Yu-Gi-Oh! Fan Fiction ❯ The White Bird ❯ The White Bird ( Chapter 1 )

The White Bird

A Yu-Gi-Oh! Fan-fiction by Monica A. Huffaker

 

Yugi Motou moved into the rear of his backyard where he'd put together a small pyramid (no more then 2 feet high) and a small table to place incense or gifts in offering; Jii-chan had helped him put it together.

 

He felt that Someone had to put together a memorial to Atem, since the Pharaoh's name had been erased from History and his own tomb, pretty much. He knew that his friends had similar memorials to Atem, smaller of course, done in their own way. Seto's amused and surprised them all.

 

His new holographic gaming system had been dubbed the `Atem Field', because of the realistic qualities of the holograms.

 

Kneeling before the little shrine, he placed a single rose down upon the small table before lighting some frankincense incense. As he knelt there, he bowed his head, offering a small prayer to the Departed Spirit. When he lifted his gaze to the small pyramid again, he was amazed to see a beautiful white bird fly down and land on the peak of the stone structure.

 

“Hello there.” Yugi said softly as to not scare the fragile creature, only to smile just as softly when the beautiful bird cooed softly in a return greeting - or so Yugi assumed it was such - then cocked a bright green eye at him before it began singing a beautiful, trilling song.

 

Blinking again, Yugi's smile brightened slowly as he knelt there and listened. Closing his eyes, he let his mind wander back to the reason he was there… to the person who the memorial was too.

 

Atem.

 

Yugi's smile turned sad as he thought about the Pharaoh and how much he missed him. “..I miss you... so much.” He murmured softly to the Departed Spirit. “If I thought it would do any good, I'd offer you Chocolates, but I suppose a Rose is all that I should do.” He said sadly.

 

Yugi opened his eyes, startled a little, when the bird cooed, again, softly.

 

Hesitating, Yugi reached out to gently stroke the bird's feathers ".....You're a pretty thing, what are you doing here?" he asked the white bird softly, smiling when it rubbed up against his fingers and cocked a bright red eye at him, causing Yugi to blink.

 

“Weren't your eyes green a moment ago?” Yugi asked, only to have the bird coo unhelpfully in response. Yugi merely smiled a little in mild amusement. “I suppose if a person's eye color can change, then it makes since that a bird's might be able to.”

 

He stroked the bird's feathers along it's back gently. “Between you and me, sometimes I wish I would have Thrown that last duel. That I had let Him win”

 

The bird merely trilled what sounded like a sad song

 

"I know it's selfish." Yugi said with a pout. ".....but... I miss him so much."

 

Cooing softly, the bird hopped back a few steps, it's wings spreading. The bird's image blurred and grew, leaving a ghostly image of the Pharaoh standing there. “…Aibou…” came the deep voice of the pharaoh.

 

Backpedaling quickly, Yugi's eyes widened as he gazed up at the spirit that was the dark half of his soul. “Mou hitori…… Atem…” he whispered softly, his eyes beginning to well with unshed tears.

 

"You should not be missing me, Aibou." Atem murmured. "You are supposed to move on with your life, not squander time and prayers on a forgotten soul."

 

Yugi's smile was soft but sad. “You will never be forgotten,” He said. “How can I, or the others, forget you … You're Family.”

 

The youth closed his eyes as ghostly fingers brushed over Yugi's cheek. "I miss you as well, Aibou, but I am with you - always. I told you that." Atem said, his deep, soft voice reaching the Hikari's ears.

 

"I know... But it doesn't change the fact that there's a Void since you left..... Even the others feel it; although it's not the same for them."

 

"I am sorry, Aibou. I would have stayed if I could have. But I could not to keep you and the others safe from the Shadow Games." Atem said, guilt lacing his voice at the pain he heard in the youth's voice. The sorrow there was breaking his heart - so to speak.

 

"..I can't bring myself to Duel, anymore." Yugi added softly after a moment. "...Every time I try, I end up thinking of you and getting distracted" he admitted. "...Seto's nicer now, since he can't deny Magic, but at the same time, he doesn't have to deal with it anymore."

 

"I am sorry, Aibou."

 

Yugi blushed softly. ".....I suppose next time I admit to things like wishing I'd thrown that Duel... I should not do it in front of a shrine to you..... I... I didn't want you to know that." he admitted, blushing brightly. "..I'm sorry I disturbed your Rest."

 

"It's all right." Atem gave him a soft smile. "But I cannot stay for long, Aibou."

 

The youth nodded. "I understand." Yugi said, and then lifted his gaze to Atem, fighting tears. ".........Thank you, though. For everything"

 

"Aibou..." Ghostly fingers touched the tears, and then Atem sighed and faded away as though he had never been

 

Yugi closed his eyes when Atem vanished, swallowing the uncomfortable lump in his throat.

 

Somehow it hurt more... knowing Atem was still able to see and hear him.

 

Opening his eyes, he pulled out a small box, within which was a delicate chain holding a small heart-shaped locket. Inside were no pictures - just the Hieroglyphs for Atem's name, and the kanji for Yugi's own. He set it down on the table with the rose then stood.

 

"…Shiawase Barentainde, Atem." he said softly, bowing to the Pyramid and alter, before turning and heading inside.

 

The End?

 

Author's Note: “Shiawase Barentainde” is the closest translation I could find for “Happy Valentines Day”, so it might be wrong or off. Thank you to leeann_shadowdancer for the aid in writing this. I know it's short, but it's one of those things that just …Happened. I hope you enjoyed it.