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. :)
Remaining Chapters (Excluding this one): 10
xXx
Jaden's POV
"So Viper's dead?" I asked into my walkie-talkie, eyes scanning the streets for any sign of a Skull.
'Yeah, he's gone for good,' Jim said.
"Good." I sighed and ran my fingers through my hair. "All right, well sense Viper's dead stick with Jesse. We don't need a Skull jumping you after you just battled with Viper."
'Good idea. Will do,' Jim agreed.
'We'll head back toward the district I was in,' Jesse joined in. 'What do you want us to do with Viper's body?'
"What can you do?" I asked, running across the street. "You can't call the cops and you can't take it with you." I shrugged. "Just leave him. I have a feeling these Skulls are really good at clean up."
'Yeah, you're probably right,' Jesse agreed.
'We'll contact you to check up in about an hour,' Jim said.
"No need, that's when we're supposed to meet near the central park. You can explain what happened to everyone when we get there."
'All right, see you then,' Jesse said. Before Jaden could bid him goodbye, the talkie produced static as the line went dead. He sighed and slid it back into his pocket.
Angelina, Sartorius, and now Viper are all dead. Still, we've lost five members. I stopped and looked up, shielding my eyes from the sun. And I have a feeling the next person to die won't be a Skull.
xXx
Narrative POV
"Syrus, where are you going?" Alexis asked, raising an eyebrow at Syrus, who froze at the sound of her voice. He had his hand on the front doorknob, ready to leave. At hearing Alexis' question, the rest of the gang appeared, looking to Syrus for an explanation.
"Well, you see, I need to pick something up from the Precious Metals Corner Mart." His face was bright red.
"That's three blocks away from here!" Blair exclaimed.
Syrus' face grew brighter as he stammered, "We-well it's the only store that carries what I ne-need."
"And what is it you need?" Akiza asked, folding her arms across her chest. Syrus dropped his gaze to the floor, scuffing the floor with the toes of his shoes.
"It-it's personal."
"Syrus, we can't let you leave," Yugi said, walking over to him. "The Skulls are looking for something that will get to Jaden, that's why you guys are here with me." Yugi placed his hands on Syrus' shoulders, dropping down so he could look him in the eye. "This is the only place where you're safe."
"I know that, but I really need my…personal item," Syrus whispered.
"Don't you understand that if the Skulls get you, they could use you to hurt my brother?" Jess exclaimed, speaking up for the first time in days. Tony placed a firm hand on her shoulder, keeping her from lunging on the bright red Syrus.
"I understand that, but Jaden would understand that I need this." He looked to Yugi, hoping he would understand what he was saying.
Yugi simply shook his head. "Sorry, Syrus, but I can't let you go out there; it's much too dangerous to walk the streets with Skulls after you guys."
"I'll go with him," Hassleberry offered, taking a step forward. "It will be better if we're not alone, right?"
Yugi bit his lip. "It's still too dangerous."
"How about if I go with them?" Tony offered. "I can keep an eye on them."
Yugi looked between the three. He closed his eyes tightly, squeezing the bridge of his nose. "Syrus, are you sure that you need this…personal item right away?"
"Yes," he answered.
Yugi bit his lip again but sighed, dropping his hand. "All right, go, but be careful. Go straight there and then come straight back. No back ways, no back alleys, no shortcuts. Stay in public view, understood?"
The trio nodded.
"Good, and most importantly: stay together."
xXx
"Are you okay, Alexis?" Akiza asked, sitting down next to her. Alexis shook her head, bouncing Maria on her lap. They were outside, sitting by the koi pond in the backyard.
"No, I don't like that Syrus, Hassleberry, and Tony are out on the town." She pulled Maria tight against her chest, smoothing her hair. "Jaden won't like that Yugi let them go."
"I don't like that he let them go but no one was giving him much of an argument." Akiza sighed and leaned back on her hands. "I'm pretty sure everyone here is getting sick of being here." She looked at Alexis. "Why are you here anyway?"
Alexis frowned, twirling a lock of Maria's hair around her finger. "I honestly don't know. We insisted on coming but, now that we're here, I don't think anyone knows what they can do." Alexis bit her lower lip, trying to keep it from quivering. "All we're doing is causing problems for Jaden."
Akiza moved closer then, taking Alexis hand from Maria's hair, squeezing it. "Hey, Yusei has that same problem. He has a group of friends who always insist on helping us in situations similar to this one." She smiled. "And he tries his damndest, just like Jaden, to keep them safe." Akiza brushed some hair out of Alexis' eyes. "I have a feeling that you being here is actually better on Jaden than having you guys at Duel Academy."
"What do you mean?"
Akiza sighed and dropped Alexis' hand, scooting away so they were no longer touching. "He'd be worried about you guys if you were anywhere but here. It's actually safer here for you guys. These Skulls are trying everything to get to Jaden." She looked up at Alexis, a dark look in her amber eyes. "I have a sinking feeling that the Skulls have investigated Duel Academy already. If you were there then you sure as Hell wouldn't be there now."
A sick feeling filled Alexis as Akiza's words slowly sank in. She was right of course and the truth of that made her blood run cold. "God, I never thought of that," Alexis murmured, unconsciously pulling Maria closer. The two of them sat in silence for a few minutes, both trying to understand the situation they're in.
"Yusei protects them," Akiza whispered suddenly, startling Alexis. "He's taken bullets for them and yet they still don't fully grasp the severity of the life he lives." She looked at Alexis. "You guys have seen everything with your own eyes and yet you all fought Jaden to come here. Having friends like you wanting to do everything you can to help your friend is what gives Jaden and the other's their drive."
Alexis looked away from Akiza and down at Maria. The baby looked up at her, smiling brightly. Alexis felt a soft return smile form on her lips but it quickly disappeared. "But that drive could kill them."
"And you're loyalty could kill you all." Akiza looked down at the fish. "But things like this just aren't in our control."
"You sound like you're speaking from personal experience," Alexis whispered. She noticed how Akiza tensed at her accusation. She swallowed. "Those friends that Yusei protects…have any of them…died?"
Akiza squeezed her hands into tight fists, remaining quiet for a few moments, before she sighed and looked at Alexis. "Yes."
Alexis' heart froze.
"You can't protect everyone, Alexis, and Yusei learned that the hard way."
Alexis swallowed again. "And Jaden…?"
Akiza's eyes grew dark. "I have a feeling he'll have to learn the same lesson the exact same way."
xXx
"All right, let's make this snappy," Tony said, looking around the streets. "I don't like being out in the open like this."
"You could have stayed back at Yugi's," Hassleberry said, pushing open the door to the Precious Metals Corner Mart.
Tony snorted. "Then you'd still be there too." He walked past Hassleberry.
Hassleberry rolled his eyes, looking at Syrus. "Let's go, Soldier."
Syrus nodded and he followed Hassleberry in. Just as he was about to enter the store a hand clamped down on his shoulder, pulling him back and turning him around. Syrus looked up, staring down the barrel of a gun.
Somewhere off he heard the sound of a gun being fired.
xXx
Jaden's POV
"Well there's only seven members left," Jack said.
"But can we kill them all before they kill the rest of us?" Kaiba asked.
"Don't talk like that, Kaiba," Atem ordered. Kaiba shot him a dirty look before casting a glance down the street.
"What now, Jaden?" Jesse asked. I sighed and looked up at everyone.
"Let's-" I began but I was cut off by the sound of my phone ringing. I sighed and held up one finger, pulling out my phone and pressing it to my ear. "Yes?"
'JADEN!'
It was Hassleberry, and he sounded like he was sobbing. My hand fell. "What's wrong, Hassleberry?"
'You-you need to get to the mart on the corner of Gold and Silver Street now!'
I looked up, seeing that was only a quick run away. "I'm almost there but why?"
'Tony, Syrus, and I came here 'cause Syrus said he-he needed something important and said it couldn't wait.' He kept sobbing. I didn't like the feeling I was getting.
"Okay…"
'Jaden, someone killed Syrus!'
xXx
…DON'T KILL ME!
-runs away-
Just review and I promise I'll update super fast!
-keeps running-
-x-Anime-Queen-2011-x-
-o-Mel-o-
