Hello, dear readers! Happy holidays! I have finally managed to finish this chapter, sorry it took forever! It was a difficult chapter to write, to be honest. When I first started it, I wrote like 6-7 pages of it within a month after the last post but then I got stuck. The story wasn't flowing right. It just wasn't going in the direction I wanted it. So after struggling for like 6 months, I scrapped the whole thing. I started writing it all over again and got once again stuck but this time, it was different. I just couldn't find the time to write. So I ended up using whatever little time I could to write a sentence or two or paragraph here and there. By the time November hit, I was desperate. I wanted to get it done before the end of the year. That was my goal. So, I asked my boss to switch my shift to overnight. I had been having split shift working overnight half the week and the other half during the day. All my free time was spend on sleeping because I was missing sleep due to work. So she did and it worked. 2 weeks and I got most of this finished. By the first days of December I had a final draft. I finished the chapter on the 8th but it felt like something was missing. My schedule got changed again to day time but it was still ok. I still had time so on my days off I worked on it with as little distractions as possible. This last week I added a big scene and it made it all the much better.

Also, thank you to everyone who has reviewed for always supporting me. To those who started following this story and who added me to their fav author, thank you so very much!

So, I'll stop now and hope you guys enjoy it! But first a recap of last chapter!

"He doesn't remember going after Sector Security or going to prison." Yusei continued. "He knows why he has his mark but…" Yusei stopped himself. He almost mentioned about Kiryu's Dark Signer self; perhaps that was something he should keep from her. It could potentially scare her or make her even more wary of his friend. Then again, she also had a lot of stuff going for him to add a supernatural element to it.

"But what?" The girl asked curiously.

"It's nothing. I guess, just don't mention his mark to him." Yusei requested.

She pouted feeling he was keeping something from her. "Alright," Yori agreed. "Maybe it is because I am not supposed to know about the Dark Signers and Signers' stuff." She thought out loud.

Yusei froze as the light on the street changed to red and the 'Walk' sign lighted up. Yori looked back when she noticed he was no longer with her. She finished crossing the street and just looked at him confused from the other side. The look on his face told her what she feared- she had blurted out her thoughts again. 'Cindy, we have a problem.'

Chapter 32: Truths and Lies

'Cindy, we have a problem.' Sayori dreaded how her awful habit of saying whatever was on her mind betrayed her. She had worked very hard to get rid of it and it had work to some extent, mostly but somehow Cindy's arrival had reawakened it. Her presence had brought back memories of the girl she used to be and it had been a good thing for the most part. Bringing out the child in her who use to be full of wonder, who was kind, and who tried to see the bright side of things but it also brought out that dreaded habit. However, no matter how much she regretted saying it and how she tried to warn her counterpart; Cindy couldn't do anything. She was blissfully unaware, being unconscious right now. 'Should I play dumb?' She looked at the streetlight which was still in red and the countdown was starting at 20 seconds.

As she waited, she tried to read Yusei's facial expression but it was back to his usual poker face. Why did it have to be so good? He stared at her and then to the countdown as well and back. She sighed, unable to do anything. Maybe she should tease him about being a slowpoke? Something playful just to at least lightened the mood. Just as her mind was working on such a plan her phone started ringing and vibrating with an incoming call. 'I feel pretty, oh so pretty' her phone played; she hurried to pick it up. 'I feel pretty and witty and-' She now regretted picking that song for Ralph's ringtone. "Why are you calling?" She asked her best friend, not bothering with politeness.

"Your mom called; she wants to talk to you!" His voice was hushed and slightly panicked.

She bit her lip, refraining herself from cursing. "I will do my best to get back ASAP. What did you tell her?" She asked knowing he was already covering for her.

"I told her you were bathing and I was going to go get you." Of course, he would say something like that. It was one of the few excuses that would make sense why she couldn't answer the phone right away.

"I would hit you if you were to actually barge in on me. I would throw whatever I had on hand; you know?"

"I'm aware." He chuckled. "Just hurry." He ended the called.

Great, now she had more stuff on her plate. Yusei was already halfway through the street when she finished the called and she started running towards him and then sort of pushing him towards where he just came from. "Sorry, Yusei, but please, can you take me back to the house?" She said in a single breath to a confused Yusei.

"Did something happen?" He asked as she pushed him.

She took his hand and started now dragging him back to where he had parked his D-Wheel. "Ralph called. Mother wishes to talk to me." She was half running trying to get Yusei to hurry but he was trying to get what was going on and walking briskly at this point. Not to mention, he had other questions before this.

"Look, technically, I do not have a curfew since I am supposed to go straight home but since they usually call after 6 p.m.…. I thought it would be fine."

"I see," Yusei replied and started picking up the pace a bit since they were pretty close anyway. It took them less than 2 minutes to reach their destination. "I thought you didn't want to ride again though?" He asked while still passing her a helmet.

She started putting the helmet on. "I really hated riding like this," she replied honestly and proceeded to climb first. "However, I trust you, Yusei." Cindy trusted Yusei wholeheartedly and Sayori found Yusei to be trustworthy as well. She found herself believing in him, believed he would forgive them once he knew the truth as well.

He climbed. "…Hold on tight." He said in a low voice before speeding off.

As they approached her residence, she told Yusei to go around towards the back and with his help, she climbed the wall fence and onto a tree that was near her room. It was dangerous but she assured him, it wasn't her first time. Not to mention, Ralph had deactivated the security system for now. He then proceeded towards the front door. He would try to buy her a bit more time, somehow. She was going to need it as she would have to change her clothes and fix her hair and make it seem as if she had recently gotten out of the bath.

It had already been 15-20 minutes since Ralph called and she managed to enter her room. Now, she needed a suitable outfit and she had no idea what to wear. Ralph's phone call had been so short and she didn't even ask him what exactly had he told her mother. Did he tell her that he informed Yori she was on the line? Or had he made the excuse she was in the bath and pretended she didn't know she was on the line? Not knowing that was the tricky part. She decided to fix her hair and make it wet while she thought about it further.

Unable to decide and running out of time, she decided to simply fix her uniform into something that might look presentable. She got rid of her blazer and skirt; keeping her shorts and pulled her long over the knee socks up. She hurriedly tried to change her blouse but the buttons frustrated her as she kept fumbling with them. She quickly gave up; with the buttons she managed to unfastened she pulled the shirt to revealed her shoulders. She put on top a long, grey, flyaway vest and switch her shoes to mid-calf boots with ties in the front and zipper on the back. She finished by putting on a black corset belt on top of her vest.

She then hurried down the stairs; as she descended the stairs, she fixed the cuffs of her shirt to an appropriate length at her wrists. Getting closer, she could hear Yusei saying something but couldn't make out what. She could also see her mother on the monitor looking not too pleased. She still looked stunning as always. She was wearing a beige jacket that rested on her shoulders and a simple V neck satin shirt. Her hair neatly tied up in a bun.

"I do appreciate you have helped my daughter, Mr. Fudo," Mizuki said to the young man in front of the screen in the living room. "However, it would be best if you refrain from seeing each other."

"GYAHHH!"

Everyone looked in the direction of the scream. Yusei and Ralph hurrying towards it and Kiryu following behind, as he was the farthest away. Before they could even leave the room completely Yori appeared at the entrance.

"Are you alright?" Ralph was the first to ask, trying to suppress his laughter and a grin appearing on his face.

She nodded but avoided eye contact and continued inside. She entered the main living room; it was a big room beautifully decorated almost like a modern European castle. There was a faux fireplace and, on the mantle, where usually the family portrait would be, now Mizuki appeared on the screen.

"Hello, mother. How do you do? My apologies for the wait." She bowed her head slightly, minding her posture. She held both of her hands in front of her clasped together. Her voice was firm and clear, she held herself in a dignified manner.

"How do you do, Yori? I called earlier since you are to go to that conference but Ralph told me you were taking a bath. Should you not be preparing to leave? What is the meaning of this?" Mizuki's eyes focus on the girl.

"I see." Yori smiled softly. "I would have surmised Ren-onii-sama informed you but perhaps he is memorizing the documents."

Everyone returned to their former places on the sofa and continued staring at the big screen in the middle of the room. Yori alone remained standing.

"Ren went in your place?" Mizuki raised an eyebrow.

She nodded. "I am quite fortunate to have such a great big brother. He noticed I was feeling a little under the weather from the tournament and volunteered to finish this project." She kept smiling.

The guys looked at Yori surprised. Had she planned the whole thing from the start?

"Did you call the doctor to check you?" Mizuki's tone changed slightly and her gaze soften.

"It was a dizzy spell and I feel better now. Thank you for your concern, mother." She bowed slightly. "In any case, I have a checkup tomorrow, so I will mention it then."

Mizuki nodded. "It is a good thing the board members like your brother, handing that project to anyone else would have been disastrous." Yori lowered her gaze and clenched one of her hands out of sight from her mother. "This project is too important, frankly speaking, you should have skipped on that tournament. You won, at least, I presume?"

"Of course."

"The least you could do." Mizuki sighed and looked sharply at Yori once again. "You have been causing too much trouble lately." Yori lowered her gaze. "Capturing that card and getting caught on camera; what's more even divulging such sensitive information…"

"On my defense, I was amnesiac." She defended herself. "Also, I thought they could help me. Besides, it could have been worse. I could have slipped about the legend of the crimson dragon and signers-" She stopped realizing the blundered she just made.

Mizuki glared at her daughter. " .RI!"

"Wait! It is fine! I can prove it!" Yori said desperately. "Yusei, please show mother your arm."

Yusei was taken aback for a moment but obliged. He showed his mark and that calmed Mizuki. Yori sighed, relieved and mouthed a thank you to him. However, she knew there was no way she would be able to avoid his questions now.

"Do not even think for a second you are off the hook yet, young lady. You think I don't know you snuck in and tried to fool me?" Yori was utterly surprised at the last statement and it reflected on her face.

Ralph lowered his gaze towards the floor and tried not to look at the screen but Yori's mother was staring coldly at him and then at Yusei who also lowered his head a bit. Kiryu was glad he was being ignored for the time being but she had already expressed her disapproval about him getting close to Yori as well.

"Do not try to fool me, Sayori." Mizuki's dark amber-like eyes focused on her daughter again as she interrupted the girl from speaking. "I could tell because of the security cameras. It takes approximately 5 minutes from the entrance of the tops to here, yet it took Mr. Fudo almost double that. Quite suspicious, would you not agree?"

Yori sighed.

Yusei looked up at the screen again. The lady in the screen, Mizuki Tenma, he could see the resemblance. It wasn't just the auburn hair and brownish eyes. It seemed like mother and daughter both were incredibly astute, not only that but the way they could both keep someone quiet with just a look, and the aura they projected too. However, from what he had seen, Yori only ever presented herself that way when necessary or when she meant to intimidate someone. Mizuki's aura radiated intimidation even on pictures and unlike her daughter who seemed to always have a smile on her face, she had a stern look.

"If I may," Yusei rose from his seat but was sat down by a single look from the woman on the screen. Ralph shot Yusei a look trying to warn him to remain silent a bit too late. He shot another look at Kiryu who was clenching his hands.

"No, you may not." She replied immediately, leaving Yusei no room to say anything anymore.

"Mother, please," Yori said still looking down. "He is just trying to help me."

"He is being a bad influence from my perspective."

Yori's shoulder started shaking and she started laughing after trying to suppress it for a few seconds. She faked a cough but was unable to hide the grin from her face. "I-I apologize." She stuttered trying to regain her composure.

"May I know what exactly did you find so amusing for you to behave in such unladylike fashion?"

Yori smiled sweetly and sat on the sofa next to Ralph. She crossed her ankles and keep her back straight all while giving her mother that sweet, good girl smile. Ralph was the only one in the room that noticed, probably because he had known her longest and best but that smile only meant she was positively mad. He knew she was close to snapping but since she always kept her true personality from her parents, he wasn't sure what was going to happen for sure.

"I found it amusing how you think you Yusei is a bad influence. I mean, if anything; I am the one who is the bad influence." She chuckled. "Moreover, I am having fun right now. So, I will not let anyone get in the way of that." She smiled sweetly. "Besides, Mother dearest, you claim I sneaked in during this call but how would that be possible?" She tilted her head slightly in a cute manner. "I mean, using the front door is out of the question since from this angle you have a perfect view of the stairs."

"…" Her mother continued staring at her.

"It has been raining all day. Do you honestly believe someone like me, who only took basic gymnastic lessons would be able to climb a wet wall and somehow manage to jump inside to the 2nd-floor window?"

"…" Mizuki sighed. "Do as you like. Just remember-"

"Yes, I know." Yori interrupted her unable to help herself. "I am a Tenma so I should behave like one. I will."

"Good. I will call tomorrow and I want to hear what the doctor said. Good night."

"Very well. Good night mother, please send my regards to father as well." She stood up and with a beautiful bow, the call ended.

"What the heck Yori?!" Ralph exclaimed. "I thought you couldn't lie under pressure!"

Yusei and Kiryu looked curiously between the two.

Yori flipped her hair that had fallen in front of her when she bowed to the back. "I have not told a single lie." She pouted, slightly offended.

Ralph stood up. "There is no way that's true." He protested.

"What lie have I told?" She kept on pouting with her hands of her hips.

"When you said you didn't sneak in."

"I never said that. I simply asked her if she believed I could do it."

"You did climb the wall and jumped to the 2nd floor though," Ralph interjected and something clicked the moment he said it. "…You phrase it that way so she would underestimate you."

"I did trip before talking to her too…" She played with her hair as she looked away, feeling her face heating up after admitting that.

"Hang on," Kiryu joined "You did that on purpose?"

Yusei and Ralph looked at the girl expectedly. Had she planned the whole thing? Yori looked around at their expecting faces, feeling troubled. She shook her head. "As much as I would like to say yes, the answer is no. I was just being clumsy…"

Ralph was the first one to guffawed as he held Yori at arms' length by her shoulders. "I see. Of course, you are just Yori."

"What is that supposed to mean?" She pouted as the other two chuckled.

"Still, I could learn a lot from you. Especially on how fast you switch from your usual self to that other persona. Your acting got me all fired up to do my best!"

She sighed. "I guess I have no choice. The great me shall grant you the honor. Oh-ho-ho-" she started choking while trying to do an ojou-sama laugh.

Ralph patted her back as she started calming down. Then he searched through his bag and handed her a water bottle. She took it without looking and took a sip as she finally recovered. She stared at the midnight blue bottle.

"You ok?" Ralph asked.

"…Why do you have my water bottle?"

"I don't know what you're talking about. That's mine." He replied as he tried taking it from Yori.

"Nah-uh. It is mine." She didn't let go.

"Yori give it back." He pulled it towards him.

"No, it is mine." She pulled it back.

Yusei looked at the two arguing yet again and got déjà vu so he got up and moved away. Kiryu looked at Yusei moving away, curiously. "Let me guess, this is normal for them."

Yusei nodded. "I've seen them argue often, yes."

"If it is indeed yours, then why does it have my name on it?" Yori pulled with all her might the capless bottle emptying the remaining liquid on top of Kiryu who had been seating behind her.

"Watch-!" Yusei tried warning Kiryu but it was too late. He was soaked.

Yori pointed at the bottom of the bottle, which indeed had her name on it. Then she realized what she had done and groaned. Ralph sighed.

"I am going to get a towel." Yori walked away, without even looking behind her.

"Sorry about that." Ralph apologized.

Kiryu wiped the water off his face with his hands, not saying anything.

"You probably should take off your jacket," Yusei advised since his long silver hair was dripping into it.

Yori returned shortly with a towel and dropped it on top of Kiryu's head casually.

"You should change into something dry," Yori instructed Kiryu. "I cannot have you get sick."

"Oh? You care? I'm touched." He said sarcastically.

"Of course, I care." Yori ignored the sarcasm. "I cannot afford you getting me sick. There is much to be done."

"Heh."

"So, Ralph, take him with you and provide him with a change of clothes. Will you?" She tasked him.

"Huh? Why can't he just borrow Ren's?" Ralph questioned.

"Onii-chan may have no problem invading my privacy, but I do." She replied readily with her eyes closed and facing to the side.

Ralph stared at her playing with the tip of one of her long locks for a moment before sighing. "Fine. I get it. We'll be back in 20. Come, Kiryu-san."

Kiryu looked at the exchange, then got up and followed Ralph.

"Take an umbrella, okay?!"

"Yes, mom!" Ralph replied without looking back, raising a hand in a salute.

Yori sat crossed legged back on the sofa and waited till she heard the front door close before talking.

"I am guessing, you have some questions for me. Probably about how I know about you being a Signer?"

Yusei took a seat next to her and nodded. "Did you do that on purpose?" He asked realizing how they were the only ones left.

"Even I, am not that clumsy." She replied. "Besides, a little water never hurt anyone." She shrugged.

"So, you think Kiryu is dripping with good looks?" He asked remembering what she had said to him before.

"Ah!" She blushed and used her long hair to cover her face. "S-Signer. Y-You are supposed to ask me about that, not remember that other thing." 'Jeez, I cannot believe she said something so embarrassing! Cindy, switch!'

Seeing her panic and feeling embarrassed like that somehow soothed Yusei. At first, he might have thought she was an enemy trying to get close but now, he couldn't imagine that. Although, he had managed to learn how shrewd she was as well. There more he learned about this girl sitting next to him, the more intriguing he found her. Before he realized it a small smile formed on his lips.

"So, how did you know I was a Signer?" Yusei proceeded to ask and his smile vanished.

She let go of her hair but it was still covering most of her face as she looked down. "…It wasn't hard to figure it out." Cindy started. "I knew Aki was one back when she entered the academy. I saw her mark then. So, when I remembered everything, I just put it together."

"How did you learn about us, Signers and the Dark Signers?"

The answer Cindy told him, surprised even her. It was the truth, not hers but Yori's. Yori had learned about the Legend back when she was a child, only because she had immersed herself into her studies after she couldn't skate anymore. Learning about myths and legends from different places had seemed fun and when she found out the Nazca Lines existed, it was even more fascinating. However, when she got older and learned about the cards; it sent chills to her body. She thought them a myth and when she met Aki, it terrified her. Cindy glossed over what really happened between Yori and Aki. She didn't tell him how Yori had broken her or actually planned for her to join the Arcadia Movement. Both girls had already made peace with it.

"How did you know Kiryu was a Dark Signer?" He finally asked what he was most curious about. "He doesn't remember that at all." He reminded her as per their earlier conversation.

"…" Cindy was unsure of how to answer. She couldn't exactly tell him; she saw him being one. Yori was also hiding something. She was suppressing a memory, preventing her from seeing something. "…There was a death certificate." She mumbled, remembering he had been proclaimed dead, so surely, they must have made one. "…Dead people don't come back to life…. He did." She looked at Yusei in the eyes as she played discreetly with her hair.

Ralph had said it. She was terrible at lying on the spot. Although he could tell she hadn't lie exactly, she was hiding something. Her eyes were a bit unfocused out of nervousness; she was playing with her hair and was slightly biting her lip without noticing. Not to mention that pause before answering, she had to think about her answer for a couple of seconds.

"Is that all?" He asked wondering if she'd tell him but doubting it.

"Eh?" She was surprised.

"We're back!" Ralph yelled from the foyer as both Yusei and Yori heard the front entrance shut.

Cindy's face lit up with relief. Not a second later Kiryu walked back into the living room, wearing the chambray shirt Ralph had given him.

"I'm guessing you two are done talking?" Kiryu asked.

Yusei nodded. "There's something I really need to ask," said Ralph as he returned to the living room. He was no longer wearing his school uniform but black jeans and off-white turtleneck and black blazer. "How did you change clothes so fast, Yori?"

Cindy simply looked at her best friend wondering about the random question.

"I just went home, showed Kiryu-san my clothes and change my clothes and that took 20 minutes," Ralph informed. "So, how is it even possible that you, who was not even here, took the same amount of time to get here and change clothes? I don't get it."

She chuckled. "You are such a girl. How cute."

"Aw, c'mon! I need to know!" Ralph went down on one knee before her.

"Yikes," She scurried away. "Can you not do that? You are being such a creep."

Ralph stood up and straightened himself recovering his composure. "Most girls, would go gaga if I did that, you know?"

"Oh, right. Most girls do think you are hot." She said as if it was something she just recalled. "I forgot. Tee-hee!"

Kiryu snorted and kept on smirking even when Ralph glared at him. Yusei had a similar reaction but quickly covered it up.

Ralph gave her an exasperated look with no words. 'This girl…'

"Anyhow…I did not actually change." She admitted taking off her belt. "I simply took off my blazer and skirt off and just put on this vest and belt." She continued taking off the vest.

"...Your shirt though. It doesn't look-"

She pulled her blouse and it went back to covering her shoulder but since it was unbuttoned, it showed a bit more than it should.

"Yori!" Ralph was flushed and immediately took off his blazer and threw it over Yori. He kept his hands on her shoulders covering her his blazer.

Kiryu and Yusei averted their gaze as Ralph glared at them.

"Jeez, what is the big deal?" She asked annoyed as he was holding her against the sofa. "There is nothing to see. Besides, the only ones who would get off something like that are pedophiles."

"Didn't you just promise your mom you'd behave like a proper lady?" Ralph asked rhetorically. "This kind of behavior is unthinkable."

Yori rolled her eyes. "Yeah, yeah."

"Don't give me that tone, young lady. Showing that much skin-" Yori pushed him off and stood up. "Yori!"

She buttoned up her shirt. "There. Happy?" She grabbed her vest and put it on again. "Jeez, any girl on the beach is going to be wearing way less than what I have on. I do not understand what the big deal is."

"You're not at the beach," Ralph replied immediately.

"…" She looked at Ralph looking exasperated at how he missed her point. "I can explain it to you, but I cannot understand it for you." She said in frustration.

"Yori…" Ralph started but he's phone vibrated and he answered the called. He talked briefly and Yori just looked at him and then it hit her.

She sunk into the sofa and just held her head in her hands. Kiryu and Yusei looked at her wondering what just happened.

"Are you okay?" Asked Yusei.

She shook her head, not looking up.

"What's wrong?"

"I thought I had managed to fool her," she started. "She outsmarted me."

"What are you going on about?" Ralph asked confused after he hung up.

"She called here." She explained. "She stayed in the line when she could have just called my phone."

Everyone looked at each other as they realized that. Mizuki could have just called her daughter but she had called the house phone instead. Why bother calling the landline when she could have called her cellphone?

"She knew," Ralph said and Yori nodded. "Didn't she?"

Cindy lifted her legs and sat crossed legged as she marveled at Mizuki outmaneuvering them. She wanted to believe that wasn't the case but it was clear to her now.

"We're so dead." She rubbed her temples. 'What are we gonna do, Yori?' Cindy asked as Yori decided to take charge once again.

"Sh-She didn't say anything. Maybe it was just a coincidence?" Ralph tried to encourage Yori.

Yori gave him a look that said: 'Do you honestly believe that?'

"You're right. Even I didn't buy that." Ralph admitted. "She is your and Ren-niichan's mother, after all."

Yori sighed loudly as she brought her legs down and sat properly.

"So, she is going to ground you. How bad can it be?" Kiryu asked half curious while also trying to lift the mood a little.

"Last time I got in trouble; I was forced to take singing lessons for two years. I was also forced to sing in front of people at different social events while wearing frilly, pink dresses for an entire year." She made a disgusted face.

"Ah! I remember." Ralph smiled. "That was a good year. Still one of my favorite Christmas party."

Yori threw one of the decorative pillows at him but he caught it and threw it back to her.

"That doesn't sound so bad," Yusei said as Yori caught the pillow.

"I hate singing in front of people," She said as she raised one finger. "I am completely against dresses," She raised another one. "And, I absolutely loathe pink." She threw the pillow to Ralph again as she raised a third finger to make her point.

"What did you do to get that punishment?" Kiryu asked.

Ralph grinned and threw the pillow back at Yori.

"No comment-o." She caught the pillow and buried her face on it.

"She blew up the kitchen," Ralph replied. "It was for the 2nd time, she did it."

"Blew up-?"

"Second? Time?"

Only more questions arose but if Yori's flush face was a tell; she was done talking about the subject. Ralph although he certainly seemed to enjoy the situation, was also done talking. He knew pushing his best friend's buttons too far would only hurt him in the end.

"Ralph!" She threw the pillow at him once more; this time he only dodged it.

"Rather than get mad at me, shouldn't you think of how to appease your mother?" He pointed out.

"Urk!"

"She is an expert with those cruel and unusual punishments."

Yori sighed. "Good point. Although if it comes down to it. Maybe I can just tell her Ren kidnapped my friends. It might steer her clear of me."

She had been withholding that to use as blackmail but she was willing to use that card as collateral, huh? Ralph gave her a disapproving look.

"What? At least, I did not commit a crime." She defended herself knowing exactly what Ralph was thinking.

Ralph just narrowed his eyes and he kept staring at her as if saying 'you know, that's not true.'

"You cannot prove anything," Yori said, not realizing she was pretty much admitting she had committed at least one crime.

"Kekekeh." Kiryu started laughing. "Quite the troublemaker, huh?"

"You are the last person I want to hear that from." She snapped back with a red face.

Yusei gave a reprimanding look at Kiryu, who simply ignored it. He was having fun teasing the girl before him. Kiryu had always liked the sense of danger. However, Yusei wasn't sure how this would develop. Yori was usually nice but he had seen and experienced first-hand she was not someone any sane person would mess with. Yusei sighed.

"I should go," said Yusei. "I'll see you guys later." They said their farewell and Yusei promptly left. Yori made sure to let Cindy walked Yusei to the door. A confused and embarrassed Cindy thanked and apologized to Yusei.

"I'm gonna go too," Ralph said as he walked from behind her. "My sparring buddy is free right now and I need the practice."

"What about our usual sleepover?" She asked looking dejected.

Ralph patted her head while smiling. "Sorry. We'll do it tomorrow."

She opened the door again for him. "Okay. Have fun."

"Be nice, okay?"

"Fine. Later." As soon as she closed the door, she realized she was alone with Kiryu. Cindy really didn't want to deal with him. She had no idea how to deal with him. Sure, he couldn't remember being a Dark Signer but it still pissed her off that he had hurt Yusei. She knew it was stupid but she couldn't help herself. So, they switched again.

Yori walked down the foyer and asked Kiryu if Ralph had shown him around yet. Kiryu told her there hadn't been much time as the called came in soon after they arrived. So, she proceeded to finish giving him a tour of the house. From the living room, she took the opposing door she can come in from and lead him into a hallway that was more like a gallery; reminiscent of a museum with the beautiful paints and contemporary art pieces on display. From then, she guided him to the dining room, then to the kitchen.

"I am banned from entering here." She said while rolling her eyes and opening the door to the kitchen. "So, you will never see me here if there is anyone else in the house."

That statement raised many questions but he chose this first: "Now, that you mention it, where is everyone? Aren't there like servants and stuff?" Kiryu asked just realizing since he arrived there had been no one else.

"Mizaki-nii, he is the one in charge of cooking; he is out today. I am positive he left food though." She said as she entered the forbidden place. "Misacchi should have been here though…. Ren…" She sighed as a thought crossed her mind. "He probably took her." She mumbled to herself.

"Is that a problem?" Kiryu asked unsurely.

She gave him a look as she thought. "I could explain," she finally said. "But I will not." She turned around to keep with the tour.

"I get the feeling you don't like me," Kiryu said with a smirk on his face.

Yori half turned with a smirk of her own. "Oh? Whatever gave you that idea?" She asked rhetorically before turning around again and taking a step to keep moving.

"Hey, wait," Kiryu called out and grabbed her left hand from behind.

Yori instinctively pulled her hand out of his grip as she turned around to punch him, stopping herself from doing so a few centimeters away. "Do not touch me, without my permission." She said as if nothing happened. Kiryu was surprised at her reaction.

"What…just happened?" Kiryu asked.

She ignored him and kept moving. "This door leads to the basement."

"No, I think I should get an answer to this. You almost punched me for barely touching your hand."

"Self-defense." She replied.

"Don't give me that crap. I know self-defense, that ain't it. It was brief but I felt your killing intent." He spoke more gently as to not scare her but still firmly. Not that she seemed likely to scare.

She hesitated. "I will tell you but you have to drop the whole princess thing. Deal?"

"Sure." He pulled a chair from the island and sat.

Yori hesitated again. Telling him the whole story would make her re-live that awful event from 5 years ago. Telling the short version would be better. Although, it was bound to make her feel vulnerable either way. She kept staring at the chair as she thought, and Kiryu confused her hesitation. So, he pulled it for her and invited her to sit down next to him.

'I am fine now. Perhaps, I can talk about it.' She made up her mind and sat next to him. "Look, I have not talked about this to anyone other than my psychologist. Not in full, anyway."

Those words opened more questions to him. Was it something so bad she didn't like talking about it but she was still willing to do so just because of the nickname? 'That nickname must really bother her,' he thought.

"Okay. I get it." Kiryu said as he got up. "You don't have to tell me anything. I'll stop calling you princess."

Yori was surprised by his reaction. "But…our deal."

"Just forget about it." He gave her a small smile albeit a bit awkwardly. "Don't force yourself."

Yori couldn't help but feel relieved but somehow, she also felt a bit disappointed. It puzzled her.

"But," he added. "If you ever feel like sharing and getting it off your chest. I am willing to lend you an ear."

Before she knew what hit her, her vision grew blurry and felt like something got stuck in her throat.

"Oh! Um!" Kiryu panicked as he saw the girl before him started to cry. "Err, uh…" He was unsure of how to comfort her. He looked around to see if spotted a paper towel or something.

She wiped away the two tears that managed to escape her eyes and chuckled at him, who didn't know what to do. At the sound of her laughed he calmed down immediately. Seeing her laughed happily made him smiled unknowingly and before he knew it, he was chuckling along with her.

"My bad, I am not sure what came over me." She said still trying to stop her laughter. "Thank you, Kiryu-san." She grinned.

"S-sure." He scratched the back of his head. "So, um, what should I call you then?"

The way she looked at him, made him feel like he asked something stupid.

"Yori." She replied as if that was the most obvious thing in the world.

"But I will be working under you, right? Shouldn't I call you like Miss, or master or something? Besides, you call me Kiryu-san. Wouldn't be weird if you use honorific and I don't?"

"I dislike formalities." She said as she stood up from the chair. "Besides, you are older than I. I respect my elders."

"Respect? You have been insulting me since we met." He protested.

"Oh? I thought we were having fun with a little banter." Yori confessed. "I guess it was just me."

He couldn't deny it, he had found her reactions amusing and that was why he teased her and she responded in kind. Of course, he had learned she could sure dish out some punches.

"I thought you hated me." He admitted.

"Why would I possibly hate you? I like you just fine." She froze after she said that. She could feel the heat burning in her cheeks, she grabbed her locks of hair used them to cover her face, hiding her embarrassment. "I-I did not mean it!" She whined.

He chuckled."So, you don't like me, after all?" He smirked, knowing what she truly meant.

She puffed her cheeks as her face reddened up to her ears. "Mou!" she growled with a pout and a glared that was completely ineffective. He kept the smirk on. That look she gave him, however, reminded him of someone but he couldn't quite remember. So, he simply brushed that thought off.

After that Yori continued the tour. Despite, Yori showing Kiryu the servant quarters, it came as a surprise to him when she ended the tour in front of a guest room which she introduced as his room.

"I have stuff to do so I will be in my room but feel free to do whatever you want." With that, she went to her bedroom and left Kiryu to his own devices.

Hope you enjoyed the 15 pages of text. So, yes, this chapter is longer than my usual 10 pages. And I tried really hard to not leave it on a cliffhanger. Please leave a review and let me know what you thought. Also, I got a little extra and commissioned a friend. She made a drawing of Yori wearing the outfit she used. You can check my deviantart for that or ddmxj34 (just remember to remove the spaces)