Chapter Fourteen:

"Puppy Love"

2: 30 PM

That was the time when the giant round clock chimed boomingly from its residence within the clock tower over at the Duel Academy in New Domino City announcing to all and sundry the end of yet another productive day of school.

As the hordes of students, junior as well as senior classmen, all cleared out of the school compound with their backpacks slung over their shoulders and the leather pouches containing their precious decks of Duel Monster cards safely secured in their pockets; amongst the group of scurrying children making their safe journey home were the twins: Rua and Ruka who were exiting through the school gates accompanied by their friends and fellow classmates: Bob, Patty and Tenpei.

But before the five friends could have gone their separates way on the journey homeward bound, they were all pulled into an interesting conversation which started with an innocent question from Patty.

"So what are you guys planning to do for St. Cioccolata?" Patty questioned, peering back at her four comrades with a curious look on her face as she skipped in front of them, "Are you thinking of giving chocolates to anyone in particular?"

"Why would we want to give anyone chocolates? It's just another stupid holiday that the girls go gaga over." Rua commented dryly with an indifferent shrug. Tenpei and Bob both nodded in agreement.

"Just another stupid holiday! Are you guys for real?" Patty said, staring at all three boys in disbelief, "St. Cioccolata is the second best holiday event next to Christmas and Valentine's Day. It's a time for giving out delicious chocolates to that special person in your life as a token to show them just how much you care about them and cherish them in your life. It's just so romantic. I get goosebumps every time I think about it."

There were gleaming stars in Patty's eyes and her cheeks were flushed as she smiled broadly at the thought of tasting delicious chocolates given to her by a secret admirer. Unfortunately for her, none of her male friends were eager to join her in her excitement.

"Lame." Tenpei snorted.

"Yeah boring." Bob chimed in nonchalantly.

"Uh huh." Rua remarked impassively.

"Sheesh! You guys are no fun at all. I mean where's your St. Cioccolata spirit?" Patty groaned, pouting babyishly.

"Down the drain which is exactly where our wallets will be if we wasted our time spending valuable income on something as measly as chocolates." Tenpei grunted, adjusting his glasses as he added up all the variable costs on an imaginary calculator.

"Yeah what Dexter said." Bob said.

"What about making chocolates? Chocolates always taste better when they're made with love," Patty suggested enthusiastically, "personally I'd love any guy who can make me a decent batch of chocolates, regardless of how good or bad they might turn out. The effort alone with be just as sweet to take my breath away and have me in his arms in a heartbeat."

"You don't say." Rua said.

"Big deal. It's still silly." Tenpei grunted disagreeably.

He was rewarded with another disappointed pout courtesy of Patty. "Forgive them Patty, they're boys. They wouldn't understand the importance of a holiday like this even it bit them in the butt." Ruka said with a reassuring smile as she patted her friend on the shoulder.

"I guess you're right Ruka," Patty said understandably, "man I feel sorry for the poor girls who were planning to give you guys chocolates for St. Cioccolata. They're going to be so disappointed."

"Well what would you expect from…wait! Did you just say that we're going to get chocolates? Girls are actually making chocolates for us?" Tenpei said ogling Patty in surprise.

"Well…I'm not exactly sure. Ruka and I were in the girls' bathroom yesterday when we overheard some of the girls from our homeroom talking about how excited they were about St. Cioccolata," Patty explained, "some of them even mentioned the names of the boys they were planning to give chocolates to."

"Seriously? Whoa. Did…did any one of those girls happen to mention my name. Huh? Huh?" Bob inquired hopefully.

"Or me? What about me?" Tenpei asked keenly.

"Well, well, well, look who's finally interested in St. Cioccolata all of a sudden, hmm?" Patty said with a pleased smirk, "Anyways to answer your questions, I think I heard Yukina Miyashima mention your name Bob."

"She did? Oh wow!" Bob said, a happy smile playing at his lips.

"Who's Yukina Miyashima?" Rua questioned.

"Are you kidding me? Dude Yukina is only one of the top-ranked duelists in our year." Tenpei justified. "She's also the cutest girl I've ever laid my eyes on," he added, smiling blushingly with a tiny drop of drool trickling at the side of his mouth as he absently fantasized the face of his beloved Yukina. "I don't get it. What does she see in Bob?" Tenpei griped frowning over at Bob almost invidiously.

"Jealous are we?" Bob retorted teasingly.

"Don't worry Tenpei, I bet you'll be getting a lot chocolates from girls too," Patty assured perkily, "as a matter of fact from what I've heard buzzing around the academy, looks like the majority of the girl population will be preparing homemade chocolates for the boys that they like."

"All the other kids in our homeroom are doing it, boys as well as girls." Ruka stated.

"Are you girls planning to make homemade chocolates too?" Bob asked.

"You bet and I already have the cooking equipment and the different chocolate dessert recipes set for this afternoon." Patty replied proudly.

"What happens this afternoon?" Rua asked.

"Ruka and I are going to have a little cooking session," Patty answered brightly, "it'll give us both a chance to improve our culinary skills so that one day we'll be able to prepare delicious chocolates made to perfection, for our future boyfriends, of course."

"Uhm…I'm just tagging along because she told me to. Nothing special." Ruka mentioned innocently.

"Oh so then you're not thinking of giving chocolates to anyone special. Speaking of which, who are you planning on giving chocolates to Ruka? Is it Sly?" Patty said, eyeing her friend suspiciously.

"What! No! I already told you Patty that I'm not going to tell you who my chocolates will be for," Ruka said, "it's a secret."

"Aw shucks and I thought we were supposed to be BFFFLs. Y'know best female friends for life." Patty said huffily.

"Sorry. I'll tell you who it is after I've given it to him, okay?" Ruka implied with a wink, "Besides you haven't told me who you're planning to give chocolates to."

"Well I was but…since you plan on keeping secrets; if you won't tell me the name of your secret crush then I won't tell you the name of mine." Patty harrumphed .

"Suit yourself." Ruka replied simply. She then did a double-take when she realized the implication Patty had made. "Wait who said anything about a cru…" Ruka started but her statement was silenced by Patty who had already moved on to another subject and was coaxing the boys.

"So are you guys gonna make chocolates? Like Ruka said, even the guys are doing it." Patty said.

"I'm not sure. I can barely make myself a sandwich much alone chocolates." Tenpei said sarcastically.

"Aww it's not that hard, honest. I'll even show you how to do it myself. Since Ruka and I are having our cooking session at my house, you guys are more than welcomed to join us if you like." Patty said invitingly.

"Really? Thanks a lot Patty." Bob said smiling appreciatively

"Can I come too?" Tenpei asked.

"Of course you can," Patty answered sweetly. She then turned to Rua beaming toothily. "What about you Rua? Want to make chocolates with us?" Patty asked exultantly.

"Umm…I don't think so." Rua replied blatantly. At his response, Patty moped a little and Rua in turn smiled uncomfortably. Conversely, Ruka eyed her brother strangely."Aw why not? It'll be fun. Besides Rua, isn't there someone special that you would love to give chocolates too?" Ruka questioned curiously.

"Yeah Rua, isn't there a girl that you like?" Tenpei asked, nudging his friend tauntingly.

"Oh! Oh! Oh! Is it me?" Patty said playfully, "I wouldn't be surprised if its me since I'm the cutest girl you know besides your sister." Initially, Patty had meant that remark as an innocent gag to brighten Rua's morose mood however unfortunately he took it as more than a joke. In fact he took it seriously for Rua suddenly staggered back, cheeks as red as apples.

"Y…You! Why would I like you? Don't kid yourself Patty; I could never like you that way!" Rua said shaking his head hysterically.

"Sheesh Rua, you don't have to make such a big deal about it. I was only kidding. I mean I know you and I could never be like that. I'm too cute to be your girlfriend besides we're just friends, right?" Patty said, poking Rua's cheek good-naturedly.

"Right…a-and don't you forget that. I only like you as a friend and…t-that's it," Rua stammered awkwardly, "besides even if I did like someone, they wouldn't be you and even if I did, I would never give you chocolates especially not for St. Cioccolata. That'd be a waste of my time. And even if I wanted to make chocolates, the last person I'd ever give them to is you Patty."

Before anyone could have stopped him or before he could have prevented himself from saying such hurtful things, the words had already slipped out of Rua's mouth and now he stood looking at the damage he had inflicted. Patty, whose face had previously deemed an expression of chipper vitality now held a look of utter discontent as the words finally sunk in and now…her spirit had been broken by just those few words.

"…I…see," Patty murmured dejectedly, "well if you must know…even if you didn't like me or…even if I was the last person you'd give chocolates to…you would still be the first person I'd give mine to."

"I…would?" Rua repeated shamefacedly.

"Yeah. Sorry that I'm not that special to you." Patty mumbled miserably and before anyone could have stopped her, she walked off without another word to Rua or anyone else as she wordlessly left her friends behind.

"Oh Patty." Rua sighed regretfully.

"Patty?" Bob called behind his friend in an attempt to bring her back. Unfortunately, it was futile. She was already gone. As they observed Patty walk away in silence, neither able to find the words to bring her back, Ruka turned and glowered disdainfully at her twin. "Rua, what was that? Why'd you have to say something so horrible to Patty?" Ruka yelled furiously.

"Yeah!" Tenpei and Bob both chorused in agreement. "Does this mean that we're not gonna be making chocolates?" Tenpei added inquiringly while Bob nodded in similar thought.

"Is that all that you guys care about? Patty's feelings were hurt." Ruka snapped.

"By your brother." Bob pointed out bluntly.

"Listen Rua, because you were so mean to Patty, don't even bother coming to make chocolates with us. We'll make them without you and I'm going to make an entire bucket load which I'm not going to share with you until you apologize to Patty." Tenpei grumbled, sticking his tongue at Rua indignantly.

Rua merely rolled his eyes at him."That's if you don't burn all of them first." he grumbled ironically. Tenpei scowled at the insult and he opened his mouth again to give a snide retort however before he could have uttered another word to Rua, Bob stopped him before he could have worsened the already tense situation.

"Uhm…let's go Tenpei. Cooking always makes Patty cheerful and if she's in a better mood at the end of this, she might even let us lick the bowl." Bob suggested wholeheartedly.

"Guess you're right." Tenpei said, breathing calmly. Making sure to cast one last maddened glance in Rua's direction, Tenpei smirked willingly as he allowed Bob to lead him off after Patty. As she too made her way to leave with the other two boys, before she left, Ruka peered back at her brother with a smug look on her face.

"For what it's worth Rua, even if you weren't giving any chocolates to her, Patty would have been more than happy if it were from you." Ruka commented sincerely. With that said, she left after Tenpei and Bob. As he watched his friends leave him behind to pursue the friend whose feelings he had hurt, Rua heaved a disgruntled sigh.

'…Yeah. I know…' he thought sadly.

11:45 PM

It was almost midnight when Ruka was aroused from her sleep by a sudden crashing sound.

"Huh? What's going on?" Ruka murmured groggily, wiping the sleep from her eyes as she acknowledged the strange noise.

Immediately the young girl jolted from her bed and wearing nothing but her pink pajamas, she tiptoed her way downstairs listening closely for the source of the noise. Apparently, as it turned out, the ruckus was resonating from inside of the kitchen.

As Ruka make her way into the small apartment kitchenette she was welcomed by a scene that nearly made her jaw go through the floor. It was brought to her attention that her kitchen was a complete mess. Soiled kitchen utensils were left scattered on top the counters, a strange beige to dark brown substance that oddly resembled caramel oozing from their stainless steel tips. Pots and pans, stained from crevice to aluminum crevice in another weird brownish concoction, were left discarded in the kitchen sink which was presently overloaded with other dirty kitchen equipment.

Trails of powdered sugar and condensed milk traced from the wooden kitchen cupboards, leaving fresh fingerprints that clearly implied that someone had been using them beforehand.

The rubbish bin was piled to the brim in discarded bags, bottles and cans of various food and milk-based products which were seemingly used as the ingredients in whatever culinary experiment had occurred that night. The refrigerator door was left ajar while the kitchen oven was lit a fire and was currently emitting a fetid stench that smelt like burned rubber.

But the kitchen was not what shocked Ruka. What surprised her the most was that in the middle of all the untidiness and rumpus, she discovered her twin Rua who was presently running about the kitchen, wearing nothing but an embroidered frilly white apron stained in the same brown substance that lined the dirty pots and pans in the sink over his matching blue PJs to contrast with his sister's pink ones. His slightly burnt fingers were flaying frantically as he attempted to salvage a bowl of tap water to scorch the fire that was threatening to destroy the remnants of what he had been attempting to make for the past few hours.

Outing the dimly lit flame with his bowl of water, Rua breathed a sigh of relief as he managed to diminish the minor combustion.

Snatching a pair of green and white oven mitts from off the small rack on the kitchen wall, Rua quickly put them on as he opened the oven. Pushing his hand into the mouth of the beast, Rua fished out a square iron tray.

Apparently he had been trying to make something but unfortunately his trials had gone up in smoke because all he got were multiple piles of charred ash.

Groaning inwardly, Rua murmured something under his breath as he overturned his failed work, dumping it all in the trash along with the rest before tossing the grimy tray into the sink. Just he was about to call it quits and pack it in for the night, Rua almost jumped out his skin as he was startled by a tiny voice that called his name. "Rua?"

Rather stiffly, Rua turned around to face the curious eyes of his sister who stood behind him, overlooking all the mess with an expression on her face that clearly implied that she wanted answers and wanted them immediately.

"Ah Ruka, wha-what are you doing up so late?" Rua stuttered nervously.

"I should be asking you the same question," Ruka replied coolly, "what are you doing in the kitchen?"

"Uh well I…uh…couldn't sleep so I thought I'd make myself a nice cup of milk." Rua lied, holding up the tin of powdered milk in his defense. Ruka only quirked a brow at him in obvious disbelief.

"Milk? Since when do you make milk using flour and chocolate sauce?" Rua commented knowingly, indicating to the opened jar of chocolate sauce and abandoned bag of floor that stood adjacent on the kitchen counter.

"Would you believe me if I told you that I was making chocolate milk?" Rua said, scratching the back of his head and laughing uneasily.

"Uhm no. Nice try bro." Ruka said with a light smile. She then inspected the dirty dishes and the stacks of neglected ingredients. "Wait a minute; you were making chocolates, weren't you?" Ruka accused looking suspicious.

"Of…course not. Chocolates are lame. Why would I want to make chocolates?" Rua said artlessly with an innocent shake of his head.

"Your first attempts failed, huh?" Ruka asked knowingly.

"I tried it six times and I ruined them all," Rua answered with a sigh. He then brought forward a tray of one of his failures, holding up one of the charcoal-coloured pieces of hardened chocolates up for Ruka to taste. "Here try it." He instructed.

"Uhm…no thanks. I'll pass," Ruka said, politely declining the burnt treat, "so what's your substitute for the chocolates?"

"Well since the chocolates failed I decided to make a chocolate cake instead," Rua explained, "but as you can see, that's not coming along quite well."

"A chocolate cake sounds delicious. What makes me curious is who all of this effort is for? It's not like you to do something like this." Ruka said.

"Why do you have to be like that? Can't a guy make a nice cake without being asked so many questions?" Rua said mulishly. Once again, his sister interpreted his true motives through his stubborn response.

"I was right. It's for a girl," Ruka said, "so? Who is it?"

"I'm not telling you." Rua grumbled.

"Aw c'mon Rua, tell me who it is please." Ruka said imploringly.

"No." Rua said firmly. Unfortunately for him, his twin was very persistent.

"Tell me."

"No!"

"Tell me or else I'll read your secret diary." Ruka said portentously.

"Huh? How do you know about my internet journal?" Rua said looking incredulous.

"I didn't but thanks for telling me about it, dear brother of mine." Ruka said pinching her brother's cheeks.

"Aargh! You're so nosy. Fine! If you must know, it's for…Patty." Rua answered softly, blushing slightly.

"Patty? Our Patty! Wow! I didn't know you liked Patty." Ruka said staring at Rua in astonishment.

"I never said that!" Rua spoke up defensively.

"So…you don't like her." Ruka said confusedly.

"I never said that either. It's just that I feel so bad about what I said to Patty today," Rua said, "I never should have said something so horrible and I really hurt her feelings. She's our friend…my friend. I care about her too much to risk our friendship over this."

Ruka smiled humbly at her brother's statement. "Aww Rua, that's so sweet how you like Patty." She stated cheerfully.

"I don't like Patty." Rua objected."Well…maybe I like her a little bit," he added quietly, the blush painting his cheeks deepening at his confession, "but she doesn't have to know that."

Nevertheless, Ruka smiled understandingly. "Gotcha," she giggled lightheartedly, "well since this is a forgiveness present for Patty, if you want, I can help you make it."

"Really?"

"Yeah. What are sisters for?" Ruka said beaming at her brother considerately. She then grabbed another apron hanging from the rack; a burgundy one this time with laced flower patterns decorating the front, before moving over to the counter where she retrieved a clean mixing bowl from the cupboard, already reaching for the bag of flour and the remains of the bottle of chocolate sauce.

"Now let's get cracking on this cake while we're still awake, shall we?" Ruka declared affirmatively, rolling up the sleeves of her pajama blouse as she instructed Rua to bring her three eggs from the fridge.

Rua only smiled thankfully as he obediently attended to the ingredients that his sister asked him to bring.

Two hours later…

After minutes spent cracking and measuring…mixing and whisking…pouring and baking…decorating and packaging, following their combined hard work, alas the two children had accomplished their task.

Now the twins sat admiring the fruits of their collaborated labour and effort as it stood propped on the interior of a bubble gum pink cake box. The box itself had been magnificently festooned with brightly-coloured heart-shaped stickers, courtesy of the sister, in conjunction with various other homemade decorations which included a hand drawn picture of a Winged Kuriboh posing as cupid while holding a giant red heart. This very sketch was coloured nicely in Copic Ciao markers on the exterior of the box, making it perfectly prepared to be given to the delightful little girl destined to possess it.

"Do you think she'll like it?" Rua muttered fretfully, inspecting his baked work of art with an air of apprehension. However his anxiety was put at ease as Ruka wrapped her arm around his shoulder, grinning at him with that look of assurance that always gave him confidence.

"She'll love it. Trust me." Ruka said self-assuredly.

7:30 AM

The next day, Rua arrived at school almost quaking in his shoes. In his grasps he held the key to helping him win back his friend. A well-prepared cake that was baked in her name. Despite the fact that Ruka stood behind him one hundred percent, cheering him on as he walked through the school gates, Rua still could not help but feel worried at what he was about to do.

He felt even more on edge when he noticed a familiar head of golden blonde tresses combed in pigtails run across the school front lawn.

There was a reason why Rua has arrived at school thirty minutes earlier. He knew that was the time when she always arrived at school promptly and he was hoping that he would get an opportunity to apologize to her before she entered class. Still Rua could not quell the uneasiness building up in his chest as he stepped across the grass that morning. Her name was the first thing he said as he called out to her.

"Hey Patty! Patty, wait up!" Rua shouted.

Intentionally, Patty stopped in her tracks. She spun around with a polite smile intending to greet the person who had called out to her with a pleasant good-morning however when she realized that that very person was actually Rua, she frowned despite herself. "Oh it's just you Rua," Patty uttered grouchily, "what do you want? Come to scold me again like yesterday."

Rua winced at her antagonism but nonetheless he looked at Pat imploringly, reasoning with her to hear him out."Listen Pat, I'm really sorry about what I said to you the other day. I was a real jerk." Rua said apologetically.

"Damn right you were. I mean why would you say something so horrible like that to me? Aren't we friends? Don't you like me?" Patty said, looking at Rua unhappily.

"Actually I do. I really do, more than you think," Rua answered honestly, turning red at the implication made in his response, "that's why I said what I said because I didn't want you to know my true feelings. That I really…like you."

"You…like me?" Patty repeated shyly, her own face turning pink despite her dark-skinned complexion.

Rua nodded truthfully, this time with assurance. "Though I didn't mean to really hurt your feelings like that,
he said, "and I hope you can forgive me. And to make sure that you do I…made you this."

Rua held out the box to Patty which she gratefully accepted. Patty smiled at the fashion in which the box was decorated, giggling as her fingers traced the outline of the Winged Kuriboh holding the giant heart. However when she opened the box, she practically gasped at what she found inside. Inside the box was a properly baked chocolate cake shaped squarely.

The dessert was delicately painted in coatings of two different types of chocolate. The top was layered in rich dark chocolate sauce whereas the bottom half tasted of creamy milk chocolate. Tiny chunks of chocolate chips and little toffee cuboids ornamented the surface of the cake lining the edges and at the centre of the cake, surrounded by a hedge of sweetened cherries dipped in caramel, was a candied representation of the Duel Monster Watapon.

The illustration was made from a mosaic of various heart-shaped chocolate candy, purple for its eyes while the rest was dominated in white. Lastly, above the sweetie version of Watapon were the words Forgive Me Patty spelt out in chocolate icing. Patty stared at the cake in amazement. It looked as excellent as it was yummy.

"Happy St. Cioccolata Patty." Rua declared with a broad smile.

"Rua-Wow! This looks amazing and… aww the candies' shaped like Watapon. How adorable," Patty cooed delightedly, "did you really make this all by yourself Rua and is it really for me?"

"Actually I can't take all the credit. Ruka helped me with it but I did make it especially for you," Rua replied, "do you like it?"

"Are you kidding me? I love it! Thank you so much," Patty said gratefully, "ooh and before I forget, here's something for you." Reaching into her shoulder bag, Patty fished out a small rectangular gold box tied with a purple ribbon. She handed it to Rua.

"You made chocolates for me?" Rua said eyeing the box skeptically.

"Don't be silly, I made chocolates for everyone in our class including Miss Maria." Patty clarified. "But…" Patty blushed. "I made these chocolates especially for you." she said sheepishly.

Rua smiled. Opening the box, he grinned as he lifted one of the tiny pieces of chocolates that filled the box. They were all shaped like his favourite Synchro Monster-Power Tool Dragon.

"Wow! They're all shaped like Power Tool Dragon. This is so cool." Rua said gladly as he bit off the head of the chocolate impersonation of his faithful beast, cheeks reddening jubilantly as the chocolate melted in his mouth.

"How do they taste? Are-are they okay?" Patty inquired coyly.

"More than okay. I love them." Rua said, smiling modestly.

"And…I'm glad that you love them." Patty said beaming brightly. For the next couple of minutes, Patty and Rua stood staring at each affectionately. For a moment it almost seemed as if they were about to lean in and do something else however just as their lips were inches from each others, a loud voice interrupted their tender moment. As it turned out, the voice belonged to Tenpei who was sprinting his way towards the two of them with Bob at his heels. Either boys were carrying loads of candy in their hands as they approached Rua and Patty.

"Yo guys, glad you finally made it to school." Tenpei said bounding up to his fellow classmates and grinning toothily, chocolate staining his teeth.

"Yeah we just got here. Whoa look at all the chocolates you guys got," Rua said, indicating to the handfuls of chocolates of every size occupying his friends' hands, "did you really get that from the girls in our class?"

"Girls in our class, girls in other classes. My desk was just overflowing with this stuff. It seems like I'm more popular with the ladies that I thought I was." Tenpei said smirking proudly.

"And there's a lot more where these came from," Bob said munching on a chocolate bar as he spoke, "they're even plenty for you guys. I saw a couple of boxes on your desks too plus Maria-sensei even brought a chocolate velvet cake to share with the class."

"Awesome, let's go!" Patty exclaimed enthusiastically, pumping a fist. But before she could have skipped off towards her homeroom, Rua grabbed her arm looking at her almost embarrassedly.

"Umm Patty, about my…y'know confessing that I like you thing," Rua whispered timidly, "do you…y'know…"

"Feel the same way?" Patty interrupted inquiringly. Rua nodded shyly. 'Well all I can say to that is this." Patty said and as she spoke, she daringly leaned in and kissed Rua on his cheek. "Does that answer your question?" Patty cooed affectionately as she leaned away to observe Rua's reaction with a flirty wink. At first the green-haired teen didn't say anything but then he sighed dreamily, grinning rather goofily with his cheeks so flushed they looked like two meatballs.

"I think it does." Rua said, sighing as he smiled blushingly. Patty, in turn, beamed enthusiastically at Rua with her own cheeks, flushed.

"Umm do you want to explain that?" Tenpei asked confusedly, gesturing between the two love struck kids with a baffled glance at Bob. Bob only shrugged. The boy then turned his attention to Ruka who was standing outside the gate observing the scene from afar with a satisfied grin at Rua and Patty. "Coming Ruka?" Bob called.

Ruka, on the other hand shook her head. "You guys go on ahead. There's something that I need to do first." She replied.

"Okay. We'll save you a slice of cake." Bob shouted back.

"Cool I'll be right back." Ruka said as she sprinted off to an unknown destination.

"I wonder who Ruka's going to give her chocolates too." Tenpei pondered curiously.

"I dunno. She still didn't tell me even after I told her that I was giving mine to Rua." Patty said.

"Oh no! You guys don't think that Ruka has a secret boyfriend, do you?" Rua said, tugging at his hair hysterically "Is it Sly? Please tell me it's not Sly? It is Sly, isn't it? He's the one dating my sister isn't he?"

"Classical overprotective brother moment. Never get tired of seeing that." Tenpei chuckled.

"Uhm Patty, you mind taking care of your boyfriend before he throws a fit." Bob said.

"Tenpei, this is serious. As Ruka's twin and brother, I have a right to know the kind of guy she's going to give her chocolate too," Rua retorted crazily, "and-wait! What do you mean by boy…"

"C'mon lover-boy, let's head to class." Patty interrupted serenely, taking Rua's hand into hers as she led him off to their class.

It was fifteen minutes later when Ruka found herself standing outside the apartment door home to Yusei's friends from the Satellite-Taka, Nerve, Blitz and Rally.

Unbeknownst to anyone else except Yusei and probably Jack and Crow, the four boys had taken up residence in New Domino City following its reconstruction and were presently renting a small two bedroom apartment house in the Tops which they were fortunately able to afford thanks to Yusei's generous assistance. Ruka also knew of the four of them staying in the city having visited them a few times, becoming a regular face in their home next to Yusei who visited often when he was not preoccupied preparing for the WRGP. To be quite frank, Rua had mostly come to visit Rally, a routine she found herself doing rather often in the past month since the two had recently become close friends. And as much as she wouldn't like to admit to herself, Ruka liked having Rally as a one of her male companions and often enjoyed the times she spend in his company.

Ruka knocked on the door.

"I'll get it." a voice called from inside. Sooner or later, someone came to answer the door and it was Taka. The chubby-faced young man grinned from ear to ear as soon as he saw Ruka. "Hey it's Ruka, what brings you to this side of town? Shouldn't you be in school?" Taka greeted the young girl, noticing that she was wearing her uniform.

"Well I should but I was just in the neighbourbood and I thought I'd pay a visit to you guys and give you this." Ruka said. In her hand, she brandished a brightly coloured gift bag holding three separate boxes of homemade chocolates. Smiling, Ruka held out the bag for Taka. "Happy St. Cioccolata." She said thoughtfully.

"Wow, thanks a lot Ruka," Taka said licking his lips as he accepted the chocolates, "that was awfully sweet of you."

"It was my pleasure." Ruka said pleasantly, "by the way…is Rally home by any chance?"

"Uhm Rally…?" Taka glimpsed back. Just as he mentioned his name, Rally poked his head from behind Taka's back. He was wearing nothing but a light blue cotton vest and a pair of orange track pants. His gingery red hair was combed in a ponytail that day-a look which Ruka mentally thought better suited him.

"Hey Ruka. What brings you here?" Rally said cheerfully.

"Oh I just came to give you something…in person." Ruka answered bashfully. She nodded at Taka and Rally got the hint that she wanted the two of them to be alone together."Oh, okay. Hey Taka do you mind giving us some privacy please?" Rally said.

"Sure. Anything for you and your girlfriend." Taka teased with a sly wink at Rally as he made off with the chocolates. Rally turned pink in the face at the inference. "Hey! That's not-Shut up!" he griped after a sniggering Taka. When he was finished, he turned back to Ruka, feeling a tad embarrassed. "S…Sorry about that." He said.

"It's okay." Ruka assured.

"So…uhm…what's this thing you have to give me?" Rally inquired.

"It's St. Cioccolata and I thought that I'd drop by and give you this." Ruka said. From her own bag, she gave Rally his own box of chocolates.

Inside the polygonal package were rows of an assortment of chocolates, each of a different shape and size and were made of different kinds of chocolates. Some were shaped like plain chocolate balls, perfectly round without a single flaw in their shape. Others formed squares made of white chocolate which were baked with a chewy yet zesty surprise awaiting its taster at its core. A couple were coatings of chocolate sauce sandwiched between two identical chocolate biscuits. The minority were shaped like little chocolate roses decked with macadamia nuts while the remaining majority rendered heart-shapes and were lined with traces of strawberry jelly. All little bits of heaven made to satisfy a man's heart through his hungering stomach. "Wow these look delicious," Rally complimented, gladly tasting one of the round chocolates, "did you make them yourself?"

"Yeah. I hope you like them." Ruka said with a pleased smile.

"Oh I will. Thanks a lot Ruka." Rally said favorably.

"Anytime. I'm always willing to make chocolates for a friend." Ruka stated gleefully.

"I kind of feel bad though, I didn't get you anything for St. Cioccolata." Rally said.

"It's okay. I'm cool. Anyways I should be off to school now." Ruka said. She then turned to leave.

"Wait Ruka." Rally called.

"Hmm?" Ruka faced Rally, eyeing him dubiously. To her surprise, Rally only grinned at her as he suddenly leaned in and planted a kiss on her right cheek. Ruka felt herself turn all shades of red as she touched the spot where she had just been kissed.

"Thank you." Rally said beaming at Ruka affectionately.

"You're…welcome." Ruka stammered, a bit flustered. "Well…bye."

"Bye." Rally sighed as he watched her exit his home. Unbeknownst to Rally, he and Ruka were previously being observed by three nosy bodies who all laughed out loud as soon as Ruka was gone and out of earshot.

"Aww. That's so sweet." Taka cooed.

"Yeah. Our little Rally is growing up." Blitz said, laughing scandalously.

"Seems like Yusei isn't the only one who's found himself a wife," Nerve remarked, jeering tauntingly, "anyway you take it, that girl is a keeper. I'm almost jealous that a kid who still wets the bed like Rally could find a good girl and I can't. What a shame."

Rally's face turned scarlet as he turned to face the sniggering faces of his friends/roommates who all stood to the back of him sharing an opened box of one of Ruka's homemade chocolates.

"Look at him he's blushing. It's okay Rally, you could tell us that you like Ruka and if it makes you feel any better, we approve of your choice because you and Ruka are the perfect little couple." Nerve goaded.

"Even their names says they're perfect for each other," Blitz said, guffawing loudly as he started singing. "Rally and Ruka sitting in a tree…"

"K-I-S-S-I-N-G!" Taka joined in jubilantly.

"First comes love, then comes marriage," Blitz chorused.

"Then comes Rally and Ruka with a baby carriage." Nerve concluded.

When they were finished, all three men did a triple high-five as they gave another hoot at Rally's humiliated appearance, much to the boy's annoyance. At first there was no feedback on Rally's part but then…

"That's it! Nomore chocolates for you!" Rally boomed at the top of your voice. His outburst was followed by the disapproving cries of his comrades over the uproar. Meanwhile, on the outside, Ruka who had overheard all the commotion only giggled before she skipped off back to school with a smile of pure satisfaction plastered on her face.

Mission 02 Complete! A Request by BebePanda401. Hope you enjoyed it! 8D

Mistress: Phew! Another requested chappie completed. Apologies for the long wait. This chapter is dedicated to one of my two lucky 100th reviewers. I hope you all enjoyed this chapter as much as I liked typing it up. Took me awhile but I'm happy that its finall finished. For this chapter I was met with another challenging pairing that I don't usually write about. She wanted me to do a pairing featuring the twins this time (I did say a dash of Rua and Ruka cuteness, didn't I?). This time I had to do a double pairing: Rua (Leo) and Patty plus Ruka (Luna) and Rally. Choosing the scenario was fun. All in all, even though it's another first for me, I did pretty well given the circumstances and I had fun typing it up. I hope that you guys enjoyed this chapter as well.
Now I only have one more requested chapter to complete and though this one will be the last, it certainly will not be the least. Now? What's the pairing going to be this time? Hmm? If you want to know, y'know the drill? No reviews=No new chapters, the longer you take to review, the longer I'll take to update-and you get the picture. As always, I'd also love to thankseveryone-my fans and readers. Thank you all so much once more. Because of your continuous support, this fanfic has surpassed 120 reviews =D That's awesome! Keep 'em coming guys and I'll keep the chapters coming.
Until next time readers. Enjoy your summer!
~Mistress

Please review (will give you chocolates 8D). Critiques are welcomed too.