Chapter LXXXV: Destiny

Leviathan woke from a deep slumber, eyes glittering like captured stars. His mind reeled and his body ached, but his thoughts raced with questions and realizations he hadn't stumbled across before. He blinked tiredly, narrowing his gaze, and shuffled to his paws. He shook himself and looked around the cavern slowly. The walls were slick with water, as if they were part of the gaping maws of some immense monster. He watched the water bleed through various cracks as if it meant to destroy the structure entirely, and his thoughts swayed and dipped away to nothing for a split second. He blinked slowly, narrowed his gaze, and focused on the sparkle which glinted from the surface of the water.

An image began to slowly appear, rippling across the water rushing down the walls. It took a moment to form, and he bristled as he considered the bright red scales and striped underside. The image shimmered and rippled, a pressure building in the back of Leviathan's head as he tried to focus and force it through.

It took a few moments longer and then the dragon turned its head. At first the image cut away entirely. And then, as the pressure in his head almost made it explode, the image came back tenfold. The dragon was watching him, clearly understanding he was being spied on, and the thought it may have been Atem was dashed instantly.

It was a small, lean but barrel-chested male with brilliant golden eyes without pupils and a wide jaw with what seemed two sets of teeth. A black streak like a flame outlined the contours its sloping skull, and its expression was oddly warm and calm. They were staring back at him, unblinking, and Leviathan was almost amazed by how simple the expression on their face was.

He could see Atem in him. It only took a glance.

And he remembered the little hatchling Atem had in his mouth as he'd run away from the three God Dragons.

"Leviathan."

The word was cool and quiet, like the wind whistling. He bristled and lashed his tail, then stepped closer to the image. Was Yami speaking to him through the vision? He'd never seen that before. He'd never even considered it possible. No one had ever spoken of it. No one had ever even hinted at it being possible.

He shivered. "Yami."

The red male tilted his head but seemed unsurprised, watching him with brilliant golden eyes. "Hi," he said softly, as if they were old friends. He felt as if his legs were moments from shaking. Yami was letting him see him. He was allowing him to speak to him. It wasn't as if he'd meant to let him spy. He was controlling the entire thing.

He was that powerful.

Leviathan almost laughed aloud. "Jaden is going to lose his mind when he finds out you're still alive."

Yami tilted his head further. "Do you plan to tell him?"

He blinked and thought for a moment to say yes, to be spiteful and wait for Yami to bristle and scowl and glare and snap at him as his father would have. Leviathan remembered Atem launching himself at Jaden so fearlessly, thinking only of Yami and Yugi and defying his own instincts to sit back from a fight with the three deities. He wondered how much love Atem must have felt to just hurtle himself into a battle like that, not knowing the odds and terrified he'd see his son or himself killed for it.

"No," he scoffed. "Jaden can stumble across it himself, seeing as none of you seem capable of truly hiding things."

"Everything hidden in the shadows must eventually come to the light," Yami said quietly, moving to take a seat with his tail wrapped around his paws. "My existence can't stay hidden forever. I set too many things in motion before. Now I'll have to navigate the repercussions to continue from my decisions."

Leviathan bristled. "How are you doing this?"

Yami hummed. "I wanted to be able to speak to you when I realized it was you I felt attempting to spy on me," he murmured, blinking slowly and narrowing his eyes. He tilted his head and closed his eyes, drumming his claws upon the dirt. "I feel it whenever I am spoken of. And I know Yusei has tried recently to look upon me to see if there's some trace as to what happened. But I've hidden from both of them. You seemed…more troubled and searching."

He snarled softly. "What in all can you sense?"

Yami opened his eyes. "A lot of things," he mumbled, shaking his head slowly. "I sense so much I can't even put it into words, Leviathan. But it doesn't matter. You sought me out—even unconsciously. Did you wish to speak to me of something?"

He hesitated a moment, studying him intently. "I…I dreamed of my father when he spoke of you."

Yami didn't answer but for a small nod.

"Did you know of that conversation?"

He shook his head. "I'm not privy to that. Your dreams are your own, as are your memories. I don't tread them," he answered softly, blinking slowly once more and looking away after a moment. He got to his paws. "If you so desire to find me and relay the conversation to me later, feel free, but for the moment I have to go."

He opened his mouth to answer but the image broke. The water stopped flowing along the cavern walls so abruptly it made him falter. Had Yami done that, too? Was he so powerful he'd managed to control the element like that as well?

Leviathan sat there for a long time, staring at the walls and wondering how in the world Yami might have managed it. Then he stood, shaking himself out once more, and went to meet with the rest of the Clan. They were waiting at the top of the stone, beside the river which cut through the rock across them. He remembered then how Yugi had led Atem across as if he were unafraid, as if the water did not scare him even slightly. He remembered how Atem had taken the lead when he'd faltered, as if it were the most natural thing in the world, and he wondered as he thought of Yami.

He'd let him see him.

He'd chosen to speak to him.

Yami had been unafraid of him. He had not cared Leviathan was the god of war, nor that he had given away his location and status of existence in speaking to him like this. Yami had conversed almost as if they were old friends rather than God and Divine Dragons like this.

He could not even imagine the lack of fear which the three of them seemed to live by. Atem was willing to do anything and everything for the sake of his mate and son, and Yugi had shown more than once he'd be willing to fight alongside him no matter the opponent. He'd wanted to fight them the moment they'd all met at the gathering, just to make sure Atem was okay. He'd even tried to figure out which of his six potential opponents were more worthy of his focus and aggression, because he didn't know who should have been considered the worst of them.

Leviathan couldn't imagine it would had been easy, even if he'd wondered how often they'd struggled to maintain that courage. He shook the thought and faced the Clan with a brisk but soft, "Hello."

They chorused him and went through the usual proceedings—talk of prey being strangely scarce at the moment, the fact that they were still secluded enough no dragon had stumbled across their camp demanding to join, and thanks that he was sitting as leader for the moment. Leviathan glossed over each of them, nodding dismissively and wondering not for the first time about his father's words regarding Yami.

"Nature itself depends upon his survival."

"You need to ensure Jaden never gets to him."

"The second eclipse—you can't let him die when it comes."

"Yami's survival affects all of nature itself."

"Atem will not ask for help, but you must offer it regardless."

"War will raze the regions when Jaden finds out."

His personal favorite had been when his father had looked into his eyes and hissed, "If you fail to protect him when the time comes, you'll die alongside him, as will Jaden and Yusei. Do you understand your survival depends upon him just as much as everything else? I expect you to heed my words now and aid him."

Leviathan shrugged the thought aside and shook himself out. They'd finished speaking to him and each of them dipped their heads as they began to walk away again. He watched them go, narrowing his eyes, and suppressed a snort. If Yami was so important, why was it Jaden even posed a threat? Shouldn't there have been more to aid him than just the Leviathan and his fathers? It didn't quite make sense to him that Yami could be so all-consuming in necessity, yet unable to protect himself.

He raised his head and looked around briefly. Had there been any signs as to where Yami was? He couldn't remember much of the surroundings. They'd been bland and single color, mostly monotonous in display, and he could not recall anything much further. He wondered if Yami had been blocking the details from him or if it had been something else entirely. Perhaps his surroundings were just that lacking.

Leviathan couldn't be sure.

But he had a strange hunch then, as if someone had struck him with a lightning breath. He bristled, shivering, and wondered for a split second if it was Yami trying to tell him without the aid of his visions. What better course of action could there be but to hide in plain sight when running from a pursuer? He almost laughed aloud, then took to the air.

It didn't take long to reach his suspected spot. He ignored the change of temperature and shook himself out, stepping forward and scanning his surroundings. The rock was sharp and jarring where it poked about the red sand and the granules felt like chunks of ice against his paws, painful and startling. He stood there watching the area around him with a tilted head and narrowed his gaze as the sunlight tried momentarily to blind him.

The air seemed to shimmer and ripple in front of him for a moment. And then he turned his head.

Yami stood behind him, motionless and observant. His eyes were sharp as claws and the scythes upon his chest were brilliant and glimmering. He stood there, unwavering and unsurprised, as if he'd known Leviathan would realize where he would find him. He stood almost motionlessly for a long moment, then circled as if he expected him to lunge.

"You're so much larger than even Atem," he commented, tone slightly wistful, and Leviathan was both amazed and unsurprised that he still towered over the Divine. "When I was younger I thought Atem was the tallest dragon to ever exist. And then I saw you that day when the three of you came across the territory and found me. I almost thought you could have swallowed Atem alive and still had room for Yugi. But I guess growing up changes a lot, huh? You're not nearly as big as I remember you."

Leviathan looked him over. "You are not as small as I remember, either." He tilted his head and studied him intently for a moment. "It's amazing what happens in almost three years."

Yami nodded. "Two more moons and then it will be three." He considered Leviathan a moment longer, tilting his head and studying him intently. He looked so much like a Uria that Leviathan was almost shocked he wasn't. He saw so much of Yugi and Atem in him, however, that the idea was almost laughable. Yami looked amazingly like the perfect blend of Atem and Yugi's features, as if the world were mocking him in giving him the attributes of a pure Fire Dragon like this. "You came here for a reason. What was it?"

He sized him up for a moment. "You don't suspect me of being here for malicious purposes?" he scoffed, amazed when Yami failed to even blink. He was unnerved as they stared at one another. "You have a lot of control over things you have no right to."

Yami nodded.

"You're only on the cusp of three and yet you're already this powerful."

"Atem's abilities were so powerful in their own right upon birth that it seems to have been passed to me as well." Yami searched his face, eyes narrowing, and shook his head slowly. "But I suppose we'll see further into the future how long this lasts, hmm? I was told the Divine Dragons lost their abilities as they aged."

Leviathan was silent for a long time. He decided against asking what he meant and shook his head slowly. "Perhaps," he finally muttered, "but from what I saw of Dimitri, he seems to be thriving."

"Dimitri is a different beast from me," Yami snickered, golden eyes lit with something Leviathan could not read. "He's got abilities I could never dream of. Changing shape alone is enough to make my scales itch. Can you even consider the strength it requires to do that? My body would likely explode, and yet his weathers the changes without so much as a pause."

Leviathan narrowed his eyes. "You sound wistful."

"No. I know how the technique was gained," he argued softly, shaking his head. "The way it was gained is disgusting and one of the worst things I could ever imagine. It's curiosity which makes me wonder about it all. But no, I am not envious of such a gift."

He couldn't find any falsity in his eyes, just a small but almost tangible sorrow which darkened them a shade. Leviathan shifted his weight and flexed his claws, considering him for a long moment. The red male twitched his tail and watched him with sharp eyes, but did not seem upset or irritated. He simply looked curious and almost distant, as if a million thoughts were moving behind his eyes.

"Are you so afraid of me?" Yami asked quietly. "You refuse to look away and you're tense, as if you think you must strike out should something happen. Do you suspect me to be vicious enough to try to hurt you?"

"I do not doubt anyone and their ferocity. I never have. It saves me time and effort when I have to fight later."

"You egged Atem on during the gathering when you first met."

He smirked. "He told you?"

"I saw it," Yami corrected, eyes burning into his. "I see memories and dreams. Atem showed me once, though I'm not sure he meant to when it happened."

He bristled faintly, though he tried not to show the loss of composure. "I see. Interesting. What other abilities do you have?"

"You'll find out another time," he dismissed, smiling slightly. "When the time comes, I'm sure you'll see what you wanted to know."

Leviathan tilted his head and narrowed his eyes. "How far into the future can you see?" he hissed. "You speak as if you know a million and one things I don't."

Yami nodded slightly. "I know a lot. But I don't know that I could tell you much of it. The future changes too often and a lot of what I've seen I'm working to prevent." He shook himself out. "A lot of it I've changed already, but there are a few things that seem to be necessary. They seem unavoidable and I get the feeling they have to happen or things may simply fall apart otherwise."

"Yes, destiny and things of that nature are sometimes quite unavoidable and dictating. They're tyrants for sure, where they must be." He watched him, but Yami's expression didn't change. He still looked calm and simplistic, as if he were hearing something he'd been thinking for a long time already. "So, what shall you do?"

"Accept it should it come about. If it is unavoidable, then I shall accept it with grace and I shall do what must be done to ensure what must happen," Yami said softly, shaking his head. "There is nothing I won't do to otherwise ensure Yugi and Atem are safe."

Atem and Yugi? Leviathan couldn't imagine that length of devotion, just as he hadn't when he'd first seen the hatchling. Atem and Yugi had both nearly gotten themselves killed. And now Yami said he'd do anything to ensure their survival as well.

"Are you all so devoted to each other?" he finally asked, almost sneering the words. "I would have thought otherwise, considering what species Yugi is and what you descend from in that regard."

"Yugi loves just as powerfully as any Sky Dragon in existence." Yami hummed and shook his head. "If not more. Yugi loved Atem the moment he saw him, when he was only six moons. Atem took a long time to warm up to him enough to declare he loved him in turn. Everything was different for them, but the fact remains. Yugi loves as strongly as Atem. Their lives are so deeply intertwined one cannot tell where one begins and another ends."

Leviathan blinked, watching him for a long moment. "Your fathers are some of the strangest dragons I've ever had the pleasure of meeting," he snickered. "The Gandora declares undying love and the Sky Dragon takes longer than usual to warm up to his mate."

Yami smirked faintly. "Is pleasure the word you meant? Or did you mean displeasure?"

"No, I mean what I said. Atem is strange but he irritates Jaden, and that's a good thing. No one has challenged Jaden so directly in a long time, though there hasn't been much reason until recently. He's got a hot head where his reign of power is involved, and Atem's constant argument and opposition makes Jaden twitch. Yusei enjoys his company just as much." Leviathan fell quiet for a long handful of minutes, studying him intently and narrowing his eyes. He looked curious as they maintained eye contact. "And Yugi is a gem. He thinks he can take us all just to protect Atem."

"No," Yami corrected, "he knows he could take you to protect Atem. Let Atem truly be in danger, and Yugi will slaughter anyone who gets in his way to save him."

"You believe he could have taken the three of us at the gathering?"

"At the cost of his life, yes," Yami said quietly, "but as an adult, he could put the three of you in a shallow grave together. He's got the determination. All he needs to do is debate the execution during the fight, and he'd win in a heartbeat, Leviathan."

The Divine Serpent studied him for a long moment. "Do you know my real name?" he asked abruptly, curious. Yami blinked at him slowly, narrowing his gaze, and smiled with a lack of humor. "How?"

"There are a few things I've learned from reading minds. Others I've learned simply through close proximity. This would be the latter." Yami tilted his head and the smile fell away. "I believe I may also suspect the secret you've been hiding since birth."

Leviathan bristled and bore his teeth.

"Peace. I have no intention of spreading it around," he answered softly, shaking his head slowly. He raised his head. "I would hope you'd have no intention of telling Jaden what you've learned today, either. He'll stumble across it on his own, without your intervention or my attempt to hide it. It will come back to bite me in the rump, but until then silence is still a necessity."

"I see."

Yami flicked his tail and glanced sideways past the God Dragon. He seemed almost to see something Leviathan could not when he glanced over his shoulder to find what he was looking at. He wondered, turning back, if it was possible Yami didn't need water to see things. Was he like Ironheart? Could he see things if he only just focused? If he just tried to find the information he sought, did the world bend to him as well?

"Ironheart had stronger visual abilities than me. I'm looking past you because I sensed Jonouchi nearby. He's patrolling the edges of his territory," Yami explained, turning to him again. His eyes were darker again and he looked almost exhausted. "He was the last Judgment Dragon in existence. I didn't realize his secret before, but it explains a lot of what he was capable of seeing and dreaming."

Leviathan nodded slowly. "Your fathers have no such abilities, and yet, you see a million and one things. Atem says he cannot see the future, past or present. Visions are obscure and beyond his reach. Or is that not true?"

"He's unable to see anything. That's the truth of it. He cannot see anything. His abilities are…ingrained in a far different way. There's something far stronger in him than it could ever be in me," Yami muttered. "His abilities are beyond what anyone might imagine. Their intensity and the way he wields them makes his lack of foresight a power rather than a hindrance."

It made sense. Atem was not lacking. He stood straight before anyone who might have otherwise taken him down. He didn't look to things as if the world revolved around his abilities and war, death, and edicts dictated nothing for him. Atem had survived things no one else could have, regardless of outside help in the form of his friend Timaeus.

Leviathan didn't think Atem ever considered the strength he possessed more than the fact that he'd survived so many things. He couldn't imagine Atem thought his survival was made through more than sheer power and his refusal to fade into nonexistence.

"Atem will remain in the dark for a while longer as to his abilities," Yami commented, blinking slowly and smiling faintly, "but when he realizes things will…become much better in some aspects and worse in others. You'll see when it happens."

"You know a lot for someone who claims otherwise."

Yami smiled slightly. "I don't claim otherwise. I just don't see everything." He looked away again and shook himself out. "I haven't been here in almost a year and a half. Nothing in the desert ever seems to change, yet it always seems somehow different from what it once was."

Leviathan snorted. "It's the wind. It disturbs things but also never seems to change it enough to notice."

Yami nodded. "The desert always feels cold and detached that way. It's nothing like the mountains I grew up in. I feel like there everything hummed with life, but here it's just a dim trickle until nighttime. During the day only a few things move about, and then at night the struggle to survive plays at the surface immediately. It's almost sad."

He didn't know what to say. Yami didn't seem to want a response, however.

"That's not to say the mountains weren't full of competition and death and mayhem at times. It's just…more apparent here. And the connection to the life beneath the surface or at night is always subdued. I don't know if it's because I was not born here or if it is because I don't have a complete understanding of the territory or what. I suppose it doesn't matter."

Leviathan narrowed his eyes. "Understanding of the territory?"

Yami bore his teeth in a bitter smile. "Oh, it's an ability I have. If I'm around an area long enough, I can search it using my senses and identify every crevice and nook within it. I can see every stone, animal or pond." He shook his head slowly. "It's much stronger around Atem. I can sense and see everything around him no matter the distance between him and I if I know the territory he is present."

"You're so strongly connected?"

"Yes." Yami met his eye again, stepping forward and raising his head as if he meant to intimidate him. "I am so strongly connected to him."

"Does that mean you can see him?"

"Yes. When I truly try. It's not often I need to."

Leviathan watched him for a long time. "What of Yugi then?"

"I can see him as well, though not as strongly as Atem."

"Is that because Atem laid your egg?"

"That or because I'm a Divine directly descended from him." Yami tilted his head. "It doesn't matter. I'm more entwined with Atem, yes, regardless of any speculation."