Keira: Hello, everyone~!

Ami: 'Sup.

Keira: Sorry this came out so late, we've just been so busy with other stuff lately! D:

Ami: But it's here now.

Keira: Right! And we would just like to thank everyone who reviewed this, and followed and favorited - it really means a lot!

Ami: It makes our kokoros go doki doki.

Keira: Seriously, yami?

Ami: Serious. Well, enough of that.

Keira: Time for the disclaimer~!

[DISCLAIMER] Yu-Gi-Oh! is not owned by us!

~Enjoy!

Text 2: First Game

I do too! :D Red. I dunno, I've always liked tht color the most. Your favorite color?

I smiled as I read the message. I proceeded to get comfortable in the cushioned lounge chair as I texted a reply.

Well, that's just something we have in common ;) Red? Really? My eyes are actually red. And I don't really have a preference in color, I guess… black?

It was true, I never really thought about trivial things such as favorite colors, and etc.

Beep!

I guess so, but I bet you don't own a game shop! Wow, your eyes are really red? That's so rare, I bet they're wicked. Haha, why would you say black? Oh, and since you didn't ask a question I get 2 take ur turn! :P Please don't take offense, but I can't judge it by your name… Are you a boy or a girl?

I laughed at the end, I suppose Yami is a unisex name. I was shocked a bit at my slip-up, I would have to try harder! I thought out my answers as I texted, so he owned a game shop, huh? Truly fascinating.

Interesting, but me and my cuz own a gaming company, so there! :P Oh yes, they can be very piercing… Er, I guess because I wear a lot of leather, don't ask, I just like to wear it. No! I can't believe I messed up, *sigh* you win this round, Yugi… Haha, it's all right, I'm a boy. Now, since you know mine, what color are your eyes?

I was finding myself actually intrigued by his next answer, his next text. Funny, I don't think I've ever been this excited about texting someone before...

Beep!

Grrr, okay you win! Really? I like to wear leather too, don't ask, just do occasionally… Hehe, I take it u don't like to lose much? Mine are purple, my friends call them amethyst – or at least agree with that since the whole lot of them tend to have a debate on what actual type of purple they are from time-to-time. So what's your favorite game to play?

I was pleased that I won, but was elated to know we shared similar fashion tastes. And purple eyes that resembled the gem, amethyst? Fascinating.

Yes! Victory is mine! :P You too? That's a new one, never knew anyone other than myself who liked to wear leather. I have you know I'm undefeatable in ANY game! Haha, you sound very close to your friends. My favorite game has to be Duel Monsters! Winter or Summer?

I remembered that time to include a question and smiled. I was surprised by how much I was enjoying myself, I was genuinely having fun with this. It was something new and exciting, and... Was I making friends with this boy, Yugi? I remained in deep thought. I've never been good at making friends, I keep to myself a lot of the times, even when I'm offered to hang out from peers my own age.

I finally realized that I never received the initial beep! sound that let me know a new text message arrived. I decided to text Yugi again, even though the rational side of me was yelling at me to be patient.

Yugi? Are you there?

Hopefully we could continue our conversation soon, it took my mind off of things. I stretched and decided to walk back into the kitchen. I fixed some hot tea to help calm my mind. When I was done fixing it, I went back out to the parlor and sat in a comfortable chair and just stared out at the view. Small critters like squirrels scurried around and I watched them as they chased each other around.

Well, might as well complete some homework while I sit out here, huh? After retrieving a few papers and textbook, I sat back in my seat. Just as I opened to the right pages I checked the time and realized it had already been ten minutes. I groaned slightly, I really shouldn't let these text messages bother me so much, am I starting to become like the teens I see everyday in class who whine over their phones constantly? I fervently hope not.

Just then, I heard my phone rattle just as a beep! sound came through.

Sorry, I had a phone call.

I smiled. Well at least he's honest and told me. Only a few seconds later did I receive another message from him.

Yeah, yeah, enjoy it while u can :P Same here! My friends used to tease me about it all the time, now they just live with it lol Oh really? Well I have you know that I AM undefeatable in ANY game too! Yes, my friends are my world, I'd do anything for them. *Gasp* No way! I LOVE Duel Monsters! Tht's like my favorite game to play! I'd have to go with Winter, I just love the snow.

A grin seemed to dominate my face as I started replying. He was quite engaging, this Yugi person. It was always hard for me to relate to others and stay in a pleasant conversation with someone. Often time we were just too different. That didn't seem to be the case with this guy...

Never keep me waiting! Jk, jk Well I always threaten my friends if they dare to tease me… What? Well we'll just see about that! I'm glad you have that, me and my friends have a very strange friendship… if you can even call it that. That's unexpected, which is your favorite Duel Monster? I'd have to disagree with you on the season, Yugi. Winter is just so bitter, I can't stand the cold. And snow, ew. Now, Summer would be my preference. It's nice and warm, it reminds me of Egypt… Where I was born and raised.

Before I knew it, I was starting to really open up to this character. He was some stranger who I had never met before, yet as we got to know each other I felt like sharing with him personal knowledge that I normally keep to just myself. It felt so easy to do so, more so than any adoptive guardians...

Beep!

Lol. Threaten… how? Yes we will, I'm a wiz at any game! :P You have me curious, what kind of friendship do you have with your friends? Dark Magician! Wow, so ur from Egypt? I have a friend who's from Egypt too… I dunno, the heat just always gets to me if I stay out in it too much. I just love watching the snowfall, it really helps me with writing.

Oh? A writer? I was instantly curious and responded back quite hastily. We just seemed to have a lot in common, and yet he kept surprising me.

Oh you know… Blackmail, sabotage, weapons… That sort of thing. :P It's more of an understanding that we have with each other, per say. Honestly, we all kind of hate each other – just not enough to outright kill each other. When we find ourselves getting along, it's usually because we agreed on something together like pranks or anything mischievous. But I'd have to say that they're the only ones I could call my friends. Dark Magician is my favorite, too! I love the heat, that's why I mostly stay inside during the winter. What do you write about?

This was definitely better than the pen pal program I had been enrolled in years ago. All of our messages had been dull and short, with nothing in common to engage in.

Beep!

O.O You and your 'friends' sound like me and my friends only darker, but at least you care for them. Haha, the pranks and mischief sounds familiar though :P Really? The Dark Magician is just awesome! Man, you don't ever go out to ski or ice-skate when it snows? Ur missing out! I mostly just write for fun, nothing serious. I keep a journal, and occasionally write Fanfictions. Do you like to role-play?

I laughed as I texted my reply while standing up. I could hear Bakura was home, so I decided to be nice and greet him at least.

"What has you so jolly?" Came a gruff reply as soon as I entered the kitchen, where he was currently looking around for food.

"Well, Marik seems to have a new number and I texted him not knowing and it ended up being a random guy. Now we're just talking because we're bored." I told him as I put away my phone after finishing up my reply.

Bakura raised a silver brow at me. "Just talking to some random stranger?"

I shrugged. "Sure, why not?"

He rolled his eyes and decided to leave the kitchen pantry alone. "I'm bored, let's go out."

"Where to?" I asked as I threw on my jacket and shoes. Looks like homework would wait. All well, going out was much better.

"Just around." Was Bakura's answer as he stood in waiting by the door for me. How nice of him.

"Are we taking the car?" I asked as we walked outside after locking up.

"It's not freezing, we'll go on foot." Came his snide remark, and I barely refrained from rolling my own eyes. Bakura always terribly wanted to be in charge of things. Most of the time I overpowered him about it, but times like these I just let it slide — it would save me a big headache later in all honesty.

Renka was warmer today then it has been and we have yet to experience snow — I shivered at just the thought. I was suddenly wishful for more tropical weather. But Bakura was right about it not being below freezing temperatures.

We walked the streets, it was both for exercise and for... other things.

"We're stopping here." Bakura stated and I looked up to see an orphanage house. Ah, so that's why he wanted me to go with him...

I followed the Thief into the old building and we immediately heard the cries of small children.

"Look! It's Baku big brother!"

"And Yami big brother!"

The children started running to crowd around us with excited faces and I couldn't help but smile. "Hello, how was your Christmas?" I asked them, and they started erupting into bubbling messes.

"It was good, thanks to our awesome big brothers!"

"Yeah! We got toys and a good meal!"

I smiled warmly, all of them were so innocent to be left behind in the world. Bakura understood this better than either I or Marik. He grew up in an orphanage, so he tended to support any in his area, especially the ones that weren't funded well. I always worried for him, though; that he might become too attached to these youngsters. Bakura really was a softie underneath all that gruff exterior...

"Why is Koen crying so much for?" Bakura asked as he made his way bit-by-bit through the mass of children. He was trying to get to the crying five-year-old orange-haired boy that was left to his self.

"Oh, Ko is sick!"

"Yeah, bad sick! Miss Yue had to get medicine for him!"

"But it's bad medicine, and it makes him cry!"

I watched as Bakua gently patted the crying boy's head, and Koen stopped his cries for a bit as he focused on the small tender smile on Bakura's face. I looked away. It was always a strange event to witness Bakura behaving as such, I felt as if I were an intruder by being in the midst.

"Oh, Miss Yue!"

At the sound of the children and the office door opening, I turned my head to see an elderly lady dressed in a long dress emerge from the stuffy office and smile in greeting at us. "I was wondering if I could speak to you both?" she asked kindly, and I nodded and saw that Bakura was already walking toward the woman.

We were ushered in to sit in the only two seats available — the ones that were practically shoved against the large desk that took up more than half of the small room space. The office wasn't tidied as much, with too many papers and documents and not enough cabinets to hold them all. This orphanage was one of the worst off ones in the city, and since it was near our house, Bakura made regular visits here to see the children and donate whatever he could.

"What is wrong with Koen now? I thought he was over his sickness." Bakura said, and Miss Yue sat down behind the desk.

"We thought so too, but sadly..." Her grey eyes looked grave as she regarded us. "He only seems to get worse, and yesterday we had the doctor come visit him for a check-up. After the results were found out after tests, well..."

"What? Spit it out already!" Bakura remarked almost coldly, and I saw how badly his hand was gripping the old wooden handle on the chair.

"I'm afraid there's nothing we can do for him. He has been diagnosed with Leukemia, acute lymphoblastic leukemia. He's already showing symptoms and the doctor isn't sure how long it's been developing, he's positive his parents must be from America, where the disease is rapid." Miss Yue explained, and I was shocked. So cancer, huh? I hung my head.

"Isn't there treatment for this?" Bakura quickly asked.

"Yes, Renka's main hospital actually provides chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and other forms of treatment for patients showing signs of the disease. The only problem is his parents are completely out of the picture, and the cost for such treatment is something our orphanage cannot afford or provide."

I looked over at Bakura, who had his face partially blocked with his hair. He was thinking deeply about something. "Then... What if I covered the costs, could he go then?"

"What?" I saw that Miss Yue was shocked as she gaped at Bakura's suddenly confident look.

"I can provide the money as long as he makes it."

"A-are you sure?" She stuttered, still wide-eyed. "Chemotherapy alone will take two years or more, and the toll on his body will be great, he will have to be strong in order to survive therapy."

Bakura took in a deep breath and let it go. He already made up his mind, I couldn't help but smile. "I said what I said. Time doesn't matter to me, I'll ensure he gets better and this orphanage won't have to pay anything." He stood up then and walked out with Miss Yue hurrying after him.

"Wait, it will be very expensive!"

"I don't care. If he doesn't get the treatment he'll die, right?" Bakura challenged her and she nodded, stricken. "Then it's settled. Koen!" He turned around to go back to the breathing hard boy.

"B-Bakura...?" The orange-haired and brown-eyed boy looked up as he had trouble catching his breath.

I wasn't sure what expression Bakura had on his face (as he had his back facing me), but whatever it was, it seemed to ease Koen and he smiled.

"You'll be okay, just relax. You'll be going to the hospital soon, and they're going to make you better, you hear? But you have to be strong, okay?" When the boy nodded at Bakura's words, Bakura leaned further down to whisper something that I couldn't hear. I just know the boy's eyes lit up and he suddenly hugged the Thief around the neck.

"You speak of this to no one." Bakura uttered when we made it out of the orphanage. We were calmly making our way to get something to eat now.

"Of course, your secret is safe with me." I told him, and he looked over at me.

"Do you think he'll really be alright?"

I looked up at the cloudy sky. I really hope it doesn't snow, please Ra, no. "Who knows? I hear it's easier on them to catch it before the age of ten, but they still have to have the will power to fight and live."

He made a grunt as he looked away. For some inexplicable reason, the one child to capture Bakura so entirely was Koen. When the boy started getting sick, Bakura turned into an overprotective person over the boy. I wasn't sure, but... I think Koen reminded him of someone... Maybe of himself, or someone dear to him.

It just proved that the otherwise evil, cold Thief King actually had a heart. We were all human, you just choose when to show it.

. * .

Seafood or Mexican?

It was now later and I was sitting on my bed finishing up a subject of homework. Yugi and I had been talking the entire day now, and after long responses, we turned back into Twenty Questions with just simple questions and answers.

Beep!

Seafood. Spicy or sweet?

I smiled at Yugi's question, and quickly answered it.

Spicy. :) Yellow or green?

Beep!

Yellow because it's bright! Vampires or werewolves?

It was strange how we knew each other so well now, and seemed to get along — better than most people, actually. I wish for a friend. I blinked, so could this be my wish coming true? Not likely, but I wouldn't give it up so easily!

Because I didn't feel so alone anymore... Which was a great feat in itself. A feeling that seemed foreign to me, in my blank and dull life. Perhaps coming to live in Japan with Kaiba wasn't such a bad decision after all. Only time would tell, I suppose.

. * .

Keira: Sorry for the shortness, still mapping out Yami's life~

Ami: And the thing with Koen?

Keira: Completely spontaneous scene that I actually didn't plan. Honestly, I was gonna do something else, but then the feels wanted out...

Ami: *rubs shorter girl's hair* Weirdo. So... Please review if you have the chance.

Keira: Yeah! It would really mean a lot! =D