Author's Notes: Now everyone, talk a deep breath... And calm down... Maybe I should tone down the excitement level... Well, I hope everyone is prepared to learn a couple of things because school is back in session! Of course, for me, too since I started school a month ago. Also there is some material that I am unsure if anyone is offended by, but I apologize for it. The idea popped up in my head... Why don't I just start the chapter?

Chapter 26: Remembering The Past!

I awoken two hours later, still dark and the morning was due to arise in a couple of hours. I wiped my face of sweat as I realized how hot the room had become. I took off my shirt to cool down and placed my head on the soft pillow. My skin rubbed against the purple fabric and I tried to fall back to sleep, yet something troubled me. I couldn't shrug off what was wrong with Artemis. She seemed lost in her own world and she almost declined to become the Guardians' new leader. Could she be afraid of something? Or has she seen the future?

A cold feeling went down my spine as I heard the wind blow outside. The water in the lake rippled in the breeze, the dead of night felt eerie and dark as I clasped my hand on the amulet. It glowed an ominous silver glow, shining in my face. A knock came on my door and I nearly jumped. I crept out of bed, walking cautiously to the door and opening it slightly. I peered through the crevice as a hand stuck out and grabbed my shoulder. I quickly shut the door, but I heard a muffled cry of a person.

"Yugi, it's me!" Artemis's voice said through the door.

I opened the door once more, allowing Artemis to enter as she rubbed her nose. I chuckled quietly, but I earned a glare from Artemis. She closed the door behind her, trying to guise her blush once she saw my bare chest. I nodded my head in curiosity.

Artemis shook her away and glanced out the window. She strolled over to it, touching the cold glass and lost in her thoughts again.

"What's wrong?" I asked, walking over to her.

Artemis sighed. "I can't sleep. My mind keeps replaying the event when Yukai and Pluto were destroyed." Her eyes had dark circles under them.

I placed a reassuring on her shoulder. I grew suspicious of her behavior because it seemed something else troubled her. "Artemis, you don't have to be afraid to tell me more."

Artemis lowered her eyes. "Promise that you will not get mad?"

"I promise."

Artemis seated herself on my bed, straightening out her long robes and I sat beside her. Her hands rested on her thighs, the torchlight reflected her features. A sad look came upon her face.

"I've been around for many centuries, waiting for reasons beyond my control," she began. "I met people in the past like Atem, and there were some others that you may recognize."

I raised an eyebrow. "What do you mean?"

"Joey, Tea, Tristan, Serenity, Ryou, Seto, Mokuba and Nick are really reincarnations of people I once knew," Artemis continued.

"Then it isn't mere coincidence that I met them!" I yelled in surprise. I noticed Artemis's darkened look.

She began to snicker. "Yugi, some of them may seem good, but in the past they may have been evil."

I gasped in shock. How could she say that? I grabbed her shoulders and yelled, "That can't be true!"

"Believe it or not, I don't lie! Even Pluto has no realization of some people he knew!" Artemis said back.

I fell silent. Artemis was still holding back a secret. One that she had kept hidden for years and I had to find out. She even knew about Pluto's past, perhaps also Yukai.

"You're just like your mother, before she and your father perished..." Artemis whispered softly.

How did she know about my parents' death? I knew she wasn't around when that occurred. My father followed in my grandpa's footsteps and became an archeologist. My mother was one, too and after I turned seven, they took me to one of their excavations in Egypt.

When we arrived to Egypt, my parents were aware they were being followed and tried to be cautious. As soon as we came to the excavation site, some people in cloaks appeared and demanded that if my parents found treasure, they would have to give them it or die. My parents never heeded their warning and paid it with their lives.

I was kept in a hiding place, terrified over what had happened, and I somehow came back to my grandpa in Domino. I didn't remember how I got there, but a year later Grandpa gave me the Millennium Puzzle.

"I'm sorry they're dead..." Artemis said. "I had no idea because my memories were erased when I took over this body. It's taken me years to get them back..."

I glared at Artemis for a moment. I knew she was keeping more deeper thoughts within her. She gazed at me and then looked at the floor. It appeared she was not willing to tell me anything else and I let her off, this time...

Artemis began to chuckle for some reason. She placed her right hand on her forehead and nodded.

"What's so funny?" I queried.

She smiled at me. "Oh, it's just... Well, that look you're giving me!"

I thought she had finally lost it... I didn't know what could be so funny at a time like this, especially when the Galactic Dragon was on the loose.

"I honestly cannot believe Pluto actually loved me before..." she remarked.

"WHAT?" I yelled angrily. I was puzzled over her comment.

"Pluto accidentally mistaken me for Luna because I resembled her. Someone had clearly not explained to him what a doppelgänger was."

"I was about to say..." I muttered as I stared at Artemis. She appeared happy again and I drew closer to her.

"I guess I have to leave. I don't want you to lose any of your sleep." Artemis decided as she got up, but I grabbed her hand. She was surprised by my action.

I moved closer to her as she stood immobilized. Immediately, I pulled her into a kiss and she easily gave in. Artemis wrapped her arms around me, never moving apart from me and instead, brushed against my body.

Loud knockings were heard through the corridors as Orpheus and Nidoki were awoken from them. They grumbled irritably to whomever disturbed their slumber as they headed towards the huge front doors. Orpheus opened one of them and peeked out from it.

He noticed no one outside until he felt something move around in the ground. He and Nidoki looked down and found two grayish-silver wolves waiting for them. They wondered what wolves would be doing here, and it didn't take them long to figure it out.

"Orion." Orpheus said as the larger of the two wolves nodded.

"And Endymion." Nidoki finished as the smaller wolf followed its larger version inside.

"What do you two want?" Orpheus groaned and crossed his arms. His blue eyes were half-shut with sleep.

"We are trying to get some sleep if you do not mind." Nidoki scolded. "I hope the reason you two are here is very important."

"We want to talk to our mistress." Orion said.

"It's very urgent!" Endymion pleaded.

Orpheus and Nidoki sighed in defeat and led the wolves down the main corridor. It had been too long since Endymion and Orion had seen the two Guardians. They knew that Artemis, their mistress, must still be alive since they could sense her presence nearby her temple. The two wolves had no trouble locating the now invisible temple because they could sniff out its familiar scent.

They went down another corridor, and Orpheus knocked on the door where Artemis's room was supposed to be. He heard no reply and decided to open the door. He and the others realized she wasn't inside and they panicked. They ran to the corridor where Yugi's room was.

Their faint footsteps were soon replaced by muffled sounds of moaning. It didn't take them long to figure out what was going on. Instead, they all sweat dropped.

"Maybe we should not bother them right now..." Nidoki said weakly.

"Let's just pretend we never met them like this..." Orpheus agreed, backing away slowly.

Orion and Endymion nodded in settlement. The two wolves backed away and turned towards the end of the corridor. Orion's ears pricked up as he warily looked around for suspicious activity. Endymion followed him and sniffed the air, his blue eyes glowing in the darkness. They were sure no one heard the commotion that was going on and they wished they could tell Artemis of their news.

Nidoki yawned as she and Orpheus stood beside the wolves and they nearly jumped when they heard more sounds of pleasure being emitted from Yugi's room. The group immediately dispersed and went their separate ways. It seemed that they would not get a good night's sleep after the whole scene they had just heard.

In the morning I woke up, sun beaming in my face as I turned around to avoid the light. I opened my eyes to find Artemis lying beside me, still asleep. Her back was facing me and my eyes caught some strange marks on her. I cleared my vision to get a better look and realized there were scars behind her back that resembled whiplashes. Artemis slowly opened her eyes and noticed that I was staring at her.

She took the sheets and hid her back from me. I edged towards her, making sure I did not startle her and placed my hand on her left cheek. Artemis leaned her head on my chest as I caressed her long hair. I gently touched the scars and wondered how she got them. It did not feel recent that scars were inflicted on her, meaning she probably got them years ago.

"Artemis..." I said softly. "Where did you get these scars?"

Artemis remained silent. She rested her chin on me and stared sadly. By the way she looked, I believed she didn't want to tell me.

"It's okay." I assured.

"Skyros punished me for a crime..." Artemis replied bitterly. Her hand pressed into my skin tightly.

"What did you do?"

"I disobeyed him." She answered. I released her and noticed she wrapped her arms around herself. Her hands clutched the sides of her arms, nails dug deep into them and blood came out. Her blood glistened in the sunlight. "I hated him so much... that I disobeyed him and he had me whipped as punishment."

"What do you mean?" I asked. I leaned towards her, trying to listen carefully to her words.

"That is all I can tell you." She said. Artemis got up and grabbed her clothes that laid scattered on the floor with mine. She paused for a moment before looking at me. Something was on her mind as I stared back at her.

I walked over to pick up my clothes and shielded my eyes from the sunlight. The moon amulet sat quietly on the floor as Artemis picked it up and glowed. She put it back around her neck and she began to put on her clothes as did I.

Afterwards we snuck out of my room and into the lonely corridor. I saw no one in sight and we began to journey down to Artemis's chamber to see if anyone was awake. Artemis's wounds in her arms were healed as we arrived in her chamber.

We found ourselves surrounded by the Guardians, and Orpheus and Nidoki appeared restless this morning. They yawned each time as if they haven't slept all night and they were acting strange, too. The two kept babbling nonsense that no one understood, making Artemis look uneasy. She seemed to know what they were talking about as she stared at Orpheus. Even Apollo noticed what was wrong with his brother and he turned nervous.

He moved aside from them and walked up to us. His arms were placed between his sides and he cleared his throat. "Artemis, your generals have come to speak with you. They say it's urgent." He pointed to the same wolves from last night.

Artemis ambled over to them, her back turned to us as I looked up at Apollo. He glared at me like he knew something had gone on between Artemis and I. Could it be he read my mind? I hoped my friends would not find out or I wouldn't hear the end of it.

Artemis and the two wolves spoke silently to each other, and I did not know what they could be discussing. The wolves appeared frightened and I feared it had to do with the Galactic Dragon. What could they be telling Artemis? I hoped I could find out soon.

Author's Notes: I needed to come up with something that reveal a bit more about Yugi's past since not much is known about it, and the idea suddenly popped up. Also about Artemis's scars, that will be explained maybe later or in Struggle of Chaos.

Artemis's memories have helped Yugi to understand the past and he can't stray away from his first objective: destroying the Galactic Dragon. What do Orion and Endymion want to tell Artemis? It must be something they witnessed. What? That can't be true! There is no way Slifer and Obelisk have joined the Galactic Dragon's side, and how is Seiryu controlling them? Only the Millennium Guardians chosen to wield their Ka can control them, unless he somehow obtained Yukai's powers to control the three Egyptian Gods. On the next Dark Crisis - Chapter 27: The Gods' Fury