Disclaimer: Of course I don't own Digimon.

Akiyama Ryo didn't occupy her mind much after she got back to work. In fact, it was pretty much impossible to keep anything in her head when she was being cross-examined six ways from Sunday. No lawyer could have done a better job. Kunda had promised that this would all be over by Sunday, but Ruki began to forget when that was--or what it was, from time to time.

Her head was spinning by the time she got home. It was still spinning when she finally put her head on her pillow, closed her eyes and went to sleep.

She woke up exhausted.

Seiko was already up and in the kitchen, and that was Rumiko talking. Ruki's eyes snapped open. She climbed out of bed, and felt as if her head weighed a hundred pounds. Her feet felt just about a heavy, but if Rumiko was awake, that meant she'd overslept. One foot after another, she left her room and made her way toward the kitchen.

"Sorry I overslept," she said and she came in, "I..." Her eyes widened.

Yamaki Mitsuo was sitting at her table, eating rice, bread and miso that she knew Seiko must have cooked for him. For one bizarre moment, Ruki found herself wishing that she didn't snore.

"Hello," he started, and quickly found himself talking to air as Ruki disappeared, having already run back her room.

Five minutes later, Ruki was back in jeans and a t-shirt, with her hair brushed. Yamaki looked up at her and waited, as though expecting her to disappear again. He wasn't in uniform, though the outfit he chose today was still professional. He wasn't wearing shades either, and those dark eyes were more than weird.

"Sorry," she said, sticking her hands in her pockets. Since Yamaki was sitting in her chair, she chose the one beside her mother, and Seiko immediately set a plate a rice in front of her. Hardly paying much mind, Ruki began eating.

"I understand that you're working for the Digimon corporation," Yamaki began.

"It's actually just a week trial," Rumiko began.

Yamaki ignored her, continuing to watch Ruki. "Why?"

Ruki took a bite of rice thoughtfully. "Why not?"

"Ruki," Seiko chastized.

"It's all right," Yamaki assured Seiko. He turned back to Ruki. "You don't have to tell me your reasons for letting them sponsor you. I just want to know what you told them."

"About what?"

"Hypnos' involvement with Digimon."

"They haven't asked anything," Ruki shrugged. "They're too busy asking me what my favorite food, color and band is, what my shoe size is, and what I always pick out when we go clothes shopping."

"They haven't asked you anything about Digimon?"

"No," Ruki said, and then paused. "No," she said again.

The hesitation was enough. Yamaki leaned in. "What all did you tell them?"

Note: Yay, short chapter. To sort of, you know, balance out the length of the last one. I plotted this out, but I couldn't think of anything for Yamaki to say. Sorry! But it's kind of a good thing, since I can't really remember much of his personality. I had to look up some fanfiction to see if I could get his voice, but, um. You know.

Alternative title for this chapter is "Hey, You're Not Tiffany" -- for the song Breakfast at Tiffany's by Deep Blue Something. And it's like 6:11am, so I need to hurry up and finish the next chapter before we have to go to Atlanta. I still need to take a shower. Blah.