The red runner stood before him, but Yusei froze. He couldn't get back to work; his mind was racing and his entire system felt alive with undirected energy. The wave of emotions coursing through him were unfamiliar and scared him a little.

Jack couldn't have really said that ...But he did. And Yusei had no idea what to think.

He clenched his hand around the wrench he was holding. Part of him didn't understand how Jack could have feelings like that and still betray him. Why? But Yusei found his brain wouldn't work out any kind of reasoning, his mind just kept repeating the fact that Jack loved him.

He heard footsteps behind him and saw Leo and Luna walking across on the stone path towards him.

"There you are!" Leo cried.

"Leo, he's busy." Luna nudged her brother, seeing the wrench in his hand.

"No, it's OK." Yusei interrupted, privately glad for the break. He put down the wrench and stood up. "What's the problem?"

The thought of Jack's confession lingered on Yusei's mind all afternoon. He found that no matter what he was doing it was always there. It was on the tip of his tongue in conversation without ever creeping into words.

Yusei was alone now; having just finished the final adjustment of Leo's duel-disk as the boy was convinced he would be duelling the Dark Signers himself. He had retreated inside Goodwin's mansion after giving up hope of working on his runner. His mind was too distracted.

Staring out of the window, he realised how late it was – the sky was turning to a grey-purple promising rain. Idly, he wondered if Jack was thinking about him.

He hadn't seen Jack since that morning. Not in the house or in the grounds. I should have said something.

Yusei's head fell into his hands – no one was around to see – and he tugged his hair. This frustration, he didn't know what it was. But he felt useless, a slave to his feelings yet he didn't know what he felt.

Lifting his head he tried to think clearly. He knew he had upset Jack. Otherwise Jack would have been all in his face – Jack was only quiet when he was sad.

Would Jack ever bring it up again? If this had been something that had been on his mind for a while it must have taken a lot to say it after all these years, maybe he would never mention it.

For some reason Yusei felt a lurch in his heart at this. But it was some replaced by a wave of fear that he may actually have feelings for his best friends and foster brother.

I need to be ready, if Jack wants to talk again. But I don't know what to say.

Just then Leo walked in, signalling Yusei to immediately fix his expression into a hard stare.

"Hey, you alright?" Yusei greeted the younger boy with a level tone.

"Yeah, I'm just looking for Jack." Leo was frowning as he looked around the room.

"Jack?" That was Akiza.

"I don't know where he is and I've looked everywhere." Leo whined. "You would not believe how many rooms there are in this place."

"I saw him go out earlier, but that was ages ago." She tilted her head noticing the view out of the window. "And it looks like it's going to rain, his lordship wouldn't dare soil his coat."

Though she had made the comment lightly, Yusei couldn't help being worried.

"We'll do one last check," Aki spoke to Leo. "Wait for me in the kitchen."

"Yeah, thanks Akiza!" Leo headed off, his bright nature apparently restored.

Yusei's thoughts returned to Jack. What if he had been out all day? What if-

"Yusei?"

He hadn't even noticed Akiza walk over to him. She seemed to be waiting for something.

"What's wrong?"

"Well, that's what I'd like to know." She implored.

Yusei didn't respond, just frowned.

"Because I haven't seen Jack since he left. And generally when Jack's around he makes sure you know about it." There was concern in her voice despite her airy tone. "Did you fall out with Jack?"

"Well, no- I..." Yusei paused for a moment; maybe Jack had seen it that way. "I'll go and find him. Where did you see him go?"