected you..." An eerie silence befell upon the arena. The Audience was stunned, not only by Camula's actions but by Alexis' as well. They knew Alexis for her friendliness and spirited attitude, but she was incredibly vindictive here. They knew very little of Camula, so seeing Alexis acting like this was startling.

Camula seethed, "Shut your mouth, you little twerp! I'm tired of your accusations. I'm a changed person...I...I've been forgiven, I've been-" Camula's eyes widened as she glanced at what he did.

The boy slumped down to the ground as he dropped to his knees, his green tuft of hair, once a perfectly curved crescent, devolved into a mess of wild, unkempt strands, completely shadowing his face.

"...I p-p-p-pass..." Was all Orion could squeak out.

Camula felt a shiver down her spine, and a tinge of guilt struck her soulless heart. This wasn't supposed to happen. The plan was to duel perfectly and win. So that Camula can be accepted by the academy, to have her quest be unabated by others, to have her vengeance over Alexis.

'I'm all hearing is me...me...me...' A dark thought bloomed in Camula's mind.

Alexis was right. She disregarded Orion's feelings for the sake of her own. Orion has been putting his needs and wants before Camula ever since they met...And for the first time, he wanted something from her, and she completely ignored him. She doesn't deserve to win...Not after what she had done to her only friend.

'You don't deserve a second chance.' Was all Camula could think of as she bowed her head down in shame, unable to continue the duel just like Orion, the one she ignored, manipulated, and rejected.

A depressing silence loomed over Camula. Orion was despondent. The crowd murmured in hushed whispers, unsure if the duel would continue.