Bakura closed his book as the class broke for lunch, smiling as Jounouchi began his usual routine of relief. He looked over at where Kaiba was still reading. "Are you going to come to lunch, Kaiba-kun?" he asked

"Why?" the brunet asked, not looking up from his book.

"I thought maybe because of the project...." the paler boy trailed off a moment, then reached into his bag. "Here," he smiled, holding out the lunch he had made for himself that morning.

Kaiba glanced at him, then accepted the bag and rose. He offered his arm with a look of amusement.

Bakura blinked in surprise a moment before blushing and accepting.

Kaiba led the way to the cafeteria, pushing the door open and choosing a table away from everyone else.

Bakura smiled selfconsciously as he sat, feeling the stares of his friends and classmates. He opened the lunch bag and smiled again at the simple sandwich inside. "Aa!" he exclaimed happily. "This is one of my favorites!"

"I know," Kaiba said, removing the lunch Bakura had packed and putting as much of it as he could within the other boy's reach so it could be shared.

Bakura blinked. "You do? How?"

"It's information that's easily obtained. It's the kind of sandwich you always get at delis."

The paler boy blinked again. "Obtained how...?" he asked, voice mildly concerned and worried.

"Old records." Kaiba took a bite of the food, aware that everyone was watching to see if he'd actually eat it.

"There's records of what I ordered at delis?" Bakura looked amused. "I though you only got that when use a credit card or the like?"

Kaiba smirked and took another bite.

Bakura gave a small laugh. "So you're the master of information as well as the Blue Eyes?" he smiled.

"I'm the master of many things," Kaiba said, giving Bakura a slow look over.

The boy gave a small shiver at the innuendo and looked down at his sandwich with a slightly blush. "Un," he nodded.

Kaiba glanced around at the rest of the cafeteria with a dry glare. They all went back to their own lunches.

There was a quiet for a moment before Bakura spoke again. "So how do you like the lunch?" he asked softly, looking up.

"You cook well," Kaiba said.

"Thank you," Bakura smiled happily. "It's something I enjoy. If you'd like, I can make you a lunch for tomorrow too. You'd have to tell me what you like though. I don't have your information." He rubbed the back of his neck in mild embarrassment.

"I don't often eat lunch," Kaiba said. "You don't have to."

"I'd like to. I can make them small, but you really should eat something...."

Kaiba's eyes narrowed. "Do not try to change me."

"I'm not!" Bakura insisted nervously before looking down. "I just..." he hesitated a moment. "You don't even have to eat it, but if you have it, then if you want to you can..." he trailed off, twisting his hands.

Kaiba glared at him a moment longer. "If you wish to cook you may."

Bakura gave a small relieved smile. "Thanks. What-- what did you want me to make for you?"

"I don't care."

Bakura nodded. "I'll try not to disappoint," he said formally, bowing slightly.

Kaiba snorted. "I'll eat whatever you give me."

"But it should be something you like. Food is something you should enjoy." Bakura smiled.

"Food is food," Kaiba said, "It doesn't matter."

Bakura was quiet a moment. "Food is... It's like the will to live. Like how if you don't eat it means you don't care if you live or die, if you don't take enjoyment in what you eat, it's like you don't take enjoyment from life because you don't care about what's keeping you alive..." he trailed off with an embarrassed look, feeling foolish. "Sorry."

Kaiba snorted again, putting down what he was eating. "My will to live comes from things other than food." He rose. "I am finished."

Bakura nodded. "Sorry," he repeated again.

Kaiba left the cafeteria, going back to the classroom.

With a small sigh Bakura moved to the table where Yuugi and his friends were sitting.

"He ate!" Yuugi said, wide-eyed.

Bakura covered his laugh with his hand and nodded.

"And he came into the cafeteria to do it!" Anzu added in equal amazement.

Yuugi nodded agreement. "How did you do it?"

Bakura blinked. "I-- just gave him my lunch because he made one for me."

"He made you lunch!" Yuugi's eyes practically bugged out of his head.

"Un," Bakura smiled, trying hard not to blush.

Honda shook his head slightly and went back to poking at the remainder of his lunch.

Jounouchi scowled, glaring at Bakura slightly. "You do know he's just doing this to get a better grade."

Bakura blinked in confusion.

"Class participation means acting the parts in public. He's a soulless bastard, Bakura, you remember that!" Jounouchi pointed.

"But Jounouchi-kun, he ATE something," Yuugi said. "He wouldn't eat for a grade! And Kaiba-kun doesn't care about grades. And I don't think we get graded for lunch...."

"If Bakura doesn't act the part as well, his grade goes down. Bastard's just manipulating him." Jounouchi scowled.

Bakura looked down, hands tensing around the bag his lunch from Kaiba had been in.

"You think he'd go that far?" Anzu asked, appalled.

"Why not? You've seen the shit he pulls."

"But Jounouchi-kun, he never does anything like that for his own gain! Only for his brother."

Jounouchi gave a snort. "Like anything he did during the finals was for his brother? That was all his own greed."

"Jounouchi-kun...."

"Bakura, talk to the teacher, I'm sure we can pull something to get you a partner with a soul," Jounouchi said, turning to the paler boy. "Maybe we could even find a way to double you up with someone or ya can do it on your own, like a divorce household or something."

Bakura said nothing, still looking down at the bag in his fists. Slowly, he relaxed them, flexing his fingers.

"Bakura? You okay?" Honda asked, concerned.

The paler boy rose to his feet with deliberate slowness. "I like having Kaiba-kun as my partner for this, Jounouchi-kun. I'm not going to try and get another partner," he said with a soft spoken firmness.

"You've got to be kidding me!" Jounouchi exclaimed. "Who could like that asshole?!"

"I could...." Bakura said softly.

Honda shook his head slightly while Anzu stared.

Yuugi's hands were clasped under his chin as he looked at Bakura with shining eyes. "Bakura-kun! You really like him?"

Bakura nodded with a small smile. "Un."

Yuugi was ecstatically happy. "Yay! Everyone should like someone!" he declared, punching his hands in the air.

Anzu smiled fondly while Honda chuckled.

Jounouchi continued to stare at Bakura in shock that was bordering disgust.

The pale haired boy looked around him to his smaller friend. "Arigatou, Yuugi-kun," he smiled, sitting down again.

"Do you know what he thinks of you?" Yuugi asked. "I mean, he made you lunch. But you were so embarrassed the other day when he carried you in here." The boy frowned. "You thought he did it 'cause he hated you."

"I'm really not sure," Bakura confessed, embarrassed. "But I know he doesn't hate me. So maybe..." he trailed off with a small wistful smile.

"And maybe Yuugi'll grow another three feet tonight," Jounouchi scowled darkly.

Yuugi deflated quickly. "Mom says I might grow more," he said in a small voice.

"Jounouchi...!" Anzu half growled as she glared at the blond, putting an arm around her boyfriend. "Watch what you say!"

Jounouchi grimaced. "I didn't mean it that way!"

"No, it's okay," Yuugi said, forcing himself to be cheerful again. "Even if I don't grow anymore, I'm still taller than Jiichan. And Jiichan can beat Jounouchi-kun up, so there's nothing to worry about!"

"Hey!" Jounouchi said.

Yuugi gave a gentle smile. "I didn't mean it that way, Jounouchi-kun," he said, echoing Jounouchi's words. The blond looked uncomfortable.

Honda pushed Jounouchi's head toward his food. "Find something to do with your mouth other than make an ass out of yourself."

Jounouchi slapped Honda's hand away with a scowl.