Disclaimer: Kingdom Hearts and Yugioh, their characters, settings, etc, belong to their respective creators. All original characters, settings, etc., belong to ME.

Chapter 31: Realm of Bonds

They were careful to not be seen by the group of teenagers they followed. Being in the desert was horrible enough. In such situations, it was better to follow people yet still be cautious for who knew where those people were leading you. Hikari, Max and Shin stayed as far back as possible, making sure to keep the teens within sight but hide in the shadows.

Shin informed them the group was helping some spirit trapped within a puzzle of some sort. How he knew this...He was able to read minds.

"NOW you tell us this?!" Max hissed at him and this time Shin rolled his eyes.

"Oh shut up, Max." He huffed.

Deeper into the mysterious unknown the teens went, nearly getting killed by statues and following a bridge to an unknown place.

"What the heck is this place?" Max frowned.

"It's a tomb." Hikari finally spoke up. "And I think I know whose tomb it is…"

The teens ended their adventure in a large room with a stage like area. A set of ancient doors seemed to be sealed shut. When the shortest of the group stood upon the stage his form was suddenly split in two.

The dubbelganger held a pair of familiar red eyes and held the stance of one born of royalty.

It was the Pharaoh...The very person that helped Hikari in her time of need.

He and his child look alike, named Yugi by the other teens, took opposite sides of the stage. They were about to perform something...Possibly a battle? But...Something didn't seem right...Yugi's head was downcast...An odd feeling developed within Hikari...Such caused her to finally make their presence known.

"Wait!" Hikari shouted before rushing onto the platform. "That isn't Yugi!"

A chuckle fell from the young teen's lips.

"How very perceptive...Little light…"

Yugi's head rose, his innocent orbs replaced by malicious intent.

"What the-!?" The blonde teen, known as Jou, rushed to help his friend but he was pulled away. "Let me go! I gotta-"

"Your friend is fine...Trust me." Max told the teen.

"What a team we make…" The entity spoke through Yugi. "You and I...victim and murderer, always chasing one anothr."

"I'm not a murderer." Hikari stated.

"If not a murderer, then a thief. You know what you've done...In a way, we're like this boy and the spirit that resided within him. However in our case, the spirit stole the boy's body, banishing the boy's soul into the abyss."

"What?" The entity's words caused a gasp from the teens.

"You heard me right." A finger was pointed at Hikari. "That THING stole my body! Stole MY reincarnation! It should be ME who's the chosen one!"

"You want this body...Fine…" Hikari held her hands to her sides. "Take it."

A grin and a small ball of darkness shot out of Yugi's body and plowed into Hikari's own…

Only to be forced back into Yugi's body.

"What…!?" The entity stared at Yugi's hands with Yugi's own eyes. "How!?"

"I didn't steal anything from you…" Hikari stared at the possessed Yugi. "It's your reincarnated body that rejected YOU."

"You lie!" The entity shouted.

"Believe me or not, it's the truth...No matter what you want, it isn't going to happen."

"Even so...I still possess something that you don't, little light." It grinned. "Even males can have the honor of having the purest hearts and souls…"

"So, go ahead then." Hikari said. "What are you waiting for? Summon this realm's Keyblade." She shrugged. "You've possessed the purest heart and soul of this realm...You should be able to bring out what his heart protects."

"Gladly!" A hand reached out. A frown. "What? Why isn't it coming out?"

"Because even though that kid is the purest in this realm, he ISN'T the bearer of the Keyblade." Hikari stated.

"What!? That's...That's…"

"The bearer died centuries ago." Hikari explained. "But...He never crossed over…And he never named a successor." She stared at the possessed Yugi. "This world DOESN'T have a prince of heart...It has a KING...Isn't that right…" She looked over her shoulder. "Your majesty?"

The Pharaoh's eyes widened.

"You…" His deep voice held surprise. "It...It's you...The star child…"

"Star child? What's going on here!?" The blonde said.

"Shh!" The girl in the teen group, Anzu, bonked him in the head.

"Yeah…" Hikari nodded at the shocked spirit. "Remember I told you about the entity?" She pointed to Yugi. "It's that thing…"

"I see…" The Pharaoh stepped forward, red eyes focused. "And how shall we deal with this thing possessing my friend?"

"You can't be serious!" The entity shouted. "A soul can't be a bearer!"

"Actually not true…" Hikari stated. "I seem to recall a soul expelling you out of a body in the previous realm…And you can't possess a soul..." She raised an eyebrow at the possessed and in the spirit of the current realm she said,"Your move."

The entity turned its glare to the Pharaoh.

"YOU! Give me what I want or I'll kill this boy!" It shouted.

"Yugi is much stronger than you think." The Pharaoh was not fazed at all. "Besides...Though I am still uncertain of what is going on...I have a feeling I know where this...Key...might be…" He held out his hand. "Come to me! Millennium items of Egypt!"

In the sacred stone the items responded to their master's call. They floated towards Atem, a bright light flashing.

The seven millennium items...had forged themselves...Into a Keyblade.

"Whoa…" Jou gapped.

"I can only assume this is what you are seeking." The Pharaoh held the Keyblade in his palm.

"Yeah." Hikari nodded.

"Give it to me! That's mine!" The entity screeched.

"This...Realm...lives by ancient laws." The bearer stated. "And by ancient laws, only the Pharaoh can decide who takes his mantle." He stared at the weapon within his hand. "Yugi does not need such things in his life anymore." He held the weapon towards Hikari. "You...I believe...Need this more than anyone…"

"No!"

"I have a feeling that from now on you won't be able to wield any keyblades." Hikari gripped the Keyblade in her hand. "I think...The only reason you've been able to...Is because of me...You used my fears against me, made me believe that everything is my fault. I know now that I'm not responsible for any of this...YOU are." She held the Keyblade in both hands.

"I am NOT going to carry the weight of your crimes any more!" With that she struck, stabbing Yugi's body with the Keyblade forged by the seven millennium items. The black ball was banished from the teen, who fell to his knees, breathing hard.

"Yugi!" The boy's friends immediately went to him, worried for his safety. On the other side of the platform, the Pharaoh watched with Hikari at his side.

He smiled at her. "You have grown…"

"Yeah…" She gave him a smile. "It's all because of you...Thank you…"

He chuckled. "I merely told you what needed to be said." He walked over to the group of friends who parted, allowing him to pass. He knelt to Yugi and placing a hand on the boy's shoulder he said, "Are you alright, Yugi?"

"Yeah…" Yugi breathed out. "That was...Wow…Just give me a minute."

"Alright…" The Pharaoh rose then stood to face Hikari. "I've a feeling the door will not open without that Key, Hikari. It must be the door you and your friends were seeking."

"Yeah…" She looked at the ancient door. "It's got to be."

"Before you open it, there is one more task that must be done." He told her. "I must lay down my sword."

She frowned. "What?"

"You are Ammit…" Heads turned to a woman who was standing near two men. "The goddess of judgment…The Pharaoh must prove he is ready to leave this world...Only you can decide such."

"Me?" Hikari blinked. "I...But…"

"That door leads to the other side." The male beside her told Hikari. "The spirit realm...And if what my sister says is true, then only you can decide if the Pharaoh is ready to cross over."

"And there is only one way to decide such things." The Pharaoh looked towards Yugi who was now standing. "Right...Yugi?"

Nodding the boy approached, eyes determined.

"Right…" He stared at the Pharaoh. "Pharaoh...I challenge you...to a final duel!"

Hikari hadn't seen a duel like this before...The two were battling using cards...Cards that contained monsters. It was quite an intense battle...Hikari had a feeling the Pharaoh wasn't the only one being judged here...Yugi was as well.

With tears in his eyes Yugi called out the final blow, defeating Atem. The ancient king smiled graciously as he was defeated by the teenager. He stared down at Hikari.

"It is time…"

She went up to the platform, stood before the ancient door and held the realm's keyblade before it. Almost instantly the keyhole appeared and the doors opened, revealing light.

"Wait!" Yugi shouted.

"It's alright, Yugi." Red eyes smiled at the crying boy. "You are stronger now...You have friends now...You no longer need my protection…" He stared at Hikari. "Though we walk different paths, I am glad I was able to meet you…"

"Me too…" She nodded at him. "Well...I guess you should go first."

He shook his head. "No…" He gestured forth. "You and your friends should enter before me." He smiled. "Safe travels, daughter of light."

She smiled back. "You too...Pharaoh." She looked down at Max and Shin. "Come on guys...It's time to go."

With her friends at her sides, Hikari ventured into the light.

"By the way, what was that realm called anyway?" Max asked as they entered the door.

"I think I know…" Shin smiled.

"It is…The Realm of Bonds."

Next Time: Confrontation