Paste your documen
Chapter 2 :(
Some Mushy, mushy fluff in this one. I needed to find a way to stop crying X,D
All scenes in the video tapes will be italized and in third-person POV. Reactions by people watching/Atemu's thoughts will be in Bold text. Anything else will be First-Person with normal text.
"Speaking"
'Thinking'
I walked forward, forcing my eyes away from your body. You looked so dashing in the dark tuxedo you were dressed in for the occasion. I can't help but release a shaking sigh before I begin. 'You shouldn't be there,' I think, unable to hold back the bitter stab in my heart, 'Yesterday was meant to be such a happy day...' They're all looking up at me expectantly; a sea of black dresses and suits and glassy eyes.
How the Hell am I supposed to start? 'Thanks for coming to my boyfriend's funeral, sorry I have to welcome you for him'? I look around, sweeping my gaze over the ocean of mourners. There are news crews, filming your final ceremony. I don't really care... I want the world to know just how special of a person they have lost. I pause as our friends catch my vision.
Katsuya is tightly holding to Seto's arm, tears in his eyes but a strong expression on his face. Kaiba just looks grim, lips set in a thin line. Anzu is shrunk into Hiroto's embrace, each staring up at me with understanding in their bloodshot eyes. And there were so many others... I can see all the lives you have touched, Aibou.
Mai, Otogi, Mokuba and Shizuka, the other Yamis and Hikaris, and crowds of other Duelists that you have gone up against. My eye catches over one man in particular. A man with long, almost feminine, silver hair. 'Pegasus?!' The former weilder of the Sennen Eye looks grim, troubled, and... Remorseful? It strikes me as strange, but I can only feel gratitude... The man has some sort of heart in him, after all.
"I..." I clear my throat, clearing it of its thickness, "I would start out by saying... Just of wonderful of a person and a friend Yuugi was, but I can't." I see surprised and almost outraged eyes meet my form. I lift my head, bottling up this surge of emotions that threaten to break through my carefully controlled composure. "I can't... Because he was so much more."
I see softening expressions, more fresh tears, and solemn nods.
"There will... Never be another person in this world quite like Yuugi," I breathe, biting the inside of my cheek to stem off tears burning just behind my eyes. "He was brave, and loyal, and kind to all he met. Even though he had been tormented through much of his all-to-short life, Yuugi was still happy and trusted anyone he spoke to. He was the greatest friend someone could ask for." I see small, sad smiles.
"But," my voice falters, and I have to clear my throat once again, "To many of us in here, he was so much more than just a friend. He was family." Jou leaned into Seto, face pressing into his sleeve. I saw the sharp-eyed brunette loop his arms around the honey-eyed blond. "And for me..."
I have to decline my gaze as the tears finally begin to gather upon my lashes.
"He was my Aibou."
I quickly wipe my eyes, fist clenching upon the podium I stood behind. 'We shouldn't be here!' I think bitterly, loss and rage pooling within my heart. 'You don't deserve this, Aibou! You deserve so much more!' I am unable to hold back the bittersweet smile that pulls at my lips.
"Yesterday was meant to have been a happy one. It was our fifth anniversary," I reach into my pocket, and pull out a digital Kodak camera. It was black, small enough to fit in one hand. "It was requested by close family friends that the recordings from that day be played at this ceremony, in Aibou's m-memory."
A small screen behind me, originally projecting a photo of my smiling Hikari, went blank. I handed the memory card of the camera to a man I recognized from last year's Battle City tournament, who hooked it up to a laptop. He clicked on the clearly marked file 'Happy Anniversary', and I stepped down to take my seat between Jounouchi and the Tomb Robber.
The room went dark, and the video began.
Yuugi's face appeared. He seemed to be adjusting the camera, for his expression was focused. It brightened upon realization that the device was recording, and Yuugi held it away from himself a little bit. He brushed a lock of golden banges from his face, and grinned. "Happy Anniversary, Yami! I hope you'll like this video!" He blushed faintly, feeling dumb for speaking to a camera.
The scene changed, with a faintly smiling Yuugi now upstairs of the Kamé Game Shop where he and Atemu lived, and silently pushed open the bedroom door.
He and his boyfriend's room was dark, the curtains drawn and lights off. In the shadows, one could make out a peaceful lump in the blankets of a queen-sized bed. A mass of jaggedly spiked black-and-maroon hair stood up from the pillow. Yuugi giggled softly, still behind the fliming camera. He walked to the mattress, and a pale hand gently tapped the form's shoulder.
"Até," he whispered, "Até, wake up!"
There was a groggy groan and a mumble, before Atemu buried his face deeper into the pillow beneath him. The hand gently shook him, from which the sleeping Egyptian stubbornly turned away from. Yuugi tried to stifle a giggle; he didn't do very well. "Até, c'mon! Gotta wake up, sleepyhead," he murmured adoringly, sitting on the bed. Atemu gave a hearty sigh, but turned onto his stomach.
He blinked drowsily up at Yuugi and the camera, wine colored eyes puzzled but happy. "Morning, Aibou," he yawned, banges framing messily around his face. "Well, what do ya' know? He lives," Yuugi's childlike chuckle sounded. Atemu's smile widened, eyes warm and tender as he gazed up at his Partner. There were gentle smiles all around the room. Atemu felt both warm and cold as he heard his Little One's laughter again. His eyes reflected that of those in the videotape. Loving and warm.
"Nice to know you decided to wake up at some point today," the perspective moved as Yuugi set the camera, still facing them, on the nightstand. Atemu flopped his head down on the pillow with a tired grunt. "So-o-o," Yuugi gave a sing-song tune, "Do you know what today is?"
Atemu looked puzzled. "Tuesday?" he asked dumbly. Yuugi rolled his eyes. "Yes, but there's something else," he pressed playfully. Atemu only stared at him. "What?"
Yuugi's face fell into an adorable pout, looking hurt.
Atemu's frown turned into a mischeivious smirk, and he laughed. "Only joking, Aibou! I wouldn't forget our anniversary!" he chuckled. Yuugi crossed his arms, and pouted more. Quiet chuckles echoed around the room. Atemu smirked, and grabbed Yuugi's arm. With a tug, the camera fell the the floor, and the pale Duellist fell forwards.
"Ahh!" he squealed, now off-camera, "Até! K-Knock it off! Y-You j-j-jerk!" his laughter chimed loudly. "Th-That tickles!"
"Aww, but I love your laugh, Aibou!" Atemu's teasing whine was heard. And, oh, how he did. Atemu loved Yuugi's laugh more than anything. The sound of a cushioned impact and a small grunt sounded. "Why'd you hit me with a pillow?" the former Pharaoh complained lightly, and Yuugi could be seen scrambling off the bed, hands clenched protectively over his sides. His face was flushed from breathless laughing, while he panted softly. "Because I asked you to stop, baka!" he mock-scowled, but amusement shone in his amethyst eyes.
He picked up the fallen camera, and tossed the pillow at Atemu's now-pouting face- Amused giggles filled the room. Atemu never pouted.- "Now, get up!" he commanded playfully, pointing a finger at the man. "We've got stuff to do today, and I made breakfast!"
With a huff of mock-irritation, Atemu rolled his eyes, and leaned up. He grabbed Yuugi's arm, and placed an innocent kiss on his cheek, before shooing the 20-year-old out. The camera caught a quick shot of Yuugi's blushing face, before it cut to black.
There were more chuckles from the room, and several glances thrown in Atemu's direction. Jou placed a hand on the tan man's shoulder, smiling sadly with tears still in his eyes. Atemu gave a small nod, returning the emotional gesture. Bakura blinked, face downcast as Ryou snuggled with a quiet sob into his lover's chest. He murmured something quietly to the former pharaoh, which he could not catch. Atemu nodded, all the same, knowing it was something along the lines of sympathy.
A new clip began.
Now Atemu was smirking into the camera, while a spine of ebony hair settled upon his shoulder. "We've been riding the bus for about an hour now," he explained quietly, ignoring a confused look from a passenger in the background. "We're headed to Domino Outlet Mall. Aibou fell asleep."
He angled the camera down to the spike of hair. Yuugi was leaning against Atem's arm, eyes closed peacefully. His head was resting on his lover's shoulder, arm loosely holding his bicep, while the other had its pale fingers intertwined within Atemu's own bronzed ones. Blond banges settled naturally around his face, with one of two settling in front of his face. Atemu chuckled softly when Yuugi shifted, murmuring something quietly. The Egyptian smiled, heart swelling at the memory. Then it twisted at the realization... That this could never happen again...
Atemu shifted his arm. "Aibou," he murmured softly. Yuugi mumbled something quietly, and snuggled more firmly into his boyfriend's side. "Yuugi, we're almost there." The Game King shifted, eyes fluttering open halfway. His thick black lashes batted as he blinked sleepily. With a small yawn, Yuugi rubbed his eyes much like a child would. "When did I fall asleep?" he asked quietly, looking up at Atemu with those expressive lavender jewels of his.
"About five minutes after the bus started moving," came the amused reply.
Yuugi blushed prettily, giving him a sheepish smile. "Sorry," he murmured with an innocent giggle. The picture shifted as Atem shrugged lightly. "It's no big deal, Aibou," he said tenderly, "You look adorable when you sleep." Yuugi's blush deepened to a rosy hue along his cheeks, but smiled sweetly.
The setting changed again.
Now they were in the Shopping Center. Yuugi was standing a few feet away, smiling kindly as three small little boys beamed up at him, eyes wide in awe. Their mother and father stood a couple more feet away, laughing at the display. Yuugi kneeled down before the youngest of the group; he couldn't have been older than six. He accepted a card the boy gave him.
"Okay, so what's your name?" he asked, taking a black Sharpie from his belt. He always had one on him, for situations like this. The black-haired boy shuffled his feet shyly. "I'm Shiro. But I want you to sign it for my sister, Chiyuki," he murmured. "Marshmallon is her favorite Duel Monster. You're her favorite Duellist." Yuugi smiled. "Is she here with you today?"
Shiro looked sad, shaking his head. "She's in the hospital..." he murmured with tears gathering in his dark eyes. "She has ta' have a bump taken outta her, but it's a lot of money. So she's there." Yuugi's face softened, and Atemu filmed as he signed the card. "And how much is this surgery, if I may ask?" he questioned calmly, looking up at the two adults.
They looked uncertain, but replied. "1,332,800* yen," the woman answered, voice trembling slightly. The first traces of tears formed in her eyes. "She has a tumour that needs removed before it can spread. But no one... will help..." Yuugi stood up, face understanding, as he fished something out of his pocket.
He scribbled down something on a pad of paper. A checkbook.
He ripped the paper out, and handed it to them with a smile. The woman's hand flew to her mouth with a gasp, tears running down her face. "Well," Yuugi murmured kindly as she accepted the check, "Tell little Chiyuki her favorite Duellist says to get well soon."
The man took the paper, and his eyes widened. "1,500,000* yen..." he breathed. The woman gave a small sob, a smile splitting her lips. She grabbed Yuugi, and pulled the slightly shorter man into a crushing embrace. He returned it hesitantly, briefly catching his Darkness' gaze.
"How can we possibly accept this from you?" the man asked when his wife had pulled away, leaving a flustered Yuugi to rub the back of his neck shyly. "How can we ever repay you?"
Yuugi threw them one of his winning, innocent smiles. "There's always another tournament," he said, "You don't need to. Just make sure your little girl gets better!"
He grinned, and threw a smirk and a thumbs-up to Shiro, before sauntering with a strange air of confidence towards his lover. Atemu's rolling chuckle could be heard from behind the camera. "That was a very good thing of you to do, Hikari mine," he murmured, slinking his arm around Yuugi's waist. His Little One blushed, and smiled shyly. There was a small shrug.
"Like I said, there's always another tournament. I think we can get by until Kaiba's next Battle City event."
Atemu's heart swelled with a mixture of pride and sorrow. Pride for his love's selfless act that probably had saved a young life. Sorrow for the fact that there WOULDN'T be another Battle City event. Not for Yuugi, that is...
Because he was gone now. Forever.
The scene changed for the final time.
Yuugi was beaming brightly into the camera once again. He was outside now, in the brightly shining sunlight just outside of the Domino City Outlet Mall. People and cars slowly swarmed the area. He looked up as Atemu's happy voice of "Aibou!" sounded off-screen. Grinning, the King of Games turned to focus the lense across the street, to see Atemu emerging from a small cluster of shops.
They exchanged waves. A small decorative paper bag was held in Atem's left hand. "Wow," Yuugi murmured to the camera, looking excited. "Até was gone for awhile. Let's go see what kept him!"
Yuugi looked both ways, before quickly jogging across the street. Atemu took the camera from the young adult's grasp, and hooked his arms around Yuugi's neck before pulling him in to a hug and a kiss on the cheek. Yuugi blushed brightly, smiling in bliss.
Atemu motioned to the one at the computer to stop the video. A 'Pause' symbol appeared on the screen, leaving behind a picture of the gleeful Yuugi and Atemu together.
Atemu went to stand...
...when the a sudden surge of energy passed through the room.
I looked up in surprise. Everyone was glancing around the room as an indescribably warm and comforting presence sweapt across those gathered. It was powerful, but not in a smothering way. Like being nestled into the whitest of warm down quilts, or in the arms of a loving parent when you are injured as a child. And it was pure, and innocent.
I knew that aura. It was yours, my Heart.
Have you come to say your final goodbye?
A strange, warm breeze began to pick up, heavenly rays of sunlight breaking through the gloom of the funeral home. I hears gasps, and the crackle of white noise and feedback from the speakers that had been broadcasting our video. I couldn't believe my ears.
A voice broke through. Soft, warm, loving, with the slightest traces of sorrow. The gap in my consciousness where you once were seemed to fill, only for a millisecond. The voice crackled through, gentle as a mother to her newborn child.
"A-Até..."
I hear gasps and soft sobs at the sound of your voice. I can hear the news cameras shift and reporters fall into stunned silence.
"Até..."
Your voice made tears spring to my eyes.
"A... Ai-Aibou?" I whisper. This is impossible. You're gone. Your body is still motionless and cold, in you coffin, for everyone to see.
An energy surge passes through the electrical system of the building, and small sparks fly up from the laptop. It short-curcuited, and the video began once again. You giggling voice resumed, along with my own smirk. 'Aibou, Yuugi,' I begged mentally, 'Please... don't make me go through this again...'
I could sense your aura, sweet an serene around me.
'I'm sorry, mou hitori no boku.' I choked faintly on a gasp, hands instinctively snaking up into my hair. I saw Bakura stare over at me in surprise and... concern? 'I am sorry for your pain, Atemu,' I hear you croon, 'But you must learn to grieve. I will never forgive you if you follow through with any of the scenarios I'm seeing in your mind right now.'
Hot shame boiled like a raging torrent of molten steel in my heart. Oh, Gods... He sounded so heartbroken. Because he knew what I had been planning. I was planning to reunite with my Precious One, not to far after he was laid to rest.
I look up at the sound of my own voice.
"I have a surprise for you, Aibou," Atemu said with a grin, looking past the camera to Yuugi, who was holding it before him to film his tan lover. The excitement and curious tone of the smaller's voice made him sound like a kid. "What is it, Yami?" he asked. Atem gave an almost devious smirk as he replied.
"Close your eyes, hand me the camera, and you'll find out," he teased. The picture changed perspectives as it switched hands. It focused in on Yuugi's face just in time to see anticipating amethyst eyes close. Atemu quietly got the attention of a passer-by, and asked him to hold the device for him. The kind man agreed, and the picture switched again. The lens turned to capture a precious moment, indeed.
Atemu took a small item from his bag, and stooped down on to one knee...
Heartbroken and almost horrified sounds rode through the crowd in small waves. Atemu hid his face in his hands, choking on a quiet, airy sob. He sensed as the eyes of his friends turned to his slumped form, all of their gazes wide as plates and filled with tears. Even the heartless Bakura and Seto.
"You can open them now, Little One," Atem murmured, gazing tenderly up at Yuugi. There was an amused chuckle from the new cameraman. Yuugi giggled cutely as he slowly opened his eyes. "I haven't heard that name for awh..." he stopped, lilac orbs widening as he saw his lover kneeled down before him. A loose crowd had gathered, seeing the King of Games and his partner. Yuugi released a quiet, trembling breath.
"Atemu?"
Atemu gave a genuine, heart-clenching smile. He took Yuugi's pale left hand in his own bronze one, and held up a small, black velvet box...
Atemu cringed as someone touched his shoulder with sympathy. A tear dripped down his chin, face hidden by his hair.
If possible, Yuugi's eyes became larger. "I... I-is that...?" he murmured. Atemu gave a small nod, and flipped the lid up with his thumb.
"Yuugi, I've spent a wonderful five years by your side. You are my Aibou, and the most important thing in my life. And, as corny as it sounds," they shared a quick chuckle, "You are the only one who knows me better than I know myself... And I love you. You say I am your Yami..."
Tears began to pool in Yuugi's eyes.
"... so will you be my Hikari, and marry me?"
Atemu's hands clenched as his own words rebound and echoed arouns in his mind. The clashed up against the sides of his consciousness with razor edges, ctring his heart and soul to ribbons. Another string of moisture fell down his face.
The hand on his shoulder tightened.
A hand flew to Yuugi's mouth, and the Game King released what sounded like the mixture of a gasp and a sob. Tears crested this perfect cheeks, and fell down his face. His grip on Atem's hand visibly tightened.
Without a word, he boldly tugged the man to his feet, grasped the front of his vest, and pressed his lips to the former pharaoh's. When Yuugi pulled away, he held Atemu close in a tight embrace.
Looking faintly surprised, but not at all complaining, Atem gave a grin as he returned the hug. He chuckled quietly. "So... I'm taking that as a 'yes'?" he said teasingly.
Yuugi grinned. "What do you think?" he murmured playfully, amethyst eyes reflecting his joy. "Yeah. Yes, I'll marry you, as cliché and corny as it sounds."
There was a round of clapping from the people on the video, but for those watching... There was only silence.
Atemu started to shake. "Turn it off," he whispered like a mantra. His friends looked at him, bewildered but understanding. "Please, turn it off. Just turn it off!" His broken voice was barely audible. But it was laced with unbounded fear and dread.
A small voice broke above the applause as the two men wiped joyful tears from their eyes.
"Marshmallon! Come back! 'Yuki needs you to feel better!"
Yuugi, who had been accepted a congratulations and the camera from the pedestrian Atemu had asked to film, turned arouns sharply. They all did...
To see a familiar little boy chasing after an autographed Marshmallon card into the street.
Yuugi tensed, eyes widening as a badly-swerving driver turned the corner. He was obviously intoxicated. The dark haired child picked up his card, smiling. It quickly turned to horror when the driver gunned the engine, and accelerated.
Yuugi lurched forward in a dead sprint.
"SHIRO!"
Everything seemed to move in slow motion as Atem relived the worse moment of his life.
The camera strung around Yuugi's wrist flailed disorientingly around in the air. His hand slipped from Atemu's grasp before he could stop the King of Games. There was a muffled warning, and the camera flicked up in time to see Yuugi's arms shoving a terrified Shiro and his Marshmallon card from harm's way...
A horn glared deafeningly, and the camera went flying. It clattered to the ground to catch sight of a car speeding drunkenly away...
... and to see Yuugi's body hit the ground with a lifeless thump.
A cry of unadulterated fear shattered the quiet air.
"AIBOU! NOO!"
It didn't work. Still crying... ;n;
1,332,800 Yen = ~ $14,250
1,500,000 Yen = ~ $16,040
t here...