A/N: New chapter! Enjoy! We don't own Yugioh GX or Yugioh 5D's.

Several days of training awaited the gang at the space port, during which Sho swore he was going to throw up. The gang also learned something about Judai—it was dang near impossible to get him out of bed in the morning.

The day they were supposed to leave, Sho was in his and Judai's shared room at "Space Camp," as Sho called it due to the fact that it had been built like an actual camp with cabins and all that, gently shaking him as he tried to wake him—although he was sure that wouldn't work.

"Aniki! Get up! Today's the big day!"

"I'm up, I'm up," Judai muttered, sitting up.

Sho cocked his head. "You sure? 'Cause you look half asleep."

Rubbing his eyes, Judai said, "Yeah, I'm sure. Just give me a sec."

Sho stared at him, stunned. "Wow. That's a first. I understood your first words today."

"Funny."

There was a knock at the door, and Manjoume's voice called, "Alright, you idiot! Get up! I've got a bucket of water, and I ain't afraid to use it!"

"I'm already up!" Judai called, irritated.

"Hello?" Asuka called. "Judai? You awake yet?"

Now that one he definitely didn't want trying to wake him up again. When she had done it over the last few days, she kissed him on the cheek, making him shoot out of bed like a rocket. Nope. She wasn't gonna do that again. Not today.

Judai sighed and opened the door. "For the third time, people, yes. I'm awake," he said, a lame look on his face.

His phone rang, and Judai was sure it was Crow, calling to yell at him to "RISE AND SHINE, PAL!" and remind him that "THE EARLY BIRD GETS THE WORM!"

Judai answered his phone, saying, "I'm up! Let it be known that Judai Yuki is awake! Okay!?"

"Okay!" Crow said, confirming Judai's suspicions. "Good to hear. Not soaking wet or red in the face from embarrassment again, I hope."

"No," Judai answered shortly. "No, I am not."

"Great! That's a first! So, Sho's Hurricane Shake was actually enough today?"

Judai stood there lamely for a moment before saying, "Yeah, I'm hanging up now."

Yusei, meanwhile, had volunteered to do something stupid—get Aki. Alone. On his way, he ran into the same problems he ran into when he went to get her for a date.

"Ow!" he said as he stubbed his toe, having leaped out of bed quickly because he was already running a bit behind. "Damn it! How could I be so reckless?" He shook it off and ran for the door. "Arg. I don't have time for this! I've got to go get—WHOOOAA!"

As he had been running for the door, he tripped over a chair. Shaking that one off, he sat up.

"You've got to be kidding," he said. "Now, even? But this isn't even a date!"

"Yusei!" Jack said, entering the room. "Great, you're up. Now come here and get this damn thing off me!" He had his hand stuck in a pickle jar.

Yusei sighed. "Yeah, sure, Jack. Hold still."

Jack was fortunate—or maybe it was unfortunate. The jar was plastic, not glass, which served to convince Yusei that the universe was against him or something. A glass jar could just have been smashed, and Jack probably would have. Plastic was a little trickier. Yusei pulled a knife out and carefully cut around Jack's hand, widening the opening of the jar.

Once it was removed, Jack humphed. "What a pain. That's the last time I ever have pickles with anything. Thanks for the help, though."

"Any time, Jack. Now, if you'll excuse me..."

He headed to the showers. Nothing exciting there, until he was getting out and the fire alarm went off...while he was still wet and naked.

"Come on already!" he exclaimed. "Can't I ever catch a break? Damn!"

He headed outside, wrapped in a towel.

Once his little fire alarm adventure was over (as it turned out, somebody had pulled the alarm as a prank), Yusei hurriedly got dressed and ran to Aki's cabin to get her.

"Aki?" he called, knocking on the door. "It's me. I sure hope you're ready, because—"

"I'm ready," she said with some annoyance as she opened the door. "So what happened now?"

"Long story. Don't ask."

"Oh. Okay." She paused for a second, then added, "Yusei? You know, this isn't technically a date, right? Leave your bad luck at the door before you cause us to hold everyone else up."

"Right. I'll try," he promised.

An hour later, the rest of the gang, gathered by the shuttle with Isono, was really starting to wonder where Aki and Yusei were.

"There they are!" Asuka said suddenly, pointing at the two as they approached.

Manjoume humphed. "What the heck kept them!?"

"Probably just that," Jack said. "I knew someone should have gone with them!"

Aki and Yusei joined the others, Yusei looking apologetic. "Hey, guys," he said. "Sorry we're so late."

"Okay, what gives?" Crow asked. "That wasn't even a date, and you're still way behind schedule! What happened now!?"

Yusei sweat. "Godzilla and King Kong challenged me and Aki to a tag duel..." He sounded annoyed.

"Well, a couple of guys dressed like them did, at least," Aki amended, sounding equally annoyed.

Yubel, hidden from their view, stared at them for a minute. "And I thought your first set of friends were weird..."

"Huh," Judai said simply, a bit stunned by this himself.

Isono said, "Well, now that you're all finally here, I should hope you're all ready to travel."

"Excuse me, but most of us have been ready!" Jack said. "Right!?"

"Yeah!" Crow said.

Asuka nodded.

"I think so..." Silently, Sho added, I've got my barf bag ready, at least...

"We're ready," Aki said, still annoyed.

Yusei nodded, again feeling guilty. Judai didn't answer, if only because he wasn't ready—having second thoughts again did not convey readiness, after all. Manjoume, however, nodded as well.

"Good! Then suit up and get on board!" Isono said. "We'll be lifting off shortly."

The gang went to put on their space suits for the trip.

Meanwhile, the spirit hovered nearby. "Hmm. What do you think, pal?" he asked his friend. "Should we sneak aboard the shuttle? Or head up ourselves and wait on them?"

The red-eyed spirit liked the first idea better, saying it sounded safer.

"Yeah. You're probably right," the green-eyed spirit admitted. "Don't know what the Earth's atmosphere could do to us! Especially you, pal. Let's get on board."

The two turned into their light forms and entered the shuttle just as the others were ready to board.

As the countdown started, Sho started having second thoughts. But it was too late by then—the shuttle launched when the countdown reached zero. Sho screamed the whole way up, making Judai wish he wasn't sitting right next to him. Once they had escaped the Earth's atmosphere, though, things calmed down, and Sho stopped screaming. This was a huge relief, as everyone's ears were ringing after that.

Manjoume growled, then glared at Sho and said, "Geez, kid! You're worse than a newborn baby!"

Sho lowered his head. "Sorry..."

"Don't worry about it," Judai said, rubbing the ear closest to the screamer. "As long as no one's deaf, we're good."

"STOP YELLING!" Asuka bellowed. "WE'RE IN THE SAME ROOM!"

Judai looked at her, concerned, and quietly said, "I'm not yelling."

"And how are you feeling, Yusei?" Aki asked her boyfriend.

"...I'm fine...," he answered, hands still covering his ears.

"Good," Jack said. "It seems we're all in one piece. Right, Crow?"

"Huh!? You saw a foe!?" Crow demanded, apparently having difficulty with his hearing. "Who!? And what are they doing here, for crying out loud!?"

Judai looked from Asuka to Crow and back again. "Hopefully, that'll clear up..."

"Don't worry," the pilot said. "The fact that they can hear at all's already a good sign. We'll have the doctor check on them when we get there, if we have to."

"Good," Yusei said. "How long will that take?"

"Oh, about two to three days. You can get up now, if you want."

Manjoume unfastened his seat belt and stood, saying, "Great, so what do we do until then?"

"Hang out," Judai said, getting up. "What else are we gonna do?"

"Good plan," Crow said, leaning back in his chair with his arms folded behind his head, eyes closed. "Let's just kick back and enjoy the ride!"

Judai ditched his spacesuit and walked out to explore the ship—or get away from everyone. Yusei wasn't sure which. The old Judai would be exploring, but that Judai was seldom seen anymore...

Sho jumped up and ran after him, wrestling out of his spacesuit on the way, calling, "Aniki! Wait for me!"

"Wow!" Sho said, looking around in awe. "This place is huge! What do you think, Aniki?"

"I think I'd like to know why you're following me around outer space, Sho," Judai answered lamely.

Sho blinked. "Huh? But I thought you wanted me to come up here."

"You said you wanted to come, so that's fine, but do you have to follow me everywhere on-board the shuttle, too?"

"Why not?"

Judai thought about that first promotion exam they'd had, the one where he'd beaten Manjoume and been promoted to Ra Yellow and hadn't gone. That night, Sho had clung to him and said he'd follow him everywhere, and Judai had said he didn't care if he followed him as long as he let go. Now he was regretting that—he did care if Sho followed him, knowing how this friendship would end...and how it would... No. He wouldn't think about it!

"Huh? Aniki? You okay?" Sho asked, pulling Judai from his thoughts.

"Really? Why does everyone keep asking that? The answer hasn't changed, you know."

"I know. But you seem a little more upset right now."

Judai didn't answer—Sho was way too perceptive for his liking.

"Yusei! You're impossible!" Aki cried from nearby.

"Huh?" Sho said, turning. "What's going on?"

Judai looked. Off to the side, Aki and Yusei stood alone, the girl fuming at Yusei. Apparently it had happened again.

"So are you telling me your luck is so bad that we can't even enjoy a simple walk together!?" Aki demanded.

"Aki, how many times do I have to say I'm sorry before you'll believe me?" Yusei asked.

"Oh, I know you're sorry, Yusei. That's not the point! I don't know if you broke a mirror or walked under a ladder or what you might have done to get yourself jinxed, but, until you fix it, stay away from me! Got that?"

With that, she stormed off, leaving Yusei staring after her.

"...Great."

"Wow," Sho said. "She's scary..."

Judai just stared, a feeling of deja vu hitting him all of a sudden. Aki had just told Yusei that she didn't want to see him again until further notice, all because of something that wasn't even his fault. It reminded him of Asuka turning her back on him because of his aging problem...

Yusei walked off, wishing there was something he could do about his cursed rotten luck.

"Gee, I hope they can work that out," Sho said. "Right, Aniki?"

"...Yeah..."

"Aniki? What is it?"

If Asuka took the news badly, how did she think I was feeling about the whole thing? Judai wondered. Yet she said we couldn't be friends anymore?

"You're doing it again," Yubel pointed out.

I know...

"Then quit it before it gets worse."

Okay...

"So, now what?" Sho asked, looking at Judai.

Great. More deja vu. Just what he needed.

"What do you mean, now what?" he asked. "You can figure out what to do on your own, can't you?"

Sho looked at him for a moment, clearly not happy. "What are you saying?"

"I'm saying you don't have to follow me everywhere, Sho."

"But I want to."

Judai looked away. There was no way he could take that. It would be like sitting around and watching Manjoume and Asuka in the same room—not good for his sanity, which he felt he was already losing.

Unfortunately for Judai, he couldn't convince Sho to stop following him, no matter what he did. Heck, the kid even went so far as to ask to bunk with him again. Needless to say, Judai said no, which reduced Sho to begging.

"Aw, come on," he whined. "Why not? We shared a room at Space Camp."

"Sho, seriously, why do you need to be with me every moment of the day?" Judai asked.

"Uh..." He looked confused for a moment. "I really don't know... I just feel like I should want to... Really badly..."

Judai stared at him. That was the exact worst answer Sho could have given. He felt like he should want to? But some things that happened in the future... He wouldn't think about that!

"Please don't...," Judai pleaded.

"But—"

Unable to stand anymore time with Sho just then, Judai ran off.

"Aniki! What'd I say!?" Sho called, chasing his friend down the hall. "Aniki! Slow down! Why are you running from me!? What did I do wrong!?"

Judai just kept running, desperately needing a break. Sho kept chasing, managing to keep up with the older boy and trying to get an answer out of him.

It was maybe twenty minutes before Judai stopped running, giving up. He leaned against a wall as Sho caught up at last. The smaller boy leaned over, placing his hands on his knees, catching his breath.

"Aniki..."

Judai just focused on breathing, head lowered to hide his face.

"I'm...sorry," Sho panted. "I didn't mean to upset you... You still mad?"

After a moment, Judai said, in a voice barely above a whisper, "I never was..."

"Aniki... So, are we still friends, then?"

"Yeah, of course..."

"And we have a winner, folks," Manjoume said, walking up behind the two. "The prize for the longest, most ridiculous chase I've ever seen goes to you two! Congrats."

Sho turned to the smirking duelist. "Manjoume!"

Judai looked at him, still silent.

"So, what was that about, anyway?" Manjoume asked.

"...He's a duckling..." Judai pointed at Sho as he spoke.

Manjoume smirked again, saying, "Well, aren't you lucky. Congratulations on your first-born chick."

Judai stared at him for a second before asking, "Remind me why you came?"

"Gee, I guess it's so I could make fun of you two," he answered, still smirking. "Sure is fun, at least."

Judai stared at him, feeling worse and worse. Just like old times...

Back in their first year at Duel Academy, Manjoume had been a jerk at first, but he was different when he got back from North Academy...though he still liked to pick on Judai and Sho. That never changed. Not until the day Manjoume found out Judai had come back from the dead for the first time had the teasing ended. That was on his and Asuka's wedding day... Judai never thought he'd miss being called an idiot all the time, and knowing how it would end made Manjoume's teasing actually hurt for once.

"Okay, guys," Asuka said, walking over. "That's enough. Why don't you give him some space? He clearly needs it."

"Asuka-san...," Sho said, looking at her. "Okay."

And, finally, Judai's duckling left.

Manjoume humphed. "Whatever. It's not my fault they make it too easy. Sheesh," he said before walking off.

Judai looked at Asuka hesitantly, then said, "Thanks..."

"Don't mention it," she said. Then, gently, a concerned look in her eyes, she asked, "You gonna be okay, Judai? You never run from us like that."

"I don't know," he said, looking away.

She walked over. "Hey, it'll be alright. Look outside. We've come this far. How could we possibly fail now?" she asked. "Why, KaibaCorp's even gonna help look for the card. Things couldn't be going better for you right now. So cheer up. It's all gonna work out fine, okay?"

His eyes teared up, and he said, "The same as always..."

Suddenly he pulled her into his arms, startling Asuka, who wondered what had caused him to do that.

"Huh!?"

He just held her tight, fighting back the tears.

She looked at him sympathetically. Poor guy...

She hugged him back. And, with that simple gesture, he was crying.

Asuka pulled away, wondering why that had seemed to make things worse. He looked at her questioningly as he reluctantly let her go.

How? Asuka wondered. How can I hope to cheer him up like this? Everything I do reminds him of my future self that he lost.

Suddenly an idea hit her. Though she was hesitant to try it. But nothing else works, so, maybe, with a little luck...

She decided to give it a shot. She giggled and said, "Aw, what was that about, sweetie?" She giggled again. "You just, like, totally hugged me back there! Why? You think I'm pretty?"

She giggled again, hands on her cheeks as she turned her head left and right. Her eyes were closed, and she was blushing. All in all, she was acting like a completely different person.

Judai looked at her, unsure what was going on. "Huh?"

Asuka giggled again. "No, no, you're just too much. I'm totally flattered." And another giggle.

Judai stared at her for a long while before finally asking, "What are you doing...?"

In response, she giggled yet again. "Well, that sure was pleasant," she said. "Thanks, sweetie. That totally made my day."

She walked off, still giggling and leaving Judai too confused to be depressed.

"...What?"

"Now why didn't I think of that?" Yubel wondered.

"Think of what?" he asked nervously. What's going on?