It was way past midnight when Jaden and Destiny finally stopped for the night. As they sat by the fire, waiting for the water to boil, Jaden said "What was that back there with your brother?"

"Oh, nothing." Destiny said, blushing scarlet. "He's a little overprotective. He won't even let me associate with guys. When I showed up carrying you, he almost lost his head. I'm surprised he let me come."

"So then I suppose you haven't been in any relationships?"

"No, not yet. But if somebody wanted to be my boyfriend, Avery wouldn't have to know…" Destiny laid her hand on top of Jaden's. He pushed it away.

"As much as I want to be your boyfriend, Destiny, I can't. I can't let you disobey your brother."

She sighed. "Papa told him to take good care of me when he was gone. He took that to mean at home confinement and no relationships." Just then, the water started to bubble.

"Looks like it's dinnertime!" Destiny rose and divided the ramen between two bowls.

"So your parents are…"

"Dead? Yes. They have been since I was a little girl. At first we were transferred from relative to relative. Then my brother decided he'd had enough of it and when I was 7, we moved out here and built the house. We've lived in it ever since."

"So who taught you to play Duel Monsters?"

"Well, my dad meant to. When I was 4, he gave me his deck and meant to teach me to play the next day. But then was the car crash and…" Destiny looked down. Jaden saw a tear roll down her cheek. "Anyway, my brother meant to teach me, but with the bouncing from home to home he never had time. When we moved out here, he taught me everything he knew using my father's deck. It's still the only one of my father's possessions I have. I love it, and it never leaves my side." Destiny pulled an old deck of cards out of her pocket. "This is it." She spread the cards out before him.

"They're pretty good, but I've seen better." he thought.

."This is my favorite card." she said, plucking one from her deck.

"Creature Swap." Jaden read.

"Yeah. It lets two players select two monsters from their sides of the field and switch control of those monsters with each other."

"Oh. Hey, we should have a duel!"

Destiny smiled and yawned.

"I'd love to, but I'm really tired. Maybe tomorrow." She finished her ramen and put down her bowl. Halfway to the tent, she turned back. "Hey,"

Jaden looked at her.

"Good night."

"Good night."

She headed into the tent and zipped it up behind her. He sat for a minute, staring into the fire.

"I should have said yes." he thought regretfully. "She was right. Avery wouldn't find out." Then he sighed. "But I promised Avery I'd take care of her, and I'd hate to lose his trust." Jaden put the fire out and headed into the tent, still torn between his real feelings and his promise.

********************************************************************************Things are taking a turn for the…better? Worse? I don't know. Just read and review, read and review.