NOTE: I do not own Evanescence’s “Bring Me To Life.”

** Parts of Marik’s chant come from book 2 and book 185 of ‘The Book of the Dead.’

lost light: They save Bakura in this chappie. As far as the mummy, they should have destroyed it, but, they had to bring back Yami and Bakura together. It wouldn’t work any other way.

anubiset: I love Asher. I’ll try to fit him in more. You have chibis? Aww…Chibi Anubisets!!!!!!!!!! *hugs them*

Lady Elfskye: Yugi won’t put up with Yami much longer. Guaranteed.

Valea: Aten moments are always cute! He’s just a cute Chibi Marik.

Broken Time: I couldn’t leave Bakura dead, could I? I need him!

Shadow Mistress: They have to bring Yami back. Otherwise I have no sequel and stories after this. Besides, you do want a sequel right???????????? *hugs*

Mariku182: Your reviews are not nonsense. Picture? Use a crusader picture or a soldier….or what about a suit of armor? Or an armored helmet?

Sakiyama: They will perform the ritual here.

Liann: Nothing changes with Yami, but Yugi is getting to the breaking point within the next two chapters.

Shadow of Light: No I haven’t seen the movie yet. Aten’s faith in the gods never wavers. That is what carries him through his whole life.

Jupitor Knight: Yes, Hayden’s uncle is in the sequel.

Bring Me To Life

Ryou and Isis worked on collecting Bakura’s bones. Isis and Ryou struggled to connect bone to bone and fit the broken pieces together like a puzzle.

Ryou put his hand on Bakura’s jawbone and traced it with his thumb. “I’ll get you back, baby.”

Isis fastened a piece of bone onto a broken rib. “Whomever made these injuries was careful to make sure he did his job right.”

Ryou sifted through Bakura’s finger bones and tried to align them according to an anatomy book. Some of the finger bones appeared broken, as if a great weight had been placed on them.

Ryou blinked. “I had no idea that Bakura was put through so much before he died. I know he went through torture at the hands of Anubis and Yami, but I didn’t know his injuries were this extensive.”

Isis counted the vertebrae in Bakura’s back. All of the vertebrae, broken or intact, were present.

“When Bakura comes back from the underworld, he’s going to feel all of these injuries, Ryou. It won’t be until he can get into the Ring that he will heal quickly. Do not be afraid of what you may see or hear. It will be frightening.”

Ryou looked up at Isis. “He’ll feel these broken bones?”

The woman nodded. “He’s returning to his mortal body. He’s going to feel pain…the pain he felt before his moment of mortal death.”

Ryou looked over at Isis. “What about food and water?”

Isis blinked. “Bakura has to grow new internal organs, Ryou. He will have to grow a new heart, new lungs, a new stomach. He will be hollow inside.”

Ryou looked down at the bones in his hand. “He has to grow everything new?”

Isis nodded. “Yes. So, do not expect too much intimate relations at first, Ryou. His energy is going to go towards growing new organs.”

The white-haired man couldn’t help but blush. “Isis, did you have to mention that?”

Isis put Bakura’s femur below his pelvis on the table. “Ryou, you don’t need to be embarrassed.”

Ryou put the finger bones in order. “I really miss him, Isis. Aria’s feeling his absence worse now. She misses her daddy.”

Malik entered the room with a burlap bag. “I found Shaddi! He gave me his Items! He said he would pick them up tomorrow.”

“Is Yugi on his way?”

“Donny left to go get Yugi. He’ll be back by tonight. He left really early this morning, so Jay told me.”

“Seto told Yugi to bring the Millennium Eye with him. It’s still in your house, Ryou?”

Ryou nodded. “Yugi knows where to find it.”

Ryou gripped the Millennium Ring around his neck. “I hope this works.”

***************************

Aten clutched onto Ryou’s jeans. “Tan I go, mommy? I really wan to go!”

Ryou picked up the little boy. “Aten, you can’t go, baby. I don’t know what is going to happen at the temple when we bring Yami and Daddy Bakura back. You’re safer here with Jay and Karl.”

Donny turned to the couple. “Keep the fooling around to a minimum around the kids, you two. None of what you were doing last night.”

Karl and Jay raised their eyebrows. “We know better than to do anything in front of kids. We’re not perverts, you know.”

Aria gripped Seto’s legs and wrapped her legs around him, connecting to him. “Don’t go, Unkie Seto! Take me with you!”

“Aria, I can’t. I’ll tell you what, princess. Why don’t you get Jay and Karl to have some hot water and soup ready for when we return with your daddy? I’m sure your daddy may want something.”

Isis turned to Seto. “Kaiba, he will not be able to drink or eat.”

“I know, but this will distract the kids. We have to give them something to do to distract them.”

Aria disconnected herself from Seto. She sighed. “Okay, Unkie Seto.”

Jaimen wrapped his arms around Seto. “Daddy, promise me that you will come back!”

Seto nodded. “I will, son. I promise that I’ll be back.”

Seto kissed Jaimen, Hayden, Aten, and Aria. Jaimen and Aria watched Seto leave sadly.

Aten rubbed his eye as Ryou left. His bottom lip trembled. “Mommy….”

******************************

Isis and Ryou assembled Bakura’s bones on the altar beside Yami’s mummy. They made certain that all the bones were intact.

Ryou looked over his yami’s bones. His hand cupped the top of Bakura’s skull. “We’ll be together soon, baby.” Ryou closed his eyes and kissed the cheekbone of the skeleton.

Marik stood at the altar and looked down at the mummy of the pharaoh and the abused bones of his lover.

He took a deep breath and raised his hands over the bodies. Marik Ishtar read from the scroll in the ancient Egyptian language.

He had hoped that this would work. There was a slight chance that since he had fallen into disfavor with the gods, they would not answer his prayers. The hikaris held their Items. Ryou held the Millennium Scales. Malik held the Eye.

[O One, bright as the moon-god Iah; O One, shining as Iah;

This Osiris Ani comes forth among these your multitudes outside, bringing himself back as a shining one. He has opened the netherworld.

Lo, the Osiris Ani comes forth by day, and does as he desires on earth among the living.]

Marik blinked as nothing happened.

[Lord of the Underworld, hear our prayer and release the souls of these fallen yami. Grant that spirits of Dark rise from the grave, rise from the shadow of death, and return to the world of the living!]

The wind picked up and blew around the inside of the Temple of Isis.

Isis looked around as the lit torches struggled to stay lit.

[Praise of Osiris at the head of the West, Lord of lords, king of kings, prince, god of gods, Let him enter and allow these spirits leave of the underworld without repulse at the doors of the netherworld, to the ka of the Osiris Ani.]

The torches’ fire glowed a fluorescent blue.

Marik’s eye twitched and his hair went spiky. His nails almost became claws as they reached up to the sky.

[Shadow Powers, Gather Now!

Use all the magic that you allow!

Power of Puzzle, Grant them Health!

Power of Rod, Grant them Stealth!

Power of Ring, Grant them Shadow Power!

Power of Eye, Grant them Insight!

Power of Key, Unlock their Souls from Anubis’ grip!

Power of Scales, Balance the Light and the Dark!

Power of the Necklace, Help them Remember their pasts!

SHADOW MAGIC, SHADOW POWER

COME TO US IN OUR DARKEST HOUR!

REBUILD THESE BODIES

WITH THY POWER!]

A lightening bolt ripped across the sky and a red light surrounded both of the bodies.

The crowd watched in horror as Bakura’s bones began growing skin. The mummy’s skin was becoming less dark and was turning a flesh tone.

The bones were the first to let out a scream. Ryou’s eyes widened in horror as the bones began to thrash, the skin growing rapidly. White spiky hair was growing from the top of its skull.

Malik gripped onto Ryou grateful that the kids were not here to see this. If Aten or Aria were here, they would not be able to sleep for a week.

The mummy turned its head to Yugi.

“Yu………gi,” the mummy said as its skin became more human.

Yugi ran behind Seto, hiding behind him, trembling in fear.

The bones had become covered in skin and the yami rolled off of the altar.

“Bakura!” Ryou cried out, running towards his falling yami.

Malik ran after Ryou.

Marik caught his thin lover before he could fall.

Bakura was wailing and screaming in Marik’s arms. Tears flooded his eyes.

Marik put Bakura on the floor and gasped. “Holy shit!”

Bakura’s body was full of bruises. Blood was crusted around his body and his stomach was covered in blood and other fluids.

Bakura laid on his back, his naked body shivering.

Ryou removed his shirt and put it over Bakura’s chest. They tried to put the shirt on Bakura, but when they grabbed Bakura’s arm, he screeched in fear.

Ryou watched the last of Bakura’s skin appear on the bones. Bakura’s eyelids opened and brown eyes appeared.

“Bakura? Baby?”

Marik bit his lip. “My god….he’s…he’s showing the same injuries I saw in the Underworld!”

Ryou looked down and saw the spirit’s blood coming from between his legs.

Isis ran over to Bakura and gasped.
Ryou looked up. “Isis, I thought you said he’d be hollow! Why is he bleeding?”

Isis blinked. “His injuries must have followed him from the underworld. Little is known about this ritual.”

Ryou saw the bruises on Bakura’s wrists and ankles. Bakura’s body was full of bruises.

Bakura grabbed Ryou’s hand tightly, his body shivering.

“R….Ry…..Ry…Ryou……hold…….hold me……p-p-p-please.”

Ryou brought Bakura’s upper body in his arms and cried into the full hair of spiky white strands dotted with crusted blood.

Marik stroked Bakura’s hair.

Yugi ran over to Bakura. “Bakura! What happened to you?!”

Bakura closed his eyes tightly and let out a loud, pain-filled wail.

Yugi looked at the floor between Bakura’s legs where Bakura’s blood continued to flow.

“Oh my god…Yami,” Yugi whispered, his eyes filling with tears.

Above them, Yami hovered. He looked down at Bakura, his eyes narrowed.

Bakura looked up at the pharaoh, his eyes pleading not to be touched.

“P-P-Please…..don’t hurt me anymore,” Bakura whimpered as he looked up.

Yugi looked up at his darker half and stood up. “What did you do to him, Yami?!”

Yami stood silently.

Yugi pushed Yami angrily, looking up at him, tears rolling down his eyes. “What did you do to him? Why did you do it?!”

Yami’s eyes widened. “Yugi….I…”

Yugi kicked Yami’s leg, making the pharaoh wince. “How could you do that to my friend?!”

Yami narrowed his eyes. “He’s not your friend, Yugi. He’s a criminal.”

Bakura’s head fell back. “Ishtar……..”

Ryou turned to Marik. “Marik, can you hold Bakura for a moment?”

Marik cradled Bakura in his arms, kissing his lover’s forehead.

Ryou stood up, clenching his fists tightly. He stood beside Yugi. The pharaoh saw fire in the ordinarily timid man. His entire body was shaking with suppressed fury.

“How could you do that to my husband, Yami?”

Yami crossed his arms. “Because I could.”

Ryou stepped up to Yami. The brown eyes looked into amethyst eyes. Without warning, Ryou reached out and raked his sharp nails across Yami’s face, drawing blood. Yami staggered back as the four lines of identical wounds bled. The pharaoh grabbed his injured face with both hands.

Ryou growled and slammed his foot against Yami’s stomach. Yami fell backwards, landing on his ass.

The white-haired man looked down at the pharaoh. “You are not worth my time, Yami.”

Ryou returned to Bakura.

Yugi looked down at Yami. “How can you hurt my friends, Yami?”

“Bakura is a criminal….a bastard……you don’t need friends like him, Yugi.”

Yugi looked back at Bakura. The yami was clutching onto Marik, breathing heavily. Ryou and Isis were trying to clothe Bakura, despite the fact that every movement was causing Bakura pain.

The yami was like a ragdoll. He didn’t seem to be able to move on his own. He was weak. Bleeding. No one needed to tell Yugi what Yami had done.

Yugi turned back to Yami and narrowed his eyes. “The only bastard here is you!”

Yugi walked to Bakura. Marik and Ryou pulled Bakura to his feet. Isis and Yugi clothed Bakura.

Malik looked over at his yami. Marik looked weak. The ritual had drained him of energy.

/Marik, let me carry Bakura for you./

//No…..must……carry….Itemri……home.//

/Marik, you’re weak. I can feel how weak and tired you are./

//Itemri is all that matters now, love. When Itemri sleeps, I will rest….but not before.//

Slowly they carried Bakura back to the apartment building.

Yami growled and disappeared into the Puzzle to recover.

****************************

Jay and Karl opened the door for the two carrying Bakura. Aria and Aten ran out of the bedroom and shrieked.

Aria ran to her father, sobbing. “Daddy! Daddy! You’re back!”

Ryou looked down at the chibi. “Aria, baby, we need to get daddy to bed. Watch out, now.”

Jay and Karl grabbed Bakura and helped him to the bed.

They put him on his side and Bakura let out a whimper of pain.

“Aria, Aten, go get two cool wet cloths for daddy.”

The brother and sister ran from the room.

“Bakura, baby? Can you talk?”

Bakura shivered as he looked up at his husband. “I…Love…..you….Ryou.”

Ryou stroked Bakura’s cheek and the yami cringed. “Okay, baby. It’s just me. Shh….it’s okay, Bakura, baby. Just relax, angel.”

The chibis returned with the cloths.

“Kids, I have to get daddy cleaned up. Seto? Could you possibly go out with the kids?” Ryou rolled up his sleeves. “I don’t want the children to see this.”

Aria threw herself at Bakura, narrowing her eyes at her mother. “What are you going to do to daddy, mommy??”

Ryou, taken aback by his daughter’s reaction, pat her head. “Daddy is dirty and has to be cleaned up. Then you can come in and see him.”

Aria looked back at her father hesitantly.

Aten saw Bakura’s injuries and bit his lip nervously. “Sister, we should go. We tant be here for this.”

Aria stamped her foot. “Why not? I don’t want to leave my daddy!”

Aten ran around the bed to her. “Daddy Bakura nees to be teaned up, Aria. He’s…..He’s….hurt.”

“How is he hurt that I have to leave the room?”

Aten and Ryou exchanged glances. “He just is, Aria. We tant be here for dis. Tum on, less go.”

Aria grumbled in her imperfect Egyptian as she left the room. Aten stepped to Ryou and gave him a kiss on the cheek.

“I love you, mommy.”

Ryou smiled. “I love you, precious. Go on, now.”

Aten pat Bakura’s cheek lightly. “Mommy will tate good tare of you lite she did when this happened to me, Daddy Bakura. You lay still and re-lass. Love you.” Aten kissed Bakura’s cheek and scurried from the room by Seto’s side.

Ryou took one of the wet cloths. “Marik, can you hold Bakura’s hand and talk to him? Malik, get behind Bakura.”

Ryou moved to Bakura’s backside and Yugi watched as Ryou cleaned his husband’s injuries.

Yugi went pale.

Joey sat in front of Bakura’s stomach, running his hand up and down Bakura’s back.

Ryou felt Bakura jump each time the cold cloth touched him.

Yugi took the Puzzle and hit it. “YAMI, GET OUT HERE NOW!”

Yugi summoned his darker half, who stood by the bed. “Yugi, I am very tired.”

Yugi growled. “You will stay out here and watch this! Look at what you did!”

Ryou narrowed his eyes at the pharaoh, but continued cleaning.

Marik stroked Bakura’s cheek, whispering to him in Egyptian.

When Ryou finally stopped, he covered Bakura with a bedsheet.

“Children, you can come in!”

Aten and Aria ran into the room and right up to Bakura. The children stroked Bakura’s cheek and his side.

“Daddy? I’ve missed you so much!”

“Does it hurt, Daddy Bakura?”

Bakura looked at Aria and reached out to her. “My daughter….”

Bakura brought Aria against him.

The Egyptian boy turned to Yami, growling and seething. “You did this to him, didn’t you?! I can smell you on him,” Aten seethed, his hair spiking. “I can sense your touch on him!”

The crowd looked as Aten’s eyes darkened. “How dare you!You are cruel…evil!”

The Egyptian boy growled as he advanced on Yami.

“You have no right calling yourself a pharaoh! You are cruel and selfish!”

Yami snarled. “I hardly see how you could harm me, Aten.”

Aten growled. “If I had my Scepter of Ra, I’d show you!”

“But you don’t have it, do you?”

Aten opened his hand and the Millennium Rod flew into it. The Egyptian boy opened the Rod, revealing the hidden dagger.

“You won’t harm my Daddy Bakura anymore!”

Yami raised his hand to strike the boy, but Malik caught the pharaoh’s arm. “Don’t you dare hurt our boy, Yami!”

The pharaoh growled. “I have no time for bastards, Aten. You’re a waste of my time.”

Yami disappeared.

Aten’s hair fell and he shook his head. “How did I get my daddy’s Minimum Rod?”

Malik took it from him and concealed the dagger.
Aten wavered. “I don’t feel so good.”

Marik grabbed Aten before he fell. “That always seems to take a lot out of him.”

Seto took the Millennium Rod as Malik picked the boy up and put him in his bed.

Aten was soon snoring quietly.

Yugi walked around the bed to face Bakura. “Bakura, I’m sorry.”

Bakura looked at Yugi as he held onto his daughter, clutching her to his bruised body. “Forgiven,” he whispered.

Ryou looked down at Aria. “Baby girl, it’s time for daddy to go to bed.”

Aria kissed Bakura on the cheek. “Okay. Goodnight, daddy.” She kissed her father on the cheek and stepped back.

Ryou held the Ring. “Millennium Ring, place my dark in his soulroom.”

Bakura disappeared.

****In Bakura’s soulroom****

Ryou put Bakura on his bed. The yami laid on his side and looked up at his husband with unfocused eyes. “Ryou….”

The white-haired hikari sat by his husband. “What is it, baby?”

Bakura reached out for Ryou’s hand. “Please….Please tell me you are really here.”

Ryou kissed Bakura’s hand. “I am here, baby.”

Bakura’s eyes rained tears. “I am so sorry…..for everything that I have done….for everything I have said.”

Ryou shook his head. “No apologies, angel. Close your eyes. Sleep.”

Bakura closed his eyes and was limp within minutes. Ryou covered him with his blanket and went into his soulroom for something to drink.

He came out with a tall glass of ice water.

“I’ll be back after I tuck Aria into bed, baby.”

***********

Ryou opened his eyes to see himself laying on the bed. Aria was standing over him.

“Mommy? Are you okay?”

Ryou sat up. “I’m fine, honey. It’s way past your bedtime. You really need your sleep.”

Aria pouted. “I’m not sleepy.”

Ryou picked her up with effort. She was not as light as her younger brother. “It’s time for you to go to bed, Chibi Yami.”

Aria pouted as she brushed her teeth, but was quickly made happy by the prospect of sleeping between Seto and Joey.

Ryou kissed her goodnight and returned to the bedroom where Marik was on his back.

Malik was holding his yami’s hand and turned to Ryou. “That ritual took a lot out of him, Ryou.”

Ryou sat beside Marik. “I’ll let you both have a night alone. I’ll sleep on the couch.”

Malik bit his lip. “Are you sure?”

Ryou nodded. “I’ll be in my soulroom anyway. You should stay here with him, Malik. He really needs you.”

The blond hikari nodded. “Thank you, Ryou.”

Ryou shrugged and kissed Malik on the cheek. “Don’t mention it. You rest.”

Ryou kissed Marik’s cheek. “Sleep well, Marik.”

The yami opened his eyes and gave Ryou a brave smile. “I’ll be fine, Ryou. Go and stay with Itemri.”

Ryou kissed them both again and laid down on the living room couch.

Yugi walked up to him timidly. “Ryou? How is Bakura?”

“He’ll be fine, Yugi. Just give him a night in the Ring to recuperate.”

Yugi touched the Millennium Ring. “Thank you, Ryou. I’m going to stay with Jay and Karl tonight. They have an extra space.”

Ryou smiled and hugged the shorter duelist. “Good night, Yugi.”

“Goodnight, Ryou.”

Ryou closed his eyes and retreated to his soulroom.

**********************

Bakura’s POV

How can you see into my eyes
like open doors.
Leading you down into my core
where I've become so numb.

Ryou…..where are you? It’s cold in here. Very cold. Without you.

“Yami, I’m here now.”

I looked up and saw Ryou there.

Was it really him?

Was he really sitting next to me?

With everything that happened, how do I know all this is real?

How do I know Ryou is real?

Could this be another hallucination?

Without a soul
my spirit's sleeping somewhere cold
until you find it there and lead it back home.

Empty.

That is how I feel.

Hollow.

Yami took everything from me. Body….Soul….Mind.

Ryou, come and find me….is that you?

My beautiful Ryou….my angel….my lover….my all?

Wake me up.
Wake me up inside.
I can't wake up.
Wake me up inside.
Save me.
Call my name and save me from the dark.

Ryou, if that is really you, take me away from Yami. Don’t let the darkness of the Underworld swallow me again!

Don’t let death come for me again!

Don’t let death make me a toy for Yami or the gods.

Wake me up.

Please say that Ryou is right here with me. If this is a hallucination, don’t let me leave it.

Bid my blood to run.

Ryou, I would bleed for you.

I can't wake up.

Don’t let me wake up and be in Yami’s bedchamber again!

Before I come undone.

Please say that it’s really you, Ryou!

Save me.

Help me.

Tell me it is you.

Save me from the nothing I've become.

Yami made me into nothing but a pleasure slave.

He said I’m nothing.

Do you know what, Ryou?

…………

……….

He’s probably right.

Now that I know what I'm without
you can't just leave me.
Breathe into me and make me real
Bring me to life.

”Bakura, it’s me. Ryou,” the voice above me said. “Can you say anything?”

I closed my eyes. Is this Ryou’s real voice? Is he real?

Is this another one of Yami’s tricks?
I felt a warm pair of lips on my forehead.

Ryou always kisses me this gently.

This has to be him.

My beloved hikari.

Frozen inside without your touch,
without your love, darling.
Only you are the life among the dead.

Touch me again, Ryou.

Please.

I need to feel your soft hands on me.

Ryou’s hand went to my chest.

Beating……

My fake heart is beating again!

After all that happened, I came to realize that only Ryou, Marik, and Malik care about me.

Our kids love me, too. It felt so good to feel my daughter hug me!

My own daughter hugged me so tightly, her little hand pressed against my skin.

All of this sight
I can't believe I couldn't see
Kept in the dark
but you were there in front of me

I’ve always known what I did to Ryou was wrong and reprehensible. I couldn’t believe I never realized….what a special person Ryou was.

He loved me unconditionally, despite the years that I hurt him.

How many people do you know would sit by a person who wounded them for years and stroke their hair and whisper ‘I love you’?”

I’ve always had someone special. Ryou.

I realize now that only Ryou matters. Ryou. Marik. Malik. They will always love me.

No matter how much of a dick I can really be.

I've been sleeping a 1000 years it seems.
I've got to open my eyes to everything.

I can see it all clearly now.

Yes.

I can.

“Ryou?”

“Yami Bakura? What is it, angel?”

My mouth opened, but I don’t think anything came out.

Too weak to tell.

Before I knew it, Ryou was laying beside me, gathering me close to him in a cuddle. His eyes were flooding my mattress with tears.

“What did I say, Ryou?”

Oh gods, I hope I didn’t hurt his feelings!

“You just said that you loved me, Bakura. I’ve waited so long to hear you say that.”

Without a thought

I couldn’t hear myself. I couldn’t tell if I said anything. Too weak.

Without a voice

Did I tell Ryou that through my voice or the mindlink? Too tired.

Without a soul

Ryou held onto me tightly. Yami took everything from me. Body. Mind. Soul.

Don't let me die here

You can help me regain what that bastard took, Ryou. You taught me how to love before.

Don’t let the person I’ve become fade.

I don’t want to be the cruel, sadistic asshole I once was.

Teach me again, Ryou.

Please.

I want to be a good husband.

I want to be a good father.

I want to be a good, considerate lover.

Help me.

There must be something wrong.
Bring me to life.

”Bakura?” the voice whispered, full of concern.

“Hold…me…Ryou.”

Ryou wrapped his arms around me and I buried my face in his chest.

My gods…..

I have my Ryou back…..

At last.

Updates: Friday