Dark Destinies

Chapter 23. No Answers

Disclaimer: I do not own Yu-Gi-Oh! It belongs to Kazuki Takahashi.

Previously: There are two shadow games going on at the same time; the original one in which the opponent must die for someone to win and the second one in which the opponent must re-live their worst fears forever. After Ehecatl was dragged away by demon-like dogs; Yugi challenged Atem to a third and last shadow game in which only one can win. But who will win? And who will be damned?

I want to say thank you to everyone who has been following Dark Destinies. Especial thanks to RedRosePetal, DarkHeartInTheSky, Youngbountygirl, II Kairi II, Scaevola2, Zehava, and shmeepeh that inspired me and made this last chapter possible.

I am forced to warn you that even my editor (who had never seen/read Yu-Gi-Oh! before) cried with this chapter.

Any reviews, criticism, and questions will be appreciated. This is the last chapter of Dark Destinies.

Enjoy!

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The storm was merciless, damping us to the bone as we followed the ancient young warrior through the neon colored path. I could see him walking with determination, though deep down I knew that there was a hollow in his mind and heart that attempted to devour his reasoning; fear. He knew that he was living his worst nightmare and yet hid it from himself. The king of games dragged his feet a few paces behind; trembling and knowing that trying to beat his beloved friend would end in pain. But just as the ceremonial duel… it had to be done.

And behind them came I, following quietly; a demon-eyed dog that lacked hair. I knew very well that the shape I had taken made my skin that outlined my muscles glimmer as I walked; keeping vigil of the dead and the yet-to-die alike. Soon… soon… my beautiful raven would be avenged.

The ancient young warrior came to a halt before a building, and with an expert air about him that dated back thousands of years, scrutinized it. Without remorse, he entered, followed closely by us; a seal to their fate.

"Here we go I guess…" The scared king of games whispered, his voice stuck between that of a child and a man, "Whatever happens Atem, I promise I'll save you!"

Atem simply chuckled dryly.

Yugi would never be able to save Atem though, not as long as I, The Dark One, was alive. For it was I who chose who rejoiced and who suffered in this game. I remained quiet and busied myself by looking around, delighting myself with the soon to be battlefield. Neither of them suspected my being here. A simple bystander was all they believed I was without realizing that I was the very being that had turned them against each other.

And the place the ancient young warrior had chosen? Well, a house of mirrors of course. The sounds of the carnival and pounding rain were muffled as the door closed and only the sharp breathing of the king of games could be heard, his own image multiplied endlessly around him alongside the ancient young warrior's.

"State the rules," the ancient one said indifferently, knowing that he would win. I felt myself grinning, glancing as my own reflection smirked back at me. But the two look-alikes were too immersed in the game ahead to notice.

"I… ughhh…" the young one said, looking around wildly. The king of games was weak… already losing his ability to remain calm even before the game started.

"If you have no rules, then I shall be the one hosting the Yami No Game," said the ancient one, wandering off and mingling with the mirrors so that the young one did not know which one was real and which one was not.

"No!" the young yelled. He was intelligent. He knew well that whoever came up with the rules would have the upper hand… and we knew that if the ancient one got a hold of that, it would only be a matter of time for the opponent to lose. Such things Atem had taught Yugi and me.

"Very well, kid, state the rules," Atem's voice was something close to a deep purr.

Yugi stood there; frozen in time. It was obvious he had no clue of what to say or do. Slowly, he looked around, taking things in, processing the information, trying to push away the fact that Atem wanted to kill him and that he could not stop fearing being left alone. But then… a fierce look crossed his face, one that caught my interest. Maybe after all this would be an interesting shadow game and not something one might wish to end quickly. He was supposed to be scared to death and yet it was as though the fear had fled from him.

"Okay… so," the young one said, "Let's play a truth game then. You.-"

"A truth game?" the ancient asked, "I was hoping for blood."

It was all I could do to not laugh as the King of Games shrieked away from where he had last seen his former friend disappear. Instead, Atem laid a hand on Yugi's shoulder from behind, making him yelp in fright.

"Do not panic kid," Atem whispered poisonously, "We have yet to begin anyway."

The fear was back.

"I… well… yeah, a truth game!" the young one could barely even talk, very amusing indeed, "We can ask two questions to the other one per turn… uhmmm… if any of us lies or doesn't answer, he loses."

"And the questioner cannot say anything but his two questions until they are answered," the ancient one said and took a few steps away from Yugi, mingling with his reflections once more.

Yugi thought it through and finally nodded. I nodded too.

"Yami No Game!"

And like that, the shadows came forth, shrieking like hungry hyenas. A sudden flash of fear crept through Atem's features, though it soon was replaced by the need to win. The shadows fed him anger and the desire to claim the young one's soul. He smirked and I smirked, for whoever's soul was lost would remain existing in despair.

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A truth game… how pathetic.

Yami shook his head slowly at such foolishness; to think this kid… his enemy… had any chance of getting in between him and his desire for justice… justice? But what had this kid done? He could not quite remember but if he was in this Yami No Game, playing against him, then he was to be defeated. Besides, a truth game would be too easy to play. All he had to do was find the kid's greatest fear and exploit it until he could no longer handle it.

Unless…

"Okay… I'll go first," the tricolored kid said, his eyes narrowing deep in thought.

What was he planning?

"Who are you?" the kid finally asked, though his voice trembled, and Yami noticed how he hugged himself as though he was the one being interrogated and not Yami.

Yami opened his mouth to answer… but what could he answer? And then he understood the kid's plan. It seemed as though he knew what Yami could not remember. It did not worry the nameless man though; he only needed to answer what he knew. And even if he had answered his questions differently when he knew who he was, his answers now were not lies because they were his truth now.

"I am the man that will defeat you," Yami said firmly.

The kid trembled noticeably. He remained quiet for a while…

"Do you remember me?"

"No."

Now it was time for Yami to ask. He grinned as the kid turned around slowly, probably thinking that the real Yami was in fact a reflection in the multiple mirrors surrounding them, or maybe hiding tears that the fear caused.

"My turn," he said and quickly began his questioning, "What do you fear the most?"

Yugi froze. It was getting annoying now. The game was proceeding too slowly, even for him.

"I… I…" the kid said, "I don't want to be alone…"

As Yami had thought… pathetic.

"And are you alone?" Yami asked.

"Y-yes and no…" the kid blinked at his own response, "You are here! I know deep inside you know who I am! We're partners!"

Partners? Who in the name of Ra was this kid? Yami had never seen him before… only he had. Yami's eyes glanced at the mirrors around him where his own image glanced at him; a poker face with an underlying puzzled look to it that he could not quite get rid of. But that was not what caught his attention the most.

Yami had noticed how this kid was very similar to him in many ways; especially the hair. But if he was not lying about him knowing Yami then that meant the similarities were not a coincidence. Maybe the kid had known this and dyed his hair in order to confuse Yami and make him wonder this very thing he was wondering about now. Maybe the kid was telling the truth… maybe there was something that Yami was doing wrong… maybe he.- No! Yami shook his head slowly, his lips drawing into a dangerous smile. He would not allow this enemy to confuse him.

"W-What is your favorite color?" the kid's words seemed stuck in his throat. Yami heard him swallow.

Favorite color… Yami thought for a moment. But the moment dragged a bit too long.

"I do not know," Yami said.

"Are you sure?" the kid forced his arms to his sides.

"Yes."

It was Yami's turn to ask. But… he dug his nails into his palms; the kid's foolish question echoed in his mind. He pushed it away.

"Why are you alone?" Yami asked. He had been intending to ask something else, though he was not sure anymore.

"I am not alone…" Yugi whispered, "You are with me."

Yami rolled his eyes. This kid was avoiding his questions! He knew he had to calm down before he began to make any mistakes.

"Then where are your friends?" Yami asked.

"Here, I came to save him from himself," the kid said without hesitating, something about him was different now; he was standing straight, turning slowly in his place and fixing his gaze in Yami's images. Soon, he stopped infront of the real one as though he knew that image was not just another reflection. Yami glowered, hating being looked upon as though they were equals.

And so the questioning kept going; back and forth, back and forth and there was no way to hide the truth. At first, Yami stuck with trying to find the kid's buttons and drive him into a corner where he would collapse in terror and sorrow. But soon he realized his enemy was different from the rest. He used such simple questions… and yet, Yami began doubting himself, his mind was beginning to revolve around one answer to everything… 'I don't know.' The kid asked; What is your favorite food? Are you sure? Do you have friends? Are you sure? What do you like? Are you sure? Are you sure? Are you sure? All Yami could answer was that he did not know. And when it was time to ask a question himself, his mind would simply refuse to think it through… because what would he ask? He did not know either.

Yami… was that his name? Why was he being called Atem by the kid? Why was it so important that he knew what his favorite duel monster card was? What was a duel monster anyway? Who in the name of Ammit was this kid?

"Are you sure?" Yugi asked again, though this time Yami had no idea what he was supposed to be sure about.

"I don't know!" Yami… or was it Atem? hissed, "I don't know! I don't know!"

The nameless man only wanted to be left alone! He asked a question, but it was meaningless and as soon as it left his mouth, he could not remember it. The walls began closing in on him, his own images turned on him, laughing, with glimmering eyes as though they knew Yami was going to lose. It was a hysterical laugh that even the kid flinched at. A sound that only a trapped animal could utter the moment the ax made contact with its neck. He took a step back too quickly and the mirror behind him shattered, giving away his position to the kid.

The pity in the kid's eyes maddened the nameless man. How dare he had any pity for him!

"Will you ever shut up!" Yami snarled, his body trembling in anger, he walked towards the kid with that tear-stained face and guilty eyes, striking him across the face as a master would a servant. He just could not take it anymore!

The kid fell, almost in slow motion, holding his cheek and cowering away from Yami.

At least he was quiet… only his whimpering was left. Yami's hand was hurting bad; something had broken. Slowly, he brought the very hand infront of his face and turned it around so that he could see the shattered knuckles on it… the blood running freely, damping the floor. But there was no anger left in him. Yami had lost himself to the confusion and anger this kid had arisen in him. Even if he had been his enemy, Yami had acted like a coward, trying to end his own suffering by making the kid silent. How was that honor? But this kid was his enemy no matter what… he needed to beat him to win.

"I won't shut up…" the kid said between sobs, "Not until you remember who you are."

Yami took a step back and the kid rose to his feet, still holding his face.

They were in a standstill. And it was Yugi's turn to ask.

"Atem," Yugi began, there was pain in his eyes, as though what he was about to ask would burn his mouth, "Do you really think you deserve the afterlife?"

The afterlife? What was.- he froze. He could hear his heart pounding against his chest, and his eyes widening as he fought back tears. The rules of the game The Dark One had given them flashed before his eyes… they were supposed to be living their greatest fear. Yami had not felt 'terror' though… not until now… because this was what he truly feared… everything else his mind could block away. He could allow the shadows to consume his reasoning and therefore his fear of no memories. But fate? His past was a thing that terrorized him. But… there was only one thing, he was realizing, that could paralyze him… what about his future? He could feel his memories returning as the shadows decided that the pain would be greater if Atem remembered all that had happened.

3,000 years…

"I-I don't… I don't know…" Atem whispered and the silence dragged on for an eternity. If only they could stay like that forever.

Yugi broke; crying. He fell to his knees. They both knew what would happen now.

"You are lying Atem," Yugi said.

Atem knew that.

"You know that you are not allowed in the afterlife… cause that was what happened last time," Yugi said through sobs, "You came back to Domino City because you weren't allowed in."

"Yes," Atem said, and smiled sadly, "That is the truth Yugi, I am not worthy. I never will be."

"But you already suffered 3,000 years," Yugi's voice was barely audible now. Atem did not answer though. There was nothing to say. He had allowed the shadows to take over many times; he did not deserve to rest. The gods knew that.

"I believe in you, Yugi," Atem said, "I am sorry for the pain I have given you."

And with that, Atem collapsed, his body quickly consumed in shadows; trapped in the penalty games of not only one, but the other Yami No Games he had been part of.

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Yugi said nothing to that.

Atem had lost. This time however, there was no hope for him to reach the afterlife. It would be up to Yugi to find his damned partner's soul. But first, he needed to defeat The Dark One once and for all.

He turned to the hairless dog that he had ignored so far. He had to end this… for Atem.

"This shadow game is not over," He said and, even to himself, his voice sounded far away, "I never said the shadow game was only between Atem and me."

He brought one finger up, pointing to the dog.

"I have one question left, and if you don't answer the truth, you'll lose," Yugi said, heart pounding. What if this was not enough to defeat The Dark One? His head was spinning, but he kept it under control. He couldn't give up! Atem wouldn't have!

The Dark One snarled at him; showing off fangs that Yugi could easily imagine sinking into his neck. He held on to his hope though.

"Dark One, have you won?"

Have I won? Is that your very last question? Then yes; I have…

"You are lying," Yugi said firmly, though within, he was falling to pieces, "and you know it."

Both the ancient young warrior and the winged serpent are dead. It was my goal; therefore I have won…

Yugi shook his head. He needed to get this right, or else who knew what would happen.

Then do tell, why am I lying?

"Because Atem is not dead," Yugi whispered.

I saw him die. He is dead, just as the winged serpent…

"No… the first shadow game you dragged us into, you said that you would win only if your opponent was dead. Plus, you gave Atem three lives to begin with. The one after Atem and Ehecatl killed the raven stated that they would re-live their worst fear throughout eternity which would include Atem's soul returning to the millennium puzzle. But then that means you would never be able to win the first game because no one is truly dead," Yugi said, "Therefore you lied. You cannot win."

The Dark One growled.

It is a lie! I have won! I cannot lose! I am invincible!

"That is why you lost too," Yugi said, "It's your greatest fear! You can't win because you are scared of losing!"

The next thing Yugi knew, a horrible pain on his arm made him scream. The hairless dog had thrown himself at Yugi, aiming for the neck. But Yugi had managed to get his hands up to block it. They struggled on the ground, their images reflected infinite times around them. The merciless fangs sank wherever they could while all Yugi could do was kick uselessly and try not to get killed.

I will not go back to the shadow realm! I refuse to spend my eternity there! You will go in my place…

But if Yugi knew something about shadow games, it was that the loser was always punished.

"Penalty game!" Yugi screamed and like that, The Dark One let him go, shrieking in pain and fear. Without warning, he was gone.

Slowly, Yugi thought everything through… had he won? Had he truly won? As in response, the lights overhead went out. It was over… all of it was over. He wondered if he would be able to save Atem and the mere thought of what had happened sent chills through his body.

He cried his heart out; until sirens and voices were heard and a group of dogs found him. Yugi was awake, but he was not truly there. He thought he saw Joey coming to him and embracing him. Tristan… Tea… but not Atem…

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Epilogue:

His fingers closed around the cup as he swallowed a mouthful of hot coffee, trying to keep awake and finish the project at hand. It was hard but he had to get it done or else he would fail the class. His mind kept wandering off with anything though. He laid his head on the desk, accidentally touching the golden pyramid nearby. Instantly, he jerked his hand away.

The pharaoh would not speak to him about it. In fact, there would be days upon days when he would refuse to speak to Yugi at all. It saddened Yugi. It was as though Atem was not with him anymore. He feared that one day the pharaoh would stop talking to him forever. Sometimes he wondered if he should have left the millennium puzzle lost within the ruins of the ceremonial duel's place after what had happened in the carnival. But Atem had already been alone for thousands of years. Yugi wouldn't allow his partner to go insane. Besides, who knew what would happen if the millennium puzzle ended up in the wrong hands…

It had been three years… five since the ceremonial duel had taken place. There was no way to fake it though, Atem was getting worse. When he first found the millennium puzzle with Marik's and Ishizu's help, the pharaoh's soul had been devastated by his own actions. He would beg Yugi to forgive him and then beg him to never forgive him. He would try to force himself into the deepest confines of his own memories and lose himself in his Egyptian past.

But this year… Atem had become unstable.

It was not his fault, Yugi kept on trying to believe even when Atem would start cursing inside his mind words that Yugi could not understand. But whose fault was it? Atem's sudden waves of rage had begun to affect Yugi too, making him angry when there was nothing to be angry about. Or at times, Yugi would be able to feel the overwhelming memories of Atem flooding into him. He couldn't handle it.

At first he had tried everything in his power to help his partner out, but now… Yugi had fallen so low as to leave the millennium puzzle in his dorm while going to his college classes. Sometimes the pharaoh didn't notice, others he did not care, but others Yugi could see the hurt in his partner's eyes when he placed the millennium puzzle around his neck again.

It was not the Atem from before… but even though the puzzle could lay untouched for hours, Yugi would once in a while reach the real Atem and talk to him like the old times. It was never easy. Atem knew his soul had been rejected by the afterlife. He knew he had nowhere else to go. And they both knew that Yugi would not live forever.

It was a sad thing… to lose a friend to himself. Countless nights Yugi had selfishly thought it would be best to take the puzzle apart and hide it in his closet with all those game boards that he had brought from the game shop he used to live in. But no… Atem and Yugi were partners…

…and partners did not give up on each other.