I'm sorry I'm sorry...*bursts into tears* I need to stop starting new stories *cries* please, I'm sorry...I was so determined not to*sob*

The Battle City tournament had ended barely a month ago.

Now in possession of all three Egyptian God cards, Yugi's life had settled into a state of relative normality; at the very least, nobody was out to get revenge on the Pharaoh.

Yugi was slumped over his desk, half asleep. He had sat down an hour ago with homework on his mind, but it just hadn't happened; he was much too tired. At the very least, it was Friday; he would be able to work on his homework tomorrow. Maybe even ask his friends for help.

"Yugi?"

Bleary-eyes, Yugi lifted his head off his desk, blinking. "Oh, it's you, Pharaoh." He sighed. "I can't seem to motivate myself today. I'm just so..." He yawned. "...tired."

Offering him a sympathetic smile, Yami leaned against Yugi's desk, peering at the open textbook. "You shouldn't try to force yourself; we both know you've earned a rest. Just finish it tomorrow."

Yawning again, Yugi reluctantly nodded. "I can't see myself finishing it tonight." Frustrated, he closed the book. "I was falling asleep, wasn't I?" Without waiting for the spirit to answer, Yugi stuffed the book back into his bag. "What time is it? Six o'clock," he answered himself.

He got to his feet and stretched, his joints popping. After walking around aimlessly for a few seconds, Yugi sat down on the foot of his bed.

He looked at Yami, who was still leaning against the edge of Yugi's desk. "...So...you still haven't remembered anything, Pharaoh?" he asked hesitantly.

Uttering a long sigh, Yami shook his head. "Nothing; it's all a complete mystery to me..." He closed his eyes. "It's like I'm...looking into a clear, deep lake with my memories of being Pharaoh on the bottom; I know they're there, and I know there is so little blocking them from me, but they're just out of my reach."

Yugi stood up and walked over to the spirit, placing a hand over his. "You don't need to worry, Pharaoh," he said with determination. "You know I'm always right here, and so are Tea, Tristan and Joey; we're going to get your memories back no matter what."

The Pharaoh smiled. "I know we are; thank you, Yugi."

"No problem." Yugi picked up his deck from the desk flitting through it until he found the three Egyptian God cards. He held them up to the light.

"We know that these are part of the answer," he said thoughtfully. "We just don't know what yet."

"It's a puzzle," Yami agreed.

Yugi looked sideways at him and grinned. "Then I guess it's right up our alley."

It wasn't like most of Yugi's life, when he could take his mind off his worries by simply trying to solve the Millennium Puzzle; he had already done that. Now, he had nothing to do except ponder.

He had gone to bed early, but he couldn't find sleep. Rubbing his eyes, he sat up in bed, gazing out his window.

He couldn't sense the Pharaoh nearby; he was somewhere else, somewhere in the recesses of the Millennium Puzzle. Yugi was alone.

He picked up the Puzzle from its place beside his bed and looked at it through the dim moonlight.

He shared Yami's mind; it was all too easy for Yugi to know how the ancient spirit felt, knowing that there was so much to his past that nobody knew. He was grateful to have Yugi there, but the mystery of his past was an emptiness that could not be filled easily.

Yugi turned the Puzzle over in his hands thoughtfully, trying to imagine his other self back then, sitting atop the throne of Egypt, a mighty and powerful Pharaoh.

That mighty and powerful Pharaoh was dust now. However much his spirit had lingered these five thousand years, Yami's body was long gone now. Or maybe mummified and lying in a tomb somewhere. Yugi smiled to himself at the idea of Yami as a mummy.

Yugi held the Millennium Puzzle up to his face. Really, it and the other Millennium Items were the only material things left from Yami's time as Pharaoh. The idea was enough to send shivers down his spine; this very Puzzle had been held by the spirit that now lay within it, five thousand years ago.

One thing was certain; whatever had happened back then that had caused the Pharaoh to lose his memories, the Millennium Puzzle that Yugi now held had been right in the thick of it.

Yugi yawned and reluctantly put the Puzzle back onto his bedside table. Thinking about the dilemma would do no good now. Yami was right; Yugi badly needed some sleep. Sighing, Yugi closed his eyes and rolled onto his side, gradually falling asleep.

The Millennium Puzzle started to glow.

Yugi was woken by an uncomfortable glare penetrating his eyeslids. Groaning, he forced them open; it couldn't be morning already!

He looked out the window and sure enough, the sun was already shining. He rubbed his eyes; he shouldn't be tired now - he had gone to bed early...

He groaned again, hauling himself out of his bed. Today was Saturday; he was going to do some homework and meet his friends at eleven o'clock. Instinctively, he reached for the Millennium Puzzle.

His hands didn't find it.

He had groped aimlessly around the surface of the table for several seconds before he realised what was wrong and looked.

The Millennium Puzzle was gone.

Before his brain had time to process this, however, he was hit by a sudden force, empowered by the element of surprise. He let out a gasp as he was knocked back onto his bed.

"Yugi!" The girl on top of him squealed. "You're finally awake! I'm so happy; I didn't want to wake you, because you were obviously tired, but now you're awake! I'm so happy!"

She was quite literally squeezing the breath out of him. Yugi had to gasp for air.

Instantly, she released her hold on him and sprang backwards, letting him go. "I'm so sorry, Yugi! Are you okay? Did I hurt you?"

Yugi was still struggling to get his breath back. "Wha- who-" he spluttered.

"Here, let me help!"

Suddenly there was a vice-like grip around Yugi's arm, hauling him to his feet.

Finally, Yugi managed to break free and actually get a look at this...girl.

Her hair was long and golden - and not simply 'golden' as another word for 'blonde', either...it was literally gold in colour; a glittering sheen of metallic yellow, streaked with a few slightly darker parts. Her skin was olive-toned and slightly tanned.

Her eyes were her most striking feature; they were a bizzare shade of red. Upon a more specific examination, Yugi realised that they were actually black, with many large flecks of red running through them, giving them a somewhat eerie appearance. Her eyes alone were enough to give Yugi goosebumps.

She was completely naked.

"Argh!" Yugi yelled, his face entering a category that could only be listed under 'watermelon'. He covered his eyes instantly. "What are you doing here? Put some clothes on!"

The girl cocked her head to one side, confused. "Hm? Wh-"

"Erm..." Yugi looked around - anywhere but at her. "What happened? Why are you here?"

"You never used to ask this many-"

"Did I get drugged last night?" Yugi didn't even recognise his own voice; it was high-pitched with embarassment. "Oh, god; did Yami do something last night?"

She laughed. "Of course not; it was my idea."

Yugi was pulling open his draws. He tossed the first shirt his fingers found at her.

She held it at arm's length with two slender fingers. "What do I do with this?"

"Put it on." Yugi stared at the ceiling. "Please. Right now."

"But I don't usually-"

"Just do it!" Yugi begged. He wondered what he was going to do about pants; she looked about the same height as him - tiny - but...well, she was a girl. Where were her clothes? Had she just walked in here like...that?

"Well, okay...if it makes you happy. I like making you happy, Yugi!" She winked at him and pulled the shirt over her head. Yugi's face turned an even brighter shade of crimson.

"Erm...here," he said, tossing her his blanket. "C- cover the rest of yourself."

She frowned, but obeyed; wrapping it around herself.

"Is it okay now?"

"Y-" Yugi cut himself off. "Wait, what? No! Who are you? What are you doing in my room?"

She blinked. "I'm always in your room. Except when you're not; then I go with you."

Yugi crossed his arms. "I think I'd know if you did that."

She nodded, excited. "Yep; of course you do! You're my Yugi!"

Yugi looked taken aback. "...Your Yugi?" he asked, confused.

She grinned. "Mm-hmm!" She nodded, her long golden hair bobbing around. "You're mine - and I'm yours. You were the only one who ever solved me."

"...Solved you?"

"Of course, silly! Don't you remember me? I'm the Millennium Puzzle!"

Unexpectedly, she lunged forward and wrapped her arms around him again. "So what are we waiting for? You were going to finish your homework!"