Chapter 1

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"You want what?" the store employee asked, appalled.

"Sheet metal. The strongest alloy metal that you have. I need a lot. It's important!" Bakura insisted.

"Uh, let me ask the manager," the helpless employee said. He hurried to the back.

"Oh dear. I wonder why this is so difficult. This is already the third store. The first two didn't have what I needed. I was hoping my search would end here," Bakura muttered to himself. "Goodness knows, if I don't get home soon, he'll do something drastic."

&&&

"There's a what!" the grouchy manager asked.

"A white-haired boy--" the employee began.

"A white-haired boy? How old is this fellow?"

"He only looks like a high schooler."

"What, is he an albino? What kind of little fantasy of yours is it this time?"

"I'm not making it up! There's a white-haired, pale-skinned, brown-eyed high school student out there asking for sheet metal!" the employee insisted. He added, quietly and angrily, almost like it was a personal insult, "And he's not an albino. Albinos have red eyes. His are brown. Dark brown."

"You've bothered me for the tenth time today, fiftieth this week, to tell me about some white-haired freak of your imagination!"

"No," Toturi, the employee, answered, rather calmly. "I came here for the eighth time today to ask you whether we sell sheet metal."

"Don't you use that tone with me, boy, or I'll­­--"

"You'll what? You've been harping on me for always bothering you, but you are here to help me. You obviously aren't doing your job very well."

The manager's face turned a very dark red as he drew himself up, so that his head came to Toturi's shoulder, and said, "I'm not doing my job! You're not doing yours! I hired you to take care of the customers. That's what I've been doing in your place. You're a lousy worker. Go tell your little imaginary albino friend out there that we don't sell sheet metal, then go home. You're fired."

Torturi's face looked as if he were ready to strangle his former employer. Instead of protesting, however, he hung his head and left, his anger smoldering unchecked in his downcast eyes.

&&&

Approaching Bakura, he put on a nicer mask and said, "I'm sorry, sir, but…"

Toturi's voice droned on, but Bakura did not hear another word of it. A loud "Oh, Ryou!" echoed into his mind. Immediately in a panic, Bakura turned and dashed out of the store, 'oh dear'ing as he ran.

"Hey, where are you going?" Toturi called after him. He saw Bakura's white hair flying behind him as he disappeared out of the hardware store's doors. Toturi swiftly went to the doors. Standing just outside, he looked around for any sign of the flying white hair, but Bakura was no where to be seen. Toturi muttered under his breath, "Weirdo." He started for home.

&&&

Bakura dashed along the sidewalk, pelting heedlessly across streets, and finally made it to the apartment building he lived in. Flying up the stairs, he came to a dead stop as he spotted the landlord waiting outside his door.

Pounding on the door, the landlord shouted angrily, "Bakura! Open this door this instant! I heard the glass breaking. If that's another window…"

Bakura, standing at the top of the stairs, breathing heavily, gulped and said under his breath, "Oh dear." Having no other choice, he walked toward his apartment, room 601, and his angry landlord.

Quietly Bakura asked, "Kanegan, what are you doing?"

Lowering his fist from the door, Kanegan turned to face Bakura, hands clenched at his sides.

"Bakura! How'd you get outside so quickly?" the landlord asked suspiciously. Jumping to a ridiculous conclusion, as he was wont to do, he accused, "You jumped out the window, didn't you? You hooligan! Break another window and I'll send you to jail, you juvenile delinquent!"

"Bu-but, sir, I wasn't even home. I just got back now," Bakura protested.

"Where were you? Why should I believe you?" Kanegan was still suspicious. "Open this door, young man, and allow me to assess the damage you've done now."

Bakura sighed and pulled out his keys; arguing further was useless, Kanegan was set on his opinion, and he wasn't about to change it. Bakura slowly unlocked all the locks and opened the door. Kanegan pushed past him and strode into the apartment. Kanegan searched room to room, Bakura just following nervously behind him as he made his inspection. Opening the door to the bedroom, Kanegan stopped. Bakura stopped right behind him and looked into his room from around Kanegan's head.

Inside was a mess. Glass littered the floor spanning across half the distance of the room. What little glass remained in the window stuck stubbornly to the frame, jagged edges gleaming with wicked intent in the light that spilled in from outside. Bakura's eyes were wide as he surveyed his room. A quick glance confirmed his fears: the Ring was gone.

"Look at this mess! What have you done to my beautiful apartment!" Kanegan was horrified. "This is the seventh window that has been broken by you in the past three months! You clean this up immediately! If this window isn't replaced by Wednesday, you're out!" He whirled to leave. Finding himself almost face-to-face with Bakura, he pointed his finger up into his faced and threatened lowly, "If another window, or anything else, gets broken ever, you'll be evicted." His final threat voiced, Kanegan pushed past Bakura and left the apartment, slamming the door behind him.

"Oh dear," Bakura said quietly. He looked at his room hopelessly. He had to clean this up, but he also had to go find where the Ring was at, and quickly, before he could break anything else. With a sigh of despair, and with Kanegan's threat still ringing in his ears, Bakura pulled the waste paper basket closer and went to work picking up the large pieces of glass.

Bakura was heading for his closet for his vacuum, to pick up the smaller pieces, when a knock sounded on his door. Worried his landlord had decided to evict him now, rather than wait, Bakura approached and opened the door with apprehension.

"Bakura! I've been looking for you," his visitor informed him.

At the sight of his lavender-eyed friend, Bakura's face was awash with relief and he smiled, "Oh, hello, Malik. Come in."

As Malik stepped inside, he asked, concerned, "Are you okay, Bakura? You look terrible!"

"I--well," Bakura, who couldn't tell a lie, really wished he didn't have to say anything, "I'm in trouble, actually."

"What's going on? You can tell me; I'm your friend."

Bakura nodded, eyes closed. He shut the door and sighed, "Where can I begin?"

"The beginning would be nice."

Bakura smiled, "Of course." He started explaining everything as he led Malik to the bedroom, to show him the latest catastrophe, "I went to the hardware store this morning…"

By the time he finished tales of his adventures of the stores, they were standing outside the bedroom. Bakura put his hand on the handle.

As he opened the door, he said, "And, now, there's this." He pushed the door open and stood aside to let Malik look in.

"What happened in here?" asked Malik as he stood in the center of the room and looked around.

"The Spirit got impatient…and broke another window."

"Again! Bakura, why do you leave it behind?"

"I can't take it anywhere! It's too risky! You know what happens when the Spirit decides to take over," Bakura explained helplessly.

"And now you're being evicted?" Malik seemed unable to grasp the concept, "How can Kanegan kick you out of your house?"

"Well, I'm only renting it, he owns it. But I'm not getting evicted yet…but if the Spirit breaks another window, I'm done for."

"This is terrible! We should go find the Ring, then find a way to get rid of it!"

"I've tried, countless times. It always comes back."

"Then we need to lock it up somewhere!"

"Where? It'll just get free!"

A crafty look came into Malik's eyes, "You were looking for sheet metal to keep the Ring in…why not just get a vault and lock it in?"

Trying not to get too hopeful, Bakura asked, "Do you really think that will work?"

"Would I have suggested it if I didn't?"

"Good point. All right, Malik…just let me finish cleaning up here."

"Don't be ridiculous; we need to find the Ring now." Malik added more quietly, "Who knows what trouble the Spirit's causing looking for you?"

"Oh dear…" Bakura hurried toward the door.

"Wait for me! We can take my motorcycle!" Malik dashed after him. Bakura and Malik left the apartment building and started combing the city for the Ring.

&&&

The motorcycle slowed to a stop. Malik and Bakura pulled off their helmets. Bakura got off from the seat. Malik turned around to face Bakura, slightly annoyed.

"Why did you want me to stop?" Malik complained. He really enjoyed speeding around on his motorcycle.

"You were driving too fast. Speeding is illegal!" Bakura explained.

"So? We're in a hurry!"

"I know, but--"

"I have an idea!" Malik exclaimed, interrupting. "Since it's looking for you, you should stay in one place so it can find you." Malik grinned mischievously as his plan's pieces clicked into place. "And to make sure it finds you, we'll use some bait." Malik pulled out the Rod from his back beltloop. It flashed briefly, and he grinned.

Bakura's eyes widened as he backed away, "Malik, that's not a good idea. The Spirit'd do anything for that, and you know it! Please, put it away." Bakura pleaded with his eyes closed, as if by banishing the scene from sight, it'd disappear for real. One hand was over his face, his other hand up in front of him for protection.

"Don't be ridiculous! Running around looking won't get us anywhere. We need to attract its attention so it'll find you. How else can we do that besides using what it wants as bait?" Malik reasoned. "Now wait here; I'll be back." He pulled on his helmet back on and started his motorcycle.

"Malik, wait!" Bakura cried. He ran towards him and reached out to stop him, but grasped only air. Malik's motorcycle sped off down the street.

"Oh dear," Bakura said, to no one in particular. He sighed and sat down on the grass to wait.

&&&

Malik ran into the building where he lived with his older sister and brother.

Dashing through the door, he called, "Isis? Isis, where are you?" He sped down a hallway, "Isis? Isis!" The door to her room was closed. He pounded on it, "Isis!" Footsteps were heard approaching the door. The door opened part-way to reveal a very calm, and partially annoyed, Isis.

"What is it, Malik? I have to get ready for work!" Isis said impatiently.

"I need to borrow your Necklace." When he saw the look that meant she was about to refuse, he said, "Please. It's important!"

Isis shut her eyes, hand to her Necklace, and sighed, "All right, Malik. Just don't lose it." She reached back and undid that clasp from around her neck, handing it to him. Her eyes met his and he saw that she knew.

"Thank you, sister. Don't worry; everything will be fine!" he turned and dashed back out of the house. Jumping back onto his motorcycle, he zoomed off to his next destination: the Kame Game Store.

Upon arrival, he charged through the door and shouted, "Yugi!" He ran past the old man behind the counter and started up the stairs.

"Wait! You're not allowed back there!" the old man, Yugi's grandfather, protested. Malik never heard him. He was pounding on Yugi's bedroom door.

"Yugi! Let me in!"

The door opened and Yugi stepped back to let Malik enter, saying, "Malik! What's the problem; what's going on?"

"Yugi, I need your Puzzle."

"Wh-what? My Puzzle? What do you want with my Puzzle?" Yugi asked, suddenly nervous. He laid a protective hand over his Puzzle subconsciously.

"Please. It's important!" Malik pleaded. He made a slight change in plans, "If I can't borrow it, then come with me!" He grabbed Yugi's arm and pulled him down the stairs.

As they passed the counter, Grandpa asked, "Wait! Yugi, where are you going! You still have chores to do, young man!" He let out a frustrated sigh as Yugi and Malik roared off down the street. Sugoroku went back inside his game shop and started sweeping furiously.

&&&

Back in the park, Bakura sat alone on the grass, wondering where Malik was now and when he was coming back.

"Oh, Ryou!" echoed into his brain.

Bakura stood up, muttering, "Oh dear…"

A motorcycle screeched to a sliding stop in front of him. Malik and Yugi jumped off and removed their helmets.

Yugi ran towards him, panting, "Bakura!"

"Yugi, what are you doing here?" Bakura asked anxiously.

"I brought him," Malik said.

"I know that," Bakura said. "But why? You can't mean to go through with your plan, Malik… You can't!"

"I am. What's wrong with it?"

"Everything! You—you…never mind. I'm leaving anyway." Bakura started to walk past Malik.

"Where do you think you're going?" Malik demanded, grabbing his arm.

"Away from here," Bakura said quietly. He pulled his arm free and walked two steps and stopped. With his back still turned, he said, "He's coming, and I'm sick of my friends getting hurt because of me." He walked on, away from Yugi and Malik.

"This is ridiculous!" Malik shouted at him. "Why do you always walk away from your problems? You have to face them, Bakura! You'll never have peace if you keep running away!"

Bakura sighed, his shoulders stooped, "You're right, but what else can I do? I can't fight him." He walked away with his head down, not turning back.

"Bakura, wait!" Yugi called. He ran after him, panting.

Malik stopped him, putting an arm out in his path and saying, "Just let him go. He obviously doesn't want our help."

"Bakura needs us, Malik!" Yugi protested. "Whether he wants our help or not, he still needs it! We have to be there for him. He's our friend!"

Malik said to Yugi, finally looking down at Yugi, instead of staring off after Bakura, "Sometimes it's better to let them learn that themselves than just always forcing the lesson. Sometimes you have to let them handle it on their own for them to realize that they need others." Yugi sighed and stopped trying to follow. He gazed helplessly in the direction Bakura had disappeared, then turned to go home himself. Malik still gazed out after Bakura, knowing why he left, but still unable to accept it.

Before leaving, Yugi turned back to Malik and asked, "Are you sure he'll be okay on his own? I mean…the Ring is one of the more powerful Millenium items, and the evil spirit is ruthless. It'd do anything to get what it wants."

"I know," Malik said, his back to Yugi as he pulled on his helmet. He looked at Yugi from astride his motorcycle, "That's why he left. He knew he couldn't control the spirit on his own and he knew what the spirit was willing to do. He left, trying to protect us…while putting himself in more danger, because we're not there to protect him anymore."

He tossed Yugi a helmet, "Are you coming with me? Just because he doesn't want us there doesn't mean we can't follow him."

Yugi pulled on the helmet with a nod. He climbed up after Malik. Malik revved up his motorcycle and they sped off down the road.

&&&

"Oh dear. Oh dear," Bakura panted. He slowed to a stop. "He's getting closer. I can feel it. He's coming." Bakura looked around. He was in a side street; no one was around. The 'side street' was really only a space between two buildings where people threw their garbage and piled high their trash cans and cardboard boxes. It ended in a slime-covered brick wall. The light was dimming and was tinged in twilight colors as the sun began to set. It seemed dark in the alley, darker than it should have been at this time of day. There was a rustling and a crash as a nearby trash can cover flew off the barrel and struck the opposite wall with a loud, metallic clang. The lid then settled noisily onto the alley ground.

"Oh dear!" Bakura jumped and turned to the sound, his hands over his mouth. A muffle, "Oh dear," escaped from between his hands. Bakura watched as something glittered in the pail. He backed away quickly, until his back hit against the wall. He started inching down the alley, away from the garbage can.

"Oh, Ryou!" the evil voice called into his head. "I'm coming! Stop trying to escape me; you never will!" Evil laughter seemed to echo off the alley walls. Bakura's eyes widened as a wicked golden glitter flashed at the other end of the alley. Something was flying lazily closer to him, a hunter closing in on its paralyzed prey. There was no where for Bakura to run to; he was backed into a corner, and the Ring was coming for him.

"You allowed three Millenium items to escape you today, Ryou. I am very displeased. Now, now, my host…I don't ask much. All I ever asked you for was the Millenium items. I've done so much more for you! And this is the thanks I get? To be thrown away, shunned, and run away from? I'm hurt, Ryou." The voice sounded anything but hurt. It was furious and cold. It didn't care what Bakura did or thought, as long as it got its way.

"Oh dear, oh dear," Bakura said quietly, his voice sifting out through his fingers clamped over his mouth to be heard in the quiet of the alley.

A second clatter from the front of the alleyway was heard. A trash can lid, previously precariously balanced halfway on the trash can, slid to the ground and settled where it was, leaning against its can. A small cat poked its grey head out of the can and looked around. Its bright eyes caught sight of the Ring and it watched it curiously.

As Bakura transferred his gaze from the approaching Ring and back to the cat, he saw the cat ease itself to standing on top of the garbage and begin to shadow the Ring, jumping from trash can to trash can to cardboard box, staying parallel with the floating golden object. The Ring continued on its path towards Bakura, oblivious to its stalker's intent gaze.

"Mmrow?" the cat asked, looking at Bakura momentarily before transferring its steely stare back to the Ring. It balanced back on its hind legs and batted at the Ring with its front paws. The Ring ignored the cat's questing reach, since it was naturally higher than the cat could grasp by a few scant inches. Looking at it closely, the cat narrowed its eyes and hissed. Bakura stared, wide-eyed, as the young cat launched itself up onto the yet-advancing Ring.

The cat balanced on the Ring and they hung suspended together for about a minute before both cat and Ring plummeted to the ground. Bakura broke free of his shocked paralysis and hurried to where the Ring and cat disappeared between two boxes. The cat gave a cry of anger, and pain. Bakura worriedly peered between the two boxes, but all he saw was the Ring.

"Oh dear. What have you done now?" Bakura asked. He cautiously nudged the volatile object with the toe of his shoe; when it made no move, he slid it out from between the boxes and firmly placed his left foot on top of it, careful to position his foot so that the Ring's tines couldn't pierce him. Bakura looked around for the cat, but found only a few drops of blood as proof of the cat's continued existence.

Bakura leaned towards the wall and spotted the cat crouching behind a box, watching him. He sighed with relief: it was still alive. The cat met his gaze and blinked once, slowly. Bakura saw blood on the cat's left front paw, where the Ring had wounded it.

"Oh dear. You're hurt," Bakura worried aloud. He reached for the cat slowly. The cat hissed at him and swiped his hand with its claws. Bakura pulled his hand away quickly, but he was already scratched. "That wasn't very nice," Bakura scolded. The cat retreated further away, moving beneath the leaning trash can lid. Bakura didn't dare move closer to the cat, for fear of freeing the Ring. Bakura crouched down to plead with the cat. "You got hurt because of me. The least I can do is bandage your paw so it won't get infected."

The cat merely poked its head out and looked at him. The way it met his eyes, Bakura swore it understood every word he said. However, it still wouldn't budge. Seeing that the cat was immobile, Bakura sighed and stood up, beginning to steel himself for when he'd have to move his foot. The cat simply watched him, playing out decisions in its mind. Finally, it came out from under the trash can lid. Bakura froze.

The cat approached with caution, keeping its gaze on the Ring beneath Bakura's blue tennis shoe and slightly favoring its wounded leg. It hissed once at the Ring, then sat down beside Bakura's other shoe and looked up at him with sad eyes. Bakura bent down and gently lifted the cat. Cradled against him in one arm, the cat began to purr.

"Oh dear," Bakura said under his breath. With his free left hand, he picked up the Ring and held it firmly. It didn't seem inclined to move…yet. Bakura started for the opening in the alley.

A motorcycle sped past the mouth of the alley. Bakura heard it roar past, unintelligible shouting, and the sounds of the motorcycle's roaring faded as it slowed, turned, and squealed to a halt outside the alley.

"Bakura!" Malik and Yugi yelled. They were at the opening of the alley, the last traces of sunset illuminating their backs.

"Bakura!" Yugi shouted again. He ran the few steps over to where the surprised Ryou stood.

"Are you okay?" Malik asked, approaching at a calmer pace than Yugi had.

Bakura nodded, "I'm fine. What are you guys doing here?"

"Looking for you," Malik answered, slightly irritated. "You ran off without us. We were worried. You know why."

"Oh. Well, I'm fine," Bakura reassured him again. "I was just heading back home. Do you two want to come?" All three of them now stood at the alley's entrance, beside Malik's motorbike.

"I want to," Yugi began, "but Grandpa's probably worrying. I took off without telling him where I was going." He also added quietly and quickly, "And I haven't done my chores in three days…he's probably mad at me."

"I'm sorry, Yugi. I'll drive you home," Malik said. "I didn't know you were busy." Malik sat down on his motorcycle, ready to drive off.

"No, that's fine, Malik. I can walk the few remaining blocks home," Yugi assured him. "You take Bakura home."

"All right," Malik said, uncertain. "Just tell your grandfather that it's my fault you're back so late." Malik glanced up at the sky, "You'd better get going. It's getting dark. That old man won't like it that you're walking alone at night, I'm sure."

Yugi nodded, "Right."

In Yugi's head, the Spirit of the Puzzle protested, "You're not alone, Yugi. You never are." Yugi just sighed and turned and looked down the street.

"Well, guess I'd better get going. I'll see you guys in school tomorrow!" Yugi called as he walked off, waving back at them, and hurrying home.

"What's with the cat, Bakura?" Malik asked, finally spotting the feline in Bakura's arm. "Are you bringing that thing home?"

"Well, I thought I should…it helped me," Bakura answered, looking down at the cat, to the Ring, and back to Malik.

"How did a cat like that help you?"

"I'll explain at my apartment, Malik. I'm going to go home now."

"Then get on. I'll drive you."

"Oh. All right. Thank you," Bakura said. He climbed on behind Malik and settled in, the cat in one arm, the Ring in the other. "You'd better drive slower than you usually do, or I'll fall of."

"Don't worry! I'd never let you fall. I'm not that bad a driver."

Bakura refrained from commenting. Malik started up his motorcycle and drove off, far slower than his usual wont, towards Bakura's apartment.

&&&

Upon arrival at the apartment building, Malik and Bakura climbed the several flights of stairs to Bakura's room. Bakura unlocked the door and let Malik in. Once inside, Bakura securely shut the door.

"Now explain to me why you brought that stray cat home. It probably has some disease! Or at least fleas," Malik demanded.

"I brought it back so I could bandage its paw," Bakura explained. He looked around. The cat had disappeared immediately after Bakura had set it down. Not looking at Malik, he said quietly, "It saved me from the Spirit."

"How'd it do that?"

Bakura launched into a rather detailed explanation as he searched his apartment for the cat. Halfway through the tale, he found it hiding under his bed, and after an interlude in the story to coax the cat out, Bakura showed Malik its wound, and bandaged its paw. Finished with both the telling and the bandaging, Bakura was sitting down at his table, Malik sitting across from him. The Ring sat in the center, glinting innocently in the light. The cat sat next to Bakura's chair, watching them all with eyes that absorbed every movement.

Malik stood, "Let's go, Bakura."

"Go where?" Bakura asked as he stood.

"Shopping for a vault. Even that should hold it for a while."

"Now?" Bakura asked. He glanced at the clock; it was almost eight. "We have school tomorrow."

"Who cares! Let tomorrow stay tomorrow until tomorrow."

"Isn't your sister wondering where you are?"

"She knows. Besides, Isis's at work."

"What about your brother?"

Malik suddenly recalled, "Rishid! He would've gotten home an hour ago! He's probably wondering where I am. I didn't even leave him a note."

"Then you'd better get home. Your brother's probably worried."

"But what about you? Are you just going to leave it there?"

"For now, yes. I'll figure something out." Bakura sighed and escorted Malik to the door. "See you tomorrow."

"Of course. Goodbye, Bakura." Malik left. Bakura shut the door firmly behind him and headed to his room to finish picking up the glass he'd abandoned and all but forgotten earlier.

The cat was sitting on his bed, watching him once again. Bakura ignored it as best he could and finished vacuuming the glass particles out of his carpet. The cat stood up, jumped off the bed, and stalked towards the door. Halfway there, it turned and 'mrow'ed at him loudly.

Bakura irritatedly, "All right, I'm coming. Just be quieter will you? We're not allowed to have pets of any sort in here, so if Mr. Kanegan finds you, I'm in trouble." The cat just blinked once then continued out the door. Bakura followed it, getting rather annoyed with the little animal.

The cat led him down the hallway and into the kitchen. Once there, it moved across the tile floor and sat next to the table leg. Bakura followed it in, immediately noting the Ring's absence from the table.

"Oh dear. Where'd it go?" Bakura anxiously scanned the kitchen for the Ring. It didn't take long to spot it; it was on the floor, near to the counter under the window. Bakura hurried over and picked it up. "Why do you keep causing me trouble?" Bakura demanded of the –usually–inanimate object.

"I get left alone for hours, ignored, neglected, scratched, thrown away, and pounced upon, and you're blaming meYou left me alone all afternoon," the voice in his head said angrily. "That's not very wise, Ryou. Next time, I'll kill you."

Bakura sighed, and said, more for his own benefit of feeling convinced, "No, you won't. Without me, you'll have nothing. You'll be more worthless than you already are."

"Worthless! Ryou, you little--! …" the voice carried on in an angry tirade, but Bakura tuned it out, quite used to this, and returned to his bedroom, Ring in hand and the cat following after.

Bakura settled into bed, the Ring sitting on the nightstand, the cat curled at his feet, watching him still through half-lidded eyes. Bakura clicked off the lamp and attempted to sleep. The worries of the day troubled his mind and he sat awake for hours.

&&&

Just as he was about to drift off, the cruel, loud voice called echoing into his head, "Oh, Ryou! I don't like being ignored, Ryou…" Bakura shifted uncomfortably, moving away from the Ring unconsciously. The cat looked up at him, feeling his feet disappear from under it. It looked from him to the Ring, as if it, too, could hear the exchange.

"Why did you insist on bringing that blasted feline flea-sack home, Ryou? You invite trouble to your home on your own. You don't need my help."

"I thought ancient Egyptians believed cats were sacred and holy and revered and honoured them well," Bakura muttered, wishing the spirit would just stop talking.

An evil laugh rang into his head, "Only those wealthy fools, or those is the Pharaoh's favor, revered cats. Those of us who didn't have the money or the time for such useless traditions found much…better…uses for cats…" Bakura shuddered, sensing the spirit's evil grin as he licked his lips. Bakura tried to rid his mind of the image, but failed.

The spirit continued to laugh evilly and chuckle to himself over some private joke. Bakura struggled to chase the sound of his harsh laughter from his brain, finally succeeding as he fell into an uneasy, dreamless slumber.