Chapter LXVII: Moonlight

Timaeus heard paw steps before he woke properly. The sound tickled his ears and choked his senses for a split second. He blinked his eye open and shifted his weight, turning his head to look toward the entrance of the den. Kris remained fast asleep behind him, snoring softly and curled up tightly. He shuffled to his paws, stretched and shook himself, and looked out the entrance and through the darkness. The moon was bright overhead, bathing the ground and the newcomer in brilliant silver and white. Timaeus blinked and bristled, flexing his claws and growling softly.

Why was Seto here?

He moved forward a few steps and shifted his weight. He almost couldn't tell if he was seeing things, but Seto was likely the only Felgrand to know he existed there. He didn't think Atem would have told him, but Seto wasn't as dumb as he acted at times. He knew Timaeus was his friend. He knew where he could find him if he only followed the rumors.

He crept out of the den and forward, debating his line of action. Did he lash out and strike him from behind? Or did he wait for him to turn around and speak? Did he give him the opportunity to lash out first if he turned around or did he take it? Timaeus studied him for a moment. Seto didn't seem to know he was there, which was…astonishing to say the least. Seto had always been violent, and violence meant caution. Caution meant an ability to recognize when someone was coming up behind them or when they were being watched.

He stopped yards away, studying him.

Why did he seem so unconcerned?

"I'm well aware you're there," Seto said calmly, as if he'd read his mind. The Felgrand remained glancing around, taking in the scenery as if it were much more than long yellowed grass and barren space. He turned around slowly, as if he were an awkward hatchling attempting to find his footing. Timaeus wondered for a split second if he'd been wounded. But when their eyes locked, Seto's sparkled like gems and his stance was readied for battle. "I had assumed you would have gone elsewhere. I thought after all those times I scraped through Atem's memories and forced my way in, the location would have changed."

Timaeus barely suppressed a shiver, staring at what looked like Seto but clearly could not have been. Except this phantom was the same size, same build, same color. His eyes were even the same, like chips of ice and cold moonlight. They flashed silver in the coming darkness and his expression was even the same bitter resentment Timaeus always saw.

"Yami's memories were the strongest. I read them and picked through the images he had to offer." Seto's eyes flashed and burned with laughter. "He loves you so much."

Timaeus blinked and narrowed his gaze, studying the other male.

"I'm hoping your broken corpse will bring him to me."

He spat a laugh. "Yami is dead."

The other dragon paused for a long moment, studying him as if with disbelief. He watched him with cold blue eyes and Timaeus felt something scratching at his mind, trying to burrow into his thoughts. It was painful, nearly overwhelming, and he wondered for a split second if he was imagining it the moment it faded. But he remembered Atem describing something similar and the dragon had said "scraped" when he'd mentioned treading memories. He had never felt it when Yami had gone through his thoughts. It had always seemed like Yami had just known. Had Timaeus not known of the ability, he would have assumed Yami was simply good at guessing everyone's thoughts.

"You're genuine," the dragon whispered, blinking once long and slow. "He's truly dead. How?"

He watched him a moment, debating, and then almost laughed. He planned to kill him. What was there to hide at this point?

"Jaden got to him years ago."

The Felgrand hummed, nodding slowly. "I see. How sad." He smiled slowly. "I still have to kill you. I'm here. And I may be disappointed to not be able to eat Yami's hearts, but I still have Atem to look forward to in his stead."

Timaeus bristled, a small shiver of fear creeping down his spine. He bore his teeth, snarling under his breath as he considered. He didn't know that he could manage to slow him down for long, but it was worth the attempt all the same.

"I suppose eating Yugi's after will have some benefits. Gandoras are such nasty, violent little creatures as it is. Perhaps his hearts will give me some extra strength as well." He crept forward a step, the grin spreading. "What happened, Timaeus? Admitting Yami's death knocked the wind from you? How sad. Your posturing is truly pathetic. I'd expected more from the dragon Atem called his friend."

Timaeus almost questioned the phrasing. But he remembered the threat just as quickly.

He shifted his weight, studying his stance. He was several times larger in bodyweight. That…shape was faster, but it didn't have the power to take him down. Timaeus knew it. He wondered if the other male did as well or if he truly somehow thought otherwise.

Was he still listening?

"Let's make this fast. I'll kill you and your death screams can draw Atem to me. I'll kill him and devour his hearts, and do the same to Yugi after." He raised his head and smiled, drool dripping from his teeth. The spark in his eyes said he was already picturing Atem and Yugi, tasting the raw strength on his tongue. "Imagine, Timaeus. The most powerful God Dragon in all existence shall empower me."

He blinked and studied him. Laughter bubbled up in the back of his throat. Did he truly think he could take Atem on? Atem, of all dragons? He wanted to sneer, but the words died in his throat.

This wasn't Seto.

So why did it look so much like him?

He shivered and suppressed a furious noise. Instead he shook his head and stepped closer. The other male eyed him a moment, smirked, and then launched himself. Timaeus readied himself and didn't move but to tense his muscles when they collided. The other male was knocked almost off his paws. Timaeus sprang forward, latching his claws into his shoulders and opening his mouth wide. He threw him sideways, blood spraying in an arch as the Felgrand hit the ground. His teeth caught his skull and the bone crunched almost effortlessly beneath them.

They landed on their sides. Timaeus pressed his wings into the ground, tucking them. Pain radiated from the force of the impact with the ground. Claws scrabbled at the muscles of his underbelly but Felgrands didn't have the necessary sharpness to eviscerate. Their killing methods were usually bites to the neck or their front claws used to slash the jugular. The back claws were almost useless but for traction on the ground.

Timaeus kicked at his belly as he tried to shift to stand. His wing was pinned under a shoulder, claws dug further into the membrane. He jerked the appendage, sending the Felgrand firmly to the ground from the force. The blunter claws dug into his stomach again but couldn't find purchase. Timaeus clamped down on his skull harder, amazed by how easily it seemed to cave beneath the force.

He couldn't understand it. This was almost an exact replica of Seto, down to the glint in his eyes. Timaeus had always memorized Atem's brothers from the smallest scale in case something happened. And now he was facing a dragon with the exact same body shape, form, and size and they were weak. The skull was like that of a young hatchling, one barely of a few years if even that.

He pressed on his wings and pushed forward. The momentum shoved the Felgrand back and Timaeus rolled to his paws. He kept his jaws clamped, dragging the other male upright as well. The Felgrand rolled and dislodged him, stepping back. He blinked blood from his eyes and shook his head. Timaeus thought he saw the strangest flash of pale blue and white, as if the moonlight were dancing across water. Blood thick as oil and black as mud dripped from his face, but when he straightened again, Timaeus couldn't find the wounds.

He lashed his tail and the Felgrand smirked, straightening and watching intently. They eyed each other, until Timaeus lost his patience. The Knight Dragon rushed forward. He slammed into the Felgrand even as the Sky Dragon jumped to intercept the blow. His claws hooked into Timaeus's shoulders and his back paws kicked at his stomach once more. They tumbled from the impact, the Sky Dragon hitting the ground on his side and twisting rapidly to catch his footing.

He landed atop him. Timaeus snarled and shoved his front paws forward. His claws slashed at the flesh around his shoulders and chest and Seto stumbled back. Timaeus kicked his back legs and twisted, upright immediately after. The Felgrand panted, standing several feet away and struggling to catch his breath. Timaeus studied him, but the blood smeared across his scales had no open wounds. He could not see cuts or even bruises.

He pressed forward, snarling. How? How was that possible? He should have seen every little cut and gouge mark and yet there was nothing.

The Felgrand laughed, delighted, and stepped back. "Oh, you've finally figured it out. You can't hurt me."

Timaeus bore his teeth. "You bleed," he spat. "That's all I need."

He snorted. "From what wounds?"

He huffed and forced himself not to shiver. From what wounds. He growled and flexed his claws. Then he sprang again. He hit the other male full force once more. The Felgrand rolled, taking a blow to the head with ease. His skull didn't feel half as soft as it had before. Timaeus felt the bone crack and break beneath his jaw, but it did not crumble as it had seemed to before. They rolled several feet and he clamped down harder but the bone seemed to hold now. For whatever reason it failed to give this time.

He snarled, frustrated, and swiped at whatever he could hit with his front paws. Blood sprayed the air and his tongue was coated. A stream of it shot into his eye but he refused to let go. He snarled even as the other male twisted beneath him. He tugged Timaeus a step forward, straightened, and slashed him in the side of the head. Timaeus staggered, startled, and blinked the blood away.

The other male looked odd. Timaeus couldn't quite place it, but something about his stance was different. Something in the way he held himself had changed. He saw blood upon its paw, claws soaked in it. But they were sharper and longer, it seemed—somehow. And his face was…

Timaeus blinked and it was gone.

Had it been the moonlight?

Nighttime could easily play tricks on someone…

Timaeus bore his teeth and lunged again. They hit the ground and the other dragon twisted, writhing as if he'd been bitten by a snake. He hooked his claws on Timaeus's face, pulled, and then twisted as if to stand. Timaeus staggered and hit the ground, rolling to shove to his paws again. But the other didn't let go. He kept his claws hooked, rolling to mirror him. Timaeus spat a curse, twisted, and slashed as quick and hard as he could.

The other male grunted, letting go. Timaeus shoved his back paws forward, threw his tail toward his belly, and rolled over the other male. He could have pinned him had the other not twisted so abruptly as to face him. His mouth opened wide and the Felgrand lashed out with both paws, hitting him so hard his head throbbed. He shoved off his wings and tossed Timaeus back several steps before he could recover himself.

The Knight Dragon hit the ground, stumbling, and huffed.

The Felgrand wasn't bleeding. The wounds were gone, just as they had been before. But Timaeus swore he saw a sharper, darker glint of blue, and for a split second the male had changed in his vision again. Somehow he stood taller, with sharper features. But it was gone again. That split second passed.

Timaeus panted, studying him intently.

The moonlight had to have been playing tricks on him.

The Felgrand launched himself at him. Timaeus readied himself, bracing his claws. The impact almost winded him. Teeth clamped into his skull before he could shield himself, but the force seemed subdued. Somehow the blow was weaker than it should have been. Timaeus hit the ground on his side and twisted. He shoved off the ground and onto his back paws, standing almost upright. The Felgrand refused to release. Blood sprayed the air again, and he kicked at the other male's sides with his front paws. His claws were soaked instantly. He'd dug far enough the other male recoiled with a pained hiss and fled a few feet back.

Timaeus bristled and bore his teeth.

"You're actually tougher than I thought." The Felgrand snarled low in his throat. "And while I enjoy digging my teeth into your flesh and shredding your skin with my claws, I unfortunately have a deadline. See, my parents can't know I've left the nest. And I don't think I can hold them to rest much longer. So, I guess my fun has to end. But don't worry. I'll make your death quick but painful."

He snarled softly and struggled to catch his breath.

It seemed oddly hard to breathe.

Timaeus bore his teeth again, forcing a snarl, and eyed him. "How can a death be quick but painful?" he finally hissed, hoping for a split second to distract him.

The Felgrand smiled wider than ever, teeth like sharpened stones. "It's where your mind is in agony but your body is already broken," he sneered. He came forward a step and Timaeus felt that itchy scratching pain in his mind as the Felgrand's eyes flashed and his head tilted. "Oh, but your worst memory is the night Yami left, yes? When he visited you and said goodbye and you woke to his ashes. Wonderful."

Timaeus barely managed to stop the cold trill of fear in his spine. He snarled louder. "You're pathetic. You're nothing in comparison. I feel you. His gift was advanced enough no one could tell when he read their thoughts. You don't even know the magnitude of that strength, because you'll never be anywhere near his abilities."

The other male faltered, startled and enraged. "Oh, you're a stupid one. You really think you can distract me long enough to get ahead?"

"I don't need to get ahead." Timaeus snorted. "I wanted you to know I see you."

The Felgrand snarled and launched himself. Timaeus rose onto his back paws and they rolled several yards from the hit. He dug his teeth into the other male's neck where he could, latching onto where the jugular should have been. But the thin scales of the Felgrand had somehow thickened and they seemed almost impenetrable. He snarled, frustrated, even as he dug his claws into the scales along their shoulders and tore at their wings seconds later. Membrane and blood flew through the air. The shredding noise made his head throb.

Timaeus attempted to twist to get his footing again, but missed. The other dragon rolled and tossed him onto his back. His wings flared with pain, winding him, and his grip loosened. The other male slammed a paw into his face, sending Timaeus rolling from the force. He stumbled for his paws when he felt steady enough, but the other male snarled and slammed into him.

Timaeus felt the throbbing in his head a thousand times more. Blinding white light flashed in his eye and he swore he heard a voice, whispering and coaxing.

"Hi."

He looked over. Yami peered back at him, head tilted and the smallest of smiles on his face.

"I went to see Yugi and Atem. We spoke and I'm here now. I wanted to talk to you…if that's okay."

"Of course. Why wouldn't it be?"

Yami smiled a little wider as he came forward. "I just…I don't know. I guess I wanted to make sure before I traversed your dreams like this again. I didn't ask last time, either."

"Since when do you need permission?"

The smile wavered slightly, then disappeared altogether. He looked away after a moment, golden eyes flickering about. Timaeus couldn't see around them, but Yami seemed focused on something or other. "Am I always welcome here?"

"What?"

"In your dreams—your mind. Am I always welcome here?"

"Well, yeah. Of course you are. I wouldn't allow anyone else." Timaeus paused. "Why do you ask?"

"I just… I always wondered why you never made a barrier. Yugi uses the lemon tree. And Atem forged that valley of mist and thorns." Yami looked over. "It just made me curious. You never worried about what I might find in your head."

"Why should I?"

Yami smiled and tilted his head again. "I was just curious. I'd like to stay here if I'm allowed—or at least I'd like to keep the ability to stay here. I want to have an invitation forever."

"Then you have it," Timaeus snorted, smiling. "But why so odd, little dragon?"

The hatchling grinned. "I just keep thinking about things. They have to change at some point and I… You know I love you, right?"

"Mm."

Yami paused, seeming to pick his words. "I always have. I always will." He flexed his claws, almost wriggling with anxiety for a split second before laughing. "I sound so weird. I'm trying so hard not to sound so weird."

"I don't know why," Timaeus teased. "You're always weird."

"Thanks," Yami scoffed, but then grinned again. "It doesn't matter. I just… I wanted you to know. I want you to remember that, okay?"

"I do. Why wouldn't I?"

"It's not about now." He fell quiet again, then abruptly looked away. "Daddy said I should tell you…what I've been doing, that I should have asked before I tried. But I didn't think it would hurt you. I couldn't imagine it ever would. I tried to give you back your eye."

Timaeus faltered and stared. "What?"

"Your eye. I wanted to return it." Yami looked up, flustered as he continued. "I tried to restore it, but I guess I'm not that amazing a healer. Atem said I could hurt you if I wasn't careful but I didn't even think… And I'm sorry for doing it without your permission. But I thought…"

He frowned. "That's…not okay, but I forgive you."

"You dream with both. I thought you missed having your other one." Yami huffed a breath. "But it didn't work. No matter how hard I tried, it never worked."

"It wasn't meant to."

"Maybe not, but…" Yami shook his head. "It doesn't matter. I'm sorry for not asking your permission. And I should have asked if you even wanted me to do that. It was stupid to assume."

Timaeus opened his mouth, but the words fell away. Instead he found himself alone for a split second, as if the darkness had swallowed the little red hatchling away.

Seto looked toward Kisara uncertainly. His mate was still fast asleep toward the end of the den, snoring softly enough he could just make out her even breathing. His stomach lurched as he shifted his weight. He didn't know what had jolted him from his sleep, but he'd felt as if something had struck him. He blinked in the dark, glancing around slowly once more. Dimitri and Noah were snuggled up against Mokuba, Zigfried and Leon sleeping a little further away and closer to their mother. He exhaled slowly and looked around once more.

What had woken him? He'd thought for a moment it was someone walking into the den, but when he'd opened his eyes everyone had been settled and no one was out of place. Everyone was still in the same place as they had been before, fast asleep and undisturbed.

He wondered if he was paranoid. Kisara had always teased him he was, from the moment he set paw in the camp and Akunadin had looked at him as if he were dung upon realizing his relation to Atem. He'd always watched Akunadin intently, waiting for the moment he turned on him and tried to chase him out. Seto had marked that day as the one he'd be forced to take over the Clan. He wasn't about to let someone chase him out.

Keith had been another story. Akunadin was not a Barrel Dragon, nor was he so powerful he seemed able to take any hit as if it were a gust of wind. When Atem had dealt with him, Seto had been more than satisfied to see Keith all but killed within minutes of exposure to him. Atem had not played with him. And he hadn't spared him as he had Seto. Those blows had been inflicted to cause more damage than superficial wounds or crushed bones. He'd broken through his ribcage and destroyed his heart with that horrifying tail of his.

Keith was a beast Akunadin had never been able to mimic. And Atem was the monster that had taken him down. Seto was related to the coldest God Dragon among the four of them. He would win if it came to a true battle for dominance. He would force Akunadin to the ground and take the Clan from him should they go to blows.

He still remembered the sideways glance Atem had given him when he'd come to Bless the nest, as if he couldn't figure out why Akunadin was still in power. He still recalled the whispers and curious looks from others. It didn't matter that Seto had never made any implication he would take the Clan. It was still speculated, especially now that they knew Atem as his brother.

Rafael was the other potential leader. He knew that. Rafael knew that. Everyone else knew.

Seto wasn't sure how well he would fare against the Lightning hybrid. He'd never gone to blows with him. Their arguments were usually about Atem in some capacity, whether or not Seto entertained them for more than a moment. He usually dismissed whatever Rafael had to say, though a few times he'd wanted to knock his brains from his skull when he'd spoken of Kisara.

Whatever had happened prior to his arrival didn't matter. She'd chosen him after. If she'd been with Rafael before, it wasn't an issue now.

Seto watched Noah shift slightly in his sleep, rubbing his cheek against the ground and snoring softly. Dimitri stretched out in the spot his brother had vacated. Mokuba stirred to sit up, yawn, and then roll over and land almost on top of the two of them.

He exhaled slowly and wondered once more what had woken him. Every instinct said someone had come through. Every instinct said he'd been asleep when someone had stepped too close. But unless he'd dreamed it or he sensed some kind of phantom, it was impossible.

And Seto had never been so superstitious as to believe in phantoms. He believed in omens of certain kinds—even as much as he loathed to admit it. But he had never believed in phantoms. There was Purgatory and Paradise and that was all that existed. Phantoms were for the weak-minded who couldn't accept the things around them, whether it was loss of friend or family.

He shuffled his paws and lowered his chin to the ground.

The sensation of being watched came tenfold. Seto's eyes snapped open, searching the darkness of the den as he considered the clutch once more. They were all asleep still. Kisara had not woken. He raised and turned his head toward the entrance.

He froze in place, scales rising into a bristle along his spine. His stomach knotted and his entire body felt as if it had turned to ice.

Was that…?

He shuffled to his paws, staring at the silhouette in the entrance. He would have recognized it anywhere, despite how often he'd dismissed it when he was younger. He glanced back and then to the entrance again. The apparition even cast a shadow, though it was lighter than it should have been, and the brown eyes glared at him easily in the moonlight. Seto slunk forward, careful to keep from making noise as he went to the entrance. No one stirred behind him when he glanced back, but he found himself bristling and fighting a snarl as he got closer.

"You're dead," he hissed.

He'd been dead for two years now.

Bakura snorted without a care in the world and turned to make his way along the ledge. Seto narrowed his eyes, glancing back again, and turned to follow him. It was stupid. He should have gone back and forced the image out of his mind. This was impossible. Phantoms weren't real.

Yet he couldn't stop himself. He followed faithfully as Bakura led him effortlessly across the ledges and up the steep wall of the clearing. He stopped at the top and glanced back, then continued forward a few yards. Seto scrabbled after him, annoyed his back paws had no purchase and his front weren't made for climbing as Bakura's had been.

He pulled himself up behind him, panting from the effort, and then shook himself out as he got within a foot of him. Bakura turned around, blinking in the dark and narrowing his eyes. His pupils looked like still puddles, his irises blank discs of discoloration. Seto shivered and looked him over.

"You're dead."

Bakura looked at him, exasperated. "I'm amazed you know that."

"So, why am I hallucinating you're here?"

"Hallucinating? You?" Bakura scoffed. "You've never hallucinated before, have you? Family members aren't the ones who usually appear when that happens. What you desire most is what comes forth."

Seto blinked, narrowing his eyes again. "Good to know," he sneered. "So, then why am I even seeing you here?"

Bakura chuckled. "I thought it was time for a friendly visit."

"You. Are. Dead."

"Say it a few more times and maybe it'll sink into your tiny brain, brother." Bakura shook his head and began padding a few feet away. Seto could see the trees through his body now, as if he were a patch of mist before his eyes. Seto tilted his head and Bakura turned back, eyeing him coldly. "Clearly I'm dead. Why is it so shocking you can see through me? Are you stupid?"

Seto shifted his weight. "I wouldn't think so but I'm sure someone else might say otherwise." He bore his teeth. "What are you here for?"

Bakura smirked. "How sad. I thought you'd be pleased to see me."

"I'm ecstatic," he sneered. "But what is your point? Why are you here?"

"Oh, please. What do you expect to do with your temper? I'm dead, Seto. And it wasn't as if you could handle me when I was alive, either. I never deferred to you because of age or temper. I still wouldn't now if I were alive." He stopped abruptly. "I'm still offended that little brat managed to sink his teeth so far in my throat. Amazing what a hatchling can do when they're afraid, huh?"

Seto shook his head, annoyed. "I don't care. Yami is dead, too. It doesn't matter any longer."

Bakura's eyes flashed. "You never even thought of him when it happened. You found out and you never even thought about Yami dying."

He snorted. "Why should I have? Atem didn't even think it fitting to tell me." He paused, uneasy as he considered the image before him. Was this…? "So, you're upset because I never thought of him when I found out? And then you found out. So how did that happen?"

Bakura's face twisted into a hideous grin. His teeth flashed in the dark and his eyes glimmered. His voice rose with glee. "I killed Timaeus and he told me."

Seto blinked. "You….what?"

"I. Killed. Timaeus." Bakura tilted his head and grinned somehow wider. "I killed him. I eviscerated him and I broke his spine. I beat him to a pulp. I left his body for Atem to find."

Seto opened and closed his mouth. "You…basically brought war here?"

"It won't matter. Atem will be on his way soon enough. He knows it wasn't you. He'll come for me." Bakura shifted his weight happily from paw to paw, eyes shining. "And then I'm going to kill him."

Seto barked a laugh. "You? Kill Atem?" he scoffed. "Good luck."

"He's immune to the other three. He's not immune to me." Bakura purred and shifted forward, opening his mouth into a gaping smirk. "But he won't come for me first. He'll come for you. And then I'll kill him."

"Me?"

"But of course." Bakura's voice dipped with malice. "He'll smell you there in the clearing. And he'll put it together that you murdered Timaeus. Because what else is there to think?"