This story is a request for PrincessAnime08. This is basically an AU of the second half of the third series, though it starts at the end of episode 130.

Disclaimer: I do not own Yu-Gi-Oh! GX

Prologue

The star of the Crystal Beast deck had been out on the field for a little while now, and yet Jaden still couldn't believe that Jesse finally had the card in his deck. It amazed him, the Rainbow Dragon, it truly did. He would, in fact, still be in awe of the powerful monster, had it not been for the vengeful creature standing on the opposite side of the field.

That monster was Yubel.

Jaden didn't know what to feel as he looked into her eyes again, his heart beating furiously against his chest. In some ways, he was angry - she had taken them to this dimension, hurt his friends, and who knows what was next!

And yet, it wasn't just anger. He was also amazed by her appearance.

How could he have just forgotten about Yubel? She was his favourite card when he was young. He had sent her into space in the hopes that she could be 'fixed', so that she would no longer hurt his opponent if he was harmed in a duel. Jaden was partly annoyed at himself, also, for even forgetting about her, and wondered what she had gone through in space.

Yubel had said "I hurt, I never forgot." What had that meant? Was she in pain? Jaden didn't know whether the thought sickened him - a duel spirit, one he had cherished as a child, hurt - or made him glad. His friends had suffered, and he was all for messing with Yubel now.

Jaden watched in horror as Yubel prepared to send an attack - ten thousand attack points strong - their way. He glanced over at his best friend and secret love, Jesse Andersen, and saw that Jesse was looking over at the monster, his face a mixture of concentration and something like nervousness.

Jaden gritted his teeth. How were they going to get out of this one?

While his mind was calculating that, his eyes half on the monster and half on Yubel, he heard the voice of the bluenette.

"Jaden" Jesse addressed him.

"Hmm?" Jaden murmured, turning slightly to face the other.

"This is it, buddy" Jesse smiled at the Slifer. "I'm on it, now get back safe."

Jaden frowned a little. What was going on?

"But, Jess, what about …"

"No buts Jaden!" the other interrupted, and he continued before Jaden could argue. "I play Prism Wall."

Jaden listened to Jesse's words, a look of confusion on his face. Jesse was playing Prism Wall and using an effect of the dragon? If Jesse had a plan, it was news to Jaden. The brunette looked as magnificent crystals spread up, protecting him from harm.

I hope you know what you're doing, Jesse, Jaden thought.

The ground under Jaden's feet began to crumble under his feet at the force of the power the duel was emitting. There was an unbelieving look on Yubel's face as she witnessed the power of Jesse's monsters. Jaden stood beside him, not playing any cards, too confused to act just yet. His mind was still processing what was happening here.

But he got that the duel was taking a turn. Yubel's attack had been thwarted, Jesse had stopped her! Jaden nodded slightly and turned to Jesse, feeling the ground cracking around him.

"Let's go" he called.

Jesse turned and smiled at him.

"I can't. Stopping now will only reduce the energy spike and the portal hole won't be able to open" Jesse said, and he turned to the other. "I gotta keep the strength of my attack up." Here, Jesse winked and send Jaden's trademark 'that's game' pose straight at him. "Catch you later, partner!"

"Jesse …"

Jesse only smiled and then turned back to his dragon, back to the duel, and Jaden's mind began to process what was truly happening, what Jesse was doing.

He had said "catch you later". That basically meant 'goodbye'.

No.

Oh no!

Jaden's mind clicked, and everything fell into place - he may be a bit dense and childish at times, and not particularly academic, but Jaden was no idiot.

Jesse was sending them all home through the inter-dimensional portal.

And he wasn't coming back with them.

How Jaden worked it all out, he didn't know. He just knew Jesse well enough to see through his carefully crafted words. Jesse had said what he had said in a gentle way, instead of the blunt, "I'm sending you home and I can't come with you. I'll never see you again."

If Jesse stayed here and the portal closed behind them, Jaden might never see Jesse again.

And if Jesse stayed here alone with all these duel monsters, the ones that were real …

Jesse would be here and so would Yubel.

/

"You'll pay for taking him" Yubel shrieked, as the force of Rainbow Dragon's attack thrust Jaden back.

Jaden had almost been knocked unconscious, but not quite. He was conscious enough to hear Yubel's words - and he knew that it wasn't a threat, not quite. From Yubel, it was a promise.

"No!" Jaden shouted, running back up the crumbling steps, twisting his ankle and having to bite his lip to prevent a whimper of pain from escaping his lips.

Jaden managed to half-run half-stumble up to Jesse, who looked at him in shock.

"Jaden, get back!" the green eyed boy shouted.

But Jaden wouldn't listen. There was no way he was letting Jesse do this.

It meant that he would have to take his place, but so be it. He had been the one to send Yubel into space those years ago, and that was the trigger to this whole disaster. This was his fault.

And he wasn't going to let the one he loved pay for his mistakes.

"I'm sorry, Jesse!" Jaden shouted, and before the other could even register what was happening, Jaden had grabbed the duel disk off Jesse's arm and placed it on his own.

Rainbow Dragon seemed to shudder a bit, like it didn't like being taken away from Jesse. But it didn't fight, it responded to Jaden - and that shocked Jesse. He was the only one who could control the Crystal Beasts and the Rainbow Dragon. Why was it responding to Jaden?

"Jaden, don't!" Jesse shouted, reaching to grab the brunette.

Jaden turned around and pushed Jesse's chest with all the force he had - and although Jaden was skinny and looked fragile, he wasn't weak. He pushed Jesse back quite a bit, enabling him to take over the attack.

Jaden couldn't see Yubel through the spectrum of coloured lights, and he was almost glad of it. He knew that he was the one Yubel wanted and he didn't want to see the look on her face just yet - the look that would be smug, having got exactly what she wanted.

But none of that took away Jaden's focus. He could feel the power of the Crystal Beast deck and he wasn't sure he liked it - it felt wrong, to use Jesse's cards. Not to mention that his own duel disk was abandoned on the ground behind him - although he had taken his deck out beforehand, and that was in his pocket. He'd never just abandon his cards.

Out the corner of his eye, Jaden saw that Axel had grabbed Jesse - whether Jesse was struggling or was unconscious from the fall, Jaden didn't know - and was pulling him back - Jaden only wished that he could thank Axel for doing that.

After all, Jaden wanted all his friends back home safe. He wanted Jesse there more than anything else.

And if that meant he had to stay there, then he would.

"Rainbow Dragon, send the school home!" Jaden shouted, almost surprised that the dragon obeyed him. He saw that the school seemed to just disappear, or teleport, or something like that. Whatever happened, it was gone. Gone home.

Jaden stood as the light began to filter away slowly.

Jaden could save his friends, his school and his love by doing this.

It was him Yubel wanted.

And he had to talk to Yubel.

They had unfinished business.

Please R&R