I just have one thing to say; I'm so fucking sorry.
Content warning: Death.
Yugi couldn't move. He couldn't see. He couldn't breathe.
A door opened, and the room fell silent. A steady beep was the only sound left for a few minutes.
"How is he?"
Yugi recognised the voice.
It was just a dream. Just a dream.
Just a dream.
"Not so good. The bullet fractured when it entered his body, and his internal organs were extremely badly damaged. We hoped that inducing a coma would assist in his recovery but we were mistaken."
That didn't make sense. He wanted his Grandpa. Where was he? They were just in the park with Yami and the others.
They had been playing hide-and-seek and Jounouchi had jumped into the lake with Mehi and Rally to hide. Marik had nearly killed them.
"What happens if we take him off it?"
"The obvious answer? He'll die, sir."
Who would? Why couldn't he move?
He tried to open his eyes, but even the concentration involved in trying to do the action hurt. He didn't manage to force his eyelids apart.
"Yes, I understand that," the voice growled. Too familiar. But it was just a dream. Just a dream. Just a horrible, horrible dream. "I meant how long will he live?"
He wanted his Grandpa. This wasn't right. He didn't like it. He wanted to get out.
"A few minutes at most."
Who would? Who was going to live that long? Was it one of his friends? His Grandpa? Yami? He needed to know! Why couldn't he move?
A sigh. "Is there any chance that he'll pull through this?" The voice sounded tired. Less like the one Yugi remembered.
A pause. Yugi couldn't even think.
"None."
What was going on?
"Alright then."
Grandpa?
"What do you want us to do sir?"
Grandpa, please!
"Pull the plug."
Yami!
"Are-are you sure, sir?"
Where was he?
"Did I not just say it?"
Where were they?
"Yes, but I'm not sure you fully understand-"
"I understand perfectly well. If you pull the plug, he dies. If you don't, he lives a bit longer."
Who was going to die? Why was no one answering him? Couldn't they hear him screaming?
"Yes, but-"
"Pull the plug."
Yami!
"If you're certain, sir."
Grandpa!
"I am."
The beeping began to grow fainter, fewer and far between. Yugi found it harder to think.
What was happening? Where were they?
Light burst through his eyes, and he smiled. "Grandpa, I was worried!"
Sugoroku smiled at him. Yugi could see him talking, but he couldn't hear what he was saying. He looked at Yami to find the same problem.
All he could hear was the same, grating voice that haunted him. But again, tired.
"Goodbye, Calico."
Yugi swallowed. "My name's Yugi Mutou," he whispered. But just like he couldn't hear the others, he didn't think anyone could hear him.
Their mouths were still moving. Slower.
The only thing he could hear now were the beeps.
The slow
gentle beeps
breaking through the
silence
every now
and then.
Beep.
Beep.
Beep.
Beep.
Beep.
Until – beep –
even they
– beep –
stopped.
Once he spotted him, he stopped and stared.
Sugoroku Mutou sat on the bench by the edge of the grass. The area was overgrown, but most of the plants weren't dangerous, so the area was still useable.
His leg was jumping the same way Yugi's used to.
Yami's throat clenched and he stood by the bench for a few moments, trying to say something.
Sugoroku spotted him before he could. For a moment, his grey eyes were bright. Then, they faded. "You're not Yugi." His face hung heavy with tired wrinkles, and his hair was turning white.
"No," Yami admitted. "I'm Yami. Yami Sennen."
"Oh." Sugoroku nodded and stood. He was nearly a full head shorter than Yami. He smiled – not as happy as before, but still warm. "Yugi mentioned you on the phone."
Yami blinked a few times. His eyes were watering.
No, he had to calm down. Not yet. He couldn't cry. Not yet.
"Is something wrong?" Sugoroku asked. Yami shook his head. "Why don't you sit down with me? I was waiting for Yugi."
Yami nodded and sat beside him. He was glad he came now. At least Sugoroku wouldn't be left waiting at the bench all day, and probably all night, for his grandson. "Thank you." His voice croaked and he cleared his throat.
"You're welcome." Sugoroku smiled softly at him and they fell silent for a few minutes. Sugoroku's leg began to jump again. "Do you know where Yugi is?" After a moment, Yami nodded. "Is he far? He's not sick, is he? Or hurt?" Sugoroku leaned closer to him. "Do you want to take me to where he is, or is he on his way?"
Yami hesitated. "He's... he's not..." He swallowed again. He couldn't quite stop the tear that escaped his eye. He thought he had cried himself out of tears, but they just kept coming.
"What's wrong, my boy?" Sugoroku asked, an alarmed tone creeping into his voice. "Here, have a tissue." He fumbled in the pocket of his pants and pulled out a neatly folded piece of toilet paper.
Yami took it and stared down at it. A few tears dripped onto it, leaving dark splotches, but Sugoroku didn't push him to use it.
"Mr. Mutou," he finally began, "Yugi's not coming."
"Why not?" Sugoroku sounded near tears himself when he spoke. "Did something happen? Did I do something? I thought-"
"It wasn't you." Yami shook his head. "Mr. Mutou-"
"Please, call me Sugoroku."
"Sugoroku," Yami corrected. "Is... Is there somewhere else we can go?" He didn't want to talk about this. At all, but especially not here. In public.
Sugoroku nodded. "Of course, I have a bed booked at a nearby hostel." He placed a hand on Yami's shoulder. "Why isn't Yugi coming?"
Yami squeezed his eyes shut. "I need to talk to you about something... Something that happened to him."
Sugoroku nodded. "Okay. Let's go to the hostel. We can talk all you want there."
Yami followed Sugoroku to his feet and out of the park. He rehearsed the line, the single line, in his head, but he didn't know if he could bring himself to say it once the time came.
Sugoroku; your grandson couldn't come to see you because he's dead.
Well, there we go. That's the last and shortest chapter to date. It's literally just over a thousand words. I'm genuinely so happy with this story though, and I'm so happy with the response it's gotten. Thank you all so, so much for being fantastic readers and always giving such great responses to the chapters, even when I went missing for extended periods of time. It means a lot. Thank you all, so, so much. And so, for the last time, please review. See you next story, Murdering Majestors.