Chapter five! Whoa--if I'm not careful, this story is gonna be my longest one!
Take 'er away, Disclaimer Dude!

Disclaimer Dude: Miriku does not own YuGiOh.

Now--on with the chapter!

Chapter Five
The Pharaoh's Return

It was dark; oh, so dark.

The darkness was the first thing he knew. He felt comfortable in it—darkness had been a part of him, of his very being, for so long.

But…who was he?

He pondered that thought, sitting alone in the vast darkness surrounding him. Everything had a name—everything, it seemed, but him.

Who…am I?

The darkness was so calm and peaceful; he felt like falling asleep. But that one nagging thought kept him from slipping into oblivion. He searched the depths of his mind for anything to spark his memory.

Colors flickered before his eyes, dancing in an intricate whirl. He watched them swirl about—reds, blues, greens, and golds.

And bright, shimmering amethyst.

Amethyst…

And, quite suddenly, everything snapped into place.

He was Atemu—sometimes known as Yami. Long ago, he had been the pharaoh of Egypt. He had sacrificed himself to save the world from the Shadow Games, and had been locked inside the Millennium Puzzle. Five millennia later, a fourteen-year-old boy named Yugi Mutou had released him—and the Shadow Games.

Yugi…

He had helped Yugi become strong, to defeat his enemies and opponents. And, at long last, they had again locked the Shadow Games away. But he had gone with them—and sank back into the darkness that had claimed him before.

Yami looked around. Why was he here, then? Why had he been pulled from his slumber?

The darkness around him began to recede, revealing the familiar corridors and stairs of his home. But it was different, somehow—he just couldn't put his finger on why.

Still quite confused, Yami gently expanded his awareness. There had to be another—or else he wouldn't be awake. There had to have been another to put the Millennium Puzzle together—and, if his memory was correct, the only person able to complete it was Yugi.

Sure enough, he felt another mind, and gently prodded at it.

/Yugi?

OooO

Tecuo stood in front of the mirror. For all that it was nearly solid gold, his little trinket hardly weighed a thing. Somehow, it seemed to belong with him.

He turned it over in his hands, the rope still around his neck. There was something special about it—he could tell. But what was it?

/Yugi?

Tecuo bit back a startled curse, nearly dropping the puzzle. He looked wildly around the room, but saw no one.

/Yugi…?

There it was again!

"I'm not Yugi," he said out loud.

There was a wave of confusion from the other presence.

/But…you must be Yugi…!

"Says who?" Tecuo retorted.

He suddenly got the impression that someone was rummaging about in his mind. "Quit that!" he said sharply.

/Sorry…

Tecuo sighed. "Who are you?"

/Yami.

Well, that was fast. "Why are you here?"

Silence.

/I…don't know. All I know is that I am here now, when I should be in slumber. How did you get the Millennium Puzzle?

The sudden change of topic caught Tecuo by surprise. "The what?" he asked blankly.

There was silence for a moment.

/Who are you?

"My name is Tecuo."

/Tecuo…?

"Tecuo Mutou, if it means anything to you."

If the total shock Yami radiated was any judge, then it did mean something.

/Mutou…! Are you related to Yugi, then?

Tecuo blinked. Whoever he was, this Yami was rather single-minded.

"Yes."

/Where is he?

"Missing."

There was absolute silence for a minute or two. Yami had seemed to retreat from the back of Tecuo's mind—andTecuo began to wonder if he'd imagined everything.

Suddenly, he felt the most profound waves of sorrow and regret.

Why is he so obsessed with my father…?

Tecuo dimly perceived the other awareness inside his mind. He sank down onto his bed, and slowly tried to explore it. He seemed to go through a wall of seething darkness—and then, he had entered into Yami's awareness.

Yami had a complicated mind, with many twists and turns. Joy overshadowed by grief; sorrow overshadowed by victory. These things he had known, and many others.

And then, Tecuo found memories.

Scenes flickered past, one by one. Tecuo saw them all, reading them backwards from right now to the first. So many adventures; so much danger; so many people.

Tecuo recognized only one; there was no mistaking his father.

He followed this chain of memories(A/N: Chain of Memories...Kingdom Hearts, anuone?)backwards—and found what to him was a stunning revelation. Yami's first memories of the modern world were of meeting a teenage Yugi Mutou.

Tecuo just watched, awed slightly. No wonder everyone told him he looked like his father!

"Behold my life, as it is and always has been."

The voice was laden with sorrow. Tecuo whipped around—and got his first look at Yami.

The only description he could come up with was that Yami looked like a sadder, sterner version of his father. He wore what looked like a black tank top and jeans. He had a buckled choker around his neck, and matching wrist bands. His hair was exactly the same.

Yami stood with his arms crossed, scrutinizing Tecuo. He then raised his eyes to the picture from his memory.

"This is how I came to be, in the modern world. Yugi freed me from the Millennium Puzzle—just as you have done now."

Tecuo subconsciously reached towards the Puzzle that still hung around his neck. Yami nodded.

"The Puzzle is one of seven," he continued. "The Millennium Items—Puzzle, Key, Scales, Eye, Ring, Necklace, and Rod. They are magic artifacts of great power. Long ago, the ancient Egyptian pharaohs played Shadow Games with them."

"Shadow Games?"

Yami smiled softly. "You are curious. Just as Yugi was." He looked back up at the chain of memories, and Tecuo saw the hint of sadness in his eyes.

"Why do you like him so much?" Tecuo asked, in a carefully neutral tone. Yami looked back down at Tecuo, surprise written on his face. "You still do not know? Then let me show you."

And suddenly, Tecuo was enveloped in different memory scenes.

A scene where Yami and Yugi stood side by side, commanding a shining dragon to destroy a terrible beast.

A scene where Yugi pushed Yami aside, and was taken away in a whirl of emerald green.

A scene where Yami and Yugi walked with their arms around each other's shoulders, watching the sun set together.

And many more; so many that Tecuo soon lost track.

"We were part of each other," Yami murmured, almost to himself. Tecuo had to strain his ear to catch what he said. "He was my light; I was his darkness. Together, we were whole."

And suddenly, something clicked in Tecuo's mind. Once, when he was very young, he'd heard his parents talking. He hadn't known what they were talking about—but now it was all clear.

He tried to remember what they were saying, but it was all foggy.

Yami approached him, interest in his eyes. "Maybe I can help you—" He put a hand on Tecuo's forehead, and a look of intense concentration crossed his face. Suddenly, Tecuo could remember the conversation as if it had happened yesterday.

Flashback (10 years ago)

Yugi groaned, resting his head on the table.

Rebecca turned from the stove to look at him. "Are you still harping on that? It's been years, Yugi. Let it lie."

Yugi shook his head. "I can't just 'let it lie', and you very well know that! You don't lose half of your soul every day, you know!"

Rebecca just looked at him for a few moments. A smile crept across her face. "You really do miss having him around, don't you?"

Yugi nodded. "It just isn't the same. I keep reaching out to tell him something—and he's not there any more." His fingers twitched almost imperceptibly towards his chest.

Rebecca took his hand, grinning impishly. "It's not there anymore, remember?"

"Yes…I know…"

At that point, four-year-old Tecuo stumbled in and announced that it was his birthday.

End Flashback

"No wonder you look so much like him," Yami said quietly. He closed his eyes. "I have no way to keep track of time—what year is it?"

"2005," Tecuo replied.

"Ah."

There was silence. Yami scrutinized Tecuo with a sharp, piercing gaze. This boy reminded him so much of his previous bearer that it was almost painful.

Tecuo hung his head. He was now sure he'd done something wrong.

Yami sighed. "There's one thing I need to take care of."

Tecuo looked up, interested.

Yami's face took on a look of intense concentration—and the magenta in his hair slowly faded into blue.

Tecuo gaped at him. Yami just smiled.

BZZZZZZT!

Tecuo bit back a curse, fleeing back into his own body and mind to get ready for school.

Yami just stood there, smiling softly, surrounded by flickering colors and memories.

You, Tecuo Mutou, are just like your father. I'm sure he would be proud of you.

He closed his eyes. I can only hope that my return does not bring you as much suffering as it did him.

OooO

And now, I think it's time I thanked my reviewers!

Yamisgirl89
-'-Chocolate-Coated-Chocobo-'-
Silver Sailor Ganymede(isn't Ganymede one of Jupiter's moons? Coolness!)
DigitalTears
Yimi Makuya
AND
Xover-girl!

Thank you for reviewing! Hope you like the chapters to come!