Yuugi lay in bed, staring at the card sitting right next to him.

It was irresponsible of him, he knew. This wasn't something that the Pha—that Atem—would do. He would be more mature about this, he would be happy if it were Yuugi who had gone into the afterlife.

He wouldn't be sitting here, pondering turning on his duel disc in the middle of the night so that he could have someone to talk to in the middle of the night, when he was used to being able to reach out into his mind and find someone in there, someone who would listen to him and offer him guidance or comfort or anything when he needed it most...

Even if it was just a hologram, and not able to talk back to him.

Yuugi clutched the cartouche around his neck. Atem's cartouche. It was given to him when his partner had crossed into the afterlife, when he'd known that Yuugi wouldn't have the Puzzle any longer, so he gave Yuugi his Ren instead. A piece of his soul—as long as his name was remembered, then his soul was safe.

And Yuugi would remember him. He would remember him for eternity.

Biting down on his lip, he rolled-away from the card next to his pillow. Dark Magician. That was their favorite card—his favorite card. The eternal servant of the Pharaoh, Isis had said. He'd seen Dark Magician on the wall where the stone tablet showing the battle between Kaiba's ancient self and Atem's ancient self had been. He...he didn't have a right to this card, not now. The Dark Magician was a servant to the Pharaoh, not...

Not Yuugi Mutou...

There was a soft glow from behind him, and Yuugi sat-up, his heart racing. He shouldn't have been hopeful—he knew he shouldn't have been, it would have been wrong for him to be hopeful—but his head quickly turned anyway, and—

—it was the Dark Magician.

Yuugi stopped, looking down at the card in confusion. The...Dark Magician? Why was it glowing? He knew, vaguely, that the Dark Magician had been someone from Pha—Atem's past, but he should have gone with him to the afterlife. He showed-up for Atem's duel with Yuugi, but that was the only time that Yuugi had ever seen him like that, where he didn't look like the art on his card.

Yuugi paused, before picking-up the Dark Magician, and going to the duel disc on his table. Activating it, he hesitantly loaded his deck, and played Dark Magician in Attack Position.

Something troubles you, my King.

Yuugi jumped a mile when he heard a voice in his head again, nearly dropping his duel disc in the process. Blinking a few times, he gazed up at the High Sorcerer staring down at him—just the exact same way that Yuugi remembered him being from the Ceremonial Duel.

"You're...who the Dark Magician is, right?" Yuugi asked, blinking. "What are you doing here...? Aren't you supposed to be in the afterlife with...with Atem?" Did he miss the door? How was he going to get him where he belonged...?

Indeed, I am. The High Sorcerer got down on one knee before him, crossing his staff over his chest while he bowed his head deeply to the King of Games. I sensed great turmoil inside you, my King. What troubles you so?

"Your—no!" Yuugi exclaimed, shaking his head vigorously. "You've...you've got the wrong one of us, Mr...Dark Magician, sir. I...I know that I look a lot like him, but I'm not the Pharaoh, he's already gone."

The Dark Magician chuckled softly—a strange sound that echoed inside of Yuugi's head, but still filled him with a strange sense of warmth that reminded him of meeting an old friend again, in a way that he hadn't felt in a long time. Almost unconsciously, he felt his body start to relax, and he hesitated, before sitting down in a chair behind him.

The Pharaoh has indeed been set free of the Puzzle, Yuugi Mutou, and I do know who you are. The Magician's eyes were alight with laughter, and he got back to his feet, taking a few steps before Yuugi. I've been with you since you played me for the first time against Set's reincarnation—I know very well the difference between you both.

Yuugi was struck silent with surprise. With him this...whole time? And he knew who he was...? But then, why...?

"Why are you still here?" He asked, frowning. "You...you didn't answer that...Dark Magician."

Please, call me Mahaad. The Dark Magician smiled gently. Yuugi, haven't you ever wondered why you were the one chosen to hold the Pharaoh's soul, and why you were the one who solved the Millennium Puzzle, and... The Dark Magician chuckled. Why the both of you have the same, natural hairstyle?

Yuugi blushed a little at the mention of his unique hair, but shook his head. "No, I mean, yes, but I don't know why. I kind of...just thought it was destined for us to be together, but I...don't really know anything beyond that."

Dark Magician—Mahaad—sat on Yuugi's bed. It was such a simple, casual, everyday action that Yuugi couldn't help the strange laughter that bubbled up in his chest. Seeing his favorite card sitting on his bed, having a normal conversation with him in the early hours of the morning...he didn't know why, but there was just something...comforting about it.

A person's soul is made of two components. Their Ka, and their Ba. The Dark Magician's form shimmered, shifting into a man wearing white robes and a white headdress, covered in gold, with a strange, duel disc-like device on his arm. The Ka is the dark half of a person's soul, the Ba is their light. Whenever evil was committed in the days of Pharaoh Atem, the High Priests would judge their Ka, and if became evil, would seal it in a stone tablet, creating the creatures that you all came to know all duel monsters.

"I know that part..." Yuugi murmured, looking back into his deck. "But...what does that have to do with me?

The Ba was the light half of a person's soul. The kindness, love, and humanity inside of them. That half was the half that could not be contained by the Millennium Items, because their shadow magic was too strong. Mahaad smiled. When the King split himself, he knew that his light would be what would solve the Puzzle, and that his light would be what brought him his true name. His light—what made him able to wield the gods—was reborn like all souls, judged pure by Ma'at and cast into the afterlife, where he was given form anew.

"Is that where he is now?" Yuugi asked, smiling with relief. "I hope he's doing okay in a new body..."

Mahaad laughed, and though his lips didn't move, he still covered his mouth, as if it were still improper for him to be seen laughing as a High Priest. I would hope so, but between you and I, I don't think he realizes how strong he really is.

Catching onto what he was getting-at, Yuugi frowned. "Are you...trying to say that...I...?"

Mahaad bowed his head again, his tone softened by affection and loyalty, rather than amusement. Indeed. You and Atem are one in the same now. His soul has come to join your soul once-more, the same as when I served under you both in Ancient Egypt. How could I leave my Pharaoh, when you're still here for me to protect?

Yuugi stood-up. "No! I mean...there's no way that's possible! I'm not..." He looked-away. "I'm not good-enough to be him..."

Mahaad stood up as well, approaching him, putting his hand on his shoulder, despite how he couldn't touch him, he could feel the warmth from the magician all the same.

Who was able to calm the darkness that lay in Atem's heart, Yuugi? Who was able to make so many see the error of their ways? Who was able to overcome the brainwashing of a Millennium Item on Jounouchi? Who was able to stand up to Dartz on his own? Was it not you, Yuugi? Is it not you who beat him, who found the strength to move into the future? Who was able to bring Atem his true name and save the world?

Yuugi swallowed. "I...is he really me now?" He touched his own heart, as if he could sense his partner through his chest, and Mahaad bowed again to him, smiling once more with the affection of someone who had met his friend again after a very long time...and indeed, that was the case.

Yes. And just as I swore to him, I swear to you the same. I will always be here when you need me, no matter how far away. I am your eternal servant, my King. I will always be by your side. Mahaad got on his hands and knees, head bowed before his oldest friend.

And maybe it was something inside of Yuugi saying it, or maybe it was the boy himself, or maybe it was both, but he got down to Mahaad's level, gesturing for the High Sorcerer to look him in the eyes.

"No...you'll be my eternal friend."

And Mahaad's smile could have put-out the sun.

A/N:

I was requested to do one from Yuugi's perspective, so here you go.