What Yami didn't know when he went to the after-life is that "after-life" is literal. His after-life is Yugi's "Present-life". He is confined as a spirit, able to see Yugi in his world from afar, but unable to interact with him. Minor YxYY, all from Yami's POV.

Disclaimer: Don't own anything.

A/N: Thank you for all the comments! I'm here to address all the reviews! Don't always expect this, but I want to personally reply to all the reviews I've gotten so far!

Hikari Kame: Thanks for your review! I would prefer if you DIDN'T do a lighter version just yet. Trust me, you'll be surprised by the turns this story will take. I'll let you know when though, and I'm flattered that you would like to do a story like this!

Flawed Nobody & x-hannah-banana-x: Don't worry, this story will be continued! Thank you for the encouragement!

Angelegipcio: ………did you read my mind…….? Hm……….. prepare to be shocked… dark laugh

Yizuki: The issue with what he can touch and can't touch is VERY important, and will be addressed soon.

Yugixyamiyaoilover: Thank you SO much. You were my first reviewer and gave me motivation to continue! As for the after-life, this will be addressed in either this chapter or next.

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Two Days after leaving (late evening).

We're home. The flight was interesting to say the least. Watching Yugi have to say goodbye to Egypt, to the memories, to the Puzzle, to ME…God, am all I good for is crying? Damn it, the afterlife is supposed to be peaceful. Well, I hope that I find peace here in Domino. This is my last hope to find answers. They have to be at the stone tablet in the museum. That's the only other place I can think of where there might be answers. I don't know what exactly I am searching for, but I just feel a pull. As we walk out of the airplane though, I feel conflicted. I don't want to leave Yugi. But I know it's for the best. With a sigh, I turn my back on Yugi for the second time in two days, and walk away, towards Domino Museum, away from where the car carrying Yugi and his friends is going.

While I walk, I reflect upon my last thought. "For the best". I said that when I was going to the after-life. Even Yugi said it was "for the best". But here I am, again, leaving Yugi behind. My heart, my breaking heart, tells me that I did something wrong. But how could I have? It's "for the best". If my hikari, my LIGHT says it's for the best…

…but then…he always wanted the best for me…even when I didn't. When he sacrificed himself for me with the Orichalcos Seal, when he stopped me from killing Kaiba during our duel in Duelist kingdom, for switching souls with me against Pegasus…He would always do things for the best. But not me, I would mess up.

Well, I'm going to make it right.

My hikari, I will do everything I can to make it up to you. I see the pain you are going through.

I redouble my efforts and break into a run. I have to get to the museum.

Everywhere I turn, I feel as though the shadows are closing in around me. As dusk turns to dark, the scum of the city begin to emerge. I tell myself that they cannot see me. Still, I feel as though all eyes are on me as I near the museum. At last, I see it as it comes into view. I slowly walk up the steps and silently pass through the doors of the museum, and walk wordlessly towards the basement.

Where the tablet is.

Where my answers should be.

I need to find it.

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I look everywhere and again I find nothing. I have walked this cursed museum a thousand times. Nothing is here. I look again at the stone tablet. The thing that once gave me so much hope, is now a thing of despair. I see words. I see words that mention the afterlife. The only thing I read tells me what I already know. I am to go to the after-life, after getting my memories back. Okay, it's a little more complicated than that, but I did everything). Is this truly what the after-life is?

I read the script again. Was I not found pure to go to the after-life? Gods, why do you not answer me? I reach out to trace my finger over the lettering. I have no answers. I pound my fist in anger against the stone, catching myself before I fall straight through it. With no answers, I must accept that this IS the after-life, and I am being judged for my actions. I deserve this. I mean, the thoughts I have about my little one…his purity, his light, his form…ugh. What is wrong with me? Seriously, this is out of control. I am a horrible person and a horrible Yami, and a horrible friend…

At least I know my hikari still misses (loves?) me… he is so hurt by my leaving. At least I didn't totally ruin it with him…I still meant something to him.

God, I am SO DAMN SELFISH. I'm GLAD my light is sad, because it shows that he still cares about me?! How twisted am I? I KNOW that this is the after-life, at least it is hell to me. I understand this. I fulfilled the requirements of the after-life. I have been judged, and found unworthy. And now I am living in this hell. And I have proven AGAIN, that I am a terrible soul. The problem is, I do not know how to be found worthy. And is the after-life, the TRUE after-life worth anything, knowing that I still cause my light pain by not being here?

I rise from my fallen position. I am going back to Yugi's. I need to be with him. And I know that that is selfish. But I need him. I unashamedly need him. To see him is like a drop of water to cool my burning tongue, for the agony I am in is unbearable.

But before I go, I turn around to gaze once more on the stone tablet. There are so many things I can say to the gods, for this life that they have blessed/cursed me with. This is not the life that I would have chosen for me. But this is the new life that I have been given. I cannot change it, I cannot fight against it. I must accept it. For now, I will watch Yugi from afar. Perhaps it is best for me. My darkness, my perverseness would corrupt him. This is "for the best", for me, and for him. And as hard as it for me to say this, I say to the gods…

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"Thank you…"

I turn and walk away. Back to my hikari, back to my life.

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NO, this is NOT the end yet, don't worry! Shooting for an ambitious TWENTY (20) total review! Let me know what you think…No one has figured it out…yet…