A/N: Sorry for the long wait, but I've got most of the next chapter done already, was ill for a few weeks and had to catch up with school afterwards (still doing that one) and just got ill again, so not much PC time for me, hence not much writing.

A/N 2: Sorry guys, another delay. But I thought a beta-ed chapter to be better and it was a wise decision. Additionally, school is veeery nice lately, my boyfriend went ill, my mother to hospital and my father broke his shoulder. I wonder what happens next...

Regarding last times end question, it was just the time (11:11 becoming 12:12). Sorry, it's stupid and I know, but I thought it funny and wanted to know if anyone would notice... well apparently it was either too obvious or no one did. You choose :P

Thanks to Flyingshadow66, Tearless (thanks!), a malachite maiden, Grass stained Umbrella, Claudia's Evil Twin, Lil' Black Bamboo (double thanks ;) ), Aura300 (thanks back), red*robin (thanks!), saternoutlaw, kyokoaurora, Kitsu3, Serenity Moon2, anonymousgirl028 and Neb er tcher for reviewing. You guys are great and keep me going!

One Fact Changes All is now on the favorite/alert lists of the following people: misaki34, .tofu-melon, fai16, Darkness Sierra, MarzBunni, Peaches-Destroyer, saternoutlaw, kyokoaurora, Mayab, Nachtnelke, Yuki Kirino, Darka Dark, Eressie, JadeNyx, Neb er tcher, anonymousgirl028 and Moonlit Mist . I'm happy to know that, if they haven't yet, they'll probably review one day!

Disclaimer: As Jack Sparrow would say, “I’m borrowing…borrowing without asking, but with every intention of bringing it back!” (Don't own Pirates of the Caribbean either!)

Announcement: I finally have found a beta! Thanks goes to Kitsu3! She did a really great job.

Legend:

“English”

“Japanese”

/ mind link /

Leaving the train after the group of Slytherins, Ryou was at a loss as to what to do. Draco didn't know either, so they parted from each other. In hope of finding someone responsible, the silver-haired youth followed the cries of “First years! First years over here!” Finding the source, a rather stern-looking female Professor, he released a sigh of relief. Tapping said teacher on the shoulder, making her jump, he bowed Japanese-style and spoke up in his ever so soft voice.

“Excuse me, Professor. I'm new here and no one said where I was supposed to go...” he trailed off as he saw realization dawn in her eyes. She fiddled with a list before she replied.

“Ah yes, Mr. Bakura, right, come along with me, if you please? I'm Professor Grubbly-Plank, I teach Care Of Magical Creatures as a substitute, as long as the normal teacher is absent. Follow me then,” she ranted, then turned to the first years. “First years, form two lines and follow me! No one out of line...!”

Ryou was reminded of primary school: back then they always had to form lines as well. He instead decided to walk beside the Professor and relaxed, letting his eyes wander. There were black carriages for the older students and, he watched them with curious interest, the carriages were drawn by horse-like creatures. Their skeletal look should have had most students shuddering, but somehow only a few even spared them a look. He noticed that Harry stared at them like something was wrong, though the red-haired girl in their group caught sight of Ryou and pointed him out to the others, so he waved before turning around.

Arriving at the lake, all first years piled into the boats while he himself sat down in one with the teacher. Bakura was awfully quiet as he tried to accustom himself to the new magic, leaving his hikari mostly on his own. Playing a hand through the water, Ryou smiled happily, glancing at the impressive castle once in a while. However, his attention went back to the lake when something touched him. A big tentacle surfaced for just a moment before vanishing again, drawing Bakura's attention to the dark depths. He tried to feel the presence of the being deep down but felt a wave similar to Shadow magic hit him, causing him to recoil quickly. He eyed the lake suspiciously, though his attention was soon directed to more immediate matters at hand.

They arrived at the end of the lake and the first years chattered excitedly amongst themselves, some pointing towards Ryou now and then, before quietly and animatedly whispering something or another to their friends. The hikari sighed, knowing well he should have expected this behaviour since it wasn't normal for new students to be his age. Huffing, he collected himself and followed the teacher to the great entrance doors. She knocked three times and another stern-looking witch opened them. The teachers nodded at each other and Professor Grubbly-Plank walked on ahead, while the new one turned to the students.

“First Years, welcome to Hogwarts. The Sorting Feast shall commence shortly, but first let me tell you some things. I'm Professor McGonagall, Deputy Headmistress and Head of the Gryffindor House. There are four houses, Gryffindor, Ravenclaw, Hufflepuff and Slytherin. The house that you'll be sorted into will be your family from now on. You can gain points for your house by...”

While the Professor droned on, Ryou carefully looked around; he already knew what she was talking about. They stood in the entrance hall and he could see stairs leading up and down, as well as grand oak doors, which probably led to the Great Hall. He could hear the muffled chatter on the other side and wished he could already be there and not have to go through this sorting ceremony. He had talked with Draco about the Sorting Hat and the inner quarrel between the houses. He sighed. It would be sad if the boy didn't want to be his friend anymore after this. Then again, it would protect him from Bakura's wrath at least.

Another thought came to him, what if the Hat sorted him according to Bakura's personality? He would never hear the end of it! Being around people Bakura could deal with easily, but were more difficult for him, they were bound to notice his changing personality soon. / Oh, for the love of Ra, I'll behave! / Bakura grunted, obviously annoyed by his hikari's fretting. / So shut up now! / At that moment, the Professor stopped her speech, peeking inside the hall through a smaller door, then turned to them and motioned for them to follow her. Ryou let himself fall behind; he knew the other students would be staring and wanted to stay away from the attention as long as possible.

The Great Hall was filled with whispering, excited students sitting at one of four tables respectively, and there was a large, raised platform where the teachers were sitting. The whispering paused when the First Years filed in, before it stopped altogether. The silence that reigned made Ryou uncomfortable and he let his eyes wander along the four House tables, before landing at the teachers' table and on his frowning uncle. The young Japanese tilted his head, something was wrong, though he didn't know what it was, but his uncle had the feeling of impending doom around him. Something was worrying his relative.

Nervous First Years stared in awe at the three-legged stool and the hat on it, before starting to whisper amongst themselves. Bakura was watching the whole scene from his soul-room, amused by the mortals' seriousness with this business. Though he blinked, surprised, when the Hat ripped, thinking it would finally fall apart now; it looked worse for wear. What neither his host nor he expected was for it to start singing. And it had quite a nice voice, too.

“In times of old when I was new

And Hogwarts barely started

The founders of our noble school

Thought never to be parted:

United by a common goal,

They had the selfsame yearning,

To make the world's best magic school

And pass along their learning.

'Together we will build and teach!'

The four good friends decided

And never did they dream that they

Might some day be divided,

For were there such good friends anywhere

As Slytherin and Gryffindor?

Unless it was the second pair

Of Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw?”

Bakura snorted. Fun, another friendship speech. As if he didn't get enough of them in Japan. At least the Hat was wise enough to know something like that couldn't possibly last. His hikari, however, seemed consumed in the song, something akin hope shimmering in his eyes. The ancient thief paused in his dark chuckles and emerged himself from his hikari, silently floating next to him. What was it that his yadonushi (') was thinking about? Surely it couldn't be the little pests. As if they still wanted to befriend him, after all he had done (though under his yami's control, mind you). Lost in thought, the silver-haired spirit almost didn't catch the next part, though as he did, his eyes widened.

"But this year I'll go further,

Listen closely to my song:

Though condemned I am to split you

Still I worry that it's wrong

Though I must fulfil my duty

And must quarter every year

Still I wonder whether Sorting

May not bring the end I fear.

The strangers will surely bring

What years of hate have undone.

Follow their example closely

Or we all might as well be gone.

Oh, know the perils, read the signs,

The warning history shows,

For our Hogwarts is in danger

From external, deadly foes

And we must unite inside her

Or we'll crumble from within

I have told you, I have warned you...

Let the Sorting now begin."

Ryou clapped with the rest of the students while most first years were too afraid to. A sigh escaped his lips, he felt very nervous as well, standing last in line and for everyone to clearly see that he wasn't a First Year. Bakura nudged him in his transparent form, frowning at the Hat. He had just caught the 'strangers' part and found it odd. Was the Hat talking about them? It was possible, but the 'history' phrase unnerved him slightly. What did that thing know? Neither spirit nor host concentrated on the First Years' Sorting when it started with Aldridge, Liam, absorbed with Bakura's discovery.

After 'Wool, Sabrina' it was already their turn. Ryou shivered nervously. “Bakura, Ryou”, McGonagall called out and the Japanese stepped forward, as murmurs erupted from the tables. Taking a deep breath, Ryou sat down on the chair und put on the Hat. The voices around him drowned out, a weird probing feeling in his mind was all that was left. A mental link opened and he jumped in surprise at the Hat's voice in his mind.

/ Well, well. What's this? Two souls in one body? /

/ What do you mean? /

/ However, each soul has a right to be sorted... /

/ I don't understand. /

/ ...and it seems they don't belong to the same House- /

/ What are you talking about!? /

/ - and Fate wants a say in this one, too. Very well- /

/ Bakura! What's it talking about?! /

/ I don't know, ahou! / (*)

/ Prepare yourselves- /

/ Stop whatever you're doing! /

/ Bakura... I'm scared... /

/ - because I've never done this before. /

With a gasp, Ryou doubled over, eyes widened in shock. He clutched his head with one hand, the other one over his heart. He cried out in alarm as something tugged on his very soul and he held his head down, the Hat falling in front of him. His Ring started to glow and he could feel the warmth, hot and seething, but calming nonetheless. He clutched it tight to his chest... Suddenly, a bright, brilliant light engulfed him and the Hat and he screamed, feeling as if he was torn in two pieces.

The moment the drama started, the teachers stood up, wands drawn and observing. Professor Snape, to almost everyone's surprise, was standing next to Professor McGonagall in an instant. His black eyes were narrowed as he stared into the light, wanting nothing more than to come to his nephew's aid. No one dared to move until the light slowly faded. However, before anyone could see through the smoke screen that had risen, there was a gasp of utter disbelief and a soft voice cried out the syllables “Bakura!?”

Ryou groaned, opening his eyes and blinking. He slowly stood up and looked around, everything was misty but for the Sorting Hat lying innocently at his feet. To his left, someone hissed in pain and he swirled around, facing the shady figure through the smoke. It slowly cleared away and he started approaching it, feeling a tingling sensation in the back of his mind. Suddenly, the person leapt onto him, holding a knife to his throat and bloody eyes staring back at his own doe ones. “Bakura”, he breathed, before gasping loudlier. “Bakura!?”

The smoke cleared away completely and the audience stared at the two figures, where earlier only one had been. Ryou hugged his yami, muttering under his breath about what was going on, when someone cleared their throat nearby. The hikari-yami pair looked up, confusion still written all over their faces. Professors Snape and McGonagall had taken it upon themselves to restore order and were now staring down at them. The young Japanese sighed and locked gazes with his uncle. “'Ji-san, this is Bakura. He means no harm to anyone. It's a long story and it would be probably better to tell it under... more private means.” He threw a meaningful glance around the Hall.

Snape's eyes wandered over Bakura and then he looked at Ryou again. “So, you are my nephew?” He got an affirmative nod. He turned to the other silver-haired, young man. “And you are...?”

“Bakura. Though, for the record, my last name shall be Touzoukuou.”

Snape arched an eyebrow at this, who in their right minds chose a surname calling themselves 'King of Thieves'? - Why did he choose a surname to begin with? And who was this guy? He looked so much like his nephew, at first glance he couldn't say who was who. Now that he took a closer look, he noticed the sharp eyes and the hard expression on the face, the hair a tad shorter, but wilder as well and he was also at least a few inches taller than his nephew. If he had met him without Ryou there to compare to, he wouldn't know this wasn't his nephew.

It was then McGonagall interrupted, returning from debating further action with Dumbledore. A frown marred her face, though her tone hid her emotions quite well. She nodded at the Potions master, indicating he was dismissed and then turned towards the two teens. “Continue the Sorting, Misters Bakura, To-tho-ko. We will discuss this event later. Now, if you please?”

Bakura glared at her mispronunciation and Ryou nodded his head, blushing when he noticed all the stares given to him by the student body. He shrank into himself a little and silently walked to the three legged stool again, setting the Hat down gently. The voice boomed in his head once more and he winced slightly, still feeling quite a headache from being separated.

/ ...What did you do? / he questioned softly, unsure, confused.

/ I gave the dark one a permanent body for the time he will remain a part of Hogwarts, figuratively speaking. The headache is because your soul was ripped from its counterpart and the link is being restored as we speak. Once that process is finished, you will feel quite alright. /

/ But... why did you do that? / , Ryou asked, frowning. What was the catch?

/ There's no catch. I just added a new power to your assortment – or, shall I say, awakened it, sleeping deep down inside of you? You will be able to punish your darkness, if needs be. Just tell him he's grounded. /

/ I don't have any powers of my own. / Ryou protested strongly, although he didn't know why it irked him that much.

/ Oh, but you do! Ever since the Ring has chosen you. However, I guess that your dark has been subconsciously suppressing them. Now that you have your own bodies, your powers shall awaken and develop.

/ Now, to more important matters at hand, you need to be sorted. You're timid and chary, a quick-study most of the time. But your father doesn't recognise you, hmm? And your friends are not paying much attention to you either. You're lonely, but too shy to say anything. Oh, there's a spark of defiance! And you went against your own fears to save your friends. Very well. Normally, I'd put you into Ravenclaw for your intelligence, but Fate begs to differ. Welcome to- /

“GRYFFINDOR!”

The audience hesitantly clapped, most of them Gryffindors. They were still stunned and on edge by the appearance of a second older new student or – as some murmured – the transfer splitting in two. Ryou could discern a yell from one of Harry's friends (“But he was with Malfoy!”), which made him look around for his new blond friend, who looked quite shocked. He let his head hang sadly, now they couldn't friends anymore, right? Instead of instantly joining his new house, he stood next to McGonagall to calm down Bakura, if the spirit decided he had enough of this. By the look on his face, Ryou could tell he was anything but happy.

Still, Bakura flopped down, glaring at the Hat before settling it down on his head. Before the enchanted being could say anything, it was snapped at by the Thief.

/ Is this your definition of fun!? Making everyone present alerted to my presence!? I've been hiding for years, dammit, and I've never allowed someone to make fun of me! You better have a good reason for me not to send you to the Shadow Realm, after Man-Eater Bug tears you into pieces!! /

/ Ah, seems the dark one is not so happy. Either way, it's your destiny. Only this way you can keep the light one from harm and he is needed to change what is to come, if we do not want to fall. /

/ ...You love being cryptic, or what? / the King of Thieves replied sullenly.

The Sorting Hat just ignored the grumpy 'dark one' and settled to sort him, too. / You have a dark past, very dark indeed. Your lust for revenge has dictated most of your life, I see. But now you seem to be changing- /

/ Am not! / Bakura snapped back.

/ Oh, in denial, are we now? Very well. I can see remarkable stealth and cunning. You plan far into the future and don't like surprises, hm? Your love for violating rules aside, the house you best belong in is- /

“SLYTHERIN!”

/ Yes, yes, yadda, yadda. Just don't put him in the same house as the light one, why you- /

While the spirit was ranting angrily, Ryou took the Sorting Hat off him almost right after the announcement, probably afraid what his yami would do to it after the whole ordeal. McGonagall took the Hat and the stool, once the spirit stood up, and left, they looked each other in the eye.

“Bakura,” Ryou gulped, “It said the link should be restored soon, so until then... promise me you'll behave?”

The spirit snorted and grunted something, which the hikari took as a yes, before turning somewhat more serious. “Yadonushi, I know I haven't been the best tenant ever, but I still feel responsible. I want you to tell me immediately, if someone is only looking at you the wrong way.” His threat was clear for both of them and Ryou couldn't do much but nod, touched that his dark wanted to protect him. Their relationship was a weird one and they hadn't sorted it out yet, either. Both left for their respective tables, ignoring the wild rumors already spreading throughout the hall.

Draco Malfoy was shocked. For all his suspicions of what would happen during the Sorting, this was one event he hadn't expected in the least. Murmurs ran up and down the Slytherin table, however, he never noticed. Staring at the two figures in front of the teachers' table, they both seemed so familiar, yet who was the one he got to know? But did it even matter who of those two had stayed the summer with him?

No, he realized, it doesn't matter.

Because one of them had unconsciously become his friend during the last few days. A friend not directly connected to the Dark Lord, not grown up with praises of the pure. One of them – Bakura Toh-something – walked up the Slytherin table, plopping down in a seat across from Draco and flashed him a smirk. The blond's heart jumped. That expression... He had seen Ryou with that smirk a few times, always from the corner of his eyes or glances into glass, reflections, hallucinations, his imagination playing tricks on him.

The truth sat in front of him now and never stopped smirking. But... who was this and what was his relation to Ryou?

“Well, that was a nice surprise... To our newcomers,” said Dumbledore in a ringing voice, his arms stretched wide and a beaming smile on his lips, “welcome! To our old hands – welcome back! There is a time for speech-making, but this is not it. Tuck in!”

Ryou silently wondered if that behaviour was normal for the Headmaster. Looking up at the teachers' table once more, he caught eye of his uncle and smiled at him before turning to his meal. He felt really hungry, so he started collecting things he deemed 'eatable'. His yami chuckled in the depths of his mind, abruptly shaking him out of his thoughts. Was the link already restored? He glanced at the table opposite the hall, where Bakura was seated across from Draco, smirking right back at him.

/ These mortals still try to figure out what's going on. Quite amusing, don't you agree, yadonushi-kun? /

Ryou groaned, catching Hermione's attention. / Don't do anything illegal, yami! I swear, I'll try those 'abilities' the Hat spoke of if you do! / he hastily replied, before smiling pleasantly at the bushy-haired girl. “What is it, Hermione-san?” She seemed surprised that he noticed her stare, making him wonder if she was so naïve as to think it wasn't obvious. / Or is it normal not to be caught staring in this house? /

“Are you alright, Ryou?”

/ Well, obviously I'm in the sneaky house, so you probably have to deal with the... less cunning ones. /

“Daijoubu. I'm fine.”

He was still not used to speaking English again after living so long in Japan. Although he had spent some time at the Malfoys', even back then he had had problems not switching to the wrong language. It did not help at all that in his mind, Bakura's voice spoke Japanese (however, that had to be a trick of his mind, speak-thinking didn't really have any language – at least he thought so – ok, maybe it did have one...). Speaking of his former tenant...

/ Could you please refrain from talking with me while I'm having a conversation? I don't want them to find out about that part of our connection if possible... /

“So, what were you doing with Malfoy on the train?” the red-head of the Trio started questioning their new member.

Although it was hard to keep his side remarks to himself, Bakura had to agree with his lighter half – he, too, didn't want anyone to find out about them and their... abilities. So he turned his attention to his meal and the strangers close to him. They were staring at him curiously and the blond brat was filling them in that the whitenette had stayed with them and was the Head of House's nephew.

However, Bakura was making no attempt to enter their conversation as he claimed the rawest steak he could find and enjoyed his meal. Well, old habits die hard, as they say, and besides, he had always loved blood – whether he was tasting it or just the sight of it. The female on Draco's right side gave him a disgusted look, before hastily continuing with her own meal – the glare he had shot her had her shivering.

“Well, now that we are all digesting another magnificent feast, I beg a few moments of your attention for the usual start-of-term notices,” said Dumbledore. “First-years ought to know that the Forest in the grounds is out-of-bounds to students – and a few of our older students ought to know by now, too.”

The Golden Trio threw each other meaningful looks that didn't go unnoticed by a certain silver-haired Gryffindor. He shortly wondered what it could mean and Bakura took a similar interest in it once Ryou showed him a short memory-image of what had happened. Neither was sure what it was, but since the possibilities were many (from possibly being those students needing to be reminded, to knowing said students to completely ridiculous things Ryou came up with, at which Bakura could only snort) and they agreed to mull about it at a later point. For now, they needed to pay attention to what was happening.

“Mr. Filch, the caretaker, has asked me, for what he tells me is the four-hundred-and-sixty-second time, to remind you all that magic is not permitted in corridors between classes, nor are a number of things, all of which can be checked on the extensive list now fastened to Mr. Filch's office door.”

/ Maybe I should check it for dangerous, dark, ancient items in ring-form? Or just look for Millennium Items in general... perhaps even the Ring specifically... / Ryou mused, not noticing that he broadcasted those thoughts along their shared link until Bakura started protesting vehemently and threaten him with anatomically impossible threats.

“Now, as you've most certainly noticed, we have two new faces who are too old to be first years. I'd like you to welcome our late-starters, Mr. Ryou Bakura and Mr. Bakura Tou-so-kou.”

There was a mild applause, before everyone settled down again and the murmurs started spreading. Bakura was muttering darkly at the latest mispronunciation and ignored his former vessel informing him that he did better than the Deputy Headmistress and that it also was a rather difficult name to pronounce for non-native speakers.

“We have had two changes in staffing this year. We are very pleased to welcome back Professor Grubbly-Plank, who will be taking Care of Magical Creatures lessons; we are also delighted to introduce Professor Umbridge, our new Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher.”

There were quite a few different reactions to that, varying from “So much pink is totally gross!” by a black boy not far away to a severe “I know her. She's Fudge's secretary. She was at my trial.” by Harry. Ryou just stared at her, having an ill feeling deep in his gut. He sent a wave of uneasiness to his darker half, not finding the words to describe his feelings in her regard.

/ I don't like her, either, / came his yami's reply.

Ryou huffed mentally. / Like you like anyone, right,/ he shot back, although the bickering helped him get past the feeling. His yami, however, obviously wasn't finished.

/ Shut it. She has a dark feeling to her, I agree with that. I'll keep an eye on her. So better watch out, too, yadonushi. /

(*) ahou = idiot; fool

(') yadonushi = host, vessel