Chapter CXXX: Claim

Atem approached him slowly, hesitating as he hovered a few feet away. Yugi was watching the stars from where he sat. He looked over when he saw him in his peripheral and smiled faintly, tilting his head. The expression went from friendly and adoring to puzzled and quickly to concern. Immediately he rose to his paws and came to stand a few inches away.

"What happened? Are you okay?"

Atem nodded slightly, watching him intently. Yugi hesitated before stepping forward to lick his forehead. He rubbed against him for a single second, murmuring, "You seem steadier on your paws."

"I don't feel it," he admitted weakly. He closed his eyes when Yugi pulled back in alarm. "What were you looking at?"

Yugi was silent for a long moment. "The stars are unusually bright tonight. I can't tell if it's to do with no longer being dormant or if it's something else."

"And the moon?"

"False," he answered softly, voice underlined with concern. "Dear heart…"

"I'm fine." He opened his eyes and looked at him again. Yugi looked almost fearful, as if he expected Atem to drop dead at any moment. He wondered at the expression and a smile tugged at his mouths as he considered him. He truly was the sweetest, even if he'd lied to him prior. Atem blinked and tilted his head, opening and closing his mouth as he picked his words for a long moment. "Are you?"

Yugi blinked, confused for only a moment, and then nodded. "Yeah, I'm okay. I'm…still a little shaken from you getting hurt, but past that, I'm okay." He tilted his head again. "Are you sure you're okay?"

Atem studied him, then slowly took a seat. Yugi bristled in surprise and leaned forward to sniff him as if to detect some weakness in his muscles. When he didn't find any, he hesitantly returned the gesture and wrapped his tail around his paws without ever taking his eyes off him.

"I want to ask you something."

"Anything."

Atem smiled and searched his face for a moment. There was no hesitation or even the slightest hint of worry about what he might have to say to him. He tilted his head, warmed by the absolute trust in his expression, and flexed his claws. "Do you…still wish for me to claim you?"

Yugi blinked in surprise. "I… Yes, of course I…" He fell quiet for a moment, looking away and shifting his weight. Atem expected him to retract his assurance but the Gandora merely shook his head. "But I don't want you to do this if you're only interested in it because you're upset with me."

Atem leaned forward to lick his cheek. "I'm not willing to do it out of anger or suspicion, Yugi," he whispered, surprised by how hard it was to even say the words. He'd never wanted the Claim to begin with. He'd always been afraid of it. His suitors had threatened to use it to tie him solely to them. Lore said it was extremely powerful when completed on both ends, so strong it gave an emotional link between them and a sort of suppression system. It was supposed to be able to influence emotions and heighten senses between two dragons, so much so that willpower was easily broken if it was one-sided. Other legends said it gave access to every thought and impulse, down to the very expanse of instinct within another dragon. He'd never wanted it, though Yugi had offered and exposed his neck on multiple occasions if Atem even made a comment about it. "But…I remain the only one of the five of us who can hold their own against Dimitri."

Yugi looked bewildered for a moment, as if he didn't quite understand something he'd said. He had the thought that perhaps Yugi hadn't quite counted himself among the deities due to his sudden awakening, but he didn't ask.

Atem exhaled shakily. "I cannot be sure that doing this will change anything for the fight to come," he admitted, and for a split second he wanted to duck his head and press his wings into his sides for comfort. "But I…I always heard that it's one of the most powerful magic, and Lore says that it gives you the ability to sense the location and emotions of the other partner. So, if… If I am able to sense you, I should be able to shake my fear when he changes into you again."

Yugi blinked, eyes stretching wide.

"I understand if you would rather—"

Yugi raised and tilted his head, exposing his jugular and watching him with a small glimmer of amusement in his eyes.

Atem faltered, suppressing a shiver. "You'll allow me to do this?"

Yugi smiled. "Of course, Atem. You're my heart."

It was said so simply that Atem felt almost overwhelmed. He opened and closed his mouth, unable to think long enough to speak. Yugi lowered his head, giving him a small smile that made Atem's limbs almost shake. He looked so patient and kind, gentle as always. It made his lungs feel tight.

"Even if I can never allow you the same?"

"I told you if you ever wanted to, I would let you." Yugi tilted his head, smiling a little wider. "That will always stand."

Atem blinked and shifted his weight. "You… You know I love you, yes?"

Yugi leaned forward to butt his shoulder, voice warm. "I know, Atem."

He didn't pull away for a long minute, and Atem wondered if he had second thoughts. But the moment he drew back, he tipped his head to the side to show his jugular again, exposing it so casually Atem almost laughed. It was so odd. What had he ever done to deserve this little Gandora?

He exhaled shakily again, drew a deep breath, and leaned forward. His canines slid out with a strange tingling sensation and when he pressed them into Yugi's flesh, they seemed almost to quiver. He prayed he didn't hurt him, nor accidentally fatally wound him even as he moved his mouth a millimeter lower and sank his teeth in. Yugi made no noise or move, breathing steady and entire body still. Atem couldn't tell if it was trust or sheer determination that kept him from flinching or pulling away.

The blood that came over his tongue tasted oddly sweet, like the tree sap the humans sometimes gathered during summer. A heat came soon after, sweeping and overpowering. His tongue tingled and burned, and he fought to keep his grip when the burst of flavor sizzled against his taste buds. His hearts raced, echoing rapidly within his chest, and he almost trembled with pleasure and panic.

How long was he supposed to keep his grip?

Yugi was still quiet, though he shifted his weight now. Atem expected him to pull back, but the Gandora got closer, pressing into his side where he could. His voice was soft when he muttered, "You're okay. Don't worry. It doesn't hurt."

Atem wanted to question him, but the impulse passed.

He felt it then, like sunlight seeping into his scales. It was warm and soft, with all the intensity of standing in the river. He blinked. There was so much sheer warmth and affection, as if nothing else mattered in the slightest. The swell of trust and adoration that crashed through him was almost overwhelming.

Atem released him gently, running his tongue over the pinpricks left by his canines, and blinked as he considered him. "You okay?"

A burst of amusement crashed through him.

"Yeah, of course I am!" Yugi laughed, and Atem felt the smallest and strangest surge of pride and excitement. "Did it work?"

Atem hesitated, then nodded slightly. The burst of elation that came through him threatened to knock him off his paws. "Why are you so excited?"

"Because now I can bombard you with even more love!" Yugi laughed, springing to his paws. He kneaded the ground, then jumped and pounced away before sprinting around him. Atem watched him for a few minutes, tilting his head and smiling in bewilderment. Was that truly all Yugi had ever wanted the Claim for? Just to remind him he loved him so much?

"Is that…really all you wanted this for?"

Yugi stopped in front of him, puzzled, then snorted. "Well, yeah—and if it was mutual so I could sense your self-doubt and double down on you with affection," he admitted, sounding almost breathless. He grinned wider than ever. "You look so shocked. What else would have I used it for, pray tell?"

Atem remained silent for a long handful of minutes, watching him. He'd never actually considered it before, truthfully. He'd never thought about what Yugi would have wanted to use the Claim for. He'd never even considered forming it with him to begin with. If it had not been for Dimitri he would have ignored it altogether. He would have happily continued through life without ever thinking about it more than in passing. What Yugi would have done with it had never been a consideration, but he did know what everyone else had promised had they won their challenge.

"I never considered."

Yugi blinked, puzzled for only a moment, and then nodded. Atem felt the sharp cut of anger that rushed through, threatening to smother the undercurrent of pain that came with it. Atem shifted his weight as Yugi turned away.

"Oh well," Yugi said abruptly, and though his emotions didn't change, his voice became lighter in an effort to push it all aside. "I won and they didn't."

Atem smiled slightly. "Yes. You won."

Timaeus looked up when he noticed Yami. The Uria was staring at the sky, studying the stars overhead as if they might have some kind of answer. Timaeus wondered for a moment what he was puzzling through and shuffled to his paws. He got within a foot of him before Yami blinked and looked over, appearing almost puzzled for a split second. He blinked, then tilted his head as Timaeus stopped.

"Atem is okay?"

"He's fine," Yami answered with a small nod. He blinked and glanced over his shoulder in the direction Timaeus was sure his parents must have been. When he turned back his eyes were half-closed and he looked tired. "He's fine. I had to heal him and…explain a few things, but he's okay beyond that."

Timaeus shook his head. "You didn't."

Yami was silent for a long moment. "I did." He opened and closed his mouth and for a moment Timaeus wanted to strike him so hard he'd break his jaw. The Divine studied him, then smiled tightly. "It'd be well-deserved."

"Why?" he spat. "You let this happen."

"Because I need Atem to realize he can't fight Dimitri on his own. I needed him to realize it so that he wouldn't fight him to the death as I originally thought…" Yami fell silent for a long time, then took a seat and closed his eyes with a heavy sigh. "Timaeus, this entire time… I've just been running from my death. Dimitri and I have both been hovering around the problem, trying to find different ways around it. And I was trying to use Atem as a way of defeating the imminent. But it won't work. If I let Atem fight him to the death, it'll cost him a heart. And if he loses even one, it'll destroy him. You remember that God Dragon you'd see when he was so angry he'd stop moving and his gem would turn white? The same one that struck out at Yusei and Leviathan just for being close to him or moving while he fought Jaden?"

Timaeus bore his teeth. "He has Yugi—"

"And while Yugi is perfect for him and their bond wouldn't waver, Atem would still rot. He'd lose grasp of himself slowly but surely, to the point he'd become more paranoid than Jaden. And considering his abilities, Atem would rip apart anyone he saw as a threat to him." Yami opened his eyes again. "I can't let that happen—not when all I wanted was to save them. That never changed. I… If I had known Dimitri would have come for Yugi before, I…"

Timaeus didn't know what to say. He'd just admitted to hiding away because he was afraid to die. And now he was saying he would have come back to fight Dimitri if he'd only known he was brave enough to go after Yugi to get at Atem?

"It never occurred to you?"

"No. Because I didn't think he was so reckless or brave. And it was an oversight on my part, Timaeus. I underestimated how prepared he was to get an upper paw in this fight and I overlooked what he might do in favor of trying to find a way around my own murder." Yami flicked his tail and glanced over his shoulder again. "I would have done anything for them and I never considered the possibility of Dimitri coming for them before I was ready to deal with him. I'm a fool for it. Because I was so desperate to think Dimitri was just as afraid of dying as I am."

"Is he not?"

"He was. But I don't…think he could be anymore. He fought Atem and he challenged his abilities. He…took Yugi down." He looked over again, narrowing his eyes. "The new moon is when he'll come next. It'll be the dawn of that day, when Atem is alone in the territory near the cliffs. I couldn't see further than that, but Dimitri sent me that image himself. Or maybe some god long forgotten did. It doesn't matter. The image came and I know we'll kill each other soon after."

"You'd actually face him this time?" Timaeus snarled, skeptical.

"Yes." Yami fell quiet for a moment. "Three years is enough of a life. I outlived Sartorius, but didn't even slightly reach Keith's lifespan."

A hollow ache formed in his gut. Three years was so…

"Three years is enough," Yami said quietly, smiling wryly as his eyes glimmered with resignation. "Three years is more than enough. I've seen the worst and the best of what this life had to offer me. I have the chance to save my parents for the cost of my life, something borrowed rather than earned. And I don't see that I have much complaint to offer in regard to my life being forfeit now in their favor. It took me a while to understand, but it truly is for the best."

Timaeus opened and closed his mouth, unable to find the words to offer comfort. After so long taking care of him and wanting to see him survive for as long as possible, this felt like a claw to the gut. He searched his face. There was nothing false in his eyes, just a tired resignation that he didn't know how to force away.

"Dimitri dies at my claws, as I die at his," Yami said softly, nodding slightly as he glanced over his shoulder once more. He seemed lost in thought for a single moment as Timaeus watched him. "I don't see a better course of action. We both borrowed time to live, and he's just as afraid of death as I am. He must be…if he fled when I told him to. The new moon will come and we'll remove ourselves in that fight."

He couldn't help the snarl that ripped through him. "So that's just it?"

"Timaeus…" Yami narrowed his eyes and gave a bitter laugh. "I spent all three years of my life trying to find a way around it. But even I can't escape legends and prophecies, no matter what power I hold at my paws. I'm not immortal and I can't survive forever. This ensures Yugi and Atem live."

The Knight Dragon nodded slightly, too dazed to think of an argument. What was there to say?

"I'm sorry…" Yami paused again, tilting his head. "I'm sorry I couldn't afford you more time."

Timaeus blinked, startled.

"It's perhaps my second largest regret, because Yugi's death will always be my worst." Yami exhaled slowly and looked at the stars again. "But… I guess I gave you more than you originally should have had."

Timaeus shivered. "That's what you care about right now?"

"I must get it from Yugi," he laughed. "But yeah, that's what I care about right now."

He wondered if he was right. Atem usually shouldered the burden of things he couldn't prevent. But Yugi worried about everyone else before himself, especially where it came to Atem. It was so odd. Both of the species he was genetically related to would never have bothered to fear for someone else before themselves. Fire Dragons were known for being far from friendly, territorial enough they fought their own siblings when they reached a juvenile age. Wind Dragons were solitary and usually left others to deal with their own problems more often than not.

Had he never met Atem, he himself would have turned out similarly.

Yugi should have been doubly withdrawn and territorial.

He looked away. "Yami, I'm not upset with you for…your choices—or at least not all of them. I'm still mad you would have abandoned Atem to die, but…"

Yami looked over and stared at him for a long moment. "I only exist because Atem's abilities are so broad in power that he laid my egg. Because Dimitri could kill him. Dimitri could force one of his hearts to collapse and from there Atem would rot to death. Atem didn't kill the nest as he'd thought to when he visited, so he was forced to lay my egg to save himself." He tilted his head. "That's why Dimitri and I are destined to kill each other."

"Atem's… What?"

"Atem's abilities—it's survival and battle. That's why he's never lost a fight, and why he didn't die before he ran into you. It wasn't coincidence, either, that the two of you crossed paths. I don't know…entirely how it works, but I know you came across him because of his abilities. And I know I exist because of them as well. If not for Dimitri, I wouldn't need to exist. He would never have laid my egg if it was not for the fact he let Dimitri survive. If he had swallowed him as he'd thought to…"

"But—"

"Or…at least it wouldn't have happened so soon. Keith's genetics were always going to mix with Seto and Kisara's. At some point Atem wouldn't have been able to detect the rot that came with Dimitri's existence. And then he would have laid my egg in response." He blinked slowly and then closed his eyes. "So, one way or another it would have come about. But it could have been worse. Jaden could be dead. And Yugi might have activated without meaning to—and, despite everything, I don't think his abilities would have helped had they come about before. Atem would have likely doubted himself, and Yugi… I don't know what he can and can't influence. So I don't know that he would have saved or harmed Atem if he'd woken before now."

Timaeus stared at him for a moment, then glanced beyond his shoulder and toward where Yami had been briefly looking. He wondered if they'd bother to come forward at any point. He wondered if they'd even care to see them. Yugi was so unattached to the Divine Dragon, and Atem was likely still angry with him…

"He's furious, but he won't act on it. He doesn't want to worry Yugi. And he doesn't want to fight with you should you get in the middle."

Timaeus blinked. Would he have bothered? He wondered for a moment, but everything in him beckoned toward the possibility despite his frustration. He didn't think he could have stood aside and let Atem fight him, no matter how much he understood his rage.

"I'm sorry for everything I've done that caused so much pain and misery," Yami continued abruptly, eyes snapping open. He looked as if he were in pain, or perhaps distracted somehow. He didn't know whether to offer comfort or to just let him sort through his various feelings. "I'm sorry. And I wish I could take back the majority of it. But I can't. I'm stuck here, like this, without the smallest inclination toward that ability."

Timaeus nodded slightly, stepping closer to butt him in the shoulder. "Atem's anger will pass. And I'm not upset. If my time comes again, it's for the best."

Yami was silent for a long moment. "Amun said he'd devour me when I pass into the Red Meadow. I won't even get to pass to Paradise or be judged for Purgatory."

He blinked. "What?"

"So, I guess when I die I won't see you again," Yami muttered, turning and smiling tightly once more. He searched his face and sighed softly. "When Dimitri and I kill each other, my existence ends altogether."

"That's…why you were so afraid?"

"Yes. I…I didn't explain it to you before very well. And emotions were too high for an explanation to matter. But that's it. That's why. When I die, that's all there is." Yami shook his head. "It's…hard to imagine. I never even tried to do anything wrong—I really didn't. I wanted everything to be okay. And I don't even get a place in the afterlife because of it."

Timaeus opened and closed his mouth before looking away. "I'm sorry."

Yami shook his head. "I've mourned my own death for long enough. Whatever happens after this… Yugi and Atem will be alive…and you'll be in Paradise again. I can't truly…want more."

"You can."

He blinked. "It feels selfish."

"That's okay sometimes. You don't have to be selfless all the time. And you're young. What's happening now isn't fair. I…" I wish I could help… I wish I could save you… He opened and closed his mouth, flustered. "I'm sorry, Yami. I'm sorry it ended up like this. You didn't deserve this."

"Maybe not, but this is how it turned out."

Timaeus flinched, but what could he say? Yami was right. It wasn't fair, but this was what had happened. This was what had been decided. This would be how it played out.

"Well… It may not count for much, but I admire you for turning back to what you have to. Someone else might have run, even at the cost of their parents."

Yami smiled tightly and nodded, looking up at the stars again. "I sometimes wish I could."