Hey everyone! Glad you liked the last chapter. Here's a new one. Enjoy!

Disclaimer: I do not own YuGiOh GX or Jess; she still belongs to ladydream-chan.

Claimer: YAY! This ENTIRE STORY IS MINE!!!! And the one or two or three OCs that show up that aren't Jess are also mine. :)

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Jaden's POV

"Okay, now spill. Who are these 'Skulls' you guys are talking about?" Blair demanded. Everyone had quickly run to the safety of Chazz's dorm room after Julie killed Angelina. For some unknown reason, no one but us was around to see it. So, Jesse and I did the only thing we could: we dumped the body in the ocean. The last thing we needed was a huge police investigation. And, sense Angelina is a member of the Skulls I just knew this was just the beginning.

"We told you, they're a monstrous gang that we and the Cribs disbanded years ago," Julie said. Surprisingly, even though she looked like she was in bad shape, she was actually in pretty good shape. A few cuts and bruises here and there but that's the extent of it. Her shoulder was already fixed.

"You guys actually worked with the Cribs?" Syrus gasped. I sighed and sat down on a couch, Alexis sitting next to me. I ran my thumb over the skull and crossbones pendent in my hand.

"We had no choice. The Skulls were monsters," I whispered. Alexis reached out and grabbed my hand, squeezing it. I squeezed hers back but kept my face turned away from hers.

"I thought the Cribs were monsters," Mindy said. Jesse looked at her. Julie sat on his right with their hands interlocked, Maria resting softly in his arms.

"The Cribs were nothing compared to the Skulls," he answered.

"How so?" Bastion asked. Julie and Jesse looked at each other, not exactly sure how to explain it. I sighed again and slouched back against the couch.

"Cribs killed more than we did, like you know. But they had lines they wouldn't cross. Even Adrian wouldn't just shot someone in the head for accidently bumping into him on the street." I looked at him. "But the Skulls did. You couldn't do anything in Ochi City for fear of messing with a Skull. You didn't know who they were until it was too late."

"Why didn't the police do anything?" Atticus asked. I let out a dry, humorless laugh.

"The police? What the hell have the police in Ochi City ever done? Nothing, that's what. They relied on us Bloods to handle the gangs in their city." Alexis frowned at me.

"But you guys did," she said. I lowered my head and shook my head.

"But we didn't want to," I whispered.

"Why wouldn't you want to?" Chazz asked. He wasn't being snotty for once, just curious.

"Because the last thing any of us wanted was the bloodthirsty Skulls after us," Julie said. Jesse nodded.

"The Skulls stayed away from our territory. They knew if they killed in our territory, they'd be finished." He looked up, determination flaring in his eyes. "No hesitation."

"Why did you have to wait until it was on your territory?" Aster asked.

"We just told you, Aster. We didn't want to fight them but if the killed in our house, would have been forced to," I said. I glanced around the room. No one seemed to understand what I was saying.

"Then why did you guys disband them? They kill in your territory?" Hassleberry asked. Jesse, Julie, and I all frowned, looking down.

"It's my fault. I'm the one who caused it, caused the Skulls to attack and kill innocent people just to draw us out," I whispered. Alexis squeezed my hand and moved closer to me, placing her other hand on my thigh. She was trying to comfort me and if I wasn't so sick with my memories, it would have worked.

"I'm sure it wasn't your fault," she soothed. I quickly shook my head.

"It was. I fought with one of them, nearly killing them."

"But they tried to kill you first, Jaden," Jesse pointed out.

"You did what you had to do. And the Skulls did what they thought they had to do," Julie said. I just kept my head tilted down, allowing my bangs to shield my eyes. Alexis continued to squeeze my hand and stroke my hair, down my back, anywhere she thought would sooth me.

"We had to end it, Jaden. We had to end them. Even Mark admitted that we waited too long when it was time to finally fight," Jesse said.

"I know, but it doesn't change the fact that I'm the one who got people, innocent people, killed." I looked at him. "And I never want that to happen again." He gave me a smile.

"It won't." I just looked down. He sighed.

"Wait. You guys said that the police of Ochi City left you guys to handle all the gangs?" Atticus said. We Blood Trio nodded. "Why did they do that?"

"Easy, because we'd been doing it for years," I answered.

"What do you mean?" Jasmine asked.

"Ochi City was filled with gangs. Seven major ones: Bloods, Cribs, Skulls, Hammers, Cranes, Fangs, and Demons. The four you probably don't recognize were disbanded by us Bloods. They killed in our territory, so we finished them off," Jesse said.

"Not only were there the major seven, dubbed by the city as the 'Seven Deadly Gangs', but quite a few minor gangs. We Bloods also ended them rather quickly," Julie added.

"It took only a year until the only gangs that remained in Ochi City were the Bloods, the Cribs, and the Skulls. We Bloods were heroes, the Skulls were monsters, and the Cribs were just plain annoying," I said.

"But we're not the only major gangs in all of Japan, only Ochi City," Jesse quickly said. Bastion nodded.

"Yes, I remember hearing that on the news just after you guys disbanded yourselves and the Cribs. They said that only two frightful gangs were left in Japan, but they didn't say the names," he said. I nodded.

"But no one really has to worry about those two. They're more of anti-hero gangs than anything else," I said.

"But what about the Skulls? You said you disbanded them with the help of the Cribs," Jasmine said. Julie nodded.

"We did. When they first killed on our territory, Mark knew it was the beginning of the end. He also knew that we couldn't take the Skulls down all on our own, so he asked Adrian and the Cribs for help."

"Why did they help?" Syrus asked. I looked at him.

"Because the Cribs wanted the Skulls gone just as badly as everyone else, maybe more so. With the Skulls gone, they could be the bad gang I suppose. Not only that, but the Skulls had no qualms about killing in their territory."

"Why didn't the Cribs fight back if it was their territory?" Blair asked. Jesse rolled his eyes.

"The Cribs were too damn scared. They were waiting for us to jump on the band wagon. That's why they were more than willing to help put an end to the Skulls. We worked together for almost a year. When the last Skull was killed, so was our partnership," he said.

"Or, what we thought was the last Skull," Julie whispered. Jesse and I both bit our lower lips.

"So now that remaining Skull," Chazz began but I cut him off.

"It was most likely Skulls," I said. "They just got bigger in the few years they'd been hibernating."

"Like a virus, just waiting for the right time to become active," Julie said. Chazz just scowled, but not at us, more like his carpet.

"So these remaining Skulls are back and ready to kill you guys?" he asked. The three of us, the three targets, looked at each other. Then I looked at him.

"Yeah, most likely," I said shrugging. Alexis squeezed my hand and didn't let up. I looked at her and saw the panic on her face, in her eyes. Without thinking, I reached up and gently touched her right cheek with my free hand, leaning my head down so our foreheads were pressed together. I closed my eyes and just held that position. I felt her shaking slightly, trying to keep from crying.

"But we're not the only ones that the Skulls will be after. Emmy, Chris, Jim, and Axel are also targets," Julie said suddenly. I nodded slightly, keeping my position with Alexis.

"Not to mention the other remaining Crib leaders," Jesse said. Julie snorted.

"Craig and Axel are the only ones still alive. The rest were blown up or killed by us during the war." I sighed and slowly leaned away from Alexis. She bit her shaking lower lip and leaned down, clinging to me. She had her arms around me, holding tightly to me as she pressed her face into the place where my neck and shoulder met.

"We need to call them, even Craig, and warn them about the Skulls," I said. Julie looked at me.

"I already told Jess to do that, just not call Craig." I frowned.

"Julie, I know he was a bastard but we can't let them-" I began but she cut me off.

"He's already dead, Jaden." I froze, my breath hitching. She was looking at me, expressionless.

"I thought you said he was alive?" I said, breathless. She shrugged.

"I forgot he was already killed."

"How?"

"A car accident two weeks ago. We didn't even think anything about the Skulls when it happened. I don't even know if they were involved. Probably, but we can't be sure," she answered. I just frowned and wrapped my arm around Alexis, pulling her closer to me. So close she just moved into my lap and moved her arms around my neck. I could feel her tears on my skin. I rubbed soothing circles on her back.

"What are you going to do, Jay?" Syrus asked. I looked around, seeing everyone staring at me. I looked at Julie.

"Where did you tell Jess to tell them to meet us?" I asked.

"Your brother's house," she answered. I nodded.

"Probably best. I don't think the Skulls will know where his house is."

"Probably not," she agreed.

"You're leaving Duel Academy?" Blair whispered. I nodded again.

"I have to. There is no other option." Blair jumped to her feet.

"There's a mountain of other options!" she screamed. I just glared at her.

"They'll just come here to get me. And they won't send amateurs like Angelina, Blair. They'll send the big guns, the good fighters, probably their best. I'm the leader of the Bloods now, the head honcho with Mark dead. Not just that, but I'm the one who started this mess. The first one to ever mess with them and live, the one that got the Bloods and Cribs to disband them. I'm the number one target!" I screamed. Everyone froze, their gasps audible. Even Jesse and Julie were staring at me wide-eyed. Not by my outburst, but because they saw I was right. I was in charge now.

And the Skulls were going to take me out, one way or another.

"Take me with you," Alexis whispered into my skin. I gasped and looked down at her.

"What?" I felt like I couldn't breathe. She pulled back and looked at me. Her arms were still around my neck. There were tears running down her face.

"Take me with you," she repeated. I shook my head slowly.

"No, I can't," I whispered.

"Why?" she cried. I couldn't look at her.

"I just can't."

"Tell me why, Jaden!"

I shook my head. My voice was lost, caught behind the lump in my throat.

"Yes! Tell me, please!" I whirled around grabbed her arms, holding them tightly.

"I can't lose you!" I screamed. She stared at me wide eyed and I knew everyone else was doing the same but I only had eyes for Alexis. "If the Skulls find out about you, Lex, they'll kill you just to get to me. And if they kill you…if I lose you…I don't know what I'd do." My voice was strong at the beginning but at the end I could barely hear myself. Her face softened and she wrapped her arms around me, hugging me. I hugged her back, holding her to my chest with such might, showing I was never going to let her go.

"But I'll be safest with you," she whispered in my ear. I tensed. She scratched the back of my scalp soothingly. "If the Skulls find out about me and come here, I won't be safe at all. But if they find out about me when I'm with you, well, how much safer could I be?" She pulled back so she was staring me in the eye. I didn't like what she was saying. Because she was completely right. There was no safer place for her than with me.

"She's right, Jaden," Jesse whispered. I turned to look at him, forgetting that Alexis and I were in the middle of Chazz's dorm with all of our friends watching us.

"Maria is with me for the same reason, Jaden. Tony wanted me to leave her with him and Jess, but I knew she wouldn't be safe if they came to the house. The safest place for the people you love during times like this is with you," Julie said. She smiled at me, a sad little smile. "I thought you would remember that from last year?" I frowned and turned my head away from Alexis. She placed her hand on my cheek and forced me to look at her. I just stared into those eyes I fell in love with for an immeasurable moment, fighting an internal battle.

"Don't leave my side," I whispered, raising my hand to overlap hers. "Even for a second." She smiled and leaned forward, pressing her lips to mine. I pulled her tighter against me and kissed her passionately, forgetting about our audience once again.

Someone cleared their throat.

"Don't forget about us, Slacker. We're going, too," Chazz said. I pulled slowly, almost unwillingly, away from Alexis. I turned to look at him. He had his arms folded across his chest, daring me to object.

"I'm with Chazz. You're going to need our help, Jaden," Bastion said. Syrus, Hassleberry, Aster, Blair, and Atticus all nodded. Mindy and Jasmine looked at each other.

"We'll stay back this time," they said at the same time. Then they left, probably preferring not to hear anymore.

"Wimps," Blair said. I looked at all of my friends.

"You guys don't have to come. You'll be putting yourselves in unnecessary danger," I said. Syrus smiled at me.

"It's not unnecessary if it's for you, Jay," he said. Hassleberry nodded and placed his hand on his small shoulder.

"That's right. We're all in this together," he said. I smiled at all my friends, feeling like the luckiest guy in the world.

"Pack your things, everyone. The boat will leave just after sunset," Julie said. We all looked at her. She was now holding a sleeping Maria with Jesse's arm around her shoulder. "And the same rule applies: Jaden is in charge of you. You do as he says or you stay back. Clear?" The gang looked at each other and then at her.

"Transparently."

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Ohhhh! Kawaii chapter!!!! : ) Loved all the little Jaden x Alexis moments.

Please review!

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