It's an interesting practice to mull over the events of the day as you keep watch at night. Whenever I've had to stay up at night to keep watch for some reason or another, I seem to find myself doing this very thing. I guess it keeps me awake, keeps my mind from drifting into the sweet fantasy bliss I'd wish was real.

Before I continue, I think it best if I tell you my name. I'm Raphael Smithson. I'm currently keeping watch tonight, over some aquaintances... well, I guess a couple friends too. I don't know most of these people, but I still feel like this is what I should be doing. My sensei would... probably ramble about being a Ninja of Justice and Love, and ask which I was doing this for.

To be honest, I'm not sure why.

In any event, I'm here. And I'm keeping watch tonight, as everyone sleeps. It's reassuring that I have my weapons with me, but it's discomforting to know that, if Heishin comes, all I can do is sound an alert, if anything. I can't defend against him... I attacked him before, and he stopped the attack in its tracks. I cannot trust my visions against this man, either... he has, repeatedly, sent me doctored images to try and get me to act in ways I would not normally, and to finally send me a threat for one of my friends.

Speaking of which, I turn to look at the boy who looks around my own age as he sleeps. He revealed to us, before we went to bed, that he was a Duel Monster. But Kritanta is still Kritanta. And, admittedly, Kritanta is incredibly handsome and very attractive. I can't let myself indulge in such thoughts, my cover would be blown. The though pops up that it might be blown anyway, when we confront Heishin, and I scowl, before watching Kritanta rest again, allowing myself a small smile to tug at the edge of my lips. Though he says he belongs to Heishin, he seems... just so innocent and naive regarding many things. Whereas Heishin, the little pre-teen pervert, is not.

Then again, I don't think Heishin is really 12 years old. That blighter cost me my cover against one person already, though she seems to be very trustworthy regarding it, if a bit dim as far as some things go... ...Damn, she snores loud. Bless her heart, the dumbass. Though, honestly, I'm glad Parker is an ally rather than a foe. I may be ninja, but I am still a relative novice to the Ninjitsu way. Parker, however, feels as if she has been practicing with her own martial arts for a great deal longer than I... perhaps when I was still living my former life...

I shake my head, returning to my duty, pacing the house silently. We're at Hyoushou's house. The little witch is currently asleep in her room, I suppose. Just as well. She looked like someone had ripped the head off of her teddybear when she learned Kritanta's identity as the Duel Monster, "The Reaper of Anubis". Before then, she had seemed intent on making the boy an addition to some harem, or something. Probably after his cards, though... he had a lot of very, very powerful cards, and it's rumored he had a God Card in his deck. I hadn't seen the card, yet, so I don't know.

Once again, my thoughts drift to Kritanta. The boy had shown up in the Black Crown, where I worked, during an extremely heavy storm. I had been dealing with Hyoushou at the time, as she was selecting cards and packs to buy. When he came in, he was with Kusuji and another Duelist, I don't know his name. But, Kritanta... he sort of stuck with me. I guess because of how nervous he seemed when he came in. I didn't understand it then. I still don't, but I'm not going to ask. Either way, I kept my attention partially on him as he was in the store.

Over the events that transpired afterwards, I began to grow more and more attatched to the boy. He was innocent, naive.. pitifully unprepared, it seemed. He had been beaten by his father, attacked by a man with silver hair and eyes, and later had his deck stolen and was chased down by Kaiba's men. I confronted Heishin after that, with incredibly sour results. Eventually, we wound up here, at Hyoushou's residence. Kritanta is quite an interesting enigma to attempt to unravel, I think...
...

...He's certainly cute as he sleeps, too. Heh. That boy's doing hell to my mentality right now. Might not be able to keep my ruse up for much longer... I'm starting to think I've got a crush on him. This.. will pose problems...

Hell, on that same train of thought, is there any difference between him and humans, other than his powers? He seems, really, well... normal, I guess.

...And very, very cu-- Wait a sec, what the hell am I doing? I can't fantasize about him like that! Especially not NOW... Geez...

Okay... must focus... I'll try meditation for now. That should help me take my mind off that boy.
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...
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...Goddamn it, Heishin. Why'd you have to pop that image of Kritanta in the thong in my head earlier?! Augh, this is going to be difficuuuullltt...

Why does Krit have to be so submissive? And why does motherfucking HEISHIN get him for a Ka? Heishin doesn't deserve a Ka... it really isn't fair. Let alone someone like Kritanta. He seems just... so nice.

Hold on. I heard something... Oh, it's one of the guys getting u-- ..crap, it's Kritanta. Okay, just be calm... silent... keep watch over something other than his ass..

He sits up, yawning, and rubbing his eyes... damn it, boy, you're too fucking adorable like that. Knock it off! ...mew.. I smile at him as he starts to wake up, noting the time. He's up earlier than all the others. I'm starting to wonder if he really is a monster, but I remember that many 'monsters' are handsome or cute. ...this boy could do both at the drop of a hat.

It wreaked hell on my hormones. I really didn't need a conflict of interests now.. but this one was so cute.. Okay, knock it off, Raph. Come on.

I was jarred out of my personal triade as Kritanta had, apparently, finished waking up. "Oh, Raphael.." he said, before he smiled brightly at me. So cute... so innocent... if the boy was a monster, he was akin to Dracula, and that bloodsucker had girls screaming for him all over the globe. This kid could do the same, I imagine, if he wanted. "Good morning!" he greeted.

I groaned inwardly. Damn it damn it damn it. Just hold on... I kept up my smile to the boy, nodding. "Good morning, Kritanta. Did you sleep well?" I swear, I'm going to kill my hormones one day, just to solve this sort of problem.

Kritanta nodded slowly, "Yes, I did." His smile weakened after he said that. His expression became an apologetic one, before he continued. "I'm sorry."

What the hell? Okay... uh.. Why now? "For.. what?" I asked, confused.

"I got you involved... and now Heishin-sama wants to hurt you."

"...It's not something I can just walk away from after seeing it happen." I retort, pressing my lips to a thin line. "...besides, you really shouldn't be worried about me. You don't know me very well at all. I'm just an aquaintance." I offer, somewhat feebily.

"That doesn't matter," Kritanta smiles again. "You're nice to me."

I just sat there, blinking at the bluntness of his words. "...you trust me far too much." I murmured  to him. "...But I guess you're right. So..." ...I hate uncomfortable silences. "...uhm." This one seems to be stubborn in staying.

"You don't scare me," Kritanta continues, clearly too trusting for his own good. "You don't make me feel like I should be worried... like Hyoushou does. You, Parker, and Kusuji... I... I was most afraid you would hate me. But you don't, so it's okay, right?"

I felt, actually, quite flattered. "...Yeah, Krit. It's okay." Kritanta smiles even more brightly at that and nods. God damn that boy. Why does he have to smile at me like that? ...I kind of like it, though.

I could feel my cheeks heat up slightly, before I coughed. "So, are you up for the morning?" I asked, surredering slightly to an urge to do something for the boy.

"Hm?" Kritanta blinks, then tilts his head. "Maybe. I'm used to getting up early and making everyone breakfast."

I just nod. "I was thinking about getting you some breakfast, if you didn't mind, really. A sort of change of pace. I need to stay awake, anyhow. The activity would help." Of course, the real reason was the fact that I felt a need to slightly pamper the boy... though, honestly, I don't see how anyone but me can handle my food.

"Oh, alright." Kritanta blinks, then smiles again. Damn, he's so... pleasant! How did he end up with a little twit like Heishin? It's just not fair to him, and athought selfeshly admitting it, to me. I mutter slightly about Heishin and his mother's activities with the family goat herd, before raising a brow to the boy again.

"So, anything you want in particular?" I ask, trying to appear non-chalant.

"Anything's fine." ...God damn you, boy. Too humble and trusting and... and... ...and cute for your own good. Or mine.

"I hope they have ramen and some meat, then..." I stood from the spot I had been sitting, and began to walk toward the kitchen at this point. "You sure you don't have any prefferance?" I called, glancing over my shoulder and raising a brow. Come on, give me something to work with...

"None at all, anything's fine!" Kritanta calls back to me. It's hard to tell if he's being honest, how he's trying to be undemanding. Damn it.

I nod, and enter the kitchen, sighing, as I set to work. I just hope whatever I put together is edible... After searching through the cupboards, I returned to the room Kritanta was in.

He looked like he was still up, at first glance, but when I got closer, I realized he had fallen aslep sitting up. It took all I had not to giggle uncontrollably. looking around briefly, I walk over and kiss his forehead lightly, after making sure no one else was looking, and then dissapear back into the kitchen, shaking my head, cheeks burning at what I'd done. I was just thankful that no one had seen me perform that simple act.

"...Guess I'll be keeping watch over you for a while, big guy..." I mumbled under my breath as I got to cooking. I was sure I had become infatuated with him, now. It was impossible to deny.

At least, impossible to deny if there were any witnesses. My secret was still safe, for the most part, and I had come to terms with my feelings for the boy I had met just shy of a week and a half ago. "I wonder if I'm the only person this sort of situation has happened to..." I thought aloud to myself, reflecting on how frighteningly quick I had begun to feel for Kritanta.

At least my watch for the night was over... maybe I could get a nap later, I'm exhausted.