Two part chapter. I'm genuinely surprised that with going on eleven chapters I've gotten hardly any feedback or traffic, but I suppose YGO is aging... and this is more for my entertainment than anything. Hope you people reading along are enjoying as well.

Joey tapped Atem on the shoulder and whispered in his ear.

"Have a drink, my friend. Dance, have a good time. I know this is probably a little weird for you but you can just let go here. Everyone is here to celebrate you."

He nodded and looked to where Kaiba and Aura were standing, they were leaving, walking up the stairs to a VIP balcony, and Atem decided to follow them.

So did the stranger.

Yugi and Anzu, having no stage fright, turned to each other and allowed the music to move them, getting close and joining in the crowd's fun.

By the time Atem had reached the balcony, Aura and Kaiba were sitting across from each other, indulging in a glass of champagne.

"Yami Yugi."

Seto had definitely noticed the pharaoh. Atem stood still and their gazes locked.

"Seto Kaiba. It's nice to finally run into you again."

He approached them and tried to ignore Aura, he focused on Kaiba.

"Yeah, Mr. Egyptian weirdo. I thought you were gone for good. What the hell happened to that? You decided to come back for that rematch?"

Atem smiled a little. He was surprised the comment was made in sarcasm and not quite spite. Maybe Kaiba had changed a little.

"I suppose I do owe you that rematch, Kaiba. Things just weren't quite what I expected when I left, and with some help I stumbled back in your life it seems like."

"I see...you uh...and Yugi aren't quite attached at the hip like you used to be."

"Right...no we aren't anymore. It took a little adjusting...but it's just me now. I'm back to try my hand at dueling again and see how I fare on my own."

Kaiba tipped his glass to Atem before downing it.

"I'm looking forward to it, Motou. It will be nice to have a challenge again."

Atem figured this was Kaiba's way of welcoming him back. Aura also downed her glass of champagne and reached out to shake Atem's hand.

"I've heard a lot about you...you're Yugi's brother right? Ah-Tem? Atem? It's nice to meet you...I'm.."

Atem took her hand and finished her sentence.

"Aura. Yes, Yugi's told me a lot about you." He kissed her knuckles and clenched his fist tightly next to him. "It's a pleasure to meet you as well. Thank you for coming tonight, you look lovely."

She beamed at him. They locked gazes for a moment as well...and there was something about him that Aura swore she had seen before. Something so familiar about him.

As she thought this, another shadow behind Atem caused him to freeze.

"Hello, Atem, Kaiba. It's been a while."

A lock of sea foam colored hair told Atem who it was immediately. He and Kaiba sprang from the sofa immediately and turned to be face to face with Dartz.

"I haven't meant to be a stranger for so long you know. I heard you were throwing a shindig in honor of our friend's return to this world and I decided to drop in and...see how you were doing myself."

Atem gritted his teeth and made a fist.

"I will end you, Dartz. If you don't leave. Now. You are not welcome here. I don't know how you got here or why, but Get. Out."

"Feisty , are we, Egyptian?"

Kaiba snarled at the man, making Aura jump back away from the group of intimidating men. Dartz simply smiled and extended a hand to Aura. She shakily accepted, and he also graced her hand with a gentle kiss.

"You must be Aura Simmons. You're lovely, just as I've heard."

"DARTZ. I thought Motou here told you to leave. This may be his party, but I'm the one throwing it and I don't recall putting you on the guest list. Get out before I toss you over this balcony."

Dartz ignored Kaiba's threat and continued fondling Aura's hands and wrists.

"You are absolutely lovely darling, just like I remember. Have you been well?"

"GET AWAY FROM HER, RIGHT. NOW." Atem had grabbed Dartz by the collar and forcefully dragged him away from Aura. With an intense grip, he shoved the man towards Kaiba who was waiting to put a death grip on the intruder as well. Kaiba grabbed his other arm and held him over the balcony.

"Alright gentlemen, I just wanted to be polite to the lady. I'll be on my way out, I'll have to catch up with you later."

The lights managed to go black at that moment, and when they came up again, Dartz was gone.

"That was freaky as shit, fucking hell...how the fuck do you two know that creep?"

"You could say that Motou and I had a run-in with him a few years ago. He's a bastard and doesn't have any right to be here."

She huffed loudly and reached for the bottle of champagne. She took a long swig straight from the bottle. Kaiba removed his jacket and rolled up his sleeves, taking the bottle from her immediately and pouring another glass.

Atem's nerves settled a little and he watched Aura rise from her seat and stretch.

"I need to get this out of my system. I've been too uptight lately. Will you two join me for a dance? I love this song."

I had a way then losing it all on my own
I had a heart then but the queen has been overthrown
And I'm not sleeping now the dark is too hard to beat
And I'm not keeping now the strength I need to push me

You show the lights that stop me turn to stone
You shine It when I'm alone
And so I tell myself that I'll be strong
And dreaming when they're gone

'Cause they're calling, calling, calling me home
Calling, calling, calling home
You show the lights that stop me turn to stone
You shine It when I'm alone

She had grabbed both men by the wrist and dragged them with her to the dance floor. They had both just stuck up for her. Just like in her dreams.

She closed her eyes and let the music move her to. Her hands in the air and her heart beating to the bass of the music, she felt a hand on her waist and turned to see Seto dancing in sway with her.

Atem watched the two and realized this was Fate acting all over again. He felt a gentle hand on his shoulder. A woman, a petite woman with silver hair pulled into a high pony tail whom he knew he had seen before smiled at him. She started to dance to the chorus of the song and pulled Atem towards her.

He smiled, feeling his heart let go of the anxiety for a moment and feeling his hips and body move with hers. People in this time really did know how to have fun.

The girl brought herself closer and closer to him. He leaned in as she went to whisper in his ear.

"My name is Kisara, it's nice to meet you, Mr. Motou."

Atem's face brightened with recognition. So Fate liked to put its own spin on things as well...

The song faded into another and Atem looked up to see Yugi and Anzu nearby still wrapped up in each other completely. Joey and Mai were a couple of people over from them, apparently having found each other after all these years as well. Serenity and Tristan were sitting at the bar chatting up excitedly and Serenity twirling around as the cosmopolitan started to go to her head.