Title: King's Gambit
Author: Chausten
Rating: M
Category: Drama/Romance
Pairing(s): Juudai/Asuka
Spoilers: Up to S3 fair game. Slight AU for S4.
Timeline: Post-series

Summary: Five years after graduation, the school gets a visit from several new pro duelists. Among them is a Yuuki Juudai, who looks and sounds just like Asuka's former best friend—who died five years ago. But this is an entirely different Juudai, who's lived a different life and seems to have no memory of any of them. Asuka is ready to concede when Juudai begins to have doubts of his own, leading the two on a search for the truth.

Disclaimer: Yu-Gi-Oh! GX is the property of Kazuki Takahashi and others holding ownership rights. No infringement intended.

Author's Notes: REVENGE fic on Blueglaceon for her What the Hell Happened Last Night? My first attempt at Fiancéshipping, so don't be too harsh.

For those who don't know, the King's Gambit is a chess opening in which you offer a (specific) pawn to gain an advantage. The Gambit can be "accepted" or "declined" by the opposing player. Acceptance means the other player takes the pawn; declination, they don't. (And yes, this is significant info; I'm not just spouting crap to sound intelligent. But NO, fear not, otherwise the fic has nothing to do with chess.)

Also forgive my ignorance of Japanese culture. Be prepared for clichés and Americanizations.

Enjoy!

KING'S GAMBIT
by Chausten

Prologue

She was dying.

She could feel it, but distantly, like someone examining a specimen in a clinic. Tenjouin Asuka, Asian female, twenty-two years old.

At first the pain had been agonizing, but it was fading now, as her consciousness began to fade into blissful oblivion. It wasn't so bad after all; she would just slip away from the world.

"Asuka! Asuka!"

Someone was calling her name. She looked around for the source, but her vision was already hazy. Someone was next to her, a figure with brown hair and a gray jacket. His voice was frantic. Don't worry, she wanted to tell him. I'm going to be fine.

Gentle hands lifted her up, cradled her in his arms. That was nice; she wouldn't have to die lying on the hard floor. She could feel him next to her, warm and solid, something she could almost have reached out and touched if she'd had the strength. Instead she turned her head slightly to the side, and his arms tightened around her, pulling her closer.

"Hang on."

But it was so easy to just slip away now…she closed her eyes.

The last thing she heard was her name, a desperate sound that wrenched at her heart, but before she could try to respond the darkness closed around her.

-xXx-

Author's Notes: Sorry it's so short! I thought about combining it with chapter one, but it's really too disconnected. Actual chapters will be much longer, I promise.

Reviews make my day!