((Author's note: I've written other stories, but since I have had them completed for a while, I decided to take them off for a while. I still have one left up and that is under the pen name of Morwen. Hope you enjoy Tears of the Sands.)

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Blood trickled out of a smirk on the face of the pale shadow figure. His long white hair reflected the heat of the Egyptian sun. His piercing brown eyes were filled with adventure. He condescended out of the light into the damp and cryptic stairwell of the tomb. His pale fingers grasped the newly lit torch while his free hand slid over the hieroglyphics that were carved on the ancient walls. His pace slowed as he heard voices from below. He needed a plan to get out, if he could not find one; then he would be forced to kill them. Either way, he would win. His brown eyes darted about the corridor looking for a way to conceal himself. As he looked, he found a small crack in the wall. It was not large, but then again, it was big enough. With a swift and silent motion, the figure crawled into the black space. The voices rounded the corner and passed without a hint that someone also lay nearby.

As the shadowy torso wriggled out of the hole, he felt the entire wall shift to the side. Without a second wind, he pushed it open. A dank odor arose from what lay within. He walked in and lifted the torch above his head lightening the room. A light blinded him for a moment then stopped. There were priceless treasures all about him. He laughed then dropped the torch as he danced about the room taking fistfuls of gold and jewels. Then his eyes fell on a strange object in the corner, a large golden circle with an eye in the middle. As he walked to it, it seemed to call to him, a strange want played in his mind. Here were all the riches he could carry, yet his heart yearned for this one item. His hands shook slightly as he bent down and reached for it. The ring glowed brightly as he placed it about his slender neck. His soul was filled with unending darkness and mysteries beyond his knowledge. His eyes darkened dramatically and he now was taken with new purpose. His new occupation was now lain before him; he was now a tomb robber. Not just any, he was Bakura, and he would do whatever it took to make himself feared

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That had been many years ago, about 5000 to be closer; but the same spirit lived. Although he had no physical body of his own, his malice was still as strong as ever. His survival now depended on the Millennium Ring and a small innocent boy named Ryou. The boy's mind was so purely faultless and kind towards others. Now, he had an evil spirit known as Yami Bakura that lived within his mind, poisoning it with torture and pain. Bakura's own twisted thoughts often frightened the young boy, but he was too afraid to object to anything his alter ego said or did.

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The 1st period bell rang as a pale boy ran down the halls to his class. He was late. As he entered slowly the students all stared at him.

"Bakura-chan? Why are you late today? And what is the cause of that horrible black eye?" The teacher asked sternly as she pushed the large framed glasses up on her nose.

"My apologies Mrs. Henry, I um." he looked around and saw the cause of his tardiness sitting in the back row threatening him with a raised fist. Quickly he finished his answer, "I had forgotten my homework in my locker, and while I was running back to class I collided with an open locker door."

Mrs. Henry shook her head. "Bakura, I did not assign any homework. I'd like to see you my room after school for detention. Please have a seat."

The boy shuffled back to his seat between his friends Yugi and Joey. He didn't talk the rest of the class, and dared not look back to the one who had given him the black eye. He knew when to keep silent, his Yami had taught him that. The bell rung and the students all left their seats and walked out the door. In the hallway Ryou's friends caught up with him. A short boy with spiky hair spoke first.

"Hey Bakura, so what really happened to you?"

"Oh, hi Yugi. I'd rather not talk about it," Ryou said slowly. Then his eyes darted up, his favorite person in the whole world was walking towards him. The bully who had so graciously left his mark on Ryou's face. "Um, hey guys, I'd love to chat, but I'm going to be late for my next class, I'll see you later!"

With that he ran off down the hall. 'Why do I run from my fears? Why can't I be more like my Yami? Then again, why doesn't he ever help me?' Questions flew through his mind as he sat through the rest of his classes on that horrible Thursday afternoon. He met with Mrs. Henry for detention. For what seemed to be hours, he sat writing his letter of apology to his teacher.

Ryou walked through the door of his house and collapsed on the floor, too tired to move. He kicked the door closed and rolled his backpack away from him. A sigh of relief escaped from his mouth. Ryou was about to close his eyes when an all familiar voice called to him from the staircase.

"Hey baka! You home?"

((Author's note: Hope you enjoyed. Story of course will move on after I collect my thoughts and maybe a few reviews. Please Review! If you do I'll give you Ryou! :::a shrill squeak is heard from the back::: hehe!))