Author's Note: I only own what was spawned from my head. I don't own Yu-Gi-Oh.

Note2: YES! ANOTHER CHAPTER OUT! I'M NOT GIVING UP!

Chapter 38- Decision

Heather laughed and Jackal-Bakura glared at the psychopath.

"What's your problem?"

"Its just that," She snickered. "You were a tomb-robber, right? Well, Jackals are robbers of graves and are somewhat clever, so it's fitting. Nes'," She pointed at the other dead Egyptian. "Was a murderess, she killed to survive. She is also very, very lazy. So the lioness fits also. But Ryou…" She pointed at her friend's new step-bro. "Is a modern child, a bit of a fluff as far as I've noticed, but he's a FERRET. Last time I checked, ferrets were hyper, somewhat evil little demon weasels."

Housecat-Nicole shook her head.

"My mom used to raise ferrets; she says they can be very mellow."

Laugh crouched down next to Ferret-Ryou.

"Aw, he's so cute!"

Ferret-Ryou blinked, blushing slightly. Suddenly Andro looked panicked.

"I think you should get back home…"

"What do you mean?"

"HE'S coming back. I don't think Ryou will take him as lightly as you do."

Nicole paled.

"That's a good idea. Heather, could you get us out of here?"

The red-head nodded, uttering three quick words. They reappeared in the woods and Nicole sighed.

"Focus on what made you human. You'll turn back to normal."

Ryou did so and found it even easier than the change that made him into a ferret. He stood up, plushy-Bakura perched on his shoulder, and he followed his sibling back into the woods.

"What's the hurry for?"

His sister didn't turn.

"You know how human spirits can survive the bodies death?"

Ryou nodded, having spent the last year and a half with one living in his head.

"Well, not all of them turn out… quite so lifelike as Bakura or Nessert are."

She sighed.

"There are a few types of dead. You have the Noble Dead, who retain most if not all of their sentience after death, though they often require living hosts, like Bakura. They have SOME magickal abilities, but these are Spellworks, they learn their abilities. Then there are Apparitional Dead, which DON'T require hosts, but exist on the mostly-physical plane. These don't have magick, but they can do things, like move through walls, possess objects, the normal ghost-y sort of things. They're mostly trapped here, rarely existing here by choice. Then, there are the Cursed Dead."

She paused here and Nessert took up the explanation. The spirit looked shaken.

"The Cursed dead often died violent deaths, often by murder. They lose nearly all of their sentience, becoming killing machines. They can't talk, nor can they reason, and they are by far the most powerful sort of spirit. They hunt down their victims, killing and sparing randomly. Vessel," The plushy-possessing thief's eyes darted to her host before turned back to Ryou and Bakura. "-witnessed the death of one such being. We know it hasn't killed anyone yet, but there's always the chance…"

"THAT'S IT! YOU PEOPLE ARE DANGEROUS!"

Ryou started, staring at his Other surprised.

"But…"

Nicole stopped, shoulders shaking. Its took Ryou and Bakura a few moments to realize that she was laughing.

"You.. have no idea."

She turned, eyes full of feigned mirth, hiding sorrow.

"My FATHER was one of us, he's the one who taught me about talismans and my first few spells. Five years ago the World was supposed to live. You know what he did? He gave his LIFE to fuel the spell that saved the world. Oh coarse what we do is dangerous, but so is being a Fire Fighter or Policeman. We keep the ordinary folk safe so that maybe, one day, we'll be able to rejoin them."

"Then why did you initiat Yadonushi? YOU PUT HIS IN DANGER AND YOU KNEW IT!"
Nessert shook her head.

"We have a skilled Necromancer on the team, and a few Higher Gods that have reason to keep us alive. He really isn't in danger…"

"Don't fudge the facts, Nes'. He IS in danger. We initiated you because any human being with the ability to use magick is precious. The more of us there are, the less of a chance of a second Atlantis or a second Muu. Muu fell because their magicians were out of practice, because all they knew were a couple parlor tricks. Egypt almost became the third Fallen World, but a handful of mages saved it, not once, but TWICE."

Twice? But wasn't the Millennium Items the only time?

"So… I'm in danger yet… I can help other people?"

"In ways they will never understand."

Ryou was silent for a moment.

"Then I shall continue learning."

Nicole took this in and smiled.

"Then our first task is getting ride of a pesky Undead. Let's go."