AN: This is late, and I'm really sorry. A lot of homework this week. We had Friday off, so a lot of projects poured in.

Sorry it wasn't clear at the end! Um, Bakura was just thankful that Ryou took the collar off. It was near the bathtub…yeah.

Just to clear the air: This isn't yaoi. No offense to people or anything, but…yeah. More like…brotherly love.

dragonlady222: I don't think you're going to like Faolan anymore after this chapter. Lol. I know that a lot of people don't think that Bakura's got a 'nice' side, but I'm sure that his lone wolf act lessens when he's with friends, you know? I mean, he was supposed to be really comfortable with Koro, and so Ryou…yeah. Thanks for the review!

Rogue1979: Ack! Sorry! Ryou compensated with taking the collar off, which was hard for him. I'm sorry it took so long to update. Please enjoy! (I've had so much homework! Grr! I hate how teachers give a lot out for the weekend) Thanks for the review!

Anime WarriorSkye: Sorry, no yaoi. Only brotherly love. I should have made that a little more clear, huh? lol. Sorry about that. Thanks for the review! I'm glad you like the story so far.

The Vampire Prince: I think that ice cream scene was better, though. (shrugs) I dunno. Oh, I hate it when my computer does that! Mine sucks, so it's hard to get the internet running sometimes. I want a new comp for Christmas one day. (sighs) Thanks for the review!

Chapter Ten: Dinner with Father

Faolan didn't understand. He didn't know why, but it agitated him that Bakura was carrying Ryou in his arms when he came out of the bathroom. Faolan forced a small smile. "I got the broom."

He felt like he was drifting through a dream as he mutely cleaned up the glass and prepared to pack. Bakura and Marik had said things to him, but he all he could do was nod. It seemed so weird now, because…because the two teens weren't worried about him. Rather…they cared for another kid.

Well, it wasn't exactly the 'caring' part. It just was like…the white-haired boy was their life. At first he had thought it was because Ryou looked like Koro. As he got to know the kid better, he knew it wasn't that. He was nothing like the albino at all. Sure, the kid was polite and nice, well-mannered. But he was so quiet and soft-spoken. The only time he ever actually smiled or laughed naturally was when Bakura or Marik was around.

Bakura and Marik weren't exactly obsessed with the child or anything. They just always tried to so hard to please the boy.

And it bugged him. Faolan wanted the attention. For some reason, Ryou was getting every second of their time. At least it seemed that way. They always asked him what he wanted to do, to eat, to go.

"Faolan, you okay?"

He snapped out of it. Quickly glancing about him, Faolan nodded. Since when did they get in the limo?

"You sure? You're real quiet, which isn't really like you."

Faolan gazed into Marik's worried eyes before slowly looking at Bakura and Ryou. Bakura seemed a bit puzzled while Ryou…well, the kid was sleeping. In Bakura's arms.

He cleared his throat as he said, "I'm fine. Just my throat is bothering, is all."

Marik nodded, looking outside the window again. For the first time, Faolan noticed the tenseness in the car. Well, this is the Teishin Manor we're talking about, Faolan thought.

The three hours in the car didn't seem too bad. Honda and Joey carried out most of the conversation, filling the rest in about what had happened since they left. Marik wasn't really paying attention. Bakura could understand; after what had happened at the manor, it wasn't like they wanted to go back.

I'm glad he's coming, though, Bakura thought. Mom…oh, god…

By the time they pulled up, Ryou was awake. He was stunned, too, by the looks of it. The five gates and roudabout were enough to state that the Teishins were filthy rich. However, the golf course and swimming pool…yeah. Especially since they were indoor.

The manor was another story. It was in the layout of a box, with an inner courtyard and another big building in the middle. The outer building had a ostentatious yet daunting look to it. It was very intimidating.

I never knew Bakura was so rich. Ryou clenched his jaw. This was so much to take in. The urge to stare was eating at him. He didn't want to look like a tourist, though, swiveling his head around to get a view of everything. He clenched Bakura's hand and walked forward.

"Welcome, Masters Bakura, Marik, and Faolan," a glum voice announced. A wizened old man stood by the door in a tux, top hat, and gloves. He opened the double doors with a flourished bow. Ryou couldn't help but notice the collar around his neck; it was steel.

Marble. The floor, the pillars, the counters…all were marble.

A bell chimed somewhere as the door closed behind the six. A maid walked up to them, bowing as well. In a monotonous voice, she said, "It is good to see you again, Masters Bakura, Marik, and Faolan. Please allow me to show you to your rooms." As she turned, she added, "Honda, Joey, park the limo in the garage and see Master Teishin."

Ryou squeezed Bakura's hand hard. This lady had a steel collar, too.

As she led them up to their rooms, Ryou knew that he wasn't going to like this place a whole lot. Ever since they had arrived, Bakura and Marik had looked so grim it was scaring him.

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Rooms
---

"I don't want to stay by myself," was what he wanted to say. Ryou was terrified of sleeping alone, without Bakura by his side. What scared him more was the bed.

Instead, he gave a small smile and boldly walked into the room that the maid had pointed to. When she closed the door behind him, Ryou wanted to run back out and grab Bakura.

But he couldn't.

The room had a large, king-size bed with a nightstand on one side and a dressor on the other. A small balcony overlooked the inner courtyard, and a small door led to the bathroom. Again, everything was made of the same thing: cherry wood.

He shivered, standing there in front of the door. It was cold in the room, with the balcony open and the floor being wood.

Ryou jumped when Bakura came through the door.

"Kura." Ryou quickly went over to the teen's side and clung to him.

He smiled softly and patted Ryou's head. "Scared yet?" Ryou nodded. "Don't worry. Father loves to show off, as you can tell." Bakura glanced around. "Do you like your room?"

Ryou shrugged.

"Would you like to stay with me?" Bakura asked. At the child's smile, he grinned and guided the kid down the hall. As the maid passed them, he explained the arrangements and kept going.

Bakura's room appeared to be just like Ryou's. Cherry wood everything.

There was a light knock and Bakura called them to come in. A new maid appeared, also with a collar. "Dinner will be ready in half an hour, Master Bakura." She excused herself with a bow and left, closing the door.

Bakura sighed and trudged over to his balcony, which looked out over the golf course. Ryou joined him by his side, barely able to see over the stone railing.

"Why…why does everyone have collars?" Ryou whispered.

He had been prepared for this question. Of the two things he had been thinking about in the car, this had been it.

"My father believes that discipline is vital. Every wrong thing must be punished. A long time ago, a manservant tried to steal my father's fortune. He was caught red-handed, and the result was a lifetime service to the Teishin family for the next few generations." Bakura stared at the stone patterns, feeling discomfited. It bothered him that this was part of his family history.

"Thing is, that servant was part of a conspiracy who planned to overthrow my father. When dad found out, he got a lot of government officials to back him up. Through bribery, of course.

"He had the fate of the conspirators families in his hands, and he decided to make use of it. All of them were put to work here from the age of ten to sixty. Fifty years…just for the mistakes of the fathers."

Ryou swallowed hard. "There are so many of them, though."

"Too many…maids and servants alike." Bakura glanced back into the room and saw the time. "It's time for dinner. We should get going. Father hates it when people show up late."

---
Dinner
---

The clash of silverware rang throughout the dining hall has guards and guests alike dug in. A string quartet played lightly in a corner for some background music as chattering arouse.

"It is good to see you, Bakura." Master Teishin was a man who looked prepared for war. His gray hair was slicked back and his face looked hard. His eyes, a darker lavender than Bakura's, looked like glass. Nothing was in them.

"Wish I could say the same," Bakura murmured. Marik gently elbowed him.

"And how do you do, Marik? Is fishing working out for you? A man of your status?" Neatly cutting a piece of steak off, Teishin senior waited for an answer.

Marik was silent for a moment before saying, "You may not remember correctly, sir, but I do not fish."

"Ah, right. My apologizes."

As Teishin chewed for a bit, Bakura fumed. His father was such a prick sometimes. He knew that Marik didn't fish. And he hadn't even brought up his mother yet! Acting as if nothing is wrong…pah. The seat reserved for his mom wasn't at the table. Only six chairs…one for Bakura, Marik, Faolan, Ryou, Teishin senior, and his advisor.

"Faolan, you must tell me how your studies are going," Teishin said.

Bakura rolled his eyes as Faolan and his dad carried out a perfect conversation. This was always so dull and boring. He lost his appetite really soon as well.

"And who is this young man?"

He froze. If his father found out about Ryou…

"His name is Ryou," Faolan finally said. The long silence was shattered and the silverware started moving again. "He's currently staying with Marik and Bakura at the moment."

"Oh? And where are his parents?" Master Teishin asked sternly, putting down his silverware. Everyone stopped eating as Ryou blushed. He opened his mouth, but Marik put a hand on his shoulder.

Before the Egyptian could say anything, though, Bakura quietly said, "None of your business, old man."

Teishin's expression didn't change. His eyes were fierce as he curtly said, "Bakura, I do not approve of you acting as a babysitter, especially to a homeless, bum of a child-"

The crash resounded in the hall, bringing all eyes to Bakura. His chair was on the ground, and he looked like he could kill.

AN: Please review! I hope you liked this chapter. Sorry if the end of it was a little rushed.