Leon skipped happily through the park. It was a bright sunny day, and not even the slight underlying fear of Kaiba's attacker could stop him today. It was too beautiful to be scared, although he was still very concerned for Mr. Kaiba of course. He planned on asking Siegfried is they could visit, or send him some kind of gift later. As he was skipping, he noticed a snowy-haired figure in the shadows under some trees. It was the same Bakura who had been so nice enough to recommend him a book! He stopped and smiled at him. "You're Mr. Bakura right? I just wanted to thank you for your book recommendation. I'm on my way to go read it now!" He tilted his head cutely and waited for the other's response.

"Really?" Bakura replied. "And you're all alone? What a shame." He stepped out of the shadows and smiled disarmingly at Leon.

"It's okay, I'm used to being alone. My family was always really busy with the company. I've had some really great times on my own though!" He suddenly felt a twinge of something...was it loneliness?...but changed the subject. "So...how are you? It sure is a nice day today."

"Bloody gorgeous. Say, how about I take you to the book store?" Bakura opened his hand and extended it towards Leon.

Leon blinked, surprised, and then his face broke into a huge grin. "You'd really do that? Go to the bookstore with me? You're not too busy?"

"Nah, I got time. Besides, there's a sequel to that book I recommended to you. It's got cookies in it."

"I love cookies!" Leon bounced happily. "Alright, so which bookstore should we go to?"

"Barnes and Noble is always a good place to start," remarked Bakura. He slipped his hand into Leon's and lightly squeezed. "C'mon, I'll even buy you some Starbucks."

Blushing a bit, Leon nodded. "Oh...but you don't have to buy for me, that's very kind. I'm not supposed to accept acts of kindness without suspicion, says my big brother." He looked away. "But I don't think you're bad at all....so I guess I really don't have anything to worry about!" His eyes glittered as the started off.

"Sooo...what's your favorite story?" asked Bakura.

"Oh gee...I really don't know, I like them all. What's yours?" The store was up in the distance.

"Little Red Riding Hood was always a good one," Bakura replied grinning wickedly. He opened the door for Leon and ushered him inside.

"I like that one too!" he exclaimed, apparently not getting Bakura's slight innuendo. "They're all nice in their own ways...they were the only things that I could actually entertain myself with for a while." He stepped in.

The store was warm and cozy, filled with plush red chairs and tall shelves full of various books. "Would you like something?" Bakura asked as he nudged Leon towards the Starbucks counter.

"Oh no, that's okay I forgot to bring extra money for something to drink." His eyes widened at all the pastries and cookies and drinks.

"No problem, it's my treat." He slapped a credit card onto the counter. "A Venti Green Frappuchino for me, and...?" He glanced at Leon.

"Oh n-no....you don't have to, really it's okay...although that's so nice of you..." he turned a delicate shade of pink at Bakura's raised eyebrow and insisting faze. "Well...may I please have a hot chocolate then...if it's okay?"

"...a hot chocolate and a blueberry muffin." The barista handed the food and drinks over, and Bakura handed the the muffin and hot chocolate to Leon. "Be careful, it's hot."

"Thank you...you really didn't have to, although I am pretty hungry. I keep forgetting to eat breakfast." He took a bite and chewed thoughtfully.

"Forger breakfast? Don't you have people to make it for you?"

"Well yes but I hate to be a bother to them or to my brother, so I just tell them to not worry about it." He took a sip of his hot chocolate and munched on the muffin.

"Hey anytime you need breakfast or anything you can always come to me." Bakura looked up at the shelves, scanning for the right section.

"That's really nice of you to offer Mr. Bakura." Leon looked around, wondering why they weren't heading for the children's section.

Bakura knelt down, perusing the books for the right title. A mischevious smile played on his lips as he dislodged a book from the shelf and examined it.

Leon sat down next to him with his knees pulled together. "Which one is that Mr. Bakura?"

He smirked and slid the red book into Leon's lap. "It's called Kama Sutra. Have a look."

Opening the book carefully, he began to flip through the pages, his cheeks tinting more with each page until he was as red as the cover itself. "M-Mr. Bakura....what are these people doing?" he whispered childishly.

"You don't know? Hasn't Sieg ever said anything to you about it yet?"

"What's 'it'?" He titled his head questioningly. "Siegfried mentioned some kind of talk but he wouldn't say anything else about it. Will you please tell me? I'm ten years old, and I promise I'm really mature!" He was on his knees leaning in to Bakura, his eyes very determined.

Bakura leaned forward until his forehead touched Leon's. "So you really don't know. Well...you do seem mature enough....Okay, here's the deal. There's a difference between boys and girls. Sexually. And when you get older, you start to feel things for other people. Feelings that make you want to touch the other person, be closer to them. Geez....you should really be hearing this from someone else." He looked away skeptically and sighed. Ha, this coming from the guy who can't even figure out his sexual preferences!

Feelings for people... "You mean like love?" Some of the things Bakura was explaining was awfully confusing. He stared at the two people in the book, doing what looked the equivalent of an Olympic gymnast routine. He was silent for a moment, then he started, "I still don't know if I understand, but I really appreciate you taking time to explain it to me." A thought struck him suddenly, and he looked up sharpy. "Mr. Bakura? Why does this have to be a boy and a girl? Why aren't there two boys? Is this book wrong?" He cuddled a bit closer.

"Nah." Bakura lifted Leon onto his lap and looked over the top of his head at the book. "You see, boys can have feelings for girls, but they might also have feelings for boys. It's the same with girls. This book just shows one kind of relationship."

"Where are the ones for other relationships then?" he leaned back on Bakura a bit more and looked up at the shelf.

Bakura pointed. "Around there," he said a bit glumly. "Gay, lesbian...all sorts of kinks."

With a furrowed brow Leon tried to think on this and merely sighed. "I thought gay meant you were happy...this is confusing...maybe I'm just not ready to learn about it."

Bakura rubbed the top of Leon's head, long fingers running through the long strands of magenta hair. "Gay does mean happy. But it's also more commonly used for a boy liking another boy."

Leon smiled slightly at the touch. "Which one are you Mr. Bakura? Do you like other boys? He had no idea what kind of question he was really asking, especially from poor sexually-confused Bakura.

"Ahhh..." sighed Bakura. "That's kind of a tricky question for me."

"Really?" he asked innocently. "I don't know what I am right now either...I mean I've never really been in love unless you count...hey does it count when you love your family? Is that the same thing you're telling me about?"

"God, I seriously hope not," he muttered under his breath. "Love for your family is a different type of love than these people have," he said, pointing at the pictures in the book.

"Oh...okay.' He was quiet again for a while, trying to sort through all the information. His mind was almost reeling, perhaps he was just too young to comprehend for now. "Thank you for explaining it to me Mr. Bakura," he said softly. Only having to think for a moment, he leaned up and kissed the other's cheek sweetly.

"You probably don't understand all of it yet, but you will soon." He traced Leon's jawline and smiled ruefully.

Shivering a bit at the contact, he nodded. "I hope so." The book was closed and tenderly put back on the shelf.

"Why don't you go pick out a nice fairytale for me to read to you?"

"Okay! He hugged Bakura then leaped up and ran off to find a good one. Something like Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty, Thumbelina, or Little Red Riding Hood, since it had been mentioned earlier.

Bakura slapped his forehead. He couldn't believe that he had given "THE TALK" to Sieg's little brother. This was insane beyond all belief.

Leon hurried back and sat down next to the teen this time, after giving him a book. "This is lots of fun."

As Bakura scanned over the cover and title, he asked, "Hey Leon, have you ever been inside a real castle?" A huge castle was drawn on the cover, with little red flags and draw-bridges- all the standard castle features.

"Oh yes! We own lots of them in Germany actually. Have you ever been to a real castle? They're lots of fun, aren't they?"

"Mmmhmm. I especially love the stories behind them, particularly the Taj Mahal. Have you heard that one before?" He raised an eyebrow quizzically.

"No, I don't even know where that one is...." he scooted closer after pushing some books towards the shelf.

"A shah in India once loved his wife, so much, in fact, that he built a magnificent castle, then gave it to her as a gift."

Leon's eyes sparkled. "Wow! He must have really loved her a lot...to give her a castle as a present. Is that like the love we were talking about?"

"I guess....yeah. But sometimes the love between two people isn't all that deep, if material things need to be relied on. But yeah."

"You mean it's not real. It's just like...it's almost necessary, not really coming from the heart." He looked at his hands, twisting together nervously. "It seems as if it's just there by default, not going above and beyond, it's only there because it has to be. Not real..." he broke off, unable to clarify anymore.

"Pretty deep for a ten-year old..."

"Are you saying kids can't have real feelings...that are as good as adults?"

"I don't know, you tell me." He reached over and poked Leon's side playfully, lightening the sudden change of darker mood.

Leon giggled and looked at the pictures. "Alright...will you please read me the story?"

*~MAGICAL TIME LAPSE~*

Bakura shut the book. "The end. That was a great story, eh?"

Nodding profusely, he looked at the clock on the side wall. "Is that really the time? We've been here for nearly two hours already!"

"Hahaha...." Bakura scratched the back of his head. "I guess time flies when you're having fun." He pushed a stray lock of Leon's hair behind his ear, fingers moving suddenly from his hair to his cheek.

"Whoever came up with that is always right..." he squeezed Bakura's hand lightly and smiled.

".....You can be SO bloody cute!" Bakura yanked Leon into a sudden hug.

Somewhat startled but overall flattered, he returned the hug and rested his head into Bakura's shoulder and neck. "Thanks Mr. Bakura."

He rubbed Leon's back, "I think you should probably go home soon. But, feel free to come se me anytime."

"I'd really like to do that. Thanks for buying me breakfast, and reading to me..and telling my about....well...you know." He blushed again, though not as much this time. "Maybe I'll see you in a bit?"

"Of course!" Bakura lifted Leon out of his lap and stood up.

"Well, I'd better get home! This was lots of fun. Thanks again!" He waved, gave one last glance at the store itself and Bakura, then walked off with a slight bounce in his step.

Bakura shook his head fondly. He couldn't believe he'd been the one to tell Leon about it. Why hadn't Sieg told him already? Really, keeping a ten-year-old in the dark like that was only asking for trouble. Pink haired fop needed to pay more attention to his little brother. "Wouldn't want him falling in with the wrong crown..." he muttered softly to himself.