Chapter CXXXIV: Visions

"What did you see?" Yami asked when Yugi finally blinked, lifting his eyes from the water. The Gandora blinked a few more times, tilted his head, and glanced over at him. For a moment he looked bewildered, then slowly Yami saw a hint of realization creep through him, and then mildest sense of absolute sorrow. It made his eyes darker and for a split second Yugi looked as if he might answer, but instead he stood and turned to Atem.

The God Dragon had come closer despite warnings of the ice still being unstable and the water hot. He'd taken to standing a few inches away on the other side of the hole Yami had created in the ice, just far enough he wasn't touching any of the fissures Yugi's tumble had caused. He was staring at Yugi intently, and Yami wondered if he'd seen whatever had absorbed Yugi's attention, as Yami hadn't.

"I'm tired," he grumbled.

Atem blinked and glanced at Yami. "What did you see?"

He shook his head. "I was trying to show him the end of that dream he'd been having, but he…saw something completely different." He had to have. The way he'd stared for so much longer after the vision had finished said Yugi had caught sight of something else…

But why hadn't he seen it as well?

Yugi flicked his wings. "I don't want to talk about it right now," he said with a brief flex of his claws. He narrowed his eyes, blinked slowly, and glanced at Yami sideways for only a second. Then he jumped forward and cleared the ice to the bank, landing deftly and shaking himself out again. He turned around as Atem leaped to his side and forced himself to lose the tension in his shoulders. "I have to ask you something when we get to the den."

Atem bristled faintly and flicked his tail. "About?"

Yami noticed Yugi's scales rise into a bristle along his spine, arching up and shivering. "I'll explain then," Yugi said just loudly enough for him to hear, and Yami considered them as they began to trot toward the den. He glanced at Timaeus, who was watching them go with the most bewildered expression Yami had seen in a while. When he realized he was watching, he turned to him and tilted his head.

"That was…something."

Yami looked at the water for a moment before leaping to the bank and considering. Timaeus had killed the deer Yugi had chased onto the lake, but Yami wondered if it was not some kind of omen rather than a chance encounter. They had split up for food, but Atem had been the one in the direction the deer had come, and Timaeus was the one who had come at the last second to sink his claws in.

Maybe it was just a reminder of the inevitable, that there was no other chance.

He looked at the glassy eyes staring up at him, dead and glittering with his reflection against the dark pit of its pupils. A crystal had formed on one of them from the snow he'd disturbed when he'd leaped and it froze atop the orb nearest him to preserve the perfect shape of the snowflake. Yami stared at it, a sense of dread and something almost akin to longing sweeping through him. He didn't recognize why he felt that way, but the sensation was amazing and somehow almost concerning.

He raised his eyes. Timaeus was still watching him.

"I don't know what he saw," he said slowly, "but whatever it was, it must have been intense. He didn't move no matter how I budged him."

Timaeus nodded slightly, though his eyes wandered in the direction Atem and Yugi had vanished. Yami could sense his thoughts, but the words were lost to him. The emotion was nothing more than curiosity and uncertainty, and Yami considered him sideways as they stood there. He wanted to say something, if only to comfort himself, but words failed him.

He didn't know what Yugi had seen.

He didn't know if it meant Yugi would be in danger or if it still pertained to Atem.

For all he knew he could have just seen Yami's death.

He hadn't seemed rattled, but he didn't seem all that concerned in general with anything to do with him.

He didn't remember him.

There was no attachment to be had.

There was no care to focus on him.

Yugi had no reason to care about him at all.

Aside from ensuring Atem wasn't in distress because of something he did, Yami was not even truly a dragon Yugi would have ever glanced at twice.

The thought rattled him, yet somehow it was invigorating as well.

Yugi could see things.

It didn't matter, truthfully, what he had seen just then.

It mattered later what he would see.

He could protect Atem on a larger scale than Yami, especially if his dream were anything to go by. He could truly see what Atem chose and the things that were more certain in his path than others. And if he could do that, he could protect him far better than Yami could have ever hoped.

Despite himself the thought was comforting.

He wouldn't be there to help them, though he doubted he'd truly be needed after the dust settled. The balance would mostly be restored, though it would always waver and change throughout time, and Atem would be the most dangerous dragon alive. He'd be a deity restored of his title, able to summon bloodshed as easily as rain, and Yugi would keep him safe and stable for as long as he existed.

And they'd unconsciously bound their lifespans to each other, so he'd exist as long as Atem.

"What do you think he saw?"

Yami stared for a moment, opening his mouth.

"I know you didn't see it. But what do you think he saw?"

He closed his mouth again and considered. How far did Yugi's powers extend? Did they surpass his by far or was it limited? Did it pertain to Atem solely? To himself? To the God Dragons in general? He had no idea where Yugi's powers began or ended.

"Maybe he just saw what will happen at the end," he said finally. He ignored the way Timaeus blinked and looked over in surprise. "I mean, without knowing the scope of what he can do… I guess maybe he just saw my fight with Dimitri."

Timaeus was silent for a long time. "But why would it matter to him?"

Yami blinked.

"He doesn't remember you. So, if that's what he saw, why would he need the time to think and speak to Atem alone? It doesn't make any sense." Timaeus shook his head, then stretched himself out and looked at the deer he'd caught. "Hungry?"

He hesitated, for a split second with the intention to argue and say he didn't think he could stomach it, but it faded immediately. The impulse was gone as he glanced back toward the trees his fathers had disappeared in. Eating would give him a reason to focus on something besides them. It would keep them out of the den entirely and he wouldn't need to worry about encroaching on their privacy…

"Sure."

Yami was almost amazed when Timaeus brushed against his side in order to grab the buck by the neck and drag it closer. He went to step aside, but the Knight Dragon bumped his shoulder with his as he dropped the piece of prey and looked over with a small smile.

"I don't have rabies."

Yami faltered, considering. He shifted his weight and flexed his claws nervously. "I thought you'd want to eat from one side and I from the other," he mumbled, blinking.

"I don't imagine you have rabies."

"Well, no, b—"

"And I'm relatively sure you don't have food aggression."

"I—"

"And I don't recall you having a gaping wound on your side."

Yami blinked, opening his mouth.

"And you sure aren't skittish."

He tilted his head, considering him. "I don't… No, but…"

"Then why shouldn't you be able to sit next to me to eat?"

Yami hesitated again, wondering for a moment if he should admit he'd thought Timaeus would want him further away. They'd reconciled somewhat, but he hadn't assumed Timaeus would feel good enough toward him to want to spend time alone with him like this. They hadn't been so close to each other in a while, especially within reaching distance of one another. He almost trembled with elation, but the thought came too that he might have been doing it out of pity.

They were going to die soon.

Why not cater to his infatuation with him for the moment?

It would never get any further, so why not?

"You're such a worry wart," Timaeus laughed, staring at him. "There's nothing nefarious about the invitation and I'm not doing it because I feel bad for us dying later. Look, I don't want to die and have unresolved problems with you. Like I said before, Yami, I do love you. It might never go further considering what's bound to happen, but I'd rather we ended as close as we were before."

He bristled, for a moment wondering where he could find the lie in his words. It occurred to him after the thought that he was building it up much further in his head than he needed. And it made him wonder for a moment as to why he would mirror Atem's skepticism. He'd always treated anything Yugi had said prior to his egg being laid as a trap. Every other moment he'd sought to find the lie hidden in any kind words.

Yami shook himself out. "Okay," he managed to breathe, though he wondered if Timaeus could even hear him. He wished he could have talked louder, but his voice seemed strangled. He wanted to ask if he was sure, but the words died in his throat as well.

"Relax," Timaeus laughed, licking his cheek before crouching down. "We'll eat and go join your parents in the den after."

"Should we bring them anything?"

Timaeus snorted. "If there's anything left," he laughed, "but I think Atem would rather have fish."

Yami nodded slightly, but wondered. He'd seen Yugi almost drown just moments ago, and he'd watched the fish in the lake rise to the surface stinking as if burned by live flames. He glanced over his shoulder uncertainly. Yugi had survived that fall into the hot water because he was half Fire Dragon. Had he allowed Atem to jump in after him as he'd so clearly wanted, the Sky Dragon would have died…

He looked at Timaeus thoughtfully. "What do you think happened? To the water, I mean?"

"It overheated and started bubbling," the Knight Dragon answered, tilting his head. He looked at him curiously. "I think maybe you used a little too much power in your fire breath."

"And all those fish?"

Timaeus shook his head. "Does it matter? It's happened." Whatever he must have seen on his face made him soften slightly once more. "I guess they overheated and died. It was a accident. Like when you breathed ice instead of fire when you first tried. Remember?"

Yami grimaced. "Yes. I remember."

The thought made him wonder if it was better he die then. He hadn't been able to control his lungs when he was younger, and even now he hadn't meant to cause so much damage—

"Water always overheats when you hit it with a full blast of fire breath, Yami. It doesn't matter who it is. I did it once when I was younger. And I'm sure Yugi did it before. Even Atem likely has. You can always expect adverse consequences when it comes to using fire on water. It makes it bubble and depending on the heat exposed to it, it'll kill anything inside of it." Timaeus shook his head. "It was an accident, Yami. Don't look any further into it."

He looked away. "I…I never would have considered it would have caused something like that," he admitted, wondering why he hadn't. It had made sense to use his fire breath to melt the ice, but beyond that he had never considered. There had been no second thought but for the ice melting. He'd wanted to see what Yugi had and show Atem the reason he'd so often insisted he was powerful enough to fight Dimitri, but had let him experience the near loss during the gathering. "I just thought the ice would melt…"

"The fish are also more vulnerable from the temperature change. That wasn't entirely your fault. With quick thaws it's easy for fish to rot. That's one of the reasons south of here, toward the very edge of the region the fish is scarce in the spring and abundant in the summer. They die during the thaw and recover after."

Yami blinked. "In a lake?"

"It's where the river ends, in a area that mirrors a lake. Maybe it's more an underground, underwater cavern, spring, but it looks like a lake for the most part." Timaeus glanced over and smiled slightly. "But these fish came from somewhere just as the others in that lake did. Perhaps there's an underground space or something of that nature. They will be more again at some point, Yami. There's no reason to sit here thinking negatively of yourself."

He opened his mouth to argue, but no words came. His chest felt warm with affection as he considered him, then leaned forward to press against him, purring softly. "Thanks."

They ate in silence for a while, until the deer was almost fully eaten. Timaeus licked his jaws clean and settled back on his haunches, blinking, and finally looked over. Yami paused with his mouth full, turning to consider him in bewilderment. Timaeus didn't speak for a while longer, and Yami flexed his claws nervously as they watched each other.

"Just tell me something honestly, Yami."

He blinked and wished he could have said he'd never lied to him. The surge of regret that came through him was almost enough to knock him off his paws. He nodded slightly.

"Will Atem and Yugi be okay? When this is over?"

Yami shifted his weight and sat up. "Aside from emotional strain for a little while, yes. I don't know that anything akin Dimitri and I will happen again. And Atem will be okay as long as Yugi is alive. So… I think it'll be okay for them in the end." He glanced over his shoulder toward the lake for a brief second before turning back. "As much as I want to say otherwise, I don't think Seto and Kisara will ever sire another clutch after everything that's happened. And Seto's tie to Atem and Keith's tie to Jaden is why Dimitri is so strong now. They won't let another clutch come to maturity after what happened."

Timaeus was silent for a moment, then nodded slowly. "Atem needs to…embrace Yugi more—when we die, I mean." He got to his paws and shook himself out. "He'll just need to trust him to support him more than he does sometimes now."

"Without Jaden looming over them constantly, I think he'll figure out how to trust him more. He just didn't want to before because he was afraid of Yugi aggravating problems between them if Jaden came looking for a fight. But with everything that's happened and the reasons behind their behavior, I think Atem understanding it will make it easier for him…"

Or, at least, he truly hoped it would.

He hoped to the gods Atem and Yugi healed from everything soon to come.

He exhaled slowly and looked over. "I have to do something…tonight. I can't stay in the den, so I'll see you when the sun rises tomorrow."

"Do you have to leave so soon?"

He shook his head. "No, not so soon. I meant simply that I have to leave tonight. I…" He smiled tightly. "I'd much rather spend the rest of my time with you, but…there's something I must do."

Timaeus was quiet for a moment, then smiled. "You're lucky you're adorable," he teased. "But okay, little Divine. You do what you have to. I'll see you when you return."

Yami smirked. "Little Divine?" he snickered. "Is that my new nickname?"

"You needed another one, obviously," Timaeus snorted, swallowing a mouthful of meat and getting to his paws. "I'll take the rest back to the den with me."

He nodded, hesitated, and then licked his forehead. "Thanks."

Timaeus nodded, but Yami wondered if he recognized the scope of his gratitude at that moment.

Yugi had curled up and fallen asleep almost immediately after he'd finished telling Atem about what he'd seen. The vision had taken a lot more energy out of him than he'd seemed to want to show, but he'd succumbed quickly after explaining. He'd been mid-word when he'd dropped his head, snoring a split second later. At first Atem had almost panicked because of how abrupt it had been, but he'd relaxed soon after, tilting his head and smiling when the snores had evened out.

He had laid there thinking about everything for what had felt a lifetime now. The afternoon sun had drifted into setting and Atem could feel the shift of clouds overhead, dancing away against the bright blue of the sky. He looked up only when he sensed Timaeus approaching the den and smelled deer blood as the Knight Dragon made his way through the tunnel. He raised his head as his friend jumped down in front of him, blinking and considering the haunch he'd brought.

"He's asleep?"

"I guess having that vision took a lot out of him," Atem dismissed, considering him curiously. Timaeus nodded and placed the haunch beside him, stretching and moving a few feet away to curl up. "Where is Yami?"

"He said there was something he needed to do before he and Dimitri crossed paths again." The Knight Dragon gave him a sideway glance full of frustrated exhaustion. He flexed his claws after a few moments, narrowing his eyes, and added, "I think it had something to do with his human friend within the village?"

Atem struggled to remember the shaman's name. "Ryou?"

Timaeus blinked and snorted. "I think that's it, yeah. I don't really remember."

The Sky Dragon smothered his laughter when he saw the annoyance on his friend's face. Timaeus knew exactly what the boy's name was. He was jealous and annoyed. Of course, he knew his name. Atem smirked and glanced at Yugi sideways, a small feeling of warmth blooming in his chest as he watched him shift his weight slightly in his sleep.

"I would have spent my remaining time with you instead," he said quietly, looking at Timaeus again. The Knight Dragon gracefully ignored him, lowering his chin to his paws and closing his eyes. "Was he okay before he left?"

"A little shaken, but he seemed fine besides that. I think he's still afraid, but I think it's beginning to pass. I think he knows what he has to do, and he's resolved himself to it. I think he just needs to actually do it."

"Aren't you worried? About dying again?" Atem bristled faintly. "Just—"

"Worried? No." Timaeus didn't crack an eye. "I'm more worried about what will happen to you when I pass, honestly. You and Yugi… I want you to thrive, not fall apart. And I know you wouldn't mean to do it, but there are times where I wonder if you'd freeze him out in your grief."

He blinked. It wasn't too unlikely. He'd never claimed he processed emotions well, nor that he grieved in the best way possible. He'd always become closed off and quiet, cold and distant despite himself. He didn't want to think that he'd do so to Yugi, but he had before. And he didn't think that would change now. He hated himself for it, but the idea was likely…

"But…" Atem looked over as Timaeus flexed his claws and stretched his forelimbs, never opening his eyes. "Grieve as you wish, grieve as you must."

He tilted his head, considering him. Timaeus had said that when they'd discussed his family once when they were living together. The Knight Dragon had asked what he was doing out there, why his side had been torn open, and when Atem had started to explain, he'd become so mad he'd ended up rushing off on his own. He'd refused to speak for a while after, wings tucked into his sides and glaring at the ground until Timaeus had brought them back food. He'd looked him over, licked his face, and said the same thing he did now—"Grieve as you wish, grieve as you must."

Atem glanced at Yugi sideways. The Gandora was still fast asleep beside him, his snores soft and gentle. He wondered for a moment if Yugi would realize he wasn't mad at him, that he just had to process things on his own and it wasn't his fault when he became closed off or colder than he meant to be. But he wondered as well if Yugi understood he would not blame him for what was going to happen—not to Yami and not to Timaeus, either. He would not even blame him for not remembering Yami when he passed, not understanding the reason for his grief.

He supposed he'd tell him that at some point, though he didn't see a point in doing so soon. The vision he'd had… It had riled him up beyond repair for a short while. Atem didn't know what to make of the questions he'd asked before he'd explained it all. Yugi had seemed so curious, determined to have his thought on the matter, as if it were truly a possibility of some kind that he could go through with that strange sequence of events.

But if it had threatened Yugi in any way, he didn't want it—as he'd told him.

Atem would just…have to deal with it when everything came to pass. That was the reality of it. There was no way around it, nor was there any reason to pretend otherwise. He didn't understand why Yugi had seen all that he had, nor did he even think much of it any longer. It was impossible, and he didn't see a reason to even broach it.

Yami stepped forward into the red grass as the flowers dipped and swayed as if struck by a gentle breeze. He looked about the darkness, the endless shadows and the infinite swell of gray and black that seemed to make up the nonexistent sky in this place. He scanned the area, then turned his head as he considered something moving in the swaying grass. He could see the small shape as it hurtled forward, bright red like fresh blood, with huge wings and small paws that looked delicate against its long frame. Yami considered the phantom for a moment, smiling faintly, and padded forward to meet it.

"Are you here to lead me?"

The phantom blinked up at him, then nodded and darted around a particularly large bloom of brilliant red petals. Yami followed a few steps behind, blinking, and exhaled slowly as he considered the path the hatchling was leading him along. There was no clear or definitive direction among the stalks of grass but for the way the phantom went through them. The swaying had moved outwardly in both directions, just enough for him to see the path ahead.

They traveled for what seemed a lifetime, until Yami felt the first etch of strain on his muscles. He paused, raising his head, and bristled faintly as they came upon the river. He stopped, looking over his shoulder, and spotted Amun resting nearby. The God of Death lay with his back to him, but Yami knew he was awake and aware of him. He flexed his claws, dipping his head toward the phantom hatchling as he began to fade into nothingness.

Yami felt a fresh tug of pain in his gut, of overwhelming loneliness.

The little phantom had become nothing, though it had stood there feet away.

He'd be just like that when he died.

He laughed, a bitter and disturbed noise, and looked over.

"Amun," he murmured, "I came for counsel with you."

The God of Death rose immediately, stretching himself, and turned to him with burning golden eyes. They were a pair of twin suns, painful to look into and glittering like fresh melted metal. His face was twisted, furious and cold, but Yami did not think the anger was truly directed toward him.

"Counsel with me?"

"Yes. There is one thing I seek knowledge of."

"Then ask it."

Atem woke at dawn, stretching himself out. Yugi was still asleep, though it was clear he'd woken at some point and taken a bite from the haunch Timaeus had brought them. The Gandora snored softly as Atem straightened to a stand and glanced over his shoulder at Timaeus. The Knight Dragon was still fast asleep at the other end of the den and Atem was sure he could make it out of the den and back without either of them ever recognizing his absence.

He leaped atop the ledge silently, glancing back again to make sure Yugi had not woken when he had moved away. The Gandora had always been sensitive to his movements and his presence. If he moved away from him in the night, Yugi usually woke and watched him to see if he was distressed or just stretching his limbs. When Yugi remained fast asleep, Atem turned away and picked his way out of the den as quietly as he could.

He looked around as he made his way toward the river. Everything seemed normal and usual, without even the smallest inclination of something different or strange, yet somehow Atem felt it. Something in his bones had hardened and burned faintly.

He wasn't sure why or how, and he didn't think he could have pinpointed it no matter how hard he focused on it, but he knew something was wrong. There was something wrong, even if Atem could not name it.

The God Dragon glanced around once more, blinking, and considered the sky overhead. The sun was just beginning to rise, pale claws extended to rip through the clouds as the stars began to fade. Atem noticed the thick band of silver and white where the stars made up Paradise, scattered about the darkness further along. He shivered, considering, and thought for a single second to go back to the den. But his paws led him along despite the hesitation and he realized with laughter that he should investigate, if only to make sure nothing happened to hurt Yugi in the meantime…

He made his way down to the riverbank, glancing at the fish as they began to stir as the sky brightened. The sand looked unusually warm and soft as he moved forward, and the river seemed almost to whisper rather than roar. A mouse moved about nearby, and he could hear the soft sound of something else among the trees as he raised his head to consider. A fox peered back at him, the mouse clutched in its jaws, blinked, and then turned and darted away.

Atem continued along, steps silent as he traced the riverbank toward the denser forest where the trees were brilliant red and rose high above his head. He wasn't sure what he was looking for. He had no appetite, yet his paws kept moving. Something about the area called to him, and he realized only when he was halfway there that he was headed in the direction of the cliffs. He paused at the edge of the trees, glancing back over his shoulder toward where the den resided. He almost expected Yugi to appear, to find that he'd been trailing him the entire time, yet the spot behind him lacked any shape amongst the greenery.

He turned back and paused.

The Gandora stood feet away, considering him with sparkling blue-violets eyes that caught the sky and showed him its reflection almost perfectly. Yugi blinked once, smiling faintly, and Atem watched him for a long moment.

"I thought you were still asleep."

"I woke up when you left."