So. Next chapter is the last chapter, but, it'll be okay!
We'll have Sparks of Water, and Blind Disdain, so, everything will be fine.
Hope you guys enjoy this chapter. I have to admit, I got a bit sappy in this chapter, but, I'm a hopeless romantic.
Floating.
I was floating.
I didn't know where I was. A black void is all I could see around me. As I started to move, I heard a sound. Little specks of light started to form. They started growing larger, and started gathering together. I shielded my eyes, and when the light went away, Yugi was there.
"Yugi," I said happily. Yugi flew over to me, and hugged me tightly.
"You can't die, Atem. Not yet. Please don't die," Yugi began to sob.
"Yugi. I'm a fallen angel. I won't die, remember?" I said, wrapping my arms around him.
"B-But...your wings. They were cut! Please don't die, Atem!" Yugi begged. Shakily, I brought out my wings. They were roughly cut in half, and pitch black in color. Yugi carefully reached over, and barely brushed his finger against my left wing. A wave of pain shot through my body, and I tensed up at it.
"Why….Why did he cut my wings?" I asked myself softly. I put my wings back in, and Yugi still latched onto me.
"You're not going to die, are you?" Yugi asked.
"I...I don't know, Yugi. I really don't," I said softly.
~Y~
It's been three weeks since Atem had gone to Liel's. In a fit of rage, I had lashed out at Keiji, almost using my powers on him. After that, he and Elliot had left, with nothing to say on what they had done. Atsu had come by for a visit, and was now a resident at Liel's house to keep a constant eye on Atem. Only once had ATem actually spoken in his unconscious state, and he had said his brother's name.
Every night, Atsu would call me and notify me on Atem's status. Every night, I always hoped Atsu would tell me that Atem was awake, but, so far, nothing had happened.
I hated myself for not protecting Atem.
I hated myself for breaking my promise to him.
Even though he was half asleep when he made me promise not to let anyone cut his wings, and most likely didn't remember even saying anything that night, I still wanted to abide by it. And I didn't.
I was sitting on my bed, my head in my hands, thinking about what had happened, when my phone rang.
"Hello?" I asked, hope in my voice. I heard crying on the other line, and then Atsu's voice.
"Listen. I know it's late by vampire standards, but you need to get over here. Atem's awake, but, he needs you," Atsu said, before the line went dead. I immediately stood up, and left the room.
"Koen. Fiore," I called out. Koen and Fiore were soon at my side.
"Where are you heading?" Koen asked.
"Liel's. I need you two to watch over things while I'm gone," I said.
"Got it," the two said, as I ran out of the castle.
~A~
"Why did you do that?!" I yelled. Atsu gripped my shoulders, and got close to my face.
"Atem. You have to understand this. Angel standards don't matter down here, you idiot!" Atsu yelled. "Yami did not fall in love with you because of your wings. You need to understand that!"
The door opened to the room, and Yami walked in. Atsu got up and left, shutting the door.
"Atem….how are you feeling?" Yami asked.
"My wings feel like they're on fire," I said softly. I took a few deep breaths, and timidly brought my wings out. Yami gasped softly, and I shut my eye. I heard him walk over to me.
"Your wings...they're jet black, Atem," he said softly.
"It happened because they cut them. Because of my fallen angel status, my wings were already starting to turn black. I kept picking out the black feathers so you wouldn't see them," I said softly.
"Why? What's wrong with black wings?" Yami asked, sitting on the bed. He gently put his hand on my cheek, and I leaned my head into it.
"Where I'm from, black wings are ugly. They symbolize you were once a fallen angel. And, I've already told you the stigma for fallen angels," I said.
"Atem. I didn't fall in love with you because of your wings," Yami said.
"Then why did you?" I asked. I looked him in the eyes.
"I fell in love with you, because of your charm. Your personality. Your beautiful voice. Your eyes. Everything about you. That's why I love you, Atem," Yami said. He put his arms around me, and I put my wings away. I hugged him back, and I felt him kiss my head.
"I love you, Yami," I said softly.
"Since I told you, you tell me. Why did you fall in love with me?" Yami asked.
"Besides Atsu, you're the only other one who understands why I don't like to talk about Yugi that often. On our birthday, you put candles aside for him. When you knew I was a fallen angel, and I knew things would be different down here, than it'd be up there, but I can't stop thinking like that. But, you always calmly reassure me. You've killed two beings who were out to kill me. You've saved me so many times. You're my hero, Yami," I said. Yami kissed me, and I kissed back. He gently laid me against the bed, and broke the kiss.
"I love you so much, Atem," Yami said softly.
"I love you, too," I said, equally soft. "Yami….do you still want me to be your mate?" I asked.
"Of course I do. But, I will give you as much time as you need to think about it, alright?" Yami said.
"I've thought about it, Yami. And...I want to be your mate," I said.
"You do?" Yami asked.
"Yes. Like I said, Yami. I love you. You're my hero, and I love you. I still don't know much about down here, and we've only known each other for a year and a few months, but, my life is eternal, like yours. We have all the time in the world to be with each other, and see everything," I said. Yami kissed me again, and I happily kissed back. Yami put his arms around me, and pulled me close to him. I put my arms around him. He gently broke the kiss, and started to kiss my neck. Liel suddenly burst into the room.
"No having sex in my house, got it?" she said. Yami looked away from her, blushing. Realizing what his blush was about, I felt my face go hot, and looked away as well.
"Atem? Are you okay?" Atsu's voice asked. I looked over at the doorway, and Atsu had poked his head in.
"I...I'm fine, now," I said.
"That's good," Atsu smiled.
"Atsu...can I still fly with my wings like this?" I asked.
"You could...if I had the other halves of your wings. We ArchAngels can fix ripped, torn, or even fully cut wings, like yours, but, only if the other half is near it. And, if a wing is fully cut, and has turned completely black, when the two halves are put together again, the other half will turn black, as well," Atsu said. I was silent. After a while, I took a deep breath.
"I...I don't care if my wings are black," I finally said.
"I have the other halves at the castle. Keiji and Elliot were going to take them back with them, but, it seems they either dropped them in fright when I exploded on them, or they decided to leave them as a peace offering. I can go get them, and come back," Yami said.
"That would be great. We'll wait for you," Atsu said. Yami gently laid me on the bed, and kissed my cheek. Yami left the room, and Atsu came into the room.
"Atem. I want you to know that I will be using my powers, and reattaching a wing is quite painful. I'll allow Yami to be in the room, but, like I said, it's very painful," Atsu said.
"I don't care. If I can fly again, I don't care," I said. Atsu nodded.
After a while, Yami came back with the other halves of my wings. When I brought my wings out, Yami sat in a chair in the room, a ways away from the bed, so he wouldn't get in Atsu's way.
As Atsu started to reattach my wings, it felt like the fire from them started to spread throughout my body. I screamed in pain as Atsu did this. I gripped the bed tightly with my hands, and when he was finished with my left wing, he gave me an apologetic look. I panted softly, and whimpered, knowing that it'd have to start up again for my right wing. When Atsu moved sides, Yami came over, and kissed my cheek.
"You're doing great, my angel. I love you," Yami said, kissing my forehead.
"Love you, too," I said softly. Yami started to run his fingers through my hair, but soon stopped, when Atsu started up again.
Once he was done my wings, I stretched them out slightly I gasped softly, seeing the black color seeming to seep from the upper half to the lower half.
"There is a slight difference that I forgot to mention, as well. Whereas your wings, before they were cut, were sensitive to both touch and pain, your wings now will only hold pain, even if someone just lightly brushes them," Atsu said, looking away.
"I...I understand," I said softly. I put my wings away, and sad up. Yami wrapped his arms around me.
"Hey, Liel. Can Atem come back with me, or, does he need to stay here?" Yami called.
"He can go, but if he has any pain, he needs to come back right away," Liel called back. Yami nodded, and helped me out of bed. We started to leave, and Atsu followed us.
"Yami. Would it be alright if I stayed with you for a few days, just to make sure Atem's okay?" Atsu asked.
"Of course. I don't mind at all," Yami smiled.
"So, Yami. How does this whole mate thing work?" I asked.
"Well, once we make sure you aren't feeling anymore pain, we can start the mate ritual. And, I'll explain everything, alright?" Yami said. I nodded, and put my head on his shoulder.
Like I said, next chapter is the final chapter.
I hope you guys have enjoyed Separated Souls!