DISCLAIMER: This is a work of fanfiction produced for entertainment purposes only. Yu-Gi-Oh! and all related characters are the creations of Kazuki Takahashi.

A New Beginning
Chapter 6: Ryou's Decision
By Shadow's Mirror

The sound of an unseen door opening somewhere in the antechamber of the Hall of Judgement, followed by the slow measured tread of footsteps crossing the marble floor, was all the warning the two yamis had before Anubis rounded a pillar and stopped directly in front of where they were sitting. He looked at them silently.

Yami quickly scrambled to his feet. The two of them weren't supposed to know what had been decided about their fates, but the former Pharaoh was unable to keep a spark of hope out of his eyes as he waited for the God to speak.

Despite Yami's obvious impatience, Bakura took his time in regaining his feet. Unlike his rival, the former Tombrobber held no hope for rescue. If he glanced at Anubis's face, it was to see if he was in trouble for eavesdropping and nothing more. But the jackal-head could have been carved from stone, for all the expression Anubis was showing, and Bakura looked away again just as quickly.

Anubis looked at Yami, then at Bakura and finally spoke. His deep voice was soft, yet the chamber they were in caused it to echo eerily around them.

"Osiris has made his judgement. I was sent into the dreams of the bearer of the Millennium Puzzle and the bearer of the Millennium Ring to ask them one question. I was to ask each of them if they wished for your return. If they answered yes, I am to return you to your other. If they answered no, you will go from here and spend Eternity in Limbo. Do you understand?"

Yami started to nod immediately, but visibly restrained himself and nodded with all the dignity of his former stature. "I do."

Anubis turned his head and Bakura forced himself to meet the calm gaze that told him nothing. He nodded once, briefly. "Yes." Was that a flicker of amusement in Anubis's eyes? The God returned his attention to Yami again before Bakura could decide.

"Pharaoh Atem. Yugi Moto has requested that you be returned to him." The flicker of a smile crossed Anubis's face as Yami's dignified front fell away and he beamed happily.

"Thank you!"

The God of Death nodded in reply and turned slightly, as if looking for something. A spot of light appeared in the middle of the room and rapidly grew into a shining silver portal. Anubis turned back to Yami and smiled a little as he gestured to it. "Your light awaits."

Yami could barely contain himself as he started towards the portal, but within a few steps he faltered and looked back at the other dark one, as if drawing the same conclusion that Bakura already had as to why only he had been offered the gateway home. "Bakura..."

The other yami quickly shook his head. "Don't. I'm not one for long goodbyes." He paused and then blurted out, as if he was afraid he would not say if it he spoke normally, "If you could... sort of look in on Ryou now and then... Make sure he's all right... That sort of thing... I..." He shook his head, unable to finish the sentence.

Yami smiled a little and nodded. "Of course." He turned and continued on to the gateway without another word.

The portal vanished as soon as he passed through it. Bakura bowed his head. Although he had expected as much, it still hurt to see it.

Anubis studied the white-haired boy, his expression still an inscrutable mask. "Yugi Moto's response was so simple that it was easiest to simply relay it. But Ryou Bakura's response... was otherwise. It would be better for you to hear your light half's reply for yourself." His tone was as expressionless as his face.

His head still bowed, Bakura nodded and took a steadying breath, then lifted his head and looked into the orb that appeared in front of him. He had to fight to keep his emotions off his face when Ryou's head and shoulders appeared in the image.

Anubis's voice could be heard, although he was not in the image, only Ryou. The God of Death sounded almost kind. "If you need time to consider your decision..."

Ryou shook his head and smiled, a little sadly. "No, I have made my choice."

Bakura steeled himself, but could not keep from closing his eyes against the pain he knew he was about to feel.

"He is my darkness. He is a part of me and without him, I cannot be whole. No matter what he has said or done, no matter how he has hurt me or others, no matter how much he will likely scorn me for this... Bakura is my yami... mine... and I want him back." Although his voice had started out soft, by the end it was strong and clear. He had made his choice and he had no hesitation over it.

Bakura's eyes snapped open and he stared in disbelief at the sweetly smiling boy in the orb. As it began to sink in, he had to force himself to remain standing. It took all he had not to fall to his knees, but he refused to allow anyone, even a God, to see the emotions he was feeling.

Anubis vanished the orb and looked thoughtfully at the boy before him. "Your light awaits."

As he spoke, a second portal of light appeared in the middle of the room. Bakura nodded once and began to stride towards it.

If he walked a little more quickly than was polite, Anubis did not feel inclined to take offence.

As the portal closed, someone coughed discretely from behind Anubis. The jackal-headed god turned and arched an eyebrow. "If you are here to tell me that I have forms to fill out, I may well hit you with something heavy."

Thoth smiled and shook his head. "It was an order from Osiris. That negates all paperwork." His already-bright eyes twinkled.

Anubis chuckled. "I thought you agreed with remarkable speed considering that aspect of it."

"Well I had to raise a token objection, of course. If we sent everyone back, what would be the point of their coming here at all?" Thoth shook his head. "No... this was a special case. In more ways than one." He looked hopefully at Anubis, who sighed in long suffering but then nodded.

The orb reappeared, still showing Ryou's sweetly-smiling face, and Thoth smiled as he studied the image. "I have seen a great many things, but that boy truly astonished me. I admit, I was uncertain that he would agree, yet he did so without a moment's hesitation."

"Astonishing indeed," Anubis agreed. "Although for me, the surprise lay more in the dark one's reaction to it."

Thoth looked curiously at his friend and Anubis smiled.

"I did not believe I would ever witness the sight of the Thief King of Ancient Egypt with tears in his eyes."

To be concluded...