[Open]

[note_atem]

Who: Atem and Open
What: Atem is silently reflecting on some things while walking around the island. You're welcome (and encouraged) to come bug him.
When: Late afternoon\early evening Saturday Night
Where: The mall, around the park, just walking about
Warnings: None yet? Depends on who shows I guess. Will update if necessary

Comments

[pintsizeduelist]

It was getting late

[pintsizeduelist]

Yuugi's eyes shifted as well, just to make sure. Of course they were alone, but you couldn't be too careful. Especially in a place like this.

He knew he regained his 'soul', but even so.. hearing it again was a bit relieving. It didn't last long, as he frowned. Why would they be separated like that?

"You were being tested.." Hesitancy and uncertainty, but he mostly answered his own question.

[note_atem]

Atem nodded and continued on. "Eventually there was a disconnect and I woke up in a dark game room with the spirit of the ring. The me in Egypt's past was not aware of the me playing the game. But the spirit told me that his goal was to overtake our efforts, release the evil of the Sennen Items known as Zorc, and destroy the world." It had been a strange thing to deal with, though only when he was granted his own body back in the normal time stream did he remember playing both games at the same time.

"We all eventually met up again. It was after I'd just led an attack on the spirit's past self. I'd been betrayed by one on my Court and took a severe blow. I passed out. But when I woke up..." That smile came back, just as warm as ever. "You were holding me. You told me that you weren't about to let me give up, and that we'd solve this together." Without Yuugi, Atem would have been lost. "Without you the events of the past would have reoccurred."

[pintsizeduelist]

The story was a weird one, albeit very complicated, and Yuugi was silent as he tried to piece it all together. Destroy the world?

But it was good knowing that he found him, that Atem wasn't alone. He hated that part the most of all of the story so far, and Yuugi smiled in return. "I'm glad I found you in time!" Really, there is such relief to his words.

[note_atem]

He smiled but it faded as he spoke again. "The spirit tried to turn the tables on us. A lot of fighting happened. But in the end, with your help," And he could not stress that enough. His own Kaa had not been enough. It was through Yuugi's strength that he'd been able to do anything. "-And Kaiba's help as well," A pause.

"Everyone. We all got together." His friends from his past life and his friends from the future. They all helped. They all stood together. "In the end we won out. We beat him. And I regained back my memories. It was at that time that I handed my crown over to my High Priest and resumed life with you back in your time." He had known the Priest would be able to handle it, despite everything that had happened. He trusted Priest Seto.

"It was then that we separated. Back in our time... we both were two separate entities." These words were softer, slower.

[pintsizeduelist]

"The priest.. he's a friend of yours, right?" His smile remained now, but light... and almost distant. "I know you made the right decision." See, Atem? He trusts you.

The next part, though..

"So.. we never.."

[note_atem]

"A very trusted friend." He couldn't help but wonder what Priest Seto might say towards this whole situation. Would he offer help? Would he reprimand him?

He knew this part was going to be hard. And it already was starting off bad. But.. the story had to go on. "It was determined that in order to finally be able to go back to where I belonged," The last few words were drawn out. There was a bruise on his side from all of this. Because where he belonged was technically death. He had, in all of this, earned.. death. But it was the afterlife as well. Peace. It was hard to determine anymore what was good or bad.

"I needed one final duel. You stepped up to the challenge. And in front of the doors to the afterlife and the tablet of the collected Sennen Items, we dueled, for the first- and final time."

[pintsizeduelist]

Yuugi's smile faded as the story went on, and as the words sank in. The uneasy heaviness settled on his chest; those were only memories, as Atem stated.

First and final..

Was that... the duel Kaiba had mentioned? He said that, why else would Atem want...

The words hung on the air, and Yuugi looked down at the puzzle Atem was wearing. Suddenly, he missed his own. He missed being home, away from this. He hated how the last moments spent with his other before he arrived here were so... bitter.

His voice was soft when he spoke once more, lacking confidence.

"And I... won, didn't I.."

[note_atem]

Atem smiled. If nothing else from that duel, he was proud of his partner for doing so. It hadn't been Yuugi's fault. "Yes, you did. You showed amazing prowess and courage. You proved that you could stand on your own. That you didn't need me anymore." Another aspect of that duel- a mirrored side. They were both competing to prove something.. hadn't they been?

"You were... upset, though." He didn't want to make it sound like Yuugi was ready to discard him. That hadn't been the case at all. The younger had shed tears at his expense. "I think we all were. But I was told.... that I couldn't stay anymore." He was scared. He had been scared. After speaking with Yuugi and announcing his name, after those doors had opened.. he'd been nervous. Unsure.

[pintsizeduelist]

Yuugi didn't expect to be anything else, really. Upset? Of course he would have been. Once the rush of dueling left, what else was there? The admittance of the fact that he just sent his other self off to death?

He wondered what it was like, the confidence he must've felt at that moment, to realize he didn't need Atem anymore. That he was sending his darkness away, and doing so willingly, knowing he would never be back.

He didn't feel confident then. Not even before his arrival, but that was mostly because he didn't exist for the moment, soul locked away and needing to be recovered. His trust.. was always on Atem to accomplish that.

Still, even when he was upset.. or even scared of Atem for his actions.. he never thought that the only other option for him.. was death.

"...that makes sense. You were trapped.. for so long. You shouldn't have had to be punished anymore.." He was speaking as if he truly believed his words. And he did, to a degree. He just didn't want to believe it. He got so wrapped up in working with his other self

[note_atem]

A small nod, and he smiled. But it faded. "I... you were here, before. A future version of you. Six months, he'd said." This was the only part of this story he'd tell. The only one. It was all Yuugi needed to know.

"He said he was hurt. He missed me, constantly. And Kaiba...." Atem's head lowered now, his eyes shadowed. "I'm just questioning whether or not it was right to leave. Whether I should have tried asking to stay." So heavy it weighed on him. He just wasn't sure about anything anymore.

[pintsizeduelist]

"...of course I would. I miss you, even now. You're almost a completely different person, like this.." it's not a bad thing, even if it's a choice he selfishly doesn't agree with.

He didn't want to think of how he'd cope with normalcy after Atem left, so instead he reached out and put a hand on his shoulder. His smile returned, a bit saddened but honest and true.

"I wish I had an answer for you. I don't, but.. I know that the decision you made, was the best one you could've made at the time." His voice faltered briefly, and he looked away, trying to keep that and it steady.

"...I'm sorry you've had to make such decisions. I wish you didn't have to."

[note_atem]

Different? The words somehow stung at him. Was he not doing enough? ...Yuugi didn't approve of the way he behaved like this? He didn't really know how to process it. He just knew it hurt, but he also knew that it wasn't meant to. Still, he couldn't help himself.

The physical contact helped a little, but in the end he looked away again. "I didn't really think about it. I did what I was told to do." There were no decisions. "I'm questioning now if I should have asked to stay." And if it was absolutely too late. Kaiba gave him hope there but.. still his mind was telling him that was the worst thing to hang on to.

[pintsizeduelist]

No, Yuugi didn't mean it in a negative way. He wasn't the greatest at explaining himself, but eventually.. if he could pick up on how it bothered Atem, he'd explain himself. For now, though, he frowned slightly at Atem glancing away, and looked away as well, though his hand didn't move.

Not until he just... stepped forward and hugged him.

Yuugi didn't know what else to do. He wanted to say more, but seeing Atem like that made his heart twist painfully, knowing that he sent him off added to the lump in his throat, and he felt like he'd choke on any word he attempted to utter.

[note_atem]

It was a split second that he froze. For that moment he wasn't exactly sure he deserved a hug. But in the end that was pushed out by the thought that Yuugi was seeking out physical comfort. His arms reached up and around to reciprocate.

"They always say that we don't keep our memories when we go back." In case Yuugi faded away from him again, he needed.. to try. He was slowly understanding what Kaiba had meant when he'd said the Mokuba that had been there had not been his.

Accidentally he clutched tighter. "He won't think about it, he'll just accept it. But if you asked him to, he would." Could he save a version of himself from such a fate? Could he save Yuugi from it? Their friends? Kaiba, even? It was worth a shot. For Yuugi, it was always worth it.

[pintsizeduelist]

The tightening embrace made him respond in a similar fashion. He didn't care who saw; this information was upsetting and he didn't want to upset Atem with it. He didn't know how to fix it, but he would try his best.

"I'll ask you to stay." He said softly, not sure if he could make that promise but hoping to keep it regardless. And he doesn't even use 'he'; he understood what it implied and he didn't want to think about it. Atem was his other, regardless of what time period he came from.