Chapter 2:

"Ryou! We're sorry for your loss…Nozomi was really close to you wasn't she?" Yugi placed his hand on the boys shoulder and regarded him with sympathetic eyes.

"Thank you, and yes, she was really close to me, almost like a sister." Ryou whispered as he turned away from his group of friends.

They don't understand…

"We're here if you need us." Joey patted him on the back. Ryou nodded his head as he felt the tears well in his eyes.

They can't do anything…

"We'll always be here for you, alright Ryou?" Tea said with a reassuring smile.

How can she be happy? Zozo died…

Yugiand his friends glanced one last time at him then walked away, leaving him alone with his sorrow.

Ryou sighed. "None of them know what it's like…to lose your mother, and then your sister, and then a best friend…none of them know how it feels…"

He felt the warm tears slide down his face.

But Nozomi chose death…she had a chance to live, but instead she decided to die.

Ryou looked down the long street towards his house. He and Nozomi had walked this way all the time, laughing and talking.

Ryou couldn't stand walking down the street so he turned down an alley way, taking a short cut.

When he reached his house, the first thing he did was run up the stairs and rush to the small black box that held his friends life.

January 19 2002

It's very late, and I still have tons of homework... Anyway, my day was wonderful; I was walking to the bus stop when I noticed that white haired boy again. He was standing all alone by the stop sign, waiting for the bus, I guess. He wore his uniform, a new uniform considering the last one was torn. He looked sad somehow. I wanted to say something, but I felt out of place. You know, as if you don't belong. But me being Nozomi I decided I would take a risk.

"Are you alright? You waiting for the bus?" I stopped in front of him, holding my books close to my chest.

He cast me a shaky look and then gave a weak smile. "Oh, you're that one girl aren't you? Yes, I'm alright, and Yes, I'm waiting for the bus." I wanted to continue with the conversation, but I had nothing else to say. That is, until I saw the dueling cards in his hands.

"Hey! You duel…would you mind teaching me? I've been wanting to learn, for like ever!" His small oval face lit up at my question and he gave a brisk nod. "Sure, I'll teach you, but I'm not as good as Yuugi."

I just grinned. "I don't mind, I'm sure you're somewhat good. My place after school?" I know I was kind of rushing into the friendship, but I felt bad for the poor kid and I needed a friend badly. He smiled and nodded his head.

When the bus arrived we sat next to each other, talking nonstop about duel monsters.

"So, you have a mixture of spell, trap and monster cards? So in a way you're a wizard…with monsters?" I asked all confused. He nodded his head and smiled.

"That's it!"

I laughed as he closed his eyes and began to bob his head. He was so adorable that I couldn't understand how anyone could pick on him.

"What's your name, I don't think I caught it last time." I asked while studying his face.

He smiled and pushed out his hand towards me.

"I'm Ryou Bakura. Everyone just calls me Ryou…" He cut himself off and looked away.

"What's wrong? And why do they call you by your last name?" He turned back to face me, his face was paler now and he looked scared in some way.

"I can't really explain, they just do, and I'm alright Nozomi, you don't have to worry."

I thought it kind of strange how he acted. But I shrugged it off.

I have no classes with Ryou, such a bummer…but anyways, I trudged through half my day, met with him at lunch, then suffered through the rest of my classes. After school I rushed to the bus and saved a spot for him. I was so jumpy; I couldn't wait till we got to my place. When he stepped onto the bus I waved to him.

"Over here Ryou!" He smiled and walked to where I sat.

"Enjoy your second day of school?" He asked while getting comfortable. I stuck my tongue out and gave a loud "YUCK"

"All the kids here are too stuck up! I can't stand it, there's this boy I sit next to in trig, names Seto, who thinks he's the smartest person around. And his eyes give me the creeps."

I gave a shudder and was happy when I heard a laugh escape Ryou's lips. It was light and cheerful. I was happy to make him laugh. The bus came to a stop and I ushered him off the bus.

"Come on!" I screamed with excitement. I couldn't wait to get him to my house. I wanted to show him all my board games and PS2 games.

I practically shoved him down the sidewalk towards my house. When we reached my one story house I smiled and bowed to him.

"Welcome to my palace."

He giggled a soft girly giggle then kicked off his shoes.

"Come on, let's go in! I'm dying to learn these duel monsters!" I shouted as I threw the door open. My mother sat in the kitchen drinking some warm green tea.

"Uhm-Ma! Bae-kop-pa!" I shouted.

Ryou looked at me puzzled, and then I laughed. "I forgot to tell you, I'm from Korea…South Korea that is..."

He smiled and nodded his head. "Oh, what did you say to her?" I smiled at him and winked.

"Told her I was hungry!" Ryou laughed and followed me into the kitchen.

"Uhm-ma, can we have some Sogogi dubu jeongol and beosot jeongol?"

Ryou looked so cute with a look of confusion on his face!

Before I knew it there were two bowls of steamy food in front of us, along with a set of our best chop sticks.

"What is it?" Ryou asked while poking at it. I laughed and took a large bite.

"Its stuffed bean curd and beef casserole with some mushroom casserole. But wait till you come over next time, I'll feed you some Kimchi jjigae." I rubbed my stomach and smiled.

"If you're from Korea, then why are you here?" He asked while taking a bite from the food. He had a point; the Koreans really don't like Japanese people because of the things they did to us during World War two.

"My mother is Japanese, my father was Korean…so I guess in a way, we learned to get over our anger."

Ryou nodded his head and continued to eat his food. After he was finished I begged him to teach me.

"Alright, you can only have five monster cards, and five trap or spell cards on the field. Five is your limit. And you can only hold six cards in your hand, if you have six already, then you can't draw."

He explained the rules to me and I just nodded my head in agreement. Once I got that down he leant me a spare deck.

"Alright, let's Duel!" I laughed while shuffling the cards. I must say, I lasted longer then I expected…he still beat me though… (Sigh)

Well…then I walked him home, which wasn't that far. And now I'm so tired that I might fall asleep here and now. But I still have tons of homework! (Groan)

Good night my mystery reader!

-Nozomi

Ryou smiled to himself as he remembered those days of going to her house. She always had some strange new food for him to try and she always lost to him at duel monsters. Not that she was training for the tournaments. Ryou sighed then placed the book back into the box.

"Hey! You read it with out me!" Bakura shouted as he appeared in the dark room.

"Nothing really interesting, just about the day I went to her house. I'll let you know when you show up alright."

Bakura grinned.

"You better, I want to know what she thought about me, I think she had a crush on me!" Ryou shot him a glare, and then turned his back on his Yami.

"Sorry Ryou, the signs were clear, her always hitting on me and all! I'm sorry if I'm better looking." He gave a roar of laughter then returned to the ring.

I'm so stressed right now! Easter is coming up and I've been cleaning like crazy! And now I'm getting writers block…eh! When will it end!

R&R

I must say, this isn't my best chapter…