Chapter 5: Dreams and Nightmares

Normal POV

On the roof of Domino High were seven people, one was holding another that had passed out, while the other five stood staring in shock. Then three of them all began to ask questions while the other two hung back, watching and not knowing what to expect.

"Atem? What-?"

"Yugi!-"

"How did-?"

"What are-?"

"Are you-?"

"Is Yugi-?"

"Enough!" Atem shouted and everyone immediately became quiet. "I don't have the time to explain everything right now!" He shouted somewhat angerly, he felt as if they had betrayed Yugi for not noticing what was happening to him and that he needed them. "Malik, Ryou, you're coming with me to take Yugi home." Atem knew that they involved in this as much as Yugi was.

Ryou and Malik nodded while the other three stared in shock at Atem tone.

"Ok, you guys get to class." Atem told Joey, Tristan, and Tea as the bell rang throughout the school grounds. "Ryou, Malik, and I will head out as soon as the halls are empty."

Malik and Ryou looked at Atem questioningly, they didn't understand why Atem didn't seem to trust the other three. Atem watched as the three reluctantly left for class, then turned to Ryou and Malik.

"Before we leave, I must ask you both a question." Atem told them seriously. "You both understand what's happening to Yugi, don't you?" He had to make sure that they fully understood what the darkness was and what it was doing to their friend before he told them anything else.

"Yes," Malik replied.

"We've known for a while now," Ryou said, looking at Yugi worriedly, "we tried to talk to Yugi and get him to let us help him, but he slowly drew away from us."

"Alright," Atem said, relieved to know that they had been trying to help Yugi, "let's go."

Ryou's POV

Ryou sighed in exhaustion, Atem had told everyone about the darkness and what it was doing to Yugi. Atem didn't want anyone to tell Yugi about what they knew, because he feared that not only would the darkness hear it as well and would work faster to get rid of Yugi, but also because he did not trust them enough. Atem explained that Ryou and Malik would not be able to convince Yugi or Shadow that they didn't know anything, because they would most likely see their other halves standing against Shadow. Ryou sighed again, but this time in saddnes, when he remembered Atem telling him and Malik that he could see Bakura and Marik standing with them.

Bakura I wish that you really were here with me, Ryou thought sadly. You're so much stronger than I am and though you never showed it, your heart was kind. The reason you tried to destroy the pharaoh was revenge for what happened to your village when the millennium items were created. You never knew what truly happened, you were just a child and your family and friends were suddenly gone, all you knew was that it was Atem's father who had the items that destroyed you life. Ryou closed his eyes, missing his other half. I wish I had gotten a chance to talk to you before you left, so that I could have told you how I felt. That was the last thought he had before falling asleep.

Ryou's Dream

Ryou stood on a hill that was surrounded by a river with so much gold on the bottom that the water even looked gold. Ryou knew where he was, it was Bakura's half of their mind. Bakura would sit here when Ryou was conscious. Ryou knew that if he looked behind him he would see the village where Bakura grew up, but it was what was in front of him that caught his attention. What used to be the roads of London blended together with the streets of Domino City was now completely covered in darkness. Ryou panicked, because that was where he would be when Bakura had been in control, it was his half of their mind. That was when he realized that Bakura's half should no longer be there.

"What's going on?" Ryou asked, not really expecting an answer.

"The darkness is spreading." Ryou exhaled sharply, he knew that voice. "It seeks to destroy Yugi completely, including anything and anyone that might be connected to him. Because you are close to him and have already been touched by the darkness, it wants to cloud your mind until you no longer remember anything, not even who you are." Ryou spun around to see Bakura leaning against one of the villege houses. Ryou just stared, transfixed by the image of the one he had missed and loved for so long, but then he realized what Bakura had just told him.

"The darkness wants to destroy Yugi that badly?" Bakura nodded somewhat dazed, he was just as fixated on Ryou. "Why?"

"Because he is strong." Bakura replied, snapping out of his thoughts. "He does not know it, but he has the power to defeat the darkness." Ryou's eyes widened. "Oh, right," Bakura said. "before I forget to tell you, like the pharaoh did, you have my power Ryou. You can find whatever it is that you seek, no matter what it is."

"Really?" Ryou asked and Bakura nodded. "Ok, I'm going to try it out."

"Don't you want to do that while you are awake?" Bakura asked, confused.

"No." Ryou said softly, then he thought about what he wanted to find. He wanted to find the feelings Bakura had for him that he kept hidden. Ryou's eyes glowing a faint gold color was the only outside indication that Ryou had found whatever is was that he had been looking for. On the inside Ryou was bursting with happiness, he knew that Bakura loved him as much as Ryou loved him. It was like a feeling he was getting in his chest and a voice seemed to be whispering in his head. Ryou wanted to run up to Bakura and kiss him, but he didn't think that Bakura would like that much display of affection.

There was suddenly the sound of a building falling in the distance and Ryou quickly turned around to see that the darkness had knocked over one of his memories. Ryou didn't know which memory it was that he lost, but somehow he knew it was a memory from his early childhood.

"Damn." Bakura murmured. "Ok, it looks like I cannot protect your mind like this and I'm sure that Marik is having the same problems with protecting Malik's mind. I will have to speak with Anubis and see if he will allow us to come down here like the pharaoh, to help."

Bakura had spoken grimly, but suddenly he had a chest full of Ryou thrown at him. Ryou had latched himself to Bakura crying in complete and utter happiness.

"Ryou?" Bakura asked in confusion and surprise.

"I hope that he says yes," Ryou sobbed, "I have so much to tell you."

Bakura looked down at Ryou with a softness in his eyes and held Ryou tightly to his chest. "Me too Ryou, me too."

Malik's Dream

Malik stood staring in disbelief at the world of his mind. His mind was a blend of the modern world and ancient Egypt. Behind him again stood an entrance to a tomb with Egyptian hieroglyphics of Marik's memories on the walls.

"Looks like Bakura and I will also have to come to the world of the living." Said a voice behind Malik.

Malik spun around to see Marik walking out of the entrance to his half of their minds.

"What are you doing here Marik?" Malik asked, somewhat warily, but also close to bursting with overwhelming joy and love.

"I came to inform you that the darkness is spreading into your mind, slowly destroying your memories." Marik said with a gentleness to his tone that he showed only to Malik. "Also, to tell you something the pharaoh didn't, because he was too focused on Yugi. You have my power Malik. You can read, write and speak in ancient languages that have long been forgotten."

Malik stared in surprise at his other half, then he smirked. "You always have to get right to the point, don't you Marik?"

"Of course." Marik snorted, then his eyes softened and he lifted his hand and gently brushed Malik's cheek with the back of it. "I'll be coming soon my Hikari."

Malik nodded, leaning into Marik's hand and smiling as he read the emotions that were being written across the walls behind Marik. Marik's thoughts and emotions were once again writing themselves on the walls.

Yugi's POV

Yugi was still laying in his glass case when the darkness suddenly cleared, allowing him to see Shadow pacing around him.

"Why?" He snarled. "Why did he suddenly choose now to show his face?" Yugi was wondering the same thing. "It must be the Lord of the Dead's fault, that damn Anubis, interfering with my plans, well I'll show him."

Yugi flinched as Shadow suddenly turned to him with a frightening smile that now had sharp teeth.

"You, my little host, are going to be my key to destroying the world of the dead." Shadow said. "You see, you have a connection to the spirit world stronger than any other mortal who has ever lived. Your connection is even stronger than the pharaoh's, because not only can you speak with the dead, you can enter their world and bring them into yours. If I can get ahold of that power of yours, then I can enter the spirit world and destroy it."

"Is that what were to happen if I were to enter the spirit world too?" Yugi asked fearfully.

"Of course not." Shadow snarled at him."Your purpose in the spirit realm is to take the spirits to Anubis, who will then put the spirits to rest. You would never be able to do it on your own though. You don't have the power to find the lost spirits, nor the power to speak to those who have been lost for centuries."

Yugi stared at Shadow, he never knew that he could do all that. "Does Yami-?"

"Do not speak of him!" Shadow cut him off."Anubis thinks that he can send your precious pharaoh here to save you, but listen and listen well host, that pharaoh of yours can do all he can for decades, but he will never be strong enough to get you out. I told you, you are mine, you fell to the ground and can never get back up, and your mind will break until you are nothing. I will take full control of this body and your powers and by then you will be gone and I'll have killed your pharaoh"

With that said, Shadow was gone, and Yugi was left to watch again. Oh Yami hurry, he thought, I don't have much time left, I feel like I'm going mad. The darkness plucks at my mind, slowly prodding it and ripping it apart, it's agonizing Yami. I need you.

Atem POV

Atem was sitting next to Yugi's bed, watching helplessly as Yugi panted in his sleep, fighting with the darkness in his mind. Atem sighed, he didn't know how to help Yugi. He had tried connecting with Yugi through their link, but Yugi's door had been closed. When Atem had reached out to open it, black vines had shot out and wrapped around his wrist before he could pull it back. After he had managed to pull it away, his hand and wrist had black colored cuts on it. Even now in the physical world it can be seen that something had happened to Atem's hand, it had four red welts wrapping around it and his wrist.

What am I going to do now Yugi? Atem thought sadly. I cannot enter your mind, I must wait until you wake to talk to you.

As if Yugi had heard Atem's question, his eyes snapped open, but Atem's blood ran cold, those were not Yugi's eyes. He knew that he was now staring at Shadow and not Yugi, because those violet eyes Atem loved so much, were now black and glaring directly at him.

At that moment, the doorbell could be heard from downstairs as two figures stood outside waiting expectantly.