Chapter XLIII: Rumors

Atem tilted his head as Timaeus sprang forward. Yami flattened himself to the ground, flexing his claws, and then dodged to the left. Yugi tilted his head and frowned. Atem straightened.

"Dodge to the left, roll to the right, and use your wind breath."

Yami sprinted to the right as if he'd been told there was a prize to be found there. He tripped on a rock and rolled before landing on his belly with his paws splayed. He huffed as Timaeus placed a paw gently on his back between his wings.

"Dead."

Yami visibly deflated and covered his face with his paws. Timaeus looked just as crestfallen as the hatchling, though he stepped around and took a seat again with a tilted head.

"Yami," Atem said gently, blinking and frowning.

"That's okay," Yugi said softly, encouragingly. He came forward a few steps and looked at Yami with a small smile. It was kind rather than amused and Atem could tell he felt just as tired as he did. "Not all of us are amazing at fighting when they first start training. It takes more practice for some than others."

Yami pulled his paws away and got up, looking at Yugi with a frown. "But I need to learn!" he protested. "I have to learn for when I'm eventually on my own."

Atem grimaced and looked away. He'd hoped the conversation they'd had before Yami had finally managed to fall asleep would have calmed him of his guilt. Instead it had seemed to upset him further and Atem wasn't sure how to help him. He felt small and foolish for not realizing his attempt would hold no power. Every time he opened his mouth something seemed to go wrong.

He glanced at Yugi sideways. Timaeus was staring down at Yami with an uncertain expression. The Gandora smiled and tried to alleviate the growing tension, asking, "Do you want to try again?"

Yami sprang forward. "Yes!"

Timaeus took his position on the other end of the cliff once more. Yami stood taller and tensed his muscles, preparing himself to move. Atem took a seat beside Yugi several feet away.

"Dodge to the left, roll to the right, and use your wind breath."

Yami scrambled to the left and tried to roll to the right. But his paw caught on a stone at the same time. The sudden movement made Timaeus stumble and he fell over the hatchling. Yami yelped as Timaeus inadvertently slammed him to the ground beneath his paw. He darted away, limping before spinning around.

Atem blinked and tilted his head. Yugi rushed over to their son, bristling with anxiety. Yami looked up from grooming his paw and gave Yugi a horrified glance. "Sorry."

"Were you hurt?" Atem asked in bewilderment.

Yami visibly slumped. "I got my paw caught and tripped. Timaeus was already swiping at me. It was just…really bad timing." He risked a glance at Atem and somehow deflated further. "I'm not…made for this, am I?"

Atem considered him, then nudged his shoulder gently. "Maybe not. It is possible you're just a…late bloomer." He paused and looked over at Yugi. "That's the saying, right?"

Yugi laughed, grinning. "Yeah, that's the saying."

It was a human phrase. Yugi had only used it once, but Atem had liked it even if he'd never really had a reason before to use it.

He was oddly proud of himself for remembering and saying it properly. It was so stupid a thing, so small and insignificant, but he was happy with it all the same.

"We can try again another time." Atem shook himself out and blinked, turning to Yugi. The Gandora nodded slowly, looked as if he might speak but stopped, and turned to Yami again. "Maybe we could go hunting instead? We've never taught Yami to hunt rabbits or anything. Maybe today would be a good time for that…"

Yami tilted his head and looked at Atem with wide eyes. "Okay!"

Timaeus snorted. "He's just starved for attention, don't you think?" he laughed. He smiled warmly and shook his head. "You teach him to fish and now you're taking him to hunt rabbits. Are birds next?"

"It wouldn't be a bad idea," Atem mumbled, serious despite the fact Timaeus was only teasing. Yugi turned to him with a startled expression, and Atem tried to force away the nausea that came over him for a split second.

It hadn't occurred to him before, because he'd been so focused on making Yami feel better and helping him sleep, but Yami had said he'd seen it when he and Bakura fought. He'd seen the repercussions of that fight and he'd gone to prevent it. If he was getting stronger, did that mean Seto's hatchling was as well? And if that was the case, what would happen if they collided? Was Yami just meant to be some kind of sacrifice to secure the balance?

It didn't matter directly whether or not that was true. Destiny could be rewritten. Atem was sure of that. He'd always thought destiny could only bind those who allowed it. He'd always refused to follow the other God Dragons and he'd prevented Jaden killing the hatchlings before. He could do it again. He could stop them again if it came to that.

All that truly needed to be dealt with was making sure Yami knew how to survive on his own. If he could hunt and fight, if Jaden came for him and managed to separate them, he'd survive.

They were running out of time. Eventually Malik would come for Bakura and he'd tell Jaden. Atem was certain it would be Malik to be the one to reveal Yami's existence, if Jaden didn't already somehow know.

"Do you want to learn to catch birds?"

Yami looked flummoxed but nodded all the same. "Sure!"

Atem nodded and glanced at Yugi sideways. He wondered for a moment if Yugi had ever gone hunting for birds at some point. He remembered Yugi saying Jonouchi had gotten upset and killed and eaten a cassowary where the southern region began to blend with the forests. He remembered hearing about the one time Yugi had hunted an ostrich and telling Yugi he preferred peacocks over hawks because of the gamy texture.

"Which would you rather first?"

The dragonet hesitated and shifted his weight, looking from Atem to Yugi and back before frowning. "I… Whichever one you want to teach me first," he said finally, blinking and searching their faces. "I don't…have a preference."

"You will," Timaeus snorted. "There's a huge difference between birds, fish, red meat, and undergrowth prey."

Yami blinked and looked at him in confusion. "Is it bad?"

"Of course not. But you'll understand the difference and know what you like more than others. They're definitely not made equally."

"Stop scaring him," Atem snickered, hitting Timaeus gently with his wing. "He needs to learn to hunt. Fishing is only going to help where there's water."

"And your territory is full of water."

Atem glanced over and snorted. "You plan to stay here forever, Timaeus?"

"Why would I…?" He blinked and then scowled. "Oh, shut up."

Atem smirked and turned away, ignoring the puzzled look on Yugi's face and laughing when he saw the way Yami sat up a little taller at the implication. After a moment Yugi snickered and shook his head, expression warm and soft.

"And that's as close as you'll ever get to a blessing," Yugi laughed.

Yami sat up a little straighter somehow, wiggling in his seat. Atem smirked at his friend and Timaeus snorted before snickering and glaring playfully.

"Oh please, I had his blessing the moment he knew," Timaeus scoffed, but chuckled when Atem smacked him with his wing. Yugi narrowed his eyes but didn't object, turning to Yami and licking his cheek instead.

"Can we go? Can we go now?" Yami blurted, wiggling again. He shifted his weight, shivered, and then sprang to his paws with wide eyes. "I want to learn to catch prey!"

Atem snorted. "You're trying a little too hard to get the attention off Timaeus," he teased, butting Yami's shoulder. The hatchling gave him an annoyed look but it passed immediately as he wiggled in place once more. Atem smirked and shook his head. "But sure. Let's go."

Yusei looked up when Jesse and Jaden approached. The other Ice Dragon came forward to rub beaks in greeting, but Jaden stood aloof and watched with sharp eyes. Yusei blinked, considering the Fire Dragon, and glanced at Jesse sideways. Jesse refused to meet his eyes, instead focusing on the ground as if it were the most interesting thing he'd seen in his entire life. Jaden narrowed his gaze and stepped forward, past Jesse and toward him.

"I've been told some interesting news. I was wondering if you've heard anything."

Yusei blinked and stared, considering him in bewilderment. Growing suspicious and frustrated, the Ice Dragon shifted his weight and narrowed his gaze in turn. "I don't know what that implies. As far as I'm concerned, ice thawing can be interesting," he scoffed. He shook himself out, never lowering his eyes from Jaden's. "What was so amazing you decided you had to bring Jesse with you to visit me?"

Jaden considered him as if he thought he were a snake for a split second, then tilted his head and searched his face. A few moments passed before he murmured, "You really don't know. You haven't heard anything."

"If it was so important you felt the need to bring your mate to visit me as well, I probably would have gone to see to it you knew as well."

Jesse gave him a look that bordered horrified. Yusei turned to him, bewildered, and stiffened at the expression he wore. He blinked, studying him, and then turned back.

"What? What's happened?" he snapped. He bristled and stepped closer, baring his teeth. "What's happened that's so terrible you've decided to visit my region like this?"

Jaden flicked his tongue, the movement nearly scornful. "It's to do with Atem."

Yusei didn't know whether to scream or lash out with frustration. Did everything go back to Atem? Every other word seemed to be his name, as if Jaden were afraid to dismiss him in any capacity. Yusei couldn't imagine how frustrated Jesse had to be. He sighed and shook his head.

"What about Atem?" he snapped. "What is it this time? Did it turn out he killed the hatchlings? Am I to believe the God Dragon who sought to stake his name upon mercy toward Keith's clutches might be the one to have killed his own brother's mate's siblings?"

Jaden blinked. "No," he answered coldly, "that's not what I came to tell you."

"You know rumors don't interest me. Do you have proof to back up whatever you plan to say?"

The Prime Material Dragon remained silent for a long moment. Then he shook his head and bore his teeth. "Atem's brothers have been sitting on a few secrets recently, from Seto to Bakura." He tilted his head and narrowed his eyes when Yusei did not answer. "Seto found out about it initially and relayed the message. From there, apparently Bakura went to investigate, and Malik claims Atem has killed Bakura to protect this lovely little secret of his."

Yusei snorted. "Bakura is dead? What a shame."

Jaden huffed. "That's not the point."

"You haven't relayed what this message or secret is."

Jesse looked as if he'd been struck when he whispered, "Atem has a son."

Yusei blinked and looked over. "I'm sorry?"

"Atem laid an egg."

"And I repeat. I'm sorry?"

Jaden scoffed, "He laid an egg. Apparently Seto saw the dragonet soon after he hatched and Atem has been hiding him since. Bakura and Malik visited, and Seto told them."

Of course he had. The stupid rat of a Felgrand couldn't have protected Atem's son for the lives of his own clutch. He was too selfish and ambitious. Yusei had seen him hold information over others' heads for the sheer joy of it. He had heard the rumors of his merciless ambitions more than once.

"According to Malik, Seto doesn't know that the dragonet has any powers or not. But any Divine Dragon has abilities. It's a given because of their parent." Jaden's eyes glazed over for a long moment before he shook it off and continued more fiercely. "Malik claims Bakura went to see Atem about something or other—which, we all know means he likely went after the dragonet—and Atem killed him."

Yusei shook his head. "Have we all forgotten that Atem is male and always has been? Or the matter of Yugi being a Gandora?" he scoffed. "I think we're overlooking this key information right now, Jaden. He's not capable of reproduction with a Fire Dragon hybrid."

"That's what I assumed, too," Jaden said quietly, "but the eclipse happened. And now there are rumors that Atem has done the impossible."

"And you are taking the word from a dragon known to be needlessly cruel and estranged from Atem." His hearts were racing. Was it possible? Had Atem somehow laid an egg? Was Jaden right, and their existence had brought about the eclipse? "We all know of his history with his brothers. It would be far easier to name the lengths he wouldn't go to in order to make Atem miserable."

"He brought me Bakura's broken body."

"And?"

Jaden laughed softly. "And his throat has the single most interesting bite marks I've ever seen, Yusei. They're not Atem's and most certainly not Yugi's, either."

"How would you know that?"

"Because there are two different sets of teeth marks lining his throat. And the kill blow was to the jugular, with the attacker holding until they clamped down hard enough."

"How do you know it wasn't Atem's top mouth?"

"It's the size of my paw."

Yusei froze and stared, shocked. A cold feeling claimed his bones. The size of his paw? The bite marks were too small to be anything but a dragonet if Jaden was not exaggerating to make a point. He shivered and stared, eyeing him.

"Are you sure?"

Jaden smirked, eyes glittering. "As sure as I am that his name is Yami."

"What are the four of you doing in my territory?"

Jesse felt his stomach roll with tension. He hated attending any visits with the three God Dragons. Not only did everyone become tense when they saw two Ice Dragons together, but this was usually when Jaden was his nastiest. Anything that required the three God Dragons coming together tended to be frustrating for him. He usually bristled and snarled and glared even when everyone cooperated.

Atem's absence seemed to speak volumes.

Jesse didn't know what it was like to have the Sky Dragon at his side, but the void his absence created was apparent. The Clan stood collectively, watching the four of them with narrowed and suspicious eyes. Jesse doubted they wouldn't have taken the same pose had Atem been there, but they clearly understood something was wrong.

The fourth God Dragon wasn't there, but three others and a mate were.

"We came to speak to Seto."

"About the clutch?" Akunadin snapped. "Haven't you done enough poking and prodding yet? Or are you never satisfied?"

"I like answers," Jaden said shortly, but he looked past Akunadin and straight toward the Felgrand in question. "But it has nothing to do with them. I came to ask you about something else entirely."

Jesse saw the realization on Seto's face before he thought even Jaden did. It was present only a split second and it almost looked as if the sunlight had simply struck his eyes enough to make them flash. For a second Jesse hoped that was all it was, but he knew better.

"Your brother Bakura paid a visit to Atem."

"And I'm sure he's dead for it." Seto spoke carefully, though his voice was condescending and cruel. He didn't look the least bit surprised by the news, nor as if he cared. "He never did know when to leave things alone."

"He followed a rumor, apparently."

"Is that all you God Dragons do these days?" Akunadin sneered. "You chase rumors and provoke animosity between the four of you and those whose paths you cross. I thought your purpose to be far higher than that just a century ago."

Jaden didn't answer him, staring at Seto instead. "Malik came to tell me Atem killed Bakura, but he told me about the rumor Bakura was following. And I think the bite marks in your brother's throat might prove those claims. What do you know of it?"

There was only silence to greet the question. Jesse was amazed by how simply the entire Clan stared back at them, unmoved by the words and not the least bit dazed to be in the presence of the other three God Dragons.

"I know you're an idiot to follow rumors," Seto said, snorting and shaking his head scornfully. "Malik shoots his mouth off because his older brother is dead and you take his words as truth?"

"No. I became curious because of the bite marks in your brother's throat."

Seto snorted. "And what was so amazing about them?"

"They're much smaller than Atem's jaw could make, and far deeper as well." Jesse saw Jaden tilt his head. Seto didn't look fazed in the slightest. "There were also two sets of marks."

"So he moved his mouth and closed it on top of the other ones. Wow. I'm glad you know how to read bite marks," the Felgrand sneered. He turned away and shook his head. "What is your point?"

"My point is that didn't happen."

"What?"

"There's only one set of bites. They're too pristine to be two layered attacks. And there's only damage where they pulled from his throat once."

Seto blinked, then snorted. "Have you forgotten Yugi is there with him? His mouth is narrower than Atem's, and he could have two sets of teeth for all any of us know. No one has ever looked in his mouth."

"The jaw was barely the width of my paw."

Seto didn't so much as blink. "Have you measured Yugi's mouth then?"

Jesse looked at Jaden and felt his stomach lull again. His eyes shot to Yusei and Leviathan after a moment. Yusei seemed frustrated, and Leviathan looked bored. The contrast between the three was amazing. Jaden was so determined, Yusei seething, and Leviathan uninterested.

"Have you forgotten I can sense your emotions, Seto?" Jaden said abruptly, smiling coldly. "I can tell you're lying."

"Can you now?" the Felgrand scoffed. "Perhaps you need to get your abilities better tuned then, Jaden, as I'm not."

Jesse couldn't tell if he was or not. The way Seto stared at Jaden with such indifference made his skin itch. He didn't waver in his stare and he barely seemed even to care that Jaden was challenging him like this.

The thought crossed his mind only as Seto stared back at Jaden that he could have been trying—despite everything—to protect Atem. Did he know the hatchling in question? Had he met him and cared for him and decided to protect him?

Jesse felt his hearts lurch. It wouldn't work—not with Jaden.

"Are you so sure?" Jaden asked softly, smiling again.

"I don't think I'm so old as to be senile and forget myself," Seto snapped. "I'm tired of seeing you here. What is the point of your visit?"

Jaden tilted his head, eyes darkening with curiosity. "I came to ask you about Yami," he said evenly. Jesse saw it again. Seto's eyes flashed for a single split second. "Malik said Bakura went to meet Yami. I'm assuming Atem put an end to that."

"Yami?" Seto repeated, then laughed. "You mean the Fire Dragon Yugi adopted?"

Jesse blinked and raised his head, startled. "Huh?"

"Atem found a nest in the mountains. It was the only egg that hadn't rotted and he brought Yugi to see it. They took it and raised it when the parents never returned. Yugi named it Yami because of the egg." Seto shook his head, voice dripping with disgust. "You're wasting my time about an adopted dragonet, Jaden?"

"Adopted? Truly?"

"They can't have one of their own," the Felgrand spat, "although you look as if you've forgotten. Yugi wanted a nest and convinced Atem to take it in when they realized the parents were gone. I assume the mother challenged Atem and got killed for it, but who knows?"

Jaden narrowed his eyes. "And Atem continued to raise it even after it hatched? It's a Fire Dragon."

"He's a Uria," Seto snapped. "They're adaptive and don't have nearly as many problems as other Fire Dragons in territories like Atem's."

Yusei perked up, eyes huge. "A Uria?" he blurted, sounding fascinated. "I thought they'd gone extinct."

"Apparently not," the Sky Dragon said defiantly. "Maybe Yami is the last. Who knows? Does it matter? Either way, if Bakura went after Yami, what is Atem expected to do? Step aside and let him kill him?"

"Why would he have killed him?"

"Because he hated Atem. Why not strike hardest at what Atem loves?"

"Wouldn't that imply Yugi would be his target?"

"It would be more devastating for the only hatchling he'll ever raise to die in front of him—and far less dangerous. Yugi is maturing well enough. By now his scales could be harder and I'm sure his claws have gotten sharper still." Seto fell quiet for a moment, then laughed. "Did Yami kill Bakura then? Good for him."

Jesse didn't understand Atem's brothers. They were all so weird and estranged to each other, despite coming together to fight Keith. Had it been from boredom? Or had Seto promised them something they had not bothered to force collection of?

Jaden looked slightly taken aback. "And when did all of this happen? When did Atem decide to take on fostering a hatchling?"

"I don't know. Atem said he's been hatched for over nine moons." Seto shook himself out and stared at Jaden with a bored expression. "He's tiny. I assume it has to do with the fact that his egg was not incubated properly in the time before Atem found the nest."

"Why would Atem agree to raise a dragonet that isn't his own?"

"Why wouldn't he? Don't you get it yet? You know they don't have any chance whatsoever of having a hatchling on their own." He snorted. "You're asking me about the dragon who insisted every life is worth something and Keith's offspring shouldn't have been killed immediately."

Jesse saw Jaden's eyes flash, but the Fire Dragon did not speak for a long time. Finally he raised and turned his head. "And have the rest of you seen him?"

None of the Clan spoke for a long time.

"No," Akunadin snapped. "No, we have not met or seen him."

Jesse couldn't tell if he was lying or not, but he couldn't figure out why he would feel the need to. What was the point of lying to them now about meeting Yami? They had been prepared to lie and say Yami didn't exist, until Seto had backed down and offered the information. He didn't know why they would have done that but for the obvious idea they were lying. But why lie about it? What was there to lie about?

Seto was right. Atem couldn't provide an egg. He and Yugi were too incompatible and he didn't see Atem allowing someone else to fertilize an asexual reproduction. If he had, the hatchling would have likely been Wind or Water, and definitely not a Fire Dragon. The Fire Dragon genes tended to burn and rot an egg from the inside when the parents were incompatible. Atem would have also had to have turned female at some point, and from what he understood the scent would have lingered for several years.

It would have been pungent for a long time, because of the change in pheromones produced. When Jaden had last interacted with Atem, Jesse had not smelled him at all.

He would have if Atem had changed genders. It was impossible he wouldn't have changed scents…

Jaden looked at Seto for a long time. "Atem was here a while ago. I know that much."

"He came to see the clutch."

"And Yugi wasn't with him?"

"He was. Yami stayed in the den."

"He didn't escape?"

"He worships the ground Atem walks on, like any hatchling does. From what I saw of them, he calls Atem and Yugi by their names but he'll address Atem as his father if he has to."

"Has to?"

Seto snorted. "I don't know how they raised him. I've only ever heard him call Atem father once."

Jesse could read the disbelief in his mate's eyes. Jaden didn't believe that fact as much as he did the rest. He didn't know what might have made him suspicious of the comment, but Jaden was all the same.

"I haven't seen a Uria in a long time," Yusei commented, sounding almost wistful. "They're such powerful dragons—certainly one of the strongest species to exist."

"I don't miss them," Jaden snapped, glancing at Yusei with an annoyed expression. He turned back to Seto immediately after. "Atem didn't tell me about having a hatchling, adopted or otherwise."

"There is no otherwise. And frankly, I don't believe it's any of your business." Seto bristled. "I certainly wouldn't have told you I had a clutch if it wasn't for your constant monitoring in the Clans. If I were Atem, I'd avoid telling you so I wouldn't have to waste my breath constantly."

Jaden snorted. "Ironheart wanted to see Yami before he died. Why bother with an adopted hatchling?" he asked, smiling when Seto blinked in confusion. "The last Judgment Dragon in existence asks to see a hatchling who's been adopted by a God Dragon? I don't believe it."

"I'm not Ironheart. I don't know what he wanted from Yami. Maybe it was because he's likely the last Uria."

Jaden stared for a long time. "Perhaps."