I live! Kinda? lol I did stray for too long. I am going to make an attempt to actually finish this fic this time before I disappear like that again. Life has been hectic with the new changes. Everything from divorce, tonew marriage, tonew baby, to new job, new home, several deaths, and an accident that almost stole my oldest daughter from me. All of these events have twisted and changed my life in ways that make it a bit more difficult to write like I used to as I have chosen more to be around my kids over everything. But I have not forgotten my followers here. My chapters may not be what I had originally envisioned (namely because so many things have changed that it is a struggle for me to go back to the older use of names and gifts and etc lol )

Anyway... the disclaimers: Yu-Gi-Oh and it's characters do not belong to me. I don't claim them. Don't claim the storyline. Just kind of borrowing it and twisting it a bit. However, Aurora and her friends ARE mine legally and by copyright. (I still love being able to say that lol ).


The morning sun was beginning to filter through the leaves of the trees when Yami's eyes fluttered open. He slowly turned his head, looking around and taking in his surroundings. He remembered coming out to the river the night before. He remembered gazing into the water. He remembered his conversation with Aurora -

"Aurora!" Yami sat up and looked around again, realizing he was still beside the river, but this time he was alone. He sighed softly as he picked himself up off the ground and brushed the grass off of his pants. Casting one more glance to the riverbank, Yami lowered his gaze to the ground and stuffed his hands in his pockets as he made his way back to camp.

"There you are!" Téa's voice called out from beside the tent the two had shared during their recovery from the train crash. "Where have you been?"

"Oh, hey Téa," Yami returned in a less than excited tone. It was not that he was not happy to see her. He just found his mind thrown back into the depths of the depression he had sunk into after his fall and he could barely manage to speak at all, let alone happily.

"I looked for you last night-" Téa's words were cut off by the sound of a wolf barking along the trail. They both turned to see Chris chasing after Sky.

"Hello, there," Chris said as they drew closer. Her gaze turned toward Yami. "Are you ready?"

He looked down at her startled. "Ready?"

Chris tilted her head with an innocent smile. "Someone wants to see you."

Yami blinked and stared down at her a moment longer before he bowed his head with a nod. "Yes, then I believe I am."

"Great," Chris exclaimed as she spun around and began to run back down the trai,. Further ahead, Yami could make out the form of her grandfather, and just barely shadowed by the light, he saw Aurora.

He felt Téa move to stand beside him, sliding an arm through his and patting his bicep in a show of support. He felt her still suddenly when she followed his gaze to see Aurora standing with Ironheart. A part of him twisted at the unease he suddenly felt, but he tried to shake it off as they began to follow Chris and join the others.


Aurora remained silent during the trip, maintaining her place beside Ironheart as the older man led them along a dangerously narrow trail that snaked along the mountainside. She idly listened as Téa asked where he was taking them and he explained it to be a place in which spirits rested. A place in which he said was called "Stone Wilderness." She listened as he explained hat his people had wholly believed that human souls existed all around them. In some places, they were drawn more so than others. He believed that, just beyond the mountain, a sacred valley lay in which all the drifting souls would be gathered.

"I do honestly believe that the friend you say you lost might be there as well."

"Yugi?" Yami's voice was hushed as he dared to hope. A chance to reconcile with his other self was all he ever wanted at this point in his path. The next words he heard, however, became a stab to his heart.

"However, you must still be cautious," Ironheart warned. "Evil spirits lurk within the valley as well. They all are seeking a way out of the valley for one purpose or another. You may very well find the soul you seek, but to leave with your own intact may be a bit more difficult." The older man stopped and turned back to face Yami. "It is not too late if you wish to change your mind. If there is doubt in your heart even in the slightest, you place yourself at grave risk."

The group grew silent as they waited for Yami's answer. He looked over the group with enigmatic eyes before he took a finalizing breath and shook his head.

"No, I will not back out. I will go onward. I have to find Yugi. I owe it to him. I..." he turned to glance at Aurora with that same twisted look in his eyes she had seen the night before. "I want to see him again. I need to..."

She acknowledged the deeper meaning in his eyes with a nod before something distracted Aurora's senses. She turned and allowed her gaze to travel along the horizon. She was not certain, but something told her they were not alone, and the company was not of the friendly sort. Keeping herself alert, she turned and began to follow everyone along the trail again.

Yami came to another stop at the top of the mountain and gazed down into the valley. So many questions of "What ifs" and "What will's" circled his head to he felt the slight ping of a headache coming on. Stress and anxiety began to set in, making it harder for him to take another step. Yet, he knew he had to go down into the valley. Everything depended on him doing so. He looked up at Ironheart.

"What do we do when we get there?"

Ironheart shook his head. "I am afraid you misunderstood. This is something you must do on your own. Only you can enter the sacred circle."

"What is the sacred circle?"

Ironheart motioned to a small point in the center of the valley. "That is the center. It is the place that reflects your heart."

"If I go there... Will I see my friend?"

The older man nodded. "Yes, you will."

There was a burst of emotion Aurora could feel within Yami that startled her as she watched him start to walk down the path only to begin to race farther as if chasing after a part of himself. Her attention was distracted when she caught sight of Téa attempting to follow. Reaching out, she caught the younger girl's arm with a pleading look in her eyes. Téa all but snarled at her as she jerked her arm free, causing Aurora to take a step back. Chris called into their scene as she sensed Téa ready to follow once more.

"You can't go," Chris tried to tell her.

Ironheart stepped in Téa's path with a grave expression on his face. "You must understand, only one soul-seeker is allowed to enter the sacred valley at a time. If you continue, you risk yourself even more than the young man. Your friend is entering the nest of the dead. His mind may be prepared for this, but yours is not. If you enter, you will not be able to return."

Téa's expression dropped and she let the fight leave her as she surrendered herself to just turning and watching from the cliffside. After casting one final glare at Aurora's direction, she turned resolutely and watched silently as Yami reached the valley floor.


Yami looked around as he crossed the valley floor in the direction of the sacred circle. All around him, he could hear voices of many ranges; old and young, light and dark, some even the sound of child's laughter. The closer he came to the circle, the stronger the voices grew, trying to reach out to him in an effort to make him turn back. Yami stopped a moment, trying to find the source of the voices. He spun around in his spot with no success.

"Who are you?" He demanded. "Where are you? Show yourself!"

As if on cue, Yami began to see familiar faces in the mists that had begun to swirl around him. He watched in confusion as Panik and the Paradox Brothers appeared, followed by Bandit Keith and a rare hunter. He shook his head and moved on, pausing with Arkana and Malik appeared. Not to be the one to fail again, Yami continued until he finally reached the center of the sacred circle. In a single cry, Yami bellowed for Yugi.

The air around him began to swirl and circle. Balls of light danced around in front of him. He watched in fascination as they grew larger and began to take on an actual humanoid form. A moment later, Yugi floated mere inches away from Yami. His eyes opened and he blinked in shock at first before they focused on his Other Self.

"Yami? Is it really you?"

"Yugi!" Yami's relieved voice was barely herd as he reached out to touch his Partner. The emotional pain he felt when his hand went through Yugi's form visibly shook him and he bowed his head. He lifted it when he heard Yugi call out to him again.

"You really came all this way just to see me? Or rather... this empty shell of me?"

"Of course, Yugi. I had to. " Yami took a brief moment to steady himself before he spoke again. "Yugi, I had to tell you how sorry I am."

"I know. I'm sorry, too, Yami. I wish this whole thing never happened."

"It's all my fault, Yugi. I should have listened to you. To everyone. Instead I gave in to the darkness inside of me. I gave in and you paid the ultimate price. But Yugi...I am afraid of myself now more than anything. I can feel the darkness growing and becoming stronger. I no longer know what to do. I am struggling to know what is good and what is bad. When you were with me, it was as if I always knew. I can feel your tenderness and forgiveness. But with you gone... "Yami's head bowed and he took a breath in order to find strength to finish his confession. "With you gone, all I feel is emptiness. Everything I do, I end up hurting people. It is becoming just like Rafael said. I feel this dark power in my heart... And I am even afraid of getting my memory back. I am afraid to find out I really was as evil as Rafael says I was. Yugi-"

"What do you want me to do about that now, Yami?"

Yami's eyes snapped up at his Other Self in shock at the cold tone that was directed at him. His heart twisted and clenched. The anger that was so uncharacteristic on Yugi's face was clearly etched in place and even his violet orbs flashed violently.

"I am the one locked away forever. You come here and call on me. For what, Yami? To pity me? To tell me of your weakness? Demoralize me and everything I have ever stood for? Well I have news for you, Pharoah. I don't need your pity and I'm really not wanting to hear anything more of how weak you think you are. "

"I'm sorry, Yugi,"

"Save it." Yugi turned and began to walk away. Images of angered spirits circling him as a duel disk appeared on his arm. "You know, I knew this day would come eventually. If you honestly belief you are so evil, then it's time to see just how evil you have become." He turned to face Yami, an agry finger pointed directly at him. "You are the one who deserves to be where I am. You are the one who should be locked away! And now I will be the one to make sure it happens."

"No, wait! Yugi, no, you don't understand!"

"Oh, I understand alright. It's time for you to stop feeling sorry for yourself and take responsibility for what you have done! Face me, Pharaoh! If your heart is truly becoming dark, you truly have no place in this world. No matter how strong you are, if you have truly become dark, I will be able to beat you. I will defeat you, and then it will be goodbye for you and me."

Yami hesitated as Yugi's words began to sink in and his face twisted in an emotional grimace. His mind was made up when Yugi's next words came to his mind.

"If you are truly sorry, you will do this for me."

A reluctant sigh escaped his lips as he activated his own duel disk and prepared for his duel.


"I'm confused," Téa said from one side of Ironheart. "Why is he going to duel himself?"

"It was the only way to get through to the Pharaoh," Ironheart answered.

Chris leaned forward so she could see Téa. "It is why we brought him here. The Pharaoh did a lot of things that brought his soul unrest. It was only going to get worse if we did not bring him here to face himself and what he did. He had to be able to put it behind him and move forward in order to do what is needed of him. Because of his choices, he lost his Other Half, and in this way he can get his mind back in the direction it needs to be so he can get him back."

"He can get Yugi back?"

"His first step is to face his inner fears and conquer the darkness in his heart," Ironheart explained further. "However, should he fail in this test, his own spirit will remain lost here forever."

Téa grew silent as the duel continued below them. She watched as each called forth their monsters. It was hard for her to watch knowing what could happen. Her heart ached for both of them. With every card from Gazelle to Chimera, the mix of emotions grew harder still. But when Yugi played Card Destruction, she realized the game had begun to take a darker turn.

"No our hands will be different," Yugi told his Other Half. "You won't be able to cheat any more."

Yami frowned. "Stop this Yugi. It is meaningless for us to do this."

"Why is it so meaningless?"

"Isn't it? Yugi, I don't understand. Why are you acting like this?"

"I am merely a reflection of you, Pharaoh. If there is darkness in you then the same darkness is in me. You are strong, yes, Pharaoh. But I know your weakness and the darkness that is in your heart." Yugi's voice turned colder as he continued to berate his Other Half. "You are so arrogant. You persist in your own honor, wanting to do things only as you want to do them. You have lost sight of so much. It won't work. It is why you don't see the pain and sorrow of others. You are so blind you see nothing even of our own friends, those fighting for you," Yugi's soul cast a glance up at Aurora and the others on the cliff. " the Three Swordsmen, our own Monsters... You can't see any of it."

"I want to take it back-"

"It's too late, Yami. You have already shown me who you really are – an evil pharaoh who only cares about himself. You can see that everyone is suffering but because of your own arrogance, you can't save anyone right now. You are even worse in your own self-pity. You have become a coward, Pharaoh. Afraid of your own pain. A coward can't save anyone."

Yugi grew silent a moment as he stared down at his hand. His next words created chills in everyone. "This duel is a chance for you to finally see. It is a chance to look at yourself from the outside. And the time begins now. I play, the Seal of Orichalcos!"

"Yugi, no!" Yami shouted as the seal began to lower upon their duel. "Why, Yugi? Why would you even have such a card in your deck?"

"Why?" Yugi asked skeptically. "I am only the reflection of your dark side, remember?" His eyes began to glow red as the Seal appeared on his forehead. "And now it's payback time for taking my soul!"

Their duel continued, a short time seeming to stretch for hours. Yami played Swords of Revealing Light, trying to buy him some time as he continued to talk to Yugi. Unfortunately, Yugi was not in the mood to listen. He sacrificed Celtic Guardian to summon Catapult Turtle. As Yami watched on in horror, he realized it was a move he made his last duel. Yugi agreed and taunted him.

"Now it's time for you to experience the consequences of your own evil. After this, you will never duel again. It's Over!" A sacrifice of Queen's Knight activated Catapult Turtle's effect. Yami shouted for Yugi to stop as his life points dropped to 200. He knew one more attack would leave him a prisoner to the Orichalcos, just like Yugi.

Yami shook his head. "I can't lose. If I lose I can't set you free. I lose more than you, the fates of two worlds will be lost! Both will crumble!"

"Why should you care, Pharaoh? You are evil, remember? Last I remember you didn't care who got hurt so long as you had the Power. That was all you wanted." Yugi sacrificed Dark Magician Girl to Catapult Turtle bring a scream from Yami's lips.

Tears rimmed Yami's eyes as he flung out a hand. "I activate my trap card: Divine Wind!"

Catapult Turtle's attack spun backward, sending it back at Yugi. It's doubled strength on attack reduced Yugi's life points to zero, earning Yami the win. But Yugi did not resist the attack. Surprised that Yami managed to pull it off, Yugi's lips lost their cruel sneer and curved into his usual innocent smile as he fell backward.

"Yugi!" Yami left his place from the sacred circle and raced over to the fallen form of his Other Half. He felt none of the pain as his knees struck the ground. All he felt was the intense desire to cradle the boy in his arms. He watched as the Seal faded from Yugi's forehead.

"You passed, Yami," Yugi said softly, his hand dropping lightly onto the Pharoah's hand.

"Test?"

"It was the only way. By defeating me, you were able to defeat your own darkness that was hiding in your heart. In the end, you didn't hide from the end result. You faced it. You faced yourself. You did what was best for me and for mankind. You acted like a true hero." He smiled up at Yami again. "No matter how much suffering has been had, you must trust in our bond. You are not fighting alone. Your friends, the Monsters, they are all with you."

"But what do I do now, Yugi?"

"Don't give up. Never give up. I'm always with you."

Yugi's last words echoed around Yami as his form faded from sight. Yami's arms curled in around him, empty of Yugi's body. He trembled before his head reared back and Yugi's name tore itself from his lips. His breath caught and he felt strength and resolve begin to form within his heart. "I will save you Yugi! No matter what it takes, I will set you free!"


And this is how I leave you for this one. On to the next chapter...