Disclaimer : Yu-Gi-Oh isn't mine. I'm sure you've known it.
Warning : Bad grammar. Typo.
PROLOGUE
After an attack by Silent Magician, Atem's life points became zero. Yugi fell to his knees, tears streaming down his cheeks. Sobs sounded faintly from his mouth.
Atem looked down, bangs covered his eyes. Inwardly he was confused. Why his partner cried? Why did Yugi knelt in front of him, if he that won from him?
He walked over to Yugi, stared at Yugi that on knelt before of him.
"Don't cry, partner. Stand up! You win! The winner shouldn't be on his knees. If I were you, I wouldn't cry!"
Yugi shook his head. "That's because I'm too weak. I want to be strong, like you. You were my hero… my goal… I always want to be like you."
"But you're not weak…"Atem pulled Yugi to stand, before put his hands on Yugi's shoulders."You've always had a power that no one else could beat; the power of kindness. I learned from you, partner." He smiled. "The courage you showed by fighting me, showed me the path that I must take."
"Other me…"
"No, Yugi. I'm not the 'other you' anymore. You're someone else. You're the only Yugi Mutou in the world and always be. Just you, no one else but you. "
Tears were flowing slowly from Atem's red eyes. Both of them smiled, while their bodies were closer to each other until embrace between them finally occurs.
"Now, the time has come for the Pharaoh's soul to be welcomed into the next world after 3000 years lost in the world of the living."Isis's voice separated the two men that fell in to sadness.
"Soul of the Pharaoh! State your name to the eye of wadjet!"
Atem looked at Yugi, before he lifted the cartouch that Anzu gave to him before, and shouted his own name.
"Atem!"
Eye of wadjet shone brightly. The door slowly open, bright light shone the dark room where the ritual happen.
Atem glanced at Yugi one more time. He walked toward the light... the light in which his entire family and his people welcomed him. His clothes turned into his royal attire that he used when he was a Pharaoh.
The afterlife door closed as he disappeared into the light, leaving everything...
…his friends...
…his friendship...
…and his partner in the cold dark ritual room.
"...raoh... Pharaoh..." Echoed a voice called in the darkness that enveloped his mind.
Who's called him? The voice sounds heavy, but very soothing.
"Pharaoh!"
"W-what?" Atem shuttered, turning to the right and left to find the sound that had awakened him from slumber. His red eyes then looked at his advisers, Simon, glared at him.
"G-grandpa?" Atem mumbled with wide eyes.
"Wha-?! I'm not your grandfather, Pharaoh! I'm Simon, your adviser!"
Happy face slowly faded. "Oh... I'm sorry, Simon..." Atem muttered, looked disappointed. For a moment he thought he was in Domino with his aibou, it made him very happy. But, it was just a dream.
'Pharaoh ... ' Mahaad stare at his pharaoh with sympathy. He felt a deep sadness washed over Atem. Pharaoh didn't say anything, but he knew... he knew that Atem miss his life in Domino. Life with his friends... his true friends… miss his life together with his partner.
Mahaad has talked about this to other priests. But, they can't do anything. Their worlds are different. Mahaad had prayed to the gods about Atem's dilemma, but he didn't know whether the gods will grant it or not.
A blinding light from above interrupted his reverie. His hand reflex closed his eyes, trying to protect his eyes from the glare.
The light was slowly rotated and shattered like glass. A figure like a phoenix waved its wings in the middle of the light fragments.
Seeing that, all - including the Pharaoh - prostrate, convey respect.
"Ra, our god. What might that take thou here?" Atem said, respectfully.
"Atem, my son."
Atem frowned. What the god wants from him?
"Stand up, son."
Hearing the Ra's command, the young Pharaoh was standing. His head lowered, indicated a very respectful appreciation to the gods.
"I want to ask thou." Ra's voice echoed throughout the room. "Do thou regret for choosing to come here?"
Sorry? This time Atem looked straight in Ra's eyes. A sour, sad smile tugged at his lips as he shook his head. "No. Why did I have to regret? I'm so happy to be here. My family and friends belong in here. Why did I have to regret this happiness?"
"Domino City..." Ra's statement made Atem twitch. "I know thou miss them. Thou friends... family... and also...
…the other thou."
Atem's body trembled. His hands were clenched at his sides. Head down, bangs covered his eyes. "I can not lie, I did really miss them. However, all this has happened. And certainly, they're strong enough to go through their life without me."
Ra's voice softened. "What if I say that thou wrong?"
The sound of sobbing and crying suddenly echoed in the Atem head. No matter how he tried to erase it, he felt an unusual pressure on his chest.
"It was so dark without you..."
Atem closed his eyes tightly. The voice is very familiar.
"Aibou..." he whispered softly.
"Please, I don't want to be alone anymore!"
Unable to bear upon that pained cries, Atem clenched his teeth until it hurt.
"Thou leaving has to do more than hurt for Yugi. He didn't know it yet, but losing thou has been killed something inside him... slowly..." Ra said. "Thou are the first person accept him outside his family. Thou have a reason to exist in his world. No matter what happens, he needs thou." Ra's words that made a sharp pain in Atem's heart. "Without him knowing it, he slowly walked into the darkness."
Atem's eyes widened. "You're lying..." he muttered, forgetting to whom he spoke.
"Why shall I lie?"
"I beg you, God! Please, bring mou hitori no boku back to me!"
His eyes widened again, gritted his teeth harder than ever.
He didn't have a reason to live in that world anymore. He has decided, and won't take his decision back.
But...
"Please! I will do anything! Anything! Please bring him back to me!"
Atem sighed, his eyes glinted. Tears streamed down his cheeks. "I..." An image of Yugi's face crossed his mind. "I want to go back, I have to. If you can, please..." He swallowed hard, his plea was bland and foreign in his mouth.
"Did a selfish request that I heard?"
He blinked, confused and shocked. Did he really do this for the sake of mere selfishness? He turned to the others and saw his families and his priests smiled at him, as if they were ready to accept whatever his decision.
"Yes." His voice strong and without hesitation. "I want to go back, for me... and for him..."
"Really?" Ra's voice was soft, but also mischievous. "I gave thou time to fix everything. Promise that thou shall not come back with regret, I shall not give thou the third chance."
Heard this, Atem's face slowly lifted. Happy smile slowly tugged at his lips.
"But..." Atem's smile faded. "Only until the next red moon."
Atem frowned, dissatisfied feeling enveloped him. "A year?"
"Yes. A year, no less and no more."
Atem's eyes glazed and his hands clenched. No matter how disappointed he was, the gods have been kind enough to give him life again. "Thank you."
"Well, now..." The God's body slowly enveloped in blinded light. "I know that thou really want something three thousand years ago, though perhaps thou have forgotten. That's why I shall take thou back to him with some… changes so thou can... get a chance to achieve your desire."
Changes? Atem confused about this, but before he had time to ask... Ra disappeared.
And everything went black.
To Be Continue...
A/N : I'm sorry for my bad grammar. You see... English not my native language and I'm just a beginner. If there anyone that can become my beta reader, I appreciate it.