Chapter LXI: Traits

Yugi scrambled to his paws and rushed from the den. Atem stirred behind him, bristling and hissing his name in a groggy voice. He didn't pause, bristling as he rushed forward and toward the outcrops. Immediately he slowed, standing still and peering at the dragon wandering forward.

He rushed him. "What are you doing here?" he spat.

"Yugi?" Atem mumbled, but his steps were slow and steady behind him. He didn't make a move to intercede and he seemed puzzled and alarmed rather than upset to see Yugi charging at the other male. Yugi launched himself just as the other spat, "I ask your blessing!"

Atem was silent for a long time with deliberation and Yugi almost had the other dragon's throat in his mouth to shake him limp before he mumbled, "Granted."

Yugi huffed where he'd opened his mouth to sink his teeth in, disappointed despite knowing Atem wouldn't let him simply kill his brother like that. He withdrew a few steps, grumbling under his breath with annoyance, and turned to Atem with a sigh. "Why?"

His mate snickered and shook his head, coming to his side. "Because I wanted to see how quickly you moved now that you're all grown up," he teased, but Yugi had the feeling there was some truth to the statement as well. He turned away. "What did you want now, Seto?"

The Felgrand scowled. "You didn't tell me Yami was dead."

Yugi bristled. "How is that your business?" he demanded. He came forward a step before he could stop himself, snarling softly. "I don't recall you being so particularly close that it was necessary we alert you to the fact."

Seto ignored him, glaring at Atem. "You didn't tell me," he repeated.

"Yugi was right to ask what business it is of yours," he answered coldly. "You were not so close to me as to make me wish to share and I do not see the need to inform you, when you are the reason Bakura learned of his existence and thought to try to kill him."

Seto stared, the anger swapped for a single second with surprise. "Bakura tried to kill him?"

"He came here saying he wanted to make me watch as he did it, so he could break me as he should have when we were young." Yugi barely suppressed a flinch and horrified backward glance at Atem, but the God Dragon sounded quiet and unmoved by his own words. "I killed him soon after, but I haven't forgotten. You told him he existed. You may not have sent him after Yami, but you gave him the knowledge to hunt him down. You may as well have given him the plan."

"Are you stupid?" Seto snapped. "I didn't want anything to happen to him. Yami was…"

"Was what?" Yugi spat, cutting in to gather their attention again. He bristled, hopeful he could hold Seto's focus for a moment. "Yami was what?"

"He was family."

"And you have such a good relationship with family, right?"

Atem was silent for a moment. "Yami was killed a little while after. I assume Malik realized Bakura was dead and ran off to Jaden, which is why he visited later to try to kill Yami." He tilted his head. "I suppose Bakura got his wish, however. Jaden killed Yami later that night, when Yami snuck out on his own."

Seto let out a disgusted noise. "Jaden didn't kill Yami."

Yugi froze, ice trailing down his spine. "What?"

"I suppose you mean to tell me that I don't know the smell of burned flesh and the signature of Jaden's magic?" Atem said slowly, voice void of emotion. Yugi shivered and risked a backwards glance. The God Dragon had not looked away from Seto, eyes boring into his. "And I presume you mean to tell me I owed you explanation of my son's death just because you met him and thought to use him to find out who in your clutch killed the other two hatchlings."

"I was owed because we're family, Atem."

"And I should adhere to that now? What whimsy."

Seto snarled softly. "I came to find out more about the situation."

"It doesn't concern you."

"If it was Malik like I think it was, then it does." Seto shook his head in annoyance. "If Malik came after Yami because of Bakura when Jaden didn't kill him, then it concerns me. If he lashed out because Jaden didn't finish it, then what are the odds he won't come for my clutch next?"

Yugi let out a barking laugh. "Oh my gods, by Paradise; do you hear yourself? You really don't know how to even pretend to care about someone else, do you?" he spat, stunned. "You find out your brother lost his one and only hatchling and yet you come here to say you want protection because you think your nest could be next? Because you're somehow convinced your brother might kill them."

"Malik wouldn't harm hatchlings. He's not like Bakura. Bakura would have stopped at nothing to destroy and conquer. Malik would rather rest on someone's back as they do the work." Atem didn't sound put off by the veer in direction. He sounded almost as if he were taking it in stride. Yugi glanced at him sideways, but Atem's eyes were glazed and he didn't think he could read his expression from his position. "Malik went and found Jaden to deal with Yami because I killed Bakura. But he wouldn't have come for me himself and he's afraid of Yugi, even if he would pretend otherwise. He saw what Yugi did to Keith and he'd never risk facing up to him on his own like that."

"You're convinced Jaden did it."

"He's the most likely, yes, but even now I don't know for sure. None of us saw it. We didn't wake to his screams or anything like that. It was over quickly from what I can tell, though he did get hurt badly enough. Whoever did it tore a chunk of flesh from him and burned him to ashes." Atem sounded distant now, but his voice was steady and calm despite the lack of focus. "As far as I know, there are only a handful of species that can manage such damage in so short an amount of time—Jaden, a Gandora, a Red-Eyes, a Tyrant, or a Uria."

"Uria?" Seto muttered. "Aren't they extinct?"

"I don't know. Nor do I care."

His brother looked almost confused by the cold tone. Then he scoffed and shook his head. "Did you know Yusei and Jaden had planned to use Yami to neutralize my son?"

Atem snorted. "I found out later. But why should that be so shocking? The God Dragons operate amongst themselves without much care for anyone else. So why should that be so surprising? You act as if I should be shocked. Jaden would use the humans to his advantage if he thought it possible."

Seto scowled. "So, then you mean to tell me that you let Yami die? You don't know who killed him and yet you all but handed him over to be slaughtered?"

Yugi sprang at him so quickly Atem couldn't intervene. He slammed into the Felgrand, throwing him backwards, and Seto's claws tried but failed to dig into his flesh in turn. They rolled about, snarling and biting at each other. Yugi clawed his stomach and tried to get the right purchase. But teeth dug into his throat and tugged and he obediently released. He flexed his claws to drop his grip and allowed Atem to pull him back several steps. The God Dragon studied his face and tilted his head, watching him closely for several seconds. Then he turned back and faced his brother.

"Why are you here? I fail to see why you've decided to darken my territory with your presence."

Yugi hovered at his side, refusing to budge but for snarling. Seto got to his paws and shook himself out, giving him a disdainful glance. Atem looked between them and sighed softly as if he were dealing with two hatchlings.

"Jaden accused me of killing him."

Yugi blinked, then burst out laughing. Atem shot him a puzzled look. "Does that surprise you?" the Gandora asked spitefully, barking the words. Surely it couldn't have. "You're a monster and a piece of dung. If anyone would have attacked out of pure spite, it would have been you. You're the entire reason Bakura even found out. You went and told Bakura and Malik the moment you found out. And then you waited for Bakura to do all the dirty work for you because you didn't want to stain your paws with hatchling blood."

Atem blinked. "That's…pretty elaborate, but I wouldn't dismiss it."

Seto scowled. "Both of you are paranoid morons."

"You literally turned and ran to Bakura and Malik to tell them about a hatchling you swore to secrecy. And then you're shocked when Bakura comes to try to kill it?" Yugi laughed bitterly. "You honestly think you're not the one who set this into motion? You literally set your disgusting monster of a brother on Yami and then you hide like a coward behind that."

"I…" Seto curled his lips to show the ridges of his teeth, voice dripping with frustration. "I don't even remember telling them. I know I did, because I hadn't even told Kisara before they found out, but I don't remember it. I don't remember actually saying it."

Yugi almost barked a laugh but it died in his throat. Atem shook his head and sighed, "So your son did it for you."

Seto blinked. "What?"

"He showed Yami images and he made me more paranoid and aggressive than usual the few times I was there to interact with the clutch. He's got some of the same abilities Yami did, and having you say something without knowing seems easily within his range of capabilities."

"Oh, how convenient. My son is a monster and yours is always remembered as perfect."

"Yami was far from," Atem hissed, and Yugi wanted so badly to argue. But Yami hadn't been perfect. He'd fumbled and messed up and he'd acted out of line. He'd gotten them hurt and nearly killed for the sake of his curiosity and he'd been naive when he'd left the den. He'd hurt Atem without meaning to, despite his reasoning being so pure. He'd been flawed and beautiful for it, but he was gone now. And it may have been painful to admit, but Yami had had faults. "But he didn't have a malicious bone in his body. That, thankfully, was a trait that did not pass along to him."

Seto snorted. "Right. I believe that. Because you're not malicious at all. I didn't have to ask twice for you to help me save Kisara. And don't think I've forgotten you chose to tell Yugi her name was Kiara. I haven't overlooked that, either."

Atem snickered and looked at Yugi. "He remembers that!"

Yugi laughed before he could stop himself. "Yeah. I remember it, too."

Atem grinned widely and looked over. "Regardless, Yami didn't have a malicious bone in his body. And I don't believe I ever saw him do anything out of spite, either. He got spared that unfortunate family trait."

"So, my son has to be the inferior one. Is that it?"

Yugi blinked, startled, and saw Atem raise his head in surprise. The God Dragon blinked twice, narrowed his eyes, and murmured, "I didn't say that. I also didn't mean to imply that. Why would you jump to that conclusion?"

"That's what you're saying."

"It's not."

"Then what are you saying?"

"I'm saying that whoever the Divine is, he's capable of a lot more than you may have considered. He's got enough strength to force you to say things you didn't realize you were. That's what I meant. I didn't mean to say anything but that."

Seto bristled. "And you're so convinced one of them would do that?"

"They showed Yami impossible images the night he came to the camp. Yes, I believe he would be so strong and so terrible as to do it." Atem fell quiet for a moment. "You need to learn to accept responsibility for things of your own doing. I cannot always be the villain in every circumstance, Seto. You've made your own decisions. Your choices taint you now. Your son's malice is not due to me."

Yugi remembered for a split second the way Atem had been prepared to swallow the nest whole just to spare them. He hadn't been able to see what was coming, but he'd smelled rot. Yugi hadn't been able to smell it, but the fact Atem had even considered destroying them meant something.

"I didn't kill him when I first felt him trying to force his will over mine," Atem continued quietly. "But he was also younger and Yami had done that more than once by that point. I had assumed it innocent then. But I couldn't tell which of them it was the next time it happened, either."

Seto scowled a moment longer, then shook his head sharply. "I don't suppose you'd be interested in the fact Jaden believes the only other dragon who might have killed Yami is Malik?"

"I should congratulate him on the fact he found the second most obvious culprit," Atem answered. Yugi considered his face. He looked so tired. Yugi's hearts ached as he studied his expression. "And it only took him so long to do so. I actually think I might be impressed by his decision to even look into this. I'm certain he's afraid of repercussions if he doesn't, but I have no plans to turn my teeth or claws on him. I haven't yet and I suspected him from the beginning."

Seto narrowed his eyes. "Why would he assume I did it? You said he was attacked and burned to ashes."

"He just found out he was dead. How would he know how?"

The Felgrand raised his head, eyes widening in surprise. "Malik couldn't have burned him alive, either."

"No, he couldn't have." Atem turned away, facing Yugi. "I still want to visit Honda today."

"Honda?" Seto spat. "The Fire Clan leader? Why would you want to do that?"

Yugi saw it the moment Seto's suspicions reared up. He almost groaned with frustration, snapping, "He didn't know Yami existed."

Atem chuckled softly. "You're so eager to lay blame on anyone and everyone. I would almost assume you to be concerned about punishing Yami's killer rather than the sake of your own nest." He shook himself out. "But you don't know such selflessness, do you? It's never about others. It's about personal gain for you."

"Oh, yes, please tell me that I'm the reason all of this is happening."

"You're defensive for someone who believes otherwise." The God Dragon didn't answer further for a moment, but Yugi could tell he thought it his own fault rather than Seto's. He wanted to argue, to snap at him otherwise, but there was no doing so without Seto understanding and likely attempting to take advantage. And Yugi refused to let that happen. He'd sooner rip his own claws out than allow Seto another way to get under Atem's skin. "But it doesn't matter. Jaden will make a move eventually. Whether it is effective or not remains to be seen. But he will act soon enough and when he does, that is when I will have to counter."

"You plan to fight him?"

"No, but it is not a possibility I've dismissed. I need to be certain of what will happen and what won't before I make any plans. And to do that I have to play the waiting game and see to it he makes the first move." Atem fell silent for a long time. "Should he desire to go to war, I will meet him at that time."

"You sound certain it would escalate to that."

"Not quite. But I could imagine it going that way without much provocation." Atem looked at Yugi. "And I have reason to believe if things should escalate, it will be worse than it was before."

"What does—? You're not suggesting an edict?"

"Gandora, Slifer, Felgrand," Atem commented, looking over. "The three species previously involved in them. Wouldn't it make sense to simply clear the entire population of all three if it should come to that?"

Seto bristled and glared, baring his teeth. "He wouldn't."

"He may not. But he could. And all three of us are tied directly to this problem. It would make the most sense if he were to turn on us so fully." The God Dragon hummed softly. "But I cannot imagine Yusei or Leviathan would support the decision. There were too many lives lost and too much blood spilled before."

"That doesn't seem to matter much to Jaden," Seto growled, and Yugi hated the fact he agreed with him. It almost made him want to vomit. "He was ready to declare an edict before."

"Yes. And I stopped him then. But I doubt anyone would be okay should they find out about Yami's existence, as brief as it was. He was a second generation Gandora as well as a Divine. He was unnatural," Atem continued quietly, and Yugi shot him a dirty look despite himself. "He shouldn't have been laid, let alone hatched. That fact alone wouldn't bring us favor if it was discovered. And just imagine… They all realize you're related to me and that Divine in your clutch is my sibling. They'll kill all of us for the fun of it. They'd eat Yugi and I alive. And they'd come for you and Kisara immediately after—if they don't go for you first. You'd be a much easier target, after all."

Yugi almost laughed at the affronted look on Seto's face. He looked as if Atem had struck him. It made him almost gleeful to see the fear and horror there.

"And I believe this has been established rather well, but I will not defend you should something happen to your clutch." Atem's voice dropped to a hiss. "I will not protect you should Jaden turn on you for any reason. I would not expect you to shed scales in my defense and I will not offer the same for you."

Yugi considered Atem's expression. He seemed tired rather than aggravated but his eyes were sharp and glittering and he heard it when his tail shifted and lashed slightly. He turned back to Seto. "I'd sharpen my claws on your bones before I'd use them in your defense. I owe you no less for hurting him."

Seto didn't spare him a glance. "What if Jaden comes for you instead?"

"Then I suppose the rumors of war will become reality."