Disclaimer:

Bandit Keith: Robin Nightingale doesn't own Yu-Gi-Oh!...In America! And since everywhere is America, Robin Nightingale can't own Yu-Gi-Oh!

...In America.

Chapter 12: Welcome Home

He was heavy. So, so heavy.

Everything was silent. No, there were sounds. A soft hissing. A low hum that was steadily getting fainter. Muffled voices.

Gods, he was so sluggish. Couldn't think clearly. Muddled…everything, fog…

It was dark. No, his eyes were closed. He should open them, then. Could he open them?

He tried. Slowly, his eyelids twitched, then cracked open.

Immediately he slammed them shut again. The light was dim, but gods, did it hurt. His mind was beginning to clear, though just barely, and as it did, he began to notice how sensitive he was to everything. He felt raw, weak, kind of…ill. How else would he explain the shivering?

Maybe if he just went back to sleep, he'd get better…

Drift away, drifting, drifting…

Darkness…

…aaaaraoh…

…nnnoooo…e musn't…eep…

…jecting…leaving the bo…

…Wake up…

…Wake up…

"PHARAOH! WAKE UP!"

"Gah!" He snapped back to wakefulness violently, his body spasming at the shock. His eyes flew open and his body strained, and he gasped raggedly as he drew in breath. He coughed, swallowed, then panted as his heart began to slow. Someone put a firm hand on his shoulder, keeping him from falling forward.

"Easy, don't try ta stand just yet…" someone said gently.

Was he standing? It felt more like he was lying down…

Wait…He knew that voice…

He blinked hard several times, trying to clear his blurry vision. There were people around him, he could tell…but who…

"Pharaoh?" A woman's voice. "Pharaoh, are you all right? Can you hear me?"

"Say something!" A man's. "Pharaoh, it's us!"

Then…"Pharaoh…"

Yugi!

Wait…why did he just think that? Was that someone he knew…?

"Give him a moment," a new voice said, far more authoritative-sounding. "It's possible his memories have not yet caught up with the rest of the transfer. They should clear up soon enough, though…"

Memories…?

Yes…they were important…he had to find his memories…

He gave a short cry as a jolt like an electric shock ran from his head down his spine all the way to his toes. It left him breathless and the people around him in a worried frenzy; he could hear their frantic voices calling to each other, to him, and hands shook and patted him. He wished they would go away…

A second jolt, stronger this time, and in an instant he remembered…everything.

The others were calling him…He tried to respond, but his body wouldn't let him, still recovering from the memory burst. He tried moving, but his muscles weren't responding like he wanted them to. His head kept falling farther than he meant to, his hand flopped like a dead fish, and he didn't even dare try to move his limbs for fear of slapping or kicking someone accidentally.

His vision was clearing…His eyes wandered to the person immediately to his left, and the image of a tall, blond man came into focus. He squinted.

"J…" He coughed, his throat unimaginably dry. "Joey?" he rasped.

There was dead silence. The man exchanged a look with the others, and for a terrifying moment he wondered if he had gotten it wrong.

But then the blond broke out into a relieved grin, giving an amazed chuckle. "Yeah, man! Good ta see ya!"

Someone tilted a glass of water to his lips, and he sipped gratefully. The motion of the water and the feel of the cool liquid travelling down his throat sent tingles down his still-sensitive nerves. It was so odd. It was like every nerve of his body was raw and exposed, and he could feel even the tiniest changes in the air.

"That's a good sign," another man—Keichi—said from out of his sight. "Pharaoh, can you name the others as well? We want to make sure you're completely with us."

Nodding, he moved from Joey to the even taller, brown-haired man next to him. "Tristan," he managed.

Tristan nodded enthusiastically in response. "You know it," he said, his voice a little gruff.

"Grandpa."

The old man's eyes were brimming with tears. "Excellent, old boy!"

He turned to the woman, whose tears had spilled over.

"Téa," he said.

Téa nodded, unable to speak, smiling brightly.

He turned to the person on his right, the last person to be named.

His young eyes were expectant, searching, hopeful, as they always were. Seeing him brought such a sense of familiarity it chased the fogginess away, and for the first time in his new body, the Pharaoh smiled.

"Aibou," he whispered.

Smiling, Yugi gave the tiniest of nods. "You did it, Pharaoh," he said back, just as quietly. He was wearing the Puzzle again, and it seemed so odd to the Pharaoh to see the Millennium Item being worn on a person other than himself.

Everyone exchanged sighs and chuckles of relief. "It worked," Joey said. There was no malice or bitterness, just pure amazement. "Damn it all, it actually worked. Pharaoh, ya got yer own body!" He gestured to the Pharaoh like he was a prize just won.

"Yes I do," the Pharaoh half-murmured, half-laughed. Daring to try moving again, he slowly raised his arm, bringing his hand up to look at. He turned it this way and that, marveling at the flawlessness. At that moment, he could hardly have ever believed that hand had been grown in a tube.

He let the hand fall back to his side, and looked down the rest of his body. He wiggled his toes, then reached up to brush away his bangs when they obscured his vision. He didn't know why, but he paused in the middle of the action to observe his hair more closely, pulling on it gently, then giving it a sharp tug. It hurt.

It was real. All of it was real.

He looked back to Yugi, who had been watching him with a hint of amusement. "You're enjoying this, aren't you?" he asked.

"Just a little," Yugi admitted, grinning.

"Well, it seems your memory's finally caught up, and you seem to be able to move yourself a little." Keichi suddenly filled his vision, the others having moved back. "But I'd like to perform a few basic check-ups to be sure, if you don't mind, and I'll be asking you some rudimentary questions."

"All right." The Pharaoh laid his head back. Keichi pulled out a small flashlight and shone the beam directly into his eye before pulling it rapidly away. "What city do you currently live in?" he asked. Back and forth, back and forth.

"Domino."

"Correct." He stowed the flashlight away and snapped his fingers next to the Pharaoh's ears, peering at something next to the pod as he did so. "What is the date?"

"September 3."

"What is Yugi's last name?"

"Muto."

"Good." He put a finger in front of the Pharaoh's face, almost right up against his nose. "Follow with only your eyes," he instructed, moving his finger side-to-side. The Pharaoh did so, feeling very silly in the process. At his side, Yugi hid a grin.

"Excellent. Now, just raise your left arm for me."

The Pharaoh raised it, but was only able to keep it in the air for about ten seconds before it began to tremble from the effort, and it fell back to his side.

Such weakness…He looked to Yugi, then back to the Professor concernedly, who gave a dismissive wave as he took out a stethoscope.

"Mm, don't worry about that. That was actually better than I expected. Your body's muscles aren't well built after floating in fluid all its life, and artificial muscle growth can only do so much. Simple and regular exercise should get you your proper strength."

He put the stethoscope in his ears. "Here, boys, help him lean forward."

Joey and Tristan immediately strode forth, for the Pharaoh, believing he was perfectly capable of doing such a simple action, nearly fell out of the pod attempting so. They caught him and lifted him back up, and Keichi put the stethoscope end on his back. The Pharaoh suppressed a groan, disappointed. It was humiliating, having to be helped in this manner.

Joey must have noticed, for he murmured, so quietly that only the Pharaoh could hear, "Don' worry, it won't be like this forever."

The Pharaoh nodded imperceptibly.

Several more check-ups went this way, after which the Pharaoh felt very exhausted indeed. He was glad when Keichi told Joey and Tristan to finally help him out of the pod and take his first steps in his new body. He was less glad when those first steps nearly sent him collapsing face-first into the floor.

"Easy, easy, take it slow," Keichi said gently, guiding them towards the side. "Pharaoh, if you would like, and if you are feeling up to it, there is a room over there where you can change into the clothes Solomon brought."

"I would appreciate that, Professor," the Pharaoh agreed tiredly. He could barely feel his legs, much less hold himself up with them. Joey and Tristan promptly began to walk in the appointed direction, each having slung one of the Pharaoh's arms over their shoulders. The others followed close behind, Grandpa holding the clothes.

Inside the room, there was an examination table. Joey and Tristan slowly led the Pharaoh towards it and helped him sit atop it. "I'm fine now, both of you, thank you," the Pharaoh sighed, dropping his arms from their shoulders.

"Y'sure? Cuz last time ya nearly face-planted," Joey said.

"I'm quite certain I can sit on my own, Joey," the Pharaoh replied, a little sternly.

Joey took a hard look at him, then shrugged, scratching his head. "Yeah, okay. We'll be out here. C'mon, Tristan."

The two exited, and Téa took their place, Yugi and Grandpa Muto right behind. Her tears had dried, though her eyes were still a little red.

"How are you feeling?" she asked softly. From behind her, Grandpa Muto maneuvered around to the table and set the clothes besides the Pharaoh, while Yugi slipped around to the Pharaoh's other side.

"Fine," the Pharaoh assured her, though in all honestly he felt ready to collapse onto the first bed he saw. "A little tired."

Téa gave a wet giggle in response. Yugi looked at her curiously. "What is it?" he asked.

"Nothing, it's just funny," Téa admitted. When both spiky-hair teens simply stared at her blankly, she continued, "I thought…I thought, with all this, I'd be a little more…I don't know…shocked? Flustered? But all I can think of is whether or not you're too cold or hungry or in pain or anything like that. It's like…It's like you've had that body all along, and you just got out of a normal surgery. I mean, not to say that surgery's normal…I mean, it probably is, but it's not something that happens every day, so it's not that normal—."

"Téa."

"—and you look fine, by the way, but I just wanted to ask—."

"Téa, calm down! It's all fine," Yugi interrupted, stepping towards her with a grin.

Téa stumbled to a halt, and put a hand to her mouth, embarrassed. "Sorry, Yugi," she mumbled. "I didn't mean to start babbling."

"No, it's fine! Don't worry, I get it. I'm sure we all feel the same way about how easily we've come to accept this. Maybe it's because we've had six months to think about it, I don't know."

"Yeah, maybe." Téa found herself passing her gaze from one look-alike to the other. She couldn't help it. It was…

"It's just surreal, seeing both of you next to each other," she admitted, her voice catching a little. "I mean, you two look…" She gestured to the Pharaoh and Yugi. "I could…I could swear I was hallucinating right now."

They all laughed at that, but it was absolutely true. The Pharaoh and Yugi side-by-side were something out of science fiction; doppelgangers of each other, almost mirror-images, the scene was enough to make anyone's head spin.

The Pharaoh looked down at his hand, twisting it this way and that, then, though his arm felt like it was filled with sand, held it out. "Here."

"Huh?"

"You're not hallucinating. See for yourself."

"What? Oh! Um, really? Are you sure…I-I mean, okay…"Hesitantly, Téa reached out, not aware she was fiercely blushing up a storm. The instant before her hand closed around the Pharaoh's there was a terrifying moment when she believed her fingers would merely pass through, and it would all be some sort of illusion…But then her touch met flesh—real, solid, warm skin—and she let out the breath she was holding in an awed gasp. She squeezed his fingers gently, just to make sure, and laughed nervously when the Pharaoh squeezed back.

"Not a hallucination," the Pharaoh affirmed, smiling.

"It's…you're real," Téa breathed before she could stop herself. "I mean…You're really…" She hurriedly grasped Yugi's hand as well, just to make sure they were both truly separate and solid individuals. "I just…I can't believe it!"

Shaking his head, the Pharaoh withdrew his arm, which had begun to ache with the effort of holding it up. "Neither can I." he said. "Keichi is truly a genius."

There was a mystical silence that followed as Téa quite simply ran out of things to say, but couldn't do anything but stare at the marvel before her. Two Yugi's…yet they weren't. She could tell them apart easily the more she looked at them. But she couldn't tear her eyes away from the fact that this man, this clone, was now being animated by a spirit she once doubted existed…

"Um, Téa?"

She snapped out of her thoughts. "Huh?" She turned to Yugi.

All three of them were looking at her expectantly, and just a little awkwardly. Yugi was red in the face as he stumbled over his words. "Um, we kinda need you to…step outside for a bit, since the Pharaoh's…kinda…changing, and all…"

A fierce heat bloomed over Téa's cheeks in turn. "Oh!" Her voice jumped about an octave in her embarrassment. "Oh, yeah, right. Of course. Sorry. I'll just, um, do that and head out." She turned around and, trying to hide how red her face was becoming, hurried out the door, giving a brief apologetic bow before closing the door quietly.

The Pharaoh chuckled as Grandpa undid the bindings of the hospital gown. "Well handled, aibou," he said smoothly.

"Well, what would you have said?" Yugi retorted, still blushing. The Pharaoh only smirked.

"There we are. Just slip that off, son," Grandpa said, peeling open the gown. The Pharaoh quickly shed the material, glad to be rid of it, yet immediately discovered just how cold the metal table was on his bare skin. Yugi handed him his undergarments and pants first, which the Pharaoh accepted just as quickly. It took both of them to lift his legs through; his meager strength only allowed him to bring his leg up so far.

As the Pharaoh slipped on a simple T-shirt (Grandpa had previously suggested they put up with an easy wardrobe on the first day before looking into more fashionable designs) he noticed for the first time how skinny the clone body really was. Accessibility to nourishment, it seemed, was limited in labs.

It's definitely going to take some work to get me to normal, the Pharaoh remarked to himself.

Yugi suddenly appeared in front of him. "All right, how are you feeling? Think you can stand?"

At that moment, it hit the Pharaoh; This was Yugi in front of him, and they weren't in their soul rooms. This was the real, outside world, and here they were, facing each other, as separate individuals. And in that realization, he felt a conflict of emotions.

He was free.

He was alone.

"I'm…"

Yugi raised an eyebrow, waiting.

"I…just want to sleep for a month," the Pharaoh said truthfully.

A troubled look came over Yugi at that response, far from what the Pharaoh expected.

"Unfortunately, that might have to wait just a little bit, Pharaoh," said Grandpa, making his way around the table.

The Pharaoh frowned, turning to look at him. "What do you mean? Why not?"

"Well…" Yugi hesitated, trying to find the proper words. He glanced at his Grandpa, who shrugged. "To tell you the truth, you scared us at first, Pharaoh. We thought…you might not wake up. No, don't worry!" for as soon as Yugi had said that, a very familiar look of shock and worry crossed the Pharaoh's expression—one that was usually followed by hours of serious brooding and, occasionally, rash actions. "Everything should be fine now. But when the pods powered down, it took a while for us to get any response. At one point, it looked like you were going to wake up, but you…you almost fell back asleep. The Professor immediately told us to wake you up again, since there was the possibility your soul was…well, he said, 'rejecting the body'. If you had fallen asleep, your soul might never have settled."

The Pharaoh's brow furrowed deeper. "Are you saying my soul might have been…lost?"

"Keichi's not sure about anything yet," Grandpa said quickly. "He said there was a very good chance your soul might have just returned to the Puzzle."

It didn't sound very convincing. The Pharaoh didn't remember the first time he woke up, but bits and pieces were returning once Yugi told him about it. He had gotten a sense of being distant from the others at one point…

A chilly shiver suddenly swept through him. If the others had not managed to ground him…then…

"Well, in any case, your soul's definitely settled now." Yugi's voice pulled him back to the present. He gave a bright smile. "Professor Keichi says just keep you awake for a few hours, just to make sure. Then you can rest up all you want."

The Pharaoh softened at his partner's tone. Years of being linked had taught him much about the young duelist, and subsequently himself. Yugi was trying to sound confident for his sake, even though he was clearly affected by the situation. Yet, knowing the Pharaoh's tendency to act as a vengeful spirit, so to speak, he would pretend that he wasn't bothered to make it seem as if there was no need for serious action.

Was I really that harsh? The Pharaoh wondered. If so, then I've changed a great deal since the day I was awakened.

Before, he would have dismissed Yugi's attempts to placate him and spend days mulling over this potentially dangerous situation.

Now…

"That sounds good, Yugi," the Pharaoh replied, accidentally yawning right afterwards. Yugi stifled a laugh. "I think I can try to stay awake a little longer…" He leaned forwards, ready to be off the table, out of the room, and out of the lab.

"Just don't get annoyed if I keep poking you to wake you up," Yugi warned good-naturedly, putting one hand on his chest and slinging the Pharaoh's arm around his shoulders.

Grandpa chuckled, taking the Pharaoh's other side. "All right, let's get you boys home. It's been a very memorable day for all of us."

It was nearly midnight when the Mutos, all three of them, finally arrived back at the Game Shop. Yugi did end up having to prod awake a nodding off Pharaoh, but not as many times as he expected. The Pharaoh was practically dragged by Yugi and Grandpa into the shop, through the hallways, up the staircase, and into the bedroom, where he promptly collapsed onto his new bed. He sighed contentedly, the muscles in his face and back relaxing almost immediately.

"You chose well, aibou," he mumbled into the covers.

Yugi smiled as he turned on the desk lamp. "Glad you approve," he said.

Grandpa, meanwhile, removed a set of pajamas, bought just recently, from the Pharaoh's chest of drawers. "We bought you a set of night clothes, Pharaoh. You can change when you feel up to it."

"Give them to me when the next full moon has come and gone," the Pharaoh replied, adjusting his position on the bed.

"I'm afraid that's tomorrow," Grandpa informed him amusedly. The Pharaoh merely groaned in response.

Grandpa chuckled and set the pajamas on top of the desk. "All right, I understand. At least let me help you get under the covers. It gets pretty cold this time of year, you know."

"No, don't worry. I have enough strength to do that, at least," the Pharaoh said, already pushing himself up. He cast a weary eye over the grandfather, who looked nearly as worn as himself. "You ought to get some sleep as well, Grandpa."

Somehow, this struck Grandpa Muto as very funny, and he laughed heartily while the Pharaoh, in his exhaustion, could only look on, befuddled. "Yes, I suppose I am your grandpa now, aren't I? Properly, I mean."

It took the Pharaoh a couple of seconds to grasp his meaning. "Oh. Yes, I suppose so."

Grandpa grinned happily. "Sleep well, youngsters," he said. He padded out of the room and swung the door shut behind him, pausing a moment to take in the scene of his two grandsons sitting on their beds. A warm feeling trickled through him at the thought. He waved good-night, and closed the door with a soft click.

Yugi got out his own pajamas and went to change and brush his teeth. When he returned, the Pharaoh's pajamas were still on the desk, and the Pharaoh himself was drawing up the covers.

"Pajamas are still for tomorrow, then?" Yugi said playfully, tossing his old clothes into the hamper.

"More likely the night after," the Pharaoh sighed. He glanced at the clock. "Yugi, do you suppose it's been enough time?"

Yugi frowned thoughtfully. "I think so. You fell asleep just a little bit in the car earlier, and you didn't have too much difficulty waking up when I shook you. I'm sure Keichi was just worrying too much."

The Pharaoh nodded, and immediately closed his eyes. "Good night, then, Yugi," he murmured.

Yugi smiled, and turned out the light. The Pharaoh was already fast asleep, and Yugi was sure that even if he banged cymbals together all night, he wouldn't even twitch. He slid himself under the covers and took one last look at his other self—no, that wouldn't be appropriate now. The Pharaoh was his own person, no longer merely Yugi's double.

Keichi…what you've given us…Yugi's eyes drifted half-closed, but he tried to keep them open as long as he could…just to make sure. He almost didn't want to go to sleep for fear of waking up and discovering it had all been one long, elaborate dream.

"Welcome home, Pharaoh," he whispered, and closed his eyes.

Coiling, uncoiling, slithering to and fro, it waits, always waiting, always plotting, ever watching.

For months it had laid quiet, acting only in whispers. It had kept a careful eye on the situation, ensuring nothing was out of line. And now the main phase had finally come to pass.

It could have shivered with glee.

When the king had come, there were many times he was so close, it could have tasted his soul. Such immense power, just out of its reach…and it was its own for the taking. Ohhh, it took all of its will to merely hold itself back. Fierce, white-hot anger seethed through its own blackened soul each time it laid eyes on him, and if it were in any other situation, it would have struck instantly, mercilessly. But its anger was tempered with the great satisfaction that the king and his pitiful friends were completely, blissfully ignorant of everything.

There had been a close call…oh, yes, the soldier, the golden-haired guardian, that lapdog of the king's, he had nearly ruined everything. It was ironic; the soldier knew nothing, yet he was perhaps the smartest of them all for having suspicions. But it was no matter…Bless the king's double for his moronic faith and his ability to convince others to his cause. Somehow the situation had resolved itself, and the danger had passed.

And now…now the king had the body he had been waiting for, the chance to live life out of the cold, lonely prison he had been trapped inside for thousands of years. Trapped, and frustratingly out of reach. But no more. No more…

"Huh? Wha-?"

The shadow paused. Damn…its vessel was getting restless. Perhaps it had been too jubilant, too soon, and the vessel had noticed something…

Gently it brushed against the vessel's subconscious and left a suggestion. Return to slumber, it whispered. Your mind was simply playing tricks on you.

The vessel murmured something, then entered sleep once more.

The shadow waited a few minutes longer, then relaxed, returning its thoughts to the king. Everything was thus far perfect…should he continue forward now, while the king was weak like a newborn babe?

No…that would be too hasty. Things were not yet ready. Let the king rest, grow strong, and enjoy some time in his new body. It wanted him to be in his prime when it had its way with him…

What was the phrase the humans used? 'Revenge is best served cold'.

At that moment, the Leviathan couldn't agree more.