Memoria

As promised new chapter. My final exam is on Tuesday so there will be more updates after that :-) hope you enjoy and as always I apologize for the typos...

Chapter 16: Bakura’s Apology; Atem’s Final Hour

Yugi opened his mouth to speak but found he couldn’t formulate a response. He was shocked. Shaking his head he folded his arms across his chest. “Well…what?” He asked still dumbfounded.

Bakura rolled his eyes and a flush of embarrassment dusted his cheeks. He rubbed the back of his neck and repeated himself as clearly as possible, “I have come to help you.” Yugi went very quiet and seemed to be either more lost or distrusting. Bakura sighed. There was no way he knew how to prove himself either.

“I didn’t think you of all people would be putting yourself out there to help me.” Yugi said after a while. “I’m not going to lie…you scare me.” He admitted.

“I completely understand that…but let’s just say that I’ve had a ‘change’ of heart, so to speak.” Bakura said smiling to himself. Yugi still didn’t seem convinced. Taking a deep breath Bakura’s smile turned sad and he dropped down to both knees and bowed. “I’m sorry Yugi.”

“Eh?! There’s no need to go that far! I mean…look…um, how do I put this?” Yugi said unsure of what to do.

“No…I do need to go this far. We have always been on opposite sides in the past. I’m reminded of that fact nearly everyday. However, it is my hope that you believe me when I say that things are different now. It doesn’t mean I’m going to treat you like a king but I will do what is necessary to make amends.” Bakura said and met Yugi’s tired gaze. “You need sleep.”

Yugi snorted at the obvious. “Yeah, I kind of do…I only have to get one more item Bakura. To get him back. I don’t know what will happen with Seth after that…” Yugi suddenly felt dizzy. “I…don’t feel so good.” Bakura was before him in seconds and pressed his hand to his forehead. Yugi felt better in seconds and he stepped back confused. “What happened?”

“He’s nearby. I think it would be best to get you back to your friends.” Bakura said looking around wearily.

Yugi nodded. He really wanted to sleep. They walked for the majority in silence. Yugi was too tired to care. He never thought he would ever feel safe in the man’s presence. He spared Bakura a glance when they were nearing the place he and Mai were staying and noticed him very solemn. “Bakura?”

The taller man seemed shocked for minute. “Yes?”

“Are you trying to make up for something that you did in the past?” Yugi asked intuitively.

Bakura disconnected their eye contact and his face grayed. “Yes…”

Yugi made to ask but he was hit again with nausea. “I think I…I…” Yugi felt himself falling and his world went black.

*

Mai eyed Tea angrily. She had had it. She no longer sympathized. “You…Tea, get out. I can’t speak to you right now, if I did it wouldn’t be pretty and you wouldn’t like it.” Mai ordered and walked to the door and opened it only to find an out of breath Bakura holding an unconscious Yugi. “Ah! What happened?! She cried but Bakura brushed past him and lay Yugi on the second bed.

“Seth invaded his mind. You need to get Isis here now.” He said urgently.

Tea remained silent but slipped out of the room without a word.

Mai wasted no time and picked up her phone. “Isis, something is wrong with Yugi. Bakura brought him here unconscious and he says that you need to be here now.” Mai watched Yugi concerned and sighed. “Yeah I’ll see you soon.” She hung up and dialed another number. She bit her lip and spoke again, “Seto? Yugi is in trouble. Can you come over?”

*

Yugi woke painfully on the floor. He looked around blearily and noticed him in a chamber of Yami’s palace. It looked like Yami’s room. He cringed at the memory. Getting up pain shot up his back and he walked out of the room slowly. There was no one in sight. He wandered out and felt a strange pull in his chest to go right. Cautiously he went down the hall and came to a balcony. There was shadow magic everywhere. It blotted the castle like a disease and Yugi felt sick all over again. He looked down and a familiar face greeted his gaze. Atem. “Yami!” He shouted but no one heard anything. Atem seemed to look confused and hurt.

Yugi gasped when he say blood running down Atem’s leg. “What’s going on Seth?” He asked weakly. “Why are you doing this?”

A chill flew down Yugi’s spine and he looked for a way down into the courtyard. “What do you mean, why am I doing this?” Seth asked harshly and gripped Atem’s chin roughly. “I’m power hungry Atem. I want more of it. And you’re the perfect vessel to open up the Shadow Realm and claim that power for myself.” Atem cringed and tried to move away but Seth wrapped his arm tightly around the smaller man’s waist. “You’re so perfect, Atem.” Seth said and rubbed Atem’s cheek. “I’m tempted to enjoy you once more before I sacrifice you.”

Atem’s eyes widened and he tried to break free. “Let me go!” He tried to summon up his shadow powers but his body was becoming weaker.

“Yami!” Yugi cried and found a stairway. Running down the stairs he nearly tripped. Catching his balance he finally found the courtyard and raced towards the pair but sailed right through them, just as Seth claimed Atem’s lips viciously. “Yami! No!” Yugi cried but was hugged from behind by Mana.

“Shh, it’s okay Yugi. It’s only…a memory.” She said sadly.

“Mana! Siamun!” Atem cried out and clawed the courtyard floor.

Yugi shook hard and tears streamed down his cheeks but Mana covered his eyes. “Mana…” Yugi covered his ears as Atem screamed. Mana’s hands never left his eyes.

“They won’t be coming to save you Atem.” Seth laughed as he continued to defile Atem’s helpless body. “No one is going to save you.”

Yugi felt bile rise up into his throat. He didn’t know how long it lasted…he couldn’t imagine how long it seemed to last to Atem, but Mana’s hands left his eyes and Yugi paled at the sight before him. Seth was no where to be found and Atem’s body lay completely still in the middle of the courtyard. “Mana...?” Yugi sent an inquiring look to her.

“It’s…I don’t know Yugi. I was gone by the time this all happened. Yami had this dream, and has been having it ever since. It’s all he dreams about.” Mana said and made to move but Yugi held her hand tightly.

*

Isis looked over Yugi carefully and checked some of his vitals. Seto was seated in a chair close to the window and Mai was on the other bed. “It seems he is only asleep.” She said quietly. “A sleep induced by Shadow Magic. Once whatever Yugi was been subjected to is finished he should wake up. It happened with Sugoroku. It is up to him however if he wants to wake up.”

Mai rubbed her eyes tiredly and felt like crying. “But we’re so close.” She said her voice hard with fighting back tears.

“That is life Mai Valentine. Seth is trying to get something, for reasons we do not know. Yugi is standing in his way…As are the rest of us. Seth finally got a hold of the mind that would stop all of us from continuing.”

“We could still do this. Yugi might wake up. We could get the Diamond and bring it back here.” Seto said.

“That is true…we may have to resort to that if he doesn’t wake up soon.” Isis said gravely. “But…it would mean nothing if he doesn’t wake up. Yugi is the one who must put all the pieces together and complete the ritual. None of us can do it.” Isis reminded them. “We must hope that he does wake up. In the mean time rest for now, if he is not awake by noon you have to go and get the diamond.” Both nodded. Mai lay down and Isis pressed her hand to her head and she fell asleep immediately. “You as well Seto,” he wasn’t given any time to respond before her hand touched his forehead and he fell asleep. “I hope this ends for you soon Yugi. I fear Seth may break you this time if you are not strong enough.”

*

Seth had returned but with Bakura this time. “Whoa! This wasn’t part of the deal Seth.” Bakura raged. Yugi suddenly felt the weight of the present Bakura’s sadness. Now he knew why he looked so sad. “You’ve damn near killed him already.”

“Keyword being near,” Seth chuckled. He knelt down beside Atem and rolled him onto his back. Blood seeped into the fabric of his knees and he smiled darkly. “How’re you feeling Atem?”

“Get away from me.” Atem wheezed and tried to move back.

“I can’t do that, I need it Atem. I need more power.” Seth said maniacally.

Yugi gasped when Seth took out a dagger. Bakura’s lips twitched with disgust and became tense. “Please don’t…” Atem said hot tears rushed out of his eyes. “You’ve done enough…”

Bakura made to move forward, even for him this was too much. “Seth just finish it already or put the dagger away.”

Seth laughed, “So even you have morals, thief. I’m surprised.” Seth turned his attention back to Atem and smiled. “We’ll be together always Atem.” He said and plunged the dagger deep in to Atem’s chest.

“Yami!” Yugi cried but a glow went off and gold light shot through the courtyard. Yugi felt warm. It soon faded and he was left in nothingness. “Yami? Mana?” He looked around but saw no one. “Where did you go? Mana?!” He fell to his knees and tears flew from his eyes. “Yami…Are you living with that memory now?” He asked tiredly. “You’re not Atem, Yami! I need to get you back…but…I…that was too much Yami…”

*

“Mai, wake up.” She woke to Seto and a still sleeping Yugi. “It’s eleven. We have to leave soon.”

She turned her attention to Yugi and closed her eyes. “I’m not leaving without him.” She said sternly.

“We won’t have a choice Mai.” He snapped.

“Seto, we wouldn’t be able to do the ritual without him. What if something comes up with the Diamond too? Like with the armour…”

“The diamond just needs to be found Mai. Well, you just need to go and get it.” Isis explained. “But I do hope that he wakes up.”

*

Yugi felt that warmth again and he thought Mana was back. He looked around but still found no one. “Don’t tell me I’m stuck here…”

“You’re not stuck, aibou.” Yugi gasped and found Yami before him.

Yugi got up and ran into Yami’s arms. He released all of his pent up sadness and cried hard into Yami’s chest. “I’m so sorry Yami…” He said softly.

“What for? You didn’t do anything Yugi. I didn’t think you would be going this far for me either.”

Yugi bit his lip hard trying to stop the sobs from shaking his body. “Of…of course I would go this far for you.” Yami’s hands ran up his neck and he was again looking into Yami’s soft red eyes.

“It’s alright, aibou. I’m always here with you.” Yami said as he rested their foreheads together.

Yugi inhaled heavily as Yami’s thumbs gently rubbed his cheeks. “I miss you…” He whispered.

“You need to wake up Yugi.” Yami said softly. His lips pressed against Yugi’s and he held his lights body tighter against his own.

Yugi exhaled heavily through his nose. Yami’s warm tongue brushed against his lips and he opened his mouth. Yami’s tongue rubbed against his softly, gently coaxing Yugi into the kiss more. The warmth and sweetness made Yugi whimper. His arms tightened around Yami and he met Yami’s tongue just as eagerly. The memories faded away and all there was was them. Yami’s hand ran to the back of his neck and Yugi moaned softly. Soon they parted and their heavy breathing was all that separated them. “I’ll get you back…I promise.” He swore.

“I’m waiting for you.” Yami said and leaned back a little. “Please wake up Yugi, they’re waiting for you.”

Yugi nodded. Yami kissed his forehead and the world of nothing vanished and morphed into a ceiling. “Ugh…”

“Yugi!” Mai exclaimed and was at his side in seconds. “Yugi, are you okay?” She asked worriedly.

Yugi didn’t answer for a while letting all that he experienced wash over him and melt away. He turned to Mai slowly and smiled. “Yeah…I’m okay.” She sighed in relief and hugged him tight.

“Don’t you ever scare me like that again Yugi Motou-or you you’ll have to worry about being ten inches shorter!”

Yugi laughed and hugged her back. “But, I think I’m short enough.”

Mai sat back and looked over him slowly. “Are you sure you’re okay?”

Yugi closed his eyes and smiled. “Yeah…I’m ready to continue…I’ve got someone waiting for me to finish this.”


****tbc

I just have a small note here. The reason I began this story was for a friend who loves the YamixYugi pairing...as of right now our friendship is a little complicated. But I have new peeps to write this for...it's difficult but I promised to get this done and I always see things through to the end. So I hope you are enjoying this-I do appreciate all the comments they keep me writing this and you know, Yugi has to get Yami back, right...?

Sincerely,

Frozen-Wings