y.o.d: i hope u all like this chapter

topaz: only one more chapter to go ^^

sparky: yay ^^

Chapter 17

A deadly silence fell while they travelled. The whole time Yugi felt that something just wasn't right.

'This is weird…we should have been back at his castle by now?' Yugi thought as he looked at his companion with concerned eyes 'He hasn't said a word since we left the Great Forest…maybe I did something to upset him? No that's not it…oh Atem what is wrong with you?' suddenly Yugi saw on the horizon the outline of the Emerald City. He blinked curious as to why Atem heading towards his home. But before he could ask his friend, Atem began to descend and landed at the edge of the woods that surround the barrier city.

Atem lowered his neck so Yugi could climb down from his back. "Atem…why are we here?" Yugi asked as soon his feet were back on solid ground. With a heavy sigh and (well want Yugi thought he saw) a pained look in his eyes, Atem turned his towards the city gates and answered Yugi question "I just thought that maybe you would like to see your grandfather again Little One." "Well…I do miss him" Yugi sighed as he looked towards his home "Then go" Atem solemnly spoke with small tears beginning to form in his eyes. "W-w-what did you say?" Yugi asked moving closer to the dragon. "I realise you….you are no longer my prisoner Li- I mean Prince Yugi" Atem replied as he turned his head towards Yugi and bowed.

Yugi couldn't believe what he was hearing…he was free…but to see tears falling from his close friend's eyes….made Yugi's heart twist painfully "A-Atem…my dear friend please…stop bowing to me" Yugi said a he placed his hand on Atem face. Atem sighed that the soft touch and nuzzled into Yugi touch, with just made Yugi giggle…but then Atem came back to his senses and remembered the real reason both he and his Yugi were standing in a small clearing. Slow he pulled away from Yugi's gentle touch, confusing his Little One and gentle nudged Yugi towards the Emerald City. "I…will never forget you…my dear Little One" Atem said with a sad smile and with that, he flew away….leaving Yugi alone on the outskirts of the city. "And I will never forget you…my dearest Atem" Yugi said, tears falling down his face as he watched Atem's form slowly get smaller, until it's was no longer visible. And so with a deep sigh Yugi made his way over to the gates.

Knock Knock

"H-hello? Could someone please open the gates?"

A small pep-opened, and one of the guards looked through.

"P-P-Prince Yugi! Y-y-you're returned!" the guard stuttered as he opened the gates to let Yugi walk through. "The King will be most relieved to see you." he bowed and escorted the young prince to the palace.

-In the woods-

"GRRR AHHHHH! I CAN'T BELIEVE I'M LOST!" Joey shouted as he kicked a near by tree, which was not the cleverest thing in the world "OWWWWWWWWWWWWW! MY FOOT!" needless to say Joey was not happy, but not too far away someone was finding Joey's antics rather amusing.

"You're not the sharpest tool in the box are you pup?" Seto smirked as Joey jumped a mile high into sky, but when he realised the voice he turned and glared at the cerulean blue-eyed dragon that was laughing. "Damn it you stupid over grown handbag, you startled me!" Joey said as he tried to calm himself "Oh and it's seems that ya also forgot….I'M NOT A PUPPY!" Joey growled "Whatever…it looks like you're a little lost Joey. Tell me, where are you going?" Seto asked as he moved closer to his puppy.

"Atem's castle….wait a minute…have ya been followin' me?" Joey asked as just Seto chucked "Man you're slow! Of course I've been following you…why are you going to my cousin's place?" "Because I gotta tell 'Ugi that he has to go home, before his gramps sends out the army to kill Atem" Joey answered, still trying to find the right way. "Hmmmm….climb onto my back, I'll take you to my cousin's place." Seto said as he helped Joey onto his back "Thanks Seto" Joey said as Seto took flight "You know you're not such a jerk after all." Seto just smiled as he made his way to Atem's castle.

-Emerald City-

"King Solomen, we have received good news. Prince Yugi has returned" Raphael said as bowed before his king. "M-my grandson, has come home?! Where is he right now?" Solomen asked he rose from his throne

"He is in his room, my king"

"Thank you General" Solomen said as he walked out of the throne room and headed to his grandson's room.

Yugi was standing on his balcony, staring towards the horizon…thinking of Atem 'I wonder if I'll ever see him again?' Yugi closed his eyes and a small smile appeared on his face as an image of Dragon King appeared in his mind's eye. But the image was soo lost as a knock came from the door, and Yugi turned to answer it.

"Hello?" Yugi said as he opened the door, but was soon knocked to the floor by some young girl, with medium length blonde hair and glasses. "DARLING!" the girl shouted as she nuzzled the pinned prince. "I was sooooo worried about you! How dare that mean, horrible, nasty dragon take you away from me!"

Feeling very annoyed because 1. This girl was calling Atem mean, horrible and nasty, when he's the nicest being Yugi had ever met and 2. He was being squashed! "Ummmm, pardon me for asking, but….WHO ARE YOU?!" Yugi asked but in the end slowly lost his temper, when the girl continued her nuzzling, and that there is only one being allowed to nuzzle Yugi…and that was Atem. But the girl just stay on top of him and just giggled. "My name is Rebecca, granddaughter of Lord Hawkins and at sundown tonight…your wife" Rebecca smiled as she began to nuzzle Yugi….again.

Yugi was in shock….this was his betrothed…the person he supposed to meet the day he was kidnapped. 'Thank Ra, Atem appeared that day! I don't know how would of coped.' Yugi shuddered to think what would have happened. "Ummmm, Rebecca….came you please get off me?!" Yugi grumbled the last words, but the girl seemed to hear them and got off the prince. Yugi soon got up and dusted himself down, when he heard a chuckle, as Rebecca latched herself onto Yugi's arm. "It's seems you both are getting a long quite well"

"Grandpa?" Yugi asked as he walked out of his room, dragging Rebecca with him. His grandfather hugged him tightly and Yugi hugged back. "I missed you grandpa" "I've miss you too my boy. I'm glad to see you're home safe and sound." Solomen said a he realised he hold on the prince "But something still troubles me….how did you escape from that beast?"

Yugi blinked "I didn't escape grandpa….he let me go." "WHAT?! But he never lets his prisoners go!" Solomen said "What I find hardest to believe is that you chose to stay….with the dragon that killed your own father!" "I stayed with Atem, because he was hurt!" Yugi said trying to defend Atem "Besides, he's changed…he's not the same dragon that kidnapped me. Please grandpa…you have to believe me."

Solomen just sighed "You both best get yourselves ready for the wedding" "But I don't want to marry her grandpa!" Yugi yelled, but his grandfather had already left. "Hehehe, see you tonight darling" Rebecca chirped as she gave Yugi a quick peck on the cheek as she left for her own room. 'Grandpa…why are you making me marry some girl I hardly know, plus who's 5 years younger than me!' tears began to fill Yugi's eyes as he turn and closed the door, he walked back over to balcony and stared at the horizon again 'Atem…please…please save me…please...I need you…I love you' Yugi could no longer hold them back…and soon the tears fell down his face.

TBC