Dark Destinies

Chapter 10. Rat

Disclaimer: I do not own Yu-Gi-Oh! It belongs to Kazuki Takahashi.

Last chapter:While being drunk, Ehecatl killed a man that had been on a mission to kill Atem. Then, Atem tells Yugi that he was in the fire, that he has killed the girl but Yugi is unable to say much before a nurse comes in and sends him away. Away from Atem, Yugi runs into Ehecatl and then is seen no more. Atem realizes something is wrong and goes in search for his partner, but he only finds Ehecatl, carrying The Dark Magician.

Enjoy!

X

Ehecatl's grin did not leave his face, even after Atem's apparent fragile body had proven strong enough to pin him to the wall; a waste of time since Ehecatl would not have even tried to escape this so called 'king.' It would have been useless. But then again, the grip of the tricolored man was indeed very strong, either that, or he was pretty weak. He laughed; knowing that he should not have drank those last beer bottles. Of course, he should not have taken Yugi either.

Atem's fingers dug into his skin, a razor like hint radiating from his eyes. A funny scene if you kept in mind who here was the newbie. Oh! And who was taller. He laughed all the harder, feeling a wave of pain on the pit of his stomach as Atem shoved his knee at him. Groaning in pain, he saw the world spinning around him, or spinning faster that was. He chuckled and coughed and chuckled again.

"Where is Yugi! What have you done to him!"

The words of the razor-eyes man seemed too far away for him to grasp, an echo maybe. He felt renewed pain as he was kicked on the side, obligating him to turn around and gaze at Atem, or two Atems… he couldn't quite place who the real one was. He smiled, pointing at the raging man.

"What for should tell you I?" Ehecatl asked him, uncaring at the moment on whether his words made sense or not. Far from where he thought he was now, he could see the whole scene playing as if it was a movie.

Atem was now pinning him to the ground, the dagger of the girl who Atem had killed, the same one Ehecatl had used to murder that morning, pointing at his throat. A man with a weapon and a reason to murder, Ehecatl knew, was unpredictable. And yet, Ehecatl smiled. He couldn't help it, it was just too ironic.

"I will not ask you again, where is Yugi." Atem's voice was now a snarl, threatening and in was not screaming. Had he seen fear in Ehecatl's eyes? Fear of dying? It was the same tone he had used before getting the girl in the game that had killed her.

"I told you," hiccup, "Not to lose Yugi from your sight," Ehecatl said, an attack of hiccups threatening to come.

Atem glowered. Ehecatl knew he needed to leave now or die. If what he had investigated of these shadow games testing your abilities as a thinker was true, then he was at a lost.

"Silence yourself! I do not wish to hear anything but the answer to my question!" Atem yelled, giving Ehecatl a good shake as if he was a giant, not a skinny, weak man. It was now or never.

Ehecatl twisted his body, bringing down with him a surprised Atem. Then he kicked twice, one missing the target and the other one finding it. Atem fell to the floor, gasping and reaching for his burnt ankle. It was a dirty trick, but there were no rules either.

Ehecatl stood, giving a few steps and feeling how his stomach churned. He swallowed the need to vomit, using the wall as to not fall and started off. Soon, he could hear Atem following. Too late, Ehecatl used the last bit of his sanity to envelop himself with darkness and transporting himself to his apartment.

There, he fell besides the unconscious Yugi Mutou on the floor, a sharp headache starting. This was definitely not the time to have a hangover.

X

Atem leaned against the wall, watching The Dark Magician as he stared back at him, a knot in his throat as he fought off the need to scream in rage. That had been his only chance to find Yugi yet again. He could do nothing but wait for a miracle. No, in his experience, miracles took forever to show themselves, three thousand years waiting to be awaken had proven just that.

Slowly, he pushed himself off the wall, limping heavily towards the nearest window. Behind him, he could hear someone coming; hiding was what he had to do first. Then, he would have to find a way to track Ehecatl down. He held on to the dagger he had taken from Ehecatl's belt, knowing that he should at least have hurt him enough in order for him not to run off. He would have run away either way, it seemed that this Ehecatl was either in charge or would be a coward.

As he had expected, there were fire-stairs outside this very window. Atem sighed, taking no more than a few seconds to open the window and slipping outside with poor grace. Once there, he looked around, slightly surprised to find a wall of another building across from the staircase. Underneath, an alley.

With the help of the railings, he made his way down step by step, gritting his teeth together while trying to ignore the ailing. With pain or without it, his mind had started to formulate a plan on how to stop Ehecatl. If only he knew where to find him.

He crossed infront of another window where he could see a long endless hallway, but it would be foolish to go back in when he was already outside. He kept on going until he was standing on flat floor.

He gazed around, steadily.

The two buildings that made up the alley seemed similar, and too clean to ever be street alleys. Atem walked towards the entrance of the place. There, he narrowed his eyes as he realized how both buildings were actually part of the hospital, probably connecting underground right where Atem was. He sighed, walking back into the alley, There had to be something he could do to get out of there without being noticed.

Long time no seen, dear ancient young warrior…

Atem froze.

I understand your pain. I myself did not expect to have to deal with his betrayal at this point of the game…

Turning his head from side to side, Atem searched for the owner of the familiar voice inside his head. There was no one except… the same raven that had guided him through the forest and to the clearing where the girl had been waiting for him. It was perched on the stairwell, staring with black tiny pearls.

You see, the winged serpent was not supposed to commit what he has done. Stealing the one you are meant to protect, among other things… He has failed me…

"Ehecatl, the winged serpent, was he under your control?" Atem couldn't help asking, he was talking to The Dark One, main culprit of all that has happened, he was the only one who had the answers.

You are said to be wise. And yet, here is another example of how narrow minded you have been acting. Pay attention, for I will only say it once. Everything and everyone involved in this Shadow Game are under my control.

Atem was about to retort to that, but it was true. There was nothing he could say in anyone's defense; it was clear what The Dark One would ask something of him, and Atem was in no position to refuse.

I, however, am a very understanding being, for I shall make a pact with you that you shall not rebuke…

Atem set his jaw, wondering what he would be putting at stake.

The mission is simple. I shall help you find the winged serpent. You shall kill him…

There it was. Of course he would want Ehecatl dead if he was not following the rules, and Atem would be the way to do it. Narrowing his eyes, trying to stop himself from accepting too soon, he decided to pull some strings.

"I can find Ehecatl on my own, and I do not need to be told to murder him, I will," Atem lied.

Indeed, I stand corrected then. He has taken Yugi Mutou from you; it is only right for you to kill him.

Atem nodded, wondering why The Dark One would ask him to kill Ehecatl if he believed Atem would do it either way. There had to be something Atem was missing.

Of course I am no fool, I will still help you find him but what is it that you want? I know what it is but hearing you plea is delightful…

"I will kill Ehecatl in your name, only if a new rule is applied to the game," Atem said, "And do not tell me that the rules cannot change, I believe you have already changed some, right?"

Waiting five days for you to get situated when you first started proved rather boring, speak you mind now…

"My rules are 'simple,'" Atem started, turning his ideas in his mind in order to find any loopholes to them, "You told me just now that I was not as wise as you thought. Well then, I do not know how many people you have brought into this game, but I believe they are less important than me in your eyes right now."

It was a big shot, to state himself to be the best of the best.

"You too told me that I have three lives and if I lose one of them, I would be gone from this world for two days. Well, my rule is that when I die, I shall be gone from this world for fourteen days, two weeks."

That is foolish… why do you wish to leave Yugi Mutou unprotected for so long?

"When I die, you shall accompany me to wherever my soul will be on those fourteen days," Now for the kill, "surely you are no coward upon leaving your players lose for a while? Or might you be scared that when you come back they will be too strong?"

I repeat, foolish! Why would I ever do that? I do not see how that might help either of us…

Atem grinned.

"Because if you do not, I will kill myself three times and you will lose the opportunity of me serving your goals."

Silence. If the Dark One mentioned Yugi getting killed because of that, Atem's plan would fall into pieces.

"That is my rule, for you to spend my fourteen days dead with me, in the shadow realm."

I see no reason… there is no reason but for you to give Yugi Mutou enough time to be able to participate in the world Cup in Austria… I see no importance…

"That is for me to deal with," Atem said, smirking openly as the raven screeched in apparent hatred, "Should we close the pact?"

In that case, only if and only if you kill Ehecatl before anyone else does, I shall agree to your twisted rule… And yet again, I do not promise to not change my mind upon agreeing to the rules…

Atem nodded, it did not matter. The Dark One had already too much to think about with what Atem had said, unable to scrutinize for details.

"Let the shadow game begin," Atem whispered. What the voice did not know was that by allowing Atem to change the rules, he had given Atem outmost importance to the game. He was no longer 'one player.' He was the one who had changed the rules.

He was a host to this game now, a creator. The Dark One would not be able to change the rules now for Atem would have to agree upon it; such was the way of the shadows. Complex, and yet, Atem had thought it all as he went. Loopholes would be a problem if they presented themselves, but they could be dealt with.

I hadarranged for someone to meet you on this very spot some time ago, but it seems that he might be running late… I do hope you have the patience to wait for your guide to Ehecatl's whereabouts…

The raven cawed twice, rising flight and away from the alley, only a black mark on a cloudless sky, unaware that Atem had just grabbed the reigns of where this game could lead.

X

He waited… There was no time to waste and yet, here he was, sitting on an outer staircase without anything to occupy his mind but reruns of his life. Some time ago he had given up on the fact that he could be using this time thinking up a better plan, but if he kept looking for better ways to do what he was planning to do, then the main idea of his plan would be lost. He had to avoid getting worried about details; there were too many factors to be able to control every single one of them.

Atem remembered the time he spent with Yugi too, all those moments where he had been awestruck at how forgiving he was. No mattered what happened to him, he always found a way to see his aggressors as foes and not enemies. On the other hand however, Atem would never forgive Ehecatl for what he had done. Never. To take Yugi away as he was unable to protect him, and still, for this plan to work, he would have to trust that man. The man that could have had as well already killed his partner was going to be the key to his still developing plan… Atem only knew that he would promise Ehecatl to help him protect the one he was meant to protect. But, how would Atem trust him? He prayed for Horus to protect Yugi.

He heard a couple of footfalls to his right, but when he turned to see if anyone had come into the alley, there was no one. He kept watching though, knowing by experience how a couple of footsteps could be easily followed by a trap if not taken seriously. No one made himself visible.

"Show yourself," Atem said, "I will not harm you."

More footfalls, Atem narrowed his eyes.

"I want to see you try and harm me," a high-pitch voice reached his ears, childish like, "Ever since you played with the girl in the forest I've been wanting to play with you too."

"How is it that no one has told me the name of this girl?" Atem asked, curious, but mostly in order for the 'kid' to keep talking. What was it with everyone he met nowadays that talked to him before Atem had seen them? It was getting tiring.

"I don't know it," the high-pitched voice said, "I don't think anyone knew it, not even Ehecatl who normally knows everything from everyone."

Atem gritted his teeth at the name, Yugi's face before he left the hospital room crossing his mind.

"Is Ehecatl well known among you?"

"Yeah… that fartheaded guy is always getting in your business and is, or was, one of the favorites of The Dark One," the voice said, Atem was almost sure it was a kid.

More footsteps followed. Atem would have face-palmed, but then again, there was no time. The 'kid' had been under the staircase where Atem was sitting, out of his vision. How he had managed to sneak there without Atem noticing was a story for another time.

Now, the kid had walked into the open, a kid of no more than four years old, of course appearances could be deceiving. This kid had been speaking as if he was ten.

The kid crossed his arms, watching Atem who was too, only staring at him.

"What's your name?" the kid asked, "I hacked into Ehecatl's computer, but he hasn't searched anything about you so far."

Atem stood, hoping that this word 'hacking' was not important to know. Computers were such useless complex things.

"My name is Atem," Atem said, "give me yours."

The kid tilted his head, "Rat. That's how I'm known here."

Atem frowned, wondering if the kid was messing with him, but one look at his face told him he was being serious. He nodded.

"Very well Rat, guide me to Ehecatl."

Rat did not move as Atem made his way slowly down the stairway again.

"What's the plan," Rat said, giving Atem the idea that he would not like this kid at all, "I'm guessing Ehecatl took Yugi Mutou. It makes sense. But The Dark One did not choose you and me to play in this game because we were unable to think something that might help us in the future… soo… what's the plan."

Atem set his jaw; he did not like this kid. Of course he knew The Dark One had chosen them because they were intelligent and able to give off a good fight. He had probably picked them out from many more candidates.

"The plan is to kill Ehecatl and get Yugi back," Atem said shortly, "Let us go."

Rat stayed put.

"You are hurt and are wearing a hospital gown, how the hell do you think you are going to be able to slip past the security?"

"You brought me cloths and painkillers," Atem stated, gazing casually at the backpack Rat was carrying. That was why he had taken so long. He needed to be sure Atem could get away from here.

Rat's eye twitched. This was going to be the start of a beautiful friendship… not.

The kid reached for his bag, bringing forth dark clothes which he threw to Atem.

"I couldn't find any men's underwear by the way…" Rat said, taking out a granola bar and chewing on it.

Atem sighed, deciding it was better to not wear undergarments than to put on the string-like thing that was among the clothes. He put on the pants, took of the gown and slipped in the black T-Shirt with some unknown logo infront.

Carefully, he stuck the dagger in the belt the kid had too given him. The Dark Magician he held on one hand, worried that it might wrinkle if he put it on his pocket.

After he was done, Rat gave him some medicine and water which he took warily. Soon, the pain on his foot was dull, still painful but bearable.

"Okay then," Rat stated, grabbing the underwear and the hospital gown and shoving it into his backpack. Atem blinked.

"How old are you?" Atem asked as they started walking innocently out of the alley.

"Not sure. Should be four or five…" Rat said in his squeaky voice, "How old are you?"

"I don't know," Atem said sincerely.

"A couple of thousand years I think, right? I can tell that by the way you speak," Rat said.

"Around three thousand," Atem said, "What about you?"

"Already told you, four or five. This is my time period time. I was born here, In a laboratory actually," Rat said, offering one of his granola bars to Atem, "Hungry?"

Atem grabbed the bar, eating it quickly, thinking that the kid might as well be altered genetically. They passed some policemen who did not even seem to acknowledge them. Not five minutes afterwards, they were already walking towards what Atem believed was Domino's downtown.

"How do you know where Ehecatl lives?" Atem asked, not really caring to know the answer. His mind was already going through his plan over and over again. If Ehecatl had done something to Yugi, he would pay dearly and Atem's new investment in the shadow game would be useless.

"I followed him once there when he was drunk," Rat said, "He's one of the best in The Dark One's game… except that when he is drunk, he IS drunk."

Atem nodded, half-hearing.

They walked through small streets, obviously avoiding the overcrowded ones, or maybe it was in order to not being spotted by someone Atem did not know.

"I don't get why people worry about other people, I mean, either way, they are going to die," Rat said in his childish voice, "Everyone is on their own in this world, why would The Dark One threaten to hurt others in order to get Ehecatl and you to do his bidding? It's stupid."

Atem was taken aback by this. He could tell the kid a lot of reasons why he would die for Yugi, but this kid could use that against him. Maybe he was small, but he remembered himself at that age, how everything, as silly as it might have been, could let him guess a lot more than others wanted him to know..

"If you are not protecting someone, then why are you playing this game?" Atem asked, hoping to get some useful hints himself.

"Isn't it obvious?" Rat answered, "If The Dark One dies, I will inherit his powers, I was promised that."

Atem eyed the kid, unable to help himself from marking him a future threat.

X

Thank you for reading!

And there is Rat, a four/five year old kid who was born in a laboratoy and was genetically altered, thus explaining his intelligence.

Please do tell me if the chapter was confusing (there was a lot of dialogue, which I am not used to write, and I tried to shorten the explanations of what Atem's rule to The Dark One was in order to not bore you). If it was too confusing, I will be sure to clarify that next chapter, but I can't fix it if I am not told.

Any other suggestions, comments, thoughts, reactions, questions... be sure to tell me so that I might become better.