Recap: Zane's finally returned to his senses, but Shroud has shown up to disturb the peace.

Disclaimer: I don't own Yugioh GX. However, I do own my ideas.

Warning: Swearing, tears

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"What are you doing here?!" Zane demanded, staring down his old agent with his glare of Doom.

"I came to see you, of course. To give you another chance to have me as your agent." Shroud drawled, a sick smirk on his face.

"Why would I want that? As of now, I'm done with the Underground. Go find yourself another sap to leech off of." Zane was sure Shroud had something else up his sleeve, and he intended to keep him as far away as possible. "How did you find me?"

"Simple logic, Zane. It's been all over the newspapers that Hell Kaiser's parents are dead, and his little brother injured. I put two and two together, and here you are, just as I predicted." Shroud looked rather pleased with himself, but Zane was having none of it.

"Leave here right now, and maybe I won't kick your Southern ass for tricking me into becoming something I despised." Zane stepped forwards menacingly.

"I made you a champion again. I was the one who helped you when your so-called friends didn't. Are you really going to repay me for that by throwing me out?"

Zane paused. He's right. He shook his head. And it's that kind of thinking that got me into this mess in the first place. I can't let him trick me again. "Yes. You preyed upon me when I was at my weakest; I haven't forgotten. My friends were there for me all along, but I didn't see that. If I lost my reputation today, I wouldn't care one bit! What matters to me right now is Syrus, and earning back my friends' respect." He shot a murderous glare at Shroud. "Now get out of here, before I break my promise never to use the shock collars again."

Shroud took a few steps back. He had seen first hand how much damage Zane could dish out with the devices, and truth be told, he wasn't much of a duelist himself. "You've made a big mistake, Zane. One that you will pay dearly for." With that, he spun on his heel and left.

"Tell it to someone who cares!" Zane yelled after him. This earned him a frown from the night nurse. Stupid Shroud, how dare he show up again?! But I can't pretend I'm not worried about what he said… Zane headed down to the small room reserved for sleeping family members. Tonight it was mercifully empty.

As Zane slept, dreams rampaged through his tired mind. Visions of himself turning into a Cyber Dragon and crushing Syrus; being strangled and electrocuted by the shock collars in a cage; Hell Kaiser pushing him off an icy cliff; and most terrifying of all, standing over the graves of his friends and brother, while Shroud, and oddly, his agent, behind him whispering: 'It's all your fault'.

"NO!" He woke with a start and looked around the room, slowly coming back to reality. Zane wiped the sweat off of his face and flopped back down. It's been a long time since I've had nightmares like that. Now I really don't want to go back to sleep. He rubbed his eyes with one hand, trying to push the images out of his head. Everything's going to be alright. The nightmare of my life is over. Zane chanted this over and over, attempting to make himself believe it.

--The Next Morning--

Jaden Yuki was snapped out of a sound sleep by the sound of his phone ringing. "Huh?" He knocked it off the receiver and yawned into it "Yuki residence."

"Jaden! It's me, Syrus! Are you still in bed?" Jaden proceeded to wake himself up more. Syrus sounded happier than he had in a long time.

"Not anymore. I'm trying to catch up on my sleep. Spring Break ends in a few days, you know. You sound really happy, Sy. What's going on?"

"Can you round of the gang and bring them to the hospital? I have a surprise for all of you." Jaden chuckled.

"Sure thing, buddy. But won't Zane get all mad if we show up?" His expression became a little more serious, unusual for the normally carefree Slifer.

"No, he won't. Come as soon as you can!"

--In the hospital corridor, outside of Syrus's room--

"This surprise better be good." Chazz grumbled. "I was trying to catch up on my beauty sleep when the slacker called and woke me up." Jaden had followed Syrus's directions and called everyone promptly, even though it was eight AM during vacation. Bastion had gone off to an art museum with his parents, so he was not present, but the others promised to fill him in.

"Calm down, soldier. You trying to get beauty sleep is like fighting a losing battle. I'm sure Private Truesdale has a good reason for getting us up." Hassleberry reassured him.

"Zane better not give us any trouble." Atticus muttered darkly. "If he does…"

"Atty, it may not be the best idea to start a fight right here." Alexis sighed. I wonder if he's still a little under Nightshroud's influence. She thought worriedly. He's been so touchy lately.

"Why not, Lex? We're in a hospital." Everyone sweatdropped. He has got to have the weirdest logic of anyone I've ever met. Alexis covered her eyes.

"Guys!" Syrus came out of the room, grinning madly. "You made it! Where's Bastion?" He was in a wheelchair (doctor's orders), but he looked healthier than when they had seen him last. His arm was still broken, but his ribs were on the mend.

"He had a family thing he had to do." Alexis supplied. "So, what's the big surprise? Are you getting out of the hospital soon?"

Syrus shook his head, sadness clouding his features for a moment. "No. I'm not sure when I'm getting out. But it's funny that you should mention families…" He turned back towards his room. "They're here. Come on out."

The group watched the door to see who Syrus was talking to. The barely open door widened, and as Zane stepped out, everyone's eyes widened.

He was no longer wearing his black leather clothes, or the cruel smirk that had always seemed to be on his face. Instead, he had on a blue shirt and a pair of jeans. He looked at his friends a little hesitantly, as if ashamed.

Jaden and Chazz stared as if they couldn't believe their eyes; Hassleberry muttered "Sam Hill!" Alexis had to be supported by Atticus as her legs turned to jelly.

Atticus locked eyes with his best friend. Zane's gaze showed shame, fear, and just a little bit of pleading. Alexis brushed her brother's hands off of her arm and gave him a long look. He nodded and stepped towards Zane. "…Zane?"

Zane was shaking at the prospect of talking to him. "A-Atticus, guys…I'm sorry. I can't even begin to say how sorry I am. I hurt all of you and if you never spoke to me again, I'd deserve it." He bowed his head, fully expecting to be chewed out.

Atticus went right up to him and tipped his chin up so that the two were staring each other in the eyes. After a few heart-pounding moments, he smiled broadly and threw his arms around his best friend. "I forgive you. We forgive you. It's all water under the bridge. Just say you won't do it again." He rambled on, trying to convey his meaning. It was understood; for Zane's grey-blue eyes filled with tears. I must have known what I was doing when I chose them as my friends. He hugged Atticus back.

After that, all hell broke loose.

Alexis let out a scream/sob of joy and ran forward to grab Zane in a tight embrace; Jaden whooped and started yelling "I knew you'd come back!" Hassleberry pounded the bluenette on the back and gave him a proper military salute. Even Chazz couldn't contain his emotions and joined the group hug that the scream-fest had turned into. Syrus sat back in his chair and watched tearfully. If I died right now, I'd die happy.

--

After the nurses had come and calmed them all down, by means of threatening sedatives, they adjourned to Syrus's room to catch up.

"What's the first thing you want to do, now that you've come back to your senses?" Jaden queried from his position at the foot of Syrus's bed. Opting not to sit in a chair, he was cross-legged on the mattress instead. "Make a public apology?"

"I think him turning normal will send enough of a message, but you could make a statement for a magazine or something." Alexis suggested. She was sitting in a chair, Atticus on her right, Zane on her left.

Zane nodded. "I probably will. But I think I will make a personal apology to Chancellor Sheppard. He was my master, and I treated him like dirt."

"At least you were fair. You treated everyone like dirt." Chazz quipped. This earned him a whack on the back of the head by Hassleberry.

"Pipe down, soldier. The Lieutenant feels bad enough as it is."

"We should celebrate!" announced the ever-cheerful Atticus. "I'll organize a party. Maybe we can hold it here in the hospital, and all the sick kids can come, too! Some of them must be your fans. It'd be nice to do something, all of us together, before we head back to school next week." Everyone sweat-dropped at the mention of an Atticus-planned party.

"Absolutely not!" Alexis fairly yelled. She didn't think that involving a lot of unhealthy children was a great idea, especially when Atticus was the one coming up with suggestions. "They're here to get better, not become permanently scarred. Don't you remember the clown incident?"

"What clown incident?" Jaden asked interestedly. "What happened?"

"Atticus had to play the roll of a clown to cheer up some kids in the pediatric ward a while ago. I'm not going to go into details, but after one day, practically every kid on the floor had a nightlight…"

"Okay, I really don't want to know." Syrus said, giving Atticus a weird look.

"Same here." Chazz agreed. Hassleberry nodded emphatically.

Atticus was unfazed. "It'll be just us then. When should we have it?" Zane sighed.

"Atticus, as much as I like parties," this made Syrus raise his eyebrows, "my parents' funeral is the day after tomorrow. I don't know if I'll feel much like partying." The gang sobered up quick.

"No problem, Zane. Would you mind if we came?" Jaden asked hesitantly.

"I'd be honoured if you did. I'm sure Mom and Dad would like it too." They were all silent for a moment, remembering.

--A few hours later--

The gang had exchanged their goodbyes and a few last hugs. "We'll stop by tomorrow." Jaden promised. "I'll bring a spare deck; if you don't practice duelling, you'll get rusty." He told Syrus.

"Thanks Jay. I'm looking forward to being back at Duel Academy, even if I get back a few days late. This eye thing should clear up soon." He stated confidently. Zane winced internally.

"If you need to talk, Zane, you've got my number." Atticus smiled at him. "I don't care if it's the middle of the night. Call if you get even the slightest grey feeling."

"I will, Atticus. Thanks so much for your help." He hugged Atticus and Alexis one last time, and then was left alone with Syrus. "You'd better get to bed, Sy. It's 9 o'clock."

Syrus began peeling off his day clothes and changing into his pyjamas. "So, have you heard anything from the eye doctor? Because this bad vision thing is starting to get annoying." Zane reached out to steady him as Syrus tried to pull on his night shirt, but got it stuck on his head. "Ahhh! It's alive!"

"Funny." Zane cracked a small smile and jerked it down the rest of the way. "I'll pump your doctors for information tomorrow, 'kay?" Or, I would, if I didn't already know what the problem is…

"That's great." Syrus snuggled down into his sheets. "Am I coming to the funeral?" He asked, right out of the blue.

"Of course." Zane replied, a little shocked. "Why wouldn't you? That is, if you want to come."

"I do, but what if the doctors won't let me? They stuck me in a wheelchair when I was just going to say hi to some friends!" Syrus looked very upset all of a sudden. He huddled up into a ball. "Sometimes I think I'll never get out of here, or that my eyes will never be normal."

Syrus must be really tired. He went from cracking jokes to a depressed mood in a heartbeat. Zane sat down on the bed and sat Syrus in his lap. "If you want to come, then you'll come, even if I have to smuggle you out. Don't worry." He hugged him. "And you will leave this place, I promise. But you have to be a little patient. You were unconscious for a few days after being in a car accident. They just want to be careful. As for your eyes…" he faltered, unsure of what to say. Zane didn't want to tell a lie, but he didn't want to tell him the truth just yet. "They'll be fine."

Syrus leaned his head against Zane's chest and breathed deeply. The two sat that way for about fifteen minutes, until Syrus fell asleep. Zane laid him down gently on the bed and covered him with the sheets. "Goodnight." He whispered into his ear. Syrus's eye twitched under the lid, but didn't open. Zane opened the door, careful to not let any light in the room, and left.

--

And so, this chapter ends on a cuddlier note. Luckily for all the kids in the hospital, an Atticus-type party disaster was averted.

Next time…well, I'm not sure about next chapter. I might write the funeral, but it could be a bit boring, so it might become a small segment. R&R!