duel 4. ( video ) If my armor breaks I'll fuse it back together

[puzzlingly]

「Atem comes up on the screen, looking more than exhausted, with big bags under his usually fiery eye(s), the Millennium Eye in his left socket, however, keeping its cold, golden appearance, imperturbable as ever. He does not look at the screen then he starts speaking, his normal eye, empty, as he looks at something else. A someone, in fact, but he will not show Kain's body on the feed, however, it would be terribly disrespectful.」

My friends, my comrades, hear me out–! 「He starts, his voice nearly broken, but starts taking strength after a few words.」 Most of you don't know me, but I already think of you as my friends, as my family! We all are, in the end, in this together! Together, until the very end, until we are victorious.

「He finally looks at the screen, a little fire showing in his eyes at last, his words firmer, passionate as he goes on.」

And I assure you, we will be, because I believe in every one of you!

I know it hurts, I know it's hard, that this is not your fight, but they've made it so! You will rest your tired bones and your tired souls when they are all gone. We will mourn those who haven't been returned to us when the time comes. Because–they will be back.

You have fought for yourselves, for those you love, for a future that has yet to come, for Hope and the hope in your heart.

And that's why I come to you today, to plead you to give me your hope, your rage and your sadness, the love for those you're fighting for — give me everything you've got and let us give one last stand! Only one more, I promise you — send the Null this message, let them know that we are not going down! Not today, not ever! Because we are in this together!

Just a little more, my friends... It will be over, soon.

「That's it, that is all he says, one last look at Kain's body before him and he brings the feed to an end.」


( private: Law )

... Tell me you're still alive...

「Unlike his previous message to the whole Network in which he seemed to gather strength as he went on, he looks absolutely crushed.

Why Law, though? Why not Delmar, why not Lup or even Bakura, why not the rest of his friends? Because Atem has witnessed two of the strongest men he's ever known, die right in front of him...」

Comments

[so_dark_a_road]

[ Quietly. ] We are in this together, as you say. And we will either win it or all die together.

[ Seeing the Eye. ] What the hell is that thing doing in your head?

[puzzlingly]

「Not as quietly:」 Curufin, I am not letting anyone else die, I am not!...

「Oh, hadn't you seen his lovely new eye?」

The Eye? Just an old thing... Don't worry about it.

[so_dark_a_road]

All you can do is your best. Who died? [ Because Atem's cry from the heart doesn't sound general, but personal. ]

[ Nope! Not since the Dreamwalker episode. But in the dream, Atem didn't have the Eye, the old priest did. It gifted its wearer with the alarming power of summoning a person's ka to emerge. ]

An old thing, right. [ A snicker that is reminiscent of the bandit Curufn in the dream. ] Now what would you want with that ancient relic, Atem? Will it give you the power to embarrass a Null by showing it its own soul?

[puzzlingly]

... A friend, Kain.

「The a bit of surprised look as he drives a hand over the Eye.」

... Oh, you remember the Items... I forgot. It just... it's... 「He shakes his head.」 I was never able to see into them, I don't know if they'd have souls or not. I don't think they would.

「Sorry Curufin, he's not capable of joking right now.」

[so_dark_a_road]

Kain Highwind? [ Not happy to hear that! ] Kain. . . he's a friend of mine.

Yes, I do remember. But who knows if a Null can be considered a being with a soul or not? I'd think that if you tried to see, all you'd see is their motherboard. [ Can't help laughing a little, bitterly. ]

[ Doesn't expect Atem to be able to joke. Curufin just does it because it's a six-hundred-year-old habit. ]

[ More gently. ] Are you all right?

[puzzlingly]

Yeah, him. They killed him... I couldn't do anything for him.

「Bitter laugh is okay, he gives the slightest tired chuckle at the thought.」

I don't know. It doesn't matter. We need to stop them, there must not be many left?

[so_dark_a_road]

He'll be back. All we have to do is keep the Null from getting to Hope, and we'll see Kain again. He's a helluva tough guy, and one who is utterly dedicated to protecting others. He'll survive this death. [ Curufin hopes so, anyway. ]

[ But he's a little bit pleased to hear that chuckle. ]

It does matter. It matters to me, anyway. But we must stop the Null, as you say. I don't know how many are left. I'm not counting anymore, I'm just killing.

[puzzlingly]

I know... I know. 「He's convinced they can do this. He must be! Cannot show any weakness right now. 」

I'll be there as soon as ... I will guard his body until Hope takes him. That's... how it works, right?

[so_dark_a_road]

[ There is some point in focusing on your strength at a time like this. Curufin cares about how Atem feels, and he knows it is traumatizing to see a friend die and be able to do nothing. But he won't insist that Atem deal with it now. For now, they both need strength. ]

[ Quietly ] Yes, that's how it works. And to be his guard is a good way to honor to a brave friend who has given his all for the sake of others.

I will see you on the battlefield whenever you get there. And don't worry. We will prevail.

[puzzlingly]

「Traumatizing...? Is it how his grief looks like? Sorry Curufin, he sees that.
This stupid Eye. It's a double edged sword.」

... Yeah.

[so_dark_a_road]

[ Oops, THE EYE! "Traumatizing" is a word that Curufin picked up from his modern-day mortal friends. But what he means by it is the grating misery that is experienced every time one breathes, the wash of tears that may or may not be held back. Grief is never just a word to him. ]

. . . [ Not sure what to say. ]

You take care now.

[puzzlingly]

You too.

「And he's gone.」