Me: Alright folks! Let's get this party started, shall we!
Anory: -groans- Just shut the hell up and let them start.
Me: Hey! Remember, you need me to live!
Anory: -growls and hisses-
Me: Sorry all, that's my Yami, Anoryakana. Just call her Anory. -whispers- Short for Annoy.
Anory: -in other room lying on floor- I can hear you. -slams tails again floor- And I'll kill you.
Me: Yah, whatever. Anyway, please enjoy the story! :)
Anory: Neko has and will NEVER own Yu-Gi-Oh.
Me: -growls- Damned bitch…
Anory: Only one-forth. -snickers- X3
The sunset bleed a brilliant splash of several warm-color mixtures pooling over the horizon. As if the dusk was beaming a tender glow upon the world.
Yet, a depth of cold, heartache clung to the victor's heart as he and his companions rode off on the very boat that they had all arrived on.
'It's not far!'
Small hands gripped the metal railing, turning the person's knuckles bleach white.
'After everything we've done. After all we've been through. I know it's selfish but,…' a pair of shimmering water droplets splattered the top beam.
"Yugi," The teen boy turned around at the calm and gentle call, seeing one of his best friends, a friend he gained though the ordeal that lead him up to this somber state.
"Tea, what are you doing up here?" the tri-hair colored boy asked quickly wiping his tears away.
"I should be asking you that." the girl replayed. A clear vibe of uncertainty in her posture. "You doing alright?"
Lowing his head with a sigh Yugi looked back up to his friend, a sincere smile graced his gentle features.
"Yeh, I'll be fine Tea. I'm just waiting."
Though she knew his smile was pure false and it pained her to see him force such an expression, the deep blood-brown head gazed surprisingly towards her smaller friend.
"For what?"
A deep intake was heard from the smaller before he leaned against the beams heaving a heavy sigh.
"My remaining darkness," he murmured timidly.
Tea, surprised and not sure of what his answer meant prepared to ask when the dastardly-duo appeared.
"Ay, Yug! What's up? Ya lookin' a bit low." Joey's Brooklyn ascent making it's presence as well as its source known.
"Yeah man. I mean, yeah the Pharaoh's gone but, now after five thousand years he can finally rest peacefully. Sure will miss him but, I'm sure he missed his old friends too. He's happy now. That's all that counts."
"I know it's hard t' let him go but, it was for the best bud."
"I know Tristan and your right Joey."
A ginger breeze fluttered through the old group. Yugi's blue jacket and gravity defiant hair swaying easily in the wind. An uncomfortable and yet tranquil silence overcast the teens before Yugi tentatively broke it when his voice softened to a low, solemn tone.
"I appreciate you guy's trying to cheer me you," Yugi remained with his back towards the other's, his body leaning forward against the boat's metal railing. "But could I please be left alone for a while?" his voice dropped.
Down casting there gaze the three friends nodded even though they knew Yugi couldn't see and turned to leave.
The sun had fully set now and the first star shinned brightly to life the in vast, void of darkness.
A star-shimmering tear rolled down Yugi's face as he gazed up sternly at the star. His amethyst pools gleaming brighter then the star and his tears only intensified the sheen.
"Atem… You have always been my Yami, my darkness in my life and I had never realized that until now." Yugi battled firmly to keep his composure, what little he had left to hold onto. "I just pray you're happy where ever you are now."
Lowering his head towards the star and placing his left foot more forward, making it appear Yugi was bowing towards the star he placed his hands together as he murmured, "I will never forget you Atem. Yami… My Yami. I wish you happiness where ever you may be. I just can't help think what a life we could have lived together if you had remained…" another star-lit tear rolled off his face. "I will always think of you, My Yami."
Yugi turned his head still low as he headed back inside, feeling exhausted and wanting nothing more to do then sleep but, he knew it wasn't going to come easy. He knew for the first couple of nights, he would be crying himself to sleep.
Amongst the ash-ed dust and crumbling stones wondered a spirit who was now all alone.
The soul glided over to the wall covered with ancient hieroglyphics and an Egyptian styled eye.
The ghost stopped before the wall, the only structure still remaining left untouched beneath the rubble.
The phantom figure seemed to kneel before the wall before speaking.
"Great Halakti, I ask to speak with Thee. He, how is now a spirit of one of the Pharaoh's trusted guards, Shadi."
A blinding light of gold and white erupted from the eye on the wall before an orb, the side of an average man's skull emerged from the eye.
It shimmered and shun as it floated before Shadi. It's glow of gold and white blending, mixing, bleeding then waving apart to repeat in a sphere like motion in place.
"Shadi, Guardian of the Seven Millennium Items. True vassal to the Millennium Key and Millennium Scale and loyal guard to Pharaoh; King Atem." The ancient God of Light stated. "Shadi, of the Seven Guards, what does Theo wish to speak with Thee of?"
"Oh, great God of Light, I know by now you must have sensed the Pharaoh's entrance into the Spirit World," Shadi began, still knelt into his bow.
"I am well aware of this Shadi. It was my light the Pharaoh needed to pass to enter the next world."
"Than I must ask," Shadi began. "Was it the Pharaoh's true wish?"
Sensing what the soul was implying the Light God's shin brightened.
"It was not a matter of him wishing to or not. He was not meant for this world."
Nodded firmly Shadi continued. "Yes oh, mighty one but, what of the Pharaoh's Hikari?"
The God was silent for a few moments.
"Oh Might God of Light, I know you had felt it too." Shadi lifted his head but remained kneeling. "I beg of thee, grant there wish. The Pharaoh seems happy but, I can feel his suddle aches. He seems also detached."
The light from the orb began to dim.
"I beg thee, please? It may seem strange but, I feel they will need one another to exist. They are one and the same and yet completely there own begins. There bond has proven to surpass that of even time it's self."
The God remained unspoken, the light dimming more.
"Please Halakti, God of Light? There life balances will falter!" Shadi yelled the last bit with a vibe of anxiety.
The orb finally began to receive some of it previous glow before addressing the spirit before it.
"Shadi of the Millennium Key and Millennium Scale, I trust in your judgment and means. But I can not simply accept this decree you fancy me to accomplish."
Shadi remained silent, having a since it would come to this.
He lowered his head and bowed fully towards the God.
"If it would please you Halakti, I will surrender the remaining of my essence and my next two reincarnations to have this wish granted."
The God remained silent for a moment before, "Shadi of the Seven Millennium Items, is this truly what you desire?"
"Yes." the old guardian firmly answered with no hesitation.
"You do realize what relinquishing or other two is not necessary for the Yami and Hikari's wish."
"I know. I wish to revive the other two as well."
You could hear the God clearly gasp and the orb become a sudden flaring white but, before it could respond Shadi continued.
"I know how they were like but, it was the darkness that corrupted them. I believe there Hikari's are the key."
The white subsided back to a gold-white mix.
"And, what of there Shadow Magic do you intend to do about? There abilities are linked to there souls."
Shadi smiled. "It will be fine. If you will allow, I could watch over and help guide them to live in the world of today with there Hikari's."
Silence over took the small, buried chamber as the God processed all this.
"Very well, Guardian of the Seven Millennium Items. I will erase your other two lives and allow you to remain in this world with your spirit as it is for now, to aid the Hikari's in teaching there Yami's. You will guide the Yami's onto there understanding and proper paths. But if you fail you will receive judgment, as will both the Yami's and there Hikari's."
Knowing there was a lot riding on this, Shadi just nodded. "Understood." He knew what was at stake but, he also knew that everyone deserved a second chance. And despite everything that happen, he was able to see a bond within each Yami with there Hikari's, regardless of the Yami's previous behaviors.
"And one more thing Shadi," the God began, catching the Guardians attention who looked puzzled.
Suddenly golden light began shimmering around both his transparent hands until a sudden bust of flashing light erupted then swiftly subsided.
Shadi gazed down as an astonished gasp escaped his gawked mouth.
"Use them justly. If I see them being used unwisely the penalty will be the same as failure. As well as there usage of there Shadow Magic."
Eyes still shaking with astonishment Shadi quickly bowed down.
"Thank you Halakti, God of Creating Light."
"I will discuss the arrangements with them. In the mean time you will go to there Hikari's to announce there return so as they will have a place to dwell once among this world."
"At once." the Guardian spirit agreed with sheer happiness.
The orb began shinning brightly again as it floated back, returned to the eye from which is came.
Shadi rose to his floating feet, a slight golden shine emanating from the floor before him.
He smiled tenderly as he gathered what was there then disappeared in a fading mist.
Darkness enveloped the room with the silence of no life until, "I didn't think I'd be this hard…" Yugi whimpered curling up more tightly into his blankets. His face stained with the hours of his previous crying.
His pools of darkened amethyst could no longer push out his sadness for he had literally cried himself dry. The most his eyes would allow was a glassy sheen over his depths as he continued to stare at the golden box he had first found the Millennium Puzzle in all those months ago.
It had been two years since Yugi had meet the Pharaoh and just yesterday he had to say goodbye forever.
Yugi knew this was what the Pharaoh had been searching for. For five thousand years he awaited it to happen and Yugi knew he should be happy that the Pharaoh was finally at peace.
"But what about me…?" he moaned somberly turning his gaze from the golden box.
His body finally catching up with his emotional exhaustion, Yugi gave a mighty yawn before allowing himself to be consumed by dreams.
!
It was a wonderful cool, breezy day out on the open meadow. Little to no clouds rolled in the sky, the sun was high and bright and the gales were ginger to the touch.
Lush, deep green forests expanded to his right while an open field of wild flowers swayed to the left. A few yards away was a crystal clean lake with majestic mountains, topping white with snow in the beyond.
Yugi lay, content with his surrounding and the fact of the soft grass beneath him and a large tree hovering over him, keeping him even cooler from the sun's rays.
A suddle sigh softly huffed out between his lips, his eyes remaining closed.
The sounds of crunching grass suddenly hit his senses as he rose up into a sitting position, gasping in shock afterwards.
Approaching from his right was Ryou and his left was Malik. Both with puzzled expressions.
"Hey guys. What's wrong?"
"I was going to ask you Yugi. I was working on a new project at home, when suddenly I found myself here."
Yugi gazed at Ryou ponderingly before looking over to Malik.
"I was helping Ishizu and Odion with some remodeling in our house back in Egypt when I remember feeling like my soul was being pulled somewhere. I then woke up here. Yugi, what's going on?"
Looking at Malik then back to Ryou, Yugi then rose to his feet.
"I don't know either guys. I had went to bed and woke here. I figured it was just a dream."
"But we can't all be having the same dream." Ryou stated.
"No to mention it was mid day in Egypt and I was working."
Yugi watching Malik and Ryou closely, wondering what on earth was doing on. He figured once the Pharaoh was at rest all the evil and trouble that had been revolving around him and his friends would vanish. So, what the hell was going on her-?
"Greeting friends."
The three boys turned to the new voice, suddenly gawking.
It was silent as the person approached them until Malik gasped.
"Shadi!"
"But I thought you were-"
"I can assure you Yugi, I am still quite dead. I am also the one who called your souls to this realm."
Dumbfounded, the tri-hair colored boy gazed on, shocked and at the same time anxious.
'What's happening? Wasn't Shadi also sent to rest with the Pharaoh? And if that's not the case, then what has happen to cause him to meet us? I thought-'
"Ease you restless thoughts my young friend. I have come with news, but news I feel you three will be pleased with."
"But Shadi, didn't you go to rest with the Pharaoh?"
The Millennium Item Guardian downcast his eyes but, held a tender smile.
"No my young friend. I still have business to attend to and matters to adjust." He began as he looked over the three teens with a knowing smirk.
"Tell us Shadi, what's so important that you have to call our soul away to this realm to meet?"
Shadi nodded his head towards Ryou as if a respond to state he would explain now.
"Yugi, Malik, Ryou. I want you three to take a good look at each other and tell me what you see."
Puzzled by this request the three boys did so anyway but just started at one another even more confused.
"Shadi, I don't see what the point to this is." Yugi complained.
Smirking knowingly the Spirit Guardian points to each of the boys as he address them.
"Yugi, the King of Games. Ryou, the Tome Robber. Malik, The Shadow Caster."
Gasping in shock the boys glared at the spirit with heated defensiveness, but Yugi.
"Hey! I'm not that warped freak anymore thanks to Yugi and the Pharaoh!" Malik started.
"And I'm no thief! That psycho possessed!" Ryou announced with a firm tone.
"I may be the King of Games, but that doesn't give you the right to insult my friend for something they couldn't control!" Yugi fumed protectively.
Shadi though just smiled wide. Just as he thought.
"So, are you saying if your Yami's weren't so crazy, you would have befriend each other?"
The question throw the trio for yet another loop.
"I guess. So long as Bakura didn't try consuming the world in darkness again."
"And if Marik doesn't go all power-hungry and controlling."
"Marik beside, Bakura was just a small portion of an ancient evil that got seal away along with the Pharaoh five thousand years ago." Yugi stated. "And what does this all have to do with our Yami's? There gone, sent to rest or defeated in the Shadows."
Shadi then tossed Ryou the Millennium Necklace, Malik the Millennium Rod and Yugi the Millennium Puzzle.
Each catching the items tentatively, yet preciously.
"Wha- Wait! This were buried in the in the Tome of the Pharaoh when it collapsed. How did you-"
"Yugi, Ryou, Malik. Ready your self and your homes." Shadi ordered kindly, but the three just gazed at him with utmost bewilderment.
Taking in there expression Shadi just couldn't hold in a chuckle.
"What are you talking about Shadi? Why must we ready our home and why did you hand use back these Millennium Items?"
Grinned towards Malik, Shadi then began to fade away as the last of his words where echoed through the realms flowing winds.
"Theo's wish shall be granted, so long as Theo still wishes."
As the fading spirit's word's began to skin in, Yugi gasped so strong in shock he squeaked, catching the other two's attention.
"Atem… Atem is coming back…" he whispered realizing what Shadi's words and actions finally began to mean, but he was still frightened if he spoke to loud his words would cease the wish some how.
It was Malik who broke Yugi out of his trance.
"But Yugi, the Pharaoh is in the other world. He can't come back."
Turning his now brightened amethyst orbs to his friend, Yugi began to giggle as he hugged the millennium puzzle close to his chest.
"But Yugi, even if they do come back what about Bakura and Marik? They were the crazy ones." Ryou stated with a hit of fear if Bakura really was returning.
"And don't forget, Bakura is Zorc." Malik informed, slightly hysterical. "Wouldn't something like this also revive Zorc?"
Yugi pondered but didn't cease his blooming smile.
"I doubt Shadi, of all people would go though all that he has only to revive the Dark One."
"But, Yugi…,"
"I say all we can do is await for our Yami's to return to use and take it from there. Maybe they'll have some answers to this."
Ryou sighed in defeat. He knew once Yugi made up his mind, no matter how foolish it seemed, he stuck with it. "Alright then Yugi."
"So, what are we going to do in the mean time?" Malik asked, still uneasy about the whole "there Yami's returning" issue.
"Well," Yugi began as he placed the puzzle back around his neck. "I guess we do what Shadi asked of us. Ready our homes. I'm guessing that he's planning for our Yami's to live with us."
"But then why ready out homes if there just going to return to out bodies?"
Yugi and Malik looked towards Ryou, finally realizing that they didn't know what to do.
Sighing, "Let's just do as he asked and ready ourselves," Yugi stated. "If there's one major lesson any of us have learned dealing with our Yami's, is that anything is possible when they're involved."
Nodding in agreement towards Yugi, Malik began to wave farewell.
"Well I best be off now. I feel my soul being pulled back."
"Me too. See you later Yugi. Hopefully we'll understand why this is all happening soon."
Waving back to Malik and Ryou, Yugi called out, "See yah guys! Good luck with your Yami's!"
A sudden tug was coxing Yugi towards the tree he had been resting against.
At another, but more firm pull Yugi began to vanish into a haze of white mist.
!
Yugi…!
Amethyst eyes tenderly began to flutter open.
"Yugi…!"
The tri-hair colored teen rolled over to glace at his clock. He groaned, nine forty-five in the morning, on a Saturday.
"Yugi!"
Lifting his head up he finally decides to answer back.
"I'll be down in the few Gramps!"
Rolling over, onto his back Yugi proceeded with his morning stretching.
"Was that all just a crazy dream? I mean, the Pharaoh really can't be-" Yugi's outward, silent musing was halted by the sound of clicking metal and the feel of cold steal touching against his skin.
Bolting upright into a sitting posture, Yugi gazed down as water formed in this eyes.
His hand tenderly reached up to cup the puzzle in his palms. He gazed warmly at the mildly shimmering object. It's golden light reflecting off a tear rolling down from his eyes, making it shimmer and sparkle.
Yugi took a deep breath before leaning into the puzzle and giving it a gentle kiss.
"I can't wait to see you again Atem." he whispered into the puzzle as if it were a well kept secret.
"Yugi! Your breakfast is getting cold!"
Groaning the seventeen-year-old pulled the covers back and sprang out of bed.
He was about to head straight down stares when he stopped.
"I don't think it's wise to let the others know just yet. Besides," Yugi took off the puzzle and hid it under his pillow. "I want to be the first to see you again." he murmured lovingly before turning and bolting down the stairs.
Under his pillow the Millennium Puzzle began to shine and twinkle before in whole room was engulfed in a bright flash of golden light.
Me: Whooow! What do you think the Light God meant by all that?
Anory: Probably stating that if the floating ghost in the bath-gown and tissue screwed things up, his ass would be toast along with all the Yami's and Hikari's because of his fuck-up.
Me and Shadi: …
Shadi: -groans- It's a rode and a turban.
Anory: You call it those, all I see is a bath-gown and tissue.
Me: -sigh- I have a feeling I'm going to regret doing this…
Anory: Oh, the Gods know you will.
Me: -glares at Anory- Anyway, thank you for reading the first chapter of "ATEMpting"! I love reviews, but you don't have too.
Anory: Unless you want this story up in flames from a raging Neko-Tama, I highly recommend reviewing.
Me: Hey! I will NOT set this story on fire just because of low reviews! -pouts-Anory: Must I reminder you of that Fruits Basket story?
Me: No! Uh… It was just getting on my nerves.
Anory: Uh, huh. And what about that Pokemon story?
Me: Uhh… Oh, well… It was dying anyway. I just put it out of its misery.
Anory: Through fire?
Me: …
Anory: How about that Inuyasha story that you-
Me: ALRIGHT ALRIGHT ALREADY! I get it!
Anory: Neko's a pyro maniac here humans and creatures alike. So I suggest you-
Me: Fire…? Fire! -runs around with several ablazed teekee torches- FIIIIII-YYYAAAHHHHHH!
Anory: … Just run.