A/N: Yay! New chapter! This chapter we're all cute and normal (-ish) to counter all the terrible revelations from last chapter (they become more terrible when you realise their relevance later on). Rio is upset, Thomas can't keep his mouth shut, Kaito and Chris pray Haruto will turn out More like Michael, Michael is adorable, Ken keeps sticking his nose in and Ryoga just wants to settle down at watch zombie shark movies and get some rest. So much. Thanks for reading, enjoy and review.


It was late when the twins and Ken arrived home. The sun was setting and any later and their friends would be getting into trouble. Hibiki had found them as they were talking home and gave Ken a bag, promising to talk to Hiro about letting him come home.

When Rio left, Ryoga and Ken had their decks spread out as they looked through and chatted over the duel. She hadn't seen Ryoga so happy in a long time. Yuma mad him smile and Kaito sort of did, but he seemed different around Ken. So Rio left them to it, slipping out of the sitting room and into her bedroom. When the door closed, Rio let out a sigh. She'd been holding it in all afternoon but that duel had shaken her. Losing like that… having to rely on Ryoga…

"Hey, Ice Queen," Thomas said, putting down his bowl. Rio smiled, adjusting her seat in front of the computer screen. The current time difference made it lunch time for Thomas, and Rio didn't want to think about how early he got up to call her sometimes. "You're looking kinda melted today."

Rio smiled weakly and Thomas tilted his head. "I lost a duel today."

"And?" he laughed, shrugging. "We all lose, Rio, what's the matter?"

"Ryoga and I were tag duelling against two of the new kids," she explained. Thomas nodded absently, lifting his bowl and starting to eat again. Rio almost rolled her eyes. She was questioning her ability to duel and needed support and he was thinking about his stomach? "And I made him lose. If it wasn't for me holding him back he could have won. He nearly did. He was great. And I ruined it for him. Thomas, am I a good duellist?"

"Oh?" he laughed, pausing from eating. "You're questioning your skills?" He laughed again and shook his head. "You're not Ryoga."

She sighed and nodded. "I know. I hold him back all the time."

"Perhaps."

"And I made him lose that duel. If it wasn't for me then he'd have won the nationals."

"That's questionable."

"I ruined everything because I couldn't beat you."

"Again, questionable."

"You're a great duellist," Ken said. Rio turned and Ken shut the door behind him. "Ryoga's gone to get something to eat tonight. You're a great duellist Rio, Miki just winds people up. It's what she does. She gets her opponent wound up to the point where they can't think properly."

"Ryoga wasn't bothered by it," Rio muttered.

"And?" Thomas said. "Ryoga can get pretty heartless, and to be fair he seems to run off getting fired up. He doesn't make mistakes. Secondly, he's improved a lot since he was disqualified. He's got a lot stronger, so cool it. You've been in hospital for a while, you're out of practice when it comes to duelling and social situations." Rio frowned as Ken leant on the back of her chair. Thomas frowned. "You're the guy from the other day. The one who planted a kiss on Ryoga."

"That's right," Ken replied with a smile. "Ken. You're IV."

"It's Thomas now," he replied, returning to eating. "So, what's going on between you and Ryoga?"

"It's complicated," he laughed.

"Hardly," Rio muttered. "You two made out in front of half the school. I think it's pretty obvious you're a couple."

"We're not a couple," Ryoga snapped from the doorway. Ken smiled and turned away as Ryoga glared down at the screen. "I don't appreciate you anywhere near my sister, IV, not after what you did."

Rio frowned and shoved him away. "I like talking to Thomas, he's a good friend."

"Pretty good looking too," Ken put in.

Rio frowned slightly at the flash of jealousy and anger that went through Ryoga's eyes. Was that… because Ken called Thomas good looking? How cute. Ryoga must have really been taken with Ken to have such a reaction. Ryoga disconnected the call to Thomas and turned on Rio.

"After everything, how could you turn to him?" he snapped. "He might have done it for his family but he tore apart ours! How can you turn to him rather than me?"

"Because I don't want to hold you back anymore!" she yelled back.

"But him?! Or all people, him!"

Suddenly Ken's arms wrapped around his waist and Ryoga's eyes widened before softening slightly as Ken leant his chin on his shoulder. "My my, Ryoga, getting so worked up over another boy? I'll get jealous."

"It's not like that," Ryoga argued, but his normal anger wasn't there. It was more childish. "He-"

"Maybe I should try harder to get you worked up myself," Ken murmured.

Ryoga's cheeks went red and Rio fought the urge to laugh as Ken kissed his cheek and led him out. Perhaps there was an upside to Ryoga being so taken with Ken. He seemed to have tamed Ryoga's wild spirit wonderfully. She smiled to herself and reconnected the call. Thomas was still in front of his screen, eating again and apparently waiting for her call back.

"You cooled him off quickly," he muttered.

"It's Ken," she replied softly. "Something about him just soothes Ryoga with just a few words."

"Magic," he laughed. "Seriously, what's the deal with those two?"

"I don't know," she sighed, shaking her head. She flicked through her D-Pad and bought up the picture she'd caught of Ryoga and Ken's kiss after the duel, showing it to him. "They're pretty serious when they get going." Thomas nodded. "And it seems completely mutual, just they don't seem willing to admit they like each other. I don't know how to explain it. I've never seen anyone affect Ryoga like that. It's different to Yuma."

"Yeah, I'd always figured he had something for Yuma," Thomas said, waving his hand. "I just figured there was no accounting for taste. But that one is the kind of person I'd imagine him falling for."

"Huh? What's wrong with Yuma?" Michael said, suddenly appearing on screen.

"Nothing," Thomas said. "If you like energetic and bouncy and childish."

"Ken's different," Rio agreed. "Older looking, kinda ethereal."

"Kinda like Chris when he stands out in the sun and the wind blows and his hair goes all over the place?" the youngest Arclight said.

Rio smiled. She could definitely imagine that. Thomas nodded. "He's the typical type for you hormonal bunch to fall for."

"You're not that much older than me, Thomas," Michael said, frowning slightly.

"I'm old enough," Thomas replied. "So, this fella will be good for him. I mean, for Ryoga to care about someone who's not you has got to be a good sign." Rio nodded. "Hey, send me that picture, will you?"

"Why?" Rio said, folding her arms.

"Just to tease him with if he gets grumpy again, nothing serious. So what else is going on?"

Rio sighed and Michael sat with them, chatting away. Eventually, Rio ended up sending Thomas the photo. She hoped he didn't cause too much trouble with it. She needed to soften Ryoga up to the idea of her talking with Thomas. Despite everything, Thomas was one of the best friends she'd ever had.

When they finally said goodbye, Rio figure there was next to nothing left of whatever foot Ryoga had bought in. Teenage boys ate too much. She stepped out into the hall and couldn't see them anywhere. She glanced into Ryoga's room and they weren't there. Back in the sitting room, she frowned and folded her arms.

"I'm going to see Kaito," she called.

The settee groaned and there was a grunt. "Ow!"

"You shouldn't have been in the way," Ryoga snapped as the pair sat up. So what had they been up to out of sight on the couch? Rio walked over slowly and found Ken sitting astride Ryoga's lap, both flushed and panting softly. "Where are you going?"

"To see Kaito," she replied. "I just said that."

He frowned and Ken reached slowly around his neck, leaning on his shoulder. "Are you and Kaito more serious, Rio?"

"They're not," Ryoga said firmly. "Don't stay out too late."

"I'll be back soon."

She turned away and the settee groaned again. Suddenly Ryoga huffed and Rio glanced back. Ken had apparently shoved him down and was over him on all fours. Ryoga went to shove him off, looking furious for a moment but Ken smiled and kissed his lips briefly. Something in Ryoga's eyes changed, Rio was certain of it, and he stopped fighting Ken, instead reaching up to his neck and drawing him down gently. What the hell was going? That wasn't like her Ryoga. Being so wild and a kind of grumpy, it was weird to see him tamed so easily.

She sighed and shut the door behind her as Ken laughed and sat back, gesturing over to the TV but not moving from Ryoga's lap. Ryoga sighed and leant on his shoulder as a movie came on, a weird smile on his lips she hadn't seen in a long time. Ryoga was… content…


"Good night, Haruto," Kaito murmured, kissing his brother on the forehead. "Sleep tight."

Haruto was already half asleep and only murmured something unintelligible in response. The father was working late but Kaito was used to him not being around anymore. He frowned walked away silently, checking his messages again.

Ice Queen Rio: Gonna meet me like a gentleman or do I have to walk all that way?

Kaito smirked. She had messaged him out the blue, asking to meet and that she was feeling down. Kaito had other plans but he made room for Rio. Who gave her that name though? Surely not Ryoga, he would never call his sister a queen no matter what happened or how good she was.

Kaito: Walk here and I'll give you a lift back.

He had things to do, and he really didn't want to just drop all that. He smiled to himself and sat in his room, calling up Chris. They didn't speak as often as Rio seemed to speak with Thomas, but Chris had been a big part of his and Haruto's life for a long time.

"Good evening," Chris said, a small smile coming to his lips.

"Good afternoon," Kaito replied. Their conversations were never particularly long or complicated, it was just checking in every now and again. "How have things been for you?"

"Generally settled and quiet," he said, although there was noise in the background. "However Thomas is more excited than normal. Something about Ryoga having a boyfriend?"

"I hadn't heard," he muttered. Then again he hadn't spoken to Ryoga since the night before when he'd duelled Destiny. Perhaps something had happened at school. "I don't keep up with the ins and outs of children."

"Looks pretty mature to me," Thomas laughed, leaning over Chris' shoulder and showing off a picture on his D-Pad.

Kaito frowned, glancing over the picture. Ryoga and another boy in the second year uniform. He looked vaguely familiar. Then it hit him; that boy Ken, the one who flirted with Rio and implied they were a couple. The picture had obviously been taken in a hurry, and apparently after a duel since both were wearing duel disks still and the people in the background had their D-Gazers fitted still. The pair seemed oblivious to the people surrounding them and completely focused on what seemed to be a rather passionate kiss.

"Interesting," he muttered as Chris shooed Thomas away. "I doubt I want to ask how he got that."

"Rio probably," Chris replied. "They talk a lot. I heard Ryoga on the line earlier, so perhaps he's finally discovered them. How's Haruto?"

"He continues to get stronger," Kaito said as his D-Pad lit up again. "I'm not sure he'll be normal anytime soon though."

Ice Queen Rio: Some boyfriend you are.

"Am I distracting you, Kaito?"

"No, of course not," he replied with a frown. "Just a message from Rio."

Kaito: Just because that Ken seems to have moved on doesn't mean I'm his replacement.

Ice Queen Rio: Who told you about that?!

"Anything interesting?" Chris said.

Kaito: Thomas can't keep his mouth shut.

"She's stopping over for a bit. Apparently something happened at school and she doesn't want to talk to Ryoga about it."

"She and Ryoga lost a tag duel," Thomas called. "She's questioning herself."

"Thomas," Chris snapped.

The door slammed and Chris' room fell into silence. Kaito smiled slightly. "I hope Haruto is a little quieter at his age."

"I'd assume Haruto would turn out more like Michael." He offered a strained smile. "Thomas is one of a kind, I assure you."

"We wouldn't change him though," Michael said.

"No," Chris said quietly. "We certainly wouldn't. As I'm sure you would love Haruto no matter how he turned out."

"Of course," Kaito replied. "He's my brother."

Ice Queen Rio: I'm going to kill him.

"Rio claims she's going to kill him for blabbing about Ryoga's boyfriend," he continued.

Chris smiled. "I'll be sure to warn him."

Ice Queen Rio: I'm outside, gonna let me in? Or do I have to do that myself too?

"Rio's here," Kaito said quietly. "I'll talk to you again another time."

"Have fun," Chris said, nodding slightly. "And try to remember how young she is."

"Not you too."

He got up and went down to let Rio in. She was obviously wound up and struggling with something. After Thomas' outburst, he could imagine why. He smiled and gestured for her to come in.

They chatted for hours and Kaito realised how difficult Rio was finding the loss. Kaito wasn't sure why. Didn't she know they all lost duels. He did, Ryoga did, Yuma did a lot and she was no exception to the rule. And as for her complaints that she was holding Ryoga back because she got too emotion, he didn't buy that either.

"There is nothing wrong with being emotional," he said. "They can get in the way but you can't block them out. It's what makes us human. Ryoga fights extra hard for you, you don't hold him back."

"I know, but-"

"No buts, he loves you. He would fight with all he had if you were in danger. Ryoga would hate knowing you feel like this."

"That's why I can't tell him. He'll blame himself or tease me. I let it slip earlier when we were arguing but I don't think he caught it. I don't want him to be hurt like that."


Ryoga had been adamant they were going to watch this movie the second he heard it was on TV. Night of the Zombie Jaws. Ken hadn't objected, something Ryoga put of the list of things he liked about him, and actually seemed rather keen. They were slouched together on the couch, snuggled up in the cushions and watching mostly in silence, happy with each other's company. Ryoga found it hard to believe that he was so comfortable with Ken nuzzled into his shoulder and half in his lap after so little time. It had only been a few days ago Ken had stolen that first kiss.

"I was under the impression Great Whites were solitary hunters," Ken muttered.

"They are," Ryoga replied quietly. Another thing in Ken's favour; he was as fond of marine wild life as Ryoga. If that giant Abyssmegalo and the rest of his deck hadn't been hint enough, tonight had confirmed it. But sharks were still Ryoga's specialty. "But I doubt then this isn't exactly realistic."

"Well how are we supposed to willingly believe there are zombie sharks around if they can't even get the basics right?"

"I said it was amusing, I never said it was good." Ken smiled softly and nodded, his hand sliding over Ryoga's stomach and taking Ryoga's hand slowly. "You know what's coming next, right?"

"I drag you back to your room, push you on the bed and we make out?" Ryoga shot him a mock glare, ignoring that his idea wasn't a bad one. "You meant the movie?" He glanced at the screen. "I think the shark fisher who thinks he's safe in his boat is about to get eaten."

"You'll jump," Ryoga said, a small smile coming to his lips.

"No way, it's so predictable."

Ryoga smirked and turned back to the movie as the fisher but his bait in the water. It was predictable but it didn't matter. The zombie shark exploded up through the bottom of the boat and they both jumped, Ken's hand squeezing tightly around Ryoga's and Ryoga's arm squeezing around Ken's middle.

"Ok…" Ken breathed. Ryoga could feel Ken's heart hammering against his side slowly returning to normal. "Fine. You win."

"Pays you back for earlier," Ryoga murmured.

"Oh?" he purred, tilting his head slightly. "Still a little sore over that, are we?"

"Of course not."

Ken kissed his cheek softly and Ryoga smiled, leaning his forehead against him. He'd decided, in private at least, he may as well accept these feelings for Ken. Whatever this was, hormones or something more, it wasn't going away. And every time he was close to Ken, every time they were close like this, every touch filled him with a warm, soothing feeling. He'd not been so content with his life in a long time.

Their lips were pressed together again before he could register it. Ryoga wasn't sure which one of them started it, but soon Ryoga had no choice but to grope blindly for the remote and pause the TV so he could turn his full attention to Ken.

"There's a term for people who are turned on by that, right?" came Rio's voice.

"Fangirls," Kaito muttered.

Ryoga was about to push Ken away and snap at them but Ken seemed to read his mind and pinned him down. "I meant the TV."

This time Ryoga managed to push Ken away and Ken sat back on the opposite end of the couch, arms folded and pouting slightly. The TV had been paused on a shot of two large sharks tearing a man apart. Rio sighed and shook her head.

"Honestly," she sighed. "This obsession with sharks has to stop somewhere."

"Have you considered the psychological reasons behind his association with sharks?" Kaito said. Rio frowned as Ryoga glared up at him. "People often find themselves subconsciously drawn to animals that represent themselves."

"Photons are light, right?" Ryoga muttered, folding his arms. "Light that burns bright and dies quickly."

A flash of awkwardness crossed Kaito's face and he turned away for a moment before Ken laughed. "Maybe he's called Shark because he bites."

"Shut up," Ryoga hissed.

"So, you two really are a couple then," Kaito said.

"You even told him?" he snapped, glaring at Rio. "I know you love gossip but-"

"It wasn't me," Rio replied, folding her arms.

"It was Chris," Kaito said.

Chris? V? That meant… IV! It was IV who let it slip. Rio had told IV about them, hadn't she? He'd walked in on them discussing it. How could she run to him? After everything, he'd gone through hell for Rio and she turned to IV and Kaito when she needed someone to talk to? Wasn't he good enough for her anymore.

"Why are you here?" Ryoga hissed, glaring at Kaito.

"Merely making sure Rio arrived home safely," Kaito replied, not looking at all bothered by his glare. "I wouldn't interrupt your time with yur childish boyfriend don't worry."

"She's home, you can leave now."

"Ryoga," Ken said softly, reaching over for his hand. The second their fingers brushed, that warmth surrounded him again and Ryoga lost the will to fight. It wasn't worth it when he felt this good. "You're so cute when you're being grumpy."

"Not cute," he muttered.

Kaito left none the less and Rio huffed about him being unreasonable before flouncing off to her room. Not that Ryoga minded that much. If she was still stressed in the morning, then he'd be concerned and deal with it, but it was just the shock of losing as far as he could tell. Nothing to get worried over. He pulled Ken back over and put the movie back on, holding Ken's hands to stop them wandering.

Next thing Ryoga knew it was dark and a hand was running through his hair. He groaned and opened his eyes a little, moving to brush Ken's hand away and tell him to go back to sleep but Ken's arms were around his middle and his head against his chest. And there was a blanket pulled over them. They must have fallen asleep watching TV. Was Rio fussing again?

"I'm fine, Rio," he murmured.

"I know, sweetheart," replied a soft voice.

His eyes snapped open fully and he tilted his head, gazing up into matching blue eyes. His mother's blue eyes. She was home. She was never home. He never got to see her anymore. She smiled and petted his head.

"Who's this?" she said, gesturing to Ken.

Ryoga hesitated. Who was Ken really? Ken stirred slightly and squeezed his arms around him. "I'm his boyfriend."

"I- We-" Ryoga stammered slightly. Were they really…? "It's not that serious."

"Alright," Ken whispered. "I'm a friend he makes out with."

"Shut up," he snapped. He glanced at his mother. "Ken is-"

"I understand," she said, stroking his cheek. "You're growing up. And Rio?"

"Kaito or Thomas," Ken muttered.

"She's not interested in either of them," Ryoga hissed. "Shut up and go back to sleep."

"Kaito is the boy from the WDC?" Ryoga nodded. Had it really been so long since they last spoke that she didn't know he and Kaito had become… friends? "And who's Thomas?"

"IV."

"Oh."

Even his mother knew that name. The person who'd been his rival. The person his duelling career had fallen apart in front of. She sighed and kissed his forehead.

"Never mind her tastes," she said softly. "You've got your sweetheart. That's what matters. I'm happy for you. I wish I could watch you growing up more but I want to let you have a good life."

"I know. I understand why you and dad work all the time." Ken's arms tensed around his and Ryoga absently lifted his hand to stroke his hair reassuringly. That was why he'd lashed out at his aunt and uncle, right? Because he felt abandoned. "I miss you though."

"I miss you too." She stood slowly and he smiled. "I'll see you in the morning, dear."

She walked away slowly and the door to the master bedroom closed. Ken nuzzled into his chest and Ryoga pulled the blanket up around them further. It had been a tough day; Rio's tantrums and Kaito's interruptions and Ken's constant blabbing about everything but his mother finally being home made it all worth it.

"Ryoga," Ken murmured.

"Yes?" he replied, closing his eyes slowly.

"You get your looks from her."

"You really don't know when to shut up, do you?"


In the Next Chapter: Fate shows himself once more. Ryoga comes face to face with Mother Grace and Yuma is lead astray chasing down Charity only to find he's been lured into a trap.

An Inescapable Fate