I shoved my books into my bag as I ran for the stairs. I slung my bag over my shoulder and took the stairs two at a time. I really didn't want to keep him waiting.

Once I finally pushed open the doors and found myself outside, I saw Bakura standing a few feet away. I fixed my short blue skirt and straightened my pink uniform top, then walked over to him.

"I'm here," I called out to him, still slightly out of breath. If he noticed, he didn't say anything. He smiled and waved to me. I smiled back and finally reached him. He glanced around, then grabbed my hand and pulled me in the direction of the cafe.

"Hey, can you slow down a little, please? You're hurting my arm..."

Bakura didn't answer me. He kept dragging me along, then suddenly jerked me to the side, into a dark alley. He let go of me, and I fell to the ground.

I glanced up at him. Automatically, I knew something had changed. His normally expressionless face was now occupied by a vicious scowl. His eyes seemed darker and tinged with hate. What happened to Bakura?

"Uh, Bakura?"

"Silence."

I immediately shut up.

Bakura turned to face me fully, and I noticed that around his neck was something that hadn't been there before, and it took me completely off guard.

"The Millennium Ring..." I accidentally whispered.

"I said silence!"

I tried to back away at the sound of his voice, which was deeper and raspier than before. And he was yelling? He never yelled.

"You're not Bakura." I stated, knowing it was a risky move.

His smirk grew. "Tell me, Aria. How exactly do you know so much about the Millennium Items?"

"My parents are archaeologists. They told me about them. I did the rest of the research myself."

"Did you now?" he sounded slightly amused, but also slightly annoyed.

I nodded.

"Fascinating. And why do you have a journal about them, with drawings and locations?"

"Because I think they would be cool to have. Each one has a mysterious power, and plus there is only one of each in existence. It would be cool to be the only person on Earth owning at least one of them."

Bakura seemed to get lost in thought for a moment.

"So," I asked cautiously, "since you're not Bakura, who are you?"

He glanced at me, his smirk still present. "Bakura and I are the same, really. Only slightly different."

"You seem a little more insane than Bakura does..."

"Well, I may be insane, but I do have a Millennium Item. In fact," he said, digging in his pockets, "I have two."

He pulled what looked like a golden marble with the millennium symbol on it. It only took me a moment to figure out that it was the Millennium Eye.

"How did you get that?" I asked, unconsciously moving closer.

Bakura held it out to me. I held out my hand and he gently placed it in my palm. I moved it closer to myself so I could get a better look at it.

"I won it in a Shadow Game against Pegasus."

"Is that the reason you went to Duelist Kingdom?" I asked. "To get the Eye?"

Bakura nodded. "I tried to get the Puzzle as well, but I failed to retrieve it."

"So you're after the items, too?"

Bakura nodded.

"So I guess that would mean that's two less of the seven for me to go after, huh?"

"Actually, I had a question I wanted to ask you."

"Yeah?"

"I was going to ask if you would like to help me find the other five items. Whoever possesses them all gets unstoppable power, and I'd like to have you by my side when I achieve that power."

"So wait. You're basically asking me on a date to find all of the items with you and then to marry you once we find them all?"

"You can call it a date if you want, but there has been no proposal other than you to rule the world with me when I have the ultimate power. As my partner. Or sidekick."

I stood. "I am no one's sidekick."

"Then be my partner in crime."

I thought for a moment. This new Bakura seemed so horrible at first, dragging me blocks away and throwing me into an alley. It had felt like a mugging. But after talking with him, I realized that he has the same goal I do. We both want the items, so why not work together to find them all? And ruling the world could be fun.... right?"

"Alright, Bakura. I'll help you find the items."

"Good choice." He walked up to me and held out his hand. I instantly gave him the Eye back, and he placed it back into his pocket. "Now, about that cafe..."

I smiled and nodded, and Bakura grabbed my hand and led the way to the cafe, this time walking at a normal speed.

While we were walking, I couldn't help but think about Bakura. And not the Bakura standing beside me, but the one inside of him. Was he trapped in there? Did they merge together and become one person? Does the real Bakura even know that he's being controlled by someone much more powerful that he is?

When I finally snapped out of my thoughts, I was ordering a hot chocolate from the cashier, and still holding Bakura's hand. The cashier smiled at me, and I smiled back, and Bakura led me to a small table in the back corner, then walked back to the counter to get our drinks and pay (hopefully).

I watched Bakura walking back to me. His smirk was still on his face, and I couldn't help but thinking, What have I gotten myself into?