Yu-Gi-Oh! Fan Fiction ❯ Shadowy Links to the Past ❯ Surprises in the Present ( Chapter 14 )

Solo_girl: Thanks again for the review!

Calupe: Thanks for reading!

Disclaimer: No, I don't own Yugioh.

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Chapter 14: Surprises in the Present

Yugi slowly blinked his eyes open, shaking his head to focus his thoughts. He was still rather blown away by what he saw. He couldn't shake off the horrible feeling he had gotten in his gut as he watched Yami die. And Sekhmet. She had died as well, stabbed once again in the back by the High Priest. Both of them had died to save the world. Both had made the absolute sacrifice. And now it appears they have to save the world again. Well, this time things will be different, Yugi promised himself. This time, they have him and his friends to help. They won't have to save the world alone. They won't have to die…

Yugi felt a gently hand on his knee, and he snapped himself out of his thoughts. His gaze slowly went from the hand, up the arm, and to the concerned face of Yami. "Yugi, are you alright? You still look rather…rattled."

"Yeah Yami, I'm fine," Yugi said reassuringly. "I just-" Wait a minute, he suddenly thought. I can *feel* his touch… Yugi's mouth dropped open as he realized this, staring at Yami with widened, surprised eyes.

"What is it, Yugi? Is something wrong" Yami hadn't realized yet.

"I-I c-can feel you, Yami…" Yugi said in an amazed voice. "I can feel your touch!"

Yami's hand dropped from Yugi's knee, his crimson eyes glancing down at his own body. He slowly raised his hand in front of his face. He was solid! He was actually solid! He was also speechless.

Amethyst eyes met crimson briefly, before Yugi lit up in a huge smile as he bounded over to tackle Yami in a hug. He didn't even notice the small quartz stone that he had knocked over. "This is incredible!" Yugi shouted excitedly. "Ishizu! Dwenny! Yami is solid now! He has a real bo-" Yugi stopped himself abruptly, finally noticing that Ishizu wasn't listening. She was staring straight ahead, her eyes clouded with concern, pondering. Yugi let go of Yami as he followed Ishizu's gaze. He heard a gasp from Yami as he saw that it was Dwenny. She was lying on her back, eyes closed. Yugi reached his hand out slowly, intending to move closer so he could try to find a pulse, but suddenly Dwenny's eyes snapped open. Startled, Yugi backed away a little as Dwenny quickly sat up. She looked around the room frantically, her emerald eyes filled with confusion…and fear. She was completely disoriented it seemed. "Where am I?" she asked in small voice. "What has happened?"

Yugi scooted a little closer to her. "Dwenny, don't you remember? You're at my house." He cocked his head to the side a little, wondering what the heck was wrong with her. Maybe she was disoriented from living the past. It must have been really vivid for her. But Yami seemed fine.

The girl in front of him shook her head. "Who is this Dwenny? I am called-"

"Sekhmet."

Yugi heard Yami's soft, deep voice behind him. He turned back toward him.

The girl looked past Yugi, her emerald eyes widening when she saw Yami. "Yami?" she whispered softly. "Are you truly here, my Pharaoh? Or are my eyes playing trick on me?" She smiled, her eyes shining with joy.

A current of emotions flooded through Yami, not allowing him to speak. Shock. Disbelief. Confusion. Uncertainty. Love. Yes, even amidst all those negative feelings he was having, he still felt a great love for the girl before him. The same love he had felt for her three millennia ago. But it was just too much information for him to process all at once: his ancient past, his new body, his love here with him in the present time…His mind couldn't sort through it all. So he couldn't say a word.

Sekhmet took Yami's silence the wrong way. Perhaps he was not as happy to see her as she was to see him. Perhaps, after all this time, he no longer loved her. Fighting back tears, she looked at the boy who had called her "Dwenny". He had a remarkable resemblance to the Pharaoh; nearly identical, save for the fewer blonde streaks in his hair, and the soft, round amethyst eyes. Sekhmet sensed a hidden strength beneath those innocent-looking eyes of his. Smiling faintly, she asked in a gentle voice, "What's your name, little one?"

Yugi sat there staring, his mind trying to figure out what just happened here. Yami had a body, and Sekhmet was here, not Dwenny. He was confused beyond measure.

"His name is Yugi. He is the one who freed the Pharaoh from the Millennium

Puzzle."

All turned to stare at Ishizu, who had spoken at last. She also answered the unspoken question from Sekhmet. "And I am Ishizu. A friend."

Sekhmet shook her head sadly. "I don't understand. What do you mean by "freed" the Pharaoh?"

"My soul has been trapped in the Millennium Puzzle for over three millennia now. Yugi freed me by solving the Puzzle." Yami had finally found his voice.

"What?" Sekhmet asked softly. "Trapped? But how?"

"By your spell." It was Ishizu speaking again. She seemed to be the only one able to piece together everything. "It seems that the spell not only used Yami's sacrifice to seal the Shadow powers, but it also imprisoned his soul within the Puzzle."

Sekhmet lowered her head. "I never knew…"she whispered, her voice barely audible. When she looked back up, there were tears glistening in her eyes. "Oh Yami, I'm so, so sorry. I wouldn't blame you if you never wanted to see me again." Her voice shook with emotion.

Yami moved over to where she was sitting, gathered her in to his arms, and breathed in her familiar scent. "Quite the contrary. I never want to lose sight of you again…my love."

Sekhmet buried her face into his shoulder. "I've missed you so much, beloved," she said, her voice muffled against his shoulder.

Yami looked down at her sadly, wishing he could reply the same. But he could not lie to her- he had not missed her, simply because he had not remembered her. But how could he possibly tell his love that he did not remember her?

"Yami can't…remember his past," Yugi said quietly. He looked at Yami with a small smile.

Yami returned the smile gratefully. Yugi always seemed to know what to say, and when to say it. One of his many admirable traits.

Sekhmet lifted her head. "Is that true?" she asked, sadness filling her eyes. It appeared that she had caused even more damage to her beloved.

Yami nodded. "But do not fret over it, my love. It's all in the past. You couldn't have known."

"Thank you. You've always been so understanding, and forgiving, of mistakes."

"Only for you…" Yami murmured. He could not forgive the High Priest for what he had done.

"Ishizu," Yugi asked, "how is this possible? What happened here?"

Ishizu sighed. "It seems that Fate wants Sekhmet to help the Pharaoh once more. Or perhaps to give them a second chance together." She paused. "Also, this could be the magick of Dwenny. Subconsciously, she may have cast a spell to bring Yami and Sekhmet together in this time."

"So is Dwenny…gone then?" Yugi asked.

"Yes." Sekhmet answered before Ishizu could. "But not entirely. Her magick remains in this world…in me."

Yugi started to tear up. Dwenny had been his friend…kinda. And now she was gone. He had never lost a friend before, certainly not like this. Yugi felt a gentle hand on his shoulder. Through his tear-strained vision, he saw a concerned Sekhmet. "Wipe away your tears, little one," she said gently. "If this is indeed by Dwenny's magick, then she would have wanted it this way."

Yugi nodded, then looked at Yami curiously. "Yami, how did you know she was Sekhmet, and not Dwenny?"

Yami smiled. "Her eyes." He and Sekhmet shared a look of deep understanding, before Sekhmet leaned in and pressed her lips against his. This caught Yami completely by surprise, but he recovered quickly, leaning in as well, long-forgotten passion and desire fueling the kiss from both sides.

A quick clearing of the throat caused them to just apart, both a bit embarrassed. They normally didn't kiss like that in front of others. Composing themselves, they looked over to Ishizu, who now had something in her hands, and was standing. "Sorceress, I believe this belongs to you. It was found near the Pharaoh's tomb long ago by my family. We've been trying to figure out who it belonged to since. And now we have our answer." She held out the object towards Sekhmet.

Sekhmet disentangled herself from Yami's embrace as they both stood. Yugi got up as well. She walked over to Ishizu, who handed the object to her immediately. Sekhmet slowly examined the object, her fingers running lightly over the smooth golden band first, then to the amulet dangling from its center. She traced a finger slowly around the inverted horseshoe, then over the smooth dark green stone in its center. Even after all this time, it still looked as it did when she had first crafted it. The magicks used to craft it preserved and protected it all these years. Looking up, she nodded her thanks to Ishizu with a small smile.

Reaching up with both hands, Sekhmet gently removed Dwenny's winged unicorn pendant and band, and replaced it with her own. Looking at the pendant in her hand, she mentally thanked Dwenny for giving her and Yami another chance. It was because of her that they were reunited together at last. She placed the pendent in her jacket pocket as Yami came to stand by her side. He wrapped an arm around her shoulder before turning towards Ishizu. "Do you still believe that the past is repeating itself?"

Ishizu frowned, considering her answer. "I will use my Millennium Necklace to gaze into the near future. With these new factors, the future may very well have changed, and-"

"Don't bother." Ishizu was interrupted by Sekhmet. After receiving questioning glances from Yugi, Yami, and Ishizu, she continued. "The past will not repeat itself, because the elements involved are different this time."

"What do you mean, Sekhmet?" Yugi asked, unsure of her choice of words.

"In Egypt, there was only one evil force threatening: the High Priest and his followers. Here, I sense many evil forces about." She closed her eyes briefly, then opened them. "Yes…as many as three different forces. Also, in Egypt, it was only Yami and myself. Here, we have more allies." She smiled at Yugi, with a curt nod. "So you see, everything is different this time; therefore, the future cannot be predicted by the past alone."

"Even with all these new "elements", as you put it, Sorceress, my Necklace can still predict the future-"

Sekhmet cut Ishizu off again with a wave of her hand. "You did not predict my coming here, now did you?"

The holder of the Millennium Necklace shook her head.

"Then your Necklace, as powerful as it is, cannot predict everything. Therefore, it would be best if we took things as they come."

Ishizu nodded in agreement. "Very well then. But know this: one of the evils that you sense is a man who desired the Pharaoh's powers for himself. However, he does have good in him, and for it to shine, he must fail in his quest to obtain the Pharaoh's powers. And only the true Pharaoh can stop him." She looked at Yami.

"Marik…" Yugi muttered, remembering Dwenny's conversation with him through the Rare Hunter. "He's the one after Yami's powers."

"Yes," Ishizu said. "He wields the Millennium Rod, and can control minds."

"We can handle him," Sekhmet stated coolly. "Thank you for all of your help, Ishizu. It is much appreciated." She bowed her head towards Ishizu in respect.

"Yes, thank you for all that you have done. Without you, I may have never discovered my past…and given a second chance with Sekhmet." Yami bowed his head as well.

Ishizu smiled as she bowed low to the Pharaoh. "My Pharaoh, I am always willing to offer my help. I bid you good luck in fulfilling your destiny, and may the gods smile upon you." She straightened, smiled, then turned and left the room.

Yami sighed as he watched her leave. He had finally figured out why he was sent to Yugi: the world was in danger again, and it was his destiny to save it. And Yugi was meant to help him. Yami sighed again as he glanced at his love. She was staring intently out the window, her face grim. She had said there were three evil forces. Marik was one. They needed to find out the other two, and soon. He had a feeling things were going to get bad…

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Ack…I think I totally screwed up this chapter. Definitely didn't go as I planned. But I'm too lazy to re-write it, so…sorry about that. I'll try to do better in the next chapter. I hope I didn't go too far with the whole Yami-has-a-body-thing. It's gonna play a big part later on. And I realize that Sekhmet probably only speak ancient Egyptian, but ack, that's way to complicated for my mind to put in this story. So she's just gonna already know English, k? (We'll say Dwenny left her with that knowledge… ;) ) But eh…moving on. Next chapter, umm…Yugi explains the situation to his friends. A few loose ends from this chapter will probably be tied up (I hope). Then, later that night, Sekhmet goes out alone, and meets an old "friend" of Dwenny's…Sorry again about the lackluster chapter, but I hope you still review. Thanks a bunch! :)