Author's note: yay! Yugioh story! Weeellll, those (few) who read my other story (the NaruHina one, not the other one. its crap) are probably mad at me, but YGO has been my latest obsession lately. ...and yaoi. Blame Birth of Insanity94 for that one. -_-;
So, without further ado, i give you... Second Chances!
KT: oh, and that idiot doesn't own Yugioh, by the way.
Tora: ... oh yeah. I don't.
/
The sun rose over the sweltering desert, casting light on the ancient land. It illuminated a tan figure pacing on an alabaster balcony. He was dressed in luxurious Egyptian silks and glittering golden jewelry. Most prominently were a golden upside-down pyramid around his neck and a winged crown that fit around the person's forehead. A golden Eye of Horus carved into the crown shone directly in the center of his forehead. A pair of deep crimson eyes glinted underneath that crown and spiky black hair tipped in ruby rose above it. Blonde bangs hung around his face and three lightning-shaped shoots of blonde hair rose up into it. His beautiful face was Seth in a serious frown as he watched the sun rise over his kingdom.
This young man's name was Atem and he was the pharaoh. He looked out again at the desert and sighed heavily. He had been living here –in the Afterlife –for about six or seven months now. And he hated it. Atem had always thought that once he made it to the Netherworld, where he thought he belonged, everything would be perfect. But it wasn't.
He missed the rain that pelted the other world. He missed the endless card games. He missed his light. The Millennium Puzzle hung around his neck like a constant reminder of where he'd been and who he'd left. Sure, he now had been reunited with his father and Sethh and Mana and Mahado, but he missed his other friends. He missed Joey, Tea, Tristan, Ryou, Serenity, Duke, even Kaiba. He missed Yugi too. The Ceremonial Duel was supposed to be the last time they ever saw each other again. He had lost and that had proved that Yugi was ready to be on his own. He no longer needed the pharaoh's help. But Atem was now filled with regret. Had he even said goodbye? He'd almost wished he'd won that duel. Sure, he'd be trapped in the Puzzle again and that hadn't been a complete life. Just a spirit form, wandering throughout endless tunnels in his mind. But this wasn't a complete life either. He'd shared a soul with Yugi for over three years and he now felt a sort of emptiness where the young boy should be. The ever present voice deep within his consciousness was missing.
Atem sighed again and stopped pacing. He hung his heads and hands off the side of the railing, collapsing heavily on it. He grumbled to himself, remembering how Yugi had cried when Yami had left him, becoming Atem in the netherworld. He was shook out of this line of thinking by a rock hitting him in the arm.
"Hey! Baka pharaoh!" came a voice from below him. He didn't even need to look to see that it was the tomb-robber, Bakura. No one else would dare call him that…or know any sort of Japanese. Atem leaned over the railing slightly to see the thief king picking up another rock in preparation.
"What, Bakura?" he called back. The white haired man dropped his rock and sent an evil grin up to Atem.
"Can I come up?" he asked. The pharaoh rolled his eyes and scowled but nodded towards the thief anyway. Bakura climbed up the wall quickly and vaulted over the balcony railing. He stood there, white hair shining and red coat trailing behind him. The double cross scar marred his tan skin but the red-brown eyes it was below were tired. Atem crossed his bedroom and sat heavily in a chair in the corner, resting his cheek on his hand.
"What do you want, Tomb Robber?" he asked wearily. An uncertain look crossed Bakura's face and he shrugged. They sat in an awkward silence.
"Do…do you miss him?" the Thief King asked hesitantly. It was odd for such a tone to enter his gruff voice and Atem raised an eyebrow in surprise at it. He then averted his eyes and stared at the rising sun out the window.
"Yes," the pharaoh answered solemnly. Bakura sighed and slumped against the closest wall. "I miss him tomb robber. I miss Yugi. I miss my hikari, my akhu. I miss my aibou," Atem confessed, not seeming to be able to stop. The last six months weighed heavily on him. Bakura raised an eyebrow before smirking slightly.
"Well after that mushy crap, I don't feel as bad to say that I may miss my runt as well," he admitted. Atem's eyes snapped to the thief in blatant surprise. Bakura didn't ever care about anyone. Ever.
"You miss Ryou?" he asked in shock. The tomb robber's eyes narrowed and he glowered at the pharaoh. Atem smirked, knowing that was his answer. But then his smirk faded as the seriousness of the situation settled on him.
"I…"he started before trailing off. Bakura gave the pharaoh a weary look. "I…wish we could go back," Atem finished. The thief nodded.
"Me too."
Suddenly the room was filled with a bright light that was cast from the Millennium Puzzle and the Ring. It blinded them and they could feel themselves being transported somewhere else.
Blinking, Atem and Bakura opened their eyes to see that they were on the stone floor of a temple. Before them stood the door with the Eye of Wdjat on it that had taken Atem to the afterlife in the first place. Before that was the Millennium Stone, the seven holes where the items went were empty. Around them stood the pharaoh's court with their Millennium items glowing. A white portal opened and two more figures were deposited on the floor; a young woman wearing a plain cotton dress with long red-brown hair and golden eyes. The other was Yami Malik. Atem and Bakura sprang to their feet at the sight of the psychotic yami. He looked around, seemingly bewildered, before noticing the pharaoh and snarling.
"You!" Atem growled. Marik stood up, glowering, and started advancing towards the young ruler. But a large, translucent hand separated them.
"Enough!" boomed a voice. All thirteen occupants of the temple looked up to see a towering, see-through man with a falcon's head standing before them. A disk with a snake coiled around it floated above his head and all of the mortal's eyes widened. They quickly dropped to the floor in a show of respect; except for Marik. He merely crossed his arms and sent an unimpressed look at the god before them.
"Ra," breathed the pharaoh. Ra simply nodded his head.
"You have all been brought before us," the god stated, "for a final choice. All of you have, at some time, wielded a Millennium Item. Pharaoh, you're prayers have not gone unheard. We have decided to give you a choice of whether you wish to return to the mortal plane,"he continued. There was a collective intake of shocked breath. "Seven of you may return within a Millennium Item. We shall select a human from the mortal world to find the items. He or she will return you to your rightful masters. But, be forewarned, if the human you seek does not accept the item, then you will not be able to return in a body. You will remain in spirit form until your other halves decide that you are worthy of your own bodies," Ra explained. The seven Millennium Items flashed before appearing in their places in the stone tablet. The thirteen Egyptian mortals stepped forward, grim expressions on most of their faces.
"One at a time, please," came a female voice. Three more glowing gods appeared beside the sun god. It was Anubis, jackal-headed lord of the dead; Osiris, God of the Netherworld; and Isis, Osiris' wife. Isis spoke and the humans did as she bade, stepping forward one at a time.
"First, the Wielder of the Millennium Scales," called Osiris. Karim came forward. He politely declined.
"I have no desire to see this 'new world'," he stated, disappearing as he said this.
"Next, the Millennium Key," Osiris said. Shimon, who once held the Millennium Key, stepped forward. He also said no, wishing to stay in Egypt. The Key was also used by Shada but he did not want to go to the mortal plane either.
"The holder of the Millennium Eye," Isis requested. Aknadin simply shook his head no. These four were quite obvious, seeing that they had never been in contact with their more recent counter parts.
"Next, may we have the Millennium Ring?" asked Isis. The Thief King Bakura came towards the stone. He smirked.
"Well, there's a lot more stuff to steal in the new world. It's a place where I'm not wanted for crimes…yet," he said. Atem sent him a smirk at his obvious attempt to hide the fact that he just wanted to see Ryou. He was almost to the stone before a voice called out:
"Wait!"
Bakura turned around to see Mana bounding towards him, her face in a frown. "What if I wanna go to the human world? Come on! You don't deserve to go!" she cried. Mahado also stepped forward, seeing as he once held the Ring. He shook his head.
"I do not wish to go, but what happens now that there is a disagreement between Mana and the tomb robber?" he asked of Ra. The gods looked at each other.
"If Mana wishes to go to the mortal plane, she may take refuge in one of the other items: the Key, the Eye, or the Scales. Thief King Bakura may have the Ring," Anubis declared. A smile played on the lips of the goddess, Isis.
"Wait a moment; I'd like to know why the Thief King even wants to go. If he answers me, he may have the Ring," she offered. Bakura glowered at her but she simply smiled.
He scratched his head, almost embarrassed, and glared at nothing. "Me and my hikari didn't get a Ceremonial Duel. He's just not ready to be apart from me yet. He's not strong enough," he stated. The goddess' eyebrow lifted, but she nodded and he disappeared in a flash of light; disappearing into the Millennium Ring. Mana huffed loudly before diving into the Millennium Key. Mahado turned once again to the gods.
"Mana doesn't have a previous master. Who shall decide if she gets her own body?" he asked, a little worried. Isis laughed lightly.
"Oh, we've judged her already. She is worthy of her new body, Mahado. And you? Will you leave her to fend for herself in the mortal world?" she asked gently, still teasing. Mahado frowned and shook his head no.
"May I rescind my decision? I wish to go to the mortal world in the Scales," he said. Isis nodded and he too disappeared in a flash of light.
"The Millennium Rod," called Anubis. Marik, who had been unusually silent for his character, sprang forward.
"Oh yes! Oh, me, me!" he cried, raising his hand into the air as if he were in school. The priest, Seth, also came towards the stone. Atem growled from his place in the back of the temple.
"No!" he cried, "I remember the mortal world, Marik! You should never be allowed to set foot there again!" the pharaoh shouted. Marik turned on him with a glare.
"I did what I did because that was my hikari's wishes!" he shouted back. That just riled Atem up more.
"You almost sent your 'weaker half' to the Shadow Realm!" he howled. Marik's eyes averted for a moment before snapping back to his accuser's.
"He left me locked up for over 5 years!" the psychotic yami spat.
"So why do you want to go back?" came the retort.
"Because he still needs me!" Marik roared. There was silence after that. The Yami panted for a moment before continuing. "That boy can't protect himself. I've been in the Shadow Realm and I've changed, Pharaoh," he sneered the title as if it were poison, "I know what I did was wrong and I need to tell him that. Plus, I've also been locked up, alone, in the Shadow Realm for years. It's driving me sane!" he yelled.
Atem raised an eyebrow. "It's driving you sane?" he asked. Marik gave him a glare.
"Well I was insane when I got there. Now I'm sane. It's sickening," Marik made gagging sounds. The young pharaoh rolled his eyes. Seth broke into their conversation.
"I'm not going, I have Kisara here and I don't need to go. The mortal me, Seto, doesn't wish to meet me anyway," he announced. He faded away. The gods nodded and Ra turned to Marik.
"Since the Priest does not wish to go, by right, the opportunity is yours. But be warned, 'Yami Malik' that we will be watching. If you try to hurt the current Wielder, you will be banished back to the Shadow Realm," he proclaimed. Marik smiled widely and suddenly burst into light. The rod glowed in acceptance.
The priestess, Isis, turned to the gods. "Are you sure that was wise?" she asked carefully. The goddess Isis smiled.
"We will be watching priestess. All shall be well. And now, for your turn, will the holders of the Millennium Necklace step foreword?" she asked. Isis and the woman with the golden eyes came forward.
The priestess Isis shook her head. "Ishizu would not wish me back," she said, "She knows that her part in this destiny is over," Osiris nodded. Isis then shot a look at Atem. "My pharaoh, you are going back, are you not?" she asked. The youth averted his eyes in uncertainty. The priestess smiled, for she knew the answer. Then she was gone in a flash of light. Attention was turned to the other woman.
"My Gods, I do not think I belong here. I only wielded the Necklace for a few days," she told them. Ra spoke.
"You held the power of the Necklace with great skill. Although you only had need to use it when Isis was away, you still have the right to take your place in the mortal world," he affirmed. She shook her head.
"But I only used it when Isis was sick, before that big battle…" she trailed off. She closed her eyes. A tense moment followed before her eyes snapped back to the gods. "But I know I must go to the mortal plane. I have a feeling that I am needed there," she agreed. Isis gave a smile as the woman was sucked into the Necklace.
"One Item left," Anubis said. Atem and his father –the previous pharaoh, Aknamkanon –came forward. The older man turned to his son.
"You are leaving me, aren't you?" he asked, although already knowing the reply. Atem nodded.
"I must. I still miss my aibou and I think my akhu misses me too," he explained. He turned to the gods. "I would like to go back to the mortal world," he called.
"We will send a human to find the Millennium Items. She will bring you back to Domino City. As soon as you are returned to your own human body, Mahado and Mana will be too. You will be able to communicate with the other spirits of the Items before you are released. You will also be able to talk to your messenger while she is sleeping," Ra clarified.
"What about the Millennium Eye?" Atem asked, "It was not claimed by anyone," Anubis shrugged.
"Our messenger will return it to its last owner: Maximillon Pegasus. He does seem to have a place for it," the Lord of the Dead said. The pharaoh nodded. Ra then waved his hand over Atem's form.
"Good luck and may the gods be with you, Pharaoh Atem," he stated.
"Goodbye Father," the young pharaoh waved to his father slightly before being engulfed in light.
The temple was then empty.