You know, there were a lot of things I didn't understand. And until today there are still things that I don't know... Some, I won't ever get to know. One of those things is the Ph-- Atem. It was this very day last year that Atem said 'Goodbye'... But, for me... I didn't even know him. I feel like I was just starting to understand him-- He was just starting to understand himself! And then the next thing you know, he's gone. What's bad is that it was me who had to send him away...
I never wanted to duel him. I never wanted to prove anything. All I wanted was to keep my friend... But, what's worse is that when Atem and everyone else said goodbye... I was the only one who wasn't ready. I was the only one who felt... Alone. I never bothered to tell anyone. What would it matter? They wouldn't know how to put themselves in my shoes... To share a body with someone who's been there through everything. For someone who was the strong part of my mind, decisions, actions... The armor. Someone who never left my side, literally... Someone who was a part of me. And then to have them taken away from me - It's lonely. So lonely.
I'll never be myself again, because Atem had become a part of me. He filled in the qualities that I lacked... And no matter how many times he told me that I had won because I learned from him the things I needed... I only feel like he was lying to assure me everything was okay. But - I know. His smile was sad. And as I watched him walk away through the Egyptian gates, walk into the pure light... I'd never see him again. In fact, I can never go back. His tomb - Destroyed. "The ending of one adventure can also be the beginning of a new one", I said. But, this was an adventure far different. If I had learned everything Atem had... Why am I so depressed? If I really am that strong, if I really am a 'winner'... Why does it feel like I'm losing?
"Yuugi, the food's ready! Come down before it get's cold." Grandpa was at my bedroom door, holding the knob while sticking his head inside. He didn't know how I felt, either. No one did. When I looked to him, I smiled and rolled off my bed. "Okay, grandpa. I'm coming!" I chirped, walking over to the door as he had already made his way to the kitchen, again. The store had already closed due to the day moving by so slowly... And since the house was connected to the Game Shop, it wouldn't be too difficult to re-open whenever necessary. After I made it downstairs and to the back, the smell of the food had already filled the room. It gave the place a warm, homey feeling... But feelings like this didn't last but so long.
On the table was a side dish of white rice, a main dish of Yakizakana, and miso soup. Grandpa was already sitting at his end of the table, obviously waiting for me to join him. I walked over and sat down, hands in front of me, eyes scanning the table. "Wow, this looks great, Grandpa!" I complimented, and then looked to him. Grandpa had a glint in his eye and gave an old steady laugh. "Ha-ha, your Grandpa's one of the best cook's in Domino!" This, I thought, wasn't that much of a lie. His food always was a treat, and sometimes I felt bad for making him cook all the time. When had I stopped cooking in the first place? As everything, it seemed like my memory was slipping away...
Silently, I picked up my chopsticks, sampling some of the white rice politely. I tried to avoid any eye contact with the man, but it felt like his violet eyes were staring me down, seeing through every emotion I was hiding. Without looking directly at him, I forced a light smile, but somehow I think it failed, because he spoke in that concerned tone. "Yuugi..." I pretended not to hear. He cleared his throat, and set his chopsticks on the table lightly. "Yuugi." I knew I couldn't avoid it much longer, so I looked up. And after that, I couldn't move. It was as if his gaze locked me where I was. I could already feel my stomache tightening. "Yeah, Grandpa?" I asked, after who knows how long. It took a lot out of me to say that when I knew the issue was about me.
"You haven't been like yourself these past few days..." His gray brows rose questionably, still looking to me. My body shifted uncomfortably as I sat my chopsticks down. What could I say? The truth was I hadn't been myself for an entire year, but with Atem leaving on this day... I couldn't hide my feelings as much for these past two weeks. "Oh, it's nothing. It's just school, and all." Then, I let out that small nervous laugh. He'd go for it, he had to. "That reminds me... I have homework I didn't finish!" That's how it always was... One lie after the other; I was living in some of them. With swiftness, I stood from my seat and turned away. "I'm sorry I have to leave dinner this time... I'll eat with you tomorrow, okay?" Without even waiting for a response, I was more than half-way up the stairs.
For a moment, I stopped when I reached my door and listened. I heard him sigh, and then mumble to himself. "This isn't like my Grandson..." I heard, with a sad voice of his. Solemnly, I entered my room and closed the door. The sun was already setting, and my room had the tint of orange from outside, everything silent and still. My attention glanced to the table where I remembered sitting. I don't think I could remember exactly when, but maybe three or four years ago I sat in that chair at that table and solved the Millennium Puzzle. I remember I sat in that chair and lit up the same way it had, making one hopeful wish. I knew quite well what that wish was... I'll never forget it. And I admit, I did get it. But, maybe I should've wished for something different... No, what was I saying? I'm glad I could have friends like Jonouchi, Honda, and Anzu... Even the others, like Ryou, Otogi, and even Kaiba... It was just that something else that was missing.
Something like--"Yuugi?" My thoughts were interrupted. Grandpa was there. My alarm rose. How long had he been standing there? Was I talking out loud? I turned around quickly, purple hues looking at his frantically. "Uh... What is it? Is everything okay..?" I tried to sound helpful, but could already tell by the disappointed look in his face that he knew I had been lying the whole time. And now with being caught, what excuse did I have now?
"I know when my Grandson is lying to me." How I to know how much drama was would follow?