Chapter Text
Even with the battle raging all around her, Yubel didn't move for a very long moment. She bowed her head for a second, then lifted it again and opened her mouth as if to speak, but eventually thought better of it.
"It's not what I would've liked," Juudai said softly, knowing that Yubel would hear him anyway.
"But it would work," Yubel finished for him. She gestured at the both of them. "We know it would work. We've done it before."
Juudai studied Super Fusion closely. Fusing Yubel and Johan together would solve their problem. It would merge the two parts of the Light and restore the balance in the world. All he had to do was use Super Fusion like he had before and it would all be over. Only…
Only he wasn't sure he wanted to.
What would happen? He and Yubel were already fused together; would it result in all three of them being fused together? Or worse, cause Yubel to be torn apart between him and Johan? Even if the fate of the universe depended on it, could he really take such a risk?
He glanced at Johan. It would be really nice to hear his opinion right now, but Johan would never even wake up again if he didn't do something.
"You should do it, Juudai." Artemis said. She put a hand on his shoulder. "It might be the only chance we have."
"If I do this," Juudai said slowly. He looked at Yubel, then at the Gem Beasts. "If I fuse Yubel and Johan, I don't know what will happen. Maybe we'll all keep our own bodies, but I can't guarantee that."
"You could all end up as one being, lose your own identity," Amethyst Cat said. She didn't look the least bit happy about the prospect. "Are you sure there's no other way?"
Juudai hesitated. The fighting had stopped, and he knew Chaos was listening intently, but it hadn't made any move to stop them yet. Were they walking into a trap?
"I will be blunt, Haou," Baihu said. He gingerly tried to use his broken leg, but had to give up. "We're fighting for the continued survival of the universe. Unless you use that card, it will end in less than five minutes, so I really couldn't care less about what will happen to you three, as long as you don't die. What's important here is that the balance is restored, and if that card can accomplish that, then I don't see why you're hesitating."
That got him venomous looks from the Gem Beasts and Juudai's own monsters, but Juudai considered. If it could save everyone else, were they themselves really that important?
Go ahead then. Isn't sacrificing yourself something you big heroes all like to do?
Juudai moved closer to Johan cautiously. Chaos seemed wholly unconcerned with the idea of them fusing. Why? He glanced at Yubel and saw his own doubts reflected in her eyes.
It knows something we don't. I don't know about this, Juudai.
Neither do I.
There was a flapping of wings as Cobalt Eagle flew down and landed next to Johan. He looked down sadly as Apollo, frowning, bent closer to examine Johan once more.
"Juudai, we don't like this at all," the eagle said, "but I don't think we have a choice. Go ahead."
Well then, you heard the bird. What are you waiting for? Of course, I don't care either way.
"What do you mean-" Juudai started, but was interrupted by Apollo's loud "Hah!"
"Brother?" Athena asked, but Apollo ignored her and got up carefully.
"Of course you don't care either way," he said loudly, then softer: "Don't do it, Juudai. If you do, Johan will die."
"What?"
Apollo laughed derisively. "I've been such an idiot; I didn't even notice until right now. He's barely hanging on, Juudai. If you use Super Fusion on Johan, it will be too much for him to handle. It will rip his soul apart."
"And you knew, of course," Yubel said coldly, staring at some point amidst the smoke that formed Chaos. "You always know."
Chaos took the shape of a young man solely to shrug his shoulders, then morphed into Juudai himself. "I won't deny it. Do you want me to rage about how my plans got foiled? Only I don't really see the point. He'll still die anyway."
Juudai blasted his clone away without a second thought, and he reformed just as quickly. "You still don't get it, do you? No matter what you try, you still can't defeat me. Sure, you can try to destroy me, but that's the one thing you can't do if you want your universe to survive. You're too predictable, Order. Predictable and stupid."
He avoided Juudai's furious attack, but took Topaz Tiger's claws across the face and grimaced at the blood that welled up and immediately evaporated into red smoke.
"You Order people always need to order everything, even yourself. Why else would you split in four parts? What use does it have? It only weakens you."
"Only I don't think it does," Yubel said. "Because I've been wondering about something. You've never taken on more than one form at the same time, have you?"
Juudai sent her a puzzled look and Yubel gave him a steady one in return.
Trust me.
"What's your point, Protector?"
"You can shapeshift into anything you want, but you've only got one mind. You can't be in more than one place at the same time. Sure, you've got all the smoke, and you can take over a couple of cities, but your mind is here, isn't it? It was never there."
Chaos crossed his arms and raised his eyebrows at her, leisurely sidestepping an attack from Cobalt Eagle. "I still don't see where you're going with this."
"But it's easy," Athena interrupted. "One mind spreading Chaos, and four," she gave Johan a quick look, "no, five minds spreading Order, all at the same time. Take a look around and tell me: Who's got more allies on their side?"
"It's not doing you much good, is it? And anyway," Chaos shrugged again, "the kid is still dying. No matter what you say or do, no matter what theories you come up with, I will still win."
"You really don't care." Athena sounded almost awed. "You don't even care what happens to yourself. I didn't expect you to be so desperate, Chaos."
Chaos gave her Juudai's smile. "Maybe I am. Is that bad?"
"It will not happen. I will not let it come to pass."
But how? Juudai clenched his teeth. Super Fusion was out of the question, so what other options did they have left? At this rate…
"I can't keep this up much longer," Apollo whispered, but Juudai didn't pretend that Chaos hadn't heard. "I'm sorry, but I can't! If there's anything at all… Please do it now!"
"It's no use," Chaos said, shaking his head. He looked at Juudai with clear brown eyes that contrasted with Juudai's own, golden ones. "I keep telling you."
"I am not giving up!" Juudai shouted. He could not give up. There was so much at stake, so many people relying on him. How could he just give up now?
There was a loud explosion as Chaos was taken by surprise by both Rainbow Dragon and the Rainbow Serpent. It immediately abandoned Juudai's form and returned the attack, hitting Rainbow Dragon and sending him crashing down, but not before the Rainbow Serpent managed to attack it a second time. Chaos twisted and turned its attention onto Yubel, who avoided one tendril of smoke shooting out, but got hit by the next one.
Yubel!
Don't worry, Juudai. It's okay.
But it wasn't. Juudai didn't any waste time when Chaos aimed for Yubel again; the blast of darkness turned razor-sharp right before it hit Chaos, and cut through it effortlessly. But what use was it if Chaos just kept reforming over and over again?
When the next attack came, it was only thanks to Neos' shouted warning that he managed to dodge in time. It had been aimed at his legs, not at his head or his torso. Chaos was trying to cripple him.
"No you won't." Juudai gritted his teeth and shielded himself from a second attempt. The third attempt almost made it through, but the fourth went wide when Juudai attacked back before it could reach him. And the fifth-
The fifth would've hit Juudai if it hadn't hit the bag with Rei's stone in it first.
Juudai stared in amazement as the entire bag glowed pink. He took out the stone, feeling it heat up in his hands and protect him in the same way as Naledi's necklace had protected her. What was up with these things? They were utterly normal, what made them behave in such a way?
"They've gained their own power," Athena said softly. Bast let out a startled gasp.
"Their own power…That's it!" she shouted. "Juudai, haven't I told you before? Make a keystone!"
"Keystone?" Juudai almost dropped the stone trying to block a new attack. Yubel deflected it before it could break through his shield. "What do you mean? What are you even talking about?"
"It will keep the Light together!" Bast shouted back, shielding Chandran and Pharaoh when a stray tendril of Chaos came too close to them. "Use that card, it will lock the pieces together!"
They can't fuse, cat. Have you forgotten?
"Not them, the items!" Bast told them, sounding slightly hysterical. She pulled Naledi out of the way when another attack came at them. "You've got enough of them, don't you? Those leaves, and that thing that protected you back there! Their power will be enough to form the keystone!"
Rei's stone? Juudai touched it briefly. How would that even work? Wasn't it just an ordinary stone? Then again, nothing was really ordinary here
"It might work, Juudai." Neos landed briefly next to him, then almost immediately disappeared again. "It's the only chance you have!"
You would really do that? Oh, of course you would. Why would you care about what I feel when you don't care about anyone else?
Perhaps he was imagining it, but Chaos sounded vaguely worried. Baihu snorted.
"Yes, we would. Because the lives of billions and billions of creatures depend on this, and you'll have to excuse me if I don't care all that much about your precious feelings, Chaos. I don't like people who think they're more important than anyone else. If I have to sacrifice one person to save an entire group, I will do so, no matter how much I care for that person. And Chaos, I don't care for you one bit."
And yet you still need me alive.
"Shut up," Juudai growled. A loud bang had him look up just in time to see Neospacian Black Panther get thrown down. He crashed in between Topaz Tiger and Amethyst Cat, but got back up immediately, and the three cats launched a joint attack. Juudai tightened his hold on Super Fusion. "Are you sure this will work?"
"No!" Bast hissed. "So just do it already!"
"Juudai!" Artemis warned, pointing at her brother. Apollo was visibly wavering, the energy he was using to keep Johan safe almost completely gone now. If they didn't act now, then Johan would be-
Juudai took the remaining coca leaves and the stone that Rei had given him in his left hand and held up Super Fusion with his right. Could this really be enough? Chaos was still attacking, but with no more fervor than before. He'd been wrong before. Chaos had just put up an act. It wasn't worried at all.
He swallowed and tightened his grip. What other choice did they have anyway?
"Alright then. Super Fusion!"
"Hold it!" Baihu shouted. Juudai cast him a confused look and lowered the card again. "What are you doing?"
"We're trying to save the universe!" Bast shouted at the tiger. Baihu growled and she growled right back.
"By letting the Darkness make a keystone it does not need? I thought you were smarter." Baihu got up slowly. "The Light of Hope needs to be sealed, therefore its Heralds need to perform the fusion."
Yubel landed gracefully next to Juudai and took Super Fusion from him. "I can do it."
Baihu growled again, frustration clear on his face. "Are you all deaf? I said both Heralds. That means the Healer needs to use the card as well!"
"He can't!" Sapphire Pegasus butted in. "He doesn't have the strength to use it. Do you want him to die?"
"No, wait," Rainbow Dragon said before Baihu could reply. He flew in slow circles over Johan, assessing the situation. "It is true that the effort may be too much for him. However, if we don't try this, he will definitely die."
"You're saying we don't have a choice," Amethyst Cat said. She sounded icily calm. "Either we try this, and he has a chance of survival, or we don't, and he will die for sure."
Amber Mammoth shook his head. "Then we truly have no choice. We must try."
There was a murmur of assent from Cobalt Eagle and Topaz Tiger, although Emerald Turtle didn't look convinced. Ruby, still curled up next to Johan, let out a loud mewl and waited until the attention of her family was on her, then nodded, just once. Her meaning was clear.
"Apollo, you can't hold on anymore, can you?" Yubel asked softly. Apollo shook his head. He was sweating and his hands were shaking.
"I'm truly sorry."
"Then wake him up. Now."
It was crazy, Juudai decided. It was utterly crazy to wake Johan now, when he was on the verge of dying, and yet somehow it was the best chance they had. He turned his head away and gave the stone and coca leaves to Yubel. She crouched down next to Johan while Apollo woke him up.
"Johan?" Athena put a hand on his shoulder. "Can you hear me?"
Johan nodded weakly, but didn't open his eyes. "Ah, did we win?"
"Not yet," Yubel said softly. " We need your help."
Johan forced his eyes open to look at her. "I'm sorry, I can't fight- It hurts…"
He trailed of, his hands moving instinctively to his stomach. Juudai saw how the bloodstain was growing bigger again, and he angrily lashed out at Chaos. He needed someone to blame, someone to hurt. It had no right… And why wasn't it doing anything? It wasn't even trying anymore!
I don't have to, Haou. Waiting is enough now.
Stay out of my mind!
Juudai attacked again, reckless in his fury. He didn't even consider dodging when Chaos retaliated, but just took the blast head on. It singed his arms, but the pain only served as a reminder of what they were trying to accomplish, and he didn't stop to check the damage, only attacked again, and again, and over and over again.
"Just hold this," Yubel said, her voice briefly making Juudai stop. She took Johan's hand and pressed Super Fusion into it, then covered it with her own. Baihu nodded approvingly.
"Super Fusion?" Johan asked. He grimaced in pain, looking like he'd pass out again any second. His eyes were silver again, as were Yubel's. Juudai wished he could say that was a good sign.
"Trust me," Yubel said. "Super Fusion, activate!"
The vortex that formed was big enough to easily cover a full-grown person, and, unlike the vortexes Juudai was used to, clearly tied to the Light of Hope. The Light slipped into the spiral, making it glow the same way both Yubel and Johan were now. Something was shifting in the very nature of the universe. Juudai felt it, and clearly Chaos felt it too, because it suddenly moved again, attacking Juudai and trying to get around him to Yubel and Johan. Juudai held fast, knocking it back and letting the Rainbow Serpent block the next attack.
Yubel threw in Rei's stone first, and it disappeared in a quick burst of pale pink, followed by the green of the coca leaves. A bigger shift now, and Johan looked slightly stronger, but it wasn't… Juudai's eyes widened. It wasn't enough.
The Rainbow Serpent let out a cry, and whatever it said must have been understandable for the Gem Beasts, because Ruby scrambled over Johan's shoulder and pushed against Yubel's arm. Yubel's eyes widened, and Juudai felt a wave of realization. The rainbow stone. The flash of light turned the entire vortex briefly into a swirling rainbow, and Pharaoh struggled out of Chandran's grip and wandered closer, fascinated. Chaos was agitated now, but it still wasn't making any serious attempts at stopping the fusion process.
"It's still not enough!" Juudai shouted at Yubel. She nodded, her face a mask of concentration. Johan was still conscious, but his eyes were closed again. He lifted the hand not holding Super Fusion. Athena took it.
"The bracelet, use it," Johan told her. Juudai took over for the Rainbow Serpent when Chaos knocked it down and kept it away with some help from his own monsters. The Gem Beasts were gathered in a close circle around Johan, keeping Chaos away whenever it got past Juudai. No one was even bothering with shields now. They took too much energy to maintain and were destroyed too fast.
You just keep getting keepsakes, don't you?
Chaos annoyance was enough to cheer up Juudai, even if it was just a little bit. Johan's bracelet, the one Athena had given him, was now glowing as well, and Athena took it from him. It joined the other objects. The balance was shifting, slowly but surely. Only…
"Juudai!"
Juudai blocked another attack from Chaos and cut through it when it tried to retaliate. He turned his head slightly.
"Not a good time, Naledi!"
Naledi didn't listen. She stepped away from Bast and towards Johan and Yubel, taking off her necklace at the same time.
"You need power, right? Then use it!"
There was a loud laugh as Chaos eluded Juudai's grasp and stopped right in front of Naledi, taking her form like it had before. "You wouldn't."
"Watch me." Naledi made to throw the necklace at Yubel.
"No, you wouldn't. Because if you do, you will be tied to this world forever. You will never be able to pass on, never be able to see your family again." Chaos gave her a slight smile. "Can you deal with that? To still be here when the sun has died and the galaxy has exploded? You may be dead, but you're only human."
"And what's my alternative? See the universe be destroyed because I was too concerned with myself?" Naledi's eyes hardened. "No, thanks."
She threw, and the vortex absorbed the necklace before Chaos could stop it, flashing green for a brief second. Almost enough… Almost…
And Chaos laughed.
"I can't believe how stupid you are! You actually thought that would work?"
"It is working!" Juudai shouted.
"No it isn't." Chaos abandoned Naledi's form while talking. Because even with all the power those things possess, they're still just things.
Bast hissed, grabbing Mihir and Chandran's hands and dragging them to where Pharaoh was watching the vortex that Super Fusion had created, his head tilted slightly. Hitendra followed hurriedly. "It has no heart. The keystone can't be completed without someone willingly becoming the heart. Without it, it will just be a pretty stone."
Hitendra eyed the vortex warily. "What happens to the one who becomes the heart?"
"I cannot say." Bast looked around. "I only know that they'll serve as the heart until the end of the universe comes."
And now you're stuck. Because not a single one of you is brave enough to exist forever.
"Neither are you," Juudai shot back, and Naledi stepped forward.
"I'll do it. My necklace is already part of that thing anyway, I'll be around forever no matter what."
But Bast stopped her, shaking her head sadly. "I'm sorry, it cannot be you. Because you are already tied to it, it will not accept you." She raised her voice. "Neither can the Heralds, nor the gods. They are too important already."
So all of it had been for nothing? Juudai swore as he looked around. Hitendra was looking away, keeping Mihir and Chandran pressed close to him. No help from their side, then.
Sad, isn't it, Haou? You go through all that trouble. You go looking all over the world for some cat I kidnapped. The Healer even got his powers because of that. And then after you find her, and you find the Heralds of Light, and you find out about your past, you still cannot win.
Juudai and Amethyst Cat attacked Chaos at the same time, but it only twisted away from them. Amethyst Cat looked furious; she was biting and scratching at everything she could reach, and she was quickly joined by her equally furious family. There was a loud noise when several attacks connected at the same time, followed by silence. Pharaoh let out a single meow and Bast crouched down next to him. Then, strangely, she laughed.
"What is it?" Artemis asked. Bast looked up at where Juudai was fighting Chaos, her eyes yellow and blue and green and brighter than they'd ever been before.
"No one willing, you say?"
The humans are cowards.
"Perhaps. But not all of us are human, are we?" She petted Pharaoh. "This little one just told me something very interesting."
Juudai's head snapped up as Apollo let out a bark of laughter and Chaos screamed in outrage, only to watch Pharaoh –Pharaoh- walk into the vortex Super Fusion had created, tail swishing slightly from side to side and looking as if he didn't have a care in the world. There was another loud explosion as Chaos attacked, faster than Juudai had thought possible, but Super Fusion was even faster. The vortex closed moments before Chaos reached it.
The universe shifted. Something Juudai had never really felt was wrong suddenly felt right.
And Chaos was gone.
"Cats!" Apollo cheered as Juudai looked wide-eyed at the place where Super Fusion's vortex had been. He wasn't the only one. Yubel, still holding Johan's hand with Super Fusion in it, was looking as if she hadn't quite realized what had happened yet. She turned her head to look at Juudai.
It's over?
I… I think it is.
"Chaos… Is it gone?" Cobalt Eagle asked, sounding as shocked as Juudai felt. Juudai concentrated. There were still traces, and something that felt distinctly like Chaos' anger at the back of his mind, but it was harmless.
"No," he said finally. "It's around. Just… spread out. It's not doing anything anymore, just existing."
"We did it…We really did it." Naledi said in awe. Mihir cheered. Bast bent down and straightened up again, holding something in her arms. Juudai walked closer cautiously.
"Pharaoh?" He looked at the creature Bast was carrying. Pharaoh lifted his head and let out a soft meow. He looked just like he'd always looked, except for his eyes. They were now the same shade of silver Yubel and Johan's were. He'd truly become the keystone of the Light of Hope.
"Juudai, get Johan out of here!" Rainbow Dragon shouted.
Juudai shot up, getting to Johan just in time to help Yubel support him when he lost consciousness again. If Johan died now, all would've been in vain. "Getting out of here!"
He only saw his own monsters and the Gem Beasts return to their respective decks and felt Yubel grab hold of his wrist before he teleported away, right into the lobby of Domino General Hospital. He'd go back for everyone else later. Right now-
"Please, help us!" He shouted at the nurses who were staring at him, ill-concealed shock on all of their faces. "He's dying, you have to help!"
OoOoO
"Juudai, you need to sleep."
Juudai shook his head, then immediately contradicted himself by yawning. Yubel smiled and pulled him close. "Get some rest."
"I can't, what if something happens to Johan?"
They'd waited at the hospital until Johan got back from surgery, but despite all of Juudai's protests, he hadn't been allowed into Johan's room. With no living relatives left to contact, the hospital had eventually, at Juudai's request, called Industrial Illusions, and the company had promised to look out for Johan. That left Juudai with nothing to do but go home. His parents had already been informed of his return and had both come to the hospital to pick him up. He could see they were burning to ask him what had happened, but they had given him time to recover from everything that had happened.
"Johan will be fine. If something happens, we'll feel it right away."
Yubel was right, but Juudai was still worried. Johan wasn't in critical condition anymore, but there was no telling what kind of damage had been done. He leaned back into Yubel's arms.
"It's weird. I know it's over and still I feel like I should be ready for anything."
"Adrenaline," Yubel said. "I feel the same way. It'll wear off."
Juudai concentrated. Yubel was a bright beacon right next to him, and he could still feel Johan clearly. Apollo and Artemis' aura came from very far to the west, as did Athena's. When he'd gone to pick up the others at the Dimensional Crossroads, Athena, Artemis, and Apollo had requested to be brought back to Greece. Athens was still suffering from Chaos' attack, and the gods had damage control to do. Instead of Chengdu, Baihu had picked Beijing as his destination, citing the same reason as the Greek gods, and the Rainbow Serpent had flown back to Australia on its own.
Bast, on the other hand, was staying at Industrial Illusions to look after Pharaoh, and, unknown to anyone but Juudai and chairman Pegasus, Naledi, Mihir, Chandran and Hitendra were with her while they tried to decide what to do next. Juudai could feel their signature as well. It wasn't nearly as strong as that of the gods, but he'd grown used to their presence and he'd probably be able to pick them out no matter where they were.
And Chaos… It was still around. He could pick out its signature easily, and could even feel its fury, but it was spread out over the entire universe, not a threat to any of them. In a world that felt more balanced than ever before, it couldn't harm them. It also meant that they couldn't harm it, but Juudai felt no desire to do so.
He yawned again. Sleep was starting to sound more and more tempting, especially since he hadn't slept in over two days.
"If anything happens, I'll wake you up immediately," Yubel promised. She stroked his hair and Juudai closed his eyes.
He slept for fourteen hours straight, only waking up when the sun was already high in the sky and the phone call with the message that Johan had woken up was answered by his mother.
OoOoO
"Industrial Illusions sent you flowers," Juudai announced, stepping into the room without knocking. "And I've got a couple of cards for you. How are you feeling?"
Johan looked up from the book he'd been reading and smiled. "Better, but the stitches are annoying."
Juudai put the flowers with some of the other bouquets in the room. He'd get a vase for them later. Topaz Tiger was curled up in front of the window and opened one lazy eye when he approached, then rolled around and slept on. None of the Gem Beasts had slept much while Johan had been unconscious, and even now that he was awake, they didn't let him out of sight.
Juudai returned to Johan's bedside and deposited a bundle of cards onto the nightstand, then picked one and handed it to Johan. Johan squinted, trying to read the calligraphed kanji on the envelope. "What is it?"
"Rei-chan's organizing a Christmas party at Duel Academia, and we're invited." Juudai smiled as Yubel appeared next to him in her spirit form, in case any nurses came in. They'd given the hospital staff a huge scare when they'd appeared out of nowhere, and none of them were keen on a repeat. Johan waved at her and took the card out of the envelope.
"It's only in a couple of weeks," Juudai explained. "I'm sure you can stay with us if you need to leave the hospital before that, though. Mama and Papa won't mind."
Johan gave him a warm smile. "That would be nice. The doctor says I'm healing miraculously fast."
"Miraculous?" Yubel laughed. Johan winked at her. His eyes turned silver for a second.
"I still can't heal myself, though," he said. "but at least I'm healing faster than expected."
"You'll get there." Juudai handed him a card with a Greek postage stamp. "Here, Athena sent it. She says she might come over for the party, but Athens still needs to recover from Chaos' attack. Apollo's definitely coming, though, and Artemis said she'd try her best to make it."
Johan put the card on the nightstand. "So where is it now? Chaos?"
"Around." Juudai shrugged. "I don't think it'll be able to hurt us now, not with Pharaoh. Naledi promised she'd keep an eye on it too."
Naledi had mentioned something about going to the Netherlands, saying she wanted to know if she could understand Dutch. Mihir, Chandran, and their parents had wanted to go to Australia and Juudai had sent them to Yulara. The Rainbow Serpent would look out for them.
"Do you think we'll ever see it again?"
"I hope not," Juudai said, much too loud for the tiny hospital room. His voice softened. "I'm just glad you're okay. That we're all okay now."
"Yeah…" Johan took one of Juudai's hands and Yubel took the other. "We're all okay."
OoOoO
Duel Academia was filled with people when Juudai and Johan arrived. Most of them were students, but there were a couple of people who'd already graduated, like Juudai himself. There was Manjoume on the other side of the room, and Juudai waved at him when he caught his eye. There were too many people now, but he decided to go talk to him when he got the chance.
They met up with Apollo and Artemis near the buffet table. Athena hadn't been able to come in the end, but she'd made Johan promise to keep an eye on her brother and sister.
"Juudai, Johan!" Apollo greeted them enthusiastically. He gave them both a quick hug, and made room for his sister to greet them as well. "It's a big school, isn't it? I thought there'd be less people."
"Duel Academia is pretty big," Juudai said, waving at a couple of people who recognized him. He picked up a few drinks and passed them around. "You guys okay?"
"Apollo here hasn't stopped bragging since we got back home," Artemis said. "Because his prophecy came true."
"I told you it'd involve cats," Apollo said, smiling widely. "I'm entitled."
Juudai smiled as well. "You were right," he admitted. "Good call."
"Johan, how are you?" Artemis asked before Apollo could continue bragging. Johan took a drink and put his glass down.
"I'm fine. Barely any problems now."
Juudai, who'd witnessed Johan waking up at night from nightmares, knew that wasn't true, but he didn't comment. After all, it wasn't like he and Yubel and even the Gem Beasts weren't being plagued by the same nightmares. It'd get better over time.
"I'm glad to hear it," Artemis said. She looked around. "Juudai, I believe there's someone looking for you."
Juudai looked up and saw Asuka waving at him. He waved back and turned around.
"You'll be fine?"
"Go ahead." Johan smiled. "I'll be around, go catch up."
Juudai smiled back and made his way through the crowds to where Asuka was standing. By the time he reached her, she had been joined by Manjoume.
"Juudai," she said, smiling softly. "How are you? I heard Johan was in the hospital."
"He's doing okay now," he told her. "And I'm fine. How about you guys?"
Asuka started an enthusiastic tale about her studies in America, and Juudai listened intently. It was a completely different life from the one he led, and a small part of him felt jealous.
Do you want it?
Juudai smiled. No, not really. It was a good life for Asuka, and he was glad for her, but he didn't think he could stay in one place. He needed to move around and help people.
I've got you, that's enough.
"Manjoume-kun just told me he'd been in contact with Shou-kun," Asuka said, snapping Juudai out of his conversation with Yubel.
"How is he? How's their league going?" The last time he'd heard from either Shou or Ryou was when he'd been in Wellington. It seemed like ages ago now.
"They're getting more and more people," Manjoume said. "Edo Phoenix joined a few weeks ago.
Juudai laughed softly. "Called it."
"And you?" Asuka asked suddenly. "Because I saw you, when that thing attacked Duel Academia last month. That was you, right? All those weird things, and then Johan in the hospital… What exactly happened, Juudai?"
"It was me," Juudai confirmed. He hesitated for a few seconds. The full story was too long to tell them now, and he didn't actually feel like talking about it too much. In the end he settled for giving them the short version, but it still took him the better part of an hour to explain everything.
"So Johan-kun and Yubel both have this power of Light?" Asuka concluded when he finished talking. "And now they're joined together?"
"By Pharaoh?" Manjoume added, sounding more than a little disbelieving.
"It's a lot like duct tape," Juudai said, echoing an explanation Bast had given him a few weeks ago. "Pharaoh keeps the Light of Hope together, and since there's still a sort of scar between the two parts, all those items are to make up for the loss of power."
He frowned when his cell phone beeped, and quickly read the message. Johan. "Sorry guys, I have to go." He gave Asuka a quick hug and shook hands with Manjoume. "Take care!"
"Keep in touch!" Asuka told him, waving as he disappeared back into the crowd. "And be careful!"
Juudai smiled to himself. He'd have to send them a postcard once in a while.
Somehow, Apollo and Fubuki had started talking. He passed them on his way to the exit, and paused for a minute to listen in on the conversation, smiling when the topic immediately became clear.
"So there was this Aktaion bloke, right?" Apollo was saying. "Nice guy, good hunter, but some privacy issues. Anyway, she turned him into a stag! Can you believe it?"
"You're kidding," Fubuki said incredulously.
"I wish I were! I mean, how's she ever going to find someone if she keeps turning them into wildlife?"
Fubuki nodded understandingly. "Asuka's the same. She just keeps turning everyone down."
"No luck either?"
"None." Fubuki sighed softly. "I thought Manjoume could have a chance, and she keeps sending e-mails to this one guy in Australia, but she says they're just friends. And then there was Juudai…"
"Juudai?" Apollo interrupted. "I thought he and-"
Juudai turned away and walked on. That conversation was becoming a bit too awkward for him. He made a note to introduce Artemis and Asuka to each other. He was sure they'd find something to talk about. He weaved his way through the mass of people and finally made it to the staircase that led to the roof of the main building. There were a lot less people here, and Juudai was glad. He liked this place. He'd spent a lot of time here.
"Juudai, over here," Johan called. He was sitting on the edge of the roof, with Ruby in his lap. Juudai sat down next to him and Yubel appeared behind them.
"You could've just used telepathy," Juudai said. "You didn't need to use your phone."
Johan shrugged. "Didn't feel like it. Besides, I was talking to the Gem Beasts."
"What did they say?"
"They're happy." Johan smiled and Juudai spent a moment to study him. He wasn't entirely relaxed, a sign that the injuries he'd suffered were still bothering him, but he looked healthy and he wasn't in pain.
"We've come a long way, haven't we?" he murmured.
"Five months ago I was still a normal kid," Johan said. Juudai laughed.
"You were never normal."
"Pot calling the kettle black," Johan shot right back, and Yubel added, "You're the most abnormal kid in this universe, Juudai."
"Sure, team up with him, why don't you," Juudai grumbled, trying very hard to hide his smile. "Is it going to be Light versus Darkness now?"
"Never," Yubel said, suddenly solemn. "You know that."
"Yeah, I know…" Juudai looked out over the island, smiling softly now. "I'm glad you were there. Both of you. I couldn't have done it on my own."
Johan put an arm around his shoulders. "We're always here for you. You know that."
Juudai closed his eyes, the smile never really leaving his face. He knew very well, and he wouldn't have it any other way.
"The world feels beautiful," Yubel said after a few minutes of silence. Johan nodded, dangling his legs over the edge of the roof.
"Does that mean I'm out of a job?" Juudai asked mock-solemnly. "No one left to help?"
Yubel laughed loudly and Johan joined her. "No one to help? Juudai, you've got the entire universe relying on you. Your job has only just begun."
END