"Hey! Kid!"

Narusegawa stopped walked and turned around. A man was running after her down the street, waving his left arm. His straight black hair was quite smooth, except for one strand that shot up and forward. He wore a cheap suit and glasses.

"May I help you?" Narusegawa asked curiously.

"Yes," the man answered, "My name is Tunahead. I am from. . .er. . .Rubber Noodles, a fast food franchise."

"And?"

"We need employees," Tunahead explained, "and you just passed our store, so I thought I might ask you."

"I'm sorry, Mr. Tunahead," Narusegawa apologized, "but I don't have enough time to work at Rubber Noodles."

"I see. . ." Tunahead sighed, "do you know anyone who might be?"

Narusegawa frowned and shook her head. Tunahead moaned, turned, and waved as he sulked his way down the street.

"What an odd man. . ." Narusegawa whispered to herself.

~

"Keitaro?" Shinobu asked quietly.

"Yes, Shinobu?" Keitaro replied.

"Are we doing anything tonight?"

Shinobu was referring to the family. For Keitaro had volunteered her room and board after her parents moved away. Shinobu had been accepted by the 'family', which was Keitaro, Kanako, and Aunt Haruka (who preferred to just be called Haruka). Keitaro and Kanako were in the same class, but (as mentioned earlier) Shinobu was a year younger. Shinobu had one friend she met quite often, Kaolla, but now she was going to another nearby school.

"No, Shinobu," Keitaro answered, sitting down on a chair, then looking out the apartment window, "Any reason why?"

Shinobu blushed, "Bakura and I were. . .going to. . .go out. . .somewhere. . ."

"Bakura. . ." Keitaro muttered out loud, "um. . .shy. . .long, white hair. . .accent. . .that Bakura?"

"Yes," Shinobu smiled.

"Ah, yeah, I know him. He's in my class," Keitaro said nonchalantly, looking up from the window, "He's a nice guy."

~

"Excuse me, madam," a man dressed in a cheap suit said, "but I represent Rubber Noodles. I would like to speak to your son, if you don't mind."

"Not at all," Mrs. Trent answered, smiling, "are you a friend of Nathan?"

'Ah, his name's Nathan,' the man thought, "No, I would like to speak to him about a possible job opening."

"Hmm," Mrs. Trent said to herself as she looked for Nathan, "I don't remember Nathan saying anything about a job. . ."

After a moment, Nathan arrived at the door. Beside him stood a Magician- type Medabot.

"Hi, what can I do for you?" Nathan asked, leaning against the doorframe.

"I'm from Rubber Noodles," the man explained, "How would you like a job making noodles?"

Nathan was stunned by the stupidity of the situation, "Um. . .no thanks. Anything else?"

"No," the man answered, "I'll be on my way now. . ."

Nathan shook his head as he closed the door, "Door-to-door noodle making recruiter, what'll they think of next. . ."

~

Shinobu jumped as the doorbell rang. Keitaro stood, leaving his dutiful window. He yawned and stretched his weary arms on his way to the door. He swung the door open gently, looking out through scratched glasses.

"Hey, Bakura," Keitaro greeted.

"Keitaro?" Bakura asked, a little shocked, "You live here? Am I at the right house?"

"Yeah," Keitaro answered, yawning again, "Shinobu will be here in a minute. Just a second."

Keitaro was about to turn to leave when Bakura stopped him, "If it's not intruding, would you mind explaining this to me?"

"Sure," Keitaro agreed, "a while ago, Shinobu's parents were planning on moving. She didn't want to leave, so I offered her a room at our house with Kanako, Aunt Haruka, and me."

Bakura nodded, "Oh, I see. Kanako's here, too?"

"Yeah, she's me adopted sister," Keitaro explained.

"Oh, thank you."

Keitaro walked down the hallway to find Shinobu, leaving Bakura standing at the door. He knocked on her door, entering after hearing Shinobu's answer.

Shinobu sat on her bed, talking to her Medabot, Sailor-Twin. They looked up to see Keitaro, the sun glimmering on his glasses.

"Shinobu," Keitaro called, "Bakura's here."

Shinobu blushed and stood up. Keitaro stepped to the side as Shinobu reached the door to her room. She faltered for a moment.

"How long has he been waiting?" Shinobu asked desperately.

"Not very long," Keitaro answered, "maybe a minute or two."

"Okay," Shinobu replied, "thank you, sempai."

Keitaro smiled, "Anytime."

Shinobu took a deep breath and turned the corner, looking into Bakura's soft eyes. Seeing Shinobu turn several shades redder, Bakura revealed from behind his back a single red rose. Bakura, arms outstretched, handed the rose the Shinobu. Shinobu's eyes closed, and she lowered her head slowly.

"Are you alright?" Bakura asked cautiously.

"Yes, I'm fine," Shinobu answered, "It's just. . .the rose is so beautiful, and I've never had such nice flowers before."

Bakura smiled meekly, "Oh. . .I just thought that it was the least I could do. After all, you actually listened to me jabber on about Gabriel and Timothy's Medabots during the Robattle. I had to say thank you somehow."

"But I like listening to you," Shinobu replied softly.

"You know," Keitaro cut in, standing next to Sailor-Twin, "you can leave anytime now."

Bakura looked up at Keitaro, "You're still hanging around?"

"That must be the boldest thing I've ever heard you say, Bakura," Keitaro joked, "I'll see you two later."

Keitaro relieved Shinobu of the rose, placing it in a vase, and pushed the two outside, closing the door. Shinobu and Bakura stood in the hallway, staring at the closed door.

"That was. . .odd. . ." Bakura stated.

"To put it lightly," Shinobu added.

~

"Excuse me, sir," the man called, somehow catching up to a blond-haired kid on a bike, "but are you interested in working for Rubber Noodles?"

The kid stopped. Answering in his New York-accent, "Hmm, a part-time job, eh?"

"Yes, enter the fine world of noodle-making!" the man continued, "My name is Tunahead. If you join now, I'll throw in the noodle-making rubber suit free!"

"Hmm," he said, "I dunno. I was on my way to my friend Yugi's house. With the new school and all, I'm not sure if I'll have the time. . ."

"What's your name, son?"

"Joey," the kid answered, "Joey Wheeler."

Tunahead grinned malevolently. He threw his cheap suit upward, revealing a rubber suit, covering his entire body. Attached to the hood was a weird yellow. . .thing. . .

"Look, Joey," Tunahead began, "I've had a rough day. I'm not named Tunahead, I'm Seaslug, of the Rubberrobo Gang. I'll cut you a deal. We Robattle. I win, you join the Rubberrobo Gang. You win. . .I'll fix your bike."

"My bike isn't broken."

A White-Sword jumped forward, slashing Joey's back tire in two. Joey's eyes narrowed. He raised his wrist to chin level, "Alright, Seaslug, let's pour some salt! Transport Medabot!"

(Insert Seaslug cackle here)

Soon a black Dragon-type Medabot with a Phoenix medal appeared before Joey. He grinned happily, thinking the out-dated White Sword wouldn't stand a chance against his powerful Red-Eyes.

Suddenly a garden gnome in a nearby lawn exploded, revealing Mr. Referee, "Medafighters Ready? Medabots, Robattle!!!"

~

Next time: Will Joey lose and join the evil Rubberrobo Gang? How will Bakura and Shinobu get along? The Robattle continues, on Medabounty Games!