Hey peoples!!!! I'm back. (This is that fastest I've ever updated!! I'm so proud of myself...

Meiko: Me too, can't believe you actually paid attention to a fic...

Angel: I would take that as a compliment if you weren't being SARCASTIC!!!!

Meiko: -.-

Angel: Well, thanks to my reviewers!!!

KuramaandHiei4ever – It was really hard to keep him in character, I'm working at it, and I hope you like this chapter too. But, get some sleep first. '

Hershey-kiss – the morning thing is kind-of confusing I guess, but to me it's normal because it happens to me every morning Sunday-Friday (I can't afford for it to happen on Saturdays, I'll miss YGO ;.;) And your right, Bakura becoming compassionate it entertaining!

Fates-Fault – I'm glad I gave you a change of heart . . . (I just realized what I wrote, excuse me a moment. HAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA I'M SUCH AND IDOT!!!!) Anyway, I hope you keep reading.

Purefireelement23 – o.O No idea what you said but okay (hehe) Um, I think yur missing a few words. Please keep reading, I hope ya like this chapter!!

Redconvoy – The guy who caused the accident??? Well, I personally just wanted to make him a freak. He's nuts! It happens everyday, some weirdo crashes into another person for no stupid reason whatsoever. So, I don't know.... he's not a main character, so I'll just sentence him to death and get him out of the way. Hope ya like the chapter!

Angel: Well, I don't own squat, except Mary and her stuffed dog!

Meiko: -.-

Angel: What a supportive yami you are... -.-

SORRY FOR THE SHORTNESS!!!

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Life's Little Lessons

Chapter 2

"Mr. Yami Bakura will be the new temporary-guardian for Mary Hansberry-"

"WHAT!"

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The rain fell lightly at first before falling faster and harder on the roof of the car Bakura had to rent in order to get around town, since his motorcycle had been completely destroyed in the crash. The drive back to his apartment was silent, even for the little blonde-haired blue-eyed girl in the back seat.

Bakura kept his eyes on the road most of the time, the rest was in the rear-view mirror that was directed so he could see his new foster child. She sat there quietly watching the rain beat against her window, sometimes tracing the path of a raindrop down the window with her finger. She hadn't spoken a word since last night in the hospital.

She didn't have a lot of things, just a few sets of clothes, a brush, a picture, and a stuffed dog that she held on to tightly in the back of the car. She was shy around everyone after the trial, and stayed close to him, holding on to his trench coat where she could reach. The trial was a nightmare after he had exploded when he found out he was the kid's new foster parent.

Thunder clapped loud and fast, bringing him out of his train of thought, the rain lightened a little as Bakura pulled into the parking lot of his apartment building. Getting out of the car, he opened the trunk to get the Mary's suitcase before getting her out of the car. As he shut it, he almost sent the blue-eyed girl to the ground as he turned around to go get her. She was soaked from head to toe and her stuffed dog was getting water logged.

"C'mon kid," he said to her, and lead her in the building. It was a long climb up the stairs but she kept up as best she could. Never complaining that he was going to fast or ask to be carried, just hurried up the stairs silently, Bakura slowed down a little. It seemed she was trying as hard as she could not to be a burden, to be invisible. Bakura smiled a little, remind you of anyone?

Finally at the seventh landing he stopped altogether, switched the suitcase to his left hand, and then picked her up. Still she didn't protest or say anything, not even a "thank you." Maybe it's just something little kids do. he thought to himself and proceeded up the stairs.

He opened his apartment door and let Mary down, who stood there looking around as Bakura locked the door. There was a closet on the left holding coats, and shoes piled up at the bottom. Past that it opened up into a den complete with couch, TV, DVD player, and too many movies to count, also connected to it on the right was the kitchen, a tall counter with two bar stools to separate it from the den. Past that were three door, two bedrooms and a restroom.

"It's not much," Bakura said, dropping the car keys on the counter-top. The girl was still silent, taking off her shoes she put them in the closet with Bakura's and walked farther into the apartment. "This is your room," Bakura told her, opening up one of the bedroom doors. Malik will just have to sleep on the couch if Isis ever kicks him out again The room Bakura lead Mary into use to be the guest room. She looked around.

It had plain white walls, a bed in the corner next to the window, a closet, a dresser, a desk with empty drawers and a wooden chair, and the closet door was one big mirror. Plain and simple. Mary took off her sweater that was over her light blue sun dress. She hung the sweater over the back of the chair, and put her stuffed dog on the bed.

She really knows how to take care of herself Bakura thought to himself. He set her suitcase on the bed and just kind-of stared at her. Now what? How was he supposed to know what to do with a little kid, what was the judge thinking. His watch read 10:34. What time is she supposed to go to bed? I'm usually up till 12:30. While trying to come up with something, Mary sat down on the bed, bouncing a little. She smiled and continued until she stared back at Bakura.

"Um, it's kind-of late, so I guess you're tired, huh?" Mary nodded a little. "Well, do you want something to eat before you hit it?" She looked slightly confused but shook her head no in the end. "Okay, come and get me if you need anything." With that he left her in the room, lost of words.

Grabbing a beer out of the fridge he collapsed onto the couch, turning on the TV and flipping through the channels. The girl was weird, and way too shy, he had to admit. But he was just glad she could take care of herself, what was he doing! Taking care of this little kid, he didn't know the first thing to do with her. She wasn't like a pet; you don't just feed her, give her room, and play with her when you feel like it. Hell, he couldn't even keep a goldfish alive how was he supposed to raise a kid?

Finally at about one he got up, and turned off all the lights, bolted the door, and was about to go to bed, when he hesitated. He slightly opened the door to the guest room and looked inside. It was dark, the only light came from the street lights outside the window, casting a blue sheen across the room with the rain still beating against the window. The clothes Mary had worn were laying on the wooden desk chair, and she lay in bed in a dark purple night-gown, hugging her stuffed dog, fast asleep.

Yes, she was weird, and shy, but she could be cute sometimes. As cute as any little kid who tried to act older than they already were.

Smiling and shaking his head, Bakura quietly shut the door before going to bed.

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Bakura forgot to set his alarm.

He finally woke up, yawning and feeling really well rested for some reason; that was when he noticed it was 9:46. Scrambling to get out of his bed, he pulled on some jeans and grabbed a shirt (without putting it on) and opened the door to find Mary sitting on one of the bar stools, dressed in long-khaki pants, a light green T-shirt with a sunflower on it, and a purple sweater, along with a purple lie-flat newsboy hat, and eating what looked like toast.

"Sorry, I forgot to set the alarm," he told here, pulling the shirt over his head and walking into the kitchen. Once again she didn't say anything. How the hell did she find the toaster, I've been looking for it for weeks! He halted when he saw it sitting there, plugged in, with two pieces of toasted bread sticking out of it. "These for me?" Mary nodded, taking another bite of her own toast. She pointed to where bread, butter, jam, and a plastic knife laid beside her on the counter-top.

"Thanks." She just nodded in response and finished up her toast. Munching on his own, Bakura looked through the open door of the guest room to see the bed made, her stuffed dog on top of it; and her nightgown was laid out on top of her clothes from the day before. Wow, even I can't make my bed the straight. he thought to himself and he ate his last piece of toast.

Mary got down from her bar stool (with some difficulty) and ran into the room only to grab her dog, then return. Pushing the dog on the counter-top she once again climbed on to the bar stool. Bakura just watched her, then soon they were just staring at each other.

"So," Bakura began slowly. "Now what?" Mary blinked.

More silence.

More staring.

This is getting nowhere.

"What do you want to do?" Mary shrugged, holding onto her dog. Wow, she moved Bakura thought sarcastically. She kind-of acts like Ryou does, what does he like to do . . .

"Ryou use to like to go to the park," he found himself saying out loud. Suddenly Mary smiled and nodded her head. "You want to go there?" Nod. "Okay then, let's go." Mary jumped from the bar stool, still grasping her dog, and ran towards the closet by the front door to get her shoes. Locking the door Bakura notices to large green doors minus the sign that was there yesterday. "Hey, the elevator's working."

So the two save themselves from going down the ten flights of stairs and walked over to the park two blocks farther into town. The park was a very pretty place. The late spring breeze was just light enough to ruffle the leaves in the trees through the mid-morning sun. About halfway through the park, Mary rushed off the sidewalk path and towards a large water fountain. Shaking his head and smiling again, Bakura continues down the path 10 feet before the path turned towards the water fountain.

Mary leaned on the cement looking into the fountain, watching the golden and silver fish swimming around inside of it, their scales matching the coins at the bottom. She put her fingers in the cool water and a smile lit up her face when one of the fish came up and started to nibble lightly on them. Bakura watched in amusement for a few minutes before looking around. The sky was almost a royal blue with no clouds in slight, except when he looked to his right where a long vast expansion of yesterday's gray thunder clouds lay.

They spent a good two hours there; they walked around the park, Mary played with the fish in the fountain and eventually ended up chasing the birds while Bakura sat on the grass. She was funny to watch, eventually they both ended up laying in the grass, Bakura watching the sky and Mary humming to herself while playing with her stuffed dog, the only sound she had made in the past two days.

Bakura closed his eyes for a minute. I should come here more often, no wonder Ryou likes it so much he could have gone to sleep right there, but heard his stomach protest the action, he sat up in the grass.

"O-kay! I'm hungry, how 'bout you?" Mary smiled at his slightly preppy exclamation and nodded. They found a little café right outside the park and Bakura bought ice cream, his favorite new discovered food (besides anything with cinnamon) Mary sat on her knees in the iron-wired chair eating her ice cream and watching the people go by. Bakura decided right then that she was okay; besides the no talking thing, that was kind-of annoying.

"Hey kid, can you talk at all?" he asked, trying to act like it was just a normal question. Mary nodded and took another bite of ice cream. "Then why don't you?" She just shrugged, and went back to looking around at everyone else in the café. That was an improvement Bakura thought sarcastically. "How old are you?" Mary looked down at her ice cream, poking at it a little. Oh, that worked. Nice going, now she won't look at you. Bakura cursed himself. I give up

Silence.

"Five."

Bakura looked up at her, Mary just looked back innocently and took another bite of ice cream. "What?" Mary swallowed her mouthful and said in a soft, clear voice.

"I'm five."

Bakura smiled. "I'm 5, 613." Mary giggled, thinking he was joking, and went back to eating her ice cream.

TBC . . .