Yugi jumped up off the couch and shut the tv off, he ripped the tape out of the vcr and crushed it with one small foot. After a few stomps, Yugi started panting and sweating as the dark memories of the duelist kingdom returned.

"Dad, calm down." Toni scooted further away from Yugi. Yugi turned to look at his young son, his eyes wild and scared. Toni stood up and backed away, uncertain of what to think, terrified to ask or say anything.

Yugi couldn't believe he lashed out like that. It wasn't like him to act that way, especially in front of his son.

"Anthony, I'm sorry." Toni gasped softly, took a step back with a worried look in his hazel eyes. Yugi rarely ever called Toni 'Anthony' unless Toni was in trouble or they were about to have a serious conversation. Either way, it didn't turn in Toni's favor.

"Dad...it's ok...I mean..."Toni was speechless, his eyes darted to the hardwood floor. Yugi and Toni had a more of a friendly relationship; dueling against each other, watching random morning cartoons just before school, playing video games at the arcade. Toni couldn't remember when Yugi last spoke to him as a father.

Yugi sat on the couch and put his head in his hands, fighting back terrified tears.

Toni looked down at the bracelet, cautiously picking it up. It felt heavy in his hand, smooth to the touch and blindingly shiny under the light. He slipped it on his wrist and admired the way it looked on his wrist and thought about what everyone at school would think about him when they see it. Then he started to feel dizzy, his vision started to blur, his head started hurting.

"Yugi?" Mari asked, walking into the room and sat next to him with her arm wrapped around his shoulders. Toni raised his head just as his knees gave out.

"Toni!" Yugi shouted, running over to him. Yugi grasped Toni's shoulders, shaking him as if trying to wake him from a deep sleep. But Toni wasn't waking up, he wasn't moving.

Am I dreaming? Toni asked himself, looking around.

He noticed that the room had gone dark, except for the glowing throne that sat in front of him like a display at a museum. The throne was the same color as his bracelet. A second later, like a holographic monster appearing on the battle field, a figure started forming on the chair with his head bowed. He wore a dark purple cape around his shoulders, attire similar to movies about ancient Egypt, gold jewelry on his arm, bicep and his neck. Around his hairline was an eye just like the one on his bracelet. Toni stared in awe, realizing that this figure had the same color hair as Toni and Yugi.

Was he dreaming of his father as Prince Charming?

Next to him, a much smaller figure appeared next to the throne with his head, also, bowed. He wore similar clothes to the man on the throne, only he was missing the purple robe. Toni studied the newer man, seeing the similarities between the two, he figured they were related. The second figure had the same shade of hair, but his face was a bit more round than the first man's.

The figure on the throne raised his head, meeting Toni's surprised gaze with auburn eyes. Toni gasped and backed up, a chill running through his body.

"Who are you?" Toni asked, trembling.

"Do not fear, Anthony Mutou." He said, standing up, but he kept his distance. Toni knew this guy wasn't his dad, his voice was too deep. He looked at the other figure, who kept his head down. The first man spoke again; " I am a friend of your fathers."

"Wha..." Toni couldn't understand. He knew his father's friends, and had no memory of this one.

But am I not dreaming?

"My name is Atem." He said, putting his hand over his heart and bowed slightly. He spread his arm out, gesturing to the second figure. " I am the Pharaoh of Ancient Egypt. This is my son, Bakari."

The boy raised his head at the sound of his name. His dark brown eyes gazed on Toni's bracelet and he gave out a shocked gasp. Tears formed in his eyes and he lowered his head.

Ok, now this is getting creepy, Toni thought to himself. He looked over at Atem, a saddened look crossed his eyes. Toni took a moment to look over the 'Pharaoh', remembering the pictures in museums of former Pharaohs. Yugi took him to the Domino Museum many times, and each time they went, Yugi spent a lot of his time looking at one display in particular. Two men dressed in the traditional Egyptian attire stood in the center with their hands over a fire, two monster cards above their heads. They were surrounded by jagged ends and hieroglyphics that Moriah Ishtar would try so hard to read and translate.

"Ok, so you're an ancient Pharaoh talking to a modern day kid." Toni said, skeptically. He looked around him again, seeing nothing but pure darkness. He figured, since this was a dream, if he tried to run, the figure would only find him again. Deciding to take the path less traveled, he took a deep breath, trying to remain as calm as possible, praying he would have the courage to stand his ground. "What do you want from me? Why am I here? In fact, where am I?"

Would you slow down?! He screamed in his mind, in an out of habit way. Toni shook his head, remembering he wasn't trying to gain a friend, he needed answer's.

Atem straightened his back, a wave of seriousness washed over his tanned face. "I need your help to contact you father, Anthony. A great danger is about to fall upon your world and I cannot do this alone."

"What do you mean?" Toni asked, narrowing his eyes. "Why don't you just go see him yourself? Why come to me"?

"I would if I were able to do so. For you see, he no longer wears the millenium puzzle. And, now, you have such an item on your wrist," Atem pointed and the bracelet glowed. "I must ask for your permission to occupy your body. It is the only way."

Toni jumped back, startled and disturbed. Now this was just getting beyond weird. A spirit wanted to take over his body like a demon possession? Flashes of horror films involving demons and possession flashed through his mind.

"Ummm...wake up, wake up, wake up." Toni blinked, pinched himself and stomped on his foot.

Ok, this dream is getting beyond weird, Toni thought to himself. He met Atem's gaze again, surprised he hadn't moved. Toni had expected Atem to launch at him, forcing himself onto Toni, evaporating into thin air and seethe into Toni's.

"I am asking if you will be willing to share your body and mind with me." Atem spoke again, rewording his request, fighting back an amused grin. "It will not hurt, you will hardly know I am there, I promise."

"What will happen to me if you do?" Toni asked, taking a step back, his body shuddered at the thought of someone else in his body. "If I agree to this, am I going to disappear forever? Will I...will I die?"

"No, absolutely not. You will linger in the unconscious part of your mind. Think of it as an out of body experience." Atem explained with patience and kindness. "You will be able to occupy your body again when I am done talking to Yugi."

He really wants dad, but why?

"You said the world is in grave danger." Toni spoke with a surprising amount of confidence. "Our world's in constant danger, it's not like there's anything you or my dad can do to fix that. Why do you need to talk to him?"

Atem took a deep breath, bracing himself. "Although you may not believe it, but I have shared his body many years ago." He watched Toni's blond eye brows shot up. "It is a very long story, and I fear I do not have the time to share, but I must ask him to share his body and mind with me once more."

Toni shook his head in heavy disbelief, pressing his hand against his head.

Why am I freaking out about this? He thought, it's just a dream, I fainted, and now I'm dreaming. That can happen, right?

"So you want to be in my body, then switch over to my dad's body?" Toni asked slowly, still wrapping his mind around everything. "Just so the two of you can save the world?"

"Yes."

"What happens after that? What happens after the two of you talked?"

"Then, your father and I will find our friends." A sentimental smile spread across his lips. "I will explain things to your father, if you agree to my sharing your body."

"Save the world, my father and his friends." Toni whispered to himself, wondering how his father was a hero. The only time Toni remembered his dad being a hero was when they found Leigha Kaiba lost in the park, and they returned her to her mother. He, also, remembered his mother babysitting Leigha and a couple of other children during the weekend nights. Outside of the usual kindness Yugi showed to customer's, friends and random strangers on the street, Toni didn't see anything classified as hero of the world. "My father, the world's hero?"

Atem was silent for a moment, studying the young boy, surprised that he was asking so many questions. He would have thought that Toni would, at least, know about him and their previous adventures. "Yes, at least in my eyes, Yugi is considered a hero."

A hero.

The word echoed in his head like a broken record player. And for some reason, that word made him smile. If his father was a hero, it would explain how everyone in the city knew him, and why a lot of duelist insisted on dueling him for some kind of title. All because he committed a heroic act that gave him the title of hero.

That's when an idea came to him.

"Why not use me? Long term wise, I mean." Toni asked, spreading his arms out, an excited smile on his lips and his hazel eyes brightened. Atem blinked in surprise. Although Toni is not that much younger than Yugi was when Atem awoke in the puzzle, he had no idea what was in store for them back then, or the the toll that it would take on Yugi.

"I cannot ask that of you." Atem replied, shaking his head. "It is too dangerous for you."

"Why? How is it dangerous to me?" Toni asked with disappointment in his voice, dropping his arms to his side like they were rocks, his lips pouting, anger boiled in his gut. He looked down at the ground. "It's because I'm a short loser isn't it?"

"No-"

"Well it is isn't it?" Toni stated firmly, crossing his arms. For a moment, he and Atem stood in silence. Toni wasn't sure why he had such a sudden mood change, or a change of heart on the subject. But he did know that he wanted it, and it wasn't fair that he would get to miss his chance at being something other than a track star, the son of Yugi Motou, or the cousin of Leigha Kaiba. "I mean, that's why I can't be friends with anyone. I'm only known by other's my grade because of my family, and it bites."

"That is not why-"

"Then let me be your host. If this is as dangerous as you say, and my dad has gone through this before, how do you know this won't hurt him? Why torture my father like that? I can take anything! Let me help!" Toni stated, spreading his arms again, his heart racing. "If you honestly believe I am not a loser, then use my body."

"Anthony-"

"You need me to wake up don't you?" His body shuddered again, feeling uncharacteristically crude and selfish.

This is a nightmare, just a nightmare!

"U-unless I wake up, y-you won't be allowed to go into my dad's body!" He paused, his body shaking, a rock formed in his throat making it hard to breath.

Atem sighed and shook his head. Toni was as stubborn as Yugi was so many years ago, but he wasn't so anything like this. But could he risk Toni's life? But then again, if he didn't say yes, Toni may not wake up and the coma may kill him. Then, Atem would have no way to get to Yugi.

Curse it, Atem thought to himself, why didn't Yugi put the bracelet on? Well, I see I have no choice. We are short for time.

"Alright, I accept." Atem decided.

Toni's eyes slowly opened. They squinted at the bright light directly above him. His arm covered his eyes , and when they adjusted, he saw Yugi and Mari looking down at him with heavy concern. His eyes stared directly at Yugi.

"Yugi."

Yugi narrowed his eyes. Toni's voice was deeper than usual, the tone seemed to be as if Toni was talking to CJ Devlin. Toni sat up, keeping his eyes on Yugi.

"You may not recognize me. I cannot say I am not surprised." He spoke again, looking down at his hand, squeezing it. Then, he studied his new attire. A strange tingle crept up his spine. Toni was wearing dark brown pants, a red tank top, the bracelet strapped to his wrist, a scar on his left palm. He ran his hands through his hair, surprised to find the hair was much thicker than he had thought, and much shorter than what he was used to as Yugi Motou. Realizing he had left Yugi and Mari in a bit of a cliff hanger, he smiled. "I am residing inside Anthony this time, but you and I have a history together."

"Toni...what are you..." Mari grew speechless, placing her hand on her chest. "You're not, really, a joking type."

Yugi grasped Mari's hand, running a finger over her wedding ring in a fidgety way.

"Yugi, it is I." He paused, waiting for Yugi to realize who he was speaking to. When Yugi's expression remained unchanged, he continued. "I am the Pharaoh Atem."

Yugi gasped and dropped Mari's hand, disbelief filled his heart.

"Atem?" Mari asked.

Those familiar hazel eyes looked over at her, and for a moment, Mari thought she saw Toni. She took a step forward and placed her hand on his cheek, studying his face. That's when she noticed Toni's eyes were a darker, almost caramel like color and had a wave of confidence in his facial expression.

"Yes. I am a former Pharaoh of ancient Egypt." He explained. "Has Yugi ever mentioned me? Or about any of the dueling tournaments he has won?"

"Why, yes, he has, but he has never mentioned you before."

"If you are the Pharaoh," Yugi finally spoke. "Tell me something only he and I would know."

The room fell silent then. Atem was stunned that Yugi would even have a shred of doubt about him.

"You and I battled each other when we last saw each other." He explained. "You knew it had to be you to challenge me because I would have been able to defeat the other's. I had to challenge you because, unlike Joey, Tristan, or any of the others, you are more familiar with my battle strategies."

Yugi's shoulder's dropped and light appeared in Yugi's eyes, bringing a smile back to Atem's lips. "But, I don't understand." Yugi shook his head, his heart pounding in his chest, excitement lit inside his gut. "I thought, after that last battle, you were..."

"I was free, in a sense, I still am." Atem, gently, removed Mari's hand off his face and held it in his. "I still retain my memories from my past, from both our times together and my life before."

"But the puzzle..."

"That is a mystery I am trying to solve myself." He chuckled softly. "Amusing. I am the same height as you in Toni's body."

"Toni!" Mari jumped, her other hand grasping Toni's shoulder strap, a crazed look in her face. " Where is he? If you're this Atem person, then where's my son!?"

Pity formed a large rock in Atem's stomach. Mari was more than confused, she was lost. She was talking to someone who wasn't her son, but looked like her son. And, in front of her, Toni had disappeared without a literal trace. Sympathetically, Atem took both of her hands into his, meeting her gaze.

"He is fine, I promise." Atem looked over at Yugi for help.

"Uh, y-yes, he's just fine." Yugi comforted his wife, pulling her back. "I'll have to explain it to you later. But what I need to know is why are you harboring my son's mind? Why not mine?"

"I had planned to join yours as we did before, but your son was rather insistent that I take his body." He smirked, still hearing his and Toni's discussion about this. "Strange, being your son, I did not expect him to be so hard headed."

Uh-oh.

"Hm?" Atem's now hazel eyes looked around him. Yugi smiled, placing his hand on his chest as relief over filled him.

"That's how I know he's ok." Yugi whispered to Mari. She placed her hand against her forehead, dizzy from attempting to understand what was happening. Gently, he guided her to the sofa and sat her down.

"Yes, but I feel he is very confused." Atem explained. "Perhaps, he does not realize what has happened. When I spoke to him, he believed he was dreaming. He tried to pinch himself, I am not certain how he still believed it all to be a dream."

What did you do to me!?

Toni watched his father talking to him, or the spirit that was harboring his body like they were long lost friends with terror. His mother watched dumbfounded, her head in her hands, her face pale.

Mom! Mom over here! Toni took a step forward and attempted to grab her shoulder. As he went to touch the silk fabric of his pink and white blouse, his hand fell right through. He tried again multiple times.

She cannot see you.

Toni jumped and spun around. Standing behind Toni's body was the second, younger figure, Bakari. He looked over at him with kind eyes, his tan arms crossed his chest.

What do you mean she can't see me? Toni panicked, looking back at his mother with a small sense of hope that she could see him. I'm right in front of her, how could she not see me?

You are just a spirit right now, Bakari explained. Don't worry, you and my father will switch places once he's done talking to Yugi.

"S-so what brings you here?" Yugi asked, then he heard Mari moan. "Oh, this is my wife, Mari. Um...I'm not sure how to explain this without sounding totally insane."

"Toni is going to want answer's as well." Atem spoke. "I will suggest on waiting for any explanations. For now, I bear terrible news."