Chapter Two-Rex's Assignment,Seto's Interference

"Bakura Ryou....." Rex felt a lump in his throat instantly. He knew of Bakura. He babysat his sister Elizabeth sometimes. He glanced over the record his advisor had given him. But....they can't really expect me to go to Bakura's and take Lizzie out of the house just like that! He closed his eyes tightly, then shook his head. "I've got to do what the law sees fit. I knew what this job entailed before I took it."

"You okay,Raptor?" Alston Craven walked into the assignment office. He was Rex's only friend there at the Child Services agency. He brushed his less than perfect brown hair out of his face.

"Sure.....just I don't think I can do this...." Rex showed him the paper work. "This child is a very dear friend of mine,Alston. As is her guardian."

"Ouch....that's going to be painful..." Alston sympathized, as he read it over. "But you can't think about friendships at a job like this. We're only supposed to do what is best for the child."

"I know that!" Rex exploded. "But you gotta understand the bond she's got with Bakura! It's very special, and I just hate it when we have to take a child away for stupid reasons like money problems!"

"Calm down,man. I'll go with you, okay?" Alston put a hand on Rex's shoulder. "Let's go, okay?"

"Alright." Rex nodded, and they left the offices.

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"I play Morphing Jar. Now we get to draw all new cards!" Elizabeth smiled at Seto triumphantly.

The CEO grunted, and shook his head. "Suit yourself. You're only prolonging your defeat,Kid." He smirked, as he drew his cards.

"Defeat? I've been training with Yami Bakura. He's teaching me more and more moves everyday."

"Oh really?" Seto laid three cards face down. "Well,if you can beat me,I'll buy you an ice cream, okay?" He intended to take her and Mokuba out for ice cream anyway.

"You're on." Lizzie grinned,and played her tur n. The rest of the duel was silent and in the end, they were only a hundred life points apart,with Seto having the upper hand.

At length,Seto's phon e rang. The CEO answered it. "Kaiba."

"Kaiba....it's Bakura." The British boy sounded odd.

"Bakura. What is it?" He stood up, and walked into his study.

"Rex is here....he needs Lizzie." Bakura's voice cracked slightly.

"Why?" Kaiba's eyes narrowed.

"Child services is taking her from me...." The boy broke down now. "Oh,I can't stand this...at all."

"And Rex Raptor is told to do this? Does he have prove?"

"H-he has paperwork..." Bakura replied quietly. "Will you please bring her?"

"I'll be there in five minutes." Seto hung up, and returned to the dining room. "Get your coat." He told Lizzie quietly. "We have to go see Bakura."

"What's wrong, Seto? Is Bakura okay?"

"You'll see." Seto replied, as he pulled his own long coat on. "Come on."

Elizabeth pulled her navy blue coat on, following Seto out to his car. "What's going on, Seto? Please tell me!"

"Child Services is trying to pull a fast one with you. Well it isn't going to work." Seto replied, as he held the door open for the girl. "Don't worry about it." They drove to Bakura's small house.

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Alston raised an eyebrow at the long limousine that approached. "Hey, Rex...is that who I think it is?"

Rex glanced out the window. "It's Kaiba. I guess Elizabeth was spending the day over there or something." He watched as Seto led Lizzie up the door, and let themselves in.

"What's this all about,Raptor?" The businessman demanded, as Lizzie flew into Bakura's arms in tears.

"The state has requested Elizabeth be removed due to the fact that Bakura can no longer afford to take care of her."

"What does that mean, exactly?" Seto growled now. "Is she going to an orphanage?"

"Yes,until a foster family can find room for her." Alston replied, his heart breaking. "

"Forget this. I'm taking her." Seto declared, flipping his cell phone out, and calling his lawyer.

Meanwhile, Bakura was holding on to Elizabeth tightly. "I'm so very sorry,Lizzie."

"I don't want to leave!" Lizzie cried into Bakura's shirt. "Please don't make me go, Ryou!"

"I'm n -not sure I can prevent it, Lizzie......" Bakura hugged her close, listening to Kaiba on the phone.

"Look! I don't give a damn about that! Elizabeth is as much mine as she is Bakura's! You let her get taken away, and she won't survive!" Seto raged when his lawyer tried to explain that the Child Services Agency would have to approve him taking Lizzie.
"They let me have Mokuba. Why won't they let me have Lizzie? I took care of her before!" He gripped his cell phone tightly, teeth clenched in frustration. After a few more minutes, he nodded, seemingly satisfied. "Thank you. That's all I wanted." He hung up, and turned to Bakura. "They're going to let me take her for now."

"W-well, that's good then..." Bakura nodded shakily, and petted Lizzie's hair. "You hear that, Elizabeth? You're gonna get to go stay with Seto and Mokuba for a while." He tried to smile for his sister's sake. "It'll be fun!"

"Come on, Lizzie. We'll go get you some new things, okay? That way when you come back to Bakura, you can still have things for over at my house. How does that sound?"

"Okay....." LIzzie had a hard time letting go of her brother's hand though. Finally, Seto pried her away, and they left, after Rex had him sign an agreement.

Bakura watched the limousine drive off. After letting Rex and Alston out, he slid down the wall, and cried uncontrollably. He hated that this was happening again. He hated even more that he couldn't stop it, and only hoped it wouldn't be much longer before he'd have his beloved sister in his arms again.