AN: Annnnd Chapter 14! Thanks for your patience guys! I hope you didn't mind the little chapter in between...short but kind of a bridge between 12-14! I also didn't want to make you guys wait too long and have something to read in the meantime <3 For those already guessing, this will probably be a two part book... but I do have an idea for a more AU Yugioh story to kind of have in the meantime for anyone looking to read something in between this. Seriously thank you all. Your words and encouragement and excitement...have really made me happy and inspired me to just keep going! Please enjoy the long overdue big chapter 14!

And please by all means, continue to let me know what you think! There are several time skips in this chapter but I'll mark them all with the usual *** there's just a lot to cover in this one and a lot of place jumping. Now that I think about it I probably could've added 13 and 14 together, or 12 and 13 together...hindsight is 20/20!

Chapter 14: Resurrected Feelings

Atem sighed deeply with his arms crossed. Kaiba swears he's nothing like his past self but his over planning and desperate for others to hear him talk is definitely like Seth. Atem always felt he could deep down depend on Seth, but Kaiba he'd rather depend on anyone else. It seems like Kaiba will listen to everyone else before him and even seemed visibly pissed off he was alive. He hated being at the mercy of someone and depending on someone he wasn't sure he could thoroughly trust.

Yugi on the other hand stood their smiling and nodding listening to everything Kaiba was saying with much enthusiasm. As Atem glanced down at Yugi he could feel how happy he was just by his expression. Was he really that happy to listen to Kaiba's preparation lecture, or was it something else? He smirked at the thought.

"Everyone understand?" Kaiba asked. Jou looked just as bored as Atem did, spacing out more than he was listening. Mai had managed to actually paint all her nails and listen at the same time as every time Kaiba quizzed her, she answered perfectly. Then there was Ryou, who looked really concerned more than anyone else there and seemed off focus in general.

Everyone gave a slow nod as Kaiba looked more displeased, "I am serious. One shot to get everything you need and then we leave. One hour, the driver WILL leave without you."

Everyone gave another slow nod and Kaiba gestured towards the two company cars. "Go."

"Are you sure about this Jou?" Atem asked as they all walked together towards the company cars. "Mai...Ryou?"

"I think it'll be a good chance to test out how far I've come as a duelist...and honestly, there's nothing much else to do until Kaiba re-starts the tournament." Mai shrugged and nodded, "Besides, a free trip to Egypt? Sold!"

"You just want to go shopping..." Jou rolled his eyes as Mai laughed.

"And Dueling Jounouchi!" She playfully nudged.

"I'm not letting my best friends go by themselves...what kind of friend would that make me?" Jou smiled as Yugi nodded.

"Jounouchi...thank you..." Yugi smiled. Jou smiled back, had a flash about what happened before and awkwardly sped up towards the car.

"I uh...I'm the furthest away and I know Kaiba will leave me behind" he lied as Atem and Yugi looked between them not understanding why he seems to be panicking. Atem and Yugi were Jou's best friends but as much as he was happy they were happy, he found it hard to wrap his head around their current status of friendship. Could he even call it that anymore?

Ryou was the only one to not vocally answer but simply nod making Atem even more concerned. What had Ryou so concerned?

"I know...he's gotten close to Malik since well...since the last time we were all in Egypt..." Yugi replied as if answering Atem's thoughts quietly, "I wonder if he's worried about him?"

"Could be," Atem nodded, "Malik didn't mention that when I was there..."

"They've become quite the online pen pals" Yugi nodded, "Ryou had mentioned he felt a bond with Malik...as Malik was also possessed..."

"Is that why he bonded with you?" Atem blurted out as Yugi frowned.

"I wasn't possessed." Yugi crossly said as Atem shook his head.

"You know that's not what I meant, Yugi..." Atem sighed, frustrated he left his fear feelings show again, "I just mean...well you three did have spirits within you and the millennium items...did that bring you closer?"

"Possibly" Yugi nodded, "As much as I still am good friends with the others...Ryou has felt a lot closer but distant at the same time. I'm worried about him...he hasn't talked this less since he was...well, since the millennium items were around"

"He probably is concerned for Malik..." Atem nodded trying to comfort Yugi, "As you said they got closer...you'd be concerned too"

"I am concerned." Yugi corrected, "Very...Ishizu and Malik...and Rishid...I owe them a lot...and I just hope they're okay and we're not too late."

"Have faith Yugi, we'll find them" Atem nodded though felt the twinge of concern himself. Guilt started to weigh on him heavily, feeling the pressure of everything going on being his fault again. /Everyone who gets close to me seems to get hurt.../ he thought biting his lower lip in frustration.

"Mai and I will take this one since we live close," Jou gestured to the front car, "You okay going with Yugi and Atem, Ryou? You moved recently didn't you?"

Ryou nodded, "Yes, I do live closer to them now"

"Great!" Jou smiled, "Meet you all here in an hour!"

"Make sure you don't forget anything" Mai added.

"I'm sure they won't Mai," Jou laughed as Mai nudged Jou out of the way to get into the car first.

"I meant you, Jounouchi" Mai smirked as Jou rolled his eyes.

"Yea, yea..." Jou replied, getting into the car after him.

"After you," Atem gestured for Ryou and Yugi to get in first before following behind them.

As the car sped off quickly, silence filled the air. Ryou stared out the window as Yugi nervously fidgeted with his fingers in the middle and Atem stared out the window on the other side. He wanted to ask what was truly bothering Ryou, remembering their conversation from the museum and how much Ryou was thankful he was back. Since then, Ryou has been distant and barely have said two words. Did he only say that to make Atem feel better?

As the car pulled up outside of Ryou's apartment, Yugi fidgeted even more. Ryou nodded to the others and started to get out as Yugi reached out and grabbed his wrist.

"Ryou...wait" Yugi said as Ryou continued to look forward but stopped himself, "What...I mean...are you okay?"

"I'm okay Yugi." Ryou nodded as he pulled his hand away.

"But Ryou..." Yugi began as Ryou shook his head.

"Really, I'm fine. We don't have much time, remember?" Ryou asked as Yugi began to think about it Ryou managed to pull free and close the door. The car sped off almost instantly causing Yugi to cross his arms.

"He is hiding something..." Yugi sighed before turning his direction to the driver, "You didn't need to get out of there so fast!"

"Kaiba's orders" The driver replied before rolling up the window so they could no longer talk to him.

Yugi sulked back into his seat. "You'd think they'd be nicer since I'm friends with Kaiba..."

"He's just doing his job, Yugi" Atem replied, "Ryou wasn't going to open up then anyway..."

"How do you know?" Yugi asked as Atem shook his head.

"Just a feeling," Atem replied, "Call it a hunch"

"Atem..." Yugi began, "Are you worried?"

Atem hesitated for a moment before nodding, "Of course I am..."

"I thought so" Yugi nodded as Atem looked over at Yugi with concern. "Oh...it's just...I can always tell what you're feeling...wish I could about Ryou"

"Maybe he should reside in your soul for a while" Atem chuckled.

"It's not just because of that Atem..." Yugi shook his head, "I just know you"

"I see." Atem said. He couldn't believe how confidently Yugi could say that, yet since Atem has been back he's found it hard to read Yugi. Atem wished he could be within Yugi's soul again just to figure out what he was thinking or feeling and yet Yugi could already do that without it. He was definitely envious.

"Are you pouting?" Yugi laughed as Atem shook his head and resumed his usual calm demeanor self. Again, Yugi just knew he was feeling envious about it by his expression and nothing more. Why was it so hard for Atem to be that in tuned with Yugi? Maybe he was just awful at being normal.

***

"Yugi..." Sugoroku sighed as Yugi shook his head.

"I know...I know grandpa but...I need to go" Yugi explained, "I need to make sure they're okay..."

"I know...you're growing up to be such a fine young man," Sugoroku said placing a hand on his grandson's shoulder, "But I worry...you're making this old man age quicker then he needs to be"

"I'm sorry" Atem interrupted, "This is my fault...again because of me your family is-"

Suddenly Atem received a sharp kick to the shins causing him to hobble over in pain, "Ouch! What was that for"

"Somebody had to do it by this point" Sugoroku narrowed his eyes as Yugi chuckled, "Stop placing so many burdens on your shoulders. I will not blame you for the actions of others. Unless you are physically doing the harm, stop feeling as though you are responsible"

"I...sorry..." Atem was at a loss of words as Sugoroku nodded and turned his attention back to his grandson by giving him a big hug.

"Take care my boy... and look after Atem, don't let him do anything foolish" Sugoroku said as Yugi nodded.

"I will grandpa!" Yugi smiled as Atem grumbled.

"I'm the one looking after Yugi..." Atem corrected as Sugoroku rolled his eyes.

"Sometimes I wonder on that one..." Sugoroku chuckled, "Both of you take care."

Atem turned to leave but was shock to feel Sugoroku hug him as well. Atem relaxed and hugged him back. He nodded before turning his attention to Yugi, "We should go"

"Bye Grandpa! Take care! And remember Honda, Anzu, Miho and Otogi will still be around if you need help..." Yugi waved before exiting the game shop with Atem.

***

Everyone arrived exactly within the hour they were given at Kaiba's private jet. Much to Jounouchi's dismay though, they were not taking the Blue Eyes White Dragon jet to Egypt. As everyone boarded and listened to the flight attendant giving them instructions, Atem noticed Ryou sitting off by himself. An uneasy feeling in his stomach as Ryou looked extremely pale.

When the indicator light went off and everyone was free to move around the plane, Atem gently nudged Yugi beside him.

"I think something happened between the times we left him and now for Ryou..." Atem whispered, "I'm starting to worry myself..."

"Should we talk to him?" Yugi asked concern all over his face as Atem nodded.

"I think so...though I think it should be you, Partner" Atem nodded as Yugi looked slightly shocked, "I think I can do a better job keeping Jounouchi and Mai distracted..."

Atem lied on the last part but he was still unsure of how to speak to Ryou himself. A part of him was scared what Ryou said to him in the museum wasn't the truth and he was afraid to dig that out of him. That same part still blaming himself for what the thief put Ryou through and how he ended up.

"Okay" Yugi nodded as he casually got up and made his way over to Ryou. Atem stood up too and went a few rows back to lean in on Jounouchi and Mai.

"So when are you two going to start dating?" Atem asked resting his head in his hands that were folded on the back of the seat in front of Jounouchi and Mai. Jounouchi and Mai both going beat red and frazzled about the forward question. Atem side glanced at Yugi and nodded as he continued his reeming of the two.

"Ryou..." Yugi began gently sitting beside him on the plane, "Are you okay?"

"I'm fine" Ryou blurted out before placing a hand on his face and resting it on the windowsill of the plane.

"You're looking really pale..." Yugi questioned as Ryou shook his head.

"Really, Yugi...I'm okay..." Ryou turned giving him a fake smile before continuing to look out the window. Yugi sighed, this was going to be a lot harder then he thought. He wasn't sure if he just should quit or really pry, not wanting to upset his friend further.

"So..." Yugi began, "You mentioned a few months ago Malik was doing well in his therapy training...did he end up finishing?"

"Actually yes," Ryou nodded, "Though his psychiatrist seemed to be still a little weary, he dropped their sessions to only once a month and that was only more for the psychiatrist then what Malik was displaying..."

"Wow...that's great for him..." Yugi nodded, "Truthfully...I was worried...everything he went through, that trauma...I mean, I knew deep down he'd be okay...but that sort of thing sticks with you."

"It does..." Ryou mentioned before seeming like he was lost in thought. Yugi looked away trying to think of something else to progress their conversation further , though it normally was never this hard to do.

"Can you tell me something" Ryou suddenly said catching Yugi off guard.

"What's that?" Yugi asked, tilting his head to the side.

"What was it like...to have Atem as the one to be inside you..." As soon as the words left Ryou's lips he knew exactly how that sounded and the shades of Yugi's face went darker red then Atem's eye colour. Ryou also couldn't help but turn a couple shades of pink. Atem looked over and saw this, wondering what on earth they were actually discussing.

Ryou coughed to clear the air before continuing, "I mean...as the soul to dwell within your soul"

"Ah, yes, of course," Yugi panicked a bit before nodding, "Well...not as easy as everyone seems to think it was."

"Oh? What do you mean?" Ryou asked as Yugi shook his head and faced forward.

"In the beginning...it was...well scary" Yugi began fidgeting with his fingers as he continued, "anytime something bad happened at school, to me, or to a friend...I would lose consciousness and before I was aware of Atem at all...he was protecting me...but in a weird way I couldn't understand. I knew deep down someone was there...but didn't know who or what and it often felt like I was asleep within my own mind..."

"I do remember you complaining about black outs a lot..." Ryou mentioned as Yugi nodded.

"I didn't always agree with Atem's methods...and they felt really extreme," Yugi scratched his head, "Violent...dangerous...and angry. I could feel his anger and frustration a lot stemming through his actions. In his eyes he was doing justice...and in a way he did help a lot of people open their eyes to their cruel ways..."

Yugi gestured to Kaiba, "Case and point. Even a year ago I doubt Kaiba would have ever done this for someone."

"I see..." Ryou said.

"After I got to know him though...I knew why he did the things he did...he was genuinely trying to help me, help others..." Yugi looked over at Atem who seemed to be enjoying himself as a frazzled Jou and Mai were arguing with him, "I realized...I couldn't be without him...that he was a lot of what I couldn't be...and he could do the things that I didn't have the strength too...That at times he can be scary, reckless and vain...but others he was the kindest person I ever knew. There were so many feelings for him...I couldn't explain...and still can't...but I know I want to be by his side."

"Yugi..." Ryou had a partial smile before nodding, "Thank you...for telling me that..."

Yugi gave off a faint blush before shaking his head, "I mean I...oh...I guess I trailed off a bit...uh...no problem Ryou!"

"...if Atem didn't come back," Ryou began as Yugi looked over at him, "But...there was a way that you could bring him back...would you?"

"In a heartbeat," Yugi nodded, "Despite the bad he did, I still care a lot about him and deep down I know he's a good person...he...didn't deserve to die...not after always giving his life, his soul to protect everyone..."

I silence fell in the air and Ryou looked back out the window. Yugi sat thinking about his entire life with Atem to this point and how blessed he felt that he had a chance to be with him again. He couldn't help shake the feeling that Ryou needed him though and so he sat there hoping Ryou would trust him.

"...I talked to Malik a few days ago," Ryou finally spoke up after the long silence, "Before I couldn't reach him or his sister anymore...he mentioned the cult"

Yugi looked at Ryou in shock as Ryou sighed.

"He...didn't mention too much about their goals...that they had challenged him but he won..." Ryou said, "I didn't think too hard into it...until he told me something..."

"What did he say?" Yugi asked with concern.

"...that the cult member he beat...mentioned there was a way to bring the dead back to life..." Ryou said. Yugi felt blood run cold.

"...what?" Yugi questioned as Ryou shook his head.

"I think...Malik may have gone to confront them to bring...his father back to life..." Ryou swallowed hard as Yugi couldn't believe what he was hearing, "...he has so much guilt over his father's death still..."

"...do you think his dark side could come back?" Yugi asked as Ryou shook his head.

"No...I don't think so. But I'm worried about Malik...and Ishizu...if they believed the cult member, they could be in serious trouble..." Ryou sighed, "I was going to come to Egypt anyway...before I heard what Pegasus said to Atem, and the reality of all this...I'm...I'm sorry for not saying anything..."

"Ryou...it's not your fault...you have nothing to be sorry about," Yugi shook his head before placing a hand on his shoulder, "We have faced a lot of crazy people...and especially if Malik said he beat them...you couldn't have known..."

"...thank you, Yugi...but I won't feel better until I know they are safe..." Ryou said nodding, "The thing is...Atem came back...by some miracle he did, so the cult may not be far off...or knew something and played on Malik and Ishizu's emotions...They did just witness Atem's return..."

"That's why we need to find them...and find this cult" Yugi said, "For everyone's sake..."

"Agreed," Ryou nodded as he looked over at Atem and the others. "Thanks Yugi..."

"Anytime Ryou" Yugi nodded, "We're friends...you can always share your thoughts with me."

"Oh? I had another one then..." Ryou said as Yugi looked genuinely interested, "So Jou seemed to mumble something about a kiss between you and Atem? What's that all about?"

Yugi just buried his face in his hands as Ryou let out a laugh and patted him on the back. Was everyone going to know about it by the end of the flight? Yugi couldn't help but feel extremely embarrassed which helped for a moment to offset the worry in his heart for what was to come.

Chapter 14 end.