I do not own Yugioh GX or any of the characters in this fic (except Kenji)

There was no answer.

Syrus whimpered and leaned against the wall.

Zane knocked again, louder this time. The brothers heard a muffled thump from inside the room, and a sleepy moan soon followed.

"Kenji?" Zane called, and rapped on the door a third time.

The door of Room A-475 slid open to reveal the second year Obelisk Blue student, Kenji Kosuke.

"This had better be important. I have an exam this afternoon, and I need to rest up." He glared at Zane and Syrus with sleep-clouded dull green eyes. His short, sandy brown hair stood up in erratic tufts. A wrinkled white tee shirt and faded blue jeans hung on him like clothes on a scarecrow.

"Eh…Truesdale? What do you want?" He blinked, and peered at Syrus. "And who's the kid?"

Zane offered him the note, which he took and opened immediately. Kenji scanned it briefly; then shoved it into his jeans pocket.

"Right. Thanks, Zane. But you never answered my second question."

"I never answered your first question, either." Kenji laughed, and leaned against the doorframe.

"Ah, Zane, I'm finally beginning to see why you're the top student here." He nipped at the fingernails on his right hand absently. His left found his hip and rested there.

"This is my younger brother Syrus," Zane said.

Kenji leaned forward, so that he and Syrus were nose-to-nose. The shorter boy leaned back, and knocked his head against the wall lightly.

"Slifer, huh?" Syrus flushed and turned away.

"Do you know Jaden Yuki?"

IHow did I know that he would ask that?/I

"Yeah, we're best friends," Syrus replied, without much enthusiasm. He scuffed the toe of his shoe on the tile absently.

"I've heard that he's been making some serious news here. Honestly. Beating that brat Princeton and all. More power to him," he paused, "I guess."

Zane watched the two of them with calm, cautious interest.

"Jaden…Yuki?" he repeated. He pronounced the name slowly and thoughtfully. His eyes took on a strange, cloudy look.

Syrus paled. He knew his brother's tone of voice and expression all too well. That was how he looked when he was committing some vital scrap of information to memory.

Jaden was being marked.

"L-leave him alone."

Zane and Kenji turned toward Syrus. Kenji's expression was mild surprise; Zane's hovered close to shock before darkening to anger.

"BWhat/B did you say?"

"I said, 'Leave him alone,'" Syrus said. His voice was calmer and lower now. He turned to face Zane, and clenched his fists tightly. Although his eyes glistened with tears, they burned with something that was startlingly close to hatred.

"Syrus, what are you-" Zane began, only to be cut off.

"You know exactly what I mean. I know that look. You want to duel Jaden. To test him. And to test yourself. Don't. He's not some kind of meter to gauge your strength." Syrus's tone remained even, and he was able to meet his older brother's eyes.

"I'll duel whomever I want, Syrus." Zane narrowed his eyes and crossed his arms.

"You can't just use people like that, Zane. You can't use IJaden/I like that. I'll protect him from you."

"You'll 'protect' him? How do you intend to do that?"

"I…" It was then that Syrus's façade collapsed. He hung his head and clutched his elbows in his palms. What could he do? How could he expect to protect Jaden when he couldn't even stand up for himself? He trembled and cried quietly.

"I don't know. But I will."

Syrus bolted down the long corridor, keeping his shoulders hunched and his head down. His shoes thudded clumsily as he ran. His older brother watched and laughed to himself. Kenji regarded him cautiously.

"Syrus...do what you have to. But know your limits."

As Syrus's footsteps faded, the hallway became silent. Zane didn't feel quite right. Thoughts that simply weren't his ran around his mind like diseased animals. His skin felt too hot and tight. As he ran trembling fingers over his face, he realized that he was smiling so broadly that blood leaked from the corners of his mouth.

"What was that all about?" Kenji asked. He brushed a stray tuft of hair away from his eyes and laughed. By chance, he turned his head and caught sight of the older Truesdale. His eyes bulged and the blood drained from his face.

I"What's wrong with him?"/I

Zane noticed Kenji's expression and tried to chuckle, but it came out sounding more like a hysterical squeal.

"Oh nothing. Just a little sibling rivalry."

Kenji froze in terror, gaping at Zane. The color drained from his face, and he groped for the doorknob wildly.

"Go home, Truesdale," he said, trying desperately to quell the trembling in his voice.

A thoroughly confused Zane took his suggestion, and began his trip back to his room. Despite all that had just happened, he could not get his mind off of Jaden Yuki. Blood dribbled down his chin and stained his white uniform.

But he couldn't seem to wipe that manic grin off of his face.

End.