Notes: **arches an eyebrow** Well, majority voted Lupin by a landslide, but I'll find a way to stick Umbridge in, probably. You guys are all sadists, wanting to see someone get mind-crushed. :P Oh well, I wouldn't mind seeing that either. ^_^()

I hope this chapter doesn't scare anyone away. It's in a different... taste than most of my recent writing.

Anyway, enjoy!

-- JAPANESE GLOSSARY --

Yes, there will be Japanese words... not excessively so and I think I shouldn't really even have to translate them, but oh well. ^_^ My excuse is that Yugi is a Japanese in England. He does have an accent. He didn't use one of those handy-dandy translation spells, and so he will have a tendency to revert to his native tongue... if only in his head, kapeesh?

Aibou: "partner" if you look it up in the dictionary, but I tend to think it's deeper than that when used between yami and hikari and therefore can't quite be translated. Maybe something a little closer to "soulmate".

Ano: "Umm..."

Hikari: "Light"

Sugoi: "Amazing!/Awesome!"

Yami: "Dark"

Chapter 2: Breathe

Yami was pretty happy for a dead guy.

He walked, he talked and yes, he breathed... but only on occasion. Breathing was overrated anyway.

Unlike most dead guys (who were languishing in eternal retirement six-feet under), he had a part-time job and would have a full-time one come September... or rather his hikari had a part-time job and his hikari would have a full-time one come September (being dead kinda puts a damper on your credentials: "Hi, I died, what have you accomplished in life?"), but his hikari didn't mind sharing a body, and that was always a plus.

He also had friends-

"Hey, Lightning!" called an overly cheerful voice.

Supposedly... (Yugi rolled his eyes.)

Yami sighed as he redid the laces of his boots. "Hello Si'."

Simon Wright was 24, two years older than Yugi and 4998 years younger than Yami, if you excluded the whole being-dead thing. He was tall and blonde and "respectable", usually seen wearing a modest set of formal robes.

But I digress.

The "Lightning conspiracy", as Yami had come to call it, began roughly a week ago.

Roughly a week ago, he'd been moved up, literally, from the basement to the lobby, where he'd been put on part-time counter-duty for the back-to-school "hyperactive influx of chatterbox children". One of the families that had come for school supplies had brought a three year old with them, and upon seeing Yami (who was in control at the time), or more specifically Yami's hair, the toddler had pointed and proudly declared, "Ligh'ning!" in loud and squeaky voice.

Tugging of said hair ensued, to the horror of the apologetic parents and the amusement of the other workers, mainly the aforementioned Mr. Wright.

...That was the closest the spirit had ever come to dying of mortification.

Yugi (the traitor), had been snickering quietly for three days straight, trying vainly not to aggravate his other half, but still had to suppress bouts of laughter ever time he heard the nickname. This case was no different, although Yami was grateful for the fact that his other had grown slightly better at concealing his amusement.

"What's up?" Yami acknowledged with a nod, determined not to show weakness.

The clerk walked up to meet him by the door with a slight grin. Simon, unfortunately, had done nothing but encourage nickname, much to Yami's ire, but Yugi had jokingly forbidden him from sending the man to the Shadow Realm, so there wasn't much the spirit could do.

"Your hair, for one."

Yami snorted. "That was bad, Si'."

The man shrugged, grinning. "I can't help it," he confessed, and messed up the tri-coloured hair, side-stepping just in time to avoid a fist in the gut. "How did you get your hair like that?"

"I keep telling you, it's natural."

"I'll never believe you."

The ex-pharaoh arched a cynical eyebrow. "You live in a world where it's common practice to fling miniature gnomes out of your gardens and you can't accept that my hair is tri-coloured by nature?"

"What's so unusual about de-gnoming?"

Yugi giggled in his soul room.

"Never mind Si'," Yami shook his head resignedly.

Simon shrugged cluelessly. "You going out?" the older man asked.

"Yeah," the spirit confirmed, frowning as he tried to imitate his other's speech patterns. "Did you need me for something?"

"No, no, not at all," the man assured with a frown of his own. "But it's late, shouldn't you be heading home? The streets aren't as safe as they used to be."

Is that what he's worried about? thought Yami with amusement as he strapped in the last of his boot buckles.

/It's almost like having Grampa back, huh?/ Yugi smiled fondly. /Well... a younger, taller, blonde version of Grandpa anyway./

Yami and Yugi had seen their own share of enemies, and they were fairly confident that they could take care of anyone who was ignorant enough to cross their path. Unfortunately, he couldn't tell Simon that without raising some interesting questions, especially since their method of "dealing" with threats didn't quite fit into normal wizarding conventions.

Staring out into the darkness, the ex-pharaoh smirked, clasping a midnight cloak around his shoulders. "I'll be fine, Si'. I just need to make a trip to Gringotts and I'll be heading home. Don't worry about me." The door jangled as he pushed it open and Yami grinned deviously. "Besides, you should take your own advice. I seem to remember Rose-san saying she had a surprise waiting for you."

The grin on the game-king's face stretched wider when he noticed the dense, dreamy look spreading over Simon's face. Rose was Simon's long-time girlfriend. Any fool could see that he was head over heels for her, and that she felt the same about him. Yugi thought it was the sweetest thing, next to pixie sticks (the wizarding version had wings).

"Not as big a surprise as I have for her," the store clerk smiled, and glanced over both his shoulders in an exaggerated show of suspicion before leaning in and pulling a small velvet box out of the folds of his robe.

"What do you think of this, eh?"

Yami stared. Sitting proudly in it's ruby cushion was a delicate golden ring, tipped with three perfectly cut diamonds.

Engagement ring, Yugi's subconscious supplied, and his eyes widened.

/Sugoi!/ his hikari cheered.

Then Yami blinked, pushing down the waves of hyperactive glee he felt from his other self, and met Simon's eyes as he announced flatly in his best imitation of a British accent: "I'm sorry, old chap, but you're not my type."

"You-"

It was a good thing Yugi's body was a lot more athletic than it used to be, otherwise dodging all those books might have been considerably more difficult.

"-And damned if I invite you to the bachelor party!"

///Damn.///

Gringott's Wizarding Bank, 7:47 pm.

At this time in the evening, Gringott's wasn't exactly bustling with clients. Most people were happily eating supper with their families and relaxing after a long day's work.

Gringott's however, prided itself for its reliable service, and would therefore be open for a while yet.

"Next!"

The wizard in question was extraordinary even by goblin standards, and by goblin standards, all humans were already innately unusual (Not that they ever said so out loud. That would be bad business!). In any case, the only indication that this particular goblin, teller number 7, found his client to be the least bit strange was the quirking of a sweeping eyebrow.

"May I help you?" the goblin asked in a nasal voice, his angled specs slipping a millimetre down his crooked nose.

The wizard smiled and bowed, something that made the goblin quirk both eyebrows. "Hai- I mean, yes. I'd like to open an account."

"Name?"

"Yugi Mouto."

"Mmmhmm..." the goblin grunted, handed Yugi a bunch of papers, and said: "Follow him, please."

"What?"

"Follow me, please," another goblin repeated as it appeared at Yugi's elbow as if by magic (//I wouldn't be surprised if it was, Aibou.//). Yugi yelped and jumped about a foot in the air.

"Oh," the young man noted sheepishly. "Alright. Thank you."

"This way," the goblin droned, speeding off down a corridor. Gringott's, Yugi would find, had a lot of corridors.

//Interesting place,// Yami commented as they walked down the fire-lit, marble-and-stone hallway. The magnificent chandeliers hanging high overhead were dusted with cobwebs and their footsteps echoed loudly in the near-empty corridor.

/Ancient and antique. You should feel right at home./

//Oi!//

Yugi smirked, an interesting habit he'd picked up from his other.

"Sir?"

"Yes?" Yugi snapped back into attention.

"Please have a seat. Someone will be with you as soon as you finish filling out the forms."

"Uh... thanks," Yugi blinked, setting himself down on the cushioned chair across from an elaborately polished desk.

The goblin nodded solemnly and left.

/Ano, how exactly are they going to know when I've finished my forms?/

//Magic?// his yami suggested wryly.

Yugi sent a mental glare, causing his other to chuckle lowly.

//Ask a stupid question...//

/That's quite enough out of you./

Picking up a fountain pen (why did wizards insist on quills when goblins had no problems with pens?) Yugi set to work.

About five minutes later, he was just setting down his pen when a pop was heard and Yugi jumped for the second time that day.

Staring placidly at him from across the desk was an old, distinguished looking goblin seated in a large, high-backed armchair. It was definitely bigger than Yugi's chair, which was interesting since the goblin was that much smaller than Yugi.

//It's a mind game, Aibou,// Yami sent telepathically. //All the more power to you if you ignore it.// The yami paused. //Or better yet, let me deal with this.//

Curiosity piqued, Yugi acceded control to his other, the light of the Puzzle hidden by his thick black cloak.

Hiding a smile, Yami stood and bowed formally at the waist. "Good evening."

Although he wasn't sure, Yami thought he saw the goblin twitch.

Yugi arched an eyebrow as he watched from his soul room.

/Y'know, the teller did that too when I bowed./

//Mmm... I get the feeling they're not too used to being shown much respect, despite the position they hold.//

/Oh?/

//Humans in general tend to consider themselves superior to any other race, Aibou. It's the same as it is with shadow monsters.//

Pensively, Yugi nodded slowly, knowing full well that many duelists took their cards, their monsters, for granted.

The goblin blinked once, owlishly. "Please, sit."

"Thank you," Yami replied as he sat, his deep voice melodic and soothing.

Leaning back in his chair, the goblin wove his fingers together in front of him. "You'd like to open an account?"

"Yes," Yami agreed and pushed his papers forward.

"Very good," the goblin said solemnly as he looked over the papers. "You do not have an account at another bank?"

"Not a wizarding one, no."

The goblin hmmmed. "We do require a minimum installation to open an account."

At that, Yami arched an eyebrow. He didn't have much by way of wizarding money. His work for Mr. Brooke was mostly voluntary, and he hadn't been paid until recently when he'd taken up counter duty at the store-owner's insistence.

"How much?" the spirit asked, eyes narrowing slightly.

"50 galleons at the very least."

Yami leaned forward, elbows on the armrests of his chair. "I'm afraid I don't have much by way of wizarding money, Mister...?"

Again, the goblin twitched. "Cragspire."

"Mr. Cragspire," Yami nodded as he rolled up his sleeves. "Would these do?" he inquired calmly as he took off his various armlets and wristbands, all of which were as close to pure gold as they could get without being too pliable. The wristbands were encrusted with polished rubies, and lined with some unknown black metal. They thudded heavily as they were placed on the desk.

He'd received them from Ishizu during the time he'd spent in Egypt. Although he wasn't positive, he was fairly sure they were the same pair he had worn as pharaoh, so he didn't normally wear them, preferring the lighter, leather wristbands, but this morning he'd felt the urge to put them on and Yugi had complied.

Picking up one of the wristbands, the goblin twitched again, more noticeably this time.

Apparently his urge was paying off. Yami swallowed a chuckle.

"Still not enough?" he asked, wiping blonde bangs away from his poker face before he started taking off his rings, once again, gold. One was shaped into falcon, wings spread into a circular shape, the other was a winding cobra, poised to strike. The rest were small and plain.

Thud thud thud.

The golden chokers � la Malik were next, followed by a small ankh earring.

The goblin stared. The very idea that someone could wear that much gold on them! Possibly even out in plain view were anyone could steal them! The possible losses... The carelessness!

Cragspire twitched.

Yami blinked.

Yugi shook quietly with convulsions of suppressed laughter.

You could hear a pin drop.

"Ra, don't make me give up my Puzzle too!" Yami finally exclaimed, although it was with a notable tone of humour in his voice. "Are you trying to rob me blind?"

The goblin snapped-to at the word "rob". "Rob" was synonymous with the word "steal" which was synonymous with the word "embezzle" which was practically sacrilegious!

"That will not be necessary, sir! That's quite enough," the goblin said primly, jumping into action as he started scribbling furiously on the forms.

//Breathe, Yugi,// the spirit admonished jokingly, leaning back in his chair with an air of barely concealed satisfaction.

/-Can't!/ Yugi replied briefly, heaved a metaphysical breath, and went back to laughing.

Yami watched his light fondly as the link between them thrummed.

There was another small pop and Yami looked up.

"This is the key to your vault," the goblin was saying, sliding the small, nondescript key across the desk. "I think I shouldn't have to tell you not to lose it."

Yami nodded, smiling slightly.

"Please sign here..." Cragspire ordered as he pointed to a piece of paper. Yami scanned the paper thoroughly before doing so with a flourish.

"Thank you," the goblin said shortly, "Your vault is number 572. Should you, at any time, wish to deposit or withdraw from your account, please show the teller your key and give your name."

"Thank you," Yami returned as he stood and bowed again before turning to leave.

Twitch, went the goblin's eyebrow.

In his soul room, Yugi covered his face as his giggled. /I think we should stop doing that./

//We'll negotiate,// Yami said regally, which only served to set his other off again. The pharaoh rolled his eyes. Then suddenly, just past the threshold, he stopped. //Yugi?//

/Yeah?/

//How, exactly, do we get out of here?//

Sometime later... lots and lots of corridors later, Yami had finally managed to find a goblin to see him back to the entrance.

//They need a map for this place!// the pharaoh grumbled. Yugi agreed wholeheartedly. He was pretty sure that they'd seen all the corridors Gringott's had to offer by now. Twice.

"EVERYONE GET BACK!!!" an anxious voice bellowed suddenly.

CRACK!

Eyes widening, Yami spun towards the doors, where people were beginning to gather in morbid fascination. Beyond the entrance of Gringott's, loud cracks could be heard, like something large being torn apart... and underneath that deafening noise had been the panicked shouts and screams of many people.

/What was that?!/

//We'll find out.//

The pharaoh dashed for the exit and dodged his way through the crowd, screeching to a stop just outside the doors.

Diagon Alley was under attack.

CRACK!

The spirit recoiled when a stray spell hit only inches away from his face, stopped by some invisible barrier that seemed to diffuse the spell in a golden ripple when it hit.

/It's a force field of some sort... like Mirror Wall, except it doesn't reflect direct attacks,/ Yugi surmised.

//How long do you think it will hold?// the dark countered grimly.

CRACK!!

Yami hissed.

/Yami, we can't stay here. There's got to be something we can do.../

Lips pressed together, Yami nodded unconsciously as he gripped the Puzzle and took a step forward.

"What are you doing?!" A hand dropped onto his shoulder. An old wizard with a balding head frowned disapprovingly. "Don't you know that Gringott's is the safest place you could be, next to Hogwarts and the Ministry? Don't head out there!" he yelled, wiping at his brow with a handkerchief.

Around him, the crowd murmured fearfully, caught between trying to see all the action and their innate sense of self-preservation.

Yami turned and glared. "People are dying," the spirit growled and the stranger took a hasty step away from the odd young man with the gleaming red eyes.

Without waiting for a response, yami and hikari ran though the barrier with a golden flash and stepped into the fray.

Somewhere else, deep within an forebodingly enormous room, a pale figure languished on a dark throne.

He comesssss, Masster... hissed a serpentine voice, and the figure glanced up towards the door as it creaked hesitantly open.

"My Lord?"

"Come," the figure drawled, "I have little patience for fools."

The newcomer hastily scrambled in, dropping to his knees as he prostrated himself in front of the throne.

"My Lord, it's done."

The snake hissed, slithering around her master.

"Good." A gangly hand reached down to stroke the snake as gleaming red eyes stared contemptuously down at the Deatheater. "Very good."

The attack on Diagon Alley was surprisingly quick.

By the time Yami reached the first Dark Mark, the area was just going into aftershock.

So Yami had reluctantly let Yugi reassume control and his hikari had spent his time flitting from one casualty to the next, offering what comfort he could, eyes growing sadder and sadder each time.

//Yugi... you'll wear yourself out.//

/I'm fine, Yami./

//Which, in hero-speak can be translated to: "let me suffer in peace".//

/Don't even try to compare me to a hero of any sort- Wait, Yami... this place./

Whirling around, Yugi froze.

The Dark Mark was hovering over the Flourish and Blotts, identical to the ones hovering all over Diagon Alley.

/Y-Yami... Si's shift isn't over yet,/ Yugi whispered, dismayed.

//Wait, Yugi!// the spirit called urgently. //Let me-//

The door chimes jingled mockingly as Yugi went in.

Tables and shelves had been overturned and the floor was covered with ashes, making his eyes water. Grey was sprinkled with bits of white as loose pages fluttered forlornly.

Yugi gulped. Oh my God, please no.

//Aibou...!// Yami called worriedly.

Breath hitching, the hikari walked wordlessly towards the counter.

The thing about magical attacks is that quite a few spells worked internally, causing terrible, grievous harm without blemishing the victim at all. The dead could be beautiful, unmarked, but still dead.

Yugi thought it was all horribly unfair.

"S-Simon-san?" he whispered hopefully as he walked around the counter. And then he choked.

Simon lay unmoving on his side as he faced the wall. Part of the cieling seemed to have been blown clear off and the sickly green glow of the Dark Mark covered everything. Simon looked like a corpse.

"Simon-san?" Yugi called again with urgency as he knelt by the body and cradled the man's head. "Simon-san... Simon!"

So cold! Colder than any human had right to be.

A breath, slow and tortured.

Blearily, the clerk opened his eyes and smiled wanly, his fingers clutching at his chest.

"Yu-gi...?"

"Ssshh... I'll get help, Si'-" Yugi babbled as his Yami prowled restlessly in his soul room. "Don't-"

"Light'..." Simon said, eyes glazed as they stared at him, and Yugi drew a hissing breath before he realized the man was only abbreviating his nickname, and not addressing him as hikari. "Ask her for me..." he pleaded shoving something blindly at him, "Ask her if she would've said yes."

Belatedly, Yugi realized his friend had been clutching a velvet box to his heart: the velvet box that was now resting forlornly in his hand.

"No, I couldn't- Si'? Simon?! Simon!"

There was no answer. There never would be.

Simon Wright, aged 24, died with a wistful smile on his unmarked face as a grieved hikari knelt silently by his side, his insubstantial yami standing solemnly on guard.

A week later.

It should be raining, was Yugi's first thought.

How strange that now in London, notorious for it's muggy weather, not a single drop was seen when rain was needed most.

Rain, at least, would give some semblance of tears on Rose's pale, white and notably dry complexion

Fifteen graves.

Some would consider that lucky... that the casualties could well have reached the hundreds, but has far as Yugi was concerned, one was too many. As it was, countless others were laid up in St. Murgo's.

/Why do I have to do this?/ Yugi asked forlornly as he squeezed his eyes shut. When he opened them again, the scene had not changed. Rose stood unmoving in a sea of black-clad mourners, staring fixatedly at nothing.

//Because it was his last wish,// Yami supplied grimly.

The lighter half sighed as his hands gripped convulsively at a nondescript little box.

/It's so unfair./

//I know.//

"Rose-san?" Yugi called timidly.

She looked up and attempted to smile, only to fall short of her goal. "Mr. Mouto..."

Yugi shook his head, and offered the box with both hands, arms extended as he bowed at the waist. "He wanted... ano..."

He almost lost his balance when he the box was plucked out of his hands.

"Ano... he wanted to know if you would've said 'yes'," Yugi finished in a whisper, head still bowed.

Silence...

And more silence.

Yugi was starting to panic.

"I-"

He jerked up when he heard a choked sob. Rose White was crying. Yugi had never thought that he'd ever be glad to see a woman cry.

"Rose-san..."

"You w-were there... when he died?"

Yugi nodded wordlessly.

"I see..." She closed her eyes. "Yes," she answered, fingering the ring as it sat peacefully in its little velvet box. "Yes, I would have." She smiled then, half-heartedly. "Thank you for this, Mr. Mouto." She drew a shuddering breath and walked slowly away, never looking back once.

Yugi let go of the breath he'd been holding as he watched her, running a hand tiredly through his hair.

Ne, Si', now you have your answer.

He felt a pulse of warmth from his other and was grateful for it. It eased the ache in his chest.

"Love and death raise our most intense reactions."

Jumping, Yugi turned. "Headmaster..."

Albus Dumbledore smiled kindly as he stood beside his newest employee, but his normally twinkling eyes were dark and stormy.

"Death is the ultimate force we have yet to overcome..." the old man said, "but I shudder to think what would happen if we ever do."

"'Who wants to live forever?'" Yugi quoted with a hint of irony in his voice, fingering his Puzzle.

"Indeed."

Yugi turned and stared up at Dumbledore's still profile before turning back to look at the graves. They were being filled now and it was all so... final.

"Headmaster... I might be a little late for the start of term."

"Oh?" Albus asked, stroking his silvery beard.

Had the old wizard been looking, he would've seen the barest flicker of crimson in the Japanese teacher's eyes.

Yami smiled grimly as the frozen wind whipped around him. "Yes. I believe there are some things I need to settle first."

A storm was finally brewing.

TBC

Notes: Too melodramatic? -_- I'm sorry, I'm not much good with anything other than humour. Did anyone mind Rose-san? I'm always reluctant to include female OCs, unless they're considerably younger or older and have absolutely no chance of getting together with a main character. ^_^()

I think we'll get to Hogwarts next chapter, and Harry and Co. should make a reappearance. Oh, and Yami'll get to go on a rampage. @_@ Can I make vengence humourous?

Thanks to:

Autumn Ann, Cherry, crystaldolphin88, Elise, Minta, Myst4Drgn, Ranma Higurashi, Ryasha and theunexpecteddragon.

benign sadist: Practically everybody else has him as a transfer. Besides, I already have a fic about a transfer student. He's white-haired, chocolate eyed, and has been feeling neglected for the past two months. ^_^() Nope, Harry and Co. will definitely be present once I move the setting to Hogwarts, but my main focus is Yugi, else I would've put this in the HP section. I'd really like to stick Seto in at some point (he's been feeling neglected too) but... **shrugs**

ChaosDragon: **arches an eyebrow** Marik? Teach?! He wouldn't last an hour. **grins** I might bring Ryou in somehow. He's a wonderful character to tortu- er... play with.

giggleplex: I'm glad the summary amused you. ^_^ It was designed to. **sigh** There's never much to say about my fics plot-wise, is there? **pout** And please don't self destruct: the next chapter is here. It would be nice to have my readers in one piece. ;)

Jimbiny Lupin-Wood: **blinks** Heaven forbid that the rabid pink flying bunnies should ever be set loose on anybody. :P

lavergne: Hmmm... that's a good point about Yugi never attending a formal magic school. I'll be sure to raise some hell over that. *evil grin** Nope, Harry stayed with the Dursley's so far but now he's going to the Weasley's. "Brother Down"? Heh, I didn't think people read much of that. It's on hiatus, but "Is This Normal" is still in the works.

Lethe: Fixed "that hug" problem, I think, although it took me a couple of tries ("than hung"). I think you are the sole reader who voted for Umbridge. :D I'll see what I can do. I hope you weren't disappointed with this chapter, seeing that Harry and Co. weren't in it at all. **sigh** Well, tell me what you think, ne?

Lonely Vigil: I couldn't write romance of any sort to save my life, but still Yami and Yugi are pretty tight, I think. Some of their interaction can be taken that way.

Molly-chan the Anime/game fan: I'm still hoping that Sirius will come back somehow. I mean, it's not as if they have a corpse to prove that he's dead.

Shenya: Hai, hai, I know, I'll get around to Is This Normal? I promise. I can't help it if there are so many interesting possibilities for that fic... and that I have to try writing out a number of scenarios before deciding on one... call me compulsive. -_-()

Tuulikki: Hi! Nice to hear from you again... although I suppose that's my own fault since I haven't posted anything in ages, huh?

Tyger and Darkdracofire: Yay! Original is what I was going for. :)

Windswift: Yes, you are indeed the first reviewer. **showers you with brownie points** :D