Chapter 21

Author's Note: Thank you to my reviewers. As always, your comments are very welcome. I am hoping to lead into another duel soon but that does mean that I will be taking another weeks break soon. It'll probably still be 3 or 4 chapters before I take a break but I just thought I would warn you. Anyway, I hope that you enjoy this chapter!

Crow was beginning to feel awkward. Considering the situation, he hadn't thought that such a feeling would come upon him but it was here nonetheless. He had stood in the corridor for quite some time, awaiting Aki and the twin's return. When that became a hassle to the nurses coming and going from Yusei's room, Crow had moved to sit on the fortunately present bench. Even after that, he was still receiving glares and sceptical glances from the nurses each time they passed. Crow wasn't even sure what they were doing to Yusei. He didn't know much about medicine but surely an unconscious man didn't require checking every ten minutes. Crow was just getting himself into a good mind to go in with the nurses the next time they passed so that he could find out what they were doing when Aki and the Twins reappeared in the corridor.

Aki looked even angrier than before and Crow guessed that their visit hadn't gone much better than his had.

"Jack didn't want to talk?" he guessed once Aki was within hearing range.

"I don't even know why he let us in. The only thing he told us was to 'get out'."

"Did you?" Crow's interest was raised.

Aki glared at him.

"We got thrown out after his heart monitor went haywire."

"You got thrown out too, huh?"

"Why didn't you tell us Jack had gone crazy?"

Crazy? Crow frowned. Jack hadn't cried again then.

"What did he do?"

Aki stared at Crow as if he needed to go to a mental hospital too.

"He threw Leo into a wall."

"Oh." Crow knew that was an understatement.

He hadn't expected Jack to be violent in front of Aki and the kids.

"What did you say to him?" Crow asked.

"I asked him to duel," Aki defended. "Leo was just giving Jack his duel disk."

Crow squeezed his eyes shut.

"Aki, I don't think he had a very pleasant duel last time. He probably remembered something."

"Remembered what? What do you know, Crow?"

"Jack told me that he hurt Yusei," Crow explained.

Aki's eyes widened and the twins looked confused. Aki spun on her heel. Crow almost tripped over as he chased her.

"Where are you going?"

"I'm going to give Jack a piece of my mind."

"Stop! I don't think it's that straight forwards."

"You think Jack was lying?"

"I think that there's more to it."

Aki wasn't stopping.

"Jack was crying!"

It was the last thing that Crow could think of to stop Aki. It worked. Aki stopped dead and the twins stared open-mouthed. Aki recovered quickly.

"I don't believe you."

Crow grabbed her arm before she could storm off again.

"I wouldn't either but I wouldn't normally believe that Jack would throw Leo into a wall either."

Aki levelled a glare at Crow but she didn't struggle. He let her go.

"So what do you think happened?"

Crow sighed.

"I'm not sure but Jack said it was a duel where all battle damage was real. I think that maybe Jack was forced in some way to duel Yusei. Yusei didn't say much though. He didn't seem to remember anything but he was concerned for Jack at first. It's all I can think of."

Aki walked back to the bench and sat down.

"You think they forced Jack and Yusei to hurt each other?"

"I think that's the most likely explanation."

"Why?"

Crow had had a lot of time to think about that.

"They can't duel in the tournament now. Physically they would probably be allowed to join in but I think we can all agree they won't be thinking straight. It was probably a rival team."

Aki looked as if she was about to say something but she closed her mouth as footsteps echoed down the corridor. The nurse who had showed them to Jack's room came to a halt in front of the small group. She looked down her nose sternly.

"Mr Fudo is stable again. You can go in but if you cause any more trouble like you did with Mr Atlas, I will have Security kick you out of this hospital and it will be a one-way trip. Am I understood?"

Everyone nodded meekly.

"Good."

The nurse held the door open as the group trooped inside. There were now enough chairs for everyone to sit down around Yusei. Crow didn't know when the nurses had bout them in but he was thankful. It was getting late and after an hour or two of cautious small talk, the twins fell asleep. Aki and Crow stayed bright-eyed prepared as they ever would be for what would be a very long night.