Chapter 7-Two Souls, One Body...Forever Friends
Yugi sighed lightly once he had entered his room. "Boy do Shadow Games and Rituals really make you tired," Yugi said to himself. He fell backwards onto his bed and looked at the ceiling. Sleep would have to wait. There were more important things on his mind that would prevent him from ever getting any shut eye. Yugi sat up slowly and looked down at the Puzzle. Thankfully his grandfather had been more than happy to welcome Tefnut and Shu into their home. The two children were sharing a room close to his. That way they could be heard if there ever was a problem. 'It's good that those two can see Atem's spirit even when I am in control of my own body. Now they'll never feel far from him again,' Yugi thought happily.
He yawned lightly, placing his hands in the pockets of his jacket. He blinked, pulling out a small object that he was unfamiliar with. Yugi let it dangle before him. "I don't remember this," he said to himself. It was a red jewel that dangled from a silver chain. Yugi had never seen it before in his life.
Upon feeling another presence in the room, Yugi quickly slipped the necklace back into his pocket. He looked up eagerly, and smiled at the familiar spirit as he entered the room. Yugi's emotions were making him feel completely ecstatic to have Atem back. Sort of the same way Joey and Tristan get when they see food after not having any for a very long time. On the other hand his brain was telling him to be delicate about it. Yugi didn't need Atem to speak to know that he was equally as happy to see Yugi again, but the distant look in his expression was concerning him.
"Tefnut and Shu are fast asleep," Atem stated, taking a seat on the end of Yugi's bed. He managed a small smile seeing Yugi's happy expression. "I'm grateful for all you and your friends have done so far to help them feel comfortable in this unfamiliar world."
Yugi nodded slowly, "I'm just glad that you three are all reunited again. They were determined to find you at all costs and witnessing you three being brought back together was an amazing thing to see." Yugi had really been touched by the scene back at the museum. He witnessed for himself the determination Tefnut and Shu had to find their father, Yugi could only imagine the lengths Atem had gone through to try and find them. Now they were finally reunited. "Not only are you an amazing Pharaoh, you're also an amazing father."
Atem had looked up for a moment, but quickly turned his gaze back down. The only response Yugi had gotten was a small nod. Instantly Yugi sensed something was wrong. He felt sadness and sorrow over take him. Sharing a mind again would take some getting used to. Yugi slowly crawled off of his bed and collected his thoughts. Once again he pulled out the necklace that had been sitting in his pocket. It hadn't been there before his trip to the museum.
Yugi turned to look at Atem once more. His friend was so lost in thought that he paid no attention to Yugi's gaze. Just like he had felt, Atem's face was filled with sadness. Yugi frowned glancing at the necklace once more. He held it in his palm and walked over to Atem slowly. Something that Bakura had said kept ringing in his brain. Or maybe that thought was going through Atem's brain...
"I think this belongs to you," Yugi finally said holding his palm out to Atem.
Atem snapped out of his thoughts and stared at the necklace. A small gasp escaped him as he took it gently from Yugi. Atem stood up and looked down at Yugi, "How did you know...?"
"We share a mind remember?" Yugi reminded the spirit. He watched the Pharaoh eye the necklace with a familiar expression. Yet the same sadness was still engraved over his face. "...What was she like Atem?"
Atem's eye grew wide as he peered down at Yugi. He looked at the necklace again, tightening his grip around it. Atem slowly sat back down, a small smile spread across his face, "She was annoying, pretentious and as stubborn as a mule," Atem stated. Yugi blinked stupidly causing Atem to chuckle a little, "Well, that was what I thought for a while anyway. If she were here right now, she'd surely accuse me of being the same."
Yugi couldn't help but smile upon seeing Atem salvage some happy thoughts. Bakura had said she was gone, and when he had continued to insult her Yugi had seen firsthand how deeply those words had hurt Atem. "But she was also beautiful, smart, outgoing and had a strength about her that was admirable. I didn't see those other things as faults anymore, just reminders of how blind a young child could be."
"In other words, you loved her," Yugi said softly.
Atem nodded, looking down at the necklace in his hand again. "Unconditionally." Atem replied in a whisper. "For days after I sent them to hide, once the evil vanished from the kingdom, I searched for any sign that they were alive. I had fought to protect them from the doom that struck Egypt, but somehow I can't help but feel like I should have stayed with them."
Yugi frowned, slowly taking a seat beside Atem on his bed. "You did what you thought was best for everyone," Yugi said quietly.
"Yes, perhaps you're right. But it still feels like I let her down," Atem said bitterly. His fist clenched around the necklace, concealing the precious gem. "I made a promise never to let her go again. And now she's gone." Yugi said nothing, knowing there was nothing he could possibly do right now to cheer his friend up. He had lost a loved one, and blamed himself for it. Yugi imagined that this was how he was when Yugi's soul had been taken from him. "I searched for days and found nothing. But I eventually found this necklace, and I was certain I knew what had come of her. Tefnut and Shu on the other hand I had found no trace of them, or their pendants. I had prayed that somehow they escaped this evil, so I trekked on for days with no such luck."
"Until today of course. When the Millennium Puzzle returned to me, and the three of us were able to bind your spirit in the Puzzle with the one that had passed on last year, and part of your spirit from the past," Yugi said.
"Which is why I am fully aware of the events we experienced together and the events of my ancient past," Atem replied with a nod, "It's that of future events I am most concerned about."
Yugi nodded slowly. He watched as Atem zoned out again, thinking about what was to come for him and everyone else around him. Yugi too wondered the same, but knew that there was no use sitting around everyday wondering what would happen. Usually that stuff just ended up finding them anyway. It was just a matter of patience.
Yugi managed to smile a little, spreading his arms open and quickly wrapping them around Atem. The force of the hug caught Atem off guard, nearly forcing him to fall off the bed. This was funny since he was a spirit. "Well Atem, just remember that you no longer have to do things alone. We're all here for you. You found Tefnut and Shu and all of us are going to protect them from whatever evil may be lurking," Yugi stated optimistically, "And...I missed having you around. I'm glad you're back."
Atem blinked stupidly, gazing at the boy has he loosened his grip around his transparent body. Slowly he smiled at Yugi and said quietly, "Thank you Yugi. I've missed you as well my friend," He tried to cheer up, and think of the positive things about the situation. Yugi was right with everything he had said, Atem knew this, but his mind was still wandering into the memories of the recent events. "I think you should get some shut eye. Like Shu and Tefnut, your being took a lot of strain today."
Yugi yawned innocently and said, "I think you're right. But...what about you?"
"I won't be sleeping for a little while," Atem said standing up. Yugi watched him slowly placing the pendant away in his pocket his back turned away, "I still have much to think about...I shall rest when my spirit urges me to." Atem then slowly turned to look at Yugi once more, "I will do so in the deepest corners of your mind so that I won't disturb you my friend."
Yugi watched Atem's spirit slowly fade, noticing him struggle to hold in his emotions. Yugi soon could barely feel his presence around him. However the sadness Atem felt still hung over Yugi's head hauntingly. It was thick and the only thing that was keeping the pair from fully connecting like they once had again. Yugi had never in his life felt such sorrow like the vibes he felt from Atem's spirit. "Just remember, I'm always here for you Pharaoh." Yugi said quietly. He slowly fell back onto his pillow allowing sleep to overtake his being.
AN: I got a job recently. So since this has happened I will be able to write on a (relatively) normal basis. This is a shorter chapter and is kind of a reunion sort of speak between Yugi and Atem. It does have a bit of details relevant to the plot in it, which will be extended upon in the next two chapters or so and then mentioned again throughout the story. Sorry if Atem seems a little out of character emotion wise. My point was to make sure the readers know his feelings about the subject. This will also be in the next couple of chapters. Read and Review please.
