Adult-FanFiction.org : Yu-Gi-OH

Cursed	By : AtomBunny Category: Yu-Gi-Oh > Crossovers Views: 3721 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 1
Disclaimer: I do not own YuGiOh! or Ranma 1/2. Those belong to Kazuki Takahashi and Rumiko Takahashi respectively. this is just for FUN and I'm not making any money from this story

Chapter List
- 16
- 17
Disclaimer: I do not own YuGiOh! or Ranma 1/2. Those belong to Kazuki Takahashi and Rumiko Takahashi respectively. This is a product of my warped mind wanting to cross EVERYTHING over with Ranma 1/2 and actually writing it down this time. Of course, this is just for FUN and I'm not making any money out of this, so please do not sue me.

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It was several days later when Yugi approached Jonouchi with a question. "Hey Jou," Yugi said, "I overheard Kaiba saying that he'd never let Bakura call him Priest the other day and since then I was wondering..." he paused, "Do you have any idea what happened to Ryou? It's been months since we've seen him and I'm kinda worried. I know that we thought that he'd just gone back to England, but there has been no contact from him at all."

"Sorry Yugi," Jou replied, "I have no idea. I guess we can ask Seto if he can help us find out, but it'll have to wait until after school. He isn't here today because he's got a bunch of meetings that he has to attend, but he should be done by the time we get out today."

"Thanks, we appreciate it," Yugi said. "Now we'd better get to class. You've missed enough school lately."

"Well, I didn't miss that much once me an' Seto started getting along," Jou said.

"But the teachers don't know that," Yugi pointed out. "If Kaiba hadn't intervened on your behalf, you'd have been expelled for sure.

"Yeah, and if I mess up at all they'll throw the book at me," Jou replied. "C'mon then, I don't want Seto to have to bail me out again."

-------------------

A few hours later found Jou, along with Yugi and Yami, entering Seto Kaiba's office.

"Hey Seto," Jou said as he crossed the room to give his boyfriend a kiss.

"Hey yourself," Seto replied as Jou pulled away. "So," he took in the presence of the other two who had entered the room along with Jonouchi, "what brings you all here?"

"We were wondering," Yugi began hesitantly, "if you could help us to find someone."

"What, am I running some kind of detective agency now?" Seto asked with a raised eyebrow.

"Be nice, Seto," Jou murmured to the brunet, who gave him an apologetic glance.

"I'm sorry," Seto said, mainly for Jou's benefit. He turned back to Yugi and Yami, "So who is it that I'm supposed to help you find and why can't you do it yourselves?"

"We are looking for Ryou Bakura," Yami said, "and we haven't seen him for several months. To start with we thought that he had gone back to England, but we've had no contact from him and we have no idea where else he could have gone."

"We're worried that Bakura may have come back, just as Yami did, and dragged Ryou into some kind of trouble," Yugi added.

"I see," Seto said, weighing up the best course to take. He'd never liked the ancient tomb robber - and with good reason - but from what he knew of Ryou, the white haired British boy did not deserve to be tarred with the same brush.

"Hang on," a new voice intruded, "Did you say Ryou Bakura?" Nabiki asked as she approached the group. When they confirmed that she continued, "I've heard that name before. Just hang on a moment." She crossed to her desk across the room and opened up her computer. A few key strokes later, she looked up. "Here we go," She said. "I came across that name when I was doing research on the legal rights of second personalities when it came to curse victims."

"So where is he?" Yugi asked, the worry for his friend evident in his voice.

Nabiki gave Yugi a sympathetic look. She knew that what she was about to say was not going to down well. "I'm sorry, Yugi," She said. "He's currently in residence at Domino Prison." Everyone in the room gasped, then started to babble questions at Nabiki until Seto spoke up.

"Quiet!" he commanded. Looking over at Nabiki, he gave his instruction. "Tell us everything that you know with regard to Ryou Bakura."

Nabiki nodded. "Several months ago he was jailed for a string of burglaries," she began. "He was initially put into an institution as it was thought that he had some kind of multiple personality problem, but after a couple of months they came to the conclusion that there was no second personality and I dropped his story from my investigation. He was transferred to Domino prison and he is due for a parole review, although he is not likely to gain parole at this time – as many similar criminals don't - because the authorities prefer for them to have a sponsor."

The room was silent in view of Nabiki's revelations, then Jou broke the silence. "Shit. Bakura must have come back and Ryou didn't tell us!"

"What do you mean by that, Jonouchi?" Nabiki asked.

"Ryou had an ancient spirit much like Yugi had Yami," Seto answered in his stead. "Only this spirit was… cruel and twisted."

"He did have good reason," Yami said. "Not that it excuses his behaviour in the modern world."

"He never did have that much regard for his host," Jou mused, "so why would that change now?"

Yugi stepped forward, a determined look on his face. "I'll go and see him. Find out exactly what is going on." He said forcefully.

"No Aibou, I forbid it" Yami said. "We have no idea what Bakura might do to you."

"But Yami..." Yugi turned the puppy dog eyes on the former pharaoh.

"There is also a question over why he is in the main prison rather than in the Young Offenders program, Nabiki interjected, "He was still a minor at the time of his conviction, so he really should not be where he is."

"Bakura probably upset someone," Jou said offhandedly.

"Or someone could have misfiled the paperwork," Kaiba added. "It does happen, but seeing as it's so close to his parole..."

"It's not worth rocking the boat over," Nabiki finished for him, "especially if there is the potential for someone to sponsor him."

"Putting that aside, Yug', Yami is right," Jou interjected. "You don't know the circumstances so I'll go and see him instead." He shrugged, "It wouldn't be the first time I've had to go visit there and I can handle myself a bit better than you can."

"I'm not sure about that..." Seto began, only to stop and sigh at the determined look on Jonouchi's face. He knew that if he did not agree then Jou would go ahead and visit the damned tomb robber anyway. "Fine," he conceded, "but I will insist on going with you."

"Seto..." Jou began to protest, only to be stopped as the CEO put a finger to his lips.

"I insist," the taller boy said again. He looked over at Nabiki. "Miss Tendo, can you make the necessary arrangements please."

"Of course, Mr. Kaiba," She replied in a business like tone as she turned to her task. It didn't take along and a few moments later she looked back over toward her boss. "You can visit tonight in an hour's time. Is that alright?" she enquired.

"That will be fine thank you Miss Tendo," he replied with a short nod of the head. "It will be best to get this over with as soon as possible."

"Thank you Kaiba," Yugi bowed to the CEO.

"Yes, thank you cousin," Yami echoed the sentiment. "Even if nothing comes of this then at least we will know what has happened to him."

"I'm still going to worry though," Yugi said. "Ryou didn't deserve this."

"Don't worry too much Yug'," Jou said. "I'm sure that Seto will do his best to help."

Seto sighed, still not one hundred percent sure about this. "Jou will call you later once we know more," he said, "and yes, I will do my best to help. He would never let me hear the last of it otherwise."

The other three teens in the room smirked at each other, knowing that despite what Seto may say, he really did care for his friends.

"I've called a car to take you back to the game shop," Nabiki said to Yugi and Yami. "It should be waiting outside the lobby when you get down there."

"Thank you Nabiki," Yami said to Seto's assistant gratefully. "Grandpa will be worrying over where we are and we are supposed to be helping in the shop today."

"Alright, see you later Yugi, Yami," Jou said as the oddly haired duo left the office. Jou turned to the teen CEO. "Thank you Seto," he said as he hugged his partner. Seto returned the embrace. As long as Jou loved him then he would do almost anything the blond required of him. Every trouble was worth it in the end.

---------------------------

An hour later, the black limo pulled up outside Domino Prison. Jou and Seto climbed out. "Don't you have any less flashy cars?" Jou asked. "This one stands out a bit too much."

"I don't care," Seto said as he escorted Jou up the steps, "I occasionally sponsor certain parole candidates from here in the spirit of giving people that have had a rough deal a second chance. They don't always work out, but the ones that do are often the most loyal employees that I could wish for, so this isn't really anything out of the ordinary." He smirked at Jou's gobsmacked expression.

"But… what…" Jou was lost for words.

"There is still quite a bit you don't know about me," Seto said with a smirk. "Come on, let's get going before we miss our appointment." Jou dutifully followed Seto into the grim building still completely stunned by the brunet's revelation. Seto got them signed in with a minimum of fuss and soon they were being escorted to the visitors centre where a white haired teen was waiting at a table for them.

"Well, well," the boy said, giving Seto and Jou an appraising look. "The Priest and his Mutt in the same room together and not trying to kill each other? I never thought I'd see the day," he sneered.

"Bakura," Jou spat. "I should have known. Where's Ryou? What did you do with him?"

"Why should I tell you, Mutt?" Bakura snarled, but not before the two visitors saw a flash of pain ghost across Bakura's face.

"Because we are the ones that will help you to get out of here," Seto said icily. "Provided that you can bring yourself to co-operate, of course."

"Fine," Bakura sighed. "He's been hiding in his soul room for months and he won't come out, not least because he's worried that we'll end up back on the psychiatric ward."

Jou paled, remembering what it had been like to be trapped inside his own soul room. "Can we talk to him," he asked. "He must be going crazy in there."

"Didn't you hear me say that he won't come out?" The spirit said with a sharp look at Jou. Then he subsided with another sigh. "Fine, I'll go and talk to him. Just give me a moment." He closed his eyes and went into what could only be described as a trance. Seto and Jou sat back to wait.

"Ryou," Bakura hesitantly knocked on the door of his host's soul room. He was hesitant because he was aware of the utter pain he had caused to the white haired boy since he'd come to open the tomb robber's soul room door all those months ago.

"Go away Bakura," Ryou said with a pain filled voice.

"Ryou, you have visitors. Someone has come to the prison and they want to speak to you." Bakura told him.

"No one knows that we are here Bakura," Ryou said in a long suffering tone, "and that is for the best."

"I am serious," Bakura said." Seto Kaiba is sat out there with the Mutt."

"Oh now I know you are joking," Ryou said. "There is no way those two could stand to be in the same room as each other, let alone be here together."

"Well something must have changed since the last time we saw them," Bakura insisted, "because not only are they here, but they are being civil to each other... and they seem to be sitting quite close together too." He waited for an answer which Ryou did not give. "Come on Ryou," Bakura said. "I promise you that I am telling the truth."

There was another pause and Bakura was about to give up and go back out to tell Kaiba and Jou to piss off, when the door to Ryou's soul room slowly opened. "Are... are you really telling the truth?" he asked.

"Yes Ryou," Bakura said as gently as he could, knowing that he'd given his host precious little reason to trust him, "I promised that I wouldn't lie to you again and I meant it."

"Alright," he said. "I'll go out and see them, but if you are lying to me…"

"Just go out!" the tomb robber said in exasperation. Ryou looked shocked, but complied.

Ryou opened his eyes, blinking as he tried to get used to the sensation of being outside of his soul room for the first time in several months. He blinked again as he saw that Jou and Kaiba were indeed sat opposite him and he raised his hand to his mouth as he gasped in shock, "Oh my!" he exclaimed. "He wasn't lying. You really did come to see me!"

"Ryou," Jou said. "Are you alright?"

Ryou gave a watery smile. "I'm doing as well as can be expected I guess. It gets kind of boring staring at the walls of your soul room all day."

"Yeah, I hear ya!" Jou muttered, causing Ryou to give him an odd look even as Seto looked a little shamefaced. There was a mystery there, Ryou was sure, but it could wait for another day.

"So..." Ryou said awkwardly, "how did you find out that I was here?" he asked.

"Yugi has been worrying about you," Jou said.

"And my assistant remembered seeing your name in association with some research she was conducting for me," Seto added.

"So, how did you end up like this Ryou," Jou asked with some sympathy.

Ryou sighed. "I thought that the spirit of the ring was gone for good," he said, "but one night I found myself in my soul room. I was surprised to be there as I thought that I'd never be in there again," he gave a small laugh, "funny how things turn out. Anyhow, something was calling me, so I opened the door, saw the other door and opened that…"

"And Bakura was waiting for you," Jou finished for him.

"Yes," Ryou confirmed. "I tried to tell him that he mustn't break any laws, but he soon fell back into his old habits. However, he failed to take into account how much policing has changed since his day and he was soon caught and charged. Of course I had no idea what was going on at the time, and I ended up... out, with no idea of what was going on. The authorities decided that I must have had some kind of split personality and when we were convicted they sent us to a secure psychiatric hospital." He shuddered at the memory. "After a couple of days we decided that it would be best if only one of us stayed out... and we decided that it should be Bakura because he was the one that got us into this mess in the first place. Then after they decided that there was no split personality and they transferred us to this place, we decided that it would be best again if Bakura stayed out because I wouldn't last five minutes against some of the psychos in here." He finished talking with a sigh.

"Shit Ryou, you should have told us," Jou said,

"There was nothing that you could have done Jonouchi," Ryou said with a shake of his head.

"But there is something that we can do now," Seto said. "I'm prepared to sponsor you for parole if the tomb robber can behave himself."

"That is a very generous offer Kaiba," Ryou said. " He has promised to make sure that we don't end up in a situation like this again, but I think that promise will be short lived if I can't find something to keep him occupied."

"Don't worry, I'm sure I can find something for him to do," Seto said. "I shall have to think about it first though,"

"Thank you Kaiba, Jonouchi," Ryou said as he bowed his head.

"Are you going to be alright?" Jou asked.

Ryou smiled. "You have given me hope and something to look forward to," he said. "That's more than I've had for a very long time, so yes, I'll be alright." With that said, he closed his eyes. When they opened it was clear that the tomb robber was back in control.

"Well, are you satisfied now," he almost snarled.

"That is no way to talk to the person who is your ticket out of here," Seto said with a little annoyance.

"Sorry Priest," Bakura said,

"Don't call me Priest either," Seto snapped. "It's bad enough that Yami insists on calling me Cousin, I will not put up with you calling me priest. Or Jonouchi, Mutt for that matter."

"Fine, Kaiba," Bakura sighed. "So how are you going to get us out?"

"I've been led to believe that your parole is due," Kaiba said. "I plan on sponsoring you for release." He looked at Bakura sharply. "I'm taking a risk, I know, but if it weren't for Ryou and Jou..."

"You'd leave me to rot," Bakura said. "Yeah, I get it. I won't let you down."

"See that you don't," Seto said as he stood. "It will take a few days, but I'll pull a few strings and I should have you out of here by the end of the week,"

"Thank you Pr… err, Kaiba." Bakura said as he stood and held out his hand. Seto reluctantly shook it, as did Jonouchi.

"Don't mention it," Jou said. "See you in a few days."

-----------------------------

True to his word, Kaiba did indeed get Ryou Bakura released from prison on his sponsorship, and on Friday afternoon, after a lot of paperwork, Bakura found himself stood with Jonouchi as the limo pulled up outside to take him away.

"So where are we going Mu... err, Jonouchi," the ex tomb robber asked.

"We're going to the Kaiba mansion," Jou replied.

"What?" Bakura was quite surprised. "I thought he'd never let someone like me into his home."

"Well, he's already putting a fair amount at risk just by getting you out in this way," Jou replied as they descended the steps, "so it isn't really that much of a stretch further," He opened the door, "Besides, it means that he can keep and eye on you and... where else do you have to go?" Bakura got inside the limo, and Jou followed him, only to smirk as Bakura sat there with a slack jawed expression.

"What? How?" He spluttered as he took in the twin forms of Yami and Yugi sat on the opposite seat.

"It's a long story," Yami said. "Now do you think we could see Ryou please?"

"Fine," the ex-spirit of the ring grumbled. "but I expect a full explanation later."

"Of course," Yami nodded. With that, Bakura relinquished control to his host.

"Ryou!" Yugi exclaimed as he threw himself across the car and into Ryou's arms.

"Yugi, it's good to see you," Ryou said with a smile. He looked up to see Yami sitting across the car, then back down to the boy who was crushing him in a hug with some confusion. "Yugi… Yami… how?" He asked.

Jou slapped the white haired British boy on the shoulder. "Ryou, there is a very long story behind all this and I promise that we will all explain later."

"Alright," Ryou said as he settled back. "Where are we going anyway?"

Jou and Yami shared a look. "We're going to the Kaiba mansion," Jou said. "Uh, Ryou, don't you and Bakura communicate at all?"

"If you mean we talk in the corridor between our soul rooms, then yes..." Ryou said with a little confusion.

"Doesn't he talk to you when you are... out?" Jou continued.

"Um... no. Should he be able to?" Ryou asked.

"Yes Ryou," Yami said. "I could always talk to Yugi and…" he stopped as he saw the look on Jou's face. Best not to mention that right now, "And Yugi could talk to me," he finished lamely.

"To be honest, I never even tried," Ryou said almost to himself.

"Maybe," Jou ventured, "it has to do with visiting each other's soul rooms?" Ryou looked oddly at Jou. What would Jou know of Soul Rooms?

"Yes, but that is also a matter of trust," Yami added. "Tell me Ryou, Do you trust Bakura?"

Ryou sighed. "It's hard to," he said haltingly, "especially after what he's put me through."

"I understand," Yami said, "but I think that you may have to learn to trust each other. Life will be a lot easier for you both if you can manage that."

"Are you alright though, Ryou?" Yugi said as he looked up at the other boy.

"I'm feeling much better now actually," he replied, then looked at Jou. "So how come Kaiba isn't here? I'm surprised that he let Yugi into his limo, let alone trusted you to be in here. And as for Yami..."

"Cousin is busy at the moment," Yami said, "but he will see us at the mansion later."

"You do know that you will be staying at the mansion for the moment, don't you?" Jou asked.

"I... I hadn't really thought about it," Ryou said. "I guess that my apartment is long gone." He looked down sadly.

"I'm sorry Ryou," Jou said gently. "Your apartment has been let again and we couldn't track down any of your stuff, but we did try."

"Sounds about right," Ryou said with a sigh. "Thank you for trying anyway. It's not like I had a lot left to lose in any case."

"Well, now you get a fresh start," Yugi said in a cheerful tone.

"I guess so," Ryou didn't sound convinced, but there was no more time to talk as the Limo pulled up outside the Kaiba Mansion. He was escorted into the spacious home and shown to the bedroom that he would be staying in by Jou as Yami and Yugi went off elsewhere. "Jou, why are you showing me up here?" Ryou had to ask. "I still can't get over the fact that Kaiba trusts you in his home."

"I live here now, Ryou," Jou said by way of explanation.

"Oh," I guess that you would have to live somewhere seeing as your old man is inside," Ryou said, shocking Jou.

"He is?" Jou said, clearly showing his surprise. "I didn't know that." He thought back to the last time he had seen his dad. It was the day after Jusenkyo when he'd been thrown out of Kaiba Corp and gone home to do his homework. He hadn't even thought about the man since then, but with everything that had happened to him in the meantime, it probably wasn't too surprising. "Darn. I guess I'll have to go and see him sometime." Jou said, not looking thrilled at the prospect. "When did he go in?" he asked.

"He came in shortly after I was transferred there," Ryou said.

"What did he get put in for?" Jou asked.

"I think Bakura heard that it was for GBH*, or whatever your equivalent is," Ryou replied. "He got drunk and beat someone up as far as he knows. He had a go at Bakura too, but he regretted that… sorry Jou."

"Nah, don't apologise for that," Jou said. "He's lucky that Seto didn't have him put inside when he tried to beat on him..." Jou stopped short for a moment. Maybe Seto had...

"Jou, I have to ask," Ryou said hesitantly. "Are you and Kaiba... together?"

"Ah, yeah," Jou was a little embarrassed. "I hope that's not gonna change stuff."

"No not at all," Ryou said. "I'm just a little surprised is all."

"Well, once again there is a really long story behind that, well it's all part of the same story really..." Jou scratched his head.

"I've missed out on so much," Ryou sighed.

"But you are back with us now," Jou said as he slapped the other on the back." Come on now. Everyone will be waiting for us."

"Everyone?" Ryou said.

"Yeah, come on," Jou said as he dragged the white haired teen along with him.

/Jou, are you here, love?/ Seto said in his head.

/Just coming now Seto,/ Jou replied. /I think Ryou might get a little overwhelmed so tell everyone to keep it down a touch./

/Will do,/ Seto replied. /but I'm sure he'll be fine. Come on now, everyone is waiting./

Jou opened the doors to the main reception room and ushered Ryou inside. Ryou was stunned to see all the people that had come to welcome him back. There was Yugi and Yami, but then he had expected them. What he hadn't expected to see was both of them with their arms around Anzu who was obviously enjoying the attention. Then there was Honda and Otogi who were with Shizuka. Ryou noted that Jonouchi stiffened slightly beside him, but for a wonder he didn't fly across the room to knock the other two boy's heads together for daring to be anywhere near his sister. Next there was some black haired guy that he'd never seen before and finally there was Seto and Mokuba Kaiba, the former striding across the room to grab Jou and kiss him soundly.

"Wow, everything really has changed," Ryou said with wide eyes. "Are you sure that you are really my friends and I'm not just having a hallucination?"

"Sorry Ryou," Jou said, extracting Ryou from the crowd. "Come and sit down and we'll do our best to fill you In on what's been going on."

"First though," Seto interjected, "I'd like to introduce you to Ranma Saotome of the Anything Goes School of Martial arts. Ranma, meet Ryou Bakura."

"Pleased to meet you, Mr. Saotome," Ryou said politely.

"Likewise Bakura," Ranma said, "But please, call me Ranma."

"As long as you call me Ryou," The white haired teen replied. "Bakura is my... other."

"You got it, Ryou," Ranma said with a nod.

Ryou was finally guided to a seat, then a drink was pressed into his hand. "So I guess you are wondering what's been happening," Jou said, sitting opposite Ryou.

"Well, yes," Ryou said,

"Do you recall that there was going to be a school trip this year?" Jou asked,

"Yes," Ryou replied. "Wasn't it to some place in China?"

"To cut a long story short," Seto said as he sat down beside Jou, knowing that Jou would really drag things out if he got the chance. "The place we were going was full of cursed pools. I fell in one and drowned, then later Jou fell in the same pool and was cursed to turn into me."

"That sounds... awkward," Ryou said.

"No kidding," Jou said. "If I were hit with cold water I turned into Seto and if Seto were hit with hot water…"

"… I turned into Jou," Seto said. "I didn't handle it very well and seeing as cold water is much easier to come by than hot…"

"… Seto spent a helluva lot more time out than I did." Jou finished. Ryou wondered at the two of them finishing each other's sentences like that, but tried to put it out of his mind as he continued to listen.

"I didn't begin to accept the curse until I came to in Jou's bedroom being… beaten by his father, That shook me up a bit…"

"… but not enough," Jou continued. "Seto was really selfish with his time and things got so bad that…" Jou stopped not wanting to think about it. Seto put his arm around the blond and Jou leaned into him gratefully,

"Seto sighed as he continued the tale. "I nearly drove Jou to commit suicide," he admitted. "It was a really close run thing, but fortunately Ranma was passing by and was able to stop us from falling to our death from the top of the Kaiba Corp building."

"Things got a lot better after that though," Jou said, "and eventually we accepted each other to the point where the curse… let us go."

"And here we are," Seto said simply.

"That sounds like a fantastic tale," Ryou said, "but it doesn't explain how Yami got his own body."

"Ah, well that also has to do with the cursed springs," Yami took up the story as he walked over. "Kaiba had arranged for some water from the spring of drowned twins to be delivered in an attempt to give them back their own bodies," he explained. "Kaiba and Jonouchi did not need it, so Ranma was going to take it back to secure storage when he dropped it on Yugi."

"I did NOT drop it!" Ranma protested. "I tell you that the damned barrel jumped out of my hands!"

"Yeah, right," Jou sniggered.

"However it happened," Yugi interjected before it could turn into an argument. "I got splashed with the water and Yami appeared in his own body right next to me."

"That is... amazing," Ryou said, mind ablaze with the possibilities. "Do you suppose..."

Seto spoke up again. "Ryou, I have spoken to the Amazons and they have agreed to send another barrel of drowned twins water. However," he warned, "Bakura must serve out his parole before you get to use it."

"Also," Ranma added, "Jusenkyo curses can be a funny lot. If the spring deems that you are not ready or suitable, the water will never even arrive here, let alone you get to use it."

"I understand," Ryou said. "It's given me a lot to think about and I'll have to explain it to Bakura I guess..."

Just then a maid passed by, tripped on a rug and spilled cold drinks all over Ranma. "You… you…" Ryou's eyes bugged out as the black haired male turned into a buxom, red headed female.

"Yes I have a Jusenkyo curse," Ranma explained, then turned her attention to Kaiba who was giving the maid a dressing down. "Kaiba, don't blame her. You know what Jusenkyo curses are like."

Seto glanced at Ranma then dismissed the maid who wasted no time in clearing up and exiting the room. "Sorry about that Ranma," he said.

"Seriously, don't worry about it Kaiba," she said with a wave of her hand. "That kind of thing happens all the time, It's unavoidable."

Ryou passed his hand over his eyes. He'd had enough shocks for one day. "I think I'm going to send Bakura out for a while," he said.

"That's OK Ryou," Jou said." We've all seen that you are OK and that's the main thing,"'

"That means a lot," Ryou replied with tears at the corners of his eyes. "I'm glad to be back." He closed his eyes and when they reopened, it was clear that Bakura was in control. He wiped at his eyes.

"What? Was Ryou crying?" Bakura asked in shock. "Who upset him," he said dangerously.

"Bakura," Seto said sharply. "No one upset him."

"Nope," Jou added. "He was just happy to be here."

"Oh," the tomb robber subsided, "I see. So what's with… those two?" he asked, indicating the pharaoh and his former host,

"Yugi was hit with some cursed water," Jou said.

"And I will see to obtaining some more," Seto added, "if you can behave until the end of your parole that is."

"Really?" Bakura looked surprised. "You'd do that for us?"

"For Ryou maybe," Seto said. "But you must serve your parole first. It wouldn't do for the authorities to realise that there really are two Ryou Bakuras."

"So what are you going to have me doing for you?" Bakura asked, knowing that all this would not be coming for free.

"First of all, Ryou will have to attend school again," Seto said. "And outside school I'm going to have you working for my personal security detail."

"That sounds… very generous," Bakura replied almost hesitantly, as though he was expecting the offer to be rescinded. "I won't let you or Ryou down."

"See that you don't" Seto said in a tone of voice that told Bakura that Seto would find a way to sort him out if he were to double cross the CEO. A way that would probably involve said cursed water and a gun.

"Ah, can you tell me where I'm staying?" Bakura asked.

"I'll take you," Jou said, and led the white haired spirit from the room. As they mounted the stairs, Jou spoke again. "You and Ryou need to have a good heart to heart. You need to find a level of trust so that you can talk together when one of you is out. It will make life a lot easier for you."

"I… how do you know anything about this anyway?" Bakura asked sharply.

"Personal experience," Jou said simply.

Bakura didn't say anything, just gave Jou a sidelong look. It would be hard, but he and Ryou would have to work on trusting each other. It was sure to take a lot of time, but if Jonouchi were to be believed, the end result would be worth it.

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It did take time, but in the end Ryou and Bakura did learn to tentatively trust each other and their lives did become a lot easier, which only solidified that trust.

Bakura did well as part of Kaiba's security team and even managed gain more of Kaiba's trust when he almost single-handedly foiled a plot to do the CEO harm. It didn't hurt that he picked up all sorts of skills from Ranma, who trained the Kaiba Corporation Security detail every day.

Six months later, when Bakura's parole was over, there was a private gathering of people who watched as the spring of drowned twins water was used and they finally gained separate bodies. Even Bakura had a tear in his eye at the emotion of the occasion, although he would always deny it.

Doctor Kenn was there to oversee the procedure, along with Cologne of course. Seto and Joey were also there, as were Yugi and Yami, the latter pair to offer moral support as they were the only other people who had been through this.

Finally Ranma was there with his now visibly pregnant wife. Yes, Ranma finally got the girl - But who was the girl in question and how did it happen? Well, that's another story...

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*GBH - Grievous Bodily Harm. A British term of offence that you don't tend to hear much anymore. LOL.

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A/N - I'm now going to mark this story as complete, although I reserve the right to come back and add extra bits should I wish to. :P

I do have the first part of the second epilogue/side story written, but I'm not sure whether I should add it here as it deals with Ranma and his new lady friend - who is a yugioh character of course. I wonder if you could possibly guess who it is? :P

Anyhow, if I don't post it here, I will post it on my Dreamwidth account (link available in my profile) so you can still read it if you wish to. (There is also a mostly written second part and I have notes for a third part that still needs to be written from scratch.)

Additionally, I'm half way through writing a short Y/A/YY one shot that also explains how Dr. Kenn knows Yugi's Grandpa (which will most likely be posted here) and I'm also considering writing a short Nabiki x Pegasus story too, although I haven't thought about it too much yet. Yeah... I know. I'm not even sure that I can make it work, but we'll see...

Thank you to everyone who read this far. I hope you all enjoyed reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it. ^_^
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Cursed