Epilogue

„Joey." Yugi screamed once he saw his friend enter the shop of his grandfather. Not at all surprised that Seto Kaiba was right behind him "How are you? I was so worried when you suddenly fainted. And Seto, why didn't you call me when he woke up? You promised."

Joey looked furious at Kaiba and said "I always told ya that Kaiba's an idiot, so why did ya trust that guy?"

"Yeah but he promised." Yugi mumbled.

"Whatever," Joey said "I'm here now and I'm just fine."

"And I see you brought Kaiba with you." Yugi said.

"No, I didn't bring him." Joey said "He just followed me like a dog."

"Who's the dog?" Kaiba asked.

"Well, you did follow me here even though I told you that you can go to work or whatever the hell else you want to do." Joey said "And I always wanted to get back at you for all the dog comments."

"Why didn't you, big bro." Mokuba, who had arrived at the shop a while before, asked. "I told you I'd bring the papers you organized for Atemu over. Or did you need me for something?"

"I'm most certainly not here for the annoying pharaoh." Kaiba said.

"Nice to see that you still like me, cousin." Atemu said.

"Wait, since when do you speak English?" Joey asked surprised.

"Since I got here." Atemu said "It seams you were right and I truly was meant to come here. Even though I still don't know anything that happened. And some things are very confusing, but I can deal with it. I like it here."

"And you're still the same." Yugi said. "And I'll tell you everything you might want to know. And introuce you to my friends. You liked them, or will like them."

"I wonder." Seto mussed "You were our age when you showed up. But you don't know anything about it now, does that mean your spirit gets locked in that puzzle back in the past once you die here and since you were young you'll die soon or will your spirit simply look the age of the body you´re in and you simply keep your sort of return a secret from Yugi, letting him suffer for nothing?"

"I guess neither." Joey said, seeing the fear in Yugi's eyes at the thought of losing Atemu again.

"What do you think then?" Seto asked sarcastically.

"I bet his spirit is already in the puzzle, or rather a copy of it." Joey said "It would explain why he didn't know a thing about Yugi back then either. I mean he loves him, he wouldn't let him suffer and why should the magic go through all the trouble to get him here and then simply let him die?"

"Then I guess I'm fine." Atemu said "You were right before. I'm obviously supposed to be here just like you said. It also does mean that my dear cousin is wrong."

"Your dear cousin is a rotting mummy." Seto said "And just so you know. I hate your guts."

"Then why are you here?" Atemu asked.

"Just making sure that Joey is safe around you." Seto said. "I don't want him to disappear to Egypt again."

"He won't." Solomon said. "I told you about the medallion and where it was found, right?"

"If this is a bed time story then quit it and if not get to the point and quit wasting my time." Seto ordered.

"Oh the pyramid was yours." Solomon said. "Or rather your former self Seth's one. And I told you that there were two mummies in it. The blond hair wasn't from either one, we all know it's Joey's."

"Wait." Joey said "He kept my hair? And when did he get that?"

"But they assumed first that it belongs to the second one." Solomon said ignoring Joey's comment. "Because his hair is also blond. I guess that it means it's Jōno."

"You see," Seto said "I'm not destined to annoy you."

"Maybe not." Joey admitted. "But then again, you might have annoyed me to death and just placed me there due to your own selfish interests. And now where the hell did that creep get my hair?"

"He cut it off when you slept in his arms the night after you appeared out of thin air." Atemu finally informed Joey.

"You slept in his arms?" Kaiba asked.

"There wasn't much of a choice there." Joey said "Either that or the floor."

"You should have chosen the floor." Seto said.

"Big bro." Mokuba interrupted them "Since you suddenly care about that, does that meant that you and Joey are together now?"

"Like hell." Joey said grumpy.

"Like he said." Seto agreed. "Like hell, yes."

"NO" Joey said. "You're a jerk."

"And you like it." Seto said

"I don't." Joey disagreed.

"And what was that last night? You did sl…" Seto started to say until Joey covered his mouth with his hand.

"Finish that sentence and you're in big trouble, mister." Joey threatened before removing his hand.

"Fine." Seto said with a grin. "Then admit what you truly feel."

"I did. I hate you." Joey said.

"Fine. Joey and I sl…" Once more Seto's mouth was covered by Joey.

"All right you win." Joey quickly said since he knew that he wouldn't be around do stop Seto every time he might try. "You're a great kisser, and hot and sexy and all but you´re still a jerk."

"And?" Seto asked.

"Nothing and." Joey answered.

"Didn't you forget to say that you love me?" Seto asked.

"No, I didn't." Joey said. "I don't love a jerk."

"And what about me distracting you?" Seto asked him again.

"It's just because I'm fuzzy in the head after being gone for so long." Joey said.

"Sure," Seto said ironically. "How long do you think that excuse is going to work for you?"

Joey simply blushed and looked away. "I really like you." Seto said and put an arm around Joey and whispered into his ear. "I know I'm a jerk, but I'll stop calling you mutt if you stop saying that you hate me. Deal?"

Joey eyed his long time rival. His blue eyes looked sincere and Joey could feel Seto's hand move along his arm a little. The way Seto touched him reminded Joey of the night before. Joey took a deep breath and closed his eyes trying to fight of the feeling he got from that memory by imagining a naked Pegasus. It worked perfectly. It worked, but Joey still couldn't fight saying "Deal" as soon as he opened his eyes and saw those blue eyes looking right into his own.

"I knew I'd win." Seto said.

"I only agreed to not SAYING that I hate you." Joey said with a smug smile. "Not that I'm not allowed to feel that way."

"Don't push me." Seto said and Joey decided to better listen just this once since he feared that Kaiba could manage to make his mind go blank even with his friends around.

"What happened while I was gone anyway and how long was I gone?" Joey asked to change the subject.

"Seto locked himself into his lab and office to get you back and I managed the business." Mokuba said "But I was really worried when it took a whole week for him to get back with you from the past."

"And how long was I gone now?" Joey asked again.

"The same amount of days as you were in the past it seems." Yugi answered, who had found that out by talking to Atemu once they were both speaking the same language.

"WHAT?" Joey said slightly freaking out. "What about dad? What does he think where I was? I mean he must be worried sick!"

"Oh no," Yugi said "Once I knew that Kaiba was working on getting you back I covered for you by saying that your trying to get a job but had to stay there for that. Just for a while."

"For what kind of job would I need that?" Joey asked confused about what he would have to tell his dad but relieved that his father hadn't worried.

"I would have an idea." Seto said with a smug smile.

"What idea?" Joey asked with a look that clearly said that he didn't trust Kaiba.

"You could say that you got a job as my personal chef or butler." Seto suggested "I wouldn't mind giving you such a position as long as it makes you stay with me."

"You're kidding." Joey said. "But at least I've got an excuse. And dad wouldn't even be surprised to hear that ya fired me."

"I never did." Seto said.

"I need to give a reason for coming home and you don't believe for a second that I´ll stay with ya." Joey said.

"I think you will." Seto said and moved his face closer to Joey's. His lips were close to kiss the helpless blond who couldn't move an inch.

But just before Seto managed to kiss Joey, his phone rang. Seto looked at the display and groaned before picking it up. Joey took a deep breath partly happy to have escaped getting kissed by Seto right in front of his friends but also partly sad that he didn't get to feel Seto's talented lips on his own.

Once Seto had finished the call sounding rather upset towards the end he looked at Joey and said "Stay here. I'll pick you up soon. I just have to get a small problem sorted." And then he left.

"He doesn't really believe himself that I'll stay, does he?" Joey asked Mokuba. "Even he should know me better than that."

"You were with him last night." Mokuba said.

"I know, but he should know that I never listen." Joey said with a wicked grin. "And I wonder how long it will take him to come and get me if I avoid him for a day or two."

"You do love him, don't you?" Mokuba asked.

"I guess a little." Joey said.

"If you love him, why do you play hard to get?" Mokuba asked worried that Joey might be playing with his older brother even though it wouldn't be like him.

"Because he is cute when he gets pissed." Joey said with a wicked grin. "Don't worry kiddo, I'm just making sure that your brother will NEVER get bored again."

Authors Note:

Thanks to Nagareboshi-Lover and silvers-edge for the reviews.

That was it for the story. I hope you liked it and had a good time reading it.

Thanks for reading it all the way to the end.