Disclaimer: I do not own Yu-Gi-Oh! GX or 'At The Sign Of The Sugared Plum'

Chapter 14

Another One Gone

Aster and Jaden's business was growing as they sold cakes and breads which contained herbs said to prevent the plague. Thinking that these foods could stop them catching the plague, many Londoners flocked to buy their goods, and the amount of business helped Aster to improve his mood. Jaden was still downcast, and if he hadn't been so miserable, he would have laughed over how he was suddenly the serious one. But he was in no mood for laughing, and the booming business wasn't a good thing for him. It meant that Aster needed him in the bakery full time, so to Jaden's great shame, he did not visit Mapleside Manor the next day, and it was the evening two days later when he at last persuaded Aster to let him leave the bakery. Aster wasn't happy about it, but even he saw that nothing could stop Jaden from going.

Jaden arrived at Mapleside Manor in the early evening on a hot day, and he looked around for the death cart. He was slightly relieved that he didn't see it near the house, and that the guard was still seated outside. He ran around to the back of the house and called out the bluenette's name, his heart jumping.

There was no answer.

"Jesse!" the brunette called. "It's me, Jess! I came back. Come on, a simple 'hello' would be nice!"

No answer still. Jaden started to feel worry build up inside his heart.

"Jesse? You there?"

"Yes."

The bluenette was there and conscious, much to Jaden's relief, but the brunette couldn't see his friend. He called out and again got no answer.

"Come on, Jess!" he whispered.

As if in answer, the bluenette pulled himself up to the window - and that was when Jaden's heart missed a beat.

Jesse looked awful. He was horribly pale, his eyes had no light in them, his hair was messed up, and his face showed a deep pain. He leant against the window frame, too weak to support himself.

"Jess?" the brunette whispered. "I'm sorry I didn't come yesterday. Aster needed me, and I …"

The bluenette held his hand up to stop his friend from talking.

"No apologies, Jay. I don't want to hear them" the bluenette said, smiling as best he could at his friend. "Don't talk about anything sad. Tell me about something fun."

"Are you okay, Jesse?" Jaden burst out.

"It gets worse every day" Jesse said, his voice cracking. "And the baby cries so badly. I don't know if she's sick or well. And it's just me now. I'm alone in here."

"Just you?"

"The baby's too young to count as anything but someone who needs me" Jesse said, and he tried to stop the tears that were daring to fall. "Blair would have been good company now."

"Would have?" Jaden asked, and he froze. "Jess … don't tell me …"

"She died last night. She screamed for an hour and then one last time, she screamed and it was the most terrible sound I've ever heard. Then she died and the cart came for her. One of the men there said they'd be back for me soon."

"Jesse, don't listen to them! You're gonna be okay!" Jaden said, and then he fell to his knees, causing the bluenette to ask what was wrong. Jaden looked up at his friend with his tear stained face and decided not to hide it any longer. "I love you. You can't die."

There was a moment of silence as the bluenette took it in.

"I love you, too" he whispered.

"Huh?" Jaden gasped.

"You didn't know?" Jesse teased, trying to bring back some of his old spirit. "Another one is gone, Jay, and she was the last. I'm next, and it'll be the baby afterwards, because nobody will there for her. She won't get the sickness, though."

"She won't?"

"She hasn't yet, and she's surrounded by it" Jesse shrugged. "I don't think she'll catch it. I just wish she could get out of here, before I …"

Jaden suddenly realised what his friend was saying.

Not only was Jesse saying all this, he was saying this to him, and that somehow seemed special to Jaden. If Jesse died - and Jaden couldn't help but fear that it may happen - then the baby's survival could be his dying wish. Jaden wracked his brains for a few moments, trying to think of how to help. Then he got it.

Aster would not be happy. Oh no. Aster would kill him!

But what did that matter? Aster wouldn't turn him away no matter what. And Jesse wanted the baby to survive. So there was only one thing for it.

Jaden took a deep breath.

"I'll take the baby, Jess."

Please R&R