Edit: POV shift happens earlier. (Midna Azusa puts this all together in actual story format for me, and she didn't catch my note on when the viewpoint changes).

Disclaimer: We don't own Yugioh GX.

Judai's POV

Somehow, what Johan had said wasn't all that surprising. I mean, aside from one point.

"Th-that's… Never acknowledged her feelings…? I was flirting with her first year… She's the one who didn't…"

Johan crossed his arms, looking concerned. "Yeah, I know, but—"

He got cut off by that annoying red-head as she came over, saying, "Judai! Hey, are you okay?"

Johan's attention snapped back toward her, and I could tell he was glaring at her from how tense he was suddenly. Yubel disappeared, but I could feel that she was getting ready to attack Ai if she tried anything.

Johan narrowed his eyes and muttered, "Oh, crap." He stood up and stood over top of me, his arms spread. And I mean he was literally standing over top of me (at least my legs since I was still on the ground). Clearly he didn't plan on letting Ai anywhere near me, either. "Hands off! Can't you see he's not in the mood!?"

True, but who was ever in the mood to see their stalker?

"Get lost already!" he snapped, waving an arm through the air as though swatting at a bug.

Ai stopped where she was and pouted. "Well, that's not very nice!"

Johan glanced over his shoulder at me. "It's okay, pal. I've got this."

Honestly, I didn't really care much about Ai right then. I was a little preoccupied with the fact that one of my closest friends from school hated me. Besides, Yubel and Johan could handle Ai.

Johan turned back to Ai, glaring again. "What do you want, anyway?" he snapped. "Can't you see he's upset? Why can't you just leave him alone already!?"

"I want to know why he's upset!" Ai said, and I could almost see her stamping her foot. "Sheesh!"

"Well, I don't think that's any of your business. Since you're not his friend, you don't need to know! Now get out of here! We're busy." He glanced back at me out of the corner of his eye.

"It's about Asuka, isn't it?" Ai asked. "She break his heart?"

I glanced at her, wondering why she always needed to know everything that was going on with me. How come it seemed my stalker knew me better than most of my friends?

Johan waved an arm through the air and said, "That's none of your—"

"Oh, Judai, I'm so sorry," Ai cut him off, moving forward a couple of steps.

Johan's glare intensified, and a low growl started in his throat. He braced himself, apparently ready to use force against her, if necessary.

"She has been pretty cruel to you lately, hasn't she? What with the things she's been saying…"

Yeah, says the girl who trapped me on a beach so she could force me to marry her.

"Hey! Are you listening!? I said get—"

Ai shoved him aside, knocking him to the ground. His eyes widened as she easily moved him, and he learned the hard way that she was tougher than she looked. I mean, she had the delicate lady look down perfect, what with her lacey white sundress and her sunhat over her red hair, but she wasn't to be taken lightly.

As Johan sat up and shook off the dirt, Ai knelt down beside me. "You wanna talk about it?" she asked, and she actually sounded gentle and concerned.

Johan glared at her, blushing some. I guess being knocked over by a girl in a pretty white dress embarrassed him. "H-hey! What was that for!?"

I just sat there for a second, quiet, before saying, "Johan?"

He blinked and looked at me. "Yeah?" he asked, getting to his feet.

"Can we go somewhere else?" I asked.

I didn't care if Ai was acting human for a change. She wasn't, and I wasn't interested in spending time with any woman, anyway.

"Judai…" Ai whined.

Like I cared if she was upset?

Asuka's POV

After talking with Kyle about Judai, I had headed back to the resort to find him, but he wasn't there. So I went out looking for him, but I hadn't had any luck finding him. I did, however, find Johan on the beach. Since I couldn't find Judai, I headed over, deciding to ask him. Surely Sho had told them all the truth about why I'd said those things by now. He was so mad that there was no way he'd kept that a secret, so Johan wouldn't think I was a traitor.

"Hey, Johan? Have you seen—"

I cut myself off with a gasp, and my eyes widened at the sight before me. Judai was on the ground, looking like he'd been crying. He wasn't wearing shoes or a jacket. Ai was kneeling beside him, looking slightly upset. And Johan was standing just a foot away from them both, looking as though he was on guard.

What…on Earth…had Ai done this time!? I wanted so badly to ask, but Ai—the potential rapist, the bitch—was there, so I had to put on my stupid little act, as much as it killed me to do that right then. Damn it, I needed to talk to Judai in a friendly manner right then, for crying out loud!

It only took a split second for me to decide that acting as if I couldn't believe that Ai was that desperate and acting totally shocked could help. I mean, I couldn't very well be acting angry at Judai when I thought that my new "friend" had gone insane, now could I? Besides, this was pretty shocking.

So, my eyes wide with horror (genuine or fake, I'll never know), I tried to keep my tone nothing more than unnerved as I asked, "Wha-what happened here? Ai? You didn't—"

I was pleased to note that I only sounded stunned; none of my horror had leaked out in my voice. I glanced at Ai out of the corner of my eye, focusing most of my attention on Judai. I wasn't sure what was going on here, but it was sure looking like rape.

If not for Judai's next move, I might have kept on thinking that.

Judai looked away, staring at the sand, as if he was hoping it would absorb him. What was that look for? He had told me that he was okay! Yet here he was, looking as if he wished he could disappear, and not because of fear. That was more of a self-loathing look, mixed with hurt and guilt. But what on earth had caused him to react like that? He was fine a few hours ago!

Or…had he been lying? B-but that would mean that—

Johan took a step forward, as if to say something. He was looking sympathetic and concerned.

Ai beat him to the punch, though. "Asuka, you've really gone and done it this time! Honestly, how can one girl be so cruel? At least I care about his feelings! You don't even do that! And all because you've got the way wrong idea about what was going on back then!"

I started, my eyes widening even more. So he had been lying when he said he was okay with how I was acting! But that couldn't be true! Sure, Judai was known to hide how he was feeling, but he didn't flat-out lie to a person's face! I mean, he'd even forgiven Yubel for all she had done, and she had never even bothered apologizing for it! If he said it was okay, then it was okay! Besides that, I did care! Why else would I be looking for him!? It was Ai who clearly didn't care!

"W-what!?" I stammered. "Ai, that's not—"

Johan tried again to speak, holding up a hand, but Ai beat him to it again, saying, "Judai loves you, you idiot! Sure, he ran away that day, but that was because he thought you and the others hated him! And what was he supposed to think after you said that he betrayed you!?"

There it was; everything Kyle had told me, summarized. And it was coming from Ai, who really shouldn't have known. This stalker needed dealt with now. She was way creepier than Rei and way too close to Judai right now! There was no way that he was in any shape to deal with her, given the state he was in!

"Wait, how do you know—"

Again Johan opened his mouth, holding up a finger and still looking sympathetic, but more uncomfortable now. He'd let his guard down, the idiot.

Again, before he could say anything, Ai's actions stopped him. This time, though, her action was grabbing Judai's arm. Johan stopped and stared, and I was glad to see that he wasn't happy about what she was doing. I mean, he shouldn't have been! Sure, Judai clearly wasn't happy with me, either, but that didn't mean he wanted to go with Ai! He hated her more than he did me! Hopefully.

"Come on, Judai!" Ai said. "Let's get you away from here!"

"Let go, Ai," Judai said.

"Hey! Hold up!" Johan said, moving as if to stop her. He lunged forward, glaring at her.

Gee, Andersen. Took you long enough! Judai couldn't handle Ai on his own right now, so why were you letting her do that in the first place?

"Come on!" Ai commanded, tugging Judai to his feet.

"Ai!" Judai protested.

Johan ran up and grabbed her around the neck. He had a look to kill. "I said hold up! You're not going anywhere, now let go of my friend!"

I started, my eyes wide again. Johan looked so serious, but he was making a serious mistake right now. Ai was a princess, for crying out loud! Attacking her was risky! I mean, sure, Manjoume got away with it all the time, but that had to be just dumb luck. And Johan wasn't usually this aggressive! Ai must have really struck a nerve this time. I mean, it made sense, given that she was trying to take advantage of the situation.

"Johan!?" I asked, shocked.

"Hey! You can't treat me this way!" Ai protested.

Johan tightened his grip a bit, glaring more fiercely. He was looking pretty commanding, but commanding a princess with death threats was the stupidest thing he could possibly do! What the hell was he doing!? Pushing her away would have been good enough!

"No, it's you who can't treat him that way! I'll never let you take advantage of him like this! Now let him go or else!"

I sweat. "Uh, Johan?"

This wasn't good. If this kept going, Johan was going to get himself in serious trouble.

Ai let go of Judai, and she looked angry. Great, too late. Now he was in for it! Why didn't men ever listen? He hadn't even looked at me when I'd tried to warn him about her!

Johan tossed Ai aside and went to cover Judai protectively, grabbing him in a protective bear hug. He looked like a father guarding his precious son, though, so don't go getting any funny ideas. Neither of them were gay, as far as I knew. Johan glared over his shoulder at Ai again. "Now get out," he snapped. "You've done enough, so leave us alone. Or the next time you try this, I won't be so nice! Understand?"

He sounded threatening and stern. Threatening. Yeah, someone was hurting Johan's kid. So when had he adopted Judai, and why adopt someone the same age as him?

Well, that awkwardness aside, Johan was still threatening a princess.

I put a hand to my head, sensing disaster. "He just—"

Johan's idiocy knew no bounds that day, did it?

Ai glared at Johan as Judai put a hand on his friend's shoulder, sort of hiding behind him. So now the "son" was clinging to his "daddy." Those boys had issues…in more ways than one.

"Fine! But this isn't over, Andersen!" Ai said before storming off.

Great. I was afraid of that. Ai was angry about being threatened, and Johan was now in serious trouble. Defending a friend or not, she was a princess. I had to warn him.

Judai's POV

Johan didn't move a muscle until Ai was out of sight. He kept his eyes trained on her, like a hawk on its prey. Once she was gone, he relaxed and turned to me, pulling back but keeping hold of my arms. "You okay, pal?"

"Johan, do you know what you just did?" Asuka asked, sweating as she walked over.

It just figured she was completely ignoring me. I mean, she'd thought she was only acting like she hated me before, but now she knew otherwise. Why keep pretending that we were friends now that she knew she hated me?

"No, what?" Johan asked, letting go of me and turning to Asuka, curious.

Asuka sweat. "You just threatened a princess," she said. "A real, live princess. Do you know what that means?"

His eyes widened. "Y-you're kidding, right!?"

She shook her head sadly. "Afraid not. Ai is the second-born child of the Misgarth Kingdom. Threatening her means certain doom for the idiot she tells on."

Johan sweat, looking nervous. "Oh, crap…"

Holy crap, seriously!? I was stunned, obviously. I mean, I'd met the first-born of Misgarth, and he was nothing like that woman. "Ojin's sister… That's a scary thought…" I gripped Johan's arm, worried about my friend now. Why did that crazy woman have to be related to the crown prince of Misgarth?

"I'll try talking to her about this. But, in the meantime, might be a good idea for you to disappear, if you know what I mean," Asuka told Johan.

His shoulders slumped, and he frowned. "Well, that sucks." He turned an apologetic look on me, saying, "Sorry, bro, but I've gotta go. I'll see you around sometime if I survive this and you get out of this mess, okay?"

Oh, great.

"Right. You do that," Asuka said. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm gonna go find Ai. Later."

As Asuka left, Johan started off toward town.

Not wanting to be left on an island with a bunch of other people who might hate me as much as Asuka, I said, "She hasn't found the villa."

Johan stopped and looked back at me, still looking apologetic. "Sorry, pal. But it's just too risky. But, hey, we'll see each other again." He flashed a reassuring smile at me.

Honestly, I knew that he couldn't stay, but it didn't change how I felt. After finding out that Asuka secretly hated me, I couldn't help but wonder if any of the others felt the same way deep down. Johan was the only one I was sure didn't hate me; he didn't have any reason to, after all.

"…Yeah, okay," I said reluctantly.

Add that to the list of reasons I hated Ai: driving my best—and, possibly, only—friend into hiding.

Johan walked back over and patted my shoulder. "See ya," he said. "And don't worry. It'll be okay." With that, he ran off, still smiling.

Well, this day had sucked ass. I fell back to my knees, thinking about just how much it had sucked. I'd gotten sick from being stupid, had Ai come after me again, found out Asuka actually did hate me, wound up stuck on the beach in my bare feet, and had my best friend driven away at the risk of execution. Great, now all I needed was for someone to come over and kick me in the nuts, and my day would be complete.

Yubel reappeared—so where was she when Ai was trying to drag me off?—and put her hands on my shoulders, kneeling down beside me. "Hey, it's okay. At least he'll be safe from Ai's wrath that way, right?"

She was sounding gentle and caring, even though I knew she hated Johan with a passion. She must have been acting this way for my sake, which was rare. I guess she was really worried.

"…Yeah…hopefully…" I said quietly.

She stood up, putting her hands on her hips and sounding like her usual self again as she said, "Come on. Let's go see if that idiot Natsuko's married yet. What do you say?"

I didn't really feel like it, but I knew I couldn't just hang around there all day. I'd already made that stupid mistake once, after all. Besides, moping wasn't going to change anything.

"…Okay…" I said, getting to my feet. If there was one thing I had learned by this point, it was that life wasn't going to stop just because my world was falling apart.

Yubel smiled. "There we go. Come on. Let's go find that wedding."

"Okay…"

So we headed off to try to find Akiko's crazy older brother. Obviously Yubel was hoping that weirdo would get my mind off my issues. Honestly, I was kind of hoping for that, too.