Chapter LXIII: Choices

Honda glanced up when he saw movement in the corner of his eye. A dragon of bright red scales the shade of blood and rubies, immense in size and with a underbelly as dark as night with white stripes lining each scale, stood yards away. There were two gaping mouths of brilliant white teeth and a gem of sky blue centered upon its crown of spikes. They seemed to loom over him despite the distance, and the sun against their scales made the air look as if it'd caught fire. Honda thought for a split second that he was seeing the true visage of death, unwavering and permanently snarling, but his brain wavered between greeting and fleeing.

What was Atem doing here?

Honda forced himself to step forward to investigate, curious but cautious as well. He crept forward slowly, fighting a bristle, and wandered toward the God Dragon in question. Just as he got within a yard of him, something streaked forward. It was black and red and Honda only had a moment to realize it was Yugi as the Gandora slammed into him, spitting and snarling.

Yugi seemed to realize a split second after, laughing awkwardly and releasing him immediately. He sprang away, ducking his head and smiling awkwardly. He kneaded the ground with sharp claws that Honda was extremely grateful not to have dug into his flesh. "Sorry," he mumbled, sheepish but laughing, "I just heard someone coming. I guess that explains why Atem didn't move."

Honda glanced over. Atem was smirking at his mate, eyes bright with laughter. The God Dragon looked so at ease it was amazing. He looked nothing like he had upon visiting with the other three deities, and the softness in his stance now seemed almost stunning.

Honda got to his paws again, shaking himself out. The air stung his flesh but the scratches mended almost instantly after. He looked between them, reluctant for only a moment to interrupt the softness, and then raised his head. Atem's eyes shot to his and Yugi blinked, turning with a small huff.

"What are you guys doing here?" he asked, though he thought his voice sounded slightly demanding. He rushed forward to rub beaks with Yugi when the Gandora looked over again. He would have done the same with Atem, but the God Dragon wasn't so close to him he thought it appropriate. Instead he dipped his head when Atem did and looked at Yugi. "Is something wrong?"

Yugi blinked. "Why would you assume that?" he asked, but his eyes flashed and Honda wondered for a moment if he'd struck a sore spot. "Atem wanted to speak to you."

He blinked, eyes widening drastically, and his head snapped around again. "Is it true then? You and Jaden are going to war? Were you planning to leave Yugi here?"

Yugi let out a snarl of irritation. "Really?" he spat. "Where have all of you gotten this idea? And since when would I need protection? I'm a Gandora, Dragon of Destruction, remember? The gods fear me."

Atem snorted so hard he sneezed and Yugi froze, startled, before he whipped his head around to glare at him. Atem looked away again immediately, staring up at the sky as if he'd never made a noise to begin with.

Honda snickered. "Okay, so, if it's not that…" He glanced around a moment, then spotted an outcrop just large enough to provide shade at this time of day. "Here, let's move over here."

Yugi let out an indignant noise when Atem mumbled, "Oh, yes, the gods fear you. Our paws shake at the very mention."

Honda chuckled as he led them to the outcrop. He settled just outside of the shadow and Yugi took the spot beside him, though he drifted closer to rub beaks with Atem again when the Sky Dragon took a seat in the shade. Yugi shot him an immensely grateful look and Atem nodded slightly in thanks.

"So, what was it you wanted to discuss? If it's not war on the horizon, I'd assume it something just as important."

Atem nodded. "Yes, well, it is important, but I don't know that it impacts as much as a potential war might."

Honda considered him closely for a moment. Atem didn't seem hurt or upset. He looked healthy. And if there was no possibility of a future war, he should have seemed…less agitated than he was. He seemed as if he wanted to sink his teeth into someone, as if the very air aggravated him in some manner. The Tyrant Dragon tilted his head.

"Speak then."

Yugi bristled slightly and shot him an annoyed look, but Atem smirked. Honda found it odd how easily the God Dragon took disrespect, as if he'd always expected it and failed to care. He always remembered the distant look Yugi had gotten when Honda asked about the God Dragon Yugi swore he would be mated to. He'd always smiled and his eyes had glazed over and he'd looked sad. It was enough to keep him from asking about the turn of events clearly playing in Yugi's memories. But now he wondered not for the first time.

What in the name of Paradise had happened when Atem was growing up? What had happened to make Yugi shy away from speaking of him more than just saying he'd court him and win?

He wasn't even sure Jonouchi knew the extent of it. He knew Jonouchi knew something but he didn't know how much.

Honda expected that much. Yugi and Jonouchi had bonded well. They'd remained friends for however long it was now. It wasn't a question to him that Yugi trusted him with more than he would Honda.

Atem abruptly locked eyes with him, gaze like glittering chunks of topaz. They were sharp and hard, as if he'd angered him somehow. Honda narrowed his gaze but didn't speak as the God Dragon growled, "You're about the age I'd expect a victim of the takeover of Fire Clan to be."

He blinked and curled his lips back to show his teeth, growling softly with resentment. "That's what brings you to my territory? You wish to hear about the Fire Clan being taken over?" he sneered, unable to keep his tone from dripping venom. "You're here because of that? How did you even hear of the incident?"

Atem tilted his head. "From you. You said to Jaden it was funny he was there now when he did not prevent the destruction prior."

Honda bristled and stared. He remembered, but he had not assumed Atem had been paying attention. He'd seemed curious but had not asked and it had been two years prior. He would have thought Atem would have forgotten the incident. Maybe it was true and Sky Dragons never forgot.

He snorted wryly. "You want to know of that sordid experience?" he asked a bit more calmly, though he still felt as if he were chewing on bones. "What of it in particular?"

"Jaden did not intervene and the first time it was taken hostage was by Sartorius, yes? The second was…Keith." Honda bristled and Yugi's head snapped around as he gaped at his mate. "But Keith…didn't take control of the Clan. He just…destroyed it from the inside, yes? That's why you were too injured to come to the gathering."

Honda snarled softly and shifted his weight, scowling. "You gathered that much from a few context clues?" he spat. "Well, I suppose no one can accuse you of being stupid."

Atem snorted. "I'm sure some might say otherwise."

Yugi shifted his weight and whacked Atem in the side with his tail. Honda laughed at the innocent look he shot the God Dragon when Atem grunted and scowled at him. "A twitch."

"I'll show you a twitch," Atem scoffed, turning back to Honda. "Sartorius took the camp by force, yes?"

Honda nodded, forcing himself not to snarl at the reminder. He'd never forgotten the horrified look of the Clan leader as they were struck down as if they were nothing but a toy. And the second-in-command had been slaughtered when he'd stepped forward to try to help. He still remembered Sartorius, with glossy scales and the aura of death itself. He'd bested the Clan quickly, forcing them to their bellies almost immediately upon setting paw there among them. And the atrocities he'd committed instantly after, from gobbling nests to pitting the youngest against each other…

"But Keith… He didn't take the Clan by force. Was he already here?"

Honda snarled softly and turned away, bristling and fighting the urge to lunge. He glared at the ground, exhaled sharply, snarled again, and flexed his claws until he could force the anger away. "Yes. Yes. He was here." He shot Yugi a furious sideways glance. The Gandora was still staring at Atem with a horrified expression. "You never shared this suspicion of yours with Yugi?"

"I had no reason," Atem answered quietly. He glanced at Yugi as well, searching his face briefly before turning back. "And why should I share when I did not know?"

"Don't play as if you didn't. You did not come here to speak to me without knowing what you stood to lose in this conversation."

Atem's stare was unwavering and cold but somehow still not unkind. "Honda, I need to know. I have suspicions of something happening within the Lightning Clan and I need answers."

"The Lightning Clan? What has happened to Akunadin?"

"Nothing." Atem shook his head. "He is…indirectly involved. But it is not to do with him."

Honda bristled and scowled. "And you have no plans to speak to him?"

"Listen, Honda," the God Dragon said slowly, "I've set some things in motion. There are a million consequences coming from a single decision I made two years ago. I am trying to prevent further chaos, but I can't do it alone and I need more. It is not enough to suspect. I have to know."

He bristled and stared, peeling his lips back further to show his sharp teeth. He scowled, studying him furiously, and for a moment debated telling him and Yugi to leave before he truly lost his temper. But it faded after a moment. What point was there for Atem to lie? It was not as if he had reason to attempt to win him over. He wanted nothing to do with the Clans. He'd made that abundantly clear in his avoidance since he'd reached adulthood. Atem had never visited until two years before, with the other three.

"What does this prove?" he finally asked, turning to face Atem directly. "What have you personally put into motion that relies upon me telling you this information?"

Atem seemed to hesitate for a moment, then exhaled slowly. He seemed almost to lose his entire essence in that single second, as if all that supported him had been that air in his chest. "Two years ago… I made a choice. The eclipse came and we all gathered and went to visit each camp. I knew my brother's nest hatched that day, beneath the darkness. And I told Jaden they were born prior. I chose to save them, and Yusei chose to stand with me and lie to Jaden as well. And I fear doing so may have caused a lot more problems than was worth the lives of five dragonets."

Honda blinked and stared, then blinked again. He sat up straighter, narrowing his eyes, and studied him intently. "You are not superstitious."

"No. I have thought in terms of fear before and considered the most basic of each, but then I remember I am not a hatchling. My choices are my own. If a omen should come, I shall deal with it." Atem tilted his head. "But I think one has come. And if I am right…then I am to blame, and I must be the one to destroy it."

"What makes you so sure it's true?"

"Because one of them…has powers. He has abilities. He stalks thoughts and he…influences emotions. He puts ideas in your head. And I believe he is a Divine."

Honda scowled and shook his head. This was nonsense. There was no way there was another Divine so soon after Sartorius himself. It made no sense. He turned to Yugi. His friend didn't look away from Atem for a long time, then glanced back at him with an unreadable expression.

"And you? Does this so called Divine mess with you?"

Yugi blinked, then laughed softly. "I'm not the one he fears, Honda."

He froze for a split second. "What?"

"He's afraid of Atem. He thinks if he can influence him enough, he can control him. He's afraid because he knows Atem will be the end of him."

Honda bristled. Yugi believed this? Yugi genuinely thought…? He looked at Atem and back, snorting, "You must have a lot of faith in him to believe in these fairytales. Divine Dragons don't come so soon after catastrophe. At the most it's one per millennia."

Yugi smiled, and Honda couldn't fathom the sorrow in that one look. Yugi turned away and shook his head. "Just trust Atem, Honda. He doesn't dig up old wounds for fun and he's never maliciously caused pain to someone else. Just…listen to him and help—please."

Honda blinked and glanced at Atem and back. "Why are you begging on his behalf?" he snapped, unable to stop himself. Atem was still watching him with those same glittering golden eyes like liquid sunlight and Yugi refused to look at him again. "Atem can ask me again and again until his lungs run out of air. Yet you beg for him, like any of this is going to matter more than for trauma and frustrations among the Clan."

"It holds a lot more importance than that. I do not lie and I am not unjust," Atem said quietly, looking at him intently. The words seemed to rattle in his head for a moment and Honda narrowed his eyes in annoyance. How often had Atem said that to make it sound sincere? But God Dragons always failed to be worth the worship they obtained. They answered no prayers and they did not uphold the promises they made. They broke their oaths as carelessly as they breathed.

"You're hiding things from Yugi," he spat. "And you let him ask for what you want from me."

"No. I have asked you. I have. And I am waiting."

"What if I refuse?"

"Then I'll hope the Divine doesn't come here for your Clan again."

"There is no Divine in existence right now," Honda snarled, nearly lunging. "There never was one—not so soon. Sartorius is barely dead in his shallow grave. You speak to me as if I am a hatchling and don't know these things."

"No." Atem shook his head. "You're the only one who has the answers I need. Why should I treat you as less than me when I am to be indebted to you for this?"

Honda stared at him, a steady throbbing forming in his skull. "What is the oath of a God Dragon but for unfulfilled promises?" he hissed. "Jaden was supposed to protect his region and the sorry excuse never did it."

Atem's face changed for a moment but Honda couldn't read it.

"I'm not Jaden."

Honda barked a laugh. "You don't say," he sneered, "and yet you'd wage war just as soon to be able to get ahead."

Atem looked him over. "There were two Divines at one time," he said abruptly. Honda saw Yugi flinch in the corner of his eye and looked over, bewildered. "But the second is dead and I must deal with his counterpart likely on my own. Jaden shall not have to bloody his paws as I will. That is what I seek to prevent. An edict cannot be declared because of one more brat added to the mess of them. Do you understand? I do this for Yugi and Jaden. I have to know what happened."

Honda looked at Yugi for a long time. "You realize if it came to that, the Clan would help you, right?"

"And you know if it comes to that, I'm staying with Atem, right?" Yugi said firmly, scowling. "I'll stand by him until I can't any longer. Honda—please, just tell him what he needs to know. If anyone can stop this, it's Atem. He's the last chance we have."

Honda bristled. "That sounds rather damning."

"It could be." Yugi huffed. "If he's been using his abilities and honing them in the time it's taken for him to act up again, Honda… He could be almost infallible by now. We don't know enough about the situation to judge."

He huffed. "Then how do you know he's worth wasting this time and drudging up this much bad blood?"

"Just the miniscule amount of ability he had when we first met was enough to twist my mind," Atem answered, narrowing his gaze. "I had the impulse several times to lash out and see if I could hurt or scare them."

"Why do that? Wouldn't they rather not get themselves hurt?"

"It was a test. They just wanted to know the range of control they possessed at that time." Atem fell silent a long moment. "If they could get me to so much as snarl it meant they had control of so much more than they'd anticipated. It was just to see if it would work. They wanted to know if they could control a God Dragon."

Honda shivered. "And they couldn't."

"Not at the time. But that's not to say they couldn't learn."

He huffed and shook his head, eyeing Yugi. "And you just…believe all of this? You don't question it? You don't think about this as anything more than Atem telling you what he believes is true?"

Yugi tilted his head. "I would be stupid to look at it like that. I'm not so blindly led, Honda, but… I trust him. I might not have someone clawing at my head and trying to force their will over mine, but I believe him if he says he did. What's the point of trying for a Gandora when you can enslave a God Dragon instead?"

He wanted to argue, but that was true. Atem was even a Slifer, the most destructive species of Sky Dragon in existence. If he were a Divine and had the choice between the two of them, he'd go after the God Dragon as well. And if he'd heard any of the rumors surrounding the red male before him, it was no wonder they would have overlooked the idea of a Dragon of Destruction in his favor.

Honda spent a long minute staring at him, then studying Yugi and wondering. Was there any part of him which wavered in belief when it came to things Atem told him or said about the situation? Did he believe everything Atem said no matter how crazy it seemed?

"As I said, Honda, he wasn't afraid of me. He wasn't afraid of me at all. The only one he feared was Atem."