Tis long O.o;

Heyhey! first chappy up! Yay! Sorry for the wait, but enjoy all the same! Thankies reviewers! -glomp-

Don't expect the next up for a while, this one was being written for weeks. I know, sad isn't it? but I've got my juniour cert coming up and my mom wants me to do well, so I've try an' force myself to work... Welp, whacha gonna do? Ignore me blabbing about me life and enjoy the chappy!

Disclaimer: I don't own Yu-Gi-Oh!

"This is talking"
'These are thoughts'

Chapter One - Lost Souls

Yugi sighed heavily as he fell back on his bed, arms spread out beside him as he stared at the ceiling. Another long day and another unsuccessful search. It had been at least two months since he and the Bakuras had come to Egypt, but they hadn't found anything new or useful that could help them find Yujhi. Though the Shadow Games were mainly set in southeastern Egypt, they'd searched most of the northern region in case they could find any helpful information. So far they'd found nothing more then empty tombs and stories of the Kings who ruled in the north; nothing about the Shadow Realm or Yami's reign as Pharaoh.

It was quite stressful on the spirit of the Puzzle, especially since he blamed himself for Yujhi's misfortune. He knew the young boys soul was in the Shadow Realm, so Yugi could have easily travelled back and forth between realms. Unfortunately the Shadow Realm has multiple dimensions, and each soul is located at a different section of each dimension; it would have been impossible if they'd taken that approach.

Luckily for Yugi, Bakura, who was somewhat an expert of the Shadow Real having sent people there and been there himself many times, told him there was a narrow separation between this realm and the shadow realm somewhere in Egypt. From this, along with a special spell located somewhere in the same area, they could manipulate the Shadow Realm itself and bring forth one specific soul. He couldn't remember how it worked exactly, nor where it was because it had been ten thousand years since he, himself, had seen this place, so the search was widespread.

Kicking his shoes off Yugi let his tired eyes slide shut, a heavy sigh escaping him. "Better get some sleep..." he thought, rolling over onto his side and pulling down his pillow to rest his head on. Hugging the pillow slightly he allowed his mind to wander to the Millennium Puzzle, the core of his life and existence. It had felt different since that day he returned from his memories and found Yujhi gone, as if another power had awakened. It also had created a new mystery; how had Yujhi's monsters lasted in the Shadow Realm without Yujhi there to contribute his energy?

Somehow, the Puzzle had acted on it's own accord. As if using back-up energy, it had lasted far longer then it should have, and could have lasted even longer had Yugi not arrived. As Yugi drifted to sleep his last thoughts were of the Puzzle and it's mysterious new power.

"Once Yujhi is back I'll have to figure that out...


"Ryoura what's been bugging you lately?"

"Huh?" Ryoura stopped towel-drying his hair and looked up at Bakura with a confused expression. "Whacha talking about Pep'?"

"Don't play dumb-"

"Trust me, I don't need to play dumb," Ryoura grinned, brushing some of his wet hair out of his eyes. He was sitting on his bed in the hotel room wearing normal denim jeans and a white t-shirt with the words 'Moving Target' in messy, black writing by the neck-line, red splattered across the middle. He liked this outfit, but Bakura knew as soon as his usual 'Rejected' outfit was clean these clothes would be sent back into Ryoura's bag.

Bakura sat on his own bed across from Ryoura, books and maps of Egypt scattered all over it, wearing blue denim jeans also and a pale grey shirt, his dark grey jacket discard to a chair by his bed. "Ryoura..." he breathed in annoyance, ignoring his comment. "I know something's bothering you, why won't you tell me?"

"Aww, is Pepper going soft again," Ryoura said in a taunting tone, but Bakura just glared at him. Ryoura crossed his arms across his chest and gave Bakura a critical look. "It's rude to stare."

Bakura folded his arms also and sat quietly, awaiting an answer from the younger boy. After a few minutes of silence, which Ryoura was not accustomed to, the younger of the two spun around and lay down, hanging his head over the side of the bed to look at Bakura upside down. "I think I've lost it."

Bakura raised an eyebrow. "And?"

"No, I mean really lost it." Ryoura shut his eyes and sighed. "I keep seeing things..."

"Seeing thing?" Ryoura nodded. "What kind of things?"

"Shadows..." Ryoura muttered, opening his eyes and looking at Bakura. "Mostly around Yugi... I just see this black shadow floating near him sometimes, following him..."

Bakura shuffled slightly. He hadn't been expecting something like this. "What do the shadows look like?"

"It looks... kind of human, but at the same time it doesn't. Kinda like it's on fire..." Ryoura looked up and frowned at Bakura's expression. "You think I'm crazy... don't you?"

"No, not necessarily..." Bakura mutter, closing his eyes.

"So you believe me?" Ryoura asked, shocked.

Bakura nodded. "It sounds like a lost soul to me."

"What's that?"

"Well... it's hard to explain; not all lost souls are the same. It's usually someone, or part of someone, who is trapped on earth for some reason; maybe bound by a person or item, though they can have only very little influence on any living being unless they have a very strong soul. Most are souls of those who refuse to accept they've died, or don't understand." Bakura looked up to the ceiling and narrowed his eyes. "That's why many lost souls are children... it's harder for a child to understand death..."

Ryoura shuddered at the thought of the souls of children stuck on earth until they accepted they were dead. "Well the shadow I saw was definately not a child. I only get glimpses of it, but it looks tall enough."

"But why would it be following Yugi?" Bakura asked, more to himself then Ryoura.

Ryoura sat up and bit his lip. "Um... Pepper?"

"Mm?"

"Why am I the only one that sees it?"

Bakura narrowed his eyes and thought for a moment, then answered, "It is unusual that neither Yugi or I have seen it... maybe it's conceiling itself from us. As magic users we can perform rituals to get rid of it."

Ryoura didn't look convinced. "But I can use magic too."

"You're not as much of a threat as we are, it may not be as worried about you seeing it." Bakura shrugged. "This is a very dangerous situation..."

Ryoura tilted his head. "Why?"

"Because a lost soul can be very manipulative and dangerous. We cannot see them nor fight them, but lost souls can see further into a person then you could ever imagine. Just be looking at you they can see everything about you; your personality, every weakness, every fear." he stood up and walked to the window, looking out at the moon. "I should know... I've been followed by one before."

"Really?" Ryoura breathed in shock.

Bakura glanced back at Ryoura and sighed. "Someone I'd killed back in Egypt came back for revenge, haunted my dreams with memories for weeks until I figured out what was going on. Luckily I was able to force his soul to move on with my magic, but it wasn't an experience I quickly forgot."

"Sorry..." Ryoura apologised. He knew Bakura's nightmares must have been centred around his parents death, that was his most tromitising memory he had and Ryoura knew how painful it was to see your parent killed.

"Don't be." the tomb-robber said simply, eyes locked on the glowing moon in the sky as memories of those nightmares raced through his mind.

"I'm going to bed..." Ryoura said after a few minutes of silence, and Bakura merely grunted in response. Lying down Ryoura turned his back to Bakura, mind racing with the information he had just recieved, he wouldn't sleep for hours. Glancing back Ryoura frowned at the tomb-robber, who's eyes were shining with tears. "Sorry for bringing back those memories Bakura..." he thought, staring at the wall in front of him.

Bakura rubbed his hands over his eyes before the tears could fall and swallowed hard to rid himself of the lump forming in his throat. Revisiting those memories mere months before had opened up some long-healed wounds in the tomb-robber, and made him more protective then ever of the only family he had now; Ryoura. "I couldn't save my parents... they died because I could do nothing to stop it." he looked back and Ryoura and narrowed his eyes in determination. "Never again..."


A cold wind blew in open window of Yugi's hotel room, brushing over the boys bare arms and causing him to shiver in his sleep. Yugi had decided to leave the window open as it was far to warm inside his hotel room, and had fallen asleep in his usual attire; a blue shirt and brown pants, his white vest he had dropped on the floor next to him before dozing off.

Yugi groaned and turned his back to the window as another breeze ran over him, though he remained asleep. As he slept, and dreamt, the dark shadow appeared outside, drifting into Yugi's room and landing softly on the ground just inside the window.

"Yugi..."


Dream

An evil chuckle echoed around him and Yugi shut his eyes tight, tears streaming down his face and body shaking with fear. He could feel something slithering of the floor around his ankles and wrists, but he couldn't move out of fear. "Please... no... not again..." he whimpered, more cords wrapping around his wrists. He tried to prevent this by hugging by burying his fists under his arms, but it didn't seem to make a difference. This was the very same feeling he had when Yami Marik had made him part of his twisted Shadow Game in the final battle between him and Yami in the Battle City finals.

Yugi's arms were pulled up by his sides and his body lifted of the floor, manacles of black magic wrapped around his wrists and ankles. Opening his eyes Yugi blinked them free of tears, gasping at the sight before him. There stood Yami Marik, grinning as Yugi struggled to break the bonds restraining him.

"Pathetic light..." Yami Marik chuckled, taking a step towards Yugi. This only made the boy struggle harder. "You're nothing but a vessel for the Pharaoh, child. You can't handle the power of the Millennium Items and you never will..." he reached has hand behind his back and lifted the Millennium Rod from his belt. Bringing it out in front of him he took off the cover, revealing a shining golden blade in place of the handle.

Yugi's eyes grew wide and he struggling against the black ropes holding onto him. As he did, anoher person appeared to his left; Bakura. It was not the Bakura he had come to trust, but the sinister spirit that had tried numerous times to take his Puzzle. "You're powerles to defend yourself Yugi..." he hissed, smirking at the boys fear.

"No..." Yugi whispered, eyes darting from Yami Malik to Bakura, then to the third person to his right; Dartz. "Get away from me!" Yugi screamed when Dartz reached his hand into his pocket and withdrew a soul card, holding it up in front of Yugi. "I won't go back! You can't make me!"

All three villians laughed at his outburst. "I'd like to see you try and stop us..." Dartz chuckled, the soul card glowing brightly as all three advanced. Yugi shut his eyes tight and lowered his head. There was nothing he could do.

All of a sudden a blinding light engulfed the area, and the evil laughter that echoed around Yugi dissappeared. Opening his eyes, keeping them narrowed to avoid the bright light, Yugi peered around the now white room. There was no one to be seen. The bonds around his ankles and wrists turned a light golden colour, holding him up gentle rather then letting him hang painfully in the air. The golden magic lowered him to the floor and dissappeared, when he collapsed to him knees, trying to collect himself. "What... happened...?" he mumbled, opening his eyes now that the light had dimmed.

"Yugi, are you alright?"

Yugi jumped slightly and looked behind him, eyes growing wide. "Y-Yami?" he stuttered. Yami smiled warmly down at Yugi and knelt down on one knee beside him, placing his hand on Yugi's shoulder. He was wearing an all white attire; white sleeveless shirt, white pants and white shoes.

"It's alright Yugi..." he said soothingly, "You don't need to be afraid. It's just a dream."

"A... dream?" Yugi looked around him in surprise. "But... it felt so real..." he looked up at Yami and blinked, tears brimming in his eyes. "I'm a coward..." he whispered, gaze falling to the floor, ashamed of himself before his darker half. "I'm not like you Yami... I can't do this..."

"No Yugi." Yami shook his head lightly. "You're not me, but you're just as strong."

"No..." Yugi shook his head. "I can't handle this anymore... I'll never be able to save Yujhi and it's my fault he's gone in the first place... I'm a terrible guardian..." he tensed slightly when he felt Yami's arms wrap around him, then leaned his head on the taller boys chest. "I just... I can't do it..." he whispered, tears streaming down his face.

"Yugi, listen to me, you can save Yujhi and you will. You are much stronger then you give yourself credit for and I believe in you." Yami whispered, hugging Yugi to himself in an attempt to comfort him. "You've done an amazing job so far as the guardian of the Millennium Puzzle, and of Yujhi... I'm very proud of you."

Yugi opened his eyes and smiled softly. "You don't know how much that means to me..."

"Would it be too much to ask for a proper hug then?" Yami asked in an amused tone, raising an eyebrow. Yugi chuckled and wrapped his arms around Yami, freezing when his hands touched something soft. Yami chuckled at Yugi's confused expression. "Surprised?"

Yugi looked up at Yami and sat up, looking over Yami's shoulder. "Yami... are those...?"

Yami smiled and looked back, spreading the silvery-white wings on his back. Yugi's eyes grew wide at the sight of Yami's wings, his expression saddening. With his recent visits to his memories in his dreams, it still hadn't fully hit him all he past friends were gone, so this hit him like a ton of bricks. Bursting into tears he threw his arms around Yami's shoulders and hugged him, sobbing into the former-pharaoh's shoulders.

"Shh, it's ok..." Yami whispered, hugging his lighter half softly. They sat there in silence for a moment or two, before Yami let him go and placed his hands on Yugi's shoulders. Pushing the younger boy slightly he felt Yugi lossen his grip, then held him out at arms length in ront of him, smiling. "Yugi...?" he whispered.

Yugi looked up at Yami, his eyes shining with sorrow. "I'm pathetic arn't I?" hhe chocked out, looking down at the floor again.

"You think loving your brother is pathetic?" Yami raised an eyebrow, though his voice was still soft and understanding. Yugi looked up as if ready to apoligise but Yami shook his head. "I know exactly what you're going through Yugi, and I understand. It's difficult to accept someting like this..."

Yugi swallowed hard and nodded, not trusting his own voice.

Yami smiled and placed his hands on either side of Yug's face, thumbing away the tears streaming down his face. "You'll be alright Yugi, and Yujhi will be too. You'll see..."

"Yami?" Yugi looked up at his darker half, who was statring to rise to his feet and letting his hands slip away from Yugi. "Y-You're leaving?"

Yami reached down his hand and took Yugi's in his own, lifting the smaller boy to his feet. "Don't worry Yugi, we'll see eachother again." he ruffled Yugi's hair then frowned slightly, letting his hand sit on Yugi's head. "Be careful Yugi... there are dark forces at work..."

"Huh?" Yugi looked up at Yami, though his darker half was hiden behind some of the hair Yami had pushed down in front of Yugi's eyes. "What do you mean?"

Yami shut his eyes and let his hand slip down to the side of Yugi's face, then opened his eyes and looked at Yugi sadly. "I'm sorry, I cannot say... All I can say is... I'm sorry Yugi..."

"Yami!" Yugi took a step towards his other half as he pulled away from him, wings spreading wide. "Yami come back!" Yugi called tearfully.

"Please be careful Yugi, there are forces among you that you must defeat." Yami whispered, though Yugi could hear his voice clearly. "Don't hold back, and never give up..."

"Yami!" Yugi called desperately, reaching his hands up towards the other as if he was trying to reach him.

Yami shut his eyes, tears trickling down his face. "We'll see eachother again soon..."

"Yami!"

There was a blinding flash and Yugi fell into a dreamless sleep.


End Dream

The shadow hissed as it approached Yugi's bed, leaning over the boy who had his back turned to it. It reached down it's claw-like hand, which it slid under Yugi's face and turned the boys head so he could look at him. It's eye's narrowed in curiousity at the tears streaming down the sleeping boys face.

"Are you in pain, Yugi...?" it hissed, laying his head back down on the bed gently. The shadow grinned sinisterly and chuckled. "Do not worry, little one... all your troubles will be over very soon..."

As the creaure desolved into the darkness around it, the glint of a blade flashed in the rising suns light from the creatures side.


To Be Continued
Hmm... odd? Yes! Aww, I feel so sorry for Yugi and Yami! -glomp-
Well, whacha think? Don't expect as mant updates as before. I've gotta work for exams coming up in...7 weeks. But I'm still trying to get back into writing more often and, again, I'm sorry for the long wait!
Welp, thats all for now! Slán slán people!
Bay Bay!
Bayleef