A/N: It's getting so intense! I hope you guys enjoy this chapter!
He expected death.
He expected to feel immense pain that would push him beyond his limits. Or he expected warmth, like a mother's embrace.
He expected the sounds of his own screams or the cries of his friends fading as his life left him. Or he expected the familiar tolling of bells, the rattling of gold as Osiris guided him to be judged.
But he felt the same trying to cut at his legs as the energy that surrounded him pushed it violently from him. He felt the comforting hum of energy shielding him from the harm that would have claimed his life. He felt the cool smooth texture of gold in his hand that was raised to protext himself from the impending attack.
And the sounds. He could barely hear anything above the threatening electricity. He thought he could hear Atem screaming his name but with everything he's seen and experienced he wasn't even sure he was real.
Cracking open his eyes he caught sight of the Millennium Rod in his hand, shining beautifully as the lights bounced off it's surface. The eye of Wadjet shone brightly as it whispered to him, telling him he was safe.
Before him floated the Millennium Ring, with all of its cones pointed in rigid directions. It was casting a shield of energy to protect them and as strong as it was Yugi knew it was straining.
But with them here he knew now. This was real. The friends he saw before: they were real; and Atems desperate call of his name was real. Which meant now he could fight back. He spent years studying the Millennium Items, trying to find out how to awaken them long enough to use their energy to show him Atem and in that time he learned their secrets, he learned who they had become. The many souls that embodied their gold spoke to him, told him their stories and in turn he gained their trust. They lacked energy, power but they were very much alive and through him he kept them sane. Now he had them back and this realm offered them an abundance of energy, he could use everything they've ever taught him to fight back.
Tightening his grasp on the Rod he touch the back of the Ring, lending it his own strength to violently redirect the energy off to the side where he knew no one to be. It was nothing but desert out that way and once it was clear enough he raced forward, bursting through what energy remained to surprise Thomas.
He swung the Millennium Rod in a wide arc, sending forth a large blade of golden energy straight for him. He only narrowly managed to disperse the energy with a hasty wave of his own hand but he was distracted long enough for Yugi to close the distance. Twisting the Rods shaft he released the metal spear inside it and used it as a sword to slash at him, cutting his cheek and forcing him to recoil back with a scream of his own.
He couldnt relent though. The moment he gives Thomas a chance to fight back is the moment the scales will tip in his favor so instead of backing down, against his body's desire, he swung again and again only Thomas dodged these ones and with the third grabbed the spike with his shiny golden hand, stopping him immediately in his tracks.
He didn't have time to release him or distance himself and so when Thomas pulled on the Rod he went with it to crash on the ground. He then only had a second to move his head before a balled golden fist came plummeting down to be swallowed by the sand.
Taking this opportunity Yugi pushed Thomas off him to gain the upper hand and Thomas pushed him back and they rolled together trying to punch and smack and maintain control until finally Thomas managed to grab a hold of the Rod, pinning his hand down to the ground and with a quick jab managed to punch his wrist with his golden hand.
Yugi screamed, his hand instantly releasing the Rod as pain shot through his entire arm. His fingers were electrifying and he felt himself becoming blinded by the pain. That is until Thomas struck again this time aiming for his face. Adrenaline allowed him to shove him off just enough for him to use the Rings power to push Thomas off him completely.
Free from his assault now he nursed his wrist, clutching it to his chest painfully, dreading and regretting every slight movement. Even his own panting enflamed the pain more and sitting up was one of the most difficult things to accomplish. His wrist was definitely broken and the pain was so intense he felt uneasy about this fight. He needed to protect his friends but he wouldnt be able to fight back with his dominant hand now.
"YUGI!" He heard Atems call cut through his pain, giving him new strength to try and retrieve the Rod before Thomas could attack him again but as he moved Thomas used the Jewels power to push him away from it. He rolled several times, grunting and yelping in pain with each knock to his arm until he slid to a stop, clutching his wrist to his heart and biting down on his lip to hold in the pain.
"Surround him, do not let him escape!" He heard Seto command from a distance.
"Protect Yugi." Mahaad ordered his own mages.
Nausea was beginning to creep on him as well as fatigue but he fought against it, closing his eyes to focus on just one thing until he felt himself settle.
He heard grunts and screams as Seto's and Mahaads men were sent flying away in various directions and then he felt the wind moving around him. Looking to see what was happening Thomas had created a wall of energy around them, blocking him and himself in a small arena and effectively separating him from his friends. Just as Thomas wanted. He wanted his friends to watch him die, to feel despair … well Yugi would not allow this. Whatever it took, he would not give Thomas the satisfaction.
"YUG! BE CAREFUL!" Joey called out to him.
"THOMAS THAT'S ENOUGH!" Atem shouted angrily. They were all as close as they could be without being pushed back from the barrier but Yugi's attention was solely on Thomas as he walked threateningly towards him.
"Only the Gods may enter here, Yugi, and Osiris waits on the edge for one of us. So long as I have the Jewel he cannot touch me… what do you have protecting you?" Thomas said cooly.
Yugi didn't answer. He had Atem and his bargain with the God of Death protecting him but Thomas… if he could just get his jewel away from him then he was free game.
"I've had enough now. It's time for you to stop breathing Yugi!" Thomas shouted. He waved his hand at him, sending a beam of powerful energy towards him via the Jewel. It raced, blinding them and catching everyone's breath.
Yugi barely had time to react, bringing his one good hand up to protect himself in vein as he recoiled from the impending attack only instead of striking his whole being, only his heart wrenched from an attack more deep than he expected.
A whisp of gold, a force so powerful it broke the barrier and sent everyone outside of it backwards and a whisper of clarity. That's what happened in a mere second.
Yugi didn't need to watch to know what happened; he felt it. A terrible sacrifice and in that instant his life was spared by that of something just as precious.
Goodbye, finish this, live well, be safe - all these tokens of good wishes entered his mind and graced his heart where it broke and in this moment he forgot about his hand, forgot about his injuries, forgot everything else for all he could feel was loss and grief and shock.
His friends picked themselves up slowly, groaning and shaking the sand off and as they looked on gasps escaped their lips, whispers of confusion and mutterings of disbelief. It was his turn now, to force himself to look upon the shattered remains of the Millennium Ring. Its cones were chipped and sprawled, the outer ring snapped and cracked. The Eye of Wadjet was all but gone and the rope and had been long burned away. It was now just fragments of the souls he had come to know and a remnant of something extremely powerful but more than that; he had gained its trust long ago, learned its secrets and earned it's friendship… and in an instant it had sacrificed itself to save his life.
"Mahaad?" He heard Isis ask urgently and he looked to see him clutching at his own ring, shaking slightly as he stared at the sand before him blankly. He must have felt it too, being attached to his own Ring. The loss of a Millennium Item was like losing your own limb … Yugi's Millennium Ring used to belong to him; it was natural he would feel it's loss too.
He turned back to Thomas now planted on the ground himself, slowly pulling himself up but he shook violently. Fear, pain, anger… Yugi didn't know at first but once he held the Jewel before him he understood.
It had lost it's unnatural glow and was somewhat smaller than before and oddly shaped. It was no longer a perfectly rounded opal but more a jagged and bright stone.
It still held power; even Yugi could feel it still, but it was broken.
Fear.
Thats what Thomas must have felt. Real fear that his precious jewel was practically lost to him.
"What have you done?!" Thomas asked, his voice shaking and wavering. "WHAT HAVE YOU DONE!?" He screamed once more, getting up now and furiously he pointed the jewel at him.
Yugi braced but nothing happened and as Thomas's eyes grew wide with terror he tried again only when nothing happened once more he shook wildly.
"It can't be. You broke it. But … you couldn't have… how?" Thomas was losing it. He all but ignored him, going over thoughts to himself until he was nonsensical.
"It's over Thomas. Give up the Jewel. Stop this." Yugi said firmly.
"I will never give up this Jewel! You will NOT take my dreams from me!" Thomas screamed at him. He held up his hand and clicked, sending sparks from his hand towards him but as small as they were in comparison to other beams of energy they all still braced for the worst.
Only it never came. To step in this time the spark of electricity was consumed by invisible space, as if passing through a portal they could not see. Moments later the jingling of gold rang around them and the sand shifted to form a towering pillar, slowly shaping itself into a tall, slender man. Once the form was built the sand fell like an avalanche, revealing green, rotting skin, half decayed bandages, fanciful clothing and glittering gold. The man that towered above them, floating off the sand serenely, was non other than the God of Life and Death himself: Osiris.
Every Egyptian, including Atem and his Guardians all bowed to him, kneeling in respect and keeping their heads down before him. Yugi stepped back from him, his breathing shaking as his heart desperately tried to run away. He wanted to cry, to beg him not to take him yet but he froze instead, terrified to bring his attention to him for right now he only faced Thomas. His back was firmly to Yugi.
"Y-you can't touch me! I still have the Jewel." Thomas snapped at him. Terrified… but defiant.
"The power of the Jewel wanes. It will only be a matter of time and I am patient." Osiris said in a surprisingly smooth, silky voice. Godly and deep, echoing divinely off the air.
He turned to Yugi then and he almost got to his knees to beg. His knees wanted to give way, his body was shaking almost uncontrollably. The pain in his wrist was nothing in comparison to the fear he felt. He wanted to remain here instead of return back to his time but he didn't want to right now. Dying now meant leaving Atem for a moment he had no idea how long it would take him to return. He didn't even have a chance to catch up with his friends, to say goodbye to them. He had things he wanted and needed to do first … he might never get another chance.
"Please don't take me yet." Yugi whimpered.
"I am not here to take you anywhere Yugi." Osiris said. He extended his hand to him and despite his words Yugi still recoiled, cowering and closing his eyes but when he felt warmth in his heart he relaxed, against his better judgement. He couldn't help but feel calm now.
He looked at Osiris and saw him smiling softly, his hand lowering to his side once again.
"I apologize for frightening you. I will maintain my agreement with our Young Pharaoh Atem. I have heard your prayers Yugi and felt your heart. I am here not to take you but to warn you. You have little time left; I will not be far no matter what you will decide. However I also come with a different warning." He said, his tone becoming serious now.
"You're friends share your fate. I recommend you warn them of it and explain to them what it means. I can return them, but it must be their decision." He said. He then turned back around to Thomas, still cowering and hiding behind his broken Jewel.
"I will not be far from you as well. The Gods have weighed you and found you wanting - you will be cleansed and weighed again. It is only a matter of time." Osiris said.
"You'll have to catch me first. This isn't over. I can return on my own with the Jewel and then you won't be able to touch me." Thomas said cockily. He snapped his fingers and held what was left of the jewel tightly to his chest before he faded into nothingness as if shimmering into a mirage. He was gone… there was no trace of him.
"Where did he go?!" Tristan asked hurriedly.
"The slimy snake!" Joey spat.
"He cannot escape our sight now. The Jewel is weak. It protects him for now but we will be waiting when it breaks." Osiris said. "I must be close to him."
"Wait!" Yugi requested urgently. Osiris looked at him and waited expectedly but now he had his attention Yugi's mind abandoned him.
"I … um… well. I want to stay here. With Atem… but I want to know if I can. I mean, is it possible? And if it is.. How long until I'm back here?" Yugi asked.
Osiris smiled warmly and visibly relaxed.
"Where you spend paradise is your hearts decision. If you wish to spend it here you may. Your journey back depends on the strength of your heart. There is no guarantee, but you create your own chances Yugi." Osiris said softly. He shared a glance with Atem, acknowledging their respect and bowed his head to them before he too shimmered off into nothingness.
All was silent now, and still. No one dared to make a sound or movement and it was a long while before Yugi's body began to feel the fatigue take hold of him.
His knees gave out and he fell to them, stopping his fall with his good hand. His heart raced, his lungs were exhausted. He felt sick in his stomach, hot in his face and his muscles screamed… then there was the pain in his wrist flaring up again. His world was spinning but he refused to pass out or throw up.
"Yugi!" Atem raced to him, his voice desperate as he slid in beside him. He touched his shoulders, forced his head up to look at him and the movement hurt his wrist more. Hissing through the pain and wincing away from him Atem ignored him. He held his head in check, examining every feature with darting, wide red eyes.
"Yugi." He whispered, almost crying as his lips trembled.
But as Yugi looked into those deep eyes of his that he loved soo much he couldn't help but feel the memory of before; the image that Thomas had shown him. He wasn't jealous; he knew Atem loved him and what he saw was a lie … what got to him was wondering if he was real … if Thomas had played this part too but it was a foolish notion; a foolish notion he could not ignore.
"Is it really you?" Yugi asked him through the pain and fatigue. He blinked, stunned and slightly hurt by the question but Yugi's silence pressed him for a confirmation.
"Y-yes Yugi. It's me. I'm here." He said finally. He believed him, but he had to know.
"C-can you prove it? Please." Yugi said, almost crying. He was so overwhelmed by everything right now. The pain, the tiredness, the stress, the anger , the hope and adrenaline. He was going through so many emotions it hurt.
Atem had questions. That much was evident by the look in his eyes darting between Yugi's but he would ask them later. For now, he did what he thought was the surest way to convince him and that was to kiss him deeply. Stealing what was left of his fear and turning it into relief. So much relief he cried as his lips stole Atem's in return.
He cared not for the murmurings, the whispers and curious mutterings around him. He cared not for the pain in his arm. He cared only for the feel of Atem's lips and the feel of his heart before him. The feel of his hands on his jaw and holding his head into him and the feel of his breath breathing him in desperately.
When they parted Atem rested his forehead against Yugi's, their eyes closed but they didn't need to see each other to feel the other right there.
"I thought I was going to lose you." Atem whispered.
"I thought so too. I love you." Yugi cried and Atem sobbed with him.
"I love you." He said, kissing his nose and pulling him into a gentle, rocking hug.
He rested his head on his shoulder, crying softly from the mixed emotions and the pain trying to remind him of his injury.
"My Pharaoh. We should get him inside and tend to his injuries. Not to mention there is quite the crowd now." Isis said to them softly.
Atem nodded and gently they parted, Yugi wincing from his wrist.
"We will head back to Khemet as soon as we can and have Ahkmen look at that. Until then I want the town's physician to tend to him." Atem said, helping him stand.
It was now Yugi noticed the blood he wore and he gasped, touching his clothes with his good hand. Atem took his hand quickly but tenderly and gave him a sincere, warm smile.
"It's not mine. Relax, it's okay." He said comfortingly. Confused, Yugi stared at him, questioning who it was if it wasn't his. He looked sheepish and the corner of his mouth twitched nervously. "It is mostly Karim's."
"Where is he?" Yugi asked.
Atem chewed his lip, thinking hard before sighing. "Gone Yugi. He's being judged by the Gods now."
Yugi nodded absently. He knew what that meant but for right now he was too dazed to really comprehend it. He just knew Atem was safe and that meant his friends were too and for now the battle was over.
He also knew he needed sleep. He hadn't slept in almost 48 hours and he was beyond exhausted; both physically and emotionally.
"Yugi!" His friends called to him, approaching him happily.
"Be careful. He's injured." Atem warned them and they slowed down, hesitating to hug him but smiling wide with tears in their eyes too.
"It's so good to see you man!" Tristan cheered.
"We almost lost you! Are you okay?" Tea asked, worried.
"I knew you'd do it Yug! You had us worried though pal." Joey said.
"Come on, lets get you inside." Bakura said kindly.
"The Ring." Yugi said quietly.
"I'll get it. Don't worry about a thing." Tristan said happily. Yugi nodded and leaned into Atem tiredly, allowing him to guide him back to the village with an arm around him, careful just in case he collapsed.
His friends spoke softly… or distantly. He didn't know. The only thing he knew was that it was over for now and he felt so tired. The pain was almost numbing his entire mind, not just his arm but he kept himself awake to be guided back into the village in the safety of his friends, the Egyptian people and most importantly, his love.
