Chapter 1: The Return

September 2004

"Hey Yuge!" A Brooklyn-accented voice hollered as Yugi reached for the doors of Domio High School's entrance. Yugi turned and spotted Joey, Tristan, and Tea jogging with four unfamiliar teen girls. "You would not believe it! We got these-er-new students." A faint pink patch appeared on his cheeks as he eyed one of them, a thin blond girl.

"Nice save, Wheeler." Tristan smirked, punching Joey in the arm. "Ladies, let me show you to your classes."

"That would be great. We just started here." The other blond smiled at Tristan and followed him inside. "I'm Lena, nice to meet you."

"Not as nice as it is to meet you." Tristan replied smoothly, giving a grin over his shoulder at Joey.

"The name's Joey and I placed fourth in Battle City." Joey bragged.

"And you will always be last in my book, Wheeler." A cold voice replied, setting Joey's teeth visibly on edge.

"Kaiba, why do you always have to interrupt my game?" Joey growled, glaring up at the impossibly tall, lean figure of Seto Kaiba, as the teen approached.

"What game?" Seto raised an eyebrow. He turned to the remaining girls. "I don't believe I've seen you girls around here. The name's Seto Kaiba. The best duelist around."

Joey coughed loudly, which sounded a lot like "Yugi". Yugi choked back a laugh.

Seto looked unfazed as the blond blushed faintly. "I'll see you around, miss-?"

"Luna Reynolds. And I hope so." Luna gave him a smile.

Seto strode into the school and Joey growled. "Oh I'm going to so punch him one of these days."

"He's like a foot taller than you." Yugi pointed out, laughing. "And he could probably stop you easily."

"You're a load of help, Yuge." Joey grumbled and stormed into the school.

"Is he always like that around Seto Kaiba?" the taller brunette asked.

"That's him on a good day." Yugi chuckled. "I'm Yugi."

"Hali. And this is my sister Hailey. We're quadruplets."

"Wow, that's pretty cool. You two look a lot a like, though."

Hali shrugged. "Guess how it works sometimes. See you around?"

"Sure." Yugi smiled and led them into the school.

After school, Yugi invited the girls over to his grandfather's game shop. "You miss him, don't you?" Joey asked quietly.

Yugi looked up, having not realized he had been lost in thought. "Yeah, every day." He said softly.

The bell tinkled as the door opened and Seto entered. "Kaiba, what brings you here?" Yugi asked startled.

"I have an offer for you." Seto strode over to the display case and lifted a briefcase onto the glass top. He unclasped the catches and lifted the lid. Inside, glowing in the bright lights of the shop, were the pieces of the Millennium puzzle. "I want to duel the Pharaoh again. Put the Puzzle together so I can."

"I-I don't think that will work." Yugi stammered, backing away from the display case.

"Do it, and I will give you any card you desire from my collection except my Blue-Eyes." Seto persisted, his eyes blazing. "I will not rest without being champion.

"He's gone, Kaiba. He should be able to rest in peace." Yugi shook his head.

"You want to see him as much as I want to duel him. I will leave these with you and think about it. Contact me when you make the decision." Kaiba turned on his heel and strode out of the shop.

"What is going on?" Hailey asked, confused.

"We have something to tell you. It's something the press didn't get word of." Joey said, walking over to the game shop door and turning the lock. He quickly explained the story while Yugi stared at the briefcase in shock.

"So those pieces once held a 3,000-year-old pharaoh?" Hali asked, shocked.

"Yes, and it could be our only chance to see our buddy again. But it almost killed Yugi to lose him once, it has to be his decision to do it." Tristan explained.

Yugi looked up at them, a determined look on hi face. "Atem would want to face Kaiba. He never backed down from a challenge and he would want to face this one if he can." He reached for the pieces and began to work. I wish I could have Atem back for good.

"That's it, Yuge!" Tristan hooted, pumping his fit.

In no time, Yugi had the Puzzle completed and he slipped the chain around his neck. "Okay, Pharaoh, if you're there, show yourself."

A brilliant flash of light blinded them momentarily, making them cover their eyes. When it faded they looked and Atem stood beside Yugi, proud and confident. "Am I really here?" he asked softly, looking around. He stared in shock at Yugi, who was solid as well.

"Oh my…" Hali gasped, softly, blushing.

"Wait, there are two of you?" Joey gasped.

"Atem? Is that really you?" Yugi flung himself at Atem, sobbing. Atem caught him, letting the teen cry against him. "He's here, guys! It's really him!" he cried in relief.

Joey, Tristan, and Tea converged, hugging Atem. "We missed you so much." Tea whispered.

"I missed you guys so much too." Atem smiled through his own tears.

"What about Kaiba?" Hali reminded them, bringing the happy reunion back to Earth.

Atem grew serious, looking at his best friends. "What about Kaiba?"

"He challenged you to a duel, that's why I brought you back." Yugi explained, stepping back.

"And how did you bring him back, may I ask?" Joey asked.

"I-I don't know. When I was putting the Puzzle back together, I wished for you to be back for good and it must have worked like my wish for friends." Yugi explained.

"Sorry to cut this reunion short, but I must tend to the rematch with Kaiba." Atem replied as Yugi handed him their old deck and headed for the door, glancing at Hali. He stopped and did a double take, glancing at Yugi for answers, but Yugi shrugged as if to say he would explain later and he left.

"Is he going to be okay?" Hali asked.

"He can take care of himself. He's a great duelist." Yugi grinned. "A little secret? He was the one that dueled most of the time when I was champion."

"You're kidding! Really? No wonder you seemed so confident. No offense, but he seems a lot more confident." Hali glanced at the door and fanned herself.

"Hey! I have confidence." Yugi complained hotly.

"Yes, you have lots of confidence, Yuge." Joey sighed.

Atem arrived at the KaibaCorp Dome and met Seto at the arena. "You ready to duel, Kaiba?" he challenged.

"Of course, I was waiting for you, Pharaoh." Seto smirked. He tossed Atem a duel disk.

"I prefer Atem, if you don't mind. It's my real name." Atem slid the deck into the deck slot.

"Fine, Atem." Seto did the same and the duel started.

Atem won by a close margin as usual and smirked. "As usual you can't accept that the only way to win is to use the Heart of the Cards."

"There is no heart of the cards, Atem." Seto walked off, calling over his shoulder, "you can see yourself out."

Atem left the dome, chuckling to himself.

Atem returned home to his friends anxiously waiting. "Well?" Yugi asked, expectantly.

"Did you expect me to lose?" Atem raised an eyebrow.

"I knew you could do it. You can take the Pharoah out of the game but you can't take the game out of the Pharaoh!" Joey laughed, clapping Atem on the back.

"Congratulations." Hali went over to stand in front of Atem. "I haven't introduced myself. I'm Hali, the new student at school."

"Atem. Pleasure to meet you." Atem took her hand and lifted it up to kiss it.

"Wait! I spent years with you and went on a date set up by Yugi, and she gets a kiss on the cheek? What's up with that?" Tea snapped, outraged.

Atem looked over at her apologetic. "Tea, I was saving the world. I didn't have dating as a priority. Sorry."

"Now you have time?" Hali asked hopefully.

"I hopefully have all the time in the world to explore all the options this time has to offer. Including dating." Atem gave her a smile. Tea scowled. "But I should give Tea a chance as well."

"That's fair. You know her better than you know me." Hali nodded.

"Just give me time and we'll see where it goes from there, okay?" Atem told both of them.

"That's fair." Tea nodded, as did Hali.