Yugi's POV

Yugi, you must wake up.

Yugi blinked. He didn't want to, he had just gotten to sleep.

Yugi, please.

Yugi sighed, and opened his eyes. To his shock, he wasn't in his bedroom, he was floating in a black, empty space.

"W-who's there?" Yugi called out.

A figure then began to appear before him. Yugi, what I'm about to tell you is very important, and it is vital that you listen to what I have to say. You must be cautious of what you say to others…

Yugi looked up at the figure, whom he'd just recognized as Horakhty. He was a little startled at her appearance, though, because he hadn't had any more adventures or interaction with the Egyptian world ever since... Yami.

"S-sure..."

She looked down at him with a serious gaze. What I tell you now is vital. Vital to King Atem's survival.

"Atem!?" Yugi exclaimed, shocked. "W-What... Is there anything I can do to help? If there is, please, tell me!"

Hush, little one. It will be alright. If you do this correctly, he will live a fine life.

"W-what do you mean? Isn't he in the afterlife?"

There was a pause then. She closed her eyes briefly, before opening them again.

This, I cannot tell you. You must see it for you to understand...

Before Yugi could object, there was a bright flash, causing his eyes to shut until the light died down. Horakhty stood beside him now, and he was now looking at a very beautiful place. They were outdoors, by the looks of it. Green grass, hills, trees; and a waterfall. There were many flowers and birds, as well. It was like a paradise that he'd never seen before, yet, there was a type of uneasy feeling coursing through him. Almost like something was about to happen, but he didn't know where the feeling came from.

"Is this the afterlife?" Yugi guessed. Horakhty nodded, you must watch the events that follow.

When Yugi scanned the hills and trees, he saw nothing. But two figures by the waterfall caught his attention. One had spiky hair and golden bangs, while the other had brown hair.

Mana and King Atem. Horakhty said. Yugi nodded; he'd faintly recognized Mana, but she was different. She didn't dress the way she did when he'd seen her in the pharaoh's memories. She was very beautiful, and she had on shorts and a white tank top, while Atem was wearing jeans and a white t-shirt. Unusual, but fitting for the afterlife.

Atem was sitting on a fairly large rock, and was being sprayed by the mist. Mana sat down next to him, looking oddly quiet.

"Can they see or hear us?" Yugi suddenly asked as he inched closer to the waterfall where the two were. Horakhty followed him, with a brief shake of her head, but then nodded towards the two. Watch was all she said.

Yugi turned to Atem and his childhood friend, Mana. "Atem..." Mana had started, "Please, tell me what is wrong. You seem... lonely."

Atem sighed, "Normally I would deny that... but, I find my thoughts wandering to other times..."

Mana placed a hand on his shoulder, "What are you thinking about? You are the only person I have ever felt uneasiness come from in the afterlife..."

Atem chuckled briefly, "Uneasiness, huh? Yeah... that sounds about right..."

Mana looked sadly back at him, "What is it that makes you uneasy? This is the afterlife, and you should have no regrets or sorrows..."

"I don't," he replied.

"What, then?" She pressed.

A moment of silence passed between the two, and when he answered her, Yugi saw a flash of pain in her eyes. "Mana... I think back on the times I had with Yugi and the others... they were my friends... and I've been thinking... if this goes on much longer, I won't be able to rest peacefully... I'd do anything to see them again..."

Yugi couldn't help but feel torn with pity for Mana, and happiness for himself. Atem was still thinking of him and his friends, just as much they were thinking of him...

"Atem... I-I don't know what-"

"Perhaps, I may be of help..." another voice sounded. There was a light sparkle that came from the waterfall, and a figure then floated above the pool of crystal-clear water.

Yugi expected this figure to be a past figure of Horakhty, but he was wrong. It was someone else entirely. It was a woman that had appeared; she was wearing a long white silk dress that came down further than her legs. She was floating a few inches above the water, and her face was calm. She had long, wavy, white hair that came down as far as her dress, and she wore a silver circlet that was decorated with metal leaves. Her eyes were a silver and gold swirl of color, and she looked wiser than any other god he'd seen.

By her appearance,Mana was rather startled. "W-who are you?" Mana called out, inching behind Atem.

She gave a soft, small smile, "Do not be afraid; you should be privileged to be in my presence..."

Atem raised an eyebrow; he hadn't moved or flinched at the woman's appearance. "I have heard stories of you..." He began, his voice raised in equality, "Might you be the goddess they call Fate?"

She smiled, "Yes," she answered.

Mana gasped, "Only two people in the afterlife have ever seen you or heard you!" she exclaimed excitedly. Fate let Mana ramble on for a few seconds before she raised her palm.

"Please, I must speak," She interrupted, then she turned to Atem, floating down towards him. "Atem, are you aware of the situation you are in?" she asked.

Atem looked up, a bit confused, "Situation?"

"Your thoughts... what you had told your friend, here. Your soul has become restless, and is putting everyone in the afterlife in jeopardy."

Atem's eyes widened with worry, "Just me?" he asked.

She paused, "No... not just you. There are two others who are also restless, but not for the same reason."

Atem thought for a moment, "Is there anything I can do, then?" he asked.

Fate fell silent, and looked away. "You can not solve this easily," She warned; Yami nodded, "Anything. I can't have innocent people, as well as my friends here, be in danger,"

"She held up her hand again for silence, and then continued, "You have two choices, Atem, and it won't be an easy decision."

Atem nodded, and gestured for her to continue. "In order for your soul to rest soundly, you will either need to have all the friends you made in the world of the living, die, and come to the afterlife, or, you must be reborn."

Atem fidgeted, "Reborn?" he prompted questioningly.

"Being reborn is a huge risk," she explained, "You will be giving the fate of your soul to someone in the world of the living; it will then be up to them to restore you to the human form you take on at this moment. When reborn, you will live in the world of the living until you die again, but if done correctly, you will hold the age you were before you were imprisoned in the Millennium Items."

Atem looked deep in thought, processing this information. "And the catch?" he asked.

Fate blinked, "The catch... If the person can not restore you properly, or fails to restore you in the time given, your soul will be destroyed, and you, as well as any reincarnation you might have had, will disappear from the world forever, and you will become nothing."

Atem straightened up a little, "So, my choices here, are: kill everyone, or risk getting killed altogether, but have the chance to have a second life?"

"You understand well," Fate complimented.

Mana whimpered, "Atem... you can't leave..."

Atem swiveled around, "I will not allow myself to be killed, and I will not allow my friends to be struck down. I will be reborn, and I will come back. Trust me."

Mana looked grief-stricken, and started to cry. "You have to come back!" she cried out, and launched into Atem's arms. Atem was a little taken aback, but hugged her.

"One more thing," Fate added, and Atem broke apart from Mana, awaiting her words. "There are two other souls. You must decide who to put your faith in. You must all be reborn by the same person."

Atem thought again, "Who are the other two?" he questioned.

"Mariku and Bakura," She answered simply; when Atem looked like he was about to say something, she cut him off, "And no, they are not in the Shadow Realm. I had played with them, and they deserve a second chance as well... which is why they were sent here, to the afterlife, and not the Shadow Realm."

"Oh..." was all he could say. "I hope Marik and Ryou won't mind this... I know it'll be hard for them to cope with... knowing their dark sides are back... well, not dark anymore, perhaps."

"You have made your decision on the Fate Holder?" Fate asked, "Marik? Or was it the boy, Ryou?"

Atem quickly shook his head, "N-no... no. Not them..." Fate nodded, "Then who is the Fate Holder?"

"Fate Holder..." Atem thought. "My choice, for the Fate Holder, shall be Yugi Muto. I trust him with my life, and I have faith that he will restore the other two without hesitation."

Fate gave a wide, genuine smile, "You made an excellent choice. I shall send a messenger, and you can start the journey in resurrection."

With Fate's final word, Horakhty immediately raised her hand, and a flash of light caused the scene to dissipate before Yugi's eyes. When he closed his eyes from the brightness, and opened them again, he was back in the same, dark void that he began in.

Do you understand now? Horakhty asked, Do you understand why King Atem needs your help?

Yugi looked up at her, "Kind of... though, how am I supposed to restore three people?"

Horakhty laughed briefly, that, young one, is rather complicated. I will help you along the way, so don't worry too much about that. Remember though, all three souls have been reborn, and they must be restored if they are to survive. It will be quite a challenge, and if just one were to be neglected... everything would fall apart, and their souls will crumble to dust. They would not be in the afterlife, and they would not be reborn. They would vanish into thin air, never to exist again.

Yugi's eyes widened in horror; he knew this already, but even then, it terrified him that he would make a mistake and lose them forever... but, not only that, a reincarnation, as well? He was a reincarnation of Atem... so wouldn't he be lost to? And Marik? And... Ryou?

"Am... Am I allowed to have help?"

Yes, you may have help, but take great care in what you tell them. There are major risks involved, and it could put each of your lives in danger. She warned.

Yugi nodded intently."Tell me what I have to do in order to restore them." he asked again.

And, like I said, I will have to walk you through it step by step once you completed each task I have laid out for you. Only then will you be able to restore them correctly.

Yugi's eyes grew troubled then, "Well, how will I start?"

Horakhty merely smiled, and began to fade away.

"W-wait!" Yugi exclaimed, but it was already too late. She was gone.

XXX

Yugi woke with a start. He was surprised that it was one of those rare dreams that didn't have him dripping in sweat.

He quickly shook his head as he thought of his dream. It seemed to be morning already, and since it was a weekend, he didn't have to attend school, which he was grateful for.
He rubbed his eyes, then got up from his place on his bed, and walked down the hall. He needed a shower, since he didn't take one yesterday. He'd been so busy helping his grandfather around the Game Shop, and helping Joey move into his new apartment where Tristan would become his roommate. He chuckled a little when he thought about how the two would get along in one home for that long... but then again, they'd been together for a long time, almost inseparable.
Tea would be the one he missed more, though. She had moved to America almost a year and a half ago, and Yugi had talked to her almost every other day when they both had the chance. She was busy taking and giving dance lessons, and even had many recitals that she couldn't afford to miss. He couldn't remember the last time he had talked to her… the last time, he remembered her saying that she had lessons to give, to find a job, to find a home to live in… it was so much work for one person, and Yugi wondered if she had made any friends over there to help her with it all… Certainly American people were nice… right? He'd never been to America himself, and he didn't think it would be a good idea… He'd have to speak their language, which seemed difficult from all the English books he looked at when helping Tea study…

With all these thoughts running through his head, he found himself reeling with new concerns as he thought about what Horakhty had told him. He quickly got out of the shower and dressed himself before he could think about that.
He needed to talk to his grandpa before he did anything else.

Before he could say anything though, his grandpa had raised his voice from downstairs. He wasn't talking to him, though, that was for sure.

XXX

Atem's POV

There was a giggle, and then there was a shoving sound, followed by an 'ow!'.

Atem rolled over, his mind foggy with sleep. Someone then shoved him, "Wake up, sleepy head!" someone yelled in his ear. Atem's eyes immediately snapped open, and he sat bolt upright in terror.

"Yay! He's awake!" another voice shouted in a crazy, deep voice.

When Atem looked up, there were two others with him, and one very tall, shiny figure. This seemed to quiet his jumping nerves, and make him feel more relaxed, though, he didn't know why.

"Are you sure he's ok?" one of them asked, looking up at the shiny person, whom Atem realized, was female.

"Yes, he is fine," The woman said in a soft, loving tone.

Atem had no idea where he was, who he was, or if these people were his family. Were the two others his brothers? The tall, shiny woman, his mother? He had no idea, but he felt that, if he asked, he would get answers.

"Where am I? Who are you?" He began shakily; the other two responded as if it were a normal question.

"It's Bakura and Mariku, silly!" one of them leaned over, bright, crimson eyes staring down at him.

Atem felt a sense of familiarity, but it wasn't very strong. His mind, still clouded with fog, was telling him that these people were strangers; yet, how would it explain the safety he was experiencing? Was it the woman?

Atem looked up at the woman, and she leaned down and smiled at him. "Atem, I know you have a lot of questions, but don't worry, they will soon be answered. Right now, I will tell you that these two," she paused, pointing at the other two beside her, "Are your friends... you will be very best friends, and you will need to rely on each other in the future."

He seemed to think for a moment, "Do I have family?" he asked.

The woman paused, "You will find that out over time, but your guardian awaits you... he is here to look after you, and protect you."

Atem furrowed his eyebrows, "What about you?" he questioned.

She smiled, "My name is Horakhty... and, you may call me an old friend." she murmured to him. "But, for now, you must go see your guardian. He is waiting for you, and it is vital that you leave now, so that he doesn't worry."

"And... those two?" He asked.

Horakhty looked at where he pointed, and smiled again, "Bakura, Mariku," She called over. Once they were beside her, looking up with a curious gaze, she turned back to Atem.

She placed her hand on one of their shoulders. He had white hair, and was one that he recognized that had yelled in his ear, because of his crimson eyes. "This is Bakura," She introduced. She then placed her other hand on a slightly taller boy's shoulder. He had wild, blonde hair, and light purple eyes. "This is Mariku,"

Mariku took a step forward. "Wanna see what you look like?" He asked immediately, a wicked grin flashing over his features. "I was curious, and Bakura was, too, so I asked Horakhty if she'd give us one, and she did! Here," He pulled out the mirror from behind his back, and shoved it towards Atem, "Look!" he urged.

Atem glanced down at the mirror, and stared wondrously at it. He had tri-colored hair, and a similar spiky style, and bangs. He, too, had purple eyes, but they seemed a darker color than Mariku's. He had to wonder if Mariku was related to him... after all, it seemed likely, with the spiky hair and eye color. Bakura, he wasn't sure about. He had a little spiky hair as well, but it wasn't upright like his and Mariku's.

With all three fascinated with the mirror, Horakhty took the time to change their surroundings to a more familiar setting. Domino City. They were on the side walk, and not far from Yugi's Game Shop.

"There," Horakhty said, gaining the other's attention once again. She pointed to the Game Shop, "There, your guardian will be awaiting you. Treat him nicely, play fairly, and make it feel like home to you, for the time being." she said, then she gave them all a tiny push towards the shop.

Atem felt a little sad to be leaving the pretty lady, but he also felt it would be wrong to disobey her, so he kept walking. It also helped to have a little curiosity of who his guardian was, and what he looked like.

"Hey guys..." Mariku began, "I-I think there are toys in there!"

"Toys!?" Bakura shouted, almost seeming to blow a gasket by his sudden, overwhelming happiness.

Mariku nodded, and raced off; Bakura followed a split second later, leaving Atem behind. "Wait up!" He shouted, streaking after them.

Mariku and Bakura already seemed to burst into the shop, startling the person manning the store. It was some old guy, with spiky hair like his and Mariku's. As Atem passed, he slackened his pace, wondering if this person was their guardian. A few seconds later, and then he saw the look in the old mans eyes- terror. He was scared of them... so, this guy couldn't have been their guardian; Horakhty had said that their guardian was expecting them...

Did she point in the wrong direction? Did they even enter the right store? Atem was having second thoughts, and when the old man began to stumble on his words saying 'please don't touch that' or 'stay away from that, kids', Atem looked over at his friends. Mariku and Bakura were looking at the shelves.

Mariku was right though, there were a lot of toys. Atem couldn't resist going over to the two, and checking what they were looking at. Turned out, though, they weren't looking at anything specific, but merely commenting on what looked exciting or not. They were looking at items that looked clear, or foggy. The glass shelf... but, wasn't this shelf, and everything on it, breakable?

"Guys, we probably shouldn't-"

"Now you kids don't touch that," The guy with the white hair behind the counter said, voice tight. It sounded like he was trying hard not to yell, which looked pretty accurate from his stature.

Mariku and Bakura didn't pay any mind to the old man, but continued on with their browsing.

"Guys, really..."

CRASH

Atem stared at the floor in horror, and he heard the old man screech something about a 'glass chess set'. Atem didn't really know what something like that was, but he had a feeling he might find out...

"Please, guys-" Atem urged, but Bakura's fit of laughter cut him off. He really didn't think it was that funny...

XXX

Yugi's POV

"Yugi!" His grandpa called up, "Could you help me, please?"

Curiously, he made his way downstairs, and into the Game Shop.

"N-no! Please, don't touch that!"

"Grandpa?"

"Yugi! Those kids-" his grandpa pointed towards some shelves, "-If you know them, please tell them not to touch-"

CRASH

"Ah! My glass chess set!"

"Don't worry Grandpa, I'll take care of them." Yugi told him, patting his back.

He walked up to the shelves, where two of the three little kids were trying to reach up and grab something. The other was staring worriedly at the other two.

"Hey, kids-" Yugi began.

The one that was looking at the other two, swiveled his head around, and looked up at Yugi, with big, purple eyes.

Yugi froze. "Y-you..."

The other two turned around and saw what was going on, and ran over and dog piled the other child.

"H-hey!" Yugi shouted, still shocked.

"What?" One of the children asked, looking up at him.

When Yugi hesitated again, he turned right around, and began picking on the other two children.

Yugi drew in a breath, ready to shout.

"Atem! Bakura! Mariku! Stop, now!"

All three children immediately stopped in their tracks, and looked up at Yugi with scared, wide eyes.

Yugi felt his insides flip upside down. So... this was what Horakhty meant? That their souls, reborn now, would make them children... and he would have to look after them until they were changed back?

He had to deal with a child Atem, a child Bakura, and a child Mariku? Now he knew for certain what Horakhty meant, this really would be difficult... especially when he wouldn't be able to reason with their childish minds.

XXX

Hope you all enjoyed this new story! I've been working very hard on it, and I can't wait for all of your opinions! :D