Disclaimer: I do not own Yugioh. Why? Because I could never draw Yami no Yuugi's hair in 30+ volumes. Believe me, I couldn't.

Erm, you can't believe I have a second chapter, can you? *grin* Ha, I'm not that lazy. *looks nervously at her Ryuuji fics* Uh…HUZA! *cowers and hides*

Thanks: Relinquished for beta reading! *grin* Good thing my grammar wasn't too abominable. *looks around nervously* English was never my strong suit….

TeeDee: Thank you. I'm glad you love the first chapter. This might not be a really strong Seto/Ryou, but it's cute and funny where it has to be. Plus, there's an Otogi POV later on.

Gyakutenno Megami1: Is the report unreadable? *seriously hopes you weren't referring to the entire chapter* Well, the report isn't suppose to be readable to a fault. That's exaggeration. But, if you were implying the entire fic, I will not apologise for my vocabulary. I suggest you highlight a word you don't recognise and press the D key for ff.net's dictionary/thesaurus feature.

Freai: Awe, thanks! It's good to know people appreciate the detail I put in. Here's a lovely update!

Pastbyer: Yay, it's nice to know my Japanese is correct. I think mushi mushi meant "hot and humid" last time I checked (uh, forever ago?). So, I hope they were misspelling there. *nods with your original fiction comment* Yeah, you can't sell fan fiction.

Im Evil: I feel sorry for Ryou to. I'd like to say it gets better, but, uh…yeah….

Elle-FaTe2x1: I'm glad you're happy with this. Here's the next chapter to stay up for. It's, erm, longer….

rikki-the-fox: Thank you! It's good to know you'll look forward to these chapters. *grin* Wow, someone gets to sound older-sisterly besides me! *cheers* Now I just need to send you my little brothers….

~!~!~

Chapter 2: Tempura {A}

Nine twenty is the time any reasonable person should eat breakfast, free or no. I'm relieved that for the time being Yuugi-tachi has decided to follow these guidelines.

"Are you sure you're okay with sharp cheddar?" I ask, tentatively handing the re-sealable cheese bag over to Otogi, who's trying, with difficulty granted, to inhale a tiny hotel-manufactured omelet. I say manufactured because it looks hardly anything near real, and about as edible as a rubber shoe. I'm sure if I were to squeeze it, the yellow folds (of which look strangely like plastic) would bounce right back to shape. For an omelet, the egg and ham seems remarkably dry.

"Itai!" Otogi yelps, pulling his hand out of the cheese bag reflexively. I blink at this as he explains. "Wow, that cheddar really is sharp!"

I'm sorry I told him that, I really am. Anzu smirks into her cornflakes along with Jounouchi as I'm left the only one rolling my eyes. Now maybe if I had been sharing a room with Jounouchi, I would be in the proper lackadaisical mindset to find this even remotely amusing. Unfortunately (as I keep repeating with a tad more remorse each time), I do not get to room, or evoke the "buddy" system, with anyone that would leave me so easygoing.

 "Otogi-kun…." I don't want to sound like the mother hen having the keep a check on Yuugi-tachi, but I'm afraid I'm not in any mood to do otherwise.

Otogi smirks at me, "Sorry, 'Kura, I didn't know you were 'lact-joke' intolerant."

I frown at the complete mindlessness it takes someone to come up with a pun like that.

 "That was lame, Otogi-kun. I think you're sleep deprived."

 "Incorrect, I'm food deprived." How did I know he'd say that? "And you're people deprived."

"Nani?"

"Well, Kaiba's far from human."

For some odd reason, Honda breaks out into a merciless and consuming laugh, which I'm pretty sure has been repressed from a prior statement of the game inventor's. I watch almost apathetically as the suppressed amusement lets itself free in the most omnipotent exclamation possible. Through watching him I discover the veracity in the pleas during unbearable laughter such as, "Kami, I'm dying," "Why'd you have to say that, baka," and "I'll kill you for this, Otogi." Honda is laughing and screaming at Otogi, who is not shutting up and making things worse.

"Stop!" Honda begs, as Otogi has actually started tickling him. The hotel workers, who seem to think there is a brawl in the breakfast room, come running to separate the two. In a few minutes, Honda-kun is left chuckling softly as Otogi smirks from across the room. I'm too busy trying to rationalize what just happened.

What did just happen?

Otogi sits down again with several curious looks from those around the room. He commences to cut his food as though nothing has happened.

"So, what have you gotten for your report, Bakura-kun?" He asks, placing a bite of egg into his mouth and trying to chew the rubbery texture. I shrug. That file in Kaiba's laptop—that's not a report. No, that's me getting bored and discovering I really know nothing about all of the wonderful places we've visited.

"You know what, Bakura-kun?" What? "You ought to ask the sensei if he'll let you stay with Jounouchi today. I mean, you can room with Kaiba and look around with us. That way everyone's happy."

I nod at this, smothering the tickling scene in the back of my mind to the point I can convince myself it never happened.

"Hai, that'd be good."

"Of course it will. Otherwise you'd probably be stuck making stuff up for your report, or trying to convince the sensei of the irreplaceable value of the bus and how wonderful the hotels have been." I wonder if Otogi knows of my current "report." Maybe it's just a lucky guess? I highly doubt Kaiba would part with his computer long enough to have Otogi read a couple of documents.

"Um, yeah…." I mutter, quickly burying my attention into the shallows of my bran flakes.

That small annoying voice in the back of my mind chooses this moment to remind me that, not only do I not generally enjoy bran flakes, they are also soggy beyond recognition or any form of matter fit for human consumption.

"Ten minutes, students. Be finished and on the bus in ten minutes."

I stand and push my bowl back, making my way towards the elevator to go upstairs and inform my listless partner it's time to leave. If today's going to be in any way interesting, I'd have to see Japan's 15 million dollar Bugatti 41 Royale drive past the bus. Other than that, well, I'm not expecting much. {B}

~@~

"I understand that last night there was a bit of difficulty with the food court administrators and a few of our students. I also understand there was a disruption this morning at breakfast with the same select students."

Yuugi-tachi looks nervously at each other. Otogi's apparently in serious denial. That's the only rational excuse for why he's smirking and twirling his hair as though the situation hasn't struck a familiar, grinding cord in his mind. I really don't think he realizes the sensei is angry with him.

"These students will be under my surveillance for the rest of the trip: Honda Hiroto, Mazaki Anzu, Motou Yuugi, Jounouchi Katsuya and Otogi Ryuuji."

All of my friends wince at this announcement except Otogi who has an amazing inability to care. He doesn't seem to be aware of the current reality.

"We will be reaching Tempura in fifteen minutes. {B} I want all of you on your best behavior once off the bus. Don't disappoint me. Each and everyone one of you represent Domino High and your decisions reflect on the reputation of the school. I don't want a repetition of the Kyoto fiasco." The sensei is very serious about what he's saying. I wasn't there to see the incident when we stopped at Kyoto the first day (just guess why), but I heard that Otogi had almost knocked a kid off one of the bridges by, as he said, "accident." The point of the matter wasn't whether he meant to or not. No, the sensei knew several people saw the brawl near one of the more famous landmarks and knew the fighters were visiting students. For this reason, Otogi and Honda had already been under surveillance the rest of the first day and now, with the breakfast and lack of civility in the hotel, Otogi probably isn't going to be invited on any more fieldtrips.

"Your fellow student, Otogi-san, has set a prime example of how not to behave, and I hope none of you follow his behavior pattern." Several girls in the back of the bus cheer and applaud Otogi's effort. "The disregard for rules is not funny or in any way cute, no matter how immaturely humorous you may find the antics."

The sensei fruitlessly attempts to insult Otogi, but the whispers of an encore reverberate around the small bus and leave his words meaningless. The focus is on dynamic Otogi, who everyone loves, and his addictive enthusiasm. It's hard to believe if there's really a practical bone in his body, even when he's busy entertaining his fan club. He really is a decent person most of the time; he just doesn't come off that way to authority.

"Now, when we reach the town of Tempura, I don't want any of you taking a leaf out of Otogi-san's book and act up. Remember, you were the best behaved second year class last semester, don't ruin your future chances at another opportunity like this." I'm nodding off slightly as the sensei turns around and orders the driver to exit the parking lot.

I wonder vaguely what my report will say. Maybe it will convince the teacher the buses are the best mode of transportation, or that you're standard cheap rent is just as good as any five-star hotel. Maybe he'll just read the first sentence, understand I learned nothing, and fail me. I should write about how I was restricted to the bus by my partner. Maybe then I'd get some sympathy?

The bus finally stops on the side of a long avenue and the sensei starts handing out lists of interesting sites within the three-block radius. Points of interest include a museum on the history of the shrimp industry (forget Kaiba, you know I'm going to sneak out to see that), a local shrine to a fisherman's pantheon, a few historic fish warehouses on the harbor, two noteworthy local stores, and of course, several fine restaurants serving tempura-style dishes. This place is like one would picture Domino before the big corporations came in, small and focused on its cash crop of fishing.

"Everyone, please exit the bus in an orderly fashion."

Students surrounding us shoot up violently and start shoving for the doors. The sensei's words are lost in their minds as the instinct to get free takes over.

Eventually the bus is empty save for the sensei cowering from the masses, the driver, and, to my pleasant surprise, Yuugi-tachi.

"Sir?" The sensei straightens and looks for Otogi, who's just spoken.

"Hai?"

"Can Bakura come with us instead of Kaiba? He can be Jounouchi's partner."

The sensei considers this suspiciously. "But wouldn't Kaiba be alone?"

Kaiba, for some reason, is ignoring the conversation and fails to speak in his defense.

"I think he can manage himself." Otogi notes, looking over at Kaiba, who is talking on his cell phone about something or another. Indeed, if he can organize a company, he can certainly keep himself in check.

"All right," the sensei finally agrees, "but one of you will have to stay on the bus with Kaiba." Kaiba, too busy talking on the phone, fails to state any preference. "How about Jounouchi?"

Anzu-chan, Yuugi, and Honda almost laugh out loud, but the sensei fails to recognize this.

"Bakura can only go if he trades places with Jounouchi."

The sensei must really need help. Only someone who's lost a considerable amount of his or her mind would come up with such a plan.

"Nani?!"

"You all heard me. We have to keep a buddy system and Kaiba, like or not, is a part of this system and cannot be left alone."

Oh Kami-sama, he makes it sound like we've gotten eight years marked off our lives. Why can't I suddenly become younger after I turn thirty-five? This is very uncalled for.

"Well, Bakura, we tried," Jounouchi shrugs, making to get off the bus. I watch in horror as the great supporter/protector of Yuugi-tachi simply gives up on me.

"Just where do you think you're going, inu?" Otogi asks, grabbing the back of Jounouchi's coat, "I think this is a group decision."

Jounouchi glares slightly. It's just dumb luck Kaiba is still oblivious; otherwise, in any voting circumstance, he would out rule us.

"Okay, all for leaving Jounouchi in the bus and allowing Bakura at least an hour of freedom this field trip, say hai."

"Hai." Yuugi is a savior.

"Hai." Honda too.

"Hai." I love Anzu-chan.

"Hai." Good ole' Otogi-kun.

"Iya." Well, who said Jounouchi's vote mattered anyway?

"Exactly," Otogi nods, "Have fun, Jounouchi."

I jump off the bus with Yuugi-tachi, as Otogi releases Jounouchi. The sensei, who's been patiently waiting outside, figures Jounouchi decided to stay and before he can make it out, the door is closed.

"Jounouchi, hope you have fun with your 'buddy'." Honda smirks, displaying a slightly sadistic side I have never seen in him before.

I try not to feel guilty as we leave the angry blonde behind in one of his personal Hells. I'm about ready to start making bets with Yuugi-tachi on what the chances are the bus will still be there when we get back in order to retain a tad of my natural optimism. It's very obvious my self-preservation instinct is shining dim, as Jounounchi is going to kill me. The wrath of that certain blonde isn't easy to avoid or escape. I can't say with certainty that this thought is a comforting one, or that it doesn't leave me at least a bit apprehensive. The normal tranquility of the town around me is cruelly disrupted with thoughts of what will happen when I get back. I haven't failed to mention Jounouchi's certain "gift" when it comes to a formidable scolding. He's bound to feel betrayed, which means no form of diplomacy (convention or grappling match) is going to save me. I don't think Kaiba would forgive me either. There's a foreboding air in the fact that I truly have no idea what an angry Kaiba is capable of. This might as well be the last hour of my life.

"Bakura, lighten up. It's too early in the day to brood."

I rouse my mind back to reality as Honda-kun attempts to shake me, probably thinking he'll force my senses to fall into place.

"Oi!" I don't think that's necessary. Can't he see I'm awake?

"Ooo, look! It's a doll shop!" Anzu cheers and points to a window, where several geisha dolls stare out at us. I'm taken aback slightly by the amount of these in such a simple town. In Kyoto there were more, yes, larger displays with all the different sized dolls, each more elaborate than the last. Anzu has a unique fondness for them and can spend hours upon hours looking over each one and still not purchase anything. She also has the power to drag us all after her and inside to study the rest.

Otogi and Honda roll their eyes as we enter after Yuugi and Anzu. The sensei is watching the group and thus we are forced to stick together. I don't believe his first choice for our stop would have been a shop with many valuable representations of one of the country's fine arts (all being within easy destruction range).

"This fan dancer is lovely!" Anzu compliments, pointing to one of the dolls with the most intricately combed black wig I've ever seen. Eighteenth century France would have been proud.

Otogi studies one figure, another fan dancer, with a distant, bleak expression, like he's been unwillingly pulled into the shadow realm within proximity of ten hungry monsters. Honda, so bored he's compensating with immaturity, looks over his shoulder at the sensei before reaching out a finger slowly to stroke the ghost-white forehead of a shogun lord.

"Honda-san."

The sensei is frowning across the room and waving his finger warningly. Honda backs innocently from the doll and continues wandering among the other similar wares. Across form him; lacking any (if not all) artistic enthusiasm, Otogi is rapidly becoming bored. For him, you see one geisha doll; you've seen them all. He's ever so slowly inching towards the door, trying in vain to herd Anzu the same direction.

"Really, Anzu, you can look at the dolls back home. They're just as nice." Otogi tries to coax Anzu away from the shelves. He might as well be burning down an igloo for all the attention his effort is receiving. Honda, tiptoeing down a small aisle, is making an effort to walk through the shop without brushing the slightest treads of silk and brocade. It's almost comical, his attempt. I don't know who's wallowing in more personal realizations of how tedious and pointless this whole thing is, Honda or Otogi.

"Look at the lovely fan. The minute details are amazing!"

I hear Anzu's exclamation faintly as I make my way to the back of the shop. I've decided I'll have a quick look around instead of forcing myself to watch Honda and Otogi's agony. I don't believe the doll shop is too bad. Sure, I wouldn't walk down the street and figure I wanted to visit, but it isn't like the place is some remote corner of Hell. Maybe Otogi is interested in that museum about the history of the shrimp industry and wants to beat the crowds?

I doubt that—well, the crowd part anyway.

"Is this real gold thread?" I hear Anzu ask, muffled through the layers of dolls and cloth separating us. I look shortly at the ones near me in the back, where I suppose Anzu will find her way in due time. The dolls here aren't as flashy as those in the window. A couple of hat dancers are posed almost across form each other, purely by accident it seems. It gives the effect they are both trying to act out an artificial attempt at a transaction that isn't going to happen. I hear foot tall hat sellers don't make a lot (must be the fact no one's small enough to use their wares).

Further down are a few child dolls with innocent, round faces. They appear almost as little Asian cherubs, answers to which country has the most beautiful babies. I smile down at one, whose red cheeks have nothing on my own. Besides a lack of tri-colored hair, it doesn't fail to dimly remind me of (a considerably younger) Yuugi-kun. Next to him is a venerable old woman, who, by the thick layer of dust over her kimono, is probably about as old as she was crafted to appear.

As I make my way to the end of the shelf, I can no longer hear Otogi pleading with Anzu. For a few minutes this doesn't strike me as peculiar until I realize that, distance or no, Otogi's voice diffracts very well. If he's not complaining anymore, he's either changed his personality completely or Yuugi-tachi has exited the shop before Anzu could see everything.

I naturally begin to panic as I hurry back toward the door. I try to remember if I know the way back to the bus, realize I don't, and let my anxiety get worse. It's no wonder I finally end up crashing into something.

"Gomennasai!" I yelp, falling back from what I just hit. For a few seconds I'm terrified I've disrupted some of the shop's valuable merchandise. I look up nervously and wince.

Well, it's not a geisha doll, but I did just have a nice collision with Domino's most expensive CEO.

"Kaiba-kun?" I stutter, a bit surprise to see him so, er, out of the bus for once.

"There you are! I've been looking for you, Bakura."

I blink up at the slightly irate Kaiba, confused. Looking for me?

"But where's Yuugi-tachi?" I ask slowly, still sitting on the ground. Kaiba shrugs slightly at my question.

"Eating tempura-style shrimp? That's all this town seems to be famous for."

I blink at Kaiba's slightly cutting remark. My mind gyrates in time to an unbalanced lightheadedness, which I believe is from my unexpected trip to the shop floor. I quickly summon the little strength needed to stand and fire another question before completely organizing my thoughts.

"What are you doing here?" This comes out a bit harsh, but it's now impossible to bring it back. Like I said, I haven't organized my thoughts so much yet to be logically irrational—if that makes any sense.

"The inu was paired with me and I reversed it."

For a moment, my mind is amazingly blank as Kaiba's words slowly begin to etch out what's happened. If he reversed the partners, that would mean Jounouchi is the third member of Otogi-Honda and I'm once again with Kaiba. My mind starts screaming one of those overly dramatic NNNNOOOOOOO!'s (in the preferred slow motion) at this amazing insight.

NNNNNNNNNNOOOOOO…

"Nani?"

…OOOOOOOOOO…

"Yuugi-tachi left ten minutes ago, Bakura. You're with me again." Kaiba explains slowly.

Can't really say I'm listening.

…OOOOOOOOOO…

"Huh?" I slur cleverly in my fathomless depths of intuition and tact.

…OOOOOOOOOO…

"Don't act like an idiot, Bakura. You've seen a bit of the town, now lets go back to the bus." Kaiba sighs, motioning towards the door.

…OOOO—Wait, what was that? Since when was only a doll shop "a bit of the town"? What if I want to see more? Maybe I want some tempura fried crab or something before I leave? The sensei might ask questions if I only write about buses, hotels, and geisha dolls.

"Bakura, this town has nothing. There's not even a decent bank."

Kaiba is frowning at his goal, the door. I'm trying to understand just what having a bank or not means to him. Maybe the whole seat of Kaiba's financial superiority rests in his proximity to places where he can call for money.

"C'mon, lets go."

I don't move as Kaiba motions towards the door yet again. He sighs at me like I'm an idiot and need to be shown the way out. After a few futile attempts, he realizes he's not getting through.

"Kaiba-kun," I finally say, trying to keep my voice steady. For some reason or another it wants to speed out and up in a high, twittering mumble, hardly audible. I must concentrate to rein it in and still remember what to say, which just happens to be something I find difficult.

"I do not want to sit in the bus for the next thirty minutes, Kaiba-kun. I need information for my report and if I at least write about Tempura like it completely awed me, the sensei will forgive the paper for not spotlighting everything else."

I managed this explanation quite nicely. I'm even surprised at how it came out, just straight and to the point. Kaiba, apparently not appreciating my amazing effort, scowls. Still, that doesn't make what I said untrue. He knows that. Maybe his strategic mind will take a compromise?

After a moment or two of silence, Kaiba decides to reply, "All right, you can see a bit more around Tempura, but afterwards I don't want to here you complain about not having any information."

I nod willingly. I supposed it'd be a bit too much to ask to stay with Yuugi-tachi then, since Kaiba seems to be forcing himself to agree with me as logic dictates. I suppose it could be worse, He could say no and physically force me back to the bus, acting clueless to how I know nothing when the reports are handed back. Kaiba could probably find out every interesting detail about all the cities we've visited easily through different sources or via the Internet.  I know this would, in no way, help me. I'll be the idiot even if Kaiba was the one not wanting to leave the bus. He might be good at lying and making up all the stuff he did, but I'm not. I like to take a straightforward approach without complicating myself in a thread of lies I'll have to remember, in case the sensei decides to reiterate one of the places I apparently "visited." My mind hasn't been trained for that kind of thinking, which is why I'm a terrible liar in the first place. I don't plan on fine-tuning the skill. Why cover your tracks with something you're not too great at anyway?

~~You can always blame your psychopathic yami, people would believe that~~

I sigh at this. That's because, half the time, the reason is my psychopathic yami. Whenever the white haired boy sends someone to the shadows or kills something innocent, it isn't Bakura Ryou. No, if Bakura's anything but passive and quiet-natured, it cannot be Bakura.

Still, I'm not too sure the sensei will accept that.

"Oh, your psychopathic yami, Bakura? Let me guess, his dog ate your homework, right? Does he live next-door to tooth fairy or across the street?"

I frown at this and start reading labels to develop a slight knowledge on the geisha doll. I learn quickly the dolls represent the geisha (which pretty much went without saying in the first place) and what postures and outfits represent the fan dancers. I read a few non-geisha children and men, and learn what the colors and patterns on their kimonos symbolize, from white cherry blossomed funerals to regal dragons. Each fact is packaged and stored into my mind for later use in the report.

Kaiba is looking uninterested over the porcelain faces as well. He glances indifferently over the eighteen-inch woman dressed in a forest worth of furs and fingers a bit of silk that brushes his arm for lack of a better occupation. I pause for a moment as I realize this is the first time I've ever seen Kaiba-kun look so, well, bored. I quickly turn back to the dolls before he suspects my mild scrutiny and wonder why he isn't making me leave? I imagine Kaiba to get what he wants and never compromise unless completely necessary. He should know all he had to do was tell me we were going and drag me out. I don't put up much of a fight.

"Bakura, unless you want to write your entire report on dolls, I suggest you hurry up and move on."

I find myself agreeing to this, the submissive side of me trying to resurface. Of course, it's the submissive side, so it should be easy to push right back down, only it doesn't really give a damn about what I could threaten. My oaths are generally mild and wrap up with no results in my favor. In fact, I'm famous for never standing up for myself. I doubt people even believe I try any more. I do try; it just isn't so glamorous as before. Sacrificing yourself earns nods of approval, but once it becomes unnecessary, people become twitchy and nervous, wondering what is going to happen next with that neurotic fiend in your mind running after the Sennen Items. It isn't a very comfortable atmosphere to be in.

"C'mon, you can sample the tempura here and consider yourself all the more worldly for it." Kaiba suggests as we walk down the street. I nod at this as he points silently to a near restaurant with the town's namesake over the door. We enter and Kaiba arranges seats at the U-shaped bar. We're soon waiting for our lunch to fry.

I observe the cooking technique used for the tempura. The chef flips the batter-covered bits of fish and vegetables into the fryer and waits for everything to cook. I give Kaiba a short glance as he chooses which course he wants first. I don't offer a suggestion towards any of my favorites and let Kaiba decide on everything. I still feel taxed by the fact I'm even here to begin with, and am desperately trying to find the kind of details that would make my visit in some way worthy of transcription so I won't be caught in a similar situation in the future. All I can see are prawns waiting to be fried. Maybe I could make an interesting memoir-like bit on how I've had to learn the difference between prawns and shrimp in living with Tousan, who tends to confuse them when buying groceries. Prawns are much larger and hardly shelled. You'd think they were still alive at first glance, when they happened to still possess eyes. It was one of the creepier seafood Tousan brought home and then realized he had no idea how it was prepared. He tried anyways, making a fried fish alamode that tasted anything but. Unlike the tempura chef in front of me, Tousan insisted on a thick crust of batter and left me completely sure he was a pie person and nothing else. His best works were pies and his fried food took after them. The tempura chef, however, seems completely knowledgeable on what he's doing and promptly removes the frying food at its moment of fried perfection and drops it onto a sheet of absorbent paper. I watch hungrily and remember I didn't exactly finish my bran flakes this morning. For this reason, I choose not to ruin the mood as the food is served, by looking at Kaiba. He's most likely as apathetic towards this as anything and so far jaded as to not even eat. He'd probably signal for me to hurry up and inhale the food already so we can leave sooner. He likes to economize and what is a better way than to hurry up here and have more time for his paperwork later?

Unfortunately, I believe in a thing called chewing, and it's not my fault Kaiba is a tragic workaholic.

"Why are you eating so slowly?"

"I'm chewing."

"Slowly?"

I'm annoyed at this and Kaiba's unwillingness to sample the local cuisine. I've been given no reason to believe the chef poisoned our food. It's really very good.

"Maybe you should try some, Kaiba-kun?" I suggest, not entirely convinced he'll even listen. Kaiba looks at me suspiciously and I feel like frowning. Tempura isn't like fugu, there's no small chance you'll die from it.

Much to my surprise, Kaiba takes up his chopsticks and grabs a small shrimp. Since I'm a very controlled person, I do not leap up and whoop at my victory. I smile slightly and that is all. I mentally cheer for myself in a muted tone, not wanting to impose the fact too harshly that I succeeded in making Domino's most elite eat tempura. I'm sure he would've had some anyway, as it all smells very delicious.

Kaiba goes for another piece, and I can't help but let my grin widen. He frowns at me over his plate.

"This is breakfast," he states with a slight growl. I nod and hurry back to my own eating, not wanting to be too obnoxious. I notice then that if I keep eating at my current rate, Kaiba will easily finished before me. I speed up slightly, wanting to finish but not wanting to look like I'm gorging. For all my effort, I'm still beaten and have to leave behind a few shrimp and carrots. Kaiba's plate is clear and that implies we're going right now.

"There, do you think you can stop being difficult and come back to the bus?" Kaiba asks as we leave the restaurant. I don't accept his phrasing of me being difficult, but don't retaliate. There's no point.

"Hai."

Kaiba seems to prefer this answer. It's obvious I'm wasting his precious time for doing whatever it is he's supposed to be doing instead. Well, sorry if I don't want to lie my way through the grade and fail. I'm not going to let myself go so low.

"Stop," Kaiba orders, suddenly halting.

"Wha—?" I crash into him again and jump back. Kaiba awards me one if his "what's wrong with you?" looks before turning back to whatever his distraction was. I blush and avert my eyes nervously to a rather suspicious looking ant crawling by.

"The bus isn't here."

I watch the ant a little longer before I translate the horrifying announcement.

"Oh…"

That's possibly the best answer I can formulate right now.

~!~!~

{A} Tempura: Yeah, I made that up. I now officially invoke my amazing artistic license. I mean, who's heard of the Domino metropolis in Japan? I have the right to make a small town, don't I? *random plot enthusiast glare at the location of Tempura* Beach front property? Oh that's rich!

{B} Bugatti 41 Royale: The most expensive automobile ever purchased, by the way, last time I checked.

Endnote: So many long paragraphs. Gomen if anyone fell asleep…. *props up readers more comfortably in front of their computers and shakes hands of parents overjoyed to tears at the fact their children have finally decided to sleep instead of reading fan fiction till midnight*

Heh, yeah…. It's the least I could do….

~Ling no Yong~