Resurrecting The Darkness

LOST SOULS

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Disclaimer: I stll don't own and I'm not getting paid for writing this.....
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The ancient spirit, the guardian of the Millennium Items, stood framed by the open patio doors, flanked by Isis and Rishid.

"Shadi, what are you doing here?" the beautiful young woman asked, her blue eyes revealing her confusion. Shock and concern pushed aside her bewilderment as she surveyed the bruised and battered faces. "What is going on?" Horror filled her countenance as she spied the Millennium Rod in Mariku's hand.

"Oh no!" she screamed, lunging for Malik, intent on pulling her baby brother to safety. She vividly remembered the pain and suffering which had been inflicted on her friends and family by the current possessor of the Rod. She vowed that no matter the cost, she would keep Malik safe.

The slender platinum blonde evaded her grasp, darting behind his koibito. "Isis, sister, please listen!" His lavender eyes were pleading. "Mariku has done nothing wrong." He smiled lovingly at his yami. "It was Atemu who crossed the line, Atemu who attempted to seduce Bakura, Atemu who brutally attacked the hikaris when they were merely trying to protect each other."

Blue eyes round with disbelief, she stared speechless at the Pharaoh, noticing for the first time the proud, even arrogant stance; the air of superiority emanating from him; the lack of warmth in those startlingly exotic crimson orbs.

Silence reigned for several long seconds, a small voice finally breaking the stillness. "Shadi, please tell us what is wrong with our yamis," Yugi gestured towards Ryou as he faced the mystical spirit.

Atemu stepped forward, sneering at the robed figure. He gripped the thin arms of his hikari, his fingers digging in, bruising the delicate flesh. "There is nothing wrong with me. You understand the consequences of questioning me."

The frightened youth paled, the memory of his last "punishment" fresh in his mind. Trembling, he pulled away from his captor, seeking refuge behind Rishid.

Malik's older brother calmly, stoically, faced the wrathful former ruler. "You will not harm him, or anyone else, in my presence."

Astounded and outraged, fiery sparks flashing in the blood-red eyes, Yami's temper flared. "You dare to keep my koibito away from me? He is mine!!" He pointed his finger at the trembling youth cowering three feet away. "Come here, Yugi!" he screamed, his actions shocking everyone--even Malik and Mariku. They had no idea the situation had gotten this far out of control.

The robed guardian was neither impressed not intimidated by the raging one. Casually, he pointed the Millennium Scales at Atemu. They wavered wildly, unable to detect and maintain any semblance of balance in the soul.

"It is as I feared," he whispered to himself. "The Pharaohs' spirit isn't at peace. He is struggling within himself--the one who existed before is trapped inside his subconscious mind, unable to break free."

Ryou, who had never had any dealings with Shadi, approached him cautiously. He knelt reverently at his feet, keeping his head bowed, his beautiful white hair falling haphazardly around him. "Could that also be what has happened to my Kura?"

The beauty and innocence that Ryou exuded amazed Shadi. He pointed the Scales at Bakura, unsurprised to observe the wild swinging of the item. "Yes, angelic one, he is suffering the same fate; this only confirms my suspicions."

Malik stepped forward." What is it Shadi? And can you fix or reverse it?" He didn't miss the hopeful glance Yugi directed towards the spirit.

He momentarily ignored the lavender eyed youth, focusing instead on the Millennium Rod wielder. " May I have that back, Mariku? You no longer need it."

Uncharacteristically silent and compliant, the spiky-haired exotic Egyptian surrendered the golden staff to Shadi.

The power of the Rod activated immediately. Without a word, he pointed it at Atemu, the flash of light surrounding him and rendering him immobile. Directing it at Bakura, he used the Rod to temporarily paralyze Ryou's Yami.

With that done, the Millennium Protector turned his attention to the small crowd who were waiting patiently for an explanation.

"First of all, understand this is just my theory, but it's the only one that makes sense, considering the facts of this unique situation. Never before have two such powerful souls been resurrected simultaneously. Anubis must have been furious at having such strong spirits ripped away from the underworld. Losing the Pharaoh would have been especially painful considering Atemu's strength. Plus, the rulers were considered to be gods. And the Thief King? A human whose soul was filled with an immeasurable hatred for the Pharaoh and the Millennium Items? Such as loss would have enraged him." He paused, studying the immobilized Atemu and Bakura. "Knowing he was powerless to prevent their spirits from returning, he altered their memories."

Ryou rose gracefully to his feet, his tear-filled eyes locking onto the fathomless blue eyes of Shadi. "So this would have been Bakura's personality without the existence of the Millennium Items?"

The turban-covered head nodded. "Yes. Without the creation of the Items, Bakura would have grown up surrounded by a family that loved him. He would not have witnessed the slaughter of his village, wouldn't have become a tomb robber and a killer. And his soul would not have been consumed by hatred."

The brown eyes turned to his yami. "So his memories of 'us' has been altered as well. He had no memory of dominating and controlling me."

"That is correct, young one. He understands and accepts the soul-bond between you and he is content with you being the dominant partner."

The gentle white-haired youth shook his head in denial. "I'm sorry, but a lifetime with this docile Bakura is unacceptable. I want my Kura, the volatile, unpredictable spirit I fell in love with....." He focused his pleading eyes on the robed one. "Is it possible to unlock those memories?"

Yugi had been listening closely, has mind racing as he considered his spell-bound koibito. "Shadi, is the same true of the Pharaoh? If the Millennium Items had never existed, is this the man he would have been? Would he have been so uncaring, so focused on his own needs, his wants, his desires? Would he have treated everyone so callously, so contemptuously?"

Sadly, the ancient spirit nodded. "Yes, Yugi. Atemu, being the only son of a Pharaoh, would have been raised to dominate, to control. Everyone would have bowed down to him, fulfilled his every whim, regardless. To refuse was a crime punishable by death. When his father died and he became Pharaoh at the age of 15, he was elevated to the status of a god and the people's reverence of him increased accordingly. Without the Millennium Items, he would have lacked the support and guidance of his friends and advisors. Without any real responsibility, the Pharaoh would have become selfish and uncaring."

The amethyst eyes revealed confusion. "But if he has no memory of the Puzzle, then he doesn't recall the 3000 years he spent trapped inside. Yet he remembered me; how is that possible?"

The Egyptian guardian struggle to explain. "I cannot say exactly. I do know that Anubis allowed each soul to retain the memories of their soul-mates; this is why they recognized and bonded again with you."

Ryou spoke up. "I'm not all that concerned about how--I just want to know if it is possible to reverse this memory suppression?" His gaze traveled from one friend to another. "You may not understand, but I want my Kura back, exactly as he was before. This is my yami; that is the man I fell in love with."

Those haunting eyes stared at the pale hikari, piercing his very soul, reading the truth in his open innocent heart. He placed the key against the silken skin of the hikari's forehead, allowing him to access Ryou's deepest, most innermost secrets and desires. Satisfied, he ceased his exploration of the teen's mind. "You speak the truth, little one. Your soul, your heart longs for the darker spirit of Bakura to return to you."

Once more he gripped the Key, preparing himself before he delved into the mind of the Thief King. "I need you to make this journey with me," reaching for Ryou's hand. "Together we have a better chance of success. There may also be areas that you can reach and I cannot."

Without hesitation, the pale fingers twined around the dark tanned flesh of Shadi's hand. "I'm ready."

Nodding, Shadi placed the key against Bakura's forehead, allowing his and Ryou's spirits to enter the realm of the Thief King's mind.

Silently they wandered through a maze of thoughts and feelings, eventually finding a steel door which blocked their passage.

"Behind that door are his suppressed memories." He turned and faced Ryou. "I cannot trespass here. You will have to unlock or remove that barricade."

"How?"

"Place your hands on the door and try to connect with Bakura using your mind-link. Being this close to the forgotten memories , perhaps you will be able to break through the barrier."

Determination filled his chocolate orbs. His hands trembled as he reached out, his fingers reflexively recoiling from the icy cold steel. Drawing a deep breath, he pressed his hands firmly against the surface, concentrating on reaching his koishii Kura.

//Kura? Can you hear me?// Mocking silence echoed in his head. He tried several more times, with no success.

He gnawed on his full bottom lip as he mentally searched for a solution.

The solution flooded through him--of course--there was only one way to breaks through his koi's icy facade. Make him angry. //Kura! I don't know what kind of sick sadistic game you are playing, but I've had enough! It's fucking fine with me if you want to stay hidden like a pouting, sulking little brat! I've found a new lover--actually two, since they are a couple. In case you are curious, it's Yugi and the Pharaoh.//

A surge of heat raced through his fingers, a flash of anger raced through his mind. Encouraged, Ryou continued his mental taunting, envisioning Atemu clad only in a pair of black silk boxers, his golden skin gleaming. He let his imagination take control, sending the images of him being pressed tightly against that gorgeously sexy, barely dressed man. He added the image of Yugi stroking him from behind, his small fingers easing beneath the waistband of his royal blue silk boxers, dipping down to caress his hardening member.

Two pairs of eager lips placed kisses along his pale slender neck. Moans of pleasure spilling from his pale, sensuous lips. //Yugi, Atemu--please...I want you! I need you to fuck me! Atemu, I want your hardness in me, pounding me as hard as you can while Yugi teases me with that so talented mouth and tongue.//

The mental imaged he projected was the key. A white hot flash of rage filled his mind, the barrier shattering. The memories of the Thief King returned and he was in a killing rage.

Ryou grabbed Shadi ."We have to go, NOW! He's infuriated--he'll try to kill the Pharaoh, and I'm the only one who has a chance of stopping him."

Returning to the physical world, Ryou breathed a sigh of relief to find the spell of the Millennium Rod was still activated and able to contain his raging yami. No doubt about it; he had very successfully released his koi's darkness.

A blinding smile of sheer joy and bliss graced Ryou's beautiful face as he raced to his beloved Kura, his arms embracing him tightly, releasing him from the paralyzing spell. Pulling the taller one's head down, he captured his koi's lips in a lingering passionate kiss. Momentarily stunned, the tomb robber's eyes revealed shock, quickly replaced by lust. Gripping the luscious body of his hikari, he ground his scantily clad arousal against his tenshi, the whimpers further inciting his desires.

Breaking off the kiss, Ryou collapsed against Kura's muscular chest; those strong arms surrounding him. Recovering slightly, he tilted his head back, searching those exotic eyes. Tears of joy fell like rain as he realized his koishii Kura had finally returned to him.

The flood of emotion washing through their mind-link was exhilarating to the Thief King. The pure love Ryou felt astounded him; he was extremely humbled and oh-so-grateful for his koishii hikari.

"Tenshi, thank you...for everything. For protecting me, caring for me...and especially for loving, me, the fearsome Thief King. Thank you for freeing me from my subconscious soul."

Stunned by those words, the gentle one was astounded by the single tear that trailed slowly down his koibito's pale cheek. He captured the salty wetness with his tongue. "Aishiteru, Kura, always, " he whispered.

"Aishiteru, Ryou, for all eternity," the darker half stated. Pulling back, he smiled seductively; possessively moving his hands over his tenshi's bare chest, flicking his thumbs against the hardened nubs. He rubbed his body sinuously against the younger one. "It's been a long time, hikari," he growled. "Can we leave?" He pulled his hikari closer, letting him feel his pulsing arousal. "I want to bury myself in you; I want to feel your tightness surround and squeeze my cock as I plunge into you." He sent visual images along their link, loving the breathy whimpers of desire escaping his koi's lips at the graphic sexual scenes playing in his head.

"Please, Kura, stop, " he moaned, rubbing his own painful arousal against his yami's. "We have to help Yugi free Atemu's mind. Anubis has also trapped his memories."

Bakura groaned and pulled away slightly needing to calm his raging libido. Even though he despised Atemu, he had a soft spot for the hikari. Yugi was a true innocent--yet he possessed the strongest spirit he had ever encountered. Secretly he admired the youth--his courage, his tenderness, his trust in his friends, even his absolute and unwavering loyalty to his yami.

He glared at the trapped Pharaoh who returned the favor. Ignoring him, he smiled at the violet eyed youth who moved forward and hugged him tightly."

Welcome back, Bakura."

The white-haired demon returned the embrace, squeezing the small, firm ass briefly; the sounds of fury vocalized by his nemesis, sent a rush of demented pleasure through his veins. He chuckled to himself. How he loved to annoy and irritate the Pharaoh. He studied the proud stance of the arrogant one. It really was a shame that he wouldn't have time to torment him.

"Go ahead, Yugi," he urged the diminutive one. "the sooner you release his mind, the sooner I'll get to fuck my tenshi senseless." He grinned, loving the rush of color that suffused his hikari's pale silken skin.

Nodding. the tender-hearted one gripped Shadi's outstretched hand as the entered his koishii's complex mind.

As in Bakura's mind, eventually they discovered a strong steel barrier separating them from Atemu's trapped memories.

The amethyst eyes were resolute. "What must I do?" he questioned the guardian.

"I cannot help you free his mind. You will have to find a way to break through and destroy that barricade. Only then will his true spirit return."

Yugi cautiously approached the black steel door, his hands surprisingly steady as placed them against the icy barrier. Focusing all his strength, he sent every bit of his love, his need, his desire down their mind-link. He prayed that his devotion, his commitment to his soul-mate would be enough to rescue his koishii.

//Yami! Atemu! Can you hear me?// He listened closely, the silence deafening. He tried again. //Koi? Please, answer me! Let me know that you can hear me! How can I possibly free you? I need your help.//

Still nothing. The quietness was overwhelming. It shook the innocent one, eroding at his spirit. He dropped to his knees, his head leaning weakly against the door, his tears flowing unchecked, dripping down and pooling at the base of the unyielding barricade.

The distraught teen continued grieving for his lost koibito. So intense was his angusish, he almost missed the whispered response from his yami.

//Yugi! Are you listening? I can sense your pain, koi.//

He smiled through his tears, his hands rubbing against the hateful barrier separating him and his soul-mate. //I’m here, Yami! Shadi and I are attempting to free you and your memories from your subconscious.//


Love, pure and strong, pulsed along their connection. Yugi gasped as the door lost it’s iciness; warmth caressed his fingers, restoring his hope.

The chibi hikari concentrated on freeing his love, maintaining a mental dialogue--anything to keep their mind-link open. The conversation gained strength as declarations of love were exchanged. But it was not enough. The hated barricade remained, hard and unyielding.

Desperation filled Yugi’s mind, despair clawed at his soul. No matter what, he couldn’t free his koishii Atemu. Darkness and desolation slowly eroded his spirit. Unable to find the will to live, not wanting to spend his life without mou hitori no boku, he surrendered to the darkness pressing in on his soul.

The sense of loss was overwhelming; he couldn’t survive with only half of his soul intact, nor did he have the desire to do so. A final wave of emotional pain coursed through his mind, his heart, his fractured soul. Despair, darkness, a terrifying loneliness--these negative emotions battered Yugi.

//Yami!// he cried out, as he succumbed, giving up his will to survive. Those innocent amethyst gems rolled upwards as his spirit was crushed beneath the agony of failing to save his yami no tenshi.

Alarmed, Shadi grabbed Yugi’s unconscious spirit and retuned to the physical world. The tender hikari did not stir as his soul was reunited with his body.

Kneeling, Shadi gathered the unmoving one to him, his Millennium Items allowing him access to the unresponsive mind. He gasped loudly, detecting only darkness, emptiness. There was only a faint shimmer of light; it was buried deep within the seemingly impregnable blackness.

Ending the exploration, Shadi looked up at the circle of friends surrounding him and Yugi. “Gomen nasai,” he sighed. “Yugi has given up. He was unable to break through the barrier and release the Pharaoh’s memories, his true nature. The loss was too agonizing. The hikari surrendered his will to survive--the darkness has all but extinguished his soul. I cannot save him.”

An agonized scream filled the air. Startled, seven pairs of eyes turned towards the captive Pharaoh. A collective gasp was released as the group of friends and lovers observed the convulsing body.

“Aibou!” That word, so special between Atemu and Yugi, shocked everyone. That could mean only one thing-- the barricade had disappeared--Atemu’s memories had returned.

Shadi removed the immobilizing spell; everyone stepped back as the Pharaoh fell to his knees, pulliing his koishii into a tight loving embrace. He rained kisses over every inch of the beautiful face of his aibou. //Yugi! Aibou!--please, please wake up. Come back to me, my koi.// Weeping softly, he placed his forehead against his koibito, opening their mind-link, sending him all of his love, his devotion, his never-ending need for him. //Our souls are bonded for all eternity. You cannot leave me here to exist without you. If you die, know this, my tenshi, I will follow you soon.//

Tenderly, he placed his hand over Yugi’s barely beating heart. //Please my aibou, my koi....listen to me. I have been freed from the mind-suppression spell. Fight the darkness and despair. Feel my love for you, let it flow around you. Embrace it, let it bring you back to me.//

He poured out all his love, his hopes, his dreams for their future. //Yes, Aibou, our future. I want to spend all eternity with you, only you. How can I if you don’t return to me? //

He kissed those pale lips tenderly, reverently. His eyes widened as he felt the heartbeat gain strength beneath his hand. Encouraged, he kissed him again, this time his koibito’s mouth moved slightly against his.

Tears formed again; tears of joy fell silently down his cheeks. Lovingly, he ran his fingers through the silky strands of the tri-colored hair, watching, waiting, yearning for those amethyst gems to open . He desperately needed that --needed to see the love growing in those crystalline depths.

The seconds passed, each one an eternity for the suffering young man. His pleading prayers were answered, as the long lashes fluttered revealing the violet orbs.

“Aibou,” he whispered, the force of emotions constricting his throat.

Yugi stared, entranced by the shimmering ruby eyes of his exotic koibito “Atemu,” he breathed, their eternal love swirling around them, binding their hearts and souls even more tightly.

The Pharaoh opened his mouth to apologize for his cruelty; Yugi stopped him with a well-placed finger against his lips. “Hush. Everything is fine now. We are together and that is all that matters.”

The tender hikari stood and approached the guardian spirit. “Thank you Shadi--for everything. You saved me and helped restore Atemu and Kura.” Impulsively, he embraced the ancient soul. “I hope that we’ll meet against...someday.”

An enigmatic smile briefly touched that sun-darkened countenance. “I’m sure we will, little one.” He touched each individual with those mesmerizing blue eyes. “My work here is done. Now I must return to the spirit realm.” His body swiftly faded away, the air shimmering slightly with his passing.

It was Isis who eliminated the lingering silence. “This is one birthday I will never forget.”

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Okay--there it is--the end of this story! I hope that you enjoyed reading it as much as I did writing it..... Thanks to everyone who read and reviewed