Ahhh… the final –real- chapter. They'll be an epilogue. Guys, fans, flamers… actually I haven't gotten any flamers but that's good… you've all been great. I appreciate everything you've said. You've helped me to improve my skills, by however small a margin.

Love,

Cactus Bob

It was bright. Warm… and bright. He opened his eyes and saw a sunny, white, completely empty room. He felt strange… sort of numb… like he was out of his body.

"Hello?" He called out, his voice echoing.

There was no response. "Where am I?" Atem thought, looking around.

"You're early." Said a voice out of the clean, white room.

"Who's there?" Atem asked, searching for the source of the voice.

"Or you're late. I guess it depends on how you look at it."

"What do you mean?"

"I think you know."

There was silence.

"He's not here, you know." The voice said. It sounded like it was smiling.

"He's… he's not?" Atem asked. Yugi was safe?

"No. And for the record, you shouldn't be here either."

"I gave my soul for his, what do you mean I shouldn't be here?"

The voice laughed. "They're waiting for you."

Atem heard mumbled voices.

"It makes sense now." One voice said.

"I hope he's alright." Said another.

"Who are they?" Atem asked, confused.

"You already know. Get ready." Suddenly the room became even brighter, brighter than Atem could stand. He shielded his eyes, and then…

"Hey guys! He's waking up!" Said a cheerful and familiar voice.

"Dude, are you okay?"

"Atem, man, speak to us."

Atem slowly opened his eyes. He was in Yugi's room… The sunlight shone merrily through the curtains as a soft summer breeze tossed them about. All of his friends sat on chairs around him, looking concerned.

"How… how did I get here?" Atem mumbled, sitting up on his bed.

Yugi fidgeted, and Joey looked uncomfortable.

"Man, I'm not even gonna try to explain dat one." Joey said, rubbing the back of his head.

"Well…" Yugi said uncertainly. "We did some research on the Gate of Anubis. The whole thing is rather complicated."

"Tell me about it." Said Tristan. Tea remained silent.

"Why is the world not… over?" Atem asked. Weren't all the worlds supposed to destroying each other?

"It said that the Gate needed someone to spill the blood of the chosen king. Probably, you spilling your own blood had the reverse effect." Yugi said.

"What do you mean?" Asked Atem. It seemed he had been asking that a lot lately.

"Bakura must have made an oath with the Gate. That he could go to Earth, but only to kill you." Yugi said, blushing when he spoke about Atem being killed. "You see, it's like the Gate was half-open. Bakura killing you would have opened it, but you sacrificing yourself closed it. Bakura must not have understood that."

"But… I traded my soul for yours, Yugi." Atem said. "Even if the world didn't end, why are we both here?"

Yugi looked down. "I can't believe you would do something like that for me." He said softly.

"Of course I would." Atem stated plainly. "You're my partner, remember? You did the same for me."

Yugi turned scarlet. "Exchange." He said, hastily changing the subject. "I guess, somebody decided that you gave enough already."

Silence filled the room.

"So… um…" Joey mumbled. "It don't look like Bakura's comin' back anymore."

Atem laughed and leaned back on his bed's headboard. "That makes me very happy."

"Same here." Yugi said, sighing.

"Well, umm," Tea said, surreptitiously nudging Joey and Tristan toward the door. "You two probably want some time to yourselves, considering how much you've been through lately." She chuckled nervously. Her voice sounded sort of strangled. "Okay bye!" She said, and quickly ushered herself and the others outside.

"What's wrong with her?" Atem asked Yugi.

"It's just… she was pretty upset earlier." Yugi said. "I think… I think she was really worried about you. We all were, but…" Yugi looked down, playing with his fingers in his lap. "She probably just wanted to give us some space, though."

"Yes… yes, of course."

Silence.

"Atem?" Yugi asked, looking up.

"Yes, Yugi?" Atem was concerned. Yugi didn't usually act this reserved around him.

"Are you…" Yugi stopped. "Are you going to be okay?"

Atem was surprised. "Yes… I don't see why not." He paused. "Are you going to be okay? You're acting strangely."

"Yeah, it's just…" Yugi stopped, rubbing his nose and looking out the window.

"What?"

Tears began to form in Yugi's eyes. "I thought I lost you." He said, so softly Atem almost didn't hear. Atem leaned forward, putting his hand on Yugi's shoulder.

"I thought I lost you too, partner." Atem said. "I didn't know what to do. I felt so alone… and all I could think about was revenge. I'm supposed to protect you." Atem felt his eyes sting and his throat close up. "And I failed." He said, choking on the tears he was struggling to control.

Yugi looked into Atem's eyes and immediately knew what he was feeling. "It's okay." Yugi said, smiling through the tears that fell down his cheeks and neck, staining his shirt.

"It's okay with me too." Atem said.

Yugi got out of his chair and climbed up onto Atem, wrapping his arms around Atem's waist. They sat there, crying for relief and embracing each other. They sat there for a long time.

"Atem?" Yugi asked softly.

"What is it, Yugi?"

He sighed sadly. "I'm sorry I've kept to myself for the past few days."

"You're hardly to be blamed, Yugi. You were possessed."

"No, before that…" he mumbled. "Ever since we were separated, I've been keeping my own company. It's so different now that we're apart…"

"I know it's hard, Yugi. But we'll work through it." Atem said. You could tell that he believed what he said.

Yugi nodded and lay back down on Atem stomach. They stayed for another thirty minutes or so, until Atem spoke up.

"Yugi?" Atem asked.

"Yeah?"

"Did you… ever get to see your mother?"

Yugi turned to look at Atem and smiled.

"She says hi."

And that's what happened, basically.

7/12/06

Dear Diary,

The gang came back over. While Tea and Atem were fighting each other in Soul Calibur, she burst into tears and started to hug Atem so hard that he couldn't breathe. It turns out she was trying to be strong for the group, but she ended up exploding emotionally.

7/16/06

Dear Diary,

This one jerk tried to steal my deck while I was on my way to Joey's house. I nearly broke his nose. Punching him hurt more than I expected… but no one touches my deck.

9/5/06

Dear Diary,

Atem went to school for the first time today. I was a little worried about what would happen, but he ended up excelling in chemistry beyond anyone else in the class. It makes sense, considering how many science textbooks he read during the summer.

"Atem?"

"Yes Yugi?"

"What are you doing?"

"I'm reading."

"But you're reading my chemistry book."

"Yes?"

"It's summer."

"Yes?"

"Why are you learning in summer?"

"Is… is that wrong? I find it interesting."

"…I find you interesting, Atem."

10/13/06

Dear Diary,

Tea just told me she admitted her undying love to Atem, and they're starting to date. I was a little disappointed… but I guess I should be happy for them.

"Hey Yugi?"

"What is it, Tea?"

"I have some great news, or at least I think I do."

"What do you mean, 'You think you do'?"

"It all depends on how you look at it, I suppose."

"Just say it."

"Atem and I… we're involved."

"…That's great."

"You don't sound so excited."

"… We're all friends, right Tea?"

"Of course."

"Then… that's great."

10/27/06

I started playing the piano again. Mom taught we when I was little, but I didn't think Grandpa had a piano. I was wrong. I recently found one in our basement while I was doing some fall cleaning.

"What are you doing?"

"Ah! Heh, Atem, you scared me."

"That music… was that you?"

"Umm…yeah… It's just something I wrote a little while back."

"It's beautiful."

"Thanks…actually, I wrote it about you."

"About me?"

"Yeah."

"…I'm honored."

11/24/06

Tristan and Serenity are going out, apparently. She came over to visit Joey for Thanksgiving (It turns out he's a really good cook. He's eaten a lot.), and Tristan took that opportunity to ask her out.

"Hey… Serenity?"

"What is it, Tristan?"

"I've been thinking about this for a long time… Serenity… I think you are the most beautiful woman in the world! Please! Do me the honor of coming with me to see a matinee of Casino Royale!"

"Wow… Tristan… that's the sweetest thing anyone's ever said to me! Of course I'll go!"

"Wait a minute… Tristan, just what da heck are you doin' wit my sister?"

"Joey, it's fine. Tristan is a great person and he's your best friend. Why wouldn't you want us to be together?"

"Alright, you two, but let me just say one thing, Tristan. If you ever, hurt my baby sister, I will hunt you down and rip da skin off your face. 'Kay?"

"Heheh, sure Joey, perfectly clear."

12/2/06

Joey entered another dueling tournament that Kaiba hosted. Joey was so happy… he actually beat Kaiba in a duel! I'm so proud of him… he's really come far.

"Alright! Now Red-Eyes, attack Kaiba's life points directly!"

"This… this can't be possible. The mutt actually beat me…"

"Dat's right, Kaiba. 'Da mutt' actually beat ya in a duel. I ain't beneath you anymore, moneybags! So no more o' dat 'mutt', or 'amateur', or whatever."

"You just got lucky, that's all. I'm still the better duelist."

Yeah… Kaiba wasn't so happy, though.

"Yugi?"

"Yeah, Atem?"

"What are you doing?"

"I'm just writing in my journal, that's all." Yugi said cheerfully, closing his diary and rolling over to put it away.

Atem chuckled. "I suppose that after all we've been through, you have a lot to say, huh?"

"Yeah." Yugi said pensively. "We've had a lot of adventures, haven't we?"

"Yes, but…" Atem chuckled. "It seems we'll always have another one." Atem said, lying on his bed, gazing up at the ceiling.

"So Atem… are you ready for your next adventure?"