"I'll take my prize now," Ryou said with a smirk. He snatched up the flat wooden box, and wrapped it in a non-descript piece of cloth, and shoved it into a pocket. The man sitting across from him still had a look of disbelief written across his face. His cards fell from his hand. Ryou's deck was already stowed safely in another pocket.

"N-no… You're just a little brat…" Ryou snorted, and stood easily from his seat on the floor. This was almost too easy. It had only been last night, as he was returning to his hideout, that he had spotted the card game on display in a shop window. Ryou would have walked right by – he was tired, after a long day of the spirit's training – but the spirit had reacted so strongly that it had staggered him.

"I don't believe it," the spirit had said. It had laughed. "Some fool – some modern, mortal fool – has brought them back. Brought them back as a game." It laughed again, and then said, "Come, little host. We must acquire some of these cards."

"Why?" Ryou had asked, as he went into the store. "Wait – it has something to do with the Items, doesn't it?" He remembered, when his father had bought the Ring for him, he had said that the vendor had said that the Ring had something to do with the card game, Magic & Wizards. Ryou had forgotten about it, until now, seeing the spirit's reaction to a display of the game. The spirit's approval had wrapped itself around him like a warm blanket. Ryou had smiled.

The spirit hadn't given him any further explanation, save to say that it would make Ryou's training "easier," but an hour later, Ryou had walked out of that small shop with over a thousand Egyptian pounds worth of cards. When he got back to his hideout that night, instead of going to sleep, he had spent hours putting together a Magic & Wizards deck, using only the soft glow of the Ring for light. When he finally fell asleep, in the small hours of the morning, it was with a deck under his hand, and the approval of the spirit in his mind.

The next day, under the spirit's guidance, Ryou had sought out another player – "the perfect victim," the spirit had labeled him. Ryou had readily agreed; the man was a fool and a drunkard. It had been easy to tempt him into a series of games, each with successively higher stakes. Several of the man's friends had arrived at some point in the day, bringing with them American whiskey. After that, it had only gotten easier. Finally, when the man had only one worthwhile thing to wager – a very rare card, one of only a handful ever made – the spirit had given him an odd instruction.

"Are you sure?" Ryou has asked.

"Do it," the spirit had replied. Ryou could almost see its smile. "You'll like this." So Ryou had done as the spirit instructed, and coerced his opponent into wagering a "valuable and irreplaceable part of himself," in addition to the card. In return, Ryou had staked everything that he had thus far taken from the man. And now Ryou had won.

"No," the man repeated again. "You cheated. You couldn't have won unless you cheated, you little piece of shit!" The man lunged at Ryou, but the white-haired boy easily dodged aside.

"Can we leave now? This man is disgusting," Ryou said.

"We still have a prize to claim, little host," the spirit replied.

"What? What did you have in mind?" Ryou asked.

"I will guide you. Let me in." Ryou had a strange feeling of apprehension, but he nevertheless opened himself to the spirit. There was a pleasant tingle as the spirit wrapped itself around him, leaving them in a curious blend. They had done it twice before, during the spirit's training – it would guide Ryou through something, and then withdraw, drilling him until he perfected it.

Now, they reached with the dark power of the Ring, and touched something inside the man. With some shock, he realized that it was his soul. Suddenly, he had a rare moment of perfect synchronization with the spirit – perfectly in tune, mind and soul – and he knew that he had absolute power over the man's soul. He could tear it from the man, and cast it forever into the darkness, or imprison it within an idol. He could even destroy it, if he so chose. And he knew that by his absolute victory over the man, it was his right to do so. That was where the spirit stopped guiding him. It melted away, to its usual place in the back of his mind.

"You are a thief, and my reincarnation," the spirit said. "Do what you were born to do." Ryou hesitated. It was one thing to take a man for everything he had – if he was stupid enough to bet it, he deserved to lose. But to take his soul?

He did wager it though, the thought occurred to him. Even if he didn't know it.

"Take it, little host," the spirit said. "His soul belongs to us now, to do with what we will." The spirit wormed darkly though his mind, touching, showing, letting him know, letting him feel what it would be like. Power. Strength. Deep fulfillment and dark contentment. The man had lost. And his soul belonged to them.

The man lunged for Ryou again, and he ducked out of the way, spinning in another dodge, as one of the man's friends tried to grab him as well. The man now stood between him and the way out. Not that it mattered. Ryou smiled darkly, and pulled on the power of the Ring.

"Now, I will take my other prize," he stated. Gold flashed in his mind, and the man collapsed, his soul held by the power of the Ring, warm and writhing and terrified. It was weak; surprisingly so. Of course, the only other soul I've ever felt is the spirit of the Ring… And it was there, that sense of satisfaction at claiming what belonged to him. Then a feeling of triumphant glee bubbled up from somewhere. He wasn't certain if it originated in himself, or in the spirit, but it echoed and resonated between them. The almost joyful rush – it was like nothing he had ever felt before.

"There's probably only one other thing that feels this good," the spirit said, grinning in his mind. Before Ryou could ask what the spirit was talking about, one of the man's friends cried out in rage, and lunged for him. Once again, Ryou dodged, and ran out the door, laughing in his glee. The man's three friends gave chase, but they were slow and clumsy from drunkenness, their steps loud and heavy. Ryou's own sandaled feet made no sound on the hard-packed dirt of the alley. He was so caught up in his sudden euphoria, that he almost missed the stirring of his Millennium Ring. There was another Item ahead, and close.

He didn't have time to think about it; he could see a pair of figures walking across the mouth of the alley. Quickly, he shoved the soul that he still held into the first thing that came to mind – the card inside the wooden box he had claimed earlier. He marshalled his defences, and felt the spirit waiting just behind his eyes. Then he realized that he was going to run right into the smaller of the two figures.

"Move!" he shouted. The smaller figure turned, bringing its face into view. "That's Malik!" he exclaimed mentally, just before colliding with the other boy, who had failed to move fast enough. They landed in a sprawl, with Ryou on top.

"He definitely has an Item," the spirit said, as Ryou pushed himself back to his feet.

"No time," he said aloud. He could hear the heavy footsteps of his pursuers approaching. He ducked into a shadow, and again pulled on the power of the Ring, subtly augmenting the darkness around him. A brief wave of dizziness hit him, and he felt the spirit's equally brief support. It was another reminder that the spirit was stronger than he; sometimes he wondered just how much stronger.

"Don't tell them where I am," he called softly. Malik pulled himself into a sitting position, appearing to ignore Ryou. That suited Ryou just fine. Malik's sister helped her brother the rest of the way up, as the trio that had been chasing Ryou came onto the street.

"You're planning something," the spirit said, as they watched the trio confront Malik.

"Sort of," Ryou admitted. "He has an Item, right? And his family has at least one other… I guess you could say I had an idea."

"He's a mortal child. We could defeat him and take his Item easily."

"But I like him," Ryou protested. "And besides, if they have two, they might know where other Items are. It would be better to use them to help get the other Items first. …We can get Malik's later, I guess." There was a moment of thoughtful silence from the spirit, followed by a slow nod.

"We'll see. I am pleased though, by your strategic thinking, host. It is good that I do not need to teach you subtlety and deceit." And then something interesting happened. A palpable wave of rage emanated from Malik, rippling through the darkness. Reflexively, Ryou gripped the Ring, reaching out, listening. It was the first thing that the spirit had taught him to do with the Ring, and it was the one that came easiest.

"Take them, break them, crush them, kill them…" Malik was muttering under his breath. Ryou would never have heard it without the Ring's magic. Malik's mouth had stretched into a demented mockery of a smile.

"I think I see why you like him, little host," the spirit said, grinning in Ryou's mind.

"You do?" Ryou replied. He was slightly distracted; there was something… something wrong with Malik. What is it…Shit. "Something's wrong!"  he exclaimed in alarm.

"You're right," the spirit agreed. "I'm taking over." Wordlessly, Ryou protested. He didn't mind partially merging with the spirit, but he hated being completely out of control of his own body. "Ammit consume you host! Do we have to go through this again?!" With a sound of frustration that was purely mental, Ryou ceded control to his other. Swiftly, the spirit grasped the magic of the Ring, doing something subtle and complex that was beyond Ryou's ability to follow. "There is an outside force keeping him…sane," the spirit explained. "His connection to it was tenuous." It was silent for another moment, and then continued, "Let's see what you have planned, little host. Prove yourself to me. I'm finished here." A strange feeling passed through Ryou, and then abruptly, he found himself in control of his body again.

Here goes, he thought.

"That was a close call," he said, stepping back into the street. Malik's head turned slowly toward him, as if half-way in a trance. His eyes were blank and unresponsive, with pupils that were contacted to narrow points. "Sorry about that," Ryou continued, nodding in the direction that the men had fled. "It was a complete accident that I bumped into you. Malik?" Ryou paused. Malik still hadn't responded any further. His breathing was shallow.

He's done that before, Ryou realized, as he looked at Malik's sister. The pale-faced look of terror on her face hadn't been directed at the men.

"Hey… Malik?" Ryou said, waving his hand in front of the blond boy's eyes. There was still no reaction. His sister stepped over then. She glanced at Ryou, and then placed her hands on Malik's shoulders, dismissing the white-haired boy for the moment.

"Malik?" she said, shaking him gently. No response. "Malik! Come out of it! Please." Ryou could see the wetness of tears growing in her eyes. The shaking grew rougher. Malik's pupils contracted still further.

Damn it. Malik wasn't returning to his senses. Ryou suspected that the spirit had done something, but he wasn't sure what. It seemed like Malik was no longer in danger of going on a psychotic rampage, but he wasn't back to normal. It almost seemed as if his mind was in a state of suspension. He was safe – but it seemed as if what his sister was doing was pushing him, closer and closer toward the brink, and back over the edge. And the spirit had pretty much said that he was on his own with this.

Prove yourself to me.

Damn it. He reached out, and grabbed the wrist of Malik's sister. Startled, she jumped back. Ryou stepped smoothly to the side, and avoided being knocked over. He didn't lose his grip.

"What do you think you're doing?" she demanded, suddenly imperious. Ryou had noted her surety of self, but the sense of authority she now projected had been well-hidden. As young as she was, many people would have been cowed by it, and by the look in her eyes. But though he was even younger, Ryou wasn't even moved. He knew that if it came down to it, he could flatten her. He didn't answer her question, instead simply meeting her eyes, and matching her stare. He held perfectly still, never relaxing his grip on her wrist. She blinked first. Ryou smiled, and released her. It hadn't been more than a couple of seconds.

"Let me try," Ryou said. "Living like I do, you see things like this sometimes." He gave her a reproachful look. "You shouldn't shake him like that." Malik's sister took a half-step back, and Ryou, growing impatient, elbowed her aside, and stepped up close to Malik. "Hey," he said, poking Malik in the forehead. "Wake up." He felt a bit of a jolt when he touched Malik, and the blond boy gasped, his pupils dilating, and awareness returning to his eyes.

"Barakah?" he whispered, and then groaned, clutching his head. His knees started to buckle. Perfect! Ryou thought, catching Malik as he started to fall. He felt something hard protruding from Malik's back, his fingers just brushing it as he wrapped an arm around the blond boy. In his head, the spirit chuckled, and Ryou got the impression of a toothy grin.

"That's my host," the spirit said quietly. Ryou gave no reply; he didn't think that the spirit was expecting one.

"Yeah," Ryou replied. "It's me. Are you all right?" Malik shook himself, then nodded, and shrugged out of Ryou's support. Ryou let him, but as he pulled his arms away, he angled his wrist so that the bracelet on his wrist – which he had begun wearing at the spirit's behest – caught on the protrusion of Malik's Millennium Item. Internally, he smiled, as the maneuver had precisely the effect he had hoped it would. He stumbled, as Malik's momentum jerked him in the opposite direction from where he had been going, and his stumble pulled Malik back. They both managed to keep their feet, but Malik's Item was pulled free, and sent spinning through the air. It didn't get far however. There was a flare of gold, and the Item halted mid-air, no more than a meter from Malik, and spun back into his hand. His sister had stepped back again. Malik turned to face Ryou, and Ryou saw the glow of the familiar Eye fade back into his forehead. Ryou put on his best look of wide-eyed surprise. Malik looked almost fierce.

"That… that looks like…" Ryou stuttered, pointing shakily at Malik's Item.

"It's the Rod," the spirit spoke into his mind. "The Millennium Rod." Again, Ryou didn't respond; he needed to pay attention to his deception. Malik was young, and obviously naive about a lot, but he wasn't a mark.

"Huh?" Malik replied. He blinked, and some of the fierceness faded from his eyes. He glanced at the Rod, and then back at Ryou. His eyes narrowed slightly. "Looks like what?" Ryou didn't stop to dwell on what he was about to do. He just reached into his caftan, and grasped the thong on which the Ring hung.

"Like this," he said, pulling the Ring out. Malik's eyes widened, and so did his sister's. Mentally, Ryou smiled.