Three weeks later...

Atem and his excavation crew, with their bags packed, said farewell to the clear desert air and the memories that had been made, finally arriving at the Cairo airport after their long dig. They lingered in the waiting area prepared to board the next flight to Domino.

Atem watched Anzu from across the aisle while she chatted away with Yugi next to her. He was pleased she wasn't upset with him for his decision, but even more pleased that she had chosen to react by spending more time with Yugi. He doubted it meant anything to her in particular just yet, aside from friendship, but only time would tell.

He guessed, however, that to ask for her cell phone once more to contact the man she seemed to be jealous of, would not be appreciated.

Yugi, after closing up his conversation with Anzu about the excursion, excused himself and gestured for Atem to follow him. The pair disappeared into the thick crowd.

Atem questioned Yugi's sudden gesture.

"You're itching to call him, aren't you?" Yugi asked. Atem tried to act nonchalant, but he knew there was no fooling his friend, and Yugi's eyes were on him. He let out a breath and nodded.

"And I'm guessing there's a reason why you hadn't asked Anzu to lend you her phone?" Yugi didn't need to wait for an answer. "You know I don't carry one, but…"

"Yes, Yugi?" Atem asked, but began to analyze their surroundings as he realized Yugi had been leading their direction. Yugi laughed. He dropped a handful of jingling coins into Atem's hand and pointed to the pay phone the Egyptian hadn't noticed was located a few feet from where they stood. Yugi smiled at him and walked back toward their friends.

A sleek black limousine rounded a corner in the city of Domino, and through the dark tint in the glass, the city's blue eyed billionaire inside the vehicle took note of a group of his peers chatting animatedly at an outdoor table at a café.

As the vehicle drew near and the individuals came into better view, Seto's eyes locked onto the man he had come to meet with. He silently pondered how he could have been so preoccupied with dueling this man, not to have noticed how beautiful he truly was.

Atem's skin, usually quite pale, had tanned significantly to a magnificent shade of bronze. Paired with the burning crimson of his eyes and his wild hair, he looked stunning. His mouth was pulled into a wide grin, and the gleam of his smile made him appear positively radiant. Seto couldn't pull his gaze away.

His driver pulled up alongside the café and Seto exited the vehicle. The chatter continued as he approached, dressed in a white business suit with a silver satin tie he thought would look remarkable when paired with the black tank and pants and silver cartouche the man before him wore.

Atem stopped speaking mid-sentence when his eyes locked onto the group's new observer. Seto's face was unrevealing, but Atem thought he caught a sparkle in his bright blue eyes.

"Hi, Seto." Atem smiled cheerfully and stood to greet him. He guessed that by now, the two men were beyond surnames.

"You took off on me," Seto accused with a bitter undertone.

"I know our excursion was sudden - it wasn't exactly my fault…" Atem explained lamely.

Atem had held out a hand to Kaiba, but the CEO only used it to pull Atem closer and plant a kiss on his forehead.

The chatter had died down with his appearance, but it slowly picked back up again as Atem's friends disregarded the new couple's display. Seto noted that the group seemed in no way surprised, and he found himself pleased that Atem seemed to have made good on his offer to tell them. He didn't care so much about whether or not Atem's friends knew, but Seto had no plans or desires of being kept a secret. His ego whispered that he was worth more than to be kept hidden away.

But the man in his arms managed to pull Seto's attention off of himself.

"I'm relieved to see you smiling," Seto whispered. This made his grin grow even more. "Have you any objections to leaving with me?" the businessman suggested. Atem shook his head.

"Technically," he gestured to the table next to him, "This was only coffee. You and I could make up for our missed lunch plans for today if your schedule will allow for it." He smiled at himself, liking the way the words "you and I" felt together as they slipped off his tongue.

In response, Seto released the Egyptian and offered his arm.

"I'll catch up with you later," he called to the table behind him. They waved him off - all except for Anzu, who was trying her best to smile for him.

Seto smirked as he climbed into his car beside Atem.

"As you told me when you last called, you've gotten another taste of your new hobby," Seto commented when they had gotten settled. "Do you still believe it suits you?"

Atem nodded eagerly. "I had an excellent trip. Getting reacquainted with my homeland gave me a chance to free some thoughts I hadn't even realized my mind had been harboring. In fact, Yugi actually took me to the site where my palace used to stand! Seto, it was invigorating! I've learned to drive."

"Moving up in the world, I see," Seto jabbed with sarcasm, but Atem only laughed.

Seto watched his companion as he spoke about his expedition, but couldn't help but wonder.

"Would you suppose…" Seto broke in, "your return might be less anti-climactic this time?"

He met Seto's eyes and answered, "I don't believe my time spent in Domino will feel quite as dull anymore."

"…I trust you'll be keeping away from the docks, then."

Atem answered by lacing his fingers with Seto's. "…I kept finding myself wishing you had come along."

"I have a gift for you," Seto stated abruptly.

"… Pardon?"

"It's not a big deal, so don't get too excited." Seto pulled a small package from his coat pocket. It was wrapped in glossy black tissue paper and tied with a silk ribbon colored deep violet, small enough to fit neatly into the open palm of Atem's hand.

"What is it?" Atem asked curiously.

"The point of the wrapping," Seto explained condescendingly, "is for that to be a surprise. Until you open it yourself," he urged. Atem obeyed and loosened the silk bow. He tore off the black wrapping to reveal a small silver device. He was just familiar enough with modern technology to recognize it as a very plain cell phone. What really drew his attention, however, was the small purple figurine attached to the device by a tiny chain - a miniature version of the Dark Magician. Atem studied the tiny item, drinking in its meticulous detail. It was a perfect replica of the image on his favorite card. He smirked.

"Seto, this is impressive."

"It isn't a keychain, but I thought this application was a bit more practical," he explained, taking the moment as an excuse to eye Atem's tight leather pants which couldn't possibly hold much in the pockets, "since I can see you don't carry a set of keys." Atem smirked when he felt the eyes on him but didn't feel the need to be shy about it.

"And," Seto continued explaining, "now you have no excuse for not calling me to explain yourself when you skip town for a month."

He frowned. "Is that what this is about? I didn't think you would like it, but I figured you would understand."

"I didn't know if you were coming back." He stated plainly. "You gave me no information. And what your friend said just before your call ended… I had to make myself trust you when you had said you would be in touch." Atem frowned. He'd learned well over experiences the two had shared that trust was not something Seto handed out easily, and understood that doing so must have been an uncomfortable struggle for him.

"Jou…" he cursed quietly. "I wondered how you would take what he said. I'm sorry I didn't have time to explain. I should have called you that night after you left."

Seto gestured to the device in Atem's hand. "I've already added my own contact information to it." Atem turned it over in his hands, examining it. He was glad that he device Seto had chosen for him was a simple one. He didn't want to have to learn to use a new piece of needlessly complicated technology on top of getting used to his new life.

"However, there is one little catch," Seto said, interrupting Atem's exploration.

"Go on?"

"I bought you the phone, but you have to manage your own bill for it. Certainly not for lack of funds on my part, of course. But it isn't my responsibility to give you hand-outs."

"I agree. Nor would I want you to. But…" He paused in hesitation.

"Is there a problem with this arrangement?" His eyes bore into Atem's.

"Only that I don't currently have the means to pay for… well, anything." He thought back to the airport and scowled. He couldn't even manage to use a pay phone without a handout from Yugi.

"Then it seems like you're going to need to figure that out. Your first month is taken care of as part of the gift, but after that you're on your own."

Atem smirked. "And therein lies the real motivation to gift me this device. You want to force me to do something with myself."

"I was thinking more along the lines of 'motivate', but that is the essential idea."

"Although, I don't quite see myself as the type to sit behind a desk all day. Corporate work seems to suit you, but I'm not so interested in that field."

"Attaining an income doesn't necessarily require getting a job. You could always go back to dueling; make yourself a living from tournament winnings."

"Maybe…" Atem gave the idea a thought. "Perhaps I could." Atem sighed and smiled up at his new lover. "Thank you, Seto. Not just for this. But this whole time, you've been there for me, even despite all my resistance."

Seto rolled his eyes, but had to bite back a curl of his lips before it threatened to show. "Don't get sentimental on me."

Atem sat back to contemplate what his life now held for him. He had friends, very dear friends, who loved him - he knew now, not so selfishly as he'd once sadly thought - and supported what he wanted to do. He had a handful of interests to occupy himself with - the world of dueling still compelled him, and his newly discovered joy of uncovering ancient things was an avenue not easily exhausted. He had been able to release the ghosts of his past he had kept locked in his heart.

And Seto! Seto had started it all - spurred this change of perspective. Seto, as he had always been, would continue to hold himself as a challenger to Atem, pushing him to break his own limits. And to bring his own degree of drive into the equation was an assertive ploy that did not go unnoticed.

He gazed at the dazzling brunet occupying the seat beside him, who had been absently watching their surroundings out the window, and he wondered how long he would stay. He understood his new relationship may not last forever, but even if it ended, it would not change the fact that he held a weapon in his heart he never had before - not in regard to his own personal life.

Hope.

Of a brighter future - his own future, free to do with it what he pleased.

He sighed with content and leaned into Seto's shoulder.

"Take all this pride
And leave it behind
Because one day it ends
One day we die
Believe what you will
That is your right
But I choose to win
So I choose to fight
To fight"

Creed, Weathered

A/N: If you didn't catch it, the titles of each of the first nine chapters were named from a line in the song Weathered, by Creed, lyrics of which were incorporated in the first chapter and here in the epilogue. I thought it fit quite nicely with this piece and, quite frankly, naming chapters is hard. I give due credit to those of you out there who really manage to come up with good titles for your chapters. Anyhow… Thank you all so much for following to the finish, and here's to the end of another story. I hope you enjoyed it as much as I did.