A/N: New chapter! Enjoy! We don't own Yugioh GX.

WARNING: some strong language.

When Friday rolled around, Johan showed up at Judai's house around 6. He was dressed in a light blue and yellow flannel shirt, unbuttoned, with a white shirt underneath and a pair of blue jeans. When Judai opened the door to let him in, however, he noticed that the guy was also wearing a collar and leash, and Johan started panting like a dog.

Judai rolled his eyes but otherwise chose to ignore his insulted friend. Though, once they got to his room, it was his turn to be insulted. Johan insisted on picking out his outfit for him. Johan settled on a pair of black pants, a red button-down shirt, and brown shoes for his friend.

"So, pal. What do you think?" Johan asked, stepping back after Judai had gotten dressed—or, rather, after he had gotten him dressed.

Judai looked himself over in the mirror. "Yeah, this works," he said.

"Red," Yubel said. "Why am I not surprised?"

Hey, I didn't pick it this time, he reminded her.

"It's still red," she teased.

Judai thought about that for a moment before retorting with, Shut up.

"So, pal?" Johan said. "Do you want me to wear that leash I brought, or do you think I'll simply follow you?"

"I wish you'd had the leash that day in the woods, honestly! So, I guess that depends. Do you think there's any chance of us getting separated on the way there? And how badly do you want to embarrass yourself?"

"Oh, let's just go!" Johan said, storming out in annoyance.

Judai grinned and followed.

The girls were waiting outside of the school entrance, anxiously, in Kathleen's case.

"Ooh. What if he really does get lost trying to find the school after dark? I mean, we all know he gets lost a lot in the daytime! But what about at night!? What if—"

"I'm sure they're on their way," Asuka said. "I mean, it's not like they're running late or anything."

"Not yet, they aren't!" Kathleen said. "But—"

Asuka glanced behind her and saw their dates. "Oh, look. There they are."

Kathleen turned around, relieved to see them.

One look at Kathleen, and Johan nearly fainted. She was beautiful in a sleeveless, blue, knee-length dress with a pleated skirt and white slippers. She wore a necklace with a sapphire embedded in silver, and her hair was braided over her left shoulder. A silver butterfly pin with blue wings rested atop her head.

"Hey, guys!" Asuka called as the boys walked over. "Looking good."

"Hey! You, too!" Judai said.

Asuka was dressed in red. Her dress had an off the shoulder neckline and was gathered at the waist before flowing down to her mid-thighs. She had curled her hair for the occasion.

Johan still hadn't quite recovered his voice. "Uh...ah...erm..."

"Huh?" Kathleen asked. "Something wrong, hon?"

"No!" he said at last. "You look great, Kathy!"

Kathleen giggled. "Thanks. You, too!"

"Uh-huh," Asuka said, grinning, as she eyed Judai's red shirt. "Just as I thought."

Apparently she knew he'd be in red.

"Heh..." He rubbed the back of his head, grinning slightly.

"Well, anyway, you guys ready?" Asuka asked. At their nods, she said, "Then let's go."

The gym was decorated with colorful streamers and balloons. The lights were dim for the dance, and there were a lot of students there. There were also a few surprises awaiting the four of them...

"Aki!?" Kathleen exclaimed. "What are you doing here!?"

It was true. Standing there in a tight, black mini dress with a halter top was Akiko. She had a black headband in her hair, and her black, peep-toe pumps had flowers attached to the straps around her ankles.

"It's a dance," she answered. "I go to the school holding the dance. What? Can't I go to the dance?"

"But this is a couples dance! And it's public! Sorta."

"So? I've got a boyfriend." She hitched a thumb at Jim, standing behind her in a black shirt, brown pants, and his cowboy hat.

"But I thought you hated public displays of affection! So why are you two here where everyone can see!? Do you want everyone to know you're a real couple!?"

"First off, we are a real couple,"Akiko pointed out. "Second, thanks to Momoe, the whole school already knows this. And, third, we go on dates all the time, Kathy." She put her hands on her hips and continued, "What? You think just because I don't approve of trying to eat each other's faces in public, I don't approve of dating?"

Kathleen gawked at her for a few moments before asking, "Who are you...?"

Well, that was the surprise for Kathleen. Judai and Asuka had a different, less welcome surprise, however...

Momoe, Asuka's friend, had brought a brunette as her date. An older brunette. With brown eyes.

"Nii-san?" Asuka asked, gawking. "Remind me again why you're here with my best friend?"

Asuka may have been unable to take her eyes off this scene, but Judai was doing everything he could to avoid making eye contact with the older Tenjoin.

"She asked me, that's why!" Fubuki answered. "How can I say no to one of your lovely and charming friends, Asuka?"

"Oh, Bucki," Momoe said, snuggling up against him. "You say the sweetest things."

"Yeah," Asuka muttered. "When he's not hurting my boyfriend, that is."

Okay, suddenly, I don't wanna be here, Judai thought. At all. This isn't gonna end well. Not if Fubuki's here.

Fubuki was too busy flirting with Momoe to even acknowledge that Asuka had spoken. She sighed.

"Honestly," she said. "Do you always have to do that? You're making me look bad."

"Sorry, sis!" he said. "But this is a date! Why don't you focus on yours and leave us alone, hmm?"

Asuka sighed again. "I don't know you," she said, walking off.

Judai followed her away, relieved to get away from Fubuki.

"First all the girls his age, now he's targeting my friends," she complained as they walked through the crowd. "His fan club's getting out of control."

"He's got a fan club, huh?" Judai asked.

"Yeah. Almost every girl in town, why?" she said, annoyed.

Judai absorbed that fact for a minute. "Huh," he said at last. "Well, I think you can rest assured that Akiko and Kathleen aren't in it, at least."

"Yeah. They're about the only two, too. He's a real ladies man, after all," Asuka said, rolling her eyes.

"Ah. There you guys are," Johan said, walking over with Kathleen.

"Hey, did you know Aki's here with Jim?" Kathleen asked, still stunned.

"Really?" Judai asked.

"Uh-huh."

"Anyway, we were gonna go dance," Johan said. "You two coming?"

"That depends," Asuka said, looking at Judai.

"Yeah, if you want to," he said.

"Can you dance?" she asked.

"If you're asking if I can waltz, then no. I can't dance. If you're asking if I can do what those guys are doing," he said, pointing to the students on the dance floor, "then yes."

"Then okay. Let's go!"

Judai looked out on the dance floor and spotted Fubuki not far away.

"Yeah! Come on, Kathy!" Johan said, dragging his still-stunned date out onto the dance floor.

"So, Judai, coming?" Asuka asked, moving toward the dance floor—and her brother.

"Uh... Let's go to the other side, okay?" Judai suggested.

"Huh? Why?"

He didn't answer, but his gaze moved back to Fubuki. Asuka followed his gaze, seeing Fubuki out there.

"Oh, don't worry about him," she said. "All his attention is focused on Momoe tonight. He won't bother us. Promise."

After a momentary hesitation, Judai said, "Okay."

The crowd suddenly parted, revealing Manjoume in a dark blue suit and tie dancing with...was that Haruko? She wore a flowing white dress that went down to her knees. The one-shoulder dress was covered in sequins, making it shine in the light. Her hair was half-tied, held back by a white ribbon. White sandals completed her outfit, with straps wrapped around her ankles crossing down to a strap across her toes.

They were really tearing up the dance floor, dancing to a rather upbeat song. Watching this, Akiko got a bit tired of everyone watching her friend and her date like they were some sort of show.

"Is there something amusing about Haru and her date, people?" she asked.

As the song ended, Manjoume lifted Haruko up above his head. He held her there as the rest of the student body started applauding. The two dancers smiled, enjoying the attention.

"Wow," Asuka said, watching them. "It's like they were made for each other, huh?"

Judai nodded. "Yeah..."

"Way to go, you two!" Kathleen cheered. "Encore, encore!"

Akiko whacked the red-head in the back of the head.

"What?" she asked. "They were good!"

Johan laughed awkwardly, rubbing the back of his head.

"Anyway, Judai, you ready?" Asuka asked.

"Yeah."

At that moment, the DJ started up a slow song.

"On second thought...," Asuka said, not sure if he would do well at slow dancing.

Johan pulled Kathleen close and started swaying to the music.

Judai watched the others for a moment before taking Asuka's hand. "Come on," he said, leading her toward the dance floor.

"Judai? You sure?" she asked, a bit nervous.

"I'm sure," he said. "Or do you not want to?"

"You're not gonna step on my toes, are you?"

"I'll try not to," he answered, grinning a bit.

Asuka hesitated another moment before saying, "Okay."

He led her out to the dance floor, put his hands on her waist, and started dancing. She rested her hands on his shoulders.

"Wow, Judai," she said after a moment. "You're surprisingly good at this. Who taught you how to dance? Was it Yubel?"

"Don't look at me," she said as if Asuka could hear her. "I'm just as surprised as you, hon."

"Heh," Judai laughed. "No, Yubel never went that far."

"Then who—"

He shrugged. "I guess it just comes natural."

"Heh," Asuka laughed a bit, smiling.

A few yards away, Kathleen flirted, "Oh, Johan-chan, you're such a good dancer."

"Well, I can't take all the credit," he admitted. "My mom made sure I knew how to dance. You're pretty good yourself, Kathy."

"Thanks," she said, blushing.

Johan blushed, too. "Kathleen..."

The two stopped dancing and leaned in for a kiss. Manjoume glanced over at the two.

"Hey, look, Haru," he said. "Johan and Kathleen are in love."

"I knew that already," she said without looking.

"Well, now the whole school's gonna know, too. Not just our class, either, see?"

He pointed at the couple. Or, rather, past them at the upperclassmen who were watching them. Kathleen wrapped her arms around Johan's neck, deepening the kiss, and he pulled her closer, lifting her slightly off the ground.

Haruko took one look at the scene and said, "Okay, that does it! I'm taking a picture!"

She pulled a camera out. Where she had been keeping it, nobody could tell you. It just sort of appeared in her hand.

At the moment that Haruko snapped a picture of the happy couple, another couple was following their lead. Asuka got up on her toes and kissed Judai, who wrapped his arms around her in response.

"Now that on the other hand...," Manjoume said, staring.

Haruko stopped and stared at them as well, still holding her camera.

"Aw! How cute!" Momoe said, watching Judai and Asuka. "Look, Bucki!"

She pointed at the couple. Fubuki gaped, not sure how he felt about this. On the one hand, his sister was in love. On the other, her date wasn't human.

"She's...she's..."

"In love!" Momoe finished happily.

"...Kissing a monster..."

"What!?" Momoe exclaimed, suddenly concerned.

Fubuki leaned in and whispered in her ear, frantically, "He's a duel monster. Asuka admitted that much to me, and he told me he has zero attack points, can't be destroyed in battle, and is a level 10. There's got to be more to his effect that that if he's a level ten with no attack, right!?"

Momoe gasped. "Asuka!" she cried. "Stop!"

The kiss broke up. So did Johan's and Kathleen's.

"Huh?" Asuka asked, pulling back and turning to her friend.

Judai looked as well, a sense of dread overcoming him.

"It's okay. Bucki's here! He'll protect you, right!?" Momoe said. To Fubuki, she whispered, "Ever heard of the alluring powers of some monsters to lure their targets into battle? Well, I think that's his true power! Since he can't fight for himself, he just makes others fight for him by hypnotizing them! That's gotta be it, right!?"

Fubuki's eyes widened. "What!?" He turned to glare at Judai, saying, "Release my sister from your spell this instant, you fiend!"

"What!?" Judai asked, stunned at the accusation.

"Nii-san!" Asuka pleaded. "Not here! Please don't do that here!"

"Asuka! Snap out of it!" Momoe said. "We're your friends! No need to attack us!"

"What are you talking about!?" she demanded.

Everyone stopped and stared, not sure what was going on.

Fubuki went on mercilessly. "He's got you under some sort of a spell, doesn't he!? I'm warning you, if you don't release my sister right now, things are gonna get ugly!"

"I'm not doing anything to her!"

"Stop lying, you monster!"

"I'm not!"

Fubuki pounced on Judai, his hands wrapping around the younger boy's throat.

"Hey! Leave him alone already!" Johan said, charging Fubuki.

Judai was pinned to the floor underneath Fubuki, who was strangling him.

"Let her go!" Fubuki demanded.

As Judai struggled for breath, he clawed at Fubuki's hands, trying to pry them off.

"Akiko!" Kathleen worried. "Do something! I'm so not the violent type!"

Akiko pushed her way through the crowd, making her way to the scene.

"Fubuki! Let him g—" Asuka started, moving forward, but she was stopped by Momoe and Junko when they grabbed her arms, holding her back.

"It's just as we thought!" Junko said. "You were right after all, Momoe!"

"Don't worry, Asuka!" Momoe said. "We'll save you!"

"I don't need saving!" Asuka protested. "Let me go!"

"Alright, that's enough!" Akiko exclaimed, shoving Fubuki off of Judai. "Get away from him! And, you two, let her go!" She glared at Momoe and Junko. "Are you really that stupid!? Paws off, bitches!"

Crikey, Jim thought. She's even got me scared for once.

"N-never!" Junko said, holding tighter to her friend. "You're clearly under the s-spell, too! We'll n-never let you have her, you monster!" The last was directed at Judai.

"Stop it!" Asuka demanded. "Judai's not a monster, so quit calling him one!"

Fubuki scrambled out of Akiko's reach, getting to his feet as he said, "L-look, I don't care what that thing does, just so long as it leaves my sister alone!"

Akiko's fists were trembling as she fought back the urge to kill Fubuki right then and there. Judai sat up, rubbing his throat. The other students started talking.

Their words weren't reassuring.

"He is a bit different all of a sudden," one boy said.

Then the rumors started, and the majority of the assembly backed away, looking nervous.

"What if Fubuki's right?" a girl asked. "Those friends of Asuka's are facing the full force of Akiko's rage like it's nothing! It's almost like their lives mean nothing compared to the life of a friend!"

The more they talked, the more they scared themselves. Judai looked around, listening to the rumors fly—he came out of nowhere one day, what if he was a duel monster in disguise; he changed after he got into Duel Academy, maybe his disguise was wearing off; he seemed normal before, maybe this Judai was a fake.

Judai lowered his head. "...Fine, Fubuki. You win..."

"Judai!" Asuka cried.

He got to his feet, his head still low. "I can tell when I'm not wanted," he said before running out.

"Hey, come on, pal!" Johan called after him. When he didn't get a response, he turned back to the other students, glaring.

Akiko's fists were trembling even more now. "Everyone...," she said, her voice a deadly whisper. "Everyone in this room...besides those with brains..." She glared at Fubuki, Momoe, and Junko. "You three... You're lower than... You aren't deserving of... ARG!" She gave up, frustrated—she was too mad to even form a sentence.

"What Aki's trying to say is that you three will burn for this," Haruko fumed, glaring. "Be it in Hell or the flames of our rage!"

"Yeah, no kidding!" Manjoume said. "I mean, I've seen some real ** before, but you all take the cake! How could you treat him like that!? Have you all no hearts!?"

"Momoe and Junko are just gullible," Jim said, stepping forward. "Most of the rest are, too." Glaring at Fubuki, he added, "But this mangy dingo I have to wonder about."

Fubuki defended, "Hey, I was just—"

"Just proving my earlier point right!" Johan cut him off. "He wasn't even doing anything, and you still attacked him! He just wants to be treated like everyone else! Now tell me, you monster!? Is that too much to ask!?"

"You tell him!" Kathleen said. "Whether he believes it or not, that's still no way to treat someone! He just wanted to have some fun, now he may never go to a party, or on a date period, ever again! Why, I wouldn't be surprised if he didn't start avoiding everyone and keeping to himself 'cause of you all! You're all a bunch of bastards and bitches!"

Akiko gestured to Kathleen and said, "See, now you've even got Kathleen Summers in a hissy. That never happens, so you can all expect nasty little surprises in your lockers or desks from me! Unless some of you wanna get it over with now..." She gave a deadly glare, casting it around the crowd.

Some of the braver students stepped forward, as did the cowards who didn't want her to catch them off-guard.

Akiko stood there staring at them for a moment before saying, "Great, give me your names so I know who to get first when I think of a suitable response to this."

The unthinkable had happened—not only had they gotten Kathleen, who washed her mouth out with soap for calling someone an idiot, to swear, but they had make mild little Haruko angry and kept Akiko from knowing how to punish them.

Judai, meanwhile, had run until he could run no more. He stopped to catch his breath, leaning against the wall of a nearby building.

"Ooh, I'm gonna kill them!" Yubel fumed. "Every last one of 'em! Just who do they think they are!? The whole palace staff!? Darkness in disguise!? Those bastards who carelessly throw out their unwanted cards!? They'll pay for that! Mark my words! They'll all pay for this!?"

Judai gripped his bruised throat.

"You gonna be okay, kid?" Yubel asked.

He nodded, his head still low.

"So, now what? It's only a matter of time before those brats spread the word about you. Soon this whole town could become your enemies, and then they'll all try to get rid of you. That's what happened to me, after all."

"...Guess I'm outta here...," he said quietly.

"So, does that mean you're gonna join the others?"

By the others, Yubel meant the duel spirits living out in the woods.

"...I don't know..."

"Hey. It'll be okay," she assured him. "I've been through this before. The pain will fade away in time. Once you find your place among those of your own kind, that is."

Judai stood there a moment, thinking about that. Finally he said, "'Those of my own kind...?' Newsflash, Yubel, there aren't a lot of human/duel spirit fusions out there. Ugh... Why did Kathleen have to make me show off in front of him? Why did I have to open my big mouth around him?"

"Because she's an idiot," Yubel said in reference to Kathleen.

"Same can be said for me, I guess...," Judai said.

"Oh, come now. That's not true."

"I opened my mouth in front of Fubuki and said that I wasn't human, had fused with you, and had new powers...and I'm not an idiot?"

"Uh, well..."

He stood there a moment, thinking. "You think I could get away from this if I moved to another town?" he asked at last. "One that didn't know me?"

"Bii bii bii bii!" came a very fast voice.

Judai looked up. Ruby sat in front of him, along with Taro and the Ojama Trio.

"Bii bii!" Ruby said, looking happy to have found Judai.

He just stared at the five spirits.

"Thank goodness we found you, Judai, sir!" Ojama Yellow said. "Aniki has a message for you!"

"He wants you to know that everything's under control, and Akiko's handling it," Green added.

"Yeah," Black confirmed. "So you can come back and rejoin them now. Everything's gonna be okay."

Taro barked in agreement. Ruby agreed as well.

"...I don't want to go back there...," Judai said.

"What!? But why!?" Ojama Yellow asked. "All your friends are there!"

Judai fingered the bruises on his neck. "Yeah. And him..."

"Who? You mean the guy Aniki's gonna beat the tar out of any minute now?" Black asked.

Taro growled. Judai just stood there, staring at them.

"What? Not good enough? I think Akiko and Johan were planning on helping," Green said.

"Bii...," Ruby agreed sadly.

Taro barked, also agreeing.

Certain he'd regret it, Judai said, "Okay... I'll go back..."

The five spirits led him back to the school, making sure he didn't change his mind along the way.

Johan, meanwhile, had beaten the others to the punch—literally. Fubuki had finally made him angry enough that the older boy was lying there, unconscious, with a bloody nose, two black eyes, and a slew of other bruises.

Akiko humphed, her arms crossed, and said, "Well, he's got more than that coming when he heals."

Asuka just stared, stunned. She couldn't believe what she had just seen. Johan took some deep breaths.

"So, who else wants some!?" he demanded, glaring daggers at Momoe.

Momoe backed up, terrified.

Kathleen stared. "...Johan..."

"Johan, I think you need to calm down," Akiko said. "If we do get Judai to come back, you just might scare him off again."

"If he doesn't, I'm not hanging out with either of you two ever again," Asuka said to Momoe and Junko. "Ever."

Junko stared at the floor, properly chastised.

"But—" Momoe started.

"That's it!" Johan yelled, pouncing on top of her.

"Hey! You're so not supposed to hit girls, dear!" Kathleen said.

Jim pulled Johan off of Momoe before he could do any damage. "Johan, why don't we try explaining things to her?" he said as though he was speaking to a dangerous lunatic. "Nobody's tried that with her yet. Let's try that first, alright?"

Johan growled, but after a moment, he said, "Fine..."

That's when Judai reappeared in the doorway. Everyone turned.

"...Judai," Asuka said.

Those who weren't his friends stared, not sure if they should be nervous of him or feel sorry for him. He just stood there, staring at the floor. It looked as if one wrong word or move could make him bolt again.

Asuka walked over and pulled him into a hug, stroking his back quietly. He wrapped his arms around her, fighting back tears.

Instantly the other party-goers started feeling guilty, including Momoe and Junko. They looked away, some lowering their heads in shame.

It was so quiet, you could hear a pin drop. That's why everyone heard it when Judai quietly said, "I wanna go home..."

Asuka nodded, and the two of them left the gym.

Johan turned back to the other students. "See that, you creeps!? That's all your fault! You should all be ashamed of yourselves!"

"You're all sub-human!" Akiko snapped. "That's all there is to it! Anyone here who thinks duel spirits are bad? They're better than you!"

Nobody said a word, still looking away guiltily.

"Yeah," Johan said. "That's what I thought. Come on, Kathy! We're leaving!"

He grabbed her hand and dragged her out of the room, heading off to catch up with their friends.

"Jim?" Akiko said.

He nodded, and the two of them left the dance, too.

Haruko turned her nose up at those remaining. "I can't even stand to look at you people!"

Manjoume handed her a blindfold, which he pulled out of nowhere. "In that case, put that on and I'll get you far, far away from here."

Haruko sweat a bit. "No. No, let's just get out of here, Jun. A strip club would have better company."

"Yeah, or a motorcycle gang," he agreed. "Let's go."

The two of them walked out.

"What?" Momoe asked. "Were we really that wrong?"

Fubuki came to then, asking, "Oh, what hit me...?"

"Johan," Junko answered. "And, boy, was he mad at you. I don't think Judai's as bad as you say, even if he is a monster."

"Huh?" Fubuki asked, sitting up. "What makes you say that?"

"So, are you going to be okay?" Asuka asked Judai as they walked down the street.

"Yeah. I'll be okay," he said, putting a hand on his neck.

"And what about mentally. That was pretty brutal back there. Are you ever gonna be able to get over it?"

"...I'll be fine."

"Is that the truth, Judai?" she asked, not believing him.

"...I don't know... Can you stop interrogating me? It hurts to talk..."

"Let me see."

He moved his hand and showed her. The bruises on his neck were pretty nasty, and there was some serious swelling. It looked like, if Fubuki had been any rougher, he could have done some serious damage.

Asuka stared, not saying a word. Honestly, she was worried that her brother had done some real damage.

"That bad, huh?" Judai asked.

"We should get you checked out," she said in lieu of an answer. "Come on."

She headed for the hospital, with Judai following behind.

Oh, boy... My parents are gonna flip...

"So, thought up a good excuse for this yet?" Yubel asked. "'Cause, obviously, the truth's out of the question. Then they'd ask you what the guy was talking about and...well, you know."

He thought about that for a moment. Would his parents really treat him the way Fubuki and those other students had?

No, he answered her.

"Better start doing that, then."

He walked on in silence, following Asuka and trying to think of a good excuse for the bruises on his neck. He wasn't sure if his parents would react the same way, but he didn't really want to take the chance.