A Fresh Start

Alexis had arrived at Domino Airport after a long thirteen-hour flight from America. She literally just wanted to go straight to her brother's apartment and sleep. But Atticus, being Atticus, would just turn up late to collect her. She passed through the security checkpoint and then saw an unusually tall man whose eyes were concealed behind shades. She pulled her rolling suitcase behind her, and just as she walked past his right side, she heard a familiar voice.

"Alexis? You're the special guest I'm picking up for Atticus?" he asked, running his palm through his layered blue hair. Why hadn't his best friend told him it was her?

Alexis halted immediately and turned around. "Zane? Atticus told me he was the one coming to fetch me," she asked, her voice tinged with annoyance. What sort of plan was her brother trying to hatch?

Zane folded his arms across his chest and turned around. "The parking meter is running, Alexis. So come along, and I'll drive you to Atticus's place," he instructed flatly and started walking.

Alexis let out a tired breath. All she needed to do was sleep, but it appeared her brother was already in a bad mood. It didn't help that she hadn't seen or spoken to Zane since graduation, and he had been very sick then. She followed Zane out of the airport doors, across the road, and into a sheltered "Priority Guest" car park. When they got to Zane's silver convertible, she noticed it was sparkling clean and spotless. It seemed Zane's perfectionist tendencies were still present. "So where shall I put my bag?" she asked.

Zane hadn't thought of that; he was too accustomed to Atticus just throwing his belongings in the back seat. "You can put it on the back seat; after all, Atticus always does," he shrugged, opening the driver's-side door.

Alexis opened the back car door and placed her bags in the center of the seat before sitting next to them and closing the door. Then, only the revving of Zane's engine as he started the car and drove out of the car park. Once they were out of the airport and on a long stretch of highway, Alexis felt like breaking the ice. "So how have you been, Zane?" she asked.

Zane glanced briefly at the rearview mirror as he considered how much he should tell Alexis about the last four years. "I'm running a small business," he stated, preferring not to go into depth about the Cyber Pro-League.

"What about your heart condition? Has it improved?"

"Well, I'm on enough pills to rival an old man, Alexis," he snarked, spinning the wheel to the right.

"I see… Well, what about dueling?"

That was one Zane didn't want her to ask. He had retired from the pro leagues for his own health and so he could focus on the business. He had spent his entire life becoming a pro-league duelist, only to have his own stupid and disrespectful behavior bring him down. "I no longer duel, Alexis," he said firmly.

Alexis sensed from Zane's severe tone that 'dueling' was something she shouldn't pursue. "Unless I'm teaching my students, then I don't duel either," she yielded.

Zane removed his foot from the gas, for they were heading into a densely populated area. "So you've heard from Jaden?" he asked stiltedly. Atticus had told him Alexis had a colossal crush on the former Slifer Red. But after that, Atticus never said a word on the subject.

Alexis's eyes drifted to the car window for a few seconds as she reflected on Jaden. She once loved him, but with increasing age, she understood it was nothing more than a childhood crush. "Nobody has heard from Jaden since the Academy, Zane. Why do you ask?" she answered, letting out a small yawn afterward.

"Atticus said you two would date eventually," he said carelessly.

"Sure, he did. I may have had a crush on Jaden at the Academy, but it was never anything more than that."

He'd never say it, but he was glad it was only a crush. "Heh, that's life for you; it never goes the way you want," he mumbled, turning left down a suburban street. Alexis leaned her head against the glass and realized she couldn't contradict Zane's words. "Perhaps we both need to make a fresh start in life," she said.