Yuugi saw the other's eyes shift just in time to block the attack directed at Atem. The bolt of light bounced back to its original handler, who now held it in his hands. The shorter didn't have to move once. "Don't you dare try that again," he warned.
Bakura smirked. This was getting interesting. "You have more skill than I would have thought for a vessel," he remarked.
"It's amazing what being surrounded by people who give a damn about you can do for a person."
"Person? You? Tch, you use the term too loosely. But there is something I've been wondering," he admitted, gathering more power to his attack. "About our duel. Would you enlighten me?"
Yuugi's eyes narrowed as build up his defenses. "What's the question?"
"Toward the end, it seemed to me that you were finally willing to accept the truth; that you are nothing more that a vessel for the pharaoh. Then you retaliated, but still with that look of acceptance."
The shorter shook his head. "If I believed you, I should have backed down?"
"So logic says."
Yuugi readied an attack of his own. "I was ready to believe your lie," he said. "But then I heard Atem's heart calling to mine. That call almost ripped my own heart to pieces. That was when I realized: Even if what you said was true, it didn't matter. Atem needed me, and even if the only purpose I was supposed to have in that world was to be a vessel for his soul, that didn't matter either. I still gained so much more."
"I hope you're a better fighter than you are motivational speaker."
"Let's find out, shall we?"
Thier eyes met for a brief moment, then both took off, firing attacks at each other. It was obvious Bakura was much more skilled in battle: Yuugi was having a difficult time blocking all the other's attacks very efficiently.
Atem noticed how tired his partner already was, and despite his better judgement, made to aid him as well, but found he couldn't even much stand. Seth and Mahado noticed immediately.
"Atem?" Mahado asked.
"It's the barrier, isn't it?" Seth asked softly. "They're using much Light Magic."
The king nodded slowly. "Don't stop them," he said. "This battle needs to be decided. Yuugi will overpower him. If it takes breaking this barrier, so be it."
"Do you always have to be so damn noble?" Mahado sighed.
"Yes," was the smirking reply. "I've seen the afterlife, after all. We all have. It is nothing to fear."
"But Yuugi's temper is."
"It seems it's impossible for him to be angry with me," he said, crimson eyes melancholy.
Yuugi was not entirely oblivious to his love's peril. He knew something was wrong, knew it to his core, but couldn't spare the attention to the instinct. All his focus demanded his opponent. "I hate this!" he said angrily. "All this fighting! It's not needed! Why can't you just be content as you are?!?" he yelled to the other.
Bakura too a pause, gathering his breath, as did the shorter. All that matters to you is that damn pharaoh's safety, am I right?"
"Yes."
"All that matters to me is his destruction."
Yuugi wanted to say something more, tell him to move on, but the other's entire family was taken from him at such a young age. He couldn't bring himself to tell the king to just accept that. "You're holding the wrong person accountable," he told the taller.
"Bullshit," the other accused.
"That horrible act wasn't Atem, wasn't his father. Atem's father had a brother."
"I am not interested in this crap."
"You made him a ruler of the shadows," the other persisted.." It was him that allowed for your village to be killed."
"And why should I believe the words of a mere vessel, hm?"
"Because you know it in yourself to be true."
Bakura's eyes widened, then returned to normal. "What?"
You know Atem's father had nothing to do with that, and Atem even less. You just want to make Akenaten's entire family as miserable as you are."
"LYING VESSEL!" Bakura yelled, his entire body glowing with an angry light, which fired at his opponent.
Jets of Light and Dark were flying all around Yuugi, and all of them combined in front of him to push back the attack. The Light king's own magic came flying back at him before he could shield himself. He fell to his feet, dark red fluid seeping from the many wounds now on his body. He took one last look over at the king with eyes as red as that same liquid.
And smirked. Then his essence vanished entirely.
"What just happened?" Yuugi asked aloud, the looked over at his lover.
Atem had coughed up blood. It was running down from his mouth to stain his dark blue robes. Now in a full panic, Yuugi ran to his side. "Atem?" he asked, his voice beginning to shake.
"Con-gradulations-Aibou," the king managed. "You de-feated him."
"Oh, God... the barrier... did we...?"
"Your-magics-were quite-powerful. Don't- look like that, Aibou," Atem said, willing himself to say what he needed to his light. "You- know we'll- meet again."
"Atem," Yuugi whispered. "I won't let you leave me again."
"Ai-bou?"
The other did not answer. He had closed his eyes and was mouthing something so softly none could hear the words. The Light and Dark magic began to spin around him once more. Atem's own eyes closed. They did not open again.
Yuugi's violet orbs did once more as the protective warmth of his other half was felt in his heart and mind once more.
'I'm just selfish, Atem. I hope you can forgive me.'
'Forgive you?' a voice asked in his mind. "For giving me more time with you? Aibou, don't be absurd.'
'Thank you.'
'You changed the prophecy, all on your own.'
'I did?'
'Yes. The one who is able to use both Light and Dark magic was supposed to rule over but kingdoms.'
'Now we can rule together.'
'Yes, Aibou.'
'Good. I think I'm going to need the help.'
The dark said nothing, only chuckled.
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A/N: Sorry, sorry. I don't even do it on purpose, but my last chapters keep coming out rather short. Anyway, thank you to all the reviewers, readers, and thank you for joining me with this fic.