-Chapter 23-

"NO!" Yubel roared, furious to see that Jesse and Syrus had been freed, her only leverage now gone. The holy flames Neos had imbued their weapons with had ravaged her demonic form, reducing her magic to naught but a shadow of what it was. But that's all they could do, killing her outright was still beyond the reach of Jaden's little friends, but with Jaden clearly having a tighter grasp on his abilities and a clear determination to see the task done no matter the cost, she was loath to admit it wasn't looking too good for her. However, she clawed and swiped at the children, almost desperate to take them down. Taking another swipe at the children, her claws collided with Bastion's chest, tearing into his flesh the Brit cried out in pain as blood began to seep from the deep cuts she had managed to inflict upon him.

"Hey!" Axel called, hurrying to the Brit's side he caught Bastion as he fell from his feet, dropping his staff from his hand as he stumbled, clutching his chest while the pain burned him. "You alright?"

"I-I will be…" Bastion cringed, the sting in his chest not ceasing even a little, though he didn't exactly expect it to so soon. Trying not to rely on Axel to stand, Bastion regained his footing, taking deep and slow breaths to try and ease his pain. "Thank you."

"You did good, Bastion." Axel nodded, acknowledging his genuine effort to keep her at bay long enough for Jaden to free the others, which thankfully had been successful. Bending over quickly, Axel fetched Bastion's staff, returning it to the young wizard so that he could use it to assist him in standing. "Go on and sit this one out for now. We can handle this."

"Very well…" Bastion nodded back, slowly inching away from the scuffle, indeed using his staff to help himself stay upright while he set to work trying to heal his wounds.

"You'll pay for that!" Chazz shouted angrily, taking his sword in hand he took a great swing back at her, landing his blade squarely into her side, Yubel let out a painful roar. Narrowing her eyes in pure rage she grabbed Chazz by the throat as she had done to Jaden before, only now she squeezed as tightly as she was able in her weakened state. Struggling in her grasp, Chazz gasped for any breath at all, pulling and yanking at her hand around his throat. In the shock of it all, his sword fell from his fingers, clanging against the ground as he was no longer able to hold the blade within his slowly numbing fingers.

"Fools!" Yubel shouted, squeezing Chazz's throat one more time, she threw him to one side, his thin form slamming directly into Jim's body and knocking them both to the floor in a heap. Chazz coughed and wheezed as the air came rushing back into his lungs in an instant. Fuming with an unrelenting desperation and rage, tears formed in Yubel's narrowed eyes. "You're all fools!"

"You two alright?" Hassleberry called to them, hurrying over to help them back to their feet he worried for Chazz the most, definitely a little shaken by having seen him be nearly strangled to death right before his eyes.

"Y-Yeah.." Chazz coughed, lightly rubbing his neck to try and sooth the pain from her squeezing him like that. "Fine.."

"Don't worry about us, Hassleberry." Jim said, patting his young friend on the shoulder. "Just make sure she's distracted."

"Got it." Hassleberry nodded back, and with Shirley angrily growling as she positioned herself between Yubel and her dear Jim, he was satisfied enough to decide that they would be safe without him there. Patting Jim on the shoulder in reassurance, Hassleberry hurried to rejoin Alexis and Axel, keeping Yubel at bay long enough for Jaden to make his move.

"Jaden, I'm so sorry…" Syrus lamented, feeling terrible about everything that had happened since they had last seen each other. So much had gone down and gone wrong so fast, it was almost hard for him to even comprehend it. But still, he felt awful nonetheless. "It's my fault this happened… if I was only able to get away the first time and not get kidnapped…"

"No, Sy. Don't you worry about that." Jaden shook his head at the small bluenette, ever so fond of his adorable friend, he hated hearing that he placed the blame upon himself. It couldn't have been further from the truth. "You're safe, and everything's gonna be alright now."

"You're really sure about that?" Jesse questioned. He didn't doubt Jaden, in fact he had more faith in him than anyone else there. But still, he knew deep down in his heart what was coming. And that outcome… it wasn't alright to him at all…

"I am." Jaden nodded, holding Jesse's hand tightly in his own, he never wanted to let go again. To never be apart for another second. Of course, that's what he wanted, but that wasn't how it was going to end. He knew that. "Look, see? Her powers are too weak to maintain her vortex now. Once Sy's portals close she won't be able to collapse the dimensions in on each other."

"But Jaden, look…" Syrus pointed to the crystal. It had already begun to shatter and break apart. The bonds holding the dimensions tethered to both it and each other were more faded than they had been as well. "So much damage has already been done.."

"I know." Jaden sighed, his sad eyes gazing upon the sorry state of their universe. "But that's why we have to stop her. Before she can cause any more harm."

"I know. I know that it's your duty, what you were made for. But…" taking Jaden's hands into both his own Jesse couldn't help but let his emotions take over in that moment. He had kept them at bay when it came to these matters for so long, but here at the end, he just couldn't do it anymore. "But if you go through with this, then your soul will break apart! A-And we might never see each other again…"

"I know, Jess." Jaden sighed, lowering his head, he looked at their hands clasped together, never wanting to see them apart again, but he knew he couldn't just abandon his purpose no matter how badly he wanted to stay with the one he loved. "I know, and I hate it. I hate it so much." Looking back to Jesse, he stared into the flawless emerald orbs, taking in every single square centimetre of Jesse's perfect and gorgeous face. Cherishing every second they still had together. "But even if you did it and not me, it wouldn't change anything. The moment she's gone, the curse will lift and my soul will have nothing to hold it together anymore. Not even Winged Kuriboh could save me now…"

"Jaden…"

"I have to do this, Jess." Jaden insisted, taking his right hand out of Jesse's he placed it gently against the bluenette's cheek, still hardly able to believe how soft and smooth his fair skin was. "I have to help her. Yubel's been in so much pain for so long, lonely in the dark with no one caring enough to help. Not even I saw that until this happened, but we have to do something! And to do it, I need your help. Okay?"

Staring into Jaden's beautiful brown eyes, Jesse couldn't help but feel a little emotional. It was silly to want to cry now, he knew that, and it was easy enough for him to hold the feeling back but he just didn't want to accept it. He wanted the dimensions to be safe, but he didn't want the price to be paid with Jaden's soul. But seeing the fire and determination in Jaden's eyes, and the selflessness in his heart, he knew he couldn't deny him his purpose. Not when he himself was born to help see it fulfilled. He was surprised to hear how Jaden had decided to move forward of course. All this time he thought Jaden's destiny was to destroy Yubel. To erase her from existence so that she could never harm another innocent soul again, when in actuality, it seemed that wasn't at all the case. Jaden was just too kind a person to ever end a life like that. Even one was stained with blood and despair as Yubel's had been. Nodding back to him, Jesse pushed his personal feelings aside for the time being, taking a deep breath as he prepared himself for what was to come.

"Okay."

"Thanks, Jesse."

"Jaden…?" Syrus spoke up, little tremors finding their way into his high pitched voice. He was familiar with the curse latched onto Jaden's soul, but to hear that once it was gone his soul would break apart…

"I'm sorry, Sy." Jaden sighed, feeling terrible that his friend had heard such terrible news. None of the others knew themselves, he hadn't exactly told them what was going to happen when all was said and done. Gently patting the boy's small shoulder the brunette offered him a small smile, not wanting his dear friend to be sad for him. "I wish it didn't have to be this way…"

"Me too…" Syrus lamented, having a harder time than Jesse was pushing aside his feelings. Clenching his fists to try and hold himself together, Syrus's hands trembled. The realization setting in that if Jaden's soul was destroyed, he would lose the closest friend he'd ever had. Of course, Alexis and Atticus had been his friends for years, they'd known each other as long as he could remember. But he never felt particularly close with them. But when Jaden came along, he felt a level of friendship he had never experienced before. Even though they hadn't known each other too long, or weren't able to spend too terribly much time together, in his heart Syrus could feel that they would be connected by their friendship until the end of time. "But you have to save us, Jaden. You have to save her too."

"And I will." Jaden assured, taking Jesse's hand once more he turned his gaze back to Yubel, her tormented screams of burning agony echoing around them, the others doing more than their share to put her down for good. "I won't let you down."

Taking a few steps closer to the weakened demoness the two kept their fingers intertwined, narrowing their eyes collectively at the foul beast, looking forward to being rid of her evil once and for all.

"It's over, Yubel!" Jaden declared, honestly feeling bad for the fallen celestial, seeing her reduced to such a powerless and unholy sight, and as badly as he wanted to, he could feel no light left within her. All that was left of her black heart left her long ago. But still, he was determined to do what he could for her. "You can't hurt anyone anymore."

"How…!" Yubel shouted, angry at the hand fate had dealt her. It just wasn't fair. "All this time, you were powerless against me! How is this possible…!"

"Because before I was weak." He explained, gripping Jesse's hand tighter he could feel the celestial power begin to swell within them. "You stripped me of my memories, cutting me off from my own power and the celestials who created me. They made me so they could convert their power into strength that could destroy you. So without them, you're right. I was powerless. And on top of that my spirit and my heart were too weak to contain such power. I was alone. But not anymore."

"He has friends." Jesse continued, their bodies taking on an iridescent glow as their hearts and spirits joined together, awakening the celestial strength they held deep within themselves. "Loved ones. A reason to fight. To live." Frowning at the fallen demon, he took pity on her as well, sad a once beautiful creature had been hardened and tainted so by her inner darkness and lust for power and vengeance. "And a willingness to try and help even someone as shattered inside as you are.."

"I'm not going to destroy you, Yubel." Jaden explained, giving Jesse's hand a gentle squeeze as he watched tears of broken desperation fall from Yubel's anguished eyes. "Until now, I thought that was the only way to stop this. But it isn't. I want to help you, Yubel. If you'll let me."

"Everyone, get back!" Alexis called, hurriedly ushering the party away from Yubel's downed form, hurrying to join Syrus behind the two celestial children as not to get caught up in whatever attack they were no doubt going to unleash. Watching as the glow engulfing their bodies intensified Alexis could understand it, but in her heart she felt heavy, and grieved with an emotional pain. As if deep down she knew that this was going to be the last time she would see Jaden again.

"What are they gonna do?" Axel asked quietly, really doing his best to get a grasp on just what the hell he had been swept up into at practically the last second. Nothing at all made sense to him, but somehow he didn't seem to mind all that much all things considered. He had seen and experienced many strange things in his life, this just happened to be the strangest by far. But they had requested his aid in this final battle, and he had been willing to give it to them.

"They're going to summon the celestials…" Bastion observed, as well feeling deep within his heart just as Alexis could, that soon it would come time for them to say farewell to the brunette. Perhaps forever. Watching silently the group could hardly stand the sight, the iridescent light became far more intense than it had before, covering nearly the entire void in its glow. Around them a great and powerful wind erupted as pillars or light shot down from the heavens, covering Jaden and Jesse in their magnificence.

"We have come, Jaden."

"Thanks, Neos." Jaden nodded, keeping a tight grip on Jesse's hand he could hear the roar or Rainbow Dragon sound around them as they appeared alongside them, Yubel's eyes widening at the sight of her former friends, coming to the realization of what was soon to occur.

"I am sorry, Yubel." Neos said, placing his hand on Jaden's shoulder, transferring a portion of his power to his human conduit, lamenting the broken state of the demoness. After all, she was once one of their own. But all that was left of her holy light had all but extinguished long ago, only the tiniest spark remaining. The only hope for her now was the destruction of her physical form, so that it could be possible for her celestial form to be reborn again as Jaden's was. Possible, but there was no guarantee. "All of this has ultimately been my own doing. The others and I… we were blind to the truth of the matter, and we abandoned you when you needed us. If only I had seen it all those centuries ago. Then, perhaps none of this would ever have happened... "

"Save your pity for someone who wants it!" Yubel spat venomously, narrowing her eyes at the celestial being before her. The last thing she wanted now was their sympathy. They had done too much damage to her by now for her to want anything from them. "But know that when I'm gone, your precious Jaden's soul will shatter! What say you about that!?"

"That as long as my friends and the universe are safe, I don't care what happens to me!" Jaden interjected, though in his heart he did care at least a little. After all, if his soul shattered he couldn't be with Jesse anymore, and that thought cut him so deeply. But so long as she couldn't hurt anyone, he could take solace in knowing that Jesse would be safe from further harm. Besides, there was a chance Yubel could be reborn the way he was, and he was willing to take that chance if it meant he could save the universe and her.

"I know we can never make amends for what I and the others have caused. But I hope you will allow us to take this step." Neos pleaded. He knew it wasn't ideal, but if they left her like this much longer, he also feared that the spark of holy light still clinging to her soul would fade away forever, and there would be no hope for her. He had made many mistakes over the many millenia he had seen, but Neos was more than ashamed that it had taken Jaden to make him realize the biggest mistake he had made, and to see just how close minded and cruel he had been to one he used to call his friend.

"We can't let you hurt people anymore, Yubel. But if you'll let us, we want to help you stop hurting too." Jaden offered, extending his hand to the crying demoness.

"After everything I've done to you and your friends." Yubel thought aloud, her anger nearly outweighed by her confusion, unable to comprehend how they had gotten to this point. "To the universe. How could you just turn around and say you want to help me?" Tears still falling from her eyes, Yubel just couldn't understand what was going on anymore. The pain she had held within her for over a millennia was so much for her, she wanted it to go away, but she was just so angry. She didn't want their help. That ship had sailed in her mind the moment Neos and the other celestials decided to seal her away and leave her alone in the dark forever. In her anger and lust for revenge, she had done terrible things over the centuries, and even killed Jaden before. There was absolutely no reason for him to want to do anything good for her, and yet here he was, saying he wanted to help her. It just didn't make any sense to her. "Why!?"

"It's true." Jaden conceded, nodding in agreement with Yubel's claim. "You've done terrible things, and ruined and ended so many lives. And we can't forgive you for that." Sighing, Jaden moved closer to Yubel, placing a comforting hand on her trembling shoulder. "But Neos, and the rest…even humanity. We hurt you too."

"They stuck me in the void for centuries!" Yubel shouted venomously, almost desperately clinging to her hatred, shoving Jaden away from her. After all this time, hate was the only thing she knew how to feel anymore. "Alone, trapped in the darkness! And your pitiful humans did nothing but cause it yourselves! You don't deserve this universe!" slamming her fist into the shadowy ground, Yubel narrowed her eyes at the group, tears still streaming from her eyes as she extended her claws towards the young prince. "That boy is the key to everything!"

"Stay back, Syrus." Alexis ordered, gently pushing the bluenette behind her body, narrowing her own eyes at the fallen demoness, determined to protect her old friend.

"Hand over the child!" Yubel demanded, struggling to pull herself off the ground. "With his powers I will collapse the twelve dimensions and destroy you all!" Taking a step forwards, Yubel fell back to her knees, unable to hold herself up any longer. Processing her blatant failure, she wailed. Her sobs coming out as more screaming than crying. She hadn't felt this much hurt since she had first been abandoned all that time ago.

"Destroying the universe won't help you, Yubel." Jesse offered, honestly starting to feel bad for Yubel, seeing her so broken and pathetic like that. Looking on her in such a state, he started to finally understand Jaden's desire to help the poor creature. The brunette was so compassionate, not a single cruel bone in his body. It just wasn't in him to leave her that way, or to erase her from existence the way she had attempted to do to him all that time ago.

"Please." Jaden said, placing his hand back on Yubel's trembling shoulder. "Stop letting yourself be consumed by hate and hurt. Stop hurting people… hurting others won't make your pain go away." sighing, Jaden listened to Yubel's cries. He was still angry with her for everything she had done. She hurt his friends, she kidnapped Syrus and Jesse, and tried to use Syrus to destroy the entire universe. And beyond that she had done so many unforgivable things, but still he just couldn't leave her like that. It just wasn't right. "We can help you."

"And if you did that, I would have to disappear." Yubel muttered, keeping her tearful eyes away from the celestial brunette, doing her best to calm down. "Your soul would still be torn asunder. Are you truly willing to leave your dear, precious friends? The one you love? All for my sake?" Glaring up at Jaden, Yubel hated that she was even having a proper conversation with him. "Can you truly be fine with that?"

"No. I'm not okay with it." Jaden answered, letting out another small sigh as he turned his gaze back to his companions, taking in every aspect of them while he still could. "Not at all. But I'm not okay with leaving you like this either. Or killing you. It's not the right thing to do. No one deserves to die. Not even you."

"The right thing." Yubel scoffed, annoyed by how virtuous the brunette was. "No celestial I know ever did the right thing."

"We can try to start." Neos sighed, indeed ashamed of himself for all the pain he had caused his once good friend.

Keeping silent, Yubel looked at the group for a moment before turning her eyes away one more time. As much as she hated to admit it, she had lost. It didn't take a genius to know that. And not that she would ever admit it to anyone, she was appreciative of their offer. She didn't exactly want their help after what they did to her, but she didn't want to be destroyed either. All she wanted anyway was just some peace of mind.

"Whatever." She muttered under her breath, the bitterness in her tone never leaving. It probably never would. "Just get it over with."

"As you wish." Jaden nodded, slowly standing from his place beside her, he returned to Jesse's side. Feeling a sorrow grow within him, Jaden gripped Jesse's hand tightly, lamenting his inevitable demise, yet still he smiled.

"It'll hurt, Yubel." Jesse added, feeling the power of Rainbow Dragon and the Crystal Beasts surge through his body, gripping Jaden's hand as well, the power they held ran between each other, growing and swelling as they held their free hands out towards her, preparing for the final strike. "But you'll be free now."

With another mighty yet melancholy roar from Rainbow Dragon, the power within their bodies surged once more. Just as before the power shot itself from their palms in beams of blinding light, the offensive power of Neos, and the healing light of Rainbow Dragon combining together to be as one. Colliding with Yubel's weakened demonic form, the holy fire seared and burned her flesh like never before. Crying out for a moment in pain from the holy blast, Yubel's body was shattered, breaking apart until her spirit alone remained, the darkness which had consumed her was stripped away as her soul faded back into the universe, consumed in Rainbow Dragon's divine restorative light. As her presence faded away, Jaden's eyes widened. A great pain exploding from his chest, he stumbled and fell to his knees the beams of power vanishing immediately as Jaden's strength failed him, the light fading from his beautiful brown eyes.

"Jaden!" Jesse cried, immediately dropping to his knees beside the brunette there was a tight feeling in his chest, knowing that Jaden's time as well was drawing near.

"Is he alright?" Hassleberry fired, his gaze shifting at lightning speed between the group, hoping someone, anyone had an answer.

"No, he's not…" Syrus answered, only pausing a single second before rushing over to his friend, watching as Neos knelt beside him, taking the brunette into his arms, a deep remorse coming over him seeing more or less his son basically dying in his arms.

"S-She's gone…" Jaden gasped out, his vision blurring on the edges he could feel his spirit breaking as the life drained from his body. Feeling Jesse's hand still around his own he let his head list just far enough so that he could see his companion. "Jesse.."

"We did it, Jay.." Jesse nodded, hardly able to contain his feelings any longer. Not even caring that the others were amassing around them as tears threatened to fall from his eyes seeing Jaden in such a state. "She'll be reformed now… everyone is safe..."

"What's going on?" Chazz asked, honestly worried to see Jaden's lifeless eyes staring blankly at Jesse, hardly even registering his presence anymore. He'd seen the brunette in pain before, it wasn't that that was the problem, but realizing something was truly wrong, it bothered him to not know what to do about it. "What the hell happened?"

"Yubel's darkness has been dispelled." Neos explained, cradling Jaden's rapidly weakening body gently within his arms, deeply saddened that such a thing had been made to come to pass. "Her soul has been saved. But with her pain and hatred went the curse she had inflicted upon Jaden's own soul. The only thing that has been able to bind his spirit together all this time…"

"What…?"

"Jaden is dying, Chazz…" Alexis simplified. Looking upon the fading brunette she could feel her heart seize. He had done so much for her, helping her save her brother's life, and allowing her the chance to heal her own emotional wounds. But now at the end of the journey, there was nothing she could do for him in return. A tear fell from her hazel eyes as she turned her head away, unable to bear the sight any longer.

"Jaden, please don't go…" Syrus sniffled, kneeling down beside his best friend, tears lining his own gray eyes as well. "It just isn't fair. You've done more for us than we could ever do for you. You saved our universe! You saved me… even Yubel, a-and you didn't even have to! You can't leave us now…!"

"I-I'm sorry…" Jaden offered the teary prince a gentle smile, slowly raising his free hand to Syrus's face, Jaden wiped the tears from the boy's soft cheek, his own hand trembling as his strength waned. Reaching up, Syrus held Jaden's trembling hand, tears continuing to fall from his eyes, unable to accept his dear friend's fate.

"You needn't be sorry, my child…" Neos offered, cradling the boy closer he could feel it. Jaden's soul was leaving him. They didn't have much time left. "All of this. It was ultimately my doing. Mine, and all the rest of the celestials, and we put all of our failures upon your shoulders. It is I, who should apologize to you. Not you to your friends, for you have done no wrong…"

"Jaden…" Jesse whispered, his own eyes stinging from the tears building up within them, squeezing Jaden's hand as tightly yet gently as he could, as if his grip alone would be enough to save the brunette's soul. "Please don't leave me. I know you said you didn't care what happened to you. That this was your duty, and you were happy to see it through. And I was okay with that for a long time. But I'm not anymore." Shaking his head at the notion of losing Jaden, Jesse finally let his tears flow freely. Letting out a sob of pure anguish at the thought, he collapsed even further from his knees, holding Jaden's limp and nearly lifeless hand against his forehead. His sobs wrenching the hearts of everyone around them. "I-I don't wanna lose you…!"

Mustering what little strength he could, Jaden offered Jesse a solemn smile. He didn't want to leave Jesse either. In a perfect world they would be able to stay together forever, able to live and love until the end of their days. But the world was far from perfect. Sensing Jaden's desire, Syrus guided Jaden's limp hand over to Jesse, gently pressing it against the bluenette's tear soaked cheek, Jesse took one of his own hands and placed it atop Jaden's as Syrus took his own away, leaving them to share in their final moments together.

"I know…" Jaden soothed, trying to wipe the tears away from Jesse's face, but his fingers could barely move anymore. His vision was beginning to darken along the edges as well, his time was short and only growing shorter. Hearing the cries of his friends around him, he could see their love for him shining through the darkness that threatened to take him away. Even if he was gone, he would still be with them. "But you know… I'll always… be with you…" feeling the last of his strength begin to leave him, all Jaden could see was Jesse. His flawless yet tearful face staring back at him with sad but loving eyes. Jaden could think of no better way to spend his final moments than in such a company. Offering one final smile to Jesse and their friends, Jaden let his eyes close, unable to keep them open any longer. "I love you all…"

"I love you too, Jaden…" Jesse whispered, just loud enough for Jaden to hear. "We all do…" A silent, teary moment passed, and Jaden's body grew still. With his soul shattered, the life was gone away from his thin form. Feeling the last of his spirit fade, Jesse gave Jaden's hand a gentle squeeze. Moving closer to his side, the bluenette placed his hand on Jaden's head, stroking back his silky brown hair. Tears flowing endlessly from his eyes, Jesse leaned in closer, moving aside Jaden's bangs he planted a gentle kiss upon his forehead before letting his sobs take him once again. Sharing another tearful moment together, Syrus placed a comforting hand on Jesse's shoulder, sharing a lament for him as well as Jaden as Rainbow Dragon let out a mournful roar, signifying the loss of the celestial hero's soul. Cradling Jaden's lifeless form still, Neos looked to the crying children before him, a great grief in his heart as well. And yet still, the tiniest spark of hope yet remained.

"Do not despair, young ones." Neos consoled, understanding just how heartbroken the children were to lose their dear friend. "His soul is shattered and gone. But it is not yet lost."

"Is there anything that can be done...?" Bastion dared to ask, placing his own hand on Jesse's shoulder in a sign of comfort, deeply saddened as well that it had come to this. "May he be restored as well…?"

"There is a chance." Neos nodded, hoping that such a task would be within his power to see done. "If it were his body that was shattered as before, that would be one thing. But souls are tricky, fickle things. To salvage the broken pieces and restore them to his physical form without damaging it… this is no simple task. In fact, it is far more difficult to restore a soul to the body than it is to restore a body to the soul."

"Bring him back…" Jesse pleaded, finally allowing himself to stop the tears from flowing. His face had begun to grow numb from crying, and even his fingers were starting to tingle after such a time. Looking up at Neos, his eyes were puffy and red, his expression denoting just how much pain he was feeling in his heart. As if it had been torn from his chest and torn apart piece by piece before his eyes. It was more than he could take. "Please…"

"I cannot promise such things, young Jesse…" Neos sighed, sympathizing with Jesse's pain nonetheless. "It may not even be possible. But I will try… It's the least I can do, after forcing so much pain upon him as we did. Jaden set us all on the correct path. He was able to see what I had blinded myself to so long ago, and his virtue brought even Yubel back from the depths of darkness. He deserved far better than such a fate. I will do what I can, for his sake."

"Thank you…" Jesse whispered softly, placing every ounce of faith he had left in Neos's thinly veiled promise. If it worked, and Jaden's soul was restored to him, Jesse knew it would take time. A long time, but having to wait a while was better than never seeing him again at all. Honestly, he didn't even want to think about that, but the possibility still remained that Jaden's soul would be lost forever, and even if Neos was able to form him a new soul to restore him to life, it wouldn't be the same Jaden. The friend who had given up everything to save them. The one Jesse had pledged his heart too, and vice versa as well. Running his fingers one last time through Jaden's hair Jesse held on to that tiny spark of hope. That one day, he would be together with Jaden again. And this time, they wouldn't be torn apart from one another.