Disclaimer:  I don't own Yugioh or TBAA.  I'm so depressed.

Author's Notes: Hi all! Sorry for the long wait. Been busy and stuff…you know how it goes.  Anyway, finally got Yami Bakura and Ryou in the fic! Kaiba and Joey will be back, too, it's just that this part of the fic sort of centers on the two Yamis and their lights. Just the way the story is going.  A special thank you goes to my beta-reader, Hyatt Insomnia! 

Warnings:  Mild violence and language, so far.

To Steal, Kill, and Destroy

Chapter Thirteen:  The Puzzle, the Ring, and an Eye

In a different house, there was another young boy getting ready to go to school, also.  A strange woman appearing in his room seemingly out of nowhere startled him.  "Oh my!  Who are you?"

"I've come here to speak to Bakura."

"I'm Bakura.  What is it that you want?"

Monique rolled her eyes.  "Not you.  I'm talking about Bakura the Tomb Robber.  The self-proclaimed King of Thieves."

Ryou blinked.  "I beg your pardon?"

The auburn haired demon sighed.  "Just tell him that I have something that I think he'll be quite interested in."  She held up the Millennium Puzzle.

Suddenly there was a flash of light coming from the Ring that Bakura always wore around his neck. 

"The Millennium Puzzle!  How did you get that?" 

Monique smiled and her eyes lit up.  "Ah, the King of Thieves, I presume."

"You presume correctly," Yami Bakura replied, crossing his arms, "Now tell me why you're here and how you got your hands on the Puzzle."

"It's really not important how I got it.  The important thing is that I want to give it to you."

"I see.  And you're just going to hand it over to me, just like that?"

"Well, not exactly…there is something I would like in return."

"Why am I not surprised?"

"Now, now, Tomb Robber…you of all people should know that nothing ever comes without a price."

"Very well, then…name yours."

"Do you know where the Turtle Game Shop is?

"Where the midget Pharaoh's light lives?  What about it?"

"Meet me in the back of the Game Shop at midnight if you want the Puzzle."  And with that, she vanished.

Yami Bakura chuckled.  "Well, well.  This should be most…interesting."

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The white-haired thief leaned against the back wall of the Game Shop waiting for the mysterious stranger to arrive with the Puzzle.  He couldn't figure out how she had gotten it, but as long as she was willing to give it to him, he could care less. Precisely at midnight, she appeared at the other end of the alley.  "Ah, Bakura.  So you decided to show up."

"Why wouldn't I?  After all, you have something I want."

She smiled and walked towards him.  "Yes, I do.  But forget…I want something in return."

"And what would that be?"

"Your ring."

Yami Bakura threw his head back and laughed.  "My ring?  And pray tell, exactly why would I give you my ring?"

"Because if you don't, I'm going to take it from you."

"Really?  I'm afraid that you'll find taking the ring from me won't be as easy as taking the Puzzle from the tiny Pharaoh."  His ring began to glow.

"Hmm…it is going to be harder than…oh, let's say…taking this?"  She held up the golden Millennium Eye in her right hand between her thumb and forefinger.

The ancient thief's eyes widened and his hand went instinctively to his back pocket.  He'd taken the eye with him, just in case he should have need to call upon it. 

This action didn't go unnoticed by Monique.  "Sorry it's not there, Tomb Robber."

Yami Bakura glared at her.  "How did you get that?"

"Oh, I have my ways," she replied, pulling out the Puzzle.  "Now then, you want this?  Here, catch."  And with that, she flung the Puzzle at him.

"YOU FOOL!"  The Tomb Robber lunged forward to catch the Puzzle.  If it was broken, the only person who was able to put it back to together again was Yugi Motou.  Somehow he didn't think it would work to go up to the Pharaoh's little light and say, "Excuse me, but could you put this Puzzle back together again so that I can claim possession of it? "  He managed to grab it before it hit the ground.  "You idiot," he hissed at Monique, "Don't you know that the Pharaoh's pathetic little light is the only one who can put the Puzzle together?"

She smiled and walked towards him.  "Well, I wasn't really worried about it.  I knew you would catch it.  Your greed is one of the things I love the most about you.  I think I'm actually going to miss you."  She held up her hand and showed him the Millennium Ring.

Yami Bakura gasped and looked down at himself.  Sure enough, he was no longer wearing the Ring.  "Th-that's impossible!!"

"Do be a good little Tomb Robber and get back in the Ring, hm?" 

He felt himself being pulled towards the Ring, just as Yami Yugi had been pulled towards the Puzzle.  He fought as hard as he could to keep from being drawn into it.

"I will come back and make you pay!  That's a promise," the white-haired thief spat out though gritted teeth.

"Honestly, can't anyone come up with more original lines?  Now get into the Ring."

As Yami Bakura's spirit was pulled into the Ring, he dropped the Puzzle.  Monique caught it and promptly disappeared, leaving a very confused Ryou Bakura standing  behind the Game Shop.

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You know the drill!  Please read and review!  Arigato!