Author: Junko the Lost

Disclaimer: Me no own!

Review Responses:

Thank you everyone who reviewed.

---

For several years after the death of Yuugi, the people suffered fruitlessly under their new Pharaoh; a previous advisor of Yuugi's who had been a firm supporter of his execution. Many people died in the plagues that ripped through the nation afterward, and it could be assured that no one went without feeling the affects of the death of the Young Pharaoh.

No one was more affected than his lover, Yami, who returned shortly afterwards to his home in the Black Citadel in a distant country. Yuugi's friends mourned his loss more than any others, praying that his soul found peace in the afterlife, even though they knew that through the stripping of his name, his soul was bound to wander endlessly.

In the weeks that followed his death, his name was erased from every monument and temple. The new pharaoh ordered him to be forgotten, entirely destroyed from the people's memories, but his crown did not rest lightly, for within the year, he was killed by passing thieves who had heard of the state of disarray in the kingdom and took advantage of it.

The pendant which housed the three spirits who served as faithful friends and servants to Yuugi was given to Jounouchi by Yami, who said he would prefer not to be reminded of one more thing about Yuugi. Aisha rose in status among the Priestesses in the Kingdom, as Seto taught her more about the strict code that governed their lives. The work was unrewarding however, without Yuugi's gentle remarks about her progress and his warm smile.

Malik found a home with Javelin in a nearby city to the capital where they lived a humble life and visited their friends often in the city. Marik eventually left the city, his who-gives-a-goddamn attitude earning him a place among a roaming group that traveled from place to place, seeking nothing more than to live life to the fullest. Ryou and Bakura stayed in town, setting up an inn where they served to various passing crowds as Bakura's quick wit and sharper tongue earned him tidbits of information about life outside the walls of the city. Honda stayed in the city, living comfortably, but a bit subdued after the Pharaoh's death.

Life progressed, even though to some felt the world should have stopped for Yuugi. His warm words and the kind memories he left behind pushed the friends he'd left behind to remember to live life everyday with happiness, joy, and kindness. Several years after Yuugi's death, Marik's group of nomadic travelers was passing by the Black Citadel when he decided to visit Yami. When he inquired as to where the sorcerer was staying, he was informed that Yami had locked himself in his tower some six years ago, only exiting for meals.

When he asked if he could speak to him, he was told that no, Yami had requested complete solitude. Many believed him to have gone insane, while others insisted he was pouring over tombes of books, creating spells. There was even one rumor that he had become able to pass into the astral plane, which the common person reverently described as the 'Shadow Realm.'

Whether these rumors were true was never to be discovered, as Yami was found dead in his tower two years later, after not having come for food in three days. The books and scrolls scattered about his tower revealed nothing as to what he was studying. He never did tell anyone about the Puzzle, binding Yuugi into it until he could return to the realm of the living when it was safe, and someone he loved would speak his name, restoring his spirit into his khat, or body. Yuugi's ka lingered for three thousand years, his memories dissolving into dust.

But hope springs from even the darkest of places and in the modern world of increasing technology a boy was born who bore a remarkable likeness to the ancient sorcerer of old. He even had the same name. He bore the same love for magic in all its forms and soon found himself studying it as he grew older. His grandfather eventually gave him a puzzle he had found in the deserts of Egypt.

Yami soon found himself trying to piece together the puzzle, each step of the way deciphering the Egyptian text carved onto the surface. As pieces fell into place, he learned the names of Yuugi in all his forms. Having studied Egyptian history for quite some time, he knew that only a Pharaoh would have all these names to protect him. He was awed by the power that simple puzzle gave him.

As he slid the last piece into place, Yuugi was finally released, his ka set free from its prison. Yami soon found himself staring at a boy who looked remarkably similar to him except for his kinder eyes and opener smile.

/Hello/ the spirit spoke, a small laugh tumbling from his lips.

"Hi," Yami replied suspiciously, eyeing the apparition with disbelief. "Who are you?"

The spirit's face fell, /I don't know. I should, but I can't remember./

"You can't remember anything?" Yami asked in disbelief.

/No, all I can remember is dying,/ he shivered, /painfully./ For long days and nights after their meeting, Yami and 'his other self' spent their time trying to understand the implications of the Puzzle. Yami believed the spirit to have been a Pharaoh, his ka trapped in the Puzzle for unknown reasons until someone could put it back together. They couldn't be sure, however, that the inscriptions on the Puzzle were indeed speaking about the spirit housed within.

While Yami was with his friends, or at school, the spirit merely rested inside Yami's mind, trying to remember all that he could. One day, as he was telling Yami about his adventures inside the boy's mind, Yami decided to try to let the Pharaoh take control of his body, while he rested inside his mind. It seemed perfectly logical that they would be able to switch places, and indeed they could, the ancient Pharaoh took great delight in the modern inventions of soda and chocolate.

The two became fast friends, and closer than brothers. They would often have long talks about anything and everything as they sat in Yami's mind as he slept, but was still awake inside his mind.

And then, the unexplainable happened. Through their closeness, they felt an overwhelming love that grew in all they did. One day, they kissed, and the Pharaoh felt a spark of memories, of Yami holding him at night as they watch the sun set over the desert. Yami, too, received a spark of something. The spell that his past life had placed on the Puzzle was fulfilled, and he suddenly knew the name that would free the Pharaoh.

"Sirairykmxt," he whispered, and in a flash, they found themselves evicted from Yami's mind and sitting in his room again, but they were both shocked to see the Pharaoh sitting there, in the flesh. A giggle erupted from his throat as memories flooded back to him, what a clever lover he had had. He then glanced at the present Yami. 'And have,' he thought with a grin.

Yami was filled with memories as well, his past life's memories flooding into him as he recalled the love they had shared in the turbulent times. The Pharaoh stood with catlike grace, moving over to pull Yami into a hug.

"Thank you, koi. I love you," he said, tears stinging at his eyes as he finally held his love close once again.

"I love you too, mou hitori no ore," Yami whispered back, knowing better than to use the spirit's sacred name unless in dire need. He'd studied enough Egyptian mythology to know that the name was holy, and he now had power over the Pharaoh's very soul.

"Please, call me Yuugi."

-End-

Thank you everyone who ever read this. I love you all for sticking with me in the endless plot suckiness. Yes, I know it basically had no plot, but that's not the point. I just wanted to say thanks and to read my other fics, most of which I hope will not be this long since it was a pain in the butt to stick with this for so long, and since I didn't have it outlined to start with, the plot line is, well, more of a circle, loop, thing. BTW, a thousand plushies to anyone who reviewed, and a thousand more for anyone who actually –liked- this story. Love you all. Ja ne!

Junko the Lost