This is a one-shot I wrote soon after the last episode of YGO. However, I took a different take on it. It's meant to be Yugi and Yami, but... -shrugs- Whatever. Also, the title and the "maze" part when Yugi's talking was from a poem by my friend, so credit there's.
Enjoy.
DISCLAIMER: Don't own the quote mentioned or the chapter title, as well as YGO.
It was time.
He stared irresolutely at his best friend. His big brother. His other half.
It was time to let go.
His shoulders shook with suppressed sobs. No. NO! It couldn't be! After all they'd been through… no! It was impossible!
"You can't leave."
His voice was low, laced with the tears that he was trying to hold back.
"I won't let you."
He was looking down at the pattern on the floor. His foot slowly traced the waves and curves in the blue-green titles. Slowly it seemed like the waves were coming to life… moving back and forth, water spewing from the edges…
The first drop hit the floor. Followed by a second. A third. Before long a storm was whipped up and raging.
His knees buckled and he dropped. His shoulders shook. His lip trembled.
His eyes were overflowing with tears.
After all they'd been through, it was impossible to think that his other half would be gone.
His courage and strength, his pride and soul, the man who he had called Big Brother, Other Half, Other Me, Darkness…
Gone.
Memories were flashing in front of his weary eyes. He relived the years they had spent together. He relearned again everything that he had learned from the one who was leaving him.
He felt a hand on his shoulder. A firm, and yet somewhat shaking hand.
He looked up into the face of the man he loved.
The noble face, so similar to his own, looked gently back at him. The mature lines of his face were creased in worry. He looked ready to accept his fate.
But he saw past that. He saw the repressed tears in the eyes, and the slight shaking of the lip.
It was just as hard for his other half too.
"Do you remember what I once told you?" asked his other half quietly. "'There will come a day when you will surpass me… And when that time comes… you must be ready to accept what will happen.'"
"Do you remember what else you told me?" he said back, tears still flowing. "'I want to stay with you forever, even if I don't get my memories back.' Do you remember what I said? 'Me too. I'll give you my memories.' Did you lie when you said that!"
"Aibou…" Partner… he still called him partner… "I'd never lie to you… I meant it. But I'll never truly leave. Our memories will always stay in our hearts."
His partner gently wiped away his tears. "C'mon Aibou… it's time for me go."
Unconsciously, he gripped his friend's hand tighter. He could feel it fading.
"I never thought I'd live to see when you would leave. I've always imagined us always… together. I always thought that life was a maze. We choose our own path. Many different ones lead to the end, and all paths can be intertwined if we choose them to be. But now the question is not do we want to meet but do we want to separate… and I know that I don't."
He felt his partner grip back. "I don't want to leave you…"
He made his decision.
"Take me with you."
His partner looked astonished. He was half gone by now…
"Take me with you," he repeated, and felt his spirit rise up to meet his other half. "Take me with you… and you'll never have to leave."
"Aibou! You have your whole life ahead of you!"
"Not unless I'm with you."
And they never had to leave each other.
Ever.
Again.