AN: Thanks for all the support! I'm feeling much better now, thanks to modern medicine. I'm sorry I keep falling behind on updates. I swear I'll be on time the next update.

Thanks to…

dragonlady222: Thanks! I'm feeling much better now. Lol, I may not get sick often, but I hate being sick. Ah, yes…trouble keeps pounding at the doors for both Ryou and Bakura. Thanks for the review!

casaragi: Lol, I love your plan! Alas, Mr. Teishin walked out of the police station and drove home just fine, no trucks in sight. But I agree with you – he deserves to be hit by a truck. Thanks for the review!

ONIX-21: Yeah. Casaragi said that he ought to be hit by a truck, and then the truck should explode. Don't you agree? Hehe, yeah, I'm feeling really good now…but I keep falling behind on things. Anyways, thanks for the review!

Superhumansaiyajin: Hm, you've got a point. But I think things are different in Japan…? I'm not sure, but I think top-notch schools take it for granted that if you can pay to get in, you can pay for supplies as well. Geez, Bakura's father should just stay away! Thanks for the review!

wallsmex: Haha, really? I'm glad to hear that! I'm sorry this chapter was late…;; I promise the next one will be here on time. I keep falling behind on things, and they keep pilling up! Lol, I got lazy when I got sick. Anywho, thanks for the review!

Spirited-Lilly: Bakura's dad should just bug off…he keeps raining on our parade. Thanks for the review!

Tails7651: Lol. That's always welcome. Thanks for the review!

SV Green: Thanks so much for the compliments. And yes, I intend to keep writing…for as long as I can, since I may be too busy once college starts…(still in high school). Thanks for the review!

Chapter Thirteen: Money Makes the World Go Round (Part 1 of 3)

"That's the last one!"

Bakura grunted as he carefully put down the crate he was carrying, pausing briefly to wipe the sweat off of his face. He exhaled slowly, massaging his arms as he made his way to the front of the factory.

The domed ceiling trapped all the air that came into the factory, making the place hot and stuffy. Bakura nodded to some of his coworkers, not really stopping to start a conversation since his lungs craved the nighttime air. The smell of freshly cut wood and sawdust tickled Bakura's nose as he jogged through the side opening of the industrial unit. He would have liked to rest up a bit and take a slow walk home, but he knew he didn't have time.

Gotta get home, take a shower, and take Ryou to the park…Bakura sighed as he stretched his arms a bit, feeling sore and tired.

But he was happy. Happy that Ryou and him were doing fine, happy that he wasn't 'working' under that despicable man he had called 'father'. Just remembering what he had to do every night made him wince, sometimes it even made his entire day sour. But this new life…Despite the many ups and downs it possessed, Bakura gladly embraced it. Being able to live with his pride and freedom in tact, and having Ryou by his side, was more than he could possibly ask for.

On the other hand, actually working a real job was no fun. It was tiring, it was arduous, it was downright boring. However, Bakura wholly chose this lifestyle over his last. He didn't mind working for Ryou and himself, since he no longer had to kneel before his father. But he couldn't completely fool himself – there were times when he wanted the freedom of a normal high school student.

"Going home so soon?"

Bakura glanced to his side to see one of his coworkers walking next to him. The blonde man with a short stubby beard stretched his neck as he smiled at Bakura. "You aren't going to go with the others, to the club for drinks?"

"Nah, I can't," Bakura said, his voice somewhat defensive. His age prohibited him from drinking at bars. He had to be careful regarding anything he said with his work, since he had lied about his age to receive the job. "I wasn't aware there was a bar around here."

"It's pretty small," said the man as they arrived at the bus stop. "But you can always make it out because of their sign. Ha, they're always short of employees, that they just keep that 'now hiring' sign out!"

Bakura scoffed softly, but said nothing else. He didn't want the conversation to keep going.

But the man was done talking. "I'm going home since my wife always complains about me staying out late. I swear, I can't even go to the bathroom without her say-so!"

That's great, Bakura thought sarcastically as he nodded, looking down the road for the bus.

"I may have to quit my job soon."

That got Bakura's attention. "Why?" he asked, curious.

The blonde man smiled sadly. "Oh, don't you know? The company's lowering our wages again." Bakura felt as if someone had shoved ice down his throat. "It's going down a whole dollar! It's like they don't understand that even a few cents could save a man from being evicted." As the man laughed halfheartedly, Bakura clenched his teeth.

This had been the only job he could find that didn't pay minimum wage. He couldn't afford Ryou's schooling and the condo rent with a lowered paycheck. There was no way!

Bakura didn't sit next to his coworker on the bus. His mind was replaying the man's words over and over in his head, making him feel nauseous. "The company's lowering our wages again." All the hard work, all the stress, all the time it took…It was consuming almost his entire life right now, yet…Why isn't it enough? He felt he had to throw up. Bakura knew this feeling of utter defeat, something he absolutely loathed.

The thought, a nightmare, really, of having to force Ryou to quit school hounded his mind. How could he tell his little brother that he couldn't send him to school because he didn't have enough money? How could he tell Ryou that, when he was doing all he could to ensure a satisfactory life for the both of them?

Already pushed to the brink of exhaustion and anxiety, Bakura felt the urge to scream. He could hear his father's voice, mocking him, ridiculing him. "I'm disappointed, Bakura. I thought you would take better care of things that mattered to you."

I can't give in…He knew what he had to do, but he really didn't want to do it. How come life is so unfair?

Bakura couldn't even muster up the strength to curse the gods as he leaned his head against the window and started to cry.

-

Ryou was anxiously waiting on the couch, checking the door every few minutes. It was a quarter past eight, and Bakura was supposed to be here any minute now. He knew he had to wait for his brother to take a shower first, before they left for the park, but the child couldn't help feeling awfully excited. He had planned out everything they were going to do tonight, from swings to slides to money bars.

"Sit still, Ryou! You're making me anxious," Marik growled, flipping through the channels.

Ryou happily turned around and sat down, grinning. He hastily apologized, but it was only a matter of minutes before he would clamber around again, to stare at the door.

"Don't you have homework to do?" Marik asked. "Why don't you do it while you wait for Bakura to come back?"

"I did it already." Ryou's grin grew wider when Marik rolled his eyes.

"Is that what you were doing on my laptop earlier?"

Marik nearly dropped the remote control as Ryou flew over and planted a hand firmly over his mouth.

"You can't tell Bakura," Ryou sternly whispered.

Frowning, Marik peeled the child's hand away and suspiciously looked over Ryou. "Why not?"

As Ryou fidgeted uncomfortably under Marik's gaze, he murmured in a choked sort of way, "Promise me, please Marik?"

Marik never got to ask Ryou why again because the sound of a key grinding in metal made Ryou jump off the couch and run for the door.

"Bakura!"

The tired teen smiled as he was greeted warmly by his brother. Marik waved to Bakura as he pulled himself up from the sofa. "I'll reheat dinner. Take a shower and…"

Marik found himself frowning again as a green flyer in Bakura's hand caught his attention.

Bakura saw what he was looking at, and quickly slid the paper into his back pocket of his jeans.

"Wait just a little longer, Ryou," Bakura said to the child, pinching his cheek playfully. "Then we'll go to the park."

Bakura started to head for the room he shared with Ryou when he met Marik's gaze. Marik lost his words for a moment as wary, shielded lavenders eyes gazed steadily back at him.

Then, before Marik could ask the teen about the flyer, Bakura was gone.

Marik was tempted to go after the teen, but the way Bakura had looked at him…What is he doing with an ad from Tameron's Bar?

-


AN: I really need to get back on the ball. Ehehe…I promise I'll update on time next chapter! I keep falling behind with EVERYTHING. (This isn't good…chuckles nervously School starts soon, and I'm already out of sync with due dates). Anyways, expect the next chapter on Monday night.