Disclaimer: I don't own Yu-Gi-Oh!

Here's the next chapter!

When they went back to school, Ryo was covered by Bakura, although it confused the crap out of the teacher. He wasn't sure what to do when Bakura answered all the questions he directed at his "cousin" and Ryo not saying a word. She was taken aside by the teacher and he asked, 'What's going on here, Ryo-kun? If this is some kind of prank, I want it to end right now.'

/What should we do now?\

/Just tell him the truth and then he won't have to be bugged about it.\\

/Okay.\

She wrote on the chalk board and presented it to him.

I'm deaf now, so unless you want to kick me out of class, I suggest you get used to my cousin answering the questions you give me, because it would be tiring for me to write my answers all the time.

His eyes widened and he snapped by her ear. She didn't react, so he nodded. 'Well then, return to your seat. How is it that he knows your answers?'

She merely grinned before she returned to her seat.

At lunch, her friends bombarded her with questions so fast that Bakura had to step in and tell them to shut up and ask her one at a time.

/You'd think the "I'm deaf" phrase would've sunk in by now. Yelling at you as one won't do anything but confuse you. First question from the Pharaoh: "When did this happen and why didn't you tell us before this?" Should I answer or just cuff him over the head for asking a stupid question?\\

/Bakura, be nice.\

/Fine.\\

He was facing away from her, so she just waited until Atem received the answer and read his lips as he replied.

'I doubt Ryo-san said it that way, Bakura. He isn't that crude.'

She clipped Bakura's shoulder with her fist. /I told you to be nice.\

/It's the Pharaoh, I was as nice as I felt like.\\

/If you're going to be my mouthpiece, I suggest you don't edit my words to be rude, or else we'll have a lot of upset people here.\

Bakura turned to her with a scowl on his face, but she didn't back down. She saw out of the corner of her eye that Jonouchi muttered to Honda, 'Ryo-kun's sure gotten tough. I thought he was just a wimp when it came to dealing with his dark half.'

/Tell Jonouchi that if he wants to whisper, he has to cover his mouth, because volume doesn't matter to a deaf person.\

Bakura did so and Jonouchi snarled at him, 'Hey! I know that, Bakura!'

Ryo shook with silent laughter and Bakura grinned. /He obviously didn't, or else he wouldn't have protested so violently.\\

Anzu got in her question next. 'Do you think this is permanent?'

Ryo didn't even have to say anything, she just nodded.

'Why? Did a doctor tell you more?'

/I don't want to answer that. It was because of my ignorance and stubbornness that caused this to happen in the first place. What's done is done.\

/If that's what you want.\\

Anzu looked disappointed, but she nodded. Yugi then asked, 'Ryo-kun, do you think you'll still duel in the World Tournament?'

Everyone gathered together to hear this one, since this was a main object of concern, since "she" had dueled in the Battle City finals. She'd already talked in length with Kaiba and Bakura about this, and it was already decided. She nodded and everyone got excited, talking all at once again. She sighed and leaned her cheek on her hand. /There they go again. What's the gist of it?\

/They're planning on what they're going to do on this whole trip, since it is around the world and most of them haven't gone further than Duelist Kingdom.\\

/Oh. I want to go talk to Seto now.\

/Go on, then.\\

She went over to Kaiba and smiled at him. She began to sign immediately as soon as she greeted him with a raised hand. 'Busy? Or do you have time to talk to me?'

He grinned. 'I always have time for you, Ryo.'

She watched as he actually closed his laptop and asked, 'Did you tell them?'

'They're pleased that I'll actually be dueling, but they haven't been told how yet.'

'Good, I want them to not know until the day of.'

She nodded and smiled. 'Seto, do you think I'll do well in the tournament? I updated my deck and everything…'

'Of course. You've beaten Mokuba, Jonouchi, and closely lost to me. You'll do fine against these penny-ante duelists who want to challenge all of us Battle City finalists.'

'Seto…um…' Ryo paused in her signs and looked nervous.

'The last time you got nervous you lost your nerve and didn't tell me you were going deaf. What is it now?'

Her face reddened and she looked away. 'I'm…pregnant…again.'

He grabbed her face and yanked it to meet his eyes. She watched his lips as he smiled. 'That's wonderful. Unexpected, but wonderful. You took a test?'

She nodded. 'There was no mistake, and Bakura told me it was in my soul room. I have high hopes that I'll react better this time. It is the second time around.'

'Hopefully this mess will be over and done with by the time you give birth. We were just starting the Battle City finals when you did last time. Just promise me it isn't twins again.'

'Bakura told me it was just one.'

/Ryo, the Pharaoh wants to talk to you.\\

/I'm with Seto right now.\

/He says its important.\\

/What's so important it can't wait until after school?\

/You'll have to see.\\

She pouted and stood, having had sat backwards in a chair to "talk" with Kaiba. She shared a goodbye smile with Kaiba and walked over to her group of friends, stopping in front of Atem. She jerked her head towards the bathroom and he followed her into the boys' bathroom, where she nodded to him to begin.

'I just happened to notice with my magic that you're expecting again. Is Kaiba actually taking responsibility this time?'

She nodded.

'I know this is hard, but will you let me protect you, should you be in trouble? I don't know what would be threatening you, but there must be a reason why you're hiding your true gender and came here to Japan. I know you have Marik, Bakura and Kaiba, but if you could include me, I would feel less uneasy about you entering the tournament when you're too heavy to run normally.'

She hesitated for a moment, before she nodded. It would make her feel better if she had another person to protect her.

'Thank you, Ryo-kun. How are things going with Kaiba at this time?'

She unclasped her collar and pulled out her wedding ring, which was on a chain. His eyes lit up and he smiled.

'Congratulations. Is that why you're with child again?'

She nodded again and lowered her hand to her stomach lovingly. He came over and put his hands on her shoulders.

'Ryo-kun, good luck in the tournament, even if it isn't for another three to six months.'

She shook hands with him and they walked back to the classroom.

Oh yes! The World Tournament is upon us! *waves pompoms*

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