Zane plopped sideways into the soft sofa. "Why?"

Atticus' voice fuzzed slightly for a moment before he repeated himself. "Zane, please? Don't be so mean. I just want to help the poor boy. He's in denial."

"Like you aren't?" Zane started tugging his shoes off.

"Hey! I'm still in denial because you keep rejecting my offer to come visit you!"

"For good reason." He ran a hand through his turquoise hair before stripping off his socks. He placed the communication unit on the table beside the sofa. "Why should we help him?"

"Jesse's a good boy, trust me. He's just...."

"Weird?" inquired Jaden.

Zane ignored the comment. "All the same, no."

Atticus sighed. "I can't reach you! It's so not fair!"

"Life's not fair, Atticus."

"I wish it was."

Jaden laughed somewhere behind Atticus. "All's fair in love and war, Atticus, all's fair."

"Yeah, says you! I thought Zane and I had a thing going on."

"Ack! Don't start crying on me!"

Zane smiled to himself. That was something he still loved about Atticus. He could make a serious situation something memorable for the complete opposite reason. "I don't intend to do it until I absolutely must. Jesse is someone I've met and dueled before. He's a force to be reckoned with, trust me on that. If you ever get caught in a duel that he's all in for, you'd better have a fall-back plan." Zane dropped his jacket and shirt on the sofa. "For now, I need a bath." He hung up.

---Jim---

He was watching Adrian carefully. Whatever the red-head was doing didn't look pleasant. Jim had a sneaking suspicion Adrian had some other strange plan for him.

Yesterday, Jim was forced to duel Adrian, just to get knocked out by the "bracelet" he was wearing. Jim had woken half nude the next morning.

The day before, Jim had been told to stand outside Adrian's bathroom and listen to him take a shower.

Jim couldn't count the times before that, but Adrian had done some other things Jim wasn't proud to say he'd been a part of. Most of it wasn't serious, Adrian had yet to physically claim Jim. Which was why today, Jim had a feeling that was what the liquid concoction was in the syringe was for. He watched Adrian test the needle to be sure there weren't any air bubbles.

"So, today, we're just doing something fun." Adrian poked himself first, dosing himself half of the mixture before coming up to Jim. "Your turn."

Jim had half a mind to say "no", but remembered the last time he'd said "no". He gritted his teeth and proceeded to wait for the needle.

---Jesse---

He was trying to find Adrian. The red-headed Russian had dropped a card. Jesse found Axel.

"ACK! Where's Adrian?" He asked it as politely as he could.

Axel glared at him. He still hadn't gotten over the "making me wait" from the first day. "His room is over there."

Jesse thanked Axel and took off in the direction he'd been pointing. He found a door that was still ajar and decided he'd catch his breath first.

However, Jesse had a bad habit of leaning on things when he tried to catch his breath. Today, for some strange reason, he decided the ajar door was as good a place to lean as any.

The door swung open and Jesse stumbled forward three paces and did a face-plant on the rug. He slowly sat up, rubbing his nose. "Adrian?"

He blinked and threw his arms in the air, giving a shriek.

Jim was lying asleep on the bed, perfectly fine, except his hat was on the floor, and Adrian was using Jim as a pillow, also sleeping soundly.

Jesse quickly clammed himself before approaching. Slowly, he prodded Adrian. He scurried around the bed and pocked Jim as well. He watched them for a long pause before Adrian moved.

His eyes opened and Jesse really screamed that time. Until Adrian covered his mouth. Jesse was screaming something at Adrian through his hand. "Mm mo mmf fmk mo fomng?!"

Adrian held a finger to his lips. "Shh! He's sleeping!" he hissed through his teeth.

Jesse nodded, still standing with his arms in the air. When Adrian released him, Jesse whispered; "What do you think you're doing?!"

"Stuff. What do you want?"

Jesse held up the card. "You dropped this." Jesse's eyes wandered down to Jim's peaceful face. The mysterious bandages made Jesse wonder if Jim was scared so badly it was frightening to see it.

"Don't look at his face," Adrian warned. "He's a bit of a psychic. He can easily see you while he's sleeping. He just doesn't know if it's real or not." Adrian snatched his card back. "Now, leave us alone. I want to take a nap before tonight's little festival for the newcomers."

"Festival?" Jesse asked.

"Yeah, why, you don't know about it?"

"Nope. Nobody told me nothing."

"Ah, of course. Simpletons like you wouldn't have the luxury of having big fancy dorms, now would you?"

Jesse knew Adrian was right. Jesse's highest ranking classmates had provisions almost as good as the Ra dorms, but that was because Jesse had such a small school. "So? At least we don't dwell on the rich and famous. Besides, I find it much more fun to be known for your talent than your money." Jesse smiled brightly before escorting himself out of the room. As he closed the door Jesse gently put his head on it.

"Who'm I kidding? I wish I'd gotten all the fancy stuff, too. Ain't nobody who want's nothin'."

'Jesse, you're so funny.'

He gasped and looked left and right. Was that a kid?!

'Aha, you're so funny! I'm right....'

Jesse slapped himself when the voice faded. The sting made the voice go away. Jesse was rubbing his cheek as he was leaving. He was going to have to find another reason to the voices inside his head. After all, he'd been up for almost thirty hours. Maybe staying up late to practice wasn't so good....

Jim's bandaged eye moved under the bandages and watched Jesse leave. He'd been right. Jesse's spirit was too pure, that was why he was too strong.