I own a deck of dueling cards. Not Yu-Gi-Oh itself.

Explanations

I'm here to… well, stop someone from taking over the world.-

"Taking over the world? Are you serious?" He giggled, going back downstairs. "Sounds like Pinky and the Brain or something…"

Pinky and the brain?- I asked blankly.

He giggled again, supplying an image of a cartoon starring two lab mice trying to take over the world. I was getting more and more in tune with his mind, and so knew what a cartoon and a lab were.

Interesting, but if that were the case I'd just find a housecat and not think any farther on it. No, this is the Pharaoh we're talking about.-

"Pharaoh? As in the ruler of Ancient Egypt… so that would have to mean that he… or she I suppose, is in one of these…"

Millennium Items. Yes. The Pharaoh's item is the Puzzle, and can only be reassembled by his heir. He has been known by many names over the years.-

"Do tell…" Ryou said as he flopped down backwards on his bed.

Well, obviously his title was Pharaoh, and since Pharaoh was also a separate being above us mere humans, it was a name as well. Atem was his given name, although only close family or very close friends could use it. Yami was given as well, as it means darkness, or spirit of darkness. Any spirit of the Shadow Realm inherits that name, however.-

"So you're also called Yami?"

Yes. Technically, your Yami, your dark spirit. You're my host, the light half, called Hikari.-

"So, are all hosts Hikaris then?"

…No.- I couldn't believe what I was doing. Less than fifteen minutes, and I was already bonding to this boy… -You're the first. It takes a very special host, one who is so close to the Yami in spirit and soul that they could almost be one.-

"Huh. You know, I should probably be disturbed by that…"

But you're not, I know. I've read enough philosophy, holy texts, even love stories over my many centuries to know it must be possible, but I never had really believed it.-

"And here we are, simply because my father happened to walk into the town you lived in. Really makes you wonder about fate."

We stared up at his ceiling for a while, looking at posters of music artists, Duel Monsters, movies, Anime shows… Ryou's mind automatically filled in the missing information.

The Pharaoh is here. Somewhere in this very town.-

"Really?" Ryou sat up, as if he were paying more attention. "How do you know?"

A few decades ago… I can't remember exactly how long, my sense of time is a bit dulled, Shadi gave the Pharaoh's Puzzle to a man, a man from this country. I remember the name Domino from his mind now.-

Ryou was picking up information from my mind nearly as easily as I could from his now. Shadi, the chamber holding the Items, all the details became clear. Including…

"Solomon Motou? That funny little man who owns the Duel shop downtown? I go to school with his son!"

An image flashed into my mind, of huge innocent eyes in a child-like face, but the basic structure, the hair, the same feeling surrounded him. –Yes…- I whispered. –That's the Pharaoh's heir.-

"Yugi's never seemed the type for world domination."

And you've never seemed the type for thievery and cold emotions either. And yet, you're my Hikari, all the same.-

"I guess…" I could tell he was troubled. "You… you won't hurt Yugi, will you?"

Only if I have no choice.- I winced at the way he recoiled from the ruthless sound of that. –I am a believer in preserving live, Ryou. The only time I would purposely kill is if our life was in danger, or it was the only way to prevent something much worse.-

"Such as a worldwide dictatorship, leading to slavery and racial superiority?" Ryou asked, picking up a metal cylinder on his desk.

You pick this up very quickly.- I said, -And yes, that's the whole reason I was put into this blasted Ring… What is THAT?-

"A Slinky…" Ryou said absently, shuffling the thing back and forth. He laughed at my obvious interest and relinquished control. I was trying very hard not to be childish… but it was so much fun. I couldn't stop, it just… slinked back and forth, making the best sound… -You know… if you're that amused by it… you should try the Sony.-

"Hmm?" I asked, having been completely enthralled by the little toy. My voice, although the same tone as Ryou's, was a little deeper, more aggressive.

The Sony. Come on, let's go.- We reluctantly put down the Slinky, although I completely forgot about it when he pushed a little button and the TV started to work…

"Ryou, you are a terrible influence. I'm supposed to be this dark, noble spirit, waiting thousands of years for my chance to save the world… and here you have me playing Crash Bandicoot." I'd been saying words to that effect for the past three hours, although neither of us took me at all seriously.

Oh, don't be ridiculous,- he said. –You're learning about how our world works! Video games are, like, the biggest part of society.-

"Really?"

… Well maybe not the biggest, but they are a big influence, honest. And I can feel you picking around for information anyway.-

It was true. I was in a receptive host, in a completely new world, and I had to learn as much about it as possible. Add that to my naturally curious mind, and I couldn't quite help myself. "Sorry. Tell me if I go anywhere I shouldn't; I'll stop."

Oh, no problem. You're about to get turned into a frog, by the way.-

"What? No! Revolting offspring of a worm, may your soul be dumped by Ma'at into the abyss…" For the fifth time, the same wizard had turned my little orange… thing into a frog. "Aaaah… you do it!" I sunk back down, letting Ryou take over. It was only slightly humiliating to see him vault easily over the spell and squash the wizard. –Show off…-

"I've had more practice than you, that's all." Ryou calmly bounced off of a two-headed giant, spun a goat, smashed some boxes, and jumped into the exit portal.

Hmph.- If I was in control, I probably would have crossed my arms and glared, but as Ryou was still dominant, he cheerfully jumped into a second level. –Stupid impudent Hikari…- I muttered as he finished another level point-perfect.

"Silly prideful Yami," he whispered back, laughing at my indignation. Ah, yes, we'd get along fine.