Chapter CVIII: Repayment

"Atem?"

Yami shook his head slightly and glanced about them. The den was nestled in one of the various windswept crevices about the rocks. Several of them were hollowed out as if someone had used their paw to shovel their insides away. He considered the smooth formations and the dark red sand, the scattering of shade across blinding sun, and wondered.

"No, Jesse," he said, turning back, "I'm not Atem."

The Rainbow Dragon blinked at him in bewilderment, eyes huge and glazed with pain. They threatened to roll up in the back of his head again, but he seemed just strong enough to fight the urge to sleep as he had before. Yami sat inches away, studying the blood scattered about the stone and dirt, the sand clumped unnaturally with dark liquid. His stomach lurched as he considered.

Jaden would return soon. He knew that much. He could sense him now that he sought him out. He was not in the territory, but rather in the western. He wondered if he was conversing with Leviathan for some reason, or if it was merely to check in with the Clan.

Or was he looking for him?

Yami almost snickered. Jaden would be furious when he realized he'd been there in his territory for so long prior. His eyes shot back to Jesse. The white dragon had no wounds left, but he was still exhausted. Yami could see him struggling not to lose consciousness even as he sputtered, "Who…?"

Yami lowered his head, studying him, and put his beak inches from his. "Jesse, hey, open your eyes," he instructed softly, smiling when Jesse struggled to comply. After a moment his eyes flickered open and caught on his face. The pain was dull and glass-like, but curiosity and then amazement began to creep through.

"Yami."

He grinned. "Yeah, hi." He tilted his head and considered the Ice Dragon for a moment. This was the same male Yugi had struck from the sky during practice with Atem for flying at higher altitudes. This was the same one who had called Atem bitter and gotten mauled by Yugi for it. He was the same one who had challenged Yusei for the right to court Jaden even when Yusei laughed and said it wasn't his decision and he didn't care if he did or not. He was the same one who Yami could tell had likely always wanted to meet him but had been too afraid of leading Jaden to Atem's territory to try.

"You're…alive."

"I am. And so are you." Yami smiled a little wider and tilted his head, studying him intently. "I healed the wounds, but you'll be sluggish a little while longer. By the time Jaden returns, you shouldn't be so tired or feel even residual pain. You were just so badly wounded that it took longer to heal it, and I couldn't speed it up as I usually would. So you'll be a little tired. Sorry."

He blinked, processing but nodding and offering a weak smile after a moment. "Okay." He grunted as he tried to lift his head, shuffling his paws and almost failing. Yami turned away for a moment, feeling about the area. Dimitri was long gone. He knew that much. He'd nearly managed to eat Jesse alive, but he hadn't. For some reason he'd stopped short. He didn't know if he sensed something or if he'd seen something and chose to follow it instead…

He turned back. "You only have one heart left," he said quietly, studying him as he dragged himself to a seated position. He was slumped and panting, eyes squeezed shut in pain. He exhaled shakily, growled softly, and blinked again to study Yami as if he thought he'd disappear at any second.

"I figured as much," he managed. His eyes flickered about Yami's again and he tilted his head. "Wow. You're flesh and blood."

"I am." Yami smiled at him reassuringly. "I'm flesh and blood and all kinds of adorable."

Jesse blinked, then snickered and nearly collapsed. "What happened?"

"My sibling got to you." Yami felt the strangest longing to return to his parents and burrow into Atem's side. It'd been so long since he'd felt so small and weak and childish, and yet the impulsive thought came. He wished he could have burrowed into his side and let his father drape his wing over him and lay there with his chin on Yami's shoulder. He wanted nothing more than to listen to his breathing, his steady heartbeat, the minute shift of his body as he moved about. "Dimitri… He's one of Seto's sons, the last living because he killed everyone in his nest. He's a Divine as well. And he…changes shapes."

Jesse stared at him as if had three heads. And then he blinked. "He looked like Jaden," he commented softly, startled. "He looked exactly like Jaden."

Yami nodded. "He takes on their shapes perfectly, down to malformations and scars and everything else," he agreed. "And he can change into all three of them, but not Atem. I don't know where his abilities lie and how he gathers their forms to change."

He nodded slightly and shivered, studying him again. "Wow. You look so much like Atem…and yet there's so much of Yugi in you, too." He looked awed as he considered. "Jaden tried to describe you to me once, but I could never picture you properly. You definitely didn't look like…this is in my head."

Yami tilted his head. "What did you think I'd look like?"

"An almost exact replica of Atem but for some black markings and a single mouth," he admitted, laughing softly. His eyes were brightening now, the pain seeming to drift further from focus. Yami offered him a warm smile. "You look like you're the perfect mix between them."

Yami nodded slightly. "I've been told," he chuckled, risking a glance around before standing and studying the sky. Jaden would be there soon. "I'll have to take my leave in a moment. Will you be okay to remain here until Jaden arrives?"

Jesse blinked, expression falling. "He's still going to try to kill you."

"I'm aware. That's why I have to leave." He nudged his shoulder, testing gently to see if he could hold his weight, and wished for a moment he'd taken the opportunity to find him food. But he knew his time was limited and he'd have rather made sure Jesse would survive than look to secure his strength later. Jaden would return and could see to it… "Listen, Jesse. When he comes back, tell him what happened. I don't care if you speak of me or not. It won't slow or speed his ambush when he comes for me. Just remember that. You don't have to protect me."

The Ice Dragon bristled, startled. "I…"

"There have been enough lies between everyone—me, Atem, Yugi, you, Yusei, Jaden. It no longer matters. Everything… It'll come to its head soon. And the guilt you'll feel for lying later won't be worth the immediate relief it'll give you now." Yami glanced toward the southern stretch of desert sand. Jaden was approaching Yubel… He turned back. "See to it that he finds you food before he takes another leave."

Jesse opened his mouth to answer, but Yami took flight immediately.

Jaden landed in front of her with a growl to announce himself. But Yubel didn't look over, head angled down and mouth working at something Jaden hadn't quite caught sight of. He blinked and stepped closer, bewildered, and froze for a moment. She didn't look haggard anymore. She was not thin, worn to skin and bones, with patches of dead skin and lost fur and scales that did not sit properly upon her flesh any longer.

After a moment she turned her head, mouth full of tortoise flesh as the shell fell from between her sharpened teeth. They stared at each other, Jaden's hearts racing and stomach lolling.

"You…"

She was unrelenting, peering at him coldly. Her right eye was glittering gold like the sun, and her left was a shimmering and cold blue like a patch of ice. The scars where she'd once dug her own claws into her face and tried to rip them out were faint but jagged against her flesh. He stared, unable to truly process what he saw or think straight long enough to consider the implications.

It took a few minutes for him to find words, and even then he was too startled to sound elegant.

"How? Who…? Yami?"

Yubel snorted and turned back to her meal, taking her eyes off him for the first time since they'd crossed paths. "Yes," she muttered. "He visited me in order to try to learn something to avoid his fate and save his father's. Whether or not he can truly do that is for him to find out, but he healed me as thanks."

Jaden bristled. "What did he request of you?"

"What is there to ask of me but for the past?" she snapped, turning to him. Her eyes sparkled and glittered and Jaden almost flinched back. They hadn't been so intense when she'd clawed them open and they'd healed with film to blind her properly. He almost couldn't remember when they'd last been so brilliant. "What use is there for me but for relaying those things long since passed?"

He grimaced. A small part of him wanted to argue, but it was more or less true. She was right. He wouldn't have even come this way now if it wasn't to ask for more information on the problem…

"And you came here for the same, did you not?" she persisted, snarling softly. "You came here to speak to me about what I know of Dimitri, yes? You want to know what Sartorius showed me before he died."

Jaden bristled and barely stopped himself lashing his tail. "Yes."

She turned away and crunched on a piece of shell, cracking it in half with a thunderous noise before dropping it aside. The exposed muscle was devoured seconds later and she looked as if she were enjoying herself for the first time in years. Jaden considered her intently, stunned and bewildered.

Had Yami taken on her blindness? Had he mutilated himself so much just to help her? Just because he wished for some way to help his parents? And what did he think would happen to Yugi and Atem? Of all the dragons in this brewing war, they seemed the least likely to require aid of any kind.

She swallowed the last mouthful stripped from the shell and shook herself out. Her scales seemed almost to glisten with new energy and for a split second Jaden was mesmerized. It died immediately, however, as his mind raced with all the repercussions they'd suffered for just the once.

He almost wished she were still blind and weak, because somehow seeing her in that state had always tempered his bitterness and resentment. He had never forgiven Ironheart, and formerly he'd wondered if it had been one of the reasons he'd tried to have Leviathan chase him from the camp. But he knew it was because of Yami. He knew Ironheart knew Jaden would go after him, would rip his throat out as many times as it took his hearts to cease beating.

"Well?"

She looked over and fixed him with a sharp glare. "Are you so against me remembering what it's like to experience color and sight?" she spat. "He only just healed me an hour ago. Leave me be for the moment."

Jaden stared at her for a long moment. "Did he lame himself for you?"

"Lame himself?" Yubel echoed, scoffing, voice so scornful Jaden almost flinched. She stared at him as if he were one of the dumbest creatures she'd ever laid eyes on. "No. He does not heal as you do."

He blinked. Yami didn't heal like he did? He didn't take on their pain, memories, their trauma? He didn't take the physical wound as his own or let the festering in someone else swallow him whole for moons?

How lucky for him.

Everything just seemed so much easier for Atem and Yugi and Yami than everyone else. And why shouldn't it be? Their son hadn't turned into a monster yet. Yugi loved Atem with everything he was. Atem could wake to a day without bloodshed behind his eyes, could suppress the worst of his terrors to pretend the day was good.

Jaden didn't think he could hate anyone as much as he did them at that moment.

"You know what I came for and it's not this."

Yubel snorted and turned away again. "Yes, I'm aware. I remember what you came for." She turned back to him, smirking faintly. "You wanted to know about Dimitri? If I knew more about him because of what Sartorius put in my head before you killed him."

"You kept me in the dark about the majority of it. It's only right I know," he spat. "I don't even know how you managed to hide the worst of it from me, or shield the hardest of the emotions, but it doesn't matter now. What does is the fact that Dimitri is a thousand times worse than Sartorius and I need answers."

"What did you expect from a third generation Divine?" she asked coldly, lashing her tail. "Your sibling has every power Sartorius did, what Keith was unable to tap, and what the Lore only mentioned once. Of course he's a thousand times worse. And if he manages to do as he plans and eat Yami's hearts, even that precious father of his won't have the ability to stand up to him."

Jaden tilted his head. "Everyone likes to pretend Atem is some kind of infallible beast. Why?" he snapped. "I don't understand it. Yes, he's survived a lot. Yes, he's killed thousands or even millions. But how does that equate to him being so powerful the world should buckle beneath his paws?"

"Let him lose a heart and you'll find out." Yubel bore her teeth and chuckled. "If he loses that heart, he'll kill everything in his path to get to that hatchling."

Jaden bristled. "Your implications make no sense."

She snorted and turned away. "No?" she asked quietly, flexing her claws and looking around. It was amazing how childish she seemed in that moment, as if the world were bright and brilliant around her now that she could see again. "Sartorius forced himself on copious females, Jaden. Do you truly think every egg was found and destroyed? Keith was the last remaining in the Fire Clan. Who knows if there were more that hatched and survived to today?"

Jaden lashed his tail. "Keith was the only one to strike out. He was the only one to worry about."

"Yes, just as the hatchlings Atem spared from your newest proposal of an edict never acted out in his steps." She considered him coldly, eyes sharp as claws. "You forget yourself. Eradicating the Slifer species slowed it, but didn't prevent what was to come. Keith hatched closer to Atem's birth than expected and Atem was able to evade each of you as if he didn't exist. And what shame you brought in failing to follow up on those rumors. A fourth God Dragon appeared and you were too arrogant and afraid of what might be to approach."

He bristled and shook his head sharply. "He survived because I didn't go to find him."

She smirked at him, hateful and laughing. "Oh? Is that what you believe? You couldn't lay a claw on him had he thought you were to fight to the death. His abilities are too great."

"He has none."

"Always so afraid of your own shadow you'd rather stuff your head in the sand," she snapped, voice scornful. Jaden almost flinched as she scowled at him. "Are you so foolish? Atem is stronger than you give credit, and much of what you tried to hide has come to the surface now. That bloodstain you covered in dirt? It's bleeding again. Atem has already dirtied his paws with that knowledge, and gods forbid Yugi reaches his potential. You'll never be able to lay a claw or harm a scale on any of them."

Jaden blinked. "Yugi? What does he have to do with anything? What potential? He's a hotheaded Gandora in love with an unnatural Slifer. What more is there to him?"

She stared at him for a long moment, eyes sharpening briefly, and then looked away. "You always were lost where it counted," she muttered, "especially where Keith or Atem were involved. You never even realized he was your own kin."

"Because he shouldn't have been!" he exploded. "And I should have ripped the entrails from his body and peed on his bones when he rotted on the cliffs. You truly think I would have let him live if I'd known?"

"Does it matter any longer? He's dead. Atem took care of him, but he Blessed his son, and his son has the smallest inkling of Atem's abilities because of it."

"His gifts are so strong?" Jaden sneered, incredulous. "That doesn't make any sense."

Yubel turned to him and stared before sighing. "Perhaps you should ask his son whose blood you're so eager to spill. He could tell you exactly who and what Atem is."

He bristled, lashing his tail and eyeing her intently. "Who and what he is?" he repeated softly, voice lowering into a snarl. "No, Yubel, how about you tell me?"

She turned and eyed him, voice low with mockery. "Why don't you rip my entrails out and beg me for that knowledge?"

Atem blinked and looked up the moment he felt the flush of magic against his skin. He bristled, blinking, and flicked his tongue to gather a scent of some kind. The failure to identify the quickly approaching dragon made him pause, but the energy was familiar and so he doubted it a true threat. It wasn't Dimitri, nor one of the God Dragons, and so he didn't think he needed to worry as much even with the rapid speed with which they approached. He lashed his tail, considering, and glanced sideways toward Yugi. The Gandora had sensed it as well, bristling and tensed as if to lunge forward, and he could see Jonouchi hurrying for the den. Timaeus stood rigid at his other side, eyes trained in the direction of the oncoming dragon.

"Aki?" the Knight Dragon grunted after a moment, puzzled. Atem cast him a sideways glance and turned to see. She was a dark blot against the sky, rapidly gaining and growing larger, and then abruptly she was in front of them. She landed, whipping to face him, and Yugi sprang for her so quickly Atem couldn't think to intervene.

She slapped him so hard across the face with a paw that Yugi almost lost his grip, but his jaw tightened where he'd sunk his teeth into her shoulder. Atem snorted and shook his head as she hit him again and Yugi growled, puffing up angrily and biting more forcefully.

"Well trained," she spat. "He just rushes straight into conflict."

"You came quickly, without warning, and faced me as if you meant to strike me down," Atem reminded her quietly, flicking his tail. "What kind of mate would he be if he didn't go for you? And you're lucky. Had you been Jaden, Yusei, or Leviathan, he would have gone for your jugular. This is him being friendly."

Timaeus snorted and Yugi snickered against her flesh, though he quickly narrowed his eyes and glared when she turned to him once more. She smacked him again, hissing with displeasure, and Atem laughed as Yugi hunkered down somehow further.

"Little one, cease."

"No," came the muffled, gurgling response, and Atem tilted his head in surprise. He wouldn't release? Why wouldn't he—? "She didn't ask."

He burst out laughing. "Ask for my blessing, Aki, and he'll remove his teeth."

She scoffed, smacked him again, wobbled when he jerked backward and nearly threw her off balance, and spat, "Fine! Fine! Atem, I seek your blessing!"

Yugi huffed and waited, and Atem snickered as he murmured, "Granted." Yugi released immediately, glaring at her, and dodged a swipe for his face that would have likely stunned. The Gandora lashed his tail as she took a seat with a scowl and turned back to Atem immediately.

"I suppose your son can heal this when I speak to him."

He startled, raising his head and peering at her. Yugi tensed visibly, bristling furiously, and glanced at him with an almost horrified expression. Atem lashed his tail, puzzled, and murmured, "How did you find out about that? I surely didn't mention him."

"Yusei came to basically tell me to run for the hills to save myself when war broke out," she said scornfully. "He's fully convinced Jaden will hunt you down like a deer."

"He will. There's no doubt of that. He may be afraid, but he's the one who turns his claws on his fear without thought or provocation. Not that I haven't provided him enough reason recently." Atem considered her. "I would not have expected him to speak so easily of my son."

"He said his name and realized after I didn't know who Yami was." She stared at him coolly. "I notice you haven't denied it."

"No. Why should I?" he muttered. Yugi was staring at him, somewhere between alarmed and bewildered and maybe crestfallen. Atem glanced at him, wondering if he was fearful and half-tempted to reassure him, but turned back. His voice came out colder than intended when he said, "Although the fact he mentioned him and you've come here directly asking for him doesn't bode well."

"Oh, it's nothing nefarious," she spat. "If I'd wished to harm him, I would have sought him myself."

Atem snorted. "And you think you could find him so easily?"

"Not likely, no, but I'm sure eventually even he can be found." She eyed him. "You wished to know what I might call upon for your repayment? This is it. I wish to speak with Yami."

Yugi lashed his tail and stepped forward. She whipped around to face him, snarling, and the two of them glared at each other. "No," he snapped. "We're not bringing him here. You just said Yusei was nearby and you expect us to call him here? For all we know Jaden is waiting around the corner."

Atem opened his mouth to agree, to say that he refused such a risk, and yet someone else murmured, "Jaden is speaking to Yubel in his own territory, because he realized I recently visited her. And Yusei… He's retreated with his tail between his legs. Leviathan never left his territory."

He glanced over sideways. The Uria stood feet away, watching Aki with glittering golden eyes. The female bristled, stunned, and stepped forward just as Yugi snarled and moved to bar her path.

"Yugi," Atem hissed, though he was unable to fight the urge to bristle and growl as well. It wasn't so much to do with the idea Aki might try to attack Yami, but rather just that she knew he existed at all. They'd kept it well under paw for a long time, until he'd gone to stop Dimitri and found the other three deities too wounded to move. He considered Yami, who peered at Aki with a small smirk.

"That's what you wish to ask of me?" he requested, tilting his head. She blinked and scowled, curling her lips back to show the ridges of her teeth, and Yami flicked his tail. "Did Yusei not tell you I read thoughts? Oh, no, I see. Never mind then. My apologies for…aggravating the wounds."

She bristled and Atem noticed with interest that the movement almost shielded the flinch. They eyed each other for a moment, Yami flicking his tail as he watched her face and Aki visibly struggling not to snarl. Atem shot Yugi a warning look when the Gandora seemed ready to leap between them once more. His mate shot him a dirty one to match, and Yami snickered softly when he glanced between them.

"Relax. Aki has nothing against me. She wants to know if I can…do something for her," he muttered, turning back to her and narrowing his eyes. "What do you expect this will do for you? Do you even believe he won't come to fight and argue and hide as he already does?"

"Does it matter? If he does, then he's worthless and it's already over." Aki snarled softly. "But if he doesn't…"

"That's a lot to risk on an 'if'," Yami retorted quietly, shaking his head. "I can try. I've never done this before, but you have to know the consequences of this… If it fixes nothing…"

"I've thought about and wished it far longer than I can put into words, " she snapped, staring at him as if he were a bug she meant to crush beneath her paw. After a moment she tossed her head, scowling, and added, "You can heal. You can alter things."

Yami flicked his tail. "Altering is a good enough word for it, I suppose," he commented softly, nodding slowly and studying her face. He glanced at Yugi and Atem after a moment, then turned back. "I altered my father's eyesight, heal without loss of energy, and change dreams as often as I tread them. This…isn't something I've ever done, but I suppose you'll have to find out if this was even worth the request."

Atem considered them both for a moment, wondering at the words left unsaid between them. What could she possibly ask of him that caused such hesitation? What could make him bristle and stare so uncertainly as he did now? What did she mean to ask him that made her so angry and him so…crestfallen?

It doesn't matter, Yami commented, glancing at him sideways and smiling after a moment. He turned back. "I've never messed with organs before. This may be out of my realm of abilities, Aki."

She scoffed loudly and tossed her head toward Timaeus. "No? You didn't share your heart and his eye didn't grow back?" she snapped. Atem bristled and went to open his mouth, and her eyes burned into his. "I believe a lot of things, Atem, but Timaeus's eye and shared heart? That's not a lie I'll pretend to accept any longer. The moment Yusei said you had a son, it clicked in my head. Timaeus went away for almost a year, then reappeared for a short period and moved along again. Then he showed up again and you say you got to him in time, that you just wished for me to take care of him for a small bit of time. It didn't take much to realize. You may be strong, but you are not Divine, Atem. And only someone stronger than a God Dragon could do that. Not only did he share his heart, it healed one of his oldest wounds. No God Dragon alive now could manage it."

Atem flicked his tail and glanced at Yami. The Uria was smiling slightly, eyes locked on Timaeus for a single second. Then he snorted and stepped closer. Yugi snarled and whipped around to glare at him and Atem tilted his head as Aki huffed. Timaeus snickered beside him and Yami cast his father a curious look.

"She's not going to hurt me. It never even crossed her mind."

Yugi ignored him, whipping back to face her. "Listen, Aki." She blinked and narrowed her eyes and he bristled as he stepped closed. "I don't know what you want from him and frankly, I don't know that I care to. But if he can't do this for you, you will accept it and you will back down. I won't have you come after Yami or Atem because you didn't get what you thought Yami would be capable of doing for you. And this? You asked Atem to bring him here. Maybe he didn't have to, but you called in your debt when you asked to speak to him."

Atem bristled faintly. "Yugi…"

Aki looked over and dipped her head, though she turned immediately back to Yugi. "See to it you don't get in my face again, Yugi. Atem's mate or not, I'll sharpen my claws on your spine."

"You'd get your throat torn out before you could blink," Timaeus scoffed. "Atem wouldn't even let you entertain the thought."

She huffed. "We'll see," she muttered, eyes still locked with Yugi's. "But, as I said, we'll have to see at some point if Yami's abilities granted my wish. And I'll honor this as my repayment. I told Atem I wanted to see his son. Whether Yami came on his own or not is inconsequential. For all I know he could have killed me to stop me seeing him."

Atem tilted his head. That was still a possibility if she pressed hard enough.

Yami snorted in surprise and gave him a wide grin. "Wow."

Atem huffed, turning away. "Yugi, let up. It's fine. Yami came when she requested him. I highly doubt she has malicious intent if he came to see her currently." He glanced at Timaeus. The Knight Dragon was watching Aki with a small smirk and the Rose Dragon was still snarling at Yugi who refused to step away. "Yugi."

The Gandora hesitated a moment, then snarled and stepped away. He glanced at Yami, grumbling, "You should probably heal that shoulder wound" before he padded past him. Atem watched him intently for a moment. Where was he going?

"Stay with Yami," he muttered to Timaeus, though he failed to turn his head and took off after Yugi instead. The Gandora didn't look over, though he did pause to let Atem fall in place beside him.