Hello again! Another chapter. And....THEY FINALLY MEET AGAIN! Hope it's been worth the wait.
Thank you for reviewing. It means the world to me.
Much love.
Keep happy and reviewing.
P.S. Song- P!nk- So what.
HELL- This is hard to write
Tears don't fall.
Yugi.
Cornered Wild Cat.
Oh. My. God.
Atemu.
Finally, I've found you.
Years of searching has led me to you.
There's four years of history stretching between us.
It's thick in the air, making it stale.
He hasn't seen me yet.
He's looking subtly.
He senses something but doesn't know what.
From here I can see how nervous he is. He's on edge, forever coiled, he knows I'm here. And he's freaking.
Please, please don't run. Talk to me. Like we used to when we were young.
My world is slowly beginning to right itself and I'm starting to hope. I stretched out my mind, suddenly longing to feel the comforting brush of his mind but I hit a wall and almost whimper. Blocked by half of my soul. I watched a shiver run through Atemu's body and know he's remembering and fighting. He looks so different. Older, sterner but just a beautiful. When I see he's changed his hair a knife of disappointment and confusing pain shots through me. I always loved the fact his hair was like mine, a flawless mirror image, more beautiful and perfect than I could ever be. But now, its different. I don't like it but I know I'm responsible. The notes leaving his lips are perfect, in tune and full of feeling.
I didn't know he could sing.
I didn't know he could play guitar.
Just like I never knew he'd learnt to write.
What else don't I know?
So what I'm still a rock star
I got my rock moves
And I don't need you
And guess what
I'm havin more fun
And now that were done
I'm gonna show you tonight
I'm alright
I'm just fine
And you're a tool so
So what
I am a rock star
I got my rock moves
And I don't want you tonight
You weren't there
You never were
You want it all but that's not fair
I gave you life
I gave my all
You weren't there, you let me fall
"Kinda get the feeling that song's meant for someone." Jou mumbled
It was. I knew. Meant for me. To everyone else in the room it was a tune, thought up by Atemu to entertain those watching him. But to me, us, it was so much more. A reflection of the pain inside. A declaration of defiance. A promise not to back down.
Seto nodded mutely beside me, his eyes fixed on the profile of his rival. But I know, he no longer sees Atemu as a rival. Atemu is to him as he is to all of us, a lost friend.
"It's meant for us." I agreed
"All of us." Jou sighed. "Well what now?"
"Now. We go say 'Hi'." Bakura declared
"Um...'Kura. You sure that's a good move?" Ryou questioned "Maybe we should go up one at a time?"
"Good choice." Jou nodded
The song drew to a close, the last notes floating into the air and Atemu stepped of stage. He hadn't lost his grace nor his predatory beauty. Those piercing crimson eyes flashed around, focusing on faces, seeking but not finding. But he knew.
/I'm here, Atemu. Turn around and you'll see/
I sent the words really without thinking. I knew they wouldn't reach him, not with a wall so high and thick but they did something.
He froze mid step, his body swinging around to where we were standing.
Our eyes locked and time stood still.
Like a dream we stared, reality seeming so far away.
He wasn't blinking, wasn't moving.
And all I could see was him.
Then reality kicked back in and the dream was shattered.
Crimson eyes widened, his face paling rapidly. I could sense he didn't know what to do. Try as he might, emotions are not blocked by a wall of his creation. Though the years have separated us, I still know him. I know his soul. And his soul was screaming at me. Too bad his mind was stubborn and determined to protect the fragile hold it had over him. He was backing away, his hands flying up as if to defend himself.
From us.
From me.
He swivelled on his heel, darting through the crowd and left me staring at an empty space. The ghost of him burning in my mind again. I sank to my knees, breaking down on the floor of a crowded club was the least of my problems. There was one dominate emotion in Atemu's eyes and it wasn't the one I wanted...needed...to see. It was one of sheer and utter terror.
"You there! Spikey haired kid! I know you!" A voice called out from the crowd.
Great. A Duel Monster's fan. He approached me, squatting down to my level, trying to see into my hidden eyes.
"You're Yugi, aren't you?" A gently accented voice asked. My head jerked up in surprise. "You're here for Atemu?" I nodded. The man sighed. "Listen, you might want him back but he wants to stay here. With his friend."
"WE'RE his friends." Jou spat
"Please, I know what you did to him." The statement lingered in the air before I was addressed again. " Please, for him, leave him be."
"I can't. Not until I've said my piece."
"You're in for a long wait kid. I won't lie. Atemu won't come down. You'll have to go to him. But I won't let you. And if you get past me, there are three others up those stairs."
"Let me see him." I begged "Please."
"If I thought it would help I'd let you. But I can't see what good it'll do."
Miserable tears trickled down my cheeks. Too be so close to him and be denied was heartbreaking. But what more do I deserve than to be cast aside by him? I could feel Jou and Bakura shaking beside me with pent up emotions and I knew it wouldn't end well. Slowly I stood back up, the stranger following with hawk eyes. Ryou's gaze was fixed pleadingly on him while Seto's eyes were pure hatred.
"As hard as your decision is for me, I understand. We did not come here to cause Atemu more grief than we already have. Let's go guys."
"B-But Atemu." Ryou stammered "We've come so far."
"I can't give up!" Bakura growled
.....Worth a try...
"Please. All I'm asking is to put things right. How they were supposed to be."
Finally he a small sigh escaped his lips and he nodded. "Follow me, but be careful."
I nodded vigorously and trailed after him, trying very hard to ignore Seto's murderous gaze. I didn't bother to keep track of the twists and turns we made through corridors once we had left the club. My mind was filled by thoughts of my darker half and how much I had missed him. Almost insanely. A knock on a wooden door startled me back to the present. I jumped when the door swung open and a raven haired girl stared back. Anger flashed through her eyes when she saw us and she quickly rounded on the stranger before me.
"Kyle! Why are they here?! She shrieked
"Lucy, please. They want to see him."
"Damned if I let them anywhere near him."
"This isn't your choice."
His calm voice seemed to deflate her and her attention turned to me once again. I don't know why, but she seemed to be searching for something on my face. Whatever it was she seemed to find it and her anger slowly faded to an ember.
"All right. They can pass."
She stepped aside, allowing us entry to the room. Kyle softly shut the door behind him and motioned me forward.
"Scott? Jamie? Come here?" Kyle called out
Two figures rose in the dim light and moved toward us. Kyle opened his mouth to speak but froze when a knowing expression past across the blonde man's lips.
"Scott?"
"Yugi, right?" Scott asked. Again , I nodded mutely. A grim smile spread across his face. "Go away. He doesn't want to see you."
I gapped, not quiet expecting that reaction. Scott seemed unfazed by my shock and nodded toward the door. I shook my head, folding my arms across my chest. Scott scowled and the man beside him spoke up.
"You're the kid that made him run?" I didn't even give him an answer, certain he could answer the question by himself. "Why on earth are you here?"
"Too see him. Where is he?" I spoke with a confidence I was beginning to lack.
"Elsewhere." The cryptic rely sent a tremor of annoyance around me
"Where?"
"Not here."
There were a lot of things I could have said to these heartless people but I refrained from saying all of them. After all, all they and were Atemu's version of the truth. The pain he had felt, they knew nothing of the loss I had suffered at his absence. I gave the man a tired glare, trying to force my heart's words to him. Scott stiffened and moved round to study my face. He blinked and lifted his gaze to the door behind us and back to me.
"Why do you want to see him?" He asked softer
"I need to talk to him. Tell him I was a fool, tell him everything."
"Yeah right. He'll..." The unnamed man scoffed
"Jamie, enough!" Scott snapped then turned to me. "He won't listen to you, you know?"
"I know, please, can I just try?"
Scott nodded and led me away from the room I had been standing in and through the door he had glanced at moments before. When the door opened, I found my Yami, lying on a bed with his hands folded behind his head, staring up at the ceiling. Scott cleared his throat and the crimson eyes that had haunted my dreams turned to us. I watched a million emotions flicker across his face.
Shock.
Anger.
Hate.
Betrayal.
Fear.
Aggression.
Happiness
Hope.
But love never once passed across his face. My heart cracked a little bit.
Finally he settled for rage. With a fluid movement he had thrown himself to his feet and was before me. I had been without a Yami for so long, I had forgotten how terrifying his anger could be. I trembled before him. Even Bakura, someone who until recently could match Atemu's anger shrank back from the ancient Pharaoh.
"WHY ARE THEY HERE?" He roared
"Atemu...I..." Scott stammered
"NO! DON'T YOU UNDERSTAND? I DON'T WANT TO SEE THEM! I DON'T WANT TO SEE HIM!" A finger was thrust in my direction. "HE...YOU...I...DAMNIT NO!"
I threw a glance at Kyle and Scott over my shoulder and knew they'd seen something new in Atemu. A power, beyond mortal understanding, one even I didn't understand. Lying dormant underneath the shell of Atemu's caged emotions. I felt the swirls of darkness forming, reacting to the only man with the strength to wield them.
"Yami! Stop it!" I ordered
And he did.
The shadows fell away.
Atemu glared at me, he was still taller than me. Towering above me, trying to convince me he wasn't hurting. But I knew better. He was gifted in concealing his emotions but not from me.
"Atemu....I don't know what to say." I whispered
"How about 'Goodbye'?"
"No. I'm not leaving until we talk."
"Tough! This conversation is over."
"C'mon Atemu, hear us out." Jou spoke from behind me
A feral snarl slid from between clenched lips, Jou jerked backwards like he'd been stung.
A cornered wild cat....like Ryou had said
"Why are you here?" Atemu growled, eyes darting between the four friends behind me.
"We-We wanted to see you. We need to talk to you." I tried hard to ignore the fact that it was Seto that had tripped over his words.
"I don't want to talk to you."
"Atemu. This is silly." Jou said, reaching out to touch Atemu.
Faster than I'd ever seen him move, Atemu had sprang backwards. Jou's hand hovered limply in the air as he watched with wide eyes.
"Don't ever touch me!" Atemu spat
"Oh-Okay. We won't." Bakura soothed, or at least he tried to. Even from here I could see that the Pharaoh was beyond calming.
Atemu eyes suddenly found Ryou in the maze of faces and anger burned in him. "You! Traitor! You promised you wouldn't tell."
"I never promised that I wouldn't. I told you that Yugi deserved to know."
"But I told you I didn't want him to know." Suddenly his voice was softer, pleading.
"I'm sorry, Atemu."
"I hate you." Ryou's head dropped, a trembling sigh leaving his mouth.
"I know."
"I hate all of you! You ruined my life!"
I stepped forward, cringing when he jerked backwards. "I miss you, Atemu. So much. Can't we just talk?"
"About what?"
"Everything. What happened. Why I acted like that. Jou and Seto want to talk."
"No. Go away and leave me be."
Scott's hand tugged on my arm, urging me toward the door. Numbly I followed, unable to rip my gaze away from Atemu.
"I'm so sorry, Atemu." I whispered
His shoulders stiffened as my words reached him and his head bowed. The door closed behind me blocking my view of him.
....Atemu....
...It took me years to find you...
I won't let go that quickly....
I turned to Scott, catching the blonde man's eye. "We won't give up."
He smiled. "I don't expect you too."
....I won't give up on us...
Ta-Dah!
Well....what can I say?....what can YOU say?