Disclaimer: Hey, look, it's been eight years, and I STILL don't own Yu-Gi-Oh! GX. What a shame.

Author's Note: I originally wrote Breaking the Hold, along with the four other fanfics in the Breaking the Hold series, nearly ten years ago. I have gotten SO much better at writing since then. So, couple years of experience with a want to have fun this next year, and you get me deciding to rewrite these old fics. For my old fans, I hope you enjoy. For new fans, look forward to a story that got me more popularity than any other fanfic I've ever written, not that that's hard to do.

Hey, everybody! The Number One Duelist in the World, Jaden Yuki here! Now, I know my life seems amazing, and it is. But there are even times when the greatest duelist ever born has some down time. And I don't mean time between duels.

Take this one time, for example.

I was sitting in my dorm room, soaking wet. I just kept asking myself this one question and... Wait, I should probably explain the wet thing, huh?

Okay, it was earlier that day. Obviously. Anyway, it had been a few days since we had all gotten back from going to Domino City for an Academy Field Trip of sorts. Naturally, this was thanks to yourself truly.

Getting back on track, tract, track... Which is it? Ah, never mind! Getting back to the point!

My buddies and roommates Syrus and Hassleberry... Should I called him Tyranno? It takes less time... Ah, whatever. Syrus and Hassleberry had gone to the hot springs for a nice, refreshing dip. I was gonna join them, but then they got to arguing about who was my best friend, as they always did, so I decided to head back before them. But don't worry. I DID get to soak.

See, you have to walk by the beach to get to and from the hot springs. And who should happen to be standing on the beach, but Alexis. This was the first time I had seen her outside of class since returning from Domino, so I ran over to say "hi". That was all. Just wanted to say "hey" to a friend. Yup!

"Lex, what's up?" I asked, running over.

As Alexis turned around to look at me, I could see she was still wearing her White Uniform.

Okay, I know some people haven't followed the full history of the Great Jaden Yuki, so here's the abridged version. During my second year at Duel Academy, Chazz dueled this guy, Sartorious, who claimed to be able to see the future. Sartorious talked Chazz into joining his group, The Society of Light. Chazz went on to duel everyone in Obelisk Blue, trying to turn the dorm into Obelisk White. Anyone who lost to a member of the Society was brainwashed to join their group. And Alexis just had to duel him to stop him. But he ended up beating her... somehow! So, she ended up joining the Society as well. Now, frankly, I should have stopped Chazz just after his brainwashing, but I was busy, alright? I was in space, saving a dolphin-man from a robot. ...What are you talking about? Why would I need some cheetos?

Anyway, Alexis just stared at me. "What do you want, slacker?"

"Slacker?" I asked, in some shock. "Come on, Lex. Can't we catch up?"

"I have no intention of talking to someone who opposes Master Sartorious." Alexis said, walking past me. Passed me? Which is it? "However, if you're talking to me because you want to join the Society of Light, you just need to let me beat you in a duel."

"Oh, come on, Alexis." I chuckled. "You know I never throw a match, even against a friend. Besides, I would never join that group. You should probably drop out too."

That... probably wasn't the best thing to say. Alexis seemed upset, and promptly... pushed me into the ocean! As ya do.

"I would never leave the Society!" Alexis yelled, glaring down at me. "I've finally had my eyes opened to the truth of the world!"

"But, Alexis.." I said, standing up. "You have to see there's something wrong with this."

And back in the water I go.

"There's nothing wrong with this!" Alexis yelled, though frankly, I like to think she was trying to convince herself more than me. "This is what I believe in now that I've seen the light."

Protip. If someone says they've "had their eyes opened" or "seen the light", it's usually a good sign they've joined a cult. Take it from someone with experience.

Alexis went to leave, but not before saying, "Remember, if you ever want to join the Society, come talk to me."

I sat there for a few seconds, in shock. I mean, I could see this from Chazz, even Zane, considering how they'd changed since my first year, but Alexis? She was always sweet, nice, always respectful, a good listener, but had interesting things to say herself and... You heard nothing. Anyway, I also had her last words buzzing in my head. Surely she'd known by now I wasn't gonna join the Society. However, those thoughts would have to wait for later, because I started to get cold, sitting in the ocean like that.

All things considered, she could have done worse to me. Being pushed into an ocean just means I had to change into my Academy jersey once I got back to my dorm. It's not like she put a private mail I sent her out there for the world to see.

But there I was. Sitting in my bed to warm up, contemplating Alexis' last words.

"Why does she think I'd join?" I muttered to myself.

Winged Kuriboh, my Duel Spirit, appeared on my shoulder.

"Kuri, Kuri!" Winged Kuriboh cried out.

"She DID offer to duel me!" I shouted. "And if I can beat her, then I can bring her back, like everyone else I've beaten from the Society! HA! Thank you, Neo Space powers!"

"Kuri, Kuri Kuri!" Winged Kuriboh said.

"Uh... You're right, Kuriboh." I said. "She did seem really upset. If I did ask her to duel, I'd probably be humiliated in front of the whole school. I need a plan."

Before Winged Kuriboh could suggest anything, a loud growl echoed through the room.

"Alright, stomach." I said, patting my belly. "Food first, then plan."

Dry enough, I made a quick food run before coming up with my plan.

That's why, when Syrus and Hassleberry got back, they found me sitting at the desk in our room, snacking on an eggwich, with wrappers scattered around the floor.

"Carry the two, times that by the square root of pi, add the one..." I muttered to myself while scribbling numbers on a piece of paper. ...Look, I'm not the best with non-dueling math, alright?

"Uh... Private Truesdale?" I heard Hassleberry say. "Are you seeing this too?"

"Either that, or we're both delusional." Syrus said. Thanks, guys. Glad to know this is such a shocking sight...

"Sarge..." Hassleberry started.

"...whatcha doing?" Syrus finished.

"And why are you soaking wet?" Hassleberry added.

"Oh, hey guys." I said, between bites of an eggwich. "I'm planning."

"Planning?" Syrus asked. "For what?"

"Hold on, Private Truesdale." Hassleberry said. "I still wanna know why the Sarge is wet when he ditch us."

"Oh, that's because..." I said, before taking another bite and quickly swallowing. "Alexis shoved me into the ocean."

"She did what?!" Hassleberry yelled.

"Yeah." I nodded. "Though, I think she challenged me to a duel, so I'm trying to figure out the best way to duel her, without her humiliating me. Not in a duel, of course. She's good, but not that good. I just don't want to be pantsed, or have a bucket of water dropped on my head or something."

"Wait, how'd you get so many sandwiches?" Syrus asked.

"Well, y'know, I went to Dorothy, worked some of the ol' Yuki charms and... when she saw me dripping wet and starving, she took pity on me." I admitted. Hey, nothing gets in the way of my stomach. Not even my pride. "I even managed to get a golden eggwich for once! Luck is on my side!"

"So, what's the plan, Sarge?" Hassleberry asked. "Do we mount a full on assault of the White Dorm, hold them all down, while you duel Private Rhodes, or maybe we go incognito, seek into her room and you duel her there?"

"Uh, think a little more in the box there, Hassleberry." I said. "I like your ideas, but pull them back a bit."

"Um, Jaden?" Syrus asked.

"Hm?" I asked, turning my attention to Syrus.

"Isn't she your tutor?" Syrus asked.

"Tutor?" Hassleberry asked.

Guess I should explain.

Like I said, when I'm in action, I'm great. But when it comes to tests and things like that, even with dueling, I'm terrible. So, one day, after class had ended, I was staring at one of my tests.

"Only ten percent?" I heard someone behind me ask.

I looked behind me, and there was Alexis' shining face. Hm? Oh, uh, the light happened to be hitting her that day. That's what I meant.

"Yeah." I said. "So what? No big deal."

"No big deal?!" Alexis asked, incredulously. Did I use that right? Incredulously? "Jaden, there's only ten questions on the test!"

"Yeah." I said. "So, I got two right!"

"Uh, Jaden, ten percent out of ten questions means you only got one question right." Alexis said.

"I knew that. I was joking." I said. "C'mon, Lex. Give me a little more credit than that."

"Wow, and I thought Syrus was kidding when he said you barely got through your written entrance exam." Alexis said. "How do you plan to be King of Games like this?"

"My skills as a duelist say it all." I said, confidently.

"Jaden, if you even wanna graduate from Duel Academy, you'll have to bring your grade up more." Alexis explained.

"WHAT?!" I asked, entirely shocked. "You mean, if I don't do good on these tests, they'll keep me from the Pros?"

"The Pro League?" Alexis asked. "Jaden, you won't even be advanced to the third year if you don't pick up your grade."

"Ya gotta help me, Lex!" I said, grasping her hands in mine. "Please! You're my last hope! I can't just go crawling to Bastion! He'll never let me hear the end of it!"

"Are you asking me to tutor you?" Alexis asked.

"If that means you'll help teach me stuff, then yes!" I begged. ...Hey, as long as it's Alexis, I'm not too proud to be- I mean, I was desperate! I'd have been held back otherwise!

"Well, Jazz and Mindy are always telling me I'd make a good teacher." Alexis mutter under her breath. "This would be a good chance to see if they're right. Alright! Come by my room every Friday afternoon."

"Got it, Alexis!" I said.

That was earlier this year, just before I lost the ability to see my cards.

"Just duel her when you two are alone." Syrus said.

"I can't." I said.

"Why not?" Syrus prodded.

"You sure are asking a lot of questions, Syrus." I pointed out.

It was the Friday just after Alexis had been brought over to the Society's side.

After class, as usual, I approached her for my tutoring session.

"Hey, Alexis!" I called out.

"Slacker?" Alexis asked, confused. "What do you want?"

"What do you mean?" I asked back. "It's Friday. You always tutor me on Friday."

"I'm not gonna waste my time on a Slifer Slacker like you." Alexis said. "I've got better things to do now that I'm part of the Society of Light. But if you were to join the Society, I guess I could tutor you."

"Not gonna happen, Lex." I chuckled.

Back in the present... it just occurred to me how weird that phrase is... Syrus stared at me in shock.

"She just refuses to tutor me as long as I'm not in the Society." I explained.

"Jaden, I know this is a little obvious, but do you ever trying using your brain!?" Syrus shouted.

"Private Truesdale, what is your major malfunction?!" Hassleberry asked. "You don't talk to the Sarge like that!"

"Jaden, don't you see what she's doing?" Syrus asked.

"Trying to turn me to the Society's side?" I asked.

"No! Well, yes..." Syrus admitted. "But there's more to it! She wants to be with you!"

"Huh?" I asked.

Syrus just stared blankly at me, before beginning to pace around.

"Let us review the facts." Syrus said, holding his chin and nodding. "Alexis has said on multiple occasions that she wants you to join the Society. Along with Chazz, she's picked several duelists within the Society to beat you and bring you over to the Society. She called off your dates unless you'd join the Society."

"They weren't dates!" I shouted.

"Jaden, don't you see?" Syrus said. "She likes you and wants to be with you."

"Well, it's obvious that she likes me. Everyone does." I said. Yeah, I'm egotistical, but I'm that good. "And if she wants to be on our side, she can just come back any time."

"It's not that easy, Sarge." Tyranno said. "Sometimes, even though they'd never dream of betraying you, once an ally soldier is captured by the enemy, the enemy brainwashes them so hard, they simply can't go back, no matter how loud they're screaming on the inside."

"Ah, I get what you mean." I had no idea.

"And when I said she likes you, I didn't mean like we do." Syrus said, pointing to Hassleberry, then himself. "I mean, like Blair liked my brother... and then you. Or how Bastion liked that Amazon lady."

"She wants to duel me all night?" I asked.

Syrus just blushed deeply and looked away. "Something like that. Focus on Blair and Zane."

"Oh, right." I said, nodding my head. "Blair had a crush on Zane an-"

I cut myself off when I realized what Syrus meant.

"Sh-She doesn't think of me like that!" I insisted.

"Jaden, everyone can see it." Syrus said. "Remember what happened at the end of last year?"

"Uh..." I said, feigning ignorance.

"I don't." Hassleberry said. "Mind explainin', Sy?"

"Oh, at the end of each year, the top duelist of each dorm is called on to a stage to see off the graduating students." Syrus explained.

Alright, so what happened wasn't that major. It happened right after my duel with Zane. As the top duelist of the Academy, Zane was asked to make a speech.

"Before I start my graduation speech..." I seem to recall Zane saying. "...as per Duel Academy tradition, I will call the top students of each dorm up. Jaden Yuki of Slifer Red."

Scratching the back of my head sheepishly, that's the phrase, right? I took to the stage.

"Bastion Misawa of Ra Yellow." Zane announced.

Bastion made his way to the stage, standing next to me.

"Well, seems we're both Number One of our dorm." Bastion whispered to me, smirking.

"Alexis Rhodes of Obelisk Blue." Zane called out.

Alexis stood up and walked towards the stage. On the way, our eyes happened to meet, and we both looked away. I will admit, I blushed. But, hey, when a pretty girl with great dueling skills locks eyes with you, wouldn't you blush? Well, I suppose if you like guys, you wouldn't, but... same applies, y'know? Wait, did I just call Alexis pretty?

According to the others, Alexis had blushed too.

There was more to Zane's speech, but honestly, I didn't pay attention. I went blow to blow with Zane in our duel. I knew everything that was in his heart from our duel.

In the present, that sounds better, Syrus had finished explaining to Hassleberry everything I just explained to you.

"Well, when ya put it that way..." Hassleberry said, nodding. "It does sound like the Sarge likes Alexis."

"Look, guys, I'm telling you, it's not like that." I said.

"Jaden, are you trying to convince us, or yourself?" Syrus said. Little brat! I just said something like that earlier!

"Uh..." I knew anything I said, Syrus had a counter-argument for.

I knew, unlike in a duel, Syrus had me beat.

"Jaden, I know how it feels to like someone." Syrus said, as I hung my head. "Remember? Dark Magician Girl. Just admit it."

Sighing heavily, I looked up at my two friends. "Yeah, Sy. You're right. I like Alexis as more than just a friend."

Author's Note: Yeah, as anyone who read the old fics can tell, I've gotten a LOT better. For one, I cut out that dumb Graduation Kiss. Probably also helps that I've had a girlfriend since I wrote BtH the first time around. And yet back then I had my first love... and looking back, first love trumps first girlfriend. Well, while that might not help too much, I do have a (now former) friend who basically joined a cult. I say basically because unlike a real cult, there is no leader, so it's kinda more of a gang... Still, knowing what it's like to have a friend with a cult-like mindset should help.

..Yeah, it's no wonder why I want to have a fun year now, huh?