Title: The Choice

Summary: Set in the afterlife. Atem dreams of a choice he'll probably have to make some day. It's more of a reoccurring nightmare, really. One that eats away at him always.

Characters: Mana, Atem, Yugi.

Rating: Tfor angst and a bit of violence.

Pairings: If you squint it's Vaseshipping (Atem and Mana)

Total Words: 835

Warnings: OCC Atem, AU setting (kinda) and really bad plot.

Extra Notes: This fic was originally longer, called 'Pure' and was written for a Light/Dark contest a friend of mine ran. I didn't like the longer version, either.

Disclaimer: Yu-Gi-Oh! and it's characters are not mine.


The darkness around him stretched for as far as he could see, solid and lifeless. As he wondered around in it he was vaguely aware that his feet made no sound as they hit the blackness that was the floor. He was just beginning to wonder if he was going to continue walking around endlessly when light appeared to his left. He whirled and felt his throat catch. Next to a brightly lit up stage, suspended from her wrists from a pole hung Mana. Her eyes were closed and he couldn't detect any breathing. He leapt forward to pull her down but suddenly there was a cloaked figure in front of him.

"Not so fast, dear Pharaoh." The cloaked figure's voice was familiar in an unsettling way, but he couldn't place it.

"What have you done with her?" He demanded in a snarl. "I swear to Anubis if you've hurt her…!"

The figure chuckled darkly, seemingly pleased by the pharaoh's reaction.

"So you really do care for her… Interesting… I wonder how deeply your love for the little magician girl goes?" He remained silent, glaring at the cloaked figure in abhorrence. "I know, let's play a little game, shall we?"

"What kind of game?" He was cautious, but a little relieved; he was good at games.

"A very simple one, I assure you. All you have to do is make a choice. One simple little choice. Are you ready?" He nodded stiffly. "Alright then: which one will you save? Yourself or your little friend over there?"

The pause for thought lasted less than a second. "Her. I'll save her. Do what you want with me."

The figure laughed again and Mana was suddenly free. In relief he ran to her side, gently laying her across his lap. He was dimly aware of the figure yanking something up from behind the stage. The thing yelled and the sound froze the blood in his veins.

"Yugi! Let him go!"

He was on his feet, desperation and anger coursing through him as the cloaked figure held his hikari up by the neck. Yugi was struggling desperately but could not break the grip of the figure, who was chuckling now.

"No take-backs, Pharaoh. You made your decision."

"My decision was that you take me!" he bellowed.

"But I am," the figure replied calmly. "I didn't specify which you I'd be taking. His blood is on your hands. Always on your hands."

"No… Yugi I…" His hikari's pleading, desperate eyes met his. "No! I didn't mean for this to…" The figure squeezed and Yugi let out a bloodcurdling scream of agony, writhing in the figure's grip. "Yugi!"

In utter horror he watched the little body go limp. Horror gave way to rage he had not felt in ages. Rage that took over and claimed his entire body. He rounded on the figure, shaking and ready for murder.

"I am going to make you wish you were never born," he hissed. "I am going to make you beg and plead for the relief of death and then I will kill you!"

The figure infuriatingly laughed, his hands empty of Yugi's body now.

"You can't kill me," came the chortle. Before he could demand why not, the figure pushed back his hood. Horror flooded him and he staggered backwards, the denial already on his lips. "I am you," his reflection replied, grinning evilly as the green mark on his forehead glowed…

With a yell Atem sat bolt upright, breathing hard with wide, staring eyes. He looked around, taking in the large and spacious room with a frantic gaze. It had happened again. Groaning, he put his head in his hands and gripped his hair tightly. When would it stop? When would people stop coming after him?

And then, from the very deepest part of his soul came another whisper: when would he stop hurting them all?

His fists reined onto the wall, begging to bleed without being granted their request. Trembling, he launched himself onto the balcony, staring up to the sky as if begging for relief. The stars mocked him, as silent and calm as he was raging. He lay back down, staring with unseeing eyes at the ceiling. Unbidden one of the many memories he had lost floated back into his mind.

There was brilliant sunlight everywhere and he was running next to somebody. They both skidded to a halt and he turned to find a young Mana's face shining up to him.

"I really hope he's here: we need somebody to play the bad guy in our game."

She glanced at the door to the hut they had stopped at.

"I don't see why I just can't play the evil monster that we vanquish for this once," he heard himself replying.

The beautiful green eyes he knew so well turned to him, and he seemed to get lost in their depth. Mana's laughter filled his mind.

"You? No way! You're far too good and pure, silly."

Silently, the Pharaoh wept.


AN 2: I honestly don't know who he'd choose if he was given the chance between Mana or Yugi. I've battled it out in my mind many times, and I've never come to a conclusion.