"Ja..n… J..den…"
The brown-haired Slifer's ears twitched, his heart beating faster as he realized he wasn't sitting in the school's infirmary anymore. Around him stretched an endless black void, and the air felt heavy and cold. An unnatural silence hung in the space, broken only by the whispering voice.
"Jaden… Can you hear me, Jaden? Because… I can hear you."
The voice slithered into his ears. It was cold yet intimate… as if the one speaking was whispering into his ear. He turned his head, searching for the source, only to find nothing but darkness.
"W-Who's there?" he cried, his voice echoing into the void. He tried to sound brave, but there was an edge of fear in his tone. "Show yourself!"
A low, sinister chuckle replied, its sound bouncing off unseen walls.
"Be not afraid, Jaden," it said, the voice sounding almost coy. "You must know I would never hurt you."
The words sent a chill down his spine.
"Do I?" he asked, his voice faltering slightly. "I don't know what you'd do to me! Bein' honest, I don't even know who you are!"
"Don't… know…?" the voice trembled. "How cruel. You HAVE to know. Our bond cannot be forgotten. It is essential to who we are. To who YOU are, my beloved!"
Jaden's chest tightened. He didn't know this voice—or at least, he didn't think he did. But there was something disturbingly familiar about it, something that made his heart clench with sadness.
"You… Who are you?" he dared, squinting his eyes.
A powerful wail was his only reply, making Jaden's skin crawl.
"You know who I am!" the voice pressured, coming from everywhere and nowhere at once. "Are you saying you truly forgot about me? About these eyes of mine?"
A fierce howl ripped through the void as the voice gathered before him, giving shape to a winged shadow with a pair of green and orange eyes.
"You're…" his eyes widened. "But… No… What…?"
He knew this… thing, whatever it was, impossible though it may be. But the how and why remained just out of reach, as if trying to recall an old dream.
As if sensing his distress, the winged shadow moved even closer toward him.
"Jaden, it doesn't matter how far apart we've become, nor how much time has passed since then, you'll always be mine. Forever."
"You're…" a name left his lips.
"That's right," they replied soothingly. A pair of tendrils stretched out from their core. "And… it's time for me to come home."
They lunged.
-GX-
"Whuttimeisit…?" Syrus asked, rubbing his eyes as he woke. He leaned up from the infirmary's spare bed, glancing over to where Jaden should have been. Instead, all he found was an empty bed.
The sheets were still in a mess.
"Huh?! What?!" he gawked, Jaden's absence immediately putting him on alert. He leaped to his feet and glanced out the window, only to find him walking toward the forest.
"Jaden? JADEN!" Syrus cried, but to no avail.
Jaden didn't even stop to consider Syrus… almost as if he hadn't even heard him.
'Where's he going?' Syrus thought. 'Is he sleepwalking? But that's Chumley's shtick! Whatever he's up to, he's not doing it alone!'
"Hang on, Jay! I'm coming, too!"
Quickly throwing on his Slifer Red jacket, Syrus ran downstairs to give chase. By the time he made it outside the Main Building, Jaden had already reached the horizon.
"Jaden! Jaden, wait up!" he called, quickly running after him.
His feet pounded against the ground as he chased, his breaths coming in short gasps. Jaden continued to walk without looking back as if pulled by an invisible thread.
"Jaden, what are you doing?!" Syrus shouted, his voice laced with worry.
The taller boy showed no sign of hearing him. He didn't even slow down.
Syrus frowned. Something was wrong. Jaden wasn't acting like himself. With every step he took, he seemed to grow more distant, not just physically, but emotionally, too!
By the time Syrus finally caught up to him, Jaden had made his way to the port. He was untying one of several rowboats, his eyes fixed on the ocean ahead. Syrus skidded to a halt at the edge of the dock, panting heavily.
"Jaden…" he breathed, doubling over as he caught his breath. "What… are you… doing? What's with… the boat? You're not going fishing for treasure again, are you? That didn't work out well the last time!"
A tense silence filled the air, but Jaden didn't reply. Syrus gulped.
"Come on, let's go back inside where it's warm. We can check out those new Xyz cards! My bro said he secured a few—"
"I can't, Sy," Jaden finally said after a long moment. He slid the boat into the ocean and stood. "I have to go. They're calling me."
"Calling you? Who's calling you? It's not even four in the morning!"
"An old friend. My oldest friend. And they're in trouble right now."
"Trouble…?" Syrus repeated. "Jaden, you're talking crazy! Did you eat one too many eggwiches again? You know they give you weird dreams!"
Jaden slowly turned to face him, their eyes meeting for the first time since he'd left the infirmary. Syrus gasped, stumbling back a step.
Jaden's eyes…
They were no longer brown.
Instead, they glowed a haunting gold, like they had when Jaden dueled Judge Man!
"Jaden…?" Syrus asked, worried this time. "What's going on?"
"Goodbye, Syrus," came Jaden's reply, his voice final and solemn. Without waiting for a response, he stepped into the rowboat and pushed himself off from the dock.
"Jaden, wait!" Syrus shouted, lunging forward. But it was too late. The boat was already drifting away, carried by an unseen current.
"Jaden! Jaden, come back! Jaden! JAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAADEN!"
But as Syrus's cries filled the air, the Slifer just kept on rowing.
TAG FORCE ALTERNATIVE: TWISTING THE TALE
LESSON TWO
EVERYONE'S ROAD
"I'm telling you guys, Jaden's in trouble!" Syrus cried at them later that morning.
"Yeah, so am I. If I don't pass Crowler's exam this week, my grades are toast!" Chumley said.
"I'm not joking around, Chumley!" Syrus snapped, whirling toward the koala. "This is serious! He wasn't listening to me at all! And his eyes… they were glowing gold!"
"Gold?" Alexis cut in, her own eyes narrowing at the reminder. "You mean like—"
"You mean like when he dueled Judge Man, right?" Chazz interrupted.
Alexis glared at him.
"Er, sorry, Lexi," he winced. "Ahem. You were saying?"
Alexis frowned and folded her arms.
"Did you already tell the teachers?" she asked.
"Of course I did!" Syrus complained. "Professor Banner said he'd look into it, but who knows how long that'll take! Or if Jaden even has that much time!"
She pursed her lips, "If you told the teachers… then there's not much more we can do."
"What?!"
"Jaden's a good Duelist, Syrus. I'm sure even he wouldn't go out with no plan. And if the teachers said they'll look into it, then we have to trust they'll be good on their word."
"That's not what you said before…" Syrus murmured, and Alexis flinched at the jab. Only a few days had passed since her recklessness had nearly gotten all of them killed.
"It's because of what happened before that I'm deciding to leave this up to them this time," she said. "I don't want to get anybody else getting hurt… especially because of my choices."
"Yeah! You can't expect Lexi to go out and risk her life for some slacker!" Chazz barked. "We've got more important things to worry about anyway, like finding out about this Xyz!"
"But… But…!"
Alexis frowned and set a soothing hand on Sy's shoulder. "I know how you feel, Syrus. I do! Jaden's my friend, too. And if it weren't for him, none of us would even be alive right now to chat like this. But I can't just put us in danger again! I won't. It's too dangerous! Besides, if he really left Academy Island, then he could be anywhere by now!"
Syrus frowned. He knew she was right. The world was a very big place, and without any leads, they wouldn't even know the first place to start if they could! Still…
"I don't like it. You didn't see the way he looked! It was like… like he was in some kind of trance! He didn't feel like Jaden at all!"
Alexis bit her lip. She wanted to help, but there was just too much at stake. And with nothing to go on, there wasn't much point. They'd simply end up getting lost, too.
"I get it, Syrus. But we have to trust the teachers on this one, okay? I'm sure they'll let us know if anything happens."
"Yeah…" he grumbled. "For better or worse."
The group fell into an awkward silence.
"So… are you gonna eat that?" Chumley asked with a grumble. He gestured to Syrus' breakfast nonchalantly, as if they'd been talking about the weather.
Syrus gritted his teeth.
"What's the matter with you? You're acting like you don't care at all!"
"It's not that I don't, but Sy, we Slifer students go missing all the time. You kind of get used to it after a while. Besides, Jaden'll be fine. Even if he gets into trouble, he always manages to worm his way out of it somehow. So, since there's nothing we can do, I'll let bygones be bygones and eat while I can!"
Without waiting for a reply, he snatched a piece of toast off of Syrus's plate. The blue-haired boy gawked as he stuffed it in his mouth, swallowing it with a few loud gulps.
"Hey, that was mine!"
"Not anymore. Ya snooze ya lose. You know that!"
"I also know that you're in for a beating if you take any more off my plate!" Syrus yelled.
Alexis frowned as she watched the pair descend into pointless bickering. Crude though it was, Chumley had a point. Better to focus on what they did know.
She turned to Chazz.
"Hey," she said. "So, about those new Xyz cards…"
Chazz smirked, his roguish grin alerting her to the annoyance that was soon to come.
"Interested, huh? I thought you might be, so I asked my bros for the deets. I don't like relying on them for anything, but this info was too good to ignore. Turns out that slacker Kodo pulled a fast one out from under us all!" he growled. "That rat bastard went to Industrial Illusions and coined the term with some… 'Franz!'"
'Konami…' she thought, narrowing her eyes. 'Just what are you up to this time?'
Ever since she'd met the boy earlier that year, she'd never fully grasped his intentions. First, he was scheming around with Kami, and now, suddenly, he's a Pro! It just didn't make any sense, even if he had a big sponsor like Umi no Corp. If that was all it took to get into the Pro League, then Chazz and Zane wouldn't need schooling!
'I don't know what kind of game he's playing, but knowing him, it can't be good. Still, I can't rush into things like before. Especially after what's happened…'
She still felt guilty about fighting with Jasmine, especially now that she knew she was wrong. Duel Spirits really did exist… which meant… Konami had saved her.
'Bastion, too for that matter,' she thought, pursing her lips even further. 'I don't think I ever really thanked him for that. I'll have to the next time I see him.'
Not that he had to accept her thanks… or the apology that she owed them. The last time they'd truly spoken one-on-one, she'd crushed him publically and called him a liar! Even worse, shortly after that, she'd gotten him caught up in the Judge Man mess. She wanted to cringe at her past behavior, knowing what she did now. But all she could do was own up to it, and hope things turned out for the best.
She took a deep breath.
"I still can't believe Konami really beat Rex. Sure, Rex never topped the charts, but he was still a real Pro."
"Right? That's what we were saying!" Syrus said, rejoining the conversation. "Hey, now that he's become a Pro, do you think he'll give us an autograph?"
"Ha! If you pay him, maybe," Chazz grunted, folding his arms. "But who'd ever pay for an autograph from an uppity asshole like that?"
-GX-
"Ayo, Kodo! Sign my shirt!"
"Where can I get that new Dark Magician Girl?!"
"Hey, isn't that the new Pro who beat Rex?"
"I thought he'd look cooler in person…"
Konami Kodo grimaced as he stepped onboard the ship headed for Duel Academy. It seemed an entire crowd had gathered to see him off, or rather, harass him for juicy scoops.
"Carly Raines from the Daily Duel! Will we see you in the Pro League Circuit again soon?"
"Angelica Carmine! Shutterbug on DuelTube! Do you have any comment for those who call you a cheater for how you won your Duel against Rex?"
'Don't say a thing,' he thought to himself. 'That's what Wisteria told me. But…'
Goddamn. These reporters were really starting to get on his nerves!
"Like hell it's cheating!" he finally snapped, spinning around to face the Carmine girl. "Xyz went live that very same morning, so don't try and feed me that bull crap! Just because Rex wasn't up to date on changing dueling trends doesn't mean I cheated! Who do I look like? Bandit Keith?! Ha! I'm much better looking!" he roared. "So, listen here, you can tell whoever denounces me to go shove it! If they have a problem, they can say it to my face! Or better yet… in a Duel! I'll be more than happy to show them just how official my new Xyz cards are then. That is… if they can work up the guts! That's something Rex had that they don't!"
Several camera flashes went off in his face.
"Speaking of Rex," Carmine mustered, "Do you have any comment for future contenders?"
"Yeah. I'm gonna win!" he said.
Several more flashes consumed his vision as he turned and boarded the ship.
"Thank you!" Carmine said as he left. "And please, subscribe to my DuelTu—"
SLAM!
The door to the liner slid shut behind him, silencing the noise from outside. He took a deep breath and opened his eyes, examining the cruise ship's interior. Polished wooden floors and leather chairs gleamed beneath the ship's overhead lighting, casting a warm, elegant glow on the tables strategically placed throughout the room.
Several officials were already present, seated in different areas of the lounge. A few of them glanced up from their work as he entered, only to turn back once they saw it was him. Given the stern expressions they wore, along with their crisp green uniforms, Konami recognized them as part of Duel Academy's Disciplinary Action Squad: the same Action Squad responsible for suspending him for the past week in the first place. It was clear they were here to oversee his trip back, ensuring everything ran smoothly. Or, perhaps, to ensure he didn't pull any more stunts before they arrived.
That was fine. He'd expected as much. Duel Academy was a strict school, and given what he'd gotten up to since he'd arrived, they were more than right in their choice to be wary. After all, one could only get students expelled so many times before things got suspicious. And after that Jinzo fiasco nearly got Jasmine killed, well…
He was lucky they were letting him back in at all!
However, while he expected the DAS to hound him on the trip back, what he hadn't expected was the tall, long-haired man standing at their head.
He exuded an aura of calm confidence that set him apart from the others, with long blue hair that flowed over his shoulders, and piercing, almost creepy, blue eyes. Unlike the others, he was dressed in the senior's version of the Obelisk uniform, but Konami recognized him instantly and immediately knew he wasn't a student.
His heart skipped a beat.
"Sartorius?" he blurted, unable to hide his surprise.
Sartorius smiled serenely. "Konami Kodo, it's been some time. I hope the reporters outside didn't make your journey here too troubling."
Konami's eyes narrowed. "Why are you here?"
Sartorius tilted his head slightly. "I've come to ensure your safe return, of course. You are a Duel Academy student. And as it's new counselor, it's my responsibility to ensure students are taken care of."
Konami scoffed. "Cut the crap. You don't care about my well-being. You never did."
"Such harsh words. But I assure you, they are mistaken. Everyone has a destiny, Konami. My goal is to ensure everyone fulfills theirs."
"Destiny, huh?" Konami muttered. "That's the same crap you said back at Rintama, too. Is that why you're here? To keep filling people's heads with all that 'light and darkness' crap?"
Sartorius's eyes softened for a second, "Our sessions were meant to guide you, to help you understand the duality of nature, and guide you back toward peace. Light and darkness were simply an analogy I intended to use at the time, for one cannot exist without the other… much like one's Ego and Id."
Konami clenched his fists. He remembered all too well the "guidance" Sartorius had given him. The cryptic messages, the unsettling predictions, the feeling that he was destined for more—all bullshit. Needless posturing under the pretense of counseling.
"Save it," he snapped. "I didn't buy your bologna then, and I don't now! And if you think you can mess with my head again, you're wrong. I'm not your puppet, Sartorius!"
Sartorius sighed, almost as if disappointed by his patient's response. "I see you're still as resistant as ever. How unfortunate. You view my attempts to help in a negative light, but I mean no harm."
"Yeah, well, maybe I'm not interested in getting your 'help' anymore," Konami scoffed. He turned his back to him. "So why don't you go sell your 'destiny' nonsense somewhere else?"
"I would if I could. Alas, it is your decisions that have brought me before you. Your Duel with Dimitri cast a negative light on Duel Academy, and so, they decided to bring me on to help… steer the school back on track."
"Yeah, I heard," Konami grunted, recalling his voice chat with Jasmine. "My friend told me all about your task force! Fat load of good it'll do. You think I'm rotten, but that school was worse, way before I ever got there! You think you can fix it by giving certain students more power over the others? Ha! All you're asking for is more discrimination, more bullying!"
"You would believe so," Sartorius replied amicably, closing his eyes. "But not everyone is as ruthless or untrusting as you are, Konami."
As if on cue, a rustle of movement echoed from the rear of the hull. Konami's eyes widened as he noticed four figures emerging from the shadows behind them. They fanned out behind Sartorius, revealing their identities to be those of students. But where they once wore colored jackets or skirts, now, their clothes were pure white.
"The hell is this, Kumar?" Konami inquired, glaring at the group with a scowl.
"This is Holactie Force," Sartorius explained, gesturing toward them. "Handpicked students, tasked with maintaining discipline within Duel Academy. They will ensure that the rules are followed and that any rulebreaking is dealt with."
Konami's eyes narrowed as he sized them up.
He noticed Yuma Miyata among them.
His lips twitched.
'Seriously?'
This was the best they could muster?
"You must be joking," Konami smirked, his voice carrying through the room. "This is the Academy's grand idea? They're all third-rate Duelists or snitches!"
Sartorius's serene smile didn't falter. "They are far from third-rate, Konami. These students have seen the Light of Justice and have chosen to embrace it fully. They understand the importance of discipline and unity, qualities essential for peace."
"Peace is a lie, there is only passion," Konami spat, clenching his fists. "And, what? You're just going to sic these goons on anyone who steps out of line?!"
"Perhaps," Sartorius said with a smile. "Shall I give you a demonstration?"
"Demonstration?"
"Yes," Sartorius said, turning toward them. "Why don't you show our dear friend Konami how things will be here from now on?"
As soon as the words left Sartorius's lips, the Holactie Force sprang into action. Konami tensed, raising his fists and bracing himself for a fight. He could feel the adrenaline surging through his veins, his fire boiling his blood. His fists clenched, and he shifted his stance, preparing to meet them with force.
But as he reared back, preparing to throw a punch at his nearest assailant, the boy ducked down, grabbed his dropped bag, and hefted it over his shoulder.
"This way," the boy murmured, nodding his head down a corridor. "Your cabin's back at the end of this hall. From what I've heard, it's pretty quiet."
"Bwuh?"
"Seriously?" Yuma asked, taking his other duffel bag as he sputtered. "What did you think we were going to do? Jump you? You're such a moron."
"W-What?"
Yuma groaned and shook her head in disbelief. "You still don't get it? Newsflash, Kodo. We're here to help. That's the gig. Even if we weren't, what were you gonna do? Fight us? You're no Bruce Lee. I don't care how good you think you are, there's no way you're beating four people."
"Yeah? Care to put those words to the test?"
"We're not here to fight you, Konami," said Sartorius. "On the contrary, Holactie Force was created to assist students. Every student. Including you. Even if you're loathe to believe it."
Konami stood there, completely thrown off balance by their response. He had been ready for a brawl, but this? This wasn't what he'd expected. He watched as Yuma and the others carried his bags down the ship's corridor, acting as if they were nothing more than a group of courteous hotel workers.
"Assist students?" Konami repeated, his voice dripping with skepticism. "Is this some kind of joke?"
"It's not a joke," Yuma replied without looking back at him. "Believe it or not, we're here to help, even if you're set on hating us for it."
Konami narrowed his eyes, still not buying it. "And what? You're doing this out of the kindness of your heart? Please, you're following this phony around like a cult. What's in it for you?"
The stern boy leading the way glanced back at him, his expression annoyed, but neutral. "We chose to join Holactie Force because we believe in what it's trying to do. It's given us direction, a purpose beyond just dueling to put others down."
Konami scoffed. "Oh yeah? And what purpose is that, exactly? Extra Credit in exchange for your soul? Do your friends know you've become snitches?"
"Call it what you want," Yuma shot back. "But you know DA has to change. This is the best way to play our part. And.. it's better than being some aimless jerk who only cares about himself!"
Konami's jaw tightened, but he held his tongue. He knew getting into a verbal sparring match with them wouldn't get him anywhere. There was no point in arguing with them, not when they were so sure they were in the right.
'If they want to help so much, then fine,' he thought. 'We'll see their true colors once I've bled them dry.'
They reached the end of the corridor, stopping in front of a large cabin door. The boy pushed it open, revealing the surprisingly spacious room held within. It was far nicer than what Konami had been expecting. Hell, it looked comfortable! Clean, well-furnished, and it even had a small porthole that offered a view of the sea.
Yuma and the others stepped inside, setting his bags down neatly by the bed. Konami watched them with a wary gaze, still waiting for some kind of catch.
"There," Yuma said, dusting off her hands as she finished and turned to face him. "You're all set. If you need anything else, just let one of us know."
Konami stared at her, at all of them, trying to make sense of what was happening.
"That's it?" he asked. "You're not gonna lecture me, or try to convert me into your little cult?"
The stern boy shook his head. "We're not here to force anyone into anything, Kodo. Our job is to help maintain order and assist fellow students. That's all."
"Bullshit."
Konami's eyes flicked to Sartorius, who had been watching the whole exchange from the doorway. He stood there with that infuriatingly calm smile, his eyes gleaming with their eerie glow.
"You think this is going to change anything?" Konami asked, his voice low and dangerous. "You think being nice is going to make me forget what kind of fraud you really are?"
Sartorius's smile didn't falter for a second. "This isn't about changing you, Konami. This is about doing what's right and offering you a better path. This group has understood that not everything has to be a battle. It is my hope that one day soon, you will as well."
Konami felt a surge of anger rise up, but he forced the fire back down. He wasn't going to give Sartorius the satisfaction of seeing him lose his cool. Instead, he took a step back, nodding toward the door.
"Fine," he muttered. "Now get out. It's been a long day. And I'd like to get some sleep."
Yuma shrugged, not seeming too bothered by his impertinent attitude. "Whatever you say, loser," she sighed, guiding the group to the door. "Just remember, we're here to help. Whether you like it or not."
With that, she and the other members of Holactie Force filed out of the room, leaving Konami standing there alone, and worse, confused. He didn't know what game Sartorius was playing, but he didn't really care to find out. But no matter what scheme they cooked up, he wasn't about to fall for the man's lies again.
As the door clicked shut, Konami locked it and threw himself onto the bed, trying to ignore the comfortable mattress shifting softly beneath him. It didn't matter how nice the cabin was or how 'polite' Holactie Force tried to be. He wasn't here to make friends with them, and sure as hell not with Sartorius.
No.
He had more important things to focus on once he returned. Things like grinding the North into dust and finding the Fujiwara's "Symbols of Power." Wisteria had given him a map that listed several areas where he could begin his search, but it was useless until he was back on the island…
And the ship had yet to set sail.
He sighed softly and closed his eyes, focusing on his body. Holactie Force or not, that boy had been right.
At least this cabin was quiet.
-GX-
"Is it done?"
"Yes, Chairman," Yuma said in her own cabin. "Konami has no idea his bags are bugged. We'll monitor his every move."
"Good."
On her laptop, the face of the Chairwoman stared back at her, looking pleased.
"You've done Duel Academy a service, Miyata. We won't let him act out again."
"Understood, ma'am," Yuma replied, nodding her head in agreement. "If Konami Kodo steps out of line, we'll be there to finish him off for good."
TAG FORCE ALTERNATIVE: TWISTING THE TALE
LESSON TWO
END