[fic] Coming Forth by Sundown, Chapter 05 - Yugioh, drama/romance, PG-13
Title: Coming Forth by Sundown
Author: Chey (duelist_gurl163)
Chapter: 5/13
Overall rating: PG-13
Genre: Drama/romance
Parings: 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
---
“The world’s in danger and you’re surfing the internet?” Honda asked in disbelief, peering over Marik’s shoulder at the computer screen. After Anzu and Atemu had returned from their discussion, quiet but apparently unharmed, the conversation had continued. Marik had fallen silent part way through, and had disappeared into his room a few minutes before, where he was now glued to his computer.
“I’m trying to look something up."
“Could you be any more vague?” He grumbled. “First the phone call, now this. We’re involved too, you know.”
“Look, it’ll take less time if I look it up rather than explain. Besides, my computer is set in Arabic and that sort of limits anybody else's ability to do anything on it. You guys had a long flight, why don’t you relax for awhile?”
“Fine.” He shook his head and returned to the living room where Jounouchi, Mai, and Anzu were now flipping channels in hopes of finding an English speaking one that Mai could translate for them.
“So what’s Marik up to?” Jounouchi asked, looking up.
“He’s online, researching…something...” He trailed off distractedly and glanced around. “Hey…where are Atemu and Yugi?”
“I think Yugi’s trying to find him some decent clothes to wear.”
- - -
In the bedroom Yugi dug through his backpack, pulling out clothing. He held out a shirt, underwear, and jeans, looking shyly toward the floor. “These should do. It’s helpful that we still wear the same size.”
“Thank you.”
“I’m sorry I don’t have any shoes, I didn’t think-”
“Really, this is fine. I appreciate it, Aib…” He trailed off quickly, reducing his voice to a mumble so that Yugi wouldn’t catch what he said.
Yugi was too busy worrying about other things to really notice. He had turned around, and was now blushing as he thought of Atemu dressing behind him. He didn’t know what to say, but this silence felt too awkward. Staring at the wall, he finally spoke up. “Atemu…earlier, when you went out to talk to Anzu, did she tell you…?” He stopped. “I’m sorry, that’s too personal. It was a private conversation, forget I tried to ask.”
“Yes, she told me how she felt,” he answered anyway, tapping Yugi’s shoulder to make him turn. Seeing him wearing a familiar outfit made Yugi’s heart thump harder. “I can’t say I never expected to hear the question.”
“What did you say?”
“I told her the truth. I just don’t have the same feelings for her.”
Yugi nodded.
“I didn’t want to hurt her feelings…please know that. I never intended…”
“Of course I know that, I know you’d never want to hurt any of our friends.”
“I just don’t feel the same. I couldn’t lie to her.”
“Atemu, you don’t have to justify yourself,” Yugi replied, confused. “At least, not to me.”
“I think she’ll be okay. You think she’ll be okay, right?” He asked, somewhat anxiously.
“I’m sure. Anzu is really understanding.” Yugi picked up the clothes from the villager. “What should we do with these?”
“I wish I could give them back…but I don’t know how to find that man again.”
“Perhaps give them to charity?” Yugi suggested. Atemu brightened.
“That’s a good idea.”
“I’ll just fold them and leave them here until we - or I - well, Marik, I guess…can find a place to drop them off.” Yugi quickly turned away, embarrassed. Over the course of one evening, he had become so used to having Atemu back in his life that he was already thinking of them as ‘we.’ Needing something to do, he pulled out the other clothes he’d stuffed in to fold them better, and there was a clink as a plastic wrapped package fell out.
“What’s this?” Atemu asked, picking it up. He tilted his head. “Silver bracelets?”
“What?” Yugi took the package. “These are the bracelets I asked Grandpa to buy. How did they…” Then he remembered he had thrown them on his bed, the same place that he later threw his clothes for the trip. I must have accidentally scooped them up when I was packing.
“What are they for?”
Yugi smiled a little. “I was going to put them in an offering basket for you.”
“A what?”
Yugi sat down on the edge of the bed, still holding the jewelry. “For Obon. We make baskets of offerings for the spirits that will be visiting us. Usually people just put food and flowers in them, but I figured…if your spirit was around, you’d be amused if you saw the bracelets in the basket. You remember…trying to convince me to wear more jewelry.”
Atemu laughed. “I do remember that.”
“I never did finish your basket,” Yugi said softly. “I’d only just finished making your lantern when I got the call from Marik.”
Atemu’s expression softened. “I bet it was really nice.”
“What, the basket or the lantern?”
“Either. Both.”
“Then you’d be rather disappointed. I have no artistic talent. Even though I was really trying to make the best ones I could.”
Sitting down beside him, Atemu touched his shoulder. “Ai- …I’m sure they were the best of all.”
Yugi looked up. “Then it’s really good you’re here and not a spirit there, because believe me, they weren’t the best. Our neighbours-”
“No, Aib…no. I believe they were the best. Because you were making them for me.”
Understanding then, Yugi smiled slightly and nodded, then tilted his head. “Atemu…why do you keep stopping yourself each time you start to call me Aibou? You didn’t have any problem with the name earlier.”
“Oh…” He trailed off, not certain how to explain that talking to Anzu made him realize they were no longer partners, and that the nickname no longer fit. “I just…wasn’t sure if you still wanted me to call you by it. It's an old name, I thought maybe you were tired of it.”
“Well if I had a problem I’d have told you earlier, wouldn’t I?” Yugi asked, smiling at him. Atemu didn’t smile back. Amusement fading, Yugi touched his arm. “Atemu…what’s wrong? It’s okay. I really like that name. I want you to call me it.” I’ve wished for months to hear you call me Aibou again, please don’t stop now.
“Really?”
“Of course really!”
Atemu felt himself smile against his will, unable to resist the sound of Yugi’s voice. “Okay…if you really don’t mind. Honestly, I like using it.”
“And I like hearing it.” He let his fingers linger on his skin a few moments longer, then held up the bracelets to break away from the serious moment. “Grandpa was so confused about why I made him buy these. And now, if things work out right and the spirits go back and you go back with them…Obon will be over by then. I’ll never even use them.”
Atemu took the package. “Then can I have a few?”
“A few of the bracelets?”
“Yes.”
“Sure,” Yugi replied, puzzled. “Why?”
“I just…like the memories. That’s all.” He ripped the plastic and pulled out half of them, slipping them onto his wrist. He held his hand out. “See, and they look good, too.”
“Here…” Yugi took the package back and dumped out the rest into his hand, putting them on his own wrist. “Now we each have half.”
“See, I was right, they do look good on you, Aibou,” Atemu said, smiling broadly. “If only you had listened to me when I told you before, Anzu would have completely forgotten her crush on me and been all over you.”
Yugi laughed and smiled back, yet still felt a pang of sadness in his heart. He thinks I still like her. That would explain why he’d been so apologetic about turning her down. He looked at him and then, impulsively, decided to tell him.
“Atemu, I’m not in love with Anzu.”
“But I thought…?”
“I was,” he admitted. “I had a crush...but it’s over with now, I grew out of it.”
“Oh.” Atemu nodded. “I…I’m sorry.”
“It’s okay.”
Yugi went back to folding his clothes. Atemu sat quietly, playing with the bracelets on his arm. He didn’t seem in any hurry to return to the living room.
“Aibou?”
“Yes?”
“I’ve…really missed you. I’ve missed talking like this.”
Yugi turned. “Atemu…”
“I’m glad…you seem to be doing well.”
“Pretty well. But I’ve missed you, too.” Yugi couldn’t help wondering if Atemu really believed everything was okay. His other half had always been remarkably intuitive…and Yugi thought with a guilty pang about the nights he’d hidden his face in his pillow and cried out his loneliness. But if Atemu was aware of those, he wasn’t saying anything.
Atemu opened his mouth as if to reply, then closed it and went back to playing with the jewelry. Yugi watched him for a moment, then returned to folding.
- - -
Scrolling through pages, Marik wasn’t sure what he was looking for. However, he knew almost nothing about the Heliopolitans, and considering the role their text played in this, he thought it prudent to learn all he could. The internet was the only source available to him. A textbook would be better, but the library was closed this late, and he couldn’t get hold of any experts till the next day at best.
“Heliopolitan Gods…”
That’s part of the translation that didn’t make much sense, he recalled. Why go through the trouble of designating a God-King when Pharaoh would have explained it just fine?
He shook his head.
Stop it, questioning word choice isn’t going to help.
He muttered to himself as he read. “Funerary Gods…creator Gods…women’s deities…”
‘God’…why a God-King?
He just couldn’t stop wondering about that.
Why not just a pharaoh?
The word ‘king’ caught his eye on the page. As he read, he felt his heart drop.
No way…could it…?
But the more he read, the more sense it was making.
Could it be…that it wasn’t referring to a pharaoh at all?
He got up, striding out the door. “Yugi? Atemu?”
- - -
Inside the room they heard Marik calling. Atemu got up and peered out. “Marik? What is it?”
“I’ve been looking up information on Heliopolitan culture. I found something…and it might seem radical, but if you think about it, it really makes sense.”
“And that would be…?”
“I don’t think the prophesy was referring to a pharaoh. Or at least…it wasn’t intended to refer to a pharaoh.”
“So that means I’m not involved after all?” Atemu asked.
“No, actually I think it means you’re more involved than ever.”
He just looked bewildered.
Marik sighed. “Have you ever heard of the God, Atum?”
Atemu and the others, who were now listening in curiosity, all shook their heads.
“Me neither until just now. He was a creator God. Some say the creator of the world. The people of the Heliopolis thought so.”
“I thought Ra was the main God,” Jounouchi interrupted.
“He is. But there are some groups that worshiped Atum first, and most ended up believing that Atum is an aspect of Ra. However, he was, at one time, considered a God in his own right, one possibly even stronger than Ra."
“Is there a point?” Atemu asked.
“Atum was also known as Atem and Atemu.”
Atemu blinked. “Are you saying…?”
“Yes. I think it’s possible…you might be a God.”
x-x-x
Notes: It was Kazuki Takahashi's birthday yesterday, and I completely forgot. T_T So here's an update for him. Happy belated birthday Takahashi-sama!
Hooray, super special awesome plot twist...that everyone has probably already guessed where it's leading. ^^; And Puzzleshipping. All in one chapter. Can't ask for much else, ne?
Author: Chey (duelist_gurl163)
Chapter: 5/13
Overall rating: PG-13
Genre: Drama/romance
Parings: 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
---
“The world’s in danger and you’re surfing the internet?” Honda asked in disbelief, peering over Marik’s shoulder at the computer screen. After Anzu and Atemu had returned from their discussion, quiet but apparently unharmed, the conversation had continued. Marik had fallen silent part way through, and had disappeared into his room a few minutes before, where he was now glued to his computer.
“I’m trying to look something up."
“Could you be any more vague?” He grumbled. “First the phone call, now this. We’re involved too, you know.”
“Look, it’ll take less time if I look it up rather than explain. Besides, my computer is set in Arabic and that sort of limits anybody else's ability to do anything on it. You guys had a long flight, why don’t you relax for awhile?”
“Fine.” He shook his head and returned to the living room where Jounouchi, Mai, and Anzu were now flipping channels in hopes of finding an English speaking one that Mai could translate for them.
“So what’s Marik up to?” Jounouchi asked, looking up.
“He’s online, researching…something...” He trailed off distractedly and glanced around. “Hey…where are Atemu and Yugi?”
“I think Yugi’s trying to find him some decent clothes to wear.”
- - -
In the bedroom Yugi dug through his backpack, pulling out clothing. He held out a shirt, underwear, and jeans, looking shyly toward the floor. “These should do. It’s helpful that we still wear the same size.”
“Thank you.”
“I’m sorry I don’t have any shoes, I didn’t think-”
“Really, this is fine. I appreciate it, Aib…” He trailed off quickly, reducing his voice to a mumble so that Yugi wouldn’t catch what he said.
Yugi was too busy worrying about other things to really notice. He had turned around, and was now blushing as he thought of Atemu dressing behind him. He didn’t know what to say, but this silence felt too awkward. Staring at the wall, he finally spoke up. “Atemu…earlier, when you went out to talk to Anzu, did she tell you…?” He stopped. “I’m sorry, that’s too personal. It was a private conversation, forget I tried to ask.”
“Yes, she told me how she felt,” he answered anyway, tapping Yugi’s shoulder to make him turn. Seeing him wearing a familiar outfit made Yugi’s heart thump harder. “I can’t say I never expected to hear the question.”
“What did you say?”
“I told her the truth. I just don’t have the same feelings for her.”
Yugi nodded.
“I didn’t want to hurt her feelings…please know that. I never intended…”
“Of course I know that, I know you’d never want to hurt any of our friends.”
“I just don’t feel the same. I couldn’t lie to her.”
“Atemu, you don’t have to justify yourself,” Yugi replied, confused. “At least, not to me.”
“I think she’ll be okay. You think she’ll be okay, right?” He asked, somewhat anxiously.
“I’m sure. Anzu is really understanding.” Yugi picked up the clothes from the villager. “What should we do with these?”
“I wish I could give them back…but I don’t know how to find that man again.”
“Perhaps give them to charity?” Yugi suggested. Atemu brightened.
“That’s a good idea.”
“I’ll just fold them and leave them here until we - or I - well, Marik, I guess…can find a place to drop them off.” Yugi quickly turned away, embarrassed. Over the course of one evening, he had become so used to having Atemu back in his life that he was already thinking of them as ‘we.’ Needing something to do, he pulled out the other clothes he’d stuffed in to fold them better, and there was a clink as a plastic wrapped package fell out.
“What’s this?” Atemu asked, picking it up. He tilted his head. “Silver bracelets?”
“What?” Yugi took the package. “These are the bracelets I asked Grandpa to buy. How did they…” Then he remembered he had thrown them on his bed, the same place that he later threw his clothes for the trip. I must have accidentally scooped them up when I was packing.
“What are they for?”
Yugi smiled a little. “I was going to put them in an offering basket for you.”
“A what?”
Yugi sat down on the edge of the bed, still holding the jewelry. “For Obon. We make baskets of offerings for the spirits that will be visiting us. Usually people just put food and flowers in them, but I figured…if your spirit was around, you’d be amused if you saw the bracelets in the basket. You remember…trying to convince me to wear more jewelry.”
Atemu laughed. “I do remember that.”
“I never did finish your basket,” Yugi said softly. “I’d only just finished making your lantern when I got the call from Marik.”
Atemu’s expression softened. “I bet it was really nice.”
“What, the basket or the lantern?”
“Either. Both.”
“Then you’d be rather disappointed. I have no artistic talent. Even though I was really trying to make the best ones I could.”
Sitting down beside him, Atemu touched his shoulder. “Ai- …I’m sure they were the best of all.”
Yugi looked up. “Then it’s really good you’re here and not a spirit there, because believe me, they weren’t the best. Our neighbours-”
“No, Aib…no. I believe they were the best. Because you were making them for me.”
Understanding then, Yugi smiled slightly and nodded, then tilted his head. “Atemu…why do you keep stopping yourself each time you start to call me Aibou? You didn’t have any problem with the name earlier.”
“Oh…” He trailed off, not certain how to explain that talking to Anzu made him realize they were no longer partners, and that the nickname no longer fit. “I just…wasn’t sure if you still wanted me to call you by it. It's an old name, I thought maybe you were tired of it.”
“Well if I had a problem I’d have told you earlier, wouldn’t I?” Yugi asked, smiling at him. Atemu didn’t smile back. Amusement fading, Yugi touched his arm. “Atemu…what’s wrong? It’s okay. I really like that name. I want you to call me it.” I’ve wished for months to hear you call me Aibou again, please don’t stop now.
“Really?”
“Of course really!”
Atemu felt himself smile against his will, unable to resist the sound of Yugi’s voice. “Okay…if you really don’t mind. Honestly, I like using it.”
“And I like hearing it.” He let his fingers linger on his skin a few moments longer, then held up the bracelets to break away from the serious moment. “Grandpa was so confused about why I made him buy these. And now, if things work out right and the spirits go back and you go back with them…Obon will be over by then. I’ll never even use them.”
Atemu took the package. “Then can I have a few?”
“A few of the bracelets?”
“Yes.”
“Sure,” Yugi replied, puzzled. “Why?”
“I just…like the memories. That’s all.” He ripped the plastic and pulled out half of them, slipping them onto his wrist. He held his hand out. “See, and they look good, too.”
“Here…” Yugi took the package back and dumped out the rest into his hand, putting them on his own wrist. “Now we each have half.”
“See, I was right, they do look good on you, Aibou,” Atemu said, smiling broadly. “If only you had listened to me when I told you before, Anzu would have completely forgotten her crush on me and been all over you.”
Yugi laughed and smiled back, yet still felt a pang of sadness in his heart. He thinks I still like her. That would explain why he’d been so apologetic about turning her down. He looked at him and then, impulsively, decided to tell him.
“Atemu, I’m not in love with Anzu.”
“But I thought…?”
“I was,” he admitted. “I had a crush...but it’s over with now, I grew out of it.”
“Oh.” Atemu nodded. “I…I’m sorry.”
“It’s okay.”
Yugi went back to folding his clothes. Atemu sat quietly, playing with the bracelets on his arm. He didn’t seem in any hurry to return to the living room.
“Aibou?”
“Yes?”
“I’ve…really missed you. I’ve missed talking like this.”
Yugi turned. “Atemu…”
“I’m glad…you seem to be doing well.”
“Pretty well. But I’ve missed you, too.” Yugi couldn’t help wondering if Atemu really believed everything was okay. His other half had always been remarkably intuitive…and Yugi thought with a guilty pang about the nights he’d hidden his face in his pillow and cried out his loneliness. But if Atemu was aware of those, he wasn’t saying anything.
Atemu opened his mouth as if to reply, then closed it and went back to playing with the jewelry. Yugi watched him for a moment, then returned to folding.
- - -
Scrolling through pages, Marik wasn’t sure what he was looking for. However, he knew almost nothing about the Heliopolitans, and considering the role their text played in this, he thought it prudent to learn all he could. The internet was the only source available to him. A textbook would be better, but the library was closed this late, and he couldn’t get hold of any experts till the next day at best.
“Heliopolitan Gods…”
That’s part of the translation that didn’t make much sense, he recalled. Why go through the trouble of designating a God-King when Pharaoh would have explained it just fine?
He shook his head.
Stop it, questioning word choice isn’t going to help.
He muttered to himself as he read. “Funerary Gods…creator Gods…women’s deities…”
‘God’…why a God-King?
He just couldn’t stop wondering about that.
Why not just a pharaoh?
The word ‘king’ caught his eye on the page. As he read, he felt his heart drop.
No way…could it…?
But the more he read, the more sense it was making.
Could it be…that it wasn’t referring to a pharaoh at all?
He got up, striding out the door. “Yugi? Atemu?”
- - -
Inside the room they heard Marik calling. Atemu got up and peered out. “Marik? What is it?”
“I’ve been looking up information on Heliopolitan culture. I found something…and it might seem radical, but if you think about it, it really makes sense.”
“And that would be…?”
“I don’t think the prophesy was referring to a pharaoh. Or at least…it wasn’t intended to refer to a pharaoh.”
“So that means I’m not involved after all?” Atemu asked.
“No, actually I think it means you’re more involved than ever.”
He just looked bewildered.
Marik sighed. “Have you ever heard of the God, Atum?”
Atemu and the others, who were now listening in curiosity, all shook their heads.
“Me neither until just now. He was a creator God. Some say the creator of the world. The people of the Heliopolis thought so.”
“I thought Ra was the main God,” Jounouchi interrupted.
“He is. But there are some groups that worshiped Atum first, and most ended up believing that Atum is an aspect of Ra. However, he was, at one time, considered a God in his own right, one possibly even stronger than Ra."
“Is there a point?” Atemu asked.
“Atum was also known as Atem and Atemu.”
Atemu blinked. “Are you saying…?”
“Yes. I think it’s possible…you might be a God.”
x-x-x
Notes: It was Kazuki Takahashi's birthday yesterday, and I completely forgot. T_T So here's an update for him. Happy belated birthday Takahashi-sama!
Hooray, super special awesome plot twist...that everyone has probably already guessed where it's leading. ^^; And Puzzleshipping. All in one chapter. Can't ask for much else, ne?