The reason why this is taking so long is that I'm actually writing about several different breakups going on around me. Whether it is between my and my ex, my roommate and her ex and a co-worker and her boyfriend.

=) Either way, I'm finally happy with the way the story is progressing and how I'm finally putting it together. (although quite bitter about how reality is progressing at the moment.)

"Checkmate."

Izzy frowned once he realized Ken truly won. Playing chess with Ken was like loading a gun with a full round of bullets and playing Russian Roulette; you didn't stand a chance.

Stopped analyzing his humiliating defeat and smiled up at Ken. "Good game."

"I second that."

"Have you read about Hollywood studios suing Pirate Bay?" Izzy asked, trying to spread the news about one of his favorite websites. "I think it's ridiculous. That wolverine movie was disgustingly bad."

"You actually watched it? Why?" Ken asked as if Izzy confessed to murder. "I didn't think you were into comic books."

"No, I simply downloaded the movie."

With a frown, Ken began to pack away his set. "Pirate Bay is destructive. I do not agree with it."

"Oh."

"I mean, do what you want, but it's theft."

"Yeah." Izzy flashed him another smile. "I downloaded one of those romantic movies. You know, incase a date actually goes well and someone would like to come home with me."

Smiling at the lightened conversation, Ken asked, "now. who are you asking out on a date? Is it that girl who helped work on a vaccine. I know she is a classmate of yours. She's .. something else." Ken smiled at mere thought of her.

"No. Not her. Another girl I've been tutoring."

The saddened tone alarmed Ken. "Oh, that's nice. You should bring her around."

"You already know her."

His eye actually twitched when Izzy let the news slip. It was a hard blow when Ken realized that their get together wasn't going to involve catching up and discussing current events like it used to be.

"I wanted to run it by you because I value your friendship," Izzy said lowly.

The only thing Ken could do was stare at the redhead in front of him. He didn't know whether to feel sorry for Izzy or to physically hurt him. Yolei could be using him as a tool to get back at Ken or she could be moving onto a good person who would take care of her and give her what he couldn't.

"Do whatever you want."

"No, I don't want to hear it. It's a trap and no matter what I do would be wrong." Izzy stared at his hands while he talked. "You know how I've felt for her for a long time but I respect you and I respect her. I won't do pursue her if you don't want me to."

He was put on the spot and an answer would be needed soon. Many times before, he has been forced to act on his feet, but not like this. Never like this.

He couldn't stand to lose.

He couldn't stand to lose Yolei.

"Please, don't," was his simple response.

Before the situation was officially settled, Izzy added. "Just so you know .."

With those words, Ken unintentionally glared at Izzy, mostly amazed at the genius's forwardness. It might have also been an attempt to force Izzy to back off.

"I won't wait forever for you to fix things with Yolei."

"Agreed."

The reply was enough to end the conversation. They sat there in silence before Izzy decided it was getting late and he should leave. Snidely, Ken thought it would be the best thing the redhead could do at that point.