A/N: Here's the next chapter! Enjoy! We don't own Yugioh GX or Yugioh 5D's.

Yusei walked Aki back to her room. She leaned on his shoulder along the way, happy about the way this date had gone down.

"Well, Yusei," she said as they neared her room, "I've got to admit, that was a fun date."

"Yeah," he agreed. "Glad it all went according to plan this time. Well, except for the part where we had to sit with Judai and Asuka for dinner."

"I saw nothing wrong with that. Why, if anything, that saved our date! I bet being with them kept the trouble at bay, like it usually does."

Yusei grinned. "Yeah? Then why was there no trouble before we met up with them? I'd say we finally got past that stream of problems awhile ago, and that date proved it to me. We're through being unlucky, Aki. So, from now on, it's just gonna be you and me, and nothing's gonna stop us from having a good time. Let's make the next date even better than this one. What do you say?"

Aki nodded with a smile. "I'd say it was real lucky, us meeting Judai like that. Why, if not for him, we may never have been able to enjoy a moment like this. We sure owe him a big thank you."

"And tomorrow, we can repay that debt," Yusei said. "But, for now, you should get some rest. Tomorrow's a big day."

Aki nodded. "Right." She opened her door and turned to enter, then stopped and glanced back at her boyfriend. "Yusei. Thanks for everything! I haven't had that much fun in a long time!"

"No problem," he said, looking at her longingly.

She was looking at him in the same way.

"Aki..."

"Yusei..."

The two slowly approached each other, then Yusei grabbed her and pulled her closer, leaning in for a kiss. Aki wrapped her arms around his neck and joined in. He wrapped his arms around her waist, lifting her slightly off the ground, as he deepened the kiss. Her leg lifted up slightly in response.

It only lasted a moment, but it felt like an eternity to the two of them. Yusei put her down and let go, both blushing. Aki's hands flew up to her cheeks, now more red than the rose she loved so much.

"Oh, wow... That was..." She smiled.

Yusei smiled, too. "Yeah..."

"Well, goodnight," Aki told him, entering her room.

"Goodnight, sweet rose."

Aki blushed deeper as she closed the door, one hand still resting on her cheek. Feeling lighter than air, Yusei made his way back to his room.

When he got there, though, he was called to the lab. The reason turned his heart to lead.

"Judai! Judai!" Yusei called, banging on Judai's and Sho's door. "Get up! We've got trouble!"

Sho opened the door as Judai was still asleep. It was, after all, the middle of the night.

"What!?" Sho asked, startled. "What's going on!?"

Yusei stormed over to Judai's bed and shook the brunette violently. "Come on, man! Get up already! This is urgent!"

"W-what!?" Judai stammered. "What's going on!?"

Yusei stopped shaking him and answered, "It's the capsule! Something's gone wrong, and it's off course! It's heading towards the planet!"

Judai sat up, eyes wide. "What!?"

"Aniki!"

"No!" the spirit cried. "This can't be! Not now! They're so close! No!"

Judai lowered his head, trembling. "Damn it, I knew this would happen!"

"Come on! You should see this for yourself."

"Do I have to?"

Yusei didn't answer. He just stood there, his eyes beckoning Judai to follow him back to the lab. After what seemed like an eternity, Judai complied.

Yusei, Judai, and Sho came running into the lab. Everyone else was already there, looking at the monitor in horror. Professor Lee was finishing explaining what had happened.

"So, as you can see," Lee said, "after crossing paths with that meteor, the capsule was bumped and sent floating towards the planet. It should be pulled in by the Earth's gravity soon."

"Oh, no!" Asuka and Aki cried.

"Great," Manjoume said sarcastically.

"So, we failed?" Crow asked. "But that's not fair!"

"Life's not fair," Judai said, staring at the monitor as he walked up to stand beside him. "I've learned that by now."

"Don't despair just yet, my boy," Lee said. "There's still good news! The capsule isn't too far from here right now, so we should still be able to get it if we hurry."

"And how do you propose we do that?" Yusei asked.

"Simple. We send out a rocket to follow it and—"

"And what!?" Jack cut him off. "Hope we can somehow catch it before it makes contact with the Earth's atmosphere!? Is that even possible!?"

"No," Judai said, dejected. "No more than this was ever possible to begin with."

Asuka looked at him sadly. "Judai..."

"Let me finish," Lee said. "There's a slight chance of us being able to send someone down with it if we can just get close enough. That way, we won't lose sight of it again."

"But, sir! You don't understand!" Aki protested.

"If that capsule goes down to Earth, then it's over," Judai said, sounding strangely calm considering the situation at hand. "We've got to get it before it crashes and burns."

"Hmm." Lee looked thoughtful. "Well, I guess there's nothing we can do... It looks like our fate's sealed now."

Everyone looked away, the green-eyed spirit included.

He cursed under his breath, "Damn. All that hard work for nothing. Why'd I even try?"

Asuka and Sho hesitated a moment before both looked at Judai and said, "Judai...?"

Another moment of silence, followed by Judai cursing, "Fuck..."

"I'm sorry, pal," Yusei said. "We tried."

"Yeah..."

Although she was pretty sure she already knew the answer, Asuka asked, "Judai...you gonna be okay...?"

"...Maybe...," he answered, although he was pretty sure he wouldn't be.

Sho hugged him. "Aniki... I'm so sorry..." He started crying, still holding onto Judai.

Judai's eyes teared up as well.

"Judai...," Yubel said sadly. After another moment, an idea hit her, though. "W-wait a minute!"

Huh? Judai asked silently as the tears ran down his cheeks. What?

"Duh, you idiot! We can still do this! You just have to be the one to follow me!"

His eyes widened. Huh?

The spirit snapped his fingers, realizing what Yubel was saying. "She's right! We haven't failed yet! Not if he does that, that is! Hurry up and tell him, Yubel, so you guys can launch that shuttle!"

His friend nodded frantically, cheering them on as well.

"Your powers, you dolt!" Yubel said. "You can use them to protect me! I can think of one amazing trap card you've got that could definitely do the job!"

Judai couldn't believe he hadn't thought of that. With his powers, he could bring his cards to life. If he did that, then...

"Change of plans!" he exclaimed suddenly. "Get me out there now!"

"Judai!" everyone cried, surprised.

"As you wish," Lee said. "I'll prepare a team for you immediately."

"Judai. Just what are you up to?" Asuka asked.

"You figure out a way to get her?" Aki asked.

"We can still do this, but only if I go after that capsule," he answered. "Using my powers, I can protect her on the way down. That should prevent the worst and make up for some of the crap I've put her through."

Everyone stared for a moment before Yusei nodded.

"Alright, guys, you heard him!" he said. "Let's suit up and get this show on the road!"

"Right!" Aki said.

At the same time, Crow said, "Alright!"

Jack was less enthusiastic when he said, "Right."

Asuka, Sho, and Manjoume were a bit confused, not sure what powers Judai was talking about, but they went along with it anyway. Honestly, the others didn't quite know what he meant either, but Aki's powers as a psychic duelist gave them an idea of what he meant.

The gang suited up and got into the shuttle, ready to launch out after that card.

"Now, remember," Lee reminded the crew, "we only get one shot at this, so try not to miss."

"Yes, sir!" the pilot said.

"You sure about this, Judai?" Asuka asked. "It sounds kinda dangerous."

"I'm sure."

"But what if something goes wrong and you get yourself killed instead?" Sho asked.

"Then I'll revive, like I always do."

Manjoume humphed. "That's still weird. Where at? Hopefully not the same place you died at."

He was trying not to show that he cared, Judai could tell. Manjoume always acted that way. His concern over where he'd come back wasn't just idol curiosity—he was hoping Judai wouldn't come back in the middle of space if he died in the middle of space.

"Usually near the place I died, but I show up on the ground when I die in the air," Judai answered, not really wanting to think about the event that taught him that. "So, somewhere down there."

Asuka looked at him in concern. "Judai..."

"Alright, everyone!" the pilot said. "Have a seat and buckle up so we can get that card back!"

Everyone took their seats and fastened themselves in, and the pilot launched the shuttle, heading off in the direction of the card's capsule.