Chapter 12

Yugi stood, shocked, watching as the magic faded after its use had been completed. Yami stood for a moment, still, and then his legs faltered and he fell backwards.

Yugi caught him in his arms, sinking to the floor with him in his arms, Yami's head and shoulders resting on his lap. He could feel tears welling up in his eyes and running down his cheeks. "No… no… no, please…"

Yami's eyes were closed, but they fluttered open at the sound of Yugi's voice. The blood colored orbs were dull with pain, but there was a sort of content in them. He stared up at Yugi, a small smile on his face. "S-Sorry…"

Yugi stroked his face, shaking his head, his tears falling down onto Yami's face like rain. "Why, Yami? Why would you do that?.!"

He chuckled softly, closing his eyes as the laugh turned to soft coughs, blood spotting his lips. "Better… better we… than our Riders…"

Yugi shook his head harder, cupping Yami's face, his thumbs stroking over the pale skin. "No, you can't do this to me! You can't leave me, Yami! I…" he clutched to a thought as it flew past. "I can heal you! Just…"

But even as Yugi raised a hand to hold it over the gaping hole in Yami's chest, a trembling hand wrapped shakily around his wrist. "No, Yugi." Yami whispered. "You have not… the strength…" The former dragon coughed harder, a thin trail of blood leaking from the corner of his mouth and then spilling off of his cheek.

"Don't…" Yugi whispered. "Don't say goodbye… Don't let me just leave you to die... Let me try…"

Yami sighed slightly, his eyelids fluttering and his vibrant crimson eyes beginning to darken even as Yugi watched. "I can't let you… It would kill you as well, and I…I couldn't do that…"

Yugi could barely hear the sound of dragons in the background starting up a crooning mourn; they knew that Yami was dying, and dying rapidly. No healing could help him now.

The other Riders were frozen, unable to move forward and help. The women had their hands over their mouths, and the men were just staring, wide eyed and shocked.

"I won't let you die…" Yugi sobbed, leaning forward over the body of his dragon, closet friend, and perhaps… something more than that. "I won't…"

There was suddenly a presence near them, and then a soft voice. You've come to journey's end, Yami… Sleep now… dream of the dragons that came before us… they are calling you…

It was Kisara, her voice choked with emotion as she stared at Yami with sad blue eyes. A single tear fell down her cheek, crystallizing into a diamond before it hit the floor. For dragons cry diamond tears, their tears were so rare and beautiful.

Yami smiled slightly, his hand falling from Yugi's arm to hit the ground. "Sleep…" he murmured. "That sounds… nice…" his voice began to fade, his head lolling on a neck that no longer had the strength to support him. "At least… At least I could protect you… Yugi… my aibou…"

Yugi shook his head once more. "No… Don't do this, Yami! Don't say goodbye yet! Hold on, stay with me! I need you here! I… I need you…" he faded off into sobs, his hand clutching at Yami's limp one as though the touch could anchor Yami to him.

"I love you… Yugi… Just remember… that…"

Yugi paused in his crying. Yami had stopped moving. Yugi leaned away from the body in his arms, looking into Yami's face to see that his eyes were closed. Yugi shook him frantically, panic flooding through his body. "No! No, wake up! Don't you do this to me! Open your eyes! WAKE UP!" Yugi stopped, staring at his partner.

Yami's face was peaceful, a small smile on his pale features. There were tears trailing down his temples, and blood leaking from his lips, but all Yugi could think was how beautiful he looked at that moment. He stared for a moment, and then clutched Yami to him, rocking back and forth slowly. "No… wake up…"

Ishizu released a sob behind them, turning and hiding her face in Marik's neck. Her brother held her, his face solemn and still as he watched the two. Mana threw herself at her own brother, and Mahado silently wrapped his arms around her heaving shoulders, his face sad, tears in his eyes.

Yugi pressed his face to the side of Yami's neck, which was still warm. "Open your eyes, my dragon…" he whispered. "Wake up… I need you here… I… I love you…"

Light flared. Yugi, his face buried against Yami's warm neck, didn't see it at first, but as Yami's body grew warmer in his grasp he was forced to lean away, and then raise his arms to protect his eyes. He managed to peek around his arms to see Yami's body rising from the floor, his chest arched to the sky, where a brilliant light was descending.

Mahado's voice came to him from somewhere behind him. "It's the prophecy! It's coming true!"

Yugi stumbled to his feet and then back a few steps, colliding with Kisara's chest as the dragon stood just behind him. He crouched against her scales, hiding his eyes, and then he heard a loud thud as something hit the ground. He looked up, and then gasped.

The large black bulk of Yami lay in front of him, the dragon's sides heaving up and down as he pulled in fast breaths. Yugi watched the lithe dragon climb to his feet, and then he looked into the crimson eyes of his dragon.

Yami smiled a dragon smile, showing off his teeth. Aibou. I can feel you again…

It was in that moment that all of the feel came rushing back. It was like opening floodgates in Yugi's mind, the feelings, emotions, and presence of Yami's mind flowing into his head, filling him up with warmth. Yugi bathed in the feeling, basking in the warm glow of Yami's powerful mind, and then he ran forward, wrapping his arms as far as he could around Yami's muzzle and hugging him.

"I missed you so much Yami! I'm so glad you're okay and back to normal!" Yugi cried out, the tears still flowing down his cheeks.

Yami purred as loud as he could, his eyes closed in happiness as he nuzzled his Rider. I'm glad I'm back to normal too…

Yugi smacked the black scales, and then wiped at his tears with the back of a forearm, turning away from Yami. "Don't you… ever do that to me again! Do you hear me?"

Yami whimpered faintly, nudging Yugi from behind. I'm sorry aibou… I didn't mean to worry you, but I couldn't let you get hurt. I… I love you too much.

Yugi couldn't help but smile, and he turned towards Yami, hugging him once more. /It's okay Yami, I understand. And… I love you too./

Aibou… My love… That's the reason I am as I am. It was your love that broke the spell, our bond of not only Dragon and Rider, but that of lovers, was the power that saw the prophecy through. Yami murmured, opening his eyes to stare into Yugi's amethyst orbs. 'For Rider shall the dragon fall.' I fell for you long ago, aibou, but I, as your dragon, could do nothing more than love you from afar. What it took was for you to love me back.

/And I do. I didn't see it before, but I do now…/ Yugi smiled, closing his eyes and leaning his head against Yami's scales. /I love you with all that I am./

Yami smiled. Good. Now then, let's return the pain and agony that these dragons have caused us. They are in for a fight. Yugi.

As Yami spoke his name the boy looked up. The dragon raised his head away from Yugi's grasp, but then guided the boy towards his chest with his chin. Yugi went obediently, standing between Yami's forelegs against his chest, listening to the steady loud beat of his dragon's heart.

I want everyone to come where I can reach you, Riders beside their dragons, if you please. Yami asked, dipping his head to everyone. As soon as they had done as he had asked, he looked to Yugi. Stay there aibou. Everyone else, I simply ask you to trust me, and not to move.

With that Yami opened his jaws, black and crimson flames pouring from his mouth. It consumed the other dragons, but they did not seem in pain. Yugi watched with wide amethyst eyes from his shelter against Yami's body, watched as some of the Riders stepped nearer to their dragons, and others bore the torrent of flames.

Yami smiled as he finished his task. Now you are all like me. Now we can give those dragons a tougher fight than they've had in their lives.

Bakura blinked. Like you? He raised his head, shooting a bout of flames into the air. They were the same color as his hide, like storm clouds rising into the air.

Dice grinned, showing off his full mouth of sharp teeth. Sweet. Let's give them hell!

The line that Kisara said to Yami as he was dying was inspired by the song "Into the West" which I don't own! Please review!