Chapter Text
CHAPTER ONE: WELCOME TO DUEL ACADEMY
Jaden couldn’t believe he was finally on his way to Duel Academy. He and his newfound friend, Syrus Truesdale, were sitting side by side on the plane bound for the island. It was a surreal experience, the plane was not only packed with new entry students but also some of the top students who were allowed to go to the entrance exams and observe.
Jaden took a quick peek at his friend next to him. Syrus had a quiet confidence about him, he was not overt in any way and most people would call him shy. His light blue hair was wild and he hid behind the tiny glasses resting on his nose. But there was a strength there that Jaden was bound and determined he would bring out. A smile crossed his face of cartoonish proportions. His plan would come into effect just as soon as they were on the island.
Syrus noticed Jaden staring at him and risked a glance. The sight that greeted him was truly terrifying. The manic smile that split his face was one that belonged only on a cartoon character, or on one of his roid monsters. A shudder ran down his spine as he wondered what prompted that particular look.
Before he could ask, and probably regret it later, movement off to the side caught his attention. Both Jaden and Syrus looked up and saw a male in a pristine white coat with the back flared out. He had on tight black pants and shined black shoes. His brown hair was in layers down to his shoulder and looked slightly wild. His eyes were the color of chocolate and there was mischief lurking in their depths.
“There you are Syrus. Been wondering if we ended up on the same plane.” He had a smile and one hand resting on his hip.
Jaden raised an eyebrow. Syrus never mentioned that he knew anyone from Duel Academy. This guy was acting as if they had known each other forever. He was about to question Sy, when the stranger looked and seemed to take in Jaden as well.
“Good you making friends?”
“Yeah.” He gestured to Jaden as if introducing him. “This is Jaden Yuki, we met at the entrance exam. Jaden this is Atticus Rhodes, a friend of my br-” Syrus broke off. His eyes took on a far away look.
The one named Atticus seemed to understand as his eyes as well took on a sullen, far off look. He placed a hand on Syrus’ shoulder and squeezed. Then as if a switch was flipped a grin came back. He looked Jaden in the eyes.
“Nice to meet you. And I must say, wicked job on kicking Dr. Crowler’s ass.” The grin turned to a challenging smirk. “You ever want a real competition come find me.” Pointing his thumb to his chest. “As Syrus said the name is Atticus. You ever want a true dueling challenge, just look me up."
Jaden could not believe the confidence of this guy. There was a small stare down and finally Atticus laughed breaking the tension. Nodding his head toward the two new students and doing a finger wave, he sauntered back to his seat toward the front.
Jaden leaned over Syrus to see where he went. Atticus made it to the front of the plane where a girl with a striking resemblance to him stood. They both talked for a moment and then she sat down at the window seat and Atticus took the aisle one.
Pulling back, Jaden looked at Syrus who still seemed lost in thought. Poking his arm a few times garnered no response. Moving his hand up and down in front of the glasses on his friend's face didn't either.
"Syrus. Hello? Earth to Sy."
Finally Syrus seemed to pull himself together. He looked at Jaden and tried to force a smile. The look in Jaden's though, showed he wasn't buying it.
"So Sy, how do you and Atticus know each other?" Jaden questioned again.
It took a moment before the quiet boy deigned to answer. "Atticus was best friends with my brother. They were originally called 'The Twin Jewels of Duel Academy'. It was always a toss up on who would be top duelist for a term." His voice was so quiet Jaden almost missed it.
“Yo, your brother is at Duel Academy? That is awesome, maybe we can duel…” Jaden trailed off as he looked closer at Syrus. The shorter duelist’s eyes were tearing up and Jaden began to panic for a moment. “Sy, what’s wrong?”
A small hiccup sounded from the back of Syrus’ throat. The tears silently trailed down his pale cheeks. Jumping to his feet, Syrus walked away as fast as he could. Before he could get up after Syrus, the girl he saw earlier was blocking his path. Her eyes were narrowed and she wasn’t letting him. He saw Atticus using his mile long legs to eat up the space between him and the direction Syrus went.
“Hey, that is my friend. You need to move so I can make sure he is ok.”
“Just let him have a moment. Everyone has a story that they are not really ready to share.” Her voice was smooth and quiet when she spoke.
“Well I just want to make sure he is ok. I guess I asked a question that hit a nerve and I need to apologize.”
At the back of the plane, Syrus was sitting in a previously empty seat. The tears were coming down his cheeks and he tried to stop them. A figure appeared next to him and took the seat. Syrus raised his eyes and saw Atticus sitting there, looking straight ahead. Giving him some time to collect himself, Syrus guessed.
When the younger one calmed down enough, he raised his light colored eyes to meet somber, chocolate ones. Atticus offered a small, sad smile to the young duelist next to him. His mind flashed back to the promise he made two years ago.
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The foggy night was only broken by the rotating light of the light of the lighthouse. The waves crashed on the cement path leading to the tall structure. Atticus walked with his hands in his pockets and noticed the person he was looking for.
Zane Truesdale stood ramrod stiff with his arms folded across his chest. The breeze shifted his teal colored hair that fell to his shoulder blades. His eyes, the same shade as his hair, were staring straight ahead as if the crashing waves held the answers he silently was asking.
Atticus finally reached the other Obelisk and stepped right up to him, facing forward just as Zane was. The older Obelisk looked worriedly at his closest remaining friend. After the disappearance of the other member of their group, Zane became even colder and standoffish. It concerned Atticus to no end.
“So Zane, what are you up to out here in the middle of the night?” If there was one thing Atticus could not stand it was uncomfortable silence, and the silence felt oppressive tonight.
“I needed some air tonight. I feel claustrophobic in the four walls of a building.” His voice was as cold as the night was turning out to be.
Atticus turned to face his best friend and rival. The pale face and defined features of his face were drawn into an impassive mask. His lips were tightly pursed and he narrowed his eyes even more. Something was clearly nagging Zane and he was not dealing with it.
“Zane, please talk to me. You haven’t been yourself since Yusuke disappeared.” At the mention of the missing member of their small group, Zane’s shoulders drew up as if trying to shield himself. Atticus noted it and raised a questioning eyebrow.
Zane whipped around and moved roughly past his friend. Stopping a few feet away, Zane seemed to lose some of his tenseness, as if he couldn’t keep it up anymore. Turning his head, Atticus was stunned into temporary silence at the drained look on Zane’s drawn face. Before he speaks, the tired duelist beats him to it.
“Atticus, I need a very large favor from you.” Even his voice sounds tired to Atticus.
“Anything Zane.”
Silence for a few moments before Zane takes a breath as if he has to brace himself. “If anything happens to me, please look after my little brother Syrus.” If Atticus had not been listening so intently he would have missed it.
Stunned beyond words, he stared with his mouth gaping open. He moved quickly and wrapped an arm around his shoulders, Atticus gave a very nervous laugh. Meeting Zane’s teal eyes, he kept his arm around the slimmer frame of the other boy.
“Well of course I will always watch out for your younger brother. You would do the same thing for me with my younger sister Alexis, right?”
Zane didn’t say anything for a moment. Finally he nodded his head in assent.
The two top duelists of the school continued on their way to the dorm, Atticus kept a grip on Zane’s body. Thinking as if that could keep him from disappearing into thin air just like Yusuke.
Two days later, Zane vanished without a trace anywhere. Atticus was the last one left out of their little group of three. It was a sickening feeling that never left him.
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Atticus rested a hand on Syrus’ shoulder. He made a promise to Zane and he would keep it, he would keep an eye on Syrus and when Zane is found again… he wasn’t going to be getting away again.
“I have been looking for the last two years Sy. Not once did I stop, and when Alexis came last year she started helping me.” He turned to look at the younger boy. “I actually believe with you here this year, we will find something. There will be a big break in this.” Forcing his voice to be cheerful had become second nature to him.
Everyone around him expected him to bounce back, so the mask of pleasantness became a part of him. It helped him put those dark thoughts and memories in the back of his mind. Zane and Yusuke were his best friends, Atticus was the one to declare that first day.
“We are going to be eternal friends forever,” Atticus’s younger voice echoed in his head. That promise seemed to taunt him and torture him every night for two years.
“I appreciate it Atticus. My parents have not been the same since he vanished. And the school won’t give us any information. Zane and I drifted apart before that, but he was still my big brother and I always looked up to him.” Syrus swiped at his tear stained cheeks.
Atticus took a moment to give a shoulder hug to Syrus. He couldn’t imagine what the younger teen was going through. Missing his brother and the horror of not knowing where he was or if he was even alive anymore. That would be its own special type of hell.
A ding dong sound came from the speakers on the aircraft. Everyone on the plane looked up from what they were doing.
“Attention passengers, if you look out to the right you will see Duel Academy as we are approaching.” The voice of the captain came over the speakers.
New students immediately got near windows to see where they would be starting their new schooling career. Syrus, even as sad as he was, was actually a little excited to see how this year would go. He had made a new friend already in Jaden… Jaden!
He shot up, not sure how he would explain running off like that. Suddenly Jaden came running back smiling like a lunatic. He was jumping up and down and acted like a bobble head. The teen girl came up behind him, clearly trying not to laugh at how stupid he looked.
“Well you two, let me be the first to welcome you to Duel Academy,” Atticus told the two of them. “You need anything Syrus, you come find me. But now,” Atticus stood up and motioned Syrus to do the same, “we should get back to our normal seats. Let’s go Alexis.” The two siblings walked to the front of the plane once more and took their original seats.
“Syrus, I want to apologize,” Jaden spoke as they walked back to their seats. “I clearly touched something that you were not ready to talk about. But I am here for you when you are. That is what friends are for.”
“I will tell you Jaden… one day, but I need to collect my thoughts.”
The seatbelt light lit up and dinged to alert the passengers to fasten the seatbelts.
The plane began it’s seamless descent and skidded down the runway. The plane parked and everyone on board stood up and began to get bags out of the overhead compartments. Jaden and Syrus got their things and followed the line out of the plane.
Outside stood a row of adults. In the middle of the group was an older man. He had a bald head, and a gray goatee. His eyes were shining and a smile split his face.
“My name is Chancellor Sheppard. The head of this school. Welcome to Duel Academy students.” His voice rang across the crowd and cheers from the new students rang into the sky.