I should probably warn that there is some mild cursing and also the suggestion of an unsubstantiated interest in teenage boys.

Please also excuse any poor editing as I have not had much time.


Chapter 3.

Chaos for Christmas.

Yugi and Jonouchi guided a somewhat disorientated Atem into the sitting room and steered him towards the sofa. He looked around the room at the other guests. Some of them he'd never seen before, but their expressions were all the same. They were obviously confused and somewhat shaken by what they were seeing.

They wanted answers and he realised that he needed to get a grip on himself and work out what was going on so that he could set them all at ease.

But being forced here so abruptly had left him with this horrible dizzying feeling of vertigo and he just hoped he wasn't going to throw up again, in front of them.

To try and steady himself, he focused on the tree in the corner. The lights were off due to the power drain, but he remembered seeing something like it in Domino Town Square. "It is Christmas, am I right?" He fondly recalled the two Christmases he had spent with Yugi and their friends. They had told him it was in celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ, but that even though Japan was not actually a Christian country, in the latter half of the twentieth century the idea of celebrating it had become popular. "This red coat is for..." He gave a little snort at the oversized red coat, trimmed with nylon fur, that dwarfed his lean frame. "I have forgotten his name."

"That's okay Pharaoh... I mean Atem!" Jonouchi gave his shoulder a squeeze. "It's Santa! We don't expect you to remember everything," This was not how Jonouchi remembered Atem and it was upsetting to see him looking so lost.

Atem chuckled lightly. "Ah, yes. I remember now." He went quiet as he tried to even out his breathing. By rights, he should not even have a physical body in the living world, but for some reason he did. What sort of magic had Kaiba used to get him here? He shivered. "I smell of vomit. I should wash."

Unable to bear seeing Atem looking so pale and unwell, Anzu hurried forward to try and help him. Feeling embarrassed about his condition, he gave her a weak smile. It did not escape him how she had matured into a beautiful woman. In fact, they had all matured, making him feel like a child.

Mokuba was sympathetic towards their unwitting guest. He had been a young teen last time he saw the Pharaoh, and Atem had been this wise and powerful being that sometimes took over Yugi's body. It was strange to think that he was now older than Atem. The bedraggled young Pharaoh looked such a pitiful sight. "Oh! Yeah, okay. I'll take you to a guest room. Yugi can come and look after you while I will find you some better clothes to wear." He could not think what else he could do for Atem. And where was Seto?

::::::::::

In the basement, Seto was busy trying to contain the small tear that had appeared in the fabric that was supposed to keep the dimensions apart.

Frantically typing some commands into the panel on the entrance door to the lab, he raised a containment field. The containment field was an advanced force field that worked on the same principles as the deprivation mask he had used on Diva, and he just hoped that it would be strong enough to prevent the rift from growing any bigger – at least until he worked out a way to mend the tear properly. The last thing he wanted was for it to grow big enough to allow any uninvited creatures to squeeze through.

::::::::::::::

As Yugi and Anzu tended to Atem, his very confused mother finally decided to challenge her son. "I think you owe us some sort of explanation Yugi. Who is this young man? And why does he look just like you?" Yugi looked at her and cringed. Once or twice in the past, she had caught him talking to himself and had questioned his strange behaviour. But he had always made a joke of it or come up with a reasonable explanation. He had never told her the truth about the Millennium Puzzle or the spirit within.

"Erm.. it's a long story Mum. Atem is a good friend from Egypt." He hated himself for telling fibs but he had lied to his mother so often that it had become far too easy. "I don't have time to explain it right now, because... because I really don't know how." She was looking at him impatiently and he could feel himself becoming irritated with her. "I'm sorry Mum! But you just have to accept it, okay?"

"No! It's not okay Yugi. I'm confused. Why did you call him Pharaoh?" His mother was looking between him and his friends with a challenging expression. She was certain they were all in on Yugi's secret.

Honda had joined his friends and was standing protectively by their side. "That's his nickname," he quickly answered.

"Yes!" Anzu agreed. "Because he's Egyptian."

Yugi's mother mumbled something to her husband and shook her head.

Taking his wife's cue, Yugi's father stepped into the debate. He had his own suspicions and concerns. "It doesn't explain why he looks like Yugi. He even has the Mutou hair." He glared at his own father. Sugoroku had spent many seasons working on digs in Egypt, and he could not help but be suspicious that maybe the old man had kept a secret family there.

But the thing concerning him most, was what he was doing in the basement of Kaiba's mansion. "What's going on Dad? Why would Seto Kaiba have a boy who looks like the product of your adventures in Egypt, naked in his basement?"

Sugoroku was furious with his son for suggesting he might have fathered a love child. "Now hold on a minute Sasaki. That was out of order and you know it!"

"Dad!" Yugi stepped towards his father. "Stop making assumptions about something you know nothing about. There are things going on here that are beyond your understanding."

"Then explain?" His father snapped. With that tone of voice, Yugi would have done as he was told when he was a child. But as a man, he stood his ground.

"I would explain, but we have more important things to deal with right now." Like making sure Atem is okay.

Yugi's father startled at his son's abruptness. But Sasaki Mutou was not buying it. "If you lot are trying to hide some secret for my dad, or protect Kaiba from.. I dunno.. having a thing for kids, then I suggest you all come clean, because I wont allow it to continue." If his suspicions were correct, then this young lad could be his half brother and Yugi's uncle.

Everyone cringed and squirmed at his implications, especially Mokuba. "How dare you! My brother's not into things like that! Seto transported him here for a duel!" He snapped angrily.

"I didn't say he was," Yugi's father shrugged. "I just think it odd that we found a teenage boy, who looks very much like he is a Mutou, naked in the basement of the wealthiest man in Japan."

Mokuba glared at Mister Mutou, "I don't know why he's naked." He looked at Atem in the hope that the Pharaoh would exonerate his elder brother.

Atem was very well aware of what Yugi's father was implying and was not amused. "How dare you suggest such a thing," he seethed, angrily. "If you were not Yugi's father I would have you executed for such slanderous remarks. If you must know; I was bathing after an excellent day of chariot racing when I was abruptly ripped from my chambers and brought to this realm by Kaiba."

Yugi's parents looked at one another in complete confusion. Everyone starting talking at the same time, jumping to conclusions as to what was really going on.

Hana Mutou looked around at the other confused faces. Two of whom, were Mokuba's girlfriend and her sister.

They were both looking to Mokuba for some clarity, but did not get any.

Despite his continuing nausea and also being the youngest person – by physical appearance – in the room, Atem still tried to maintain his air of authority. Using Yugi as a crutch, he stood up on wobbly legs.

"Quiet everyone!" He bellowed, and immediately they all went silent. The only problem was, they were now all looking at him as though he were about to explain everything – which he was not sure he could.

He cleared his throat. "Okay.. I know that the circumstances surrounding my arrival here may look strange. But I can assure you, that moments before you found me in the basement, I was actually in the Ancient Egyptian Afterlife." His statement was met with disbelieving gasps. "Yugi, myself and our friends, were brought together by the Millennium Puzzle. I do not expect you to understand how our souls are connected, but we share a bond that reaches beyond this world." He paused when Yugi's mother started muttering to his father that she knew something strange had happened to her son when he solved that wretched Millennium Puzzle.

"So Dad. He's not your son?" Sasaki Muto asked.

Sugoroku chuckled and shook his head. "No. He's not. But he did save my life that day in the tomb, when I was shot. To this day, I still don't know what exactly happened after I was shot. All I remember, is seeing a vision of this young man and then waking up in the Valley of The Kings, clutching the box containing the Puzzle."

"Y..you mean, he's a ghost?" Anzu's mother asked shakily.

Atem laughed. "Yes, you could say that. However, since I am corporeal, I cannot say for sure that I actually am one."

"This is way too weird." Kimiko mumbled, clutching her sister's hand.

"Then, if you've come from some other world," Anzu's father asked, with intrigue. "How did Kaiba manage to bring you here?"

"My brother's a genius," Mokuba proudly stated. "He has the ability to create technology that can reach beyond our world."

"But isn't that dangerous?" Anzu's father replied.

"Of course not! Seto knows what..." Mokuba started but Atem cut him off tersely.

"Yes! Very dangerous. Kaiba is abusing powers that are known only by the Gods. And even the Gods have learned not to abuse such power - they found that out the hard way, many millennia ago."

Everyone gulped and looked about the room nervously. Gods/1 ancient powers! It was all too much for some.

Mai was the first to ask a question. "So what are we gonna do now?"

Yugi looked at Atem hopefully. "Is there any chance you will be allowed to stay?"

Atem chewed on his bottom lip and looked at his former aibou. "Can you not feel it Yugi?" When Yugi shook his head and confirmed that he didn't feel anything, he continued. "I do not know what powerful sorcery Kaiba has used to bring me here, but whatever he has done has destabilised Maat."

"Does that mean we're gonna have to save the world again?" If so, Jonouchi was up for a good fight.

"I hope it doesn't come to that," Atem replied. "However, Kaiba is missing, and I think we should investigate." He caught a whiff of himself and grimaced. "But first I need to rid myself of vomit." He tried to walk and promptly collapsed when his legs gave out.

Yugi was right there and caught him before he hit the floor. "Let me help you – at least until you can walk properly." Atem shot him a 'do not treat me like a child glare' but Yugi was not intimidated and continued to support him as they followed Mokuba.

"I'm coming with ya!" Jonouchi stated. "I ain't lettin Atem outta my sight while he's like a newborn lamb."

Atem frowned at him and sighed despondently. "So that's what I have been reduced to; a new born lamb." Truth be told, he felt like one.

It was agreed that while Atem was getting washed and changed into some proper clothes, Honda, Anzu and Ryou would find out what Seto Kaiba was up to and then report back with their findings.

::::::::::::

Satisfied that he had managed to heal the rift, Seto heaved a sigh of relief. He had no idea why the rift had appeared after he shut down the cube, but at least he had averted a possible disaster. Now all he needed to do was see where Atem had scuttled off to and challenge him to a duel. He just hoped that the Pharaoh had recovered and was capable of dueling.

Gathering up the cube and his equipment, he turned to go back upstairs and face everyone. They were bound to give him an earful, but he was prepared for that bunch of cretins.

He reached the first step, when Honda appeared. "Oh great! A search party."

"What's going on Kaiba?" Asked Honda

Anzu peered around his shoulder. "What are you hiding down here?"

"I'm not hiding anything," he replied nonchalantly. "I was just salvaging my equipment. Some of it overheated when I brought the Pharaoh here." They were still looking at him with expressions that implied they did not believe him. "Don't worry. The Pharaoh will be able to return home when I decide to let him go." His equipment was pretty badly damaged and he hoped that he would be able to send him home.

Honda glared at him. "You'd better be telling the truth?"

Seto rolled his eyes. "Just go. You're blocking my way."

Ryou Bakura found his voice. "I'm afraid I don't believe you're telling us the truth Kaiba. The forces you have been using with are dangerous."

Seto hated being called a liar. "Oh! And, of course, you have knowledge of all that occult and demon rubbish, don't you. After all, you were host to a monster," Seto sneered, nastily.

His comment made Ryou flinch but the blonde stood his ground. "Yes, I was. But my experiences of the supernatural have left me with a sixth sense and I know when something is wrong. I can feel it."

"Yes, well you are wrong. I have fixed it." With that, he pushed past them and marched up the stairs, leaving the three friends all looking at one another in exasperation.

After a moment of hesitation, they followed him, leaving the darkened basement behind.

What none of them knew, was that although the rift in the basement had been closed, a new one was opening up elsewhere.

::::::::::::

Atem was not embarrassed about nudity. In Egypt, nudity was no big deal and he was quite used to having servants pampering him and helping him to dress. But having to be steadied as he climbed in and out of the bath was humiliating, and he found himself continually apologising for being so weak and helpless.

"I'm sure once you've adjusted to your new body you will be okay," Yugi reassured as he wrapped the towel around him, while Jonouchi held his arm to prevent him slipping over on the wet tiles as he got out.

Being stubborn, Atem insisted on drying himself and walking unaided back into the bedroom. He was starting to get used to his new body now and was becoming stronger and steadier.

However, still concerned he might fall, Yugi and Jonouchi stayed close.

Smirking triumphantly, he sat down on the bed with the towel still wrapped round his waist. "There, I did not need help."

Mokuba came running back in with a pile of clothing. "I grabbed these from the back of my wardrobe. They fitted me when I was about seventeen so hopefully there's something here that will fit you. "He dropped the bundle on the bed beside Atem. "It's a good job I never got round to getting rid of them." Truth was, his wardrobe was so big he didn't know half of what was in there.

There was no underwear so Atem chose a comfortable pair of black sweatpants, a white tee-shirt, a dark blue and red hooded top and some warm socks.

They were just about to go back downstairs when they heard a loud rumbling sound outside. The rumble was quickly followed by a roar and then a screech.

"What da hell is that?" Jonouchi ran over to the window and was just in time to see a Red Eyes Black Dragon go soaring into the dull, grey sky. His eyes went wide and he gasped in awe and excitement.

Atem joined him at the window, just in time to see a Beserk Gorilla smash through the shrubbery. It stood on two legs and pounded its chest before looking menacingly at the pergola. Its flame effect kicked in, setting the pergola alight.

Atem's eyes widened in concern. "I feared that something like this might happen."

"What is it?" Mokuba peered over his shoulder. "Shit! Seto's gonna be furious about the pergola."

"Never mind that," Atem snapped. "Thanks to Kaiba bringing me here, creatures are now crossing from their own dimensions into other worlds."

"Then we need to stop them before they cause too much damage," said Yugi, resolutely.

"And how do we do that?" Jonouchi frowned.

Knotting his eyebrows together in thought, Yugi quickly came up with an answer. "They're Duel Monster Spirits, so maybe we can control them using our minds or our cards," he suggested, hopefully.

"Theoretically," Atem nodded. "But unless you have a connection to that particular monster, then in reality it might be difficult."

"Nah... I got faith in my monsters," Jonouchi grinned. "I'm gonna go catch me a real Red Eyes."

Before they could stop him, he was leaning out of the window, whistling and calling out to the dragon circling in the sky.

The dragon spotted him and came swooping down. The powerful gust from its wings tore the window off its hinges. The dragon then tipped its head back and screeched, sending a ball of flame hurtling into the garage.

Mokuba stared in horror. "Seto's Lamborghini is in there!"

"No! Come back!" Jonouchi yelled, as the dragon flew upwards and then hurtled towards the city centre. Yugi grabbed him to stop him falling from the window and pulled him back inside.

"Jonnouchi! I think you should stop winding the dragon up like that," he scolded his friend.

"But didn't you see Yuge? He recognised me!"

Mokuba scowled at him "Yeah, then why did he incinerate the garage and fly away?"

"Coz he knows... Aw, never mind." Jonouchi suddenly realised that if he confessed to having imagined how funny it would have been if Beserk Gorilla had trashed Kaiba's stupid fancy cars instead of the pergola, he might be accused of inciting the Red Eyes Black Dragon to burn down the garage.

"We must find Seto," Mokuba shouted, turning and running back down the stairs.

When he got to the foot of the stairs, Seto was in the hallway, having just emerging from the basement looking relieved after successfully closing the rift. "Seto! All hell's breaking loose," he shouted desperately. "There's duel monsters running amok, They torched the pergola and garage."

Seto's eyes went wide with surprise. "They did what?! But I closed it before..."

Atem and Yugi appeared on the stairs and both Mokuba and Seto jumped when Atem shouted. "Kaiba! Thanks to your ridiculous obsession with me, you have put everyone in danger!"

Seto smirked and stood tall. "That would sound more authoritative if you were not wearing Mokuba's old cast-offs."

Atem looked down at himself and bristled. "This is not a time to make jokes Kaiba. When you brought me here, you caused the realities to collide and creatures are now escaping from their own worlds and are appearing in this one."

"Before you accuse me of anything, I should inform you that I closed the rift. Nothing got through."

"Yeah, well if ya that smart, why are there real monsters in your garden Kaiba?"

"What do you mean, Monsters?" He ran into the sitting room and stopped. His mouth gaped at the large crack in the floor, which ran across to the patio doors and had even caused one of the large, reinforced glass panels to crack.

He looked outside. Sure enough, there were monsters all over the garden. Most of them were either brainless ones or ones that were inquisitive and liked to cause trouble. "But I closed the rift! Where are they coming from?"

He ducked as an ornamental statue crashed into the patio door in front of him. Even though it was already cracked, the glass didn't break first time, but after another attempt, the heavy bust of an angel, holding an orb, crashed through and landed on the floor, narrowly missing them. The icy blast of cold air that accompanied it made them all shiver.

The grinning face of Feral Imp appeared, peering in at them through the gap left by the statue. He let out a devilish laugh when it spotted the horrified people looking at it.

Much to the imp's delight, Mokuba's girlfriend screamed hysterically at it, making it jump up and down with excitement. In one leap, it jumped through the opening, oblivious to the broken glass on the floor, intent on terrorising her further. It did not see Yugi or Atem, otherwise it might not have entered the room.

"Feral Imp! I command you to behave!" Atem bellowed at it. Immediately, it whimpered and crept towards him, like a dog cowering before its master. "Sit!" He said sternly, and the imp complied.

It looked expectantly between Yugi and Atem as it awaited its orders.

Yugi smiled and patted the imp on the head. "You must not frighten anyone, and you must not break any more objects or windows. Do you understand?" The imp looked up at him and nodded its head.

Yugi's mother put her hand to her mouth in shock and awe. "It.. it obeyed you! D.. do you know this creature Yugi?"

Yugi turned to her and smiled. "Yeah Mum, I do. He's in my deck." He turned to Atem. "At least we know we can control them. Now all we need to do is send them home and close the rift."

Atem nodded but he doubted it would be that easy. "I like your optimism Yugi, but..." He turned to the others. They all looked so determined and it filled him with resolve. "Okay! Those of you who are duelists. I want you to find any monsters you are familiar with and get them all to congregate in Kaiba's garden, while myself, Yugi and Kaiba find out where the rift is. Do not challenge any monsters you do not know, they might be dangerous."

"Perhaps we can get our own spirit monsters to sort out the ones that ain't behaving?" Jonouchi suggested.

"Good idea Jonouchi!" Yugi agreed. "You're in charge of that, okay?"

"Sure thing Yuge!" He beamed. "I'm already on it." With that, he went dashing outside and whistled for his Red Eyes Black Dragon.

Yugi's father stepped forward. "Is there anything we can do to help?"

"Yes there is Son," Sugoroku grinned. When his son gave him an incredulous look, he chuckled. "You have doubts? Then just watch and learn, because this old man has a few connections to Duel Monsters Spirits as well."

Hana Mutou rolled her eyes. "Why am I not surprised."

"I can help too," Ryuji Otogi added. "I just hope the monsters in my deck will obey me."

"And me!" Honda wasn't a good duelist, but he did have a deck.

Ryou shuddered. "I just hope HE doesn't show up."

Anzu gave him a reassuring hug. "We won't let him hurt you if he does."

He smiled. "Thank you. But if he does, please don't restrain me if I decide to beat him to a pulp."

Meanwhile, Mokuba's girlfriend and her sister, were checking their mobile phones for news.

"Oh my god! There's reports of weird creatures running all over the city!"

"Has anyone been hurt?" Mokuba asked, concerned.

"I don't think so! Oh no! The hospitals are inundated!"

"Then we have to put a stop to this. Is everyone ready?"

Anzu's mother laughed nervously. "Not really. But since you all seem to know what's going on, then I guess we will help in any way we can." She gave her daughter a searching look. How on earth did her daughter know about this stuff?!

Putting on their warm coats, they all ran outside without a clue about what they might find.

Once outside, they quickly discovered where the monsters were all coming from. A huge, dark, shimmering vortex, was swirling where the ornamental pond should have been. However, their access was blocked by several Skull Servants crawling around on the frosty lawn.

"Ugh! What are they?" Yugi's mother cried.

"It's okay Mum. Skull Servants are pretty creepy, but they're low level. Just kick them if they try to grab you. But if they get too close, One of my imps will deal with them, won't you?" He now had two Feral Imps and one Horned Imp in tow.

She glared at her son. "I will take your word for it." But she was not keen to find out.

Suddenly, Dark Magician Girl came flying out of the rift and made a beeline for them, zapping the Skull Servants with her sceptre as she flew, and sending them hurtling back through the rift.

She pulled up in front of Yugi and Atem. Her worried, stern look of concentration faded and she broke into a big smile. "Prince!" She squealed. "Thank Ra you are safe!" She had expected the worst, but to find him right away was fantastic.

"Magician Girl! What are you doing here?" Atem gasped.

Suddenly realising how cold it was, she shivered. "My master sent me to find you. Hold on a moment..." She did a twirl and stardust appeared around her. When she stopped spinning, she was wearing a flattering blue and pink coat, with fur cuffs and collar, pink and blue striped leggings and a pink hat with a big blue bobble. "That's better," she giggled. "Mahado was worried when you were reported missing from your chambers. He and Priest Set investigated and found the residue of powerful magic. They then discovered that the fabric dividing your world from the afterlife and the realm of Ka spirits had been breached. He has merged his soul with Dark Magician, but they can't repair the rift until all the creatures are recovered and you are safely returned to the palace."

Atem acknowledged her with a nod of the head. He turned to his friends. "Okay, then let's start rounding them up!"

"I have already applied a force field around the city to prevent them spreading further. Kisara is coordinating a sweep of the city and will round them up."

At the mention of Kisara, Seto's eyes lit up. "Did you say Kisara?"

Dark Magician Girl nodded and giggled. "She is in her dragon form and has Red Eyes and Gandora to assist her. They will obey her as she is a Goddess among duel spirits." At the thought of Blue Eyes White Dragon commanding their monsters, Yugi and Jonouchi looked at each other and frowned.

Seto shivered, bit his bottom lip and looked out into the dull, grey December sky. She was here... somewhere in the city.

Yugi spun around when he heard the familiar screech of his Gandora Dragon. The dragon was coming towards them, herding several mischievous relatives of Kuroboh. Yugi's own Kuriboh peeled off as Gandora forced his brothers and cousins back through the rift, and flew straight at Yugi and Atem with an excited Kureeee! Not knowing which of them to mob first, he flew around them until he was so dizzy, he crashed straight into Yugi's chest, almost knocking him to the ground.

Thinking her son was being attacked, Yugi's mother screamed and tried to swat Kuriboh away, but Yugi just laughed, clinging to the giddy fuzz-ball.

"Hey! Little buddy," he laughed, scratching Kuriboh's back. "You need to calm down before you hurt yourself." The excitable creature quivered and purred in his arms like a contented cat.

Atem laughed. "Someone's happy." He leaned in and scratched Kuriboh's head. The creature immediately jumped out of Yugi's arms and nuzzled Atem's neck. He put his arm around it. "It's good to see you old friend."

Yugi's mother started fussing and checking him over for injuries and was relieved he was unhurt. "What is that thing?"

"Mum!" Yugi whined. "It's not a thing. He's Kuriboh."

His mother shook her head in disbelief. All of this was way beyond her comprehension. She was going to have a serious talk with her son when this was all over.


Have a safe and happy Christmas everyone.

Final chapter will be Boxing Day, or the day after - depends how busy I am. And don't forget to leave a review :-)