Duel in Love

It was morning at Duel Academy and everyone was in class now. The seating chart was set so that the first year's were at the bottom and the higher years were going up. But since that dorm color thing's got most Obelisk Blue kids feeling that they are better than the Yellows or the Reds, it was more like the blues were higher up with the yellows in the middle or sides and the reds at the bottom. So basically, Alexis and Chazz were at the top, Claudio and Bastion in the middle, and Syrus and Jaden at the bottom. Yippee...

Back to the school, as all the students were finally seated, the first teacher showed up…

"All right everyone, be seated!" Dr. Crowler said, cutting off any noisy conversations. "Listen up, because I won't repeat myself; I am your first teacher of the day, Dr. Vellian Crowler and I teach the different types of cards. Now can anyone tell me the three types of cards in Duel Monsters and their categories? How about you, miss Rhodes?" Alexis nodded and stood up.

"Duel Monsters cards can be grouped into Normal, Effect, Ritual, Fusion, and the Trap and Spell cards that can also be monsters or summon token monsters. Trap cards can be grouped into Normal, Continuous, and Counter Traps. And Spell cards can be grouped into Normal, Quick-Play, Field, Continuous, Equip and Ritual Cards." Alexis addressed to the entire class.

"Perfect!" Crowler said, happily. "Outstanding! Of course, I'd expect nothing less from one of my Obelisks!"

"Yes, Dr. Crowler." She responded as she sat back down.

"Hmm, now who shall we question next?" The doctor directed his attention to the lower seats, eyeing the Slifers until he found a perfect vic… I mean candidate. "You! Syrus Truesdale!" His voice caused the little, light blue-haired boy to jump to his seat. "Explain to the class, what a Field Spell is, please."

"Uh… a Field Spell… is the thing… that affects the thing…" Syrus started stammering and shaking, trying to avert his eyes from the class.

"Poor guy, I remember having stage fright…" Claudio mumbled. Bastion also groaned at Syrus's plight.

"Even pre-duelers know the answer to this one, ya Slifer Slacker!" One of the Obelisk students taunted causing most of the Blues to laugh out loud. Chazz was smirking but Alexis was shaking her head at everyone laughing.

"Wait, I know this one!" Syrus whined over the laughter.

"Relax, Sy..." Jaden said, trying to calm him down. "You totally got this one!"

"I think not!" Crowler interrupted. "Sit down." Syrus did as he was told. "Now would someone else, kindly tell me the answer? Preferably someone not in red, thank you." This caused the most blues and some of the yellows to laugh again.

"I blew it; I made all the Slifers look bad..." Syrus said, feeling down on his luck.

"You know something, teach?" Syrus turned his attention to Jaden who spoke out to the Blue Headmaster. "You shouldn't be making fun of the Slifers. I mean, I'm a Slifer that beat you so; when you make fun of the Reds, you're making fun of yourself!" Crowler was livid and started to bite down on a handkerchief. Now it was Slifer's turn to burst out laughing, Claudio included. Even Alexis chuckled a bit when she heard that.

'*That's it! I won't this slacker in my school for another second!'* Crowler thought, fuming. *'I'll see to it that he's expelled from here permanently!'*

(Later that day...)

Thankfully, the next teacher was Slifer Red Headmaster...

"Alright class, as some of you may know, my name is Professor Lyman Banner." He greeted. "I specialize in some of the lesser know tactics in the world of dueling, some that might be unnatural to even the experienced duelist..."

By the way." Syrus whispered to Jaden who was dozing off during Banner's lecture. "Thanks, Jay."

"No problem Syrus, for what?" Jaden asked, sleepily.

"For sticking up for me!" Syrus replied a little too loud, making the Professor stop his lecture.

Jaden noticed Banner looking in their direction. "Uh-oh, I may have to do it again."

"Syrus?" Banner asked.

Syrus stood up from his seat like he did during Crowler's lecture, "Uh,Yes?"

"Do me a favor and pick up Pharaoh will you?"

"Uh, Pharaoh?" Syrus questioned.

"Unless you're thinking about minoring as a scratching post." Banner joked.

Syrus was confused until he felt something brush up against his leg. It was the fat tabby cat that was sleeping during the Slifer Welcome dinner. Once again, a chorus of laughter was had at Syrus's expense as the boy picked up the cat and returned it to it's owner.

In Crowler's office, the doc was writing a letter down with a white feather pen. "How dare that Slifer slacker Jaden make a mockery of me in front of my whole class like that." He grumbled as he folded up the letter and placed inside an envelope. "It'll be the last mistake he'll ever make." He then picked up a mirror and start placing red lipstick on his lips. As he finished, he kissed the back of the letter and chuckled to himself. "The big kiss-off!" Next, he ran out of his office and into the boys' locker room, since Jaden's next class was gym with Fonda Fontaine, the gym instructor. He placed the letter into what he thought was Jaden's, after seeing his boots at the bottom of it and left as quick as possible.

During the gym class, while most of the students were being introduced to their gym instructor, Syrus was running late.

"Lousy girl's gym!" He said to himself. "Why did they have to make the signs so small?" He ran inside and opened the locker and noticed Jaden's shoes. "I see Jaden's still using my locker." As if by some divine movement, he also noticed envelope that fell literally onto Syrus's feet. "What's this?" He noticed the lipstick smudge. "This isn't Jaden's, somebody wrote me a letter!" He quickly ducked in between two sets of lockers and opened the letter. "Wonder what this says?"

*From the moment I first set eyes on you, I've been in love with you. Meet me tonight in the back of the Obelisk Girl's Dormitory so I can give you a big kiss.*

*Endearingly,*

*Alekis Rodes.*

Syrus nearly passed out after he wrote it. "This is way better than what my mom writes me!" He exclaimed and started having a daydream about him and Alexis getting together.

Later that night, Claudio was heading back to his dorm, getting some cooking ingredients for Professor Sartyr when...

"Syrus?" He noticed Syrus running off somewhere, with a big, happy grin on his face. "Not again..." He decided to follow him and try to get him back to his dorm. But as soon as he caught up, Syrus was already in a rowboat heading off to the girls' dorm. "Aw man, I'm too late!"

"Alexis! I'm coming for you, my darling!" Syrus said while he was fully unaware of Claudio trying to call him back over.

"Darn it!" The music fanatic cursed. "This can't get any worse!"

"Hey you!" A voice called from behind him. It was one of Chazz's friends, Torimaki. "What're you doing over here in Obelisk territory, Ra reject!?"

"Watching the water..." Claudio coolly responded as he turned around to face the Obelisk. "Is there a problem?"

The blue haired Obelisk gasped. "You're that Ra that was cheering for that slacker!"

"His name's Jaden, learn people's names why don't ya?" Claudio retorted.

"Whatever, you're just punching bags to us elites!" Torimaki yelled. Claudio scoffed.

"If you were truly elite, you wouldn't spending time trying to flaunt it so much." The Ra told him.

The Obelisk started growling. "I'll show you who's superior! Let's duel!" He pulled out his duel disk and turned it on.

"Whatever you say, blue boy!" Claudio pulled out his own disk and cut it on as well.

"DUEL!"

Torimaki: 4000

Claudio: 4000

"Best duelist, first!" Torimaki shouted as he drew his opening hand plus his sixth card. "I summon Mechanicalchaser in attack mode!" From his side of the field, came a round, six-armed machine with only one eye, two green wings and mounted on a sword. In each of its six hands, it carried a lethal weapon or it was a weapon. (1850/800) I end by placing one card face down and end my turn!"

"Maybe I should've gone first after your lame move." Claudio mocked his opponent while drawing his card. "I'll set a monster in Defense mode and place a face down card. Your move!"

"You afraid, reject!?" The Obelisk taunted, taking his turn. "I'll summon Robotic Knight in Attack Mode!" Appearing next to Mechanicalchaser, was a red and black robot that looked like a military general. In its right hand was a sword and its left hand was a machine gun. (1600/1800)

"So it's an all machine deck?" Claudio deduced.

"A little slow aren't ya?" Torimaki said. "Mechanicalchaser, take out his face down monster with Spear Throw!" The six armed machine, took to the sky and hovered for a bit. When it got a good vantage point, it threw its bronze spear, piercing the face down card. It revealed a young, brunette boy in a brown tunic and tan shorts. The boy screamed as he was destroyed.

"Nice!" Claudio grinned. "By revealing Jukebox Hero Wayward Son, I choose a card on the field and the owner loses 500 life points! And I'll choose Robotic Knight!" A speck of light was shining on Torimaki's duel disc and then exploded when the Obelisk noticed.

"Hey!" He shouted as his life points went down.

Torimaki: 3500

Claudio: 4000

"And for an added bonus, I get to set another Wayward Son from my deck!" Claudio searched his deck and took the desired monster and set it horizontally, face down.

"I'll just end my turn by placing another face down card!" A face down card appeared next to the first one.

"My draw!" Claudio said.

"And my trap! Go Light of Intervention!" The card Torimaki, just set was activated showing a fiend monster trying to block itself from a wave of light. "Now you can't hide your monsters by playing them face down!"

"Fine, I'll just summon Jukebox Hero Slash!" From a tower of fire, came a guitarist wearing a leather jacket with a white shirt underneath and blue jeans. He was noticeable from his wild, black hair under a black top hat and large, black shades. He wielded a black guitar with a sharp, red guitar pick. (1300/1500) "I came across a great fan of my dueling skills while I sent these card designs in to Industrial Illusions. When she found out I was creating cards based on rock n' roll, she made sure I created this one!" Slash gave a smile and nod at these words.

"Like he's anything special..." Torimaki scoffed, receiving a scowl from slash.

"Oh he is, and I'll show you what he can do by flip summoning Wayward Son!" The face down monster flipped up to reveal the young Jukebox Hero ready to battle with a brown guitar. (900/900) "Now Wayward Son's flip effect activates, and I'll choose Mechanicalchaser!" By playing a guitar solo, the music starts causing the six-armed robot to uncontrollably shoot its master's disc with a handgun.

Torimaki: 3000

Claudio: 4000

"And it doesn't stop there; Now Slash's effect activates!" Claudio says. "Whenever a Jukebox Hero is summoned, you lose another 500 points of damage!"

"Stop it, with the burn damage!" Torimaki argued. "Fight me, for real!"

"Sorry, that's Slash's job!" Claudio joked. "Show him your moves with November Rain!" Slash played a solo that summoned golden rain upon Torimaki, but it wasn't like normal rain; it was acid rain!"

"Aaahhh!" The blue duelist shouted as he covered his head with his arms.

Torimaki: 2500

Claudio: 4000

"And now, I'll play Single Neck Guitar and equip it to Slash, giving him and extra 300 ATK!" Claudio inserted a spell that replaced Slash's black guitar with a blue six-string one. The black clad hero tuned the guitar before feeling satisfied with the new sound. JHS: (1600/1500)

"It's still not enough!"

"This is why I'm playing my next card, Rock of Ages!" Another spell was played and from behind Claudio, raised a giant rock that was cracked open and glowing with green mist. "For every Jukebox Hero on the field, warriors gain 200 ATK and DEF and there are two!" The green mist flowed out from the rock and surrounded the two heroes. JHWS: (1300/1300) JHS: (2000/1900) "Slash, let's take the stage! Attack with Guitar Solo Slash!" (A/N: The solo's from Sweet Child O' Mine)

Slash busted out another hard rock solo that created flame rings that melted the Robotic Knight.

Torimaki: 2100

Claudio: 4000

"Man, if the blues are supposed to be the best, we should switch dorms!"

"Just end your turn, already!" Torimaki shouted.

"After a face down." Claudio set a card and ended his turn.

"Good, now it's time to take control!" The blue haired Obelisk drew his card. "I activate my face down trap card: DNA Surgery!"

"Uh oh..."

"Uh oh, is right! With this, I'll change all monsters to machines!" The hologram of the trap card started shining and bathed the field in silver light. After it was done, Claudio saw his monsters were now turned into robots. Both of them had a metal paint job with Slash having his hair turned to metallic tentacles.

"Dude, that's not right!" The Jukebox Hero duelist whined as the Rock of Ages stopped feeding power to his monsters. JHWS: (900/900) JHS: (1600/1500)

"Shut up and let me finish! Next, I'll sacrifice Mechanicalchaser for my powerful Machine King!" Torimaki boasted as his six-armed monster was traded in for a tall and powerful-looking machine. It had red arms and center with a silver body and legs. And a head with a red visor for eyes. (2200/1500) And for every machine type monster on the field, it gains 100 ATK points!" Machine King's eyes brightened with power. MK: (2500/1500) "Now I attack Jukebox Hero Slash with Shock Rocket Fist!" The King raised its arm and shot it at Slash, shattering his body into pixels.

Torimaki: 2100

Claudio: 3400

At least with one machine down, Machine King lost some bite as it recovered its arm. MK: (2400/1500) "I've done enough damage for now, at least you're beginning to know your place!"

"Dream on..." Claudio said, activating his face down card showing some guys setting up a stage. "I activate Roadie Cleanup, by discarding a card from my hand, I return the Equip Spell I lost when you destroyed my monster!" He dropped one card into the grave to get his Single Neck Guitar back.

"Like it'll help; I'll end my turn!"

"Here's mine!" Claudio drew. "I'll pass."

"About time!" Torimaki said. "I summon Machine King Prototype!" A smaller version of the Machine King appeared sitting on a stone throne. (1600/1500) "And he gets 100 ATK and DEF for every other Machine on the field!" MKP: (1800/1700) And its presence also boosted the regular's attack points as well. MK: (2500/1500) "Next up, is Fissure destroying your only monster!" The ground opened up, swallowing up Wayward Son. MK: (2400/1500) "Time to lose; both of you attack!"

"Not so fast, I reveal Black Hole Sun!" A trap card flipped open showing a black hole covering the sun and sucking up various monsters. "Your attacking monster with ATK points higher than original is removed from the game!" A black suddenly appeared above the field and sucked in the Prototype without any resistance.

"Still doesn't mean my regular king won't hurt you!" Machine King (2300/1500) shot off his fist again, nailing the Ra Yellow duelist in the gut.

"Urrgghh!" Claudio grunted as he fell to his knees, clutching his stomach.

Torimaki: 2100

Claudio: 1100

"That's where all of you duelists below the Obelisk Blue should be doing, kneeling to the elite!" Torimaki sneered. "You're one attack away from becoming the loser that you truly are!"

"I'm... still... ready to go!" Claudio said, pushing himself up to his feet. "And still... ready to rock!" He shouted drawing his next card and grinned at his new card. "Heavy Storm, blow away all spell and trap cards!" A massive wind storm picked up, taking the two traps and spell card off the field. "Now that's better!"

"Still won't change anything!" Torimaki counted.

"Let's see how this will... Jukebox Hero Aerosmith!" A wave of blue light came from the ground, and brought out a blonde, long haired man wearing a purple jacket and pants with black shoes. He carried with him a microphone with a brown and red scarf wrapped around the stand. (1600/900)

"What's he going to do, sing me to victory?" Tormaki joked. Aerosmith just smirked and looked back to Claudio.

"Funny guy, ain't he?" Claudio remarked as Aerosmith laughed. "Let's give him your special power!" The hero nodded as he got ready to sing. "By sending a monster card like my Smooth Criminal from my hand to the grave, I can take control of your monster! Hit it!"

*Walk this way!*

*Talk this way!*

*Walk this way!*

*Talk this way!*

As the Jukebox Hero sung, Machine King suddenly marched over to Claudio side and about face on the spot.

"H-Hey, get back over here!" Torimaki shouted to the machine monster.

"Sorry, but he won't listen to anyone other than my music now!" Claudio explained. "But don't worry, I won't attack you with him."

"You won't?" The Obelisk sounded relieved.

"No, Aerosmith will!" Now the Obelisk was scared out of his mind. "Attack with Soundwave Slam!"

*Aaaahhh, yeaaahhh!*

Aerosmith's voice being amplified by the microphone started some ringing in the poor Obelisk's ears as he passed out.

Torimaki: 0

Claudio: 1100, Winner.

All the holograms disappeared as both players' duel disc turned off. Claudio smiled at his victory over a 'superior' Obelisk duelist.

"Like I thought, this color business doesn't mean anything." The Ra duelist said to himself. "Heck, even Jaden could be in Obelisk after seeing his skills." He then slapped his forehead. "Oh snap! I gotta warn Jaden about Syrus!" He kicked it into high gear and ran off to the Slifer dorm.

While Claudio was getting to Jaden, Syrus made it to the girl's campus where he was thought he was going to meet Alexis at. Little did her know, Crowler was hiding in the bushes in that designated spot, wearing a tight, black leotard. (A/N: Seriously, what's with this dude?)

'*This will be perfect, thanks to that faux love letter I wrote!'* Crowler thought, going over the plan in his mind. *'I'll just wait here for Jaden to come around while he searches for Alexis. And when the time's right, I'll snap a picture of him, creating evidence that will get him expelled!'* But he quickly saw his plan go down the toilet when he saw a different Slifer enter the girls' campus.

"Alexis!" Syrus called out. The Obelisk Headmaster's eyes bugged out seeing him here.

"That's not Jaden, it's that field spell nitwit!" Crowler shouted. His yelling ended up attracting some trouble, if you were a male that is...

"What's a boy doing here!?" A girl called cried out, alerting the other girls.

"I'm not a boy, I'm a man..." Crowler said, thinking he was discovered. He then covered his mouth and dove into the water to escape, clumsily. But it wasn't him the girls spotted, it was poor, little Syrus. The guy didn't have a chance as a crowd of angry girls in their pajamas surrounded him, tied him up and brought him into the dorm for questioning...

"A love letter from Alexis?" Mindy, a black haired girl asked after hearing Syrus's explanation. She also brought Alexis, still in her uniform to confirm it. "You've got to be kidding!"

"Just ask her, it's true!" Syrus replied, winking at Alexis.

"Uh, hello..." Jasmine, a brunette girl, retorted. "Alexis is really tall and skilled at dueling, and you're really short and an amateur."

"But it's true!" Syrus protested, pulling out the letter. "Just read it!" Alexis took the note as she and the other girls looked over it.

"Syrus, my name's not spelled right." She said.

"So you don't love me?" He asked. The girls groaned at his persistence.

"Hey, hold on!" Jasmine interrupted, looking over the front of the envelope. "This note's addressed to Jaden Yuki!" And for emphasis, she pointed it out to the little guy, disappointing him.

"Aw, I can't even get a *fake* love letter?" The young Slifer complained.

"Sorry, Syrus." Alexis apologized. "Guess we have no reason to keep you here."

"Hold on, he could've written the note as an excuse to come here!" Jasmine wasn't ready to let this go.

"So we should turn him in then?" Mindy asked.

"Girls, just what is going on down there?" The girls looked up in the balcony seeing Miss Fontaine looking over the balcony. Jasmine and Mindy hid Syrus, so she wouldn't see him as well. "Alright, what's going on?"

"Sorry about the noise, Miss Fontaine." Alexis said to the Obelisk Headmistress. "We'll be sure to keep the noise down."

"Well I hope so, it's nearly Midnight!" Miss Fontaine said as she headed back to her room. "And I have Pilates in the morning." As soon as they were sure that their headmistress was sound asleep, they got Syrus out of hiding.

"So, what now?" Jasmine asked.

"I'll tell you what now, girls..." Alexis said, putting a smirk. "We'll use Syrus as bait, to get Jaden over here."

"What for?" Mindy asked.

"Remember what we were discussing earlier?" Alexis asked. "We're gonna find out how good Jaden really is..."

At the Slifer Dorm, Chumley was sleeping (like what else is new?) and Jaden was busy with a pastime of his besides dueling...

"Yeah! A 300-move combo!" ...Playing a held-held video game.

"Hey Jaden, are you in there?" He heard Claudio voice from out the door. When the Silfer opened it, he saw the Ra standing near the door. "What's up?"

"It's about..." Claudio was interrupted by a beeping noise from Jaden's Duel Pilot.

"Hold that thought..." Jaden said, running over to the Pilot and answering the message. It had no picture, just a static image of a screen.

[*We have your roommate Syrus hostage.]* The voice sounded deep and mysterious. [*If you want him back, come over to the girls' dorm...alone.]*

Claudio heard everything that message sent. '*Too late!'*

"Aw man, Syrus what happened?" Jaden said to himself.

"He went over to the girls' dorm, with happy look on his face." Claudio replied. "He was probably walking into somebody's prank or something."

"Chumley was telling me the same thing, after I came back from the showers." Jaden realized. "Why didn't you stop him?"

"I tried, but one of Chazz's friends stopped me and got me into a duel." The Ra replied. "I won, though."

"Aw, I missed a duel!?" Jaden complained. "You gotta tell me all the details!"

"Focus for a minute." Claudio interrupted. "Syrus is in trouble, and whoever's got him wants you as well!"

"You're right, I head on over there." Jaden said, picking up his duel disk and deck and ran out the door with Claudio after him.

As soon as they reached the lakeside, Jaden quickly got into a boat. "You stay here in case someone else comes!"

"Gotcha!" Claudio nodded, taking lookout duty as Jaden made his way across the lake.

Over at the girls' side, Alexis was waiting with her friends, now with all of them in their uniform attire, and a tied up Syrus for Jaden's arrival.

"Here he comes!" Mindy called, seeing Jaden pull up to shore and walked up to the girls.

"Hi, Jaden..." Syrus greeted, glumly.

"Hey, so what's going on here?" Jaden asked. "I ran into Claudio saying that you wandered over here."

"Well, to make the long story short, I'm a complete loser." Syrus replied.

"Your friend here, trespassed into the girls' campus." Jasmine said.

"I told you." Syrus interjected. "It wasn't like that!"

"Now that you're here, you're trespassing, too!" Mindy added, ignoring Syrus's comment.

"That's right, so if you wanna win your freedom, you'll have to beat me in a duel!" Alexis challenged.

"We'll be expelled, if you turn us in!" Syrus cried.

"It's not gonna happen, Syrus." Jaden assured him. "You got a deal, Alexis! Let's throw down!"

The duel was taking place on the lake with Jaden and Alexis standing up in a couple of boats. Syrus was in Jaden's boat, and Mindy and Jasmine were in Alexis's.

Crowler waited in the water nearby, finally coming out of hiding, but still far away from the students. "How exciting, a Slifer versus an Obelisk. Put him in his place, Alexis."

"Duel!" Both players drew their opening hands.

Alexis: 4000

Jaden: 4000

"Get your game on, Alexis." Jaden challenged.

Alexis drew her sixth card. "Etoile Cyber, rise!" A red-headed ballerina in an orange leotard spun as she appeared. (1200/1600) "I'm also playing one card face-down."

"Time to throw down," Jaden announced as he started his turn. "Sweet, I'm going to summon Elemental Hero Sparkman in attack mode. The Elemental Hero of thunder appeared on the lake, in a flash of lightning. (1600/1400) And next I'm going to have him attack your Etoile Cyber with Static Shockwave!" The hero fired bolts of lightning at the ballerina.

"Hold it right there," Alexis called. "I'm activating the trap card Double Passe!" Alexis's trap revealed a Flamenco dancer in a red dress, dancing in the spot light. The lightning stretched around Etoile Cyber and struck Alexis as she braced herself.

Alexis: 2400

Jaden: 4000

"Double Passe turns your attack on my monster into a direct attack on me," Alexis explained. "And now, my Etoile Cyber that you were just about to attack gets to wage a direct attack on you! Oh, and when Etoile Cyber attacks someone directly, her attack points go up by 600!"

EC: (1200-1800)

"Oh great." Jaden groaned as the monster danced, spun and round-housed kick Jaden in the ribs.

(A: 2400)

(J: 2200)

"Jaden!" Syrus gasped.

"That Alexis is something else." Jaden murmured, "Sacrificing her own life points just so she can attack mine."

"So are you impressed?" Alexis asked.

"Impressed, I think I'm in love." Jaden returned, joking.

"Yeah, you're sweet too bad I have to crush you. Now, where were we?" She drew a card. "Oooh, I'm going to summon Blade Skater in attack mode." Another gray-skinned woman this one bald and wearing an ice skate on each wrists appeared, skating on the water before joining Alexis. (1400/1500) "And I'm going to play the spell card Polymerization to fuse Etoile Cyber and Blade Skater together to form Cyber Blader!" Alexis's new monster had light blue skin and hair wearing an orange and white leotard and a set of futuristic glasses over her eyes. (2100/800) "Now Cyber Blader, attack Sparkman with Whirlwind Rage!" The monster went into a spin as she launched towards Sparkman. Suddenly a foot lashed out and destroyed Sparkman.

Alexis: 2400

Jaden: 1700

"So much for Sparkman," Jaden said.

Alexis's friends cheered for her as she took the lead. "Way to go Alexis!" Mindy said.

"I knew this guy beating Dr. Crowler was just luck!" Jasmine added.

"Well I'll be happy to prove you wrong." Jaden said starting his turn. "First I'm going to play the field spell card Fusion Gate." He slid it into the field spell drawer. "With this, I can summon fusion monsters without a Polymerization card. He showed Alexis his Avian and Burstinatrix Monster cards before stashing them in his pocket, "So first I'll summon this one: Elemental Hero Flame Wingman!" Without fusion sequence, Flame Wingman just appeared in normal light flash. (2100/1200)

"Okay, looks like it's going to be one fusion monster against another." Alexis said, staring down the E-Hero with a confident smile. "Although, since they have the same number of attack points, they'll both be destroyed."

"Not after I play this spell, Kishido Spirit!" The spell card showed a warrior with white armor. When Jaden played it, a white ring flashed through water before disappearing. "Now Flame Wingman can take down any monster with the same number of attack points and not be destroyed. And thanks to his super power, when he destroys your Blader, you take damage equal to her attack points. Now go, Wingman, and attack Cyber Blader!"

"Someone hasn't done his homework." Alexis muttered.

Flame Wingman's dragon hand produced a fireball and went to fire it at Cyber Blader at point blank range.

But Cyber Blader remained, when the smoke cleared!

"How was she able to withstand my Wingman's attack?" Jaden said, confused at the results.

"Simple, Cyber Blader has a special ability in that she can't be destroyed by an opponent with one monster." Alexis explained.

"But that would mean that…"

"That neither of us loses life points."

Jaden chuckled a bit. "Well I guess you got me."

"Oh when I get you, Jaden, you'll know it." Alexis drew her next card. "Like now, for example, I equip the spell card Fusion Weapon to my Cyber Blader, giving her 1500 ATK and DEF!" Cyber Blader's hand transformed into something that resembling a tri-pronged blaster.

CB: (3600/2300)

"Uh-oh, you might want to brace yourselves for this one, Sy 'ol buddy," Jaden told Syrus.

"Go, Blader, attack Flame Wingman with Trident Shock!" A spiral-shaped lightning blast spat out of the transformed hand and destroyed the Flame Wingman. Jaden had to cover his face from the shock.

Alexis: 2400

Jaden: 200

"Uh-oh, your life points are looking a little low." Alexis teased. "I hope you boys haven't unpacked yet."

"That's right." Mind said in an equal manner like Alexis. "Because once she wins, both of you are being expelled."

"We are?" Syrus said, frighteningly.

"Don't worry, Sy, that's not gonna happen, promise." Jaden assured him.

*'You shouldn't make promises you can't deliver, Jaden.'* Alexis thought.

*'I hope I'm not making a promise I can't deliver.'* Jaden thought. *The only card I have out is Fusion Gate, but there's still a chance I can win. It just all depends on what I draw right here, right now.* "Here it goes!" Jaden drew a card.

It was Monster Reborn.

"Perfect," Jaden said making Alexis react.

"I play the Elemental Hero Clayman in attack mode, rise up!" The burly hero appeared not even shielding itself. (800/2000) "And now I play Monster Reborn so come on back Elemental Hero Sparkman!" The armored hero appeared from a vortex emitted by the card. (1600/1400)

"What difference will he make?" Alexis asked. "My Cyber Blader has way more attack points than either of them."

"Not separately, but with Fusion Gate's special ability, I can summon someone who can!" The two monsters stood back to back and started spinning. "Elemental Hero Thunder Giant, come on out!" Lightning shot into the air and formed a vortex, the force knocking both boats and Crowler around. A large yellow-armored creature appeared. It had a blue center that crackled with electricity. (2400/1500)

"Hate to break it to you, but my Cyber Blader still has more attack points at 3600." Alexis told him

"I know, I know," Jaden said dismissively. "But one of Thunder Giant's special abilities is that he can destroy any monster whose original attack points are less than his own."

"Wait, original attack points?"

"That's right, attack points without any kind of enhancement."

"But… before I played Fusion Weapon, her attack points were just 2100." Alexis felt like she was in trouble.

"That's right, and that's lower than my Thunder Giant's, which means your Blader is automatically destroyed." The Thunder Giant held out its hand and fired bolts of lightning danced around Cyber Blader and destroyed it. "And you know what the best part is, Alexis? I still have his attack left to use on you. Voltic Thunder!" This time bolts of electricity came out of both of its hands and converged on Alexis.

Alexis: 0

Jaden: 200, Winner

Mindy and Jasmine were stunned, not even sure if what just happened had happened. Syrus cheered while Jaden just pointed two fingers at Alexis. "That's game!"

The two boats came together. "Well, you know the rules I win so we get off free." Jaden said.

"All right, all right, we'll keep quiet about this." Alexis replied.

"If you ask me, we should turn all of them in anyway," Jasmine, who looked liked she was ready snitch, said.

"Well nobody asked you." Alexis snapped and turned back to the boys. "Just go on and get out of here."

"Sure." Jaden said. Then he paused, "You know… you're a real strong player, Alexis."

"You… think so?" Alexis asked surprised at the compliment.

"That's right and if there's one thing I like more than anything else, it's dueling strong players." Jaden replied. "Well, see you around." And with that, Jaden and Syrus rowed away from the dorm.

*'Even if I did win, there's no way I could turn them in.'* Alexis thought. '*This school is a lot more interesting… and fun… with them than without.'*

*I've never seen Alexis act this way,* Jasmine thought. *I wonder… is she actually falling for that Slifer?*

Crowler also watched Jaden's departing dingy.

"Lucky brat." He hissed. "But I'll find a way to expel him yet… just as soon as I find a way home." He then dropped into the water below.