A/N Me? Updating? In less than two months? It must be a miracle!

R&R please and enjoy the chapter!

When Marik got home it was to his brother and sister sitting across from each other having tea. He supposed Ishizu either texted him about Odion's return while he was driving or refrained from texting him at all since she already saw him coming home.

"Sister, brother." Marik acknowledged them with a nod and sat down next to Odion.

"Marik," Ishizu greeted as she set her tea down with a resolute click. "What…" She started, then seemed to think better of it and tried again. "As you know, I had a vision of you practicing earlier. But before you got back on your motorcycle something seemed to distress you and you dropped your deck. Might… might I ask what that was?"

Marik frowned.

He could tell her that his god card appeared in his deck and it shocked him so much he dropped it, but how would she react to that?

She might be completely fine with it, but it was just as likely to bring back old memories and worry her so much she would confiscate it, and something in Marik didn't want that. Safer to tell a half-truth, for the time being, until he could sort out his emotions.

Marik gave her a tired smile (at least the expression wasn't a lie) and said, "Just drained myself and dropped my cards, sorry to worry you, sister."

He leaned against Odion's shoulder to sell the point, then realized that he was going to have trouble dragging himself off it when his whole body slumped. Maybe he should just go to sleep here instead of getting up and going to bed…

"Oh, it's quite alright. I was going to pass along some information to you, but it can wait until you sleep if you're that tired." Ishizu said. Something in her tone was… off.

Marik half-opened his eyes, not realizing he had closed them. Ishizu was fiddling with her dress and her gaze flitted around the room without stopping on anything. So, she was anxious. It appeared the previous line of conversation was to prolong giving him this information. Ishizu was never anxious, if this news made her as such, it was important.

Marik hauled himself back into an upright position and gave her a level stare. "I'll get over it," He said. "I'm listening."

Ishizu's eyes traveled back to him and they made eye contact for the briefest of moments before her gaze landed back on her lap. She sighed.

"Very well," Ishizu said, her voice filled with dread. "Yugi called. It seems…" She took a deep breath. "It seems that the pharaoh has returned, along with the Millennium Puzzle. I - I thought you should know." She chanced a glance up at him. "Are you okay?"

Marik was not okay.

The last thing that he wanted was for the pharaoh to be back. He didn't want to know that the person whose legacy had been carved into his back when he was only ten walked the earth again. He didn't want to be someone's tomb keeper. A servant wherever he went despite what anyone said. Born into a life he never asked for and could never escape from because that other person existed. He had thought they had left that all behind last year. He had thought they were free.

Marik didn't say any of these things though, and instead flashed his sister a reassuring smile, saying, "Of course I'm okay! It's not as though this directly affects us, and we have the shadows back! I've missed them so much, sister."

Ishizu smiled back, her eyes filled with relief. She bought it then. That was good.

He didn't want to lie to his siblings, and he knew Odion probably saw through them, regardless, but he didn't want to see the relief in Ishizu's expression be replaced by worry and sadness.

Or worse, suspicion and fear.

"I'm glad," Ishizu said. "But you really should go rest now, brother, I saw how you wore yourself out earlier. I wish you would be more careful."

"Of course," Marik said as he stood up and headed for his room. He stopped before reaching the hall, however, and looked back at his siblings. "Did Yugi say anything else I should know about?"

"He did say he was going to call that boy - Bakura was it? And ask if he got the ring back, however, I doubt that the spirit is back regardless of if the ring was returned." Ishizu said, her tone dismissive.

"Right," Marik said, but his mind was elsewhere. "Good afternoon, sister, brother."

He didn't wait for their responses before starting towards his room.

Marik hoped that Bakura wasn't back. He had no desire to die, after all, and enough awareness of his actions both during and after battle city to know the ring spirit would kill him if he caught even the faintest glimpse of the other. He attributed the fact he had lived to go back to Egypt to the thief having just returned to his host from the shadow realm.

Good thing the thief's host didn't go back to Egypt until after Bakura was dealt with.

So, the pharaoh was back, the spirit of the ring might have been back, the rod, necklace, and puzzle were back, and nobody had any clue as to why.

This… was not something Marik needed to deal with.

He refused to.

This matter was going to be buried far into the back of his mind where he wouldn't think about it and it wouldn't bother him. He was going to be happy and continue his life and there wasn't a thing on earth that could stop him from doing that. Not the reemergence of the shadows (though he was happy about that) and especially not the pharaoh.

Marik had no qualms about being friendly with the Yugi-Tachi, they had offered him forgiveness after what he'd done, after all, and if they called, fine, they could be friends, but for his sanity, Marik was staying away from this drama.

It's fine, Marik told himself, there's no cause for alarm.

He nodded to himself as if to affirm the thought.

Everything's going to be okay.

The next morning Ryou tried to avoid everyone he knew.

His father at breakfast? Well, Ryou had to be going to school anyway, no harm in getting a head start. (He did need to fix his grades; they had been plummeting for the past year.)

Yugi and the others at lunch? Oh, it seemed a group of girls called his name, no reason to hurt their feelings. He never brought lunch anyway, so all the treats they offered him were needed.

However, come P.E…

"Bakura-Kun!" Yugi finally cornered him.

"Yes?" Ryou asked as he changed into his gym clothes. He didn't turn to look at him yet.

"We've been trying to talk to you all day," Yugi said. Ryou made sure that the ring wasn't visible under his shirt before he faced them. "Look," Yugi started again when their eyes met. It seemed Jou and Honda were there too. "We're all sorry that we forgot about you, and I know that doesn't make up for it, but… we just want you to know we're sorry, okay?"

Ryou gave them a noncommittal nod.

"Good," Jonouchi said. "We want ya to know we're always here for ya from now on, cause you're our buddy, got that?"

"Of course," Ryou said with a smile. He didn't mean it. Inside, all he wanted to do was to retreat because they couldn't possibly be serious. All they wanted was to find out if the voice was within him or not and to assuage their guilty consciousnesses. "I'm sorry for snapping at you yesterday, Yugi-Kun, I just… was under a lot of stress."

"I completely understand and you had every right to snap at me," Yugi said, voice serious. His expression then turned concerned. "Are you okay? You have a pretty bad looking bruise on your face."

"Oh, I tripped yesterday." Ryou lied, fighting the urge to touch the mark. "Don't worry about it."

Honda nodded and said, "Yea, that happens to this idiot all the time." He shoved at Jonouchi, who glared and shoved him back. "No worries, happy belated birthday, by the way."

"Thanks." Ryou smiled.

Perhaps it wasn't necessary to lie to them about where the bruise had come from, but Ryou still loved his dad and didn't want to see anything happen to him. Besides, the punch was probably a one-time thing.

/The punch might have been,/ Bakura said, /but neglect is a form of abuse, too, and that has been going on for years./

\Well, it hardly matters now.\ Ryou responded.

Both conversations ended there. The class was running laps today (apparently Karita-Sensei was in a bad mood) which Ryou had no desire to do.

"May I sit this one out, Karita-Sensei?" Ryou asked. He didn't feel like running today, all he wanted to do was process what was happening, which he hadn't had time to do yet.

Karita opened his mouth to say something insulting, but when he got a good look at who he was talking to, snapped it shut. Fear filled his eyes.

"O-of course," Karita stuttered. "You can opt-out whenever you like, I'll just give you an A and - " So on.

Ryou didn't stick around for the rest of the tangent. He knew he shouldn't take advantage of the man's fear of Bakura, but honestly? He didn't care. He needed to think, now, and running never made that easier.

/Don't feel bad about your power over Villager D./ Bakura said. /His fear exists for you./

Ryou ignored that comment.

He zoned out watching the other students running laps and let the enormity of what had happened the day before wash over him.

The voice was back. The ring was back. His monsters were back. He was complete once more.

While he had kept his Ib, Ba, and Ren, (obviously) for the past year he had been without his Ka and Sheut.

Now he was finally reunited with both his Ka (Diabound) and his Sheut (Bakura). He didn't think he could be more relieved if he tried.

Ryou glanced down at the ground near his feet, at his shadow, as if to be sure it was there. It was. For the first time in a year, it was.

/Of course, I'm here./ Bakura scoffed. His shadow moved from his feet to the wall at his back. /I just got back; do you honestly think I'd be leaving so soon?/

Ryou smiled and allowed himself to become lost in thought.

\Hey, Koe?\ Ryou asked sometime near the end of class. The voice hummed in acknowledgment, so he continued. \How does one shadow travel?\

Ryou felt surprise cross through the mind link before the voice snuffed it out.

/Why do you ask?/ Bakura asked. His voice (the voice, his voice) betrayed no surprise.

\I think I might want to learn how to fully use the shadows. I mean, I've been able to bring myself to the shadow realm and such, but I thought I might like to learn how to shadow travel, or perhaps start a game.\ Ryou responded. As he was talking, he felt the shadows perk up and give him a tug of excitement.

Behind him, his shadow moved further toward him (This was the only way Bakura could move about near Yugi without risking him or the pharaoh seeing him) and Ryou got the sense the voice was smirking.

/Very well, I'll begin to teach you when we get home./ Bakura said.

If the conversation could continue from there, it didn't get the chance, as the bell rang and P.E ended for the day.

Kaiba cornered Yugi in the hall on their way back from P.E.

"Muto," Kaiba said after slamming Yugi into a locker. "You had better explain yourself."

"Ey! Get off him Rich Boy!" Jou yelled and lunged at Kaiba, only to be held back by Honda and Anzu.

Yugi leveled Kaiba with a steady gaze. "What are you talking about?" He asked.

"Don't play games, Muto, you know full well what I'm talking about." Kaiba snapped. When his only response was a raised eyebrow he elaborated. "Those things that appeared yesterday. The tendrils of darkness that keep following me and Mokuba around, especially when I go near my deck! I swear Muto, if you think this little prank of yours is funny, then - "

"Mokuba can use the shadows!?" Yugi cut Kaiba off, genuine disbelief showing in his voice. Kaiba gave him a critical look.

"Yugi," Kaiba's voice was dangerous. "If you think I'm going to let you drag Mokuba into this little fantasy of yours, then - " Kaiba was yet again cut off, much to his annoyance, by Yugi's rushed denial.

"I promise I have nothing to do with this," Yugi stammered. "I'm rather shocked, I hadn't thought anyone without a connection to ancient Egypt could use the shadows, this is… I don't know."

Kaiba's eyes narrowed.

Yugi seemed to be telling the truth, but it was impossible to tell, with him.

Over the past couple of years, Kaiba had considered multiple times if what Yugi kept ranting about was true, and it did seem possible, but Kaiba still wanted nothing to do with it. He had thought it was all over with the day Muto called him to tell Kaiba of the ceremonial duel. (Yugi had decided to stop dueling after that, much to Kaiba's dismay)

But the day before, when Kaiba received another call from Yugi, who explained that the pharaoh and puzzle had come back and asked if he had the millennium rod, it became clear that it was not over.

But Kaiba still wanted nothing to do with it. This wasn't his problem, it was Muto's.

Until he spotted the tendrils of darkness following him around, licking at his heels.

Kaiba had brushed it off as his imagination playing tricks on him because of Yugi's phone call - until Mokuba had come rushing into his office and exclaimed with a mix of excitement and concern in his big grey eyes, that he had been followed around by darkness for half the day.

Kaiba backed off Muto and gave another half-hearted glare before walking away with a, "Magic isn't real, Baka." sent over his shoulder.

"Wait!" Kaiba tensed at the new voice, though he knew it wasn't new and was coming from Yugi. It was near impossible to dismiss them as one person when he wasn't looking and just hearing their voices, though he hadn't heard this voice in a while. Kaiba stopped but didn't turn around. He heard Yami - Yugi! Yugi, Yugi, Yugi - take a step closer. "Kaiba, the shadows can be dangerous - even deadly - if you are not trained properly in using them. If they are just following you around and left unattended you might accidentally lash out, start a game, or bring yourself into the shadow realm. I implore you, Kaiba, let me train you so you can - "

"Save it." Kaiba interrupted Yami, for there was a difference between Yami and Yugi, even though he refused to believe they were separate people. Yugi never spoke down to him. "I don't need your help."

He continued walking to class and ignored the shouts coming from his rival and the stares he received from the earlier scuffle.

Although…

If those things were dangerous, it was not just Kaiba that could be harmed. Mokuba had those things stalking him too, and if this could get him hurt, perhaps it would be best to -

Kaiba crinkled his nose as he sat at his desk. That thought was too disgusting to finish.

No, Muto would be used as a last resort. He would not stoop to having his rival teach him something. There had to be someone else. There were other people involved in this, like the Ishtars'.

Who were in Egypt.

Or Pegasus.

Who was dead, as he deserved.

Still, it didn't leave much in the ways of options. There had to be someone else, who all had been in his Battle City tournament?

There was Marik, Ishizu, and Odion Ishtar, all of whom he had ruled out. Yugi, who he refused to accept help from. Jou and Mai who, last Kaiba checked, were some of the few normal ones, and then there was -

Kaiba's eyes fell upon a head of white hair.

Bakura Ryou.

The CEO ran through a mental checklist.

Bakura was one of the holders of the items, bearing the weird looking one called the ring, though it was a necklace, so the name didn't fit.

Bakura was also both living and, in the country, unlike most of the other candidates.

For the past year, Bakura and the friendship squad had not seemed to be hanging out which, while it wasn't a requiem, boosted him in Kaiba's eyes as a more favorable individual to ask for help. Though for the past year he had been depressed (not like everyone else hadn't) he (and everyone) seemed to be feeling a lot better today.

There was one problem with going to Bakura, though.

Bakura, like Yugi, had another self, and if Yugi's other self was back (Kaiba had decided to suspend his disbelief on the subject if he was going to ask for help about it, denial could wait) he was inclined to believe Bakura's was, as well.

This was a problem for two reasons.

The first was that Yugi and his groupies had warned him about how dangerous the ring spirit was on multiple occasions, if he played his cards wrong, it was possible he would end up dead.

The second was that the spirit could, at any time while Bakura was teaching them, take control of their body, which would have its own set of problems.

These were calculated risks Kaiba was willing to take, though, as the risks of having a potentially dangerous source of magic following them around, which they could accidentally activate at any given moment, outweighed any risk that Bakura's other self might cause.

Kaiba's priority was Mokuba, after all.

They sat across the table from each other.

The existence of the table was unnecessary, as were the chairs they sat in, but it had seemed appropriate.

One of the two stared at the two items on the table while the other stared at him.

"I see." Said the one staring at the items. The one who had once been alive. "I find it only fair if you are asking this of me, that I ask something of you." The one who was staring at the other, the one who had both never and always been alive, nodded. The dead one continued. "I would like to move on after I do this for you."

"Of course," The one staring at the other said in more than one voice. A kind smile unbefitting of the malicious face it was on crossed stolen lips. "You have done more than enough for us to deserve it, guardian."

A rare smile crossed the dead one, now named guardian's, face. It didn't reach his eyes, it never did, but the guardian did look up now, smile still in place.

"Thank you," Guardian said, and it was genuine. The other one nodded, and Guardian stood and grabbed the items on the table. He placed one around his neck and the other within his robes.

The other stood as well, and they shook hands before Guardian turned and started to walk off.

He didn't get far, though, before he stopped.

"I think," Guardian began, but stopped himself and shook his head, ankh earrings jingling with the movement.

The other one's smile turned sad.

"No, he will not heed my warning," The one with many voices said. "And that is why I am asking this of you."

Guardian said nothing but gave a curt nod and continued back into the shadows.

Once Guardian was out of sight the table and chairs dissolved into the black and purple which made up the rest of the area. The one who remained continued to smile for a moment before it dropped and insane eyes widened in pain.

The man who remained gasped and fell to his knees as the pain intensified.

It had happened again.

The shadows used him as their marionette once again.

The insane eyes narrowed in hate as he felt the intensity of the pain grow.

He would make someone pay for this, one day.

No.

He would make everyone responsible pay.

He knew.

He could still see and hear through the pain, so he knew what they were trying to do.

And why.

He would find a way to make everyone involved pay.

Everyone would pay.

Everyone would pay!

Because he showed no mercy, for he had none. It was not something used to create him.

Only hate.

Anger.

Vengeance.

"I think," The voice said as he sat in spirit form in the chair across from Ryou. "we should start with games."

"Really?" Ryou asked. He received a nod. "Why?"

"It's objectively easier," Bakura answered.

Ryou had just finished his homework and, as per usual, his father was at the museum, so the voice was about to make good on his word to teach Ryou how to start a game and shadow travel.

Ryou listened to the voice with rapt interest.

"Games are one of the simplest things you can do with the shadows. All you need to do is think of what game you're going to play, the rules, and the stakes. The shadows will do the rest - though, if you intend to play the game outside the realm, you're going to have to play with something already present, and of course the more complex the game, the harder it is to create, but I believe you'll catch on quick." Bakura lectured. "Any questions?"

"Is it easier to play inside or outside the realm?" Ryou asked.

"For most, it is easier to play outside due to the strain the shadow realm exerts on the human body and soul. You, however, will likely have an easier time inside the realm, as you have spent enough time there for it to no longer affect you short-term." Bakura explained.

"So step one for starting a game inside the realm would be to go there, yes?" Ryou asked. The voice nodded, so Ryou took it upon himself to pull the two of them - and the table and chairs since he didn't feel like getting up - into the shadows.

"Good, now what are the stakes of the game we'll be paying?" Bakura asked. His form grew corporeal enough that he could touch things, though he wasn't solid. That only happened if something about a game depended on it.

"Hm," Ryou thought for a moment. "I can't think of anything I want from you at the moment, so just a favor."

"Hm, so the loser owes the winner a favor? Sounds fair." Bakura said. "Think of the game we're going to play and the rules we're playing by." Ryou nodded to signify he had done so. "Now think of the stakes, rules, and the game as you pull the shadows to yourself and command them to make the game."

Ryou closed his eyes and opened them again a second later after he felt the game materialize.

"Now what?" Ryou asked.

"Well, when starting an honorable game, it is customary to tell your opponent the rules, but it is not a requiem and often advantages not too. When you're ready to start the game, you need only utter the words Game Start and you should feel it begin." Bakura explained. "So, the rules are…?"

Ryou stared at Bakura, a wisp of a smirk present on his face.

"Game start," Ryou said, then picked up the dice from the table.

Bakura's mouth hung open for a good half a minute before he closed it and started laughing.

They were still following them.

Mokuba could see them at the edge of his vision from time to time throughout the day. Ever present, but not hostile. They even gave him a sort of protected feeling, though he couldn't tell why.

Mokuba recognized them, though, and knew they were dangerous.

These were the shadows that he had seen do so much harm throughout his childhood.

Nii-Sama had said he believed this was a prank from the Yugi-Tachi because of a phone call he had received, but Mokuba knew better. It wasn't a prank, and it never had been. Seto knew it too, though he didn't admit it.

Still, Mokuba was excited.

He had seen good done with the shadows too, and he had always thought it would be cool to have magic.

Maybe this also meant he was part of the group, not just someone who needed saving all the time.

Yugi's group…

He had always wanted to hang out with them, but he knew they only thought of him as Seto's little brother. Maybe now was his chance.

Of course, he didn't know how to control the darkness that was following him around, but he could figure it out, eventually.

Mokuba was thinking all this while he sat at his desk going through paperwork for Kaiba Corp.

That was until he heard a tentative knock and the door slowly creaked open.

Mokuba glanced up, expecting to find his secretary there with a cup of coffee, but instead found Seto standing there. He seemed to be contemplating something. Possibly the same something he had been contemplating on the limo ride there.

"Nii-Sama?" Mokuba questioned. He got up from his desk and walked over to him. Seto shook his head when he was halfway there and gestured to the two plushy armchairs Mokuba had set up near the futon.

"I need to talk to you about something," Seto said. He still seemed lost in thought.

"Okay," Mokuba said and sat down in one of the chairs. Seto took the other. "What about?"

Seto sighed.

"I confronted Muto today about the" Seto began but paused as he fought with the next word. It ended up coming out hissed, "shadows. He claimed it wasn't a prank and," Another pause, "I'm not sure I don't believe him."

Mokuba brightened. "I think it's real too!" He exclaimed.

"Right," Seto said like he was convincing himself of something. "Real." He shook his head and continued, "He did say, though, that being able to use the shadows without being taught how to control them is incredibly dangerous and," He swallowed and glared at the floor. "I believe it would be in our best interest to heed that."

Mokuba's eyes widened at the implications.

That - that meant -!

"So, we're going to get to learn how to control the shadow from Yugi!?" Mokuba asked excitedly. "That - that's - !"

"NO." Seto cut him off. "I refuse to let my rival teach me how to do something."

"Oh," Mokuba said, all traces of excitement gone. He furrowed his brow. "Then how…?"

Seto sighed. "Do you remember that white-haired kid from Battle City? Bakura?" Mokuba nodded. "I was going to ask him if he would help."

Mokuba thought it over for a minute.

He didn't know Bakura very well, but he did know he had a millennium item, and that he sometimes hung out with the Yugi-Tachi.

And of course, Seto wouldn't let Yugi and Yami teach them how to use shadow magic. They got along well enough - most of the time - but they were rivals first and foremost. There was no way Seto would be able to put away his pride long enough to let them teach him something he was clueless about.

Mokuba smiled and nodded.

"Okay," He said. "When are you going to ask him?"

Seto sighed. Mokuba couldn't tell if he was exasperated or relieved.

"Sometime next week," He said. "I need some time to think all this over."

This isn't happening, this isn't happening, this isn't happening, this isn't happening, this isn't happening, THIS ISN'T HAPPENING, THIS ISN'T HAPPENING!

This could not be happening.

No.

This was not happening.

She most certainly did not recognize the things that had not been following her around since the day before and she was not frightened.

No.

Mai paced the motel room she had rented.

Everything that could feasibly cast any form of illumination was turned on (The overhead lights, the lamp, the T.V. everything.) The curtains were closed and would be until the sun was comfortably in the sky, her duffel bag lay hap haphazardly on the bed she only managed a few hours of nightmare haunted sleep in and, despite everything she told herself, shadows danced around the room in time with her erratic breathing.

"No, no, no, no, no, no, no! Please, no. Please go away. Not again, please. Go away." Mai clutched her head. She was at her breaking point and honestly ready to burst into tears.

The shadows came closer and licked at her heels in a way that might have been reassuring if she hadn't experienced the nightmares they could cause.

Mai practically ran away from them and onto the bed. She sat herself in a fetal position and pulled out her phone.

Why? Why was this happening? She moved on to this line of questioning since she couldn't remain in denial when she was about to call for help. And why now of all times?

She had finally stopped having nightmares about her time in the shadow realm and under the influence of the oricalcos - the shadows in the room flared in anger - she had finally moved on so why now of all times?

It was daytime in Japan. If she called and the person on the other end was home, he would pick up. If she called.

She had never called this number before.

After Battle City, when she had gotten the number, she had been too prideful to call (And oh how she wished she had now) and after the oricalcos the mere idea of calling him had been too much, but now…

She was over it, right? The oricalcos at least.

Would he want her to call?

Would he be mad at her for calling him now?

After everything, she had done…

Mai swallowed, but the sight of the shadows dancing around the room made her decision for her.

She called the number.

It rang once.

Twice.

Three times.

Four.

Mai's throat went dry.

Maybe he didn't want to talk to her.

Maybe he had moved.

Maybe something had happened to him.

Then the phone was picked up and all Mai's worries ran away at the sound of the voice on the other end.

"Jonouchi residence, Katsuya speaking!" The familiar voice rang through her ears and Mai let out a sigh of relief. "Uh, hello? Anyone there? If this is a prank caller, then - !"

Mai cleared her throat. "No, no Jou, it's me, Mai." She said hurriedly.

"Mai!?" Jou exclaimed. "Really!? Wha - I mean - what are you doin' here!? Well, not here but, uh. Ah, you know what I mean!"

"Yes, I know what you mean." Mai couldn't help but laugh, though she still felt like crying. At some point during Jou's stammering, he had switched to English, which was fine, as Mai not only spoke the language but was currently in America. "I…"

She didn't know how to explain. She didn't want to admit she was scared, but she wasn't sure how else to voice her concern about the shadows that were still lurking around her room.

"Is something wrong?" Jou asked, voice suddenly serious.

"I - " Mai's voice cut off and she choked back a sob. "You - you know the shadows, the stuff from the shadow realm?"

"Uh, yea," Jou said. He sounded a mix between confusion, dread, concern, and excitement. It was a strange combination but somehow… cute?

"Well there are these - it's - they're just following me around and they - they won't - they won't go away!" Mai was in hysterics. She couldn't - wouldn't go back to that nightmare. It was too much.

"Kay, I think I get what you're talking about," Jou said, voice laced with concern that Mai knew she didn't deserve. "Yesterday, something happened, and none of us are sure how. You see, somehow, the rod, necklace, and puzzle came back, and Yami and the shadows came back with it. Yesterday we thought, okay, that's that, but earlier today Rich Boy slammed Yugi 'gainst a locker asking if the shadows following him and Mokuba around were some kinda joke.

"Once again we were all like 'Woah, okay, but that's that I guess.' but it wasn't, cause a little later today when we were all at Burger world, Anzu let out this painful shriek 'cause she felt something cold on her leg, so we all looked under the table only to see the shadows curling around not only Yugi's feet, but mine, Honda, and Anzu's as well."

Jou stopped there and took a deep breath before finishing. "So, basically, now Yami said we can all use the shadows and he doesn't know why, but we're going to have to learn how to use them before we accidentally hurt someone - or ourselves - with them."

"So," Mai began, eyeing the shadows with distrust, "you think it's the same for me?"

"Uh-huh, but that's kinda a problem cause there's no one in America who could teach ya how to use the shadows," Jou said. His voice grew concerned, "I mean, what if you get hurt?"

Mai smiled, touched that Jou was worried about her.

"Wh - why do you care? Mai asked. "I mean, after everything I did - "

"I care cause you're my friend! No matter what ya did when you were brainwashed and stuff, no matter what you might do in the future, you're always gonna be my friend! Geez, how many times do I havta tell ya?" Jou said loudly as if the more volume he used the more it would penetrate her skull. Mai felt something warm bloom inside her chest.

There was the sound of glass breaking and yelling on the other end of the phone. Now Mai was the concerned one.

"Jou? Are you okay? What was that?" Mai asked. Her brow creased.

"Eh? Oh, it's nothin', don't worry about it." Jou said. He sounded more subdued than Mai had ever heard him. Before she could respond, though, his voice regained some of his previous cheer and he said, "I could ask Yugi if he'd teach you how to control the shadows too! Then all you'd have to do is come over here - uh, I mean if you want to… it'd be nice to see ya again."

Mai couldn't suppress her smile.

She was still welcomed there, after everything. They all still… cared.

No one had ever cared before. She was so used to being alone, and she thought she was again, but all this time there were still people who gave a crap.

"Yea, I'll take the next flight to Japan, if that's okay," Mai said with a smile.

"Of course, it's okay! You're welcome here anytime!" Jou said, grin audible in his voice.

"Well, okay, I guess I'll see you then," Mai said.

"Yup, see ya then!" Jou responded.

Mai hung up the phone and looked at the shadows.

They didn't seem as scary, now.

Ryou stared at the extra food he had made.

He had already eaten his portion, as he had regained the appetite to do so, and the rest of the food wasn't for him.

He should just leave it now. It was ready and waiting for when his father got home from work.

But the very existence of the extra food reminded him of his father, leading his thoughts down the rabbit hole that ended with the fact he would have to confront him eventually. Especially since he now had the millennium ring back, and his father still wanted it.

Of course, the ring would only leave him again over his grave, and then the voice would burn anyone who dared touch him from the inside out.

Still, Ryou was dreading the conversation.

/I can deal with it for you./ The voice whispered in his mind. Ryou fiddled with one of the ring's prongs.

It was a tempting offer, yes, but Ryou wanted to - had to - deal with this himself.

The voice backed off after that thought and Ryou stood in his kitchen/dining room in silence, waiting for his father.

By the time the door had opened Ryou had moved to lean against the counter with his arms crossed, millennium ring on full display under them. He was, once again, wearing the voice's coat, as he had taken a liking to it. The fingerless leather glove was ever-present as always. That day, for the first time in a while, Ryou had also bothered to apply kohl.

It would be easier to look at a brick wall and tell what it was feeling, rather than Ryou's face, and he knew it. Though few were aware, his poker face was as good, if not better, than Kaiba Seto's, and the anxiety he was feeling, which grew as he saw his father walk into the kitchen, would not show.

His father paused mid-step and his eyes widened when he saw what Ryou had around his neck.

"That's -!" He exclaimed but didn't finish his sentence. A few emotions played across his expression until it settled into one of anger. "You – you lied to me!"

"No, I didn't," Ryou said without emotion. He cocked his head to the side and continued to stare. "You hit me."

His father met his eyes now and shivered visibly. He seemed to have that effect on people when he forwent external displays of emotion. The shiver was brief though, and the anger remained on full display.

"Yes, and I'll do it again if you don't give me the ring." His father gritted out. Ryou merely blinked.

"Are you attempting to rob me?" Ryou asked. He heard Bakura growl and felt the shadows twist and curl about the room, no longer an easily ignorable presence without the power to harm someone. The temperature of the room lowered by a few degrees. He sent both Bakura and the shadows mental reassurance which all three of them knew he did not feel. Still, they backed off. "I hope you know what a terrible father you are."

It was true.

He couldn't deny it.

He still loved him, but the man was a terrible father - not that he always had been, but now…

"How dare you!" His father yelled. It seemed pretentious to Ryou, whenever someone said that. There were few times people said it without an air of misplaced superiority. "You know I could at any time stop paying for your food and rent. I don't think you understand the situation you're in, you - "

Ryou had to interrupt him by laughing, though he made sure to keep it hollow and without true emotion.

"I don't understand the situation I am in? Ha! I believe you have that the wrong way around, father. After all, you are the one who assaulted me. It is you who went off galivanting in Egypt and left your eight-year-old son to fend for himself without so much as a hired caretaker. I could go to the police with this at any time, and - do you even know what yesterday was?" Ryou ranted, voice still neutral.

"Yesterday?" His father asked with a raised eyebrow.

"Of course, you don't." Ryou dismissed. He started walking out of the room. "Why would you?"

His father grabbed his arm as he was walking past him and threw his fist forward in a punch, but Ryou caught it. Perhaps he didn't care enough for the past year to do so, but Bakura did teach him how to defend himself.

"I hope that you contemplate your actions and their effects carefully, father." He pulled away from the man and once again started walking toward his room. "Good evening."

When he got into his room and locked the door, Ryou cried.

All that he had said needed to be said, but it still hurt.

These weren't things he wanted to think about.

Ryou took a deep breath and dried his tears.

He was half tempted to use the millennium eye to see what it was his father was thinking but decided against it. He… didn't think he wanted to know.

\Do you want to play a game?\ Ryou asked through the mind link after he had recovered, ignoring the fact his kohl was likely ruined.

Bakura appeared in front of him, confirming that, yes, his kohl was ruined.

"I would love to."

Bakura watched his landlord as he practiced shadow traveling.

It had been a week since the light had confronted his father and the man had since left.

Good. Bakura wasn't sure he'd be able to control himself a moment longer if the man had stayed. The disgusting, vile piece of crap.

He was proud of his landlord for facing his father, in his unique way, though the two of them avoided the subject.

The boy, as expected, was a natural at both starting games and shadow traveling - although Ryou did end up vomiting after overtaxing himself during his first lesson, which Bakura had tried to warn him about. Whatever. He had learned his lesson and refrained from overdoing it after that.

The light had even, occasionally and to Bakura's unending amusement, taken up shadow traveling short distances as opposed to walking. Or opening doors.

Though, when he had started doing that - on accident, somehow - Bakura had not been so amused, and the landlord had received an extra-long lecture - for that was what it was - on how he had to make sure he never did that in a public place, a school especially.

Bakura had noticed throughout the week as his Hikari got stronger that when he appeared in the shadow realm his form became more and more solid. If the state of things continued in that manner, they could produce many favorable outcomes for him.

The Hikari had also taken to wearing the coat Bakura had acquired from a store after he'd been eyeing it for a while. He had to admit, Ryou looked good in it.

Bakura heard a snort come from somewhere to his right and turned his head away from his soul room floor, where he had been looking into the real world, and to where the monumentally annoying source of the noise was coming from; Akefia.

"What?" Bakura demanded. Akefia shook his head.

"Nothing forget about it," Akefia said. Bakura glared but turned his attention back to his landlord.

He could hear, but not quite make out, the murmurings of his two progenitors as they talked from where Akefia was standing.

He had been putting it off long enough and he knew the longer he waited to ask the more likely it was something would happen.

Muto - the other one - had already asked three more times for Kaiba to let him teach him how to use the shadows. Kaiba had refused each with increasing levels of annoyance, and by the last one, he thought he felt something from the shadows in response to his anger that he wasn't ready to brush off.

It had been a week like he had said, so today he would be doing it.

He would get Bakura alone and ask him to teach him and Mokuba how to use the shadows. He just had to wait for the right moment.

The right moment came all too soon when Bakura had decided to opt-out of P.E, like he sometimes did because Karita, who never let anything slide for anyone, was, for reasons Kaiba knew he didn't want to know, terrified of Bakura.

Kaiba, also, could get out of PE without batting an eyelash, and he did. Every class. He usually devoted this time to Kaiba Corp, however that day he would be devoting it to talking to Bakura.

He was dreading it, true, but it had to happen. So, with no lack of reluctance, Kaiba approached Bakura.

The kid - man now, he had turned eighteen the week prior, Kaiba had learned from a background check he had conducted on him - glanced in his direction, but otherwise ignored Kaiba.

Usually, this behavior was both acceptable and encouraged towards him, so Kaiba wasn't annoyed over the dismissal.

"Bakura," Kaiba said, which got him the aforementioned one's attention.

"Yes?" Bakura asked. His shadow flared behind him like Muto's sometimes did, and Kaiba assumed the other Bakura was watching him too.

"I need your," Kaiba struggled with the next word, but eventually got it out, "help with something."

Bakura blinked and tilted his head.

"With what?" Bakura asked. Kaiba took a deep breath, squeezed his eyes shut, clenched, and unclenched his fist, before he opened his eyes again.

"I need you to teach me and Mokuba how to use the shadows." Kaiba gritted out. Bakura blinked again. "Muto keeps on insisting it's a necessity, and I did feel something was about to happen earlier this week when I nearly lost my temper, but I refuse to let Muto teach me. It's simply not happening."

"I see," Bakura said. His eyes traveled back to where the others were having class. "Your friendship and rivalry with Yugi and Yami doesn't work in a way that would permit you to go to them to teach you something." Bakura paused and shook his head. "I'm sorry, I can't. I don't even have the - "

"I've been observing some of your conversations with Muto and his friends," Kaiba cut him off, "and I am not here to debate with you the fact that you got the ring back when he got the puzzle back. I don't care if Muto and his friends believe it when you say you didn't. It doesn't matter even if you don't, you can still teach me and Mokuba how to control the shadows."

Bakura stared at Kaiba for a moment before he sighed.

"Where and when?" Bakura asked. He looked back to the class.

"After school today, you can come with me in my limo to pick up Mokuba, then I was going to leave the where up to you," Kaiba said flatly.

"My place is fine," Bakura said with another sigh, "everything that can't be replaced is small enough to move out of the way, and everything that can is just collateral damage."

Kaiba took another look at Bakura and couldn't help but wonder what, exactly, was going to happen in their little session that would destroy everything in his house.

"I can't walk with you guys today," Ryou stated as he and Yugi's group walked into the school parking lot.

"What!? Why not?" Jou asked.

"I have a ride," Ryou said. He spotted Kaiba's limo and began to walk towards it after giving everyone a wave.

He was aware that he was being followed but chose to ignore it.

When it was made clear Ryou was heading toward Kaiba's limo (Kaiba was leaning against it with his arms crossed) there were multiple gasps of disbelief.

"What are you doin' drivin' somewhere with Rich Boy!?" Jou asked.

"That's none of your business, Mutt," Kaiba said flatly.

"It is our business! He's our friend!" Honda insisted.

"I, I just, what?" Anzu stammered.

It was almost laughable how quickly they all went from ignoring him to calling him their friend again. Though, they did seem genuine in believing him when he said Bakura wasn't back. Maybe they were trying.

Ryou sighed and turned back around. He caught Yugi's eyes, which seemed filled with understanding.

"Kaiba-Kun, Bakura-Kun, is this about…?" Yugi began to ask but trailed off.

"I am not at liberty to disclose the nature of my and Kaiba-San's meeting," Ryou said. He nodded, "Good afternoon." He saw Yugi nod before he turned back toward the limo, which Kaiba had already started getting into, and followed. Isono-San closed the door after him.

The ride to Mokuba's school was quiet, but it lacked the air of one-sided awkwardness Ryou normally received from the other person in moments of silence. He preferred the quiet, and so did Kaiba, so they could both be left to their own devices (Kaiba working on his laptop and Ryou doing homework) in peace.

When Ryou finished with his homework he pulled out his laptop and continued working on a Monster World campaign he was writing. If he was lucky, maybe Bakura would play it with him. Ra knew the Yugi-Tachi wouldn't after the last time they played.

/Of course, I would play with you, when do I ever pass on an opportunity to play Monster World?/

He heard Kaiba's typing pause but continued as he was.

"What are you doing?" Kaiba asked with what could barely be called mild interest.

"Working on a Monster World campaign," Ryou replied without looking up.

"Hn. That's that popular RPG, right?" Kaiba asked.

"Yes, it's my favorite game," Ryou said.

Kaiba hummed and went back to his work.

The car had barely stopped before the door was flung open and Mokuba jumped in and closed the door again.

"Finally! I thought you'd never come!" Mokuba exclaimed.

"We arrived at the same time as usual, so I don't know why you would get that impression," Kaiba said without looking up.

"Yea, well, today I had something to look forward to!" Mokuba said. Ryou glanced up to see Mokuba cross his arms, then he turned his big grey eyes on him and it became clear the silence would not return. "You're Bakura, right?"

Ryou closed his laptop and nodded.

"I thought so!" Mokuba said. "So, you're going to teach us to control the - "

"Speaking of," Kaiba cut Mokuba off just in time, "what's your address."

Ryou told him and put his laptop away.

"So what were you doing on the laptop?" Mokuba asked.

/He's a talkative one, isn't he?/

"I was working on a Monster World campaign," Ryou said. \He's twelve, it shouldn't come as a surprise.\

/Shouldn't it? We've both heard the stories. He, like his brother, has tried to kill Yugi on multiple occasions, but unlike his brother, he never received a penalty game to get rid of all that darkness./

\I'm not saying he isn't a dangerous individual, I'm saying he's a child, and children tend to be talkative.\

"Really? I love that game! We should play together sometime!" Mokuba said, brightening significantly.

"That would be lovely," Ryou said and smiled a completely genuine smile.

/I like him./ Bakukra said.

\Me too.\ Ryou responded. Loving Monster World was an easy way to get into both of their good graces. After a pause, Ryou said, \No killing or trapping him in a figurine or any other violent thing because you won a game.\

/Yadonushi, he's the only one I have to play with other than you, of course, I wouldn't hurt him just because I can. I'd only hurt him if he greatly offended me./

Mokuba's grin grew.

The rest of the limo ride went on in that manner with Kaiba adding his two cents every so often until they arrived at Ryou's house and got out.

"I apologize if it's at all messy, I wasn't expecting company when I left this morning," Ryou said. He found his key and unlocked the door.

"You call this messy?" Mokuba asked. He looked around the room. "My room alone is way messier than this."

"You should take notes," Kaiba said, "take off your shoes, we're guests here."

Ryou felt a sad sort of nostalgia from the brother's conversation. It reminded him so much of his younger sister…

He shook away the thought and started grabbing everything irreplaceable in the room.

"I'll only be a moment," Ryou said. He walked into his room before he could receive an answer and deposited the items and his school bag on his desk. Then he changed out of his uniform and into a light grey t-shirt, dark blue jeans, and his (his, Bakura's, his, did it matter which one of them it belonged to? Neither of them paid for it.) coat. He also took a moment to put on some kohl.

He debated putting the millennium ring under his shirt but decided it was pointless as Kaiba had already stated his unshakable belief he had it back, so he walked back into his living room where the Kaiba's were waiting.

"I would offer you something to eat or drink, but for first-timers at controlling the shadows, it would probably best to wait until after we're done," Ryou said as he approached the two.

"You're saying we're going to throw up?" Mokuba asked, now less excited.

"It's not uncommon for a first-timer, but there is a possibility you won't," Ryou said. He made a slight gesture with his hand and two trash cans appeared, "just in case."

"Okay, can I ask a question?" Mokuba asked.

"The more questions you ask, the easier it will be for me to help you understand, so yes," Ryou said.

"Right, so, what exactly will you be teaching us? I know you're gonna teach us how to not accidentally flip out and hurt someone, but I've seen you people do a bunch of cool stuff with the shadows and was wondering how much of that we're gonna learn." Mokuba said.

"Basic things, really, from the most obvious how to not accidentally kill someone because you're in a bad mood ending in how to make a duel monster solid," Ryou explained.

"Cool!" Mokuba cheered. Kaiba had a smirk on his face as well.

/What is the point in doing this, again, other than wasting our time?/ Bakura asked.

\It would be unwise to have an untrained shadow mage walking around a big city, especially two famous ones, \ Ryou said. "So," He addressed the Kaiba brothers, "shall we begin?"

A/N; Kay, gotta stop here, or else this will go on for another few thousand words.

Hope you guys liked the chapter! Maybe leave a review? Yes? No? C'mon, what do you think?

Anyway, see you next chapter! Please review!