Trial to the Afterlife Ch 1

A/N: This is a story written by us! For once, we wanted to write a story on how the yamis gained their bodies and became able to stay on Earth with their hikaris! So, technically, this is how it happened, in my story view, of course XD If you don't like/adore aimless fluff, some funny stuff occuring, as well as some wise-crack arguments from Yami and Bakura about quite literally nothing at all... Then this isn't your fic! Please read on if you'll enjoy!

Chapter One: Let the Trial Begin!</i></u>

Crimson snow fell around the aimless black abyss, vanishing into the chasm below.

The red snow landed around the glass container, like a large cylander with a piece of round glass in the center, seperating it. The bottom and top of the class had metal with great designs, like celtic crosses.

Not a drop of snow landed in the center of the glass, leaving it totally dry and free as it floated in the middle, as if held by invisible strings.

Two hands reached toward one another, Yugi's fingers touching the glass that seperated him from Yami. Yami's hand reached forward until he touched Yugi's hand, the thin glass seperating them.

Yami, clothed in his Pharaoh clothing, the cape flowing out behind him, leaned forward and narrowed his eyes at the glass. He may have been dressed like a Pharaoh, but his skin was still pale, like Yugi's was.

Yugi was kneeling on the other side of the glass, dressed up in a thin-strapped top that had golden designs all over it. The top was long, coming to his thighs, before it stopped, revealing Yugi's long legs. Around his shoulders was a red cape.

Yugi whimpered as tears fell from his eyes and splattered onto the clear ground before him. Yami narrowed his eyes, a look of hurt passing over him before he growled at the glass.

"Dammit!" he shouted, pounding his fists against the glass, trying to break over to the other star-haired boy. His fists pounded against the glass until they were bloody. Yugi sobbed.

"Yami..." he whispered, crying again. Yami longed to comfort the boy, but all he could do was lean against the thin glass, Yugi pressing his cheek against the clear wall, as if he and Yami were touching.

Yami felt Bakura's spirit move from behind him, even if he knew he couldn't see. Yugi knew that Ryou's spirit was behind him as well, wanting to be closer to the former thief king.

The glass, their enemy, keeping them from contact.

Yugi gasped as he felt something move inside his body, near his back, and the pure white wings unfurled, large white feathers floating around and to the bottom of the case. Ryou's soul vanished back within Yugi, trying to give him strength to fight it.

It was no use.

Yugi was too weak by this point.

Yami gasped in horror, feeling Bakura's soul merge with his soul, giving him power he didn't have before. The star-haired yami slammed his fists against the glass, determined to break it open, even if his fists were beaten bloody.

He had to save Yugi!

He just had to!

Yugi's cape flew above the wings, and Yugi struggled to stay where he was, keeping his hands against the glass. Yami gasped as Yugi was yanked backward.

His hands coming free of the glass wall.

Yugi cried out as he was drawn into the air, some dark force taking him away from his precious other self. Yami slammed his fists against the wall, but all he could do was attempt.

Never succeed.

He couldn't manage to do anything.

Yugi was too far gone.

All Yami could do was shout out the name of his lover, as if by some miracle, and the power of Ra and Bakura guiding him, that it would bring Yugi back to his embrace. His fear became a reality.

Yugi wasn't coming back.

"YUGI!!!!!!!"

PUZZLESHIPPING 4 EVER

Currently Down in the Tomb of the Afterlife Where the Duel of Rite is Being Held...

"Ready for this?"

"You know that I am, Mou Hitori no Boku! Bring it!"

"Very well, then! Make your move!" Yami shouted from his side of the Duel area. Yugi nodded hesitantly and slowly drew his card from his deck, looking down at his hand.

He had enough cards, plus the one on the field, and he knew he could win.

The question was... Did Yugi want to win?

'How did this happen?' Yugi thought, looking at his hand, keeping silent. He didn't want to think back on how he and Yami had come to the end of this duel, but he knew that he had to remember.

'Yami has to pass into the afterlife. I can't change that... But, still, I...' the star-haired hikari closed his eyes and returned his attention to the Duel of Rite that he and Yami were currently in.

"Silent Magician! Attack Yami!" Yugi shouted, pointing at his opponent. His mind flashed with sorrow. He didn't want to see Yami vanish. He didn't want their feelings to end.

But he had no choice.

'All I can do is end it quickly...' he thought. Yami sighed and stared at the oncoming attack.

'Aibou, your plan was nearly perfect. But you made a fatal flaw. You gave me a card that is going to take you down. I'm so sorry, my aibou,' the yami thought before preparing his attack.

Meanwhile, the gang watched with interest. Marik was right beside Malik, watching in his ghostly form. Jonouchi was clinging to Kaiba, not sure who to root for, and Otogi was latched around Honda, Mokuba next to them.

Anzu looked over to Isis, standing next to her were Bakura and Ryou. Ryou looked over to Bakura, who was transfixed on the duel.

/Yami, who is going to win this?/ Ryou called via mindlink. Bakura shook his head.

/Not sure, Yadonushi. I have... a slight idea./ he said back, looking at the duel again. He knew what Yami was going to pull. He knew what was coming next. There was no avoiding it.

'Do it, Pharaoh. Proove to your aibou what you can do...' the former thief thought.

Yami looked down at the card he had placed on the field, and he instantly knew what he had to do. He didn't want to, but he knew it had to come down to it in the end. It had to happen eventually.

"Return to life! Slifer, the Sky Dragon! I call you from the grave to come to my aid!" Yami yelled. The giant red dragon appeared and roared. Yugi looked it on with a blank expression.

Yami was shocked. 'Aibou is... not afraid...' he thought, worry filling his eyes.

Yugi smiled slightly. He knew he had to. There wasn't another way. "Sorry, Mou Hitori no Boku. But by... sending that card to the gold seal, I can banish it from use. In short..."

"Slifer dies!!"

Yami gasped as the giant dragon started vanishing into thin air, sending waves of smoke around. Yugi stood in the smoke like an angel of death, no emotion visible on his face. Yami smiled.

'You've passed me... Aibou,' he thought. He heard the gasps and murmurs from his friends, but he didn't care. All that mattered was his partner, who had gone silent, once again.

Yugi kept his head lowered, and he shuddered slightly. Yami flashed him a reassuring grin.

'Strike the final blow, my aibou. Please, my koi, for me, take me down...' the yami thought. Yugi, seeming to understand, lifted his head, tears coming from his eyes, and he grit his teeth.

"SILENT MAGICIAN! ATTACK YAMI, NOW!!!" he shouted, making everyone jump. The silent magician raged forward and attacked Yami, cutting his life points down to zero before she vanished.

Meaning that Yugi had won.

/He did it, Yami.../ Ryou said to his yami. Bakura nodded before frowning.

/Then why... does Yugi-sama look so upset?/ he questioned. Ryou looked over and saw Yugi crumple to his knees, sobbing his eyes out into his hands. Yami smiled and walked slowly over to him.

"You beat me, Aibou..." he said with a grin.

Yugi choked out a sob. How could Yami sound so calm about this? Yami kneeled by Yugi and placed a hand on his shoulder, frowning when Yugi flinched under his touch.

'Aibou, do you hate me?' "Stand up. The winner shouldn't be on his knees. If I were you, I wouldn't cry, my aibou..." the yami whispered. Yugi let loose a sob and looked up to his other self.

"I forgot what winning would mean... I'm too weak. I wanted to be strong like you, to stay with you, but now... I can't..." the hikari whispered, crying harder now.

Yami smiled and then gripped Yugi's shoulders roughly. "You are not weak!" he called. Yugi gasped and looked up at his yami.

"Y-Yami?" he whispered.

"You've always had strength to beat me. You know it. I learned about kindness from you. My precious aibou..." the star-haired pharaoh said. Yugi whimpered and slowly allowed himself to rise to his feet.

"You showed me so much, Aibou. You aren't weak..." Yami whispered. Yugi nodded slowly.

"Mou Hitori no Boku..." he breathed, but Yami stopped him.

"No, Yugi. I am not the 'other you' anymore. You're no one else but you, and I am no one else but me. That's how it was, and will be," he said gently. Yugi frowned but forced himself to smile.

"Y-yeah..." he sobbed. Yami smiled before turning to the gang.

"My friends, thanks for everything that you've done. I really wished I could have stayed. But the Gods... won't allow that," the star-haired yami whispered before turning to Yugi.

"Yugi, no matter what, I want you to remember. I love you. Always and forever," he breathed. Yugi gasped and sobbed. He couldn't let Yami say good bye like this. He couldn't just allow it.

All he could do was nod, however.

Yami turned to the doors to the Afterlife. he then turned to his friends and flashed then a sad grin. "Farewell," he whispered before starting to step forward.

Before he did, however, the doors slid open, and a white light spilled out.

"No... This is not over yet."

Yami gasped as a new voice beamed out. He glanced towards the doors, and was shocked to see someone standing before the doorway, peering back at him with a kind smile.

The person was elegant and tall, dressed in golden egyptian clothing. His long hair was held up in a golden crown, and his red eyes peered out at his pharaoh with a knowing intelligance.

Isis was the only one able to speak in his prescence.

"T-the God of Ra..."

PUZZLESHIPPING 4 EVER

Yami trembled and instantly bowed, sinking to his knees. He was in the prescence of a god, the highest one in the egyptian gods, and he had to treat him as such. It was what he grew to believe in.

Ra smiled warmly and kindly.

"Stand, my Pharaoh. You should not feel compelled to kneel before me, though I do take gratitude in your respect towards the gods," he said in a silky smooth voice. Yami glanced up and trembled.

"F-forgive me, Ra. I was just... Your prescence here is.." Ra laughed calmly, and Yami instantly quieted. The god looked around at Yami's friends, seeing them all bowing. He then turned to Yami.

The pharaoh knew that something was up, since Ra was giving him a strange look. "Yami no Yugi, no, Pharaoh Atemu. You're friends have brought you new memories, have they not?"

"T-they have."

"Do you love the people of Ancient Egypt?"

"I-I do! With everything I have!"

"And the people of the modern era?"

"Y-yes..."

"And what of your aibou? Yugi Mouto, I believe he was named. What do you feel for him?"

"...."

Yami remained silent. He didn't know what to say. If he told Ra the truth, would it affect how he was seen in the god's eyes? Or would Ra be compelled to destroy Yugi so that Yami could pass into the afterlife?

Yami prayed for a third option.

"M-my Ra, I-I do love my aibou. So much more than I have ever loved anything else," the star-haired yami confessed. Ra smiled before frowning. That gave Yami a horrible feeling inside his heart.

"My Pharaoh, you realize that, under normal circumstances, someone from your era can not be with someone of the present," he said. Yami frowned, his heart breaking in half.

Ra grinned.

"However...." the word brought hope to Yami's crimson eyes. "Perhaps, I can do something for the both of you..."

The words were spoken in such a manor that Yami shuddered. Ra's voice had gone from sweet and kind to sultry and wicked, like he was hiding a dirty little secret. Yami was afraid. Not for himself, but for Yugi.

Suddenly, Yami heard a loud yell echo through the walls, and he realized that it was Yugi's. The pharaoh turned to see what was happening to his aibou, but he felt a horrid pain, unlike any other, stabbing through him.

"A-AAAGH!!!" Yami shouted, sinking to his knees. He weakly glanced over to see Yugi in the same hunched position, hugging his body. He was whimpering and sobbing from pain.

"Y-Yugi!" Jonouchi shouted, but Kaiba held him close. Keeping Jonouchi from getting in contact with his best friend.

Yugi and Yami were suddenly surrounded by a white light, and they both felt themselves get drawn into the light before they vanished from the sight of their friends, leaving Ra standing before everyone, still bathed in the glow.

Anzu was the first to shout.

"Atemu! Yugi!!" she hollered, looking around for them. Mokuba gasped and looked up at Ra, who was giving the gang a gentle smile. Jonouchi growled and made a lunge for the god.

"Bastard! Who the Hell do you think you are!?" he shouted, but Malik instantly shushed him.

"Jou! That's a god you're speaking to!" he scolded. Jonouchi flipped him off and struggled against Kaiba's impossibly strong grip.

"Screw that! Answer me, Ra! What did you do to my friends!?" the blonde shouted. Ra, despite being so disrespected, kept him big grin and held out his hand, where two little lights, like mini stars, were floating.

"They are here. With me," he said. Isis nodded in understanding.

"The Trial. That's what you're planning," she whispered. Ra nodded, and Jonouchi looked over to Isis.

"Trial?" Honda asked, clutching Otogi closer to his body.

"What is that, sister?" Malik asked. Marik gripped Malik around the waist and drew him close to his body, glaring over in Ra's direction, giving him a warning not to touch Malik or else.

Isis sighed and flashed her brother a smile. "The Trial, also known by its full name as the Trial of the Afterlife, is where two souls enter the worst trials imaginable. If they manage to beat them, their wish is granted."

"Wish?" Bakura asked. Ra nodded.

"Yes. Atemu wishes to have a body and stay with Yugi. Yugi wishes for Atemu to stay with him. Their wish will be tested in the Trial," the god explained. Ryou shuddered.

"Tested?"" he questioned. Ra nodded.

"Yes. They will pass many tests, with assistance if at all possible. If they succeed in them all, their wish will be granted," he said. Ryou nodded and then took Bakura's hand.

"Then we will be their assistance," he said. Bakura nodded and stood by his aibou.

Ra smiled before frowning down at the both of them.

"To become the assistance, the bodies of the two who help them must become the stage of the trial," Ra explained. Bakura looked confused, so Ra thought of another way to say it so the thief would understand.

"I will shatter your and Ryou's bodies, turning them into something else, and then your spirits will guide them," he said. Ryou gulped.

"S-shatter our bodies?" he asked. Bakura growled.

"Then what will happen to us?" he asked. Ra smiled.

"I was hoping you'd ask. If you help them, when they pass their tests, even if they fail, your bodies will revert to normal. And, you'll get your wishes to stay together, too," he confessed.

Bakura thought it over before grinning widely. Ryou swa his look and smiled.

"We aren't afraid," he said with a wink. Malik wanted to stop them, but knew it was useless. Ryou and Bakura were unstoppable once they came to a descision and agreed with it.

Ra smiled before pointing the area, commanding that they stood upon it. Ryou and Bakura both went to the center of the place where Yugi and Yami had dueled, and did as Ra instructed.

Naming themselves.

"In the name of the sun god Ra, I, Bakura Necrophades Touzoku, come before you to be broken into the stage for the Trials of the Afterlife," the yami of the Sennen Ring said. Ryou was next.

"In the name of the god Horus, I, Ryou Noah Bakura, come before you to be broken into the stage for the Trials of the Afterlife," he shouted. The doors rumbled, and Ra shouted next.

"Speak the name of those you wish to guide!" he shouted. Bakura and Ryou snapped their eyes open.

"Yami Sennen/Pharaoh Atemu!" Bakura hollered.

"Yugi Dante Mouto!" Ryou hollered at the gates as they rumbled with light. Ra lifted his staff in the air, the light from the orb in the center glowing brightly with power and the sun.

"ADMITTED!!" he bellowed.

Bakura gasped as he felt himself burning like flames, and he tried to shout, but his voice wasn't heard. He felt himself lifting into the air, and he threw his head back as the flames grew inside him.

The former thief glanced over and saw Ryou levitating as well, but his look didn't portray fear or even death. It resonated peace and calmingness, despite the shocking thing that was happening to him.

He was shattering apart, like a wave, still being connected to his body. His body altered and shifted like it was made of water, becoming wisps and altering around into a round creation.

Bakura felt the same thing happening, and the flames became pleasurable. He moaned in pleasure as the feeling swelled over him, and suddenly, he was rushing towards a black abyss. It opened and swallowed him, the lights blinding.

The gang covered their eyes, not seeing the ghastly transformation that their two silverette friends were going through. All they saw was the brightest lights ever, and then they vanished.

Leaving behind a small hourglass.

Malik gasped and looked it over. The hourglass didn't hold any sand, and the bottom of it was made of dark metal, with rose designs and beautiful hyrogliphics. The top of it was covered by lighter metal with the same designs.

After silence, the gang started shouting.

"B-Bakura!?"

"R-Ryou-kun! Where'd you guys go!?"

"What is that... thing?"

"That thing," Ra stated, picking up the hourglass and smiling down at it. "Is what your two friends, Bakura and Ryou, have become," he said, placing the two lights that were Yami and Yugi so they fused with the hourglass.

One light, the darker one, floated on the darker side of the hourglass, the bottom, and the crimson light floated on the lighter half, near the top. Ra smiled and placed the hourglass onto the ground before pointing to it.

"While it looks small, your four friends have been cast into a dimension filled with trials. When they finish, they will revert to normal," Ra said before turning to the gang and smiling.

"I'll be watching over them. Have faith and pray," he said before vanishing into thin air.

Leaving the gang with the hourglass.

Kaiba looked at the hourglass and then over to his friends, who were watching it with interest and shock. Anzu was trmebling, Otogi was eyeing it with interest, and poor little Mokuba was looking around in horror.

"W-what do we do now?"

"Dammit! Isn't there any way to help them besides standing here!?"

"I-I don't think there is, Honda-koi."

"Shit!"

"Yugi... Yami... Bakura... Ryou...."

"What can we do, Marik?"

"I don't know, Makky..."

"We do nothing."

Everyone gasped in shock and turned to Kaiba, who was now kneeling before the hourglass. He scooped it into his hands and held it before the gang, eyes closed in wisdom. Jonouchi watched in shock.

"D-Dragon..." he whispered. Kaiba looked at the gang.

"Ra said that only those in there can assist. We're out here, so we can't do anything to help them," he said before setting the hourglass on a stone table before stepping back and holding Jonouchi in his arms.

"All we can do is sit..." Kaiba looked at the hourglass and then to the doors to the afterlife before closing his eyes.

"And pray."