Yu-Gi-Oh! Fan Fiction ❯ Memories of Shadow and Light ❯ Chapter Sixteen ( Chapter 16 )

A.N. Hello all, I'm back! *dodges rotten fruit* Yeah… so this is the second to the last chapter… It's so upsetting to see this story end, but I bet all of you are really glad of that. Anyway, there is this chapter, chapter 17, and then an Epilogue. Hopefully all my vague hints will be solved, but if anyone feels like some of the plot points are too vague, or there is a giant plot hole you would like fixed, just drop me a notice at: lechan15@netscape.net and I'll get right on it. ^-^ Anyway, enjoy!

 

 

Chapter Sixteen

 

There was blackness. It shifted to odd shades of violet and navy at times, and if he stayed still for a long enough, Yugi was certain he could hear muffled voices, but he wasn't sure, and he didn't care.

He just, floated, distantly aware that time was slipping past him at a quick and rapid rate, but he just couldn't find the will or the strength to try and figure out the concept of time. He could barely open his eyes, and when he did all he ever saw was darkness. Floating was so much simpler.

The voices were back, they sounded worried, hopeful, and some sounded resigned and angry. When the voices came, he was often coaxed into opening his weary eyes to stare at the blankness around him, most often because the voices were entertaining. It was fun trying to imagine what the voices were talking about, and where they were standing, why they were discussing it. Just useless ponderings like that.

The voices grew quiet, and Yugi let his eyes drift shut once more: tired and exhausted. He would have complained about his afterlife had he had the strength to resent his predicament, but he didn't.

Yugi curled himself closer into the fetal position, conserving what little warmth that remained, and rested. His hands traced the place where his puzzle had once been, missing its light and warmth. His chest felt cold now, somehow hollow. It made Yugi wish for tears to cry, but like everything else it was simply too much effort to bring forth the liquid pain.

He didn't like being alone.

Something changed in his landscape, and for a long while Yugi was unsure just what it was. His eyes still closed, he reached with his mind searching the shadows, but it seemed the darkness wasn't even there.

A touch: warm, soft, and gentle; upon his cheek lifted Yugi's tired lids and he found the darkness had faded in front of one bright, golden being before him.

“Yami?” He questioned in a wisp-thin voice, and the light-shaped figure seemed to smile, shaking its head. The sound of the ocean filled his thoughts as the being spoke, its words inconsequential in that moment. Yugi relaxed regardless, getting the feeling of recognition from the being before him, and trusting it implicitly.

One, tiny, golden hand reached out for his own, offering him freedom from his self-imposed prison, and Yugi desperately wished to accept, but the memory of why he was there held him back.

“I can't… Exodia will…”

~Exodia is already gone.~ A deep, resonate voice filled Yugi's mind and the shadows alike. Startled, Yugi looked past the being of light, realizing for the first time that there was another being behind the other, standing regally as though protecting the light from the darkness.

The being was imposing, dressed in several different colored cloths, silver and gold twined jewelry adorning his wrists, neck, and forehead. His eyes were a deep endless black that should have frightened Yugi, yet held him trapped in awe.

“… how?” Yugi asked, not doubting the man's words to be true, some how he had the impression that the man behind the light knew just about everything.

~The Pharaoh has sealed the darkness within himself. Exodia had been stripped of his comrades, placed souly in you. He has no more power, you are safe to leave now.~ The voice seemed almost kind, as the man nodded to the hand the light still held out towards him.

Yugi wasn't quite sure he understood what was happening, like with the battle against Exodia, but he didn't want to argue. So, reaching out a cautious hand he grasped the light. Warmth spread through him quickly, the contact revitalizing him, reminding him of who and what he was. His palm tingled as his mind seemed to meld with the being before him, sending him flashes of De Ja Vu.

Yugi grinned, passed the place of shock and disbelief, and watched as amethyst eyes became clear upon the golden face before him. “Hello.”

The being seemed to laugh.

Turning, the newly freed light dragged Yugi toward the bright doorway in the faded darkness, and Yugi allowed himself to be taken, no longer concerned with imposing man behind him, that reached out and brushed his shoulder gently as he passed as though wishing him good luck.

As they drew closer, Yugi had to squint as the brightness blinded him momentarily and nearly missed the shaded figure in the doorway.

“It is time. The power has been brought into balance once more. The time of reckoning is at hand.” The Egyptian holding the millennium scales said, his blue, pupil-less, eyes looking just the slightest bit excited.

“Shadi?” Yugi asked in mild shock as the light released his hand, stepping away just outside of the darkened door way. Yugi watched as the young soul stepped up to the oddly dressed man, who was currently looking towards Shadi, and Yugi heard the sound of shifting clothes as the Egyptian bowed low.

“We are eternally grateful Ptah, for your magnificence and aid.”

Yugi's jaw hit the floor. Ptah?! As in the freakin' god of creation, Ptah?! Yugi thought, watching the light dissolve into more giggles catching Yugi's disbelief, and the God turned those searching eyes to his own.

The intensity of his stare brought Yugi into his own bow, fearful of what the god might do if he was angered.

~Do not thank me yet, mortal. I have yet to consider your final request.~

Yugi's head snapped up at the words that spilled from the supposed god, and found the equivalent of a smirk on his face. Yugi wasn't sure if that was a smirk of malevolence or a joke, but wasn't given the chance to figure out, as Shadi grabbed his arm in a tight grip and pulled him away.

Yugi was shocked at the contact. As far as he could remember, Shadi had never physically touched anyone—with the exception of his shoving Pegasus's Millennium Eye into his socket—and seemed like the kind of person who would avoid such familiarity at all costs.

“Uh, Sha—“

“Do not question the gods, nor our fortune.” Shadi interrupted him then, lifting the scales up. The unbalanced gold seemed to shift, resting at equal places on symmetrical sides, and again Yugi found himself encased in burning, golden, light.

 

“Aibou, you are my Aibou. My Partner, my light.”

“Aibou?”

“Yes, you are the missing part of my soul.”

 

Tears stung Yugi's spiritual eye, but nothing fell, a he reached out for that voice, recognizing the words spoken, and craving the invading voice in his own mind that proved that Yugi was not alone, and in a moment he was no longer in the odd place of memories, shadows, and light, no longer with Shadi, Ptah, or his past self.

Finally, Yugi was home.

 

^^^^

 

There was a sharp burning ache that stole his breath from his lungs and made his head throb with residual pain. Slowly, he was dragged from his numbing slumber against his will and into consciousness.

Yami, scrunched his face up, finally awake after being trapped in his spiraling, hated memories. His cries had long ago left a bitter taste in his mouth in his attempt to deny what he knew was the truth. That mummy resting in his coffin beside him in the museum was enough proof that Yugi had indeed died, and his own tears after his reawakening into the world—tears he'd not been able to explain before now—only made him believe that Yugi's death had in fact been a horrid reality.

… Aibou… Yami thought, his chest aching, as red eyes eased open, prepared to face the cold bedroom that his light had once lived in.

Cold stone clouded with darkness that seeped in from the craggy corners of stairs and halls that ran out in a mind-boggling maze before him. Blinking in confusion, Yami shot up on his bed. Yugi had insisted that Yami needed his own bed in his soul room after the first time Yugi had been invited in, and had refused to leave until Yami either chose to sleep in his soul room bed or create his own. What am I dong here? Why am I…

An almost painful hope beat through his heart and ripped at his soul. Yami swallowed thickly, slipping from his bed, feeling the residual heat he would remember until the day he ceased to exist. Unable to breath properly, Yami stumbled through the twisting Esther room of the puzzle to the steel door that led to the ever-blackened hallway between the two souls that dwelt in the same body in symbiotic relations.

His heart thrummed nervously, as he kept his senses inward, not wanting to wreak the hope he felt by reaching out to a link that would run silent. Blood colored eyes scanned the chipped door of his prison. Yami wanted to push against it, to check if what he felt was real, but he feared that the metal would remain cool to his touch, that nothing would have changed.

Swallowing again, not ready, he lifted a quaking hand to the metal that felt only marginally warm to his hand, and felt his hope falter. What if you aren't there, Aibou… what if you are lost in the shadows, part of them, no longer there at all?

Gritting his teeth, Yami pressed his weight against the door, sliding it open on its silent hinges, and he desperately wished that the door would have screeched in anger at the action if only to avert his mind from what he desperately wished to be so.

Yami stood in the doorway to his soul room; arms limp by his sides, his body unsure of what to feel as he stood on the precipice of the darkness. The endless halls echoed with the sound of the body's heartbeat, the rasping breath as the body slept, devoid of a consciousness, resting in a coma-like state waiting for one of its occupants to return to control it. The dim light from Yami's soul room, was muted and nearly extinguished by the glow that filtered from across the hallway.

From a propped open doorway, that was brightly lit with pale walls and carpet strewn with toys and game pieces.

For the longest time, Yami could only stare, unsure if he was dreaming, and then—as though in a haze—Yami stepped across the dismal passageway and into the room before him, his breath held tight in his chest.

Aibou… Yugi…

There was hazy feeling of recognition from a mind outside of his own, and Yami breathed out with relief, as he stepped fully into his light's room.

 

^^^^

 

“Do you have to do this?” Saimun asked sounded more subdued than Atemu had ever heard before.

“This is perfect, your ideas for my resting place were indeed brilliance, Saimun.” Atemu responded, refusing to answer his adviser's question. Everyone was aware that there was no other way to save Khemet, just as Saimun, Jonoh, Seth, and Mahado already knew that Atemu was more than happy to sacrifice himself for his people.

It wasn't really a joy, but more of an acceptance of sorts. Though death no longer frightened him. Yugi was waiting on the other side of Aker's gate, and even if he was not to die, Yugi had said that they would meet in his future, Atemu just had to believe in Yugi. So, this decision was not so hard.

“pr-aA…” The elderly man sounded so distraught at the thought of losing his young ruler, of outliving both the father and son.

Atemu gave the short man a soft look, his lips quirking up into a soft smirk. “Now don't start Saimun, you know as well as I do that that tear between this world and the shadows won't mend itself.”

The advisor bowed his head, averting his eyes completely. No one wanted to discuss the aftermath that followed Exodia's escape and resealing. The silence that had fallen after Atemu's return, cradling the broken body of the small servant boy whom the gods had refused to save, had yet to lift even after peace was restored.

The frail dancing girl, Anuksu, he thought her name was, vanished from the palace shortly after the news of Yugi's death, Atemu wasn't sure, where she'd gone, but he assumed it was to whatever safe place she had to call her own. The Roman's were killed, the leader, Pragus, dying by Atemu's blade, and afterwards Yugi was prepped for a pharaoh's funeral, and then the tear between the worlds made itself known. It seemed it did need both of us, Aibou. Atemu thought, using the term Yugi had been most fond of, as his fingers trailed over the edge of sarcophagus built for Yugi. It would house them both now.

I'm coming for you, Yugi. Atemu thought, his fingers brushing over the linen-covered form. Yugi was still not fully prepped for his journey to the other land, though his organs were already removed and resting in his own sacred jars, his body preserved, all that was left was the wrapping. His skin was still soft as Atemu trailed a finger over Yugi's cheek; he still looked like he was merely sleeping. Wait for me, that's an order my aibou.

“… everything has been done as you've commanded, pr-aA.” Mahado's voice sounded almost hallow to Atemu's ears, and it tore him from his thoughts. “Your name has been completely erased from the tablets of time. Your destiny tablets have been entrusted to Ishtar as you commanded, and the symbols have been placed.”

Atemu nodded, fingers curling toward his palm. He hadn't spoken a word to Jonoh or his white priest since Exodia's sealing, and he had no intention of doing so now. He was being rather childish, but he didn't much care at the moment. Besides, soon it would no longer matter, his soul would be the holder of all the darkness, and the gods would then grant him his final wish.

It was their deal after all.

 

Atemu stood within the temple of Ptah in the holy city of Memphis. The touch of power resonated around him, proof that he was, in fact, connected to the gods. His mortal eyes may have been unable to see them, but he could feel them on the air, and stood proudly in his pain.

“I ask as your son, return the boy to me.”

There was a murmur on the air, like a soft buzzing that refused to go away, like the gods themselves were discussing his request. Then it stilled as they came to a decision, and all was silent for several long moments, before the regal voice of Ra echoed through his mind.

~This we cannot do.~

Atemu's breath left him suddenly before the words had finished in his mind, and His heart turned to ice once more, his eyes going down to look at the body resting at his feet, blood tears still staining his cheeks.

“What do you mean, you cannot?” Atemu was well aware of the insolence he was showing to the creators of the world, and the fact that his questions could grant him eternal damnation, but he honestly stopped caring about that. “Is this task too far out of your powers?”

~Silence Pharaoh! If you wish to ever see your other half again, I suggest you keep you anger to yourself!~

Atemu's jaw snapped audibly shut, as his fisted hands shook from the rage he felt at his so-called deity- father. “Then why…?”

~Your light is currently with in you.~ The softer tones of the Queen Goddess, Isis, eased into him, numbing his soul with her words.

“What?”

~He resides within your soul, a part of you.~

Atemu lifted a hand to his chest, placing it over his heart feeling its pulse as though it were Yugi's, his eyes locked on the separate body below him. “I do not understand. He is there, dead, has Osiris not seen him?”

~I have, but he has already left my realm.~ The God of the underworld answered at Atemu's naming, his voice sounding like the harsh wings of death.

“I don't—“

~It is not your place to understand, Atemu son of Akhenamkhanen.~ Ra sounded displeased with Atemu's questions, and Atemu again clenched his teeth together, grinding them as though he could grind away the power the gods held over him with this action alone. ~Your light has returned, that is all you need to know.~

Atemu nodded, not trusting himself to speak as his rage built up within him. How was it that my light and I are separated in Yugi's time, if we are one now? If Yugi took my place in the shadows, how is it…

~A danger is coming.~ Isis spoke again, calm and smooth, drawing Atemu back to the discussion he was having, and he looked up in concern. ~We will need you to do our bidding, pr-aA, until the time that the shadows have been appeased. ~

Atemu blinked, his mind taking in what he was being told, and began to turn, suddenly coming to a conclusion, and just as swiftly finding a move in this game for himself. “You need me to act as your tool, correct?”

There was a blast of rage from Osiris and Ra at the implications that Atemu placed that the gods would need anything from a mortal being. Somehow Isis seemed to calm them. ~In a manner of speaking, yes. We cannot destroy the shadows, for we have no mortal soul in which to gamble with, and destroying it would cripple the world, so your cooperation is expected.~

Looking down upon Yugi's still form, Atemu came to a decision, his crimson eyes narrowing in conviction as he stood his full height, staring defiantly across the room, hoping that by some fluke he was staring one of the gods in the eye, knowing his eyes spoke of everything he was, everything he felt.

His eyes housed his soul.

“I will do as you wish, on one condition.” There was instant rebellion to his words, and the air became stiflingly hot and physically painful as it rippled with the outraged cries of the gods, but Atemu refused to back down, not blinking from where his eyes remained focused on the one spot that had seemed to stay calm after his outburst.

~You arrogant mortal, I should—~Osiris's threat was cut short as a voice called out to Atemu—stalling all motion and speech as soon as the smooth, deep, words were uttered—and Atemu was pleased to realize that the voice came from before him.

~What would that request of yours be?~ Atemu felt awe, realizing that the voice belonged to none other than Ptah himself, the great creator of all, the world and gods alike.

For a split second, Atemu's mouth was cotton dry, and he was unable to speak, but it passed quickly as he thought of amethyst eyes set in an innocent face. “If I give you my life, my soul, to put the shadows away for good, than I wish to live with Yugi, my light, after that. To live with him as we did for the short time he was here with me, together, in mortal bodies capable of loving each other. That is my only request for my soul, my freedom. It is all that I ask, Ptah.”

There was silence for such a long time, Atemu feared he had insulted the gods and that they had either left him, or chosen to destroy him and find a new, much more willing, puppet to use in their master plans, but eventually Ptah spoke again, his voice sounding almost amused.

~Then go and complete your end of the bargain. If at the end of your journey you still wish for life, approach me here and I shall consider your fate then.~

Atemu bowed low, his crowned forehead resting against the marbled flooring of the Temple. “I am at your command, gods and goddesses of our world, what you say shall be done.”

The air seemed to quake with distaste, but the gods made no comment, merely sending him on his way with the command to set his affairs in order, and create the tablet of destiny that his name should not be written on. In fact it was their wish for him to be erased entirely from the records of time. The command was a painful blow that left his ego harshly wounded, but Atemu nodded all the same.

If it would ensure his future with Yugi, he would bare the indignity of this act.

 

“Saimun,” Atemu called, returning from his memories with a small glimmer of hope in his chest.

“pr-aA?”

“I will wait for your return to this world, and it will be you who will beat my shadow games to retrieve my puzzle. I will wait for that time, my soul in darkness, my body with him.” Atemu said, tenderly looking down upon Yugi's still face. There was a pregnant pause filled with unease and sadness, as Atemu stepped away from the sarcophagus, and toward the door that would lead him out of his first tomb, the one built just after his rise to power. The second—the one Saimun had intended to turn into a mass of trials and games—was still being completed and would house only his shattered puzzle, but here, in this place, is where he would let his body rest, along side the only one he'd ever wanted more than Khemet.

The one thing he was denied.

“Come, the ritual needs to be performed in the center of your creation Saimun, and time is running out.”

The shorter man bowed his head in defeat, his eyes now covered by the headdress that hid all else, Atemu didn't want to know if his advisor was weeping for his life. After all, this was the end, and after his next journey, he still would not wish to join his friends and allies in the after life. He knew, with more certainty than he did about his imminent death, that even if he forgot all else his love for Yugi would remain, and he would never wish to part from him.

“As you wish.” Saimun whispered, his voice sounding gratefully steady.

Atemu turned from the room with an unreadable expression on his face. Across the room, standing in the doorframe, Jonoh waited, looking as sedated as the others, though along with the look was a bitter acceptance. That's right Jonoh, looks like you'll have to accept a woman to touch my cousin… but at least, he's alive.

Crimson eyes narrowed until honey glanced away in guilt.

“The preparations are complete, and Seth is waiting.”

Again, Atemu nodded, and stepped from the room.

Its just another step… right Aibou?

The reminder of Yugi's letter to him gave him the strength to walk out of his life and willingly into the shadow's grasp, and with those words, Atemu faced his death unafraid.

 

^^^^^

 

Satisfied with the position of the mummies, Saimun tied the soaked linen off. The two persons no longer laying properly together, but now curled around each other, as though sleeping in the afterglow of their love.

“You finished?” Seth griped from the only exit. It was sacrilegious to disturb the dead, and unwrapping the prepared bodies, and removing the sacred items to help them into the afterworld, was defiantly considered desecration. At least, Saimun thought it was, but he felt relatively safe with the new pr-aA watching over the action, not to mention him also being the once high priest.

“Almost.” Saimun responded, placing Atemu's most sacred possession in to the sarcophagus, the parchment making a soft scraping sound as it settled. “I just need to reseal the lid.” With that comment, Mahado and Jonoh stepped forward, lifting the heavy piece up, and settling it back into place.

A deep sadness settled into the elderly man's heart then, as the bound faces vanished beneath the carved face of the nameless one. It hurt him more to know that he would be forever forgotten after all he'd done, all he'd lost, Atemu would never be remembered. It was of little comfort that Atemu had allowed him to carve in at least a portion of his existence into his resting case. He could only hope he'd written it correctly. All he'd had was the sloppy writing Atemu had left, and the message he'd just tucked away between the lovers. In time the papyrus would crumble and the words would corrode and vanish, taken with the souls into their next life, as they would want it, but that still didn't ease his pain at the finality of the moment.

It was nearly worse than the ritual had been.

Almost.

 

The golden puzzle still shimmered with power and the soul of Khemet's god, even now in the many pieces that rested inside of the golden box, encrypted with message of warning and beckoning. It is finished. Saimun thought sadly, setting the priceless artifact on its pedestal at the end of his final trap.

The bridge was elegantly carved, calling forth the shadows by name, and writing out the pain Atemu had lived through in the end. The incantation had been an added parting gift from pr-aA Seth, and himself. It was a guarantee that none but himself would pass this final leg of the journey. Somehow his soul would recall the respect needed for such a task, he would have to.

With wet eyes, Saimun turned from the prison and walked down the lonely bridge where both Mahado and Seth waited, holding the shadows at bay for him. From the blank looks on both priest's faces, he knew the image of the sacrificial rite was still fresh in their minds, though Saimun doubted anyone could forget the horrific event even after death.

How Atemu had bared such pain was beyond his understanding, as the gods pulled his soul from his body and split it in half, sealing him in utter darkness for only the Gods knew how long. The old man shuddered, not wishing to remember the blood circle and scriptures written in the stained stone, lit by dying torches…

Mahado shifted the weight of Atemu's soulless body in his arms, the soft strip of cloth bound across his scorched out eyes looking a little askew. Saimun turned his eyes away, not wanting to see it again, and silently followed the two from the pyramid.

 

Saimun ran a hand over the carved lid of his god's coffin, as though saying goodbye to a son. It's over now Atemu, may you hold your light for eternity. The silence of the room unsteadied him, and the advisor quickly moved away from the resting bed of his once king. The light beckoned him from the room, and he allowed himself to be lead away, he was right, it was over. The past remained there in his memories alone, and it was now time to move on into the rule of Seth, pr-aA of Khemet.

“Mahado?” Seth's voice was questioning as the new pr-aA realized that the white priest had yet to leave the tomb. Saimun lowered his head further, feeling uneasy. He had already been aware of what the man had planned to do, that in no way made the explanation any easier.

“Let him be, pr-aA.” Saimun said, daring to place his hand on his god's arm, urging him to lower it, and leave the room and white priest to be sealed away together.

Blue eyes narrowed dangerously at him, the once high priest's anger, his upset, palpable. Saimun quickly removed his hand even before Seth spoke, his voice sharp.

“Don't call me that unless it's necessary. pr-aA is my cousin's title, I do not take it willingly; do not pretend that I do.” Seth turned then and stomped from the entryway, no longer interested in Mahado's actions, obviously not caring what the white priest intended to do.

“I certainly have my work cut out for me, don't I Mahado?”

There was a light chuckle from the newly settled gloom in the room, and Saimun forced a smile that could not be seen behind his veil as he too left the room, nodding to the guards as he left, indicating that they could now seal the tomb.

For a desperate moment, his chest tightened sickeningly with the urge to turn back, to drag Mahado out with him, but it passed quickly with the resounding sound of stone falling against stone.

Plumb eyes closed wearily. He was too old for this, death almost looked like a relief at this point, and Saimun was certain that he would be happy to see the ebony wings of death as his life was lead to its end and beyond. I hope you're happy in your choice Mahado. A being of the Shadow Realm is a prisoner of his inner pain. Can you live with the regret of letting that boy die? I guess time will be the one to tell that.

Without even a glance back, Saimun made his way back to his pharaoh's side, where Jonoh stood proudly by Seth's side, brows creased only slightly in stress as they looked out across the people of Khemet, all in different states of mourning. Saimun had to wonder just what it was that Seth was feeling as he looked over his new responsibility. He had a big pare of shoes to fill, Atemu had given up more for his land and people than any ruler before had, how was one to compare to that?

Jonoh's sun darkened hand reached out and brushed Set's in the lightest of caresses, and the Pharaoh relaxed just slightly, and Saimun sighed. Here we go again… just like Atemu.

Time flowed on.

 

^^^^^

 

Darkness consumed the scenery, shifting in tones from violet gray to the deepest of pitch. It moved like a living being, and there for it should have been warm, but it wasn't. It was deepest kind of cold he'd ever known, and it made him sick to his stomach, and he wrapped his arms around himself.

The feel of his own skin startled him, and he curled closer in shock to find himself naked. No, not naked, he was wearing his dancing clothes. The soft fabric shifted pleasantly over his legs, as the vest pulled taunt against his back. The wine stain stood out in the shadows and he reached out a finger, touching the dark mark.

From the corner of his vision, he saw something out of place: a splash of color against the darkness.

~Yami!~ Yugi called out, his voice not really coming out as he ran toward the chained being. His royal clothes lay in tatters, his violet cape nothing more than a swath of cloth upon his back. Nothing of his gold adornments remained, and his body was only clothed in his sleep wrap.

~Atemu! Wake up… are you all right?~ No matter how desperately he called, those crimson orbs would not open, and the body would not rise from its defeated position.

Tears sprung to his eyes, angry and hot, scalding him as Yugi embraced the cold figure before him. He pressed his face into the crook of his neck and shoulder, and soaked Atemu's form in his tears. ~Wake up… please…~

Something seemed to call out to him, and it stalled Yugi's tears as he strained to hear the words. The silence came to him again, thicker, and smothering. More tears threatened to fall when it came again, like a fragment of sound, prodding him awake.

“Yugi.”

He knew that voice, the deep sound that resonated through his thoughts and floated back to him through his soul from the second door in his heart's room.

Amethyst eyes opened to the darkness, surprised when the image of Atemu's wounded form did not meet his gaze, but instead the image of his other half, dressed in tight leather, double belts, and a tight top.

His breath caught at the image, and Yugi found it hard to think, as soft ruby eyes stared lovingly back at him, and then he was wrapped up in those warm arms, the sweet smell of sand, dirt, and the musk of time—Yami's smell—drowned him in comfort.

“Y—yami?” Yugi's voice shook, and those arms encircled him more tightly, Yami's fingers biting into his skin, and curling into his clothes, pulling him close enough to his other to feel his heart beat against his own.

“Yes, Aibou. I'm here.”

“Really?”

“Yes… really.”

Tears pricked at his eyes, and he smiled into his sobs as his own arms raised to hold his dark half to himself, finally allowing himself to believe that he was safe: he was home.

“T—tadaima.” Yugi choked out from between his tears and tight throat, his arms shaking, no longer in control of his emotions. He felt Yami's breath, felt his chest expand with the breath he'd drawn in, and the smile that graced his lips as Yami pressed a tender kiss to Yugi's shoulder, his breath warm and moist.

“Okairi nasai.”

Yugi cried.

After all, even he knew that Yami couldn't breath, and he most certainly didn't have a heart beat, because Yami was just a soul in his own body, he wasn't really alive.

 

Yugi's eyes snapped open, already gritty and sore from tears he'd shed in his sleep. Disorientation left him confused, and for a moment he couldn't recognize the light blue, pulsing walls, the small child's bed he lay on, or the toys that lay scattered around the room. He could feel the steady pulse of his heart all around him, and the smells that most comforted him danced on the air.

Slowly he sat up, surprised to find himself dressed in sweats and his old gym shirt. Still in mild shock, his lifted his hands to touch the cloth lifting it a little as his heart raced in painful hope and suffocating denial. This… no, this couldn't be… I'm… I'm still dreaming. This isn't—

His door creaked open, as though afraid itself of the frailty of this night illusion. Looking up, Yugi felt his heart wrench painfully at the image he most desired to see, and his fingers curled tighter into his shirt, until the tips had gone numb, and he felt his heart pick up pace, as his walls turned a pale orange in his stress.

It was all so real, so much like it used to be, but he knew, he knew it was a dream. It had to be, they always were, and he was certain that, Yami would never cry. Yes, nothing would make his gallant dark break in such away in real life, so that man standing in his soul room door, dressed in identical clothes with tears streaming down his high cheeks was not his dark. That's right, he's just a memory, nothing more… Yami…

Yes aibou?

Yugi jumped as the thought came clearly into his mind, sounding shaky and overjoyed, as a matching grin broke over the face of the image of Yami in his doorway, his fingers clinging so tightly to the door frame that the tips had turned a garish white.

Yugi's lips trembled with pain, as his heart lurched with hope—so tatter and worn it was almost broken like an overly-loved toy—and his mind tried to wake him up. He couldn't handle another dream like this.

The dream Yami tilted his head to the side, his tears pooling and dripping from his chin, either unnoticed or uncared for as those crimson eyes refused to even blink and loose sight of him.

The feeling of joy, of pain, regret, and relief flooded through a link that had been silent for far too long, and Yugi trembled from the onslaught of sensations not his own. It was nearly over whelming, like it had been when Yami had first awoken, and Yugi clutched the place in his soul where his heart should have been as the choking hope broke free in the form of his own tears.

Aibou, please speak to me, I wish to hear you. That lulling, wise voice stroked his mind and nerves like a pleasant drug, and Yugi collapsed forward curling into himself unable to handle it.

“No… this isn't real… it's its another dream! I—I don't want… gods Yami…” Yugi shook, his whole soul feeling as though he was collapsing in on himself.

Aibou…

“No!” Yugi cried, lifting his head to yell, his eyes pouring tears as he glared to the door only to jump back when he found red staring back at him. The bed dipped from where Yami sat, one leg crossed, his foot resting off the edge of the bed beside his other.

Yugi sucked in a breath as that smiling face filled his vision, a soft had, cupping his cheek, a thumb brushing away his tears. Yami chuckled, sounding a little water logged himself, as he pressed his forehead to Yugi's rocking the crowns of the heads together in a comforting way.

“This… is no dream Aibou. No longer a dream, my light. This is real.” Yami said, his words holding no touch of breath to them.

“… honto?” Yugi asked, feeling rather fragile as he begged Yami to tell him that it was real. Again those red eyes gleamed as he sat back, that warm hand slipping from his cheek to rest on his shoulder, fingers squeezing just slightly.

“Yes, Yugi, this really is real.” Yami had stopped crying, though his eyes seemed a little more unstable than usual. “But if you want proof…” Yami trailed off, his fingers moving to pinch Yugi's cheek.

“Ow!” Yugi yelped, jerking back, his hand lifting to cup his abused cheek as Yami's laughter and joy flooded through him. This was real after all.

Yami had no breath.

Yami wasn't hugging him.

Yami was pinching him.

It's just like before… after doom… Yugi's eyes burned with a new kind of tears as he watched Yami calm down from his laughing fit.

“Sorry, Aibou, I couldn't help myself. Besides what else woul—“ Yami cut off on a startled gasp as Yugi suddenly launched himself forward and into Yami's arms, his own curling tightly around Yami's middle , his face tucked protectively into Yami's chest.

“A—ibou…?” Yami stuttered, his form tense with shock. It would have been cute, and funny; Yugi would have laughed, had the moment been lighter, but it wasn't, so Yugi settled for pulling closer, and nuzzling into his Yami.

He breathed in deeply, the scent of Yami's soul, and smiled feeling complete for the first time in forever.

Sand, dust, and time… Yami… you're really here.

Of course I am Aibou.

Yugi grinned at Yami's confused thought and even more startled emotions, and then did what he'd imagined doing since he'd first arrived in Yami's past.

“Yami, hold me?”

There was a moment of stillness and then Yami complied, just as Yugi had thought he would, and the feel of those arms, strong and steady around his soul soothed him in ways he'd never thought possible. Finally… Yugi began with a sigh, his mind suddenly very tired.

It's over… Yami finished, pulling Yugi completely into his lap and arms, rocking him like his mother used to do. “Aibou.”

Yugi smiled, and curled closer to his dark, finally home.

“Tadaima.”

Yami smiled, “Okairi nasai.”

 

^^^^^

 

Jonouchi wasn't sure what had woken him, he didn't even remember falling asleep, but something had and he sat up from his hunched position over the desk. The pesky paper with Yugi's scribbled notes stuck to his cheek for a moment before drifting down to the desk again.

The blond rubbed at his cheek, hoping that no ink was left behind on his face, and stretched with a yawn. His muscles and bones tensed as he pulled them free from their stasis. Guess I should go back down… Glancing over at the alarm clock, Jonouchi sighed, realizing that it was nearly two in the morning. Everyone was probably in bed, if the silence was anything to go by, and he doubted much would be said anyway. Just more crazy talk about giving Yug a new body… he has his own, we just need to get him back in it! Jonouchi thought, his eyes moving to the sleeping form on his friend's bed out of habit.

He thought it was the moonlight at first, that made the face look rounder, smoother, paler, but when the boy's nose scrunched up in his sleep, trapping a wayward bang in the skin's creases, Jonouchi couldn't stop the yelp that escaped him as he jumped onto the bed, jerking the previously sleeping boy into his arms in a back breaking hug.

Only one King of Games had that annoying center bang that always hung in his eyes.

“Yug! You're back, oh god, how? Where? When? Don't you ever do that again Yug! D'ya have any idea the hell you put us all through!!” Jonouchi yelled, shaking the startled boy harshly. Wide amethyst eyes stared at him in mild shock, as tiny hands rose to grip his arms as a means to stabilize himself.

“J-Jonoh?”

“Jonoh? Who the hell is… wait a minute here, Yug, you do know who I am right?!” Jonouchi asked, glaring down his nose at his friend, not wanting his friend to know just how fast his heart was pounding, or how close to crying he really was. After all, guys just didn't sling snot all over their friends.

Yugi blinked quickly, then his eyes glazed over in the way they did when he spoke to the other soul inside of his body. Jonouchi had never been so glad to see that look, and from the joy he could see on Yugi's face as Yami obviously answered him, it made him wonder just how the two felt at the reunion.

“Well, I'm waiting here.” Jonouchi said impatiently, sitting back and crossing his arms.

“Jou…” Yugi breathed, his eyes focusing once more, and Jonouchi gave him his half grin cocking his head to the side, pretending that he wasn't dying to quiz his friend to be certain that he was really back and fine.

“Da one an' only.”

He was suddenly tackled by his smaller friend, as Yugi glomped him, grinning from ear to ear, his face flushed with relief. “Gods Jou, you have no idea how good it is to see you!”

“Trust me pal, I know how ya feel. All of us do.” Jonouchi said, ruffling Yugi's hair as he would have done to Shizuka. “No offence to Yami, but things just aren't the same with out ya.”

Yugi pulled back, his smile looking like it could split his face in half, and Jonouchi was reminded of that rainy night in the ally way, where he'd said goodbye to his past. That small boy with the bruised and dirtied face, who wanted nothing more than a friend was still there, the same as he'd ever been, and if what Yami had told him was true, he'd just gone through hell. Yet he still smiled, like this.

His eyes stung, and Jonouchi closed them quickly to quell the on-coming tears. He would not cry on Yugi.

“Jou—“

“Jonouchi what are you…” Anzu's sleepy voice broke the moment and Jonouchi gratefully averted his attention as Yugi spotted his friend, and she him.

“Anzu!” Yugi beamed, and just like that the silent stillness that had overcome the brunette shattered, and if his exclamation hadn't already woken the house, her scream did.

He felt Yugi jerk back as Anzu launched herself onto the small bed holding Yugi like she expected him to vanish into the air if she let go, and sobbed openly onto his shoulder.

“Yugi! Yugi! Y—ou're… you… you're r—really back! Oh, Yugi!” Her words were muffled by the clothes she'd buried her face into, and her entire frame shook with her sobs. Awkwardly, Yugi hugged her back, a dark blush covering his cheeks, and a sad guilt in his eyes.

“Anzu-chan…gomen…” Yugi apologized just as the rest of the house wandered into the room. Several more cries filled the space, as Rebecca joined the pile on the bed, squeezing between Anzu and Yugi, pawing at him making sure that her darling was okay.

Honda was quiet. He simply walked over to the bed, glaring down his nose at Yugi until the women had released him. Looking up, Yugi grinned sheepishly up at him, muttering out another sorry, before Honda reached out and yanked Yugi off the bed and into a very un-Honda like hug. It was over as soon as it started and finally Honda smiled giving Yugi a bruising noogie.

“You stink, where'd you run off to, huh? Did you enjoy scaring us like that?”

“Ah, Honda! Stop, s—sorry! I said I was—“

“Yeah, you sorry now?”

Jonouchi leaned back, amazed at how quickly things seemed to repair themselves by just the reappearance of one small person. Not everything was fixed, not by a long shot, and he knew the next couple of months would be a little uncomfortable at best, but for now, everything seemed…

Normal.

“Let go of my Darling!”

“Honda, let Yugi breath!”

“He is breathing can't you see that? Besides, he needs to be punished for that nasty trick!”

“I said I was sorry…”

Jonouchi grinned, his eyes again wandering to the door where Arthur and Sugoroku stood, watching the laughing, squabbling teens. Sugoroku had a look of joy that was muted behind a mask of calm. Sometimes he wondered if the man really had heart problems at all. Nothing ever seemed to rattle his cage, but Jonouchi knew better than that, and Arthur…

He looked disappointed.

Can't summon you're god now, huh? Well, dem's the breaks then. Jonouchi thought as his mind drifted to his friends. And with a playful smirk he jumped, tackling the whole group into a messy pile on the bed.

“Dog pile!”

“Jonouchi!”

“Get off me, Jou!”

“Ah, what's wrong with you!”

“… better not let Kaiba hear that.”

Jonouchi grinned.

“Shut up Yug.”

He was happy when he didn't.

 

^^^^^

 

The endless abyss of the shadow realm tore away at his sanity, and slowly he began to forget. Images, dates, time. Useless information, but still things that made up who he'd been: who he was. Atemu sighed, clinging fearfully to those memories most close to his heart: the smell of the sea he'd only seen once, the smell that coated Yugi's being. The color of Yugi's eyes, the sound of his voice. The way Khemet looked at dusk, as the sunset alighted the sand on fire; a golden fire that rippled and danced gloriously into the night. Seth's face when he'd misplaced a scroll. Mahado's expression of boredom as Saimun blathered on about tombs and shadow games. Saimun's kind eyes, always pushing him to stand taller, be stronger; his reminder and aid.

He held onto those things, playing them over in his mind, forcing himself to never forget, as day after day, weeks, months, years, decades, centuries, flew by him. Every so often a ripple in the shadows would occur, and his hope would rise, but it ended swiftly as the beings fell at the first trap. More of his mind was ripped from him, as he lost track of time its self and slowly lost hold of reality. He floated in the darkness, cold and lonely with only a handful of memories to keep him sane, when it finally happened.

The shadows stirred.

He ignored it.

They moved forward in surprise.

They'd done that before a well.

They began to circle, growing interested.

The shadows were so simple at times.

They grew annoyed.

Atemu retreated to his memories.

The rushed out in alarm.

Atemu turned back around.

Someone was on the bridge.

A sharp rush of delight ran through him as he willed himself into the waking plane, the shadows aiding him when one man fell pray to their grasp. They ate away at his mind and soul, toying with him, waiting for the other to fall, and Atemu opened his eyes.

Hanging from the side was Saimun. He looked different, more wild and much younger than Atemu remembered him to be, but his eyes were as kind as they had always been. Finally, you have come, Saimun. Atemu thought, looking down on the wounded man, who looked as though he was ready to collapse at any moment, yet he still held stubbornly on. Unwilling to lose in this game, this match that he'd created so many years ago.

Kneeling down, Atemu reached out a hand, his smile kind as he gave aid to his advisor. “Saimun…I've been waiting.”

Plumb eyes widened, and for a brief moment, Atemu thought he saw a flicker of recognition in them, but it faded soon after as the man reached out to take his hand, and promptly collapsed after being pulled to safety.

Atemu could feel the shadows beckoning him back into their cold embrace, and he resisted only briefly. Saimun had come, that meant Yugi was close, so very close. He could wait, his time imprisoned was almost over, and he still owned his memories, perhaps he would remember this time.

Maybe…

Maybe…

 

Darkness.

It was everywhere, he could not recall a time when it was not black, cold, and painfully quiet. He didn't know why he waited here, could not guess what it was he waited for. What he was, eluded him from time to time, but the shadows provided him with the knowledge that he was their master, and their prisoner. The silence drove him mad, as the shadows urged him to hate. It was painful, and numbing, but still he held on, because something was outside of his world. Something the shadows both praised and cursed, and it was slowly punching holes in his darkness.

Shades of gray began to appear in the darkness, and sounds slowly made themselves known. Emotions echoed through the halls on wings of death, and he squirmed, desperate to get out, to meet this thing that slowly tore him from his torment, but the being outside was slow to understand, and often gave up, but something was different that day.

Something…

 

The light was blinding, and burned his skin with heat as he was suddenly torn from the darkness and thrown into the world beyond his prison. He stood in a room, small and filled with items he could not recognize.

He was dressed in soft clothes, and had bandages over his body. When he moved they stung. Annoyed, he glared, using a bit of the shadows magic to cut out the sensation of the pain in his mind, and then noticed the other presence that was there. Intrigued, he moved to the bed, seating the body upon it as the shadows instructed him on how to reach that other being.

The sensation of falling left him dizzy, and he found himself standing in a darkened hall outside of an open doorway. Warm, soothing light poured out of a bright, white room. It had more items, he was certain to be a child's toys, strewn across the floor, not unlike the original room. Except, this room seemed to pulse with calmness, and serenity. Stepping inside, he let the mind of the person who owned this room wash over him.

He knew this mind.

Somehow, he knew the small boy curled on the sheets covered in bruises and cuts. A deep anger and pain welled up for the tiny child—for that was what he was, and child barely yet a man—as he approached him, wondering who had caused this light such pain.

He would have to avenge this child, he decided, but before that he found he needed to hold that sleeping figure. Something called out to him, something he'd long forgotten, but treasured above all else, urged him to the child's bed, and in a moment he was cradling the boy in his arms.

A completeness filled him then, and tears filled his eyes. He'd forgotten how to cry, and even now, was unsure as to why the liquid squeezed from his eyes, but he didn't bother to stop them as he buried his face into the small soft shoulder, instinctively breathing him in.

WAD-wr… He cooed in his mind.

The smell of the ocean, he knew this scent.

Finally… He thought, not sure how he knew that this was what he'd been waiting for, I've found you… ari… no… aibou.

“Aibou.”

The word felt good in his mouth.

The boy curled close, and he turned back to the body, leaving the sleeping soul in the bright soul room. He didn't need to know what was to come. He quickly found the memories of the boy's life and soon sought out the culprit for his pain. The being named Ushio would pay dearly.

He was hunting.

For his aibou.

 

^^^^^

 

When you find this, I'll already be gone from this world. I'm sorry I couldn't stay, but if I don't go, you'll never be safe. Exodia only needs one of us, and for you, this is only the beginning of your story, just another step, so please don't blame yourself. I don't expect you to understand, Atemu, but I hope you know that, I love you. Both now, and in the future as my Yami. Which is why, I have to go. I'm sorry, so sorry, but if you get this in time, please try to change things, and if you still love me in our future, tell me, maybe then you'll get your happy ending.

 

~Yugi

 

~~~~~~~~

(Ending Theme: Night Flowers)

 

ai no kuni wo samayou

watashi wo mitsuke dashite

tsubasa ni wa mada

surikireta hazu no kokoro   kakushite

watashi no mune wo someta

ikusen no hanabira wa

kanashii kurai   anata wo koishiku saseru

mou ichido

sugaritsuku shunkan

surinukeru maboroshi

anata no subete wo ubai saritai

itetsuita   NAIFU kazashi [1]

ai wa mau   yoru no hana wo chirashite

kowashite, kizutsukete, tojikomete - kokoro sae...

motto hageshiku kanjite

susuketa ai no kakera

korogaru yoru no machi de

kakomarete yuku

hohoemi kakeru tenshi no   tsubasa ni

iki mo dekinai hodo

anata wo motomete'ru

subete ga moetsukite mo kamawanai

tokedashita   ai wa kotoba [2]

kuchibiru wa   yoru no hana wo chirashite

aishite, iyasarete, tokihanatsu - kokoro sae...

motto hageshiku kanjite

sadame nara [3]

yasuragi mo, nukumori mo iranai

itetsuita   NAIFU kazashi

ai wa mau   yoru no hana wo chirashite

kowashite, kizutsukete, tojikomete - kokoro sae...

motto hageshiku aishite

 

 

A.N. Right, so if any of you are confused by the time and jumping around of this chapter, I'm sorry but it was meant to be that way. I wanted to portray the complexity of time. We all assume it only goes one way, but in this fic its an unstable factor. I hope it didn't confuse too many. If this isn't clear at all with out this explanation please tell me so that I can fix it. Thanks! ^-^ Wow, only one chapter left, then the all mighty Epilogue. I think I might cry now, this is sad… anyway, review, review, review!!!! ^-^ Let me know if this still stands up to your expectations! ^-^

 

Translation:

 

Tadaima: I'm home

Okairi Nasai: Welcome Home

Ari: Partner

WAD-wr: Sea