Alright, the next part of my first chapter.... I know some of you have already read this. I'm starting to space this out upon request. So to the few people who read this when I orginially posted this I'm really sorry I'll have new stuff up next week. Promise.

Disclaimer: Freai doesn't own Ryou Bakura, Arthur Bakura, or the spirit of the Ring.

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"When your only friends are hotel rooms"

(Part 2)

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Ryou never really became accustomed to his new situation. He never really got use to the feeling of his head being… full. Like his head was stuffed with cotton, compacted to the point of pain. Everyone else just though he had a sinus infection, then migraines, and eventually that he was just faking the pains. No one could find any other explanation. This scared Ryou, because the thing that looked like him hadn't fully spoken or appeared to him in over a month. He hadn't been back in the blaring white room, or the rainy alleyway outside the museum. But he knew he was there… inside his head. It had taken him a while to guess that he was there, probably laughing at him. It was strange to him… and he became extremely paranoid and even more jumpy than usual.

But what was even stranger was that he had been wearing the necklace that his father had given him… even though he knew that the thing was somehow connected to it… and he couldn't take it off. It felt like he didn't want to – but no, he knew that he couldn't take it off. He needed to wear it. When he took it off he suddenly felt exposed and alone. He even started to wear it to bed.

Every once in a while he'd hear someone laugh, that deep mocking laugh that was quiet enough that only he could hear it. Usually only when he fell or some misfortune befell someone in his proximity, or in history class. That was weird.

And, sometimes, as he walked through the hallways he would glance out the windows and his faint reflection in the glass will have changed. Those eyes were sneering at him, bright and distinct and not his own. He had screamed the first time, causing everyone in the hallway to stare, but as soon as he looked back the image was gone and only his frightened eyes were reflected dimly on the window. But now, when it stared at him, he would just look away and try very hard not to look back. His heart still sped up though, giving the thing the satisfaction of startling him.

It was toying with him still. It was taking its sweet time before revealing itself to the boy again, if it ever would at all. The tormenting lasted for months, and it was starting to affect his life. His school was starting to think of him as a mental case, though his grades were still one of the highest in the school. No one talked to him, or even bullied him any more. Ryou wasn't sure if this was okay or not, no one would be there to help him if the spirit appeared again.

Around the end of the term, right before finals were to take place, Ryou was unexpectedly called to the office. Snickers went around the room as Ryou gathered his things and headed out of the room, trying to ignore the comments being whispered as he left. Some people were thinking that they were going to kick him out of the school, and other's were SURE that he was going to be sent to another wing and housing for… the "special" kids. He was a head case to everyone, even the teacher, who watched him leave with what looked like a mixture of pity and inner-relief.

His footsteps filled the empty stone corridor, and Ryou's paranoia increased as he came closer and closer to the headmaster's office. Were they right? Was he being sent away? Word had spread fast about his nightmares, when he cried and screamed in his sleep, waking up in cold sweat with his roommates glaring at him. Or many incidents where his paranoia had cause him to freak out and break something or hurt someone or cause some sort of ruckus. It wasn't his fault, but he couldn't tell anyone about the thing that looked just like him, that haunted his reflection and loved to torment him to no end. Because it sounded too much like a mental condition, schizophrenia or psychosis. Even he had considered the fact that he might be loosing his mind, but then dismissed it after a long while of pondering. He wasn't crazy, he wouldn't be able to reason if he was crazy, so this must be something beyond his control or his realm of knowledge. So in other words… no one could help him.

Entering the northern wing, he was almost to the office when he accidently glanced towards one of the windows and there it was. Bright eyes as red as blood, bearing into his own, and he froze in shock. Whenever he blinked usually the thing would disappear, but this time it didn't, it just stood there, staring at him. A smirk crawled up its face, and it brought a thin skeletal finger to its lips in silence, warning him not to scream. Ryou shook his head and was about to dart off, but the thing's gaze kept him rooted to the spot. He was quivering in fear as it mouthed instructions to him, "Don't do anything stupid." And suddenly it was behind him, he could feel it there breathing on his neck, but he was still seeing its reflection.

The reflection had changed; it was standing behind him, kneading into his shoulders though he couldn't feel that. But his muscles started to relax and his fear was slightly ebbing away. And then it was talking to him in that same hoarse voice that had been laughing at him the past few months. "Keep your head, yadoneshi. Calm down and walk in there like a normal fucking kid, ok? And whatever you do….," pain shot through his shoulders where the other had been kneading as he squeezed hard, digging his nails into his arms, "keep our little meetings to yourself."

It started to sooth the part of his arms and shoulders it had abused, and started to coo and sympathize with him in a strange and slightly-mocking way. Ryou wasn't stupid; he knew when the thing was trying to manipulate him. Even though it was only their second meeting, he knew the other's actions inside and out, just as the thing did for him. "They wouldn't understand," it drawled in a higher tone, almost singing in a way, "and they don't need to. There's nothing wrong with you, in fact nobody should be treating you the way they have." He leaned in closer, and whispered breathily "I can help you with that later." It sent a shock of fear down his spine, and he suddenly feared the thing more than he ever had before. It was really dangerous wasn't it? It would hurt him a lot more if it wanted to. He started to shiver again, but the thing continued its ministrations. "Now, now, don't get all worked up. You still have to go into the office, and it's probably not just the headmaster and the counselor in there. Whatever happens, keep your head." It was really starting to loose its patience with Ryou, but continued trying to encourage him. Ryou could almost picture the rant in its head 'He's only a child; a stupid, insolent child but a child none-the-less. Don't fucking kill him even though you want to, you NEED him. Keep yourself together damnit.' It scared Ryou more.

But he knew it was right. He had to calm down. Breathing deeply, he let the spirit steal away his tenseness. "Good," it cooed coolly. "Now you probably will get transferred out of this school, but that's alright. We don't need this place anyway. Let's try to get another school, closer to London. I've never really been to the museum, and I know you miss it. Apparently it's our only connection so we'll go to that alley together-"

"Will you tell me what's going on… i-if I get you to London." Ryou hadn't even thought it rude to interrupt him, though he was scared shitless of doing it. He could see the half-lidded eyes watch him in amusement, and a spark of anticipation appeared as it smirked again.

"Whatever you want." Ryou nodded, and then walked away from the thing towards the door to the headmaster's office. Calmer than he had been in months, and not expecting what was beyond the door at all.

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TBC

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I may have mentioned this before, but this is a very different story than what I have ever written before. This isn't EXACTLY the same as the originally storyline, but I'm playing closer to it and the personalities of the characters that Kazuki Takahashi created. If no one can tell yet, I'm trying to prove... eventually.... that there can be a romance between these two that is never shown in the manga. It's not impossible.

But yes, please review. Flame if you wish just keep it to 2nd degree burns okay?