Warning: Contains mild yaoi. =)

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Part 9: Prodigal Son

Divine was not happy with the results of the Fortune Cup. Half way through Aki had suffered what could only be referred to as a mental break down and he had to keep her isolated even now, one week after the event.

Yusei had come into contact with Jack as instructed, but other than that little had gone according to plan. Yusei's defeat was collateral damage and had to have been expected given his inexperience. The boy's assessment of Jack Atlas as a person however seemed heavily affected by teenage hormones. He feared his charge suffered from infatuation caused by the other teen's powers.

He had learned one thing though, and that made his own defeat all the more profound. Jack Atlas needed the sole and permanent attention of his keeper, like the ultimate only child. He was utterly incompatible with the Arcadia Movement that focused on strength as a group.

He was useless to Divine, which was generally not a safe thing to be.

*

Yusei himself did not consider the Fortune Cup a loss at all. He had not liked the feeling of losing, true, but he was not one to run away when things got hard. He wanted to see Jack again.

It would have been harder had Jack not felt the same.

He could be somewhat shallow at times, but he was passionate and honest and wonderfully uncomplicated. Yusei had spent his whole life among messed up, traumatized emotions; Jack was like a peaceful oasis to him.

*

They met outside an old theater, an old building that loomed over the street and stood out beautifully amidst the modern scenery. Like Jack, Yusei thought as the taller man pulled him close without hesitation or chastity. Neither was in his nature.

"I want you.", the blond stated without shame, tipping Yusei's chin up to kiss him.

"You always do.", he replied but gave in easily, returning the kiss.

"Exactly. So come live with me."

At that Yusei finally forced some distance between them, both hands on Jack's shoulders so he couldn't move in again. "I told you, I can't."

"Won't.", Jack spat with disappointment and anger.

"Both. Don't split hairs, Jack.", it took a lot of patience to deal with Jack.

"He's not the good Samaritan you think he is."

"Did Godwin tell you that?"

"He's using you.", Jack got a hold of Yusei's wrists, grabbing them almost hard enough to bruise.

"I could say the same about Godwin and you.", Yusei argued, growing tired of the conversation. He wanted to be with Jack, yes, but not at the cost of losing Divine. Couldn't he have both?

"He's Chief of Security, not the Leader of some shady organization with highly dubious intentions. Comparing them is absurd!"

Angrily Yusei freed his hands from Jack's grip. "You don't know anything about us! Or Divine for that matter."

"Well I'm tired of meeting once a week for a few hours!", Jack rarely bothered to keep his voice down, but now he was closer to shouting, "I'm not a game to put away whenever you're bored or not in the mood."

There was honest longing there, desire and a distant fear of losing something important. Jack's feeling always made Yusei forgive his outbursts.

He stopped the impending rant with a hug. "I do understand, Jack. But I can't leave them behind. They need me."

"I need you, too."

'No', thought Yusei, 'You want me.', and that wasn't quite the same thing.