"Kaiba…? Let me tell Yugi about… this." He gestured between the two of them. "Whatever this is," he smiled.

"This is whatever you want it be, beautiful." Seto reached out to flick a lock of blond bangs out of Atem's face with the backs of his fingers. "So long as you understand that you're important to me."

Atem brushed Seto's hand away and growled. "Just don't call me 'beautiful'. I'm not a woman; it doesn't suit me."

"I agree," Seto smirked, "but the look on your face was worth it. Admit it - after all these years, I still know how to get under your skin."

"Just remember," Atem said quietly as the limousine pulled up beside the Kame Game shop, "how suddenly you've known me to turn the tables to my favor."

Seto smirked and sat up, preparing to leave the car with Atem. The two men exited the car together, leaving Mokuba behind to continue his nap.

Atem turned toward the shop, only to get nearly plowed over by his even smaller friend. Yugi wrapped his arms tightly around Atem's chest and buried his face in the man's shoulder. Seto fought back a surge of jealousy at the sight.

"Yami, you're ok," Yugi all but sobbed. "Gods, I was so worried about you." Atem returned his friend's hug lightly, gently rubbing his back.

"It's alright Yugi. I'm still here," he said quietly.

"Might I suggest we go in for a minute?" Seto said from behind the two after allowing them a few moments. Yugi pulled himself off of Atem and nodded while wiping tears from the edges of his eyes with the sleeve of his jacket, and the three entered the shop. Yugi led the way to the living room in his home, where Atem was surprised to see all of his closest friends had gathered, even so late on a Sunday. He was flattered to see so much care directed his way, but at the same time so much fussing on his account made him uncomfortable.

Atem was most surprised to see Anzu seated in one of the two armchairs, since she had been in America, the last he knew. Jounouchi and Honda, who had remained in Domino, had been seated on the sofa, and stood when the three men entered the room. Sugoroku, Yugi's grandfather, was not to be seen. Atem assumed the night was too late for him. He was relieved, at least, for that.

Everyone in the room greeted him with hugs or handshakes before returning to their seats. Anzu had tears in her eyes. Jounouchi, after giving Atem his cheerful welcome and a hearty slap on the back, bypassed him and directed his attention to Seto, who stood off to one side behind Atem.

"Hey moneybags." He offered his hand out to Seto who quirked an eyebrow, but shook it anyway. "Thanks a lot for lookin' out for our pal. We really owe you one, man."

"It was no burden. Yugi," he dismissed Jou and nodded to Yugi to meet in another room. Yugi led him back out to the shop. He spoke quietly. "Don't press the issue too much tonight. A lot has happened in the last few days, and the situation has changed. Don't make him feel like he's on trial."

Yugi nodded in agreement. "Alright. But what happened over there to make such a difference?"

"That's not my place to say. He'll tell you when he sees fit. I ought to take my leave, but call me if there's ever a problem. I would be willing to step in and offer a hand if he needs it." Seto pulled a business card from a pocket of his jacket and handed it to the small duelist. A personal cell phone number was hand-written in pen below Seto's name and office contact information.

"Sure, Kaiba." Yugi watched him curiously as he turned to let himself out. "Uh, wait a minute - before you go. Is there any way I can make this up to you? You've done us all an unimaginable favor by helping him."

"Be that as it may, I didn't do it for you. You don't owe me anything. Tell that to your friends, too." With that, Seto left building and returned to his car. Yugi watched him go before returning to his living room. Honda was teaming up with Jounouchi, both taking turns (or talking over one another) explaining to Atem just how worried they both had been. Yugi stepped into his circle of friends to play referee just as a look of frustration began to creep across Atem's face.

"Hey, guys. Why don't we cool it down a bit for now? Let's give Atem some room to breathe."

"Yug', come on," Jou protested. "This ain't some little thing we're dealing with here. This is suicide. We can't just brush it aside; we gotta talk about it."

"And we will. Later. But for right now, let's just take it easy, and let him settle in some. There's no need to harp on him the minute he walks in the door." Yugi placed a hand on his friend's shoulder.

Atem sighed. "Thank you, Yugi. And everyone else, I apologize for worrying you. But I'm alright. I don't feel that this… dying business is such a pressing issue. There's no need to keep worrying," he said quietly.

Yugi nodded. "Yeah, Kaiba told me about the same. Atem - if you don't mind my asking - what did happen this weekend that made the change?"

"Uh…" The Egyptian felt his cheeks growing warm and fought back a blush. "I'll tell you about that later. Speaking of Kaiba, where is he?" He hoped his change of subject wasn't too obvious.

"Oh. He left already." Yugi waved the question away and Atem tried not to let the disappointment flood his face. "Hey, we have a surprise for you, Atem," he said with enthusiasm.

Yugi handed his friend a small white envelope. The seal was unglued but tucked inside itself. He opened to find plane tickets inside, marked for a round trip to Cairo, Egypt.

Atem blinked, uncertain about the item in his hands.

"We know… now… that this transition has been tough for you," Yugi explained, "so we all pooled together and organized a trip to go back to Egypt."

"What? Why?"

"We thought we'd go on a little excavation," Anzu answered cheerfully.

Yugi's tone turned cautious. "You seemed to enjoy our last dig so much, we just thought… That is, unless you don't want to?"

"N-no, that's alright. It's just unexpected, that's all. So, you all want to go along for another dig?" His mood began to brighten. Something about the prospect of traveling to his homeland to uncover its secrets was enticing.

"Oh," Yugi added. "Grandpa will be coming, too." Atem chuckled. He had been relieved for one less body in the room to feel as though he were being attacked, but had to agree that the old man's personality added a lot to trips such as this. He was pleased to know at least he wouldn't have a chance to get bored.

"When do we leave?" Atem asked, after finishing his thoughts.

"Tomorrow morning, bright and early," Anzu answered with the same cheer as before.

"Oh."

"What's the matter? Is that a problem?" Yugi asked delicately.

"Yeah man, you got other plans?" Jou pitched in with a laugh.

They've already purchased the tickets and planned the whole trip, he thought to himself. Kaiba will understand. "Ah… never mind. It was just sudden. It's not a problem." Atem brushed over it.

"Then it's a date!" Honda stated. He clapped his Egyptian friend on the back with his palm. "It's real good to have you back, buddy." Atem smiled back at his old friend, and was surprised to realize that the gesture wasn't entirely fake. His friends slowly pulled themselves out of the somber atmosphere, and the volume of the room began to increase as the group reacquainted themselves with one another. Atem sat back and absorbed it with new resolve.

The night passed quickly and before Atem knew it he was being shuffled into Jii-san's car. He was squeezed into the middle of the back seat between Jou and Anzu, with Yugi in front and Honda following behind on his motorcycle. Once the crew made it to the airport, Atem requested to borrow Anzu's cell phone.

"I just wanted to make certain I thanked Kaiba properly for this weekend. He took off too soon last night and I didn't have a chance." Anzu nodded and handed over the device. Atem left to find a more discreet area to speak.

"Kaiba," came the CEO's business voice on the other end. It was early, but Atem wasn't surprised that the CEO sounded like he was already working.

"Hey. It's Atem," the Egyptian spoke over the noise of the crowd. He watched as his friends began to go through the security check one at a time.

"Atem. I'm afraid I don't have much of an opportunity to speak right now - unless this is urgent, can it wait?"

"I'll make it quick. I just had to let you know I won't make it for lunch. Something else has come up. When one o'clock came around, I wouldn't want you to think I was blowing you off… or dead, or something." Jounouchi waved Atem back to the group so he wouldn't lose them through the security check. "Listen, Kaiba, I have to go." A woman carrying too many heavy bags bumped into him just then, yelling over her own cell phone. "Sorry," he muttered to her.

"Where are you? There's an awful lot of background noise."

"Airport. Look, Kaiba, I really have to go. I'll be in touch, alright?"

"Alright, I suppose," he said through his confusion. "Be safe. I appreciate the update. Are we on for later this week, at least?" Jou had run back through the crowd to catch up with his friend, and grabbed hold of his arm, pulling him back toward the security check.

"Ah-! Be careful, Jou! Excuse me… Sorry…" He said as they wormed through the crowd. "No, I'm sorry Kaiba. That won't work either. I'll call you, alri-" Jou grabbed the phone from his hand.

"Hey Kaiba. My pal's got a date with a shovel. Thanks again. Gotta go!" He snapped the device closed and handed it back to Anzu, who was also waiting to go through security until her friends returned.

"Jounouchi, I wasn't finished." The blond didn't seem to hear him.

"There you guys are. Let's go, before we miss the plane! Are you ok, Atem?" She rested her hand on his arm, eyes full of concern.

"Oh. Thank you for asking, Anzu, but I'm fine. Ready?" She nodded with a smile and took his hand, prepared to set off on their adventure together.

I'm going to have to tell her soon, he thought.

"A date with a shovel? What do you think that means?" Mokuba, who'd heard the short phone call, asked his older brother.

The previous night, upon returning to their mansion, Seto decided to fill his brother in on the details he'd missed while he was away - and while he'd been napping on the sofa. The boy was admittedly a bit bothered by the intimacy going on so close to him while he slept, but told his brother he was happy for them both regardless.

"I don't know what it means, Mokuba. I can only hope it isn't what it sounds like."

"He's in good hands, Nii-sama. His friends will take care of him." Seto didn't respond, but turned back to his work.