All right, everyone! Welcome to the second arc of the Before My Eyes series! If you are new here, be sure to check the Duelist Kingdom part first, so that you can catch up. If you already read it, then let's start this new part. The following takes place during Steppin' Out. I know I skipped a few episodes, but as I said in a Duelist Kingdom chapter, some fillers episodes where Richard won't appear or do anything useful will indeed be bypassed. Now, on with the story!

"SAY WHAT?!" I yell.

Let me bring you up to speed: a couple of days ago (Author's note: think about this happening right after the events of Dungeon Dice Monsters) I happened to encounter Tea and after a few minutes of talking about random stuff she asked me: "Anyhow, now that I think about it I wanted to ask you a question"

"Shoot" I answered.

"Do you remember when Rebecca came to us in order to claim the Blue-Eyes White Dragon from Yugi's grandpa?"

I blushed a little. "Yeah. Why?"

"Well, I saw you blushing, just like right now"

"Damn, she noticed it!"

"I was wondering: is that because you like her or something?"

I looked at her with a honest look and with a genuine smile I answered her question with one of my own: "How come you girls always hit the jackpot when it comes to this stuff?"

She giggled. "Because you boys are so obvious!"

"That obvious?" I asked.

"If Joey figured it out by himself, I should say yes"

"Guess he didn't deserve that punch"

"Don't worry, he won't pay you back for that one"

"Well, thank God then: he's twice my height" I admit "Now I know how it feels like to be Yugi..."

We both laughed at that statement.

"I really needed that" I said after we both stopped laughing.

"Yeah, me too"

"Well, see ya then"

"Bye!"

After that we both left. Returning to the current situation, I'm now on the phone with - guess who? Tea! She apparently told Rebecca that I wanted to ask her out but I hadn't got her number (which is actually right, but still!).

"How did you even got her number?!"

"I asked Yugi, who asked his grandpa, who asked Arthur, who asked Rebecca!" she answered from the other side of the phone.

"Oh my God..." I say facepalming myself "I swear to God, next time I'll see you, I'm going to kill you"

"I don't think so. Probably you'll thank me. For the moment, enjoy your date: she expects you at 4.30 P.M. at the central square. Don't be late!"

And then she hangs up.

I lie down on my couch for a couple of seconds and then I call: "Jennifer!"

"Yes, master Richard?" she says coming out of a room and approaching.

I sit correctly on the couch and look at her. "I need your advice"

"Huh?"

"I understand your confusion, but this is really important. You see, I have a... a..."

Damn, I can't say the word! I'm too embarassed! But come on: it's Jennifer!

"Yes, sir?"

Finally I get the courage and say: "A date. In a hour and a half"

"Oh" she says joyfully "I'm so happy for you, master Richard"

"Thanks" I answer with a weak smile "Anyway, I called you here because I need your help in choosing the correct clothing for the occasion"

"Mmmmhhhh..." she mumbles "I think we can arrange something..."

After a few minutes I'm standing in front of a mirror: I'm wearing a dark blue sleeveless t-shirt with a white jacket; down under I have dark blue jeans with a black belt, my Deck Box containing my Deck attached on a spot on the right side, along with white shoes; I'm also wearing a silver necklace with a shark tooth attached to it and a silver onyx ring on my right middle finger (Author's note: From now on, Richard will always be dressed like this except in a few occasions that I can't tell yet because spoilahz!).

"How do I look?" I ask while she looks at me.

"As a professional woman I say that you look really good" she answers "As a girl I say that you're friggin' hot"

I blush at the compliment, then I look at her. "Jennifer, thank you so much. You're basically my family right now. I'm so happy to have you"

She remains silent for a second, then she says: "I'm happy too: last person I had to work for before master Pegasus had these kids about your age and they only wanted stuff, stuff and more stuff and I didn't know what to do"

"Pretty hard when you deal with kids, uh?"

"Yeah, actually. But then you came and I thought I was gonna start that thing all over again. But you're different: you act just like you are on your twenties or even more. Is it daring to ask why?"

I look away. "I'll tell you some other day: I don't want my day to be ruined with sad stories like mine"

"I'm sorry I bothered you"

"Oh you didn't" I quickly answer to make her feel less uncomfortable "It's just... I'm not feeling like telling you now"

"I understand. You have a date. Good luck, by the way"

I close my eyes for a second and then I smile. "Thanks"

When I arrive at the central square I see her sitting near the fountain: she's wearing a white shirt with a pink jacket and a green skirt along with a pair of glasses (Author's note: Think about her second Waking the Dragons's outfit). Man, if she's cute dressed like that!

"Uhm... hi" I shily say.

"Hi, Richard!" she says happily "Tea told me that you wanted to spend some time with me"

I can't answer so I simply nod.

"Before we do anything though, take my phone number"

She then handles me a piece of paper with her number and I place it in my pocket.

"So, what do we do?" she asks.

"How about we get an ice cream?" I finally say after a few seconds of thinking.

"Oooh, ice cream! All right!"

We then start to move. Why do I have the feeling of being followed?

"So..." I say as I slurp a little bit of ice cream "How long you and your grandpa are staying in Domino City?"

"For about a month, then we'll go back to America"

"I always wondered how does America look like..."

"Well, it's not complitely like when you see it in the movies, but sure it's a good place to live"

"I wish I could leave there one day..."

Then the silence. I slurp some ice cream in my mouth. Then she does. Then I do. Then she does. "Ahhhh, man! It's so embarassing!" I almost yell.

Then I notice everyone in the room's looking at me with annoyed looks. "Eheheh... sorry..." I chuckle blushing.

"Why are you embarassed?" she asks.

"Sorry, it's just that it's my first date and I'm a little bit unprepared"

"Oh really?" she says with a sneaky look "Then you're not prepared for THIS!"

And she takes her cup of ice cream and slams it right in my face. Oh my God, it cold! Very cold!

I see her laughing, so I take a napkin and I clean my face, then I look at her with an evil look. "Better for you if you take those glasses off..."

I see her face turning bright red and scared she slowly takes off her glasses. As she does I take my own cup of ice cream and slam it right in her face. Now it's my turn to laugh. She cleans her face and after a few seconds she starts laughing with me. It doesn't last enough though.

"GET OUT! BOTH OF YOU!" I hear the place's boss yell, scaring the hell out of us.

We start walking as we leave the place with a disappointed look. Once again, I'm feeling followed.

"Do you think we went a little too far?" I ask.

"Perhaps..."

After a few minutes she stops, as I do: we're now at the port.

"It's so beautiful..." she says looking at the sea.

I'm looking at another thing though: her hair, moved by the wind that hides part of her face and gives her a look of mystery and beauty at the same time. "It's you who's beautiful..."

"W-what?!" she asks blushing.

"N-nothing!"

I don't know who's redder right now. Great! I have no choice, I have to tell her now! "Rebecca"

"Yes?"

"Listen, I have to tell you something"

"What is it?"

"I, uhm... is that, uhm..."

"Hey, it's okay!" she says with a smile (I think she noticed that I'm sweating) "Take a deep breath and tell me what do you have to say"

I do as she suggested and, as I feel a little bit better, I start: "What I want to say it's that I-"

"OH RICHIEEEE!"

Oh God no! That voice!

After a few seconds I feel a couple of arms giving me a nasty bearhug as I start losing my breath.

"Richie, darling! I missed you so much!"

"W-who is she?" Rebecca asks with an irritated look "Your girlfriend?"

"N-not quite" I whisper as I free myself from the bearhug and look at the girl standing in front of us: she has my age, has piercing azure eyes and red long hair.

"My name is Luna Scarlett" she says with cockyness.

"We met at the orphanage" I explain "She's obsessed with me since then"

"Orphanage?!" Rebecca explains.

"Long story" I cut short "I'll tell you another time"

"Stop ignoring me!" Luna steps in "I'm not obsessed! I love you! Can't you see?"

Oh God, what do I do? I'm standing in front of a girl that is admitting that she loves me, but I do not, and on the other side there's the girl I love and that's looking both of us with blood in her eyes. I need to get out of this mess. "Look, Luna, it's not that I don't like you. You're pretty cute and all, but-"

"Then what you're waiting for?" she interrupts me "Come on, we can be together! Just you and me, Richie"

Did I mention that I hate when she calls me like that?

"Why don't you leave him alone?" Rebecca steps in "He's not interested"

"Mind your own business!" Luna answers looking at her with her eyes burning.

"Girls, please don't argue!" I try to say.

"SHUT UP!" they both yell at me.

"Sheesh..." I wshiper. I don't think to be cool enough to see two girls fighting for me.

"He just admitted that I'm cute" Luna continues "I don't need any other proove"

"Do you think that admitting that you're cute is enough to say that he likes you?" Rebecca asks "There is more than that: character structure, knowing each other..."

"We know each other for almost our entire life!"

"Does that prove anything?"

"It does prove that we know each other enough"

"Did you even talk to each other at least once?"

"Yes, we did!"

"About three times since now" I step in keeping my cool.

Here Luna is a little bit embarassed. "It's a start!"

"You're running a little bit too much, sis" Rebecca says "It's not like this that love goes"

"Call me 'sis' again, I dare you!"

Oh, Luna's getting fired up! Now things will get interesting. I would really like to have some popcorn right now!

"What if I do... sis!" Rebecca answers smirking.

"That's it!" Luna declares charging a fist.

Oh hell no! I quickly go in front of Rebecca and block Luna's fist before it hits home.

"R-Richie..." Luna says confused.

"Don't be cavemen" I say lowering her fist "You want to settle things out? Very well, then: have a duel"

Rebecca looks at me with a confused look and Luna smirks. "All right then. How 'bout we place a little ante, then?"

"Ante?" both me and Rebecca ask.

"If I win, Richard will become my boyfriend, but if I lose, I'll leave him alone"

"You can't manipulate heart with Duel Monsters!" Rebecca protests.

"No, it's okay" I step in "Accept the challenge"

"But... why?" she asks.

Luna laughs hysterically. "He's obviously sure that I'll win!"

"On the contrary" I think "I know that Rebecca will win!"

I smile and I wink at Rebecca: she smiles back. Perfect! She got it!

"All right, Luna: I accept your challenge!"

And this first chapter of Battle City is over! Before I leave I would like to point out a few things: first of all, keep a particular focus on Luna's character, because it will become much more important later; second, in my first version of this chapter Richard was the one who should have dueled Luna, but then I decided to change it to Rebecca in order to make the conflict more interesting; this though means that the next chapter will take a little bit more time, because I need to rewrite the duel. Until then, hasta la vista!