"You know what you're looking for, correct?"

"Yes, yes, I know." The dark haired man waved a hand. "Body of a young man, probably hooked up to a computer system. Got it."

"Good." His superior frowned down at him. "Do not fail me this time, Atem."

"Yeah, yeah, whatever. Douchebag." Atem turned away, pulling out a pack of cigarettes as he began to trudge away. "I'll find Kaiba Noa."

"You'd better."

He rolled his eyes as he lit his cigarette. A string of smoke was his only other reply.

He kicked a rock out of his way, pulling a cell phone from his pocket. He dialed a number that by now he knew by heart, holding the device up to his ear. A prayer passed through his lips in another language while he waited. Pick up. He begged internally, Pick. Up.

Relief washed through him when he heard a click on the other end of the line. Please don't have changed your number you little shit.

"Hello?"

"Yugi. It's me."

He actually heard the other sit up straighter. "'Tem? Why are you calling me?" There was a note of suspicion in his voice. "I thought you said you never wanted to hear from me again."

"I lied." Atem sighed. I should have known he'd still be bitter about that. "And I need your help. I've got a bit of an impossible case on my hands and…" He trailed.

"And you thought that I'd be able to help you track down whatever criminal-"

"Not a criminal."

"Oh? I thought you were a Bounty Hunter, 'Tem."

"I am. But this isn't a criminal hunt." He took a drag from the cigarette dangling between his lips. "This is a missing person hunt."

"How do you expect me to help with that?"

He flinched at the sour note in Yugi's voice. "You know Seto Kaiba, yes?"

"Yes. I'm currently in the middle of taking his company from him." Yugi snickered. "Why?"

"His brother, Kaiba Mokuba, has asked me to help track down their adoptive brother."

"Gozaburo's son? I thought he got sick when he was little and died."

"So did the Kaiba brothers. Apparently Mokuba dug up some information saying otherwise." He flicked his ashes away. "Can you help or not?"

"I dunno. I'll see what I can do. Ryou will probably be more help than I will." Yugi sounded like he was shuffling papers - probably looking for something. "I'll see what my men can sniff out for you, though."

He sighed in relief, taking another drag. "Thank you, Yugi. I'm sorry I was such an asshole."

"It's nothing." Yugi yawned, "And I was being an asshole, too, so it's alright."

Atem could only snicker in reply before the line went dead. Yugi was still a little spitfire three years later. Still all high and mighty in his position as Pharaoh - and had he mentioned Ryou Bakura? It was hard to believe that boy was still alive, really.

He'd been such a broken mess when Bakura had disappeared…

He'd really have to ask Yugi what had happened to the boy. Had he gotten over the disappearance? Unlikely. Learned to cope, perhaps?

Much more likely, but still probably not what had happened.

Ah, well. It hardly mattered. He didn't have the time to wonder about this - he needed to track down Noa. He needed to find the young man as soon as he possibly could. He and his superiors were getting paid quite handsomely for this and he didn't want young Mokuba to grow impatient with them. Nothing irked them more than a client who withdrew their payments.

"Ryou?" Yugi tapped his fingers on his desk.

"I'm here." Ryou's voice was rather clipped. "Do you need something?"

"Are any of your trackers free at the moment? If so I need to borrow them."

"Depends on what you need them for and how long you'll need them."

"Only as long as it takes for them to find Noa Kaiba." Yugi made sure to sound as nonchalant as he possibly could. "Turns out 'Tem needs my help and Mokuba found some documents that show the kid's still alive."

"I'll send Viper to meet him." Ryou replied immediately. "Tell him to be at the Mug Shot Bistro at six tonight."

"Gotcha. Thanks, Ry."

"Don't mention it." There was a hint of a smirk in the paler man's voice. "I've gotta go. Talk to you later, Yugi."

"Later."

Click.

Yugi groaned at the thought of calling Atem back. He hated being on the phone with someone more than once in the span of ten minutes. He was about to dial the number when he remembered he didn't have to call. He could text. And he didn't have to be formal, either.

A relieved sigh passed through him.

B the Mug Shot Bistro 6. -Y

Three minutes later, his phone buzzed. I'll be there. Might I ask y tho? -A

Got in touch w/ Ry. He directed me 2 a Bandit named Viper wholl meet u there. -Y

Awesome. Thx. -A

Np. -Y

He couldn't help a smile while he stared at his phone. He hadn't spoken to Atem in three years - it was nice to do so again.

Ten minutes later, he could no longer stop himself. Hey, Tem? -Y

Yeah? -A

Do u think we could hang sometime? I miss u. -Y

U actually have time 4 me? Thought u were busy being a mob boss. -A

He cracked another smile. I have plenty of time. There's tons of ppl who can do my job 4 me. -Y

He'd almost forgotten that he was speaking to Atem when he finally received a response two hours later.

Ask me again when I've found Noa. -A