Light raindrops accompanied Ryou home and washed away most of the good feelings he'd had about the day. Just when he thought Mr. Pegasus had been ready to open up, the man surprised with more secrecy and riddles.

I was his first reason for coming to Domino? That would have to mean that he got all of his information before we met. But if that's true then...what had been so fascinating about me that made the man search for information in the first place?

He rid himself of as much excess rainwater as possible on the front stoop, pocketed the hidden key and then used his own to open the door. Immediately, the temperature change hugged Ryou in way of greeting as he flipped on the light switch and stepped out of his sneakers.

The living room was simple, yet familiar and homey as well. Ryou couldn't remember any of his family's past living rooms looking much different. The walls and carpeting were white, two long-necked lamps occupied each side of a long couch, and the television sat across from them on a short brown cabinet stand with a library of music and movie disks. And in midst of it all was his personal favorite piece of furniture: A weathered coffee table that had been built to house one of his favorite games: Monster World. One had only to turn the tabletop upside down to begin playing.

He walked down the hall and entered his bedroom. Like the living room, nothing much had changed despite Ryou's growth and change of homes. He still liked the same pale blue color on the walls, the old patchwork quilt that covered the bed and how his interests and personality reflected in the decor: Posters and charts of the solar system; a bookshelf overrun with texts and fiction novels; an organized dark wood desk. The only new addition to the room was the dark wood dresser that stood next to the closet.

Ryou changed into a gray set of pajamas, carried his uniform out to the kitchen and tossed it into the washer. He then searched the cabinets and refrigerator for something to eat. The former, like the other appliances, was made of stainless steel, while the latter was arranged in the shape of a western letter 'C' that rounded out to an electric stove on the end of a granite counter top. After a short debate, he poured a glass of milk and heated a bowl of soup in the microwave.

The aroma of tomato promised good things as Ryou set everything on the wooden kitchen table. But before he sat, he made a quick trip back to the bedroom for his notebag. Dinner and homework first, and then he'd spend the rest of the night pondering Mr. Pegasus' words.

He settled himself into a chair and reached into the bag. Immediately, something foreign met his hand and Ryou pulled it out.

Styrofoam?

It wasn't just any old Styrofoam, but two pieces taped together to form a thick, heavy box slightly bigger than his hand. Ryou turned it over and found a message scrawled in sparkly ink: 'I present my project from last night. Consider it a thank you gift. Cordially, Maximilian.'

So this was why the man hadn't gotten any sleep. Ryou fingered the tape. Ordinarily, a gift expressing thanks was wonderfully thoughtful but Mr. Pegasus had already proved to be far from ordinary. What would the contents of the box bring? More questions? Or possibly...some answers?

The last thought convinced him to remove the tape, take off the top piece of Styrofoam and look inside.

A porcelain statue of two somewhat familiar boys stared back up at him.

Ryou blinked. He'd been ready for something either a little more mysterious or epiphany-inducing. But then again, it HAD come from Mr. Pegasus. Who was to say that the statue wasn't one or the other?

He put the box aside, set the boys on the table and proceeded to examine them. The eldest stood with his arms crossed in such a way that the pose radiated confident carelessness. His eyes had been painted into a penetrating blue expression under a head full of brown hair. An ankle length white coat that flared out at the waist covered a long-sleeved black shirt and a pair of black pants. And -Ryou's breath hitched- he wore a Magic and Wizards card around his neck.

Attention quickly shifted to the younger boy who peered out from behind the elder's coat. He, too, had blue eyes but they were open with an amazement that compensated the smile on his face. Yards of black hair fell in messy waves down a striped shirt, yellow vest and jeans. A Magic and Wizards card dangled from his neck as well.

The craftsmanship and detail were commendable from the grip of the smaller boy's fingers on the coat to their overall life-like appearance. Mr. Pegasus truly had not exaggerated when he had introduced himself as 'artist extraordinaire'. Impressed, Ryou moved to touch the older boy's face...and then stopped short. Somehow, something in the boy's expression told Ryou that the gesture wouldn't be appreciated.

The feeling of familiarity trickled over Ryou once more, and he studied the faces again. After a few seconds, he reached toward the younger boy and received the shock of his life when the child jumped back and cried, "HEY!"

The chair toppled over and dumped Ryou on the floor. The pendant crushed into his chest at the contact, and the pain did its best to assure Ryou that he was indeed still wide awake. But at the same time denial tried to balk. That didn't happen. I've had a long day. Mr. Pegasus has confused me into seeing and hearing things again. My heart isn't really beating in my throat instead of my chest where it belongs...

Despite what he told himself, Ryou waited before peeking over the tabletop. Incredibly, the boy was playing with his card necklace and muttering to himself. Then he noticed Ryou and said, "You okay?"

His voice sounded real enough. It was small, but still real. At least, Ryou hoped so.

The necklace was held up. "I thought you were going for this. My brother made it for me." He pointed to the boy in the coat. "That means no one's allowed to touch it."

Ryou didn't offer a reply, and it caused the boy to size him up with an expression that matched his brother's almost perfectly. "Well, say something! Why are staring at me like an idiot? I thought you were supposed to be smart."

The remark surprised Ryou into answering. "I-I'm sorry. It's just...I wasn't expecting..."

"A talking statue?"

"Yes."

The boy shook his head and hopped up onto the Styrofoam box. "Yeah, well, I wasn't expecting YOU to screw up my entrance. Sit down, Ryou. We've gotta talk."

He obeyed without thinking, took several gulps of milk and nearly dropped the glass. Hearing his name and being ordered around from a not-so-inanimate object just seemed to have that effect on him.

When the drink had safely returned to the table, the boy statue brushed off his hands and announced, "Okay, the first thing you have to do is shape up. I'm not imaginary and you aren't crazy. This is really happening and I need you to accept it quick so we can move on. Got it?"

Something about the statue's hands bothered Ryou but he couldn't identify it right away. One thing was for sure, though: The kid wasn't afraid to be direct.

Or impatient, as he demonstrated by rolling his eyes and saying, "Look, I'll prove you aren't nuts. Give me your hand."

Ryou was still unsure. Although, he had to admit that further testing couldn't hurt. After all, if one to see AND feel something...then it had to be real, right?

He reached out and allowed the figure to wrap his tiny hands around a finger. The touch was soft, and Ryou discovered right away what had bothered him about it. The statue's body was now made of flesh.

Ryou's next words were strained. "You're real."

His finger was squeezed in confirmation. "Told you so. I'm Mokuba. Kaiba Mokuba."

The earlier feeling of familiarity now made sense to Ryou. Kaiba, as in Kaiba Corporation. Stories of the family sometimes found their way into the newspaper along with a rare picture of Mokuba and his brother. Rare because their father was more apt for the spotlight as the company's owner.

But...why would Mr. Pegasus think that they had anything to do with Ryou?

Mokuba shifted Ryou's finger back and forth. "You gonna say anything or not?"

"Well...I'm..."

Mokuba released the finger and crossed his legs. "We can skip the whole 'I'm Bakura Ryou, nice to meet you,' part. You have questions, right? Let's hear 'em so I can help."

A six-inch child statue wanted to play Q and A. Every ounce of logic Ryou owned cried out against the prospect. Yet he couldn't deny the fact that Mokuba was there -literally in the flesh- rocking back and forth while waiting for him to begin. Perhaps this Mokuba could help.

Besides, where had logic been since Mr. Pegasus waltzed into Domino?

Ryou remained silent for another few seconds before deciding on his first question. "All right. How are you able to talk to me?"

"I open my mouth. How else would I be able to talk?"

The unexpected reply stunned Ryou, and Mokuba grinned. "Just kidding. I can talk to you because that's how Pegasus made me."

That was how Mr. Pegasus made him? How could the boy be so casual? Talking statues weren't something people saw every day. Ryou couldn't think of anyone who constructed them, let alone one that already knew his name.

Which reminded him. "A moment ago you said that you thought I was supposed to be smart. How is that possible? Did Mr. Pegasus tell you about me?"

Mokuba snickered. "That happy freak? No, he's just the one with the magic powers. I know you're smart because I'm supposed to know."

Magic powers? "Couldn't you please be a little more specific?"

"Nope, 'cause I'm not allowed to be."

Says who? Ryou wanted to ask, but there didn't seem to be any point considering how stubborn Mokuba appeared. Was this a common trait with talking statues?

Ryou shook the ridiculous thought from his mind and took a bite of soup. He still wasn't sure of what to make of the whole situation, but he was completely drawn in now. "Then what can you tell me? Specifically?"

"Lots of things. But you have to ask the right question or I won't be able to help you."

Ryou paused. "You keep mentioning helping me. What if I don't need any help?"

The question caused Mokuba to frown and he stood up on the box. "Don't be stupid. You wanna know why Pegasus is so interested in you, right? Well, I can help you with that."

That got Ryou's attention, and he nearly choked on his spoon. "You know how he found out about me?"

"Yep."

"And you can tell me what it is he says I'm supposed to know?"

"Er..." For the first time, Mokuba seemed uncertain. He rubbed his head and turned toward his brother. "Well, I do know that Seto and I are supposed to be a big clue."

Seto. Ryou had almost forgotten. He glanced at the still immobile older boy. "Why isn't he joining us?"

Mokuba fidgeted. "'Cause he doesn't talk to people much. Plus, no one can talk to him without going through me first."

"They can't? Why?"

"Because that's how it is between us. Nothing personal, you know. It's just a brother thing." Mokuba jumped down from the box and pointed to Ryou's schoolbag. "I'm tired of questions. Let me help you with your homework. What've you got to do?"

Ryou looked at him oddly and pulled a textbook from the bag. He could see that Mokuba wanted to change the subject, but he seemed awfully young for Ryou's school criteria. "Do you know anything about Astronomy?"

Mokuba put a fist under his chin and pretended to think. "You mean like Jupiter's Ganymede, or the Gamma Ceti of the Cetus constellation?" He raised a shoulder. "Nope, never heard of any of that stuff."

Ryou blinked and then smiled. As mischievous as Mokuba seemed to be able to be, there was an undeniable quality and brightness to him. It reminded Ryou a little of Jounouchi who, little by little, had begun to earn Ryou's respect with Honda and Anzu's help. So if Jounouchi could grow on Ryou…

He opened up the text, found the appropriate chapter and arranged the book so that they could both see the pages. "Well then, I guess you won't be able to help me."

Mokuba crawled on top of the book and began to read. After a minute, he said, "Ryou?"

"Yes?"

The boy's eyes remained glued to the words in front of him. "Just so you know, you really aren't crazy. I'm here, I'm alive, and I like you a lot. And that's big because Seto and me always have to be picky about who we like. Pegasus didn't just make us; He made us for you. So remember that, got it?"

Then as if he felt he'd said too much, Mokuba huffed and added, "Forget it, just read."

An awkward silence followed. Ryou tried to concentrate on the book, but instead glanced between Mokuba and Seto as another question formed in his mind. Finally, he ventured, "You said that you and your brother were supposed to be a clue to what I know. How, exactly?"

Mokuba still refused to look up. "It's because of what we are."

"…Human statues?"

"Jeez. You'll figure it out. Now let me read."