Disclaimer: I do not own Yu-Gi-Oh! GX or any of the characters depicted in the story. Proper rights are owned by the respected owners individually.

Note: Wonder if I should write Fubuki being kicked out of Ryou's room? Regardless, hope you enjoy!

Just Be
by. Satari-Raine

Asuka never figured out how Fubuki received his interesting sense of fashion.

All she was grateful for is that she didn't inherit that same gene.

"Onii-san…" She mumbled while glancing down at the piles of clothes he heaved on her small bed with a grin, the clothes screaming "one-hundred percent Fubuki-bought brands!" As her hand found its way through her wavy hair, she sighed to herself and she glanced at the clock.

8:04 am. In the morning.

Normally she was an early riser, but she had planned on sleeping until 9:00. Judging by Fubuki's eager grin as he looked her way and back to the articles of clothing, sleeping in an hour more wasn't going to happen. Glancing at Fubuki, Asuka sighed as he spoke, "Now Asuka, before you start yelling, listen. All this is perfectly reasonable." His voice was too chipper, almost like how the sun was peeking out through the emerald curtains hanging in her window, only with mischief lacing the depths of each note in his words.

Something else tinted his voice, but she couldn't put her finger on it.

Asuka, accepting the fact that any more sleep was going to elude her, merely shook her head. But still, this wasn't how she wanted to start her day; she still needed her coffee and breakfast.

"How so?"

Fubuki merely laughed, unfazed at her threatening tone as he lead her away from her room to the kitchen several paces away, sitting her down at her table filled with small plate of toast, eggs, silver-dollar pancakes and a full glass of chocolate milk. Asuka sighed, a soft smile peeking out from her lips at her brother's kindness, despite sometimes it being a little too much.

'He's always been a decent cook.'

She bit into the pancake, loving the rich taste of syrup and the tender dough. Ever since taking the job in America along with studying, she allowed herself to indulge in different foods (not that she had much of a choice), and she found that their breakfast customs were her favorite among their usual meals.

Fubuki chuckled lightly, leaning against the counter as he sipped a mug of coffee, his eyes slowly shifting from bright brown to a dim shade, surprisingly serious as he gazed past the rising steam. Asuka glanced, grey meeting rich brown before he smiled, the sight strange to her as the corners of his mouth peeked out past the cup's rim.

"You okay?"

He blinked, setting down his mug. It clacked against the countertop, the sound loud in the quiet room before it was drowned out by the sound of racing cars rushing out on the buzzing streets of the city. He sighed, raking his fingers through his hair, that same habit she always noticed when he was troubled. The only thing that was missing was the distant, faded smile when he tried to reassure her he was fine.

It never worked.

"Onii-san."

A long pause. Then, "It's about Ryou."

"What do you mean, 'it's about Ryou'? What happened to him?" Asuka asked, her tone mostly calmly hiding her worry. She placed her fork down gently, turning her body in her chair to face him, her grey eyes locking onto brown ones, cloudy as they wouldn't meet her gaze. Her body pulsed in nervous awareness but she forced it down, determined to remain calm and composed. Judging by the look in her brother's eyes, she had no other choice.

"He was placed in the hospital last night."

She remained silent. Fubuki sent her a grateful glance, knowing her silence was portraying her patience as he rubbed his forehead, the crease between his brows speaking of worry over his friend. Then again, it wasn't just worry for the elder sibling at the thought of Ryou in a hospital. It felt so close to being downright depression.

Coughing slightly, he continued. "Apparently he had a minor stroke last night, and the doctors haven't discovered a cause yet. Shou's over with him at the hospital now, and as far as I know from the phone call last night, he seems to be okay." His voice was quiet, clipped with a hidden undertone of worry that Asuka could relate to.

She had felt that way: useless and afraid, when her brother had gone missing. Surely Fubuki must feel similar, if not the same way now, as she once did; this is Ryou, someone whose life was held high above most in Fubuki's opinion and someone he knew how to care for in ways most can't. Yet, she also knew that while he usually was cheerful and upbeat when these things happened, when it came down to it, he worried just like the rest of them.

As Asuka paused, she realized the real reason Fubuki had grown silent on the phone last night. 'Shou or Ryou must've called him.' Sighing, she ruffled her own hair as she gingerly sipped her milk. On the inside, she was delighted that Ryou was going to be fine but soon grew confused as she leaned back in her chair. She wasn't going to pry on much on what happened, she'd learn soon enough. But something still bugged her.

"Why aren't you there with him now, Onii-san?"

At this, Fubuki's lips quirked up, startling the young blonde as she raised an eyebrow. "I remembered your date today, dear Asuka. You needed me, even if you didn't say it!" Chuckling, he added softly with a darted gaze, "Ryou also kicked me out of his room this morning."

Silence was heard throughout the small apartment as Asuka blinked.

'So that explains the piles of clothes and the early breakfast.'

She chuckled, shaking her head as she stood up to walk over and ruffled his hair fondly, nose to nose until she fell back on flat feet. "Well, if you're okay now, can you go get these clothes off my bed?" Fubuki laughed, kind-hearted with that smudge of sadness softly leaving his voice.

"Not until you pick something from it."

As they walked back, she caught a glimpse at the pile as she entered her room; Fubuki's eager disposition almost able to be felt behind her. Oh, well. Humoring him wouldn't be that bad, right?

The wind was peaceful.

Asuka sighed, sweeping her gaze over the crowded streets, waiting for her chance to pass. She shifted on her feet, laced in a simple pair of black sandals with blue studs on the straps that she had persuaded Fubuki into letting her wear instead of the boots he had picked. They were nice and stylish, she admitted, but they seemed a little over the top for her current occasion. Noticing the right-a-way belonged to her and several other pedestrians, she proceeded in walking, loving the comfortable cushioning the sandals offered the soles of her feet in comparison to the heels she was so used to wearing.

Checking her watch, she read 2:34pm.

'Note to self: Never let Fubuki play dress up when he has hours to spare.'

Shrugging to herself, she glanced down at her attire, not as self-conscious as she thought she would be after her brother's plans. The remainder of her outfit consisted with a deep blue blouse decoratively buttoned up to stop underneath her collarbone, wrapping around her shoulders in a snug but comfortable embrace. She was proud of herself that she didn't have to convince Fubuki much on the top after she matched it out with a pair of simple black slacks: breezy and comfortable but mature. All in all, Fubuki was pleased after the many hours of dress-up, which meant while he was off going to persuade Ryou into re-entering his hospital room, she was able to go meet up with Johan without any more interruptions about 'dates' and clothing.

Hopefully.

Smiling, she caught sight of the familiar wooden sign drifting carefully on its hinge over the emerald oak door, reading out "Michael's Coffee Shop" silently in her head. Knowing she was a bit early, Asuka shrugged and entered the small coffee shop with a smile, nodding to the cashier who instantly turned on recognizing her, quick to set up her usual spot beside the window, the newspaper ready on the table.

"Thank you." She chuckled as the young teen yawned before walking off, telling her to call over when she was ready to order anything. As she skimmed over the large print, she glanced around and took in the sight of the building. Several small tables, large enough only for two people, rested against the line of windows covered decoratively with sea-green curtains and cream blinds. The floor below had recently been waxed, the sleek oak floor shinning, darkly reflecting the wood finishes of the countertops and tables.

She drummed her fingers against the wood, tapping out a soft rhythm as she peered at the front page of the paper, making note of the cover page discussing the recent duel tournament finals locally and the upcoming tournaments held in Europe later on in the year. Humming to herself, she opened the grey sheets, slowly scanning the pages for the tournament. She smiled when she ran across Manjyome's name, mentioned briefly in his brother's finance article, almost as if he was supporting the rising pro with funding.

'I wonder how Manjyome's dealing with that. I need to call him later.'

Shou's and Ryou's name peeked out from the page after that, claiming the Marufuji brothers were almost complete with their plans to start a new pro dueling league, both males perfectly determined to support one another in all the decisions as the finalizing process arrived. As she finished the article, she noticed the last sentence: 'The only participant the two brothers have still not heard any word from is a long-lost friend: Judai Yuki.'

She frowned.

"Judai…"

"What? Judai's here?"

Releasing a breath she didn't even realize she was holding in, she turned around, noticing Johan leaning over her chair with a confused smile. She shook her head, not quick to adjust to his English as she motioned for him to sit across from her. Shrugging, he fixed his ocean-blue hoodie and followed suit, eyebrows raised at the current question.

"Ah, heh, no he's not, Johan-kun. His name is just mentioned in the paper."

He raised an eyebrow, lips curving into an excited smile. "Could I see that?" He inquired in her native tone – out of courtesy for her or just easier overall, she didn't know – before rushing out, "Well, when you're done."

"Oh, sure! I'm done. Here." Her reply was quickly rushed, Asuka feeling a weird weight of nervousness falling over her shoulders like a cloak – why was she nervous?

She outstretched the paper soon after folding it up; Johan took a moment before he noticed the offer. "Thanks! Didn't know you were finished already." Taking the newspaper, he skimmed clumsily through the pages, seeking out the name of his best friend. Asuka chuckled as he glanced up, scratching his tuff of blue hair. "And sorry I'm late. I kinda got lost in the subway." Under his breath, he added, "…Again."

She blinked at his statement, confused, before she checked her watch. 3:24pm.

".Wow, didn't know that much time had passed."

"Must've been a real good article. " He laughed, light-hearted as he made a sound of discovery, silently reading the words. "'Long-lost friend: Judai Yuki.' I take it Judai hasn't had much contact with Shou lately?"

Asuka frowned slightly, nodding – the frown wasn't one of concern; she knew Judai could take care of himself. But something about Johan's tone struck her as curious, something about it strange. "Um. Yeah. Shou said the last he heard from him was a few months after graduating, after he visited you apparently."

"I see." Out of the corner of her eye as she glanced over at the menu, she noted a small, coy and almost secretive, gracing Johan's lips, as if he knew something the others didn't. Knowing him, he probably did, and Asuka was quick to crush that discomforting feeling before it rose to steal her attention completely. "He'll show up eventually. He can't sit still, even when he visits me."

"…Yes."

Both remained silent, the atmosphere comfortable and quiet as the waiter walked over, handing them a small menu before nodding to Asuka, almost as if she was congratulating the blonde on her date despite her eyes shining in something that seemed like jealousy. Sighing, wondering if Fubuki somehow had personal spies in New York, she ordered a simple mocha frappe while Johan ordered hot chocolate. Smiling at Johan flirtatiously, the waitress walked off to fulfill their order while Johan laughed, glancing outside at the rushing crowds of New York on a Saturday.

"People seem busy in this place, almost as if they can't stop working."

"They are. It seems like they never stop to take a break. Always working and striving ahead with their ambitions, regardless of the fact that it may not always be the best route to take." She remarked before pausing as her own words dawned on her. It was strange how similar she was to this city's people, always working and striving to achieve without ever pausing life to relax or distress. As she glanced up, seeing Johan's knowing smile that didn't help much at all either, she resisted the urge to frown.

Clearing her throat, she added,"Well, isn't life busy for you back home?" Johan paused at the question, almost as if he was contemplating something while skimming through the papers, laughing slightly as he saw his own name mentioned in the recent tournament.

"I suppose it is, in a way."

She raised an eyebrow, but didn't feel like he would elaborate if she asked. Luckily, the matter was taken out of her hands as he looked at her, drumming pale fingertips on the wooden surface. "So, how did your work go last night? Feeling any better?"

Accepting the cup from the waitress as she arrived, Asuka took a small sip, enjoying the gentle steam caressing her skin despite the almost bland taste. Johan stirred in some sugar in his own drink, watching the cars outside speed by, humming to himself as if he didn't have a care in the world.

"I finished grading the papers. I'll spend tomorrow planning the lessons for next week while my employer is away."

"Away?" Johan asked, taking a sip as he watched Asuka glance out the window, her expression calm and relaxed.

"His wife is in labor, so he's with her until the baby's born."

"Congratulations to him. So, uh, how long do you have to do this extra work?" He asked quietly, picking at the curtain next to him as a child waved to Ruby on his shoulder from outside of the restaurant. Ruby trilled happily, swishing her tail in glee as Johan responded to the young girl with a smile and a wave before glancing back at Asuka.

"Just this weekend. He's sending in a higher qualified instructor during his absence." Asuka stated, starting to enjoy the taste of coffee stimulating her tongue. She leaned back in her chair, enjoying the comforting simplicity of it all: nice conversation and good drinks.

"I see. Well, I'm sure you'll be a full-time instructor soon."

She only nodded, the corners of her mouth twitching just a bit.

Johan laughed before excusing himself politely, glancing around before asking a passerby waitress where the restroom was. As he walked off, Asuka sighed, a soft smile gracing her lips as he drifted away.

"This is…nice." She mumbled, grateful that this outing was going well; after being worried that it would be awkward due to the fact that they didn't know one another all that well, the surprise of the comfortable feeling she was experiencing was, well, nice.

As if she needed something like this all along.

Johan bounced back after a bit, grinning cheerfully with a calm glaze to his eyes. Noticing Asuka's smile, he brightened as they spoke through silence and short quips, her gaze expressing her gratitude and thanks without words. Asuka picked up her mug of coffee, smiling as the steam withered away into the air, fading away just as easily as her worries of tomorrow. She had all day, and she'd make the most of it.

She took a sip of her coffee. It was sweet.

"But wait, explain that one effect. How would it have worked?"

"The card would've ultimately broken down your defensives you had used your traps." Johan stated, hands fisted in the lush grass of a nearby park as Asuka sat next to him, laughing lightly as she watched him glance towards the sky.

Placing her deck in her holster, laying the leather case next to Johan's, she spoke, "That's incredible. I must say, your Gem Beasts are amazing, Johan-kun."

He smiled, a soft laugh slipping from his lips. "Yeah, my family is really something."

Asuka chuckled, albeit a bit confusingly, at the dreamlike tone of his voice as she scanned the park, surprised at the scares amount of visitors parading throughout the lush area of shrubbery. She rolled her shoulders at the thought, merely content at the peace as she looked up, dazed as the clouds drifted without a single care in the world.

She had always envied that about clouds and, if she was honest about herself, about Judai and Johan in general. Judai was so much more relaxed around Johan, and all Asuka had ever known of Johan in normal circumstances was calm but excited, like a coiled spring waiting to unravel. Even her brother seemed to have that carefree, peaceful attitude that always seemed to draw her in, making her wonder if she would ever achieve such a thing. She only found herself able to smile at the thought, her as carefree as her brother; It would never happen.

"You know, you do look good when you smile. Makes you seem calm and relaxed."

"Huh?"

"You're smiling. It's nice?"

"…Onii-san mentioned that once, too. It's just hard sometimes, with life being as hectic as it is."

Johan sat up, shaking some of the grass from his cerulean hair, glancing up at the clouds as if they held the answers to everything. She followed his gaze, peering out into the delicate sheens of red, orange and yellow.

"Life is life, but – well, clouds live, too! And they seem just fine floating casually away." He smiled then, almost as if a thought struck him. "So, say me and Judai are clouds? Floating away, peaceful and comfortable with life as it trails on?"

"Uh-huh..?" Asuka sent him a perplexed glance as she shifted against the ground. Unseen to her, Ruby yawned and sauntered from her position of sitting with Johan to curl gently next to her side, tail swishing against the grass in content. Johan grinned down at the spirit, leaving Asuka confused as she tilted her head slightly.

"Well, if me and Judai are clouds, then you're just a star, Asuka."

"I don't think I understand what you mean, Johan-kun." Blonde locks were pushed over a shoulder, swishing against her back as she peered back at the sun, watching as it drifted down to the horizon, bidding the daylight goodbye as the moon slowly began its decent into the world of New York.

Laughing, he continued, his voice a dreamy whisper that surprisingly held its own over the loud honking off passing cars. "Stars always work without stopping, lighting up the world whenever the moon is absent. Well, even when the moon is out, the nightlights of the sky always work hard to make sure darkness doesn't take over." He ran fingers through blue locks before sighing happily. "Even when clouds block them at night, they still shine through, always working and trying to mark their presence in the world, almost as if their light is endless."

"You're like that, Asuka. You keep on going no matter what." Johan laughed, almost embarrassed, his words filling the silence between them as she merely offered a smile, flattered at his words.

"All right, then. If you'll be a cloud, then I'll just be a star." She spoke, her voice quiet as if she couldn't believe she would speak clearly, as if the words seemed a bit too strange for her, as if the clouds rolling in overhead would smother up her voice. But, like he said, she'd strive no matter what, and something about that made her happy, a plain and simple happiness, as if she needed to hear that about her determination instead of praise.

He laughed. "Just be who you are."

As she looked up, she saw the moon, the bright moon, eliminating the ground below with a embracing and brilliant light, powered by the millions of stars dancing around it in a ritual as old as time. Everything was peaceful and calm, and tomorrow seemed to be put on hold, almost forgotten as she looked over at Johan who was beaming.

Asuka found that she couldn't help but smile back.

Comments and critique are always welcomed.