DISCLAIMER: I do not own Yu-Gi-Oh, it’s characters, plots, locations yada yada.

HEAD NOTE: This is the sequel to Kuráyami and Hikári. The purpose of it is to wrap things up. In this one, Yami is haunted by what wrongs were committed to him in order to bring him back to the world of the living. Bakura will be Ryo Bakura. There is no Yami Bakura in this story. Sorry Bakura fans.

CERTIFICATE: M

WARNINGS

LANGUAGE - Some

SEX/NUDITY - None

VIOLENCE - Mild

OTHER - OOC, mild Anzu-bashing

DEDICATIONS: For all my readers, especially Lusikka, cheeky-eyes, white dragon girl, rockeranimegirl, and ‘Joey Wheeler’ (As in my good friend who’s nicknamed Joey)

THANKS: To Isis the Sphinx for telling me how to get uploader working again.

Nayámasù

“Mr Muto, will you kindly pay attention in my classroom, please?” Mr Tsuruoka snapped irritably. “Stop daydreaming in my classroom!” Tsuruoka shouted.

Yami blinked. “I’d hardly call it a daydream. More of a memory.” Yami muttered under his breath. He feigned innocence and started jotting down notes in his jotter.

FLASHBACK

“How is the guinea pig?” A man asked.

“He’s recovering sir.” Another man asked.

“Good.” The first man said calmly.

“Brainwaves have settled, and he’s now stable.” A third man informed them.

“Continue to monitor his recovery.” The first man commanded.

“Yes sir.” The second and third man replied.

END FLASHBACK

Yami blinked, and shuddered. He was in the classroom, staring at his notes. He compared them with the boards. Yes, they would do. He sensed his friends were staring at him, and glanced around at each of them, including Kaiba, letting them know, silently, that he was alright. A smile and nod made the point. He pointedly ignored Anzu, as the group continued with their work.

FLASHBACK

“He’s conscious sir. He has been for some time, but he’s only just opened his eyes.” The second man said quickly.

“Let me see. … Are they supposed to be that colour?” The first man asked.

“We don’t know, Sir. But I’m curious. Why this particular one for the test?” The second man asked.

“Because no one in history knows his name. It’s been forgotten. He’s been forgotten. No one’s going to miss him. So no one would be too upset if something went wrong. The experiment was a success. Get rid of him, and then the real experiment can begin. The real testing will be on a powerful pharaoh. Not a boy forgotten by time.” The first man said unkindly.

“What do you want done with him?” The second man asked.

“… Lock him away. Don’t bother feeding him, it’s a waste of our funds. We’ve gotten all we need out of this little has-been. The process works. That’s all he was good for. Start with the real experiments”

“Yes sir”

END FLASHBACK

“YAMI MUTO! MY PATIENCE IS WEARING THIN! COPY THE NOTES DOWN NOW OR--” Tsuruoka began shouting, but stopped as Yami turned his jotter to him, revealing that he already had copied the notes down. “That’s no excuse to daydream!” Tsuruoka snapped, trying to regain his dignity at having been wrong.

“I’m sorry sir. I don’t mean to. My mind just wanders.” Yami mumbled.

“Then see that it doesn’t wander again, or you’ll be in detention!” Tsuruoka snapped.

“Quit picking on Yami.” Jonouchi said suddenly. Tsuruoka rounded on him. “You wouldn’t want the class to know your secret now, would you?”

“How dare you blackmail me Jonouchi!”

“I can say the same about you picking on my bud, teach. This is his first day back at school and he doesn’t need you to hassle him. He’s been through enough you know.” Jonouchi replied.

“Both of you get out and stand in the corridor, until you can behave properly, or until your next class, whichever comes first. Then if you haven’t learnt to behave, see me at lunch time AND after school.” Tsuruoka snarled.

“I have cram school.” Yami pointed out.

“Then you’ll be serving a detention everyday at lunchtime, until you’ve learned your lesson!” Tsuruoka snapped.

“What lesson’s that then?” Yami asked.

“Respect!” Tsuruoka shouted.

“Didn’t you know?” Yami asked. “That’s something one has to earn, not demand.”

“GET OUT OF MY CLASSROOM!” Tsuruoka screamed.

“Gladly.” Yami muttered, standing up and walking out the door.

Tsuruoka followed Yami to the door. “Don’t bother going anywhere, I’ll be out to speak to you in a few minutes.” Tsuruoka slammed the door shut and returned to his desk. “Jonouchi, go stand in the corner”

“WHAT?” Jonouchi exclaimed.

“I’ve decided to separate the two of you to prevent any more trouble. Do as you’re told.” Tsuruoka replied. Jonouchi obeyed, grumbling.

---

Yami stood by the door, leaning against the wall with one foot up at the wall and his hands in his pockets. He sighed. He’d done it this time. And Yugi’s father was arriving today as well. To think, he was going to come home to find his adopted son had ended up in detention, and that would be his first impression of Yami. The two hadn’t yet met. And once again, the former Pharaoh’s mind began to wander.

FLASHBACK

“What’s going on?” The first man demanded.

“They won’t stabilise sir! We’ve lost two already. The process isn’t working!” The third man exclaimed.

“But it worked before!” The first man snapped.

“Yes, it did. But there’s something about him. You saw his eyes. And he’s still alive. We haven’t given him anything to eat or drink for four days, and he’s still alive. He should have died from dehydration, but he didn’t.” The second man reported.

“Bring the brat to me.” The first man demanded.

“He’s right there.” The third man pointed to the cell.

“I said bring him to me. And force him to look at me while you’re at it.” The first man ground out. Yami felt himself grabbed by two people and dragged out of the cell to the first man. His chin was grabbed harshly, and his head was forcibly turned to face the first man. But his vision was blurred, and he could barely see. He doubted he’d last much longer, and couldn’t understand why they had torn him from the afterlife to kill him with neglect. “How did you survive? How are you still alive?” The first man questioned him. Yami made no response. “For someone still alive, he’s pathetically weak. Alright. I’ve changed my mind. I need to know. So he still has some use. Feed him, and give him water. Bring him to me again, when he is strong enough to interrogate”

“Yes sir.” The second and third man replied.

END FLASHBACK

Yami scowled at the opposite wall. That made it three times. Three times he had lost his father. It was almost too much for him to take. But why did it have to happen? Why him? He wouldn’t wish the fate he had suffered at the hands of the scientists on anyone, even if they deserved it. So what was so wrong with him that he had to go through it?

FLASHBACK

Jonouchi walked over and placed his hand on Yami’s other shoulder to get his attention. Yami looked at him, and from his expression, Jonouchi could tell that Yami knew the game was up. Jonouchi was onto him, and he couldn’t pretend everything was alright. “Look, I don’t know what those bastards did to you, Yami, but you haven’t been the same since. Now at first, I couldn’t place it. But I’ve realized since what’s been going on. It’s the Millennium Items, ain’t it?” Yami tried to look away, but Jonouchi jerked his shoulder to hold his attention. “Somehow, when those idiots were screwing around proving that the dead COULD come back, somehow, they put the power of the Millennium Items in you. That’s how you survived the process. That’s why no one else has. Isn’t it”

“… I don’t know.” Yami replied. He closed his eyes and shook his head. “I don’t know what’s wrong with me. But you’re right. I do have their power. In a manner of speaking. I can see things in the future, past and present, but the images are never clear, and I have no control over when it happens, or what it’s of. I can make a pretty good guess at a person’s thoughts, but once again it’s never clear. And I have more persuasive power than I did before. But I can’t completely take control of a person’s mind.”

“Wait, are you saying the power weakened in them when we sent you to the afterlife with their power? And now what’s left of their power is in you?” Honda asked.

“I told you I don’t know what’s wrong with me!” Yami snapped.

“I’m gonna punch your face in a minute!” Jonouchi interrupted loudly, causing both Yami and Honda to stare at him, each wondering which of them he was referring to. “There is NOTHING wrong WITH you!” Jonouchi said firmly.

END FLASHBACK

I’m lucky to have my friends here. If it wasn’t for them, I wouldn’t be able to go on. Yami thought to himself. He sighed.

“Welcome back, Mr Muto.” Tsuruoka said suddenly.

“Sorry sir.” Yami muttered.

Tsuruoka sneered, and Yami wondered why. He found out. “What you need to understand, ‘Yami’ is that even though you were a pharaoh, in Ancient Egypt, you are nothing here, except a spoilt little brat who enjoys disrupting classes and acting like a clown!”

“I do not enjoy disrupting classes, and I’m not acting like a clown.” Yami muttered indignantly.

“Don’t answer me back, boy! You’re nothing! Remember!” Tsuruoka snarled.

FLASHBACK

“For the last time, how did you survive?” The first man near screamed.

“I don’t know!” Yami shouted back. “You tell me! You tell me how you brought me back! You tell me why!”

“Why? As a guinea pig, but you weren’t any good for that neither! You’re nothing!” The first man snapped angrily, before hitting Yami, knocking him to the ground. “Take him away and sedate him. He can’t answer my questions, I’ll find out the answers for myself. I want blood tests, marrow tests, endurance, strength, the lot. And I don’t care if you destroy him in the process! I want to know how he survived being brought back! I want to know why no other specimen has survived”

END FLASHBACK

A window at the opposite side of the corridor shattered. Tsuruoka stared at it in shock. Yami’s shock had a small trace of fear. He looked at Tsuruoka, but was relieved when Tsuruoka walked past him, and went to see the window closer. Yami could hear voices whispering, and turned to see the classroom door window had also broken. Looking in, he noticed that all the windows had broken. “What did you do?” Tsuruoka asked behind him. Yami noted that there was a trace of fear in the man’s voice.

“Me?” Yami asked. “I didn’t-- I was-- I couldn’t have.”

“What was that thing on your forehead?” Tsuruoka asked.

Yami turned, numbly, and stared at Tsuruoka. “You trespassed in my soul.” Yami said quietly. “That’s how you saw the Wdjat”

“So that’s why they brought you back. So why are you here? How did you escape”

“The scientists let me go.” Yami lied. Well, it was half true, he had influenced their choice, but they had let him go.

“Get out. Go home. You’re expelled. I won’t make you pay for the damage, but you’re not staying. Go.” Tsuruoka said quietly. “Get you things, and get out.”

“… Fine. Grandpa was opting for me to be home tutored anyway.” Yami shrugged.

---

“Yami, you’re home early.” Sugoroku mentioned as Yami walked in the door.

“I got expelled.” Yami replied. “My power slipped and twenty of the school’s windows shattered.”

“Oh my.” Sugoroku muttered, raising his eyebrows. “How much do you have to earn then to repay the school.”

“I don’t. Tsuruoka said he wouldn’t make me pay, that he just wanted me to get out. He saw the Wdjat. But I didn’t do anything to him. He said something. Something THEY had said. I guess I just lost it. I haven’t been able to concentrate lately”

“What did the letter say Yami?” Sugoroku asked firmly. Two days before, Yami had received a letter from America, and had been constantly spacing out since. Sugoroku had a bad feeling about the letter.

“They’re coming.” Yami said simply, walking up to his room. Yami took out two ankhs and fastened them to his jacket’s sleeves. Sugoroku had followed Yami up the stairs. “And I’m not going down without a fight.” Yami added, picking up a sheet of paper and looking at it with a smile.

FLASHBACK

“Yami, here.” Kaiba said, handing Yami a blank envelope.

“What’s this Kaiba?” Yami asked, opening the envelope. He took out the contents. A certificate of adoption. “The papers. Thank you”

“Remember, you owe me a duel.” Kaiba said walking away.

END FLASHBACK

“But before I deal with THEM, I have a score to settle with Ushio.” Yami picked up a pair of reflective shades, and smirked at them.

FLASHBACK

“Okay, that’s kind of freaky.” Jonouchi said suddenly as Yami looked in his direction. Of course, Yami couldn’t look AT him, as Yami couldn’t see, but his eyes stayed in Jonouchi’s general direction. They didn’t focus on a point, just seemed to stay in the area, moving slightly, as though trying to pinpoint Jonouchi. This gave a rather shifty impression, and it wasn’t pleasant to have someone not looking at you properly. Yami turned away, saddened by what he could sense. “Hey, no don’t get depressed!” Jonouchi panicked.

“I can help.” Bakura said suddenly as he joined them. “I thought you might be bothered by this. So I went and got these.” Bakura jogged around in front of them. “Hold still a moment Yami.” Bakura instructed. Yami obeyed curiously.

“Bakura, what--” Yami began, but jerked his head back, feeling something brush past his face. There was something resting on the bridge of his nose and the by his ears. It felt like plastic. He reached up to find…

“Sunglasses?” Honda asked as Bakura stepped back, satisfied with his idea.

“Not just any sunglasses.” Bakura replied smiling. “These are reflective sunglasses. Now you can’t see his eyes. Which means he won’t give you the creeps by not being able to actually look at you.” Bakura then turned to Yami. “They look good on you. You should keep them even when you get your sight back”

END FLASHBACK

Yami slipped the shades on, looking at his reflection in a mirror. “Bakura was right.” Yami said conceitedly, with a slight chuckle.

“Yami …” Sugoroku began. He knew he couldn’t convince Yami not to go through with this. “…Be careful”

“I will Grandpa. Don’t worry. He won’t lay a finger on me.” Yami said turning.

“And don’t be late home.” Sugoroku said firmly.

“Alright. I’ll go find Ushio, mind crush him, and then come straight home.” Yami shrugged, before leaving.

---

Yami stood, watching Ushio roll around screaming. “How do you like the darkness Ushio? I’d welcome you to it. But I’ve regained the light, thanks to my friends. You won’t be so lucky. For all you’ve ever done has been push people around. Bullying everyone, even the teachers. No one stood up to you. And you continued your wicked ways, until no one liked you. Now you’re all alone. And the darkness always grips the hearts of those who are alone. You’ll despair long before the sun rises for you. I wonder now, if you can even make it home, without accident. Farewell Ushio. I wouldn’t be you for all the world.” Yami walked away smirking. “It’s a real pity you didn’t learn your lesson the first time. Heh, heh, heh.”

FLASHBACK

“We’ve done the tests sir, but nothing comes up. He’s just a normal kid. Nothing special.” The second man said, while the third man dragged Yami’s semi-conscious form to a cell.

“You must be missing something. Do the tests again.” The first man stated.

“But sir, we’ve done them all five times. He won’t last much longer.” The second man replied.

“I said I don’t care if you destroy him in the process. Do it!” The first man snapped.

“But sir, if we destroy him, all our work will be destroyed. He’s the only surviving specimen. He may not be the one you wanted, but he is the one who survived.” The second man argued.

Yami weakly raised his head. A Wdjat glowing dimly on his forehead. No one noticed. Besides the fact that it was covered by his crown, they were too busy arguing. The third man was distracted. Perfect prey. Yami lowered his head again. “Please.” He whispered to the man. The Wdjat, though no one could see, was glowing more brightly. “Let me go. Set me free.”

“Why don’t we just get rid of him.” The third man asked suddenly. The other two looked at him. “The process worked on him, but no one else. If you want another one sir, maybe we should try find some other method, and get rid of this one.”

“Get rid of him how?” The first man asked.

“Release me.” Yami said quietly, though loud enough to be heard.

“Release you? Where? We can’t do that. You don’t belong here.” The first man replied.

“Have me adopted.” Yami said quietly. “I could belong here.” The Wdjat, though unseen by the scientists, was now burning brightly.

“I’ll make a deal with you. We’ll have you adopted, but you have to adapt. You have to become a part of that family, and not just using them to escape us. You have to go to school, get acceptable grades, no, exceptional grades, and stay out of trouble. But if you fail, we take you back to the lab, and you offer us no resistance. Agreed?”

The Wdjat returned to a faint glow. “Agreed.” Yami replied quietly. The unseen Wdjat disappeared.

“Now, where to send you. … Hm.” The first man wondered.

The Wdjat returned to Yami‘s forehead faintly. “Domino City Japan. Kame Game Store.” The third man mumbled. “Former archaeologist Sugoroku Muto”

“Good idea.” The first man replied, going to the phone. There was a pause. “Hello Mr Muto. I have an offer for you. I’ve been conducting experiments, trying to conquer death. I’ve given life to something that may be of interest to you. A former Pharaoh. … … why, the NAMELESS one of course. Yes. … So, are you interested in giving him a home. … Well, I never expected such positive results. Of course. I will be in contact again. You discuss it with your family.” The scientist hung up and chuckled cruelly.

END FLASHBACK

The Wdjat flashed and Yami leapt to the side as a dart hit where he had been standing a moment before. He had seen it coming before it happened, thanks to the power of the Millennium Necklace. He growled slightly as he turned to face the source. It was the lead scientist. “I’ll say this much in your favour. You’re certainly not stupid.” The man sneered.

“What do you want?” Yami snarled, taking a defensive stance.

“We had an agreement”

“Sorry, but it’s void. You can’t use me as a lab rat. It’s against human rights”

“Human rights only applies to people who exist. You don’t exist if you don’t have any records, 759.”

“My name is Yami Muto. Not 759. I am a person. I have a name. I’m not an object. Go do your sick experiments on yourself.” Yami gasped as a pain struck his back, numbing his senses in moments. He reached at the source instinctively and pulled out a dart. He turned his head to see the second and third man approaching. Of course, they wouldn’t be stupid enough to confront prey on their own. Any animal was dangerous when cornered, and threatened. But they had no idea how dangerous this being was. And Yami had had enough of them. For some time, he had been afraid that they would recapture him. Now the threat of it actually occurring had pushed him past fear. He would dare them to try, and he would destroy them for their efforts, for everything they had done to him. To take revenge, he would embrace the full power of Kul Elna coursing through his entire being, no matter how much he despised it.

But Yami didn’t count on how much the dart had already drained his power.

---

“How are you feeling my Pharaoh?” A familiar voice asked in the distance. Yami dragged his eyes open, wearily and blinked at the blurred figure in front of him. Very light coloured hair. Yami was pretty dazed at the moment, and couldn’t fit the details right away. “I think he’s closer to being fully conscious, sister.” The figure said to someone behind them.

“Marik?” Yami asked, frowning slightly. “Is that you?”

“He’s awake.” A woman said nearby.

“Ishizu…?” Yami tired to sit up, but fell back. “What happened?”

“You were attacked my Pharaoh.” Ishizu said quietly as she knelt beside him. “The same force that captured your soul, and tore you from the sacred afterlife, sought to recapture you. You used the last of your power to hold them back, but one got away before you could defeat him. The other two were not so lucky, and they lie with their minds shattered. As for the third. He has already been taken care of, my Pharaoh.”

Yami blinked as he allowed this new information to sink in. “You…” He began.

“Rishid took care of him, my Pharaoh.” Marik said calmly. “Now that we know you’re well, it’s time we got you home. Yugi and his family must be worried”

Yami tried and failed to sit up again. “Fucking--” He broke off and took a few breaths. He would not lose his temper. Justice had been done. Instead, he sought to distract his companions, to buy more time so he could muster the strength to stand. Why did he feel so drained? “Wait, you came here? Specifically to rescue me? How did you find me”

“The Shadow Magic can still be felt by those who could sense it. We only had to track down your power, and trace it to the source. Though you haven’t been using it that much, and it was difficult to begin with. We sensed it when you were in America. We tried to rescue you then, but we failed, as it was heavily guarded. We tried to rescue your mummy when they tried to take it. But we were too late.” Marik’s shoulders drooped and he hung his head. “I’m sorry my friend.”

“It’s … alright.” Yami replied quietly. “I thought I was alone. But you came. That’s what matters.”

“We failed.” Marik replied.

Yami turned his head and looked at the mindless, soulless scientists. They were nothing but shells now. “That doesn’t look like failure to me.” Yami replied, looking at the one Rishid had taken care of.

“But they--” Marik began. He stopped when Yami shook his head, trying and failing again to get up. Marik grinned slightly. “Want a hand?” He asked.

“Not really.” Yami replied. Marik frowned. “But I don’t have much choice.” Yami said smirking, and taking Marik’s outstretched hand, so the blond Egyptian could help him to his feet. Marik took Yami’s arm and held it around his own shoulder and neck, to take the weight. “You know, I don’t think I’ll ever be rid of the way those men have haunted me. But with my friends, I think I can deal with it. In more ways than one.”

“Isn’t that what friends are for? To take some of the burden?” Marik asked.

“You’re exactly right. So I suppose I should drop my defence a little.” Yami decided.

---

Yami soon became his old self again, cocky, confident, and determined. His friends had not only helped him endure the haunting memory of his ordeal, but also helped him to heal, as true friends would. And a whole new life began for the former Pharaoh, this time truly reborn, as he was truly free.

And unbeknownst to Atemu, a figure watched him from the afterlife, filled with pride.

His loving, devoted father, who wanted nothing more than his sons safety and well-being.

---

“Yami, you still owe me that rematch.” Kaiba said to Yami in the street, as he prepared his Duel Disk and released the holographic projectors.

“Well, let’s not postpone it any longer.” Yami replied doing the same.

As one, they slotted their decks into their duel disks as a counter lit up and read 4000. “Let’s duel!” They declared in unison.

Akhenamkhanen smiled. Some things never changed.

Owári

---

FOOTNOTE: That’s it. Nayámasù means Haunted in Japanese. It’s wrapped up people. I saw the episode where Yami is fighting Bakura in the Memory World, the episode where Yami remembers his past. I was so touched at how devoted the man was to his son, that I had to put him in here. First he gave his life to save Atemu from the wrath of the Gods, then his very soul to protect Atemu from the angry spirits of Kul Elna. And as I watched, feeling my eyes burning, one thought went through my mind. “Wow, that’s devotion.” And the character has earned a great deal of respect from me.

So this is the 3rd part in my trilogy of darkness. Hope you enjoyed it.

YugiTheDarkPharaoh