Shatterpoint

Disclaimer: Yu-Gi-Oh! and all the characters herein belong to whomever and I am making no monies whatsoever. The plotline belongs to me and me alone, and all the original characters (meaning those you have never seen before) belong to me.

Author’s Note: This is purely fiction. I hated the way they ended the series and if the series had been mine it would have been chocked full of slashy goodness. But alas, it is not. Anyway, this takes place after Atemu has traveled to the Afterlife. I have also used the Yin-Yang symbol and its meanings for the sake of story with some tweaks. Oh, the other thing, the Egyptian Gods and Goddesses make cameo appearances.

Beta’d by the most wonderful friend I have ever had in my life. God knows where I would be without her input, late night giggle sessions, and vanilla coffee! Thank you, my Darkwatch.

Normally the Yin is the light side and the Yang the dark; I have switched them for sake of the story. The different meanings of the Yin and Yang apply to each of the characters, but I had to switch them.

Yin- (the Dark Side of the symbol) Yami
Yang- (the Light Side of the symbol) Yugi

Italics – thoughts.
. . . italics – flashback
Speech – bold italic speech is the speech in a flashback.
Speech – bold speech is the speech of a spirit.

Summary – The Nameless Pharaoh, Atemu has passed into the Afterlife where he belongs, but what he has left behind is something no one could have seen coming. Yugi, alone and missing a piece of himself has returned to Domino City a mere shell of who he was...will his friends be able to pull him out or will he reach the shatterpoint?


Shatterpoint
by TheDarkSynfulLegend

Chapter Four – Last Will


“Still no change?” Jounouchi asked as he walked into the Game Shop and glanced up the stairs at the darkened bedroom door that belonged to Yuugi. “He’s gotta snap out of it. He cant’ go on this way much longer, if he does, we could lose him forever.” He remarked, pulling Anzu’s cellphone from her pocket, “lemme borrow this.”

“Sure, Jou. Who are you going to call?”

“Someone who may just be able to get through to Yuugi.” Jounouchi replied as he headed out the front door and sat on the stoop.

~*~*~*~

The keys clacked in rhythmic contractions as fingers flew over the keys, sapphire blue eyes focused on nothing but the figures before him as the intercom on his left hand side began to buzz. Reaching over, he picked up the phone and spoke sharply, “Kaiba.”

“I am sorry to disturb you, Mr. Kaiba, but there is a Katsuya on the line for you.”

Seto Kaiba blinked as he stared at the receiver for a moment, “have the mutt make an appointment.” He said as he made a move to hang up the phone.

“Mr. Kaiba, he says it is about a Mr. Mutou and it is an emergency.” The secretary said.

A sigh left the C.E.O.’s lips as he remembered the times that Yuugi and his friends had helped him and his brother Mokuba, in so many different ways, and if it was true what the Pharaoh had said, he was cousins with him in another life, another incarnation and while he didn’t usually believe in that magical mumbo-jumbo he wondered what Katsuya wanted. “Put him through.”

“Right away.”

The line clicked, “what do you want, Katsuya, I’m busy.” Seto said as he cradled the phone on his shoulder and continued to click away at the keyboard.

Jounouchi gaped for a moment, “you mean you actually took my call, Kaiba?”

“What do you want mutt, I have a company to run.”

“Yuugi is in trouble, listen, I know you haven’t gotten along in the past but he’s in trouble, and nothing Anzu, his grandfather or I, we can’t snap him out of it.”

Kaiba paused in his work and pulled the phone down a bit, “And what do you want me to do about it?”

“Maybe…he just needs a nudge.”

“Why me?”

“You know why, Kaiba.” Jounouchi said as he hung up the phone.

Seto stared at the phone which was buzzing at him with a dead line and slammed the phone down as he turned away from his work, closing his laptop and staring out the window at Domino City. Why should I help those pathetic losers? They never did anything … his thoughts trailed off as he thought of his little brother. They always came through for Mokuba, whether it was in this world or the digital. Yuugi always fought for me and my brother. Rolling his eyes, he picked up the phone, “cancel the rest of my appointments for the day.”

~*~*~*~

Atemu watched as Ra stepped aside from before the two doors as he spoke softly, “You do realize that in your final duel with your soul-mate your thoughts were apparent to us, so I wonder if you truly wanted to leave him.” A shimmering image of Atemu appeared in his last duel against Yuugi, they were not real and Atemu knew that but watching himself standing there cards in hand was ironic. “Do you remember what your thoughts were? No? let me refresh your memory. Ba-pef.” The Sun God intoned as the Goddess stepped forwards and waved her hand to the spirit that stood there.

“I feel as every opponent I’ve ever faced has prepared me for this moment. This is the first time I’ve ever wanted my opponent’s victory.”

The other Gods and Goddesses watched the shimmering semi-transparent spirit that was speaking his thoughts and they turned multicolored irises towards Atemu who was watching as well.

Atemu’s spirit’s expression turned harsher as though they were coming to the heart of the battle, with the three Egyptian Card Games, and the look in those crimson eyes was fierce. “The light hasn’t left my aibou’s gaze, and then I too, will continue the fight.”

Just then a shimmering shape joined the one of him, and Atemu inhaled sharply. “Yuugi…” the shorter duelist was trembling viciously, and fighting back tears. Suddenly his head snapped up and the tears that Yuugi had shimmering in his eyes were evident, but at the time Atemu hadn’t noticed them.

“Strike the final blow . . . my aibou . . . my friend.” The spirit of Atemu spoke as Yuugi struck the final blow.

The gathered Gods and Goddesses of Egypt watched as they had not seen this either, and a small smile flit over Ba-pef’s lips only to vanish a few moments later.

. . . They watched as Atemu walked over to Yuugi who had fallen to his knees and was crying, his tears falling against the stone floor like a silent rainfall. Atemu dropped to a knee before his aibou, “stand up, a winner, no, the champion should not be on their knees.”

Yuugi looked up at him and sniffled, as he bit his lower lip and looked away for a moment, “I was so focused; I forgot what this would mean for you and for me. I’ve sent you away…” his voice trailed off as the tears continued to fall.

Atemu shook his head slightly, “No, Yuugi, you have opened the door for me, and for that I will always be grateful. Fate brought us together for a reason.”

“I’m just weak. You are my hero, Atemu. I wanted to be strong, like you are.” Yuugi looked up, his eyes glistening.

“But you are strong, and you are not weak, you’ve always had a power that no one could overcome and thanks to you, I learned that.” Atemu replied, wiping away Yuugi’s tears and helping him to stand on his own two feet. “I learned about kindness, and that is what I learned from you . . . aibou.”

“I’m going to miss you.”

“You do realize we will never really be apart, the gift you’ve given me and the courage I know I’ve given to you, will always bind us together.” It was then that the door to the afterlife opened and Atemu started on his way through it.

Yuugi watched along with his friends and more than one of them wanted him to stop. But no more than the young man who had shared his body with the Pharaoh for so long . . .

It was only then that Atemu could see the love radiating in his partner’s eyes, the love he had never known was there. And it sent a shaft of pain through Atemu’s heart, as he watched the two shapes shimmer out and a tear leaked from his own eyes as his lower lip hardened into a line. “Why have you shown me this?” he inquired.

“You threatened those who tried to take you from Yuugi.”

“You mean…”

“Shadi, yes. When he entered Yuugi’s mind, he found you and you threatened him . . . why?”

“Because I did not want anyone bringing harm to my aibou.”

“But you did.” Ra continued, “You watched him sacrifice it all for you, and you did nothing to stop him.”

Atemu growled as his hands formed fists at his sides and it took all his control not to throttle the Egyptian God of the Sun. “I risked it all to find him, because I cared.”

“Then why did you leave him?”

“I thought . . . I thought it was my destiny, but perhaps I was wrong and it was there that I was supposed to stay. However, I could not love him the way I truly wished while locked in the puzzle.” Atemu wanted to say more but Ra held up his hand making the young ruler hold his tongue.

“We have decided your fate.” He spoke, and watching as the gathered deities raised their hands, the door behind him began to glow with power. The stone scraped as the door parted and Atemu could see nothing in the mist. “But only you alone can make the journey.”

Atemu took a deep breath and let it out on a shudder as he made his way towards the bright light, “you have my thanks.” He said as the doors scraped shut behind him.

~*~*~*~

The limousine pulled up to the Game Shop and Seto Kaiba climbed out. “Where is he, Katsuya?” he asked as he glanced at the blond who was seated on the stoop.

“You came. I didn’t think you would.”

“Don’t mention it.” Kaiba said as he started on his way inside, “ever.” He muttered. Seto Kaiba looked around as he walked into the living room, and came face to face with Anzu and Yuugi’s grandfather.

“What?! What are you doing here?!”

“Where is he?” Seto snapped, not in the mood for any idle chit chat.

“Upstairs. But…I won’t let you go up there and upset him.” Anzu responded with the same cold attitude, as she rose and stood before him.

Shaking his shaggy blond hair, Jounouchi walked in, “Anzu, let him go.” Anzu blinked and glanced at Jounouchi, “I think he can break through to Yuugi.”

“Or send him over the edge.” Anzu replied.

Seto rolled his eyes, “Get out of my way.” He said as he shouldered his way past Anzu and headed up the stairs, “No matter what you hear, don’t you dare enter this room.” He finished a glare on his eyes that would stop most in their tracks.

Yuugi looked up as the door clicked shut with a soft sound and his amethyst eyes widened as he stared at Seto Kaiba, he opened his mouth to say something but closed his mouth quickly. “leave me alone, Kaiba.”

“why should I, runt. Its not like you’re in any condition to stop me from doing whatever it is I want. You’re pathetic, Yuugi and I’ll use small words so you can understand me.” Kaiba started to say as he advanced on the smaller duelist.

Yuugi attempted to back up but hit his bed as he stared at Kaiba, “I…I want you to leave!” he snapped, though his voice trembled as tears welled in his expressive eyes.

“You’re pathetic, Yuugi. You won all those tournaments. And you can’t even pull yourself together when your imaginary friend leaves you.”

“He…he wasn’t…imaginary.” Yuugi stammered.

“Please, you know I don’t believe in all that mystical mumbo-jumbo. If he truly cared about you, why did he abandon you? Why would he just up and leave you sitting here wallowing in your own misery?” he asked sharply, as Yuugi tried to form a response, Seto continued, “You supposedly went into some dream to save him but how many times did you sacrifice yourself for him and he gave you NOTHING in return?!” Seto snarled.

Something deep inside Yuugi snapped and he got to his feet, the wooden replica in his hands starting to glow, “Atemu did what he thought was best, Kaiba! And he saved YOU more times then I care to count! How many times did he pull your ass out of a fire?”

Seto was ready and his lips curled into a feral snarl, “perhaps you’re right but where is he now? Gone, and you’re stuck in this room with no one to turn to, no imaginary friends. Pathetic, you’re nothing but a loser Mutou. Admit it; you won that last duel because you didn’t want him here.”

“I did want him here, Kaiba! I loved him!”

“Then why isn’t he here with you, if you loved him so much?” Seto replied his voice colder than the artic tundra. He watched Yuugi’s expression which went from rage to uncertainty to sad and dejected.
“Please tell me you told him how you felt before he left!”

“There . . . I . . .”

Seto started to laugh as he threw his head back with his hands on his hips, “Oh this is just rich! You ARE pathetic, you whining little runt. No wonder he up and left you, you can barely tie your shoes unless you have the geek squad hanging onto your every movement. You bought into the illusion that you had this little imaginary friend and then stupidly fell in love with him and look where it left you! You’re nothing without him. You will always be nothing.”

The tri-colored mop came up, “I don’t care what you say or think, Kaiba, I loved Atemu and I will always love him but he needed to be where he was. He deserved to rest and not be trapped in a puzzle for the rest of MY days, and I gave him that!”

“What did he give you, Yuugi besides a broken heart?”

“Courage.” Yuugi replied, “the courage to know who I truly am!”

“And who is it exactly that you think you are, besides a wimp and a pathetic excuse for a duelist.”

His chin lifted proudly, and the puzzle became almost hot in his hands as he whispered, “I am Yuugi Mutou, the King of Games!”

The barest hint of a smile creased Seto’s lips, “that, is who I always knew you were. However, you’re still alone.”

“I’m NEVER alone Kaiba, Atemu will always be with me.”

Another snort left Seto’s lips and the smile faded almost as soon as it had appeared, “if he will always be here with you, then where is he now?”

~*~*~*~

The bell over the Game Shop door went off, as Yuugi’s grandfather went to see who it was and he stumbled and gripped the side of the doorway in shock. “Where is Yuugi?”

“Up…upstairs.” He said stammering, watching the olive toned youth head up the stairs. As Solomon watched the figure take the stairs, he turned his head as Jounouchi and Anzu walked in and saw him.

“Gramps!” Jounouchi cried as he dropped the bag of groceries and ran to the older man’s side. “You okay? Do we need to take you to the hospital?!” he inquired, staring down at Yuugi’s grandfather, the man who had taught him how to play Duel Monsters.

Anzu rushed over and took his hand in her own, “what happened?”

“He’s back.”


~*~*~*~

Surprise! In honor of my beta, and my late night giggle session with her, I am proud to say she is better, and I missed her and in her honor, I'm giving you guys two chapters as opposed to one, and she's already beating me with a whip ( which excites me ) to get the next one finished. As always, read and review, the reviews feed the plotbunnies that assault me at 4 a.m.