Disclaimer: I don't own Yu-Gi-Oh or any of the characters (unless otherwise stated) Kazuki Takahashi does, nor do I make any money from these stories.

I decided to have a little change from the old 'Atemu comes back from the dead and they live happy ever after.

Back to the Afterlife

It had been an exciting duel, first going one way, then the other but in the end no one was really surprised when it was Yugi that had eventually won.

By rights with the loss of the game Yami, or rather Atemu (as he now wanted to be called) should have gone on to the afterlife but the almighty god Ra had granted Atemu his own body so that he may experience a full and active life. Everyone, including Ra had expected Atemu to fall into Yugi's arms (that was the reason he had agreed to Yugi's proposal in the first place)…so they were surprised when Atemu went straight to Anzu and with a deep kiss confessed his love for her…Yugi, somehow knowing that that is what would happen had already silently slipped out of the underground chamber and into the desert, he needed to get away before anyone noticed…

"Hey, has anyone seen Yugi?" Mokuba asked when he noticed the diminutive teen was missing.

Seto looked round the underground chamber, "No, I thought he was standing next to the pharaoh, (Seto had finally accepted the story of Yami as pharaoh, and him as the high priest and the whole ancient past thing).

Atemu, finally releasing the lip lock he'd had on Anzu looked at Seto and shrugged, "I expect he went outside for some fresh air." He said nonchalantly.

"I'll go and see." Ryou said quietly as he turned and climbed the steps.

Solomon and Joey having noticed Ryou's tears quietly followed him. Bakura silently following them.

When the two of them had reached the underground tombs opening they found Ryou on his knees crying into his hands. Joey, being the younger and more flexible of the two knelt down beside Ryou and put his arms round him. "Look Ry I know Yug's missing but we will find him soon I promise." Joey said trying to reassure the white haired teen.

Ryou looked at him "No. No we won't." he sniffed

"Why not?" Solomon asked fearfully.

Ryou raised tear filled eyes so he could look the old man in his eyes, "The deal Yugi made was his life for Atemu's."

Solomon looked at Ryou "What in Ra's name are you talking about?!" he demanded, when Ryou didn't answer him he grew angry and picked Ryou up by his shirt collar,

"What. Do. You. Mean?" Solomon growled. He was surprised when instead of Ryou it was Bakura that answered him.

"What he means is, that when Yugi persuaded the gods to agree to let the pharaoh and I have another chance at life the agreement was that if he didn't receive the unconditional love of his dark or his dark turned to another then Yugi would forfeit his life…"

"Oh Ra no." Solomon whispered, distraught at the thought of his grandson giving up his life for someone who quite frankly he didn't think deserved it.

Ignoring the protests of both Ryou and Bakura, Solomon walked to the now ruined temple of Osiris.

When Solomon reached the aging temple he ventured inside and found that the alter was still standing and still in one piece, he knelt before it and prayed, "Oh mighty Osiris hear my plea, with this offering I beg of you, come forth and speak with me." After uttering the last line Solomon slit his right wrist and laid it upon the alter so that his blood could flow down the narrow channel and into the small alabaster cup that was situated within the centre.

The ground that Solomon stood upon shook but the old man never moved determined to right the wrong that had befallen his grandson.

"Who are you that seeks an audience with the forgotten gods of Egypt?" a voice boomed out from the darkness.

"It is I Solomon formally known as Shimon, advisor to the nameless pharaoh." Solomon said confidently.

There was a slight pause before the voice replied, "Solomon, long time friend to Egypt and her gods what can we help you with?"

"How did you know I needed your help?" Solomon enquired.

Solomon heard a chuckle before Ra himself answered "I have watched the pharaoh and his charge and have noticed that the young one is now alone in the desert." There was a slight pause before Ra asked "Why is this so?"

Solomon sighed, "I'm not sure." The old man said as he sat his weary body down "But from what Ryou told I me I believe that Yugi is very much in love with the pharaoh and came to you and made a deal with you for him to stay." Solomon stopped speaking for a while and as the god was about to speak Solomon spoke again, "But it seems that the pharaoh does not feel the same way." Solomon looked up at the statue of Osiris "Please Ra, Osiris I beg of you please, release my grandson from his bargain and take the pharaoh's soul as you should have done."

Solomon stood up and, after hearing nothing from the god turned to the statue and spoke again this time in a voice full of hurt "Why do I bother to speak to you? It seems that my grandson was always destined to suffer so that the arrogant pharaoh could enjoy the second life he was not entitled to!"

"What makes you say that mortal?!" Osiris suddenly asked angrily.

"Because if it weren't for Yugi's pleadings you would have led the pharaoh into the afterlife!" Solomon yelled just as angry, suddenly showing no fear in the god's presence…

The room was silent for a moment and Solomon thought that he had pushed the god too far when Osiris suddenly spoke, "You are right, we would have taken the pharaoh to what should have been his final resting place, I have already consulted the other gods and goddesses and despite the bargain we had with the young one, we have decided to right the wrong done."

Solomon wondered what the god had meant when he suddenly found himself back in the underground chamber with Joey and the others, he looked around and found that this time it was Yugi and the pharaoh that had disappeared…

Atemu and Yugi suddenly found themselves standing in a large plain room, Atemu looked at Yugi and narrowed his eyes "What did you do?" he hissed.

Yugi looked at him wide-eyed, "What makes you think I did anything?" he asked angrily.

"Oh come on." Atemu said as he ran his hand through his hair "First, you disappear like the coward you are and the next thing I know is that instead of being with Anzu, I'm here with you." He looked around "Wherever in Ra's name 'here' is."

"Here." A voice boomed out "Is where your soul truly belongs pharaoh."

Suddenly feeling afraid Atemu looked round the room "Mighty Osiris, why am I here?" he asked shakily.

The god immediately noticed Atemu's use of the word 'I' instead of 'we' and it displeased him, "You are where you should have been if your light hadn't pleaded for you."

"I, don't understand." Atemu said, "What is going on?"

The deity turned to the smaller of the two, "Yugi. In light of recent events you have been released from our bargain, I hope you enjoy a long and happy life." The disembodied voice said.

"But…" Yugi tried to say before he suddenly disappeared from the room leaving Atemu alone with a sudden feeling of dread…

"Pharaoh Atemu." the disembodied voice said, "Welcome back to the afterlife."

Well not everything can always be rosy can it…once in a while it goes wrong…

Chibi