an Adventure into the Future

by Names.Of.The.Forgotten

Yugi's world is turned upside down when a secret he kept hidden causes him to be thrown into the future, where he creates many allies along the way to defeat a great enemy. Will Atem be able to help him out in this future era? "The Millennium Ring, Rod, Necklace and Eye, have all been taken from the Chosen Ones. Not only that, but each Chosen One has also been taken away."-Shadi

25. Chapter 23 Part 2- END

Air. The chill. It was here- the fresh breath of air that he needed. He breathed in, slowly. The smell of an ocean.

"Yugi," a soft voice whispered. Gentle, calm, soft... He felt a stir of recognition from this voice. But he needed to breathe more. His head was still pounding. He pulled in another breath into his lungs, and felt the fog clear with each breath. The voice was silent, in which Yugi was greatful for. All he needed right now was to concentrate on breathing.

Once his mind was fully clear, his eyes fluttered open.

He was by the sea. he could hear, now, the splashing of waves hitting the sand. He could see the vibrant blueness of the ocean against the soft tan color of the sand. The waves were calm and steady, splashing in a rhythm that could have put him right to sleep... had it not been for the presence he felt standing behind him.

He dug his now-bare toes into the sand. He relished the way the sand felt under them. This place, he knew, was always calming for him. He never felt calm anywhere else. He bit his lower lip, then. The only other person who could have known that this was where he would feel at ease would be-

He spun around, slowly, almost uncertainly. He looked down, at their feet. They were bare, like his. Legs, longer than his- naturally. His chest, small like his, yet somehow bigger in authority. And finally, the face. The face he had known since birth, yet somehow morphed into a different kind of naturality. An older version of him. The hair, wilder than his own mess of hair... yes. This was him. The person he had wanted so badly to see again, and to be with.

"Yami..." His voice said, questioningly. He knew that there was no question... but even still. His voice. That was all he needed to hear.

"Yugi..." he smiled.

Yugi shook with a type of joy he had never known he had held inside. He felt tears trace down his cheeks, as his lips curved up into a happy smile. He could feel his heart bursting at the sight.

Yugi launched himself at Yami, bringing them both to the ground. Yugi laughed happily, "You're back!"

Yami laughed, too. "Yes; I'm glad that you came. I'm glad that you found me."

Yugi could hear the joy in his voice, too, at their reunification.

Yugi sat up, then, rolling onto his back and looking up at the sky. The smile he held was locked into place. But even so, a cloud of confusion still hung over his head.

Yugi knew that Yami sensed this. He spared him the breath of asking; the smile dropped, but it still held within his heart.

"Yami, I don't know how I got here... I never even saw you. I don't know how everything had turned out."

There was a thump; Yami's head hit the ground. It had been propped up, looking at him. "No, I didn't expect you would."

Yugi looked over at Yami, then.

"Well? What happened? You speak as if you were there the whole time..."

Yami thought for a moment. He shrugged. "In a way, I guess, yes, I was."

Yugi quirked an eyebrow, "What happened then?"

Yami pursed his lips, looking up at the sky. "Well... What do you last remember?"

Yugi thought back. He closed his eyes, and tried to imagine. He felt something else on the edge of his consciousness trying to push it's way through, but he couldn't get to it. He did, however, remember something. Possibly the last thing he did before he 'blacked out'.

He opened his eyes and looked at Yami. "My father... and Hakuja no Myojin... they were both arguing... my father was trying to get me to stay put, and Hakuja no Myojin was trying to get me to come to him..."

Yami raised the top half of his body, propping his elbows on the sand. He looked at Yugi quizzically. "Only that?"

Yugi blinked. "Is... Is there more?"

Yami's eyes grew serious as he nodded, concerned. "Yugi... are you sure you don't remember?"

Yugi nodded slowly. "Yes... that's when I blacked out, isn't it?"

Yami sighed; "While you did close your eyes momentarily... You woke up again."

Yugi's face grew serious. "What happened? Did... Did the other me come out?" He asked, fear almost threatening to engulf him.

Yami shook his head slowly, "No, nothing of the sort... you just... well. You kind of just..." Yami broke off, looking away from him, and instead at the sand.

"I just what?" Yugi inquired.

Yami's gaze flicked back to him, but only for a moment. He then began staring at the sand again. It seemed to Yugi, that the sand held some sort of fascination to Yami. It seemed that way, but Yugi knew that Yami was deliberately avoiding his gaze, and that the sand was just something else to look at.

"It was like you were a different person..." Yami began slowly, "Not in a bad way... it was more like something inside you just snapped... like you'd had enough crap being thrown at you. You looked done with it." Yami took a breath; "I think I would be lying if I said that I wasn't surprised... and not a little bit frightened of it, too."

Yugi looked away from Yami, then. He sat up, and started playing with the sand in front of him.

"Are you afraid of me, now?"

"No." Yami said flatly.

Yugi turned, surprised by his tone.

"I was never afraid of you, Yugi. I meant that your power was so... fierce. So powerful. For an instance I felt that you could destroy the whole world with the power you had let off, just then... that, Yugi, is what scared me. I knew you wouldn't; you wouldn't do that. That isn't like you... but just knowing you had that type of power..."

Yugi stared at Yami. He knew what he was trying to say. Yugi's shoulders sagged, and he let out a sigh. "The only power I knew of was the power my father taught me... the power of Commandment. If you say my power was much bigger... than I don't know what it could be..." Yugi turned away again and resumed playing with the sand in front of him, "Im scared, now, Yami. I don't know what this power is. If you say it was that powerful... then I don't think I'll be able to control it- whatever it is..."

Yami sighed, "It was even more powerful than anything I had ever felt before... I don't think there was anything that powerful in Ancient Egypt either... I know I don't have my memories, but I believe that feeling is also important. If something felt familiar I would know... but in this case, I felt like I had never faced anything stronger."

Yugi sighed, "I'm sorry... for frightening you... even if it was a little bit. I didn't mean to."

Yami placed his hand on his shoulder comfortingly. "Yes, I know. But it wasn't your fault either."

"I bet you my dad could teach me," Yugi said, "He taught me how to use the power of Commandment... bet you anything, he could teach me how to control this new monstrosity inside me." Yugi said, hopefully.

He turned around just in time to see Yami visibly flinch at his words.

It was then, that Yugi knew instantly that something was wrong about that. "What is it?" Yugi asked.

Yami looked away, his arm retracting to draw circles in the sand beside him.

"Your father... Your father wasn't there."

Yugi raised an eyebrow, "What do you mean?"

"From the beginning. Your father, once he had entered Hakuja no Myojin's lair, had left."

A sickening feeling of dread crept into Yugi's heart. "Well... who was beside me that whole time? telling me not to go any closer?" Yugi asked, his heart pounding.

Yami's gaze found Yugi's. "Not your father."

Yugi almost lost it, right there.

"Wh-What do you mean!?"

Yami sighed, "Whoever it was, Hakuja no Myojin knew he was coming, and that he wasn't safe. He wanted to help you from the beginning, and in order to do that, he had to get you out of the way... hence why he wanted you to come to him. When the stranger stopped you, he seemed to put something in you... Something like a gas. I couldn't tell what it was. I had a feeling that Hakuja no Myojin didn't either, and thats when he asked me to step in and take you away, but-"

"Wait, hold on a second." Yugi said, shifting towards Yami.

"He asked you to help? Meaning... you were there the whole time? meaning... he knew you were there the whole time? What...? this doesn't make any sense..." Yugi held his hand to his head as a sudden wave of dizziness passed over him, accompanied by sharp pains. They hurt enough that they ached, but not enough to make him cry out in pain.

Yami saw this, and placed his own hand on Yugi's wrist. Yami's other hand went to the top of Yugi's head.

"Are you ok?"

"Yes," Yugi said, gritting his teeth as the pain passed.

Yami's hand dropped. "Yugi... We have time. If you'd like, I could tell you what happened."

Yugi looked at him, and blinked. "Ok... If you're up for it... and if you don't mind... It may help me to remember."

Yami nodded, "Thats what I was thinking... but I think I'll have to be detailed if it is to work..."

Yugi nodded, "Yes, but we have time, like you said."

"Alright," Yami began, "It starts off ok, but the more you hear, it may get a little confusing... If you really don't know everything that transpired after the argument."

Yugi nodded, "I guess that would make sense..."

Yami shifted towards Yugi, and looked him in the eyes. This was it; Let the story begin.

"Alright, So you were in the darkness," Yami started, "You were standing there, alongside your father, or, what should have been your father. Hakuja no Myojin had asked for you to come closer to him, but your father held you back. Don't, Yugi, he said. You had stopped. Your eyes had become shrouded, then; you didn't complain when he stepped in front of you. Yugi, Please, I'd advise you to come over to me. I am interested in what you would have to offer me for your friend, Hakuja no Myojin said. You stood there, dumbly. The god took notice of your lack of response, and turned to your father- who was looking at him the whole time. what is it? The god had asked-"

Yugi clenched his eyes shut. He felt a blur rise in the back of his mind, and a small humming began to sound.

"Keep going," Yugi grunted. He wanted to hear from Yami's point of view before he saw with his own eyes what had happened.

Yugi heard the startled tremors in Yami's voice as he continued. Clearly, Yami seemed to know that something was happening.

"Your father," Yami continued worriedly, and almost hesitantly, "Pushed you away from him, further away from the both of them, and into the darkness. Your father-" He stopped, breaking off to calm his breathing.

Yugi could sense the awkwardness in the silence after Yami broke off the sentence. Yugi nodded, gesturing- still with his eyes closed- for him to continue.

"The stranger, how about." Yami said, instead. "Since your father had gone away-"

"He'll be called the stranger, ok. That's fine," Yugi said, more urgently. He didn't want to be pushy- especially with Yami... and especially when they both just found each other again.

Yami took his urgency to heart, and continued right off the bat. "Alright. Then, the stranger- once he pushed you away- made a low growling noise that I've never heard anyone make before. Don't touch him; he's mine, the stranger said. He isn't yours; he never was to begin with. If you touch him, there will be hell to pay, Hakuja no Myojin replied."

Yugi fell back, then, and onto the sand. Pain was evident in his expression, as his face was creased, and he turned his head to the side. He made low whimpering noises that he had not been fond of- but had grown used to before Yami had showed up. With Yami by his side, he had nothing to fear- except now... Now, something was happening inside of him that not even Yami could help with.

"Yugi..." Yami whispered; his voice high-pitched like. He had never heard Yami so scared before. Especially in his presence.

"Yami," He breathed, "Are you sure this isn't an illusion? for both of us?"

Yami tilted his head to the side, "No. This is real. This place is real. Hakuja no Myojin sent me-"

"Hakuja no Myojin..." Yugi murmured; "Are you certain he's trustworthy?"

Yami nodded, "There's no doubt in my mind, Yugi. He's the one that saved me, after all..."

Yugi, despite his pain, propped himself up on his elbows. Still squinting in pain, he tilted his head to show his confusion.

Yami looked down at the sand in front of him, picking up a small shell, and scooping some sand to make a hole.

"Do you remember the game you played with Oni?" He asked softly.

Yugi looked away; how could he not? It was the time he had lost Yami... the time he had let him down.

"Well... I was ready to burst- like, angry burst. I was tired of watching from my jail cell- watch you struggle to defeat Oni in a way you didn't know how. It was then, that I felt hot. But I couldn't stop it; it burned-"

Yugi sighed with a whimper, he didn't want to hear. He didn't want to have to hear what Yami had to go through because of him.

"But then the Serpent God was there," Yami plowed on, "He touched my shoulder, and I instantly felt at ease. Like everything would be ok. He took me out of that hell, and brought me here, to this very beach. He told me that everything would be fine, that I wouldn't have to worry. He told me that I should relax for a while, because he was going to take care of everything, and then we could continue on with our lives." Yami snorted; "At first I was skeptical, because who would say that? But then, I slowly began to realize that he meant it. He showed me your power- what it could become. Then, he showed me the conclusion of the duel that you and Oni had, where you had a blue light surrounding you. After that, he allowed me to help him keep the balance between good and evil in his lair. And, that's when you showed up..."

Yugi blinked, "So... what your telling me is... the Serpent God took care of me and protected me this whole time?"

Yami thought for a moment, "Well... not the whole time, but a large portion of it, yes. Whenever danger seemed to be nearing you, he shielded you so that you couldn't get hurt. Then, he let go of that shield when you entered his lair.

"But," Yami continued, "It is rather odd; When he was shielding you, I didn't sense what I usually sensed from you. It was almost as if part of you was being pushed away, but in his lair... It was all you."

Yugi blinked, "So, what your telling me, is that Hakuja no Myojin is a good person? not evil? How do you know, if he didn't brainwash you?"

Yami shook his head. "I was free to leave at any time that I wished- he never held me here. I did, once, leave. But I only got to the mirror. I felt that his lair grew weaker when I left, so I decided to only go out for a while... I tried to find you, but in the short time I was out, I couldn't find you... I found Sora and Mira, though."

"And Mia?" Yugi asked.

Yami shook his head, "No. She wasn't there."

"Hmm, she misses you."

Yami raised an eyebrow, "Really?"

Yugi nodded, "Yes. She cried... with me."

Yami's eyes got a little bigger, "you cried?"

"Over losing you, yes..."

"Oh Yugi." Yami said softly, and he pulled Yugi into an embrace. "I'll always be here for you no matter what."

Yugi smiled a small, sad smile. "Not always, Yami... You won't always be there for me... but for now, I guess you're right."

There was a long silence that passed between them. Yugi drew in the comfort he needed from Yami, and felt a sense of home rush over him.

If only Yami knew how much he felt like home, no matter where they were... If only he knew how much it would hurt when it was time for him to leave for the after life for good... If only he knew.

"Yugi," Yami whispered; Yugi looked up.

"Try to remember what happened before you blacked out. Try, because Hakuja no Myojin said that it's very important that you do..."

Yugi sighed, and closed his eyes. He felt more at ease now, with the swirling air around him, the soft splash of the sea, and Yami with him. It felt right, to him.

"I don't know if I can, but I can certainly try..."

"Maybe there's a trigger word?" Yami said suddenly, thinking aloud. "What if there's one word that would get you to remember the events?"

Yugi shrugged, "It might work, but so far nothing you've said has really hit me."

"Ok," Yami began, "Then let me try harder."

As Yugi waited for Yami to speak, only then did it begin to sink in what his lack of consciousness might mean to him. If it was dangerous or not, was still unknown. There had to be a reason why he didn't remember.

"Yami, what if-"

"Blue light." Yami interrupted.

Yugi sighed, and tried again. "Yami, listen, I want to know if-"

"Crossfire."

Yugi grunted, "No. But, Listen, I-"

"Saved?"

"Yami." Yugi growled, "Hang on. I'm trying to say-"

Yami's eyes suddenly lit up, and he leaned in, effectively stopping Yugi in his tracks, making him forget what he was going to say.

"I know it." Yami said softly.

Yugi raised an eyebrow.

Still holding Yugi's gaze, he spoke: "Father."

Yugi blinked; After a few more seconds passed, and nothing happened, Yami let out a breath and pouted.

"Well, that blows that theory."

"Yami, will you listen to me now?" Yugi said, irritation still edging his voice.

Yami fell on his back and looked at the sky; "Sure."

"Yami," he began, maneuvering over to him, blocking his view of the sky, "What if it's dangerous?"

Yami quirked an eyebrow, "What's dangerous?"

"My memory, Yami, what if it was cleared for a reason?"

Yami looked away, "No. There isn't any logical reason for your mind to be erased after that. Hakuja no Myojin even said; In order to move on, you have to remember. You, according to what he said, cannot afford to remember at a later time. That, with you, if you weren't to remember, it might destroy you. Your mind, Yugi, is something that cannot afford any holes. Yugi," Yami said, straightening up to look at Yugi at eye level, "You have to remember before we can go back- I'm sorry, that's what Hakuja no Myojin said, and I believe him. It can't be helped."

Yugi's back stiffened. His eyes grew wide. His pulse quickened, and Yugi fell backward, sitting up on his butt.

He couldn't see Yami anymore. He was sitting on the floor, in the dark void he'd been in before he'd seen Yami. Yugi blinked as a sudden chill raced down his spine; this was it. The flashback that he and Yami had been waiting for...

"Come, we're leaving, Yugi." my father said, looking down at me from his place beside Hakuja no Myojin.

"Come closer, Yugi." Hakuja no Myojin urged, also looking over at me, but my father glared at him accusingly, "Don't, Yugi, he's trying to trick you into trusting him." he said.

I didn't move, but my eyes misted over. I couldn't control myself. I knew that something was happening to me when he said those words, but at the same time, an aura of trust circled me, and I felt at ease instantly at his words. He made his way over to me from my position on the floor. I didn't object, but i did bring myself to my feet, unconsciously so.

"Yugi, Please, I'd advise you to come over to me. I am interested in what you would have to offer me for your friend's return" Hakuja no Myojin said.

I stood there, dumbly. The god took notice of my lack of response, and turned to my father- who was looking at him the whole time.

"what is it?" The god had asked.

My father glared at the god once more, and pushed me away from him, further away from the both of them, and into the darkness.

Once he was sure that I was out of hearing range, hemade a low growling noise that I'd never heard anyone make before. As I drew closer, the noise got louder. I stayed in the shadows, but I was close enough to hear what they were saying. "Don't touch him; he's mine," my father spit viciously.

"He isn't yours; he never was to begin with. If you touch him, there will be hell to pay," Hakuja no Myojin replied.

"No. That's rather backwards," His father's lips curved into a demonic smile, "If you interfere with this, I'll make sure you'll burn in hell. Or rather, underneath hell. Yes, there is such a place..."

Hakuja no Myojin growled; his eyes grew sharper and more demonic, and he spit out a mist-like substance.

My father dodged, and ran at him. He pinned the serpent god underneath him, and growled. "Don't you try that on me. It didn't work on me last time, and it won't work on me this time. Senile old fool."

My eyes widened in horror as the events progressed. This was definitely not my father; It seemed like a fight; a magical fight to the death, almost. Only, the serpent god wasn't trying. Or maybe it seemed like he wasn't but maybe he was, i couldn't tell.

Hakuja no Myojin spit more mist at the person who seemed to be my father, but to no avail, missed every time.

The darkness became shrouded in this mist; I could tell, because my body began to feel sticky and gross. It was like I hadn't taken a shower in days, and it also stunk.

As I watched, I felt my vision start to fail me; I was seeing double, then triple. I was seeing stars, and things that weren't really there. The darkness seemed more inviting by the minute, but as much as i resisted, wanting to see the outcome of this fight, I felt my eyes droop. I wouldn't last.

Perhaps maybe a nap... I may not know if I'd wake up in time to see the conclusion of this duel, or if I was already won or lost and in a different area... but then, since I knew I couldn't last, I promised myself I'd deal with the consequences later. For now, I had to sleep.

I lowered myself to my knees, and fell on my side. The Serpent God called out to me before I closed my eyes, but I didn't have the strength to respond.

Our eyes met briefly, and I could tell he was frightened. I didn't know why, but for an instant, I didn't know who to trust. It was all confusing. I didn't know what to do anymore.

No sooner had I closed my eyes, then it seemed I was being violently woken up and tossed around.

Once my eyes were open, I didn't feel tired like I had before- not even the grogginess that I usually felt when waking up. My mind was clear.

I sat up, alert.

I was moving- that was why I felt like I was being tossed around. The violent shakes I was feeling weren't of me being woken up on purpose, but rather, someone was running away with me. Like, they were protecting me.

I looked up, and a startled, shocked, puff of air escaped my lips.

Yami. He was here. But... how?

"Yami?"

Yami's gaze flicked down at me, full of fear and exhaustion. He didn't respond, only pushed his run harder.

"What's going on? Are you really Yami? How did you escape? Where did you come from?"

"Not now, Yugi!" Yami puffed; he was trying hard, I could tell. He was startled, exhausted, and so mortally frightened that it scared Yugi half to death. He'd never seen Yami like that before.

"I can't hold the barrier any more!" The serpent god shouted from somewhere near by. When he suddenly appeared beside Yami, running as well, Yugi got the full look of him.

He really was an old man- the exhaustion from the fight with the person Yugi thought was his father must have tired him so much that he couldn't afford to let any strength go to unnecessary things. He must have really gone all out and used up a lot of energy to get where he was.

He had old, wrinkly skin, and his hair had become this shiny grey color. He had a beard, too, which was thick and long. He looked more like a wise magician, than he did a serpent god...

"Once it's down, get the hell out of here, and don't stop running until you get to the portal." The god instructed, "Once you get to the portal, pass through it. You"ll end up where you came in. There should be a hidden key in the wall on your side- take that out. That should stop him from getting through."

Yami nodded in understanding. "I'll try my hardest."

A bubbling anger surged through me. They hadn't even considered asking for my help. I could have done something.

A thought struck me. I knew exactly what I could do, and how to do it. Whatever it was that was threatening my safety, and Yami's, it would be gone. In that moment, I didn't care about anything around me except for Yami and I's predicament.

He had nothing he could do- whenever they had run out of options, the alternative was to run. Still, they hadn't even considered what he could do... after all, it had happened before.

I grunted, and wiggled out of Yami's arms. Since he had put all his strength into running away, he didn't have the strength to keep me still. I rolled out of his arms with such ungrace, that I grunted once i hit the ground. Yami tripped over me, and went unconscious.

The serpent god was no longer by our side; he had dropped behind as soon as he'd given Yami instructions. No doubt it was to stall to get more time.

I would have made sure that Yami was ok, but the sounds behind me worried me. It sounded like someone was suffocating.

I raced back the way I had been carried. I was still in the black lair of Hakuja no Myojin, but when my surroundings started to pulse- much like a heartbeat- I got worried.

I raced on, telling myself that this had to stop. My life was all about running away when I was scared. Standing up when I had nothing was also humiliating, and it put me down even further. But then, I couldn't do anything about it. I was always the dependent one; my friends were also who I depended on. Even though I said I had to do things by myself, they always said they were with me. I counted on them. I said those words because I knew they would follow me anyway, and would protect me with their lives.

It was sickening. I hated that. I hated being dependent. I couldn't make up for that, not even just a bit. There was nothing I could do- I was unreliable all the time. My friends, when they were in trouble, would ask for my help. I want to help them, always; they're my friends, after all. But no, I have to depend on Yami. When the going gets tough, and I have no one to turn to, I turn to Yami. I turned to him because he understood, and would willingly help me. He blamed himself for getting me and my friends into trouble every single time something came up. That was why I depended on him, too. His guilt assured his helpfulness.

I was manipulative; I had realized this some time ago. But with no power to do anything about it, it couldn't be helped.

Now, however, I had power. I could be the one to save everyone. I could prove to myself and to everyone else that I wasn't useless. I could prove to myself that there was hope for me afterall. I could finally start to pay back all the debts I owed, and lift myself from the helpless stage.

I could do something to lift myself out of the pitiful stage I was in, and prove my own worth. To everyone.

I pushed myself farther and farther. They couldn't have possibly been that far away.

I stopped running. Hot determination raced through my veins, and I stomped my foot. I didn't want to run any more. I had been doing a lot of that lately.

The stomp vibrated the darkness, and shook with such force that it could have knocked me down. It didn't, though, because I willed myself not to. I couldn't afford to do that, not right now.

Then, before I knew it, Hakuja no Myojin appeared before me, his side facing me, while he confronted the stranger I had previously recognized as my father.

He didn't even look like my father anymore, but the voice remained the same.

He bared his sharp teeth at the serpent god, and lunged.

My heart seemed to explode. The world around me slowed down. Everything was moving too quickly. I had to keep my mind in check.

A soft, blue light stuck to my skin, and gleamed with such brightness that it nearly blinded me. It began to expand from my body, and I felt relief filter through me. It was like a breath of fresh air.

The blue haze that surrounded me was like a mirror. The blue reflected me. My eyes- they weren't purple anymore. They were an icy blue color. I swore that If that were someone else, it would have seemed like they were looking into my soul...

Or maybe I was already doing that. Maybe I was looking inside myself, and seeing what I could truly do for the first time. My reflection was like my inner self- it looked like me, but it felt somewhat different.

Aside from my interesting reflection I saw in the blue mist, I glanced at the stranger.

That's what he was, after all, a stranger.

But the entity he was now looked odd. It looked different before time slowed down. His well-built features, and canine-like teeth were separated into three entities side by side. The eyes that had been bright red, had become a black and grey mist of color. His tan flesh was now grey. Everything that had been his features, separated and dulled into three separate entities.

Hakuja no Myojin, however, was one entity. Nothing about him changed, besides the fire in his eyes, and that his young appearance reappeared.

I realized that this was like reality.

This person was what Hakuja no Myojin really looked like on the inside- his fighting spirit remaining strong. And the stranger, for what it was worth, had really been three entities combined into one form. It was like three spirits possessed a body that just appeared out of thin air.

These three spirits were evil, I can tell. And Hakuja no Myojin's spirit was good. His spirit was pure, and protective. He was fighting to protect the worlds he so carefully nurtured.

I took a step forward toward the three evil entities, and touched one. It came to life, seemingly, looking in horror at me. It was then fully engulfed with the blue haze that had sprung from my being. It had taken on the form of me- the evil half that was disspelled from my body. It had been Oni.

The second evil entity I touched took the form of Mira, only with sharp teeth, and eyes that just screamed murder. It too, was engulfed with the blue mist. Next, I could guess, was Sora's evil spirit. So it was. When it was touched, it turned. Though it's sharp teeth protruded from it's lips, it turned towards me and begged mercy.

I felt none.

It was then engulfed as well.

I turned to Hakuja no Myojin, then. While I felt gratitude for his job in the balance of the worlds, he deserved a rest from his job. His spirit was still strong, and he was a very young God.

When I touched him, he came to life, but didn't say anything. His spirit smiled softly at me, and bowed he bowed his head towards me.

I didn't know what for, but no emotion was left in my small body. I barely recognized that my body had left me, and that my spirit had transformed into something else entirely.

I didn't know what it was, but I wasn't scared. Then again, I couldn't feel anything, so I was unsure.

"You won't remember this." He murmured.

I shook my head, knowing full well that I probably wouldn't. I shouldn't, in fact. The power I had just displayed would have probably shook me to my core if I were my normal self.

But I could never be that again. I refused to be that again. I wanted people to depend on me in tight spots. I wanted to feel needed, but not used.

This power was scary for some people. I finally knew what it felt like to be a God.

"It will destroy you, if you don't remember." Hakuja no Myojin muttered. "You need to remember so that you can carry on with your life and live it the way you want. You will be stuck in my lair, otherwise."

"Do what you must." I said, my voice surprisingly deep.

I turned on my heel, prepared to walk away, but collapsed instead. The blue that surounded me- my own lair of sorts- had disappeared.

I coughed. My body felt so uncomfortable. I was suffocating. I coughed again, and I was scooped up.

Yami was there, looking a bit concerned, but that was all I saw. It was then that I blacked out, but not without the smiles of both Yami and Hakuja no Myojin.

I had fufilled my own goal to protect them and everything else. I had proved to myself that I wasn't worthless after all. I proved that I wasn't helpless.

In that moment, I felt content slip over me, and I closed my eyes...

Yugi coughed. He sputtered, and shook. His whole body was numb. The vision had come on so strong that it was like he had been there again, in his body, in his spirit...

Did he really have such powers?

"Yugi!" Yami gasped, hugging him to his body. His voice had shook, and he cried.

"You're really ok! I thought..."

"Yami," Yugi said, pushing away from him.

Yami frowned, and a startled look crossed his face.

Yugi gave him a reassuring smile. He was content. Everything felt right again.

"I remembered," Yugi muttered.

Yami's eyes widened, and he scooted closer to Yugi; "So what happened with the blue mist? What was that all about?"

Yugi looked away, not ready to reveal what it was in the moment. "For now," Yugi began slowly and cautiously, "Oni, Mira's spirit, and Sora's spirit have all been extinguished. They're no more. They were that one entity, all wrapped into one horrifying creature."

Yami listened, eyes curious.

For once, it was like Yami and Yugi had switched places- Yugi now the wise one with power, and Yami the clueless, helpless one.

It wasn't really that, but it was nice to believe that he had grown a bit.

"Yugi," A new voice sounded.

Yugi's gaze swept over Yami, and to the person next to him. It was the serpent god. It was Hakuja no Myojin.

"Uh, Hakuja no Myojin..."

He smiled, "Hello, Yugi; I'm glad to finally come face to face properly."

Yugi nodded, a smile creeping onto his face.

"Pardon me; I seemed to have startled you with my sudden words..." He added, but then continued without waiting for a response. "I have a respect for you, Yugi Muto. I would like to tell you something, before you depart from this point in time..."

Yugi waited a moment while the God gathered his thoughts. Yami waited patiently as well. It seemed he didn't know what was going to be said either.

"I wanted to tell you that I apologize for not having told you what had happened to your father," he started, "From the moment your father touched my lair, he had been set free from his prison in the alternate dimension, and was taken to your point in time. He no longer is threatened by death- he was compensated for his troubles.
"Yugi, he's out there, waiting for you, somewhere. Right now, you have the choice to find him, or you could leave him to find his own way."

Yugi thought a moment, allowing all the new information to filter in. He had never really known his father to begin with, so it was a little surreal being told that he could finally get to know his father on his own terms. But even still...

"I think I'll let him find his own way," Yugi said, surprising both the God and Yami.

"If he wants to find me, then he'll look for me. If he wants to make a new life, then he should be able to do so without having to worry about me holding him back."

Hakuja no Myojin nodded in understanding. "That makes sense- I hadn't thought about that. One more reason to admire you, I guess."

Yugi grinned, and got to his feet; Yami did the same.

"The power that you control, Yugi. It's overwhelming for some people. You should learn how to control it as best as you can..." Hakuja no Myojin said.

Yugi nodded slowly, understanding his meaning. If he got frustrated, or mad, he could be putting the people he loved and cared about in harms way. He would have to learn how to control it.

"If I were you, I would suggest-"

"Could I train with you? You have more experience after all... and since you've seen what I can do, you might better be able to help me."

Hakuja no Myojin was startled to be cut off, but smiled nonetheless. "I was actually going to suggest that you could create your own lair and practice yourself, but if you'd like... sure. I wouldn't mind at all. It's not like there's much to do there anyway." He laughed.

Yugi and Yami laughed, too.

The serpent god held out his hand, palm up. "Here," he said, "This will get you back to the castle."

Yugi raised an eyebrow, "What will?"

"Just touch my hand. That will be enough."

Yami and Yugi looked at each other in wonderment, but nodded. Yugi looked at the serpent god before he touched his hand, "Thank you, for everything."

He was sure, by the look in his eyes, that he knew exactly what he meant. The safety that the God had provided helped him; his faith in him, also helped. He was grateful to this god for so many things, that he doubted he could ever keep count.

He touched his hand, and he felt himself be stretched and pulled. It was an interesting occurence; as odd as it felt, however, it didn't hurt.

Once the odd feeling stopped, it felt like he was sliding on a slide- downwards. It was black still, but then a small circle-that grew very quickly- appeared.

He slid, and fell out of it, onto the floor. It was ungraceful, and he rolled over, moaning with the small pain he felt on his shoulder in which he landed on.

"Yugi!" A voice shouted.

Mia. It had been Mia that shouted.

He rolled over, and pushed himself up into a sitting positon, clutching his slightly-injured shoulder.

"Are you ok?" she asked, checking him over, picking up both arms, and ruffling through his hair to find any bumps or bruises.

Yugi laughed, "Yes, Im fine."

"I can't believe it worked," She said, smiling. "You got rid of Oni, and Mira and Sora's evil spirits."

Yugi raised an eyebrow, "How do you know?"

She smiled, "Because there's no dark and dank feeling in this place any more."

Yugi got to his feet, wincing a little at the pain in his shoulder- he really should have thought about landing on his feet, not on his butt.

"Yugi Muto," Queen Izumi said.

Startled, Yugi shifted towards her. She was sitting in her chair, which was beside her husband, King Oren, and his chair. Mia was standing in front of him, partially blocking out the view of Sora and Mira's happy, smiling faces of gratitude. They looked more like twins, now. Their youth gleamed like never before.

So, he had been taken to the throne room. Question was, where was Yami? Had he stayed behind to exchange a few more words with Hakuja no Myojin privately?

"Thank you," King Oren spoke- last time they had spoke of caution. Except, Izumi... she had told Oren not to speak of something. Maybe they knew about his power, and how it all happened... Maybe Izumi believed that if he knew about what would happen, it wouldn't have actually happened... And if that were true, her words of wisdom would mean that he would not be standing here at this very moment, and Yami may not be here either... The war could have indubitably gone on.

"WOAH!"An almost-scream sounded behind him. Yugi, recognizing the voice, spun around just in time to see Yami fall from a dark hole in the ceiling right about where he did.

Mia screamed in delight. She raced past Yugi, and barely gave Yami the chance to get up before she was mauling him with a big hug, taking him to the ground again.

Yami grunted, but laughed. Yugi smiled too, and laughed. Mira and Sora raced over from their place by their parents, laughing, and decided to partake in the joy.

Though, Yugi thought that he wouldn't be the victim. He was, of course, and he laughed even more.

He felt happy, which was the first in a very long time, in which it had been honest, and sincere. He truly, honestly, felt happy. Sora and Mira hugged him and laughed. After Mia's fierce hug with Yami, she got to her feet, helped Yami to his, and pulled him over to the dog-pile that the his hug had become, and joined.

Yami even partook, showing his joy as well.

He heard Izumi and Oren trying to stifle their laughter, though there wasn't any real effort. Sora and Mira's cousins, Shiro, Mikki, and Kali, had then walked in. Yugi, from his postion on the floor, saw them upside down. He would have gotten up, but under the laughing bundles of weight on top of him, that didn't seem possible.

Surprisingly, their grim faces lit up, and they glowed with joy, rushing over all at the same time, and dog piled on Yami and the others.

At this point, Yugi felt like he could die from the pressure of what? seven bodies on him? And he was so small...

"Guys," he grunted, barely able to make his chest move to form the words, "You're... crushing... me..."

They all instantly got up, laughing still.

Yami helped him to his feet, to which Yugi was grateful.

"Yugi, Yami," Oren spoke.

Yami and Yugi, realizing they had their back's to the King and Queen, quickly spun around, facing them.

Izumi and Oren were smiling. "Thank you goes out to the both of you," King Oren said, "You banished the evil within our daughters, and connected our family to what it once was, and should have been since the beginning."

"We are in your debt," Queen Izumi said, smiling, "Truly, you are one of a kind heros, and you will go down in history. You will be honored from this moment in time forward."

Yugi and Yami exchanged startled, excited glances.

"We understand that the two of you were separated," King Oren continued, "Is it your wish to remain so? Or to rejoin as you once were?"

Yugi looked down, and Yami looked in a different direction. This was a question they had not wanted to face. They enjoyed their separate bodies and freedoms, but at the same time... they lost the bond that connected them so closely.

"Well, Yugi?" Yami asked, still looking away.

He didn't want to make the decision either, which he was one-hundred percent positive Yami knew already.

He wanted the connection, but he also enjoyed the freedom. He was completely torn.

"Yami, please, I don't..." he trailed off.

Yami looked at him, the understanding he suspected glinting in his eyes. Yugi also knew why Yami had asked him- he had wanted what Yugi wanted.

They both enjoyed the two options. They both liked it, but at the same time... a decision had to be made.

They couldn't stand here forever.

When it was clear that Yugi made up his mind, he gave a look to Yami that said it all. A look, after all, could be a thousand words, too.

Yami smiled- clearly this was what he had hoped for.

"Queen Izumi, King Oren, Yugi and I would very much like it if..." Yami started, trailing off and looking at Yugi to finish his sentence.

"We would very much like it if... you put us back." Yugi stated.

Queen Izumi smiled an all-knowing smile. She knew the answer all along.

King Oren smiled right along with her. "Your wish shall be granted."

"It's the least we could do, after all," Queen Izumi said, getting up from her place on the throne.

King Oren stayed in his place, however.

"Wait!" Mia urged, dashing in front of Queen Izumi; She looked back at the both of them, and then raced off towards Yami. She threw herself in his arms and cried.

"Don't go, please!"

Yami smiled sadly, "It's alright, Mia."

"No it's not!" She sobbed into his purple jacket, "I can't stand to lose you!"

Yami held her hand, "Mia, it's ok... I'll always be with you."

Mia's eyes got wide, "You will?"

Yami set her on the ground, and, kneeling, placed her hand on his heart, and put his own hand on her heart. "We'll always be in each other's hearts; and I'm not going away forever... I just won't have a body of my own." He stood from his kneel, and walked over to Yugi. He patted Yugi's back, "I'll be with him; I won't be going anywhere else."

Mia frowned, "To your own time..."

Yami nodded, "Yes that's true. But if we keep each other in our hearts, then we'll always be together," He said.

She sniffed, "Really?"

Queen Izumi moved to stand by Yami and Yugi; "He's absolutely right, dear. And it's not like you don't have a time to get back to, too."

Mia glanced down shyly.

Queen Izumi looked at both Yugi and Yami, and grabbed their hands.

Sora, Mira, their three cousins, and Mia stood by King Oren, giving her space, but watching intently.

"Yugi, Yami... You have an... interesting... future waiting for you," She said, smiling.

"Close your eyes," she instructed.

Yugi closed his eyes; from the squeeze Izumi gave, he knew that both Yami and her had closed their eyes too. Now all that was left was to wait for her to do what she did best.

"Let the gears turn back," she whispered; Yugi barely managed to make out what she was saying, "Let the lock slide back into place, and bring what is now two, back to what it was. Let it go; let it return. Glide back into place..."

Yugi felt he was floating.

Her words stopped, and Yugi opened his eyes when he heard the small gasps.

He looked into Queen Izumi's eyes, which were now open and sparkling, and then looked next to him.

Queen Izumi was still holding both their hands, but Yami was no longer there. Or, at least, he was there, but he was no longer solid. She held on to Yugi's hands, and his spirit's hands.

Yami had returned to what he once was; which seemed to be the way Yamihad wanted it. He seemed so... content with that.

"Yami?" Mia spoke up.

Yami looked at Yugi, and they stared at each other for a moment.

Yami needed to prove to Mia that everything was indeed alright. He let him.

Yugi closed his eyes again, and felt Yami's spirit slide past his own, and push his spirit gently to the side. When Yugi next opened his eyes, he was the one standing off to the side, and Yami was the one holding hands with Queen Izumi.

"Mia, it's me." Yami voiced, smiling over to her.

Mia knew it was, and she raced over to hug him one last time. "See?" Yami said, "I never left..."

Mia smiled up at him, tears still gliding down her cheeks, "I know... I'll just miss you is all."

Yami placed his hand over her small heart, and said, "Remember, I'm always here with you."

She held his hand briefly, and then let go, taking a pace back.

"I guess this is goodbye..." Yami said, looking at Yugi. Yugi nodded; he closed his eyes, and let his spirit slide back into the comfort of his own body, and Yami fell back into the corners of his mind, seeming to be perfectly content with his touching goodbye.

Yugi, however, was not content just yet.

He looked up at Queen Izumi, "Thank you... so much." He looked over at King Oren, "Both of you; thank you." They both nodded.

Yugi leaned down and hugged Mia, who hugged back, knowing that it was Yugi now, and not Yami. "Goodbye, Mia; I hope we see each other again, one day." She nodded, "I hope so too. You were a good friend, Yugi. You and Yami both. I've never had any friends quite like you two before."

"Remember Ia." He said before he moved on, Ia'll need her now more than ever. Ia didn't believe in herself; I still believe she doesn't. Mia means a lot to her, and even though she isn't here at the moment... She deserves so much more.

He hugged Kali next, "Thank you for protecting me when you could... even though I didn't know what was going on at the time..."

"Thank you, Yugi, for saving my family. And, Yami... tell him that I thank him as well, for rescuing me when I couldn't do it myself..."

"Of course."

He hugged Shiro and Mikki both, crushing them to him. They'd been there for him, too. "Thank you," he murmured.

He then moved to Mira; He hesitated on the action, but full out hugged her anyway, taking everyone by surprise.

"Why?" she whispered, hanging on to Yugi's frame.

Yugi smiled, "Because you hung on. You did it. You deserve a better life after everything you've gone through. Thank you, Mira, for your fighting spirit."

He could have sworn that Mira started crying; his shoulder felt wet.

"Thank you for that, Yugi. You believed in me when no one else would. I am very thankful that I met a person like you. Really, thank you so much."

Yugi smiled, then moved on to Sora.

Sora had been with him through it all. Even if she harbored another evil spirit, she fought too.

He lunged at her, and grabbed her, wrapping her into a fierce hug. She hugged back just as fiercely. "Oh Sora, my thanks go to you, especially. You were there when I needed you the most; even though you had another evil spirit in you too, you fought just as hard. You resisted, and you won. You and your sister are strong. You deserve a long, beautiful life."

Sora didn't hide her sadness, or her tears. She sobbed. "Oh Yugi, Thank you for believing me, and being there for me as well. You showed me how to believe in myself, and how to fight back. You helped me. You were the triumphant one this time."

Yugi smiled at her words, after all, they were true. Yugi was the triumphant one. He was the one to save everyone this time, not Yami. He was the hero of this chapter in time, and Yugi felt a glow spread through his body as joy raced through his veins. He whispered one last 'thank you', and was off. He took a few steps backward, soaking up the scene with all his friends. Even Queen Izumi and King Oren.

He then turned, and walked out of the throne room with a last wave of goodbye.

He would miss them, sure, but he would keep them in his heart. He would keep them all in his heart. Along with his own friends.

Yugi smiled. Even though this began in disaster, I made new friends, and it all turned out good in the end; and in the end, I learned to trust in myself, and that I'm not as helpless as I seem.

The End

I totally lied to you. I'm sorry XD I haven't been able to even sit down. This chapter has been done, and has been visited frequently for changes, but over all, I really haven't had the time to post it. But now that it's here, are you content? HAHA. I actually see this heading towards another story, actually. If you guys want, I could make that sequel to this story that could possibly tie into another adventure story:3
Now, I hope you realize that I have absolutely no experience with writing duel scenes, so as my first official story ever wrapped up in the end, I hope you realized this haha. I'm sorry for the pause on my other chapter stories, but I really put all my effort into making these last few chapters to wrap this story up. Its been a good run with this story, and I may end up going back and editing the first few chapters because, if you look back, you'll see that my writing has immensely improved. Quite frankly, I'm not too happy with my first few chapters, but at the same time, there's not really much I can change.

Check out my other adventure story- Reborn Into Tomorrow. Check that out, you might like it.

And if you're a Thiefshipper, then Days Spent Without You might be something you might want to check out.

Anyway, please review if you liked it! Also thoughts on the sequel! And don't be scared to send me a private message to just talk and get to know me, or even on any ideas for stories or whatever. It's totally cool! ^~^

Wow this AN is long. SO SORRY XD I hope you enjoyed the wonderful story of An Adventure Into The Future.