Chapter 8

Atem paced the hallway for what felt like the millionth time. Three days had passed since he'd stabbed Mana, No, I didn't stab Mana, I stabbed the darkness that was controlling her. He was growing restless. After he'd pulled the dagger from Mana's heart, he'd held her as she bled, watching the darkness lose its control with every last breath she took, and before he knew it, Mana's body was limp in his arms, no breathing, no heartbeat, no playful Mana-ness. Her body was just that, an empty body, devoid of any spirit controlling it. Atem had found himself lost for a moment, the realization of what he had done hitting him hard, but thankfully he had Yugi next to him to snap him back to reality. He reminded him that he needed to return Mana's spirit to her body from the Shadow Realm, and he needed to do it quickly, lest the Shadows claim her pure spirit for themselves.

He'd been quick to summon Mana's soul back to her body, and he'd been able to sense her return, but something felt off, and his face paled as he realized what had happened. He had been too late. He hadn't summoned her back from the Shadow Realm fast enough, and now he wasn't sure what to expect when Mana woke up, if she did. Atem had Isis watching over her and taking care of healing her, and Mana was both breathing and her heart was beating, but still she wouldn't wake up, and that worried the Pharaoh more than anything.

Yugi looked up at Atem from his spot on the floor. He'd dozed off, his forehead against his knees, and he saw the look on Atem's face, his own look darkening, "Still nothing, Atem?" He asked, failing to stifle a yawn. Atem shook his head once and he sighed softly.

"You should go get some sleep, Yugi," He said in a soft voice. He would have to be blind to miss the dark circles under Yugi's eyes, and the way his skin had paled even more than normal, despite being in Egypt for several days. "It wouldn't be good for you to get sick."

Yugi stood up and stretched, his shoulders both popping as he did so, along with his knees, "I'll be fine, Atem," He said, rubbing the back of his neck. He looked at the door that Atem had been pacing in front of, "Has it really been three days?" He asked. He knew, in his heart, that Atem would rather be sitting by Mana's side, rather than pacing uselessly outside the door, but something was holding the Pharaoh back.

Atem nodded once again, "I've really messed this up, Yugi. I never should have sent Mana's spirit to the Shadow Realm. I should have found another way..."

"There was no other way," Yugi said with a shake of his head, though he could sense that Atem was close to losing it. Maybe that was what he needed after three days of doing nothing but holding everything in.

"Then I should have left the darkness in control of her until I found another way!" Atem roared, the emotional guard he had put up around himself finally starting to crumble. He'd steeled himself from the emotions since the moment he'd found Isis and left her to care for Mana, and now that three days had passed and Mana wasn't getting any better, he was finally breaking, "Look what I caused because I acted without thinking it through more thoroughly! I as good as killed my best friend, and even if she isn't dead, she might never wake up!"

Yugi walked over to Atem, unsurprised to see his body trembling and tears filling his eyes. Yugi felt his throat tighten slightly. He'd rarely ever seen Atem cry, the time that came to the forefront of his memory was when Joey had lost his duel to Marik in the Battle City Tournament Finals, "Come on," He said, taking Atem's hand. He pulled hard, though the Pharaoh resisted slightly. "Atem, come on!" He said, finally succeeding in pulling Atem towards the door and pushing it open. Together they walked into the room where Mana lay on the bed, a long bandage visible beneath the top of her dress, extending from her chest towards her abdomen. Isis looked up, though she could not see Yugi, she stood instantly when she saw Atem.

"My Pharaoh," She said, giving a slight bow. She glanced to Mana's body and then back to Atem, a somber look on her face, "I'm sorry, my King, there has not been much of a change in Mana's condition. Though she breathes steadily and her heart beats rapidly, she still does not wake."

Atem nodded once, feeling as though he were going to be asking the obvious question, "Have you seen anything of her future?" He asked, wondering why Yugi had dragged him into this room. His heart felt as though Ra himself were stabbing him. He could barely stand to glance over at Mana's lifeless form.

Isis shook her head, "The future is hazy," She said, a regretful look on her face. "I have tried many times to see past this haze that fills my visions when I try to find Mana, but to no avail, Pharaoh. Her future is not yet decided and is in the hands of the gods themselves."

Atem stood up a little straighter. The Egyptian Gods! How could he have not thought of it before? His father had once spoken directly to them, asking them to spare him from their wrath. Now that he was Pharaoh, could he not do the same? At that point, he was willing to try anything. He turned slightly to face Yugi, Will you stay here with them for a while? He asked through their mind link. I just had an idea of how I might be able to help Mana, but you can't come with me where I'm going.

Yugi nodded and smiled reassuringly at Atem, I'll let you know if anything changes while you're gone.

Thank you, Yugi.


The sun was rising by the time Atem entered the ancient temple. He grabbed a torch and lit it with a bit of help from his Shadow Magic, and as he entered the temple, a strong memory hit him, nearly causing him to double over. He remembered clearly the last time he had been here; when his father had begged that he not be blamed for his father's sins. He had been afraid of the temple then, and if he were honest with himself, the temple gave him a chill now. But he ignored the fact and started to go deeper within the temple. He came across an old stone path, and he remembered vibrantly how he had nearly fallen off, the stone still chipped where his foot had come down and he'd lost his balance as it crumbled. If that happened again, there would be no one to save him. For the time being, he was truly on his own.

He entered the final chamber of the temple, where a shrine of sorts to the Gods stood. He knelt down before it, his head bowed low, "Oh, Gods of Egypt, I pray to thee. I come to you in a time where I have no where else left to turn. I've made a mistake and I come to you now to beg forgiveness and ask that you heal my friend who doesn't deserve the pain I've caused her. Please, help her..."

Atem gasped as his vision suddenly went white, a large bolt of lightning coming down almost instantaneously as he finished his prayer. A large shape emerged out of the lightning, and Atem's heart raced as he realized he was suddenly in the presence of an Egyptian God. As the form of the God solidified, Atem clearly recognized that he was in the presence of Ra, who had chose to present himself in the form of the Winged Dragon of Ra.

"Stand, Atem, son of the late Aknamkanon, Pharaoh of Egypt."

Atem stood, though he did not look Ra in the eye out of both fear and respect, "Thank you for listening to my prayer, Ra, Sun God of Egypt."

Ra inclined his head, "The Gods always listen. Whether they answer is a different subject. I have heard your plea, and I must ask you, Pharaoh, why is this girl, Mana, as you called her, so important to you?"

Atem swallowed hard, trying to think of the best way to answer the God's question. There was nothing that the Gods didn't already know, but still, Ra asked, meaning he wanted an honest answer, "She's been my closest friend since we were both young. She's risked her life over and over again to protect mine, and I've done so little to repay her. She deserves so much more than the treatment that she's been given throughout her life, and I want to be the one to show her that there is more to life than just magic and serving the Pharaoh. I wish for her to be mine as long as we both live, both in this world and in the afterlife."

Ra stood for a minute, considering Atem's answer, before he started to glow slightly, "Your friend Mana's soul has been fragmented, parts of it claimed by the Shadow Realm. Those parts of her spirit can never be returned, but they can be replaced. If you want Mana to heal, you will have to give up parts of your own soul in order to save her."

"Meaning that I would die?" Atem asked, his heart jolting painfully. He truly hoped that his own death wasn't the only way to save Mana. He relaxed slightly when Ra shook his head.

"No, you will not die, Pharaoh," Ra responded. "Though, you will be bound to her. You will not be able to leave this time once again without taking the parts of your spirit infused in Mana with you. She will die if you go outside the boundaries of Egypt without her, or to another time."

Atem understood what the God was trying to tell him, "I can't go back to Yugi's time."

"Not without taking Mana with you," Ra confirmed. "Your bond with the one named Yugi Muto will remain intact, and all the battles you have fought over the past four years will remain unchanged, and you are free to come and go between this time and that time as you please, if you take Mana with you. If you return to the future you will no longer be able to inhabit Yugi Muto's body, and both you and Mana would be given your own bodies to roam that time as you wish." Ra inclined his head, "To save your friend Mana, do you agree to these terms?"

Atem hesitated for a moment, thinking hard about his answer. Mana meant the world to him, and he truly wanted to do anything he could to save her. Ra even gave him the options of being able to return to Yugi's time and keep his bond intact with him. The only stipulation was that he couldn't go anywhere, be it out of Egypt or to another time without her. Truth be told, he didn't really mind having to agree to have Mana by his side at all times.

"I agree," Atem said at last with a nod. His body started to glow with the same golden light that made up the Winged Dragon of Ra, and he really did double over then, a hot pain starting to travel through his body.

So let it be written, so let it be told... Within twelve hours, Mana shall awaken, Pharaoh, and both of your new destinies shall begin.


Atem returned to the palace, his body feeling as though it were being pulled there. He wondered vaguely if that was due to what he had done to save her. Pieces of his own soul now resided inside of Mana. He had to laugh to himself when he thought of how that pretty much gave a new meaning to the word soulmate. Whether he and Mana had a future together remained to be seen, but Atem was relieved that his best friend would at least be back to somewhat normal.

When he walked into the room where Mana was being kept, the first pair of eyes he caught were Yugi's. His eyes were filled with amazement, as well as disbelief, What did you do, Atem?

Atem blinked in confusion as Isis reappeared, the look in her eyes very much the same that Yugi had, "My Pharaoh! I have had guards looking all over for you. The most incredible thing happened while you were gone. Mana's body started to glow with a golden light, and almost instantly, I had a vision of her. She's going to be alright, my King."

"Thank the Gods," Atem said in a low voice with a soft sigh. He hadn't doubted that Ra would stick to his word, but it felt very good to hear that Isis was once again able to see Mana in her visions. "You may go rest, Isis. I will stay with Mana for now."

"Are you sure, my King?" Isis asked. "You look as though you have not slept in some time yourself."

Atem nodded, "I am sure, Isis. I wish to be here when she wakes."

"Very well," Isis said, giving a low bow before she exited the room. Atem sighed once she was gone, falling into a chair beside Mana's bed, his eyes closed.

"So, what happened?" Yugi chimed, able to speak freely now that Isis was gone. He tilted his head as he looked at Atem. The Pharaoh definitely seemed more relaxed now that he knew Mana was going to be okay.

"I asked the Egyptian Gods for help," Atem answered simply. He opened his eyes and looked at Yugi, "And I was answered by Ra himself. He saved Mana, but not without a price." He looked at Yugi and pain flashed through his eyes, "Please, Yugi, I need you to understand that there isn't anything I wouldn't do for Mana."

"Of course," Yugi said with a nod. His face fell slightly, "But what was the condition that you had to agree to?"

"I gave up part of my soul to replace the parts that Mana had torn away from her by the Shadow Realm," Atem explained. "She and I are now linked so that she relies on me being close to her to live."

Yugi understood what that meant almost instantly, and the sadness showed in his eyes as tears began to form, "So you're not coming back."

Atem looked into Yugi's pained eyes with an expression mirroring the teenager's, "Not unless Mana agrees to time travel with me. Which isn't out of the question completely, Yugi. Right now all I can do is take things one day at a time. Ra also said that if and when Mana and I do decide to time travel, I'm no longer going to require use of your body. I'll be granted my own body to use, as will Mana."

The tears slowly slid down Yugi's cheeks, "But..." He inhaled shakily, feeling like a bunch of emotions were just hitting him at once. "Our link..."

"Will still be there," Atem finished. He shook his head, "Yugi, I promise you this, our friendship will remain until the day both of us leave this world. I'll always be able to hear you call out for me and need my help." He smiled weakly at his best friend, "And now that Mana's healing, hopefully Mariah will return as well."

Yugi smiled faintly, "I hope so. I don't know if I could stand losing all the people I care about at once."

Atem felt a rush of guilt, "Yugi..."

"It's fine," Yugi said with a shake of his head. He took Atem's hand and gave it a squeeze, "You belong here with Mana, Pharaoh. I know it, as does the rest of the gang back home." He smiled reassuringly, "Once we're sure Mana's well again, I'll return home, hopefully back to Mariah." A soft laugh escaped his lips, "Who knows? Maybe Mariah is meant for me like Mana is meant for you."

Atem opened his mouth to respond when a soft groan reached his ears. He and Yugi both looked around, just in time to see Mana open her blue-green eyes.