Chapter 7
"You what?"
Yugi smiled happily. "I think it's not permanent! Today in class he grabbed a card from me and said 'Mahad.' The card was Dark Magician! That connection could only have been made after Mahad became that creature!"
Seto nodded. "And that happened when Atem was nearly 18."
Yugi nodded fiercely. "Exactly! So memories were leaking through, it's possible that this could wear off!"
"True. This is good new, Yugi." Seto said, a small smile on his face as he leaned back in his chair.
Yugi looked to where Atem was sitting on the floor, carefully sifting through Yugi's deck. He smiled at some cards, and when he came to the Dark Magician he touched the picture gently. "Mahad…"
As he came to the Dark Magician Girl he smiled, giggling happily. "Mana!"
"See?.!" Yugi said excitedly. "He did it again!"
"By my understanding Mana was a childhood friend. We have no idea how young they were." Seto pointed out.
Yugi wilted. "Oh… Right…"
Atem took this opportunity to glomp Yugi, noticing that the boy was sad. "Brother!"
Yugi squealed in shock as they both tumbled to the ground, Atem giggling happily from his position on Yugi's stomach. Yugi groaned. "Get off, Atem!"
The man-gone-child rolled off reluctantly, watching Yugi with large crimson name. "Yes Atem?"
"Don't be sad. I don't like it when you're sad." Atem murmured, rolling over onto his stomach and resting his chin on his folded arms.
Yugi blinked, and then smiled warmly. "Okay Atem. I'll try to be happy for you."
Atem smiled. "Good!"
Yugi awoke to find Atem curled against his side, his thumb against his lips as though he'd had it in his mouth at some point, dried tears on his cheeks.
Yugi frowned, sitting up and examining his father. Atem was shaking slightly in his sleep, his breathing a little shaky. His nose sounded a little stuffy even, and it was easy to see that he'd spent some time crying.
This confused Yugi. Atem's nightmares had stopped a few nights ago, and Yugi had always either woke on his own or been shaken awake. Why would Atem not wake him?
Yugi pushed to cover off himself, getting ready to stand, but Atem whimpered softly in his sleep, murmuring something. Yugi leaned closer to hear.
"Aibou…"
Yugi grinned happily at that. It was obvious that memories were leaking through, slowly but surely. As Atem whimpered again the boy reached out, shaking his shoulder. "Atem, wake up!"
Crimson eyes flashed open, and then Yugi had an armful of a sobbing Atem. "They took you, they took you!"
Yugi blinked, slightly confused. "Who took me?"
"The green light, it took you from me!" Atem cried out, clutching to Yugi as though he would be stolen away right now.
Understanding filled Yugi. Atem had been dreaming of when the Oricalcos had taken his soul, leaving the ex-Pharaoh to search for him. Yugi gently patted Atem's back. "It's alright, it was only a dream. I promised that I wouldn't leave you."
"Pinky swear?" Atem asked meekly, raising one outstretched pinky.
Yugi smiled gently, remembering when he had taught Yami this trick not long before the Battle City Finals. "Yea. Pinky swear."
"Brother, where's Slifer?"
Yugi jumped, looking up from his book. Atem was on the floor in front of him, looking through his deck again. At the moment his vermillion eyes were on Yugi, though, wondering.
Yugi swallowed. "What?"
"Where's Slifer?" Atem repeated.
Yugi smiled. More memories. "Come on, I'll show you."
Yugi led the way to the living room, pointing to the three picture frames above the couch. All three Egyptian Gods were there. The Winged Dragon of Ra in the center. Slifer on its right and Obelisk on its left. Yugi, along with Yami, had decided to put them there around Yugi's second 7th birthday. They were only to be brought out on special occasions, such as when Yugi and Yami dueled. After all, they were Yami's favorite monsters.
"See? We put them here so they'd be safe all the time." Yugi said, pointing.
"Oh… okay!" Atem chirped happily.
"Come on, Atem. I need you to stay with me or we'll go home!" Yugi said sharply, a frown on his soft features.
Atem skipped back to his side, though he seemed a little down trodden from Yugi's scolding. "Sorry!"
"Just stay with me. I don't want you getting hit by a car." Yugi said, softening his voice slightly.
Atem nodded, grabbing Yugi's hand. "Kay!"
Ryou nodded. "Makes me wish we could keep him this way, sometimes. But I miss the old Yami."
Bakura snorted. "Even I miss that egotistical idiot Pharaoh."
"Bakura, please, not around Hikaru." Ryou said crossly, jerking his chin towards the tiny boy in his arms. Not long ago Ryou had decided he wanted a child, and had convinced Bakura to let him adopt. About a month before Yami's accident they had been approved, and had gotten little Hikaru. The boy had white hair (surprisingly) and large pretty blue eyes. He was still adjusting, but the little four-year old seemed to be attached to Ryou already.
All Yugi had to say about the whole thing was who knew Bakura could be a father, let alone the good one he was turning out to be?.!
"Atem, what did I tell you?" Yugi called.
"S-"
There was a scream. "Get out of the road!"
Yugi's world shattered as Atem let out a thin scream as a car collided with his body, sending him flying. "NO!"
Yugi would swear later that he had literally heard Atem's head hit the pavement. There was a dull crack, along with the sickening sound of a body hitting asphalt. Yugi ran forward, ignoring the pale young woman climbing out of the car, terror on her face.
He quickly lifted Atem's head from the road, crying as he felt the wetness of blood through Atem's thick hair. "Atem, can you hear me?.! Please, open your eyes!"
Exhausted titan eyes met Yugi's, pain, fear, and sleepiness in their depths. Atem gasped faintly for breath, his hand clenching on Yugi's sleeve. "B-Bro-ther…"
"What did I tell you…" Yugi sobbed, holding the trembling hand tightly.
"Y-Yugi… I'm… I'm so… tired…" Atem murmured, letting his head rest against Yugi's shoulder.
"NO!" Yugi screamed, shaking Atem's shoulders. "Don't go to sleep!"
Atem's eyelids drooped even more. "Tired…"
"Don't close your eyes…" Yugi wailed, tears flowing down his cheeks to splatter on Atem's face. "Stay awake… Don't go…"
"I'm sorry… I should have listened to you… s-son..."
Atem went limp.
Yugi's eyes widened. "D-Dad?" He shook Atem. "Dad?.! Daddy! DADDY!"
Do not worry my lovely reviewers! Good things come out of bad things, I promise! I'll update as soon as I can, but just so everyone knows, I will be leaving on a trip on Wednesday of this week, and will not be returning until Sunday. I shall be writing fiercely while gone, don't worry!
