Yu-Gi-Oh! GX Season 5: Light and Darkness

Chapter 31: The Guilty Finalist

Jaden rushed over to Chazz as the crowd's cheers continued. His rival was paler than usual and was unconscious. 

"Chazz!" called Jaden, as he cradled him in his arms. "Chazz, I defeated him! He's out of your system! You're safe!" 

Chazz woke, looked at Jaden and recoiled. 

"No...no..." 

Chazz ran as if his life depended on it. He didn't even wait for his runner-up trophy, and Jaden found himself having his hand seized by the commentator, and the winner's trophy was shoved into his hand. 

"JADEN YUKI, YOUR CHAMPION!" 

Everybody cheered, but Jaden looked to Syrus and looked at him pleadingly to find Chazz, while he was basically being held hostage. 

Syrus understood and left an also cheering Missy behind. She didn't notice his absence until too late, but that was just as well in Syrus' case, because her rants only served to remind him of his fallen brother. 

Chazz had fled to the quay. He was deeply disturbed...and remorseful. 

"I let that dark beast corrupt me...and I abandoned my friends and corrupted innocent children at Duel Academy. I trapped Jesse Anderson in a Darkness card...and for what? To be defeated by Jaden again, and I still am no better off. The Darkness didn't bring me what I wanted...and my wants have caused so much despair, hatred and hurt...I should have done what I considered doing on the day my brothers abandoned me." 

Chazz was edging himself closer to the tip of the dockside...towards the water. 

"Chazz? Chazz!" 

Syrus had found Chazz, and frankly, he thought the freed duelist looked awful. 

"Chazz, what are you doing here?" asked Syrus. 

"Paying for what I've done." 

"NO!" 

Syrus, realizing what Chazz was attempting, pulled him backwards and the rival fell onto the ground. He felt no desire to get back up. All that he had done through Nightshroud's control was still in his memory. He remembered wanting to do it all, just for revenge against Jaden for overshadowing and ending his success...and for winning Alexis' heart. 

Chazz knew that had been the case during their final year at Duel Academy. He had his suspicions over the years but didn't believe it. But when they got closer to graduation, he saw her looking at Jaden with deep passion in her eyes, and he knew for certain. 

After graduation, therefore, Chazz dedicated his life to duelling in Pro League championships, aiming to be number one while Jaden unknowingly broke Alexis' heart by leaving his friends behind to go gallivanting around the world. He wanted to be the somebody, the champion, the one to be admired for once. And all it got him were fickle fans who dropped him at the first sign of weakness, and small fleeting pride at winning his duels and titles. 

"Chazz," said Syrus, interrupting his dismal thoughts, "Nightshroud was controlling you. You're not entirely to blame." 

"I let him...I wanted him to," said Chazz. "I wanted revenge on Jaden, I meant every word I said to him." 

"But I bet you didn't really want to turn Jaden into a Darkness ally too. He would have overshadowed you in the shadows. And I'm equally sure you weren't fully in control when you sealed Jesse away in that card, then taunted us with it. That cruelty is beyond even you." 

Chazz turned away. 

"Those parts of what you did were all Nightshroud!" 

"Nevertheless, I played a part," replied Chazz dismally.