***okay, so before you read, let me just point out that Bakura and Marik are actually the good sides of them...I just don't like using their other names, lol...alrighty then! enjoy!***

Chapter 2: His Return

Téa, Joey, and Tristan sat at their desks and watched Yugi as he sat on the other side of the classroom and stared out the window.

"Yuge looks really depressed, guys," Joey said, leaning his head on his hand.

"Yeah, thanks for the obvious, Sherlock," Tristan said sarcastically.

"Guys!" Téa said, breaking up the ridiculous fight. "Yugi's really upset. Atem was like his brother. They were always together."

"Yeah, literally," Tristan said.

"Uh, guys," Joey said.

"What is it?" Téa asked.

"Where'd Yuge go?"

The other two looked up and realized Joey was right. Yugi was suddenly missing.

"Should we look for him?" Téa asked.

Joey shook his head. "Nah, I think Yuge just needs a little time to himself right now. Losing someone isn't easy."

"But it's been a year," Tristan said, looking over at the doorway. "How much longer does he need?"

***

Yugi walked through the streets of Domino City as he made his way back home. He had left school early after hearing his friends talk about how depressed he looked. He sighed. The last thing he wanted was for his friends to start worrying about him. But they were right. As much as Yugi hated admit it, he had been depressed ever since Atem left. Continuing to play duel monsters only provided temporary relief. Soon, it got to the point where he couldn't even play the Dark Magician without thinking of Atem. And soon after that, he couldn't even stand to look at his deck anymore. Actually, the truth was that Yugi's whole deck was inside the Millennium Puzzle's gold box under his bed. And it had been there for nearly six months now. 'Atem would so kill me,' he thought. Then he smiled as he imagined the pharaoh scolding him for giving up duel monsters over something like this, his violet eyes narrowed in a stern but gentle frown, his arms crossed as he stood in that authoritive but understanding demeanor of his.

Yugi's smile faded. He would give anything to see Atem's face again…but what could he do? Atem was in another time on another continent! It was impossible to be able to see him again. Yugi sighed and looked up at the sky. 'Completely impossible.'

"Yugi!

Yugi turned and saw Marik and Bakura walking toward him hand in hand.

"Oh, hey, guys."

"Hey," Bakura greeted in the cute British accent of his. "Are you alright?"

"Yeah," Yugi told him, forcing a smile. "I'm fine."

"Me thinks you're lying!" Marik said, smiling.

"Be quiet, doofus!" Bakura told his boyfriend and pushed him out of the way. "Now, Yugi, we can tell you're lying. What's wrong?"

"Isn't it obvious?" Marik said, pushing his way back between Bakura and Yugi. "Yugi misses the pharaoh!"

"I said hush!" Bakura said, pushing him to the ground. "Now, Yugi, tell me."

Yugi sighed. "All right. Marik's right. I miss Yami."

"Ah ha! I knew it!" Marik said triumphantly. He quickly settled down when Bakura looked over and raised an eyebrow. The white-haired boy then turned back to Yugi. "Isn't his name Atem?"

Yugi pouted. "Calling him that makes him seem even more distant," he explained.

"Oh," Bakura and Marik said together. Yugi smiled slightly. The two of them had just started dating recently, but Yugi could tell they were happy. Although sometimes it seemed like Bakura was the one in charge of the relationship, despite him being the more docile of the two. Yugi chuckled. 'Marik's so whipped,' he thought.

The sound of Yugi's laugh distracted the other two from their sudden conversation of what they were going to have for dinner. "What?" they asked together.

Yugi laughed a little louder this time. "Nothing," he said.

Bakura switched glances with Marik then turned back to Yugi and smiled. "Yugi, would you like to join us for dinner? We're having spaghetti."

"But if you don't wanna, that's okay, too," Marik chipped in. "More for me."

Bakura elbowed Marik in the side. "Honestly, Marik, must you always think with your stomach?"

"Ow, Bakura," Marik whined. "You hit like a man…"

Bakura sighed. "I am a man, you baby. Come here." Bakura placed Marik's arm across his shoulders then helped him up. "Better?"

"Much!" Marik said happily, giving Bakura a quick peck on the cheek.

Bakura sighed again. "Well, Yugi? Are you coming?"

"No thanks, Bakura. I think I'll just head home. I'm not too hungry actually."

"All right, the offer still stands if you change your mind."

Yugi nodded his thanks as the two turned away and watched as they engaged in their own little conversation.

"Yay! More spaghetti for me!"

"Do you want me to drop you?"

"…No."

"That's what I thought."

"You're so mean, Baku-chan."

Yugi's smile faded and he pouted again. What if he and Atem had had that kind of relationship? Would the pharaoh have left then? Yugi shook his head, forcing the thought away. There was no way that could have or even would have happened. Sure Atem cared for Yugi greatly, anyone could see that from the many times the pharaoh risked his own safety to save Yugi. But there was a simple explanation for that. Atem needed Yugi to survive. After all, if Yugi ceased to exist, then so would Atem, being nothing but a wandering spirit. That was the only logical explanation.

Yugi felt his eyes tear up and he quickly wiped them away with his sleeve and continued on his way home.

***

Yami sat by himself in his room, the only light being that of a candle nearby. On the ground in front of him sat his three god cards: Obelisk, Slifer, and Ra. Beside them sat the Millennium Puzzle. He looked over to where the other Millennium Items were sitting by his bed. "All right," he said, turning his attention back to the objects in front of him. He soon let out a frustrated sigh. "Oh, who am I kidding? This is never going to work."

"My lord?" came a voice followed by a soft knock.

"Come in, Mana," Atem called, continuing to stare blankly at the things in front of him.

Mana opened the door and bounded to his side, her brown hair bouncing with every step she took.

"Aren't you supposed to be finishing your training for tonight?" Atem asked, his head tilted slightly as he stared at the Millennium Puzzle.

"Eh," came her reply. "Master Mahaado will find me eventually as usual. What are you doing?"

"Thinking."

"Really?" Mana said, plopping on the ground next to him. "Seems like you're staring at inanimate objects as if trying to enter someone's soul or something."

"Huh?!" Atem swung his gaze to Mana. "What did you say?"
"What? I was just saying that it doesn't seem like they are going to suddenly transport your soul to another dimension or anything."

"Mana, you're a genius!" Atem cried. He stood up and walked over to his bed and picked up the Millennium Eye from beside it.

"What?" Mana asked, looking around him. "How's the Eye going to help you?"

"Mana!"

The brunette flinched and turned around. "Master Mahaado! I was just—"

"Disturbing the pharaoh as such a late hour is not exactly wise."

"I wasn't disturbing!" Mana retorted. "I was helping."

"The only way you could help would be to get your troublemaking self to bed…now."

"Aw, Master!" Mana whined.

"Go on, Mana," Atem said to her. "Mahaado's right. It's late."

Mana pouted. "Yes, Pharaoh," she mumbled, before walking to Mahaado's side. Mahaado placed an arm around her shoulders. "Come on."

Atem watched them walk out of his room, smiling as Mana's disappointment disappeared. "Master, guess what? Master Atem said I'm a genius."

"We have yet to determine that," Mahaado said, nodding respectfully at Atem and closing the door.

Atem waited until their footsteps silenced then looked down at the Eye in his hand. The Millennium Eye had many powers, he knew…one of which was the ability to see inside a person's heart, mind, and memories. If he was lucky, and he was praying to Ra he was, he would be able to combine the powers of the Millennium Eye and Puzzle to connect his mind to Yugi's. "I don't have anything to loose," he mumbled. He walked back to his Puzzle and sat down again. "All right," he said, picking up the Puzzle and putting it around his neck. Then he held the Millennium Eye between his hands, closed his eyes, and concentrated. 'Come on, Yugi,' he thought. 'I know you can hear me. Please answer…'

***

Yugi opened his eyes and looked around as he tried to adjust to the darkness. 'Where am I?' he thought.

"Yugi…" a faint voice called.

"What?" Yugi's eyes widened and he looked up. "I know that voice."

"Yugi…please answer…"

"Yami?" he called softly.

"Yugi?" the voice called again, a bit louder this time.

"Yami! Where are you?"

"I'm here, Yugi…Look."

Yugi turned his head and noticed his surroundings were still dark, but now there was a faintly outlined silhouette in front of him. "Yami!" The boy unconsciously broke into a run toward the figure.

Suddenly, something from around the figure's neck began glowing. Yugi shielded his eyes with his arm and when the light died down, uncovered them.

There, standing in front of Yugi, plain as day, was Atem.

"Yami!" Yugi cried. He lunged forward and threw his arms around the pharaoh. "It's really you!"

"Yugi…" Atem sad softly, wrapping his around Yugi tightly. "It really worked."

"I can't believe it, " Yugi said, unable to hold back tears any longer. "You're actually here."

Yami looked down at Yugi sadly and gently pushed him a step back. "Yugi, I'm afraid I'm only in your dreams at the time," he explained.

"I don't care," Yugi said. "I'm just glad I can finally see you again!" And with that he hugged Atem again.

Atem smiled and tightened his arms around Yugi. "Yugi, listen," he said suddenly.

Yugi looked up expectantly. "What is it?"

"I'm working on a way to come back to you."

"Haven't you already?"

Atem looked to the side. "As I said before, the only way I'm speaking to you through your dream is by the powers of the Millennium Eye and Puzzle."

"You combined them?!" Yugi asked, shocked. Yami nodded. "You can do that?!"

Atem nodded. "I didn't know it either," he added with a laugh.

Yugi just stared dreamily at Atem. He sighed then laid his head against the pharaoh's shoulder. "I miss you so much."

Atem leaned his head against Yugi's and closed his eyes. "I miss you, too."

"So when are you coming back?" Yugi asked, taking a small step back.

The pharaoh's expression saddened again. "I'm afraid I can't exactly say," he told him. "But I swear to you, I'll try my hardest to get to you soon."

Yugi smiled as his eyes teared up again. "I don't care how long it takes. As long as I can see you like this, I'll be happy."

Atem smiled and hugged Yugi for the last time that night. "Thank you, Yugi. Now, I must go, but don't give up on me, all right?"

"Yeah," Yugi said. "You can count on me." Then he watched as the Millennium Puzzle around Atem's neck glowed, enveloping the surroundings in white light once again. When he opened his eyes again, he was back home in his bed with the first rays of sunshine beginning to shine through his window. He sighed and fell onto his back. He now had something to look forward to: Atem was coming back to him. And with that thought in his mind, Yugi got up to get ready for school.

*** That's right, hate me! I made Yugi quit dueling!! Mwa ha ha ha!! lol, don't worry, though, it's not permanent. He just needs a good dose of sexy pharaoh inspiration!...Like I needed with this story. Well, chapter 3 will be up soon, so stay tuned!***