Disclaimer Dude: Miriku owns nothing except the OC that appears in the next chapter. Or so.

Exactly. Now read, enjoy, and review! As always, flames will be used to toast marshmallows. I don't do hate-mail.

Do You Remember?

Chapter One: The Request

Yami sat next to a pool of water, absently trailing his fingers along the surface while staring intently into its clear depths. This magical pool allowed spirits in the afterlife to look down upon the mortal realm. And Yami spent almost all of his time sitting at its edge.

There was only one thing that kept Yami from enjoying himself. One image pressed into his mind, acutely dulling the glories of the afterlife.

The image from two years ago of Yuugi, tears streaming down his face, begging him to stay.

Flashback

"But why, Yami? Why do you have to go?"

Yami was torn. The portal was open in front of him. The shadows were pulling at him, calling them into their depths—calling him home. But his hikari clung like a leech to his arm.

"Yuugi…I have to. It's where I belong. And when I go, you won't need to worry about being pulled into danger because of my past. Like you were all those times before."

Yuugi looked sorrowfully up at him, tears brimming in his amethyst eyes.

"Can't you stay with me for just a bit longer?"

Another tendril of shadow shot out of the portal, entwining itself around Yami's chest next to its fellows. Yami smiled sadly at his hikari.

"No."

"Then I'm coming with you."

Yami's eyes widened. "Aibou, you can't! You aren't a spirit—it's too dangerous!"

Yuugi set his jaw. "I don't care. You've done so many things for me, and it's time I paid you back. I'm coming with you."

"No, Yuugi."

Yuugi stopped in his tracks at Yami's commanding tone. "What?"

"I can't let you throw away your own life to come with me. There's still much you haven't done. I have done all I came for, and the gods are calling me back home. And I cannot refuse them."

Tears streamed down Yuugi's cheeks as more tendrils of shadow twisted themselves around his other's body. "I'll miss you…"

Yami hugged him tightly. "I'll miss you too, hikari-mine. Now, I must go."

Yuugi let out a strangled sob as the shadows began to pull Yami backwards into the portal. "I won't ever forget you, Yami!"

Yami smiled sadly at Yuugi's fading image as he was pulled through the portal.

"And I you, Yuugi. And I you."

End Flashback

Yami had spent every day since then sitting at that pool of water, watching his hikari's life as it went on without him. He had food brought to him there, and slept by the edge at night. He only ever left when called for by one of the gods.

Right now, peering intently into the depths of the water, he didn't hear the slow, ponderous footsteps approaching. Not until the visitor spoke.

"Atemu."

Yami stiffened. A million thoughts ran through his mind at once, none making any more sense than the one before. Finally, though, he managed one coherent thought.

Why has Ra come to me?

"You have not been acting yourself of late, child."

Yami remained silent. Throughout his lifetime—as a mortal and as a spirit—he had learned to never rush the gods. They did things in their own time.

"You spend far too much time at this pool of water, and not nearly as much enjoying yourself. This is your ultimate destiny, and what you have longed for. So tell me, child—what is this turmoil I sense within you?"

Yami didn't respond, continuing to stare into the water. It was such a foolish, selfish whim—and Ra had much better things to do than to worry about him.

Ra chuckled. "Come now. You especially should know that even the gods need to lay aside their duties sometimes. Now…when you look into that pool, what is it you are watching?"

"My…my hikari," Yami replied in a whisper, still stunned by the fact that the god would take any interest in him. "Yuugi."

"Ah."

Yami's eyes narrowed slightly. He got the sneaking suspicion that Ra was planning something.

"Child, look at me."

Startled, Yami did so—and was caught in Ra's amber gaze as the god searched the depths of his mind.

OooO

Ra explored the former pharaoh's mind and memories. Events and places flickered past, as did faces. But one face remained through it all, and the face was always changing. Innocence; sadness; hatred; joyfulness. All these expressions and more, all written on his face like an open book.

And this particular child was a mirror image of Yami.

Ra listened to that last exchange between the pharaoh and his hikari.

"I'll never forget you, Yami!" "And I you, Yuugi. And I you."

Ra retreated from Yami's mind, a satisfied smile on his face. Now he knew.

OooO

Yami immediately turned his gaze back to the pool of water, thoroughly embarrassed. Ra had dug through his memories, pulling out the most painful ones and reading them like book. And so he now knew about the feelings Yami had for his other.

"It is nothing to be ashamed of, child."

Without thinking, Yami looked right up at him, surprise written across his face. "What?"

"Do not be ashamed of your feelings, for they cannot be controlled. Only contained."

"But…it's silly. Pining away over a mortal…when I could be…enjoying myself…and…"

Yami couldn't continue. He turned back to the pool of water, tears beginning to form in the corners of his eyes. "Yuugi…" he whispered, momentarily forgetting about the god behind him.

"Do you wish to go to him?"

"Hunh?"

Ra smiled softly. "I have the power to return any spirit to the mortal realm, in any form they choose. But once I have done so, they cannot be returned until they have lived that life out. Is this what you want?"

Yami gazed longingly into the pool, where he could faintly see the eighteen-year-old Yuugi standing alone in the park.

"Yes."

Ra held up his hands, and began to chant. Golden-white light flowed from his palms, surrounding Yami where he sat. There was a sharp crackle, like static electricity—

And Yami was gone.

Will have chapter two in ASAP! Please review!