Chapter CXXI: The Fifth

Timaeus jumped when he heard a wheezing noise. His head snapped around, eyes widening, and his mouth opened and closed. Atem jerked, entire body shaking as if with a seizure, and then abruptly his eyes snapped open. He gasped and wheezed once, the scrambled for his paws. He tripped on a pool of his own blood and panted, collapsing and winding himself. But he was up again a split second later, hurrying back to lay snuggled against Yugi's side. Timaeus watched him bury his face in the crook of his jaw where it met his neck. He swore he saw his mouth move, but he didn't hear it if he spoke.

For a long moment nothing happened. Timaeus had the impulse to step forward and whisper an apology, to tell Atem he was sorry it hadn't worked. He almost considered pleading with him to let them bury Yugi's body.

But it passed immediately.

Yugi gasped and sputtered, choking and coughing. Atem pressed against him, and Yami sprang forward to bury his face in Yugi's flank. Jaden stepped slowly forward, awkward but willing to try at least to help despite how lost he had to feel.

"Are you all right?"

Atem didn't respond, watching Yugi intently. The Gandora sluggishly raised his head and blinked. The light in his eyes seemed dull for a split second, but Timaeus felt as if it had somehow never been brighter at the same time. It amazed, horrified, and bewildered him. He didn't know what to make of the way his eyes seemed so dull and yet vibrant all at once.

"I'm okay," Yugi muttered. His voice came in a croak as if he hadn't spoken in years, and for the first time Timaeus noticed the gaping wound that was rapidly closing itself upon his throat. He had seen him lift and turn his head to lick Atem that final time, but it almost seemed impossible to consider. His throat looked as if Dimitri had barely left a part of it together…

The Gandora trembled and shifted his weight to bring his tail to his side, wings shivering with tension. He flexed his claws, narrowed his eyes, and peered at Atem sideways as if he were afraid to look away. Yami drew away only when Yugi seemed to have recovered from his throat wound and Jaden lingered a moment longer, studying the spot as if with surprise. Timaeus spotted him looking at Yami, eyes focused on the underside of his throat, and considered him with a tilted head. Did he mean to strike out?

Yugi's eyes flashed for a single second when he stepped forward. Timaeus froze, bristling faintly with surprise, but the Gandora merely blinked and looked at Atem again. He hesitated, then managed a soft "Glad to have you back". Yugi turned to him again immediately with a weak smile.

"Thanks, Timaeus," he croaked.

Jaden shifted his weight. "Why did you bother to retrieve us if none of us were necessary?" he asked suddenly, voice dripping with momentary frustration. His eyes locked on Yami, burning into the hatchling's face.

"I did need you. You were necessary." Yami faltered. "The problem was that I…I failed. If I had not lost track of Atem, and Yugi had not passed so far ahead, you would have needed to start healing him when he woke. But Atem and I got separated and Yugi followed Atem who found his own way out."

Timaeus bristled. "Right, because you refused to help them."

Yami looked over slowly, golden eyes flashing with split second anger before flickering to Yugi and Atem. He looked away after a moment.

Atem peered at him, though his eyes quickly shot to Yugi once more. The Gandora was still shaking, but had managed to rise to his paws. Atem turned back to Timaeus, peripheral locked on his mate. "I understood I was on my own the moment I named Mokuba in the Red Meadow," he said softly, and Timaeus bristled at the quiet acceptance in his voice. "I also knew when I could no longer sense Yami. And I listened to him speak to Amun. I knew he would be too afraid to return, Timaeus. I'm not upset."

Yugi's head snapped around. "Atem!"

Atem shook his head. "Yami exists on borrowed time. He always has. Every breath is nothing but a joke. Jaden wants him dead. The world around him fears him. He is hunted. His siblings hate him and go so far as to wish him dead." He looked to Yugi. "As far as I'm concerned, he was right in holding his paw and waiting. If I had died there, it would have meant everything was over. But Yami would have survived a while longer. Is that not the point of being a parent? We protect them until we can no longer and when that time comes, we accept death with all the grace we can muster. Is that not it?"

Jaden was staring at Atem with wide eyes, though he looked away when the Slifer glanced over. Timaeus bristled and shivered, flexing his claws uncertainly.

Atem's eyes focused in on Yami. "You aren't owed a right to exist. You are not owed a life. You're owed nothing," he growled, lashing his tail. "And you fear for the moment it all ceases. I understand that. I always have. I'm not upset."

Silence crept through the clearing. Timaeus wanted to argue, to say something, but shame burned through him. His eyes shot to Yami, but the Uria refused to look at any of them. His eyes were on his paws, glued to his hollow claws where he flexed them with a grimace.

"Well, I guess we're just lucky you have such a stubborn little Gandora devoted to you like this," Yusei murmured.

Atem snorted and Timaeus looked over to find Yugi puffing his chest out.

"My question," Jaden cut in around the snickers, "is how you still even have a heart left."

Yugi looked over. His eyes flashed again, like a pair of stars, burning with all the brilliance of the sun. He looked at Jaden for a long moment, as if struggling to place him or the words he'd said. For a split second Timaeus wondered if he knew who he was, if he recognized him in any capacity.

And then he blinked, frowning and looking over at Yami.

"I…shouldn't be here…should I?"

The hatchling flinched and looked over. "I brought you back. You'll feel like that for a little while." He paused and shook his head, voice low with anguish. "Your memories will come back slowly."

Atem looked as if he'd been gutted. Yugi blinked a few times, shifted his weight, and slowly looked over again. For a moment he seemed confused, and then he stumbled to his paws, shook himself out, and padded slowly toward him. He was limping, stumbling so hard he almost landed face first on the ground, but caught himself and burrowed into Atem's side.

"I didn't forget you," he whispered, just loud enough his voice carried in the dead air. Timaeus shivered and glanced over, finding Yami staring with a broken looking on his face. But he turned to him after a moment, eyes flashing, and the expression turned into cold indifference for a single second before becoming mild frustration.

"What else do you remember?" Jaden asked hesitantly.

Yugi was silent for a moment, then looked over slowly, eyes locking on Yami. "You know I don't remember you," he murmured, and Timaeus saw that same flash in his gaze, as if his eyes were two narrowed pools of starlight. "I remember the rest of them, but who are you?"

Yami flicked his tail. "It doesn't matter."

Timaeus flinched. "What?"

Atem growled softly. "Yami, what are you—?"

The Uria rose to his paws and moved forward. Yugi bristled and sprang toward him, lashing his tail. They studied each other and Timaeus was horrified by the anger he saw tightening Yugi's muscles. Yami peered at him calmly, smiled tightly, and murmured, "It doesn't matter, Yugi. It doesn't impact anything. You're back. Atem brought you back."

"You said it was you."

Yami shook his head slightly. "No," he said softly. "I brought Atem to you, or I…brought him to the meadow. You found him from Paradise. But you followed him back. He brought you back."

Yugi snarled low his throat, lashing his tail. "So, then why did you bother?" he snapped, then faltered and tilted his head. His eyes widened, then narrowed, and he tilted his head the other way. After a moment he padded forward, sniffing, and bristled more noticeably. "You stink of death."

Yami flinched almost imperceptibly, but Timaeus noticed his claws flex with distress. "Yes."

Yugi blinked. "Why?" he asked, then sniffed again and looked over his shoulder at Atem. He stared a moment, his eyes flashed, and then he looked back. "Oh. Oh… I… You're Atem's son?"

Atem bristled. "And yours."

"Mine?" Yugi whispered, glancing over his shoulder briefly before turning back with a bewildered expression. He eyed Yami for a moment, then stepped closer still. They were almost beak to beak when Yugi hissed, "I don't remember you."

Yami hummed. "It's okay. You don't need to right now. Stop worrying about it."

Yugi shook his head and stared. "I don't remember you," he repeated, and then snarled softly. "Because you…shouldn't be here."

Yami echoed him, lashing his tail. "No," he agreed, "but here I am. Just like you."

He blinked a few times, then raised a paw to scratch at his forehead as if it itched. After a moment Yugi huffed and plopped down to take a seat, scowling, before his eyes flickered to Yami once more. "What did you do to me?"

"Nothing." Yami smiled faintly. "I never had a chance to do anything to you. You banished me when I went to retrieve you."

"So then…why do I feel like this?"

The Uria faltered a moment, smiled tightly, and looked briefly to Atem and back. "Because you… You're not dormant anymore."

"Dormant?" Yugi muttered, then huffed. "My head feels like it'll explode."

"Too many things all at once." Yami took a seat and turned to Atem. "Do you remember when I said he would come back different? You asked me if he would still be Yugi and I said yes."

Atem snarled low in his throat, springing to his paws. "Is he not?"

"He is. But he's awake now."

"Awake?" Timaeus echoed simultaneously with Atem. They glanced at each other, then Yugi and finally back to Yami.

"What does that mean?"

Yusei had drifted closer, sniffing at Yugi. The Gandora whipped around to snap his teeth, and Timaeus saw his eyes flash like gems once more. The Stardust Dragon tilted his head, then turned to Yami and hissed, "He's a God Dragon?"

Yami hummed. Atem snarled and looked at Yugi. The Gandora looked over his shoulder and flexed his claws, blinking. Jaden bristled in alarm. Leviathan growled softly, and Timaeus felt his legs shake for a brief second.

"He's a deity?" he hissed. "Since when?"

"He was dormant," Yami answered, flicking his tail. Yugi had turned back to him, looking tired and annoyed. "Passing over and coming back changed you. You touched your abilities when you banished me. And then when you decided to follow Atem. But you didn't follow him, did you? You led him."

Yugi blinked and narrowed his eyes. "I…" His head turned. "Did I?"

Atem was silent for a moment, then nodded slowly. "We wandered and then you said you knew where to go out of nowhere. A few seconds later, we both woke."

Yugi bristled, then grinned. "I'm awesome," he snickered, and Atem snorted, startled. The Gandora turned back to Yami. "Of what?"

Yami smirked. "I think it's based in willpower," he said slowly, flicking his tail. "You wanted Atem as your mate, and you followed him so closely even without realizing it. You were always within the same area as him but for one year. You challenged him and won. You determined to slow Keith down, caught fire, and didn't die. You did the biggest amount of damage possible to Dimitri before he could flee. And you even survived long enough to see Atem one last time before you passed."

Yugi blinked. "I… Oh. Huh."

"Do you remember the fight with Dimitri?" Jaden asked, lashing his tail. Timaeus bristled, and Atem shot him a furious look, but the Prime Material Dragon ignored them both. Yugi blinked and stared in surprise. "Do you remember any of it?"

The Gandora flexed his claws and narrowed his eyes. He seemed distant for a single second before he lifted his head. "He fought me as the Leviathan for a few minutes, then as Jonouchi, and finally as Yusei when he realized I wasn't slowing down." He paused. "He tried to disable me to get to my hearts, but I broke his jaw and managed to rip one of his wings off, which made him change. I almost got his jugular the third time he managed to kill me, but he managed to change and avoid bleeding out. By the fourth heart, he decided it wasn't worth the trouble. He decided then he was just going to break me and leave me to bleed out in front of Atem."

Yami flicked his tail. "He wasn't prepared for you."

Yugi huffed. "He threatened Atem," he spat. "He should have known I wasn't going to make it easy for him to lay a claw on him."

"Was any of it permanent?" Atem demanded. Yami looked over. Timaeus shivered as the two of them locked eyes. "Was any of the damage done permanent?"

"I don't know," Yami answered softly. "I have no way of knowing."

Yugi flexed his claws. "If I'm truly a God Dragon, then one of those blows had to be permanent," he hissed, lashing his tail. "I remember he couldn't close his jaw and it gushed blood for a while, no matter what shape he took. His tongue was mutilated. It kept…hanging from the side of his mouth."

Atem bristled. "So he's weakened."

Yami studied Yugi for a moment. "What else do you remember?"

The Gandora blinked and turned to him. "I still don't remember you," he said softly, uncertainly, "if that's what you're asking."

"No. I know that'll take a while longer."

Yugi frowned and looked over at Atem again. Timaeus could see him searching Atem's face, trying and failing to find some kind of answer to the questions no doubt swarming his head. After a moment Yugi turned back. "I don't know. I remember Atem and Jaden fighting. I remember us separating. I remember Jonouchi waking up and telling me not to leave the den. I remember…knowing I wasn't going to make it out of that fight alive. But I don't remember what happened beyond feeling Atem from Paradise and going to find him."

Yami nodded. "Okay."

"What about Jonouchi?" Timaeus asked, bristling. "Where is he?"

"In the den. I think he probably went back to sleep after I left." Yugi looked over. "Fire Dragons can't handle winters like these. He likely fell asleep immediately after I walked out, to preserve his body heat."

Atem lashed his tail. "Useless," he spat.

Yami snorted. "Don't be upset. He can't survive the cold. That's why his species hibernates during winter, even in the desert if the temperature plummets enough."

"Useless," Atem repeated angrily. "Absolutely useless."

Yugi looked over. "I remember being so angry with him…" He paused. "And you… You were so livid with me."

Atem flinched. "I…"

He blinked and looked at Yami. "Because of…you?"

"Don't push too hard. You'll hurt yourself." Yami smiled. "You need rest."

Yugi huffed and flicked his tail again, though he looked over his shoulder at Atem again. Timaeus thought he seemed to ask if Yami was right, staring so pointedly at Atem as he was. They studied each other a moment before Atem glanced at Yami.

"You'll remain nearby."

Yami was quiet for a moment, then glanced briefly at Timaeus before turning back. He smiled tightly. "Sure," he said finally, shifting his weight and turning to Yugi again. The Gandora had turned around to stare at him, eyes glittering and stance somewhat tense. They eyed each other for a long moment before Yami turned abruptly away again. He looked at the other three deities. "I didn't know Yugi was a God Dragon. I realized when Amun told me he'd give me a fifth."

Yugi blinked and tilted his head. "Amun? As in the Sky Dragon who changed into a human?"

"He's a Uria, but yes, all the same."

Atem had gotten to his paws and moved to Yugi's side. The Gandora looked over, grinned, and licked his face. Atem didn't immediately respond, though he looked over after a moment and returned the gesture. Timaeus wondered if he would remain angry, if he would still refuse to forgive him. He wondered if Atem really didn't know how to forgive someone. He'd never thought to teach him that, because he had never assumed he'd need to. Atem had always bounced back when he was slighted, but Timaeus wondered then if he'd seemed the majority of the things he'd been offended by as nothing worth his attention. Perhaps he hadn't forgiven, but had always told himself it didn't matter.

Because Timaeus had always shrugged things off. He'd never taken anything serious unless it came to fights. And Atem had grown with him. It wouldn't be much of a shock to realize he had merely adopted a coping mechanism that mirrored his general attitude in order to keep from drowning with resentment.

He shifted his weight. Yami was staring at him.

He opened his mouth, but the hatchling turned away and shifted his weight once more. Timaeus wondered if it was shame for abandoning his parents or if he didn't want him to ask what he'd been about to. Perhaps he'd been right in his thoughts and Yami didn't want to agree.

"Let's go lay down."

Yugi hummed and trotted beside Atem despite his obvious stiffness, his limp still heavy but rapidly lessening as he continued. Timaeus watched them until they disappeared from sight, then looked toward Jaden and the other two deities. Yami had turned his head to stare at them as well, flicking his tail and eyeing them as if they might lunge at any moment.

He climbed to his paws as well, flicking his tail as they considered each other. "Do you plan to stay?" he asked softly, and Timaeus was amazed by the lack of aggression in his tone. Yami looked tired when he and Jaden locked eyes. "Atem and Yugi won't put up with you lifting a paw toward me. But I'd hope you would keep the truce a little longer.'

Jaden scoffed. "I don't see that I did anything," he hissed finally, lashing his tail. "Seeing as Yugi led Atem from death and the two of them woke on their own, I don't see that I actually served any purpose in coming here."

Yami tilted his head. "I…I'm sorry for forcing you here," he muttered, considering him before briefly turning to Yusei and Leviathan. "I just… I didn't want to lose them."

"You would have either way if Yugi hadn't run off to save Atem," Leviathan snarled, and Timaeus looked over to find him sneering at the hatchling. He seemed more annoyed than angry, but the glint in his eyes spoke of frustration. "You overestimated what you could and couldn't do. It didn't get anyone killed this time, but it likely will the next."

Yami was silent for a long time, then snapped, "There won't be a next time."

Jaden looked at him critically. "Meaning what?"

"I'll handle Dimitri," Yami snarled. "I'll handle him and it can all be over. Everything can be laid to rest."

"What makes you think there is a rest?" Jaden asked quietly. He flicked his tail and narrowed his eyes. "If the repercussions should end up being worse than initially assumed and time is wasted in rectifying the problem, how is there a rest?"

Yami was silent for a long minute. "Jaden," he said slowly, "your fear mongering doesn't work on me. I won't feel guilty for what I've done. Not when it saved so many, even if it cost a few lives in exchange. You don't get to make me feel bad for what I've done just because you yourself still carry the guilt of your inaction."

"You can't tell me you don't care about those who died because of you."

"No, but I also won't pretend that they weigh upon me more than in passing thought. You forget and misunderstand. I do not plan to harm anyone nor do I wish harm done to me. But Yugi and Atem are alive and while I wish they'd never gotten hurt, I won't say I regret my decisions to save them."

Jaden narrowed his eyes, snarling softly. "You sound as single minded and brainless as Yugi."

"Good."

Yugi jolted awake. Atem sprang to his paws, startled. The Gandora whipped around, flustered and panting. Atem bristled and looked rapidly around before blinking. Yugi was shaking, his scales misted with a fine sheen of sweat. He'd never seen him so distressed before, though Atem remembered hearing it was a rather common occurrence should the shock or pain be bad enough in a Fire Dragon. Atem blinked and stretched slowly, flexing his long claws and flicking his tail.

"Little gem," he breathed, relieved when Yugi focused on him again, "it's okay. Whatever you dreamed, it's okay."

The Gandora breathed shakily, staring blankly, then shook himself out and rushed over to burrow into his side. Atem coaxed him to lay down again and draped a wing over his back, licking his face to help quell the tremors. Yugi pressed into him as if he meant to burrow beneath his skin and hide inside his flesh, and it reminded Atem of Yami curling up with him when he was younger. It reminded him, too, of when they'd first mated and Yugi had been glued to his side, excited and almost refusing to let him leave him for even water or food…

Atem lay his chin on his head and closed his eyes. Yugi was snoring gently, as if he were too exhausted to keep his eyes open. Atem wondered what he'd seen or gone through when he'd initially passed but especially upon coming to find him. Had he been forced to choose between eternal rest and Atem? He couldn't imagine making a decision like that—especially not for him…

He'll keep reliving his death for a while, a voice murmured and Atem raised and turned his head. Yami had wandered toward the den, laying down yards away with his head on his paws. He wasn't facing him, eyes closed where it was turned partially away, and Atem considered him curiously. Was he just as exhausted as Atem was beginning to feel?

You traversed death.

Atem thought to answer but instead found himself curling up a little more around Yugi. The Gandora twitched but the movement was a dream response rather than one of distress. Atem closed his eyes and fell asleep soon after.

Yugi woke him with another fit of tremors. Atem blinked and lifted his head, startled, and looked at him. Yugi lay there, quaking, and slowly stumbled to his paws. He shook himself out, visibly shivering and the sweat that lined his scales made Atem nearly tremble. After a moment the Gandora circled around twice, hesitated, and then slowly took a seat a couple of inches away from him. He blinked and turned to him again, searching his face, but didn't speak.

"Little one…"

Yugi blinked and studied him more intently before shifting his weight. Atem watched him flex his claws for a single second before the Gandora looked away and drew in a ragged breath. "I'm so tired," he whispered, voice breaking. He gave Atem a sideways look that almost seemed sheepish. "I'm so, so tired."

Atem shivered and sat up. "Little one?"

"Sorry. I don't mean to scare you." Yugi bristled faintly and shook his head slightly. His eyes shot abruptly to the hatchling laying outside the den, curled up into a tight ball and resting with even breaths. Yugi raised his head slightly more, then stepped forward and out of the den. Atem rushed to a stand and hurried to get to his side. Yami twisted around, sitting up and staring at Yugi in surprise. The Gandora hesitated, then bumped beaks with him.

Atem noticed with surprise that there was no recognition of any kind in Yugi's eyes. It made him narrow his eyes in puzzlement, but realization came soon after.

Yugi recognized Yami as Atem's. He might not have remembered him and he didn't think of him as his own, but he knew he was Atem's. And because of that, he was going to treat him as cordially as he could. The thought made him both warm and cold.

Yami smiled faintly, stretching as he flexed his claws. Atem caught the warm, knowing glance he shot him, but the hatchling merely straightened. "Dimitri won't be back for a while," he mumbled, looking at Yugi intently. Atem hesitated, glancing between them uncertainly. Yugi was watching Yami as if he'd just threatened to bite him, startled more than angered, but Atem wondered at the frigid glint in his gem-like eyes. "You broke his jaw and ripped a wing off. I don't see him in a rush to come back just yet."

Yugi glanced at him sideways, but didn't answer for a long time. Finally he turned back to Yami. "Yeah, well, he messed with a Gandora," he mumbled, and Atem wondered how long it would take Yugi to remember Yami. It seemed so…incomprehensible that he didn't recognize him, didn't know him, didn't love him. "I would have done worse if he wasn't so strong."

Atem looked between them again. Yami was watching Yugi with a measured stare, as if he were expecting something, but after a moment he smiled tightly and looked away.

How does he not remember?

Yami didn't look over, stretching his neck back until it popped. Because, Atem, he tapped into his powers when he chose to follow you. You became the only thing he cared about long before you reached the clearing to come back. It's no different from the moment you and Jaden fought and you found yourself struggling not to lash out at anyone who moved. Yami glanced at him slowly. Imagine that feeling, but consider it tenfold. He had to embrace more of his abilities than you did when he forced himself through and back into his body.

Would this have happened anyways?

Not so violently and likely not in such an expanse of memory loss. But it would have happened at least somewhat.

But he… Atem glanced at Yugi uncertainly. He doesn't deserve that.

No, but I think it's a small price to pay.

Atem looked over, bristling faintly. Forgetting you is a small price to pay? He bore his teeth. Yugi bristled and growled softly in his peripheral, confused rather than aggressive. Yami, you're acting as if you don't matter.

Yami gave him a long, measured stare. He was statuesque for a long time, then hummed softly. I did not say that. But I'd rather he remembered you and loved you than he did me. I'm glad you're the focal point of his existence rather than me.

Atem found himself snarling before he could stop himself. "That's not—"

Yugi sprang to his paws where he'd been sitting, staring at Atem and bristling. "Atem?" he demanded, almost breathless. "What happened? What did he do?"

He hesitated, bristling again, and then shook his head slowly. "Nothing," he whispered, licking his forehead when Yugi gave him an incredulous look. Atem smiled tightly. "We're just…arguing."

"But you haven't spoken." Yugi's eyes narrowed, head whipping toward Yami. "You read thoughts?"

"And plant them into others' heads. I can speak to them just like I am now with you." Yami hesitated, studying him intently once more. "Dimitri can as well. I'm sure he helped himself to that ability when you fought. It's one of his favorite things to do."

Atem flexed his claws. Why did he remember Timaeus?

Timaeus is important to you.

He blinked. You are as well…

Yes, but you've known Timaeus for a long time, Atem. I'm still new to your memories. I'm still new to the entire world. As far as Yugi is concerned, he knows what he needs to. He remembers you, the other three deities, and Timaeus.

Atem glanced at Yugi sideways. The Gandora was looking between them uncertainly, flicking his wings and tilting his head with a bewildered expression. Atem leaned forward to lick his forehead again, flexing his claws anxiously. "Yugi," he said quietly, breathing in somewhat shakily. The Gandora stiffened, startled by his shaky tone, and Atem drew another deep breath before looking over completely. "You said you remembered that I was angry with you."

Yugi blinked. "Yes."

"But you don't recall why?"

The Gandora stayed silent for a long time. "I lied to you about something," he said finally, shaking his head after a moment. "But I don't remember what about, just that I…did. And I kept it going…for a long time."

Atem felt his stomach burn as shame crept through him. Yugi looked so uncertain, though mildly defiant. He had the idea Yugi remembered the reason he'd lied even if he didn't recall the lie itself. He almost snickered. Of course Yugi would remember that. But the sound was choked in his tightened throat. He looked away, nodding slightly.

"Okay."

Yugi hesitated. "Is it? Because you seem upset that I don't remember."

"No," he blurted, head snapping back. "No. I'm not upset about… I just… If I said it was to help Yami…"

Yugi glanced at the Uria critically for a moment, then turned back to Atem with a puzzled expression. "I don't… I don't mean to call you a liar, Atem, but I don't understand why I would choose to help him. I know I chose to do it because it meant you were okay, but I don't remember it having anything to do with him." He hesitated, turning to Yami. "I don't see why I would help him…"

Atem flexed his claws again. "You don't think he's yours."

Yugi flinched. "That's not… I don't…" He opened and closed his mouth, then huffed. "He looks like a partial asexual breeding, like you laid his egg and someone fertilized it and so he got different features. I'm not saying you did that, nor that you would have asked anyone else, but I… I don't see myself in him, if that's what you're asking."

Atem nodded slowly. "Okay."

Yugi hesitated, then looked down. "You're everywhere in him, but I don't…I don't see myself there. So I…" He huffed again, then looked over at Yami. "I'm sorry that I don't remember you. I'm sure you're amazing—you're Atem's, after all—but I don't see a point in pretending and there's reason for me to…"

Yami snickered. "No," he agreed, "you're right. You don't need to pretend and you don't need to force yourself to rekindle a relationship you don't remember. Atem is just in shock, and he'll recover from it later."

Yugi nodded and turned to Atem. He thought he saw the slightest hint of hurt in his blue-violet eyes, but he didn't think it was directed toward Yami. Atem leaned forward, licked his cheek, and nuzzled his shoulder. It didn't matter if he remembered, he decided fiercely, because he was alive and well.

And Atem would watch the world burn before he let anything happen to him again.