Disclaimer: Don't own Yu-Gi-Oh! ...that was easy...

Anyways, I blame the fact that I've been watching the History channel a bit too much...among other things. This takes place in the 1900s and has a few actual historical facts which I may have gotten wrong or twisted on accident. I've honestly tried to do this right. Hrmm...what else...well I guess review if I missed to explain anything that you would like to know...Other than that, read and enjoy! D

London, England

The Petrie Museum of Egyptian Archaeology (1) may have been immature at the time of its eighth year, yet if the Queen needed one of its professors, then by God she would get one. This is where the messenger found himself in the Malet Place (2) building. He was sent there much earlier that day to deliver the news to one of the newest professors.

According to how the curator indicated where his office was, he was not truly accepted. It was rumored that he was mixed of Japanese and English decent, which by the sound of his name, would fit. It was highly unusual for such a mix with the Japanese just now integrating with the rest of the world. (3) Nonetheless, he was who the Queen wanted.

He found the door with frosted glass window. On the door inscribed were the words: Ryo Bakura, Ph.D. He could tell that the professor was in due to the fact that there was a faint glow of lighting from inside. He knocked politely at first on the door. Suddenly there was a crashing sound coming from the office. The messenger decided that a quick peek inside was in order.

He creaked to door open to see a pile of newly fallen books and papers in a heap next to a desk. They appeared to have fallen off a stack on the bookshelf which apparently was undergoing a renovation. The messenger came in fully and closed the door behind him. He started to inch towards the heap, then took a few steps back when there was movement underneath.

He decided to call out. "Is everything alright there, gov?"

"Just smashing," replied the heap. "I seem to be stuck, however. Would you be of assistance?"

The messenger let out a sigh. The accent was British. He set the letter he was to deliver after finding some clear spot on the desk and went to the heap. He started to pull out a few books and set them on an empty chair next to him. The heap's movement started to become more fluid and soon there was a hand from the inside of it helping to shift the books and papers away from him. After a few moments of digging, a body emerged.

The professor stood up and began to dust himself off. He wore a now wrinkled dark blue three piece suit of the time, minus the sack coat which was hanging from a peg on the wall. (4) He started to straighten the waistcoat giving the messenger time to get an overall impression of this man.

He was young, this caught the messenger off guard due to the fact that he thought he would be dealing with an older gentlemen. He had long white hair hastily thrown back into a loose ponytail, very different from the shorter hair styles that were in fashion at the time. He had deep brown eyes which continued to glance at the newly formed mess that did seem to fit the way the office was. He sighed while shaking his head. He drew his attention to the messenger.

"Terribly sorry for disturbing you," the messenger apologized.

"Nothing to be sorry about," the professor beamed. "I tend to get caught up in my work. Your knock only startled me slightly."

If by startling meant dealing with mounds of books and papers falling on top of you, the messenger took it as a sign of a truly dedicated cluttered professor then.

"You are Professor Ba-" the messenger was having a little trouble. The name was new to him, and new to the time. Not many people would have the idea on how to pronounce this name. He did not want to offend the professor in anyway.

"Bakura," the professor went over to the chair where the messenger had set the books and cleared it off while dragging it in front of the desk. "You can call me Ryo if that makes it any easier. Have a seat if you will."

"Quite an unusual name," the messenger gratefully took the seat.

"Well," Ryo sighed. "When you have a father who is Japanese and a mother who is English, you tend to get mixed reaction. (5) Thank you for your help by the way."

"Just trying to help a fellow out," the messenger was relieved. "How long have you lived in London?"

Ryo sat on the edge of the desk. "Most of my life. This is the first time that I've lived on this side of town."

"A native."

"You almost sound relieved."

"Ah- well-" the messenger coughed to hide his embarrassment. "For this particular assignment, I thought it would be better."

"Assignment?"

The messenger went to reach for the letter in his sack coat's inside pocket. It wasn't there. He continued to search for only to see Ryo hand it over to him.

"That's yours," the messenger was notably embarrassed.

"We all have those moments," Ryo chuckled while glancing to the pile of books and papers. He started to open the letter and read it silently to himself.

The messenger took great pride in delivering post from the Queen. He was greatly amused by the different reactions that the general public had when they realized who the letter was from. Ryo's eyes had become brighter from excitement. The messenger crossed his legs waiting for the normal response.

"From the Queen?" Ryo asked nearly jumping as a child would when they received some very good news.

"Her majesty herself," the messenger nodded. He'd been through this routine thousands of times, give or take a few hundred.

He watched how Ryo continued to read it again and again. A few more times would do it. The messenger waited patiently.

"We will need your reply immediately," the messenger's tone went urgent. "If you are to accept we have a boat waiting for you. If not, we will need to know at once if we are to need to search for other candidates."

"I-I don't know what to say," Ryo folded the paper back up and slipped into the envelope. "Other than I'm honored."

"Most people are sir," the messenger nodded. "You're answer?"

"Of course," Ryo was eager. "Anything for my country."

The messenger took his leave after briefing the young archeologist professor. Ryo continued to ask several questions many of which he would stumble over due to his own excitement. The case was rather simple: A funded expedition with other archeologists from around the world. The top team of these archeologist would go to the mystic land of Egypt to uncover some newly found mysteries for their countries. Many of these people would be doing it for the adventure, others would follow for the glory, yet still there were those who did it for profit.

The messenger pondered just what adventures this grouping would come into.


Now for where I try to make sense of my historical notes…

(1) From my sources, the museum was founded in 1892, near the UCL science library and Gower Street in London. It started as a teaching resource for the Department of Egyptian Archaeology and Philology at University College. The museum today contains over 80,000 historical items and ranks amongst one of the worlds leading collections of Egyptian ancient historical items.

(2) Location of Petrie. (That's really all I have the location to the museum in London)

(3)1900s was Japan's Meiji era, which was the transition from Japan's feudal period into its modernized period. The United States Navy ended Japan's sakoku policy and its isolation in 1855. Sakoku was the isolation plan of the Japanese for their foreign policy. Yeah, mini history lesson.

(4) Basically consisted of a sack coat with matching waistcoat and trousers. Very simple, but easier to describe here than up there I think…

(5) Had to have some way to describe how he's British. I think that it makes some sense, but not for this time period. We're just going to call this a plot device and carry on.


I'm afraid I won't know when I will have the next chapter ready, but I will try. I still have school and midterms are creping up and are ready to maul us so this may take some time. Sorry!