When I said that I couldn't guarantee the regularity of posts, I didn't think that one month (or more?) would pass by. Sorry? (Don't worry though, I don't plan on abandoning the story. Already much is written. But it might take a while.)

I don't own Yu-Gi-Oh!.

Oh, and Happy New Year.


Some turns after, Judai had Neos on the field with some spell and traps hidden cards, and Johan, 2 monsters in spell/trap zones and Emerald Turtle with Amethyst Cat in defense. It was now Johan's turn, and Judai was sure that this turn he would finally do what he needed him to do.

"My turn! I summon Sapphire Pegasus. Thanks to his effect, I can set a Gem Beast from my deck in my spell/trap zone. Ruby Carbuncle! Then I activate the magic card Crystal Beacon, and I can set Topaz Tiger to my last spell zone. Now, all the seven Gem Beasts are reunited, and I can special summon Rainbow Dragon! Come!"

The powerful beast appeared on his side of the field, roaring. Judai looked at it and grinned.

"Finally. Magic card! Flute of summoning Kuriboh!"

The monster appeared on the field with a determined expression in his eyes. Johan ignored the appearance of Hane Kuriboh and shouted.

"Rainbow Dragon, attack!".

Judai activated another card.

"Transcendent Wings, activate."

Hane Kuriboh growled and reflected the rainbow attack.

"Kuriboh, Yubel, now!"

Their plan was simple. First, Judai had to wait for the Rainbow Dragon, as the last one was the strongest of all the Gem Beasts and had a strong connection with Johan. Then, when his power would be activated, Judai, with the help of Yubel (who said that she could at least try to do it) would get to communicate with the Rainbow Dragon and try to convince him to help Johan. Theoretically, Rainbow Dragon, being one of the most powerful creatures shouldn't be so easy to control as others were, and so Judai hoped that he would agree to help. Now everything relied on him.

The two bright lights of pure power, one from the Rainbow Dragon and the other from Hane Kuriboh. The white blinded everything around. Johan made a step back, shielding his eyes with his arm, but Judai stood at the same place looking straight in the light with now two different eyes waiting. Finally, he saw what he wanted to see - an oh so familiar shape of the Rainbow Dragon with, beside him all seven Gem Beasts reunited.

"Judai, what do you want?"

He heard the soft voice of the Amethyst Cat saying. The others just stared at him, waiting for an answer.

"I have to free Johan from the force that's controlling him, and I need your help for that." No point in going around the bush.

"Something is controlling him? Are you sure?" The cat didn't seem very convinced by Judai's words. Yubel suddenly appeared beside Judai.

"Yes, we are sure. It tried to take Judai also. We don't know what it is exactly, but it is strong and very manipulative. Since you all are connected to Johan, we want you to try to reach to him by your link." Judai smiled at Yubel, happy that he wouldn't have to explain anything.

"Why should we believe you?"This time it was the Rainbow Dragon who spoke.

"I want to help Johan."

"Then we will do what you want."

"But, Amethyst Cat interrupted him, she said that he-"

"She could have been lying. We will make sure that everything is alright."

The cat hasn't found anything to respond. Judai was curious who was the 'she' they talked about, but decided that he could ask the question later. On this, the short conversation was over. The white light faded, showing the roof and Johan on the other side. Thanks to the effect of Winged Kuriboh level 10, the Rainbow Dragon was destroyed, and his life points were at zero. Judai stayed where he was, waiting for a change in the stance of Johan. If the Rainbow Dragon kept his word, he was trying to free Johan from the force controlling him.

Some minutes passed, neither of the two boys moving. Then, suddenly Johan lost his balance and lowered to the ground. Judai, worried approached to him, but kept a big enough distance between them. Johan finally shook his head and lifted his eyes to come directly eye to eye with Judai. The last one didn't dare to say anything, he was waiting for a sign that Johan came back to being normal, or if he was still under control. He had to admit, he was afraid of the second option.

"Judai." This word hasn't clarified enough the situation. At least Judai now knew that Johan was sane enough to speak, but the uncertainty was starting to get on him.

"Wha… Why have I done that?" Now Johan looked very, very confused. Judai couldn't take it anymore.

"Johan, say something with more sense, please."

"Don't have anything like that in my head now." Johan smiled a little, but it quickly disappeared.

"Judai, I'm sorry. I don't know why I was doing it."

Well, thank Gods, Johan was apparently okay. At least he for once said something nice to Judai.

"Johan, you are okay now, right?"

"Yeah, you can say that. My head hurts, but not much."

"Let's get you to the infirmary, just to be sure. And while we're getting there, you tell me everything you know."

On this, Judai got to Johan and lifted him with one hand. They walked slowly, Judai supporting his friend.

"There's not much to tell. One day, it was like a realisation that hit me. Everything that I said before seemed to me perfectly logic and true. Every action was justified. Like you deserved everything. I don't even know what happened now, but I'm happy that this illusion disappeared. I guess I was really a bitch this month?"

Judai snickered. "Pretty much yes. So, you don't know what had gotten in your head. That's not helping the situation."

"Sorry," he sheepishly smiled, "Hey, and what about you and the others? How did I even snap out of it?"

"Now we are sure that everyone here is affected by this. This force, whatever caused it, tried to take over me, but Yubel stopped it. It was only yesterday. Because of that, we thought that you were maybe also under control, and not just an idiot. But now, I'm not sure that it was the same thing affecting us. Yubel said I was acting a little, let's say mad, but I don't remember anything. And you say that you remember everything, and you remained the same person for the most part."

Judai thought for two seconds, but then shook his head and looked at Johan. The teal haired teen suddenly stopped, tugging at Judai.

"What?"

"You just said that we are sure that everyone is affected by this, and looking at the way everyone acted, I can just agree. So, then, why are we heading to the infirmary? The teachers are also under influence of this, so it's not the safest place."

Judai sighed, this was starting to get annoying. How would they liberate the others?

"Then let's go to my dorm. Usually, no one gets there."

Johan nodded.

"And the third question?" he added.

"Which one?"

"How did you snap me out of it?"

"Ah. It wasn't actually me. When I challenged you to that duel, I did it to talk with the Rainbow Dragon. He has agreed to check out if anything was wrong, and there we are. We'll have to ask them what they saw."

Johan looked lovingly at his deck, attached to the belt, and mouthed 'thanks'. Judai smiled at this. He then frowned, remembering the words of the Amethyst Cat. 'But she said that...' Who was this she, and what did she said?

They finally reached the Osiris dorm, no one talking. Johan decided to take a shower, and left Judai in the room. The last one was looking absently minded in the window, with a very small smile on his lips. When Johan finished and exited the bathroom, he found Judai asleep on the bed. He lingered his stare on him. With the brown hair sticking out everywhere and the red jacket opened, Judai looked like he was so tired that he fell asleep the moment Johan exited the room. 'He must have been really worn out.' though Johan.

Suddenly, his eyes caught some movement on the other side of the room. He instantly turned around, ready to face everyone from simple animals to ancient born demons to protect Judai. Fortunately, it was only Yubel. She looked at Johan with a strange penetrating glare.

"You know, he was really affected by your departure. Much more than what he lets on it."

Johan looked away, unable to bear the gaze. He suspected it, but the confirmation of it increased the guilt. Judai got into his field of vision.

"He said that he was a little mad. What really happened?"

"I won't tell you. Judai will if he wants to. You too didn't say everything."

Even if it wasn't a question, Johan nodded.

"Yeah. I remember that causing pain to Judai... I liked it. I loved that feeling. It felt so free."

The last sentence was said barely above a whisper. Johan closed his eyes and clenched his fists. He did despised himself for that. He caused so much pain to Judai that the so strong duellist was almost got by some unknown force, and he was enjoying it, enjoying so much. Almost enough to wish for it to repeat, again and again.

"Don't you dare to hurt him ever again, understood?"

Johan nodded. He already had way too much. Yubel was about to bring the topic of Judai hiding himself behind Johan's mirror, but decided against it. Why would Johan know anything about it? And why did she even bother? She sighed and disappeared, leaving the sleeping Judai and Johan deep in thoughts alone.

Johan sighed another time. He himself had a thousand of questions roaming in his head, but they would have to wait. He felt the presence of Yubel fading away. He knew she wanted to say something else, but was grateful for her silence. He then climbed on the top bed, paying attention for not wake Judai. He fell asleep immediately, his dreams filled with nightmares about Judai and himself.

The next morning was slightly better. Johan got up first, as usual, and waked Judai. Then, they reunited in the main room.

"So, what are we going to do now?" Johan started.

"First, we have to collect as much information about the enemy as possible. And for that we will need your Gem Beasts." Judai was acting somewhere in the middle between cheerful and serious. Johan nodded and reached in his pocket for his deck. Several seconds later, the height Gem Beasts stood in front of the two duellists. The Rainbow Dragon looked approvingly at Judai. The later looked at Amethyst Cat. She was sitting further the other beasts, and was looking more on the floor than her master or Judai. Johan was saying regularities such as 'hi' and 'thanks' to his family, as he called them.

"Can you please tell us what really happened?" Johan finally reached the important point of the conversation.

"We do not know much. What we have done yesterday was more thanks to luck than any conscious doings. We have found some sort of influence on you, but we could not identify it. Then, was it our presence or something other that caused it, it disappeared."

The words of the Rainbow Dragon haven't clarified much of it.

"Was the force behind it looking like a fog?" asked Judai in order to understand if Johan and himself were attacked by the same thing. At this moment, the shape of Yubel started to appear beside him. She was also interested in it.

"No. The force was too subtle and weak for it to take a real form. It is very gentle and cautious. Enough to fool us until you said that something might be controlling Johan."

"How come you haven't though the same thing? With all the crazy things I was doing, it was pretty evident."

Johan added. The Rainbow Dragon was about to say something, but Amethyst Cat interrupted him.

"There was someone that we saw. She said something to us which made us think kind of the same way as you. I guess, Rainbow Dragon was the less affected, but everyone else were convinced that everything was as it should be."

"Is it what you talked about during the duel?" Judai asked, since he was anyway about to bring this topic up.

"Yes." Amethyst Cat confirmed.

"Can you tell what this person said? Or at least say who was it?"

"No. In fact, no one of us remembers exactly what she said. We can't even remember what she looked like. Like a human, for sure, but no other details. Sorry."

"There's something else we can add. The magic used by this being is no very powerful itself, and should have been easy to discover. However, I sensed something else in it. It cannot be identified, and it changed the structure and nature of the source and the magic itself. Whatever it is, it is the reason why no one had saw the influence."

Something that could change the nature of magic, it was serious. Similar thoughts were running through Judai's and Johan's heads. How would they fight it?

"Thanks, Amethyst, Rainbow Dragon, everyone."

They all said some encouraging words to Johan and Judai, and then disappeared.

"Now, we'll have to find a young blond girl whose magic had changed the nature. Easy!"

Johan tried to be optimistic despite the lack of information.

"Absolutely. First, we can already eliminate nearly the entire school. There are not much people who can do magic there, much less with magic that can control people"

"It could have been a spirit, that's what you are thinking."

"Yes. and that doesn't help us because his master can be anyone."

"Do you know what cards can control the opponent's monster? The monster that we are searching have probably an effect like this."

"There are thousands of different effects, and we don't even know what type of card we need"

"Doesn't the Duel Academia contain all the information on the cards and decks that are used there?" Johan continued.

"It does, but I'm not sure that we'll be able to access it, since basically all the school is against us. And the archive is huge, we should know what card we are searching for before going there."

They both sighed. It was going to be difficult to find the spirit or the person who did it.

"Well, saving the humanity and the spirits is good, but we should find something to eat."

Johan suggested thinking that Judai probably didn't had many chances to enjoy even simple things like food past months. Because of you. His conscience added. He frowned trying to ignore it, but the weight was already in his mind.

Judai smiled faintly, guessing without difficulty what was Johan thinking. The first part at least.

"No, not now. It will be safer to wait at least two hours so that no students will be left."

Judai said it so surely. It wasn't just a guess, he knew already the habitudes of students. He learned all ways of avoiding any encounter with other people. Before Johan could say something, Judai added.

"We probably shouldn't go to school for now too. We can't really tell what will be the reaction of others if they found out that you're not with them anymore. And they will be only happy to not see me anywhere close to them." The last sentence was bitter. Johan nodded immediately. Skipping school, even for not so good reasons was something they both could totally appreciate. Until the weight of the problems behind this reminded itself.

A slightly uncomfortable silence installed in the piece. Judai was thinking hard about their situation. There wasn't much they could do while they had no idea who their enemy was. He leaned down on his back, somewhat desperate to find a solution. Now that Johan was close, and he wasn't always restrained by the melancholia, he was ready to stand up and fight whoever and whatever was in front of him. But all they had was multicolored fog and a mention of a short haired girl. Not helping much.

He put his hand on his pocket where his deck was. He could sense immediately the energy of Duel Monsters. They all, relieved with the return of Johan, were ready to fight for him and his friends.

Johan in the meantime stared at his best friend. He couldn't help but notice his unusual seriousness. He was used to see Judai smiling, unable to keep at one place for more than one minute. Not looking at the ceiling with a cold stare. He did become more mature in a way after last year, and while he tried to act like nothing happened, those changes couldn't escape Johan's view. Who was, if talking honestly with himself, a little anxious and fearful of them.

Thinking about last year, more accurately about Judai back then, he shivered. Judai still refused to tell anyone about his times alone and with Haou. While the others reluctant, but still told him what happened after he disappeared, Judai's story was still a mystery. A simple reminder was enough for him to lose in a moment all his cheerfulness. Johan wondered how Judai managed then to live with not simply the reminder, but the reason itself in the same body.

"Kuri?"

The silence was broken by a soft ball of fur that flied from Judai to Johan and back several times with questioning "kuri"s. Both boys had waked from their daze and looked at Kuriboh for several seconds before the monster was tugged to the floor by Ruby. The two started their usual little fight which had completely lighten the atmosphere by causing the two boys laugh.

An hour of a good like nothing happened time with duels, laughs, and talking later, Judai decided that it was now okay to go to the cafeteria. If they were lucky, there would be no one except Miss Something, who had also changed but being someone not so close to Judai wouldn't cause many problems. If they were not, then there would be one or two students, not big trouble.

On the short walk, they haven't seen anyone. That was promising. Before, not many students, except Judai and his friends, visited the red dorm's cafeteria, but now there were often some random people, apparently only searching a "good time", not that they had a chance to get it.

Judai opened cautiously the door and peeked in the opening. They were lucky! No one was around, and the room was silent. He opened the door completely and invited Johan to enter with a smile. The last one hasn't waited and dragged Judai inside the same moment.

"Tame-san! Two usual portions, please! "

But no answer came.

"Tame-san?"

Still silence. Judai shifted uncomfortably, finding the room too quiet. Tame-san was a cheerful person, Judai or not. He would usually hear from her whenever he came there. The cat with Daitokudji's spirit wasn't around either.

Johan noticed how tense his friend was, and started also scanning the surroundings. He remembered that he came there sometimes with Sho and others past months in hopes to get Judai. Happily, they haven't ever seen him there.

There wasn't anything unusual with the cafeteria, except the eerie silence. Both boys made several tours around it, hoping to find something or even someone, but to no avail.

The few minutes of silence were suddenly broken by the voice of Tame-san that caught Judai looking under the tables and Johan behind the counter.

"Ah, Judai... What do you want this time?"

For Johan, it was the first time he would see her after months. Her voice was somewhat darker, he noticed. And much meaner. She then saw Johan who swiftly exited the supposedly prohibited for student zone.

"Ah! Johan! It's such a pleasure to see you there! What can I do for you?"

Her voice had become very different from the cold and harsh tone that she used a second ago for Judai. They could suddenly see the usual cheerful Tame-san, if not for the total ignoring of Judai she was now doing. Johan was a little dumbfounded. Sure, he knew that everyone including Tame-san were possessed, but the difference in her behaviour was still bigger than he expected.

Judai responded seeing Johan wasn't able to at this moment.

"Two portions, please." He tried to be polite as usual.

"So, Johan, what do you want?"

"Tame-san..." He tried, but stopped mid word.

"Two portions, please" Judai persisted unfazed.

"Oh, you said something Judai? Sorry, I didn't hear anything."

Judai just stared at her, showing no emotions on his face or posture.

"Anyway, we don't have any left for you."

Johan traveled his look from Tame-san to Judai. This situation was starting to be scary. Even more so with the hard look of Judai.

"Please." That was more similar to the voice of Haou than simple Judai. But, surprisingly, it worked. Two minutes later they were at the table in front of two plates. One of them was, of course, visibly less full than the other. Johan sighed and divided the portions into something more equal, feigning to not see the state of the before so kind women.

"Sorry, I could not say anything."

"Nah, it's okay. Maybe it's even better if you don't say anything, so that they won't suspect you changing camps."

"Is she... Is she always like this?"

Judai stopped and looked at his friend. The last one was frowning, truly not pleased with this situation. Judai smiled. This was more the Johan he knew, not the one that he had those months who enjoyed the little 'jokes' Tame-san usually done.

" Yeah, you could say that. But, look on the bright side." Judai whispered, "Now we now for sure that others don't know yet about you, and probably not even the thing possessing them itself, whatever it is."

How he could be so optimistic, Johan never understood. But was grateful for it anyway.

Suddenly they heard sounds of walking and voices from the outside.

"I wonder if this shrimp would be there. It bet-"

The remaining of the sentence was engulfed by the sound of the door opening. Both duelists froze in place, recognizing the voice. And that wasn't someone they were eager to see now. Not that they could do anything about it now. It was too late, the doors had opened once again, and Manjoume, as always in black, stepped into the room followed closely by Asuka, Sho and Kenzan. The group haven't seen Judai and Johan the first seconds, so the last ones could hear the remaining bits of conversation.

"Well, I haven't seen him for some weeks now. Maybe he is hiding." Asuka was strangely close to Manjoume.

"But let's talk about something else. Like, how your new classes are going?"

Sho and Kenzan followed then behind, whispering something one to another. Everything seemed like normal.

Until suddenly Manjoume remarked Judai who hadn't moved an inch despite Johan's subtle tugs. Manjoume froze.

"Look Asuka, the shrimp is there finally. "

Asuka stopped in mid sentence and looked in the same direction. Upon seeing Judai her bright eyes darkened a bit.

"Oh, Judai! You're here, really! We were searching for you everywhere, you know? Why were you hiding? It hurts me."

The words could have been taken for sincere if not the glacial cold look that Asuka had the second she saw Judai.

Johan was still unnoticed. He didn't know honestly what to do. Judai had his head down, his hair hiding any expression that he had, but with his tense position Johan could tell that he wasn't relaxed at all. They weren't ready to fall into this group in particular! Johan tugged a little stronger on Judai's coat, with no answer from him. He did get an answer though.

"Aniki?"

The high voice of Sho interrupted the not so important rant from Manjoume. Judai couldn't retain himself anymore, and looked at his previous best friend. Sho haven't changed, still the same blue hair and eyes, the same voice, the same innocence. Still the same words? Did he just call Judai Aniki? Or...

Judai turned to Johan who now was standing with a desperate look on his face. He wasn't looking surprised. And he didn't either had any reaction when Sho approached him and hugged him, completely ignoring Judai. That was enough confirmation to Judai that he knew it could happen.

"Anikii, where have you disappeared to? I was lonely without you. Manjoume always tries to get attention from everyone."

Johan, on his side, even though remembering that Sho started calling him Aniki instead of Judai several weeks ago, still couldn't find words or emotions, or strength to do anything. He just let Sho hug him while his thoughts raced in his mind. He couldn't understand how did he let the short boy do something so wrong. This surname, that had pleased him before now sounded completely out of place, plain wrong. But was there anything he could do about it? He saw within his peripheric that Judai, who before looked at him with little surprise and much, sadness? anger? now stared at the ceiling. He then got up and backed to Johan, avoiding by it the rage of Manjoume who tried to hit him.

"No, Judai, this is not a good idea!"

Yubel, until now asleep, suddenly woke up from her daze and started immediately to panic having understood what was Judai about to say.

If you have any better, you're welcome. Judai spoke in his mind with a harsh tone, but then quickly composed himself. Sorry, but don't worry. It'll be okay.

"And what if-"

She was interrupted as Judai whispered something to Johan. The teal haired boy had once more froze from shock at these words, and at the same time stopped trying to push Sho off him. When he recovered, it was too late to reply - Judai was already several steps behind. Johan could only look questioningly and worriedly at him, but caught just a glimpse of his friend's eyes before he turned his head.

"Aniki? Is everything okay? What were you doing here anyway?"

Judai flinched at the surname used, but didn't stop his walk around the tables. Johan turned his attention back to Sho at these words. And, hugged him back, as he was always doing those past months.

"Nothing to worry about, Sho. I was just visiting my old friend." Johan swallowed hard. "But I forgot that he... wasn't worth it."

That was probably the biggest and the hardest to make lie that he ever done in his life. But he had to sound believable, and for that he had to remember what he was like several days ago, when the mysterious influence had him prisoner of strange to say at least, thoughts.

Judging on the look on Sho's face, he could tell that he hasn't succeeded. He had to be meaner than that to make them believe that he wasn't with them anymore. He could sense Judai's stare on his back, somewhat pleading to just finish this fast. Play on their side. The voice of Judai echoed in his mind. And so, he did.

Remembering the feelings and thoughts he had several days ago was much easier than he thought it would be. He easily reached those memories and reluctantly brought them on the surface, starting to play this fearful role of rejecting his best friend. The more seconds passed, the more he was entranced in this role, making it seem like himself. He soon felt a dark grin stretching on his face, losing the last bits of control. This was a perfect chance. Judai was right there, and wouldn't go anywhere. He was at their mercy.

"Aniki! That was good!"

Disoriented, Johan looked around. All of the, his, group were saying some words of approval. Had he said the last sentences out loud? Well, it didn't matter now. He waved with his hand giving the signal to get Judai. He was the boss there. And it felt great to see Judai backing until hitting the cold hard wood of the wall. To see in his eyes the fear consuming him. To feel his anger and despair getting the best of him, and commanding the others to make suffer. Suffer until he would lose... Lose his mind...

Judai couldn't find a way out of the cafeteria. The only door that leaded outside was blocked now by four angry duelists, stepping in front of Johan. The back door was closed by Tame-San who hided herself the moment Manjoume entered.

Judai looked at Johan. The last one was clearly enjoying his despair, and now was staring back defiantly.

"Yubel," he whispered silently, "now. Let's just get past them."

Yubel, tired of waiting unable to do anything, gladly took this chance to appear completely. Manjoume upon seeing her in full anger, and oh she was angry right now, stumbled and started to go back. Johan frowned, but his power wasn't altered.

Not until Yubel turned to face him and stared right at him, or, as Johan sensed it, right through him. Johan shuddered, petrified by those bright eyes. He couldn't move anymore. He felt his power faltering, the hold of the pleasure fading. Nothing more mattered anymore, only those orange and green eyes.

Or nearly nothing? There was still something that mattered. Judai. He had to, he had to make Judai pay. No. He had to pay to him. Not exactly. They both have to pay?

Judai chose this moment of confusion of Johan to flee past Manjoume, get a hold of Johan's hand and drag him forcefully outside, followed closely by Yubel who made sure that Manjoume, and by extension the others would be too afraid to follow them. She would have gladly killed them after all these incidents, but Judai's disapproval was stopping it. But nothing could stop her now to get rid of her anger and make them pay a little. A little fear wouldn't hurt them.

The small group retreated into Judai's dorm. Only after entering it and closing the door Judai had let himself catch his breath and lay down Johan, who wasn't the lightest person he knew. This short run combined with the energy spent by Yubel had left him without any strength. He shakily went to his bed and fell onto it, nearly passing out the second he touched it.

But he had another thing to do before he could pass out. Johan was sitting at the floor at the exact same place where Judai left him. His opened, he watched as Judai sorted on the bed. The last one eyed him cautiously, having a sudden flashback of Sho hugging him, and of his look as Judai was surrounded by his previous friends.

"Are you okay? Sorry, I had to drag you so suddenly."

Johan started laughing. The short, soundless laughs quickly transformed into an hysteria. Of course, of course it was for him to pay! After all he'd done before, and what he did just now? And Judai says sorry yet!? Nothing made sense anymore. He couldn't control his thoughts. Hell, he let himself be absorbed by the remaining of those sick feelings! He wasn't okay in the slightest!

"Yubel will kill me."

He hasn't found what else to say. He couldn't lie to Judai, not anymore, but he couldn't worry him more than he had already.

"Oh, he knows what comes next! Well, that's good for him."

Yubel materialized before Judai could even process what Johan had said. She was definitely extremely angry. She took some threatening steps toward the helpless boy on the ground, but was stopped by Judai before she could do anything.

"Yubel, what are you doing?"

He asked innocently.

"He promised me that he wouldn't hurt you anymore!"

"Well he didn't, did he?"

At those words Johan looked abruptly at the brown-haired boy. Had he not understood what happened before? Or... The look on his face was saying that he perfectly understood. If he wouldn't have, he wouldn't have dragged him there not once letting him run on his two.

Yubel understood this also, but couldn't refuse to the pleading look of Judai. She sighed, looked one last time at Johan, as if saying, I will get you, and disappeared, retreating back to Judai's soul.

"Well, it could be worse."

Finally said Judai after several minutes of silence with them both staring at the spot where Yubel disappeared.

"Are you sure? As for me, I think it could have been much better."

Johan got up and went to sit beside Judai.

"We're still alive. And they still don't know about you."

Johan couldn't take it anymore. This empty smile, those words were the worse.

"Judai, I, I... I tried to hurt you! I freaking send your friends on you! I broke the promise to Yubel! Because of me, all these months, you were-"

Johan was already shouting on his legs, angry at himself, angry at the force that possessed him and the others, angry at Judai for taking this so calmly.

"You were nearly dead maybe! And I couldn't even know it, I couldn't even feel anything for you! All those times that we searched you in the school. All those time that Sho called me Aniki, instead of you. It's, it's just sick!"

Johan's tirade was cut short when hot hands circled around him. He was suddenly very aware that, even though he had stood up some seconds ago, he was still very close to Judai who was now hugging him by the waist.

"Don't say that. It's not your fault. It all doesn't matter. We're here now, and none of us is mad yet. Everything will come in order. It has to."

The last bits came out in a voice so low, Johan had nearly missed them. He took Judai in his arms by reflex, trying not to drown in these feelings of despair and hope mixed together. It wasn't easy.

Yubel watched silently as the two teens whispered franticly words of encouragement one to another, not letting go of the other. It was even beautiful in some sort, despite being so, so much ironic. Once a stranger, once a rival, once a princess in distress, once a saviour, once an enemy had now become the closest person to her Judai. There wasn't anything she could do, was there? Judai behind his mirror instead of hers, his words, not enough, his desperation to protect him and not her and his need in protection from him and not her. It all leaded to this moment, when the two would reunite and she would be pushed on the second plan. She was jealous. It wasn't fair.

But since this is what will make Judai happy...