Promotion Preparation [End]

"Ah! I'm almost beat Yuji right there!!" said Syrus, kinda frustrated.

Yuji chuckle seeing the frustrated Syrus, say, "Almost buddy, almost"

Today they were helping Syrus practice using Power Bond. The premise is simple, before Syrus use Power Bond, he must set up a card with an effect to negate Power Bond's backslash.

When he drew Power Bond, he must tell his training opponent he got the Power Bond before activate it.

If he didn't set first a card with effect to negate the backslash, Syrus can't use the spell card Power Bond.

The main purpose of this training is not only to train Syrus' ability to use the Power Bond card, but also to practice his dueling skills, with hope that he can gain more confidence, and/or hardening his mentality.

Yuji claps his hands, "But I'll say you're growing stronger, Sy. So much that your past self seems like a lie"

Syrus let out a wryly smile, "I- is that so?" asked him, and Yuji nod

"Um, he's right Sy, you're getting stronger" this time Chumley give him his approval.

Jaden also nod in tandem with Chumley's words, "He's right Sy, you're getting better. Kuhhh, hey Sy let's have a duel with me next" told him, as he pounded his chest.

"Big Bro..." Sho moved, hearing his approval, "Umu. It's also all thanks to your time and effort for helping practice" smiled him.

"It's also thanks to Misawa for researching the cards that can bypass the backslash of Power Bond" said Yuji, giving a thumb up to Misawa.

Misawa shook his head, "I didn't do much. Rather, it was Yuji who probably work the hardest", he continues, "To helping a friend like you, he even used all of his DP just to get that trap card Pikeru's Circle of Enchantment" told him.

"What?!", Syrus shocked hearing the news from Misawa, "Yuji, why are you doing that?!" asked him.

Yuji scratches his head, "Well, aren't friend supposed to help each other? And I also gain many cards when searching for Pikeru"

Syrus pouted, "You can't be like that! How- how many do you spend your DP? Fo- forget it! Here! I'll transfer my DP to you!"

"D- don't! As I said, it's okay, I'm also received many useful cards when searching for Pikeru's Circle Enchantment. Beside... this isn't the first time I gave someone a card. I also gave Jade one of my Elemental HERO monster to him" told Yuji, smiling embarrassed.

"Hmmm if you say so Yuji it can't be help. Then! If you need any help, just tell me! You three also count"

"Then, what are we supposed to do now?" asked Chumley.

Jaden held her chin, and then an imaginary light bulb appears on his head, "I know! Why don't we had a Cross duel?"

"Cross duel?" asked Misawa and Chumley.

"Yeah, Cross duel. A good battle royal style duel, where the winner is the last one standing" told him.

"Ah! You mean like The Battle City tournament? That to determine the order of the semifinal, the contestant must battle one against another in Battle Royal mode like that?" asked Misawa, and Jaden reply him by nodding, "Yeah! Just like that. Interesting isn't it?"

Hearing Jaden's suggestion, Misawa nod as he approved of his idea, "Yes, it's interesting... I never had a battle royal before, maybe this duel would give me something... alright Number 1 let me join you"

Jaden nod excitedly, "Then what about you Sy, Chumley, and Yuji? Do you agree?"

Yuji let out a smirk, "Of course I'm in, this is the perfect chance for me to beat you Jaden!"

Chunkey laugh, seeing the revs up Yuji, "Alright, me too" said him.

"If that is the case, I also join, let's duel!" shout Syrus, reactivating his Duel Disk.

Jadeb clenched his hand, "Okay, on my mark! Three, Two, One"

"""""Duel"""""

...................

"Ahn..."

A girl moaned, as her cheek become redder, as red as the sweet cherry.

She looked at her hand, beautiful, so beautiful that The Mona Lisa would envy, looking at her delicate hand with skin so smooth as the lily flower.

Slowly, she washes her hand through her white, supple and smooth skin to her chest.

Rinse, and repeat with her other hand.

She then looks toward the outside sky, glittering stars line up like an ant on the ebony wood, accompanied perfectly with the crescent moon as it smiles toward her.

A blissfully smile appears on her small round beautiful face.

She was very lucky that there isn't anybody here at the girls' bathroom.

Even though it was a common bath house, but the luxury and extravagant design makes her feel like a queen bathing in the royal bath house.

The carefully carved golden lion head fountain that sprouts the hot water constantly. Marbled floor no matter is it inside or outside pool, and lighting that seems to mimic the serene natural sunlight.

Ah... she truly blessed and fortunate to be here alone.

"Ah. Sakura"

Hearing the sudden voice, her smile disappear, her eyes dropped like she had jump to her fifty.

"..." She let out a deep sigh, and then turned back toward the owner of the voice.

Dark blonde hair, with smooth and beautiful skin that rivaled her, and the most important part of her two crowded mountains.

Her eye twitched when she looked at her blissful mound, and she can't help but to touch her own and subconsciously comparing her size with the dark blonde hair girl.

She had it, of course she had it, but... comparing to the dark blonde girl, she felt that she was...

"Tch"

Lacking.

"Sakura... san?" asked Alexis, looking at the frowned Sakura.

"... What?" asked her, as she looks at her with her usual stoned-faced expression.

"Nothing, it's just rare to encountering you here"

"Is there any problem with it?"

"Eh? Ah- ah no! No, no there's no problem" muttered her.

Sakura turned back and put some distance between her and Alexis.

Akexis scratches her cheek, as she was wondering if she just disturbed her.

Silence and awkwardness fills the room. While washing her body with the crystal clear hot water, Alexis occasionally glance at Sakura.

While Sakura, minding her own business, felt a prickly sensation directed at her back. Give up, she turned back and slowly walks to Akexis, washing together beside her.

"Sakura...?!" muttered her, as she surprised looking at Sakura beside her.

"What do you want to talk?" asked her, as her pair of sapphire eyes looks at Alexis' own hazel eyes.

"I heard that you manage to join The Duel Research Society, what is it felt like"

"You mean as member, or The Duel Research Society itself"

"Both" asked her.

"Hmmm let's see..." Sakura held her chin, thinking for an answer, "First of all I felt normal, even though I manage to join I didn't feel anything special... or it's normal I guess"

She continued, "But, when it comes to the leader... she felt... off"

"Off?"

"Yeah, like... she had this very dangerous vibe to her"

"Is that so? I don't know" Alexis then open her mouth, "I actually considered joining them, but..." she paused, her gaze look downward, as she was saddened by something, "But... luckily I didn't" smiled her, as to divert the topic.

Sakura nod, "Yeah, you're lucky. It was pretty hectic back then"

"I see", Alexis then continue to talk about the other thing, "Ah, well, how about your preparation for the upcoming Promotional exams?" smiled her.

Sakura avert her gaze from her to the ceiling, "Hmm... I think 90 percent"

"Oh, what about the 10 percent?"

"The remaining ten percent... isn't up to me to decide"

Alexis gaze curiously at her, "What do you mean by the last ten percent... isn't up to you?" asked her.

Sakura closed her eyes, she lowered then glare at Alexis' face like she was a puppy, "Curious?"

Alexis gulped her saliva, and nodded. Sakura shows a smirk, upon looking at her face.

"Not telling~" teased her.

Alexis hearing her answer felt disappointed, "Ha... Sakura-san you're su-"

"It's Yuji", told her, cutting her words.

Alexis blinking surprised, "Eh? Yuji?", asked her, as Sakura then nod answering her question.

But this makes Alexis much more curious, "Why Yuji?"

"Why Yuji? Hmm..." Sakura's held her chin, thinking about the answer, "It's just I want to duel him"

"Duel him?"

"Yeah", Sakura nodded, her eyes then begin to be darker, like the light had been sucked out or obscured by a cloud of darkness. "Do you want to know why?" told her, as she showed an alluring yet wicked smile.

Alexis gulped seeing Sakura's expression, as curious as she is, she nodded.

Sakura mouth open, amused, seeing Alexus like a little rabbit she is.

She continues, "It's because..."

"It's because?" murmur Alexis, repeating her words.

"I despise him" smiled her.

Alexis blinked repeatedly, she was still thinking of why or rather can't fathom why? She was always following, cheering, and helping him throughout the day.

She was so close to him, that she can be said glued to Yuji, or his girlfriend.

But she says she despised Yuji, and it makes her wonder why? What had Yuji done to gains her ire?

Sakura let out a smirk, "I'm going out first, if I'm staying here I'll get heatstroke" told her, as she waved her hand to Alexis.

"Wait!" but Alexis stopped her by grabbing her wrist, "What do you mean by despise? Aren't he your friend?"

Sakura smiled looking at the confused and anxious her, "A question for another day, please let me go... I don't want to be late for tomorrow" tell her kindly.

Alexis let loose her grip, Sakura smiled to her, then walks away from the spring bath.

"Sakura Isshiki... I hope that we can be a friend, but... I don't know... I didn't get her... I didn't get her at all"