Kano: Yes, I know it's short. I promise I'll have the next chapter up before Monday, just so you guys don't start throwing rotten vegetables at me. ..Unless you have some non-rotten cheese. Preferably Colby-jack. Then you can wing it at me all you want.

Disclaimer: I do not own Yu-Gi-oh. I also do not own a hunk of Colby-jack cheese, although I wish I did.

- I am: Loyalty -

Following Jounouchi home isn't as easy as you might think.

He knows more shortcuts and back-alleys then even I do, and I've lived on the streets of Domino longer then I've lived anywhere else.

He doesn't know I'am following him, which is a good thing. I don't feel like getting into a fist fight right now, and especially not here.

I have enough people to worry about without adding my best friend to the list.

The blonde abruptly turns into an alley, and I follow half a minute later.

It only now occurs to me that, despite all the years I've known Jounouchi, I haven't once been to his house.

I don't think anyone from school has.

What I thought was an alley before is actually, upon closer inspection, a rather narrow street. Random graffiti is spray-painted over the brick buildings, and only a few of the apartment buildings still retain their front doors.

Jounouchi has disappeared into one of those doorless entryways.

I am loyalty.

It begins with Jounouchi, spreading to our small group of rather odd friends, traveling out in ever-widening circles. It ends with the world, or perhaps it doesn't end at all.

But my loyalty, my friendship, lies with Jounouchi.

It always has.

I won't abandon him now.

-TBC