Joy: (waves a flag in each hand while grinning) Happy Fouth of July! Okay people, here's Chapter 29! Now it gets even more exciting! At least for me. Hopefully for you, too. This chapter went into a few revisions, but I like the way it turns out. This chapter also introduces another favorite character of mine. Review responses!

Sapphire: Yeah, I do that a lot. You'll find out now!

Sakura: Actually I do have sugar…just got done eating some, to be honest. Yeah, I've had that creep feeling, too.

Silver Moon Phoenix: Heh, but danger adds to the drama, yes? All questions answered with this chapter.

Dark Kuriboh Empire: Arigatou for the compliments! =D Sorry about the lack of translations. I forgot to put them at the end like I usually do. The phrase 'moshi, moshi' is kind of like a greeting when you answer the phone. Basically it is a way of saying hello when you answer a phone call. That was a good question about Smith. I guess Vargon just wants someone around to do his dirty work. And Ryou is one of my top favorite characters, too, the others being Yugi, Yami, and Bakura.

Here comes the chapter!

Another One?

Joy peered into the box. Inside was something Joy had never seen before. It was a large golden ring with six pointy spindles around one side. In the center was a triangle with the Eye of Ra on it. (AN: Sound familiar?)

"What's this thing?" Joy muttered as she took the ring from the box. As soon as she had touched the object, it glowed and a male voice boomed into her head.

HIKARI!! WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON!!

Joy gasped and dropped the golden ring. The object glowed again before a man appeared. He was as tall as Joy, with white hair that spiked up slightly and came past his shoulders. He was wearing blue jeans and a black t-shirt. But even stranger was the fact that he did not hold a solid form.

The mysterious spirit looked around the room, eyes showing his annoyance at it's unfamiliarity. Then his gaze fell on Joy. He stared at the young woman as if surprised to see her. It was almost as if he had seen her before. Joy shrugged it off. After all, she had never seen this spirit before, in life or otherwise.

"Where is my hikari, girl?" he demanded, eyes narrowing. "Tell me now!"

Joy blinked, then shot the spirit an angry glance. "Calm down. Don't get your hair in a tangle. Now…who is your hikari? For that matter, who are you? Did you come from that thing?" She pointed to the ring on the floor.

"That," he said, pointing to the ring, "is the Millennium Ring."

"The Millennium Ring?" Joy was taken back by the statement. "Another Millennium Item is in Japan…just like Yami said…" She gazed down at the Item.

"The pharaoh?" The spirit raised and angry eyebrow at Yami's name being mentioned.

"You two know each other?" Joy asked. The spirit nodded. Joy thought back to the conversation in the limo. "And your hikari is the holder of the item, right? That means his name is Ryou."

"Yes, now where is he?" Joy could tell that this spirit wasn't known for his patience.

"I'm sorry to say that I don't know. I have never met him. I only know his name because Yugi Moto told me earlier today. I don't know where he is. The only explanation to you being here is that the Ring was sent to me in my home in America. Was that where you where when you were separated from Ryou?" The spirit nodded curtly. "Well, I am going to assume that he looks somewhat like you, so that narrowed things down a bit. I'll help you find him." She paused. When he said nothing, she sighed. "So…do you have a name, or should I make one up for you?"

Joy would never admit it out loud, but the spirit's presence was both a blessing and a curse. It gave her a sense that she wasn't alone and that she had someone to talk to. Also it meant that this was one more Item that Vargon couldn't get his greedy hands on. However, this spirit was nothing like Yami or Katilli or even Sorcerer. He was hot-tempered and patience was obviously a virtue he lacked greatly.

What a time for Katilli to be in a totally different realm, while I'm stuck here with Mr. Attitude.

"Bakura."

Joy blinked over at him. "Huh?"

He sighed in annoyance. "Call me Bakura."

"Oh…well…Bakura. I'm sure Ryou probably had the Ring taken from him somehow. He's probably looking for you. There has to be some way of contacting him. I wonder if Yugi has a number we can call…" Just then there was a rough knock on the door, causing Joy to jump in surprise. She headed for the front door, but just before she reached it, Bakura appeared in front of her. "ACK!" she cried, falling back and onto the floor. She glared up at him.

"Do not answer the door," he commanded.

"Why not?" Joy asked, stunned a bit.

"The person on the other side of it is up to no good," he answered simply.

Joy looked around him at the door. "You mean it's a bad guy?"

"Yes, now go get the Ring and leave through the back door."

"But –" Joy began to protest.

"Do it or be on a one-way trip to the Shadow Realm, mortal baka!" he snapped as he vanished back into the ring.

Joy glared at the spot he just occupied, and then got up and went into her room. She retrieved the Ring and went out the back door as Bakura said, grumbling a bit about impatient spirits with attitude problems.

Hey! Joy jumped a bit when she heard a voice in her head again.

Bakura?! What the fuck are you doing in my mind?!

Like I want to be in your damn mind! Go around to the front of the house so I can take care of this fucking moron!

Fine! she snapped back at him.

Joy went around to the side and peeked to the front, seeing who was standing at the door. Her eyes narrowed.

James Smith. I should have known.

Who?

An asshole. He must have been the one following me and watching me. Damn.

Suddenly, Joy felt herself lose control of her body. She ended up in her soul room.

Bakura, what the hell are you doing?! Joy demanded to know.

Dealing with this mortal fool. Stay quiet.

Bakura looked down at his temporary body and snorted. It is certainly strange to be in a female body. He shrugged it off and came out from the side of the house, instantly attracting Smith's attention.

"Ah, looks like you're smarter than I thought, but you think you can get away from Vargon? He wants to talk to you, girly. And no fighting back, neither."

Bakura (yes, he's still in Joy's body) raised an eyebrow, then smirked. "Oh, I'll do more than fight you, you pathetic human." He gave a short laugh. (AN: BTW – Bakura in Joy's body would have her voice, only deeper with a bit of an accent.)

The Millennium Ring glowed. Smith, shocked by what was going on, didn't even get a chance to scream before his mind was sent to the Shadow Realm. His body crumbled lifelessly to the ground. Bakura looked at it with an expression of pure disgust, then raised his hand again. "This should make sure that he never returns." He let loose a ball of black energy at the body, completely disintegrating it.

Then he thrust Joy back into control. Well, I must say, Bakura. As much of an ass as you are, you do have a way with taking care of business when it comes to dealing with idiots like him. I'm impressed.

Hmph. Now tell me, who is this Vargon?

An evil sorcerer who, until recently was stuck in the Shadow Realm. But he's out now and it's believed that he's looking for the Millennium Items. He kidnapped Yugi several weeks ago, trying to get his hands on the Puzzle, but we managed to save him.

Bakura growled. He better not mess with this item or my hikari, or he will have to deal with me.

Joy smirked a bit as she went back inside the house. Gee, Bakura, I didn't think a spirit as cold as you cared for his hikari.

Please. Don't insult me. Ryou and I don't always agree on the best way of handling situations and he is hardly the strongest person in the world. However, I am unable to find a more suitable host at this time, so he will have to do…unless you are volunteering.

Nothing doing. As much as I enjoy your charming wit, Bakura, I have a spirit of my own to handle.

Mmm? Bakura said, becoming interested in Joy's words.

Katilli. She is my dark side, like you are to Ryou.

Joy could feel the spirit's surprise fly through to her mind.

What was that name again?

Joy blinked. Katilli.

I thought you looked familiar.

You know her? Joy asked, totally confused.

We've met before, in Ancient Egypt. You are her reincarnate. The resemblance is clear.

Yes, well, right now she isn't here. She and I had a fight and we decided to spend a day away from each other. But now I can't contact her at all. Something is blocking me. I know she can take care of herself but I'm still…wait a minute, why the hell am I telling you all this?

Heh…because you have nothing else to do and no one to talk to, obviously. So…your link with her is being intercepted and weakened somehow.

Yeah. I think it might be Vargon. He is able to manipulate magic and with us being so far away it would be an easier task. Joy sighed, still concerned for her dark.

We can't do much about it right now, unless the bastard shows himself.

Joy frowned. Yeah. I guess not. By now she had made her way back to her room. She sat the ring down on her nightstand. She suddenly felt completely worn out. She laid down on her bed and fell fast asleep.

Joy: There you have it! Bakura has entered the building! He is so evil… }=D And Smith is gone! (smiles) After all, he was a bit of an idiot. Now Vargon will have to do his own dirty work…and he'll be doing a lot of it in the next story, not like you weren't going to anyway.

The final chapter will be called 'Preparations'. Till then, remember to review and see ya!