Hi everyone, sorry it took me a while to update-school just started, so I've been kind of busy. But enough of me making pathetic excuses. On with the fic!

Disclaimer: Once again, don't, and never will own Baten Kaitos. But I do own Mattimus, and Mandy. (You'll be meeting her later)

Review responses:

Coalar Lee Drake: Hooray, a new reader! Thanks so much for the great reviews. Yay! I love cheesecake!

WildBlackWolf and Viva: Thanks for the review!

Luv2game: I hope you're spelling it right, because that's how I spell it two! XD You're right by the way, someone will be giving up either in this chapter or the next (haven't figured out which yet). But who? Read and find out!

Crazygirl306: Thanks for the review, hope you like the chapter

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"What's wrong Anna?" Gibari asked, seeing her hesitate.

"Yeah, you're looking kind of weird. You feeling alright?" Reblys examined her closely. She snapped out of it, putting both plates on the table with a decisive clash, and promptly started dividing the meals in half with Reblys's knife.

"Uhhhh, Anna? What's going on?" Gibari looked suspicous.

"Well, I decided, since the curries are slightly different flavours, you boys just might want to try a bit of both, to make it more interesting." Anna chirped hurriedly, emptying two of the halves onto the other plates, and setting them in front of the men. "Here you go, enjoy, won't you." She smiled as she saw the jug of water still untouched, and reached out her hand. "Maybe I should just take this, seeing as it's being un-used and all."

"NO!" The cry came from both sides of the table at once. Gibari cleared his throat awkwardly.

"You never know when you're going to get thirsty, right?" He defended himself. Reblys stuffed a large amount of curry in his mouth, and nearly coughed it back up again unwillingly, before managing to compose himself, and swallow, as Anna strolled off again.

"Go easy there Reblys. If you start choking on a too big hunk of meat, don't look to me to rescue ya." Gibari cautioned.

"Ha. Just because you eat like a grandmother doesn't mean we all have too." Proclaimed Reblys, continuing to shovel it in, and doing his best to ignore the burning that started at his tongue, and trailed all down his neck. Gibari growled.

"You think I can't eat fast? I'll show you just what I'm made of." He grabbed his own fork, and started spooning in his own curry as quickly as he could, quickly turning a cry of pain into a cough as it burned his tongue. The curry rapidly started disappearing as the two men glared at each other, neither breaking contact. One of them was going down.

"Those boys." Anna remarked. "Reblys looks like one of those pufferfish with his cheeks all bulging like that." She heard a snigger behind her, and saw Savyna also watching with amusement dancing in her eyes. They caught each others eyes unintentionally, and Anna let forth a chuckle, before they both started laughing (well, Anna laughing, and Savyna smiling, which counts as a laugh from her), breaking the ice between them.

"How long do you think they'll last?" Savyna asked, coming forward.

"Hard to say." Anna confessed. She shot a look at Savyna. "Did you spice one curry more than the other?"

"No." The violet haired woman answered, before the faintest traces of a grin appeared on her face. "Although it was amusing watching you try to figure out what I'd done." Anna looked offended, before laughing again.

"I was acting a bit foolish. Actually Savyna, I have a small confession to make." She admitted, looking embarrassed. "I bribed Reblys to make sure he won. It wasn't fair, and I apologize."

"Don't." Savyna advised her. "You're not the only one."

"You mean you did too?" Anna looked surprised, then grinned as Savyna nodded. "So what did you say? I told Reblys I'd break up with Mattimus."

"Isn't that a little harsh?" Savyna asked, thinking of the bumbling, but generally nice fisherman."

"Well I had to get rid of him somehow, didn't I?" Anna chuckled. "So, come on, what did you tell Gibari?"

"That'd I go on a date with him." Savyna shrugged nonchalently as Anna looked amused.

"If Gibari win's this, you may regret that. He's not exactly the most romantic I know."

"Perhaps you're right. Guess we'll find out. If he wins that is." Just then, they were interrupted at a loud clanging noise, as a fisherman stumbled into the kitchen, banging into a table, and bringing a pile of plates crashing to the floor with him. Anna rolled her eyes as he staggered up again, a bunch of withered looking roses clutched tightly in his hand.

"Hi Anna!" He exclaimed. Although Mattimus was the same age as Reblys, he acted like a 10 year old, and rather looked like one too, with a round, boyish face, and large blue eyes. His lank blonde hair hung down to his shoulders, and was tangled and uncared for. Anna faked a smile.

"Hey Mattimus, what are you doing here? You know the kitchen is for staff members only." She pointed out rather sharply. Of course Mattimus didn't take the hint.

"I wanted to surprise you!" He beamed, coming forward, and knocking a saucepan of the stove as he did so.

"I can sort it out." Savyna moved forward, clearing up the plates on the floor, and disappearing out the kitchen, giving the couple some privacy.

"Well, you surprised me." Anna started nudging him towards the door. "Let's meet up again sometime. It was nice talking to you."

"Wait!" He protested, handing her the roses. "I got these for you. Do you like them?" She took them gingerly.

"Thanks." She said, feeling slightly guilty. "How have you been?"

"Oh just great! I caught a huge fish today, it must have weighed 90 pounds!" He instantly launched into a story, and Anna hid a smile as she listened to him exaggerate hugely, about his ferocious battle with this fish, with all the other fisherman cheering him on. Eventually he finished, and beamed at her. "So." He concluded. "To celebrate, I'm cooking dinner for you tomorrow. I've been asking Mandy for advice-and I reckon I can handle fish and chips. Sound good?"

"Great." Anna lied, the guilt in her stomach increasing. If Reblys won, then that would be the time she'd have to dump him. She suddenly realized she didn't want too, at least not like that. "I'll see you tomorrow then, OK? I have work to do now."

"Sure. Don't worry, everything will be perfect." He assured her, backing out and nearly knocking a chair over, but just managing to recover. Rather embarrassed, he left, Reblys glaring at him with every step he took, and Anna gave a sigh of relief. She didn't want Reblys too win anymore, that was for sure.

"I can help Savyna encourage Gibari." She decided. "That way they can go out on a date, and I won't have too worry about dumping Mattimus, at least, not just yet." Mind made up, she started to walk out the door, only to have Savyna enter.

"Savyna." She smiled, the younger woman tilting her head in acknowledgement. Taking a deep breath, Anna blurted it out. "I've changed my mind, I've decided I want Gibari to win-so maybe we can work together?"

"Oh." Was Savyna's only response. "That's a shame."

"Huh? Why?" Anna looked surprised.

"It's quite simple. I'm afraid my mind has changed as well." She explained.

"You mean now you want Reblys to win?" Anna exclaimed, as Savyna nodded. She collapsed into a chair, giving a great sigh.

"It seems we're on opposite sides once again." Observed Savyna. Anna looked at her, a small smile tugging at her lips.

"Perhaps not." She realized.

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What's Anna got up her sleeve? Find out in the next chapter. Please, please review and tell me what you think, I really appreciate it. Thanks!