Dragon :looks sheepish: Umm I humbly apologize for the late update. It is ALL my fault, Desi is not to blame. Too many things happened at once and prevented me from writing out my part of this chapter. Hopefully, I'll be able to get the next one out sooner than I was with this one. Gomen.

Desidera: No, it's my fault too. I had some minor exams I studied for and a lot of plot bunnies I wanted to do. But we're both back now to those last chapters

Dragon :rolls eyes: Don't listen to her, its really my fault :grins:

Azure colored eyes watched with pride and joy at the scene as he walked further into the garden. A slight breeze caressed his hair and skin as it gently rustled through the greenery and blossoming colors around him. This was the first time he had been on the Mansion grounds and it amazed him how beautiful it was. Of course nothing could compare to the beauty of the owner of that deep smooth honeyed laughter that floated on the breeze that blew by.

Seth smiled as he stepped closer to the huge aviary, watching silently as Atemu patiently showed Mokuba how to command a majestic bird of prey. It filled his heart with nothing but pure happiness to see his beloved cousin so carefree and at peace with himself. He knew how much Atemu cherished his time with the various creatures in the palace, knowing it was the one time he had to be himself and not the 'god on earth' that everyone expected him to be.

And now Atemu could be what he was born to be rather than what he was trained to be; a simple human with emotions, needs, wants, hopes and dreams that revolved around himself instead of a kingdom and its people.

Seth watched as Atemu instructed Mokuba how to throw a piece of meat up into the air, smiling as the child did as he was told. He watched the falcon swoop down gracefully and grab it in its powerful talons before it carried its self back up to the tree branch it had been previously perched on.

"Atemu, Mokuba, good morning."

Crimson and slate-gray eyes turned towards them. He grinned as the younger Kaiba rushed over to him and grabbed his hand, pulling him further into the aviary.

"Good morning cousin. Sleep well?"

Nodding his head, Seth walked up beside Atemu. "He's beautiful, much like Asim was. What have you named this one?"

"Jiyuu, means freedom in this language." The former pharaoh then turned to the younger Kaiba, "Mokuba will you please go and wait for Yugi and Joey. They should be arriving soon. We can meet them out here."

"Ok!" The impish black-haired kid grinned before running off back towards the mansion.

Azure eyes lingered until Mokuba was well out of sight before they turned back to the one standing next to him. "So who is this Yugi and Joey?"

"Do you remember me telling you about the kid that solved the puzzle and released me?" Seth nodded as Atemu threw another piece of meat into the air. "Yugi is my hikari, my savior and like a brother to me. Joey," he said with a smirk on his face. "Well, you'll find out who he is soon enough."

He quirked an eyebrow at the other; "What are you up to?"

"Patience, Seth. They will be here soon."

"Hmphm," he crossed his arms over his chest, looking annoyed, causing Atemu to laugh at the response. "So tell me, why do you need me to be the one to teach Seto about the Rod when you could do it your self?"

"I know I could easily teach him but I have my reasons for asking you too. And don't look at me that way, I will not tell you why either. Just know that you are doing me a favor."

"You are full of mysteries today aren't you?" Seth asked causing Atemu to shrug his shoulders and give a sharp whistle to his falcon, commanding it to land on the gauntlet covering his hand and forearm. "So where is Seto?"

"Hmm….oh! He's at Kaiba Corp. I don't expect him back till after supper tonight."

"Does he always stay gone this long?" Azure eyes watched passively as the graceful Jiyuu landed on the other teen's arms, ruffling his feathers a bit before tucking them comfortably behind him.

"Yeah, he has a lot to do."

"And you don't mind being alone for so long?"

Rolling his eyes, Atemu flicked his glance at his former High Priest. "No. With Mokuba and Jiyuu keeping me busy plus I'm still trying to learn this modern world. I have plenty to do around here."

"I can imagine with an imp like that."

"Seth…"

"What?" he held up his hands in surrender. "I like him but he's one hell of a fighter armed with a frying pan."

"Well it's your own fault. You should have waited till we could have introduced you to him."

"Speaking of which… why did he attack me? He said something about a fake Kaiba?"

Atemu sighed as he let the falcon fly from his arm back up to his favorite perch. "I'm not exactly sure since I can't remember those times. But from what my Aibou and Seto have told me, there was once where I shattered the darkness from Seto. Later a man named Pegasus found a way to bring that back into a 'fake Kaiba'. Yugi and I battled him with Seto's help and won the duel."

"Well that explains some of it then."

"Why don't you just search his memories? I know you can."

Seth shook his head. "No, I won't invade his privacy… I just look for what I need to understand this time. Nothing more."

"I'm glad," Atemu smiled and opened his mouth to say something else when a shout stopped him.

"They're here Atemu!"

Both Egyptians turned to look at a mop of black hair leading two guests towards them.

"Hey, Atemu! Great to see you!"

Jiyuu gave a slightly displeased cry when Joey's voice disturbed his peace. His owner though smiled. "Hello Joey", he answered. "It is good you are here."

But something else had caught Joey's eye.

"Wow, moneybags! Since when do you get a tan like that over night? What did you do?"

Seth only stared at him, without replying anything. Joey looked slightly uncomfortable at the lack of reaction. "What happened to you, Kaiba? No insults today?"

"Jahi?" Seth finally choked out.

The blonde duelist raised both his eyebrows, crossing his arms in front of his chest. "Now, really, Kaiba, I think you learned some time ago how to pronounce my name."

Atemu smirked at the surprise in his priest's eyes and turned to welcome Yugi, who cocked his head slightly.

(Who is that, Atemu?)

((Oh, that is Seth, my former High Priest, Seto's past self.))

(Seto's…past self!)

((Yes, he somehow got transported to the future by a spell that went wrong. We had quite a few problems to sort out but now I think we are having a momentary peace, so I figured you might want to get to know him))

(Of course we would want that, Atemu. I think you should inform Joey too before the both of them go crazy)

((Really, my hikari? I would love to just watch and see what they do with each other.))

(Alright, Atemu, but everything that happens is your responsibility and you promise me to stop them before they kill each other)

((I promise, my hikari.))

"Jahi! I can't believe you are here too!" Seth finally voiced his surprise, his face somewhere between a joyful grin and a clever smirk.

"Earth to Kaiba!" Joey shouted, "What did you have for breakfast? Drugs?"

Seth took a step towards him, crossing his arms as well. "Oh, since when do you have such a temper, Jahi? You were always so obedient, so anxious to please me. I remember we had some differences back when you became my servant. But you were different even then."

Joey listened to him, not understanding anything, except the familiar smirk on the other's face. "What the hell makes you think I would ever try to please you? Servant! Like Hell! And try to get my name right!"

"So you have no memories either? No, I don't think you are the same person I knew. The difference between him and you is like the one between me and my future self."

Joey stared at him, at a complete loss of words. "Am I going crazy, Yugi?" he asked almost shakily. "What is he talking about?"

A look of pity formed on Yugi's face and he was about to raise his voice to explain when there came a loud "Oh!" from Seth.

The blue-eyed Egyptian had not been idle. Quickly he had searched Seto's mind for references to his former servant and had found some quite interesting stories, along with a nickname…

"sqbH, iw." (relax dog)

"Kaiba, whatever shit you are pulling now, stop it or I will…"

"Joey!" Yugi shouted, giving Atemu an accusing look. The ex-pharaoh grinned and shrugged his shoulders, a strange glee in his eyes as he watched the scene, of course getting every word Seth said in Egyptian. No, he hadn't quite forgotten that one incident concerning a blasted up TV and a certain blond friend of his…

Yugi sighed. (You are hopeless, Atemu. Admit it, you are having too much fun. Now let me join in, what did Seth just say to Joey?)

((Oh, but of course I enjoy this. He said "Relax, dog"))

Poor Yugi buried his head in his hands. (Not again. Don't tell me this is starting all over again.) But behind the curtain of his wildly colored hair, Atemu caught Yugi grinning.

Joey though was still fuming, whereas Seth's look was just as stoical as that of the great sphinx.

"pn Dnd, pw nn nfr n snb." (This rage, it is not good for your health)

"Listen, mister high and mighty, if you don't stop that right now, I will…."

"You will what, mutt? Sue me? Or sue him? Or both of us?"

The sound of that voice made Joey turn around immediately. For a long second he just gaped, mouth open, eyes impossibly wide. Then he turned back to look at Seth, who wore an expression of distinct satisfaction.

And then Joey Wheeler sank down onto the lawn, pinching himself and wincing as it hurt. "I think I just got hit by a meteorite. A big one." he whispered, staring up at Yugi as if to make sure at least his best friend was still real.

Yugi couldn't stand that look and held his hand out to Joey. "It is alright, buddy, you're perfectly healthy. Atemu will explain in a minute."

With that he gave the former pharaoh a meaningful look, while Seto stepped closer, eying Seth warily, but coming to stand next to him.

"Hello love", he smiled, placing a small kiss on Atemu's lips. "I got home earlier because things were going better than I thought at the company."

Atemu returned the smile, then looked at the two of them, standing next to each other looking like night and day and yet so similar, so beautiful. Flashes of passionate nights with both of them came to his memory and he had to smile. It was a good thing neither Seth nor Seto shared a mind link with him.

Yugi, though, did.

(Focus, Atemu. Look at poor Joey and try to give him an explanation)

With a sigh Atemu nodded and turned to the blonde haired boy. "Joey, this is a difficult situation. This is, as you can see the real Seto Kaiba" – he pointed at Seto who raised an eyebrow – "but the other one is the former High Priest and now Pharaoh of Egypt, Seth, Seto's past self and my lover back in Egypt."

"Bloody hell!" Joey said, staring at them. "So he's from Egypt? But why does he know me?"

"He had a servant back then who looked like you." Atemu explained patiently. "He was called Jahi and he was very loyal to his master and he followed him around like a dog from time to time…"

"Hey! Wait, no! That….that's…."

"Oh, he was nothing like you, no need to worry about that." Seth snapped. "And remember, you started the insults, even if they were directed at my future self."

"I can defend myself without your help," Seto mumbled, but no one listened to him.

"You won't stop me from insulting whoever I like to insult, you can't order me around like your servant, you know!", Joey shouted angrily.

Yugi rubbed his temples, sighing.

(Always remember, Atemu, that you could have prevented this…)

((I will, my hikari, but I am still having fun))

"Why not?" Seto spoke up, an all too familiar smirk on his face. "I would love to have a servant. Let's have a duel, mutt, and the loser has to be the winner's servant."

"You are crazy, Kaiba! I won't do anything like that, you can wash your boxers yourself!"

"I wouldn't have let you drool all over my boxer shorts, mutt."

"Aaargh!"

"You do sound like a dog when you make that kind of noise." Seth added, grinning.

"Atemu!" Yugi threw a half annoyed, half pleading look at his former yami, who sighed in defeat.

"Alright, alright, I'll stop this. Come, Joey, we will go inside and those two will apologize later." With that he took the other boy's arm and lead him away, giving Yugi a sign to follow him, which left two tall brunets alone in the garden.

Seto couldn't help but smirk as he heard Joey's angry comments even as they disappeared from view.

"So what's the real reason you decided to come home and don't hand me that same bull you told Atemu."

Sapphire eyes clashed with azure. "You know nothing," he hissed.

"I'll let you think that. Now, I suggest you take off that coat and get comfortable."

"Why?"

"Cause its time to start your training. That's why Atemu left us out here. Plus we will need the room. Summoning creatures takes space, especial our dragons."

Whatever resentment Seto was feeling at the moment, instantly flew out the window at the prospect of being able to see those live Blue Eyes White Dragons again. Nodding his head, Seto took of his coat and laid it on the ground then turned to fully face his other.

"Good, now I suggest we sit down, this might be taxing for you the first time."

Seto growled at the thought of Seth thinking he was too weak to handle anything, but complied anyways. "You forget that I summoned a Blue Eyes back in Egypt."

"And you are forgetting that Isis helped you do that. Trust me, you didn't do that on your own."

Seto growled once again and mumbled something to him self as he narrowed his gaze at his darker look-a-like.

"You are correct. It is amazing sometimes how Atemu can make us do things that not even the end of the world could make us do. So much power he holds in his hand and you know I'm not talking about the magic kind either."

"Would you get the fuck out of my head!"

Seth smirked at his irate other half. "I do not need a mind link to know what you are thinking, especially when it comes to him." He paused. "Hand me the Rod."

At those four words something came over Seto that he had never thought he would feel before. He actually felt possessive over the golden object. It was his, given to him by Atemu and had bonded to it. It was his.

Seto reached behind him and gripped the Rod tight in his hand before pulling it out of his belt where he had come to place it every time he carried it. "You can teach me without me giving it to you." He grounded out through clenched teeth.

Watching the paler man, Seth internally grinned at the reaction Seto was giving him to his request. Good, it seemed Seto had come to accept its powers and had rightfully bonded to the powerful item. This would make things easier.

Holding his hands up in mock surrender, Seth tried to calm Seto down. "sqbH, p3y-I ky. I do not need the Sennen Rod. I just wanted to see your reaction. Congratulations, Seto you passed the test." (relax, my other)

"Bastard," Seto growled out, still not loosening his grip on the Rod.

"I'm glad to see you think so highly of yourself. Now, lets take this lesson to the proper classroom."

And with a wave of Seth's hand, Seto found him self surrounded by shadows.