Of Gods and Lovers (Rei no Kaado)

[mugenginga]

"It's those buildings right there," Yuugi said, his attitude seeming to have improved on the walk from the coffee shop. His finger pointed at one of the specific buildings, "He's really upset about Ryoji-kun though..."

"He knows more about the Fall than any of us, Partner."

Atem had to speak a bit louder as he was hanging near Souji, who seemed to be lagging behind a bit. Of course he was. Izanami, who he hated for reasons he'd never fully explained to most of the group, had made some kind of advance on him. And now Izanagi's daughter had joined the group. Although Atem had to admit, it had surprised him a bit. A deity saying the Fall could be stopped. Himself, he honestly didn't know, but he was going to try.

They'd be there in seconds.

[Firebreath Fishslap]

Souji was letting Yuugi lead the way for Amaterasu. He was still obviously having issues with the Izanami thing, and Amaterasu's presence there wasn't helping things. It was still the Izanami thing the most, though. Maybe it was the fact that he still couldn't accept the avatar thing, but it probably had a lot to do with the hell she'd put him and his friends through before. And then for her to just turn around and do that?

Amaterasu looked back at the three humans (one technically wasn't, but for the moment she was putting complicated issues of humanity, shadows, and divinity aside) who had led her here before bounding up the stairs of the building.

"She certainly doesn't waste any time does she?" Souji asked before following Amaterasu up the stairs. She'd stopped at the top and seemed to be waiting for someone to lead her to Minato's room. Souji sighed and walked down to Minato's apartment. He knocked on the door. When it opened, it was slowly and apprehensively. It was actually a moment before Minato opened it all the way.

"Sorry, I thought you were Abel for a moment there," Minato said. He looked down at Amaterasu. "Uh, Souji? What's with the dog?" It looked like a wolf... a weird wolf with some kind of facepaint on it, but it definitely looked like either a wolf or a really feral looking dog to Minato.

"She's not a dog, it's kind of complicated..." Souji said. "Wait, did Abel visit you earlier?"

This question went unanswered because at that moment Issun jumped out from Amaterasu's neck fur and bounced on the ground in front of Minato. "This here's Amaterasu, kid! Your name Minato?"

Minato blinked at Issun. "Uh... yeah." Did that bug just talk?

[mugenginga]

Yuugi had realized he hadn't remembered to say Minato's apartment was at the end of the hall just as Souji walked forward and took the lead. He looked back at Atem with a concerned phase, and the former Pharaoh didn't return eye contact. Now that Yuugi thought about it, if Atem wanted to ignore him he could. In the Puzzle, their spirits had been linked enough that he could pester the guy, but now...? He wasn't even sure why he was so upset. He chased after the group and came up behind Amaterasu and beside Atem just as Minato confirmed his identity. He squeezed to a more central position aided by his size.

"Minato-kun, this is Issun and Amaterasu. Ameterasu-san, this is Arisato Minato-kun. Minato-kun, Issun's some kind of celestial messenger.... person. Um, this wolf is Amaterasu-san's avatar," he glanced towards Amaterasu, "Uh, right?"

"Amaterasu thinks the Fall can be stopped," Atem stated. And then a bit of kindness, "Are you up to talking about it?"

He'd informed Minato about Amaterasu's opinion first on purpose. A deity that thought it could be. It was a glimmer of hope that he was slowly seeing Minato lose. It had taken a huge hit around the time Ryoji had left and had been going south sense. Of course, he was also assuming Minato would know her name. Shinto was the dominant religion in Japan, after all.

[Firebreath Fishslap]

Amaterasu gave an affirming bark when Yuugi finished speaking.

Minato looked back down at the wolf. This was Amaterasu's avatar? Minato looked back toward Souji before looking back down at the wolf. He looked toward Atem as he mentioned that Amaterasu believed that the Fall could be stopped. He looked a fair bit more attentive as Atem said that.

"...It's fine. Come on in," Minato said, and stepped out of the doorway so the others could go into his apartment. Amaterasu walked in first, and Souji walked in behind her.

Issun whistled as he looked around at Minato's apartment. "Man, are all the homes here this fancy?" Issun asked. "Kinda looks like some of the stuff the Moon Tribe made, eh Ammy?"

Minato looked back at Amaterasu and scratched his head. "...So, what do you want me to talk about?"

Issun hopped up and down. "Well, howsabout you explain this Fall thing? All that Izanami chick said was we'd understand when midnight hit."

Minato sighed. "Do you know what Apathy Syndrome is?"

"Do I look like I know?"

Minato groaned. "Basically, you stop caring about everything. You just sit there and do nothing at all. Eventually your body will just give out. When the Fall hits, that's going to happen to everyone. And it's not just going to affect the Island. It's going to affect a bunch of other ones too."

Amaterasu whined. From the sound of things, your dimension too, Issun.

Issun gulped. "G-Guess that means we kinda can't lose, huh?"

[mugenginga]

Yuugi looked at Issun with an odd expression as he commented on how fancy the room was. And then he mentioned something about a Moon tribe. His eyes widened with realization. Of course, that would explain the bits of archaic Japanese. If Amaterasu and Issun's world was further in Japan's past than the one he and the others had come from, a lot of the modern world would seem really fantastic. He observed the situation as it unfolded.

"I don't understand it fully, but Minato-kun is right. Apparently due to the nature of this world, it connects to many others. I believe the term used was lynchpin. If the binding force vanishes, all the other worlds would Fall as well. I think any world that has deposited a person here will be lost, and from there it's possible any world connected to them could go. We're looking at losing most of the multiverse if this dimension falls."

Yuugi nodded, clearly concerned, "I don't know all of it either, but I think Nyx chose to do it despite how it would effect the multiverse. Why would she even do something like that? I don't think she's a goddess of destruction..."

(OOC: She isn't, but Erebus represents the chaos of the world's beginning. Nyx is a goddess of night.)

[Firebreath Fishslap]

Amaterasu wasn't sure herself. Due to certain events back in Nippon involving her past self and future self, she hadn't been aware of much going on in other dimensions for nearly 200 years. She hadn't heard much of a Nyx before that 200 year period started, but she had obviously become more active during that time.

"No clue," Issun said.

Souji was sure he had a slight idea, due to Izanagi's idiocy that one morning, but it wasn't something he felt like talking about.

"So, what can we do to stop this Nyx lady?" Issun asked. Minato looked depressed.

"As far as I know, not much. The last time I faced Nyx it required a sacrifice of my soul to seal her from whatever had called her to Earth in the first place... and I can't make the seal anymore anyways. It broke the last time I attempted it," Minato said.

"D'you try beatin' this Ryoji guy up? That usually works pretty well for me and Ammy," Issun said. That just make Minato look even more depressed.

[mugenginga]

"We don't just want to stop Nyx," Yuugi said, a concerned look going towards Minato, "We want to save Ryoji-kun too."

Atem was actually also giving a concerned look towards Minato. This was too familiar. At least Minato wasn't getting violent about it. Then again, there was no one for him to vent his anger on. He'd been able to take his out on Dartz' followers, even with how misaimed it had been. He'd almost killed Haga, and even Atem could see the teenager had been lucky Anzu had been there to stop him.

"Minato-kun, do you intend on telling them?" Atem finally said.

He didn't specify for two reasons. Mainly because he was used to people understanding what he was implying. It was also because he had no intentions of revealing what Abel had made obvious unless Minato wanted him to. But it was more than the Fall, and Atem more than understood that. It was the fact that even if they stopped it, Ryoji could very well be lost. It was the fact that Ryoji could very well be lost because of something Minato had a major hand in.

[Firebreath Fishslap]

Minato didn't answer Atem right away. The subject of his relationship with Ryoji was one he didn't really feel comfortable talking about with someone like Issun. Somehow he doubted that the bug would take the subject well... not like he'd taken any of the previous ones too well either. He finally shook his head.

Issun, on the other hand, was talking with Amaterasu. "Saving this guy...? You think it's possible?"

I am not sure. To be honest, I don't think I've ever dealt with a case like this, Amaterasu said. I doubt we could do anything if we tried. But these humans, with their infinite potential... possibly, they could save the being known as Ryoji. Souji is obviously remaining despite his status as Izanagi's avatar. It's possible Ryoji may be able to do the same. She looked toward Minato. The blue haired one seems to have more of an emotional connection to Ryoji. It may be possible for him to save the human emotions.

Issun looked toward Minato too, and hopped off of Amaterasu's head. "Don't think we can do anything... this guy might be able ta, though."

"What do you mean?" Souji asked.

"I mean a human might be able to save this Ryoji guy. Dunno how. Magical human powers or somethin'," Issun said.

Souji and Minato exchanged a glance. They seemed to have an idea of what Issun was talking about.

[mugenginga]

Yuugi's had noted the exchange between Atem and Minato. There was always that, and it always came back to that. He looked away and hung his head. He'd known Atem was probably going to be lost. After all, Atem had avoided the trip to Egypt for some time because of it out of care for Yuugi. He'd had to talk him into not holding himself back over it. And he'd never managed to fully come to terms with it. He looked towards Issun as he indicated Minato and blinked. He knew?

Atem nodded. Issun wasn't quite right. He didn't think anyone could save Ryoji. It had to be Minato. He stepped forward as Souji and Minato exchanged their looks.

"Izanami was right. This is the best information we can give you, but I suspect you'll be aware when the Dark Hour hits. That event at midnight she informed you of will likely explain things better than we can."

[Firebreath Fishslap]

Amaterasu bowed her head and turned to leave without another word. She stepped outside of the apartment, pushing the door open with her head, and walked down the hallway.

Souji watched her go before turning back toward Minato and the others. Minato looked unsure before speaking up.

"Do you think they were right? About being able to save Ryoji...?" Minato asked.

"I think you might be able to," Souji said. "I think you might be able to convince Ryoji to throw off his purpose."

------------

Amaterasu stepped outside and looked up at the sky. The sun was still shining brightly. She was going to make this go faster for her at the very least. She swiped her tail in a crescent shape, and for a moment, a glittering crescent moon appeared in the sky before Amaterasu was surrounded by flame and disappeared from that spot. She'd be back in the same spot at just before midnight.

[mugenginga]

Atem nodded, "I think you're the only one that can. You blame yourself for what happened, and I'm in no position to tell you otherwise. If you just give up, if you can't face it... I think you will lose him. I'm not saying this to make you doubt yourself. I'm saying this because you need someone to tell you."

"And it's not like we won't be there, Minato-kun!"

Atem frowned as Yuugi spoke. No, but he had a feeling Minato would stay behind regardless of any offer made by Izanami. As atonement. If he hadn't been able to save Yuugi then...

"I can't say it any more clearly than I have. If you don't snap out of it, someone is going to have to knock some more sense into you," He was saying it in a flat and dead serious voice. He glanced at Souji for a moment before turning back to Minato, "I suspect I know what Ryoji has said about the situation, but what does he want, Minato-kun? If he wants the world to end, then its hopeless. But if he wants to be with you..."

Atem turned away at that, allowing his comments to trail off. Yuugi's eyes widened at the sudden separation and gave a final look towards Minato and Souji. His sympathy was towards Minato the most. How was Ryoji feeling about this? He didn't want the world to end, Yuugi was sure about that. They had to try. Atem had gotten a few steps out the door by this point and Yuugi ran up to him. If Souji or Minato watched them, they'd notice Atem side step as if to avoid Yuugi coming up beside him.

"...Atem?"

"I need to be alone for a while, Partner."

It was curt, and Yuugi just sort of stood there, looking hurt. He watched Atem until he reached the stairs and turned down. He hung his head, and his broken expression was shielded from Souji and Minato thanks to his angle. Any question of how he was would be met with a mumbled "I'm fine", and after a few more moments he walked towards the stairs, turning to go up the stairs rather than down. He was sure it had to do mainly with what he'd said earlier, but it wasn't just that. Things had gotten tense between them lately...

[Firebreath Fishslap]

A few hours had passed since Atem had walked out of Minato's apartment, saying he wanted to be alone. Minato and Souji had ended up hanging out with each other like they often had before Ryoji's sudden appearance, though it had more to do with the fact that they both had things they didn't want to talk about than anything else at the moment.

For right now, though, they were basically loitering outside their apartment building, chatting to keep their minds off of the impending Fall and Ryoji (for Minato) and the subject of Izanami and her offer (for Souji).

Souji looked up at the sky.

"Looks like it's going to rain soon. Maybe tonight," Souji said. Minato nodded.

[mugenginga]

Atem was still gone, but Yuugi hadn't really expected anything different. It had been a few hours, and it wasn't like Atem couldn't take care of himself. Not only that, but he had the cards on him. It had given the short teenager time to think about the situation, and it had finally hit him what he'd done wrong. He'd said he wanted to go back to Jounouchi and their friends, and Atem had probably misinterperted it as giving up. Atem was way too hard on himself sometimes, and the former Pharaoh probably felt that if he couldn't save this world, he didn't deserve to live. Possibly as a result of that choice he was still beating himself up over.

Yuugi got to his feet and turned the television off. Amaterasu had said something about nine days left. K1 had probably wanted to say something, but had tried to be nice about it. Yuugi went to the closet and pulled out the sword they'd gotten a while back. He didn't like being on edge like this, but this world had its dangers. He made sure he had the spare cards and the COMP before heading out of the Apartment.

----------

Anzu looked annoyed. She was wearing the white long sleeved jacket Jounouchi had been wearing when they left the hospital. She'd begun rubbing her arm in the cold air a few blocks away from the hospital, and after an hour of arguing Jounouchi had told her if she didn't take it he'd just drop it on the ground. She'd only taken it then. It was clear he didn't understand the problem. Well, it wasn't like he'd been there when Yuugi gave her his jacket in that trap the Big Five and Kaiba's deceased brother (via adoption) had set up.

Either way, though, it had only served as a negative reminder that things were going to be awkward. Atem had his own body, and no matter how much she found herself leaning towards Yuugi now, Atem had his own body. What kind of girl was she, anyhow? It had lead to quite a bit of sighing, Jounouchi pestering her for an explanation, and a general sour mood between the two of them.

It hadn't helped that Jounouchi had shown how typical of a guy he was. An hour after that, she'd begun suggesting they ask for directions. They'd asked once already, but they were clearly lost. Yuugi would have asked for directions, but Jounouchi had chosen to be stubborn. So they'd wandered aimlessly until Anzu had made up that she had to go to the bathroom, ducked into a shop, and gotten directions herself. They'd been going in circles by the description, but she kept it to herself and took the lead once they were out.

Finally, after three hours of walking, they'd come upon the Apartments. Anzu pointed out what seemed to be the office. The two of them headed in that direction, and they'd pass in direct sight of where Minato and Souij were. Anzu felt herself getting more nervous with each step. They couldn't avoid this, but...

[Firebreath Fishslap]

Things had fallen silent again between Souji and Minato. They didn't really have much to talk about as it was, especially since they were trying to avoid talking about the Fall. Minato tugged at the scarf he was still wearing around his neck as a gust of wind blew past.

"It really is starting to get cold... usually it's snowing by this time of year," Minato said. Souji looked toward him.

"How long were you here before I appeared on the island anyways?" Souji asked. Minato shrugged and opened his mouth to respond when he spotted two people walking past that he definitely recognized. It had been the blond hairdo that had caused him to first catch eye of them, but it had been the gold objects they had on him that had made him focus on their appearances. That was quite definitely Jounouchi and Anzu from the same anime Yuugi was from.

"Why do they have those Millennium Items..." Minato whispered before running over to them.

"Excuse me!" Minato called. "Are you two looking for Mutou Yuugi?"

[mugenginga]

Anzu couldn't answer when Minato shouted out to them. She was too busy being in the middle of sneezing. Jounouchi, on the other hand, heard Minato just fine and was under no such disadvantage. He looked up as Minato caught up to them and asked if they were looking for Yuugi. Anzu was wiping her face with the sleeve of Jounouchi's shirt as he answered.

"Oh thank god!" Jounouchi said, "We've been wandering for hours! Do you know Yuugi?"

"We've been wandering for hours because you refused to ask for directions!" Anzu said, "I'm Mazaki Anzu and this is Jounouchi Katsuya. We're friends of Yuugi's and were told he has an apartment here?"