Unbreak My Heart

Author’s Note: Hello to all who have been so patiently waiting for the update to this. Since we’re on a roll, everything seems to be doing so very well. I’ve made a few decisions and am happier than I can remember being. In response to the some of the reviews, I’m planning on working with the entire group as far as relationships go, not just the yamis and hikaris. To me, the events affected everyone and should have equal time showing how things affected them. A huge thanks goes to DracOnyx and ladywolf_Terri for their support and friendship. I couldn’t do it without you two!

Disclaimer: I don’t own YuGiOh or any of the characters involved with it. I do wish I did though…what fun I could have with those yummy guys! – wicked grin -

Chapter Eight – Trials

The slender figure entered the darkened chamber, kneeling on the cold stone floor when he reached the center of the immense room. The form waited patiently with his head bowed, knowing that he wasn’t alone and would be addressed in time. He knew from long experience that everything happened in their time and not his, which had annoyed him on occasion.

Much to his surprise, the wait wasn’t a long one as a deep voice broke the stillness of the vast chamber. It echoed for a moment when it reached the figure’s ears, reminding him of the power of those that shared the room with him.

“Amunamenra.”

The quiet figure of the pharaoh immediately recognized the voice and responded with a reverent one of his own, not wanting to do anything to offend the presences that filled the room. He didn’t lift his head, keeping his gaze focused on the stones beneath his knees. Given the circumstances, the last thing he wanted to do was to be considered impolite or irreverent.

“You have summoned me, Lord Horus?”

“There was been some concerned raised as to the activities of two members of your kingdom.”

A feminine voice broke in, a note of mirth in the gentle tones. This was a voice somewhat familiar to Yami and the warmth of her voice nearly made him smile, despite the reason he knew he was here.

“You’re just upset because it was your headdress, Osiris. You have to admit, the joke was funny.”

“Only you would find such an act of blatant disrespect amusing, Bast.”

“I certainly do. It eased the boredom for a while. The thief has always been one to amuse me, you know that. He and the blond one keep things lively around here. It’s interesting to see what those two will do next.”

The first voice interrupted the other two, drawing Yami’s attention completely to it. Outwardly calm, the crimson eyed pharaoh inwardly seethed, imagining all sorts of devious tortures for the white haired thief he called friend.

“And therein lies our problem. They are not settling in as they should be, which concerns me.”

Another woman’s voice responded to the conversation, one that sent chills down Yami’s back. This was one of the ones he’d hoped not to hear from today, and the dulcet tones set his teeth on edge.

“The balance is being disrupted in ways we could not have anticipated. Bring in the other two so that we can address this situation fully. Their fates lie with his, and they should be made aware of the problems.”

Malik and Bakura came into the room a short time later, freezing when they saw Yami kneeling in the center of the room. Both of them could feel the tension radiating powerfully off of the slender form and could only hope that whatever it was they were about to face, it wouldn’t be something the three of them could handle. They knelt on other side of him, heads lowered respectfully.

When the silence was broken, both of them could almost feel the barely seen shudder that racked Yami’s frame, telling them that this was one goddess that the former pharaoh truly feared.

“We brought you to the afterlife in order to restore the balance, seeking to give you your rest and allow certain people a chance to regain themselves as they experience freedom from enemies for the first time. However, this action seems to have tilted everything more towards chaos than order. The world of the living and the land of the dead are both discontent and harmony needs to be restored.”

“You mean to tell me that stealing a stupid headdress caused all this?”

Bakura flinched slightly, realizing he’d accidentally spoken the words out loud. Yami’s breath hissed between clenched teeth as the tri-colored haired pharaoh tensed, waiting to see if he’d have to intervene on his friend’s behalf. Lord Horus answered the thief in a calm voice, which told Yami that the God of Wisdom had not taken any offense to the comment.

“Your actions only allowed us to finally understand that you are not content here, Bakura. We’ve seen into your hearts and know that you are not ready for the afterlife. At least, not yet.”

“I don’t understand. You let us in here at Yami’s request, and now you’re saying we’re not ready?”

“Calm yourself, Malik. That Amunamenra interceded for you speaks not only for the strength of his his heart but yours as well. When we inspected your hearts before allowing you to cross over, we did not see that the three of you were not ready for your rest yet. Bringing all of you here has upset the balance as Ma’at has said. It was not your time to cross over yet and your absence has thrown certain things off. If this is not corrected, chaos will reign within the land of the living.”

Bakura and Malik leaned back to look at each other behind Yami’s back when they heard Horus’s answer, wondering what the god had meant by the three of them not being ready. If any of them had been ready for this, it would have been the pharaoh for certain. While they were sharing the silent questions, Yami spoke up with one that both of them had also been wondering about.

“What is happening in the land of the living, Lord Horus?”

“Your other halves have drawn our attention once again, Amunamenra. They are doing worse than we had originally anticipated. The loss of their yamis has affected them greatly, showing a deeper bond between all of you than we had thought.”

The answer drew their attention to the speaker, concern etching their faces as they realized what Horus was telling them. Once again, Yami spoke for them, giving voice to the one question that was racing through all of their thoughts.

“They’re not doing well?”

Four figures emerged from the darkness, approaching the three kneeling men. One of the women spoke, her voice gentle and sympathetic.

“No, pharaoh, they are not. One of the hikaris, perhaps another, has come close to realizing the true answer as to why he mourns so heavily. They are missing their soulmate and without the three of you, their powers will eventually consume them, turning them to darkness.”

Bakura frowned at the answer, shaking his head as he thought about his hikari. His voice was rough with concern and confusion.

“Ryou doesn’t have any powers. What are you talking about?”

The second goddess spoke, evoking another shudder from Yami. The pharaoh held himself rigidly listening to Ma’at’s words.

“Your souls are equal halves to your counterparts. In order to be equal, the hikaris were gifted with the ability to use Shadow Magic as the three of you were. This talent has not been discovered but is already on the verge of jeopardizing their safety. Light cannot exist without darkness and without the balance, light will turn into darkness in an effort to console itself.”

“Your hearts have been calling for your hikaris since you came here, that is why none of you can find happiness here. This is why you must return to the land of the living.”

“You would let us go, Lord Anubis?”

“I would, Malik, with certain agreements between us. The road to rejoining your soulmates will not be easy by any means. While the three of you have withstood the tests of life and Ma’at’s scale, your hikaris have not. Their powers need to be awakened so that they can stand equally with you, and their hearts must be tested to see if they are truly ready to join with their soulmates. The tests will not be easy for them, I warn you now.”

The fourth figure broke his silence, addressing the three yamis with both affection and mirth in his voice.

“If you should choose to go, you will be bound to an honorable life, using your talents for the benefit of the balance. You will abide by their laws and live according to their guidelines and your hearts.”

Bakura and Malik shared another glance, knowing that this would seriously curtail some of their more favorite activities if they decided to return. The mahogany eyed thief bit the inside of his cheek before responding to the figure.

“Do we have time to think about this?”

Ma’at answered the question, giving them an answer that chilled all three of them and made them worry further.

“You have some, Thief King, but not as much as you would like. Already, they are looking for something to fill the void that your absences have left. I fear for them and their souls if they remain parted from you for much longer.”

“Return to the palace to think on what you have been told. We will summon you again within a few hours, so be ready to make your decision then.”

At the obvious dismissal, Malik and Bakura followed Yami out of the temple and back to the palace. No one spoke until the door to Yami’s bedchamber had been sealed behind them, ensuring their privacy. The tri-color haired male dropped onto a chair, throwing his heavy crown onto a table before pinning his friends with his crimson gaze.

“What do you think?”

His two companion sank onto convenient chairs, and Marik ran his hands through his hair before responding to the quietly spoken question.

“I had no idea our departure would present so much trouble for them. I figured our hikaris would be glad to see us gone considering how much trouble we’ve brought to them in the past.”

Bakura folded his arms across his chest, mahogany gaze locked onto something only he could see as he thought about the situation.

“Obviously, we were meant to stay with them.”

Yami nodded, his thoughts revolving around his hikari. He’d thought often of Yugi, missing him a great deal. The petite duelist had managed to worm his way into the former pharaoh’s heart and had refused to leave even after Yami had returned to the afterlife.

“I’ll be honest, you two, I haven’t been happy here at all. I’ve missed the others a lot and haven’t been able to get Yugi out of my mind at all.”

Violet eyes focused on Yami, a look of peace and concern shining there as he questioned his friend.

“You mean to give all this up and return then?”

Yami nodded in silent answer and Malik responded with another question, wanting to see if the crimson eyed yami truly understood why he was doing this.

“Why?”

“I am not complete without my hikari.”

The answer stunned both of the listeners into thoughtful silence, which was not broken until the summons to return to the temple came. Yami rose, sliding the crown back on, knowing that he could not appear before the gods so informally attired. This position had been a gift from them, and he could not insult them during whatever time he had left here in the afterlife.

Once all three of them had knelt in the former positions, Anubis quickly questioned each of them in turn.

“Amunamenra, what is your decision?”

Yami’s voice was quiet and full of determination, telling the listeners that he had committed himself to the path that had been laid before him.

“I will return to the land of the living and rejoin my hikari.”

“Why do you chose this?”

Sharp eyes looked up to the meet the gaze of Lord Horus and his voice gave no quarter, indicating that his decision would not waver.

“I am incomplete without him. My heart is empty and without Yugi, I will never be that which I know I can become.”

“Bakura? What have you decided?”

“I will go with Yami and rejoin Ryou.”

“Why?”

There was a long pause and the answer made Yami smile, knowing that his friend had finally understood the ties between him and his hikari.

“The kid needs me, and I need him.”

“And you, Marik?”

“I will go with them. Darkness needs the light. Marik and I need each other. I have no other reason than that, Lord Horus.”

“Preparations shall begin to return you to the realm of the living. The hearts of your hikaris will be made ready for testing. Until then, you will wait here until one of us comes to get you. You will return one at a time to test your hikari before regaining the bond that tied you to your lights.”

After Anubis’s words faded, the three yamis were left alone to wait and think about what would come All them could only hope that their hikaris would be strong enough to face the gods’ test, whatever it was.

“Yami?”

“Yes, Kura?”

“Do you think they can do it?”

“Only time will tell, Kura. Until then, all we can do is put our faith in them. Their strength has not failed them yet. We can only hope that it will continue to carry them throughout whatever the gods have to dish out.”

Yami’s answer both chilled and encouraged them, and there was a soft sigh as they settled down to wait for the call.

Author’s End Note: Oh, looks like our favorite yamis will be joining the hikaris soon. I wonder what this test is that Yugi, Ryou, and Marik will have to face. Anyway, in response to a suggestion made by a reviewer, I am putting together a mailing list so that I can alert people when new chapters or new stories are going up. If you’re interested in this, please make sure to put your email address up with your review and let me know in the review if you’re interested. At any rate, thank you so much for reading my stories and hope that all of you enjoyed it. Clef, Yugi, and Yami thank you too and hope that you’ll push that little review button and let us know your thoughts on this! Hugs to all!!