A/N: I'm really sorry Guest, I would love to do a zeranchi fic, but I haven't read Toriko in a while since I've been obsessing over Yugioh right now and want to finish this fic while also planning to write a fic about Chazz Princeton from Yugioh GX that will relate to this fic in the future.

And so na...nananananananananananananananananananananananana KAIBAMAN! nananananananananananananananananananananananana KAIBAMAN!

EDIT: For those who already read this, I made the mistake of putting "Love", instead of "Kindness" that was the key to destroy the envy cards! So I corrected that and made a few more edits. Personally I blame the HEAT for my mistakes! This summer is unbearable!

._._._.

Mokuba fidgeted. He was currently at a high-esteemed university that specialized in the science field. He watched his brother gain a new mechanical arm to replace the infected arm that was surgically cut off by a trustworthy surgeon of theirs.

A student and inventor of the university asked his older brother, "Alright, can you move?"

Seto flexed his arm and his fingers. It was weird for Mokuba to see him move that arm when its mechanical wires moved with it. But Seto seems to be satisfied with it as he answered, "Yes. Everything seems to function like a normal arm. Thank you for your services Mr. Tadahashi."

"No prob! My team should be able to create a synthetic fiber for your mechanical arm in a few months. See you later." The man made a formal bow before leaving.

The CEO got off the reclining chair to notice that the arm weighed a bit more than his other arm, but it wasn't heavy enough to cause any deformation to his shoulder. His little brother worriedly asked, "How does it feel?"

"It weighs a little, but it's nothing that I can't adjust to."

"Oh...good..."

Seto roughly sighed. "Mokuba, if you have something to say. Say it. You know I hate it when people are not straightforward with me."

His little brother didn't want to say anything, but he knew better than to upset Seto like this. "So-sorry...It's just that...It's been five days. Almost a week since Joey flew away. Jona typed to you that she can't find him since the energy waves that he blasted off that night was messing with her tracking skills, and Noe is...Noe's in a coma." Mokuba remembered looking at her unconscious form on the bed at their mansion. Then he remembered the green box-like device that they got locked up in their mansion, too. That device really bothered him when they were able to figure out what it was. He said, "That thing...the box that can turn itself into a duel disk and multiply itself, it takes energy from its holder in order to work. It also literally has access to every card ever created, but a few of those cards like your blue eyes white dragon can only be accessed to by certain duelists. Then when summoning them, they become real, and you can feel them hurt you, but they can't literally cut you open. And if you lose a duel, or use too much of your energy...you can die."

Seto was silent. He hated seeing Mokuba upset like this, but they both had to deal with it in their own way. It still weighed on his soul that Joey could've died that night if Noe hadn't arrived. A part of him was glad that Joey was alive and missing, and he was using all of his power to find him alive instead of dead. A part of him was furious that his idiot of a lover was so careless! Yet another part of him reasoned that it was a battle of magic without the use of duel cards which meant nothing was bound to remain logical and predictable. Plus, Joey was able to get back at the bitch by clawing her eyes out.

The Kaiba brothers sighed. They wished they knew of what to do for the one they love, but all they can do was wait.

Jona was still searching urgently for her reincarnation from every inch of the sky to the deepest parts of the Earth. She tried to sense him again, but it was hopeless when the whole Earth was covered with traces of Joey's duel monster essence. "This is bad, Pyrrhus." She moaned as she was swimming through the seas. "Noe performed the ceremony perfectly, however I foolishly forgot the consequences." Her dragon rumbled. "I know that it had been five thousand years since that ritual, but I wished I remembered the consequences after it. The heart that Joey now possesses once belonged to Zorc. Joey's very existence will be challenged by that very heart, and if the heart wins, then I'm not sure if Joey will ever return."

._._._.

Joey was not sure of where he was. All he can remember was flying away from Seto without any idea of where he was going.

The only thing he understood was that he was now permanently fused with Red Eyes. His new heart was beating wildly as he felt his new power surge throughout him like an active, erupting volcano that showed no sign of stopping no matter how much he wanted it to stop. He thought back to Seto's arm.

"You did that." A dark ominous voice reminded him.

Joey couldn't believe that he would hurt him like that. "Ho-How could I do that to him?" He inquired.

The voice replied, "That's because you are incapable to hold the heart of Zorc. Listen to the voice of reason. If you wish to never hurt him again, you must disappear."

"Disappear?...Where?"

"I will bring you to a place of solitude where you can spend your time learning to hone the power of the dragon. It will take quite some time since you can't do it, but it doesn't mean that you shouldn't try."

Joey understood that he couldn't control this power now. He should disappear. Go somewhere where no one could ever find him, and he didn't hurt anyone ever again. Yes, that was the most logical idea.

"Hmph. Pathetic." Joey stopped to process of what he just heard. He then noticed that he was walking instead of flying. His shirtless body had dried blood crusting against his half-fleshed and half-scaled skin. His wings remained outward and unmoving. His eyes remained a bright shade of red while they searched fervently for the source of that voice. "And here I thought when you fused with your dragon, you would own up to its power and become a man who would be feared by many, but what I see before me is a coward!"

Joey found the voice. "Se-Seto! Wait..." He knew that blue-eyes-looking-helmet and clothes. "Kai-Kaibaman?!" The blond took a second look at his surroundings to realize that he was standing within some sort of icy tundra. "Where am I?"

"That doesn't matter." The duel monster snapped.

Joey was taken aback by the rude response. It's been a while since someone with Seto's voice and appearance ever talked to him like that. "Sheesh, attitude much. Oh gawd, yur reminding meh of what Seto was like before we started datin'." He wasn't sure if he wanted to be around this guy if he was going to act like that. He dealt with one Seto with a huge stick up his ass; he wasn't dealing with another one.

Kaibaman chuckled, "Good, then maybe I can kick some sense back into that garbage disposal that you call a brain."

"Hey fuck off! I just got my heart ripped de fuck outta meh! I bet ya had many of those huh!" Joey flipped him the bird indignantly.

"Oh boo hoo! Cry me a river! Heh. Now that you fused with that useless dragon of yours, are you not only an idiot now, but a coward. I honestly cannot believe that you of all people would run away. This is coming from me so take that as a compliment."

"What de fuck is wrong with this guy! I just showed up, n' he's already bein' a fuckin' prick like de old Kaiba! I mean Seto. Seto..." Joey felt discouraged from talking back at the duel monster. He was pathetic. He can't do this.

"No you can't." The soothing, dark voice agreed.

Joey felt comforted to confess, "I know I can't."

"You can't control this power."

"I know that, too."

"Yes. Everyone is aware of that. Jona who knows your potential at best. Seto Kaiba, who is your lover, promised to have faith in you. But look at that. They both kept secrets from you because they didn't trust you. They lied to you."

"They had to." Joey reasoned, but the voice retorted, "Because you would've ruined them. You're the weak link. You've always been the weak link for everyone. Your family. Your friends. Everyone."

"Duel me!" Joey's attention was diverted back to Kaibaman.

"Huh?"

"You heard me. I said 'Duel me', but there's a catch. You see, you are in no ordinary world! You are in one of the several realms of the spirit world, and here, if someone loses, they die!" The Seto-Kaiba-look-alike-version dramatically whips his arm out and then back to him with a fist. A duel disk appeared on his forearm.

"WHAT?!" Joey was about to deny, but then a duel disk appeared on his arm with his deck in it. "Are you crazy?!"

"I am the Seto you knew in the past, aren't I. What do you think?"

"Ggh!" Joey grunted. "No!" He shook his head hard before grabbing it to find some self control. "I can't do this! I can't-"

"Did I ask?" The blue-eyed-helmet-wearer snapped venomously. "No! I told you to duel me!"

"BUT I DON'T WANT TO KILL YOU!" Joey felt his eyes stretch and thin out with his teeth sharpening into fangs. He whipped his head back and forth to regain his human face.

"What makes you think that you will kill me? Hmph." Kaibaman smirked triumphantly as if he had already won. "If I remember correctly, even if I am a Seto-Kaiba inspired duel monster, I am a copy far more superior than those who dares try to! I am the one true KAIBAMAN! Now Joey Wheeler, you will accept my challenge! I'm not giving you a chance not to! My draw!"

Joey didn't want to, but he was already locked in a duel just like a person would be in a shadow game. He was commanded to fight, but he couldn't. He was too scared that he played it safe with defenses and scapegoats. He only attacked when he knew only a few life points would be taken away. He didn't want to hurt anyone.

"You will become a monster when you do." The voice declared. "Your power demands it, and you cannot tame it. You. Are. WEAK!"

"Is that really your best move?! Come on!" Kaibaman bellowed. "This is not the Joey Wheeler who faced thee Seto Kaiba fearlessly at Duelist Kingdom and Battle City even if the stakes were against him! Did your pathetic Red Eyes Black Dragon made you a scaredy cat wanting to run to mommy, but you can't because your own mother deserted you on purpose?"

Joey felt those words hurt him. He thought that he would feel even more depressed, but instead he felt invigorated to shout and fight back. "Shut up ya look-alike! I don't want to duel cuz I don't want ta hurt ya!"

"Hurt me?" Kaibaman sounded insulted. "If you really don't want to hurt me, then don't hurt my pride! Duel me like a duelist!"

"But you'll die!" Why didn't this guy get that?

But the man before him replied, "Then so be it. This is who you love, Joey Wheeler. I am a manifestation of the person you love. I am thee Seto Kaiba who loves to duel with a passion, and if I die dueling, then I want that duel to push me to my very best. We pour our hearts into it after all. So tell me puppy, how would you want any of us to die? Alone and miserable without any risk to push us to our very best, or perhaps die doing something we loved that poured all our hearts into it together without any regrets?"

"Yes, but then what about afterwards. Can you live with being the victor, and be left alone? Live with the guilt of being the cause of why your own true love died?"

Joey knew he couldn't live with that. "But after-"

"This is now, Joey." Kaibaman's voice softened that Joey felt his heart skip a beat. "And who knows? A bomb might suddenly drop on us, and kill us right now. It's highly improbable, but that's how life works. It's full of surprises. To be honest, if that bomb was to drop right now, I believe that Seto Kaiba couldn't

imagine doing anything more than doing this with you while Mokuba is finding out who he is with Noe of all people."

"But after-!"

"We'll move on with each other's love and hope as an inspiration to do something with our lives that'll be worth telling the other almost each and every day... We'll die someday, Joey, and you'll never be a regret. Don't let Seto Kaiba be one to you."

"He's not." Joey said pathetically.

Kaibaman inquired, "Then why are you hesitating to duel me? You see me as a reflection of your lover! Do you regret meeting Seto Kaiba? Do you regret ever falling in love with him?!"

"No! I just don't want to kill him! Who de fuck chooses to kill their lover!" This is beyond fucked up!

"You don't have a choice to back out of this right now! Look at it this way then. Do you want your Seto Kaiba to live with your death as being pathetic? Do you want him to suffer after this duel because you didn't have the balls to face him? I understand that this is messed up, but open your eyes! You know that only way to finish this duel without any regrets is by pulling out everything you got!"

"You will not regret because you do not care."

"NO!" Joey roared. "I don't regret being with my dragon! Stop making me feel like I do! I'm not a coward! I'm not afraid to face life and accept the consequences! Neither does Seto Kaiba, and if he really wants to duel to the death, then so be it! I won't hold back! My draw!"

And so Joey dueled to his very best against Kaibaman with everything he got. In a strange way with Red Eyes fused into his body, his draws were faster, and his thoughts were far more organized, relaxed, and arranged his strategies like a general. He didn't think that he was at a level close to Atem's own, but he knew he was good enough to fight and continue fighting. He figured that this new level was because now he shared not only the strength of a dragon, but the mind of one. "Did Yugi feel this way before realizing that Atem was his own person?"

No time to find the answer to that, he focused on the duel. "Red Eyes Black Dragon attack his weakened Blue Eyes!" The dragon-fused duelist demanded while knowing full well that this last attack will kill Kaibaman, but when he saw the smile on the duel monster's face, he couldn't feel guilty. Instead he felt strangely honored to give this person happiness during such a tragic end.

However when Kaibaman's life points hit zero, he remained standing. "Huh?" Joey stared at him with a funny, bewildered expression. "Hey aren't you supposed to be dead. Not that I'm not glad or anything, but you said-"

The duel monster burst out laughing! "HAHAHAHA! I can't believe you actually believed me!"

It took a moment for Joey to process what he said before he burst out angrily, "WHAT?! This was some kinda sick joke?!" The ruby-eyed duelist was ready to pound the lights out of him, but the helmet-wearing-asshole held up his hand to gesture him to stop and wait. He became a bag of chuckles until he was calm.

"But it worked didn't it."

"Ha?" Joey blinked. He wasn't sure of what worked. Was this guy crazy? Was he crazy? Was this a hallucination?

The taller male placed his hand on Joey's shoulder, and explained, "Let me explain everything. You had a voice in your head that was trying to consume your being."

"A voice?" Joey remembered it. "...Yeah, I did keep hearing this voice. It was so dark and smooth like a lullaby, but it kept tellin' me these awful things."

"That was your trial where either the heart consumed you or you tamed it as your own. How I know of this trial is that Jona is known all around the duel monster spirit world unlike your world. Her stories are widely known through ever duel monster. Although the only story that has no solution to the ending was what happened to her after her death. Duel monsters were excited for her arrival, but then mysteriously, she never came."

"That's because she had unfinished business to do, but she can't remember what that unfinished business was so she's been living within her reincarnations until she solved it, n' I'm helpin' her now. Anyway, where am I?" Joey thought that he might be in one of the poles.

But Kaibaman responded, "You are in one of the many special gaps between your world and the spirit world. Let me explain, do you know how the universe was created?"

That gave Joey a nasty flashback of what happened in a blimp, but he threw away the panicked feelings to get answers. "Uh yeah. There was darkness and light, then just a speck of light which created the planets n' stuff n' then a dragon that created life...Oh! And the duel monster spirit world and the world of darkness. Whatevah dat means!" Joey figured that the world of darkness might be just another name for the shadow realm.

"Yes, so you understand that there are different worlds. Its like a target board with three circles. The middle circle is your world. the second circle is the special gap where humans are limited to travel to, so they could physically meet with duel monsters, and then there is the spirit world where only people of the after life or people with special powers can travel to. Though the spirit world is split into two separate categories where there is the after life that consist of three worlds(1), and then the homes of duel monsters. Though the lines in between the worlds is the world of darkness."

"Wait," Joey needed a minute to get what he said. "So the world of darkness is in between each worlds?"

"Yes."

"Oh, so is the world of darkness the shadow realm or something?"

"No. The shadow realm is its own unique world in the special gaps created by Zorc after losing his heart. The world of darkness is where negative emotions towards duel monsters are being taken from as humans live and pass through the after life. But there's nothing to worry about. The world of darkness is highly sealed, and can only be broken by the attempts of the supreme King(2)."

"Supreme who?"

"No one that matters right now. What you should be focusing on is the link between each worlds which is by the heart and mind of both humans and their duel monsters."

"Oh right! Cuz duel monsters are created by us! I mean me! Humans!" Smooth, Joey.

Kaibaman amusingly smiled with his arms crossed. "Yes. I am also aware of what Richelle and Gozaburo is up to. Few duel monsters are aware of this threat and are terrified."

"Who wouldn't be? Those things can kill them!"

"Yes, but not in the way you think. Gozaburo and Richelle are most likely planning to control us through our creators and duel masters. If they succeed in turning all of them into viruses, then the duel monsters may turn into viruses themselves or die trying. Humans are our life source. Their love and care is our air."

"That's true. That must be why they killed Pegasus."

"Pegasus is alive."

"Come again?"

"The ones that Gozaburo killed was a clone. Pegasus was very well aware of the threat from Gozaburo through Noe who had been keeping in contact with him."

"Whoa! Back it up! So the dead Pegasus that Jona met at the special gap was-"

"A clone of Pegasus. Clones technically do have souls, but their minds are wired to act like someone else. Even in the afterlife."

"Oh...okay, so Pegasus is alive." Kaibaman nodded. "And in hiding." Another nod. "And Noe warned him about this."

"Her fake uncle or the scientist who created her cloned body did. That scientist happened to also work under Pegasus for...obscure reasons. Pegasus never did like military companies which explains his fondness for my creator." The duel monster made a grim expression that Joey thought that he might puke on him any second. "So that is why Pegasus was willing to lend his scientist to Noe."

"And how do you know this?"

"Let's say I have a little agent."

Then there was a sudden, "Kuri!"

Joey looked behind him to see a brown furball with wings! "Holy cow! You're Kuriboh! But with wings!"

"Say hello to winged Kuriboh. He has the special ability to bring humans to certain places in the special gap, and he is a spy in the human world. He's destined to work along side the rebirth of the supreme king."

"Dat's freakin' awesome! Way to go little man!"

"Kuri! Kuri!" The spirit happily chirped.

"Man, I feel so psyched! The bad voice is gone from my head! I'm learning all dis new knowledge! I can't wait to tell Seto..." Joey remembered his arm. He hoped Seto wasn't bitter with him.

"It's alright, Joey." The Kaibaman removed his helmet to reveal his face that was similar to Seto, but it looked so peaceful, and forgiving. It didn't look completely out of place on the face, but it was something that Joey hoped to see on his own lover's face. "Your dragon will be compassionate and understanding. I also have a mission for you. Winged Kuriboh and I believe that it is best that you, Jona and Seto find Pegasus to find a way to cure the viruses, and give back their souls."

"Uh, we were told that in order to do that, we need to build up enough energy of kindness to defeat the effects of envy from the queen's shattered mirror card."

"Do you have a source for this kindness?"

"Uhm, I guess I can sense the kindness around, use that energy and use Red Eyes's energy to spread it."

"That doesn't sound like a complete plan to me." The duel monster was very unimpressed.

Joey crossed his arms and huffed. "Okay fine! We'll find Pegasus! Seto and me's not gonna like it, but it's what we have to do. But how can Pegasus help? He doesn't have the millennium eye anymore."

"That doesn't mean that he still doesn't have extensive knowledge of duel monsters. If he was able to find the answer to the legendary dragons, then he can find the answer to stop the virus from spreading."

"You got a pretty good point. Maybe he can create a card or already has the card that can stop this. Thanks Kaibaman."

"There you are ya lizard brain!" A rough Brooklyn accent yelled! The two looked passed Kaibaman to see a blond guy wearing a red forehead headband and two red wrist bands. He also wore a white shirt, jeans with a belt and a sleeveless green jacket. He looked similar. The guy was running towards them, and then stopped when he reached them. "Ya asshole! You told meh dat you'd be at de fairy forest over two hours ago!"

Kaibaman looked shocked, and then put on his helmet to hide his emotions. "I'm sorry, I-UGH!" He got punched in the face with enough force to knock his feet off the ground.

"If ya jus' wanted ta spend time with someone else, den stop wastin' mah time!" The angry duel monster walked away. Winged Kuriboh followed him to clarify the situation for Kaibaman, but the pissed of human-looking monster swatted it away with his hands that he stuffed into his pockets.

Joey just let him walk away. He's not getting mixed up with this. He had his own problems to think about. "I'm guessin' dat was yur boyfriend."

The frowning male got up. "I can only hope for forgiveness."

"So you two are not dating?"

"No. He's rather shy about relationships."

"Mm, well, you two will work it out eventually. It's not like yur mortals or anything."

"I think that that is more of a disadvantage than an advantage considering that immortals have the habit of wasting their time, then using it since they have so much of it."

"Mm, I still think you two will work it out. He wouldn't have hit ya so hard if he didn't care."

"You think?"

"I know, n' I think it's time fer me to get back so can ya..." Joey had no idea of how this type of traveling worked now that he's fused.

"It's pretty simple. You simply have to teleport now. Jut think of the place you wish to be, and you'll be there."

"Oh right. That makes sense. I've done it before, so let's go Red Eyes...me? Wow, now that we're fused, I guess we are one person huh? And now I literally am just talking to myself. Okay bye! And thanks fer everything Kaibaman!" Joey surrounded himself with a twirl of red smoke that appeared at Seto's room. The blond looked around to not see his lover.

But then the door opened behind him. Seto was letting himself in until he saw his puppy right before him. Silence swept over them since both were delightfully surprised and worried. Joey was about to say something with a smile, but then he saw Seto's robotic arm. He became at a lost for words.

The blue-eyed brunet followed his line of sight to understand of why Joey looked pitiful. He quickly clarified, "This wasn't your fault. On my way to you, I was attacked by one of the viruses. My arm got infected and lifeless. I had to get it surgically removed before it could spread any farther into my body."

Joey felt so relieved. He hugged Seto closely but gently so his lover wasn't killed by his immense strength. He whispered to him softly, "I really thought that I did it, and you were suffering cuz of me."

"Losing you is worse than losing an arm."

Joey sighed through his nose. "But if we were to lose each other...say in forced duel to the death...how would you want it to go out?"

Seto sighed himself wondering of what his lover went through but knew he would get his answer later. Instead he replied, "I would want us to duel to our very best if there was no other way out." Joey felt relieved to hear that, but then became worried when Seto informed him, "Where have you been? You've been gone for almost a week."

"Almost a week?" Joey stepped back from their embrace. "Are you serious? It feels like I've only been gone for a few hours?"

"Hm? You must've been not keeping track of time of wherever you've been. Mind explaining?"

"I should, but with Mokuba and Jona around. What happened to Noe?"

"She's currently in a coma. She's in the bedroom next to Mokuba's."

"I can fix that. I'll call Jona while you call Mokuba to Noe's room."

._._._.

"Noe!" Mokuba ran into the room to see her sitting upright and awake. "You're awake!" He hugged her with all his might to make sure that this wasn't a dream.

"Ugh! Not so tight, Mokuba!" She scolded him.

The ravenet moved back apologetically. "Sorry. It's just so good to see you awake...and here." He held her hand lovingly.

Joey chuckled, "I'm here, too, Mokuba."

"Oh right! Hey Joey!" His cheeks flushed red in embarrassment by how rude he was, but you can't blame a guy for only paying attention to the one he's in love with. Seto understood the feeling.

"I think that it's best if both Kaiba brothers were aware of my presence now." Jona pointed out. She was sitting next to Noe.

"Right." Joey said a magic word which allowed the brothers to finally see her.

"Holy cow!" Mokuba cried out when he could finally see her.

Noe smacked his arm. "Mokuba!" Jona burst out laughing.

The youngest male became embarrassed again by how accidentally rude he was again. "Sorry."

"It's okay, Mokuba. I've been called worse by my husband."

Joey snorted to that. Seto glared at him. He hated being compared to when he was too good to be part of a comparison since the results are obvious that he always came out on top. His puppy was aware of this so it only made him snort harder. That initiated a topic change. "So now that we're all here, Joey can tell us of what happened to him."

"Oh right. Okay, so I was flying." Joey told them about the voice, Kaibaman, winged kuriboh, and what he was told to do. "So yeah, Pegasus is alive and we need to find him."

"So let me get this straight." Seto seethed through his teeth. "I spent months accused of murder, and I had to face the stupidity of his adopted sons on the terms of our business to save his own powerless behind! I am going to go find him and do the overdue deed myself!"

Noe helpfully supplied, "Then he's most likely hiding at his own island. After the crime is cleaned up, no one would believe that you would be alive at the same spot that you were mercilessly murdered at." Mokuba side looked at her. "What? Just because we did business doesn't mean that we're friends."

"Then let's go." Seto walked out of the room.

"Well this must be one birthday for you, Joey." Noe said as she stood up. Mokuba wanted to help her, but the greenette proved to be well enough to stand on her own thanks to Joey.

Joey looked surprised at what she said. The pre-teen reminded him, "It's January 25. It's your nineteenth birthday today."

Seto walked back into the room. "We'll see him tomorrow. Right now let's celebrate your return and your birthday, and as much as I hate more company, you should invite Duke and Tristan to explain everything to them, too, so they can explain to any of your other friends if they become involved in this mess because you know that I have no fondness for them whatsoever."

"Except for Yugi." Joey pointed out.

"One friend doesn't change anything. Now what would you like for your birthday?"

"Hmmmm," Joey thoughtfully answered, "Just hang out with food. I'll make it, and with Red Eyes and me fused, we can do it all like Mickey Mouse with the wizard hat or something."

"Alright, I'll be checking in with my company. I'm sure that Mokuba will be giving Noe a tour of the mansion. I expect no hacking into the security or our computers."

Noe rolled her eyes. Mokuba gave her an apologetic smile for Seto's rudeness. The cyborg accepted that. "Whatever. I should also check on that portrait that Joey's sister got Mokuba for Christmas. I might be able to scan it with my own tech. I might be able to figure out some clues like who gave it to Serenity, or why it was given in the first place."

"Great!" Joey clapped his hands together. "Then the party will be in the mansion's family room at six!"

Everyone went on to do what they needed to do. Jona followed Joey to the kitchen to sincerely apologize. "Joey, I'm sorry about lying to you about the millennium necklace. I didn't want to discourage you."

"It's alright. I lied to you, too, so we're even." Joey told her genuinely.

Though Jona wasn't ready to accept. "I would like to accept to make this easier between us, but we lied for different purposes. I destroyed the necklace because I didn't think that I could trust you with it."

"Maybe you're right to not trust me." They reached the kitchen. Joey already knew what to make so just waved a hand to get the pots, utensils and ingredients moving while he sat on a chair. "Jona, I'm not upset with what you did. The millennium necklace might have made things worse if we did use it. Richelle was spying on me with her mirror, and she might have had some sort of wicked idea of how to screw me over with the necklace."

"Or the necklace could've made everything easier. Richelle didn't seem to have had any goal when you two were in the blimp. It seemed like she didn't need Monique for any special purpose."

"Are ya sayin' dat we've been facing a bunch of idiots who we've been takin' way too seriously?" That reminded Joey of way too many comedy movies.

Jona doubtfully replied, "I'm not sure. I don't where they are."

"Mmh, well we will just have to wait and let bygones are bygones. It's not like we can recreate the millennium necklace without killing 99 souls, so let's move forward. Agreed?"

Jona smiled with a nod. "Yes. And I promise not to lie to you again. You've proven to be reliable."

"Thanks!" Joey happily grinned at her. "Great! Now that we got that settled, how about telling me some weird ancient food that I can make."

"I would love to."

Eventually six o'clock rolled around. Joey had everything ready on a long table set against the wall. Mokuba and Noe put up the birthday balloons, streamers and the sign. Duke and Tristan came by with their presents that they placed on a table that held the other last minute gifts.

Joey noticed that one of them were Seto's. "I thought we agreed no gifts on each others birthdays." The two were looking at the table while Tristan and Duke were formally meeting Noe and seeing Jona as a ghost for the first time.

His lover told him, "I am going to admit that I was acting rather immature when I said that."

"Yeeeeah." Joey nonchalantly agreed with a lopsided smirk. His eyes glimmering with ego and mirth. "You were. And over a pen!" Seto didn't comment. It was best that they didn't argue over this.

Suddenly Joey had a devious smirk on his lips. His hazel eyes soaked in ruby red when he whispered to him, "Then this means that I have to give you a birthday present, but..." His hand caressed Seto's chest ever so slightly to give a hint, but not visible to the others in the room. His tantalizing red eyes making Seto slightly uncomfortable, but also intrigued by how exotic they are. His lips slid across the blue-eyed lover's cheek to his earlobe, and then whispered with his hot breath tickling the inside of his ear, "You're going to have to install a pole room in this mansion."

Seto's eyes widen as many, MANY scenarios that could happen in a pole room flashed through his mind. He tried not to make his gulp visible. He smoothly asked, "So those pole lessons were more than just a workout after all. If you don't mind, I'd like that birthday present early." The brunet wrapped his arm around his puppy's waist, but Joey replied, "Sorry. It's birthday exclusive only."

"Is there anyway that I can persuade you to change your mind?" Seto slid his hand lower to his hip.

Joey chuckled. "Nope!" He kissed his rejected boyfriend's cheek before heading over to Tristan and Duke to tell them of what had been going on.

._._._.

In the dark depths of the earth, Gozaburo was walking through a dark tunnel with Richelle carried in his arms. The woman impatiently asked, "Are we there yet?"

"Eighteen more miles." The monster stoically answered.

"Ugh. At the rate that you're going because of the power that you're using to sustain my life, it'll take us MONTHS to get there! If only that damn daughter of mine had buried my body like a descent person, then it wouldn't be that far. It feels just like yesterday when my lovely daughter, Serena, stabbed me in the chest. Then Jona had her dragon drill deep into the earth to bury me and my body within it. She didn't even do it gracefully! She just threw me in there like garbage!" The blinded red head huffed. "I feel so fortunate that I left a surprise for her for Serena to give her."

"What was the surprise?"

"You'll know soon enough. Especially since I have this." She blindly ran her finger across a blade.

At Serenity's home, she was in her room doing her school science project, but she couldn't finish it since she couldn't find what she needed. She went into the kitchen to ask her mother, "Mom, have you seen my scissors?" Serenity did have some resentment against her mother for how she treated Joey, but she knew better than to act against the woman who raised her. Plus, she had her escape after senior graduation.

Her mother answer, "I haven't seen them. Are you sure that you haven't checked your bag?"

"I'm sure. I'll just use the kitchen scissors then, and I'll find them later." Serenity went to the drawer to grab them. At that moment, a vision flashed before her eyes. She was cuffed against a wall, and she heard a woman scream, "You are not Selena!" The vision came so fast that it barely left an impression on her. She was only left with a headache.

"Serenity?" Her mother became concerned when her daughter randomly grabbed her head with a contorted expression. "Is something wrong?"

"I'm..." The sixteen-year-old tried to remember why her head was hurting, but her mind was blank. "I'm fine. I must be working too hard."

Her mother pouted. "Maybe you are. It's best that you give yourself a break. I'm almost done with dinner."

Serenity nodded. "Thank you mother." She turned around to leave.

"Uh, Serenity." The girl turned around to see that he mother was looking at her hand. "It's best that you leave the scissors in the drawer since you're not going to use them right now."

"Ri-right. Sorry." She put it back in the drawer. Serenity figured that she must be working too hard that her mind was going crazy.

._._._.

"So let me get this straight," Tristan said. Him, Duke and Joey were sitting on separate sofa chairs facing each other. "You had this elaborate scheme to bring Richelle to you, discovered that she plans to rule the world with these 'viruses' that can kill or control duel monsters through possessing us, got into a fight that nearly killed you, was saved by a literal heart-being-ripped-out-of-your-fucking-chest-ritual, went bonkers that you were sent to this 'special gap' where you met 'Kaibaman' who helped you out of it, and then now you're here with red-FREAKING-eyes!"

Joey sipped his bubbly soda, sighed out, and then nonchalantly replied, "Yeah." His eyes glowed red to piss off his normal friend.

"That's awesome!" Duke cried out. "Except for the whole you-almost-died-part. You're a half a dragon, man! So this means that you can have fly and stuff now, right?!"

"Duke!" Tristan growled.

"Relax!" His fiance told him with a calm smile. "This is Joey we're talking about. He's stronger than ever now. Hey, did your dueling skills improved?"

"Oh totally! It's like I can think so clearly as if someone's in my head n' arranging the shit in there! So when I'm on the playing field, I feel like I can think about more possible strategies as if Red Eyes is helping out! But I'm not really any different then before. I'm still not as good as Atem or Yugi, but I might be better than-"

"Who puppy?" The sickeningly sweet tone from a voice that shouldn't have that tone inquired.

Joey felt a sweat drop on his temple when he looked up to see the malicious smirk on Seto's face as if he was saying, "If you dare say that it is me, I will prove you wrong on the field and in bed." The blond hurriedly replied, "Marik! I was totally going to say Marik! Becuz of the Battle City finals thing! With meh burnin' alive n' stuff..."

Tristan commented, "Nice save there, Joey."

Duke added, "Smooth."

Noe interrupted them, "Now that we're done with story telling, I guess it's time that I tell all of you of what I found out about the portrait of me. Look to the wall." Everyone faced to the clear white wall that Noe pointed at. The cyborg had her eyes work like a projector that displayed the portrait of her on its surface. "I couldn't figure out of who could've given it to Serenity, but I did scan the portrait to discover that the painting was in fact created before 1,000 AD. The other thing to note from the portrait is that there was a message written on the back of it. It was made invisible by a spell, but it broke when I touched it because the only person allowed to read the message was me."

"Because you put it there?" Joey asked.

"Yes. My past incarnation, Noemi, was a sorceress back then. What she wrote was meant for us." She changed the image on the wall to hieroglyphs that didn't appear to look like any written language that anyone had ever seen. Only Noe was able to translate it, "It said, 'My reincarnation, I write this message for you because you are in grave danger. My name is Noemi and I am a sorceress and little sister of my older brother, Sir Knight Jolyon. He was born a dragon with a heart that an evil sorceress wanted for herself to gain the power to make the sky fall. Her power exceeded mine in battle, and I couldn't let her near my brother, so I trapped us in a crystal and cast us down into the shadow realm. No one but the reincarnation of my brother is capable to break the crystal. When you find the reincarnation of Jolyon, the both of you must reawaken his dragon heart, and then come find us if you wish for us to aid you. You will be able to with the help of his sword. His sword will come to my brother's reincarnation if he wished to find the puzzles to find us.'."

Tristan asked, "What did she mean by the power to make the sky fall?"

Duke suggested, "It could just mean the end of the world. That's what it figuratively means."

Jona pointed out, "But this is an ancient message. In the past, everything was literal or mystical. Not figurative."

Mokuba said, "But the sky can't literally fall down. The blue sky is only created by the blue rays of the sun."

Seto suggested, "Then perhaps its a failed translation. The word 'sky' could be another word."

Noe informed them, "Then we are simply guessing what the message is, considering that the message was written in a dead practically non-existent language since Noemi was a citizen in a kingdom that died off during the time she existed."

Joey asked, "So yur sayin' that an ancient kingdom died because of us?"

The greenette shrugged, "A kingdom has several reasons to disappear, and I said during the time that she existed, but not the time that she lived. This kingdom is just as much as a myth Jona is to our society of knowledge. The only reason that I know of which Kingdom she came from was because the portrait had a unique symbol on the pendant of her necklace in the portrait." Noe showed them the green tear-drop-shaped pendant on the wall. The pendant was carved with the symbol of only a bird's right wing. "This single wing was used as a symbol for the destroyed Kingdom that was called Bulered. Where the kingdom is or how the kingdom was ultimately destroyed is ultimately unknown. The only reason that anyone could guess that it was a real kingdom was by a single stone tablet that was bought by some rich guy who only wanted it for his stone tablet collection."

Joey guessed, "Maybe there's something more to this stone tablet than what meets the eye. Maybe Jona, you and I should check it out, and Seto and Mokuba can go see if Pegasus is alive at his castle." Seto and Mokuba didn't like the idea of being away from their lovers again, but it was a logical plan so they reluctantly went along with it.

Jona agreed, "You or Joey may be able to be given a vision if you see the stone tablet in person."

Tristan cut in, "But you guys better not get stuck in some year long journey! Joey, you're still working for Duke remember!"

Joey casually told him, "I got this in the bag!"

"I'm serious!"

Duke patted his future hubby's shoulder, "It's going to be alright Tristan, and if it doesn't, then the headlines about Joey missing might make some people think about buying my games since people are more interested in buying something a dead guy was hoping to sell." Seto glared icily at them that they actually felt a shiver go up their spine. The dice CEO cried out, "I was just joking! Sheesh!"

The much more famous CEO concluded, "Then we got down of what we have to do. Noe, who was it that bought the stone tablet?"

"The tablet was bought by a famous family group known as The Princetons."

"The Princetons?" Seto arched an eyebrow.

Mokuba felt like he knew the named, and then remembered, "Oh! Those guys! Yeah, we know the Princetons! One of their sons, Jagger Princeton works as a financial adviser. Seto doesn't really like him, but he's the number one adviser that you can count on to protect your money, and continue getting richer with a very secured future! He's half as smart as Seto which actually says a lot compared to every other genius out there."

Seto added, "His father is also almost like Gozaburo. I was actually happy when he died in that 'accident' last year with his wife."

Duke also remembered them, "Oh wait! I heard of them! The head of the Princeton family that owned a chain of the finest five-star hotels around the world. Yeah, him and his wife died in a car crash that may or may not have been an accident. I think their oldest son, Slade Princeton is only a year older than us while Jagger is only seventeen, but he has already been able to help out financially poor companies become one of the top fifty best companies around the world. Anyone who doesn't have him on his team would be stupid not to, so I see why you would hire him, Kaiba."

The KC CEO crossed his arms. "I hate to admit it, but he has shown adequate talent for handling money."

Joey whistled by the impressiveness. "Coming from you, he really must be good. What about Slade?"

Noe answered, "Slade is part of the world of Japanese politics, and he is rising through different positions. Despite having the name Princeton, they are actually a pure Japanese family. Their surname came from one of their ancestors changing it when he immigrated to America."

Tristan joined in the conversation, "Are they really that great?"

Seto replied, "They are one of the top five most influential and richest families in the world. The Kaiba family is number one. The Maximillion Pegasus's family is second. The Gecko family is number three. Then the Princeton family comes in fourth."

"And the fifth?" Joey asked. Can't leave a top five list not named out to the end.

Seto supplied, "That doesn't matter. What matters is that if its the Princeton family, then I can convince Jagger Princeton to give you permission to see the stone tablet tomorrow. It's better than being suspected as a burglar and cause unneeded trouble if anything were to happen."

"Thanks babe." Joey appreciated it with a goofy grin. Seto gave him the icy glare. Joey just gave him the puppy eyes for forgiveness. The glare did relent, but only a little bit.

After that discussion, they went on with eating, playing video games, and talking about random things with each other. At one point Jona had Mokuba show his progress in fighting through possessing Joey to display them. Mokuba had shown to be very impressive, but then was distracted when Noe complimented him. Everyone laughed.

When it was getting late, Joey decided to end the night with some fireworks that he could shoot out of his hand with Noe doing the calculations to create different things in the sky like Red Eyes, Blue Eyes, and everyone else's favorite cards.

When the party was over, Tristan and Duke left with their goodbyes. Jona left to check Pegasus's island first to confirm of whether Pegasus is there or not, so Seto and Mokuba didn't waste their time. For the rest, it was time to sleep.

Seto made sure that Mokuba and Noe went into their own rooms. Noe snorted and commented that Mokuba didn't have the balls to enter her room even if he wanted to. The ravenet blushed in embarrassment with a cute pout. He did want to go into her room, but not for anything naughty! He just thought that it would be nice if they could sleep next to each other. He wanted to say that, but his face became a tomato, and he end up shouting good night before locking himself in his own room.

Noe told them good nigh casually before entering her own room with a yawn. Seto stood outside for a bit longer as he eyed each bedroom door carefully.

Joey stood by their open door and chuckled, "Noe's not going take advantage of Mokuba in the middle of the night."

"How can you be so sure of that?"

"Cuz Noe is going to pull an all nighter to finish her duel disk box. She's more focused on getting Jona home than gettin' jiggy with yur brother."

Seto grimaced. "Please never use the word 'jiggy' ever again."

"No promises. After all," Joey pulled Seto into their room, locked the door behind them, and then wrapped his arms around his neck. He finished his sentence, "We're gonna get JIGGY very soon."

Seto rolled his eyes, and then smirked down at his lover. Joey was finally home, and he was finally going to kiss him without letting him go throughout the entire night and morning if he could help himself.

._._._.

The next morning, Joey woke up feeling very warm and snuggled. He looked over his shoulder to see Seto's sleeping face. He realized that he was being spooned. The blond softly smiled at this. He also felt guilty however because he understood that he made Seto worry about him for weeks. His poor babe was having a hard time sleeping the whole time that he had to resort to overworking himself and using sleeping pills to get any sleep. It was difficult for Seto to just lie down, and close his eyes when in the deep, dark silence, he could only worry about him.

Joey ran his fingers across the arm that held him close. He sadly whispered, "I'm sorry...for sleep depriving you."

"I only require you to get to me as soon as possible." Seto told him as if he wasn't sleeping at all. "I can deal with the stress, but don't test me."

"I won't." Joey promised as he turned around to face his beautiful blue-eyed lover. The two peppered each other with kisses until they were wrapped and tangled in each other's bodies.

"Hey! Hey! None of that!" Noe shouted from outside the door.

"Go away!" Seto ordered as he continued to tweek one of Joey's nipples.

The blond bashfully went red. "Se-Seto!" His lover just continued touching him.

Noe banged the door with her fist, but not hard enough to break the hinges. "We have important missions to do! Joey has to get ready for our plane ride!"

"I'll get Roland to do that!" Seto shouted as he began to stroke Joey with a passionate fury to continue their morning sex.

"He can't do that if you two are hogging the room!"

Mokuba tried to intervene, "Maybe we should let them fini-"

"I can see your brother's hormone levels! He's not going to let this end with one round!" She yelled at the two lovers through the door, "If you two plan on doing it, then at least do it in the bathroom so Roland can do the damn packing! And you better be out of that bathroom in an hour!"

Seto didn't want to take orders from his step-sister/brother, but then she did propose a good idea. "Come on Puppy."

"Okay, but can you take your fingers out of my butt first?" Joey was currently clinging onto a pillow as Seto was stabbing and massaging his prostate with his fingers.

The brunet gave him an evil smile. "You can take them out yourself."

Joey whimpered when his lover pressed even harder to apply more pleasurable pressure. Seto made it more difficult for his puppy when he returned to stroking him. Joey gasped and writhed. His mind melting by the skillful touch that he still needed more of. "Tha-That's no fair!"

"Do it puppy." His dragon master demanded as he continued to assault him with pleasure.

Joey willed himself to pull Seto's hands away, but with too much force that he was now straddling his lover on the bed. It gave a nice view of Seto's scars on his body. The scars that only he and Mokuba were allowed to see. Joey wanted to kiss them, but he hesitated because he didn't want to make Seto feel uncomfortable. But then he felt Seto's hand caress his cheek. The warrior-type duelist met his azure eyes to see that he knew what his puppy wanted to do, and he gave full consent.

Joey felt silly for hesitating when they were lovers who should feel comfortable with touching each others bodies. They have been apart for too long. He was definitely going to remedy that when he returned from his mission. He leaned down to kiss Seto, but then they were interrupted with a BANG on the door. "GET IN THE BATHROOM!" Noe cried out exasperatedly. Mokuba stood behind her hopelessly.

Seto huffed. "Do I have to remind her that I own this mansion?"

Joey sighed with a happy smile, "She's right, though. Let's take this in the bathroom." He gave a flirty wink.

Seto groaned when he got off him. He got off his bed and yelled at Noe, "I'll pardon you for this, but don't expect to stay another second in this mansion if you interrupt me again!"

"I'm sorry for having my priorities be saving the world over sating your hormones! And don't give me that the Kaiba Corporations is the world crap!"

Mokuba fully intervened this time by covering Noe's mouth! "We're going to go get breakfast! Enjoy yours! I mean-Forget what I said!" He quickly dragged Noe away, but he wasn't saved from the embarrassment when he could now hear Jona laughing above him.

Is this really going to be his new family now?

._._._.

A/N: So my dear, faithful, (A computer told me that I think like a thirty year old, but I write like a fifth grader) kind, understanding readers, if you haven't noticed, there will be references to Yugioh GX's and Yugioh Zexal's theories of the beginning of the universes, but with added twists from me! I haven't watched Yugioh 5d's cuz the first episode bored me. I might still try to watch it eventually when I have the time.

So the reference from GX is the whole light of destruction and gentle darkness stuff. The Zexal reference is the Numeron dragon.

(1)The three worlds are a reference from Zexal about Astral World (Pure without chaos and most likely a reference to where people call 'the stars' in GX when people died in the spirit world), Barian world (A world for pure souls that contained the power of chaos), and the spirit world (A place for chaotic souls).

(2) The supreme king is Jaden, but he should be only five (turning six by August 31) by this time since Joey is turning 19 in my fanfic (It's January. I keep thinking that he's turning twenty, but it's only been a year and some months). At the end of Yugioh DM, the gang had been with Atem throughout their highschool life which means that they should be 18 by then, and then GX takes place ten years later so that means that Joey should be 28/29 while the rest that are attending duel academy is 14/15 (considering that this academy lasts four years and we have no idea what month its set to know whose birthdays passed). That gives them a 14 year age gap.

I know that I said that Seto was Pansexual in this fic, but at this point should he be consider a Demisexual since he considers himself to only be sexually attracted to Joey? He was also Aromantic, but should he be considered homoromantic now, too. The only thing I got down is his gender ID which is cisgendered male. I'm only writing about this because I've been wondering that when people are truly in love, do their sexual and romantic orientation change, or do they still feel that they are identified as their original orientation?

For the others:

Joey is for sure a homosexual, cisgendered male (despite dressing like a female, he fully identifies himself as a man), and a panromantic (He was once romantically, but not sexually attracted to Mai before and is most likely capable of being romantically attracted to others despite being in a relationship with Seto. He won't cheat...sexually. It's most likely a case of emotional affairs. COUGH! COUGH! yugi and joey COUGH!).

Mokuba's a bisexual, biromantic and cisgendered male. So simple...

Noe is a demisexual, panromantic, queer. She's only attracted to Mokuba no matter what gender he is, and she doesn't really care of which gender she is.

Jona is a bisexual, panromantic, demigirl. She had her love affairs with both genders in both genders. Though feels more attached to being a female than being a male.

Duke and Tristan are both bisexual, biromantic, and cisgendered males like Mokuba.

Yugi is a pansexual, panromantic, and cisgendered male. He doesn't let gender define his love for anyone!

Tea is a heterosexual, heteromantic, and cisgendered female. The straightest of the bunch.