Hm, quicker paced than I thought... oh well. I now know the people are called fashion consultants. Wildwolf-chan's an idiot... I've had peeps email me about this fic, so I feel happyful! -^_^-! Well, don't expect update for a while, another trip... -_-

Chapter 3-

Orientation

"Ok, you meet here for orientation. A bus will take you to the hotel and center where the pageant will be." Chou directed.

"Right."

"Here's your pinhole camera." Seto pinned an angel broach on Ryou's chest.

"Wow, that's pretty." Ryou commented.

"Yeah, thought it suited you." Seto didn't make eye contact with the comment, but went on with shuffling through his things. "Ah, here's the ear piece. Here." He fitted it into Ryou's ear.

"I can put the stuff on myself."

"I know, just want to make sure you don't screw up."

Ryou gave him a pouty look.

"Yami, Yuugi, and Bakura are in that van over there. We'll follow you to the hotel and check in as guests. Yami has his laptop so we can always see and hear what you do."

"Ok."

Seto opened the driver's side, about to get out. "Ryou?"

"Yes?"

"Don't go checking out any of the girls, ok?"

Ryou flushed. "W-why?"

Seto sighed. "Because..."

Ryou moved his head closer to Seto, trying to hear exactly what he was saying. He smiled sweetly and once again, hopefully.

"That'll distract the others."

Automatically, the smile fell and Ryou glared daggers, but Seto had already closed the door and started walking off.

"Ok, let's get you going. Board the bus, and that will take you to the hotel and the breakfast."

"I need that breakfast! You people starving me for this long was worth it, right?" Ryou asked.

"It's worth it. Unfortunately, we cannot pay off the judges to get you to the top five. So, to get there, and to be sure there is no bomb throughout the entire performance, you must get to the top five with your God-given beauty and grace."

"Why must I be feminine?"

"Oh, and one more thing." Chou picked up an instrument case. "You need to have a talent. And well, I was told by someone that you could play the flute very beautifully. Here is a portfolio of music as well."

"Ok, I think I'm ready."

"Good. Now go to the bus."

Ryou stepped out. He was in high heels, his hair was gelled slightly, he had makeup, and he was wearing a dress. It was pale blue, and looked pretty good, skirt going down to his ankles.

He shuffled on nervously, attracting the stares of several other women. He sat towards the front and kept himself pressed to the side, hoping no one would notice him any further. He clutched his flute and music close.

"Hi. Is anyone sitting here?" A girl asked. Her sash said Florida.

"Um, no." Ryou shook his head slightly.

A voice in his ear whistled. "She's a babe. You've got competition, Ryou."

"So, what's your name? I'm Rachel Cooper."

"Oh, I'm... Jenny. Jenny Smith."

They shook hands.

Again the voice in the ear. "Oh man, a lotta these girls-"

Another voice, deeper. "Hey, stop it. You're going to give him away."

"Oh, that's a pretty broach." Rachel pointed at the hidden pinhole camera.

"Thanks." Ryou flushed. At least he fooled other women. As long as they didn't look too closely.

"Hm, where'd you get it?"

"Oh, um, it was given to me."

"Ah, by your boyfriend?"

Ryou flushed harder as laughs filled his ear. "Yeah, my boyfriend..." He shook his head vigorously. It was the best excuse he had, and his mind was not functioning as well as it should have been.

"What's he like? Mine broke up with me not too long ago."

"I'm sorry..."

"It's ok. I don't really think he loved me anyway. Yours loves you, right? Describe him." She paused. "Sorry I'm being talkative. It must be annoying. If you want me to, I'll be quiet."

"No, no. That's ok. I'm conversational as well. Well, he's..." He described the first person who popped into his head. "Tall, has reddish-brown hair, blue eyes... kind of a mysterious quality to him, but he's nice."

There were sounds of this time choking laughter filling his ear.

"Hm, sounds handsome."

Ryou didn't know how to react. "Um... he is."

More laughs in his ear.

"Hey Kaiba, you hearing this?"

"What?"

"Jenny's got a boyfriend, and guess who it is."

"Who?"

Ryou almost burst out, yelling 'no!' at the top of his lungs in embarrassment, but decided against it. He would deal with the others later.

"Well, whoever gave him the pretty broach."

"Nani?!"

"Jenny, are you ok?"

"Huh? Yes. I was just thinking, that's it."

Rachel nodded. "It's amazing to have gotten this far, isn't it? Especially coming from such a large state. That's a lot of competition."

Ryou nodded. "I know."

Rachel smiled. "You may think this sounds stupid, but I feel that I really connect with you, even though we just met. You just seem really nice and friendly. I see why you're your state's representative. You just have this friendly air around you."

"Really? I never seemed to notice."

"Oh, but that's something you should notice. Other guys must be really jealous of your boyfriend."

"I guess..."'

"And your eyes kind of remind me of a horse's, no offense. I mean by color and how deep they are. Sorry, but I'm one of those people who believe in a lot of the spiritual things other people disregard."

"That's perfectly ok."

"So, what's your reason for coming?"

"To change the world for the better." Ryou smiled, thinking how that was actually true. Preventing a bomb from exploding automatically qualifies as 'making the world a better place'.

"Yeah, I'm sure we all are here for that same reason. World peace would be nice, wouldn't it? I mean, that's all anyone ever says, but it never seems to happen."

Ryou decided then that these women definitely weren't airheads as stereotypically said. "I know. It's rather sad, how people make promises, but they never get done."

"Hm..." Rachel nodded. "So, what's your talent? I-I'm reciting original poetry. It's not original, but... it works for me."

"Oh, I'm playing the flute."

"That's nice! I play the violin, but not well enough to use as a talent."

That's when the bus started and Ryou started on the hardest mission of his life.

"I would like to welcome you all here to Chicago. And congratulations for making it this far..."

Ryou took another bite of his bagel. It was his second one. Thinking, he spread a little more cream cheese on.

He sat at a table with Rachel, Mary from California, and Ember from Louisiana.

Rachel was talkative and very kid-sister in nature.

Mary had a wholesome feel to her and was more like an older sister whom you could turn to for support. She seemed a little shy though.

Ember was... Ember. Hyper, slightly dense, yet funny.

Each could very well be a victim.

"Ryou, meet me backstage tonight, ok? We need to practice." Seto's voice whispered.

Ryou and Rachel shared a room, to both of their happiness. Rachel found it strange that Ryou slept in a baggy shirt and sweatpants, but didn't pursue the subject.

"G'night Jen."

"Night Rachel."

Ryou laid there until his roommate fell asleep.

Sighing, he sat up and walked up to the clear doors. He opened them just as a hand came down to knock.

"Ah!" Ryou covered his mouth.

"Sh! Sh..." Seto grabbed his arm and led him to the stage area.

"Ok, Chou has sent me notes via email on how to act while being interviewed. I will ask the question and you will be holding a microphone. You will answer with a smile on your face and keep your head high and your voice confident."

Ryou stood there, pretending to hold a microphone. Did it matter that he was still in his sleep clothes?

"Ok, as a practice question: How do you define the emotion love?"

Ryou took a deep breath and smiled a very small smile. "Love is like the deepest sort of friendship there is, shared between two people who feel as if they could be with one another for an eternity and still never cease to be amazed." He flushed lightly. "It's what I-"

Seto cut him off. "That's good. Now, what about your talent? You can still play the flute, correct?"

"Yes, Seto."

"Good. And remember, I'm going to be helping you tomorrow with make up and clothes. Yami hates me for being able to go in the dressing room. Well, shall I accompany you back to your room?"

"O-ok."

Outside the room they stopped.

"S-Seto, I..."

Seto reached into his pocket and pulled out a small box. Opening it, he revealed a silver chain.

"Um, here. I got this for you to wear. I-I thought it would look good on you." He handed it to Ryou.

"It's beautiful. Thank you." Ryou gazed at the crystal heart.

Seto was about to turn and walk off, but:

"Will you put it on me?"

"O-ok."

Ryou pulled up his hair as Seto put the chain around his neck and fastened it. After he was done, Ryou turned to face him, crystal glittering in the moonlight.

"It is beautiful..."

"Seto, I..." Ryou's face reddened a lot.

"Yes?" He closed the distance between them significantly.

They were dangerously close to one another.

Quatre: Hi. She... went hiding. Major Seto/Ryou fans will be trying to kill her, so she hid. Probably in the infamous Happy Room, aka her closet full of scented candles.

Ceel: She ran off?

Quatre: Hai.

Ceel: Figures...