Chapter LXXXIX: Protection

Honda had barely had time to look up when the black-scaled male shot forward. He'd blinked, startled, but recognized the charging Red-Eyes immediately. Jonouchi shot forward, claws braced and teeth bared. His mouth opened wide as he sprang for one of the males closest the camp entrance. Honda raced to intercept, mirroring his attack stance and snarling loudly. One of the others spun around with wide eyes, teeth bared as they bristled with shock. Jonouchi dodged him when he sprang and twisted around with a huge grin.

Honda braced himself, studying him intently. There was something extremely wrong with him. It took only a moment to recognize it. Jonouchi peered back at him with pure hatred, mouth twisted into the widest and most malicious smirk he'd ever seen.

"Who are you?"

The Red-Eyes peered back intently. "What tipped you off?" he sneered, launching himself. Honda braced himself for impact and took aim for his throat, baring his teeth. It wouldn't be easy to bite through his armor, but Tyrant Dragons had one of the strongest jaws among Fire Dragons. He just had to focus on that around the pain.

He surged forward and up, aiming, but missed entirely.

It took him a moment to understand he hadn't actually missed.

Jonouchi had been flung backwards, hitting the nearest cliff and dropping to the ground with a grunt. Honda blinked, then looked over and froze. The God Dragon hadn't moved from where he stood, statuesque and staring coldly. Jonouchi grunted as he got up again, shaking himself out, and Honda wondered at the fact the impact had even stunted him. Jonouchi was an adult. He had no more growing to do. Why would that have even slightly startled him?

Honda remembered Jonouchi being able to take a harsh blow and walk it off, even if he was slowed down for a little while. He had heard at the cliffs he'd gotten his jaw almost broken by Keith when he'd tried and failed to stop him going after Yugi. But even then Jonouchi had gotten back up and gone to check on him later, and that was when he was juvenile. He should have been on his paws and charging again…

This wasn't Jonouchi. Honda knew that, but if they wore his skin, how could they not be as strong?

Jonouchi huffed as he stood, glaring at Atem. "I wanted Jaden."

"I don't recall asking," the God Dragon answered. He watched the Red-Eyes with a dismissive expression, narrowing his gaze. "You came here to summon Jaden to the Fire Clan? Amazing. Last time something happened, Jaden didn't care enough to even visit and help."

The Red-Eyes scoffed. "Yes, but this time he knows a Divine exists."

Honda bristled, head snapping around. This was the Divine Atem had mentioned before? He shivered and stared. Atem had said they were his brother's clutch. So how could he…?

He changed shapes?

"Keith wasn't exactly a standard dragon, either, was he?" Atem hissed. "I'm not as dumb as everyone seems to think, nor am I so oblivious. You got half Keith and Seto in your bloodline. That's why you're this strong. That's why you're this…destructive. And Jaden was foolish not to look into Keith as a bigger threat when he went after me, but I'll do the same courteous for you as I did him. It'll be swift."

Honda bristled and stared at him, eyes wide and owlish, and glanced back at the Red-Eyes with a horrified expression. Keith had…? He'd suspected it a few times, but when no one had seemed to care nor sound an alarm as to the fact he'd thought perhaps he was seeing things where they weren't. The fact Atem had just confirmed his worst fears was liberating and terrifying all at once.

How many others had Keith fathered?

How soon until they all lost their minds and became destructive?

His hearts stuttered to a brief stop, shooting to Atem again. Why were they not fighting? He'd said he planned to destroy the Divine as soon as possible and minimize the potential destruction. Had that been a lie? Had he simply come now to talk?

The Red-Eyes glanced at him, unimpressed and mocking. "Oh, you just realized Atem was as full of hot air as the rest of them? Did you truly think he'd be the one to step up and change things?"

Atem didn't look away. "Yami told me to still my paw. Until I'm told otherwise, you survive to another day. But heed this, Dimitri, I may grow tired of these games before he gives me that signal," he hissed, leaning forward and baring his teeth, "and then I'll snap your spine and bleed you like the little coward you are."

"Sounds swift," Dimitri scoffed, turning back and huffing. He studied him and abruptly shook himself out. In an instant his form rippled and changed, color turning bright teal. He was far stronger in muscle, with five claws on each paw, standing several inches taller. Scars marred one side of the male's face, and Honda could see where the eye had been struck out in battle. "Perhaps you should tell one lie at a time. You seem to get them twisted otherwise."

"I have yet to."

Honda was almost amazed by the sheer power Atem possessed just standing there. He looked every bit the Corpse Gatherer he'd heard of when Atem had first began striking suitors down. He looked every bit the Red Death everyone had whispered about.

Dimitri huffed a breath and shook himself out, then looked over and bore his teeth. "Welcome to the gathering, Jaden," he sneered. "Atem apparently saw to it to prevent me breaking Honda in half, but I wonder if he'd give you his protection as well."

The Prime Material Dragon snorted. "I don't need it."

Honda was amazed when Atem didn't make a move to intercept them. The God Dragon stepped away, even, as they launched themselves at each other. But it amazed him even more that he took a more obvious stance to block Dimitri getting to him.

"Where is Yugi?" he demanded as they collided.

Atem didn't look away, expressionless and voice low. "Dimitri got his claws into Jonouchi," he muttered.

Jaden lunged up from the ground, knocking Dimitri backwards. The Divine dug his claws into his shoulders and they somersaulted as they hit the ground. Jaden twisted, writhing, and managed to grapple the Knight Dragon back a few inches. They landed on their sides again a split second later.

Honda flinched as blood sprayed the air. He remembered Jaden in a similar position with Sartorius, even as the Divine gutted him with a single strike—

But now Jaden kicked with his back legs. Blood sprayed and arced through the air. Dimitri snarled and spat, shoving with his own hind legs. The force knocked Jaden backwards slightly. Dimitri got his back legs into the ground, then shoved forward and up.

Jaden was dislodged from the momentum. He hit the ground on his side again and quickly rolled to his paws. Dimitri shook himself, changed to Jonouchi again, and ceased bleeding altogether.

"By Paradise…"

"He heals the moment he changes," Atem hissed, studying with narrowed eyes. "All it takes is that split second. But I don't know how you'd stop him doing so, either."

Honda shivered. "Is it true then? You're the one dragon Jaden can't influence?"

Atem stayed silent, watching intently.

So it was. One of the dragons had claimed Atem was immune and he'd laughed in their face. But Dimitri seemed immune as well, because Honda felt the considerable onslaught of Jaden's will. He was trying unsuccessfully to make Dimitri stop for a second. He wanted to force him to the ground so he could strike him down.

And Dimitri had not slowed.

The new shape of the Red-Eyes only intensified the fighting.

They'd tangled again. Jaden had latched onto his shoulders once more. Dimitri had dug his own claws into his elbows, back legs kicking and trying unsuccessfully to gut the God Dragon. Honda could feel the surge of magic that came with Jaden siphoning from Dimitri to prevent it. They separated only when Dimitri changed abruptly once more, taking the form of the Knight Dragon.

"Is that Timaeus?" he muttered. Atem twitched in his peripheral as if Honda had personally tried to attack him. He blinked huge eyes, staring at the immense shape of teal and cream-colored scales. He'd never seen or met Timaeus, but the rumors had always said he'd had vibrant scales and one missing eye…

Jaden launched himself. He hit the Knight Dragon in the side of the chest and kicked off his back legs. When he twisted in the air, he threw Dimitri backwards and into the ground on his side once more. Dimitri slashed at his face and tried to claw at his wings but could not get the proper balance. He managed to kick Jaden hard enough in the side to nearly disembowel him, however, and the God Dragon jerked away with a startled but furious expression.

When Dimitri lunged, Jaden jerked onto his back paws. Dimitri hit him in the side, sinking his claws into his shoulder and chest. His mouth opened and clamped on Jaden's cheek right before they both tumbled to the ground. Jaden rolled backwards, shoved off the ground with his wings, and landed pinning Dimitri as if he were a piece of prey. It lasted all of a moment.

Dimitri shoved him off, changed to a Blue-Eyes, and smacked Jaden aside hard enough the God Dragon rolled several feet. He sprang to his paws immediately after, staring and snarling. They both eyed each other and Honda was struck with the idea that Dimitri knew this shape much better than he did the other two he'd been using. He'd struck Jaden a lot harder and faster. And he'd regained his footing much easier than he had before.

Honda supposed it made sense.

Kisara was a Blue-Eyes.

He'd be far more familiar with her form or Seto's than Timaeus or Jonouchi. But why bother taking their shapes at all?

Jaden sprang. Dimitri snarled and rose to his back legs. He grabbed Jaden almost as if he meant to catch him by the shoulders. But his back paws shoved off the ground. He twisted rapidly in the air, drawing Jaden off his paws. The God Dragon scrabbled but couldn't find purchase, kicking at empty air. Dimitri used the bulk of the Blue-Eyes' immense upper body to pivot forward. Jaden kicked and flailed his tail, cycling it to catch his balance even as Dimitri slammed him to the ground on his back.

The God Dragon wasn't even winded. He used his wings to shove off the ground and forward. He twisted and threw Dimitri backwards again, jaws clamping shut on his skull. Dimitri tried to kick him but couldn't. Instead he balanced his weight into his hindquarters and twisted, throwing Jaden back into the ground. He loomed over him, spitting and snarling, and tried but failed to shake him when he tossed his head.

After a moment he twisted again, slamming Jaden's head against the ground, and pivoted. He managed to mostly shake the God Dragon's grip, but could not entirely. Jaden twisted to try to keep his grip, back paws attempting to hook and claw into his stomach, but the Blue-Eyes' belly was nearly impenetrable. The God Dragon loosened his grip slightly, then clamped down harder and rolled.

Dimitri hit the ground on his side with a snarl. Jaden used the split second he was dazed to leap forward and attempt to dig into his jugular. The Divine scoffed and slammed a paw into his shoulder. The sickening crunch to echo across the still air made Honda flinch. Jaden jerked back, snarling, and Honda could see where the bone had been momentarily dislocated.

Dimitri shot forward. Jaden arched his back and reared up, striking harder and faster than before. Honda cringed as the Blue-Eyes' jaw visibly strained and the second impact jarred it out of alignment. Jaden sprang when Dimitri jerked his head back. The God Dragon caught his throat again, clamping down, and clawed repeatedly at his shoulder where he could get a grip.

Was Jaden really going to do it?

He was really going to kill him?

Honda stepped forward, but beside him Atem had begun to bristle almost uncertainly. His head snapped around and he stared at a point on top of the sheer cliff face overhead. He lashed his tail twice, then narrowed his gaze and looked to Jaden and Dimitri again.

"Very well," he hissed softly. "Once again, I'll protect him."

Honda blinked, opening his mouth to ask who he was talking to, but Atem had surged forward. He slammed into Jaden, throwing him to the ground, and pinned him with his teeth bared at his face. Dimitri panted and scrambled for his paws, shaking and shedding blood and severed muscle. He spat blood when he parted his jaws, then snarled softly as he changed shapes again abruptly.

Everything seemed to heal then but for his injured jaw. He snarled softly once more, bore his teeth, and glared at Atem and Jaden. Both God Dragons ignored him, Jaden snarling up at Atem even as the Sky Dragon merely watched him expressionlessly.

Honda bore his teeth and rushed forward, but found himself unable to move a moment later. It felt as if his legs had turned to lead and his entire body was too stiff to so much as stretch a limb. He froze with a paw forward, toes splayed to help gather speed, and felt as if he were trapped.

Sorry, Honda, a voice said softly, one not quite as deep as Atem's but not as high as Yugi's. It was a strange middle ground and Honda almost couldn't wrap his head around the equal tone between the two. It occurred to him only as he felt his body no longer as heavily that this was Yami. And if this was Yami, what else could he do?

"Atem!"

Honda whipped his head around to find Yugi rushing forward. The Gandora paused a few feet back, studying the scene, spat when Dimitri looked at him, and then turned to his mate again. Jaden squirmed as if to shrug Atem away but stopped when the Slifer chomped his teeth an inch from his throat.

"What are you doing?" Jaden spat. He looked at Dimitri wildly from the corner of his eye and Honda risked a glance as well. The Divine had not moved but to catch his breath, his exhales soft and rattling and wet. He remained crouched low to the ground, back hunched and eyes trained on the two deities. "This is our chance to get rid of him!"

Atem was quiet for a long moment. "Yami said he was to exist a little longer," he hissed softly. His eyes flickered toward Honda and Yugi when the Gandora paused beside him.

"He might as well be helping him for all the times he's already protected him," Jaden snarled, squirming and stopping only when Atem pressed a paw into his throat. "What makes you think he's not corrupt like him? How should you know he isn't just as monstrous as your sibling?"

"Atem."

The God Dragon glanced back at Yugi but immediately turned again to Jaden. "I raised him," he said slowly, quietly.

Jaden barked a laugh. "You thought he was dead for two years."

"Yes." Atem glanced at the cliffs for a split second, then turned back. "But he sees visions more accurately than you."

Honda saw Dimitri raise his head, tensed with wide eyes. The scales along his back rose and fell and he peeled his lips further back to show the bloodied ridges of his teeth for a split second.

"How would you know that? You see nothing of the future or the past. How should you pretend to know?"

Atem's mouths twisted into the ugliest smiles Honda had ever seen. His eyes sparkled and glowed. "He can see me where you three cannot. Your visions are false where they interact with me." He abruptly lessened his weight where he'd been pressing into Jaden's throat. "Jaden. If you should wish for war, you may have it."

Honda froze, bristling with shock. Yugi didn't look even slightly surprised, growling softly and flexing his claws with a frustrated expression.

"I'll break you and leave you alive, because that is what Yami has asked of me. You shall survive just as Dimitri will. All the while, you may watch your back and wait for me to strike you down when he says it's okay." He lashed his tail. "He never said I couldn't make you wish for death, Jaden."

Yugi snarled softly and glanced at Honda.

"Has it truly come to this?"

"Was there ever a choice?" Atem hissed. "You force yourself upon me and expect me not to fight back? Perhaps you've forgotten, but the role of the parent is to protect their offspring until they can no longer. I'll protect Yami no matter what. And you can risk getting in my way."

Honda glanced at the cliff and then back. Yugi seemed to have spotted whatever Atem had formerly as well. He stared at a certain point as if his life depended on it and Honda found himself almost shivering. What did they see that he didn't?

Atem whipped around abruptly, teeth bared. He swiped so quickly Honda was amazed he didn't decapitate the Blue-Eyes. "Leave here," he spat. He bore his teeth more furiously and looked over the wounded dragon. "Before I forget Yami's words and kill you now."

Dimitri bore his teeth, snarling, but slunk forward. In a split second he'd changed to Timaeus again, running a few feet, and then took another form entirely. Honda blinked at the Felgrand that took shape before he disappeared from sight. Then he turned back to Atem where he had released Jaden and stood motionless, watching the other God Dragon intently.

The Prime Material Dragon snarled softly. "You just let him fly off again. You realize he's going to kill someone else? Their blood will be on your paws," he spat.

"You didn't stand to fight him much longer. He would have changed again. All it took was waiting for you to position yourself how he wanted. He was going to change to Timaeus and gut you." Atem no longer sounded angry. He seemed tired and annoyed, but not so aggressive. He glanced at Yugi, tipping his head just enough to make eye contact with him without turning completely to face him. Honda saw Yugi smile tightly, but he thought it was nerves rather than anger which made him so awkward and stiff. "Jaden, heed my warning. If you wish for war, you may have it. But do not declare it now out of fear. Think before you make that choice. I won't turn away from it. I'll finish what you begin."

Jaden snarled softly and eyed him coldly. "Yami is just as dangerous as Dimitri, if not more. You brought an abomination into this world and I'll see to its removal myself if you will not."

Atem faced him again. "Then the next time we cross paths, I'll declare it. Expect to see me as your enemy when we see each other next."

He shook his head sharply. "There's a reason Divines no longer exist. You'll never understand, but I'm doing what must be done."

The Sky Dragon didn't answer but for flicking his tail. After a moment Jaden snarled and shook his head more sharply, bore his teeth, and then took off in the direction Dimitri had. Honda wondered if he truly wished to follow him or if perhaps he'd taken a den nearby. He turned back immediately.

Yugi had gotten to Atem's side, pressing gently into his flank. "You're okay. We're okay. Don't worry," he mumbled, licking Atem's forehead when the God Dragon looked at him.

Honda looked over when he heard a sound. The red male to step forward was several shades darker than Atem, standing at barely an inch smaller than Yugi himself. His wings were a strange but brilliant mix of the two of them, with the longer curled bones at the end that hooked like claws, the two bone joints that allowed them to stretch further and the three spears of keratin at the tops like jagged scales. They were large enough he could have shielded his entire body with them had he so desired, and the joints where they rested over his shoulders came together to make a sharp protective plate across his chest. Two huge blades of keratin jutted from it, long and sharp and wicked in appearance. The legs were long, ending in large but flat paws with claws to mirror the keratin of his chest plate, and Honda could see the two mouths, one hidden inside the other, with gaping serated teeth and brilliant tusks for canines.

He didn't look at the Tyrant Dragon as he padded over to Atem.

"I would have told you not to take the first step toward war, but it's inevitable at this point." He rubbed beaks with Yugi, then took a seat and wrapped his tail around his paws as he considered Atem. The God Dragon didn't move but for breathing, studying him with such an intense stare Honda almost wondered if he thought he'd disappear if he wasn't watching. "It no longer matters who declares it. And it's not as if you don't have just as much a right to it as he does."

"He has no right," Atem snapped. "Dimitri is a threat."

"You stand in his way when I tell you to," Yami said gently. He finally looked over at Honda then, offering a smile of brilliant white teeth and glittering golden eyes that reminded him entirely of Yugi when he was sheepish. "Hello. Sorry for earlier, Honda. Had it not been important, I wouldn't have done that."

Atem blinked. "Done what?"

Yami turned his head and leveled him with a look. "I…stopped him getting to Dimitri," he said finally, tilting his head. "It seems my abilities are growing more now. I assume it has to do with the sudden abundance of power coming from everyone else. Jaden, Yusei, and Leviathan are still training, though now for entirely different reasons, and Dimitri is growing stronger. I think it's the excess energy from all of their abilities compounding into mine."

Atem tilted his head. "Siphoning?"

"I suppose that's the closest I can describe it, yes. But it's unconscious." He looked at Honda again. "I meant to just make him blind to you, but somehow I…stopped you moving. I'm sorry for that. I think it had to do with Jaden and his abilities more than anything though. I couldn't do that before and he was using his powers as much as possible against Dimitri, so I think maybe that was why."

Honda bristled, head whipping toward Atem and Yugi for explanation. Yugi took a seat as Yami had and Atem huffed a breath. Both of them grinned at the God Dragon, as if asking him to explain, and Yami laughed at whatever Atem must have grumbled under his breath. Abruptly the Divine turned his head and studied him.

"Was anyone hurt?" he asked quietly. "I can heal them if they were. But I would hope Atem got here quickly enough…"

Honda blinked slowly and glanced at Atem. It occurred to him he'd been so shocked to see the God Dragon that he hadn't even considered anyone else had gotten hurt. He bristled uncertainly, for a moment thinking to snap at him not to go near his Clan mates but another part of him worried he'd overlooked it.

Yami tilted his head, then glanced at Atem sideways. "Do you know if he got to anyone before you came?"

"Just Jonouchi," Atem dismissed, looking to Yugi. "Did you see anyone who needed help?"

The Gandora ducked his head. "I didn't look," he admitted, sounding flustered. "I just saw you and Dimitri and Jaden and I came to see if you were okay. It didn't even…occur to me that I should have seen if anyone else was hurt."

Yami snorted and got up, shaking himself out. "I'll check myself then," he laughed softly. He glanced at Honda and tilted his head. "Unless you would rather bring them to me?"

He snarled softly, bristling, and looked him over. "I'll bring them to you."

Yami nodded slightly and turned to Atem immediately after, shifting his weight and looking his father over. He could hear Honda running off to check even as he considered his parents. "Did Jonouchi make it to you in time? Or did he lose a heart?" he asked, shaking his head slightly and flicking his tail. "I know the wounds were bad. He got gutted. I saw that much. But I couldn't afford to stop and heal him when I realized Jaden was so close."

"You remained invisible to them before. Why could you not again?"

Yami shook his head. "I never remained invisible. I make it to where I am a blind spot and they cannot see me. It takes a lot of concentration and it's frustrating when my focus is severed."

Atem narrowed his eyes and studied him intently for a moment. He looked away slowly, but Yami couldn't tell if he doubted him or if it was something else entirely. He'd have hoped he didn't doubt him, but he couldn't decipher his body language and he was unable to read his aura or thoughts. He'd blocked him so completely he couldn't get even a hint from his thoughts and the emotion he felt coming from him was frustration. He assumed it had to do with letting Dimitri go, but he couldn't be sure of that, either.

Yugi hadn't moved but for watching Atem more pointedly, blue-violet eyes glittering as they flickered across his face. Yami studied them for a long moment. Atem wasn't happy, but he had not moved away and he was not showing his teeth as he had before.

He didn't know if he had too much on his mind to care or—

He turned his head when he heard his name. Atem and Yugi both perked up immediately, startled, but Yami picked his way easily toward the tunnels. He remembered being underground the first two moons in the Badlands further south. It had been necessary, but he'd always felt cramped and small inside the dens Shizuka and Jonouchi had chosen. They'd been too small, always compacted and only big enough for the three of them to rest. It had been nothing like the den he'd grown up in and every time he'd woken during the day, he'd laid there sad, yearning for sunlight and his fathers and Timaeus.

He slipped inside and considered the height of the tunnel overhead. It was not large and Yami was almost horrified by the sensation of it pressing against his wings. Even when he tucked them to his sides, the tunnel seemed to press in on them. His stomach lolled as he got closer, blinking and studying the Tyrant Dragon he could see a few inches away. Honda stared at him, eyes narrowed into slits, and hissed, "You said you could heal. Prove it."

He wasn't offended. Honda could have tried to carve his flesh by now if he'd truly desired. It would have meant Atem killed him, but Honda could have still tried. Yami shoved the thought aside and leaned forward to sniff the female's bleeding side. She was unconscious, but her mate hovered a few feet away, eyes wide as his stare bore into Yami's face.

"Well?" Honda snapped. "Can you or not?"

Yami smiled and shook his head, sniffing again. It wasn't rotting yet. He shifted his weight and lowered himself to his stomach, then pressed his muzzle into the spot between her elbow and her ribs. She felt hot and feverish, exhausted from blood loss, but Yami didn't think it was a mortal wound by any stretch. Someone could have cleaned it and healing would have happened naturally.

He had the impression Honda and the others had panicked rather than considered the option.

It only took a moment. The wound wasn't deep enough to merit more. He rose then, considering her, and Honda rushed forward as if to strike him, stopping short when his eyes fell on her side. She hadn't gained consciousness yet, but the wound was gone even around all the dried blood.

Honda opened and closed his mouth. His head snapped around and his eyes narrowed, glittering. Yami considered him, then chuckled and shook his head. "No, my gift is different from Jaden's. I don't take the wound myself," he laughed. "I just…heal them."

He didn't know how to explain it. In his head it made sense, but the one time he'd tried to tell Jonouchi when he'd broken his paw hunting, the Red-Eyes had given him a suspicious look and thought more clearly then of killing him. It had been split second and he'd apologized, but that suspicion and the superstition that crept over him had never left afterwards. He'd been more afraid of him than ever after, as if he expected him to turn into Jaden, embittered with healing and sometimes unable to help due to what he'd already put himself through for others.

Yami looked over his shoulder. "Don't get too upset. Atem might come to see what's going on," he teased, turning back and smiling at Honda's startled expression. "He's not going to take kindly to you even growling at me."

Honda opened and closed his mouth, then snorted. The words Sky Dragon went through his head. Yami didn't think Honda understood even if Atem hadn't been a Sky Dragon, he'd have likely fought claw and fang for any offspring he was given. It seemed ingrained in him, just as his initial kindness he hid so well now as an adult was.

"So what happens when you heal someone?" he demanded. "What adverse effects do you have?"

Yami considered him a moment. "Exhaustion at the most." He smiled at the skeptical glint in Honda's eyes. He was irritated and spooked, but at least he was not picturing how to dispose of him as Jonouchi so often had. "But even that's easily dealt with."

Honda bristled as they stared at each other. "Oh?" he hissed. "It's so easy for you?"

Yami gave him a cold smirk. "I'm a Divine, Honda. I shouldn't exist considering my fathers but I'm here. You put everything together and you get the impossible, from abilities to life. Tell me why it should be so shocking." He looked over his shoulder again. Atem and Yugi were talking quietly, Yugi asking if he was okay because he looked tired. Atem grunted reassurance but ignored him any further. Yami sighed as he turned back. It was so hard to see them like that… "But it doesn't matter. She's okay. I don't think anyone else is hurt. If they are, I don't sense it. And I need to speak to Atem and Yugi before I see myself off."

Honda blinked wide eyes. "You can sense when someone is hurt?"

"Sometimes. It takes proximity. I'm underground now and everyone is here. I can sense it now. No one else seems to be in pain." He saw Honda's eyes flickered with interest and skepticism once more. He smiled tightly and turned away. "It doesn't matter… My powers aren't to be feared so you don't need to worry about them."

"You read thoughts."

"And emotions," he confirmed. "And no, Atem has none of these abilities. He can't heal. He can't see things in the water. He can't sense emotions or thoughts. He can't leap through dreams. He doesn't change others' abilities to see him."

"I hate to say this, but why are you still alive?"

Yami laughed, then tilted his head. "Jonouchi said something similar when I met him."

Honda huffed. "Then he has more brains than both of your parents combined."

He laughed a little harder and grinned. "I guess so," he snickered, tilting his head and narrowing his eyes. "Although, I don't think either of them would agree with that assessment."