;) Toodles, all. If I actually keep updating, the mood is going to get a bit darker. Sooo... yeah. -posts "I do not own Yu-Gi-Oh" sign on wall again-

black fyre: Ryou! Where are you! -- Typical. He bugs just as I'm about to give him something.

Ryou: -pops up from various hiding spot- Oh, hi. Yami Bakura is on a beer spree. Now, what do you have?

black fyre: Um. I forgot. -pauses- Now I remember! -hands Ryou package- Whatever you do, don't open it!

Ryou: Why?

black fyre: Because.

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Yugi tossed the ball back to Joey, who immediately threw it as hard as possible at Tristan. This resulted in yet another war between them. Tea sat down next to Yugi and waited for them to sort it out.

"Tea?"

"Yes?" Tea replied, glancing down at Yugi.

"Well... it's just, I think Ryou's been acting oddly lately. You know, he just hasn't been himself."

"He's fine, Yugi. Don't worry about it," Tea said absent-mindedly. She stood up and walked over towards a man who was selling hot-dogs at a concession stand. Yugi sighed, getting up to follow her. Right then, Bakura emerged from the trees, followed by a malevolently grinning Raen.

"Exactly. I find that slitting them from the neck down was more effective, though," Raen replied seriously to a previous comment. Bakura nodded, listening to her intently.

"Uh, Ryou? Raen?" Both jerked their attention towards Yugi. "What's going on?" Raen cast a worried glance in Bakura's direction. Bakura shrugged.

"Nothing. I'm just getting to know our newest student, that's all," he replied coolly. Raen nodded. She cocked her head. There was something odd about her...

{Yugi...}

{What's the matter?} Yugi replied to his Yami.

{There's something different. About both of them. I feel an ancient power. I've felt it in Ryou before, but there isn't just one. There's two.} Yami said. Yugi could catch his urgent tone quickly enough. He looked at Bakura and Raen, who were now walking away, talking animatedly.

"Yugi! Do you want a hot-dog or hamburger?" Tea called from far away. Yugi paused, still watching the pair walk off. Finally, he turned towards Tea.

"Hold on. I'll help you with those," Yugi yelled, running over to her. He cast one last glance back at Bakura and Raen. There was something odd about them...

...................................................................

"We better give our hosts back control," the Essence said, frowning. Bakura nodded with a sigh. Right as his hands brushed against the ring, he felt something on his cheek. As he glanced up, he saw the Essence withdrawing within Raen again. He could have sworn he caught her grinning...

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Well, ended that pretty quickly. I promise a longer chapter next time. Just sort of getting into this a bit more. ;)