A/N: Many probably remember this story - at least bits. In truth I removed it when I lost full inspiration for it, but as you can see I've gained it back. The story is entirely finished now and I'll be posting a new chapter each week :)

Please let me know how y'all like it! ^-^

-D.R Fullwood

The Start of a New Life [Introduction]

Silence continued to fall. Yugi continued to sob in his place as he remained on his hands and knees. The Pharaoh stood before him, his feelings very mixed. Yugi had won the duel and by doing so had set him free. Now he could return to his ancient past, yet seeing the one he's shared a body with for years, the one who grew a strong bond with him, his best friend, the Pharaoh wasn't so thrilled upon returning now. The monsters on the dueling field were long gone but there still held a strong tension in the Pharaoh's tomb. He himself felt a sudden wave of reluctance now. He finally walked over to his prior vessel and knelt down to put a hand on his shoulder. Concern was etched in his features as he tried to find words to say. In the end, all he got out was a 'Yugi' before the little one had thrown himself at him, clutching desperately at the back of his jacket. The action made the Pharaoh speechless. His violet eyes remained wide as his mouth remained partially opened. Yugi continued to sob into his chest and the Pharaoh instinctively wrapped his arms tightly around the shaking body.

"It's alright Yugi." He tried to assure but Yugi only sobbed harder into him.

"I don't want you to go!"

He finally wailed out in a muffle due to his face being pressed into the Pharaoh's chest. The Pharaoh knew Yugi didn't want him to go, but it was the only way everything can be settled. Things can be placed back in their rightful orders.

"I have too, Yugi. I don't belong in this world."

"You can! You can live a new life, you won't have to go!"

The Pharaoh sighed and soon looked over to the corner of his eye where a brilliant shine of white light came. The doorway was opening; his heart clenched, but was it because he desperately wanted to return or now that he was reluctant in doing so? Sure, he finally knew where he came from. He knew the people, the friends he had back in ancient Egyptian time. He knew of his actual name now. It used to be a phantom circling around him in taunt for ages, but now it felt amazing knowing who he truly was. However, now that he knew and was willing to go back, is that truly the right choice? Yes, he was a Pharaoh, but maybe Yugi was right and that he could make anew here with all of his new friends. It'd be different, very different, but was there a possible way? The millennium items wouldn't be sealed fully, but they'd be kept safe in his tomb. However, the very thought in staying to have a new life seemed almost selfish on his part. He needed to return to seal away the seven items permanently, but he'd also be selfish in returning back to his home and leaving those that he's grown attached to in this world behind. Yugi was the prime example of that. It broke the Pharaoh's heart to see such sadness and reluctance in the sophomore teenager. Could he truly leave his friend behind?

"My Pharaoh," Ishizu's calm voice was heard and it forced the Pharaoh and Yugi to both look at her with matching violet irises.

"I understand how hard this must be for you, however if you do not leave now while the door is opened then you will be forced to live a mortal life in this world. You won't be able to return to your past."

At that, Yugi twitched in the Pharaoh's arms. He looked down and saw Yugi pleading with him through the psychic bond that they shared. The Pharaoh sighed and brushed his hand over Yugi's flushed cheek to wipe his tears away.

"Atem," Yugi whispered out and his eyes widened a bit. It was the first time Yugi's addressed him by his actual name rather a title.

"You've given me so much over the years. I've met people who have become my friends and you've always helped me when I needed it. I know you need to go back, but I…I can't let you go. You're the closest thing to a big brother I've ever had. I don't want to lose you."

Yugi's words touched Atem in more ways than one. Atem never sought himself out as being this figure of a big brother for Yugi. Atem just felt that they were friends, but apparently he's taken a different role with Yugi, one that even Atem can understand Yugi's reluctance. Atem looked over to the Kaiba brothers. The older one, Seto, he remained unreadable as his arms remained crossed over his torso. However, the little one, Mokuba, his grey eyes were glistening, obviously understanding where Yugi was coming from.

Atem's eyes then drifted to Yugi's grandfather. Solomon Muto may seem alive now, but come a year or two he could be gone and Yugi would have no family. Granted, Atem wasn't blood, but apparently he was the closest thing to family Yugi has outside of his grandfather. Followed by the gaze at Solomon, Atem saw Joey Wheeler and remembered that he too was an elder brother. He knew just by Joey and Serenity's interactions that they were a team to be reckoned with and were the others strength and support. He knew Serenity was Joey's best friend – his number one.

Sometimes Atem's felt that with Yugi, it may also explain why now he was very reluctant in going home, but was that really his home anymore? What if this was his home now? Being locked away for five millennia he wouldn't know, but he did know where most of his heart was at this very moment. He swallowed and looked back down at Yugi. His tears still were falling but Yugi finally pulled from Atem reluctantly.

"I'm being selfish," he finally said.

"You need to do what you have to do, I know that and I'm keeping you for my own selfishness."

He sobbed and tried to clear his face from the still running tears by scraping his eyes with his jacket-covered arms. Atem couldn't help but to give a small smile to him.

"There's a difference between what I want to do and what I need to do, Yugi." He pointed out and that confused the teenager a bit. His brows knitted upward.

Atem looked over to the Ishtar siblings, Ishizu and Marik. "What will happen to the items if I don't go back?" He finally asked and that question alone made both of them look surprised.

"I'm…I'm not sure," Marik finally said. "I suppose they'd remain here untouched and the tomb keepers would keep them in isolation."

"My Pharaoh, if I may, why the question and why choose now to ask it when your time in deciding your fate is quickly ticking away?"

Ishizu's voice seemed alarmed at this, but Atem knew he was wasting time. The doorway would more than likely start to close at any moment now and he was nowhere near the entrance. He still remained knelt down on the old stone and across from the still crying Yugi, who now looked more confused, but soon understood and then spoke out.

"You can't! I won't let you do this for me, Atem. You need to go back; you've always wanted to go back!"

Atem's eyes drifted to Yugi then, "I wanted to know who I was. That was always what I wanted. I wanted my identity and now I have it. If I returned then I'd be going to a foreign place, Yugi. True, my memories have returned and I know who I am, but that isn't what I want to do. You've shown me a whole new world, a world that I can be a part of. The seven millennium items are back where they belong, who's to say if I even went back that they'd remain safe? It has been proven that anything can happen at any given rate."

Of course, he was being optimistic now. "Yugi, I am not the same person that I was when I was Pharaoh. I thought I wanted to go back, but now I see that it's not where I'm supposed to be."

Yugi blinked then, "What kind of brother would I be to you if I left you behind?" He could see the excitement in Yugi but he also sensed his worry.

"You're…you're sure you wanna stay? I mean grandpa will adopt you and you can have the title King of Games, I mean I really don't want it. I just like the game and—,"

Atem started to chuckle at Yugi's rambling. "I suppose we should have discussed all this beforehand, shouldn't we?"

A blush crept onto Yugi's cheeks then. "Well, I…thought you wanted to go back and I thought I was going to be okay with it. It's different when it's actually happening."

"Yes, it is," he agreed and soon got to his feet.

He stared at the doorway numbly and then helped Yugi up to his feet. "So it's been decided then, my Pharaoh?"

Atem turned to look at Ishizu and he smiled small to her and Marik and Odion. "I'd prefer Atem, it sounds less formal," he said in his answer and saw the three of them smile back at him.

Ishizu nodded, "Then it has been decided, Atem."

The doorway was closing. Atem instantly turned around and could feel Yugi's nerves picking up. The newly added Muto only put a hand on Yugi's shoulder to assure him that this is what he wanted. He watched the door close, the past shining behind the light ending quickly. Atem took that moment to say goodbye to his old life with a heavy heart.

"Well this little show's been cute, but I've got a business to run." Seto's husked voice finally was heard and everyone turned to stare in his direction.

"Part of me feels you let Yugi win too," he added and Atem slanted his eyes a bit.

"I didn't."

"Either way, I know who my real rival is. Just because you have your own name now doesn't make you any less of an opponent to me. I knew reclaiming my title as Champion wouldn't have been that easy for me…"

To end his sentence, Seto smirked and looked down to Mokuba. "Let's get going, Mokuba. I've wasted enough time here. Atem," he looked back at the taller Muto.

"I'll be seeing you on the field. So enjoy your little welcoming party, because it won't take long for me to reclaim what's rightfully mine."

Atem only nodded and they locked eyes for a few moments. Seto was the one to break the connection and quickly made a beeline for the exit with his little brother at his heels after saying bye to everyone.

From there, things took an energetic change.

Joey, Téa and Tristan all cheered and rushed up to welcome their friend into this world. Joey's arm was tightly around Atem's shoulders as he announced he'd take him to all the best eats Domino had to offer. Tristan then appeared on his other side and did the same action, both bodies nearly squishing Atem in the process, and said he'd introduce him to the fun life in arcades. Atem was pretty surprised by their warm welcome, but he enjoyed it nevertheless. The two guys finally released him and Atem looked over to Téa, who was wiping her wet eyes with her hands.

"I'm just so glad I didn't have to say goodbye to you. I didn't think I could handle losing you as a friend, Atem."

The man blinked expressionlessly but soon smiled small to her, "You never would have, Téa." He assured and she smiled brightly to him.

"Well c'mon boys, the quicker we get to Domino then the quicker I can start having another grandson!" Solomon spoke in his aged voice but Atem's eyes widened.

Wow, he was really going to accept him that quickly? Yugi was beaming at the bits and looked up to Atem, "Ready to start your new life?"

Atem pondered that for a moment, touched by everyone around him. They are all accepting him as if he's been around since the very start. In some ways, he has been but not by Atem but a different altered Yugi Muto. It was different being accepted as Atem rather than as the 'Other Yugi', but it was a good feeling all the same. He nodded and ruffled Yugi's hair with a little smile.

"I am, but are you sure you can handle me as a brother?" He teased lightly and the littler version of himself only laughed.

"You bet!"

A Few Weeks Later

It was an odd thing falling into a routine. Normally Atem would remain in his soul chamber in the puzzle, but now the puzzle was long gone. It's been a few weeks since their return from Egypt. Atem took in the guest bedroom as his own while Yugi continued to remain in his room he's had for years. Solomon Muto was quick to get Atem adopted. It was mostly so Atem had some form of record rather than just appearing out of the blue like he basically did. Yugi was curious if Atem would even attend school but Solomon mentioned that it may be wise for Atem to just go for his GED. It'd be less of a story to tell and how story got back to anyone who's asked, Atem was in fact Yugi's older brother that was homeschooled due to helping their grandfather out at home. It was Joey who brought up how to explain the whole famous title being Yugi's but Atem was the face for it all. They were definitely left wondering that but Seto Kaiba had created a story for them.

He had announced that Yugi Muto was a fraud and that his true enemy is Atem Muto. With the name broadcasted out, many questions have arisen in wonder of why Atem went under Yugi's name rather his own. Kaiba didn't state the facts, he just said that Atem was the one who showed up at the arena when Kaiba had accepted the challenge to duel Yugi and he assumed it was him but word finally got out that he was only using Yugi's name as a cover. It wasn't the best but it was better than what they could have thought up. It was Téa who brought up if questions continued to come more at Atem and Yugi that Atem took Yugi's place due to their uncanny resemblance since Yugi fell ill and was battling an illness but didn't want to lose the chance in dueling in a tournament. It made sense and Yugi agreed to it, he was actually happy he didn't have that fame anymore. It came with far too much attention. Of course Atem didn't enjoy it that much either, but he handled it better than Yugi ever could.

So hype got around that Yugi's "older brother" has been secretly dueling in his place and the real champion was Atem Muto. Again, it was a better story than anyone else could think up.

As well as to that, Solomon was surprised at how much of a big help Atem had become since he's came to live with them. Being a quick study, he's managed in helping with running the game shop to cleaning and cooking as well as getting Yugi up and out of bed each morning for school. Unlike Yugi, Atem was an early riser. He balanced all that out and still went to night classes to prep for his GED, which he gained a short of two weeks after starting classes. Atem actually aced it. He remembered the times he'd poke around when Yugi was in school and would actually listen to the teacher's lectures and so on out of pure interest and curiosity. Not to mention, he was highly intelligent and once he got the hang of it he was good to go.

In the span of a month or two Atem began to actually leave more often and hang out with Yugi or their other friends. He at first was slowly growing used to the whole new life ordeal and didn't wanna leave the comfort of the home until he was ready for it. Since he was coming out more, he actually walked with Yugi to school and would even walk to the building just to walk home with him. According to Yugi, a few of his classmates think Atem's really attractive and keep bugging him for Atem's number. Atem looked uncomfortable there.

"So girls that I don't even know are wanting my number because I'm attractive? I wonder if they'd run if I told them I was a 5,000 year old spirit," he joked and Yugi only shook his head.

"Hey, that's the old you. Now you're eighteen-year-old Atem Muto."

Atem nodded in agreement, "True, but I could still say it and see how many leave you alone."

Yugi laughed, "Oh, then I'd get harassed for other things like if you're crazy or something!"

"Ah, so no out for you? Sorry about that."

Yugi then fell silent as they walked home that day. He wondered something and then finally asked, "That…Mana from your past," he asked in reference to the magician girl, (oddly a striking resemblance to Dark Magician Girl with a few different aspects), "Was she your girlfriend?"

Atem blinked at that and looked down to Yugi. "She was my friend," he replied honestly and stared ahead again.

"I honestly don't know if we ever had a romantic relationship. If I would have had to marry someone back then it probably would have been her if I had a say in it," he added in and shrugged.

"Are you questioning my sexuality?" He asked seriously and Yugi shrugged, "It's just…Téa I think likes you in that sense but you don't seem to really show interest in anyone."

"She likes you," he pointed out. "I mean, yes, she likes me, but it's you she's always liked. If we both asked her out on a date, hypothetically speaking, I strongly feel she'd accept your offer before she does mine."

Yugi pursed his lips then with a soft 'hmm' and then Atem spoke up, "I'm not attracted to anyone at the moment. At least I don't think I am. I've been focusing more on adapting than I am getting involved with someone."

Yugi nodded then, "Alright, but I have to approve of anyone you date, no matter the gender, okay?"

Atem blinked and looked to see Yugi beaming but he smiled in return and nodded, "Deal."

The brothers high fived each other and were easily greeted by their grandfather sweeping away in front of the game shop.