DECLARAION: - This story has been written and produced by Cathrath (FanFiction. net ID: 609465). Distribution of any kind is prohibited without the written consent of Cathrath. If you should see this story posted anywhere other than FanFiction .net or under any other name it has been stolen so please notify the author. I do not own Yu-gi-oh.

Here's the penultimate chapter, hope you like it :-).

Chapter 20 – Resurrection

Yugi slowly became aware of voices around him and he opened his eyes to find his friends looking down at him with concern. He groaned. His whole body hurt. He hadn't felt like this since the last beating he had received from his grandfather. As he came round he was helped gently into a sitting position.

"Are you Ok Yug?" Jou asked concerned.

Yugi shook his head to clear his senses. Slowly the events of the night came back to him. They had won. Seto had been destroyed. Consumed by the very power he had sort to control. Yugi looked around. The outcrop was quiet now. The millennium rod and puzzle lay on the ground where they had fallen and the howling winds and portal were gone. All that remained was a burnt out area of rock where Yami had once been, still smoking slightly. Yugi pushed himself to his feet, supported by his friends as he swayed unsteadily. He gently pushed himself free of their grasp and slowly limped towards the area of blackened rock. No one made to follow or say anything. They understood the loss and pain he was feeling. They all felt it.

At the sight of the devastation up close Yugi collapsed to his knees weeping uncontrollably. They had won but at a terrible price. Yami had been sent to the shadow realm and even if he had survived, there was no way of getting him back. Jou approached his weeping friend and knelt beside him. Without a word he swept Yugi into his arms determined to comfort his friend as best he could. As he did Yugi wailed a terrible cry of grief and buried his head against Jou's chest weeping as though he would never stop. It was unbearable, he felt as though a part of soul had been ripped away.

It was a while later before the others approached and Yugi's wails had quietened to gentle sobs. Ishizu knelt down and laid a gentle hand on Yugi's forehead.

"I'm so sorry Yugi," she said in a choked voice.

Yugi lifted his swollen eyes to her.

"Is there any hope?" he said in a barely audible voice.

Ishizu shook her head sadly.

"No. The only way to open a portal to the shadow realm from this side is for the bearer to use all seven of the items together. Without Yami that is impossible, and even if we did somehow succeed it is very unlikely he has survived the graveyard".

"Graveyard?" Yugi asked in a small, frightened voice.

"It's what we call the doorway to the shadow realm. Any soul or creature sent to the shadow realm must first pass through the graveyard. It's the domain of the reaper of souls. The souls he claims stay trapped in the shadow realm forever," Ishizu said sadly.

Yugi shuddered as the image of the reaper came to him. It seemed all hope was lost. Suddenly Ishizu's words came back to him and he sat bolt upright.

"Only if someone uses all seven items together?" he asked repeating what she had said.

Ishizu sat back in surprise at Yugi's sudden movement.

"Yes but without the bearer its impossible no one el..," she stopped at the grim look of determination in Yugi's eyes.

"No, Yugi, you can't," she cried.

"I must," he said in a resolute voice as he stood, ignoring the pain in his body. He knew what to do. There was a way to save Yami if it wasn't already too late.

"What's going on? What do you mean?" Jou said in confusion.

Ishizu's eyes did not leave Yugi's as she spoke.

"Yugi is going to try and use the seven millennium items to open a portal. He's going to use his power over them as the chosen one."

"That doesn't sound so bad. Why all the doom and gloom?" Jou scratched his head in confusion.

Ishizu rounded on him angrily.

"Because it will destroy him you idiot. If he uses all of the items together he will be consumed by their power and may well destroy the world in the process."

Jou looked at Yugi in shocked disbelief.

"Yug...you can't. Yami wouldn't want this...."

Yugi was getting angry now. There was a way to save Yami and they were refusing to listen to him.

"How do we know what Yami would have wanted? He never got the chance to tell us did he? My mind in made up."

"That is enough Yugi," Ishizu said crisply.

Yugi's anger died down a little at her tone.

"Ishizu please, this is our one chance to save Yami. I know the risks but you must let me try."

Seeing the look of determination on Yugi's face Ishizu gave way.

"You must be careful Yugi. Are you truly aware of the consequences should this go wrong?"

Yugi nodded gravely.

"I am. I read the scrolls in your room Ishizu. I know what happened to the last chosen one who attempted this."

He turned to look at his friends.

"I have one request of you all. If this should go wrong there is a high chance that the millennium items, once combined, will take me over and become a force of evil like the one we just defeated. I can't allow that to happen. If the worse should happen you must destroy me."

"Yug...what? Y...you can't be serious," Jou exclaimed in shock.

Yugi's look became even more serious.

"I mean it Jou. You promised me once you would protect me no matter what the cost. If the items do possess me then I'm relying on you to protect me from myself. Will you keep your promise to me Jou?"

Yugi's tone and determination frightened Jou but at the request to confirm his promise Jou snapped out of his shock. Yugi was deadly serious and he needed his friend's reassurance. Blinking back tears Jou grimly looked at his friend.

"I will Yugi. I promised to protect you and by Ra I will, even if it costs me my own life."

"Thank you," Yugi said simply before turning back to Ishizu.

"I'm ready."

Ishizu sighed and reached up around her neck to release the clasp holding the millennium necklace. She held it out to Yugi but before handing it to him she spoke.

"When the chosen one last used the millennium items together there was a delay between using them and being taken over by them. If you are quick and you manage to find Yami before it's to late there may be a chance that what came to pass before can be prevented."

"I understand," Yugi said as he took the necklace from Ishizu and fastened it around his neck.

The moment he touched the necklace he heard it call out to him. One by one the other guardian's approached and handed him their items.

"You'll need this as well," Jou said as he handed Yugi, Bakura's millennium ring.

"How did you get this?" Yugi asked. He had completely forgotten about the ring.

"Bakura took a little tumble and I decide to relieve him of the object," Jou said as he pointed towards the edge of the outcrop.

Yugi's grim expression reflected his tone.

"Good," he said.

With five of the items in his possession Yugi's head was ringing. He turned and bent down to pick up the millennium rod that lay on the ground a little way from him. He paused before picking up the puzzle. This was it, he could feel the puzzle calling out to him and he knew that the moment he touched it the seven items power would become one. There would be no going back. The image of Yami being engulfed in the blue flame came rushing back to him and with no further hesitation he grasped the chain of the puzzle and hung it around his neck. As he did so he felt the unbelievable power of the items combine and flow through him. If he hadn't had his mind firmly set on rescuing Yami he may well have given in right there and then but his resolve was strong and he fought back. Suppressing the sound made by the items to a whisper in the back of his mind. He turned to the edge of outcrop where Seto had opened the portal to free himself and raised his hand. He didn't need instructions as to what to do. The knowledge had come with the combination of the items. A portal began to slowly open in front of him and with one last glance at his friends behind him he stepped through.

Yami ran. It was all he could do. The darkness around him closed in and he stumbled and fell. He could hear the sound of his pursuer drawing closer and he knew time was running out. He laid there for a moment, his tired and beaten body crying out for rest. His robes were torn and he was bleeding heavily from both the wounds received in the fight with Seto and those picked up in his flight. He dragged himself to his feet once more and continued to move through the crowds of tombs and memorials, each one representing a soul that had been trapped in the shadow realm. The graveyard was a formidable place indeed.

Yami had been running ever since he had arrived. After the Blue Eyes White Dragon's final attack he had woken to find himself in the graveyard, amongst the stone slabs that rose from the ground like trees. Something had been following him ever since. He hadn't seen it yet but he knew it was there and he knew that if he did it would be last thing he would ever see. As the feeling of danger grew stronger Yami glanced over his shoulder to look back. He didn't see the large stone monolith in front of him until it was too late. He hit it and was thrown to the floor. Struggled to raise himself back to his feet Yami found his strength was failing him and he knelt on the cold ground shaking with fatigue.

'Why do I run?' he wondered.

'It's over. Seto won and I paid the price for my weakness and failure.'

He slumped forwards, now kneeling on all fours, and hung his head in shame at his admission. He had failed. He had failed his friends, his people and worst of all he had failed Yugi. His body shook as he thought of what Seto would do to Yugi now Yami was out of the way. He slammed his fist into the ground.

'No, I can't give up. I must find a way out of this, a way back to Yugi,' with that thought and his last ounce of strength he climbed back to his feet.

The ominous presence of his pursuer was growing with every second but he limped forwards. To his surprise the tightly packed slabs of stone suddenly cleared and he found himself in small area of empty graveyard, empty except for a solitary stone slab in its centre. An immerse feeling of foreboding crept over him and fearful of what he might find Yami forced himself forwards. As he approached he noticed that letters were beginning to form on the stone. He sank to his knees in final acceptance of his defeat at the name inscribed on the tomb.

YAMI

"Its over," he whispered and turned to face the approaching pursuer he had fled from for so long and his fate.

The tall dark robed figure of the reaper appeared from the darkness and glided towards Yami his scythe held high. Yami found he couldn't move as the reapers shadow fell on him. He looked up fearfully into the dark empty blackness within the reapers hood as it towered over him and shivered. A grey, shrivelled hand reached out from the expanse of its robe to entwine itself in Yami's hair and then gently, almost lovingly it tilted Yami's head back to expose his throat. Yami watched, powerless to do anything, as the reaper discarded its scythe and unsheathed the sword around its waist.

'I see,' Yami thought sadly.

'Kings get the sword.'

He gently closed his eyes, as the ice like blade was laid against his throat and he prepared for the final fateful blow.

"LEAVE HIM ALONE," a voice shouted from behind him.

There was the sound of a solid thump and then Yami felt the cold hand release him and the presence of the reaper move away.

Yami looked around and was astounded to see Yugi standing in the middle of the clearing hefting a rock in his hand. A similar rock to the one he had just thrown at the reaper.

"Yugi?" he said in shock and surprise.

"Quickly Yami, we've got to get out of here," Yugi said desperately as the reaper advanced on him, his former prey now forgotten.

Still in shock at seeing Yugi in the shadow realm Yami continued to stutter his amazement.

"But how…how did you get here?"

"Please Yami we have to go," Yugi said again desperately as he dived out of the way of the reaper as it made a grab for him.

It was then that Yami noticed the puzzle around Yugi's neck and he realised he could feel the presence of the other six items.

"NO...you've used the millennium items.... You've combined their power. Yugi please I'm not worth this. I'm not worth throwing away your life for," Yami cried out in dismay.

Yugi dived out of the way of another lunge from the reaper and turned to Yami.

"How can you say that Yami after everything we've been through, after everything you've done for me, how can you say you're not worth it?"

Yugi dived once more out of the reach of the reaper but stumbled and fell. He flipped quickly onto his back and looked up fearfully at the reaper as it towered over him. Why wasn't Yami moving? Why wasn't Yami helping him?

"Please Yami you have to snap out of it we're running out of time. I'm running out of time," he shouted.

Yugi's eyes widened and he shrank back in fear as the reaper reached out for him. Then there was a loud fast swish and the reaper burst into flame. Yugi looked up in relief at Yami who was standing with the reaper's scythe in his hand. Yami dropped the scythe to the floor in disgust as Yugi picked himself off the floor and ran to him, wrapping his arms tightly around his middle. Yami returned the hug and smiled.

"Oh Yami, I thought I lost you forever," Yugi sobbed.

"It's alright Yugi, I'm Ok. At least I am now, thanks to you."

Yami tipped Yugi's face up to his own.

"Its time to go home," he said.

Yugi suddenly let Yami go and moved towards the edge of the clearing at hearing the word 'time'. Time was something he was running out of.

"Please Yami we have to hurry. We have to get out of the shadow realm."

Yami noticed the rising fear in Yugi's voice and he finally realised why. Yugi was using all seven of the millennium items and the longer he was in contact with them the more chance there was that they would combine into the evil Ishizu had foretold. Yugi was in great danger.

They ran, ran like they had never run before towards the portal to freedom. As they approached Yami took the lead and could see the rocky outcrop and the figures of their friends in front of him. Before he dived through he turned to check on Yugi's progress and was horrified to find him leaning heavily on a stone slab for support.

"Yami..," Yugi said weakly.

Yami dashed to his side and was terrified at what he saw. Yugi had one hand grasping the slab for support whilst the other clutched at his chest in pain. The look in Yugi's face was more terrifying. Although his eyes were still violet in colour they had dimmed somewhat and Yami could see something else behind his eyes, another presence trying to force its way through.

"Help me...," was all Yugi could manage as he struggled to stay in control.

Yami glanced over his shoulder towards the closing portal. It was nearly closed there was no way he would make it carrying Yugi.

"Leave me."

Yami's head whipped around from the portal at hearing Yugi's weakening voice. Realising what Yugi was asking of him Yami shook his head.

"No, I'm not leaving you Yugi."

The power of the millennium items was growing and Yugi was weakening rapidly. Yugi had a look of hopelessness in his eyes as Yami spoke. After all they had been through. They were both going to be trapped in the shadow realm.

» MASTER »

Yami swung around at the voice. He didn't recognise the deep tones but he knew to whom they belonged. The Dark Magician stood beside the portal halting its rapid closure with his staff.

» YOU MUST LEAVE. I CANNOT HOLD IT FOR LONG »

Not having to be told twice Yami swept Yugi into his arms and carrying him ran towards the portal. Before diving through he turned to the Dark Magician.

"Thank you Mahado," he said.

The Dark Magician smiled and nodded to Yami.

» Hurry », he said in a more human tone.

Yami nodded and dived through the portal, just as it closed behind him, into the cool night of the desert. He could hear the cries of elation from his friends as he appeared but he paid no heed to their approaching footsteps. His attention was focused solely on Yugi. Now they were back in the real world Yami could see the seven items Yugi was carrying. One by one he quickly tore them free from Yugi's grasp. If he could get Yugi away from the items maybe he could prevent what he feared from coming to pass. Yugi was breathing fast and screwed his eyes shut as he struggled to fight with the growing power inside of him. Yami had successfully discarded six of the items and now turned his attention to the puzzle. As he reached to remove the puzzle from around Yugi's neck Yugi's hand snaked up like lightning to grasp Yami's wrist. Yami cried out at the unusual strength in the grip.

As Yugi slowly opened his eyes Yami and the others shrank back from him. Yugi's eyes once a deep violet were now glowing a blood red, just like Seto's had been. Yami cried out again as Yugi flung him away and slowly stood.

The possessed form of Yugi slowly began to advance on his friends. Realising what was happening Yami picked himself up from the floor and dived in front of the advancing Yugi.

"Yugi, listen to me we are your friends, you must fight it."

Without a word Yugi raised his fist and fired a bolt of lightning straight at Yami. Yami dived out of the way before the bolt struck but was showered with shards of rock as the blast hit a boulder directly behind him. Yami once more climbed to his feet.

"Please Yugi you have to hear me, fight it."

The controlled form before him stopped and smiled a cold uncharacteristic smile and his blood red eyes flashed.

»Yugi is not here anymore. We are in control »

A cold chill ran though Yami's spine at the sound of the cold metallic voice that came from Yugi's lips. It was not Yugi who spoke.

"Where is he? What have you done with him?" Yami questioned.

Yugi advance closer to him.

» He has served his purpose. We are free now »

"Let him go. Please, Yugi fight it," Yami cried out in desperation. If he didn't get through to Yugi soon it would be too late.

Yami reluctantly moved his hand to the hilt of his sword as the figure in front of him clenched his fist once more. It erupted in a ball of blue white flame. Yugi levelled the fireball at Yami and drew back his arm for the attack. Yami had half slid the sword out of its sheaf when Yugi released the fireball but to Yami surprise it flew harmlessly into the air. Yami looked at Yugi closely and saw the figure in front of him stagger and let out an inhuman, animal like cry, which altered into a more human scream. Yugi turned toward Yami again holding his head in pain.

"Yugi...?" Yami said in desperate hope.

Yugi's eyes, although still red, now looked more normal, more human. Yami approached the struggling form of his friend.

Yugi backed away from Yami.

"NO...stay back...I can't control it...help me," he cried out.

Yugi screamed in pain again as he fought to control the force taking him over. Yami started to move forward, concerned for his friend.

"Yami...please, I can't control it...you must...you know what to do...," Yugi said through clenched teeth.

Yami knew what Yugi was referring to and he couldn't bring himself to contemplate it.

"NO, I won't. Let me help you."

"You...you have to. Please Yami I don't want it to end this way...Help me...destroy me...please," Yugi pleaded as he collapsed to his knees.

Yami drew closer until he was only feet away from his fallen friend. He reached out a hand to Yugi but was thrown back by an incredible force.

» We will not be touched »

Came the cold metallic voice once again as the controlled body of Yugi lifted its head. Blood red eyes flashed once more in place of the violet.

» We are in control once more »

From the confines of his mind Yugi watched as the consciousness within the millennium items controlled his body and moved closer to Yami, backing him into a small rock face. Yami was trapped.

» You must be destroyed »

The metallic voice said as Yugi raised both his arms for the final blast.

Yami drew his sword. If he was quick enough he could get his strike in before Yugi was able to summon his power. The skies began to darken once again.

Yugi could feel the build up of power inside himself and he knew Yami would not be quick enough to strike. In one last desperate attempt he pushed at the barriers holding him back and with a sudden jolt he broke through. Yami watched Yugi struggle for control and then fall to his knees.

Yugi wrapped his arms tightly around his body, as he once more took control but he knew his time was short. The power of the puzzle and the other items was growing again. He knew he would not have the strength to fight them off for a third time. He raised his pain filled eyes to Yami who cried out in elation at seeing Yugi return to normal but he also noticed the trembling of Yugi's form and the way he hugged himself in pain. The battle was not over yet.

"Yugi..," he said tentatively.

"Yami... you have to...whilst I'm still in control...I don't know how much longer I can hold out...please Yami you must...you must kill me."

"No," Yami said in despair.

"Yami you must...there's no alternative...I don't want to destroy the world. I don't want to hurt anybody."

Tears were streaming down Yami's face at hearing Yugi's pleading and unselfish words.

"Yugi I...," he said, his voice filled with grief and pain.

"Please Yami...time is running out...please before it's too late".

Yami nodded and raised his sword. He could hear Jou's cries behind him but he knew what he had to do, what he hoped would never come to pass. He raised his sword high as he drew closer to the boy before him. Yugi's eyes were tightly shut and his head was bowed as he fought to remain in control.

The tears poured down Yami's face like rivers as he made the final step towards Yugi and raised his sword high over his head. He would make it quick and clean. Yugi wouldn't suffer he gave out a howl of grief as he started to swing the sword down. Suddenly a bright flash from the puzzle around Yugi's neck blinded him and he staggered back, altering the swing of the blade. The sword imbedded itself deep into the ground beside Yugi barely missing him. Yami raised his hand to shield his eyes again as he stared at the puzzle.

Suddenly he knew what to do and he threw the sword aside and made a grab for the puzzle. The puzzle burned his hands as he grabbed hold of it but undeterred Yami yanked at the chain around Yugi's neck. The chain snapped at the force and came away. As he took hold of the puzzle and moved it away from Yugi he heard the cries of anguish from the millennium items and watched as Yugi fell limply to the floor. Yami staggered at the onslaught of voices in his head as he held the millennium puzzle in his hand but he knew what he had to do. He raised it high above his head and threw it to the floor. The puzzle shattered into pieces at his feet and the cries of the items faded away. Yami himself fell to the floor unconscious to lie beside Yugi.

Well, there you go see I couldn't just leave Yami in the Shadow realm but how will it end. One chapter to go.