He seemed so peaceful, as if asleep.
Even when several tubes ran in and out of his body.
Even with a tube running all the way from his motionless lips to probably where the lungs started.
Even while a machine had to breathe for him and another had a constant watch on his slow heartbeat, reporting dutifully with a beep every few seconds.
His favorite blanket was pulled up to his chin, the beloved Kuriboh-plushy on his stomach. Atem had scoffed when he saw it. A little late for protection, so he thought grimly, but had reigned in his emotions for Yuugi's sake.
The former pharaoh realised what he was doing here, what they were doing, was purely out of fear. Neither wanted to lose Yuugi, no matter how slim the chances of anything changing. Sooner or later the body would give out and if it didn't, it would forever be in this mindless state. It might age a little, grow the smallest bit, all the while it would need to be cared for in every little aspect, starting from feeding over washing up to taking care of less pleasant things.
Still Atem didn't deem it wrong. When one day he himself would pass on, he wanted to be able to tell Yuugi he'd done his best. Yuugi would understand.
Wouldn't he?
"No.. you would be disappointed in me.. you sacrificed yourself so I could live and what do I do? I'll be spending my time here, waiting for my death", Atem whispered, carefully wiping a strain of blond hair out of Yuugi's face. It was cold as ice. There was no light inside to warm it. As his hand touched the skin he thought he'd felt something wet but when he pulled back, his fingers were dry.
"Maybe it would be more merciful to let you go..", Atem admitted, both to Yuugi and himself, not expecting an answer. Minding the tubes in his partner's hand he took it into his own, trying to warm it up, just the littlest bit, to support the illusion he was so desperately clinging to. Shimon would be so ashamed of his pupil.. This really was no way for a pharaoh to act, Atem mused.
"But then again.. I haven't been a pharaoh for five thousand years.."
There isn't much to tell about the days that followed, weeks that passed with Atem varying between keeping watch over Yuugi while the old man took care of the shop, or, which was much too frequent for Atem's taste, minding the shop in Solomon's stead.
Every night the former spirit had tried to find out more about that second door which had, surprisingly, never vanished. But every time he opened it, he'd find himself back in the real world. He almost began assuming it was just that; another pointless exit, worthy only of being ignored. But he knew that in the realm of the mind, only very little and very rarely something was completely pointless. There was something behind that door, but he wasn't ready to see it. Maybe. Or, plausible as it was, not.
Time hadn't been good to either of the two; While it was only natural for a soulless body to slowly start withering away, it wasn't so for the living. Atem knew he'd lost weight, realised this was due to not eating as much as he should while sleeping little and doing much physical work both day and night. He didn't care much though. In his mind, eating would steal valuable time. What if, while he took a lunch break, something happened to Yuugi? Worse yet, what, if there was a sudden blackout, localised only to this room, or a fire, or... no, he couldn't possibly waste time for something pointless as that. For the sake of the customers he did take care of himself otherwise of course, but hated every single second he spent in the shower or changing clothes.
When the workday was over he'd all but flop down on his chair next to Yuugi's bed and tell his charge all about the happenings of the day, as boring and repetitive they were. He'd successfully convinced himself that Yuugi probably could hear every little word he said and thought it only proper to keep his partner up to date.
Solomon watched Atem's descent into apparent madness with worry. He too did speak a little to his still grandson; but Atem never seemed to tire of talking. It had of course been noticed by his friends too; they came by to visit regularily, had even invited Atem to join them for eating at Burger World. No dice. It was doubtful the tanned youth even heard them they way he'd just continued whispering and staring at his charge.
"I think I speak for all of us if I say that I'm worried..", Tea one day said in the shop, Tristan and Joey checking idly on the merchandise, while she stood at the counter with the elder Mutou behind it. The latter nodded solemnly, sighing only to himself.
"While I find his dedication impressive, one could think he's obsessed", he said, rubbing the back of his age-stiff neck with one hand.
"He ain't goin' out at all", Joey joined in, leaving Tristan for a moment. "Can't be healthy. I too miss our Yugs, but ya can't skip life, can ya?"
"We're talking about the pharaoh", Tea reminded him. "If he wants to, he will, no matter what we do.."
"Maybe we'll have to drag him out by force", Tristan suggested, flinching back at the glance of three people, questioning his sanity.
"If ya feel like getting your lights blown out, don't let us stop ya", Joey remarked dryly, vividly remembering what happened in duelist kingdom back in the days. Absently he wondered if that clown-person ever recovered. Kaiba too had had the doubtful pleasure, back before he'd become less of a pain in the neck, probably, amongst other reasons, due to the little time-out. Several others had either lost consciousness or their mind; like that person Ushiro, who'd been the common schoolyard bully until he'd messed with the wrong guy, apparently. They'd found him in a pile of leaves and garbage, mumbling about money. A female teacher shared his fate and still babbled about her skin falling off.
In all these cases Yuugi hat been involved – though by now it was clear it hadn't been Yuugi, but the very person Tristan had suggested "moving by force". Not that Joey assumed Atem would turn on them, but then again, he wouldn't put it past the once-spirit, wouldn't even hold it against him.
Tristan didn't move, the same thoughts had passed his mind as well as the other three in the room.
"Well, what are we gonna do then?", he exclaimed.
"Can't do much. Unless he snaps out of it, our hands are tied", Tea said matter-of-factly.
"I just wished Yuugi would come back to us..", Solomon muttered and everyone fell silent. He'd just said something they all felt. Of course they knew how vain and foolish this wish was, but still it was there. A moment of shared silence was held, until they heard a noise from upstairs. When a door was opened, the noise became much more pregnant and took the form of a long-drawn beep.
The sound of a flatline.
They found Atem just outside Yuugi's room, head leaning against the wall, quietly sobbing to himself. This was most disconcerting, since he hadn't even once lost his cool in the long time since Yuugi had become like this. Tea stayed with him as first grandpa Mutou, then Joey, then Tristan rushed into the room.
The heartmonitor had long since stopped giving a sound, but the lack of spikes spoke for itself. Weak from the shock the oldest of them seemed to stagger and Joey gently led him towards the chair next to the bed. With a thankful glance Solomon all but sagged on the furniture and tried to calm down; unsuccessfully.
Yuugi still looked like he'd done yesterday, but now he truly seemed like an empty shell. There wasn't any point in attempting CPR; they'd all agreed on this. Even Atem had. The same Atem who now joined them, closely followed by Tea who made sure he stayed on his feet, which wasn't a given by the way he trembled. Even though he did, he seemed eerily collected, not unlike Joey's uncharacterisical stony mask. Tristan on the other hand simply left the room in a hurry.
"S-sorry. Can't take this", he mumbled as he left. Seconds later the shop door opened and shut. Tea was half tempted to follow their distressed friend but was also afraid to leave Atem's side. Looking for help she glanced at him.
"Go. He needs you more than I right now", Atem just said evenly, ignored the nod and didn't miss the warmth as the girl ran off. The only warmth he missed right now was Yuugis.. but this was now gone for good. A thing of the past. The sheer extend of what he'd lost made him numb. Yuugi was dead. Already cold. He was dead. Like his silly hope. Dead.
"At least his suffering is over..", Solomon said, but Atem hated every word. How could the old man be so calm.. it was his grandson that had died! It should be a crime to see anything positive about this!
Joey noticed before Atem did and intervened, grabbing the shorter friend in a headlock and thus prevented the former spirit from turning on the old man.
"Yami, stop it man, it's not his fault!"
"Unhand me, right now, or so the gods will you're first", came Atem's dark growl, who hadn't even registered the fact Joey was using his old name.
"First for wha'? You ain't makin' sense. I get ya're upset, but there's no reason ta be violent and that's comin' from me, pal!"
Atem growled again, struggled unsuccessfully against the grip and, after several moments, finally became suspiciously quiet. Joey was half about to breath out in relief, but then Atem turned his head just the slightest bit to glare over his shoulder at Joey. Wine-red eyes focused on him while another right on the forehead of his friend gave off an eerie gold glow.
"Woah, let's talk this through, man..", Joey said, raising both hands, releasing the other in the process, while stepping back slowly. Bad luck would have it Tea had closed the door behind herself, which now blocked his way as his back met the wood. The blonde cursed silently, then blanched as the red-eyed former spirit and pharaoh slowly and predatorily approached, one hand stretched out in Joey's direction, eyes boring into Joey's very soul. "You trespassed onto my soul..", Atem half-mumbled, half growled as he came ever closer.
"Dang it, Yami, snap out of it!", Joey now cried in fear, still looking for a way to flee when he saw the elder mutou stand. Atem too had noticed and glanced over his shoulder, giving Joey the one opportunity he needed. A well-aimed punch to the guts knocked the wind out of Atem, who stared at Joey in disbelief before collapsing into a boneless heap, only to be caught by the same man who'd hit him out before he could drop to the ground.
The blonde looked up at Solomon. "Thanks old man"
"You should take away the Millenium Puzzle", was the dry reply. "There is something sinister about it right now. I can feel it. Better he doesn't have access to this power"
"Gotcha"
Joey looked down on his unconscious friend, then freed one hand to carefully pull the chain over the tanned head, threw it over to Solomon before strengthening his grip around the slim frame of his friend again.
"Think I'mma take him home for a while. Not that I think he's dangerous or som'thin.. Wouldn't want any accidents happenin' here. You got 'nough ta deal with"
"Thank you, Joey.. I will keep this here", Solomon replied, holding up the puzzle. "I'll let you know when there's a date for.." He trailed off. Joey nodded.
"Appreciated, old man.. Oh well, better be off before he wakes", he said, all but shouldering Atem, and made his way out of the shop. Luckily his home wasn't too far away.
Wouldn't do if Atem came to and run away or something, right?
