A/N: Sooo, Jack and Kiryu get in touch again. Little bit awkward. They're such cuties. And yes, the rating has gone up just because while there's nothing really seen or even that mentioned, people can be sensitive. And it might get more later. It all depends on how the story is at the time. So, thank you and enjoy guys.

Jack had never been so pampered. Even when he was sick and Martha babied him, it was nothing compared to his new life in the city. The night he arrived he'd been swept away and hurried into a beautiful, luxurious home. At first he'd thought it was just a place to keep him for a day or two until everything was set up. It was a house on top of a sky scraper, he'd never imagined anything like it. There was a pool and a race track and almost as many rooms as Martha's home. There was no way he'd be there more than a few days.

Then they'd started to get him to settle in and Mikage had told him the place was his. Yeager had been joking about a Satellite not being used to such luxury. Of course he wasn't used to it. It was almost a crime that people lived in this kind of luxury while there were people in poverty in the Satellite.

It had been almost two days, but finally Jack had time to himself. Godwin had set very firm ground rules, such as no contact with the Satellite or media unless given permission. He'd paraded him around at all his functions for the past two days, teaching him how to work the crowds and making sure everyone knew about him. Apparently, Jack had been born here in the Tops and had been away studying abroad and now had come back to the city to fulfil his dreams of becoming King. Godwin was watching over him as a favour to his parents.

Reporters lapped it up. Jack had been introduced to one in particular, a lady named Angela. A blonde woman who seemed more interested in gossip and scandal than real journalism. She was interested in his story and his parents- which Jack passed over as a bit of a touchy subject and maybe they'd talk about it later- and in particular his love life. He didn't really have anything to say about a love life, so instead she snooped into what he was interested in when it came to a girlfriend. Godwin had been there most the time and when he wasn't Mikage was, just to make sure he didn't slip up.

Jack had to learn quickly. While Godwin had told the media that Jack wasn't going to do many interviews until he was settled, they didn't really listen. Mikage wasn't always assertive enough to get them to back off, but his Security force quickly stepped in. Yeager had left them to it, but the blonde woman was still in charge. They were much better at deterring reporters.

It had been a hectic few days but finally- finally- there was peace.

Jack had a clear schedule for the rest of the day. Mikage was hovering over him as he collapsed onto the settee, staring out the window, still rather in awe of the entire thing. The blonde Security was the only officer around at the moment. There were two posted at the entrance but they weren't close enough to be a bother. And that's what they at that point. He just wanted some time to himself for a while, away from the public and these business types. He closed his eyes and ran a hand through his hair.

"Tough day, Mr Atlas?" Mikage said.

"I suppose," Jack replied. "Do we have any tea?"

"Not in the house, I'm afraid," she said, lowering her head as he glared up at her. "I'll send someone to get you some."

"Why don't you go?" He could get at least one of them out the house then. Her eyes widened and he smirked. "I'm sure blondie over there can look after me for five minutes."

"Mr Atlas, Office Kure's job is not to look after you like I do," she said, trying to sound firm apparently. She certainly wasn't Martha and Jack couldn't imagine her pulling him along by the ear if he didn't behave. He wasn't going to listen. "She's merely in charge of your security."

"I don't need anything other than tea right now. So you get the tea, and she'll keep me secure."

Officer Kure stepped over and smiled slightly. "I'm sure it'll be fine, Mikage, five minutes won't hurt. I'm sure he's capable of surviving without you." Mikage glared at her before turning on her heel and heading out. "Mr Atlas, my name is Tessa."

Jack nodded slightly. He didn't care. She was just another officer. Head officer but he didn't care about her name. He didn't want to get attached to some girl. She smiled and pulled out her phone, glancing over at the door.

"Mr Atlas, I wanted to give you my personal number, in case you can't get in contact with me on my work phone and need something important." He frowned but gestured to his phone on the table. She took it and put in a number. "Mr Atlas, I was chosen for this job for a reason."

He rolled his eyes and she handed him his phone back. "And?"

"I worked at Beachwood Hospital."

For a moment, the name didn't mean anything. Then it clicked. The hospital Kiryu had been locked up in. He sat up and she smiled. She'd worked with him. Had she known him? Had she known about them? That he and Kiryu had known each other? But what if this was a test? Kiryu was dead anyway. What did it matter? His mind was spinning. Perhaps she could tell him about how Kiryu had been before his death. Or maybe it'd bring up old pains and throw him off his game. Perhaps she'd report to Godwin that he'd been talking about his previous life.

"I don't know anything about that sort of thing."

"I think you should call that number, just to make sure it's the right number, hmm?" Tessa said, gesturing to the phone.

Jack gazed down at it for a moment. What on earth was going to happen if he called that number? She seemed to know about something. Maybe something about Kiryu. There was just something about the way she bought it up. What on earth was waiting for him on the other end of the line? He picked it up slowly and she wandered off, muttering about leaving him to it.

Looking at the phone for another long moment, Jack took a deep breath before calling the number. Waiting for the answer was the most nerve wracking thing he'd done in a long time. He clenched his fists, trying to stay steady as there was finally an answer.

"Since I don't recognise your number, I'll assume Tessa told you to call."

His breath caught in his throat and his hand shook for a moment. It wasn't possible. There was just no way it was possible. He hung up and tossed the phone away to the other side of the settee. It just wasn't possible. He turned to stare up at Tessa, who smiled and tilted her head.

"Everything alright, Mr Atlas?"

"We were told he was dead," Jack said quietly.

She frowned. "No, he's very much alive. He was moved into private care."

He nodded dumbly. Kiryu was alive. He was alive and he'd sounded perfectly same. So why had they been told he was dead? He closed his eyes and flopped back. Just what he needed, something else to struggle through. Just when he was getting used to one new situation another turned up to mess things up.

"What was he like when he was in there?"

She sighed and shook her head. "He was recovering. He became stable and seemed like just a normal kid again, but sometimes he'd just kind of draw back into himself and he became almost like a child. He kept saying he was being punished for something, but he couldn't understand what."

"He murdered a man."

"I don't think that was what he meant." He frowned and glanced up at her and she smiled. "I wasn't a doctor, but it seemed he thought losing his friends was the punishment, that he must have done something wrong for you all to turn on him. Sometimes, he just seemed so lonely."

He nodded slowly. He hated the idea of Kiryu being so alone. It had always driven Kiryu insane to be alone. That was probably why he'd got so attached to them. Mikage returned soon after with his tea, promising to get some supplies in tomorrow. Jack quickly excused himself to his room, letting them both know he wanted to be left alone to catch up on his rest. Neither of his watchers argued although he suspected Tessa had seen him take his phone.

For a longest time, Jack just stared at the phone, wondering if he should call back. Just hearing his voice made everything go numb. They thought he was dead and he'd been suffering alone. But he was here now. He could make up for leaving him alone, couldn't he?

He reached for Red Demon's Dragon, pulling it out of his pocket with Kiryu's last letter. Jack had read it over and over. There had been periods where he'd read it every night, thinking it over, and periods where he'd just crumpled it up and tossed it into the corner only to dig it out again days later. He could never decide if he wanted those memories or not.

"You guys can't ever leave me ok?" Kiryu laughed. "I mean it." He grinned and took Yusei and Crow's hands, pulling them up to the roof with Jack following behind. "You guys, we can do anything. The four of us together."

Jack rolled his eyes. "Have you been drinking?"

"Shut up, Jack," he called back. "I mean it. I need you guys. I couldn't manage without you."

His Red Demon's Dragon had been his only link to Kiryu for so long. While Kiryu was locked up Jack had worried about him being alone, but that last letter to the three of them said he was being looked after.

Jack didn't know how long it had been before he picked up his phone and called again. It rang for a bit and for a moment Jack worried he'd lost his chance.

"Hang on." Jack was about to protest being snapped at like that but hearing his voice after so long made his words catch in his throat. "I'm going to my room!"

"Kiryu!" called a distant voice.

"I don't want to be part of your stupid little love in," Kiryu yelled. "You and your witch can enjoy yourselves! I know when I'm the third wheel!"

"What is your problem?" the voice yelled back. "Are you trying to cause trouble? Don't forget who saved you, Kiryu. You belong here with me!"

The phone line crackled and Jack frowned as Kiryu shouted something he couldn't make out. It sounded like he was in the middle of a tornado. There was banging and howling winds and he could have sworn he heard a girl screaming at him. And then everything went deathly silent. Jack almost wondered if the line had cut out.

"Sorry about that," Kiryu said finally. He sounded shaken and rather out of breath but it was reassuring just to hear his voice. "Jack? You doing better this time?"

"Kiryu?" It really was him. He was really there. Alive. "What was all that about?"

"Nothing, don't worry," he said quietly. "Just having a bit of a disagreement." A door shut and Kiryu sighed. "Jack… I've never been so pleased to hear your voice."

"They told us you were dead, Kiryu." Jack hadn't really meant to blurt it out like that but he couldn't help it. It was all overwhelming. "You sent those letters and then we got the gifts and then they told us you were dead. Yusei was in b-"

"I don't really care about Yusei."

Jack paused at the bitter tone. Kiryu had always been fond of Yusei. In fact Crow and Jack had suspected there was something more between them. Yusei had always seemed like Kiryu's favourite and he'd stayed with him when they'd both left.

"You don't mean that."

"Yes I do," Kiryu snapped. "He betrayed me. He's a traitor!"

"Kiryu-"

"It doesn't matter anyway," he said. "What did you do to get here? Apparently that was you in the limo the other day."

"Yeah…" He knew Kiryu's opinion of traitors. How was he supposed to tell him the truth? "Apparently this birthmark means I'm destined for some greatness. They told me how to get out of the Satellite using the pipeline and they picked me up."

"The pipeline?" There was a pause and Jack bit his lip, knowing Kiryu would figure it out. "You'd need a D-Wheel."

"Yusei's."

"He gave it to you?"

"Something like that."

"Jack." He lowered his head even though Kiryu couldn't see him. Kiryu always had that way of making him feel guilty. "Did you ask Yusei for his D-Wheel?"

"Not so much," Jack admitted. "I tricked him into coming down to the docks and gave him a distraction and took his D-Wheel… and Stardust."

The last part was muttered, hoping Kiryu wouldn't pick up on it, despite knowing he would. He always did. If there was one thing more important to Kiryu than loyalty it was not messing with people's cards. "I'm glad he got to feel what it was like."

"You're not mad?"

"Why should I be?" Kiryu muttered. "I thought you were better than that, Jack, but I'm glad he's suffering even a little of the pain I went through."

Kiryu had changed. He wasn't sure he was surprised. They'd been apart for over a year, Kiryu had been locked up and considered insane. No wonder he'd changed. Perhaps there had been something more between Kiryu and Yusei and that was why he was taking this so hard.

"I must sound really bitter," Kiryu said softly. "You don't want to listen to me complain."

"I don't mind," Jack said. He didn't really. He was just pleased to have Kiryu there again. He needed something to keep him from completely forgetting about who he was. He and Kiryu needed each other. Perhaps he could help Kiryu too. "It's good to know you're doing alright. We should have been there for you."

"I should have listened to you guys rather than pushing you away," he said. "So… has everything been good for you?"

"Crow's pretty much abandoned us. Yusei and I had a fight." He almost shrugged. It didn't feel like such a big deal. "Not much, you know. But…" He paused and held the letter tightly, taking a slow, deep breath. "About the letter you sent me-"

"Hang on, Jack," Kiryu whispered suddenly as someone banged on his door.

"Kiryu, let me in. We need to talk." It was the same voice as before. The one Kiryu had been arguing with. "Kiryu, you know I don't want to fight with you but what you did earlier-"

"What I did earlier was nothing compared to what I can do and you know it."

Jack closed his eyes, listening quietly as they argued. He'd never heard Kiryu argue with someone like that. With true venom in his voice. He'd argued with Jack and Crow and Yusei. They'd bicker and argue, like Jack did with Crow constantly. And sometimes they even had full blown fights but Kiryu had never spoken to anyone like that, in front of them at least.

The door clicked and the line crackled again, this time more like the phone had been dropped. Jack probably should have hung up about then but he wanted to know what had got Kiryu so riled up. It wasn't like him. Not even the insane him. He only got worked up when he honestly believed someone deserved it.

"What are you doing?"

The voice was muffled and distant now and Jack could only assume Kiryu had dropped his phone. The sooner Kiryu got this sorted, the sooner Jack could talk to him about the letter. It was an important issue, one that had bugged him for a long time.

"I dropped my phone," Kiryu snapped. "It fell under the bed."

"Were you talking to someone outside the family?"

"No, why the hell are you so suspicious?" There was fumbling and Kiryu sighed. "I'm going to have to move the bed, I can't re- hey! Divine!"

Divine? He really should have hung up but he was starting to get worried. Kiryu didn't get so worked up over nothing and didn't seem particularly pleased about being there. The bed groaned and Kiryu gasped. Jack was certain he should have hung up but he still didn't. Kiryu must have thought he'd hung up when he dropped the phone or he'd be worried, wouldn't he? Jack knew exactly what he was listening to and he knew it wasn't the sort of thing he should be listening in on. But this was Kiryu and he still had the overwhelming urge to protect the idiot and maybe even make up for leaving him to be locked up. He couldn't just let it go when he sounded so miserable.

The phone crackled like before and there was crashing and banging before everything fell silent just like before. Jack waited quietly. He was worried even if he wouldn't admit it out loud.

"Kiryu?" Divine said.

Kiryu laughed breathlessly and the bed groaned again. "Go on, go spend time with Aki."

"You've wrecked the place," he murmured. "I wondered if that would be a problem with your emotions running so high."

"I'll clean it up," Kiryu said. "Go on, go see her. As long as I'm still your favourite."

There was a chuckle and Kiryu hummed. "Always, my Kiryu. I went through a lot of trouble to own you. I will never let you go."

Jack sighed as footsteps moved away and the door clicked. The bed creaked and Kiryu let out a muffled, frustrated scream. Again the phone crackled and there was crashing in the room. What was wrong with Kiryu? This had to be serious to get him acting like this. And the crackling and banging? It just wasn't normal.

Kiryu threw the cushion he'd been swearing into to the floor. He was more disgusted with himself than ever. His powers had flared up and the winds had ruined half of his room. He picked up his wardrobes and slowly refilled them with his clothes before turning to the bed, which had been tossed around in his second flare up.

His blood ran cold. His phone was there, where the bed had been, the light still flashing green. Kiryu staggered slightly. Jack was still there. He pulled the bed back and wrapped himself up in a fleece jacket before dropping to his knees to pick up the phone, setting it on the bed and closing his eyes.

"Jack?"

"Kiryu," Jack said softly on the other end. "Are you alright?"

"You heard all that?" Kiryu whispered.

Jack sighed. "Yes. All of it. Kiryu, what's going on? Tell me the truth."

For a long moment there was silence while Kiryu considered. How was he supposed to admit all this to Jack? He frowned and gripped the bed sheets absently, biting his lip. It wasn't exactly a situation he proud of.

"I'm different now, Jack," Kiryu said finally. "This man, Divine, came to the hospital and told me I had these powers."

"Powers?" Jack said.

"You remember I used to see things? Well, turned out I was seeing a duel spirit." He sighed and shook his head. It sounded insane. "Divine told me it was proof of my powers, but I just hadn't realised them yet." He shivered slightly. "He did everything he could to bring them out of me. My dangerous mind was the thing that made me so strong."

"Everything he could?" Kiryu didn't blame him for sounding suspicious of that. It didn't sound good, did it? "Kiryu, what did he do to you?"

Kiryu almost laughed. "Everything. He started by duelling with me, trying to rile me up by talking about you guys, pissing me off…"

"And?"

"Jack, please, I don't want to talk about this."

"I want to talk about it, Kiryu," he said firmly. "I know you, Kiryu, I know your voice, I know that tone." Kiryu shook his head again. He didn't care if Jack couldn't see or not. "You don't want to be there, do you?"

"Of course not, I can't stand being near him."

"Then why stay?" He sighed. Because he wasn't ready to leave? Because he was afraid he couldn't? What if he powers went out of control? He couldn't risk it, could he? "Kiryu?"

"I can make damage real, Jack, I can make monsters real and use real effects and I just wrecked my room without meaning to. Everyone here is like me, they have these powers and…" He closed his eyes, struggling to focus. "Hey, what did you want to talk about before Divine came in?"

"Nothing. It doesn't matter anymore."

Kiryu frowned slightly. That wasn't like Jack. Normally, whatever he wanted to talk about was the most important thing in the world and couldn't wait another second. He opened his eyes and gripped the phone tightly.

"Kiryu, if you ever need help-"

"Don't go soft on me, Jack," he laughed. "If it ever becomes important again, call me, ok?"

"Yeah… maybe some other time. Look after yourself." Kiryu laughed and stood slowly to get back to fixing up his room. "It's a shame the others can't be here with us."

"No it's not," Kiryu said. "If they're strong enough, we'll meet again." He laughed and went to rearrange his desk. "Don't worry. You were strong enough to escape, now you get to follow your dreams. Make me proud, huh?"

"Yeah," Jack muttered. "Don't worry about it. I'll call again when I get some free time."