I had a lot of fun writing this. I think I'll let it speak for itself.

Let me know what you think.

Contains elements from all three sources: the Classic anime, Season Zero and the manga. I can't say it solely follows any one of them.

Why do your teachers insist on singling you out, Little One? Yami grumbled through the link.

Yugi smiled sadly, Because they know the reason I don't do my homework is we're always duelling. They see it on television, remember?

It's not fair, Aibou, Yami persisted. If they knew half of what you've been through they wouldn't—

Well they don't, Pharaoh, the boy interrupted. I think I prefer it that way anyway. I have to get this finished, I'm sorry.

Yami sighed. His hikari was being held back at school for yet another afternoon just because he'd forgotten to complete some maths problems. It was hardly Yugi's fault; he'd had to help Solomon over the weekend when the Kame Game Shop held a small Duel Monsters tournament. It wasn't anything big – just a little local competition to boost sales – but it kept the two of them busy. Apparently, the teacher didn't feel helping one's grandfather with the family business was a good enough excuse.

The Pharaoh realised there was little he could do for Yugi at the moment – today's mathematics was ridiculously complicated for him to grasp and chatting wasn't going to get the work finished either. He stared around the depths of the Puzzle thoughtfully. It had been a while since he'd gone looking around; wandering the endless labyrinth for his memories was getting tiresome and increasingly disappointing. But there wasn't much else to do at the moment, and he could never be certain he wouldn't find anything. He walked off in resignation.

Yami hadn't bothered developing any kind of routine in his searches; the Puzzle had no real pattern he could follow and he always tried to feel for some kind of connection to any one of the infinite paths available to take. He never felt any, of course, but he didn't mind indulging in some wishful thinking.

He chose… that corridor. It wasn't anything special but he had to start somewhere. He opened the first door he reached which was, like its corridor, nothing special – just the same as every other unmarked door in the Puzzle. There was nothing there. Next door – nothing. Next door after that – still nothing.

Door, door, door. Around the corner into the next corridor and there were more doors. What a surprise. He repeated the exercise several times, coming up with nothing as always. The only interesting occurrence was a sudden gust of wind as he'd opened the seventeenth door. For a fleeting second, he actually let himself feel a little excited at the prospect of a room that wasn't empty. The moment ended quickly.

After door twenty-nine – a record low – he was tempted to give up. He supposed he hadn't really been in the mood to begin with. He turned back to head towards the main room.

He froze when he heard it.

… So close…

The Pharaoh spun around immediately. The hallway was empty. He frowned; perhaps it really was time to quit. He walked off.

… But you were nearly there…

There it was again. He waited, listening carefully this time.

Come this way.

Yami swallowed, his heart pounding. He turned in the direction of the voice.

"Hello?" he called.

Here… come this way.

He didn't need to be told twice. He started briskly following the voice back down the corridor.

Hurry! This way!

It was getting louder now. Yami moved into a jog – he was going to find out where that voice was coming from.

Keep coming. Almost there!

Almost there! The ancient spirit felt giddy. What if he really was almost there?

So close! Hurry!

He was hurrying as fast as he could.

Here!

He ran into another corridor and stopped. This one had a dead end – apart from the door.

Quick! Open it!

Standing before the large door – it was definitely different to the others, sleek and black and shining – his hand hovered over the handle. Yami was actually trembling; he'd never been so excited for as long as he could remember. This could be it! If only Yugi was here to see this! He wasn't going to wait for the boy. This was too much to wait for.

OPEN IT!

His slender fingers closed around the handle and pulled it down. The latch clicked; the sound sent shivers up the Pharaoh's spine. In this moment, there was nothing wrong. There couldn't possibly be anything wrong with what he was about to do. He shoved the door open.

The darkness swept over him in a huge wave that almost made him topple over. It was so intoxicating that he hardly even cared what it was. He returned its all-consuming embrace, breathing in the heady scent of what once was lost.

… yes.

It took what seemed like an eternity for Yami to realise there were two wiry arms wound around his waist. He slowly opened his eyes and stared down at the figure who'd wrapped themselves around him. For a long moment he thought it must be Yugi. No one else had that hair, for a start.

He soon realised he was very wrong. He shoved the creature away. It whimpered at the loss of contact and he stared at it in absolute shock.

"Who in Ra's name are you?" he asked, slightly horrified.

Its crimson eyes flickered up to meet his. It smiled.

"I think you already know the answer to that," it said in a voice that only just failed to achieve a velvet smoothness, instead grating slightly on Yami's ears.

The Pharaoh stood back. It actually looked a lot like… him. It was shorter, thinner, paler; a sickly demon of himself.

"I thought I'd never leave the darkness," this Other Yami continued, moving closer to him again. "It's so lonely in the shadows.'

"Who are you?" Yami repeated, sounding a little more authoritative now that he'd composed himself.

The demon cocked his head, his gaze piercing and unwavering. The Pharaoh was suddenly hit with an image he'd almost forgotten.

"Do you remember Ushio? The one who tried to steal the money?" the Other Yami asked him. "Or the Senior student who stole the plot at the fair? What happened to them?"

Yami's heart skipped a beat. He did remember them – all too well. This was starting to unsettle him.

"There was the escaped prisoner who held Tea at gunpoint – that was a good game, that one," the demon said with a glint in his eye. "There was the director I blinded, too."

Realisation dawned on the Pharaoh. "You're…"

"The Shadow Games were brilliant. I brought those who trespassed on our soul the punishment they deserved. I made sure the crime was never committed again." The demon was now only inches from Yami. "I was you."

Yami felt weak. He stumbled back, the weight of this Other's words drawing the air from his lungs.

"B-but…" he shook his head.

"You locked me away," the Other's voice turned cold. "After everything we were, you sealed me away in the depths of your soul like some kind of feral animal."

Yami just stared, speechless. This was him. This was everything he used to be. This was the ruthless ruler of the Shadows he once was, powerful and insane. How? How was this possible?

"I was never gone, Pharaoh," the Other Yami smiled. "I was simply forgotten. And now I am remembered."