A set of one-shots revolving around the idea that Atem stays with Yugi after the Ceremonial Duel. I intended to have this up months ago, but for some reason I didn't. I don't know when the next one will come up, could be tomorrow, could be a few days. Please enjoy.

Disclaimer: I don't own Yugioh

Chapter 1

The group in the ancient shrine stared in shock as the Pharaoh—no, Atem's—Life Points dropped to zero as the bright light from Yugi's attacked dimmed and vanished in the dimly lit chamber. The sight was still unbelievable; Atem almost never lost—only twice in recent memory until now. And now it was over, and no knew what came next.

Yugi trembled slightly. He knew he'd needed to defeat Atem in order to free him from the Puzzle, but Ishizu and Marik couldn't tell them what would happen next. "It is unknown Yugi," Ishizu had said. "All we know is that the Pharaoh must be defeated in order to be freed. What happens to him afterward is a mystery to both us and our ancestors." What would happen now? Would Atem move on to the afterlife? Would his soul just disappear, without anything to anchor him to this world?

Atem gently placed a hand on Yugi's shoulders and squeezed, assuring him that no matter what, the former king would be fine. He didn't want Yugi to worry, as it would only cause them both unnecessary grief. The Pharaoh released him and faced the doors, proclaiming his name, steeling himself for whatever came next as the eye glowed, enveloping the entire room with a blinding white light. Yugi couldn't see what was happening, and neither could anyone else, judging from the confused shouting he heard from his friends.

Suddenly, after what seemed like forever and a second at the same time, the light died down and the occupants could see again. Some of them.

"Man, that was intense," said Tristan.

"You're telling me," replied Joey, rubbing his eyes. "I'm gonna be seeing spots for the next ten years."

"Wait a second guys," said Yugi, staring. The Pharaoh still stood before them, facing the eye, looking the same as he did before. "Pharaoh—I mean, Atem?" he asked, hope rising wildly in his heart. "What…"

Atem turned and smiled at Yugi. "It appears I'm staying in this world for a while."

The group stared, almost afraid to hope. "You mean…"

Atem nodded.

Ishizu cleared her throat. "The decision has been made. The Pharaoh will remain with you in this time." She smiled.

"Really?" asked Joey, a huge smile overtaking his face. "Man this is awesome!"

Yugi laughed in delight and raced to Atem, enveloping him in a hug that threatened to cut off the Pharaoh's air supply. Joey, Tristan, Tea, and Duke followed two seconds behind him, hugging him from all sides, laughing all the while; Joey and Tristan taking turns to rub their knuckles across Atem's head. Mokuba stood back about two feet, excited for the Pharaoh, but not wanting to interrupt the moment. Marik, Ishizu, and Odion grinned at the sheer happiness of the group of friends and of the Pharaoh himself. Kaiba hung back, but no could say there wasn't a pleased smirk on his face.

"Wait a sec," exclaimed Mokuba as a question popped into his head. "Is he going to stay like this…" he gestured towards Atem. "Or is it going to be like before?" Until the duel, he'd never seen Yugi or the Pharaoh separate before. He'd known since Battle City (despite how Seto would deny it) and it had become more apparent during the Orichalcos incident when Yugi's soul was taken, but it had never hit home until the Eye of Wjdat had literally separated the two look-a-likes into separate bodies.

"He will be in his own body," replied Ishizu assuringly. "The battle ritual ensured that Atem is no longer bound to the Millennium Puzzle."

"Even cooler!" exclaimed Tristan. "Now he can hang out with us around town, he can go to school with us…"

"Hold on!" Duke interrupted. "How do you plan on explaining that to people? He and Yugi look almost exactly alike."

Yugi thought about it for a few seconds, then snapped his fingers. "We'll just say Atem's my twin brother, and he's been living abroad for most of his life with some friends of our family, but now he's back."

"Of course," Solomon agreed. "It'll take awhile to get used to, but that's a perfect idea."

Yugi beamed at his grandpa's easy acceptance, followed by Atem's surprised, then grateful smile.

"But Atem doesn't have a birth certificate or anything like that," said Duke. At everyone's glare, he hastily explained. "I'm not shooting down the idea guys! I'm as happy as you are that he's sticking around, and I think it's a great idea! I'm just saying!"

Oh man, Yugi thought. Duke was right. How were they going to fix that one? Nowadays, people needed a birth certificate and a social security number to do practically everything but breathe. Everyone else's expressions told him they realized the same thing. What the heck were they supposed to do?

"Relax," said Kaiba, "I'll take care of everything."

"You will?" Yugi asked as everyone stared. Even Atem looked surprised at the unexpected save.

Joey wore suspicion. "Am I losing my mind here? First Kaiba admits he was wrong, then offers to help us. Did you get possessed by something?"

Kaiba glared. "No Wheeler, I'm perfectly fine." He smirked. "Though I do wonder how you can lose your mind when you hardly even have one to begin with." He ignored Joey's outraged spluttering and turned his attention back to Yugi and Atem. "And besides, I owe you. Yugi helped me escape from Gozaburo, and Atem saved me and Mokuba when Noah turned us into statues. I don't like owing people favors. Besides," he added, "if you couldn't stay in Japan, I'd have to travel all the way to Egypt to challenge you to rematch."

"Which one?" asked Joey. "Yugi or Atem?"

Kaiba rolled his eyes. "Yugi already lives in Japan, Wheeler! Or do you not know which country you live in?" Ignoring Joey and Tristan's scuffle as the latter tried to hold the former back, he regarded the two spikey haired duelists. "You two are both real duelists. When I thought there was just one of you, I thought you were my only worthwhile adversary. But even though there are two of you, I saw from this duel that both of you are worthy opponents, and it'll be convenient to have you both close by."

"Fair enough," replied Atem, shrugging. Inwardly, he was grateful to Kaiba.

"Yeah," Yugi agreed. "Thanks Kaiba!"

Kaiba grunted and strode toward the exit while Joey struggled to throw Tristan and Duke off of him so he could pound Kaiba. Yugi chuckled, but before the scuffle could escalate, the ground suddenly began to shake.

"What's happening?" asked Mokuba as everyone tried frantically to keep their balance.

Only Atem, Ishizu, and Odion remained unmoved. "The Millennium Items." Ishizu gestured toward the Millennium Stone containing the Millennium Items as it plunged down a dark and seemingly bottomless shaft, burying the items and their magic for the rest of eternity. The shaking stopped, but nobody wanted to remain in an underground chamber that could possibly collapse on them, and no time was wasted in exiting.

Hours later, when stars decorated the Egyptian sky, Yugi and Atem sat together in the guest bedroom they were sharing at the Ishtar's house, which kind of reminded Yugi of a small hotel room with a closet, a single queen-sized bed that he and Atem were sharing, and a nightstand on both sides. The bathroom was down the hall. At the moment, the house was mostly quiet, punctuated occasionally with Joey and Tristan's snores echoing from Marik's room next door. Marik was sharing with Odion and Ishizu had offered to share with Tea while Duke took the couch in the downstairs living room.

After the group had boarded the ship, Kaiba told Atem and Yugi that Atem at least needed to stay in Egypt for a couple weeks in order for Kaiba to obtain the necessary documents. He'd send the birth certificate to Yugi's house and send a passport to Egypt with Express Mail when he got it. Until then, Atem had to wait.

Atem didn't mind, and when everyone else found out, most of them volunteered to stay with him. Bakura wanted to return home, Solomon needed to run the store, Kaiba refused to allow Mokuba to remain behind, but everyone else decided to stay, and the Ishtar's had graciously offered their home as a place to stay and volunteered to take them to all the famous sites. After being assured it was no trouble, they all accepted.

Joey was eager to see the Sphinx and find out what happened to its nose while Tristan wanted to explore a pyramid. Tea wanted to tour Cairo. Marik had promised them they'd get to see all that and more. Neither Duke nor Yugi particularly cared where they went; they just wanted to see the sites. Atem wanted to visit a museum and learn all he could about how his country had changed during his imprisonment in the Puzzle.

Unfortunately, their boat had docked late in the afternoon, too late to see anything. So the people remaining in Egypt returned to the Ishtar's home with them and settled down for the evening, occupying themselves with various magazines, TV, videogames, and a yo-yo competition before heading to bed.

Yugi smiled. While Joey and Tristan were goofing off with yo-yos, Atem had disappeared, and Yugi'd found him in the Ishtars' basement library with a huge pile of books next to him. Apparently, he'd hadn't wanted to wait until the next morning to learn his Egyptian history. Unfortunately, Joey and Tristan had dragged both of them back upstairs to judge a yo-yo competition.

Eventually, everyone had drifted off to bed, but Yugi noticed Atem staring out the window in his dark blue pajamas he'd picked up last minute from a nearby clothes store, wearing his "deep-in-thought" look.

"Is something wrong?" he asked.

"Hmm?" Atem started slightly, having thought Yugi already asleep. No Yugi, I'm fine. I'm just thinking about everything."

"Yeah. It's a lot to take in, I know."

"Yes," Atem said. "Are you sure you're okay with this, Yugi? Calling me your brother?" he asked, an uncertain expression on his face.

"Of course!" said Yugi. Why would Atem doubt that?

"It's just that I seem to attract trouble for you. And the point of that duel was to show that we could live independently of each other."

"I know that. And just because we're staying together, it doesn't mean we can't live without each other. We can. We just choose to stay together. It's better because it's our choice now." Yugi grinned. "So don't get all depressed about this. We're supposed to be happy about it."

"Don't worry, I am," Atem reassured him. "I just wanted to make sure you were."

"Well, don't worry. I am."

The two sat together quietly for a while. "Was there something else you were thinking about?" asked Yugi.

Atem nodded. "You remember that bright light down in the shrine after the duel?"

"How could I not? Joey complained about it half the return trip."

Atem chuckled. "Well, in that light, I saw my friends and family from my previous life."

Yugi gaped, and his face fell. "You must miss them."

"Yes, I do." Atem glanced downward for a second before meeting Yugi's eyes again. "But I know I will meet them again one day. They spoke to me, told me to live the rest of my life well." He smiled. "They also told me to make sure, when the time comes, to bring all of you to their place in the afterlife so everyone can meet. They especially want to meet you, Yugi."

"Really?" Yugi asked.

Atem nodded. "They also told me to tell you to look after me."

"Seriously? I always thought you were the one who looked after me."

Atem chuckled fondly. "After Battle City, it seemed like you were the one rushing to my rescue. In any case, my safety was always their first priority when they were alive. Do you expect them to change that?"

"I suppose not."

A few moments later, the clock struck eleven. "Whoa!" Yugi exclaimed. "We'd better get to bed." Atem agreed and shut off the lights. "Good night, Atem."

"Good night, little brother."

"So I'm the younger one?"

"I told Kaiba I wanted to be the older one. Besides, I am older than you."

"Yeah, I know. Maybe we should pick up a cane for you tomorrow." Yugi teased.

Atem flinched in indignation. "Hey!" He seized Yugi around the chest, and rubbed his knuckles across the top Yugi's head.

"Hey, stop!" Yugi whispered loudly, trying not to laugh too loud. "All right, I give! You win!"

Atem stopped and released him, chuckling.

Yugi laughed softly. It seemed Atem was adjusting to the modern world just fine.

Joey yawned as he stepped into the kitchen to see breakfast already on the table and the majority of the occupants already eating. "Sweet, I'm starving!" he exclaimed, helping himself to pile of toast.

"When are you not?" asked Tea.

"Hey!"

"All right guys, calm down," said Yugi as he scooped the last of his cereal into his mouth. It had been a pretty exhausting day before, what with the duel to determine the Pharaoh's fate, so he wasn't really surprised that most of them had slept this late.

"Hey, where the Pharaoh—I mean, where's Atem?" asked Tristan a few minutes later.

"I think he's still asleep. I'll get him," replied Yugi as he climbed the stairs to the guest room. Sure enough, Atem was still sleeping. "Hey, Atem. It's morning, time to get up." Atem stirred slightly, but didn't wake up. "Come on," said Yugi, shaking him gently.

Atem groaned and cracked open one eye. "Not now Yugi."

"Come on Atem, don't tell me you want to sleep when Marik and Ishizu planned to show us around Cairo."

"Yugi, I haven't technically slept at all in the last five thousand years. I reserve the right to sleep in for the rest of my life," Atem grumbled as he pulled the covers over his face.

Yugi gaped. But before he could say anything, Joey and Tristan burst into the room.

"Yo, Atem, you up yet? Come on, we wanna leave in an hour, and I wanna see the Sphinx," said Joey.

Atem groaned. But he knew he wouldn't be getting asleep, so he reluctantly peeled himself off the bed and grabbed his clothes.

The group strode back into the apartment that night, laden down with bags of souvenirs and cheap tourist junk—T-shirts, trinkets, and even cartouches—bought at several points throughout the morning shopping trip, laughing at Joey and Tristan for getting lost in the Great Pyramid of Giza that afternoon. Tomorrow, Ishizu planned to take them to the Al-Azhar Park.

Yugi and Atem were relieved to be back. Yugi needed to call his parents and Atem wanted to lie down. Marik and Odion decided to take a bike ride to the market. So while Joey and Tristan bickered with Duke and Tea, and Ishizu prepared dinner, Yugi and Atem climbed to their room.

Atem dropped his single shopping bag on the floor and practically collapsed on the bed. Yugi glanced at him in concern while dialing his dad's number.

"Hello?" Hidekazu Muto answered, sounding tired.

"Hey Dad, it's Yugi."

The voice cheered up considerably. "Yugi, it's great to hear from you! How are you?"

"I'm great."

"Good. And the Pharaoh?"

"Atem's fine too."

"Atem?" Hidekazu asked in confusion.

"You know how I phoned you and Mom last week that I was going to Egypt with my friends to help the Pharaoh find his memories?"

"Yeah. Wait, does that mean…" Hidekazu asked, catching on in excitement.

"Yep, it worked." Yugi answered triumphantly. "We got sucked into yet another crazy adventure." He laughed. "But we managed to save the world again and the Pharaoh's got his memories back. Atem's his real name."

"Wow! That's awesome! I'm glad for him; it must be a relief."

"It is. And he's got his own body now."

Yugi wondered for a second if his dad was choking.

"No way!" Hidekazu exclaimed. "Really?"

"Yeah." Yugi paused, realizing his mistake. "I probably should have asked you first, but after it happened, my friends and I kind of decided that we should call Atem my older brother and have him live with us. Kaiba's taking care of the birth certificate and everything else, but I completely forgot to talk to you guys." Yugi noticed Atem listening in, looking slightly anxious. "I hope that's okay…"

"Of course it is Yugi," came the voice of Momose Muto.

"Mom?" Yugi exclaimed "How long have you been listening?"

She chuckled. "Since your father realized it was you calling. And yes, it's all right with us, if it's okay with Atem."

"Yeah, it is," Yugi said, smiling at Atem, who grinned back. As he laid back down, Yugi thought he saw a small frown cross Atem's face, only to disappear in the next second. Yugi wondered if he was imagining things as he returned to the conversation.

"Then it's settled. We'll see you two when you get back."

"Right. We'll have to stay here for a couple weeks until Kaiba can get the papers."

"That's fine," said Hidekazu. "It means we'll both be home when you get back."

"Both of you?" asked Yugi.

Both Yugi and Atem could see Hidekazu's smile over the phone. "You know how I've been applying for a position in Domino so I could actually be home more than once a year?"

"Yeah," Yugi said eagerly, catching on.

"Well, I got it!"

"You did? That's awesome!" Yugi cheered.

"Give him my congratulations," said Atem.

"Right," said Yugi. "Atem say congratulations too."

"Thanks. I guess we'll see both you and Atem in a few weeks. We want to hear everything about this last adventure."

"You got it. Bye Mom. Bye Dad."

"Bye Yugi. Bye Atem."

Yugi hung up. "I'm glad Dad's going to be home more often now."

"He needs to be now that there's two of you," Joey snickered from the doorway. Tristan and Tea were right behind him.

Atem rolled his eyes. "Very funny, Joey." He groaned as he lay back down.

"Are you okay, Atem?" asked Tea, narrowing her eyes in concern. "It seems like you've been tired all day, and you've been a bit grouchy." She frowned. He hadn't been entirely enthusiastic while shopping even though he'd tried to hide it.

"Yeah," Yugi agreed. He quickly laid his wrist on Atem's forehead. "I don't feel a fever…"

"I'm fine Yugi. Don't worry." He glanced down. "I'm sorry if I seemed that way Tea. You're right; I have been exhausted ever since I woke up. I talked to Ishizu this morning, and she think it's because my spirit is adapting to having a body of its own after being trapped in the puzzle for so long. I just need some time to adjust; the exhaustion should go away in a few days."

"Oh, okay," Yugi replied, wiping his forehead. "That's a relief."

Atem smiled. "I'm sorry if I was short-tempered this morning."

"Don't worry about it," assured Yugi. "Looking back, it's actually more funny than anything." He closed his eyes and smiled.

"What happened?" asked Tristan. As Yugi told them what Atem had said that morning, Joey and Tristan doubled over in laughter. "Dude, I am so using that for blackmail later," said Tristan, smirks adorning both his and Joey's faces.

Atem rolled his eyes in fond exasperation. He was still too tired to do anything else. Thankfully, Joey and Tristan left him alone. Tea left the room after telling Atem to rest, promising to wake him up for dinner. Atem drifted off, aware of Yugi sitting next to him and his friends downstairs, content and safe after their latest adventure. For now, and hopefully for a long time, everything was peaceful.

What do you think? Please review?