Dear Amane,

I'm angry right now. I'm angry and I know I shouldn't be. Because, you see, nothing happened to make me angry.

I was watching the news while folding the laundry as I normally do. An announcement came from the owner of the new Egyptian exhibit, saying that game fans were especially welcome. Needless to say, I turned off the set and set off to make myself presentable before I left (wearing ratty jeans and a stained not-so-white tee-shirt is seldom becoming to anyone).

A few hours later, I was standing in front of the museum double doors. I had my hand on the door before a man burst through and shoved me to the ground as he rushed past.

I opened my eyes after a few moments to see a dark hand reaching out toward me. A tan man with a turban and deep blue eyes was looking at me with an expression Father used to look at me with. That sort of silent disapproving gaze.

He spoke to me in a soft voice, telling me to take his hand. So I did, and he helped me up.

I thanked him, and then he said something strange.

"You are lost."

I told him I wasn't lost, that I'd been coming to the exhibit when I'd been knocked down.

"I'm not speaking of that, boy," was how he replied. "For any ordinary loss in direction can be remedied by finding landmarks or asking for the right direction. You are lost within yourself, and that is not nearly as easy to fix."

I was silent at that, and I asked him how he knew that. He jerked his head inside, and I followed him into the building.

He told me about my darker half (well, a little bit, anyway). He told me about ancient power and games and all that, I wasn't paying much attention. Then he stopped abruptly, saying that he sensed a dark presence within me.

I said of course, because of the spirit possessing me.

He shook his head soberly, saying that this monster dwells within my own heart. I told him I was confused. He said that this was the problem. That I was lost inside and I didn't know who I was or what I wanted.

He introduced me to the owner (Ishizu, I think her name was) and she smiled at me.

She was pretty, with long dark hair and bright blue eyes. They were sort of like yours, but a lighter shade.

She asked to see my Ring, and I let her. She held it in her hands, turning it over several times. It caught the light from the buzzing fluorescent tubes overhead, glinting off the smooth, golden surface.

Ishizu let go of the Ring, letting it fall back down to lay against my chest. She asked me what I thought of it. I said it was alright-a bit flashy, but it was the only gift I'd gotten from my father in years. Then she asked how I felt about the spirit that lives inside it.

That's what set me off. I told her how stupid that question was- of course I hate him! He takes over my body. He demands control of me. He's like a parasite-like a cancer, eating away at my soul. I yelled at her, knowing I shouldn't lash out at her but wanting to lash out at someone.

I told her about the person he had murdered, and about the constant sense of foreboding that he gave me. I ranted until I was blue in the face and still didn't feel any better. Then I broke down crying. I ask you: how is it possible that I can cry so much? I feel like an overemotional teenage girl. Come to think of it, maybe I am.

That was meant as a joke.

Ishizu and the man in the turban exchanged concerned glances. The man walked up to me, putting a hand on my shoulder in what was clearly meant to be a comforting gesture, but for me was considerably less so.

He said that I was unique among my friends-unique among the world. He said of all the people who have owned the Ring, I am unique among them because I can bear the burden without being destroyed. That it was up to me to keep the Item safe until it was needed.

He said it was my burden, but I didn't have to bear it alone. He reminded me that I had my friends to help me.

I laughed at that. And not just a little chuckle. I flat out laughed at that. It just struck me as amusing. If my friends had never been there before, why would they bother now?

The man told me to be quiet. He went on to talk about the future, and how the events of the past would be repeated, and that I had a vital role to play. Me! Playing a vital role in anything! For the love of Pete, this was getting ridiculous! And I wasn't afraid to say so, either. I slapped the man's had off my shoulder.

Ishizu frowned at me, telling me that if I could believe in the supernatural, then I could believe that I could do something important. That made me laugh again as I told her that me doing something important was far beyond the supernatural. I then informed her that I was only here for the Egyptian exhibit, not for a lecture about life. Ishizu gestured for the man to leave, and he did, vanishing rather quickly might I add.

Ishizu took me o a tour through the various sundries from times long gone. Then she showed me a large slab of stone. And I just thought, Oh my gosh, a giant rock! Rather sarcastically.

She pointed out the people who appeared to be battling on the stone. I gave a jolt. It looked like Yugi. And he was battling with the Dark Magician! I couldn't believe it!

Ishizu pointed out that the man on the opposite side was Seto Kaiba, dueling with the Blue Eyes White Dragon.

Seto Kaiba…of course! He was the man who had walked out of the museum in such a rush. I thought he looked familiar.

Then she showed me some pictures beneath the duelists. I almost passed out at this one, Amane. It was me.

Well, at least, that's what Ishizu said. I was considerably better looking than I am in real life. And apparently, I had a scar a couple thousand years ago.

I was battling with a Diabound, a card I neither own nor want to own. I told Ishizu I'd seen enough, and I left with her calling my name.

I froze. I asked her how she knew me. she said that she had a sixth sense for these types of things.

Right.

So yeah. Now I'm home. And for some reason, the whole thing makes me furious. Why am I so important?

Anyway, I'll leave you alone for now.

Love,

Ryou