A/N: Hello readers! I'm sorry if I took forever to update this story. A year and a half not updating, bad Rosy! But look, here's the new chapter just as I promised. Since I took a long time to update, I decided to rewrite the last part of the previous chapter so you can remember what happened. Further author's notes can be found on my tumblr page. See profile page to my tumblr page.

Disclaimer you already know that I don't own anything except for this story. Just read!

Akiza, Once a Upon a Time

Chapter 18: Searching for Setsuko's Daughter

Previously…Fudo Mansion

"Okay, tell me once again. I did what?"

Jack sighed for the umpteenth time. "This is the third time that I'm telling you. You said that Akiza could come back to the house along with the young girl. Look if you're worried that she took advantage of your drunken state, don't worry about it. Akiza didn't say anything to you. You said with your own mouth."

"How do I explain this," Yusei sighed. He raked through his hair with anxiousness. He did not know how to tell Jack if he had done something stupid last night. Clearly he could not recall last night's events. "…something must've happened."

"And why do you say that?"

"I don't know but I think I said something that concerns me a lot."

"Okay, I'm not getting it. But there is something that I do get."

Yusei glanced at his blond friend. "What's that?"

Jack smiled. It was very obvious. "You like her."

"Are you out of your mind?" Yusei exclaimed in surprise. The blush in his face was barely visible but he could feel the heat in his face. "Sure s-she's sweet and a compassionate young lady but nothing more!"

Akiza came out of the kitchen holding the bouquet of flowers. She was still smiling, hoping to get Yusei's attention when he sees her dressed up so pretty for him. She was not expecting the following words to slip out of Yusei's mouth:

"How can you say that I like Akiza?"

She stops running. Did she hear right? Her heart stops beating. He could still hear his words echoing in her head. 'How can you say that I like Akiza?' The bouquet of flowers slips out of her arms and falls on the floor. She tilts her head down with sadness. What just happened?

Did he not have any feelings for her? Was last night's a mistake? A fluke?

Yusei and Jack came out of the office together and for the first time they noticed that Akiza was standing there with the bouquet of flowers underneath her feet. She has heard their conversation. Jack glanced at Yusei with a worried expression. Yusei eyes widen in shock. He fears that Akiza must have heard him say that he does not like her but he could already tell that she heard everything.

Akiza felt her eyes swelling with tears as she stared into Yusei's blue eyes. She felt her heart breaking into pieces along with her dreams.

She began to cry.

~w~w~w~

Meanwhile in the hallway, Barbara was happily drinking some wine that she found in living room just before Yusei and Jack had their meeting. She hummed happily for the delicious and smooth taste of her drink. The drink made her forget all those problems that she is dealing as of now. Martha's footsteps could be heard coming closer to Barbara as her daydream ended. She set down her cup of wine.

Martha was searching for Barbara with an envelope in her hands. "Good morning Barbara. I came here to give you a letter that just arrived in the mail today." She held up the envelope for Barbara to see.

"For me?" Barbara asked in confusion.

"Yeah. For you."

Barbara takes the letter with caution. "Hmm…This is strange." She begins to observe at the letter. The only thing that was on the envelope was her name. "A letter without a recipient and without a stamp?" She flipped the letter and her name was on it. She glanced at Martha, "Martha, who gave you this letter?"

"No one did. I just found it under the floor of the door and I picked it to give it to you since it has your name on it."

"Okay. Thanks. You can leave."

Martha nodded and leaves as Barbara begins to open her mysterious letter. To her surprise, there was a letter written for her. The handwriting was not familiar to her but she read out loud, "I'm a lot closer than what you can imagine. Sincerely," she paused for a moment to see who had written this letter to her. Her eyes widen in shock as she finished reading the last line of her letter, "…Setsuko Izinski." Barbara was now confused. Is Setsuko really dead? Or was this a cruel prank just to set her off from getting her money. "No puede ser! What the hell is this?" she muttered to herself. "Whoever wrote this letter is going to pay for it dearly. This must be a cruel prank. It just has to be!"

Not far from her, Stephanie was watching her mother in a confused state as she smiled. The first part of her revenge has been completed. It was now time to do her second part of her revenge.

Barbara was still frustrated, mad, and confused. Who on earth could have sent her this mysterious letter? She crumples the letter. Now her day was official ruined.

~w~w~w~

"Wow! Look at you. You look amazing!" Jack compliments at Akiza. He took his time staring at Akiza's amazing transformation. No matter what she wore, she was still beautiful to him. Seeing her depressed and the bouquet of flowers that he brought for her on the floor, he approaches her to help her pick up the flowers.

"Thanks." She quickly wipes her tears away from her face and bends down to grab the scattered flowers on the floor without even glancing at Yusei. She felt so stupid for crying in front of two gentlemen. God, talk about humiliating yourself.

"I see that you have received my flowers."

Yusei watches from a distance, his beloved Akiza with sadness. He did not mean to make her cry. He was not expecting those dreaded words to slip out of his mouth. It was mistake! 'Bad Yusei', he mentally scolds himself.

Akiza looks up. Did she hear right. "Wait. Y-you're the one who send me these flowers?" Jack nodded. What, what, what? Jack was the one who placed these flowers in front of her bedroom door! So, it wasn't Yusei who left these flowers in her front door of her bedroom? Again, what?! Akiza could feel her cheeks heating up and begins to stutter, "Ah, well, I…um…thanks." She felt embarrassed to know that it was Jack who gave her these flowers, not Yusei. "Ah, I'm sorry. I'm sorry but thanks for the flowers." Akiza began to apologize to Jack for mistreating the flowers while glancing at Yusei.

Jack chuckled. "Don't apologize, Akiza." He gets up and dusts his knees, "I'll go get the vase and fill it with water for your flowers."

"No, don't. I can do it myself."

"Don't worry Akiza. I'll get it." Jack left, leaving Akiza in mid-protest. Dang it! He was gone.

"Here, let me help Akiza." Yusei was by her side in an instant, helping Akiza to pick up the scattered flowers on the floors. Their hands collide while they were trying to pick up the flowers. Warmth licked in their veins as they both look up. Akiza pulled her hands away from his touch.

"Are you feeling better?" Akiza asked nervously. After what happened last night, she was afraid that he would remember all those inapporiate touches, making her feel ashamed.

"Well, I am going to feel better after you tell me what happened last night."

Akiza said nothing.

"To tell you the truth, I don't remember anything." He honestly answered her.

Akiza was astounded. "Really? You don't remember anything?" She hoped that he did not remember what he almost did to her.

"Very little. That's why I want to talk to you, Akiza. I want you to tell me what I said and what I did."

Akiza began to explain, "Well, you came over to the garage at Poppo Time to talk to me—"

"Yeah, that part, I remember." Yusei interrupted her. "What I mean is afterwards. When you were here in the mansion," he begins to move closer to her, "Tell me the truth: there must be something that I did or say to you. Did something happen between us?" he said the last part with a whisper.

This made Akiza stare into his blue eyes with anxiety. Should she tell him what he did to her?

~w~w~w~

"How the hell can this letter arrive at this house, Martin?" Barbara shouted at her lawyer with anger, over the phone. "This is a bad joke and I don't like it one bit!"

After reading the anonymous letter more than once, Barbara decided to call her lawyer and ask him to explain to her what was the meaning of this letter that she just received. She tapped her foot with impatient waiting for a response from her lawyer. "This can't be!" She paused for a moment, listening to her lawyer explaining about this mysterious letter and about Setsuko. "But from what I heard, they told me that she died years ago after she was raped."

She was interrupted once more and listened, "Well, how the hell am I suppose to know if Setsuko Izinski is dead or not…I don't know?" Barbara raked through her long, brunette lock of hair, "Listen, Mr. Alvarez, as my lawyer it is your job to find out of Setsuko's dead or not? And when you have anything to tell or show me, come immediately. Is that understood?"

Barbara hangs up the phone and threw her phone with such frustration that she was literally shaking. Wasn't Setsuko order to be killed? Didn't those two idiots do their job right? What if she was still alive and not dead? Barbara did not know what else to think of.

Meanwhile, outside of the living room Stephanie heard the phone call. She got her mother right where she wanted her to be. She had never seen her mother shaking from fear for this Setsuko. Whoever she was got her mother running for her money. She quickly hides from her mother as Barbara passed by to go to her bedroom.

~w~w~w~

"Are you sure that nothing happen between you and me?" Yusei asked Akiza once more, staring into her brown eyes.

Akiza was afraid of answering his question. She blinked, breaking the staring contest and looked elsewhere. "I don't understand. I mean, what can happen between you and me, no?"

Yusei grimaced. She was right. What can happen to them? "No, well, umm…" Yusei stuttered out nonsense until he quiets down. He stares at Akiza's new clothing. "I like your other clothes that you used to wear. They make you look beautiful."

Akiza is dumbfounded. She forgot that she was still wearing that dress that Patty picked out for her. She pulls down her mini skirt wondering if it was too short. She giggled, "You're right. Dresses like this look awful on me." Akiza chuckled nervously, "Well, I'm going to check on the twins and Patty." Akiza runs away until she stops midway on the stairs, "Ah, Yusei, before I can forget, I want to thank you. I want to thank you for,"

Yusei comes face to face with Akiza, almost closing the space between them. Akiza was sure that her heart just skyrocketed but she had to continue on with her gratitude, "…for letting Patty stay in this mansion." She could not hold it back and embraced him in a hug.

Yusei's arms automatically wraps around her petite figure. She felt nice and warm in his arms. He enjoyed having her in his arms but somewhere in the back of his mind reminded him that he is Ran's boyfriend. "Akiza, Akiza, you've got to be less effusive, please?"

They both pull away.

"Oh, I'm sorry." Her face begins to heat up from embarrassment. "You know me, I'm a bit emotional and all."

Yusei strokes her arms in a soothing way, "Yes, I know. And now that you've touched on that, I want you to promise me that you'll think before you act. I don't want any more lies, okay?"

"Okay. And I promise that from now on, I won't cause any problems." Akiza stared at Yusei with a coy smile. She couldn't hold in those pent feelings that she kissed his cheek and runs upstairs.

Yusei touched his cheek in amuse. Somehow, he wished the kiss could have lasted longer…wait? What? He shook his head. No that could never be…right?

Poppo Time Garage

Crow decided to follow after Sherry to explain to her about what had happened last night. He needed to clear things up and tell her that it was Leo, not him, who was spying her. Crow and Sherry are sitting in an old antique car from the 1920s. Sherry noticed his presence and turned to his attention. What she needed to do was to vent out all of her frustrations and anger that she is holding in.

"You know what I hate the most?" Sherry asked, smacking Crow's arms in the process.

Crow winced, "What?"

"That Misty didn't tell me that she's dating Kalin!"

Crow didn't understand what Sherry is saying. "So, do you like him or something?"

Sherry glanced at him with anger. "Obviously not!" she smacked Crow's arms again. "Kalin is like my brother. We grew up together with Akiza so were like family. Plus," she paused, "I can't forget what my Blackbird did to me."

"But from what you told me last night, you said that you didn't to do anything with him."

"Well yes…no…I don't know!" she protested. She banged her head against Crow's shoulders. "That jerk stood me up! That, I will never forgive him."

"Then why don't you send him another email to meet up once again."

Sherry stared at Crow with caution. "Why are you so interested in this? If I didn't know you any better, I'd think that you're my Blackbird."

She nailed it! Crow immediately grimaced. "N-no! Of course not! That's impossible!"

"Of course I don't think that's true Crow." There was no way that Crow and her Blackbird is the same person. She was so close to the truth. She sighed in happiness. "So," she began to change the topic of her conversation, "your little brother was the one who was spying on me last night?"

Oh, oh! He didn't like where this was going. He had to tell her or else she won't believe in him. "Yes. That's true! I swear!" he began babbling like an idiot.

Sherry laughed at Crow as he continued to babble on like some fool. "Okay, okay, I believe you. And when I arrive home, I'm going to send an email to my Blackbird." She stared at him for a moment, smiling, "You know what I miss about him?"

Crow shook his head.

"He's so sweet and wonderful when he's telling some many sweet things." She let out a dreamy sigh. "I miss him so much. Hey Crow, thanks for listening and giving me advice." She pecked him on his cheeks. Crow was confused. "You know that I love you as my brother, right?"

Just as Crow is ready to answer her, Misty comes in the garage, running into the two young teens interrupting their moment. "Sherry, can we talk?"

Sherry stared at Misty with anger while Crow was in the middle of an awkward situation.

~w~w~w~

"So are you really dating Misty?" Carly followed after Kalin while he was carrying a box of sodas, "Okay fine I get but what I don't understand is why you'd kissed me? You know what you're a disgrace just like Michael and all other men in the world.

"Why do you care if I am what I am?" Kalin asked, finally turning his attention to Carly.

Carly said nothing.

"Carly! Carly," Crow runs towards them, "we have to go to school. Look we missed morning classes and we are definitely not going to miss the afternoon classes."

"I'm not going."

"What do you mean that you don't want to go? You can't cut class again Carly. If Yusei finds out you're gonna be in a heap of trouble."

"Well I don't care if I get in trouble, that's my problem. You can go right ahead and leave." She snapped at him. Crow decided to stay for a while. "Hey I'm talking to you?" She smacked Kalin's back, "Listen to me when I'm talking to you!"

"I can't. I'm working."

"Listen to m-"

Sherry and Misty come by all smiling and happy "...you could have told me before, Misty. I knew that fighting with you wasn't…"

"I know but you didn't let me explain with all the accusations, shouting and all those horrible things that you said to me."

Carly frowned when she saw Misty. "I'm sorry, I didn't know you two are talking," Carly grabbed her bag swings it over her shoulders. "I should go."

"Don't worry Carly," Sherry began, "everything has been settled. Misty and I are friends once again. She explained to me why she couldn't tell me about her secret relationship with Kalin."

Kalin eyes widen in shock. If Sherry knew about the fake relationship, then…no, she would tell her. Would she?

Carly had the same reaction as Kalin. "Oh, really? Then why couldn't you tell me anything?"

"Well I couldn't say anything because…because of the WRGP." Misty lied. She wrapped her arms around his waist as he did the same. "Since Kalin is going to be in the WRGP, we didn't want the other team members or anyone else to know about our secret relationship and bother us about it."

"So you don't care if Kalin kissed me?"

"Emm…no not at all. I'm not going to ask Kalin about his past relationships."

Carly internally gagged when she sees them give a peck on the lips. "Yeah, you're right. I should be going now." She turned her back going to Duel Academy. Crow followed after her.

Once she was out of sight, Misty and Kalin quickly let go of each other. Sherry, on the other hand, looked guilty. "Now you've really crossed the line."

"I feel bad for her and about this."

"So do I," Sherry agrees. "Why didn't you tell her that this is all pretend?"

"Don't even bothering telling her that," Kalin deadpans

"Okay, okay we won't say a word about this." Both girls said at the same time.

"Good."

"Make me a hot dog Kalin," Misty elbows him to his side.

"Me too."

Kalin stares at both girls but he couldn't help it to smirk. "Coming right up."

Fudo Mansion

"What are you two up to?" Patty asked Leo and Rally. Luna was still upstairs in her room getting ready for school. Leo and Rally were stuffing eggs into their school bags, hustling with quick pace.

"Ssh, quiet Patty!" both young boys shushed at her together.

Akiza comes in the kitchen looking down at her short dress, while Luna followed behind her. Patty sees her and scurried towards her, "So what happened? Did you kiss him?"

"No," she strokes her hair back. "I'll explain later."

Martha closes the refrigerator, holding three drinks for the twins and Rally. "Hurry up we should go now. The school bell has already rung and you three are still here. You're wasting time. Here," Martha hands some yogurt to both boys. She noticed Akiza standing there. "Akiza, can you take them to school?"

"Sure but just let me change out of this clothes…dress…this hideous dress." Akiza rushed out of the kitchen and into her bedroom to dress in something more comfortable clothing. Patty follows after her.

"Alright you three get in a line from smallest to tallest while Akiza comes by to get you."

Leo, Luna and Rally tried to form a single line from smallest to tallest as Leo and Rally pushed each other trying to be the tallest. His bag fell on the floor, Rally grinned in triumphant.

"Be careful, be careful," Martha warned Leo. "Let's see. Let's see," she watched them forming a straight line, "You wait right here for Akiza while I get the car started."

Leo stands in the middle of Luna and Rally as Martha was brushing Rally's bushy hair away from his face.

"Leo," Luna hissed, "you're stepping on my feet."

"Sorry sis'," he apologized.

Once they were in a line, Martha leaves them alone waiting for Akiza to take them to school. The phone begins to ring as neither of the three of them move. The ringing of the phone started to annoy Leo and Rally.

"Rally answer the phone."

"No you answer it Leo."

"No you answer it!"

"Shut up and answer it!"

"Answer the god damn phone already!"

"Answer the phone Leo!"

"Answer the phone Rally or I'm gonna have to punch you in the face!"

Luna sighed. Why couldn't they cooperate like civilized people? "Don't worry I got it." She gets out of the line and picks up the phone call. "Hello, Fudo Mansion. Oh, you're calling from Duel Academy?" Both Leo and Rally arched their eyebrows in unison in question. "You want to talk with Miss. Alicia Fudo?"

Leo started to make signals at Luna as he was trying to tell her that she (ahem…Alicia Fudo) was not home.

"No she's not home. Who am I speaking with?"

Luna felt her brother pushing her aside, taking the phone call. He cleared his throat changing his tone of voice, "Hello...No she's not here. She won't come back until tonight...later in the night." A small pause, "I'll let her know that the school called for her. Goodbye gorgeous." He hung up the phone.

"Okay Leo, spill." Rally tapped his feet impatiently wanting to know what was that about.

"What did you do this time?" his sister asked him.

"Only the best plan sis'," he embraced her in a tight hug as she struggled to get out of his tight hold. Whatever it was he did or was about to do, she want nothing to do with it.

~w~w~w~

At the front of entrance of Duel Academy as the final bell rang, children waved to their parents goodbyes and entered the building. Others rushed and ran into the building hoping to not arrive late. Akiza, Patty, the twins and Rally arrived just in time, ready to enter when Leo pulls Akiza's hands. "Leo you should get in."

"Akiza wait." Akiza turned around looking at him, "I think that principal wants to talk about me."

"Listen Leo," Akiza began to lecture him. She already promised to Yusei that she was not going to get into trouble again and whatever Leo was going to tell her, she didn't want to get involved with his problems, "Don't think, don't even think about asking me to help you get out of your problems. I don't want to act as your aunt Alicia because I'm not your aunt Alicia."

"Why not?"

"Because I can't. I already promised to Yusei that I would behave. Leo I don't want any problems nor do I want to get into trouble with your brother or else he's going to throw me out of the window if he finds out. So this time, I'm going to stay out of your problems and act like a teddy bear."

"You should be able to resolve your own problems Leo." Rally argued.

"I wasn't talking to you, Rally so shut up!" Leo answered back, ready to pounce on Rally.

"No you shut up!"

"Enough!"

Leo stays quiet. "Fine, I understand." He gazes at Patty for a while as he frowns in disappointment. Of course, he felt the need to blame another person for his mistake. "And what's wrong with you?" He asked Akiza. "Because of this girl, you don't love me anymore."

"Of course I still love you. Both you and your sister."

"This girl has a name," Patty angrily tells him. "Young man."

Leo could not stand her as he began to fight verbally with her.

"Leo!" his sister intervenes. "Why do you hate Patty?"

"I hate that girl because she gets more attention from Akiza than I do!"

"That's not true Leo," Akiza begins to pull Patty and Leo apart when the verbal fight turned ugly.

"This girl has a name!"

"Patty enough!" Akiza turned her attention to Leo, "Leo you already know that I care about you and your siblings, isn't that enough."

"Don't bother with him Akiza. Leo's just being the typical jealous little brother that he is." Rally interjects.

"And this the typical punch coming from your little brother!"

That was it. Leo charges towards his brother and attacks him as Akiza, Luna and Patty tried their best to pull them apart.

"Leo! Stop this at once!"

"No I won't stop!"

"Leo! Leo! Leave your brother at once!" Akiza shouted at him but no avail.

Leo was just too angry with the problems at school, problems with Patty and getting Akiza's attention and affection. She continued to call his name but the director of Duel Academy comes out, making her and Patty to flee the scene. The director sees Leo and Rally fighting as Luna tried to pull them apart.

"Just what are you doing Mr. Fudo?" she addressed to Leo who was clearly beating up his older brother.

Akiza and Patty watch them from afar, "He's just fixing my tie." Rally lied. He could feel Leo tugging his tie a bit tight.

"Yeah, of course I am!" Leo agreed with Rally. Luna let him go, watching how Leo begins to tie his tie. "See all fixed!"

"Rally, Luna you can go in."

"Yes Mrs. Mizumo."

"Thanks Mrs. Mizumo and good morning." Rally greets her with a peck on her cheeks. Luna did the same as Rally as they both rushed into the building.

"Good morning Mrs. Mizumo," Leo hopefully tried his best to enter the building when he was suddenly pulled back.

"Hold it right there Leo."

He gulped in fear.

"Stop telling me lies. I know what I saw and I know that you were beating him up right here in the entrance."

The school bell began to ring for the last time indicating that class was in session.

Leo glances up at the director, "May I go in?"

"Yes you may and you're staying right here until your aunt Alicia comes by to pick you up."

Then Leo wasn't lying about this. To Akiza's dismay, the director wanted to talk to her. But why?

"So pray for her Leo so that she might come."

Leo began to whimper in distress. "No, no, no!"

"Hurry up Leo let's go in."

Once they were inside and the school door closed, Akiza let out a strangle cry, "Patty, Patty, no this can't be true!" She raked her hair back just when she thinks that she's out of trouble, another one comes to her. "What am I going to do now?"

"Well there's no other alternative way out of this."

"I know."

Fudo Mansion

"How can you say that?!" Yusei's shouts can be heard as he enters his office. Ran follows behind him. "That girl needs a family to stay with, Ran!"

"That is precisely your major problem Yusei. You think of others before yourself and you let other people tell you what to do, even from strangers. Of course, when it comes to me you don't care. What about me and my needs Yusei!" she raised her voice, almost to a point at shouting at him.

Yusei went to see Ran to discuss about what he had said and done last night, including how he had allowed Akiza and Patty to stay in their (well his) house. When he told her that he allowed Patty to stay, Ran was furious. And that's why they were arguing about Patty.

Yusei sighed. "Of course I care about you. Ran, I know that I have been distant around you but really I don't want to continue on like this. It confuses me."

Ran turned around with a question look drawn on her face, "What do you mean confused?"

"It confuses me, okay. It confuses me and I don't want us to be distant from each other. I," he hesitated, licking his lips, "really need you."

Ran felt like he just confessed that he loves her and that was enough to make her happy. She leaned in for a sweet kiss from Yusei as she lets all of this argument behind her.

Sayers comes in with a red tool box in his hand ready to work when he sees Ran kissing Yusei. "Excuse me Mr. Fudo?"

Yusei took a step back from his girlfriend and turned around to see Sayer standing there. Ran bit back her tongue from lashing out at Sayer for interrupting their moment. "Yes Sayer?"

"I need to talk to you."

Ran glanced between Sayer and Yusei as she becomes aware that he wanted to talk to her boyfriend alone and she knew what this talk was going to be about. She just hoped that Sayer does not reveal about their flirtatious relationship or else that would ruin her relationship with Yusei.

"So tell me what you need to tell me." Yusei demanded.

Sayer stares at Ran for a moment before glancing back at Yusei. "Excuse me sir but I would like to talk to you in private." Before he could say a thing, Ran beat him:

"What's wrong Sayer? Are you having problems with someone in this house? Or did you find another job to work on?"

The little devious bitch knew what he had in mind. Ignoring Ran's hard stare, "Well no that is not it. With all the jobs that I'm doing as of now with being the chauffer, gardener and the maintenance of this mansion I feel that I'm not getting much out of it."

It was an awkward silence. Too silent...

"Sayer's right Yusei."

Yusei thought for a moment until he came up with a conclusion. "I'll see what I can do about it. Maybe I should hire someone to help you out with the work."

"Thanks Mr. Fudo and thank you Miss. Ran."

"You're welcome." Before Sayer could leave, "Now that you're here, I want you to check over the cables for me. The computer isn't working and I need you to fix it. Thanks." Yusei watches Sayer getting to work.

"So are we going to go out?" Ran asks.

"No, not right now. I have to take a bath and I need to find a psychologist for Patty."

Ran pouted. "See what I mean Yusei?" she whined.

"I promise things will change. I promise," he caressed her face, giving her a small peck on the lips and leaves his office.

Ran and Sayer are the only ones left in the office as she stares at her boyfriend. Once he is gone, she focused her attention on Sayer. Sayer locks eye contact with Ran and she frowns in disappointment, "So what were you planning to tell Yusei?"

"Who me? Nothing." He got up from his work place and approached towards her. "Just as you heard me say, there's so much work and I can't handle all of these jobs on my own."

"You're lying. I know you wanted to talk about me, right? Remember it is your word against mine and guess who he will believe in? You or me?"

Sayer bit his cheek in frustration. He knew what she was planning. With a smirk spread on his face, "Don't worry Miss. Ran, I won't say a thing."

"Hold on a second. It seems that you didn't understand what I just said. I'm not worried about anything but I want you to understand is that I want you on my side but never against me, got that?

"Yes, I clearly understand that Miss. Ran," he snapped at her.

Ran giggled. "I'm glad that you understand that Sayer. Bye~" she leaves singing happily.

Sayer, on the other hand, was not happy at all.

"Hurry up Zora!"

"Don't talk to Zora like that." Akiza smacks Patty's head.

"Ow!"

"Don't hit the young girl, Akiza."

"Hey, I'm only defending you!"

"Well, I don't need you to defend me, thank you very much." Zora was busy preparing breakfast for Akiza and Patty. Patty was sitting on the stool waiting for her breakfast to be served while Akiza stood next to her looking puzzled. "Patty you look pretty amazing with that dress I gave you." Patty fiddled with the hem of her dress that she got from Zora (well technically the clothes that she got are Akiza's clothes when she was young) "You should also brush your hair every day."

Patty gags at Zora's comment. Akiza smacks her head once again. Zora gave a warning stare at Akiza and she stops. She gives Patty her plate of eggs and sausage.

"So you're back in the mansion, huh?"

"Yeah, we're both back in the mansion. Yusei finally allowed us to live under the same roof without the consent of those two wretch witches." She referred to Ran and Barbara.

"You know that he's an idiot right?"

"Hey!" both Akiza and Zora exclaimed together in shock. "Nice language coming from you Patty. Go on and eat at the table."

Patty hopped of the stool and goes into the small dining room with her plate.

"Here I'm only giving you a little because you eat very little," Zora passed her plate of breakfast to her. Akiza follows behind and sit on the table. "So how did the conversation go last night?"

Akiza sighed. "I swear Zora that when I talk to him, I feel like I'm going to heaven. But then everything went downhill after our argument turns into a verbal fight."

"Ahuh, so what you're saying is…"

"Were you not paying attention to a word I was saying?"

"I did!"

"No you were not. I'mtellingallofthisandyou'renotevenpayingattention." Akiza began to speed talk.

"Why are you speaking so fast Akiza? Slow down, I can't understand a word you're saying."

"I'm not speaking fast. You're not listening to a word I'm saying!"

"Of course I'm paying attention to what you're saying. Oh Akiza," Zora glanced to her side and noticed how Patty is eating her breakfast. "Gosh, look how bad this girl is eating." Patty chewed her food with her mouth open, grinning with glee. "So pretty but so disgusting at the same time," Zora was not expecting Patty to do the following: Patty burped. "Oh god! This girl has no limit."

Akiza begins to laugh while Zora covers her face in embarrassment.

"Okay Patty enough." Akiza had to ask, "Mmh, Zora, can I ask you a favor if it isn't any bother to ask you."

"Yeah, what's going on?"

"Can you lend me some of your elegant clothes that you have?"

"Ah, well you see Akiza," Zora arched her eyebrow with amuse, "all of my clothes are elegant. So what do you need?"

"I need one of your elegant coats that you have."

"Ooh, I got the best coat. Come. I'll show you." Zora went to her room, Akiza and Patty followed her behind as Zora takes out a black fur coat, covered in a plastic bag along with other fancy coats. "So which one do you like?"

Akiza titled her head, "Hmm, I'll take this one," she picked the dark red coat from Zora's grasp. "I also need you to help me do my hair and make me look like a real lady."

Zora was really started to get suspicious. "Why are you asking me this?"

Patty was busy jumping on Zora's bed, until she burps again, catching the attention of both women. "Patty!" Akiza chuckled. Patty could not help it and gave a sheepish grin.

"Patty you're one disgusting little girl."

She continued to jump until: "Look what you're doing Patty!" Zora protested, "You're making a mess on my bed and you're spilling all the egg on my bed."

"I'm sorry Zora."

"You're going to have to tell me what you're up to and clean up the mess Patty's making."

"Fine. Well, I have to…" another burp from Patty. Akiza turned around, "Stop burping Patty!" She turned back to her godmother, "I'm going to break some promise that I told to my Prince Charming." She clutched to her necklace, "I just hope he and my mother can forgive me for this."

To Akiza's surprise, Kuribon appears across from her. She blinked in confusion. Was she imagining things or losing it? What is Kuribon doing in here? "Hey," Kuribon started to float away from her. "Wait! Come back!" She chased after the duel spirit under the bed. "So is that a yes or no?"

"I think Akiza is losing her mind living in that mansion," Zora said out loud, watching her goddaughter searching for something underneath her bed. Akiza comes out, dusting off some dirt off her clothes.

"No, it her Prince Charming who's making her crazy," Patty jumped on top of Akiza as she tickled her sides.

"I'm not being–!" Akiza began to laugh, cutting off whatever it was she was going to say. Zora soon helped Patty as they both tickled Akiza. "No no no no no! I don't want to be tickled. Stop!" He shouts and laughter can be heard as the tickle fest went on.

Fudo Mansion

"How dare he make me wait for him this long?" Barbara hissed to herself. She was in the living room waiting for the lawyer to arrive but it seems that he was running late as usual. "Stupid old man!

Yusei comes downstairs ready to leave when, "Yusei," he turned to see Martha coming, "I need to talk to you. I need to ask a favor. Ermm, tonight I have to go and meet with some old friends and they invited me to a piano concert tonight and I won't want to miss it."

"Sure, you can go tonight."

"Really? Thank you Yusei."

Yusei glanced to his side and noticed Barbara pacing back and forth in the living room. "What is Barbara doing in the living room?" he went in. Martha followed him. "Barbara, what's going on?"

Barbara got startled by Yusei, coming into the living room "Ah! Oh nothing. Everything's fine. Hmm, look at you looking handsome." She gave him a peck on the cheek. "I'm just here waiting for my lawyer to arrive but I don't know why he's taking so long."

"It's probably because of heavy traffic. I'll see you later."

"Okay take care," She gives him another peck on the cheek.

"Take care Martha and have fun tonight."

"Yeah, thanks Yusei." Martha comes in the living room with Barbara's drink in her hands. "Here you go." She sets the tray down on the table and hands the cup to Barbara.

"Finally!" Barbara took the cup and blew her drink, "It has been two hours ago that I asked you for my drink. What? Is everyone this slow?"

"It's the traffic."

"What traffic? There's isn't any traffic in here." Barbara exclaimed.

"Well there's people traffic."

Barbara took a sip of her drink and spits it out. "Here take this back. It's too cold to drink. I asked for a hot drink not cold tea!"

"Okay," Martha mutters quietly, "ungrateful wanna-be-queen."

"What was that?"

"Oh I said that, that dress looks nice on you."

"I know thanks." She felt happy as she smoothes out her dress to sit. Just as she sat her cell phone begins to ring. She did not recognize the number but otherwise she answered. "Hello?"

"Barbara?"

She becomes uncertain of the voice. Who was this person? "Yes, I'm Barbara. Who's speaking?

"The woman you're looking for, Setsuko Izinski."

On the other side of the city, Stephanie clutched the phone with her scarf wrapped around the speaker making her voice unrecognizable.

Barbara could not believe this. This had to be a bad joke. There was no way Setsuko is alive! Impossible! Her face paled in fear as she clutched the phone tightly. "No! This can't be right. It just can't be. Setsuko is dead. I know this is a bad joke and I don't like it. Whoever you are…"

"No, this isn't a joke Barbara." Stephanie interrupted her, "I'm alive and I'm capable of ruining your life just as you ruined mine."

"L-Listen Setsuko, how about if we met up and have a conversation and talk like civilized people. Si?"

"Yes we'll get to talk but I'll decide when and where. Take care of yourself Barbara because I'm capable to do anything against you. Is that understood?"

Barbara could not even answer. Stephanie hangs up the phone, relieve to do her job. She inhaled sharply; it was hard to change her voice, but otherwise, her mother had believed that she was talking to this Setsuko Izinski. Back in the mansion, Barbara's hand was shaking and trembling with immense fear. That phone call shook her to the core. The doorbell broke the silence as she gave a cry.

Meanwhile, Stephanie relaxes and begins to ponder, "I wonder who Setsuko is?" She has never heard of Setsuko Izinski but whoever she was, her mother was really interested in her. She takes out a photograph of her father and herself hidden within the pages of her diary, "Don't worry dad, I promise to defend your honor. I won't stop. I'll make sure to make my mom go insane and make sure that man dumps her. I promise dad."

"I don't know how is it that idiot didn't fall for you. You look so gorgeous but that jerk didn't even know what he's missing." Patty was busy brushing a wig that she had found in Zora's bedroom. Across from her, Akiza sat in front of a vanity table as Zora did her hair.

"No Patty, he's not a jerk. It's me for being the idiot who believes he'll fall for me."

"Hold still Akiza." Zora pins Akiza's red locks with hair pins. She added more pin in her hair as she grabbed another strand of her hair.

"Sorry," she apologizes to her godmother. "How could I have ever believed that Yusei would ever take me seriously? It is very clear that he only sees me as an employee! Nothing more!" While she said this, she shook her head violently as some strand of her hair fell.

"Well you shouldn't get your hope high Akiza." Zora picked some of Akiza's hair and fixed it back into place. She saw from her side that Patty was touching her blow dryer. "Patty, leave that alone." It seemed that Patty couldn't hear her, "Patty stop playing with the hair dryer! Young lady!"

"What?" Patty immediately saw Zora's angry face that she quickly hid the blow dryer.

Meanwhile, Akiza was put on some light makeup as she was almost done putting on some eye shadow. After that, she applied some pink lip gloss as she watched herself apply it through the mirror. She smacked her lips together as she smiled at her fabulous handiwork. Zora grabbed the hair spray and sprayed over her hair. She sprayed even more near Akiza's neckline as she jumped from the coldness.

"That's cold!"

"Sorry. Hold still," Zora sprayed the last time and this time Akiza jumped. "Sorry Akiza." She watched her goddaughter glancing up to stare at herself in the mirror and for the first time, Akiza felt beautiful. "You look beautiful."

"Thanks Zora," She likes the way she looks but frowned, "but I wanted the brown eye shadow."

"Black eyeliner looks nice too Akiza. Plus, this eyeliner brings attention to your feline eyes." Zora clapped in satisfaction. "Now go help Leo and take Patty with you. I don't need to take care of this devilish child."

Patty once again grabbed the blow dryer and began to dry the wig as she brushed the hair.

"What part of 'don't play with the blow dryer' did you not understand?" Zora tapped her feet in annoyance. Patty paid no attention as she continued on. "If you don't listen then you leave me no other choice. I'll do your hair."

"No! Okay! I'll stop!" but it was too late when Zora grabbed one of Patty's pigtails and began to brush it. "No! I'll stop but please don't brush my hair!"

Duel Academy

Akiza stared at the campus as she noticed several students dueling or was either running at the track field. Patty followed her from behind as they arrived at the entrance. Akiza stopped and began to ponder about the current situation. She made a promise with Yusei about not causing any problems but:

"Akiza, Akiza, you've got to be less effusive, please?"

"Oh, I'm sorry." Her face begins to heat up from embarrassment. "You know me, I'm a bit emotional and all."

"Yes, I know. And now that you've touched on that, I want you to promise me that you'll think before you act. I don't want any more lies, okay?"

"Okay. And I promise that from now on, I won't cause any problems."

"Well, maybe just this once," she clutched at her necklace as the mischievous glint in her eyes were shown.

"What? Did you say something Akiza?"

"No, I didn't. I didn't say anything. As for you young lady, I want you to stay put. Don't go anywhere. Is that understood?"

"Loud and clear, ma'am."

Akiza took a deep breath and exhale and enters the building. There was no turning back at this point. Patty watched her entering as she prayed to the duel monsters spirits that nothing would go bad for her guardian.

"Please take care of Akiza."

Somewhere in Central Neo Domino City, in the park, Carly sat alone as she watched the people around her pass by. Several men approached her and tried to talk to her but she ignored them as if they were talking to a ghost. She wanted to get lost and forget about the white hair duelist. She had no idea about Misty and Kalin's secret relationship. Why didn't he tell her that he was dating her? Carly felt her heart churn in pain, remembering that kiss that they had shared. She felt someone tapping on her shoulders and saw that someone was standing there. Carly looked up and saw her brother, Yusei.

"What are you doing here?" she asked, wiping her tears from her face.

"No, what are you doing here Carly? Why aren't you in class?" Yusei crossed his arms waiting for her to answer. He was not expecting to see Carly out on the streets instead of studying.

"I, uh, I went to buy some supplies and I, uh, needed for something important…"

"Stop lying Carly. I know that you're cutting class. Be honest with me and don't tell me lies. Admit it that you're cutting class."

Carly frowned. "Fine. Yes, big brother, I am cutting class. So what? What are you going to do about it, huh? Drag me to school. Do whatever you like Yusei, I don't give a fu—"

"First off, tone down your voice Carly. Second, I want you to go home, right now. We'll discuss about your punishment when I get home."

"We have nothing to discuss."

"What part did you not understand what I just said," Yusei raised his voice at her. He saw her flinch with fear. "Go home, now!"

Carly didn't have the fighting spirit to talk back at Yusei. He was being so unfair with her! She had no other choice but to go back home, but she was sure that she was not going to have a talk with Yusei. She was angry with Kalin, with her brother, and with herself.

Yusei watched her run off. He knew that he was harsh with her but somehow, he felt guilty for raising his voice at her. "Akiza," he muttered. "What would've happened if you didn't come back? I'm glad that you're back."

Duel Academy

Inside the director's office, Akiza, or in this particular case, Alicia Fudo sat across from the director as she was given a cup of coffee. Akiza stirred her cup while the director took at seat beside her. "Thank goodness you came, Miss. Fudo. I was just about to call your house again."

"Really? You don't say." She took a sip of her coffee and hesitated for a while. She could feel Mrs. Mizumo staring at her with caution. Akiza didn't know what to do but gently, she set her cup down and she could see that the director was looking at her. "Excuse me but, do I have something on my face?"

"No, no. Pardon me, but it brings to my attention how you look today. You look more elegant. You look different than the first time when I met you."

Akiza arched her eyebrows in confusion. Well, that is what she was trying to look, right? Wasn't she elegant enough? She laughed, "Ah, yes, I see. Don't worry Mrs. Mizumo. Today, I look like a mature woman. Tomorrow, I look like a teenager. It's a habit of mine to change styles. Now, tell me what's wrong with Leo? What did he do this time?"

"What he didn't do," she took a sip of her own cup of coffee and set it down, "Not only didn't Leo change his behavior, but I caught him fighting with his brother outside of the building."

"No way. What a barbaric thing to do." Akiza faked a shocked expression, "Don't worry about him. I'll have a talk with him about this and punish him."

"What a coincidence."

"No, I said that I will punish him."

"No, I heard you the first time, but I was talking about your nephew who just entered."

"Yes, I know my nephew. I was telling you that…" Akiza felt her body still. Her nephew? Wait did that mean…? "Did you just say t-that m-my nephew, the o-oldest of the family is here?"

"Yes. Yusei is here."

Oh god! This was not really happening! This was not happening! Yusei was here! In the same building as her! 'Please, please, please don't let Yusei come in, please for the love of god.'

Mrs. Mizumo noticed her strange reaction, "What's wrong Miss. Fudo? Are you feeling alright? You don't seem…"

Akiza began to breathe hard as she clutched tight on her necklace. "It's n-nothing. I-I'm okay. I j-just feeling nervous and the, uh, signs and, uh, it's a trauma that I had since I was a child."

Luckily, Leo, Luna and Rally were there to see that Yusei was inside the school building and that Akiza was in danger of being caught by him. "Quick! Deploy Plan 3.0: Distract Yusei. Go!" Rally commanded, "I'll take care of Akiza."

Leo and Luna got into positions and with a final nod, they shouted, "Yusei!"

Yusei turned around as he saw Leo and Luna running towards them and jumped at him, making him fall on the floor. "Hey Luna and Leo."

"We're so glad that you've came Yusei."

Luna kissed his cheek while Leo embraced him in a tight hug, almost to a point of chocking him. They each helped him stand on his feet. "Yusei come to our classroom, please!" Luna pulled him towards the classroom.

"No, come to the gym and see duel with one of my classmates." Leo suggested.

Leo and Luna each pulled Yusei into different directions and away from the director's office. Meanwhile, inside the office:

"Are you're telling me that your aunt is…"

"Yeah. She is. Well not exactly. You see she is suffering from a mental illness. Poor Aunt Alicia. It's a shame to us and for the family, especially to Yusei who likes her very much."

"I can imagine it. I'm sure he's here to talk about her condition, no?"

"No. Not at all. On the contrary, he doesn't want to talk about it. It's, uh, typical mechanism of denial. Wouldn't you agree?"

"Yes, I agree. But, what I don't understand is: if she's crazy, pardon for being frank, but your brother signed a paper stating that she is responsible for your brother and sister."

"Technically, she was told that she was cure until recently she started to have an episodic crisis, last night to be precise."

"Last night?"

"Yeah, just like that. We were all having dinner when suddenly she started to scream. She started to say that the devil wanted to take her away and a bunch of other nonsense. It took a lot of effort to calm her down."

Rally just had to continue to distract the director while Leo and Luna dragged Yusei away. He wondered where Akiza could have run off to.

Fudo Mansion

The servant opened the door the house as Barbara and her lawyer entered. "Come on in." She closed the door and followed after them when Barbara noticed that she was being followed. "You can go back to work now. Thank you." She could see that the new servant didn't move from her spot. "Niña, go to work, now!" she snapped her fingers. Once she saw her leaving, Barbara took her lawyer to the living to discuss about the letter.

"Mr. Alvarez, are you sure that Setsuko Izinski is dead?"

"Positive. I even have proof. I have her death certificate to show you." He took out a folder with Setsuko's name written on it as he handed it to Barbara to read.

"Death certificate? This I have to see," she opened the folder and there was a certificate of Setsuko's death. It had the date of her birth and when she died. "I don't believe it. She's dead. But who could've called me?"

"Obviously someone who knows Setsuko and who wants to ruin your reputation."

"Now I see," Barbara paced around like a frantic child, "I see. It has to be her. Si, I know who sent me this letter. It was la Zorra."

"Who?"

"I know who I am referring to. It has to be Zora. I'm so sure it was her. I swear that she won't get away with this, estupida! She doesn't know how capable I am to get what I want."

"Excuse me, Barbara, but I don't understand what you're trying to say."

"You don't need to understand what I saying. All you need to do is follow my orders. Is that understood?" She was extremely livid to know that Zora was sending her anonymous letters, but she had no idea that it was actually her own daughter, Stephanie, was the one who was doing the deed. "Come along. We're going to see Zora at this instance." She was in a hurry to tell Zora a thing or two, "Come on Mr. Alvarez, move it! Why are you leaving that document here? Where's your head?" she exclaimed. Barbara watched him taking the folder and putting in his bag.

Duel Academy

Luna had just finished taking Yusei to her classroom and she had introduced her big brother to her classmates. Some students were shocked to see the King of Riding Duel in their classroom that they begged for his autograph. He signed some autographs and several took pictures of him with their cell phones. Then, Leo took Yusei (more like dragged him) to the gym where he showed off his older brother like a trophy. Again, several students asked for his autograph and for the first time, Yusei got to do a duel demonstration with the twins. Everyone cheered and clapped for the marvelous and spectacular duel.

Both twins continued to drag Yusei down the hallway until he pulled them into a stop. "Leo, Luna,"

"Thanks for coming Yusei. It was fun having you see us in class and dueling." Luna said.

"Yeah, that duel was so much fun!" Leo exclaimed happily. "You should come again!"

"Thanks you guys. I appreciate that you like having me come to Duel Academy but I also want to see Rally and see how he's doing. I thought I saw him."

"Yeah so did I, right Leo?" Luna stared at him.

"Who?"

"Rally. I thought that I saw him talking to the director. Speaking of which, I also want to talk to her. I wonder where she is."

Leo glanced at his sister, hoping that she would help him out but she glanced elsewhere. "Ah, I really don't know Yusei." He had to think quick, "Wait! I just remembered something really strange about Mrs. Mizumo."

"What are you talking about Leo?"

Luna turned around. She just had to hear this strange excuse. "One day, I saw her talking to herself."

Yusei chuckled. "That's normal, Leo."

"No Yusei, that's not what I mean. Do you think it is normal to be talking to yourself and to be pointing at the same time something that's not there at all? The last time, I was told to give a list to her when suddenly when I saw her talking to herself and she was pointing at no one particular. Strange no?"

"How could you say something like that?"

"No, it's the truth. Right Luna?"

Luna felt her face heat up. Could she really keep up with her brother's lies and convince Yusei? She chewed her bottom lip.

~w~w~w~

Akiza managed to escape the office and tried to flee the school building when she found herself lost. It wasn't that hard to get out, but what made it hard to escape was Yusei. She turned to her right, but to her dismay, she saw Yusei along with the twins. She was so darn close to leave but Yusei was right there. She decided to hide in the nearest classroom. Without looking in, she stepped in. The sound of chairs scraping on the floor followed by the children talking to her startled her. She was so in trouble!

"Good morning Miss."

"Uh, good morning. Hello kids," Akiza bites her bottom lips hard, noticing that they were still standing. "You can, uh, sit."

"Thanks Miss."

Akiza felt them staring at her with curious that she felt pressured. What was she going to do? She walked further into the classroom and smiled hesitantly at the young students before her.

"Are you our new teacher?" one female student asked her.

"Umm…no. I'm sorry to inform you but I am not your teacher. T-there has been a small misunderstanding. Your teacher should be arriving shortly. Bye." Akiza waved at the kids and checked to see if it was okay to leave the classroom. When she peak her head out, she still saw the twins and Yusei outside the hall.

"It's true Yusei," she heard Luna say, "I don't know what's wrong with her."

"You guys must be wrong. Like I said, it's perfectly normal to be speaking by yourself."

She was definitely not leaving any time soon. "Hey kids, guess what?" Akiza began to laugh, "Turns out that I am your new teacher. Get it? It was a joke," she continued to laugh but she knew that they weren't laughing at her horrible joke, "You know a joke?" her laughter soon fade and she could feel her face heating up, "Okay, enough joking around. Let's see what we can do for today." Akiza went check outside. Yup, Yusei and the twins were still there. "Okay class, please turn to page ten and do whatever exercise you have to do and if it's not on page ten, check the following, or page nine or eight."

~w~w~w~

In the director's office, Mrs. Mizumo was on the phone. "What do you mean that the new arts and crafts teacher isn't here yet?" A short pause, "She's stuck on traffic? How long did she say she was coming?" Another pause, "This is terrible. This is a bad start. Okay, call me when she arrives. I'll be there shortly." She hung up the phone. "Sorry about that Mr. Fudo."

Sitting across from her, Yusei half listened to the phone call and half he looked at his younger siblings talking about what had happened in. He heard Rally groan in disappointment to not have seen Yusei duel.

"Don't worry."

"Anyways, how's everything and everyone doing so far?"

"They're all okay. Thanks for asking."

"If you can excuse me," Mrs. Mizumo placed the phone on the table and got up, "I have to check on a certain classroom."

Yusei also stood up, "If it's not too much to ask, but I would like to talk to you about something important."

"Sure why not. Why don't you join me and we'll talk about it along the way."

"Sure." He patted on Rally, Leo, and Luna's head, "And you guys better behave and have a good day."

"Yes Yusei. We will," they said together. They watched their brother and Mrs. Mizumo leaving. Once they were out of hearing distance:

"Where do you think Akiza could be?" Luna asked.

"I really don't know Luna. I don't know." Rally replied.

"Akiza, where ever you are, please be okay." Leo prayed. "I just hope she doesn't get into trouble."

"Typical little brother. You're the one who started this mess."

Leo shook his head. He may not admit that it was his fault, but he knew it.

Poppo Time

Inside the clock shop, Zora was helping one of her customers picking out a new watch for her husband. A bunch of watches were spread out on the table as the female customer was indecisive between two watches. One was a silver pocket watch and the other was a golden pocket with a slot where one could place a picture. "I'd say you're good with this golden watch. Wouldn't it be nice if your husband has a picture of you while he looks at the time?"

"Yes, it does. But, I also like this one too."

"It's your choice, ma'am. What if I gave you both watches for one super low price?"

"Really that sounds too good to be true. So, how much is it for both watches?"

The little bell jingled above the door as Barbara entered the shop looking at Zora. "Hi Zora, can we talk for a moment."

Zora felt the nerve to push her out of her store, but that would leave a bad impression of her to her customer. She excused herself to her customer and in a hushed tone: "What are you doing here? We don't assist animals in this shop. This isn't a veterinary."

"Zora, how can you say such a thing to me," Barbara faked hurt. "I came here in peace.

"Barbara please, you don't even know what that word means to you. Can you please leave? I have work."

"Please hear me out Zora. I want to forget about the past and can we at least try to be friends."

"The last time we were friends, what did you do? Oh, that's right, you backstab Setsuko's back by stealing her husband."

"Zora please. Let's not reminisce about that. Speaking about Setsuko, I just came here to tell you that I might have a hint about her daughter and her whereabouts."

Zora flinched. Did that mean she already knows who she was referring to? "R-really? I had no idea."

"You see Zora, she," Barbara paused to think over what she was about to say when: "You know, I don't even know why I am telling you all of this when you barely know her at all."

"No no no, of course I need to know. Please do tell."

"No Zora. That wouldn't be fair in my part. Plus, what's the point of you knowing this."

"Barbara wait," Zora knew she was going to regret saying this, "You're right. We should at least try to be friends and get along. The past is the past and we should really focus on the present and the future. We shouldn't be holding grudges against each other. Please stay and have some tea with me and we'll discuss more on this discussion."

"No querida, I won't be needing tea. You'll need the tea more than I do. Plus, I have to go to my lawyer. He has some possible names for Setsuko's daughter. You never know Zora, Setsuko's daughter is a lot closer than we think. Adios querida."

Zora watched her leave and she began to panic. "Oh god, what if she already knows." She rushed into the store, feeling a bit nervous, "Akiza. I-I have to see her." She went back to her customer and puts away all of the watches she took out. "I'm so sorry ma'am but something unexpected turned up and I have to close the store for a while."

"But Miss. Zora you were about to tell me the price of these two watches."

"Don't worry. I will tell you the price after I come back from my emergency errand. I've really got to go. Sorry. But be back in two hours. I promise to tell you the price, but for the meantime, why don't go search in other clock stores to see if they have the same watches as I do." Zora grabs her purse and keys, locking her store and she was off to see Akiza…wherever she was.

Duel Academy

"Okay, let me see if I understand what you just said, Mr. Fudo: you're tell me that there is a young girl living in your house who used to live in the streets?"

"Yes. Please don't ask me how, but it happened."

The conversation that Yusei wanted to have with the director was about Patty. That was a relief. Since Yusei didn't have any other options as to what to do with Patty, he decided to consult this to a professional: the director of Duel Academy. They walked down the hallway.

"I'm sorry to hear that. After all the problems that is occurring plus this,"

"Excuse me? What other problems are you talking about?"

Mrs. Mizumo realized that she was saying more than she was suppose to. "It's just a saying. Anyways, with a family that's so big, I can imagine all of the problems that might occur at home, especially with one specific member."

Yusei knew what she was talking about. He immediately thought about Akiza and Ran…wait what Akiza? That was so wrong of him to think like that.

"And as for the young girl, what I would do is," she was interrupted by the loud cheers of students in a nearby classroom, "Excuse me, Mr. Fudo for one moment." She approached the classroom and opened the door. "What's going on?"

The sound of music being played was heard as the children continued to cheer and sing along with the music:

"Up above the world so high. Like a diamond in the sky." Soon the music changed its tuned into pop, "Twinkle, twinkle little star. How I wonder what you are. Up above the world so high. Like a diamond in the sky. Whoo! Come on everyone, jump to the beat of the music. Come on, turn around in circles."

The children did what their teacher told them to do as they laughed and sang along with her until Mrs. Mizumo enters the classroom, looking anything but happy.

"What is the meaning of this?"

The children stopped dancing, singing, and jumping the moment they saw the director standing there. They immediately returned to their seats. As for Akiza, well let's just say her luck was getting not improving. Thankfully, she had a mask covering her facing and the holes on her mask provided her to see the director and Yusei standing there. Just great! Perfect!

Not!

"Miss. Mikazuki is that you?"

Akiza realized two things 1) If she talked, Yusei would recognize her voice and 2) She had broken her promise with Yusei about not getting into trouble. She had no idea what to do? She forced herself to speak, "Meow!"

"Excuse me?"

"I mean, yes. It is I."

"Next time, please announce that you have arrived. I had to stop my activities just to see your classroom."

"I'm sorry about that."

"I hope this doesn't happen again, Miss. Mikazuki." She watched the new teacher nod her head, "Oh and please take some medicine for your throat." Another nod.

Akiza watched them through her mask, leaving the classroom. She shook her head in embarrassment to have Yusei and the director see her like this, but the good news was that neither of them had recognized her at all.

Mrs. Mizumo stayed pensive for a while. As she exited the classroom, she thought that she had seen that red coat somewhere but she couldn't remember who had that coat.

"Is something wrong?" Yusei asked.

"I have a feeling that I have seen that coat on someone, but I can't remember who."

"What coat?"

"The one that was in that classroom," she pointed behind her. "Where or who had that coat?"

Yusei was puzzled. "Excuse me?"

"No don't worry about it. I was talking to myself."

And that's when it hit him. What Leo and Luna had told him earlier about the director talking to herself, it was true. "I suppose that the director might be losing her mind. She keeps on seeing some visions that she claims to see." He remembered what Leo had told him. Now Yusei stayed pensive in his thoughts.

"You were saying?"

Yusei snapped out of his thoughts, "I'm sorry for the bother, but maybe I should have gone to a professional. I've shouldn't come here, but thanks for your advice. Excuse me."

Mrs. Mizumo watched him leave as she sighed. Neither Yusei nor the director had the slightest clue that they had been tricked by the twins and Rally. Yusei had believed in the twins' story about the director speaking to herself and Mrs. Mizumo had actually believed the problems that the Fudo's were having. "Poor Mr. Fudo. I hope that their problems do get resolved. Who does that coat belong to?"

Back in the classroom, Akiza took off her mask, "Well kids, I had a lot of fun singing and getting to know you but it is time for me to go." The children shouted at the same time, "No!"

"Yes, unfortunately I have to leave, but I'll come back, someday and we can sing another song."

"Yay!" they cheered.

"Okay guys take care. Love you all!" She blew them air kisses at everyone and rushed out of the classroom. What she didn't realize was that she had left behind her coat.

Waiting outside of the corner of the street, Zora whistled for a cab. She looked around her, hoping that Barbara wasn't following her around and got in the cab. "Yes, hi, I'll tell you where to go and you just drive."

"Okay ma'am."

Just as Zora left, a red car parked in the same spot where the cab had taken her. Inside the car were Mr. Alvarez and Barbara as they watched the white and blue cab drive off. "Follow them Martin. I want to know exactly where she is going."

"Can you at least explain to me why we are doing this?" he asked with curious.

"Zora probably knows where Setsuko's daughter is hiding and we cannot lose track of her or that brat. Apurarse and follow that cab, hurry!"

Mr. Alvarez had no other choice but to obey Barbara's command and follow that cab.

Duel Academy

Yusei Fudo exited out of the building as he still puzzled and confused. As he was exiting out, from afar, Patty sees him greeting someone as Akiza comes out at the same time. This time, Akiza finally found her way around Duel Academy campus and managed to find her way out. Patty saw her smiling at her, but she waved at her letting her know that she should go back inside the building. Akiza didn't seem to understand what she was saying until she saw her pointing at Yusei who was still on campus.

Seriously! Everywhere she went, Yusei was also there. It was someone had actually wanted them to find each other.

"So where's Akiza?"

Patty yelped as she heard someone talking to her. She turned around only to see Zora standing behind her with a worry look. "You scared me. Akiza is inside."

Zora didn't know if she should be relieved or worried. Across from them, Yusei was also there standing and talking to one of the teachers as Zora quickly hid behind the pillars along with Patty, hoping that he would not see her.

"What's wrong with you? You look like you have seen a ghost or something."

"Very funny Patty but no. Is Akiza out yet?"

"No, she hasn't come out. She's still inside the building. But if you look to your right, you'll see Yusei."

"What are you serious? He's here. We need to get Akiza out of the building. I need to tell her something important. It's a life or death situation."

"Sure go ahead, Zora. Call her and let Yusei find out that she was here the whole time and not at the mansion working."

The red arrived a few minutes later and parked outside of the campus. Inside the car, Barbara squinted to see Zora hiding behind a pillar and noticed a young girl with her as she watched them talking. "That girl, who is she?" She glanced towards her lawyer, "Tell me, about how old is Setsuko's daughter?"

"You mean Mr. Izinski's daughter?"

Barbara felt like smashing her head against the car window, "Who else could I be talking about, yes her!"

"W-w-well, Mr. Izinski doesn't state how old her daughter was."

She felt her lips stretching into a curling smile, "Then she must be Setsuko's daughter." She watched the interaction between Patty and Zora, watching the young girl with a malicious stare.

"I suppose she could be his daughter."

"I've got you where I want you, you bastard." This was too good to be true. Barbara had finally found her ex-husband's illegitimate child (in her own point). "Let's go."

The lawyer obeyed and drove off the campus site as Barbara smiled in satisfaction.

Meanwhile, unaware that Barbara had followed Zora, she takes a peek once in a while hoping for Yusei to leave anytime soon but he seemed to be engrossed in the conversation with the teachers. Finally after he finishes his conversation with the teachers, Yusei waves goodbye to them and proceeds to leave.

"Finally! It was about time!"

"I thought that he would never go away," Patty breathed out in relief.

As the teachers entered the building, Akiza comes out of the building looking around hoping not to bump into Yusei along the way. She quickly straightens up and greets the teachers with a wave and runs once they have their backs on her.

"Akiza!"

Akiza jumped. "Zora! What are you doing here?"

"I had to come and see you. We need to talk now."

Akiza wanted to know what it was that they had to talk about when she realized that she had taken off her godmother's coat and left in the classroom. "Oh no! The coat!" She ran towards the building when Zora caught her and pulled her back.

"Forget the coat, Akiza. We have bigger things to worry about."

"What, what about?" Akiza exclaimed.

"I think Barbara know that you're Setsuko daughter."

Akiza felt her heart drop in that moment, "What? Is this what the big fuss was about?"

"Yes! Please Akiza, whatever you do, please don't tell her that you're her daughter no matter what."

"But why is she searching for me? What does she have against me?"

"I really don't know dear but Barbara has this obsession to find you. That worries me a lot."

Both Akiza and Zora now had a bigger problem to deal and that was Barbara. Zora knew what Barbara wants but Akiza had no idea why she was so persistent to find her. What she want with her?

Fudo Mansion

"Martha please! Please help me!"

"No."

"Please please please!"

"No, no, no!"

"But I really need your help," Stephanie blocked Martha's way hoping that she would continue to aid her. "Please!" She began to pout.

"Now don't be giving me that look child. I will certainly not help you this time." Martha tried to pass around Stephanie but she was quicker and blocked her. "You said that the letter was suppose to be a joke but that didn't look like it. Barbara seemed so nervous when she received the letter and she has been acting weird. Listen, I don't want any trouble,"

"No no no no! Martha please, I promise that I won't get you into trouble." Stephanie kneeled before Martha, but by accident, she made Martha drop some of Yusei's shirts on the floor.

"Look at what you're doing Stephanie!"

"I'm sorry!" She quickly picked up Yusei's shirts and handed it back to Martha as she stood up, "But please Martha I need you to write me one more letter, please!"

"No! When I say no, no mean no! Is that understood?"

"But Martha!"

"No buts child."

Stephanie began to whine as she watched Martha walking into Yusei's room. She stomped her foot like a child who wasn't given a present as she began to pace in the hallway. "What do I do now? I just can't let mom get away with this." She continued to pace back and forth until Carly passed by. "Carly, Carly wait I need your…"

Carly brushed her off and ran downstairs.

"Oh," Stephanie was stuck with her problem. She had no one to help her, Martha didn't want to get into trouble and Carly simply ignored her. "What I need to do is think this through with some food." She went downstairs to the kitchen, hoping to find some food to snack on and find a way to get back at her mother.

Meanwhile, downstairs, sitting in the corner of the fireplace in the living room, Carly was listening to her music at high volume. Stupid Kalin! Stupid Yusei! It seemed that no one was listening to her when she needed it the most.

"Carly! Carly!"

She could not hear her older brother calling out to her. Yusei searched for Carly until he had found in the living room, "Carly!" He got no response from her and noticed that she was wearing her headphones.

Snatching away her music, Carly finally glanced up to see her brother standing in front of her. "Hey! What gives! I was listening to that!"

"You got some explanation to give Carly."

"I've nothing to say to you or to anyone, got it!?"

"Just what is wrong with you? How could you skip your classes? What's going inside that head of yours?" he tapped her temple.

"Don't touch me!" she smacked his hands away from her. "I don't need you! Go away!"

"Hey, don't talk to me like that?"

"If you're here to give a lecture, save it Yusei, I don't want to hear it." She sat on the sofa with her feet. "If you want you can punish me, take away my weekends, just do whatever you want but I'm not in the mood to listen to you."

"Put your feet down Carly." He pulled her off the sofa and made her stand, "You're going to listen to me okay!"

"Go ahead Yusei! Go ahead and hit me already! Is that what you want, huh!? Hit me already!" She punched Yusei on his arms.

Yusei winced at her punch as he took a step back. This is not what he wanted. He didn't want to have to hit his sister. It wasn't like him to do this kind of thing. Taking a deep breath, he calmed himself down, "Listen Carly, I don't want to fight with you. I want to help you. I want to be able to understand you and your problems." He saw the gleam in her eyes, "I made a promise to mom and dad I would take care of you guys just as they would. That's why I am worried about you. Tell me, why don't you want to go to school? Have you thought about what you will be when you graduate from Duel Academy? Has that ever crossed your mind?"

Carly gulped as the tears slowly fell on her cheeks, "Yusei…I-I…my life is a nightmare," she embraced into his arms crying out all of her frustrations and disappointments.

Yusei held her tight. Poor Carly. "Why is your life a nightmare?"

"Because," she hiccupped as Yusei pulled her to sit on the sofa, "because I'm in love with a guy who is dating another girl, that's why."

Yusei finally understood her situation. He couldn't believe that his sister was facing some love problems. "I'm sorry to say this Carly, but this won't be the first and last time that you'll be dealing with this kind of situation. These things happen all the time. I know that love hurts and one day you'll overcome it."

"I can't. It hurts so much," she wiped a tear, "I was so stupid. I had this boy chasing after me and I treated him like crap. I pushed him away, Yusei. I pushed him into another girl's arms."

"Okay, let's take a moment and relax. Now why did you do that?"

Carly sniffed. "I don't know. Maybe I was so scared to realize that, yes, I was falling in love with him, but what scared me the most is that he is so different than me. He's so different from all the other boys that I used to date. Yusei, answer me this honestly, have you ever fallen in love with someone who is different from you?"

Yusei felt his heart palpitating and his face heating up. Somehow, he knew what Carly was feeling. The sentimental feelings he had for Akiza was completely different than what he felt for Ran. The feelings that he and Carly felt for the person they loved was mutual. He knew what it was like to love someone who was different and unique. He coughed. "Yes, yes I have Carly," he took her hands, "Who hasn't?"

"Yusei!"

Unfortunately the moment was ruined the moment Barbara entered the living room, along with her lawyer, as Carly slipped her hands away from his and Yusei stood up, looking serious as ever. "Barbara,"

"Yusei, dear," she greeted him with a peck on the cheeks. "Have you met my lawyer? This is Martin Alvarez."

"Good to meet you, Mr. Fudo," he extended his hand out.

"Likewise," Yusei shook hands with him.

"This is my future son-in-law, Yusei Fudo. He is Ran's boyfriend and they are so in love, right Yusei?"

Yusei didn't answer but Carly knew that her brother didn't like to reply that kind of question. Barbara noticed Carly as she quickly changed the subject.

"Well then, I'll have to talk to my lawyer in private about certain things. Excuse us okay?" She pinched his cheeks and sashayed out of the living room. Her lawyer followed her out of the room as they went into Yusei's office to talk.

Hiding in the shadows, Stephanie frowned in disappointment. "Tch, I can't believe my plan failed." She chewed her bottom lip. It was a habit of hers when something doesn't go her way. "She seems to be happier. I need to write one more letter and make her go mad."

Back inside the living room, Carly and Yusei continued on with their conversation before Barbara ruined it.

"You're so lucky Yusei. You're in love with the person who likes you back."

Yusei was about to reply when he watched his sister leave the living room. Truth is: Yusei wasn't sure if what he felt for Ran was even love. Sure they like each other but Ran always reassured her love for him whereas he didn't. When he is around Akiza, he feels his stomach do flip flops and cartwheels and make him feel strange, in a good way. Maybe he was starting to fall in love with Akiza.

~w~w~w~

Inside of Akiza's bedroom, Barbara and her lawyer were searching for something important. Mr. Alvarez didn't know why Barbara had brought her here. He thought that they were going to have a conversation.

"So this is where the brat sleeps in." Barbara picked up a folder and searched for some kind of clue, any kind of evidence that would help her determine if Patty was Setsuko's daughter. So far, she found nothing. She glanced to her side and noticed that her lawyer was being useless. "Don't just stand there, help me search any kind of documentation."

"I'm sorry but I can't do that. It is going against my principals."

"Your principals will disappear once you get your part of the money, got it!"

It was no use to argue with her. Sighing in defeat, Mr. Alvarez complied with her demands, "Tell me: what it is that we are searching for?"

"That's better. Any kind of proof that the girl is Setsuko daughter."

Mr. Alvarez began to search something useful until they hear Martha coming in the room. "Akiza is that you?" Martha comes in and notices that no, it was not Akiza. Instead she found Barbara and her lawyer intruding Akiza's bedroom. "What are you two doing in Akiza's bedroom?"

"Well, you see we are–"

"Stop right there Mr. Alvarez." Barbara interrupted him. "You don't need to explain anything to the servant. Martha, please go back to the kitchen. That is where you belong." She ordered, snapping her fingers at her.

Martha felt offended. Barbara was not her boss and she had no right to obey her demands. She would tell her this but that would get her into trouble with Yusei. She bit her tongue from lashing out nasty comments, but she was not going down as the same level as her, Martha asked, "Why do you treat me as a lesser being?"

"What are you talking about Martha?"

"I feel as if you don't like me. You might be the future mother-in-law of Yusei, but let me tell you something, Yusei is like my son. If you disrespect me one more time, I won't hesitate to tell Yusei about this and how you're intruding in Akiza's bedroom without her permission."

Barbara could not believe what she was hearing. Martha had her. "Fine. I'll leave. Come." She left Akiza's bedroom as her lawyer followed her out.

"Unbelievable! Who does she think she is? That wretched bitch." Forgive her language, but Martha did not let anyone talk to her like that, especially to a woman who was just living in their house as a freeloader. She paced around Akiza's messy bedroom looking and making sure that nothing was missing. "Just what were you searching for Barbara?"

In an internet café, Crow was sitting in front of a computer typing up another love letter to Sherry, but he was having some doubts about how the letter had turned out. So he decided to call Blister to help him out. "My dear lady, please forgive me for leaving you but if you are as sweet and comprehensive, you'll understand why I have disappeared. I hope that once you receive my letter, I will get a response from you. I am missing you so much."

He took a pause, "So what do you think? This ought to make her fall in love with me, ne?" he waited and heard a response, "Of course I want her to be my girlfriend in real life and virtual, but in real life the girl doesn't like me that way." Crow stayed silence and listened, "So should I sent it to her?" Whatever it was, it sounded like Blister had told him to send it. "Okay, I'll send it to her now," he pressed entered and his message was sent to Sherry. "How was your day?"

At the same time, both Sherry and Misty entered the internet café and to his dismay, Crow quickly bends down hoping that both ladies wouldn't see him. He heard Misty complaining about not wanting to stick around but Sherry convinced her otherwise to stay.

"Listen, I got to go. I'll call you back." Crow hung up and listened to the ladies' conversation.

"Misty please stay!" Sherry pleaded, "It will only take a few minutes."

"Fine, but don't take more than a few minutes." Misty grabbed a chair and sat next to Sherry as she watched her logging into the chat room.

Fudo Mansion

Underneath the table, Stephanie was laying flat on her stomach trying to figure what to write but every time she had an idea, she couldn't bring herself to write it. "Argh! Come on Stephanie, think!" She tapped the pencil near her forehead and thought long and hard. "This is harder than it looks. I can't even write the same handwriting as Martha. And I thought that being on a diet was hard." She shoved her notebook aside frustrated that she could not write. What she didn't know was that Martha was passing by and she had accidently stepped on her hand, "Ow!"

"Oh Stephanie, what are you doing underneath the table?" Martha took a step back and immediately she saw Stephanie rubbing her hand.

"I was trying to copy your handwriting Martha but it's so hard."

Well, after what just happened in Akiza's bedroom, Martha decided to do something to get back at Barbara, "I have reconsidered what you have told me and I have decided to help you write more letters against Barbara."

Stephanie's face lit up with happiness that she felt a weight being lifted off her shoulders. "Really? Oh wow! Thank you Martha! I can't believe that this is happening!"

"Yeah yeah, I help you write these letters. You dictate and I'll write it down."

"Perfect! But for now, let me think of something to write and I'll search for you. Thanks Martha!" Stephanie got up from the floor, embraced Martha in a hug and kissed her cheeks.

Martha watched her run out with glee in her eyes. She touched her cheeks and felt impressed by Stephanie's actions.

"Alright, just let me finish logging in and check my email." Sherry quickly typed on the keyboard.

"Come on Sherry, I really want to go." Misty whined. She watched Sherry checking her email and then she began to type a message to her Blackbird. "Is that it? Are you there Blackbird?"

Sherry grunted. "Fine," she began to type again, "Blackbird, I know you are there. Please don't leave me hanging again." Both ladies stared at the computer hoping that he would response soon.

Crow cracked his fingers and began to type the following, "Mademoiselle I am here." He heard both ladies squealing in delight.

"Did you see that? He responded! I told you he would answer."

He felt a smirk spreading on his face. Hearing Sherry squealing in happiness made his heart soar into Cloud Nine.

Fudo Mansion

Entering from the back door and into the kitchen of the mansion, Akiza and Patty arrived home. Akiza managed to remove her makeup and redo her hairstyle back to how it was, but she was upset that she had lost Zora's coat in a classroom in Duel Academy.

"If that witch ever messes with you, you better tell the Prince that the witch is bothering you and he should be able to defend you."

Akiza opens the refrigerator, taking out a bottle of soda. "Why must you mention the Prince? I don't even know if I'm his ideal girl."

"About time Akiza." Both Akiza and Patty turned around to see Martha standing there, looking upset. "Where have you been?"

"I took the twins and Rally to school."

"Yeah, and which finger shall I suck on," she said sarcastically. "They will soon be out of school Akiza. And where have you been? Have you been in Central Neo Domino City making goggly eyes at young men?"

"Martha please, I don't need to be scold. I have a rough day and I'm feeling a bit sensitive today. Plus, I did something for a good cause."

Martha uncrossed her arms, "Well then, I'll let this slide for now."

"Hey, we're home," Rally, Luna and Leo entered through the back door.

"Welcome home guys! You're home early. I'll go make some fresh lemonade."

"Yes please," Leo and Rally said at the same time.

"Also, Akiza be careful," Martha noticed Akiza's change in expression, "Please be careful. Earlier ago, Barbara entered your room and she was searching for something. I made sure that nothing was missing or taken. You know Barbara; she will try to find a way to get you out of the house. So be careful with her, okay."

The bottle in Akiza's hand dropped. Her godmother was right about Barbara: she was obsessed with her, but why? What was Barbara looking for in her room? She felt a bit light head that she sat to the nearest chair.

"Akiza are you alright?" All four asked. Worry and concerned crossed their face as they surrounded her making sure that she was fine.

"Yeah, I am. I'm a bit shocked." Her voice didn't sound convincing but she faked a smile. "At least I managed to escape the risk of getting out of Duel Academy," she glanced to Leo. He smiled impishly. "Yeah, I'm referring to you Leo. Next time, do not, I repeat, do not ask me to be your Aunt Alicia, or your grandmother, or even your great grandmother. I don't want to get into trouble is that understood?"

"Yes Akiza," he looked dejected.

"If Akiza had been caught by your brother or anyone else who could recognize her, I would have taken both your eyes out." Patty threatened him.

"Patty!" Akiza exclaimed.

Leo felt fed up with Patty. Not only does she steal some attention from Akiza and his family and now she was telling him what to do. "Just shut up, shorty!" He felt Akiza smack the back of his head.

"No you shut up!"

And a verbal fight began between Leo and Patty as they spat out insults at each other. Martha stops whatever she was doing as the verbal fight soon turned into physical fight. Akiza separated both children from attacking as Martha shouted at them. "Stop this at once! ENOUGH!"

Patty gave a final push as they both stop fighting. "Now I need you three to go and wash your hands."

Leo scoffed and followed after Luna and Rally. Leo hadn't noticed where he was walking until he bumped into Yusei and Carly. He shoved them aside as Carly protested.

"Leo, Leo! Watch where you're going, Leo!"

"I heard you. Just let me go!" he shouted as he ran up to his room.

"You guys better not run, got that?"

Luna and Rally nodded as they went after Leo.

Yusei and Carly entered the kitchen as Akiza began to make some lemonade. "Hey Martha, can you make us two cups of tea, please?"

"Sure coming right up."

Yusei glanced around the kitchen as he spotted a familiar mask. He had seen it in Duel Academy but what was it doing here? He remembered seeing that colorful mask being worn by a teacher but what caught his attention was the teacher's voice. He was sure that her voice sounded just like Akiza.

"Twinkle, twinkle little star. How I wonder what you are. Up above the world so high. Like a diamond in the sky." Yusei remembered what she sang, "Yeah. Come one everyone jump, whoo!" Then he remembered how the teacher couldn't speak.

"Akiza can you tell me what is this mask doing here? Or why don't you explain how this mask got here?" Yusei held the mask in his hands.

Akiza smiled impishly. She had forgotten to throw away the mask or at least have Patty put away in their room. She was in deep trouble if he found out what she did today. The smile faded into worry.

"I recalled seeing this mask being worn by a teacher, but what intrigues me is: how did it get here?"

"Wow! What a coincidence? Go figure." She was utterly speechless. How was she going to explain Yusei about it? "I-I…uh…"

"Yes, you what Akiza? Why are you so suddenly nervous?"

"Well," she scratched the back of her neck, "you see…well…"

At the moment, Leo, Luna, and Rally entered the kitchen and saw the mask. It seems like they arrived just in time to save Akiza from Yusei, "Aha! So that's where I left my mask." Luna took the mask from Yusei's hand.

"Wait, wait. This is your mask, Luna?" he watched her nod. "So how did this get here?"

Luna gave a sour look at her brother almost as if she was saying 'You owe me one, Leo!' "Well, you see Yusei, I was given this mask by the first graders and they were so kind to give it to me. They were all making masks for an upcoming event at school. If you want I can have them make some for you."

"Yes, yes have them make a mask for me and would you like one Yusei?" Akiza asked sweetly.

Yusei had a feeling that his family and Akiza weren't exactly telling the whole truth but he was going to let this slide. "No thanks. I'm fine."

"See Yusei? Why must you make a big fuss about some mask?"

"Okay, I understand and I'm sorry for assuming the worse. Can I have the two cups of tea, please?"

"Sure," Akiza was immediately given the tray of two cups of tea and handed it over to Yusei. Leo took the mask away from Luna and puts it on.

~w~w~w~

On the staircase, Barbara and her lawyer were coming down stairs still discussing about Patty being Setsuko and Hideo's daughter. "I know that we'll find some kind of evidence that she is their daughter. One way or another, I'll find it."

"Well then I must get going. Keep me informed if anything and please don't do anything without my consent."

"Mr. Alvarez, please," Barbara patted on his back, "stop saying idiotic ideas and leave. Here, I'll take you to the door." She took him up to the front door and watched him leave. She glanced to her side and noticed that one of the servants had been listening to the conversation. "Lady, what are you doing there listening to other people's conversations? Haven't you been told not to listen to other people's conversations?"

"What?" the servant had asked as she continued to clean the walls.

"Ay dios mio! Not only are you deaf, didn't I tell you that the last time I had caught you listening?"

"Yeah you did."

"Well then, get going and start cleaning elsewhere." Barbara frowned when the servant didn't move, "Andale muevate! Now!" She had pushed the servant to go clean elsewhere.

Patty was riding a motorized scooter as she came into a halt when she saw Barbara standing there.

"Hold it there young lady. And where do you think you're going?"

Patty hesitated for a while before replying, "Emm…nowhere."

"Nowhere?"

"Yeah, I didn't want to bother anyone."

Barbara approached her and noticed that Patty took a step back. "It seems that you're afraid of me."

"Ah, who? Me? No."

"Don't worry dear. I won't harm you at all because I want us to be friends."

"You mean the two of us? Friends?"

"Yes. That's right. Do you have a problem with that?"

"Well no. I don't have a problem."

"Aww! Look how sweet you are," Barbara stroked her hair but to her utter shock, she did not know that Patty had spread some peach jelly on her hair. "What is this?"

"It's peach jelly." She replied.

"What do you mean peach jelly!?" she shook her hand in disgust, "How it is possible that you have jelly on your hair?"

"Well yes it is possible to put some jelly on your hair."

Barbara felt like bashing her head against the wall. "How disgusting!"

Meanwhile back in the internet café, Misty and Sherry stared at the computer in front of them waiting for another response from the mysterious Blackbird guy. "How much do you want to bet that in less than ten seconds, he will write something super romantic?"

"Nah! How do you know? Are you serious? I have to see it to believe it."

"You'll see Misty. You'll see."

Crow smirked and began to type the following on the computer: My mademoiselle I wish I could take you under my wings and show you the whole world and never let you go.

"…and show you the whole world and never let you go." Both Sherry and Misty read the message. "See that? Super romantic!"

"I don't know," Misty reread the message, "not that I'm complain but this guy is either an idiot or a romantic loser."

"Come on Misty."

Crow felt confused. What if she thought that, he pondered to himself. He typed once more, I hope you don't think that I'm an idiot.

Sherry read the incoming message. "An idiot he says?" Misty and Sherry glanced at each other. It seems that he was reading their minds; that or what if… Both girls stood up and looked around the café hoping to find someone.

Crow immediately crouched down and hid himself from Sherry and Misty.

"Quick! Write something to him."

"Okay Misty hold on." Sherry typed: No! Of course I don't think you're an idiot. Please continue your sweet words of love.

I hope you don't think that I only know romanticism. He wrote.

"Oh right. Watch in a few seconds he'll say something so corny."

"Misty! Stop!" Sherry pouted. "If someone is romantic, then let them be romantic."

"Okay, you said only a few minutes. I got to go and use the bathroom."

"No! Don't go Misty. Please stay!"

"I can't. I really, really have to go now." Misty ran towards the bathroom when she saw Crow across from them, using the computer. "Crow? What are you doing here?"

Crow felt his face heat up. He really didn't want to be seen by Misty but now she has found him he quickly press the escape button on the keyboard. Sherry is heard gasping when she realize that her beloved went offline.

Fudo Mansion

After having their tea and clearing up whatever Carly was dealing with, she had her arms wrapped around Yusei's waist talking about the previous question. Yusei tried to evade the question of the person who he felt so strongly, "Really Carly I don't want to answer that but,"

"But I know, I know. The punishment. Just give it to me Yusei."

They both sat on the staircase to continue on with their conversation, "No, that's not it Carly. If you begin to take your education more seriously, everything will fall right into place."

"Yeah but what does school have to do with my feelings in this?"

"Everything. School will provide you a project for your life and it will keep your mind busy for the meantime as you organize your life. Do you understand?"

Carly seemed confused but, "I understand but,"

"But what?" Yusei poked her side as she giggled, "Tell me." He poked her again making her laugh. The doorbell was being rung as they continued to have fun on their own, "Akiza! Can you please answer the door!"

"Yusei stop! That tickles,"

"Not until you tell me the but part."

"No," she tried to evade from Yusei as she ran upstairs to her room.

"Okay you might have saved yourself Carly but I'll get you." He proceeded to open the door, "Never mind, I got it." When he reached the door he was surprised to see the director of the school to be standing at his front door. "Mrs. Mizumo what bring you here? Please come in."

"Good afternoon Mr. Fudo and thank you."

Akiza, Luna, Leo and Rally watched in dismay to see the director at their home. What was she doing here at this time?

"Sorry to bother you but I was just about to leave the school when one of the janitors found this red coat in a classroom. It seems that someone had accidently left there."

Akiza, and the three children felt nervous. What if she told him about their supposed aunt? There was only one way to escape this situation. Leo, Luna and Rally ran towards the kitchen while Akiza ran to her bedroom hoping to hide there for a while.

"Yusei! Yusei! Help! YUSEI!"

Yusei didn't like the sound of that. As for Mrs. Mizumo she had no idea what was going on. "Hold on Rally! I'm coming!" He directed the director into the living room. "Please excuse me. For the meantime, wait for me in the living room. Make yourself at home." Yusei rushed towards the kitchen leaving Mrs. Mizumo confused.

When Yusei entered the kitchen, he had found the twins and Rally covered in flour from head to toe. Leo was on top of Rally while Luna was pulling her brother off.

"Hey, hey, hey! What's going on!?" Yusei pulled Luna, followed by Leo and finally helped Rally to stand on his feet. "Rally, are you okay?"

"Yeah, I'm fine."

"Leo what did you do to him?" Yusei help him to sit on the bench with a worried look.

"I didn't do anything! I swear. Luna and I were looking for flour to make some cupcakes but neither of us could reach and we asked Rally to help us but then the flour fell on him."

They just had to keep Yusei away from the director while Akiza talked to the director and make her leave before she could say anything.

"Can you tell me Crow, what are you doing here?" Sherry asked with annoyance written on her face.

"Please enlighten us Crow and tell us specifically why are you sitting in front of us?" Misty asked as she placed a hand on her hips.

How was Crow going to explain what he was doing here instead of being home? He glanced to his side and saw Misty tapping her foot, waiting for him to answer. "Well you know that the internet café is for everyone to use, so I don't see why I can't be—"

An incoming message alert was heard as Misty and Crow saw the scandalous message. He felt the heat rising on his cheeks. Oh no! This was definitely bad, really, really bad. He didn't know how this message got to his screen? Sherry arrived to see what the message was until she saw something unpredictable. "I don't believe it."

"I-I-I have no idea how I got this." He said in defense.

"Right. I suppose it appeared like magic, huh?" Misty said in a haughty tone.

"Okay, I understand what's going on Crow."

He shook his head in denial. No, no, no! This could not be happening to him. He was officially fucked! "No I can explain!"

"Not only did you lie to me about not spying on me while I was taking a bath, but you have the audacity to blame it on your brother. You know I didn't believe what he had said. Let's go Misty. What a disgusting pervert you turned out to be."

"Pervert!"

Crow watched in horror how Sherry and Misty had called him a pervert. He didn't mean this to happen, but it happened. He completely lost all of Sherry's trust for good.

Fudo Mansion

As the screaming continued on in the kitchen, Akiza entered the living room like a cat until she saw the director sitting there with a puzzled look. "Mrs. Mizumo, what a surprise seeing you here."

"A pleasure seeing you here too Miss. Fudo," they greeted each other. "I see that you have changed you look and I must admit you look pretty nice."

"Ah, this," Akiza felt flattered by her commentary, "ah yes. It's that I felt this urge to dress up in pastel to feel like it is Spring. Pretty no?"

"Very pretty Miss. Fudo."

"Please have a seat."

"Before we get to the point, can you tell me what's wrong with Rally and Luna? They're awfully screaming so loudly."

"Ah, it's nothing. Nothing to worry about. So what can I do for you?"

"Yes, I came back to give you back your coat Alicia."

"Thank you very much for find it. I thought that I have lost it."

"Yes, but what's so strange is that the janitor found it in a classroom and I can't seem to comprehend what has happened."

"Actually, it's a funny story," Akiza began to explain, "You see I went to see if I could find my niece and nephews and give them their lunch money since they forgot to ask me, but then I accidently got lost and I found myself entering in a classroom. That's what happened."

"I see. Why don't we go and see what's going on with them." She stood up and proceeded to enter the kitchen when:

"Don't you worry about a thing, Mrs. Mizumo. Everything will be okay. I promise." Akiza pulled her away from the kitchen.

"Are you sure?"

"Positive. Thank you very much for coming by and giving back my coat. I appreciate that you came here."

"But," she began to protest.

"Now don't you worry about a thing. Everything will return back to normal."

"Will they be alright?"

"They'll be more than just fine. So don't worry, Once again, thanks for coming by." Akiza smiled sweetly at the director and took her out of the house. Once she was out of the house, Akiza sighed in relief.

The screaming had stopped as Yusei was helping Rally to control his breathing. It seems that he hasn't been able to regain his breath after the mess they made. "Leo what are you waiting for, call the ambulance!" Yusei demanded.

"Rally! Luna!" Akiza ran into the kitchen, "Are you two okay? What happened?" She sat next to Luna who was trying to shake off some flour off her hair but Rally was still hyperventilating. "There, there, Rally. Everything will be okay. Calm down boy. I'm here with you." She embraced him in a hug as Rally was beginning to feel better.

He relaxed into Akiza's embrace, regaining his breath. "Thanks Akiza. I'm okay."

Yusei could not believe it. Rally was starting to look better. "Akiza, you're amazing. What did you do?"

She glanced at his direction, "It was nothing really. All he needed was someone to hold him and give him affection. That's all. Ah, by the way, Director Mizumo had already left the house. She came by to…to hand in a notebook that…that Leo had left at school."

"Leo can you come over here," Yusei said with a serious tone.

Leo obeyed and approached Yusei with caution, "Yes Yusei?"

"Sit here." He watched the other young twin sit beside his sister, "I can't believe that you've forgotten your notebook. Pay more attention to your things. It's so strange that the director had to come all the way here to hand in a notebook."

"No!" Akiza, Rally, and the twins said together, "I mean yes. How strange?"

"Well you see Yusei, the director is such a nice lady and well it can't be helped that she's so helpful. Isn't that right?"

"Yeah."

"Rally are you sure that you're feeling okay?" Yusei asked just to make sure.

"Better than ever, Yusei."

"And you Leo, you should respect and take care of your brother, understand?"

"Yeah, yeah, I know. I know."

"Okay, I'll be going then," Yusei watched the four people in the kitchen. Something was off, but he decided to not press any further. "Bye."

"Bye Yusei!"

After he had left, all four of them began to laugh. Yusei had really believed in them and the director hadn't seen what just happened. Leo grabbed the leftover flour and threw it at Rally's face. They continued to laugh.

~w~w~w~

In the game room, Barbara was stacking up presents for Patty as she was busy playing some action figure on her own. "Look at all the presents Patty. All of this can be yours."

"Really?"

"Sure. You can keep them. Now tell me that you like your presents."

"Wow! Thanks Barbara."

"You're welcome sweetie!" Barbara had to get to the point of her plan, "Now, I want to know you a bit more and tell me about yourself, dear. So tell me, where is your father?"

"I don't have a father." Patty continued to play with her new action figures.

"What? You don't have a father. That's terrible to hear that. Just like my daughters who lost their father. Poor child. And what about your mom?"

Patty mumbled something that Barbara couldn't hear because at that moment, her own daughter, Ran had called out to her. She quickly stops playing with her new toys and runs into Barbara's arms as she carries her and makes her sit on her lap.

"Mom! What are you doing?" Ran asked as she entered the room.

"I'm giving this wonderful child her presents."

"The presents were meant to be give to Yusei's younger siblings, you do know that right?"

"Yeah, but they can everything they want but for as this girl, she'll appreciate these gift," she pecked a kiss on Patty's cheeks, "right sweetie?" Patty nodded eagerly. Barbara sets her down, "Now be a dear and play with your new toys."

Patty wasted in no time to play while Ran whispered at her mother, "Okay mother, since when did you become so dedicated to this young girl?"

"Yes, well she's an angel." Barbara stood up and pulled her daughter aside to continue their conversation in private, "Ran, darling, Patty is a young girl and she needs all the love and attention and support from us."

"I don't get what you're saying mom."

"I'll explain later." Barbara glanced to see Patty playing with her new toys, "Look at her Ran, she's so adorable playing with those toys."

"Yeah, so adorable and very…fragile," Ran forced herself to say it.

Fragile was an understatement. Ran could see that Patty was not fragile at all with the toys that she was given.

~w~w~w~

In the kitchen, Akiza is busy sweeping the floor and Leo was enjoying his lemonade drink while Luna read a book in silence until Patty enters the kitchen with her hands filled with presents. Leo could not believe what he was seeing.

"Who gave you those presents?" Leo asked automatically.

"Barbara did. She said that I can keep them."

"But why would she give you presents when you're a nobody in this house."

"Leo!" his twin sister exclaimed. "Please excuse my brother's attitude."

"That's not the way to speak to a girl Leo. Maybe Barbara has some presents for you." Akiza suggested.

That seemed to settled him down for the moment. "Well she better have some for me." He marched out of the kitchen hoping to speak to Barbara about the presents, but he bumped himself into Ran who was coming in. "Out of my way Ran."

"Watch where you're going Leo!"

Luna decided to stay with Akiza and Patty. Ran began to sneeze the moment she entered the kitchen but what she did not realize that Akiza was sweeping the floor.

"Hey! Hey! Would you stop sweeping! You know that I'm allergic to dust. One day you're going to kill me." Ran began to search for something to drink as Akiza mimicked her. Luna and Patty giggled.

"Is there anything you want Miss. Ran?"

"Yes, I need you to tell Antonio that Yusei and I will not be eating here for tonight. We'll be having a romantic dinner at the most expensive and luxurious restaurant in Neo Domino City." Ran knew what to say to make Akiza jealous and she knew that the redhead was dying of jealously.

Akiza continued to sweep the floor but that cause Ran to cough. "Argh! Can you at least wait until I get out! I already told you that I'm allergic to dust. Why don't you listen?" Ran marched out of the kitchen upset.

"Akiza, don't worry about her."

~w~w~w~

Back in the game room, Barbara was one the phone, talking to her secret admirer. She had a smile plastered on her face, her cheeks were flushed and she was twirling her hair like a school girl. "Of course I would love to see you." She waited listening, "You want to see me tonight? Sounds perfect!" she laughed along with her admirer, "Okay, see you tonight. Bye!"

Her phone call conversation got interrupted when Leo stormed into the room, startling Barbara. Still wearing his messy uniform with some flour stuck on his face, he slammed the door closed.

"What morals have you been taught young man? Haven't you learned to knock on the door before entering?" Barbara asked angrily.

"I want my presents and I want them NOW!"

"What are you talking about?"

"You gave a bunch of present to a completely strange girl and I get nothing!" he shouted at Barbara. "At least you could have given me a new deck!"

"Listen young man, Patty deserves to receive some presents whereas you don't!" she retorts, "She's a ray of sunshine while you're the devil incarnated. She is pretty while you're ugly looking. She's nice while you're rude. Now out of my way!" Barbara shoved Leo aside as exits the room.

After she is gone, "It seems that everyone like Patty more than me." Leo said out loud. It just wasn't fair that everyone liked her more than him. A grin stretched his lips, "From now on, I'll make sure to make your life in this house a living nightmare."

~w~w~w~

Hours pass by as Akiza was done doing the chores as she was now taking a break. She was on the phone with Kalin discussing about the WRGP. "Yes Kalin, I know that I haven't found the time to practice but maybe today, I'll be able to escape and have a practice duel." She smiled to whatever it was that Kalin was telling her. "Yes, okay. Take care. Love you guys! Bye, okay bye!" Akiza hung up the phone with a smile on her face.

Finally she was done with her chores and she needed to vent out her frustration by dueling to keep her mind out of what Ran had told her.

Yusei and Martha entered the kitchen as Akiza hides behind the refrigerator. "But Yusei," Martha whined, "you cannot just tell me that I have to take care of your siblings. I already promised to a friend that I would be going to tonight's concert. Remember that I had already asked you for permission this morning."

"Fine, then let Antonio take care of them."

"That's another problem we have Yusei. Antonio hasn't come because he's sick. We don't have anyone to help us babysit your siblings."

"Well we do have Barbara. Maybe she can take care of them."

"Martha!" Speak of the devil. Barbara entered the kitchen wearing a new outfit and glasses, "I came by to tell you that I won't be eating here for tonight. Bye!" She waved them goodbye and left.

It seems that everyone in the Fudo Mansion had somewhere to go tonight. Wasn't there anyone to help them take care of the younger siblings?

"This is bad. Barbara can't help." Yusei turned around and noticed for the first time that Akiza had been there the whole time. "Of course, why didn't I think of you? Akiza can you babysit my siblings. It is also part of your job too."

Akiza hesitantly smile, "Yes, I would love to but,"

"Look, I know this might seem like a challenge but I have been neglecting Ran for a while and I don't want to disappoint her tonight after I promised that I'd take her out." Yusei noticed Akiza's pain expression and he decided to stay quiet about his relationship with Ran. "I don't even know why I am giving you an explanation about this, but can you do it?"

"I would love to but you see after what happened, I don't want the same incident to happen again and I thought you'd be here to stay."

"Rally never gets more than one heart attack in the same day. Plus, you have the don of curing my little brother. Don't worry about it Akiza and thanks for accepting to stay with them."

Akiza watched her Prince Charming leave the kitchen. So he was planning to have a dinner date with Ran after all.

"Thank goodness that I won't be missing out on tonight's concert. I have been dying to hear my favorite symphony from Beethoven and that always gets me in a good mood. Now Akiza, this is the biggest responsibility you'll be dealing with and I want you to take care of them."

"Yes Martha."

"Just make sure that they're in bed before ten, okay."

"Yes Martha." Akiza watched Martha leaving as she was left alone in the empty kitchen. So her plan of escaping to meet up with Kalin and the rest of Team Satisfaction was cancelled.

~w~w~w~

Later at night, in the game room, Akiza held a pillow that she had been sowing for a while as Crow, Carly, Luna, and Patty surrounded her all sitting on the table.

"No! No! No!"

"But why can't we have a party Akiza." Carly and Crow asked together. They had been bugging her for a while to throw a party since everyone was going to be out for the night.

"Because we can't. Plus, you guys are under my responsibility and I can't get into trouble. So you guys are staying in your rooms."

"But I'm so tired of being stuck in home and not do anything!" Carly whined.

"I know. I hate it too but I already made some plans to meet up with Kalin and everyone else, but I had to change my plans for tonight."

Speaking about Kalin and everyone else, "There's also that you guys haven't signed up for the tournament, haven't even practiced, and you haven't gotten your license, Akiza." Crow commented.

"Crow's right." Carly agreed. "Maybe they can come over and practice here with us and talk, eat, and even listen to some music."

"Hey that's not a bad idea. We should invite them over, please!"

"No. I mean, what can I do about it?"

"Akiza," Ran entered the game room with an entrance as everyone glanced at her. "iron this for me." She threw a golden color blazer jacket and a little black dress at her as it fell on the table. "I need this ironed for tonight. You know that Yusei really likes it when I wear. He tells me that this dress makes me look even more," she took a dramatic pause, "romantic." She smirked and sighed with emphasize. She turned to leave.

Akiza gagged internally at that thought that she didn't like the idea that Yusei would consider Ran as romantic. She tossed the pillow at her (out of anger) as it fell on the floor with a thud. Everyone else giggled as Ran turned around to see what fell.

"Who threw this? WHO THREW THIS FREAKING PILLOW!?" she kicked the pillow as several feathers fell out. Ran sneezed, "Don't do that again because I'm allergic to feathers! Do you understand!"

"Seriously, you're allergic to everything," Akiza said.

"No! I'm not allergic to everything, but feathers are my worse allergies. Listen, I don't even need to explain to you about this. I need you to iron the dress for me now!" Ran left the room.

"Iron this for me!" Patty mimicked in Ran's voice, while Akiza and Carly made funny faces.

"Ran,"

"Ooh!"

"Ran,"

"Ooh!"

"Ran,"

"Ooh!"

Everyone began to laugh. Returning to the previous conversation about inviting Kalin and Team Satisfaction, "Can we please invite Kalin and everyone else and have a party?" Crow begged.

"Well, I will reconsider this, only once. You can invite as many people as you like while I call Blister to let Kalin and the others to come."

"Yes! Thanks Akiza!" Crow and Carly began to tickle Akiza as she tried to flee but she trapped for the moment.

"Stop!" she laughed, "I really need to," she giggled, "call them."

~w~w~w~

In Barbara and Stephanie's bedroom, Barbara stared at herself in the mirror admiring how her dress fit like a glove. She began to pace around the room like a model, "So, how do I look? Fabulous no?"

Stephanie glanced up from her book to see her mother pacing. "Are you going out?"

Barbara sighed. "Ay mija! You'd think that I wear this dress just to watch television?" She heard no response from her daughter.

"So where are you going mom?"

"Since you didn't answer my previous question, why should I tell you where I'm going?" She turned her back on her daughter and wore her sunglasses admiring how she was looking.

"Mom," Ran entered their bedroom, "Mom," she sneezed.

"Ran darling are you still sneezing from the flour?"

Ran sneezed again. "No, of course not." another sneeze, "I found this under the doormat." She handed her mother another anonymous letter.

Just as the first letter that she received, this letter just had her name on it. No recipient. Ran grabbed a tissue paper and blew her nose. "Ran, please! That's so gross!"

"Mom, I'm okay really."

Barbara sat on her bed and tore the letter to see who had sent her the letter. She glanced at the letter and began to crumple the letter in anger, "Who does she think she is writing to me saying that she will haunt me like a ghost? I don't believe in that crap. Plus, the letter sounds so stupid."

Stephanie knew that this letter wouldn't be as believable as the first letter. "Well, mama, I think it could be possible. A-and I-I think she sounds nice."

"Who cares what you think or say Stephanie." She tossed the letter on the ground and saw that her daughter was fixing her clothes for tonight. "Hey Ran, let me help you." Barbara took the brush from Ran and began to apply some bronze powder near her cleavage.

"Mom, I want my boobs to stick out like yours."

"They look wonderful just as they are, dear," she pulled her blouse apart. Ran fixed her blouse and unbuttoned one more button as more of her cleavage is seen. "Wonderful darling! You have everything that I got, unlike someone that I know."

Stephanie felt her face heat up as she hugged her body.

~w~w~w~

In Akiza's bedroom, Akiza was doing exactly what Ran had asked her to do. She laid Ran's blazer coat on an ironing table and began to iron it nice and slowly, making sure that the wrinkles would flatten out. Sitting across from her, Patty was busying playing with her new toys on the bed. Akiza stops and frowns for a moment, looking at the presents that Patty was given. "What I don't understand is: what reason could Barbara have to give you all of those presents?"

"I really don't know Akiza, but I never had this many toys before."

She sighed in defeat. It was reasonable that Patty wasn't given a lot of presents before. "I'm so sorry Patty." Akiza set the iron aside and hugged the young girl, "I'm just feeling a bit paranoid. That's all. And I'm ironing Ran's dress. I mean why am I even doing this?" She let Patty go, "Well darling," she mimicked as Ran, "I'm allergic to flour. I'm allergic to feathers. I'm allergic to love."

Okay, so maybe Akiza wasn't just feeling paranoid. Yes, she admitted that she was having some problems with her feelings towards Yusei.

"Then, why don't you just tell him how you feel?"

"Patty, I can't tell him that. If I tell him that I like him, I might get fired and I'll never see him again." Akiza felt scared. She was scared to admit that maybe what she felt her for boss wasn't just liking him, but falling in love with him. She shook her head. No there was no way he could ever love her like that. "But what if," she grabbed Ran's dress, "I were to…ruin Ran's dress and burn it," she laid out the dress and took the iron, ready to make a hole on the dress, but she set it aside, "or maybe I should ruin her hairstyle and then steal Yusei away and kiss him as much as I want to."

"That seems a bit complicate, no?" Patty asked. "But what if their night got ruined?"

"Do you really think so?" Akiza felt a smile stretching, but then she immediately frowned, "No, what am I even saying! Patty I can't be messing around. Listen, I made a promise to behave and I plan to keep it that way. Don't even think about doing something mischievous. I've got to use the ladies' room and I want you behave, okay." She rushed out of her bedroom, "and I mean it Patty!"

Patty watched her leave and grinned. She had something in plan, "Well, you might not do anything, but I can." She picked Ran's dress with care and grabbed Akiza's pillow along with the sewing kit and hides inside the closet. She managed to open the pillow and took out a bunch of feather spread it out on the floor. One by one, Patty began to sow the feathers onto Ran's little black dress. In a few minutes, Patty had sowed the dress with feathers. Admiring her handiwork, Patty flipped the dress back to normal, "Stupid lady. No one messes with Akiza and gets away with it."

She returned the dress back where she found it and picked up the mess she made in the closet. Remembering what she told Akiza, Patty decided to ruin Ran's night. She dragged the pillow with her to the garage and opened the door to the car and filled the passenger seat with more feathers. She sneaked back into the mansion like a cat, trying to hide and blend in with her surroundings as she made it into the living room. Patty saw Ran's little purse and took it, filling her purse with feathers. Accomplished with her mission, Patty couldn't wait to see her results by the end of the night. She went back to their bedroom, still holding the pillow and sewed it back like it was never opened.

~w~w~w~

In Rally and Leo's bedroom, Leo was planning something horrible to scare Patty out of the house. He looked down at his work with a grim smile. Yes, laid out on the floor was an old Halloween mask that used to belong to Crow along with ripped clothing that also belonged to Crow. "Yes, it's done!" he clapped with glee. "You'd better watch out Patty, I'm—"

"Leo! What are you doing?" Rally called out from outside.

Leo flinched. Aw crap! He hoped that his older brother would still stay outside until he'd finish his creation. "Nothing!"

"Why do you have the door locked? Let me in."

"Uh…wait! Just let me finish doing…I mean, hold up!" Leo quickly scrambled on the floor, trying to put away his scary puppet underneath the covers of his bed. No, wait, he knew it was a bad idea to hide it there. He kicked his puppet underneath his bed. There! That was a better idea, he thought.

"Leo I need to tell you something important!"

"I said hold up!" He finished hiding his puppet as he scrambled up on his feet and opened the door. "What!? What do you want!? Why does everyone have to blame me for everything! Everyone is such an angel, especially Patty, while I'm considered the bad one, huh!?" he shoved his brother. He didn't even let Rally talk.

"Calm down, Leo. I won't allow you to talk about Patty that way!" Rally shoved his brother.

"Patty this, Patty that; ugh! I'm sick and tired of hearing about that girl. Everyone likes her and I hate her so much!" Leo slapped his brother.

"Shut up, Leo!" Rally shoved him back with force that he fell down.

"I hate her, I hate her, I hate her!" Leo pounced at Rally as they began to fight. No adults were there to see them fighting as they rolled on the floor trying to punch each other.

"So what happened with Barbara? Did she ask you about your mom?" Zora asked with concern. She was on the phone talking to Akiza about what happened earlier in the morning and how Barbara had been suspicious about who was Setsuko's daughter.

"Hey Zora, got any more cheese?" Kalin asked while he rummaged through the fridge, looking for cheese.

"Can't you wait? I'm on the phone! We got none. Just eat whatever we have, Kalin!"

"I just wanted to know. Don't need to get mad!"

"Sheesh! Akiza, so as I was saying, did she ask about your mom?"

"No, she didn't."

"That's good to hear, dear. But don't get too confident. Barbara's one sly woman and she'll try anyway to get some information. So don't say anything."

"Zora, do you have any mayonnaise?"

"Stop bothering me while I'm on the phone Kalin. Damn you act like a little kid."

"Well you could have at least bought some while you were out grocery shopping."

Zora ignored his commentary. "What was that Akiza?"

"I said that you don't have to worry about that. Now, can you put Kalin on the phone I need to talk to him. Thanks and take care Zora."

"You too Akiza," she handed the phone to Kalin, "Phone call for you, dear."

"Yo, what's up Akiza." He put aside his half made sandwich on the table, "What you want us to come over to the mansion again?"

"Yes," she paused a moment listening to Kalin, "well no, Leo and Rally don't have a clue about you guys coming over and we can't have a practice duel." Another pause, "I just want you guys to come over and do something normal for tonight…yes, I know that I promised that we'd practice tonight but unfortunately, I'm stuck babysitting for tonight."

"Hmm…I guess I'll try to convince the others to come over. I might have to do something first before coming over."

"If you do come late, please don't ring the door bell," a pause, "No, I don't need the neighbors to know that you guys are coming over."

"Fine. We'll be there…yeah…yeah…okay. Bye." Kalin hung up the phone and resumed with his sandwich, but his plate was taken away by Zora.

"Don't stay out too late Kalin."

"Yes mother." Kalin left with an empty stomach, but he was eager to hang out with Akiza at the Fudo Mansion. But then there was Carly. Maybe he could avoid her for tonight.

Zora watched him leave, but soon realized that Kalin's sandwich had used a lot of turkey. "Ooh!" she huffed in anger, "Kalin!"

Fudo Mansion

"Be sure that they are asleep by ten o'clock, make sure that they finish their homework, and please, please, please make sure that they don't put on some loud music or have them duel." Yusei told Akiza for the fifth time everything she needed to do.

"Yes Yusei. I heard you the first time. Don't need to tell me five times. I'll have them in bed before you even come back from your," Akiza took a moment to pause as she forced the last thing she wanted to say, "…date. We also need you back too Yusei. You have work tomorrow and we don't need you to come back home late."

"Akiza," he watched her flinched, "without any suggestions, okay?"

She felt her face heat up. Okay maybe that was too direct.

"Yusei,"

Akiza and Yusei both turned around to see Ran coming down the stairs with her little black dress and her golden blazer coat on. She had a triumphant smile on her face as she admired the look that her boyfriend was giving her.

"Ran you look amazing."

Ran continued to walk down until she reached up to him. She noticed Akiza's look that she knew that she was dying of jealousy. "Hey love," she was about to greet him with a kiss when she sneezed at his face.

Yusei moved away from Ran with disgust as Akiza felt the urge to laugh.

"You!" Ran hissed at Akiza with a livid expression, "You just had to sweep all that flour and feathers didn't you."

"How was I supposed to know that you are allergic?"

"Shut. Up!" she passed in between her boyfriend and Akiza, "Stupid."

Akiza stayed quiet for a moment. She would love to have a verbal fight with Ran but she couldn't because of Yusei. Yusei stared at Akiza with worry but soon followed after his girlfriend. He turned around to look at her for a while until their eyes locked onto each other. It was almost as he was apologizing to her for Ran's rude behavior.

"Goodnight Akiza."

She watched him walk out of the house and closed the door. "Good night, Prince Charming-who-doesn't-belong-to-me," Akiza felt a lump in her throat and her eyes began to water. No, she wasn't going to cry for him, but watching him leave with Ran to have a date, it was just too much. She ran to her room to cry alone.

Hiding underneath the staircase, Patty came out from hiding as she smirked. Tonight's dinner date was going to be interesting.

~w~w~w~

Later that same night, the sound of the doorbell could be heard as Akiza rushed to open. When she opened the door, she smiled, "Hey guys! Come on in," she greeted each of her friends with bear hugs as they each entered one by one.

Carly and Crow rushed down to meet up with them. "Hey everyone."

"I've brought some music that we can rock out to," Jesse said while she waved a CD in her hands.

"Aww yeah!" Patty jumped. "Let's listen to it!"

"No!" Akiza took the CD away from Jesse, "Don't even think about it! Don't! Yusei put me in charge of the little ones and if you guys plan to do that, can you even imagine what the next door neighbor would say. He would tell Yusei about it and Yusei would kill me."

"Hey guys! Glad you can make it." Luna came down and greeted Kalin and company with hugs. Shortly after she came down, so did Rally and Leo.

Crow felt his heart skip a beat, happy to see Sherry in his home. He was about to greet her with a kiss when he saw her backing away from him. Sherry stood by Misty's side and stayed there. "No, no, no. Don't. I don't need you greet me, pervert." Misty agreed with her.

Kalin saw Carly and glanced elsewhere but he had heard her greeting him. "Hi."

"Hi." Carly pretended to be happy but after her conversation with Yusei, maybe she wasn't ready to see Kalin just yet.

"Hey guess what?" Leo jumped up and down with eagerness.

"What?"

"Leo! Please tell me that you don't have a plan to burn this house down. I don't want to get into any more trouble."

"No Akiza. It's nothing like that. I just wanted to let everyone know that I have something prepared for tonight. Can you guess what?"

Everyone shook their heads.

"Well, I went to the movie club and I have picked out a horror movie to watch."

"Really?" Everyone screamed in excited and rushed to hug Leo when:

"I-I don't like horror movies."

Everyone stopped and stare at Patty. Well this could ruin their night.

"I didn't know that you didn't like horror movies. But if you could have told us earlier, we could have bought you a diaper for you to wear."

"Now that was harsh Leo," Akiza stood by Patty and hugged her. "Patty's here to have some fun and I want you to behave."

Leo stared at Akiza hard. "What's wrong with you Akiza?" She looked confused. "Earlier ago, I thought that I heard you crying."

Akiza could feel everyone looking at her. How did he know that she was crying? "O-of c-course not," she tried to brush it off, "I was not crying. I was just…uh…reading a book when I read a sad part of the story, and I, uh…" She knew that they weren't buying her lie.

"Akiza are you sure you're okay?" Crow asked.

"But of course I'm feeling a lot better. I'm happy that we're all here, well almost everyone is here. But other than that, I'm fine. Peachy."

Crow, Carly, the twins, Rally and everyone else seemed to believe in her words as they all smiled.

"Let's get settle in the living room while I go in the kitchen and bring some snack to munch on while watching the movie. Shall we?"

TBC. The next update is on the day that Yu-Gi-Oh! Zexal ends.