AN: After some minor computer issues, I have to do this chapter again. I hope that I can remember what was happening to a certain point. Anyways, this is what happens after Yusuke and Michael discover Alex and David in the woods.

Chapter Fifteen: A Fallen Comrade

"Dead? What do you mean, dead?" Yusuke asked Michael as if he had no idea what was going on.

"Dead as in he is not coming back, that DEAD." Michael stated, anger evident in his voice.

"Sorry man, I did not hear you." Yusuke answered. Yusuke walked over, and stood next to Michael. He saw what his friend meant by David being dead. There was a chest wound on his body, and it was clear that is what caused their friend's death.

"God, who would do something like this?" Yusuke answered. Yusuke noticed that David's eyes were opened a little bit. Michael knelt down beside him, and closed his eyes completely. Then, out of an act of respect, Michael took off his cloak that he was wearing, and threw it over David, as to cover him from the elements.

"Izan. I know that it was him." Michael answered in a cold tone.

"Yeah, they mentioned that one of us was going to die today, and it was David." Yusuke answered. "But why pick David?"

"That is an answer that Koenma is going to give us." Michael answered. Michael made a move as to leave the wooded area, but Yusuke stopped him.

"What?" Michael asked Yusuke.

"What about her?" Yusuke asked, nodding his head towards Alex, who laid on the grass in a fetal position.

"I'll carry her." Michael answered. He walked over to her, and scooped the girl up in his arms. Then, with Yusuke by his side, they left the forest, not knowing what was about to happen next...

It was somewhat of a long trek back to their hotel room, the one that Team Urameshi shared with their friends and family. But once Michael, Alex, and Yusuke got back there, the three stopped, and Yusuke and Michael shared a look with each other.

"Okay, how do you want to do this?" Yusuke asked him. "Because you know once you go through those doors, they are going to bomb you with a lot of questions. You know that, right?"

"Of course I do." Michael answered. "I know exactly what I am going to tell them."

"Really? What?" Yusuke asked with genuine curiosity.

"I am going to tell them what I have to tell them." Michael answered.

"Really?" Yusuke asked.

"Really." Michael nodded.

"Well, here we go..." Yusuke said, slowly opening the door...

Needless to say, Yusuke was right. Once Yusuke and Michael walked into the hotel room, he was bombarded with questions. Mostly from Miley asking him what he was doing carrying her, her being Alex in this situation. That, and Justin and Max were wondering what happened to Alex and where was David when this was happening.

Michael paid them no mind, however, and went to the room that Alex and David shared, and laid her in the bed, when he shut the door, he turned to the crowd that was behind him.

"GET BACK!" Michael screamed, causing almost everyone behind him to flinch badly. Michael walked towards the center of the room, and motioned for everyone to sit around him. Michael then took a deep breath, and then spoke.

"I have something to say." Michael said calmly. "Yusuke and I found David and Alex in the woods. The reason that we only brought back Yusuke was because David is dead. Izan killed him."

"What happened to Alex? What did Izan do to her?" Justin asked, taking a glance to the room where Alex was resting.

"That I do not know." Michael lied. He knew that Izan tried to rape her, and that was the reason that he died, trying to protect his girlfriend from what Izan had in mind to do to her.

"God, Alex is going to be crushed when she finds out what happened to David. Who is going to tell Alex what happened to David?" Max asked Michael.

"I will." Michael said. "When she comes around, I will tell her what happened."

Alex came to, and found herself in her room. She felt to the side of her, and expected to find David by her, but the space was empty. She remembered what happened in the woods, that Izan tried to rape her, but David stopped him, and was struck down for his efforts.

Still feeling a little bit woozy, Alex tried to get up, but was pushed back into the bed by someone. Her eyes ajusted to the light to see Michael standing above her.

"Lay down, I have something to tell you." Michael said, his voice sounding drained.

"What happened?" Alex asked Michael. "Where is David?"

Michael took a deep breath, and told her what happened.

"David died protecting you from Izan." Michael said, seeing the look of confusion and sadness in her eyes.

"What happened to him?" Alex asked, on the verge of breaking down.

"We do not know." Michael answered. Michael then watched as Alex broke down and started to cry. Justin and Max rushed in to comfort her, and Michael slipped out of the room.

Koenma, you better deliver on this... Michael thought to himself.

It was late at night, and Michael was standing out on the balcony, looking out towards the forest where his friend was killed. Michael sighed, and let his long blonde hair fall around his face. He hated doing this, but it was for a greater cause. It was just that fact, or it was a blatant effort to keep his mind on the fact that he was doing the right thing.

Michael looked up, and saw Yusuke joining him. He stood next to him, and looked out towards the area around him as well.

"They are taking well, with the exception of Alex, of course." Yusuke said.

"Obviously." Michael said without looking at him.

"You heard what Koenma said." Yusuke said. "We have to act as if nothing changed. Keeping a secret about what just happened a few hours earlier is going to be hard."

"That is going to be hard, man. Especially now that everyone is sort of turning against us." Michael said to Yusuke.

"I know, but it has to happen. Besides, we have a final round to think of in a few days." Yusuke said.

"I know." Michael answered. "I just hope that everything is going to go on just fine until then. Do you think they will understand why we are doing this?"

"Probably. Probably not." Yusuke answered. "Remember though, we are doing this for David."

"For David." Michael smiled. "For David."

AN: In the next chapter, Michael and Yusuke will face scrutiny from the others as the Finals approach, and the Russo children will air their grievences with Michael and the rest of the team, leading to something big in their ranks. What will it be? Wait and find out!