*Is cowering nbefore the might of everyone that is not her* I'm SO fRIGGIN' SORRY, EVERYBODY!

Faux: BAU BOO BA BA BA BA BA!

;0; I was busy! Can you imagine what the really big change is for me?!

Faux:... Bau.

-.-;; Then shaddup.

OK, to all those people out there. *Sobs* I am SO INCREDIBLY SORRY!! Apologizing profusely on my part...

I didn't update right after the lake episode because I had a writers block on this (still do, actually...). And I have been... troubled with more of my brother's problems, too. Won't speak of them... Only will if people really wanna know. No, he's not killing himself. He's... In confusion about what he wants to do for himself...

OK, enough ranting on my part. ^.^;; To da' fi--

Faux: REVIEWS!! ^.^ (*In the background* O.O;; You spoke?! How the--)

Erikahavikel - O.o; Interesting name cha' got there. ^_^ I like it! Anyway, seems like you waited a lot longer than two weeks, ne? Again, I'm sorry! *Bows down* Bow down, bow down, smash your head into the ground... Thanks a mint!

SilverDragon14 - I was gonna say that you stole my name... ^.^;; But then we all got numbered. *Backs away* I'm not even gonna touch Otogi. He's all yours... Thanks a mint!

disturbed-dude - This might be a bit late, but... I'd blame it on Barney. The pink dinosaur tht plagues young, innocent children's minds with the I love you, you love me, we're a happy family song. *Shudders* ^_^;; Thanks a mint!

SoulDreamer - What're you thinking about, anyway? Thanks a mint!

OO - Yeah... ^.^;; Thanks a mint!

SilverLily aka Blood Moon - @.@; Long name... Mind if I call you SilverLily? OK. *Cowers in the corner* I'm sorry! ;0; It's not like that! I... dunno what it is. (^.^;;) You'll just have to wait and see. You kill me, you'll never find out, ne? *Snickers* Thanks a mint!

agentpudge - You, my dear fiend, are awesome. *Huggles* I don't care when you update your stories, hell, I don't even care about your stories! If you think that writing is a chore, or... you force yourself for a non-good reason (I'VE got a good reason. Haven't updated this in half a year, for God's sake), don't do it. This is summit that can be put off. Your life is much more important than me, Faux (Faux: *Glares*), or the blood-thirsty heaven devil, cow worshipping fanfictionists. (http :// www. joecartoon.com/ pages/ gerbilgeno/ Made some spaces, soo... Yeah. Gotta wait a minute or two for it to load. Funny as hell...)

*Glomps*

Thanks a mint!

LadyDeath1 - ^_^;; Fifty! Thanka! Thanks a mint!

Jadesaber - Awesome name, d00d. ^_^ And yeah, the vacation was fun... Sorry to keep you waiting. *Blinks* It was funny? Really? (o_o) Wow. Thanks a mint!

Ko-chan to Ya-chan - *Has something that is akin to fear plastered on her face* Oh, boy... *Dives into a corner* DUN HURT MEE~!!

;~; Please? Listen to your intelligent yami... No killing the dragon bird hybrid. No. Bad. Not---good. EXTREMELY bad. Disturbing. Evil. Yesh.

I put up your dragon at deviantART, so... If you wanna see it, go to my profile thingy, and clickedy on the homepage. Then do some fishing. Surfing. Whatever.

O.O You live in your own house? *Is envious*

Ne, one more thing. What does mean? I think I've got a pretty good idea... But, it's me we're talking about, so... (^_^;) Doesn't it mean dragon, or summit?

Thanks a mint!

Jack V. Briefs - *Is in awe that the Jack V. Briefs has taken the time to review her pitiful story*

*Glomps* YAY~!!

I'm glad you think that my story's even close to the word I think it sucks arse... But, I think everything I do sucks arse. (^^;;) That's just me.

Enough ranting.

Please update The Game of Seduction soon! (^_^) Ish awesome! AWE--SOME, people.

OK. Thanks a mint!

Authoress Skit - O.o; Whoa! I can read; you don't have to make it big bold letters. ^_^; I can't stand Yami/Mai... But, it goes with the story! There might be a little bit of it... but, we'll see.

Kyuugi - Did I spell that right? Hope so... (^.^;;) Whoa there! They won't kiss for a while now... Sorry. Mayybe a surprise. You never know with me. Thanks a mint!

Destiny - *Laughs* I won't tell anybody. Well... I can't make any promises... (XDD) Uhm... Anyway. Thanks a mint!

*Looks up* o.o; That was three pages already...

Faux: -_-; Ba.

. FINE, Mister Faux. You may have the honor of typing this story. You won't get any food until it's three-hundred and eleven pages long.

Faux:... *Whimpers*

-.-;; My muse is a wimp. Fine, I'll do it. The readers will not be pleased. Three-hundred and eleven pages... *Clicks her tongue* I'd do it, but uh... No.

But, I will try and make this at least ten pages. At least! And try. Trying is hard for me... (-_-;) Anyhoo.

This chapter was inspired to be written by Ko-chan and Jack V. Briefs. And everyone else that's ever taken the time to review my pitiful story. (Up! There I go again...)

~*~

Yuugi walked into the kitchen of his tiny home, it being the biggest room to make room for the large table. In his arms, Yuugi carried two paper bags loaded with a variety of food. After placing the bags on the blue-tiled countertop, Yuugi kicked off his slip-on sandals, threw the thin jacket he wore onto a chair placed next to the table, and padded into the living room, where he promptly collapsed into a white leather chair.

Mai and Yami had a hotel room, and were visiting New York because Mai was a model, and she frequently came to big fasion shows in the big city. That, and Mai thought that her wardrobe was getting too drab, which meant only one thing: shopping. Knowing that shopping meant camping out in parking lots to save time, Yuugi and Jou politely declined, and stated that they'd make dinner.

Problem? They had no real food. Jou had suggested ramen, but Yuugi said that it was and too good for the likes of Mai and Yami to feast upon, a fact that Jou readily agreed to.

So, Yuugi went shopping Jou went hunting for a recpie.

Yuugi looked around, trying to spot the sandy-haired friend of his.

Yuugi got up and noticed the glass-top table in the center of the room. It was covered with different recipie books, all looking long and complex. None were circled, or looked like they had been chosen for the making.

A very puzzled Yuugi quickly scanned through the recipies, trying to find a simple one that would be fit for rich people.


Yuugi himself wasn't rich; he just posed to be to get people off his back for getting back into dancing. He did it before as a dare from Jou, who was the only one who knew how poor he really was. Yuugi had leather couches just because he found them for steals at garage sales, and had fixed them up a bit. Same with the table. The apartment... whole nother story.

Anyway. Yuugi, not seeing anything, went to go look for Jou.

Nothing.



Silence.

... Puppy?

Quiet.

Extremely confused, Yuugi went back to the kitchen, and started to unpack alll the groceries he had bought. The grand total was two-hundred dollars and eighty-seven cents. Ridiculous for food.

As he was putting the tomatoes into the hanging metal wire basket, the phone rang. Wondering who on earth knew his phone number besides himself, Jou, Mai, and a select few others, Yuugi picked it up, flipped it around in a summersault, caught it, and proceeded to speak into the speaker.

It was Yami.

... Yes?

A sigh of relief. Thank god it's you. Mai is driving me up a wall. Literally. She caused two accidents already,, and bashed up the car pretty bad. Can you...

Come over there with my car that doesn't exist, pay for a tow truck, and also all the damages for Mai's car? Yuugi finished for him.

No! I wasn't going to say that! Yami replied, sounding almost hurt.



Yes. Really.

Well, in any case, I have no car. And I really can't afford to get a taxi over there. What were you going to say, anyway?

Silence filled the other line. Yuugi nodded.

Thought so.



No money.

... You picking us up with that invisible car?

Yuugi rolled his eyes. Fine. Where are you guys, exactly?

A very loud car horn sounded in the background over Yami's end. In the center of the downtown area, next to some huge candy store...

There are about six-hundred huge candy stores in the center area of downtown, Yuugi said.

Well... can you find us anyway? Please?

Clicking his tongue in slight exasperation, Yuugi asked: Why can't you call a cab?

Nothing to pay the driver with.

Ah. Well, fine. I'll be there... whenever.



Yuugi heard the other line click, and he slowly followed Yami's example. Yami wanted him to pick up his and his girlfriend's gorgeous bodies? ...Why him? Mai's gotta have otehr contacts besides me in New York...'

Shrugging, Yuugi remembered Jou and the supposed dinner. Well... we can go out to eat.'

Grabbing the thin black jacket he wore, since it was a tad chilly outside, Yuugi left the small apartment, locking the door securely behind him. The downtown area was about twenty-some blocks from where he lived, so it would prove to be a long walk indeed.

Oh well. Yuugi shoved his hands in his coat pockets, and slouched, something that was forbidden for dancers to do. He had a lot to think about anyway. Like, what's my next job?'

~*~

Everything was unfamiliar. The lights, the street names, the people. He was shoved to and fro with arms, elbows, trench coats, and shopping bags. Noisy cars were honking, revving, or the people they contained were leaning out an open or smashed window, waving obscene gesteres at other humans, who returned it.

Katsya, you've really done it this time.'

Jou was lost. Badly. He had no idea which part of New York he was currently standing in, didn't have a clue as to where the shop he had the intention to head to was, and he couldn't see a familiar face anywhere in the mass of moving people. And it wasn't, par say, the best kind of day to go exploring. Hot and humid, cloudy...

Really done it.'

No one in this part of town was friendly. The people that were ignored him when he asked where he was, or in which direction was the shop he was trying to find.

Getting pushed into another lady, Jou apologized. was his response, and his head was pummeled by the woman's purse. Afterwards, he was rudely shoved into another woman's chest, and the process was repeated.

Not very good with women, are you?

Quickly straitening himself on the hard sidewalk, Jou looked up into the smirking face of Seto Kaiba. Wearing a long, black trench coat that was left open, he wore a simple button-up black silk shirt, not all the way buttoned. His brown hair had been spiked downwards recently, giving the press a hay-day. Black slacks adorned his lower profile, which looked like it was made out of a comfortable fabric of some sort.

Jou grumbled. It's not like I'm in da' nicest place in da' world. But, oh, I'm sorry. You must fit in perfectly.

Seto responded with a calm stare. You seem to as well. With that tacky New Yorker accent, who wouldn't blend in with the Hicks?

Glowering at the famous CEO, Jou stood and wiped his clothes off, the dry dirt and dust being forced out of the fabric from Jou's repetative slapping.

Noticing that the brunette had still not left, Jou glanced up at him, slightly annoyed that the cocky man was taller than he was. Whaddaya want, Bucker(1)?

Still haven't thought of another good insulting name, Mutt?

I could say da' same fer you, jackass, Jou said, a small smirk quirking on his lips. And you're avoidin' da' question.

I was out for an afternoon stroll around the industrial park. Is it a crime?

It's discusting, if dat's whatcha' mean. I hate livin' in New York.

Then why are you still here? Seto asked.

Because... none of yer business, Jou replied with a glare. A flicker of greif spread across his face, but it was gone like a small wave would wash up and die on the shore. Anyway, I'm going--

You seem lost, Kaiba said matter-of-factly, staring at Jou with a blank gaze. Where you headed?

Jounouchi blinked. ... Did I miss the memo, or somethin'? Since when the hell were you nice?

Seto rolled his eyes. Mutt. I'm not an evil, sadistic badass as you portray me as. Dumbass. Mokuba's... blackmailed me, so I have no choice but to schumb to his wishes. For now.

Jou raised an eyebrow. What? Da' great god Bucker has been beaten by a fifteen year-old? Jou burst out laughing. What a story!

Shut up, Kaiba growled. He made me track you down, is making me watch you, and... yeah.

Jou drawled. Anyways, I don't need your help. I'm not lost; I'm just explorin'.

Kaiba's lips lifted into a grin.

Yep. And I'm goin' now.

Jounouchi turned on his old tennis-shoed heel, and did an odd combination of a walk and a march into the sea of moving bodies. Seto watched him go, knowing that Mokuba would show that promising picture of him dressed as a drag(2). The press would go absoloutely nuts...

Hey! Mutt!

Annoyed, Jou turned around to face Kaiba. Bucker. What?

Seto shut his eyes tightly, took a deep breath, and asked Jou a simple question, which sent the blond reeling back in shock.



~*~

(1) - A re-done version of He's rich, slang for money is and the result is Thought of it off the top of my head. ^_^; Sorry if swearing disturbes you. I try not to do it so much.
(2) - A is a male dressed up as a trashy girl. Thanks Madame Ruby! ^-^

Okay. I hope this is long enough. I was gonna make it sixteen pages, but... I think that this was a pretty good cliffhanger. I've decided that Anzu will not GET a pairing; I've made her too much of a bitch. ^_^;; Sorry Anzu fans. Don't look for solace here.

I will try to make all my chapters this long. Promise.

Please review. I'm not doing this for my own health, y'know. Well... maybe I am. Had to walk five miles to get home today, thanks to my ever-forgetful dad.

-_-;

People who want to see my art, please do so! ^_^ I'd love it! Go to my bio, and it should be there in my homepage./a Ko-chan, your dragon is ready and stinking.

Okay. I thinks that's all. *Waves*