"I'll call you when the plane lands."

"Okay."

"Give my regards to Mr. Pegasus."

"I will. Thank you again for allowing me to help him."

"How could I refuse? This will be good experience for you. Just remember what we discussed concerning your school priorities."

"All right."

"…And Ryou?"

"Yes?"

A moment. "Don't forget the key."

Not much more had been said after that. Long trips had become second nature to the Bakura family, and their parting routine was just that: routine. Even Mr. Bakura's final words had been the same for more than a year. The constant reminding probably should've bothered Ryou, but he knew that remembering was more important.

He picked up his notebag and closed the door to his apartment. Outside, the air was cool and the sky a dull gray. Ryou adjusted his pendant, and then buttoned his school jacket all the way up before locking the door. He stashed the silver key inside his pocket, and then set a similar one atop the doorframe. Once convinced that it was reasonably hidden, he started down the building's cement steps to the sidewalk.

He'd had a pleasant but strained day with his father the day before. They had caught a matinee movie and then dinner at Ryou's favorite restaurant. Conversation had revolved around things like Ryou's friends and the building of the Science club's project. It didn't get awkward until Ryou mentioned how uncomfortable it could be to work while wearing the pendant. Mr. Bakura had removed his glasses then and lowered his eyes to his plate.

Ryou had quickly changed the subject to Mr. Pegasus. It worked for a bit, but after his unintended slip the pleasant mood had deteriorated. They left for home soon after to gather the last of his father's things together for the trip. Two hours later, he had gone.

Mr. Bakura had truly been all for Ryou working for Mr. Pegasus. He had found the man to be cultured and interesting when they had met with Ryou's principal the previous Saturday. Maximilian –as he had insisted to be called- had explained his current troubling position to both men, and then proceeded to glow over Ryou's accomplishments one right after the other.

At this, Mr. Bakura confessed to being a little confused about how the man could know so much about his son when the two had barely spoken. The shop owner merely smiled and repeated what the kids of Domino had told him. The boy was smart, hard working, loyal, polite, and greatly admired. To sum it up, Ryou was a very popular child. Didn't his father know?

Pegasus also promised Principal Okawa that he would keep the boy on a schedule that wouldn't interfere with his studies or other commitments. A few hours after school three days a week at maximum to start with, excluding the Tuesday's and Friday's the Science club met. If Ryou could keep up with that, then perhaps more hours and opportunities could be discussed later if the boy so wished them.

The questions came next. Dozens of them, asked in all sorts of different ways and tones. Mr. Pegasus had answered them all quite calmly and satisfactory without hardly batting an eye. He assured both men that Ryou would grow a great deal from the experience and that he would personally look out for the boy whenever he could.

Then almost before Mr. Bakura knew it, he was shaking hands with the man.

Something told Ryou from the start that Mr. Pegasus wouldn't have any trouble getting the permission he needed. The man's eerie knowledge and air of mystery continued to make him believe that there was so much more going on than just a job offer. Mr. Pegasus hadn't come to Domino to just run a business, Ryou was sure of it. He had come for another purpose as well.

And for some reason, he had singled Ryou out to be smack in the middle of it.

But just what was it?

And why me?

The question kept him so preoccupied that he failed to notice the Pegasus shop as he passed it. He even failed to notice that he was on the first empty sidewalk the daytime had seen in a month. In fact, he didn't acknowledge much of anything for a while until he heard Honda call, "Hey, Ryou!"

He stopped and looked around. His friends stood right in front of the crowded, red-and-white breakfast cart. The scent of breads, biscuits, honey and pastries filled the air.

Ryou blinked. He'd walked right past it.

No matter. Anzu hurried over and handed him a paper cup. "Good morning! We bought you some hot chocolate."

Honda appeared next to her and held out what looked like a small speed bump inside a jumble of napkins. A grin brightened his face. "And an apple snack. It's our way of saying congratulations and good luck."

"Working boy," Anzu added with a grin of her own.

Grateful surprise overtook Ryou's features as he set down his bag and accepted the bundle. The mind-fog had distracted him a bit from the cold air, but now that Ryou was back to his senses the chill had settled right back in. The cup and pastry warmed his hands right up.

"You guys are the best," he told them finally.

"We know," Honda replied as he tossed his brown duffel over his shoulder. "Just don't try to hug me or anything mushy like that."

Ryou laughed. Anzu just rolled her eyes and said, "Don't worry, Honda. Ryou's probably so allergic to your rotten sense of humor that he wouldn't want to get that close."

"I know I wouldn't," a new voice spoke up.

Ryou tried to turn and see whom it was when a jacket-clad arm surprised him into a headlock. Out the corner of his eye, he recognized Jounouchi's face as it beamed at him. "You're growin' up too fast, man. No decent kid starts laborin' before he's sixteen."

A timid smile was given in return. Jounouchi had gotten better at referring to Ryou by name and keeping Magic and Wizards out of their conversations, but he still often had overwhelming tendencies that Ryou had trouble responding to.

Fortunately, Anzu came to his rescue. She swatted Jounouchi's arm from Ryou's head and barked, "Let him go, you idiot! You're going to make him drop everything!"

Jounouchi raised his hands and moved over next to Honda. "Jeez, I forgot how scary she is in the morning. How's it going, Honda?"

"Pretty good," he replied as the two of them bumped fists. "My sister's date cancelled on her so I don't have to stay with Jouji Saturday night." A moment. "So what are you doing here so early? Did the bus driver blow every stop sign on the route?"

"Nah. I had something for you guys, so I finally caved and asked my mom's driver to bring me. Then when I couldn't find you at school, I figured you'd still be here." Jounouchi opened up his own duffel and pulled out three white envelopes. Each had one of their names on the front in fancy black script. Jounouchi passed them out accordingly.

Ryou had some trouble taking his, but then managed to grip it between the fingers of the hand that held the apple snack. After a second of thought, he sat down on the curb next to his bag, placed everything but the envelope beside him and then opened the flap.

Honda and Anzu opened theirs as well. A stiff piece of pink paper was inside.

"What the heck is this?" Honda wanted to know.

"Read it, dummy," Jounouchi told him. "They're from Shizuka. Invitations to her birthday party next Sunday night. She's gonna be thirteen."

Birthday? Ryou stared at his invitation. He had been to Jounouchi's apartment twice, and had met his younger sister exactly once. She was a soft-spoken girl with big, amber eyes and a sweet smile. They hadn't talked much that day, but Ryou thought that she was quite likable.

Jounouchi's voice brought him back to the conversation. "So you guys are comin' right?"

"Sure," Anzu replied as she tucked the invitation into her purse. "I'll be there, and I know the perfect place to shop for a present." She winked at Ryou.

Honda groaned and stuffed the envelope into his pocket. "I'll be there, too, but I hate shopping for girls." He thought for a moment. "You think maybe I can still pay her in piggyback rides, or is she too old for that now?"

Jounouchi laughed. "Oh man, do you remember the last time you did that? You tripped over our front steps and went right through the screen door!"

"And your mom got so pissed that she tossed me right back out again!" Honda finished. "I couldn't believe it!"

The two of them fell against each other in a laughing heap. A few people mumbled or pointed as they passed by, and it only made them laugh more.

"Idiots," Anzu said with undisguised affection. "Come on, we're going to be late. Ryou, let me carry your bag so you can you eat along the way."

"Thank you." He handed it to her, gathered his things and then stood up

"No problem."

The laughter stopped, and Jounouchi held out his duffel. "Carry mine too, Anzu."

She gave him a skeptical look. "Why should I?"

All trace of amusement disappeared from his face. "'Cause you love me. That's why."

There was a long pause. Poor Anzu wouldn't have looked more shocked if the breakfast cart suddenly exploded into purple flames. She glanced at Ryou and Honda for help, but unfortunately got two helpless stares in return.

At last, she regained herself and sneered. "Right, and your alarm clock is getting ready to go off. Wake up, Jounouchi. The real world is waiting."

She turned around and flounced down the sidewalk. Jounouchi waited a few seconds before he ran after her, yelling, "Okay, fine! Then we'll race to school instead!"

Ryou and Honda walked after them. When Jounouchi caught up with Anzu he reached out, slapped her across the bottom, and then leapt ahead with a jovial, "Ready, set, GO!"

Anzu shrieked and chased after him. "Damn it, Jounouchi! You're dead!"

Honda placed a hand over his heart and let loose a mocked sigh. "Awww. The sweet sounds of love. Ain't it beautiful, Ryou?"

He took a sip of cold hot chocolate. "Noisy, is more like it."

They both chuckled. "She should just tell him already," Honda continued. "Because the way I see it, she's gonna end up putting him in traction before he can figure it out himself."

The thought quieted Ryou. It was strange; he'd never questioned Anzu as to why she kept her feelings from Jounouchi. "Why won't she tell him?"

Honda frowned. Anzu's behavior confused him more than anyone else when it came to Jounouchi. "I don't know. Maybe it's just the way she is." A moment. "It still feels weird sometimes. You know, knowing that every time she yells at him, she wishes she were doing something else. I mean, it wasn't too long ago that when she said Jounouchi was dead, she meant it."

It must have taken something really big to make Anzu change her mind. "So she's never mentioned to you about why she feels differently for him now?"

An uncomfortable hand ran through Honda's hair. "No, and I'm not sure if I want her to. But that's just between us, okay buddy?"

Ryou looked at him in disbelief. "Why?"

They had come to the front of the school's steps. Honda stopped on the first two, and then locked eyes with his friend. He opened his mouth, closed it, tried again, and then finally just shrugged. "Everybody's gotta keep some stuff to themselves sometimes. If we don't, we might go crazy. You can understand that, right?"

Ryou turned a carefully blank gaze to the steps. "Yes."

There was a moment of tension before the pair continued up the stairs. Then Honda ventured, "So are you coming to Shizuka's party? Because there's no way I'm going to be able to handle being in a room full of yakking little girls AND Anzu for more than an hour all by myself."

Ryou smiled at the described dilemma. "I'll have to let you know."

Honda hesitated. "What about after school? You want me to come with you to Pegasus?"

Ryou considered. What he knew about Mr. Pegasus and his motives was slim, so bringing Honda into such circumstances might not be a good idea. If the shop owner was as knowledgeable about Ryou as the boy thought, then having either of his friends around there could bring up some things Ryou wasn't ready to talk about.

He sighed to himself. Honda was right. No matter how dishonest it seemed, people needed secrets.

"No, you don't have to. I'll be fine."