A/N: Well, this it for my stack of chapters I did while at work. They're slowly getting longer as I grew more bored. In this chapter, Ryoga gets himself into a very awkward situation with Ken (because putting Shark in awkward situations is fun and I felt like it, shh, and we know that for all Shark's tough, cool act, he'd totally be adorably awkward in a closer situation). And Haruto thinks Kaito and Rio should be together. Anyway, thanks for reading, reviews are nice and enjoy.


"Ryoga?" Rio said quietly, shaking his shoulder.

Ryoga blinked and turned to her. She had her hair wrapped in a towel and was in a towelling robe. She sighed and shook her head.

"I said, did you want the shower now or do you want to wait until I've gone out?" she said.

"Where are you going?" Ryoga asked, turning his full attention to her.

Rio sighed and shook her head again. "I'm going out to meet a friend. I need to get ready. Go and have a shower. It'll clear your head."

"Who are you going to meet?" he said, getting up off the bed. "Anyone I know?"

"I doubt it."

"Who?"

"No one."

"Who, Rio?"

She sighed and leant against the wall next to the bathroom door. "Kaito."

Ryoga stopped in the door and took a step back to stare at her. Kaito? She was going to meet Kaito? Rio turned away and folded her arms, pouting slightly. Just when did they work this out?

"Please don't make a big deal out of this," she said. "It's just he was talking about how Haruto liked him having friends, and I've never really met Haruto and he said why don't I come over sometime and see him and-"

"It's fine," Ryoga said. "As long as you promise me it really is nothing, it's fine."

"I promise," Rio said with a big smile. "Thank you, Ryoga. I thought you were going to get all jealous and possessive over me. You're the best, you know? And… will you not tell them?"

Ryoga smiled slightly. She didn't want their parents knowing? Of course not, they'd be even more against the idea than he was. "I won't."

"Thank you."

He stepped into the bathroom and shut the door. Perhaps Rio was right and a shower would clear his head. It didn't help though. While under the cooling water, his mind kept flickering back to the duel. To Fate and his words.

"Little Tsukikage was hunting souls long before she lost hers."

Tsukikage Miki? She was hunting souls? Didn't that make her one of the bad guys? It did, didn't it? She was just going to cause trouble if he got involved any further. But she was related to Hibiki? Or was it merely a coincidence? It couldn't be. There was no way it was a coincidence. Hibiki and Miki were too similar. The blonde hair, the similar bangs despite the differing colours, the fact that his memories only started to surface when he saw Miki…

"Then I suppose you didn't know that it was little Miki who took Hibiki's soul?"

He hadn't even known Hibiki's soul was missing. He'd had no idea. When they'd met the night before she'd seemed fine. There was no sign of her no having a soul or having any problems. She'd seemed normal. Why hadn't he noticing anything in that meeting?

"Do you remember, Ryoga?" He shivered slightly, the memory for being slammed against the wall still fresh in his mind. He hadn't felt physical helpless at the hands of another in a long time. "Do you remember watching that duel? How you sat there and watched Miki take Hibiki's soul? And the last thing she did was beg Miki to let you go?"

He didn't remember, but he wasn't sure he wanted to. He remembered hitting the ground and sitting up but everything else was lost to him. He didn't like the idea of being the last person to see Hibiki with her soul, or the idea that someone related to you could do something like that. He'd thought that they were family, that they were at least looking out for each other. But for Hibiki and Miki to have put their souls on the line against each other just felt wrong.

"Why are you helping a girl like that? If you return her soul, she'll only come after you. Or… maybe she'll have grown fond of you and instead she'll go after the people who hold you attention. She never did like sharing affection."

That threat got to him more than anything. The idea that someone could hurt the people he cared about because they didn't want to share attention. He supposed that spoke to way she went after Hibiki. Being in her shadow was probably something someone like that didn't like.

"Ryoga," Rio called through the door. "You've got a message."

"From who?"

"It doesn't say. Just, if you want answers, be outside the house at nine."

"Outside the house?" Ryoga muttered.

He frowned and turned off the shower, wrapping a towel around himself and thinking it over. The House. Their house. Those kids. It seemed even if he wanted to pull away from them he wasn't going to manage. They had all the answers. He had to deal with them to get the answers he wanted.

"Alright," Ryoga said.

"Do you want me to come with you?" Rio called. "I'm sure Kaito won't mind."

"No, it's fine," he replied. "You two have fun, or whatever you two do, together. I can handle this on my own."

"Ryoga?" she said as he came out the bathroom. "Since I told you the truth… what's going on with you and those girls?"

Between him and Miki and Hibiki? Ryoga wasn't even sure. He didn't know. He thought on it for a moment before he sighed and ran a hand through his wet hair. "I think Hibiki was there while I was at that tournament. I was told that I was there when someone took her soul. They said it was Miki."

Rio frowned and nodded. "You need answers?"

"That's it," Ryoga said. "I promise."

"Alright. Tell me if anything more happens," Rio said gently. "I don't want you to get hurt."

"I'll be fine. You be careful with Kaito too."

"Like he could do anything."

"Be careful anyway."

"I always am," Rio promised. She smiled and leant over, kissing his cheek softly and squeezing his hands. "Tell me everything from now on. I want to help you. Tell me everything."

"I will, Rio," he said, squeezing her hands back. "I promise. Hurry up and get ready."

She nodded and went back into the bathroom with her clothes while Ryoga returned to his room. He didn't see why Rio was spending so much time getting ready for Kaito but he had other things to think about. Firstly, who had sent him that message, and secondly what was he going to find when he got there? Were the answers he was after really going to help? Or was it just going to make things worse?

Half an hour later, Rio knocked on his door and opened it up. Ryoga was sitting on his bed, flicking through the information he had on his D-Pad. Rio smiled and sat on the bed with him, leaning on his shoulder.

"Rio? Shouldn't you be going?" Ryoga said.

"I wanted to wait and walk you out," Rio replied. "You'll remember your promise, right?"

"I've never broken a promise to you," he said. Rio nodded. "I will tell you everything. And you tell me if anything happens between you and Kaito. Or you and anyone for that matter."

Rio nodded. "No secrets. I will invite Kotori over and you can gossip with us like one of the girls."

Ryoga laughed slightly and nodded. Like there was any chance of that. He was never going to sit around gossiping with Rio and Kotori. He'd never live it down. Rio stayed leaning on his shoulder, reading the screen and pointing things out to help him. They stayed together until it was time to head out. He didn't exactly appreciate Rio's insistence on walking with him, he wasn't a child who needed watching, but he didn't tell her that.

Rio left Ryoga at the end of the street but Ryoga knew she was watching discreetly from the corner. He walked silently down the dark street, heading towards the large house at the end. There were lights in the windows and was a strange sense of foreboding churned in his stomach as he approached.

There was someone leaning against a tree outside of the house. Ryoga frowned, realising it was Ken, arms folded over his chest and eyes closed. So he'd finally decided to stop keeping secrets? Perhaps now Ken would be completely honest with him. Ken opened one eye as Ryoga leant against the tree next to him.

"So, what's all this about?" he muttered.

Ken turned, opening both eyes fully and gazing at him for a moment. "You met Fate today?"

"Yeah, he said some interesting things," Ryoga replied.

"Hmm, Hiro said Fate had you up against the wall," Ken said, smirking slightly. "Lucky him."

"What, Rio's not here so you're going to try it on with me?" he snapped, trying not to look as surprised as he was when Ken's smirk grew.

"You two are twins, aren't you? Is it so surprising that you're both equally attractive?"

Ryoga turned away quickly, trying to ignore the heat rushing to his cheeks. This was not happening. He decided the best plan was to ignore it, not give Ken any attention for his teasing and move on. "Why was Hiro there?"

"Because he had hoped you'd lead him to where Hibiki has been hiding out."

Ryoga frowned slightly and Ken glanced at the house before moving around to put himself between the house and Ryoga. Perhaps hiding him from view, Ryoga realised. It was pretty obvious Hiro at least didn't approve of him and the others getting involved. Would Ken get in trouble if he was caught talking to him?

"Fate said Hibiki's soul was stolen."

"I bet he said it was Miki too." Ryoga nodded slightly. Fate had lied? Well, it was hardly surprising. He should know better than to take the word of a shady character like that. Ken frowned and glanced back at the house, lowering his voice and leaning a little closer. "Would you put your soul on the line against someone you've never beaten?"

Ryoga frowned. No. He supposed he wouldn't. If he'd never beaten someone, why put his life on the line on the off chance this time would be different? If Miki had never beaten Hibiki, why duel her?

"It wasn't Miki then."

"Smart and good looking," Ken purred.

Ryoga took half a step back but realised he was already fully backed up against the tree trunk, and he realised just how close he and Ken had become without him noticing. Somehow they had ended up face to face, Ken's head tilted slightly, their breaths mingling and their bodies so close Ryoga could feel the heat radiating off Ken. Anyone else probably would have squirmed away and put distance between them but Ryoga's pride wouldn't let him back down. Instead his fists clenched against the bark and he glared down into Ken's eyes, absently noticing they were an incredibly bright, almost unnatural blue. Being so close wasn't an issue if it got him answers but if Ken tried anything he was going to pay.

"You hold your nerve well," Ken teased.

"What do you want?" Ryoga hissed.

"I want to help Miki and I want to protect my family but I don't know who I can really trust," he replied. "But if Hibiki trusts you that probably means you can save Miki." He laughed slightly. "I don't know who did this to Miki, but I have my suspicions. Don't end up the same way."

"Will you get off now then?" he snapped.

"Aw, aren't you enjoying yourself?" Ken laughed. "Just a little longer, Ryoga."

"There's a set amount of time I have to put up with you?"

"There's a set amount of time you and I need to distract Hiro for."

"A distraction?"

Ken smirked, resting on arm against the tree next to Ryoga's head, bringing them practically nose to nose. "Think about it. If you and I were out here just chatting, especially given how clear I've made it that I disagree with Hiro's methods, he'd probably end up telling Mother I was trying to help you interfere with our lives. But given that I'm something of a charmer, if I do say so myself, Hiro will simply assume I'm after a little something more from you, and it'll piss him off more than anything."

"That explains why you're so damn close, but they can't hear us, so why are you flirting with me?" Ryoga snapped.

"Well, who's to say I don't want to little something more from you?" he said with a grin.

Ryoga's eyes widened slightly. He could handle it when it was just a way to stop their talking being interrupted or a distraction, but if Ken was actually serious he was putting a stop to this. He caught Ken's wrist and went to pull him away but Ken smirked and pinned his other wrist to the tree, leaving them in a stale mate, glaring at each other and still awkwardly close.

"Let go," Ryoga demanded.

"It seems you're rather uncomfortable," Ken murmured. "So I am sorry about this."

"About what?"

His answer came far too quickly when Ken closed what little gap was left between them and pressed their lips together. Despite the situation, Ryoga hadn't actually thought Ken would do it. His fists went slack in shock and he found himself unable to move just trying to process how the hell he'd ended up in this situation. There was a slam and Ryoga felt Ken smirk against his lips.

"Ken!" Hiro snapped.

Ken drew back, smirking as he glanced over Ryoga, who was panting slightly and still a little lost. Had that actually happened? Had Ken really just kissed him? He had, hadn't he?

"Get inside, now!" Hiro yelled.

"Told you it'd drive him crazy," Ken whispered. "Sorry to pounce that on you, but I told you, I'll do anything for my family." Pounce it on him? Was that what he called that? "See you at school tomorrow, huh?"

That shook Ryoga from his daze and he realised he had to deal with school tomorrow. After that? If someone had seen that… He was never going to live it down. And Rio would know he was keeping something from her. He'd have to tell her. The teasing he'd have to face. He should have just punched him. He should have. He still could. That'd teach him.

Actually, now he looked up, he couldn't just punch him and teach him a lesson. Hiro was already dragging Ken up the steps to the front door, lecturing him. Ryoga was sure he heard something about him, Hiro referring to him as a no good, nosey delinquent. And something about not lowering himself to the level of someone as disgraced as him.

Disgraced? Was that a dig at his disqualification?

Over Hiro's lecturing, Ryoga noticed one of the windows opening and Miki leaning out of it. Oh. Was that why Ken need him to act as a distraction? She waited until the moment the door slammed before climbing out the window and onto the roof of the porch, sliding down slanted roof and jumping to the ground. He should have walked away but Miki seemed different. And after Fate's words, he wanted to talk to her again.

She ran down the stairs and vaulted the wall as the front door opened again. Hiro was there once more. "Miki!"

She landed on the other side of the wall and went to run but Ryoga caught her hand. "This way."

Miki glanced at him for a moment, then back to Hiro before nodding, closing her hand around his and letting Ryoga pull her away, back in the direction he'd come from. If she'd gone her way there was nothing but a dead end or a shopping centre that wouldn't be open. Ryoga was leading her back to the main roads, a much easier way to escape.

They carried on running until they were approaching the river, a few streets between them and the house, and Ryoga was wishing he'd bought his bike. They slowed to a walk and Ryoga pulled his hand from Miki's, slumping on one of the benches and folding his arms. He'd had enough for tonight. Too many things had happened that day.

"Kamishiro?" Miki snapped. "Wake up!"

He opened his eyes again, slowly taking her in. Gone was the blue sun dress and strappy shoes. In their place was a short green pleated dress, a blue waistcoat with white shorts and black boots. Her hands were resting on her hips and she was glaring down at him. Ryoga smirked slightly.

"Why do you have your soul back?" he muttered.

Miki sighed and shook her head. "Didn't I give you enough clues?"

"Apparently not." She shook her head and pointed upwards. Ryoga rolled his head back and gazed upwards. The moon. "That's why you two kept harping on about full moons."

"So Hibiki told you too? How dense are you?"

"Hey! Who just got you out of there? A little appreciation would be nice."

"Fine, I'm sure you want answers. Where are we going?"

Ryoga frowned and caught her wrist, pulling her down onto the bench next to him. Miki glared at him for a moment before leaning back on the arm of the bench and swinging her feet up onto the seat.

"We'll get to that," he said. "Just give me a minute to figure out everything that just happened."

"Whatever. You take your time being a drama queen then."


"You should be going to bed soon, Haruto," Kaito said, watching Haruto with Rio.

Haruto had been ecstatic when Kaito had told him Rio was coming over. He'd gone on about how great it was that Kaito finally had a love interest, something Kaito had vehemently denied. Either way, he knew Haruto was pleased that he had friends. He used the term loosely, but there were sort of his friends, he supposed.

"Is Rio going to stay?" Haruto asked, getting up from the couch.

"We'll see," Rio replied softly.

"Will you read me a story?" he said, clasping his hands behind his back. "Kaito always reads me a story."

"Then shouldn't Kaito-"

"Please."

"He won't stop begging until you do," Kaito said.

So Haruto was a little bit spoiled. He'd been sick for so long Kaito lavished attention on him. He was getting stronger and given that their father was busy working a lot, there was no one to stop Kaito spoiling him. Given how often Kaito disappeared with Ryoga and Yuma it was his way of making up for things.

Rio smiled and nodded. Kaito supposed, given her only sibling was Ryoga, she wasn't used to having to pander to someone younger. Haruto went to his bedroom and Rio turned to Kaito, who shrugged.

"It's part of being an older brother."

"Ryoga never-"

"You two are the same age. You're twins."

"There's no need to get so huffy," Rio said, folding her arms.

"Rio," Haruto called. "Will you come and read to me now, please?"

Rio smiled and Kaito followed her to Haruto's room, where he was sitting on the bed with a book in his arms. He smiled and leant against the window, watching as Rio sat on the bed with him and took the book, reading from where Haruto pointed out. A small smirk grace his lips after a moment, noticing the first flaw and moments later Haruto pointed it out.

"You're not doing the voices."

"Voices?" Rio said.

"Yeah, the witch has a scary, croaky voice," Haruto said.

"O-oh." She frowned slightly and glanced at Kaito, who nodded in confirmation. "Alright then."

Kaito watched in silence as Rio continued with the story, trying to do the voices as Haruto instructed, trying not to find the pink dusting on her cheeks adorable. Ryoga would kill him if he started thinking Rio was cute. But no matter how much he tried to deny it, she was.

"Are you blushing because Kaito's here?" Haruto said suddenly.

"Of course not," Rio said, appearing calm. "I've just never had to do voices before."

"Ok," he said, nodding slightly. Apparently happy with that for now, Haruto smiled. "You're a lot better at this than Shark."

"Ryoga read you stories?"

"Once, yeah," he replied. "It didn't end too well, but it was kind of funny."

Kaito scowled. It had ended with him and Ryoga bickering and Haruto laughing at them, pointing out that the prince and princess in the story were always arguing like that. Ryoga had disappeared pretty quickly after that and Kaito had considered not talking to Haruto for a while. Only he knew he'd never manage that.

"Are you a duellist?"

"Yes," Rio replied.

"Are you as good as Shark?" Haruto said.

"I think so, yes, I'm just a little out of practice."

Haruto nodded thoughtfully. "That's good."

"It is?" Rio said with a small smile.

"Yes," he said. "My big brother could never have a girlfriend who wasn't a good duellist."

"Girlfriend?" Kaito said at the same moment as Rio.

"Well, girls never come over," Haruto reasoned. "Expect Kotori and she's always with Yuma." Kaito frowned. The logic was actually pretty solid for a child of his age. "And he even said you're pretty."

"Haruto," Kaito warned. "Hush. You should be getting ready to sleep."

"But you did. And Rio blushes every time you're close to her."

"I don't really," Rio said quietly.

"I think that's enough," Kaito said. "You've had your story, Haruto. Time to sleep."

Haruto nodded and settled down under the covers, closing his eyes as Rio got up. "You'd be a better girlfriend than all those fangirls, Rio."

"Thanks… I think," Rio said, following Kaito away.

They went in silence back to the sitting room and Rio slumped on the couch as Kaito leant against the wall. He couldn't believe Haruto had said all that. He had said she was pretty, but in context he'd been talking about how she was prettier than expected given she was Ryoga's twin. And Ryoga was in the room. It was him teasing Ryoga, as he always did.

Even all that aside, ignoring the fact that she was Ryoga's sister, that he hadn't meant it like that and he really hadn't considered Rio as girlfriend material before, Rio was fourteen. That was all he needed to know really. Everything else aside, it couldn't happen. Even if he was interest, it wasn't going to get him anywhere.

"I'm sorry about that," Kaito said finally.

Rio glanced up from a message on her D-Pad. "It's fine, really. Kids are kids, you know? They say stuff and take stuff out of context. Anyway… Ryoga says he's going to be out late, so I suppose someone should be at home in case our parents manage to tear themselves away from work."

"You don't have to go," he muttered before he could stop himself. For a moment, he hoped he'd been too quiet and Rio hadn't heard him but she paused mid-step and smiled back at him. "It seems unfair that you have to go back to an empty home. You can stay here tonight."

Rio blushed slightly and again Kaito pushed the word cute from his mind. "That's… I'd like that, definitely. Thank you."


In the Next Chapter: Ryoga is up ridiculously late on a school night, not that it matters since he's skipping school anyway. And Yuma takes it upon himself to help by tracking down Fate for another duel and answers.

The Tsukikage Secret