Ma-Chi: I'm soooo sorry for the long wait, guys! Wasn't really two or so weeks... well, with everything happening at the moment... work, chores, parents who won't let me sit down and write... I just haven't had the time!

OhmyRa, chappie 11! O.O Ya know, I didn't think it would go so well this far! -grins- Hmm... I would say, after the next two chappies, I'll have the first part of the story complete. So, there will be the middle and end parts to do, along with an Epilogue afterwards. -nodnod-

Quick question! I was thinking of writing a "waking the dragons" part with a different twist, but as a side story, so for those who really don't like that series and want to skip it can. -shrugs- Well, let me know if you like the idea. I may not start on it till I finish the middle part, though.

Shoutouts!

LiLTakariGirl aka Yami Aro: I'm honored! I'll try to have this updated as fast as I can, so you can enjoy it more. And yes, Atemu is falling for Yuugi... to bad too much is going on for him to do something about it! XD

Lumrosa-chan: Another update! There ya go! =D

redconvoy: Well, heres more of the story! Enjoy!

Umbrae Calamitas: It won't end the same as the anime/manga, I promise. So put those tissus away! Oh, and Ate doesn't mean anything. It was just short for Atemu. -blinks- ...at least, I don't think so...

EgyptLover4: I'm late updating... please don't hurt me! hides- Hope you like the chappie.

lady Alexas: That's fine! As long as you are enjoying the story, then I'm happy. -smiles-

Miki-Ishikawa: Really? I didn't know that. -blinks- wow, is that a good thing then? I don't really want to change everyone's personalities too much... but hey, if it works, then oh well! -peace sign-

sam: I'll try my best! Keep reading and reviewing! -grins-

ElementalFoxGoddess: -coughs- Well, I don't think it would matter wether Yuugi is a submissive urk, dominate urk, a submissive seme or a dominate seme. That is to be foreseen, really. But for all my faithful readers... I'll tell you for this story. Yuugi is... -drum roll- ....HA! No, I won't tell you. -grins evilly- But I will say what I think, which should give everyone a glue. A dominate anything Yuugi is a very HOT Yuugi. -nodnod-

iHamster: I'll try my best! -grins-

Serami Nefera: I took in whatcha said and realised... yes, I did kinda make Atemu take what happened too lightly... my fault for rushing it a bit, I guess. So, I hope I fixed that this chappie. Thanks for that heads up! I'm also glad that the Game was to your liking. -smiles-

Yaminisu: -shrugs- I just wanted to add fluff. So, don't mind me. -smiles sheepishly-

Yume no Anime: -grins- Winged Kuriboh DID belong to Yuugi to start with so... it fit. -shrugs-

yugiyamifangirl: Heheheheh... read on! You may find out what he is looking for. ;]

Flying on a Broken Wing: You love my writing? thank you so much! -hugs- I always think my writing sucks for my age, so... yeah. -grins- I try to always write a little innocent Yuugi who is REALLY kickass! Heheh.

And for those who couldn't review, but kindly e-mailed me instead...

YugiYami4ever: -giggles- I'm sorry! Ya wanted a kiss that badly, huh? Dun worry – they have one real soon! ;D

dragonlady222: Glad you liked the chappie and the game. I'll try my best with this one!

yugixyamiyaoilover: Really? My game was better than the show? Arigato for saying so, Yaoi-Chan! -huggles- Oh yes, feelings are growing... heh heh.

Disclaimer: I tried to get the rights from Takahashi-San by cosplaying as Yuugi... didn't work, though. -sweatdrops-

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"Seth... who is that?"

The young priest in training rolled his eyes at his cousin, though he couldn't see – the two were currently peeking through the large throneroom door. "It is a slave Atemu, how would I know his name?"

"I was just asking..." The 10 year-old Atemu grumbled, frowning. In his sight was a small boy, kneeling on the floor as he scrubbed it. He looked really tired and sore – the normal look for a palace slave. But that wasn't what was intriguing the prince. Oh no, it was the fact that he had the same hair. A little different maybe, but nearly the same. He was small and thin, and very pale, which wasn't normal for an Egyptian. "...How long has that one been in the palace? I don't think I have seen him before..."

Seth sighed, coming to the conclusion that unless Atemu's curiousity was put to rest, he wouldn't get to class any faster. So, he answered the best he could. "I have not seen him much, either. He was at first sent to the dungon for looking like you. Then, after a while, he was put into slavery. What happened in between and why, I do not know."

"I see..." Atemu nodded. "Thank you, Seth."

The young prince pushed the door further open and headed into the throneroom, much to Seth's dismay. He walked over quietly, watching the slave scrub. When Atemu reached the boy, he stopped, knowing full well that the slave wouldn't speak or look at him unless commanded to.

"Slave."

Being spoken to so suddenly made the slave jump. He dropped his rag on the ground and quickly moved himself so he was bowing respectively at Atemu's feet. Even though this was normal for someone like him, Atemu couldn't help but frown. For some reason, with this boy, having him bow like this seemed... wrong. The prince reached out a hand and lightly placed it on the boy's head, ignoring the fact that the move made the slave flinch. Atemu felt a sudden shock from touching him... something he had never felt before. It wasn't the same as touching his father... He must find out what it was about this boy that made him feel... different, than the other slaves. Than anyone.

"...What is your name, little one?" Little one... that sounded really nice to him.

It was a moment, before the boy slowly looked up, fear showing in his eyes. He looked scared, but opened his mouth to answer the prince anyway. "M-my name... is..."

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Puzzle Piece 10

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Atemu stared out the window and into the darkness. It was very late... but he couldn't sleep. Since that day, at the museum, something had been on his mind. something Yuugi had said...

"Our souls were broken into by a man with two items. He was... searching for something, but I sent him way."

At the time, Atemu didn't think anything of it, only to try and calm Yuugi down. But now that he thought about it... having someone "brake into one's soul" wasn't something to brush off lightly, like he had. If Yuugi hadn't of done what he had done... could something terrible have happened to him? To them both? He gave a frown, looking over to the bed where his little one was sleeping, unaware of anything going on around him. What the smaller had said that day wasn't the only thing on his mind...

"Yuugi, I was thinking..." Atemu started, causing the other to look up from the burger he was currently munching on. The two were at the fast food joint, "BurgerWorld", only a day after they had run into Shadi. A burger was, Atemu had discovered, now one of Yuugi's favourite foods. "What you said the other day... at the museum? What did you mean? You sounded very upset..."

Yuugi, teeth still clamped onto his food, averted his eyes, looking... worried, on how to answer him. It took a moment, but he sighed and pulled his food away, placing it onto his plate. "That man... the Egyptian, he had two items. One was a key, which allowed him to enter into one's soul. But... that's not it's only power." Yuugi gazed up at him. "It could, as he said, "redecorate" a person's room of the them... into a mindless slave for his own purposes."

"Had Yuugi not been in my soulroom at the time..." Atemu murmured, frowning. "...Would I have become that Egyptian's mindless doll?"

"No." Came Yuugi's muffled, sleepy voice from the bed. "Because I would have sorted him out the moment he did."

The taller smiled as he turned from the window and wandered over to the bed, spotting Yuugi lifting a long sleeved arm up to rub one of his eyes, yawning cutely. "Sorry Yuugi, did I wake you?"

Yuugi shook his head, now opening his dazed eyes. "Not really." He lifted his sight to look at Atemu hover above him. "Is the museum thing keeping you awake?"

"Yes." He lowered a hand and lightly rubbed Yuugi's hair, causing him to purr. It was a sound Atemu loved hearing. "But it's over, right? I shouldn't let it get to me so much."

"That's right." Yuugi told him sleepily, his eyes closing again. He lightly tugged Atemu's sleeve. "Go to sleep..."

The other laughed, realising that Yuugi wanted to put a spell on Atemu to make him sleep better, but was too tired himself to try. He smiled at the gesture, and crawled back into bed – Yuugi snuggling up to him in a instant. Funny... Atemu thought, closing his eyes, smile still on his face. How quickly I've gotten used to all this...

And having Yuugi with me...

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"My, this is terrible!"

It was now morning, and Atemu and Yuugi, having entered the room, still in their jammies and hot chocolate in their hands, blinked. "Something wrong, Grandpa?" The taller asked, sitting down on the couch and blowing his hot drink. He once again ignored the fact that Yuugi hadn't done so to his, and burnt his tong again.

Sugoroku was watching the news on the TV, a female reporter standing in front of some sort of door, crime scene tape strapped across the door. The old man didn't answer, but turned up the volume for them to hear better.

"It is unsure on how this acurred, as police are still investigating the crime scene. They reported that there was not much to go on to give them any leads. But the paramedics who observed the body report that the victim died of a heart attack. But what really concerns the police, is the fact that the victim held a look of pure terror before he died. So, what everyone is asking is...

Is this the curse of the Pharaoh's tomb?"

"It appears..." Started Sugoroku, turning to look at his grandson and copy. "That Kanekura-San was found died in his office two nights ago, by the museum's patrol guard."

"W-what?" Atemu chocked out, Yuugi's head shooting up in alarm.

The older nodded, before turning back to the TV. "It's worrisome, seeing a person you just met dead..."

The older looking teen turned to Yuugi, worry shinning in his eyes. Yuugi himself was mirroring him, before his eyes widened in realisation.

"We've got to get to Yoshimori-San!" Yuugi told Sugoroku in a panic, the feeling washing over Atemu like a wave through the Mindlink, causing the teen to double over in surprise.

The old man blinked at his grandson's look-a-like. Someone they knew may have just dead, but that didn't mean someone else was going to. "Well... I was thinking of going to see him this evening..."

"That's far to long!" The smaller yelled, stunning the other men. "Mutou-San, please, Yoshimori-San is in real danger! What that lady on the TV said... it's not a curse! Someone killed Kanakura-San, and their going to go after Yoshimori-San too! We have to get to him!"

In moments, after receiving that information, Sugoroku's emotion showed complete understanding and seriousness. With a quick nod, the elder stood up from his chair and turned off the TV with the remote. "Let me go get ready." And off he shuffled out the room.

Atemu, pretty much unnerved from his grandfather's sudden change at heart, looked over to the calming down Ancient Egyptian. He was staring to feel pretty panicked himself. "Yuugi... what's going on?"

"I am sorry, Atemu..." Yuugi said gravely, surprising the other by not calling him by his nickname. "But... what I said last night... appears to be not true."

"What?"

"I had thought that, despite what he said, Shadi would have left..." The smaller turned to Atemu. "The night, at the museum? Shadi told me he had something else to do... someone else to "judge". Only now do I know who he meant..." A small sigh. "I guess I was right that night..." We're seeing him again whether I want to or not...

"But... that was nights ago..." Atemu whispered. "Wouldn't he have already...?"

"I don't know." Yuugi said in all honesty. "All we can do, is go and see."

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"You sure you guys want to come?" Atemu asked his friends, who all wanted to tag along when they heard the story. "We don't know what will happen..."

It was now early afternoon, the gang having gotten together for the long jounry across the large city. It should be early evening by the time they reached the university Yoshimori worked at. After Sugoroku, Atemu and Yuugi had gotten ready that morning, Atemu told their friends were they were going, and why. This made the others come running over to join them.

"Ah, sure we are Yams." Jounouchi said, waving a hand in dismissal. "We're ya friends, and we want to help in any way we can, even after what ya told us happened with this "Shadi" guy."

"And besides," Started Anzu. "Yuugi is our friend too – so what if it all starts to get a little crazy? We'll do anything we can to help him."

Otogi tossed up a dice as Honda smiled. "Keeps the day less boring too."

"You guys..." Atemu wept in fake tears. "I never knew I had such great friends!"

Anzu whacked him playfully. "Oh, shut up."

During all this, Yuugi walked on silently. He was very worried... and scared, of what might happen at Yoshimori's place. Were they too late, and will be the first ones to find him dead? Or was he alive, but at the mercy of Shadi's item? He could be simply alive and well, but a trap could be there without their knowing.

Suddenly, a thought came to Yuugi. It was like someone had lit a light bulb in his mind. Would... would all this be happening to Atemu and his friends, if he had never put the puzzle together? If Atemu had never been given the item, would he be living a normal, peaceful life? So people like Shadi, wouldn't come after him?

...Would Atemu be more happy... if he didn't exist?

"...Yuugi?"

He looked up, startled out of his thoughts. He looked more pale than normal. "Y-yes, Até?"

"You okay?" He asked. "You've been lost in thought since we came out..."

"O-oh." Was all he said, then looking back down to the ground. In seconds, he stopped, and started to shake. "I... I'm scared, Até. I'm really s-scared."

Atemu, alarmed that his little one was openly showing his fear like this, quickly grabbed him into a hug. The others had stopped too, and were surprised to see Yuugi act like this as well. It was like the first time they had met him all those weeks ago; timided and jumpy at any little unknown thing. Now, Yuugi was way more confident, even more so than Atemu, but right this minute... he seemed very small indeed.

"I don't know what's going to h-happen." Yuugi went on, tears forming at the corners of his eyes. "In my s-souldroom, I had more c-control... if Shadi is there, in the real world, then I... I..."

"Hey, it's okay." Atemu tried to sooth, rubbing his arms in an attempt to calm the smaller. "It's not going to be like last time. You won't be facing him alone. we're all here to help." He held Yuugi's shoulders at arms length, looking him in the eyes. "Besides, you faced Ushio on your own, right? And in the real world, too. You hold great power, Yuugi..." He smiled. "Your far stronger than me. If it wasn't for you, I don't know where i'd be right now."

"But... something tells me..." Yuugi sniffed. "That none of this would have happened had you never solved the puzzle."

"What?"

"I wished you never had freed me! Then you, your friends, your family, wouldn't be in trouble all the time, and all because of me!"

Jounouchi looked ready to protest at the outburst, though Anzu stopped him. Atemu looked surprised at it as well. He frowned.

"What brought this on, little one?"

All the taller got was a shake of the head, making Atemu frown more. The silence from the others wasn't helping matters either. Something big was bothering Yuugi, though he seemed he had yet to tell him. All this outburst told him was, he wasn't as strong as he appeared to be.

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Yoshimori placed his stressed-looking face into his hands, sighing tiredly as he slumped over his desk. Currently, he had no paper work out to distracted him from what was crossing his mind.

Kanakura was dead. Yoshimori had not seen the other man since a few days ago due to essays his university students handed in, work he needed to mark. The university was on the other side of domino city, so due to the hundreds of pages his students called essays they had throw at him, Yoshimori was unable to see how well the puplic found the new exhibit. He had heard how well it went, however, from the news report that morning. Which also meant he heard about Kanakura's death...

"I don't believe them..." He muttered to himself, closing his eyes. "It can't be a curse. It's not a curse. Then, what could it have been...?" He left the question hanging in the air, knowing full well that it wouldn't be answered. Yoshimori sighed. "It's late. Best not to think about it. Besides, Sugoroku is coming to visit. Yes, that will cheer me up..."

The shadow behind him, however, went unnoticed as it crept ever so slowly closer.

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"Um... Yoshi? It's me, Sugoroku." Sugoroku called, knocking on the door to the university office. Getting no answer, he grabbed the door handle and turned it, causing the door to open slightly. "Yoshi?"

"Ah... Sugoriku... please, do come in..."

Blinking at the oddness of his friends voice, he gave a shrug and turned to Atemu and the others. "Alright everyone, remember; Yoshimori is feeling very depressed over Kanakura's death, so I don't want any of you to mention that, okay? We're here to cheer him up." At everyone's nods of understanding, though Yuugi still held his head down, he gave a nod of his own and lead everyone inside.

Only to be greeted by a surprising sight.

Yoshimori stood there, swaying slightly, head titling from one side to the other. His eyes were dull and he held a very strange smile on his face.

"Heh heh... welcome, welcome..." He mumbled, his smile becoming more creepy. "I was hoping to see you today..."

"Ah, Yoshi?" Sugoroku tried, looking just as creeped out as the others. "You alright there, friend?"

"Why, yessss..." Yoshimori droned, chuckling oddly. "I am very happy to see... you all..."

Yuugi chose that moment to finally see what was going on. He lifted up his head and gave a good, frowning stare at the older man. He found he was acting very strange. And his dull eyes were not helping, either. In fact, Yuugi found that the dullness in them looked very familiar...

That's when it clicked, and his eyes widened. "He's become his mindless slave!"

At Yuugi's outburst, Yoshimori lept forward, and grabbed the first person he could reach. That happened to be Atemu, and was given a startling shock as the brainwashed man tightened his hands around his neck. Atemu, at that point, struggled to breath.

"Atemu!" Yuugi cried, Jounouchi and the others trying to pry the man's hands off the teen. The smaller was ready to jump in and help, maybe with his magic, but a hand on his shoulder stopped him.

"We meet again, Millennium Child."

Yuugi froze, and slowly turned his head to see Shadi, the man who started all this, standing right behind him, his eyes as blank as ever. "S-Shadi!"

Shadi, face blank, looked meaningful at him. "Before I was to judge this man, I did some research... and came to a startling discovery. I knew there was more to you than meets the eye when we first met, even your friend there..." He motioned to Atemu, who's face was starting to go blue from lack of air. "And now, I know why."

"Let him go!" Yuugi cried, swirling round, fists balled. "Or I'll have to make you!"

"Calm yourself, Millennium Child." Shadi spoke. "He is necessary for your own judgment."

His eyes widened. "M-my own judgment?!"

A nod. "Yes. I must see... that it is not by a mistake that you're friend has the puzzle, yet you have the power of it." He lifted his scales. "By the power of the Millennium Scales; let the Shadow Game begin!"

The eye on the scales flashed, and everyone in the room was thrown back by an invisible force, and Atemu's grandpa and friends all hit the walls of the office hard – knocking them all unconscious. Even Yoshimori was out cold. The only one's left standing were Yuugi and Shadi, Atemu also awake but hacking and coughing from being chocked on the floor.

Shadi walked over to the coughing teen, and placed the Millennium Key against the back of Atemu's head. In a second, with his intake of surpiresed breath, his eyes dulled, and fell shut, Atemu falling to the floor at Shadi feet. "Wait!" Yuugi cried, only to watch helplessly as Shadi and Atemu flickered and vanished, leaving Yuugi alone in the room with all the unconscious people in the room.

"Meet us on the roof," Shadi's voice started, echoing around the room. "Where our Shadow Game will begin."

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Ma-Chi: Mwahahahaha! Wasn't expecting it to start like that, huh?! -giggles-

I've got the next chappie all planned out, but I don't know how long it's gonna take me to do, with everything going on. I'll try to update as soon as possible, though!

Remember to review guys! All comments and advice welcomed! their helpful and bring me joy. -smiles-

Sorry for any spellings and grammer mistakes.