A/N: Welcome to my first Yugioh fan fic!

In all honesty... this story is going to be very complicated. As of the moment there really is no over-arching plotline beyond "this is Atem in the afterlife." If I figure out anything to do with this story then I'll continue it. Or if people want it to continue (prove that with reviews).

This story stems from an idea i had about What is the AfterLife of anime characters? This is not a crossover but it is Highly Likely that you might occasionally (if i continue writing it) see refrences toward other anime characters (only characters that are dead in their own anime or from manga's that have been completed) showing up in it. Atem/Yu-Gi-Oh! is the main focus, and since there is no other story evenly involved with this fic, I could not bring myself to lable this a crossover.

I really don't know how, where, how long, or why this story is going. I've written it because I feel like it.
I will continue it only if Reviews ask for it to be.

Please don't be hating that most of this first chapter is actually what Pharaoh Atem saw/heard/thought during the end of his final dual.

The Beginning of the End

The light from the destructions of the two magicians, slowly dimmed as Pharaoh Atem looked out over the field. "Very impressive Yugi," he said smiling, "although I was able to save my life points from destruction, your magician succeeded in defeating both of mine." His young counter-part, Yugi Mouto, said nothing. Atem smiled, "Now we each have 200 life points left so the end is near. This will be my final turn." Even as he spoke he felt his heart sinking. Throughout the entire dual, he had drawn every card exactly as he needed, and this turn would be no different. "You have fought bravely, but unfortunately this dual will conclude with my victory. Thank you, Yugi. I know you tried everything in your power to set me free." It was just not meant to be… he thought to himself. He tried to keep the sadness out of his voice as he continued, "I activate this."

Atem pulled his final card from his hand. "The magic card Monster Reborn." For a split second, Atem wondered what it would mean if he simply chose to not play that card. He might still lose the dual… but if he lost in such a way… would his soul ever be released? No. I must do this. He placed the card onto his dual disk. "And Now! I shall resurrect Slyfer the Sky Dragon!" The immense body of the red Egyptian God summoned to the field with a terrifying roar.

His friends, watching the dual, let out a collective gasp.

"Oh Man!" Tristen exclaimed.

Joey stood shocked, "He just brought back an Egyptian God!" Atem smiled inwardly. That was Joey. Always pointing out the obvious. If there was something good about his soul remaining trapped on this earth, it was the time he had with his friends.

Atem totaled up the cards in his hand. "Slyfer's attack points are determined by the number of cards in my hand, and since I'm holding four, he now has 4000 Points!" The dual disk beeped as it adjusted the dragon's attack level. My spirit shall remain in this world… I guess Yugi and I weren't destined to separate. His eyes wandered over the field to his counterpart; he kept his face firm. He did not want to let Yugi see that he felt 'let down'. As he looked, Atem noticed that Yugi's face still showed determination. What?

He was startled when the Ancient Box on Yugi's side of the field began to glow. "Huh? What's this?" The box slowly lowered down next to Yugi's Silent Magician.

"The card I hid inside that box is the same card you just played," Yugi explained. Light shown out as the cover slid from the box. Atem was just as confused as Joey, who quickly pointed out that there was 'only one Slyfer the Sky Dragon card', but as the glare faded, Atem could see that it was not Slyfer. "The card I buried," Yugi announced, "was Monster Reborn!"

Atem stared in shock. He's done it!

"And since the magic card you just played is the same one I placed in my Gold Sarcophagus the effect of your card is negated; which means your Egyptian god goes back to the graveyard." Yugi stood unwavering. "So this dual is still on!" Their friends on the sidelines were stunned, as they wondered aloud how Yugi could have planned that far ahead.

"What'd you expect?" Tristen said, watching the dual intently. "He's the King of Games, dude."

Tèa's hand brushed her mouth. "He must have had this planned from the beginning. I guess after spending so much time with the Pharaoh… Yugi knew exactly what he would play."

Atem closed his eyes knowing she was right. This was the greatest dual of my life. It's been an honor Yugi. He opened his eyes slowly and gazed at his friend. "Go on. Your move." He could see Yugi's hands tremble.

"I don't get it." Duke spoke out from the sidelines. "All he has to do is attack and the dual is over."

Bakura pointed out the flaw in his logic. "That's just it. Once the match comes to an end, the Pharaoh will be released and we'll never see him again." His words stabbed at Atem's heart.

This really will be hard… more so on Yugi than myself. He let himself smile, It's alright Yugi. Proceed. He watched his friend's tears fall as Yugi declared his final attack. The Silent Magician fired his energy blast. Atem's life points dropped to zero. The dual was done.

He watched the monsters vanish from the field and saw Yugi fall to his hands and knees; his tears wetting the stone beneath him. Atem stepped forward smiling. "Congratulations. Well done," he knelt beside Yugi and put his hand on his shoulder. "Yugi, a Champion doesn't belong on his knees." In his heart Atem wished he could weep alongside his friend, but this would be the last moments they would ever share. If Pharaoh had is way, it would not end with tears; rather, with the joyous crowning of a new King of Games. "You achieved a great victory for us both," Atem told him.

"I was focusing so hard on playing the game that I forgot what winning this dual would actually mean." Yugi's eyes remained on the ground as his tears continued to flow. "By defeating you, I've sent you away… for good."

"No. You have opened the door for me. Thanks to you my spirit can finally be at rest once again. I'll back where I belong." Atem looked at his best and truest friend, his eyes shining with gratitude. "Fate brought the two of us together for a reason, and we've fulfilled our destiny." Yugi looked up at him. "We protected mankind from the return of the shadow games." Atem stood and lifted Yugi with him. "And we've both grown a great deal along the way."

"I'm gonna miss you." Yugi told him.

Atem smiled and brought his hands to his sides. "You do realize that we'll never truly be apart. Right?" Yugi looked confused so he explained. "The gift of kindness you've given me and the courage I've given you will remain with us and that will forever bind us together." Yugi nodded.

A light shone from the center of the Millennium Eye on the wall. I guess it's time to go. Atem thought silently. His friends were shocked, all except Ishizu.

"Now that the battle ritual is complete, the eye of Ujaj that guards the door to the spirit world has awakened." Atem felt drawn towards the eye. "The time has come." Ishizu told him. "Tell the Eye of Ujaj your name."

Atem took a breath, forcing the anticipation out of his voice. "I am the son of the king Aknonkanon. My name is Atem!" The door before him opened slowly to a plane of pure white light. He could see nothing past the light. For a moment he felt hesitant to enter, but he walked forward anyway. He stopped when his friends called out to him.

"Pharaoh!" Joey yelled.

"Don't Go!" Tèa begged.

"So that's how it ends?" Tristen asked. "Nice! You think you can just show up and change everyone's life and then Just Leave!?" Atem turned around to see tough-guy Triston covering his eyes to hide his tears.

"What Tristen means is…" Yugi rephrased for him, "that we don't wanna say goodbye." His words stung. Atem admitted silently that he did not wish to say goodbye either. His friend's petitions were nearly enough to pull him back. He was so close to agreeing to stay as Tèa pleaded with him. He only found the strength to go on when Joey spoke up.

"I know that even though true friends may be hard to leave, they're Imposible to forget!"

Thank you Joey.

"I hate to tell you this Pharoh!" Joey yelled out. "But you're not going anywhere." Atem felt his heart skip a beat. He turned to look at his friends. "Because everything you gave us stays right here in our hearts!"

Atem smiled, "Right." He walked straight ahead into the light, sticking out his hand in a 'thumbs up'. He kept his face away from them for fear they would see the tears that could no longer hold back. I don't know what will come after this but I do know I would never have made it here without my friends. He whispered a 'Thank You'. In the light surrounding him he could feel the presences of all his friends from his ancient past. The soul of the ancient pharoh, the hero who saved the world from the shadows, walked into the light.

"WELL IT'S ABOUT TIME YOU GOT HERE!"

Atem jumped at the voice. He heard the sound of the door between the worlds close but everything was so bright, he was forced to squint to search for who had spoken. Slowly but surely, his eyes adjusted to the light.

"You can't see yet huh?"

When his eyes finally adjusted he saw standing before him a young girl, appearing to be no more than 14 years old. She smiled up at him.

"Uhh… Who are you?" Atem blinked and looked around. "And where am I?" he found himself standing in the middle of a large stone-paved pathway. He was startled to see a large number of people running every which way around him. As if he were in the center of preparation for a Dual Tournament.

"Yeah. Not what you expected huh?" The girl looked around where he was staring. He hadn't even noticed he was gawking.

"What… is this place?"

The girl rolled her eyes. "Oh great another genius… I thought you were supposed to be good at figuring things out quickly?"

"Well… uh…"

"Nevermind." She said cutting him off. "This is the afterlife. Sorry if you were expecting something a little more 'Wow' but this is it. Don't get me wrong. It's a really big area, but it's not all that paradise junk that you live ones think it is. Anyway, Com'on. I'll show ya around."

Atem reached out his hand to stop her as the girl started to walk away. "Hold on… I…"

The girl held up a hand, "You can have one question now and then whatever other ones you have can wait until after the tour." Atem scratched his head, feeling slightly put off by the girl's cold attitude. He sighed, thinking of what question to ask.

He smiled deciding that nothing could be helped but to go along with her. "Well then," he said, "could you at least tell me who you are?"

The girl looked stunned. "Oh… I guess I never did introduce myself, did I?" She raised her thumb to point at her chest. "Since you're Egyptian I suppose you'd best understand it if I introduced myself as Osiris, God of the Underworld."

So that's it. Yes the AfterLife is run by a child. Why wouldn't it be? Makes it more fun and awkwerd for our favorite Pharaoh.

Leave a review if it should be continued. I'll usually continue a story as long as even 1 or 2 people ask for it. I don't like to disapoint people.