Authors' Note:  Thank you to everyone who read and reviewed.  This chapter is a bit on the short side, but the scene break just fell into that place.  So, look for another chapter in a few days, because that's when we're planning to put another one up, just so everyone is nice and satisfied.  Thank you all!

Shamanic Guardian Lena:  Thanks so much!  Even the sweetest person has to have one or two bad impulses every now and then, ne?  Our title, translated, means "Bounce".  We probably should have said that sooner.

fani90:  And you'll have an update or two waiting for you!  Thanks so much!  So glad that you're enjoying it!

angelbird1224:  So glad that you think so!  We have a lot of fun stuff coming up.  And look for another update very soon!

The Evil Laugh:  Yes, we're all a little concerned for Ryou's mental health.  Hehehe… Really, it's mostly just a metaphor, but we found it very amusing.  We will definitely keep updating!  Thanks!

Chapter 5

It Begins

Ryou had given some thought as to what the best way to get the strongest reaction out of Honda would be. It actually felt good to be doing something, setting his mind to taking action for once, rather than just vanishing into the background. Seto had been right about that. In the end, he'd decided, in rather sly fashion, it must be admitted, that the best way to show off his new 'relationship' to Honda was to stick it right into the middle of one of Honda's dates with Ryuuji. That had taken some doing... after all, the others had all been treating Ryou with excessive concern for his fragility after the break-up. It was just lucky for Ryou that Anzu had a big mouth...

It was, to put it mildly, quite surprising that Anzu had been the one to provide Ryou with this succulent piece of information.  Mazaki Anzu, the self-proclaimed peacemaker, who would be utterly shocked to discover what sweet, innocent Ryou planned to do with the information that she had inadvertently provided him with.

The devil was in a perpetual state of ecstasy, especially since, for the first time in a very, very long time, he was being given the freedom to do what he wanted to do.  The annoying angel, who was still tied up (and not to mention stuffed in something resembling a bank vault), was no longer able to interfere in its cunning plans.

Seto, who was still hoping (secretly, of course), that Ryou would come to his senses, was in a constant state of distress.  Although he could privately admit that he had, in a way, brought this all upon himself, it did nothing to relieve his extreme annoyance at his forced involvement into this whole mess.  Truly, he did feel sorry for Ryou and was quite angry at Honda and Ryuuji for hurting him like this.  But, at the same time, he couldn't help but feel that this was really not his problem, and that he had been extremely
foolish in letting himself get involved in such petty matters.

But then… he sneaked a look at his white-haired 'boyfriend', who was looking straight ahead at the street as he drove them towards the restaurant where Honda and Ryuuji were going.  Was Ryou really just a 'petty matter'?  If he was, why had he ever allowed himself to interfere?

He chose not to answer that, and continued to drive.  But continuously, he stole glances at the white-haired teen and wasn't sure whether or not he should be surprised to see the blush crawling up the pale cheeks.  On one hand, Ryou had been acting very out of character when he had revealed his plan, so it was surprising that he should be so shy. But on the other hand, Ryou was simply a shy person.  He was, simply put, innocent. People often thought of Yuugi as innocent, but that was definitely not true.  After all,
how many innocent people ran around watching porn?

There was a little bit of guilt nibbling away at his conscience.  He wasn't sure why he would feel guilty; he just did. So what if Ryou was innocent?  He was the one who had asked for this, after all.  Seto didn't see why he should feel guilty… feel like he was somehow taking something very important (and perhaps endearing) from him.

Ryou, despite the presence of a very enthusiastic devil, was nervous about confronting Honda and Ryuuji, despite all his preparation for the event.  Part of him… part of him just wanted to beg Seto to turn back and pretend that none of this had ever happened.  And that part of him kept growing with each passing second, until it was so large that it was threatening to consume him whole and spit out the bones and hair.

Kind of like how the shadow monster had eaten him (or, to be more precise, Yami no Bakura, but it was still his body)….

Honestly, he shouldn't be doing this. He just wasn't this type of person… the sneaky, conniving person who lived his life by the law of 'an eye for an eye'.

Just because Honda had hurt him didn't justify him hurting Honda, did it?

However, before he could continue along that train of thought, Seto's voice jolted him out of his deep, dark thoughts.

"We're here."

For a moment, Ryou did not answer… and Seto felt his heart leap.  Perhaps Ryou had come to his senses!  Perhaps he could still get out of this!

Perhaps….

Ryou took in a deep breath as he calmed his nerves.  He could do this, he told himself sternly. He could do this.

The talking to himself should have been a sign that he was stressed and was quite capable of not being able to do 'this', but he chose to ignore that concept as he continued to repeat the mantra in his head over and over again.

"Ryou?"

He jerked as he snapped his head around to stare at Seto with wide eyes.  It was obvious that he wasn't really ready for this, even though he was trying so hard to be.  His cheeks were flaring again as he tried to stammer something that sounded coherent.  What escaped from his lips, instead, was a sound that was a cross between a wail and a high-pitched squawk.

Certainly not the most attractive of sounds, and it had to be Kaiba Seto of all people who witnessed such an embarrassing spectacle.

"… boku… boku wa…" his mind seemed to freeze on that word as he tried to
figure out what to say next.

Absolutely nothing came to mind.

The devil snarled as he played with his tail.  This was not going as he had wanted it to, and he couldn't help but be slightly worried that his host would mess everything up. That really wouldn't do, and he wasn't about to let all his hard work go to waste.

Just when Ryou was about to lose all his nerve, Seto did a most surprising thing.  It was so surprising that it surprised himself, along with everyone else.

As gently as he could, Seto reached out and took Ryou's hand.  Shocked brown eyes looked up to stare at his blue eyes in wonder, and for a moment there was nothing but silence, as both people tried to figure out exactly what was going on.

"Do you want this?" the billionaire finally asked.

Ryou blinked as the question echoed in his mind.

Do you want this?

Before he could think it through properly, he found himself replying.

"Yes."

And the devil hummed along to the rhythm tic thumps of the angel banging his head against the vault door.

It was only as they got out of the car and walked into the restaurant that Ryou realized something strange: Seto's presence at the moment was remotely comforting. He'd never considered it the slightest bit possible that someone so disconcerting, someone who could reduce a person to a quivering mess with little more than a glare and a few words could ever help him get a hold of himself at all. And yet, here he was, walking into the restaurant with only the slightest tremble in his knees. Odd.

As they walked inside, Seto drew Ryou over to one side before they reached the maitre d'. "So, here we are. Have you thought about where we want to be seated with respect to them? Just how quickly do you want them to see us, Ryou?"

Ryou gazed up at Seto, flushing a bit and looking blank. As carefully as he'd planned out where they were eating and getting Seto to accompany him there, he hadn't given any thought at all to where they'd sit. He assumed that they'd just go along and sit wherever the waiter led them. Apparently, Seto had something else in mind...

Seto gave a faint nod of his head, as if inwardly affirming that Ryou hadn't formed any sort of plan. "I'll handle it, then," he said quickly, guiding them up to stand before the maitre d'. He quickly gave his name, which naturally had a reservation listed. Next, in a gesture that was so smooth that Ryou almost missed the exchange of some amount of money, Seto shook the man's hand and began to make a request that left Ryou regarding him strangely and blushing all at once.

"I would like for you to seat us a few tables away from a certain party that is already present. There's an effeminate-looking male with long black hair and flamboyant dress and he's with a brunette with hair that is sharp enough to cause permanent eye injury," Seto said matter-of-factly.

The man before them simply nodded. "Right away, sir." With that, he quickly gave a hostess instructions, and in no time, they were turned over that hostess, who began leading them to a table.

"That wasn't very nice," were the first words out of Ryou's mouth.

Seto didn't respond, and Ryou didn't push for an answer. Whether this was because he didn't even want an answer or because he was too shy to ask for one, it was not certain... but the point was that he didn't ask for one. Instead, he didn't do anything except follow Seto to where ever the hostess was leading them to, and although part of him protested, the rest of him didn't do anything in response.

For someone who is trying to stand up for himself, yadonushi, you certainly don't do a very good job at it, Yami no Bakura commented from the back of his mind.

It's not my fault.

Whose fault is it, then?

Ryou didn't have a chance to respond because he was too busy bumping into Seto, in the process hitting his nose. The brunette had abruptly stopped (at least, that's what it seemed like to Ryou), and since the white-haired teen had not been paying attention, he had ended up walking right into Seto's back. It was a rather embarrassing situation, to put it mildly, especially since the reason why Seto had stopped was because they had arrived at their 'destination'.