Disclaimer: Okay, since I don't wanna go though those court cases again: It's been two full stories, with over 50 chapters of the same disclaimer; do I really need to say it again? I DON'T OWN IT!

If you have the time, PLEASE REVIEW!

A/N: This editing system bites. No more stars, slashes....all mindlinks are in italics and such....you know the drill...'sigh' This is one of my most sad chappies....

Chapter #30: Goodbye My Yami

------In the Pharaoh's Tomb—Elaya's POV----

My head was KILLING me. It was worse than a migraine ten fold! When my eyes fluttered open, it wasn't any better. The bright lights of Atemu's tomb—that come from the candles and torches—were quite blinding compared to the darkness of his mind chamber....

Whoa. We were all inside his mind. Odd, eh? We were actually INSIDE his mind. God, I'm such a dork.

Finally using my arms to rise, I sit up in a kneeling position and wait for my body to adjust. Owie...Owie...Owie....I shut my eyes tightly for about a minute, and then opened them. Well, that didn't help. Now, I have black spots all over the place. Dammit....

Looking around me, I notice the 'sleeping' bodies of my friends lying around me. Joey was groaning in discomfort, Tristan was stirring, Yugi was still out of it and Téa was already up, like me! Girl power!

"Hey...Elaya....You alright?" She asked me in a tired voice, staring at me blankly. Nodding back to her, we both tried to stand up. We did, but with EXTREME difficulty.

"Think the guys will get up?" I asked slowly.

"Probably." Téa smiled. "GET UP!" She shouted, startling everyone awake.

"What the hell was THAT for?! Jesus, Téa, I have a headache here!" Joey complained. Slowly, everyone got up; they were all swaying from side to side. Everyone, except Shadi and Ishizu. Hey, where's Kaiba?

Pushing past Yugi and Tristan, I find him, still knocked out cold. "Can someone help me pick him up?"

Sighing, Tristan and Joey held him up much like Téa and I did in Atemu's mind. "Shit, he's a dead weight." Tristan muttered.

Meanwhile, Ishizu and Pegasus were shaking Marik awake. "My brother, wake up." Unfocused purple eyes finally opened and he was helped to his feet. Hey! He's not that crazy one anymore! He's the guy who thought I was crazy when I asked him 'how do you swear if you're Egyptian!'

"Hey, Marik, ya sure you're not crazy anymore?" Joey smirked as Marik stared at him.

"Honestly, Wheeler, shut up." Noting how his voice was no longer than evil deep voice, everyone safely concluded he was a-okay!

Ishizu hugged him, muttering some things in Egyptian. "I'm so glad you're alright! I'm so glad you are free!"

"As I am, sister."

Looking back towards the Pharaoh's tomb, I notice that Shadi is walking inside it, not really caring what's going on. I guess he's not one for family affairs.

Slowly walking towards the hugging siblings, I look past them and see a boy with white hair, lying on his side. Bakura!

I kneel beside him and shake him. "Bakura, get up...." That's when I notice a large purple bruise on his wrist and that it was bent at an unnatural angle. What the hell happened to his wrist? "Bakura! Get up!"

He stirred slightly and then mumbled something along the lines of, "I don't wanna go to school...." I shook him harder, making him open his eyes and blink a few times. "Oh...Elaya....What am I doing on the floor?" He asks me in that cute accent.

"Beats me. Come on, we have a ritual to do."

"You mean we're not done? What have we been doing all this time.....?" He asks again, the last part getting soft, and starts to rise. Before I could warn him not to use his purple wrist for support.... "AH!" He falls back down—flat on his face—and cradles his wrist. "OW! Bloody hell! OW! My wrist! What the hell happened to my--!? Oh yeah...." He says the last part softly as he remembers.

"Care to tell me, 'what the hell happened to your wrist' Bakrua?" I ask, grabbing his arm and helping him up.

"It's nothing....I must of fallen on it when I crashed to the floor the first time." God, he is SUCH a lair.

"Elaya, is he alright?" A soft voice asks. Yugi walks up to us sadly.

"Yeah, I'm fine Yugi." Bakura smiles. Slowly, but surely we meet up with everyone else in Atemu's tomb.

"Alrighty then...." Joey mutters. "We got one dead weight and one without the proper use of his wrist. Call for some back up."

"Joey, NOT the time." Téa grumbles at him.

"Shadi?" Yugi asks, coming out in front of everyone. Shadi was currently standing behind some massive rock....

((( That's not a rock, silly girl. It's the sarcophagus where Atemu's remains lay. ))) Justi informed me. Hey, I guess she's still up in my head even after we left Atemu's mind.

(( You mean to tell me that there is a 3000 year old corpse lying RIGHT in front of us? ))

((( Yes. )))

(( Aw man, that's gross! But kinda cool! )) I smile. Sure, it IS gross—having a 3000 year old dead body a foot in front of you—but hey, he's probably a skeleton now or something....Oh....freaky Halloween music!

"Yes Yugi....What is it?" Shadi asks eyes unfocused and monotone.

"I'd like—I'd like to start the—the ritual now." Yugi stuttered out.

Shadi looked down on him—height difference—and nodded. "We must wait until all Item holders are conscious. Everyone looks at Joey, Tristan and Kaiba.

"What do you want us to do?" Tristan asks, looking around at the seven pairs of eyes looking at them. "Wake up the sleeping beauty by a kiss from a magical prince?"

"Ra, if these people get any stupider—" Marik began to whine.

"—Brother!" Ishizu scolds. "Yes. Please, wake him up. We need him for the ritual."

With his free hand, Joey lightly slaps one side of his face. "Hey! Money- bags! Rise and shine!"

A few moments later, Seto grunts in annoyance as he stirs. "Go to hell, Wheeler." When his eyes finally open and he realizes what is happening, he growls. "Let go of me you morons!" Standing on his own two feet—after pushing Joey and Tristan away from him—he crosses his arms over his chest and stares coldly at Shadi. "What?!"

"Now that Kaiba-boy is awake, can we get started?" Pegasus asks. "I've had too much excitement in one day! So many things....so little time."

"Yeah, what time IS it, anyway?" Bakura asks. Joey looks at his watch. "WHOA! It's almost ten o'clock! If we got here around noon....that means--"

"—We've been sleeping for ten hours?!" My white haired friend shouts. Everyone looks at him strangely. "What?"

"Bakura, I'll explain later on the plane ride home." I whisper to him.

"Do not blame Bakura's lack of knowledge on the subject. He was residing in the Shadow Realm when his darker half took over. The guy probably has no recollections of what happened when he was in there OR what was happening outside." Marik explains.

"And how would you know that?" Joey sneers.

"Because I don't have a clue either!" Marik shouts back at him. "What I said was just a hypothesis."

"Marik, you have to say your words in fragments that Wheeler understands." Kaiba smirks.

"STOP FIGHTING!" Yugi yells. "We need to do this NOW!" Breathing in loudly from his outburst, he turns back to Shadi. "Can we start now?"

"Yes. Bring the God Cards forward." Yugi opens the lid of his 'secret black box' and takes out three cards: A blue one, a red one and a yellow one. Shadi takes them and places them in three square impressions around the head piece of the Pharaoh's tomb. "Now, the Items."

Marik walks forward, but turns back suddenly. "Kaiba! Get over here! You are a part of this too!"

"Do not deny your past. You WERE a high priest that wielded the Millennium Rod." Ishizu glares at him. Kaiba walks forward and becomes in step with Marik's pace.

"Place a hand on your Item." Marik instructs. Growling again, Kaiba places a hand on the Rod. That's when Marik grabs his head and Kaiba grabs his chest. "AH!"

Purple light come out of the Item and begins to circle both of them. "What's happening to them?!" I shout loudly, wanting to grab Seto and pull him out.

As soon as it came, it was gone. Marik shook his head and placed the Item in its respective spot: in the right hand of the Pharaoh. "Good bye." Marik whispered to the Item. Kaiba huffed and walked back towards us.

"Kaiba what happened to you?" Ishizu asked. He didn't answer her as usual. Marik spoke for him. "The Rod showed the memories and the powers it used over the years. Well, that's what it did to me." Assuming that the same happened to Kaiba, the subject was dropped.

"Who's next?" Téa asked aloud. Ishizu stepped forward and Yugi gave her the Necklace. She held it with her arms out stretched. The Necklace let off an orange light and Ishizu gasped for air several times before everything went still again. She placed her Item at the feet of the Pharaoh's 'sarcophagus'.

"Elaya, let go. It's my turn now." Bakura whispered, pulling away from me. I hadn't realized that I was clutching on to his arm since the Items started to get freaky. I left quite a nasty red imprint.

"Sorry." I shoved my hands into my pockets and let them fidget. He walked up and took off the Ring, reached into his pocket as a red light appeared in there and pulled out the Eye. "Pegasus, here." Bakura handed him the Eye as they both stood in front of the tomb. Their Items merely glowed a faint shade and made winds appear out of nowhere to make their hair get tossed. They both frowned in discomfort, but they held on without screaming. A muffled scream broke the silence just as the Ring stopped glowing. That must be Yami Bakura's scream. I guess he doesn't want to go either.....

"Good riddance to this Ring." Bakura frowned as he placed it in its place, looking at it with a vengeful eye. Pegasus placed the Eye at the top of the coffin, right in the forehead.

"Bakura?" Yugi began to say. "The spirit of the Ring, your Yami, was once like you.....But his life was changed in the worst way possible to make him bitter. His vengeful ways will be carried on until he can somehow forgive me and my Yami."

"But how could YOU make him bitter? I had the Ring a few years before you completed the Puzzle."

"It's just....That event that made him bitter was caused by Atemu's family and priests to make the Items and to protect the world from the Gods destruction." Yugi explained. He began to get into detail with the whole ninety-nine killed and Yami Bakura—once named Ryou—was the last one alive. Seeing everyone he loved die, it made him seek revenge against Atemu's family......

Bakura looked at the floor with no comments made as Yugi finished. Well....I guess I'm up to bat. Taking the Scales from that black box, I stood in front of the sarcophagus, arms outstretched.

The Scales glowed green and my head began to hurt again. Biting my lip to prevent screaming, I think I bit too hard—I tasted blood in my mouth. Something hit me! I know why it hurts! I know why everyone else was in pain! My mind chamber no longer has the two doors! Justi's is being removed! That's why it hurts!

((( Good bye my light. ))) Her voice whispered.

(( Good bye Justi! Don't forget me! )) I shut my eyes tightly and brought myself into my mind chamber. I see the wall where she used to be was disappearing. She was standing right in front of my door! I place my hand on the door and she does the same.

What if she does forget me?! No! I won't let that happen. I run back into my chamber and grab the first thing I can give to her: a black hair-tie with a yellow and blue flower on it. Racing back, I notice that she is almost half gone! (( Hold on Justi! Lemme do this....Just in case you lose your memories again! ))

I push past my see-through door and hold on to what is left of her. I grab a chunk of her orange hair and tie the band on it; making a small pony tail near the front of her face. She touches what I've done and smiles. Tears were rolling down her cheeks.

((( Good bye Elaya....Ra, I'll miss you! ))) Moving with invisible legs she reached out to hug me. Her arms wrapped around me protectively, not wanting to let go. Her tears stained my T-Shirt, but I didn't care. I was letting my own tears cover her shoulder as well. She was slowly disappearing. Shutting my eyes, I tried not to accept what was happening.

(( No! Justi, don't go! I'll miss you! )) Opening my eyes—and letting fresh tears fall—I realize that I was hugging air. Nothing was left.

She was gone.

Bringing myself out of my mind chamber, I look around to see that I was still in the Pharaoh's tomb. Swallowing a lump in my throat I placed the Scales underneath Bakura's Ring and returned to my spot beside Bakura.

"You gonna be okay E?" He asked me after noticing my red eyes and my constant wiping of my nose. I nod. "I'm gonna miss her."

Shadi still stood emotionlessly at the head of the coffin. Taking off his Key, he paused for a moment. It glowed yellow, but that was all. He placed it in the left hand of the Pharaoh's coffin.

"Ready Yugi?" Shadi asks. "It is your turn now."

-------Yugi's POV-------

This is it. This is the last time you'll hear from Atemu.....Just do it! Walking up to his tomb, I take off the Puzzle and hold it in front of me. All the other Items react to it, glowing their own colours as mine glows white.

Get it over with. The faster this is done, the faster......the faster he'll be out.....of my life.

:::: Yugi...... ::::

I don't answer him and continue to hold the Puzzle out in front of me. Shadi begins to chant something and soon, Ishizu and Marik join in.

:::: Yugi....Please..... :::: His voice is so pleading.....He wants to see me one more time....before he leaves.....

I shut my eyes as my head begins to throb. :: Atemu! I don't want you to leave! ::

:::: Yugi. Open your eyes. :::: Atemu whispers. He sounds louder. As if he's standing in front of me....

Oh. He is. Dressed in formal Egyptian attire, he really does look like the Pharaoh that Yami Bakura and Yami Marik spoke of. Looking around, I recognize the place instantly. It's the place where our mind chambers meet! But what am I doing here?

:::: I brought you here Yugi. I wanted to see you once more before I depart.... :::: Atemu looked so sad.

"Atemu, why are you talking through our mind link?" I ask him. But he doesn't answer. He just keeps staring at me, as if he never heard me in the first place. :: Have you lost your hearing and speaking abilities or something? ::

:::: Yes. I have. I am already slipping away from you. But I don't want to! I want to stay a part of you, Yugi. I don't want to leave. All of OUR memories.... :::: Atemu's eyes dropped to the floor. Behind him, the wall where his mind chamber once was slowly disintegrating. He's leaving. And everything he has is leaving too.

Something struck me, and it made me want to cry out. :: Atemu, if history will repeat itself, will you lose all your memories again? ::

:::: Yes. :::: Atemu's voice was strangled and weak. Like he was.....crying?

:: Does that mean that you'll lose the memories of me and our friends? :: I ask, tears falling.

:::: Yes. :::: He repeated. :::: My memories and our memories will stay with me until the Puzzle is found again in pieces.....I don't know how long I can hold on to them before they slip away and I forget everything again.... ::::

He'll forget me. Just like he'll forget all his memories of his past.....Unless....I reach for my deck that still hangs attached to my studded belt and pull out the Dark Magician. Knowing that Atemu doesn't have much time, I race from my mind chamber and back carrying a black marker and some tape on my return.

:::: Yugi? What are you doing? :::: He asks watching me with his purple gaze.

Without saying anything I—with the help of that marker—scribble on the top half of the Dark Magician card writing, 'YUGI', and on the bottom half of the card, 'ATEMU'. Staring at the card that has brought me so many victories with my Yami for one last moment, I turn the card horizontally—as if it was in defence position—and tear it in two.

:::: YUGI! What have you done! That is the Dark Magician! Your favourite card! :::: Atemu eyes widened as he looked at the torn card in my hands.

:: No, Atemu. It was OUR favourite card. If your memories are going to be taken away from you, so be it. But at least you'll remember our duels and my name. :: I respond. Grabbing Atemu's identical Puzzle, I reach for the piece of the Puzzle where the Millennium Symbol sits and I pull it out. With the tape, I place his half of the card—the one that says, 'YUGI' on it—on the inside part of that Puzzle piece securely. I put that Puzzle piece back into place and put the other half of the card, which has 'ATEMU' on it, in my deck. :: Every time you see that card, something deep within your head will tickle your thoughts......You'll wonder who Yugi was and if history repeats itself, you'll know. You probably won't remember what we did together, but at least you'll have a name. ::

:::: Yugi.....Oh Ra. I don't want to-- :::: He starts to say.

:: But you have to. I know it's....it's hard, but.....this is the only way you'll be in the afterlife guaranteed for another 3000 years..... :: I look at him with sternly. :: I don't want you to leave either, Atemu, but....but....I don't know....I want you to stay here with me, but I know that you have to leave. Everyone else has sacrificed their powers and spirits for us. ::

:::: Yes. They did.... :::: He nods. A bright light shines at the end of the hallway of our mind chambers. Squinting, I notice the silhouettes of people standing there. That one looks like Kaiba! Is that Justi and Ishizu? That one looks like Pegasus! And it's Ryou too! Atemu looked their way then back to mine with a sad expression.

:: Go on Atemu. They're waiting for you. :: I look down at the ground when I feel Atemu embrace me.

:::: Yugi....never forget me. Never forget our memories. I will always be there for you in your heart. Never forget me.... :::: He stood up, turned around and started to walk towards the white light where everyone was standing. He looked back once, his sad expression fading to reveal a smile. I saw him hold up his Puzzle and take out the piece with the card attached to it. He looked at it for the longest time before putting it back in and walking forward.

:::: Good bye my Hikari....Never forget..... :::: His last words faded into nothing as I was left standing alone in my mind.

:: Good bye my Yami.... :: I brushed the tears aside and felt the remainder of my mind-link slip away with him. "Good bye."

---------------------------

Wowzers. A nine pager in one day! I congratulate myself! : )

Was it 'tear-jerking' at all? Leave your comments in the review! I'll have the next chappie up soon! (The bet is still on Jemmie!)

PLEASE REIVEW!

PS. The story is nearly complete! Beware! Sadness and angsty situations lie ahead! BRING YOUR TISSUES! You have been warned. LOL!