It's a brisk walk to the entrance of the museum, one that brings a shiver through Kanekura as he grips his steaming coffee in one hand. He'd honestly be warming all his fingers if he could, but unfortunately, the comfort of one of his hands must be sacrificed to carry his briefcase.

Even though the inside of the museum still has it's own little chill to it, Kanekura smiles upon entering. It's the first day of the "The World creation Myths Tour," after all; and, even at such an early hour, groups of visitors gather eager-eyed by the exhibits.

Not bad, not bad at all. Who knows, maybe if we get enough of a turnout, we'll have enough funds to hire some new guards.

The smile dips into a frown. Ever since his predecessor's terrible accident, Mr. Morioko's been downright nagging to hire on some new blood. Kanekura gets it, he really does. Gerald misses his senior partner, and security is a bit too slim with a few of the other guys just up and quitting. But still, Kanekura would rather not have his thoughts automatically turn to hiring new guards just because Morioko insists on it so much.

Better to bask in the success of his own idea of an exhibit event then worry about that little hiring problem. Kanekura got it right after all. People love stories, especially the wide-sweeping epics that one can find in creation myths. So of course his exhibits are off to a great start.

Students are even skipping school for this, if the preppy girl glued to the lapis tablet display is any indication. Granted it's Morioko's daughter, but that white-haired boy Kanekura spots on his way to his office certainly isn't related to the staff. Walking slowly among the Mesoamerican section, the kid seems pretty interested even if he does give...Mr. Morioko a side-eyed glance as the security guard lurks an aisle away.

Jeez, doesn't he have anything better to do. Yeah, sure, that kid's skipping school, but, Gerald, that doesn't mean that you should be stalking him!

Kanekura's frown returns. Sure, breaking the rules on school attendance is bad and all, but he's probably learning more here than any stuffy old classroom Besides, if the kid has a good time and comes back later with his friends, that's even more funds for the museum.

Obviously, Kanekura's going to have to remedy this situation. Don't want the extra tickets—boy—to be scared off by a grumpy guard.

"Hi there!" Kanekura states from far enough away so as not to startle the kid too badly, "You enjoying the show so far?"

The boy stops, his wide green eyes exposing the surprise at the sudden attention. He watches as Kanekura moves a bit closer, the silence stretching a tad longer than is comfortable.

Which is fine, the kid wasn't expecting that.

"Hello," the boy says finally, his voice soft and hesitant, "the artifacts have been intriguing so far."

"Good, great," Kanekura gives him one of his trademark grins. "We usually don't get a lot of teens here, so it's fantastic that you like them."

The boy fails to smile back, caution keeping his expression almost blank. "Well, most of the teenagers of this generation are quite shallow-minded, so their lack of presence is to be expected."

Kanekura can't keep the chuckle down as he shakes his head. The kid's got a sense of humor, even if it is disappointing that he won't be bringing any friends in with a viewpoint like that.

"There's a few exceptions here and there, but you're pretty much right. Anyway, the name's Kanekura. Professor Kanekura if you want to be all formal about it."

"Oh, I know. It'd be remiss if I didn't recognize the museum director."

"Hmm?" Wait, what?

The boy smiles slightly as he lifts his hand. "I'm Ryo Bakura. Doctor Bakura's son. He's mentioned you a few times."

"What?!" Kanekura states before remembering himself and snatching the boy's hand. English, English people shake hands, mustn't forget that. "He didn't say anything about his boy coming to visit!"

If possible, the kid looks even more startled with his hand loose in Kanekura's grip.

"Jeez, if I knew you were coming..." He lets go, quickly lifting his briefcase back off the floor. "Your dad's absent-minded as hell, so I can see why he didn't mention it, but still." Kanekura shakes his head. "He gave the Millenium Ring to you, didn't he?"

The surprise on the boy's face cools. His eyes sharpen, their green almost appearing amber as they catch the overhead lights.

"He told you that?" The softness in Ryo's voice conflicts with the guarded look in his eyes.

"Oh yeah, he talks about it from time to time." What was I thinking, of course he'd be worried. "Don't worry about that, kid. We've all slipped a few trinkets to our kids, well, my nephew, now and then. It's fine." Except if the wrong person hears that archeological discoveries are being handed out like candy to children. Then Kanekura may get in a bit of trouble.

"You know what, why don't we talk more in my office. I wouldn't mind talking more about the Ring if you want to. Heck, it'd be the closest I got to one of the Millennium Items in years with Solomon squirreling away his."

"You're inviting me into your office?"

At Ryo's incredulous tone, Kanekura responds, "Yeah, it'd be more private than here. And besides, most of the staff's kids practically live back there, so it's only right that Dr. Bakura's son gets to see the inner workings of the museum like everyone else."

Glancing to Gerald who had the gall to peer around the aisle behind the boy and stare at Kanekura like he's lost his mind, the director continues on, "Come on, I can drop off this paperwork later."

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

Across the desk from Kanekura, Bakura's son stares at him in silence. In all honesty, the boy hardly looks a thing like his father. But Kanekura's almost certain he's inherited those pale green eyes from his mother. Granted, he only met her at the wedding all those years ago. But he's almost certain the girl's eyes were that same pale shade.

The wife's hair was certainly white like the boy's. No one there that day would have forgotten such a shocking color.

"So, now I don't have any drinks to offer. Not for youngsters anyway. But if you wanted some candy..." Kanekura's already rifling through the thin top drawer, ready to share his nice little stash.

"No thank you, I'm fine." Ryo says quickly. And of course, he's a teenager. They think that some chocolate is too childish, don't they?

Eh, give him a few years and he'll come back around.

Kanekura straightens back up, giving the boy a wide smile. "All right. Well, how was the trip here? You've been studying in England, haven't you?" The curiosity for Ryo's personal history is nothing compared to the burning desire to see one of the Items with his own eyes. But it'd be more polite to ease into it, and besides, Kanekura's a little curious about the son that Dr. Bakura has tucked away for so many years.

"England, is that where my father...Actually, I moved from there awhile back." The boy sits nice and straight in his seat.

"Oh really?" Dr. Bakura certainly never mentioned that. "So where are you living then?"

"Domino City. I thought that it'd be time to...return to my roots." The boy smiles only for it to slip away. "You wanted to talk about the Millennium Ring."

Maybe he read Ryo wrong. Dr. Bakura may talk animatedly about the artifacts they pull out of the ground, but personal stuff...The kid probably is just as much as a steel trap about his life as his father.

"Yes!" Kanekura admits only to quickly correct himself. "I mean, sorry for that outburst. I'd love to talk about it. Those Items are such an important part of pharaonic history, you know." The director laces his thick fingers upon the table in an attempt to hold in the excitement.

"You know, everyone is so certain who the first pharaohs might have been, or when the Predynastic Period may have ended and the true 'great' time of Egyptian history started to play out. But good god, those Items. They are the singular greatest piece of evidence that we have that there were entire dynasties long before anyone thought possible. And, oh I'm sorry, I just get so excited over these priceless treasures."

Well, not quite priceless, but there's a lot of collectors out there who'd certainly try to pay that.

The boy just stares for a moment; no doubt shell-shocked by the barrage. He recovers well enough though as he responds. "Priceless treasures...I suppose they are quite valuable especially with all the stories that surround them." The emphasis is slight, but Kanekura can hear that signifier that means this kid's been hearing the same tales that a lot of the archeologists tend to buy into.

"Eh, the stories do add a lot of spookiness to them. I'll give them that." Kanekura scoffs as he shakes his head. "And it does give them a bit of a mystic edge to them, but this is the end of the twentieth century. It's a bit silly, if you ask me, to buy into those old tales. We all know better than that by now." Kanekura waves dismissively. "I mean, yes it was quite tragic that Solomon's whole team died in that tomb. Except, for him of course, but that place was five thousand years old. They really shouldn't have gone in there without the proper safety equipment. It's a miracle that Dr. Muto made it back at all, having to trek all the way across the desert like that!"

"And it's a damn shame that he was too delirious to remember the way back. The secrets those hieroglyphs would have revealed...but enough about that. I'd ramble all day about it if I could. How about you?"

"What about me?" Ryo asks.

Kanekura leans forward in his excitement. "The Ring that your father gave to you? You still have it, right?" The kid could've just sold it. The thing's made of solid gold after all, and Kanekura would have been dumb enough to sell it to just about anyone at that age. Instead of the right people of course.

"Yes." The boy says slowly. "I still have it."

"Could, if it's not too much to ask, could I see it?" Kanekura pulls back, he might have been leaning a little too closely if the stiffness of the boy's posture is anything to go by.

"I'm afraid it's tucked away at the moment. I did just move into my apartment, and there's still so much left to unpack." Ryo smiles politely only for it to die away quickly.

Kanekura refuses to relent, if he doesn't get a promise now, he might never see the Ring. "Well, after you dig it out, you should bring it over some time."

"Perhaps," the boy says glancing at the pens upon Kanekura's desk. "It would be nice to compare it to Mr. Muto's Item." When those green eyes meet Kanekura's again, they reflect the yellow of the lamp light illuminating the desk. "You did mention that Mr. Muto still has the Millennium Puzzle after all."

Kanekura deflates. "Well, yes, yes he does. But he hasn't shown it to anyone in years. He's retired now, actually. His grandson needed someone around the home, so he's been a little removed from the museum for some time." At the frown appearing on the boy's face, Kanekura quickly continues. "But Dr. Yoshimori still keeps in touch with him. I'm sure if Yoshimori lets him know that there's someone else who has a Millennium Item with an interest in meeting him, especially one as young as you...Mr. Muto wouldn't be able to resist coming in, I'm know it." The grin Kanekura gives appears to win the boy over if the disappearing frown is any indicator.

"I could give Yoshimori a call right now, in fact. He's in the middle of a dig in the Valley of Kings, with your father, if I might add." Kanekura reaches for the telephone waiting upon his desk.

"My father?" The tone, something in that tone makes Kanekura pause. The boy's soft voice almost sounded harsh; but, when he looks at the kid, an eager light gleams in his eyes. "May I talk to him?" Ryo pauses, looking mildly sheepish at the request. "I haven't gotten around to hooking up the phone quite yet. So if it wouldn't be too bothersome, I would greatly appreciate it."

"Of course!" Kanekura agrees as he dials the number. How could he say no to that earnest look of excitement threatening to overtake the boy's features? The kid probably hasn't seen his father in months, it'd be heartless of Kanekura to deny him this chance at a conversation.

The boy watches him, not even really blinking in his anticipation as the phone rings once, then twice, then—

"Hello?" Kanekura blinks in surprise as Dr. Bakura's voice reaches him. The whole camp is using the same satellite phone, so it's...lucky that Dr. Bakura happened to be the one near the thing even if it's a little odd.

"Hey there! Dr. Bakura, this is Kanekura." As Kanekura speaks, Ryo leans forward. His long pale fingers stretched and reaching for the handset. "You know," Kanekura says quickly before the boy can grab it away in his eagerness. "you're son's here today. He's looking forward to—"

A sharp intake of breath on the other side and the phone clicks as the disconnect tone blurts out.

Kanekura pulls the phone away from his ear, his eyebrows knitting in confusion as he stares at the dark brown device in his hand. The shadows of his hand and the handset lie ink black upon the table. Far darker than they should be with the lamplight and the sunlight through the window brightening the room.

And they aren't that dark when Kanekura really looks down on them. Just faint impressions of shapes like they usually are.

When a frowning Kanekura looks up at the boy, the sharp smirk on Ryo's face shows a hint of teeth while his voice lilts up in delight. "Oh how unfortunate, it looks as if the line disconnected."