Chazz Princeton couldn't feel any lower than he did right now. He had stopped laughing and crying after the duel between Rox and Yarou but he still felt the same way as he had before. He had taken the life of a woman, perhaps if he had thought it over a few moments before he attacked he would have decided that it was war and he had to attack. But he knew that wasn't going through his head as he ordered the attack, he had been full of rage; he had wanted to attack and kill Rai.

How was he supposed to feel now?

He knew one thing as he sat on a chair in the infirmary of Duel Academy. He actually wished the Ojama's would talk to him.

"Yellow?" he asked quietly, "Green? Black?"

No one appeared. No laughs or cheers in their signature annoying tones. His body shook a little before his head sprung up at the sound of a voice.

"Chazz I'm concerned"

It was the infirmary nurse who was now looking through the papers of the tests she had tried on him.

"You're under a lot of stress" she said as she flipped through them "Your body seems to be destroying itself with all the pressure you're going through is something wrong?" She asked in a concerned tone.

He couldn't reply. How could he? His reply would be 'I've killed someone and I feel terrible, help me god help me' how could he explain that?

"Chazz I want you to take it easy take your lessons off and hang around with your friends" She said with a small smile, he couldn't help but smile a little back despite how bad he felt inside.

How could he face his friends now? He was a murderer if he told them that then he would never be able to face them. There was only one person who knew what happened; Rox. And why hadn't he handed Chazz in? Why did he challenge him in the first place?

"If you still feeling this way maybe you should go home for a while-" she began before the doors of the infirmary burst open.

"We have two people who've just been attacked" The voice of Rale explained his tone strong, the woman's jaw dropped as Rale strode in and placed the wounded boy onto one of the infirmary beds.

"What in the name of hell happened to him?" She exclaimed now turning away from Chazz and rushing over to the bedside.

"He's been stabbed with a scalpel about fifteen millimeters long it went in fourteen millimeters it's probably touched something" He replied as he straightened the boy out undoing his jacket to reveal the wound on the boys stomach.

He then walked over towards the door to help carry in the next patient. She was limping and letting out groans of pain, "She fell into the ocean she's got a few cracked ribs, her shoulders are bruised maybe in the same condition and she has one broken ankle"

He explained the condition like they were in a hospital emergency room as he lay her down taking off her jacket, "Gale I need you to go tell Crowler what's happened to the them tell him to contact their families as soon as possible"

Gale nodded before running out of the room. Chazz noticed for a minute that her eyes had looked briefly towards the bed the wounded boy lay on. Who was that? And why did he feel so much fear enter his body.

He looked more closely at the body. Rale was blocking his view. He looked towards the other body that lay on the bed groaning, the nurse was now seeing to her. He got up slowly, Rale moved out the way.

"Syrus!" Chazz exclaimed as he looked at the pale face of Syrus, his nose and mouth bleeding and blood running from his stomach. What had happened to him? Had Rale said he had been stabbed?

He looked at the other bed the fear running down his body, "Alexis" he breathed. The nurse was now filling up a syringe with a clear liquid and tensing Alexis's arm.

Rale now seemed to realize that Chazz existed and walked over to him taping him on the shoulder before whispering into his ear.

"Chazz both of them are hurt I need you to go get Jaden Yuki and Atticus Rhodes now"

Chazz turned to him his mouth hung open "What happened to them?"

Rale looked him in the eye before murmuring the word low enough so the nurse couldn't hear, "Alexis just played a shadow game and won"

Chazz's eyes widened in shock. Alexis had played a shadow game like the one he had played and survived. She was ok. But then that would mean that she had won the duel. She had killed someone just like he had! She was a murderer!

"No…no not Alexis…don't tell me she's kil-" He began but Rale seemed to glare at him forcefully before taking him by the shoulder.

"Damn it Chazz this is not the time" He breathed forcefully "Listen to me Chazz these are scary times and I'm sorry what Rox put you through but let me tell you"

He lowered himself to Chazz's ear "We need people like you! We need you to stay strong and fight with us! You have done nothing wrong you need to keep fighting or people will die"

The words were strong and firm but wise. Although he may not understand why he needed to fight with them he knew that for now his own guilt would have to wait.

"I'll go get Jaden and Atticus"

"Good man" Rale said with a nod before hurrying to Syrus's side as Chazz left.

Chazz ran down the corridor as fast as he could. But he did stop. He felt something warm in his black trench coat pocket. He reached inside before taking out his deck. He looked at the card on the bottom of it, Ojama King. Grinning at him with his thumbs up.

He couldn't help but smile. The message was loud and clear, 'Be strong Boss'.

----

"When did this happen?" Crowler asked sitting behind his desk, Pegasus sat in front of it with a glass of wine in his hand looking back at Rale who had just entered the room.

"About an hour ago sir they need doctors" Rale spoke his voice polite but firm.

"Very well I'll send for the medical attention to be flown in and alert their families" Crowler said with a nod before picking up the phone on his desk.

"Before you do sir I have to ask you for a request" Rale spoke, the positive tone that suddenly pricked up in his voice seemed to confuse Crowler.

"A request?" he asked an eyebrow raised in reply.

"Zane Truesdale" Rale replied with a nod "I wish for him to be flown in"

"Are you thinking of challenging him?" Crowler asked a sudden spark of interest flickering in his eyes from the thought of a money making idea.

"Not sure" was the simple reply from Rale causing Crowler to stare at him blankly.

"You believe he should be here to pick up Syrus?" He asked the enthusiasm in his voice now gone.

"No personally I don't even think Syrus or Alexis should leave the island" Rale's positive tone had now left him as he looked at Crowler.

"Good grief boy whatever for?"

"I understand what he's talking about Chancellor Crowler" Pegasus suddenly spoke out from behind his glass of wine with a small smile "And I believe he is right"

"But Mr Pegasus we have two injured students on our hands!" Crowler spoke up in surprise as he looked from Rale to Pegasus.

"And I will fill you in on exactly why they must stay here as soon as young Rale here leaves" Pegasus spoke calmly as he swirled the wine a little.

Crowler looked from Pegasus to Rale. Neither of them gave anything away, "Very well but I'm not sure their parent's will see it that way"

"They don't need to Sir" Rale said with a nod before walking out of the room.

"Now Mr Pegasus" Crowler spoke as he turned to him "Just what is going on?"

---

Jaden stood outside of the infirmary. A small note of paper in his hands, Chazz stood next to him with a frown on his face.

"So Atticus isn't here?"

"No he left the other day for a tournament in New York…he'll probably just duck out at the last minute though"

"Just so long as he gets here"

Jaden looked to one side towards Chazz a frown on his face "Are you ok Chazz?"

"Of course why wouldn't I be?"

"Because you've won a shadow game" Jaden spoke watching as Chazz tensed up, "its ok I heard that you had been going through the same thing I had...just wanted you to know-"

"Save it" Chazz said firmly before turning to Jaden "Jaden those duelists…you know for a fact that they've seen a shadow game more than once"

Jaden nodded slowly, "Yeah…they've probably killed too"

"I think it's time we joined them"

"Joined them? Chazz are you crazy I don't want to kill someone again!"

"Jaden don't you see!" Chazz snapped at him "There's something going on here! Alexis and Syrus got hurt today in one of those games! They're just innocent bystanders in those duelists war and the same goes for you"

"What about you?"

"I'm already part of them" he spoke as he looked to one side, "Jaden we need to be prepared for what's going to come next…I'm sure that if were with them then it's more likely that we won't have to sleep with one eye open at night"

Jaden looked at him, he was stunned at how Chazz could be so excepting of it. He was right, he knew he was right but that didn't make it ok for them to join people that were so dangerous.

"If we don't at least have them on our side Jaden our friends might get hurt again" Chazz spoke his back turned towards him.

"Go inside and check on Syrus and Alexis tell her what happened with Atticus and tell Syrus Zane's on his way"

He nodded slowly. The door of the infirmary opened, he looked at Chazz who had now begun walking down the corridor. Chazz was free to do whatever he wanted, but as for him he needed more time.

---

"How you doing Syrus?" Jaden asked; he was sat down next to Syrus's bedside with a small smile.

"Well I've been better…my head hurts a bit" Syrus said quietly looking towards Jaden with a slight smile on his face.

"Never mind the head" Jaden said with a weak chuckle.

A nurse was currently leaning over Syrus. She was stitching up the stab wound in his stomach. He had been lucky the scalpel hadn't managed to slice into his organs. So far the only problem was the loss of blood and punch to his face.

"Maybe you should get some rest Syrus" Jaden said with a warm smile, he nodded before shutting his eyes.

"Tell me…was I stupid or brave?" Syrus asked quietly.

"Both" Jaden said with a small chuckle "But don't worry being brave is double being stupid"

Syrus let out a small chuckle. In only moments he was fast asleep, maybe the nurse had given him something or maybe he was tired from the excitement and blood loss.

At least he was alright was what went through.

Jaden looked towards Alexis. She had her eyes shut but there was something about her that said that she wasn't asleep, "Alexis?"

She didn't reply. Maybe she was just tired? He sat down on the chair in between the two infirmary beds.

"Are you ok?" A stupid question but he didn't like the silence.

"What happened?"

"Jaden" Alexis spoke her eyes opening, she didn't look at him.

"Yeah?" He asked turning towards her the small smile on his face. That small smile was suppressing everything, the fear and the guilt all forced down. If that slipped he may start telling her how he wished he was there and prevented everything from happening.

"Please…don't talk to me right now…" She spoke her eyes shinning a little in the light.

Her words were firm and they hurt but he couldn't let the smile slip. He nodded slowly before turning away.

"Do you mind if I stay here?" he asked her despite the fact he was looking at the floor.

She didn't reply or look at him. He looked at her from out of the corner of his eye and watched her eyes glisten. She was upset, but she didn't want to talk to him. He found it a little funny how a moment ago he thought he couldn't feel any worse and now it doubled inside.

But this wasn't the time to scold or argue. His friends were hurt.

----

"Tormentors Mr Pegasus?" Crowler asked an eyebrow raised as he looked at the man as he swiped his wine.

"Yes…tormentors…those who have been given the power of the shadow realm through an unknown presence" he spoke calmly his eyes closed.

"And who is that presence?"

Pegasus raised an eyebrow as he looked towards Crowler, "That would be why it's unknown Chancellor Crowler"

Crowlers mouth hung open in a dumb expression before his head snapped up and he shook his head.

"I mean…do you have any connections!" he asked his tone embarrassed and flustered.

"A criminal...nameless…that's all" Pegasus spoke lowering the glass and setting it on the table.

"He's been recruiting people?"

"Yes and what could be his latest recruit causes concern" Pegasus murmured now reaching down and picking up a paper file which lay at his feet.

"Really Mr. Pegasus?" Crowler asked an eyebrow raised, "Well duel academy has had its share of vampires, dueling monkeys and destruction monsters before it's certainly nothing we can't handle-"

"Chancellor Crowler" Pegasus interrupted in a firm tone as he opened the file and threw it onto his desk, "This is a person who likes to strap people to chairs and torture them with power drills"

Crowlers eyes shot open as he saw the photos, corpses. All strapped to chairs with their hands and legs tied up. Holes all over their bodies, "What must be done?"

---

Jaden entered the infirmary slowly. His eyes looked around the room. Syrus was asleep, the nurse wasn't about. And Alexis was the way she had been when he left, awake staring at the ceiling.

He entered slowly shutting the door behind him, he looked towards Alexis. She wasn't how he had left her. She was crying, her hands covering her face sobbing quietly into her palms.

"Alexis?" Jaden called out softly as he began to walk towards her.

She groaned covering her face with both arms, "Jaden don't look at me"

"Why?" Jaden asked an eyebrow raised in surprise.

"Just don't! And I told you I didn't want to talk to you!" She snapped at him waving a hand forcefully towards him to shoo him away but never looking up.

All but Alexis's sobbing was all that could be heard now. Jaden just stood speechless his mouth hung open in confusion. He gulped before asking slowly, "Alexis what have I done?"

There was no reply at first Alexis just choked before murmuring, "Please Jaden"

"Alexis please just tell me what happened" Jaden spoke taking a step forward his eyes filled with concern. He now noticed the damage on her body. The casts and the bandages that were holding her together. The tears, the pain, it explained it all.

"You were in one of those shadow games…" He spoke slowly, inside of him his stomach lurched and turned with uncontrollable guilt and rage. He should have been there. It has another friend he hadn't been there for, first Chazz and now Alexis!

"You…you played one of the ones with the real blood and the real pain…" Jaden spoke, it wasn't that he was stating the obvious. He was telling himself his mistake.

"Jaden stop…" Alexis murmured still not looking up. She wanted to cover her ears but she didn't want to move anymore than she already had.

"I'm sorry…I should have been there" he spoke his fists clenching. Alexis had helped him why the hell hadn't he been there? It was because of him that now she was broken and in tears.

"No…Jaden!" She choked her head snapping up ignoring the pain of the bruise on the back on her head that sent a shooting pain through her.

"Don't say that" she said gulping on her tears. He could now see her face, that beautiful face stained with a flow of crystal tears. A pain went through him. Something that hit so deep he wasn't even sure why it hurt so much. He was left speechless as he stared at her.

She took a breath before murmuring as she looked down avoiding Jadens glance, "It was Henzo…"

"What?" Jaden spoke in surprise an eyebrow raised.

"It was James Henzo…he…he came back and I killed him" She spoke her fists clenching slowly while her body shook tears dripping off her cheeks.

"No…you couldn't have…you wouldn't kill someone" Jaden spoke tenderly now taking his place next to her before sinking to her eye level his eyes full of concern.

"I did…" she replied in a choked whisper.

"But you would never-"

"I did Jaden" She interrupted a stinging pain behind her tear strained voice, "I killed him…"

"I killed him without the slightest bit of remorse…I hate him even now" Her tone reeked of a darkness that seemed to feed the pain they felt.

"You hate him? No…you…don't hate" Jaden began to stutter slowly as if unable to understand, "Hate…that's such a harsh word for you"

He gave a little smile before reaching forward slowly "You're a nice person you wouldn't want to hurt someone" he spoke as he slowly took one of her hands in his.

She was cold and shivering. The moment his hand touched hers she flinched as if it sent pain through her body. She closed her hand around his, just for a few seconds, taking in that comforting feeling that she felt the last time he held her hand.

And then she let go. She wouldn't fool herself. She couldn't take comfort in him. And the more she realised it the more it hurt, she couldn't take comfort from Jaden of all people. She swallowed before speaking slowly in a dark tone; "I hate him Jaden and I killed him"

"No you-"

"I killed him Jaden!" She interrupted in a sudden burst of anger as she looked him in the eye. She eyes were wide with anger and pain. The tears that stained her cheeks seem less sad and more hate filled.

Jaden just stared back. He didn't reel in shock nor did he make any attempt to console her. He just stared back at her blankly.

"And what's worse…what's worse…" she continued her fists shaking as every word slowly left her mouth before she spoke the final words.

"I did it for you"

The words registered this time. His eyes widened in complete awe of the words. And she saw it, the fear in his eyes that made her want to vanish. She didn't want him to look at her. She wanted him to leave. She couldn't stand that stare.

"Get out…" she murmured quietly but forcefully as she turned away. He did not move.

"Jaden go away…" She spoke again this time the tone sounding more like a plea than a command. He didn't move. She didn't look at him but she could tell he was still staring at her. She couldn't take it anymore.

"Get out! Get out! Get out!" She yelled shutting her eyes tight trying to hold back painful tears just wishing he would get up and leave so she didn't have to face him.

But she didn't expect what happened next a warm embrace, two arms wrapping around her, carefully and gently to mind her injuries, but still a warm and heart felt embrace. She opened her eyes slowly not bother to look at him.

"Get out…." She whispered.

But he wouldn't leave. And now she didn't want him to. She just wanted him to hold her, so she could always feel comforted by him.

----

"He couldn't handle himself" The docks were once again covered with mist. The ocean was churning violently against the shores. On docks stood the pale haired brute like figure, crouched over a pile of what was James's Henzo's old body. There was a hand, a foot and a few other pieces.

"I regret reviving him…I can't keep his face now" he said with a sigh before throwing James's foot into the ocean waters, he sat down on the ground and kept throwing the body parts in one by one.

He was bored. Any moment now their new recruit would be here. He was excited about an hour ago, but this person was making him wait.

"So….bored…" he sighed rocking back and fourth cross legged on the ground, but his boredom was interrupted no sooner than he sighed.

A boat had now arrived by the side of the dock, a tiny wooden boat that looked as if it would capsize with the smallest wave. A figure stepped off the boat wearing a long trench coat and bowler hat. He was carrying a large case locked together tight with chains and locks of all shapes and sizes.

"You're here" The brute called out getting to his feet as the new presence dragged the huge case down the dock towards him. It scraped against the stone with an irritating screech but the brute was now too excited to care.

"You're here!" He cheered as the figure stopped in front of him.

"Chalk I presume?" The figure murmured to the brute who nodded eagerly.

"Butler is it?" He asked with a toothy grin. The figure took off the trench coat to reveal a smart fitting butlers suit. He bowed before the brute in a formal manner before straightening up.

"The one and the same now how can me and my friends be of service?" he asked, he had a small neatly shaved moustache but one of his eyebrows were missing, it was as if he had either shaved it off or someone had pulled it out by hand.

"We want you to just do what comes to mind…your organization is very noticeable I hope it can live to its reputation" the brute was now shuffling uneasily as if unable to contain his excitement.

"Sir me and the estate have seen many battles and have intelligence like no normal mortal this will be a simple task" he said before taking another polite bow.

---

I've decided I'm gonna update twice tonight so no leaving you in suspense eh? Stay tuned