Chao- The original chapter for this was corrupted as well…

YChao- Man, how many stories/chapters/pieces did you lose?

Chao- A lot, actually…

Readers- Awww!

Chao- On the bright side, this meant Chao was able to go with a different idea for the ending!

"Talking."

"Thinking."

/Yami and Yugi's mind link./

Epilogue

"I'm really glad the teachers let us do this project," a young girl with short, brown hair and blue eyes expressed happily. A small boy with tri-color hair smiled and agreed, "Yeah, me too."

Two young children were outside in their school yard participating in an art activity. The boy's eyes skimmed all around him. He had his pants rolled up a bit as his feet soaked into paint. He took them out of the clear tubs and stepped onto a large, white, scroll with other prints from the other students. The classes had a task where students dipped their feet into paint and place them upon the paper. The boy and the girl were the last ones to go.

The smile on the boy soon diminished. He glanced around the other pairs then towards his own. His feet were smaller than the others, even the girls. He sighed as he took a seat and on the grass and wiped off his toes with an old towel. When he was done, he went over to the pile of shoes where everyone placed theirs. He searched around but did not find his. He didn't even see where his socks were. He turned towards his only friends, who was putting on her own pair with ease.

Then, something white caught his eyes. A few feet from where he was standing, the boy saw a familiar looking sock not too far from where he was. He walked over towards the patch of grass and picked it up. He gasped a bit when he saw it was his own.

"Yugi?" called a feminine voice. The young boy looked over to see his friend. The girl walked a head of the boy and picked up another sock a bit further from where they were. The one named Yugi followed and accepted his item back. He then added, "Thanks, Tea."

Just then, across the field, the two of them saw a crowd of students surrounding a tall tree. Many of them turned a bit and snickered as they eyed the small boy. Yugi gulped. He had a feeling this was about him. He knew all too well the stares and motion others gave him. The two of them walked closer to see what everyone was so giggly about.

Yugi and Tea continued to move their way through the crowd. When he reached the center, he saw a giant tree. He glanced up and his eyes widen. Upon one of the branches were a pair of shoes laced together, resting on one of the many branches. Everyone from their class and other classes busted out laughing.

Tea gasped in shocked. One of their peers had taken the boy's shoes, tied them together, and thrown them up.

"Oh no," Yugi groaned, "Mom just bought me those."

The girl took off in the opposite direction as she said, "I'll go get a teacher!"

Yugi glanced around. The sound of all the students chuckling enlarged. He glanced down and clinched his fists tightly as he shut his eyes. He felt his face grow red. He was completely embarrassed. Someone had taken something of his when he did not notice and he suddenly became a laughingstock for the amusement for others once more.

But, he couldn't just walk away. He needed his shoes. There was a school policy for everyone to wear shoes at all times. Plus, they were all outside with many rocks and twigs that could poke and break the skin of anyone's feet.

Yugi opened his eyes and glanced up. He could feel everyone commenting about his height. The shoes were thrown high enough to be out of reach for him. Without putting much thought, the child walked over to the tree and began to climb. He felt a tiny bit proud he was committing an act for himself for a change. The peer group around quiet down for a bit. Branch by branch the petite boy grew closer to what had been stolen from him.

The sentiment of pride soon faded as Yugi struggled to climb up. His soft hands and feet were gaining blisters easily. He also had too little upper body strength within himself to continue climbing up. He couldn't hold on any longer. The branch he reached for snapped and he lost his balance. He fell down and landed on his rump. He scrambled to his knees as he tried to sooth his hurt area. He soon started to hear them once more.

He opened his eyes and turned to face everyone. All were howling towards the one who's shoes were stolen with ease and had fallen. Yugi swallowed a lump in his throat. Although there was a tiny amount of physical ache in him, a greater pain crept in his heart. He closed his eyes as he clinched his hands into fists. He could feel tears forming.

"Look at that guy!" mocked a voice.

"What a total shrimp!" commented another.

"Maybe we should call him Puny Mutou!" joined in a third.

As water ran down his cheeks, Yugi took off running.

"Hey, Puny! We're ya goin'?"

"Puny won't get far with those tiny feet of his."

"Puny! You still gotta get your shoes!"

"Puny Mutou! Puny Mutou!"

He kept running. He wasn't sure where else he could go. The playground was not that big. His feet ran over grass and a few rocks, but he kept sprinting. The area around him became black. Try as he might, he couldn't rid himself of the mocking laughter from the group of kids. Soon, he heard someone calling him. His real name.

/Yugi!/

He kept running despite not being able to see in front of him.

/Yugi!/

He couldn't stop. He just couldn't. He had to get away.

/YUGI!/

A pair of eyes flashed open. A teen with spiky hair sat up in bed. He panted as sweat beaded down his face. He glanced around and saw he was in his room. He looked down and noticed he was in bed with his pajamas on.

/Yugi, are you alright?/ a voice gently asked. The teen closed his eyes. The one who called him sounded faint. The giggles and insults from his past came up once more. A little pain entered into his heart. Tears came and cascaded down his round cheeks. He pulled his legs closer to himself and began to sob quietly. He soon felt a hand placed onto his shoulder as he heard, /Yugi, what happened?/

"Nothing." the teen tried to cover.

/You seem to be quite upset over 'nothing'./ the voice persisted.

/Really, Yami, I'm fine./ the teen tried to persuade. However, the other half was not convinced, /… Yugi, what's wrong? You haven't been yourself lately. This whole situation started before that adventure of ours with Miyako began… What's wrong?/

The adolescent sighed. He knew his other half was correct. He was haunted from his own past. He answered truthfully, /I've just had a lot on my mind…/

/Did you want to talk about it?/

"It's nothing I can't handle."

/Perhaps… but-/ Yami cut himself off when he saw tears reforming on his partner's eyes. He moved closer to his light. He was about to say something when the adolescent exploded, "Yami I know I'm suppose to be your light and together we can handle anything… and I'm glad to have you, Tea, Tristan, and Joey by my side but… but some of things I was told… from when I was younger they… they still hurt! A lot!"

Yugi began to sob once more. The insults he heard stung his heart once more. He did his best to move on, but little things still upset him. The spirit waited for a moment before saying, /Yugi, this happened a long time ago. What they thought about you… Why does it matter?/

/I don't know./ the smaller one replied honestly.

/They are only words. Does all that really matter?/

There was silence among the two. Yami grew concerned, /Yugi?/

"We hear things all around. We can't take the good without the bad. Words may be harsh, but kind ones must never be forgotten."

/What?/

/That's what my Grandma had always told me… before she passed away./

/Yugi I-/

"No, it's alright." Yugi began as a smile started to be made, "I always liked hearing what she told me. What all those people told me from before, I can still remember. But I try to remind myself of all the nice things you guys tell me. Thanks, Yami."

"Feeling better?" the spirit asked.

"Sorta…" the young adult replied.

Pleasant and unpleasant memories were part of everyone's life. Yugi had made a promise to be there for his other half, who had no memories. An idea then occurred to the boy, "Yami, do you remember the time I was in the hospital after the warehouse burnt down?"

Yami frowned for his response. The two talked about the situation countless times and were able to move on. A part of the spirit wanted to forget about the incident, but it was one of the mist crucial moments for the two souls that were bound.

The teen continued to smile as he said, "And I did tell you that you could have my memories until we found yours, right?"

"Indeed you did." Yami replied, intrigued about his partner's new optimistic smile. He then noticed the cards his light chose were used to represent the teen and him growing. He hoped his friend would be able to make more choices when decide cards for their new deck. Yami smiled as he said, "But you can't tell me everything in one night."

Yugi grinned as he replied, "Well, I think I'll just start with my Grandma…"

Xxx

A young boy with brunette hair raced down a long corridor. When he came to a door, he slammed it open and demanded to know, "Where is Mokuba!"

"He's in the other room." the nurse answered. The man stood up and took the tall child to the other room. On a mattress sat a child crying.

"Mokuba!" the boy called. He raced over and sat close to his brother. The smaller one glanced up. He then scooted himself away. He then whimpered, "You shouldn't be around me… Seto."

"Mokuba?" the taller of the two questioned, "What's wrong?"

He looked closer and saw a bruise on his sibling's face. He became alarmed when he learned someone was picking on his brother again. He wanted to go out and beat up the ones who did. He didn't care if he would receive punishment. He didn't want anyone to insult the person he cared about.

He was about to console his brother, when the two heard some important people talking. They were mentioning how smart the one with brown hair and blue eyes was. There was another family interested in taking him. The oldest brother pulled his sibling closer to him. He wasn't about to leave the only person he cared about. He took his brother's hand and left the room through another exit.

The two raced out of the building. They then hid behind a bush. Even though almost everyone was inside, the two remained out of sight for a bit. They sat on the ground to catch their breath. Neither of them wanted to be separated from the other. They were the ones the other had.

"Mokuba, don't worry." the older tried to comfort while panting, "I promise I won't leave you."

"But, Seto," he was about to argue. The older quickly placed his hand on the younger's mouth as the two tried to remain motionless.

Soon, the two were able to see another peer out on the distant. Mokuba became scared. Seto knew the other kid was a bully. He leaped from his spot and dashed over. In a few quick attacks, the bully was taken down.

Seto took Mokuba's hand and took off running once more. The scenery soon changed from the outdoors to a black hallway. They paused when they came to a door. They opened it and suddenly fell through.

"What are you brats up to?" asked a sinister voice.

The children looked up to see a tall man wearing red suit smoking a large cigar. He seemed to be displeased with something.

"You shouldn't be horsing around," he scolded, "You should be in your rooms studying."

Seto stared down at the man. He then spat, "I've done that already."

"I doubt it," the man sneered, "You still have much more to complete."

Suddenly, the two brothers were separated when piles of giant text books appeared. They were lost between stacks and stacks of papers.

"Mokuba!"

"Seto!"

The eldest ran. He ran through various stacks as many of them fell down. Papers flew everywhere. Although fear and anxiety pumped in his veins, he was determined to find his brother. He didn't want to be left in the world alone. Despite receiving a few bruises from the papers, he kept trying.

"Mokuba!" he cried with all his heart, "Mokuba! Where are you!"

Something soon caught his eyes. There was an important blueprint he had been working on flying around. He immediately went to go chase after it. With every step he took, the boy felt as though everything he cared about was slipping away.

"NO!" he bellowed when his hard work vanished.

He fell to his knees exhausted. He shut his eyes and banged one fist into the ground. He didn't understand why everything he had been through was so tough. He already lost his birth parents, lived in a horrific orphanage, made a deal with the devil who turned out to be an insane business man, turned a military corporation into a gaming company, and yet all was lost without his brother.

Although the elder could continue on, nothing would be the same. He wouldn't have anyone to actually be with him. He could create contracts, sell thousands of Duel Disks, and make multimillion deals but it could all be in vain.

He would just be another person without a true purpose.

He hated being with all those other rich snobs who were only interested in money, like Gozoburo Kaiba. He despised that man with all his being. He had hoped he would never be like him. Even if the two brothers were to lose all, they would at least have each other. Together they had made their way from nothing to everything.

"Seto!" a joyous voice called. The one who was named glanced up. He stood up with awe when he saw his sibling flying on a vast, white dragon with blue eyes.

"Mokuba!" Seto shouted with joy.

"Seto!" Mokuba called once more.

The dragon leaned over and a bit as the younger reached out and offered an arm. The taller brother accepted the gesture and was taken off the ground.

"Mokuba, I'm so glad you're safe!" the one with brown hair exclaimed.

"Yeah, I'm fine." Mokuba giggled. He then took out a blueprint and handed it to his brother.

The two flew out of the darkness and into the light on a magnificent dragon.

Kaiba awoke with a startle. He looked around and at himself. He was relieved to see he was in his office asleep on his usual chair. He disliked it whenever he dreamed, but he hated it whenever the horror vision involved something terrible happening to his brother.

Mokuba was sleeping peacefully on a couch with the TV on low. After some chatting, the brothers were glad each other was alright. Once the group of misfits left, life seemed to have returned to normal for the two.

Kaiba glanced up from his work station. He stood up and strolled over to his brother. He took off his trench coat and wrapped it carefully around his sibling. He wanted to be sure Mokuba would not be too cold and become ill.

The older observed the younger for a moment. He realized how much Mokuba had to endure even though he was still young. Kaiba felt a bit of remorse. He only wanted to have a better life, and the strive contained a road filled with pain and heartache. He at times doubted his own choices. He couldn't stand the orphanage but he hated Gozoburo the most.

He took a seat next to his sibling. Despite everything he went through, he did so for sake of his only family. He closed his eyes. He remembered how Mokuba even stood up against himself. He had to scold him and plead with him to swallow his pride and assist his greatest rival over at the finals of Battle City held at Alcatraz.

He was in disbelief. He never seen Mokuba appear so hurt. The boy had brought up many valid points.

"Mokuba seems to really care about them." he reflected, "And they seem to care about him."

He sighed quietly as he stood up. He glanced around his place. Even though the giant mansion was called home, it didn't appear as though it was worthy of holding such an important title. He walked slowly towards his desk. He paused once more and began to think.

He knew how often Mokuba would sometimes try and hide his feelings. He believed the younger did not want to be a burden. However, Kaiba pondered how often he tried to not show any overly concerned emotions. He was aware of his own horrible temper but kept silent about it.

He was surprised when he heard a sleepy, "Seto?"

He turned around and smiled. He strolled back over and took a seat next to his only family. He was very happy to still have someone to care for and vice versa.

"Seto, are you ok?" Mokuba asked.

"Yes, I'm fine." Kaiba answered.

"Are you going to be up late again?" the younger questioned with the older nodding.

Mokuba looked down at the ground in thought. He remembered how he used to be. He was cold like his brother and he didn't want to be treated like a child. He soon changed after he gained friends. Real friends. People like Yugi who accepted him and helped him see a better world. He would always be grateful for having others who care about him.

"Mokuba, is there something on your mind?" Kaiba inquired.

"Well, earlier today, after you allowed for Yugi and everyone to stay… you just seemed a little uncomfortable around everyone." the child brought up. Kaiba sighed as he replied, "Yes, I know."

"I know why you… dislike Yugi and all," the one with black hair began, "But, don't you think it's about time we got over all that? They just want to be our friends."

The elder pondered the questioned. He didn't want to get into an argument with his brother and he was sure the younger one felt the same. He only wanted to move past the coma incident and continue on with his work; a company run by brothers.

He figured one answer was because he was living proof of what one could achieve without the belief in fairy tales. He did not want to have little brother hang around people with no sense of what reality could hold. However, he also understood he should not have his brother be so frazzled when there was so much to have accomplished.

"Mokuba, let's talk about that another time." Kaiba replied smoothly and honestly, "Right now, let's be sure you'll be alright for tomorrow."

"Ok," the boy agreed, "But, there are other people who can be out there for us, who ARE out there for us."

"Perhaps," Kaiba did his best to not allow his rage and desire for revenge to take control. Instead he smiled and said, "But, tomorrow, you and I will be working on more ideas for Kaiba Land."

The two smiled.

They were happy they still had a dream.

A dream they could chase together.

A dream they could achieve together.

A dream where parts had come true and much more to seek.

Everyone gets lonely from time to time. We have people who care about us and we sometimes forget. And when we lose them, we sometimes forget who else we have around us. There are some situations and sentiments we cannot escape; they are part of everyone's life.

The End

Chao- Wow! It's over!

YChao- There, you completed another horrible story.

Chao- Yeah, that duel with all that research. It sucked cuz Chao DID have most of it done and Chao had this cool idea where Miyako was going to use all these cutesy Fairies and Spellcasters…

YChao- Easy come, easy go.

Chao- And that there Silent Swordsman Level X was from YGO R.

YChao- You had little idea about to write this all, didn't you?

Chao- Nope! Just the epilogue after Chao lost all the work… couldn't remember what was originally written… Oh, well. Thank you all who reviewed!