The next time Bakura went on a business trip with Ryou in toll, they met with Kara and Duke.
"The business meeting is going to several hours, so we're going to drop you two off at the human daycare center," Kara explained. "You two have fun."
"Thank you, madam," Duke said as he kissed Kara on the cheek.
Ryou and Duke were dropped off in a room at the human daycare center and locked inside. It was a children's playroom with rainbows and dinosaurs painted on the walls. Beanbag chairs and children's toys were placed on the floor. There was a train set, stuffed animals, board games, and picture books. There was also a TV and video game consoles.
"Well this is insulting," Ryou fumed. "They treat us as though we're little babies!"
"Oh I don't consider it to be insulting. I rather like this place," Duke said. "Plus, they have good snacks." He went over to a cabinet, opened it, and took out a bag of chips which he began munching on. He went over to a beanbag and sat down in it. "Ah, this is the life. I get everything I want, and I can do whatever I want."
"Do you actually enjoy being a slave?" Ryou asked.
"Why yes, it's an easy and comfortable lifestyle. Why do you ask?"
"Have you ever thought that there might be more to life than this? Have you ever wanted to pursue your own dreams?"
"You ask strange questions," Duke said with amusement. "What dreams could I possibly have other than to serve my Mistress? She provides everything I need, and I provide her with period blood every month. I'd say that's a fair trade-off."
"But you rely on your Mistress for everything. It's as if she owns your very existence."
"Yes…and so?"
"So, haven't you ever wanted to be independent? To be able to be your own person, and be in charge of your own destiny?"
"That's a strange idea. Humans don't generally have a destiny outside of serving our masters. You're not from here, are you?"
"No, I'm not. I'm from a different dimension. Where I'm from, humans are not a slave race. We rank higher than vampires."
"Is that so? What an interesting fantasy. You're something special, aren't you."
Ryou paused. "You don't believe me?"
"You sound delusional. But delusional or not, I like you. You're an interesting person." Duke peered closely at Ryou and stared.
"What are you looking at?" Ryou said with a blush.
"You have a decent face. A pretty boy, just like me."
"Um, thanks?" Ryou said, blushing more deeply.
"Are you gay?"
"Yes. Why?"
"That settles it then! You're going to be my boyfriend," Duke announced triumphantly.
"What? I don't know if…"
"We're both gay trans men. That makes us compatible."
"Actually, I'm not trans. I'm cis."
"Really?" Duke exclaimed with surprise. He got up, stood close to Ryou and looked deeply into Ryou's face.
Ryou blushed again.
"Huh, your face is rather nice for a cis boy. You are something special, aren't you?" Duke said delightedly.
"I don't know what you mean," Ryou said, taking a step backwards.
Duke pointed at Ryou. "You're a gay boy." Duke pointed at himself. "I'm a gay man. Can I make it any more obvious?" he sang.
"Just because we're both gay doesn't mean we're obligated to date! Also how come I'm a boy and you're a man even though we're the same age?"
Duke took a step closer, and Ryou pushed the other man back.
"Stop! That's enough! Don't touch me," Ryou demanded.
Duke shrugged. "Alright then, if that's what you want. Why should I have to settle for a low down cissy boy anyway? I have plenty of other options." He lay back down on a beanbag chair and continued snacking on his chips.
Ryou decided he wanted nothing to do with Duke. For the rest of the time they were locked alone together in the room, Ryou stayed as far away from Duke as possible.
When Bakura and Kara came back, Kara picked up Duke and they both went on their way. After Duke and Kara were gone, Ryou began to complain.
"I don't like Duke! He's obnoxious!" Ryou said.
"What happened? Did you tell him you're a cis boy?" Bakura inquired.
"Yes," Ryou admitted.
"That's what I was afraid of. You're too honest for your own good," Bakura sighed. "You should've just pretended to be trans. "
Ryou stared.
"Either way, whether you like Duke or not you're going to have to get used to him. I'm marrying Kara."
"What? Why? I thought you were gay!"
"I am gay. The marriage is just for show, to keep up appearances," Bakura explained. "The truth is I'm dating someone named Malik Ishtar, but I have to keep that a secret. I need to pretend to be straight in front of the Queen, which is why I'm marrying Kara."
"Aren't gay marriages accepted here?" Ryou asked.
"They are, but not for Royals. We have to maintain tradition. The truth is Kara is a lesbian, so she's only marrying me for the sake of appearances as well."
"Why do you care so much about appearances?"
"I'm the Captain of the Royal Magic Users. I have a reputation to maintain. Now, you don't have to like Duke. You just have to get along with him. Be on good terms with him, at least, because you're going to be seeing him a lot from now on." Bakura put the chain back on Ryou's collar and gave it a tug. "Come, let's go home."
Bakura was right about how Ryou would be seeing a lot of Duke from now on. Bakura went out with Kara often, whether it be for business or leisure, and every time they went out they bought their humans with them.
Ryou was often brought to the human daycare center and locked in a room alone with Duke. As it turns out, Duke was not so bad. He might've been obnoxious during their first meeting, but in subsequent meetings he was rather good company.
"Would you like to play a game?" Duke asked Ryou one day when they were locked inside a daycare room together.
"What kind of game?" Ryou wondered.
"It's a game of cards called 'Duel Monsters.' It's rather popular here amongst vampires, but humans of royal standing are allowed to play it too. Let me show you how it's played."
After Duke showed Ryou the basics of how to play the game, they started playing a few rounds.
"I like this game. It requires critical thinking," Ryou said.
"I'm glad you enjoyed it. Now…" With one hand, Duke grabbed Ryou's chin and tilted it up until they were making eye-contact, their faces very close. Ryou swiped Duke's hand away.
"Stop that! I told you I'm not interested!" Ryou fumed.
Duke laughed. "You are something special aren't you/"
"Why do you keep saying that?"
"You'll fall for me some day. It's only a matter of time. After all, I'm irresistible."
Ryou rolled his eyes, but he couldn't stop a smile from appearing on his face. As obnoxious as Duke could be, his flirting was not entirely unwelcome. Duke radiated self-confidence that was infectious, and Ryou couldn't help but find it endearing.
The Vampire Queen Grace held a royal meeting once every week in order to plan for the upcoming invasion of the human realm. Approximate twenty people attended the meeting, including a mixture of vampires, zombies, and witches.
Malik Ishtar attended these meetings as representative of the zombie race. He and his family were a clan of zombies who had been living underground for generations, but now they wanted to come up and live on the surface. The zombie race also wanted to participate in the invasion of the human realm for more human slaves of their own.
Contrary to popular belief, zombies do not mindlessly chase after humans to eat their brains. They are a cultured species, and they only eat the remains of human and animal corpses after they are already dead.
Bakura, of course, was a high ranking government official and attended these meetings on a weekly basis.
The Vampire Queen Grace tapped her mallet against the table to get everyone's attention. "Now, let's get this meeting started. The invasion of the human realm will take place in only three weeks from now. I expect you all to be prepared. Bakura, how is the Army of the Royal Magic Users?"
"They are training relentlessly for the invasion and will be ready in time," Bakura replied proudly.
"Excellent!" said the Queen. "Since that's settled, I suppose this meeting is adjourned."
"Now wait a minute, said Witchcrafter Schmietta, representative of the Witches. "We still haven't discussed the payment."
"That's right! We witches demand payment for our services!" said Witchcrafter Genni.
"We've gone over this before. The Witchcrafter Clan shall be compensated for your services after the invasion. You will have your share of human slaves," the Vampire Queen said exasperatedly.
"And us too. We zombies demand our share of human slaves as well," said Shadi, who was a representative of the Zombie Clan.
"Of course, you as well," said the Vampire Queen. "Now if there are no more interruptions, I declare this meeting adjourned.
Everyone started to get up and leave the meeting. However the Vampire Queen stopped Bakura on the way out. "Excuse me Bakura, let me have a word with you."
"At your service, my Queen," Bakura said with a bow.
"Come with me into my chambers so that we can talk in private."
Bakura dutifully followed the Queen into the chambers. Once they were completely alone, the Queen said, "You have risen up the ranks of the Vampires very quickly since you arrived. And you have trained your army well."
"Thank you my Queen."
"Which is why I'm going to offer you a proposal. What if I said you could rule over not only the Vampire Kingdom, but the Witches and Zombies as well?"
"But that's absurd! Our army isn't strong enough to take over the Witch and Zombie Kingdoms!" Bakura gasped.
"But after the invasion of the human realm, the Witches and Zombies will be weakened by their fight with the humans. That's our chance to turn against them and take over their Kingdoms."
"Are you sure this is a good idea?" Bakura said with his mouth agape. The truth is he didn't want to betray his boyfriend Malik, who was a zombie.
"Yes, I'm certain you can accomplish it with your Army of Magic Users. If you do succeed you will be rewarded with riches beyond your wildest dreams."
Bakura bowed and turned around to leave the room.
"Oh and one more thing," the Queen said. "I know you have a twin brother. You kidnapped him from his home, didn't you?"
"I didn't want him to get caught up in the upcoming war."
"Of course. Such loyalty is admirable. It'd be a shame if he'd be taken away from you, wouldn't it?"
"What are you saying?" Bakura said, a chill running down his spine.
"If you refuse to follow my orders, I might decide to reassign your dear brother to be someone else's slave. Someone more…cruel."
"I understand, my Queen," Bakura said through gritted teeth.
"Good. Now you are dismissed."