Chapter XCVI: Change

Yami stepped past them and into the clearing. The river roared yards away and the hatchling glanced at it as his mind reeled. His parents were both watching him and he could see Jonouchi from the entrance of the den, studying the three of them. Atem had stepped aside enough to give him more room to stand by himself should he so desire, and Yugi had taken a seat a few inches away even as he studied them both.

Atem still hadn't put it together, which he realized was a good thing. He couldn't know yet. Although, Yami knew, it wouldn't have been impossible for Atem to deduce it just from what he'd said moments before. Atem wasn't stupid. He never had been, even if he'd rolled over and let his brothers attack him so violently when they were younger. That had been kindness, not stupidity. That had been an unwillingness to harm someone else even for the sake of his own discomfort.

His abilities had been there then too, ever present and brimming beneath the surface. Each time things had gone wrong, he'd known the exact way to save himself. The majority of that had been his quick wit over his abilities, but they'd worked in tandem more than once even when he was so young.

Yami had to wonder why it was Atem had been given such a strength while he himself could only hope to read from others in order to secure what he needed to find a solution later. It was almost a mockery when he compared himself against Atem.

Atem didn't need to wander dreams or search memories. He didn't need to pluck words from thoughts or memories. He didn't need to see the territory he stood in more than the initial glance. He didn't need to know the history of a place when he set paw in it. He didn't need to watch things to come, happening, or past. He wasn't haunted by a million and one different paths and the potential unknown simply because he was afraid of what could be.

And Yugi may not have ever had abilities, but he certainly had a wit to match Atem's. His was more easily displayed and he'd use it before Atem did when it came to his temper, but the Gandora had never backed away from a fight when necessary. The most problematic fear he'd ever possessed he'd conquered. Atem was his. The God Dragon had agreed to the consummation, had taken him as his mate. Yugi had accomplished by sheer will and cunning what a million others had failed with violence and taunts.

He flicked his tail and looked over at Atem slowly. His father had turned his attention back to the sky, considering the air overhead and the vague sunlight as if it were whispering. It occurred to him then the lack of snow on the ground. Atem had withheld summoning it for the moment…

"Father"—Atem's head snapped down again, eyes immediately locked on him—"what was the hardest thing you've ever done?"

Atem blinked once, considering him. His eyes sparkled and sharpened for a split second before he glanced at Yugi. "Taking Yugi as a mate," he said finally. "It felt like asking for help and I had taught myself never to expect or accept it any longer."

Yami glanced at Yugi then, blinking, and the Gandora exhaled slowly before looking away. "Lying to Atem," he answered quietly, "even if it was for a good cause and it saved his life and yours."

Yami nodded, tossing the two answers about in his head for a moment. Atem had not accepted help from Timaeus even by the time he and Yugi had crossed paths. The God Dragon had all but shunned any efforts Timaeus had put into offering and he'd fought that much harder to keep from ever having to ask again. His self-sufficiency had been amazing to behold much of the time, but it was more apparent now that he'd said it just how hard it was for Atem to even consider asking. He'd forgotten for a moment just how often Atem had woken shaky and furious Yugi was there before remembering himself. He'd forgotten how often Atem would rather hide a wound or deflect concern than admit he was hurt or sick. He'd even forgotten the way Atem had so often thought to hide any concerns he had from Yugi, no matter how small or consuming they might have been.

That self-sufficiency had cost him much of his security and his distrust had always been apparent. He was indifferent to threats because he knew he could win the fight to come. He was indifferent to others when he met them and when they left his sight they often disappeared from his thoughts as well. He did not have ties to his brothers and his relationship with his parents was thin and frayed. He had not even sought to find answers as to Yami's death because he'd taught himself to expect the worst and welcome it when it came.

Yami tilted his head and turned to Yugi again.

It was funny. Yugi was always optimistic. He put his best paw forward and he bore his teeth when he decided he needed to fight for an outcome. He didn't look into things as grimly as Atem did, though he had brief moments of despair. He just kept himself from being drowned beneath it with a grace even Atem was unable to match. He refused to accept defeat if he could still try. Yugi counted trying as an effort that could become victorious, whereas Atem saw it as a path to failure. Yugi wouldn't let someone see him as anything less than he was willing to project and using his title as Atem's mate was for warning rather than boast.

Yugi saw things in a way that made them more easily accepted but also changed. He would find the solution when he was given a problem. He refused to be without it, especially should it mean Atem could get hurt. He had tried his hardest to refuse admitting defeat when he came to challenge Atem and his intentions had been nothing but pure in claiming him as a mate. He hadn't wanted to force him to play a role of absolute power and he'd never even dreamed of hurting him.

Yami glanced at Atem after a moment, then turned away.

How had his parents always been so powerful and yet he…wasn't?

"Yami?"

He blinked and turned to Yugi again, tilting his head. His father peered back at him in bewilderment, blue-violet eyes narrowed slightly as he considered him intently. They studied each other for a moment before the hatchling smiled.

But he turned to Atem again.

"Do you ever regret it?" he said quietly, searching his face. "Letting me live?"

The God Dragon was silent for a long time. "Should I?" he returned.

He snickered. "I'd hope not, but I always have to wonder."

Atem looked past him to Yugi after a moment. "I'd have killed you by now if I regretted letting you live," he said slowly, and Yami realized he was addressing them both. The hatchling bristled, startled, and glanced at Yugi as well. The Gandora stood watching Atem with a crestfallen but equally defiant expression. Atem turned back to him. "I've declared war for you. Remember that."

Yami blinked, then chuckled and nodded. "You did."

"And you…are still alive," Atem continued more quietly, eyes flickering to Yugi. "I haven't harmed you physically. And I've yet to break your spirit."

Yugi huffed. "You could try."

Atem smirked and shook his head. "I don't want to." He turned back to Yami, expression becoming cold and closed off again. "Now, I've given you your answers. What of your reasoning for not allowing me to kill Dimitri? What right do you have to tell me he must live for so long?"

Yami blinked, eyes wide with surprise, and considered him for a moment. Atem was caught between showing his teeth with frustration and following him blindly. He'd never considered how much stress Atem had kept hidden in the fact he'd tried so hard to keep to whatever Yami asked of him. He'd been given so little in return and failed to question it until now.

Yami felt foolish for not realizing. Atem's frustration was overflowing like a beaver dam about to burst. He hesitated a moment, considering him, and whispered, "Can you trust me a little longer?"

Atem snarled softly, eyes glowing with anger. "How much is a little longer?"

"Father—"

"That's not fair to ask of him," Yugi said behind him, and Yami looked over with wide eyes. The Gandora watched him in turn with a tired but patient expression. "He's followed every direction you've given and he's never questioned you. He's listened to you and followed blindly. He doesn't trust either of us right now and yet he's still following. Yami…"

He felt sick for a moment. Yugi was right. Atem deserved some answers, but which were the ones that wouldn't tip the balance? Which were the ones that wouldn't get them all killed?

He opened his mouth, turning back to Atem, and stopped again. Bile threatened to etch itself up the back of his throat. He closed his mouth again and watched him for a moment.

"Can you trust me a little longer?" he asked again. "Please? I can't…tell you so much as you wish. You are the only one who can kill Dimitri right now and I need your paw still until I can stop the ripple effects that should come if it happens prematurely."

Atem lashed his tail. "I will give you two more moons. If that time passes and you are still unready, it will be on you."

Yami suppressed a flinch. Two moons? He felt like he needed two lifetimes. But… "Thank you."

Atem snarled and turned away. Yugi was silent for a long moment before, gently, he whispered, "Who will die if he kills Dimitri early?"

Yami froze and tried to suppress the tremor that threatened to race through him. Me, he thought helplessly, desperation making his belly churn. He paused for a moment, exhaled slowly, and turned back. "You, Jonouchi, Jaden, Leviathan, Yusei…"

"Atem would live?" Yugi asked, and for the first time Yami realized just how much more he cared about that than anything else. He bristled slightly, flicking his tail and suppressing a snarl. "Then what does the rest of it matter?"

His father stood statuesque, and Yami glanced at him in his peripheral. "Yugi," Atem said slowly, voice dropping to a low snarl, "my life isn't worth theirs, and especially not yours."

Yugi scoffed and looked at him defiantly. "I think it is," he snapped. "I think it's worth this world and the next. I don't really care about your opinion. It's always been low and disagreeable and I don't want to hear it any longer."

Yami almost laughed, amazed by the sharp words. Atem exhaled so loudly his entire body shook. Yami tilted his head toward him again and tried to smother his snickers at his exasperated expression.

"You're blinded by your affection," Atem scoffed, peering at Yami more pointedly once more. "But explain to me how everyone else would die."

"If you choose to hunt Dimitri," Yami said quietly, trying to find the words and prevent himself saying too much, "then repercussions abound. Turning your full attention on him will only cause him to lash out harder."

"And? What am I to do? Sit and wait and hope to the gods long past he doesn't sink his teeth into my throat?" Atem sneered. He slammed his tail into the ground and for the first time Yami realized he'd missed the click of the blades surging forth. He bristled and stepped back, and Atem slammed his tail again. "And what of Timaeus? He can't stay hidden forever. If he strikes him down, you will feel the injury as your own. You won't die, but he could always torture him until you're too weak to stand. What then?"

Yami shook his head. "That won't happen," he said quietly.

"How can you be so sure?"

He opened his mouth to answer and a burst of pain shot through his skull. He backed up, snarling softly, and pawed at his forehead. Bursts of light blinded him for a long moment as he breathed roughly and tried to think straight. Yugi rushed forward and Atem jerked back, startled and wide-eyed.

"Yami?"

An image flashed through his mind and the pain grew tenfold, as if someone had dug claws into his flesh and threatened to sever it altogether. He couldn't see it as clearly as he had the first few times something had come to him like this. But the image cleared somewhat and the blood soaked clearing made his stomach toss. The smell was rancid and burning, his mouth salivating to rid himself of the coppery taste. His entire body burned and tingled and his heart raced as he tried to smother the snarl that threatened to escape once more.

He tossed his head, clawing harder, and felt a streak of blood drip into his eye as the image shattered. He panted, eyes staring blankly at the ground, and then turned to Yugi with a snarl.

"What did you just decide?" he all but screamed. "What did you just decide?"

Yugi didn't answer but for staring at him for a moment. Atem glanced between them and then hissed, "Something changed?"

"Oh, something definitely changed," a new voice purred. Atem, Yugi, and Yami all looked up, bristling and stiff-legged, as something pale blue was thrown toward them. Yami didn't flinch as the body hit the ground and rolled head over paws for a moment toward him. The head was almost completely severed, the bone showing in its neck, and it lay in a haphazard pile before him. But Yami didn't look at it as he considered the darker blue male in front of him.

The hatchling ignored even the sudden drop in temperature. Everything was cold, so bitter and snapping that it felt as if snow were falling around him. The sun seemed to hide away for a moment, as if the two of them standing so close was enough to make it recoil. The air dropped again and his paws were almost numb as the shadows stretched and dipped and grew darker than ever. The trees swayed and danced about in a sudden wind and the earth seemed to groan beneath the onslaught of darkness. The sky had turned almost black around them, as if the night had come prematurely, and Yami found himself almost laughing.

Yami stepped forward when Dimitri did.

Atem watched silently and Yugi moved away to let the two of them face each other.

"I almost thought you were dead again when even Noah's ability failed to find you," Dimitri laughed, watching him intently. "But then I realized, who would have been able to kill you with Atem there to protect you? His Blessing saved my siblings in the nest. And he's been able to survive every courtship challenge and live to see the next day. So, why wouldn't you come to hide with him here?"

Yami studied him for a moment. "I don't need to hide, Dimitri. I've always been right under your beak. You just never had the common sense to look."

The Alternative looked at Yugi and grinned, baring his teeth. "Hello."

Yugi didn't blink. "Hi."

"Oh, how cold. No inflection at all? You aren't excited to see the siblings you were desperate to meet when Atem agreed to Bless the nest?"

"The other four were more interesting."

Dimitri blinked and Yami thought he seemed genuinely startled. Yami wondered then if he expected Atem and Yugi to be afraid of him. Dimitri recovered quickly, snorting, "I'd forgotten how sassy you are. It'll be a shame to kill you when you're so witty."

Yugi snorted. "Right now?" he asked quietly, unperturbed and almost smiling. "I wouldn't suggest it. The other three God Dragons are probably on their way as we speak."

Dimitri looked over at Atem. "I can handle the other three."

"Come back when you can handle me," the red male dismissed. Yami was amazed to realize Atem was not the slightest bit rattled. His indifference was empowering for a split second. But it faded when Dimitri turned back to him.

"What's that?" Dimitri asked slowly, stepping forward. "Did you just realize your mommy can't save you?"

Yami ignored the snarl that came from Yugi immediately, and the way Atem stiffened and eyed him. He could see him calculating and measuring the speed and force he'd need for a kill blow.

"I don't have a mother. I've got two fathers," he answered, voice quiet but carrying despite the slight fear in his bones. "And I don't need either of them to protect me. Not from you."

"Will you think that when I gut you?"

Yami stepped forward. "Dimitri," he hissed, "I see in the dark. I know exactly what you're so afraid of."

The other hatchling bristled and bore his teeth. "Oh? And what do I fear?"

He tilted his head and smiled slightly, ignoring the slightly concerned and tense stances Yugi and Atem had both taken. The proximity made them nervous. But Yami wasn't about to back down.

"Do you think I don't know? You needed Noah to help you see things," he said quietly, voice rumbling with the beginnings of a snarl. "But I always knew. I always saw it."

Dimitri snarled and tensed as if to spring, then faltered when Atem moved slightly closer. Immediately his eyes tracked the God Dragon. Yami couldn't help the small bit of amusement that came through him even around the anxiety.

"I think I taste your fear."

His sibling turned finally from Atem and stared for a long time, then laughed aloud. "You may not be afraid now, but I'll give it back to you, Yami. You've forgotten what was in the water. I plan to make that the truth."

He felt the smile fall from his face. He bristled and stared, ignoring his parents' questioning glances. Yami stepped closer and lashed his tail. "Run before Jaden and the others get here. You know you can't take all three of them right now, not after killing Noah. Hearts certainly take a while to digest properly, don't they?"

Dimitri eyed him, then huffed and smirked. "Good point," he snickered. Yami watched him leap into the air and change to his father's shape, the Felgrand fading into the distance rapidly. He stared as he disappeared, then looked at the sky for a moment. The darkness slowly brightened and the sky overhead turned bright blue again, the clouds scattered and soft-looking once more.

"Yami…"

He didn't look to Atem. "Please, don't," he managed. "I can't talk about all of this."

There was an uncomfortably long silence.

"Go to the mountain den until Jaden and the others leave. The last thing we need is for a true declaration of war," Atem said quietly, and Yami gave him a grateful look before fleeing. Atem watched him go and looked to Yugi after a moment, relieved to see the Gandora was not as rattled as he'd thought he would be.

Instead Yugi turned to him, voice quiet as he grimaced. "Should I be as worried as I feel?"

Atem almost laughed. It was an absurd question. What was he supposed to say? "No, don't feel worried at all"? Even he was concerned after hearing them trade barbs like that. Yami was relying too heavily on Dimitri being afraid of various things, as if that meant for sure it would hold him back somehow. He was so heavily invested in poking at Dimitri's fears that Atem was almost worried he'd forget to wield his own claws and abilities later.

And yet…

"Yami isn't foolish. I'm sure he'll be ready when he has to be," he answered softly. "Be worried for now, but trust him to know what he has to do."

Yugi studied his face a moment, at first with concern and then slowly he nodded with a more determined expression. "Right. And in the meantime we hold off the inquisition."

Atem nodded. "Let's go."

They both leaped into the air almost in sync and Atem was once again surprised to see Yugi using his paw placement and wing movements to keep pace with him.

"Where do you think they'll come from?"

"I don't think they were together when the eclipse passed," Atem answered uneasily. "I feel like they've been divided enough over Yami and the potential war that we can expect them all to have been separated and confined to their own regions but for training."

"But we don't know how often they've been doing that or when they part," Yugi hissed. "And Jaden was on his own when he came for Dimitri last. So who's to say he won't be alone again?"

Atem opened his mouth to answer, but stopped short. His head snapped around and he straightened his limbs, tilting his wing tips forward as he looked back over his shoulder. He whipped his tail so that it was slightly coiled but mostly straight beneath him. Yugi hovered beside him a moment later, just a little further ahead due to his speed.

"Atem?"

He hesitated, feeling as if his skin were on fire for a split second. He flexed his paws and curled his toes, his claws clicking unsteadily against each other. Every scale on his back rose into a bristle as he considered a moment longer.

"I…I thought I felt my parents?" he managed when Yugi called his name in a more frantic tone. He blinked and turned to his mate, feeling lost for a split second as to what to do. "I thought I felt them and Valon and Mana…and Malik?"

Yugi looked unsure as he flapped his wings to stay afloat. Atem was almost amazed he had not plummeted. He was so much heavier than Atem and he wasn't the best at hovering. "Do you want me to go check? I can do that—"

"You'll stay with me," he spat before he could stop himself. "I won't risk the other three getting to you before I can protect you. And if Malik is here as well…"

Yugi nodded when they locked eyes. "Okay," he whispered. And then he looked around and flapped his wings once more. "So, which way are we going?"

"We'll meet them first. My parents will find us if they must."

Yugi seemed to hesitate for a moment. "You think they can?" he asked uncertainly. "Your territory is huge."

"They'll have to or we'll find them after. We'll deal with the three of them first and go from there."

Yugi nodded after a moment. "Okay," he said, nodding again, and hurried to his side when Atem began flying once more. They got a few yards ahead before they slowed slightly, and Atem glanced around uncertainly. "Where should we go? Where do you think they're more likely to be headed from?"

Atem shook his head and moved forward. "We'll move toward the center of the outskirts of the territory, where the land meets the sea. It'll be easier to see them coming from any direction there."

"Okay."

Atem wondered if it was. It seemed so amazing and horrifying that Dimitri and Yami crossing paths had caused another eclipse. Just sharing the same space had summoned it. There was no other explanation. He'd watched the sky darken so abruptly, without any prior sign, just as it had when Yami's egg had hatched.

And then he wondered. Were they wrong? Were they wrong to have let Yami survive? Was this eclipse a declaration of that fact? Had it come because Yami shouldn't exist?

But what of Dimitri?

Surely he was just as ominous as Yami could have ever been?

Atem shot for Jaden as the Prime Material Dragon nearly slammed into Yugi. The golden male ducked beneath his claws and barely twisted around fast enough to face him. Atem snarled softly as he watched him, claws braced as if to strike as he peered back.

Jaden lashed his tail, barely keeping his balance in his anger. "When did you properly declare war, Atem? I must have missed it."

"When did I say you could fly so quickly at Yugi?" he sneered. "I must have missed it."

Yugi glanced at him. "I'm okay," he said quietly, but Atem ignored him.

"You saw that eclipse, did you not? Even you can't escape that kind of darkness with your head underwater."

"I was on land," he assured softly. "And I saw it, yes. But that doesn't mean you have a right to my territory, just as it did not when Yami was born."

Jaden flapped his wings and bore his teeth. "I didn't come for Yami. I came to speak to you, though with your aggression it's a wonder I should be free to leave in one piece after this."

"We'll see if you mind your manners whether you'll be allowed to keep your wings and your limbs," he spat. He flapped his wings and ignored the glance Yugi shot him. He looked surprised and terrified, and Atem decided it was the least of his worries at the moment. "The point of your venture to my territory, Jaden."

"I would have assumed it obvious."

"Tell me, for I must be dumb."

Yugi snickered at his side and Atem forced himself not to smirk. Instead he kept his eyes locked on Jaden, resisting the urge to lunge and snap his teeth as the seconds passed. They considered each other critically and Atem almost snarled. He had the impulse to spit a fireball at him but the urge died almost immediately when he saw movement in the corner of his eye. Yusei and Leviathan had joined them. The Ice Dragon hovered a few feet away, watching them both intently, and the Water Dragon sighed loudly as he got closer.

"You're both unharmed?" Yusei demanded, quickly growing relieved when Yugi looked over and snapped, "I don't know what omen you think you received, but it clearly wasn't about us."

"You'd think he asked if he could bite Yugi in the paw for all the gratitude he shows," Leviathan snickered.

Atem ignored them and kept his eyes trained on Jaden. "Explain, before I lose my patience."

"Are you both all right? I saw Seto flying off from the territory."

"Dimitri," Yugi corrected quietly. "That was Dimitri, not Seto."

Atem cast a sideways glance toward Yugi but quickly turned back. Jaden had turned toward the direction of the Lightning Clan, but Leviathan hissed, "He was headed toward my territory, not the Clan."

"Why?" Jaden demanded, turning to him with bared teeth. "Why would he go there?"

Atem huffed. "You are in my territory. Why are you here?"

Jaden spun on him. "Dimitri was here. Did you cross paths with him? Is your son here as well? Is that what summoned the eclipse? His birth caused it. So why couldn't them crossing paths also?"

Atem stared back silently for a moment. Yugi snarled softly.

Yusei blinked wide eyes. "Yami and Dimitri crossed paths?" he demanded, then bristled and stared at Atem urgently. "Is Yami okay?"

Atem didn't answer immediately, and Yugi remained quiet for a few heartbeats. The God Dragon hissed softly and shook his head, narrowing his eyes. "Thank you for asking. He's fine."

He couldn't help but wonder at the relief on Yusei's face. "Good."

"Yes. Good that Yami is fine and well," Jaden scoffed, "even if he's very likely the reason all of this is happening and sooner or later I'll have to kill him. But, before any of that, Atem, why did Dimitri come here? Was it to see Yami?"

"You come here and waste my time with insinuations and plans to kill him and you think I'll answer you?" he said slowly, forcing his words to come out even rather than furious. "How do you plan to make me care to answer you when you so clearly desire nothing more than to sink your teeth into my son's flesh?"

Yugi hovered beside him, voice low with anger. "I'll kill you for laying a paw on him, Jaden. Don't think I won't hold to that promise." He flapped his wings and bore his teeth. "And if you so much as look at Atem the wrong way, I'll have your head in a matter of seconds. Do you understand me?"

"Yugi, cease; we didn't come here to hurt anyone for the moment," Yusei pleaded. The Gandora whipped his head around to snarl, glaring at him wildly. "We came to see to it that you were all right, not to declare war or threaten each other."

"Is that so? I must have missed that announcement," Atem snapped. "I was under the impression the three of you were not invited to my territory and that conversation would be made without the use of my son's name, especially followed by threats. But both rules have been broken already and I'm rather tired of having Jaden look at me with such accusation when he has no grounds to assume myself or Yami to be aiding Dimitri."

"Have you forgotten Yami has had you protect him on more than one occasion?"

"And have you forgotten he killed Timaeus?" Atem returned, spitting at him. Jaden jerked slightly back, startled, and bristled as their eyes burned into each other. "Why should I wish for him to remain alive longer than necessary when he killed my best friend? Are you stupid, Jaden? I wouldn't be surprised, but I would like to believe otherwise. I have the largest reason to want him dead, barring Yami, so perhaps you should remember yourself."

There was a small but tense silence to come over them. Atem watched Jaden with sharp eyes, calculating his every flap of wings and the muscles moving beneath his skin.

"I'm sorry about Timaeus," Jaden said quietly, slowly, "and you're right. You have as much reason as any of us to want Dimitri dead—more so, in fact. But you forget your son is tied to him in some way. We don't know the extent of it and we have no idea how much power Yami holds over everything."

"Yami is the least of our concerns," Yusei snapped. "He always was. Our main concern is Dimitri and what he's planning to do. The eclipse came because the two of them were within close proximity. All that tells us is that they both caused it originally as well. Their births must have been down to the exact second to have caused it, if just standing before each other now brought about another."

The silence tightened around them like claws digging into flesh.

Atem glanced at Yugi from the corner of his eye, drawing strength in the way the Gandora peered at the other three God Dragons so intently. He knew Yugi was watching for movement and planned to intercept if one of them got too close, but none of them made any moves. After a long minute Jaden looked away.

"You realize an eclipse is an omen, yes, Atem? Especially if it came so suddenly as it did upon their births?"

Atem hissed softly. "I am not superstitious, Jaden, and I refuse to pretend to be."

But even he could not pretend otherwise.

The eclipse had come the moment Yami and Dimitri had crossed paths.

And it had alleviated only when Dimitri had taken flight.

Atem couldn't ignore it.

His mind raced, Ironheart's words echoing in his head again.

"He's going to be the most powerful force to exist. Guide him while you can. When he becomes the prey, all depends on what you've taught him."