A/N: Hello everyone, and welcome to my new story! I know I had 'Balancing on a Tightrope' going, but I decided to take it down and do a different approach. I hope you'll like this one better, and as this is only the prologue, I hope you can review and tell me if it's good! Okay, here we go.

Disclaimer: I don't own Yu-Gi-Oh! GX, but I do own this story and the OC(s).

Enjoy!

That Nostalgic Silence

Prologue

I was transferring in late. That was all. Then why did this ferry boat man have to be so infuriating? "Please, I told you already, I received a letter from Principal Samejima, and I just left it—"

"Sorry miss, but you can't come on unless you've got a visitor pass, or school entry pass," the man stated, blocking my path onto the bridge. I scowled, eyeing the husky person before me with absolute hate. Why couldn't he just cooperate? What an ape...

I was about ready to punch him, until a calm, slightly raspy voice said, "I have a visitor's pass for two. Is it fine if I bring her too?"

I whipped around quickly, and stared down at a short, friendly-looking old man. He wore a smile on his face like a natural mask, and held out the pass to the ferry man who I currently didn't despise as much as before. He looked as if he'd break at any moment, but stood tall nonetheless.

"Please, go ahead," the ferry man said, and as the old man beckoned me to follow him, I felt a twinge at my heart. I was burdening someone again…

"Thank you…" I told the old man when we reached the deck, bowing my head down. He just nodded, that smile still there as we went over to the railing.

We set off moments later, and I could hear the many cries, farewells, and shouts of the people departing. I sighed, finally relaxing my stiff shoulders, directing a small gaze to the ocean in view. I had no one to say farewell to, so I stayed silent. However, that silence was soon shattered when the old man began a conversation.

"So you're enrolled in Duel Academia?"

"I am, but I'm a late entry." I peered over the rail, watching as the water foamed off the boat.

"Why didn't you go by plane? My granddaughter studying there went by plane."

Without sparing him a glance as I continued my observation of the water, I replied quietly. "I've never been out at sea much before, so I decided to try it out. Besides, I find planes too crowded, even when we get our own private space and seat, and they make me sick." The sea was awfully tranquil, and brought a different kind of peace to my ever restless mind.

"Ah…" The old man gazed at the water with me, and we stood there in a comfortable silence. I noticed that many of the passengers had retired to wherever they aimed for below deck, and the silent atmosphere became even lighter.

I was the one to break this serene quiet, after a while. "Ne, old man, does your granddaughter seem happy at Duel Academia?"

He chuckled at this, staring at me with a distant happiness in his almost concealed eyes. "Yes, she's told me about all the fun things happening at that school, and of how she loves it there. She's also told me she changed, in a way."

I perked up. "Changed?"

"After hearing of all her adventures, I knew she did change, from that little girl eager to learn about Duel Monsters, to a young woman who already had her mind set on a bright future." He turned back to the sea, and I stared at him in turn. "Tell me, do you think you'll change at this Duel Academia?"

I laughed a bit, letting my eyelids fall in a slow manner. "If I could change, that would be great." I leaned back, feeling the calm breeze hit my face. "Actually, I hope I'll change."

And in fact, I had an uncanny feeling I would.