It's been a week. And I feel like multiple shoes will be chucked at me.

Anyway, there's this quote I heard recently that fits this somewhat well. Would have fit other chapters better, but aw well.

"Three can keep a secret, if two of them are dead" -Benjamin Franklin

For Whom

A new dawn broke. Samejima was looking up a detective to help them hide the keys. Pharaoh was meowing. Judai was asleep still, and Haou was awake catching breakfast, planning his next moves.

They went into action the second Judai had started running, late for class, down the road to receive a detention in Daitokuji-sensei's class. When Judai was out of sight, Haou walked up to the dorm's door and opened it up.

He looked at the dorm and gave a mental grimace. The smallness and the dirtiness of this place would hold for now, but once Haou became a ruler, it would not work. However, Haou didn't come to make mental faces at the dorm. He came to do laundry.

Wearing a red uniform all day yesterday had made it dirty. In order to buy the sunglasses, Haou would need a nice, hot shower and a clean uniform. Otherwise people would get suspicious. That and- it's nice to be clean and smell nice. Taking a clean uniform and a towel, Haou went to the showers and washed his hair well, getting out any debris from the pond, dirt from the ground, and vegetation from the plants. After putting on the clean uniform, Haou washed all the dirty clothes together, and dried them as well. Taking a set of clean pajamas and the outfit he wore all yesterday with the appropriate underwear, Haou retrieved some of his other self's money.

Putting the clothes in a pack to look inconspicuous, Haou walked over to the only store on Duel Academy island. He went to the counter.

"Ah, Judai! What can I do for you?"

Haou had on a smile where he closed his eyes. Act like Judai, act like Judai…

"Well, Tometake-san, I'd like to get some sunglasses. It's hard to duel with the glare blocking your cards from sight!" Haou said as Judai-like as possible.

"Alright, Judai! Here's a pair that would look good on you!"

Haou put them on. They covered up his eyes, and were tinted so that the onlooker couldn't see the eyes, but the person wearing them could see just fine. Taking out the retrieved yen, he handed the right amount to Tometake-san.

"Ah, Judai, just for you, I'll give you a discount! Here, 10% off!" Haou was pleasantly surprised by receiving some yen back. Yen that could be used in a vending machine, or as bribery. Although Haou would be damned if he every dealt in something so petty and unworthy of his attention as bribery. Absolute defeat at his hands would surely make any quivering opponent bend to his will if they don't die.

Back to the present, however. Haou thanked Tometake-san, and left. He didn't know Asuka-san was watching him.

She had seen Judai walk into the store, but not any Judai. The one with the yellow eyes. She was planning to research him while most people in her grade had a study hall, but this was better. She followed him out of the store.

"So- you may not be Yuki Judai, but you sure act like him." Asuka said. Haou turned around.

"And you are showing intelligence enough to match up to the Queen of Oblisk Blue. Congratulations." Asuka bit the inside of her cheek at that remark, but continued on.

"So what are you? You look exactly like Judai but have the opposite personality, and your eyes are-" Asuka looked into them and took a breathe. "Well, they're cold and bright yellow."

"So what do you think I am?" asked Haou.

"What I think? That you are either an Assassin specially sent or that you're…"

"That I'm?"

"A twin, relative or clone of Yuki Judai."

Haou looked at her curiously. "How close and yet so far. It seems I underestimated you."

"What?" Asuka asks. "Why do you cling to the shadows, and not show yourself to Judai and hide from him?"

"If I show myself to him now, it will distract him."

Asuka thought for a moment. "Then surely you won't mind dueling Manjoume?"

"Why don't you challenge me yourself?"

"Because Manjoume told me that he wanted dibs on dueling you." Asuka said with a flat voice.

Haou hmphed. "Alright. I'll oblige him, but it's not like anybody can defeat me."

"I doubt it. Really, it's not like Kaiser or Judai will loose to you." Asuka said.

"Judai is weaker than me. And Kaiser's twisted ways will make it easier to win."

"Kaiser's twisted ways?! He's extremely moral and honorable!" Asuka practically shouted.

"He's also a twisted brother. He weakens his brother on purpose, using his power to diminish Sho's potential. Then he turns around and rescues his weak and defenseless brother when Camula comes around. He uses his words and power to make his little brother constantly in danger. I cannot respect a person like that. Either he utterly destroys Sho, or builds up Sho's potential. He could have made Sho a stronger duelist than many, or let Camula take his soul for victory. Your brother is probably the best out of Judai's group of friends, and he was an Assassin who threatened to kill Hayato and Sho. My mind is set and I don't flip flop. I know and get what I want."

Asuka looked at him in shock. The sad thing was his words ran true. Ryo wasn't a bad person. He was cold, but polite and good and fought the Assassins. Then she thought of his relation with Sho. Calling him a 'disappointment'- screwing him up so he was afraid of dueling sometimes, making it where Sho couldn't defeat Judai when he had the chance. But Kaiser wasn't like that, was he?

Then the next thought struck her.

"Wait- how do you know about all of that?"

Haou just smirked. "Tell Manjoume to meet me at the Volcano once the sun is surely set. You may come, but I don't want everyone to know of my existence just yet. And no, you don't need your Spirit Keys. I'd rather you keep them- or better yet, let me protect them. I could do it better than everyone else, after all."

Haou started to walk off.

"Wait! What are you?" Asuka asked.

Haou threw a glance back at her. "I am Yuki Judai. I am not Yuki Judai." Then he stalked off to wait for the next period when he could go into the library. Nobody would have a free period that knew him, the darkness would cover his eyes from those few that would enter, and he could check out a few books to read when the chance of discovery would be high.

Then the announcement came over the speakers. "Daitokuji-sensei, Yuki Judai, Tenjoin Asuka, and Manjoume Jun, please come to the Principal's office."

Haou made a mental smirk. Now this would be interesting. He used the patented Duel Academia technique of eavesdropping that all students seemed to possess. He listened as Samejima said there would be a detective to help them hide the Keys. Once he heard that information, Haou went to a position that made it easier to shadow them once they came out.

From their route, Haou figured that they were going to the Red Dorm. Haou used his refined technique to hear where Manjoume placed his key. Then he listened to Judai, placing it in a drawer and being walked in on. Haou mentally hit his head. He would have swallowed the key, or hid it in a spare duel disk. At least he would have hid it there, then later on hid it in the ceiling with no onlookers.

Dashing between the trees and behind the group, Haou followed them to the girl's Blue Dorm, and waited for them to come out. He saw them walking back into the school, and saw a janitor come in and spy the key going into the safe. Haou mentally gave a laugh at their stupidity. Three people walked in on the guys, and if he guessed right, then someone had walked on Asuka as well. Right when they were hiding keys. Anyone dumb enough to ignore that was- well, apparently Manjoume, Asuka, Daitokuji-sensei, Sho, Hayato, and his other self.

Following everyone but Asuka back to the Red Dorm, he leaned against the back side of the dorm while everyone but Manjoume went to their rooms.

"I thought you were more intelligent than to let an Assassin know where your key is." Haou commented.

"I am- I'm also not worried. The keys don't work unless an Assassin beats a key holder. So the Assassin or Assassins behind this plot don't understand how they work. However, if I lure the Assassin out by making them realize this, then I can beat the Assassin, meaning one less attempting to take the keys and become a distraction." Manjoume said.

"And how do you plan to figure out who the Assassin is?"

"I placed an Ojama in each place someone hid their key. Except my room, of course."

Haou nodded thoughtfully. So Manjoume was smarter than he thought. Then another thought came to him.

"How are you going to duel me, then?" Haou asked.

"Oh? So how did you know I want to duel you?" asked Manjoume.

"I ran into Asuka-san who told me. I asked her to inform you that the duel would be at sunset at the volcano."

Manjoume checked his PDA, and saw a text from Asuka informing him of just that.

"Can I fight you when I get my Ojamas back? Or tomorrow?" asked Manjoume. Haou nodded.

Haou nodded. "I'd rather my enemies get defeated than having to thrash you."

Manjoume gave him a look. "What makes you think you'll thrash me?"

"Hmph. We'll settle this in a duel tomorrow."

"Alright. If the Assassins steal the keys tonight."

"They most likely will. They are not nearly as intelligent or cruel as some of the other Assassins."

"You seem to be less of an Assassin then I previously thought."

"Oh? And why do you think that? Could I not be a person with vast resources of information and a good actor?" Haou asked.

"Why would an Assassin reprimand me for not hiding my key well, and telling me that those who saw the keys be hidden were Assassins?"

"A good actor would do that to gain trust. But still, save the Assassins for my interrogation if you can."

Manjoume looked at Haou strangely. "Why do you want to interrogate them? And what do I call you?"

"My reasons are mine alone. And my name is Haou." At that, he walked off into the woods, moving randomly to shake off anyone who might follow him. He went to sleep early, planning to wake up in a few hours.

*Ducks shoes that are sure to come* I promise the duel will come after we're finished with these Assassins! I promise!