Disclaimer: The author does not own YuGiOh!, or YuGiOh! 5D's

In DM time, this story takes place after the conclusion of the series. In 5D's time it occurs shorty after Yusei's second duel with Rudger. For purposes of this fanfiction, Atem does not remember the duel with Paradox

Kindred Spirits: Prologue

Sandaled feet trod a desert landscape, the windswept sand clinging to the figure's brown legs. Miles of footprints behind him had been long swept away by the wind. There were still many miles to cover, and had the figure been a normal human he might have been worried. It made no difference to Atem. Death had denied him for 3,000 years, and he had preserved through that with patience. He would walk for centuries, so long as he was re-united with old friends.

Ahead of the Pharaoh was the landscape of Egypt, but it seemed strange somehow. As he walked, he noticed that the landscape was confined; up ahead of him was his homeland, but to his right and left appeared a cloudy, white absence of space that confined the actual land he could walk on down to a narrow strip of about six meters' width. The pharaoh was grateful that this "path" only went in two directions as he would have been lost otherwise. Being a spirit meant that he could travel for long periods of time without rest, and he didn't need food or water, but the land he travelled on still affected him. Atem felt the grains of sand on his flesh, the sun upon his brow, and the absence of life in the region.

The cloudy boarders of the area seemed to constantly flow inwards, and Atem was compelled to travel faster to avoid staring at them for too long. The pharaoh glanced downwards and examined his cartouche. He traced the different images with care, glad that the final gift from his friends –his name-gave him something to pass the time with. Atem set out to the afterlife with a smile on his face.

He was there. Yusei was sure of it. His father stared at him sadly and slowly faded into the darkness. Yusei felt a shiver go through his body and fell in the river below him. He surfaced and beheld the dark cavern which was now empty. The signer's eyes closed shut, and he heard a voice calling to him.

"Forgive me my son, but our time together must be short if you are to survive."

The cavern flooded with light, and Yusei felt the cold water and rocky lake bottom vanish beneath him. The only thing he was completely aware of was his own pounding heart. The light got brighter and brighter, and a pounding tremor shook Yusei's body. His right arm burned and he felt the crimson dragon's mark react to something. Another tremor, this time the space around him shifted and he felt a sudden weight on his body. The air was now warm and he was on a very hot surface. His cobalt eyes fluttered open, and Yusei examined his new surroundings with awe.

He was in the middle of an enormous desert.

I'll try to update the story every week or so. This most likely will be a three part story.