Ah, a new pairing :D I've stumbled upon Starshipping recently and wanted to try it. I've never really watched GX, so if anyone is too OOC I apologise.

Below the Horizon

The duel-brown mop of hair whipped in front of equally brown eyes as their owner starred across at the leaning tower. Jaden pulled his dark coat, which was over his old Slifer jacket, tighter around himself and shivered.

"I'm a long way from home...," he muttered, thinking of the Academy. Sure, he'd be huddled under ten thin blankets in the dorm, but it was something, right?

"You should have checked into a bed and breakfast when we got here," Yubel scolded. "But you had to sight-see first."

"Don't scold him, Yubel," Banner pleaded, appearing next to the Duel Monster. "He was interrupted by Paradox last time, can you blame him?"

Jaden petted Pharaoh with a sigh as the two spirits bickered behind him; it had been six months since the duel with Paradox; he had left Venice for a while and had returned on his way to visit the Academy. His gaze drifted to a figure stood by an alleyway in the fading light. Her long, dark blue hair masked one side of her face and her black dress hugged her curvy figure; a dim glow seemed to surround her and the energy in the air caught Yubel's attention.

Banner followed the pair's gaze and adjusted his glasses. "You don't see that everyday."

Jaden stood slowly and Yubel reached out to stop him. "Jaden, no!"

He shrugged her off and found himself moving on his own; his feet moved without his permission and he mentally screamed at them to stop. One foot move in front of the other and the woman turned, revealing a dark yellow snake eye; she ran a hand through his hair and pulled him close to sniff it.

"Quetzalcoatl," she purred. "You're not the bearer, but his stench lingers on you."

'Quetza-what?' Jaden felt numb, all he could do was stare at the woman as she gently caressed his hair.

"Don't touch him!" Yubel bellowed and the woman lifted her head with a tight smile at her before meeting Jaden's eyes.

"Show me where Quetzalcoatl hides!"

An image of an Aztec Dragon flashed into his mind and he matched it instantly to the Crimson Dragon, who had guided him and Yusei through time to Yugi; it had been a strange experience and one he'd never forget.

"Jaden!" Yubel cried with worry. She did not dare to attack the strange woman in case she used Jaden as a shield.

"The future?" Her head tilted to the side and she caressed his cheek. "Not a problem. Lead me to this 'Yusei'."

As the sun disappeared, the light around the woman grew, engulfing them both in bright blue. The Slifer Duellist had to close his eyes to protect them, and when he opened them again, he found himself standing in the middle of a road and another light rushing towards him; a sound of an engine came with the light and it swerved suddenly to avoid him, skidding sideways and stopping just a few feet away.

"Dude, what the hell are you doing just standingthere!"

Brown eyes blinked and he slowly turned to the voice. "Huh?"

"'Huh'? Are you stupid!"

"Are you alright, Jaden?" Yubel appeared at his side. "Did she hurt you?"

Disorientation still clouded his mind and he shook his head to shift it. "I think...I'm ok..."

The stranger sighed and rested the huge motorcycle on the kickstand. "That's good." He made his way over to the Slifer Duellist and removed his helmet to reveal orange spiked hair. "But what the – is that a cat on your back?"

"Mrow." Pharaoh clung tightly to the back of Jaden's coat. He slowly slid down and landed gracefully on the road to rub up against the rider.

Grey eyes blinked at the cat and he looked back up to Jaden. "Anyway, why are you in the road?"

"Dunno," Jaden replied flatly. He had no clue how he got there. He rubbed his head. "I...My head hurts...Where am I?"

Yubel and Banner exchanged glances but decided to stay quiet. The stranger patted him on the shoulder. "Hey, I'll give you a ride to my place. I'm Crow Hogan by the way."

"Jaden Yuki." He managed a grin.

Crow led Jaden to his motorcycle and pulled a spare helmet from under the seat; Jaden caught the helmet and stared at the bike, it seemed familiar somehow, but he couldn't see it in the dim light. He put Pharaoh in his bag and climbed on behind Crow, placing his hands on the rider's shoulders; once the motorcycle started, Jaden could see the duel disk mounted on it.

"Is this a D-Wheeler?"

Crow knocked the kickstand and the motorcycle jumped forward. "Sure is. Never seen one before?"

"Yeah..." Jaden trailed off, confusion washing over him again. "Once..."

Xxx

Jack Atlas sat on the old green sofa with his arms draped across the back. Across the garage, Yusei tapped away on the computer; it was the only sound in the room.

"Crow's late," Jack announced, but the other Duellist didn't reply. "Did you hear me? I said Crow's late."

"I heard you, Jack." The Duel King turned in his chair. "He's fine; if he wasn't our marks would tell us."

Jack opened his mouth to retort when the roar of an engine cut him off; Crow eased his D-Wheeler down the small ramp and the former King leapt to his feet. "You're late!"

"Yeah well, unlike you, Mr. Pompous Ass, I have a job!" Crow snapped and eased the bike onto the kickstand.

The blonde was going to retort again when he spotted Jaden. "Who's he?"

Yusei, having turned back to the computer, looked up from the screen as the new arrival hopped off the bike and removed the helmet. His eyes widened. "Jaden?" The Slifer turned his head and Yusei rose to his feet. "What are you doing here!"

"Wait." Crow looked between them. "You two know each other?"

"I met Jaden in the past," Yusei explained and stepped up to the smaller boy. "We duelled alongside Yugi Moto and defeated Paradox together." He tilted the duellist head up gently with his finger under his chin. "Jaden?"

Eyelids drooped over brown orbs and the Slifer's legs gave out under him; Yusei caught him and eased them both to the floor. "Jaden!"

"Mrow!" Pharaoh yelped when the bag hit the floor and wriggled free. Professor Banner rubbed his chin in thought.

"What did that strange woman do to him?"

Yubel sneered. "Whatever it was, it's drained him." She watched Yusei and Crow fuss over the small Duellist.

"He did say his head hurt...," Crow mused. "I'll give you a hand Yusei." He threw one of Jaden's arms over his shoulder and Yusei took the other, grabbing the bag with his free hand. "Make yourself useful, Jack, open Yusei's bedroom door for us."

The former King snorted but did as asked; striding ahead and tapping his foot impatiently. "So, that kid duelled with you?" he asked once the pair had caught up with him. "What's he doing here?"

"That's what I'd like to know..." He, with Crow's help, eased the larger coat off Jaden and petted Pharaoh when he leapt onto the bed. "Yubel?"

She appeared before them, causing Jack and Crow to jump. "Yes?"

"Did you see what happened?"

A deep frown etched her face and she clenched her fists. "Jaden had returned to Venice, complaining he didn't get to see the sights before Paradox attacked; the hotels and other places were all booked and he was trying to think of a place to go. He saw a strange woman and approached her – I...I couldn't do anything..."

"She mentioned a Dragon," Banner added.

Crow leapt back so far his back hit the wall. "What the hell!"

Banner smiled and waved. "Hello."

"What Dragon?" Yusei asked.

"I couldn't quite hear her, poor Pharaoh didn't want to get any closer until the light surrounded Jaden." He looked to the Duel Monster. "Did you?"

She crossed her arms and turned her head. "I can't pronounce it..."

"Oh dear..." He rubbed his chin again. "And poor Jaden can't seem to remember anything..."

"How can you be so casual about their appearance, Yusei!" Jack bellowed.

Yusei looked between the spirits and Jack. "Well..."

"We've met before," Yubel answered for him and scowled at the former King. "And if you wake Jaden I'll make you regret it!"

"Hmph!" Jack stormed out of the room and Crow chuckled.

"I'll go make sure His Grumpiness calms down before he thinks about coming back to challenge her." He grinned and followed the former King.

Yusei watched him leave and his gaze fell back to the Slifer. Their timelines were decades apart, and the Crimson Dragon was the only being he knew of that could travel through time; how was Jaden with them? "You'll watch over him tonight?"

Yubel almost felt insulted. "Of course."

The Duel King nodded and pulled the thin sheet over Jaden; he made his way to the door, looked back once and closed it behind him.