LAST CHAPTER! HOLY SMOKE!
I started this little exercise in perspective right as February begin in 2020 just before the Covid Shut in and here I am almost exactly two years later and its complete!
I'm so proud of this story and this series as a whole. It really resurrected my love of these characters but also got me thinking WHY I love them and what it is about characters in general that I love and the best part this is only Part One!

Thanks everyone for joining me on this wild ride! And it is FAR from over ;)


Bonds and Blood

Yami was already waiting for his Other Self when Yugi appeared inside his Soul Room. Here alone, Yugi embraced his Other Self who returned the hug.

"We did it, Other Me!" Yugi all but burst. "Me and Jonouchi, we both won!"

"Yes, you did, Yugi.!" Pride swirled in Yami's smile, his bright eyes. Dear Ra, when had the sweet, shy boy he'd defended from bullies grown so strong? So brave? "Aibou," his voice took on a surprising gentleness. "I learned something from you today…"

Befuddlement reflected in those eyes, Yami continued. "That kindness is the greatest strength of all…" he cupped Yugi's cheek. "I'm very proud of you, Aibou. One day…You will surpass me in every way."

Yugi blushed bright red under the praise but nonetheless giggled and brushed his Other Self's hands away. The innocence and familiarity was strange considering all that had happened and yet it felt as pure and natural as it always had. But something was different. Something had changed…

An understanding that did not require words passed between them, nullifying the earlier joy. "When that day comes…"

Yugi gave his hand a firm squeeze. "Then we face it together!" The firm determination of those words both contrasted the brightness of those beautiful eyes and yet made their fearless promises all the brighter. It filled Yami with a strength and a hope that he had not realized until now he'd needed. A comfort, even as doubt and remorse swirled in the pit of his stomach.

"Yes, Battle City had begun but for Marik, it's the beginning of the end." He tightened his grip on Yugi's hand. The relief of their safety and joy of their victory, the peace that came from success: all of it faded in the revelation that this was not over. That it has barely begun. That this was all just a trial and the true battle had barely even started.

That they still faced an enemy that had yet to see. And that both terrified him and filled him with a ferocious protective fury that rose from the ashes of his grief like a fiery phoenix and transformed with the might of his own will. Ir burst like sky fire inside him, galvanizing his blood and bones with a determination and drive he had not felt since Yugi had collapsed in his arms during his duel with Pegasus. "I will defeat him, Yugi. For both of us."

"We'll defeat him," Yugi corrected sternly with a fresh new defiance to his swagger that almost took Yami by surprise. "And more importantly, we'll restore your memories."

Yami blinked with a startled sigh. In all of this madness, he had nearly forgotten all of that…it had seemed such a simple task in the beginning. Now it felt like some grand joke of Fate with him and all his friends not players but pieces on a board while the Gods rolled their dice.

And yet…something had happened when he'd faced Slifer earlier that day. Someone had appeared. Someone whose presence brought both joy and anguish to his heart had joined him in the Red God's presence when the Millenium puzzle pulsed. Someone whose loss brought just as much devastation to the skyfire dragon's own heart as it did his.

A Memory. That's what it was…a memory of a woman whose identity he did not know. Only that she was important to him…and important to Slifer. He had felt it the moment the Red God's proud blue eyes fixated upon him as it descended into mist and knew some how, some way, the Red God had always been meant for him because he had once been hers.

Even now he felt Slifer's power like an ember burning in the deck box upon his belt awaiting the moment it too would rise up and roar like an indomitable flame.

Would he face Obelisk and Ra with the same sense of familiarity and dread? Would his puzzle once more pulse with purpose and remembrance?

With that thought came another memory…one of soft petals opened to reveal a golden heart, so deep and blue they looked violet floating in a pool beneath a waterfall: the secret heart of a dark cave illuminated by starlight. Of the small collection of potted plants that had taken up residence on Yugi's windowsill, each one with a message and a name that was not for Yugi. Each one carrying with it the sweet smell of Egyptian lotus flowers and the heat of warm burnt ocher skin and the brush of roughened hands and a burgundy coat draped over his own bare shoulders: a memory that flooded him with heat and fire and despair and daring and pleasures that were wickedly sinful.

And yet unlike the woman there was no face to match them. Who were they? That was the question that burned his mind more than any other. And with them came another realization: what would happen when Yami did remember? When he did reclaim this lost prologue of his existence would it even be worth it? Would all the pain and struggles his loved ones had already endured for his sake be worth it when the past he reclaimed brought only names long forgotten and faces lost to time? Would it even be worth the anguish that was sure to follow? Would he even like the person he'd been? Would he even feel a sense of kinship to his lost identity as king when already his personality had grown and changed so much…

"You don't have to do everything on your own, Other Me." Again, he felt Yugi's warmth. A comforting weight upon his shoulder and squared his shoulders before Yami could protest. "We're doing this together. Right?"

The resplendent smile blooming across Yugi's face was all the reassurance he needed. "As if I could stop you."

"Together," Yugi reaffirmed and for the first time Yami realized what he'd truly meant. Together not just him and Yugi, not just he, Yugi and their friends, but both pieces of himself: the person he'd been and the person he was now, the two halves of his heart like pieces of a puzzle needed to form a whole. Only then could Yami finally be who he was always meant to be and face the future.

"Together."

X X X

Closing his eyes, Yugi found himself once more in the chaos that was Mai's car where he, Jonouchi, Anzu, Honda and Otogi had all crowded together in the back seat—Shizuka had unanimously been awarded shotgun and was currently engaging in conversation with Mai who made a quirp about not getting disappointed when (not if when) Jonouchi got his butt kicked by a "hot blond duelist" which in turn earned a yell of protest from Jonouchi. Yugi could only chuckle.

Yami's pride and warmth radiated through the link.

The trauma of the day's events evaporated with the rush of battle that came with the approaching Battle City Finals, Jonouchi's reunion with his sister and Yugi's own relief that Jonouchi was once more himself, their friendship intact and Yami, his Other Self, safe and sound.

Yugi breathed out and felt all of it expel from him until he was so full of relief and lightness he all but collapsed from it.

"So…uh…ya gonna tell me what all that was about?" Jonouchi's concerned whisper broke through Yugi's concentration. He braced himself with an arm just before another sharp turn of Mai's could send him crashing into Yugi and smushing him against Anzu. "I mean don't get me wrong or anything Kaiba's a jerk and ya Other Self is totally my hero, now, but any particular reason he needed ta punch rich boy in the gut?" There was no mistaking the pride in Jonouchi's voice or the brotherly protectiveness.

Yugi tried not to smirk. "Something between Kaiba and my Other Self." Yugi said matter of factly. "He's just lucky Yami let him off easy." This time Yugi did smirk. "I, on the other hand, have no such intentions."

Jonouchi's eyes lit up with a mixture of shock, pride and giddiness. "I got ya back. And…I haven't forgotten my promise to fight you! This time as a real duelist! So accept my challenge!"

"You bet!" Yugi beamed. Jou returned his smile then went back to death-glaring Otogi and Honda whenever one of them attempted to flirt with his sister with a fiery death stare that would make the Red Eyes Black Dragon proud.

Left to his own thoughts, Yugi's drifted. Subconsciously, Yugi's fingers traced the words My Angel engraved in the bracelet and teased the set of charms: the kanji for Koi, a cartouche with his name in hieroglyphics, a flower that resembled a water lily, beloved in hieroglyphs, and most wonderful of all, a beautiful amethyst jeweled heart. He had not taken it off since he'd received it, determined that as he couldn't take the letters and flowers pressed lovingly between book pages, he could at least take this for comfort.

In the madness of the tournament, he had completely forgotten the secret admirer who's heartfelt letters and gifts of flowers spoke more emotions than any words. Had hidden away the skipping of his heart for the last two days in his determination to help Yami reclaim his memories, protect him from this "Marik" and then protect and rescue Jonouchi. And yet when Meteor's strike hit home and he felt himself falling into unconsciousness content that Yami and Joey were both safe and completely prepared to die if it meant defending them…his only regret was that he'd never gotten to meet his admirer face to face.

Khazamaa.

That was what he called himself. The only clue to his admirer's identity. And yet it had felt like Yugi knew them. Knew him. Had always known him though he could not put a face or a voice or a touch to the words.

It had surprised him how deeply that regret shook him now. Shocked him how relieved he felt that he'd have another chance…he had promised to meet him in battle city. Did that mean… would he be a finalist? Was he already there? Waiting for him?

It felt so selfish to think about and yet the very thought flooded Yugi with a warmth he never felt with anyone else, not Anzu or Jonouchi, not even with Yami. It filled him with a hope and a lightness that he couldn't describe, couldn't name though he desperately wanted too.

And worst of all a part of him too afraid to speak up just yet already knew he had fallen.

He'd fallen hard.

And he had no idea what to do about it.

X X X

"Hey Rishad?" Marik asked, taking a seat upon the bleachers while Rishad remained standing: the first two of the eight finalists. The emotional outburst of earlier had evaporated like the morning due in the desert and now they were once more Master and Servant. King and Shadow. Mask and Puppeteer. "You haven't forgotten our agreement have you?"

Rishad did not flinch even as the dagger pierced his heart. "No…not for a moment."

"Good," Marik gave a sigh of relief, but Rishad heard the anger slipping in, the Rod clenched tight in his hand. "These items…they're a symbol of darkness. The very same darkness that has cursed our family, cursed me…before I wanted nothing more than to put an end to this cursed inheritance by taking Yugi's life…but I see now it is not Yugi, but the Pharaoh who needs to die. And Yugi is just as much a prisoner as I am. I cannot abandon that quest…I cannot allow a single soul born into this clan to suffer this cursed existence."

He did not need to explain it for Rishad knew well: the darkness of the underground, the cold, the isolation, the pain…knew no one in the world feared it more than his younger brother did, even if he would never admit it.

"The evil power the prophecy spoke up has already risen and the King's spirit must reclaim his memories in order to fulfill the prophecy, but only I know how to find them." Someone might have heard the anger in his voice and mistaken it for hate, but Rishad had known Marik all his life and knew it for indignation. Indignation and the strain of having to bear such a burden.

"I have not forgotten, my master," Rishad assured, hoping the confirmation would end the conversation. Dread filled his heart like a toxin when Marik continued.

"If that happens…the prophecy states we will seize to be useful. We will have no reason to exist…"

Rishad flinched as his father's own words left Marik's mouth.

"The only way for us to survive is if I become the new king and banish the parasite back to the darkness, that is the only way we can be free…I can be free…and Yugi can be free."

"I remember…" Rishad confirmed, praying Marik would not make him say the words out loud,

"Then if I am unable to defeat the Pharaoh…if I am unable to save Yugi…"

"I have not forgotten," Rishad cut him off firmly.

Marik answered anyway. "Then you must do what you promised my Father and kill me."

X X X

Bakura was pissed.

No, Bakura was beyond pissed.

The kind of furious, murderous rage and bloodlust that could only be quenched by watching his army of ghosts and ghouls tear through his terrified enemies with a merciless ferocity that mirrored their master until his opponenwts were left screaming and quivering in terror on the ground.

It was not half as satisfying as it should have been. Usually seeing dolts and fools crumble in their cowardness filled him with a victorious rush of pleasure, but now as he counted five Puzzle Cards in his hand, all he could think about was that Duel, the source of his vengeful fueled anger and frustration.

All the exhaustion and peace from the relief of the Chosen's, mutts and Pharoah's confirmed safety and victory over the idiot, Marik, had faded and transformed into absolute fury when Bakura realized he now owed the mutt not only two debts, but now owed fucking Kaiba as well. That made his teeth grit so hard he thought they might crack.

He kicked the nearest trash can so hard it bounced against the alley wall.

Nevermind the fact Ryou was still out cold, but at least he was safe in his…

A sudden intrusion in his Host's mind sent Bakura whirling back through the wonderland of memories and doorways that was his landlord's soulroom. Her shadow guided his steps until he came face to face with the interloper.

"YOU!" Bakura roared as Marik stepped out of the silhouetted mists—and wasted no time in punching the brat square across the jaw.

Marik spiraled across the ground, gave a pained "owe" before staggering to his feet, a finger held in acknowledgement. "Alright, I admit…I deserved that."

At least he had the decency to flush.

"Damn right, you do!" Bakura hissed hair bristling like bat wings or the wings of some furious, biting insect. His canines flashed, growling. "What the fuck are you doing in my Host's mind!"

"Oh that," Marik swaggered the picture of playful innocence. Bakura balled his fists, ready to leap and tear the brat apart like a war-ravaged lioness ready to avenge her pride: Sekhmet's blood boiling in his veins.

Marik yelped and the playful facade dropped immediately. Sensing the coming danger he quickly amended. "I placed a piece of my consciousness in your Host's mind. It was the best way to ease his pain and make sure you kept your end of the bargain. I trust everything is going to plan then?"

Bakura snorted but retracted his claws "Yes, and I have already paid much on my end as far as my Host is concerned. Now hand over the Rod, that was the plan was it not?"

Marik hesitated. "Plans change."

A snort tore through Bakura's throat that quickly evolved into laughter. "I knew it! You failed, didn't you?" He cocked his head birdlike, his tone thick with derision. His smirk widening when Marik's eye twitched and his smile morphed into an embarrassed growl.

"Well, what did you expect with that mess of a duel of yours?" Bakura scolded, harsh and humorless. "You're just lucky the Chosen and the Puzzle survived. Believe it or not, they are both quite necessary to my own plans…unless, of course," Bakura schooled his features into a mocking scowl and smiled a playful smile that would make a psychopath proud. "There's something you wish to tell me?"

Marik, to his credit did not flinch, but the pout in his eyes spoke not of the deranged killer who shared his body but the young naive confidence and teenaged bravado of the young man he was.

Bakura arched his brow. So he hadn't been seeing things earlier then. The brat had actually managed to banish the Monster, at least for now…Bakura did not know whether to be impressed or concerned.

"The plan will proceed," Marik explained, tightening his grip on the Rod. "You will get my Rod and the rest of the items, as promised, but only once I have the three God Cards. Only then can I defeat the Pharaoh and free my beloved from his grasp."

"Ah, so that's what this is about." Bakura rolled his eyes with exasperated disinterest and turned on his heels,.. "If all this is some elaborate scheme to get the Pharaoh's brat into your bed, then leave me out of it. I have far more important things to do." Bakura dismissed with a wave of his arm, stopped and glared so sharp his russet eyes could cut glass. "So I suggest you leave this mind now, before I really lose my temper."

He expected anger or some childish fit, perhaps even a fear driven tantrum. Anything but what Marik did do: he smirked.

"I had a feeling you'd become impatient," the brat had the audacity to smile and fished something out of his back pocket then held it up for his inspection.

It was a necklace: specifically a pendant sporting a silver serpent coiled around a pale crimson crystal cut and curved in the shape of half a heart on a silver chain.

All the blood and air drained from Bakura's face in a single second.

His hand flew to his back pocket and his stomach dropped when he found it empty of the one secret not even Ryou was allowed to know about him.

"Where…Where the bloody fuck did you get that!?" He couldn't keep the horror from his voice even as it morphed into rage.

"This?" Marik teased, pulling back the chain and catching it just out of the man's reach like a cat's toy. "Let's just say I 'found' it during our last encounter and I thought it might be wise to have a little…leverage, in case you decided to betray me?"

Oh, how Bakura wanted to punch that smirk right off the brat's face.

"Follow the plan, Bakura and you will get this back and the Rod. In the meantime…" Marik leaped backwards into the air, swiftly doding the lion-like pounce. Bakura's growl exploded into a roar of fury and vengeance and sheer helpless, his clothes and hair frazed and burned about him.

"I think I'll hang out here."

Marik departed with an obnoxious laugh.

Back in the alleyway where he'd defeated his latest victim Bakura yowled a furious howl that evolved into a shriek of utter righteous fury and punched the nearest wall and kicked a trashcan so hard it bounced off the wall with the force of his rage. "Damnit. Damnit! DAMNIT!" He raged and roared until his bruised knuckles throbbed, his skull throbbed and he'd nearly torn out his hair in his fury.

"Fuck!" How did he go from being the power behind the shadows to an adolescent psycho's pawn!?

"UGH!" With a final fist slammed against the wall, the Ring jingling against his chest and the other half of the pendant he'd lost beating like a heartbeat beneath his chest, he willed himself to relax. "Fine…" Fired by his resolve his lips pulled into a smirk that would not be out of place on a serpent. "That's your game then…Fine, Marik, I will play…for now…Not that it matters anyway…"

Fired by the memory of sun-kissed skin warm beneath his hands and ruby eyes glittering with fire, Bakura made his way towards Battle City's Final stage. He licked his lips and made his way toward the cemetery, a vengeful predator hungry for its next victim, a cursed spirit, awake and vengeful.

"The bloodiest battle in 3,000 years is about to start…and I certainly don't want to miss out on the fun…and none of this will stop me from getting him back."

He was unaware of Ryou's shadowed eyes watching him.

End of Part One


And now we all know what Bakura had in his pocket ;) Look familiar? I edited that scene with him and Marik a bit since the dialogue in the Japanese version was very different from the Dub version and I wanted to incorporate bits of both...

I'm also very proud how I was able to book end this story with this final chapter...I wanted to highlight just how much everyone's relationships and goals have changed since the beginning while still making it clear there is a long way to go, and to be honest Bakura is just SO much fun to write...I cannot wait to explore his role more in the Second Part.

And of course I had to link back to the Yami and Yugi's emotional states concerning their secret admirers ;) because that was too good to pass up!

Thanks so much for joining me on this wild ride everyone! I make no promises when Part 2 will be up but I plan on playing around with that one quite a bit so be on the look out!

Until then PART ONE IS DONE!