I know it's way too early to celebrate Christmas, but I was listening to this CD of TSO and the idea for this just hit me. I've had fun playing around with this and I hope you get the fun out of it that I did, especially revolving around Bakura!

This is not only my first attempt at a Song-fic, but at Mobiumshipping as well. Not really sure if that came out right, but I'll leave it to you for that. Just a quick note here, Marik is the Light; Malik is the Dark. Just to keep from confusing people. If people like this, I might try for one of the other TSO CD's...possibly "Night Castle", as I already have the beginnings of an idea on how that could work out.

Anyhow, Enjoy! I own NOTHING, just the mini-plot that makes itself known here and there!

Introducing Our Fair (and Not so Fair) Friends

Yugi sighed and looked up at the clouded sky. So far, no snow was falling, but with it being so close to Christmas, it was hard not to imagine the puffs of white not cascading around him. Tomorrow was supposed to be the famous holiday of cheer and happiness, but with the recent passing of his grandfather, the boy was having a hard time getting into the spirit.

"Yug? You alright?" Yugi looked back over his shoulder to see his best friend, Joey Wheeler, his arms loaded with bags, no doubt gifts for their numerous friends.

"Yeah, I'm fine, Joey." Yugi said, reaching out a hand to help his friend. "Just thinking about some things."

"Thinkin about Gramps again?" Joey guessed, his yellow-brown eyes full of knowing sympathy. Yugi remained still for a moment before nodding slowly, keeping his quickly-filling eyes away from meeting his friend's gaze directly.

"No one deserved to be alone on Christmas Eve, young one." Yami's voice carried easily in the still air. Yugi felt an arm wrap around his shoulder and looked up to see the former spirit of the puzzle gazing at him with gentle violet eyes.

"As odd as this sounds, I actually agree with him." Yugi snapped his head around to see Bakura and Ryo, arms linked as they joined the now growing group of duelists. "Not that I'm really sure what the whole Christmas holiday spirit is all about." Bakura muttered, only to receive a light slap to the back of the head from his recently acquired boyfriend.

"What is with everyone being out here on this corner?" Yugi asked, looking around as his friends continued to almost appear out of thin air.

"That is a good question." The voice resembled Yami's almost exactly, but the tone of this person's voice held a more regal air about it as another arm snaked around his waist. Looking up, he was met with the burning crimson eyes that belonged to the former pharaoh, Atem.

"And where did you come from?" Yami asked tightly and Yugi felt his darker half tighten his grip around his shoulders.

"Yami…" Yugi pushed out of both their grip to turn and face the two former spirits. Both quickly looked away, hoping to play it innocent. Yugi just sighed before turning back to his other friends, quickly discovering that Marik and Malik had joined in on the fun.

"Even after being here for a year, you still don't get the whole Christmas deal?" Malik asked Bakura, one eyebrow lifted as he wrapped an arm around Marik, ignoring his light's protests.

"For the tenth time, NO!" Bakura snapped, his russet eyes flashing dangerously. "It makes no sense why everyone forces themselves to act all happy and cheerful when it's just easier to act the same as you always do." This, unfortunately, earned the former tomb-robber another smack on the back of the head.

"Then how about you listen and I'll try and explain it once again." Ryo sighed. "It's about…"

"I'll tell you what it's about." Malik cut in, grinning wickedly. "It's about the free gifts everyone is so eager to give you." At the word free, Bakura's eyes glittered in excitement.

"That's not right." Ryo said, trying to draw the albino's attention back to him.

"Ryo's right. It's about the dreams of children…of the future." Atem put in. At that, everyone blinked at him in surprise and confusion. "What?" He asked, not understanding why they were staring at him.

"Well…that's sort of right." Ryo admitted slowly and Bakura looked at his boyfriend skeptically.

Yugi decided to tune out the rest of the conversation at that point, turning to look at where they were.

The corner they were currently standing at was almost abandoned to time; not many people came this way anymore, especially at night. Behind them stood an old run-down hotel, its windows boarded up to show it was no longer livable, but Yugi was almost certain he could feel the presence of many spirits just behind the wood and brick.

"Will someone just give me a real answer?" Bakura's voice snapped him out of his thoughts.

"Only if you promise to really and truly listen this time!" Ryo finally snapped, his tone a mix between exasperation and frustration.