Episode 04:

Science Class in Room 61

BEEP! A groggy Ree Zephryon awoke, yet again, to the annoyingly shrill beeping of her alarm clock. But today, she thought, was different. Yes, it was another ordinary school day. This time, she smiled, the pain of the morning unfazing her. Her thoughts had been empty of worries, having made a few friends the day before. She hadn't encountered anyone who could possibly be of some nuisance to her, or an enemy, and for that, she was glad of. As she clambered out of her bed, Ree dreamily hummed a random tune- her notes light, pleasant with elation.

Even managing to ignore the evil pinkness of her uniform, she dressed quickly, long before her mother had called her to breakfast. Several minutes earlier than usual, Ree arrived at the breakfast table, practically skipping, refreshed.

Her mother noticed the change in her daughter's mood. "You look rather joyful today," she remarked. "Did something good happen at school yesterday?" Ree sat casually in her chair, leaning back. "Oh, it's just a new day for excitement and opportunities," she replied off-handedly. Her mother hid her grin and knew the reason for her daughter's happiness. She had been lonely for a long time.

"Made some friends did you?" Ree turned, surprised. Then slowly, a small smile began to spread over her face. The light in her brown eyes danced. "Yes," she said, "I did." Then she stabbed a piece of french toast and shoved it into her mouth, suddenly ravenous.

"That's excellent, dear. Tell me what happens today, alright?" Her mother smiled at her, pleased for her. Finishing her breakfast, Ree begun to ready herself to set out for school. As she walked past the coffee table in the lounge, her mother called to her, "Don't forget your lunch money!" Ree quickly grabbed her purse lying on the table and raced out the door. "Bye," she yelled as she shut the door behind her. She saw that Bakura was already waiting for her outside the front gate.

"Hey," Ree greeted him. "Hello," he replied with a smile. "Want to walk to school together again?" "Of course." With that, the pair walked off. They talked about all sorts of things. It was so easy between them. They talked about life in general, the weather, their favourite colours, their hobbies... which eventually led to the topic of Duel Monsters... yet again.

Funny, how everything seems to come back to this game, she thought. "You didn't answer my question yesterday," Ree then told him. Bakura looked confused. "What question?" he asked, genuinely puzzled. She laughed, seeing his face. "I asked you what your favourite card was. You kinda blanked out for a second though, so I never got an answer." Bakura blinked, and stopped walking. "Oh," he said. "I'm sorry." Ree shook her head. "No, don't be," she told him. "Just answer me." He looked her in the eyes.

"Do you really want to know?"

"Yes."

Bakura looked away for a second, then placed his hand in his pocket and drew out his deck. He spent a few moments shuffling through his cards before finally picking one out. He held it up, the back facing Ree. He watched her intently. "This is my favourite card," he said quietly, and flipped it over. Ree didn't say anything, but her eyes revealed a slight surprise. After a moment's silence, she said, "I see. But why is that your favourite card?" Bakura hesitated a fraction. He looked at her, his gentle eyes suddenly full of distance and mystery. He didn't answer her question directly. "Where there is light, there is also a darkness." Then, he resumed walking.

Ree didn't follow him immediately. She paused, to take in what he said. Then she followed him. Bakura seemed to realise she had fallen behind and had stopped to wait for her to catch up. "Oh, I'm awfully sorry, Ree, was I walking too fast? Here, I'll walk slower." He smiled cheerfully, as if they had never had that strange conversation. Ree smiled back, then made as if to look at the scenery. For Bakura's favourite card was the Change of Heart- and she had the very same card in her own deck. It was a powerful card.

But one thing puzzled her. He had seemed very withdrawn, almost reluctant to show her the card. If it was his favourite card, shouldn't he be excited to show her it? He had seemed to wonder if she should see it... as if... he was hiding a secret. It was then she realised that there must be a deeper meaning to it being his favourite card than just power. She wondered what it was, what he was reluctant to reveal. What was that about Light and Darkness? She knew about opposites. How everything in the world has it's anti-twin. But how did that link to him? Then she remembered the incident yesterday... that golden light... that object under his shirt... Bakura- who, for a second, he wasn't... "Bakura?"

Bakura turned his head. "What is it, Ree?" He looked so innocent, his brown eyes wide and gentle. Ree then decided that it wasn't the right time. She smiled at him. "Oh, it's nothing," she assured him. "Look." She pointed. "We're almost at school." And indeed they were, for they saw the tall grey building loom high above them.

As they approached, she noticed a group of people clustering outside. They looked familiar... Then Ree's eyes lit up and waved. It was the gang! She ran towards them, Bakura close behind. "Hey guys," said Ree. "Hey there, Ree, Bakura," the gang chorused. Then, with the help of her new friends, she managed to navigate successfully through the throng of students to her locker to get her stuff, with time to spare. Strangely though, Bakura couldn't stay with them long enough. He gave them all an apologetic look, flashed a small smile at Ree and told them he had something to do before rushing off somewhere.

Tristan watched him as he left. "That guy is always appearing and disappearing," he said thoughtfully. Ree gave him a curious look. "What do you mean?" The boy sweatdropped. "I didn't mean it in a bad way," he said defensively, "It's just that, he comes and goes so often that we really don't see him much..."

"Oh, I see," replied Ree. I wonder why? Then she gazed into the distance thoughtfully, the bell ringing as she did so. There's so much I still don't know about him yet. I feel so close to him already yet I'm so far away...


She had Science class. Desperate not to be late again, Ree had travelled upstairs with speed. She had forgotten that Tea had Science also, and was surprised when a breathless Tea ran after her, telling her to wait up. "Wait!" she had cried, and Ree had stopped. When Tea asked her what her hurry was, Ree had simply replied, "Don't want to be late again," and dashed off. Now Tea had finally caught up with her in the classroom, but was in for an interesting surprise. Ree was in deep conversation with the teacher. And she looked concerned.

Thinking Ree was in some sort of trouble, Tea immediately ran towards them. As she raced past the desks to the front of the class she yelled, "Wait! WAIT!"

Heads turned, faces blank and confused. "Um, excuse me, Sir," said Tea, "whatever Ree did... erm... it was all my fault. Uh, I take all of the blame." The teacher just looked as blank as the rest. Finally, he said, "Ree's not in trouble, if that's what you're assuming. Unless you're telling me you're the reason Miss Zephyron here passed the science test with flying colours?" Now it was Tea's turn to look blank and confused. "Huh?"

Mr. Halliwell beamed. "That's right, Miss Gardner," said he, "Ree got a 98.5% score on the test yesterday. On the very first day! Impressive, wouldn't you say?" Tea, dumbfounded, just stared. Ree laughed nervously. "Aha, yeah... and I guessed some of the questions..." Tea smiled weakly. "Wow," she remarked. "That was unexpected..." Mr. Halliwell, however, raised an eyebrow. "And how come, exactly, that you answered those guessed questions correctly, Ree?" he inquired sternly.

The girl looked at him, tense. "Um, a bit of common sense, knowledge, logic, and hypothesised estimates?" Her teacher continued to glare her down. "I see," he said softly. Certain that she would be retained in detention with no idea of what she had done, Ree closed her eyes for her sentence. It didn't come. Instead, when she opened her eyes she found her teacher smiling. "Well that settles it-," cried Mr. Halliwell. "I knew I made the right choice. You've been moved to Advanced Science 101 in Room 61, in the next corridor."

What? You've got to be kidding me. I'm already into extension work! Ree inwardly groaned. Damn my hidden intelligence, she thought. Looking around, she saw that already people were whispering about her- apart from Tea and Mr. Halliwell, of course. Nerd, she heard. Genius freak... Oh well, she thought, so much for hoping for no future nuisances..."So... I guess you're not in my science class now..." sighed Tea. "I'm going to feel so lonely..." Ree shook her head. "Room 61's not that far," she said reassuredly, "and besides, I'm in your form class, remember? Besides, we can catch up at break..." Tea brightened. "You're right," she answered. "No matter where we are, we're still friends." Ree smiled. "Right." Then she sighed. "Well, I better go to my new class now, catch you later."

As she walked down the corridor, Ree pondered on what had just happened. Okay, she thought, so I've been moved up to extension. That hasn't changed anything. And alright, so I've now got a reputation as being a female nerd who's always late to class, but why should I care what they think? They don't really know anything... She looked up. Now what was it he said? The next corridor... she looked around, and saw the numbers 57, 58, and 59 ahead. Just a little bit further... Eventually Ree found the door. Room 61- the number spelled in rusty silver across the top. The door looked old, and it looked like it creaked. A knot formed in her stomach, and she was anxious... yet at the same time she was scared and she was curious.

Lightly, she rapped on the door with her knuckles. Ree waited, but nothing happened. Did I not knock hard enough? As she raised her hand to knock again, the door happened to open. A tall, dangerous-looking man wearing crescent moon spectacles loomed over her intimidatingly, blocking the light in the doorway of the room. "Yes?" he rasped. "What do you want?" Ree gulped down her fear and tried not to squeak.

Amazingly, she heard her voice speak out calmly, "Hello, Sir. I was sent by Mr. Halliwell because he moved me to Room 61." Suddenly, the man stepped back, so she could see him better in the light. He had a short grey beard and wore a white labcoat, stained with anonymous fluids. He smiled kindly at Ree... and she found he was no longer scary. In fact, he reminded her of someone's grandfather... if not rather a deranged one.

"Ah yes," the man nodded, "You'll be Ree, won't you? Yes, Mr. Halliwell's been telling me all about you. Quite the bright girl, aren't you? Well then, come in, you don't need to stand there all day like a statue..." he stated, leading her in. "I am Mr. Maneco, but some people like to call me Mr. Manic" He then proceeded to laugh like a lunatic. Ree sweatdropped. Mr. Manic? And he wonders why... "Come now, take a seat- anywhere will do- and we'll continue the lesson," he said, as the girl took a look around. They were a depressing bunch, really, she thought. Most- no, all of them were nerds, who just stared at her in a snobbishly superior manner... no girls here. Damn, thought Ree. Why do I have to be smart? Why?

She sighed melodramatically. In her head, of course- she didn't want to accidentally get into the bad books of her new teacher.

It was then, as she took another glance at the classroom, that she noticed him. He was sitting at the far back corner all alone, not bothering to pay any attention to everything else that was going on around him- not that it was very much, thought Ree- and was furiously typing on a laptop.

Thinking it odd to be doing such a thing during a school lesson, she looked closer around the room and found the rest of the nerds with their own various electronic equipment, pushing buttons and tapping screens all at various intervals. Suddenly, the boy on the laptop stopped typing, and Ree was immediately struck with a familiarity. As he pulled the lid of the laptop down, their eyes met, like lightning. Ree wanted to gasp- but already, she had forgotten how to breathe. She couldn't be sure if it was who she thought it was- the light down the back was too dim to see... But she had already realised his face before she saw his eyes.

She didn't need to be sure. Because she already knew who he was.