Chosen Pharaoh Chronicles Part 1: Longing Reunion & The Beasts Within

Based on the original Yu Gi Oh storyline. (Combination of anime & manga canon)

Author's Note: The more I'm working on this version the more I'm liking exploring new dynamics between characters. Like the bit between Joey and Yugi is going to be interesting. I understand some of you are not liking some of the changes even thought I felt the previous version was much too angsty but in I'm glad you guys are voicing your opinions as well.

Also just want to thank you you guys for giving this thing a chance and sharing your opinions. They all mean a lot and I will take certain things you guys say into account since I care about my readers as they support me.

Anyway enjoy!

Rated M

Disclaimer: I do not own Yu-Gi-Oh it belongs to Kazuki Takahashi

Chapter 4: Catching Up

Atem and Yugi were now more in common than ever before. In all truth Atem had a family of his own during his years as prince. He and his wife Teana had a little baby girl whom they named Keanna after her mother. But sadly he could see through his minds eye entering the gardens where his wife was sitting peacefully with their child but upon his return from discussing battle plans with his father, they were missing. He'd never forget the day he eventually found their bodies in a thieves' wagon. Shaking his head slightly to fight the tears trying to break through, he continued to tell himself that it was not worth remembering those times as a naive prince. At least Yugi's little girl was alive out there somewhere. Atem tossed the memories of the family he never spoke of to address Yugi's previous question.

"I just reminisced about my earlier years as prince but that was all. Not much happened. I wasn't exactly successful in having a bride or an heir and well the rest you know is ancient history."

Yugi nodded. Something in the back of mind was telling him that Atem was holding something back. But he didn't want to force anything on the guy, especially if whatever he was hiding was a painful memory.

"Well, as for the rest of us... let me see Joey and Mia are engaged… Keep in mind it took them forever to start talking to each other again and they only bumped into one another from a speed dating event." Yugi explained.

"About friggen time they hooked up. I only burned my back for those two."

Yugi nodded. "Tell me about it. Tristan opened up his own motorcycle shop and got married to Serenity last year, Duke is running a cafe at the mall, and Bakura is spending most of his time traveling the world."

"I'm glad to hear everyone is doing well." Atem stood up from the couch to stretch his legs.

Yugi looked up in awe. He didn't know how he didn't notice before but Atem was certainly larger and a bit taller than he was before. "Jeez dude did you work out in the afterlife or something?"

Yugi had a good point Atem was a few inches taller and his musculature was much more well developed. Atem sighed and then replied.

"Well to tell you the truth this is what really used to look like. Especially you know, before my father passed away. Plus with so much spare time I would often get bored and have to find other activities to keep myself occupied."

Yugi looked at Atem with sympathy. He couldn't seem to fathom the idea that the afterlife would be boring. This only supported his idea that something was up with his friend. He decided to try and keep digging for clues.

"Hey, Atem… um what ever happened to your mom, you don't talk about her."

Once again Atem gave a sigh and had a look of sorrow to his crimson eyes.

"Look Yugi she…she died right after I was born. So that's why I don't say much about her."

"Oh, sorry. You okay?" Yugi said with even more sympathy.

Atem picked up his head and gave a quick smile before responding.

"Yes I'm fine. I met her in the Afterlife. And boy she is defiantly my one and only mother. The first thing that she asked was 'Where have you been mister?'"

They both chuckled. Yugi thought of another few questions to ask his ancient friend.

"Why don't we change the subject?"

"Okay to what?"

"Atem, once being a pharaoh I just gotta know. How many women have you slept with or are you still a virgin?"

"WHAT THE HELL YUGI!"

"Oh come on man it's a simple question! Okay maybe it's a little personal but hey that's what we guys talk about. So give it up how many or did one mean more than the other. You did have your royal harem." Yugi gave a mischievous smirk.

Of course Atem had to remember Yugi could be quite the pervert when he wanted to. "Yugi did it ever occur to you that I'm not like that. And I never used the harem. My father may have but I did not."

"So are you gay or something? Well that would explain a lot…"

"Yugi I am NOT gay! I loved a woman who was beautiful inside and out. Not to mention we…"

Atem covered his mouth realizing what he had just blurted out. Yugi was smiling even more impishly and was also shocked to hear that.

"Oh look the mighty king has once grown weak in the knees. So tell me who was this little princess that you must have loved vigorously. More importantly what was this princess's name?" Yugi got comfortable waiting for Atem's explanation. 'Maybe this is why he wanted to leave so bad to see his love again. But how would Tea react if I told her that? I mean she'll probably faint just on knowing Atem is back.' He thought.

The former king was mentally cursing himself for opening his mouth. He really didn't want to bring up the subject. But Yugi was still close with him and keeping secrets would only cause problems to arise.

"Her name was Teana." Atem muttered.

"Teana that name sounds like..."A bell rang in Yugi's head. "No, don't tell she was Tea's past self!"

Atem nodded and continued. He honestly didn't even want to mention that he was affiliated with the woman. The last thing he needed was Yugi thinking he was going to be after Tea just because of something in the past. Although he knew that deep down he harbored feelings for his love's future counterpart. He figured he would be selective about what he said.

"Tea reminds me so such of her and sometimes I wonder if the two were of the same soul. But don't worry I'm mostly sure that Tea is only a bodily reincarnation of Teana. Well that's at least what I think. No one has really said anything about this issue." Atem concluded his explanation.

Yugi was fascinated that certain figures in history are bodily reborn as if they were memorials. But why Tea, what did she do to change history as the others had? Was it the simple fact that she loved the pharaoh or something else?

"Yugi she wasn't the princess you think her to be. Teana was one of my personal servants. She would give me food, make my bed, cloth me, and other such things."

"And then one day you just fell in love with her." Yugi added.

"Well, yes and no. You see when my mother died Teana's mother was my wet nurse and later on had a child of her own. I grew up with Teana as my sister. Around the age of five we where told that we were not related. When Teana and I hit puberty things started to change between us . I had a crush on her since I was young. After I officially hit puberty I insisted on courting her."

"Oh wow. So this princess Teana, was she ever your wife, if so what happened to her?"

Atem sighed. He really wasn't in the mood to talk about this. "Look Yugi one day I will explain but not now."

Yugi was a bit taken back by the response. 'Something pretty bad must have happened for him to be so stern about it. Perhaps a divorce.'

"Alright buddy. I understand." Yugi stood up from his seat. "But keep in mind you shouldn't keep everything bottled up. If you ever need someone to talk to I'm always here."

Atem rested his tense shoulders a bit. "Thank you, I appreciate your concern."

The rest of the afternoon the two continued to discuss events that have occurred during the past five years. Atem has quite a lot to catch up in and as he heard more of what was happening with the others the lives, the more he realized why his father sent him back.

"It is time you live your own life son..."

His father's words echoed in his mind. Come to think of it all he had really done was save the world more times than he could count. He never settled down to enjoy the smaller things in life or had any lasting joy. Perhaps it was time all of that changed.

Just a sort little chapter with the interaction between Yugi and Atem as it was before. See ya later! =)