First Day of the End (Rei no Kaado)

[Firebreath Fishslap]

"Well, Cain knows," Souji said. "Izanagi told him after he tried to attack me. I don't know why he didn't tell Abel, though."

Amaterasu tilted her head to the side at Yuugi's explanation. She really didn't get what he meant. Programs? Servers? The term Laplace's Demon seemed familiar, but she couldn't place where it came from.

"Um... I don't get it, but okay," Issun said. "So that thing's basically sayin' it's fate that the world's gonna end? Well, not if me and Ammy got anything to say about it."

Souji blinked. "Wait, what?" Amaterasu was a goddess. And all of the gods Souji had met up until now said the Fall was inevitable. Every single one of them had said that. Even Izanagi, who seemed to jump between deciding things could be changed or that it was

"You heard me! Ammy and I, we ain't gonna let this place Fall," Issun said. Amaterasu gave an affirming bark.

[mugenginga]

Atem didn't say anything in response to Souji. That was still odd to him. Can had been told before he knew. No matter how much he hated the man, he couldn't deny he was observant. Better than even he was, it went past bordering creepy at times. Yuugi was still turned to Issun and Amaterasu when he continued. Well, the Island was only translating part of Issun's speech, and some of what Yuugi was catching seemed archaic. Considering the unalignment of world times, it was possible Issun and Amaterasu came from an older Japan. And then Issun and Amaterasu said that they were going to fight the Fall.

Atem blinked and looked towards them. That was a first. Every god and god being they'd run into so far said it was inevitable. Izanagi, Izanami, even Abel seemed to view it as unavoidable, and he was the one who'd changed so-called fate before. Yuugi gave a small smile at Issun's words and Amaterasu's bark. It fell quickly though. He hung his head and spoke softly.

"Even if we stop it, I don't know if we can save Ryoji-kun..." He jerked his head up, "Ah, Ryoji-kun is the avatar of the goddess causing the Fall. Her name is Nyx, do you know her?"

[Firebreath Fishslap]

Issun thought for a moment before Amaterasu spoke up.

Izanami mentioned Nyx and her avatar before, but didn't give it a name, Amaterasu said. Issun looked back toward Yuugi.

"Yeah, that Izanami chick was talking 'bout her before. Didn't mention anything 'bout a Ryoji guy, but on the other hand, she doesn't call these avatar things by their names all that often. 'Cept, 'course, him," Issun said, indicating Souji. Souji looked more than a tad annoyed at that, but Issun ignored him and continued on. "And I dunno if we can save that Ryoji guy. If he's Nyx, and she's gonna cause the end of the world, then there ain't much we can do to help him."

Issun didn't seem to grasp the concept of the avatars being separate beings from the gods. He really hadn't dealt with a case like what was going with Souji and Ryoji before, and he was around gods and spirits and all that all the time back in Nippon.

[mugenginga]

"Ryoji-kun isn't Nyx!" Yuugi said. He sounded a bit angry, "He doesn't want the world to end anymore than the rest of us do! He's already had to do it once before!"

Atem seemed to consider something, and then spoke up, "Although I think he gave up before any of us did. He seems to think its inevitable just because Nyx claims it is."

"Atem, he tried to fight it!"

"He gave up, Partner," Atem shook his head, "He never even tried to stop the Fall, he never believed it could be. That's why he's gone, he gave up."

"He didn't just give up! And he isn't gone! What's wrong with you!?"

Yuugi was glaring at Atem as he shouted. Atem, Atem, was avoiding eye contact and seemed to be speaking a bit harshly, especially considering his usual interactions with Yuugi. And of course, Atem was saying quite a few harsh things that wouldn't put him among the most loved members of their group. And all in front of poor Amaterasu and Issun.

[Firebreath Fishslap]

Souji could tell that Issun really wasn't getting what Yuugi kept saying about the gods being different from their avatars. He'd been about to retort himself before Atem spoke up, and suddenly things started degenerating into an arguement.

"Hey! Both of you, stop it!" Souji said.

Amaterasu glared at Issun. This Ryoji person was their friend. Don't consider him the same as the goddess. If you must, don't do it out loud.

"Alright, alright... sheesh," Issun said.

[mugenginga]

(OOC: CALM THE HELL DOWN. Poor Souji. XD)

Atem had opened his mouth to yell back at Yuugi, but Souji's shout came first. He stopped and turned away from Yuugi again. He was yelling at his Partner for his best trait. That ability to trust no matter what. But he wasn't wrong. Ryoji had given up. He'd seen Minato, he could almost feel what he was going through... he'd almost lost the one he cared about most due to his own stupidity once as well, and the odds of getting Ryoji back... they weren't good. Both Ryoji and Minato would have to fight for it, and there was no guarantee Ryoji even remained.

"I'm sorry," Yuugi said to Souji. He had a mix of anger and borderline crying on his face. He turned to Amaterasu again, "Ryoji and Nyx are two different people. Souji-kun can probably explain better. I had something similar before, but it wasn't with a god... I don't know the full details of the Fall."

The only one who probably did, Yuugi thought, was Minato. And he didn't want to suggest Amaterasu and Issun speak to him. He'd just lost someone and there was no guarantee he'd get him back... then again...

"You really think we can stop it?"

Then again, Minato could use someone with that opinion. Especially someone like a god.

[Firebreath Fishslap]

Issun still didn't really get how an avatar was a separate person from the god they represented. Maybe it was human free will or something like that. Hell if he knew. He supposed Ammy could explain it better.

Issun nodded when Yuugi asked if they really believed they could stop the Fall. "'Course we believe we can stop it! Me an' Ammy have dealt with way worse than some goddess who wants to end the world before. Right, Ammy?" Amaterasu gave an affirming bark. "And all that was before Ammy got back her powers, too. With Ammy here and her Celestial Brush, there ain't nothing that can stop us!"

Souji still couldn't believe there actually was a god that believed the Fall could be stopped. Maybe this was what they needed... Still, something had Souji confused. "What do you mean by 'Celestial Brush?'"

Issun facepalmed. "Aw geez... Ammy, demonstrate!"

Amaterasu whipped her tail in a straight line, leaving a trail of ink in its wake for a moment before the door to Chill Out Coffee was sliced neatly in half.

Souji's eyes widened, and he whirled around to look at the broken door. "Hey! That replacement door's coming out of my paycheck!"

[mugenginga]

Yuugi gave a weak smile at Issun's enthusiasm. In a way, it reminded him of Jounouchi. It brought a twang of homesickness, but it didn't effect his smile. Issun left a bit to be desired in the way of tact, but...

Souji asked his question before Yuugi could say anything. Atem had noted the term as well, but considering some of the things he'd seen on the item, he'd gotten used to named techniques. It wasn't like most of the attack names used by the Duel Monsters were made up by the fans. He'd done that a bit himself to the point that there were probably arguments over Black Magician's "real" attack name.

Yuugi sweatdroped as the pieces of the door clattered down on the ground. He looked very nervous and looked towards Souji just as he pointed out the issue Amaterasu had just created. Um... what were they supposed to do with that? After a few seconds of awkward silence he turned back towards Issun and Amaterasu.

"I think you should talk to Minato-kun. He was involved in stopping the Fall in his homeworld..."

[Firebreath Fishslap]

Amaterasu agreed. We need to find this Minato first, though.

"Sure, alright. So where does this guy live anyways?" Issun asked.

"He lives at the same apartment complex we do, I can--" Souji frowned as Amaterasu started walking away on her own. It seemed that for a goddess, she was rather impatient.

Gods are people too, Izanagi spoke up.

Why did you stay quiet that whole time? Souji asked.

I'd prefer not to talk to my daughter. Like I said, my last experiences in her home dimension were not pleasant. And I personally don't agree with some of her beliefs, Izanagi said. Souji got what Izanagi meant. The belief the Fall could be stopped like that. Souji turned toward Yuugi.

"Let's follow them and make sure they don't get lost or something," Souji said.

[mugenginga]

Atem allowed Souji to answer. Fact was, he was thinking about going for a walk. Thinking back, that had never been something he'd been allowed to do. As Pharaoh, they didn't like taking their eyes off him. Heir to the throne as well. Before, he'd been in the Puzzle and only able to go where Yuugi went. He needed to cool down somewhere seperate from his Partner. He noted Amaterasu turn around even before Souji finished. Yuugi blinked as she did so. They hadn't told her where the apartments were, did she know...?

Yuugi nodded and ran forward before Amaterasu and Issun could reach a corner. Atem gave an unreadable look towards Yuugi and turned towards Souji. He'd move forward when the silver haired teenager did so.