Hey all! Updated last night! Here's another update! I also changed my name! Please excuse the shortness of the chapters. I'm trying to do as many updates as i can before i leave for college! Please read and review!

I don't own Yugioh or the characters!

Atem sighed as Jou walked into the restaurant. He had to admit his day brightened a bit. Jou would definitely made his day go faster.

"Hey Atem." Jou said sitting at his usual table.

"Hey Jou. How's it going?" Atem asked as he gave him a menu.

"Fine. I just ran into Yugi."

Atem looked at him. "Yeah? How'd that go?"

"He said he had stuff to do?"

"Yeah. I told him he needed to face his cousin and get his stuff from his grandfather's place. He must be going to do that." Atem nodded.

"Well maybe...except he's going the complete opposite direction of his grandfather's shop." Jou said as he looked at the menu.

"What?" Atem asked. "Where did he go?"

"Don't know. Look Atem i'm not so sure it was a good idea for you to take him in like that."

"Why?"

"Because of how he is. It's just he's cold, and harsh, and I don't think you should get involved with someone who...does what he does."

"And what exactly does he do?" Atem asked. He didn't mean to sound so harsh but here he was listening to his best friend put down someone who just needed help. It wasn't like Jou. After all Jou had come from the streets too so wouldn't he know what it's like?

"Don't get me wrong. I've been in Yugi's shoes. On the street not sure where my next meal would come from-"

"And who saved you from that?" Atem cut in.

Jou had very slight blush. "You." he muttered.

"And I believe my cousin did the same to you that you're doing to Yugi right? Put you down, said you were no good, even called you a dog."

"Yeah but-"

"But what? Just because there's more to Yugi's story than yours you just turn your back on him? Didn't you say you used to be friends? What happened? What could be so bad that you turned your back on him when he needed you most?"

Jou opened his mouth to say something, Atem had no doubt to argue, but he shut it. He was clearly embarrassed by Atem confronting and Atem felt bad almost immediately. What happened between Jou and Yugi wasn't Atem's business yet here he was yelling at his best friend like he was scolding a child.

"You're right." Jou muttered barely audible making Atem look at him in surprise.

"What?"

"I said you're right. I never should've turned my back on him and I'm horrible for doing it. Yugi stood by me a lot. Hell he used to bring me food in the freezing cold. But I didn't return the favor. Instead I shut him out and put him down. I'm sorry." Jou said.

"It's not me you should be apologizing to." Atem said.

"I know. I need to go talk to Yugi. I'm gonna do that now." Jou said standing.

Atem smiled. "Thank you."

Jou nodded and left.

Yugi sat in the small cave by his fire. If Atem knew he'd come here he'd probably kill him. After everything Atem did he still ended up back here. But he couldn't help after seeing his cousin. It hurt. More than almost anything he'd ever heard. The only thing that hurt more than that was when his grandfather kicked him out.

Never in his entire life had his grandfather been so cold to him. So distant. So….hateful. Just thinking about it hurt. It was the most painful thing to happen to him. After his parents dying his grandfather was all he had. Then his cousin comes around and just takes over. Ruins his family his home his life.

Sighing Yugi was about to get up and leave when Jou of all people shows up. His sadness turns straight to anger in a matter of seconds.

"What do you want?" Yugi growled.

"Is this where you've been staying for so long?" Jou asked.

"What's it to you?" Yugi glared. "You've never cared before."

"Yugi can I talk to you?" Jou asked.

"Sorry busy."

"Busy crying?"

Yugi's eyes widened slightly as he felt his face. There were tear streaks. But when had he cried? He never even felt them.

"Fuck off." Yugi snarled as he started to walk past him.

"I'm sorry." Jou said so suddenly Yugi stopped in his tracks.

"What?" Yugi asked turning back to him.

Jou turned around to face him. "I'm sorry."

"I'm listening." Yugi crossed his arms.

"I never should've turned my back on you. I never should've shut you out." Jou said.

"Why?"

"I was angry. I had come from the streets and after you watched me struggle then go and get yourself kicked i thought what were you jealous of being out there? What could you possibly want from the streets so badly that you'd get yourself kicked out?" Jou explained. "Then I found out from your grandfather himself that you'd been stealing money and stuff just to get drugs."

"That wasn't me." Yugi glared.

"I'm sorry. I should've believed you. You were always the kindest person i'd known. You took care of me in my hardest times and this is how i repay you." Jou looked down in shame.

"Yeah it was a really shitty thing to do." Yugi said.

Jou's shoulders tensed like he'd just been hit. What did he expect? That Yugi would say everything was ok? That he forgave him for turning his back? For throwing him to the streets when he'd asked for help? For a home?

"If you want my forgiveness forget it." Yugi said. "I can't just forgive you after that. Not just I can't, I won't."

"I understand. Would you...would let me try to prove it?" Jou asked looking at him.

"You can try. But don't expect it to be easy." Yugi said turning away and walking.

Jou caught up to him and walked beside him. "Don't you have to get your stuff from your grandfather's?"

"I don't see that happening." Yugi said keeping his eyes forward.

"Why not?" Jou asked.

"Because I can't face him." Yugi said too quietly for his liking.

"Still angry with grandfather?" Jou asked making Yugi stop dead in his tracks. Jou continued a few steps before realizing he'd stopped and stopped himself. He looked to him.

"I was never angry with my grandfather." Yugi said.

"You weren't?" Jou asked surprised.

"No! I'd never be angry at him! He raised me. After my parents died I thought I'd never make it. I thought I was alone but he stepped up and took me in. I'm not angry at him. Just because I can't face doesn't mean i'm angry." Yugi said glaring slightly. He was however annoyed at Jou for thinking that.

"Then why are you so cold about going to his place?" Jou asked.

"Because I can't face him and I refuse to be in the same building as Heba let alone room." Yugi said as he started walking again.

"Hate him that badly?" Jou asked.

"He ruined my life Jou. You expect me to love him? Why? Because we're family?" Yugi asked snarling out the last word.

"Well-"

"Do you love your father or mother?" Yugi asked.

"That's different." Jou said flatly.

"Oh yeah? How? Your mother abandoned you, left you with your abusive father, who got so bad you ended up leaving with nowhere to go. How is that any different? They're your techinical family aren't they? So why don't you love them? Because they ruined your life. Or at least you believed they did. Until Seto took you in." Yugi snorted. "Go figure he'd have a soft spot for someone."

"It wasn't Seto who took me in." Jou said.

"What? You live with him."

"Yes but it wasn't him who had gotten me off the streets." Jou said.

"Then who was it?" Yugi asked.

"Atem." Jou said.

Yugi looked at him. "Atem?"

Jou nodded. They had come back to the city's border. "Yes. Atem took me in. Seto hated me. Said i wasn't any good for Atem. Said I was the worst decision he'd made."

Yugi scoffed. "Gee doesn't that sound familiar."

"Yeah sorry. Guess instead of softening up Seto he hardened me." Jou said. "Yugi from now on I'm sticking by your side. I have a lot of time to make up for. I was stupid and horrible. I'm truly sorry and I'll make it up to you."

"Yeah right." Yugi said softly and walked away. He'd just head back to the apartment. He wasn't in the mood to deal with any other apologies or issues. He just wanted to sleep today away.

Yugi walked into his apartment to find Atem on the couch. He froze. "Atem. You're home early."

"I got a call from the hospital." Atem said.

"Ok and?" Yugi asked.

"Yugi I'm gonna be gone for a few days." Atem said standing.

"Why?" Yugi asked.

"My mother's in the hospital." Atem said.

Yugi went silent for a while before nodded. "Ok."

"Are you going to be ok?" Atem asked.

"Tch what do you think i am? Some kind of child?" Yugi asked walking past him. "I'll be fine."

Atem stood. "Well I don't think you're a child but you do tend to lose your temper easily."

"So? I'm perfectly capable of taking care of myself." Yugi said. "Go to the hospital."

"Yugi I don't have to-"

"Atem you need to go. It's your mother."

Atem studied Yugi for a while before nodding. "Ok."

Yugi nodded before going to the bathroom. After closing the door he sighed. "I hate that he's going but there's nothing I can do about it. His mother is in the hospital."

After doing his business Yugi went back out. "When do you leave?"

"In two days. I already talked to the school and work. Both of them are to tell me if you slack in any way." Atem said as he started to make some food.

"Of course they are." Yugi muttered.

"Yugi while i'm gone i want you to continue working hard in school and start work too." Atem said.

"I will." Yugi said.

"And another thing."

Yugi looked at him. "What?"

"Where did you go today? I know you weren't going to your grandfather's place so where did you go?"

"Just walked around." Yugi shrugged.

"Ok now that the lie is out of the way why don't we try the truth?" Atem looked at him.

Yugi looked away. "I went to the cave."

"The cave. Nice. I thought we talked about this Yugi. You need to stay away from there." Atem said.

"Yeah well shit happens." Yugi muttered.

"Did Jonouchi find you?" Atem asked.

"Yeah. Did you send him?" Yugi asked.

"Nope. He went on his own after he realized he was a dunce." Atem said turning back to what he was doing.

"Dunce doesn't cover it." Yugi said as he picked up his book bag. He needed to finish his essay.

"Question Yugi. What exactly do you have at your grandfather's?" Atem asked. "Any tech stuff?"

"What? Like a computer or laptop?" Yugi asked.

"Yes." Atem nodded.

"Yes. I've got a desktop and a laptop." Yugi said.

"Did you buy them or your grandfather?" Atem asked.

"Me. I used christmas and birthday money along with a lot of allowance."

"Good." Atem nodded.

"Why?"

"Because you're going to need a laptop for classes next year. You'll need to keep up straight A grades so you can get an academic scholarship for college." Atem said.

"What makes you think i want to go to college?" Yugi asked as his writing stopped.

"Yugi its the best decision. What do you want to do?" Atem asked.

"Originally i wanted to be a game programmer." Yugi said.

"You have to go to college for that. Is there anything else you want to do?" Atem asked.

"A game system tester." Yugi said.

"Hm I may be able to get you into that career right off the bat."

"Yeah? How?"

"Seto's my cousin. I'm sure I can convince him to have you as a tester."

Yugi nodded as he started writing again. "Good luck with that."

~Time skip~

Yugi sighed as he stood at the door. Atem had managed to get a meeting set up with Seto for him to become a tester after he graduated. He had to admit being a tester sounded a lot better than being a programmer. Taking a deep breath he knocked.

"What is it?" Seto called.

Yugi opened the door and walked in. "Mr. Kaiba."

"Yugi good. Get in here and shut the door." Seto ordered as he looked over some papers.

"Sure." Yugi walked all the way in and shut the door behind him.

"Sit." Seto said.

Yugi sat in a chair across from the man at the desk.

"Now." Seto looked up from his papers. "What do you know about gaming systems?"

"It depends I suppose. I know how duel disks work and the dueling stadium. The sensors in them and how they can read the cards." Yugi said.

"Good. What else?"

"I know they have an internal hard drive where they have all the information for the game they're used for." Yugi said.

"Not bad. Now if you become a tester it's a simple job. I won't be paying you just to play a bunch of games. You'll have to tell me in a detailed report what is defective and what needs to be changed in the system you are testing." Seto said.

"Yes sir." Yugi nodded.

"Alright. Don't think you'd be getting this job just because my cousin recommended you."

"Of course sir." Yugi nodded.

"Good. I will be looking over your resume and application then give you a call." Seto said looking back to his papers.

Yugi nodded and stood. "Thank you." he said before leaving. Once out his relaxed. It was short. He'd expected it to be a lot longer.

He had started to walk to the elevator so he could leave and go home when he ran into Jou.

"Yugi." Jou said clearly surprised by his presence. Yugi assumed neither Atem nor Seto told him of the interview.

"Jou." Yugi said coldly.

"What are you doing here?" Jou asked curious.

"I had an interview with Seto to get a job after we graduate." Yugi said

"Oh. How'd it go?" Jou asked.

"Why don't you ask Seto. I assume that's why you're here. To see him."

"Well yeah. We have lunch plans. How's it at the apartment without Atem there?" Jou asked

Yugi figured he'd know. Atem left the day before. It wasn't much different. He just walked to school alone and started work on his own. It wasn't horrible working at the restaurant. His boss was ok and the staff wasn't terrible. Except one girl was really freaking annoying.

"Fine." Yugi shrugged. "I'm mainly focused on work and school anyways."

"Uh hey I was thinking and I figured if it's ok with you I can go with you to get your stuff." Jou said.

Yugi looked at him with studying eyes. "Why?"

"Well I'm sure there's a lot you need and I figured it might be easier for you if someone goes with you. Since Atem won't be home for a while I thought I could. Plus I can bring a moving truck." Jou said.

Yugi thought for a while before nodded. "Fine on one condition."

"Which is?" Jou asked.

"We go on a weekday." Yugi said.

"What about school?"

"I can face my grandfather to point but if i see my cousin again i'm going to beat the shit out of him. So either we go on a weekday while he's at school or we don't go at all." Yugi said.

"Atem won't like it." Jou said.

"He'll get over it." Yugi said.

"Alright. But just this once." Jou said

Yugi shrugged. "Fine."

Jou nodded. "Well today's tuesday why don't we go thursday?"

"Fine. Now I need to get to work." Yugi said going into the newly opened elevator.

"Alright see ya." Jou said. "I'll meet you at your place."

Yugi nodded before the doors closed.

Yugi had just finished breakfast when a knock came at the door. No doubt that was Jou. It was thursday and they were going to his grandfather's to get his stuff. He would be lying if he said he wasn't nervous as hell. Yugi put on his shoes and hoodie before opening the door.

"Ready?" Jou asked.

"As I'll ever be." Yugi said.

"We'll go in pack your stuff and leave." Jou said.

Yugi nodded as he walked out of the apartment making sure he had everything. He checked his phone. After the tips he got at work he was finally able to turn it back on. He had texted Atem letting him know it was working and that they were going for his stuff today. He didn't tell him he'd be going during school hours but oh well. After he double checked the door was locked he and Jou left.

The drive to the game shop too short for Yugi's liking. He wished it was longer but he guessed there was no avoiding it. Once there they sat for a good five minutes before getting out. Yugi walked slowly to the shop's entrance and stood there. He was about to see his grandfather after months.

"It'll be alright." Jou said standing next to him.

Yugi nodded and opened the door.

There's another update! Please review! Bye byes from Neko Nico Ni!