Finally... ugh chapter six was absolutely painful. I wanted to do this chapter so badly while writing 6. It feels great to finally have this one on paper... or screen... whatever. Even if I had to redo it a few times to get it right. But I absolutely love the final project, I don't know about the rest of you, but I think this is the best thing I have ever written!

As well as the longest XD

/

It was dark.

So very dark. Not black, not so much colour that colour seemed to turn black. Black was normal... this was not normal. This... This was almost as if there was nothing there to cause colour at all. It wasn't black, just dark. As if everything in the world had been erased and enveloped.

He couldn't see his own fingers, even when they were pressed against the tip of his nose. They were invisible, everything was invisible. More than invisible, why couldn't he feel his hands against his face? Why couldn't he feel anything?

It was so dark.

Dark enough to cause a person to lose their sense of being. If you can't sense your body, does it truly exist? The dark seemed to envelop all sounds, all feelings, everything and left him with only dark and cold. He can't see, he can't hear... the bone numbing cold shuts down everything. Or does he even feel the cold? How on earth can one feel the cold but not their own body?

Did he even exist?

He shut his eyes, trying to focus. There had to be more to this than just dark. If he could focus, he could think, if he could think, he still existed. The dark could not take that for him. Right?

So dark, so Cold.

Why was it dark?

Was he sitting? Or was he standing up? So confusing, it was impossible to even tell if his eyes were opened or closed at the moment. A message from his brain said that his foot had jolted forward, he must have been standing. But there wasn't anything beneath his foot, so why did it stop falling, why did he move? Another step and another. Was he going forward or backwards? Left or Right? Up or down? Or was he even moving?

For how long had things been like this? Was there ever a time when it wasn't dark? What had happened before to lock him here?

He remembered, nothing... Flashes? Maybe... There where times where he seemed to black out from this... what could one call this lack of existence? Only to come back with dull glimpses of things, and be subjected to this terror, feeling them disappear from his mind and feeling like something else had been ripped from him, leaving an empty hole.

Was that where the darkness was coming from?

And where had it gone?

He was standing in a small room now. So different from the darkness he had left behind. Moonlight streamed from the skylight on the roof, bathing the entire room with it's pale glow. The room he was standing in was small, but comfortably so. It felt homely, nice, pleasant. The light blue of the paint making the room seem so bright, even though it was the middle of the night. It was warm here, something that felt so nice against his skin, after so long in the cold and dark.

But where was he?

It wasn't place he recognized. A small wooden desk stood underneath the sky light, covered in neat stacks of books and papers. On the other side was a bed, soft looking blankets covering the mattress, so yielding looking. Everything in this room tugged at something in his soul, it felt as if he had been here but he couldn't remember what it is however.

Why was he here?

There was a boy, standing in the middle of the room, finally something he recognized. That mass of black and red hair was impossible to miss. "Aibou..." he tired to say, but no sound came out. He attempted to stretch his arm out, but nothing moved.

"I want to be with you always." The words spilled from Yami's lips without hesitation, but he hadn't intended to speak them. They hadn't even crossed his mind. "Even if I don't get my memory back."

Memories? That's right, he had been looking for his memories. The thing they had been searching for so desperately. But for how long? Why was everything so hazy? The facts where slipping through his finger's like sand, and it was become more difficult to hold on as the seconds rolled.

Was this a memory as well?

"Me too..." Yugi's soft voice said in response, and his heart clenched as he noticed the tears running down the boy's face. Why was he crying? "Forever. I will give you all my memories Mou Hitori no Boku"

Mou Hitori no Boku, Aibou called him that... Mou Hitori no Boku. The words almost seemed foreign in his mind. He recognized them, of course. But there meaning escaped him.

It was dark.

So very dark. A constant cloud that pressed into his very soul, cutting him off from everything, and trying to steal everything he had left. There was so little left. But Yami was determined to keep it. He had to keep it.

That small room that Yami didn't recognize. What colour was the walls? He had to remember.

Blue, the colour was blue. The walls were blue, it was night time, the moon was out. He was talking to Aibou. But what were they talking about?

What were they talking about?

Yami wanted to scream. But there was no point, no noise would ever pass his lips. Or could he just not hear the noise over the darkness?

What colour were the walls?

Nothing, he couldn't even remember that small detail, it was gone, and that urge to scream returned with a vengeance. There was no escape from the dark. Never an escape.

He needed an escape. Only Ra knew how much he needed to escape.

Calm, Yami needed to calm down. Calm would keep his mind clear, clarity would allow him to keep his sanity, and his sanity would allow his memories to remain intact. Take a deep breath, try to ignore the fact that he wasn't sure if he had managed this task. Breathe.

Breathe.

Calm

Breathe.

The only explanation to what was happening was the Millennium Puzzle. It was the only thing he could think of that would create this kind of darkness. The Puzzle must have shattered, locking him back within its confines.

The darkness wrapped tighter around him, stealing the thought process. Icy daggers plunged into his mind, making it impossible to focus on anything. The pain was impossible, it filled Yami's entire being in a way that should not have been possible. There was no end, no beginning. Where was it coming from?

Mou Hitori no Boku

Aibou...

Yami remembered now. There had been a fight. Was that when the puzzle had shattered? He remembered that. Bits of it at least. Strange people, dressed in odd clothes attacking them with brightly coloured sparks.

What had happened? Were was Aibou? How long had he been sitting in the dark?

Was Aibou alright?

There were too many questions. His mind couldn't get a grip on the chaos that echoed within his mind. Panic started to take hold as more and more questions rocketed around, along with answers that he didn't want to think about.

Again the cold came, ripping all thoughts from his mind. There was no room for any thought besides pain. In the midst of his agony however, Yami realized that he had to stay calm. The puzzle must be sensing his thoughts, and it strove to take what excited him away. The things that were the most important.

Calm,

Breathe,

Calm.

Focusing, Yami as self-possessed as he could be in this situation dug into his memory, trying to grasp onto the finer details of this situation. He had to figure out what was happening, and hold onto it with everything. Those thoughts would keep him... him.

The pain disappeared, and Yami had the sinking sensation in the pit of his stomach that came from passing out. Feeling started to come back to his body, enough to make his head feel fuzzy, and a pleasant numbness spread out to his limbs. His eyes slipped closed, and a bright light flashed before his vision.

The game shop door opened with a small sound. The bell that hung jauntily above the door ringing as it was pushed open to the elements. Once, twice, three times in rapid succession. The shop was empty, there was no one there to hear the tinkling noise. No one else to see the large mass of teens cramming there way into the small store.

School had just ended for the day, and everyone had rushed over to the game shop for what would hopefully be just a few minutes, before heading to the arcade. This day, Yami realized with a small smile, he remembered. Jounouchi and Honda had been so impatient to leave the shop, wanting desperately to play the brand new games the arcade had just brought in. They were waiting impatiently by the door.

The tall blonde had his arms crossed across his chest, and the toes of his worn running shoes tapped the floor impatiently. Honda stood on the other side of the door, looking far more calm than his friend. But every once in. His eyes flickered back to the ground when Anzu, who was sitting on the cool marble counter, shot him a glare and snapped at him to be patient.

"We'll be two seconds you guys!" Yugi called, pushing his blonde bangs away from his eyes as he dropped the large box he had heaved down from the storage room, beside where Anzu was sitting. From behind him, Ryou and Malik came out, both caring a box of their own. "Grandpa said we only had to bring the boxes out, and he would set them out. So we'll be free to go."

Yami watched his light from where his memory and Bakura where leaning against one of the glass card cases. This truly was the oddest feeling, to interact with ones memory in such a manor, unable to change it with even the smallest twitch of his fingers. Nothing in his body so much as twitched, unless it had already done so in the past.

Malik dropped the box onto the ground, where it landed with a loud thump. Groaning miserably the tanned blond extended his arms far above his head, stretching his abused shoulder muscles. "Who could have guessed that cards could be so bloody heavy?" He moaned, slumping on the ground and leaning against the box he just brought in, tipping his head against the top and shutting his eyes.

Yami felt his head turn to the side of it's own accord as Bakura released a loud barking laugh on his other side. "Quit your complaining and get back to work so we can leave Malik." He sneered, crossing his arms across his chest. Malik's head whipped around at Bakura's words, his nose crunching up against his face as he glared, an expression Yami found to be rather humorous. As did Bakura apparently as he continued with a large smirk on his face. "If my weak little hikari can lug those boxes without this pathetic whining than what excuse do you have?"

Malik stuck out his tongue, the pink muscle flicking out in the most childish of insults as he pushed himself up off the box. Waltzing over to where the darks were standing, the holder of the millennium rod jabbed a finger at Bakura's chest. "Big words for someone who hasn't broken a single sweat since we got here. If your so desperate to leave, then do some work."

The thin line of Bakura's eyebrow arched up slightly as he looked down at the finger on his chest and back up to Malik's cheeky looking features. "And why, pray-tell would I do that when I have such perfectly good slave labour to do all the heavy lifting for me? Malik you are making very little sense."

"Slave labour?" Mali asked incredulously, cheeks slowly starting to tint an aggressive shade of red as the implications of Bakura's words slipped into his mind. At this point Yami almost felt in tune with his past self's body, feeling the corner's of his lips turn up into a small smirk at the same moment as he felt the impulse. "Have you really let yourself go that much almighty thief king? To rely on slaves, no better than the Pharaoh was, I swear."

It was at this point where Yami tried to remove his attention from the two bickering teens despite the jab about his past. He remembered how this conversation went, at least he thought he did. At the very least Yami remembered how other conversations of this nature tended to end, Malik and Bakura could argue for hours before it escalated into a fist fight. It was annoying however that Yami realized he could not remember more than just a few minutes into this day. It was almost as if there was a block that was stopping him from remembering completely.

"Bakura come and help, please?" Ryou called from the storage room. "There's a box in here that's to heavy for Yugi and I, and Malik deserves a break."

At those words a huge, triumphant grin spread across Malik's face and a scowl of equal size turned Bakura's face into a storm cloud. The white haired man didn't move from his spot, despite Ryou's summons, not bothering to hide his displeasure.

"Bakura, please we could use some help!"

With a loud grunt, Bakura unwrapped his arms, and pushed himself away from the glass counter he had previously been leaning on. He slowly stomped his way over to where Yugi and Ryou were standing, a long stream of swear words in numerous languages hanging on his tongue.

The grin on Malik's face grew larger as he moved to stand beside Yami, quickly stealing Bakura's spot. Leaning his palms on the glass counters so that they rested behind him, Malik laughed at the swear words coming out of Bakura's mouth,most of them previously unused for thousands of years. But then suddenly the spitefully pleased noise stopped without warning.

"Malik?" Yami heard Anzu ask worriedly as she hopped down from the counter she was sitting on towards where Yami's memory and Malik were standing. The teen's eyes where drawn to something just outside the window, and it appeared that he had not heard anything Anzu had said. "Malik, are you alright?" Anzu asked again, placing her hand on his shoulder.

"They're people outside" Malik hissed darkly, not tearing his gaze from the window.

"Yes, I'd imagine there would be Malik." Yami felt his memory self say sarcastically, his eyes following Malik's gaze to the many people walking down the streets. "This is a public street after all. I thought you were done with the whole paranoia thing. It isn't becoming."

"It's not paranoia if they're actually coming after you." Malik snapped back, "These people are deliberately positioning themselves around the shop, and I'm sensing something different about them"

Memory Yami's eyes slid shut, and sent the presence of his mind out to the outside of the shop. Tentatively he allowed his mind to touch that of the people on the street, stretching that awareness around the shop. "I see what you mean" Memory Yami said in a calm voice. "There is about... 20, maybe 30 people in the area. Their minds are all different from the rest of the public, why I don't know. It doesn't feel like an item's influence, but it's similar."

A slight pang rang through Yami, and small knot formed in the base of his stomach at the words that were spilling from his memory's mouth. He didn't know why, but a feeling of dread was starting to build.

Bakura dumped the large box that he had brought back from the storage room unceremoniously beside Malik's. "It sounds like a group of your mysterious people are heading around the back of the store." He said, tilting his neck to the side until a loud crack sounded in the room. "Failing miserably at being quiet, but I give them marks for effort. I checked out one of the weaker minds with the eye, and there is most definitely some hostility there."

"Great...And here I thought we were done with this crap. So much for the arcade." Jounouchi groaned, and Yami noticed his eyes being drawn to the window, probably to see what Malik was looking at. Judging by the brief flicker of confusion that flashed behind Jounouchi's smooth expression it was apparent he had not found what he was looking for. "So what's the game plan," Jounouchi finally asked, turning back to the darks, curiosity written all over his face.

Bakura and Malik shared a smirk, before flashing their eyes towards Yami. Physically, Yami could feel is memories features smooth into that cool in-fascination he was famous for, but mentally Yami was throwing a fit. Something was seriously wrong about what was happening.

"They obviously think that they have the element of surprise." Memory Yami replied with a small shrug of his shoulders. "So we let them take the first move, and force them into defence."

"So you're going to fight them?

Yami's heart clenched at the odd look in Yugi's soft purple eyes as his Hikari entered the room. Apprehension, worry, indecisiveness flowed down to Yami's side of the think, forcing Memory Yami to build a small mental block to keep them from effecting his own emoticons on this matter.

"Only if it comes down to it." Memory Yami said softly, placing his hand on Yugi's shoulder and gave it a reassuring squeeze. "But I doubt that 30 people trying to break into a sub urban game shop bare good intentions Aibou."

Yugi sighed, the small release of air giving light to the misgivings he had about this. "Something doesn't feel right about this." He breathed shutting his eyes as a look of concentration spread across his youthful face. "I don't feel like attacking these people would be the best idea. The only reason they would be here would be for the item's right? I think we're underestimating them."

Yami felt his own concern and worry surge as his memories started to grow and mingle. Yugi's intuition on things like this was unnervingly accurate... in the end. Who to trust, who to avoid... Not only that, but those gut feelings his light had previously had, and grown to intuitive knowledge when the dark's had returned from the after life and their powers rose. Not something to be taken lightly.

The hand resting on Yugi's shoulder slowly traced its way up to Yugi's face. With two fingers Yami's memory gently lifted Yugi's chin, forcing the Hikari to look at him straight in the eyes. "Aibou, you worry far too much about such silly things."He said in a reprimanding tone, mingled with the slightest tinge of humour and with concern. Showing that he was taking Yugi's warning seriously.

Even if Bakura was not.

"Do you honestly believe that we would actually lose to a pathetic group of mortals pipsqueak? Get your head on straight, this won't even be a Challenge." Bakura sneered, the light flashing on the elongated canine that was revealed when Bakura's upper lip lifted. Memory Yami glared at his fellow dark, every ounce of his expression telling the tomb robber to stifle.

"They're about to move." Malik said nonchalantly from his spot by the window, staring with his eyes narrowed to the world outside. "If your royal highness has a plan, now would be the best time to explain it."

"Theres not much of a plan" Yami said casting his eyes around the game shop, taking in everything he could about the location. "we wait."

Rolling his eyes, Bakura quickly dug into the chest pocket of the long black trench coat he was wearing, and quickly drew his deck out. With an easy flick of his wrist, and a few fancy hand movements, the cards almost seemed to soar into the air, quickly shuffling. Holding out his deck to Ryou, the white haired hikari quickly cut the deck, pulling out a single card. Without even looking at what card he had drawn, Ryou held it back out to his dark

"Well, if we're just going to sit here, than we should arrange some sort of welcoming committee." Bakura sneered, taking his deck and the card back from Ryou, taking a quick glance at the card his light had handed to him. A malicious light gleamed in his copper eyes as Bakura looked at the card, causing Ryou to wince, wondering what he had just drawn.

A lard crack echoed through the air, causing Yugi to jump about a foot in the air at the loud noise. With a silent gesture, they backed against the far wall of the shop. There was no window on this side, and there was comfort at having the wall at their backs. Yami, Bakura and Malik quickly pulled forward to the front, each man tense, waiting. Jounouchi and Honda stood at the back, their eyes darting around, watching every door every window.

More cracks ensued, each one sounding distinctly like a gun shot, Anzu paled as more and more appeared in the air.

Crack,

Crack,

Crack.

Yami had long since lost count of the loud noises. Long since stopped trying to figure out where they were coming from. It was like nothing he had ever heard before.

And then it stopped.

The lack of noise making the game shop unnaturally quiet. A chill ran up Yami's spine from his memory counterpart. Yami felt his memory self shift his weight slightly, anchoring himself to the ground.

Bakura's head jerked up suddenly, as footsteps started to echo from the floor above. Heavy boots, delicate items crashing and shattering above. It sounded like whoever was up there was ripping the house upside down.

"How in Ra's name did they get up there" Malik hissed in Memory Yami's ear. A quick shrug of Memory Yami's shoulder was the only response he received.

It wasn't a matter of how they got up there.

It was about when they were going to come down.

"There's more..." Bakura growled, clutching at the millennium ring from where it rested against the chest. The relic was glowing a bright shade of gold and the points that dangled from the bottom where pointing forward. "Just outside the centre of Domino, and moving bloody fast. It feels like 30."

Memory Yami swore under his breath. "Get ready." He said, talking a deep breath before calling at the millennium puzzle. On one side, Memory Yami could see a bright flash of light as Bakura summoned his Man Eater Bug, ordering it to conceal itself into the shadows.

The cracking noises were starting up again, Ryou and Yugi moved tighter together, keeping their backs close as they prepared their own magic. Focusing their energy together, Ryou and Yugi started to spread a shield over everyone. It wouldn't be as strong as it would be if the darks were able to help, but it would serve.

If... they could get it up fast enough.

The almost invisible beams of light slowly spread, just as the people broke through the front door. It had just past the darks when the first group stomped down the stairs.

Memory Yami looked around, watching the looks of intent concentration that had spread across Ryou and Yugi's features. Spreading their natural shields this far out was a difficult task. But neither Bakura or Yugi could help, they needed to focus on playing offence. So Memory Yami turned back around.

Nearly 60 people were jammed into the small game shop. Each one with a look of serious determination on their European features. Most certainly not Japanese. But what really struck Yami as odd was what they were wearing. Draped in long sheets of dark blue material, silver lining the sleeves, collar and hem, each person, both men and woman wore robes. A fashion statement that Yami could have sworn had died centuries previous.

A cult maybe?

"Under the Jurisdiction of the United Protection as created by the Minister for Magic, I: Scott Connors, officially place you under arrest"

Memory Yami blinked at the booming voice, a single eyebrow rising up to the ceiling. 'Minister For Magic'? 'United Protection'. This definitely sounded like a cult.

The under arrest part definitely won parts for being different.

"Last time I checked." Bakura sneered, looking at the odd group of people up and down. "you need a lot more influence and power before you can go around shouting 'your under arrest'. Other wise everyone would be doing it.

"Are you trying to be funny sir? Because I assure you that this is a serious matter" Conners' said, his voice deep and degrading, as if he was trying to explain the concept of stealing to a stranger's five year old. A pale, but scarred hand dug into the pocket of the odd robe he was wearing, seeming to grab hold of something. "You, with the exception of the three muggles in the back, have affiliation with dark magic that is prohibited by Ministry Laws. I'm going to ask that the five of you come with me before this gets out of hand."

"I have to say friend, that you are making it difficult to take you seriously, dressed like that. I hear the comic book convention is down the street, maybe you'd fit in a little better down there." Jounouchi growled, not appreciating the muggle comment, even without knowing the definition of the odd english word, one that he had never learned in school. But the distain the robed man was literally vibing in his direction, gave more than a hint towards the definition. "Because my friends and I are not interested in the bullshit your trying to sell."

A tall, thin, but well built woman stepped out to stand shoulder to shoulder with Conners. Her long, dirty blond hair was tied up into a thick knot at the top of her head, showing of her strict features, narrow eyes and high cheekbones. A sharp contrast to the dark robe she was wearing which almost made her seem like a ghost. "This isn't your concern Muggle. So shut your mouth before it gets you into any more trouble. So why don't you and the two brunettes leave now, and let the professionals deal with this... hmm?"

Jounouchi's fist clenched, and Honda lurched forward, only held back by Anzu's hand on his shoulder and the glare Malik sent in his direction. Honda slumped slightly, realizing that to attempt a fight right now would not be wise. Not until they had a better idea of what could happen. Yugi's warning was burning in all their minds, sharp and clear as any crystal.

While, Malik was able to show that idea to Honda, no one was there to stop Jounouchi.

"Or" he snarled, eyes glinting with anger in the sunlight that streamed in the shop. "You could just get your tails out of the shop, before we kick you out."

The woman's face scrunched for a second in confusion, before flushing a bright vivid red. In that moment her hand disappeared from view, reaching up into the sleeve of her robe. Before any of them knew what was happening her sharp voice rose above all other noise. "Stupefy" She growled, venom dripping from every syllable, as if Jounouchi had given her the worst insult imaginable.

There was a thin piece of wood directed at Jounouchi's chest, shaking slightly from the tight grip the woman had on it. As her battle cry fell from her lips however, a fountain of bright red sparks erupted from the tip, streaking towards Jounouchi.

Yugi's eyes grew wide as the sparks shot towards his best friend. With a small grunt of effort he strained to get the shield to spread at a faster rate. At the moment Anzu was covered, as well as himself, Ryou, Malik and the darks. But Jounouchi and Honda were still wide open.

The light of his and Ryou's shield started to speed up slowly, faster when Ryou finally picked up on what Yugi was trying to do. But the sparks were moving at a far quicker rate. It was all any of them could do but watch as the sparks sizzled for a few seconds against the bare edge of there shield, before it shot through.

And struck Jounouchi in the chest.

"No!" Anzu screamed as Jounouchi's eyes grew wide before slowly slipping closed as the blonde toppled backwards and slammed on his back into the hard wood floor with an almighty crash.

Anzu was at his side in a second, kneeling on the hard floor, she clutched at his shoulders, screaming the blonds name. From Anzu's other side, Honda pushed her hand's away from Jounouchi's shoulders before grabbing onto them his self, shaking Jounouchi roughly. But he never responded.

It was almost like he was...

"What did you do to him!" Anzu screamed at the woman. Water welled in her eyes, streaming down her cheeks as her eyes fell on the thin piece of wood still clenched in the woman's hand. "What did you do!"

The woman with the odd stick ignored the cry however, almost as if it was not worth her notice and turned back to the darks, not even flinching at the double set of glowing red eyes that stared back. "Do you still wish to attack?" she asked, twirling the stick between thin fingers in an elegant and almost arrogant motion. "Every person here knows how to preform magic like that, and so much more. So if you, your look alikes and the purple eyed blond wish to come with us, we can get around without another incident.

Memory Yami took a quick glance over his shoulder watching as Yugi laced his hand tightly with Ryou's to combine the forces of their magic. Both lights were breathing hard, struggling to keep the shield surrounded around everyone. It would be nice to end this quickly. These people had a huge size advantage, if this was going to end they would have to do so quickly. Turning back to the front of the room, Memory Yami's allowed his fingers to twitch in an almost inconceivable of signals, unless one was waiting for it.

"Man eater bug, Let's show these people what they've gotten them-self into, shall we?" Bakura drawled, his eyes leaving Yami's fingers to the corner in which the monster was hidden. The six foot tall bug released a large growl as it shot from the shadows. The grey green armour shone in the light, and its huge pincer snapped menacingly

Like a bullet it shot forward and grabbed onto the blonde woman with its pincers. The moment the summoned monster came into contact with the mortal soul however, her body shuddered and went limp, no longer fighting. The man eater bug growled once more as it released her body, the now soulless husk dropping bonelessly to the floor.

"Stupefy!" Conners cried in alarm, his own stick pointing at the bug. But the stream of light shot straight through the monster and fizzled harmlessly against Ryou and Yugi's completed shield.

"It was not wise," Memory Yami said, flexing his arms as dark magic danced threateningly around his fingers. On his other side, Malik plucked the millennium rod free from his thin belt, the eye glowing. The smirk on Yami's face grew, as he saw this, turning to watch the attackers with a wicked gleam in his eye "to play a game with us. For we never lose."

Screams echoed as Memory Yami's spell struck home. The dark spell twined up their legs, with just a simple motion. Five men dropped, writhing in invisible agony. It was as close to anarchy as the modern age can reach.

Malik was using the rod whenever he thought possible. The golden light from the item waved over one of the men, and his blue eyes dulled before turning on his comrade, stick at the ready. The screams grew louder as comrade started to turn on comrade, and their members started to drop like flies around them.

Yugi winced as another stream of sparks like spell struck against his shield. This was starting to draw his energy as shots both friendly and foe collided with his shield. It was impossible to aim in a fight like this. With so man people jammed into the room. Yugi's knees were starting to shake, wanting to collapse out from under neath him, and judging by how much Ryou's hand shook within his own, it was obvious Ryou wouldn't last much longer either.

Memory Yami's concerned face turned around as his magic struck another attacker, two more men collapsing to the ground. Even from inside his memory self's body, Yami could feel the fast drain of his lights energy. But Yugi just smiled and waved off Memory Yami's concern before turning back to the fight and his shield.

This would be over soon, Yami realized with grim satisfaction. Memory Yami and the others had already cut down more than half of these people's numbers, and the other's looked terrified, shaking in their boots. It had taken them long enough to figure out, Yami thought watching through his memory self's eyes at the pale faces of the attackers, that there 'magic' had no power over the power of the items.

With another swish of his wrist, Memory Yami dropped another two men, pausing slightly to catch his breath. The attackers had paused as well however, their sticks sill poised at the ready, but no longer attacking. Everyone one of the foreigners eyes were drawn to the bodies of their partners, limp and soulless. Some completely devoid of life, others shaking and yelling, trapped in there own permanent nightmare.

Crack,

Crack,

Crack.

Memory Yami's head whirled around the room, as the loud cracking noise from before started up again. In the middle of the apparent standoff, groups of people started to disappear, leaving behind only that loud crack.

The same crack that had erupted behind him.

Crack,

Crack,

Crack.

A tight arm was rapped around Anzu's throat. A huge, brown haired man towered over her slim body, lifting Anzu up so high that she had to strain to keep the very tips of her toes on the ground. The slight scared whimper became mingled with a chocked gurgle as the arm cut of air flow and the stick was pressed to Anzu's skull, digging into the sensitive flesh.

Honda grunted beside Anzu as he was forced onto the ground, a sharp knee digging into his back as he was held down by a thin, short red haired woman. The petite woman grabbed a fistful of Honda's hair as she balanced on his back, forcing Honda's head to tip back at an awkward angle, her own stick gabbed ruthlessly at Honda's exposed throat.

In the seconds that followed, three people disappeared from one side of the room to the other. Conners joined his men in this transition,standing with his feet planted on either side of Jounouchi's limp body, the unknown weapon pointed threateningly at the blond's chest. A huge smirk spread across Conners' face as he leaned down to survey the peaceful features, looking up to wink at Memory Yami.

From beside Conners, a fifth man reached out to grab onto Yugi's forearm. The light yelped as his concentration on the shield was suddenly broken by his arm being ruthlessly forced behind his back, and twisted until the tips of his fingers were touching the base of his neck. Yugi whimpered at the pain, tilting his head to the side to glare at the offending person. But Yugi froze, when the cool tip of the stick was pressed against the side of his head, forcing Yugi's head back around to face the Darks and Malik.

Yami could feel the strain on his shoulder joint through his memory's self link with Yugi. The pain was too much and had come far to quickly to be able to put up a proper block against it. Luckily however the pain had been dulled by the link, and even though it felt as if his shoulder joint could be ripped from it's socket at any moment, Yami knew that he would have no problem moving it if need be. And as his anger built up and rage flashed in Memory Yami's eyes, Yami knew that this was a blessing.

No one touched HIS light.

Without even thinking about the purpose or the intent, the dark spell leaped free from Memory Yami's control, searing through the man's body like a bolt of electricity. The gip on Yugi's arm was immediately released as his body started to seize uncontrollably, far more than any of his comrades had. His eyes flicked into the back of his skull as the magic took hold, and an ear splitting scream filled the room as he fell to the ground in a twitching heap.

Scrambling over the shaking mass of limbs, Yugi quickly ran over to where Memory Yami was standing. The latter quickly reaching out to grab onto Yugi's wrist roughly, and yank Yugi behind him before backing against one of the side walls. He was careful however as he pressed Yugi into the wall, to keep on eye on the people on either side of him. Just to make sure that they did not appear behind him at the last second.

"Give up!" Conners shouted from his position standing over Jounouchi. "Or they get hurt. We didn't want to involve the muggles, but you have left us with no other choice."

"Of course, that makes so much sense, just give up." Bakura asked sarcastically, moving slightly so Ryou was hidden behind him. "You've lost more than half of your members. Even with your hostages, we could knock you all out in a heart beat."

"Do you really think that we wouldn't come prepared for this scenario?" Conners said, keeping his weapon pointed carefully at Jounouchi's chest, the threat evident. "We've been watching you for a long time now, and we know that none of you are used to fighting large numbers for very long. Your friend with the fancy wand doesn't have any energy left to perform another imperious curse, and I am willing to bet that neither you nor the boy with the fancy hair can take down more than one of us at one go anymore."

Memory Yami's eyebrows tightened, the only physical sign showing his frustration, he refused to let a scowl settle across his features. There was no way that Yami could let any of these people know that they were starting to get to him. Conners words were not much short of the truth, that Yami knew for sure. They had been slowing down, neither his Memory Self, Malik or Bakura had fought this large of a group before. All three of them were exhausted and magically drained.

Conners seemed to know that. Hell the man had exploited it down to the last letter. This was what Yugi had been talking about earlier, Yami thought with a groan, feeling his Memory's muscles tighten and his mind whirl in an attempt to fide a way out. The shouldn't have underestimated these people.

"Now" Conners said, casting his gaze to each member of Yami's group before continuing. "It's obvious that we have control right now. If any of you try to save your friends, the others die. Unless one of you comes with us. That's our final offer. All of you go free, except for one."

Yami's heart froze in that moment. They had lost, he couldn't think of any way out of this. Conners was right, Malik was barely on his feet anymore, Yami could here his ragged breathing from where he stood. Not that he or Bakura was much better. It was far to risking to even consider allowing Yugi and Ryou to fight. Besides the obvious desire to keep Yugi out of danger, their light was far to indiscriminate to use in such close quarters, not to mention the scarring affect it would have on the Hikaris if something went wrong.

Although under no circumstances could Yami allow any of them to go with these men. Not even himself, tied to Yugi like he was. And as much as Malik and Bakura had changed, both maintained a rather dominate out for number one attitude, well number one plus Ryou in Bakura's case.

"Fine, You win. I will go with you. If you swear that you will let my friends go."

The quiet, yet crystal clear voice came from directly behind Memory Yami's body. The latter's head whipped around so quickly that Yami swore he felt bones cracking within his past self's neck. /Aibou?/ Memory Yami sent down the link he shared with Yugi, his voice hesitant, almost breaking as he forced the words into clarity.

/I'm so sorry Yami./

The warm hand that had been gripping his so desperately, gently pulled its way free from Yami's grip. Suddenly Memory Yami was left clutching at open air. The warmth of the small body pressed so tightly against him left.

Conners looked surprised as he stared at Yugi, watching as the teen steeped free of the protective shelter of his dark. It became instantly apparent that the man had not expected his last request to be answered so simply. "Alright then," Conners said, quickly covering his confusion with arrogant satisfaction, "Put your hands on top of your head and step away from your friends."

A small sigh slipped through Yugi's lips, and hesitant eyes flickered back towards his friends, training on his darks shell shocked face.

"Aibou, what are you doing!" Memory Yami asked, his voice bordering on a scream, and in that moment Yami realized that he wasn't the only one who couldn't move, his memory's body was frozen still. /It's a trap! Trying to make us think this is over before they attack us all! So whats the point! Come back to me before you do something stupid!/

A sad smile filtered across Yugi's face, and his amethyst eyes lit up with a steely light that Yami hated seeing. The same look that haunted Yami's dreams almost every night. The one Yami had seen against Pegasus, that duel against Jounouchi at the pier, the orchelcos. The look that meant Yugi was going to do something that he wasn't sure he was going to come back from.

Tears welled in Yugi's eyes as he turned his back to Yami, and shaking hands were placed on top of head in a show of submission. /No, they won't. I'm going to cast a spell to make sure you are safe. The others will be alright as long as they have one of us. It'll be okay Yami, I promise./

It was then Yami noted the feeling of magic that had swelled up behind him, and the barely noticeable glow of light magic. Yugi was making a portal, keeping it all but invisible to all those but a wielder. Almost immediately as the shimmering doorway finally swelled to its full size, Yami could feel its draw. The sweet intoxication of Yugi's light drawing him closer, and bathing his skin in warmth.

/It will take Jounouchi, Anzu and Honda home./ Yugi was projecting his thoughts now. No longer speaking just to Yami, but to Bakura, Ryou and Malik as well. /And you four to a place where they won't find you. You'll be safe./

Yugi's words were final as he finally finished his slow walk towards his now captors, staring up at Conners and his people with a set look of determination on their face. Now that they had their apparent prisoner, these people had released their hostages, stepping over to were Conners stood to make sure this wasn't a trap on Yugi's part. Yet Conners was glaring at Yugi, looking down at him like he was the dirt underneath his boots.

With a quick word, that sounded distinctly like latin, heavy chains twisted free from Conner's stick. Slinking like snakes, the chains twined themselves around Yugi's wrists, trapping them against his chest as another wrapped around his chest, trapping his forearms to his sides.

Memory Yami growled, the sound almost inhuman, as his eyes started to glow an unholy shade of blood red, saved entirely for the person who dared to take his Hikari. For the first time both Yami and his Memory self was working completely in synch.

"Bakura! Stop him!" Yugi called desperately, but remained impassive in his bonds. Not fighting to stop his dark as the man started to walk forwards. Yugi could have stopped Yami in a heartbeat, but he didn't have the heart, not right now.

Looking shocked, Bakura could only gaze at the smallest Hikari like he had grown a third head. "Please Bakura, it's the only way." Bakura's looked over to where Ryou was helping Malik and Honda carry a still unconscious Jounouchi to the portal the attackers cold not see. Anzu already half way through...

At the same moment Memory Yami jumped forward in attack., Bakura followed not a step behind and wrapped his arms in an iron embrace around his fellow dark's chest. When it came down to magic, Yami was more powerful than Bakura could ever dream to being, as much as he would rather dig out his eyeballs with a rusty knife than admit it. But right now, Bakura was willing to bet that using his magic was the last thought going through Yami's mind. The emoticons connected with the extreme possessiveness that came with having a Hikari could completely envelope ones sanity and rational state of mind. And when it came down to a physical contest, Bakura easily had the upper edge.

"Let go of me!" Yami screeched pulling at Bakura's arms desperately trying to escape. "Aibou! Aibou!"

At Yugi's nod and tearful smile, Bakura started to back up taking a yowling Yami with him. "Aibou! Release me Bakura! Let go!" But Bakura couldn't, not when Ryou had already gone through the portal. That just wasn't an option.

Yami was clawing at Bakura's arms now, and blood ran down in shining rivers down Bakura's arms to his wrists. Bakura grunted at the pain, but continued to carry the fighting man. Even if he had to knock Yami out, they would get through.

/Don't Mou Hitori No Boku, I'll be fine, I promise. Please, Atem... I love you so much, but please, don't try to follow me. Be safe./

"Stupify"

Yami froze, watching with huge eyes as his Hikari's legs gave out and his eyes rolled into the back of his skull. Even as his light's last words echoed around his skull, the only thing Yami was able to focus on was the sight of Yugi, bonelessly falling forward and slumping unconscious against Conners, draped neatly over the larger man's arm.

"Aibou!" Yami screamed, his fist flailing up to strike Bakura under the chin. Bakura swore as blood started to leak from his lower lip from where his sharp canine had dug into the delicate flesh. Yami slipped out from underneath Bakura's arm as the white haired mans grip loosened and ran toward to the man holding his Hikari.

Crack,

Crack,

Crack.

The attackers were all starting to disappear. To regroup their numbers and to take the fallen bodies of their comrades with them. But Conners, Yugi still hanging limp as death over his arm, did not. Apparently he was determined to stay here a long as humanly possible, to try and get both Yami and Yugi before he left.

"Crap! Malik Help!" Bakura growled when he finally returned to his senses after the sharp hit to his jaw. Malik looked around from where he was helping Jounouchi through the portal, before sprinting forward to where Bakura was. Each man grabbed hold of one of Yami's arms, straining to hold him.

Yami was truly fighting now. Not pulling punches, not even caring about the people that were trying to restrain him. Nothing and no one mattered at the moment. If either Bakura or Malik were to let go of him at this moment there was a good chance Yami would kill them both without a moments hesitation.

Crack.

At the same moment that Malik and Bakura were able to drag Yami through the portal, Yugi and his captor disappeared from the game shop, leaving behind an empty room that was destroyed by the devastation of the fight.

Yami tipped his head back, releasing one final ear splitting and wordless scream as his Hikari disappeared from sight. He gave one last try against the iron hold of Malik's and Bakura's grips. But they couldn't let him go, not until they were through the portal...

Finally their boots slammed onto the well worn stone bricks and searing heat of the Egyptian under ground pressed in on their skin, so different than the cool japanese air the had left so far behind.

Everyone froze, stopping to take in their surroundings. Jounouchi wasn't there, nor was Anzu or Honda. True to his word, Yugi had sent the wielders to the safest, most secluded place he knew, while at the same time sending his friends home.

With gentle care, generally foreign to both men, Bakura and Malik released Yami when the dark weakly started to try and break free once more. Yami's arms feel limply at his sides, and tears streamed down his cheeks.

"Aibou!"

Memory Yami lurched forward and slammed his fist into the stone. Striking it over, and over again paying no heed to the glass like grains of sand that dug into his skin. Screaming as his fists bled, Memory Yami dug into his mind and felt with heartbreaking clarity the exact moment when the delicate link between himself and Yugi started to snap. Inside Yami was screaming as well, curling tightly around the remains of his Aibou's soul, the only part of Yugi he had access to any more.

There was only one person in the world that Yami was dependant on. Couldn't survive without. The link with Aibou was the first thing he had known awaking into the world, without any memories of a past life. And for a very long time, Yugi had been the only thing that could hear him, touch him... see him. That link was one of the only things that kept Yami grounded.

And it was barely there.

Yami clutched desperately at his end of the link, trying desperately to grab hold of Yugi's. As long as it was there, there was a chance they could figure this out. That Aibou was alright.

Aibou was going to be alright. He had promised.

He promised

/Mou Hitori No Boku!/

"Yami!"

Almost like a piece of elastic stretched to its breaking point, the bare threads that connected Yugi to Yami's mind disappeared, the rebound hitting Yami with more force than a bullet. It was then that Yami realized why everyone was calling his name, why it had sounded as if Aibou's voice had echoed within his mind... his soul was fading.

Memory Yami scrambled to his feet as the magic supporting his illusionary body started to fall apart, slipping through his grip like a fistful of sand. Fading... back into the spirit form he had be forced to maintain during the early years as Yugi's shadow, and even that was starting to disappear.

Someone was taking apart the puzzle. Piece by piece, his soul was being taken apart...

...Did that mean?

Whipping around to the scared faces of his friends, Yami's face was one of pure rage and pain.

"Promise me that you will get him back!"

The world disappeared into a blinding flare of light, causing pain to sear up his arms... before it all disappeared into nothingness.