"I just don't get it, Téa! Can't we just accept dat and move on?" Joey groaned as he slammed his head into the open textbook in front of him.

"No, I can't. You'll need this next year if you want to graduate." Téa said. Joey didn't lift his head and instead murmured something into the pages. Téa was fairly sure she didn't want to know what he said and shook her head. She got up and started pulling out another book from her large pile.

"Fine then, we'll leave math for a while and instead focus on English." She said, accompanied by another long groan from Joey. "Come on, Joey. You want to show your dad that you're serious about graduating high school, right?"

This made Joey sit straight up. Over the last year, his constantly drunk dad had been trying to get him to drop out so he could start working full time. His dad had pointed out that all of Joey's old gang buddies and most of his family members had dropped out. He had talked (more yelled) like it was the expected route for a Wheeler.

"Ok! Let's do dis." Joey whooped as he pushed the math book off the table and pulled out his English work. Before he began, he looked back up at his brown-haired friend. "Look, I know I can be a pain sometimes, so let me repeat it. Thank you, Téa. For tutorin' me dis summer."

"It's no problem, Joey. I-" Just then Téa's cellphone rang.

"Ooo, Teach's phone went off. Add a quarter to the phone jar." Joey laughed as he grabbed a small glass jar half full of coins from a neighboring counter. Most of the coins being his.

"Hey, even I forget to turn this off sometimes." Téa laughed as she dropped a quarter in and flipped open the phone. "It's Yugi's house number. He's probably just asking to go to the arcade or something." She said. She then looked up at Joey's hopeful face. "We have to focus on this now. We can call him back later." She said as she put her phone to the side. When Téa's phone stopped, immediately Joey's started ringing.

"Whoops." Joey chuckled. He put his money in the jar and put his phone to the side too, deciding to ignore that it was Yugi's number again. As soon as his phone stopped ringing, Téa's phone started vibrating.

"Is it still Yugi?" Joey asked. Téa chose to forget her studying rule and grabbed the phone.

"Yes, this might be important," Téa said as she answered the call and put it on speakerphone.

"Hey, Yugi!" The two said.

"Guys?!" The deep voice made both Téa and Joey glance worriedly at each other.

"Pharaoh?" Joey asked.

"Good, I got both of you. Something has-" The Pharaoh said before he was cut off by an unintelligible woman's voice in the background.

Hearing the Pharaoh made the two in Téa's house furrow their brows. The Pharaoh usually hated working with phones. He left that to Yugi as often as he could.

"Ok, I'll be down soon." The two heard the Pharaoh yell away from the phone in an uncomfortably high voice. He then spoke into the speaker in his normal voice. "Yugi's gone!" The Pharaoh whispered, barely stopping himself from yelling the words.

"What do you mean?!" Joey had no problem shouting his response.

"As in he, is, gone. There was a glowing card and...he...he disappeared. His soul's not here, and I can't find any trace of him or the card."

"Yugi Yahtzee Muto, get down for lunch now! Your father just came back. This is not the time to be chatting with friends!" This time the woman's voice could be easily heard over the phone.

"Oh Ra, Yugi's dad came home today." Téa gasped.

"Yes, and I'm going to be surrounded by people that will see a difference between Yugi and me." The Pharaoh said, giving up on sounding anywhere near calm.

"Uh, keep your voice high, and don't talk for as long as you can. When lunch's over, say you forgot somethin' at Téa's house. We'll figure out something' den." Joey quickly suggested. The Pharaoh was about to say more when the burgundy-haired woman that was Yugi's mother came up and slammed the phone down on the receiver.

…

"You're usually better than this Yugi. We are having a family meal, and last time I checked, you are part of the family." Yui Muto said as she turned to her perceived son and pushed a finger into his chest. The Pharaoh knew Yugi's mother was usually calmer than this, but every time her husband came home, she would always become a little unhinged. The Pharaoh nodded to her and said a quick apology under his breath.

Yui sighed. "I know you're nervous, but it's just your dad. Don't worry. You can introduce him to your friends during this visit. You'll have time. Can you believe he's going to be here for an entire week-?" She smiled before she fell into one of her common yet violent coughing fits.

The Pharaoh had been around enough to know that Yugi's mother had always been sick like this. Something about her body attacking itself, maybe. Even modern doctors weren't very sure. Yugi had tried to explain what they did know to the Pharaoh once before. That conversation wasn't very long as it involved too many modern terms and ideas for the Pharaoh to follow. What he did know was that these coughing fits were a constant thing for Yugi's mother, and sometimes she would faint or have something called a seizure after them. The Pharaoh was prepared to catch the woman if she did faint after her fit, but Yui put her hand out.

"I'm fine. Let's not keep the others waiting." She smiled after taking in a deep breath. She then led the Pharaoh downstairs.

In the small kitchen was Grandpa with his son around the small family table. Solomon Jr. just got done talking about his new position at Fort Farkle when the Pharaoh and Yui walked in. Both men looked up from their conversation and smiled. Grandpa's eyes had a light in them that the Pharaoh hadn't seen in a while; he looked years younger. This broke through the Pharaoh's wall of gloom enough for the teen to give a small smile, then he turned to Junior.

Solomon Jr. was the tallest of any blood Muto, making him just an inch shorter than average. He had cut his multicolored hair down and instead kept it short enough so only the black hair would grow through. He had red-colored eyes instead of Yugi's magenta, but the two did share similar facial features. The only big difference was that the father's features were not as rounded as Yugi's; they were sharp, almost jagged. There was also a group of large scars that cut across the left side of his face. One scar even went through his left eye, though he seemed able to see just fine. Even in summer, Junior wore long-sleeves and jeans. While the Pharaoh found this a little strange, he couldn't focus on it long because the man himself turned to him as he sat down.

"There's the sleepy-head. Everything good with your friends?" He asked. The Pharaoh nodded wordlessly as Grandpa put a plate of food in front of him.

Eating was the last thing the Pharaoh wanted to do at the moment, but to cover for his lack of conversation skills, he dug into the food. He made sure to always have a large bite of food when it looked like someone was about to talk to him, all so he could answer with noncommittal shrugs and nods. Thankfully, as soon as Yui sat down, her husband started chatting with her. The two went on for a good hour, with Grandpa only getting in a word or two. The entire time the Pharaoh barely listened. His thoughts were on his missing partner. As he ate, he couldn't help but look at the Millennium Puzzle around his neck. The puzzle somehow seemed duller. Along with the Pharaoh not sensing Yugi in it, it had lost all its golden shine. The Pharaoh frowned. He slowly reached down and grasped the puzzle. It even felt different. The puzzle lost all its smooth, crafted edges and instead was as rough as the stones from the pyramids.

"Hey, you still have that puzzle. I remember when you called me all excited to tell me you had finally finished it. Do you still wear it every day?" Junior asked. The Pharaoh nodded and quickly dropped the puzzle back under the table. Junior then continued. "During my childhood, that was hidden in your grandpa's attic. As a kid, I always tried to get at its golden box, but he would stop me." He said as he turned to Grandpa. "You used to tell me that it had 'dark powers' and 'killed everyone in the archeological team but you.' Good thing I knew you were joking, any other kid and that story would have caused nightmares." Junior smiled. Grandpa smiled back, but there was a bit of apprehension in his grin. "Please tell me that you didn't tell Yugi that joke when you gifted it to him. While I wasn't there for that birthday, I'm sure such a story would have been too much for him."

The Pharaoh felt a little indignation flare up when Junior concluded without any doubt that Yugi was too fragile for such a story.

"He did tell it to me, eventually. I rather like the legend. It gave a bit of mystery to the puzzle while I was solving it." The Pharaoh quickly said before he could think better of speaking. Grandpa and Yui raised an eyebrow at the Pharaoh's voice, but Junior wasn't swayed.

"Oh really? I suppose you could never resist a good mystery. So, does that thing have 'dark powers?' Do you have the power to get revenge on those mean classmates you used to tell me about?" Junior said with a joking grin.

The Pharaoh choked on the bite of food he had in his mouth and had to spend a few seconds clearing his throat. Junior reached over and gave a hearty slap on the Pharaoh's back. It was strong enough to send the Pharaoh to the ground if there wasn't a table in front of him.

"Small, slow bites, Yugi! You've been gobbling down that tuna like it's your last meal." Yui said. The Pharaoh gave her an embarrassed grin and sipped some water. He looked through the cup's glass bottom to see Junior was still waiting for his answer.

"Well… It certainly granted my wish for friends. I suppose that's revenge on those that said I'd be alone forever." The Pharaoh was forced to say. He tried to keep his voice high this time, but it sounded more like he was still choking than Yugi's voice.

"Maybe we should start cutting your food again. Or are you just trying to get this meal over with so we can get going?" Junior laughed. "Well, if you're that excited, then I'll oblige." He said as he stood up and thanked his wife for the meal. He then grabbed his keys and his wallet. "Come on, Yugi."

"Of course." The Pharaoh said like he had been expecting to leave. "Where do you have planned for us to go this time?"

"Our traditional first day back activity. Going to the arcade and getting shakes. That sound fun?"

"Yes, but before we go, I left something at Téa's house that I need to get." The Pharaoh said as he got up.

"Really? Is it something you can get later?" Yui asked.

"No, it's… my deck." The Pharaoh made up. Yui's eyes narrowed, it looked like she was about to argue, but Junior spoke.

"Her house is still on the way to the arcade, right? I don't think the city's changed that much. I'm sure we can swing by your girlfriend's place. We don't want the King of Games going into public without his deck." Junior said. The Pharaoh knew at the word "girlfriend" Yugi would have blushed; it even looked like Junior was trying to get that reaction, but the Pharaoh only nodded and ran upstairs.

In his room, he grabbed his real deck and Yugi's cellphone. He hid them both in his pocket. As he started heading out, he saw the half-opened card packet still on the rug. For a moment, he paused. Everything was still there, all except the strange card and, of course, his partner. He sighed and ran out of the shop after his "father."

…

"Well, here we are," Junior said as he pulled up to Téa's house. The Pharaoh stiffly got out of the car. That took longer than usual. Junior drove under the speed limit and never passed anyone the entire trip. There was even someone in front of them that was on their phone and didn't notice the green light. Junior had refused to use the car's horn. This had started the Pharaoh's foot-tapping, and it hadn't stopped until they parked.

Junior rolled down his window and asked, "Do you need me to come in with you?"

"I can walk across the street alone. I'll be back out soon." The Pharaoh said as he just about ran to Téa's door. Before he even knocked, Joey stuck his head out and quickly looked around. When he saw only the Pharaoh, he yanked him inside.

"Good, we thought your- Yugi's dad might be with ya," Joey said as he led the Pharaoh to the kitchen.

"He's parked on the corner." The Pharaoh explained with a hint of an annoyed growl.

"Drats, that means we have to be fast." Téa groaned. She was sitting next to her house phone with a notepad on her lap.

"We've been tryin' to call everyone we can trust about dis, to see if anyone else has gone missin'. So far, it looks like Yugi was the only one to disappear with a glowin' card." Joey said.

"I need to hear exactly what happened. I had the Ishtars on the phone earlier, but I didn't have much to tell them. They are looking into various ancient prophecies as we speak. Which is kind if you think about it since they are in a completely different time zone from us." Téa said.

The Pharaoh nodded and preceded to explain everything that happened this morning. The two silently listened, the confusion on their faces ever-growing. When the Pharaoh ended, Joey could only shrug.

"Yep, just as I thought. I've got no clue, Pharaoh."

"Same over here. I guess we can only hope that the Ishtars can dig up something. Tristan's on vacation, Bakura's sick, Duke's traveling around advertising Dungeon Dice Monsters, and the Kaibas won't even answer my calls." Téa said.

The Pharaoh let his head fall. He absolutely hated the feeling of being alone in this body that was not his. With what little good could be said of Yugi's last kidnapping, at least then the Pharaoh knew why it happened and who he could blame for it, that being mainly himself and Dartz. Here, a constant grey void loomed over everything, threatening to consume him as it did back then. It didn't seem right; Yugi was gone, and the world wasn't falling apart. The earth should be just as devastated as he was for the loss of his light. Yet here he was on a sunny summer day, about to go play at the arcade.

Just then, a car honk could be heard.

"That would be your dad. You should get going, Yugi… Pharaoh." Téa said.

The Pharaoh's hands gripped into tight fists. He then said under his breath, "Now he uses the car horn."

"What did you say?"

"...I don't want you calling me Yugi this time. I let it slide in the past because it made things easier, but I can't stand it here. I also don't want you calling me by some nebulous title, either. I know this isn't my real name, but it will have to do for now. Please, call me Yami again." The force Yami put behind his plea made both Téa and Joey stop. The car honked again, and Yami headed for the door.

"We'll give you an update when we can!" Téa called.

Yami turned back to her and nodded before heading out. As he walked to the car, Yami noticed Junior seemed a little jumpy as he kept tapping his fingers on his steering wheel. He only stopped once Yami got into the car.

"You ready to go?" Junior asked.

"Sure," Yami said, not even trying to be convincing that time. Junior didn't notice.

…

As Yami and his "father" drove away, a large duel spirit studied them from Téa's roof. The spirit of the Red-Eyes Black Dragon flicked his tail as he watched his master's friend leave. He didn't come to the human world often unless Joey summoned him in a duel, but the disaster he had seen in the Dominion of the Beasts had sent him flying here. He thought about talking to the human that could see spirits. Still, Yami already had enough trouble from the dragon's perspective. So, he instead opened his wings and flew off towards one of the largest skyscrapers in the city. He needed to talk to the three Blue-Eyes White Dragons, and he knew they would not be happy to hear from him.