Chapter Two

Egypt

Thousands of miles from Domino City, an archaeological dig in Egypt was being shut down. Now that Kaiba had found the Millennium Puzzle pieces, he no longer cared about funding the archeological site. A few miles away from the site, two men snuck down alleys trying not to be seen by prying eyes.

"I don't like this," The mousey man who spoke was a long-time employee of Kaiba Corp. He rubbed his hands nervously, paranoid that they were being followed. He had a nervous habit of biting his thumb, which was now red and raw from his tick. He carried a gym bag that made clinking noises whenever he shifted suddenly. He held it tighter to himself to muffle the sound further.

"Shut up, you wanted to jump ship, right? Wasn't it you who wanted to give those Kaiba brothers the finger on your way out?" His companion was a local laborer who had been a part of the dig. His breath smelled of whatever liquor he had been drinking at the bar.

The man bringing up the rear had been loyal to the Kaiba Corporation for more than five years. The company had been good to him until he had been selected to oversee the dig project in Egypt. He had been chosen because of his language skills and experience working with foreign governments. At first, he'd thought it would be fun, a nice vacation away from his teenagers and nagging wife, but it had quickly lost its luster as the dig dragged on for weeks and the fire kept raining down from his employer. Mr. Mokuba himself had been overseeing the entire project, a fact which irked him. He hated having someone his son's age bark orders at him as if he were a dog.

I need to learn to keep my mouth shut. The mouse-man said. The pair had met at the local pub where he had been loudly swearing his drunk mouth off to the Kaiba brothers. At first, when the Egyptian introduced himself to him at the bar – What was his name again? – it had sounded like a great idea to steal a few items from the dig site. The Kaiba brothers didn't care about the other things anyway. The artifacts they found were made of solid gold; they would fetch a fine price on the black market, which was booming in a town like this. It would help cushion the severance package he expected when he turned in his resignation letter.

But now, as he carried the things through the seedier and seedier parts of town, the courage that he had gained from the cheap beer was wearing off.

"Yeah, but…" The smell from the alley was starting to burn his nostrils. He scrunched his face in disapproval. "Who are these people anyway?"

"They are not friends of Kaiba Corp, that's all. They're willing to buy those things from you, so what's the big deal?" They came to a door that looked like the back entrance to a trendy nightclub. The Egyptian knocked, a slot in the door opened and beady eyes peered out for a brief second before they could hear sounds of chains and locks being opened from the other side of the door.

Walking into the hallway, they were led by two massive men down narrow stairs. They were being led away from the thump thump of the dance floor towards a quiet secluded basement office.

Like in every cliché mobster movie, someone was sitting behind a large desk surrounded by men who looked violent and armed. Unlike in the movies, however, sat a young woman. She wasn't an Egyptian, but other than that, her features were not forthright in her heritage. She was pretty. Her face looked as if her cheeks had been sculpted by a razor blade. Her mouth was lush and full, but it was her eyes that scared him. They reminded him of the eyes of a shark who smelled blood in the water. Her blue eyes zeroed in on the bag he was carrying, and he gulped, biting the inside of his cheek instead of his thumb. She made a dismissive gesture with her hand, and one of her goons reached into his coat pocket.

To his relief, it wasn't a gun, but it was a large wad of cash, which he threw to his Egyptian companion.

"You've done your part. Now scram," The thug said, and the men shooed him out the door.

He stood silent and scared. He hoped it wasn't obvious his legs were shaking. I've been set up! He lured me here!

"Have a seat," she said as soon as he was gone. Her voice was as sharp as her features.

He did as he was told.

"Open the bag,"

Complying, he opened his gym duffle and made the mouth wide so all its contents were visible.

"Only three?"

Was it not good enough? Inside sat three ancient, golden artifacts—a round ball with an eye, a strange-looking staff, and a necklace. Any museum worth its salt would have paid top dollar to have them on display. They had already been dated as being more than five thousand years old. He'd overheard the archeologist claiming they were probably used in religious rituals. Any one of them would have been worth tens of thousands, maybe more, if no similar artifact was found. People paid millions to be the owner of a rare, individual item.

"T—The others were being analyzed. I only got these because they weren't being watched,"

She doesn't want me to go back there, does she? It was hard enough getting the ones I brought!

She took the ball-shaped item in her hand and looked it over, scrutinizing it.

"They're the real deal," He spit out.

"Oh, I know," she said casually. "If they were not, I would have killed you and fed your body to the dogs,"

A shiver ran down his spine. He had no trouble believing her. She would probably enjoy watching it, too; he doubted she would do it herself.

"Good," she said, placing the item back in his bag and nodding to someone behind him. Before he could respond, one of her goons lifted the bag from his lap, taking his leverage away from him.

"Hey—

But a firm hand slammed him back into the seat from which he had been rising. The fingers digging into his left shoulder felt like cold iron, the size of German sausages.

"You'll be compensated, not to worry," She clicked her tongue at him like an evil stepmother from a twisted fairy tale.

"But I—

She shh'd him.

"Now, now," she purred. "You'll be rewarded for your treachery, don't worry,"

A lump of cash, smaller than what the other man had received, fell on his lap.

A scream suddenly erupted from the ceiling window that shared the wall with the basement office. His heart started to beat wildly. He suspected that the screams had come from his recent travel partner.

What have I done? He thought, too frightened to move.

Domino City - Kaiba Corp Stadium

"Now, Yugi, be gone!" The demon in front of Yugi taunted him as he was brought down to his knees.

I must keep fighting…

Yugi's body groaned in protest, begging him to stop, to give up, to rest. He groaned.

Against his will, Yugi's vision started to blur and dance in and out of focus. He drew a card, but he couldn't say if it were a monster, trap, or magic card.

I still believe…in the heart…

Any trickling light that had been bright around him now dimmed, making the darkness more substantial and heavier. The air was tighter and thinner in his chest. Was he falling? He couldn't tell. The world went sideways. Loosely, Yugi realized that he must be collapsing as his tenacity was carried away.

Of the cards….

Yugi's heart was beating rapidly, pumping epinephrine through his veins, struggling to keep him alive. Purple shadows ate away at his body, deteriorating his life into ash and soot.

I think I'm dying…

The Millennium Puzzle felt heavy and cumbersome on his chest. When had he put it on? He couldn't remember. Everything was blended together in a hybridized span of time.

Yugi fell sideways and started to close his eyes. Rest…for just a moment… Rest... No! He couldn't, he could never give up, but his legs could no longer hold up his body weight. Standing had become impossible. He was falling slowly as if lowered by a benevolent and loving hand. Before he could hit the ground and collapse completely, as he struggled to inhale, Yugi was washed in warmth and sunlight. A hammer of luminous sunlight of cosmic proportions bathed Yugi. He had no idea where it came from, but was relieved as air refilled his lungs and strength was restored to his muscles. He was standing again, but he wasn't alone.

Yugi!

It was Atem's voice! He knew it from anywhere. Yugi's name being spoken by his old partner filled his heart—that old familiar sense of shared consciousness in his soul animated Yugi. The deep bass of his speech gave Yugi assurance that he wasn't going to die, not now, not here. Yugi watched through the Pharaoh's eyes as Atem raised his arms and began to summon a monster.

"This can't be! The Pharaoh has returned!" Diva screamed.

Atem said nothing in response to Diva's proclamation, as if this beast was less than worthy of his time. He looked every bit as confident as a Pharaoh should look. Atem willed the monster he needed to appear at the top of Yugi's deck. He summoned a monster Yugi had never seen before. Instinctively, Yugi knew it was the Dark Magician, but it was the magician of the ancient past of Egypt. Mahado's magic hit Diva with a force he could not withstand, like a mountain being blown apart by dynamite. Diva's darkness and monster were simultaneously obliterated, and Diva himself, now freed from his demonic prison, was thrown back until he disappeared completely, his screams radiating throughout the stadium. Yugi had no idea where he had gone.

Kaiba returned from the Shadows. Light in the form of dust sprinkled down on everyone, bringing everyone back from wherever Diva had banished them. Yugi glanced at Jounouchi, Anzu, and the others.

Together, Yugi and Atem gripped the chain of the Puzzle in their hands. Yugi felt Atem's consciousness started to disentangle from his own, leaving them both separated and staring at each other. Nothing was said between them, but Atem was smiling. Yugi initially thought it was a greeting, but later when he recalled the moment, he thought better of it.

It was a replacement for the goodbye that they never had.

Yugi smiled back.

Atem looked healthy and strong, and the confidence that he always carried was still with him. Atem looked happy. Yugi realized now that he and Atem were almost the same height, almost a mirror image of himself. Yugi didn't know what Atem thought of Yugi as they stared at each other, but Yugi nodded both in greeting and appreciation.

Atem touched the Puzzle at the eye, a bright light showed through the puzzle's seams, and then it disintegrated, leaving nothing behind. The Millennium Puzzle was no more. Never to be used again.

Atem's disappearance quickly followed it. His essence was going back to wherever he resided in the afterlife.

Goodbye partner…

"Yugi, you actually saw the Pharaoh?" Jounochi's voice was awed and envious.

"Mm-hmm. Yeah, and it was great seeing him again,"

"How's he doing?" Anzu asked. There was still love for Atem in her heart, Yugi could see it on her face and hear it in her voice. Yugi's heart gave a slight lurch of sadness, but it was drowned out by the happiness of seeing his partner again.

"Good," Was all Yugi could reply. Atem and Yugi hadn't said much after all. Their entire "conversation" was through non-verbal expressions. But they didn't need words; they could still read each other's minds, even after a year of separation.

"So, be honest. He asked all about me, didn't he?" Jounochi broke the potential awkward moment before it could gain traction.

"Oh, please!" Honda drawled.

"Sure he did," Bakura said in a consoling tone.

"He wished us well," Yugi said, which was true. He saw it in Atem's face and expression. He knew Atem wanted Yugi and the others to care for each other, even if words hadn't been shared.

An arrogant voice spoke up from behind Yugi.

"I said he'd be back,"

Yugi turned to see Kaiba and Mokuba walk up to their gathering.

"Hate to say I told you so, but… I told you so," Was it Yugi's imagination, or was Kaiba's voice almost…giddy?

"You were right," Yugi acknowledged Kaiba's prediction with grace. "I thought the Pharaoh would never return, but you never stopped believing,"

Kaiba nodded thoughtfully.

"Hmm. You have your bond with him… and I have mine," Kaiba turned away from them to leave. "Take care, Yugi. Until our paths cross once again,"

In Kaiba's way, Yugi thought that perhaps Kaiba had finally started to see him as a friend too. Yugi was grateful for Kaiba and the effort and endeavors he had gone through to bring Atem back, however misguided and selfish their inception was.

"Till next time,"

…

Less than a week later, Yugi stood at the podium giving the valedictorian's graduation speech to Domino High School. The events at Kaiba Corps Stadium had been overlooked by the media and eyewitnesses. Those who were in the stadium that day never spoke of the duel. When asked, they only recalled Yugi and Kaiba playing a normal game of duel monsters. No trans-dimensional monsters were ever recalled. Kaiba's confused employees tracked the audience for corroborating evidence of the Shadow Game, but none could be found. They were met with only blank and befuddled looks. Any video evidence that might have existed showed nothing but snow and audible feedback. Kaiba, Jounochi, Anzu, Bakura, and Honda were the only ones who saw everything for what it truly was.

It seemed, once again, a near world-ending event would pass through people's minds with no great commotion or attention.

Yugi's mind returned to his speech.

Looking out over the audience, Yugi saw Anzu's eyes tearing up as he spoke. Was it pride on her face? He thought so. Who would have thought that with everything going on, Yugi would manage to graduate with the top scores in the school? Jounochi's and Honda's own tears were loud and distracting. Concluding his speech, Yugi mentally exhaled. It was done. Everything was finished. Perhaps Yugi could put everything behind him now.

They celebrated their graduation, gleefully throwing their diplomas up in the air. Yugi's grandpa and mom wrapped him in hugs and well-wishes.

"So, what now?" Jounochi said as everyone started to walk away from the school campus. The events of the day winded down from a joyful, boisterous celebration rich in ceremony to a joined murmur of farewells and goodbyes.

"I think we need to celebrate Anzu," Bakura said, patting her on the back. "You leave next month, right?"

She nodded, excitement zipping through her. She was doing it. She was finally starting to work on her dream of becoming a professional dancer. All of her hard work, her part-time jobs, her practicing, her blood, sweat, and tears were starting to produce tangible results.

Yugi's face was proud, but it was also laced with sober sadness. He watched her, not paying attention to the words being said between her and their other friends. Anzu was leaving, only to return when her schedule allowed for it. The two of them had never lived further than a few blocks from each other since they were small kids. Anzu had gotten into a coveted program at Julliard College in New York where she would study art in dance. The world was limitless for her after that.

"Yugi?" Anzu asked, "Is that ok?"

"Huh?" Yugi's face flushed in embarrassment, and his throat sunk into his stomach. Everyone was looking at him. "Oh, yeah, that's fine. Why not?" He had no idea what he had just agreed to.

"Ok," she said, giving Yugi a knowing wink.

What the hell just happened?

Anzu walked away to meet with her parents, who waved at her from across the school courtyard. When Yugi waved a casual hello to them, they both gave Yugi a slightly disapproving and completely dismissive glance, which surprised him. Before now, they had always looked at Yugi with a disarmed, kind countenance. What had changed? He struggled to recall what the last encounter he had with them was like.

"What's their deal?" Jounochi said, wrapping his arm around Yugi's shoulder in commemoration. He'd noticed the weird exchange too. Sugoroku and Yugi's mom were engaged in a conversation with Honda and Bakara, who ignored the exchange between them.

"Uh, I dunno," Yugi said.

"Whatever man, don't let it bother you," Jounochi's face became sly and conniving. "Anyway, good for you Yugi,"

"Whaddya mean?" Yugi felt his face heat up.

"You know," Jounochi elbowed him in the arm, his voice became a knowing 'atta boy' tone. "That thing between you and Anzu just now,"

"What are you talking about?"

"Are you serious Yuge?"

Stilted panic started to rise in Yugi's chest.

"What? What?! What did I say?"

Jounochi shook his head and patted Yugi's shoulder.

"You were in your own little world," Jounochi said kindly. "Thinking about Atem again?"

"No," Yugi said dismissively. He hadn't been. For the first time in a long time, Yugi had gone almost a week without thinking about his old partner. "What did I say?"

"You said you would go with Anzu to pick up her roommate in a few days," Yugi's face was confused. "…To go with her to meet her American friend who's gonna fly with her to New York next month," Yugi vaguely remembered Anzu talking excitedly about meeting the roommate she would have at Julliard. She had told him about it during one of their morning walks. Which we won't do anymore… It had just occurred to Yugi that their weekday ritual had ended with their graduation. This American girl was flying in from Singapore where her family was stationed and would complete the journey to New York with Anzu.

"What's the big deal?" Yugi said. It wasn't like he and Anzu hadn't gone touring around Domino alone before. They had been doing that their whole childhood.

"Come on man,"

Yugi was getting annoyed. It must have hit Jounochi that he was getting on Yugi's nerves because he changed his tone.

"Anzu was asking you out on a date," Jounochi said triumphantly, his arms crossed in false sage-like wisdom.

"No, she wasn't," Yugi shrugged him off. "She just wants someone she knows to be there to help her meet—

"Meet someone that she definitely needs an escort for. Come on Yuge," Jounochi looked at Yugi like a slow third grader. "Anzu was looking forward to spending some more time with you. Alone,"

"We won't be alone," Yugi countered. "Her friend will be there,"

"Who will only be with the two of you for half a day, other half is up to you. Anzu said that her friend was planning on relaxing the rest of the day,"

"It's not a date," Yugi said adamantly. "Anzu doesn't— she – she…" But he could feel the heat in his face. He was blushing, as he always did when any romantic thought came to Anzu. She had winked at him after all, did that mean something or was he reading too much into it?

She loves Atem. Not me.

"If you say so man," Jounochi punched Yugi affectionately in the arm. "If you say it ain't a date, it ain't," Jounochi knew a little bit about how Yugi felt about Anzu, but he had no idea how deep Yugi's affections for her truly were or how complicated the love triangle was between them. "But if you ask me… Coming from a guy as dense as me, that looked like a date,"

Nothing more was said about the impending rendezvous.

They all went their separate ways with promises to meet up later that evening for games and junk food at Bakura's house.

Yugi lay in his bed at home, staring at his ceiling, exhausted from the day's events. He wished he had Atem to talk to about this. With his memories restored to him, he could have given Yugi advice. Of course, he had been Pharaoh; he had probably had a lot of experience with women.

Heat started to fill his cheeks again.

As Pharaoh, he probably had harems of women…Yugi blushed even harder and pulled his pillow over his head, trying to shake the thought before it became a visual picture. He definitely did not need that image in his mind. He was close to Atem, but he didn't need to be that close. Thinking about his friend's sex life made him cringe.

"Yugi?" His mother's voice rang through the door to his room. A knock on his door gave him half a warning as she let herself in. "Are you ok, dear?"

"I'm fine mom," Sitting up, he gave her a half-smile. He hoped she didn't stay long. It was always a little awkward between him and his mom. It wasn't that he didn't love her; he did, but he had always been closer to his grandfather. They had more in common and it had been Sugoroku who had introduced Yugi to the joy of games. His mom was always a little bewildered by them. She didn't understand games and the gaming world. To him, she always seemed a little annoyed at their shared fascination. What did she expect? She had married a professional gambler who happened to own a gaming shop with his father. Yugi's father had died in a car accident when he was three, before he could form a solid memory of him. Since then, it was just the three of them, Sugoroku, Kaoru, and Yugi, and their little game shop.

It had been Sugoroku who had given Yugi the puzzle box, the one thing that got Yugi started on his destiny to duel the Shadows. A sort of alliance had naturally formed between Sugoroku and Yugi because of Yugi's adventures with Atem. Sugoroku had seen things as they were and had accepted that truth. As a result, Kaoru was protected and ignorant of the dangers they had fought against in the past.

"Ok, Yugi," she looked like she was about to say something to him, but she thought better of it. Her expression changed from intentional to soft appreciation. She hum'd to herself.

"I'm so proud of you, Yugi," she finally said, smiling at him. "And I love you,"

Bewildered for the second time that day, Yugi said, "I love you too mom,"

...

Yugi swayed back and forth on his feet, looking at his watch. Anzu hadn't arrived at the airport yet. He had gotten there early to work out some of the nervous energy that had built up since Jounochi had insinuated Anzu wanted to go with him on a date. He didn't expect her to get here for another thirty min–

"Yugi!"

He froze.

"H-Hey Anzu!" He said a little too loudly when he spotted her from across the busy arrival gate. He waved to her. Am I waving too awkwardly? Does it look weird? He lowered his hand.

She ran over to him and gave him a glomping hug. Her hair smelled sweet, her body firm and strong. Yugi's spine tingled. He didn't have to look in a mirror to see that he was blushing again. Returning her hug and then quickly pushing her away, he turned and looked at the 'ARRIVING' board next to them.

"So when is your friend getting here?"

Not noticing anything strange, she looked at the incoming flights.

"She lands in about 20 minutes. You're here early," she said, bumping her hip with his.

"Yeah, well, you know...early bird, worms, ya know," You sound like an idiot.

"Thank you for coming to greet her with me," she said with genuine care.

"No problem," Get a hold of yourself. He had already agreed to himself that if this was a potential date, he was going to navigate it carefully. They had so much between them. Had shared memories that most people didn't have, near-death experiences and magic battles notwithstanding. Anzu's behavior at the graduation party at Bakura's house was no different than what was normal for her. They had all laughed, talked about their futures, and probably drank too much.

They had even played Dungeons and Dragons, Bakura's favorite game. This time, without having their souls and minds trapped in their characters. Yugi didn't completely remember how, but at some point, Bakura had ended up in a cardboard box that was cut up to look like a holding pen marked with the word JAIL in sharpie. Jounouchi was using a remote like a microphone acting like a game narrator, and Yugi was playing with paper money like he was the Monopoly Man. Honda had started to pass out and was laying on the game board, trying to make the world stop spinning. Yugi had vague images of Anzu laughing her ass off and Bakura's fan club crashing their game at the end of the night.

Yugi and Jounochi had helped to stumble Honda back home and get in bed before his dad had realized his son was blackout drunk. Anzu had promised to message them in their text chain when she was home safely.

After his hangover had (mostly) worn off -I will never drink that much ever again, Yugi met Jounochi and Honda to talk about the idea of moving into a shared apartment between the three of them. Honda and Jounochi both wanted to leave their homes and be on their own as soon as possible. Honda's dad was a factory worker, who worked the third shift and expected Honda to join him. Jounochi's dad…was a violent and mean drunk. Yugi couldn't blame them for wanting to escape. Bakura, who planned on visiting his mom in Britain next year, had no interest in joining their apartment conversation.

"We should all get a place together," Jounochi had said casually before everyone got too drunk the night before. "Why not?"

As so it was.

After an afternoon, each of them drew up plans on living arrangements for their future place. Having a reliable income to pay rent had been the most important hurdle.

Thinking of maybe being in his own (sort of) place, away from prying, curious (old) eyes gave Yugi some confidence that maybe he could build something meaningful between him and Anzu. Maybe he could talk to her about Atem and not feel like a second fiddle. He had arrived to the airport early, hoping to talk with Anzu a little bit before being interrupted.

"Look, Anzu I wanted to ask—

A loud, annoying announcement went off over the intercom detailing updated flight arrivals.

"Oh look!" Anzu pointed at the board. "Her flight got here early, let's go!"

I guess my talk with her will have to wait…

Grabbing Yugi's hand, she dragged him across the airport. Anzu was still holding his hand when they arrived at the baggage claim.

"There she is! Hey!"

A very pretty girl waved back at Anzu. The two young women squealed and hugged in a bouncing embrace that only girls could do. How do girls just do that? She was an American, a little shorter than Yugi and held wavy blond curls on her head, which rolled with every little movement. She looked like someone's younger, more fit and petite, kid sister. Yugi had a hard time believing this girl was going to be in college.

Look at the pot calling the kettle black…Yugi thought wryly.

When the two girls got done fawning over each other – "I'm so glad we finally get to meet!" – Anzu turned to Yugi.

"Amy, this is my friend I told you about. This is Yugi. Yugi, this is Amy,"

"Oh, here you are," Amy said, practically cooing. "When I found out my roommate was your good friend, I could hardly believe my luck! I was going to get to meet a celebrity!" Amy shook Yugi's hand with such force that it moved his entire arm.

"A B-list celebrity, maybe," Yugi thought humbly. Sure, he was a big deal in the gaming and duelist world, but he wasn't that famous.

"Oh no, Yugi, you're no B-list celebrity. Did you have any idea that you're in the running for—

Anzu cleared her throat. Something passed between the two girls, obviously straining to keep some secret, leaving Yugi confused.

"Oh, right," Amy said, flustered. "Oh, I am just so glad to meet you!"

"It's nice to meet you too, Amy," Yugi said politely, starting to feel a little uncomfortable. He had never been entirely comfortable with the titles and attention he and Atem had inadvertently collected over their time together. Amy was still holding his hand from their introduction.

"Yugi," Amy said, looking up at him.

Hmm. Yugi thought. It's kind of nice to be looked up to for a change.

"Yeah?"

"Would you duel me?"

For context between Chapters 1 and 2 and the referenced duel, watch Yugioh: The Dark Side of Dimensions.

Yugi's mother's name is made up by me. I got tired of only calling her 'Yugi's mom'

The dungeons and dragons image I described is an actual artwork I found on DeviantArt. It's pretty hilarious.