Disclaimer: Hmm I own it all…(wakes up) aww bugger another dream died!

Chapter 9

Atemu and Yugi woke that evening at the same time. They were facing each other and both knew what would surely happen soon. Atemu would be possessed and leave to destroy more of the world.

Atemu wondered if he would be allowed to return this time. Knowing nothing about what it was controlling him was a horrible feeling but unlike the thousands who had been slaughtered he was at least still alive and so was Yugi.

"Aibou it will come soon I know it. If this time it's permanent, I want you to hide. Leave Domino and hide somewhere from this evil force. I am sure you will be killed otherwise and I couldn't bear that. I would feel it if it happened I am sure because our bond is so strong."

"But we can no longer communicate through a mind link." Yugi said sadly. He feared this would perhaps be the last time he and Atemu could talk like this. He didn't want to face a future without his darker half again.

"I would rather die than lose you again Atemu." Yugi whispered and a tear rolled down his cheek.

"I would rather die than have to destroy more innocent lives." Atemu said wishing he were free from this evil curse. "Why did I agree to sell my soul? I must have been mad."

Yugi laid a hand on Atemu's arm.

"Don't worry about that now mou hitori no boku, let's concentrate on finding a way to end this."

Atemu sighed and then fear clouded his face.

"Aibou, it's coming I can feel it."

"Be strong Atemu." Yugi said giving his hand a squeeze and getting off the bed to watch Atemu's body begin to glow red and the familiar evil eyes appear.

"So little Yugi we meet again." It said and Yugi hung his head. An idea was forming in his mind and although it was a long shot and would probably result in his own death, he had to try.

"Just tell me one thing." He said quietly. Anobi regarded him through Atemu's eyes. Why was he not shouting at him angrily? He was weak he decided and soon the time would come for him to die but now he had bigger fish to fry – like Europe.

"Why him? why Atemu?"

'Stupid little fool, he has no idea.' Anobi thought to himself. It was then Anobi made his second mistake, his first being underestimating Yugi and Atemu in their ability to figure things out.

"Atemu sold his soul to me and with it came all his power but in order to use that power I need to use his body. So you see Atemu will never be free of me…ever!" He laughed then and leaving Yugi in the bedroom he took off through the window heading for Europe. 'Plenty to destroy there.' He thought gleefully.

Yugi raised his head and looked at the window through which Atemu had flown.

"That was all I needed to know." He said quietly and went downstairs to find one of Sugoruku's prized possessions, his ceremonial Egyptian dagger that he had brought back proudly from a dig one year. He had showed it off to the family but only Yugi had been really interested in it.

He fetched it now and returned to his room with it to wait for Atemu to return. Hoping that the evil entity wasn't watching, he stashed it under his mattress and sat down to wait for Atemu's return.

"I'm sorry Atemu." He whispered. He didn't want to kill the one friend who meant more to him than the whole world but he couldn't just sit back and watch the whole world destroyed. He knew Atemu would understand but when it came to it, would he be able to go through with it? He'd never so much as killed a spider let alone a living, breathing human being. What was he going to do?

"I have to be strong for all our sakes." He told himself firmly but on the inside he was crying uncontrollably.

It was the early hours of the morning when Atemu returned. He sat on the bed, the red glow he was surrounded with lighting the room eerily.

"Another good night's work." He said. "London and a few others fell under the pharaoh's hand. Soon the whole world will be bowing to me as their new ruler."

Yugi clenched his fists and the red glow around Atemu vanished, his mind returning. He looked at Yugi in relief at seeing him again and not remaining under the terrible mind control.

"Yugi I know he made me do terrible things again."

"Yes he sent you to Europe this time." He said. "He also told me that he has to use your body to channel the power you gave him when you sold your soul to him."

"So it can be stopped?" Atemu said knowing full well the only way they were going to stop it.

"Yes."

"Then do it Yugi, I can't live like this anymore. I would rather spend eternity burning in hell than another night being used as his puppet." Yugi nodded.

"I understand, I…I just don't know if I can do it."

"Please you must hurry and kill me before he discovers we know how to stop him and stops us."

"I know mou hitori no boku." Yugi said tears streaming down his face at the thought of his terrible task. He drew the dagger from under the mattress and Atemu bared his chest for Yugi to strike him.

In hell Anobi was watching through the stone. His energy was spent and he was unable to do nothing to stop Yugi from killing his vessel.

It wasn't fair! He was so close to world domination and yet here was this runt having worked out everything in spite of his spell and mind control of the Pharaoh.

"I should have killed him immediately." He said and Sulchi nodded.

"Master what now?"

"Well I doubt either of them realise that once Atemu is dead as he sold his soul to me, he will belong to me for eternity. So he wants to burn in hell for what he has done in the world? Then so be it. Eternal suffering in fire shall be his reward and I will find another way to destroy that pathetic world and make it mine."

"Excellent master."

"Let him die and see how he likes it." Anobi said evilly and watched as the runt poised above the pharaoh ready to plunge the dagger into his heart.

Yugi held the dagger aloft for a second longer before bringing it down. Atemu closed his eyes and waited but nothing happened all he could hear were Yugi's sobs. Slowly he opened his eyes to find the dagger halted an inch before it hit home and a very shaky Yugi.

"I can't do it mou hitori no boku, I just can't!" he wept and Atemu nodded somehow already knowing that he couldn't. He placed his own hands over the hilt of the dagger and looked at Yugi.

"It must be done aibou, you know it must."

"I know but I just can't."

"Then I will, goodbye aibou know I will always be with you in spirit even though my body is gone, my memory will remain with you and one day we will be together again for eternity."

Yugi nodded completely unable to say anything as Atemu braced himself and pulled the dagger forwards into his chest where it pierced his heart.

He fell backwards onto the bed, blood soaking into the white sheets staining them deep red.

Yugi jumped forwards and in a second he was cradling Atemu's dying body to his chest his tears flowing freely and mingling with the blood.

"G…Goodbye A…Aibou." Atemu murmured as the last of his life left his body and he was drawn into the afterlife for the second time.

"No…Atemu, Atemu, mou hitori no boku." Yugi wept hugging the body close to him. It was so unfair! Atemu had returned and now he was gone again. In his heart Yugi knew they had done the right thing but it didn't make the ache in his chest any less painful.

When they had shared a body, Atemu had meant more to him than any other being in this entire world and now he was gone again. Yugi held the body close never wanting to let go and fearing what would happen later on when it was discovered what he'd done…

TBC…

Yami Seirei: Oh dear this is far from over yet everyone, see you next chapter!