Haunted

Disclaimer: I don't own Yu-Gi-Oh!!

BE Dragon: So I'm updating sooner because I feel terrible for not haven't updated in four months to this story. So here is you newest update.

PLG: Enjoy it or else. -gets spears-

BE Dragon: -.-" If you have the time and patience, please read the author's letter at the end! And terribly sorry, would have gotten this out about a week ago, but my internet was down. Thank Ra, it is up and running now! :D

Heta smirked to himself as he slowly paced in front of them, his pepper like fur sleek in the barely living yellow glow of the one florescent light above them. Above them a clock chimed 12 times. The vampire-cat watched them with great intensity, the flaming silver green eyes daring them to make a move as Jou stood beside Kaiba, and Yami stood guard over Yugi's unconscious body.

Yami grit his teeth, feeling his fangs pressuring themselves against his will, begging him to let them out. His crimson eyes burned as he followed every move Heta made, unsure of what he was planning to do.

Oh, please wake up soon Yugi. Yami begged, hoping that his message would reach the smaller.

Katlima stepped forward calmly, smirking to herself. "I know what your thinking Pharaoh." she taunted. "He won't be waking up any time soon. The serum was my own invention. Several hundred years and nothing to do, it gave me a chance to become many as I pretended I was a mere student learning a cure for amnesia." she laughed darkly, her eyes spotted with red. "It's so easy, I'm sure you know, to disappear." she stalked closer to them. "To die. Mortals are so stupid, are they not?"

Yami's eyes narrowed, his head lowering slightly, like a tigress ready to defend a cub. "It is." he admitted.

"What do you mean learning a cure for amnesia?" Kaiba asked coldly, eyes glued to Katlima.

Katlima laughed, going over to a work bench that held the needle she had used. "When a person dies, the soul is reborn, is it not?" she glanced at them. "Just because the body is dead, does not mean the memories are too. Memories, the fabric in which a soul knows its true bounds to the world. In some cases, it could be the reason the soul is reborn. But it can also damn it. Tie it to something so small." she smirked. "I watched this one man for several years. A high class man, body guards everywhere. A CEO." she looked over at Kaiba. "A greedy person. Memories he held were bitter and nasty, his blood was delicious because of it." she grinned. "But he couldn't go when he died. Oh no. His memories of the company he ruled with an iron fist held him tight, damning him. And when his alleged 'adoptive son' took over, he turned to dust."

Kaiba's jaw tightened, and his eyes blazed with silent anger as Jou looked at him with a worried expression. "But it doesn't matter about him." Katlima continued. "What I learned was that no matter what happens to the body, it is the soul that is the keeper of all the one's magic and memories. And my serum?" she smirked. "All it does is slowly take them back to the very beginning, maybe even the most tragic of all the memories, and makes them relive every bit of it. If my calculations were right, they might just as well feel every emotion and pain inflicted upon them!" she laughed. "It is designed to override the mind, make the brain feel like it is happening for real. And for all we know, trap the person there forever. In their own memories, reliving painful memory after painful memory, over and over again till they do away with themselves."

Like the snap of a twig, Yami's will broke. His eyes grew a darker shade, boardering black and his fangs showed as he lurched towards Katlima, catching her by the neck as he forced all his weight on her, making her yell as her back collided with the cement floor.

Alice was on him only a second after, gripping him by the arm and flinging him, not far, but enough to get him off, digging her nails into his skin as she did, leaving five rivers of crimson trailing on his right arm as he skidded across the floor.

Katlima growled as she stood up slowly, carefully. "What the hell?" she hissed at him. "How dare you!"

Kaiba quickly came to Yami's aid, watching Heta who stood watching silently. "Don't do something stupid Atemu... we don't know their game yet." he said in almost a silent whisper.

Yami's eye twitched in anger as he stood up, paying the scratches no mind as he straightened. "What do you gain?" Yami growled. "Heba's and Jono's protection spell still linger around them, what could you possibly do to them with us here then when you had them alone?"

Heta laughed darkly. "Oh dear, pitiful Pharaoh, you have not figured it out?" he asked. "We cannot do anything. All I can possibly do is scratch and bite your little Heba. Katlima can't even touch him for long. And Alice does not have the strength to surpass their spell."

"Then why?" Jou hissed, sitting by Yugi's side.

"Because it isn't them that is going to hurt us."

Darkness blinded Yugi as he stumbled around.

Where am I?

What is going on?

The questions seemed to bounce around like echos, surrounding him. He stayed still, looking around him.

Is anybody here?

Nothing.

Not a sound existed, only himself. Only his thoughts. He shivered. It wasn't cold, it wasn't hot, there was no smells, there was nothing to touch. It was like he was just... there.

Where is here?

The darkness hugged him. It was neither evil, nor good. Or is it?

Questions questions, but never any answers until now.

Yugi jumped, as he swirled around to see none other that...

Himself?

There he stood, dressed in jeans and a t-shirt. His favorite t-shirt. His dark amethyst eyes looking back at him. It was like looking into a mirror. But the reflection, as much as it tried to be, was not him.

Who are you? He tried to speak, but no sound came out, he questioned in his mind as the reflection blinked in acknowledgment.

I am you. But I am not you.

Yugi stared with confusion, his reflection smiled softly, his cloths seemed to faded into something new. It changed into the linen tunic that Heba had worn, but now adorned with a gold collar, and a soft red sash around his waist, wrists and ankles clad in gold ringlets, sandals on his feet and a crown similar to Atemu's on his head. His color changed to a soft tan, glowing like if he was in sunlight. I am you, but I am not you. He repeated. I am the first you. I was known as Heba, or Yuugi.

Yugi nodded slowly, remembering. You were Yami's first love.

First and only. Heba nodded, a sad smile on his face. It hurt to see him wandering so many years alone. His only company was Seth, but they fought quite a bit. They blamed themselves for our deaths, mine and Jono's. He said.

Yugi stood, staring, waiting for Heba to continue, not knowing what to say.

Heba smiled softly and nodded his head to the right. Let me explain everything to you Yugi. I know you are confused.

Duh. Yugi said, frowning only slightly as he and Heba walked in the darkness, somehow, he felt calmer, more at peace. The Nothingness seemed not to bother him anymore. His attention was now solely on Heba.

Let me explain this first. He started. I am who you are now, but, in a different form, my, or your's first form, but for the sake of not confusing you-slash- me, I'll say it as I am. He winked with a smile. I'm sure that you saw what had happened? Yugi nodded. Yes, well, sadly, it is all true. You opened– but I know you were force– the door to your very first life on this earth, my life time. Yes, there are other lives, but that was the first for us. And the most important. The others, not so much. Yes you were around during other important history-like things we learned in school, but they had no interest to say the least. You were a common boy, through most, you usually died alone except on one life you died with Jono, Jou to you. But that is something completely different. We always new we were missing someone. Someone very important. We were missing Atemu. During the times we were dead though and looking after Atemu, we did kick ourselves in the ass because we forgot about him during our living life.

Yugi cracked a smile, understanding. That is why Jou and I are so close.

Heba smiled also. Exactly. He nodded. But yes, you opened the door into my life, your first life, allowing me, a figment of the dream world to come through and aid you. I wish I could have found you sooner, but I had many memories during that life time, all important. He frowned, his face going serious. There is something you must know. I'm sure you do know now of Heta and Katlima.

Yes.

Well they aren't the nicest kids on the block. Heba said. They are out to get you and Jou. Atemu and Seth too. They are out to get your magic, your strength. Everything that has been locked away since your first and last death in your first life, do you understand?

Yugi shook his head.

I mean. Heba sighed. You died once, that is when we became a vampire. You died against, last, when you actually kicked the bucket. When you were turned, half your magic was locked away, and your strength doubled. When we cast that spell, not only did we create something that would protect us for many lives to come, but we also locked away every bit of excess strength and magic, and with every life you lived, the more knowledge you gained, and with that, more magic and strengths were locked away. Now, since back then you were already a pot full of it all, you are boiling over with it. You and Jono. Heta and Katlima know this. And they know sooner or later you will start to leak and all that magic, all the strength, will return to the world like with everyone else. They believe that they must get it now while the harvest is good. But they cannot lay a hand on you. And to send in another, stronger, vampire to do it could just mean they will get stabbed in the back.

Yugi raised an eyebrow at this, the hamsters in his head running full speed. Then how do they plan on getting mine and Jou's magic and stuff?

Heba sighed sadly. That is where you are in the most danger. Slowly, everything grew lighter, echos of something completely different started, voices came alive and the sound of something hitting cement came to them. Heba's face drained of color as they stopped and he gripped Yugi's shoulders. Yugi. What ever you do. Do not, I repeat, do not let them cut anyone. Don't let them cut Atemu, don't let them cut Seth. They may not be able to...you...but...they...

Heba faded with every word until he was like the flicker of a TV before it went out. His eyes grew wide as he realized it and Yugi gripped the fading Heba's arms. But they what? But they WHAT?

Everything became white, a glaring white that slowly dimmed as he squeezed his eyes closed, voices came back as he heard Jou hiss; "Then why?"

And it dawned on him. What Heba had told him, what he had warned him about. "Because it isn't them that is going to hurt us."

BE Dragon: Woot!! Plot twist!

PLG: -rolls eyes- again?

BE Dragon: Well duh. Hello, I'm and the psycho writer who defies the whole 'write out what the story is going to be about and stick to it' thing. I go with the flow! .:does little hula dance:.

PLG: No wonder everything is so mix-matched. You insane, insane I tell you!

BE Dragon: .:rolls eyes and smiles:. What-ever! Anyway, I wanted to tell our lovely readers, thank you very much so, SUSH! .:turns to you at the computer, yes you:.

Dear Patient Reader/Reviewer

It has come to my attention that I'm very rude in asking for 20 reviews, after such a long time of not updating, I understand that, and I do send my apologies to everyone. I did not think it would actually take that long, and I assure you, even if I didn't get 20 lovelies, I would have updated anyway. .:smiles:.

But to defend myself and to give warning now, I will explain my leave. I'm starting a new school(.:is now an official high-schooler:.) But I will be going to a crappy, government-funded school that I will know no one. When I found this out, I believe, a month after I updated, I was devastated and still am, and now on top of that, severely pissed off at my parents. I've been fighting them this whole time about it and getting no where with it. Next to that, I'm going through a lot of emotional crap right now that I really need to tie up before I attempt to write an actual update that is tasteful to you guys. If anything, I'll write a few one-shots to vent and keep you updated on when I'll actually update, so do look out for those.

ALSO. .:takes a breath:. This coming, '09 summer, I just might attend this summer camp thingy. Hell, I'm not even sure if it is in(woot, used all the 'I' words!! Gooal!) Summer. But during that time I won't be home and will be pushing my tiny hamsters to the max. I'll info you later, but I believe it is for a bunch of smarties. It'll be a whole gathering in either Austin or Dallas, Texas I believe. (If any of you understand what I am telling you and are going to said function, I will most likely be the pitiful girl clutching her cell and laptop like a life jacket.) I'll info on you that later to tell you if I will actually ATTEND it. XD Because if anything, I'll get lazy and lock myself in my room so I don't go.

Again, since I'm starting a new school, I have no idea what to expect or when I'll be free. I'm getting a part-time job to get some cash so I can, hopefully get a better writing software and stock up on some self-editor books and stuff so I can write better for you guys. I've never actually had homework since elementary, so I have no idea if I will or not, become the typical high schoolie and get loads or still be the typical BED and NOT get the loads. .

Bear with me guys. I don't know when I'll be updating, but I do think you guys deserve to know what took me the hell so long. I don't expect you guys to forgive me, but let this be a letter from the author as a pitiful excuse for not updating like I should. I'm already kicking myself in the ass. :3

I'll try and keep you posted on when I'll be updating. If any of you have noticed, I do have a new story that I will be trying to keep updating once a month. It isn't a particular "long-shot" but not a "short-shot" either. I'll keep everything posted there about what will be going down, if anything, I'll do little summarys here at the end.

But thanks you guys! For everyone that has reviewed and reading, I really appreciate it a lot and I'm thankful for every reader and review I get. You guys are blessings to my poor soul. :D You guys always keep me writing and on my toes as I attempt to keep you pleased and interested.

Do remember, I am only human and I trying the best I can as I push my abilities, and I thank you guys for pushing me the extra mile, I really do. I will tell you now though, my internet has been a bitch to me so I have no idea when it will be blanking again. I'll take the chance for no interferences and write some chapters right now.

From your dingy and hopeful author,

BED

PLG: Oh Ra, you even put a little sig?

BE Dragon: Well duh! It is a letter from the author, aka, ME!

PLG: Formal be-atch.

BE Dragon: Unformal be-atch.

PLG&BE Dragon: Thanks for reading and please review!!