Twilightknight1594: I know that I haven't worked on my other story in a while and I promise that I will get to that but I thought of this and had to post it. Normally I don't do two stories at once but I didn't want to forget it. Hope you like it!

/Ah. What a wonderful start to a new school year./ Ryou Bakura thought as he grabbed his backpack and headed out the door of his Domino apartment. Although the first day of school usually depresses kids and teens of all ages, Ryou was happy. It was a bright, sunny day, he had gotten up on time, he had had the perfect breakfast for the occasion, and he had everything he needed in his backpack beforehand so he wasn't running around his house looking in for it and ending up late on day one and giving his teachers a bad impression. To most people this would be normal, but for Ryou normal didn't happen often. Normally something would be missing, or he'd pass out and wake up to his breakfast being on fire on the stove or he would over sleep and be late or something else catastrophic would happen that would ruin the day just as it was starting. Why would these things happen? Because Ryou owned a certain ancient Egyptian artifact called the Millennium Ring and inside the Millennium Ring lived an ancient spirit that at one point and time had been the King of Thieves and tried to take over the world. However, when the spirit didn't want to take over the world or someone else was trying to do it he would stick to messing with Ryou. The two had an infinitely better relationship than most thought, but they still got on each other's nerves. As Ryou walked down the street towards Domino high he was suddenly aware of another presence which, as he turned to see who or what it was, turned out to be none other than Yami Bakura or simply Bakura.

"I was wondering where you were." Ryou said, suddenly getting to be a little on guard. However, instead of doing something threatening or remotely scary Bakura simply stretched and crossed his arms.

"I over slept. I did have a wonderful fire show planned, but I was out late last night." Ryou just sighed and kept walking, maintaining his smile. He was not letting anything ruin his day, even if it was a disgruntled roommate. Bakura, however, wasn't in the same mood. He couldn't figure out why Ryou could be so happy. "Why on Earth do you have that giant smile on your face? Shouldn't you be dreading this day like every other school-age mortal? Look around. Do they seem happy?" Bakura looked over at a group of sleepy looking kids. Ryou looked too but then returned his glance forward.

"I'm happy because school is one of the only safe places that there is. I am in no danger of you taking me over and I can be with my friends and myself for once."

"What are you talking about? I can take you over anytime I so wish."

"Then why has it never happened? I'll tell you why. You know that if you try anything the Pharaoh will stop you in an instant. "

"Ha! Right, like I'm scared of that blundering, goody-two shoes pharaoh. I just don't want to hear your teachers blathering on and on about nothing important."

"If that were the case wouldn't you just get up and leave?"

"Yes, but then you would miss out on the torture of having to endure the teacher yourself." Ryou just shook his head.

"Alright, whatever you say. However, it sounds to me like…." Ryou stopped midsentence. Not because someone was staring at him. He was used to that. No, he stopped because he saw someone in front of an apartment complex a few yards away. She had short, black hair, violet eyes, was very pale and looked to be Ryou's age. However, she wasn't wearing the Domino High uniform. Ryou had seen it somewhere but wasn't sure where. It had long sleeves and a long skirt that was vastly different from the Domino High skirts. The shirt was dark red with a black part that came to a V in front and hung in the back like a sailor uniform. The piece under that was also dark red and had a black star on it. The bow was dark green with black stripes and the bottom of the shirt and skirt had the same design. Her shoes were also black. Normally Ryou wouldn't care about who was with him on the sidewalk making a morning commute, but she seemed to stand out from everyone else. It was like she glowed. Ryou stood staring while Bakura made futile attempts to regain his attention.

"RYOU! PAY ATTENTION!" Ryou gasped and turned his head from the girl to Bakura.

"S…sorry. What was I saying?"

"I haven't the slightest idea. You broke off in midsentence and just blanked out. Now, what happened?"

"Well…I don't know. I just saw this girl and, like you said, blanked out. Who was she…?" Bakura just looked at Ryou for a second and then looked at the girl in question, who was now digging in her suitcase-like backpack.

/Hm. I guess she's ok. There is something about her but…I cant put my finger on it./ Then he looked back down at Ryou. /Oh well. Might as well mess with him until I figure it out./ With that he regained his stern, not caring look. "How should I know? What do I look like, the phone book?" That got him a glare from Ryou.

"I was just wondering out loud. There was no need to be sarcastic. I…Oh no! She's looking this way! Why? What do I do?" Bakura couldn't help but smirk at Ryou as he had a mild freak-out session right there on the sidewalk.

"I don't know. Maybe she is looking because she is being stared at by a complete stranger?" Bakura said, intentionally trying to bother Ryou and prolong his suffering. "Look, run into the alley."

"No way! There could be muggers or worse down there!"

"Normally they wait until night to come out and if they are in there they wont mess with you. I've already handled that."

"You have? How?" Ryou was now getting a bit afraid. He had noticed that over the summer he would blank out close to bed time and then wake up with bruises and cuts and just being exhausted. He knew that Bakura was behind it, he just didn't know what he was up to. Bakura almost swelled with pride and seemed to grow about a foot before he gave his answer.

"You are now the most feared thief in all of Domino City. No one will mess with you. You had better be glad too. It took many long nights of fighting but I finally got back to my original status. I didn't even have to kill anyone." Ignoring the last bit, Ryou went into the alley and, with Bakura's guidance, went to the rest of the way to school through the alley system. It wasn't as bad as he thought but when Bakura had had his way and threatened or fought every thief and bad guy in the city Ryou really shouldn't have expected anyone to bother him. He wouldn't have. After about ten minutes of running Ryou finally reached the school and hurried to his classroom. He was going to be early but lost time watching the mystery girl, who was still on his mind. He soon pushed that though aside though as he saw Yugi, Joey, Tristan, and Tea. His friends that he hadn't seen in a while. Even though they didn't really hang out that much due to Bakura, he considered them his friends and he knew that they considered him theirs and that was all that mattered to him.

"Hey Ryou! Come over here!" Joey yelled across the room.

"Yeah Ryou! It's been a while. Time to catch up!" Tristan joined in. A bit surprised but very happy with the attention Ryou went over to his friends.

"Good morning everyone." Ryou said with a smile.

"Hey Ryou. How have you been?" Yugi asked trying to seem innocent, but he and Ryou knew that he was asking specifically because of Bakura, who everyone thought probably hurt him at home, which he didn't.

"I'm just fine Yugi. It's been a great summer. Did anyone do anything exciting?" Everyone just looked at each other and smiled.

"Actually, for the first time in a while we have had nothing going on. It has been great." Tea said cheerfully.

"Yeah, no weirdos trying to take over the world." Yugi said with a smile. However, that comment got Bakura's attention and he decided to make himself known. Well…at least known to Ryou as he manifested himself next to him.

"I am not a weirdo! How dare he!"

/Stop! You'll get Yami's attention!/ Ryou said through the mind-link that he and Bakura shared.

"So? Let him come out. We'll see what the great and powerful pharaoh can do with innocent students around."

/Stop it!/ (RING) Thankfully for Ryou the bell that signaling that class had begun rang and everyone took a seat and waited for the teacher to arrive. That is, everyone save for a certain spirit that kept glaring at Yugi who now looked really uncomfortable and kept looking around for something. Apparently, he could feel Bakura looking at him. Just as Ryou was about to ask him to stop again the teacher walked in. Everyone snapped to attention and rose to greet her.

"Alright everyone, sit down. Welcome back, it is good to see everyone after such a long summer. Before we begin I would like to announce that there will be a new student joining us from another school system in Tokyo. Her name is Hotaru Tomoe and I would like it if you all made her feel welcome." She then motioned to the door for someone to come in.

/A new year and new faces. Today certainly is eventful./ Ryou thought cheerfully. However his thoughts were interrupted by Bakura's voice.

/Think again. Look at the door./ Ryou did and his jaw almost dropped. It was the same girl from earlier. He hadn't gotten a good look at her because she had been far away but the uniform gave her away. Ryou watched as she bowed to the class and said a few words of greeting and then took her seat by the window in the middle of the side aisle. If was two seats ahead of Yugi and one away from him diagonally.

/Should I say hi? No, that would be creepy and class is starting. It would be polite though. Maybe after class. But would that seem too late? Although this could be considered too early./

/JUST SAY IT ALREADY. It isn't like she is going to kill you./ Bakura was getting increasingly agitated since he had to hear Ryou's mental rambling.

/I cant just go up to her!/

/Why? Has someone cut off your legs and I wasn't made aware of it?/

/No, but I already messed up by staring at her. I mean, she caught me staring at her./

/You don't even know if she was looking at you. You weren't the only one there you know. She could have been looking at something else. Besides, if she did catch you then I know that you would want to at least apologize for staring at her./

/How do you know that?/

/I'm in your head and your conscience is insane./

"Mr. Bakura!" Ryou snapped to attention at his name being called. He had been so caught up in his conversation with Bakura that he hadn't been paying attention and class had begun and apparently he had been called on.

"Yes ma'am?"

"Is there something you would like to share with us?" The teacher said, looking impatient.

/Nothing that you need to know about./ Ryou heard Bakura say, but he shrugged him away.

"Nothing. Sorry."The teacher glared at him a little longer and then resumed class. Everyone tuned away save for Yugi and Joey. Yugi just looked a little worried but Joey was a bit more active. A few seconds later a note came out of nowhere and hit Ryou in the back of the head. Ryou unfolded it and found it to be fairly messy but legible.

Hey man, you ok?

It's not like you to flake out in class.

Yugi wants to talk to ya after class at lunch.

/Great./ Ryou thought with a sigh. He turned and nodded in agreement, even though he really didn't want to.

/Stop complaining. It isn't the end of the world last time I checked. Just don't screw up for the rest of the day, tell them to buzz of, and apologize to the girl over there and everything will be fine./ Bakura said through mind-link.

/That is easy for you to say! You're a 5,000 year old tomb robber that no one can see! I, however, have…/ Bakura stopped paying attention and blocked Ryou out. He suddenly got the uneasy feeling from before again and he didn't know why, and it bothered him. He didn't sense anything from anyone else in the room save for Yugi and that was easily explained, but the energy this new girl had wasn't that of a Millennium Item. Albeit, it was old, but not Egyptian. It was dark, but not the darkness of Zorc.

/Who or what are you?/ Bakura thought with narrowed eyes. He decided that he might have to watch her too. Not for the same reasons as Ryou obviously, but to see what kind of threat she was. /This year may be interesting after all./ Bakura thought, but not with his usual smirk. He was actually concerned.

/Are you even listening?!/ Bakura snapped to attention as Ryou yelled mentally. The two then got into a bit of a mental argument right there in the middle of class. Unbeknownst to them however, the girl named Hotaru was watching them through a small hand mirror and smiling to herself.

Twilightknight1594: Alright, that is it for chapter one.

Bakura: Ha! Finally Ryou has a girl to chase. This should be good.

Twilightknight1594: Where is he?

(Bangs at door) Ryou: Let me in!

Twilighknight1594: What is up with you and locking people out?

Bakura: It works and bugs then at the same time. Mission accomplished.