A/N: We're getting there.

It was disorienting to see the Crown Game Shop and realize that, in spite of everything that had happened over the past couple of weeks, nothing had really changed. The cheerful little store looked exactly the same as it had when Yuugi walked out the door that fateful morning, and he paused by the front window, peering inside. He could see his grandfather sitting at the counter, sorting through some stock. Sugoroku didn't seem to notice that he was being watched, as he didn't look up from his task.

"You remember that he won't know you, right?" Yuugi said, even though he knew that Atemu was perfectly aware of that already. The gods knew Yuugi had reminded him of it enough times. He just didn't know what else to say. What was there to say, really? In about two and a half days his other half was leaving again and Yuugi had to decide whether he wanted to go with him. Permanently. He felt sick.

"Yes, Aibou, I know." Atemu's hand rested on the back of his neck, warm and supportive, before sliding down to splay protectively against his lower back. Yuugi let it stay there as he opened the door, not wanting to admit how desperately he needed Atemu beside him right then.

Sugoroku glanced up automatically when he registered the tinkling bell. "Good afternoon, welcome to the – Yuugi?" He cut his typical speech off mid-sentence as he leapt up, rushing around the counter to embrace his grandson. Yuugi hugged him back hard, relieved to see that his grandfather was okay. It had been one of his deepest fears the whole time, that Sugoroku might gotten mixed up in what was happening.

Atemu stood off to the side, pretending he was deeply interested in the displays, as Sugoroku pulled back. "My god, where the hell have you been? I've been so worried about you. The police told me that you disappeared from the hospital and that they had no idea where you were. They told me to call if you contacted me or showed up… but I didn't think I was ever going to see you again." He gripped Yuugi's shoulders tightly, like he was afraid Yuugi was going to disappear.

"You're not going to call them, are you?" Yuugi asked nervously.

"No, of course not. But… but where have you been?"

"It's a long story." After Croquet, the six of them had returned to the motel to find Seto awake and extremely pissed off. He'd barely spoken two words to them, too busy searching for information on Pegasus. Yuugi suspected he'd found it, because when he and Atemu woke up that morning Seto, Mokuba and Jou were gone. Jou had left behind a note telling them not to worry, and although Yuugi had tried to call and sent a couple of texts he hadn't heard anything since.

"It's a long story?" Sugoroku repeated in disbelief. "That's it? After all the worry you put me through? I don't think so. I want to know what's going on."

Yuugi shook his head slowly. "I can't tell you." It had been a difficult decision to make, but he thought it was for the best. This Sugoroku had never given him the Millennium Puzzle to solve, had never delved into researching the magic of Ancient Egypt, hadn't dueled against Mr. Clown and watched him age 50 years in one night, didn't even consider Duel Monsters anything more than a passing fad that had never really taken off. Yuugi's story would only be more fodder to send him right back to the asylum.

"You're serious," Sugoroku said, his hands sliding from Yuugi's shoulders. Yuugi felt the loss keenly, leaving him bereft, until Atemu turned and smoothly stepped up behind him. That hand found its way to his lower back again and he leaned closer to Atemu's warmth instinctively.

"Yes, I am. Believe me, it's best if you don't know."

Sugoroku wore a puzzled expression now as he glanced back and forth between Yuugi and Atemu. "Yuugi, I don't understand. What's the matter with you? Why are you acting so secretive? Please, tell me what's wrong. I promise you that we can get it all sorted out. The police will realize that you never meant to do those things. Eventually you'll be able to go back to school."

"It wasn't me," Yuugi muttered, knowing it was useless. Atemu believed that the possession had been caused by Croquet experimenting with another one of his so-called artifacts, but without their bond he couldn't be certain. As far as Yuugi was concerned, it was one more nail in the coffin. How could he stay here with his friends and family when he couldn't be sure that the same thing wouldn't happen again? So far he hadn't really hurt anyone, but what if that changed next time? What if Croquet decided he wanted revenge again and tried to make him kill someone? No one would ever believe a far-fetched story about possession.

"Mutou-san, I believe that Yuugi came here to tell you something," Atemu said gently, speaking for the first time since they had entered the store. Sugoroku's increasing ire calmed as his curiosity took over. Yuugi shot his partner a grateful smile, relieved that Atemu was there to keep things on track. He looked back at his grandfather and hesitated.

Initially he had planned to talk to his grandfather about his future, about why he wouldn't be coming home for a few days yet. Now... he just didn't see the point. Looking around at what had once been his beloved childhood home, it all felt so empty and cold. This wasn't the home he had grown up in, not in the way that mattered. This was his grandfather, but it wasn't. And it would be that way for every other person that he had ever loved. As long as he stayed here he would be left feeling like a stranger. It would be even worse than it was right after Atemu originally departed. He realized then that coming back to the Game Shop had only solidified a decision he'd made days ago.

"Atemu is right, Jii-chan. We need to talk."

RMA

Ryou sprawled himself across the motel bed with a lazy stretch. Malik had just left, not long after Atemu and Yuugi, and Mariku lingered for only a handful of seconds before he disappeared out the door. He figured that both of them were going to have a discussion with their families. Which, okay, technically Ryou should've been on the phone to his father. Probably. It did sound like the intelligent thing to do considering that he was planning to die in the next two days.

But he knew full well that Osamu wouldn't even realize anything had changed. Especially since the school wouldn't have been able to get a hold of him after Ryou stopped showing up, because he rarely had reception. Where his group was, he was lucky if he could call Ryou once or twice a month – and that was when he remembered to turn his phone on. It was unlikely he'd be able to get his father on the phone even if he did bother to call. So really, there wasn't any point.

He tried convincing himself of that for about five minutes before he gave in, grabbing the motel's phone and punching in the number that had been long-since engraved in his memory. He figured the Kaibas could afford an extremely long distance on the off chance Osamu actually picked up. Predictably, though, he didn't. Ryou sighed and hung up without letting it ring. "No answer," he said, glancing up at Bakura. Somehow, even though he'd expected it, it still managed to be disappointing.

Bakura pushed away from the wall and sat down on the edge of the bed, rolling his shoulders. "Does it matter?"

"No, not really. I just would've liked the chance to speak to him," Ryou replied. Maybe the fact that he hadn't moved to Domino had changed things between them. Maybe their relationship had improved. Or maybe he was just fooling himself, because Osamu had made it clear he had no interest in raising a son and the only way that would change was if his wife and daughter were magically restored to life.

Would his father even care that he was gone? It was a question Ryou had been wondering on and off, much as he tried to steer his thoughts away. Or would he just find it an inconvenience that he had to come to Japan to deal with the arrangements? Ryou rolled over, looking at his yami. "Bakura, what will happen to us? When we go with you? Are we, I mean…"

"Are you going to have to kill yourself?" Bakura asked. He smirked at the look on Ryou's face and Ryou kicked him lightly in retaliation. "No, I don't think so. The three of us will disappear because our bodies are made from magic, not human flesh. As for you, I imagine that your soul will be drawn out of your body. Your heart will stop beating with nothing to keep it going, and you'll just…" He shrugged. "Die."

It didn't sound too horrible. Actually, as far as ways to die went, it sounded nice. Like going to sleep and just never waking up. A far cry from the last time he'd nearly died. "Will we have to face the gods? Like, get our hearts weighed and everything?"

"I doubt it. You said it yourself, you're hikaris. No one is more pure than you are." Bakura made a face, like it disgusted him just to say it. "It's not like committing suicide, Ryou. There won't be a sin or a taint against your soul for wanting to be with your other half. That's not how it works."

Ryou felt himself relax a little at those words, and he hadn't realized he was concerned about that until Bakura reassured him. He smiled and scooted down the bed, until he was close enough that he put his head down on Bakura's knee. His yami looked at him like he wanted to push him off, but Ryou just smiled. "I'm kind of looking forward to it," he admitted. "I'd like the chance to meet your friends, your family. I don't really know anything about your past." He closed his eyes and touched one of the many bruises that still dotted his skin. "I'm tired of being here. I don't want to be hurt anymore."

Bakura didn't say anything but he didn't move away either, and that was the best reaction Ryou could have asked for.

RMA

After Yuugi left to go see his grandfather, Malik decided that he needed some fresh air too. He left Ryou and Bakura at the motel and went for a walk, completely unsurprised when Mariku caught up to him less than two minutes later. At one time he probably would've been angry, but the company was actually sort of nice. It wasn't so much that he wanted to be alone, it was just that he needed to get up and walk around so that he could think. And though Mariku kept pace with him, he was quiet.

There wasn't much point in trying to go to Egypt now. The flight would be long enough to take up most of the time that the yamis had left. Besides that, no matter how badly he yearned to see his sister and brother he wasn't sure that it would be worth seeing his father again. No, he could easily go the rest of his life without having to see Hafiz Ishtar again. His deepest worry was that, if he did get to Egypt, Hafiz wouldn't allow him to come back. It didn't seem to be worth the risk.

So then that left him with a decision to make. If he never saw his family again there didn't seem to be much point in remaining behind. He might as well go with the others. It was either that, or return to Egypt and try to make a new life there because he was almost 100% positive that Yuugi and Ryou would be going. And while he and Jou could tentatively be called friends now, Jou had his own life. He wouldn't need Malik around, particularly not now that he was developing a close friendship with the Kaibas.

He sighed, looking down at the ground, and said cautiously, "Do you think… would I see Nee-chan and Nii-chan again in the afterlife someday?"

Mariku didn't answer the question right away. He mulled it over for a little while, giving it the due consideration it deserved. "I can't say for certain, but given what I remember of your siblings I would suspect the answer is likely yes. Even though their memories have changed as a direct reflection of this world, the stain of Egyptian shadow magic has not entirely left their souls. It would probably still be enough to direct them to that afterlife… if that was what they desired."

It felt like a big if. Malik didn't know what to do. He was honestly torn. The thought of returning to Egypt was terrifying to the point where going to the afterlife seemed like the easier answer, and that was strange for him. All his life he'd had to fight for everything he wanted. Nothing had ever come easily to him or Isis and Rishid. Why should this be so simple? He was certain that he was missing a catch of some sort, but he couldn't think of the right questions to ask. It was all so frustrating.

"I don't know what to do," he said after several more minutes of silence. Then, when Mariku said nothing, he added, "Do you even want me there?"

"Yes."

"Why? Because you think you should?"

"Because you are mine," Mariku said with confidence. "I know you better than anyone else; I have held your soul in my hands, and I felt your strength when I tried to snuff it out. I have not tried to sway your decision because I know what you will choose in the end. Even if it's only because you're terrified to be around your father when I can't be there to protect you."

The words rang true in a way that Malik definitely wasn't comfortable with. He tried not to flinch away, but it was hard. "And if I decided to stay?" he asked thickly.

Mariku shrugged, a one shouldered motion that looked oddly out of place. Malik sighed and, spotting a bench, walked over and sat down. He took his phone out and stared at it. He hadn't turned it on for a while. Hadn't dared to. Now he did. It took only about thirty seconds for the screen to light up and tell him that he had numerous missed calls and about a hundred text messages. He scrolled through them quickly. They were all from Isis and Rishid, wondering where he was and if he was okay. He didn't need to listen to the voicemails to know they'd be more of the same.

He found Isis's number and called it. The line rang just once before Isis said, sounding frantic, "Malik? Malik, is that you?"

Just the sound of her voice was almost enough to bring him to tears. He closed his eyes against the burn and let out a shaky breath. "Yeah, it's me."

"Where the hell have you been? Are you okay? Do you even care how worried we've been?" Isis demanded, the questions ranging from worried to furious. "Are you coming home? Dad's really mad, you know. I can't believe you took his credit card!"

Malik rubbed his forehead. "And you?"

"What? Am I mad? Yes, of course. You locked me in a closet. Do you know how long I was in there for before Mom came home and let me out? Or maybe I should be asking if you even care."

"I had to," he said weakly.

"Oh really? What possible good reason could you've had for that?"

He couldn't do this. The realization hit him hard, leaving him breathless. The voice was all Isis, but the tone wasn't the same at all. Even when his big sister had been at her angriest, she'd never lost the little edge to her voice that let him know she still loved him. That he was the most important thing in her world. This Isis didn't have that, and why would she? They were brother and sister, but it didn't mean the same thing to her and it never would. He lost the battle against crying then. His breath hitched audibly and Isis paused in her tirade.

"Malik?" she said, more concerned now.

"I just… called to say good-bye."

"Good-bye? What do you mean?"

"I'm sorry," he added, softer, and hung up. His phone started ringing again immediately but he let it fall to the ground, stomping until it was crushed into pieces. He didn't think he could face another phone call with Rishid, didn't even want to try.

Mariku shifted beside him, silent and watchful, and Malik leaned into him without thinking, having almost forgotten that he was even there. An arm came up around his shoulders, warm and bracing, and he resisted for only a few seconds before he put his head down on Mariku's shoulder and cried.

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