Unsought Intensions – Yugioh fanfiction – Takes place at the end of the original Yugioh arc but before GX.

AN: I got the idea for this fic after watching the end of the original DM Yugioh series recently. I find the millennium arc really deep and sweet, and the ceremonial duel also. I've written another story where it's all about friendship/hurt/comfort/possession and getting over what they went through. No relationships, mild hint at Tea/Yugi but nothing really concrete. My AN comments from here on out will be very brief, if at all.

Prologue: There's more I need to do

The darkness shifted from dark purple to light purple as the air around them continued to change. He was home, back with everyone he left behind centuries ago in a world where they could literally shape into any scene they wanted. Anything, and he chose the shadow realm.

Mahado sat next to him staring out into the darkened world before turning to look at Atem. Atem was lost in thought, a look he primarily got when he was over contemplating something. Despite their years of absence, Atem hadn't changed all that much.

"My pharaoh…what is the matter?" Mahado finally asked causing Atem to snap out of his daze and look at him, "Of all the worlds we can shape…you pick this one to stay in?"

"It's … complicated…" Atem placed a hand against his head and sighed.

"Pharaoh…" Mahado sighed, "This is the afterlife, you can form any happy memory you choose or create a new one…you can do anything but you sit here , in the shadow realm of all places. I'm concerned."

"Don't be," Atem turned to look at Mahado giving him a wryly smile, "I'm fine, really. I just…need time to adjust to everything."

Mahado let out another sigh before disappearing into the purple haze of the world in which Atem is choosing to situate himself in. Atem looked at the ground, the millennium puzzle still hung around his neck as he remembered his life before.

Domino city was hard to understand and being in the 21st century was hard to adjust too. Atem could remember the first moments Yugi put together the millennium puzzle, to the last moments where everyone stood crying at his departure. All the battles they won, all the adventures they had, all the people they met, and everything he experienced.

He would be lying to himself if he didn't say he was scared. Scared to leave them all behind; all of his new friends and family. He marched forward because he knew it was his duty, knew he had to or the world could be in jeopardy once again and yet, he couldn't help but second guess his decision.

"That solemn expression definitely gives your feelings away pharaoh," Seth said from behind him, emerging from the shadows to sit beside his cousin, "You were never really good at hiding them anyway, especially not to us."

"I can't…forget them" Atem clutched the millennium puzzle tightly, "It's been days-"

"Weeks, actually" Seth corrected, "But time really isn't of essence here. You have centuries to go."

"I…can't do this…" Atem sighed before standing up, "I can't just be…gone. I gave my life twice to save the world and I'm just expected to be okay with it? To leave everyone behind yet again: for the second time?"

"You need to accept your death pharaoh…" Seth frowned pointing to the world around them, "Otherwise this is all you'll ever see again. Ever experience."

"What if I don't want to be dead?" Atem narrowed his eyes towards his cousin. Seth looked somewhat shocked before chuckling loudly causing Atem to become agitated.

"It took you weeks to figure that out?" Seth continued to laugh as Atem turned away in almost a pout.

"I had a lot to think about…a lot to take in and experience." Atem folded his arms across his chest, "Furthermore, It wasn't an easy decision…my life with all of you was equally as important but…"

"And the life with us can always wait" Seth stated walking in front of Atem.

"As you said, I am dead…this is the afterlife, and I already made my decision" Atem sighed, "No amount of wishing to go back is going to make it come true. You can't bring the dead back to life and it's my destiny…Ishizu made that very clear. "

"I said you needed to accept your death, not that you were dead. You're not dead though, not yet." Seth turned to look at Atem who's expression changed instantly, "There's a reason you only see the shadow realm right now…because you haven't accepted death as your true path. You accepted that disposing of the items in the world causing grief had to be destroyed, but you didn't accept that you had to go with them."

"What are you saying?" Atem questioned his eyes wide in confusion.

"Pharaoh…or former pharaoh, I guess would be the correct term…you are currently caught between the world you came from and the afterlife. Your feelings are directly tied into your gifts my pha-Atem…they are keeping you here" Seth replied looking forward, "I'm not completely familiar with this process either, it's what Isis told me. The reason you can see me and experience us is the same reason why you're currently in the shadow realm and connected to the other world…"

"Some form of purgatory?" Atem questioned rubbing the bridge of his noise, "So you're telling me…I haven't passed on yet?"

"Not yet." Seth said, "The shadow realm you choose to be in right now is the bridge between the afterlife and the existing life and time that you were once in…Isis said the shadow realm still exists back in life, but that you've shaped this purgatory world to reflect it…"

Atem's eyes went wide and he grabbed his cousin, "So that means I still have a choice?!"

"Sort of…" Seth waved Atem's grip off of him and recomposed himself, "The god cards have already been brought back to the afterlife, along with all the millennium items…all but your millennium puzzle."

"So this is what's keeping me here…" Atem looked down at the millennium puzzle and gripped it tightly, "I couldn't bring myself to part with it…not after everything…"

"And that is the reason you haven't entered the afterlife yet," Seth pointed at the millennium puzzle, "That is harnessing your power and keeping you where your heart truly desires Atem…"

"I want to go back…" Atem nodded down at the puzzle before staring at Seth determinedly, "I want to go back and live a life…even if it means being a part of a world I only barely belonged in I…"

"Just want a chance to experience life." Seth finished as Atem nodded, " I understand that. For those of us here who died early, we accepted our fates…Mahado lived on through the Dark magician, and Mana went on to become an amazing magician and channeled her energy into Dark magician girl…I took over as pharaoh when you died and experienced my life…we all got in the end what our heart wanted. All of us but you"

"I was forced into protecting the world…" Atem shook his head, "No, I wanted to protect it…I knew I was the only one who could do it, at least at the time of Egypt so many years ago. When I was sealed in the puzzle, and awakened 3000 years later…I realized how wrong I was. I couldn't do it alone, and it took meeting Yugi, and his friends and experiencing that life to see that…In the end though, I knew what I had to do but…I couldn't…I can't just leave them, not again…"

Seth placed a firm hand on Atem's shoulders, "The others will think you're reckless but they'll understand in time…you need to go and live your life, Atem. You've earned it at this point…You can't go back to living your life with us unless you pass on…but by passing on you will truly cut the current time out of your life."

"I want to go back…" Atem looked up at Seth, "I still feel I have things I need to do."

"The other millennium items won't follow," Seth said looking down towards the millennium rod in his hand, "Even the millennium puzzle. Once you cross back into their world, the millennium puzzle will be gone…"

"So…I'll never see any of you again?" Atem asked looking down.

"I'm not sure, Atem." Seth shook his head, "This magic is new to us, and we still don't understand it completely. You may see us again when you finally truly die, whenever that may be…a day from now, a week…everyone is living on borrowed time. Or you may go somewhere we no longer will be, it's unclear."

"Then…" Atem looked down, realizing the grim reality of his decision. He heard murmuring only to see the rest of the priests and friends from millennium times appear in front of him. Mahado and Seth's father looked disappointed, while the others looked happy.

"We will always love you my pharaoh," Isis said sweetly placing a hand on his shoulder, "But you need to go and live a life, even if it's away from us. You have earned a second chance…a real second chance"

"You have given your life and yourself for us and the world multiple times..." Mahado said looking down before he faced Atem's gaze, "…but you need to do this for yourself. Use the power that's left in the millennium puzzle to bring you back and try your hand at your new life."

"Mahado…" Atem looked at him intensely as Mana giggled beside him. "Everyone…"

Atem took a deep breath before giving them a determined look. "Thank you."

"May our paths cross again someday my friend," Seth nodded before smirking, "…and watch over my reincarnation, make sure he doesn't mess everything up"

"My abilities…the power of the millennium puzzle…" Atem held it up and examined it, "Shadow realm still exists…I know that, more so then I did before. Without the millennium items it's not as much as a threat, but it's still there…I know the others can face it if it came on, but…I can't just leave them."

"Go my pharaoh but please remember…" Isis said hugging Atem before looking at him intensely, "The closer you get back to shadow magic and the shadow realm…I fear the closer you will be to your final days. And after this, there is no coming back to life…this is it."

"I know Isis…I'll be careful" Atem nodded, "being in my own body again…human again…it's felt like a dream"

"You won't be bond to Yugi anymore," Mahado stated as Atem nodded.

"I know…" He turned around to everyone and nodded, "Thank you, for always believing in me. I won't let any of you down."

The millennium puzzle began to glow surprising Atem as he didn't channel any of his energy yet.

"It's reacting to your spirit…your resolve" Seth exclaimed.

Atem relaxed his gaze as he felt a warm feeling come across him. He gave them all a nod before returning his gaze to the millennium puzzle. As it shattered and dissolved, a light purple and yellow mist remained where it once was held. Atem placed a hand in, took a deep breath and walked through.

Isis sighed before smiling as Mahado frowned.

"Why did you encourage him to go Seth?" Mahado asked, "He's suffered enough. And now he won't have the millennium puzzle to protect him…!"

"…because someone who could see the future told me this along time ago," Seth looked back at Isis and smiled as he wrapped an arm around Kisara, "That even when destiny wrote his death…that Atem would still find a way to defy it. He's meant to exist in the now, not suffer in the past with us…He was a pain in the ass, but still my cousin…and… my friend."

"Don't be worried Mahado," Mana nodded, "Our pharaoh will be okay! He has a whole new life to experience! How exciting."

"I'm still going to watch him," Mahado said as all the others sighed causing him to get irritated, "Only until I'm sure he'll be okay."

"I just gave a speech about how you accepted your passing to Atem…" Seth rolled his eyes, "You magicians…"

An intense bright light is all that he could see, as he emerged through the misty light. He closed his eyes as tightly as he could and as the light faded from his eyelids he felt his stomach turn. Light began to show through his eyelids again and as he eased his eyes opened he saw bright lights coming towards him. He snapped his eyes open just in time to see a car coming and jumped out of the way.

He looked down at the ground as he slowly got up and inspected his hands. He was wearing the same Domino High uniform that he did the last day he was alive only this time his tan and bronze skin was what was underneath it. He felt all around his body and sighed deeply. His very own body back.

Atem blinked and looked around. He recognized the sand around him and laughed.

"I'm in Egypt…" Atem looked around. "Looks like I'm back in Cairo…"

He thought for a moment before making his way towards the inner city. He checked his pockets and he had nothing on him, no money and no form of electronics. 'It's not like I'd be able to work them anyway…' Atem thought scratching his head, 'That's one thing I really relied on the others for…'

He looked around, walking by people who stared at him awkwardly. He laughed to himself, delighted they could actually see him rather than seeing him within Yugi. They were actually looking at him directly and he wasn't a ghost or a spirit but really there.

He continued to wander around the city taking in all the smells and feel of the air. It was hot especially in the uniform but he was happy to be back. It was about midafternoon peak time for heat in Egypt and he quickly found the joy slip away as his body felt heavy from the heat.

"A…Atem..?!"

A voice came from behind him. He froze and turned around slowly, unsure of who it was behind him. Atem's eyes went wide as he gasped at who was behind him.

"Ishizu!" Atem exclaimed in delight as he took a few steps forward. She stepped back narrowing her expression and clutching the basket of fruit.

"No…what kind of magic is this?" She asked as she put up a hand, "Don't come any closer"

Atem stopped, frozen by Ishizu's words. He sighed taking in a deep breath before explaining.

"I know how this looks…" Atem began, "But it's me…we have a lot to talk about"

"I don't know who you think you are…" Ishizu began reaching into her bag to pull out a phone, "But you better leave immediately..!"

"Your family were the Ishtars, charged with keeping the tomb of the pharaoh safe until his return…" Atem began but Ishizu narrowed her eyes.

"That isn't exactly private knowledge anymore, thanks to battle city and my brother…" Ishizu stated.

"I went to see you the eve of the tournament…Yugi gave me possession of his body but I made sure to close off his mind so he couldn't hear what we discussed," Atem tried again, "You told me of my destiny…and that it was to gain the Egyptian god cards. I didn't want Yugi to know because I knew he would try to talk me out of it…I knew I had a purpose and a reason for still living and that my answers lay in that tablet. That tablet became the gateway to my memories where I learned about my Egyptian past…where I met your former self Isis, who was the former wielder of the millennium necklace…and how Mahado, gave up his life and fused into the spirit of the Dark Magician…"

"…how do you know all of this…" Ishizu's eyes went wide, "Some if it maybe but…the ancient memories? My former self? How…"

"The millennium items hold much more power then we realized…" Atem stated taking a step forward, "You of all people should know this"

"But your purpose…! Then that means the millennium items?!" Ishizu gasped, "My pharaoh why?! Why would you risk that?!"

"The millennium items are gone for good…including the Egyptian god cards" Atem shook his head, "The millennium puzzle granted me it's final use…"

"Its final use?" Ishizu asked taking a few steps forward, "Then…?"

"The millennium puzzle granted me my final desire…and that was to return to my friends, my present friends for a second chance…a real second chance, without being bonded as a soul in another's body" Atem stated nodding, "At least that's what I figured since I-"

Atem felt warm arms wrapped around him into a firm hug as he saw the basket fall. He was shocked at first but slowly smiled as he closed his eyes and returned the hug. After a few moments she gently pulled away staring at him intently.

"I'm sorry for my hesitation…" Ishizu bowed slightly, "With everything that happened…I had to be sure I wasn't seeing…a ghost."

"It's okay…I know how this must look," Atem said looking himself over, "Especially since I was in control of Yugi and I don't exactly look like him anymore…"

"It truly is a miracle…" Ishizu stated picking up her basket before nodding, "The millennium puzzle brought you here?"

"Just before it disappeared into the afterlife along with the other millennium items…" Atem stated before frowning, "They are all gone…I don't even know if I could ever see them all again"

"…" Ishizu looked down before smiling, "The important thing is you're here now. You must be so humid in those clothes, come on…I'm sure some of Malik's stuff will fit you."

Atem looked up and smiled at Ishizu as he walked with her back to her place. He couldn't help but look up at the clear sunny day with a big smile on his face to feel the heat of the sun again.

Prologue end.

AN: So this is just the very long start! Kinda like a pre chapter 1 and to gauge if it'll flow okay. Trying to get into more descriptive writing, hope it went okay! Definitely always express what you think, even if it's constructive criticism. I am happy to improve where I can to make the story more interesting for you!