first off, I'd like to thank all my reviewers for... well, for reviewing, especially Angelic Candy, who has given me some awesome ideas.
second, thanks for following along, even though this story doesn't completely make sense yet. you have questions, and I... well, I have answers. I'm just not sure they're the ones you want.
and third... oh, never mind, just go on and read it already.
The walk back to the Obelisk dorm had been slower than necessary. Syrus dragged his feet, and Jaden kept pace with him. He knew it wasn't entirely logical, but he felt as though every moment he has his back to his friend was just another opportunity for him to be hurt.
Then again, it wasn't entirely illogical, either.
But no matter how slowly they walked, eventually they would have to wind up at Zane's door.
And when that moment finally came, they stood together. Syrus could only imagine how this looked. Him, weak and dependent as ever, needing his friend to stand up to his brother for him.
Who knew what Zane was going to do? Syrus was a little less frightened with Jaden by his side. Like some damsel in distress, he thought glumly. And Jaden, the brave knight, was coming to his rescue. Again.
Jaden pounded on the door.
Syrus was almost frightened of him. But he knew that Jaden was mad at Zane, not him. Then again, he was frightened of Zane, too. His brother had hurt him, disgraced him, nearly driven him to suicide. Why shouldn't he be frightened?
But the thing that scared Syrus the most was that he still loved him.
Maybe Jaden had been right. Why was he still loyal to someone who caused him so much misery? Because they were related? Sharing a bloodline didn't mean you had to love someone. It was strange. He could nearly feel the blood coursing in his veins. His one connection to his brother, as insignificant as the blood that ran through his veins, what there was left of it, anyway. It wasn't just his blood staining the carpet of their room. It was Zane's, as well.
A tense moment passed, before he spoke up. "Maybe he's not home. We can always come back later..." He cast Jaden a pleading glance, and the other boy smiled encouragingly and draped an arm over his shoulders.
"Syrus, it's all right. I'm not going to let anything happen to you. I promise." He tightened his hold on him, and for an instant Syrus thought Jaden was going to kiss him again. The idea mortified him. Even if Zane wasn't there, what if he showed up? Or anyone else, for that matter. Word would get back to Zane, and... well, who knew what would happen?
But he didn't need to worry, because Jaden simply turned back to the door and knocked again, slightly softer this time. He seemed calmer now, no longer furious, but merely protective.
"I guess you're right," Jaden said. "I don't think he's here. Come on, let's go--"
"What are you doing here?"
Syrus jumped, and turned to see Zane standing in the hall, glaring at him. Or Jaden. Or maybe both of them.
He hadn't realized that Jaden still had his arm around him until he removed it, and crossed his arms over his chest.
"Well?" Zane asked, his voice cold but edged with impatience.
"We came to find you," Jaden answered.
"Why?"
Syrus stood perfectly still, frozen with fear. They'd been talking for less than thirty seconds, and already things were going downhill.
"Don't tell me you don't know."
"Not really," Zane replied.
Jaden's eyes narrowed. "How about what you did to Syrus?" he snarled. "I'd like to know why you love tormenting him. We both would."
Zane glanced at his brother, who simply stared back at him, a shudder running through his entire body.
"I don't torment him," he answered simply. "He torments himself."
"So you're saying it's his fault?" Jaden challenged. "That everything you do to him, he brought on himself? What kind of brother are you, anyway?"
"He doesn't bring anything on himself. Things happen to him, and he has no idea how to handle it on his own."
"He can too handle things on his own!"
"Then why are you the one I'm talking to?"
Jaden paused, trying but failing, to think of a response.
Syrus looked sadly at his brother. He was absolutely right. If Syrus really was strong enough, then Jaden shouldn't be the one having this argument.
He should.
"Jaden, he's right."
Jaden turned, startled to hear Syrus suddenly speak up. Caught up in his debate, he'd kind of forgotten his friend was still there beside him. He was even more startled that Syrus was speaking up to agree with his brother.
"If I've really changed, then I don't need you," he explained, sounding as defeated as he felt. He already knew who was going to win this argument, and it wasn't him. "I can talk to him myself."
He glanced back at Zane, who stood unmoving. But something was different. There was an almost... confused expression on his face. As if he couldn't believe this.
What's wrong, Zane? Syrus thought bitterly. Didn't think I'd ever stand up to you?
That wasn't the Syrus he knew.
The Syrus he knew had been on the shallow end of the gene pool. If it was at all possible, he'd been born without a backbone. He never talked back. Stayed out of the way. He looked up to his brother and emulated him. Wanted to be like him. Respected him.
This brother wasn't the one he knew.
This brother wasn't the one he'd grown up with. Who had grown up in his shadow.
This brother was strong. Willful. Hell, for once in his young life, he was being brave.
Zane merely nodded, half-asking, half-challenging him to go ahead. Start talking. Prove himself. Maybe this time he would actually succeed.
Syrus looked back to Jaden. "Can we be alone for a little while, Jay?"
Jaden gave Zane a distrustful glare, but turned back to his friend and sighed. "Are you sure?" Syrus looked so confident, so strong, but Zane was already all of those things, and it was in his nature to be so. It was in Syrus' nature to let people like that step all over him.
Syrus nodded slowly. Being absolutely sure of something was a rare sensation to him, and this was only the fourth time in his entire life it had happened. His childhood had held a lot of uncertainty, but there were four things he had ever felt so strongly.
The first had been a constant, the one thing, growing up, that he was absolutely sure of. That was that he was worthless. A total nothing, maybe less, compared to Zane.
The second was that he wanted to die. Nobody loved him. He was a burden in life, and he wouldn't be missed.
The third was that he loved Jaden, and that the feeling was mutual. No, that wasn't it. The third thing was that they loved each other. Total opposites- a confident person who was going somewhere, and a lowly, sorry excuse for a duelist, who would never be more than an embarassment to his family. But they completed each other. Jaden kept up his spirits, and Syrus kept him grounded. They kept each other in a perfect state of being.
The fourth was proven right now. He was ready to stand up to Zane.
Two already had been disproven. He'd been so sure of them at the time, but now knew better. Would time prove the other things wrong as well?
But on the other hand, they'd been disproven by the last two. If nobody loved him, then why did Jaden? If he was a nobody, then why would he be talking to Zane?
Now only the two things that remained were important. His entire reason for living. Without them, he'd have died.
They were his life.
"Yes, Jaden, I'm sure."
Zane made his way over to them, and opened the door. He looked back, to see if Syrus was having any second thoughts about this. As far as Zane could tell, he wasn't.
He held the door open, and Syrus stepped through. With one foot inside the room, he looked back at Jaden.
"I'll be right here," the brunette said reassuringly. If he tries anything... I'll be right here.
okay. you know what to do. )
