Epilogue

"Now, this is what I call a celebration!"

Joey stood at a long table in the Ishtars' backyard, holding a glass of fruit punch. Everyone else was milling around the yard as well, eating refreshments and sampling the fruit punch and just enjoying the tranquility of the evening.

Ishizu stood on the other side of the table and smiled at Joey. "I must admit, I'm a little surprised we were still able to pull this off so quickly."

"Hey, after all the chaos of today, it feels good just to kick back and relax," Joey grinned.

"You said it, Joey," Yugi smiled.

"And now it is a celebration of more than the Pharaoh's return," Ishizu said. "It is a celebration of our shared victory over the darkness."

"Oh yeah!" Tristan grinned. "We all rocked today!"

Atem looked a little awkward and nervous. "Yugi . . . isn't your mother going to be back from that business trip tomorrow?"

"Yeah . . ." Yugi said slowly.

"So tomorrow's going to be pretty interesting," Tristan mused. "How are you going to explain who Atem is?"

"We'll figure it out," Yugi said. "I guess we'll just have to tell her the whole truth and hope for the best." He managed a smile. "Grampa can help . . . although I'm not sure how she'll take the news that he was aware of Atem almost from the start and never told her. . . ."

"I'll just tell her I knew she wouldn't understand," Solomon piped up.

"She thought I was talking to myself," Yugi remembered.

"Would it have helped for her to know that you were talking to an ancient Egyptian Pharaoh who was sharing your body?" Solomon countered.

"Um . . . probably not," Yugi said. "She probably would have wanted to melt the Millennium Puzzle down then and there."

"Well, you can't really blame her," Solomon said. "It was a very strange and awkward situation."

"I'm just glad it's over now, and Atem and I can each have a separate body," Yugi smiled. "And I'm sure Mom will like you, just like I said." He looked to Atem.

"I certainly hope so," Atem said.

Duke looked to Bakura. "How does your dad feel about Yami Bakura these days?"

"Oh. . . ." Bakura blushed. "I suppose you could say he's gotten fairly used to him. Father is still away on business a lot, but when he is home, they try to get along for my sake. I know Yami is happy that Father is trying harder to really be a good father who's there for me. And Father likes that Yami is very protective of me. He's still appalled by the lack of table manners . . ." He paused as Yami Bakura took an enormous bite out of a piece of chocolate cake and crumbs went everywhere. ". . . But . . . well . . . he's learning to take the bad with the good." He gave an embarrassed chuckle.

"I guess that's something we're all going to have to do," Téa said, even as she looked disgusted too. She gave a genuine smile. "After all, Yami Bakura is here to stay. And he helped a lot today."

"He sure did," Tristan remarked. "I'm still not sure what I think of him, but I'm a lot more okay with him being around now. I think he'll have our backs in a crisis."

Joey looked surprised. "A lot must have happened that I don't know about yet. This is like a complete 180 from earlier today."

"Yeah, you could say that," Tristan said. "But for starters, the reason he got stabbed and poisoned was because he was trying to help me, and he still jumped in the water after me when he was wounded. And he keeled over trying to help Marik because he was too weak from the poison."

"That's definitely enough to make you think," Joey said.

"And he told me a lot of stuff too," Tristan said. "He could have been lying, but . . . I really don't think he was." He shook his head. "I'm as surprised by how I feel as you are, Joey. I'm still not sure yet how to deal with it."

"I'm sure you'll figure it out," Yugi smiled.

"And I'm very happy to hear it," Bakura beamed.

Tristan looked to him. "You were right, you know, Bakura—I wasn't being fair to him. If I can forgive and trust Marik, I should be able to do the same with Yami Bakura. He hasn't given me any real reason to believe he'll turn against us."

"So him being grouchy won't bother you now?" Téa wondered.

"Or mischievous?" Bakura added.

"Well . . ." Tristan sighed. "We'll have to see."

Joey looked to Bakura now. "So does your dad know the whole story about Yami Bakura yet?"

"Um . . ." Bakura shook his head. "We've never quite got to the Zorc part yet. But he does know about the prior possessions. I've tried to emphasize how Yami would take control to protect me from bullies and such."

"But he doesn't know about all the conquering the world stuff," Joey deduced.

"Exactly," Bakura agreed. "I'd just as soon keep that from him for as long as we can."

"Can't blame you there," Joey said. "He probably wouldn't take too kindly to any of that."

"I'm afraid not," Bakura sighed. "I'm sure we will have to tell him everything eventually. I would just like it to be at a point when he could accept it's in the past."

"And it is in the past," Marik said. "Although I'm sure Yami Bakura will always be a . . . colorful character."

Oreo, perched on Yami Bakura's shoulder, purred and nuzzled him.

"Cat!" Yami Bakura growled as a long lock of hair flew in his mouth. Then, muttering to himself, he reached and petted her.

"He couldn't be anything else," Bakura chuckled.

Mokuba grinned. "It's so awesome that you remember everything again, Marik!"

"It's certainly a relief to me," Marik smiled. "And I'm amazed your brother actually agreed to come to our celebration." He nodded to where Seto was standing awkwardly with folded arms and seemed to not know how to handle being there.

"Well, whether he'll admit it or not, he wanted to welcome the Pharaoh back," Mokuba said. "Of course, he still plans on a duel in the very near future."

"And I will accept," Atem said.

"I hope everything that happened today won't make Kaiba leery about debuting his augmented reality technology," Yugi suddenly said in concern. "It's a really awesome idea! It would be awful if Yami Marik ruined it."

"Seto's more determined than ever to release it," Mokuba said. "He won't let some creepy freak like Yami Marik mess up his plans!"

"That sounds like him, alright," Joey said.

"Maybe I'll go over and talk to him," Atem said. "He clearly doesn't know how to behave." He smiled a bit. "And before I met all of you, I probably wouldn't have known either."

"The bikers said they'd try to come by later, if they didn't have to work," Tristan remembered. "I wonder if they'll make it."

"I hope so," Atem said. "I look forward to talking with Raphael again."

"Weevil and Rex didn't wanna come," Joey mused as Atem headed across the lawn. "Course, I can't really blame them. Rex at least seems different than before, though. I think he's finally trying to get past all of the hate and the messed-up feelings that were weighing him down."

"I think so too," Téa said. "And remember, he said he wants to duel you, Joey."

"I'll take him on too!" Joey grinned. "I'll be more than happy to show him the Heart of the Cards and everything else I've learned, if he's ready."

Yugi smiled. "From what he said, I think he is. He could really have a good comeback; his dinosaur deck was always awesome!"

"Weevil, though . . . eh, he'll probably always be a cheat," Joey said with a roll of his eyes.

"All I can say is, at least we know he draws the line somewhere," Téa sighed.

"But Bandit Keith sure doesn't," Joey said in disgust. "And now the sleaze has run off somewhere with all his little Rare Hunters!"

"And more than likely, we haven't seen the last of them," Duke frowned.

"I hope he didn't find out Marik is alive," Serenity worried.

"I'm sure he will, eventually," Duke said. He put an arm around Serenity, much to Tristan and Joey's chagrin.

David nodded. "Even though I usually try to keep things bright for cynical Dukey-Boy, I have to admit this looks bad. If Keith finds out Yami Marik lied to him, he's going to be hopping mad."

"And Marik may pay for it," Rishid worried.

"We'll see," Marik said. "I'm sure I'll find a way out."

"I sure hope so," Mokuba said.

"With so many loved ones on my side, how can I lose?" Marik smiled. "I've learned about the light of hope, just as Rishid and Ishizu longed for. And it proved itself again today."

"That's for sure," Téa said.

Seto looked less than impressed by the conversation. But as Atem approached him, he perked up. "I'll let you know when I'm ready for our duel, Pharaoh," he greeted.

"I'm sure you will," Atem said. "But when we duel, Kaiba, there is much I want to talk with you about."

"Oh?" Seto raised an eyebrow. "Like what?"

"Things I learned as I recovered my memories," Atem said. "And also things I learned in the afterlife."

Seto grunted. "And I'm sure a lot of prattle about friendship and teamwork will be mixed in with that."

"I know you don't like to hear that, but you have surely seen on many occasions that we make a valuable team," Atem said. "You've come a long way from the person who struggled with handling a tag team duel in Battle City."

"I can't deny that," Seto said. "I know I've helped out with removing several villains from the picture, including the one today. But that still doesn't mean I want to hear all about gooey gushy friendship."

"Fair enough," Atem said in amusement. "But we shall see how you will react to what I learned."

"Yeah, we will," Seto said.

Bakura walked over to Yami Bakura, who had grabbed a second piece of chocolate cake. "Are you feeling alright, Yami?" he asked. He reached to pet Oreo, who purred and nudged his hand.

"Fine," Yami Bakura grunted.

"I mean, with your stab wound," Bakura elaborated. "And having overexerted yourself so much. I didn't think you'd ever try to come to the party tonight, after everything we just came through."

"The wound itself is small," Yami Bakura insisted. "It was the poison on the knife that was dangerous."

"I know, but . . ." Bakura sighed. "I wonder if I'll ever get used to your high tolerance for pain. I can scarcely comprehend that you don't just want to lie down right now."

A shrug, and the eyes darkened. "Just as long as you don't end up getting used to it because you've been hurt so many times that you develop a similar tolerance."

"Well . . ." Bakura smiled. "With you around to look after me, I'm sure I'll be just fine too."

Yami Bakura grunted. "As for the overexertion, I'm alright now, but I don't want to stay too long." He gave the cake a greedy look. "Although this is certainly worth having come for."

Bakura had to laugh.

Yami Bakura took a bite of cake, then hesitated. "What I'm concerned about is that fiend," he said. "Something is different about him. Oh, his personality is as charming as ever. But he does appear to be drawing power from the shadows themselves, no magical items required. And there was the odd comment he made shortly before I delivered the final blow in our duel."

"You mean about how he couldn't be destroyed?" Bakura remembered.

"Yes. That, and how he would come back stronger later." Yami Bakura stared into the distance. "That was too familiar. I said similar things to him in the past. About the only thing he didn't mirror was calling himself the darkness."

"Actually, he did that too," Téa interjected. "Earlier. Sorry, I couldn't help overhearing."

Yami Bakura's expression only darkened. "I see."

Bakura bit his lip. "Well . . . he was created from the darkness in a heart," he said slowly.

"What worries me is that so was Zorc," Yami Bakura countered. "On a far larger scale, but still, the same principle." He leaned back. "And if Yami Marik can't be destroyed . . . does that mean Zorc could still be out there, somewhere?" He looked to Bakura, and the boy saw genuine fear in the slanted eyes.

"Oh Yami. . . ." Bakura found he didn't know how to answer. Everyone had thought Zorc was gone. Defeating him with the light had seemed to be permanent. And yet . . . there would always be darkness in human hearts. So . . . didn't that mean that Zorc could always exist?

"Even if he is, you're free of him now," Bakura said firmly. "He can never claim you his again."

"How can you be so sure?" Yami Bakura countered.

"Because you are sadder but wiser," Bakura said with a sad smile. "You won't allow him to trick you into anything. And neither will I."

Yami Bakura looked down at his plate. It was frightening beyond belief to think that Zorc could come back, but he wanted to believe in the light that Bakura showed him. Bakura had already helped him so immeasurably. And he knew without a doubt that Bakura could and would keep him from falling for any more of Zorc's tricks. Of course, he also knew that Bakura didn't think it would be necessary; Yami Bakura was strong enough to recognize such tricks and fight back.

". . . If Zorc can come back, do you suppose your friends will feel the same way?" he asked instead. "Or will they all distrust me more than ever?"

". . . I don't know," Bakura had to admit. "I know a seed of trust has been planted with Tristan. And Yugi and Marik and the Pharaoh have already extended trust to you. I think what happened today may very well go a long way in helping everyone else to trust you as well."

Yami Bakura grunted. "We'll see, I suppose. Just as we will about everything else."

"Yes," Bakura agreed. He smiled and nodded. "We will." From his expression, he still felt that the future was bright.

Yami Bakura hoped that was so.

"Oh," Bakura remembered, "and there are those pictures Ishizu sent of the tablet Professor Hawkins found! We need to look them over more to see if we can find any clues to how the Infinity Ring works! In all the commotion, I completely forgot!"

"So did I," Yami Bakura grunted, "but I'm sure they won't be any more of a help than when we saw them yesterday."

"Well, it's worth a try, anyway," Bakura said.

"True," Yami Bakura conceded.

Overhearing, Ishizu offered, "Professor Hawkins may be coming here for a visit soon. If so, you may want to speak with him in person."

"We would!" Bakura said.

"And I'll bet Rebecca would be coming too," Joey sighed.

"Of course, since her parents are dead," Téa said.

Suddenly everyone wondered how the Bakuras would get along with the precocious and often arrogant young girl. It was all too easy to imagine that Ryou Bakura would get very embarrassed and awkward, while Yami Bakura would find his patience slipping away. It would definitely be a test of his attempt at being good.

"Why are you all looking at us?" Yami Bakura growled.

"Well . . ." Yugi looked embarrassed now. "Rebecca's . . . um . . . kind of a character. . . ."

"Oh dear," said Bakura.

"How so?" Yami Bakura shot back.

"Because she's about eight years old, but she's a child prodigy and she thinks she's hot stuff," Tristan said.

"And she's got a crush on Yugi," Téa muttered.

"We'll deal with it," Yami Bakura said. At this point, she sounded more like Yugi's problem.

Bakura smiled. "We'll deal with anything that comes our way."

That was something everyone could agree on, even Seto. They would indeed—especially if they faced it together.