The barrier was still got up, the power of the dragon still holding strong.
"I guess Aki is more difficult than Ashleigh I presume?" Aka asked Melhana.

"Seems like it," Melhana replied.

Jack, I hope that you can keep your bearings in there. She thought, looking at Jack's unmoving form.

---

Jack had by now seperated his mind from his body, and was having more than a few difficulties getting through Aki's defenses. You're being stubborn as ever, he thought. Again, he tried gaining access, not no avail. He paused in his attempts to think. It feels like she's using some of the Crimson Dragon's power...well, then I'll just have to do the same. He delved deep into his magical reserves, this time calling on the power of the Crimson Dragon as well as his own. I hope this hunch works...

After a while, the barriers went down for Jack to access. But seeing Aki encased in the crystal, made Jack gasped. Aki's soul room which was bright with medical equipment, books, a Small scale of her D-Wheel and a picture of herself and Yusei, was clouded with darkness and sadness.

Needless to say, Jack was shocked. I've never been here before, but something's telling me that this is not what her soul room is supposed to be like. He thought. He was drawn to the center of the room, where the dark red crystal that Aki was encased in was. He placed a hand on it. She looked like she was shouting out, her yell forever lost.

Jack took a deep breath. "Here goes nothing," He said, and pumped a spell he'd learned--well, and some raw power--through to try and break the crystal surrounding Aki. He was met with more than reisitance; his own power was thrown back at him. "GAGH!!!!"

---

Melhana gasped as the pain of the reflected power was transmitted to her through the link. She saw that Jack was grimacing even in the special trance. 'Jack! Can you hear me? If that happens again, I'm taking you out.' She linked. No response. 'Jack? Jack!'

"Something bad's happened." Melhana said aloud.

"You want me to go in?" Aka asked, knowing something bad has happened, "After all, I kept you in Ashleigh's soul room for trespassing after I was born so it could just be that."

Melhana was torn, worried that whatever was happening to Jack right now could happen to Aka. "I haven't lost my connection to him just yet, but I'm not sure..." she replied hesitantly.

---

Inside Aki's soul room, Jack had been knocked out, plus he was far from safe. As he lay on the ground, vines were wriggling their way towards him. Several of them were already beginning to snake their way around his ankles.

"Each soul room has a defence system. Since Aki's into plants, that could be the defense to keep intruders out" Aka urged, "Remember, your body was blasted to the other side of the room because I was keeping you hostage, and protecting Ashleigh at the same time. If nothing is done, three signers will be out."

---

Another lot of vines began to wrap around Jack's arms and wrists while the other vines wrapped around Jack's legs. The vines was also aiming at one vital part: the neck.

Melhana was thinking hard about Aka's suggestion. She was doing her usual nervous habit; tapping her forefinger against her lower lip. Should I let Aka in? Or should I have her share the double burden of being the lifeline for both me and Jack and put my own life on the line?

---

Jack woke, and felt something tight binding his arms, legs, and torso. He pulled at them, only to see that he was tightly bound down by vines, strong ones. This...this must be Aki's mental defense system. He thought. As he was struggling to free his arms and legs, his blood ran cold as vines started snaking their way around his neck and strangling him. He gagged, coughed, and stuggled to breathe as they grew tighter and tighter. No...I...I can't...breathe.... he thought desperately. His vision was blurring, and he registered that this could not be boding well for his mind or his body. The more he struggled, the tighter the vines became, and that went for the vines around his neck as well.

I'm...dying.....

"Do you want Jack to die or not?" Aka growled, "If I don't make it out, at least he will!"

Melhana's eyes narrowed. Finally, she caved in. "Go in." She said.

"I'll be your lifeline." Neferhenta offered. Melhana wasn't showing it, but Nefe could tell that maintaining the link with Jack was taking its toll.

---

Finally Jack stopped struggling. He was having trouble getting even the slightest gasp of air due to the tightning of the vines. His vision was dimming and hazy, literally about to pass out. No...I, Jack Atlas, will NOT be killed by this! He thought stubbornly. His Signer mark burned, igniting the vines and burning them to a crisp. His right arm was free. Focusing what strength he still had, he formed a ball of Mage's Fire in the palm of his now free hand. "Burn....these vines...." He croaked.

The scent of oranges stained the air as the flames ran along the vines, burning them so that Jack could get free. His last-ditch attempt worked, and he was free. He laid there for a moment, gasping, until he heard the slithering again. "Hoshit," He gasped, moving out of the way. "Aki! It's me, Jack!" He shouted. Not that it'll do much good, he thought. Though, the vines slowed. "Okay then...."

"Ok Nefe, you can do it" and just like Jack did, Aka entered Aki's mind....

---

"Jack, you ok?' Aka yelled. Then she saw vines coming towards her. She grabbed one of the vines.
Aki, Jack and myself aren't your enemies. We're here to help you she thought, and the vines started to move away.

"I'm fine...I think." Jack replied, rubbing his throat. He turned to the crystal encasing Aki again. 'She's right, we're not your enemies.' He told the girl. Once again he walked up to the crystal. He placed his hand on it and closed his eyes. 'Please Aki...say something.'

---

"You think they'll be all right?" Neferhenta asked. Melhana shrugged.

"I wish I could say," She replied.

Just then, the crystal mysteriously began to break at Jack's voice.
"It's working Jack, keep going" Aka said.

Jack nodded to show his consent. 'Aki, I know that you're torn up about Yusei. All of Team 5Ds is. But you can't keep moping. We need everyone at their best or...well, we'll never get him back. Please Aki, snap out of it.' He linked, hoping that Aki would listen. The crystal cracked more. He decided to risk opening the cracks slightly with the slightest bit of his own power, and it worked. But, he didn't push it.

God I feel silly doing this, he thought.

"You're nearly there, keep going" Aka urged, "But be careful of overdose of power though."

"I know from last time," Jack replied. He kept the very slight stream of power going until....

CRACK!!!!!

There was a huge crack ran from top to bottom. That's when Aka used a very mild Lighting Strike Blast to widen the crack. Pieces flew everywhere and the crystal revealed Aki, lying unconscious on the ground.
"Aki, please wake up" Aka begged.

Jack knelt down beside Aka. "Aki, wake up." He said gently. I hope she's all right.... He thought.

Aki's eyes began to flutter and open.
"Jack....Aka...." she started to say as she sat up, then burst into tears.

Jack was caught off-guard as Aki used him as a shoulder to cry on. He gave Aka a "why me" look as the girl clung to him.

"What happened Aki?" Aka asked.
"It's Yusei! He's encased in crystal! And there is nothing we can do to break it" Aki replied, still crying. The soul room became more and more cold.

Jack took hold of Aki's shoulders and glared at her. "Aki, we'll get him back." He said firmly. He wasn't showing it, but what she'd told him and Aka had shaken him to the core; Yusei was trapped in a crystal. The on Aki was trapped in was bad enough to break, he thought. However, he kept his usual scowl on rather than letting the shock show. Even as he spoke, he remembered what Yusei had told them that night almost two weeks ago.

"To get me free of this thing, then you've got to try and kill me. Literally."

Damn it, Yusei....Jack thought.

"Is it me or is it getting colder and colder in here?" Aka asked, not knowing that a soul room is connected to the emotions of the person.

"Yeah, I noticed that too." Jack replied. 'Melhana, any idea why?' He asked.

'It's probably because she's depressed,' Melhana replied. 'A person's soul room is directly affected by their state of mind. I could tell even before this she's been an emotional wreck.'

Jack nodded. "Aki, calm down. We'll find a way to get Yusei back, don't worry."

Aki nodded, drying her eyes. The room became a bit warmer.
"I think we better return to the real world" she said.