Part Two

"Jono!" Joey called that night as he appeared in his Soul Corridor.

An almost identical person exited the room with the metal door with a familiar easy grin. "Hi, Joey. I been wanting to talk with you."

"Yeah, sorry about making you wait. I had a friend who only had today to hang out for a little while."

"I understand. Now that you're here, I've got some questions." He nodded across the hall at Joey's room. "I hope you don't mind but I was looking around to understand your modern world."

"Not at all. I'd probably do the same in your place."

"I'd like to read and write in your language. I didn't get much learning in Egypt although my friend did teach me a little."

"I can teach you in an easier way than I learned. My friend, Yugi, mentioned it once." He stepped up to Jono, raised a hand, and put his fingers to Jono's forehead. He focused on his knowledge of reading and writing and felt the information being shared with his other half.

Jono's eyes widened and stepped back. "Whoa. That's…great. Now I know how to read and write."

"Wonderful. So why don't you follow me and we can talk." Joey gestured to his room and entered with Jono behind him.

"I looked at your pictures and wondered who they are."

"Oh, let me start with this one." He held up a picture of a girl with long reddish-brown hair. "This is my little sister, Serenity. My parents are divorced and Serenity lives far away with my mom."

"Di…vorced?"

"That's when two married people no longer wish to be married to each other. It's really hard if they have kids."

"That's awful. So…who are these people?" Jono gestured at a group picture.

"Oh, that's Yugi, Tristan, and Tea. They're my closest friends."

"And this?" Jono pointed at the brunette man.

"Uh, well it looks like Kaiba, but it's not Kaiba."

"Huh?"

"Kaiba's like us. He has another soul in him, too. Kaiba's the president of the world's biggest gaming company. The other person is my friend, Priest Seto."

"Seto!?"

Joey looked at Jono who seemed shocked, making Joey think that his other half and Seto's best friend were one and the same. "Did you know him?"

"Know him?" Jono laughed. "He's my best friend."

"No kidding. I spent the day with him because Kaiba only gave him one day. Don't know when the next time will be."

"Why such a limited time?"

"Kaiba's got a company to run. If he needs privacy to think or work then he lets Seto take over. Probably because it would look suspicious to see Kaiba looking like he's in a coma or something."

"Do you think we could do that? Switch control, I mean."

"Sure. Just ask first."

"Of course. We're friends now and forcing control is a good way to ruin a friendship."

"I agree." Joey yawned. "Well, time for bed. I think I'll tell our friends about you."

"Will they understand? Oh, of course they will. After all, Kaiba has Seto."

"That's right. Actually, Kaiba's not friendly to us. We learned about Seto from Yugi who shares his body with Pharaoh Atem who is Seto's cousin."

"The pharaoh's around too? Wow, I'd love to meet him."

"If they ask to see you, then you can take over. Oh and you're welcome to look around and dig around in my mind if you like."

"Thanks. I think I will." Jono watched Joey leave before selecting a book to put his new knowledge of reading to use. Wow. Joey's real nice and very trusting, which isn't surprising as I'm the same way. We are so much alike, except my hair's dual-colored. I look forward to meeting Joey's friends and maybe even the pharaoh. Jono turned another page and continued to read, delighted to be able to do so.

"You get that budget worked out?"

"I did. I got the peace I needed to work on it. Did you enjoy your day?"

"Yes. I spent it with Joey."

"What!? Why would you want to be with Wheeler? Do you know how that reflects on me?"

"Of course I do. Besides, I like Joey. I just don't understand why you don't. He's a nice guy."

Kaiba was silent for a moment. "It's…complicated. I believe our personalities clash- badly."

"Really? You seem to have a few things in common; enough to build some kind of relationship."

Kaiba laughed. "Seto, you're joking."

"I'm not. You both have a younger sibling that you're protective of."

"Yes, that's true."

"You're both the same age and both of you love to duel."

"Yes, but I am a superior duelist while Wheeler is a third-rate one."

"That's not the impression I got from your memories of the Battle City finals and the Kaiba Corp Grand Championship."

Kaiba's eye twitched at the recollections. The fact that Wheeler almost beat him had been humiliating and why he had been extremely aggressive in defeating the blonde. He had to admit that Wheeler had handled himself well against Zigfried despite losing.

"Well?" Seto prompted.

"All right. He's a good duelist. But our personalities do clash in a way that causes us to insult each other, me more than him."

"Of that, I have no doubt. Is it possible for you to be nicer to Joey? You seem to be civil with Yugi."

"Yugi is a rival and a great one at that. I respect him for his skills."

"Yes, I understand that. Atem is a great duelist and though I grew stronger, I could never win, but I respected him for that. He kept me improving."

"You sure you weren't losing on purpose since he was the pharaoh?"

"I'm sure. I tried my hardest but I always lost."

"Like the first weekend duel months ago?"

"You've been looking through my memories too, have you?"

"Our bond goes both ways, Seto."

"And we're getting off the subject. How about instead of being nicer, how about treating him like you do with Yugi, starting with calling him Joey instead of Wheeler?"

"I…guess I could do that. I'm telling you right now that it won't happen right away."

"Of course. Years of dislike doesn't disappear overnight."

"Why does Wheeler like you?"

"He said I was easier to talk to and I don't insult him."

"I could insult him less, but his reactions to them always amused me."

"That's demented, Kaiba."

"I know, but I will try to be civil to Wheeler. Good night, Seto."

"Good night, Kaiba."