NOTE: Hey, guys! This is a late Valentine's Day chapter, so I hope you guys enjoy it!
I will have Julie and Yuji have an actual battle since they didn't get to have it in the last tournament. Still not sure where to put it, but I'll figure that out later.
Enjoy and Review!
Chapter 26: Rings of Love
Nervousness was not an unfamiliar feeling to Yuji Shujin, the last several weeks since moving to Wardington have thrown his stress levels through the roof. But for the young man there wasn't a thing in the world, not even a rematch with Marduk, that could compare to the current situation he found himself in.
A date with a cute girl.
Last night, Alice had messaged him about wanting to meet-up and discuss their relationship. He agreed since he also wanted to know where they fully stood after everything. She suggested meeting up at the town's amusement park. It was only after he agreed that Yuji came to realize that he just agreed to go on a date with her. His freak-out disrupted Leonidas' slumber, causing the Haos Bakugan to smack into his forehead.
So, after explaining everything to his parents, he now stood at the park's entrance dressed in a nice yellow and white patterned button-up with a pair of nice light-blue jeans. Serena had thrown him a pack of mints, saying that his terrible breath would drive away the only girl that would fall in love with him.
He didn't believe her, obviously, but he still kept the mints in his pockets just in case. Thankfully, his father had given him some money to treat Alice while giving him some…fatherly advice.
"Remember, son, it's important for the man to handle everything on the date. While you weren't the one to set it up, you still have to take charge. Disappoint her on this first date and you might as well give up. If that happens then that means, we'll have to rely on Serena to be the hope of this family…and I think we both know how that'll end. So, no pressure!"
"Yeah, sure, no pressure, Dad…" Yuji groaned. He readjusts his collar, then checks his watch to look at the time. He had arrived earlier than what they agreed to be safe. It wouldn't look good to be late on your first date, after all. His foot tapped the ground as his eyes scanned through the busy crowd of people.
Did he smell nice? He took an extra-long shower today just to be safe. Was his hair straight? Sure, it was usually a bit messy, but his dad told him women liked that until his mother corrected that thought. Should he hurry back home and change shirts-
"Yuji!"
The bumbling champion paused his thoughts when he heard the voice of his date. Yuji turned to see Alice coming his way quickly, waving her arm up so that he could see her. The closer she got, the less he felt like tearing his gaze away from her.
Alice had discarded her usual manner of attire for a fitting teal blouse tucked into a flowing white skirt that reached down to her knees, with a brown belt wrapped around the waist. Her usual white shoes were replaced by a pair of white flats that clicked against the ground. A silver bracelet on each wrist and a black choker with a silver heart around her neck.
Yuji was praying to whatever God above that his mouth wasn't hanging open.
She stops in front of him, smiling as bright as the sun. "I'm sorry for the wait, Yuji! I hope you weren't standing here too long!"
It took a moment for him to snap out of his stupor to answer her. A nervous laugh came out as he tugged on his collar. "N-no! I wasn't waiting long at all! In fact, I just got here myself!" That was a complete lie, but she didn't need to know that.
"Oh, that's great! I didn't want to make you wait or anything since I'm the one who invited you out here!" Alice looked slightly nervous herself, but she kept her hands to her front to stop them from fidgeting. "Since we're ready to go, we should head inside of the park!"
"Right! Uh…" Yuji looked a bit uncertain. "I don't really know my way around the amusement park since I recently moved here."
"That's okay! I've never been here myself either, so this'll be new for both of us! A fresh date!" As soon as the word left her mouth, both of their faces turned bright red. It had felt like an unspoken rule to not mention the word 'date' but the Russian had blundered before they even got inside of the park. Alice waved her hands frantically. "N-not that this is a date!"
"R-right, right! Totally not! We're just here to hangout!" Yuji agreed.
"Exactly! A hangout between us…and Leonidas!"
Yuji made a face. "Leonidas isn't here. Serena is watching over him since we're on a date-" The words left his mouth before he even realized. Awkward air dangled between the two of them like a noose, their faces as bright as a fresh tomato.
People walked on by, clearly amused by the awkward teenagers making fools of themselves.
"L-let's hurry inside, yeah?!"
"Yes, I agree!"
The teenagers hurried through the crowd to enter the amusement park, trying to hide their embarrassment from each other.
Leonidas rested on the top of Serena's head, watching as the youngest Shujin and her father competed against each other in a racing game. Though she was grounded, they were willing to let her have at least an hour max of free time for the week to let her release all of her energy. Last time they had grounded her, Serena almost destroyed her own room in an effort to get all of her excess energy out.
Ryuji let out a cry of victory after nailing his daughter with a blue shell and stealing first place from her. "YES!"
"NO!" Serena screamed. "You cheated, Dad!"
"We agreed on all items, Serena. You can't get mad after agreeing to the rules." Ryuji started stroking his chin, a sly smile creeping along his face. "However, daughter, I can teach you my ways in how to improve your skills."
"Tch! No way! I'd probably end up bald like you!"
"I'm not bald!"
"You're balding, Dad! I can already see the bald spots!"
"Really?!" Ryuji took out his phone, quickly checking his hair. When he didn't see a single spot, he glared at his giggling daughter. "That isn't funny, Serena! What would your Mother think if I started losing my beautiful hair?!"
"Divorce."
"Don't joke like that!"
"I don't understand." Father and daughter stop their comedy routine to peer up at Leonidas. The Bakugan had been completely silent since Yuji left for his date.
"What's wrong, Leonidas?" Serena picked him up, holding him in her palm. "Do you want to play with us?"
"I have no interest in watching you lose again."
"Dad was getting lucky!" Serena huffed.
"Is it something serious?" Ryuji said, turning to fully face them. Though Leonidas was a Bakugan, he had basically become another member of the family at this point. To Ryuji and Serenity, Leonidas might as well be their 3rd kid. "We'll help you as best we can."
Leonidas stared at him for a second. "It's about Yuji and Alice. Why are these…'dates' an important thing for humans?"
"So, you're struggling to understand human relationships?" Ryuji asked. "Do Bakugan not have their own relationships?"
"I wish to crush any Bakugan that stands before me. But I have also come to understand the importance of friendship and family, even with my fellow Bakugan." Leonidas clarifies. He thinks of the Shujins, Dan, Alice, and Drago. "But from what I saw, what Yuji and Alice are doing differs from that."
"Oh! So, you're confused about romantic love!" Serena giggled. "That's pretty easy to understand, Leo!"
He turns to face her. "How so?"
"Romantic love is the special feeling between two people! When you really love someone, you'll want to spend a lot of time with them!" Serena explains.
Leonidas mulled over her words before speaking again. "I love Yuji, and I want to spend more time with him. Does that make it romantic?"
It warmed Ryuji's heart to hear how much the powerful Bakugan cared about his son. "Not necessarily. I love my kids, and I want to spend time with them, but I don't see them in a romantic light. Not like how I see their mother, my wife, for example."
"So, the love that I feel for all of you is not the same as the love that Yuji and Alice feel for each other?" Leonidas asked.
"Exactly, Leonidas. As Serena said before, it's a special kind of love that you can only feel for certain people. But that doesn't discredit or make it more important than the other forms of love." Ryuji added, sagely.
"Love…is complicated." Leonidas admits, still trying to wrap his head around the concept.
"That it is, Leonidas. But that's what makes love so compelling." Ryuji responds.
"And all we can do is hope that Yuji doesn't screw up HIS shot at love!"
"Exactly, my little darling!" Father and daughter share a high-five, giggling to each other.
Leonidas doesn't respond, choosing to think over everything he's just learned. Love was a recent thing to him. No, that's not right. He's always felt love towards Yuji, but he never truly understood the emotions that stirred within him. He thinks about the relationship between the Shujins.
It makes him wonder…does Vladitor feel 'love' towards him?
…
Leonidas…are you saying that our connection means nothing?
…
Does it really mean nothing? Leonidas didn't quite know yet.
"What is up with me?!" Alice curses herself. After their embarrassing meeting, their trip through the amusement park has been nothing but awkward. Hell, they were barely even walking side-by-side with each other. Yuji was walking a bit ahead of her as if he were leading her around the place when it was clear that he had no idea what to do. "We literally shared a kiss together, closed the distance, and yet I can't help but feel like we haven't moved at all!"
She hugs herself, eyes meeting the ground. "Julie and Runo spent the entire morning helping me get ready for this d-date and yet…" Suddenly, Yuji stopped walking, which caused her to bump into him. "Y-Yuji?!"
"S-sorry, it's just that I saw something that I think you'll like!" He takes her hand, causing her to blush. Yuji practically drags her over to a shooting stall. Several colorful prizes hung off the ceiling and sides, while the fish-shaped targets moved side-to-side. The Haos brawler gives her a big grin. "I'll win you a prize! How about that?!"
"Y-Yuji, you don't have to do that-"
"I'll take three rounds!" Yuji didn't let her finish and slapped some money on the counter. The vendor took the money and handed Yuji the toy shotgun.
"Three shots. Want anymore and you'll have to pay again." The vendor said.
Yuji aimed his gun with a cocky look. "Heh! I'll only need one!"
Alice watched with slight embarrassment as Yuji missed all three shots. For someone who regularly aimed his Bakugan with precise accuracy, his aim with a gun was terrible. She could see the depressing cloud hanging over his head. "Yuji, it's okay-"
"Again!" He slammed more money down on the table.
"Are you sure, kid? Do you really want to embarrass yourself in front of your girlfriend again?" The vendor chuckled.
Crimson colors brightened his face. "S-she's…uh…whatever! I'm not going to miss this time!"
He did in fact screw up his shots again.
"Again!" Yuji attempted to pay more money, but Alice held his arm back.
"No, Yuji! You don't have to keep playing!" Alice exclaimed.
"Seriously, as much as I love paying customers, there are people behind you who want to play." The vendor points behind them to see that there was a bit of a line building up. "And besides, I even feel bad for girlie here. Having to watch her boyfriend embarrass himself so much. Pretty pathetic, huh?"
Yuji flinched from the insults, while Alice furrowed her brows. "How dare you?! Those words were uncalled for-hey, Yuji!" She stopped her scolding when her date sprinted away from the booth with his bangs covering his eyes. "Yuji!" Alice whipped her glare at the vendor, making him flinch. "I'll be sure to report your harassment of customers to the owners of the park!" Alice rushed off through the crowd before the vendor could argue with her.
She lightly pushed past all of the people in her way, trying to keep her eyes on Yuji's swerving figure. "Yuji, wait! You don't have to listen to that guy!" When she managed to get through most of the crowd, Alice gasped at the sight of Yuji standing across another game.
The game this time was High Striker; the goal of the game was to hit the bottom hard enough with the mallet to knock the bell to the top. She watches him toss some money to the vendor before taking the mallet. Yuji slams down as hard as he could, but the puck barely manages to reach the halfway mark. Frustration from the boy was clear to everyone, and he tried his luck again for the bell. Once again, the bell didn't even make it halfway. Shaking slightly, Yuji tosses the mallet down and runs off once more.
Alice chased after him, calling his name again and again to get him to stop. Eventually, she lost her date in the storm of passerby, completely lost on where he could be. Alice attempted to call him, but each one went ignored.
Stopping at a bench, Alice tries to call her date again. "Yuji, please! What's going on with you?!" Her attempt is met with failure, going straight to voicemail yet again. Her heart wavered under the weight of the situation.
On her very first date with the boy she liked…Alice Gehabich had been ditched.
"Haha!" Yuji cheered when he managed to catch the goldfish with the tiny net. After several failures the last 30 minutes, he finally managed to win at one of these games. Yuji handed the caught goldfish to the vendor. "There, miss! I got the goldfish!"
"Congrats." The vendor clapped her hands. "Feel free to pick any of the prizes on the wall." She points to the assortment of trinkets, toys, and jewelry lined up as prizes.
Yuji's eyes scan over the prizes, judging each one with a critical lens. Eventually, his eyes landed on a set of silver rings. "Those ones! I'll take the rings!"
"Nice choice, kid." She takes them off the wall and hands them to him. "These are some of the ones I usually save for couples. They signify the bond between you and the one you love the most."
"Our bond, huh?" Yuji held the rings in his palm, clenching them tightly.
"So, who's the lucky person?" The vendor asked.
"What do you mean?" Yuji blinked. "She's right behind me."
Her smile faded, realizing the denseness of the boy. "Kid, there's nobody behind you."
Whipping around to confirm her words, Yuji saw that Alice was nowhere to be found. "Alice? But that's not right…she was right behind me the entire time! Wasn't she…?" His tone was far less confident as he thought over the last half-hour. Ever since his failure at the shooting range, he had been determined to impress Alice and make this d-date worthwhile. While he didn't voice it, the awkward air around them earlier had bothered him greatly.
His dad said that he had to take charge, so that's what he tried to do.
Checking his phone, Yuji's face paled at all of the missed calls and messages from Alice. The last call was 20 minutes ago, meaning that this entire time he had been running around, completely ignoring the girl of his affections. She had invited him out here, so that they could talk and spend the day together and yet… "Alice…"
"What are you still standing here for, kid?" The vendor grabbed his attention.
"Huh?" Yuji blinked.
"From the look on your face, I can tell you managed to screw up your date. Trust me, I've been in similar circumstances." She called him out, making him shrink.
"I-it's not like I meant to! I-I just-"
"Doesn't matter if you meant to or not, kid. What matters is that you screwed up and that poor girl is probably sitting all alone if she didn't leave the park after getting abandoned. So, instead of standing here and feeling bad about yourself, go and find her." The vendor advised, sternly.
She was right, Yuji realized. Standing here like an idiot wasn't going to fix the mistake he made. He tried to take charge of the date and focused on trying to make it special. But all that did was cause him to neglect the person who made him feel special.
Tightening his grip around the rings, Yuji sprinted away from the booth to find Alice.
"Y'know… I'm kinda surprised." Runo turns around from her desk to look at Julie, who was sitting on her bed.
"What do you mean?" Runo asked.
"That you helped prepare Alice for her date with Yuji. From what I can tell, you were pretty against it." Julie shrugged.
"Julie!" Gorem exclaimed.
"Oh hush, Gorem! I'm just speaking the truth!" The dark-skinned girl huffed.
"Doesn't mean you have to say it…"
"No, she's right, I was against it." The twin-tailed brawler confirmed. She sighed a bit while looking out the window. "I wasn't his biggest fan for a while, but after everything that's happened… I realize that was stupid. Alice is like a sister to me, but that doesn't give me the right to interfere with her life." Runo turns back around to continue working on something. "She wants to pursue a relationship with Yuji, then I'll give her my full support."
Tigrerra looked at her mistress. "Runo-"
"Not out of guilt, Tigrerra." She meets her guardian's eyes. "But out of genuine love. I love Alice, and I want her to be happy. I know she'd do the same unconditionally."
The Haos tiger smiled at the truth in Runo's eyes and words. "You've really matured, my lady."
"Thanks, Tigrerra."
"And speaking of 'same'...!" Julie pops over, causing Runo to flinch. "When are you going to talk to Dan?!"
Runo quickly covers her notebook. "Soon! And if you're going to be annoying about it, just leave!"
"Don't be like that, Runo~!"
"Shut up!"
30 minutes.
30 minutes of waiting for a call, text, or even a physical appearance of her date. Instead, all Alice got was a bunch of looks of pity from the passerby. They thought they were whispering but she could hear their words clear as day.
"Poor girl. All alone."
"She's so pretty, what could possibly leave her looking so depressed?"
"Her date must have ended terribly."
Alice pushed the thoughts from her mind as she walked towards the exit of the park. This date ended in a complete bust, ruining whatever expectations she had prior. Maybe the kiss before was just a result of the adrenaline the circumstances were giving off? "Did Yuji never feel the same to begin with? I should never have kissed him, should have kept my distance to keep us as friends. I don't think I'm cut out for dating anyways…" If her date couldn't possibly remain focused on her as she was on him, then clearly, he never felt the same.
Tears pricked the corners of her eyes. Alice tried to fight them back, refusing to cry around so many people. It was pathetic, she was pathetic. All of this was-
"ALICE!"
She stops, turning around to see Yuji running towards her. Instead of feeling relieved or pleased as she would before, anger crept its way into her heart. Alice didn't say anything when he stopped in front of her, bending slightly to catch his breath. He looks up at her with a guilty expression. "Alice."
"Oh, so now you see me?" Her voice dripped with venom. "You were having so much fun running around earlier, leaving me behind."
"Alice, can we…sit down somewhere and talk? I know I screwed up-" She scoffed, interrupting him. "-But I never intended to hurt you. Can I at least explain myself?"
"Fine." She accepts. "But that's only because I have things to say too."
"Thank you." Yuji smiles.
When the two found a bench far away enough for a bit of privacy, Yuji gathered his thoughts. He took a deep breath, then turned to face her. "Alice, I'm sorry." She didn't say anything, allowing him to continue. "When you proposed this hangout to talk about the things between us, I didn't know what to do. I've never been invited out to places like this before, especially by a girl. I just got too focused on trying to make this special for you."
"Instead, you left me alone for 30 minutes. I was so embarrassed by the fact that my own date abandoned me to play a bunch of carnival games." Alice's tone was less venomous, but the pain was still present.
"I know." He lowered his head.
"But you're not the only one at fault." Her words confused the boy, his eyes staring at her wide. "I don't think I really knew what I was doing when I invited you out here." She clenched her hands on her lap. "There's so much that I've wanted to say to you, and yet I couldn't find the words and allowed everything between us to turn awkward."
"I guess we both don't have a lot of experience with this kind of thing, huh?" Yuji chuckled.
"Yes, we really don't." Alice chuckled as well.
"It's funny…" Yuji begins to say. "I've never felt like this before with anyone else. Whenever I'm with you, I feel like doing whatever it takes to make you happy. Seeing your smile fills me with joy." He feels gentle hands take his face, slowly turning his head to face her.
"Yuji, you never have to go so extra to make me happy. I don't need super fancy gifts or need you to impress me in front of others. Just being around you, and seeing you being yourself will always be enough to make me happy." Alice explained with a heartfelt tone.
"But I-"
"Yes, you hurt me today, but I know that it's a mistake you won't repeat again. I may have been upset but I never hated you. I don't think I could ever hate you, Yuji. We've been through far too much for my feelings to sway that easily." Alice's smile tore through any doubts he may have had left.
He takes her hands into his own, then reaches into his pocket to pull out the rings. "That's right, Alice, we've been through a lot together. It was thanks to you that I was able to get my head straight for the tournament, reconnect with Leonidas, and find the strength to stand up when I was down."
Alice shook her head. "That wasn't me, Yuji. That was all you, and Leonidas too. You guys were able to beat every challenge with your own strength." She looked down at the ground. "I never did anything."
"That's not true!" Yuji declared, surprising her with his outburst. Yuji closed the distance between. "Alice, there's nobody kinder, sweeter, and gentler than you! You spent so much time helping out a nobody like me when you're already surrounded by so many amazingly talented people! The reason I've been able to stand up in the face of adversity so many times is because I had someone strong like you supporting me!"
…
I-it's because…y-you're just as important to me. Ever since I met you, I've felt some pull in my chest. The more I talk with you the more I've come to admire the sweet and clumsy boy that you are. And the more I watch you battle, the more I see the potential that you hold to become the strongest.
Go get 'em, tiger.
…
His eyes were shining brightly, like a star that would never go out. He raises her left hand, sliding one of the rings on her finger. "Alice! I want to see it! The future that we've paved together on this road! I want to see it all with you!"
Alice felt her breath hitch at his confession and actions, her heart pounding against her chest. "With me? Do you really mean that, Yuji Shujin?"
A sincere smile graced his handsome features. "Yeah, I do, with all my heart."
The distance between them lessened with each passing second. Never before had Alice felt this happy in her entire life. She takes the other ring and slides it on his right finger. "Then, with you, I also want to see the future we make."
A passionate kiss sealed the deal between the teenagers.
One, a boy blessed with unparalleled power, whose actions will decide the fate of two worlds.
The other, a girl whose life is trapped in mystery, a dark shadow hiding beneath her skin.
Unknowingly to the two, white energy, colliding with a dark mist, binds the rings together as if to signify the permanent joint of their fates.
Alice broke the kiss, giggling softly. "And the rings? Are we getting married?"
He rubs the back of his head with a chuckle. "A little too early for that, besides these ones aren't real rings. But the vendor did say that they were meant to represent the bonds between couples."
"Our bonds, huh?" Alice smiled down at the ring. "I like that."
"Me too." Yuji agreed.
Getting up from the bench, Alice brushes off her skirt. "I think as a celebration we should get something to eat, yes?"
Yuji scratched his cheek, awkwardly. "I-uh-kinda spent all the money I had on me. Sorry."
"No worries." Alice lifted her purse. "I'll pay. I hope my boyfriend doesn't have an issue with that at all?"
Standing next to her, Yuji takes her hand into his own. He smiled at his lover. "Not at all. My girlfriend treating me to lunch on our date sounds awesome."
"Hehe!" Alice giggled.
The two walked towards the food stalls, hands intertwined in a tight grip. Whatever fate had in store for them would have to wait for their date to finish.
Chapter End
NOTE: After 24 chapters, Yuji and Alice are officially in a relationship! I hope there isn't some dark, unknown secret that will make things feel weird! That would be crazy, right?
I liked having Runo and Leo say, 'I love Alice/Yuji', because there's more than just familia and romantic love. Don't be afraid to tell your friends that you love them, especially if they mean a lot to you. It doesn't matter if they're the same gender as you. You'll never know when you may lose them.
Leonidas feels weird. He's learning about love and is reflecting on previous events. I wonder how that'll change him going down the line.
As a hint: Runo and Dan may be the main focus of the next chapter.
Have a great day!