Adult-FanFiction.org : Yu-Gi-OH

The Pale Savior	By : SasatheShy Category: Yu-Gi-Oh > Yaoi - Male/Male Views: 6244 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 1
Disclaimer: I do not own YuGiOh, nor do I make a profit off of the writing of this story. It is for fan purposes only.

Chapter List
- 17
- 18
- 19
Chapter Eighteen: Imprisonment: The Puzzle’s Return
--
   Over a month ago, a young Pale Face named Yuugi deliberately ignored the rules of his dark-skinned commanders, crawling his way towards a chance at freedom. He reached the river, and debated on suicide. No one would miss him, he believed; it was all for the best. Yet, once at the shoreline’s crossing, he lamentably failed to meet the Devil’s Door.
   His trip, however, was no total loss. Trapped beneath the muddy floor, a pyramid had been hiding. No large, ancient pyramid. A simple, golden trinket which he assumed had to belong to some rich Dark Face. It helped Yuugi find courage, and he snuggled it to the core of his chest, claiming it as his. When it vanished come that next dreadful morning, Yuugi was certain someone stole it from him. He never expected it to find its way into the depths of his body, to charm him with Lord Atemu’s breathtaking palace, a home to call new, and a man to love dearly. It was a lucky pyramid. No. A lucky Sennen Puzzle.
   It had chosen him.
   But currently, Yuugi did not feel so lucky. Atemu hollered for Seth, and hollered for guardians. The Lord was in a ruckus, after the discovery that jolted his mind. He dragged Yuugi to his feet, forcing him to sit on the bed before gathering the Sennen Puzzle and its scattered pieces. When Lord Seth came in, he lingered over the brilliance the Sennen Puzzle provided.
   “All this time we’ve spent searching,” the man said breathlessly, “It’s been right under our noses.” He faced his Lord. “I am sorry for doubting it. Forgive me.”
   “Do not fret, Seth,” Atemu said softly. His eyes gradually wandered from the Puzzle to Yuugi. “For a while there, I doubted my own self, but it seems your decision on bringing me Yuugi was wise when you ventured out to find it for me.”
   Seth sneered bitterly. “This whole time.” A massive hate was building up inside him. He charged forward, growling lowly as he pointed an offensive finger straight at Yuugi. “You! How dare you hide this from my Lord? You traitorous..!”
   “I didn’t know,” Yuugi whimpered. “I swear.”
   “How could you not know!” Seth growled lowly. “Answer before your Lords.”
   Choking back sobs, Yuugi shook his head. “I didn’t! I swear -- I swear!”
   “That’s enough, Seth.” Atemu would not have his servant shedding tears.
   The Lord admitted with his miniscule silence that he, too, was disturbed by the situation. Not once had Yuugi mentioned anything about how he had somehow obtained the Sennen Puzzle, let alone absorbed it. Atemu saw Yuugi was as pathetic and frail as he was when they first met. The Sennen Puzzle had somehow caused Yuugi a great deal of pain, and an equivalent shock to that of Atemu’s own. Yuugi’s denial presumed worthy.
   Clearing his throat, Atemu knew this had to be solved. “Yuugi, I think it’s best that you tell me exactly how you came across the Puzzle. Start from the beginning.”
   Taking a deep breath, Yuugi began. He told of the occurrence before the night he found the Sennen Puzzle dressed in mud. How Obi was brutally murdered, and how he had wished for a quick death. He had quickly gained the attention of all three men. Yami even moved a bit closer, but withdrew when Seth glared at him. Yuugi then spoke of how he sneaked his way out of the small tent, and successfully freed himself from Captain Gahiji’s men. It was hard for him to discuss the dilemma he faced, but shortly it ended, and he got to the part with the Puzzle.
   “It was buried deep,” Yuugi said. “I struggled to get it, but I was determined. Eventually, I pulled it free. I was amazed and decided to keep it for myself, but that next morning, it was gone. I -- I thought maybe someone took it.”
   “Does not matter,” Seth said, crossing his arms angrily. His veins were ready to pop. “After every little bit of information Lord Atemu gave, you never once brought it up.”
   “I never thought about it,” Yuugi whimpered. “I didn’t know what it was, and I thought I lost it.” What else could the healer want?
   Thankfully, Atemu discontinued Seth’s anger, and Yuugi’s forgetfulness. “The entirety of arguing over the matter is ridiculous and unnecessary.” His frustrated eyes shifted on Seth. “Don’t you understand what this means? Not only has the Puzzle returned to me, but it has chosen Yuugi as its vessel. We should be celebrating, Seth.”
   “Of course,” Seth said. He tackled to calm down. “I know the sign’s meaning, but I am still worried.”
   “As am I. There’s no telling what’s to happen. But I can’t begin to describe how relieved I am.”
   Seth loosened up, guilty for rambling harshly when he pushed aside his Lord’s thoughts on the Puzzle’s reunion. If the short Pale Face truly had been chosen, then it could lead to a day of reckoning. He and Atemu could again become mortal. And the legend of the Gods’ blunder could finally come to a close.
   In that instant, the guards Atemu called for appeared. Atemu glanced at Yuugi. “March. My room. Now.”
   Surprised, Yuugi slowly got to his feet. He reached for Yami’s hand, but drew back. He gasped when he heard what Atemu ordered next.
   “Guards, cease that man.” He pointed at Yami.
   “No!” Yuugi cried out, hugging his arms around Yami’s waist. “No, you can’t!”
   Holding the broken Sennen Puzzle best he could, Atemu moved swift to pry Yuugi off of Yami, who did nothing to fight against the two guards who forced his hands behind his back.
   “Yami!” Yuugi cried. “Atemu, please? Please don’t punish him. I will take his punishment for him.”
   “In my room,” Atemu ordered, his anger on the rise, his shock still in order.
   “I won’t!” Yuugi argued. He gasped, feeling Atemu’s hold on him tighten. They entered the hallway, and Yuugi quickly looked back at Yami. “Yami…”
   “It’ll be okay, Yuugi,” Yami said to the little lamb who shocked him greatly. “Do as Lord Atemu says, okay?”
   “Put him in the dungeon,” Atemu commanded his guards. “I’ll deal with him later.”
   Yami lowered his gaze as he was led away. Yuugi sniffled. He wiped his eyes with the back of his hand, soaking it. His tears seemed endless as Atemu pushed him into the opposite room. He remained silent, not caring about Atemu or the Sennen Puzzle. Only about Yami.
   “My Lord?” Seth stepped forward.
   “Seth,” Atemu murmured crossly, “I wish to speak with Yuugi alone.”
   “Very well.” Seth bowed his head, only until Atemu closed the door with a solid click. He then left one guard to stand watch and made way for the dungeon.
   In conflict with his inner madness, Atemu took it upon himself to ignore his deceitful courtesan for but a moment, him drawn to the golden item of the Gods. Enchanted by its sunny luster, he raised it to the tip of his nose, intoxicated by its brilliance as he gave a large whiff, and sighed with content. This was no dream. The Sennen Puzzle was there in his hands, exactly where it belonged, even if it was half shattered. And he knew only the chosen savior could fix it. Only Yuugi, his Yuugi -- Gods, that evidence was disconcerting.
   He cranked his neck, troubled by how quiet Yuugi was. The pale servant sniffed every few seconds, sounding in desperate need of a handkerchief. Atemu knew his frustration and anger’s yet to disperse. He lowered the broken item upon the table. The shiny metal pieces clinked and clanked. Pulling his hands from it so soon triggered a sense of emptiness, but Atemu must set his main focus on Yuugi.
   Atemu casually stepped in front of Yuugi. He would try best to shadow his anger. Strange how he could not die, and yet his pressured heart was pounded by a great deal of hurt. Yuugi refused to look at him. The younger male continuously found the polished floor more riveting.
   “Look at me,” Atemu demanded strongly, yet with exceptional softness.
   Knowing he had no other option, Yuugi lifted his gaze. His entire face was poppy red, moist and unattractive from crying. Atemu was desperate to wipe those tears, and dry that runny nose, but could not do it.
   “What are you going to do to Yami?” Yuugi was daring, beating Atemu to the punch. “You’re not going to have him killed are you?” The silence alone was enough to turn Yuugi’s knees into butter. He struggled to remain standing, wishing Atemu would say something, anything. “Atemu, I --”
   “I think it’s best you bite that tongue of yours.”
   The spiteful demand was compelling enough for Yuugi to partake. He bit his tongue, squeezing it between his teeth. He did not do so very hard, and wasn’t in pain, but he said nothing more, for it was his Lord’s turn to speak.
   “You know,” Atemu began with a sorrowful tune, “Since the moment I was chosen to be marked by this curse, I never thought that I would ever be able to be happy because I knew I could never allow myself to fall in love. I would be trapped in this twenty year old body, while everyone else would grow old, wither, and die. So I suffered alone, for these many years, sad and angry, knowing it was the best choice. But then, just a little over a month prior to this day, that decision changed when I met the most beautiful man in all my years of living.” He glanced down at Yuugi. “Every rule I attempted to follow no longer mattered when I met you.”
   He could not tell if that was guilt in Yuugi’s beautiful eyes, or if it was something else. “You’re the first person to ever make me feel as if this curse of mine is a miracle. You complete me, Yuugi. And now I learn that you are the one destined to cure me.” Atemu brought his hands out, searching them for any sign of freedom. “It makes me realize just how much I care for you.” He shook his head. “But now…? Now you’ve gone and… How could you do this to me, Yuugi? How?”
   Yuugi did not answer. He favored Atemu with a sense of hate, having never done so before. His behavior was shocking to the Lord. Atemu did not understand what could possibly have possessed his fair courtesan to give him such loathing.
   “I’ve given you so much,” Atemu quivered. “And this is how you repay me? Yuugi, do you not realize how much I love you?”
   “Love?” Yuugi murmured, fidgeting in place. “I don’t believe you.”
   “Yuugi…”
   “I don’t believe you!” Yuugi cried out, taking a step back. He glared up at Atemu, his confusion burned great. “Yami told me. He warned me about it. He said you don’t love me. That I shouldn’t trust you! And he was right.”
   “That foolish man is wrong!” Atemu shouted. “How dare he try and fill you with vile lies!”
   “But it’s true!” Yuugi bawled. “You only ever want to be with Salihah. You didn’t even seem all too happy when I told you that I learned to read for you.”
   “Yuugi, I was happy,” Atemu insisted. “I am happy. I care more for you more than anyone. Salihah knew this. That’s why she left.” His anger was on the rise. How could Yuugi believe all that?
   Stunned, but uncertain, Yuugi took a peculiar step back. “She left?”
   “Last night.” Atemu sounded sincere. “I am sad that she decided to go, but I suppose it was right. However, now I’m not so sure, after what you have done.”
   “S -- she’s not gone,” Yuugi whimpered. “I don’t believe you… I don’t believe you!”
   Atemu could not believe what Yuugi insinuated. “You…”
   “You’re lying!” Yuugi spat his venomous conjecture at Atemu, not behaving like the sweet little slave Atemu knew and cared for. Tears like heavy rivers poured down those precious dainty cheeks. And what he accused his Lord of was truly painful. “You rather be with Salihah than you would with me. You’re always with her, taking walks in the gardens or secretly kissing when you think no one’s watching. You never do any of that with me!”
   The Lord of Tranquility could feel his title slipping through his fingers as his anger grew. He tried cutting in, but Yuugi pushed on, out of control.
   “I thought being your courtesan would make me happy!” Yuugi moved forward a little, unafraid. “You promised me many things, and I even willingly gave myself to you! You said I wouldn’t be a servant no more, but you broke your word! You made me clean! You yelled at me. And you haven’t been around for me… I hate you for that!” He pressed on, not realizing how strongly he was aggravating his Lord. “You don’t appreciate me or care about me! You don’t love me…!”
   During his heated tantrum, Yuugi did not see the speeded flash of skin until the contact was made. He was frightened by the sharp sting of an imprint to his cheek, left by a cacophonous slap given by Atemu’s hand. It hurt like hell, having been powerful enough to turn his head. Not to mention his Lord wore a set of jeweled rings. Realizing what happened, he wailed loudly, and grasped his cheek. After falling to his knees, he closed his eyes, hunched forward, and cried.
   “How dare you,” Atemu snapped, boiling mad with his feelings hurt. “How dare you! After everything I’ve given you, after everything I’ve done, you can so easily stand there, insult me and tell me that I don’t love you? I, who welcomed you into my life, who gave you your own bed to sleep in, who had a set of clothes made for you, who bathed and cradled you, and shared with you not just my body, but my very heart and soul! How dare you!”
   Atemu huffed loudly, wishing he could cry, but his eyes were dry. “You selfish, inconsiderate brat! I should punish you for this!” He regretted saying it, but could not prevent it from gushing out.
   With his anger partially calmed, Atemu glanced at the table where the Sennen Puzzle glowed. Hearing Yuugi whimper at his feet hurt worse than a spider’s bite. He thought of a suitable discipline, one which he would not regret giving.
   “You will stay here,” he decided. “This room will count as your cell. You will put the Sennen Puzzle back together, and only until it’s finished will you be able to leave here. That is your punishment. Do you understand?”
   Wiping his eyes, Yuugi hugged himself and nodded. “Y -- yes…”
   “Yes what?” gnarled Atemu.
   Glaring, Yuugi lifted his head. “Yes, my Lord.”
   It was the very first time Yuugi addressed Atemu properly, offending the Lord with that foolhardy, fierce sneer. Atemu stiffened, heartbroken by such harshness his slave could manifest. He glared back before hurrying out of there. He opened the door wide, leaving Yuugi to the ice-cold chamber, alone with the Sennen Puzzle. Once he closed the door, he leaned against it, and pounded it with his fist. The guardman Seth ordered to stay behind remained motionless to his Lord’s action.
   Atemu glanced at him. “Guard this door.” And he made his way through the palace, set on confronting the bastard slave who dared to corrupt his Yuugi.
--
   In the nether of the palace, far below a spiraling set of stone steps, the barely used dungeon was situated. Small and gloomy, the dungeon consisted of ten cells, each capable of holding up to six men. No outside light resonated within, the only resource being from four ignited candlesticks in copper holders nailed into the walls. The dungeon was, by far, the oldest looking quarter in all the palace, with its cells made from cracked mud brick, and its floor a dust storm of soil. The air hardly deemed breathable, the dust plenty to dry out one’s throat. And that malodorous residue -- fuck… The toiletry smelled better.
   It was here Yami sat, his back to the wall, his legs crossed. He was alone in a cell of his own, second one down on the right. But with simple, easy to break wood being all that blocked him from the other cells, he was not in any way comfortable being seen by an old but brawny Dark Face two cells down. The old fart’s inappropriate whistles and hoots thundered like a beastly mating call. Yami remained still, with his head facing the solid door with a single viewing hole of wooden bars to escape the psychotic man’s gestures, and the nerve-wracking squeaks from rats scurrying in the walls. He scratched at his arm, where he thought a spider might’ve been crawling up his skin.
   From the other side, in the haggard hall, Atemu came with Seth, who strived to keep in step with his cousin’s strides. The Lord of Intellect detested having to follow into the revolting dungeon. It was the job of their sentinels to take care of the few criminals kept locked up.
   “Is it necessary to speak with him in this place?” Seth shrunk his shoulders in, not wanting to touch anything. “He is an extraordinary man. Good with medicine.”
   “He must pay for his wrongdoing,” Atemu murmured. “If you do not want to come, then remain here at the foot. I’ll go in on my own. I much rather speak face to face with him without you.”
   “Very well,” said Seth. “I’ll stay here.” He understood this was Atemu’s right, what with his bedmate being involved. He knew if it was Kisara, that fire and brimstone would break loose.
   “I shouldn’t be long,” Atemu claimed. “This will be a quick visit.”
   In he stormed, bothered little by the grim dwelling. He met with the cell where Yami resided, and peered within. He saw the man there, who tilted his head up and rose to his feet once he saw he had company.
   “Open this door,” Atemu ordered a guard. “I do not want to speak with him this way.”
   “My Lord.” Bowing, the guard unlocked the prison door.
   Atemu stepped in. The door closed behind him. It locking shut sounded almost like an eerie echo. Yami’s obscene neighbor cackled loudly at the sight of Atemu, and viciously spat an era of language his mother would not be proud of.
   “Shut up in there!” yelled a guard at the man.
   With the old coot as quieted as he was going to get, Atemu was prepared to treat Yami with legitimate punishment. As much as he craved to see this man tortured, it was clear to him that the man meant something to Yuugi.
   “My malevolence for you is high,” Atemu jeered, crossing his arms. “I really wish to kill you for not just striking your Lord, but for filling Yuugi’s head with false aspersions.” He sighed to restrain his agitation. “But for some reason Yuugi strongly cares for you, and this alone makes it so that I cannot go through with it because it would break his heart.”
   Saying nothing, Yami slouched against the wall, remaining motionless. All he portrayed was the hint of a small bitter grin.
   “But you,” nudged Atemu, scoffing. “I do not believe you really care about him. So what is it? Why play with him?”
   Yami furrowed his eyes. “You’re wrong.”
   “Am I?” Atemu moved closer, unafraid of this man lucky to be able to bleed. Atemu wanted to make him bleed. “If I am, correct me. I’m giving you the chance. Tell me there is one measly part of you that actually gives a damn about him!” His prisoner snootily flicked his tongue across his teeth and looked away. “My mind is not quite made up. Perhaps I will have you killed.”
   That Yami did not intend on. He glanced at Atemu. “Yuugi will hate you. He will spite you forever… Until the day he dies.”
   “Then he will spite me,” Atemu growled grievously, “But in due time he will thank me for ridding him of you.”
   “A hopeless invocation. You are blind to the fact that Yuugi does not love you, and he never will.” Yami’s voice hummed a bone-chilling evil. “You could never give him what I have. Hope. Courage. Love.”
   “Shut up,” quaked Atemu.
   “To him, he is nothing but a slave to you; a dog who must serve his master,” Yami alleged easily.
   “Enough…”
   “That’s it,” Yami pressed on, widening his sneer. “That’s all he is to you. Nothing but a feeble little whore for you to fuck.”
   “I said enough!” Atemu met his arm with Yami’s neck.
   Yami’s back scratched along the wall, making him hiss. He expected to be choked, but it seemed the Lord was too cowardly to try.
   “You have no idea how much I love him,” Atemu shouted. “I would do anything for him, you hear me? But you? To me, you are nothing. You are a Pale Face, a servant! You were born to serve me!”
   Atemu heard a hacking sound. Next thing he knew, Yami had spat on him. He closed his eyes as the gunk flew over his face. He pulled back, wiped it off, disgusted. Piercing at Yami, he swiftly turned away, deciding that the man wasn’t worth anymore of his time. For all he cared, the bastard could rot.
   “Guard,” he called. “Come open this door!”
   “Leaving?” Yami pouted. “What of my punishment? You can never deprive me from him, you know? Never.”
   Exiting the cell, Atemu softly thanked the guard when handed a cloth to clean his face. He needed time. Much time to consider what Yami deserved. Removing himself from the few delinquents, he met with Seth at the bottom of the stairs, the cloth moistened and folded, and him with his stomach in knots.
   Seth could not contain his anxiety. “Well, have you come to a decision?”
   “No.” Atemu lowered his hands, and shook his head. “I do wish to handle him crudely, but I do not wish to jeopardize what I have with Yuugi. For now, he will remain in his cell until I can come up with a suitable solution.”
   “If that is for the best.” The two Lords returned to their humble world above. “A shame, really. When I found him, he was such a caring young man. Perhaps I’m losing my judgment?”
   “People change, Seth,” Atemu said.
   “I suppose that is true.” Seth eyed his Lord. “So, what will you do now? With the Puzzle’s return, we should probably contemplate retrieving the Rod from Lord Bobasa, and find any clues that could lead us to the third item. I forgot its name.”
   “We will,” Atemu said. “We will gather them all, but remember, Seth. A savior is meant for every item. If Yuugi absorbed the Sennen Puzzle, then that means that the other saviors could already have theirs, or will soon. It is finally time. Can you imagine being mortal again? To be able to bleed? To catch an illness…? To die?”
   Seth did not answer right away, knowing how Atemu’s longed for death. “If it is true, we will finally be able to grow old, you with Yuugi, and myself with Kisara. I have always wanted a son of my own.”
   “You would make an excellent father,” Atemu smiled.
   “As would you.”
   “Me?” Atemu laughed, and shook his head. “A father? No. I do not wish for that. Only if it was to come true, but… No, no, not for me. Not possible.”
   “If that is how you feel.” Seth would not pester his Lord with the subject. Being a Lord was not like being human, and with the legend blossoming, he and Atemu had much to pray for.
--
   Yuugi sat in his chair, staring with confusion at the geometrical gold pieces meant to form a pyramid. They ate at his brain, him stressed by their complicated edges. This was nothing like the flat images he’d pieced together, the challenge severe. He prodded at the Puzzle with one piece, then another, unable to register how to reshape it. At this rate, he would never be able to leave his so-called cell.
   Feeling his eyes water, Yuugi wiped at them with the back of one hand, trying to focus. He hated the trinket! It was stupid. He wished he’d never found it. On the other hand, if he hadn’t, he would had been another victim to the river’s many dangers. Now, to be referred to as a savior -- it completely baffled him.
   The door handle jiggled, scaring Yuugi. He said not a word when he saw that it was Atemu. The Lord carried with him a tray of food, and he greeted Yuugi with a faint smile.
   “Hi,” he said, pushing the door closed with his foot. He moved over to the table. “How’s it coming?” He was not answered, and did not expect it. He set the tray on the table. “I brought some food. Your favorites.” His smile better revealed itself. “Some crispy fish, a few slices of honey bread, and a cup of pomegranate juice.”
   Both Atemu and the food went overlooked as Yuugi pretended like he knew exactly how to fix the Sennen Puzzle. He clanked together two pieces. Neither fit. This time, with Atemu staring straight at him, he could not allow his hands to take care of a fresh set of tears. They streamed when he blinked, gently flowing down his sunburn red cheeks.
   Having expected ignorance, Atemu eased into his own chair, fixated on the gentle, silky hands hard at work to restore the Sennen Puzzle. Yuugi sniffled, growing more frustrated by the second. Atemu did not blame him. The task suggested strenuous, but he knew that only Yuugi could accomplish it.
   Resting his hands on top of the sturdy wooden table, Atemu leaned forward. “Yuugi…” He wanted the boy’s attention, and was certain he had it. He continued. “I am sorry for hurting you, and I hope you can forgive me, but what you said to me, what you accused me of truly pained me.” He watched new tears run down from those lovely amethysts. “I do not hate you for your infidelity, nor do I blame you for how I was with Salihah. It is true, I spent a lot of time with her, but I never intended to hurt you.”
   Yuugi’s hands trembled, his eyesight fogged. He finally reached his hand up to his face, dropping a piece of the Sennen Puzzle. It hit the table. As it did, it spun wildly to the left as it fell to the floor and toppled to a stop. Atemu rose to retrieve it for Yuugi, grasping it in his wheat dry palm. Coiling his fingers around it, he returned it to the others, letting it drop in the pile. Atemu did not return to his chair. He remained standing beside Yuugi, desiring any sign of life.
   “And what you think is wrong,” he softly advanced. “I do love you, Yuugi.” It was all that could be said. “Now, please try to eat. I know you haven’t had a bite all day. And after you do, we will go to bed.”
   He would leave, for the time being, hoping to return to find the tray of food empty, if not almost. In time, perhaps Yuugi would forgive him, and perhaps an apology would be returned, but Atemu did not reign as the one Yuugi trusted. All Atemu could do was see to it that the Sennen Puzzle ended up good as new.
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The Pale Savior