The Door by Aoi Rakuen
Disclaimer: I do not own Yu-Gi-Oh!
.oOo.
The door closed.
Again.
And the dream strayed, loose, in his consciousness. He opened his eyes for the first time in the dull morning. Where daylight touched his cold eyes, the dream had already dissipated.
He met someone, near the tall reeds of the River, who was to be Horus. Their eyes had met on a twisted coliseum, their labored breathing mixed with the wails of the crowd demanding murder. He had been made – by oath of a fealty knight – his sworn enemy, in front of the king he never truly respected, nor understood. They had crossed katanas, and had left scars.
Scars that – even on a day further into the future – bled profusely.
And he watched him walk those slow steps further toward the door, surges of memories came back - twisting, swelling, breaking.
"A thousand lives I will live. This was a task solely for me. And this is my curse."
The offering was sealed. Gods be praised.
He could not understand. There are no gods in a world built of laws.
"Why did you follow me? This path is not for you to take!"
And then, a choice.
"Priest, the only way to see him again is on the road of battle. You will never walk beside Horus as an ally."
"I accept."
And so a thousand lives and a thousand deaths ensued. Moments flitted, fought the fire, but were consumed still, so soon. It had jaded his will, his heart.
There he stood, bleeding; the sword had struck.
And he asked, "Do you remember me?"
He threw away his past, so long ago; he was incapable of remembering.
The sword felt alien on his body. His eyes, bloodshot but blue, looked up and spat.
"No."
And he had forgotten.
The Eye had at last found him worthy; the contract forged before was consummated. His soul will be allowed to enter within.
There he watched, stunned, as the light from the door blinded him. There were cries from his friends who loved him.
In the harsh light, he could feel a sad smile on his face.
The door creaked, moaned its years as it slowly covered his retreating figure, finally at the threshold of the Afterlife.
"I remember you." His voice echoed, deep, resounding.
And the door closed shut.
He continued to dream tirelessly, for it was only in his dreams he could relive the cycle of a thousand lives wasted – where he hoped to make amends.
In his dreams he waited for the door to open.
Only it was too late, too late.
FIN
A/N: Haha, just some random stuff I thought of while procrastinating. Very sad, since I feel like Seto wanted to say something to Atemu before he permanently leaves the realm of mortals. The anime and manga versions were not as kind as to provide any closure for both of them. And so this fic is for that purpose, hopefully to fill a gap at what might've transpired, in the eyes of Prideshippers. :D
Thanks so much for reading!
Aoi Rakuen (Blue Paradise)