Disclaimer: I do not own Yu-Gi-Oh! GX

Chapter 1

Eight days – that was how long it had been already. Once, not so very long ago, this would have been no cause for alarm; it would simply have meant that their friend was off doing his own thing and neglecting to tell anybody, which wasn't exactly unheard of. Not so long ago, nobody would have been searching desperately for him; nobody would have been worried and losing sleep. There was a point in time when Zane Truesdale disappearing inexplicably had not been a cause for panic, not because nobody cared about him but more because they knew that he could take of himself and would return, sooner or later, of his own free will.

However, that was all in the past. This was the present, and his over-a-week-long absence had not only been noticed, it had caused worry amongst those who knew him, particularly when they had finished calling all his old haunts that they could think of and hearing that nobody had seen him.

Nine days ago, when Syrus Truesdale had gone to visit his brother to discuss his evolving deck, he had found Zane's home empty. At first he had been mildly irritated – annoyed that his brother had forgotten their meeting - but not worried; some warning that he was going out might have been nice but it didn't worry Syrus. Even though his brother's heart was currently rather unstable, he could still get about well enough so long as he didn't travel long distance. Syrus imagined that he must have gone to the supermarket or for a walk, as he did.

However, when Syrus had called him later, there had been no answer. Thinking his brother must have gone to bed early, he tried not to panic, but when he tried to call again the next day and again received no answer, Syrus began to worry about his brother – especially once he decided to let himself into Zane's house and found the door unlocked along with various overturned objects strewn about the usually tidy room.

That morning was eight days ago and still nobody had heard so much as a word from Zane. Syrus had alerted everyone he could think of and asked them to ask around or look for his brother, but so far nobody had found anything.

It made no sense to anyone. It wasn't like Zane, the way he now was, to just pick up and leave for over a week without an explanation; he wasn't even answering his phone. And although it had been his brother's initial suspicion, there had been no calls demanding ransom or duels, and so this did not seem like a kidnapping. It was, more accurately named, an unexplainable disappearance.

From this knowledge sprung the first major gathering they had had since their graduation from Duel Academy almost eighteen months ago, in Chazz's extended penthouse. Although everyone had more or less kept in touch via phone calls, the internet and the occasional meeting, there had yet to be a large gathering with everyone present.

Well. Everyone but Zane Truesdale.

Inside the large room, Syrus looked around at his friends, marvelled by the way that they all appeared the same as they had done in Duel Academy, save for the ordinary changes such as clothing preferences or hair styles. And just about everyone had come: Chazz, Alexis, Hasselberry, Atticus, Jesse, Aster and Jim. The only two missing were Axel, who had called to say that he had a prior engagement in a mission but that he would tell them if he heard anything, and Jaden, who was actually coming but, naturally, was running late.

It was amazing just how many people were eager to find Zane; some of the people whom Syrus had asked to come he genuinely did not expect to appear, and yet they had done so. He hadn't been sure Jim would have been able to make it all the way back from Australia, but he was here, and even Aster had taken time off his busy pro duellist schedule to be there – how exactly Syrus was not even sure, but he wasn't complaining; any help was better than none.

There was a general flow of conversation – old friends catching up on one another's lives – in amongst the worriment for their missing friend. Syrus, however, did not partake in any conversations. He was too busy thinking about what his old friend Jaden had said when he had phoned him two days ago.

Jaden had disclosed to him that he had asked Yubel and Winged Kuriboh to scout around in as broad a range as possible to try and find Zane, or at least some clues as to his whereabouts, but their search had been fruitless; nobody seemed to have heard anything. And if even the spirits were finding nothing, things were not well at all.

It was funny; how nobody would have bothered worrying only a couple of years ago. And now, everyone was here, willing to help.

The group here truly did consist of just about everyone, too, because it was only moments later that Jaden Yuki stepped through the door, complete with a red jacket similar to the old Slifer Red design, and instantly asking if anyone had heard anything.

Syrus asked if everyone would sit down and listen, and they did so – he couldn't tell them anything they didn't already know, but Zane was his brother, and for the time being, he was going to take charge of the situation. After all, sooner or later his command would disappear and be handed over – possibly involuntarily – to someone else in the group.

Syrus was happy enough for that to happen, so long as it happened later. For now, he would recoup the details they already had, and then ask for ideas as to how to proceed.

Because they were going to find Zane, of that Syrus was certain. He himself would not rest until Zane was back, and the others, his friends, wouldn't let him go alone, wherever he was going. Which could, really, be anywhere; Syrus was willing to travel to the center of the earth if he had to.

He had lost his brother before – he would not lose him again.

Please R&R