Hey! Part 2 has arrived. Still reading? Yay! I want to thank everyone who's reviewed so far – your input is helpful. And, Roxie Archer's got it in one with a suspicious Pharaoh later on. As far as the timeline is concerned, I'm using the Manga Universe (Ryou's back story is more complete I feel.) and it takes place before the Egyptian Arc. I'm not sure if Malik will make an appearance or not, I guess it depends how much people want to see him now that Sam's problem has been revealed! Opps! Don't want to tell you too much. - Have fun & Thanks for reading!

Edit: 6/27/07 – This chapter wasn't as bad as the first one to edit, but I still added a good amount of text and cleaned up the dialog and descriptions. And just to add to the old Author's note – Malik does indeed make an appearance later in the fiction if that's what you wanted to see.

Part 2. Getting the Basics.

Bakura really did like to talk. Sam held his head in his arms while he tried to take notes but it was difficult with a constant voice ringing in your ears. And worse, Sam had no idea how long this was going to last and for all he knew all he had to do was make sure Ryou passed that math test next week. Bakura's comments ranged from bored remarks to out right insults and crude belittling of both peers and teachers. Though, Bakura's comment about the teacher looking like she needed a good slap with her own ruler was fairly amusing. Ah well, Sam knew Quantum Physics; how hard could a math test be? He set his notes aside and attempted a conversation with his new self-appointed mission partner in their head. Apparently this Bakura fellow wanted his little 'landlord' back and set himself up to the task of getting Sam out as quickly as possible. It amused Sam because Bakura was desperately attempting to help and still look like he could care less what happened to the kid.

Sam might as well cover the basics since Al hadn't been much help in that department with Ziggy. Ryou's friends weren't much of indicators either considering they hadn't even noticed a difference in his personality yet. So, what's this Ryou like?

A dork. He's a klutz, he's an optimist and he never takes a hint that his so called friends ignore him most of the time. Bakura sighed and hoped he wouldn't have to explain every little detail about the ins and outs of his landlord. Wasn't that what that 'ziggy' thing was for? And he's got the most sappy smile, ever.

Fair enough. Who are his friends, then?

The short punk looking kid is Yugi, that boy makes friends with everyone he can, so clearly my little Landlord was on his list the moment he moved in. I'd probably define him as my host's 'best friend' if we're labeling. Bakura growled as he continued down the line of twerps. With Yugi comes the Pharaoh, watch out for him because he hates me and I'll bet money he'll think you're me if you don't pull Landlord's behavior off right. Bakura chuckled at the sudden thought of the Pharaoh harping on Sam with the same fury he would normally reserve for him. That might almost be worth misleading the man on his landlord's behavior to see. Find the Pharaoh and you get the tag-a-long team. Bakura's amusement was soon gone and replaced with boredom again with a slight huff. You've met most of them, Jonouchi (the mutt), Honda (the idiot), and Anzu (just annoying) - or at least you've seen them. Bakura smirked. In all honesty, they don't talk to you very much unless you open your mouth. So just keep quiet and nod.

Sam thought about that for a little bit. From what he'd seen the rest of Bakura's friends were quite the tight-nit group. I wonder if having Ryou's friends acknowledge him more is part of it?

Bakura huffed loudly and rolled his eyes. I should hope not. I think I'd have to slaughter them if I saw them any more in a day than I already do. That Anzu girl doesn't shut up as it is. He's content that I'm not trapping them into little Monster World figures, so I doubt that's it.

Sam had to blink at that one. Come again?

Never mind, you'll see when we get to the apartment. Bakura smiled at fun times. What he'd give to shove Yami into a figurine and smash his head in; such fun times, indeed. They try not to bring up that event.

Sam blinked again and churned that first statement around in his head. Wait, trapping them in figurines? You can put people into inanimate objects?

Yes, soul stealer. The Darkness. Blah, blah, blah, we've been over this. Bakura growled at the annoyance. This guy was supposed to be smart; why did Bakura have to keep repeating himself? Magical powers. You'll get used to it like all of his friends have soon enough.

Speaking of Ryou's friends, Yugi was doing something strange. Sam glanced at the boy from the corner of his eyes. Yugi was staring out into space and not blinking much like he had been doing earlier when they first met. It was just so odd that Sam found himself asking Bakura about it. What's he doing?

Probably talking to the Pharaoh. Bakura was getting bored. Maybe he could take over the body and go beat up unsuspecting bullies or something during break. It's what we look like when we talk, too.

Sam laid his head down on the desk. His life just had to be interesting, didn't it? Well, on the bright side he was dealing with ghosts for the first time in his life. It was a once in a lifetime opportunity to actually interact with a real dead spirit. Or at least, he hoped it was a real dead spirit. It would be sad if he was just falling for a trick, but it didn't seem to be that way. How else would Bakura be able to see him for who he was as Sam? Bakura certainly wasn't a dog. The only downfall he could see is the spirit he got to meet was a moody dead spirit. Maybe he would have been better off if Bakura was a dog…

I heard that.

Because he apparently listens to more than just the thoughts Sam wanted him to hear. Sam could hear the chuckling in the back of his head and wished he could throw something at Bakura to shut him up for five minutes. There had to be a way to do it, but when the laughter in the back of his head increased he just sighed and laid his head on his desk. After glancing back up at the teacher and the algebra notes, he decided maybe the constant chatter was a good thing. High School math just wasn't as interesting when you'd done it over and over again. Sam couldn't help the yawn.

He was broken out of his tired state by the piece of paper suddenly appearing on his desk with a soft rustle. He glanced to the side to see Yugi wave under his desk and a secretive grin on his face. Apparently his chat with this Pharaoh he'd heard about was over. He unfolded the note discretely under the desk and tried to control the crinkling to keep the teacher from noticing. It was a short and simple note and Sam questioned Bakura's descriptions of Ryou's friends. Just a quick little "you look down in the dumps, so smile!" type of letter from an overly cheerful kid. He could hear Bakura gagging in his head. Sam imagined himself smacking Bakura in the back of his head and nearly burst out laughing when he heard the yelp.

"Mr. Bakura!" Sam was broken out of his little thoughts by the teacher glaring at him. "Do you think it's fun to not pay attention in my class?"

Stutter and apologize. Bakura yawned. If Sam was going to play his Landlord he should at least do it right.

"Sorry," Sam gulped and tried to sound nervous. He lowered his voice a decimal and tried to picture himself as small as a mouse. "It won't happen again."

"I'm sure it won't."

"It won't." Sam smiled at the teacher for effect. It didn't seem to be working in the slightest and Sam gulped for real when the teacher continued to glare at him.

"Well, since I have your attention why don't you do the problem that's on the board for us?" The teacher smirked. There was no way he'd get it, even if he was good at math.

Sam looked at the board for a few moments and answered without so much as picking up his pencil. "23xy squared."

The teacher looked at him funny for a moment before looking back at the bored. Son of a. "That's... correct."

Lucky Guess.

Shut up. Sam let out a sigh of relief while the teacher scratched his head. Bakura was the reason he was in trouble with the teacher to begin with so he should really just hold his tongue.

The teacher wandered back to her seat. Since when could Ryou Bakura do algebra in his head? Sure he had good grades, but this was a little much. The professor wasn't the only one wondering where Bakura's sudden skills had come from either as Yugi was looking at his buddy funny, too. "Wow, Bakura. Maybe it is a good thing you're tutoring me."

Future reference, Landlord's smart but he's not that good. Bakura rolled his eyes. For a guy who thought he was so smart he seemed to forget most teenagers can't do everything in their head.

"Ah," Sam shifted his eyes to the roof and grinned inwardly, "Lucky guess?"

Yugi smiled and fingered his puzzle. Yami was trying to ask him what had happened and was getting angry that Yugi was ignoring him. The Pharaoh had to learn that Yugi couldn't pay attention to just him all the time. "Well, lucky guess worked out well." Yugi's eyes glazed for a moment when Yami finally pestered him into submission. "Oh! Do you want to come to the arcade with us after school?"

Sam thought about it for a moment and decided he had better not. "I'm sorry, but I've got some things to do today." Like figure out where I live and what I need to do to get out of here.

Yugi looked a little crestfallen, but perked up quick enough. "Okay, maybe later then?"

"Definitely." Sam smiled because it seemed like the right thing to do.

Sell out. Bakura stuck his tongue out. Stop spreading the damn love!

"Pay attention!" Both Sam and Yugi were forced from their conversation by a piece of chalk smacking Sam in the head.

Ha, ha! Bakura couldn't help the laugh.

"I'll tell you one thing Bakura, this job is so much easier when you've got a guide telling you how to act." Sam talked aloud to himself as he followed Bakura's directions home. There was no one around within earshot and concentrating his thoughts into sentences just for Bakura was a bit of a pain. "I managed to avoid some major embarrassing situations and I don't have to look up my address in a phone book or wait for Al to show me the way."

Stop talking out loud. Bakura shuttered and winced while rubbing his arms in a mock fear fashion. It's creepy hearing my host's voice but knowing it's not my host.

Sorry, but I take it I sound like myself in our head? Sam smiled and nodded at the lady who passed him on the street. As soon as she was gone he continued on like he had been. "Maybe I'll just talk out loud to confuse you."

Do you want to know the way to our home or not?

Point taken.

Good, take a left up here. Bakura yawned. He just wanted to get home and go to sleep or watch TV. Something that didn't involve thought or moving would be nice. Ironic really considering he didn't move much during the day as is, but what can you do? Third building on your right, room number's on the key in your pocket.

Thanks. Sam spotted the building easily and nodded politely at the doorman. It seemed like a nice enough complex so he felt confident that his home matters probably weren't what was bothering Ryou. Unless of course it had to do with family, but at least the living situation was good. But really Bakura, it is nice. Al gives help, but normally it's based on facts. He usually wouldn't know the intricate details.

You can tell I'm ecstatic for you. Bakura's eyes were dropping. Keeping Sam in line and informed was more work than it looked. Just get us home.

Fine, whatever you want. Sam had to admit he was anxious to see the apartment as well. A shower and a bite to eat seemed like something both he and Bakura would enjoy at the moment. That and he was hungry; Ryou didn't seem to pack much for lunch and Bakura wasn't much help in telling Sam where the school store was located.

Sam let out a breath as he finally reached Ryou's apartment. It was quite a walk from the school, let alone up all those stairs for a man his age. He opened the door slowly as not to disturb anyone who could be inside. It wouldn't do to make a bad first impression with Ryou's family.

Be as loud as you want. We live alone and I couldn't give a damn about the neighbors. Bakura hoped Sam would agree to a nap after he finished with his 'ohhs' and 'awws' at the wonder that was their apartment.

A fifteen year old boy lives by himself? Sam was baffled and it occurred to him that maybe he was dealing with the kid's home life instead of his friends or school. I find that hard to believe considering how nice this place looks.

Daddy dearest is in Egypt and you live to far away to commute to your school without having an apartment close by. Bakura stifled a yawn and frowned. Why wouldn't he just stop talking and go take a nap? Them's the breaks kid.

"I'm not a kid."

I'm over three thousand years old. Bakura smirked tiredly. I do believe that makes you a 'kid' as far as I'm concerned.

As much help as you are, I'm really starting to not like you. Sam smiled while he said it. It had also been some time that he'd had someone to bicker with other than Al as himself and not pretending to be someone else. It was, nice. Ah well, at least you're helpful.

You wouldn't be the first to not like me. Bakura paused and smiled softly to himself. Landlord's pretty high up on that list so I'd say you're playing him well.

"Speaking, how do you know how to act like Ryou so much?" Sam thought. It would make sense that Bakura knew how Ryou acted, but he knew the kids ins and out down near to an art. "I guess it's from living in his head?"

Stop that. Bakura growled and mentally smacked Sam in the head. He smirked when the man winced and cursed slightly. It's more from pretending to be my landlord on a daily basis to save my own skin than anything.

Sorry. Sam set his things down by the door and wondered where Ryou would be hiding some aspirin. Having Bakura around meant he'd probably be nursing a bottle of the stuff. But why would you pretend to be Ryou?

So I don't get caught. And that's all you really need to know. Anything else you need?

I don't think so. Sam walked around the apartment a bit and took in the sights. It looked like a fairly basic apartment, if not rather large for one person. The rent for this place must be out the roof. Sam found a living room, kitchen, couple of bedrooms and basic furniture, but all in all it was rather sparsely decorated. It doesn't look very lived in, does it?

The kid's neat and doesn't have much other than his hobby stuff. Bakura yawned, again. He was going to force Sam to go to sleep if he didn't take a hint soon enough.

Tired? Sam paused and nearly chuckled. I didn't expect that. Can spirits get tired? Do they sleep? That's rather odd, don't you think?

I'm going to sleep. Do whatever you want just don't leave the apartment.

"Yes, sir." Sam ignored the flash of pain for that last little annoyance. He couldn't help himself. Served the jerk right for just brushing him off but at least now he was alone to look around without interruption. He'd ask Bakura if he had any questions after the thief had his nap – maybe then he'd be more palatable to take. Though, despite that thought to look around Sam ended up collapsing onto the couch himself after feeling Bakura's conscious drift off into slumber land. Sam decided to join him until Al could show up with more news and took one last look around the room as he calmed his heart beat and eased back into the cushions. Sam's eyes drifted closed after lingering on a model castle that was just in view from the room next to him.

"Am I dead?" Ryou Bakura asked aloud to the gaping empty space before him. His eyes shifted around the room that he'd been in for quite some time now and found it to be white and there were weird people asking him things who showed up on occasion. He had refrained from talking to them until he could figure out what he wanted to say. The last thing he needed was to get into trouble.

"No, you're not dead." Al stated exasperatedly as he walked into the room. He was impressed the kid had held out as long a she did in replying to their hails and questions. "Just taking a break from the normal pace for a bit."

"Are you sure I'm not dead?"

"Positive. You won't even remember this whole thing so relax." Al looked at the kid as if trying to figure him out. He was looking straight at him with a similar expression; they were feeling each other out and carefully weighing their words. Al wanted a cigar.

"That can't be right." Ryou was trying hard to find Bakura in the back of his head while the man talked to him, but the spirit just wasn't there. Nothing else was there and there was a weight missing from his chest. Ryou definitely did not like the feeling that he was getting from that realization.

"And why is that, exactly?" Al was curious now as he watched the kid pat his chest. He must be looking for that ring Sam had mentioned.

"Because I can't feel Bakura." Ryou looked down and confirmed that the Millennium Ring was missing. That couldn't be good. "As far as I know, the only way to get rid of him completely is to die." He looked up with a soft smile and wondered if he should even be telling this man about Bakura. But he wasn't sure what else to talk about. "And even that's not certain. He always finds a way to get back to me. He did say I was his permanent host, after all."

"Bakura's that spirit!"

"That spirit?" Ryou looked away and quickly stopped talking; this guy knew too much already. It's one thing if you blab about something without context, but if he knows who Bakura is than Ryou should do the right thing and shut up before he really gets into trouble. And this new guy had no taste in fashion, Ryou had to blanch inwardly at the mismatching colors and polka dots and stripes. And people made fun of his sweaters.

"Care to tell me about him? I mean, more than the fact he's now in my friend's head now instead of yours?" Al looked hopeful as the kid turned those words around in his head. Maybe they'd find something new, punch it into Ziggy and get Sam on his way and onto the next leap.

"No."

"No?" Al looked disappointed and frowned openly. "Why not?"

"Bakura will tell him what he needs to know." Ryou shrugged and plopped down to sit on the ground. "You act like I know more about it. He only talks to me when he wants something." Ryou paused and let out a soft 'heh'. "Or if he's bored."

"You're a weird kid, you know that?" Al tilted his head and squatted down to eye level. "Most would have asked who I was and where they were before they jumped to the death stuff by now."

Ryou smiled and lifted his eyebrows above his head. So the guy was going for humor, huh? "I don't really care who you are or where I am." He tilted his head in a smile. "I just want to know what happened to the angry man who's usually yelling in the back of my head."

"And you miss that?"

"No, I just got used to it being there and now that it's gone I'm going to have to break it all in over again." Ryou kept smiling knowing full well that it was unnerving. Maybe Bakura's rubbing off on me more than I'd like...

"You are a really weird kid." Al shrugged and stood back up with a stretch. Kid couldn't stay quiet forever. He'd talk soon enough. "At least you're optimistic, right?"

"Sure. But it's much too quiet." Ryou yawned and stretched his arms as far over his head as they'd go before plopping down on the ground. "Maybe I'll just sleep it off and this'll all be a dream when I wake up."

Al left the room shaking his head as he left Ryou shut his eyes. Maybe he'd go to check up on Sam.

Al found Sam asleep on the couch. "Wake up sleeping beauty."

Sam rolled over and cracked an eye open at the intrusion. He waved a sleepy hand in his direction and pushed himself up into an upright position. "Hello again, Al."

"How's life with the dead guy?"

"Interesting. He knows everything about this Ryou kid, so he's been filling me in on the 'dos and don'ts' of Ryou Bakura." Sam stretched a bit before standing up and heading towards the kitchen. It was about time he figured out what Ryou had in his fridge to eat. "He's asleep right now."

"Good, maybe we can check out the kid without his help for a little bit." Al took a step around the apartment and once again cursed his hologram nature. He really wanted to do the white glove dust test on the desk. Ryou might actually pass it. "Kid's a neat freak."

"Speaking of the kid, talk to him yet?" Sam opened the fridge and frowned at the limited contents. Maybe Ryou ate out a lot or something.

"Yeah, the kid's kinda' weird if you ask me." Al paused and smirked. "He assumed he might be dead because he couldn't hear that voice of yours."

"That's quite a conclusion." Sam tried to picture this kid waking up without a voice in his head. Had to be quite the shock if Bakura talks as much to him as he does with Sam. A sudden silence; must be lonely, actually.

"More like, something about Bakura always finding him anyway." Al nodded in Sam's direction. "Kid made him seem like a parasite in the few words he actually gave us. He did look pretty freaked that the ring was missing."

"That so." Sam's eye caught the castle piece that had his attention when he fell asleep after turning away from the fridge. A good distraction and a few quick steps later and he was in what looked like a small game room covered in figurines and books. "Looks like he likes games."

"This is a big apartment for one kid. It's got two rooms." Al commented as he took a second look around. "Somebody's got money."

"These are all hand painted and so detailed. He must have made this himself." Sam motioned to the huge display game board and ignoring Al for the moment. "Looks like fun."

"The little figures are cute." Al looked at each of the little lead figurines lined up on the wall. "Dusty though, guess he hasn't played in a while."

It was his favorite game.

Sam jumped and grabbed his chest. He took a calming breath as he remembered that Bakura was inside of his head and still there. "I'm never going to get used to that."

Bakura laughed. Neither does my host I love watching him jump.

Al nearly laughed himself at Sam's reaction; looked like someone had electrocuted him. "Your new buddy awake, Sam?"

"Yeah, he says this is Ryou's favorite game."

"What's it called?"

Bakura, what's the game called? Sam picked up the hint that playing parrot for these two to hear each other would get annoying and quick for all parties involved.

Monster World. Bakura looked at the game and the tower and subconsciously rubbed his hand. It's a role-playing game, you try and defeat Zork with a team of enchanted warriors. Last time he played it I trapped his friends in the lead figurines and tried to kill them as I made them to play the game in a warped reality.

Sam's eyes widened at the almost bored reply to the question. How could someone admit that so calmly?

Because I don't feel guilty about it. Bakura smirked. Landlord and his friends won the game anyway or you wouldn't be here 'cause they'd be dead. Hmph. All because my little host sacrificed himself. That was some time ago. Bakura leaned his head back and breathed deep. And I still think I should have won.

"It doesn't look like he's played since." Sam brushed a finger on the board. This room had distinctly less care than the rest of the spotless apartment. "It's all covered in dust."

Bakura twitched and ran his hands through a few of the dark clouds covering his soul room. He hasn't. He did say that he wanted to play with all of his friends again, but I think he's scared I'll try something again.

That's a shame. Sam looked over the game board. Even under all the dust, Sam could tell it was made with care and great affection. It's horrible not doing the things you love.

He even made a dumb diorama of all of his friends in a victory pose out of the lead figurines to help them decide to play again together.

Sam's eyes lit up as a light bulb went off in his head. "Hey, Al. What's the percent that what we have to do is play this game with all of his friends?"

"What would that have to do with anything?" Al was confused. As far as he knew Sam had been staring out into space for the past few minutes. They'd have to do something about this lack of communication thing if they wanted to get anywhere during this assignment.

"Oh right! You can't hear Bakura! Drat. Well, long story short Ryou said he wanted to play with them all again but they're scared of it because of Bakura." Sam pat the game board. "I'd be willing to bet that getting him together again with all his friends and the game he loves so much is the assignment!"

"What did Bakura do?" Al pulled out his cigar and lit it up.

"He tried to kill them all by trapping them into lead figurines and made them play the game from the view of the characters."

It was the ultimate role-playing experience. I thought I was being nice letting them live in Monster World, but no. They had to be difficult so I decided they had to die and…

Sam chose to block out the rest of Bakura's rant. He got enough of it to know where it was going and so he turned his attention back to Al who had finally pulled out Ziggy.

"I get what you're saying, maybe if you play the game with them and it's fun they won't be scared to play more often!" Al punched it into Ziggy. "Then maybe the kid could gain some decent social skills."

"Well?" Sam looked hopeful. Maybe this was what they needed to get Ryou's life back on track.

"85 percent chance that's it!" Al smiled and pat Ziggy with his hand. He liked those odds even if there was a fifteen percent chance it was something else. "That's a pretty good figure."

"Looks we've got a plan, right?" Sam smiled and crossed his arms with a nod. Things would really get rolling now that they had a plan. "Getting people to play a game shouldn't be too hard, right?"

Bakura just laughed.