I quickly texted Bastet and Nadzeya, telling them to get their asses in gear over to my house. Akefia still sat on the kitchen counter, struggling with the beads, which were glowing bright white, just like in the anime. Their responses were similar-to the point I thought they were already together. They told me they would get here when they got here, and no sooner, so don't rush them. I rolled my eyes, then laughed as I saw Akefia rolling on the kitchen floor, yanking frantically at the beads. "Sanura!" he yelled to me. "They won't come off!"

I laughed again. "No, they won't. Remember? They're the Beads of Subjugation."

He growled at me, like InuYasha does. "I know that!" he snapped. "Quit laughing at me!" I shrugged.

"I can't help it. You looked so funny, rolling around on the floor like that." He scowled and flopped down on the couch.

"Better?" he asked grouchily. "Who were you texting, while you were conveniently not helping me?"

The doorbell rang right then, and in answer to his question, I opened the door, letting Bastet and Nadzeya into my living room. "What's so important?" Nadzeya snapped. I had clearly interrupted some sort of quality time with Atem.

"Well," I laughed, unable to help myself. "It's Keefy's and Ryou-kun's birthday, so I got Keefy a gift. I saw him watching InuYasha the other day and-" I was interrupted by Nadzeya busting out laughing.

"Omigods, you didn't!" She nearly had tears streaming down her face. Bastet looked clueless.

"Yeeeaaah, I did." I rubbed the back of my head sheepishly. "And they actually work…"

"What?! No way!" She exclaimed.

Bastet, meanwhile, yelled angrily, "Tell me! What did you get him?" I pointed to the beads around Akefia's neck.

"The Beads of Subjugation, from InuYasha. When a certain phrase is said, the Beads very forcefully pull the wearer downwards." I explained, trying not to say the 'certain phrase'

"What's the phrase?" Bastet asked, poking Akefia's bunny-ear-hair-things. He swatted her hand, scowling scarily.

Akefia glared at me. "Don't you dar-" he started to say.

"Sit, boy!" I called, grinning evilly. Akiko laughed as Akefia crashed to the ground, looking squashed. Bastet collapsed also, rolling along the wall in her giggle fit.

"I have to get me one of those!" she gasped out. "For Porcupine!"

Nadzeya put a hand on her cheek in thought. "Maybe I could use one, too. For Atem."

"No, no," I told them respectively. Bastet pouted silently, and Nadzeya shrugged indifferently, pulling out her phone. "Whoa whoa whoa…what are you doing?" I questioned her. Akefia pushed himself upright angrily.

"What, you expected me to not say anything?" she asked right back sarcastically. "I'm texting Atem, of course!" She paused. "Assuming he can figure out his phone this time, that is…" she muttered.

Bastet laughed. "Your ancient bae having trouble understanding modern technology?" she teased. Nadzeya glared venomously at her and she shut up.

"Why?" I asked her. "How is this any of his business?"

"Because," she explained impatiently, "whenever Bakura tries to kill us from now on, or steal Atem's Millennium Puzzle, we can just call you to get him under control."

Akefia's white eyebrow twitched. "I'm still in the room…" he muttered darkly. He didn't like being ignored very much. I turned to him.

"I know. I'm sorry. We haven't forgotten about you." I faced the other two otakus in the room. "Has either of you seen InuYasha through to the end?" Both of them nodded. "Okay, so how do we get the beads off?"

Both of them started laughing after sharing a look. "That's how we can tell you haven't finished the anime yet." Nadzeya explained. "They never came off in the anime. So no one knows."

I felt a menacing aura behind me and blanched, turning to see Akefia glaring at me. "So…I'm stuck like this?" he asked calmly.

I nodded, laughing sheepishly.