(NOTE 3/8/06: Chapters have been restored to their original order! Assuming nothing ELSE goes wrong, here ya go!)

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Disclaimer: I don't own Yugioh

Claimer: I own plotline and made-up things like that

That night found Yami on a rooftop across the street. The boy had gone to bed a few hours ago, and so Yami sat and brooded while he waited for dawn. He was still feeling a bit muddled over the events that afternoon.

After a few hours he let his mind wander somewhat. But a noise behind him pulled him from his reverie. He stood and faced the man behind him. The tall, thin figure stood mostly concealed in the shadows, and Yami resisted the urge to shiver under the man's icy gaze.

"It is good to see you hard at work," the figure said, then continued without further preamble.

"The boy still suspects nothing?"

"He is unaware, as you ordered," Yami said.

"Good. But a change in plans has arisen."

"A change?" Yami asked warily.

"You shall continue to watch over him, but he must become isolated. Drive away the others. Strange occurrences will be happening, so use them as a distraction."

Yami blinked. He didn't have a clue about what was going on with his dubious employer. But still, he nodded.

"What of the girl?"

"Yes, she has gotten too close to him," the shadowy figure said.

"I will deal with her. You start with the others."

Yami nodded again, and the figure melted into the shadows and disappeared. Yami immediately made his way over to the home of the boy. He crouched silently outside the window of his room, and watched the small one sleeping.

He was getting desperately confused. He knew he had to follow his orders, but something inside him protested. Yami thought back to when he had first been freed…

There was light. That was the first thing he noticed. He had been locked in the shadowy pit for so long, any light was a beautiful and wondrous sight - even if it was only a stub of candle.

He looked around. He had a sneaky suspicion that he hadn't been released from the oh-so-accurately named HellPit out of the goodness of somebody's heart, and he was right. There in the corner was a shadowy figure.

"At last we meet," said the figure.

"Who are you?" Yami demanded.

"I am the one that has released you from your prison. That is all you need to know."

The figure moved forward, still keep it's features hidden from sight.

"Why have you done so?"

"You would rather I had left you in there?"

Yami scowled.

"Very well, since it appears that you have no patience for pleasantries, I have freed you to offer you a deal."

"What kind of deal?"

"It is simple. You do a task for me, and I won't toss you back down the hole I found you in. How does that strike you?"

Yami frowned. The shadow's terms were blatantly selfish and downright unreasonable.

"What sort of task are you speaking of?"

"Oh, a rather long term one I would think."

Yami thought about that for a microsecond, then replied, "I will accept your deal."

"Excellent. I knew I could rely on you."

"Now, what is this 'long term' task?"

"There is a certain child with a great destiny awaiting him," said the shadow.

"But he is a target of many powerful factions because of this. I want you to protect him. In complete secrecy, so that he remains unaware of your presence. He must live his life without realizing anything about his destiny. Can you do that?"

Yami's face held a dubious look, but he nodded.

"Excellent. I will take us to him, so that you may begin."

With that, the shadow did something and the room faded from around them…

Yami came back to himself. The shadow had come to him from time to time after that, to 'check up on the boy', or so he claimed. Yami thought about that. He was always after Yami to 'keep him normal'.

It was like he was trying to suppress the child's development. And if he wanted him normal, why did he have to isolate him?

"I think there's more to this then I've been told," Yami whispered to himself.

He took a long look at the beautiful sleeping boy. He stirred, but did not awaken.

"I must be getting soft," Yami muttered with a genuine smile, a thing he had not done for centuries.

"See you soon enough, Yugi."

With that, he took off. Inside the bedroom, Yugi opened his eyes slightly, then rolled over and went back to sleep.