Disclaimer: I don't own Yu-Gi-Oh!
Here's the next chapter! Hooray!
Ryo woke with a start to the alarm clock the next morning, completely bewildered.
/Bakura…do you hear that?\
/What?\\
/The alarm clock.\
/No…\\ Bakura yawned. /Why? Do you?\\
/Yes… Can I hear again?\
Bakura reached through the link and heard the blaring through her ears. /It must be. Maybe your condition wasn't as permanent as the doctors feared.\\
She got dressed and jumped when Kaiba greeted, "Good morning, Ryo."
Swallowing, she greeted back vocally, "Good morning, Seto."
She rubbed her stomach as the baby kicked. Kaiba kissed her and went about his morning routine. She stared for a moment before doing the same. /Seto doesn't seem surprised. Does he know somehow?\
/You do have the habit of talking in your sleep.\\
/I do?\
/Yes, you do.\\
/Oh.\ She walked out of the bedroom and began to eat breakfast. Jonouchi, followed by Honda and Otogi, stumbled out of their room and noticed Ryo, who looked rested and, more importantly, starving. They woke further and ran for the table, grabbing what they could. When his mouth was empty for a moment, the blonde greeted, "Morning, Ryo-kun."
She looked up and smiled. "Good morning, Jonouchi-kun."
The trio stopped dead at her words and she continued eating as if she'd said nothing wrong. Marik, Rishid, Bakura and Atem came out of one room and Jonouchi pointed at Ryo like she'd grown a second head and shouted, "Ryo-kun just spoke to me, you guys!"
Bakura looked unsurprised, in fact, he laughed at Jonouchi's expression of horror. Rishid, Atem and Marik looked to Ryo, who gave a pleasant greeting by asking, "Did you all have a nice sleep?"
"See? SEE?!"
She raised her eyebrows, but finished her food and stretched as she greeted Mokuba and Yugi, "Good morning!"
They stared at her as she went into the room and lifted a pillow. She then proceeded to beat Noa over the head with it. He groaned, "A few more hours, Oka-sama…"
/His mother beat him over the head with a pillow?\\
/Apparently.\ "Wake up, Noa-kun! It's morning!"
"Shut up…"
She grabbed his arm and began to pull, so he let himself get dragged or else he'd hurt her. She brought him to the table and sat him down. He picked up a piece of toast and stuffed a corner into his mouth.
Now the attention of the room shifted to the teal-haired Kaiba brother. Mokuba sniggered and teased, "Did you sleep well, Onii-chan?"
"Shut up, Mokuba. My head hurts."
"Did Kaiba dye his hair all of a sudden?" Honda asked.
"It makes him look weird," Jonouchi added.
Noa, who was near-comatose, didn't reply. Mokuba chuckled and didn't hint at anything, either. Ryo went back to the room she shared with Kaiba and took his hand.
"Come on, you need breakfast."
"No I don't."
"Seto."
He grumbled and let her pull him out into the main part of the room. The room was tense and silent as everyone tried to figure out what was going on. Bakura's glee came through the link to Ryo, who's lips twitched as she tried to keep a straight face. Finally the dam broke and she burst out laughing, before announcing, "Don't you recognize Noa-kun? He's Kaiba's age, but he's the same person."
Noa blearily glanced at everyone and nodded. "I've escaped the virtual world and used the power of the Millennium Rod to make myself a body. Don't worry, all I want is to live my life, everyone. I bear no grudge against any of you."
Kaiba nodded. "We were a little wary of him, but I trust him, so you should all follow my lead—"
Ryo rammed a piece of toast into her husband's mouth. "You've said your piece, now eat."
He looked disgruntled for being interrupted, but didn't argue as he ate what Ryo thought was a healthy portion. Jonouchi then looked the chestnut-haired Kaiba brother over.
"Hey Kaiba, you've gained weight, upon closer inspection. Did you break your diet?"
Intense blue eyes glared as their owner swallowed and griped, "Ryo-kun's making me eat more on the premise that 'I'm so skinny if I turned sideways and stuck out my tongue I'd look like a zipper'."
Bakura cackled maniacally and exchanged a high-five with Ryo. "Excellent comparison, Ryo."
Kaiba glared at the tomb robber. "Don't make me punch you again."
"I'm ready for another scrap, Skinnybones. All I'd have to do is hit you with a feather and you'd blow away."
Ryo put a firm hand on her love's shoulder. "You're not going anywhere until you're finished eating."
The CEO huffed and resumed eating. Noa winced and muttered, "I'm going back to bed."
He stumbled back to the room he'd been in previously and the door closed. Atem then asked, "Where are we going today, Kaiba?"
"Nowhere important. We've traveled through most of the part of the city the tournament will commence in and if you want to go sight-seeing, it's the perfect time. I'm sure you and Bakura should have lots of fun with that."
Bakura nudged the pharaoh and nodded towards the door. Atem sighed and followed him out. Ryo sent a questioning probe, but was blocked with Bakura stating, /You'll find out later, Ryo. For now, leave me be.\\
She raised her eyebrows and figured it was something special for the tournament.
Ryo found out the first hour of the tournament, when Bakura, a duel disk on his arm, challenged her to a duel.
"Why don't we see who's the better now, Ryo?"
She nodded and activated her duel disk.
"Let's duel!"
It ended in a close loss for Ryo, and Bakura patted her back. "You're getting better. I'll look forward to the day you best me."
She grinned and high-fived her dark half. They turned from each other and walked down the dirt street.
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