Hey guys! Let the sharp object throwing commence. I realize I haven't updated in about two weeks and yes I do have a reason! I have been grounded for the past couple of weeks because I was being really stupid so I've been unable to write. I give you guys permission to slap me via review or pm.

I've also been having a bit of a writer's block so I decided to add in a new plot element... I'm not sure how well it will flow but let me know!

Oh and the song lyrics are from my new favorite band Powerspace. I was honestly listening to this song the entire time I was writing this so I though it would fit.

Anyways, on with it:

One, two, three

Are you feeling me?

It's getting late and it's hard to see

I've got some problems

But not enough to stop me

Cause I can't stop, I can't stop

I won't stop, won't stop

Can't stop until I know for sure

This night ends with me and you

(Be, be aggressive, be, be aggressive)

Be, be aggressive

B-e, be aggressive

You never know just who you're up against, so

B-e, b-e aggressive

B-e, b-e aggressive

~Be Aggressive by Powerspace~

JPOV

"Those songs will never be the same," I said slightly panting. I hoped that Sage wouldn't catch on to my breathing because I doubted that anything could be more embarrassing.

I was completely mesmerized by Sage in this moment. I felt my eyes wanting to stare into hers forever until they found the marks. They were beautiful to say the least but what really got me was when Sage turned around in that exact minute. "I honestly have no idea when they lead and I'm really curious. Would ya mind checking them out?" she asked in an overly innocent voice. She knew me way to well.

Sometimes I hated that she could read my mind but my though was cut off when Sage said, "If you want me to stop I will." I looked down to see her glowing I already knew what she heard then.

"Sage, I didn't mean it like that. Its just weird not being able to keep secrets ever. I love that you know me so well already but I need some time to adjust. Now lets look at your marks," I said as I reached to pull the collar of her shirt down slightly. I could feel her shudder slightly as my hands ran down her back and just to keep getting that reaction I kissed the back of her neck. I wasn't usually this confident but Sage just had this way of bringing out the best in me.

The marks were not extremely noticeable and unless you were looking for something on her back, you would not see them. From her neck the two slightly blue lines met at her shoulder blades. At the point where the lines were about to intersect, a small aura symbol appeared. Suddenly the lines began to glow and Sage turned around. Her white eyes were looking towards the wall and her expression became one of nerves.

"Blair told me something this morning that I don't exactly know how to take in," she paused for a moment and I could feel the air in the room change. The joy I had just been feeling disappeared and my loneliness surged to the surface. I knew what she was hinting at and honestly I didn't know what to say. I lifted my hands from her back and scooted away slightly. My memory was particularly fuzzy during the time that Yubel had control over me. I sort of knew that it wasn't my fault but I could never be sure. I had hurt so many people and it felt like if I had been stronger, I could have freed myself from her control. "I just need you to know that I won't judge you and if you want to talk about it let me know. I don't want you to feel like you have to tell me or that I'm pressuring you."

I couldn't take it any longer when she said that. She seemed almost guilty for bringing my past up. I did want to talk with her about it but I was nervous. She had already shown and told me everything about her, and I needed to do the same.

"You feel like you have to tell me," she stated with no hit of a questioning in her voice. I turned to look at her and grabbed her hand. I stayed silent because I honestly hand not idea what to say. "Think about it first. I don't want you to have any regrets. Just know that I'll listen whenever you want me to. I'm always here for you, Jess, don't forget that."

Suddenly everything changed. Sage started to grab her head like she was in pain and when I leaned in to help her but Blair ran into the room. Blair began to scream something about a giant rock but I was so focused on Sage I didn't catch it all. Her hands were grabbing her head so hard that her knuckles turned white. The marks began to intermittently change and she fell on to her side on the floor. I had no idea what was wrong but my instincts began to kick in and adrenaline rushed through my system.

"Sage, are you okay?" I only got a small shake of her head, so I addressed the other problem. "Blair, what's wrong and this time slow down."

"I'm not sure exactly but like two minutes ago the sky turned white and this weird rock crashed on the island and something crawled out of it. I think that is what's messing with Sage, but I'm not sure."

"I'm gonna go check it out and Blair take Sage somewhere safe," I said as I slid my duel disk on my arm and loaded my deck. A hand spun me around so fast I almost fell but what really surprised me was whose hand it was.

"I'm going with ya, Jess. You have no shot at making me stay behind and besides I'm fine now," Sage said in a slightly weak voice. She looked like she was still in pain but that would never stop her from coming.

"Sage, I know I'm not gonna convince ya to stay behind but at least let me carry you there," I said trying to mask my overwhelming concern. I hated seeing her like this and my protective instincts seemed to just kick in.

"No Jesse. I'm absolutely fine, there's no way you're going to get me to take it easy. I'm sure you know that," she said with a wink that looked more like a wince. I waited for her to grab her duel disk and we were off. Blair went the opposite direction of us to go try to round up some of the other students. I started to get the same feeling that I did right before Duel Academy disappeared into the other dimension and then and there I knew something big was up.

XXXXXOXXXXX

SPOV

When we got to the boulder thing Blair was talking about, I felt the same excruciating pain I felt in the dorm only magnified. My vision started to get blurry with the pain but I kept going. The only other time I had felt this much pain was during the operation. I was close to my limit but I still pushed forward.

Panic was obvious amongst the chaotic group of people gathered around the boulder. I didn't even need to change my eyes to see that. A clearly defined line in the crowd separated the duelists from the spectators. Jesse and I pushed ourselves through the crowd to get closer. The wall of bodies cleared a path for us eventually and we finally made in to the inner ring of people. I noticed that the closer I got to the rock; my head throbbed and hurt even more. My vision became clouded and I had to concentrate more than usual on walking.

I finally broke the barricade of bodies and saw the creature. To say that it was intimidating was an understatement. The creature looked human except for the fact that it had bat like wings and was, to the best of my guessing ability, approximately nine feet tall. The crowd then became silent as soon as it spoke.

"Greetings, I am Emory. Move or I will destroy you and your weak group."

At that most of the mass began to back up and quiver in fear but I wouldn't have that. Instead of backing up I took a step forward. I could feel Jesse become tense beside me and try to reach out to me. To calm him I tried to wink but it must have looked more like I was crying.

"Look Emory, on this island we solve problems by dueling, and right now you're my problem. I challenge you to a duel," I said as the monster looked at me.

"You wish to defy me, pitiful human! I shall show you no mercy in this duel as I rip you limb from limb."

"Sage don't do this! You could barely stand a few minutes ago, and I can't see you get hurt anymore," Jesse said as he grabbed my arm.

"I need to do this. I'll be fine and if I don't get this guy to leave, my headache will never go away. And yeah, I do think Blair was right about me getting messed up by this thing," I said as strong as possible and with that he dropped his arm from mine. I changed my eyes to get prepared and I knew as soon as I heard his voice I could do this.

"Just be careful and know I'll be here to catch you if ya fall."

I tried to blink away the newest coat of tears as I slid on my signature black fingerless gloves. They were partially from the pain but mostly because I knew that Jesse would do anything for me. Before I met him, no one had ever cared about me before. They were all too scared of me to even try to get to know me. I never thought everything could change so fast, but I'm glad it did.

"Listen Emory, if I win you'll leave this island immediately. If you win you can stay, agreed?" I sneered a bit. I knew this duel would be rough but I needed to keep the people that had given me a chance safe and this was the only way I knew how to do that. I took a deep breath and put my game face on.

"Agreed, puny earthling," the creature said as his arm turned into a duel disk that was as freaky as him. "Oh, I will make the first move leading to your demise. First I play the field spell Neo-Space, and I summon Neo-Spacian Air Humming Bird to the field in defense mode. This monster's effect allows me to gain 500 LP for every card in your hand (4000 - 6500 LP). I'll end my turn by playing a card face down."

I had to admit that this guy was good. With his LP boost I would need to do some decent damage this turn to even take him down near me.

"First I start out with activating the blue and black aura spell cards. Whenever an aura spell is active on the field, the corresponding attribute cannot be summoned on your field, and in this case water and dark attributes are out. Next I'll summon the Aura Warrior in my hand. This monster gains 300ATK for every aura card active on the field (1300 - 1900ATK). Now Aura Warrior, show them your arrows and attack his bird!"

"Nice try, foolish girl! I activate my facedown Negate Attack! With this, your arrows shatter!" the disturbing batman laughed.

"I end my turn with a facedown."

"Now girl, you will pay for your mistake! I summon Elemental Hero Neos to the field. Now my monsters use your contact fusion to create Elemental Hero Air Neos. And with Neo-Space active my monster gains 500ATK (2500 - 3000ATK). Attack her, my hero, and destroy her so called warrior!"

"Now I'm giving you some pay back! I activate my face down, Magic Cylinder. Say goodbye to 3000LP because you attack is being sent right back at ya! (6500 - 3500LP)"

"I end my turn."

"Good, and its my draw," I said looking at my new card, the exact one I needed to end this duel. "I'm sorry Emory, but this duel is checkmate for me! I activate another aura spell, and this one is green. Air Neos is no more because all wind attribute monsters are gone," I said as his monster was sucked into the green vortex on my field. The crowd started to go wild, as he was now defenseless, except for one person, my Jesse. His mouth was hanging open and his aura registered complete shock at the duel as well as numbness. I could see a few memories go through his head with a bunch of neo-spacians in them. I would need to ask him about this later but now I had to focus on the duel at hand.

"I'm now equipping both of the Aura Claws in my hand to my warrior, and from the most recent spell I activated, her attack is 3600. (AN: reminder: Aura Claws give the equipped monster 700ATK so that's a 1400ATK boost) Now attack him directly and destroy his remaining life points and if my calculations are correct that would be down to zero!"

A roar erupted from the crowd just as my monsters arrow pierced the creature. The feeling of fear evaporated from the students and was immediately replaced by admiration. Although I had dueled with people watching me before, this was different. I knew that these people would be around me at least until summer rather than just the match. It seemed like they weren't afraid of me though, but no one knows the way the mind can change so easily better than me.

I skeptically accepted their cheers while I made my way to a still dumbstruck Jesse. I wrapped my arms around him but I got no response from him what so ever. I tried to shake his shoulder slightly while waving my hand in front of his face but both his aura and his face had not changed.

"Jesse? Jess, snap out of it," I said while trying to keep the concern I felt out of my voice. He finally blinked and seemed to come out of his trance after a few seconds or so.

"Hey, what, sorry. I must have been really out of it. Nice job by the way. You won, right?" I smacked his arm and we both started laughing. He grabbed my hand and started to pull me somewhere. I briefly waved to Blair as I was dragged past her and I could almost feel the looks I was getting from her. Soon Jesse stopped and covered my eyes.

"I hate surprises! Please don't do this," I groaned as he began to lead me to yet another destination.

"Oh, Sage, just humor me for once. I really want to see how you'll react and stop trying to look into my mind to peek. Not cool, S, not cool," he giggled slightly. I'm not sure if he realized that he had just given me a nickname but I definitely felt my heart beat a bit faster after that. I allowed my eyes to revert though as he continued to lead me.

After we walked, well stumbled in my case, for a few more minutes he lifted his hands from my eyes. I found myself next to the tree I had come to my first day on the island. The area had changed since then but I still felt myself get a bit calmer at the sight of it. Most noticeable, though, was the new rope swing hanging from a now snowy branch. I turned to see Jesse observing me and knew what we both needed right now. His thoughts seemed to echo my own, as he sat on the swing motioning for me to join him.

"S, I need to talk to you about well, my past. And this time I know I want to. I feel like I know so much about you, but I know you don't have that luxury. It might explain a bit about why I've been acting kind of weird too," he said adverting my gaze. As a small tear trickled down his face I leaned into him a bit more and grabbed his hand and brought it to my face.

"You know you can't scare me off Jess. I'll be here for you and know that, bluntly, I'm yours in any way you need me," I whispered into his spiky teal hair. That must have been the encouragement he needed because he began to start.

"I sort of all began when…"

Heh heh sorry for the cliffe but I didn't want this chapter to be 10000+ words. Tell me if you love it or hate it!

See Ya!