Chapter 1: A Call in the Night

Ring, ring!

"Who would be calling at this time of night?" mumbled a rather disgruntled Yugi as he sat up to answer the phone. "Hello?"

"Oh, Yugi! Did I wake you? I'm so sorry, but, you won't believe this!" came a high pitched voice on the other end of the line.

"Serenity? Do realize what time it is?" asked Yugi, who was looking at the alarm clock by his bed which read 6:00 am.

"Yes and I'm so sorry I woke you but, oh, you won't believe this!"

"Won't believe what?"

"He's back Yugi!"

"Who's back?"

"Joey, who else! He's here, at my house, he hasn't changed a bit, but, oh Yugi, I don't want to let him in I mean what if..."

"Wait! Did you just say Joey is back!?"

"Yes!"

"Stay right there, Tea and I will be over in a few minutes, are you alone?"

"Yes, but..."

"Where's Tristan?"

"He left for work a few minutes before Joey showed up."

"Okay, don't let Joey in; just wait for me and Tea, okay?"

"Okay."

"Alright bye."

"Bye."

"Tea, wake up," Yugi said to Tea as he climbed out of bed and started to get dressed, not worrying about turning on a light.

"Why, what's going on?" asked Tea sleepily and she sat up.

"It's Joey, he's back." Yugi was pulling on pants haphazardly.

"Joey? Joey who," Tea was climbing out of bed now.

"Joey Wheeler."

"Wait, you mean our Joey!" Tea was fully awake now.

"Yeah, that was Serenity on the phone, she said Joey is outside her house and she doesn't want to let him in because, well..." Yugi trailed off.

"Let's go!" said Tea who was already dressed.

Within a matter of minutes Tea and Yugi were parking in front of Serenity's house. From where they were on the street they could see a shadowy figure pacing the porch.

"You wait here Tea; I'll go up to see if it really is..." Yugi trailed off again.

"Okay, be careful."

Yugi got out of the car and started to walk up the steps leading to the front door. Not once did he take his eyes off of the shadowy figure who still hadn't noticed that Yugi was there. He was mumbling to himself and as Yugi got closer he realized that he was actually reading something off a piece of paper, like a speech he had written before and now he was about to present it.

"Joey?" Yugi called softly at the top of the stairs.

Joey spun around to face Yugi, one hand held the piece of paper, which Yugi now saw to be a letter to Serenity, his other hand was in his coat pocket clutching something, but Yugi wasn't sure what.

"Yugi?" Croaked the shadow.

"Come into the light, Joey," urged Yugi who still couldn't see the face of this strange man.

"Yugi, I..." he paused, not sure of what to say, then he stepped forward, into the light.

Yugi gasped, audibly, it really was Joey, and it was as Serenity had said, he hadn't changed. His hair was still messy, made messier by the breeze, and he looked like he was wearing the same clothes as the day he had left, ten years earlier.

"Yugi, I ..." Joey started again, then he got a strange look on his face, "How did you know I was here?"

"Serenity called me, she was a little freaked by your being here," then he turned back to his car and signaled for Tea to get out and come up.

"Who are you signaling to?" asked Joey taking a step back.

"Tea, why?" Yugi asked, he was confused by how suspicious Joey was acting.

"Tea?" Joey got another strange look on his face like he was remembering an old dream.

"Joey?" Tea was standing beside Yugi now.

"Tea, I..." Joey started to explain again.

"Joey!" came a cry from the house as the door was flung open, "Joey, I... Where have you been!?" Serenity came into sight looking both relieved and angry, mostly angry.

Joey, Yugi, and Tea all flinched at the sound of the fury in Serenity's voice.

"Well!?"

"I... I can't really explain. I just..." Joey started.

"What do you mean you can't explain!? You disappear for no apparent reason and then reappear ten years later and you can't tell us exactly where you've been and what the heck you've been doing?!"

"I've been... traveling." replied Joey evasively, but he couldn't quite meet anyone's eye.

"Why? Where? Who for?" said Serenity angrily glaring at her big brother.

"I can't tell you. Can't you just trust me, it's for your own safety!" Joey blurted out before he could stop himself.

"What do you mean?" asked Serenity shocked.

"I can't explain, believe me I want to but it's not safe yet, I'm not even supposed to be here, much less talking to you." Joey said, he looked like he was about to turn tail and run. " If they find out..."

"Who?" asked Yugi much more gently than Serenity would have.

"I can't tell you. I have to..." Joey turned around and was about to charge off into the dull morning light.

"Joey don't go!" said Tea very suddenly, but that wasn't what stopped him. Instead it was a very firm and surprisingly strong grip on his arm. It was Yugi.

"Joey, you can't... don't... don't you dare..." Yugi started breathlessly, and as Joey looked back into Yugi's eyes, Joey could see the fear Yugi had kept hidden for ten years, the fear that Joey...

"I can't stay, I..." Joey didn't know what to say, he felt he had to, but couldn't stay.

"You can stay with me and Tea," Yugi said quickly, "Just, please, don't go."

"I..."

"Please?" Tea interrupted.

Joey looked at Tea who looked a little surprised that she wanted Joey to stay, at Serenity who, even though she was angry at Joey, she didn't want him to disappear for another ten years, and lastly at Yugi who looked so desperate, so helpless, that it broke Joey's heart.

"Okay, but I can't stay for too long."

Yugi let go of Joey's arm relieved. Yugi turned to face Tea who shrugged, and then to Serenity.

"I have to get ready to go to work," Serenity said quietly, "Otherwise, I would invite you in for coffee." She shrugged.

"That's okay," Tea said, she turned and started down the steps to the street.

"We'll talk later," Yugi said as he too turned back to the street, then he paused, "Coming Joey?"

"Yeah," Joey turned to his little sister, "I know this won't mean much to you now, after ten years, but, I truly am sorry I left."

"Like Yugi said, we'll talk later," Serenity turned and went back inside slamming the door behind her.

"Joey, let's go," Yugi's hand was on Joey's arm again, only this time it wasn't a restraining grip, but rather one of comfort, forgiveness, and understanding. So with one final look back at the shut door Joey turned and followed Yugi down to the street and after climbing into the back seat of the little car he let out a sigh that wasn't just a sigh, but was filled with all that had happened to him in the past ten years.

Serenity: (shocked) How did you know about that phone call?

Joey: Yeah, how did you know all that?

Yazani: (sweatdropped) Uh, I kind of can get into your mind, you know, access your memories.

All: What?!

Yazani: Would you rather say I had read you diaries?

Tea: Did you?

Yazani: No!!

Kitsune: (glares at Yazani)

Yazani: Maybe. Alright yes, I stole and read your diaries!! Oops. (sweatdropped)

Kitsune: I'm gonna KILL YOU!!

Yazani: (yelps and runs away from Kitsune)

Yani: (sweatdropped) Don't hurt her; if you do I won't exist! (jumps up and starts to chase after Kitsune)

Joey: Hey, don't take it out on Kitsune. (chases after Yani)

Yami: Hey, that's my sister you're chasing. (chases after Joey)

Serenity: And that's my brother. (chases after Yami)

Yugi: And that's my yami. (Chases after Serenity)YamiPharaoh, yamidark

Tristan: And that's my... oh never mind. (chases after Yugi)

Tea: Tristan, ugh. (chases after Tristan)

Mokuba, Rebecca, Mia, Duke: (sweatdropped)

Seto: (laughs as he watches the line chasing after Yazani) Please Read and Review. (still laughing) Ahh, what the heck. (jumps up and starts chasing Tea)

Mokuba: Big brother? (chases Seto)

Rebecca: Moky?(chases Moky)

Mia, Duke: (shrugs and joins the chase)