Algol: Umm…so here is part 2. I realize I have not updated this story in a looooong time, but I am quite busy now so it's hard to find the time. Plus I lost interest for awhile, but I decided to go back and give this another go. I hate leaving it unfinished because I do like this story.

I also realize the action in part 1 might seem too fast paced. I don't know…please let me know if this is the case. I wanted things to appear somewhat disjointed (they are memories Yami is reliving) but I don't want them hurried.

Disclaimer: I don't own Yugioh

Summary: Love and Sacrifice.

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Chapter 16: Eternal Flow (Part II)

It was a realm of demons and angels, a game of life and death played by the ruling classes. The Prince was an exceptional player. It was thought that the strength of one's spirit was directly proportional to the amount of control one had in the Shadow realm. Prince Atem could manipulate things in that world, could bend them and shape them and influence the denizens of the darkness like no one else could. Only those who truly knew what the Shadows contained saw such gifted sorcery as a gateway that must be constantly monitored and opened on rare occasions. Certain nobility displayed their Shadow talents brazenly, perhaps showing off in front of a love interest or feeding a fragile ego. But their knowledge was elementary; they were children playing on a protected playground. True power was found deep in the realm, beyond hallowed halls with twisting trickery and solicitous voices promising untold glory to those who might listen.

The Prince knew what he was getting himself into. At least, he tried to prepare himself for what might come from the Darkness. He was in the great ancestral hall, surrounded by thousands of tablets etched with figures from the Shadows. He knew he could summon those creatures, but they could not help him now. He needed to talk to the oldest demon he could find…and he knew where to find it.

The collective Shadow form before him was excited to offer him the spell he wanted. Too excited, one might say, but Yami anticipated this. His eyes remained hard and his voice did not betray the tumultuous emotions in his heart.

Our Prince desires a love spell? The statement oozed with devilish delight. We can give you what you desire. Do you wish to give us the child of Seth in exchange for such a spell?

"No…I am not offering the child to the Shadows." Yami's mind strayed from this thought however as he processed the idea. The child was unborn; did it even have a soul to call its own? And at the moment of its birth a bond between Eshe and Seth would solidify. But…what was he thinking! He couldn't possibly bring harm to Seth's child.

There was a hint of anger in the voice as it said wearily, It is not usual for our Prince to pose such an inquiry with such little forethought. We will give Prince Atem what he desires in service to his Throne, but we shall require a payment. We wish to only serve you…and find a little pittance in exchange.

Yami knew he would hear everything he wanted to hear. What he had to concentrate on was hearing what he did not want to know. He was the Shadow realm prodigy, praised far and wide for his prowess in Shadow manipulation and out of all those who knew sorcery he possessed the most indomitable spirit. He knew he had the means to outwit the demons of the realm, but he needed a bargaining tool. He needed something they wanted.

"I need such a spell, and I know nothing comes without a cost. But to demons love is a weak human emotion is it not? Surely you do not find such a task very daunting."

It is simple yes, to us, but you require a spell that needs to take root in a human heart. To those of the Sun realm, love is more than a simple emotion. Within the walls of inferior flesh, love is the true causation of action. The Shadow body altered itself and rose to an inhuman height above the Prince. The form it took looked more like a hideously squirming snake with limbs than a human body, but Yami's expression did not communicate the disgust he felt worming through his chest. And you wish for this spell to transmigrate through the generations of your immortal spirits. This is no small task Prince Atem.

"I am no paltry magician, you know this, so do not lecture needlessly. I need to know what you will require in order to create such a spell." Yami's eyes were transfixed to the rolling mass, certain he could decipher something akin to contemplation from the amorphous Shadows. When speaking directly through the gate of Shadows one could speak to the realm as its own entity…but this was somewhat misleading. There were thousands of denizens in the Shadow realm, all of them ranked like soldiers on a battlefield. If you wanted to make a point, you needed to find the one in charge.

You understand we shall require equivalent trade. Affecting one human heart requires something of equal value.

Yami considered this, and he knew such an exchange would be far from fair. There were no good deals made with demons. What the Prince hoped, however, was to make a personal sacrifice in order to find love in another lifetime. Seth was his now, for however long the child remained in Eshe's womb, but someday his beloved was going to find fulfillment in the family he created. Yami was not a part of that, and their current duties truly prevented them from living in lover's bliss. But Yami was certain their spirits were meant for each other, they were meant to live as one through all the ages of civilization. And one day, when the fates were kind, they would find each other again without the obstacle of duty, and finally embrace their love.

"I wish to speak to the One Voice," Yami spoke finally. "I will only make a deal with him."

Silence pursued. Yami knew what he was asking was incredibly risky…perhaps even downright suicidal. Many times sorcerers spoke of exchanges with demons. Typically such an exchange was made for dominance in war, sacrificing offending nations to the demons regarding human pacts. But few sorcerers knew the actual risk of soliciting a demon. Yami knew because his father warned him early on. Most demons have no desire to leave the Shadow realm; they do not enjoy the burning rays of the Sun or the decaying flesh that houses earthly beings. But the smartest demons know that such inconveniences are tolerable in exchange for something far greater. Only top tier demons are able to withstand the agony of human life in order to glutton themselves on immortal souls. And those demons who consume enough souls are said to be powerful enough to merge Shadow to Sun.

One Voice shall listen to our Prince's request…but He shall not enter here. In the place beyond the Gate, beyond the Flow, He remains. Prince Atem must go to Him.

"I will see him then."

There was a smile…or something that simply felt like a smile emanating from the grotesque Shadow mass. Yami entered the Shadows before but never beyond the Flow. The demons were very pleased by this, but the Prince assured himself he was prepared to defend his spirit from the onslaught of demon presence.

Very well…enter the Gate on the next new moon. Prince Atem may choose a guide.

Yami nodded curtly and turned on his heel, satisfied he had enough time to prepare his spirit, and his plan, in the next few days. Seth…my love…I will sacrifice every part of my being in order to be with you…to find happiness with you in our next Rebirth. Please forgive me in this lifetime…

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A/N: Oh man this one was short! But I wanted to post it so everyone knew I was still alive lol. Maybe no one reads this anymore, but regardless I am working on chapter 17! Thank you all who reviewed so far.