Chapter 2:

Is he Truly Happy in this World?

In his chambers, young Atem was busy readying himself for bed. He took off his cape and something fell from it. He turned around and picked up the card. It was the Dark Magician, the card Yugi gave him before he left. He stared at it, smiling softly. He missed his friends in the modern world so dearly he'd sell his soul to go back.

Then a soft knock came at his door. "Come," Atem said, his baritone voice made himself heard. The figure behind the door came in, much taller than Atem and much older. "Father," Atem said bowing low. His father chuckled. "There's no need for you to bow, my son," he said.

Atem stood up and sat on his bed with a sigh. "Something troubling you, Atem?" his father asked. Atem sighed again. "I just…miss my friends. They would love it here…" he said sadly.

His father sat beside him. "Your friends must sound intriguing," he said. Atem could only sigh. "I…I really miss them, father," he said softly.

His father held him close. "I know, son. Now try and get some rest," he said. Atem nodded and crawled into bed. His father smiled blowing out the candle as he left the room. Atem just stared at the ceiling in thought. "I wish I could go back…" he said to himself as he fell asleep.

A few hours later, Atem began to toss and turn in his sleep. "No…please…no…" he moaned tossing and turning more, sweating. The sounds of Bakura's laughter filled his mind. "Bakura!" he yelled sitting up. He began to pant heavily looking around his room. "Oh Ra…it was just a dream…" he said as the dream filled his mind again. He dreamt that Bakura killed all his friends and he came too late to save them.

He laid back down staring at the ceiling tears filling up in his eyes. "I want to go back…I want to be with my friends…please…Ra…send me a sign!" he cried. Suddenly there was this bright light. Atem covered his eyes from the light. "What in the Gods?" he whispered. The light got even brighter causing Atem to recoil and black out.

After about four hours later he slowly stirred and opened his eyes, staring up at the starry night sky. "What in the world?" he said to himself sitting up. He found himself on grassy ground and stood up. "Could this be…?" he asked looking at a sign near him that read 'Domino Park.' Below the hill lay a city, it bright lights shining across town.

"I'm home…" he said smiling. He ran down the hill towards town as fast as he could. "Yugi! Joey! Guys! I'm back!" he cried. He ran down until finally he got to the Game Shop. "Home at last," he said to himself with a smile. He looked up seeing the light on in Yugi's room. He smiled and walked into the house. Luckily the door was unlocked and he hoped not to awaken Yugi's grandfather.

Upstairs, Yugi sighed sadly, his tears still not dry from the previous events that had occurred only a week ago. He stared sadly at the cartouche Atem had. It had somehow appeared to him while he was sleeping the night before the ritual duel. Slowly Yugi's door slowly opened. He didn't see the crimson eyes staring happily at him.

"Hello, Yugi," Atem said with his proud smile he had when Yugi won the duel. "Ahhhh!" Yugi shouted, nearly falling off the bed in surprise. Atem just chuckled. "You haven't changed at all I see. Still hyper as ever," he said while chuckling. Violet eyes widen when Yugi finally saw him. "...P-Pharaoh...?"

Atem smiled and knelt down, arms outstretched. "Come here, you midget," he said with a smile. Yugi smiled and ran to him, hugging him tightly. "Oh, Pharaoh! I missed you!" he cried tears rolling down his cheeks. Atem just chuckled. He smirked and put Yugi in a headlock giving him a noogie. Yugi struggled. "Hey! Atem! Stop it!" he whined.

Atem just chuckled and set Yugi down. "I missed all of you. How long has it been?" he asked. "About a week now!" Yugi said with a smile. "God, look at you!" he said while laughing. "You haven't changed a bit!"

"Neither have you, short stuff," Atem said elbowing him in the gut. "Ow!" Yugi cried holding his stomach. Atem chuckled ruffling the boy's hair. "So where's your grandpa, Yugi?" he asked. Yugi sighed. "He died two days ago," he said sadly. "Oh Yugi..." Atemu started and started to hug him. Tears welled in his eyes. "I...I never said goodbye..." Yugi said softly as his tears rolled down his cheeks. Atem just held him tightly. Yugi wiped away his tears. "It's okay," he said with a smile. "Hey, you know what day tomorrow is?" he asked.

Atem shook his head. "No. What?" he asked. "It's my birthday!" Yugi smiled. Atem frowned a little. "Is that all?"

Yugi nodded with a smile. He noticed Atem's sad expression. "What's wrong?" he asked.

"Even with all my memories..." Atemu started slowly. "I-I don't remember mine at all."

"Aw..." Yugi said sadly. Then got an idea. "Hey, how about this: why don't we make my day also yours? That way we could be like brothers! The others will go nuts seeing you!"

"You sure? I don't want to intrude on your special day..." Atem said sadly. "No, I'm sure. Tomorrow will be your birthday and plus I have a gift for you," Yugi said with a smile as he went to the box that once held his puzzle inside. "What is it, Yugi?" Atem asked. Yugi took out the necklace with the cartouche on it and held it to his friend. "I've been saving it for a long time. It came to me before our duel together," he said.

"That's the cartouche Tea' gave me before I left to relive my memories..." Atem said in shock. Yugi nodded. "I don't know how but I found it in my soul room when you were building your deck," he said. Atem smiled sadly taking the cartouche and holding it to his heart. "Yugi...I never told you about my mother, did I?" he asked. Yugi shook his head. "No, you didn't."

Atem sighed as a tear rolled down his cheek. "I may not know her well, but...my father told me she was very beautiful...until one day...Bakura came to the palace..."

Yugi waited. "...he-he put a knife to her throat and threatened me and my father if we came any closer he'd kill her..." Atem said sobbing softly. Yugi gasped in horror as his eyes begged him to continue. "I…I ordered him to let her go and he…he…slit her throat…" Atem said while sobbing. "Oh god..." Yugi whispered. Atem sobbed falling to his knees. "I…I couldn't stop him…damn it!" he cried punching the floor. Yugi stared at him as tears fell from his friend's eyes. He could sense the anger filling in Atem's mind. "Poor guy..." he said. Atem continued to cry, still punching the floor and letting his knuckles bleed. Yugi knelt down to him. "Atem, easy…it's alright…calm down," he soothed, placing a hand on his shoulder.

Atem continued to cry from the pain in his hand and in his heart. "…I…I was a damn fool…" he whispered. "You did all you could, Pharaoh," Yugi said. Atem wiped his eyes and stared at his bleeding knuckles. Yugi went to the bathroom and got some gauze and some bandages and wrapped them around Atem's hand. "Is that any better?" he asked.

Atem nodded with a smile. "Come on, let's get some rest," Yugi said as he crawled into his bed. "Yugi, where am I supposed to sleep?" Atem asked. Yugi smiled and pointed above him. Atem looked up seeing another bed about Yugi's. "You…you did this for me?" he asked.

"Yeah. What's better then being alone for over seventeen years of your life with no one to care for but your grandfather," Yugi said with a smile. Atem smiled and climbed up on the top bunk and curled up. "Night, Yugi," he said groggily as he fell asleep.

"Night, Atem," Yugi said as he did the same.

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