August 13, 2007

Disclaimer: I do not own YGO GX. Nor do I own New York. Though that would be pretty neat.

Title: Flower of the Phoenix

Author: PurificationArrow

Rated: K

Genre: Romance/Drama

Summary: Placed in the middle of Baby Come Back to Me. Upon reaching New York City, Alexis and Aster decide to sit back and relax. The New Year is coming, and New York's New Year's Eve celebration will be just the thing to help bring them together.

Notes: Thanks for the help in the last chapter everyone. I think I'm sort of over it now, but it's hard. And now I feel like an idiot for having to complain about to all you guys. So I'm REALLY sorry. Anyways, I'll skip them meeting Aster's little friend, just because it is extremely difficult for me to write any Yu-Gi-Oh GX at the moment. I'll just skip up to the actual New Year's Eve thing... I've delayed it far too long. Also, I'm going to make this chapter shorter as well. I need to end it before my brain completely short-circuits. Sorry if it is a bad ending.

Italics - Thoughts and emphasis on words

Bold - Beginning of a chapter

Bold and Underline - author's note

Normal - Well, everything else

Chapter 4: Day 3: New Years Eve

"You are now leaving Pennsylvania"

sign at the side of the highway, and smiled a little to herself.

Good luck. I'm glad everything worked out in the end.

Quiet laughter inturrupted her thoughts. Alexis turned and looked at Aster, who had been the source of the light chuckle, "What're you so happy about?" he asked with a slight smile.

Alexis shook her head, and returned her gaze to the window, "Nothing." she replied in an innocent tone.

Aster gave an exasperated sigh. "Fine." he said with slight impatience.

Alexis smiled a little, as she watched Aster's reflection in the glass. His crystal blue eyes began to close, as the fatigue of driving around the two states began to take its toll on him. He struggled to keep his lids open, but in the end, only succeeded in his head drooping to his chest, and he fell off to the side.

He reminded her of Atticus.

Whenever they had been in the car with their mom and dad, he had always fallen asleep... just like that... except with a little snore that had always driven Alexis crazy.

But Aster's sleep was nice and silent.

The blonde's gray eyes were tender, and gentle as she rose from her seat, and sat next to Aster. He seemed more peaceful when he was asleep, rather than when he was awake. When Aster was awake, he was constantly poring over a book, his computer, his duel deck (even though he wasn't dueling), papers, or something that related to Alexis's future duels. All of that was quite stressful on him, and it showed.

Her heart felt a twinge of pity and guilt for him.

Aster was this exhausted because he was helping her... he was helping her try to get closer to Zane. She had no idea why he was helping her so much, and why he seemed so intent on getting her to where Zane was.

But he was, and she greatly appreciated that.

Alexis gently lifted Aster's head, and scooted closer. Her shoulder was right there, and Alexis quietly lowered her manager's head onto it, giving it somewhat of a cushion. She lowered her hands into her lap, and laced them together.

When she did, Aster mumbled something, and snuggled into her shoulder, and then sighed.

Despite the fact that Alexis was thoroughly shocked and surprised at this, she had to smile again at him. This was such a sweet reaction, even though he was unconscious for it. In a burst of affection for him, she lowered her head onto his silver one.

Alexis shut her gray eyes, revelling in the surprising soft, silky tone of Aster's hair.

It was...

soothing.

And with that, the blonde, and the silver-haired prodigy, were both asleep.

Something was on his head.

Something light.

Something soft.

Something silky.

Something that was breathing lightly on him.

The driver was still driving.

And he and Alexis were the only ones back there.

Alexis.

Carefully, the silver-haired prodigy took his head out from under the weight, and there was Alexis, true to form, asleep.

Her head was now leaning on his shoulder.

Aster looked upon her pale face, and a small smile came over his own face.

His heart beat faster, and the contented smile vanished.

Slowly, he reached up, towards her face, and brushed some golden locks from her face. He held the side of her face with such a gentle touch, and his thumb stroked her cheek gently.

His heart felt saddened, like it was shattering.

This was wrong.

He knew.

But still, how could he help it?

Her eyes were alight with excitement and joy.

Other hotel guests chuckled mirthfully as Aster gave an embarrassed sigh, and ran over to where she was waiting. The elavator doors shut, just barely missing the tips of Aster's coat.

She was bundled up tightly in white woolen pants, and a soft blue coat. A scarf from Duel Academy with the letters still stitched onto it hung around her neck. It was blue, just as her dorm signified.

Her hands were in her pockets, and she was rocking on her heels back and forth in excitement.

Aster just smiled at her. She seemed so child-ish and alive right now. How could he not smile?

"Why're you so excited?" he asked.
"Because!" she replied.

Aster rolled his eyes.

"Why?" he repeated.

Alexis grinned at him, "Because, at this year, Jaden, Syrus, my brother and I would always take a boat out to the lake, and watch the fireworks that went off near the lighthouse. There were also fireworks being shot off in front of the main building. It was amazing!"

Aster smiled, but then his smile fell when Alexis's smile did.

Sadness glowed in her eyes, and her eyes were shadowed slightly. They had gotten outside, and the lights were dimmed slightly to give more of a tense effect. But Aster could still feel the waves of pain coming off of her.

"And... on my first year there, it was just Zane and me. Just the two of us. We were right at the lighthouse, our special place, and we watched the fireworks from the main building. Back then they only did it there." she explained. "And that night... it was really cold, just like this one. And he... he put his arm around his shoulders, and said, 'Happy New Year, Alexis'." A sad smile came over her face at the remembrance.

Aster looked at her sadly.

Their faces were lit up with the light of the huge ball at the top of a tower. He put a hand on her elbow, and guided her to a bench, behind a tree with snow frosting its top. Aster sat down beside her.

"10!"

"Alexis," he said quietly.

"9!"

Alexis looked at him, managing to hear him through the crowd.

"8!"

"Yes?" she asked, her eyes confused, but still holding the sad tone.

"7!"

Aster looked away for a moment.

"6!"

"Um... well,"

"5!"

"What?"

"4!"

Aster took a deep breath, then faced her again.

"3!"

He held her shoulders gently, and looked her in the eye.

"2!"

Aster leaned his face in towards her.

"1!"

His lips touched hers gingerly.

"HAPPY NEW YEARS!"

Aster leaned back, and bit his lip a little, then he smiled, and said, "Happy New Years, Alexis." He wrapped an arm around her shoulder, and pulled her in close. He rested his head on top of hers, and closed his eyes, the lights of the fireworks reflecting off his handsome face.

Alexis was still mildly stunned at Aster.

Slowly, a smile came up over her face. A small one, but it was definitely there. She blinked appreciatively, and whispered back, "Happy New Years too, Aster."

Well, that's the end. Yay. It really isn't New Years anymore... but hey, I got it done, didn't I? Review, all that stuff. And thank you for reviewing to the story in the past as well. Happy late/early New Years guys.

-PurificationArrow