-(Bold - Dialogue)
-(Italic - Thought)
-(Normal - Narrated)
Chapter 3: Throwback Dueling!
(DOMINO CITY)
- I should get going and try to find the others - Atem said.
After that The Pharaoh went in search of his friends.
(BURGER WORLD)
- It´s time for us to leave, don´t cha think guys? - Jonouchi asked.
- Yeah, I think we overstayed our welcome here - Honda chuckled.
The gang got up and headed the streets.
- Man, I´m not tired at all, what am I supposed to do with all this energy when I get back home? - Jonouchi asked his friends.
- Well you could always crack a book, you know? - Anzu said.
Honda and Yugi just chuckled at the scene.
- You guys don´t get me at all! - Jonouchi said.
- Of course we do Jonouchi-Kun, we´re your friends after all - Yugi implied.
- Thanks Yug - Jonouchi said.
The two smiled friendly at each other in understanding.
- Then what´re you planning to do when you get home, Jonouchi? - Honda asked.
- Dunno, I was thinking I could probably reassemble my deck but I just did a few days ago but I don´t think it´s strong enough just as it is - Jonouchi answered.
- You can always find a way to upgrade your deck somehow, Jonouchi. Remember that in every card lies a possibility but anyway you should have more faith in the deck you have already assembled - Yugi said.
- Yeah, you´re right, I will! - Jonouchi said cheeringly.
Yugi smiled at him.
- And next time I duel, I´ll definitely win with this deck no matter who it is, You´ll see Yu... - Jonouchi froze at the scene.
He finished his sentence so abruptly everybody turned to see if he was alright.
- What´s wrong pal? You look like if you had seen a ghost - Honda said.
Jonouchi snapped out of it just enough to answer him.
- Well, you´re not that far-fetched... - Jonouchi said while pointing his finger at something.
Everybody confused turned to see what was Jonouchi ponting at and when they did, their eyes widened and were left in awe, especially Yugi. For a moment they thought their eyes were deceiving them, it was The Pharaoh, standing right in front of them in that sunset with crossed arms and that laid-back smile of his as he had never left in the first place.
- I finally found you guys! And Jonouchi-kun, I´m holding you to your word - Atem said.
- Ph.. Pharaoh..? - Anzu said softly not trusting her voice.
- Is that... really you? - Honda asked in awe.
- Yes - Atem said to his friends.
- ... Atem... - Yugi whispered so low nobody heard him.
- HOW IS IT THAT YOU´RE STANDING RIGHT IN FRONT OF ME?! - Jonouchi had finally pulled himself together.
- Oh, right. I´ll explain - Atem said.
As The Pharaoh explained, his friends understood the motives of his return but Yugi was still very thrown off balance, he had finally accepted the fact of his friend being gone that he did not know how to react to the situation at all.
(He came back. I thought my other self would never come back, I finally accepted his farewell but I guess It´s just so weird because I´m in front of him and not sharing the same body. Anyway.. did he come back because he thinks we´re not capable of saving the world, that I´M not capable?.. I have to show him, how much I´ve grown... I´m still glad I got to see him again but I´ve got to show him that I can finally be my own person without him.) - Yugi thought to himself.
- Really!? That happened in Egypt? I can´t believe it, it´s all so sudden. Anyway, how did you get here Pharaoh? - Honda asked.
- Yes, I couldn´t believe it either but that is why I´m here with you now. I don´t know how I got here actually but I guess that´s not so important and about "Pharaoh", I´m your friend Honda-kun, you may call me Atem - Atem said
- So tell us more about this evil guy and what´s he plotting, Atem - Anzu said.
- That´s just the thing, we don´t know more and I just can´t think of anyone who may be doing this or why - Atem said worriedly in his voice.
- Don´t worry Atem, we´ll find this guy and teach him a lesson! Oh yeah! the gang is back, baby - Jonouchi said cheeringly.
Atem smiled at Jonouchi´s spirit.
The gang was so into catching up with Atem they didn´t notice someone left astray until Atem got a glimpse of Yugi, he had noticed him a little strange a while back but thought it was because he was in shock, so he decided to talk to him instead.
- Why so quiet? - Atem asked Yugi directly.
Yugi was snapped out of his thoughts and turned to see Atem in surprise.
- I thought you'd be happy to see me again, aibou - Atem said.
- Don't get me wrong! I am happy, I just never expected to see you again, I'm shocked - Yugi said.
- I though I'd never see you again too, aibou - Atem said.
- But no matter what or how far, we will always have our friendship, even if we are not in the same body anymore - Yugi said.
- Guess you're right, aibou - Atem said.
- Geez, you're saying "aibou" awfully a lot Atem - Yugi chuckled.
- Am I? Forgive me, I guess I just missed you - Atem confessed.
Yugi chuckled a little more.
- I missed you too, Mou Hitori No Boku - Yugi said.
Atem´s gaze soften and smiled, he was so happy about seeing his friends again but mostly Yugi, his closest friend of all.
- By the way, I did mean what I said earlier Jonouchi-kun - Atem said.
- Huh? What? - Jonouchi said in awe.
- About holding to your word of beating the next person you duel - Atem said.
- Oh, I see. Imma smelling a challenge coming up - Jonouchi said.
- Let´s duel for old times sake, Jonouchi-kun! I wanna see how much stronger you´ve gotten - Atem said.
- My pleasure Atem! I hope the afterlife didn´t out shape you - Jonouchi smirked.
- Not a chance - Atem replied.
The duel started as the rest of the gang watched.
- I don´t know who to cheer for! - Anzu exclaimed.
- Me neither - Honda said.
- They´re both really strong, it´s kinda hard to say - Yugi said.
- Yeah - Honda said.
- Guess you´re right - Anzu said.
The duel unraveled itself in a very passionate yet emotional way, the two friends were dueling once more and although the both were strong only one prevailed.
At the last attack many things led to others and after several turns Jonouchi was trapped by Atem´s diffusion wave-motion combo.
- Seems like I won this duel - Atem said.
- Go ahead Atem, I´m glad I fought you again and I fought with all my heart so I have no regrets - Jonouchi said smiling.
Atem smiled.
- Dark Magician of Chaos, ATTACK! - Atem said.
With that said Jonouchi´s last scapegoat and Red-Eyes were destroyed and his life points dropped to zero.
- That was an amazing duel, Jonouchi-kun. You have gotten remarkably stronger - Atem said.
- Yeah, it was and I see you haven´t lost shape for this but next time we duel I´ll make sure to win - Jonouchi said.
- I´ll be waiting - Atem said
All the good memories came back to them during that duel and they remembered the importance of each on of them.
- By the way, now that the day is over, where are you staying at, Atem? - Jonouchi asked.
- Yeah, do you have a place to stay? - Honda asked
Atem was about to say something when Yugi barged in.
- Yes, he does - Yugi said smiling.
Atem turned to see Yugi and smiled back.
- He´ll be staying with me - Yugi said.
- As he always has. I bet you two have a lot of catching up to do - Anzu said.
- I suppose - Yugi laughed.
The gang split and everybody went to their homes, so as Yugi and Atem left together.
(THE WAY BACK HOME)
Yugi and Atem were heading home after the duel but couldn´t find the words to start a conversation, finally Yugi spoke up.
- Grandpa is gonna be really happy to see you again - Yugi said with a soft gaze.
- I´m happy I´ll get to see him again too - Atem said.
- So, how was the afterlife? Enjoyed it while you could? - Yugi asked.
Atem sighed.
- Yes but I did miss you guys - Atem said.
Yugi noticed some confussion in his crimson eyes and wondered so hard why he had such expression in his face.
(I can´t let them know I didn´t feel resolved in the afterlife, although my deeds with fate were over something was still missing, something of my own.) - Atem thought.
Finally after a while of walking they got to Grandpa´s game store.
- Welcome home, Atem - Yugi said with a smile.
Atem was broken out of his thoughts and surprised by what Yugi had said, his face lighten up a bit and said;
"I´m home" with a smile.
The feeling of having a place to call home, a place where you belong and can always go back to. Atem had forgotten what a wonderful feeling that was, although in the afterlife is where he really belonged, he still wanted to spend as much time with his friends as possible.
The two of them afterwards entered the game shop where Yugi´s Grandpa was waiting for him for dinner.
- Yugi, my boy. I was waiting for you, dinner is served - Sugoroku said.
Sugoroku walked into the hallway as the two boys entered and Sugoroku just being Sugoroku as always he was more than surprised when he saw Atem standing there next to Yugi.
- PHARAOH! WHAT´RE YOU DOING HERE? HOW IS THIS POSSIBLE - Sugoroku exclaimed.
- Hi, it´s nice to see you again too, Grandpa - Atem said.
Yugi explained to his Grandpa about Atem´s return and everything that had happened, Sugoroku understood and gladly accepted for Atem to stay with them.
- I see, so that´s how things are, well you´re more than welcome to stay with us as long as you wish, my boy - Sugoroku said.
- Thank you very much, Grandpa - Atem said.
- Well, I didn´t know we were having guest so let me go set up another plate - Sugoroku said as he did so.
The two boys just giggled at Sugoroku.
- Sure Grandpa, so what´s for dinner? - Yugi said while smiling.
- My delicious meatloaf, I hope you didn´t forget all about it, Atem - Grandpa said.
- Of course I haven´t, it was Yugi´s favorite after all. He always had seconds - Atem chuckled.
Yugi blushed slightly at the comment.
- Y..You liked it too, Atem! - Yugi exclaimed.
Sugoroku and Atem giggled at Yugi´s reaction.
- Okay boys, sit down and eat before it gets cold - Sugoroku said.
- Yeah - The two boys said at the same time.
Everybody sat down and ate while talking and catching up. Sugoroku was telling Atem all the things he had done while his absence as he just listened carefully. Finally dinner was over and Yugi and Atem were heading up to go to sleep.
- Good night Grandpa - Yugi said.
- Good night boys, sleep well - Sugoroku said.
The two boys went upstairs and went to Yugi´s room.
- Here we are. It´s kinda weird isn´t it? This was once your room too - Yugi said.
- Yeah, I never thought I´d see this place again - Atem said.
- Well, as you know I only have one bed but we can both sleep on a futon tonight - Yugi said.
- It´s okay aibou, I´ll sleep in the futon, you sleep on the bed - Atem said.
- Of course not, it´s your first night here, so I rather join you - Yugi said.
Atem smiled softly and agreed.
- You´re a very caring person aibou, your kindness never ceases to surprise me - Atem said.
Yugi chuckled at the comment.
- Well you´re one to talk, you sure did surprised me today - Yugi said.
- Guess I did, I was just as surprised as you guys - Atem chuckled.
Yugi giggled and prepared both futons so he could turn off the lights and go to sleep.
- We should go to sleep, tomorrow is another busy day - Yugi said.
- Yes - Atem said.
- Good night Atem, is good to have you back - Yugi said with a sleepy voice.
Atem smiled at what Yugi had said.
- It´s good to be back, good night aibou - Atem said.
The two boys went to sleep without saying another word after that, Yugi fell asleep peacefully right away but Atem couldn´t sleep at all, he was so caught up thinking about this new enemy and how to defeat him but mostly about his own unfinished business with himself.
(All this was so sudden, I´m still trying to process everything that happened. it kinda feels like I´m having a dream while still in the afterlife but It´s not, besides we don´t know what we´re fighting up against. Who this person is and what do they want and on top of it all, I feel I´m getting close to my resolve more than ever, I´ll probably find my answer while fighting this new enemy) - Atem thought in the middle of the night while Yugi was sound asleep next to him.
What Atem didn´t know is that he was as close as he could be of his resolve.
Calligan: Thank you for reading and I hope you enjoyed, don´t worry It´s barely starting and feelings will grow.. eventually, stay tuned, next episode brings a big plot twist. please, let me know if my story telling is okay. :)