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Beautiful. He was beautiful and dangerous and alive. Even here in the Land of the Dead he was so alive it almost hurt, like looking directly at the sun, but Atem couldn't bring himself to look away.
Kaiba stood just outside on the balcony with his arms crossed and his gaze focused on the sun setting over the desert like he was trying to solve some complicated puzzle. Or, Atem mused, more like he was being forced to explain how he had easily solved the puzzle and he couldn't understand why everyone else hadn't caught up already.
Atem leaned his shoulder against the doorway and watched as the Dust that was the essence of Kaiba's Self floated away into nothing, as piece by piece Kaiba was returned to the Land of the Living. Even as he slowly broke apart and left, he still seemed to have such a solid presence. As if he was meant to be exactly where he was, despite all evidence to the contrary.
"I'll miss you," the words seemed to push themselves from where they had lived at the back of his throat since he saw Kaiba enter his throne room. Since Yugi and him fought the Ceremonial Duel. Perhaps even since Battle City.
Kaiba turned and narrowed his eyes at him, "Really?"
"Don't doubt me Kaiba. We went over all this during the duel." They had and they had discussed so much else, though there had been a lot of yelling and miscommunication before they had finally cleared the air. "I'm sorry and I'll miss you."
"Hn." At this reassurance Kaiba's body relaxed a fraction as he seemed to realize that they wouldn't be yelling at each other again right now. And yet his eyes remained narrowed at Atem. Atem wouldn't have called what he saw lurking in their blue depths nervousness, perhaps uncertainty? Though that Kaiba was uncertain of something was as unlikely as the Dead speaking to the Living. That is to say it happened, but was a surprise everytime.
Atem took a step closer out onto the balcony though he managed to stop himself from reaching out, "What is it? Kaiba?"
His eyes widened briefly before he faced Atem directly. "I won't be in this world for much longer."
"I know."
"Come back with me."
Atem stared. Kaiba had thrown the words down like a card in a duel. Atem was having trouble understanding, no he was having trouble finding words, no he just didn't, knew he couldn't.
"I can't." Kaiba looked as stubborn now as he did across from him during a duel. Determined. Even as this conversation filled him with sorrow and renewed his grief he couldn't help but think him beautiful again, always.
"You can, you just won't." It seemed Kaiba was determined to get in one more argument before he left.
"No Kaiba, I mean I can't. I'm dead and this is my afterlife. I belong here."
He gave a scoff of disbelief, "I don't believe it."
Atem could feel himself getting annoyed now. "And what exactly is it that you don't believe. That I'm dead? Or that this is my afterlife?"
"Well," a smirk made itself visible, "Putting aside my thoughts on how technically dead you may or may not be and my opinion on you claiming such a subpar afterlife as yours without question. What I don't believe is that you belong here."
Atem couldn't help throwing his arms up in disbelief, "...May or may Not be dead! …Subpar! Kaiba!!"
Kaiba stopped smirking and uncrossed his arms. He took a step closer and their new proximity as he looked down at Atem seemed to calm him down slightly. Though, Atem thought, if he says something that ridiculous again I'm going to end up attempting to shake some sense into him. Subpar, really.
"Is this really where you want to be? You would rather be here in this unchanging afterlife than back home?"
"This is my home Kaiba."
"Is it?"
Atem couldn't help remembering Yugi and Grandpa and their friends. The streets of Domino. Burgers. Duel Monster cards in his hands. Holograms. Mokuba. Defiant blue eyes.
"It doesn't matter, it is home now and someday it will feel like home too, because I have no other choice." Kaiba began to open his beautiful stubborn mouth before he was interrupted…
"Is that so, Little Pharaoh."
There was suddenly a bright warm light that they were forced to shield their eyes before it cleared enough for them to see. Horakhty hovered before them in all her splendor, a kind smile on her face.
Atem began to kneel before he was stopped, "No need for that, I merely couldn't help but notice your unhappiness. Would you tell me what makes a Pharaoh in his eternal kingdom feel trapped?"
"Please worry not, O Great Lady. I just…" He took a breath and tried to think of a way to say he was unsatisfied with his afterlife without seeming ungrateful. Because as lovely as the afterlife itself, with its weather and beauty, and seeing his friends and family long dead was, he couldn't help but long for those he left behind. Kaiba coming here had only made that more clear.
Unfortunately Kaiba was ready for a fight and seemed quite happy to change targets from Atem to the chief and greatest of the Egyptian Gods.
"I'm taking him back with me."
"KAIBA!"
"Ah." Kaiba didn't even glance away from where he was staring down a goddess. Horakhty didn't seem offended, instead giving Kaiba the same fond look she had given Atem. If Atem was reading the slight curl of Kaiba's lip right, he found that condescending rather than comforting. Atem held back a sigh.
"Seto Kaiba. So defiant. So willing to attempt the impossible."
"The fact that I can do it means it isn't impossible."
"That is true." Horakhty glanced at Atem for a quick moment with a twinkle in her eyes and… winked before returning her eyes to Kaiba. Atem couldn't help but gape slightly.
"So, you wish to return your Pharaoh to the Land of the Living with you. And you believe you can do it."
"I brought myself here, of course the opposite is possible."
"And if I should say you can't?"
"Then you're wrong."
Atem couldn't hold back the slight grin even as he wanted to hold his head in his hands. Kaiba stood there, defiant in the setting sun, his very Self turning to dust and floating away, telling a goddess he didn't care for her opinion. No, telling her that her opinion was wrong. He loved him so.
Luckily Horakhty didn't seem to be offended, instead Atem would have said that the goddess seemed to be enjoying herself. She smiled down at them.
"Conversations with your soul are always a delight, Seto Kaiba. It is a good thing I never said you can't take him with you then, I do so try to be wrong as little as possible."
Atem noticed that Kaiba now seemed to be the one without words, though if that was due to the loaded compliment or being told he was right Atem didn't bother to puzzle out in his own shock.
"What!? Great Goddess Creator of Light, are you saying I could go with him? Back to Domino and the Land of the Living and all my friends?"
"Well Once Nameless Pharaoh, that depends on you."
Atem looked to where Kaiba was now watching him, focused and possessive and once more there seemed to be a hint of uncertainty in his eyes. Atem's heart was beating fast as he returned his gaze to Horakhty's kind smiling face.
"What do I have to do?"
She smiled wider, "You just have to make the choice, my Chosen Pharaoh."
"I can just choose to go back?" Atem wasn't sure what was happening, "I thought this was where I belonged. I thought I completed my destiny and this was my reward."
"Well, it wouldn't be much of a reward if you didn't enjoy it." Atem thought Horakhty might be laughing at him, but was already confused enough and decided to ignore it.
Atem was dead and so he was in the Land of the Dead, but apparently all he had to do to return to the Land of the Living was choose to go. He didn't even have to win a game or complete a quest. No trial or test. "I'm not sure that's really fair…" he mumbled.
A scoff. "Life isn't fair. It's just fairer than death, that's all." Kaiba had crossed his arms again and turned his head, though he still watched Atem from the corner of his eyes.
Atem looked from Kaiba to Horakhty and considered his friends, living and dead. His palace and Domino. The Nile and Japan. His life and his death. His racing heart. He thought of all the choices he had already made.
And he made another.
Horakhty must have known without him saying because she began to glow brighter. "I'll be seeing you then, Pharaoh Atem."
And in another flash of light, she was gone.
As his eyes readjusted, Atem turned to look at Kaiba.
Kaiba was facing towards Atem with his arms held stiffly at his sides and his face was blank. Except for his eyes, which were vulnerable, like they had been at the end of their earlier duel. The Dust looked to be disappearing faster than before and Kaiba was waiting. It was Atem's turn.
Atem could feel his heart beating and his skin tingling. He looked down at his hands just in time to see Dust begin to leave from his fingers. He grinned as he looked up again and waved at Kaiba, bringing the Dust to his attention.
Then, before Kaiba could react, Atem pounced and kissed Kaiba with everything he had. Kaiba grabbed his waist as he kissed back and seemed unlikely to let go anytime soon.
Eventually they had to stop for air, and to give their bruised lips a break, and so they stood there holding each other, foreheads together as the Dust, their essence, floated and mingled together before disappearing back to the Land of the Living.
Alive, like the sun.