Hey, guys! I'm back and my computer is alive and well! : )
But before I going to the new chapter this is something I really need to clear up. Just so everyone is clear on the matter (and so I don't get killed) ZANE DID NOT KILL SYRUS. He was SURPRISED that his brother is dead, therefore he didn't kill him. Okay? And also JOSIE DID NOT KILL SYRUS. She can't hit the broadside of a barn, and she is a distance shooter (which is why she shot at Zane from across the street). Remember, Syrus was killed point-blank range. All right? And as for who DID kill Syrus, well, that's my little surprise. You'll find out in a few chapters. )
Anyway, enjoy the new chapter!
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): 8
xXx
Jaden's POV
"You better start explaining yourself right now, Zane," I snapped, glaring at him from across the room. Zane began wringing his hands, staring over them and at the ground. He sat on the couch, dressed in dark wash jeans and dark blue shirt. When they arrived at Yugi's, Zane changed out of his black outfit. He only did so to try and keep us calm even though he's a Skull.
"I joined the Skulls a few months back. One of them approached me and made me an offer, at the time, I couldn't refuse," he began softly.
"Who?" Jesse asked.
Zane looked at him. "Bakura."
At the sound of the name, all of the Pyramids tensed.
"Keep going. You still have a lot of explaining to do," I snarled, tapping the barrel of my gun against my palm. Okay, I really, really, really hoped I wasn't going to have to use it, but I needed it out to show Zane I was through messing around.
It seemed to be enough for him. "I'm the newest member but I was the most…valued one."
"Why?" Jim asked.
Zane hesitated. "They knew Jaden and I went to school together." He looked up at me. "They knew that we are." He stopped. "I mean, that we were friends. They also knew my baby brother was one of your closest friends."
"They seem to know an awful lot about you," Joey said. Zane nodded.
"That's what probably frightened me the most. There was not one fact about my life that they didn't know." He looked at me. "Where do people like them get their hands on information like that?"
"That's a good question," Crow said. "Unfortunately, when we were still members, they didn't provide that kind of knowledge to us."
Zane nodded. "I know. Still, I joined them and I'm not quite sure if it was out of fear or something else."
"Listen, Zane, this is all very fascinating but let's skip over this tear-jerking tale of your problems and skip right to the good stuff." Tristan slammed his fist on the brand-new coffee table, getting right into Zane's face. "Where are the other Skulls hiding?"
Zane looked up at him. "That's the trick, they aren't hiding."
"If they aren't hiding then what are they doing?" Akiza asked.
"Hunting."
Everyone remained silent, looking around at each other.
"Each Skull was given an objective target." Zane looked at me and then at everyone else. "You guys aren't hunting them, they're hunting you, and there isn't a damn thing you can do to change that."
The worst feeling filled me. I knew that Zane was right. We were out there trying to find these Skulls so we could take them out before they strike again and we're the real victims. Just when I think we have the upper hand, just when I think we can get the jump on them, information like this always set's me back ten paces.
"Do you know who each Skull was assigned to?" Kaiba asked. Zane nodded slowly.
"They aren't hidden secrets, each Skull knew everyone else's objective. It was so we don't step on each other's toes." He looked at Kaiba. "In the Skulls, you don't take out someone else's objective unless you want to die yourself."
"Who was assigned to whom, Zane?" Yusei asked.
"Viper was assigned to Axel and once he killed Axel he was assigned to Jim."
"And now he won't be assigned to anyone else because the fucker's dead," Jim snarled. Zane flinched slightly.
"Well." He cleared his throat. "Camula was assigned to Emmy and now she…she's assigned to Julie." He looked up at said target, who was bouncing her baby girl on her hip.
"Whoopee, my target is after me." She smirked slightly, which caused Jesse to frown. I noticed that he moved closer to her, arm curling around her waist.
"Giese was assigned to Jesse."
"He wouldn't have it any other way," Jesse whispered. He tried to look calm but it was kind of hard to keep convincing when all blood drained from his face.
"Kalin was assigned to Yusei and Bakura was assigned to Atem." He paused and then shook his head. "Actually that's wrong. Kalin was assigned any and all Signers while Bakura was assigned the same except only with the Pyramids."
"That sounds about right with Kalin but," Jack looked at Joey "did you guys do something to Bakura?"
"You mean aside from regularly kicking his ass?" Joey asked, smirking. Jack just sighed and shook his head.
"What about Onii-Chan?" Jess asked, looking at Zane. He looked at her and then at me.
"Jaden's the lucky winner. The leader of the Skulls has taken it upon himself to end your life."
Everyone looked at me, slightly horrified, but I wasn't surprised in the least. "Surprise, surprise," I said.
"You don't sound surprised," Tony said. I shrugged, closing my eyes.
"A guy who goes to extravagant lengths to torture me wouldn't let someone else actually kill me." I shook my head and opened my eyes, looking right at Tony. "That just doesn't make any sense."
"Jaden, you should take the leader very seriously," Zane warned.
"No, he's going to treat it like a fucking game!" Kaiba and Jack barked at the same time, only to smacked by their respective leaders.
"You don't understand. The leader of the Skulls is a very throe man. No one has ever seen his face."
"Wait, what about Bakura and Kalin?" Blair asked. Zane shook his head.
"They've never met him face to face, none of us have. He gives orders once a week, always at the same time via phone."
"If you've never met him than how do you know that he's really dangerous; that he'll really kill you guys if you disobey him?" Atticus asked. Zane closed his eyes, almost looking weary.
"All you need to do is hear his voice, Atticus." He looked at him. "You'd know in a millisecond that he'd kill you without hesitation." He let out a shaking breath. "You have no idea what he's like. He's a monster with one thing on his mind." He looked up at me. "And that's your death."
Everyone remained quiet, absorbing this information.
"So," I broke the silence "The people we've been hunting have been hunting us this entire time, right?"
He nodded.
"Then why haven't they already killed us all?"
Zane shook his head. "I don't know why. Maybe it's all part of his real plan to get to you! I told you, Jaden, I know very little. Josie, Angelina, and I were brought in as collateral, just three extra members to intimidate you. Sartorius, Camula, Viper, all of them had real issues with you guys! They are the only ones the leader cares about." Zane clenched his hands around the edge of the couch. "I mean next to nothing to him!"
"All right, Zane, we get it." I held my hands up. "Calm down, we'll figure something out." I sighed and turned my back on everyone, looking out the window.
"Jaden," Zane called after a minute. "There's something else you should know."
"Oh?" I spoke without turning around. "What's that?"
"Everyone was giving another objective to their own personal ones."
I turned slowly, looking at him with narrowed eyes. I did not like the way he was speaking. "And what is that?"
He didn't answer, he only looked to his left with his eyes, just a quick jerk that only I noticed.
He looked at Alexis.
I closed my eyes tightly, clenching my hands into fists. "Of course, of course, now everything is slowly making sense."
"Mind enlightening us, Mate?" Jim asked.
"What is their other objective?" Julie asked. I quickly shook my head.
"Doesn't matter, I've got a new plan."
xXx
"Okay, what is all of this supposed to mean?" Crow asked, looking at me confused. I had a map of Domino City laid out on the coffee table, a marker in my hand.
"This plan of mine is the same as before, only different," I explained. Chazz looked at me.
"And tomorrow is going to be just like today, only different."
Blair elbowed him but I smiled softly.
"What's different, Mate?" Jim asked, pressing an ice pack against his chest.
"No one is alone, fuck that." I looked at Julie and Jesse pointedly. Julie stuck her tongue out at me, bouncing Maria in her arms. "Pairs, period." I looked at everyone, setting the marker down. "Jim and Jesse will go together, Yusei and Akiza will go out as well." I looked at her. "Do you feel up do it?"
She nodded. "Bring it on."
I nodded and reached over the table and grabbed Alexis' wrist, tugging her to her feet. She gasped as I pulled her next to me, wrapping my arm around her waist. I was still bent over, looking at the map. "And Alexis is sticking with me." I saw the surprise on everyone's faces but they didn't say a word. If I was willing to take Alexis with me then they knew something was seriously wrong.
"And what about Julie?" Atticus asked after a moment.
Shit, I thought, realizing I hadn't planned that far ahead.
"I'll go with her," Tony offered, stepping forward.
"What, fuck no!" Jesse exclaimed. Julie looked at him confused but I simply sighed. Tony and I weren't exactly 'friends' but he could handle something like this; Jess told me a few stories about Tony.
"Listen, Jesse, we're going to have to let this happen. Julie can't go by herself, period, and Tony can handle himself," I explained. He frowned at me.
Julie patted his check. "Relax, Babe, I'll be fine."
He relinquished with a sigh. "Fine, whatever."
I nodded and bent back over the map, taking the marker and drawing seven circles on the map, writing each pair's initials. "Each pair will be given a district. If what Zane said is true than our friends will follow our lead." I stood up straight, capping and dropping the marker onto the table, looking up at everyone. "Doesn't matter if a Skull is after you or not, there's no telling what they could try to pull."
Everyone nodded.
"And pair or no pair, don't be stupid." I looked at Jim, who just smirked. "Call for help; everyone stay on the same wavelength to keep things simple." I switched my wavelength and everyone else did the same. "We'll meet up in the central park in an hour." I looked up at everyone. "Don't be late." I looked at Yugi then. "No one leaves, Yugi."
He frowned and nodded. "I'm really sorry, Jaden."
I nodded. "I know, Yugi. It isn't your fault. Syrus knew the risks yet he took the chance. He signed his own fate the second he stepped out that door." I swallowed against the lump in my throat, clearing it when it wouldn't go away. Everyone remained silent as I tried to compose myself.
I cleared my throat loudly and looked up at everyone. "These Skulls die today; let's move."
xXx
Not quite sure about this one. –sigh-
Anyway, please, please, please review!
-x-Anime-Queen-2011-x-
-o-Mel-o-
