21. Transit

South America. At last.

They were both glad to have their D-wheels back and to be able to get back on the road. To feel the rush of wind, hear the hum of the Momentum … Yusei hadn't realized how much he'd missed it.

Jack hadn't mentioned their follow-up argument at all. Yusei wasn't sure whether he was worried about that or relieved. He didn't want to continually open up old wounds; he was pretty sure Jack couldn't tolerate that kind of emotional abuse anyway. Still, he didn't think things had been resolved either, and that bothered him.

Jack seemed content to pretend that nothing had occurred between them.

As they rode across the desert, Yusei positioned his D-wheel so that he could take a good look at Jack as he calmly rode ahead. The structure of the Wheel of Fortune allowed Jack to sit comfortably like a King on his throne, so unlike other riding duelists. Yusei watched Jack's economical motions with appreciation.

Yusei sighed, forcing himself to stop staring at his friend and pulled into the lead for a while. Let him stare at me for a change, he thought, bitterly. Let him chase me.

Maybe the title is worth that much.

If a riding duel title keeps Jack in my life, it's worth something, Yusei thought, squinting into the morning sunlight.

Later, they halted for a brief lunch of sandwiches that they'd packed for the journey. Jack draped an elbow over the Wheel of Fortune, looking ever-so-much the glossy print ad, as Yusei sat sideways on his D-wheel close by.

"I think we can make Bommer's house by nightfall," Jack said. "We're making good time."

Yusei nodded.

"You really think I can find what I'm looking for here?"

"I do."

The silence spun out between them, feeling almost like a solid wall. Yusei tried to read Jack's eyes.

So you've decided not to talk to me again?

Is that what they were really saying? Or was he just reading accusations into them? Yusei felt the need to say something, but he was incapable of just making conversation. If Jack wasn't good at small talk, Yusei was even worse.

After another several minutes, Jack began, "You …" then, "Forget it."

"No, what? You can ask me anything, you know that."

"No, never mind."

Yusei looked at Jack seriously and wondered if the uneasiness was because they were getting close to Nazca, where the Earthbound Immortals were sealed, or because he had unnecessarily opened old wounds. "Jack," he said, "I'm sorry that I brought up so much old business on the way here. I know how you like to focus on your goals."

"It's all right. You're just … trying to fix things." He flashed a confident smile, but it didn't quite look genuine in the bright sunlight. Then he let his expression relax into seriousness. "You actually think I've started to believe what they're saying … don't you?"

"What they're saying? What do you mean?"

"You've heard them. The media. Duelists. People. Saying I'm washed up."

Yusei stared into Jack's eyes, slightly stunned. For the first time, Yusei realized fully how utterly alone they were in this barren landscape. He didn't think Jack would go so far as to even acknowledge that anyone had the temerity to say such things.

Jack sighed. "I guess—" he began, disappointedly.

"No—no, that's not—I-I just … I didn't expect you to ask a question like that, Jack." Yusei stood hurriedly, reaching up to squeeze Jack's meaty shoulder. "I'd never believe you'd think that. You never listen to—" He paused, frowning.

Who cares what they think! B-but I do care! I c-can't help it!

Or did he? Somewhere, deep inside, Jack cared deeply about what everyone thought of him. That's why he needed all that attention and approbation in the first place. It's where all the defensiveness came from. Until he was able to get past that … really trust himself at an even deeper level …

Yusei hadn't thought that it was like Jack to doubt himself … but hadn't he been doubting himself—at least a little—ever since Yusei beat him that first time? Godwin … "You don't believe those idiots, do you?"

"No, I just—"

"Because I couldn't stand it if the strongest duelist I know listened to people who don't know what they're talking about."

"Yusei …" Yusei had let Jack go, but Jack held him with his eyes. Yusei tried to read the words Jack couldn't say. Tell me what you think.

Yusei stopped, closed his eyes and took a breath. He wanted to make sure that Jack didn't think that he was bullshitting him. Then he opened his eyes, holding Jack with them. "Frankly … you've lost a couple of duels I think you wouldn't have lost before …" he couldn't bring himself to say before Godwin "… and you need to find what you're looking for, but, Jack, you're still … Jack Atlas. It's way more than your skill, it's your heart … your courage. Your competition wants you to think you're weak." He shrugged, letting Jack go. "If they weren't afraid of you, they wouldn't spend so much effort trash-talking you. I notice that they don't do that with me."

"They know it won't work on you."

"Really? It worked when you did it, remember?"

The smallest ghost of a grin appeared on Jack's face. "I think … I think I knew the buttons to push," he said. "I don't think that would work for just anyone."

It struck Yusei that he was probably right. Jack was always a special case with him. "Do you." It wasn't a question, really.

"Yeah."

Author's Notes:

Huh. This feels like so much of a placeholder chapter, but I need the transition to Nazca and to bring back the theme of the current issues Jack's working on, so ... there you have it. I just wish it was more scintillating, somehow!

Preview of Chapter 22:

He managed to slip away from Nerve, Blitz and Taka to get out on his own. ...

Too full of energy to calm down, he started walking, and just let his feet carry him. Soon, he found himself down by the water's edge. ...

There, silhouetted against the water, was Jack. He was standing on a pile of rubble, gazing across the water at Neo Domino City, just as he used to when they were children.