CHAPTER 13
"A Comatose Pharaoh"

The paramedics rushed Yugi to the hospital. The Hikaris followed them with a somber blue navi trailing behind. They soon arrived and rushed Yugi into the hospital the doctors examined him. Yami noticed the mood of the navi as they waited for word on Yugi. Soon the doctors came out of Yugi's room.

"How is he?" Yami asked.

"I'm afraid he may have slipped into a coma." John said.

John glanced over and noticed Lan and looked totally shocked.

"No..." Yami whispered.

Megaman gave him an I'm not telling smirk when he saw the look on Carter's face. Lan glared at John some part of him through he had never voiced it blamed John for him being buried alive. Though Lan hoped no one noticed the glare. But someone did...Megaman had seen it.

"I'm sorry, you can go in." John said and started to walk away.

Lan continued to glare at John.

'Cool it.' Megaman warned.

'But, he...' Lan started to think angrily.

'He probably didn't know at the time.' Megaman tried to calm him down.

'He's the one who told you I was dead in the first place.' Lan thought angrily still glaring at John.

'Bro…' Megaman shook his head in a warning fashion.

'But, it's his fault that I was...' Lan thought angrily glaring at John and suddenly John was slammed into a wall backward.

John fell to the ground in pain he was on all 4's.

"What the hell was that?" John wondered in pain.

'Hey! Stop it!' Megaman warned.

"It was daddy." Kat whispered to Yami.

'It's his fault.' Lan thought angrily still glaring at John.

The pharaoh nodded.

'But that doesn't mean you can toss him about like a rag doll!' Megaman thought, hoping to defuse his brother's anger.

"I was buried alive because of him!" Lan exclaimed in anger still glaring at John and John slammed into a wall again.

Megaman grabbed him by the shoulders.

"GET A GRIP, BROTHER! TAKEING YOUR ANGER OUT ON HIM WON'T CHANGE ANYTHING!" Megaman shouted, hoping to get though.

Lan was breathing heavily. Kat frowned sense the anger was starting to take her father over.

"Kat? Are you alright?" Yami asked.

"It's daddy. The anger it's starting to take him over." Kat said sadly.

Yami went over to make sure Lan didn't do something he'd regret later. Lan just glared at John in anger. Joey followed Yami just in case. Lan shook his head. Yami and Joey got close enough to restrain their friend if need be. Lan's foot started to twitch and he hadn't even realized it. Megaman noticed this and grinned. Lan jumped up and looked about ready to attack John. Lan hadn't even realized he was standing.

"Um...did you know THAT YOU'RE STANDING ON YOUR OWN!" Megaman cried.

Lan blinked and looked at his brother in confusion. Megaman just looked to his feet. Lan smiled.

"My hypothesis is the fluid dissipated, although it is sooner then I predicted." Lan said.

Megaman groaned. Lan shook his head.

"I just switched modes didn't I?" Lan asked.

Megaman nodded.

'Still wanna pound carter?' Megaman asked.

'What's the point?' Lan thought.

'That's WHAT was I TRYING to tell you!' Megaman thought in relief.

Lan smiled softly at his friends.

"It's ok guys." Lan said.

-That's a relief.-

"We should go in and see Yugi." Lan said.

The others nodded. Lan walked in, he was pretty well prepared for what his friend would most likely look like. Megaman had the evilest smirk on his face as he went in. Lan sighed. He glanced back at Megaman.

'Just enjoying the look on Carter's face! THAT WAS PRICELESS!' Megaman thought when he knew Lan was watching.

Lan snickered at the thought.

'Thought he'd faint at seeing YOU!' Megaman joined in with a snicker of his own before calming down.

Lan immediately stopped snickering when Yami came in.

"What's going on?" Yami asked unaware of the humor.

"It's just that look on the doctor's face when he saw me." Lan said.

"The one you were using as a TARGET with your SHADOW POWERS?" Yami asked.

"Yes. Yami, he was my doctor 3 years ago." Lan said.

"I see." Yami said, hoping for a piece of the man who had nearly ripped his friend's family in two just a few years before.

"I didn't realize it until now but, I guess I blame him." Lan said.

'You're NOT the ONLY one, brother.' Megaman thought.

Lan looked at Megaman.

'If Maylu hadn't been there and needed me, I would've gone and pounded DR. John Carter within an inch of his life.' Megaman continued.

Lan looked at the floor sadly. Megaman had a guilty look to him once more. Lan was suddenly being very quite and staring out the window.

"Bro?" Megaman asked, looking to his brother.

Lan just stared out the window.

'Bro?' Megaman tried again.

Lan just stared out the window.

"Uh-oh...I hope he's not having another flashback." Megaman whispered, hoping for the chance to go to the net and hide

"Uncle, daddy's sad again like when he first came back." Kat said.

"I know sweetie...I was expecting this." Megaman told her.

Lan unnoticed by anyone had put on the EGs.

"Uh-oh." Megaman whispered.

Marriorman was trying to hide somewhere in cyber-space.

"Kat? Can you jack me in?" Megaman asked his niece.

Kat nodded.

'What's he doing here?' Was the collective thought of 3 navis.

Marriorman was sitting Indian style. None dared to approach him, uncertain of his reaction. Marriorman's body started to shake in sobs. The three looked to each other of how to help their friend, having not known the previous time before. Tears flowed down Marriorman's face.Megaman sensed the turmoil within his brother.

"Jack in, Megaman! Power up!" Kat exclaimed.

It didn't take long for him to find the others. Marriorman was sobbing the tears still falling.

'Oh Lan...' he said softly in thought, his own heart and mind were still raw from what happened before.

Marriorman slowly looked up tears flowing freely.

"Megaman? what's wrong with him?" Iceman whispered, having seen the blue bomber.

"He's having a emotional relapse." came the whispered reply.

Marriorman was still sobbing.

"Go on, guys!...I'll handle it from here" Megaman told their friends as he sat down.

'B-B-Bro-ther?' Marriorman sobbed out in thought.

'I'm here.' Megaman replied in thought, trying not to break down again himself.

Marriorman crawled over to his brother tears bluring his vision slightly. Megaman looked over, it hurt to see his brother in this way. Marriorman latched on the Megaman tears flowing. Megaman just held him, knowing this would pass, given time. Marriorman just cried. Megaman stayed. Marriorman's body shook with sobs. This whole affair only affirmed the navi's decision to flee into the net, the first chance he got. Marriorman continued to sob. Megaman just held his brother, hoping Lan didn't know what he had planned to do. Marriorman started to calm down. Megaman looked at him. Marriorman clung to Megaman's clothes.

'Don't please, you're the only thing that keeps me ground, that keeps me sane.' Marriorman thought.

Megaman froze. his brother had known along that he had planned to stay within the net.

"Please stay with me, if you don't my sanity will slip I know it." Marriorman pled.

Megaman shut his eyes trying to hold back his own need to cry again, unsure of how to respond to his brother's plea for him to stay. when he felt responsible for him being injured in battle in the first place.

"I'll go insane without you." Marriorman said.

Megaman stayed silent. Marriorman started crying again this time in fear that Megaman would leave. Megaman was just as confused as a navi could get. one part of him said to stay, another part was telling him it was time to go.

"Roll and Talla would be sad too, and Kat." Marriorman said trying to stop crying.

Megaman winced at the mention of his wife, daughter and niece.

"All three of them would miss you. And if you left they basically lose me too." Marriorman said.

The navi gritted his teeth, he doubted his place within the Hikari family, doubts that were growing.

"My getting hurt wasn't your fault it would have happened wither you were there or not and if you hadn't taken dad out he would've gotten hurt too." Marriorman said.

"At least you would've had some backup" he whispered to himself.

"When it comes to shadow magic you couldn't have helped." Marriorman said.

"The only one who could've helped was Yami." He added.

Megaman just looked at him with the same hurt look as before.

"You would've been helpless believe me." Marriorman said.

Megaman fists began to clench at the memory of the fight to which he had been forced to flee. He still couldn't let go, no matter what ANYONE told him.

"Our power stems from a place worse then you can imagine." Marriorman said as a cyber-shadow realm appeared around them.

Causing Megaman to get a bit cold.

'W-W-What's going on?' Megaman thought he shivered, having never felt the real-world elements once in his life.

"This is the shadow power." Marriorman said.

Megaman just looked down, his mind was so conflicted with thoughts of his family and friends that his whole body shook.

"This is the source of the shadow powers...this is a realm of darkness no light can reach here, the only emotions here are sadness, loneliness, fear and despair." Marriorman said.

Megaman wondered if this was true for net-navis as well. The realm faded and left. Megaman was so mixed-up that he hadn't noticed.

'I may go there and stay if Megaman leaves.' Marriorman thought hoping Megaman hadn't heard him.

'GOD! What do I do? Lan'll just get hurt again or worse if I stayed...if I left…at least he'd have the others to stick by him, even his friends from domino to keep him out of that awful place.' Megaman kept trying to reason with himself, hoping he hadn't been heard.

Marriorman depression was already getting worse at the thought of Megaman leaving. Megaman just couldn't take it anymore. he opened a path, pushed Lan through, sending him back to his body. and then becoming a sphere of light as he speed away as fast as he could possibly go. Lan fell to his knees.

'Goodbye bro...stay true.' Megaman thought sadly.

Kat sensed her father's despair. Despair quickly took Lan's mind hostage.

"Lan? Honey, what is it?" Maylu asked, not knowing what had transpired between them.

"Megaman, he...left." Lan sobbed.

"WHAT! B-BUT WHY!" Maylu asked in shock, not believing what she heard.

"He thought...I'd get...hurt if...he stayed." Lan sobbed.

"Oh Lan..." Maylu said as she tried to comfort him as best she could, knowing what the pair had gone through over the years.

Kat tugged on Yami's jacket.

"Yes, Kat?" Yami asked.

"What's the Shadow Realm?" Kat asked.

"Where'd you hear that?" Yami asked, as he knelt to her level.

"That's the only going through daddy's mind." Kat said looking into Yami's crimson orbs.

"Why would he think of that, are you sure?" Yami asked her, not knowing that Megaman had literally run away.

Kat nodded.

"Do you know why?" Yami asked her, as he looked to his distraught friend.

"Uncle, ran away." Kat said sadly.

"No...he couldn't have...Megaman would NEVER do to him! BY RA!" Yami whispered to himself.

Lan scooted away from Maylu the shadows in the room started to move towards him.

"LAN! WAIT! DON'T DO THIS!" Yami shouted when he saw Lan move.

Lan gave Yami this look telling him to look out for his family.

"WHAT THE HELL IS THE SHADOW REALM!" Kat exclaimed in announce.

"A dark place where negative feelings of humans are kept. It has existed for centuries." Yami said gently, hoping to keep Lan from there.

The shadows of the room started to swirl around Lan. Jera walked in at that moment sensing his brother there and his despair.

"Lan, going to there...WON'T END YOUR SADNESS OF LOSING HIM! YOU HAVE TO STAY FOR THE SAKE OF THE OTHERS!" Yami shouted, hoping he wouldn't have to go after him.

"What's going on?" Jera asked in confusion.

"Megaman's left and now your twin wants to go to the shadow realm." Yami said.

"Why'd Megaman leave?" Jera asked his sister-in-law.

"He blames himself for what happened to Lan." Maylu said sadly.

"You mean that fight in the lab?" Jera asked.

Maylu nodded. Lan was barely visible though the shadows.

"We could just prevent it from happening." Jera said pulling out the devise that had citified Lan when he was building it.

"But-?" Maylu asked.

"It causes a temporal disruption." Jera started.

Yami was unsure.

"Meaning we can send one person back in time. But, I believe it will have to be somebody with the same kinda powers as my brother." Jera said glancing at Yami.

Yami agreed. Jera gave Yami a second one.

"Once the mission is complete you aim it at yourself and fire." Jera said and stepped back and fired at Yami causing Yami to disappeared.

"Now where am I?" Yami said to himself.

"Obelisk attack!" A voice that sounded like Lan exclaimed from the next room.

"Slifer, counter attack." Another voice that sounded like Yugi exclaimed.

"I must hurry! They've begun." Yami said as he ran in direction of the voices.

The first shockwave hit them.

"STOP IT!" Yami shouted as he reached them.

Reiken and Akunadin look at him surprised.

"LAN! STOP THIS! ALLOW THIS TO CONTINUE AND YOU'LL LOSE ONE THAT'S CLOSEST TO YOU!" Yami said forcefully.

Lan and Yugi clutched their heads and closed their eyes.

-Aibou, continue this and Megaman'll run away, causing Lan's own darkness to overcome him!-

/Y-Y-Yami/

Yugi's amethyst orbs slowly open and looks in his direction.

Yami ran to the combatants, getting between them. Yami nodded toward his light. Lan's brown eyes opened. Yami looked at him.

"Yami?" Lan asked in confusion.

Yami nodded.

"What's going on?" Lan asked.

"Continue to do battle and you'll lose Megaman and yourself." Yami stated.

Lan cocked his head in confusion.

"And how would you know?" Lan asked in confusion.

"I've seen it. you'll be injured...Megaman'll blame himself for not being at your side. He'll run away to the net, causing your own darkness to consume you!" Yami said.

"No matter the plea." he said.

"Well, Akunadin and Reiken have gone back to sleep so we aren't gonna keep fighting." The two said in unison.

Yami nodded, hoping that Megaman would be there with the others when he returned.

"Wait you must have use the TDB to get here then." Lan said standing up.

Yami held it up.

"Then it works." Lan said.

Yami nodded.

"You better go then before Megaman or your past self get here." Lan said.

Yami nodded as he pointed and used the 2nd TDB on himself, vanishing.

'Let this work!' Yami prayed.

Lan and Yugi were playing a game of duel monsters for fun.

"I play Emblem of the Dragon Destroyer." Lan said summoning a Buster Blader.

"Now I attach to him the legendary sword." He said.

"You're getting good at this, Lan." Yugi said smiling.

Yami was relieved at what he saw especially Megaman watching from a distance.

"Thanks Yugi." Lan said smiling at him.

Soon the duel was over and Lan actually beat Yugi. Yami chuckled. Yugi and Lan started to laugh.

"That's a first." Lan said through the laughter.

Yami just jammed his hands into his pockets and went to Megaman. Yugi smiled then noticed Yami, Lan noticed him as well. The two looked at each other. The pharaoh shrugged. Lan walked over to Megaman followed by Yugi. Yami was just happy that he helped to keep a family from being torn once more. Lan smiled at the Pharaoh. It was a thank you smile. Yami was shocked to see that he knew, but returned the smile.

/We both know./

-But how?-

/We were there remember./

-But, that you remember?-

Yugi nodded.

/We only remember what you told us./

Yami just went and gave Megaman a firm squeeze on his shoulder.

-You know, I'd do anything for our friends, even if it meant helping one of their loved ones find their way.-

Yugi nodded.

/I have a feeling something happened to me in the other time line. What happened/

-You and Lan fought...both of you were injured. Megaman blamed himself for not being there for his brother. He ran away to the net, causing Lan's darkness to overcome him.-

/How bad were we hurt/

Lan had a back injury, you had a concussion that caused you to slip into a coma.-

Yugi smiled.

/Now, that doesn't matter anymore./

Lan smiled at Yami and looked at Megaman. Megaman looked at the 3 confused.

'Never mind, bro. It doesn't matter.' Lan thought.

'YOU GUYS ARE WEIRD!' Megaman thought.

'No, we just know something you don't.' Lan thought.

Megaman cocked his head.

'Different timeline.' Lan thought.

Megaman still thought his brother was messing around with him.

"Yami, where's the..." Lan started to asked.

Yami looked to Yugi before holding up the TDB he used.

'I'm sure you recognize that, bro. It's what I was working on when I chibified.' Lan thought.

'HOW'D HE-?' Megaman screamed in thought.

"Good question." Lan said looking at Yami.

Yami grinned.

"Your twin." Yami said.

'Jera gave it to him, it's called the TDB. Temporal Disruption Blaster, it allows time travel.' Lan thought.

Megaman wondered what happened for it to be used.

'Yami, said that Yugi and I fought for some reason and that we both got hurt and you blamed yourself for not being by my side and ran away into the net and my darkness overcame me. I'm not exactly sure what he meant by that.' Lan thought.

Megaman was shocked, not wanting to believe that he'd hurt the one he cared for the most.

'But, since Yami stopped the fight nothing bad happened.' Lan thought.

/His darkness consumed doesn't mean what I think it does. Does it/

-What, aibou?-

/Lan's darkness consumed him...you don't mean he.../

-I don't know.-

/He wasn't going to the shadow realm was he/

-He nearly did, when he thought he'd lost Megaman forever.-

Yugi nodded.

-I think in a way that Megaman's HIS light.-

/I guess your right but, I can't believe he actually wanted to go to that horrible place./

-Agreed.-

/Let's just nothing like that happens in this timeline./

-I agree aibou, this family's suffered enough.-

/Especially Lan. I mean he was buried alive after all./

Yami nodded. Lan smiled at Megaman.

'What's with those two?' Megaman thought.

'Probably talking through their link.' Lan thought knowing what they were saying.

Megaman sighed as he shrugged.

"You don't wanna know believe me." Lan said.

Lan smiled at Joey. Megaman rolled his eyes skyward. Joey gave a lopsided grin. Lan pulled Joey into another room where they could talk alone.

"WHOA! HEY, WHAT'S THE DEAL!" Joey said after being pulled.

"That devise Yami was holding up allows time travel and used it and changed the present." Lan started.

"Why?" Joey asked.

"Yugi and I got hurt, Yugi slipped into a coma and I hurt my back. Megaman blamed himself for not being by my side and ran away into the net. I was destroy and I sent myself to the shadow realm." Lan said.

"Your bro did that! And you went there?" Joey asked in amazement.

Lan nodded.

"Your bro doesn't look the type to run off." Joey commented.

"He thought that I'd get hurt again if he stayed." Lan said.

"Betting yer other-self tried to talk him outta it." Joey said.

"Probably." Lan said.

"I agree with what Yami thought." He said softly.

"What?" Joey asked.

"Megaman; I think he is my light." Lan said.

Joey grinned.

"Wouldn't surprise me, pal." Joey said.

Lan smiled. Megaman just put his hands cupped behind his helmet and waited. Lan headed back out of the room. Joey followed. Lan looked around. Megaman wondered what was going on this time. Lan smiled at his brother. Megaman was still waiting.

'Notice something strange about the house?" Lan asked.

Megaman looked around, not sure what Lan meant.

"It a "D" area." Lan pointed out.

Megaman smacks himself in the forehead. Lan shook his head.

'You're NOT gonna show off for those two, are ya?' Megaman thought.

'Not unless I have to." Lan thought.

'UH-HUH, LIAR!' Megaman thought.

'Maybe.' Lan thought.

'HA! KNEW IT!' Megaman thought.

Lan smiled. Megaman thought of one other who'd use the EGs at the first chance she got. Lan used the EGs. Megaman grinned as he saw the guys.
Marriorman appeared. Joey's jaw dropped. Marriorman used a Mega buster. Megaman fell on his back, laughing before using his own. It was a net-navi we meet before.

"GRRR, NOT YOU AGAIN!" Megaman shouted.

Lan looked at Marriorman's PET.

'That's an extra code.' Lan thought.

'You sure?' Megaman asked.

Lan nodded. Megaman was still angry over his last encounter with Darknessman. Lan downloaded the extra code. Megaman did not lower his blaster. It took a few moments for the extra code to finish the transformation. Even under his battle-mask, Megaman gritted his teeth. Marriorman glared at Darknessman. Marriorman's hair and eyes were black.

'I'M NOT LEAVING HIM-NOT THIS TIME!' Megaman thought as he kept his blaster at the ready.

The red on him was gone and a golden Eye Of Horus was embossed on the forehead of the helmet.

"Shadow Sword." Marriorman said as something that looked like electro-sword but, the blade and energy were black Darknessman going straight for Yugi.

Megaman made a dive, covering Yugi and allowing the attack to strike him instead. Causing to him scream in pain. Marriorman attacked Darknessman with double shadow sword. Megaman looked over weakly. Darknessman screamed in pain as black flames engulfed him they disappeared along with him.

'Please let it be over.' Megaman thought as he got up and helped Yugi to his feet.

The extra code was deactivated. Marriorman started to collapse.

"Whoa! Gotcha bro!" Megaman said as he caught him.

Marriorman was out cold. Marriorman's hand was pulsing in and out.

"Uncle, get daddy to Scilabs now." Kat said and the pulsing was moving up Marriorman's arm.

Megaman nodded at her as he rushed his brother to Scilabs. Tyler was in the lab luckily.

"DAD, WE NEED YOUR HELP! IT'S LAN!" Megaman shouted.

Tyler ran to his computer.

"What happened?" Tyler asked.

"We got in a confrontation with a navi called Darknessman via a D area." Megaman explained.

"And?" Tyler prompted keying up a platform.

"A friend of Lan's witnessed it." Megaman said, looking at his feet.

"I mean how did this happened?" Tyler asked as he working on keeping Lan from being deleted.

"He used a version of sword I NEVER heard of." Megaman nearly mumbled.

"And a negative version of Lan" he added.

Tyler was looking at a read-out.

"Oh, I see. He used an extra code didn't he?" Tyler asked.

Megaman nodded. Tyler finished.

'Please let this work.' Tyler prayed as he downloaded the repairs into Marriorman.

Megaman also prayed for his brother. The light that was holding Marriorman up cut out suddenly. Marriorman started to fall to the platform from pretty high. Marriorman was still out cold. Megaman managed to catch him and lay him down gently. The cyber-room was full of spike viruses. Megaman spun around, using his Mega-Buster on some of the group. he kept up the attack. Several attacked Megaman and several others head for the unconscious Marriorman. If the two ever need back up now was it. Megaman kept trying to protect his brother. Tyler ran and called Yai, Dex and Tori.

"Megaman needs help now." Tyler said.

The three answered by sending Glide, Gutsman and Iceman to Scilabs. A second wave headed for Megaman and Marriorman. Marriorman still lay there unconscious. When a barrage of attacks hit the viruses instead. Megaman looked to see his friends un front of them. Marriorman groaned still unconscious.

'Bro?' Megaman thought.

Marriorman's eyes open slightly as one of the viruses left attacked Marriorman again. Megaman leapt and attacked the virus BEFORE it got to his brother. Marriorman could barely move because he was still very weak. Megaman knew his brother probably wanted to fight even in his present state. Marriorman tried to get up. Megaman kept trying to defend him. Marriorman forced himself to his feet, legs shaking under him. Megaman was fighting and hadn't noticed his brother was up. Another Mega-Buster hit a virus.

'What the-?' Megaman thought until he saw Marriorman.

Marriorman nodded at his brother as he continued to attack the viruses. The viruses were becoming less of a problem with the five of them working together. Marriorman knew he really shouldn't even be standing. Marriorman kept firing at the viruses.

'Gotta END THIS!' Megaman thought.

Marriorman wobbled a bit a spike virus jumped on him pinning him down.

"GET OFF HIM, CREEP!" Megaman shouted as he shot the virus, sending it flying off of Lan.

Marriorman sighed and managed to get back up. He looked around to see how many viruses were left. the others were dealing with the last of them. Marriorman wobbled again. Megaman grew concern for his brother's well-being as the battle came to an end. Marriorman fell back on his butt.

'Bro, you feeling alright?' Megaman thought as he went to help him up.

'I'll be fine, I just need to rest for a while.' Marriorman thought.

Megaman smiled gently. Marriorman smiled at the other.

"Thanks for the help." Marriorman said.

They nodded, glad they got there in time.

"In case you wondering I used an extra code on myself." Marriorman said.

Megaman just looked at him.

"That was very close son." Tyler said.

Marriorman nodded. Megaman punched him playfully in the shoulder.

"I was barely able to fix your program." Tyler said.

Megaman looked at him worriedly.

"If I had taken even a second longer you would've been deleted." Tyler said sadly.

Megaman gulped, hearing this.

"So you need to rest." Tyler said.

Megaman hoped Lan would listened. Marriorman slowly sat back down. Megaman sat next to him, glad to catch his breath. Marriorman laid down and fell asleep.

MEANWHILE AT THE HOUSE

Lan's body was unconscious. Maylu knew something was up, when she saw his body and he still had the EGs on. With Joey's help she moved Lan to the sofa.

/Do you think he'll be ok/

-I hope so.-

/Me too./

-We would've hear from them if there was trouble, aibou.-

Yugi smiled at Yami. Tyler smiled looking at his son's sleeping form. Megaman grinned as he watched his brother sleep. Marriorman rolled over. Kat sat on the arm rest of the couch watching her father's unconscious body. Megaman stretched, guessing Kat knew something was going on. Marriorman was mumbling in his sleep. Megaman wondered what he was saying. Marriorman was tossing and turning. Megaman was starting to worry when he turned to his father.

"I think he's having a nightmare." Tyler said.

'Hope it isn't about what I think it is.' Megaman thought.

Marriorman rolled over still asleep grabbing Megaman. Megaman kept still when his brother took hold.

"You better wake him up." Tyler said.

Megaman nodded.

'Bro? Can you hear me?' Megaman thought.

Marriorman's eye slowly open. Megaman smiled gently when he saw his brother waking up. Marriorman slowly sat up and smiled at Megaman.

"That must have been some nightmare that you had." Megaman said softly.

Marriorman nodded. Megaman hoped Tyler wouldn't ask. Tyler decided not to ask figuring it would be best. Megaman wondered if the nightmare had anything to do with his (other) running away but was unsure.

"Maybe it'll be better if he rests at home." Tyler said.

Megaman nodded, gently helping his brother to his feet. Marriorman was holding Megaman tightly as if he were afraid. Megaman had a feeling whatever happened before, Lan feared it would repeat.

"Let's go home." Marriorman said reluctantly releasing Megaman.

Megaman nodded, hoping to reassure his brother that he wasn't going anywhere. Marriorman headed back to his and Maylu's house and when he arrived he jacked out. Megaman used his MDE and went to his brother's side, noticing that Maylu and Joey were there. Lan opened his eyes and his hand slowly and weakly moved towards the EGs. Megaman just watched. Lan's hands were shaking slight as he lost his grip on the first attempt.

'He's scared.' Megaman thought to himself.

Lan tried again, his hand slowly, weakly, shakily moved towards the EGs.

'Want some help?' Megaman thought gently.

Lan nodded weakly. Megaman gently took the EGs from his brother setting them aside. Lan's hand weakly grabbed Megaman as if making sure he was really there. Megaman smiled reassuringly but hoped Maylu and Joey wouldn't ask. Lan smiled slightly. Lan slowly sat up. Maylu and Joey both gave questioning looks to the brothers, but Megaman shook his head. Lan weakly stood up. Megaman also got up. Lan weakly grabbed Yami and Joey. Yugi went with them of course. Lan lead the 3 to where they could talk without the others over hearing.

"What was all about?" Joey asked.

"I had a nightmare about the other timeline." Lan said.

The three listened, since he had their attention..

"I guess Megaman's worried that I'll have a relasp." Lan said.

"Are you sure?" Yami asked.

"Like I said it's only a guess." Lan said.

"But what was your nightmare about?" Yugi asked uncertain in knowing the answer.

"It was about Megaman leaving." Lan said.

-Looks like he's still shaken up.-

"Well it looks like ya don't need ta' worry 'bout dat." Joey commented.

Lan nodded.

/I noticed./

Lan's body was shaking.

"Take it easy pal." Joey said trying to calm his friend.

"It was so real." Lan said sadly, still shaking.

"What else about it do you remember? Like details?" Yugi asked, suddenly wishing he kept quiet.

"I was in cyber-space crying and Megaman came to calm me..." Lan said softly.

The three nodded, waiting for him to continue.

"I was sobbing in Megaman arms at one point he created an opening and pushed me through and back to my body." Lan said sadly.

"Do you remember if any words or thoughts came between you two before you got sent back?" Yami asked, shocked at hearing of the events that nearly tore these two apart before he went and changed it.

Lan shook his head. The three of them looked at each other, trying figure out what could be done for their friend. Lan's body was shaking badly, so his legs started to give out on him.

Joey managed to catch him before he fell.

/I had no idea./

Lan yawned.

"Worn out? c'mon." Joey said as he and the others took Lan back to the living room.

Megaman was sitting on the stairs, still trying to figure out how he could've done such a thing to his brother. Lan laid down on the couch. Megaman went and grabbed a blanket, placing over him before he went back to his spot on the stairs. Lan stired a bit when Megaman put the blanket on him. Megaman gave a sad smile as his thoughts plauged him. Lan slept peacefully for alittle while before the dream turned into a nightmare.

'I couldn't really be that cruel to him, could I? I owe Lan so much... would I really jeopardize all that?' Megaman thought to himself when he watched Lan sleep.

Lan was moving so much he looked like he was about to fall off the couch. Megaman went over to make sure he wouldn't hurt himself. Tears fell from Lan's closed eyes.

'No, Maylu, Kat, mom, dad...' Lan sobbed in thought.

Megaman realized what was going through his brother's mind when he heard the names that were called out.

'No, it can't be.' Lan sobbed in thought.

Megaman flinched as he continued to watch, he felt helpless...powerless to ease his brother's suffering. Lan's eyes snapped open.

"B-B-Bro? You alright?" Megaman asked nervously as he looked over.

Lan sighed.

"It was just a dream." Lan said in relief.

Megaman nodded, a bit relieved. Lan slowly sat up. Megaman moved slightly to give his brother room to move. Lan stood with a sigh. Megaman looked up in wonder. Lan hugged Maylu tightly. Megaman grinned in a silly manner when he knew the guys were watching.
Lan was crying as he hugged his wife. Maylu wondered what he was upset about, looked to Megaman who kept quiet.

"I had a dream I'd lost you." Lan whispered to her.

"Oh Lan..." Maylu said in comforting way, remembering what happened three years before.

"I was so scared." Lan whispered.

ALL Maylu could do was hold him, giving the reassurance he needed. It didn't take long for Lan to calm down. Megaman sighed as roll came up next to him. Lan soon smiled at his wife. Megaman hugged his wife tightly as they watched their partners. Lan kissed his wife. The navis grinned as Roll snuggled into Megaman's shoulder.

"I love you." Lan whispered to her.

"And I love you, more than you can ever know." Maylu whispered in reply.

Megaman and roll's grinning got worse. Lan smiled. Megaman mumbled something to roll, causing her to giggle and agree with him.
Lan smiled at the group. Yugi, Yami and Joey were wondering what was going on.

"Just a really bad dream." Lan said.

They nodded in understanding.

"I dreamt I lost my entire family in an explosion." Lan said.

Megaman gulped, knowing where this was coming from. Lan frowned. Megaman was nervous, hoping his brother wouldn't become depressed from the past.

"I'm just thankful it was just a dream." Lan said.

Megaman sighed in relief after hearing this. Lan smiled.

"As I'm sure you three can imagine." Lan said.

Megaman blushed, causing his battle-mask to appear. Lan looked at Yugi, Yami and Joey.

"Does dat happen alot?" Joey asked, pointing with his thumb at megaman.

Lan smirked.


"From time to time." Lan said.

Megaman just glared at the four of them as he crossed his arms.Lan snickered. Megaman continued to glare before stomping off toward the backyard.

'You know I'm just teasing.' Lan thought.

Megaman just grunted as he kept going before he sat on the lawn. Lan shock his head.

"I agree with you Yami." Lan said.

"About?" the pharaoh asked, playing dumb.

"Megaman being my light." Lan said smiling.

Yami nodded with a grin. Yugi giggled slightly.

Well it makes sense.-

/I know but, it took him long enough./

I know...it didn't take US as long as them, did it?-

/No it didn't./

-So...do you wanna see how Megaman's doing? Something tells me that it won't be me that'll get him talking.-

/OK./

Think he headed to the backyard.-

/Yeah./ Yugi started for the backyard.

Lan sat down still feeling a bit weak.

"Are you alright?" Yami asked.

"I'm just a bit weak. I'll be fine in a few days." Lan said.

Yami nodded. Megaman was so lost in his thoughts that he didn't hear anyone coming. Yugi rested a hand on Megaman's shoulder.

"Y-Yugi?" Megaman asked as he jumped slightly in surprise.

Yugi smiled at him and sat next to him.

"What are you doing here?" Megaman asked.

"Lan, Yami and I were talking and..." Yugi started.

"So?" Megaman asked.

"I have a theory; about why what happened in the other timeline happened." Yugi said.

"Yeah?" Megaman asked.

Yugi nodded. Megaman looked at him, waited for Yugi to continue.

"In this world there are times a soul is not whole..." Yugi started.

'An incomplete soul? Is there such a thing?' Megaman thought to himself.

"When this happens it is rare and the two halves are brought together." Yugi said.

"But how can I be the other half of Lan's soul? I'm an AI!" Megaman questioned in disbelief.

"It's happened however it's necessary." Yugi said.

"But still..." Megaman said quietly.

"Yami's my dark side...you are Lan's light." Yugi said.

"But the way we came together...it's different than you two." Megaman stated.

Yugi nodded.

"I'm aware of that." Yugi said.

"I'm SERIOUS!" Megaman said.

"So am I." Yugi said.

"But I-" Megaman stammered.

"Just trust in us. We can sense it and Lan believes it as well." Yugi said.

Megaman began clenching in his fists in confusion. he still couldn't understand the whole Ying Yang concept.

"Without Lan's light his darkness consumed him. You were what kept his pure and good...and without out you...I could only imagine what would happen." Yugi said standing up.

"But, I've only known since he was in the 5th grade." Megaman said softly.

"It was on verge of taking over though he fought it." Yugi said frowned.

"What do you mean?" Megaman asked.

"He was on the verge of losing out to the darkness within him...meaning he was on the verge of turning evil." Yugi said sadly.

"A fifth grader? C'mon! He had passions for net-battling and roller-blading then." Megaman stated, not wanting to believe that Lan would be evil without him.

"Dex was always challenging us" he chuckled.

Yugi had on of the TDBs and he and Lan changed this one.

'What's HE DOING with THAT!' Megaman thought when he noticed what yugi had with him.

Yugi aimed it at Megaman.

"You will see the truth." Yugi said and with that fired it.

'Wha?' Megaman thought.

Megaman was transported to an alternate reality.

'Where am i?' megaman thought.

There was a lot of damage to Dentech city.

"No..." he whispered.

Lan was walking down the street wareing all black and an evil smirk.

'No...IT CAN'T BE!' Megaman screamed in thought.

Megaman went and hid in a nearby alley. Lan turned and saw his dad. Lan smirked evilly at him. Megaman watched terrified of what was going to happen to his father.

"Lan! PLEASE! STOP! i know you're upset that Megaman ran away...but that's NO REASON to destroy everything!" Tyler pleaded.

Lan glared at him.

"You're not the only one in pain...your mother, brothers, Maylu, Kat, Roll and Talla and your friends. we ALL miss him, not just you." Tyler reasoned.

Lan clinched his fist in anger. Megaman felt a pain deep down in his heart when he heard his father's pleas

"SHUT UP! JUST SHUT THE HELL UP!" Lan shouted in anger.

Megaman clenched his fists, trying to keep silent. Lan looked about ready to attack his father.

"Lan...please he wouldn't want for you to go down this path" Tyler pled. Megaman fired his blaster from his hiding spot when he thought his dad was in trouble.

Lan dodge the blast without realizing it was a Mega-Buster and grabbed Tyler by the throat.

"Without light all that remains is darkness." Lan said throwing Tyler a few feet back.

"L-L-Lan! P-P-Please son! I know you're in there somewhere." Tyler choked out before blacking out.

Megaman gritted his teeth when he saw what happened. Lan smirked evilly and turning continuing down the street.

"HEY! PICKING ON ME, IF YOU CAN...BROTHER!" Megaman shouted, having reached his limit.

Lan chuckled evilly. Little did Megaman realize but, they were being watched.

"What the matter? Never had anyone stand up to you!" Megaman smirked.

"You're too late you know." Lan said chuckling evilly.

Megaman glared, knowing Lan maybe right, but that wouldn't stop him from knocking some sense into him. Lan moved quickly behind Megaman holding a dagger at Tyler's throat.

"PUT HIM DOWN! YOUR FIGHT'S WITH ME!" Megaman roared, calling out his mega-buster again.

Lan had Tyler in front of him blocking Megaman.

'DAMN IT! He's using dad as a shield...not thought he'd sink that low!' Megaman thought as he searched for a way to end this.

The one watching was the Yugi from Megaman's reality. Megaman kept trying to find or think of a way to help his brother. Yugi appeared between the two.

"I hope this has proved my point." Yugi said.

Megaman just couldn't look at his fellow light; even if he KNEW Yugi was right.

"Since in our time Yami went back and prevented you from feeling guilty and leaving. So these events have not occurred." Yugi said taking both himself and Megaman back to their world.

"YOU'RE TWISTED! KNOW THAT!" Megaman shouted.

"I had prayed I would have to go that far to convince you. Lan and I adapted it to do that in case it came to this." Yugi said.

"HE-? WAIT TIL I GET MY HANDS ON HIM!" Megaman shouted again.

Megaman was on the verge of wanting to pound Lan for this. fate or not. Yugi walked back inside.

'You're next!' Megaman thought while he cracked his knuckles as he followed Yugi.

/Megaman's pissed./

-What did you show him?-

/The other timeline./

-But why would that anger him?-

/Lan attacked Tyler and eventually used him as a shield./

-But?-

/He was holding a dagger at Tyler's throat./ It was obvesiously he knew something Yami and no one else knew.

There's more, right?-

/I went to see Joey when I first got there he looked like he'd seen a ghost./

-Oh?-

/He kept saying I was dead. I went to see you and you were depressed./

-Sound familiar?-

/Yami, Lan had done it, while I was in a coma./

-You misunderstood me, aibou...I'm talking of our fight with Dartz.-

/Yami, you more depressed then that...when I came in you were trying to kill yourself./

-M-M-Me!-

Yugi nodded.

-I-I-I…-

Yugi hugged his brother. Yami smirked.

/I see the truth as well./ He said hugging Yami.

Yami nodded as he looked over his shoulder.

'Now where's that SMART ALECK! WHEN I GET MY HANDS ON HIM! HE IS GONNA WISH HE NEVER MADE THE TDBs! OF ALL THE LOW-DOWN DIRTY TRICKS!' Megaman snarled in thought as he looked for Lan.

Yugi sighed.

-uh-oh-

/I agree./

-think we better follow him, know where lan is?-

/He's sleeping upstairs in his room./

-let's go.-

Yugi nodded and stood up. Megaman was in the house and about to head upstairs. Yugi rushed up to Lan's room. Megaman had just gotten to the staircase when he looked behind him. Yugi being short was able to get past him.

"GET OUTTA MY WAY!" Megaman yelled when he saw Yugi.

"Don't be stubid...you owe him to much to lose your temper over this. I practially made him do it." Yugi said standing firmly where he was.

"Still no excuse for doing it." Megaman said, gritting his teeth.

"We were only going to use it if we had to." Yugi said.

Megaman growled as he ran out the front door.

"We just need to give him time." Yugi said.

Yami nodded, looking in the direction of lan's room.

'STUPID, IMMATURE...' megaman thought as he continued to run ending up at a nearby.park.

Yugi looked at Lan's bedroom door.

-How are we gonna tell him?-

/I don't know./

-betting he knows something wrong.-

Yugi nodded.

so...who's gonna tell?-

Yugi frowned.

/I'm not sure./

Megaman in the meantime had stopped to catch his breath was sitting on a bench with his eyes closed. \Lan was tossing and turning.

hear that?-

Yugi walked into Lan's room. Yami followed right behind.Yugi frowned watching Lan.

he knows.-

Yugi nodded.

-we might need him to bring Megaman.-

Lan sat up slowly.

"lan?" asked yami.

Lan looked tiredly at her.

"heard him, right?" yami asked.

Lan nodded yawning.

"if you need our help finding him..." the pharaoh trailed off.

Lan stood up. He still felt weak but hoped the two wouldn't notice.

he's in no shape to look.-

Lan started towards the door.

/I know./

One phrase kept going through megaman's mind. (Without light all that remains is darkness) he was still mad with Lan and Yugi for what they done to prove a point. Lan wobbled a bit as he walked down the street.

/We can't let him search alone./

-agreed-

'Where could he be...I can't believe Yugi actually used the modifed TDB.' Lan thought stumbling down the street.

megaman in the meantime shifted in his uneasy slumber. unknowing that his brother was looking for him. Yugi ran up behind Lan. Lan had stopped trying to catch his breath.

"Lan, yugi was just trying to help" yami said having caught to them.

"I knew Megaman would get upset." Lan gasped out of breath.

The two just looked at him. Lan continued looking for Megaman.

/He's so stuborn he'd probably search until it killed him./

i know, guessing megaman's the same way-

Lan was looking as fast as he could. Megaman kept being haunted by the words and images of his friends and family that were just as troubling.Lan stumbled starting to fall. Yami managed to catch him in time. Lan was breathing heavily.

"lan, you must rest. it won't do any good for you let yourself wear out" yami said.

"I have to find Megaman." Lan gasped out.

"i know, but you're not doing yourself any good like this" yami said, looking to yugi.

Yugi nodded and started to look for Megaman.

'NO! NO! HOW COULD I-!' Megaman thought-screamed in his sleep.

Lan's vesion blured.

"Lan, are you alright?" yami asked.

/aibou, hurry/

Yugi soon found Megaman and woke him up.

"y-yugi? what are-?" he asked, still dazed.

"It's Lan...he's getting sick." Yugi said sadly.

"WHAT! WHERE!" the navi cried, now more alert.

"Follow me." Yugi said.

Megaman jumped up and followed yugi. Yugi quickly lead the way to Lan.

'oh lord, what have i done!' megaman thought as he ran as fast as he could.

They finally arrived at where Lan and Yami were. Megaman bit at his lip as he went to them. Lan's vesion was still blurry.


'lan? can y-you hear me?' megaman thought, shakily.

'M-M-Mega-m-m-man?' Lan thought exsustion in his thoughts.

'i'm here...i'm sorry, this is my fault' megaman thought, a tinge of guilt came in.

'It's just, I'm still a bit weak from the extra code.' Lan thought.

megaman shook his head.

'if i hadn't left the house, you wouldn't had pushed yourself in looking for me' he thought.

'I'll be fine.' Lan thought.

Megaman looked at him, uncertain. Lan smiled at Megaman. Megaman gave a weak grin. Lan was standing on shaky legs. megaman went over and allowed his brother to lean on him. Lan leaned on Megaman. The other pair of Light and Darkness just watched from a slight distance.

'I should get back to bed.' Lan thought.

Megaman nodded as they went home with thier friends following closely. Lan yawned as he walked heading towards the house. megaman hoped this would pass. Soon they got to the house. Lan was more asleep then awake. megaman helped him to the couch once they were all inside, knowing his brother wouldn't make it upstairs. As soon as Lan laid down on the couch he was asleep. megaman just sat, leaning against it...he felt if he moved, Lan would know. Yugi just watched a moment. megaman just shrugged at him when he noticed him.

/This worries me, Yami./

how so?-

/He just seems so weak./

well lan's been through quite a bit lately-

/I know, but, he seemed so sick eariler./

-might've been from Megaman-

/I don't think so. I just don't know./

-Well he was asleep when you found him, right? He was probably dreaming then.-

Yugi nodded. The two just watched in concern as Megaman fell asleep this time by his brother.

2 MONTHS LATER

Lan was starting to get his strength back. megaman gave a goofy grin as a trio of youngsters climbed all over him. Lan smiled.

'you're emjoying this!' megaman shouted in thought as Jr. got him around the neck.

Lan nodded. Megaman hoped the others were not watchiing, he had a feeling that joey wouldn't let him live it down. Lan sighed. Megaman almost told the kids to go for his brother when he heard him sigh. Lan watched his brother.

"alright, what's up?" he managed to say as kat and talla began tickling him from the sides, making him howl with laughter.

'I'm just still a bit weak.' Lan thought.

Megaman nodded before being knocked to the ground 'i SWEAR IF YOU TELL-!' megaman thought.

'I won't.' Lan thought.

megaman knew there was something that lan wasn't telling him, but he just couldn't put his finger on it. Lan smiled slightly. That did it, now megaman knew something was wrong with his dark half. Lan stood up and started for the kitchen. But megaman kept it to himself as he played with the kids when he saw lan leave. Lan sat at the kitchen table. megaman tried not let lan's troubles bother him but he couldn't help it as he led the kids inside. Lan was cluching his head leaning on the table.

"you feeling alright?" Megaman whispered as the kids ran to kat's room, leaving them alone to talk.

"I just have a headache." Lan said.


'why do i get the feeling that it's more than that?' megaman thought to himself as he went to get lan a glass of water.

Lan smiled slightly.

"I'm sure it's nothing." Lan said softly.

Megaman glared at him, having been heard.

"Are there any tyenol in this place?" Lan asked.

megaman reached for a bottle of pills while he was still at the sink, getting the water for lan. Lan looked towards the sink. megaman started to worry a little. Lan smiled at his brother. he kept quiet as he handed lan the tablets and water. Lan took them. megaman went to the backyard for some air. Lan leaned back on the chair and ended up leaning to far back and...CRASH!

"Lan! you okay!" megaman called as he ran back in.

"Oww." Lan groaned.

"what happened?" he asked, helping him up.

"Leaned back to far." Lan said.

Megaman tried not to laugh, but was failing. Lan glared at him. megaman grinned sheepishly.

"It's not bad enough the gods gave me a headche...oh no...they had to give me a backache on top of it." Lan mumbled.

megaman shrugged. Lan just hoped the headache would go away. Megaman hoped the same thing. he HATED it when lan didn't feel well. Lan looked at Megaman.

"what?" he asked.

"I need help to get somewhere I can lay down." Lan said.

"sure, c'mon" Megaman said as he helped lan up and into the living room to the couch.

Lan laid down on the couch. megaman went and began to read a magazine he had gotten recently.

"I wonder how the baby is?" Lan said.

"i'm not sure, maylu did have a doctor's appointment today, right?" megaman said, glancing up.

"Yeah." Lan said.

That was one of the things that had been on megaman's mind as of late, the health and well-being of his newest niece or nephew. \Lan was worried about his son or daughter. maylu had just come home, having heard the discussion between them with a very secret smile on her face.

"Hi, guys!" Maylu said as she walked in.

"How'd it go?" Lan asked with concern.

Maylu giggled at his concern, she always thought that lan was cute when he did that.

"the doctor said that they're fine..." Maylu said, going to the kitchen.

"Did she say they're fine?" Lan asking in shock.

"she did" megaman answered also in shock.

maylu kept giggling when she heard them. Lan's headache was getting worse. He started to get up.

"stay down lan" megaman said.

"But, I..." Lan started blacking out from the pain.

megaman caught him before he fell. Lan groaned in pain.

"relax, i'm gonna check on maylu" he said gently.

Lan slowly nodded having come to. megaman found her where he had been just a short time before.

"alright maylu, what's the big secret?" he asked.

"megaman? i'm having twins!" she said excitedly.

"OH MY GOD!" he shouted, giving her a hug.

Lan fell asleep again.

"lan's gonna have a fit!" Megaman whispered to her. Maylu wondered if he was alright. "just has a headache" megaman replied as they went back in.

Kat ran into the living room, obvesiously sensing something her uncle didn't. megaman spotted his niece and smiled. Kat ran to her father and opened one of his eye and gasped.

"Something's seriously wrong." Kat said looking at her uncle.

'lan?' megaman thought as he knelt down.

"His eyes looking right." Kat said.

'bro, can you hear me?' megaman thought after hearing her.

megaman knew lan needed help and called for EMS.

"What's wrong with daddy?" Kat sobbed slightly.

"i-i don't know honey" megaman said, trying to calm her down.

maylu had joined them and was also scared for lan. When the EMTs got there and realized very quickly what was wrong and gave him medcine and loaded Lan in the ambulance. megaman followed with the rest of the family in tow.

"What do we got?" Mark asked in the thurama room when they brought Lan in.

"a stroke" said an EMT.

"I see." Mark said shinning a light in Lan's right eye.

"Right eye diviated to the right." Mark said and Carol noted it on the chart.

"Left eye responsive."

'he looks familiar' carol thought as she made the notes. The meds started to work and Lan started to come to. megaman was pacing in the lobby as they waited, it was the 2nd time they had come to this place in three years. When Mark knew Lan was stabized he went out the the lobby.

"how is he?" asked megaman upon seeing Dr. Green.

"He had a stroke." Mark said.

megaman gasped, remembering the last time.

"We managed to stop it. But, we don't know how much damage it did yet." Mark said.

"um, can i talk to you in private?" megaman whispered not wanting to worry the girls.

Mark nodded.

"is there-?" he asked.

Mark cocked his head.

"A place we won't be bothered?" Megaman asked.

Mark lead him somewhere they would be alone.

"first off this isn't my brother's first stroke" megaman started.

"Really?" Mark asked.

"i don't know if you heard from others about seeing a patient, they thought died in their care?" he said.

"There are a lot of doctors here. Though Carol seemed recongnize him." Mark said.

"thought as much...you see nearly three years ago, my brother was brought to this very hospital after being in a fight that was the result of a misunderstanding...but he didn't survive his injuries or so we thought... needless to say lan's a fighter." he smirked.

"I see." Mark said.

"don't believe me? ask Dr. carter." megaman said with really evil grin.

"I'll do that. Though you might want to be with your brother." Mark said.

he nodded. "when can we see him?" megaman asked.

"You can see him now." Mark said.

"thanks" he said.

Mark nodded and left Megaman.

'wonder where he is?' he thought to himself.

Lan lay in a room nearby. Megaman hoped green wouldn't catch on too soon as he walked in. Lan slowly looked him.

'hey bro' megaman thought gently as he took a seat at his brother's bedside.

'M-M-Megam-m-man?' Lan thought weakly.

"easy, save your strength" he whispered.

'What...' Lan started.

'A stroke.' Megaman replied.

'How...b-b-bad?' Lan thought weakly.

"they didn't tell me" he said.

'hope this one isn't connected to the one he had three years ago' megaman thought in fear.

'M-Me t-too.' Lan thought weakly.

megaman winched when he realized he'd been heard.

'W-W-Where's...' Lan started.

"who, bro?" he asked.

'M-M-May...lu?' Lan thought weakly.

"she's in the waiting room with the others." he replied.

Lan smiled weakly.

'D-D-Did...s-s-she h-hear t-t-the d-d-doctor?' Lan thought weakly.

megaman shook his head.

"talked to him alone" he explained

'S-S-She'll d-d-delete y-you i-if s-she h-has t-to f-f-find o-out o-on h-her o-own.' Lan thought weakly.

MEANWHILE IN DOMINO

Yugi ran into Yami's room out of breath.

-aibou?-

/S-S-Something's w-w-wrong w-w-with L-Lan./

-calm down, tell me what you're saying-

Yugi caught his breath and said it again.

/Something's wrong with Lan./

/calm down, tell me what you're saying/

/let's go/

Yugi nodded.

hope we get to him in time-

/Me too./

A golden tunnel appeared before the duo and Yugi runs right through. Yami chased after him, worried for their friends. The tunnel closed behind them. megaman was about to respond to his brother's remark when he sensed the energy from the portal. Yugi ran into the room.

"Yugi!" megaman cried, seeing his fellow light.

"What happened?" Yugi asked approaching the bed.

megaman sighed,

"he had a stroke" he replied.

"Do we know how bad yet?" Yugi asked looking towards Yami.

yami shook his head. "since you guys are here...i gotta tell maylu. gulp" megaman said nervously. Yugi sat next to Lan's bed. megaman ran back to the waiting room, still fearing his sister in-law reaction. Maylu looked at Megaman.

"i-i-it's another stroke" he said timidly.

Maylu nearly fainted from shock. megaman managed to catch her, knowing that he was in for trouble when she came to. Yugi glanced at Yami behind him.

-something wrong?-

/I'm just worried./

-about...-

/Lan, what if he.../

-i think this is from a past injury-

/Maybe but, what if.../

-aibou?-

/What if he...doesn't make it./

-i know...i worry for his family too, especially Megaman-

Yugi frowned...

"Not to mention his other friends." Yugi said.

yami nodded. Lan whispered a name and Yugi heard it right off and smiled softly.

"Well call him." Yugi said.

-aibou? what does he want?-

/He asked for Joey./

yami grinned, going to the waiting area and spotted his friend. "lan wants to see you" he said, looking at joey. Joey jumped up and ran to lan's room. Yugi looked at him.

"yug?" he asked.

Yugi smiled at Joey.

"how is he?" joey whispered.

"Megaman told me he had a stroke." Yugi whispeared.

"think he'll pull through?" he asked.

Yugi nodded.

"hey pal..." joey said to lan gently.

Lan smiled weakly at Joey.

"dink yer bro's scared" he said.

Lan nodded weakly.

"yer wife, right?" joey asked with an smirk.

Lan whispeared something and Yugi smiled.

"Really?" Yugi asked excitely.

Lan nodded weakly.

"what he tell ya, man?" asked joey.

"She's pregnant with twins." Yugi said smiling.

"wow! how'd he find out?" joey asked.

"She must have told him before the stroke started." Yugi said.

"couldn't he have overheard his bro?" joey asked.

"Maybe." Yugi saod.

"ask him" joey said, wondering if megaman was still in one piece.

Yugi looked at him.

"To late, he's asleep." Yugi said.

"dink it's alright that he's sleepin'?" joey asked.

Yugi nodded.

"hope his bro's in one piece" joey said to himself.

"I think he is." Yugi said.

"it's just-" joey started.

Yugi smiled lost in thought a moment and blushed at his thoughts.

"what?" he asked.

"Nothing." Yugi said blushing at being caught.

"spill it!" joey said.

"Tea and I...well we've...been sorta...seeing eachother...in secret...not even...Yami knows." Yugi said softly.

"about time!" joey said with a grin.

/Yami.../

-yes?-

/I have some news./

oh?-

/Tea and I have been seeing eachother and.../

-and?-

/We kinda uh, well we.../

-aibou, just tell me-

/I'm not a virgin anymore./

-well...i always i thought you two made a nice couple. haven't been caught yet?-

/No, and she's well.../

-yes?-

/She's pregnant./

-looks like our friends aren't the only ones looking to the future...i'm happy for you both.-

/I'm kinda trying to work up the nerve to pop the question./

Yami chuckles through the link.

/It's kinda tough./

-well as i recall lan prompted his brother, guess i won't need to do that with you, will i?-

/I don't know./

Lan smirked weakly he had woke up when Yugi told Yami he and Tea were seeing each other.

-aibou, look-