Absolute Betrayal (Part 4)

DIMENSION: MANGA (The One That Saves the Day)

Jounouchi pushed Atem and Yuugi forward. "Come on, guys. Time to snap out of it."

Atem pulled out of it first. ///Atem: Okay. Fine. In order to save mankind, I have to deal with the hijinks of goddess cats that had ruined my entire life! God and goddess. Mine and yours. A fusion that should never happen, when we win.///

If we want it. This is what mankind has to thank for trying to save it? Goddesses who manipulated us this whole time? Either we accept this gift or start where as a new beginning? She's right, can we ethically choose that?

I convinced Horakhty to give mankind a chance. Not save it. If the gods do offer to help because of the possible new ones in the torn first human tear, then it's a chance. Horakhty still believes mankind should end. The chance is only if we win.

What a way to give a chance.

Even if I knew all of this before Horakhty showed. I would still believe the same thing. I would never turn my back on it all. Atem looked toward Masika. "Masika was right all along. Think about it. Although certain attachment was required, Isis bore Horus without Osiris' own attachment."

"Yep," Jounouchi agreed. "He lost his dick so that was straight up magic. Not no sex. Well, not normal sex. I mean, if that's the right story. Before or after. They were all real confusing. I tried to learn though."

"There were many stories. Many names. Many concepts over the ages." Seeing what just went into creating two gods, it made sense how nothing was completely solid in structure. Infusion. A concept they all knew well from playing dual monsters. What am I doing, standing around just thinking? Yuugi, we need to go see them.

While Atem said it first, Yuugi took the first steps. Anzu and Satiah were both just standing there. Yuugi approached Anzu first. "You were right."

"Yeah." Her voice was soft too. "I heard." Weakening. "It's not that I'm . . appalled. It's just that it'd be a god, Yuugi. An egyptian god would be in me. What am I supposed to do with that? Is that . . . what we should choose?"

"I would, if others favor it, they'll help restore Earth." Jounouchi gave his opinion. "To give it back the life it used to have. Maybe they could even just turn back time, erase all of this from people's minds. Never know. Besides, It'd still your kid. Don't worry, Anzu. It's gonna have god powers or whatever, but it's still born to you. The whole nine months and everything. Maybe we won't even be able to tell the difference?"

"Yeah." Jounouchi could comfort a lot better than Yuugi at the moment. Say everything is going to be okay, Yuugi. Say there's nothing to fear. Say. He couldn't hide his gulp, his dry throat made him have to swallow. Tell her you'll be there. Tell her she'll be okay. Tell her it's her choice.

"Just think. You've got the Game Shop while it grows up. It's never gonna be bored, it'll have lots of games to play with. Who can say that in this world, huh?" Jounouchi tried to smile. He put his hand on her arm. "Life's tough on everybody, Anzu. Nobody's getting excluded from that. This one? It's a tougher fight personally on us," he said. "Not everybody is making it. Not everything is gonna be great, but together, we can work on getting through it." He let go of her shoulder. "I think Yuugi wants to say something to you. At some point, so I better get going. Got a care package to look at. Hopefully there's some steaks or something good."

Jounouchi was gone. Yuugi remained in front of Anzu. Say something, Yuugi, just say something. "We'll get through it. The decision. We'll talk it and decide." Oh his voice was so weak. It sounded like he was a frail sixteen year old again. "I like kids." Lame. Is that the best he could do?

She tried to smile. "I've dealt with a lot of things before, Yuugi. This is just one more thing that I have to deal with. We should do whatever we can to restore the world we know. I guess." Still, her eyes were definitely not saying that.

Oh, forget it. Yuugi pulled her close and hugged her. "All I ever wanted was for you to be happy. America and dancing, I never wanted to get in the way." He touched her pretty, bouncy hair.

"Fate got in the way," she said, "but it's okay. As long as it's nine months, and it's mostly like a human baby. I mean, is that mean to say? Either way. I guess. I can handle that. I've done that before." She looked toward him, her eyes almost expressing regret. "When I joined, I gained some memories of being the whole Masika. It comes and goes, full blown lifetimes. I never remember that for more than a few minutes. But, some of it lingers longer."

"That's what hurt you earlier?" Yuugi asked. "When you wouldn't tell me what was wrong."

"I didn't want you to worry." Anzu looked at her stomach. "What I would or wouldn't remember that you might think would affect us. No need to think about that now. Sorry." She wiggled slightly. "Yuugi. There's something I wanted to ask you. I haven't because, as long as I didn't, then it always meant there was a chance."

With that statement, Jounouchi found his way back over. "I know that question." He nodded at Anzu and Yuugi.

Yuugi knew it too. It was something he only ever brought up with Atem. Ryou Bakura was slowly coming toward them.

"Sorry. About the whole god father thing when you win. Unless that is what you wanted? Then congratulations." Ryou Bakura bowed toward Yuugi. "I know you'll be great. I need to go, but I've lost Mokuba." He glanced toward Anzu.

"It's not just a gigantic game board we are on. Right?" She looked toward Yuugi, but her eyes were filled with tears.

"I . . ."

Be brave, Yuugi. Atem's voice. He was near but he was giving Yuugi time first.

That one thin veiled line of hope. "I? I don't think so, Anzu." It was out in the open now. Everything that had happened, wasn't a game. They weren't characters. They weren't in memories. Things couldn't be erased. "As fantastic as it all is, my heart doesn't feel that." He held out the hand that once made the happy face smile bond between them. Jounouchi came over and put his hand in. Anzu held hers out.

Honda's part would never be there again. Jounouchi reached over and put his hand over Anzu's, with Yuugi putting his over Jounouchi's.

With a different fourth hand. Atem. "Our friend, Hirito Honda, will never be forgotten. Nor will any others that have fallen or will fall in this pursuit. Life is fragile and precious. We must remember though, not just what we lose, but what we have, and will gain as well."

"We'll keep going," Jounouchi added. "No matter what."

"Til the end of the ends," Yuugi said himself, "and even beyond."

"Right," Atem agreed. "Beyond."