Yu-Gi-Oh! Kaimon! (Season 2)

by CosmoK13

Just when life was going back to normal, our group of game lovers are pulled into another crazy adventure. With his grandfather's soul on the line, Yugi Mutou must travel to the island of Duelist Kingdom for a battle royal of Duel Monsters to take on the creator. Meanwhile, Ryou Bakura is determined to learn the secrets of the Millennium Items. Will both succeed in their goals?

Author's note: Konichiwa, Fellow Otaku's! CosmoK13 here! I am excited to be starting out the next installment of my Yu-Gi-Oh! Reboot series. We are on season two! Which means, this is the Duelist Kingdom season! With a little filler that is less than ten episodes, hopefully according to my calculations. Anyways, I wanted to continue this series since it's been so long since I've done any work on the story. To be fair, I do have a reason why I wasn't able to be as productive with this. So, the main issue is that while this is a reboot, I want to be able to go through the whole Yu-Gi-Oh! Storyline both in manga and anime. The one I want to use is the subbed version, the original Japanese, because that one makes more sense and is more in line with the mature themes. The problem is though… finding the Japanese Yu-Gi-Oh! and the manga is a lot harder than you think. Getting the manga is one thing, even if most of it is scattered and I have to rely on somewhat sketchy sites. But for the subbed, there's no streaming platforms that have that version of the anime. Any that do like Netflix or Hulu only have one or two of the seasons and they're in the 4Kids English Dub. And we all know that 4Kids is not reliable.

The only website that has the subbed Yu-Gi-Oh! Is Crunchyroll, and I used to be able to watch it without needing to log in, granted there were ads I had to watch but it was a small price. Now though because Crunchyroll has been bought out, you do need an account to see all, if not most, of the series, even the older ones. I do not have an account, but I am using one of my friends, who agreed to let me borrow it. Of course, they can't always afford to pay for the site every time, so I have a limited amount to watch on there. Which is why I wanted to write the second season now, because I don't know when I'll have more chances like this, and there's a lot I want to cover. So, that means this series will be on and off with inconsistent updates schedules, due to me not being able to gain access to the subbed anime at certain times. But I will try to get as much done, especially since this is only season 2 of 7 of the reboot. And I love Yu-Gi-Oh! as well as this story! I'm proud of where I'm going with it and happy that so many people are enjoying it. Hence why I'm pushing myself to keep going, but wanting to plan it out better, so it's not as rushed.

With that out of the way, I do want to thank everyone who enjoyed season one of Yu-Gi-Oh! Kaimon and hope you will be able to continue the support with season two! Now, there is going to be a blend of manga and anime moments, so if something appears here that might not have been in the anime, it most likely came from the manga source, and vice versa. With that said, I say it's time we get right into the prologue and episode one of Season Two: Duelist Kingdom!

Prologue

Darkness encased the large room, filled with bricks, pillars and murals of old. The only source of flames came from the torches scattered around. The fires burned in the golden bowls, illuminating the place and giving off the only source of heat. Standing on a raised up floor, was a man wearing a cloak of white and a turban covering his head. His piercing eyes looked upon the walls, as if they spoke to him. It was one of the few places he still was tied to, one he had been looking over along with his family for many generations. The Egyptian breathed in the enclosed air, clearing his mind as the golden ankh that rested over his body glowed within the light. "So, that is who you are…" He spoke to no one in particular. "I should have realized sooner… why your mind and soul was stronger than the others I visited."

Footsteps approached, as three figures came from the darkness. The holder of the Millennium Ankh turned his head, looking at the three younger disciples that he had taken in years ago. "Forgive us for intruding, Master Shin… I mean, Master Shadi." One of them stated as he stepped forward. He was a semi-built boy, with a square jawline and skin the color of chocolate. His dark eyes matched his hair, which had many points going upwards, like spider legs. Much like the other two who came in, his clothing was more colorful and vibrant than the older man. He had on a blue tunic with a white ankh symbol in the center that had triangles at the top pointing outwards. His darker blue sash hung over his left shoulder, complementing his knotted belt along with his baggy white pants and simple gray shoes. His clothing were Egyptian themed, but with a modern twist.

"You do not have to correct yourself, Mani." Shadi told the one who spoke. "I have gone by many names throughout my life, so there is no wrong answer."

Mani bowed, as he understood what his Master had told him. "Sera had a vision, as she was watching over the holders of two of the Millennium Items. As is her obligation."

Shadi fully turned so he could see the only female of the group of young ones. A girl with a sandy complexion, complimenting her dark golden brown hair that flowed slightly past her shoulders, two strands of hair curled up like horns, and four short ponytails framing her face that were bound by golden rings. Her eyes, of a hazel color, were wide and full of life. "Speak, my child. What did you see?" Shadi asked.

She stepped forward, her pink dress that partially exposes her shoulders, with an ankh at the center, swayed as she bowed before her Master. "The spirit within the Millennium Ring… he battled against the one being held captive within the Millennium Puzzle. They played a Shadow Game with each other, but the Puzzle was the victor."

Upon hearing this, Shadi rubbed his chin while processing the information. "They have met sooner than we anticipated. But it was written that they would cross paths, even in their spiritual forms." He spouted what sounded like nonsense to many, but to the children, it was that of wisdom.

"There is more… when Diva tried to sense the presence inside the Ring, he only sensed a singular source." Sera added.

Before Shadi could ask, the final of the three approached. His golden eyes looked up at his Master, as they complimented his tanned face. The dark teal hair with spikes outwards in the back and two smaller ones pointing upwards like horns in the front. His hair was much longer, as it produced four ponytails, two short ones framing his face and two longer ones in the back, all bound with golden rings. "Sera is right, Master Shin. I did sense a darkness within the Millennium Ring, but it was not that much stronger than in the Puzzle. It appears that when he lost the battle against the Puzzle, that Fiend's hold on the Ring was released, and thus, the spirit inside is now the true resident within the artifact." The one, Diva, revealed.

Shadi looked back at the murals on the walls, depicting many things such as a battle of a monster and six people. The keeper of one of the Millennium Items took this news into consideration. Mani looked over at Diva, pondering a thought. "All of the Millennium Items have a piece of that Fiend though. That's the point of their powers."

"It's true that the Millennium Items hold a darkness within them as the source of their abilities. But the Ring in particular had the strongest hold, due to one of the owners making a bond with the Fiend itself." Sera informed Mani. "But now, after the defeat from the game, that darkness has disbursed and has given control to the spirit trapped inside."

"Even without being under its control, that spirit is still quite dangerous on his own." Diva pointed out.

"The same can be said for the others, including the one in the Puzzle." Mani declared. "Though, I doubt they actually remember anything."

Shadi closed his eyes as he lowered his head. "You are not wrong, Mani." He told his pupil, which caught his and the other two's attention. "Three thousand years is quite a long time to be held in confinement. It is only plausible that the ones trapped would begin to lose who they are in terms of memory. But their personality is one that is hard to change." He finally pivoted around, looking back at them with a serious expression. "Was there anything else in your vision, Sera?"

The young girl looked up at her Master, thinking for a moment before answering. "I sensed that the wielder of the Puzzle would be challenged by another Millennium Item Holder."

"Is it the Millennium Rod?" Mani questioned.

Sera merely shook her head. "We have not been able to track the whereabouts of the owner of the Rod since he fled from his duties five years ago."

"I already have a guess as to who will be challenging Yugi Mutou." Shadi declared, but didn't say any more about the other Holder. Though by the expressions of the other three, they already knew. "Still, if two of the spirits have awakened and met, the other four will soon follow. Just as the prophecy foretold."

Diva looked to the ground, his golden eyes wavering as he heard his Master say such things. "And here we thought the Seals would be enough."

"The Seals were merely insurance to ensure no one else was attempting to obtain that power." Shadi told Diva. "But if they were made to be unbreakable, then we as the guardians would not have been needed. We can not outrun nor defy destiny. What we can do, is help get those that are to play a part in this on the path that will lead them to it. Those boys were chosen to wield those Millennium Items for that purpose, I see that now."

"Master Shadi…" Sera began as she held her hands in a prayer manner. "What shall we do? Should we stand by and wait to see how fate brings the others together?"

The oldest and wisest of the four thought about what she said, and for a moment he considered it. They did not create nor destroy destiny, all they could do was unravel the strings of fate, and ensure that it flows smoothly. But, there were times when some people may not understand what their fate is, so they would have to remind them. "I am curious to see the development of the battle that Yugi Mutou will be facing soon. As well as what the spirit inside of the Ring will do now that he is no longer under the negative influence of the Fiend itself."

Sera and Mani looked at one another, hearing their Master out as they already knew what he was thinking. It was Diva, who approached in his sleeveless green trench coat and simple brown boots with tan laces at the cuff. He knelt down and brought his hands into his chest. "Master Shin, please allow me to be the one to watch over the two hosts. As well as ensure that the battle between the Puzzle and his new challenger is to take place. I already know about the man who was given one of the Items and what he wants, so baiting him to go after the Puzzle will be simple. As for the one holding the Ring, you have my word I will test him and the spirit within."

"Diva…" Mani looked at his friend as he said that.
"Are you sure brother?" Sera asked the teal-haired one. He looked back over at the two, putting on a reassured smile, as if he had made up his mind. Even Shadi knew that this was the only way.

"Very well, Diva." He finally answered. "I will leave this task to you. You may watch over the hosts of the Millennium Puzzle and Millennium Ring, and ensure that the vision that Sera has seen is to come true. This is no doubt a test to determine how the spirits within those items will act. And their cooperation with each other is key to ensure that we will win against this game that has taken millennia to resume. Let us hope that the influence of their hosts might have affected their morals and… their goals."

Diva bowed, as the task was given to him. "Leave it to me, Master Shin." He would not fail his Master, his clan, or destiny, and would ensure that the hosts and spirits were ready.

Episode 1: A New Normal

Morning light from the sun filtered into the small space that was the bedroom. Even though the curtains were made to cover the window, they failed in doing so. The illumination spread throughout the room, eventually making its way to the bed. The person under the covers shifted, being awakened by the bright star in the sky, rather than the alarm clock. Sitting up, the high schooler yawned. His blue-ish, white hair was a mess, and he had trouble trying to keep his eyelids open. With his pale blue eyes, he looked at the alarm clock sitting on his nightstand table and read the time. Only nine minutes until seven A.M, when he usually was awakened on a school day. "I suppose I may as well get up…" He told himself, with an accent that sounded proper due to his upbringing in England for a time.

The young man was known as Ryou Bakura, and he was quite a character. Though one wouldn't know it just from looking at the surface alone. He prepared himself for the day, washing up in the bathroom, putting on his uniform for his school, and making himself breakfast before he had to go. The news was blaring out on the television that he was able to hear, while he was making the rice and cooking a sunny side up egg. Despite his left hand being injured over a month ago, he still wore the bandage over his palm between his fingers and thumb. His eyes would glance over at it now and again, being reminded of what occurred in his apartment. He tried not to let it get to him, but… it was still fresh in his mind.

With a sigh, Ryou managed to finish making himself his breakfast. It was just a bowl of steamed rice with a fried egg resting on top. He also added a bit of toppings such as sesame seeds, green onion and bits of leftover dried shrimp. Nothing too special, it was usually what he ate during the week days since it was quick but filling. While he was eating his breakfast, he decided to listen to the news. Not that he was ever really interested, but he may as well be caught up with the events that were happening.

"Good morning Domino, this is Misao Takada reporting to you the latest news coverage today on Thursday, July 10th, 2014." The lady on the channel spoke out, as Ryou listened with only one ear. "Next Sunday, the first ever National Japanese Duel Monsters tournament will be held within the Domino Stadium. Overlooked by the organizer of this tournament, the very creator of the phenomenal trading card game, Maximillion J. Crawford. Who we have here at the studio, to give us some insight on the tournament."

Ryou didn't look at who was talking, but he could hear the distinct tone of a man with a frivolous accent. "Thank you, Miss Takada. But please, call me Pegasus. Everyone does." He told her. Ryou could hear the accent within his voice, though it made sense. The creator of Duel Monsters was an American, so English was his first language. Despite being a foreigner, his Japanese was surprisingly clear. "I must say, I was impressed when I saw the number of challengers wanting to take part in this competition. I certainly hope one day will be enough for this tournament."

"What made you decide on doing a tournament in Japan this year, Mr. Pegasus?" Miss Takada questioned.

"Well, Duel Monsters has become quite a hit over the past few years. It sold out in America within the first week of release. And naturally many competitions took place because of its popularity. But I wanted to spread this card game throughout the world. I had a few business partners in Japan and when they caught a whiff of this game's potential… Well, they made me an offer that I simply couldn't refuse. Now that it has been out long enough, I figured it was time to test how serious the fanbase overseas can be."

"You created Duel Monsters nearly a decade ago, back in the turn of the 2000's. What inspired you to construct such a fascinating yet complex trading card game?" Takada questioned.

"Well, as a kid, I've always been entranced with entertainment be it television shows or even challenges we would play. Despite my wealthy upbringing, I much enjoyed the simpler things that would catch the attention of any young boy or girl. But…" Pegasus sounded serious for a moment, which Ryou noticed as he was washing up his utensils. "If I had to give credit to the creation of Duel Monsters to anyone… it would be my late wife, Cyndia. She always admired my childlike passions, and inspired me in my art. After she passed, I felt myself losing inspiration and that merriment, sinking lower and lower into my rock bottoms. In a way, Duel Monsters is what saved me from that despair. Bringing a game where people can come together, creating their own strategies and being immersed into their cards, helped me to lessen the pain."

"So if I'm understanding this, your wife's death was part of the reason Duel Monsters became a reality." Takada realized.

"She was and still is a big part of this game coming to life. Every time that I would paint the cards I produced, I put a bit of myself into my work, just like she would have wanted me to. And I know that she would have loved to see our children enjoy such a game as well. In a way, Duel Monsters has helped me become closer to her again. And I can only hope that she is watching me now, happy that I am able to bring joy to many young ones' smiles and friendships through this game." Takada sighed with empathy, while the audience awed by his explanation. Ryou had to admit, it was a heartwarming story.

"I'm sure your wife would be happy to see what you have created." The reporter stated. "And this tournament is a wonderful way of showcasing how popular it has become in Japan now."

"Well, this tournament was really only made possible thanks to Kaiba Corp-" Before he could finish, Ryou shut the television off as he had to head out soon. The young man went back to his study area and grabbed his books and papers, filing them into his backpack. It was a twenty minute walk from his apartment to school, but he had to leave no later than eight, since school started at exactly eight thirty.

Once the books were all in, Ryou zipped the pack up. "There we go… I don't think I need anything else…" He looked back over at his desk one last time, just to be sure. His pale blue eyes landed on a thin piece of paper with writing, but it wasn't an assignment of his. An envelope was underneath, as Ryou realized it was a letter. "Ah! I forgot to mail this yesterday…" He realized, reaching over and taking hold of it. His eyes scanned the words he had written by hand, as it was addressed to someone important to him.

"Dear Amane, how are you and dad doing back in England? Japan is certainly… different. I only have vague memories of when we were little living here, but I managed to settle down alright. The apartment father picked for me is spacious enough, maybe a bit too big for just one person. But I won't complain.

"Your brother started at a new school, just a few weeks before summer vacation. Domino High is a public school, but I have made a good amount of friends there. I was hesitant to be close to them, due to some… insecurities in the past. But they have accepted me for who I am and it made the transition much easier. They've invited me to places after school, and they've been begging me to try and replay Monster World again. But… I'm not so enthusiastic about wanting to play that.

"I'm sorry I wasn't able to respond to you in so long. Between me moving, settling down at my new school and the summer exams, I've hardly had any time for myself. But, summer vacation is only a week away. So that will give me plenty of time to breathe from this experience. I'll be sure to write to you and father as often as I can. And I'll tell you all about the friends I've made in my next letter.

"Your older brother, Ryou."

He read the letter out loud, as he thought about Amane and how she was doing back in England. He wished he could see her again, but knew that was impossible. Grabbing the envelope, he stuffed the letter inside and sealed it up. "I'll drop it off after school, hopefully it gets delivered before next week." He decided, as he looked back at the desk to catch a glimpse of something shining. A golden object that held meaning to him, rested on the surface as the small eye within the center stared right at him. A shiver ran down the blue-haired one's spin, as buried memories resurfaced into his mind. He was reminded what horrible powers this Egyptian artifact could do… and what it held that made Ryou feel small and powerless. Even though he knew it was dangerous, he couldn't allow it to be left alone. It was an odd feeling, but one he couldn't explain nor did he care to. The hand reached out and took hold of the Millennium Ring, before stuffing it into one of the side pockets of the backpack. As long as he didn't put it on him, he wouldn't be influenced. It was the only compromise he could think of.

With everything on him, he headed out of his apartment and locked the door. Picking up his feet, Ryou Bakura headed from the complex and down the street. It was going to be a long day, and there was still a week left until Summer break. At least one month had finally passed, so it felt like he made some progress. A smile was still on Ryou's face even when he found himself at the gates of the school, just ten minutes before the bell would signal the start of class. He could see many students already greeting each other at the front entrance, some were complaining about their results of the exams, as they already posted the scores in the halls. Ryou heard a couple of girls call out to him, squealing as he walked into the locker bay. He tried to ignore them, but they were persistent. 'Why is this the one constant thing that always happens whenever I transfer?' He asked himself. Not that he was ever interested in going out with any of the female peers, mainly because of his current home life and mental state at times.

"Bakura!" The student heard the familiar voice of one of his friends. He turned around, and saw a much smaller student with a very unusual hair style, consisting of a star-shaped black hair with red highlights and golden bangs. It was the very first person that he had met when he came to Domino High, who stuck by and stood up for him.

"Good morning, Yugi." Ryou responded as he saw the smile the shorter one was producing, making him grin as well. "Did you sleep well last night?" He asked, switching out his shoes from the locker.

"I will once I see how I did for the exams…" Yugi explained as he did the same action as Ryou. "Only then will I sleep soundly." He admitted.

"Well, I'm sure you did fairly well." He tried to tell Yugi. "As long as you aren't lower than 740, you won't have to take any summer classes."

"I hope not…" Yugi sighed, as he didn't want to spend the summer vacation catching up on work he didn't understand. The two walked out of the locker bay together, as Ryou couldn't take his eyes off the shorter one. Yugi had been so kind to him since he was first transferred. Even after hearing all the rumors, he stuck by Ryou's side and tried to be there for him. It was the first time in so long that he felt like he had a genuine friend. It also helped that Yugi and Ryou had something in common: They both held golden artifacts that originated in Egypt. Yugi wore it around his neck, it resembled a pyramid with cracks to showcase that it was originally a puzzle. The eye resembles the right one of Horus, the Egyptian god of kingship as some believed. It seemed appropriate, as Ryou believed. Even now, he could only stare at the object and be mesmerized by the history it had which was wrapped up in a mystery.

"So, do you have any plans for summer vacation?" Ryou asked Yugi, making small conversation as they were heading down the halls.

"Honestly, just helping my grandfather out at the Game Shop." Yugi admitted. "Though I'm hoping I can spend some time with the others for some fun." Ryou nodded, thinking that would be a great way to have bonding moments and make those friendships grow stronger. "What about you, Bakura?" Yugi asked, wanting to know the plans for his summer vacation.

"Eh?" Ryou had to think about that as he scratched his cheek. "Uh… nothing special, really. Probably just explore Domino and get some games…" It was the only answer he could think of.

Yugi seemed to be unfond of that idea, but he tried not to discourage Ryou either. "Well, if you don't have anything to do you could always hang out with us." He offered. Hearing that made the boy with powder blue hair smile. He really wished he could have hung out with Yugi and the group more, yet part of him was hesitant due to what occurred over a month ago. Still, he was grateful none of them held any resentment, which helped to ease him somewhat.

Eventually, they made it to the class where there were more students than they thought there would be. The pair headed to their desks and got their materials. "Yugi! Bakura!" Another person called to them with a voice they both recognized. Ryou turned, seeing a blond coming over to them as he had bags under his honey brown eyes.

"Morning Jounouchi." Yugi greeted his friend as the blond went to his desk and yawned.

Ryou noticed how exhausted he was, and spoke out of concern. "Are you alright, Jounouchi? You look tired."

The blond heard the question from the Britain, and answered as he stretched out his arms. "...Yeah, it's just Grandpa's training that's been kicking my ass the past couple of weeks."

"Training?" Ryou repeated, turning to Yugi for some answers.

"Grandpa has been training Jounouchi about Duel Monsters." Yugi explained. Ah yes, Duel Monsters, Ryou thought. He was familiar with the trading card game but he never played it since he only heard of it recently. Plus, he was more into role-playing games rather than card battle ones. Yugi continued to elaborate. "There's this tournament that's taking place next Sunday and Jounouchi ended up entering."

"They say that there's a prize involving yen, so naturally I had to enter to get a chance! Plus, I uh… wanted to try and hone my skills at this game. It's pretty good." He added to try and make it seem like he wasn't interested in just one thing. Ryou chuckled a bit upon learning this.

"I heard this morning about a Duel Monster's Competition being held soon. I'm assuming that's the one you want to enter?" Ryou asked.

"Yeah! But I'm a pretty rookie player, so I asked Yugi if he could hook me up with some tips." Jounouchi explained.

The star-fished student rubbed the back of his neck. "I checked over Jounouchi's deck first and… well…"

Ryou blinked as he noticed Yugi had trailed off. "Was it that bad?"

"Apparently you can't just win by only having Monster Cards in your deck," Jounouchi muttered, being reminded how shocked Yugi was and ended up scolding him. "Even though they were pretty high powered Monsters…"

"High powered?" Another voice mocked as the trio saw two more students approaching them. Both were brunettes, but they were of different genders. "Most of the Monsters you had had less than two-thousand attack points. How can you say they were high powered?" The male student with pointed hair questioned.

Jounouchi glared at his childhood friend when he made that remark. "Well they were strong enough for me!"

"Says the guy that lost to me five times in a row with that deck…" The other brunette, Anzu, pointed out with a hint of mocking in her tone. Jounouchi grunted at her statement, making him slump on his desk in pure defeat.

"Once I told him a good deck has a mixture of Monster, Spell and Trap cards, he immediately wanted me to teach and train him." Yugi added on for Ryou. "But I ended up giving him to my Grandfather who taught me everything, and we've both been his pupils since."

Ryou chuckled inwardly hearing that. He should have known that Yugi would be interested in any form and styles of games, since he was quite a fanatic. Though, Ryou was the same. He enjoyed role-playing games be it table top or video games. To the blue-haired student, it was a way for him to unwind and pretend to be someone else that people can look up to. "Hey, maybe you should join us as well, Bakura!" Yugi suggested. "You can create your own deck and challenge Jounouchi."

"Eh?" Ryou blinked as he was stunned by the offer. "Well… I'm not too sure I'll be any good."

"That's what the training part is for," Jounouchi added. "Look, if a rookie like me can get better, then there's a chance for you as well."

"If Jounouchi is considered a rookie at this point, the bar is pretty much in your favor, Bakura." Honda stated.

The blond glared over at the guy with a twitch. "Says the one that hasn't even created their own deck!"

"Says the one that had their deck made up of only Monsters." Honda retorted. The two began to bicker back and forth, which led the other three in the group to step away.

"Ignore them, Bakura…" Anzu urged. "There's a wide variety of cards in terms of type and attributes, so there might be one that will catch your eye. But you don't need to be involved with Duel Monsters if you don't want to."

At least they were giving him a choice. Still, Ryou didn't want to decline their offer as they were kind enough to give him such an opportunity. And they did play one of his favorite games, granted it wasn't how he envisioned it. Ryou looked to the ground, being reminded of the Monster World Dark Game that took place many weeks ago. 'If I hadn't managed to get involved… none of them would have been able to survive.' He thought back to when he nearly sacrificed himself in both the White Mage and the dice to ensure that his friends would win. 'I should have died when I destroyed the Mind Dice… but I still lived. Why?' He would have been okay with dying back there, it was his fault that the others got sucked into that death trap to begin with. For some reason, he stayed.

"Bakura?" Yugi's concerned words made Ryou perk up, looking down at the shorter one as he was worried. "Are you alright?" He didn't even realize he was clenching his palm so tight, the fingers were digging into the skin.

"Sorry…" He apologized, loosening his fingers and let out a sigh. "I'll… think about it, but I want to avoid any kind of games for now." He admits. Anzu and Yugi looked at him, sensing how nervous he was. How could anyone blame him? Anytime he would try and enjoy a game he found comfort in, it turned out to only be an excuse for that parasite to pay his debt to his 'Landlord' as he called him. Just thinking about their first conversation was disturbing enough, but the fact it wasn't a nightmare added to that terror.

"Bakura…" Yugi whispered under his breath, while staring up at him. He seemed like he wanted to speak more, but the chance was missed once the door opened. The teacher came in, and the students rushed to their seats. Ryou didn't mind, he preferred to be distracted so he didn't have to be reminded of that act he was forced to commit against his friends.

"Morning everyone," the teacher called out to his students. "Before we begin, I want to say a few words. I know that summer vacation is a little over a week away, and though the exams have all been posted, that does not mean the lessons will cease. We will cover what we will be learning next semester so you all can get a jump on those lessons if you want to be prepared for when we go over them after the break." He explained, earning a few complaints from the students. "And since the exam results will be posted during lunch, I also wish to remind you that anyone who scored below 740 out of 840 on the lists will be required to retake the lessons during summer vacation to catch up. Unless you want to repeat the year over, in which case I hope the summer vacation is worth it." Everyone remained quiet after hearing that, which made the teacher pleased. "Now then, let us all review what we have learned over the exams for today. Then tomorrow we can talk about what we will cover after the vacation." He began to hand out some pamphlets so the students could see what the lesson for their first class would cover.

Ryou was more than ready to do some school work, as it was welcomed at this point. All he wanted was to attempt to have a semi-normal life like anyone who hadn't been through a near-death experience. Of course, that was easier said than done.

---

The morning felt increasingly long, as one class dragged on more than the last. Eventually, lunch time rolled around and everyone could catch a break. Ryou placed all of his notes into his bag, as he had looked over everything that they reviewed. He was mostly trying to figure out what they were planning on teaching after summer vacation. "Glad I was able to understand most of it…" He told himself, thankful he could handle the lessons weeks before the exams. Of course, only the results ranking would determine how well he did and if he was in the clear from taking any summer courses.

With his notes packed, he was ready to head out to get some food and to check the scores. Everyone else had pretty much piled out of the classroom, doing either activity. He believed he was the only one, until he looked up and noticed the familiar star-fished hair boy approaching him. "Hey, Bakura." He greeted, still holding that child-like smile as he stepped forward.

"You didn't head out with Jounouchi, Honda and Anzu, Yugi?" He questioned, surprised as he usually saw them together in a close band. Though that was mostly because they had a longer relationship than Ryou did with any of them, so he understood.

"Eh? Ah… well," Yugi rubbed the back of his head, trying to not be flustered. Still, he answered with a sympathetic smile. "I figured we could walk together. I wanted to see how you were doing and make sure you were alright."

Ryou blinked at the explanation. "I'm not sick, Yugi."

"I don't mean physically, Bakura." Yugi stated, a bit more serious as he lost his smile. The blue-haired student looked at the multi-colored peer, as he put the pieces together. "Can we talk? About what happened?"

Ryou turned his gaze away for a moment. He didn't really want to discuss that matter, since it only added to the guilt. Biting his lip, he hoped his silence would be enough for him to avoid this conversation, but he was not aware how persistent Yugi truly was. His amethyst eyes gazed down to the left hand of the taller one, noticing the bandages wrapped around the skin to protect the impalement that occurred. "Does it still hurt?" It was a rhetorical question for Ryou Bakura from Yugi Mutou. When his pale eyes looked at the hand which had the dressing on, he sighed as he cradled the wound.

"It hasn't bothered me as much now… I think it's finally scarred over." He explained.

"Can I see it?" Yugi requested, which once again caught Ryou off guard. Yet with how close Yugi was, it seemed that he wouldn't take no for an answer. Reluctantly, Ryou began to unwrap the cloth on his appendage. Yugi could see the small disfigurement on the back of the hand, where the castle tower had impaled him. No doubt the scar would be there for a few years, but at least now there was no reminisce of blood.

"I don't need the bandages anymore… but I don't want to let others see it…" Ryou admits, as he was a bit self-conscious about the origin of the wound.

Yugi looked at him, still smiling with his kind eyes. "It doesn't bother me," he reassured honestly. "Besides, scars are proof that you survived. And they often make you stronger as a result." Ryou listened to what Yugi was trying to tell him, but it felt like he wasn't truly processing it. "Bakura, none of us hold what happened against you." Yugi continued to explain. "We both know that you weren't in control, and you were willing to sacrifice yourself to help us."

"I couldn't let… him keep getting away with hurting my friends." Ryou added.

"And he didn't. We are here now because of you! The five of us would have been trapped forever if you didn't intervene when you did."

The taller of the pair couldn't deny that fact. Still… Why was it he was able to take over at that game rather than the previous ones? Was it because he was fully aware of the being that was locked away in the Ring now? Did his knowledge of that other half of him make it so that he was able to fight back? There were so many things he didn't understand. "And I'm glad that it happened for two main reasons," Yugi continued. Ryou raised a brow as his curiosity got the better of him. "The first is because I managed to gain a new friend that day." He looked right up at Ryou, still keeping that cheeky grin and wide eyes. "A friend who, no matter what, is willing to do whatever it takes to protect his friends and showcases how strong he truly is. Because if you could manage to beat your darker half, then you are more vigorous than even Jounouchi. Though, maybe more in the mental department."

"Heh…" Ryou let out a small chuckle. "I'll admit, I don't think I can ever match up to him in terms of physical strength."

Yugi's gaze softened as he still had another reason. "And two… that battle helped me to see the face of my other half…" The shorter one reached around his chest, where the golden artifact of Egyptian origin hung. Ryou gazed at the beautiful item, even though he knew it could be just as dangerous as the one he got. Then again, he didn't know the full history of the Puzzle like Yugi did.

"Was it the first time you got to meet him?" Ryou asked, fully engaged in this conversation now.

Yugi kept holding his Puzzle, giving a slight shrug before answering. "I always kind of knew that there was something or someone within me that woke up after completing it. I never understood the full details, but I knew that every time my friends and I were in trouble and I would have relapses in my memory, it was connected somehow."

"So you experienced the same kind of memory loss I did whenever I was taken over…" Ryou realized.

Yugi nodded, confirming it. "To be honest, I was scared to admit it. I kept denying it for some time, mainly because I didn't want to scare anyone off. And it wasn't like he was hurting my friends or me, so I figured it was alright. But part of me wonders if everything bad that kept happening to us was a result of me finishing the Millennium Puzzle." He finally concludes. "All of the bad things with Kaiba, the bullies, and others seemed to pile on. Each one worse than the last, and the situation escalated into more danger."

Ryou felt sympathy for Yugi. It was the same when he first got the Millennium Ring. Even though he enjoyed the sentimental value it had, he couldn't deny that his life felt worse upon first receiving it. Still… "Yugi, you can't blame everything that happened on yourself." He began. "I may not know the history you have with the others, and what kind of adventures you got into. But I doubt it was the Puzzle that has gotten you a string of bad luck. Sometimes these things happen: bullies and those in power who dominate you because they feel they can. With or without the Puzzle, it probably would have continued in one direction or another." Yugi heard what he was saying, and he wasn't wrong. Even before he had the Puzzle, he was usually picked on and bullied occasionally. Of course, it never escalated to what it was after the Puzzle, but it still was a hard life he faced in school. "And besides, that Puzzle might have saved your life on more than one account. And even the lives of your friends." He wasn't wrong about that part either.

After all, it was because of the Millennium Puzzle that Yugi managed to make the friends he now has. Yugi smiled down at the artifact around his neck, and though there was still much he didn't know, he was aware that this item managed to make him more confident. Though that might have been due to his other half, part of him felt like he had changed since getting this Item. "You do make some valid points, Bakura." Yugi admitted, as he still had a new found respect for the Puzzle.

"Have you been able to communicate with the other half of the Puzzle since Monster World?" Ryou questioned, as he wondered if now that Yugi was aware of the presences within his Item, maybe they could actually talk with each other, similar to how Ryou could speak with the being of the Millennium Ring.

Yugi shook his head, a bit disappointed. "I haven't really found any sort of way to talk to him, at least not through normal means like a conversation. But, whenever I close my eyes and look into my mind… I can sense his feelings." Ryou listened with interest. So Yugi and his other half haven't managed to speak with each other. Ryou wondered why that was, despite the new development of finally meeting. Still, he wouldn't pry as he was certain there were things not even Yugi understood.

"Maybe you'll be able to fully speak to him soon. Just give him and yourself some time…" He suggested.

Yugi looked up at him and nodded, believing that they had time to figure it out. Though, there was something on Yugi's mind that made him speak. "What about you? Do you… still wear the Millennium Ring?" He kept his eyes on the taller one, as he spoke.

Ryou was taken aback by the question, as he didn't think Yugi would ask him such a thing. Then again… maybe it was because he was concerned for Ryou that he wanted to make sure history doesn't repeat itself? He would have done the same with Yugi if the roles were reversed. Ryou looked back at his bag, biting his lip as he debated about wanting to lie to Yugi. He didn't want his item to be taken away, for as much bad luck as it had brought him, he still felt a connection to the object. Still, Yugi had been kind to him up to this point. He was understanding and still willing to be close to him despite everything that happened. The last thing Ryou wanted to do was break that trust. Taking a deep breath, he had to be honest. "I still have the Millennium Ring," he admitted, which made Yugi's eyes dilated but he tried to not appear judgemental. "But, I'm not wearing it!" Ryou added, quickly undoing his white shirt to show off a part of his upper chest. No sign of any loose string or gold on his skin, which made Yugi seem relieved. "After what happened, I don't want to take any chances. So I've refrained from keeping it on me. So long as I don't wear it, it's just a piece of jewelry."

Yugi kept staring at Ryou, as he listened. The blue-haired boy knew that it was something Yugi was against, but he also didn't want to let it go. "Believe me Yugi, I won't put the Ring on again. I'm keeping it to make sure no one goes through the same kind of experience, but I'm taking precautions to ensure that I won't fall victim to it." He was sincere with his reasoning, and it wasn't as if he would risk a second possession attempt, now that he knew what the consequences were.

Yugi sighed, as he began to grow a smile while his eyes remained soft. "...Alright." He finally gave in. "I know you're smart enough to realize the dangers, so I trust you. After all, I don't have the right to take away the Ring from you." Ryou was grateful for Yugi's understanding.

"Thank you, Yugi." Ryou felt himself grinning. The shorter of the two looked up at the clock above the doors, noticing the time.

"Ah! We only have forty minutes until the afternoon classes start!" Yugi gasped. "We better get going and get some lunch before it runs out."

"Right," Ryou agreed, feeling a bit peckish himself. "I also wanted to take a look at the exam results as well. They should be posted by now." Ryou and Yugi walked side by side, heading out of the classroom and going down the hall. They both had cheery expressions on their faces, showcasing they were enjoying each other's company. "So, do you think your score will be acceptable when you see it?" Ryou asked Yugi, questioning him about his exam results.

"I'll be happy as long as I'm not in the bottom hundred. Then that way I won't have to take any summer classes to make up for what I lacked." Yugi admitted. "Though I'm more curious about your results. You were only here for a month before the exams were handed out."

"Well, most of the lessons Domino High were teaching were already things I learned from my previous school." Ryou admitted. "So keeping up with the lessons wasn't too difficult."

"How many schools have you transferred to?" Yugi questioned.

"Well, before I came to Domino, I was pretty much living in England and was finishing up Primary school before I was transferred to Japan." Ryou began. "Though I've been to many schools before coming here. I would say maybe… nine schools in the last five years I've lived here…" Of course, the main reason he would always transfer was due to the circumstances of his classmates falling into comas. But he left that part out for two reasons. The first was that he didn't want to be reminded of what he had done, even though he had no memory, the guilt remained. And two, Yugi was more than aware of what happened.

Yugi didn't focus on the bad parts of the transfers, rather he was curious about Ryou's home life. "Wait… you mean to tell me that you were in England?" He asked.

Ryou raised a brow, as he wasn't aware Yugi didn't know. "I never told you?" Yugi shook his head, which confused the taller one for a moment as he was certain he disclosed that information. Although, now that he thought about it… 'Oh right, I only told Cosmo about where I was from…' He realized. Looking back at Yugi, he further explained. "Well, my father is English but my mom lived here in this country. But they both lived in England for a majority of my childhood. But, father was usually away on his expeditions due to his work."

"Oh yeah, you mentioned he's an archaeologist…" Yugi remembered.

Ryou nodded. "Yes… actually that's how he found the Millennium Ring." He admits, which piqued Yugi's interest even more. "He was on some sites in Egypt where they needed him to translate some slabs. While he was there, he found a merchant who was selling the Ring."

"A merchant?" Yugi repeated.

"That's what my father told me. He bought the Millennium Ring and gave it to me as a souvenir from one of his trips. It's why I always had it on me, even now despite everything." Ryou explained.

"Well, I can't blame you for wanting to still keep it, since it holds sentimental value." Yugi admitted, then reached down and held the Puzzle. "My grandfather gave me this Puzzle, and I want to consider it a memento of him." He admits. "I still can't believe that it's been eight years since I first got it in that golden box."

Ryou smiled with muse as he heard that. "You know, you never told me how your grandfather got the Millennium Puzzle."

"It's not too much of an exciting story. My grandfather was an archaeologist back in his day, kind of like your dad." Yugi told Ryou. "But he retired when my dad was graduating college. I guess one of the people he worked with long ago stumbled upon a tomb where the Millennium Puzzle was stationed, and gave it to him."

"Your grandfather was given an ancient artifact that could have belonged to a person of high status, from someone who discovered it?" Ryou found that a bit hard to believe, but wasn't rejecting the idea since it was on par with how he obtained his item.

"Well, from what my Grandpa told me, the people who found the Millennium Puzzle all died mysteriously after discovering it. So the last person in that group pawned it off in an attempt to save their lives." Yugi explained. "To be honest, I never believed in Egyptian curses before. But after seeing what this and your Ring can do… I'm more inclined to accept the idea of them."

Ryou chuckled a bit, as he was in the same boat as Yugi. "At least my item wasn't the only one that caused devastation to others… no offense." Yugi merely smiled at him, assuring him he was not offended by the statement. "Though, it is interesting that it came from a tomb."

"The Valley of Kings to be exact, according to my Grandpa." Yugi added.

"You think a Pharaoh could have worn that item?!" Ryou asked, becoming excited at the mere thought.

"Well, I'm sure someone of high importance must have worn it at one point. The problem is, the room that the team discovered it in was pretty bare. There wasn't a lot of information within the tomb to tell who owned the Puzzle. Or if there was, the people that knew about it are either dead or are far away." Yugi pointed out. "I wish I knew more about whoever owned the Puzzle. Maybe it would explain why it has such powers and the alter ego that possesses me." He admits. Even Ryou was curious about that. As he had to question if it was an alter ego that was possessing Yugi… or something else? "Although, when I saw your Millennium Ring, I was surprised how similar it looked to my Puzzle. Not only is it made of the same material, but it has the eye as well." He added on, making those observations. That was when Yugi gasped, eyes lighting up as an idea popped into his head. "Wait! What if the Puzzle and the Ring came from the same tomb?! That would explain their similarities in appearance and curses!"

Ryou entertained the theory of Yugi. "I feel if they were secured in the same location, then the Ring would have stayed with the archaeologists instead of a random merchant within the streets." Hearing this made Yugi lose that confidences, as Ryou did have a good point. If the team discovered both items, then it would be logical that they could have both ended up with Sugaroku. Or at the very least stationed in a museum. "Although…" Ryou continued. "It might be plausible to believe that the Millennium Ring and Millennium Puzzle could have been created as a set. Though, it makes me wonder if it's just those two or…"

"Or what?" Yugi asked as he noticed that pondering look within Ryou's pale eyes.

"Well, if there are two items, then who's to say that it only just stopped at two?"

Yugi blinked as he thought about it, realizing what Ryou was thinking. "You think there's more than just two of the Millennium Items?"

The taller of the two rubbed his chin as he gave a small nod. "There's no physical evidence if that's the case… but if there were two items, it's not entirely impossible to believe there could be more." He did have a point. Though there was no evidence to back it up, both of the students believed their Millennium Items were one of a kind until Ryou transferred. And given all that has happened, anything was possible.

'What exactly are the Millennium Items? Who created them? What were they used for? How many are there?' Ryou had one question after another. His archaeologist side that he inherited from his father grew with each impending idea. There was so much about the Millennium Ring and Puzzle that neither Yugi nor he could comprehend. A mystery that surrounded them, and it was gnawing at his brain.

"There they are!" Yugi shouted as he headed down the hallway faster. Ryou was taken out of his thoughts when he heard what Yugi said and followed him. Plastered onto the wall were the results of the summer exams. Many students had already gathered round, seeing where they fell. Domino High School had a total of 840 students, with 280 per grade. The purpose of the list was to determine how well the students managed during the exams. Those that got lower than 740 on the board would be forced to take summer classes in an attempt to catch up.

"Oh no, I'm not even in the top 100!" One student cried out with fear.

"Oh! I'm number 20!" A female cheered with excitement.

Yugi tried to get through the crowd, so he could take a look at the score and determine where he stood. "Come on… let me at least be above 400…" He prayed as he scanned the board to see his name. Ryou stood by his side, wanting to see what his score was though he was confident it was high enough to pass. He looked for his name on the board, wondering where he ranked. Finally, his pale, blue eyes managed to catch where he was and the score. Ryou Bakura: Score - 112. That made Ryou smile, as he had not only passed but was also able to be pretty high up.

"Yugi!" The blueish-haired student heard that voice with a rough edge. He turned and saw Jounouchi coming over to where Yugi was in front of the crowd.

"Jounouchi! I thought you were going to get some lunch." Yugi stated.

"I was, but then I saw the results. Take a look!" The blond pointed to the board, seeing the results of their scores. Yugi followed his gaze and saw where he and his friends were. Yugi was at position 372, followed up by Honda who was 380 and then Jounouchi at 392. "I finally managed to get a good score!"

Ryou came over as he heard what was said, and made a remark himself. "Well… at least you aren't qualified to take summer classes."

"While true, this is the first time I've been higher than 500 since I left elementary school!" Jounouchi stated. "And being in the 300's is going to make my mom and Shizuka proud!"

"That's great, Jounouchi." Yugi smiled at him.

Ryou looked back at the board to see if he could find the others and their scores. That was when he noticed something. "Huh… that's weird. Miho is on here… she got 267."

When Yugi saw this himself, he was just as confused. "Huh… I thought Miho transferred."

Jounouchi sighed. "Yeah, Anzu confirmed it. Apparently her father got a job offer out in the countryside and has to transfer schools. She left last week…" He explained.

Ryou was aware of Miho Nosaka, the periwinkle haired girl who was head over heels for him just because of his looks. Like most of the other female students of Domino High, she was the one of the most intrusive ones. Though she wasn't a bad person, he just wasn't interested in her or anyone given what happened in the past. "How's Honda holding up?" Ryou asked, since he knew the brunet had a crush on her, according to Yugi and Jounouchi.

"He was pretty bummed, so I've been trying to lift his spirits up. Of course the only thing that seems to help him is my humiliation." Jounouchi sighed, a bit annoyed.

Yugi had to keep himself from chuckling. "Well, at least you're being a supportive friend in his time of need." The smallest of the three looked up and saw where Anzu was. "Ah! Anzu got 217 in the position!" He sounded proud, smiling when he saw his friend scoring so high.

"Between her part time job and dance lessons, how does she have time for studying?" Jounouchi questioned, a bit jealous that she managed to get a higher score than him despite what she was doing in her freetime.

The shortest of the three saw another name that was familiar that was up on the board and gasped. "Hey look, Cosmo was only three points behind you, Bakura." The three looked up, seeing that she had gotten 115 out of 840. A pretty great score, all things considered. Ryou was also impressed with the results, as he figured she was a smart girl.

Ryou scanned the crowd to try and see if he could find the green-haired student. "Where is she?" He wondered.

Yugi looked around to try and find her as well. "Huh… maybe she already saw the scores and went to the cafeteria?" Yugi theorized.

"I saw her in the halls. Think she was talking to someone." Jounouchi explained.

"Another student?" Yugi asked.

"Didn't get a good look, but they didn't seem to have a uniform…" Jounouchi shrugged. Hearing that made Ryou confused as he had many questions. Did someone from Cosmo's family come in to talk to her? Then again, they would have gone to the office rather than be in the hallway. Maybe it was a transfer student, like Ryou was? It would explain the lack of uniform. He doubted they would be getting someone new a week before summer vacation, so they must be here scooping out the school to be ready after the break.

Ryou, Yugi and Jounouchi headed out of the crowd and tried to find their friend, wondering if she was nearby. The three walked down the halls, scanning until they turned a corner and saw the green-haired girl talking with someone out in the halls. The boys saw the person's back, so they didn't know who it was. All they knew was that it had to be a girl, as she wore a pink blouse with puffy sleeves and a white, thin strapped dress that flowed to the knees along with white socks and slip-on shoes that matched the blouse. She did have light blush, pink hair, and it seemed to be the same style as Ryou's, but it was shorter. For some reason, as the blue-haired one looked at the girl with her back to him, he had a sense of deja-vu.

"Cosmo!" Yugi called out as he stepped forward to approach them. Jounouchi and Ryou followed, as they wanted to see who she was talking to.

The green-haired girl looked up as the others came towards her, which made her smile and wave. "Yugi! Hi!"

He smiled and waved back just as his friends were right behind. "Sorry if we were interrupting something."

"No, no, it's fine. I was actually looking for you to introduce you to someone." Yugi raised a brow, as he looked back at the girl. She turned, so that Yugi could see her full features and was taken aback. Her pale skin, roundish features and eyes that matched her hair color. She looked similar to… "Yugi, I want you to meet-"

Ryou moved closer so he could see who Cosmo was talking to. He pushed past Jounouchi and stood next to Yugi. The moment he saw the girl with pink hair and eyes, his pupils dilated in shock. The student stared at the girl in awe and confusion, as he had a sense of nostalgia in his eyes. "A…A…" He stuttered to get one word out of his mouth.

The short girl, who seemed to be the same height as Yugi and Cosmo, looked at the one with blue hair as she grew a smile. "Brother!" Her voice boomed before jumping off her heels and wrapped her arms around Ryou's neck. She tackled him to the ground, laying on his chest as the others watched him being attacked by the short, pink girl. "I've been looking all over this school for you! I'm glad I finally found you!"

Ryou kept stuttering, unable to form a verbal word while he laid on the ground. He had so many questions, staring at the girl who had similar physical features as him. She seemed to have no care in the word, but Ryou on the other hand was quite confused.

"Are you okay, Bakura?" Yugi asked.

"You know this girl, Bakura?" Jounouchi asked. He thought she was another one of his fangirls, but then again she seemed too closely related based on the features for him to reach that conclusion.

"Sorry," the pink-haired girl apologized as she got off of Ryou and helped him up by herself. "But I wanted to see the school you were attending. I was trying to find you then I ran into your friend here." She gestured towards Cosmo.

"I see…" Ryou rubbed his head as he looked at her. He then turned towards the other three and saw their baffled expressions, wanting some answers. "Uh… Yugi, Cosmo, Jounouchi… this is Amane. She's my sister." He explained.

The others were surprised by this news, as they looked back between him and the new girl. "Sister?" Yugi repeated as he looked at the two.

"You have a sis, Bakura?" Jounouchi questioned.

"I'm his younger sister, only by nearly two years." Amane stated.

"That explains why you two have similar characteristics…" Cosmo commented. Amane responded with a smirk while Ryou laughed nervously.

"Well, good to see I'm not the only big brother in the group!" Jounouchi mused, going over to Ryou and wrapping his arm around his shoulder and patting it. "Welcome to the older brother club, Bakura!"

"Uh… thanks, Jounouchi." Ryou raised a brow, not sure how he was supposed to feel. Though at least no one was making fun of him for this.

"I'm Yugi Mutou, nice to meet you Amane Bakura." Yugi greeted the younger of the Bakura siblings.

"Pleased to meet you as well," Amane took his hand and shook it with a tight grip, which he noticed. He winced a bit, then pulled back. "So, you know my brother?"

"Yeah, we're friends. We've been hanging out since he transferred." Yugi explained.

"I assume he hasn't mentioned me?" Amane questioned with a sly brow raised.

"Well… the topic never came up…" Yugi tried to explain.

Amane rolled her eyes before looking over at her brother. "I know between the two of us, you were the more shy and quiet one, but you'd think you would try and be more open with these people you've befriended. I've been away from you for eight years, and you fall apart without me." She sounded like she was scolding him.

"W-Well… I didn't know you were… I mean the last time I saw you… you were…" Ryou kept trailing off, not sure how to phrase what situation Amane was in.

Yugi stepped forward, as he wanted to ask a few questions. "Say, Amane? Why haven't we seen you in Bakura's apartment?" He asked.

"Well, I was still living in England while he transferred abroad to go to school." Amane explained.

"So, ya didn't move in with your brother?" Jounouchi raised a brow.

Amane seemed like she was about to explain further, but Cosmo chimed in. "Jounouchi. Yugi. We shouldn't be bombarding them with so many questions. Amane is new here and she was only looking for her brother, who she found. I'm sure they want to catch up first before they speak with us." She pointed out.

Jounouchi and Yugi were surprised that Cosmo would be defensive, even Ryou was amazed by her suddenly taking a stand. Though he was impressed, considering how introverted she was, she seemed to have come out of her shell. "Sorry Cosmo," Yugi admitted. "You're right." He turned back to the Bakura siblings. "Sorry Bakura, we didn't mean to bombard you and your sister with so many questions."

Ryou gave a reassured smile at the statement. He was grateful Yugi and Cosmo were considerate enough to not overwhelm him with many questions. Especially since he was just as curious himself. "T-thanks, Yugi… and Cosmo." He thanked the two of them, then looked at Amane. "How long have you been here?"

"If you're talking about the school, ten minutes. If you mean the country, we got in last night."

"We?" Ryou raised a brow when he realized she didn't come into the country alone.

"Dad is in the principal's office, talking about a few things with him." Amane responded. When he learned about this, his eyes went wide. His dad… he was here? There were so many emotions swimming in his heart, but he couldn't deal with any of them now.

"Uh… if you're busy Bakura, we can leave you alone." Yugi suggested. "It seems there's a lot that needs to be done. We can find you later if you want to talk."

Admittedly, Ryou wasn't against splitting up for now. He needed to know what was going on. With a smile, he nodded at Yugi as he was fine with the plan. Yugi waved goodbye to Ryou as he and Jounouchi started to head out. "See ya later, Bakura." The blond said before he left with Yugi. Once the two were out of sight, Cosmo looked back at the siblings.

"I'll uh… leave you to it." She seemed awkward standing there, so she took her leave next until it was just Ryou with his sister.

Amane watched the three friends head off, as she had a smirk on her lips and an eyebrow raised. "I'm impressed that you managed to make so many friends despite being at this school for a month." She whipped her head back at her brother as she teased him. "Looks like someone is finally turning into a social butterfly."

Hearing that comment made Ryou wince a bit, as he knew she was teasing but he didn't want her to think anything negative. "It's not like I… I mean… they were just so nice and…"

Amane shook her head, then slapped her brother on the back with one hand while the other held her hip. "Relax, I'm just teasing. And they seem like fine people." Her pink eyes looked over at her brother, softening as she had sincerity within the pupils. "I'm glad you found some others to call friends. I was worried you would be lonely forever, especially when I couldn't be by your side." Ryou lowered his guard when he heard her say such words. Both of them knew the reason for her absence in his life, but they didn't want to go into details at the moment. Amane seemed like she wanted to spend time with her brother and make up for the years they lost. And to Ryou, he was more than happy to help with that.

"I missed you," the blue-haired boy gave a small grin as he looked at his sibling.

Amane returned the gesture, as they shared a genuine moment together for the first time in a long while. "We should head to the principal's office…" She reminded him. "Father wants to talk with you about the future." This made Ryou become worried again. What was his father and sister planning for him? Regardless, he needed to know what was happening so he followed Amane down the halls to locate the office and their parent. So much for trying to live a normal life, Ryou thought.

---

It was… strange for Ryou to see his father again after so many years. He wasn't sure what he would do when he saw him standing in the principal's office. His dark blue hair in a low ponytail. Brown eyes hidden behind large, circular glasses. He usually saw him in a brown vest and cargo shorts, but he had on a casual white shirt and jeans, along with a black baseball cap. He didn't change at all in the last five years he had been away, according to Ryou. But the young high schooler knew that a lot of time had passed and it challenged their relationship. The moment he made eye contact with his father, he had so many things to say. Yet his mouth remained closed, unable to speak what was on his mind. His father was happy though, as he gave his son a hug and told him how much he missed him. It was the usual speech that would be said to someone who hadn't seen their loved one in a while. Even so, Ryou believed it. At least, he wanted to, because it was something he had longed for.

They found themselves in the car, heading back to Ryou's apartment even though the school day was still going. Ryou and Amane sat in the back seat while their father drove. "I'm sorry for pulling you out of school," The older man began, addressing his son as he looked at the mirror above the dashboard, to see Ryou sitting in the back. "I know you love to study."
Ryou didn't really love studying… he was good at it, but it wasn't something he did as a hobby. Unless it was a certain topic that he was interested in, like ancient civilizations and cultures. In which case, yes he did love to study. But not if it was school work related. "It's alright… we took our final exams for summer vacation. So everything we are being taught are previews for the next semester. But those don't go towards our grades."

"Ah yes, your summer vacation is only a week away." Mr. Bakura realized. "Though I trust you won't need to take any summer courses?"

Ryou shook his head. "I scored fairly high in the exams, so I have the summer free."

Amane puffed her cheeks out and looked away. "Lucky you…" She grumbled. Ryou noticed how grumpy she sounded, but he figured it would be revealed once they were back at his apartment. Thankfully, the ride was not long, about ten minutes since the car cut the time of travel by half. Once they parked, they headed up to the floor where Ryou's apartment was. They walked on in, Ryou guiding them through the foyer and headed to the living room.

"I'm sorry for the mess… I've been a bit busy with the exams so cleaning the apartment was not on the top of my list." Ryou tried to explain as some clothes were on the floor, papers of different topics over any surface, there were a few dishes in the sink, even the bed wasn't truly made.

Mr. Bakura waved his hand at his son. "No need to apologize, this is your apartment after all. And we didn't give you a notice, so it's our fault for not giving you time."

Amane seemed to be enjoying the tour, as she had sparkling eyes while looking at every wall and corner. "Woah, this looks way different than the apartments in England!" She commented. "And it's so spacious!"

Ryou and his father guided Amane to the living room, where he sat them down. "Did you want any tea? I was going to make some since I usually do whenever I come home."

"I'm not against it, but I'd rather not trouble you." His father stated, since he was a guest here, he didn't want to sound demanding.

"I really don't mind…" Ryou tried to protest. He usually drank tea when he was nervous. And considering that his father and sister were here to discuss something, he needed all the help with his nerves he could get.

"In that case, at least let me be the one to make it. I got some flavor pouches I brought all the way from London. Even got your favorite…" Mr. Bakura persuaded.

Ryou was against the idea, but hearing about his favorite brand made him curious. "You mean the strawberry tea?" He asked, which his father nodded to confirm. That did put a smile on Ryou's face, as it was one of his favorite flavors he shared with his sister. "Alright, I'll look after Amane." He offered. The oldest of the two nodded, as the father headed into the kitchen. Despite the awkwardness of the situation, the family was trying to make the most out of it. While Ryou had many questions concerning his father and sister, he was certain the answers would be given to him soon enough. For now, he had to make sure they got settled.

The young boy walked into the living room, where his sister was staring at the glass of the shelves, holding many figurines for Monster World. Ryou paused when he saw her reaction to them, getting flashbacks to his younger years when he was just getting into the game. Only for that excitement to turn into disdain and horror once those games would become fatal to his friends. He quickly shook his head to be brought back to reality. With a deep inhale, he began to approach his sister.

Amane was admiring the figurines, her eyes shone with wonder as she examined each and everyone of them. "Woah! Look at all the details!" Amane awed. As Ryou stood by her side, she turned to face him with an energetic smile. "You've gotten better at sculpting, brother." She commented.

That brought a smile onto Ryou's face, being reminded of how she admired his crafts. He looked back at the pieces, remembering the happier times when he was just starting out as a dungeon master. It was after he had been introduced to Monster World by his father, and he became obsessed with it. He spent hours to days crafting the stories, character designs and settings for his campaigns and loved it when his family got together to play. Amane was usually the one to be most thrilled by it. Over the years, he had become more skilled in every department and managed to even play some games with the friends he made in his younger years. Of course, that was before… Ryou shook his thoughts as he didn't want to be weighed down by the negatives now. Especially with his guests in his apartment. "Thanks… Amane." Ryou replied to her statement.

"You really haven't changed, huh? Still having those hobbies." Amane mused. "Have you played Monster World with your friends yet? That Yugi and Jounouchi seem like they'd be interested."

"Uh… yeah." He responded hesitantly. "We played a small one together with Yugi, Jounouchi and a few others. But, I haven't been able to spend time with Monster World…" Ryou tried to explain, then came up with an excuse that wouldn't make him look crazy. "Mainly because of moving around and studying to keep up with the schools and lessons."

Thankfully, Amane seemed to have bought that as she merely shrugged. "I get it, you've always been a prude when it comes to your studies. Even though you're already smart enough as is."

Ryou rolled his eyes as his younger sister seemed to dismiss the booksmarts side of him. Still, he found the conversation they were having enjoyable and one he had longed for. Their father finally came out of the kitchen, with a tray of cups holding the tea. The children went over to the coffee table and sat down, being handed their beverages. "I know it's a bit hot for warm tea, but it's the only kind I can make." Mr. Bakura explained.

The son took his cup and brought it to his lips, drinking it excitedly. The moment he tasted it, a smile was presented. "This is delicious!"

"Is it really that good?" Amane questioned.

Ryou gave a nod. "I've been used to drinking Japanese tea brands, so it's great to have something from England."

"Well, good thing I brought a container for you then." The father mused.

Ryou was grateful that his father was thinking about him. Even though they had been distant with one another for a while, he still cared for his parental figure and was happy whenever he had the chance to visit. However, despite how happy this scene was and as much as he wanted to live in it a bit longer, Ryou had many questions that needed answering. "So… why are you back?" He tried to get right to the point.

Mr. Bakura noticed how serious yet hesitant Ryou was, which made the older one sigh. "I know you have a lot of questions… and I promise to answer them all. At least as best as I can."

Amane was sitting next to her brother, drinking the tea and not responding to the conversation. At least not at the moment. Though the fact her head was downcasted showed she seemed to be lost in thought, blocking out the conversation. Ryou and their father noticed this, but it was all the more reason the brother had to ask. "When did Amane get released?"

"...About a month ago. I believe it was June 3rd that she was finally responsive." He told his son. "The doctors were just as surprised. She had woken up as if nothing happened."

Ryou was speechless, turning back to Amane who remained silent on the concept. She didn't seem to want to add in any of her thoughts, remaining quiet for some reason. Ryou didn't want to pry, even though he knew it was rude to talk about her while she was present. "It's been… eight years since the accident?"

Mr. Bakura nodded. "The doctors theorized that the crash caused her severe but not fatal damage. It's possible because of the physical wounds, it overstimulated her so it resorted to her shutting down. They're not sure why it took her so long to wake up, especially after her body had more or less healed at that point. But they said she hasn't experienced any mental damage as far as the tests show. So, Amane seems to be healthy in both physical and mental state."

Ryou was still stunned by this information, as he looked back at Amane who finally lifted her head up to meet him. The older brother got worried as he wasn't sure if his sibling was unaffected as their father said she was. "...How are you feeling about this?" He finally managed to ask her.

Amane shrugged, staring back into the liquid of her cup. "Honestly, I feel fine. I don't remember a lot about what happened. The last thing I can recall was driving with mom on the road, then there was this bright light and I felt my body being tossed around. It was a lot and I blacked out…" She trailed off, thinking back to that time many years ago. "The next thing I knew, I was laying in a hospital bed with machines around me. When I woke up, the nurses and doctors called Father in and they were so surprised. Even after they explained to me everything, I could hardly believe it."

Ryou's eyes soften with sympathy, hearing her side of the story. "I can't say I'm surprised. You were only seven when it happened, it must have been a shock to learn you were out for that long."

"Once I told her where you were living, she was adamant on me taking her to see you. She practically begged me every day." Mr. Bakura added. "I didn't want to remove her right away since the doctors were still concerned about a few things. It wasn't until after we got the go ahead from them that I booked us the first flight to Japan."

Ryou nodded in understanding. That explained why it took them so long but… "How come you didn't inform me about what was happening with Amane?" He finally questioned.

Mr. Bakura jumped at the ask, but the look of guilt on his face proved he had a feeling Ryou would ask that and he had to be honest. "I wanted to inform you, but so much was happening with Amane and… we weren't even sure if she would make it." The father of the children sighed, rubbing the bridge of his nose. "And you were just settling down at your new school, so I figured this would only be another plateful for you… but I know that's not an excuse. I'm sorry I didn't inform you sooner… I just didn't want you to get your hopes up and be met with disappointment."

Part of Ryou wanted to call out his father, yell at him for keeping the fact that for a whole month his little sister, who had been in a coma for nearly a decade, had woken up and was recovering. As angry as Ryou was… he also tried to be understanding of his father. Neither of them had any hope that Amane would even wake up at all, since she was in such a vegetative state. He didn't even know how much longer his father would have allowed her to keep being plugged into life support. The silence from his son had Mr. Bakura speak up again. "I know this is a lot to ask and won't make up for the years you lost. However, Amane was adamant on coming to Japan so she could spend time with you. Which means, she wants to live with you."

Hearing that explanation caused Ryou to jump on his seat. He stared at his father, who nodded then turned to Amane, as the young girl had a big smile on her face. "E-Eh?" It was all Ryou could say as he stared at his sister confused.

"Don't act so surprised! We were pretty close before the accident and I don't want to miss one more year without you." Amane declared.

"I… I see… but, it's… I mean…"

"Your apartment has two bedrooms right? An extra one in case Dad comes over. I can use that as my room. You won't even have to move your figurines around either, since I'm used to them." Amane explained.

"But… What about school?" Ryou questioned.

"Well, that's the thing to really discuss. While Amane is 15, old enough to be in high school, she has missed too many grades. She wants to transfer to Domino High, where you go, but she can't at the moment due to her lack of schooling." Mr. Bakura explained. "Therefore, it'll be important for her to begin studying immediately so she can catch up. Ideally she wants to be able to attend by next school year, so in the Spring here."

"That's only less than a year away… will you be able to achieve that? After all, you were only in year two of your schooling back in England. And you would need to be able to go through nine years of school before you can even be in 10th grade here… That is quite a lot of lessons to get through."

Amane waved her hand. "You worry too much. Just because you have the better grades, doesn't mean I'm dumber. I can be as good at studying if I have a reason to achieve it! Besides, I only just need to focus on the basics!"

"That's one of the other reasons I was talking with the principal at Domino High, to see how we could get Amane on track so she can attend next year." Mr. Bakura added. "Since schooling and classes are different in Japan than England, it will be tough. But as long as she gets 60 percent or above, she will be able to pass."

"They said I need to be able to take Mathematics, Science, Japanese, Foreign Languages, Social Studies, Physical Education, Moral Education, Technology and Home Economics. Luckily, I already have a good enough grasp on English, which they allowed me to use for my Foreign Language class. And I remember bits and pieces from Japanese, so once I get a refresher, I should be alright."

"Guess it pays to be able to have parents who are English and Japanese huh?" Ryou chuckled.

"As long as you can get the core classes of math, science, both languages, and social studies of every grade completed by next spring, they will allow you to begin classes at Domino High. Of course you'll also have to do some cram schooling alongside your actual studies just to be prepared for the final years." Mr. Bakura told his daughter.

"What about the other classes?" Ryou asked.

"I'll have to take lessons from cram schools that have a gym to record all my hours of fitness. As well as other stuff like cooking, hygiene and finances." Amane added. "I'm actually looking forward to the physical stuff… it'll be nice to move around again."

"Well, you were the more athletic out of the two of us." Ryou commented.

"I've already figured out Amane's lessons with the books we have gotten for her. She wants to try and get through one grade within a month or two so she will be able to be ready for the next school year. I've already agreed to help her with some of her lessons on my own. But she would like for you to teach her the rest or find another tutor if possible."

"You're really serious about catching up, aren't you?" Ryou questioned.

Amane nodded vigorously as she stared at her brother with a determined expression. "We've been apart for too long and I want to make sure we at least are in the same school together before you graduate! Even if I may not like studying, if it means I can be with you in school then I'm willing to make the sacrifice! Even if that means I have to give up my summer…" Amane sighed in disappointment.

Ryou let out a small chuckle at her sighing, not that he blamed her for being disappointed. She had only just been freed and was enjoying herself only to now be forced into another situation she would be trapped in. At least it was one she was willing herself to be put through, but that didn't make it any better.

"You don't have to overdo it, just make sure you get the lessons you need to complete at a certain time." Mr. Bakura told his daughter, then turned to look at his son. "So… what do you say Ryou? I know this is a lot to take in and it would cause you to have to make some… drastic changes. But Amane is adamant on wanting to stay with you, and I think it would be a good thing for the two of you to be together again."

Hearing his father say that reminded the young man of how long he had been living alone, feeling isolated with only the company of his friends and games. He kept his eyes away from his father and sister, thinking it over carefully. 'It's not that I don't want them to stay… But even if the Millennium Ring has gone dormant, there's no guarantee that it's safe.' He thought to himself, being reminded of the damages that item caused ever since he got it. And all of that was towards his friends, who knows what would happen if his family were caught in the crossfire. Then again… as long as he didn't physically wear the Ring and made sure to keep it hidden, it would be alright. He'd have to make sure neither his dad nor Amane would be able to find it easily. If he could manage that, there should be no problem. As he thought about it, he stole a glance over at his sister, who was pressing herself close up to him with a wide, pleading expression. She was clearly trying to use her looks to guilt him into letting her stay. Which always worked on him, and they both knew it.

Ryou tried to look away, but he could sense the pink pupils of his sister trying to glare into his soul. 'It would be nice to have someone else in the apartment.' He admitted, agreeing to his father's remark. 'And… it would be nice to have my family back around.' A smile spread on his face, thinking back on how happy he was to be spending time with his little sister who stuck to him like glue. But he didn't mind it, he loved to spend time with her and they had a lot of catching up to do.

"Amane, you'll make him fall off the couch." Mr. Bakura warned his daughter.

Amane pouted as she was forced to pull back. "I was hoping my cuteness would weaken him like in the past."

Ryou tried to suppress a giggle as he knew she would use such a trick. With the grin still on his face, he managed to speak up. "It's fine… actually, you're right." He admitted, which caught the other two's attention. "I can have Amane live with me from now on."

Amane's face lit up as her eyes sparkled. "Really?!" She gasped with enthusiasm.

"A-Are you sure, son?" Mr. Bakura questioned.

"You said it yourself, it would be nice for the two of us to reconnect after eight years. And it would feel better to have someone here living with me." Ryou answered his father's suggestions. "And I can help her with her school work, so she will be able to catch up by next year."

"See Dad! I'm in great hands with my brother!" Amane told her father. "And I won't take up too much space and will promise to listen to my brother and take my studies seriously!" She encouraged her family.

"You say that, but I know that it is easy for you to say such promises and then not keep them." He reminded his sister. That earned Ryou a slight glare from her, but he shook it off.

"Well… if you are sure. It would be nice to see my kids spending time together. And it would be easier for you two to stay in one country rather than being apart." Mr. Bakura noted.

"Then it's settled!" Amane declared. "I'm going to be your roommate, brother!"

"...Seems that way." Ryou agreed with her. Despite the negative feelings he was having in his gut, part of him wanted to relish in this moment that he had longed for.

"Amane, why don't you get our bags in the foyer? I'd like to unpack some of my things and you can put your stuff in the guest room." Mr. Bakura suggested.

"Okay, Father." Amane agreed, hopping off the couch she shared with her brother and went to gather her and his belongings. The father and brother watched her leave, as she was making herself useful.

"She certainly is quite spunky… just like her mother." Mr. Bakura remarked with a slight grin.

"Guess she hasn't changed much, even after waking up." Ryou chimed in. "I… still can't believe you two are here. Especially her… it feels like a dream."

The father turned to face his son before speaking. "I assure you, Ryou. This is real." He promised him. That was something Ryou wanted to hear for a long time. The younger Bakura couldn't help but spread his smile, while trying to keep the tears from falling out of his eyes. The father lifted himself up from his seat, starting to talk a bit more seriously. "Well, since Amane is gonna be living with you from now on, we should make sure that she gets set up. Now, she doesn't have a lot of belongings, most of the stuff she had before the accident either grew out of her or we had to give away. Which means she'll have to go shopping for clothing, supplies, and other things she wants for her hobbies. She said she wanted to get back into sports again, but wouldn't mind doing gaming stuff. As for her lessons, I already have the books the school gave us for the introduction on what she will need to learn. There's still plenty of volumes she needs to get through, but if she can at least get to the high school level, she could start in the spring and take cram classes to make sure she catches up. I just hope she is truly serious about studying. She wasn't the most well known for her grades. Not that they were bad, passable but not bad. Still, Amane will need to step up her game to get on your level by next school year." He rubbed the back of his neck while sighing. "And I want to ensure you are accommodated without feeling overwhelmed."

That last part caught Ryou off guard a bit. "Will you be able to do that before you have to go back to your sites?" He questioned.

Mr. Bakura responded back as he smiled. "Ah, about that," he began. "I wanted to tell you earlier, but I'll be staying in Japan for a while."

"Really?" That caught Ryou off guard, as his father was usually the one to be out on excavation sites. He rarely stayed behind, but maybe because of his kids he wanted to be closer to them. Still, Ryou allowed his father to further explain.

"Well, a while ago the Domino Museum here recently got an Egyptian exhibit. I was told about the artifacts and discoveries by Professor Yoshimori, a researcher at Domino University."

"Domino University?" Ryou repeated, trying to put the pieces together. "Then you must have met him when you and I came back here to get me enrolled in school."

Mr. Bakura nodded. "Indeed, he was the one who helped me with the job opportunities. From being a speaker in some of his classes, to pointing me to some excavation sites to unearth."

"So, were you with him on the sites where they gathered the treasures for the Museum recently?" Ryou questioned.

His father answered. "No, I was in India with another dig during that time. But Professor Yoshimori called me to tell me of his discoveries and wanted me to come over to the Museum to meet me the first chance I could. Unfortunately the excavation took much longer than we previously thought, and then learning that Amane had woken up took up more of my time. On top of that, there was also the… accident."

Ryou noticed his father had trailed off, which caught him off guard. He didn't want to pry but his curiosity got the better of him. "Accident? Did something happen?"

A heavy sigh escaped the older Bakura's lips before explaining. "Not long after the Domino Museum had gotten their Egyptian Exhibit, both Professor Yoshimori and the Museum's director, Mr. Kanekura, met with some unfortunate events." Ryou slightly jumped when he heard that, but remained silent. "Mr. Kanekura, the director of the museum, went into a coma before he was eventually pulled off of life support last week when his condition ceased to improve. As for Mr. Yoshimori, he had fallen out of a window from the University and had to receive surgery on his legs. He was left crippled for a while and only found strength now to walk."

"...Oh dear…" Ryou breathed as he was stunned by the information. "Did they… ever find out the cause for these incidents?"

"Apparently, Kanekura suffered from a stroke, at least that's what the autopsy showed. However, it doesn't make any sense. Sure, he might have been old, but he was pretty active and lived a healthy life. Not to mention there was no history of strokes in his family, so it happened out of the blue. What's weirder was that it happened during the grand opening of the exhibit, where he was parading around and he showed no sign of such an ailment."

Ryou hummed, as he agreed that there was no warning of stroke for the man. He may not have known all the details, but there were plenty of things that didn't add up. "What about Professor Yoshimori? Why did he fall out of the window?"

"Apparently he claimed he saw a phantom of an Egyptian man in his office. The man was approaching him, claiming he had to be 'punished'. But the University doesn't have any records of anyone like that entering the building. Nor was there any sign of such a man caught on the cameras. His office was locked and on the second floor with no sign of forced entry."

These circumstances were already wild enough, but upon hearing about an 'Egyptian man' it did make Ryou startle. "Did he say what this… man looked like?" He had to ask. "I mean… how did he know he was… Egyptian?"

"When I asked him about it, he gave me a description. The man wore a turban wrapped around his head with a feather in it, and he had on a white ankle length robe with long sleeves. He had dark skin and blue eyes with golden hoop earrings."

Ryou thought of the man, and while the clothing and skin tone could be reminiscent of Egypt, it didn't seem to be enough evidence. "That doesn't really prove his origins, right?"

Mr. Bakura hummed. "It does seem a bit of a stretch. But he did tell me the man had two objects on hand that Yoshimori certainly confirmed his origins." Ryou leaned in closer so he could hear what his father had to say. "That man had a golden shape that looked similar to an ankh, a prominent symbol in Egyptian culture, wrapped around his neck. He also carried with him a balance scale that was also gold. And etched into the pole connecting the two lines holding the plates, was an eye imbedded into the very foundation"

Ryou had to suppress a gasp when he learned this information. His eyes widened slightly though, as a few thoughts ran through his mind. Golden objects with an eyeball? He was reminded of the Millennium Ring and Millennium Puzzle, which both had such a description. Ryou thought back on the conversation he and Yugi had earlier today, where the blue-haired asked questions regarding the items, such as how many there were. This only confirmed Ryou's theory that there might be more of those items out there! And if this Egyptian man had them… was he using them to hurt others the same way the Millennium Ring had hurt Ryou's friends?!

With a heavy sigh, Mr. Bakura shook his head. "Nevertheless, it is unfortunate what happened to both of them. But at least Professor Yoshimori is recovering. After that incident, he decided to take an early retirement and is planning on finding a replacement for his class. On top of that, he also needs to find someone to tour the Egyptian exhibit for the public, now that Mr. Kanekura is deceased. Since I wanted to take a break from traveling and plan on keeping an eye on you and Amane, I decided to take up his offer. I figured it would be a good opportunity to make money and stay close to you two. Of course I do want to go traveling again, but I also wouldn't mind a bit of a break either. Now, I'm not going to be teaching right away. Since summer vacation is nearing, I'll wait until after the break. Plus, I'll need to get updated on what the University wants me to teach and see if my presentations are up to their standards. My summer job will mostly consist of me at the museum and giving out tours. May not be the most exciting job, but it certainly will be nice staying in an air conditioned room this time." He chuckled at the last bit.

He had been talking for so long, he didn't realize his son had gone silent. Mr. Bakura looked over at the younger one, raising a brow as he had his eyes to the ground. "Ryou? Are you alright?"

The young man quickly gazed up at his father, noticing how concerned he was. Ryou realized he had been so lost in thought he hardly heard what his parent was saying, which made him flushed a bit. "S-sorry… I was just thinking of Mr. Kanekura and Professor Yoshimori… I was contemplating that… maybe what happened to them… was part of a curse?" He muttered slightly, but he knew his father heard him. He knew it sounded dumb the moment it came out of his mouth, but he needed an excuse to explain his lack of attention.

Mr. Bakura blinked a few times when he heard his son's concerns. Surepingly, he put on a small smile and was sympathetic. "It is not silly, Ryou." He reassured, gaining his son's eyes to look at him. "Many colleagues even speculated that there might have been an Egyptian curse attached to the tomb. I'm not one to discredit them, but at the same time I doubt that would be the case. For example, There were plenty of people that worked on excavating that tomb and collecting the items within, yet only Kanekura and Yoshimori got affected. If there was a curse, logically it would have targeted everyone, not just them." Admittedly, his father did make a fair point. "At any rate, if the tomb was cursed, by that logic all tombs, grave sites and burials would be cursed as well. But you never hear of anyone dying from discovering a grave site in Greece and Rome, or falling ill after uncovering a burial in India."

Ryou managed to grin himself when he heard the humor in his father's voice. "When you put it like that, every burial site would have been cursed, not just Egyptian tombs."

"Cursed or not, such things never stop us archaeologists from wanting to discover the past! And the only way we can learn is to dig it up and examine what was left behind." He declared. Ryou should have figured as much. His father was always keen on being an archeologist in his career, especially in his teenage years. His family had always been supportive of him and his passion, and in turn he did everything to give his family the best life he could.

Their moment had come to an end when the youngest of the three stepped into the room carrying a few things in her arms. "Are you two done with your talk yet?" Amane complained as she approached. "I had already unpacked all of my hygiene stuff and unpacked your stuff too, dad."

Mr. Bakura turned to his daughter, sighing a bit in annoyance. "Amane, you shouldn't interrupt people while they are talking."

Ryou interjected. "We have gotten a bit off topic though… and I'm sure there is other stuff you and Amane need to get done."

Mr. Bakura looked back at his son, defending his sister as Ryou stood up. "Well… we do have to get Amane some new clothes. As I said, she outgrew a lot of her old ones. I had to get her the outfit on hand before we left from England." He gestured to the get up his daughter had on.

"I want to check out all of the stores and get the cutest outfits they have! But I also want to make sure they are easy for me to move around!" Amane decreed.

Her father got up from the couch as well, becoming more cheerful when he saw how excited she was. "We'll make sure to get you plenty of clothing, I can't promise all of them will meet those conditions though." He warned her.

Amane walked over and handed her father what she had in her arms. Stacks of books with leather bound covers. "By the way, here you go, Father. I found all those journals you wanted to look over for your job at the museum."

Mr. Bakura took the books, checked them over and sighed with a grin. "Thank goddess, I was worried I left these back in England…"

Ryou walked over to take a look at the pages his father held. "Are they your research journals?" He pondered.

Mr. Bakura looked at his son and nodded. "They're entries I have written about every single discovery I made on my excavations. I wanted to use it for a reference so I can prepare myself for my job at the museum." He explained. The man opened a few of the journals, looking at the contents as his children snuck a peak. While a majority of the pages contained text of different sizes and styles, there were quite a number of illustrations drawn to display the items in question. A sigh escaped the smile that the old man had, while his eyes wavered with nostalgia. "Ah, I remember this one. We found it in the jungles of Brazil, from a ruin that was of the Aztec…" He mused, looking at images of figurines of masked people next to a block of text. He flipped the page, being taken to another era where images of women and larva like creatures were drawn. "And this was the recipe of silk weaving we discovered at an abandoned village in China. Hard to believe those directions were well preserved on those papyrus."

"It's hard to believe that so many of those items could withstand millennia of negligence." Ryou noted as he tried to read as much of his father's journal as he could.

Mr. Bakura looked at his son who shared his interest. "Many things may be lost to the sands of time, but there will be plenty of pieces that are resilient enough to withstand the passage. Those that manage to make it are the ones we dig up. Perhaps those items and belongings survive so they can one day be uncovered and put to use. Longing to have their purpose and their history be known."

Amane blinked as she tried to keep up with the men in her family, but the look on her face showed she was not too interested. "You make it sound as if these items and objects you discover are living people."

Mr. Bakura laughed. "Well, I guess it may sound silly to personify mere tools or furniture. But that does not mean they hold less value. They are the only window we have to look into the past, but it is up to us to piece together what happened. We may never truly know for certain, but figuring it out and coming up with theories is the fun of it." Ryou beamed as he saw how happy his father was. He agreed that it was hard to really know what occurred in the past, especially thousands of years ago. But that was what an archaeologist's job is for, they try to make sense of their discoveries and learn of those cultures. Even Ryou found it fascinating to know what life in the ancient times were like.

His father checked more of his journals, as he had quite a few on hand. Picking up another one, he flipped through the pages only to become baffled by the emptiness. "Huh… it seems I have a blank one." He realized, staring at the white sheets that made up the booklet. "I must have been planning on using this for my next excavation before Amane had woken up. I ended up canceling that dig to be with her." He realized.

Amane heard her father's words, looking away while she rubbed the back of her neck. "Sorry about that…" She apologized.

Mr. Bakura immediately went to her and patted her head. "Do not apologize for finally recovering, Amane. We all are glad you managed to wake up, especially when the doctors were about to give up on you." He looked at her when she turned to stare into his eyes. The smile on his face showed how sincere he was. "Besides, there'll be plenty of other discoveries I will go on. But I am overdue for a break, so I want to take it slow for a while." That did make her feel better, Amane soon returned his grin with one of her own. Ryou watched them, feeling a familiar warmth he had missed for so long. "Well, looks like this book will be put in storage until it has a use." Mr. Bakura noted, checking over the cover of the empty journal as he pondered what to do with it now.

Ryou glanced at the object, the potential it could be used for writing down important notes. Thinking back to the things his father said, uncovering the past and learning about what it all means. He thought back to his own wants of discovering something important to him that he needed to understand. Stepping forward, he proposed an idea. "Can I have that journal, father?"

Mr. Bakura turned to face his son who asked. He blinked a few times. "You want to have this journal?" His son nodded. "By chance, do you plan on using it for some of your Monster World campaigns?"

"No, I have separate entries for those that I enter into my laptop." Ryou immediately answered. "I… actually want to use it for something involving a discovery. S-see, one of my new friends is related to an archaeologist as well, and he has a special item he was gifted from that relative. He wants to know more about it, so I figured I would help him. And keeping track of the item and making theories would help to learn more about it." He tried to explain, without going too much into detail. He didn't want to reveal the real reason behind the note-taking, but he needed to have an excuse to get that journal for himself.

At first, his father seemed baffled and for a moment Ryou feared he didn't convince him. When the young man saw his father lighten up in expression, he got his hopes up. "Well, if it is for a certain discovery, I suppose that's a good enough cause." He decreed, handing the booklet towards his son. "Make sure you take good notes."

Ryou greedily accepted the journal, checking over the leather bound cover as his eyes widened with the possibilities of what he could fill it with. "Thank you, father!" Ryou spoke with excitement.

"I should be thanking you as well, you took off one less thing for me to have to keep in my closet." The father mused as he figured this would benefit the both of them. He then turned to his daughter with that cheerful demeanor. "Alright Amane, we can head on out now and get you some new clothes."

Hearing that made Ryou's sister jump. "Alright! I can't wait to see what kind of outfits they have compared to the clothes in England." She then turned her gaze over at her brother. "Are you coming with us, Ryou?"

As much as he wanted to spend time with his father and sister, he was occupied with other matters. "Actually, I was planning on staying behind while you two go out."

This caught the two off guard, but Mr. Bakura was the one who questioned it. "Are you sure?"

"I want to do a bit of cleaning and moving around while you guys are gone. That way I can get the room all set up for Amane."

"I see," Mr. Bakura noted. "It's only fair though. Try not to strain yourself too much though." He advised.

"I won't." Ryou promised his father. Amane pouted at her brother, which he noticed right away. He felt a bit guilty for not going with them, given they had just reunited again after years apart. Still, there was much Ryou wanted to accomplish while they were gone. "I promise I'll make it up to you, Amane." He tried to tell her.

Amane turned her head away, keeping her cheeks puffed out in disdain. Mr. Bakura sighed as he rubbed his daughter's head. "Come on Amane, you two will have plenty of time to catch up. Let's give your brother time to himself before we invade his personal life." He urged. Amane scoffed, going over to the foyer towards the door. Ryou lowered his gaze a bit as he knew he had upset her, but didn't believe an apology would be enough. "Don't worry, I'm sure she will feel better once we get her some new outfits." He tried to cheer up his son. "We should be back in a few hours… Will you be okay until then?"

Ryou looked at his father, nodding at him. "Be careful out there." He advised.

Mr. Bakura smiled, heading out of the living room and went towards the door. Grabbing his belongings, he took his daughter out of the apartment for them to spend the day together. Ryou watched them go, and found himself left alone in the apartment once again. Some things never changed, he thought. But now, things would be different as he had his sister and father back in his life, along with some new friends he could rely on. Still, there were many doubts poisoning his thoughts as he was weary about letting them in. The last time he had let his guard down, he found himself surrounded by soulless bodies.

Clutching the book in his arms, the young man sighed. "I can't let anything happen to them. If I'm going to be a part of their lives, I need to know everything." His powder blue eyes looked down at the journal, thoughts and ideas running through his head. With the place to himself, it was time to put his work into motion. He set the book down on the desk where the cases of his figurines were, then grabbed a few other belongings of his. He gathered some pencils, lead and colored as well as a few ink pens. He then grabbed his backpack and unzipped one of the pouches, taking out the golden ring of Egyptian origins and setting it on the table. No matter how many times he looked at it, Ryou still kept his guard up in case it pulled a trick. Despite it being quiet for a month now, he still had a feeling that it was just playing dormant and could reawaken at any moment. All the more reason he had to be careful, and not allow himself to wear it again, no matter what.

The young man, finally having all the materials, sat at the desk and opened the journal on the first page. He began to use the pencil to write words, turned them into sentences and very soon he began to create blocks of paragraphs. He put himself to work as he wrote text and drew images within the pages. At the very beginning of the journal, he had created in bold, block letters a question about the topic of the booklet: The Millennium Items.

"What are the Millennium Items? Why were they created? Who created them? What powers do they hold? How many are there?" Ryou asked question after question, unable to answer a single one of his curiosities. There was so much about the Millennium Items he had yet to understand, even though he himself was in possession of one. His eyes glanced back at the golden object, sitting on the desk with no sign of movement. It seemed like any regular piece of jewelry, but Ryou knew better. His eyes narrowed on the Ring, thinking back to all the devastation it brought. Terrifying yet mystical powers that it could wield. With a determined look on his face, Ryou Bakura was set on one thing: He would learn everything he could about the Millennium Items!

Author's note: And with that we have finished episode one of season two! This was a long one to make but I also wanted to make sure I started this season with a hook for an opening. We still have many more episodes to get through, but I hope you like the direction season two is going. Again, I am still trying to make sure I have time to write while I have the Crucnhyroll and Manga so there might be inconsistent updates but I want to work on this story during the summer. Before I end this chapter, I wanted to give a shout out to everyone who has favorited and followed season one of Yu-Gi-Oh! Kaimon.

AC1252, Blue Wolf blade 16, Cojobo, Demonic-Angel Usagi, H3LLF1R3IIO5, KronostheDragonGod90, NDFGEFH, Redder45, SleepyPudding3, Starcaller23, Starlit Storyteller, TheRisingDragon, alpi49542, anderhiper54, andresaquiroz132, animebella09, demoscars, florencesigna, mari-evee-4, moose1bro16, star-mine, BlueSoul9699 , JS2002, Jettwesme, MysticWolf152, Redder45, cookiejam, notorebecca442, oikawasenpai, shinoyukine27 and vitalfun726. Thank you every single one of you who have fav and follow season one of Yu-Gi-Oh! Kaimon and I hope you all will do the same for season two. Stay tuned for more of the Duelist Kingdom Arc!