I had a sudden fit of inspiration after I read a super sweet Vaseshipping RP on Tumblr - please visit this chapter on my AO3 profile for the link, as FF is terrible for allowing you to do anything that involves links. I had SpiritualPuzzleshipper screaming in joy when I showed her this first chapter so hopefully the rest of you will enjoy it as well!

Every morning, she was there. Packed into the train in the horrendous Japanese rush-hour like so many sardines, and yet, she never seemed to mind. Book in hand, and headphones in situ, she always found a spot amidst the crush that accommodated her, and lost herself in numerous fantasy worlds.

Every morning, Atem stared at her. He really didn't mean to, and half the time probably didn't realise he was doing it, but stare he did. She never noticed, too absorbed in her book, but she would always smile at him as they left the train at the same stop, and the flash of teeth and delicate, upturned lips made butterflies explode in the former Pharaoh's stomach every time.

Is this what I've been reduced to? Leering like a perverted old man at a perfect stranger?

She was beautiful, yes, but that wasn't the reason Atem stared.

She looks like…she looks so much like…

But he never could pluck up the courage to speak to her, or ask her name.

"Mou hitori no boku, are you sure? Really sure? Your eyes aren't playing tricks on you again, are they?"

Ah…there was the voice that always forced him to stop and think a little.

Atem twitched his nose, shifting his glasses back into their usual place, and sighed. Not for the first time, he marvelled at modern advancements; he couldn't see nearly this well 3,000 years ago, and he'd gotten more than a little excited when he found out that yes, he certainly could wear those delightful red frames. "I can't be sure," he admitted, "but I just have this gut feeling…and I can't seem to shake it off."

Yugi gave a muffled giggle as he took a voracious bite of his hamburger. "Well, you're going to have to either say hi to her soon, or stop staring, because sooner or later, somebody is going to go all "white knight" on you and punch you in the nose."

Atem didn't know what Yugi meant by "white knight", but he didn't much fancy the idea of being punched in the nose. Uttering another sigh, he poked at the box of French fries before him on the table. Burger World had sounded like a good idea at the time, but now he wasn't all that hungry.

"Am I being stupid, aibou?" he asked. "Surely I must be imagining things."

"No, I think it's perfectly possible," Yugi replied. "I mean, look. You're here, alive and in your own body, and the same goes for Bakura. If you two can be present in the present time, then I'm sure anyone else could be."

"It's different, though. Bakura and I were spirits that couldn't pass on, but this woman, she...if she is...I don't know what happened to her, if she even survived..."

Yugi reached out and patted Atem's hand. "I'm sure you'll figure something out soon. I've faith in you."

"Thank you, aibou."

Yugi smiled warmly. "What are friends for, hm? Come on, let's finish these up and then head home. I promised Ryou I'd help him build his new game board and I don't think I could stand his puppy-dog eyes if we're late!"

It had been three years since Atem's return to the mortal plain. Three years since Wesir himself had granted him the life that had so cruelly forsaken him as Pharaoh, and allowed him use of his original form. Atem had crash-landed rather unceremoniously in Domino City, brown, beautiful and linen-clad, with only one thought in mind – to reach Yugi and apologise infinitely for forcing the boy to send him away.

Oh, how there had been tears. So many tears. That first night back had been mostly spent in Yugi's arms as they both sobbed and laughed and vowed never to let go of each other again. Atem could not recall the last time he felt such true happiness, compared to the warmth and love he felt in the embrace of his aibou.

And now, three years on, he lived with Yugi and Ryou in a cosy apartment in the centre of Domino. He'd worried that he might be a constant "cock-block," as Bakura so fondly liked to call it, but Yugi had been insistent he stay with them, and Ryou, polite as ever, had smiled and nodded and welcomed Atem in with open arms like the old friend he was.

He hadn't been altogether too surprised to find that Yugi and Ryou were in a relationship. He'd heard enough of Yugi's inner thoughts back in the day, and knew of the boy's desire to know Ryou better, and the conflict he felt due to the dark spirit residing in Ryou's body. Once all was said and done, there really was no better match for the two, and Atem was happy beyond words for them.

Bakura had returned too, muttering something about "be fucking damned if that son of a stallion's rotting loins gets to come back to life without me." Nobody had any idea how he'd managed to do it, but there were suspicions floating around concerning copious amounts of alcohol, dice, and gambling with the gods. His return had been little more than a mild inconvenience; Bakura didn't have much desire to exact his revenge anymore, and could usually be found gaming with Ryou if he wasn't at home with Malik. The former King of Thieves had been granted his old body as well, and carried himself with a casual airiness that he hadn't possessed as a parasitic gaoler of Ryou's body. Heck, he even cracked a true smile or two these days.

Malik looked up from the sofa as Yugi and Atem let themselves in. A book rested on his knees, and a pair of purple-framed glasses on his nose. "Hi, guys," he grinned.

"Hey, Malik," Yugi replied, returning his friend's grin.

"It's awfully quiet," Atem commented. "Have you come on your own?"

"Nah, Ryou's got Bakura in his bedroom, designing character sheets for their nerd-fest." Malik turned a page of his book and settled a little more comfortably into the sofa, tucking his knees up to the side. "Whoever came up with the phrase "silence is golden" must have had Kura in mind the whole time. Do you realise this is the first moment of peace I've had in months?"

"We'll let you enjoy it then," Atem laughed, careful to keep his voice down, or he knew Bakura would come barrelling into the room with his trusty insults at the ready. Instead, he and Yugi slipped through to the kitchen, where Yugi put water on the boil for drinks.

The sound of the kettle switching on never failed to attract Ryou, and sure enough, he appeared over Yugi's shoulder a moment later. "Yes please," he giggled, kissing Yugi's cheek.

Yugi smiled fondly at his lover as he reached for the pot of teabags. "How's the campaign-building going? You still want some help with the board?"

"Yeah, that would be awesome. Thank you!" Ryou pressed a final kiss into Yugi's hair and then bounded back out of the room.

"Ryou's tea senses are inhumane," Atem commented.

"It's the English in him," Yugi replied with a bright laugh.

They finished making the drinks and split the mugs between them to carry them through to the sitting room. Ryou had floated off elsewhere in the apartment, but Bakura had made an appearance now. He sat beside Malik with his head resting on his shoulder, but the moment he saw Atem and Yugi enter, he jerked away and folded his arms, setting his face into its usual scowl.

Yugi rolled his eyes. "Oh, relax."

"Fuck you," Bakura muttered. Malik sighed, shaking his head, and returned to his book.

Ryou reappeared a few moments later, carting a sizeable armful of craft items and several bags dangling from the crook of his elbow. The various bits and bobs rolled away all over the place when he set them down, but eventually they had everything they needed assembled, accompanied by the sketches and annotations Ryou had drawn up in preparation for building.

Yugi immediately dropped down to the carpet and began consulting the drawings, a keen eye brought on by his love of a challenge sparkling. Atem joined him, curious about the new build; he hadn't seen any of the plans until now, and with a jolt, he realised it was an ancient Egyptian build.

Home…well, a long time ago.

How fitting.

The mud-brick huts Ryou was putting together, the sand Yugi was gluing down onto the game board itself…he couldn't help but think about the young woman on the train, and how much she resembled the childhood friend he oft wondered about. Had she lived a happy life under Pharaoh Set? Had she become a successful magician? Would her master have been proud of her?

Mana…

I may be clutching at straws here, but I really do think it might be you.

Atem began piecing together the components for a half-ruined drinking well, with a clear head and a resolute smile on his face. He'd finally made up his mind.