1A/N Okay, this is it. I have decided that there will be only three to five more chapters to this story. I don't own YGO.

Chapter 16

Yugi squirmed under Irakih's weight. "Get off of me!" He yelled angrily, he looked towards the door to his room, hoping a guard would come in. Someone was to keep watch over him at all times. He was royalty after all. He remembered when seeing Atemu in his memory world, guards swarmed around him constantly.

"They won't come. They can't hear you." Irakih smirked. He watched Yugi's amethyst orbs waiting for the reaction. He got it. Yugi turned his eyes onto Irakih, who knew not to expect fear. The younger was too tainted for such a pure emotion. Instead, rage filled his features, making him resemble Atemu more than Yugi himself. Irakih smiled, "You feel it can't you?"

Yugi frowned and stopped his squirming. "What the hell are you talking about?"

Irakih kept that disgusting smirk on his face. "The power of rage inside of you." When he saw Yugi's confused expression, he only shook his head. "Don't bother trying to deny it." He took his fingers and brushed the blond bangs our from Yugi's eyes. "I'm inside your mind. I feel what you feel. And you feel powerful."

Yugi shook his head. "I feel..." he paused and looked away.

Irakih chuckled, "You see?" He asked, letting go of Yugi's wrists. "You like it don't you? Having the power to do whatever you want, when you want to do it. When you yelled at that girl, you loved how she cowered at your feet. You loved the way the light faded from her eyes."

Yugi bit his lip, trying to remember his own emotion. Did he feel all those things? Yugi couldn't remember what he felt. Maybe he did like it?

Irakih continued, lowering his mouth to Yugi's ear. "You can have it all. Everything that you ever dreamed of, wished for, and wanted can be yours." Irakih whispered, lust filling his voice. He allowed one hand to gently caress the side of Yugi's face. "Just tell me what you want. Give into my power." Irakih whispered, using his finger to turn Yugi's chin and look at him. "Let me love you like no one else has."

Yugi closed his eyes as Irakih placed a kiss on his lips. It felt like nothing. There was no love, no passion, no concern. Nothing but lust and want. Yugi felt a tear come to his eye. It wasn't suppose to be this way. But everything has an end. This was his. He belonged with Irakih. He would never see his friends again. He would never feel the light of belonging again...and he had to accept it. The kiss ended and Yugi opened his eyes. With their face inches apart he whispered, "I want..."

Irakih smiled warmly. "Yes, little one? What do you want?"

Yugi felt fatigued. Irakih was doing this to him, but he really didn't care anymore. "I want..." Yugi began and stopped again. "I want you to—," Yugi! Fight him! A loud cry came from deep within Yugi's mind. Yugi blinked. He knew that voice quite well. Atemu? Yugi wondered. The name seemed foreign to him. Irakih watched him closely. Yugi blinked again. Is he still within my mind? That is impossible. He has a body of his own now. We no longer have our minds connected. Yugi played out. His heart leaped. Yugi placed a hand over his heart and looked up at Irakih, gazing into his confused eyes.

Irakih opened his mouth and paused. "What do you want?" he asked more firmly.

Yugi grasped the clothing around his heart. He felt him. Atemu. They weren't connected by mind anymore. They were still connected by the heart. Yugi let out a sigh. Tears came to his eyes. He was...happy. Yugi took a deep breath and wrapped an arm around Irakih. The other went to his chest and started to make little circles. "I want," Yugi said a little louder. "For you to get off!" He yelled, taking his hand and pushing with all his energy.

Irakih fell hard in front of him and Yugi took his chance. He darted at the door, threw it open, and once he was out of the room, slammed the door shut. He had to find Atemu. Now. Yugi dashed down the hallway, whirling by people with some asking if everything was alright. He didn't answer, the only thing on his mind was his yami.

Yugi rounded the corner when he ran smack into someone. They both tumbled to the floor and when Yugi looked at whom he ran into, a lump formed in his throat. Ashley sat stunned in front of him but once she realized who ran into her, immediately found her composure. She got to her knees quickly and bowed, body trembling. "I'm s-so sorry, sire." She mumbled. "I should watch where I'm going."

Yugi stood and grabbed the girl's arm apologetically. "Its alright. I wasn't looking either." Yugi turned around to make sure Irakih wasn't watching him. "Listen, do you have any idea where Pharaoh Atemu is? Is he and my father still in the dining hall?" He asked quickly.

Ashley seemed surprised by Yugi's change of mood but didn't ask for an explanation. She pointed towards the hall going away from the dining hall. "He went for a walk. The king said he was not hungry and left to go collect his thoughts." She said slowly. "I'm sure he didn't go far. He only left but moments ago." she said, looking at her feet.

Yugi started to dash down the hall when he turned suddenly. "Oh, and Ashley. I'm sorry for acting...well...like a jerk. I just get cranky sometimes. You know me." Yugi put up a fake smile. He was unsure of in this life if the girl really did know him. However, she gave a warm smile and nodded at him. Yugi turned and ran down the hall. It turned in many places and it was harder to see. The light of the day was leaving and the torches didn't provide much light. Yugi looked uneasily behind him as he stopped and squinted hard. Irakih better not have followed me. Yugi thought, catching his breath. A sudden and terrifying thought crossed his mind. What if he tried to kill Atemu because I refused?

Someone's hand found his wrist and pulled him into a tight corner of the hall. Yugi was about to scream when he saw the person that surprised him. "Atemu!" He practically shrieked.

The former pharaoh raised an eyebrow at Yugi's sudden change of attitude. "Looking for me?" Atemu asked, his voice lowered to a whisper. "Care to explain your little out burst this evening? Because your father and I would love to know what is going on inside your head." he asked, boldly.

Yugi bit his lip. He couldn't deny that he deserved that. "I..." He trailed off, unsure where to begin. Yugi played out what could be said, Hey Atemu! Sorry about yelling at you for no apparent reason. About completely betraying your trust and making you feel unwanted. I really didn't mean that. Oh! By the way. I think the freak that I'm cheating on you with is brain washing me into trying to kill you. Want to hang out and grab a cup of coffee sometime? This was never going to work. Yugi started questioning whether he should have come here at all.

Atemu swallowed, studying Yugi's expression. "Is there something you need to talk about?" He asked, his tone softer.

Yugi look up at him. "Um..." He paused and licked his dry lips. A sudden pain in his head caused him to take a short gasp of breath. He brought a hand up to steady his head and felt Atemu's hand on his shoulder. Fear coursed through his veins. Irakih was trying to find him, Yugi had already made the connection. Was Irakih somehow in his mind? Able to control his every action? Were the thought he was having now even his own? Yugi's breathing became labored. He had to tell Atemu everything. No matter how much he didn't want to admit it, he needed help.

Atemu frowned at Yugi's distress. "Yugi?" He asked cautiously. "What's wrong?"

Yugi closed his eyes as the pain in his head got worse. He opened his mouth to speak but no words came out. He couldn't say anything. Nothing at all. Atemu couldn't possible understand what he was going through. Yugi grinded his teeth and straightened up. I have to find someone else to help me. Yugi concluded. He looked up at the crimson orbs starring concerns at him. His thoughts faltered. Well, maybe if I let on what is going on than Atemu can help me. No! He can't. I have to go to Irakih and fix this myself. I can't be a wimp my whole life. "I'm fine." Yugi blurted out without evening thinking. "I just want to go back to my room." He stated, turning down the hall and walking back calmly.

Why did I just say that? I don't want to go back to my room. Irakih will find me there for sure. I can't face him alone! What am I doing? Yugi panicked again. He wanted to stop. To turn around and tell Atemu everything, but his body wouldn't allow it. Yugi made his way back to his room, looking calm on the outside, but on the inside he was a mess. What has he done to me? Yugi asked as he sat on his bed.

"Good to see you back so soon" A cold voice came from behind him. Arms came up and slithered around his waist. Yugi almost gagged. Everything he once had thought lustful about Irakih had suddenly disappeared. Why had he trusted this creep to begin with? "I knew you couldn't stay away."

Yugi felt himself sigh. He turned with tears in his eyes, "What have you done to me?"

Irakih shook his head in disgust. "I should have known his hold on you was strong. But I couldn't have predicted that it was this strong. One out burst and you're sobbing like a two year old."

"What are you talking about?" Yugi asked, a single tear rolling down his face.

Irakih smirked. "I can't have you weak like this. You can't go back to be pure again."

Pure? Yugi bit his lip. Of course. He was a creature of light. His soul had only good, no evil. He wasn't pure anymore? How was that possible? Yugi felt more tears in his eyes. Irakih had tainted his soul. He wasn't hikari anymore. A small sob escaped his mouth but Irakih forced him to keep quiet.

"I need you as much as you need me. However," Irakih continued. "As long as he exists, you cannot become one with me. You can't become one with the dark one." He whispered into Yugi's ear. Sudden, unwanted memories came back into Yugi's mind. He thought it had been a dream. But it wasn't. The cold fire, being burned. Marik's dark side telling him that he would be united with the dark one. Irakih was the dark one? Irakih smirked as he saw Yugi's mind put the pieces together. He took a dagger out of it's sheath around his waist and placed it in Yugi's hand. "Take it."

On command, Yugi's hand grasped the knife. His hands began to shake.

"As long as he still breathes, you will always have free will. My hold on you is strong, but not permanent. But that will soon change." Irakih stated getting up and pulling Yugi to his feet. "Kill him. His love for you will be his very undoing. Then you and I shall live and forever rule this world." Irakih hissed.

Yugi shook his head with the little energy he had. "No..." He barely whispered. "I can't—,"

"You can." Irakih stated. The door across the room opened slightly and Yugi felt a presence that he no longer wanted around him. "And you will." Irakih finished, as Atemu came walking in.

Atemu shut the door carefully as he gazed at the sight before him. His hikari was leaning up against a wall, a knife tightly in his fist. Tears were rolling down his cheeks and Irakih had his filthy hands on him. Atemu suppressed a growl as he marched towards to two.

Yugi looked over at him with desperate eyes. "Don't come any closer!" He managed to say without Irakih stopping him.

Atemu stopped in his tracks and looked at Irakih with a best glare he could muster. Yugi was in danger. He could tell by the sound of his voice. But what exactly was going on? Atemu looked back to Yugi, softening his eyes some. "Yugi, what is going on?" Atemu asked sternly.

Irakih moved away from Yugi who adverted his eyes to the floor, his entire body trembling. Irakih smiled. "Go on." He said. "Now is your chance."

Yugi let out a sob as head felt as if it was going to explode. He stiffened greatly and his grip on the dagger grew stronger. Atemu had to leave now. Yugi didn't know how much longer he could fight Irakih before his mind would break.

Atemu took another cautious step towards Yugi. "Yugi. What are you doing with the knife?" He asked. "Put it down."

Irakih chuckled, giving his full attention to Atemu. "He won't put it down." He smiled at Atemu confusion and continued. "It isn't that he won't, but he can't. I won't let him. His destiny is no longer with you." He spat. "His very life belongs to me now."

Atemu looked at Yugi, putting his usual unreadable face on. "Yugi, fight him away. You have the power to do—,"

"He hasn't the power to do anything!" Irakih laughed. "I control his thoughts, I control his very actions! What makes you think that he can fight me off?" Irakih inquired cooly. "You're going to have to face the facts sooner rather than later. Your hikari belongs to me now. I have forever tainted his soul and I'm not going to let him go."

Atemu continued to stare at Yugi. He hated to admit it but Irakih was right. Yugi's control was slipping, he could feel it. His eyes wondered to the knife in Yugi's hand.

Irakih, noticing the former king's confusion, explained away. "Don't worry. That knife isn't to take his own life. It is to take yours." He sneered.

Atemu realized Yugi's warning. He took another step towards him. "He won't kill me." He said simply, not looking at Irakih but looking at Yugi himself. He visibly watched his hikari flinch. Whatever Irakih was doing to him must have been painful, and he had to stop it.

Irakih laughed cruelly. "Oh please! Face it, pharaoh! You're going to loose him. And you're never going to get him back!" Irakih stated.

Those words burned holes into Atemu's heart. He bit his tongue in order to not loose control of his own actions. He wanted nothing more than to kill that filth but knew better. He had to get Yugi to safety first, revenge came later. And Irakih would pay dearly for having hurt his hikari. You're going to loose him. And you're never going to get him back. Atemu allowed those words to hit his core. He fisted his hands. "Like hell I am." he stated.

Before Irakih could do anything, Atemu rushed over to Yugi. The former king grabbed both of Yugi's shoulders and slammed him against the wall. Yugi looked up at him in shock and fear. Atemu used a finger to tilt Yugi's head towards him and laid a kiss on his dry but still velvet lips. Irakih froze in alarm and terror as we watched the scene play out. He hadn't expected Atemu to make such a bold move. Atemu wrapped his arm's around Yugi's waist, pulling his hikari closer and holding him as he deepened the kiss. He felt Yugi relax under his grip, the shudders and fear gone in an instant. Atemu heard the clutter of an object falling to the floor and knew without looking in was the dagger Yugi held in his hand. He felt Yugi wrapped his arms around his neck, holding onto him for dear life.

When Atemu finally broke the kiss, Yugi practically collapsed against him. It was wonderful. So much passion, love, concern, fear, forgiveness, and gentleness in one kiss. Yugi had almost forgotten what it was like. He closed his eyes and allowed Atemu to hold his limp form. His breath just as uneven before but this time out of relief. It was nothing like any of the kisses he had shared with Irakih. This time there was no lust, desire, or greed. He and Atemu...Yami, were one again.

Atemu held Yugi tightly, knowing that there was no need to say any words. Yugi knew everything he was feeling. He heard Irakih behind him growled viciously, snapping both of the renewed lovers out of their trance. Atemu turned to him, an arm still wrapped around his star struck hikari. "You were saying?" He asked, eyebrow raised.

Yugi laid his head against his Yami's chest and sighed deeply. He felt...clean again. Free even. His headache was practically nonexistent. Just a dull roar in the back of his head. He kept an arm around Atemu for comfort.

Irakih snarled again, but said nothing. He didn't even advance towards the couple.

Atemu looked down at his hikari, an over whelming urge to kiss him again was pushed out of the way by a stronger urge to protect him. He untangled himself from Yugi and pushed the hikari behind him. "Now, you'll pay for everything you've done." Atemu growled, the puzzle around his neck starting to glow.

He was quickly cut off by a tug of his shirt from behind. He turned to see Yugi shaking his head. "Atemu, I just want to get out of here. Take me out of here." Yugi pleaded, starring uncomfortably at Irakih who glared back at him.

Atemu looked back at Irakih and then at Yugi. "Are you—,"

Yugi looked up at Atemu. "Please...Yami?"

Atemu swallowed hard at his nickname. He sighed, looking in disgust at Irakih. Should he let him go? For some reason, he knew he was going to regret it. But Yugi wanted no harm done to anyone, not even his enemies. It made Atemu want to smile. That meant Yugi was back to his normal self. He could sense it. They were connected, heart and soul, once again. This was how it was suppose to be. His attention turned back to Yugi.

Yugi looked up at him. "He can't control me anymore."

Atemu took Yugi's hand in his and watched Irakih closely as he pulled Yugi towards the door. Irakih made no move to follow, to do anything. Atemu felt victorious as he closed the door to Yugi's chambers and led him down the hallway. Yugi came up beside Atemu and wrapped his arm around him. The former king felt his heart melt at Yugi's innocent yet tired expression. He took Yugi into his own chambers. The sat on the bed and starred at each other.

Yugi then crawled over to his yami and sat in his lap. Atemu wrapped his arms around the younger. He wished they could stay that way for hours.

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A/N That is all. Yugi and Yami are back together! YIPPY! Next chapter is a week...maybe. I hope so anyway. Now to thank the six people who reviewed.

Dragonlady222- He has figured out what Irakih is doing to him. Problem is...they haven't completely broken his control over Yugi. Oooooooo. What will happen next time? Guess you have to wait an see! Thanks for the wonderful reviews as always.

Ramen Alchemist Sora- Thanks for your review. I know right! Yami and Yugi so belong together and no one is allowed to change that. But Irakih really does suck. You hate him now? Wait until next chapter! Mwhhaaaa! I'm so evil! Thanks again!

Protector of the Nameless- You don't cuss in reviews huh? That is okay because I know exactly what you're thinking. KILL HIM! Guess you have to wait another week to find out what is going on. You'll like it though. Thanks for worshiping my story. Hope the chapter was to your liking.

YugiXyamiyaoilover- Your review is like many others with common misconceptions so allow me to explain. Yugi is far from weak. I know that, you know that, I hope that everyone knows that. However, because Irakih is somewhat manipulating his thoughts, he is making Yugi think he is weak. However, just because you're strong does not make you invincible to attack. Yugi will find that out next chapter. Thanks for your review and I hope I cleared this up with you.

Lady Alexas- here is more. I hope you liked it. I am trying to wrap up this story before I go back to school. I don't know how often I will be able to update then. Thanks for your review. It is always loved and makes me want to write more.

Atemu Yugi lover34- Wow. Out of everyone you were the only one who answered my question. It was just a random question I set out for everyone to see. One of my friends cuts herself. She isn't suicidal but she does it a lot. I was hoping to get some information on why people do it since she won't tell me. Anyways, thanks for your review. I hope Yugi didn't act to irrational this time. Love ya!

RnR please.