Valkyria : *sits down* Well! Here we are people! The last chapter of. Of Heaven and Earth! Took us awhile but we're finally here!
Griever : Oh please! Don't get all sentimental on me now! Especially when you have-
Valkyria : Shut up Griever! They can wait till the end of the chapter to hear it…
Griever : Alright! Alright! Now do the disclaimer so they can start reading already.
Valkyria : We have no ownership over Yu-gi-oh or any of it's characters, enjoy the story!
Chapter Twenty-One.
Keeping a firm hold on the Arceos soul orb, Yugi stepped out of the portal and found himself in a well-lit room, staring ahead he spotted Arceos motionless body laying on a large marble stone table in the center, mentally thanking Caelum for fixing Arceos up, Yugi swiftly walked forward and soon found himself staring down at Arceos handsome features.
"Had I not seen what you done, I would've let your soul go back to Earth with no regrets, but you risked your life to save me, consider this my payment for your deeds." still gripping the soul tightly, Yugi reached up to Arceos chest and let the orb sink in, stepping back he watched a bright white light envelop Arceos for several seconds before fading out.
A heavy silence followed before emerald eyes snapped open and Arceos quickly sat up and took a deep shuddering breath. Yugi let out a small laugh escape him causing Arceos to turn towards him in shock.
"Y-Yugi? W-what am I doing here..?"
Yugi raised an eyebrow at that. "You don't remember anything?" If he guessed correctly Arceos wasn't out more than a few hours.
Arceos slowly stood up with his hand tightly gripping the edge of the stone table. "The last thing I remember is getting stabbed by Caelum and then darkness…."
Yugi sized Arceos up, he looked fine on the outside, but he was slightly worried about the man's mentality no doubt he would want to get back at Caelum.
"What are your plans now Arceos?" he asked gently. Arceos turned and bowed his head hiding his eyes under his bangs.
"….I don't know." Arceos raised his head and Yugi gave him a strained smile when he saw how apologetic Arceos looked.
"Yugi…I…" Yugi interrupted him by shaking his head, even though he knew he deserved an apology for all that Arceos had done to him, it was time to move on.
"It's alright Arceos." he soothed. "Let the past stay where it belongs but I do have a task for you."
Arceos looked hesitant. "…What is it that you want me to do Yugi?"
Yugi released a heavy sigh "Your brother is gone Arceos, and I have no intention of bringing him back nor do I intend on taking his place so you are the only one left to do this, are you willing to take his place as Celestial Guardian?"
Arceos's eyes drifted half-closed. "You're giving me this position? After all I've done? What of Atemu and Caelum?"
"Caelum now resides as the leader of Yggdrisil Sanctum and is currently fixing all of the damage Dartz has done you have him to thank for the shape your body is in now, you also have Hades to thank for giving me your soul. Arceos you should be grateful you are standing right now."
Arceos snorted bitterly. "I should be grateful Yugi? My brother is gone! He may have been insane with power but he…he was still my brother."
"I know what is like to lose a loved one Arceos." Yugi murmured. "Despite of things going back to normal I do see that we have lost a piece of ourselves in the process."
Arceos chuckled sadly. "Do you ever think we'll get that piece back Yugi?"
Yugi closed his eyes and held back the sting of tears he felt coming. "No." he replied at last. "I don't think we will. But, to gain it back is the same as having the chains of the past being wrapped around you forever do you want that Arceos?"
Arceos managed a weak smile. "…No I don't, I no longer wish to go back to that jealous person I once was if being Celestial Guardian means repenting for what I and Arawn did then I'll do it."
Yugi gave Arceos a genuine smile. "I know you'll make a fine Celestial Guardian, Arceos."
Arceos return his smile with one of his own. "What do you plan on doing now Yugi?"
Yugi drew out his power again and made two separate portals, one to the dimension he made and one to Arceos tower.
"I'm going to retrieve Atemu, Bakura and Seto and then we're going home." he waved his hand at the second portal. "You're home is through there Arceos."
"Eager to get rid of me." Arceos teased, walking towards the portal. Yugi lips twitched, it wouldn't be polite to tell the new Celestial Guardian that he was correct in his assumption would it?
"No," he lied. "I figured you'd want to rush home, you have someone waiting for you yes?"
Arceos let a deep throat chuckled escape. "My dear Cecelia must be worried sick, she is going to kill me when I get back." shoulders still shaking with laughter, Arceos bowed.
"I thank you Yugi, for giving me another chance."
Yugi cocked his head slightly head to side in confusion. "We all deserve another one do we not?"
Arceos froze in surprise, before slowly nodding his head. "….yes I do we suppose we do. Good-bye Yugi."
Yugi waved, "Good-bye Arceos." knowing it was most likely the last time he was ever going to see Arceos, he gave the man his best smile.
Which Arceos eagerly returned.
"Going to Atemu?" Caelum spoke up from behind. Yugi spun around to see the new ruler standing near the doorway with a teasing smile on his lips.
Yugi turned red at the knowing look in Caelum's eyes before turning towards the remaining portal.
"Yes." he replied. "How's everything going here?" Yugi supposed he could spend a few minutes carrying his promise out to Caelum seeing as this was the last time he was going to come to Yggdrisil Sanctum.
Caelum leaned against the doorway saying nothing of Yugi's burning face, for which Yugi was grateful for. "I've flushed the remaining guardians out and they now reside with Hades and I've appointed Circe and Drake as my new guardians. I'm sure Atemu won't mind me taking them."
"He'll won't be happy with you stomping around in his domain and taking his people, Caelum." Yugi warned with a frown.
Caelum merely brushed him off before continuing. "As for Raphael, he was caught and executed just this morning."
Yugi flinched at the blunt tone Caelum used. "Did you have-" he clamped his mouth shut when Caelum sent him a heated glare.
"Once again." Caelum put in, his gaze softening. "I admire you for taking responsibility for you actions, but give forgiveness where it is due. Arceos was a perfect example of that."
"You're right." Yugi admitted reluctantly. "Is that all?" he wanted to see Atemu already!
Caelum must've noticed his impatience and simply nodded his head. "We'll meet again Yugi, I'll come visit you one day."
"I'm looking forward to it." he drawled sarcastically as he stepped into the portal.
Caelum's roaring laughter echoed behind.
When he stepped out of the portal, he ran and wrapped his arms around his first body he saw, Yugi smiled and inhaled the familiar scent of spice and sand, he was hurt when Atemu didn't return the gesture, Yugi slowly raised his head and found himself staring into heavily amused reddish brown eyes.
Yugi yelped and stumbled back while Bakura was roaring with laughter, he growled and lightly punched Bakura on the shoulder.
"Stop laughing Bakura!" Yugi shrilled, his words were ignored when Bakura laughed even louder.
Bakura wiped the tears from his eyes, his shoulders still shaking with laughter. "Well," Bakura started. "You should look at the person before you hug them, not rush head in and expect that person to be Atemu, so it's your fault Yugi."
Yugi knew that Bakura was right, but the last thing he wanted was to admit it, looking around the small campsite, he frowned when he didn't see Atemu nor Seto.
"Where is Atemu and Seto?" he questioned taking a seat on the ground next to Bakura. "Have you found them?"
"Yeah." Bakura replied. "They should be coming." Bakura quickly looked around before turning back to him. "I'm going to say this now and don't you dare repeat it."
Yugi gulped at the menacing look Bakura was giving him, "Um sure, what is it?"
"Thank you." Bakura muttered quickly, turning away with a noticeable flush on his face. Yugi froze in surprise at the words that left Bakura's mouth in all the time he knew the man, he never heard Bakura apologize for anything.
He guessed their was first time for everything.
"Y-your welcome." Yugi stuttered out. "I won't tell anyone." he knew that no one not even Ryou would believe him anyways.
"Good." Bakura snapped. "Make sure you don't or I'll tell Atemu you hugged me!"
Yugi glared at him before turning to look at the flowers near him. "Jerk." he muttered under his breath.
"What was that?"
"Nothing!"
It was silent for several minutes before Yugi heard footsteps and two deep voice arguing heatedly.
"Seto! You need to relax! You know for a former high priest you lack the patience necessary for the damn job!"
"Atemu! We've been here for who knows how long-"
Yugi rose from the ground and felt his heart skip a beat at the sight of Atemu, who looked graceful even in his anger.
"A-Atemu!" the argument stopped abruptly and the aforementioned person turned towards him.
Crimson and Amethyst eyes clashed.
Tears slid down Yugi's cheeks when Atemu simply held his arms wide open, he shot forward and let his body collide with Atemu causing them fall backwards and into the ground.
"I-I missed you Atemu…" he muttered into his lovers strong chest, Yugi smiled when he felt strong familiar strong arms wrap around him securely.
"I've missed you as well Yugi."
"I'm glad you two are reunited and everything but can we get out of here now!" Bakura cried out. "..these damn flowers are making me sick…"
"I agree with you Bakura."
Yugi felt and heard Atemu growl before feeling himself being lifted up and placed into Atemu's lap.
"I can't have a moment of peace with you two around!" Atemu hissed.
"The same with you!" Bakura and Seto cried out.
"I can easily make Yugi leave you two idiots here!"
Yugi let their arguing fade out and leaned back against Atemu strong chest, as long as he was in Atemu's safe embrace they could argue until the sun set.
- Ten-thousand Years later-
Staring at the ballroom before him, Yugi let nostalgia flow through him, he would always remember how frightened he was when he first arrived in Elysium, how much pain he went through during those days, but things slowly but surely got better.
He could honestly say that spending eternity with Atemu and his friends was half bliss and half hell and being slightly over ten-thousand years old wasn't bad either.
When they arrived back in Elysium that day, they were surprised to find everything calm and in order. Jou, Ryou and Malik -along with a slightly pissed Marik- greeted them happily enough and told them what had been happening after they left.
Hades was in an uproar over having the former guardians in his Underworld and demanded Atemu and Caelum that they send them to Anubis, he pleaded on Hades behalf to get this done and so it was, Atemu was upset with him when Yugi told him that he had to go to Underworld and explain to Hades everything that had happened because he had retrieved Arceos's soul.
That was only the beginning of their disagreements….
Over the course of the weeks they had been back, he and Atemu had argued more than when they had met and had on more than one occasion slept in separate bedchambers because of it. Atemu was not happy when he found that Yugi had given Caelum the position of leader in Yggdrisil Sanctum and Arceos the role of Celestial Guardian. The final straw being that Yugi wanted Selene to come back to Elysium for Aeetes sake, which was reluctantly agreed upon.
He had pushed back, stating that it was either he, Seto or Bakura were the only capable ones to take over those positions and he knew that none of them wanted that.
Harsh words were spoken between them and even harsher actions were taken.
"You've grown melancholy again." Atemu spoke gently from his left. "Are you well?"
Yugi turned to him and smiled. "I'm fine just letting the memories take over again." hearing Atemu sigh heavily, he leaned into his lovers side.
"Don't apologize." Yugi told Atemu softly. "You've done that enough already and believe me it's gets tiring to hear after ten-thousand years."
"All those things I've said when we got back…" regret was clear in Atemu's voice and it broke Yugi's heart.
"We both said a lot of things that hurt and we've apologized for it and we forgave each other." he reached forward and laid his hand on Atemu's cheek.
"I love you." he told Atemu firmly leaning forward and kiss the other on the lips briefly before pulling away.
"I love you too."
Yugi grinned and stood up and pulled Atemu up as well. "Good! Now dance with me!"
As Atemu swung around the dance floor, Yugi let the memories slide away and concentrated on the now, as he told Arceos so long ago he refused to let the chains of the past keep him locked down.
…Besides why look back when I have an eternal future with you Atemu.
Valkyria : It's over…..*sobs* over.
Griever : *discreetly wipes away tears* There you have it folks the end to. Of Heaven and Earth, we hoped you enjoyed.
Valkyria : I've dug up some summaries on some new Yu-gi-oh stories, so take a look!
Caged: When Yugi's grandfather, Solomon Motou passes away, Yugi finds himself in the capable hands of one Atemu Ishigami, a rich businessman who once helped his grandfather out. He soon discovers how possessive Atemu is, can he get the sexy businessman to ease up a little!
Pretend : Atemu Ishigami, an old college friend and crush of Yugi, needs his help. Atemu needs to prove that he is married to his parents and board of directors or the company merges to Kaiba Corp and his manipulative cousin gets it all.
Daydream : Domino Academy, where the rich, famous, and fabulous attend if that's true then how the hell did one Yugi Motou, a middle class student get in? Join him as he tries to survivor his freshman year and avoid the intense and sensual gaze of one Yami, who is one the most wealthiest students in the school.
VOTES ARE NEEDED!