Reviewers:
To Camille: ::nods:: Definitely! ::has already the 4th & 5th chapter written:: ^~^
To BladeTenshi: Yeah... I suppose I should've explained more about the ending of the manga for people who haven't read/seen it yet =\ Sorry about that ^^;;
To Sherry-chan: YAY! The first chappie titles ::glomps Sherry-chan:: ^_^
1. The Counter for the Future
2. What is Done Can be Undone
To anime AndrAIa: ::nods:: I know... but that's a direct translation from the manga, so... ^^; Yeah... it *has* been a while since I did the chappie names thingy... ^^;
3. Dead Inside
4. My Other Half
5. Nostalgia
To Tadashi: ::glomps:: lol... you know you loved reading this! ::hides Taryn from your wrath:: it wasn't her fault ~.~ I would've forced you to read anyway ^^;
To Koishii No Tenshi: Lol... thanks ^^; Glad you liked it ^^v
6. Ending of one, beginning of another
Y-n-Y: Okies... this is how it'll work. See all those title suggestions? You guys get to vote for two of your favorites (they can be your own as well, but not two for the same title). And while you're voting for titles for chappie 1, you can suggest some for this chapter ^^ Simple, ne? Anywho... here's the second chappie ^^
Chapter 2
I cursed as I threw the puzzle pieces on the carpeted floor. I was never going to complete this puzzle. Watching the golden pieces hit the floor; I hear his laughter in the back of my mine. His silent encouragement that I heard, but was no longer there. I give into fate and pick the pieces back up, placing them inside the box.
It's been two weeks since we returned to Domino and tomorrow school starts again. I pray it will help keep my mind off of recent events. I think about him everyday and so I hurt everyday. Cruel life.
I want my pain to end. But I also want to see him. I'm literally caught between life and death. But my wanting to see him outweighs my wish for peace. I've been sorely tempted to rid myself from this world many times since our return. My sleepless nights and malnourished body don't even show half of what I've been through.
I watch the dying sun go over the hills from my window and sigh. It was late and once again food was nowhere in my mind. When I did eat, it was in little amounts and probably just enough to keep me alive. When I did sleep, it wasn't for very long, interrupted by the forces of nightmares, never allowing me more than a couple hours a sleep at best.
This wasn't how it was supposed to be. He was supposed to stay. He would have had his own body and lived with me and Grandpa.
I sigh and move from the window and sit on my bed. Empty. Nothing to do. Nothing to look at. Nothing to hear. My thoughts wandered aimlessly and I couldn't hold them back.
What did he want? Maybe... he wanted to leave. Wanted to go to his own future. I never thought about what he wanted. He never told me clearly. Yes, he has told me he always wanted to be with me. But that was before. Before Battle City, before his journey to his Memory World. Maybe he changed his mind and never told me because he didn't want to hurt me.
I bring my legs on the bed and lay down, closing my eyes. I wanted to see his eyes look back at me. I wanted him to show me something in his eyes to give me a sign.
Maybe... that was the sign. That he wanted it to happen.
I felt my heart pound. It ached and no one was there to comfort me. No one could understand. Only him. I let my private tears roll down my cheeks and feel my lips tremble as my breath hitches in my throat. I turn over, pushing my face into the pillow and tremble. If that was the case, why should I remain here? If he wanted to go, then why bother trying to bring him back?
I push my body up with my arms and look down at the bed through watery eyes. Was there anything left for me now? Was there anything worth living for? My grandpa will be disheartened, but I know he'll understand. My friends as well. Kaiba-kun will be disappointed in me. And... what would he have thought? Would he have understood?
No.
He would do everything he could to prevent me from dying.
My arms fail and I fall back to the bed, crying harder.
This is my life now. I need to get used to it. He's not coming back. I no longer have another self. I am my own self now.
Atemu...
Is just a memory.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I smile as we all gather at my house for a post-graduation party. We had done it. We've graduated. Duel Monsters, evil spirits, mystical items and nameless Pharaohs have long since been pushed into the past.
I've never played the game since the battle with Atemu. I've put both of our decks the way they were inside the golden box underneath the pieces. And what of the golden box? It is hidden in a vault underneath Kaiba Corporation, at my request, along with Kaiba-kun's deck.
It'll never be the same.
We all sit around, talking about memories, avoiding the painful ones with practiced ease. How fortunate the others were. It didn't seem like it took much effort for them to hide their pain.
Atemu, I did it. I know you'd be happy for me. I smile secretively to myself and lean deep into the couch.
I remember that year he left, we all dressed up as Egyptians. It was Anzu's idea and I was weary about it. But soon, I started to like the idea. Anzu was going to make me an outfit exactly like Atemu's.
Only, I refused to complete the puzzle again and wear it.
They understood and respected my decision. When I looked at myself in the mirror, I nearly cried. I looked so much like him. But I didn't cry. I was him for today and he would not cry. In my own mind I could pretend he was with me. Just for that one night.
After hours of reminiscing, they started to slowly go home and prepare for dinners with their family. Kaiba-kun was the only one left as we sat across from each other. He stared at me blankly and I blink my eyes. "Kaiba- kun..."
He pulls out two clear boxes from his pockets and leans forward, placing two piles of cards in front of me.
I feel my hands shake. I could feel it. The cards. Those were the two decks I never wanted to see again. "W-why...?"
He picked up his briefcase and opened it, producing the golden box from it. "It's time you stopped running."
"I don't have the heart to duel anymore. In that duel, I lost that part of me. I'm no longer King of Games. I refuse to accept that title. It's his and always will be. I've won one duel on my own. That doesn't prove anything."
"I'm glad he's not here to hear this."
"Since when did you care, Kaiba-kun? Since when did you start giving a damn whether I lived or died?" I stood up and glared sharply at him. "Take those things and leave."
He stood as well. "I will leave, but these things will stay. If you want them gone badly enough, you will get rid of them yourself." Then he left.
I stared at the objects he left behind. I didn't want to touch them. I wanted that memory preserved on them the way they were. I sigh and pick up the golden box. I open the lid and see the nearly completed puzzle. I pull it out and take a couple pieces in my hand. I try one and it immediately goes in place. Odd. This seemed so much harder before.
When I first put this together, I made a wish, and it came true. Maybe if I make a wish again, it will come true as well. I only have one wish. To see Atemu again.
I want to see my other self again.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I look up from my seat, feeling odd emotions run through me. I briefly wondered what it was a felt, but dismissed it easily. It's been so long since I left. I wonder what Aibou is doing.
No, I wonder what Yuugi is doing.
We no longer have titles; we have names for each other now.
My life is uncomplicated as I'm sure his is now. I knew he was going to take it hard and I knew my words would not be good enough no matter what. But I had to go. It was time that he became only himself.
I walked into the afterlife, greeted by all my friends. I could not look back. I could not let them see my hesitation.
I hid my qualms from the people here and enjoyed my life as best I could.
I miss them all.
I miss him.
~*~*~*~Tsudzukeru~*~*~*~*~
Y-n-Y: ;-; Gah~~~ whyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy???? ::goes to cry in a corner:: I'm reliving the time when I read the manga... T_T ::pulls Atemu back:: Nuuuu!! Don't go into the light!!
Yuugi: ::blinks::
Atemu: I'm right... here...
Y-n-Y: o.o ::tacklehugglomp Atemu:: ^______________^
Yuugi: ::sighs::
Atemu: I need... air... x.x
To Camille: ::nods:: Definitely! ::has already the 4th & 5th chapter written:: ^~^
To BladeTenshi: Yeah... I suppose I should've explained more about the ending of the manga for people who haven't read/seen it yet =\ Sorry about that ^^;;
To Sherry-chan: YAY! The first chappie titles ::glomps Sherry-chan:: ^_^
1. The Counter for the Future
2. What is Done Can be Undone
To anime AndrAIa: ::nods:: I know... but that's a direct translation from the manga, so... ^^; Yeah... it *has* been a while since I did the chappie names thingy... ^^;
3. Dead Inside
4. My Other Half
5. Nostalgia
To Tadashi: ::glomps:: lol... you know you loved reading this! ::hides Taryn from your wrath:: it wasn't her fault ~.~ I would've forced you to read anyway ^^;
To Koishii No Tenshi: Lol... thanks ^^; Glad you liked it ^^v
6. Ending of one, beginning of another
Y-n-Y: Okies... this is how it'll work. See all those title suggestions? You guys get to vote for two of your favorites (they can be your own as well, but not two for the same title). And while you're voting for titles for chappie 1, you can suggest some for this chapter ^^ Simple, ne? Anywho... here's the second chappie ^^
Chapter 2
I cursed as I threw the puzzle pieces on the carpeted floor. I was never going to complete this puzzle. Watching the golden pieces hit the floor; I hear his laughter in the back of my mine. His silent encouragement that I heard, but was no longer there. I give into fate and pick the pieces back up, placing them inside the box.
It's been two weeks since we returned to Domino and tomorrow school starts again. I pray it will help keep my mind off of recent events. I think about him everyday and so I hurt everyday. Cruel life.
I want my pain to end. But I also want to see him. I'm literally caught between life and death. But my wanting to see him outweighs my wish for peace. I've been sorely tempted to rid myself from this world many times since our return. My sleepless nights and malnourished body don't even show half of what I've been through.
I watch the dying sun go over the hills from my window and sigh. It was late and once again food was nowhere in my mind. When I did eat, it was in little amounts and probably just enough to keep me alive. When I did sleep, it wasn't for very long, interrupted by the forces of nightmares, never allowing me more than a couple hours a sleep at best.
This wasn't how it was supposed to be. He was supposed to stay. He would have had his own body and lived with me and Grandpa.
I sigh and move from the window and sit on my bed. Empty. Nothing to do. Nothing to look at. Nothing to hear. My thoughts wandered aimlessly and I couldn't hold them back.
What did he want? Maybe... he wanted to leave. Wanted to go to his own future. I never thought about what he wanted. He never told me clearly. Yes, he has told me he always wanted to be with me. But that was before. Before Battle City, before his journey to his Memory World. Maybe he changed his mind and never told me because he didn't want to hurt me.
I bring my legs on the bed and lay down, closing my eyes. I wanted to see his eyes look back at me. I wanted him to show me something in his eyes to give me a sign.
Maybe... that was the sign. That he wanted it to happen.
I felt my heart pound. It ached and no one was there to comfort me. No one could understand. Only him. I let my private tears roll down my cheeks and feel my lips tremble as my breath hitches in my throat. I turn over, pushing my face into the pillow and tremble. If that was the case, why should I remain here? If he wanted to go, then why bother trying to bring him back?
I push my body up with my arms and look down at the bed through watery eyes. Was there anything left for me now? Was there anything worth living for? My grandpa will be disheartened, but I know he'll understand. My friends as well. Kaiba-kun will be disappointed in me. And... what would he have thought? Would he have understood?
No.
He would do everything he could to prevent me from dying.
My arms fail and I fall back to the bed, crying harder.
This is my life now. I need to get used to it. He's not coming back. I no longer have another self. I am my own self now.
Atemu...
Is just a memory.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I smile as we all gather at my house for a post-graduation party. We had done it. We've graduated. Duel Monsters, evil spirits, mystical items and nameless Pharaohs have long since been pushed into the past.
I've never played the game since the battle with Atemu. I've put both of our decks the way they were inside the golden box underneath the pieces. And what of the golden box? It is hidden in a vault underneath Kaiba Corporation, at my request, along with Kaiba-kun's deck.
It'll never be the same.
We all sit around, talking about memories, avoiding the painful ones with practiced ease. How fortunate the others were. It didn't seem like it took much effort for them to hide their pain.
Atemu, I did it. I know you'd be happy for me. I smile secretively to myself and lean deep into the couch.
I remember that year he left, we all dressed up as Egyptians. It was Anzu's idea and I was weary about it. But soon, I started to like the idea. Anzu was going to make me an outfit exactly like Atemu's.
Only, I refused to complete the puzzle again and wear it.
They understood and respected my decision. When I looked at myself in the mirror, I nearly cried. I looked so much like him. But I didn't cry. I was him for today and he would not cry. In my own mind I could pretend he was with me. Just for that one night.
After hours of reminiscing, they started to slowly go home and prepare for dinners with their family. Kaiba-kun was the only one left as we sat across from each other. He stared at me blankly and I blink my eyes. "Kaiba- kun..."
He pulls out two clear boxes from his pockets and leans forward, placing two piles of cards in front of me.
I feel my hands shake. I could feel it. The cards. Those were the two decks I never wanted to see again. "W-why...?"
He picked up his briefcase and opened it, producing the golden box from it. "It's time you stopped running."
"I don't have the heart to duel anymore. In that duel, I lost that part of me. I'm no longer King of Games. I refuse to accept that title. It's his and always will be. I've won one duel on my own. That doesn't prove anything."
"I'm glad he's not here to hear this."
"Since when did you care, Kaiba-kun? Since when did you start giving a damn whether I lived or died?" I stood up and glared sharply at him. "Take those things and leave."
He stood as well. "I will leave, but these things will stay. If you want them gone badly enough, you will get rid of them yourself." Then he left.
I stared at the objects he left behind. I didn't want to touch them. I wanted that memory preserved on them the way they were. I sigh and pick up the golden box. I open the lid and see the nearly completed puzzle. I pull it out and take a couple pieces in my hand. I try one and it immediately goes in place. Odd. This seemed so much harder before.
When I first put this together, I made a wish, and it came true. Maybe if I make a wish again, it will come true as well. I only have one wish. To see Atemu again.
I want to see my other self again.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I look up from my seat, feeling odd emotions run through me. I briefly wondered what it was a felt, but dismissed it easily. It's been so long since I left. I wonder what Aibou is doing.
No, I wonder what Yuugi is doing.
We no longer have titles; we have names for each other now.
My life is uncomplicated as I'm sure his is now. I knew he was going to take it hard and I knew my words would not be good enough no matter what. But I had to go. It was time that he became only himself.
I walked into the afterlife, greeted by all my friends. I could not look back. I could not let them see my hesitation.
I hid my qualms from the people here and enjoyed my life as best I could.
I miss them all.
I miss him.
~*~*~*~Tsudzukeru~*~*~*~*~
Y-n-Y: ;-; Gah~~~ whyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy???? ::goes to cry in a corner:: I'm reliving the time when I read the manga... T_T ::pulls Atemu back:: Nuuuu!! Don't go into the light!!
Yuugi: ::blinks::
Atemu: I'm right... here...
Y-n-Y: o.o ::tacklehugglomp Atemu:: ^______________^
Yuugi: ::sighs::
Atemu: I need... air... x.x