Redemption of Souls

Chapter 1: Yami's Guilt

Yami slowly sank to his knees as he surveyed the desecrated battlefield and sighed as he felt the tears slowly come to his eyes. It had been exactly 7 years since Zork's defeat and although he should have been celebrating with the others, his heart was heavy with guilt. He could almost remember it like it was yesterday…

Bakura grunted softly as he fell to his knees, "It's happening…" he whispered softly.

"Bakura what's wrong?" Yugi asked as he ran over to his friend's side.

"When the Millennium Items were created, dark and powerful forces sought to control them for their own sick, twisted desires. Pharaoh Akunumkanon chose a human who was innocent and pure of heart to seal the evil forces within their body, where they would be powerless to do anything. A young boy known as Bakura was chosen and for many years, he kept the evil at bay. But something happened to Bakura, he became evil and attacked Pharaoh Atem. After Atem defeated him, he felt sorry for the boy who had sacrificed so much to protect their world and sentenced the boy to eternal sleep. When Zork was sealed away with the Millennium Items, he chose to possess the Millennium Ring and when the thief Bakura found the ring, the evil spirit struck a deal with Zork: control of the boy's body and ultimate power." As Bakura finished speaking, electricity appeared from out of nowhere and began attacking him.

"What does all this mean anyways?" Tristan asked and began whining as Tea hit him on the head.

"It means that since Yami Bakura was Zork in disguise and shared Bakura's body that Bakura himself is doomed to die along with them. Idiot…" Tea muttered in disgust as she turned away.

"Yugi there's nothing you can do to save me from this fate…just promise you'll never forget me." Bakura said in a pained voice as he began to disappear and laid against Yugi's body. (not intended to be romantic)

"I would never forget you Bakura. Your tragedy will not be repeated, this I swear to you." Yugi said as Bakura smiled.

"That's good to know Yugi. Thank you." Bakura said, closed his eyes, and disappeared. For a moment everyone was silent as Yugi's shoulders slumped in defeat. Finally after several minutes of silence, Joey finally spoke up.

"Hey Yug, you OK?" Joey asked as Yugi turned around and gave his friend a pained smile.

"I'll be alright."

As he sat there looking out over the ruins, something caught his eye then disappeared for a moment then reappeared. Silver hair? Bakura…could it be?

"Yami, are you all right?" Tea's voice interrupted his thoughts as he turned around and looked at her, his eyes were large and sad.

"I was just thinking…about things we can't change." Yami said as he searched the ruins, waiting for the flash of silver to reappear again. "It's been 7 years since we defeated Zork, but it's also been 7 years since we lost Bakura. I keep hoping that I'll awaken one day to find out its all been some horrible dream, but the dream is real."

"I know Yami," Tea said softly as she put her hand on his shoulder. "we all wanted to save Bakura, but there was nothing we could've done to prevent it."

"I know, but sometimes I feel like I could've done more if only I'd known the truth sooner." Yami said as he turned away from Tea then blinked in disbelief as he saw the flash again and it was moving. "There it is again, that light…I must find out what it is. I'm going to follow that light!" Yami said as he changed into Yugi and began running after the light.

"Yugi wait!" Tea yelled as he quickly disappeared on the horizon, he was pretty fast for a short kid. Sighing she went back to alert Joey and Tristan.

Hikari and Sunny: wow, this sound like its going to be an awesome story! o i'll follow along with it as long as you keep posting

Pristess: r. why did you kill Bakura! he was my favorite character, and this is the first yu-gi-oh fan fic i've read --'