Three weeks earlier.

Deep within her school bag, Tea's Petit Angel card sits on top of her deck and waits for a duel that would never come. The duel was supposed to mark an anniversary of sorts- a celebration of one whole week without an absence from school by one or more of her friends. After a straight month of training with Yugi's grandpa, Joey would have been there and ready to test his new skills in a duel against Tea. Instead of dueling, Tea sits at her desk with disappointed and worried thoughts swirling through her head and with her gaze solely on the tricolored-haired head that rests on crossed arms. Even breaths barely reach Tea's ears as the boy sleeps.

The boy's eyes have been closed for most of the class, but Tea does not have the heart to wake him. Yugi still ends up staying up more nights than not, so he needs the rest.

Besides, it's not like Ms. Chono will scold him.

The teacher in question does not even pause in her lecture, but her gaze does harden whenever she happens to glance in Yugi's direction. On any other day, Tea would have glared back. But today, two empty seats draw too much of her attention. As she glances at the empty chairs for the hundredth time today, Tea's blue eyes fill with concern. Still…

From the way Yugi described last night, it wasn't too bad of an episode. Just another nightmare of Ryo's that kept him, Joey, and Yugi up the rest of the night.

Tea shakes her head.

Stop worrying and concentrate. If it were bad, both Yugi and Joey would have stayed with Ryo, not just Joey.

Tea tears her gaze and thoughts away from the empty chairs. One glance in Tristan and Miho's direction confirms that at least one of them is taking notes for the rest of the group. Tea looks down on at her own blank page. She sighs and forces herself to follow the teacher's lecture for the first time today. Several minutes later, the kind of itch that she gets when she feels like someone is watching her ruins her concentration.

She does not scratch the itch. Instead, Tea tucks a strand of brown hair behind that ear and glances out of the corner of her eye to see who watches her. The first sight that catches her blue-eyed gaze is Hanasaki. The small boy looks distraught as he bites his lower lip and keeps glancing from the sleeping Yugi to the feared Ms. Chono. If he were not several seats away, Tea has no doubt that Hanasaki would have tried to awaken their mutual friend. Her relief at the current seating arrangement dies as the itch by Tea's ear grows stronger.

Tea glances around the room, searching for the source of the itch. When no one is revealed, Tea almost gives up until a shift in the back corner of the room catches her eye. One glance reveals an orange-eyed student who, if Tea did not know for a fact that everyone in this room was a high schooler, she might have mistaken for a child.

Once their eyes meet, he looks away from her, but it is only for a moment as he glances at Ms. Chono and then to the sleeping Yugi. When his gaze meets hers again, he smirks and an unsettling feeling descends on Tea. Regardless of her emotions, she refuses to look away. Her challenge is met with a tilt of his head. Even though the tilt is slight, one of the two long spikes of black hair on his head almost stabs the table.

I know you, right? You're…

The new transfer student, Klamath Osler. The only reason that she remembers his name is that's its an American name like her father's. Also, foreign transfer students are not exactly common at Domino High, so the buzz of gossip in the halls have helped fortify her memory of the name. The unease she felt before grows stronger. The last two transfer students that have graced these halls were Seto Kaiba and Ryo Bakura, and although Ryo could hardly be held responsible for Bakura's actions, each of them has left his mark on Yugi and the rest of Tea's friends.

For the rest of the class, Tea ends up having a staring contest with the boy. Even when the shrill ring of the bell blasts out from the speakers while some of the students stand and chat loudly amongst themselves, challenge and suspicion rules Tea's eyes. Klamath's smirk has long since faded.

It is only when Yugi awakens with blurry eyes does the boy break eye contact. His orange eyes dart to Hanasaki, who is making his way to Yugi's desk. After a quick jump out of his chair, the transfer student steps around Hanasaki.

Yugi starts a little at the transfer student's sudden appearance.

What are you doing?

As the boy says something to Yugi that slips under the loud chatter of the classroom, Tea narrows her eyes.

"Oh sure, I don't mind walking with you." One sentence of Yugi's finally makes it past the chatter.

Before Tea can push herself away from her desk, Yugi stands, follows the smirking student, and disappears into the hallway's flow of students. Hanasaki stares after the pair before turning to his desk with eyelids that droop with dejection.

For a moment, the temptation to follow Yugi urges her to jam her items into her bag. However, when Hanasaki's slouched shoulders and the way that he places each school item into his bag with slow hands catch Tea's eyes, the temptation dissipates.

Yugi could probably handle that kid. Even if he couldn't, the Other Yugi would be able to deal with the kid if he happened to be an axe murderer or something. Besides how long has it been since we talked to Hanasaki? He must be thinking that we don't want to hang out with him anymore.

When Tea walks up to Hanasaki and says, "Hey, Hanasaki," the boy straightens and his eyes brighten as he smiles at her. Tea feels the guilt drop into her stomach. No one has talked to Hanasaki in a long time.

"Oh hi, Tea." The boy stands there with one hand holding open his school bag and another loosely holding a red textbook. His mouth remains open a sliver as if he wants to speak again; however, the sliver disappears and he remains quiet. Tea cannot blame him.

The clatter of the classroom interrupts her thoughts and potential words so many times that Tea eventually blurts out, " Do you want to walk with me to the library?"

Hanasaki's breath pauses, and then, "Sure, Tea." Unlike before, the contents of Hanasaki's bag quickly appear in their proper place.

Tea almost shifts her weight from foot to foot but manages to force the urge down. Instead, she brushes another strand of hair behind her ear. Once they move, she lets Hanasaki walk ahead of her out of the classroom. After a near silent walk with false starts, they find themselves in the library.

"What did you want to check out? I could help you look."

Tea looks up with mildly widened eyes. "Well, I actually didn't need anything in particular." She pauses. "I just wanted to talk somewhere quiet."

At those words, Hanasaki's hopeful expression grows. "Okay, let's go sit down."

On their way to a table, Tea spots Miho amongst the shelves with a few thick, oddly titled books tucked under her arm. For a second, curiosity at the contents of Cults of the Ancient World and Divination and Other Magyks overcomes the awkwardness towards Hanasaki. Tea pushes the curiosity aside in favor of sitting opposite of Hanasaki. Unlike in the hallway and classroom, Tea actually manages to start a conversation.

"Sorry that we haven't visited you lately. Things have been a little hectic." Tea's words are carried by an apologetic tone.

Hanasaki studies her expression for a moment before speaking, "It certainly looks like it. Half of the time, all of you look like you're about to pass out in class." The boy hesitates and bites the side of his lower lip. "It has something to do with the new student, Ryo Bakura, doesn't it?"

Tea, whose attention had wavered from Hanasaki when another student walked too close, snaps her focus back to the shorter boy. "I… Yes, it does, and…" Tea cringes at her own hesitation.

I didn't want to mention Ryo. Please don't ask anymore.

As if reading Tea's thoughts, Hanasaki's eyes widen and he leans back. "Oh, I don't mean to pry. I…" He looks down to the table and then looks back at her again. "I just noticed that you guys missed school when he disappeared for those weeks…and he looks really ill, so I…" The boy runs one thumb over the other. "I don't want to know anything private or anything. I just wanted to let you know that I knew you guys weren't purposely avoiding me and that I understood…"

Tea opens her mouth to ask how Hanasaki was able to guess that Ryo was unwell, but then images of the white-haired boy walking the school halls with the pallor and weight of a ghost drift through her mind. Hanasaki speaks before her thoughts are fully collected.

"I used to get sick all the time, so I know how much it sucks. It's really nice that you guys are helping him out." The words rush over one another in a nervous stream. After speaking, Hanasaki turns to reach into his bag.

"Ryo's really needed help. He hasn't been alright…" Tea begins.

The for a long time goes unsaid.

Hanasaki, whose hand has paused just inside of the bag, nods. His open, soft expression matches Yugi's so much that Tea lets more words slip.

"It's been weeks and weeks of sleepless nights and, I get so worried that it's all going to start up again." Nightmares of her own and those that have robbed her friend of peace and sanity for so long clutch at her thoughts and drag them down to darker levels. True-blue eyes stare off into some distance until a dark shape lands on the table.

Tea focuses her gaze on the form in front of her.

"I bought this because…It really helped me having someone to look up to when I was ill, so I thought that maybe your friend, Ryo, might like it." Hanasaki's hand lingers on a foot-tall Zombyre figure, complete with his inhuman skull mask and red cape.

Tea stares at it in silence for too long.

"Or, if you think that he would be too uncomfortable." Hanasaki begins to pull the figure back. Tea's hand encases his own and part of the figure.

"Wait." She shakes her head to drive back the darker thoughts. "It's not that, sorry." Her small smile is enough to cause Hanasaki to pause. "I think Ryo would like this. I was just surprised, that's all."

Hanasaki nods in response and pulls his hand back. "I know you're worried, but he looks like he's a bit healthier than a week ago."

Tea looks at the figure and pulls it closer to herself. "Yeah, I noticed. I guess I worry because he's been ill for a very long time, but," True-blue meets Hanasaki's eyes and a touch of relief at the realization that the Ring has been missing for weeks and that the nightmares now are rather tame enters her expression. "You're right. He looks a lot better."

Even if there are setbacks, Ryo's finally getting better.

The rest of the conversation and afternoon turns to ordinary, small things that cause easy breaths and smiles. Petit Angel even gets to see the world outside of its tin casing in Tea's bag when Hanasaki asks about the card game that appears to have become the gangs' new obsession.


Ryo's finally getting better.

Bakura's hand slips past the few items in the cabinet. Fingers scratch at the false backing. It takes a few tries, but he eventually finds the crease that allows him to open the hidden compartment. The kitchen light illuminates a group of glass bottles filled with ruby red liquid and some plastic jars stocked with brightly colored pills and powders. On all the containers is one of three symbols: a red skull, grey minus sign, or green plus symbol.

Moving past rows of jars and bottles, Bakura's fingers brush past a bottle of what could be liquid smoke and reach for a jar of red powder in back. The palm of his hand glances the side of a jar of little grains of colorless salt. Its red skull faces Bakura. He pauses, and fingers wrap around the jar. Empty eyes stare as fingers grasp so tightly that the cork cover of the jar pops up and nearly falls off.

It would be so easy.

A scent escapes the jar and drifts over to Bakura. A heartbeat passes, and then amber eyes harden and narrow. Bakura forces himself to let go of the jar with its colorless grains, push the lid back on, and grab the jar filled with red powder. The backing is set back into place before Bakura turns around and walks back to the dining table.

A medium-sized brown bowl topped off with salsa awaits for him to tip a bit of the red powder into the meal. Even with the strong smell of paprika, tomatoes and chili peppers, Bakura still smells the faint scent of the jar's colorless contents. He scowls as he stirs in the powder until its obvious presence vanishes. Amber eyes refuse to glance at the grey minus sign. Before leaving with the bowl of salsa and the bag of tortilla chips next to it, Bakura refuses to put the jar away. The colorless one is too tempting.

Light footsteps accompany Bakura to the living room. As predicted, the Pharaoh's pet still fidgets in his seat on the couch. Bakura blinks before the mortal looks towards him. Green eyes meet Joey's brown.

"Chips, ah thanks, Ryo." The mortal snatches the bag out of Bakura's hands. Bakura smiles a soft smile that tempts the desire of self-mutilation.

"Here's a bowl of salsa too. Late nights are awful on the appetite, so I thought that I would add something extra."

The bowl vanishes from Bakura's hands, and Joey does not even pause to sniff the food before wolfing it down.

Eat it all up, you delinquent. I made this especially for rude little mortals who refuse to go to school.

Joey looks up at Bakura. Bright brown eyes and the accompanying grin cause a twitch in his knifing hand.

"The salsa tastes great! What did you put in it?"

Bakura forces the smile to stay small enough to hide his canines. "My own secret ingredient."

Joey looks pensive and then a tad excited. "Let me guess. A pinch of almonds."

The expression of surprise is not faked. "Why would you say that?"

Joey's nostrils flare. "Smells a bit like it." Triumph spreads across his features. "So, did I guess right?"

A pause and then, "No, I was going to add a few of them, but I decided not to."

You have an unusually strong sense of smell. Maybe you're part canine. Next time, I should put doggy biscuits in your food.

Joey's look of confusion dissipates the moment he yawns from the tiredness of last night. That has to be the cause; it had not been enough time for the effects to show.

Joey reaches up a hand to rub his nose before stopping a couple inches away at the memory of the salsa that coats his hands. Instead, he looks to Bakura. The brightness of his eyes dampens with concern.

"You're not going to eat?" If Joey were smarter, Bakura would actually be worried that his ruse was up.

"Oh no, I'm not that hungry." Bakura lets the unsaid "because of last night," linger. That should deter further questions.

Guilt plagues Joey's eyes, but he still speaks anyways. "Do you want to talk about it?" I mean, I know I'm not Yugi or that Alister guy, but I can try to understand." Joey with his smiling, living younger sister looks at Bakura and waits for Ryo to spill the nightmares of last night.

"No, you can't." Bakura's voice hardens too much, and his Ryo mask nearly cracks as a hint of fear enters Joey's widening eyes.

The red powder saves him. Hints of fear dissipate and Joey yawns again. When he looks back at Bakura, the ring spirit can tell that these last few moments will slip from the delinquent's memory.

"Man, I'm tired…" Brown eyes droop. It is only a minute later that an unconscious boy flops onto the couch cushions. Amber eyes stare down at the mortal. It takes a breath, but the bag of chips and the bowl of salsa are taken back to the kitchen. The evidence flows down the sink's drain after the bag lands with a thud at the bottom of the trashcan.

Harsh breaths and the clank of the bowl against the counter spike through the room.

How dare he. How dare that cretin act like-

"Big Brother?"

Bakura does not turn, but he does stiffen.

"Big Brother?"

The water that he dries off his hands clings like blood to his skin. Bakura breathes deeply, turns, and sees the girl in her thin, blue nightgown, hears the blood dripping to the floor, each drop hitting the ground and gracing through his ears. Its metallic stench almost overpowers him. He looks into those bright blue eyes and nearly looses himself in Ryo's nightmare.

With eyes covered by bangs, Bakura steps forward. Amane continues to stare at him with those bright blue eyes. A frown graces her features until he takes the second step forward. She then smiles and her arms rise.

"Big brother!" Small, delicate hands reach out to hold him as Bakura takes a few steadier steps forward. Her fingers almost graze the front of his shirt before he…

Walks right through her and out the door. Not once does he look back before he enters the RPG room. Not once does he look back at the empty hall whose floor is free of pools of blood.


There are two reasons why the red powder was used instead of the Ring's magic. One currently hides away in a body with obscenely styled tricolored-hair and knows precisely how difficult he has made it for Bakura to muster up any energy after Monster World. The second reason cries out from the other side of the room.

Bakura steps around the RPG table and past tall glass door cabinets full of now mostly useless figurines. Eyes ahead, he refuses to focus on the diorama that sits on top of his workbench. It is all he can do to keep his anger at losing Monster World in check and to keep the Shadows that crawl inside the Ring from tearing the Pharaoh's trophy into shards of glass and plastic. As the Shadows settle, the feather light touch of Ryo's consciousness grows a tad heavier with fear.

Bakura sighs and closes his eyes to make sure Landlord still responds to nightmares and not to Bakura's mood. With just enough of himself left behind to keep their shared body upright, Bakura peeks into Ryo's soulroom. A creak to his right causes Bakura to glance to the side. From just inside the entrance, the yellow eyes of a towering blue puppet with too many joints stare near lifelessly at him as she guards her two charges. Bakura cannot help his glance at the broken infant puppet in her arms. The jagged hole in its head reveals that there is nothing inside.

Amber eyes dart over to his sleeping lighter half. As barely perceptible whimpers graze Bakura's ears, Ryo's face glistens with sweat from his nightmares. The boy almost curls into himself and he clutches onto a small stuffed figure in his arms. When the figure's identity registers, Bakura almost rushes over to Ryo's side to tear the stuffed creature into pieces of fluffed cotton. Fists are clenched instead and amber eyes narrow. The red hair of the figure provides a sharp contrast with Ryo's white and blue bedding, and its grey, glassy eyes stare in Bakura's direction with mockery in their depths. The ring spirit's frown deepens more than the stuffed figure's hard line. If, if Ryo's current levels of sanity were not caused by what the figure symbolized, then that symbol and the one that it represented would have been disposed of long before now. As it is, Bakura congratulates himself for not slamming the cedar door shut and hearing nothing but silence as it closes.

Bakura opens his eyes just in time to hear the whine that most humans could not. Lips drawn into a thin line, Bakura finishes his walk to the other end of the room where a large figurine, a foot-tall black creature equipped with wings that stretch out behind it and jagged teeth, scratches at the glass that traps it.

The glass door opens before the figurine can damage it more. Bakura prepares to snarl a warning, but the creature speaks first.

"Master," Its voice grinds gravel. "I've given much of my energy, but Roku won't last another min-"

Bakura pushes the figurine aside and grabs the small shapes that are hidden behind its legs. The Shadows within him surge forth as Bakura stares at his closed hand. The large creature watches from the shelves while Bakura's scowl fades. It disappears completely once Bakura senses the smaller one in his hand feeds off the shadows. That should keep it alive long enough to repair the damage that buffoon Joey caused when he cut Bakura's creation in half.

Bakura's eyes flicker to the large, bat-like figurine before the ring spirit turns to his work bench. Black leathery wings spread wide and take flight, and the creature soars around the room. Its shadow dances across the walls and cabinets and motionless, plastic faces within. Bakura does not pay any attention to the creature, instead focusing a glare on the diorama that Ryo made in gratitude of the Pharaoh's pets. From within the glass, two figurines claw at their prisoner. Unlike with the other one, Bakura does not let them out.

Even while the flying creature glides to the workbench, hovers as it extracts various tools from the drawers, and drops them in front of Bakura, the glare does not leave the smiling, motionless figurines and the traitorous ones, too weak to claw through glass. A white sheet drops onto the diorama, enclosing it completely. Bakura's eyes widen almost imperceptibly and his gaze focuses on the creature that sits on top of the sheet. Its blackened purple eyes burrow into Bakura, who only sighs in response. Not long after, shadows flicker and pale fingers snatch up a tool and set to work.


This is an AU that takes place after Season Zero of the anime and volume 7 of the manga.