• 1-Heart of the Ocean

A.N. Well okay, here I go again,
starting another fic without finishing my older ones… damn me! ^-^ Anyway, this
is going to be a VERY LONG one-shot with intense Yaoi Goodness with Yami and
Yugi. And once again, this idea spawned from reading this fic by Funny Bunny
titled, “A Fishy Tale.” It was a very interesting view point for some things
and I really wanted to try my hand at it. So, here goes nothing, let me know
what you think of this one, because I so do love, reviews. Also, the end “song”
is on Yoko Ishida’s second CD, All of Me,
titled “Foolish Dream”. GREAT song, and I felt the tune fit well with this
story.

P.S. The Island I use in this
story is true, the terrain an industry information is true as well, as for
population and the way it appears, that I’m afraid, is fictional. ^-^ Oh, and
one more thing, technically 1400 B.C. would be three thousand years ago, not
five thousand, but since I’m horrible at math, you’ll forgive me right?

Disclaimer: Yes, there is one, I
do not own Yami or Yugi… hell, not even the legends are mine. Some dude long
ago made up mermaids, and some one else started the rumors of Atlantis, and
well, we all know the genius who created Yugioh, though he was a bit silly for
making Yugi straight… but we can forgive him for his blunder. ^-^

1400 B.C. (5,000 yeas in the
past)

“You will pay for your crimes,
Pharaoh of the dry and dead earth!” The angered voice of the light haired man
bellowed over the screaming winds of the unnatural storm that had suddenly
appeared over the skies of Upper Kehmet. The noon sky was black with the rage
of the sea man, and shook with his fiery at what had been done. Any normal
being would have cowered, but the son of Ra stood spitefully before the storm,
his red eyes gleaming with mirth, a smirk tilting his lips.

“What, could you possibly do to me,
Atlantian?” The foolish “god” asked, crossing his arms as the wind ripped at
his cape of fine purple, showing his high rank, and messed with his thick hair,
the odd tri-colored locks of ebony, crimson and gold swaying carelessly about
his sharp featured face.

“Atemu! Don’t, Delta, stop, don’t
harm him!” The soft cry of a woman’s plea, as she threw herself onto the
enraged man gripping his arm to her chest and begging for the arrogant
Pharaoh’s life, broke over the roaring noise and drew attention to her slight
form. A crash of thunder blocked out her second cry as the taller man threw her
to the ground with a snarl.

“You will stay out of this Alta! It
is justice for the crime he has dealt you! Why protect this scum!” Delta
bellowed, his green eyes flashing dangerously as his golden bangs shifted in
the wind. His curly blond hair and angered face gave him the appearance of a
Greek god standing above the world, but to the Pharaoh of Kehmet, he looked
little more than an irate child.

The woman stared up pleadingly with him, her soft Amethyst eyes
wide and moist with her pain and sadness. Golden hair twisted and pulled around
her face. Time seemed to stand utterly still as all waited for her explanation,
even the mighty Pharaoh was interested to know why she was protecting him. He
had, after all, seduced her into his bed, and then just as swiftly dismissed her.
So why, when her vengeance seemed so near, did she beg for his life.

“I love him.”

The words rung like a frozen
conviction, burning and stinging the blonde man who held his hand forth, the
stone of power glowing in his palm.

“What..?” His question was but a whisper, his breath short in
disbelief and pain. His love for the woman would have been obvious to a blind
man, and had the room remained silent for any more length of time, Delta would
have relinquished, defeated and heartbroken, but a sharp bark of laughter
destroyed the easy silence and the growing sense of guilt with in the young sea
man.

“Love? Me? You poor simple girl.
Love is but a farce, a pretty coating for the lust we all share.” The Pharaoh
stated with a chuckle, his eyes cruel and sharp, but behind the cold façade was
a deep pain, one of emptiness; a broken and lost soul.

“Atemu…” Alta whispered, her breath
labored feeling her own pain even as she tried to interpret those of her lover.

“Chauvinistic pig!” Delta cried out,
turning his rage back toward the smaller Pharaoh who stood with a proud smirk
upon his face, tan arms crossed over his defined chest regally.

“It’s the truth Delta, you should
know best of all, the lust you feel for your sister.” His words snapped
something within the blonde, and he let out a cry that caused the hair to raise
on the bodies of those who heard its shrill ringing. It was inhuman, the sound
that carried on the wind, as the storm was set loose upon the Palace of Kehmet.
A funnel of cloud and sand spiraled up behind the Pharaoh, but the man didn’t
flinch in the least.

“Death does not frighten me, Delta.
You’ll have to do better than that.” The smug ruler claimed, as the cries from
his people rose into the air. He’d been crowned too young, given power too
soon, and now his kingdom was paying the price for his High Priest’s misdoings
in the slaughter of Atemu’s father, but none of that truly mattered anymore, as
a smile of pure malice lifted the scowl on the Atlantian prince’s face. Delta
laughed low in his throat, and for the first time, Atemu felt fear.

“Than I shall give you life eternal,
in the imprisonment of the sea.”

“Delta, no!” the cry came to late as
the funnel of wind and sand engulfed the young Pharaoh from behind sweeping him
off his feet as the curse took hold. Echoes of words, spells of an ancient
language, whirled around him as the burning pain seized his lower body.

Atemu threw back his head and
screamed, the sound swallowed up by the wind of the sea’s fiery. His legs
became numb, and useless as blackness seeped into his vision, killing all sensations.
Atemu floated in the darkness of oblivion. His mind unaware of the odd feeling
of weightlessness that surrounded him, nor the chill of moving water around his
body. It wasn’t until the morning sun managed to ease his eyes open that he
realized the extent of his curse, and even then, he was unaware of how cruel
his fate was to actually be.

The Heart of the
Ocean

Kokorou no Umi

1995 A.D., Pacific Ocean

Sunlight was fading and shimmered
down through the murky water like gold dust. The water current tugged gently at
his hair and caused the kelp and seaweed to dance jovially, consuming the last
of their nutrition for the day. Crimson eyes opened slowly, watching the
natural wonder with a bored expression on his face. For nearly five thousand
years he’d watched the sun rise and fall from beneath the cover of the ocean,
alone, and friendless. The fading light no longer held the mystery it once had when
he’d first awoken to find himself a creature of the sea, and he had been a
creature, a thing created out of hate and anger, a being that was itself an entire
species.

Atemu
opened his eyes, squinting as the sun blinded him slightly. He made a face
mentally reminding himself to have his servant executed for forgetting to close
his bed curtains, the woven sheets that framed his bed. He rolled away from the
light only realizing the slight resistance when he seemed to float back onto
the bed, only to find no sheets wrapped around him, and the mat beneath him was
nothing more then sand.

The
Pharaoh of upper Kehmet jumped awake, twisting around frantically, looking at
the water that surrounded him. He blinked at the bottom of the reeds that grew
in the Nile, the muddied sand and dirt that made up the silt at the bottom, and
at the small fish and other animals that lived in the only water source in his
kingdom. His heart picked up pace for a moment, before his memories returned.

The woman with golden hair as he’d taken her
innocence, her body coated in sweat, her amethyst eyes glazed in passion… Atemu
smirked licking his bottom lip blatantly realizing that the water tasted like
blood. It ruined his memory and he shook his head.

He
remembered the look of outrage on the girl’s brother’s face when he confronted
him, and Atemu had merely laughed saying how she made a great bed mate. The
cruel joke still made him smirk maliciously. It was stupid to live in hopes
that love truly existed, and that people were kind. That was a load of camel
fodder, and Atemu knew it. Had known it the morning his mother had tried to
drown him in the Nile for not being a girl, and for her own lack of
reproductive skills. It had been solidified when he’d watched his father kill
his mother after her attempted act of murder, watching as his father hardly
flinched as her head was removed from her body, still sobbing and begging for
forgiveness. He was then further distanced from the illusion of love when his
father had taken his nurse maid before his very eyes, and the nurse maid
committed suicide when her lover refused to take her back because she was no
longer pure.

No,
love did not exist. He’d never felt it, never known a feeling so consuming that
he’d risk his own life to protect it, and found no use in placating those
stupid enough to believe in the nonsense of it.

Atemu
snorted, recalling the girl’s proclamation of love to him and rolled his eyes.
She was a good lay, and her body was definitely worth his time, and had she
asked to be his queen or concubine, he would have made her one with out a
moments hesitation, but her ludicrous outburst had been too much of a joke, and
he’d let his humor be known, and now he was breathing water from the Nile.

The
Pharaoh looked down his body, startled to find a royal colored fish tail. He
blinked questioningly at it, wiggling the appendage to be sure it was his,
before breaking into a childlike smile. This was his curse? To become something
else? Something that could live in the water? How was that so bad? He could
attack his cousin with ease now, he could escape from his smothering world and
truly be a god among his people.

The incarnation of Hapi.

Atemu
threw his head back in a choking laugh as he moved upward in the water, looping
and swimming around enjoying his new freedom. His curse would be his new found
power. With a final laugh Atemu broke through the surface of the water to
search for the entrance to the palace garden and pond. He needed to find Seth,
the only person who had ever tried to teach him right from wrong. Silly man, if
he’d wanted to show Atemu that, he should not have murdered his father.

The
water shattered at his exit and he looked around with a cocky grin, only a
moment before the smile faded from his face, and the joy of power ebbing away.

“Ah…
ah….” Atemu whimpered at the sight of the golden sand of his kingdom, stained
black with the blood of thousands. Dead bodies piled up along the gates of his
palace that stood in crumbling ruins, what little growth had once been, was
uprooted and dying in the scorching desert heat, and from the steps of his
palace fresh blood trickled.

Atemu
felt his stomach roll as memories of his father’s rule flashed through his
mind. He swallowed back his cry, forcing the shock and pain to turn into anger
and swam forward to find his loyal servants. The water quickly turned thick
with blood and the sight of small bodies, children, floating in a pool of their
own innards, made him shake.

He
was then aware of the water around him. It seemed to hum with a power all its
own, speaking to him in a language he knew he should not know. Echoes of his
kingdom’s past entered his mind, the sound of a thousand deadly screams
bloodied his ears and he closed his eyes swimming faster to try and escape it’s
pain, but the water followed, telling him of it’s sorrow.

When
he saw his own childhood nightmare reoccurring, he screamed curling himself
into a ball trying to block out the memories. Was this the eternity of pain
that Delta had meant?

“Atemu…
forgive me…” The echoed plea broke through his inner turmoil, and Atemu, the
young seventeen-year-old Pharaoh of upper Kehmet, looked up with hope.

“Seth?”
Atemu, turned to smile, relieved that he was not alone, but let out an
anguished cry at the sight of the mangled, torn, body of his high priest. His
was the blood that poured from the palace steps, and the cry that the river mourned for, the dying
cry for forgiveness.

Atemu screamed, his life
collapsing upon itself. His world was destroyed, his kingdom and people in
ruins, and he was the cause of it. He was worse than his own father.

He was alone.

Fucking asshole… The merman grumbled, angered at
his own mistakes, and once more taking his emotions out on the long dead
Atlantian prince. Playing Ra and creating
a new being out of the old… Yami sighed. He could still hear the screams of
that night in his ears, haunting him with their uncaring nature. The howl of
triumph as the curse took hold transforming him into the immortal being of the
sea.

The
servant and prisoner of the ocean.

It had been ages ago that he’d ruled
over Kehmet, now Egypt (where they came up with such an ugly name for his
kingdom Yami had no clue), centuries past when he’d taken up arms against his
cousin to try and rule over lower Kehmet as well, and far longer when he’d
discovered the existence of the city of Atlantis, the people of the sea, whom
even the Greeks feared.

I should have tossed the notion
of an alliance from my head the moment Seth mentioned it to me. Seth wanted me
to forget the war all together, I should have known that Atlantis would not
help my cause.

Yami cursed under his breath in
Hieratic, his native tongue, and glared up through the murky water. Pollution
was becoming a problem, though it wasn’t bad enough to truly affect him, it was
enough to make feeding increasingly difficult, what with more fish dying off
and kelp becoming intoxicated. So many depressing thoughts lingered in his
mind, ranging from the decline of his land, to the destruction of his name, the
fall of Atlantis, to the fall of Kehmet. So many changes had occurred, while he
waited below the surface of the ever mysterious and dark sea. Changes he was
aware of through the murmur of the waves, the forgotten language of the sea,
the same one that had cursed him so long before.

It had been during the years when
the world had been at war for the second time, that Yami had finally found
himself a new name, after his old one had been erased from the tables of time,
his life forgotten completely, as though he’d never existed.

Yami
smirked.

Just as Atlantis has been
forgotten… there might just be justice after all… The thought was vehemntant,
though his venom had long ago run dry. Five thousand years was a long time to
hold a grudge, especially when it had been his own fault to begin with. It was
hard to swallow, but Yami had long before accepted the fact that he had been at
fault that day. The great and mighty son of Ra was wrong, that had been the
main reason for his own disregard for his name after his cousin came into power
of his kingdom and chose to obliterate his name from the records.

Atemu had died, the morning
he awoke in the sea and laughed at the thought of such a silly curse. Died when
he saw the ruin of his kingdom, killed when his cousin accused him of murdering
his own people and fleeing into the desert in a mad rage.

Still, after all that, Yami did not understand the full extent of
his curse. Only when he’d escaped the Nile and made his way into the oceans,
discovered that he was not accepted in his new form, hunted and feared instead.
Only when he found that he could never die, and would live with his faults and
loneliness forever, did he truly understand how devious his prison was.

There was no need for a cage, bars,
or whips. His own differences kept him prisoner, fear for his existence kept
him hidden. He’d become a shadow of the night, trapped deep in the bowels of
the endless sea. It was only after the fall of Atlantis, that Yami found a
small fraction of freedom. Tales of his form turning into myths until no one
believed that he truly existed at all.

Till that day he’d stumbled into a harbor to escape from the
submarines that scored the ocean, he had remained nameless. Then Yami came upon
the small country of Japan, and acquired a new name, one that he felt fit him
perfectly.

Darkness.

That was what he was now. Years of
seclusion and solitude had left him as he was. It was nearly laughable how many
times he’d been close to the shoreline of Japan and simply never noticed the
words before. Yami laughed humorlessly at the memory.

The
water was cooler, and much more restless as he floated there, his dark violet
tail tired from his escape from the metal monsters the new nation was so intent
on using. The once Pharaoh snorted in disgust. If there was one thing he hated
most about the new times it was the creation of the United States. It reminded
him of himself, too powerful, too soon.

And some
idiot decided to attack the annoying toddler of a nation and wake it from it’s
damn nap…

The
crimson eyed man rolled his eyes in annoyance, simply glad that at least the
quest for Atlantis had stopped when the war broke out, though now the water up
north now tasted fowl and ran cold with death and hate, Hitler was defiantly a
man who deserved a fate worse than death.

Where
the hell is Delta when he’s actually needed? Like… in the Dark Ages… that was a
perfect time for him to have been a ruler…

The
water churned with his mood swing, and the merman moved forward with the
water’s prodding. Something bad was about to happen, and he’d want to find a
safe place to hide. The ocean whispered warnings of the sky, whether it was a
storm or another air raid, he wasn’t sure. He just wished the battled would end
soon, the tense feeling in the ocean was giving him pressure head aches.

Echoes
of a language radiated the closer to land he got, and the history of the place
rested within his mind as he came to the harbor’s edge. Something about black
ships and the forced trade with the western outsiders. He raised his eyebrow as
he grew accustomed to the foreign language, his mind catching onto the name of
the place he was at.

Tokyo…
it’s the new capitol… Kyoto burned during the revolution, huh? Pity, it was a
nice place.

Memories
from a pervious visit returned, and the once Pharaoh relaxed with the news of
change, having grown accustomed to the fact that nothing ever remains the same
for long. The closer to land he crept, the easier it became to hear the voices
of the people on the shore, speaking in a language he would not have known had
he not been a part of the sea.

Yami no youbi desu…

Hontou desu ne? Yami Ka?

Hai, the bombs will come…

The
merman paused listening to the conversation, his mind looping over the words
spoken, getting a feel for their meaning. The fishermen knew that their time
was limited, the dark day approached.

Yami…
Darkness… kkwy… Heh. They all describe my existence… why not. Atemu has died,
and the nameless me has long forgotten himself. Yami… I like it. Yami tilted his head to the side trying out
his new name. It was a spur of the moment, a silly little notion of change that
helped to alleviate some of the uselessness he felt. Everything else changed
with time, why not him as well. He could change, after all, he no longer felt
all powerful, he was no longer blinded by his youth and arrogance, he was no
longer Atemu.

The
mindless chatter of the humans grew faint as they moved inland for the night,
and once again Yami was alone, but he was accustomed to it by now, the
loneliness of existing. He curled up within a near by cave closing his weary
eyes to sleep, darkness surrounding the dark. He smirked at the irony.

He was the darkness.

And yet, he feared the dark.

A shadow passed over head and caused
Yami to jerk back from his memories with annoyance. What in all of Ra, is a ship doing way out here? He wondered,
watching the bottom of the cruise liner as it skimmed gracefully through the
water. He knew it should not surprise him. Ships and other water mobiles were
common in this day and age, but still the water near the fishing Islands rarely
got any sort of boat activity, aside from the fishing boats and the occasional
dingy. So the large cruise liner was defiantly out of place.

Yami sat up on his elbows watching
the giant vessel shift aimlessly across the water, heading out towards the main
island of Kyushu. He would have ignored it and returned to pondering his
existence and wondering if it was possible for him to starve to death, had it
not been for the swell of the ocean water, as if the sea was trying to follow
the ship itself.

Something’s on that ship…
something from the ocean… something the ocean wants back…

Yami had long ago claimed the sea as
his homeland, after the Nile proved to dangerous to live in, and what belonged
to the sea, stayed with the sea. So, with a disgruntled sigh, Yami pressed up
from the sand of the sea floor and swam toward the surface behind the back of
the ship.

The propellers were average in size,
nothing compared to the ones the titanic had sported, but they were still large
enough to keep Yami a good distance from them. Though he did wish to die, being
turned into Yami sushi was not high on his list of things to do and try.

From only a few feet below the
surface, Yami could hear the popping sounds of fire works as they burst in the
sky to spray down in an array of bright colors. Yami found the sight appealing,
black powder had so many good uses, why man insisted on making destructive
explosives with the stuff, he would never understand.

For awhile he simply bobbed in the
waves, enjoying the sight and sound of life above the surface, listening to the
laughter and joy of the party, but something was off. Yami wasn’t certain what
it was, but the ocean warned of danger and hate. It was slowly building,
growing stronger by the moment. Yami tried not to think of it, not knowing how
he was going to stop the danger at hand.

Who am I kidding? I can’t stop it
from coming, I never have been able to do the impossible.

Still, his insides swam with a need
to stop something, to get up onto the deck and… and what? Scare the hell out of
all the humans up there who still believed that magic did not exist? That he did not exist?

Besides… all I’d be able to do up
there is flop around like a dying fish…

Yami made a face, wondering why
exactly he’d moved in the first place. He knew for a fact that there was
something on the ship that the ocean called to, but his following the giant
floating metal hunk, would do absolutely no good at all. He couldn’t get on
board, he couldn’t ask anyone what was in the cargo bay, and he couldn’t follow
it on land.

This is ridiculous…

Yami rolled his eyes intending to
ignore the presence of danger and return to the sea bottom and contemplate
life, when the unthinkable happened. In a burst of light, a piercing cry cut
through the laughter, and the soft bouncing music of the D.J. ceased to be.
Gunfire rang out and the pounding of feet began. Yami turned his crimson eyes
up to the ship’s edge with a hard scowl. So this was the danger that the ocean
predicted. Yami cringed, as the yells grew more frantic, and there was nothing
he could do.

He clenched his hands into fists and
glared, pondering why exactly he was still watching the horrific mass murder
that was taking place right before his very eyes. It was nothing but pain for
him. He had no reason to stick around and witness a crime, he could tell no one
of the horrors he witnessed. He could save no one. Yet, he stayed rooted to the
spot waiting. It was as if the sea itself held him hostage, and just when the
panic reached its peak, it happened.

A woman appeared at the edge of the
stern, bronze hair blowing in the wind, in her hand she held a child’s wrist,
tugging him closer to the railing. The boy was tiny, not much older than six or
seven, dressed in a small pair of overalls one strap unhooked and dangling
behind him. He was staring ahead, frightened and sad, it pained Yami to see
such innocence thrown in front of such evil. He wondered how the mother
intended to save her child, the life rafts where on the other side of the ship,
where the shooting was coming from.

They will both die…

Yami felt his stomach churn with
disgust that quickly changed to shocked horror as the mother lifted her small
child up and sat him of the railing her hands holding his back and cheek
lovingly as she whispered to him, most likely words of love, and apology.

Damn it! She’s going to kill him!

Yami felt a deep fear clutch at his
gut at the images of the dead children he’d seen in the past, and the memory of
the ship’s propellers. Dimly he heard his own cries as his mother fought to end
his life, Yami felt a deep panic break free from the memory. The boy would be
torn limb from bloody limb before he even had a chance to drown. Yami had just
an instant to fear the worst before he saw the mother pull away and push the
child from the railing.

The boy’s arms flung out to the side
as he plummeted silently toward the sea, and the churning blades of steal, and
Yami sprung into action. His body tensed as he moved toward the ship he’d let
pull away from him as he’d been enchanted by the fire works. The ocean urged
him on, as his heart pounded in his chest, praying to every god he’d ever heard
of that the boy would somehow be spared from the death of blades.

Please let him be small enough,
let him miss… please, dear Ra, please…

Yami’s heart nearly leaped from his
chest when the bubbles that had been caused by the propellers cleared and the small
form of the boy came into his view. Yami forced his aching muscles to move
forward and as soon as he was within reach, wrapped his arms securely around
the small form.

The feel of another body in his arms
was startling, and the touch of body heat made his soul ache from the years of
solitude. Yami brushed the feelings aside when the sight of the boy’s
unconscious state reminded him of the lack of oxygen in the water.

He broke through the surface with a
spray of water droplets and repositioned the boy so that his face was above the
water. The small pale face was motionless, and for a moment Yami feared he was
dead, but after a while the small boy coughed and moaned gently, curling toward
him weakly, air filling his lungs as he breathed, his chest rising and falling
softly.

Yami breathed a sigh of relief,
pulling the boy close to keep him from drowning, his hand running over the
child’s back feeling the strong heartbeat below his palm, unknowingly beating
at the same pace as his own. “You’re all right, little one. You’re all right…”
Yami trembled at the sound of his own voice, unused to hearing it and quickly
stopped talking all together as a nostalgic cloud came up to consume him. He
sounded so different than what he remembered his voice to be. Calm, and wise.
Regretful and lonely. It was frightening how much he’d truly changed.

Suddenly, remembering the
predicament he was in, Yami looked back toward the ship, but the woman was gone
from the edge, the stench of blood wafted back to him on the ocean breeze,
mixing with the salt air, creating a vile stench that made his stomach clench
tightly, and bile rise to tickle his soft palate, begging him to relieve his
belly of its contents.

There was no doubt that the child’s
mother, was dead, along with most of the passengers on board the ship, and if
she was alive, she wouldn’t be for too much longer. Yami made a saddened
expression, mourning for the boy in his arms, who could either be considered
lucky or unfortunate.

His life will be so much harder
from now on… it would be a kindness to allow him to die.

Yami thought, looking down at the
sleeping boy. He looked a lot like himself, black spiky hair drifting lazily in
the water, so black that it shone with tints of purple near the tips, and
golden blond bangs framed his soft baby-rounded face and forehead.

One tiny hand was fisted by his
mouth, his thumb stuck out, his lips gently pulling the digit inside sucking
softly and whimpering in his sleep. Yami sighed, he couldn’t do it, He couldn’t
kill him, not consciously, not when the mother had hoped to save her child by
pushing him from the shipside, where the fall alone could have snapped his
tender neck. “Sorry little one, but I can’t let you’re mother’s final wish be
destroyed…” Yami whispered to the slumbering child, feeling a deep sense of
sorrow, knowing the pain this one small child would go through now that he
lived, and his mother had not. On top of that, Yami knew not where the child
was from, and could not risk being discovered by asking the child himself, so
that meant the boy would be alone and lost in a strange place. It hurt Yami to
think that he saved the boy only to abandon him, but there was nothing else
that could be done. He saved the boy from the sea, someone else would have to
save him from the shore.

The trip to the nearest island was a
short one, made long by the extra weight of the small boy, the drag of the
child’s clothing, and the fact that Yami had to keep the small one’s face above
the surf, but all too soon Yami was faced with the white sandy beach of the
small fishing island he had found when he’d been escaping from a rather large
shark.

It was populated by a sparse amount
of people, most of which were elderly, and they didn’t seem to be that well
connected with the larger islands that made up Japan, but it was quiet, and
from what Yami knew, a kind place. Night had fallen long ago, and moonlight
dusted the boy’s face, illuminating his blue tinted lips. He was growing colder
as the temperature dropped. Yami hardly noticed the change, but the child began
to shiver and pull closer to Yami’s body seeking his warmth.

Damn it… this kid will freeze
before anyone finds him… damn it to hell! Yami angrily rubbed at the boy’s arm as he dragged
himself up onto the shore and up and away from the water.

The air was icy, but it didn’t
really surprise him all that much, it was nearing the eleventh month of the
year, but still the fact angered him more so when the boy began to violently
shake in his wet clothes. Yami looked around and down the beach, for anyone who
may be around, but there was no one in sight, and the only house was a good
half mile away.

Yami looked back to the freezing
child and again at the ocean. He wanted to leave while he still had the chance,
but knew that the boy would be dead come morning if he left. With an aggravated
huff, Yami dragged himself over the boy, hurriedly pulling the soaked denim
overalls off of the small child, followed quickly by his green and yellow
striped shirt. He removed the socks and sneakers next but left the boy’s
underwear alone.

He felt foolish as he
gathered the shivering child into his arms, pressing chilled flesh to his own
heated body, curling his tail over the boy to block the wind as he pushed the
sand up around them with his powerful tail, to form a small barrier. It did
little to block the wind, but it decreased it by a fraction at least. Laying
over the small child, Yami could feel the little heart pounding in the tiny
chest pressed against his own, and the hot puffs of air that escaped the
child’s mouth. It was such a normal thing to feel and yet, to him, it was
foreign. Yami lay still trying to recall the last time he’d had any physical
contact with anyone, only to realize, that he couldn’t. Yami tightened his hold
on the child below him, memorizing the feel, knowing that once the sun rose he
would not feel contact like this again for a long time.

The child had stopped shivering, and
now slept peacefully curled against his chest, sucking his thumb gently. Yami
kissed the boy’s forehead, an action he was sure his mother had done to him
when he had been a child, before she found that he would be her only, and Yami
hoped to give the boy the false pretence that his own mother was still with
him, to let the boy rest easily for one last night.

Tomorrow, you will be just like
me… Until then… sleep, little one. Sleep.

Morning dawned all too soon, the
warm rays forcing Yami to open tired eyes. It was then that he was aware of how
dry his tail was. He made a face as he moved the said item and felt the skin
crinkle and break slightly.

That’s going to sting when I get
back in that salt water.

Yami sighed, and looked at the
morning fog as it rose off of the ocean. The sky was a light pink color and it
tinged the fog lightly making it look ethereal. Seagulls were making their
rounds in the sky, squalling as they looked down upon the two, most likely
wondering if the fish-man was alive or dead. Yami glowered daring the water
fowl to try and take a bite out of his tail, before his attention was drawn back
to the sleeping boy as he rolled over in his sleep, his small arm looping over
Yami’s waist.

Crimson eyes softened as he looked
down on the tiny boy, marveling at how perfect he was, and yet, how small. His
hand was hardly the size of his palm, each tiny finger curled over his stomach,
each with a tiny perfect fingernail. Yami ran his hand over the small boy’s. The
child was pale as death compared to his golden bronze skin, looking almost like
a china doll his tiny arm connected to a small chest that rose and fell with
his every breath, his chest led to a rounded belly, still swollen with baby
fat which led to tiny legs with the
beginnings of strong muscles forming.

Yami smiled running a hand over the
boy’s back, glad that he had not allowed such a beautiful miracle such as this
child to die, and nearly jumped from his skin when the boy’s large eyes
fluttered open, and met his stare head on. Yami’s breath froze in his lungs at
the color of those innocent eyes.

A perfect
amethyst full of purity and innocence, just as hers had been.

No way… it couldn’t be her… but
those eyes… Alta…

Yami couldn’t breathe as he stared
into the child’s gaze his mind remembering where he’d seen such eyes before.

The
throne room was hot with the noon sun as the guard hurried in with a quick and
low bow. “pr-aA, the prince and princess of Atlantis have come to pay their
respects and discuss the treaty you’d asked for.”

Atemu
lifted a brow at the guard, looking fairly bored. “So, send them in.” He said
with a flip of his hand in a bored gesture, though inside his heart raced. He
needed this alliance if he was to bring down his cousin and gain rule over all
of Kehmet, and the rumors he’d heard from this kingdom of Atlantis had made him
more than a little uneasy.

A human
that can transform into a fish? How is that possible? What god would allow
that?

Atemu
didn’t have time to ponder that thought further as the entryway was filled with
his guards and following closely behind were the two heirs to the throne of
Atlantis. Atemu blinked mildly shocked at the pale skin and the light colored
hair and eyes of the prince as he bowed respectfully to the son of Ra.

“pr-aA,
I am Delta, son of Elda, the king of Atlantis, and this is my sister, Alta.”
The girl approached her eyes cast down respectfully, her golden curls obscuring
her face slightly. “We are grateful for you invitation and hope that we can
reach an agreement for a treaty.” The young man’s speech was practiced, and
Atemu had heard similar statements so many times before that he’d simply chosen
to ignore the words, much more interested in the bowing beauty before him.

“Will
you not allow me to see such beauty, princess Alta?” Atemu asked, his voice a
silky purr, a seductive tone that he’d perfected over the years. He was vaguely
aware of Delta’s sudden stiffening and the look of disdain on the blonde man’s
features as Atemu lifted a hand to touch the woven gold of her hair, fingers
twisting and twining with the silky strands.

Slowly,
her head tilted up, and Atemu smirked waiting to make his next move. If he won
the heart of the princess, then getting them to aid him in his attack on his
cousin would be all the more simplistic, but the smirk died quickly when
finally their eyes met and crimson crashed with the most astounding color of
violet. It looked almost amethyst and sparkled with a light Atemu had never
known.

“Hello,
pr-aA. I am pleased to meet you.”

Atemu was unable to speak.

Alta
smiled and laughed, and Atemu knew. He would have a taste of that innocence
before their stay was through.

“Hello
Alta, welcome to Kehmet.”

“Thank
you, pr-aA.” The girl smiled with a bow and Atemu smirked tilting her face up
with his hand.

“Please,
call me Atemu, Alta.”

She
blushed and looked away with a soft smile, “All right, Atemu…”

Green eyes narrowed in hate, but
the two would-be lovers were unaware or merely amused by the glare as the
wheels of fate began to turn.

“… Atemu?” The soft sound of the
boy’s voice jerked Yami from the vivid memory and he gasped looking down at the
half-lidded eyes of the boy. Fear bolted straight through his being.

How does he know… my name?

Yami narrowed his crimson eyes, not
liking the way the boy’s seemed to stare straight into his soul. Eyes like the
girl who had caused his demise, saying his name as softly as the morning fog,
centuries after he’d been wiped form existence… who was this boy?

Sunlight broke into the sky and the
boy flinched, his eyes closing, and it freed Yami from his frozen spell. He
turned quickly, dragging his body back into the crashing surf of the ocean, the
salt stinging the open wounds and burning his dry, sun-warmed skin. The ocean
seemed to sing softly in happiness soothing Yami’s soul as he heard the boy
stand and run to the water’s edge.

The ocean rushed up to embrace the
boy, and the child cried out running from it. From the deeper water, Yami
watched as the boy looked around in confusion before slumping down next to his
clothes and dressing himself. He seemed to be in a shock as he moved down the
beach toward the nearest house.

Yami watched until the boy had made
it to the first few steps and the door opened to reveal a startled old man,
before leaving. The ocean gave no pressure of danger, and so Yami turned,
leaving the small island with out turning back, his chest feeling surprisingly
empty, but warm.

Yami
smiled in ironic humor.

Five thousand years… it took that
long for me to finally save a life… care enough to try… I truly am the
darkness.

The ocean dragged his willing body
out to sea, and far from the small continent of Japan, he had stayed too long
already.

~*~

2005 A.D. Pacific
Ocean, Niihaou

Crimson eyes flew open from the
dream, looking out over the blackness of the night ocean. Green phosphorescent
algae glowed gently under the light of the full moon, like fireflies floating
on bands of silver. Yami watched the miracle of nature alone, allowing his
heart to slow back to its steady beat after the night filled with bitter
memories of his past.

Has it really been ten years
since that accident? Yami pondered silently, crossing his arms behind his head and
looking up and into the sky above the surface of his home.

The stars constantly shifted and
blurred as the winds from above moved the waves, it made an interesting dance
that Yami spent many nights watching and simply passing the time. It was a
lonely existence, only living to divert all of the human’s attempts to uncover
Atlantis’s ruins. That had been the second curse placed upon him, this one by
the woman who had claimed to love him.

The
nameless Pharaoh swam towards the north, unsure as to why he was being called,
he simply answered, swimming up the ocean currents, past the borders of the
land that Greek’s called their home, up and toward the small, yet powerful
island of Atlantis. He snarled at the palace, feeling intense hate toward the
current ruler of it.

The
ocean itself seemed enraged as well, and the nameless one smiled at the ocean’s
plot to destroy the proud land. It would be his revenge as well, the collapse
of the empire that destroyed all he held dear. His only regret was that he
would not be able to kill his enemy with his own hands.

“Atemu!”
The cry startled him, and he turned with an angry snarl, baring his teeth like
an animal at the approaching figure, only to freeze in confusion.

“Alta?”
The name rolled off of his tongue sounding hoarse, and he saw the pity in her amethyst
eyes at the sound. It made him all the more angry. “What the hell do you want?”
He bellowed in his old voice, full of the power and strength of a Pharaoh,
completely ignoring the fact that the blond woman before him was currently swollen
with child and sported an icy white fin, that shimmered blue in the light of
the moon.

The
woman, crossed her arms over her belly protectively and looked away. The
nameless one gave a mocking laugh sneering at her belly. “Shouldn’t Delta be
more concerned with his heir and fuck toy?”

He
saw the pained flinch that Alta made, as well as the saddened smile that graced
her features. The ocean seemed to reflect her feelings and curl around her and
her unborn child with remorse. Her hand rubbed her belly soothingly and she
smiled. “My child will not ascend to the thrown, Atemu.”

He
lifted an eyebrow, becoming board with her prattle. “Why did you call me here?
To mock me?”

“No,
never!”

“Hah!”
He shot back, taking guilty pleasure in her hurt expression, and would have
continued had the water itself not encased him and shoved him back and away
from Alta as if protecting her. He blinked, not all that surprised that the sea
would choose it’s child over him, but remained silent as she spoke.

“Atemu,
soon, Atlantis will fall, none of us will survive, save one. I want my kingdom
to become lost, I don’t want it ever to be found again, until the true heir to
the throne appears.”

He
stared at her in soft surprise though his face gave little away. “So, what does
this have to do with me?”

“I
want you to make sure no one uncovers this place once we sink. I want you to
guard its remains. Make sure we remain forgotten, just like you.”

The
once Pharaoh glared at her in anger, his chest tightening in anguish. “Are you
mad woman? Why would I help you?” She smiled sadly, looking back toward the
pearl white steps of the back entrance to her palace. The pearl-stone of power
floated up from the thin chain of silver that hung around her neck, a symbol of
her status of Princess and Queen, as well as the holder of all of Atlantis’s
power. It had been that stone, that her brother had stolen from her, which had
cursed him to begin with. He glared at the innocent looking thing with distaste
as the woman looked back at him.

“Because,
you can have your revenge on my brother by erasing his existence, as well as
his entire lineage and people, and when the true heir arrives, your curse may
be lifted from you.” She said with a soft insistence.

The
Pharaoh watched her for a sign of untruthfulness, half confused as to how she
was in the form that she was in, when he nodded his consent turning from her
hopeful face. Even now, carrying the child of one whom she was plotting the
demise of, her kingdom on the edge of destruction, facing the one who lied and
stole her innocence, her eyes still held innocence and hope.

It annoyed him.

“Thank
you Atemu…”

He
felt a soft heat envelope his body and turned to find her holding the pearl,
the stone glowing. She was casting another spell upon him. “What the hell are
you trying to pull, Alta?!” He cried as the power stopped flowing over him, his
curse completed.

“Just
assuring that you will not forget your promise. You are bound to you’re word,
and will not be allowed to break it.” She turned then, swimming back toward the
steps. He watched concerned. She’d seemed human when he’d seen her first, so
was she cursed as well? And if so, why was she moving toward land? He knew from
experience that he could not leave the water for long, and could not move
freely out of it either, so what did she hope to accomplish by leaving the
water?

Then he saw it.

As
she touched the steps and moved from the water, she changed, her fin becoming
long smooth legs that supported her as she left the confines of the sea. That
was the allure of the Atlantians. They could change at will, unlike he who was
trapped for all eternity as a being of the sea, her and her people could become
both. He’d heard the rumors, but never believed them, until now.

He now understood.

Atlantians were given eternal
life from the sea, when in the form of the mermaid they would not age, and
would not die, but they were also given the half life of a human, making them
mortal. Their power was given by the sea, and would be taken from the sea, and
he would be the only one left aside from the true heir to the throne, who could
take on this form.

He
watched Alta leave with saddened eyes. He’d found others partially like him,
and now they would cease to exist. His curse just kept on growing.

Yami sighed. It had always been a
constant battle for a while (hiding Atlantis), but now, with technology
booming, it was even more of a hassle debugging their attempts. Diverting the
small camera’s to the market place and town instead of the palace, and trying not
to be seen in the process was even more difficult than before. But studies had
slowed down, and Yami was only called when needed, the ocean beckoning him with
it’s chilled cry.

He’d learned quickly what the ocean
meant when it “spoke” to him, and simply came to accept that the massive body
of water knew everything and translated it to him, the last of it’s children,
giving him the knowledge as it’s land dwelling nieces and nephews learned new
things and created new advancements, allowing him to grow with the times as
well. He knew every language there was, and was quickly informed of any slang
that the ocean could pick up. The countries that did not touch the ocean though,
where left out of this loop of information, and where nonexistent in Yami’s
mind. It was as if the land that bordered the ocean belonged to the ocean, and
those that did not, belonged to the land. The mountains gathering the memories
of sound and time and sharing them with those it could, as the ocean shared
it’s echoes with him.

It had been odd at first, but he’d
grown accustomed to it quickly, and now simply took it as it came. He followed
what the ocean told him, and listened to it’s lectures having nothing to speak
with (aside from the occasional dolphin, but they really couldn’t communicate
with him well, their chatter sounding more like gibberish than anything real.
He could sense feelings and emotions from them through the ocean, but that was
about it.) and existed each day on what the motion of the waves told him.

Now,
they were restless.

Yami stilled, trying to decipher
what it was that had the ocean so unrestful, but the message was mixed. It was
sad, and fearful, excited and nervous. Something was changing, and it wanted
Yami to be there. He sighed, moving from his resting place on the ocean floor,
moving through the heated waters, leaving behind the smallest island of Hawaii,
Ni’ihaou, the forbidden island, with a remorseful sigh.

He liked the laid back lazy atmosphere
of the Hawaiians, it was soothing to his soul. He would miss the place, but the
ocean was calling him, and he’d have to go, but he promised himself that once
he was finished he’d return.

After
all, he had eternity.

~*~

Waves
rolled dark and ominous in the never ending vastness of the sea. The sound of
the wind giving the water life and movement, mysteries dancing and playing.
Soft echoes of eternity whispered back from the ocean, telling of darkness and
death, of hope and light.

All knowing, it whispered.

The
language of the sea, cursed with wisdom and cold from years of pain. It knew
all, and told no one, but the words rang clear here. He was apart of the sea. There,
but not there. Like the foam atop of the water, he aimlessly floated and
listened to the ancient whispers, hearing of tales long dead and forgotten.

This was his home.

A
voice whispered above the endless chanting of the ocean, soft and lulling. He
knew that voice, it was warm and loving, bringing with it the feeling of
safety, the memory of a sunny morning with pancakes and syrup, of laughter and
joy.

He smiled, closing his eyes.

Yes,
he knew this voice, it was his mother. The mother he’d lost in the sea, she was
speaking to him again, her words a reminder to him, but they were unclear. He
strained to hear them, but they grew farther from his understanding.

Large
amethyst eyes opened to search the waves for his mother’s voice, her face, and instead
found her eyes staring at him from the blackness of the water, her hair
floating up and about her pale face. He reached toward her, but having no shape,
no solidity at all, he was unable to reach her, and watched as she sunk into
the blackness, fading away completely.

The
ocean grew violent, restless, it’s words harsh and volatile, he felt his heart
pounding in his chest as the anger swelled the tales turning bloody and morbid.
He turned from the sea that had turned a sickening red and found the crimson
eyes of another before him, cold and calculating, hateful and filled with spite.

“Wake
up… Yugi.”

2005 A.D. Shimo,
lower Amakusa Island

Umi Kokosei
(Seaside High School)

The sharp slap of an open palm on
the plywood desk startled Yugi from his self induced coma, and brought his wide
amethyst eyes up and away from the bright golden glow of freedom that glittered
in through the window to his right.

“Mutou-kun.” The strict tone of the
teacher reverberated in the small classroom drawing the attention of all the
student’s to the small boy seated next to the window, his school uniform two sizes
too big for his small frame, and his large eyes wide with embarrassment, cheeks
heated red in conviction. “Class is still in session.”

The narrowed eyes of the elderly man
showed his distaste for Yugi’s lack of attention, as the withered and retired
fisherman hunched over Yugi’s desk. The boy jumped from his seat, bowing low,
his forehead touching the top of his desk showing off his short stature once
again, causing his red tinged ears to fairly glow with discomfort.

“Gomen nasai, Ikura-sensei.”

The boy’s blonde bangs hid his eyes,
but he could still feel the gazes of his fellow class mates as they burned into
his back, some snickering at his punishment. The elderly fisherman, snorted and
turned away with a cough, walking back to the front of the class to teach.

“All right, just don’t dose off in
my class again.”

“Hai.” Yugi said, seating himself
without looking up from his desk top. He felt his face flame for several
minutes longer, as the gruff voice of the teacher continued to explain how the
spread of Christianity took such a hold on the chain of Islands he lived with
in.

Yugi drew in a shuddering breath,
allowing his eyes to close, picturing again the ocean from his dreams. It was
the ocean he held in his heart. It was his memories from before he’d been
brought to Shimo Island by the ocean, before he’d become an orphan of the sea.

When he’d awoken on the beach and
found the home of Sugoroku Mutou, his sea had been calm, and the dreams reassuring
and soothing. His mother’s voice was often there to calm his sorrows at her
absence. The elderly man had taken him in as his own, when a search turned up
nothing on his missing family, and he’d grown up learning the ways of a
fisherman.

The Islands were made up of mostly
rough terrain and mountains, leaving few area’s for farming, so forestry,
orange cultivation, and off-shore fishing were the main economic sources of the
area.

Sugoroku had a small shop where he
sold odds and ends he’d find in his fishing nets and crab traps. Yugi helped
out when he could, learning how to fish and dragging in drift wood that he
carved into beautiful hand made figures. It was a pleasant business, though it
tended to bring a lot of disdain from the other fishermen.

Yugi grew to love the man dearly and
was surprised to find that he had no family of his own, his relatives all gone
either dead or moved away, but that was just as well, the ocean proving enough
of a family for the elder Mutou, and as always Yugi loved the sea with a
passion he could never describe, even though he could not swim at all. Sugoroku
had tried to teach him, but the moment he touched the deeper water, his body
seized up and his lungs closed up, and blackness consumed him. Sugoroku
explained to Yugi that it must be a fear brought on from his fall from the ship
that Yugi had told him of. Yet, that did not explain why he dreamed of the
ocean, nor why he’d sit in the surf on shore, for hours simply staring out into
oblivion.

The ocean had always calmed his
heart and soul, even as it caused the other’s of the island to whisper about
him, calling him a monster, a Kappa spat out by the ocean. Yugi paid them
little attention, having all he needed in the understanding of his grandfather,
and his ocean inside, always calm, calling to him only when he slept at night.
Though, recently it had become restless and angry.

The sixteen year old, managed to
look up and at his teacher, his eyes watching what was being done, but his mind
was far away from the studies, his ears not hearing a word the man spoke.

It had begun a few weeks after his
sixteenth birthday four days before his tenth year of living with Sugoroku.
He’d dreamed of that night again. The
screams and colors bright in his mind, his mother’s soft words as she pressed
her lips to his forehead, protecting him with her love.

He’d woken up in a cold sweat,
standing outside, waist deep in water. The panic took hold again, and he was
near blacking out, when Sugoroku managed to run out and drag him back to shore.
It hadn’t been the first time he’d slept walked, but it was the most
terrifying.

Yugi had broken down sobbing,
holding onto the elderly man for dear life. Something was going to happen,
something bad, and Yugi couldn’t stop trembling. Sugoroku had calmed him down,
helped him back home and listened to his dream. The elderly man had soothed his
fears with warm smiles and gentle pats to the back. His wide calloused hand
soothing circles on Yugi’s small frame.

It quelled his hurt and terror, and
for a while Yugi began to believe he’d made it all up, but reality came
crashing back down around him four weeks later when he arrived home from school
only to find Sugoroku had passed away that morning in his sleep.

I should have checked on him
before leaving for school… Yugi still tried to tell himself that it could have been avoided
had he only been more thoughtful, but no matter how much he thought about it,
it never changed the fact that Sugoroku Mutou was dead, and Yugi, once again,
was an orphan of the sea.

Yugi’d been too afraid to call the
police, afraid that they would make him leave the house that held within it’s
walls the memory of his happiness. The echoes of Sugoroku’s life.

So, he buried his grandfather
himself, saying his farewell’s and laid him to rest in back of the house, under
the sakura tree he’d loved so much. He
took over the shop himself, stating that Sugoroku had fallen ill and that he
was standing in for him for the time being.

The lie worked well, since most of
the town avoided Sugoroku since he took Yugi in, and the customer’s only
lingered long enough to buy what they wanted. Fishing was a bit harder for him,
and he didn’t bring in as much as Sugoroku did, but that only served to make
the other fishermen happy, and so, Yugi was left alone in the house on the edge
of the ocean, with nothing but memories to hold dear.

Yugi sighed, turning back to look
out the window. From here he could see the ocean, glittering in the early
spring day, the sakura trees were in bloom and he wanted to go visit his
grandfather. It hurt to know that because of him, the old man was abandoned by
his friends and neighbors. But Sugoroku had always told him not to feel bad,
that he was happy simply having Yugi with him.

Yugi smiled lightly, You always knew just what to say Jii-chan.
Arigatou for loving me, and careing for me all this time… Yugi hoped that
wherever the elderly man was, that he knew of Yugi’s affections. He wished he
could leave his class and go to the tree and talk to his grandfather as if the
man was truly there, but he couldn’t leave until class was dismissed, whether
or not he had a store to run.

Yugi watched the waves, allowing his
mind to slip away from reality again, his vision blanking out as he left the
school plain to play in the sea of his own memories. He would have made it too,
had the wad of paper not struck him in the head at that moment.

Blinking back to the classroom, Yugi
turned quickly, scanning for the culprit, surprised that someone actually had
the guts to attract his attention, but the class was still, and no one was even
looking his way, Yugi gave up his search and turned back to face the teacher,
just as the midday bell rang announcing the break for lunch.

“Be back in here before the warning
bell.” The teacher called out as he grabbed his papers and turned to leave the
room. Yugi stood with the rest of the class, and bowed as the teacher left and
then reseated himself to stare at the ocean not bothering to follow the rest of
his classmates and eat. He was rarely hungry, and didn’t have any spare money
to waste anyway, soon the class emptied and Yugi was allowed to fall back into
his own memories. The wad of paper forgotten, and the hungry stare from the
shadows unnoticed.

The sun was low in the sky, the wind
was chilled but warm as it came in off of the ocean bringing with it the smell
of the open sea. Yugi breathed the air in deeply, feeling the pressure in his
chest dissipate into nothing as he stood in the warm embrace of the sun.

His shoulder strap pack was shifted
as he moved to get more comfortable, as he stopped walking all together ,moving
toward the road’s guardrail and leaning over it, to gaze out over the ocean
that the cliff side over looked. Yugi’s large eyes shone in the fading light as
he watched the ocean waves, allowing the sound to penetrate his mind as the
wind moved to hold him in it’s tight embrace. How long has it been since I last watched the sun set on the water? How
long has is been since I’ve felt like this? Happy?

Yugi leaned his head onto his
crossed arms sucking in the air and memorizing the moment, his loneliness eased
by the ocean. The water crashed solidly against the rock face of the cliff and
Yugi felt a pulse echo in himself at the sound. It was just like this that one night too, Jii-chan. Do you remember it?
I do. It was the second time my sleep walking had led me to the cliff side of
the ocean.

Yugi closed his eyes, listening to
the surf remembering his grandfather and the night he’d accepted Yugi’s
connection to the sea. The memory holding a deep meaning for his fractured
heart.

The
cold wind brought him back from his dream and the small boy jumped, startled to
find himself standing on the edge of the cliff that over looked the ocean best.
Below it was the beach he’d been found on, and just under him the cave that
filled with water when the tide changed.

Seven
year old Yugi swallowed hard, stepping back from the edge and felt a tug on his
heart, as if something was begging him not to leave. The feeling confused him,
and made Yugi shiver with uncertain fear. It was dark, the moon was sinking low
in the sky coloring the ocean black and silver, it called to him.

“You
certainly are more than you seem Yugi.” The old, withered, and warm voice startled
Yugi, and he turned around quickly, his blue cotton, starry pajama’s clinging
to his body as the salt air shifted around him, messing his tri-colored hair.

“Jii-chan!”
The small child exclaimed, worried that his grandfather would be upset at him
for leaving home at night, but he really hadn’t meant to leave, it had been an
accident, he opened his mouth to apologize, but was cut short as Sugoroku
walked up to him and looked over the ocean with him, hands linked together
behind his arched back.

“You
truly are a child of the ocean, Yugi. It calls you to it, and you follow. You
search for something that the sea is holding for you, and the sea eases your
longing by inviting you to search.” The old man’s face looked troubled and Yugi
reached out holding onto one of his large weathered hands with his own, drawing
the deep plumb colored eyes to his own.

“Jii-chan,
I love you.”

Sugoroku
smiled, and pulled his grandson close in a hug. “And I love you, my son. Every
part of you.” He pulled back to tap Yugi’s nose, and Yugi giggled rubbing the
appendage with the back of his hand.

“Now,
what do you say we sit here and wait for the sun to rise?” The fisherman asked
with a tilt of his head, and Yugi beamed brightly hugging the man around the
waist tightly. He always seemed to know what Yugi craved most, what he needed.

“Hai!
Jii-chan!”

The
grandfather’s laughter echoed deep into his heart, staying there in his ocean
of memories creating a warm feeling in his chest. Sugoroku’s laughter was
something Yugi would forever hold close, and remember most about the elderly
man. His warm and smiling face, and deep voice chuckling with mirth.

Jii-chan…

Yugi was ripped from his memories as
a hard grasp suddenly yanked him from his perch and spun him around to face the
towering figure of Ushio, the bully of his class.

“Well, well, well, if I isn’t little
Yugi, umi no kappa…” Ushio’s taunting words caused the group of followers
behind him to snicker evilly, and Yugi shivered slightly, knowing that he would
be in pain very soon.

“Ushio-kun…” Yugi whimpered, not
sure if it would be in his best interest to question the boy’s motives or not.
And swallowed hard against the dry lump that formed in his throat when the
bigger boy smirked at him showing teeth. He was the only son of the Ushio
family, another fisherman’s group, and one of those who had hated Sugoroku for
his luck with the fish, and it seemed that Ushio had developed a deep dislike
for Yugi as well.

“What, you have something to say to
me, freak?” Yugi cringed when Ushio spoke, his rancid breath fanning out and
over his face making Yugi gag on the smell.

Yugi stayed quiet closing his eyes
trying not to breath until he was sure that the air was clear of the foul odor.
What does he want form me? His family is
already the best fishermen now that… Jii-chan is…

“Being quiet now huh? Or are you
ignoring me?” Ushio asked in an angered voice and Yugi met his eyes in terror
moving to speak when one of Ushio’s thugs spoke up with an evil smirk and
laugh.

“I think you should teach him a
lesson, Ushio. Teach him what happens when you are ignored.”

A smile made it’s way up Ushio’s
face and his eyes scanned over Yugi’s body, and suddenly Yugi felt very sick to
his stomach as every hair rose on end. Something in the way Ushio looked at him
was off, and it made Yugi very uncomfortable.

“Yeah, I think you’re right, Nigireshi.
I think he needs… a real lesson…”
Ushio’s free hand that wasn’t bunched into Yugi’s shirt front ran down Yugi’s
side suggestively, hand pausing on his hip to rub in a circular motion and Yugi
cried out in alarm twisting in the grasp.

Ushio laughed at Yugi’s attempt and
moved his hand in front to cup Yugi’s crotch in his hand. Yugi’s eyes widened
as his pupils dilated in pure and un restrained terror. “No!” Yugi screamed his
foot flinging out and catching Ushio in the gut as he bit down into the flesh
of his hand.

A sharp cry of pain shattered the
air as Yugi was suddenly dropped. The impact with the ground winded Yugi for a
moment and he lay dazed for a second as his flesh began to bruise. His heart
pounded desperately and he pushed himself up to run but was pulled to the
ground by the lackeys as Ushio recovered.

“You should not have done that,
little Kappa… now you’ll have to be punished twice.” His smirk was lustful as
he crawled over top of Yugi, pinning the small boy’s body beneath his own.

Yugi felt tears sting his eyes as he
struggled and twisted against the hands that held him pinned as the leader ran
rough hands up and under his school shirt touching Yugi’s flesh. “Stop! Please!
Stop!” Yugi was sobbing now, his feet kicking desperately, but Ushio only
laughed pressing closer to Yugi, his breath fanning his cheek as he whispered
into his ear, “Yes, cry for me, Yugi… that’s all you’ll be able to do…” Hot lips met his skin in a sick caress of
saliva and Yugi tried to back away from the touch but was left no way out.

The larger teen above him grunted
his approval and pressed himself against Yugi’s small frame and Yugi clenched
his eyes shut escaping to his inner ocean. The waves crested high, and as Ushio
rubbed himself against him, Yugi opened his mouth and screamed his eyes flying
blindly open as he yanked free from the hands that held him. A hot burning
scorched his chest as Yugi rolled free from Ushio and bolted for home.

He heard Ushio yell, felt the hand
that grabbed for his own and without thinking threw himself, full bodyweight,
to the side breaking free from the grip on his hand, but at a price.

For a split second, time
seemed to freeze and hold still, Yugi simply sitting in mid air just out of
Ushio’s reach, safe and secure, the wind blew by him comfortingly, and the sun
winked at him from behind a small cloud, and then time resumed and he was
falling.

The wind screamed within his ears as he plummeted down the craggy
side of the cliff. His mouth was open in shock, but not a breath of sound
escaped him as he relaxed, simply falling down as though nothing was wrong. I’m going to die… I will be crushed upon the
rocks below… and I will die… The thought only vaguely frightened him and
Yugi closed his eyes to await his end, and felt a momentary rush of something
inside his chest, and whispered a name just before he struck the water.

“Atemu…”

Icy
cold.

Water engulfed his being, and sound
was muted, muffled by the bubbles, and flow and ebb of the water, around him,
his body was tossed forward carelessly, back toward the cliff side and Yugi
blatantly wondered how badly it would hurt, before blackness consumed him, and
Yugi passed out.

~*~

He always wound up right back to
this place. Yami was beginning to wonder if that was the fine print of his
curse, always winding up back in the Amakusa Islands, right off of the west
coast of Kyushu. It wasn’t as though he minded the small chain of fishing
islands, it was just a bit disconcerting to be called halfway around the world to
the exact place he’d been dreaming about the night he’d been summoned by the
voiceless call of the ocean.

I haven’t seen this place in ten
years… I wonder if the child survived, or if he moved on? Yami shrugged to himself,
wondering what the land looked like now. He had an impression in his mind from
what the ocean knew and collected, but it was just a feeling or description
from word of mouth, so the busses and skyscrapers were all but a mystery to
him, not to mention the microwave.

Yami tried to imagine himself as
that little boy he’d saved, getting into a car and leaving the island by boat
to Kyushu, and traveling far from the tiny island, finding his way back to his
home town, finding loved ones, returning to a world he knew.

Lucky bastard… at least he has a
place to return to… my reality is nothing but dust in the wind… memories lost
in time. Yami
managed a smirk. Hell, but at least it
isn’t Atlantis…

Yami chuckled to himself, still
slightly amused at his “revenge” as he surfaced near a craggy cliff side,
looking up toward the land. At the bottom of the cliff several rocks rested,
each looking as dangerous as the last, and Yami made a mental note to himself
to watch for the undertow that would drag him closer to those dangerous items
of land and sea.

The ocean calmed a bit and a heavy
breeze billowed from behind, arching up swiftly, and following it’s trail with
his eyes, Yami spotted a small form of a boy leaning against a guard rail. His
clothes seemed much too large on his small body, proved by the wind as it pushed
the cloth tightly against him outlining his perfect, but small form.

The boy smiled into the wind,
closing his eyes as the stray breeze ran through his multi-colored hair. The
deep black spiky hair, highlighted purple, and the golden bangs that framed his
soft rounded face was familiar, and Yami’s eyes brows lowered as he tried to
place the face.

The boy was a good twenty feet above
the water’s surface, and it was amazing that Yami could see that much of him,
let alone recognize his face, but he did, and Yami strained to remember.

Why do I feel that I should know
this young person? I haven’t even been here in ten years, this kid would have
been tiny… Unless… Yami blinked, trying to match an appropriate age to the small
child, and was surprised when the sea provided the information. Giving Yami the
impression that the child was actually a young man of sixteen years. Yami
blinked and looked the boy over not believing that such a small boy could
possibly be that old.

That would have made him six last
I was here… and that would mean… holy Ra, Amut, and Hapi… it’s him…

Yami stared in wonder, a soft
expression easing his features as a warm feeling spread through his chest at
the sight of the little boy he’d saved so long ago, healthy and alive, and for
all the world looking as happy and innocent as the day he’d left him.

He survived, and it looks as
though someone saved him after all… I’m glad.

Yami smiled. He knew he should move
on, find what the sea was so disturbed about, but he couldn’t, it was like
watching a mini miracle. He, the once Pharaoh Atemu, the nameless creature of
the sea, Yami, had done something good, and it had not ended in disaster.

Well, I’ll be Ra damned… I guess
the kid has some luck after all…

He continued to observe the boy’s
movements, loving the small things about him, the way a worried parent would,
until he noticed the three larger teens that approached his little one from
behind. Immediately, Yami was a aware of the danger they presented. The ocean
swelled with forewarning and surged from behind, crashing harshly against the
cliff’s face, trying to alert the boy up top.

It did little good, as always, and
Yami watched helplessly as the child was whipped around. The echoes of
conversation were soft due to the distance but the emotions rang clearly
through the air and water. The boy was scared, terrified, and awaiting pain.
That made the large boy holding him a bully, and from the looks of it, a bad
one at that.

The lackeys seemed about as smart as
a sea slug and had just as many opinions as the little jelly-like critters.
Yami paid them little mind, they only liked to watch, be it pain, or suffering,
and that made them a small obstacle, but the leader of the group was what
scared him.

Lust.

It was the only thing that rolled
off of the giant that held the precious child he’d saved, by the collar of his
shirt a good two feet from the ground. Yami tensed, he knew that feeling, lust,
all too well, and the lack of conscience and remorse in the burly thug’s being
made that emotion all the more dangerous.

He’s going to break him…

Yami gasped in outrage, furious that
that human scum was going to take away the innocence of the being, he had saved. He would take the
innocence by force and destroy the light the small boy gave off, and for what?
His own sick and twisted desire to feel the small body quiver under his own.

Damn his soul to Amut’s bad side!
Fucking bastard’s going to rape him! And.. I can’t do anything!

Yami shook with his anger, mind
racing to find a way out, something to help the small struggling boy, when the
child came alive and struck out, freeing himself from the grasp of his
attacker. Yami jumped a bit with hope, as the boy fell to the ground, dazed for
a moment before rising to his feet to run, wisely choosing to forget his
satchel, but he was too slow and the lackeys had him pinned in a moment,
wrestling him to the ground, holding him in place for the larger brute to
mount.

NO! Fight, Akhu! Fight! Yami cried out, unconsciously
calling the boy ‘light’, and fisting his hands by his side.

The fear was nauseating now, and
Yami felt the urge to vomit as the bully’s hand slipped under the light one’s
shirt and the boy screamed, his voice audible to his ears, not simply an echo
from the sea. It made Yami tremble and growl in pain desperately wishing to
help free the little light that was soon to be extinguished.

A bright light flashed from between
the two, and Yami blinked as the ocean pulsed with the light, but as quickly as
it occurred it was over, and Yami blamed it on his nerves, the sunlight merely
having caught on something metal in the struggle, he only prayed that it wasn’t
a blade.

Suddenly, the boy was up, running
again, and Yami held his breath inching closer to the danger zone. The leader
reached out and grabbed the light’s hand, and in a quick movement, the smaller
boy jerked his entire body weight off-center breaking free of his captor, only
to fall from the edge of the cliff in his attempt at freedom.

“Akhu!” Yami, wasn’t even aware that
he’d yelled out vocally, as again, just as it had been ten years before, Yami
was diving and swimming hurriedly toward the falling boy, praying desperately
that through some miracle, he would survive. That he would not die on impact
with the water, that he would miss the sharp rocks that lined the bottom of the
cliff, and he would stay conscious long enough to keep his lungs free of water.

Dear Ra don’t take this from me
now… don’t show me that I can do good, only to take my pride from me now!

Yami felt the water propel him forward
at a greater speed the closer he got to the sharp stones, and as though
reliving a dream, Yami saw the boy floating in the water directly between two
of the larger jagged rocks, the bubbles from his fall still floating from him,
a soft cloud of blood escaping from a minor gash on his arm, where he had not
escaped completely unharmed.

Yami swam forward, drawing the small
body close to his own and realized again, that the boy was out cold. He sighed
dragging the body toward the surface of the water, but the pull of the current
dragged them both down again. Yami cursed in his mind knowing that time was
running short.

In a quick motion, Yami drew the
still form close and sealed his lips over the still warm ones of the boy and
opened their mouths, breathing for the light in his arms. A thrill ran down his
spine at the contact, the feel of another body pressed to his own, a hot mouth
against his. A small trickle of desire ran over his nerves, but Yami just as
quickly threw it off. He’d survived five thousand and ten years with out it, he
could do with out it for another five thousand. Besides, it wouldn’t have been
right to take from the boy that which he nearly gave his life to protect. That
was something Yami was willing to respect.

Using all the strength he had, Yami
pushed and fought against the current, pulling free of it’s clinging grasp and
swimming swiftly down the side of the beach, his lips firmly pressed to the
ones below his. Small bubbles escaped from the corners of their joined mouths,
making soft rolling, popping sounds as they escaped. Yami listened to the sound
as the ocean noise calmed and smoothed out, signaling that it was safe to
resurface with his bundle.

The water gave way easily and Yami
pulled the boy above the surface, propping the boy’s head onto his shoulder,
one arm moving around to hold the boy under his back side as he used the other
to pull himself forward. The crescent shaped beach was directly before him, the
single house resting just beside and slightly on top of the water only a mile
or so to his left. He would have made his way there, to leave the boy where he
had the first time he’d saved his life, but it was still bright outside, and
his chances of being spotted were higher now then ever.

Damn… and I can’t just hold him here…
in the water…

Scanning the area slowly, Yami found
that just behind and to the right of the house was another cliff with a Sakura
Tree over looking the waves, but the water seemed calmer, and much more steady
near the bottom of the rock suggesting that it opened up into a cave.

That will work out just fine, I
think…

Yami glanced at the young man in his
arms, face relaxed in sleep, his chest expanding with breath, and smiled
gently. He’d grown, that was for certain, but he still held a roundness to his
face that suggested youth and it made him all the more precious.

Hello, Akhu, it seems you’ve
found me once again… and managed to get back into my arms… Yami chuckled lightly and pulled
himself toward the opening to the cave, hoping that his luck would last and
that there would be solid ground for the boy to rest upon inside.

~*~

Water
was everywhere. It called out, singing, and dragging him under, stealing breath
from his lungs. Bubbles rose up from parted lips, surprised screams rising from
beneath the drumming beat of the ocean surf. The feeling of betrayal clawed at
the insides of his belly and scrambled to get out.

This couldn’t be the end.

There was still more that needed
to be done.

There was still…

Yugi slowly opened his eyes, his
lids fluttering tiredly trying to rid himself of the blurriness clouding his
vision. He was wet, and the liquid that was drying on his lips left a residue
of salt. Yugi licked them, drawing in a deep breath, holding it in his burning
lungs for a moment before allowing it to rush out through his parted mouth. What… happened? How’d I get here… where is
here?

Yugi slowly twisted his head from
side to side, taking in the blackened walls that shone silver in the moonlight.
Somewhere water dripped and lapped against stone, resounding off of the walls
and Yugi was made aware that the lapping water was at his feet. His knees bent
over something leaving his shins and feet in the water, his pant legs shifting
and floating around his skin. His sneakers were filled with the salty liquid,
and he could feel that his toes had pruned and puckered.

He hated
that feeling.

He moved his foot experimentally,
and heard the water rush out and down as he propped the foot on the edge of
stone beneath him, feeling his foot squish deep inside of the soaked fabric. Ooh great… my shoes are wreaked… it’ll take
days to dry, if they don’t mold… Yugi sighed, letting out a moan as he
moved his other foot, pushing back slightly, only then becoming aware of how
cold he was and that his arm was hurt.

“Itai…” Yugi sat up reaching over to
touch his wounded shoulder and saw crusted blood over a puckered wound. Well at least the salt in the water
cauterized it… I am so glad I was unconscious for that… Yugi blinked, but… how did I survive the fall?

Memory of his attack, and sudden
tumble came rushing back, and Yugi shook his head in confusion. He’d somehow
managed to keep from becoming rock paste, but he should have drowned. The under
current was much to strong for him to have simply floated to the top, and he
quite recalled blacking out the moment he touched the water.

“So… how…?” Yugi asked aloud, his
voice echoing in the cave.

“You’re awake.”

Yugi jumped, a gasp escaping his
lips as he swung his head around to find the source of the gruff voice. It
sounded as though it hadn’t been used in years, and the horror stories of
ghosts came pouring back into Yugi’s overactive mind. But, his fear was quickly
stalled when his eyes fell upon, and locked with a deep crimson.

His
head pounded, it hurt so badly, but not so much as his chest did. His warmth
was quickly fading away and he curled closer toward its source and was confused
at the scrape of sand that rubbed his skin raw. A soft touch to his face, drew
him from sleep, and slowly eyes opened.

Deep
red eyes stared back into his own, and he was confused as to why his mother was
not there. The ocean surf sang in the background, and slowly memories returned.
The person his mother had told him would protect him had done so, but had he
also saved his mother?

He
wanted to ask, but the name of his savior escaped his recollection. What was
his name, again? It was something, he should not forget easily… the name of his
shadow protector, his ocean guardian. His mother’s soft caressing voice echoed
in his mind, her command repeating over and over, “Do not make a sound. Don’t
fear, you’ll be saved…”

“Atemu…?”
Yugi croaked out, asking the shadowed person above him if he was indeed the one
his mother had told him would save him. By the way he jerked back around, his
eyes widening in shocked wonder, Yugi knew it was him.

Amethyst
eyes softened in joy at meeting his savior, and he opened his mouth to talk,
but a sudden shaft of light blinded him. Yugi winced closing his eyes, dimly
aware when the man left his side, disappearing into the ocean, like a god of
the see.

“Umi
no Kami…” Yugi rose up, trying to catch a glimpse of his friend, but nothing was
left. He ran toward the pulsing water, dashing carelessly into the sea to bring
back the only person he knew, the one who would know something about his
mother.

The
icy sting of the water startled Yugi, as he was harshly shoved back a shore, as
if the ocean itself was telling him to go back, to stay. Yugi scrambled
backwards quickly, frightened, until he stood, dripping and cold beside his
clothing. Feeling numb Yugi bent and redressed himself, not really thinking
much on his near nakedness.

Somehow
he knew he would never see his mother again, and it hurt him deeply, but it
hurt worse to have been abandoned by the one his mother had faith in. Sniffling,
Yugi made his way to the nearest house watching his untied, sneakered feet as
he made his way up the wooden steps to the higher porch.

The
door swung open, and an old man stepped out, but Yugi barely noticed anything,
his mind still trapped in the memory of crimson eyes, and a shadowed figure.

“… It’s you…” Yugi gasped, his voice
sounding strained even to his own ears, and wasn’t all that surprised when the
man with the crimson eyes shifted back and further into the shadows. Yugi felt
his breath quicken as his heart rate sped up, slightly afraid that the other
would leave him once more and tried to call out his name to stop his retreat,
needing some familiar contact of any kind. “Atemu—“

“Don’t!” The voice was sharp and
gruff and Yugi flinched, turning sad amethyst eyes to the cruel red ones before
him.

“Gomen, I wasn’t thinking… I’m
really sorry…” Yugi said, his eyes lowering to look at his wet fists, only then
realizing how cold and wet he really was; his hand looked pale as death in the
moonlight. It wasn’t all that startling to find that night had fallen, Yugi
failed to find most things startling, and if they were his shock faded quickly
and he simply learned to accept whatever it was that had shocked him. It was a
defense mechanism he supposed. Developed when his mother was killed, or as his
grandfather had put it “lost.”

Up to his final days he refused to
admit that Yugi’s mother had been killed on that ship Yugi remembered being on.
Even though the optimism made Yugi smile, it did little to sway his mind. He
knew deep in his bones that his mother was no longer alive. It was a simple
truth, and so, Yugi accepted that fact, just the same as he’d accepted the fact
that he had no friends, that the town hated him, and that now he was alone
again. So, simply understanding that he’d been out for several hours was no big
adjustment .

“Really, I’m sorry… you don’t have
to stick around if you don’t want to. I’m sure—“

“Shut up, you’re annoying.” The
voice was gruff and shaky, as if unsure of his words, but the tone held firm
showing the personality of a strong will and assured persona. “I just do not go
by that name anymore. It is Yami, now, and forever.”

Yami made no further move to clarify
himself, so Yugi took that as his apology for yelling and smiled, nodding his
head.

“Okay then, Yami.” The other seemed confused and moved a bit
closer, Yugi’s mind took in the fact that Yami was wading through the water,
and had so far made no attempts to leave the icy abyss, but Yugi paid that fact
little mind and didn’t comment on it. “… Um… not that I’m ungrateful and
everything but, why did you save me?” Yugi asked, inwardly dying to know the
answer, somehow needing someone to need him.

The answer was as quick and brief as everything else Yami had said
so far, and Yugi’s smile widened at the words, “I know you.”

Simple
as that.

Yugi giggled, and felt his partner
glare at him as he asked in a very annoyed tone, “What is so funny?” Yugi
looked at him and rubbed at his watering eyes, not sure why they were wet at
all. The shifting sound of water alerted Yugi to Yami’s closer approach and he
quickly sniffled, grinning widely to cover his conflicting emotions of joy and
sorrow.

“Nothing really, it’s just such a
simple answer, I guess you can say I was expected something more out there, or
a simple ‘I don’t know,’ you know?” Yugi asked, and at Yami’s lifted eyebrow,
Yugi decided that the crimson eyed-wonder before him did not comprehend his
mirth. “I guess not, huh?”

“Are you not afraid?”

Yugi blinked at Yami, and tilted his
head questioningly. “Should I be?”

Yami seemed not to know what to say
or do to Yugi’s response and Yugi chose to let him off the hook for now,
sitting cross-legged to get more comfortable, and tried to ignore how cold he
was. He took a moment to look around the cave, recognizing it as the one below
the sakura tree hill.

“How did you save me anyway? How did
you know I was in trouble?” Yugi asked, serious again, and watched the sudden
play of emotions fly across the other’s face. He acts so guarded… Like he expects me to suddenly try and rip him
apart. I wonder why…

Yami stared at him for a long time.
Long enough for Yugi to shift into himself to preserve body heat, and to sneeze
lightly before he spoke. His words low, as if he was embarrassed by them. “I
was watching you, from the water. I saw the bullies attack you from behind…
when you fell…” His voice faded off and Yugi got the impression that Yami
really didn’t want to talk anymore on the issue.

“Thank you, for saving my life.”
Yugi said, feeling his cheeks heat up as Yami’s head whipped around to stare at
him in shock, and Yugi was reminded that his near rape had been witnessed by
his savior. Was he the one who gave me
the strength to escape from their holds?

Yugi shivered, remembering the harsh
grip of hands holding him down, of lips and rancid breath against his skin.
Then the surging burn of power, a sudden jolt of freedom and he was running. “…
did…. Did you, stop them from… from…”

“No. You did that all on your own.”
Yugi looked over to the crimson eyes for several long moments confused before
finally realizing that Yami didn’t move from the water, because he couldn’t do
so.

“Oh. Right… sorry about that.” Yugi
said with a guilty smile looking around the cave finding the haunting sound of
dripping, sloshing water comforting in the blackness of the night. Yugi felt a
tense quiet settle in. He wanted to ask Yami what it was like to be a creature
of the sea, what it was like to swim, but kept quiet. It would be inconsiderate
and rude to ask such a question. That would be like him asking Yugi what it was
like to walk on land, or breathe, so Yugi settled for mindless chit-chat.

“Well, I’m Yugi, Mutou Yugi, though
you probably already know that huh?” Yugi said, repressing a sharp shudder as a
light breeze picked up. If he wasn’t careful he would catch a nasty cold by the
time this little “get-to-know-you” session had ended. But it would be worth it after all… because, for once, I have someone
to talk to.

Yugi felt a wide smile stretch his
features at the prospect of maybe, finally, having a friend. “I’m sixteen, how
old are you Yami?”

The older teen looked confused and
aggravated by something, and Yugi gave a concerned looked, “Are you okay,
Yami?”

“You sure act calm for meeting a…
well, something like me.” Yami seemed almost certain that now, Yugi was going
to bolt away from him, and the small boy couldn’t help but laugh at the irony.

“Yeah, well, you act pretty calm
yourself for coming and saving a monster like me.” Yugi stopped laughing, when
he caught the firm stare of the other, once again looking angered.

“Why would you call yourself that?”
His voice intoned that Yugi’s answer carried much more weight than simple
words, and Yugi sat back, and nibbled on his lip, avoiding eye contact.

“Well, that’s what everyone calls
me, because I was brought in by the ocean. It was meant as a joke Yami. My
point is, if you don’t see me as a monster, than why should I see you as
anything other than my savior?”

A long stretch of silence made the
small cave unbearable, and Yugi sniffled, rubbing his chilled nose against the
harsh, wet cloth on his arm, unsure of what to say now. Does he want to leave me too? I wouldn’t blame him much… why doesn’t he
say something? Anything?

“Aren’t you worried?” The sudden
question seemed much too loud in the silent cave, and Yugi jerked slightly
heart leaping involuntarily in his chest.

“Worried? About what?”

“Your… family. They, must be worried
for you. Not coming home and all.” Yami seemed hesitant to say the word,
family, and Yugi smiled softly knowing why it was awkward for him. He was there when Mother died. He knows that
my blood family is long gone… but he doesn’t know that Grandpa is too… Yugi
felt a soft pain in his chest at the memory, and the loss of not visiting his
grandfather’s grave that day. Jii-chan
will understand… after all, it’s not everyday that someone wants to… to… do
that with a monster…

“Yugi?” Yami sounded even more
hesitant to use his name, as though by speaking it, he was tied some how to
Yugi, and he was, ultimately. By acknowledging Yugi as a person, Yami became a
part of who Yugi was, and visa versa, the whole chain of life, proof that your
existence never truly belongs to only you. It belongs to everyone you ever
meet. That’s why loneliness is so deadly. No contact, no connection to others
left you with no sense of self or purpose, that was why Yugi kept living. Even
the harsh comments and glares sent his way were connections, and gave him a meaning.

He was
Yugi, the water demon.

Kappa no
umi.

“No. They won’t worry.” Yugi paused
wondering if it was safe to confide in his friend. Usually he would have left
it at that, but, from the way that Yami acted, it seemed that he didn’t
interact with people much, so, what was the harm in telling him his secret? If he’s going to be my friend, it would be
nice to share my pain with him… the grief. Mind made up, Yugi raised his
eyes and stared straight into the crimson ones of his new companion. “My
grandpa, Sugoroku Mutou, he’s the one who took me in after you saved me the
first time, he… passed away, about a year ago. I’ve been, living on my own
since then.”

Yugi watched the sullen play of emotions dance across the face of his friend,
recognizing the look of guilt and pity instantly. He felt a little put-out by
the second look, and scratched at his wounded arm lightly looking at the
blackened water. “It’s no big deal really, I chose to stay alone there. I
didn’t want to leave so, it’s fine.”

“Is it really?” The question made
Yugi want to cry, and he was aware of how childish he was beginning to sound.
Yugi closed his eyes willing the tears back and smiled, bringing the warm
memory of his grandfather to the front of his mind.

“Yeah, it’s fine. After all, he’s still
with me in the house. His memory permeates the place. So, yes. It is.” Yugi
lifted his amethyst eyes to the glowing crimson gaze, and was startled to find
Yami so close.

He was practically out of the water,
leaning towards Yugi as if craving some sort of heat. Yugi felt a shudder pass
through his body and understood his actions intimately. It was cold.

“Are you cold too?” Yugi asked,
shifting slightly, offering to share his warmth, what little he had anyway, and
the question seemed to snap his new found friend from his comatose state, and
Yami jerked back into the water quickly, slinking away.

“No. I don’t feel the temperature
change as you do.”

Yugi
snorted.

“Lucky.”

“What?”

The sun began to lighten the
horizon, Yugi could see it from behind Yami’s thick hair, and realized that he
couldn’t stay in the cave for much longer. “I should get home.” Yugi said
standing lightly, crouching down when the movement caused a sudden rush of
blood to his head, making Yugi dizzy.

“You all right?”

Yugi lifted his head and looked into
the worried crimson eyes, though he was sure worried would be the last thing
Yami would admit to, his concern warmed Yugi’s heart and he smiled warmly
closing his eyes with a sharp nod of his head. “Yeah, I’m okay, I just stood up
too quickly is all.”

He heard the grunt of
acknowledgement from his partner and approached the pool of water slowly,
amethyst eyes scanning the area for anyway to walk from the cave, and was
saddened to find that the only way out of the cave was through water, and that
meant bugging Yami for a ride.

Yugi swallowed back his nervousness
and looked back at the merman in the water, and watched sadly as Yami slipped
farther away from him in apprehension.

“Uhm… I don’t mean to be a pain…
but, could you possibly take me home?” Yugi dug his toe uncomfortably into the
stone beneath, feeling the water slosh about annoyingly in his sneaker. He
could feel the surprise in Yami’s look, and his face heated in embarrassment.

“Why?”

“W—well… because, I can’t … swim… and…
well, you can get me there with out having to get to close to land, there’s a
way to get to the inside of the house from the water… and well… I…” Yugi
stumbled and licked dry lips once more tasting the lingering salt from the sea
water that had completely engulfed him not long before, and felt his chest
tighten in fear. What if he says no? How
will I get out of here?

“Fine.”

Yugi jerked out of his thoughts
quickly, startled by the sudden sound and blinked uncertain if he’d heard Yami
correctly. “Really?”

“Look, if you want the help, stop
acting stupid and come here. I can’t exactly come out and get you. It was hard
enough getting you up there, I’m not going to attempt pulling you back in.” It
was the most Yami had said in one sitting, and it was refreshing for Yugi. He
smiled and knelt by the water, dipping his feet in, taking several large
breaths of air, trying to stabilize his breathing. I can do this… I’m not going to drown… I won’t black out this time…
right?

Yugi wasn’t aware that he’d started
to tremble until a firm hand settled over his knee and he found red eyes
looking into his own. “Why do you fear now?”

Yugi couldn’t help the nervous
chuckle that rose from his throat. How was he supposed to explain his fear of
water to a being of the sea? “Uh, well, you see, I panic in water. Ever since I
fell from the ocean liner that first time, and well… I freeze and black out
when I go into deep water. Silly isn’t it?” Yugi asked tilting his head to the
side, expecting no answer, or a scathing remark, but instead received a soft
smile, a slight, barely there tilt of the lips.

“Not at all, but you don’t need to
fear, I will not let you fall.”

And
somehow Yugi believed him.

Yugi nodded slowly, and moved into
the water. Yami was close, so close in fact that Yugi’s body slid down along his
as he felt the chilled water cool his already shivering body, but the warm body
heat, rolling off of Yami comforted him, and made the transition from land to
water bearable.

Yugi felt the ring of water around
his waist and gripped Yami tightly as black spots danced in his vision. His
arms wound around the merman’s neck, pressing their chests snuggly to each
other, their hearts pounding in sync, like an echo.

Yugi repressed a shiver at the
intimate touch, and felt the violent shudder that passed through the one
holding him around the waist, as if afraid to truly hold or touch him in the
least bit. Yugi closed his eyes and pressed his face into the strong shoulder
beneath him, trying to ward off the panic, taking slow and deep breaths. You’re safe Yugi… he’s got you… and he
wouldn’t let you drown. He’s saved you all the other times, now will be no
different.

The thoughts helped very little and
Yugi felt his head begin to swim and his grip began to slacken, and the arms
loosely holding him tightened, and a sharp voice spoke into his ear, gruff and
reassuring. “Don’t pass out! If you want me to take you home, little one, you
will need to show me the way.”

Yugi opened his eyes slowly, his
world tilted slightly, but otherwise still intact. “Hai… the house half a mile
from this cave… to the right…” Yugi felt the soft nod just before the water
slid up and around his shoulders causing him to suck in a sharp breath of
fright as Yami began to move them from the cave.

“Hush. I’m only swimming.”

Yugi nodded again, and let his head
rest on the bare skin, feeling the muscle of the body against his own shift
with movement. The brush of a tail, moving up and down, like that of a mammal
and not the side to side motion of a fish, pressed against him, and Yugi
shivered at the strength presented in that fluid motion. The sensation cause
his face and body to heat unexpectedly. What
am I doing? Reacting all… funny to him?

Yugi made a sad face, recognizing
the feelings for what they were, the beginnings of a crush. He knew it was only
normal, what with being alone for so long, being saved by someone so like
himself and yet so different from him. But it was a silly thing, right?

“How do I get in?”

Yugi didn’t mean to jump, but the
sudden question had come unexpectedly, and Yugi reacted. He felt the stare of
Yami on him once more, and blushed, turning his attention to the home he’d
grown to love. The waves lapped lazily against the bottom of the house, giving
the illusion that the house was floating atop of the waves, even as the back
half rested of the bottom of a gently sloping hill.

Morning fog drifted from the warming
grass and surrounded the house in a soft cover. The ocean’s breath bringing
life to it’s own hazy clouds, the two joining and twining about the home
blocking out the rest of the world, like a precious memory. Yugi smiled and
sighed, letting his mind linger in the foolish dream that his home really was
protected from the harsh world that he lived in.

“Hello?” Yami asked impatiently, and
Yugi was forced to leave his childish hopes and return to the present.

“Sorry, Yami. See where the water laps at the house edge?” Yugi
waited just long enough for the other to nod before continuing. “Well, the
house is raised on wood posts that act like stilts, so that when the tide comes
in, the house is raised above the waves. The floor under the water’s edge is
only half built, leaving a hole about four feet wide and long. There is a six
foot distance from the sea bottom to the edge of the flooring. That’s how we
can get in.” Yugi explained, already knowing the question that was sure to
follow his explanation.

“But that requires my diving under the surface.”

”Yep.”

“…”

Yugi
turned with a smile.

There
was no other way.

Yami turned from his gaze, eyes
narrowed in concentration, his arms holding Yugi close a moment before saying
in a whispered hum, “Hold your breath.”

Yugi swallowed a large amount of air
burying his face into Yami as he dove, water clogging Yugi’s ears, the ocean
pounding with its own rhythm. Yugi could hear Yami’s and his heart beats, could
feel the body moving against his own as Yami’s tail propelled them forward. It
was such an odd moment, filled with electric sensations. Yugi pressed closer,
his fear slowly building inside him, slowed by the press of Yami’s body, his
heart beat, his strong arms holding him close…

They broke the surface with a spray
of water, and suddenly the moment was lost. Yugi gasp for air, for the first
time realizing that he needed the stuff, and was helped to the wooden edge.
Yugi lifted his arms and rested the top half of his body on the floor,
breathing heavily, and felt the hands leave him completely, and Yugi’s clawing
need to escape the water returned.

With shaking movements he managed to
crawl to safety, eyes looking around at the storage room for his shop,
recognizing the fire pit built in the center of the room, and sighed in relief.
Yugi slowly sat back on his knees, shaking the water from his hair as he
recollected his thoughts. So much has
happened today… I’m not sure if that makes it a good day or not…

Yugi stood, hating the clinging feel
of soaked clothes, and made a face turning to thank Yami for his help.

“Arigatou, Ya--…” Yugi blinked at
the empty room, the water not showing even a ripple from Yami. His savior had
left. Yugi smiled slightly and turned from the opening to the sea, eyes
slightly wet with loneliness, his hands fisted by his sides as he made to leave
the room, for a hot bath.

“Thank you… my friend.”

~*~

He’d tried leaving. He really had.
From the night he’d brought the boy home, he’d been quite sure that he would
turn away and never return, and yet here he was, floating mere feet from the
entrance to the small house.

This is such bull shit… So what
if he lived alone… he’s lost his new family… is just like me…

Yami made a face, a low rumble
floating from his chest, sounding suspiciously like a growl and glared at the
sunlit building, the white paint pealing from the siding with age and the spray
of sea foam. It was a simple place, but it echoed with such warmth that the
first time he’d entered the place, it made him want to flee or break down into
sobs, which of course, was not an option he was willing to choose, and so he’d
left as soon as Yugi was free of the water’s grip, feeling a light tug of guilt
on his heart for leaving the boy on his own.

I truly ruined his life the night
I saved him… fear of water, being called a monster, living in solitude… it
would have been a blessing on him to have let him drown…

A pulse of pain burned through his
chest and Yami made a face, not understanding why that thought upset him so
much. It was the truth, Yugi’s pain was a direct result of living, yet the idea
of snubbing out the bright flame of life, made Yami feel ill. Yami sighed,
closing his eyes.

Things
just didn’t make much sense any more.

No matter how hard he searched, the
ocean gave no clue as to what Yami was to search for, and he found himself
spending more and more time, just watching Yugi. The way the boy set up shop,
smiled at everyone, even as they cursed him. Watched the way he went about his
mornings, setting up for classes, running off for the school before the sun was
even in the sky, and returning at a fast clipped run.

Sometimes, Yami would see the shock
of ebony hair atop of the hill, next to the cherry tree. His face animated and
alive with expression as he spoke to someone who no longer existed. It was
heartbreaking to watch, but at the same time, it showed a great strength. That
Yugi could survive so much and still manage a smile, it made Yami respect him,
more than he was willing to admit.

Yami had been watching Yugi for
nearly a week now, he knew the boy’s routine forward and backward, knew what
color socks he wore, and even knew of his little sleepwalking problem. More
than once, Yami’d looked toward the house to see Yugi on the beach, his light
cotton pajamas blowing in the wind, as the water crashed around his ankles.

He looked like a ghost, his pale
skin glowing in the moonlight. It had frightened Yami, to see the blank stare on
the young one’s face; devoid of all expression.

Like a
doll.

Or
apparition.

Yami pushed the memory aside,
watching the house a moment longer, before moving beneath the waves. He knew he
should stay away. Knew that he shouldn’t care, that he couldn’t do anything
anyway, his control of shadow magic rusty after years of disuse, and his
inability to move on land, but Yami just couldn’t stop himself.

Yugi had not left the house since
early morning two days ago, and when he’d come home, he’d been walking very
slowly. Worry was slowly creeping in, and Yami didn’t like the feeling one bit.

Under the surface, the water hummed
gently, the noise from above, muffled to a light droll of sound. The sunlight
filtered to a soft glow that warmed one from the inside at the sight. Yami
hardly noticed any of it as he made his way up toward the opening in the
floorboards, recalling how the house looked when the tide was out. A good three
feet of pole showed above the water showing barnacled wood, the wood off-colored
from the years of water rot. It was an interesting sight for certain, but left
an entry of easy access for him all the time, and it had been calling to him
for the last week. Now, he couldn’t hold back any longer.

He could see the blurry ceiling from
under the water, the room was lit with the afternoon sunlight and shadows moved
across the walls, as if dancing, letting Yami know that the one he was looking
for was down there in the room, which would explain why he’d not seen Yugi
milling around the house the past few days.

Yami wouldn’t have been so worried
had he been able to see Yugi in the house, but even that had been cut off
leaving the boy completely missing for the past forty-eight hours, and that
lead Yami here to the only opening to the house he could access.

He rose from the water slowly not
wishing to scare Yugi. The water running down the sides of his face, tickled
his skin lightly, and Yami shook his head slightly to rid himself of the
sensation. Yami took a moment to look around the lower level room, having left
too quickly the first time, and it was then that he actually saw his little
look-a-like.

What in all of Ra’s world,
happened to him…

Yami held his breath in angered
shock as he took in the sight of the small boy, crouched near the fire pit in
nothing but a short pair of cloth boxers, medicine and bandages strewn around
the area surrounding him. His back was covered in dark bruises that ran around
to his sides, several fading marks ran up the small slender arms and extended
on to the smooth neck. A few scratches and abrasions on his elbows and knees
stood out on his pale skin. Yami blinked trying not to believe that the small
beaten body before him belonged to the bright and cheery boy he’d been watching
the past week.

Yugi’s cheeks were flushed with his
exhaustion as he tried to twist backwards to apply the ointment to his wounds.
Yami could remember the way that small form had clung to his own as he’d swam
the boy to the safety of his home, the intimacy of feeling another’s heartbeat,
had been intoxicating, and the thought that someone would willingly and
purposely try and harm that perfectness made him angry.

The roll of cold power came to his
mind, reminding Yami of his ancient control of magic long forgotten, though
ultimately useless from long distances. Perhaps it was the chill of his shadows
that alerted the small boy sitting in the room, but what ever it was, Yugi
turned toward him and caught his eyes, pinning Yami to the spot.

His heart pounded loudly with in his
ears, an inlaid fear of being caught arising inside of him, and Yami leaned
away in the water, eyes narrowing in warning, forgetting that he was the one
who had come to the boy in the first place. Yugi blinked cutely at Yami and
then broke into a wide smile, as though those dark, angry marks were nothing
but a figment of his imagination.

“Hello again.” Yugi turned back
closing the ointment jar and turning to face Yami, picking up the gauze wrap
and twisting it around a particularly nasty mark on his wrist. “Sorry about
looking like this. I would have taken care of it earlier, but I couldn’t move.
So, yeah, I’m doing it now.” Yugi said with a laugh.

It made Yami’s stomach twist at the
normal actions Yugi made, as if being unable to move for a day or two was an
everyday experience. Yet, Yugi continued to make light of the topic, and Yami
continued to stay quiet, listening to Yugi, somehow knowing that was what Yugi
needed most.

You’ve kept everything inside for
so long… is this how you continue to go on, little one?

“… You’d think they’d get tired of
it, you know? I mean, I can’t fight back, and I’m about three feet smaller then
all of them, so what’s the victory in beating me? Honestly, they are all
stupid.” Yugi made a face as he tied off the end of the bandage and then moved
to wrap his chest, wincing as he pulled tender skin painfully. “But, I guess
they had to make themselves feel better after I escaped. After they had
finished being afraid of me.”

At that Yugi giggled. “You know they
actually think I’m immortal now?” Yugi shook his head, again cutting and tying
off his bandage. Yami made a face as Yugi stood to place the rest of the wraps
away and then make his way to the edge of the floor, allowing Yami to see the
bruises on his legs before he lay down upon his belly, his legs bending up at a
ninety degree angle, his arms crossed below him. “Pretty funny, huh?”

He tried hard not to scowl at the
saddened note that rung clear in Yugi’s tone. It was slightly unnerving to hear
of such things stated as though it was something so natural, it reminded Yami
of his sad and pitiful excuse for a life. Such things should never become a
usual occurrence, not for him, and especially not for one as pure and innocent
as Yugi.

Yami stayed quiet for a little while longer, taking in the boy’s
appearance, surprised to find that his face had been the only thing left
untouched.

Which leaves that big brute as a
good nominee for who beat him up… leaving his face alone would be something
he’d do, if he lusts for him… Yami made a volatile face at the memory, feeling a bit of disgust
at the fact that the boy’s lust was what protected Yugi’s beauty.

Yugi gave a soft startled sound and
looked away from Yami trying to curl into himself. “S—sorry. I didn’t mean to
upset you…” Yugi mumbled, and the words shook Yami free from his ponderings
abruptly, making him aware that his disgust had been misinterpreted.

It made him uncomfortable, the
feeling of guilt, and Yami shifted restlessly in the low water, sinking lower
and bobbing a bit, before lifting himself back onto the upraised flooring of
the house, with a scowl. “No. It’s not your doing, little one.” Yami paused
when Yugi looked up at him, wide amethyst eyes glittering curiously with a dim
hope, and Yami found he had to look away from such innocence.

It
dragged up far too many memories.

“You’re words have not angered me,
it is… the circumstances, that I detest.” Yami stated, still leaning on his
crossed arms, pondering just why he was even there. He knew he shouldn’t be
there, it was not wise in the least, and yet, here he was, trying to console
the small boy before him.

“So, calm down now, little one.”

Yugi grinned and started to giggle,
and Yami blinked in surprise, eyes narrowing out of habit. “What is so
amusing?” Yami’s question seemed to make Yugi’s mirth all the more heavy. Yami
was confused and glowered from his perch until the younger one had stopped
laughing, and wiped his arm across his eyes, smearing joyful tears over rosy
cheeks.

“Sorry, you’ve just called me
“little one” so often now, and it, well kind of reminded me of my mother.” Yugi
explained, but still Yami was lost to the humor.

“And that made you laugh?”

“Well, at first it was just a warm
feeling you know, but it was funny cause I’m certain you didn’t even intend to
call me that, and then you made that face and… sorry.” Yugi looked down, as his
face darkened in color but the smile didn’t leave him.

Such an odd one, Yugi is… Yami thought testily, though his
expression showed soft and warm. The first joy he’d felt in a long while. A
moment of steady silence passed between them as Yugi stretched back out to lay
upon his stomach. He smiled at Yami a bit as the silence lingered, not
uncomfortable in the least.

The sunlight turned golden in the
afternoon, slanting in at an angle, an orange tinge that announced the coming
of the days end, and finally the quietness was shattered.

The silence was punctuated by the
soft sound of a song, Yugi’s voice raising up in a light hum, the tune haunting
and saddening at the same time. It
crushed Yami’s heart to hear it, even as he shuddered in recognition to the
notes. It moved with the flow and ebb of the water, rocking his soul as easily
as the ocean tended to do.

It’s her song… Yami thought sadly, moving closer yet to the
singing boy who was resting on his belly, legs bent up, feet kicking lightly in
the air to the song, humming it with a smile on his face, the expression oddly
out of place with the tune. Yami still did not know what the words to the song
meant, but in his soul, and what little heart he had, he knew it was nothing to
smile about.

Even
back then, when the song had been sung to him, he’d known the sadness of it.

The
palace was chilled with the twilight of evening, the sun setting below the
desert horizon, the blackness of night coloring the sky as the god of shadows
stole across the heavens, leaving pinpoints of jeweled light scattered
carelessly across the sky. Atemu sat on the steps beside the gardens of the
palace, enjoying the night, wondering if it would glow with fire as he conquered his
spineless cousin and took control over all of Kehmet.

Kehmet
will be the superior land, through out all the ages… we will be, immortal… my
kingdom, while my dear cousin, is erased from the table of time for all
eternity. Atemu smiled viciously at the
thought, anticipating his cousin’s fall from power with great joy. It would
only be a matter of time before the Atlantian’s gave him their allegiance, and
the power to take what he wanted, and it all rested in the gentle palm of Alta,
princess of Atlantis.

Atemu
turned looking toward the opened balcony of the guestroom set up for his
guests. He wasn’t surprised to see the golden haired woman standing at it’s
edge holding her pink pearl necklace close to her heart, staring out into the
sky as if searching for the sea she so loved. She was smiling softly into the
wind, even as her posture and expression seemed sad.

Atemu
shrugged the look off not entirely caring for what she was thinking. After
spending a few days with her and her brother, Atemu found that Delta seemed to
be set on marrying his sister, the lust in his eyes apparent, but Alta either
ignored his advances or didn’t take notice of them. Her mind always distant,
filled with thoughts of the sea, a place Atemu knew nothing of, and honestly
didn’t care much for. The sea was only another reminder that he was not free,
would never be free until he owned every inch of his kingdom.

Atemu
scowled, turning away from the beauty before him. She was beautiful, there was
no doubt in that, but her mind was filled with such frivolous matters, of love
and peace, of the ocean surf and sunny days of warmth. It would have been
humorous if it wasn’t so aggravating. He found her mindless chatter cute but
silly, and her beliefs left him feeling empty, something he did not like.

He
wanted a taste of her innocence, but by the way things were working, it seemed
it would not be as fulfilling as he’d hoped, she who did not understand
suffering or sadness, it left conquering her as a simple act of her naïve faith
in people, and him nothing better than a common thief.

That is
no victory… Atemu scoffed again, watching
the sun fade with a cold sense of finality. It was a sad time of day, the end
of the light, Atemu mourned it silently, even as he denied it.

The
wind was a cold brush against his tanned cheeks and crimson, kohl outlined eyes
narrowed into the darkness, a smirk curving his lips, denying the fear that
crept up with in him. He would not relent to his weaknesses, he would laugh at
his own fears and deny that they held power over him.

That they held power over a god.

A
haunting chill passed by on the air, the words indistinguishable, a breath of
wind in the sea of sound. The words were uncommon, chilling, causing his skin
to prickle with unease. It was an ancient language, far older than his own, one
that he knew deep inside of his being, but had long forgotten it.

Atemu
turned slowly, his golden jewelry glinting in the fading light, glowing against
his white attire. A deep sadness sank into his heart, as if the Nile itself was
weeping, and Atemu shuddered, following the song to the form of Alta, her face
an expression of consumed sadness, her voice as melancholy as the waterless
land of Kehmet, her voice calling upon the land to mourn with her, the loss she
felt.

Atemu
was struck speechless, staring at her utter beauty, for the first time blinded
by her innocence, and the pain that that alone had caused. Wetness fell from
his eyes, and startled Atemu glanced away, raising a shocked hand to his face,
looking at the salty tears in confusion, as her soft voice rang out in
finality, ending just as the day faded into night.

Why?
Why… do I?

Atemu
glanced back toward the balcony, his whole being shaken and met the smiling
face of Alta, her eyes compassionate and pitying. Atemu stepped back, surprised
by her gaze and turned quickly fear filling him at her deep amethyst eyes,
stalking quickly into his palace as anger replaced his fear.

She dare
to challenge me? Then I will accept her challenge, I’ll show her what pity
truly is. And it is not I.

Atemu
stalked into his palace, heading straight for one single room, his heart trying
to forget the memory of her saddened melody, and the tears they had caused.

“You come here every night.” The
statement startled Yami back into reality, realizing that Yugi had stopped
humming and with its end, the light had faded once more. Yami shuddered, and
pulled back away from Yugi a bit, half tempted to ask how Yugi knew that song,
and half frightened to know. “Why?”

Yami chose not to answer Yugi, his
shoulder’s tensing at the personal question, he knew he could not answer even
if he wanted to. The water was growing cold, for the first time in five
thousand years, he noticed it and suppressed his urge to tremble from it.

The silence was uncomfortable this
time, and drove Yami to look up at the close face of the boy and met soft
understanding amethyst eyes. There was no conviction in his stare, no malice in
his smile as Yugi stated once more, a truth Yami was not ready to admit.

“You are lonely.”

“No.” It was a knee-jerk type of
reaction. Sudden and harsh, made by fear of discovery, and by the look on
Yugi’s face the young one knew it too. Yugi simply continued to smile, that
same little lift of his lips, so innocent, so fragile, Yami scowled lightly,
cursing himself for returning to the boy’s side in the first place.

“Yes you are.” Yugi stated with a
laugh, and it caused anger to build inside of Yami.

Is he mocking me? My Pain?!

Yami began to tense, his rational
thought shoved into a deep crevice of his mind not to be heard again as
preservation instincts kicked in, urging him to fight back. “How would you
know?” Yami snarled out, his narrowed crimson eyes locking on Yugi’s, expecting
to see a smugness to them, and was startled into silence at the lack of such
emotion.

“Because,” Yugi stated, tilting his
head to the side, ever so slightly with a smile. His eyes calm, and warm;
inviting, and oh so understanding. But those gems were tainted by a deep
sadness, and it caused Yami to grieve deep inside of himself. “… I am too.”

Yami sat stunned. Of course he would
understand and know what Yami was feeling. He lived alone, had seen his
mother’s death, his grandfather’s end, and was bullied and out-casted to the
point that he was just exactly like Yami. Who better to understand the pain of
loneliness than the small boy before him.

I should leave… before…

Yami couldn’t turn his face from
Yugi’s, his eyes trapped by the sad-tinged innocence before him, and with out
willing himself to do so, reached out a hand to comfort Yugi. He was shocked
when the soft warm skin collided with his chilled hand, and he couldn’t help
but press his palm against such warmth and rub the face soothingly, as if asking
Yugi not to be so sad.

What am I doing?! This could be….
will be bad! Nothing can stop that now…

Yami sighed, his face must have
shown his fear, for the next instant, Yugi reached up holding the hand in place
against his face, trapping Yami close, as he again slid into the water.

Warm skin and cloth brush against
Yami’s body and he shuddered, his throat releasing a moan of surprise and
slight pain at the beauty such a simple action had caused. He felt Yugi’s
thundering heart, fluttering harshly against his ribs, pulsing against his own
chest and shivered, his eyes glazing out of focus with the hot puff of air that
drifted over his shoulder.

Yami was dimly aware that the water
had risen with the tide as the moon rose into the sky, and heard the whimpered
intake of breath, as Yugi’s open wounds met salt water, but still, he was
frozen as the boy pulled his arms snuggly about his neck holding him close.

Deftly, Yami wrapped slow, numbed
arms around Yugi’s slight form, holding the small bundle close, shivering in
the sensation of such an action, and felt the smile lift Yugi’s face as the boy
tilted his head to whisper into Yami’s ear, “It’s okay.” His grip tightened for
emphasis and one leg looped around Yami’s hip to strengthen his hold, and Yami unconsciously
tightened his own grip. “You don’t have to be alone.”

Yami gasped, feeling pressure and
heat flush his face instantly, and the sharp prick of tears burned his eyes. Yami
closed hem and pressed his face into Yugi’s shoulder squeezing him impossibly tight,
trying not to whimper as tears silently escaped.

How… how is it, that you knew…
exactly what I needed to hear most, little one? Why is it… that you have
become, so important to me… that I would risk everything for you? What is this?

What is this?

Yugi’s arms remained strong
supporting Yami, as the creature of the sea kept him above the water’s surface,
his voice soft as he whispered gentle comforts, patting his back soothingly. His
voice humming that sad melody once more, and although it was morbid in nature,
it soothed his pain somewhat. So, Yami simply rested, hearing Yugi’s heartbeat
and feeling the soft pulse of the ocean around him.

Who are you… Yugi?

~*~

The
dark currents of water moved violently in the endless landscape of blackness,
angry and concerned. It murmured in fear as the memories that had once brought
comfort to him, were lost beneath the dark surface. Surrounding him in white
foam. Yugi held his breath as he watched the ocean of his heart, feeling
frightened at its anger and immensity. Something was off. A pressure was
waiting just out side of his mind, a power that grew closer with the odd sound
of a woman, her words not Japanese, but of the ocean’s tongue.

Her words made him shiver.

She
was asking him to give up, to die, and Yugi felt a deep panic emerge in his
chest as he struggled to escape from the voice, floating as the sea foam upon
his own ocean.

“Yugi,
you must remember… You are you. Yugi is no other than Yugi, and no matter what
you must live your
life, no one else’s’.”

Yugi
was brought up short recognizing the voice of his mother in his mind, and he
found the memory of a beach, morning was approaching, the first morning that
he’d sleepwalked to the sea side, and the first time he ever saw his mother
cry. What had she meant by that? Yugi wasn’t sure.

Suddenly,
the pressure was directly above him, and a wave crested high to press him down
under the layer of salt water, the woman’s voice raising high in a pulsating
cry that rang in his ears harshly. “You must let go now Yugi…”

His world turned black

.

Hot water splashed down over
sensitized skin as suds drifted away, trailing down and along his spine,
running over his legs to disappear beneath him, down the drain. Yugi kept his
eyes closed, letting the heat from the water warm his body as he stood, head
bowed down, water trickling over his face.
I don’t want to sleep… not if it means those dreams again…

Yugi didn’t wish to admit that his
own dreams where becoming nightmares, and his sleep walking ventures, though
less than before, were becoming more violent, ending in Yami rescuing him on
more than one account. What’s wrong with
me? Why am I… feeling this way? Yugi shook his head, a shower of water
droplets pelting the blue, plastic, curtain, as he desperately shoved his
thoughts from his mind. He had enough to worry about, and not one of his
concerns should be his nightmares. It’s
only because I’m tense… and everything that’s happened. Yeah… it’s just my
nerves…my nerves.

He stood for several moments longer,
simply allowing that water to steal the stress of the day from him. School had
been a nightmare. Ushio, having found out about his mortality, and after
beating him again, had taken to destroying the fish he caught and brought in
from the sea, then bragging about it openly in class.

More than once, Yugi had found his
nets slashed and torn, but there was little he could do but repair them. …And Yami helped out, so, it wasn’t so bad. Yugi
thought optimistically. The merman had taken to coming over every morning and
evening, often sleeping on the ocean floor below his house, shaded from view, and
safe from natural predators. After seeing Yugi struggling with the nets, Yami had
offered to help him with the fishing duties. Which, of course, Yugi was tickled
pink from the offer, and so, together, Yami and he, made their way to the
fishing spot Sugoroku had used. Yugi in the boat, Yami in the sea, and the
fishing progressed.

Yami was amazingly talented with
hunting down fish, but when Yugi asked how Yami had gotten so good, he was
informed that Kelp, seaweed, and fish, made up the most of Yami’s simple diet,
and he’d dropped it. Stomach feeling queasy at the though of eating raw fish.
The white, nearly clear meat squishing beneath your teeth, under the rubbery
layer of skin, clear liquid gushing inside of your mouth as the cold blooded
creature slowly died.

Yugi shook his head. That was a bit
disturbing to him, but hey, if it meant you survived, then he guessed that was
all that needed to be said.

Yugi shut off the water, watching
the last of the water droplets fall from his limp laying hair and dribble over
his skin a moment more, his mind still locked on the past few weeks that Yami
had been staying with him. Fishing had gone better, and it meant bigger sales
as well as more meals, though Yami seemed to prefer his fish raw. Guess sashimi is something he likes.

Yami seemed to be able to eat other
foods just fine, and had a sweet tooth that rivaled Yugi’s own, but due to the
little income, chocolate was a rarity, only used for special occasions, Yami’s
arrival being one such a day. I certainly
hope rice and miso soup don’t hurt his digestive system… Yugi worried,
stepping from the stall and avoiding the furo as he did with the ocean, unless
of course Yami was there to hold on to, and grabbed the fluffy towel, soothing
the slightly ruff fabric over his body, feeling his pendant chain catch in the
towel momentarily before breaking free. He moved the towel, scrubbing at his
hair to rid it of its dampness, and allowing it to raise back up to its natural
gravity defying spikes.

He lifted a hand and ran it over the
fogged mirror watching the condensation ripple away into water, and met the
eyes of his reflection. He looked happier than he’d felt in a long time. Yugi
smiled wider, surprised at the easiness of the action and quickly turned
leaving the room, dropping the towel on it’s hook to dry as he left. No one was
in the home save for him, so walking to his room in the nude, should hardly
bother Yugi any more, still he left a clean pare of boxers in the connecting
room and slipped those on before moving to his room and slipping quickly into
his well worn and loved blue starred pajama’s, pulling on a pare of white socks
and quickly grabbed his blanket, pillow and futon, dragging his load down the
stairs to the lower level and stock room.

Night had fallen, and with it, the
water level had risen once more, the water lapping on the floors edge, and
leaning there expectantly, was Yami. Yugi smiled widely, pulling his bed as
close to the water as he dared before rolling it out and making up his bed for
the night.

He’d taken to sleeping down there
with Yami after the merman had chosen to stay by his side. It seemed to Yugi
that his action not only appeased his own loneliness but that of his other as
well. He smiles more now… and he no
longer flinches when I get close and no longer cries when I touch him. I’m
glad.

Yugi grinned wider, placing his
pillow on the bed and patting it once before turning back to his friend, who
was regarding him with a soft expression.

“Finished?” Yami asked playfully,
and Yugi giggled crawling over and sitting beside Yami Indian style both hands
resting in his lap.

“Yep. Were you waiting long?”

“Not really.” Yami said off
handedly, his voice mellower than the first few times Yugi had heard it, and
Yugi giggled catching the smile that lifted Yami’s own lips at the sound.

“You liar.”

Yami mocked surprised hurt, though
his actions were only a small lift of his eyebrows and widening of his eyes.
“Liar am I?” He asked, and Yugi leaned close till their foreheads touched and
he smiled into those crimson eyes playfully, reaching up and tugging on one of
Yami’s golden bangs.

“Yes. You are, you haven’t moved
since dinner, and don’t try denying it, the floor’s too dry for you to have
left and then returned.” Yugi pointed out, and saw Yami’s expression falter at
being caught. The merman scowled, crimson eyes darting to the side and he
breathed a curse in Egyptian, to which, Yugi giggled.

Yami turned back to him suddenly
serious and Yugi stopping his laughing returning the gaze steadily. “What is it
Yami?”

“I’ve been wondering.” Yami paused
again, and Yugi watched as that long violet colored tail swished about lazily
in the water. He was half tempted to reach out and touch it, but resisted the
urge knowing how uncomfortable it would make him to have someone try and feel
up his leg.

“Wondering what, Yami?” Yugi asked,
reaching up and playing with the pendent at his neck instead of dipping his
hand into the water to feel the texture of Yami’s tail.

Yami followed his hand’s movements
with his eyes when he spoke, mildly curious. “That song you keep humming…”

“Yes?” Yugi questioned pulling the
pearl from one side to the other on the long silver chain, watching as crimson followed
his hand studiously.

“… I was just wondering what it was
called.”

Yugi stopped playing with the
pendant and looked at Yami slightly shocked. “The name?” Yami nodded, and Yugi
averted his eyes, smiling sadly feeling a light pain at the memory, his hand
gripping his necklace a moment before dropping his hand to his lap, ignoring
the way Yami suddenly froze spotting the pearl. “… I’m not sure if it’s the
real name, but my mom called it, “Oroka na Yume.” She used to sing me to sleep
with it. It always calmed me. I guess, I can’t let it go.” Yugi said turning
back to the crimson stare, that now looked contemplative and hard. “Yami?”

“Foolish Dream, huh? I guess that
makes sense… it is a foolish dream…” Yami’s voice faded off, and Yugi tilted
his head not comprehending what Yami meant, but choose not to ask.

“Yeah, I still can’t sing the words
without crying… they’re so sad.” Yugi paused, once more looking at Yami’s tail,
temptation urging him to touch it, just once. It twitched as if it knew Yugi
was thinking about it and Yugi bit his lip wondering how quick he’d have to
move for Yami not to notice.

“That necklace, where did you get
it?” Yami asked, again distracting Yugi from his contemplation, and he looked
up quickly, blinking wide amethyst eyes. He’s
picking all the sad memories tonight… Yugi thought sadly, looking away feeling a
cold sadness envelope his chest and squeeze his heart tightly.

The tail twitched again, and this
time Yugi gave in, pulling his night sleeve up, dipping his arm into he water,
his fingertips brushing the tail where Yami’s hip would have been. He could
feel Yami watching him as he moved, felt
him jerk at the sudden touch and heard his sharp intake of breath at the
caress.

It was soft, and slightly scaled
like a fish, but so much warmer. Yugi pressed his fingers against it a little
firmer as he spoke, deciding to answer Yami the best he could. “I’ve always
love the ocean. Even before I was sent here, I lived close to it when I was
with my mom, I’m not sure where but I would always play in the water, that I
remember. I couldn’t sleep unless I was right by it, the waves crashing beside
me. Mom said it was in my blood.” Yugi paused, and his hand slipped around
caressing the backside of Yami tail and watched as Yami shifted slightly giving
Yugi better access to him. Yugi felt his cheeks heat, knowing that he was
rubbing the equivalent of Yami’s butt at the moment, yet still couldn’t bring
himself to stop.

“In my head… my memories are like a
giant ocean. I dream about it sometimes. The sea’s fiery, the end of a world…
You…” Yami jumped and looked at Yugi curiously, and Yugi smiled, lifting his
hand from the water, content now that he knew what the tail felt like, and
thought he saw a flicker of disappointment flash through Yami’s eyes, but he
wasn’t certain. “Mom used to tell me that the ocean would protect me. That I
had a guardian in the sea, named Atemu. After hearing that, I would get up
early and stand at the ocean side watching the fog rise slowly, to scan the
ocean for him. I wanted to meet him so badly. I must have called out a million
times… but as you know, you didn’t answer.” Yugi laughed at the shocked look on
Yami’s face, and continued quickly, “For my birthday, mom took me on a cruise
liner, deep into the sea… I can still remember that final night. There was a
grown up party, I had to stay in the room, I was upset by that, so mom said I
could go to the deck if I was careful… that’s when it happened.”

The
ocean surf danced through the child’s bangs and Yugi giggled, feet hanging off
the edge of the giant ship watching the black waves roll out continuously below
his feet. It was growing colder as the sun set, but he couldn’t force himself
to leave. The water seemed to call after him rushing forward. A tug in his heart
told him that the ocean wanted him to get something for it. Confused he tilted
his head to the side.

“What?
You want that?” Yugi asked, and the water replied and Yugi made a face raising
to his feet clumsily tripping over his overalls slightly. “Okay, but if I get
yelled at, I’m telling, Okaa-chan that it was your idea.” Yugi threatened, and
waited for the water’s reply before turning and running back to the room he
shared with his parents.

His
sneakers made a loud sound on the wood deck, drowned out by the sound of dance
music being played from below in the ball room, the heavy music loud in his
ears. Above the sound the light tinking of his loose overall strap, as the
metal rapped off of one of his buttons, rang in his ear, and was echoed back by
the ocean.

Yugi paused at the big woodened door, looking
curiously at the tall man in white who stood stoically beside his door. The man
looked down at him from under the brim of his cap, narrowed eyes calculating and
Yugi pushed the door open before sliding in, hurriedly shutting the door behind
him.

His chest pounded with his
unsteady heartbeat, his back pressed solidly to the door as if that small
rectangle of wood could keep the creepy men at bay. Yugi waited a moment, until
no pounding of fists came to his sanctuary, before making his way to his
mother’s treasure chest under the edge of the bed.

He
fell to his knees and lifted the blanket’s edge with his arm peaking under into
the darkness there. The light that shone in from the rounded window, let into
the darkness from his hand lifting the blanket’s edge, glinted daringly off of
the golden box, the carvings standing out drastically in the moonlight. Wide
amethyst eyes glowed with childish delight and he grinned crawling under the
bed, the comforter falling down onto his head, pressing his hair down around
his baby-fat cheeks.

Yugi
slipped completely under the cover of the bed, his hands gripping the sides of
the golden case, fingertips pressing against the cold gold as he lifted the
lid. A smile lit his face as the only item inside was revealed and he reached
into the box with a curious hand. Tiny fingers wound around the silver chain,
lifting the pink shimmering pearl from its resting place, it seemed to glow in
the darkness, and Yugi giggled, holding it close, feeling its warmth. He didn’t
know why the ocean wanted to see his grandmother’s heirloom, but he was certain
that if it was for any of his reasons for liking the little trinket, it was a
safe venture.

Yugi
closed his fingers over the glowing sphere and the light dimmed, and Yugi
crawled back out from the narrow bed, smoothing the sheets back into place with
his free hand before running back to the door. He had to pull with most of his
body weight to move the heavy wooden piece, and when he slipped back out, the
man who had been there was gone.

Yugi
didn’t spend a moment to wonder, and simply sped off back to his perch at the
stern’s rail.

He never made it.

A
loud shattering sound of thunder, pierced the night sky and Yugi jumped,
spinning around to look behind him. Screams blurred out the sound of the
cresting waves that tried to coax him farther back, and with another ringing
sound, Yugi collapsed to his knees, tears springing to his eyes.

He
was terrified, the loud noise wouldn’t leave him be, it hurt his ears, and the
screams, the screams. Flashes of images from his darkest nightmares returned,
the hurried feet, the crying yells of denial, the burning rage of hate, it
consumed his small fragile mind, blocking out all else.

“Yugi!”
The sudden call, and the grip on his arm that yanked him to his feet, broke the
fearful spell and he was looking up and into his mother’s deep brown eyes.
“Yugi, baby hurry, hurry honey.”

Yugi
was tripping and slipping after his mother as she moved back to his ledge. The
sounds were muffled now, by the sharp call of the sea, and Yugi glanced around
at the waters, almost forgetting that there was danger. Something was there, in
the sea, the ocean was telling him so.

“Yugi,
listen to me now, all right?” Yugi’s mother pleaded, pulling his face back to
meet her own, her hands holding his cheeks gently as she spoke. Her fingers
glided through his bangs a moment, and he saw her tears. Yugi reached up to
brush them away, sadness filling his small chest.

“Don’t
cry mommy, it’s okay. Please don’t cry.” His pleading seemed to make it worse,
though now she was smiling sadly at him. Her eyes closed as she pulled him into
a deep hug, one Yugi instinctually knew meant goodbye, and then she pulled back
lifting him up and onto the rail, meeting his eyes again, and Yugi wondered
where is father was.

“Baby,
you need to escape now, but don’t be afraid, the ocean will protect you. Atemu,
will be there, so don’t cry out, don’t even make a peep. All right? Can you do
that for mommy?”

Yugi
felt his eyes water as he nodded his head sadly, scrubbing his tiny fist
against his eyes. “Y—yes mommy…” Yugi whimpered and felt a warm press of lips
to his forehead.

“I
love you, my baby… so live.” Se whispered and before waiting for the returned
sentiment, her hand pressed against his chest and Yugi tipped from the ship’s
edge.

His
voice froze in his lungs as he stared, frozen in the air for but a moment, his
eyes taking in the final image of his mother’s face, as she turned and glared
at whoever was approaching. A whispered name entered his mind, he’d finally
meet the person he’d been searching for, but at what price?

Yugi
finally felt the last strings of pain snap, and opened his mouth to scream for
his mother, to disobey her and call out, when he struck the water, and his
mouth filled with the salty liquid. He struggled to get to the surface, but the
pressure from the propellers sent him spinning, and with in a moments time,
blackness filled his mind, his left hand clenching tightly around the necklace
in his hand, as if that alone could bring his mother back..

Mommy,
come scold me for taking your necklace. Put me in time out. Mommy? Mommy?

The
feel of strong warm arms surrounded him, and Yugi relaxed, allowing the
darkness to take him away as the feeling of comfort and safety encompassed him
in a blanket of security.

“… Next thing I remember is waking
up to your red eyes, and knowing exactly who you were.” Yugi said, finishing
his story. Yami was giving him his undivided attention, his deep crimson eyes
locked solely on Yugi’s, and the smaller shuddered slightly at the intensity of
his stare.

“So that’s how you knew my old
name.” Yami finally stated after sometime, and Yugi was saddened to find that
his voice was sharp and tense. He’s angry
with me… Yugi thought sadly, looking away from the eyes and giving a light
shrug as his answer.

During his story, Yami had
continuously shifted, his tail moving, as if he unconsciously wanted Yugi to
continue to touch him, and the action had warmed Yugi’s heart a bit, but now,
it felt as if they’d fallen back to step one, and it hurt. He’s mad… I don’t want him to be angry… what if he leaves? I’ll be
alone again, and I don’t want that… Thinking quickly his fear rising
steadily, Yugi opened his mouth to hurriedly explain and apologize for his
carelessness.

“I’m sorry Yami I—“ Yugi cut himself
short on a gasp, when warm, wet arms encircled him pressing him close to a warm
chest, and Yugi was vaguely aware of the sound of Yami’s heart beating steadily
in his ear. Yugi felt his cheeks flush, and his own heart quicken at the
closeness of the other, his body tingling from the contact.

“Hush, It’s all right, little one. I
am not angry. So calm yourself.” Yami’s hands slowly moved up and down over
Yugi’s neck, sending chills down his spine even as it comforted him. Yugi
shuddered once more, pressing closer, wrapping his own arms around the tanner
being before him, nuzzling into his shoulder enjoying the peace he felt in the
strong arms around him.

He felt Yami rock him gently, a soft
crooning sound coming from deep in his chest, and Yugi smiled, blushing lightly
with contentment. There was no denying the attraction he felt for the other,
and it was only natural that he would feel this way for Yami. Having been alone
for so long, and suddenly having his savior appear from thin air, holding and
comforting him, it was only normal that he’d have such feelings towards him.
Still, Yugi couldn’t rationalize the feelings away, and held close to Yami,
slipping his hand back under the water to stroke the back side of his tale, the
action meant to comfort the both of them, and quell his nerves a bit.

The soft feel of the warm scales
contrasted with the cooling water and Yugi repressed a shiver, when Yami made a
soft humming sound, his tail pressing back against his stroking hand. Yugi
smiled, widely, continuing to touch and explore Yami’s tail as the taller male
held him close, fingertips lightly playing with his hair.

“You never talk about your kind
Yami…” Yugi stated after several long moments, and felt Yami’s hands cease
their comforting movement in his hair. For a moment, Yugi feared he’d upset
Yami again and stopped his own movements, slipping his hand back up toward the
surface, when Yami suddenly shifted, pressing his tail against his hand to keep
him from moving away. Yugi took the hint with a small smile and returned to
stroking Yami’s scales, and felt Yami relax.

“It’s a rather long story, little
one.”

“I don’t mind.” Yugi replied,
looking up at Yami through his bangs and saw the other smile back at him,
before shifting forward, until Yugi was laying on his back with Yami propped
above him, arms crossed around him, Yugi’s hand still resting on Yami’s
backside and hip, fingertips tracing lightly over scales. The compromising
position caused Yugi to blush, but Yami started speaking almost immediately,
leaving no room for him to think of other things.

“Okay, were to start…”

“The beginning?”

Yami gave him a sharp look, and
smirked at him causing Yugi to giggle in delight, “All right smart ass.” Yami
said, moving one hand up to poke Yugi’s cheek before continuing, and Yugi
smiled jovially, laying back to enjoy the story, he’d been dying to hear from
the other. Yami hadn’t said a thing about himself since they’d started “living
together”, most of their conversations focusing on Yugi’s life, and his
memories. Finally, I get to learn
something about him. Yugi thought happily, as Yami opened his mouth, the
first words from them confusing Yugi, and setting up the beginnings of a long
tale.

“Well, first of all I am the last of
what you would call, the merfolk. But I was never born in this form, in fact,
this is actually my curse.”

~*~

Yami waited, looking down at Yugi’s
reaction, not too surprised when Yugi took that bit of information in stride.
Nothing ever truly seemed to surprise Yugi, that was one of the things, that
Yami found appealing about him, it meant not feeling so out of place, for once,
being normal if even for a moment, and he enjoyed it.

Just like the small caresses to his
tail. He’d been startled at first, slightly afraid of what Yugi’s reaction
would be, but when he seemed pleased, Yami allowed his senses to feel the
gentle touch and he sunk into the tingling sensation that warmed his entire
being. He definitely liked the feeling of being touched and Yugi seemed to like
the feeling of touching and that worked out an even balance between them.

“But… what about the story of
mermaid’s flesh? It’s just a myth then?” Yugi asked after several long moments,
his hand moving to Yami’s hip.

Yami couldn’t hide the grin that
covered his face at the memory and watched the confusion spread over Yugi’s
small face. Yami allowed a chuckle to break free before answering the boy’s
question, the humorous outbreak sounding anything but pleasant.

“That would be my fault little one.”
Yami explained, and watched as Yugi made an “oh” shape with his mouth, still
not completely understanding. “ I was, as you put it, lonely, and wanted some
human contact some two-thousand years or so ago, and ended up getting hunted.
So, when a group was close enough I released some mild shadow magic and, I must
admit I was a bit rusty, and well, one was turned into a fish, the other lived
to be two hundred and three, but horribly insane.” Yami chuckled somewhat
evilly at the memory, and saw the awed expression on Yugi’s face.

“You… you know magic? And your,
two-thousand years old?” Finally, Yugi seemed more than mildly interested and
Yami felt slightly uncomfortable.

“Actually, I’m five thousand and
sixteen come this twelfth month, now hush, and I’ll tell you the story.” Yami
said, a bit more curtly than he’d meant, and was brought aware of that fact
when the hand stopped moving again. Yami sighed, pressing his tail against
Yugi’s small hand until Yugi continued his previous movements, and then he
continued, much more calmly this time, to tell his story to another person, for
the first time ever.

“I was born in Egypt, approximately
five thousand or so years ago, to the pharaoh of, what you now call upper
Egypt. Of course it’s true name is Kehmet, so that is what I will be calling
it.” Yami waited for any form of rebellion against his new rule, when he
received none, he continued. “My mother was unable to bare any children after
me, and being as women are the ones who ultimately continue the bloodline, I
was a disgrace to her for having been male. She attempted to kill me, and was
then put to death by my father. Needless to say, I learned not to care for much
growing up.” Yami stated with a mocking smile, he saw the sadness in Yugi’s
eyes and would have pulled away, had the look not been one of respect, but the
lack of pity in his amethyst gaze caused Yami to relax and he held Yugi a bit
closer for the sake of contact and felt Yugi hum lightly in a soothing gesture,
his hand brushing over his bottom in a thrilling, calming manner.

“So, when my high priest murdered my
father for his crimes against his people, I took the throne at age fifteen. I
ruled for nearly three years, when I decided that I wanted to take my cousin’s
half of Kehmet for myself. For no other reason than, if I ruled it all, I could
be free from the restrictions that my father had laid in my land.

“I was not a good ruler, Yugi, I was
young and stupid, much like America when it first started, I wanted to crush my
cousin, for no reason. I wanted to erased his name from the tables of time, and
it was as I was scheming this that Seth, my high priest, discovered the
Atlantians.”

“Atlantis?” Yugi asked in wonder,
and Yami smiled sadly, tucking a strand of hair behind Yugi’s ear tenderly, not
even aware that he was doing it. “It truly existed?”

You don’t even know of it? Well,
I guess that it is all well and good in the end then… it’s better that way.

“Yes. It did, and it was the most
powerful nation at the time, even Greece, Kehmet’s greatest adversary was
frightened of the mighty kingdom. So, I foolishly called for the leader to come
visit me at my home to discuss an arrangement for a treaty, and the prince and
princess were sent instead.” Yami paused, again remembering the events that
lead to his destruction, and felt Yugi slowly caressing his tail, showing his
patience.

“I had ignored the rumors, that they
could transform into fish, had thought myself a god that could not be harmed,
and so believed that nothing could befall me. I ended up seducing the princess
Alta into my bed.” He felt Yugi stiffen and couldn’t find the strength to meet
Yugi’s eyes, eyes so much like her own, and so he hurried along in his story.
“It meant nothing to me, just a good night of sex, and so when I let her know
that, she was hurt, but it was her brother that was angered by my actions.

“The Atlantians had a power, greater
than even my shadow magic, which was merely the powers of darkness, drawn up
from the realm of shadows, but theirs was much different. It was called the
ocean’s soul. It was a small pink pearl that held astounding power, and it was
entrusted to Alta since she was the female, the nurturer of the royal house.
Delta, her brother, had taken it from her, and having royal blood, was able to
use it’s power.

“I assumed he meant to kill me, but
when he found I feared not death, he instead cursed me with immortal life, as
what I am now, a creature of the sea, completely and utterly alone. At first I
thought the curse funny, until I discovered that my kingdom was slaughtered,
not one survived, save me. My cousin took over my half of Kehmet, and erased my
name from the tables of time, and so, Atemu died.

“It was much later, that I
discovered that my form was that of the Atlantians when they touch water, but
unlike them I could no longer take on a human shape. I was angered, and hurt,
but too proud to admit it. Then Alta came to me, she was with child, and she
told me that the ocean was plotting to destroy Atlantis, and kill all of her
kind, save one, and that she wanted me to make sure that Atlantis was forever
forgotten. Seeing it as my chance for revenge I jumped at the offer, and she
placed the second curse on me, the curse to obey my promise, and to protect the
true heir to Atlantis.

“I thought she was talking nonsense at
first, but continued to keep my word, and then, I met you.” Yami paused,
finally looking into Yugi’s eyes finding them, the same understanding amethyst
they had always been and he smiled, touching his face softly. “At first, I
wasn’t going to save you, I thought that saving your life when your family had
died would be cruel, but, I just couldn’t let you die little one, even now, I
can’t explain why I saved you, but I am glad that I did.”

Yami watched Yugi blush and smiled
down at him, enjoying the sight.

“So, I have the pearl of power then?
Is that what you mean Yami?” Yugi asked, and Yami sighed, reaching down to
touch the pearl gently feeling the pulse of its power against his palm. A part
of him was surprised that Yugi let him touch it, but the other part of him had
expected nothing less.

“Yes, and that would explain how you
escaped the attack that first day, little one, the pearl responded to your fear
and protected you.”

Yugi stared at him for a while and
Yami was certain that he already knew the final truth but still he spoke,
telling Yugi what the boy already knew. “And yes, Yugi, you must be the
descendant of Alta’s unborn child.”

“How can
you be certain? What if my ancestors simply found the pearl and stole it?” Yugi
asked, and Yami smiled, his arms becoming uncomfortable with his position, and
he shifted a bit before finally just leaning back and into the water, feeling
Yugi’s hand slid up and along his spine, and he shuddered at the feel.

“Simple Yugi, you have her eyes.”

“What?” Yugi asked, sitting up until
they where both in the positions they had been in when Yugi had first sat down.
Yami took in the fact that Yugi was rumpled and wet, his night clothes looking
splotchy from his laying on top of Yugi for so long, it made him feel guilty,
slightly.

“You have Alta’s eyes Yugi. At
first, it scared me, and I couldn’t look at them, but now, it makes sense. At
least partially.” Yami admitted, again touching Yugi’s face and watched as Yugi
tried to take in what was being said.

“No, if I was, then I would change
in water right? But I don’t, I just sink.” Yugi said, sulking, and Yami smiled,
he’d been doing that a lot lately. Smiling that is, and it was almost nice to
do so.

“Yugi, you are several hundred
generations down the line, your blood has been diluted by human blood, not only
that, but the power to change was brought about by the sea, and when Atlantis
fell, that power was taken from it.” Yami explained slowly, and waited for Yugi
to respond. Yugi’s shoulders dropped in defeat and he sighed, finally meeting
Yami’s eyes, his expression calm once more, he’d accepted the facts.

“Why are you telling me this?” He
asked, and the question stumped Yami as well.

Why am I telling him this? Until
I saw the necklace, I hadn’t even been sure. I’m still not certain about it.
But some how, it makes sense. The ocean called me to find Yugi, the true heir
to Atlantis, the one who could lift my curse…

Yami had purposely left that tidbit
of information out of his story. Yugi didn’t know how to use the power of the
pearl, and it would simply drive him crazy trying to help him, so it was best
that he simply not know.

“I’m not sure myself Yugi. I’m
sorry, I should have kept it to myself. After all, you are right, I could be
completely wrong about my assumptions.” Yami stated, feeling rather foolish in
his sudden jump to conclusions, and was met by silence.

Yami shifted in the water, wondering
if it would be best to leave for now, when Yugi spoke again, deciding to change
the subject, “Yami, can you make me like you?”

“What?” Yami asked, jumping and
turning to face Yugi in a mix of horror and shock.

Why would anyone want to be like
this? Especially you Yugi? Yami questioned in his mind, and watched as Yugi flushed darkly,
playing with his fingers nervously.

“I don’t mean, like forever or
nothing… I just meant, well… you said you changed some men with your shadow
magic, so I just thought… you know, it might be nice, for a little while that
is.” Yugi stumbled over his words, and Yami swam closer to Yugi looking him in
the face.

“Why?” It was not a harsh inquiry,
just one of curiousness, and Yugi licked his lips, the small little tongue
poking out to wet the full lips, and Yami watched it a moment, remembering the
feel of those lips when he’d breathed for Yugi the first day he’d met him, and
had to glance up to his eyes to avoid doing something he may regret.

I survived this long, I’m fine
with out it, simple touches are enough. Yami thought, and it was the truth. The little
touches and hugs from Yugi filled a deep void in himself and sullied the need
he felt for touch, and quelled his deeper desires.

“… So you don’t have to be alone
tonight.” Yugi said in all honesty, his bright innocent eyes shining in
compassion, and Yami couldn’t help but blink in incomprehension.

After hearing all of that… my
story, his possible history… all he can think about, is making sure I’m not
alone?

Yami was touched, not for the first
time by Yugi’s soft generosity, and complete understanding. He seemed to
constantly give and to know what someone needs the most, and it drew Yami to
Yugi like a moth to the flame, and Yami found he’d already mentally agreed to
give Yugi his request.

“Plus, I’d like to know what it’s like
to swim… and be a part of the ocean.” Yugi added with an embarrassed giggle,
and Yami shook his head a bit, feeling warmed by Yugi’s innocent desires, and
caved.

“I can try Yugi, but there are no
guarantees that it will work, I haven’t worked shadow magic in some time.” Yami
warned, and watched as Yugi’s face lit up in hope.

“You will?”

Yami nodded, and was suddenly
enveloped in a tight hug. “Thank you Yami!”

“Your welcome, now, I suggest you
remove your clothes before we start, because, trust me, it hurts to change
around them.” Yami felt Yugi’s blush on his neck and chuckled, when Yugi stood
up and dug his toe into the floor in nervousness. “I can turn around if you
would prefer little one.” Yami offered with a kind smile, trying to ease Yugi’s
discomfort, even if it was only by a fraction.

“You’ll have to look at me to change
me anyway… right?” Yugi asked, and Yami nodded once, and saw Yugi swallow hard.
“Then… I guess… it’s okay…”

It sure as hell didn’t look like he
was okay with it, but Yami didn’t say anything and watched as Yugi, slowly
lifted his hands to his buttoned up top and slipped each button through the
hole, slowly baring his smooth and pale chest to Yami. The once Pharaoh sucked
in a short breath at the unintentional strip tease, his chest tightening at the
beautiful perfection of the small boy. His skin was soft looking and pale, the
cuts and burses from the bullies nearly nonexistent now. His body was firm but
not sculpted, taking on an almost feminine softness. His waist narrowed to a light
masculine curve where his hips connected and a small rounded belly button
completed his top.

Yugi dropped the shirt, quickly
picked it up again, and folded it before, slipping out of his pants, standing
in nothing but his light blue boxers. Yugi folded his bottoms and placed them
on his shirt carefully, before, turning to face Yami again. His blush had
traveled down to almost his belly button, and Yami couldn’t help but smile,
contented by the cute picture his little one made.

“I can still turn around if you
would like Yugi.” Yami offered, and Yugi jerked his head up, eyes wide, before
he stood tall and quickly removed his underwear, this time dropping them onto
the pile carelessly and facing Yami with burning cheeks, his eyes tightly
closed.

“Okay, I’m ready.” Yugi said
quickly, his voice somewhat high and squeaky. Yami was touched by the action,
but also trapped by the image before him. Yugi was utterly perfect, and Yami
had the sudden urge to simply hold Yugi to him, to be close to such perfection,
and so with out thinking he beckoned Yugi to him.

“Come here Yugi, it might be easier
in the water.” At his words, Yugi opened his eyes and nodded in understanding
making his way to the edge, and slowly sat down his feet dipping into the
water.

Yami had a clear view of how the
chill affected the smaller one, and watched as the goose bumps traveled up his
body and caused his nipples to pucker. Yami felt his entire body throb in
reaction and shook his head, reaching up to aid Yugi with getting into the
water.

His fingertips purposefully passed
over Yugi’s nipples, and felt the hardness of his flesh as Yugi gasped at the
sensation, before gripping Yugi innocently under his armpits and lifting him
into his arms and the water. Yugi instantly pressed close, his heart pounding
and Yami shivered at the feel of skin against his own, and the touch of bare
flesh against his tail. He could feel every inch of Yugi, including his private
parts pressed to him, and Yami had to suppress the soft flare of desire that
bolted down his spine.

“Are you all right Yugi?” Yami
asked, and felt the smaller one nod into his shoulder, and then heard Yugi’s
whispered “yes” from somewhere on his neck. “Okay, then, I’m going to start
now.” Yami warned, and waited for Yugi to take a deep relaxing breath, before
closing his eyes and attempting his task.

He searched his mind for the curls
of dark power that rested there, trying to recall the control of such power
that he’d once had. It was wispy like smoke, and it took a while for him to
grasp at it, slowly forming its power to his will and felt and echoing pulse
from Yugi’s body itself.

His blood’s reacting to the
transformation… it might help this to work. Yami thought distantly as he released his power and
felt Yugi stiffen in shock.

“Yami!”

“Shhh, little one, it’s all right,
I’m here. It doesn’t hurt does it?” Yami asked soothingly running a hand over
Yugi’s spine, and felt Yugi shake his head in the negative before continuing.

“It… it feels… weird…” Yugi lightly
complained, and Yami cooed to him gently, attempting to sooth Yugi’s
discomfort, hand still rubbing in a circular motion upon Yugi’s warm back.

“I know,
Yugi. I know, but it’s going to be okay, I promise.”

Yami wasn’t sure how long it took,
but finally, he felt Yugi’s own tail brush against his own and he relaxed,
releasing his hold on the ancient magic and letting it drift away.

It’s done… I just hope it can be
undone… Yami
thought as he looked down Yugi’s back staring in slight awe at the opalescent
tail. Yugi defiantly showed signs of being related to Alta, and Yami couldn’t
help but wonder if it was a good or a bad thing.

“Open You eyes Yugi.” Yami prodded,
and slowly, Yugi opened one eye.

“It’s done?”

Yami nodded, and Yugi glanced down,
his eyes growing in size at the sight of his own scaly tail. Yugi flicked it
back and forth several times just testing it out, before grinning wildly at
Yami. “I have a tail!”

Yami chuckled and nodded at Yugi’s
joy before bringing Yugi back to the present. “So, little one, do you want to
try and swim?”

Yugi
fairly beamed.

The night sky was ebony, and dotted
with the hues of hundreds of stars, forming ribbons of light in the sky. The
rolling waves seemed to stretch into eternity as the two bobbed happily on the
water’s surface. Yugi was floating on his back, finally worn out from diving
and zipping around through the water, and was now simply staring up at the
stars looking like he had the whole world in his pocket.

Yami smiled from his side, sitting
up in the waves, his tail flipping every so often to keep him a float. Yugi
seemed so enthralled when he was finally able to enjoy the water without fear
of drowning, though he’d still tried to hold his breath when Yami had pulled
him down under the surface.

That was precious…

Yami watched Yugi as he happily
pointed out the constellations that he knew of, and made up knew ones to occupy
his mind. He was still so small, in comparison to Yami, and watching as Yugi
had swam through the water, closing his eyes as the ocean played in his hair
and swept over his body, had brought back all the joy Yami had forgotten and it
eased his heart some.

Yugi really is my savior… whether
my curse is lifted or not. You’ve given me my humanity once more… my life. Yami smiled easily, looking up
at the stars only then realizing that Yugi’s chatter had died and that he was
suddenly very serious.

“Yami?”

“hmm?” Yami responded, looking at
his companion out of the corner of his eyes, seeing the pondering scrunch of
his face as Yugi fumbled with a question he couldn’t seem to solve.

“Can you reproduce, or is it
impossible?” Yugi finally asked, his face still innocently curious, and Yami
nearly forgot to swim.

“….” Yami blinked, trying to wrap
his mind around Yugi’s sudden question and caught Yugi staring at him still
floating on his back, tail shimmering blue in the moonlight. “… Yes, I can. I
mean I still have my body parts if that’s what you mean. Though I think the
process is a bit different.”

Yami felt a light heat tinge his
cheeks and he glanced away, his embarrassment recalling the first time he’d
found that out.

That was a bit of a shock… Yami thought in retrospect. It had been only a
few months after his transformation. He’d been in the Nile near one of the
banks, when he’d stumbled upon a couple of slaves making love in the reeds.

Atemu
swam through the murky water, his blood still boiling with anger, though it had
dulled a bit. How dare his cousin erase his name? How dare he assume that he
had slaughtered his own people?! Atemu growled still enraged at his curse, and
holding his freshly wounded arm close to his chest. It seemed that he had
become a new type of creature to be hunted, and for the first time Atemu cursed
the creation of spears.

Ra
cursed idiots, attacking me. I’ve never been happier to see a crocodile attack
a person before… Atemu snorted and
shifted direction from just that type of animal following the edge of the river
bank slowly, when the pressure of the water shifted. It became warm and hot,
enticing and sensual. Curious, Atemu moved closer, breaking the surface of the
water slowly, rivulets of water running down the sides of his face, and then he
heard it.

The
muffled grunts and moans of passion. Atemu looked toward the bank of reeds and
his eyes widened at the sight of two slaves entangle together, bodies pressing
and arching, pushing and taking as they fucked right before him. An odd type of
heat filtered through his belly, and Atemu squirmed at the oddity.

The
sight should have disgusted him, would have, not too long ago, but now, the
water seemed to pulse with their passions and in so, passed the feelings to
him. He found he couldn’t look away from the sight of tangled legs, that dark
haired woman crying out beneath the whip-scarred back of the male, her head
thrown back, teeth biting her lip to stay quiet as the male rose above,
slamming into her body almost brutally.

Atemu’s
breathing picked up and his entire body quaked as a need began to grow inside
of him and he let out a soft moan of his own when the woman’s legs wound about
the man’s hips driving him deeper into her willing body. He knew how that felt,
and he wanted it desperately, he’d gone for so long with out it, compared to
his life before, where his harem was never lacking.

But
now, he had nothing, nothing but these two oblivious slaves showing him what he
could no longer have, and he continued to watch, a voyeur in the Nile.
Suddenly, the woman arched, and the man grunted low, spilling his lust into her
body before collapsing onto her quivering form. The woman had not been
satisfied in the end, but did not complain to her lover, and Atemu continued to
watch, vainly thinking that, had it been him, she would not have been left
needing, but he was quickly forced to forget his thoughts when the woman
suddenly looked his way, with frightened eyes, and he was aware for the first
time that the woman was not a slave at all, but his cousin’s newest bed mate.

With
a quick move, Atemu dove beneath the surface of the water, and swam off into
the deeper part of the Nile, sinking to the bottom his heart still pounding.

So,
Bakura’s newest fuck is busy with a slave. Atemu
smirked to himself, hoping that his cousin contracted some disease from the
girl and lay back on the muddy ground to rest. It was then he became aware of
his own body. Startled he looked down his tail, mildly shocked to find his
penis standing proudly erect from the juncture where his legs should have met.

What
the…

Atemu
sat up looking at his erection like it was alien, it wasn’t as if he had
thought it shouldn’t be there, he was simply surprised that it was, considering
that it had been “missing” since his tail’s appearance. Slowly he reached out,
running an experimental finger over it, and shuddered at the feel.

It
was defiantly real, and his own, nothing about it had changed, for which he was
grateful, and as he explored his own body once more he found that near the
base, the scales on his tale gave way to a slitted hole, the same place where
his urine was released. Surprised, he continued to explore himself, touching
and stroking in remembered pleasure until, with a milky cloud he finished, and
again his manhood slipped protectively inside of the scales, the flakes of
flesh laying back down against the tail covering the hole.

Just
great… now my body is no better than that of a common animal... Atemu thought with a sneer, pushing himself
off the ground and swam away in disgust with himself and his actions.

Yami sighed, upon further inspection
later, he discovered that his “hole” could be found if he ran his finger up and
against the scales as if it was supposed to open at a touch. He also discovered
that he could fit finger inside the hole, with out pain or stretching, although
his penis was also tucked away inside, and came to the conclusion that sex for
his form, (and for the Atlantians, when he discovered their secret) was used as
a form of comfort so that males could mate with each other but only in the way
to comfort one another. There was no female to prove the theory that the
females could choose to get pregnant or not, but Yami assumed so anyway. Even
so, it was all speculation from what he learned on his own, so explaining it to
Yugi was another deal entirely.

“… So, how do you do it?”

Yami
choked.

“I mean, is it like a fish where the
females would lay eggs and the males… well you know… just kinda cream on the
eggs…” Yugi’s description caused Yami to groan and cover his face with his hand
squeezing his temples at the on-coming headache as his cheeks turned a deep hue
of red. “… Or is it like dolphins, where you can enjoy the act of sex. You
know, dolphins and humans are the only mammals… that… mate … for… umm…
pleasure….” Yugi’s voice trailed off when he took notice of Yami’s bug-eyed
appearance.

“Yami… you okay?” Yugi asked finally
sitting up in the water and swimming over to Yami, placing a hand on his
forehead to check for a temperature. “Are you feeling well?”

Am I feeling well? He just asked
if I fuck like a dolphin or cum like a fish, and he wonders if I’m feeling
well?

“I’m fine, Yugi. I don’t get
sick.” Yami reassured the boy, removing
Yugi’s hand from him, gently pulling the hand away by his small wrist and Yugi
simply let him do so with a small nod.

“Oh. Well, that’s good.”

Another silence fell, and Yami
released Yugi this time choosing to float on his back to watch the glittering
stars hoping his face would turn back to its normal color, when Yugi’s soft
voice broke the serene quiet of the night.

“So, um… can you?”

“Can I what?” Yami asked hoping to
drop the topic by feigning ignorance but the gods seemed to still be angry at
him for his voyeurism all those years ago.

“Fuck like a dolphin?”

Oh my Ra!

Yami suddenly shot up and turned on
Yugi with a glare made up of pure embarrassment and annoyance when he yelled,
“I don’t know! And why in all of Ra’s mercy do you want to?!”

He felt bad the minute the words
left his mouth as Yugi shrunk away from him, eyes wide and sorrowful, his hands
clasped close together holding the pearl necklace that rested against his bare
chest, fingers twisting together nervously. “Sorry, Yami, I shouldn’t have
pried.” Yugi muttered, sinking a little until his nose barely showed above the
water.

I hate feeling like this…

Yami grumbled to himself, not used
to feeling guilty for anything, and swam over pulling Yugi into an unsure hug.
Though touching had become something the two often did now, it still felt
slightly odd to hold Yugi, especially now that Yugi didn’t need him to hold him
above the water, but Yami held him anyway, enjoying the feeling of simple
contact with another being.

“No, it’s fine Yugi, you just
startled me is all.” Yami stated to the little body in his arms, and slowly he
heard Yugi talk, though his face was still angled down toward the water.

“So… do you?”

Yami sighed, realizing he wasn’t
going to escape the question, “I think so, yes. Now, why do you want to know so
badly, Yugi?” Yami asked calmly, trying to tilt Yugi’s head up to meet his
eyes.

Yugi was quite reluctant to look at
him for several moments, and only did so, after he’d spoken his reason aloud.
“Well, I figured that since I’m like you now, and you’ve been alone for so
long… that… maybe…” Yugi trailed off, finally looking up and into Yami’s eyes
with a look, the former Pharaoh could not place.

He’d expected a simple answer like,
‘Oh, I was just curious, Yami.’ Or even an, ‘I don’t know.’ But that? No, Yami
had not been expecting Yugi to offer to have sex with him.

If that’s even what he meant… Yami thought, his mind drawing a
blank, even as his heart picked up pace. Yugi’s face was slowly turning a dark
shade of red, as he continued to stare into Yami’s eyes with an odd sort of
hope.

“Yugi… you’re not…” Yami started,
but couldn’t find the words to finish his sentence, as Yugi looked away, his
face averted, but Yami could hear the hurt and tears in his voice as he tried
to laugh it off, just like the time he’d found him dressing his own wounds in
the storage room.

“I’m sorry Yami… it’s silly, I know.
I mean, I am a boy after all… right? Silly me…” Yugi trailed off once more, and
again silence took over.

Yami didn’t know what to say to
Yugi, he was flattered, yes, and tempted, though he was certain he could live
with out it, but at the same time confused. Yugi was so shy, and had fought so
hard to keep his innocence the day at the cliff, and now he was willing to give
it away to him?

Why?

“Yugi—“

“Forget it Yami, it was a stupid
little idea. I shouldn’t have even—“

Yami couldn’t handle it anymore and
pulled Yugi’s head down to rest on his chest, cutting him off as he whispered
into Yugi’s ear, to break through Yugi’s haze of embarrassment and self thought
up pain. “Yugi, it’s fine that you are a boy, that’s not the problem. Yugi… I
saw… I saw what happened on that cliff, you know I did.” Yami felt Yugi tense
and try to push back, and held tighter till he finished. “So why, after fighting
so hard to protect yourself, why do you offer this… to me?”

Yugi stopped struggling a moment,
and Yami froze, his grip loosening when Yugi pushed back slowly, until he could
meet Yami’s eyes, and again Yami was dumb-founded to find those amethyst eyes
full of compassion and strength.

“You need it.”

It was
simple as that.

Yami blinked, as Yugi smiled at him
repeating his reasoning as though it was the most obvious thing in the world.
“Because you need this Yami. To have known it once, and then go for so long
with out the act of physical love…” Yugi trailed off again, and Yami found
himself unable to argue against his logic, though he tried anyway.

“Yugi…”

“I don’t mind, Yami. To be honest,
I’ve never felt anything for anyone before, and well, I care for you, and you’re
my friend, so I figure, if I’m going to give myself away, why not give myself
to my only friend?” Yugi stated with another smile his logic making sense to
Yami.

Yami relaxed, feeling kind of numb.
Again he’d expected, and even feared, that Yugi would have said the three
little words that Yami himself had lost all faith in, but again, Yugi hadn’t
done so. Instead he simply said that he cared, and that it was his friendship
and trust that he was acting on. Those things, at least, Yami could understand.

“Yami?” Yugi asked, still loosely held
in his arms, and Yami looked up into those wide eyes, and gave Yugi a short
nod, to which the boy smiled, with a light blush, starting to get nervous now
that it had been decided.

“Umm, I don’t… really know… uh how
to do this… so I—“ Yami again cut Yugi short, his lips moving to close against
Yugi’s in a soft chaste kiss. Feeling the hot, soft flesh against his own lips,
the tingle that traveled all the way down his spine from the contact, Yami
shivered recalling the day he’d rescued Yugi.

“Don’t worry… I remember.” Yami
said, pulling his lips just far enough away to speak, his lips brushing Yugi’s
with each whispered word, and he felt Yugi shiver. Yami smiled before capturing
the sweet, and so very soft, lips once more.

Yugi sighed against him, his hands
slowly rising to wind about Yami neck, and Yami pulled them both beneath the
waves. He pressed Yugi back down toward the ocean floor, gently moving to pin
the smaller one under him. He brushed his tail against Yugi’s as he moved them
slowly toward the ground, the movements easy and unrushed. Bubbles broke free
from their lips as they kissed, lips pressing and molding together, taking
their time in remembering each other.

Sand billowed up as he eased Yugi
down to the ground, his lips leaving Yugi’s to look him in the eyes. Yugi met
his stare fully, eyes soft and warm, showing an inkling of desire, and complete
trust. Yami ran his hands down and over Yugi’s upper body, his caresses, not
meant to stimulate, just a simple touch, learning the body of the smaller one.
He stroked over the nipples carefully and gently, watching Yugi tremble
lightly, before he moved on, brushing over his belly and the sides of his tail,
feeling it’s silky texture.

Yami gave Yugi a look, showing him
his last chance to stop, and Yugi simply smiled, pulling Yami down and on top
of him. Yami gave a soft sigh, small bubbles leaving his nose as he kissed Yugi’s
shoulder gently, feeling the warm heat spreading in his belly once more and
slid his body up and against Yugi, his tail brushing over Yugi’s and felt Yugi
shiver at the feel.

He moved his lips to Yugi’s,
covering them with his own, gentle and patient like before, lips slowly parting
as his tongue dipped out to press against Yugi’s. Another wave of need settled
into Yami, a warm and encompassing feeling, as he continued to tease and stroke
himself against Yugi’s body.

Yugi’s lips parted and Yami’s tongue
swept in, tasting salt water mingled with Yugi’s own taste and Yami moaned,
remembering the burning feel of another’s body in his arms.

This time as he brushed against
Yugi, Yami’s erection found and slid beneath the slit of scales that marked
Yugi’s entrance and he pushed in with ease. Yami grunted in shock at the
pleasured feelings, so very different and yet so very missed. Yugi gasped into
his kiss, and Yami savored the sound. It felt so very good, and Yugi seemed to
think so as well, as he arched against Yami crying out lightly.

For the first time, Yami realized
how badly he’d truly needed this and pressed himself in deeper, with a low and
needy breath, his mind calling out since his mouth could not form clear words
beneath the waves.

Oh Ra, yes…

Yugi arched again, and then fell
limp in Yami’s arms, simply wanting Yami have his way with him, show him all
the pleasure he could, the new body understanding it’s roll, his own manhood
staying buried, rubbed and stroked by Yami’s that pressed deep inside of his
willing body, but Yami was unaware of this, and took Yugi’s sudden pliancy as a
bad sign, as it helped to clear his mind.

Damn it! What am I doing?!

Yami jerked back and out of Yugi,
with more than a little bit of reluctance, and remorse. Yugi made a soft sound
that reverberated on the water, showing his dislike at Yami’s sudden halt, and
he looked up at Yami curiously.

~Yugi, are you all right?~ Yami sent the thought to the
little one, half surprised when it actually worked, and half knowing it would
from speaking with the gibberish dolphins. Not to mention his discussion with
Alta, all those years ago.

~Fine Yami… why’d you stop?~ Yugi’s mental voice sounded needy
and upset, and it was more surprising than the fact that once again, Yugi
didn’t even seem all that fazed at having a voice in his head. But then again
he’d just been turned into a Merman, and was having sex with his best friend,
so hearing voices must be the least of his worries.

~I thought I hurt you…~

~No.. Felt good… do it again,
Yami…Oh please…~

Yami shivered at the plea, and moved
back down to claim Yugi’s lips, slipping himself back inside of Yugi’s hot
little body, their tails, pressing and twisting together.

~Yes, little one… For you, yes…~

It was different from what Yami
remembered sex to be like. It was so much more gentle, and warm, nothing but
pleasure and heat, but it wasn’t tiring in the least. Their bodies felt and
pressed, together feeling and sliding, skin against skin. His hands slid down
Yugi’s body helping him to press upward and pull him in deeper, feeling Yugi’s
skin and tail, rubbing and touching, but his movements weren’t desperate and
crazed as he remembered them to be when he was human. It was like he had all
the time in the world to love this body that held him so tight and warm with in
it, and the person beneath him didn’t mind if he took forever.

There
was no pain for either, as Yami pulled all the way out, his tail lifting to
move to the other side of Yugi’s, slipping beneath it to pull up Yugi’s body
and allow himself to slide back in, and he let out a deeply satisfied grunt,
lowering to kiss Yugi’s neck tenderly as he rocked with in him, the boy
alternating between laying deathly still for him and arching and rocking back
to increase the warm feelings of tenderness and safety.

~Yami… Oh Yami…~

Yugi ‘s voice whispered over Yami’s
senses and he pressed in deeper wanting to hear Yugi’s sweet voice again, and
received Yugi’s pleasured cry in his mind. Yami felt a rumble of gratification
course through his chest and moved one hand down to hold Yugi’s hip, his thumb
rubbing over the skin above the tail as he felt his little lover’s body move up
to receive him. The upward motion of Yugi’s hips, moving against him all on his
own, was a heady sensation, and Yami sank deeper, kissing the underside of
Yugi’s chin lightly, his tongue running over the flesh as he moved to suckle
lightly on Yugi’s ear.

~Yami! What are you doing to me?~
Yugi groaned
lustfully, his fingers lightly gripping Yami’s shoulders as Yami shifted inside
of him.

~Exactly what you wanted, Yugi.~ Yami answered back just as huskily,
continuously moving and pushing into the body that welcomed him. His heart beat
in sync with Yugi’s, and their tails twisted and hugged each other’s in a tight
grip as Yami slid up and against Yugi holding him close as they continued to
make love beneath the waves.

It seemed it would never end, as
Yugi’s hand trailed over Yami’s back, slowly, following the dip of his spine
and Yami arched against him, as Yugi brushed his backside with his finger tips
once more, and Yami smirked against Yugi’s shoulder where his head was resting
lightly, listening to Yugi breath.

~You like my tail that much,
little one?~

~I love your tail… it’s so
beautiful…~ Yugi
commented, wonderfully coherent, and yet drugged by the passion all at once.
The sensations were so different, and so alike, that Yami could only move and
allow his body to feel. The word choice Yugi had made, should have angered or
frightened Yami, but it didn’t, and Yami felt a tingle run down his spine and
continued to move into that tight, sheath that was Yugi’s opening.

~As is yours antyw akhu…~ Yami whispered, kissing Yugi’s
shoulder with a soft grunt of pleasure.

Yugi gasped again, as Yami shifted
his tail once more, and lay limp in his embrace, breathing deeply, appearing to
have simply told Yami to have his way with him, which the other did quickly,
the kissing continuing.

Yami slipped out, and pressed back
in, back arching, letting Yugi feel his pumping hips as his stroking hands had
yet to move from his violet backside. The press of those tiny hands made Yami
shiver with an intensified need, and he wondered briefly if it had always been
this satisfying to bed with someone?

Again, Yami felt the coil of heat
wind tight in his lower belly, but it was too soon, he wasn’t even tired. Yami
tried to think on it, but couldn’t as Yugi whimpered and breathed his name in
his mind as they continued their act of fidelity. Yugi’s arms moved back up to
hold him as his mind reached out once more for his own.

~This feels so good Yami… so very
good.~

Gods do I know it! Yami thought to himself, kissing
Yugi in answer as the coil finally snapped and Yami released with a cloud of
white that leaked out of Yugi’s body. Yugi let out a cry that was muffled by
the bubbles that escaped his mouth, and a second cloud followed, mixing with
Yami’s in the sea.

Yami slipped out for the final time
and both boys stayed frozen for a moment. Crimson eyes locked with amethyst,
curiously wondering if the other regretted their act, surprised at his clear
head, and energized body, but also knowing that they had enjoyed it. Yami felt
slightly concerned having taken Yugi’s innocence so randomly--over something so
frivolous as a need and friendship, but the smile on Yugi’s face eased his
guilt, and Yami took Yugi’s hand giving it a thankful squeeze before pulling
him up from the ground. The two swam to the surface of the water, hands tightly
clasped together.

From the look of the stars they’d been down there for several
hours, and Yami creased his brow in wonder of how any of that could be possible.
Yami’s fingers ran over Yugi’s knuckles as they bobbed in the waves.

“Thank you Yugi…” Yami whispered and
felt Yugi turn to look at him, and blushed slightly as he admitted to his
weakness. “I did need that, more than even I knew…” Yami said sadly, feeling
more human then he had in a long while.

“You’re welcome Yami, and thank you,
as well. I certainly enjoyed it.”

Yami turned and lifted an eyebrow at
the blushing boy, and watched as the blush traveled down to his navel, and
suddenly, he wanted to taste Yugi’s skin again, to trail that blush with his
tongue, but he held back.

“So…” Yami began.

“So…” Yugi copied.

“…”

“Again?” Yugi asked, with a tilt of
his head, and Yami turned to look at him with wide eyes, before smirking and
yanking Yugi into his arms and dragging him down again, this time slipping into
Yugi before they even touched the bottom.

Yami wasn’t certain how many times
he partook of Yugi’s body, nor how long they continued to make the soft sweet
love in the ocean, but Yami felt happy and sated by the time Yugi and him made
it back to the house, tumbling into another love making session at the bottom
of the ocean bed below the opening to the house’s storage room, but the sun was
well in the sky before Yami and Yugi actually fell asleep holding each other
close, still connected and very satisfied.

~*~

The books fell into the bag with a
soft scraping sound and a dull thud, echoing in the quiet room. The sun poured
in from the upper level of the house, where the door was open, and Yugi turned
from his bag searching around for his last missing book.

Yami had found his book bag in the
ocean several days after he’d shown up at his house the first time, and Yugi
had managed to air dry the books, though the pages had still seen better days,
and now, he couldn’t find one. Where
could it be? I know I left it right here… Yugi thought chewing on his lip thoughtfully
while turning in a circle looking for the missing item.

“Missing a book, little one?” Yami
asked, and Yugi turned to face his friend with a smile, the other, leaning on
the ledge like he usually did.

“Yeah, my English one, you haven’t
seen it have you, Yami?” Yugi asked with a hopeful tilt to his head, and Yami
shook his head in the negative.

“Sorry, little one, but I haven’t.”

“Damn.” Yugi muttered, lifting up
his bedding from the night before and searching under it, finally spotting the
annoying text under the bottom corner of his blankets. “There you are!” Yugi
cheered running over and dropping the book into his satchel and heaving it up
onto his shoulder finally ready to leave.

“Will you be fishing today after
school, Yugi?” Yami asked, and Yugi turned from the stairs to look at his
friend.

“Probably should, huh? Would you
mind so much?”

Yami smiled and shook his head, and
Yugi returned the grin with one of his own. “Then maybe we can go swimming
together afterward?” Yugi suggested, and saw Yami chuckle under his breath.

“Don’t you think you should learn to
swim in your normal form?” Yami asked teasingly, of course Yugi stuck out his
tongue in rebuttal.

“Well, according to you, that is my
true form.”

“Touché.” Yami said, his voice
sounding different as he spoke the foreign word, and Yugi giggled.

“Besides, you wouldn’t be able to
have any “relief” if I was in this form.” Yugi teased, and nearly regretted it
when Yami grinned leeringly at him.

“Oh, I can still take you as you are
now Yugi, I’d just have to keep you above water.”

Yugi felt his jaw drop and his face
heat up instantly, and Yami began to laugh loudly at his expression, his threat
nothing more than a joke, but still Yugi couldn’t help but be completely
shocked at Yami’s bluntness.

“I’ve got to get to school, bye
Yami.” Yugi said hurriedly, running up the stairs, the humored reply of,

“Ittarashai!” following after him.

Yugi walked down the warmed path,
breathing in the salty sea air, and feeling happier than a lark. It had been
nearly a week after Yami and he had made love for the first time, and
surprisingly, it didn’t really change much in their relationship. Sure they
were closer, and a little more open with their teasing, evidence of that
morning, but nothing had fallen apart, and neither really felt the need to
burst with sudden news of love.

Yugi was certain that he loved Yami
as a friend, and perhaps even more, but he was in no rush to voice his feelings
either. The whole thing was simply warm, and comfortable and it just fit in
with their schedule now. Some nights they’d just sit up and talk like they had
always done, and other’s Yami would help him change and they’d either swim
together, talk mentally for the sake of closeness or make gentle love under the
water. It just seemed so natural as if it was second-hand nature to be so close
to Yami. It’s even becoming easier to
change now… Yugi smiled not in the least bit concerned with that fact. He
preferred being like Yami than being a human. He was able to live and enjoy the
ocean, no one was ever waiting to beat him up on the roads, and he could stay
with Yami for as long as he wanted. In comparison with what he had on land,
living in the ocean like Yami was almost like living in heaven.

The
sea embracing him closely, currents brushing over and through his hair,
murmuring in his ear, as if welcoming him home. Warm kisses falling over his
face and body, warming him from the inside as bodies twined and connected,
moving together with soft warmth and comfort, the action bringing a deep sense
of peace and safety, never ending, never tiring.

Just simple, love.

Yugi smiled to himself, blushing in
remembrance of the shared acts Yami and him made together under the safe
security of the sea. The arms of the tide embracing him closely, singing in
joy, their lovemaking becoming less of an act of passion, and more like one of
sweet comfort and understanding. It was like nothing he’d expected it to be.
But then again, since meeting Yami, things hadn’t really been normal. Not that
they ever truly had been to begin with.

It seemed things were looking up,
the shop was doing well, and school was coming to a close for the summer
holidays, everything was falling into place, even his sleep walking had tapered
off a bit, which was a great relief to Yugi. It seemed his moments of
interrupted sleep were becoming much less innocent after Ushio’s first attack.
Where Yugi used to hear a soft murmur of voices, the pulling call of his soul’s
ocean gently prodding and coaxing him into it, it now became a loud voice that
drowned out all else, the ocean rising to drown him in its dark waves. It was
frightening to say the least, the very real fear of losing himself to whatever
lurked in the depths of his ocean, causing Yugi to wake in sobbing relief that
it was just a dream. Yami seemed to quell those nightmares, and that alone was
the cause of Yugi’s great joy. Yugi grinned from ear to ear, practically
skipping down the road. Grandpa, you were
right, something in the ocean was calling for me. It was Yami, and you know
what, I think I’m finally happy…

“Hey, Kappa!”

Yugi froze the moment the words registered
in his mind and Yugi slowly looked up, not all that surprised to find Ushio and
his thugs blocking his path. No… not
today… Yugi thought sadly, already fearing the worst. Though Ushio hadn’t
tried to touch him since that day on the cliff, Yugi in no way thought that
he’d heard the end of it from the giant bully, and feared his touch even more
now that he knew what it felt to be loved in a physical way.

“Ushio-kun.” Yugi said in a low
voice, hoping his tone sounded sincerer and respectful. Lowering his head and
trying not to look at the mammoth of a man and at the same time keep him in his
sights. Yugi could feel his heart pounding in his chest, and felt the roll of
the ocean in his mind and gasped.

No… what was that?

Yugi made a face raising his hand to
grab at the necklace hidden under the white shirt of his school uniform top feeling
the hot pulse from his mother’s necklace, and felt a light sweat break out over
his body, his heart pounding heavily with in his chest. The pearl of power… why is it…? Is it reacting to my fear?

Yugi tried to suppress his trembling
at the thought. If the stone was capable of destroying Yami’s entire kingdom,
what would it do in response to his terror? Fearful of himself, Yugi took a
step back, already feeling the tell tale prickle of energy coursing through his
small frame.

“That’s right you freak, it’s me,
and you’ve been pretty disrespectful as of late.” Ushio suddenly spoke up and
Yugi jumped, looking straight up into the bullies face, his heartbeat drumming
in his ears. He sounded muffled, as though he were a great distance away and
the notion frightened Yugi. What’s wrong
with me? I never used to have these problems! Then again, Ushio hadn’t tried
to… to…

Another pulse from the pendant
wrenched a whimper from Yugi’s throat and he shivered, as he felt his
consciousness leaving him swiftly, his mind’s ocean calling out, and a lulling
voice whispering in his mind. Words from a distant world, long dead and
forgotten by man, but he knew what it meant.

Let go,
and forget who you are.

Lose.

Yugi shook his head defiantly,
pushing his inner ocean far from him with a desperation he’d never felt before.
No, I don’t need it anymore… I have Yami!
I have Yami I don’t need my ocean. I have my ocean…. I have—

“Are you listening to me, Kappa?”
Ushio asked lifting Yugi up by the collar of his shirt and tearing Yugi from
his inner struggle, and the ocean tide swelled to consume him. Yugi was losing
to the voice inside of him, and he knew that if he let go, he would never again
resurface. “Because of you, my family’s getting hit pretty badly. So tell me,
how are you getting your fish? You coaxing them to you with your powers?” Ushio sneered, and his back up
laughed coldly. “Or are you getting help from someone?”

Yugi gasped, the bully’s words
striking a chord deep inside of himself, his face paling, his eyes dilating in
sudden fear. Yami… if they find out about
him… they’ll take him away… Yugi began to tremble his mind falling deeper
into the arms of his internal sea, soothing him from conscience thought, as it
always had the nights he wandered from his bed to stand in the swirl of sea
foam. No… I won’t let them have him… Yugi thought desperately, his heart hardening
in fearful conviction, and felt the stone burn against his chest the voice of
the woman whispering with the language of the sea, her words making little
sense to anything but his soul.

“Yugi,
daijoubu… let go. Let go.”

Yugi swallowed hard, hearing his
mother’s voice in his mind as he slowly forgot the world around him. What’s happening to me?

“So, that’s it, huh? Who’s helping
you?” Ushio’s voice was quiet and Yugi shook, feeling his body shake, as he
broke out into a light sweat. “You trying to ignore me again, Yugi-kun?” Ushio
threatened, and Yugi jerked out of his fog in time to see the fist coming at
him.

From deep inside of himself, Yugi
felt something rush out to confront the attack, something warm, and powerful,
and oddly Yugi found himself extremely impassive about the entire thing. Only
the frightening thought that something was taking over his body, and that now
Yami would have to leave because Yugi couldn’t control it, pulled cold inside
his chest. No… please stop… don’t cause a
scene!

“Hey! What’s going on over there?!”
The voice sounded firm with age, and from the tone of voice, it was a foreigner,
and well educated. The blow halted, and Yugi felt the force ease back slightly.
“I asked you boy’s a question! Ushio, are you picking on that child?”

The question hardly registered into
Yugi’s mind, when the grip suddenly released him, and Yugi dropped to the
ground, his legs crumpling under his body, sprawling him to the earth. Yugi
didn’t dare to move, the rushing of the ocean still thrumming through his veins,
heat pummeling his mind and body, begging to be released. Why can’t I calm down? Why can’t I control this? Is it because I know
now? About Atlantis… and… and everything? Yugi curled closer into his self,
his hand griping at the collar of his shirt holding the burning pearl, pleading
with it to calm, and nearly missed the last of the conversation between his new
savior and his tormentor.

“Ushio, I do not think your family’s
reputation would fair well if it were to get out that you beat up small
children in your spare time.”

“Umi-san, Gomen nasai, but, this
isn’t—“ Ushio seemed to stumble over his words, and had Yugi been paying
attention he would have been shocked to hear the note of fear in the boy’s
tone.

“I do not want to hear it,
Ushio-kun, now, I suggest you make your way to school, now.”

Yugi, his heart finally calming, was
able to hear the retreating foot falls of his attackers and opened bleary eyes,
the surge of power relenting suddenly, his body cooling quickly, and the voice
submitting immediately, leaving him gasping on the sand laden road. What just… happened?

“Are you all right, kid?”

Yugi, slowly rolled onto his back,
looking up and into the firm features of his savior. The first thing he
realized was that the man’s eyes seemed strikingly light, a soft green shade,
his hair a golden color. He was a westerner, that would have meant close to
nothing in his mind, the man’s suite showing that he was a business man of
sorts, proving his power and wealth, nothing out of the usual… but
why is he here? On such a small island chain as this?

“Do you need me to get help?” The
man knelt down before Yugi, his nice pants becoming dirtied as his hand reached
out to cover Yugi’s own that still clung to the now stone-cold pearl, and Yugi
jumped at the shock that passed through his body at the touch, and for a moment
his mind blanked out.

Water
rushed up to swallow the land, screams rose as bodies were crushed and broken
by the waves. White towers of glory collapsed under the fiery of the ocean’s
waves. Blood colored the water like it had done to the Nile in Kehmet not more
than a year before.

This was the end.

But it couldn’t be so.

A
child cried in a cradle, water rushing up and around the infant, pooling and
rocking the bed, as if to sooth it’s cries in place of its mother. A flash of
ruddy anger, it was all his fault, even now he was taking everything from him.
It could never end this way. From a tightly clenched hand, golden curls clung,
stained and soaked with the crimson tide that swirled in through the open door,
water already risen high enough to lift the baby’s crib from the floor.

So, this was his fate was it?
Well, if he couldn’t stop this, than he’d stop what he could.

The
baby screamed loudly as he stood over the crib, glaring down at the child with
deep hate.

The child of the throne.

The child that carried his name.

The child with crimson colored
eyes.

“Does your chest hurt?”

Yugi jerked back to the present,
blinking wide eyes, suddenly aware that the man above him had been questioning
his condition for quite some time now, and was moving to unbutton his shirt.
With a deep blush, Yugi rolled away onto his side pulling his shirt closed as
he cried out in a natural reaction, “No!”

Yugi felt the man lean away from
him, and heard from the voice when he spoke, that he had not meant him harm or
cause him fear and relaxed slightly, “Sorry, I didn’t mean to startle you, kid.
You were quiet for so long, I feared that perhaps you’d been injured. I won’t
touch you, okay?”

Yugi looked over his shoulder, and
was surprised to see the honest expression of concern in Umi’s eyes, and
suddenly felt foolish for his actions. “No, it’s alright, sorry. I’m fine… you
just…”

Yugi said looking away, and heard
the older man chuckle. “No need to explain anything, what you did was natural,
I should have been thinking more.”

Yugi looked at him in surprise,
shocked that he wasn’t repelled from him, like everyone else seemed to be, and
felt himself return the kind smile, shifting a bit to sit up. He’s kinda nice… like grandpa.

“Say, what’s your name, kid, I’d
swear I know you. Your eyes…” Umi seemed to trail off, staring into Yugi’s
amethyst eyes, and Yugi felt his cheeks heat at the intense stare and had to
glance away, feeling the man’s gaze like a caress on his skin, and shuddered.
“I swear I know… your eyes.”

“Y—Yugi. Mutou Yugi.” Yugi’s voice
trembled as he stuttered and felt Umi chuckle, standing and lowering his hand
to help Yugi to his feet.

“Well Yugi, I’m Umi Deruta. It’s a
pleasure to meet you.” Deruta said with a smile, and a warm feeling pooled in
Yugi’s stomach even as his heart turned cold in his chest. Something about the
man both attracted and repelled Yugi all at once, but he shrugged it off, letting go of his shirt and
accepting the offered with a smile of his own.

“Pleasure’s all mine, Deruta-san.”

Deruta, returned the gesture pulling
Yugi to his feet, one hand resting on Yugi’s shoulder another question falling
from his lips. “So how old are you, Yugi-kun?”

Yugi was slightly shocked at the
fact that they were all ready on first-name basis, but then again, he had
started it, and the man was a westerner, so that custom practically became
moot. Yet somehow, it felt as though it was right, the familiarity, so Yugi
brushed his shock away, unconcerned that his hand was still being held as he
brushed off his shirt, hardly noticing when his companion tensed, his smile
dropping from his face and his grip suddenly tightened. “Sixteen. Seventeen
this tenth month.” Yugi responded proudly, turning his attention back to his
companion. “What about you… Deruta-san?”

Deruta seemed to be glaring down at
something, his entire being stiff and slightly pale, and following his eyes,
Yugi found that his pendant was resting out side of his shirt, shining in the sunlight.
Oh shit! Yugi tried to yank his hand
back to stuff the pearl back under cover of his shirt, but found himself
restricted by Deruta’s tight grip.

“Where did you get that, Yugi?” His
voice had changed, and suddenly Yugi felt as though he was standing in a storm,
a violent, dangerous storm, and shuddered, jerking on his arm trying to free
himself.

“L—let me go. Please, I… I need to get to school!” Yugi tried, pushing
at the hand on his wrist, only to have Deruta jerk him forward, catching him around
the waist with his other arm, holding him close. Yugi squeaked, his heart
pounding in his chest, and yet the stone continued to lay dead against his
chest. Wasn’t it supposed to react to his fears?

“Did you get it from your mother,
Yugi Mutou?” Deruta asked, his voice a low croon. Yugi whimpered and felt the
taller man chuckle, his voice lowering, as his hand moved up to stroke his
finger over Yugi’s cheek, and Yugi cringed away, burned by his touch. “… or
should I say, Aruta Yugi.”

Amethyst eyes shot open in horror,
turning to look into the cruel green eyes of the man who knew his name, his hidden name. “How…” Yugi choked on his
words, hopeful fear twisting in his chest, memories crowding into his mind of a
night of terror, and the memory of family.

“I’m your other half Yugi.” The man
crooned softly, nuzzling his neck and a flash of a memory, not his own, crashed
through him.

Harsh
hands, pressing and touching, moving against flesh. Heated breath panting in
anticipation, breathing out words of praise and love, as lust built behind
flashing emerald eyes. “Mine. You are finally mine, Alta. You are loved by me,
no one will know of Atemu’s crimes… Mine all mine.”

The
touch burned and caused skin to crawl, as tears of disgust leaked from between
tightly closed amethyst eyes. No choice was given, there was none to make. To
survive, to keep the future the same, it needed to be done.

She cried in shame.

Yugi gasped, coming back from the
memory as the arms around him crushed him close, warm lips touching his pale
throat in a burning touch that caused his skin to hurt. “… I am your cousin,
Yugi. The son of Delta.” The words where whispered and Yugi shook in growing
fear, his mind catching the name, recognizing it, though at the moment he could
not recall how he knew of it.

“What are you talking about?” Yugi
whimpered, pressing against Deruta with his hands, but the grip held tight. The
voice of his inner ocean began to whisper in his mind, and Yugi stilled,
calling out to it, hoping to free himself from the man no matter what he was
risking, but the voice was shattered with the man’s next words.

“I thought I’d lost you on the ship.
Thought your mother had killed you. You, the one who Alta had blessed with her
powers. The true ruler of Atlantis. My queen.”

“What?!” Yugi cried out, looking
into the glazed soft green eyes in fearful confusion, nothing making sense in
his mind. “I’m a boy! Let go, you’ve made a mistake! I’m a boy!”

“Calm yourself Yugi, I know that.”
Deruta paused, to hold Yugi’s chin with his hand forcing Yugi to look at him. “The
throne of Atlantis belongs to me, the descendant of Delta, the true son. By all
accounts you should be killed, but how can I kill you? When our joining will
unite our families once more?” Deruta asked, in what Yugi felt was a crazed
fashion, his larger hand running down his back suggestively, and Yugi felt
tears rush to his eyes. What is he
saying?! Yami! Yami please help me!!! Yugi cried out internally, wishing
that the connection he’d found with the ancient Pharaoh had been permanent in
this form as well as his other.

“But, I do not understand Yugi, how
did you survive? Your mother must have thrown you overboard before we could get
to you. I know because I looked. I was worried for you, so how did you
survive?” Deruta asked, his hand running over Yugi’s face, and Yugi felt sick
to his stomach, shaking uncontrollably, tears running over his flushed cheeks.

“Will you not speak to me, my
other?” Deruta asked once more, his face dipping low and Yugi jerked his head to
the side, eyes closing tight as if to block him out, and without thinking he
whimpered the name his mother had taught him to call out to when he was in
need, “Atemu.”

He felt the man holding him freeze,
his arms tightening around Yugi’s small frame slightly. “What did you say…?” The words where breathless and deathly calm,
and suddenly Yugi was looking into cold, hard green eyes, the man shifting
gears as suddenly as he had before, with his mind boggling affection. “Is that
how you survived, my Yugi?”

Yugi’s heart doubled in recognition
to the name, an image returning to his mind, becoming clearer with each passing
second, and with a cold realization, Yugi felt his stomach twist.

The
sea breeze floated over the deck, a sea gull catching and riding it down the
long stretch of ship, and bright wide eyes followed, giggling merrily as he
chased after the gull. Little sneakered feet pounded over polished wood farther
and farther from his parents, and in the distance he could hear his mother
yelling after him.

“Yugi,
don’t go so far! Yugi come back here!”

But
the child was too entertained to care as he sped along after the bird. People
passed by him in a blur of colors and clothing, but still the little one didn’t
care or notice, until, at the end of the ship, the gull flew over the railing
and out to sea with a final call. Yugi stopped hands gripping the bottom
railing as he stared between the metal bars with an awed expression, grinning
ear to ear. “Wow…”

“You
like the ocean then?” A deep voice startled the smaller boy and he turned to
look up at who had addressed him, and was delighted, and shocked to find a
teenager looking down on him, green eyes turning from caring to shocked wonder
the moment his eyes met with Yugi’s.
“You are an Aruta, aren’t you?”

Yugi
made a face tilting his head to the side. “Yugi is Yugi. Aruta Yugi, not Aruta”
Yugi said with a pout and the other seemed surprised at Yugi’s forwardness, and
gaped a moment in shock.

“You,
are Aruta Yugi?” He asked almost fearful of the answer and Yugi nodded, looking
back out over the ocean, grinning wildly.

“Hai!
Mommy’s taking me on this big boat for my birthday. I love the ocean, and I’m
so happy!” Yugi grinned, practically bouncing in his place, unaware of the sour
expression on the young man’s face.

“How
old are you Yugi?”

“Six!”
Yugi said proudly, and then suddenly sobered, eyes getting big in fear and he
smacked a hand to his forehead before covering his mouth with both hands. The
teen looked at him curiously, bending down to regard him.

“Yugi-kun,
what’s the matter?”

“I’m
not supposed to talk to strangers.” Yugi whispered, horrified, and the man
smiled lightly, a sad expression leaving to be replaced with one of firm
decision.

“I’m
no stranger Yugi.”

“But
I don’t know you…” Yugi said, looking sad then scrunched his face in confusion,
“do I?”

“I’m
your cousin, Yugi. You can call me D-chan, okay?” The blond stated with a smile,
and Yugi regarded him for only a second before grinning wildly, innocently
unaware of the wheels that had already been set in motion.

“Okay,
D-chan.” Yugi giggled a moment, grabbing the other’s hand to show him the
ocean. “Look, the sun’s sinking into the sea and—“

“Yugi!”

The
sound of his mother’s worried tone, caused Yugi to turn around, his smile growing
as he called back, “Okaa-chan!” He turned to leave and was suddenly caught up
in a deep hug, golden hair tickling his face. “D-chan?”

The
teen pulled back and patted Yugi on the head once, “Happy Birthday my Yugi. For
your present… I leave you your life.” And then he turned and left, the child
not knowing the depth and meaning of those words.

Yugi closed his eyes, feeling tears
trail continuously over his face, and tried to even his breathing. Why was the
pearl staying quiet now? Please… someone…
help me…

“Where is he Yugi? With you?”
Deruta’s inquiry caused Yugi to jump and his eyes flashed over to his in shock,
and watched the man’s expression darken. “So… he is. I’ll be sure to dispose of
him properly this time. No room for mistakes.”

Yugi’s heart froze, Yami… he’s going to hurt… Yugi burst
into sudden action, his foot catching Deruta in the shin as he cried out an
angry, “NO!” and the man jerked, dropping Yugi, who instantly scrambled to his
feet, choking on sobs as he made to run.

A hand grabbed his wrist to stop him
and Yugi turned around fiercely biting into the flesh of the hand, his teeth
sinking in deep enough to draw blood. Deruta cried out and jerked his hand
back, smacking Yugi across the face.

Pain blossomed in his cheek as Yugi
was again tossed to the ground, but he didn’t stay down for long, being beaten
daily had it’s advantages, and so with little dizziness Yugi sprung to his feet
and ran for all he was worth.

His sides burned, his heart ached,
and his legs felt numb, but Yugi pressed himself on, urging his body to move
faster, ignoring the cry that had echoed from behind him as he’d left, the
pounding pursuit that had spurred his adrenalin rush that now blocked out all
sound from his ears, save the ringing and the rushing of blood as it pumped
desperately through his chest. What the
hell was that?! He hardly knows me… and… and… Yami, I want Yami!

Yugi felt a fresh batch of tears
sting his eyes as he darted around another corner not sure if Deruta was still
following him, but not pausing to find out, and made a mad dash for the public
library at the center of the town. There were many people milling around there,
unlike the path way he’d been taking to school, a road that was hardly used
except by those who stopped by to buy from his store. But he only opened after
school hours on the week days, meaning that the road may as well have been a
dark ally way. He’ll cause too much of a
scene if he tries to drag me out of here… Yugi thought, bursting through
the double doors and streaking into one of the many isles of books darting in
and out of the rows before finally collapsing behind an overly stuffed green
chair that rested beside a table and a lamp in the kids section.

It was the story time corner for the
little children, and the chair was pressed snuggly into a corner providing the
perfect hiding spot for Yugi. The area in general was viewable from virtually
all places in the library, so that the parents could keep an eye on their
children while they search for books. It gave him two advantages, one, if
Deruta tried to attack him, someone would defiantly see them, and two he was
practically hiding in plain sight, something most tended not to do.

Yugi strained to hear anything in
the quiet library, but only the light hum of computers and the soft sounds of
books being shelved away reached his ears. Yugi’s heart finally started to
calm, and as the adrenaline left, Yugi’s tears returned. He hiccupped
uncontrollably as he curled into a tight ball, sobbing his fear away behind the
happy green chair in the story book corner, alone and frightened until, finally
sleep claimed his tired mind, and he drifted off, tears drying on his cheeks.

The computer screen glared brightly
at him, and Yugi pouted hitting the back button for the umpteenth time in the
past hour. Another dead end.

Damn
it! Why can’t people post what I want to find? Yugi thought angrily glaring
at the computer screen, his finger tapping the mouse gently. So far his
attempts to find out more on Atlantis’s history had ended in myths and
hypothesis. Nowhere in any of the stories was Delta or Alta mentioned. Yugi
sighed, shoulders slumping in slight defeat, wishing, not for the first time,
that he had more experience with computers.

Being as poor as they were, Sugoroku
and Yugi had been more interested in buying new products for the store when the
extra money came in, so a computer was not real high on their list of worries.
Even so, Yugi regretted it now. Come on,
there has to be something… Annoyed Yugi returned to the search engine page,
the big glowing symbols shining joyously at him.

Yugi had been shown the search
engine by a Page, after she had found him behind the chair. She had been
stocking the children’s books when she’d caught sight of him, and was worried
that a parent had forgotten their child at first, but after talking to her for
a moment, she was show otherwise.

She
graciously offered to help, when Yugi said he was running from bullies and
still needed to write an essay on Atlantis, and so he was there, in front of a
computer four hours after coming into the building and crying himself to sleep,
and he was still no closer to answers.

Annoyed, Yugi typed in the keywords,
Atlantis: Delta AND Alta, using all Katakana symbols and a bunch of links
appeared ranging from T.V. shows to online porn. Yugi wanted to blow the
computer up. He was just about to hit the back button, when the link near the
bottom caught his attention.

“Family Line of Delta” An Atlanian
fairy tale.

Yugi blinked, the words were in
English, not his best subject, but he caught most of it, and quickly scanning
the link, found a little button to the left stating, “translate this page.”
Yugi grinned hitting the link and waited while the page loaded. When it had
finished, Yugi scrolled down looking over the web layout. The grammar was
horrible, but that was to be expected from a English to Japanese translation,
especially when it was done by the internet.

The information was set up like a
story, the history laid out first, matching the story Yami had told him of his
past, though, Yami’s true name was not mentioned, and the story made him out to
be so much worse, stating that he raped Alta in an attempt to take the throne
of Atlantis, before delving into the splitting of the blood line. It seemed that
Delta and Alta’s descendants had been fighting over the throne for centuries,
the pearl of power the key to everything, and that in the end only one family
survived the massacre of the Alta line, Yugi’s. Yugi skipped over that part
finding the index, the chapters were laid out by dates, and Yugi scanned over
them quickly, pausing once he found what he’d been searching for.

October
fifteenth, 1995

With a shaking hand Yugi clicked on
the icon. The night of horror was laid before him, in pure detail, explaining
the events Yugi knew all too well of. How the party had been crashed, the
followers of the true line of Atlantis out to destroy the last leg of Alta’s
line, but the one with the power to resurrect Atlantis had escaped, and with
him, the pearl vanished as well. Yugi gaped mouth cotton dry, as his insides
trembled. He killed my parents… Deruta…
he came to kill my family… and…

Yugi quickly hit the close button,
and moved to his feet, heading for the door quickly. He didn’t want o see
anymore, he didn’t want to know. All he wanted at that moment was to find Yami,
and he was fairly certain that Deruta would have given up searching for him by
now. Would he really? He’s chased me for
ten years… what’s another four hours? Yugi quickly shook that thought off,
hoping that Deruta had not found his home, and if he had, that Yami had been
away. No he wouldn’t have known where my
house was… all he’d know is that I was being picked on, on my way to school…Yugi’s
hope was short lived. But he knows Ushio…
and Ushio…

Yugi took off running for his house,
fear once more urging him to be quick. He had to protect Yami from Deruta, he
couldn’t let the man take his family from him, and then come and steal his only
friend, Yugi would not stand for that. The sun was high in the sky, signaling
midday and Yugi only prayed that Yami liked to each lunch out in the deeper,
safer waters of the sea. I should have
been thinking, of course he’d find my home, and Yami… why? Why didn’t I head
home earlier?! Yugi thought
desperately, but he already knew the answer to his question. He had not gone
home because Deruta had been chasing after him, and he would have led the man
straight to Yami had he run home, so either way Deruta would have found Yami,
at least now he had some hope of getting there first.

The door was still locked when Yugi
reached it, and with a grateful sigh, Yugi slid the key into the lock and
opened the door. Slipping inside, Yugi quickly shut and locked the door behind
him, just in case and quickly removed his shoes hoping down the stairs quickly,
dropping his jacket as he slid over to the floor board opening and looked down
onto the low level of water.

The tide
was out.

Even so, there was no trace of Yami.
Yugi felt a strange mixture of relief and fear. What if they already came and got him? Or, what if they are scouring
the ocean for him? With boats and guns and spears and— Yugi didn’t get to
finish worrying, as a hand shot out, grabbing him from behind, curling around
his waist and lifting him into the air.

Yugi cried out, his limbs flinging
out to the sides as he was brought against a hard chest, a deep humorous voice
whispering into his ear, “Hello Yugi, so glad you came back.” Yugi froze, his
heart pounding in his chest as, from the shadows of the room, men seemed to
emerge. Five of them in total, each looking as frightening as the next. Yugi
swallowed hard glancing from one to the next and the chest behind him rumbled
with humor.

“Those are my bodyguards. Being the
CEO of a giant industry has its perks Yugi, such as loyal, and reliable help.”
Deruta’s breath snaked by Yugi’s ear and Yugi shivered in disgust, fear
creeping up inside of him. He still didn’t know if Yami had been found or not,
but he didn’t want to ask in case he had not been, but the not knowing was
slowly killing him inside.

“So tell me Yugi, why do you trust
him?” Deruta asked, slowly moving toward the water, and Yugi struggled in the
grip tears breaking free again. “Come now Yugi, I just want to know why it is
that you trust him, a gluttonous, heartless, monster, and yet, are so
frightened of me?”

“You killed my parents!” Yugi
screeched, throwing his head back as he kicked his feet desperately, but the
grip held firm. One hand move up to wipe his tears from his puffy cheeks and
Yugi jerked his face away with a scowl, letting out a broken sob, biting his
tongue to keep himself from calling out to Yami. “You murdered my family!”

“Hush, Yugi.” The man stated,
sounding concerned as he moved his hand to hold Yugi closer, as though the
embrace would ease his pain. “Yugi, it is true that I did that, but it was a
necessity, you see, Alta betrayed her brother in the end, to take the throne
from him and so, in vengeance we, the descendants of Delta have sworn vengeance
on the line of Alta.”

“But we did nothing wrong!” Yugi
screamed, anger and pain for his parents finally breaking free, and he
struggled violently, kicking his feet harshly, though it did little good
against the taller man that held him.

“I know Yugi, I know, that was why I
couldn’t kill you.” Yugi stiffened in the embrace that Deruta gave him, the man
nuzzling his shoulder, warm lips pressing against the back of his throat. “ I
couldn’t believe that the person I was destined to kill was just a small child.
Nor did I expect you to have her eyes.”
Yugi shivered, trying his best to pull away from the man, not
understanding how Deruta could possibly know that Alta had his color eyes.

“Let me go!” Yugi cried, and felt
the man sigh against his neck.

“You’re going to be difficult aren’t
you? I was going to let you live Yugi, I figured that the two of us would
rebuild Atlantis together, as Alta and Delta were meant to so long before.”
Deruta said, pulling one of Yugi’s arms out and over the water, one of his body
guards moving forward, a blade glinting dangerously in his hand. He had shaggy
black hair that fell over his eyes. Eyes that were the color of the deep ocean
growing seaweed.

“Not too deep Otogi…” Deruta warned, and the other smirked looking
at Yugi with sharp eyes.

This man
was a killer.

Yugi gasped, straining to pull his
arm back, but like all his other attempts he was restrained from moving. “…But
it seems that like Alta you have fallen into the trap of that lying Pharaoh.”

The blade came down upon the back of
Yugi’s arm piercing the flesh. Yugi bit back a scream, biting his lip harshly
and closing his eyes as tears fell. It burned and froze all at once, the nerves
in his arms firing as his heated blood turned red with the oxygen of the air,
rolling thickly over his arm to trickle and drop to the ground staining the
wood crimson.

“That should be enough…” Deruta
said, and Otogi backed off. Once the pressure of the blade released his arm,
the heat of his pain became worse, scalding his skin and causing his joints to
throb with his heart beat. A choked sob broke from Yugi lips as nausea induced
saliva swelled in Yugi’s mouth. “We don’t want to hurt him now, just warn his
little friend of a few… changes.”

A ripple of humor ran through the
room, as if Deruta had stated some great joke, and Yugi felt his stomach heave.
He shook uncontrollably as Deruta moved his arm a bit further till his blood
dripped down and into the water, turning into a small cloud of deep, ruddy,
ruby. What is he playing at? What good
would that do? Yugi thought desperately as, once again satisfied, Deruta brought
Yugi’s arm back to his face, kissing at the cut. “That should call him right to
us.”

“What?” Yugi breathed, hiccupping as
his breath refused to stable and Deruta smiled at him widely in response, and
Yugi had the sinking feeling that he truly didn’t want to know.

“Atemu is now a being of the sea, he
can taste, and in a way, smell blood when it’s in the water, and I’m sure that
your blood, little Yugi, will be most recognizable to him.”

Yugi shook his head, looking at the
quickly clearing area of water. But it
was so little, there’s no way that he’d pick up on that. The ocean will
disperse it and…

“Hurry, we don’t have much time
left.”

Yugi was jerked from his thoughts at
the rank smell of gasoline, and crunched his face up in disgust as the smell
grew heavy in the air. “What are you doing?!” Yugi cried, as red jugs were
tipped, spilling the flammable liquid over the walls and floor, the furniture
and personal items of his home. Otogi was making his way up the stairs to the
rest of the house, and Yugi’s heart pounded harder in denial. No.. not here… not Grandpa’s memories… not
my home… not my home!

“Stop, please! Please don’t! Please,
leave this place alone!” Yugi sobbed, pain ripping at his heart, hateful tears
burning his chest and face as he forced the screams from his chest, whole body
shaking with the need to stop them, as he watched helplessly from the arms of
his captor.

“I’m sorry Little Yugi, but we do
not have much choice. If Atemu believes you dead, then he will not search for
you, and if he dies trying to save you, then you will not look for him.” The
carelessness of the words broke Yugi’s heart and he watched, completely numb as
Otogi returned holding a lighter in one hand.

“Do we wait for him to show?”

Deruta shifted and glanced down at
Yugi, but he’d completely blanked out, his face white, eyes wide and glassy,
staring at nothing. “No, lets leave.”

They moved through the house, and
Yugi watched it all as though it were a part of a movie, and not truly
happening. This is a nightmare… I’ll wake
up, and Yami will be sleeping at the bottom of the water, and I’ll drop a
marble down on his head to wake him up, and he’ll come up all disgruntled and…
and…

From the corner of his eye Yugi
could see his grandfather’s picture on the mantel, the elderly man’s eyes
bright with life as he held Yugi in his arms, a large fish covering half of his
small body. Yugi stared at the picture reliving the memory of his first catch
in his mind, trying to escape from the reality of all that he was losing.

Yugi
sat on the boat edge, the sun beating down on his head, hot and bothersome, he
wished he could jump in the water and cool off, but knew better than to try. He
sighed, bored, but didn’t want to upset his new Grandpa by saying that he was
so.

“Are
you not having fun Yugi?” Sugoroku’s voice was deep with light mirth, and warm
with kind understanding. Yugi spun to face the plumb colored eyes his own
amethyst eyes wide with fear of being caught and shook his head from side to
side.

“No!”

“You’re
lying Yugi.” The voice was still calm and understanding even as the elderly man
looked out and over the waters of the ocean, the sun just barely on the
horizon, painting it with light pastels of early morning. “It’s all right if
you do not find joy in fishing, it’s a personal preference you either like or
you don’t. But most times its only purpose is an excuse to spend time with your
loved ones with out having to share them with anyone else.”

Yugi
blinked looking at his grandfather’s profile with wide eyes, “Jii-chan?”
Sugoroku’s smile spread over his face and he laughed heartily, and it warmed
Yugi’s chest to hear such a sound.

“I
sound like a old man don’t I? You are all I have now Yugi, and sometimes I just
want to be beside you, to know that we are a family. It’s a nice feeling, is it
not?” Sugoroku asked, his head tilted to the side in question and Yugi was lost
in the truth of his statements.

A
deep warmth filled his chest and Yugi smiled, remembering his favorite memories
of his parents, they had always been the quiet moments when they’d been doing
nothing but watching the day pass away. Yugi grinned and turned back to his
fishing. Silence spread between them, comfortable and warm.

“You
know what, Jii-chan?”

“What
Yugi?”

Yugi
smiled, looking up at his grandfather, their eyes meeting in a way only family
members eyes can, and Yugi giggled hugging his fishing pole close to his chest.
“I think I can learn to like fishing.”

His
grandfather smiled, patting his head.

The fish in the picture was the only
one they caught that day, and yet it was their best fishing day in their minds.
It was the day they both came to terms with the fact that together they made
their new family, from the pieces of the broken ones from before.

Yugi blinked, silent tears pooling
in his eyes as he watched the picture from the door way, the wind blowing around
him feeling cold and moist. The sun had hidden behind the clouds blocking the
light and warmth and seemed to mirror Yugi’s inner turmoil as he watched Otogi
light the flame and drop it inside of the building.

Flames broke to life spreading
quickly with the aid of the gasoline and soon the picture began to curl with in
it’s wooden frame, the glass no longer protecting it as he had broken it
accidentally, some time before and had yet to replace it. Yugi watched, the
image burning into his mind as surly as his home, and memories died in the
flames. No… no… Yugi felt his mind
fading into a darkness he could not describe as he watched his grandfather die
all over again as the house went up in smoke. NO!!!

Yugi fell backwards, his mind
reeling in the crashing waves of his inner ocean, and suddenly felt the swell
of power that had tried to break free with Ushio, and he welcomed it. Heat poured
from his body and with a pained cry, he was freed. Yugi didn’t even pause to
ponder his escape, he just simply took off, jumping through the flames in the
doorway, hardly feeling the heat as he grabbed the picture, and held it to his
chest.

“Jii-chan.” Yugi cried, holding the picture as though it
was Sugoroku’s life that he was protecting, and it was then that he returned
from his mind’s sudden blank, the power ebbing away, freeing him from it’s
grip.

“Yugi!” The cry came from the door,
and Yugi looked up seeing that the flames had encased the frame, and beyond it
Deruta was being held back by his body guards, as he struggled to get to him.
Yugi stepped away, heart in his throat. He looked around, realizing with fear
that he was surrounded by flames and his only exit, lead straight back into the
arms of some lunatic. No… there’s one
other way…

Yugi spun to look at the stair case,
fire already making its way down the steps, and bolted.

“YUGI!” the cry from behind gave
Yugi a burst of speed as he dove down the stairs rolling down and through the
fire crashing to the floor of the storage room singed and bruised, Yugi groaned
looking up with blurred eyes to the edge of the flooring where the water
started.

If
I go in… I’ll sink, and I’ll die… Yami… Yugi’s breath was labored, and his
body felt heavy. The smoke was giving him a head ache, and the heat was making
him sick. His palms were sticky and Yugi gripped the picture tightly pushing up
with his arms, his wounded one screaming at him and he sat trembling from the
over whelming pain. Yami… help me…
please…

With a soft sob, Yugi looked down at
the picture he held in his hand. It was curled at the corners and some of the
picture had bubbled from the heat, but the soft eyes of his grandfather stared
out at him kindly, encouraging him as he always had. “Jii-chan!” Yugi sobbed
curling around the picture as the fire surrounded him.

“Yugi,
sometimes it can be difficult to pick yourself up and move on, but you have to
remember that your life means something to someone. That every person who tried
to save your life, did so because they wanted to see you live. So promise me
Yugi, that you will live, no matter what.”

Yugi gasped opening his eyes,
looking at the picture, his grandfather’s words from when he missed his mother
most, returning to him. Yugi blinked back some tears, pushing himself
unsteadily to his feet, swaying unsteadily for a moment before he regained his
balance and made his way to the water. That’s
right… I have to… live… because, Yami… Yami saved me for a reason… and
Jii-chan…. Okaa-chan…. They all… they all…

Yugi tripped the last step, his body
giving out on him and he fell into the icy water below, the salt in the water
stinging his wounds and his cut, Yugi’s mouth opened in a cry, and salt water
filled his mouth. Yugi rested in the water, blackness seeping into his vision
as unconsciousness rose up to embrace him. Atemu…
Yami… please… help me…

And
finally, Yugi passed out.

~*~

The waves were uneasy, though the
sun was high in the sky, glittering through the water, and Yami realized that a
storm was rolling in, and made a face concerned for how Yugi would take the
news to their fishing trip getting cancelled that afternoon.

Does he even care for storms?

Yami smirked, picturing Yugi jumping
from fright of the loud thunder and lightening, but shook the thought off just
as quickly as it had come. It was hard to think that Yugi would be frightened
of something so minimal, but then again, he was afraid of water, though that
was by default.

I wonder what he’s doing now?
It’s almost time for him to be coming home… he said noon today right?

Yami contemplated for a bit longer,
allowing the waves to rock him in a lulling motion, and closed his eyes,
smiling as he relaxed. Life seemed to have some how changed from something he
was forced to endure to something he was coming to enjoy, and even treasure.
Yami sighed, reliving the time spent with the boy he definitely could not have
lived with out knowing.

Their conversations were pleasant,
but not the core of their time spent together, nor was the sex between them,
though it was great, and Yami would never give up that aspect of their
relationship, he was surprised to admit that it was not the key factor in his
affections for Yugi. He lusted after Yugi, that was for certain, but he lusted
because Yugi cared, because Yugi offered to let him use him, because Yami
needed it.

No the core of their relationship
was something much deeper, found in the moments where neither spoke or moved,
when they where content to just touch each other gently, and non-sexually, and
simply enjoyed each others company. It was something Yami was not used to, but
he was quickly adapting to.

This is nice… I wish it could
last forever.

Yami’s smile faded quickly. He was
not stupid enough to believe that things would remain the way they were
forever, something was bound to break, something was going to change, and then
this little balance that the two of them hung in was going to shatter, and he
would once again be lost and alone, with only memories to console him.

Yami scowled when the presence of
danger made itself known, the ocean prodding him to move, to hurry. But what
was the point? Yami gave a heavy sigh, sitting up when the waters became
persistent urging him to hurry, to where, Yami had no clue, but they were
telling him that he needed to go, and so, like a good little prisoner, Yami
did.

He was half expecting the ocean to
lead him back out and toward Atlantis where some lucky bastard had managed to
catch a glimpse of the ruined kingdom, the tapestries still billowing in the
ocean’s currents from windows not completely destroyed by the tsunami that had
wiped out the most powerful nation the world had ever known.

So when Yami found himself in the
crescent shaped bay that led to his new
home, he was surprised and even more worried. Putting more speed behind him,
Yami propelled himself toward the house. The closer he got, the faster his
heart pounded, and he had the sinking feeling that he may be too late.

The tang of blood met his senses and
Yami’s heartbeat doubled, his mind desperately hoping that the sweet iron taste
did not belong to his little one. The pillars came into view just before him,
and from the way light seemed to flicker wildly upon the water, Yami was pretty
certain that a fire had broken out in the house, and a bad one from what he
could tell.

Yugi!

Yami felt his heart clench
desperately, as he hoped that Yugi was not in the building, only to feel his
heart stop completely when the form of his little light crashed through the
surface of the water, bubbles surrounding him as he arched up and screamed, the
sound muffled by water, as his breath left him.

Yami shot toward him his entire body
thrumming with an urgency to save him, to protect. His arms came around Yugi’s
overly warm body, and Yami was met with the tang of more blood and his eyes
darted down to the bleeding wound on Yugi’s arm and felt his anger rise along
with his fear. The wound looked precise, smooth and unjagged, as if it was done
by a blade, and it caused Yami all the more fear. He pulled Yugi close, sealing
his lips over the smaller ones, pulling the water from Yugi and changing it in
his lungs before breathing back into Yugi, keeping him alive as he moved away
from the fiery building. Yami could feel Yugi’s heart beat against his own,
slow, but steady and strong, and Yami’s arms tightened around the boy in his
grasp, heading for the only place he could think of, the cave.

What had happened? Dear Ra Yugi,
what happened to you…

The cave surrounded him like a
blanket, and Yami broke the surface once they were both safely hidden under
it’s protective cover and shifted Yugi so that his face rested on his shoulder,
above the water, and simply held him, shaking from the shock of it all.

That was too close… too close
akhu… too close. Yami
felt Yugi exhale against his throat and shuddered squeezing tightly to Yugi’s
waist. Was it happening already? Was this the end of their little heaven? Yami desperately hoped that it was not so.

My light… please Ra, not yet,
don’t take him from me yet… I…

Yami shifted Yugi a bit, assuring himself that Yugi was alive and
safe, before he tried to wake him. “Yugi? Come on Little one, wake up!” Yami
said, not meaning to sound so harsh and clipped, but his fear had caused his
voice to be a bit loud. “Akhu, please… wake up.” Yami soothed, shifting Yugi to
free one hand, that he soothed over Yugi’s face, and slowly Yugi began to
squirm, a soft groan escaping his lips. Yami breathed out a sigh of relief and
rested his hand on Yugi’s cheek stroking it softly, “Yugi?”

At the sound of his name, Yugi’s
eyes opened a fracture and Yami relaxed lowering his voice to a croon as he
gently tried to get Yugi’s attention. “Yugi, what were you thinking?”

Suddenly, Yugi jumped up, eyes wide
and he was struggling in Yami’s grip trying to break free even though he was
still in water. “Yugi?”

“No! Yami! Yami!”

“Yugi!” Yami cried at the frantic
tone in Yugi’s voice, grabbing at the boy’s shoulder and shaking him harshly
once. Yugi’s eyes snapped to him, fearful and filled with tears, and Yami felt
his heart break at the sight of them. “Ra Yugi… what—“

Yugi’s eyes seemed to lose some of
their hysteria when they finally focused on him, and he released a sob flinging
himself into Yami’s arms, his cries echoing in the cave and shook Yugi’s body
with their harshness. Yami wasn’t sure what to do, so he unsteadily hugged Yugi
back, while the strong boy he’d known for the past few months shattered before
his eyes and lay in broken pieces in his arms.

“Yami! Yami! You’re here! I was so…
so scared! He killed my parents, Yami, it was him! He did it! And.. and he said
he was… was going to kill you…. And I … I couldn’t get away! They burned the
house! Grandpa! Grandpa was … he’s still there! Yami don’t leave me! Please,
don’t let him touch me again! Yami, Yami!” Yugi kept sobbing, his sentences,
barely making any sense to Yami at all, and he found himself wanting to cry
along with Yugi, but he held strong, and cradled Yugi closer, rubbing at his
back rocking him gently from side to side.

“Shhh, I’m here Akhu, I’m here. He
can’t get you… It’s going to be all right Yugi… it’s going to be fine.” Yami
repeated over and over again, as Yugi’s sobs became more violent. For a while
it seemed as though his words made little difference, but finally Yugi began to
calm some, his sobs becoming light hiccups as he nuzzled into Yami’s shoulder,
his hands still desperately biting into his shoulders where he held on for dear
life.

“Yugi?” Yami tried when the worst of
the storm had passed and felt Yugi tilt his head in answer. “What happened,
little one?” He felt Yugi snuggle closer to him, a hand shifting, and for the
first time became aware of the picture in Yugi’s hand as it brushed against his
shoulder.

“I was attacked by Ushio again…and
then this guy… saved me, but when he saw my pendant… he freaked out and started
pawing at me, and saying all this weird stuff and trying to tell me that I was
his other half and all this crap… and then I ran away and hid, but I remembered
that he could find you and ran back home, but he was waiting and… he grabbed me
and was going to kill you and then… he set the house… the memories, all of it
on fire… Oh, Yami he burnt it all!” Yugi blurted out beginning to cry all over
again. “I hate Mondays!”

“Hush, Yugi, it’s all right, I’m
here, you’re safe, I’m safe. And he can’t really take your memories from you.
They’re all right here.” Yami said, tapping Yugi’s head, trying to comfort him,
but it didn’t even earn him a fake smile.

Yami sighed, simply holding Yugi,
shivering from the touch as Yugi pressed closer seeking further comfort and
Yami sighed, not knowing how to give it.

“Yami, change me.” Yugi said, in a
voice no louder than a whisper, but Yami heard it all the same. He looked down
at Yugi, and would have asked if Yugi was certain, but the sad picture Yugi
made curled against him looking like his world had just collapsed around him,
held Yami’s tongue.

Yami shifted Yugi, plucking the
picture from his hand and placed it where the water couldn’t disturb it. Yugi
watched his movements with careful eyes but never once complained. Once that
was finished, Yami moved about undressing Yugi to make the change easier, and
once again Yugi relaxed against him not complaining in the least. The shirt
slid away easily once it was unbuttoned and Yami threw it up onto the rocks
beside the picture pulling Yugi flush against him to work on removing Yugi’s
shoes, socks and pants.

Once the clothes were removed, and
Yugi was naked in his arms, Yami closed his eyes calling upon his shadow magic
and felt Yugi’s body shift and change in his arms. The two sunk below the waves
holding each other comfortably, letting the water bob them about, and in the
restless waves Yami could feel the approaching storm growing in the distance.

~Yami?~

~Yes, Yugi?~

~… Nothing. I just wanted to hear
you…~ Yugi said
pulling Yami close, and Yami felt his body react, and started in shock. It was
odd, he wasn’t lusting or even needy, it was as if he was reacting to Yugi’s
need for comfort. Yami puzzled over the information, wondering if his previous
assumptions had been correct.

Well, we are capable of making
love… so…

Yami careful and slowly slid himself
into Yugi, and felt Yugi slump against him, giving a soft hum of comfort,
holding Yami to him and resting his head on his shoulder. Yami blinked, and
returned the hold. Neither moved, they simply held each other connected and
safe from the world, and that was enough.

The water rocked and rolled, and
Yami could hear the thunder from beneath the waves and felt Yugi shudder,
shifting closer at the sound, and Yami realized that this was Yugi’s first time
hearing thunder from under the water, and pulled Yugi closer, slipping even
further inside of Yugi’s body, and shivered as he rolled to lay on his back
upon the ground, Yugi cuddled close, their tails wound around each other.

Rain began and ricocheted off of the
surface of the sea, creating a muffled melody, that was haunting and sad, and
it seemed to mimic Yugi’s feelings. The water hummed with his pain, and Yami
tried to find some way to ease it.

The rain continued to fall and as he
listened, Yami was reminded of the song Yugi had sang every night before bed,
and suddenly had an idea. He felt his face flush as he prepared himself to go
through with his plan, and wondered briefly if it was worth the embarrassment.
One glance at the boy in his arms, and he had his answer.

~Repeatedly listening to the soft
Melody,

that fills me up with sad
happiness.

Accidentally I met you, everyday,

I was feeling somewhat missing.

I can recall the feeling on that
day anytime.

Even in a rainy night or in my
dream

But I can’t tell you the word
earnestly

I shall keep it in my heart a
little longer.

You’re spoken words hold me like
the soft wind

I somehow feel like I can do
various things

Because you are by me, I just
focus and walk.

Since you gave me the power to
make any dreams com true

I can tell you some day

Until then if we can stay
together…

I can recall the feeling on that
day anytime.

Even in a rainy night or in my
dream

But I can’t tell you the word
earnestly

I shall keep it in my heart a
little longer.

Let’s just focus and walk…~**

Yami stopped his mental singing and
simply continued to hum in his chest while his hand continued to rub lazy
circles on Yugi’s back, and felt Yugi relax further. He wasn’t sure whether it
was the singing or the mental touch of his mind that had soothed Yugi. He was
pretty certain that his singing abilities were about as polished as a barnacle,
but if it helped Yugi than he’d sing whenever the boy asked him too.

~Yami?~

~Yes?~

~Where did you get that song? I
know it…~

Yami blushed at the inquiry, feeling
rather foolish of his answer, and felt Yugi shift to look at him, and turned
his head away listening to the thunder as his face heated.

~I heard it once when I was
around Japan. It’s a song by some girl named Ishida Yoko… it reminded me of
you…~ Yami
grumbled, but relaxed when he heard Yugi’s mental laugh, and looked back, glad
to see even the small smile on Yugi’s face. It ended all too soon though, and
Yugi returned to resting his head on Yami’s chest.

For awhile they resumed the silent
holding and comforting, watching the darkening water as deeper clouds rolled
in, lighting suddenly erupted with a
clap of thunder as jagged bolts pierced through the sky. Yami watched the storm
in silent awe. It was always a beautiful sight to see. The clouds, the
darkness, the rain, it all amazed him and as much as it frightened him and
caused his heart to pick up pace, Yami was drawn to its magnetic power.

~Sing it again?~ Yugi asked, and Yami smiled,
shifting and slipping out of Yugi a fracture only to have the boy press close,
pulling him back inside snugly. Yami sighed in return. A part of him wanted a
more detailed explanation for what had happened, and still another part of him
wanted to go and check on the house, see if the rain had saved their small
haven, but the larger part, the one that cared most for Yugi held him still,
buried inside of his little light, and singing to him at his command.

~Sure, Akhu~

Yugi sighed, and closed his eyes, listening to Yami as he sang to
him, his voice deep and somewhat gruff as he spun the song in a tenor range,
the higher notes dipping low when Yami could not reach them. The words somehow
meaning so much more to the two of them than a simple song, and it soothed both
of their frazzled nerves.

The
storm raged on outside.

And
tomorrow was held at bay.

The morning had dawned grey, cold,
and wet. Heavy low-riding clouds blocked out the light of the sun and kept the
night’s moisture low on the ground. The fog had yet to even curl upward, the
air being too cold to cause it’s elevation, and the lack of the evaporating
water, left the air damp.

Yami tried not to curse as he sat in
the rolling waves, bobbing up and down with the ebb and flow, looking at the
huddle of charred and blackened wood beams and walls. The house no longer stood
on it’s own, the roof having collapsed sometime during the fire, pulling half
of the walls down with it.

The image was saddening, but that
was not the worst of it. The police showed up, putting up yellow caution tape,
and poking around, but they left quickly, naming it an accident of the storm,
writing off the deaths of Sugoroku and Yugi Mutou with out even searching for
the bodies. No one had called the fire in, and no one who stopped by cared to
ask what had happened, or even looked all that sad. Most of the echoes from
their words sounded relieved that Yugi was no longer around. It froze his heart
in his chest.

Have people always been this
cruel, and I simply failed to notice? Yami pondered, watching the cold and lonely shell of what had once
been a home, sitting there in the cold, wet morning alone, and destroyed, much
like everything else he’d come to care for.

Yugi is now dead to the world…
what will he do now? If he comes back from the dead they will ridicule him even
more, despise him, fear him, and now he doesn’t have a home to return to…

Yami made a sad face sinking below
the waves and turning from the remains of a life, and made his way to the cave
where he’d left Yugi that morning. The cave was dark and gloomy, colder than
even the air outside, and Yami regretted changing Yugi back into human form
before leaving. Not one of his smarter moves but Yugi had insisted, so Yami had
relented, though now he was considering simply changing Yugi back into his
mermaid form.

At least it would be warmer…

Yami broke the surface wondering
how he was going to break the news to the boy, and froze his eyes widening at
the sight Yugi gave him. The smaller boy was kneeling on the ground wringing
the water from his underwear, his shirt and pant’s already hanging on rocks,
apparently drying, his socks the same, and sneakers turned upside down to dry.

His pale skin was glowing in the
darkness of the cave, soft red marks tingeing his skin pink as his nude body
shifted to place his boxers along side his pants after a firm shake. He was
absolutely alluring, and Yami felt his body ache as he reacted to the
perfection that was Yugi. He was small and soft, looking almost feminine, but
at the same time deliciously male, and Yami felt a sharp pang of lust travel up
his body.

He wanted to feel that skin against
his own as he indulged in the most sinful act of tainting that innocence with
desire and need. Yami shuddered, nearly pushing the feelings away until he
recalled the story Yugi had told him that morning. Yami scowled remembering how
Yugi had explained the way Deruta had touched him, and held him as though he
had owned Yugi, and Yami’s lust heated drastically.

Whether he admitted it or not, Yami
was still Atemu, the Pharaoh of Upper Egypt, and what belonged to him was not
to be touched by any other, and as far as Yami was concerned, Yugi was his. By
his own choice, but still, his.

Yami felt the curl of heat unravel
in his body and he swam forward to the rock’s edge, Yugi seemed to be
preoccupied with the picture he had managed to save from the house. It caused a
sadness to tinge his lust, but Yami did not let it detour him as he pulled
himself up and out of the water.

His body felt heavier now that
buoyancy no longer held him afloat, and the rocky surface bit into his tail
uncomfortably, but Yami ignored it, as he wrapped his arms around Yugi’s waist,
feeling the warm skin tense under his touch, the muscles shifting under the
skin, and Yami leaned forward, his lips pressing solidly against the nook
between Yugi’s shoulders.

He felt Yugi’s gasp, and ran his
hands gently over Yugi’s chest feeling his taunt nipples, puckered from the
chill of the air and the stimulus of Yami’s touch. Yami made a soft sound in
his chest loving the sensation of feeling, and stroking, of skin pressed so
close to his own. He sighed lovingly, feeling Yugi relax under his caress only
to tense back up as his hand brushed low over his abdomen stroking close to
private parts.

“Yami!” Yugi squeaked, in surprise and
Yami smirked, imagining the blush that must have covered his gentle face at the
bold contact, and how the color must be spreading low over his chest. Yami had
never dared to touch him like this outside of his other form, and Yugi seemed
nervous to like it that way. Yami pulled Yugi closer, humming as he kissed
Yugi’s back again, tasting his gentle skin, his hand slipping lower, fingertips
brushing over Yugi’s member.

The boy jumped in his hold,
shuddering pleasantly as though he’d been shocked, and Yami felt Yugi twist
around to face him. “Y—Yami, what—“

“Make love to me Yugi?” Yami asked
his voice low, as he finally looked up, crimson crashing with wide amethyst.
Yugi’s cheeks darkened in color, and Yami felt another lustful heat rush over
his body, and let his hand stroke Yugi further feeling the boy’s penis harden
under his attention.

The eyes glossed over, and a soft
gasp escaped parted lips. Yami watched the erotic sight with greedy eyes, a
smirk covering his face as he saw such innocence bask in needy glory. It was
addicting, and Yami wanted more, but held back waiting for Yugi’s answer.

“Will you Yugi?”

The boy’s eyes cleared for a moment
and he breathed deeply a number of times before speaking, pausing every so
often to regain his bearings. Yugi’s face was red with embarrassment but held a
look of determination. “… o—okay… but you’ll need to… to change me…cha—“

“No. No, Yugi, not like that…” Yami
stated lovingly, his hand moving from Yugi’s erection to hold his face between
his hands resting his forehead to Yugi’s as he made his request clear. “Make
human love to me, Yugi.”

Yugi’s reaction was immediate. His
eyes widened and his mouth fell open in shock, face heating to a point where he
looked like a berry his words stuttered horribly. “b..b-b-b-but… Yami I-I-I I
don’t…”

Yami smiled gently, leaning in and
captured Yugi’s lips with his own pressing against the warm softness of them,
his head tilting and moving erotically against Yugi as he seduced him slowly.

Lips parted to gently suckle on
Yugi’s lower lip, and he felt Yugi moan against him as his tongue slipped into
Yugi’s mouth, tasting him fully. Yugi trembled against him as Yami’s hands
resumed their gentle caresses and touches, learning Yugi’s human body for the
first time.

His hand ran over milky thighs
squeezing and feeling the muscle there, the skin warm to the touch, and he felt
Yugi jump, trembling from the sudden caress. Yami smiled, knowing just how that
must have felt to the boy, after all, he had had many in his bed before his
captivity to the sea, and the thought of finding those feelings once more made
Yami’s blood sing.

He wanted Yugi to know the
difference in the love making, the harsh beauty of sex, as two bodies pressed
and pushed, battling for release and even higher pleasure, and with that in
mind, Yami moved his hand up Yugi’s thigh, his fingertips brushing over Yugi’s
soft hip lovingly while the other skimmed over sensitive flesh mere inches from
Yugi’s growing need.

“Ah!” Yugi gasped, managing to pull
free from Yami’s kiss, and Yami swooped low to suckle on Yugi’s pale throat,
loving the way the boy tilted his head back instinctually for him, drugged off
of his kisses as his hips rolled forward needing something he didn’t completely
understand.

Yami purred his delight, running
fevered kisses along Yugi’s neck and over his chest as he moved his hand up
Yugi’s side, coaxing Yugi’s arms to hold him close as he breathed against
Yugi’s skin, “Please, Yugi, make human love to me…”

He felt Yugi tremble and heard the
insecure whimper of uncertainty and finally moved his hand down to stroke him.
Yami’s large hand fitted around Yugi’s erection pulling up and sliding down
slowly, and Yami watched as Yugi arched up into his hand, arms pulling around
him tightly and desperately as he cried, eyes clenching shut as his breath
turned sharp and ragged, sweat breaking out over his skin.

Yugi was hot to the touch, and Yami
hissed at the sensation of his body pressed close to his own, grinning when he
felt the difference in the feeling of his touches and Yugi’s reaction. Though
Yami was unable to feel what Yugi felt, and was unable to completely burn and
implode as a human could, he could feel the lustful ache of the action, and the
wild pleasure that ran unhindered under its strong current, and he moaned in
appreciation, sliding lower until he was just above Yugi’s member.

He slowed his movements even more,
before stopping all together and Yugi sat panting, his body seeming to turn to
jelly as he leaned back, bracing himself up on his arms, his body trembling
with the new, burning sensations.

“… Y… Yami… what… what is…”

“Little one… please, I need to feel
it. Please…” Yami breathed, his warm exhalation brushing over sensitive flesh
and he watched as Yugi jolted from the feel, his face curling into a look of
pure need, his mouth falling open, and Yami felt a desire to keep that look
upon Yugi’s face.

He looked back to the proud erection
thoughtfully. Having been Pharaoh, many had giving him the sexual favor of
sucking him off, and for the life of him he’d never understood why any would
willing lower themselves to such an act, and here he was about to do just that.

Yami opened his mouth, his tongue
reaching out to taste the bead of precum that glinted on Yugi’s tip, and the
salty, sugary, and bitter mix, made Yami’s senses jump to life.

He
wanted more.

Yugi had choked on air at the lick
and then screamed as Yami wrapped his lips around his tip, and knowing himself
what his action would bring, Yami held on to Yugi’s hips to steady him and keep
him from bucking up. Yugi was shaking uncontrollable now, tears of passion
rolling down his flushed face as he mewled his desires, and Yami groaned at the
sight, the soft sound seeming to cause the little one under his suction to
writhe with continued pleasure.

“Uh!... Y—Yami!” Yugi cried as Yami
moved further on him, sucking more of the boy’s heated length into his awaiting
mouth. He was larger than one would
think, and the feel of him in his mouth caused a jolt of pleasure to course
through Yami’s body, accompanied by the overwhelming power surge that swam
through him as Yugi screamed out his name, just knowing that he was the one to
bring such sweet pleasure to the trembling boy in his mouth, and suddenly Yami
understood.

His eyes traveled up to look at
Yugi, and he groaned again at the erotic sight the boy made. His hand where
fisted at the sides of his head, holding onto his own hair as he trembled and
gasped for breath. His blush had traveled low on his belly once more and his
legs, half bent up, quaked by his head.

“Oh! Pl—please… Ya—yami! Yami…. Oh!”
Yugi was panting in coherently trying to buck his hips up, but Yami held him
firmly in place. He kept Yugi in place, his mouth moving around his erection,
sucking and releasing as if he was devouring a hard candy, pressing Yugi’s
member to the roof of his mouth, his tongue sliding over the flesh with each
dragging suckle.

Yugi let out a pained cry, and
finally, Yami moved, sinking his head down taking all of Yugi’s erection into
his mouth. He choked once, as the tip pressed against his soft pallet, but
found that if he attempted to swallow Yugi completely, he didn’t gag.

“Ah! Yami!” Yugi screamed, his hands
bolting down to hold onto Yami’s hair, as he collapsed onto his back, writhing
erotically. Yami shivered at the complete control he now held over the
twisting, pleasured, boy in his arms, and growled low in his throat, dragging
another cry from Yugi’s mouth, as he pulled up, sucking hard on the flesh in
his mouth, and smirked as he nipped Yugi’s tip with his teeth and the boy
screamed out his true name, in a husky screech. “Atemu!”

~Yugi… please… say you will, my
light…~ Yami
coaxed, trying to pull Yugi’s hazy mind back to the topic he’d brought up, and
sank back down on Yugi, opening his throat wide and the clamping down as he
swallowed. Yugi whimpered and gasped for breath, his body breaking into a sheen
of sweat, his legs trembling, muscles twitching.

~Say you will akhu…make love to
me… please?~
Yami tried once more as he began a steady bobbing over Yugi’s penis. The boy
cried out again trying to arch up, tears of pleasure coursing down over his
face at the mental overload, and Yami increased his suction just slightly as he
moved on Yugi, sucking and blowing him, addicted to the cries he gave.

“Yami! Yami! Yami! Yami! Yami!” Yugi
was crying repeatedly, his head whipping from side to side, his end near, and
Yami jerked back and away, wincing, as his sudden movement caused Yugi to tear
out some of the hair he’d been gripping so tightly. Yugi let out a high pitched
whine his hips thrusting upward trying to find that rhythm he was craving, and
guilt mixed with lust settled inside of Yami’s heart. With a bit of struggling,
Yami managed to pull himself over his other, pressing his body down and upon
Yugi, his tail pressing against Yugi’s straining need, and The boy started
rubbing himself against Yami.

“Ra, Yugi…” Yami gasped, at the feel,
his hands returning to the boy’s sweaty hip to hold him still as he kissed his
cheeks softly. “Calm little one… calm now… I am here…hush….” Yami soothed, and
the boy continued to twist and cry out for him. “Yugi will you make love to
me?”

“Yes! Yes! Just… don’t stop!” Yugi
cried out still feverish, and though that had been Yami’s intent, suddenly, he
wanted Yugi to make the choice rationally.

“Yugi, look at me.” Yami said
sternly, waiting for the boy to do just that. Yugi’s amethyst eyes were glazed
with clouded passion, and Yami shivered, wanting nothing more than to fuck the
boy in his arms senseless, but reigned in his desires, pressing his forehead to
Yugi’s. “Do you really want to or not? I’ll finish what I started if you do not
wish to do this Yugi… so, please, tell me the truth. Will you? Do you?” Yami
asked, feeling his own face heat with his question, and watched as Yugi’s eyes
cleared, if only a little.

He seemed to be contemplating
something, and his eyes averted for a moment. Yami watched him silently, small
smile on his face. Yugi took a while, his breath calming slightly, even though
his heart rate had yet to slow.

I shouldn’t have pressed this… I
truly am a fool…

Yami smiled, closing his eyes and
encasing Yugi in a hug, kissing his shoulder tenderly, and felt, more than
heard, his startled gasp. “It’s all right Yugi… I’m sorry to have pushed it so
far. You don’t need to answer me…” Yami said, opening his eyes to stare blankly
at the stone flooring. He was unaccustomed to the feeling of guilt that spread
through his chest at the thought of pushing Yugi too far.

He gave me his first time
willingly… so… I have no right to seduce his first human time from him.

Yami placed a final kiss to Yugi’s
shoulder, pushing up on his arms to try and shift back down to where Yugi
needed him most, feeling his tail snag on the sharp rocks, and was stopped by a
small hand that gripped his shoulder.

“Little one?” Yami asked startled,
his crimson eyes looking back up and into determined amethyst. “Yugi?” Yami
questioned, and the smaller shook his head, with an uncertain smile. Yami
gasped when those small hands slid down and over his chest slowly, coming to
rest on his hips, thumbs brushing over his tail slowly.

“… I’m… not sure how…” Yugi
whispered, and Yami shivered, his eyes locked on Yugi’s. Yugi glanced away as
he spoke, but returned his gaze as he pulled himself up until their noses where
brushing. “… I’m not sure how good I’ll be…” He moved closer, lips catching and
clinging to his in a tender kiss that drew a burning flame down Yami’s spine
with it’s tender innocence. “but…. I’ll try.” Yugi whispered, and Yami’s eyes,
which had drifted closed during the sweet kiss, flew wide open at the words,
and then he felt Yugi’s lips as they encased his left nipple, soft, hot, skin
sucking him gently.

“Y—Yugi…” Yami breathed out,
shivering at the feel of Yugi’s tongue on his chest. His heart fluttered in his
chest, and his skin prickled, sensitized by Yugi’s touch and actions. Small
hands slid over his sides from his ribs, down to his tail, then promptly slid
back up. The soft touch squeezed a strangled moan from Yami, and he arched his
back, pressing more of his chest to Yugi’s mouth, as the younger one moved
downward. His tongue swathed a path from his nipples to his navel, outlining
the contours of his body.

Yami shuddered, sucking in a
strangled breath when that little tongue pressed inside of his belly button.
Yami shivered delightedly, and placed his arms around Yugi’s shoulders as he
eased himself to his back, his body becoming comfortably numb with sensation.

Yugi followed him, but froze for a
moment, head lifting from his skin, and Yami groaned at the stop. “Yami?” Yugi
asked breathlessly, and Yami opened crimson eyes he didn’t remember closing,
and smiled at Yugi, his hand lifting to cup his soft rounded cheek, thumb
brushing over his lips, those oh so sensual lips. Yugi smiled, understanding
without words, and bent back to his navel, mouth opening inches before coming
into contact with his skin, and Yami watched as his tongue reached out, filling
his small indent before lips sealed over his caramel colored skin, blocking all
but sensations.

Yami felt a bolt shoot down to his
groin, and hand to consciously remind himself that he was to be taken this time,
that Yugi had no opening that did not require some kind of lubrication in this
form. Yami shivered, despite his rational thoughts, imagining Yugi writhing
beneath his body, as he took him.

A sharp gasp escaped his lips, when
Yugi’s lips moved to the skin of his hip, just above his tail, and a single
finger managed to slip in beneath the slit in his tail. Yami trembled, his body
reacting to the new position, and falling still, burning lightly inside.

The single finger pressed in,
feeling around, brushing over his member, and caused Yami to breath out Yugi’s
name in pleasure. It pushed in, and slid out several, slow, times, before
slipping out completely.

“Yami?” Yugi asked, his voice just
barely above a whisper, and Yami opened his eyes, still much too calm for what
they where doing, but that was just the way his new body worked, and Yami
accepted that.

“What’s wrong Yugi?” Yami asked,
watching as Yugi, slid his finger around his opening, his cheeks flushed with
embarrassment.

“I… I’m… not sure… Uhh…” Yugi swallowed, and Yami followed the movement of his
pale throat with his eyes. A soft smile raising his lips, and he reached out,
gripping Yugi’s erection. The smaller jerked, arching up with a cry, trembling
uncontrollably, and Yami smirked.

“You just need to put this in there
little one… trust me. It won’t hurt.” Yami whispered, his hand releasing Yugi’s
length as he laid back down, his hands holding Yugi’s shoulder’s and
encouraging him to slide up his body. Yugi’s amethyst eyes locked on Yami’s, as
he crawled up and over him. Yugi was trembling, it was visible, and Yami could
feel the quakes on his hips where Yugi’s legs straddled him. His face was
scrunched with determination, and slight fear. Yami lowered one hand from the
delicate shoulder to smooth over Yugi’s leg, before he patted Yugi’s knee in
encouragement.

Yugi seemed to contemplate his
actions for a moment, before he lowered himself down, arms wrapping around
Yami, holding him in a tight hug. Yami smiled, understanding Yugi’s need for
closeness, and retuned the hug, kissing Yugi’s temple, his hands running
circles on the small of his back.

“Repeatedly listening to the soft
melody…” Yami whispered, his voice breaking more than he’d have liked, with the
passion and feelings coursing through his body. All the same, the words seemed
to do the trick, as he felt Yugi tremble and relax against him. Soft lips
pressed a warm kiss to his chest, before moist air fanned over skin as Yugi
replied in turn.

“Arigatou, Yami…” Yugi placed
another kiss on his skin, before pushing up on his arms, so that he was now
looking down on Yami. Yami stroked Yugi’s hip kindly, waiting for Yugi to say
something more, and was surprised, when Yugi slid against him, slipping into
Yami’s opening with ease. Yami gasped as he was filled, electricity shooting
through his body, forcing him to fall numb and compliant as Yugi’s member
brushed over his own.

The sight of Yugi was erotic, as the
boy’s mouth fell open in shock. Dark rosy cheeks flushed with passion and
feelings, head thrown back, body arched, pressing in deeper, and deeper. Yami
moaned, and lay perfectly still as Yugi gave several unrestrained thrusts in
his inexperience. Yami basked in the innocent action, smiling widely at the
emotions that rolled off of Yugi and into his body.

Yugi slowed his movements a bit, his
breathing ragged as his body pushed and pulled inside of Yami. The once Pharaoh
could feel the burning need and aggression that came from Yugi, as the boy
continued to move, his body jerking lightly as he pumped in.

“Yami… ore no… pharaoh…” Yugi
breathed, and the words scalded Yami’s skin, and he managed to roll his hips up
and meet Yugi’s descending thrust, sending shocks through both their bodies.
Yugi cried out, fresh tears forming at the corners of his eyes as he gasped for
breath, a sheen of sweat breaking out over his body. “Y—Yami… so.. so tight…
and… hot… y… Yami!” Yugi cried out for more, a few tears escaping to roll over
his cheeks.

Yami watched it all through a light
haze. The sensations where heightened, the passion greater, but still he was
hardly tired from the actions. It was a bit disheartening, not being lost in
the consuming flames of desire, but at the same time, it was gratifying. He was
able to watch Yugi as the boy lost himself to the new sensations of lust, and
primal urges, watch how the sweat rolled over his face, mingling with his
tears, to drip from his moving chin to fall upon Yami’s belly and chest, where
it then rolled down the ground.

Yami moaned as Yugi slammed back
into him, his motions becoming faster and more harsh with each thrust. ‘Y—Yami…
I’m … so close!” Yugi whimpered, and his arms buckled as if they could no
longer sustain his weight. Yami arched, his eyes closing in passion, “Then lose
yourself… little one… my light…” Yami whispered, pulling up and kissing Yugi’s
mouth. He’d intended the kiss to be sweet, but Yugi crushed his lips upon
Yami’s fiercely, arms giving way to press them both to the ground, tongue
darting out to press into Yami’s mouth, filling Yami at both ends.

Yami shivered at the unbridled
passion as Yugi continued to pump his hips, up and down, in and out. Filling
him then leaving him. It was not the gentle rocking and pressing from before,
no, this was harsh thrusting and taking, and Yami was loving it.

Yugi grunted into his mouth, his
kiss easing off, with a final flick of his tongue, and Yami moved to reinstate
the kiss, his own tongue winding its way into Yugi’s supple mouth. Yami
shivered at his taste, the cool sweetness coating his tongue. Yami pushed his
hips up to meet Yugi’s only to have a blinding jolt throw him back into a
paralyzed state, as Yugi pounded into him.

Yugi was quaking and breathless, as
he moved to nip down Yami’s neck, the motions clumsy with his passion. With a
soft moan Yugi’s forehead collapsed against Yami’s shoulder, as he breathed
harshly, pushing his hips in the jerking motion. He was close to his end, Yami knew,
and the thought was both gratifying and saddening.

“Ah…hah… ung…
oh!” Yugi panted out. A whimper escaped his throat and Yami, moved trembling
arms to hold Yugi close, his head angling down to whisper against his ear,
“Come for me… ore no hikari. My little one.” He punctuated his words with a
gentle kiss to the ear pressed to his lips, and felt Yugi tense.

“Ah!” Yugi grunted pulling out,
slamming back in, and pressing as deeply as he could, Yugi threw back his head,
his whole body arching up and away to push his member in deeper, as he
completed in a loud cry. “Atemu!”

The sound of his real name shouted
in the room, made Yami tighten up and around Yugi’s pulsing member, still
buried inside him, and he felt the heat of Yugi’s fluids as he came, and his
body milked him for all it could. He felt some of Yugi’s semen seep out and roll
over his tail and sighed, enjoying the feel.

Mine… all mine… forever Yugi. You
are mine. Yami
smiled opening his eyes to look up at his young lover, the boy still frozen in
his arched position, eyes clenched tightly shut, golden bangs clinging to his
flushed cheeks, sweat outlining his glorious body. Yami groaned appreciatively,
and squeezed his internal muscles purposefully. Yugi gave a gasp, a little more
of his essence escaping before he slumped back down and onto Yami’s chest,
basking the after effects of his orgasm.

A deep warmth filled his chest, and
Yami snuggled Yugi closer to him, breathing in the smell of their musk and love
making, loving how his own scent, spicy and dry, clung to Yugi’s softer body.
For a while he simply lay there, holding Yugi, feeling his fluttering heartbeat
against his chest, his breath fanned over his chest, and wondered, if this was
how Alta had felt all those years ago.

He’d made love to her in his bed,
though in all honesty, he’d have to say he’d fucked her, or they had sex, for
there had been no real tenderness between them, as he’d taken her. He wasn’t
all that gentle either, but still, when he’d come, spilling his desire deep
into her womb, he’d been quite annoyed to find her barely winded, beneath him.

Yami smiled, and laughed internally at himself. Now he understood,
and felt guilty for the annoyance he’d felt for the girl when it had only been
her nature.

Yugi shivered in his arms and Yami
was brought back from his musings. Yami kissed Yugi’s head once more whispering
into his hair, “Beautiful light… thank you…” The slight form in his arms
shifted a bit, and Yami felt Yugi slip out of him, and mourned the loss
silently.

“Sorry…” Yugi’s voice was barely a
whisper, and Yami nearly missed it.

“What?” Yami asked, appalled that
Yugi was apologizing, and tried to see his face, but the smaller kept his eyes
averted. “Why are you sorry, my little
one?”

Yugi sat up, and Yami struggled to
do the same, wincing as his overly dry tail scrapped against the rocks. “…
because… I wasn’t good enough.” Yugi said matter of fact-ly,
and Yami blinked in confusion, placing a hand on Yugi’s shoulder. Finally, Yugi
met his eyes, and seemed to read his confusion there, because he blushed
darkly, and looked down at the sticky mess he’d made on his tail, the white
goop standing out against his royal violet tale. “You… you didn’t…”

Suddenly, Yami understood, and he
chuckled faintly. “No, little one, you were outstanding. I didn’t join you
because I’m still in this form.” Yami explained, pulling Yugi in for a hug, but
the small one still didn’t seem to understand him. Yami smirked, pushing Yugi
back, until they both rested very close to the water’s edge. “Here, akhu, let
me show you what I mean…” Yami’s shadow magic was a faint glimmer in his mind,
as he changed Yugi and promptly rolled them into the sea, slipping his own
member deep into Yugi instantly. He felt Yugi arch and then fall limp in his
embrace as he twined his tail around Yugi, pinning him to the sandy floor.

~You see, little one? The
difference in the feelings? That’s why I asked you for your human love.~ Yami whispered into Yugi’s mind
as he moved inside of his little one’s body, loving the feeling of taking him
once more.

~It’s… gentle… not…~ Yugi’s response ended on a sigh,
and Yami smirked, leaning down to suckle on the skin of Yugi’s neck, his hands
moving over Yugi’s body possessively.

~Not as burning, and consuming. I
can’t feel that any more like you can, Yugi. But, I did feel something very
close to it.~ Yami
said, grunting as he rocked into that pliant body. Yugi bucked up, and Yami
shifted to kiss Yugi’s mouth. ~So trust
me, when I say you were perfect, antyw akhu. You were…~

Yugi wrapped his arms around Yami’s
waist, kissing him back, and Yami felt the faintest trace of acceptance,
through their mental link, before he let his thoughts drift away with the ocean
and their moving bodies.

It would be a long time before
either even felt like stopping.

~*~

The water rose higher, sucking
everything away, but still, it was not too late, not yet. Anger burned through
his body, scalding his veins and causing his insides to twist vilely. His fist
clenched tighter, curling around the damp curls matted and stained with the
blood that seeped from the open wound upon the scalp. The wound that had killed
the woman he had loved once.

The woman who had betrayed him.

The
baby gave a weak cry as the ocean’s harsh waves gently soothed him back to
sleep, wide crimson eyes drifting shut, cheeks left rosy from his screams.
Blond hair shifted in a stray breeze that drifted in, and the image only
further fueled the rage, when the child shifted and the pearl of power was
revealed beneath the infant’s clothes. With a final disgusted look at the
corpse he held in his hand, he threw the body from him, allowing the water to
bob the body before swallowing it.

The
water was raising deeper now, it lapped at his breastplate, he should have
changed, but the pearl was restricting him. He would die, his people would die,
if he didn’t do something. Reaching out a hand, he made to crush the small
throat of the child, his thoughts filled with no greater satisfying thought.
With this child gone, his true son could be crowned King, and finally, he’d be
rid of that man for good.

His hand never made it.

The
earth seemed to moan, as a sudden tide swept in, crushing him down and below
the surface. Shock filled his senses, and he struggled to break through the
surface, his regal clothes, and armament dragging him down. His face broke
free, and he drew in gasping breaths of air, eyes and lugs burning as the salt
water continued to try and kill him.

The cradle, where was the cradle?

It
bobbed through the window, as if the storm was but a calming breeze. His anger
intensified. Why, why should the bastard child of that arrogant fool survive, when
he, the ruler of the most powerful kingdom in the world should parish. He made
to follow the moving cradle, but a weight drew him back down. His head jerked
back below the water’s surface and he had to consciously remember to hold his
breath. His head drew down, looking for what had snagged on his leg, and
screamed. Pale arms held him still, a cloud of murky red surrounded the head
that was haloed in gold.

But it wasn’t possible, she was
dead.

Even so, she glared coolly, her
grip never slacking as his air slowly ran out. Fire burned at his chest and
scrambled up his throat, he clawed at the water, trying to escape, but still
she held on.

Amethyst eyes accusing, and sad.

He opened his mouth, and salt
water rushed in, quickly filling his lungs.

Alta had her revenge.

Yugi’s eyes shot
open, his heart pounding in his ears from his nightmare. He breathed in deeply,
his skin prickled from his fear. What…
that was… Delta… it was his memories… no… not his… Yugi shivered, recalling
how he’d been a spectator in the dream, feeling Delta’s emotions, and yet, they
had not been his own. It was…Alta.

Yugi shivered, and closed his eyes,
intending to roll over, and burry his face into his blankets, when he realized
that he was not in his bed, nor was he on land. His heart fluttered once,
before he remembered where he was. Beneath the sea, in Yami’s arms. Yugi
cuddled close to his savior, his mind wandering over all that had happened in
the last two days. It was all a blur, happening too quickly, It almost seemed
like a dream itself. A movie on fast forward, but even so, that didn’t change
the fact that he was all but dead to his peers, his house, Sugoroku’s home, was
burnt to the ground, and his family’s murderer was after him and Yami. And the pearl’s acting up more… I’m dreaming
of Alta’s memories, and… and, the voice… Yugi shivered, and pulled closer
to Yami. There was so many things he still did not understand about the siblings
to the throne of Atlantis, so many holes in the story that was somehow
connected to him. I need to know… that
baby… why…

The sound of Yami’s beating heart
eased some of his crippling thoughts, and Yugi let them go gratefully, letting
his mind drift as his eyes looked around him, at the ocean floor. The craggy,
barnacle-covered rock of the cave, surrounded him, but warm sunlight glinted in
from the mouth of the cave. Yugi watched how the particles of dust, sand, and
algae glimmered with the captured light of the day, and realized how
desperately he longed for the sun.

His mind brought up the beach side,
with the cresting waves, the white foam as it danced up the sand, sand that was
warmed by the sun, until it was nearly too heated to stand. Yugi wasn’t sure if
it was because he’d always lived as a human, that he wanted dry land so badly,
or not, but for whatever reason, Yugi wanted nothing more than to be in his
original form, and basking in the warm noontime sun.

Yugi must have shifted trying to see
more of the day, for Yami stirred, his arms gripping him close, as crimson
eased open. Yugi smiled at the bleary look the once Pharaoh gave him, and
whispered through the mind link, glad that it was back in force again.

~Ohaiyou
Yami.~

Yami yawned, before replying,
sitting up when Yugi moved, showing that he wished to get up, and stretched a
bit before replying.

~Though you must admit little one… it is well
past midday.~

Yugi smiled, nodding his head as his
darker companion turned to gaze out of the cave. His crimson eyes seemed
troubled, and deep with thoughts even as the sunlight sparkled in them. Yugi
watched, silently, awed by the beauty that was Yami, the Pharaoh who had been
cursed so long ago.

The only
man he’d ever known to have crimson eyes.

A small gasp escaped Yugi, as images
of his dreams reappeared before his eyes, the echoing cries of the infant loud
in his ears. Could… could that be why
Delta hated Alta in the end? But that would mean…

~Little one, what’s troubling
you?~ Yami
questioned, his hand placed delicately on Yugi’s soft shoulder. It shattered
the memory and pulled Yugi to the present. He turned and met concerned eyes.
For a flickering moment, he toyed with the idea of pretending that nothing was
wrong, but recalling what had happened two days before, he quickly threw the
notion off. If we’re going to make it…
however we can, then, I’ll need to put as much trust into him as he has done
with me. Yugi thought, instantly knowing that it would be one of those,
easier-said-than-done, type ordeals.

~Yami… well, remember how I said
I had an “inner ocean” in my heart?~

~Yes, I remember.~ Yami said in a way that intoned
that he believed him, even though it was something that was a bit hard to
swallow. Then again, Yami’s life story wasn’t so easily believed either.

Yugi relaxed a bit, at the soft
trusting tone that Yami used. It was obvious that his other was trying to comfort
him, but even knowing that, it still helped. Yugi took a deep breath, and
prepared himself for the long story he knew this would turn into.

~I don’t mean to be a pain, Yami,
but, could we possibly continue this on land? No one will be coming near the
beach now that the shop’s gone… and… I just… I miss…~ Yugi struggled, unsure of how to
explain himself, and was glad when Yami proved that he didn’t have to.

~Sure, Yugi. Come.~ Yami held Yugi’s hand in his own,
and pushed them to the top, quickly retrieving Yugi’s clothes, that had dried
sometime during the night, and changed Yugi back, allowing him to dress. The
tide had gone out with the setting of the moon, leaving an edge around the
cave, just wide enough for Yugi to walk on. With little difficulty, he managed
to get out of the cave and onto the sun warmed beach with out falling in again.

Yugi enjoyed the feeling of sand on
his bare feet—his shoes having yet to fully dry—and smiled, breathing in
deeply. The moment would have lasted longer, had his eyes not fallen to the
wreckage that had once been his home. Cold pain lanced through his chest, and
he felt his ocean rise in response, and quickly looked away, fighting down his
hurt. At least I still have Yami… and…
Yugi pressed his hand to his back pocket where Sugoroku’s picture was placed
for safe keeping. Tears stung the back of his eyes and he swallowed hard on the
lump that rose to choke him. I have… no
place… no place to go. What am I going… to do now?

“Yugi?” Yami’s careful croon, called
him back from his pain, and Yugi looked at his only friend with glassy eyes,
and saw the compassion that lay in that crimson stare. Yami had pulled himself
up the beach, so that the surf washed up and over his brilliant tail, keeping
it wet but not covered, and Yugi realized, just how much Yami was risking, just
for him.

A few
tears fell.

“Thank you Yami…” Yugi said wiping
at his tears with his arm.

“It’s nothing, little one.”

Yugi nodded once, sitting on the
beach, in front of Yami, just out of the water’s reach, his back to the remains
of his life, and began to explain.

The sun was low in the sky by the
time he’d finished. His concerns for his lack of control over his own mind, the
dreams, the baby, and Deruta’s explanation of being Delta’s heir, and he being
Alta’s, finally out and in the open. Yami seemed to be lost in his own
thoughts. His brow furrowed with consideration, one hand raised to his chin.
Yugi couldn’t help but admire the way Yami looked, even though the situation
was a serious one, and had to pull his legs up to his chest to keep from
fidgeting. I always thought that once one
has an intimate relationship with another… that the magic… fades out. At least…
that’s the way Yami made it sound… but I…

Yugi didn’t allow himself to finish
that thought, returning quickly to the discussion at hand instead. “I really
don’t know what to think of all of this Yami. I mean, why would I be having
dreams… no, memories, from Alta’s life? And why…” Yugi choked, unable to complete
the question out loud, and swallowed hard instead. … why did that baby have your eyes?

“I do not know, little one.” Still,
Yami appeared to be more concerned than he was letting on, and Yugi nodded
once, gripping his legs more tightly.

“… I’m afraid, Yami.” Yugi
whispered, after a long moment, and felt Yami’s gaze shift from the sand to his
face.

“Why is that?” Yami asked, his voice
sounding concerned, but patient. Yugi glanced up and over his knees, catching
the warm crimson stare with his own amethyst one, and felt his insides relax
with familiar comfort. Yugi breathed in deeply, letting the breath out slowly,
before meeting Yami’s stare with his own, not wanting to let himself be pulled
into his own fears.

“I’m afraid that I’m losing.”

“Losing, little one?” Yami sounded
confused, and Yugi nodded, his hands fisting on his pants, causing the fabric
to rumple and bunch in his fist. A stray breath of wind brushed against his
face, and Yugi looked out and over the sea, his mind sad, and confused.

He’d been alone for so long, only
known four people to have loved him, and one of those people was a deranged
murderer, and he was the only one left alive. Yami cared for him, this he knew,
and it brought him some semblance of peace, but now, looking out over the only
constant in his life, Yugi felt cold. What
am I? Why am I here at all? The sea within himself seemed to swell up with
his doubts, and Yugi jerked away from it, forcing all thoughts from his mind.

“Yugi?”

“… Myself. I feel as though, I may
lose myself… in the depth of my ocean. That I… I will…” Yugi wasn’t aware that
he was crying until he felt Yami’s fingers on his damp cheek. Yugi pressed his
face into that warm hand and hugged his friend close, while he sobbed. “I’m
afraid. I don’t know… what I’m going to do. And… and… then I’m so confused by
these dreams and—“

“Hush, little one, it’s all right. I
am here, hush now. I will protect you, I will keep you here.” Yami crooned low
in his chest, and the vibrations of the words, calmed his nerves greatly. Yugi
sniffled a few times to regain control of his emotions, rubbing his face
against the strong bronzed chest of his other, before pulling back with a deep
breath.

“Sorry, I just couldn’t stop.”

Yami just gave him a slight nod and
smile. Yugi returned the gesture, and sighed once. “But, that aside, there is
still the issue with Deruta, and the dreams.” Yugi said, and watched as Yami
became serious once more, turning to look out over the ocean.

“That is very true. I just don’t
understand it. Delta wanted Alta more than anything else, so it is very
unlikely that he would take on a mistress, so if Deruta is a descendant of
Delta… he would also have to be one of Alta as well. But the only child that
escaped would have been your some hundred great-grand parent.” Yami stopped,
seemingly puzzled by the odd turn of events, muttering under his breath every
so often. “Why split it with Alta and
Delta? They were married, and she was pregnant. So why…”

Yugi was watching Yami’s profile as
he was outlined in the fading light, so nearly missed the deep shadow that fell
over him. He had one moment to panic for Yami’s sake, before large arms
encircled him, crushing his small form to a firm body behind him. He didn’t
remember making a sound, but he must have done so, for Yami turned quickly,
glaring angrily at his captor.

“Put him down!” Yami stated, louder
than Yugi had ever heard him speak, and trembled a bit. The laugh that rolled
through the chest he was pressed to, caused Yugi to jump, his heart freezing in
his chest with terror. Oh no, it’s him…
Deruta…. Yugi felt sick to his stomach, but whether it was from fear of the
man who held him, or fear for the one before him, Yugi wasn’t sure.

“So, this is the great and mighty,
Pharaoh Atemu. Funny, somehow I thought you would be more impressing.” Deruta’s
voice was mocking and filled with malcontent. Yugi struggled in the arms trying
to twist free, his heart fluttering like a caged bird with in his chest. Oh, Kami-sama,
please… don’t hurt him…. Please, don’t take Yami! The currents of his inner
sea churned with his fear, and the voice was beginning to call to him. Yugi
gasped and was held more securely by his waist. “Though I must say, I had hoped
that you would look less…” Deruta seemed to pause for a long time, as if
searching for the right words, and Yugi looked desperately to his other.

Yami was looking at him with concern
and worry, his eyes filled with uncertain fear, and it caused his inner sea to
rise high. Yugi choked on his own breath at the mental assault, his body
trembling from the mind that tried to drown his own out. No! Leave… me alone! Yami! Yami!

“Release him this instant, or so
help me, I’ll send your soul so far into the shadow realm that not even Anubis
will find you. Yami threatened his eyes narrowed in utter hate, though his
threat and cold glare lost most of their threatening attributes in the fact
that he was currently holding himself up by his arms, too far from the water to
escape, or even to move.

“Just try me, Pharaoh. You lost once
before you will not win this time, either.” Deruta’s voice held such conviction
that it left Yugi’s insides trembling, and his pendant responded to his
distress.

Another echoing pulse from his mind
brought tears to Yugi’s eyes. Escape
Yami! Please, just get away before he hurts you! I don’t want another person I
love, to die! The tears did fall then, and Yugi felt his lower lip tremble
as he whimpered out the only name he was thinking of.

“… Yami.” The soft cry brought
Yami’s head around, and the sad, fearful look of guilt in the crimson eyes,
made Yugi cry harder. Anger filled the crimson eyes, as Yami swung back around,
pulling himself closer with a low growl.

“Leave him out of this. It is with
me that you have your quarrel. Yugi has nothing to do with this.” Yami stated,
and seemed slightly alarmed when the larger man scoffed with a deep throated
laugh. “What is so funny?” Yami demanded, his voice sounding like the thunder
had the night before. Deep and resonant with power.

“You understand nothing, do you?”
Deruta laughed again, and Yugi flinched, inwardly his body trembling from the
strain of trying to suppress the voice from with in. The voice that told him to
give up.

To fade
away.

To die.

“Yugi means everything to this,
Atemu. He is the direct descendant of Alta. Only he can use the power stone,
being Alta’s heir, as I am Delta’s.” Deruta smirked, and Yami’s glare turned
hateful.

“Then would that not make you
related?” Yami asked, knowing that though, being Delta’s heir and all, that
that may not concern the man, but he also knew that in today’s society that was
highly frowned upon. So his shock was worn clearly on his face when the man
laughed.

“Us? Related? Hardly. Aside from
Alta and Delta’s family connection, we are but separate families.”

“But… Alta’s child…” Yami spoke very
quietly, as if greatly confused, and Yugi felt the arm that held him tighten
with Deruta’s joy.

“No, I’m afraid that her child was
not Delta’s. And that I am but a descendant of Delta’s bastard son that escaped
the massacre with his mother several months prior to the tidal wave that wiped
out Atlantis.” Deruta seemed to scoff at the notion his hand stroking Yugi’s
face tenderly. Pressing a gentle kiss to his temple, he smirked, answering the
unspoken question that hung between them. “You see Atemu, it was your child
that she carried, your child to which she entrusted the entirety of Atlantis
to, that five thousand years ago.”

Yugi felt his entire body freeze,
his insides turning to ice as he watched the shocked denial that was painted
upon Yami’s face. “No… it was… it wasn’t…”

“Oh, yes Pharaoh. It is your blood
that taints his soul, just as it was you blood that destroyed all that was
right with in the world.” Deruta said, his voice sounding off in Yugi’s ears,
as though he was muffled, speaking through layers of cotton. A rage was
building deep inside of him, a rage Yugi knew, was not his own, and Yugi tried
to wrap his own arms around his chest, as though his hands could hold back the
rising pull that was slowly gaining control over him, but Deruta held him
pinned. “And, dear pharaoh, it is your taint that will hold Yugi from taking
the throne.”

Yugi was panting now, his head
buzzing as the pearl became a burning ember against his flesh, desperately, he
struggled to stay awake, to stay alive. Yugi was whimpering in fear and pain,
and caught Yami’s eyes as the once proud ruler of Egypt, looked at him, a
sadness in his fiery eyes, before turning to glare at Deruta once more.

“You are mistaken. For the throne to
Atlantis, will never again rise, for it is my promise to Alta herself, that it
will never raise again.” Yami’s voice sounded sad, and Yugi felt his entire
body jolt, all sound fading out with Yami’s next words. “And I refuse to betray
her again.”

Something clicked. Yugi felt frozen
for a moment, as he hung in the balance of chaos and confusion. Too much, it
was simply too much to take in, as understanding, and anger that was not his
own swarmed up around him. Yugi found himself powerless against the pull and
felt himself get dragged back as another rose to claim him.

“Your purpose has been served,
dear one. Sleep now, its over.”

Yugi choked on air, the voice
echoing through his mind, now he knew, this truly was the end. He hit the
choppy waves of his inner ocean and began to sink. Yugi blinked, his eyes
locked on the sky above him, it was black, obsidian dotted with diamonds.
Bursts of color erupted in the night, painting light that drowned out the
stars.

He knew
this.

I
am back… Yugi thought distantly, as the water washed over his face, pale hands
looped over him, and drew him down. Wait…
I’ll drown… stop, I can’t… Yami… he— Auburn curls lifted on the water,
curling just past his vision and Yugi stilled, his heart constricting in his
chest. Okaa-chan… Yugi didn’t know
what to think or feel as his mother continued to pull him down into death.
Tears erupted from amethyst eyes as he choked on his held breath.

“Hush, my baby, my Yugi. It’s over
now, you don’t have to be alone anymore.” His mother’s words were distant and
muffled by the waves, but Yugi heard them all the same. Another sob broke free,
as he continued to cry. It hurt, dying, but it would mean he could see them all
again, right?

“Come Yugi, we are all waiting for
you, my child, my little one.” Yugi’s eyes widened, and a soft glow surrounded
his being, breaking him from his mother’s hold. Little one?... no, he’s not here… I can’t… Yugi couldn’t think
straight as he floated away from his mother, her eyes sad and pleading, but
also slightly proud. Yugi was beginning to feel tired and weighted, as a white
sheen blocked his vision of his mother. She cried out for him, but the sound
was constricted, and his eyes eased shut, vaguely Yugi wondered how it was
possible to his mother to be here if she was dead. But that thought, and all
other’s were quickly wiped from his mind as sleep overcame him, a whisper of
breath escaping in a resigned sigh.

“Atemu… Yami.”

~*~

Rage bubbled near the surface,
but also warred with the guilt and fear. It was his child, the baby that Alta
carried that day she spoke to him beneath the waves. That was his child, the one she gave her life to
save, was his own.

Why… why Alta? If you could
choose when to become pregnant, and with whom, why did you choose me? When?

Deruta laughed coldly, and Yami
glared from beneath his bangs, aware that Yugi had suddenly gone limp in the
other’s arms. His fear doubled, and he struggled to move closer still,
wondering where the man’s lackeys were that Yugi had spoken of, but from the
stench of blood that coated the man’s being, Yami had a good guess.

They probably did not want to
stick around to search for Yugi, either that or they where sent to search else
where. Yami’s
hands fisted at his sides as he wondered how he was to save his little one this
time. He was less than useless on land, and he was certain that Deruta knew of
this as well.

“What’s the matter, Pharaoh,
suddenly having second thoughts on your disregard of Alta? Well, that would be
a first. You having feelings, what a laugh, that is why you do not deserve
him.” Deruta said, suddenly, his eyes turning gentle as he looked down onto
Yugi’s slumped form.

Jealously flared brightly in Yami,
as Deruta’s hand ran over Yugi’s soft cheek tilting his head back to place a
tender kiss to his forehead. Suddenly Yami wanted to spill this man’s blood
more than anything, but with Yugi so close to his target, he could not send his
shadows with out hurting Yugi as well.

He was
stuck in a stand still.

Damn it! Fuck this stupid curse,
let him go, dear Ra!

“Funny, how I’ve lost twice to you.
Why is it that the one I love, always
loves you instead?” Deruta asked in quiet tones. Yami jerked his head up,
blinking in incomprehension. He couldn’t have meant what Yami thought he did, it
just wouldn’t make sense, and yet…

“I
want you to make sure no one uncovers this place once we sink. I want you to
guard its remains. Make sure we remain forgotten, just like you… until the true
heir arrives…”

Yami’s eyes widened, for the first
time beginning to understand exactly what Alta had meant all those years ago.

You did not mean the descendant…
you meant…

Yami jerked his eyes to Yugi, his
fear over powering all thought as he desperately tried to drag himself to the
small boy. “Yugi!”

The small boy’s words seemed to echo
and roll through his mind, laced with his fear and concern. “I feel like my inner ocean, is consuming
me… like I might get lost… like something wants to take over.”

How could I have been so stupid! Yugi
was… he was—

Deruta stepped back, his hands
shifting behind him, as he held Yugi’s dead weight on one arm, until he found
what he was searching for, and with a smirk raised it into the air. Sunlight glinted
off of the object, and managed to get Yami’s attention. He blinked, stopping
momentarily, his heart slamming into his ribs with his concern for Yugi, even
as his mind screamed out a warning to his own safety.

“What—“

“Unlike before, Atemu, I will not
hesitate to kill you. In fact, I fear that there is no other way for this to
end the way it was meant to be, unless you are dead.” Deruta tightened his grip
on the hand gun, held possessively beside Yugi’s calm and sleeping face. Yami
felt himself jump and his breathing pick up speed. Was this it? Was he to fail
once again, when he finally understood it all?

No, I can’t lose, Yugi’s life… not him! Take anyone, anything, but him!

“You see now, mighty Pharaoh? Your
existence has been completely pointless. You were born for nothing, changed for
nothing, and will now die for nothing. You may as well have never lived.
Perhaps then, this child, would not suffer so.” Deruta smirked, and Yami felt a
cold dread suffuse his heart. Was it true?

Yami looked to Yugi’s face, slack
with unconsciousness, the pearl glowing ominously inside his shirt. Yes, Yami
knew it to be true. If he had never been around, Alta would have married her
brother with out incident, Atlantis would not have fallen, Yugi’s parents would
not have been killed, Yugi would have had a happy life, and he would not now be
alone and in the arms of his family’s murderer.

Yes, Yami knew it was all true, but
still…

Crimson eyes narrowed, and a smirk
tilted his mouth as he moved to sit up more straight, “You’re absolutely right,
Deruta. None of this would have happened if I had never lived, but the fact
remains, that I did.” Yami watched
with satisfaction as the smile was wiped from the blond man’s face, the gun
lowering just a fraction with his loss of power. “I was born, and I did live,
and yes, I seduced Alta who then chose
to bare my child. Because of me, your family line split, and you killed Yugi’s
family. But also, because I lived, so did he, the sole heir to Atlantis.” Yami
paused, looking over Yugi tenderly.

And it may be selfish of me… but
I don’t wish to let him go… my little one.

“Besides, Atlantis would have fallen
anyway, with no survivors, had it not been for me, and my exile.” Yami smirked
at the angered expression on Deruta’s face. “After all, I’m the one that
followed the baby’s cradle to land, protecting it as the ocean commanded, as
Alta’s curse, had demanded of me.”

“Enough!” Deruta’s cry was enraged,
and Yami recognized it as the same one he’d heard when his curse had been
placed. Yami almost smiled at the irony, how everything seemed to spin back
around. History truly repeats itself, as frightening as that may be, even after
so much has changed. “I no longer need to concern myself with you, die, Atemu.”
Yami watched as the trigger was pulled, and wondered if it was even possible
for him to be killed. He’d lived though nearly everything else, why would this
be any different.

I will die… if I lose Yugi… I
will, for certain. Because…

A flash of light intruded on Yami’s
thoughts, and he unconsciously flinched away, raising his arms to block the
bright intensity. A strangled cry lifted up, loud enough to cause the hair on
Yami’s arms to stand on end, and the anguished sound. It seemed to last an
eternity, but Yami knew that it couldn’t have been any longer than a minute,
before the cries stopped and the ringing silence was born.

The
surf rushed up and wetted his tail, and Yami had to bite back a cry as the
water burned him. The pain and anger that radiated from the ocean was so
palpable that it made his stomach twist, and his bile rise.

What…?

A whimper caught his attention, and
Yami looked cautiously from over his arm. He gasped in shock at the image
before him. Yugi was standing on the ground, free from Deruta’s grasp, and very
much awake. His body seemed to glow with the power that stemmed from the pearl
that floated before him, his eyes were narrowed in a deep hatred that Yami had
never seen before on the young one’s face, and he found that it was more
terrifying that he’d ever imagined it to be.

“Little one…” Yami gasped, and was
stunned silent when Yugi barely glanced at him from the corner of his eye, eyes
that did not belong to Yugi at all.

That’s…

Another whimper made him aware of
Deruta, who was cowering on the ground, backing away from Yugi, his arms raised
in defense, and with a closer look, Yami saw why. His face and arms seemed to
be burned, red and chaffed, as though he’d been too long in the desert.

“Enough
with the games, Delta. It is time to end the pain.” Yugi spoke, but the
voice did not belong to the boy. The breath left Yami’s lungs and he felt all
of his strength leave him as he recognized just who had spoken from his small
light.

Alta… that’s what you meant. The
true heir to Atlantis was…

“No… You, you can’t be…” Deruta
seemed to stumble over his words, and Yami turned to watch as the man scrambled
away from the smaller boy, fear evident on his pale face.

“The
time of our reign has ended, Atlantis has fallen, and with this life, it shall
remain so. And the wrongs…” Alta’s voice continued to come from Yugi’s
lips, calm and steady, and Yugi turned to regard him, his eyes sad, and
repentful. It was then that Yami realized that she was speaking about him. “… will be righted, and finally, it can all
end.”

Yugi turned back to face the
cowering man, and suddenly, the simpering fear stopped, and in its place was a
cold glare that Yami could recognize anywhere.

Delta… the two are residing with
in their chosen heirs. So, it is the beginning of the end, but whose end?

Yami felt sick, being unable to do
anything but watch as the water lapped higher on his dried tail. The tide was
coming back in, soon he would be mobile once more, but would he be of any help
then? Or would the battle already be over?

“You think you can end this here,
Alta? I will never allow your line to exceed my own!” Delta sneered, standing
up and facing off against Alta. Yami couldn’t help but flinch, it was still
Yugi’s body that stood there, glowing, and facing off against a man nearly
twice his size, but he dared not interrupt, might it give Delta and attack
opportunity.

Silently, he watched, as the two
siblings faced off against each other, for the final time. The ocean crackled
with their anger and despair, sending him the memories of their final lives,
mixed with the echoes of their host’s. Yami’s mind was reeling from the over
load as he tried to focus.

“Do
not fear Delta… I do not plan for that either.”

The words struck mind-numbing fear
in Yami’s heart, as he understood the fatal response. The ocean sloshed up
around his hips, and Yami surged forward at the same time that Delta moved.
Yami’s tail was stopped mere two feet from where he had previously been as the
rip-tide tried to draw him back, the ocean warning him that this was not his
fight. Yami stared in disbelief, knowing that after this moment, he would be
alone again.

Alone,
forever.

“NO!” The cry was ripped from his
throat involuntarily, and he sent out some shadow magic to protect Yugi with
out even thinking, and again there was a bright pulsation of light, then all
fell silent. Through bleary eyes and fogged ears, Yami thought he saw two souls
being ripped from Deruta’s body, becoming engulfed with in the blinding light,
twin screams rising high, but in the next instant, blackness consumed him, and
Yami fell into unconsciousness.

Yami blinked his eyes open, aware
that the sun had faded from the sky, and that dark stars now dotted the black
heavens. The surf grazed his arms, rising over his nose, softly, and forced his
lungs to change the liquid. For a moment, he couldn’t recall anything, his mind
blank to everything but the soothing remorse of the ocean waves, but his ignorance
was a short lived.

Yugi!

Yami shoved himself up, and scanned
the beach, his face coming to rest on the crumpled form of Deruta. The man
looked paste white under the silver glow of the moon. His face was lax, and
Yami was momentarily surprised that the man’s face was not twisted with a deep
agony, but then again, death never left much “life” behind.

Delta lost… but where—

“Thank
you, Yami.” The soft voice startled him, and Yami whipped around, surprised
to find himself gazing into wise amethyst eyes. His mouth fell open in wonder,
at the banked love he found in the depths of those eyes, and again felt uneasy.

The surf rushed up along the cold
sands of the beach, curling around Yami’s wrists, and moistening his tail with
gently motions. It was calling again, this time in sad regret, as if saying a melancholy
farewell that left Yami confused.

“Alta.” Yami stated, and watched as
an eerie smile made its way up Yugi’s face. “… So this is what you meant by the
true heir. The one who would carry your memories… carry your soul.” Yami wasn’t
too surprised to find his voice bitter and
angry. His pain for Yugi still very adamant for his attention.

The smile turned sad, and Yugi
nodded. “Yes, after Delta killed me, I
hung around, waiting for the compatible host, just as Delta waited for his own.
If we did not face off and destroy our very souls, we would continue to
reincarnate, and fight each other, until the world ceased to be. Thus, Deruta,
and Yugi were drawn into this mess.” Alta said calmly, and Yami glared, his
hands fisting by his sides angrily. “Born
solely for or battle to end.”

“So, they were just a means to an
end, is that it?”

His question was left unanswered, as
Yugi stepped closer to him. “I will
release you from your curse now, Atemu. Both my own, and my brother’s, as was
promised. With the last of my life, I free you.” The pearl began to glow,
and Yami sucked in a deep breath.

After all this time, finally he would be free to live. The hope was
painful, and he almost didn’t stop the woman who was possessing his light, but
in the end, he did.

“Wait!” Yami cried out, his heart
slamming hard, as amethyst eyes widened in shock, and Yami swallowed back his
growing sense of urgency, meeting that gaze with fearful crimson. This could
very well be his only chance to be free. To grow old and die. To be human
again.

But what does any of that mean, if
I am alone? Land or sea? What is the difference, if I am still alone?

“Yugi? Where is he?” A look
of shock, then one of pity, passed over Yugi’s features, before the eyes turned
away, and Yami felt his heart drop to his feet. “No… Alta, where is Yugi?!
Bring him back, right now, bring back my little one!” Yami bellowed, glaring
daggers at Yugi’s body. A pain he’d never felt before was eating him up inside,
and Yami fought against it harshly.

“I’m
sorry, Atemu, but Yugi… no longer exists. His purpose has been served, all that
remains is your freedom—the end of our agreement—and then—”

“Fuck my freedom, Alta, just give me
back my light! Return him to me this instant! His purpose is far from over damn
it! He has his whole life to live! Give it back!” Yami felt burning tears
running over his face, and choked on a sob as he reached out to the startled,
and sad form before him, his arms embracing the body that his light belonged
to, his face buried in the chest that he shook gently. “Come back, please,
antyw akhu, biAw. Return to me! Return to me!”

Yami couldn’t see anything through
the blur of his own tears, and somewhere in his mind he wondered if he was
going blind, and then if it even mattered. The tears leaked from wide open eyes
as he slipped into a deep denial. Yugi couldn’t be gone, not so quickly. He’d
barely lived, and they had barely known each other for long, there was still so
much he needed to learn about the smaller boy. He could not be lost, it just
wasn’t possible.

“Yugi… Ra, please Yugi. Return…
return to me please. I still need you…”

The form slumped with a sadness that
Yami clearly understood as regret and his hands fisted in the wet fabric of the
clothes. He cursed in his native tongue, clenching his eyes shut against the
pain of living. Had it always hurt this much?

“Atemu,
he is the heart of the Ocean. The pearl’s mortal host, the carrier of my
memories, my chosen one. His role has been completed. You must let him go now,
let me free you from our contract and—”

Again, Yami cut off the voice of the
woman he’d forever hold responsible for his pain, and jerked away glaring into
her eyes. For a long moment no one moved. Yami simply stared into those
remorseful amethyst eyes, searching for anything that might give him some hope
of Yugi’s continued existence.

There
was nothing.

“Atemu—“

“I won’t give him up.” Yami said,
gripping the sides of Yugi’s face and pressing his forehead against the
other’s, his eyes drifting shut as he initiated his shadow magic. The pure
energy of the pearl, round Yugi’s neck, pulsed sharply retaliation to Yami’s
dark magic, and for a flickering moment Yami feared that he would not make it,
but a shift in the power allowed a brief window and Yami slipped in.

He hadn’t entered another’s mind
since before his change, but he was certain that the road wasn’t supposed to be
so difficult and choppy. His head hurt when he finally passed by the memories
of two different lives. Watching a woman’s rape and murder, as a boy was born
and raised.

A
childhood filled with sunlight, and a death filled with shadows.

So conflicting and different from
each other were the souls, that Yami was left to wonder how either could
coexist with out flying in all directions, but as he reach the center of the
bodies soul, he found the answer in twin memories. Memories of an emotion or
feeling. One saw a cold Pharaoh, the other a broken merman.

And both
felt love, and deep protectiveness, and compassion.

Me. I’m their connection… the one
thing that keeps them balanced… it’s me…

Yami felt stunned, and a little over
whelmed by the knowledge that he had just acquired, but he had little time to
dwell on his thoughts as he suddenly found himself surrounded by a deep
blackness. A void, filled with nothingness. One made by the lack of life.

Alta’s presence and memories were
destroying the body. Unless Yugi returned, his body would cease to function.
Alta was not alive in Yugi’s body, in fact her soul wasn’t truly there at all,
just the echoes of her memories, made real through the power of the pearl Yugi
had yet to master. But where was Yugi’s soul then?

Desperately, Yami looked around the emptiness,
calling out the young one’s name, hearing it echo back to him softly, like a
slowly moving nightmare. His fears began to devour him once more, his act becoming
futile to his own mind, when he saw it.

In the center of the darkness,
encased in what looked to be a bubble, floated Yugi. More precisely, his soul,
curled close into himself. Slim arms curled around his legs, his naked form
looking cold and alone inside his protective shield. Yami moved forward in the
darkness. His movements were sluggish, and weighed down from the energy he was
exerting, and he vaguely realized that his soul was also that of his true form;
human. It reminded him of one of those dreams that you can’t seem to run in even
as you are being chased.

Reaching out, Yami placed his hands
solidly against the prison that held Yugi, but the one inside seemed not to
notice him at all. “Little one, open your eyes.” Yami frowned when he received
no response, and pounded his hand against the casing to try and gain the
other’s attention. “Yugi! You must fight this. You have to chose to live,
please Yugi. The pearl will extinguish your life if you do not have the will to
control it. Fight Yugi, stand up and fight little one!” Yami was screaming, but his voice sounded like
a distant echo, he was not used to expending so much of his own power, he was
weakening. Yami felt his tension rise as still Yugi ignored him, the darkness
growing deeper.

Yami wasn’t sure how he knew that it
was the pearl of power that was causing Yugi’s decline, and wasn’t sure if
Yugi’s fighting for his right to live would grant him his life, but like most
things that had come with his new existence, he simply knew, and therefore
accepted it.

“Come on Yugi, you are not a pawn,
or a host. You are the heart of the ocean! The pearl’s living half! Fight!”
Yami screamed again, pressing against the one thing that blocked him from his
light. It had to be true, why else would Yugi’s shell be able to stand against
him, and the darkness that tried to consume him. Everything else had vanished,
and Yet, Yugi continued to glow, and exist, it had to mean something, it had
to.

Silence continued, and the darkness
seeped closer, edging around Yami like black ice. Yami shivered, if he did not
leave soon, he too would be swallowed up by the nothingness. Would that kill
him? Or would he return to his useless existence? Yami didn’t want to find out,
and set his jaw.

“Yugi, wake up, now!” Yami said, in
a stern voice, leaving no room for debate, it was a tone he’d used when he’d
given a decree as Pharaoh, a tone no one had yet been able to deny. Yami held
his breath for what felt like an eternity, and nearly laughed with relief when
he heard Yugi respond, though his soul remained outwardly unchanged, eyes shut,
face solemnly serene.

~… I’m afraid.~

“… Don’t be, little one. You are
strong.” Yami said, with gentle pride, his hand caressing the clear barrier
before him, as though it was Yugi’s soft cheek.

~… but, I am alone…~

“No. Yugi, you are not. You have you
mother, your grandfather, and even Alta, right here inside you, always.” Yami
said, knowing that this place must have once been his inner ocean at one point,
for as Yugi began to respond, the distant chime of waves could be heard in the
darkness, and the flooring seemed to move with a steady lapping.

~… but that’s all they are…
memories. Echoes… because, they are dead.~

No.. don’t give up Yugi… Yami pleaded silently as the
call of the sea seemed to drift away once more, and desperately he tried to
think of something to bring Yugi back to him, but nothing came to mind. What
was there that could hold Yugi to the world of pain and life? What could
possibly have that much sway over Yugi’s heart.

An
emotion strong enough to tie two opposites together.

Yami gasped, crimson eyes flying
wide. “Me…” Yami smiled, as a flicker of color returned to the blackness, and
the sound of the waves grew loud for an instant. “You have me, little one.
Always, I’m right here, and I can’t leave you. I won’t leave you.”

Inside the bubble, Yugi’s eyes
opened slowly, slits of amethyst peering out. Yami grinned widely as the
darkness was forced away, deep water replacing the black nothingness, as clear
blue skies filled the area with light. The barriers turned into foam that
slipped away to coat the ocean surface, and Yugi was freed from his own cage.
Slowly he uncurled, eyes opening completely as he turned to stare into Yami’s
eyes. His eyes were so sad and lost that it broke Yami heart to see them, but
it was his words that forced the air from his lungs with a painful cry.

~You promise? I can keep you?~

Yami smiled, and embraced the soul
he cared for, more than his freedom. “Yes, Aibou, my akhu, my little one.
Forever. You can keep me, forever.”

Yugi
returned the embrace.

~*~

The sky
was bright and clear, cloudless in the noon day sun. White gulls flew over head
swooping down low and singing to each other, their language completely made
from their melodies, however annoying they may truly be. It was calm, and bobbed
gently, soothing all fears away.

It was peaceful here, but a deep
power resonated from low in the waters below.

With
out turning, he knew that the clear blue-green of the ocean held no darkness,
and no voiceless spirits. He knew that the ever reoccurring memories shimmered
on the sun kissed surface, the sounds of laughter and tears mingling together
in a calming chant that held no malice, and no insecurities that would
otherwise be there. Here he was surrounded by all who cared, and all he cared for,
but most importantly, there was the shadow of the person who waited for him in
reality.

“Now
it is over, little Yugi.” The voice caused an involuntary jerk, and he heard
the woman giggle a little. He turned to face her, surprised that he could do
so, that he was no longer the foam upon the restless waves, but the entity that
existed within and around this haven.

Alta’s
eyes held gratitude and joy, her pale skin flushed with a lively youth, her
golden hair shining in the brightness of the sun. She was the epitome of
beauty. Yugi swallowed his words and blushed, shocked at how the woman seemed
to glow with kindness, the same woman who had tried to extinguish his life.

He
must have given her an odd look, for she smiled kindly, and reach out to gently
stroke his cheek. “It’s all right now, Yugi. The pearl has now been passed to
you, officially. For the first time since my coming of age, the pearl has a
master and a wielder.” She paused to look around the place that they hovered
in, her pleased expression calming Yugi’s insides. “I had not expected the
pearl to remain. I had not truly believed that you would pass my test. But you,
and Atemu, have exceeded my expectations.”

“Yami.”
Yugi spoke for the first time since their odd meeting, unconsciously correcting
her, and Alta blinked in surprise. Yugi looked to the side blushing a little.
After all, he was speaking to the queen of Atlantis. “He’s called Yami now. He
prefers to be called that.”

“Of
course.” Alta’s voice was light, and gave the impression that she was smiling.
Yugi smiled back, suddenly feeling saddened. In his heart, he knew that this
was goodbye. He hadn’t truly known Alta for that long, in fact, he couldn’t say
he knew her at all. But still, since he’d grabbed his mother’s pendant that
night on the ship, she’d been here, in his inner sea.

He
had always felt her presence, watching and guiding him as he grew, but this was
the first time that the presence actually had a face, and a personality; a
life, behind it. The thought of loosing that now, made him melancholy. Alta
seemed to read this too.

“The
power and fate of Atlantis, now rests in your hands Yugi. Follow your
instincts, and anything can be done, by the will of your heart. You now are the
prize possession of the sea, and she will protect you with all of her heart.” Alta
kissed Yugi’s forehead gently, already her image fading away in a glimmer of
water droplets. “Now, continue to care for Atemu— Yami. He needs you, more than
he knows.”

“Yes,
I promise.” Yugi whispered, rubbing at his watering eyes. Alta smiled, one
final time, this time, looking truly happy, for what appeared to be, the first
time in a long while, and Yugi had the feeling that she was returning to
someplace.

A place where she had been the
most happiest.

“He’s
waiting for you. Return to him.” Her voice was barely a breath of sound now,
and only the visage of her amethyst eyes remained. Yugi nodded, feeling the
warm call that he instinctually knew was Yami.

Goodbye.

Yugi
smiled, looking up at the bright sky, as the presence in his mind dissipated,
leaving only his memories, the pearl, and him in his mind. It was quiet, in
comparison of what it had been. But that was fine.

Everything was just fine.

Slowly, his eyes eased open, the
world blurred and cold. He blinked several times, before his eyes cleared and
he could see the expanse of the sky. The horizon was pale white with the
approaching day, the fog rising off of the sea and mingling with the edge,
blunting the lines between earth and sky. The farther up he looked the darker
the color was, until directly above him he could see the last of the stars,
twinkling at him in joyful parting. It’s
almost morning… Yugi thought, his mind trying to recall the events of the
previous day. The sloshing sound of the ocean’s waves brought him aware that he
was laying on the beach, his body cradled close to a warm source.

“You’re awake now, little one?” The
cautious tone to that tenor voice, made Yugi smile as he turned to stare into
worried and glassy crimson. Yugi reached up, touching the high cheekbone of the
man he turned to when he needed help, and brushed his tears away.

“Yeah, Tadaima…
Yami.” Yugi grinned. Yami let out a chuckle, his arms lifting Yugi up and
closer to his heart, his face pressing to the crook in Yugi’s neck, nuzzling
him close. Yugi returned the embrace happily, his hands traveling down to brush
against the smooth tail lovingly, fingertips drawing symbols over the cool
scales.

“Okairi
nasai, chisai no ko.” Yami
whispered, his warm lips brushing over Yugi’s exposed throat. Yugi grinned
squeezing his Yami closer, breathing in his spicy smell, somewhat surprised
that he still smelled of the desert sands, after so long below the waves. Yugi
cuddled closer, feeling safe in the enclosure of Yami’s arms.

“I thought I lost you.” The deep rumble
of Yami’s voice as it echoed in his chest, brought a wide smile to Yugi’s face.
He gave the merman a giant squeeze, kissing his chest gently, before moving to
look up at Yami.

“Yeah… I thought so too. But you
came after me… and,” Yugi paused, enfolding the once Pharaoh in his arms for a
second time, his eyes closing contentedly. “I came back.”

“That you did, Little one.” Yami
said, his voice light with mirth. For what felt to be a very long time, neither
moved, nor spoke, though a lot needed to be discussed. Yugi’s new power over
the pearl, the fact that he was the living dead, Deruta’s corpse that was
quickly getting dragged out to sea by the tide, and where to go from here all
needed to be discussed, but all of this seemed superfluous in light of what had
just transpired, and neither wished for the peaceful moment to break. Oh, Jii-chan, can you believe it? I wish I
could speak to you, but I’d have to leave Yami behind to do it. Cause he can’t
follow me on land. I wish you could meet him, you’d like him. If only there was
a way to…

Yugi’s eyes flew open and he pushed
away from Yami. Crimson eyes stared at him curiously, his head titling to the
side. “Little one, what is wrong?”

Yugi opened and closed his mouth
several times, unable to speak as a burning bubble of hope and excitement
welled up inside of him, and his face split into a wide grin. Yugi’s hand
lifted to the pearl, gripping it tightly, as he grasped Yami’s arm, whispering,
since he felt as though he had no breath left in his lungs, “Yami… I can free
you now.”

The words seemed to have the
opposite affect on Yami then what Yugi had expected. The older boy seemed to
pale, his eyes becoming wide with a type of unspoken denial, and his lips
thinned out into a sharp line. “Yugi, what are you talking about?”

Yugi shook it off and grinned
widely, tugging Yami’s arm as if that would snap him from his weird stupor.
“Yami, look, the pearl, it’s no longer out of my control. It’s no longer trying
to control me, because I passed the test! I passed it, Yami! So, if this pearl
could curse you with the wish of Delta, then I, it’s new wielder, can reverse
it. Doesn’t that make sense.”

Yami seemed to relax a bit, but
still looked to the side, pale, and not speaking. Yugi moved to his feet,
reaching out to the pearl with his thoughts, already feeling the tingling of
power that the small gem produced. It was a new feeling, not the over whelming
burn, from before, but a gentle heat that prickled his skin. “Watch Yami, I can
do it.”

“No.”

Yugi lost concentration at the harsh
clipped tone Yami had directed at him, and felt himself deflate. What? Why wouldn’t he… isn’t this what he
always wanted? Yugi, on the verge of crying, knelt in front of Yami trying
to see his face. “Yami…? But.. why?” Yami looked up, his gaze soft, and sad, as
he cupped Yugi’s cheek lovingly in his warm palm, stroking his skin softly.

“Calm, little one. I’m grateful that
you wish to do this for me, but, I have no where to go.”

Yugi clutched Yami’s hand to his
face and leaned closer, speaking much louder than was necessary. “You have me
Yami! We could live together, here. Rebuilt the shop and… and…” Yami shook his
head, like a parent when trying to explain to their child why one cannot stay
at the carnival forever. Yug felt a swell of hurt and anger flood him, and it escaped
from his eyes as tears that Yami quickly kissed away.

“Little one.”

“No.. Yami, do you not… want to be
with me?”

Yami pulled Yugi into a quick hug,
kissing his shoulder through his shirt, his hand rubbing Yugi’s back gently,
before pulling away once more, to hold Yugi by his face. “Little one, I want
nothing more than to remain by your side forever. To live the life that you do.
To give you a normal life, but dear one, this is not a world that I know of.”
Yami’s words struck cold in Yugi’s mind, and suddenly, he understood. Of course… Yami does want to live again… but
he can’t. He’s been “gone” for five thousand years. He would have no way to
survive in this new era. He’d have no place in it, at all.

Yugi looked down into his lap, fresh
tears blurring his vision. It was hopeless, they could never remain together,
and Yugi, would never be able to free him. Oh,
Jii-chan! It’s not fair! Why, why must I say goodbye to him too?

“Little one,” Yami crooned, but Yugi
shook his head, pressing his sand covered palms to his face, doubling over from
his inner pain. Yugi sobbed brokenly for sometime, unable to accept the cruelty
of the moment. When Yugi had finally calmed some, there was a long pause, and
then Yami spoke again, this time his voice was firm. “Come with me.”

“W—what?” Yugi asked looking up from
his palms, sniffling once or twice, as his mind tried to comprehend what Yami
had just requested. Go with him? Could he? Should he?

Yami smiled, stroking Yugi’s face lovingly,
and Yugi felt his cheeks heat. “You are a being of the sea Yugi. A child of
Atlantis. You have the power of choice, land or sea?” Yami stated, as though it
where the most simplest of things. Yugi blinked, his body a little numb. Could
he leave this place? His grandfather’s grave? His grandfather’s house? (What
remained of it that was.) Yugi was undecided. His heart knowing what it wanted,
but also missing what he would have to let go of.

“Yugi,
someday I won’t be around anymore, but I want you to understand this; no matter
what happens, I’m always with you. My body may be buried someplace, but I will
never be there. So, when that day comes, and the sea calls you away from this
place, I want you to fly Yugi. Fly free, for that’s what all children must do.
That’s what I will do. So don’t fear leaving me Yugi, cause you never truly
will.”

Yugi smiled, the last words his
grandfather had said, the night before he died, rang in his mind. They had
haunted him for months after Sugoroku’s death, and only now did they ever bring
comfort. Yugi leaped forward, his arms winding around Yami’s neck as he sobbed,
“Sea! I choose the sea, Yami!”

Yami chuckled, his hold all the more
strong, and Yugi was certain that Yami was pleased by his choice, more than he
was letting on. Jii-chan, I’m moving on
now. Is that okay? Will you follow me? I can’t say I won’t return to visit your
grave, cause, well, let’s face it, I can’t really let go of you. But that’s
okay, right?

“Yugi, you might want to undress.”
Yami’s voice was light, and jovial and gently called Yugi back from his silent
discussion with his grandfather. Yugi stood, preparing to remove his clothes,
when he remembered what was folded in his back pocket. He froze, not willing to
let go completely, and felt Yami brush his hand gently. “If you wish for a safe
place to carry those items, I’m sure the pearl can make accommodations. And if
not, just take them with you. There are several rooms still inside of Atlantis,
where we can store them.”

Yugi met Yami’s eyes and nodded, undressing quickly, and—under Yami’s
guidance--created a water proof bag from Yami’s shadow magic, and his pearl,
unconsciously making yet another miracle while his mind wandered. If I can make a bag out of my mind, then why
can’t I give Yami the choice of land and sea? Why can’t he have both as well? I
wish, that Yami could choose, like me, to be human, or mermaid, when ever he
felt like it. Yugi sighed once, regretfully, feeling the tingling die away,
as he stepped into the water, sinking into Yami’s awaiting arms. … oh well, at least I can keep him. That’s
all that really matters anyway.

The water rushed around his bare
waist and Yugi shivered, though this time not from fear. Change. He thought, and felt it take effect. Yugi smiled, shifting
to enter Yami’s body, feeling safe and secure, even as he blushed at his own
boldness. This was it, then end of Mutou Yugi, the water kappa, and the
beginning of Yugi. Not Aruta Yugi, nor Mutou Yugi,
just Yugi.

Yugi and
Yami.

“I love you…” Yugi breathed, and
felt Yami stiffen.

~*~

The rush of power lasted only a
second, but it was enough. Yami blinked as Yugi fell into his arms, his skin
pressing and sliding against his own, fitting so perfectly in his arms. Yami
smirked, knowing in that odd way what had happened, what Yugi had done.

So, my curse has ended… in a way.

The water was high on Yugi’s waist,
and Yami was quite pleased to find that Yugi wasn’t behaving as he had before,
and showed no signs of blacking out. Things were changing again, as life always
tended to do, but this time, he was allowed to change with it.

He felt Yugi’s body change, and was
proud to know that Yugi had mastered himself so quickly. Yami smirked, not all
that surprised now that he knew Yugi was his descendant. It explained a lot
about them, and yet, explained very little. Though they where technically
related, so many years and other people’s lines had mingled between them that
it was like trying to prove that Bill Clinton was the descendant of Adam.

Great.. the last thing I need to compare
my connection to Yugi with is that American screw-up. Yami sighed inwardly. That man’s
governing years had not been a time that he’d enjoyed much. After the first
accusation, Yami stayed clear of the American coast line.

The feel of Yugi slipping inside of
him, made Yami jolt, and shiver, throwing all thoughts of America and
connections from his mind. His smirk widened, and he pulled Yugi closer,
nuzzling him back, knowing that now, he would never have to let him go, he’d
never be alone again.

“I love you…”

Yami froze, his heart stopping at
the words he’d despised all his life, uttered from his little one’s mouth. Yami
stopped breathing, as Yugi pulled closer still, whispering in such a steady way,
that the words seemed to be weighed down; real.

“I love you… Atemu—my Yami.” Yugi
giggled, and looked up and into Yami’s eyes, sparkling amethysts, holding
nothing but truth and solid careing. The breath was stolen from his lungs.
Memories crashing through his mind of Yugi, the times that he gave so much with
no thought to himself and Yami felt the smallest of smiles lift his face. When
they spoke, it was as friends, equals, when they had sex, Yugi didn’t spout
words of ever lasting adoration, but still they had not had sex, but made love,
this Yami knew of. He relaxed, if only a little, his hand rising to cup Yugi’s
face, feeling no disgust or repulsion.

Yugi
wasn’t lying.

Yugi didn’t lie. And he wasn’t naïve.

Was this
what love was? Not something that consumed you, but soothed you, calmed you,
and helped you stand when you really didn’t want to?

The
sun shone upon the desert sands of time that had long ceased to exist and yet
continued to replay like a distant memory, in a sad farewell. The warmth of the
wind billowing up one last time to kiss the face of the golden haired woman who
stood on the balcony of the foreign palace, her eyes glazed as she watched the
events unfold before her eyes.

“You
are finally whole, Atemu.” Alta smiled, the pearl around her neck glowing
softly, enabling her to see what was yet to happen. Her smile was both happy
and sad, as she watched her love find peace. She nodded to the image once,
whispering, so that only the wind would hear her, “Be happy… Yami.”

The
image faded, and she gazed down at the Pharaoh who stood in the garden, angry
and cold, and she sighed in regret, her voice raising in song, giving life her
sadness, and regret, that she could not be his little one.

But he will find him. She
thought, and smiled in happy hope.

Yes, I will make sure of it.

A soft feeling of release covered
Yami’s heart, and he opened his eyes to stare up at the colorful sky, as dawn
painted the horizon. A soft melody seemed to drift on the wind, whispered
softly in his ear, and Yami chuckled, pulling Yugi close, feeling the smile and
acceptance of one long dead.

Thank you, Alta…

Yami buried his nose in Yugi’s hair
breathing him in and living in the warm moment. It was funny how it had
happened. Five thousand years. It had taken him five thousand years to find it.
The feeling he’d never known, the one he’d never felt, nor addressed, but here
it was, in his arms.

Yami
smiled, whispering into Yugi’s ear softly.

“I love you, Yugi, more than I ever
can admit.”