AIBOU.

I stared at the mount of dirt for what seemed like ages.

"No," I whispered. "No!" That wasn't fair, this wasn't…images flashed back, of Yugi curled into a ball with blood dripping down his arm. It oozed from the large gash across his shoulder, just as tears dripped down his face. As the adrenaline crushed us, it was enough to make the entire tomb shiver in suspense, but I hadn't thought this would be enough to actually spin everything out of control. I lunged from the dirt despite the discomfort shooting up my leg, and tackled the mount. Go away, I said over and over in my head. Go away, so I can have him!

This wasn't supposed to be how it ended! It would be the last time I was able to see those beautiful amethyst orbs, and never again would I be able to gaze into the beautiful smile spread across his lips. Now that the world was in peace, and I knew what to expect in life, I could go back. Yugi could…be his own person.

Aibou could be Yugi Mutou, and I would simply be Pharaoh Atemu.

My fingers curled into the dirt, and the throbbing in my leg spread to my head. Everything hurt. Backing away, I demanded for the shadows to break the barrier keeping me from my partner. It couldn't end this way. Today I came off of that ship, knowing I would have to restrain myself because he was ready to leave me. But I wasn't ready to leave him. He had so much to teach me in the world. Why…why did the gods have to be so cruel?

"Pharaoh." Someone's hand wrapped delicately around my shoulder. Ishizu-san. Trembling, I turned around shakily and opened my mouth. Nothing would come out. "That is enough."

No, it wasn't. I glared at her, slapping the hand she held so delicately on my shoulder away. Malik backed her up, mumbling something but he knew he couldn't do anything. I was the pharaoh. He wasn't. "He went into my afterlife, and they accepted him."

"Supposedly," Malik mumbled grudgingly. He thoughtfully rubbed his chin and looked back to the mesh of dirt. "Since you two were joined together for so long, it's possible they've just accepted him. By technicality, he is the living you, and therefore his life can be your substitute."

Behind him, Anzu was crying and the boys were comforting her. Sugoroku looked solemn, and Kaiba looked…the scum looked indifferent. How? The days I wanted him to just die in the hole he crawled out of, Yugi himself strived for his life. Anything Kaiba ever needed, Yugi provided for him.

Damn him. A tickling sensation caught the pit of my stomach and I turned around, summoning the last ounce of shadow magic within me. It wasn't a lot, but it would be enough for a trip to and from the time he came from. Unfortunately I doubted even my intuition could pin-point where he was if his mind was crushed during this landing.

"Pharoah, wait!" Ishizu-san's eyes widened with alarm. "What are you—"

"You don't view this as a problem?" I snapped. She along with everyone else cringed. "Yugi has always been there for me. I'm not going to let him suffer in the past from everything I caused…all of my mistakes. If he were to go back to my time, he would know just how different Atemu and I were. Yugi had a life here, and I was planning to bring him back.

The portal opened in front of me without a set destination. Turning around, my eyes met Anzu again as the tears cascaded down her cheeks. She trembled, gaze meeting my own, and sobbed harder.

"I'm going to bring him back for you," I mumbled. Her love. For the longest time, she'd held Yugi's heart. Any little thing she wanted, he would go as far as the stars and more just to see that smile across her lips. And with every right. Anzu was bold, beautiful, and courageous. Whenever Yugi falled, Anzu would catch him. She would be the only woman I would ever be willing to give my aibou away to.

"You're sure of this?" Malik stepped in front of my vortex. Holding his hands out, he arched an eyebrow. "My pharaoh—"

"Yugi has saved me countless of times," I cut in. "Everything he's done has only made me a better person. Understand that. Now, I must save him."

"But if you go back," he continued without sign of budging, "you will create a time paradox. My pharaoh, there is a likelihood you will be stuck with so little magic. The gods will not like it if there are three of you existing at once."

"I know." I shivered as the sense of magic tickled my veins. Touching the vortex just barely, it sent a shock of coldness. "But so long as he is okay, I'm willing to suffer the consequences."

He stared at me again before ushering Ishizu-san away. Clasping a hand to my shoulder, Malik lowered his voice. "Are you in love with him?"

"He loves another." I turned to him and smiled a little. "I won't be gone long. But I suppose fate is the only thing keeping us from separating."

Malik looked at me uncertainly. With a sigh, he crossed his arms and shrugged. "I'll hold the fort down."

"Good." Turning back to the vortex, I plunged in without a goodbye. Aibou was going to come back. No one had to worry about that. And once he returned, I could only hope he had the courage to confront everything that bothered him during this time period.

Author's Note:

Sequel will be soon.