Disclaimer: I don't own Yu-Gi-OH

To my fellow readers: Here it is the last chapter of this story. I'm so sorry for the long long wait, life's been busy and now here I am on break and I decided to write this finally chapter. Hope you enjoy the final installment.

This last chapter is dedicated to Chibi Tora: Thank you sooooo much for nagging at me. You made set a goal to finish the chapter as quickly as I could. I'm sorry for the long wait, and I hope you like this. Thanks for being a friend and my most dedicated reader.

Finally. Finally he was alone. Well, almost alone. Next to his hospital bed laid his best friend, Yugi, who was still being checked over by the doctors. After convincing the rest of the gang to go home, clean up and get some "real" sleep, Joey and Yugi laid in the bed in uneasy silence. It was such a thick and uncomfortable silence that Joey was afraid of even saying anything. Here he was with a guy who he nearly gave up his life for, and he couldn't even say a word to him. What is there to say? Joey thought, Wanna go to the arcade tomorrow? Life from now on was going to be different between the two of them. Their bond together would be different. Hesitantly, Joey looked over at Yugi and found the teen looking back at him.

Then the knife pierced the silence, "Joey…" Yugi barely whispered. Joey stared on, waiting him to continue.

"I really don't know what to say," Yugi sat up on his bed and faced him, "There are many things I want to tell you but none of them can add up to what you did for me. I want to do more than just say a simple…thank you…"

Joey weakly smiled, "You don't have to say anything Yuge. Thank you will be enough. Those two words have a lot of meaning and a lot of power behind it. I learned that from you; you saved my life so long ago and all I can sum up for it is thank you."

Tears started to well up in Joey's eyes, "Yuge…damn it man…I was afraid that I'd never see you again. That I'd lose."

Yugi felt his cheek get wet, "Joey, I…" He clenched his fist and started to shake it, "I'm sorry. I'm so weak Joey, I'm such a burden. I always need you to save me…you always risk your life for mine. I understand…if you don't want to be…friends…"

"Yugi! Stop it. Please." Joey retorted, hoarsely, "You're not the weak one here, I am. I always need you. You save my ass all the time. From Duelist Kingdom all the way to Battle City, hell, you save me long ago, back when you gave me friendship."

Yugi hid a smile, "Life surely is ironic, isn't it."

Joey let out a small laugh, "Yah…"

Yugi got up and walked over to Joey's bed. He gave him a smile and then offered his hand, "Joey, thank you."

First the first time since Sinku took Yugi's soul did Joey let out a real smile, "You're welcome." He grabbed Yugi's hand and shook it. Then he did something that caught Yugi off guard, he pulled the pointy-hair teen towards him and hugged him.

"Thank you." Joey whispered, emotionally.

Unbeknownst to them, an ancient spirit was watching them. Tears poured down his face as he recalled his newfound memories. "Katsuya…" he whispered.

The deep night has arrived and Joey was showing no signs of sleeping. Nightmares of the fight ran through his mind every time he closed his eyes. Enough of it, Joey though irritably, he sat up upon his bed and then regretted the movement. Every wound on his body screamed out in pain. Joey bit his lip to stop himself from letting out a yelp of pain. He sat back upon his pillow as tears of sting ran down his cheeks. Joey saw a small light come on next to him. Cursing quietly he looked to the source while saying, "Sorry Yuge I…" He paused. The light was coming from the spirit of the puzzle. The other Yugi! Joey's mouth dropped open as he quickly moved his eyes from the sleeping Yugi and the spirit.

"What the…?" Joey sputtered.

Yami Yugi let out a small chuckle; "You can see me now huh? That's because you touched my spirit in the other Realm. The Aku Realm, I believe it was called."

"Wait, that means…you…"

"Yes, I was watching your fight with Sinku, but unfortunately I couldn't do anything but watch anyway. But one time, I managed to help you."

"Twice." Joey responded.

Yami Yugi stared at him, concerned, "Having nightmares?"

"Shorta, expect that I'm not falling asleep."

"You actually look different from him," Yami suddenly blurted out.

A pensive look cross his face, "Who?"

"Katsuya." Yami Yugi answered, "Your hair style, yours tend to be a messy dirty blonde hair whereby his was more of a shorter dark red. And your eyes, different colors yet both contained the same quality in it; the looks of determination."

"I'm surprise Sinku thought I was Katsuya."

Yami Yugi laughed, "Ah, looks might be different, but the way you both act when a friend's in danger are the same."

Yami paused as he stared at Joey, "Thank you Joey, for everything that you have done."

"Ah, you would've done the same." Joey retorted.

"Katsuya. All my memories about him have returned for some reason. Finally, I remember something from my ancient past."

Joey smiled, "That's good. Nothing is greater and worth far more than a memory of a great friend."

Yami Yugi grinned but then it fell as he remembered something, "I never got to tell him. How thankful I was for his sacrifice. Damn, I miss him terribly."

"I'm sure he knows." Joey said, "Knowing him, he's probably watching over you."

Yami Yugi smiled, "You're right."

He walked over to Joey, "Goodnight, my old friend." He placed his hand on Joey's forehead. The taller teen slumped in his bed, falling into pleasant dreams.

Two weeks later

"Argh!" Joey yelled from behind the bathroom door, "Where are my pants!"

Yugi scrambled around the hospital room searching for it and then finally found it on the floor, "It's not here Joey!" Yugi teased.

"WHAT!" Joey yelled, "I'm going to leave the hospital in my boxers!"

Yugi opened the door and threw the pants at Joey, "Here you go!"

He sighed as he shut the door. Joey was finally being release after two weeks. The rest of the gang was at his house preparing a "Welcome Home" party for Joey. He decided he should come alone and pick Joey up.

Joey opened the door to reveal himself wearing a white t-shirt with his jeans. "Hey Yuge, do you know where my duel disk is?"

Yugi slowly nodded as he handed him a bag, "In here."

Joey took it out and looked at it, there was burn marks over it and some of his cards were crisped.

"My grandpa said that he can fix your cards and order new ones."

Joey shook his head, "Nah," he spoke softly, "It's okay."

He placed it on his arm and fix it so it was properly on his wrist. He felt as a part of him has suddenly returned, his dueling side. A new feeling in him began to awaken since his last battle with Sinku.

"Okay, Yuge. I'm ready to go. I hate hospitals." Joey announced, he turned and started to leave the room.

"Wait!" Yugi cried, "Didn't the doctor say you should be in a wheelchair for awhile."

Joey cringed at the statement and scratched the bandage he had on his cheek, "Urgh, I've been in a wheelchair for two weeks and I'm walking fine. If he has a problem with that, I don't care. I'm walking!"

Yugi sighed as he ran after Joey who already took off brisk walking down the hall, "Stubborn as usual." Yugi said.

His other self emerged next to him, "Joey is starting to return to his normal self now."

"No," Yugi said, "He's always been himself." He turned and smiled at Yami, "He's just being stubborn now."

Yami laughed and he immerged back into the puzzle. Yugi glanced up as he finally caught up with Joey.

He was practically running to keep up with his taller friend. Joey noticed this and started to slow his pace.

"I'm a bit nervous Yugi," he confessed.

"To leave the hospital?"

Joey shook his head, "To see everyone. What do I do? Put on a happy smile and pretend I'm okay?"

"No," Yugi said, "Just be yourself, cause if you do put on a fake smile I would know."

Joey looked down at his friend, "What do you mean?"

"All the times at school, even during Battle City, I knew you were hurting when you were pretending you were okay."

"Then why didn't you say something?" Joey asked.

Yugi looked back at him, "Because I knew you didn't want to talk about it, so I just waited until you were ready."

Joey smiled, "Yugi…you're a true friend."

Yugi shrugged, "That's what friends do."

Joey pushed him as Yugi blushed, "Stop being so modest all the time Yuge."

"Thanks Joey." Yugi said.

As they headed close to the hospital doors, a voice stopped them, "Joey Wheeler?"

Joey tensed and turned around towards the voice. In the corner of his eye, he saw Yugi place his right foot in front of him, as if aiming to protect him if anything goes wrong. In front of them was chubby man wearing a old raggy brown coat.

"Here, you forgot this." The man said as he handed Joey a card.

Joey grabbed it and looked down at it. It was the Red-Eyes! Joey looked back up bewildered, only to find the man gone.

"Where did he go?" Yugi wondered.

Joey smiled, "It doesn't matter." He gazed at the card a while longer, "We got our soul card back."

Yugi looked at Joey and smiled, "Two souls in one body, right?"

"Yah," Joey smile grew wider, "That's the bond of our friendship."

He turned towards the door, "C'mon Yuge, we can't be late."

And the two of them turned and ran out in the light.

Fin