Atem's POV

I feel a whispering teetering on the edge of my peripheral encouraging me to chase it but no matter how hard I search for it, now matter how quick I am to try and reach for it, it escapes me. I hear Ishizu's voice calming my nerves, reminding me to breathe and keep my mind open but I feel fear creeping in. Fear I can't catch the aura taunting me, concern of what will happen if I do. I know the Key will allow me to enter one's mind but I know for a fact the mind is not something one should play with. I could do serious damage if I cannot control it's power once I have it. Marik is already in danger because of us, if I were to hurt Odion too …

I feel a snap beneath my skin and an electric jolt through my mind that forces me to flinch out of my concentration. Tingles skitter through my fingers, my toes and across my cheeks that I need to rub them free of the sensation.

"It's alright, just take a minute to refresh yourself." Ishizu says reassuringly but this is is so frustrating. We've been at this for at least 2 hours now and still I get to a certain point where the Key just … rejects me.

"I don't understand. Shadi entrusted me with the Key, why won't it respond to me now?" My voice carries across the irritation I can no longer hide but I try to take a deep breath to calm down. I don't need to take this out on her… the Items choose their masters and the Key didn't choose me. Shadi gave it to me but I was never meant to wield it. I was born to the Puzzle… but not even that will respond to me now that I have relinquished my entitlement to it. Maybe my job is done now …

I shake the thought from my mind as I become aware of eyes on me that were not there before. Some time during that last session Yugi and our friends must have come home because it's no longer Ishizu and Odion here with me but them as well.

"Yugi… guys. When did you get here?" I ask, hoping beyond anything they cannot hear the embarrassment of failure in my tone. My heart soars though when Yugi sits beside me and his fingers brush against my own shyly, as if unsure but I eagerly lean against him, seeking the comfort I know only he can provide. He smells so good and his warmth is so inviting. I'm glad he's home, finally.

"About 10 minutes ago. We've been sitting quietly." Tea said happily.

"So now that we can talk, what were you doing?" Joey asks with that boyish charm of his. It honestly is such a relief they're here.

"We are trying to tap into the Key's allegiance so the Pharaoh might harness it's powers. It is difficult to do in such a short amount of time but given his experience with the Puzzle, we are hoping the Key might ally itself to him." Ishizu answers for me, as if it is so simple. Theoretically it should be working that way. I was King of Egypt, born to command the Items created by my bloodline so it stands to reason they should all be willing to accept me… but it seems it is not so simple.

"Having much luck?" Tristan asks.

"Unfortunately no." I sigh tiredly. "And I do not understand why. I managed to use it easily enough when I used it on Yugi but simply trying to access it's power now is almost taking me further back from being able to. I feel as if I get so close and then all of a sudden it rejects me."

"That must be frustrating." Tea says, her voice soft and understanding. She has no idea how right she is.

"It is."

"Perhaps now that everyone is here we should take a break for now." Ishizu says softly. She sounds almost as tired as I am.

"I'll get us some tea." Yugi says happily, bouncing off joyfully to the kitchen. I have half a mind to follow him just so I can cuddle up with him … actually I will.

"I'll go help him. I could stretch my legs." I politely excuse myself.

I find him choosing from the various teas his grandfather has, facing away from me which gives me the perfect opportunity to slide in behind him. Resting my head on his shoulder and nuzzling into the warmth of his neck, intaking the sweet aroma of his hair and the comforting feel of his slender body in my arms.

"Hello." He giggles softly, nuzzling back against me in adoring greeting. I missed him so much. I'm so glad he's home.

"Hi." I murmur. I don't know how he does it but I can literally feel the frustration and embarrassment and disappointment all just wash away now he's here.

"Are you okay?" He asks me gently. He squirms a little bit and I release him enough for him to spin to face me and I secretly revel in the feel of his fingers walking around my waist to rest on my hips. I adore that smile and half hooded eyes gazing up at me as he leans back into my hands. By the Gods he looks delectable. How easily he can capture me …

"I am better now you're here." I say warmly. My head is swimming. I feel like I'm floating with the smile he gives me and with the sparkle in those beautiful eyes.

"Okay guys, cut the lovey stuff." Tristan groans somewhere behind me. We jump and break apart immediately; Yugi goes back to his tea preparing and I take a deep breath to cool my temper. Just a moment. A moment of privacy is all I wanted … but they're all here, piling into the kitchen without a hint of remorse for their interruption.

"What's up?" I ask stiffly. Surely we don't need everyone in the kitchen for tea and we haven't been cuddling for long.

"Not much, thought we could chat while the tea's made." Ryou says cheerfully. If I didn't know better I'd say he was the one who suggested cock blocking me but he gives me a sympathetic smile instead of a smug one … so I think this is for once not his doing.

Joey beelines straight for the pantry and tosses a few bags of chips onto the counter haphazardly like he owns the place… but that's perfectly Joey. Tea takes a comfortable spot beside Yugi and gets out some mugs for him. Seems everyone is happy to help out.

I sigh gently to myself and resign to the idea of waiting until they all go to get my cuddles. Everyone is quick into enthusiastic small talks among themselves. Tristan, Ryou and Joey chat over the bowls of chips they're preparing; Tea and Yugi are helping one another with the tea while Odion hovers close by to sample the different flavours. Ishizu comes over to me and quietly stands beside me, admiring the peace among us with me. As annoyed as I am for having my cuddle stolen from me I am grateful for what we have here. It is moments like these that fuel my desire to see them safe.

I must master the Key in order to have an advantage over Bakura. This fight seems impossible to win but I must fight through if I want them and Yugi to be safe.

"It is a lovely home you have made here for yourself." Ishizu says quietly to me, her voice hovering just above a whisper. I glance at her to catch her smiling sadly. That is one more reason I must try my hardest. It has been less than a year since she got her brother back from the darkness that plagued him and now he has been taken from her again. What is worse, it is by extension my fault. Bakura is my responsibility and not only did he kidnap Marik but he also used the Millennium Items they gave us against him.

"Thank you. I am very grateful for my life here." I say quietly. I feel so guilty. All I wanted was to cuddle Yugi and here Ishizu is trying everything she can to rescue her brother. "I promise you I will get Marik back safe and sound. Bakura will pay for everything he has done." I say and she smiles at me softly.

"Thank you, my Pharaoh." She bows her head slightly and I watch as her gaze flickers to Yugi and back. "My Pharaoh. Forgive me if this might be … an impertinent question but, were we interrupting anything when we came in?" She asks nervously. I glance at Yugi and then quickly remember we haven't told her yet. I didn't want a repeat of what happened with Tea so I was waiting for Yugi to break the ice with me but it completely slipped my mind that she didn't know. He's here now technically even if he's not paying attention and I suspect she will not question. She still regards me as her Pharaoh after all.

"Oh, only a little bit but it is no problem. There is plenty of time for that later." I say warily. It occurs to me now I have no idea how to tell her.

"Well… I am happy for you. I was relieved to know you had a good, welcoming and safe home to reside in even after you received your own body again. I am glad to know you have even found happiness in someone as well. It seems this world is treating you as you deserve."

My mind clears of all thought. I feel stunned and touched by her words. They're nothing I expected less of but the depth in them is clear. She truly is happy for me and the happiness I have found in him … and it's true. He completes me. I have never been happier with a life I have had than I do now with the life I have with him.

"Thank you." I say kindly.

"I must ask though. Having your body given to you along with your memories … do you know if there is any certainty of you remaining after Bakura is dealt with?" She asks. My skin chills with the sentiment. We have had this conversation before but have neglected to prepare for it. If it comes to the gods demanding I pass on I don't know what I will do. To deny the gods I may just put everyone in jeopardy again all for my selfish desire to remain here… but I do not wish to leave Yugi. I want to be in his life for the rest of my days and I want my days to last forever. I have just been praying it does not come to that.

"There is no certainty I admit. We did not even expect my body to return along with my memories. Truth be told we did not know what would happen. All I know is that I feel I belong here, with Yugi and I pray that will never change." I say quietly and she nods to herself. There's something on her tongue she is uncertain of saying but I wish to know her thoughts. "What are your thoughts?"

"I wonder … if pursuing a relationship with such uncertainty before you, is wise. If the Gods wish you to rest then yes, exploring this relationship will allow you to bring with you memories you would never have had … but Yugi may experience a void, a hole in his heart he may never recover from if you were to leave. I am happy for you both, do not mistake me, but I cannot help but fear for what will become of him if you are denied your desire to stay." She says … almost as if she read the fear in my heart too perfectly. That is exactly what I am afraid of … exactly what I have refused to explore. He is happy; the happiest I have ever known him and strong too. But it would be irresponsible of me to deny my part in this.

"I will do everything in my power to ensure his wellbeing and happiness. If it means I must fight the Gods to secure it then I shall. Until then though, our priority is making sure Bakura cannot hurt anyone else and to retrieve Marik. Even if it means securing the Items from him so he cannot use them against us or anyone else, that is a start." I say and she nods deeply in agreement.

"That is a start. Rendering him unable to do us more harm than he has will be just as good."

"We'll do everything we can to make sure that happens. I promise you." Yugi said brightly as he comes by to hand us both a tea. There's a hint on his voice that briefly tickles my curiosity but it is his beautiful yet uneasy smile that brushes my concern. I should bring it up later.

"Thank you Yugi. Now, if I might ask, I understand Pharaoh has relinquished his ownership of the Puzzle to you?" She asks politely. She knows this to be true so I wonder where she is going with this.

"Yeah. He did it to save my life." He says bashfully, throwing me an adorable blushing smile that makes me feel slightly giddy for seeing it.

"I wonder, how is your control over it?" She asks. Thats a good question. I don't believe Yugis really tried to use it. He hasn't needed to.

"Ummm…. Okay? I mean I haven't actively used it but I haven't needed to. When we were in the hospital it healed us but that wasn't really anything I did."

"He used it during the battle with Bakura but he says he doesn't remember it." Tea says softly. Everyone is paying attention now, coming over to stand in a wide open circle around us.

"You do not remember?" Odion asks him curiously.

"No. Apparently it was awesome but I have no idea what they're talking about." Yugi shrugs lazily.

"I wonder if its possible to get you to do it again. You've never had memory loss when using the puzzle before, correct?" Ishizu asks.

"Not for ages. When I solved the puzzle for the first time and Atem would come through to protect me I would lose consciousness but in time our bond grew and I was able to see him and talk with him. But other than that no. Nothing like this has ever happened."

"Shortly before I managed to use the Key on him to free him from Bakura, that couldn't have anything to do with it, could it?" I ask curiously. I hope to the Gods his memory loss isn't my fault.

"I don't think so." Yugi says kindly. "I remember you inside my mind and I remember bits and pieces after. I remember you going underwater, it's after that I don't."

"Thats a relief." I sigh.

"Then I wonder if we might try the same exercises as with the Pharaoh. I am curious to see how strong your relation is with the Puzzle, especially considering you have been bonded to it for years." Ishizu asks him but I don't know if I like this. The Millennium Items can be dangerous and Yugi's limited experience may yet hurt him. I haven't had the chance to teach him what I know yet, perhaps after that I might feel more comfortable with this but until then…

He does look confident though. A little surprised but not worried. I know he'll agree to this but I don't know if I should allow it.

"Sure, just tell me what you need me to do." He says, so innocently.

"I don't know about this…" I say nervously. I must speak up.

"Why not?" He asks me curiously and for some reason it hurts.

"The Millennium Items are dangerous and -" I begin weakly but he interrupts me.

"All the more reason. You agreed to teach me what you know about the Puzzle, why don't we do it now? The Items are more dangerous if we don't know how to handle them, right?"

Why must he be right?

I sigh in defeat … I don't like this but he is right. He'll be in more danger if he doesn't know how to use the Puzzle to protect himself.

"Alright… but the moment anything dangerous happens -"

"You'll step in and protect me and summon the gods if you have to." He says dryly and I am left with the most unamused glare I can muster. "We'll be fine. Promise. Whats the worst that can happen?" He asks as he walks away with everyone uneasily following him.

"Do you want me to answer that?" I ask after him sighing all the while. He's lucky I know he's right … I still don't have to like it.

...

So they run him through the same spiel they gave me about respecting the items, listening to them and opening not only your mind to theirs but your heart as well. I understood well enough; afterall these teachings were not far off from my own, but understanding the Items as an entity - I had never considered them more than dangerous artifacts until today. Yugi has never meditated, never had to learn how to clear his mind or open his heart to something, so this will be a good test to see how much I need to teach him.

Everyone is remaining quiet which is good and surprising. I thought for sure with everyone here at the very least Joey and Tristan would find it difficult to stay quiet, but they're all watching eagerly as Yugi breathes calmly. Deep breaths, slow and steady as he searches within.

I remember these lessons. Too well. When I was still prince Shimon would teach me how to look within myself, how to listen to the earth and the elements, how to feel for the energy of the Gods that guide us day by day and lul us to sleep at night. Yes I know these lessons … and I know what happens when you tap into powers you are not meant to. I gave Yugi the Puzzle, relinquished my ownership of it. By all means he won it from me, making it completely his now despite his blood. Now I must pray it recognises him.

I watch his calm face twitch. His brows furrow for a moment and he flinches but still his concentration is not broken. The Puzzle hangs heavily from his neck with the eye of Wadjet glowing brightly. He's able to tap into it's power with enough ease but that isn't a surprise. He's been able to do that since he completed it but he's normally also had me doing it with him. The training wheels are off now and he seems to be managing just fine so far. But accessing it's power is not the achievement we're looking for today. Now he needs to be able to move it to his will, control it's fury lest it controls his.

"Walk us through Yugi. You can access it's power, tell us how it feels." Ishizu says softly and hypnotizingly. He needs to remain soothed and calm. Her voice is the song of his subconscious, directing and guiding him without pulling his attention away from his peace.

"It's strong." He whispers airily, almost as if sleep talking. "Like a tempest… swirling. Like a fire storm."

I remember those sensations… but the puzzle normally felt the ebb of the ocean to me. The only time it felt like a fire storm was when I was angry.

"Will it harm you? Can you calm it?" Ishizu asks him softly.

He gasps sharply, recoiling and sitting up straight. Immediately I open my mouth to stop this but Ishizu holds her hand to me … and as irritated as I am about that and frightened for Yugi … I wait and watch. He breathes out deeply and his uncomfortable expression softens. His breathing is shaky and almost exhilarated. I've normally only ever heard him breathe like this when we're intimate.

"Is it… supposed to feel … like this?" He asks between breaths.

"Like what Yugi?"

"Raw… invigorating maybe… it's everywhere." He shivers violently but … I think this is okay. I remember feeling the power of the puzzle course through me the first time I really harnessed it's power and the adrenaline rush that coursed through my body felt incredible too. This … this is exactly what I've been trying to harness with the Key and he… he's able to do it so easily with the Puzzle. This is proof it has allied with him.

That … it is truly no longer mine.

If the Puzzle is not mine anymore and the Key will not accept me … then what does that make me now? A former Pharaoh, out of his time and practically retired. Pharaohs do not retire though. They die and pass on and let those that come after them lead.

An incredible wave of sadness washes through me and threatens to bring tears with it. Hastily I blink them away and quietly stand with the excuse of putting my empty cup in the sink. I need to be alone for a minute and distract myself from these intrusive thoughts.

It's not that I'm not relieved or happy for him. If he can use the Puzzle with no problems then it means he's all the safer when Bakura attacks next. So why does this bother me so much?

"Atem?" Tea's soft voice, barely a whisper, sounds behind me. She's careful not to interrupt them in the next room and quietly she joins me. "You okay?"

Do I tell her the truth? I don't even know how to justify the truth. I feel like a terrible person for feeling this way in the first place. But I can't deny or fake my feelings right now. Even if I lied I don't have the energy to make it believable.

"I don't know. Honestly, I don't know." I sigh tiredly, leaning back on the counter lazily.

"Wanna talk about it?" She asks me, looking at me with those big, blue eyes of hers. I forgot how earnest she can be. We haven't exactly had the chance to be close since we had that fight a few weeks ago, but its nice to know the rift between us is healing and she's just as there for me as she was before. I didn't realised I missed this.

"I'm not sure what to say that won't make me sound like a … well a total ass to be frank." I say in defeat to my own stupidity. It's not even wrong. I don't think I'm jealous and if I am I shouldn't be.

"Is it to do with the Items?" She asks sweetly. I look at her and she gives me an understanding smile. "You seemed tired before. You'd been working hard for ages with Ishizu and seemed to be hitting a wall … and then Yugi comes in and does whatever it is he's doing almost too easily."

H-how?

"How are you able to hit the nail on the head so easily like that?" I ask her and she giggles quietly.

"You're a little more sensitive than you let on. You're not that hard to read when you… well you know." She says, trailing off nervously there but I understand. When you love someone you tend to notice everything about them… even what others can't see. I'm like that with Yugi and it would be unreasonable to think she has simply moved on from me so soon.

"I do." I say quietly.

"Well … if it helps I get it. I see it all the time in my dance lessons and I've felt it before too. I try so hard to master dance moves others can get as if they were born doing it. You well, you've had the puzzle for thousands of years, you were born to it. You were meant to have it and now Yugi well… it might be his destiny to have it too but he makes it look so easy."

I shake my head to the side gently and take a long, relieving breath. She's close but it's not quite that. "It's not so much that Yugi can use the Puzzle. I expect no less of him if I'm honest. Yugi is the strongest soul that I've encountered my whole life. That he can attune to the Puzzle is not surprising to me. What bothers me...and bother might be too strong a word but what bothers me is that the Key won't respond to me like the Puzzle does with Yugi. Shadi passed it down to me and in dire circumstances I was able to use it without much effort… so why it rejects me now is a mystery; and if the Key is rejecting me and the Puzzle has completely moved on from me then … where does that leave me? Bakura isn't looking for shadow games, I was unable to summon the Gods back in the hospital -"

"To be fair thats probably a good thing." She interrupts innocently and yes I do agree with that. If I had hurt anyone in that state I don't think I'd forgive myself.

"Y-yes but thats not the point. Tea… I don't know what I can do now? What I am good for. Bakura will be after the Puzzle and the Key. Yugi can protect himself with the Puzzle but if I can't protect the Key then … I just don't want to be a burden on anyone. Bakura is essentially my responsibility and the more I think on it, the more I see the changes happening before me, the more I realise I might not be able to help. I might not be able to protect him, or get Marik back, or put Bakura down. And if that's the case then … what good can I do?"

Where is this coming from? It's not wrong but it feels so strange delving into these feelings without thinking about it first.

"I saw my father." I say quietly. I have so much I want to say now and I don't want to stop but I feel my voice getting thicker and my chest tightening.

"What?" She asks, leaning forward to get into my view. I look away from her to hide the tear and take a deep breath to calm myself.

"I saw my father, back when Bakura attacked us. I'm not sure when but it was after we were in the water. I was drowning and then he was there. I thought he was welcoming me. It was so bright … and he stood there smiling at me. One of the few times he did that. He looked so proud."

"I'm sure he would be." She says kindly. How am I so emotional, gods damn it. Stop it.

"Thank you. He told me that someone still needed me. He was talking about Yugi. I didn't know it then but it makes sense now. But I don't understand. Yugi will master the Puzzle easier than I ever did. I can't even connect with the Key to use it's puzzle, Marik's been kidnapped … I don't understand what I can do when Bakura attacks again. Shadi told me I needed to protect Yugi at all costs, my father tells me Yugi will need me but I don't know what I can do. I feel so … helpless right now. I'm used to being the reliable one, the one everyone leans on but I feel like my job is done. I feel like I have to step back and accept that this is out of my hands now. But Bakura is my problem, I shouldnt have to rely on literally everyone else to put an end to him but what can I do to stop him and protect everyone if the Key won't respond to me and the Puzzle … belongs to Yugi."

I sigh heavily, feeling much more relieved for letting that go but no less miserable. Maybe I am jealous. I'm not used to taking the backseat. My whole life I've been taught people will rely on me. Now I have brought with me my ghost and dumped him on my friends and life has taken my responsibility out of my hands and placed it in Yugi's.

"Atem." Tea says softly, gently resting her hand upon mine. I should move it… if anyone saw us this close there'd be questions but … it feels kind of nice to have someone listen. "I'm not about to say this because of my feelings for you, but because they're true. You are the strongest person I have ever met. You baffle me because until I met you I didn't think it was possible for anyone to be as brave, as strong and as powerful as you. I'm not talking about your puzzle, your gods or your amazing dueling skills. I'm talking about whats in here." She says, pressing her delicate fingers to my chest. Her eyes are so big, so sparkly too, and so blue. She really is beautiful. "Your heart burns like the sun, with passion for your friends and everything you love. You will stop at nothing to protect us and somehow, even when the odds are completely against you you come out on top. Ask anyone and they'll all tell you the same: Atem there is nothing you can't do. I know you feel helpless but you have it in you to do anything. The Key will accept you, you'll see." She says kindly, her eyes swimming with such confident positivity it's hard not to be swept away with them. I still have my fears and doubts but somehow … maybe there's a glimmer of hope now. Either way I do feel a little better.

"Thank you Tea." I say warmly, taking her hand in mine. Her skin is soft and for this moment, it feels nice. "You've given me much to think about."

"Glad I could help. I did help, right?" She asks nervously.

"Yes. I feel a little better thank you. And thank you for letting me rant." I say, smiling genuinely now. My thumb caresses her knuckles and the blush she wears is shamefully cute on her. Not as cute as Yugi's but she's still very pretty.

"Anytime." She sighs.

Oh no. I know that look… I've seen it in Yugi … that dreamy stare. That almost hypnotising aura …

I'm quick to let her hand go and take a step away so we can breathe our own air safely. I'm just glad no one saw us, we're thankfully still alone and it's really quiet in the next room. I don't have feelings for her. I am very much still in love with Yugi … but I wont deny the position we were just in could have been compromising.

"Should we go see how Yugi is doing?" She asks quietly, her voice meek and shy.

"Yeah, we should." I say happily. That is a good idea. If anything being in company will help us feel more … casual. Last thing I want is to stoke her flame.

...

I was right. They're still at it only as we get closer I feel the temperature shift. It's a little warmer out here than it was a moment ago. Yugi's still meditating and the eye is still glowing but not even Ishizu is talking. I'm surprised everyone is still so still and quiet. Surely they've established he can do this now. How much longer will Ishizu …

"There's a voice." Yugi mutters. That's odd. There was never a voice when I tapped into it.

"A voice? What kind of voice?" Ishizu asks with a hint of concern. She must be just as off guard as I was.

"Its distant… I dont think it knows …" He trails off before all of a sudden he jolts, gasping and breathing hard as if in fear. Is the Puzzle rejecting him after all?

"Yugi talk to us." Ishizu urges. Her alarm isn't doing much to soothe us and Yugi still hasn't disconnected from the Puzzle. I dont like this. This must stop.

Just as I open my mouth Yugi speaks. The eye of Wadjet appears on his forehead but he hasn't come out of his trance yet.

"Angry. It's so angry, it won't let me go. Help me! Let me go." He's panicking. I cannot sit through this. This ends now.

"Yugi, listen to me. Can you hear me?" I rush to his side, swiftly taking his hands in mine and ignoring the surge of power I feel swirling within him. This is too much for him and I know nothing of this voice. This could be a secret of the Puzzle not even I know about but regardless this is dangerous and I must pull him back to me.

"Temmy?" He whimpers. I feel so much regret letting this happen.

"Yugi come back to me. Open your eyes. Follow my voice and come back to me." If I had the puzzle this would be easy. I know how to get into his mind and protect him from the shadows but I can't do a thing beyond this without it. He has to learn how to do it himself, how to use the puzzles power against it to protect him.

"C-can't. Ahhtem!" He squeals loudly, squeezing my hands tightly as he straightens up as if electrocuted. Briefly I caught his eyes crack open and I swear I saw gold in them but how red his cheeks are and the clenching of his jaw has me pushing that aside.

"My Pharaoh, the Key can help." Ishizu says, offering it to me but it wouldn't listen to me before. Why would it listen now?

Because it listened when I needed it before. I don't need to understand it's secrets, I just need access to Yugi's mind.

"Here." Ryou says beside me, taking Yugi's hands off me. He hisses and recoils but it's enough for me to take the key and touch Yugi's forehead with it. I don't know what I'm doing but I didn't know what I was doing before. I feel heat course through me and instinct tells me to turn it.

Fire. Everywhere. It's swealteringly hot and it's raging all around me. Nothing escapes it except the sounds of Yugi's small voice panicking nearby. I see him, scrambling on the ground for freedom as he tackles tendrils of light coming from a massive eye of Wadjet. Inside the eye is pure flames and I can feel it's anger from here. There's a hum of restrained anger trying to soothe Yugi, trying to convince him to let it in but there's a flurry of hatred and contempt behind it, like a hundred lost voices trying desperately to be heard.

"Yugi!" I call to him, sprinting through the flames to reach him and as my voice rings loudly over the roar of fire, the eye looks at me. It barely moves but I almost feel it's stare land upon me. Yugi's manages to struggle free of it's clasping claws of light and he races to me, sliding to his knees to clutch at any part of me he can, crying and shaking.

"Pharaoh." The voice is so clear. So angry. There is so much pure hatred in those voices and it is those voices. There's so many of them, all speaking in unison to form the perfect choir. They speak my tongue, wield the fires of Ra and burn with a hatred so intense … I understand. We are not safe here.

I feel the tug behind me and know it to be the Key. I do not know how but I trust it's pull. I crouch by Yugi, making sure he is firmly in my hold before I let the Key pull us back …

And thankfully I feel the cold again. The chill of winter licking my skin, the cool light filling the room housing my friends and Yugi. He's panting, wide eyed and staring directly at the floor before him… but he's here with us now. Safe.

Happiness and excitement is bubbling within my chest because I did it. I protected him and I used the Key. It will listen to me but … only when I need it. I am so happy I could laugh but Yugi… his fear worries me. The Puzzle is indeed dangerous and I fear what might have happened had he let it take control of him.

"Yugi?" Ishizu asks him gently, carefully moving to him slow enough not to spook him. I watch as he comes to terms with where he is, what happened and what is now. He takes the Puzzle off and tosses it over to the couch before he scrambles over to me, knocking me over without a single care just to hide his face in my chest. He's sobbing quietly, likely trying to hide it from everyone but it's obvious to me. Poor thing.

"It's okay, you're safe now." I hush him gently, rubbing slow large circles on his back and soothingly petting his hair.

"What happened?" Joey asks.

"I don't know." Ishizu says slowly. I do but I want Yugi calm first.

"Could someone go make Yugi another tea please?" I ask and Ryou is first to jump up to do so. Good. I admit, he does make the best tea.

"I can explain but I'd like to calm Yugi first." I say to everyone kindly.