(A/N:Almost a year ago,my love for YGO Fanfiction was spawned by Ryou Bakura,and a little girl I created called Elizabeth. With the endless support of Melissa- sama ,Daisy and many many other readers,I have finished what seems like 20 or more fics . This is the sequel to the fic that started it all! I hope you will all continue to read,and lend me your support!)

Chapter One-Going Under

"Come on,Lizzie. It's time to get up." Bakura shook his adopted sister gently.

"Five more minutes,Ryou. Please." The ten-year-old pleaded, pulling the covers over her head. "It's Saturday..."

"I know, but I have to be at the store in twenty minutes, and I still have to drop you off at Kaiba's."

"Why can't I go to Joey's?" The young girl turned over now, to look at the British boy.

"Joey's busy this weekend, remember? He's spending time with Serenity." He smiled a little bit. "Besides, Seto's been dying to show you this new invention he's working on, and Mokuba misses you too. It's been months." It was true too. More recently, Bakura had been letting Lizzie spend time with Espa Roba and his brothers. She seemed to really enjoy that. However, that day, Espa was helping him at the Book Haven,and Bakura didn't trust Jonathan Roba enough to let her go over there without Espa. "Come on now. Breakfast is about ready."

"Okay. I'm coming..." Lizzie sat up rubbing her eyes. "Why can't Yami watch me?" She asked as Bakura walked out.

"Now really! I think you know the answer to that one." Bakura replied, with a slight frown. He kept his yami as far from Lizzie as he could,living in the same house with him. Things had gone south with Lizzie and the yami before when the thief had decided to teach the little girl how to steal when she was five. Lizzie loved the "game" Yami taught her, and had gone through a phase where nothing was safe from her little hands. That's the last thing I need! Yami teaching her how to steal again, or get her started on it again. He heard Lizzie's giggle, and smiled now. It was so good to hear that sound everyday,after everything that had happened the year before. Her health was still a cause for concern, but she hadn't had need for her breathing medicine in a few months. Still, Bakura would pack them, just in case.

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"He's right you know. I'm no good for you. And I wouldn't want to play babysitter to you anyway." Yami Bakura appeared in thin air beside Lizzie. "Just because you live here doesn't make you my responsibility whenever that dolt insists on working."

"I never said that." Lizzie replied quietly, as she proceeded to get dressed. She ignored the mutterings of the spirit. Lastly, she pulled her Milliennium Pyramid from it's special shelf, and placed it around her neck. "I should leave this at home..."

"No you shouldn't." Yami Bakura replied. "She's been really upset with you."

"Yeah right." Lizzie left her room to go downstairs to the kitchen. As she sat down at the table, her Item began to glow. No....please, don't come out..... Unlike Bakura, she feared the power of her Item, and the yami that occupied it.

"Wishful thinking,Lizabeth." Came the sneer of the female yami that appeared beside her. Her name was Sagira,but everyone called her Eliza. "You and I have to have a talk."

"Go away." Lizzie replied in a whisper. "I don't want anything to do with you!"

"You don't get a choice in the matter, Girl." Came the yami's harsh reply. "It's about your brother's store."

"What about Ryou's store?" Lizzie asked. She rarely talked to Ryou about his business. When she'd been little, she'd loved to go with him to work. She'd sit in the children's corner for hours, and read, while Ryou took care of the various customers t hat would come in.

"It's falling under." The yami told her. "He could lose his business in less than a week."

"What?!" Lizzie stood up immediately, looking around for Ryou. "Ryou?!" Liza grabbed her, and put a hand over mouth.

"Quiet, you understand? You're not supposed to know about this!"

Just then,Bakura rushed in, alarmed by Lizzie's shrieking. "What is it?"

"N-nothing." Lizzie studied her adopted older brother sadly though, and ate the rice he sat in front of her.

"Lizzie? What is it,Baby?" Bakura sat down beside his sister, and brushed his hand through her hair.

"It's nothing." She replied, looking at him again. "I'm ready to go." She added, standing up.

"Alright......" Bakura took her dishes to the sink, and got his coat. Shortly, he was locking up, and they were catching the bus to Kaiba's side of town.

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"I don't know what I'm going to do, Espa! If I g o under,I'll definitely lose Lizzie for sure!"

"Calm down, Bakura. I'm sure it won't happen. We've already done a substantial amount of business this week."

"For the first time three months since that bigger store opened!" Bakura moaned. "I think Lizzie knows something's wrong too. She was pretty upset this morning."

"Well, then you need to talk to her about. Better sooner than later, so that she is forewarned." Espa advised, as a customer came to pay for her purchases. He took care of her, then looked at Bakura again. "I'm sure it will all work out, Bakura."

"I can't stand the thought of losing her again, Espa. Even to Kaiba,whom I'm sure will be the one to end up with her."

"I know how you feel. But if it has to happen, you'll be okay." Espa told him. "You can't avoid the unavoidable, no matter how much you want to." He answered the phone now. "Hello,Bakura Book Haven, this is Espa Roba speaking." He listened to the person on the other end, then frowned. "Yes,he's here. Hold o n." He put his hand over the mouth piece and, looked at Bakura. "It's your loan officer."

"Oh no....." Bakura took the phone. "This is Bakura."

"Mr. Bakura. Do you realiz e how far in debt you are to us?" The officer asked now. There was no emotion in his voice at all, and there als o no sympathy.

"How far?" Bakura asked in a weak voice.

four hundred fifty thousand dollars to be exact, due as of last week."

Bakura swallowed hard. "I...I'm really sorry, business hasn't been as good since Page Turner opened."

"Perhaps the owner will buy you out." The officer suggested, as if this was a good thing.

"How is that going to help me?! I've got a sister at home that I have to t ake care of."

"I'm really sorry, Mr. Bakura." The officer replied, still no real sympathy. "I'd really consider hiring a lawyer if I were you." He hung up.

"Well!" Bakura hung up, sighing. "Maybe he's right...."

"What did he say?" Espa asked quietly.

"Said t hat Page Turner wants to buy me out. Which means I'll have the money for the loan payback,but then I'd be without any money at all, and I'd lose Lizzie fast as that!"

"Well......."Espa was at a loss for what to say. "I hope things work out for you, Bakura."

"Me too, Espa. Me too." Bakura sighed, and went into the back office. He had to make some unpleasant phone calls.