Title: Returning
Characters: Samejima, Juudai, Yubel
Chapters: 1-1||Words: 1,176
Genre: General||bRated: G
Challenges: Diversity Writing: YGO GX canon: C19, finding something; Include The Word Boot Camp, YGO, #44, young; GX Month Day #5, Dramatic Rescue
Notes: I have many headcanons about GX. This is only one of them.
Summary: Yubel took the Sangenma while they were in Sand World. Now it's time to bring them back.

Principal Samejima knew that something had changed. It had been a week already since the vast majority of his students had returned from that other world. They'd told him what they could about what happened. He knew that Juudai would return, sooner or later. He had faith in that young man, who had already accomplished so very much.

His attention dropped to the potted plant that concealed his favored hiding place for the Sangenma. He'd hoped that when the students returned that so would they. Yet there hadn't been a sign of them either. No one knew where they were, though Johan Andersen had given his opinion that they still remained in the possession of Yubel.

That worried Samejima more than he wished to express. While a human could not play those cards without them draining the life-force of all the spirits in the vicinity, a creature like Yubel had no such limitations. From what O'Brien and Johan had been able to tell him, Yubel certainly controlled the three cards effortlessly. What could come of that, he had no idea.

But something had changed. He'd heard a loud noise from outside but by the time he'd reached the window, whatever it was couldn't be seen. He considered his options, then decided as Principal, he needed to go see what it was himself. Straightening his jacket, he headed out with a decisive step.

When he stepped out of the main doors of the building, he saw something he truly hadn't expected. Or in fairness, someone that he hadn't expected.

"Juudai-kun?" He regarded the young Osiris Red as Juudai approached. "You've returned?" He knew what his eyes told him but he wasn't going to rule out the possibility of someone somehow pretending to be Juudai. It wouldn't be at all the first time that illusions or shapeshifters or what all turned up.

But that brilliant smile told him otherwise - though he thought perhaps it's brilliance dimmed a trifle. He'd heard what had happened in the other world, and he had a good idea of who else looked out from the world alongside of Juudai. He didn't let his guard down for a moment.

"Hey, Principal Samejima." Juudai greeted with a wave. "It's been a while."

Samejima agreed. He could see Marufuji Shou lurking not that far away, looking far happier than he had in the last week. That definitely helped him believe this was truly Juudai. "It's good to see you again."

"Glad I got back." Juudai shook his head for a second, then squared up his shoulders. "There's something I need to give you. Well, something someone needs to give you anyway." His eyes flicked to one side and for a heartbeat, Samejima thought that he saw them flicker in two different colors.

Then a tall creature stood there, a strange mix of dragon and demon, wings spread out over Juudai, arms folded over their chest. It had been ages since he'd seen even a picture of the card, but he knew who this was at once - Yubel. The stories the others told had been very clear about what the powerful spirit looked like.

"Yubel." He wasn't sure if he said it with fear or respect. Shou-kun hadn't said much about the final duel, only that Juudai ended it in some fashion and then 'went off on a journey to become a man'. He'd suspected - but he'd had no evidence until now.

Juudai nudged the spirit lightly, a fond little smile on his lips. "Go on. Do it."

Yubel sighed a great and deep sigh before holding out their hand. In it there rested three cards. Samejima took a moment before he understood what they were, then quickly took them. "The Sangenma..."

Juudai nodded, then nudged Yubel again. Yubel glowered at him, but not in a way that made Samejima fearful for his student. It really looked more like a pair of old and close friends, or even - even - well, he'd never thought of that before.

He shook his head to clear his mind before Yubel spoke.

"I took them to facilitate finding my beloved Juudai again. I - should not have." It seemed as if the words were being wrung out of them. Samejima had no idea himself of what to say.

"Thank you," he managed, tucking them into a pocket. He would return them to their hiding place in due course. For now, he glanced to Juudai. "Is there anything else that you need right now?"

"Not now. I just want something to eat and some sleep. Tome-san's still awake, isn't she?" Juudai wondered as Yubel faded away, clearly not thrilled with speaking to people.

"I believe so." Samejima agreed. Even if she wasn't, she would gladly have gotten up to fix Juudai something. That was just the kind of person that she was.

Those eyes I saw before. Those were Yubel's eyes. In Juudai's face. He didn't want to think about this a great deal. He'd suspected something would happen that would bring Yubel back into Juudai's life sooner or later, but he still wasn't sure about all the details of what had happened, and he wasn't sure if he wanted to know. He would figure it out later, perhaps. For now, it was getting late, and he had a very full day coming far too soon.

Juudai nodded and raised one hand in farewell before turning and heading away, Shou joining him before he'd gone too far. Samejima watched the two of them until they were hidden by the curve of the path, then turned and headed inside. He could feel the weight of the Sangenma in his pocket and wanted them back into their sanctuary as quickly as he could. He didn't have the talent to see spirits that others did, but he could feel their regard on his back no matter what.

Sometimes he wished there was someone else who could guard them, but he didn't know if even someone like Juudai could keep their power properly contained. He didn't want to find out that any number of spirits died because of being in the wrong hands. It had already come close to happening once before. Perhaps it had been just as well that when they were stolen this last time, it was when they were in a world where their powers could be contained by other means. It could have been far, far worse.

At least Juudai had returned now. Whether it were possible for Marufuji Ryou or Amon Garam to do so remained to be seen. Though also from what he'd heard from Edo Phoenix, few people would miss Amon Garam if he didn't return.

But I will have to explain this to his family. Garam Finance would not be easy to deal with. He wondered if he could get Juudai to help with that.

But that remained in the future. For now, he headed to return the Sangenma to their proper resting place, and get on to his. Tomorrow was a school day.

The End

Notes: I actually do not find Samejima to be the useless idiot fanon likes to portray him as. I could go on and on why he does what he does, but the gist of it is, he's fully aware of who Juudai is and always has been, and wants him to be a mature person capable of fulfilling his destiny to save the world. A destiny that he would have regardless of what Samejima did.