Chapter 16

Atem's Return

After arriving at the palace in the desert with help from childhood spirit friends, Atem and Shadi greet his family that he hasn't seen since he was nine. To finally see their son alive, Pharaoh Aknamkanon and his queen were overwhelmed with relief and joy when they saw Atem approach them, trying to keep a straight face. When he was close to the throne, Aknamkanon got out of his throne and slowly approaching Atem with his queen close behind.

Standing right in front of their long lost son, tears in their eyes, Aknamkanon's queen immediately wrapped her arms around the prince, crying her relief into Atem's shoulder and Aknamkanon soon wrapped his strong arms around both his wife and his son, both very glad that their son has finally come home.

After the happy moment, Bakura, Seto, Marik and Malik's families appeared to welcome the prince back. Since Aknadin became a traitor, it was only Seto's mother and little brother that greeted Atem back to the palace.

The priests had wanted to ask Atem about where he and the others have been ever since Aknadin's attack on behalf of their families and Atem told them everything even about Yugi, Ryou and Jonouchi that he, Bakura and Seto fell in love with. To hear their sons falling in love with three teens from another kingdom really brought happiness from their parents for the boys.

One thing that surprised Atem was that he had met an old man with hair like Yugi's. The moment he first heard him mention Yugi, Atem asked him if he was his grandfather and he said yes. When the old man asked him if he knows Yugi, Atem told him about his relationship with him, taking him by surprise to hear that his grandson is alive and away from Dartz.

"Will you stay here in the palace since you and the others have such a good life?" Atem's mother had asked, knowing that since her son loves Yugi so much he may not decide to stay in the palace that was once his home.

Looking away from her gaze, Atem answered, "No, I don't think I ever will live here after the attack my uncle did nine years ago."

Later, Atem had asked everyone to leave him be for the rest of the night and had gone to his room to think about Yugi and his friends. He had planned that once he returned to the mansion, the others would want to see their families after nine years and of course they would bring Yugi, Ryou and Jonouchi with them to meet their families. After meeting his grandfather that had disappeared when Dartz became king, he knew that Yugi would be very glad to see his grandfather gain.

The next morning, Atem climbed out of bed and walked out onto the balcony of his room, looking up at the sky, thinking about his beloved prince. "I wonder how you are doing." Atem thought.

Then Atem heard someone run into his room. "Prince!"

"What's wrong?" said Atem as he turned toward the panting servant.

Catching his breath, the servant said as he straightened up, "Someone is here to see you. She said she has terrible news."

Getting a terrible feeling that something must have happened to Yugi, Atem said, completely facing the servant, "Where is this messenger?"

"In the throne room. Follow me." With that, Atem followed the servant to the throne room.

The moment they entered the throne room, Atem was greeted by a remorseful expression on the Change of Heart's face. "What is it, Change of Heart?" Atem said, sensing a terrible feeling from the expression on her face.

"Atem, I bring terrible news about Yugi."

His terrible feeling growing stronger, Atem urged her to continue. "Yugi's been poisoned by Dartz." the Change of Heart said with new forming tears in her eyes.

Shocked to hear his beloved killed when he was gone, Atem said with his hands becoming fists, "Take me to him!"

"Yes, of course!"

Led by the Change of Heart, Atem ran from the palace back to the woods before anyone could ask what was wrong.

Not wanting to bury the young Prince, the four Egyptians and Ryou and Jonouchi, with the spirits' help, built a coffin of glass and gold in a clearing in the woods where they could watch over him peacefully. And so the next day, with Yugi laying as if asleep in the glass and gold coffin, the spirits, the Egyptians, Ryou and Jonouchi placed bundles of flowers around the coffin with the glass lid removed so the sun's light could shine along with Yugi's eternal, pure light and knelt by the coffin, their heads bowed in prayer.

Running into the woods to find Yugi and the others, Atem began to sing the very song that he sang to Yugi on the day they first met as he followed the Change of Heart.

One Song

I have but one song

One song

Only for you

One heart

Tenderly beating

Ever entreating

Constant and true

One love

That has possessed me

One love thrilling me through

Standing at the entrance of the clearing, Atem saw his friends, Ryou, Jonouchi and the spirits pray near the glass coffin and saw Yugi, his Yugi, laying in the coffin. Slowly approaching them, Atem could not hold his sadness inside but he remained strong as he sang again.

One song

My heart keeps singing

Of one love

Only for you

To hear him sing, the spirits, Bakura, Seto, Marik, Malik, Ryou and Jonouchi turned to him and made room for him to approach the coffin. Right by the coffin, his eyes set on Yugi's peaceful expression, appearing as if he was asleep, Atem cupped one side of his face and gently ran his fingers on his smooth cheek as he went down to one knee. Leaning down to his face, Atem closed his eyes and let his lips gently collide with Yugi's.

His lips lingering on Yugi's for a few seconds, Atem place his other hand on one of his hands that laid over his once beating heart and holding it, Atem broke the kiss and leaned back, his head bowed down, the others then went back to bowing their heads.

Then as if from a pleasant dream, Yugi slowly opened his eyes and stretched his body as if he was asleep this whole time. Looking back up, Atem, his friends, Ryou, Jonouchi and the spirits watched with wide eyes and some were smiling. Sitting up straight, Yugi turned to his right and when he and Atem made eye contact, both overwhelmed with joy to see each other, before Atem got to his feet, Yugi sprang from the coffin, wrapped his arms around the Egyptian prince, and the two collapsed onto the ground, both smiling.

Overjoyed of Yugi being alive, Bakura and Ryou clutch each other, Seto and Jonouchi hugging, and Marik and Malik held each other, all very glad that Yugi has been saved and the spirits prancing around.

Gazing into each others eyes, glad to be back in each others arms, Yugi and Atem leaned closer to each other and kissed each other. As the kiss continued, Atem sat up, placing one arm around Yugi's shoulders and his other under his knees. Then with all of his strength, Atem got onto his feet while carrying Yugi in his arms. Breaking the kiss, the two princes smiled at each other and then turned toward their friends. "Let's go everyone. Our families are waiting for us."

To hear that they are about to go back to their childhood home, the other four Egyptians started to get excited about finally seeing their families after nine long years. And so, led by Atem and Yugi on Curse of Dragon, they all flew from the woods to the desert with Seto and Jonouchi on Blue Eyes White Dragon, Bakura and Ryou on Ancient Dragon, and Marik and Malik on Black Rose Dragon. Finally, they were going home.