Chapter XCII: Words

Atem wasn't sure what made him so certain Yami was hiding something. But he could sense it. He couldn't place why, but he knew something was wrong. It was something in the way he stayed there with them so long that hinted at it. And Atem could feel the nervous prickle of something from his son. But it was likely the desperation with which he seemed to spend time with them. It was as if he were afraid to leave them on their own, as if Dimitri had caused so much fear in him that he couldn't process the thought.

"Yami," he murmured as the hatchling moved to lay with Yugi. He paused immediately at the sound of his name and Yugi seemed tensed to rise as well. Atem narrowed his eyes, watching them both intently, and added, "To me."

His son blinked, then licked Yugi's forehead and told him to remain there before rushing forward. Atem turned and picked his way toward one of the outcrops. He took a seat in the shade and waited for Yami to do the same. The hatchling gave off the most nervous energy Atem had ever seen in him before.

Even when he'd apologized for stopping him killing Bakura, he had not seemed so incredibly scattered. Atem tilted his head and narrowed his eyes, studying him more pointedly. His son watched him in turn, golden eyes glittering as they watched each other.

And suddenly Atem wasn't sure he wanted to speak to him. He wasn't sure then if he was the one who should and whether he should have called Yugi to them instead. Yugi was gentler and gave Yami more room to recover when he asked him things he'd rather avoid.

"Dimitri," he muttered, and Yami froze for a split second before turning away and baring his teeth in annoyance. Atem shifted his weight and watched him. "You're so afraid of him?"

"Not of him—of what he can do." Yami looked back over and narrowed his eyes. "And it's not…truly him."

Atem tilted his head. "Me then?"

Yami opened and closed his mouth and stared at him almost blankly. There were a million and one thoughts in his head and the gem on his forehead darkened briefly with gray. He blinked it away after a moment, watching him intently as if trying to read what he might say or do. And then he smiled faintly.

"I was trying," he chuckled, "but I should have known better."

He snorted. "Yes."

Yami fell silent for a moment. "I'm not afraid of you." Atem opened his mouth, but Yami's tail flicked across his beak and he stopped short, blinking in surprise. The hatchling turned away, picking his words for a moment, and then tilted his head toward him to watch his face. "I just… I don't know what will happen if you and Dimitri should fight each other."

"Are you afraid I am to die?" he asked, watching as Yami blinked huge eyes and stared at him in alarm. "Yami, it's not your responsibility to protect me if that's what's to happen."

Yami huffed. "I did it once. I'll do it again." He paused and shook his head. "But that's not… I don't know that you can kill him or…vice versa. I told you. I can't see you. I have glimpses through Yugi but even those are easily broken and redone at a second's notice."

"Yami, I don't fear death."

"I know. I just…" He huffed again, then glanced at Yugi and back after a moment. "It doesn't matter. I don't know what I see anymore. Things are so…interchangeable sometimes. All I know for sure is what Ryou showed me of what happened with Timaeus. And that was because of outside magic, not my own."

"Maybe you shouldn't seek the future until it begins to develop in front of you," Atem said finally, somewhere between reprimand and quiet thoughtfulness. He tried not to show his frustration, but the conversation seemed to go in circles now and he was sure Yami would twist it around if he asked a question he wasn't ready for.

Yami laughed. "I know. I try not to." He tilted his head. "But I have so many questions and not enough answers. Everything seems so out of place in my head sometimes and I just…don't know."

Atem risked a glance past Yami and toward Yugi. The Gandora was curled up, tail over his beak and eyes closed. But he was awake; Atem knew that for sure. He wasn't trying to listen, but he was definitely aware they were still talking. He smirked slightly. Yugi's eye had cracked into a tiny sliver, the tiniest slit of blue-violet glittering against his dark scales, and he noticeably twitched when he realized Atem was watching him. His tail flicked and then stilled immediately after, and Atem snickered.

It was oddly comforting to see Yugi was still so excitable after all this time.

He turned back when Yami shifted his weight. The dragonet grinned and shook his head slightly. "Timaeus is going to wonder where you are soon," he said quietly, without preamble. He smiled at Atem a little sadly, but it seemed otherwise genuine. "Jonouchi let the secret out, so I guess tell him I'm sorry and I'll see him when I can and there isn't the threat of Dimitri following me to him."

Atem narrowed his gaze. "And how long will that be? Do you know or are they just kind words?"

"Kind words are all I can offer for now." Yami tilted his head and leaned forward. His tongue flicked over Atem's forehead and the God Dragon huffed quietly. Yami searched his face for a moment, then looked away. "Just…tell him I miss him, and I'll come see him when I…get the chance."

He felt something hollow in his chest for a split second, but he couldn't understand the feeling. He didn't even know where it had come from, or why. It seemed so…estranged to him. He hadn't been thinking something so terrible…

Was that Yami?

He blinked, puzzled, and opened his mouth, but Yami shook his head as he muttered, "Ignore it. I'm just tired."

Atem wanted to argue, to pick at it until Yami surrendered answers, but the words died in his throat. Very slowly he nodded and Yami exhaled a relieved sigh, smiling at him tightly but genuinely, and turned away again. Atem shifted his weight and glanced at Yugi and back. "So you plan to leave us here?"

Yami hesitated, as if he hadn't expected the question, then looked away. "Yes. I plan to leave you here with Yugi. I…want to find another den to rest in for a little while." He paused. "Jonouchi may need to remain with you a while longer. Would you be willing to do that? Or should I see if I can get him to follow me elsewhere?"

Atem faltered a moment. When had he started lending out his den for recovery? He almost scoffed, but he was sure Yugi would fight him on the matter. It didn't matter if he and Jonouchi were feuding. Jonouchi had just lost a heart. Yugi was nothing if not selfless and giving in that manner. He'd see to it that Jonouchi recovered, preferably with Atem's help but likely without as well.

He sighed. "We'll go to the valley den. I don't want him in the mountain one."

Yami laughed. "Subtle how much you dislike Fire Dragons," he chuckled. He leaned forward to lick his forehead again and Atem smirked. "I'm sure he doesn't have rabies to spread."

He grunted. "Dragons don't get rabies."

Yami grinned wider and shook his head. "I'm glad you know that," he teased. "I also don't think he'll want to interact with you at all."

Atem huffed. "Good for him," he snapped. "But my dislike of Fire Dragons is justified and I won't let anyone else tell me it isn't. It's not as if I treat him or anyone else maliciously unless provoked. Fire Dragons are just…Fire Dragons."

Yami laughed and looked at Yugi, drawing Atem to do the same. Yugi was still watching Atem from the tiniest slit of his eye, tail on his beak but face twitching with laughter. Yami grinned wider and Atem smirked again, watching Yugi struggle not to snicker. Atem considered the Gandora for a moment, then blinked and laughed.

He'd gotten closer.

Atem could see the subtle drag marks where he'd shifted and scooted toward them. No wonder he could hear them now, whereas he'd been unable before.

"You little sneak," he chuckled, almost amazed he hadn't noticed him there before. But he was so used to Yugi's presence that getting closer didn't set off the alarms it should have had he been anyone else. Yugi squeezed his eye shut and pretended to be asleep.

"I'm amazed it took you so long to notice," Yami snickered. He looked between them and Atem swore he saw the smallest glimmer of hope, but his stomach knotted as he considered.

Yugi wasn't forgiven.

Atem didn't even know if he could forgive him.

Everything in his nature said to simply turn his back, but instinct said to accept the fault and move past it. But how was he supposed to do that when just thinking about it made him hurt more than he could fathom? Atem looked away from Yami and Yugi, glancing around and then up toward the sky.

How long until he and Jaden went to war?

How long until Dimitri came for Yami?

Or Timaeus?

The more Atem considered it, the harder it became to imagine he could hold his own. Dimitri changed shapes. He had abilities Atem couldn't touch. And yet Yami swore there was something in him that would aid them.

But what if he was the reason they all died? What if Yami had placed his hope in the wrong dragon and he insisted on standing beside him despite the fact he knew?

Atem glanced at Yami sideways. He'd betrayed him already once in hiding away and letting him believe he was dead. How long until the second blow came?

Yami tilted his head as they stared at each other. Atem knew he heard him now, but indignation made him spiteful. He huffed and Yami watched him a long minute before shaking his head slightly and turning away. Yugi shifted his weight where he lay feet away, considering them both more intently than he had before. Atem wondered if he sensed the discontent in the air.

"Atem?"

He glanced at Yugi sideways and considered his puzzled, alarmed expression. Did he think he was hurt or something? Had he assumed something was wrong besides his frustration toward the situation? Atem nearly bore his teeth and snarled at him, but the impulse died almost immediately after it came.

"I'm fine," he said quietly, finally, turning to Yugi again after a moment. "I'm just tired. Are we free to leave now?"

Yugi looked as if Atem had struck him. His eyes shot immediately to Yami who smiled as he got up and went to his side. He rubbed muzzles with him, saying, "I wanted to seek out another den for nightfall, anyways. I don't stay in one place long enough for Jaden or the other two to find me, so I told Atem I'd rather find one soon."

Yugi looked at Atem almost skeptically, but it melted to misery after a moment and he nodded slightly. "Okay."

Timaeus looked furious when he spotted Yugi, but it faded as he caught Atem's eye. He huffed, shook himself out, snarled softly, glanced at Jonouchi over his shoulder, and then moved over to them. He locked eyes with Yugi when he grumbled, "Your friend is a lot more annoying than I was prepared for."

Yugi blinked. "What? Why? What happened?"

"He ate everything."

Atem burst out laughing before he could stop himself, startled by the ferocity in his expression. "What? He ate everything?" he snickered, tilting his head. His friend huffed and scowled, and Yugi chortled, startled as well. "Did you forget he's a Fire Dragon?"

"He ate three deer and a buffalo and he's still requesting food from me," he snapped. "I haven't even been able to eat on my own, and he just keeps asking."

Atem snorted and looked away. "I'm sorry."

"It's a wonder you can even keep him fed," Timaeus hissed, tossing his beak at Yugi. The Gandora flinched and Atem looked up again. Timaeus was angry, but he hadn't lunged or even borne his teeth.

The God Dragon glanced at Yugi then, puzzled. Yugi got hungry a lot more often than he did. He had to feed almost daily and it was usually about half his body weight in one meal. He blinked and turned back. "He usually eats fish between all the red meat."

Timaeus blinked, then huffed. "He's too much trouble to feed fish."

Yugi sighed loudly, shaking his head. "I'll go get him something to eat. You two just stay here and…have fun discussing how terrible I am," he muttered, the last three words etched in misery. He ran off after a moment, sprinting toward the trees. Jonouchi called out to him but Yugi didn't stop, and Atem found himself bristling as he turned away.

Timaeus was silent for a long time. "I had no plans to speak badly of him. You realize that, right? I'm angry, but it's not just at him."

Atem looked over. "Yes, well, I've been giving him the cold shoulder and sharp words for days now. You've witnessed it already. He's not ready to deal with both of us doing that."

"Then I guess he needs to grow up and stop assuming the worst," Timaeus snapped, almost spitting the words. "I'm more upset with you than him anyways."

He snorted. "I'm aware. Yugi just takes too much guilt onto himself sometimes. And he knows I'm furious with him still. It doesn't help the look you gave him when you saw him, however."

"I'm more upset with him because he lied to you. I'm mad at you for lying to me."

Atem nodded again. "Yes. I know."

Timaeus scowled for a moment, then sighed and looked over at Jonouchi. "I'm more upset because I think I deserved better than having a spineless Red-Eyes tell me Yami is alive," he snapped. He huffed and then sighed again and shook himself out. "I thought… I guess I was just hopeful I meant more than that to Yami, even if he isn't infatuated with me as he used to be."

"He wouldn't have shared his heart with you if you didn't mean so much more to him," Atem said quietly, trying to smother the pain in his chest at the thought. He'd hoped Yugi would never have lied to him like this, and yet they were at this point. He understood he believed it had done so much more good than damage, but Atem couldn't be sure any longer. It felt as if someone had managed to sink his claws through his flesh whenever he looked at Yugi. "He asked after you earlier, when we were with him today."

Timaeus's head snapped around, eyes wide as twin moons. Atem suppressed a flinch.

"He also said to tell you he misses you and he'll come to see you when there's less of a chance of Dimitri following him." Timaeus blinked huge eyes again and Atem fought a grimace. It felt so false to say it to him, as if the words were blank and lifeless as they came from his mouth. Yami should have been there to speak to him instead. He should have been the one to relay the message. "He's…well, from what I can tell. There's something that has him spooked, but he won't share. Beyond that, he's…healthy and growing well."

Timaeus blinked again, then laughed softly. He sounded amazed and horrified. "He's really alive? I thought… I guess I… Jonouchi didn't seem like the most credible source around all the whining he did for food."

Atem couldn't help the chuckle that escaped him. "Then I'll assure you. He's definitely alive. He's well enough for having gone on his own so prematurely." He paused and tilted his head, glancing past Timaeus and toward Jonouchi. Yugi had returned with a smaller mountain sheep, dropping it in front of him and taking a seat as Jonouchi lunged forward to dig in. The Gandora glanced at them for only a second before turning away immediately after. "The Gandora genes kicked in. He's much larger than I was at his age."

Timaeus blinked and glanced over his shoulder and back. "How much larger?" he whispered, sounding awed.

"He's about the size of an adult wolf," Atem said quietly. Yami was still considerably small for a Fire Dragon hybrid, but huge for a Sky Dragon hatchling. Had he been pureblooded, he'd still have been the size of Atem's paw at the very most. Timaeus blinked again, eyes growing somehow wider. "I'm sure Dimitri is almost twice his size at this point."

Timaeus looked as if he wanted to argue, but stopped short. "Blue-Eyes," he muttered, as if the species were a dirty animal. Atem snickered and Timaeus huffed a breath. "Although, I guess it doesn't matter with how perfectly he changes shapes."

Atem looked at Yugi for a moment. His mate stared at Jonouchi as the Red-Eyes swallowed wool and flesh alike. He shook his head at whatever the other male grumbled around his food, then glanced at Atem with a tilt of his head. "No, I suppose it doesn't matter," he admitted to Timaeus quietly, though his stomach churned. If only there was a way to keep Dimitri in his real form and not another's. He sighed as he turned back. "Point being, Yami is alive and well. We just left him at the Fire Clan camp."

Timaeus blinked. "At the Fire Clan camp? Why?"

"Dimitri headed south to draw Jaden out. I assume he meant to devour his hearts."