Chapter Text
Hey guys! It’s been a while but I’m so glad to be back! Okay so I’m going to do something a little wild. You know how most of our fics center around the manga or the Japanese version of the series? I’m guessing most have watched the dubbed version and then watched the subbed version. Any other puzzlers will understand how we felt kinda let down by breakdown of conversations, censorship, and I’ll be honest, how the relationship between Atem and Yugi came up rather….vanilla.
Well, I’m going to be a weirdo and center this story around the English dubbed version. As you know, I am a sucker for reunion fics and with that in mind I have decided to undertake finishing the story in a bit of a different way. I understand that may not be as popular with everyone else and that is totally fine! I’m not sure how far it will go. At this point, I plan on it being about 10-15 chapters.
Welp……here we go!
Hues That Paint His Aura
Chapter 1: Grey as Ash
It did strike Yugi as ironic that he was utilizing the wisdom of one royal to process losing another. Queen Elizabeth II had famously dictated that shedding tears for another person wasn’t a sign of weakness but a sign of one pure of heart. His heart didn’t feel pure given the whirlwind of thoughts and emotions trampling through his mind. Then again Yugi doubted Queen Elizabeth II had learned to be so wise in the moment. Hindsight was twenty-twenty after all. Tears could be shed another time and when they did, Yugi wouldn’t feel bad about it. For now, he needed to hold it together and there wouldn’t be any compromise on the matter. Lizzy could bestow her wisdom on him in the subsequent weeks to come.
The teen bit his lip when his vision started to mist. Yugi scoffed and flipped onto his side, adjusting for the lumps in the worn-out mattress.
As luxurious as this cruise was intended to be, the liner seemed to be dropping the ball when it came to keeping up with updates. The beds were lumbering and supported by wooden boards that creaked with every breath. The furniture was a mix and match of different textures and wood, but the most obvious detail was the smell. Yugi couldn’t exactly identify what the scent was, only that it was likely created from the high temperature fluctuations that occurred in the room. The repetition of sun roasting the room followed by cool night air no doubt reduced the shelf life of upholstery. Some of the wallpaper had started rejecting its home on the walls. All in all, the room wasn’t in shambles, but it wasn’t bringing warm homey thoughts to the forefront either.
Yugi was just being moody. He wasn’t paying for these accommodations so he had little room to complain.
Lavender eyes shifted to what he once considered his most prized possession. The Millennium Puzzle practically glinted even in the shadow of the room as he studied it resting on his pillow. It was off-putting to realize that soon he may no longer have these comforting staring contests with the item. Tonight could be the last---
Yugi pressed himself to lose the staring contest and flipped over in the uncomfortable bed so abruptly the spare pillow toppled onto the floor. He grumbled as he reached down to pick it up then slammed it back into its place. His eyes focused on it for a moment. Would sleep even grace him with its presence tonight? Probably not. Laying here was a waste of time.
Reaching the conclusion that rest was a unicorn he could chase but never capture, Yugi shoved his hand into the pillow and rose into a sitting position. He grabbed the puzzle from the pillow next to him, the chain clanking as he placed it around his neck. The metal of the gold admitted a strangely warm feeling in the teen’s hands. Even now, he smiled at how perfectly the puzzle melded to his hands, like it had always belonged there.
A brief brush of curiosity against his mind wasn’t something that took Yugi by surprise. It was nearly two in the morning, and other normal bodied people were fast asleep as the boat cruised under the peaceful desert sky. If Yugi wasn’t facing the most prophesied duel of his life soon, he may have been able to be one of those typical people. Given the circumstances, the curious being probing his mind communicated nothing more and retreated. Whether that was to give him some privacy or just brood over his own thoughts, Yugi wasn’t sure. That being had always been far more complicated than he portrayed on the surface.
The spirit of the puzzle. The pharaoh. Atem.
While it hurt to admit it, privacy was the last thing Yugi truly desired right now. Potentially after this upcoming duel, every moment would be coldly private. He sighed as he stood up and took a long stretch before sliding his shoes on, grabbing his key card, and heading out towards the deck of the ship.
He needed some air.
Dark waters churned as the cruise liner cut through the murky water like a knife. Yugi leaned over the railing ever so slightly as his body and soul took a breather. Domino didn’t have skies like this. The light pollution drowned the ability to see anything in the night sky other than passing planes and the moon. Not here. The twinkling of the stars littered the moonless sky in a way a painting would. The peace drew in his attention and it was difficult to look away.
“Isn’t it kinda crazy that some of them stars have been dead for millions of years? We don’t even know it yet.” A Brooklyn accent rang out ever so gently from behind him. Of course Joey would be awake right now. His friend was likely not the only one that couldn’t settle enough to slip into sleep. It appeared everyone’s nerves were shot.
A warm smile worked its way across Yugi’s lips as he hummed in agreement. “Yeah. It’s like they still live on,” He tilted his head, studying the sky filled with diamonds. Would the irony of this night ever end? Joey didn’t strike him as the metaphoric type but there was no doubt in Yugi’s mind that his close friend understood what strained his heart. Yugi eyed the young man as he leaned over the railing next to him. “Couldn’t sleep either?”
“Understatement of the year.” Joey commented, his brown eyes still taking in the stars. “I kinda figured you would be out here. No way you were sleep with all this going on. Care for some company?”
“I would love some company.” Yuugi answered honestly, his bangs swept across his face in the soft breeze. His eagerness for company earned him another curious mental brush as Atem briefly probed to ensure all was well before retreating. Yugi hid his disappointment well. He was going to have to get used to this. May as well jump in with both feet.
The company came with silence at first as they both gazed over the still water the cruise ship was cutting through. The feelings of unease made the air feel thicker than on a hot day in the city he grew up. It was palpable but nothing could really be said to negate the anxiety and apprehension building around them. Joey finally tried….
“How are ya holding up?” His tone was careful.
“Okay.” Yugi chirped a little too quickly. Neither of them believed it.
“Yeah?” Joey pressed.
“Yeah.”
“A lot is riding on your shoulders, pal.”
“I’m aware.” Yugi nodded curtly, eyes following the wave created by the ship’s wake. He winced at his own aggravated tone. He hadn’t meant for the weight of his emotions to weaponize how he delivered his words. Then again, harsh enough and it would not doubt stir the curious mind still within reach his reach. Maybe Atem would listen in just to be assured that Yugi was still okay with his final task as the holder of the Millennium Puzzle. But no such luck. “Sorry.” Yugi breathed with a sigh.
“You’re good.” Joey lifted his hands up and shook his head. “It is a lot. I get it.”
Yugi was hard pressed in believing that Joey did truly ‘get it’ but his friend certainly was trying. For that, Yugi couldn’t fault him. Joey had grown to try to understand things before coming to his own conclusions. When he lived with his father there was very little room to think, consider, listen, and process. There was only acting, a dominating parental figure, and shutting down anything he didn't understand. Yugi was so delighted in how much Joey had grown over the last two years. Not only was he one of his closest friends but Joey had become a wholesome person, a powerful ally, and a strong duelist. If the circumstances were different, Joey would make a formidable opponent for Atem.
“Has he said anything?” Joey asked and Yugi caught him eyeing up the puzzle still around his neck. Speak of the devil. “You know….about….”
Yugi had never been fond of the idea of speaking about the pharaoh openly as if he wasn’t around. It was an unfortunate habit he and their other friends had started a year ago. It made sense to the others. Atem wasn’t in a physical body and therefore he wasn’t physically around. In reality, the pharaoh was usually always there. Uniquely tonight he had felt further away than ever before.
After a few moments, Yugi responded. “Yes. Briefly. Our decks are built, stored, and ready to go. Just waiting for us to get to our destination.” He had stopped himself from adding ‘final’ before the word destination.
“I kinda thought you two would be talking all night. Just in case…..”
Just in case what? Yugi lost? A small comment that wasn’t encouraging although Yugi was sure it wasn’t stated to be hurtful. No one was certain if he was going to be able to pull this victory off tomorrow. Atem was the strongest duelist this world had ever presented and defeating him was going to be no easy feat. But as the holder of the Millennium Puzzle, it needed to be Yugi’s duty to send him on his way.
Joey read the open wince on Yugi’s face. “I’m sorry, man. That was a dumb thing to say. Of course you’re going to win tomorrow. That’s why the pharaoh’s royal ass should be out here talking to everyone!” He cheered.
There wasn’t even a stir of Atem’s presence against his own mind. Yugi tried to pretend it didn’t hurt. It did.
“I guess there isn’t much left to say. I’m sure this challenge is weighing heavily on him, too.” Yugi defended Atem. Guarding the rulers every decision was a mechanism he often leaned into. He shifted weight on his feet, hyper vigilant of any poking or prodding from the pharaoh’s mind.
Nothing.
If he took his own words at face value, it was possible that this duel really was weighing on Atem. It would explain his lack of communication throughout the quiet night. It would explain why he was keeping their conversations short and to the point. It would explain why spending time with Yugi and the others would be challenging for him.
“Yugi, I’m proud of you.”
Surprise convinced lavender eyes to blink away the tears that annoyingly crept in there before looking up at Joey who was beaming at him. He encompassed every detail of what Yugi would expect a proud brother to look like. It wasn’t like Joey hadn’t thrown a compliment like this at him before. So why did shock him so much now? “Uh-thanks, Joey.” His voice felt thick and not his own.
“I mean it. I know this must be hard for you. You’re really brave. Atem is just as lucky as the rest of us to have a friend like you.”
Damn that cut like a knife. Yugi felt a lot of things, but brave wasn’t one of them. “Oh well……” He trailed off, looking back at the sky as he shrunk in on himself. He never received compliments well. After a moment he chuckled, “Thank you, Joey. I needed to hear that.”
His friends were always supporting him in ways he couldn’t even count. Having them with him during his duel with Atem was more crucial than ever. Yugi was going to need to lean on them over the next few weeks...months...years?
“You’ll always have us, Yug.” Joey kicked at him playfully.
Yugi’s heart didn’t feel as tight as it had moments ago. “I better.” He chirped.
Being brave wasn’t an emotion that came secondhanded to Yugi. Being timid, reserved, a nerd, curious, and anxious however, he was a master class. Then again, he had been able to defeat the dark spirit within the Millennium Ring on his own. He had risked his life and inadvertently his friends lives on multiple occasions but hadn’t been scared. Yugi had agreed to the toughest duel of his life for the well-being of a friend. Maybe he was braver than he thought.
Joey hummed a bit. “Hey, why don’t you try to rest? It’s going to be a long day no matter what. Frankly, I’m terrified to see what a Yugi pumped full of coffee and falafels looks like.”
Yugi snorted out an actual laugh. “I don’t want to see that either. I don’t think mankind is ready for it.”
The blonde laughed before pounding him on the back of his back. “Alright. I’ll see ya in a few hours.”
Lavender eyes watched Joey go keeping on the door he disappeared through. A hand moved to the Millennium Puzzle still warm against his body. His fingernails dug into the cracks of the pieces as if trying to etch every detail of them into his memory. It was a moot point. Those details had been framed in his mind years ago and likely wouldn’t disappear any time soon.
Yugi glanced at the stars once more and took a deep breath. Something caught his eye drifting through the night sky. By the time Yugi glanced at it, it had already disappeared behind a cloud. It almost looked like a large bird in flight or something….? Yugi shook his head. Obviously, he was more tired than he cared to admit. The quiet of the night and the gentle sounds of water did make him feel a little sleepy. If there wasn’t an ancient and rather pricey artifact hanging from his neck, he almost would have considered sleeping out on the deck of the cruise. He huffed at the ridiculousness of the idea before glancing down at the treasure that soon would no longer be his to hold. “Alright. A suppose it couldn’t hurt to try to take a nap.”
As he walked back to his room, Yugi thought of his choices in building his deck. It didn’t feel right placing the Dark Magician or the Dark Magician Girl in his deck. Surely Atem noticed when he built his own deck. The Silent Magician felt like a better choice given the legend behind it. It was one of his best bets against the God cards should Atem use them and if he really planned on making this a fight, he would. Silent Magician would prove to be a more difficult monster for Atem to deal with. Well, her and Gandora.
The wooden door pushed open after Yugi tapped his card against the reader. His eyes fell to the open backpack which carried a change of clothes, his boarding pass, a wallet, and his new favorite book, Legends of the Legends. The brown hardcover book stuck out, tempting him to read another chapter. Yugi had purchased the book back at the airport before they departed to Egypt. It caught his eye in the little shop by their gate and Yugi couldn’t help but purchase it. An entire book on the legends surrounding his favorite cards from his favorite game? There was no chance he could resist given it was the last one he saw on the shelf. Each chapter focused on a different monster; how it came to be, the secret behind its powers, and the kind of life it lived. While Yugi knew much of the book was likely forged from a creative mind how had too much free time, he couldn’t help but enjoy the tales. He had only read about Kuriboh and the Silent Magician so far, skipping to different chapters.
Yugi walked over to the bag and picked up the book, thumbing through the pages until he found the chapter on Gandora. The art within the book was breathtaking and his new favorite monster was no exception. Gandora’s name never fit her in Yugi’s eyes. How could such a beautiful creature be remembered for destruction? His fingers traced the painted image of the dragon he hoped to use in his duel today. When he had first played that card, something within himself had shifted and suddenly Yugi felt more connected to this card than any other. Something about this dragon called out to him in a way he didn’t fully understand. He had once felt that way about the Dark Magician.
The teen kicked off his shoes and made his way over to the bumpy, disheveled bed. Yugi turned off the overhead light but kept his dim bedside lamp on. Yugi carefully removed the puzzle from around his neck and placed it onto the pillow next to him as he climbed into bed with his book. He sensed Atem immediately brushing against his mind causing a genuine smile to cross his face. Whenever the Millennium Puzzle was removed from his neck, even for a shower or an evening of rest, the pharaoh became hyper vigilant and protective. It was a security blanket Yugi wasn’t going to be able to enjoy much longer. He convinced himself it was okay to cherish that feeling a little longer.
The thing was, Yugi didn’t really need Atem anymore. Not truly. He was assertive enough to make friends on his own, fearless enough to carry himself in a duel, compassionate enough to see both sides of every coin, patient enough to allow his feelings to process, and strong enough to live his life as he saw fit on his own. There was no need for a five millennia spirit to hang around anymore. There would be no more evil. There would be no more madmen trying to dominate the planet. Yugi didn’t need Atem anymore.
Needs and wants were two different things.
Gandora came into focus again as Yugi lifted the book to examine it. His eyes settled on Gandora’s mighty claws as his thoughts raced.
It wasn’t fair. Life wasn’t always fair and the young man knew that all too well. If life was fair a young king wouldn’t have to sacrifice himself for the sake of the world’s safety. If life were fair he wouldn’t have been trapped for millennia in darkness. If life were fair, Yugi wouldn’t be about to lose the closest person to him. If life was fair, he could be learning more about his closest friend now that his memories had returned, a detail that irked Yugi to no end. While he knew Atem he also….didn’t know him. Yugi wasn’t going to have the opportunity to ask him about his parents, his favorite memories as a child, what his favorite games were, the warmest hello and the hardest goodbye he ever gave, or any of the millions of questions that tickled his mind. There were so many questions and so little time. Yugi wasn’t going to be blessed with the opportunity to ask any questions. It was silly really. He knew Atem. Yugi knew the moral ground he stood upon, his personality traits, his tells, and his quirks. Trivial specifics and memories really wasn’t going to make that much of a difference given the time they had left. Still. It would have been nice to know the small details and experiences that helped grow the pharaoh’s soul. Yugi didn’t even know his favorite color—
“Purple.” An amused voice within his own head made Yugi jump back to reality rather violently. His gasp didn’t go unnoticed. “Sorry. I thought I could enlighten you in at least that small of a detail.”
Crap. How long had he been listening to Yugi’s rambling thoughts? His face flushed slightly and his heart raced, a shaky pale hand clinging to his shirt right outside his rib cage. Surely not long. Hopefully not too long. Yeah, he was sure it was fine. “Haha….y-you’d think after a few years of this I would be used to your interjections.” Yugi laughed awkwardly.
“You mean used to a voice not of your own speaking to you in your head?” The amused tone made Yugi smile more. “I’d be more worried if you did.”
Another laugh escaped Yugi. The sound of Atem’s voice always did something to Yugi he could quite wrap his head around. It calmed him yet thrilled him at the same time. A voice inside of his head, not of his own, would certainly raise an eyebrow from anyone in the psychology field. “That’s fair.”
The pharaoh hummed in agreement. Yugi could feel him glancing at the book in his hands which he shut almost immediately. More amusement filtered through their link. “Are you keeping secrets from me now?”
“No.” Yugi practically whined and voiced out loud. “I just don’t want you getting any ideas on how to defeat me in our duel later.”
“Hm, well I have been known to cheat. Probably a wise idea.” Atem joked sarcastically before Yugi felt a shift in his tone. “Yugi, you should be attempting to get some sleep. Today will be a big day for us both.”
“I-I know.” Yugi blinked and bit his lip. Why was everyone reminding him of it? “Reading helps settle my mind sometimes. I figured maybe a chapter might help lull me to sleep.”
He felt Atem battle his desire to argue for a moment. “Very well.” Was all he chose to say.
“I won’t make it long. I promise.” Yugi smiled gently. Part of him feared Atem pulling away once more as he had for most of the night. Then again what else was there to say? He decided to end the conversation with, “Purple, huh?”
The chuckle Atem gave tickled his mind. “Yes. A deep royal purple.” He confirmed before his mind retreated just as quickly as it had arrived.
It wasn’t much but it made Yugi feel better. The smile adorning his face from their conversation remained as Yugi flipped open the book and settled into reading the chapter on Gandora. His mind wandered from time to time. It wasn’t a lie that he was excited for a true opportunity to face Atem at his best. No one from their time had truly been blessed with that opportunity. Now that the king’s memories had returned, he would be an even stronger duelist. Their duel would be exciting, of that Yugi had no doubt. Even with the reason for their battle on the forefront of his mind, another part of himself wanted to soak in every second of their duel. Atem would likely use the Gods against him. He had a few strategies in mind for how to deal with each God monster as it came forth. Certainly, Atem wouldn’t summon all of them at the same time. The odds of that happening were slim to none. Then again if anyone could pull off such a crazy move, it would be his pharaoh.
Yugi swallowed a bubble of nervousness that brewed in his throat. Nope. Stop it. He was ready for this. He could do this. Strangely, Yugi was growing more confident that he could win this duel. It was the confidence in how the duel would end that scared him more. The thought that Atem would be the one to defeat him didn’t even register in his brain. Maybe he was being overly confident or maybe deep down Yugi just…..knew. He also knew that his victory was going to hurt like hell. At the end of the day, he had to decide if he would do this all over again, even knowing what he would face now. Yugi wouldn’t hesitate to still be the vessel of the pharaoh. He would rather have the honor and privilege of knowing Atem and mourning his departure than never knowing him at all and sparing himself the emotional rollercoaster he was electing to ride. The pharaoh had blessed Yugi in more than the teen could ever express. While the duel they were about to embark on would allow the spirit to find rest, Yugi felt it was such a small thing to do in comparison to everything Atem had given Yugi.
A warm spark touched his mind gently. Atem may not have always used words to communicate his feelings but there always was….that.
Gandora was meant to evolve to be more than the Dragon of Destruction. Wait, what? Lavender eyes blinked as Yugi dedicated his full attention to the story. He moved to his stomach, kicking his legs up and swinging them as he read. His lips parted slightly in awe as his mind took in the information. Gandora was known for her unmatched loyalty, gentle presence, and protectiveness over all that she loved. She had used her power of destruction to protect all that she cared for. Gandora fell in love with a fire dragon who could not only not return her love for him and so shut himself away from her. He which she had cherished the most, doubted what she could evolve into. Broken hearted by his lack of faith, Gandora went into battle and used her power of self-destruction to end her final foe. It is believed that when her dying body fell to the earth, the force caused an earthquake so large that the ground opened beneath her and swallowed the dragon entirely. She was never able to reach her fully evolved form.
How tragic.
Yugi turned the page to see a painting of what Gandora was believed to look like after she evolved. Yugi was in awe. Even though he had always viewed Gandora as mighty and beautiful, the creature depicted here far out matched her original form. She would have had the ability to heal not only herself but others. She would have been unmatched in the light she brought into the world. Poor Gandora. Yugi’s heart broke for her, even though the story was only legend and probably not true.
After some time, Yugi gently closed the book, humming softly as he rose to place it back into his backpack. He shook his head in annoyance of how the theme of the day was centered around death. Not his favorite subject today.
As the book slid into his backpack, a shift in the room brought an unpleasant chill down his spine. Immediately Yugi’s heart felt like it was in an icy grasp. His eyes widened as he gripped his bag tightly. An intense wave of crippling emotion flooded his soul and stole the air from his lungs while his knuckles whitened as they held on tightly to his bag.
His brain was foggy. His heart ached……
And he was no longer alone.
Fear quickly cleared out the cobwebs strewed about his mind. Like an idiot, he had left the puzzle on his pillow. His eyes flitted to the side, ready to move. Who was in his room? He hadn’t heard a key card, a knock, or even footsteps. More importantly, what did this individual want from him? Or Atem? Another electric zap of anxiety choked him. Atem. He had to get to Atem. He could sense the pharaoh’s frantic energy surging through their connected minds. Yugi was sure he heard him say something, but his own fear drowned any words trying to resonate in his mind.
Yugi whirled around, his socks silent on the wooden floors. Lavender eyes glanced nervously from the Millennium Puzzle resting on his pillow to the duffle bag containing the rest of their treasure then finally to the cloaked figure in the room. Like an instinct buried deep within, his hands formed fists as he widened his stance ready to fight if he needed to. The mysterious figure only had a few inches on Yugi. He never had to fight anyone before, but he would not lose his puzzle now, not when Atem was so close to his final resting place.
The figure standing in the center of his dimly lit room was shrouded in a dark brown cape that covered him from head to foot and with only the tan of worn boots showing, Yugi was sure it was a man. He faced the duffle bag making it impossible to tell if he knew Yugi was there at all. The teen was not going to allow the chance of the stranger to get a one up on him. Without taking another moment to think about it, Yugi leapt across the small room by slipping behind the intruder. As he tried to grab his most treasured possession, he felt the man’s hand graze his back as he reached behind him. The man gasped and retracted his hand as if Yugi had just burned him.
A surge of reassurance coated him like a winter blanket with the Millennium Puzzle now resting comfortably around his neck. Yugi moved to the corner of the bed, placing himself between the intruder and his duffle bag containing the remaining Millennium items and the god cards. Atem did not take over immediately. Instead, like an overloaded spring, his magic stood at the ready. Yugi didn’t need him to take over to feel comfortable. His safety blanket was secure.
Yugi’s shadow generated from the light on the bedside table only shrouded the man in more shadows and made it impossible to see his face. Not that it mattered because the figure took a cautious and shaky step back. He raised a tan hand before glancing around, his cape flowing with his movements. Immediately Yugi felt slightly at ease. This person wasn’t acting like someone trying to inflict harm but rather someone confused. It didn’t explain how he got into his room and what his purpose for being here was….
“Who are you?” Yugi asked sternly. His hand reached behind him and grazed the duffle bag. “What do you want?”
There was no response other than the cautious hand slowly falling to his side. After a few more glimpses around the room, an irritated sigh escaped the man’s mouth. A hand lifted to his face and Yugi could only guess that he was pinching the bridge of his nose. What the hell was going on here?
“Hello?” Yugi felt his eyebrows raise as his tone dripped with irritation. The lack of response only made him feel more uneasy but oddly enough not in danger. His heart couldn’t tell the difference. It pounded loudly in his ears.
An iridescent form appeared next to him which only slightly distracted Yugi. Atem’s posture was defensive, glaring daggers at the intruder in the room. The king’s voice within his mind sounded out immediately. “Yugi, leave. Now.”
Yugi’s mental response was timid. “What? Why?”
Regal eyes glanced at him momentarily. “I can’t take over.”
Huh? Yugi blinked and glanced down at the Millennium Puzzle as its glow slowly died down. Had the pharaoh been trying to take over? Normally it was something Yugi sensed immediately but he had felt nothing. That was new. What a horribly inconvenient time to occur unless….unless this stranger had something to do with it.
“Exactly.” Atem confirmed his thought. Yugi could sense utter fearfulness coming from monarch’s side of their link. It should have terrified Yugi but…..why didn’t he feel panicked? Something within himself told him this man wasn’t here to hurt him. The pharaoh didn’t allow him to get lost in his thoughts or emotions. “You can contemplate his intentions later. Right now, you need to run!”
“But—”
“I cannot switch with you, Yugi. That means I cannot protect you.” Atem voiced more urgently. Yugi didn’t like that one bit. It took a lot to rattle the pharaoh in this way. The largest elephant in the room, one they never openly discussed, was the plain fact that the pharaoh’s mere existence depended on Yugi’s own life. If something were to happen to him, Atem would have no hope of escape from his own personal hell. That very fact always clung in the air around them like the stench of wet dog. It was never spoken about but an undeniable truth.
Yugi cautiously gripped his duffle bag behind his back as their intruder suddenly crossed his arms and faced him fully. If Yugi didn’t know any better, the stance was one emanating annoyance as another sigh escaped his lips. Wait, how would he know that?
“This isn’t the time. Something is going on here. I…”
The teen suddenly sensed how intense yet strained the pharaoh sounded. Was there some sort of magic draining the Puzzle? Or just Atem? Evidently the arrival of this stranger was having some sort of negative impact but Yugi still had his feet rooted to the ground. He wasn’t sure why, but he was certain that there was no danger here. “Pharaoh, maybe we should just ask—"
“I’m not debating this with you. You need to leave right—”
“Are you quite done?”
Lavender eyes widened as his heart caught up in his throat. Yugi’s skin drew goosebumps up his arms as both he and Atem focused on the individual whose voice cut through the air life a knife. It wasn’t the cold, sarcastic tone that commanded the room, rather the actual voice that made Yugi freeze in place. But also, he hadn’t said anything……not out loud at least. “E-Excuse me?”
“Not you.” His voice slightly softened before finishing with a tone that made Yugi wince like a whip cracked into the night air. “Him.”
Yugi straightened his posture. No way. He glanced at the pharaoh who appeared more confused than ever.
Atem spoke before his counterpart could gather a word or process a thought. “He can hear us?” The cloaked figure turned his head ever so slightly but enough to make it abundantly clear that he could not only hear Atem, but he could also see Atem. This did little to relieve the pharaoh standing next to him. Yugi could feel a soft rage boil along with his confusion. “What have you done to our Puzzle?”
Yugi glanced from Atem to the person he was pretty sure wasn’t a stranger at all. Before anyone could say another word, relaxed his posture a little bit and moved away from the bedside table. Light cascaded across the room but did very little to reveal the identity of the man before him. It didn’t matter. Yugi would have recognized that voice anywhere. The teen was careful in the placement of his footsteps on the parameter of the tight room as his head tilted in awe and curiosity. “He didn’t do anything to our Puzzle.” His voice was a mere whisper and Yugi wasn’t sure it had been audible.
Atem remained close even though he could do nothing. “Yugi, what are you—”
“The same soul cannot occupy two different bodies at the same moment in time.” The cloaked figure cut him off.
Yugi felt his breath drawn away as his body and soul grew still. The silence in the room made his ears hum as his mind put the pieces together. He was suddenly blinded to all other stimuli. It wasn’t possible. It shouldn’t be possible. Yugi’s heart leapt in his throat as he watched the man’s sun-kissed hands raise up to guide the hood of the cloak over his head. Obviously, it was possible because what he saw had no other logical explanation.
In those following seconds, time practically stood still and Yugi knew his life would never be the same. The warm light of the bedside table lamp illuminated the face of a very alive and regal, Pharaoh Atem.