Chapter Text
Prologue
“There remains controversy regarding whether or not Spontaneous Human Combustion is plausible. There are those that believe alcohol may play a factor, seeping into the tissues of the human body and igniting. Some witnesses say there is no explanation, while scientists provide optional explanations, such as the proximity of human remains close to a source of ignition.
“In the case of The Jackpot Outlaw, police had found a zippo lighter and the shattered glass from a bottle of imported 180 proof vodka next to the remains. The death was ruled as an accident. However, in the case of the Black Crown Fire, there was no clear evidence as to how the fire originated—”
Ryou closed his laptop and leaned back in the booth. His eyes ached from how long he’d been focused on his screen. Outside the diner, the sun was starting to go down and the clouds were painted with hues of red and gold. It should have been a calming scene, but the pile of work still ahead of him left it as nothing more than a reminder of how much time it was taking him.
Writing up this latest blog entry had taken longer than he’d thought. It was tough handling all of this case work on his own, but it wasn’t like he knew anyone else who’d be willing to share the workload— especially in his field.
Defeated, Ryou sighed and closed his eyes as he leaned back in his seat. The smell of freshly brewed drip coffee and fried bacon wafted through the air and he contemplated ordering another round of all-day breakfast. He hardly noticed it when the bell over the door jingled as a new customer entered the diner. As he rubbed gently at his temples, he let the sound of the waitress’s greeting mix with the white noise of the dishes clinking in the kitchen and the muted sounds of conversation from other customers.
“...Bakura? Is that you?”
Ryou’s eyes snapped open when he heard the sudden familiar voice. When he looked up at who it was, he found himself smiling. It startled him how easily it came.
“Yugi! It feels like it’s been ages!”
Yugi smiled back brightly, a hand gripping the strap of his messenger bag. “No kidding!” he laughed. “How are you?”
“Keeping busy,” Ryou said, trying not to sound as exhausted as he felt, and failing. “What about you?”
Yugi gave a nervous laugh, sounding just as exhausted. “Uh - about the same, I guess?”
Ryou gestured to the empty seat opposite his. Yugi slid into the booth, carefully resting the bulky laptop case on the seat beside him.
It did seem like years since he’d run into any of his high school friends. Last he heard, Honda had passed the BAR exam by some stroke of luck, and Jonouchi had picked up a second or third part-time job. Even after graduation, Ryou continued to visit the Kame Game Shop to pick up the latest Monster World modules and miniatures to work on in his spare time. He found Yugi’s absence odd, but Grandpa Mutou always greeted him warmly every time and insisted he return the next time Yugi was around for dinner. Somehow their schedules never did seem to line up.
Presently, Ryou took in Yugi’s current look: dressed as if he’d just come from an office job, wearing a dark button-up shirt with the cuffs rolled up at the elbows, paired with khakis. His normally wild dark hair had been tied back, with only the blond fringe framing his face.
It was certainly a change from the bracers and chokers he used to wear back when they were in high school. Ryou idly wondered if he still wore them on his days off and quickly pushed the thought away. Why had that thought even crossed his mind in the first place?
“What were you working on?” Yugi’s question snapped Ryou back to the present. He gestured toward Ryou’s laptop.
Oh dear. This question.
“I’ve been doing some freelance work here and there...” he said, artfully dodging the answer. “And yourself? Last time I spoke to your grandpa, he mentioned your internship at Industrial Illusions. How’s that going?”
At this, Yugi sank visibly in the booth with another nervous laugh. “Yeah… I’ve been working in software engineering and tech development. Just trying to get my foot in the door, y’know?”
Ryou frowned. “I understand how that goes. Sorry if I brought up a sore subject.”
“No, It’s alright,” Yugi insisted with a wave of his hand. “I mean, it’s not where I thought I’d be, but at least it’s a job, right?”
The waitress came to take their orders - two coffees, with cream and sugar on the side, a cheeseburger and side of fries, and a breakfast sampler.
“So, freelance, huh?” Yugi asked, the coffee perking him up. “Must be nice to set your own schedule.”
“Something like that,” Ryou said. “But it gets a bit rough when I don’t have any cases to work on - or too many… as is the case right now.”
Yugi seemed intrigued. He leaned forward in his seat, a certain sort of glimmer in his violet eyes that made it impossible for Ryou to tear himself away from.
“And… what kind of work do you do, if you don’t mind me asking?”
Oh dear. This question.
Ryou hesitated, weighing his options. He could lie as he always did whenever the subject was brought up. He had so many different occupations lined up to lie about: journalist, research assistant, editor. Sometimes he left it vaguely at freelance writing, or ghost writing (which he was especially fond of.)
Then again, he remembered just how well Yugi had known him in high school, and how he’d always seemed to accept his brand of weird. Surely the truth wouldn’t be too crazy…
“I’ve recently gotten into researching paranormal incidents,” he admitted.
The way Yugi’s eyes lit up when he smiled was something Ryou found himself unable to look away from. “Really? That’s perfect for you, Bakura!”
Ryou felt himself relax considerably, his own smile now feeling strangely too wide.
The waitress returned with their food and refills of coffee. Both of them thanked her as she went, then Ryou went ahead and fixed himself a cup.
Once she was out of earshot, Yugi leaned in closer, biting into a fry. “So, what kinds of incidents have you looked into?”
“Just a few local incidents so far,” Ryou replied. “You’d be surprised how many buildings in the area have some sort of strange phenomena or ghost story tied to them. I started out compiling research and looking around those places when I could. Then I began publishing articles online and getting attention from enthusiasts who liked my work. Once I was an established blogger, I was able to take commissions to visit actual haunted sites.”
Yugi listened intently, stirring in some cream and sugar and taking thoughtful sips of coffee. “I’d never have guessed Domino City had so many haunted hot spots,” he said, clearly impressed.
He then lowered his head, looking up at him with wide, expecting eyes. “And, um… have you found anything…?”
Ryou found his expression amusing. “What do you mean?” he asked, feigning ignorance. “Are you asking if I found any ghosts?”
“—I mean, maybe not that, exactly -” Yugi backpedaled, looking a bit sheepish, “- but have you experienced any strange phenomena yourself?”
“Yes,” Ryou said, more point-blank than he’d intended. He cleared his throat. “Turns out I’m … something of a magnet for that sort of thing.”
Yugi looked blessedly unsurprised at this, nodding between burger bites. He swallowed. “Isn’t that dangerous?” he asked.
Ryou shrugged. “If anything, it makes the job easier.”
Yugi frowned and placed the burger down. “So, once you get paid to go to these places… then what do you do?”
“I look into things, research the history and accounts of the place, then go in and see what I can find,” Ryou said. “I try to resolve what I can, or find someone else who can, then I write a final report. Once the work for the client is taken care of, I write an article for my blog that summarizes the investigation.”
Yugi shifted, elbows on the table, and nodded. “And you’re doing all this alone?” he asked.
Ryou shrugged again. “Not like I can put out a help wanted ad for this sort of thing,” he said with a laugh.
“Heh, I guess not.” Yugi was studying him hard. “I’m sorry to ask again, but say you run into something like… I dunno, an evil spirit? What do you do then?”
Ryou shook his head, not really sure how to answer, but he shifted his left hand under the table and out of sight. The silence did nothing to inspire any comfort
Yugi frowned. “Okay, new question then,” he said, fascinated with the subject, “what do you mean by ‘resolve’?”
“Well depending on the actual problem or nature of the incident, I try to pacify the spirit, if possible.”
“How do you do that?”
“Depends on the spirit. Most of them just want to be acknowledged.”
Yugi nodded, draining his coffee. “So, you just … talk to them?”
“Sometimes that’s all it takes,” Ryou said.
“Huh.” Yugi seemed pensive. “And when you need to call in someone else? What do they do?”
“I’ve got a priest on speed dial for such occasions,” Ryou said, in a tone that suggested it might have been a joke or might not.
Yugi stared at him. “So… just so I got this straight, you get paid to go to all sorts of haunted places, document and blog about what you witness, pacify whatever spirits you can find, and call in backup if you need it…?”
Ryou nodded. “That’s about it - yeah,” he said.
In spite of himself, Yugi laughed. “Well, honestly, it sounds a lot more exciting than what I’ve been up to…”
On cue, his cellphone began pinging. He heaved a sigh. “Sorry, give me a second,” he said before reviewing and responding to the messages on his phone. When he was finished, he shoved his phone back in his pocket. “Anyway, it’s good to see that you found something that suits you…”
Ryou gave a sheepish smile. “I suppose - though everyone I’ve mentioned it to thinks I’m insane.”
“I don’t think you’re insane.” Yugi wondered if the words came out too quickly, but his sincerity reflected in his reassuring smile.
The waitress came by with the check and Yugi fished a few bills out of his wallet but Ryou put down enough to cover them both. “I’ve got it,” he assured him.
Yugi shook his head. “If you insist on that, at least let me leave a tip,” he said.
“Alright - fair enough”
Yugi smiled, leaving the bills under his mug. “…Thanks,” he said, beginning to rise from his seat. “It was really good to catch up with you again.”
Ryou nodded, returning the smile. “It was,” he said. “If you’re ever free and feel like meeting up sometime let me know”
Yugi’s smile widened. “That sounds great,” he said, pulling his phone out again. “Has your number changed since we were in school?”
Ryou nodded. “I’ve gotten a new phone a few times since then - I’ll give you my new number...” He pulled out his own phone and did just that.
With numbers exchanged, Yugi put his phone away. “Thanks! I guess I’ll be seeing you around,” he said, adjusting his vest and giving Ryou a small wave before moving to leave.
Ryou watched him leave before packing up his laptop and heading home, all at once feeling much better than he had earlier that afternoon.
—
—
Ryou settled into what was becoming their usual booth to wait for Yugi. He’d left his laptop at home and so just scrolled through his phone as he waited. For once his mind wasn’t occupied by a report to write or blog to post.
Yugi arrived a moment later with the familiar sound of the bell over the door and slid into the book opposite him. He carried his bag a little more carefully and set it down beside him.
“Hey,” he said cheerfully, “hope you weren’t waiting too long…”
Ryou shook his head. “I just got here a few minutes ago,” he said, then nodded to Yugi’s bag, “what’s all that?”
Yugi straightened in his seat. “Oh — well, last time we met, I mentioned I’d been working on something,” he said, looking a bit sheepish.
“You mentioned it but you were decidedly vague about it.”
Yugi laughed, and it seemed a bit more nervous than usual. “Well, it’s kind of a surprise - though I don’t know how useful they’ll be but…” He reached into his bag and first pulled out his tablet and then two smaller gadgets, placing them on the table.
Ryou looked at the items curiously. “What’s all this?”
“I, er… did some digging on some sites about paranormal investigation,” he said, unlocking the tablet, “and when it comes down to the tools of the trade, it seemed pretty straightforward…”
Intrigued, Ryou leaned forward a bit to get a better look.
Yugi picked up one of the objects, which had colored LEDs and a measuring gauge.
“ -Even though you’re a ghost magnet, it might help if you can ‘see’ them too… so this is an electromagnetic field meter, EMF for short. But with this one, you can record any readings and upload them into the software on this tablet here…”
Ryou nodded along as Yugi explained each item. When he was done, Ryou looked up and asked honestly, “...Yugi, you wouldn’t want to … come along on my next case, would you?”
Yugi looked up, almost embarrassed for having gone on a tangent for so long. “Me?” He seemed unsure. “I-I mean, I’m not really sure I could, but -”
“Honestly, having some backup would probably be a lot of help,” Ryou said. “ - No pressure, of course, you just really sound like you know what you’re talking about with all of this.”
Yugi laughed, rubbing the back of his neck. “I wouldn’t say I know too much about any of this… but maybe this could be a good chance to field test it?”
Ryou smiled. “Well, if you want - and you’re up for it - I’d love to have you along sometime.”
Yugi’s expression brightened and he returned the smile. “Just tell me where you’re going next, and I’ll try not to hold you back.”
Ryou laughed. “You don’t need to worry about that - let’s just hope my next case is interesting enough for you.”
“Even if it isn’t, it’ll be a good hands-on experience,” Yugi insisted. “Also, a good test to see if I got all the bugs out of the software.”
“That’s true,” Ryou said, before his phone buzzed and he excused himself to check the message. “As fate would have it - we may have the perfect opportunity to give your designs a test run.”
Yugi nearly dropped the tablet as he moved to put it away. “Already?”
Ryou laughed. “It’s nothing huge - but yes. You’d be surprised how many small jobs I get between the more involved ones. This town is incredibly haunted.”
Yugi sank a little in the booth. “Heh…no kidding.”
Ryou’s smile fell slightly. “If this is getting too weird for you...”
“Oh - no, I promise it’s not!” Yugi insisted with a laugh. “It’s just… actually a nice change of pace.”
“Really?” Ryou perked up cautiously. “Your current job must be awful.”
Yugi leaned forward against the table, resting his forehead in his hand. “That is … one way to put it,” he said with a weak laugh.
Ryou pat him sympathetically on the shoulder. “That bad?”
Yugi couldn’t help but sigh. “I mean, I work for Industrial Illusions, it’s been a dream of mine for such a long time… and yet…”
“Not quite what you had in mind?” Ryou asked gently.
Yugi looked down at the table, running his finger over the EMF Meter’s LEDs. “To tell you the truth, I was better off working full time at the Game Shop. At least there I got to see another living person every once in a while.”
Ryou started to reach toward him and stopped himself.
“I’m sorry...I mean, I work on my own enough but ...God that sounds unbearable,” he said.
“Yeah… but I applied internally for an upcoming project, so here’s hoping things turn around soon.” Yugi sat up a little, offering a reassuring, tired smile.
“I’ll have my fingers crossed for you,” Ryou said, smiling.
Yugi's smile softened a little. “Thanks, I’ll need all the luck I can get.”
“Let me know how it goes."
“I will,” Yugi promised, shaking off his office blues. “Now, more importantly, where is your next job?”
Ryou pulled out his phone and pulled up the information on the current job and passed it to him. A smaller case - but the evidence of something strange could not be denied. It was a common enough sounding incident, someone bought an older house and while getting ready to move in, objects left behind by the previous owners kept moving around the house and falling off shelves.
Yugi skimmed through the details, nodding as he went. “Are these kinds of requests common for you?”
Ryou nodded. “Mhm, most are like this, actually,” he said. “Strange noises, cold spots, objects moving around...”
Yugi made a quick note of the address and pinned it in his GPS. “So want me to meet you tomorrow morning?”
Ryou smiled, surprised at how much he was genuinely looking forward to this.
“Want to aim for around ten?”
Yugi nodded. “That works for me.”
“Excellent - I’ll bring breakfast”
“Now you’re speaking my language,” Yugi laughed. “Should I bring coffee in that case?”
Beaming, Ryou held out his hand, “It’s a deal."
_____
_____
Yugi sat in the small living room of Ryou’s apartment, their notes and his gadgets spread out on the table in front of them, going over the data from their most recent case. Over the last few weeks, he was starting to get more of a feel for the kind of work they did. The software he’d built had proven more than useful. He’d even begun helping with the final reports at Ryou’s place, compiling data together in a way that his clients could both understand and engage with.
For the first time in a long time - in fact, for the first time since he’d begun slaving away at his engineering career at Industrial Illusions - Yugi felt valued, and at least a bit useful.
At the moment he thought of it, his cell phone began to ring. He excused himself to take the call, ducking into the hallway - only to return absolutely crestfallen a minute or so later.
Ryou sat up straighter, noticing the change in Yugi’s mood instantly. “What’s wrong?”
Yugi shook his head, but even the smile he attempted didn’t reach his eyes.
“Oh, um… that was work… I, um… wasn’t selected for the project committee.”
“Then they’re a bunch of idiots and they’ll regret not giving you a chance to do more,” Ryou said firmly, but sighed. “I’m sorry, Yugi, I know you were counting on that.”
Yugi flopped down on the sofa, massaging the bridge of his nose. “It’s alright, I had a feeling it wouldn’t pan out…”
“Still...” Ryou frowned, putting a hand on Yugi’s shoulder.
Yugi gave a small laugh. “It’s fine, really. In fact, I think that decision might have finally decided something for me.”
“What’s that?” Ryou asked.
Yugi sat up, rolling up his sleeves. “I’ve been thinking about putting my two weeks in for quite a while now… maybe this was the push I needed.”
“Are you sure?” Ryou asked. “I mean - I don’t blame you - but what’ll you do about money?”
“I can work at the Game Shop until I find something else - since Grandpa took that fall last winter, he’s been hard-pressed for help.” He shrugged. “I mean, I still live upstairs as always, so commuting won’t be an issue…”
Ryou nodded. “I guess that works out,” he said. “If there’s anything I can do - I hope you’ll let me know”
Yugi smiled. “And same goes for you, seriously. Even if it’s just to help with the reports, or if you want me to come with you on a job, I don’t mind at all.”
Ryou smiled. “Honestly I've really liked having you along. You’re a big help.”
“Really?” Yugi tried not to look too hopeful. “I mean - I haven’t felt this proud of my own work in a while, so I’m happy to hear that.”
“And you should feel proud of it! The software you created is amazing and the fact you did it all from scratch -” Ryou laughed. “Not to mention that I know nothing about all of that - so having an expert with me has been wonderful.”
Yugi flushed from all the praise, nearly going dizzy from it. “Please, it really wasn’t a big deal… I’m no expert, really…”
“Well you’ve got a better handle on it than I do,” Ryou insisted. “And having some actual data evidence to back up what I’m writing has honestly done wonders.”
Yugi couldn’t help but be slightly pleased with himself. He looked up at Ryou with a playful smirk.
“Honestly, you keep talking like that and I may put in an application to be your assistant,” he laughed.
Ryou stifled a laugh. “Well I’d have to take a look at your CV and make sure you’re qualified,” he said. “We here at Bakura Investigators have very high standards.”
Yugi raised his eyebrows. “Is that right? Well, you already have a sample of my work, which I submitted just this afternoon.” He gestured to the scattering of notes and tech in front of them,“- and while I am happy to submit my CV, please also take my portfolio on your coffee table into consideration.”
Unable to keep up the act, Ryou burst out laughing. “I’d love to have you helping me,” he said when he’d composed himself. “If you’re willing to put up with a partner who’s a ghost magnet.”
Yugi grinned through his own laughter, getting himself up onto his knees to sling an arm around Ryou’s shoulder. “Well, someone’s gotta watch your back and make sure you don’t get possessed.”
“Again.”
Yugi blinked. “Seriously?”
Ryou laughed nervously. “Um....I guess I never brought that up”
Yugi gaped at him.
“It was only for a minute or two!”
“Still, that sounds terrifying,” Yugi said, brows drawing together. “I’m sorry you had to go through that by yourself.”
“It’s fine - honestly,” Ryou said, laughing it off. “A one-time incident, I promise.”
Yugi narrowed his eyes. “Well, it will be with me around, I can guarantee that.”
“Well, I guess I have to hire you then,” Ryou said.
“I mean, if you can find another candidate better equipped to fight a ghost, you are welcome to hire them instead…” Yugi made a dramatic show of packing up his tablet and meters.
“When it comes to ghost-fighting, you are top of my list,” Ryou assured him, and despite the joking nature, his expression was completely sincere.
Seeing that expression pulled a hard grin from Yugi, and he laughed again. “Thanks,” he said, lightly elbowing him.
Ryou smiled brightly. “So - I guess that means we should get some new business cards,” he suggested. “And I can add a section for you on the website if you want to start writing your own articles”
Yugi shook his head. “Maybe let’s take it one day at a time.”
“Oh - right,” Ryou laughed. “We’ll figure it out as we go then.”
Yugi smiled and slung his bag over his shoulder. “At least let me quit my soul-sucking day job before I’m the next spirit you’re called to exorcize,” he joked.
“Good thinking,” Ryou said. “Though having a ghost partner could have its perks as well...”
Yugi rolled his eyes. “You may need to expand your hiring pool to the other side then.”
“I’ve got a Ouija board in the closet for just such an occasion”
Yugi stood up from the sofa with a laugh. “And that is my cue to go catch the train!”