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) Yuugi

Italics – thoughts.
. . . italics – 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 One – Darkness Approaches


It was over, they had returned to Domino City, having left the one person that they all wanted to get to know better behind. He had gone into the afterlife where he belonged. But for Yuugi Mutou he lost more in that last duel than just the Spirit of the Millennium Puzzle, he lost his best friend. He entered his bedroom, where he remembered having so many conversations with Atemu, the Spirit that had been trapped in the Millennium Puzzle for so long, and the Ancient Pharaoh who had been encased for five-thousand years. In Yuugi’s mind, he could see the Spirit, lounging against the wall, with his arms across his chest, deep in thought; pondering his next move.

Taking his deck from the holster at his side, he opened the small box that the Millennium Puzzle had been ensconced within. His fingers traced over the fine edges of the box and the beauty of the craftsmanship as he took the deck that he and the Pharaoh had built together and placed it reverently in the box before sealing it and placing it on a shelf. Goodbye, Atemu.

~*~*~*~

Three months had passed, and Yuugi had finally fallen into a rhythm of school and work. He worked presently at his grandfather’s game shop which was fine for him. If he wasn’t in the shop or at school, he was in his room. “Yuugi?” came his grandfather’s call as Yuugi was downstairs sorting through some new booster packs that had come out for Duel Monsters.

Rising with a sigh, Yuugi put the packs down and shuffled over to the base of the stairs. He had grown a few inches and peeked up the stairs. “Yes, Grandpa?”

“Package for you.” Solomon replied. He was worried around his grandson who had not really been the same since they had returned from Egypt.

Making his way up the stairs, Yuugi blinked at the bright sunlight that assaulted him for he had been down in the dark basement for hours. “Thanks, grandpa, I’ll take it upstairs.” He muttered, as he paused for a moment, “Is that alright?”

“Sure, Yuugi. I can handle the shop.” He responded, as he watched Yuugi ascend the stairs, and grew more worried.

Yuugi retreated to his room closing the door behind him. Sitting down on the edge of the bed, he let out a frustrated cry of anger, knocking the package to the floor as he clutched his pillow and started to cry. Why…why is the pain of losing him not getting better? Am I so weak that I can’t get over losing him? Am I supposed to get over losing the one my heart longs to be with? Yugi rolled over and gazed up at the ceiling, tucking his arms under his head but not before wiping his eyes angrily.

Groaning, Yuugi sat up and reached for the package he had knocked askew. He gazed upon the plain brown wrappings looking for the return address. It was scrawled in the corner in hieroglyphs and he couldn’t read it, as he never learned Ancient Egyptian. Opening the package, he was surprised as several jagged pieces fell from inside the wrappings and they seemed very familiar to him. It’s the Millennium Puzzle! But, I thought it was destroyed with the rest when the Millennium Stone shattered. Upon closer inspection, Yuugi came to realize that the pieces were made of wood but had been hand carved. A piece of Atemu returned to me, but from whom? And why? He thought to himself, as he laid all the pieces on the floor and started to put the wooden puzzle together.

Solomon Mutou closed up the shop and looked up the staircase that led to the apartment where Yuugi and he lived. Heading up the stairs, he prepared a simple dinner and knocked on Yuugi’s closed door. “Yuugi, I made dinner.”

“I’m not hungry.”

Solomon sighed, “Yuugi, you have to eat something.”

Yuugi snarled as he was trying to finish the puzzle, his last connection to the Pharaoh. “I said I wasn’t hungry!” he snapped which wasn’t usual for him. Solomon sighed, hoping that his grandson would come out soon as he shuffled off. Just leave me alone. That’s all I am now. Alone forever.

~*~*~*~

Yuugi looked up at the door that he had barely opened in the last few days. He had gone out to use the bathroom, and had finally started to pick at the food that his Grandfather had started leaving outside his door. Dressed in a pair of loose fitting jeans and a black tank-top, Yuugi sat cross-legged on the floor, holding the finished puzzle in his hands. His amethyst orbs were red-rimmed from crying, as he chewed on his lower lip.

. . . Yuugi could see the Pharaoh, standing over the seal of Orichalcos. Defeated in the duel with Rafael for his very soul. He was trapped within the Millennium Puzzle, but he would not let the Pharaoh down. Clutching the puzzle in his hands, he begged on whatever Gods were listening and broke the seal that kept him from the Pharaoh who shared his body . . .

Why did you do it? Why did you save him?

“I could not let him be defeated.”

He betrayed you, after you begged him not to use the card, he did anyway. What would you give for the Pharaoh?

“My life if necessary.”

Yuugi knew that he was alone, so who was bothering him and knocking at the door. He shivered but not from the cold, as he clutched the puzzle to his chest. Why didn’t I tell him how I felt before he left? Why could I not delve all my secrets to him? But now, Atemu was gone and Yuugi, left behind was paying the price. Alone…just so utterly alone…

~*~*~*~

Clutching the puzzle to his chest, Yuugi sniffled as he wiped his eyes with a fist. The way that he and the Pharaoh had spent so many nights together just talking; Yuugi just then could see the Pharaoh standing before him. Atemu, I’m sorry.

You didn’t even tell me how you felt about me, Yuugi.

“I wanted to!”

You think you loved me, but you do not.

“I do love you, Atemu.” Yuugi said softly.

If you loved me, you would have said so. But you did not, you are weak. You disgust me.

“I sacrificed myself for you. That should prove I do love you!”

The transparent image of the Pharaoh, scowled snarling, You do not love me, Yuugi. You never have. You never gave me your heart.

“But I do love you…my heart was always yours. You are the Yin to my Yang.”

The manifestation of Atemu frowned, as he suddenly looked as he did when he was possessed by the Seal of Orichalcos. Yuugi stared for a moment realizing that this incarnation would show him no mercy and leave him no more than a walking shell of himself. You cannot have me, Yuugi. You can never have me; you didn’t even bother to fight for me when I was ready to leave. If you had, it would have been different.

“I don’t deserve you.” Yuugi whispered, as he shivered and was nearly delirious as he held the puzzle closer to his heart, “I’m sorry…I’m so sorry. Forgive me.” He finished, crawling into a small space and huddling there swallowed by the darkness that was ensconced there.

~*~*~*~

“You mean he hasn’t left his room in three days?” A concerned voice inquired as two figures stood outside the Kame Game Shop.

Solomon shook his gray head, “no, this isn’t like him Anzu. Ever since he got a package in the mail, Yuugi has locked himself in his room and refuses to eat or even come out.”

Jounouchi came running up, “came as soon as I got your message, Anzu.” He said, and then noticed the strange gazes on both faces. “What’s up? Is something wrong with Yuugi?”

“In a manner of speaking, yes.”

“Then let’s go get him!”

“You can’t!” Anzu cried out, “I mean, we don’t even know what’s wrong with him, let’s try and coax him out.”

Jounouchi nodded though he didn’t like the plan for he wanted more than anything to rush in and save his best friend from whatever was happening to him, even if he didn’t quite understand it. “Alright.”

“Good luck.” Solomon said as he picked up and resumed his sweeping before the shop. The back and forth motions almost soothing to his shattered nerves but just barely. The older man watched as they walked through the door and made their way up to the small apartment above.

“Anzu, you don’t think that this has something to do with the Pharaoh leaving, do you?”

Anzu paused momentarily, “I don’t know, I’ve never seen him like this.” They reached Yugi’s room a few moments later and she raised her hand and knocked gently. “Yuugi?” There was no answer, and Anzu sighed softly.

Jounouchi had enough and moved Anzu out of the way as he pounded on the door with his fist, “Yuugi! Open up in there! Or I’m coming in!” he shouted.

“Leave me alone!” came a response, but it didn’t sound like Yuugi, it was deeper, harsher.

“C’mon Yuugi, we’ll duel awhile.”

“I don’t want to.”

“What about a movie, Yuugi, we can go see whatever you want.” Anzu tried.

“No! Just go away and leave me alone!” he snapped. “I never meant to let him leave, I loved him. And I couldn’t keep him here…with me.” He whimpered, as he rocked back and forth, the turmoil in his soul was turbulent like the waves during a storm.

Anzu’s brown eyes were liquid with unshed tears, “what should we do?” she inquired softly as she gazed at Jounouchi.

“I don’t know, Anzu.”

Solomon looked up from downstairs, “Why don’t you both come down and have something to eat. Yuugi refuses to come out, for anything or anyone.” With one last longing look at the door, Jounouchi and Anzu headed back down the stairs, and sat down at the table, where Solomon put some mugs of cocoa before them. “I think I know what’s wrong with him but I’m not sure. He hasn’t been the same since we returned from Egypt, I think he and the Pharaoh were…closer than anyone knew.”

Jounouchi shrugged, “it doesn’t matter to me, and Yuugi is still my best friend.”

Anzu said nothing as she gazed up the stairs, Yuugi… she thought then glanced up at Solomon, “Mr. Mutou, he’s going to be okay isn’t he?”

“I do not know, Anzu.” Solomon replied.

Jounouchi grumbled something under his breath and rose to his feet, “I’m going upstairs to try and talk some sense into Yuugi.” He finished, making his way to Yuugi’s door. Yuugi looked up at the sound of a voice, it was familiar and haunting, but he refused to move. Yuugi shook his head, as he sat quietly and trembled. “Yuugi?” he inquired, knocking on the door.

He’s not your friend…you always put him in danger… the voice taunted Yuugi, You are nothing without them. Nothing. Scrawny and pathetic.

Yuugi whimpered and curled into a tighter ball, clutching the puzzle to him. Jounouchi’s voice was growing louder and Yuugi dropped the puzzle to the floor, grabbing his head as he rocked back and forth. “No, please….” He whispered, “Please, just leave me in peace.” His amethyst eyes were scrunched tightly together, and tears traced their way down his cheeks.

“Yuugi, please open the door. I’m worried about ya, buddy.”

Yuugi’s lower lip quivered as he backed up further, almost like a caged animal, eyes wild as they shot open and stared at the doorway that was closed. His voice was raspy, “Leave me!” he snarled, turning to someone who wasn’t even there, “tell them to leave me in peace.”

Jounouchi blinked, “Yuugi, who are you talking to?” he asked, “Come out.”

“LEAVE ME ALONE!”

Anzu ran up the stairs as she stopped next to Jounouchi, “Yuugi, it’s Anzu, please, let us in.”

“Yuugi, I’m coming in there.” Jounouchi said with certain sharpness in his voice that gave the impression he meant every word. He twisted the knob beneath his hand but it refused to turn. Growling, he slammed it with his shoulder and the door fell open as Jounouchi fell into Yuugi’s bedroom.

Yuugi backed up or at least tried to as he hit the wall behind him, “get away from me!”

Jounouchi looked confused, “Yuugi, why are you treating me this way? All I’ve ever been is your friend.” He said a hurt look in his honey brown orbs. He quickly glanced around Yuugi’s bedroom as he had never been in there before. A single bed was along one wall, beneath a skylight. Books covered some shelves and there was a single desk and chair. Jounouchi saw something that he had seen before. Yuugi was holding the Millennium Puzzle.

Yuugi spoke softly, “He torments me, torments my thoughts. I cannot do this without him.” He paused to take a breath, “you always come to me and I always put you in danger. You need to leave me….just leave me alone!” Yugi snarled, whimpering softly in complete contrast to the way he was speaking. He was incoherent and not speaking soundly as he looked at Jounouchi with wild eyes.

“Who, Yuugi? Who is tormenting you?” he asked, approaching his friend slowly as Anzu watched in the doorway, not venturing inside.

“I cannot have him, he left me. I didn’t deserve him…” Yuugi whimpered. “He hated me…hated me and that’s why he left me.” He continued, falling to the light blue carpeting and crying in heart-wrenching sobs which wracked his lithe frame.

Jounouchi walked over and wrapped his arms around his friend; holding him close. “Yuugi, you need to come out of this room.”

“I have nothing left! Nothing left!” Yuugi cried out as he picked up the wooden puzzle and threw it hard against the wall watching it shatter into the pieces it came in. He felt Jounouchi’s arms tighten around his body and cried until he cried himself to a restless slumber.

Gently, Jounouchi lifted Yuugi into his arms and carried him into the bathroom. “I’ll give him a bath; can you maybe find him some pajamas and see if Mr. Mutou would make some soup or something?”

“Sure, Jou.” Anzu said softly, as she headed into Yuugi’s bedroom first and found a pair of soft blue pajamas with little yellow stars on them. Even though he’s almost an adult, he is still just a child at heart. She thought, fingering the soft flannel with her fingertips. She laid them on the bed, before kneeling and gathering the puzzle pieces that were scattered and put them in the same box where Yuugi kept his deck. With that done, she slipped out the door and went downstairs to speak to Mr. Mutou.

Yuugi said nothing as he was bathed by his friend, though he did wake up and silently sat there. Jounouchi was talking to him but he didn’t hear a word. “Let me go get your pajamas, buddy then we’ll tuck you into bed and get some food in you. Okay buddy?”

Yuugi looked up and blinked, he didn’t respond but just simply stared at his best friend. His amethyst eyes were wide and seemingly stared at nothing. He stood when he was told and watched as Jounouchi wrapped him in a fluffy towel. Jounouchi led Yuugi back to his bedroom and helped him dress, before pulling back the covers and tucking him into the bed.

Solomon came upstairs with Anzu behind him. He was carrying a tray of hot soup, some fresh bread and some milk, as he walked in and set it on the small desk by Yuugi’s bed. “I brought you something to eat.” Yuugi glanced at the food and blinked, giving his grandfather a small smile. “You need to eat something and rest, Yuugi. Your friends can come see you later.”

Jounouchi and Anzu nodded, “we’ll come see you tomorrow, Yuugi.” She said leaning down and kissing the top of his head. “You get some rest.” She finished, heading out the door and downstairs as she waited for Jounouchi.

“Yeah, I’ll be over.” He said, thinking on what Yuugi had said previously. He finished, as he headed downstairs and looked to Anzu. “We got a problem.”

“Yuugi, if you ever decide to talk about it, just know I’m here to listen.” Solomon said as he left his grandson in his room but left the door open. He shuffled downstairs where the two teens who were Yuugi’s closest friends were deep in conversation.

~*~*~*~

“You were right, Mr. Mutou, its unrequited love.” Jounouchi said. “He loved the Pharaoh and never told him.”

“Oh no. And now, Atemu is gone.”

“What can we do, Jounouchi?” the elder Mutou inquired.

“I don’t know, but somehow, we gotta snap Yuugi out of it.”


~*~*~*~

A/N: Please review, I love em, the good the bad and the not so nice, they feed the plot bunnies that are hopping about my head.