The Past Returns Chapter 2: 2, a yu-gi-oh fanfic

The Past Returns

Chapter: 2?

Synopsis: An AR of the Battle City Tournament arc seeing as I have only watched up to where Yami and Yugi defeated the Silent One for the God Card Isis (?).

As Yami and Téa admit their feelings and start their relationship down a new path, New Millennium items are disclosed to the gang, Seto, and Mokuba – the Manacles of Truth and Power. Each could only be welded by two distinct women – the younger sister and cousin of the Pharaoh! Two young women appear, each wearing one of the Manacles! Are they Yami's family? Moreover, do they come just in time to help against a dark foe that has been waiting for the right time to strike?

Chapter Rating: R for the vivid and ugly death of Teana and the old Egypt group.

The early hours of the next morning came far too soon for the Pharaoh. He thought back on the previous day. How close he had come to losing his friends … his Téa. Those two goons of Marik's had almost held him away from those he cared for most. If Kaiba hadn't come along – the Pharaoh didn't want to think of what might have happened.

Then there was the duel against the possessed Joey. It had been too close. First, they nearly lost Joey. Yet the worse moment came when then he had nearly lost Yugi. For the Pharaoh, something about that ripped apart his heart. The young man meant the world to him, but it was closer to family in depth than it was friendship – like a brother ... or more.

The fears of what could have happened haunted him the last few hours of night. In fact, it wasn't until Téa moved in his arms that the Pharaoh was able to set the day's events to the side and rest.

Yet, only hours later did the Pharaoh wake after facing a piece of his past in his dreams. The night he lost the one who he held dearest to his heart, along with all of their closest friends – and the days before, to what had caused it all. Téa had been wrong about her dream. It hadn't been of the night that the Pharaoh had ended the games – the images of the past in her dream had been of the night he lost all he loved and trusted as he trusted the monsters that dueled for his throne. Somehow, he knew that happened months before the end came ... when the Shadow Games were slowly destroying their world. Slowly he had begun to remember some of his past.

The Pharaoh thought back to the time that his sweet Téa had remembered herself, though he now remembered much more of it.

Teana and he had celebrated all the day and night before the end of all he held dear began. It was only a month into their marriage, and Ra himself had informed them of the child they had created. They announced to their kingdom the next day that in her womb was their unborn child … their son. So soon into their marriage, and they were already carrying the next Pharaoh. It should have been, and for a while was, a wonderful time.

All of their friends had congratulated them. The two high guards they had personally chose for trust – Jonouchi and Honda – and their loves – Kujaku and Salama – were the firsts to give their support. The Pharaoh's sister, Kisara, and their cousin, Solina, were busily planning their baby nephew's nursery. The Pharaoh's advisor was tickled and already planning the lessons that he would teach the next Pharaoh.

However, the Pharaoh couldn't believe that in his memories Kaiba, who had been a Priest called Seth, was more than a friend. He and Mokuba were the Pharaoh's cousins long before. Yet, the trio of them had been very much like brothers for part of the Pharaoh's life. Seth was preparing for the blessing ceremony with the help of his younger brother, Manu – who was the person the Pharaoh once knew Kaiba's little brother Mokuba as.

And then came some dark force over the known world. A dark army threatened the Kingdom's northern border, led by a ruthless King of Thieves. He called for The Pharaoh's unconditional surrender, as well as the lives of his unborn heir and wife as tributes to protect the kingdom. To refuse would mean carnage for every man, woman, and child in Egypt.

Teana and their unborn son meant everything to not only the Pharaoh, but the kingdom as well. She was kind and all praised the boy for the fact that his divine grandfather – Ra., heralded his coming. The people cried for the King to battle by summoning the monsters of the Shadow Realm, as had been done since the Pharaoh was young as a path to victory over enemies rather than sacrificing human lives in all out war.

The Pharaoh remembered all that his father had been before those monsters were discovered. He also remembered how bit-by-bit his adopted father lost his soul to the Shadow Realm – the cost of his greed for power to guard the kingdom. The old Pharaoh changed his adopted son's name from whatever name had given him by his true father through a dream to that of Yami, which meant evil, out of the paranoid state that he broke down into. Finally, the Pharaoh remembered at least one name he went by in his life – Yami.

Eventually the old Pharaoh tried to send out the three summoning stones of the powerful God monsters to the far reaches of the empire – convinced that they were the cause of his madness. Due to a feeling given to the true bearer of the Millennium Staff, Yami and Seth were luckily able to hide on last stone with scarcely a moment to lose. Yami thanked his birth father for that grace, for Ra had been on their side that night. That one God monster Card, Slither, would have to save them all. And the God of the Sun who was father not only to Yami and his twin sister, but also of the younger Gods, worried for his favored children.

Then the darkness took Yami's brotherly friend and dear cousin away by somehow taking a hold of Seth's mind. Teana and Yami took Manu into their home as a guest, as Seth didn't seem to care for anything but destroying Yami. He even stopped visiting or corresponding with Kisara – who had adored her cousin to the point of true love that the pair would never be able to enact upon in that life it seemed. This was not only because of their blood relation, which could easily be forgiven by the Kingdom. No, Seth was a Priest and further sworn never to marry by his father before the pair developed any feelings between one another.

That horrid nightmare of a memory was what tore him from the happy dream holding his love had brought him. There were only the last few hours of the night to rest, yet he held Téa tight and grounded himself with the fact that she was there in his arms – that the past was finished and now he had to keep it from coming full circle once again, at least as it finished the last life.

He finally understood why this beautiful woman was so much his wife reborn. The vow he had given to his beloved that last night. It still hurt to remember.

Yami had gone to the edge of the Shadow Realm in order to secure the guidance of those monsters that had been loyal to him. As always, the Dark Magician was kind and loyal to the young Pharaoh. The sight that greeted him when he returned to the palace however was a horror!

Yami was greeted by the sight of the two guards he held the greatest faith in – Jonouchi and Honda – as well as their loves – Kujaku and Salama – dead and bloodied in the main hall. Embedded in the wall above the women's cold bodies was Manu, dead like the rest. A soldier dying from mortal wounds told of how Yami's sister and cousin were sent into hiding, but there was no news of the Queen.

He went to the war room and looked out the window to see if some sign of his very pregnant Queen. Then he heard the sound of the zombies and saw his Teana slam the door shut. He had been so grateful she was alive that he had to hold her in his arms to be sure it was not her spirit before his eyes. "They are all gone but the four of us, Teana. You, Kisara, Solina, and I are all who have made it this far. I do not think that we can succeed in ending these games forever, my love."

Teana panted to catch her breath. "We will because I have full faith in you, my Pharaoh and beloved husband, and I have my faith in the Light of Hope. What have our allies in the Shadow Realm told you my husband and King? Our friends are all gone, our world is falling further into ruin each day that passes, and now Seth has demanded a duel of you! He said that if you do not face him and his priests that …"

"That I will forfeit the kingdom, your life, and the life of our unborn son to his new master. Go rest in our chambers, I will go defeat Seth."

He had begun to leave for the throne room – to face his old friend, Seth. He just knew that his life was about to be thrown into darkness and chaos. Teana must have sensed the same. "Yami! Please wait!"

"I have no choice in this my wife … my only love." Yami tried unsuccessfully to put his foot down. He did not want to leave her with a fight going unresolved between them. His wife had enough stress on her; any more would only further chance bringing harm on their unborn son. "I must fight Seth. If there were any other way, Ra knows I would do it."

Teana wrapped her arms around his chest and sobbed uncontrollably. "I know. I know too that we are not destined to meet again this life. Your father showed this to me."

"Why would he show you such? It was simply a bad feeling or a nightmare my love. I do not wish you to be upset. It will be bad for you and our son." Yami couldn't believe that his dear father would allow Yami to be separated from his only love.

Teana looked up at him with fear and wisdom in her eyes. "Please understand my love, I saw a vision. Neither our son nor I will survive this night. Please hear me, my Pharaoh and only love. I need you to know that I am ever at your side, and will never abandon nor feel nothing but pride for you – besides my unending love."

"Teana …" Yami didn't want to believe his ears.

"Yami … I know I am right. Your father is trying to warn you that the shadow knows your greatest strength lies in those you love dearly. This duel is a ruse to rip away those you have left, and will not be the last time you fight our friend Seth. Yet only the two of you working together with the Light of Hope can end all of this." Teana had tears streaming down her face. "I just don't understand what my vision meant."

"My love, we will talk about this later. For now go to our rooms and rest, for me and our son." Yami needed all of his strength for the coming duel. It was going to be hard to attack his friend. And Ra would not tear his only son's heart apart.

With a heavy sigh Teana nodded, embracing her beloved tightly. "Best of luck from Ra my husband and only love."

"And we already know that I have that my beloved Queen. A good rest to you and our son, I will return shortly." Yami felt his heart lift with her sweet and tender kiss. Resting his hand on her belly for a moment, he left.

Seth was uncharacteristically sloppy throughout the battle and lost quickly. This did not please Yami. Even when they had mentally strategized battles, Seth had never been beaten so quickly or easily. And then it suddenly became clear to the young Pharaoh. By Ra's eye, NO! Could Teana have been telling him the truth? Ra please, not her … their unborn son!

Yami ran into their bedroom to find his Queen lying on their bed – the sheets dyed red with her blood!

Teana's belly was torn asunder, and she held weakly in her arms was the remains of their dead son. Tears were pouring down her face as she wept for their lost babe. "My love … I tried to save him … I tried to plead for him …"

"Shh. I should have listened to you and hidden both of you away. I am so sorry my love. Father why would you allow this to happen?" Yami cried out in agony.

Teana coughed weakly, her time was nearly spent. "He … tried … to change it, but … you wouldn't listen … love. I saved … Kisara and Solina. They are … hidden until … it is safe. Please … don't forget me. I … I will … find you … again. When you … are reborn … so will … I."

"Teana, how will I know it is you?" Yami felt his heart break. He lost his wife, and son, and dearest friends to this darkness. Now his sister and cousin were gone into hiding for their safety. He was alone.

She smiled up at him with such peace and love in her face and eyes. She gathered her last strength. "I will tell you. Listen for what only I would tell you. What would we have named him?"

"Yugi. He will one day be a King. My love..." Yami couldn't believe that this was happening.

"Hush … no goodbyes. That … would mean forever. We … will find … each other … someday … somehow." And with that her last breath wheezed out of Teana's body and her eyes went cold.

"Teana!"

Yami softly sighed out a whimper as he pulled Téa tighter to his chest. That woke her up, "Pharaoh?"

"Hush Teana, you and our Yugi need your sleep." He was still aching from the past.

Téa easily saw that, so she forgave him for it. "Pharaoh, wake up. Your not in the past any more. It's me, Téa."

"Téa? I'm sorry. I was just remembering."

That shocked her. "What do you remember? If I'm not prying that is."

"You are not prying, love. You helped me to remember it, along with my name I carried from the time my Stepfather went mad until my banishment into the Millennium Puzzle. What you dreamed wasn't the night I ended the games. It was months before. I lost everyone I cared about in one day. Think back, in your dream was there anything else about you that was different from now – something very noticeable."

Téa thought hard, and then her face paled with understanding. "I was pregnant. I remember holding my belly because the running hurt my stomach, but it was better than being attacked. Is that it?"

Yami softly nodded with tears in his eyes as he remembered seeing his Teana holding their dead son tenderly. "Yes. A son. There is a greater danger than Marik, Téa. It was what killed you then … along with our son."

"What happened to me, Pharaoh?" For a moment he really wondered if he should. Téa sighed hard. "Please, or I'll spend the rest of my life wondering if it was my own stupid fault."

"It wasn't your fault, my love. The darkness, whatever it is, it was what killed you and our son. Please, I don't want you to know." Yami shook his head. This was not something to tell Téa.

However, Téa had other ideas. "Please my King."

After a long pause, he relented. "The darkness ripped open your belly and tore out our too young son. The boy never took his first breath for his lungs were not developed. It left you there with our dead child in your arms to bleed to death. I didn't make it to you until the end. You swore we would be reborn together … that we would find one another. When I was trapped in the puzzle I doubted and cursed my father for it."

"Did I tell you how to be sure it was me?" Téa was stunned – that her Yami ever doubted in his long life and that she could be the one he loved ... giving her a chance as his only.

He nodded. "That you would say something that only she would … and you did, my love. Remember what you told me before we slipped into bed?"

"That your Teana is still living and will never abandon you and that she is very proud of you? Is that it?" Téa asked stunned by the turn of events.

Yami smiled as he rubbed her cheeks softly with his thumbs in adoration. "Yes. You once told me that you were ever at my side, and would never abandon nor feel nothing but pride for me – besides your unending love. Téa, you are my sweet Teana reborn. And I will not allow the darkness to take you from me again. But, if we go any further than where we are now, it will come when you are ready. I want you to fulfill all of your dreams."

Téa had tears running down her cheeks by now. "Maybe now you'll listen to me and my bad feelings?"

"Yes, my dearest and only love." Yami softly kissed Téa's forehead, and then her lips. He was pleased when she returned his kiss with equal longing.

Her eyes showed how deep her love still ran for Yami alone, and then the playful side of the same woman of both eras chuckled out for Yami's pleasure. "So, what was your second name?"

"Yami; it meant evil in that time. My stepfather near the end was convinced that I was evil, yet I think before his death his mind returned to him. I remember telling him that I wouldn't take my old name back ... that it would be the name of my first born son."

And then something strange happened. A flash of light, and then there was a man in the room with them. But, this man had the head of a bird … a hawk!

"Father?" Yami spoke reverently, but as stunned as Téa was feeling. Was this really Ra?

"I have returned to you what the darkness stole away, my son." Ra's voice was deep and filling, and quiet all at once.

Pulling Téa into his embrace, Yami kissed her head before answering. "Forgive me of my doubts and curses, father."

She just had to speak too. How often does one get to speak with a God? Besides, she wanted to say that name for the first time since she died long before. "Please, Yami was in pain and grieving. Don't be angry with him."

"As strong willed and determined as your last life little one? She will be quite the bride and Queen once again for you, my favored son. All I ask of you is to end the darkness' hold on our world. And you my dear … Téa is it now?" When Téa nodded, Ra continued. "I do not expect you to follow any path of faith than you are on already. For you have the truth in your heart. Rest well my children, for tomorrow and the next few days will test you both sorely."

Another flash of light, and the couple was alone in the room again.

Téa was stunned. "Yami? Was that really Ra?"

"Yes it was Téa. You've met my blood father. I didn't dare hope you ever would." Yami embraced his love in his joy. His father hadn't stopped loving him, even after all of the hate and curses Yami had yelled after losing his Teana and their friends.

"I really was Teana?"

Yami grinned at that. This was much for his sweet to take at once. "Yes, my only one. But, I won't let the darkness take you from me as it did before."

Téa smiled softly. She was his wife before. But, would he still want her now? "Yami, why do you want to wait? On us I mean."

"We were lucky to have grown up as friends and eventually grew to love one another as our wedding day drew closer. You had no other choices then and accepted that. But, now you have dreams that I don't want to see die. However long it takes, I want to see all of your dreams come true." Yami softly kissed her lips as Téa sighed. It was to wonderful.

Yami deepened their kissed to explore her mouth, and after a moment of stunned surprise Téa followed suit. Soon the kiss was deeper and hotter than either had ever dreamed could become between them. Soon Téa was on her back with Yami covering her with his body, neither breaking the intense kiss until they both needed to breathe.

Both were hungering what could come, but still knew the battles that lay ahead. It was time to get some sleep, no matter how difficult it would be. Yami laid back and opened his arms in invitation to his only love.

Téa smiled as she slid back into his embrace and kissed down his jaw line to his ear. "I love you Yami. That was amazing."

"You're right my goddess, that was amazing and magical. I love you more, my Téa. Sleep well my love."

Téa couldn't hide back her yawn. She laid her head on his chest and breathed in that scent that was only Yami. She could get used to this easily. "You too love."

Both dosed off after a few minutes, thanks to the spell Ra left to help them rest.

The light Ra sent to them hours later woke both lovers. Yami felt the love his father sent, while Téa felt warmth in the beams of light unlike any she had felt in any other morning in her life.

When she shifted in his arms, Yami knew that his Téa was awake. "Good morning my love. Did you sleep well?"

"Mmm. Honestly, that was the best sleep of my life. Did you get any sleep?" She smiled worriedly at him. Yes, he had been a Pharaoh in their shared past, but even Yami needed sleep before dueling.

"The best of all my existence since I lost you so long ago. Téa, thank you for not pushing me away. I know that this is much for you to adjust to."

"Yami, I've never had anyone who loved me for who I am and love me enough to let me live my dreams. Thank you for wanting me back." Téa sighed as she snuggled closer to her love. She knew right then, if not for certain before, that this was the only guy she wanted to be with for the rest of her life.

He kissed her lips softly but passionately for a moment, and then looked deep into her beautiful eyes. Yes, this was his only love and he would never be with anyone but her. "You are the only woman I will ever want to be with. But, that is for another time. Now we have Marik to deal with. And then you have dreams to make come true. After all of that, we will have time to be together."

"Right." Téa's blue eyes burned with a fire that told Yami he would never be without her at least by phone. But still, for a time, they would be separated.

'Yugi, can you do me a favor?' Yami sent into the puzzle with his mind.

Yugi had been awake for a couple hours, but had decided to give the couple some more privacy. Yet he heard the name of his friend when the couple began talking and was never going to forget it. 'Sure, what is it?'

'Can you find out about where it is that Téa wants to study dance at?'

Yugi knew exactly what it was that Yami wanted to do – even if it hurt both of them, Yugi wanted to do it for his oldest friend too. 'New York.'

'But surely there are many dance schools in that state?' Yami already felt his heart ripping, and that Yugi shared the same feelings of seeing Téa go. But it was her sweetest dream, and both were prepared to do whatever it took to make it come true.

Yugi thought hard to the times he and Téa had talked alone about her dreams. 'The School of American Ballet. That was the one she told me about. It is the home school for the New York City Ballet Company. That is her goal, but it is prestigious, Yami.'

Yami felt frustrated already. But he wouldn't give up on Téa's dream so easily. After all she and the others had never given up on him or Yugi through all of their adventures so far. 'Most of it comes down to Téa's ability, but we can do the lay work for her at the least.'

'Right.' Yugi could feel that Yami needed a little more time with their friend before getting ready for the day.

Yami was pulled out of his conversation by Téa's voice. "I'm sorry Téa, I was talking to Yugi. What were you saying?"

"Oh sorry, I didn't mean to interrupt." She laid her head back down on his chest with an odd expression on her face.