Rowan: I'm bored, so I'm typing up Chapter 4 of Secrets of Life.

Sakura: Good for you.  Now, get on with the story already!

Rowan: I, Rowan A Morona, do not own YGO!

Sakura: Congratulations.  You just realized that?

Rowan:  : |  No!

AN: Only *sniff * 3 *sniff, sniff * reviews!  Oh well, that's probably because I only posted the other day, so…Anyway, in answer to the reviews I did receive:

@ Queen Of Games: Don't you worry your Majesty, I wouldn't dream of killing Ryou.  He's my all time favorite character!  Oh, and so glad that you believe in Jou and Honda.  I'm sure they appreciate it.  But we won't know if they're successful or not for a while.  ^__^, I'mma gonna keep y'all hangin'.  

@ Lord R: Actually, PCP is a disease.  It stands for Pneumocystis Carinii Pneumonia (pneumonia in other words), and is the most common opportunistic infection around.  PCP is the leading cause of death in people who have AIDS.    So Ryou having PCP is not a good thing.

Oh, and the angst isn't completely gone.  I mean, with Jou saying 'there is great risk involved' is practically setting the stage for loads of angst, if you think about it.  Thanks for the review!  Y'see, I wouldn't have known the actual words PCP stood for if it weren't for you!  I did a little research in order to give you that above info. 

@Molly-Chan: As I said before, don't assume anything about any character.  After all, assuming things only makes an ass out of 'u' and me, so yeah, not good.  As you will find in this chapter, Yami's advice to Yuugi in Chapter 2, which was to 'not jump to any conclusions w/out evidence' applies to you.  The only evidence we have that Otogi should die is Ryou's word. 

Anyways, if my AN seemed harsh in anyway, don't take it badly.  I love your reviews and am sincerely grateful you all actually took the time to assess my chapter.  So, thanks to all of you!

"Secrets of Life: Chapter Four"

By Rowan and Sakura

"One of the secrets of life is to make stepping stones out of stumbling blocks." - Jack Penn

---*---*---

"Hey Jou, you might want to take a look at this," Honda called across their laboratory.  The brunette was bent over a blood sample under a high-tech microscope.  "Oh, and bring Ryou's sample as well."

Jou, puzzled, went to the other side of the room, transporting a similar dish to the one under the apparatus currently being utilized by his colleague.  "What is it?  What's wrong?"

Honda took the other dish of blood and placed it beneath a second microscope.  "Look at Ryou's blood," he instructed.  Jou put his eye up to the lens.  "Notice, it's filled with the AIDS virus, correct?"

"Yeah, so?"

"Well, then take a look at Bakura's blood sample."

Jou glanced at the other microscope.  "Why, not a single HIV viral in the vicinity!"

Honda nodded.  "Exactly.  Not a single virus cell.  Does that tell you anything?"

"There has to be a logical explanation for this.  Either the virus is not concentrated enough in his blood system or…"

"Or he doesn't have it at all," Honda finished.

"Hai.  The only way to find out is to go straight to the source," Jou concluded.

"Otogi."

---*---

Jou and Honda stood shivering on the mansion porch as they waited for the door to open.  "Maybe he's not home," Honda suggested after they had stood there for ten minutes.  Just then, the door opened slightly, just enough to reveal a pair of frightened emerald eyes.

Jou turned to the entrance.  "Otogi?" he asked.

The eyes blinked at him.  "Jou? Honda?  What are you guys here for?  You're not here to rape me too, are you?" a voice questioned harshly.

Jou shook his head.  "No, we came because we need a blood sample from you."

"A blood sample?  What for?"

"It's a long story Otogi.  Mind if we step inside?  It's kind of cold out here and it's hard to talk to you," Honda said good-naturedly.

Otogi submitted.  "Alright, you can come inside," he said, and opened the door to let the two physicians in.

"Can I get you anything to drink?  Tea?  Coffee?" he asked as he led them into the lounge.

"Um, tea would be nice, thank you."

"I'll go boil some water while you two make yourselves at home.  And can I get you anything, Jou?"

Jou shook his head as he and Honda sat down on the couch.  "No thank you, I'm fine."

Otogi retreated into the kitchen, then moments later reentered the room with two steaming mugs in his hands, one of which he handed to Honda, who smiled as he took it.  Then he sat down in the easy chair across from the two guests.  "So, what is this blood sample thing about?"

Jou relayed their situation to the verdant eyed inventor: how Ryou and Bakura were both to undergo Honda's and his treatment, how before they were to do so they discovered no HIV virus in Bakura, and exactly how it all was connected to Otogi.  After Jou finished his story, they sat in silence, which was only broken by Honda's sipping noises as he drank his tea.  Otogi just stared ruminatively into his mug, before speaking.  "So that's why Bakura did what he did.  He thought I gave Ryou AIDS.  And that's why you need a blood sample?"

Jou nodded.  "Yes, we need to find out whether you have the virus as well."

"Alright then, I'll give you a sample."

---*---

Jou leaned back in his chair.  "Just as we expected, Honda.  Otogi does not have AIDS.  Ryou got it from somebody else."

------------*------------

Rowan: Heeheehee!  Fooled y'all! 

Sakura: Ookaay.

Rowan: Otogi didn't give Ryou AIDS!

Bakura: Well then, who did?  Because when I get my hands on him...

Rowan: Not telling!  Find out in the next chapter!

Ryou: Meanie. 

Rowan: I know!

Ryou: ^___~

AN: Anyway, how was that chapter?  I realize it was short, but was it good anyway?  M-chan's probably cursing me for that surprise.  Well, y'see, since you all wanted me to continue my story, I had to think of something, so I decided, why not clear Otogi's name, right?  So yeah...Anyway, please review!