Title: Icarus

Author: Eternal Sailor X

Fandom(s): Yugioh and Final Fantasy VII

Rating: T (Subject to change)

Warnings: Angst and drama, swearing.

Summary: Epic. Alternate Universe. Part One of Two. Two years have passed since the Ceremonial Duel between Yugi and Pharaoh Atem, and Yugi finds himself alone and forsaken by everyone around him until one day he's whisked away to a world where his story is just beginning…

Disclaimer: I don't own Yu-Gi-Oh! or Final Fantasy VII (or any other games in the Final Fantasy franchise.) These works are the property of Kazuki Takahashi and Square Enix, respectively, and I thank both for what they have created. There is no financial gain made from this nor will any be sought. This is for entertainment purposes only.

Notes: This is my third attempt at putting a new spin on an old cliché. I have no beta at this point and probably won't for a while, so please forgive any spelling and grammar mistakes.


According to Yugioh wikia, "It was stated once that Yugi is the modern-day version of Pharaoh Atem*." While not directly stated, this to me implies that Yugi is Atem's reincarnation.

Following the events in Millennium World, Mahad and Kisara sacrificed their lives and fused their Ba and their Ka together, becoming the Dark Magician and Blue-Eyes White Dragon, respectively, and were sealed into stone tablets. Atem sacrifices his life to bind and seal both himself and Zorc within the Millennium Puzzle to prevent the destruction of the world.

Fast forward to the future, and a boy names Yugi Muto solves the Millennium Puzzle and unleashes the spirit of the Nameless Pharaoh, prompting the adventures within the Yugioh series, yet neither Mahad nor Kisara have reincarnated counterparts (save for the Duel Monsters cards that represent them.)

How is it (in my mind at least), when neither Atem, Mahad or Kisara (technically) died and entered the Afterlife, thus preventing them from continuing the cycle of reincarnation into the future, Yugi Muto conveniently shows up 3,000 years later and manages to solve the Millennium Puzzle, something no one else was ever able to do?

This leaves me with just one question...

Who is Yugi Muto?


October 31, 1997

Hard to imagine that it's been two years already…

It was a chilly Halloween in the booming metropolis of Domino City, Japan. The sky was a somber grey with thick, hazy clouds stretched out over the city; their dark, looming presence a silent warning that rain was on its way. The streets were a flurry of activity as people dressed up in bright and festive costumes bustled about enjoying all the festivities the city had to offer, despite the ominous warning of bad weather to come.

Sitting alone on a park bench in a secluded area of Domino City Central Park, seventeen-year-old Yugi Muto, dressed in a grey hoodie, blue jeans and sneakers, silently looked up at the sky with solemn, purple eyes.

I wonder if they even realize just how long it's been… A wry smile spread across Yugi's lips as a chili breeze swept through the area, kicking up leaves and causing Yugi's ridiculous, tri-colored hair to dance in its wake. Or if any of them even remember…

Almost two years, since that fateful day in Egypt, when the fate of Pharaoh Atem had been decided and the course of everyone's' lives had changed forever…


"What Tristian means is, we don't want to say good-bye." Yugi stated, barely holding back heart-wrenching sobs as he stared at the back of Mou Hitori no Boku, his best friend and former partner, now known by everyone as Pharaoh Atem, prepared to depart through the gates to the Afterlife without sparing him, or any of them, a second glance.

The Ceremonial Duel between Atem and Yugi had concluded just moments ago with Yugi, against all odds, emerging as the victor between the two duelists.

With a heavy heart, Yugi furiously wiped at the tears from his eyes, trying to stay strong and supportive for his friend who was finally free after being trapped for over three millennia, all the while his mind was still reeling from the gravity of what he had done.

"Exactly," Tea spoke up, her voice heavy with grief, "Pharaoh, I know walking through that door means your spirit will finally be free, and it's all for the best, but is doesn't seem fair. I mean, I feel like we were just getting to know you! In fact, you were just beginning to get to know yourself, and now you're being taken away from us!

"I know we should be happy for you, but it's really hard to do that when you're losing your best friend and you just don't understand what it has to be that way!" Tea sobbed as she wiped away her tears.

"Then perhaps that can be changed." A loud voice suddenly echoed throughout the underground chamber, startling everyone out of their heavy thoughts as a tall figure stepped out of the doorway to the Afterlife.

"King Aknamkanon," Isis gasped, eyes widening in disbelief upon recognizing the former king; she, Marik, and Odion prostrating themselves before the noble man's presence.

"Father?" Atem's eyes widened as he stared at his predecessor, his mind reeling in disbelief.

Aknamkanon only smiled at the dumbfounded expression on Atem's face, opening his arms in silent invitation.

Without a second thought to propriety or who was watching, Atem embraced his father for all he was worth, the warm strong arms he had sorely missed wrapping around his shoulders as he buried his face into the older man's chest, silent tears streaming down his face.

Yugi and the others looked on in silence with glistening eyes and heart-felt smiles as they watched father and son reunite for the first time in over 3,000 years.

Atem composed himself after a few moments, pulling back slightly to stare at King Aknamkanon with questioning eyes, "Wh-what…what are you doing here?"

Aknamkanon smiled as he grasped his son's shoulders, eyes twinkling with pride, "The threat of the Shadow Games has been eliminated, and the world can be at peace once more thanks to you and the help of your friends. I couldn't be more proud." Aknamkanon looked and surveyed the group of people watching them, his eyes carefully traveling from one person to the next. "But, it seems to me that you would be losing a lot more moving on to the Afterlife than you would gain by entering it."

Atem's eyes widened in shock as Aknamkanon stared at him patiently, "I-I don't…what are you saying…?"

"A chance to live again." Aknamkanon started, his voice heavy and serious, "The choice to stay here with and live out the rest of your life with all that you have gained so far, or to move on and rejoin those you had to leave behind long ago.

"Think of it as a thank you for all that you've done," Aknamkanon paused, a grimace tightening his features before he continued, "and an apology from an old man who shouldn't have left you alone to deal with his sins to begin with."

Atem let out a breath pf astonishment, one he had not been aware that he was holding in until that moment. It all felt surreal. Of course, Atem missed the loved ones he gladly sacrificed his life for long ago. Mahad, Mana, Isis, Shimon, Shada, Karim, Aknadin, and Set…

But…

A small part of him wept at the thought of walking away from the friends he had made in this era, too. Yugi, Joey, Tristan and Tea…with all the support they had given him and the challenges they had faced together…

Atem's heart was torn in two…

"The choice is yours and yours alone, Atem." His father pressed gently, startling Atem out of his thoughts. "Just realize that whatever decision you choose to make, you won't be able to go back and choose again."

Overwhelmed, Atem looked back at the people who stood by him through thick and thin, his sharp gaze roaming from one person to the next before his eyes settled upon the one person who trusted him more than anyone he knew, Atem's dark eyes silently conveying the turmoil within his heart.

And, even with the connect between them shattered, Yugi understood the look in Atem's eyes loud and clear.

Funny… Yugi silently chuckled to himself at the irony of the situation. Usually I'm the one asking him for answers, not the other way around…

With that thought in mind, Yugi could only smile as he gave Atem a thumbs up, "Like we always say, 'It's your move.'"

With a look of understanding, Atem looked at the ground for a moment before turning back to his father, "I choose…to stay..."

Despite the gasps of shock and elation, all Atem could focus on was the acceptance and understanding in his father's eyes.

"Then I wish you the best of luck," Aknamkanon stated as tears trailed down his cheeks, "For both you, and your friends."

With a heavy heart, Atem embraced his father one last time as silent sobs shook his shoulders.

Holding Atem close, Aknamkanon looked back at the spectators watching them, his sharp eyes traveling from one person to the next until finally settling upon Yugi.

Yugi's breath hitched as Aknamkanon eyes landed upon him; a warm, comforting presence tugging at the pit of his heart, and drawing him in like a moth to a flame.

I know you…The unbidden thought crossed Yugi's mind as something ominous flashed through Aknamkanon's eyes before he finally looked away, carefully detaching himself from Atem's embrace as he looked into Atem's puffy, red eyes.

"Until we meet again…" Aknamkanon smiled one last time, giving Atem's shoulder a reassuring squeeze before turning back to the gateway to the Afterlife.


The underground chamber began to collapse just moments after the doors to the Afterlife closed, prompting everyone to scramble for the exit as the Millennium Stone crumbled behind them, casting the seven Millennium Items into the depths of the Earth.

Luckily, everyone just managed to make it out unscathed, if not a little shaken.

They soon returned to modern civilization, upon which the Kaiba brothers shortly departed, having spent enough time dealing with 'pathetic, simpering fools.' The Ishtars, on the other hand, invited everyone else back to their place to rest and to celebrate Atem's 'rebirthday.'

Since Atem had no documentation proving his existence and no blood-relatives to turn to, the group of friends were concerned as to what Atem planned to do next. The Ishtars, without hesitation and given their involvement with Atem's legacy and their connections with the Egyptian government, offered to adopt Atem into their family, allowing him to live out the rest of his life in the land he had ruled and once called

But, as gratefully as he for their offer, Atem politely declined stating that their obligations to him were over; and if given the choice, he'd rather return to Japan to live out the rest of his life with his new family. That being said, and with great respect and humility, Atem asked Grandpa Muto if he could return to Japan with him, Yugi and his friends, and requesting he be allowed to live with them until he could stand on his own two feet.

Grandpa had laughed at Atem's request, stating that there had been no need to ask since Atem was already considered a part of the family, and was welcome to live with them for as long as he needed.

The only problem they had left was how and where Atem going to get the necessary documentation proving he was a living, breathing human-being. After a bit of brainstorming, a tentative suggestion from Duke and a quick phone-call to one Maximillion Pegasus, the group were soon on their way back to Japan with Atem set up with temporary travel papers and a dependency visa until more solid documentation could be drawn up and officialized.

After getting back to Japan and a bit of awkward explaining, Mom accepted Atem into the family with open arms, gladly helping Atem settle into the guest bedroom located across from Yugi's bedroom.

Within a matter of weeks, thanks to Pegasus' influence and special connections, Atem Yami Muto had a birth certificate, sharing the same birthday as Yugi, health records, and adoption papers, making him an official member of the Muto family.

Atem registered for school shortly thereafter, managing to test into the same grade as Yugi and his friends and quickly rising in popularity with the faculty and the student body.

And as expected, with a promise to Mom to keep up his school work and to do his fair share of the chores in the house and around the Game Shop, Atem started dueling again, rapidly gaining a title and reputation that had Industrial Illusions and KaibaCorp vying to sponsor him on both national and international levels (something Mom quickly put a stop to until after Atem graduated from high school.)

It wasn't until a few months later and a chance encounter with Mokuba on the street did any of them even realize that Atem had undergone some major physical changes none of them had noticed until the younger Kaiba brother had pointed them out.

Atem's skin, once as pale as Yugi's own, had darkened considerably to a rich, chocolate brown while his eyes had turned from a deep amethyst to a blazing crimson.

The sudden realization of Atem's drastic change in appearance had shocked and embarrassed all of them. Even Atem had laughed having not realized what had happened in such a short amount of time.

Yugi's lips tugged upward into a small smile as he reflected upon the memory, shoving his hands into the pocket of his hoodie as he turned his eyes towards the ground.

After the first few months of helping Atem adjust to modern-day living, life had resumed some semblance of normal. Both Atem and Yugi were kept busy thanks to the increasing demands of the Game Shop, their celebrity status in the Duel Monsters community, and Atem's ever increasing popularity at school (there were even rumors of a fan club that had been made in his honor.)

But as time went on, things began to change. Things he didn't understand or even begin to explain.

At first it was little things Yugi could easy forgive or brush off as being a fluke. Almost being sat on by people who weren't paying attention. Be skipped over when doing roll call in school. Or even being bumped into by people too pre-occupied or in a hurry to realize he was there or even bothering to apologize.

Eventually, even his friends and family began drifting away from him as well. The gang forgetting to invite him to hang out. No one called him anymore to talk or meet up. And anytime they came to the Game Shop it was mostly just to visit with Atem before heading off somewhere.

A few drops of rain landed on his cheek as unbidden tears gathered at the corner of Yugi's eyes; grief squeezed his throat like a vice.

He tried to talk to them about it. He confronted his friends one day at the Game Shop when they stopped by to pick Atem up for a duel tournament, asking them why they were brushing him off and what he had done wrong to upset them so.

But the response he got was unlike anything he had expected….


"I can't believe you can be so self-centered, Yugi." Tristan started a heavy frown upon his features as he stared at Yugi down the length of his nose.

"Atem's been having a tough time dealing with work and school and the semi-finals coming up that he needs all the support he can get right now." Joey scowled at Yugi's wide, disbelieving eyes.

Yugi's eyes widened in shock as he glanced at Atem, who was looking away with reserved annoyance.

Atem…never mentioned any of that to him…

"Guys…" Yugi whispered, tears welling up in the corner of his eyes.

"It's not all about you, Yugi." Tea snapped, finally having enough, "Grow up and get over it."

Shocked beyond belief, Yugi slowly looked at each one of his friends with wide eyes before turning desperate eyes to the one person he knew would stand up for him, but Atem refused to even glance at Yugi as he silently turned and walked out of the Game Shop with Joey, Tristian and Tea following right behind him.

As the door closed with a 'ching' of the bell, Yugi finally let out a breath he wasn't aware he had been holding as he numbly turned back to the front counter, startled to see his mother standing in the doorway leading to the living area of the building.

"Mom…" Yugi whispered hopefully, his eyes wide and glistening.

But all his mother did was shake her head in disappointment as she returned to the main house, leaving Yugi standing there alone in the middle of the Game Shop with tears running down his face.


He just…he didn't understand what happened…

Yugi let out a sob as the rain finally began to fall in earnest, mixing with the salty tears trailing down his cheeks, as he curled up on the park bench and wrapped his arms around himself, slowly rocking back and forth in some semblance of comfort.

Try as he might to think of anything, Yugi didn't know what or where he went wrong…

He tried talking to Atem later that night when he got home, but all Yugi got was an angry scowl in return.

"Let it go, Yugi."

He tried approaching the others again individually, hoping maybe they would be more open and talkative, but all he received were annoyed looks and cold-shoulders as they promptly brushed off his inquiries.

He didn't know what to do anymore…

Now, two years after the Ceremonial Duel and fate of the Pharaoh decided Yugi felt like a ghost walking amongst the land of the living.

Lightning flashed and thunder rumbled overhead as Yugi buried his face in his knees, his shoulders shaking with the force of his sobs as he let his grief wash over him.

He was completely forgotten… And utterly alone…

Not quite… A light-hearted voice announced out of nowhere, jerking Yugi out of his pitiful state.

With red and puffy eyes, Yugi looked around for the source of the voice, only to receive a playful giggle in return when he didn't find anyone around him.

"Hello?" Yugi called out, slowly unfurling himself from his perch as he carefully scanned the area once again, his mind weary and his body shivering heavily from the cold soaking into his clothes and chilling him to the bone. "Who's there?"

Don't be afraid… The voice spoke up again in a soft, motherly tone, trying to ease Yugi's frazzled nerves.

"Wh-who…" Yugi swallowed hard, quickly trying to pull it together, "Who are you?"Yugi reached out to whoever or whatever was contacting him, holding back a sob of relief as a surreal warmth flooded his being, causing him to slump bonelessly against the park bench.

A friend… It spoke softly, the calm presence soothing Yugi's frazzled nerves as he relaxed against the park bench, numbly blinking away the rain as he stared up into the sky.

Are you ready to go?

Blinking dumbly, Yugi frowned as his emotionally exhausted mind sluggishly processed the inquiry, "Go where…?"

Slowly, Yugi realized the rain lowly letting up as the clouds began to part, allowing golden rays of sunshine through chasing away the melancholy and cutting through the cold.

Mind hazy and exhausted, Yugi's eyes furrowed in confusion as a gentle breeze swept through the area, stirring up leaves and drawing Yugi's attention to a beautiful, young woman with long brown hair and vibrant green eyes descending from the sky above him, her hand outstretched welcomingly.

Home…

Without a spare thought or question, Yugi accepted the proffered hand without hesitation, grasping it firmly as a great weight lifted off his shoulders and his mind succumbed to a realm of endless light.


*"Yugi Muto." Yu-gi-oh! Wikia. Fandom Powered by Wikia, n.d. Web. 29 Oct. 2016.