Ranko: I don't want this story to end!
Yuugi: Its okay, Ranko!
Ranko: How can you say that?
Yami: Maybe because this isn't the last chapter?
Ranko: You're right, it isn't…the chapter after this is the last chapter! (cries)
Yuugi: Oh, poor thing…
Yami: Yeah right!
Ranko: Face is Yami, Yuugi loves me more than you.
Yami: Hey, listen you here, you—
Yuugi: (slaps hand over Yami's mouth) Time to answer reviews, Ranko!
IlluminatedWord: I like to answer reviews, deary! Besides, you keep giving me stuff to respond too. I love Howl's Moving Castle! I actually love all of Miyazaki's films, they are so beautiful! Don't you just hate it how you want to punch Yami won't moment and then hug him the next? Can't decide! I love tough Ryou; he's awesome =3
Grush: They are my favorite pairing too, but you don't have to sacrifice a lamb for me ^^" Because I won't write a lemon, it is against my policy. I know I said I may write one for this story a while back but things have changed since then. Sorry, keep the lamb alive for me though!
lilpopsplash: Nothing to be embarrassed about, deary. If you are a fangirl of any kind it is bound to happen eventually. I go off on fangirl rants all the time, its fun :) Yep, I am sneaky like that when it comes to wording, huh? ;)
SincerelyChristina: Watch it! Oh my, goodness; watch it now! YGOTAS is much more important than my story XD I don't think that Yami is down for the count yet, we'll see in this chapter (get tissues). Yeah you can hug Yami, here…(tosses Yami to you). Its not weird that the semi-evil people are some of your favorites, you're a fangirl, that's aloud.
James Birdsong: Why, hello ;) The last time I saw a review from you was for one of my Ranma ½ stories, am I correct? Or am I thinking of a different person? Oh well, thank you for the compliment and aren't his films amazing? I love them!
Cascade00: *_* Well, that came out of nowhere. They aren't going to rape Yuugi, I can tell you that much. So put your mind at ease.
Cheshirecat23The: XD I can assure you that Yuugi will not be raped. And the Shadow Men are actually very beautiful, just whenever they reveal their true forms are they ugly, but they never reveal their true forms so it's all good! Unfortunately, deary, I can only accept one word per person; you already gave me a word so I can't get another one from you TT_TT
CrimsonStrawberry17: Yes, it is disturbing to think about those sexy, sexy Shadow Men we have learned to love actually be hideous creatures, huh? Kiki's Delivery Service was my favorite movie when I was kid, and My Neighbor, Totoro (I misspelled it last time). Howl's Moving Castle is just beautiful and then Princess Mononoke! Basically I just love all of Miyazaki's films; excuse me while I fangirl. I have seen Spirited Away as well, when I was younger I didn't think I would like it and now I have it on DVD =)
Zeladious: Well, I guess Yuugi doesn't make sense like that. He is star, he can do whatever he wants whenever he wants, right? Yes, I realized it was My Neighbor, Totoro after I had already posted it and I felt so bad afterwards. Yes, I take great pride in something like that too, considering I did grow up on those movies and I still love them now that I am older.
Yami: Ranko twin owns nothing.
Ranko: …I can't say it, I'm too sad.
Yuugi: Enjoy!
-/-
"I am sorry, Slifer, it had to be done," father had told Yami. The young Shadow Man was curled up in a tight ball away from the older, clutching his right arm to his chest. "I had to mark you so that you would never run up to the human world again, it is so I can protect you."
The father of all Shadow Men took the arm that the boy was holding and ran his thumb across the tattoo of a thorn bracelet that was still a bit red from when it had been applied. "This is so I can find you whenever if you are lost and stop you if you do anything that is dangerous."
Yami turned his head away from his father and snatched back his wrist.
The father sighed. "I did this for your own good, Slifer."
The next thing that Yuugi heard was a verbal shout. It wasn't even an exact word, more like a wave of energy that screamed: No! No! Stop!
The father of Shadow Men stopped and pulled away from Yuugi slightly, turning to the source and narrowing his beautiful, yet haunting eyes.
The mist uncoiled from around their limbs. Yuugi's hazy vision focused again. He stood there, gasping a little bit. It felt like someone had been cutting off his air and then was rapidly returned. Yuugi looked around in a sort of vague unawareness. He saw that everyone else was panting. They obviously felt the same out-of-breathness just now.
It looked like everyone was on the verge of hysteria; they blinked owlishly at Yuugi, as if they couldn't believe he was safe. However, the shout came from none of them, it came from Yami.
He was standing outside the circle of Shadow Men that had surrounded him, his eyes were wild as he transitioned his gaze from Yuugi to his father. Yuugi felt hope warm his chest—maybe there was something that Yami could do. But in the next moment, that warm feeling turned to ice.
"You know the law," the oldest Shadow Man said menacingly to Yami.
Yami's eyes fell.
Yuugi felt a feeling squeeze his heart and make his blood rush faster in his veins. These Shadow Men were playing them, just as Yami had played him in all three Games. Now the tables were turned and Yami was on the receiving end of it, but Yuugi didn't feel as satisfied as he thought he would be.
The father of Shadow Men continued. "Nothing can stop us from taking him, unless someone else willingly takes his place."
Yuugi's eyes widened. They had said that same thing to his parents all those years ago. His parents had taken his place and had sacrificed themselves for the Shadow Men. Now he couldn't help but wonder why they both went through the door instead of only one of them.
But now, Yuugi had broken the bargain that the Shadow Men had made with his parents. He had set his mother's and Soren's soul free, and now he had to pay the price.
Everything had made full circle.
The deafening silence stretched on and on, making Yuugi's throat tighten. He didn't want any of his friends to take his place; this was his problem and his own debt that he had to pay.
"I'll go."
Yuugi's eyes widened in surprise. He quickly whipped his head around and saw Jounouchi stepping forward. His dirty blonde hair was disheveled and his eyes were shining brightly. He was smiling cockily and he looked so casual standing there, as if he were hanging around the school yard and not offering to sacrifice his soul.
Yuugi felt his eyes water. Jounouchi looked like he was surrounded by sunshine, even if this dark and eerie place. He looked so confident and laid-back, something Yuugi wished he was. Jounouchi had changed Yuugi; he showed Yuugi what real friendship was like and Jounouchi was proving that right now.
"Well, if Jounouchi is going then I guess I'll go too," Seto said tiredly—as if he was dealing with a child that would not go to sleep. The taller man stepped forward and rested a hand on Jounouchi's shoulder. Yuugi couldn't help but think how cool Seto looked; the man looked so relaxed, almost bored. "If you're going to take Jounouchi then take me too."
"Hey, I don't need your protection," Jounouchi argued weakly. "Go away."
Yuugi laughed as he rubbed his eyes. He couldn't believe those two; Jounouchi had always hated Seto but this experience had developed their relationship even more. Now only if Jounouchi would admit it was something more.
"You can't tell me what I can or can't do," Seto said.
Yuugi listened in disbelief as Anzu offered her own soul and then Honda following close after her.
Bakura and Ryou had been whispering to each other for a while and then they stepped forward, hand in hand. Ryou looked like some kind of fallen angel. His white clothes were wrinkled on his body and his hair was tangled and poking up in all different directions. Bakura looked a lot like a warrior ready for battle.
"If anyone should go, I think it should be me," Ryou said strongly. "Just don't take Yuugi, he doesn't deserve this. He is smart and brave. Honestly, I should have died in the paper house so I am giving my life to you now."
Bakura put an arm around Ryou. "The only condition is that you have to take the both of us. You know, for company, right?" He grinned devilishly and Ryou elbowed his side lightly.
Yuugi saw the love in Bakura and Ryou's eyes; they were willing to sacrifice their lives as long as they were together forever. Now Yuugi realized why his parents sacrificed themselves to the Shadow Men forever instead of just one of them going.
"No!" Malik suddenly shouted. "No one should be taken! Why can't you just leave us alone? I am tired of all the pain and grief we have went through and I have had enough of all this Shadow Realm and Shadow Men nonsense!" The boy was hyperventilating.
Mai came up behind the boy and put an arm around his shoulder. She made soothing sound as the boy cried and gasped for breath. "It's okay, shush now."
The Shadow Men ignored Mai and Malik. They were obviously pleased, Yuugi could tell that much. To them, the odds were probably turning out much higher than they thought they would. Yuugi could guess that this was one of the Shadow Men's more exciting games in a while—Yuugi and his friends were more sporting. They had seven mice to play with now and they were enjoying every minute of it.
"Are you sure you know what you are offering?" the father said, his voice like silk.
"We should explain to them what exactly they are getting into," another Shadow Man spoke up; his voice was deep and rich, it reminded Yuugi of chocolate covered strawberries.
After that, other melodious voices joined in and Shadow Men began to state their opinion on the matter. Yuugi cringed as the Shadow Men all drew closer to them. They may have a pretty face but Yuugi could sense the evil and ugliness beneath the surface. It made him revolt in disgust. It felt like he was being suffocated; he didn't want those things to touch him or his friends.
It was time for somebody to put a stop to this. It was time for Yuugi to be brave and confident, like all of his friends.
"That's enough," Yuugi said sharply. He took a step forward and looked the father straight in the eye. "You've had your fun, but it is about time this little game ends. I'm the one you want, the one that cheated you. So forget about everyone else. I'll go with you."
Yuugi's whole body was trembling slightly, as if he was cold, but that didn't matter. He felt good. He was glad that he could die like this, in such a brave and honorable way. He was happy that he could be brave like the rest of his friends.
"Yuugi!" Mai shouted, a slight tremor in her voice. Yuugi looked over her shoulder and saw his cousin pleading for him not to go. If she wasn't the thing that was holding Malik up than Yuugi was sure that she would rush towards him and hug him tightly. Yuugi smiled at his cousin and shook his head.
The father ignored Mai and held out his hand, almost gently, to Yuugi. Yuugi noticed that his hand was pale and he had long, slender fingers, much like Yami's. He looked up into the Shadow Man's eyes and saw that were as hard and cold as ice.
Yuugi put his hand in the other's.
The Shadow Man grinned sickeningly.
Then, suddenly, something—or someone—knocked them apart.
Yuugi was caught breathless; he was startled and confused. He didn't know what just happened; it all happened so quickly. At first he thought it was some kind of attack.
Then he saw Yami.
He stood in front of Yuugi, guarding him from the oldest Shadow Man. From over Yami's shoulder Yuugi saw the other Shadow Man narrow his eyes dangerously at Yami. "You have tested me for the last time, Slifer."
Without looking back at Yuugi, Yami said, "Go through the door! That's your way home; they won't come after you."
Father suddenly raised his right hand and clenched it into a fist. The tattoo on Yami's right wrist glowed red, much like when they invoked the Uruz rune at the beginning of The Shadow Game. It glowed like red hot coals in a fire.
Yami screamed in pain and was brought to his knees. His right arm was raised above his head, like someone was holding it up like that. Father squeezed his fist tighter and the tattoo became redder; Yami screamed again. Blood began to run down his forearm.
"Yami!" Yuugi cried, rushing to him.
Yami gritted his teeth and shook his head. "Go on!" he screamed out in agony.
"You have disobeyed me for the last time!" the oldest Shadow Man shouted out, his eyes glowing.
Yuugi heard his friends shouting for him to hurry and leave already, but they didn't understand. He couldn't leave Yami behind like this. He had saved Yuugi's life, more than once. Yuugi turned around and saw his friends beckoning him to come closer to them. Yuugi saw the door wide open and his parents' hallway.
"We have a right to kill, Slifer, and we will take a life today, whether it is a human's life or not," the father said icily. Another Shadow Man stepped up and handed his father a gold box with Egyptian hieroglyphics scratched onto the side. In the center on the side of the box was the Eye or Horus.
Yuugi recognized that; it was the golden box he saw at the game shop when he first met Yami.
Shadow Man pulled out a candle from the golden box. The end of the candle burst to life as soon as the father of Shadow Men had it in his hands.
"Our names are carved onto a candle and if it is carved out, then we die."
There was no name on the side of the candle but Yuugi immediately knew that it was Yami's. Yuugi steeled himself and without thinking, threw himself over Yami's body. "No!"
"You know, you don't have to call me 'your highness' all the time, you know? We're friends now! Aren't we, Heba?" the crown prince of Egypt asked the little slave boy.
Heba blushed and twiddled his thumbs. "But that would be improper and disrespectful, my prince."
The prince sighed and smiled helplessly at Heba. "Alright then, how about you only call be by my real name in private! You see? I've given you permission to call me by my name and no one else can you hear you say it so you won't get in trouble!"
Heba raised a questioning eyebrow at him. "That hardly makes any sense. I would still be dishonoring the royal family."
The prince pouted. "That doesn't matter! What matters is that I am tired of you calling me by all of these formal titles. I am sick of it!"
Heba sighed in defeat. "Alright, but it would be helpful if I actually knew what your name is."
The prince blinked at the slave boy. "You mean you don't know?"
Heba shook his head. "No, it is never mentioned in the slave quarters. I have no idea what your name is."
The prince smiled and bowed to Heba. "My name is Atemu, Prince of Egypt. But I prefer to be called Atem." The young prince laughed.
"No!" Atem cried as he held Heba's cold body in his arms. There was a gaping wound in his chest. An assassin had tried to kill the prince but Heba had stepped in the way of the arrow and it pierced right through the boy's heart. There was blood trickling down the boy's chin and his beautiful eyes were slowly losing their light.
Heba raised his hand weakly; it was shaking. He caressed Atem's cheek weakly and Atem raised his hand to press the bloody hand closer to his face. "A-Atem…?"
"Yes, I'm here!" he cried desperately.
Heba smiled weakly. "That's good…" His voice was hoarse. "Atem, please promise me something."
"Anything," he said, tears rolling down his cheeks and mixing with Heba's blood.
"Please, don't forget me…" He took in a shuddering breath. "And continue to be the kind young boy that I first met in the garden. N-nev…ver…change…" Then Heba took his last breath.
His hand fell limp and landed by his side. Atem stared unbelievingly at Heba's still and cold body. He couldn't believe that his dearest friend and love had died in his arms; he couldn't believe that his chest would never rise and fall again. He couldn't believe that he would never see Heba smile at him, or scold him, or ever see his bright amethyst eyes look at him with love.
He felt all of those emotions bubble up in his chest and then he let them out with a heart-wrenching scream. "No! You can't die! Please…don't leave me alone!"
"We can bring him back," a whispering voice spoke.
Atem whipped around; there was no one behind him. "Who's there?"
"We can give you the power to bring your loved one back to life."
Atem looked down at Heba's dead body that was still lying in his arms. "How?" he asked into the air.
"Join the Shadows and become a Shadow Man. You will then have the power to bring your love back to you. So what do you say? Do we have a deal?"
Without hesitating, Atem answered. "Yes."
"I…I can't believe this. You are what I have been searching for all this time. You are my life," Yami gasped out, his right wrist still pulsing in pain. He looked up at Yuugi who looked equally shocked. Yami furrowed his eyebrows in confusion. There was a new kind of light in his eyes; a new understanding. "Heba?"
"You…" Yuugi had tears running down his cheeks. "You're Atem, my Atem; my prince."
Yami and Yuugi were so caught up in each other that they didn't notice when Yami's real name was etched onto his candle by an invisible hand. The name glowed golden on the candle and the father of Shadow Men grinned in satisfaction. "Yes," he whispered in glee; a small knife appeared in his hand.
"Give the boy to us," the father of Shadow Men commanded, raising the knife menacingly.
Yami gritted his teeth and turned away from Yuugi to say, "Never."
Yuugi's friends were all together, gathering near Yuugi. Their way to the door was clear, but no one started for it.
"What is going on?" Jounouchi asked to no one in particular.
"You what we can do," the oldest said, his voice becoming icy and dark.
"Go through the door," Yami commanded.
"No," Yuugi said, just as strongly.
"We can unmake you!" the oldest said furiously; it sounded like ice breaking.
"What are they talking about?" Anzu asked.
Mai shook her head. "They can cut out his name. If they cut out Yami's name than he dies."
"Yami!" Akefia and Marik shouted.
"Keep those two trouble-makers back! We will deal with them later," father snapped sharply.
"Go!" Yami cried.
"No, I won't lose you again," Yuugi said.
"Yuugi, let's go!" Mai said in a panic.
"Not without—!"
"Go, now!" Yami cried.
The knife rose and fell, making a slash across the name: ATEM.
Yuugi heard himself scream; he felt it pierce his own eardrums. They had carved out Yami's name; they had carved out Yami's real name.
Yami clutched his chest and gasped, as if they had driven that knife through his heart instead. He hunched over and screamed in agony. He was panting and his face was ashen. Yuugi wondered desperately that there must be something he can do to save him, but he knew that it was too late.
The other Shadow Men rushed at Yuugi in a blur of darkness and ice. Something jumped in their way, blocking the Shadow Men from Yuugi and his friends. It was Marik and Akefia. Whatever they did, it created a barrier between Yuugi and his friends, and the Shadow Men.
"Go!" Akefia shouted, snapping Yuugi's mind out of its haze after Yami's name had been carved out. "Take Yami with you! We'll hold them off!"
Bakura, Seto, and Honda pulled Yami up and carried him.
"But what about you?" Ryou asked desperately.
Akefia smiled. "It's okay, we would have been killed anyway for disobeying the law, at least this way we'll be able to help you."
"Go! Now!" Marik shouted.
"Thank you, Ryou," Akefia said.
Ryou had tears rolling down his cheeks and Mai led him away. "Goodbye, Akefia."
They were all running towards the door, the three boys were half-carrying Yami with them. The door was wide-open and right in front of them. Yuugi pumped his short legs to run faster. They all jumped through the open door and it felt like the time that Yuugi had jumped through the door with Malik at the end of The Shadow Game and they freefell.
There was a moment of that and then they tumbled into the hallway. Bodies landed on one another and legs were tangled up in each other's.
Mai groaned in pain and then gasped. She quickly got to her feet and slammed the door shut. The door shook on its hinges as if a great pressure had been applied to it and was banging against it repeatedly. "Where's a knife? We need to carve out the circle!"
Bakura was fumbling to his feet, grabbing his knife out of his back pocket; he handed it to Mai. She made two, long slashes, making a slanted X that was supposed to Nauthiz. She slid down the door in pure exhaustion and landed on her backside, groaning.
"You don't need to do that," a weak voice spoke up—Yami. His voice was distant, as if he were reliving a memory. He had tears forming in his eyes; he was obviously pained by the death of Akefia and Marik. He was still clutching his chest. "They won't come after you. They don't have a claim anymore." He chuckled humorlessly.
Yuugi let out a little surprised shout and rushed over to Yami. He felt tears rushing down his face as he held Yami's hand in his. He was cold as ice. Yuugi couldn't believe, no—he couldn't accept that this was the end. Yami couldn't die. Not after everything they have been through. This couldn't be the end.
Yuugi remembered all the guises that Yami put up to fool Yuugi during the Games, but now, at this moment, Yuugi saw Yami for who he really was. Just Yami; no longer a Shadow Man. He wasn't Atem, he was Yami.
Yuugi thought he could see something flickering far back in his eyes, like a twisting flame that was about be blown out but was still standing strong.
"No, Yami, you can't die," Yuugi said desperately. "There has to be another way."
"The law can't be changed," Yami said.
"You can't die," Yuugi said more stubbornly; he felt hot tears roll down his face and drip from the end of his chin. The flame was slowly dying out.
"Did you know that Gebo isn't just the rune for sacrifice?" Yami said, smiling softly.
Yuugi shook his head. "I don't care."
"It means gift too. You gave me a precious gift, Yuugi."
"I don't care!" Yuugi said more forcefully, as the tears came faster.
"You showed me what it felt like to love; you gave me back my memories and showed me that I was loved at one point; you showed me that I once lived in a place with light and warmth. Thank you, Yuugi."
Yuugi put a hand to his mouth to keep from sobbing.
"Please don't cry, Yuugi, I don't like it when you cry. I'm sorry for everything I did to you. This is my gift to you and you can't help but take it; you're free, Yuugi. The Shadow Realm or the Shadow Men will never bother you again."
Yuugi shook his head. "No, you can't just die. Not like this; you can't go out. You can't leave me now that I have finally found you," Yuugi said.
Yami smiled. "I'm so glad you found me, Yuugi. When I am gone, all the pain I have caused everyone will go away. Do you blame me, Yuugi?"
Yuugi bit his lip. "No, I don't. Yami…I love you. I love you, I love you, I love."
Yami sighed in contentment and closed his eyes. "That is all I needed to hear. Nothing really dies as long as it isn't forgotten; will you remember me, Yuugi?"
Yuugi cracked a smile. "I will always remember you, Yami."
A tear slipped past Yami's closed eyes. "I now I've already told you so many times, but I love you, Yuugi."
Yuugi nodded. "Yes, I know; I love you too, Yami." He chocked and began to sob.
Yami smiled again. "Your…ring…"
Yuugi didn't get a chance to ask what Yami meant by that because in the next moment Yami's body began to dissolve.
"No…" Yuugi said. "No, no, no! Please! Don't leave me! I've just told you my feelings! You can't just leave now! We're supposed to live happily ever after and...and...! He chocked on a sob.
Yami's body became lighter and lighter and it then if dissolved into nothing but specs of light and it floated up to the ceiling, like smoke rising from a chimney.
Yuugi's hand was still positioned where it was once holding Yami's, but he was gone now. He had became light and had left towards the sky. He was numb to any sensation as he pulled the golden band off his finger. The inscription inside changed. Yuugi let out a weak cry of pain and folded in on himself as he began to sob.
It read: As Light to Dark, they are free from each other.
Suguroku stood over a few marked maps outside his tent, studying them; he was still on a dig in Egypt. There was a sudden gust of wind that disturbed the maps and flew sand everywhere, but it wasn't a sandstorm. When it settled, Suguroku couldn't believe what was in front of him.
It was the little boy that he had played with all those years ago in the field. He was standing in front of Suguroku, smiling cheerfully and with a child-like innocence. The old man rubbed his eyes to make sure that he was seeing this correctly.
"Y-Yami?"
The boy nodded silently.
"What are you doing here? What happened to you all those years ago?"
The boy shook his head sadly and pointed to his throat. He couldn't speak. Suguroku understood and read the boy's lips.
"Thank you."
Suguroku's eyes widened and then there was another random gust of wind. "Wait!" he called out. But when the wind had stopped and the sand had settled, the boy was gone, and Suguroku swore he heard the sound of children laughing.
-/-
Ranko: Excuse me as I go to a corner to cry my eyes out and hide from angry reviewers.
Yuugi: Ranko! How could you? (hugs Yami and cries)
Yami: What the hell? You killed me?
Ranko: Okay, just to clear things up, this story is NOT over yet. So before anyone asks me, "WTF? Is there going to be a chapter 16? RAWR!" There WILL be a chapter 16! So no bitching! Please and thank you!
Yuugi: (eyes wide)
Yami: Whoa…
Ranko: I'm sorry, I'm just really emotional right now. My baby, look how far it has come and the end is literally right around the corner! …And running from me. Hey! Get back here! (runs off)
Yuugi: Okay, as Ranko chases the last chapter, tell us what you thought. We would appreciate long reviews to tell us your thoughts. Thank you!