Disclaimer: Geez, this is gettin' annoyin,' y'all know that? What if I just... chose not to say it?
-scary guy bransishing a sword comes out and yells "BOO!"-
Me: Eep. I don't own it. Please don't kill me Mister Sword Dude.
Cry of the Black Magician
Chappie Seven: Nearing the End
"Here, Mou Hitori no Boku. Take this."
Atemu, sitting up in bed, held up a finger as he was hit by yet another sneezing wave. Yugi flinched away slightly and waited for the older boy to stop sneezing. When he did, Yugi held out the measure of medicine to the ex-pharaoh, who downed it silently, coughed a bit at the taste and found he couldn't stop.
Yugi sighed and pulled the desk chair up next to Atemu's bed.
It had been about a week since all of them had finally gotten out of Ryo's place and back home. Atemu's band concert had the entire audience on its feet screaming for more, and Anzu had gotten a role in the city ballet four parts down from the lead. Now everything was the same every day. Atemu would go to school after barely eating breakfast, cough as quietly as possible straight through the school day, come home, nap for a few hours, do homework, pick at his dinner and go to bed. Each morning it took him longer to get out of bed, and every day his voice, once so calm and commanding, grew huskier and raspier. He was being slowly pulled under a blanket of blackness.
"Yugi?"
"Hm?"
"How is Anzu taking this... when I'm not near her?"
"She's really mad, and she cries more, but I guess we all do... heh."
Lately Yugi found his emotions could snap in two at any given moment. Any mention of Atemu had him in tears. He couldn't help it.
"I've caused you all so much pain. I'm so sorry Yugi."
"It's- It's okay-" Yugi's voice choked off in his throat and he began to whimper. Atemu reached out a hand and set it shakily on Yugi's shoulder as the boy continued to cry.
"I'm going to miss you, Mou Hitori no Boku." Yugi sniffed and gave a small cough.
Atemu looked worried for a second. "You're coughing. Are you feeling all right?"
"Am I feeling all right? Look at yourself."
Atemu chuckled. "I suppose you're right about that."
Sogoroku peeked in the door. "Dinner, boys." He left.
Atemu, shivering, tried to lift himself out of his bed. He couldn't do it and fell back, shaking from the effort. Tears welled in the pharaoh's eyes as pain shot through his weakened arms. He kept trying until he could barely move an inch, then gave in to exhaustion.
"I... I can't get up, Yugi."
"I'll help you. Here, put your arm across my shoulders and use me for support."
"I'm heavier than you, Yugi."
"Not by much, considering how little you've been eating lately. Come on." Atemu reluctantly allowed Yugi to help him downstairs and into his seat at the kitchen table.
"What took you two so long?" Sogoroku inquired.
"Atemu needed some help..."
"Oh. Okay then." He put their food on the table. It was hamburgers, both Yugi and Atemu's favorite.
Atemu took a small bite of his burger, chewed, and tried to swallow but couldn't. His throat wouldn't allow it. He began choking on the meat and finally managed to get it down, but it was obvious that he'd die for suffocation if he kept trying to eat it.
Sogoroku's eyes softened with love and concern for his slowly deteriorating 'grandson.' "Here, Atemu. Would you eat something easier to swallow?"
Atemu nodded miserably.
"Chicken soup?"
"I'll help-"
"You will do no such thing. Yugi, make sure he doesn't do anything stupid when my back is turned, kill himself or anything." Yugi nodded as their grandfather got out the ingredients for chicken soup and whipped some up in a matter of minutes. (A/N: Parents seem to have a way of just whipping up soup, like thermometers, out of nowhere. Does anyone agree with me that that's just a BIT paranoid? Anyone? -looks around- No? Okay then.) When the soup was done, he handed a bowl of it and a spoon to Atemu. "Here."
"Thank you Jii-chan."
"You're welcome. Just eat."
They ate in silence, more or less. Then Atemu gave a sudden shudder and began to shiver violently, teeth chattering.
"What's wrong?"
"I-I d-d-don't k-know. It h-hurts and I-I'm f-f-f-freezing."
"Shh. It's okay," their jii-chan soothed, "It's just your body trying to warm itself. That is some nasty bug."
Atemu continued to shiver, unable to eat anymore for shaking. Sogoroku felt the boy's forehead and face and sighed. "You're running a fever again. Didn't we just get your temperature back to normal yesterday?"
"Atemu swiftly ducked his head away from the table. "Achoo!"
"Bless you," said Yugi.
"Thanks... Achoo!"
"And again." Atemu smiled at Yugi's words and sneezed a third time.
"I give up!" Yugi shouted, throwing up his arms theatrically. "You are a hopeless case." He didn't realize how true that was until after he'd said it.
"Achoo! Jii-chan, may I be excused for a minute?"
"Mm hmm."
Atemu walked to the bathroom and blew his nose and washed his hands thoroughly.
"Achoo!" Darn. He went through the ritual again, then returned to the kitchen, sniffling a bit.
"Back Atemu? Yugi and I thought you'd deserted us."
"Ha ha, very funny."
"Hey, do you wanna invite the guys over for a movie night and sleepover tomorrow night?"
"Just the 'guys' by definition, or Anzu, Shizuka and Mai too?"
"Yugi blushed deeply. "The 'gang' then. The girls can sleep in our room and the rest of us get the living room, like usual."
"Sure then, though I highly doubt I'll be able to stay up." He chuckled wryly; when they used to have these nights Atemu was always the last one asleep and the first one up in the morning, making and usually burning breakfast. Not that anyone really minded. Now he had to sleep as much as possible just to save up enough energy for school every day.
Sogoroku and Yugi finished their burgers and Atemu came closer to finishing his dinner than he had in quite a while.
"Appetite tonight Atemu?"
Atemu grunted. "Do you call eating three fourths of a bowl of chicken soup and feeling full an appetite?"
"Well, I-"
"That is not an appetite. That is pathetic." His hands clenched into fists. "And that's all I can do. All I can do is sit here and be a waste of your time and money. I am useless." His eyes began to sting. "J-Jii-chan? C-can I b-be excused?"
The boys' grandfather nodded. Atemu put his bowl and spoon in the sink and disappeared. Yugi made to follow him.
"Yugi!"
"Hmm?"
"Let him be alone for a bit. Then I will speak to him."
"But-"
"You should NOT be the first person he talks to."
"Why not, Jii-chan?"
"Because you mean the world to him, and every time you cry on his behalf he feels guilty."
"Is... is that often?"
"Every day, Yugi."
Yugi kneeled down on the bottom step of the stairs and began to whimper. Sogoroku sat down next to the boy and put an arm around him.
"It'll be okay, Yugi. Everything will be all right, I promise."
"How can you promise something like that?"
"I can promise because that's how this world was built." He gave his small grandson a quick hug and got up from his sitting position.
"I'm going to go talk to him." He ascended the stairs to the second story and quietly knocked on the boys' room's door.
"Atemu?"
"What?"
"Can I come in? I want to talk to you."
"... All right."
Sogoroku quietly pushed open the door. Atemu was lying face-down on his bed, completely motionless except for an occaisional cough or sniff. Sogoroku crossed over and sat on the edge of Atemu's bed.
"What's wrong, my son?"
"I-I don't want to talk about it."
"Atemu, if you don't let everything out now the power within your soul will turn your confusion to fear, and that fear to rage. Your rage is powerful and dangerous. Tell me."
"No..."
"Tell me."
"No."
"Please?"
"No."
"Now, Atemu."
"No!"
"Atemu, tell me. Now."
"NO!" Atemu bagan to sob into his pillow, punching the matress with his fist weakly.
"Let it out Atemu. I'm right here."
"I'm so MAD at myself! I'm dying and I can't do anything right anymore and I've hurt Yugi and Anzu and Ryo and all the others so much, and-" He gasped for air- "-and all I can do is sleep and I'm totally useless to you! I am going to DIE anyway, so what does it MATTER? Everyone's all sad and worried and scared and I CAUSED ALL THAT! I HATE MYSELF!"
The older man remained completely silent, listening intently. "What else is there?"
"Else? Nothing."
"There most definitely is something. Just let it out."
"I-I- No. I'm not- I mean, I am fine. No. It's nothing."
"But as long as there is an 'it,' there still remains something that is hurting you. What is it?"
"No."
"Yes."
Atemu coughed weakly from the strain of yelling. "Fine. I-I'm scared."
"Of what?"
"Of... I don't know."
"Yes you do. I do too."
"... death?"
"Yes you are. Tell me why."
Atemu exploded. "WHY DO YOU THINK? MY LIFE HAS BEEN ONE HORROR AFTER ANOTHER! I LIVED FOR SIXTEEN OR SEVENTEEN YEARS IN EGYPT, AND ALL OF MY REMEMBERED LIFE WAS WRETCHED! THEN I WAS ALL ALONE WITH ONLY MY HAUNTING THOUGHTS FOR THREE THOUSAND YEARS BEFORE YUGI FOUND ME! THESE MONTHS HAVE BEEN THE BEST OF MY LIFE, AND NOW IT'S ALL GOING TO BE TAKEN AWAY FROM ME! I WON'T BE ALIVE FOR THE NEXT WORLD DUEL MONSTERS TOURNAMENT, OR TO SEE ANZU DANCE IN HER NEW BALLET!" He started to sob, then whispered very qietly, "And I won't get to see Yugi grow up. It hurts. It's not fair." He buried his face in his hands and cried.
"Atemu..." Sogoroku held the sobbing boy tightly for a long minute.
"Would you like to be alone?"
Atemu nodded and Sogoroku left quietly, softly closing the door behind him. He was confronted by Yugi.
"What did he say a minute ago, about me? I heard my name."
Sogoroku shook his head. "I'm going to make tea. If you talk to him be sure to be gentle about it." He left for downstairs.
Yugi eased open the door to his room. "Mou Hitori no Boku?"
"Yugi?"
"How did you know it was me?"
"Your voice."
"Oh... are you all right?"
"No, but I'm still alive, aren't I?"
"Yeah... So um, Jii-chan is making tea... If you want I'll help you down there so we can all just talk..."
"Sure. I need to make up with him for yelling, though I actually think it's what he wanted me to do." Atemu smiled and a warm glow lit fierce eyes.
"Do you want to go down now?"
"Sure, if you're positive supporting me won't hurt you."
Yugi moved closer to his yami's bed and held out his arm as an answer. Atemu took Yugi's hand to steady himself getting out of bed and Yugi held Atemu around the waist so he didn't fall. The stairs presented a bigger problem than they had earlier, for dark was falling, making it hard for them to see. By the time they got to the kitchen Atemu was panting.
Sogoroku turned away from the tea kettle. "I see that you two made it down," he commented , looking them over. "And each in one peice, more or less. Tea'll be ready in a few minutes. How about you two go into the living room and wait? I've invited some company over, maybe I forgot to tell you."
Ding! Dong!
"That'll be them."
"I'll get it," volunteered Atemu, closest to the front shop. He walked carefully through the many shelves to the door and opened it.
"Atemu!"
A small blond girl with blueish half-moon glasses ran forward and threw her arms around the boy, nearly knocking him down in the process. "Oh, it's so good to see you! Grandpa and I have missed you and Yugi and your jii-chan so much!" She hugged him tighter.
"R-Rebecca?" He started coughing from the girl's embrace and quickly pulled away from her, turning his head to the side.
"Easy, Rebecca," said the tall, grey-haired figure known as Professor Arthur Hawkins. "He's very sick, remember?"
The blond looked worried, seeing that Atemu was still coughing. "Oh, I'm so sorry! I didn't mean to-"
"That's all right," Atemu reassured her, finally regaining his composture and taking a deep breath. "It happens all the time now. Come on in."
The two visitors respectfully removed their shoes once inside and Atemu lead them into the living room where Yugi and Sogoroku were seated, waiting for the tea kettle to whistle.
"Arthur!"
"Sogoroku!" The two men embraced and began to talk animately.
"What did you want to show me, Arthur?"
"My team's latest discovery! I wanted to show you in person before the press got ahold of these," he exclaimed. From a black briefcase he took out photographs, all of crumpled-looking clay buildings.
"It's an ancient Egyptian city!"
"Amazing-"
WHEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!
"That'll be the kettle. Will you join us for some tea?"
"Yes, please."
"Just both of you have a seat in the living room. I'll be right back."
"Yugi!" Rebecca exclaimed happily, tackling the boy. He was actually taller than her now.
"Hey Rebecca! What's up? Hello, Professor."
"Hello Yugi. How are things? Are they... as good as things can get, considering Atemu's... situation?"
"So Jii-chan told you two, then?"
They both nodded, and Rebecca looked on the verge of tears.
"Where'd he go?" asked Rebecca.
"With Jii-chan."
Atemu and Sogoroku came in with the tea then. Sogoroku handed a cup to Arthur and Atemu gave one to each Yugi and Rebecca, making sure to hold them away from him should he suddenly cough. They all sat down.
"So Atemu, I hear from your grandfather that you're quite talented on the flute."
"He's amazing!" Yugi put in. Sogoroku nodded.
"That he is."
Atemu blushed. "I suppose," he mumbled to his tea.
"Are you kidding?" interjected Yugi. "You were fantastic at the concert this week! Every single person in that crowd was on their feet!"
"I guess..."
"Aw, come on. Maybe you could play something for us now and let us decide," Rebecca pleaded.
"I-I can't."
"Aw, why not?"
"I can't take in enough air to play it anymore and I start coughing, and then I end up knocked out or something of the like."
"Oh."
Arthur nodded his understanding. "That is a really harsh cough you've got yourself there."
"Mm... So where are the two of you staying? Domino's a big city."
"Actually they're staying here, in the guest bedroom, since it has two beds," said Sogoroku.
"Cool!" Yugi exclaimed.
So they all started talking, Arthur and Sogoroku about Egypt and Yugi and Rebecca about Duel Monsters. Only did Yugi pause from raving about his Black Magician when he happened to turn his head a bit and see Atemu doubled over in his seat, coughing hoarsely into his fist. Then he looked closer. There was blood staining the tanned fingers.
"Jii-chan!"
"What, Yugi? If you need to interrupt a conversation, do so politely-" He stopped short when he saw Atemu. "My goodness," he breathed. "Yugi, call an ambulance. NOW."
Yugi ran off to the phone and Sogoroku crossed swiftly to where Atemu sat clutching his stomach in pain.
"I'm going to throw up..." Atemu tried to lift himself but couldn't, and ended up vomiting all over his jii-chan. He fell forward, completely knocked out. Nearly dead, actually.
Oh man, I feel so cruel...
The climax is in a few chappies y'all, don't worry. This one was kinda boring, I know. Sorry for that, guys.
In the meantime... Review Replies:
Electric Fire, that crossover is really good so far, even if they ARE all OC's up to now. Update it soon, it's COOL! And yeah, I cried for Atemu too, even though I'm the author... but I cry at all the sappy stuff, so... yeah. About Kevin's pen name that you asked about in your Band War chappie three review today, it's gonna be SexyMexican or Psycho Psykid or something alonf those lines, I'm pretty sure. Just know that it's him when a SexyMexican reviews you. That costume of his really was not good for a person's mantal health. And where he came up with SexyMexican... By the way, I've had "I'm dreaming of a cheese pizza," in my head all day. Congratulate Parody Man for that. I also reviewed chappie one of his Adam of the Road story.
Wow, Angel-of-the-Apocalypse, I'm honored to know you like it so much! I also love Atemu torture stories. That's why I'm writing one! Actually it started out as a sick-fic one-shot, as did Band War. Heh. Funny how things run away from ya,' huh? Oh yes, I LOVE fluffy Ryo! He HAD to be in this! HAD to! Yeah, I feel really sorry for Yugi too, I'm really torturing the poor guy. evil smirk BWAHAHAHAHAHAHA! Ahem
Dark Magician's Girl, I'm glad you like it even though I torture poor, poor Atemu to the death. Hehe, I wrote this when I was feeling really crummy and typed it today and now I feel worse, so yeah, that sorta made him suffer even more because I thought it a little unfair that he was fine and I wasn't... Where's the logic in that? He's DYING! Oh well, what's done is done. And corresponding with you has been really fun too!
THANK YOU MY MUCH LOVED REVIEWERS! Peace out, dudes.