A darkness dragon entered in the hospital in his mini form. He knew they were staring at him, but he ignored them without any problem and closed his ears to their possible hurtful words.

He stopped near the receptionist and asked, "Hello Miss. I was wondering where is the chamber of Gao. I am one of his friends and I just learned of his conditions today."

The receptionist pointed at the direction of the chamber where Gao was resting. The darkness dragon took off his hat and thanked her. He walked until he reached Gao chamber. As he entered, he noticed that no one was around him, "It's true that they cannot always be here as life goes on."

He took off his hat and grabbed his guitar, "Hello there Gao. It's Troubadour visiting you this time. I recently learned that you got hurt at home by Kiri and Joker when I saw them," he turned in his real form and sat on a chair, "It's surely extremely painful for your friends and family to see you in such state. Since no one could call me, I wasn't there until now, but I'm going to catch the lost time."

Troubadour started playing with his instruments without singing for a while, "I can smell the prominence stench of your buddy, which isn't stinky. Good for you. He must have come here very often Gao, like a loyal friend who wants the best for you I think," he remained quiet for a few minutes before sighing, "There is many things I want to tell you Gao, but alas, I have to keep it inside of me," he raised his tail and closed the door, desiring some privacy, "Gao. I have to apology. I honestly feared that something like that could happen since..." he turned toward the deck case with the Disaster Core lightly shining, "That's on the deck case. Alas, I did nothing and that was a horrible thing from my part, but loyalty is important you know. I hope that I can tell you the true one day when you are conscious and that you can forgive me."

He heard something and stopped his confession. The door leading to the chamber opened. He faced it as he played his music and saw Drum entering in the chamber. The two dragons started at each other's without any words, but Drum frowned lightly.

Chapter 84: Welcome Back

The two dragons observed quietly while the dark dragon continued playing his music.

"Welcome Drum. I'm sure Gao will be glad to meet you," Troubadour said with a smiled.

Drum grumbled and asked, "What are you doing here?"

"I came here to visit Gao. I just learned what happened to him," Troubadour replied.

As if a Darkness Dragon would come here, Drum thought in his mind, "Okay."

"School must be over then," Troubadour said.

"Yes," the red dragon crossed his arms.

Troubadour stopped playing his instruments, "Drum... I'm sorry for what happened to Gao?"

"Hum?" the red dragon confusingly replied, "What do you mean? Why are you even sorry for?"

"It sure came out of nowhere, but I have to say it," he stopped playing his instruments, "And I'll make amend of what happened to Gao. He cannot stay in a coma or he'll hurt you, his friends and family even more. Add me in the friends list Drum."

"What did you do?" Drum suspiciously asked.

Troubadour lips lowered as his gazed at Drum with all seriousness written on his face, "I haven't been a good friend Drum. I knew something bad could happen, but I let it happen. I have to correct it."

He turned toward Gao and walked closer to him.

Drum was ready to fight Troubadour if he tried to hurt his friend, but the darkness dragon picked the deck case. He grabbed the Disaster Core and took it off the deck case.

"What are you-" the red dragon was cut.

"As I said. Making amend of what caused all this," Troubadour replied.

He clenched his hand and the Disaster Core cracked. Eventually, the crystal broke and pieces felt on the ground.

Then... Azi Dahaka offered something to hurt Gao! The Disaster Core is something dangerous! Drum realised. He then gasped when he thought deeper. As the last pieces felt on the ground, Kiri also have it!

"Drum," Troubadour brought him back to reality while his tail closed the door.

The red dragon looked at him, frowning and furiously saying, "What is Azi Dahaka planning to do?"

"I am loyal to my friends, but also to my king. That's why I helped Gao and I won't answer that question," Troubadour replied. He added with all seriousness painted on his face, "No one will believe you if you tell them about the Disaster Force Drum. My king didn't do anything suspicious right now. You should remain quiet about it and wait for the right time."

Drum clenched his claws, but knew at the same time that was probably the best option, "Troubadour. What's Azi Dahara plotting?"

"As I told you, I cannot give you an answer. I'm loyal to my king and I won't tell you anything," the darkness dragon repeated to make sure the message entered in the dragon's mind. He stood up and moved his feet close to the pieces of the Disaster Core.

Drum knew he had to tell something about what he did, "Even so... Thank for helping Gao."

"It was something I had to do. There is one thing left to do and-" Troubadour stopped talking when someone grumbled.

The two dragons turned toward Gao and saw the boy who seemed about to wake up.

"Gao is about to wake up," Troubadour said as he grumbled, "Drum. The Disaster Core was affecting Gao's mind and it was slowing his return to the awakening world. Without it, he's catching up."

Drum nodded.

"Drum. Maybe we will be enemy eventually," Troubadour whispered.

"I'm going to stop Azi plan Troubadour. So we will be," Drum replied.

The darkness dragon lightly smiled, "Do not hesitate to fight me when the time comes."

What does he mean? Drum wondered, "I won't hesitate you know."

"It depends on the context," Troubadour countered, taking a glance toward Gao.

Drum pushed his chair near Gao and sat on the chair, "I can feel that he's coming back."

"That's good," Troubadour answered with a smile. He put his hand and covered his eyes, "Got something in my eye."

Drum heard that excuse a few times in his life, but played along, "Yeah."

They watched Gao slowly coming back to the real world, but he wasn't regaining consciousness that fast. Eventually, the Darkness Dragon commented, "He sure takes his time to wake up."

Drum grumbled something and whispered, "Yeah," while holding up everything else he wanted to express. I can't say anything about that. He thought.

They heard the sound of the sheet being pushed and ended the conversation. Drum turned toward Gao who slowly woke up.

"Gao!" Drum joyfully yelled.

Gao wasn't completely back and grumbled, "Drmmm?"

Troubadour chuckled while the red dragon has his mouth figuratively falling on the ground when he heard his name destroyed.

"Welcome back Gao," Troubadour replied.

"Trbdr?" Gao asked, slowly fully coming back to his senses.

The two dragons had the opposite reaction now.

The boy put his hands over his eyes and whipped them before looking at them, "Drum. Troubadour. What are you doing here?" he looked around, "And where am I?"

"You are in the hospital Gao. You were in a coma for a few days. As for us, we paid you a visit and you came back to the living," Troubadour answered.

"R-really? What happen?" Gao asked, taken by surprise.

Drum pinched his cheeks and looked at Gao, still conscious and back among them. He smiled while tears rolled on his face. Gao turned toward his buddy and noticed the tears. He smiled and raised his hand, "I'm back Drum."

"I know!" he joyfully yelled, "I- We were so worried for you. You might never have come back to us and it was hurting everyone!" he bowed to him, "I'm so sorry Gao. I could have done something to prevent all this, but I didn't."

Gao put his hand on the dragon shoulder, "Drum. I know you would have done it."

Drum raised his head while Gao put his hand on the Deck Case. The boy noticed something and saw the Disaster Core absent, "What h-"

"I'm sorry Gao. The Core felt on the ground and I accidentally stepped on it," Troubadour cut the boy.

Drum turned toward the Darkness Dragon, surprised that he took the blame while he could have done something to point the fault at him.

"Azi had given it and I think he'll be disappointed," Gao said, with his lips down.

"Don't worry. It's my fault and Demios will make me pay," Troubadour sadly chuckled as the payment was a painful punishment for him, "There is no time to think of that. You are back after all," he then discarded the boy's focus from the pieces of the Disaster Core.

Gao looked at the two dragons and noticed one thing that made him smile, "I'm glad you can hang up together you two."

Drum gave a hesitated glance toward the Darkness Dragon, "You can say that."

Troubadour winked.

"Anyway. We have to tell everyone you are back Gao!" Drum said as he grabbed Gao's hand, "And welcome back again."

The two smiled together. A light suddenly shined and the three covered their eyes as they heard, "Buddy Skill Activate."

"What?" the three said.

When the light was gone, Gao looked at his Deck Case. It turned into a belt with the cards on it.

They saw Gao had a glyph under him with a sun. The two said nothing.

"I... I have a buddy skill?" Gao asked surprised. Gao was suddenly dragged in the air as he rested on the buddy skill, "That's great! It will be awesome to show it to everyone."

Drum and Gao had a large smile. They both knew that obtaining a buddy skill meant that the relationship between them had increased and their stronger bound awaken the buddy skill. If there was one positive thing for Gao and Drum was that their heart resonated together as their

Drum thought about the boy's family and friend when he gasped as he remembered what was going on today, "But you might not have time for everyone!"

"W-what do you mean?" Gao asked taken off-guard.

Troubadour knew there was something more important than him. He only gently smiled.

"Kiri and Joker are leaving town today!" Drum told Gao.

"We have to join him!" Gao immediately decided.

Troubadour opened the door for them, "Then go now. It was a pleasure to see you again."

"Thanks for visiting me Troubadour, but I got to go!" Gao said. He added one thing sadly, "Sorry Troubadour."

"No problem. You have on more important thing to say," the darkness dragon replied.

Drum opened his wings before him and Gao flew away with Troubadour waving at them. Everyone in the hospital gasped surprised as they flew near them and left them confused.

"Well," he lightly gulped, "Time to face the consequence. I can already feel the punishment Demios has for me," he then cried inside.

Gao and Drum flew. It wasn't long before Gao asked, "Where are they?"

"They are at the train station. There is not a lot of time before Kiri is gone," Drum said. He then realised something, Kiri still has a Disaster core! I have to- Dammit! I can't tell Gao or anyone about this! He thought back about the long headache Kiri had and wondered if Gao would have the same thing, I'll have to figure this out on my own... But there is also my vengeance, Drum concluded before getting out of his thought.

"Let's hurry then," Gao said.

They flew closer of the train station, hoping to be there in time.

AC: This is the end of chapter 84.

Next chapter: Good-Bye Kiri.