Ryou: *looks around nervously* um... well... Heather is a bit...

Seto: beaten down?

*crawls out from her hiding space* Russian is evil, not only is it a hard language, it's kicking my butt in homework!! It's okay boys, I think I can take over now. *shoves her books under her bed* Homework? What homework? *claps* Okay. We've got an update. Yay! And reviews!! YAY! Hehehe I update at least once a week Picaro. You gotta keep up! Hehehe, I've just never had anyone teach it to me well enough. Yeah, Seto joked. Who knew it was possible. Maybe Yuugi'll even have a growth spurt now ~.^ YES! Beat that everyone! Treana says I 'rool'! well... I think that's good... it's not in my dictionary. Hehehe you're welcome by the way. Just guessing from the 2 Squees, 2 glomps, and the woot, you would like a companion piece? Yay! Malik is reading my story! Hehehe. Sorry. :O Have someone rape Ryou? Pphhfftt. As I told my beta, the only one that's gunna rape him, is me. ^_^;;; wow... am thought to be good. Cool. *gets huffy* Well the Duke/Tristan lessens, but I am a rabid chase fan, so it'll be there. Sorry. Wildwolf! Don't go encouraging the guys! You could mess everything up! Those plot bunnies are very particular. Okay... UPDATE!

Disclaimer: oh to own Yu Gi Oh. Then I'd own the guys... *raises an eyebrow* hmm... must find way to buy YGO....

~Promises to Play~

Ryou sat with everyone at lunch, chatting, and idly nibbling on his carrots.

"You look like a rabbit when you do that, Ryou," Joey commented, waving his sandwich at him.

Ryou merely wiggled his nose at the blonde in response, and went back to his thinking.

"Hey Ryou," Tristan greeted, sitting in the seat next to him. "Is there anything wrong with Duke?" he asked, looking at Duke who had removed himself from the group, and sat reading a book.

Ryou followed his gaze. /Well, if Tristan is going to kill me it wouldn't hurt.../

He looked back at Tristan and shrugged. "I don't know, why don't you ask him?"

"He might think me prying. I don't want to upset him," Tristan replied looking concerned.

"I'm sure he won't," Ryou responded. "The worst he'll do is say he doesn't want to talk about it."

Tristan just nodded and moved to sit in front of Duke.

/Now all Duke has to do is not mess it up./ Ryou glanced back at Duke, who was now blushing. Duke looked over at Ryou, who just smiled encouragingly, and went back to his lunch. /Maybe one of us will be brave enough to talk to our crush./

A shadow fell across the table and everyone looked up to see who it was.

"Seto! How are you?" Yuugi asked.

"I'm fine," Seto answered. "Do you mind if I join you for lunch?"

"No problem!" Yuugi chirped with a smile.

Seto took the seat beside Yuugi and began eating. There was a silence around the table. Ryou forced his gaze to remain on the table, not wanting to look at Seto.

/I'm making everyone uncomfortable by sitting here.../ "Mokuba's birthday is next Tuesday, and he's having his party this Saturday. You are all invited of course," Seto commented, looking at the group. Duke and Tristan were off talking, he could tell them later.

"Sure, we'll be there!" Tea said smiling at Seto. "Is there anything he wants for his birthday?"

Seto smirked slightly. "Well there was that lion cub he wanted..."

"A stuffed animal?" Tea asked, confused. How old was Mokuba turning?

The smirk widened. "No," he stated. "A real one."

Tea's jaw dropped. "Well I don't think I could get him that!"

"Even if you did I wouldn't let him keep it. Just get him a stuffed lion, and tell him his mean brother wouldn't let you get him a real one," he suggested.

Tea grinned. "I may just do that."

Ryou looked back down at his lunch and decided he wasn't hungry anymore. After placing the trash in his bag he moved to stand up.

Seto, who was already standing, took the bag from him. "Let me," he offered and walked off to put up his tray. Ryou just stared after him, unable to even call out 'thank you.'

"He's really not that bad when he tries," Joey commented, watching Seto walk off.

"No he isn't," Ryou agreed as he turned back to the group. /He really isn't.../

Ryou snuck a glance in Duke's direction and was glad to see he wasn't blushing anymore. As the bell to go back to class rang, he steered his way over to him.

"Were you braver than I am?" he asked as they left the lunch room.

Duke glared at him. "You're lucky I don't kill you for pulling a stunt like that," he grumbled .

"Went that well?"

Duke glanced down. "It didn't go bad, so I'll spare your life this time. But no, I didn't tell him."

"Why not?" Ryou demanded.

"Because I'm no braver than you?" Duke offered with a small grin.

"Talk to him," Ryou pleaded. "Be the braver of the two of us."

Duke stopped outside of his classroom and considered Ryou. "I can't be brave for you."

Ryou sighed. /He has to be psychic./ "Just knowing you can do it is help enough," he admitted.

Duke flashed a grin, and winked at him. "Well I always said 'anything to help' right?" And with that he walked into his class.

/Oh I do hope he did think I promised him anything./ Ryou sat in his seat and stared at the blackboard, a little worried. /I didn't.... did I?/

Yay! One more update finished. Sleep? Who need sleep?? I do, but if I tell myself I don't, I may change... Anyway, companion Chase piece? Anyone? Anyone? Just four more sections to go after this!! Go me! Hopefully I'll get it out by the middle of October. Maybe sooner. Depends on the reviews...*wink*wink*nod*nod*nudge*nudge* Know what I mean, know what I mean? *gets mauled by her homework* aaahhh!!!!!!!

Seto: *rolls eyes* Just review so she can finish this and get some sleep. She's acting... funny.

Mokuba: Weirder than normal? How can you tell?