If there was anything Yugi learned, it was the fact that time was never really on anyone's side, it come as time passes too slow or too fast. It was a shame really. Joey, Tristan, Tea, Duke, Mai, everyone had gone under severe changes, mainly with Joey, even the game of Duel monsters had taken a change. A school was opened. A duel monsters academy.

He remembered one of the students had ran right into him, falling over after the impact. Yugi knew there was something about the kid. He reminded him of himself, when he was his age, but so much had changed in ten years. As a token of his remembrance to the boy, he gave his a card. Flying Karibo.

Yugi frowns at the memory, truthfully, he hadn't been into the game as much since the pharaoh passed on. Instead, he spent most of his time at the library.

Of course his king of games title still stuck so he always took a duel for fun, but never for a prize. Most of his duels took place in the library which was where he could found now a days.

Actually, he had taken up on Egyptian history, reading everything he could. He studied the language and even got into the history of the land of kings. But he was look for one thing in particular. It was even better when he came across it.

The history of the first two kings who ruled Egypt, as a married couple; The Two Kings Era. Is was named. It even told the story of how the king fell in love with a young teen. A male. It surprised Yugi, his whole history rested in this book.

Now, he had another quest, personal one where he had to go alone, which seemed hard to do to his friends. Yugi actually had gotten a wedding invitation from Joey and Mai. With his quest in mind, he had to select Yes, when it asked for a RSVP. He know he would have to be back from his trip for this wedding.

If he was coming back at all.

Joey, the story of how he and Mai actually ended up together was a little crazy. Why is it then tragedy hits those who disserve it less?

Yugi hadn't seen Joey in a while, tragedy struck Yugi as well, as his grandfather passed a few years back, which was the last time he saw Joey until recently when he saw Joey again.

Joey had glasses.

It was the reason the Joey had proposed to Mai in the first place, well, one of the reasons. Joey didn't like the idea of some movie star hot shot, the whole thing where Mai was his friend even though he didn't want to admit that he was thinking about it. That was the smaller reason why he wanted to make Mai his wife. He loved her, and she loved him but the reason goes deeper. He wanted to be able to see Mai in her wedding dress. For his eye site wouldn't be here for long.

Truth was Joey was going blind.

Joey's sister serenity had the corrective surgery done for his sister a few years back and her eyesight hasn't faded. Joey, on the other hand found out her disease his hereditary and runs in the family, his disease only became on set later in his life. Of course the issue could be corrected if he had the money for the surgery, but the money he had left was used for his sister's surgery years ago. There wasn't any money left from it, so he just takes it day by day. Glasses just seem to help keep his eyesight functioning.

Yugi can't help to almost feel guilty. He would have given up the sight in both eyes to be able to keep his grandfather and Atem here with him.

His eye set back onto the ring hung around his neck on a thin gold chain and grips it in his hands. The real reason he's making this long trip by train.

He closes his book. He places the book into his back pack and stands, as the train readies for the stop. The breaks squeal as the train stops at the final stop. The place he needed to be for the moment.

He came to see someone.

The sun was hot. He took out a bottle of water and took a swig. He placed the water back into his bag as he started his long walk.

XXX

Yugi smirks as he looks down from the cliff and looks at the circles made from stone in the dirt and a pedestal in the middle of the inner circle. The Valley of Lost Souls. He met Atem here once, when Atem had cost Yugi his own soul, but that was when Atem had fallen to darkness. This was different. He needed to speak to Atem personally.

Things needed to be answered.

He send his bag sliding first. He then slides down the cliff, on his feet, and slides perfectly to a stop, without a stumble. He takes his bag, throws it back over his shoulder and starts his walk into the circle.

The walk wasn't easy, souls who had passed were still finding their way to Yugi, even after so many years, over 5,000 years back, and these faces recognized him right away, though he knew none of them.

Time had erased his memory as well, although his purpose in this life was to restore his lover's memories. Of course Yugi's mind stayed to that of the present. He was of this time, but wasn't he part of the past too?

Gods. Reincarnations and time travel... it's all so confusing.

He approached the inner circle but didn't want to enter just yet. Anxiety hit him.

'It's been ten years. I have matured and aged. Well he even recognize me?' Yugi thought. It didn't matter now though did it? He came this far. Can't turn back and leave now.

He entered the inner circle and a pulling sensation started in his head. The gods were seeing who he was seeking, and they answered his prayers.

Glowing blue orbed circled around the young man before forming onto the pedestal before him. Dressed in pharaoh garbs, sporting the purple cape, stood the Pharaoh.

Yugi took a bow, his right foot forward. He looked up to the tan king, and spoke... in Egyptian context. "Hello, my king. It's been a while."

The pharaoh looked down to Yugi, shocked and impressed at Yugi's speech skills. The pharaoh smiled to the young male before him. "I'm impressed at your skills, and you have grown."

Yugi smiled at the compliment. "I didn't just grow, Atem, I matured. Much has changed since you left. I just have questions that need to be answered."

Atem frowns. "Yugi, I don't-"

"Pharaoh!" Yugi cuts his lover off. "It's been ten years. When will I get to be back with you? You know something. You are the keeper of the Egyptian Gods. They made it so we would be together. I know you know something."

The pharaoh was taken back a little. Yugi had never had raised a voice at him but the boy did have a good valid reason to be upset. "5,000 years is a long time."

"And then adding another ten to that just adds insult to injury." Yugi adds.

The pharaoh nodded in agreement. Yugi was right and Atem felt like the partner had lasted long enough. "Yugi. You have met a boy, starting his school year at a Duel Academy. When he graduates, you will duel him, and you have to beat him."

Yugi looked at the Pharaoh confused. "I don't understand."

"Just as darkness engulfed my heart and you set me free, you must do the same for him." Atem shakes his head. "He has a great darkness in his heart, and evil that must be vanquished. You defeat him, and the gods will take you into the afterlife."

Yugi nodded his head. He knew what kid he was talking about. The Jaden kid. The one who ran right into him a few weeks back. Again, the gods made it so they would meet. "I'll do it."

Atem smiles before looking behind him. The king could see something that Yugi couldn't. "I must go. My time is up here."

"Pharaoh wait! I-" Yugi jumped for the male, only to be a few second late and missed his chance to embrace his lover...

And instead went face first into the dirt.

He gets himself up and brushes himself off. He then walks slowly to pick his dropped backpack. He then started the long walk back to the train station.

XXX

At least there were answers now. Not many questions were left in head. When Jaden graduated he would then, be able to pass on and be with his lover again. Yugi takes the train home. He then goes into his backpack to pull out a book, only to come across an invitation.

Guess he could make it to the wedding after all.

XXX

Four years and finally, graduation, which meant Yugi had to hold his end of the promise to the Gods. He would Duel Jaden, and rid the dark spirit in him.

And just like Yugi promised. He had won.

XXX

It was weird really. The entire place was of white. And his street clothes were replaced with Egyptian king garbs and a red cape. His skin was of tan, and his youth from ten years ago was restored too.

Truth be told he though passing into an afterlife would be far more painful than just a flash of light and boom! He was here.

Then a voice "Yugi!"

He couldn't help but to call back. He knew who was calling him. "Atem!?"

Yugi could see him approaching and he couldn't help but to run to him. Tears had welded up in his eyes. Over 5,000 years and Atem and he could finally be together.

Atem held him close. As he cried too. He had waiting just as long as his partner did and now they could be together for an eternity. Atem couldn't control himself anymore. He kissed the young boy hard and Yugi just melted into it.

It must have been a sign from the gods because when they pulled away, the chains they both wore their own gold ring had tangled. Bond of the hearts.

XXX

It's done! It's done! This is sad! Well, hope you enjoyed, and I'll see you all the next time. Love you guys. And please, read, and comment. I love to hear what you guys have to say.