Well, hello again. After being yelled at and threatened by Ari, I have written another chappie with her help. Oh, Chris, I hope you feel better and hope this chappie eases your bordom.

Ari: I didn't threatin you...much...cough at least I didn't do it in my dragon form, my true form...evil smirk shape-shifting has its advantages.

Weirdo: Yipe! runs away

Ari: fear my power! no seriously, i AM the saner of the two of us writers,

really? cough cough

silence, puny mortal! on with the chapter!

Ari leaned back in her seat laughing slightly. They rode back to the competition, more talkative then they had been that morning, and in five minutes they were back in time for awards and the busses were parked for the night. Ari pocketed her wallet, not wanting to make the same mistake again. Even though they were given a solemn promise that the busses were there to stay.

The awards were nothing surprising. They had taken 7th place overall (a/n I think. I'm not sure) out of 14 in the 4a and 5a bands combined, which was really very good. However, they didn't make finals, though they would stay to watch. Ari knew it was bad of her, but she was glad that they hadn't made finals. She really did not want to get back in uniform. And purple wigs, a multi-colored bodysuit and a pound of make-up aren't easy for the Guard either.

The night became cold, but at last the finals had come. Ari, wrapped in a blanket between the bleacher seat with her back against Ryou's legs, was writing her own letter to Katie and Meagan. During one bands performance, Ryou put a hand on her head. Ari looked up and smiled.

Rachel was curled up in her thin fleece blanket, shivering like a leaf. Kaiba put an arm around her and put his blanket around the two of them. She leafed through a program, just wanting something to take her mind off the cold.

"Here's your food money." Kaiba said, handing her a twenty-dollar bill. Rachel nodded, and got up to get a hot dog and gummy worms.

Ari stayed where she was huddled in her blanket and pressing her back against Ryou's legs. "I have a blanket too, if you want to come up here and share." He offered.

Ari shook her head, "I like it down here." She replied. "Besides, you're warm enough." She added, smirking up at him. He smirked back, and placed a hand on her head again. "I would complain that I'm not a dog when you do that. But I like you too much."

Ryou laughed. "I suppose that's lucky for me…isn't it?" Ari just sniggled closer into his legs, smiling contentedly.

Rachel leaned in even closer to Kaiba and he tightened the blanket around them. "We were better than them." He snorted quietly to her as one band left the field.

She nodded, looking over at Ari and Ryou. Ari was sitting where people normally place their feet, sideways with the blanket wrapped around her and her back against the wind. Her knees were up, but not all the way, as she leaned back against Ryou's legs. He was o the bench above her and a hand was resting on her head. Rachel slipped her own arm around Kaiba's waist, and he gently returned the action.

"I love you." He whispered in her ear. Rachel pulled away as he kissed her ear. "I don't care if you don't love me back."

"Is that computer noises?" She said, looking at the band playing. Kaiba sighed. She wasn't going to answer him, not now at least. But he'd meant what he said.

The rest of the groups went by in a blur; neither Ari nor Ryou noticed them much. They were both using each other to keep warm against the bitter cold. "I swear." Ari said quietly, snuggling against Ryou's legs, "that I will never call anything cold again unless it's a winter night on a football field in San Francisco.

"Mmm…" Ryou murmured, wrapping his blanket tighter around the two of them.

"HI guys." Yami said, walking up. (A/n: you wanted him and here he is) He was one of the only people without a blanket himself, but Yugi could be heard a few yard lines over saying, "Hey, where's my blanket?"

"Hey Yami." Ari said as Ryou smiled a greeting and moved over so Yami would have a little more room.

Yami accepted his invitation, forcing Ari to bring her knees up all the way so he could put his legs down. Yami smiled down at her, and rested the arches of his feet on the corner of the seat below her. "Just because the rest of us her on the seats are cramped doesn't mean you have to be." He said.

Ari nodded. "Thanks Yami." She said, going back to the position she was in before. She had to admit it was warmer with a pair of legs on either side of her.

After the band with the computer-like theme was done, Yami spoke. "Hey, Ryou-kun, Can I borrow Ari for a moment?"

Ryou looked at Ari as she stood. "It's okay, Ryou. I was going to get food now anyway." She said, joints stiff from sitting on the cold so long. "You want anything?"

Ryou nodded. "Can you get me some nachos?" He asked.

Ari nodded again, threading her way with Yami following behind her through the numerous bodies in the bleachers down to the vendors were selling food. "So Yami," Ari asked after they had each purchased a drink and some nachos- Ari had gotten an extra for Ryou, "what did you want to talk to me about?"

(A/N: hey! Its Ari! I'm finally typing something for this myself! Yay! Well, from the person who wrote this section, the drama is coming! Mwahaha!)

Yami shifted on his feet, sipping his hot chocolate. "Um…"

"Oh, come on, Yami, say it." she smirked, teasing him. "The great pharaoh who saved the world, tongue-tied?"

Yami frowned playfully. "Quiet, you." He said, mocking an imperial tone. Ari smiled, then started laughing. After a moment, Yami started laughing too. They always laughed when they were around each other, regardless of the situation.

"Get it over with, Yami." Yugi said, walking past them. Yami frowned at his hikari, then turned to Ari. "And you have my blanket." Yugi added, grabbing it back. Yami stuck out his tongue as Yugi walked away.

"He whines too much." Yami said.

"Get what over with?" Ari asked, taking a sip. Yami sighed, closing his eyes, then taking a deep breath.

"I like you and I was really hoping just you and me could spend tomorrow together." He said, almost running all his words together.

Ari had swallowed the hot chocolate, but there was still a bit of liquid in her mouth. She coughed furiously, surprised. Yami came up and put a hand on her back, rubbing I slightly until she stopped. "W-what?" She asked when she had calmed down.

"I- like you Ari." He repeated nervous. "And- I was hoping that- if you wanted- we could hang out tomorrow, just the two of us."

Ari paled, nervous. "Oh, Yami, I already made plans with Ryou-kun tomorrow. Me, him Rachel, and Kaiba."

"Oh…"

Ari felt horrible, Yami was another really good friend. She also had almost no secrets with him, and she was pretty sure he had none with her. Especially now that he had told her…this. "D-did you want to come with us?" she offered, not wanting to make him feel bad. She felt bad enough for the both of them.

Yami grumbled. "Yugi will want to come, and Jonouchi and everyone else." He grumbled again. "And Anzu will follow me like she always does." It was common knowledge that the annoying flute player who had been sent to the Shadow Realm more times than all the other people who'd been sent there combined and who would give Chenoa the most pleasure to kill, besides Bish-O-Man, had a huge, unreturned crush on Yami.

"Invite them along." Ari said. "Except Tea, she can go off doing…whatever it is she does."

Yami smirked. "Yeah…and I can always send her to the Shadow Realm if she follows and gets too annoying." Ari laughed a bit, and Yami slowly sipped more of his hot chocolate. "But…Ari?"

"Yeah?"

"Will you…go out with me?"

Ari really didn't want to turn him down. She really liked Yami, she just didn't…like him. 'Besides,' She thought. 'I guess me and Ryou–Kun are together…but I don't want to disappoint Yami..."

"Sure." She said, taking a sip of her drink walking quickly back to her spot on the bleachers. "But…just to see…you know…"

Yami nodded. "I was about to suggest that myself." He said, 'Ra,' He thought 'What am I thinking. I saw it, I saw the way she and Ryou-Kun were with each other. I should know better, but…I guess I don't.'

Ari put a hand on his shoulder. "Come on, the band's almost done." She said, gently. "We should get back."

Yami shook his spiked head. "Yeah, you're right." He said, starting to walk back.

Ari followed, not quite sure why she had just done what she did. 'Why?' She yelled at herself. 'Why? I've kissed Ryou, I've told him I loved him, he's done the same to me and what do I do? I accept a date with Yami! Not that I don't like Yami. I do…just not that way. I like Ryou that way, not Yami! Okay, I've just got to go up to him, look him straight in the eye and tell him I can't do it. I can't go out with him.' But when she looked at him, sitting next to Ryou again, and making room for her to get back in her spot after somehow stealing Yugi's blanket again, she couldn't say anything. Ryou looked at her questioningly, but Ari just shook her head as she got back in her position.

No! Have pity Mighty Ari! cowers

you learn fast...laughs dont worry, you know i love you too much to kill you. and if ANYONE out there takes that the wrong way, I WILL KILL THEM!

Believe me! You DONT want to envoke her wrath! Just Trust me on that one wink