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whatacartouchebag · 6 years

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Suppression, Chapter Eighteen

The What: What happens when Incan bindings meet Egyptian magic? Well, there’s a little crossing of the streams that never should have happened and amnesiac pharaohs find themselves flung into the future.

The When: Set immediately at the end of Bonds Beyond Time.

The Who: A band not appearing in this fic. Set in the world of 5D’s, so expect a bunch of peeps from there to pop up.

The Who’n’Who: Yusei Fudo/Atem, aka Synchroshipping.

The Rating: A nice and cozy E, since no-one is actually misbehaving or doing naughty things, but there’s talk of recovery and heavy depression.

The sun bled through the sky with the first light of dawn, rays warming the horizon as the city moved into life. Motion stirred within the heart of Neo Domino, and with it, the day began anew as people awoke; the sounds and sights of the city pulsing to the tune of commotion and commerce.

Even the outer districts stirred with that same life; people going about their affairs as the morning light brought new promise. The highways stretching across the ocean to Satellite stood dotted with vehicles, making their daily commute or trade; business continuing as usual.

Yet some life was not at all content with the promise of a new morning.

Aki lay upon the upstairs couch, eyes tracing the lines of the ceiling above her. Weariness wrapped about her like the very blanket she had burrowed beneath, but it had nothing against the worry that clung to her thoughts like a vice. What few hours of sleep had blessed her seemed to be worth naught as she drew in a quiet breath, releasing it in a gentle sigh.

No, there were so many things that had plagued her mind in the darkness, and laying there while the sun hung in the sky would solve none of them.

Pushing back her covers, she sat upright, feet grazing the rug as she ran fingers through her hair. She didn’t doubt that the others in the house had as little sleep as she did, what with the silent anxiety still hanging thick within the air.

She only hoped that there would be answers with the dawn of a new day, so with a quiet sigh across lips, stood and walked to where she knew coffee lurked.

With the silence that hung thick in Poppo Time, she knew that she was the first one to rise, and had it been any other sort of day, she may even have relished the time to herself. Now though, it felt almost stifling, and Aki knew there would be no enjoying this morning.

Slender fingers ran through her hair again, stopping midway as brown eyes closed and fingertips massaged her scalp deeply, almost relishing the feel as weariness tugged at her senses. It was an action she used almost religiously when it came to long nights of study, yet she never thought she’d be using it to relieve this kind of tension.

“Penny for your thoughts?”

The gentle voice startled her lightly, and she jerked about to face Crow. The redhead could only snicker softly as he finished descending the ladder, and the soft smile found her lips once more.

“You’re quiet as a mouse, you know that?” she remarked, shaking her head.

Crow could only wink at her. “You learn to tiptoe around kids that are light sleepers,” he answered simply. Fingers reached for a second mug, and Aki drew the sugar jar towards her, knowing his preferences. Another by-product of raising his children, no doubt; that sharp, yet occasional, sweet tooth of his.

“Not thanks to surviving in Satellite?” she asked with curiosity, eyes wanting to wander over to him as she made them both coffee.

The simple question lingered briefly in the air, and Crow only gave a brief noise of acknowledgement. He made his recent past no secret around the young woman; she was as genuinely curious as the twins, and he saw no reason to deny them the truth. There was no hesitation in his answer, and he shook his head lightly.

“Probably got it from there first, but it’s handy around the kids secondly,” he gave a quiet sigh between teeth as a steaming mug was slid towards him. “Makes it kind of hard to teach them proper morals when the only way to raise them is to use improper ones,” he added, lifting the mug to his lips and blowing on it lightly.

“Mm, you’ve lived there longer than they have, and I see no evidence of that in you,” Aki replied simply, as if it were as plain to see as the red in his hair. In her eyes, it really was. “You did more than survive off improper morals, Crow. You learned what was right and wrong, and you stuck to your beliefs.” Fingers dipped into the fridge, hunting for something suitable to eat, and she settled for eggs. Everything could be solved with eggs, her mother always told her as a child, and she saw no reason to ignore that now. Perhaps when everyone else was up, she could prepare some for them, too.

“Even if you aren’t with them now,” she continued, “you’ve given them a firm foundation of proper morals, as was given to you as a child. They know the difference between right and wrong; they’re good kids, Crow, and they’re in good hands.” She lifted her eyes, meeting his with a gentle smile. The redhead could only return the warm gesture, feeling something in his chest swell with something akin to pride at her words. He cradled the mug a little closer to his chest and could only give a soft nod for a moment, words faltering on his tongue in light of her praise.

Aki ducked her gaze away, feeling the weight of that gaze upon her as shyness crept through her once more. “It’s just... really easy to see how much they look up to you, so I doubt they’d do anything to disappoint you. Nor you disappoint them,” she finished softly, flicking the stovetop on and setting a frypan atop it.

“To answer your question, though... well... I was just worried about what today would bring,” she added, staring aimlessly at the empty pan.

Crow gave a faint murmur in response, casting grey eyes to the ladder. “You mean Atem,” he replied. “Yeah, today’s going to be... interesting.” He gave a heavy sigh and rubbed at the back of his neck. “He’s a strong guy, but so’s Yusei, and I’ve seen him break under the weight of something terrible before.”

The young woman’s brow knit as gathered her ingredients together. “You think this is just as bad...” she murmured, already knowing his response. The nod from the corner of her eye confirmed it for her.

“Without a doubt...” the redhead breathed, trailing off and closing his eyes as he took another sip of coffee. “Last night... when I found him, he could barely get his words out, but there was one sentence he couldn’t finish back there. He almost told me something about ‘everyone,’ and from his actions, I can only guess it was his friends from his own time.”

Aki blinked at him, surprise covering her features as she replayed the events of the previous night in her mind. Just what had happened in the Spirit World to cause all of this? Her brow knit faintly and she glanced at Crow, but the words dried upon her tongue. How best to phrase this?

The Signer drew her bottom lip between teeth, turning back to their breakfast as she poured it into the frying pan. “I might be overthinking things, but... the area we found him in last night... I don’t think it was a coincidence. He went there because it was somewhere familiar to both Yugi and himself.”

Crow could only stare at her, running the layout of that area through his head. Old Domino was... well, of course it would be an area familiar to him, but why would Aki be so sure of that particular place?

“When they first passed it a few weeks ago,” she began, as if dipping so easily into his thoughts, “Rua was quizzing him on places, helping him remember them as they were, and how they looked now; almost like a game between the two of them. Atem recalled the place easily, so I... I think it was somewhere familiar to both he and Yugi,” she finished softly, stirring her scrambled eggs.

“So he went somewhere familiar to them...” Crow trailed off, sadness creasing his brow. He gave a quiet sigh, grey eyes closing momentarily. “It doesn’t surprise me; not really. I mean, I guess if we all had the chance, we’d do the same, right?”

Aki watched him for a moment, gaze trailing back to breakfast as she lifted the pan from the stove. “I guess you’re right...”

“But?”

Her eyes met Crow’s once more, and he gave her a brief raise of his brows. “There’s a ‘but’ in there, I can tell,” he told her simply. The gentle smile found her lips and she split up breakfast for the two of them.

“Well... not so much a ‘but...’” she began, moving to clean her work as she spoke. “That area... even though it’s Old Domino, we... learnt about a little of it in history once; back when I was a little girl. Even now, they’re still teaching it to those who study duel history, but that area is as close as you can get to where the original Kame Game shop once stood.”

Crow stiffened with shock as grey eyes widened. Aki was surprised he didn’t drop his mug with the sudden reaction.

“Then last night... he...” the redhead breathed, realisation blanketing him. He reached up to bury a hand in his hair. “Geez, no wonder he was so distressed about everything... On top of what he found out, he also had to deal with finding that out.”

Aki gave a faint nod, sliding his plate over to him. “I didn’t realise it myself until this morning.” She stared down at her own plate, worry lining her brow for a brief moment before she closed her eyes with a heavy sigh. “But...”

The young woman reopened her eyes with a warm smile, fixing her gaze upon Crow. “No matter what, all we can do is help him the same way as we help each other.”

Crow returned her smile with a bright one of his own, lifting his coffee mug to clink against hers. “You’ve got that right. He’s one of the team now, and that’s that!”

With a gentle laugh from the young woman, it was decided, and the anxiety that ran through the silent building seemed to slip away, if only for a moment. The world about them relaxed, and took a deep breath as their eyes fixed upon the future.

As life began to stir within Poppo Time, the remaining residents descended into what could only be called a stifled sensation of business as usual. Everyone could feel the tension that lay thick in the air; even Aki and Crow, who had spoken at length with the others about their conversation earlier in the day, found the pressure of remaining hopeful to be an arduous one.

The only one who remained absent was the person at the centre of their concerns.

Yusei only confirmed that the pharaoh had chosen to remain where he was, refusing to budge from his place, buried beneath the covers, and could not deny him. Later, was all he had been told.

If the mechanic was seen throughout the day absently running fingers across the neck of his shirt, or along the back of his neck, or even chewing his bottom lip, surely it was a habit borne of worry, the others thought. Everyone was concerned, so of course Yusei felt the burden of worry upon his own shoulders, no matter the distractions of the day. If only they knew he still had the memory burning over and over in his mind of the pharaoh buried so close to him, sobbing brokenly against his chest until exhausted sleep claimed him.

As the sun rose across the sky on that second day, and hours slipped between them all unnoticed, the day seemed to come and go without any sign of Atem. Rua had been the first to anxiously peek through a crack in the door – just to make sure he was even still in the building. The sleeping form in a tousled pile of blankets did nothing to sate his worried heart, however, and the boy slipped back from the room, worrying his bottom lip.

Night soon wrapped about the city, the stars dotting the velvet sky as much as the twinkling lights of Neo Domino itself. Yusei slipped into his room, closing the door gently behind him and padding silently across the floor. Only when he neared the bed did the figured within stir faintly.

“Yusei..?” Atem breathed sleepily, voice dry and coming from somewhere beneath the covers.

The mechanic swallowed lightly, silent as he gently lifted the blankets and slipped in behind the duellist, curling an arm about his chest and holding him close.

“I’m here,” he replied softly, pressing his lips to the crown of Atem’s head. “I’m here...”

The pharaoh’s composure remained steadfast for only a handful of heartbeats before it began to fray anew, and fingers tightened over Yusei’s. The Signer merely held him firmly, feeling him tremble.

Even at the gentle feeling of those fingers holding him safe and sound, warmth enveloping his senses and threatening to ground him against the tidal wave of ache building in his chest, Atem could do little else but realise with startling clarity that all was lost to him. It was an entirely alien feeling and it left him feeling absolutely gutted; even in the wake of losing his partner so many times.

At least during those times, as heartwrenching and tragic as they felt, there was some small amount of comfort in knowing his friends remained by his side, supporting him, consoling him in times of grief, and simply being there for each other.

Yet here?

Neo Domino felt as cold and broad and empty as his heart.

“I'm here...”

True to his word, the mechanic stayed, warm and gentle at his back. All through the night, strong arms held him close, letting him spill his pain against their skin. As the first tint of deep purples began to settle across the sky, heralding the coming dawn, only then did the pharaoh succumb to slumber, exhaustion dragging him under.

Only then, when he felt that ragged form relax within his arms, and breathing slip to something less burdened, did Yusei close his own eyes, lips pressing gently to that dark hair.

As both of them held each other in rising of the sun, both remained oblivious in slumber to the tender crimson glow surrounding marked flesh, as if the Crimson Dragon himself shared the very grief of that burdened heart.

***

Blackbird gave an explosive roar of throttle as it began the slow approach to Poppo Time, its rider gearing down effortlessly and guiding the sleek machine along the final stretch of road. Crow almost bit back the heavy sigh as he drew closer, knowing that in the days that stretched on there had been little change within their normally happy household.

Still, as heartless as it sounded in words, life for the Signers and that of Neo Domino wound on for the next week. The duellist knew in his very soul that there was no coming back from what Atem had experienced that night - regardless of what that really was.

The frown creased lightly on his brow. Following what he knew, piecing together what information he had... there was only so much that could point them all in the right direction without the pharaoh telling them in his own words what that really was.

Crow suspected enough, and it was no wonder he was suffering.

He could never put a timer on grief, no matter its form, yet the pharaoh had reduced himself to an utter shell of what he once was. Something had to give, but he had to wonder exactly what that would be before the tension snapped, and something shattered all over again.

Grey eyes blinked as he nearly missed his destination, realising he'd been utterly caught up in his train of thought, and turned neatly about the fountain and into the awaiting garage. For all his thinking and overthinking, he was going to end up like Yusei, came the soft taunt in his mind, wringing the faint smile to his lips.

He glided to a stop within the warehouse, killing the steady thrum of the engine and sliding Blackbird forward on her stand. It was only as he was shedding the comforting weight of his helmet did he glance up to spy Atem watching him arrive from the landing, and Crow greeted him silently with a warm smile and a simple wave.

Grief may have had no timer in his mind, but there was something to be said for stagnation.

It was a subject that Crow himself knew all too well, and wished only to release the flow once more.

"Hey there, anything exciting happen while I was out?" he called to the pharaoh, sliding off his bike and setting his helmet upon the seat. It might not have been normal by any standard, but it was anything to help the young man cope. Atem parted his lips to reply, hesitation changing his mind for a moment in time.

"No, ah... though... Bruno did ask me to tell you he and Yusei have gone to register for the WRGP," the quiet words came from him like a whisper, and Crow had to fight not to frown at how frail they sounded.

"Oh right, that was today, huh..." he murmured, rubbing his chin in thought. Well, at least the opportunity gave him a chance to plan. Or at the very least, wing something blindly; something he was very good at. "Say, can I ask you something?"

The pharaoh stared back at him, a mute nod as he began to walk down to the garage level.

"You're just about due to have that thing off, right?" Crow tapped his forearm for effect. "If you don't have any other plans for this afternoon, I could take you."

Atem stopped at the base of the stairs, staring in realisation at the brace that still wrapped about his arm. Had it... really been two weeks already? Time seemed to be slipping from him faster and faster these days. Crimson eyes narrowed faintly, brows set to a light furrow as he avoided that piercing gaze. Perhaps, then...

"I'd like that," the words slipped from him before he could really think about it.

Crow walked to him, that warm smile never budging as he placed a hand to his shoulder, oblivious to the surprise that swam within the other.

"Great! Wanna head out now?"

That caught the pharaoh by surprise, and again he held a moment of hesitation on his tongue. No, his mind breathed from its depths; to make a decision is to follow it through to the very end. Something that he once told others so proudly and firm. Absently, he reached a hand up to lightly curl about the brace on his arm.

"It's not going to be a bother, is it?" he asked quietly.

"A bother? Psh! A bother is Jack spending all our money on that acidic slop he calls good coffee," Crow replied with a short laugh. He gave a gentle squeeze to the pharaoh's shoulder. "This is just a guy helping out a friend."

Atem finally raised crimson eyes to meet those knowing grey eyes, surprise swimming within their depths. The warmth of those words, something so simple, felt like someone pulling the stitches from a wound unseen, and he swallowed against the lump of coal that rose to his throat. The simplest thing, the simplest words, and still...

Warmth welled in his eyes and the faint smile found his lips at last.

"... thank you..."

He didn't trust his voice to say anything further, and Crow - bless his wonderful soul - did nothing to press the issue, merely gave his shoulder a gentle pat as he drew away, retrieving a spare helmet and tossing it lightly to him.

"Best get going while the day's still warm. It'll be a squeeze with two of us, but it's better than walking," he said brightly, sliding Blackbird back off its stand to turn it aboutface.

Atem stood still, eyes upon the helmet in his hands as a thumb idly traced a seam upon it. For all that he had lost, there was still so much to gain...

Crimson eyes narrowed for a beat. Perhaps, then...

The riding duellist slid himself upon Blackbird once more, the soft leather giving a faint creak of well-worn protest. At least she was warm, which made the startup just a tad quicker, Crow mused as he tucked hair back within the confines of his helmet. With the faint click of electrics connecting, Momentum thrummed in response and the engine exploded to life once more.

He felt Atem tuck in behind him, one arm snaking about his waist.

Crow gave a faint smile at the other duellist's quiet but solid response. It was nowhere near alright, but at least he was trying so, so hard. He reached up with a gloved hand and gave a faint squeeze to the other's.

With a short rev of the engine, he gently guided Blackbird from the garage, taking his time as they moved through the quiet backstreets of their little suburb and into the steadily growing traffic of the highways.

Neo Domino sprawled out in the distance from where they rode, all but ablaze in the light of the setting sun, and Atem couldn't help but stare idly at it as traffic streaked past them. It still felt like some lucid dream that he was waiting to awaken from. Yusei's world... how long had he been here now? Only a month? Two? And yet already so much had happened.

Brows furrowed as he recalled all the ways others had helped him from his arrival. The hospital staff, that officer - Ushio - a name that still seemed so strange to hear. Yusei himself and all his friends. Even though things had gone strangely awry between the Signers and their connection to Atem, they never once baulked at the chance to help him. To offer him assistance in this new world. To show him new things.

To be so patient and understanding.

Crimson eyes closed as he felt his grip tighten ever so slightly upon the riding duellist. He would never be able to repay their kindness, even if he were given another chance entirely.

Yet here he sat, realising all of this as the weight of grief began to shift. Ever since that night, it had all but blanketed his entire existence in a shrouding fog of loss. Everything had been pushed aside in the wake of that one moment as he learned the truth.

Utterly everything.

It was so oppressive that in his smothering wave of grief he forgot that there already were people here who cared deeply for him. Those who could help him heal, and those who never knew when to quit.

Atem opened his eyes, drawing a steadying breath and letting it slip from him in a shaky exhale. He brought his gaze up, glancing over Crow's shoulder and watching them weave between the traffic and below an endless array of signs as they began their approach to the city.

No, it wasn't alright; it would never be alright.

Yet there was always another tomorrow, and there were always others to help him see that tomorrow through.

The whisper of a smile glimmered on his lips.

It was time to start looking forward once more. One foot in front of another.

"Not going to sleep on me back there, huh?" Crow's voice cut through his thoughts like a hot knife through butter, and the pharaoh blinked at him for a moment, the smile still sitting on his lips.

"Just admiring the city... It's so beautiful in the sunset," he murmured through the headset. Memory tugged at the back of his mind, and he couldn't help the soft chuckle that fell from his lips. "...I never imagined the future of Domino City to be like this."

Crow matched that smile as he gave a firm squeeze to the hand still about his waist, not realising the significance of those words.

"It's something special alright," he replied, peeling off from the main highway and onto a nearby exit ramp, heading directly for the heart of the city itself. "I still prefer the nights, but that's just the Satellite boy in me talking," he added with a laugh. He raised an open hand to the sky, caught in his own memory for a moment. "That far out from Neo Domino, you can see the stars shining so brightly during the night; our own private light show. I mean, there's a good reason we chose to live so far from the city itself nowadays. Even Jack missed the view; though he'd never admit to anything."

His delighted words brought the gentle laugh from the pharaoh, knowing exactly what he meant. All those weeks ago, as they sat at the fountain in the plaza... the stars twinkled as bright as the moon, and they all shared it together without a care in the world.

It was also the same night... Atem's thoughts drifted further past thoughts of the clear night sky, settling firmly upon a darkened room, gently whispered admissions, fingers gliding across skin, and he ignored the way his memories brought the soft heat to his cheeks, swallowing lightly.

He really did lose so much... only to gain something so special...

Crimson eyes slid shut once more, and he laid his head against Crow's back, keeping a firm hold upon the riding duellist.

"...thank you... truly..." he breathed into the wind, barely caught by the other.

Crow almost missed the faint snatch of words at his ears, and he blinked lightly, allowing the warm smile to settle upon his lips. It would take far more than simple time needed to heal those wounds, but it was already a step forward.

One step at a time, Crow's mind whispered.

***

Atem sat quietly in the examination room, arm held out as the nurse looked over the simple brace about his skin. His fingers brushed smoothly over the fabric-like material and he made a positive sound, drawing back to reach for a small pen shaped apparatus on the desk.

“Looks like you've been keeping it clean and dry, which is always a good start,” the nurse told him. He placed the device to the inside of Atem's elbow, keeping it steady. “Just rotate your wrist one-eighty degrees a few times, nice and slow.”

As the pharaoh did so, there sounded a few small blips from the little device, a green light appearing at the tip as the nurse drew away. He reached for one of the bands near his elbow, tapping the device to it and allowing it to detach from him skin, like a shackle falling from his wrists. Atem blinked as that strange cloth-like material between them began retracting back into the one at his wrist; the nurse going about the simple procedure to remove that one as well.

“Alright, good as new,” he told him happily. “The doctor's got your report already-” he waggled the little pen, “-but if there's any issues, we'll be in touch. Other than that, you might want to give your arm a gentle, but thorough, scrub when you get home, and hold off on the strenuous stuff for another couple of weeks.”

He glanced down at the deck on Atem's hip.

“And uh, no riding duels for a while, okay?”

Atem gave a soft laugh at that, holding up his other hand in protest.

“Don't worry, I think I'll give up my license for a while,” he replied, standing up and brushing fingers over newly exposed skin. It felt strange, even after a mere couple of weeks. “Thank you, for all your help.”

The nurse got to his feet, heading for the door. “Not at all; it's my job to help people get back on track after something like this.”

The simple way he spoke struck the pharaoh, and he blinked down at his arm from where it rested in his hand. To anyone, it was a truly insignificant line, but to him, it seemed to be what felt like a string of little things lining up for him. He allowed the soft smile to reach his lips and he turned his eyes back up to the man.

“Well then, you've got one very satisfied patient,” he told him. The nurse gave a soft laugh at that.

“Good to know, have a good rest of the day then,” came the cheerful goodbye as Atem gave him a light wave, heading back into the sparsely decorated hallway.

Crow looked up from where he sat perched on a chair, idly flipping a magazine in his fingers. At the sight of Atem, he flicked it back onto the pile and strode up to him.

“Hey, how'd it go?”

Atem gave a brief nod. “All better. As long as I take it easy and look both ways when crossing the road, I don't think I'll be back for a while,” he smiled wryly at him. Crow couldn't help the snicker that fell from his lips and he threw an arm about Atem's shoulders, walking them both out towards the carpark.

“Well that's a relief! You seriously want to avoid this place as long as you can; it's bad for your health,” the redhead told him as they stepped into the twilight air. Crow stepped away from the pharaoh to stretch his arms up high, feeling joints pop lightly from sitting so long. “Mm... a long ride home is just what I need after all that waiting.”

Atem glanced away briefly, giving a soft chuckle. “Ah, sorry about that...”

“What?” Crow blinked back at him. “Pfft, I'm the one who offered, alright? Don't get so hung up on it.”

The riding duellist kept pace with his companion as they made their way to Blackbird, reaching for a helmet and slipping it over his head. He tossed the other lightly to the pharaoh, who caught it easily, and they both sat down in the limited space. Yusei hadn't been exaggerating when he mentioned that Jack or Crow's D-Wheels wouldn't have much room to accommodate two passengers; he could hardly imagine what it would be like trying to squeeze in behind Jack's tall frame.

Though the stray thought did bring the crease to his brow as Blackbird roared to life beneath them. Even if they didn't have the means, this group of friends always seemed to offer anything without a flicker of hesitation.

It was like a welcoming family who hadn't seen him for years, opening their doors and ushering him in out of the cold. Except in his case, it was rescuing him from the hospital and solving the veritable mystery surrounding his very existence in this world.

Crimson eyes narrowed lightly as Crow steered them out into traffic once more, the wind brushing past his skin.

He had the answers to his little mystery.

Now all that was left was telling the others.

***

“It's going to be perfect!” Bruno exclaimed excitedly as he scanned the diagnostics on the screen before him. “Maintaining the dissipation of energy as a scattered particle release will take the strain off the housing entirely, which means we can focus more on the increase of pressure within the generator itself.”

He couldn't help the bright laugh that slipped from him as he clapped a hand to Yusei's shoulder. The riding duellist returned the smile with one of his own, giving a brief nod to his friend.

“Exactly. You've done an amazing job with this idea, Bruno,” he told him, turning blue eyes over to the code on the screen. He reached up to scroll through it, his gaze drinking in the rapid blur of text as it zipped by. “I'm not seeing any potential issues from the outset... and it already sounds like our best chance at completing this new engine in time.”

Bruno beamed at that, giving his shoulder another happy clap.

“See? I told you it would work out in the end!” He pushed himself away from the desk, walking over to an adjacent workbench to the D-Wheels, placing his hands flat against the surface, already running the schematics through his head. “Though we'll still be down to the wire to push out both a test type and production type if we want to refit all of them...” Yusei gave a faint noise of thought as he stood, walking to his own D-Wheel.

“Perhaps, but at least it'll keep us as busy as Crow,” he replied, already tugging at the chassis release, drawing the laugh from his companion.

“You're not wrong there; I don't think he knows how to turn down a job,” Bruno said, already reaching for a blank blueprint and plucking a pencil from his jacket. “Alright, let me get started on this design, and I think we should be able to start collecting materials for a build in a few hours.”

Yusei nodded, kneeling down next to his machine as he began reaching through the wires and components, going through the motions of carefully disconnecting and rerouting things where needed for the upcoming barrage of tests it was about to receive.

He placed the tip of gloved fingers in his mouth, tugging the offending fabric from both hands, pushing his sleeves up and slipping fingers deep within the thick trunk of wires that lay before him. Some things were far easier to do by touch, and he already knew his machine intimately, so it was little effort to snake his hand into well up to his forearm, find the appropriate connections and tweak them out as needed.

Time slipped past his senses, and he soon found himself lost to the methodical task of withdrawing components and spilling thick coils of wire onto the ground, looking for all the world like tree roots bursting from the machine.

His ears pricked at the sound of an approaching D-Wheel, and he glanced over his shoulder to see Blackbird turning into the open warehouse door. It was only as he spotted Crow's passenger that he blinked in surprise, withdrawing his hands and standing up.

Crow drew to a stop and tugged his helmet off with a satisfied sound, shaking his wild hair loose. “Good thing I know this place like the back of my hand, or the rest of that traffic would've been a nightmare,” he laughed brightly. Atem mirrored the sound as he placed his own helmet on Blackbird's seat, the soft laugh causing Yusei to draw a faint breath.

“I think you had it covered,” the pharaoh told him. “Having a bike in heavy traffic is an old move. It's probably been around longer than I have,” he added with a wink, drawing the laugh from Crow once more.

Yusei couldn't help the warm smile that blossomed across his lips. Seeing Atem looking brighter than he had for some time now, joking and even laughing with someone else... it warmed his heart immensely. He knew his journey was far from over, but if he'd actively taken the first few steps to heal-

“Yusei,” Atem's voice cut into his thoughts and blue eyes blinked back at the young man. The pharaoh realised he'd interrupted whatever it was going on upstairs, and he raised his arm, proudly showing off the lack of a cast. “Look, all better.”

The riding duellist gave a mute nod at the action, knowing it must seem rather awkward that he was doing little else but stare at the young man. He walked towards him, stopping before him as words seemed to evaporate on his tongue. Opening his hand, he held it out to the young man.

“May I?” he asked, and Atem placed his wrist in that waiting hand. Yusei couldn't help but be relieved beyond compare at how much change Atem had undergone in the last couple of days. What kind of decision had he reached to draw such a response from him? He swallowed lightly as his fingers sat upon warm skin. Whatever was on his mind, whatever had settled in his heart, he was so, so glad for it.

“See?” Atem's voice whispered as he reached up, placing his own hand atop Yusei's, secrecy not even on his mind. “All it needed was a little time...”

Yusei's fingers gave a gentle squeeze as the soft laugh fell from him, slipping back from that warm touch.

“Good to hear it...” he breathed, wanting nothing more than to draw him tight in his arms and hold on.

“Ah, that means an extra pair of hands to help out!” Bruno exclaimed happily, drawing everyone's gaze as he kept his eyes firmly upon his blueprints, pencil still making short, quick marks on the paper. “We're going to need as much help as we can to get this engine done in time.”

Atem let the soft chuckle slip from him. “Of course,” he replied smoothly. “Though I do still need to take it easy. No... strenuous activities. Doctor's orders.”

Dark blue eyes widened, and Yusei couldn't help but glance back at him, taking full note of that faint smirk sitting ripe upon lips. Oh he wouldn't...

No. No, he really would.

“Don't worry,” he told the pharaoh, facing him fully. “I'm sure we can find some light duties for you. You're still quite capable with your hands, right?”

Crimson eyes blinked back at him, feeling the flush of heat under his skin at the words as he glanced away. Of course Yusei wouldn't be easily dissuaded by such a simple bait. He parted his lips to reply when Crow cleared his throat loudly, drawing their attention.

“It's been a long day so if you don't mind, I'm going to hit the first shower before Jack steals all the hot water,” he told them sharply, grey eyes widening slightly in fierce, unspoken warning to the pair.

Yusei gave a brief nod, his brain furiously hitting rewind as their shared words began to hit him one after the other. True, Bruno might've been oblivious with his head buried in schematics, but he sure wasn't blind, and continuing like they were was likely to get themselves burned. He ducked his gaze away briefly, mentally tucking himself back into shape and gave Crow a brief smile.

“Ah, sure thing. We'll get finished up here and get started on dinner,” he assured his friend.

“Alright, just remember it's only for five tonight; Aki and the twins won't be joining us until the weekend,” came the stern reply as he began to head up the stairs. That drew Atem's attention, and he brought a hand to his mouth in thought. That meant he had to wait a couple more nights for everyone to be together.

He gave a brief nod to his own thoughts; so be it. If he had to wait a little longer to tell everyone, then he would do just that. He couldn't see the point in sharing his story to the occupants of Poppo Time, only to have nearly half the team miss out on the very same information. That certainly wouldn't be very fair at all.

“What's the matter?”

Yusei's perceptive gaze stared back at him as Atem lifted his head. Of course he wouldn't miss a thing...

“Just thinking to myself,” Atem replied softly. “I... want to tell everyone, but the timing...” he trailed off for a moment, shaking his head lightly. “I'd rather wait for everyone to be together.”

The riding duellist didn't have to guess what was meant by those words, and he offered a soft smile to the pharaoh, reaching up to place a hand on his shoulder.

“It's alright. I think everyone would rather you take as much time as you needed,” he told him gently, fingers giving a faint squeeze. “I'm just glad you've got your smile back again.” Atem couldn't help but feel the warmth settle deep in his chest at those quietly whispered words, ducking his gaze away briefly.

“Thank you... truly.”

Fingers gave another gentle squeeze to his shoulder before slipping away. “We should really keep our promise to Crow. You head up and get started; I'll be there once I've finished here,” Yusei continued, the amused smile sitting on his lips. “It's best not to get on the bad side of the person who helps keep everyone fed.”

Atem couldn't help but snigger at that, holding up a hand in acquiesce. “Alright, that's a very good point,” he replied, already walking past him and heading for the stairs. “Bruno, we'll call you when it's ready.”

The mechanic, not moving his eyes from the schematics before him, raised a hand in a half-hearted wave of acknowledgement, caught somewhere between mathematical problems in his mind. The pharaoh, already smiling and shaking his head, knew it would be pointless to try and garner any further attention from the man, and he headed up the stairs.

Whilst he may not have had the skills of one Crow Hogan, he certainly knew his way around the kitchen. Yugi himself was instrumental in his acquired knowledge, and he reached down for where he knew the larger pots were kept, placing a couple upon the stovetop. Perhaps something that would use up the rest of the vegetables altogether... a stir fry? No, they had something similar last week.

He gave a sudden snap of his fingers as inspiration struck. Goulash would be perfect, especially with the nights starting to cool off a little. Something hot, hearty and filling would be just what everyone needed. And it would last them all for quite a few meals. With a quiet hum, he started reaching through cupboards, collecting what spices, sauces and ingredients he needed and placing them within easy reach.

Recreating the recipe from memory wasn't all that hard, he thought, and luckily Crow kept most of the basics here, ready to use. He reached for a knife, and one after another, began dicing through the vegetables and meat needed for dinner, placing each one in their own bowl. It was quiet, methodical work, and it gave him a simple moment to himself, using skilled hands to make short work of the ingredients.

It was only as warm arms suddenly encircled him from behind that he startled lightly, staring over his shoulder as Yusei's cheek came into view, that bright splash of yellow marker tracing his skin. He relaxed in a heartbeat, fingers reaching up to rest gently on his arm, enjoying the quiet moment of contact; how warm and content it made him feel, as if his very presence could still the turmoil in his heart.

Crimson eyes closed briefly as he lay his knife down, letting his head rest against the cheek of the other, as all dinner plans were suddenly put on hold in that simple respite.

“I've been thinking about this all day...” Yusei's words breathed across his ear.

Atem couldn't help but smile at him. “If you were that hungry, you should have said something earlier...”

The soft chuckle tumbled from Yusei like a waterfall, and he squeezed his gently.

“Maybe I wanted something else from the menu,” came the quiet tease of voice. Now it was Atem's turn to smirk.

“Pity for you the kitchen's been closed for repairs.”

That got the desired reaction, and Yusei had to turn his head away as the sharp laugh tore from him, short and bright; a tone that Atem hadn't really heard before, and he couldn't help but let his own smile split across his lips. He felt those arms give a brief squeeze to his frame before slipping away, leaving hands to linger at his shoulders.

“Don't worry; I know a good mechanic,” Yusei told him softly. “Now, what are we making?” Atem stared back down at his handiwork, everything sorted and ready to start cooking.

“Something that Yugi's mother showed me how to make,” he replied quietly. “Though I suppose in hindsight, it was more her showing him how to make it,” he added.

Yusei cast his gaze over everything, taking note of the extra spices and sauces off to the side with a nod. “It looks basic enough,” came the soft reply. It was also the first time in... a very long time that he'd heard Atem mention anything about his home.

“It is, but I'm sure you and the others will appreciate it.” The pharaoh reached for the large frypan, settling it onto the burner and flicking it on, taking a step to the side. “Tell you what... you stand here, and we'll make it together.”

The smile never left Yusei's lips as he watched him for a moment. He really was trying so hard to pick himself up and continue on. Even if it was only for this one day, he had pushed himself forward with all his strength and was allowing himself to heal, little by little.

He took the handle of the frypan within his fingers, reaching for a little cooking oil as Atem told him to, and he began the step-by-step process of cooking up the different ingredients. Time wound on as Yusei listened to the simple instructions dictated to him, and together they began to prepare something that smelled utterly wonderful, filling Poppo Time with a rich warmth.

All Atem was attempting to do was try, and that was all Yusei could hope for.

He would do everything in his power to make sure he healed with a smile on his face.

#Synchroshipping #Yusei Fudo #Atem #Suppression #Cart writes #Cart actually writes #all aboard the rollercoaster kiddos!!

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atomic-taco-muffin · 3 years

Text

The Lost Princess Chapter 60

Warnings: i don’t need to tell you at this point. you already know

Rating: SFW

Ansem, Xemnas, Rumi, and the twins sat down at a table in the tower and the girls listened to what Xemnas and Ansem meant about “princess.”

“(Y/N)’s a princess?!” the girls asked.

“Yes. Xehanort found her when she was a baby and had raised her till she was about 5 years old,” Xemnas said.

“But how did he know that she was a princess?” Yui asked.

“We don’t know. But now, she’s in great danger. We need to save her quick before Xehanort does something horrible to her,” Ansem said.

“By horrible you mean...?” Roxy asked.

“Either killing her or having a Negaverse possess her,” Xemnas said. The girls looked at their fathers in shock.

“How are we gonna save her?” Rumi asked.

“We’ve were able to contact her brother, Vanitas--” Ansem said.

“Hold up. She has a brother? Anymore surprising facts you wanna tell us?” Roxy said.

“As I was saying, him and (Y/N) are trying to find a way out of where they’re being kept.”

“Do you know where that is?” Yui asked.

“Yes. Our home,” Xemnas said. The twins gasped in shock.

“No...” they said.

“Unfortunately, yes. We don’t know how we might get it back.” Everyone sat in silence for a minute until Yui spoke up.

“Let’s get (Y/N) back. Let’s get everyone back,” she said.

~~~~

Sora and Rumi had arrived in an amusement park.

“Wow!” they said. They saw a lit ferris wheel and carousel in front of a tall roller coaster. A talking clown face hung on the archway above the entrance.

“That Pinocchio--he must have his poor father worried sick,” someone said. Sora and Rumi looked around.

“Still, that little fella's some miracle. Imagine... Mr. Geppetto's wooden puppet, brought to life by the Blue Fairy.” They spotted a familiar insect in a top hat and tails sitting on the steps ahead of them, his tiny umbrella resting in his lap.

“She made his wish for a son come true because he's given so much happiness to others. Now Pinocchio needs me to guide him and be his conscience, so maybe one day, he can be a real--” he laughed. “Well, now, let's not get ahead of ourselves, Jiminy.” He stood up. “First, you gotta go find Pinoke.”

“Hey, Jiminy! What's up?” Sora said. Jiminy hopped around to face Sora and Rumi.

“Hmm? Who are you? You shouldn't be here, kiddos,” he said.

“What? Are you okay, Jiminy?” Sora asked.

“Um, who is this?” Rumi asked.

“Oh. This is my friend Jiminy Cricket.”

“It’s very nice to meet you. I’m Rumi.”

“Nice to meet you Rumi. But I still don’t know you. The name Jiminy Cricket's already spread far and wide,” Jiminy said.

“Really, you feeling alright? It's me, Sora!”

“Sora, you say? Gosh, I don't think I recognize ya, but the name does have a familiar ring.”

“Umm... Oh, yeah!”

~Le Flashback~

“In the Sleeping Worlds, real time does not flow. Unless one restores the world by waking it from its slumber, it will stay locked in a dream forever. Thus, you may encounter familiar faces...but they are just figments of the dream. In actuality, they are sound asleep--trapped within a world that is also sleeping. What's more, whilst someone may no longer dwell in the real version of a world, dreams may paint a fuller picture, and restore what seems to be missing,” Yen Sid said.

~Flashback Over~

“The real Jiminy Cricket wasn't trapped in this world, so maybe...it's like the dream world's putting him back where he belongs,” Sora said.

“What's that? I can't hear ya,” Jiminy said.

“Right... It's very nice to meet you, Jiminy.”

“Well, sure. The feeling's mutual, Sora,” Jiminy chuckled.

“Oh yeah. So how come you said we need to get out of here?” Rumi said.

“You can't fool me. You still think we know each other. And you've just about got me thinkin' it, too. Hmm, but where was I? Oh, yes, this is a terrible place! Boys here are allowed to wreck things and loaf around and make jackamules of themselves! And poor, lost Pinocchio, he wandered in here on my watch.” Jiminy gasped. “That's right! That's where I musta heard your name, Sora--from my friend Pinoke!”

“He knows me? But how?” Sora asked.

~Another Flashback~

There was a wooden boy who was stuck inside a cage.

“Shame on you, Pinocchio, playin' hooky and...and goofin' off in a place like this!” Jiminy said.

“I'm sorry, Jiminy. I was going to school till I met somebody. Yeah! Uh, two big monsters, with big green eyes!” Pinocchio said. His nose grew a few inches.

“Oh, you don't say. And then what happened?” Jiminy said.

“They, uh, they tied me in a big sack!” Pinocchio said. His nose extended even further to the boy's dismay.

“Sounds like you were horsin' around,” Jiminy said.

“But I snuck off when they weren't lookin'.” His nose finally grew out of the cage, sprouting flowers and knocking Jiminy off his perch and onto it. “My nose! What's happened?”

“There! Ya see where those tall tales will get ya?” Jiminy said.

“But it's all true! Even the fella in the black clothes who said to play a trick on Sora.”

“What? Now who was he? I've had just enough of your fibbin'.” Jiminy looked down at Pinocchio’s nose. “Hold on... I guess that part was true. Tell me, Pinoke, did that man in black say anything else to ya?”

“Umm...he sure didn't,” Pinocchio said.

“Well, good.”

“Hey, look at that!” Pinocchio pointed to a blue star that flashed in the sky and floated down to them.

“That star again! The Blue Fairy!” Jiminy said. The star took the form of a beautiful woman with a blue dress and blonde hair. Two translucent wings were attached to her back and she held a wand with a star-shape at its point.

“Why, Pinocchio. What has happened to your nose?” she said.

“Oh. Um...” Pinocchio said.

“Perhaps you haven't been telling the truth, Pinocchio. Sir Jiminy?”

“Well, ya see, um, Your Honor, um, Miss Fairy...” Jiminy said nervously.

“Oh, please help me. I'm awful sorry,” Pinocchio said.

“You see, Pinocchio? A lie keeps growing and growing, until it's as plain as the nose on your face,” the Blue Fairy said.

“I'll never lie again--honest I won't.”

“I'll forgive you this once. But remember--a boy who won't be good might just as well be made of wood.”

“We'll be good! Won't we?” Pinocchio and Jiminy said as they looked at each other.

“Very well. But this is the last time I can help you,” the Blue Fairy said. She flashed her wand and Pinocchio's nose was returned to normal to his amazement.

~Flashback Over~

“That guy again,” Sora said.

“Forget them! If I don't find Pinoke, he'll turn into a donkey like the rest of the boys,” Jiminy said.

“Right. Then let me help you find him, Jiminy,” Sora said.

“Really? I'd be grateful. But how in the world do you know Pinocchio?”

“Oh, um...”

“Hey! Over there, I see him!” Rumi said. Pinocchio was running around near a giant 8-ball ride.

“Gosh! That is Pinoke!” Jiminy said.

“All aboard, Jiminy,” Sora said.

“Take it away!” Jiminy laughed. Rumi summoned Nyx and everyone hopped on. They caught up to Pinocchio, who was wearing a purple and green outfit.

“Pinocchio! There you are!” Jiminy said.

“Pinocchio, it's not safe for you here. Listen to Jiminy and go back to--” Rumi said. Pinocchio suddenly turned into a Jestabocky, having a group of Negaverse’s surrounding him.

“Oh my!” Jiminy said.

“Dream Eaters!” Sora said.

“And Negaverse’s!” Rumi said. Several more of them surrounded Sora and Rumi.

“Only one way to solve this problem,” Sora said. Him and Rumi defeated all of the Dream Eaters and Negaverses.

“Those Dream Eaters were pretending to be Pinocchio. So, then where's the real Pinoke?” Rumi asked.

“Sora! Rumi! Up there! Look at the top of that tower!” Jiminy said. Sora and Rumi looked where Jiminy was pointing to see Pinocchio.

“You're right. Come on, Jiminy!” Sora said. They ran off toward the rollercoaster to get better access to the tower and found Pinocchio at the top.

“Gee, Pinoke, how'd you manage to get up here?” Jiminy asked.

“C'mon, let's go home,” Rumi said. Pinocchio turned into another Jestabocky, which stuck its tongue out at them and disappeared.

“Another imposter,” Jiminy said. Sora and Rumi searched around from the vantage point of the tower.

“There! See him walking?” Rumi said.

“Well sure, if that's really him,” Jiminy said.

“Don't give up, Jiminy. Come on, let's go!” Sora said. They eventually found Pinocchio standing high above a large trampoline, surrounded by Komory Bats.

“Pinocchio!” they said.

“Jiminy! Help me, Jiminy!” Pinocchio said.

“Oh my stars above! We've gotta do something!” Jiminy said.

“Okay, we got it covered,” Rumi said. Sora and Rumi ran up the ramp to the trampoline and bounced on it high enough and retrieved Pinocchio, setting him down.

“Oh, Pinoke! Look at ya!” Jiminy said. Pinocchio had the ears and tail of a donkey.

“I think, for now, you two better get out of here,” Sora said. They left and Sora and Rumi defeated the Nightmares and Negaverses. Sora dispelled his Keyblade while Rumi dispelled her guardian and turned to leave, but was stopped by a corridor of darkness. The cloaked young man stepped out yet again.

“You again?” Rumi asked. A woman with black hair and red eyes followed the man. Rumi gasped in shock.

“Aunt Muki?!” she asked.

“This is impossible!” Sora said.

“My my, a hollow puppet that's managed to grow a heart. Just imagine that,” Muki said.

“Pinocchio isn't anything like you Nobodies. But if Pinocchio could be given one--shouldn't you be able to have a heart inside you, too?” Sora said. Muki gave out a breathy laugh.

“Maybe so. However--do not forget that you, yourself, are not so very different from us,” she said as she walked back into the corridor.

“How are we anything like a Nobody? That doesn't make any sense,” Sora said.

“I have no idea. But whatever the Negaverse is doing to my family, I need to stop it,” Rumi said. Her and Sora walked out of the circus tent.

“Well, I hope they got home safe,” Rumi said. The blue star flashed in the sky and floated down to Sora and Rumi, who shielded their eyes from the light. They were startled by the Blue Fairy's sudden appearance.

“You must be Sora. And you must be Rumi,” she said.

“Oh. Yes, ma'am. And you must be the Blue Fairy,” Rumi said. The Blue Fairy nodded.

“That's right. And I'm afraid that I have grave news. Good Geppetto went off to look for Pinocchio, and he was swallowed by a whale named Monstro,” she said.

“What? Have you told Pinocchio and Jiminy about it yet?” Sora asked.

“Yes, and when I told them Geppetto was still alive inside the whale, and at the bottom of the sea, those two little ones ran off at once. They're very determined to save him.”

“But that’s crazy! We have to find them!” Rumi said. Sora and Rumi ran off and the fairy vanished.

~~~~

Pinocchio and Jiminy were on a cliff by the sea.

“This Monstro--I've heard of him, Pinoke. He's a whale of a whale! Why, he swallows whole ships, alive! And besides, it's dangerous! Why I, uh--” Jiminy said.

“Goodbye, Jiminy,” Pinocchio said.

“Good-bye? I may be live bait down there, but I'm with ya.” He jumped into Pinocchio's hands and the boy walked off the cliff and fell down into the water. After Sora and Rumi trudged through the sea, they reached a wavy sea bed, where Pinocchio and Jiminy were running from something. Sora and Rumi looked past them to see Monstro the whale who opened his jaws angrily, roaring at them. It flew over Sora and Rumi, sending them spiraling through the water and knocked into the surrounding land. Pieces of rocky debris fell and closed off the entrance of the cave Sora and Rumi entered through. The current in Monstro's wake was intense, pulling Jiminy, Pinocchio, Rumi, and Sora through the water. Sora and Rumi gained their balance while Pinocchio and Jiminy swam frantically with Monstro in pursuit. The whale's open maw gained on them slowly.

“Pinocchio! Jiminy!” Sora and Rumi said. Monstro's great jaws clamped down on either side of them and Sora and Rumi swam toward the whale. A Chill Clawbster flew past them, swimming towards Monstro, who roars as the Dream Eater sent a beam of ice to Monstro, who slowed down considerably as it nears the surface. A couple Negaverses joined the Dream Eaters.

“Oh no!” Sora said. They continued to race toward them, finally catching up to a frozen Monstro caught in a sea of ice. The Chill Clawbster flew over the ice.

“We'll have to claw our way past, then rescue our friends!” Rumi said.

“Right!” Sora said. Sora and Rumi fought and defeated the Chill Clawbster, destroying the ice around Monstro. They encased Monstro in a bubble and used it to follow the Chill Clawbster as it tried to escape. The Nightmare and Negaverses attempted to attack it, but popped the bubble instead, giving Monstro the chance to swallow the Nightmare and Negaverses instead, knocking Sora and Rumi down into the water. Sora and Rumi resurfaced in time to see Monstro heave his giant mouth open, and screamed as it sneezed them away. Sora and Rumi woke up on land, having lost Monstro completely. They looked out at the water as the waves lapped against the shore.

“I get it now. After this, Pinocchio and Jiminy's world gets dragged into darkness, and they end up cast into the sea between worlds, along with Monstro. And then...they end up in Traverse Town, and the belly of the whale. That's when we meet for real. It's like Master Yen Sid said--We’re in the dream Pinocchio's world is dreaming. And that world will never be right again until it wakes from sleep,” Sora said. A keyhole appeared in the sky and Sora sealed it. Later, Riku and the twins arrived inside Monstro. They looked around Monstro's mouth, where several piles of wood rested.

“Pinocchio!” someone said. Riku and the twins noticed an elderly man aboard a wooden boat.

“Son! Where have you run off to?” the man asked.

“Isn't that...Geppetto? Then...this must be...” Riku said. Riku and the twins swam over to the boat and found Geppetto the clockmaker sitting on his bed, his head in his hands.

“What's the matter?” Yui asked. Geppetto was startled.

“Huh? Goodness, who are you?” he asked.

“Riku.”

“I’m Yui.”

“Name’s Roxy.”

“Oh, Riku, Yui, Roxy. You poor kiddos. Seems you were swallowed up by Monstro just like the rest of us. My name is Geppetto, and I'm looking for my son, Pinocchio.”

“Pinocchio's gone missing?” Riku asked.

“I'm afraid so. After all my searching, I found him here in the whale. But then he ran off again to who-knows-where.”

“That sounds kind of...familiar. Mister Geppetto, let us go look for your son.”

“You would do that? Thank you. Are you sure?”

“Yeah. Leave it to us!” Roxy said.

“Did ya say you were really going to help us find Pinocchio?” someone asked. Riku and the twins turned to see Jiminy Cricket on a nearby table.

“Jiminy?” Riku asked.

“Huh? That's right--name's Jiminy! Jiminy Cricket. But shucks, have we met?” Jiminy said.

“No--you know, never mind.”

“Hmm, if you say so. Anyway, Pinocchio comes first.”

“Right. Any idea where he went?” Roxy said.

“Well, I'm almost certain he wandered off with a stranger.”

“Can you describe him?” Yui asked.

“Hmm...I remember they were dressed in a black coat.” Riku and the twins gasped.

“A black coat? He's back again,” Riku said. He touched his heart and paused for a moment

“Thanks,” Roxy said. Riku and the twins walked away but Jiminy hopped onto Riku’s shoulder.

“Huh?” Riku asked.

“Well, I'm goin' with ya. Pinocchio's gonna need his conscience, and that's where I come in,” Jiminy said. Riku, the twins, and Jiminy searched through Monstro's insides to find Pinocchio walking with a hooded man and two hooded women.

“Pinocchio!” Jiminy said. Pinocchio turned around and saw them.

“Jiminy!” he said.

“Let him go now!” Yui said. The hooded one faced them and tapped Pinocchio forward. The boy was confused for a moment and looked up at the figure, then ran to Jiminy, who hopped to meet him.

“Thank goodness. Are you all right? Riku and I looked for ya everywhere,” Jiminy said.

“Uh-huh. I'm just fine. Sorry, Jiminy. I messed up real bad. You and Father must have been so worried about me,” Pinocchio said.

“Why, Pinocchio, I think ya just might be finally startin' to learn.” Riku and the twins walked over to the hooded figure.

“Who are you?” Riku asked. The figure removed his hood to reveal a doppelganger.

“Me?” Riku asked. A corridor of darkness appeared and the boy entered it. Riku and the twins ran to follow but it closed before they reached it, standing stunned.

“As I live and breathe...” Jiminy said.

“That was my...my dark side. I gave in to the darkness once. And ever since, it's chased me around in one form or another. The Seeker of Darkness who stole my body...a puppet replica of the shadows in my heart...and now, I'm facing me,” Riku said.

“Your dark side?”

“A Negaverse must’ve possessed Uncle Ansem to make you do that,” Roxy said.

“Gee, Riku, don't you have a Jiminy like I do? He's my conscience. He's taught me all kinds of important stuff. Maybe you just need somebody to show you what's right and wrong,” Pinocchio said.

“Sure. You can't shoulder all your problems alone, ya know. You must have somebody--a friend you can talk to?” Jiminy said.

“Yeah...actually, I do. That stupid grin they’re always wearing--he's the best teacher I could ever have,” Riku said.

“Sora and (Y/N)?” Yui asked.

“Yeah.”

“Gee whiz...I wish I had lots of good friends,” Pinocchio said.

“You will, Pinocchio. More than you can count,” Jiminy said. Monstro let out a wail.

“What now?” Riku asked. He and the twins looked to the entrance of another Chamber.

“Is something in there? Pinocchio, Jiminy, you should head back. We'll see what's shaking things up,” Roxy said.

“Okay!” Pinocchio and Jiminy said. The two left and Riku and the twins proceeded further in Monstro until they found a Char Clawbster, which had latched itself onto the whale's innards, having a few Negaverses next to it. As Riku and the twins entered, it shot out a blast to the entrance and Riku and the twins quickly skidded on the ground to dodge as the Char Clawbster jumped over him, the Negaverses following close behind. Riku summons his keyblade while the twins summoned Sapphite and their guns and the monsters turned to face them. Riku and the twins fought and defeated the Nightmare and Negaverses. Back in Monstro's Mouth, Geppetto laughed happily as Pinocchio ran into his arms. They hugged tightly as Riku and the twins watched.

“I thought I was only sent into the past on the Destiny Islands. So why does it seem like time was rewound in this world, too?” Riku said.

“Maybe it's like Master Yen Sid said--the world was freed from darkness, but has yet to wake from it. It's trapped in a never-ending dream,” Yui said. A keyhole appeared in the air and Riku sealed it.

~~~~

Vanitas woke up and saw that you and the Unversed sleeping next to him. He looked in front of him and saw Young Xehanort in front of him.

“The hell do you want now?” Vanitas asked.

“Just looking at my family. Is that a crime?” Y!Xehanort said.

“We’re not your family. Leave (Y/N) alone. Her light is stronger than you are.”

“We’ll just see about that.” Y!Xehanort disappeared through a Dark Corridor, leaving Vanitas alone with you. He brought you close to him and kissed your head.

“Don’t worry, sis. I won’t let him hurt you,” he said.

#kingdom hearts #kingdomhearts #kingdom hearts ddd #kingdom hearts dream drop distance #kingdom hearts imagine #kingdom hearts imagines #kingdom hearts x reader #kingdomhearts x reader #kingdomhearts imagines

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