Archive of Our Own

Helsinki was cold at night in late December. Frost left intricate designs on the window panes of the buildings, and tiny icicles hung precariously from the lit lampposts. Judai made sure to bundle up properly as he walked to the hostel he had booked for his stay. He kept one gloved hand in the pocket of his red puffer jacket, and the other held his cellphone close to his ear. 

He couldn’t help smiling as he continued to listen to Johan’s story. 

“Then, the duel spirit led me straight into a snow bank. I went in face first.” Johan shared with enthusiasm. “There was snow everywhere, Judai. In my pockets, in my gloves, down my jacket. It was freezing!”

Judai was laughing now, his breaths coming out in frozen puffs of air. “Wow, you really weren’t paying attention.”

“The duel spirits were flying high up, so I couldn’t look down if I didn’t want to lose sight of them.”

“Were you able to catch Dancing Fairy in the end?” 

“They felt bad and came to check on me after their little prank,” Johan said. “That whole chase with them was pretty funny in the end. I bet even the stars were laughing at me tonight.”

Judai had arrived at the hostel, but he leaned against the brick wall outside, not wanting to end their call just yet. He could hear the slight creaking of wood as Johan moved around his house. “That’s good, but I hope whatever you had to ask them was worth a face full of snow.” 

“It was. I — woah.”

It was distant, but Judai heard the sound of multiple muted thuds.

“Everything okay?”

“I dropped some laundry.” Johan let out an annoyed sigh. His voice was muffled as he picked up the clothes. “I was trying to take care of some things while we talked. Guess I was carrying too much.”

Like the incident with Dancing Fairy, Judai could picture this clearly. Johan was rather athletic, but also a bit of a klutz. A contradiction that Judai had always found endearing. 

A fond smile tugged at Judai’s lips. “If the stars weren’t laughing at you before, they probably are now.”

“I just looked out my window, and I think you're right. The Big Dipper suddenly appeared from behind some clouds.”

Judai looked up at the sky. The sun had set in Helsinki as well and he could see a faint glimmer of stars. Johan had taught him how to find the Big and Little Dipper constellations before, and he could locate them easily. At the tail end of the Little Dipper’s handle, there was one star that shone slightly brighter. Judai couldn't remember the name, but he did remember Johan had told him that this star always pointed North, and that if Judai found the star at night, he’d know that’s the direction where Johan would be. 

The fact the two of them were staring at the same thing was comforting in a way, and despite the cold nipping at his ears, Judai found himself wanting to stay outside. “So, what does a laughing star sound like anyway?” 

“You told me you’ve been to space before. Shouldn’t you know?”

“The stars didn’t laugh at me in Neo Space, but if I brought you there, then maybe I’d manage to hear something.” 

“Are you implying they didn’t laugh at you, but they’d laugh at me?”

“Just saying that there might be a good chance.”

“Well, if it means you’d take me to Neo Space, then I suppose it’s worth it,” Johan said. “Maybe Neos can finally give me his autograph while we’re there.”

Judai snorted at that, and Johan let out a small laugh. This kind of silly childish banter was exactly what used to cause all their friends to roll their eyes at them during their days at Duel Academia. Even though years had passed since then, Judai loved that he and Johan had managed to maintain that kind of closeness. His heart beat a little faster and a small flush warmed his face as a tug of longing pulled at him.

“Hey, I’m in Finland right now, and that’s not so far from Norway.” Judai kept his eyes on the Big Dipper. “Maybe I could come visit you in a couple weeks?” 

Johan hadn’t answered right away but when he did, the playful tone that had been present only moments before was gone.

“I’m sorry, Judai. I won’t be home for a while.” He sounded genuinely apologetic. “I’m leaving tomorrow, actually."

“Oh.” Judai kicked at some invisible dirt on the sidewalk absently. “Did Pegasus ask for you to participate in another tournament?” 

“Not this time, but there’s something I have to take care of. It’s going to keep me pretty busy.” 

“Anything I could help with?”

There was another pause, longer this time, and Judai felt his smile twitch at the corner of his mouth.

“I have to handle this one on my own. I appreciate that, but I should —” Johan sounded like he was going to say goodbye for a moment, but instead he said, “Judai, I should probably tell you something.”

“Hmm?”

“I, well, the thing is…” Johan paused, sounding unsure, but then his tone lifted. “Wait, you haven’t checked in at your hostel yet, right? If you're in Finland, isn’t it late?”

Judai pushed himself off from leaning against the brick wall and turned around. The hours of operation were listed outside nearby, and a quick glance told him he only had 10 minutes left until the front desk closed.

“Ah! No, but they’re closing soon!”

“You should probably go and take care of that.” Johan gave a warm laugh. “Goodnight, Judai.”

“Yeah, we’ll talk soon. Goodnight!” 

In a rush, Judai hung up and tucked his phone in his pocket before hurrying to go check-in. 

–

Days went by quickly as Judai explored Helsinki. While browsing the Christmas markets, he had met some duelists who offered to show him around. There was lots to see, even more to eat, and time flew by at a relaxed pace. Before Judai knew it, he had already been in the city for just under two weeks. Usually, he’d linger in one place for a while, trying to see if there was any trouble he could assist with, but if nothing turned up within that time, he’d pack up and make his way to somewhere else. For the past 3 years, he managed to see a lot of the world this way.

Judai rested his head on the tram window, absently staring at the scenery as he tried to mentally map out his next destination. In the morning, he’d be taking a trip to the Finnish Lapland region, but the lodgings he found there were rather remote. The only option once he arrived in Rovaniemi, would be to make sure he caught a bus that departed only a few times a day.

The tram eased to a stop at a red light and Judai’s attention was instantly grabbed by an electronic billboard. A small purple mascot was dancing around, advertising a candy of some kind. It looked a bit like a squirrel.

All thoughts about buses and commutes left his mind and Judai let out a small laugh before quickly whipping out his phone to take a picture. He then pulled up his chat with Johan and sent the image. The image loaded but then went opaque, and a small ‘x’ appeared. Shortly after, an alert popped up:

Message unable to send.

Judai tried again but the photo refused to go through, so he removed the image and typed up only a text instead. The alert was quicker this time:

Message unable to send.

“Maybe the reception is bad,” Judai mumbled under his breath, too quiet for anyone to hear.

Staring at their chat history, Judai realized he hadn't heard from Johan since their last phone call. Neither of them were the type to text daily, but they’d usually reach out every few days. Judai would occasionally lose track of time, but it wasn’t like Johan to do so. 

The time difference between them wasn’t too bad, so after getting off at his bus stop, Judai decided he’d try calling. The phone didn’t even ring. Immediately, he heard a monotone recording:

The number you have dialed is no longer in service.

As he walked, Judai confirmed he had full bars before trying one more time, but the same message played. 

Judai’s brows furrowed. “Johan’s phone is no longer in service?” 

Yubel morphed into view, floating alongside him. “Try again tomorrow. Maybe he’s in a situation where he needs to keep his phone off for now.”

Judai nodded and tucked his phone into his pocket. This was a little strange, but also nothing too concerning.

The next day, Judai successfully made it to his accommodations near Rovaniemi and once he was settled, he attempted to contact Johan again. 

No luck.

So, he tried again the next day, and the day after that. The outcome was always the same.

The number you have dialed is no longer in service.

Message unable to send.

Judai let out a huff and draped the towel he’d been using to dry his hair over his shoulders. He closed the door to his room and flopped into his bunk. He stared at the inactive chat log, as though there was some secret he couldn’t seem to unlock.

“I don’t like this.”

Yubel folded their arms and leaned against the door. “It’s been years since you both graduated. In that time, he’s never done this before?”

“He tells me when he’ll be away, usually.” 

“Johan didn’t say anything the last time you spoke?”

“He did say he was going away and that he’d be busy, but he didn’t give any details.” Judai found himself regretting not pushing Johan further and asking more questions. 

“He’s generally responsible. If Johan was in over his head about something, he would tell you.”

Judai knew this was true. Johan was the type to take care of things on his own, but he had asked for help over the years if he needed it. He wasn’t shy about reaching out to Judai in those situations. 

“You’re right, Johan is responsible.” Judai draped his arm over his face and let out a weary sigh. He could feel Yubel’s eyes on him, assessing calmly. “Am I overreacting?"  

“I don't think so.” Yubel let out a small chuckle. “It's natural to feel this way when your boyfriend suddenly stops texting you.”

Judai lifted his arm and sat up so fast he almost smacked his head on the bunk above him. “Johan and I aren’t —”

“Your face is the colour of your Osiris jacket.”

Judai opened his mouth but no words came out. He could feel the heat on his face, so he couldn’t deny anything. Instead, he opted to fall back into his bunk. 

He landed with a dramatic huff. “Yeah, yeah…”

Judai laid on his side, dangling his arm over the edge of the bed, looking exhausted. Yubel didn’t tease him any further, and their smug expression melted into something more tender. They sat down on the floor next to him.

Judai let out a hum, and closed his eyes. They stayed together in comfortable silence, but despite feeling mostly at peace, Judai couldn’t eliminate the lingering anxiety. Of course, Yubel noticed.

“If you’re worried, then you should listen to that instinct,” they said.

“I wish I had asked him more questions.”

“There’s no point dwelling on what you could have done. Especially since there are things you can do now.” Yubel’s words were blunt but their tone was gentle. “Call some of your friends who keep in touch with Johan as well. Maybe someone has heard something.”

Judai’s eyes were still tired when he opened them, but the small smile that crept up onto his face was genuine. 

“That’s a good idea.”

–

That evening, Judai sent a mass text to his friends to see if any of them had heard from Johan. Not too surprisingly, most of them hadn’t. Johan was generally friendly with everyone, but he only regularly kept in touch with a few people from their school days. 

The next evening, Jim had responded with an interesting text:

Johan was asking me about Rainbow Dragon’s lithograph a few weeks ago.

Judai dialed Jim’s number immediately. 

As soon as he heard Jim’s voice, Judai was quick to get to the point. “You’re still helping Industrial Illusions out at the dig site where the lithograph was found, right? Have you seen him? Did Johan say anything?”

“Woah, woah,” Jim chuckled. “It’s nice to hear from you too, Judai.”

A small pang of guilt assaulted him, and Judai’s mouth hung open momentarily before he muttered, “Sorry.”

“It’s alright, I shouldn’t tease.” Jim’s tone softened and Judai could almost picture his friend’s worried expression. “Is Johan okay? What’s going on?”

Judai took in a breath and calmly went over the situation and everything he knew so far. Which admittedly, wasn’t much. As he spoke, Judai had stepped out and was pacing around in the small lobby. The location was remote and there were hardly any other guests staying here. No one was around. Even the front desk was empty.

“Nobody has heard from Johan in weeks. After reading your message, I was hoping that maybe you had,” Judai explained.

“No, Johan hasn’t come by recently. It’s been a couple months since he last visited the dig site." 

Judai felt his heart grow a little heavier. “You mentioned he reached out asking about the lithograph. What did he want to know?”

“He was wondering if we’ve uncovered any texts or other ruins. I told him we’re still excavating the entire site and that it’s a slow process. We’ve been at it for years but these things take time to do right,” Jim said. “He wasn’t surprised, but he sounded disappointed.”

“Did he say anything else?” 

“No, it was a quick chat. He seemed like he was in a hurry.”

“And he hasn’t reached out at all since then, or —”

Judai could hear someone call Jim’s name and Jim brushing them off, politely. Afterwards, he continued, “No. I haven’t heard from him at all since then.” 

“Oh.” Judai couldn’t mask the disappointment in his voice.

“If I do hear from him, I’ll let you know right away.” Jim sounded concerned. “Do you need help searching at all, or is there anything else I can do?”

“I don’t think so, but thanks, Jim. I should let you go.”

“Sure, but let me know if you hear from him too, alright?”

“Yeah, of course.”

Judai hung up the call before looking out the window. He found the Big Dipper and Little Dipper. At Little Dipper’s handle, that familiar star shone brightest, pointing North. 

Is it still pointing to Johan, wherever he is?

Judai felt a sudden burst of emotion. Something between determination, regret, and desperation swelled in his chest. He went back into his room and grabbed his puffer jacket. 

–

Following the star, it didn’t take Judai long before he found himself out wandering in a field of snow. He was surrounded by nothing else but the occasional cluster of pine trees. His feet sunk into the snow and each step forward took more effort than the last. He had tucked his pants into his boots but Judai wasn’t properly prepared for such a trek.

Saying Yubel was unimpressed would have been an understatement. 

“This makes no sense.”

Judai kept moving. “I have no other leads and I followed a star to find him once, so why not try it again?”

“Technically, that was a comet.”

Judai let out a laugh that sounded more like a bark. His breath came out in tiny crystalized puffs. “Wow, it’s cold.”

“You should head back. This isn’t productive or safe.” 

Judai could feel Yubel’s intense stare on him and he met their gaze. “Just a little longer, promise.”

After a few more minutes, Judai finally slowed down, but only because breathing was starting to become difficult. When he looked back up at the star, it was fuzzy. Judai blinked and when that didn’t help, he rubbed at his eyes with his gloves. This time, a whole new sight greeted him.

“Yubel, look.” 

A dazzling aurora danced in a curtain of bright greens and purples. Judai had only seen it properly in pictures before, never in person. Out here, away from any light pollution, the sight was mesmerizing. 

However, Yubel had no intention of admiring it. “Something is wrong with this area. The energy here is unstable and it’s affecting you.” 

Judai nodded and stumbled on his feet. He caught himself just before he would have gone face-first into the snow. “Y-yeah…”

Yubel hovered beside him. “Judai, we need to leave. Now.”

Judai went to turn around, but this time when he stumbled, his unsteady footing failed him. The world tilted as he fell backwards. The night sky filled Judai’s vision, the Northern Lights dancing above him. Yubel was still calling his name and Hane Kuriboh trilled in worry, but all sound drowned out completely as Judai felt his consciousness slip.

All he could focus on were the lights, glowing brighter and brighter. Green and purple morphed into deep reds and vibrant magenta hues. A final thought crossed his mind before Judai finally faded.

It’s almost like a rainbow. 

–

Judai woke up to the sound of muffled talking. More than one voice blended together and it was difficult to distinguish who was speaking. Slowly, as he focused more, Judai could make out a few words. Something about unstable energy and Rainbow Dragon.

Judai’s eyes snapped open. He pushed through his drowsy haze, sat up, and immediately winced. A bout of dizziness pulsed through him and he panted.

Yubel was already by his side and Judai felt their concern before he heard it. “Careful, take it slow. You were out cold for a few minutes.”

“Yubel’s right, you should take it easy. How are you feeling?"

That voice.

Judai spun around so fast, he felt lightheaded again momentarily. Still panting lightly, the name tumbled out of his mouth in a breathy whisper.

“J-Johan.” 

Ruby chirped in greeting from where she sat perched on Johan’s shoulder. Just behind them, Judai noticed that all the other Gem Beasts were also present, surrounding them in a small but tight semi-circle.

Johan smiled and sat down next to him. “Hey, Judai.”

Judai just stared, a million questions running through his mind, but relief poured over him with such force that it paralyzed him for a moment, overriding everything else. 

“Johan,” Judai eventually said again, steadier this time.

Johan didn’t tease him for saying his name twice. Instead, he leaned in a bit closer and gently said, “I’m here.”

Judai swallowed down the emotion rising in his chest and despite the lingering feeling of vertigo, he reached out, pulling Johan in. Johan returned the embrace without hesitation, so Judai let his forehead rest on Johan’s shoulder. No one interrupted them, and for a few silent heartbeats, everything else just faded away. 

Judai took some measured breaths, and he felt the dizziness slowly wane. When it was gone completely, he murmured into Johan’s shoulder, “I didn’t know where you went.”

“I didn’t mean to make you worry. I’m sorry.”

Judai pulled away so he could stare Johan in the eye. He smiled now, but his eyes held in them an edge of seriousness. “Maybe the next time you skip town, you should say something.”

“We all told Johan that he should have explained this to everyone before we left,” Topaz Tiger said.

“I’m mostly just glad you’re okay." Judai nudged Johan lightly, somewhat playfully, to show he wasn’t too upset. “But yeah, why wouldn’t you tell me you were leaving?” 

“I meant to, but in the end I didn’t want to say goodbye. I lost my nerve.”

Judai’s smile faltered. “You make it sound so final.”

“I didn’t think you could follow me here, but I should have known you’d find a way. Even if I didn’t say anything.”

“More like, Judai was determined to find a way especially since you didn’t say anything,” Yubel gently scolded. “You should know better.”

Johan gave a small, apologetic nod. “You’re right.”

Judai leaned back, resting on his elbows and realized there was no snow here. It also wasn’t cold and it wasn’t nighttime. He and Johan were sitting on a patch of bright green grass, under a clear blue sky. Just behind him, Judai saw his red winter jacket had been folded into a makeshift pillow. 

“So, on that note, where are we exactly?" 

Sapphire Pegasus spoke up. “This is the place where the Gem Beasts were born — Rainbow Ruins.” 

The rest of the Gem Beasts began to break away from the tight circle they had made, and as they did, Judai could better make out the scenery. They were in a clearing, surrounded by strange trees that almost looked like they were made of glass. The leaves glimmered like clear crystals and the trunks were nearly transparent, light reflecting brilliantly on the surface. They reminded Judai of some ice sculptures he saw at the Christmas markets in Helsinki a few weeks ago. 

“Rainbow Ruins is a real place?” he asked.

Johan brought up his knees and rested his arms on them. “I think it’s similar to how you went to Neo Space. This is a unique plane of existence connected to the Gem Beasts and Rainbow Dragon. I’ve been looking into how to get here for almost a year now.”

“How did you do it?”

“It was a bit complicated, but the short version is that I had to borrow Rainbow Dragon’s powers.” Johan grinned. “Given that, I have to ask, how did you get here? It should be near impossible without Rainbow Dragon’s help.”

“I followed the star. The one you told me about.” When Johan stared at him with a baffled expression, Judai continued, “At Duel Academia. You told me it always points North.”

“Polaris?”

“Yeah, that one. I needed to know where you went, and you told me that the star would always be in the direction where you are.”

Johan raised an eyebrow. “No way. That’s how you found me?”

“I told him it was ridiculous," Yubel added. 

“I ran out of other ideas.” Judai rested his head in his hand. “Besides, it worked somehow, so you guys can’t make fun of me.”

“It makes no sense.” Johan let out a small, bewildered laugh. “Pegasus was right. You’re kind of a miracle worker.”

“I just do what I need to, and once again, I found myself needing to find you.”

Johan’s eyes softened, his expression melting into one of guilt. “I’m sorry. I should have at least told you why I had to leave.” 

“Yeah, don’t underestimate me.” Judai nudged Johan lightly again and flashed a small smile. “But maybe you should actually tell me what’s going on.” 

Johan stood, offering Judai his hand to help him up as well. “I came here because the ruins are corrupted. I have to stabilize the energy.” 

“He’s the guardian of the Rainbow Ruins, and this is a task only he can perform,” Amethyst Cat added.

“Guardian?” Judai asked.

The Gem Beasts walked towards the entrance to the forest. Sapphire Pegasus looked over his shoulder at them.

Johan was still holding Judai’s hand and he tugged it gently, urging him to follow. “Come with us. We want to show you something.”

Judai picked up his coat, draping it over his arm. Hane Kuriboh appeared then and nuzzled his face in greeting before flying over to join Ruby and the rest of the Gem Beasts. The fuzzy brown fur was soft against Judai’s cheek and that’s when it dawned on him that all the duel spirits were maintaining physical forms here. 

Judai looked to Yubel instantly. They floated next to him and reaching out, they took Judai’s coat with a small smile. “This dimension was made for spirits to thrive.”

“That’s the goal.” Johan's eyes held determination in them.

The further into the forest they went, Judai noticed that the trees began to change. Instead of a clear crystal, they took on different colours. One tree was red, another blue, and Judai realized they alternated between different colours of the rainbow. Given the trees earlier had no colour to them at all, the difference felt strange, even if Judai didn’t fully understand why.

Sensing his confusion, Yubel spoke up. “So what’s the true purpose of this place? What connection does it have to you all?” 

“Centuries ago, our gem stones were brought here for a ritual,” Emerald Tortoise explained. “When combined, we were able to summon the deity of this place, Rainbow Dragon. At that time, Rainbow Dragon granted us our beast forms.” 

Amethyst Cat continued the story. “However, Rainbow Dragon is too powerful. When not summoned, they require a proper space for their spirit to reside. A card can’t contain them, so their spirit comes here, but this space requires care.”

Cobalt Eagle was perched on Amber Mammoth, hitching a ride. He stopped preening his feathers to speak as well. “So every generation, a guardian has been appointed. They have the ability to wield our powers but a part of their duty is to also protect the Rainbow Ruins from corruption.”

Sapphire Pegasus had been slightly ahead, but he hung back so he could walk by Judai’s side. “Many years ago, we had a guardian who failed. The ruins weren’t tended to and Rainbow Dragon’s powers overflowed — putting the world in danger. By the time the guardian tried to cleanse the ruins, it was too late.” Sapphire Pegasus’s expression was grave. “The only way to control the situation was to seal Rainbow Dragon’s spirit in the lithograph. As a result, our gems remained dormant, and due to circumstances out of our control, we slumbered at the bottom of the ocean for hundreds of years.”

Amethyst Cat affectionately flicked her tail to brush Johan’s wrist. “Without Pegasus and Johan’s help, we never would have awakened, and Rainbow Dragon’s spirit would have remained entombed in the lithograph."

The trees cleared and they approached what appeared to be a small colosseum of sorts. Judai knew this place well, even if he had never been here formally. The inspiration for Johan’s field spell card was on full display in a way that no hologram could replicate. There were marble stairs that also acted as seats and below was a stage. Sandstone pillars reached up high towards the blue sky, and only the titular rainbow was missing. 

“This really is ‘Ancient City - Rainbow Ruins’,” Judai exclaimed in awe.

“Pegasus based the card art off an old text that spoke about this place. It’s amazing he was able to capture the likeness the way he did,” Johan said.

The Gem Beasts had kept walking and were all waiting by a particular pillar, on the far side of the colosseum. Judai and Johan joined them.

“This arena is a monument for all the guardians of our past,” Emerald Tortoise explained. 

Judai looked at the engraved portraits. There were only a handful, which proved just how long the Gem Beasts and Rainbow Dragon had been sealed away for. The depictions were exceptional and well preserved. Judai could make out all the finer details. There was a guardian who wielded a sword and another who seemed to be a spell castor. 

“Do you remember them?” Judai asked. 

“Of course,” Topaz Tiger said. “Just like those before him, Johan will also inherit a title and his service as our guardian will be memorialized here one day.”

Yubel crossed their arms. “But now the ruins are corrupt again after so many years. Why?" 

Amethyst Cat sat beside them. “This space is active again because Johan reawakened Rainbow Dragon. It’s been 3 years since Johan summoned them for the first time. The energy flowing here must be properly maintained once more, or the same tragedy will happen and Rainbow Dragon’s energy will overflow.”

“How do you get rid of the corruption?” Judai asked.

Johan motioned to a tree near them that was a deep purple. “Thankfully, it’s not so hard. All these trees exist to store the overflowing energy, I just have to harvest them.” 

Before Judai could say anything, Johan closed his eyes and placed a hand on the tree. The purple colour began to dim and the tree slowly changed to take on a clear crystal appearance. When Johan was done, and all the colour faded, a purple gem the size of Johan’s palm rested in his hand. It vaguely reminded Judai of the ‘Gem Tree’ card he saw Johan use before. 

“Who wants to eat this one?” Johan raised the jewel up like it was for grabs.

“We ate a lot earlier. You can just hang the fruit on the tree for now if you aren’t hungry,” Emerald Tortoise suggested.

Johan took the gemlike fruit and hung it from the rejuvenated tree’s branch. It stayed suspended there like an ornament. 

Judai raised an eyebrow. “Those are edible?” 

Johan nodded. “Yeah, they’re really tasty too, and softer than they look. Wanna try?” 

“Thanks, but I’m alright.” Judai had an adventurous appetite, but even he wasn’t so sure about this. He pointed towards the crystal fruit. “So, you have to do that each time?”

“It’s the only way. If all the trees here become corrupt, then the energy will overflow, and with no place to go, it’ll eventually affect our world.”

Judai glanced at the trees around them. The majority were still corrupted in this area, and there were a lot of them. “How long will that take? It’s already been weeks since you left."

Johan poked at Judai’s side. “Hey, are you teasing me?” 

“About what?”

“Weeks?” Johan put his hands on his hips. “Judai, I’ve only been here a few days. I just got here.”

Judai could tell Johan was confused, but so was he. “I’m not joking around. It’s really been almost three weeks since I last heard from you.”

“That can’t be right.”

Yubel interjected, “Time doesn’t seem to flow the same in this space as it does back home.”

Johan turned to Sapphire Pegasus. “Is that true?”

“It’s possible. Our dimensions overlap, but they are still separate planes of existence. At some point, they may have lost sync with one another.”

For a time, a heavy silence fell over them as everyone processed that. 

“How much more corruption is there?" Judai eventually asked.

“I’m not sure yet. I’ve been tackling it in sections, but I just started,” Johan answered.

“If Yubel and I help, then you could return home sooner, right?”

“No, I’m the only one who can do this. As much as it would be nice, you wouldn’t be able to help.”

“Johan's right,” Sapphire Pegasus confirmed. 

Judai couldn’t see past all the trees and sandstone structures. At a glance, he had no idea how big this dimension was either, and a familiar weight settled itself back in his chest. 

“So, when will I see you again? When can you come back?” Judai hated how small his voice sounded.

Johan’s expression was remorseful. “I’m not sure.”

He and Johan had easily gone months without seeing each other, but they called often, and they texted even more. Since graduating, they had always been able to stay connected to one another in some way. The thought of that suddenly disappearing made Judai feel cold inside.

“We wish Johan didn’t have to do this either. We know it’s a big burden,” Amethyst Cat spoke softly. Ruby trilled sadly in agreement from Johan’s shoulder.

“No, it’s alright,” Johan was quick to reassure. “I’m not just doing this purely out of obligation. I care about you all and I don’t want what happened to you before to ever happen again.” Johan reached out and the rest of the Gem Beasts all gravitated towards him like magnets. They huddled close. “You’re my family and that means I’ll take responsibility, but we’re all in this together. That’s what matters most.”

Judai felt a deep pang of understanding reverberate in his chest. He knew this feeling. He knew it intimately well, and deep down he respected and admired Johan for making this choice. Judai took Yubel’s hand in his, and Yubel entwined their fingers.

“You're really incredible, Johan,” Judai said.

“It’s because you all give me strength.” Johan smiled knowingly and he reached for Judai’s other hand. Judai accepted it and Johan pulled him in closer, including Judai and Yubel in the duel spirit huddle. “Everything will be okay. I can handle this because I want to.” 

Judai squeezed Johan’s hand back. “I know you can, and I know that this is something you have to do. I understand, it’s just —” Judai’s words caught in his throat.

Johan looked at him, his expression soft. “Judai...”

“I can see why you didn’t want to say goodbye before.” Judai’s voice was watery. “It’s hard, even if I know it’s the right thing.”

Johan wrapped his arms around Judai’s shoulders. “Then let’s not say it.”

Judai swallowed, trying to keep his emotions in check, and he nodded before reaching out and wrapping his own arms around Johan’s waist. He leaned in, holding Johan tight enough that he could feel his heartbeat. Johan accepted it and stayed close, his hands coming up to brush at Judai’s hair in a comforting motion. Earlier, they had embraced and relief flooded over Judai like a tidal wave, but now, the unique sorrow that came with an imminent farewell lingered between them instead. 

They were more than just best friends, they were connected deeper than that. It was something special, something profound. Judai could feel it now, manifesting in the depth of his sadness, and in his selfish desire to not let Johan go. Their bond remained unspoken between them, but that didn’t make it any less true or any less known.  

Judai held Johan tighter and his heart felt slightly less heavy when Johan did the same.

“I want to give you something.” Johan broke the fragile silence. “Can you wait here for a few minutes?”

“Yeah, of course.”

Seeming reluctant, Johan stepped away. He disappeared into the forest of coloured crystal trees, accompanied by Ruby, Amethyst Cat and Hane Kuriboh. The other Gem Beasts stayed with Judai and Yubel. 

True to his word, Johan was only gone for a few minutes and when he returned, he had something in his hand. Johan extended it out and presented the gift to Judai. The stone was a deep indigo blue with a striking white six-point star design in the middle. It was smooth, perfectly oval-shaped and small. 

Judai could hold it easily between two fingers. He did so as he accepted it from Johan. “What is it? There’s a star shape in the centre."

“That’s because it’s a star sapphire,” Johan said. “All kinds of gems exist here at the ruins. I haven’t even found a quarter of them yet.”

“I’ve never seen a gem like this before. It’s like the night sky.”

Johan put his hand on top of Judai’s, where the stone sat. “When you look at Polaris, I’ll still be just beyond it. Like always.”

Judai felt his heart beat, and break, all at once.

He closed his fingers around Johan’s, the gem nestled between them. “Whenever we talked, I’d look up and wonder if you were seeing the same sky I was. Even when we were apart, that always made me feel better.” 

“We might not share the same sky like we used to, but we will again someday,” Johan said. “When this is over, I’ll come find you, Judai. I promise.” 

Judai kept holding Johan’s hand in his, selfishly prolonging the inevitable for just a little longer. They had found each other again, but now Judai already had to let Johan go. No one was rushing them, but he knew the time was soon approaching. 

He let out a shaky breath and tried to give Johan his brightest smile.

“Alright, I’ll be waiting.”

–

Judai was glad he had put his jacket on before Johan used Rainbow Dragon to teleport him back, because it was significantly colder in Finland. With the daylight, he could see a small cluster of cabins in the far distance and he started trudging through the snow in that direction. It was somewhat far, but thankfully, he would at least know which way to go. 

He reached for his black gloves in his jacket pocket, but before he put them on, he grabbed his phone. He flipped it open and glanced at the date. He had only been with Johan for a few hours, but now that he was back, it was already the morning of the day after Judai had left the hotel. The discrepancy wasn’t as bad as Judai had been expecting, but the fact there was one at all made him feel melancholic.

“The unstable energy here is completely gone,” Yubel noted with approval.

“Johan must have taken care of it.” Judai slipped on his gloves. After, he shoved his hands in his pants pockets and his breath caught slightly at what he found there. Judai’s heart immediately ached. “Yubel, do you think I’d ever be able to find him again, like I just did?”

“If you really wanted to, I’m sure it would be possible. You already managed it once,” Yubel answered honestly, stretching their wings as they floated along beside him. “But you should let Johan focus on the task he needs to complete.”

Taking it out of his pocket, the star sapphire sat in Judai’s gloved palm, glimmering brilliantly in the morning light. He wrapped his fingers around it, and even though it was technically impossible, he swore he could still feel the warmth from when he and Johan had held the stone together.

Yubel noticed how he was staring. “This time, he'll be the one who comes to you. You don’t need to worry and you don’t need to seek him out. You just need to be patient.”

“That’s never been a strong suit of mine.” Judai tried to laugh, but it lacked his usual lively sound.

“It’s never been mine either, but I still managed to wait for you in each lifetime.”

Judai carefully placed the gem in his pocket. He looked over towards Yubel. “I guess you could teach me a thing or two.”  

“Hold fiercely onto the truth that you’ll meet again, and never let that go.” Yubel smiled at him but their eyes reflected a rare sadness. “Because the hardest part is that time always passes so slowly, when you’re the one who's left waiting.”

Judai stopped walking and reached for Yubel’s hand. They hesitated and looked around before borrowing Judai’s powers so they could take on a physical form. 

“It’s dangerous to manifest like this,” they said.

Judai just shoved their joined hands into his jacket pocket and started walking again. Yubel grinned, letting out an amused hum as they gripped Judai’s hand back tight.

–

Yubel had been right, time did pass slowly. Still, each season came and went and then cycled again. Another winter eventually melted away, welcoming another spring, and this year, Judai found himself back in Japan in time for the cherry blossom season. He had visited with friends earlier that day, and they enjoyed time reminiscing together while viewing the blooming trees.

When evening came around and everyone had said their goodbyes, Judai opted to go for a late night walk before heading back to his accommodations. When he found a quiet spot over by a riverbank, slightly away from the bustling city streets, he took the opportunity to enjoy it. A spot like this was a luxury in a city as busy as Tokyo.

Judai laid on his back on the grass and rested his head in his hands. For a while, he just stared up at the cloudless night sky. He couldn’t see too many stars out here in the city, but the one that mattered, the one he was looking for, managed to shine bright enough. Judai was nearly an expert when it came to locating it. 

“I thought about him a lot today.” The words slipped out from Judai’s mouth quietly. “He always wanted to see the cherry blossoms.”

Yubel, in their spirit form, sat beside him. “You’ll get to show Johan someday.”

A crisp breeze blew past, reminding Judai that some of winter’s chill still persisted despite the arrival of spring. He shivered slightly, pulling his olive green windbreaker closer around himself. 

“I miss him.” 

“And because you miss him, he’ll be sure to come back to you.” Yubel’s eyes held a soft reassurance.

“You always know what to say.”

“I have a lot of experience." Yubel crossed their arms and a playful smirk danced on their lips. “You do realize, Johan will be fully expecting you to take him to Neo Space once he’s back. Especially since you got to see Rainbow Ruins.”

Judai snorted and a chuckle escaped his lips. “You’re right, I can picture him saying that.”

“You seriously need to get him that autograph so he stops asking.”

“Yeah, I should. Maybe it can be his ‘welcome back’ gift.” Judai let out a wistful sigh and smiled, his heart feeling a bit lighter.

Taking Yubel’s earlier advice, Judai had decided that instead of counting the days lost and gone, he would try to focus on what was to come. He and Johan didn’t meet today, but Judai knew that there was always the chance that they might reunite tomorrow. When he found himself missing Johan deeply, he held onto that wish.

As he laid under the blanket of night, Judai reached into his pocket and pulled out a small stone. He rubbed it in his hand until it warmed and for a while he just held it, remembering the promise Johan made.

One day, when his duty was fulfilled, Johan would return. Judai believed that wholeheartedly. 

He raised the star sapphire between his fingers, lining it up with Polaris. Judai smiled, feeling better instantly, because he knew just beyond that star, is where Johan was.