Welcome back! I hope everyone here is enjoying their summer vacation (to those who still get summer vacation). And congratulations to everybody who just graduated!

Onward with the adventures of teen Yami! But first, we need to check in with the rest of the Mages.

Enjoy!

"Where are we?" Ryou asked, slowly picking himself off the stone floor. The other Mages were doing the same while looking around in confusion.

Their confusion was forgivable. All around them were countless doors and staircases; some even upside down. It looked like this impossible labyrinth went on forever.

"We're inside the Millennium Puzzle," Yugi answered, immediately recognizing their surroundings. As always, things looked different from the last time he was here. They'd have to be careful to not get lost if they wanted to stand a chance at helping Yami.

"Where's Shadi?" Ishizu looked for the elusive Bearer.

"We're better off without him," Malik said darkly, "Who knows what he'd manipulate us into doing if he was here…"

"Who needs him?" Seto scoffed, "We got on just fine without him for decades. Yugi should be able to guide us through here, right?"

"Ummm…" Yugi looked around uncomfortably. He could usually find his way out of the Puzzle and back to his own soul room, but he had a feeling the Puzzle was on his side during those times. Now, however, he sensed that wouldn't be the case.

"Why are there so many doors?" Malik asked, "Where do they go?"

"The inside of the Millennium Puzzle is a reflection of Yami's heart. I always assumed it was so complicated because he didn't have his memories. The doors sometimes lead us in nothing but circles. We've managed to find a couple of rooms by accident, but we've never found them again."

"Let's get started then," Ryou moved towards the closest door, "Sounds like we have a lot of ground to cover."

"Ryou, wait!"

Both Yugi and Bakura called out just as Ryou opened the door. Fortunately Bakura's reflexes were fast enough to pull his hikari out of the way of the spikes that came flying out of the door and embedded themselves into the opposite wall.

"What the hell was that?!" Seto voiced the thoughts of the majority of the Mages present.

Yugi on the other hand was glaring at Bakura. "How did you know about the traps?" he demanded.

Bakura stood close to Ryou, both as a

reassurance that his hikari was alright from the surprise attack, but also as insurance against Yugi's anger. "I told you before, part of my soul was transferred to the Millennium Puzzle a long time ago. Before my duel with Malik's psychotic side, I knew what that part of my soul was up to," he explained cautiously.

"So let me get this straight," Malik sounded irritated, "We have to not only check every one of these doors, but we also have to check them for traps before we can even think about entering, in a maze that can lead us in circles!"

"Shadi warned you about it," Yugi reminded him. "We have to trust that we can get through here, find the right door, and help Yami."

"If only we had our Items, then we might have an easier time," Ishizu said quietly, her hands running across her throat.

Bakura, Seto, and Malik all immediately checked for their respective Items only to find them as vacant as Ishizu's. All of their Items seemed to be missing.

"It's our spirits that are here," Yugi said, "Not our actual bodies. The Millennium Items would have stayed with them."

"Makes sense I suppose," Seto agreed, "Though I can't say I'm happy about it."

"Tell me about it," Malik moaned, "If Bakura still had the Ring this would be incredibly easy!"

"The Puzzle is a test of character, it always has been. It might have considered using the Ring to find Yami cheating," Yugi pointed out, moving to the next door, "We have to keep moving. Everyone stand clear-"

Yami had stayed locked up in his room for a week, fuming at his father. How could his father not know how to return souls? It wasn't that hard! Hell he'd done it at the end of his first duel with Bakura and he wasn't even sure who he was then.

After he had kicked everybody out of his room that day, he had allowed himself the rest of the day to sit and wallow before he decided to actually do something about it. He was the prince for the love of Ra.

Spurred by his fury, he ordered for a runner to be sent to the library to bring him any and all scrolls pertaining to souls or the shadows as well as an empty scroll so he could make his own notes. Maybe there was a way he could accomplish the task his father would not, even without an Item. It would certainly be beneficial when he returned to his court if he could figure this out.

Nobody had bothered him for the entire week, not even his father had attempted to visit him. It didn't bother him too much. It would probably just raise more questions and suspicions anyway. Food was left by his door at mealtimes and the only knocks at his door came from the runner from the library. The guards told him that his father had ordered that he not be disturbed.

Taking advantage of the order, Yami threw himself into his research. Of course, he made sure to take breaks to eat and sleep. It wouldn't do him any good to work himself so hard he got sick.

Now he was a week into his research, still furious at his father and making little progress. He should have expected there to be little information about this as the Millennium Items were relatively new, so he broadened his topic to anything dealing with souls and the afterlife. Most of what he was finding though had to do with the gods. Educational certainly, but not helpful for his task.

Nevertheless he took notes on everything he could find, hoping that somehow he could tie something together. Yami intended this scroll be only for his eyes, and so wrote in Japanese. Partly for privacy, but also to make sure he didn't forget his hikari's native language. Now that he thought about it, he should probably practice the other languages he'd learned. He wouldn't want to be rusty when he returned.

Currently, he was carefully reading through a scroll that seemed promising when a knock at the door interrupted him.

"Leave the scrolls by the door!" he called, slightly annoyed. Unless it was a new runner, they should know the routine by now.

However, the voice that answered him was one that was familiar. "It's me. May I come in?"

"Go away, Mahaddo." Yami turned back to his scroll, hoping his friend would actually do that, but he had no such luck.

"No," came the stubborn reply, "Not until I can speak with you."

Yami closed his eyes and let out a deep sigh. He couldn't remember Mahaddo, but from the few days he did know him, he wasn't one to give up easily. Mahaddo was dedicated to serving both him and his father, but Yami wasn't sure if he could be trusted with this. Already once Mahaddo had reported to the pharaoh and that had resulted in the situation Yami currently found himself in. Maybe if Mahaddo just saw that Yami was healthy he would go away. He was probably just concerned.

Deciding there was no way around it, Yami rolled up his notes and carefully made his way across his room, careful of the scroll that he had laid out for cross-referencing. He opened the door, just enough for Mahaddo to be able to see him. Mahaddo looked surprised at his appearance, but covered it quickly.

"Well?" Yami asked curtly when Mahaddo didn't speak.

"May I come in?" he asked, "I was- I am worried about you."

"I am doing well, but I am in the middle of something." Yami started closing the door, hoping Mahaddo would take the blunt dismissal. Unfortunately, it wasn't meant to be.

Mahaddo caught the door and leaned forward to look him in the eye. "I'm not just talking about why you've holed up in your room. I want to know what's going on with you. You have never acted like this before."

Yami glared at him, but Mahaddo met it and did not back down. The action reminded Yami of his court. "Fine," Yami relented, turned back into his room, leaving the door open for Mahaddo. He returned to his seat and looked back to see Mahaddo frozen in the doorway staring at all of the scrolls that had been brought up.

"Is-? What-? Why?"

Yami looked at him confused. "What did you think I was doing in here?"

"Wallowing in guilt?" Mahaddo offered feebly, looking around at the room.

"Because I accidentally took the guards souls as a result of my father and his court trying to 'cleanse my soul'?" Yami scoffed, moving towards one of the scrolls he left out. Now that he had company, he should clean up a little just to make sure none of the scrolls got ruined. "While I am upset at myself, I'm hardly going to lock myself away because of it. No, I'm researching."

"Researching?"

"My father is wrong," Yami stated firmly "The souls can be returned, I just need to find evidence that the method exists to show him."

"...*****..." Mahaddo started sorrowfully.

"Don't," Yami tried to stop him, but Mahaddo pressed on.

"No, you need to listen to this. If there was a way to bring back a soul taken by the Millenium Items, don't you think your father, the one who holds the Millenium Puzzle, would know about it? At the very least, one of the others might."

Yami shook his head, "I can't explain it, but I know it is possible."

Mahaddo gave him a curious look. "Did the Shadows tell you that night? Is that why you're so sure?" he asked curiously, causing Yami to freeze.

"Something like that," Yami turned back to the scroll. It was turning into a fruitless effort. When it came time for him to claim ownership of the Puzzle, he could return the souls easily, but it was impossible to know when that could happen and it would be too late by then.

"I'm not going to stop you from doing your research," Mahaddo said suddenly, "But you need to come back and resume your normal duties."

"Why? So I can endure the questioning stares from the inner court? So my father can continue to make excuses? So I can receive the pity of the courtiers based off of whatever story my father came up with?"

"Because rumors are starting to spread," Mahaddo said seriously, "They have not yet reached the ears of the Pharaoh, and I hope they never do."

"Rumors?"

"Some say that you have actually been locked away by your father. Others say you are plotting to overthrow the kingdom and ascend the throne. Still others say you have been cursed as a punishment for the actions of the pharaoh, whatever they may be."

"Ridiculous," Yami scoffed, rolling up his scroll.

"I agree, but if your father catches wind of it, the ones responsible for spreading the rumors will be punished. Harshly."

Yami easily read between the lines. "I am not a child, Mahaddo. They will likely be sentenced to death if they are caught. My father is a fair man, but he must also uphold the laws. The enemies of Egypt are looking for any opportunity to turn our own people against us."

"Y-yes," Mahaddo sputtered.

Maybe Yami should not have spoken so bluntly, and technically he was a child, but he was not in the mood to beat around the bush. He let out a sigh, Mahaddo had a point. He would not allow Egypt's enemies the opportunity to discredit his family. Besides, Yugi would yell at him for hours if he heard he refused to forgive his father.

"Tell my father that I will join him for dinner," Yami finally said in defeat, "I'll get a servant to help me clean this up and return the scrolls to the library."

Mahaddo studied him for a moment before bowing in relief. "I will relay the message."

Dinner had been polite, but awkward. After dinner Yami followed his father to one of the balconies where they stood together in silence enjoying the night air. Yami's focus kept being drawn to that damned sky pyramid but forced himself not to stare at it. He didn't need any more unwanted attention.

"I must say I'm curious," Aknamkanon broke the silence, "What made you change your mind and come out of your self imposed seclusion?"

Yami almost snorted. His father knew nothing of "self imposed seclusions", but that wasn't his fault.

"Besides Mahaddo stubbornly making his way into my room to talk with me?" he asked rhetorically and then sighed, turning his gaze to the stars, "There's someone I know who would be incredibly disappointed if I didn't forgive you for what happened. It wasn't - entirely - your fault…"

"You sound like you don't believe that," Aknamkanon said idly, but Yami heard the underlying strain. His father was hurt from Yami locking him out of his life, even for a short time.

"I - it's hard," Yami replied, still not looking at the man. "You betrayed my trust."

His father sighed from behind him and rested his hands on his shoulders. "Trust… is a fragile thing," Aknamkanon said quietly, "And I am sorry I broke yours in me. With your permission, I would like to begin rebuilding it."

"...I would like that too."

"Then let me start with this," Aknamkanon moved so he was in front of his son and knelt so that he was on his level and could maintain eye contact, "I swear to you that never again will I go behind your back if I think something's wrong, and I will certainly never subject you to those trials again. I also swear that anything you tell me in confidence will never reach the ears of another."

Yami felt a wave of relief. In the short time he knew his father, he got the sense that Aknamkanon was an honest man and would not go back on his word.

"Thank you," Yami offered a tentative smile up at him.

The tension broke at that as Aknamkanon chuckled and put his arm around Yami. Yami couldn't help but lean into it; his father's embrace felt safe. The two stood together for a while, admiring the night sky above and the kingdom below.

"I believe we have one other matter to discuss tonight," Aknamkanon broke the silence but made no move to separate himself from his son.

Yami looked up confused. His father's face was as stern as it usually was, but it was colored with mirth as Aknamkanon looked down at him.

"You seem to have lost track of days, *****."

Yami got the distinct impression he was being teased. "And what might I have forgotten?"

"My, my," Aknamkanon looked to the sky and stroked his beard. Any doubt that Yami was being teased left him. He was definitely being teased. "A young man forgetting his own birthday? What a rare sight I have witnessed here today."

Yami stood stunned. Today was his birthday? What day even was it? He'd have to find a calendar later.

"So Mahaddo had an ulterior motive for guilting me out of my room," Yami chuckled.

"I'll have to thank him later," Aknamkanon joined in with his son, "He's always been able to talk sense into you. I could not have picked a better friend and protector for you. He will make a fine magician one day, much like his father."

The word magician stirred something in his memory, something familiar, but as quickly as the feeling came, it left. Yami's face fell as he tried to chase the memory. It was something important...something that made him feel honored and sad at the same time...something…

"*****?"

"Sorry," Yami apologized softly, looking away, "I had the strangest feeling just now."

"Oh?"

"It was like…" Yami trailed off, not quite sure how to explain it, and not quite sure he wanted to. But this was his father! If he couldn't open up a little to him, then who? "It was like this weird feeling of familiarity…"

"I should hope you are familiar with Mahaddo," Aknamkanon chuckled.

Yami shook his head, "It was more than that. I'm not quite sure what it was…"

"It will come to you in time, I'm sure. Don't dwell on it."

"You're right," Yami grinned up at his father.

The two returned to gazing at the stars, far more peacefully than when they first walked onto the balcony. Torches from guards patrolling the city lit the scenery below in a hypnotic display as the guards walked the streets. For once, Yami didn't find his attention drawn to the pyramid in the sky.

Yay, everyone's forgiven. Well, except Bakura, but honestly, what did you expect there? I had thought about taking this further, but decided we should have a happy ending to a chapter and this was such a good place to stop.

Hope you guys are still enjoying my take on this arc. I am certainly enjoying the level of creativity it's allowing me.

Stay safe, y'all! And please review!