Atem lead Joey to the sanctuary of the gods. "What's the plan?" Joey asked, he knew he was running out of time. "I need to explain to the gods the situation and pray that they allow my return to the mortal world." Atem stated. "And what if they don't?" Joey asked. Atem stopped short and looked to the ground, he didn't want to think about that. "Yugi needs me…they have to understand that." Atem said and continued walking.

Atem looked up at the shrine and asked Ra to come before him. "Lord Ra, please come before me, I'm in need of a favor, and I ask for your blessing." Atem whispered. Ra appeared before him. "My child, what is it that you seek? I see distress in your eyes." Ra stated. "Lord Ra, as you know, I have recently been separated from my light…a friend from his time has come to me with concern for his well-being." Atem stated to Ra. Joey watched in anticipation, he was scared that Ra was going to deny Atem's return. "It was determined by the ceremonial duel that you and young Yugi were prepared to separate." Ra stated. "I understand my lord, but I have fulfilled my duty here in Egypt, I have protected my people and the world. I need to protect Yugi now…" Atem began. "Light cannot survive without darkness. Darkness cannot survive without light. I sense the young hikari's pain. I can sense your pain as well." Ra stated. "Please Ra…" Atem whispered. "Your light half is fading and I fear that will cause you immeasurable pain, the darkness will consume you, I cannot allow that. That being said, I will allow your return to the mortal world. On the condition that you never stray from Yugi's side and protect him unconditionally." Ra stated. "Of course my lord, I will never leave his side…never again!" Atem exclaimed. "Your request has been granted, you will appear in the mortal world alongside your friend, Joseph. You will have your own mortal body. Please get to Yugi soon, young pharaoh. There is not much time." Ra said and a light appeared around Atem and Joey.

"Something is happening!" Mokuba yelled. The screen got bright, Mokuba couldn't see anything going on. "Mokuba, what's happening?!" Seto yelled. "I don't know!" Mokuba screamed. The computer screen blew up and smoked. "Joey!" everyone yelled in unison. When the smoke cleared, Seto was panicking. Joey emerged from the pod. "Oh thank Ra, you're alright!" Seto said, embracing Joey tight. "Where's the pharaoh?!" Joey asked, looking around frantically. Two pods down, Atem slowly emerged, feeling disoriented. "Atem…" Tea began. "Tea?" Atem asked. Tea ran to him and embraced him tight. "It worked…" Seto whispered, shocked. "Guys! Yugi is gone!" Duke yelled. "What?!" they all exclaimed in unison. "The hospital just called, he slipped out of the door when they were bringing in dinner, they can't find him!" Grandpa cried. "This reunion is going to have to wait, Ra said there wasn't much time!" Atem exclaimed and ran. The others followed closely behind.

/~***~\\\\\

Yugi had escaped, he was out of the hospital. He was away from the constant surveillance. He ran home and changed out of the hospital gown, he knew they would be looking for him. The sun was beginning to set, he walked towards the setting sun and made his plan.

'I can't jump off the bridge again; I will just survive if I jump into water.' Yugi thought to himself. 'If I jump off a building, it will cause a scene, someone will try and stop me.' Yugi kept running through all the ways he could do this. Yugi made his way into the outskirts of the city, into the woods. He made his way up into the hills, the ones overlooking the city. Tears ran down Yugi's face. "Soon…soon all this pain will be gone." He whispered to the wind.

/~***~\\\\\

"Can't you use the mind link to find him?" Joey asked. "The link was severed after the puzzle disappeared…but I have managed to communicate with him a little." Atem stated. They were searching frantically. "He won't be at the bridge again…he failed there, he won't try again." Tristan said. Atem clenched his fist. "This isn't your fault…" Tea said, placing a hand on his shoulder. "I shouldn't have left…he needed me…and I left. I'm so tired of failing him…" Atem cried, tears dripping down his face. "That's why I have to find him!" Atem yelled to the sky. "We've looked everywhere…" Duke began. 'Atem…' Yugi's voice whispered. Atem's head shot up quickly. "What is it?" Grandpa asked. "I heard him…I heard him say my name." Atem whispered. "Try contacting him!" Joey yelled. Atem closed his eyes.

'Yugi…where are you little one?'
'Atem…'
'Yugi…please.'
'The pain…it will all be over soon.'
'Aibou…where are you?'
'The city really is beautiful up here Atem…I wish you could see.'

Atem's eyes shot open. "He said…the city really is beautiful up here…" Atem whispered, he was shaking. "Shit! He's in the outskirts!" Seto yelled. "Get in the car!" Duke yelled and hopped into the driver's seat. "I'm scared…" Atem whispered. "We'll get to him!" Tristan yelled. "I can't lose him!" Atem yelled, clutching his chest.

/~***~\\\\\

Yugi smiled when he heard Atem's voice. "These hallucinations are getting worse." Yugi laughed as he stared out at the city before him. The sun was almost gone and he let his final tears slip down his face. He was sitting on the grass, admiring the scene before him. "At least this beautiful scene will be the last thing I see before I die." Yugi stated. He looked down at his wrist, he forgot to take the bandage off from the hospital. He slowly removed it and looked at the stitches holding his skin together. "That would have become one nasty scar." Yugi chuckled. He stood up and looked at his city one more time. As tears slid down his face, he whispered his name. 'Atem…'

Yugi stepped towards the edge and cried harder, he couldn't wait for the pain to end. He closed his eyes tight. "Yugi, stop!" Atem screamed. Yugi's eyes snapped open and he froze. "Atem…" Yugi's voice shook. That was too real to be a hallucination. "Yugi…" Atem cried, tears were falling down his face as he watched his light standing on the ledge. "This isn't real…" Yugi whispered. "Turn around Yugi." Atem pleaded. Yugi slowly turned his body to face Atem, he took in a sharp breath, seeing him right there in front of him. Atem looked over Yugi's body, he saw the giant gashes in his wrist stitched up, he saw how lifeless he looked. Yugi just fell to his knees and Atem ran to him, pulling him into his arms. "Yugi…" he repeated over and over. "Please…don't let this be a dream." Yugi cried. Atem pulled back and took Yugi's face in his hands, tears were cascading down both of their cheeks. Atem pressed his forehead to Yugi's. "Aibou…I'm here." Atem whispered. Yugi burst into tears and clung to him. "Shh…Yugi…I'm here now. I'm never leaving again." Atem said, holding on to Yugi tight. The rest of the gang had finally made their way to the top of the hill. Atem jumped out of the car before it stopped and ran as fast as he could.

"Oh thank Ra, Yugi is alright!" Grandpa said and ran to him. Atem moved away to let Soloman hug Yugi. Atem looked out over the ledge, he looked down and turned away with tears in his eyes. "Just a second later…and you would have been gone…" Atem whispered. Atem looked back at Yugi, his grandpa was holding him tightly and crying. Atem let tears trail down his cheek. Tea ran to Yugi with tears in her eyes, embracing him tightly. "Hey…" Joey said, placing a hand on Atem's shoulder. "This is all my fault, Joey…" Atem cried, his voice shaking. "He's safe now, thanks to you!" Joey exclaimed. "I shouldn't have left…I wanted to stay with him, but I thought I had to leave…I could have stayed…I didn't." Atem said, clenching his fists. Suddenly, Atem felt two arms circle around him and a head nuzzle into his chest. "It's not your fault…" Yugi whispered. Atem closed his eyes and embraced Yugi, he never wanted to let go. "I think it's time we go home." Soloman smiled.