Here we go with chapter two. This chapter also has a bit of explaining about Jim's past (instead of Jaden's), but there was a three year time skip between the start of the story and the event that made the plot of this story possible. That's why all this information was needed.

The next chapter will probably be more plot than background information, seeing how I've pretty much explained everything to catch you guys up at this point. There's of course some more Jim x Jaden scenes in this chapter (you're welcome fan girls/boys). Soon too we'll be meeting some familiar faces and making our way through this crazy world.

Anyway, I hope you enjoy and feel free to leave a review below.

Chapter Two: Somewhere

Jim was awoken by the sound of Shirley's gentle growling. He blinked a little, seeing enough sunlight coming in through the cracks between the rocks to allow light into the cave. It wasn't a lot, but his eyes were already adjusted well to the light. He knew he'd have to start moving soon. It'd taken him three years to get to this point. He was nearly home, and he really did want to get home as quickly as he could. He wouldn't be happy until he found out what had happened to all of his friends. He had to try his best to make it up to them if he could.

His attention was soon brought down to the tiny creature curled up against his chest. Jim couldn't help but feel a light blush creeping up onto his face as he noticed that Jaden had turned at some point in his sleep, putting his injured arm against his chest. The boy had yet to stir, but he did seem to be sleeping soundly and was obviously faring a lot better than he had been. Jim knew that he'd have to leave soon, but he was conflicted suddenly as he looked down at that adorable face.

Where was Jaden from? Even if he was blaming himself for something...with a wound like that he didn't doubt that his friends thought he was dead. He knew how much that hurt, and he knew that the boy needed to go home as much as he did. And hurt like that, he wasn't going to get far? Jim wasn't the kind of person anymore to ignore someone who needed help, not when he knew that they weren't going to hurt him. If he had to completely turn around to help Jaden get home he would.

For a while, Jim couldn't bring himself to move, afraid of waking Jaden. The poor boy needed all the rest he could get, and Jim didn't doubt that he hadn't been resting well at all with that painful wound. Shirley gave him a reassuring growl though, and Jim smiled a little to himself.

He wondered what his friends would think of the new him. Even then Jim had been wary of people, all because of a strange power he had, which he kept hidden carefully behind the bandages on his face. He'd made a few friends, and they had been very good ones. However he'd kept his power a secret because he'd only ever been hated for it, which is how he had ended up here in the first place. It was his own fault really, but it had still hurt.

In order to protect his friends against the spirit who had gone on a rampage, he'd been forced to reveal his eye. They of course hadn't understood and hadn't known what to make of it. They'd been scared and acted accordingly, acting angrily and accusing him of betraying him. This had hurt him badly, and they'd all said things they never meant. Jim had once again run away from his problems, leaving for the countryside without looking back. That had been about three months before all of this madness had started.

He'd been angry at first, unwilling to accept. He felt betrayed by the friends he had dared to make. But he'd quickly become lonely, and Jim realized for the first time that he was terrified of being alone. Maybe it was this that had driven him to save Shirley, to tame her and call her his friend. But she was the one who had probably saved him. Shirley didn't have the ability to speak, but she was highly intelligent. She'd protected him several times, because he was terrified to reveal his eye powers to others and face the same rejection as always.

More than that though, she had always been there for him. She had a personality all her own, and it made Jim realize over time how much he really did miss his friends. He couldn't help but agonize over the thought of what could have happened, that they could have parted terribly and never be able to make it up to each other. He couldn't stand the thought of never seeing them again. Shirley had not questioned his powers when she had seen it, not really. And he realized that if creature like her could understand, that his friends, who he knew inside and out, would have understood as well given enough time.

But after three years he wasn't sure if any of them had survived, and he knew that any of them who had survived would have given up all hope of ever seeing him again. Especially because they knew he wouldn't use his powers, not even to save his own life, if he felt there was no need to. They probably expected that he was dead somewhere, that they would never see him again. He knew that crushing reality all too well, and it had driven his will to live. That's also why he understood Jaden's pain, and why he wanted to help him no matter what.

Shirley again gave him a reassuring sort of growl, and Jim smiled to her. Slowly he sat up and laid Jaden back down, wrapping the blanket tighter around his injured arm to keep it as warm as he could. The boy stirred a little but didn't wake up. Shirley curled her long body around Jaden again and the boy seemed to get comfortable again and continued to sleep. Seeing he was all right for now, and knowing that being next to Shirley's jaws was the safest place for the boy, he stood and turned his attention instead of preparing to journey out again.

He quickly packed up his backpack, knowing that they'd have to stop somewhere soon and get some more supplies. This wasn't going to last two people very long, and he didn't really want to give anything to Jaden. He didn't want to push the boy much more, and he was honestly surprised he hadn't already been pushed past his breaking point by that wound. Jim expertly packed away the supplies except for the blanket that Jaden was still tucked into, and then he turned instead to the cave mouth itself.

He paused and knelt down beside it, listening carefully for any sounds from outside. He was still and hardly seemed to breathe as he waited for any signs that it was too dangerous to leave. Jim couldn't even hear the slightest rustlings of an animal passing by, but he didn't want to chance it. When nothing happened for a good ten minutes, then he deemed it good enough and began to carefully move the rocks away from the entrance again.

He moved each one carefully and quietly so that they wouldn't attract any undo attention. Slowly he cleared the entrance again and peered out, blinking in the sunlight. The morning air was already crisp, and the wind was whispering of the bitter winter that was beginning to creep up on them. Once his eyes adjusted to the light he chanced to step out just a little to cast the area a careful peek.

Shirley was silent, but he could feel she was watching him carefully, ready to leap forward to protect the two boys she had decided to protect. This was probably one of the most dangerous things Jim could have done at this point, not sure if there were members of the Army of Light around or not. However, with Jaden injured like he was, he'd rather not take the chance. They would need to move pretty quickly or they would be found. Jim didn't doubt that it would be no trouble for a member of that army to murder a human, a crocodile, and an injured (though unknown) creature.

Jim was silent as he looked around, though with his other eye bandaged he had to turn his head pretty far just to get a good look around. He was used to it by now, and hardly even thought about it. His hearing was better on that side as well since he hardly ever unbandaged or opened that eye. He didn't want to take any chances.

It was about mid-morning, and the sun was already blazing brightly. The sky was a crisp blue and there were no clouds to block the sky from view, making the sunlight even harsher. Slowly his eyes adjusted to the light as he silently cast the area a critical glance. After a good amount of time though he saw nothing. Slowly he retreated back into the cave, reaching over and gently nudging Jaden's uninjured shoulder to rouse the boy.

It didn't take much. Jaden let out a quiet groan of pain against the slight pressure on his injured arm, and his eyes opened. He blinked a little in the morning sunlight, trying to get his eyes to adjust to the light outside of the cave. Jim gave him a patient smile as the boy sat up, and Jim took the blanket and folded it up, stashing it away in his bag again. Shirley slipped just outside to have a look for herself. Jim knew her eyes were better than his, and if she was unsure of anything she would not be letting either of them leave that cave. She was rather a lot like an over protective mother.

Jaden looked up at Jim again, not quite sure he believed what was going on. It seemed all too strange to be true. Jim however just gave him that same gentle and encouraging smile as he had before. Jim sat down beside Jaden and looked over at him. Jaden quickly looked away, wincing a little against the pain in his arm. He laid his hand on it instinctively, and Jim didn't miss it.

"Is it hurting you badly?" Jim asked. Jaden blushed a little.

"N-No," he replied. "It's not bad." Jim frowned a little.

"We're going to have to go soon," he said. "Are you going to be okay? I can't carry this bag and you."

"I-I'll be fine," Jaden protested. "R-Really I will be. I don't want to trouble you anymore-"

"You're not any trouble," Jim replied before he thought about it.

Jaden turned his head away quietly. Jim wasn't sure what he was going to do with him. It was like he was terrified of going near people at all. He supposed though that there was probably a good reason for that, and he certainly didn't want to push the boy for any information right now. He reached over instead and laid a hand on the boy's uninjured shoulder, making Jaden look at him again with those wide and adorable eyes.

"You're coming with me," Jim said in a voice Jaden had heard Jesse use before, one that left no room for argument. "I'm not leaving a defenseless kid like you to wander around out here. That's way too dangerous."

Jaden just stared at Jim for a long moment, but it was obvious that he was completely serious about this. Jaden was suddenly forcibly reminded of Yubel and Jesse. He missed them terribly, and after that last attack by Siria, he wasn't sure if they were alive or dead. He sadly looked down as he thought of them, and the memory broke his resistance.

"All right," he said quietly. Jim watched him silently a moment.

"Do you want to go home?" Jim asked quietly, much to Jaden's surprise.

"Yes," Jaden replied. Jim again was silent for a moment.

"Listen," he said. "I want to get home, but I want to help you out too. Besides, you're way too hurt to make it on your own. If you want to go home, I'll take you back, even if it means that I have to turn completely around to do it. I'm serious."

"But I thought you wanted to go home," Jaden gasped. Jim smiled.

"I do," he replied. "But I can see you have the same pain that I do, the same loneliness. I'm not the kind of person to just ignore someone in need, not anymore. Maybe I do want to get home, but what kind of man would I be if I just continued to run and ignore others?"

Jaden blinked as he looked at Jim. What strong beliefs he had! Jaden couldn't help but be a little impressed by it. Jim certainly was a good person, but he supposed that someone who would have risked their life to save a crocodile like Shirley would have to be. Jaden smiled sadly. He really was touched by the offer, but he could never accept it. He could never hurt anyone else more because of his selfishness, especially not a person like Jim.

"Thanks for the offer," Jaden said quietly. "But I can't go back home. I'd have to go right through the Army of Light to get there. I don't come from around here...I'd never make it even if I did have all of my powers."

"I see," Jim said sadly. How horrible it must have been for the boy to say that. He understood why it was not an option, but he didn't want to leave the boy alone. He knew the pain of that all too well. "Well in that case you don't have a choice. You'll be coming to my home with me Jaden. At least then you'll get a chance to rest up so you CAN return one day, even if I have to walk through the Army of Light with you."

Jaden's eyes widened again with those words. Jim was completely serious, and there wasn't any fear on his face as he smiled at the Child of the Gentle Darkness. Jaden hadn't met a person like him in a long time. Most people were so distrustful and spiteful that they attacked on sight and spared no mercy. The world had become a cruel place. But Jim knew who he could trust and so he wasn't afraid to offer such things to him. He certainly was a good person.

Tears started rolling down Jaden's face before he could stop them. Jim jumped a little when he saw the tears, unsure what to do. He couldn't stand to see the tears rolling down such a beautiful face, but he understood too why the boy was crying. Jim reached over and pulled the boy into an embrace against his chest. Jaden just (for the second time that day) buried his face into the human's chest, and this time he cried a little quietly.

"Thank you," he said quietly when the tears subsided.

"Come on mate," Jim said with a small smile. "We need to go now, and hope we don't run into anyone."

Jaden nodded quietly as Jim stood and held out his hand to him. Jaden took it and let the boy pull him to his feet, though he did shudder a little against the pain. Jaden frowned as he looked around the cave. He didn't want to just follow Jim around and expect him to do everything for him. He wanted to help. He turned to the boy.

"Do you need me to carry anything?" he asked quietly. Jim just smiled and reached over, ruffling the boy's hair.

"I've got it mate," he replied. "Besides, I wouldn't want you to hurt your arm anymore. Thanks though."

"I don't want to be a burden," Jaden said. "I want to help."

Jim paused, his hand still on the creature's head. Again he could see those sad orbs staring at the ground. Jim smiled a little sadly at him. He hardly knew anything about him, yet he was driven to help him. Maybe it was because, when he saw those eyes, he saw himself in him. Jaden was a long way from home with no way of getting back, and he just seemed so lost. Jim got the feeling that Jaden was as lonely as he was, actually probably more. Jim had Shirley for company, but Jaden hadn't had anyone for three years.

Jim knew that loneliness. He knew that pain and fear. He knew what Jaden was going through probably a lot more than he realized. But there was another reason he couldn't leave the boy. Jaden just seemed far too innocent. Even living in this world gone crazy, he could still be easily hurt. Jim didn't think he could stand to just walk away from someone like that. And the boy was still plagued with guilt. Jim was more determined than ever to help him.

"Listen," he said. "You've helped me a lot more than you realize. I've been alone for a long time, even though I have had Shirley with me. It's great to finally have someone to talk with when I know they're not going to tear me apart. So if you just keep doing that, you'll be a lot of help. Once your arm's healed up more mate, then we'll worry about letting you carry more things. For now we just can't push it though. That okay with you?"

"Yeah," Jaden said, giving him a small smile in return.

Jim could tell that Jaden probably didn't understand what he meant by that, but he understood that Jim really did believe he was helping him. Besides, the promise that he could help when he was better had seemed to cheer him up a little. Jim ruffled the boy's hair again with his hand, smiling at him wider. He knew that it wasn't just the fact that Jaden reminded him of himself that made him want to protect him. It was also because he WAS so innocent. Even after everything that had happened, after the fear he'd been forced to learn, Jaden could still trust.

He had no reason to believe Jim when he said he wanted to help him. He had no idea of knowing if his word was true or not. Yet he'd accepted Jim's words with a smile and agreed to follow him. That kind of person was extremely rare in the world, the kind that could just smile and make everyone else smile. Yes, sometimes sadness would touch his face, but right now Jaden's smile was genuine. Jim had almost forgotten how comforting that could be, just to see someone who could still smile and be happy in a world gone to hell. Jim knew that he had to protect that smile.

Jim stepped away from Jaden, letting his hand fall away from the boy's head. Jaden watched him walk away, reaching up for an instant and laying his own hand where Jim's had been. He could hardly remember the last time someone had done that. It had been Jesse, who had smiled and laughed, ruffling his hair and telling him that he had been doing a good job. It was comforting, to remember that touch, to remember the good times instead of the bad. When he was with Jim, he didn't feel so sad. He could remember what it was like to smile.

Jaden smiled a little to himself as his hand fell down to his side again. He looked up at Jim, who was now standing by Shirley at the door and casting the area one final glance to make sure that there were no enemies in sight. Jim turned to look back at Jaden, pausing when he saw that smile again. He smiled back and motioned him forward. Carefully Jaden stepped forward until he was level with Jim and Shirley. At last the crocodile seemed to growl and be satisfied. At the sound, Jim knelt down, and Shirley went behind Jaden's legs over to Jim. She crawled up onto his back, over the backpack, and held on with her strong claws. Jaden blinked as Jim stood, slipping some straps over Shirley so she could have the option to relax a little as well. Jaden had never seen such an odd sight.

Jim looked up and noticed Jaden's peculiar expression, and he gave him another smile. Shirley turned just a little and poked her nose over to Jaden as far as it would go, prompting the boy to reach out and pat her nose, blinking a little in surprise. She gave the boy a gentle growl as she settled down on Jim's back once again.

"This probably looks ridiculous," Jim laughed. "but it's easier on Shirley when I have to walk a long time. Don't worry, I'm used to it. She's not that heavy."

Jaden just continued to pat Shirley's nose, and she made a contented noise at him while he did so. He supposed that it did make sense. They were obviously very good friends, and unlike most humans, spirits like Jaden understood that animals had souls and were very intelligent. Though most humans would have said that a friendship between the boy and the crocodile should have been impossible, Jaden knew that true friends drew each other, and weren't restricted by such petty things as race or species.

"You ready Jaden?" Jim asked. "We'll probably have to be walking for a long time."

"I'm ready," Jaden replied with a smile.

Jim nodded and stepped out into the daylight, glancing over his shoulder to make sure that Jaden was following. When he was sure he was, the smile fell from his face. He had a lot of things to worry about right now, and he couldn't let himself get distracted. Not only did he have to worry about himself and Shirley now, but also Jaden. There was a lot more riding on his shoulders than just the weight of the backpack and crocodile on his back. Jim carefully picked out a path through the tall grass with Jaden close behind.

This was probably going to be one of the hardest things he'd done. He'd felt much the same way when he had realized he was responsible for Shirley's safety. Now he was responsible for Jaden's as well, and he didn't want to betray the trust the boy was showing to him. He got the feeling the poor boy had been hurt far enough, even beyond the wound on his arm.

So that was chapter two. Mostly again, just back story explanation. It was needed though, since Jim and Jaden are pretty much the main characters in this story. I needed to explain what happened to Jaden, and what had happened to Jim to make all of this make more sense to all of you.

Either way, I hope you enjoyed. Feel free to leave a review below if you'd like.