[fic] Coming Forth by Sundown, Chapter 10 - Yugioh, drama/romance, PG-13
Title: Coming Forth by Sundown
Author: Chey (duelist_gurl163)
Chapter: 10/13
Overall rating: PG-13
Genre: Drama/romance
Pairings: YamixYugi, JouxMai, and references to YugixAnzu and YamixAnzu
Archive: You're lookin' at it
Warnings: None
Spoilers: Post-series, so many spoilers, including Yami's real name.
Summary: His was a story that ended in light. At the time, nobody realized that ending one story would only cause the beginning of another.
Disclaimer: Yugioh's still not mine.
01 - 02 - 03 - 04 - 05 - 06 - 07 - 08 - 09---
“But Atemu…” Anzu began.
“No, Anzu…I know there are holes in the theory. However your questions don’t disprove the theory.”
“They are good questions, though,” Mai said. “You have to admit, it’s odd that a powerful deity would let himself take on a human life.”
“About that…I have a guess,” Ishizu said. “I was thinking about it on the plane. Although the Heliopolitan text was still used in some places after Atemu’s life and death, Atum’s worship had faded before the eighteenth dynasty. There was a pharaoh before Atemu’s father. His name was Akhenaten, and he was devoted to Aten, an aspect of Ra. Akhenaten was oddly monotheistic, and his views weren’t popular.”
“And what does he have to do with anything?”
“Atum’s glory was already waning. Ra was already more revered, remembered today as the most powerful God of Egypt. Very few have even heard of Atum’s name. Possibly, Atum felt he no longer had a place in the Egyptian world, and when he saw someone attempting to set up one God alone as being better than all the others, that was the last straw. He may have escaped to the human world, taking refuge in a human soul that was just forming in an unborn baby. That would give him a mortal soul, which might act as a mask for his true soul. As for the similar names, no action is without a reason; his parents may have been led to choose it by Fate.”
“But why?”
“He could have had several motives. Out of sadness perhaps, or to spite those who forgot about him.”
“Atemu would never abandon innocent people out of spite or bitterness,” Yugi argued.
“No, Atemu wouldn’t,” Rishid agreed. “But Atum may have.”
“But if you’re saying they’re one and the same-”
“But maybe Atemu doesn’t remember his actions as a God,” Marik said. “That means Atemu the human isn’t really to blame.”
“Just yesterday you were saying that Atum and Atemu were the same person!”
“Well…it’s more complicated than how I put it yesterday,” he said, looking slightly guilty. “It’s like past lives. A person isn’t entirely responsible for what he did in a past life, is he?”
“Yes, but how did the prophecy get into Atemu’s tomb?” Anzu demanded. “That’s one question nobody’s answered.”
Hanif in Jounouchi’s body was watching the exchange silently, looking confused and slightly awe-struck to have found himself among the only people who seemed to be taking any action.
“I don’t think it has an answer,” Ishizu said, closing the book. “The room could have been created many years after Atemu’s death. It was found before the traps, meaning that anyone could have gotten in to make it. Or, even while Atemu’s tomb was being built, a worker could have added the chamber on. We’ll likely never know, even if we have a chance to date it, it might not be accurate. And what you’re calling a prophecy might have instead been a warning from one of Atum’s last believers that forgetting the beliefs of Annu and forgetting Atum was bound to cause suffering later. Placing it in Atemu’s tomb would indicate that Atemu’s return to the afterlife would be the trigger.”
“But why hide it? If we’d known about this ahead of time, we might have prevented the whole rift problem!”
“I sensed power waiting inside the room,” Marik said. “It was probably sealed to prevent the wrong people from getting in to find it. I suppose they didn’t expect it to take so many years, or consider the fact that the stone would weaken substantially over millennia.”
“Okay, so…what do we do?” Honda finally asked.
“We have to go back to the chamber,” Marik replied. “And Atemu has to return to his God-form and protect the underworld again. He’s the only one who would have enough power to make the spirits go back.”
“Why do we have to go back to the chamber?” Mai frowned.
“I suspect that the chamber holds magic to help him return to his original form.”
“Of course, magic.” Honda sighed. “It’s the answer to everything.”
Atemu, having been silent for awhile, suddenly stood up. “Then we should go now.”
“We can’t.” Ishizu shook her head.
“What do you mean we can’t?” He argued. “People are suffering. People have been killed, and it’s only going to get worse. Jounouchi’s already been possessed…who’s to say another of us won’t be next? The spirits could be forcing innocent people to do terrible things right this moment. If this is my fault, I want to fix it, and I want to fix it now!”
“Atum’s power…your power…is strongest at dusk. Atum represented the setting sun. A mix of light and darkness will increase your power. We have to wait till sundown.”
Atemu turned and walked to the second bedroom, yanking the door open and slamming it behind him.
The room was silent for a long moment. Then there was a clink as Yugi set down his nearly-untouched cup of tea and stood up. “I’ll be right back guys.”
“Are you going to talk to him? We’ll come too,” Honda said, about to stand before Yugi shook his head as he walked to the door.
“No, I want to talk to him alone.”
- - -
Yugi knocked softly before opening the door and slipping inside. Closing it behind him, he saw Atemu sitting on the bed with his back to him. He walked over and sat down beside him quietly, saying nothing, waiting for him to react.
Atemu sighed, head down. “I don’t want to wait. All those people…and the good spirits who don’t have a choice…my family and friends and…they’re all suffering, and I’m sitting here doing nothing.”
“But if waiting means you’ll be more ready-” Yugi began.
“But I won’t be. That’s just it, Aibou…I’m ready now. I can deal with it now. If I wait…if I have time to stop and think about it…I’m going to lose the ability to stay calm and do what I have to do.”
Yugi placed his hand on Atemu’s arm and felt his muscles tighten. “Atemu…it’s going to be okay.”
“I’m sorry about Jounouchi,” Atemu whispered.
“It’s okay, he’s going to be okay. He got lucky, it wasn’t a bad spirit.”
“He didn’t even do anything wrong. He was here trying to help me…”
“Atemu, stop it, stop speaking in past tense and stop beating yourself up over this-”
“I’m so…so sorry, Aibou.” He doubled over, hair hiding his face. “This is my fault.”
“No, it’s going to be okay,” Yugi soothed, patting his arm shyly. “You’re not facing this alone. You have all of us. And you have me. I helped you before, and I’ll help you with this task, too.”
“No, Aibou. You can’t help me this time.”
“Why?” He asked, surprised. Atemu lifted his head.
“Because…I have a suspicion…of what I have to do. There’s no proof, but I just have a feeling, and if I’m right…I can’t let you help me.”
“What are you saying?”
“I think…if Atum created the human form of himself to escape his God-life, I’m going to have to shed my human life to go back.”
“Shed your human life…wait, are you saying give up your human spirit?” Yugi asked, heart suddenly pounding.
Atemu bowed his head.
“But…that can’t be…”
“I can’t protect the underworld as a human. My human spirit is in the way. It will have to be sacrificed if I want to return to being a God.”
“But…Atemu, if you…return your God form that way, then…” Yugi bit his lip, his eyes suddenly stinging.
“Aibou?” He looked up, surprised at the pain in Yugi’s voice.
“I know it’s selfish,” he whispered. “But…I always liked being able to look at the sky and think…your spirit was out there somewhere. Somewhere your spirit was still alive, having fun with your family and your friends, waiting…well, not waiting, but there…and then someday I would see you again. But if you…become a God…what does that mean? Does it mean that you…won’t be there? You won’t be waiting for me?”
“I…I don’t know. I like to believe that I will still be able to see everyone, but I can’t be sure. But either way, I must…”
Yugi shook his head. “No…I understand that you have to do this. I just…it’s hard. You’ve sacrificed so much. As a pharaoh you sacrificed your life for your people. You took care of me, and you protected our friends. And now…you have to give up your human spirit…to protect the people of the underworld. When will you ever get to have happiness of your own?”
Atemu’s eyes grew wet and he turned his head. Happiness of my own...
“Atemu?”
“My happiness, Aibou…is in knowing that you’re safe. By giving up my human spirit, I’ll be able to put the underworld back the way it’s supposed to be, in peace. So one day…hopefully a very long time from now…when you have to enter the afterlife, it will be safe for you and everyone else. That…is my happiness.”
Yugi looked away too. That isn’t fair. You deserve so much more.
But he knew that wasn’t what Atemu wanted to hear.
I know you want my support.
Finally, forcing strength upon himself, he managed to speak: “Atemu…if you are a God and you have to return to that…or if we go there tonight and find out we were all wrong and you’re not…no matter what happens…I will stand by you. I will…respect your choice.”
Yugi had moved slightly on the bed. Atemu could feel the heat of his hand close by his own, and he moved his own hand, curling a few of his fingers over Yugi’s. He didn’t know what to expect for a response, or why he had done it at all. Then he felt Yugi’s hand move, and Yugi curled his own fingers to grasp Atemu’s back, saying nothing. But Atemu felt a spark of light enter his heart.
Aibou...
Taking a deep breath, he heard himself speaking softly. “Aibou, there is something…I always wanted to tell you, but I never knew how to say the right words.” He looked up into Yugi’s eyes. “We didn’t have a lot of time together in the broad scheme of things. But I feel like it was important, and I feel like the time with you…was worth more than anything else. And I…have always been so proud of you.”
Yugi bit his lip, feeling tears collecting on his eyelashes. He remembered, just two days before, looking at his lantern and hoping that he was someone Atemu was proud of. But his words didn’t bring him any comfort now.
“Don’t…don’t say that, Atemu. You’re saying it like…we’ll never see each other again.”
“Well…” Atemu started quietly, but Yugi cut him off.
“No! Don’t say it…I don’t want that! I don’t want you to…Atemu, I…”
It’s like you said…you can keep yourself together now, but the more time passes, the more you’re not ready. I feel the same. The more time passes, the harder it is to not fall apart. The harder it is to not tell you…
“Aibou?”
Yugi was trying to speak, but the words were stuck inside of him. As if his voice itself was reminding him that the words, no matter how well-meant, were taboo.
I want to tell him…I want to give him the truth, but he just wants my blessing for his choice. How can I give him both?
He knew the answer. I can’t.
But now Atemu was looking at him, waiting for him to continue. “I just…miss you. I’ve missed you a lot,” he finally whispered. “Seeing you has reminded me…about the night of the Ceremonial Battle, and I really wanted to talk to you and just spend the night talking before…it all ended…but I’d chosen to take on your battle and we couldn’t. And after you left I missed you so much. I’ve wanted to tell you how I was, and wanted to ask how you were…and now here we are, and you’re talking as if after tonight we might never see each other again, not even after death, and…I hate it.”
Atemu nodded, murmuring, “I understand. I have missed you too. So much…”
“Hey…listen…” Yugi said, trying to sound cheerful and blinking away the wetness in his eyes. “You didn’t drink much of your tea earlier, why don’t I go out to the kitchen and get us fresh cups, and I’ll bring you one…and I’ll tell you about everything that’s happened since you left. And you can tell me about seeing your family…we’ll spend the whole day talking, just like we used to. How does that sound?”
Atemu’s lips twitched into a tiny smile. “That sounds good, Aibou.”
x-x-x
Notes: Not quite as shameless of fanservice as there was in chapter 08, since this is actually related to the plot...but it's still kind of fanservice-y. x3; I kinda like this chapter quite a bit...hopefully you enjoyed it as well. Anyway, the end of the fic is coming! Only three chapters left...
Author: Chey (duelist_gurl163)
Chapter: 10/13
Overall rating: PG-13
Genre: Drama/romance
Pairings: YamixYugi, JouxMai, and references to YugixAnzu and YamixAnzu
Archive: You're lookin' at it
Warnings: None
Spoilers: Post-series, so many spoilers, including Yami's real name.
Summary: His was a story that ended in light. At the time, nobody realized that ending one story would only cause the beginning of another.
Disclaimer: Yugioh's still not mine.
01 - 02 - 03 - 04 - 05 - 06 - 07 - 08 - 09---
“But Atemu…” Anzu began.
“No, Anzu…I know there are holes in the theory. However your questions don’t disprove the theory.”
“They are good questions, though,” Mai said. “You have to admit, it’s odd that a powerful deity would let himself take on a human life.”
“About that…I have a guess,” Ishizu said. “I was thinking about it on the plane. Although the Heliopolitan text was still used in some places after Atemu’s life and death, Atum’s worship had faded before the eighteenth dynasty. There was a pharaoh before Atemu’s father. His name was Akhenaten, and he was devoted to Aten, an aspect of Ra. Akhenaten was oddly monotheistic, and his views weren’t popular.”
“And what does he have to do with anything?”
“Atum’s glory was already waning. Ra was already more revered, remembered today as the most powerful God of Egypt. Very few have even heard of Atum’s name. Possibly, Atum felt he no longer had a place in the Egyptian world, and when he saw someone attempting to set up one God alone as being better than all the others, that was the last straw. He may have escaped to the human world, taking refuge in a human soul that was just forming in an unborn baby. That would give him a mortal soul, which might act as a mask for his true soul. As for the similar names, no action is without a reason; his parents may have been led to choose it by Fate.”
“But why?”
“He could have had several motives. Out of sadness perhaps, or to spite those who forgot about him.”
“Atemu would never abandon innocent people out of spite or bitterness,” Yugi argued.
“No, Atemu wouldn’t,” Rishid agreed. “But Atum may have.”
“But if you’re saying they’re one and the same-”
“But maybe Atemu doesn’t remember his actions as a God,” Marik said. “That means Atemu the human isn’t really to blame.”
“Just yesterday you were saying that Atum and Atemu were the same person!”
“Well…it’s more complicated than how I put it yesterday,” he said, looking slightly guilty. “It’s like past lives. A person isn’t entirely responsible for what he did in a past life, is he?”
“Yes, but how did the prophecy get into Atemu’s tomb?” Anzu demanded. “That’s one question nobody’s answered.”
Hanif in Jounouchi’s body was watching the exchange silently, looking confused and slightly awe-struck to have found himself among the only people who seemed to be taking any action.
“I don’t think it has an answer,” Ishizu said, closing the book. “The room could have been created many years after Atemu’s death. It was found before the traps, meaning that anyone could have gotten in to make it. Or, even while Atemu’s tomb was being built, a worker could have added the chamber on. We’ll likely never know, even if we have a chance to date it, it might not be accurate. And what you’re calling a prophecy might have instead been a warning from one of Atum’s last believers that forgetting the beliefs of Annu and forgetting Atum was bound to cause suffering later. Placing it in Atemu’s tomb would indicate that Atemu’s return to the afterlife would be the trigger.”
“But why hide it? If we’d known about this ahead of time, we might have prevented the whole rift problem!”
“I sensed power waiting inside the room,” Marik said. “It was probably sealed to prevent the wrong people from getting in to find it. I suppose they didn’t expect it to take so many years, or consider the fact that the stone would weaken substantially over millennia.”
“Okay, so…what do we do?” Honda finally asked.
“We have to go back to the chamber,” Marik replied. “And Atemu has to return to his God-form and protect the underworld again. He’s the only one who would have enough power to make the spirits go back.”
“Why do we have to go back to the chamber?” Mai frowned.
“I suspect that the chamber holds magic to help him return to his original form.”
“Of course, magic.” Honda sighed. “It’s the answer to everything.”
Atemu, having been silent for awhile, suddenly stood up. “Then we should go now.”
“We can’t.” Ishizu shook her head.
“What do you mean we can’t?” He argued. “People are suffering. People have been killed, and it’s only going to get worse. Jounouchi’s already been possessed…who’s to say another of us won’t be next? The spirits could be forcing innocent people to do terrible things right this moment. If this is my fault, I want to fix it, and I want to fix it now!”
“Atum’s power…your power…is strongest at dusk. Atum represented the setting sun. A mix of light and darkness will increase your power. We have to wait till sundown.”
Atemu turned and walked to the second bedroom, yanking the door open and slamming it behind him.
The room was silent for a long moment. Then there was a clink as Yugi set down his nearly-untouched cup of tea and stood up. “I’ll be right back guys.”
“Are you going to talk to him? We’ll come too,” Honda said, about to stand before Yugi shook his head as he walked to the door.
“No, I want to talk to him alone.”
- - -
Yugi knocked softly before opening the door and slipping inside. Closing it behind him, he saw Atemu sitting on the bed with his back to him. He walked over and sat down beside him quietly, saying nothing, waiting for him to react.
Atemu sighed, head down. “I don’t want to wait. All those people…and the good spirits who don’t have a choice…my family and friends and…they’re all suffering, and I’m sitting here doing nothing.”
“But if waiting means you’ll be more ready-” Yugi began.
“But I won’t be. That’s just it, Aibou…I’m ready now. I can deal with it now. If I wait…if I have time to stop and think about it…I’m going to lose the ability to stay calm and do what I have to do.”
Yugi placed his hand on Atemu’s arm and felt his muscles tighten. “Atemu…it’s going to be okay.”
“I’m sorry about Jounouchi,” Atemu whispered.
“It’s okay, he’s going to be okay. He got lucky, it wasn’t a bad spirit.”
“He didn’t even do anything wrong. He was here trying to help me…”
“Atemu, stop it, stop speaking in past tense and stop beating yourself up over this-”
“I’m so…so sorry, Aibou.” He doubled over, hair hiding his face. “This is my fault.”
“No, it’s going to be okay,” Yugi soothed, patting his arm shyly. “You’re not facing this alone. You have all of us. And you have me. I helped you before, and I’ll help you with this task, too.”
“No, Aibou. You can’t help me this time.”
“Why?” He asked, surprised. Atemu lifted his head.
“Because…I have a suspicion…of what I have to do. There’s no proof, but I just have a feeling, and if I’m right…I can’t let you help me.”
“What are you saying?”
“I think…if Atum created the human form of himself to escape his God-life, I’m going to have to shed my human life to go back.”
“Shed your human life…wait, are you saying give up your human spirit?” Yugi asked, heart suddenly pounding.
Atemu bowed his head.
“But…that can’t be…”
“I can’t protect the underworld as a human. My human spirit is in the way. It will have to be sacrificed if I want to return to being a God.”
“But…Atemu, if you…return your God form that way, then…” Yugi bit his lip, his eyes suddenly stinging.
“Aibou?” He looked up, surprised at the pain in Yugi’s voice.
“I know it’s selfish,” he whispered. “But…I always liked being able to look at the sky and think…your spirit was out there somewhere. Somewhere your spirit was still alive, having fun with your family and your friends, waiting…well, not waiting, but there…and then someday I would see you again. But if you…become a God…what does that mean? Does it mean that you…won’t be there? You won’t be waiting for me?”
“I…I don’t know. I like to believe that I will still be able to see everyone, but I can’t be sure. But either way, I must…”
Yugi shook his head. “No…I understand that you have to do this. I just…it’s hard. You’ve sacrificed so much. As a pharaoh you sacrificed your life for your people. You took care of me, and you protected our friends. And now…you have to give up your human spirit…to protect the people of the underworld. When will you ever get to have happiness of your own?”
Atemu’s eyes grew wet and he turned his head. Happiness of my own...
“Atemu?”
“My happiness, Aibou…is in knowing that you’re safe. By giving up my human spirit, I’ll be able to put the underworld back the way it’s supposed to be, in peace. So one day…hopefully a very long time from now…when you have to enter the afterlife, it will be safe for you and everyone else. That…is my happiness.”
Yugi looked away too. That isn’t fair. You deserve so much more.
But he knew that wasn’t what Atemu wanted to hear.
I know you want my support.
Finally, forcing strength upon himself, he managed to speak: “Atemu…if you are a God and you have to return to that…or if we go there tonight and find out we were all wrong and you’re not…no matter what happens…I will stand by you. I will…respect your choice.”
Yugi had moved slightly on the bed. Atemu could feel the heat of his hand close by his own, and he moved his own hand, curling a few of his fingers over Yugi’s. He didn’t know what to expect for a response, or why he had done it at all. Then he felt Yugi’s hand move, and Yugi curled his own fingers to grasp Atemu’s back, saying nothing. But Atemu felt a spark of light enter his heart.
Aibou...
Taking a deep breath, he heard himself speaking softly. “Aibou, there is something…I always wanted to tell you, but I never knew how to say the right words.” He looked up into Yugi’s eyes. “We didn’t have a lot of time together in the broad scheme of things. But I feel like it was important, and I feel like the time with you…was worth more than anything else. And I…have always been so proud of you.”
Yugi bit his lip, feeling tears collecting on his eyelashes. He remembered, just two days before, looking at his lantern and hoping that he was someone Atemu was proud of. But his words didn’t bring him any comfort now.
“Don’t…don’t say that, Atemu. You’re saying it like…we’ll never see each other again.”
“Well…” Atemu started quietly, but Yugi cut him off.
“No! Don’t say it…I don’t want that! I don’t want you to…Atemu, I…”
It’s like you said…you can keep yourself together now, but the more time passes, the more you’re not ready. I feel the same. The more time passes, the harder it is to not fall apart. The harder it is to not tell you…
“Aibou?”
Yugi was trying to speak, but the words were stuck inside of him. As if his voice itself was reminding him that the words, no matter how well-meant, were taboo.
I want to tell him…I want to give him the truth, but he just wants my blessing for his choice. How can I give him both?
He knew the answer. I can’t.
But now Atemu was looking at him, waiting for him to continue. “I just…miss you. I’ve missed you a lot,” he finally whispered. “Seeing you has reminded me…about the night of the Ceremonial Battle, and I really wanted to talk to you and just spend the night talking before…it all ended…but I’d chosen to take on your battle and we couldn’t. And after you left I missed you so much. I’ve wanted to tell you how I was, and wanted to ask how you were…and now here we are, and you’re talking as if after tonight we might never see each other again, not even after death, and…I hate it.”
Atemu nodded, murmuring, “I understand. I have missed you too. So much…”
“Hey…listen…” Yugi said, trying to sound cheerful and blinking away the wetness in his eyes. “You didn’t drink much of your tea earlier, why don’t I go out to the kitchen and get us fresh cups, and I’ll bring you one…and I’ll tell you about everything that’s happened since you left. And you can tell me about seeing your family…we’ll spend the whole day talking, just like we used to. How does that sound?”
Atemu’s lips twitched into a tiny smile. “That sounds good, Aibou.”
x-x-x
Notes: Not quite as shameless of fanservice as there was in chapter 08, since this is actually related to the plot...but it's still kind of fanservice-y. x3; I kinda like this chapter quite a bit...hopefully you enjoyed it as well. Anyway, the end of the fic is coming! Only three chapters left...