YGOTOBER Day 8: Festival
Okay so like this wasn’t suppose to be this depressing. But it did end up like that and I will try my best to not make them this upsetting again! Sorry guys! Enjoy!
The Obon Festival had returned and for the first time, Yugi was not looking forward to it. Usually he would get a lantern ready for his dad, usually he would be celebrating the linage his dad left with him. The Muto name and that one day he would see his dad once again. But this year, this year, Yugi was not in the mood to celebrate his dad, or his linage. No this year, Yugi wanted to just sit in his room and cry, because this was the first fall and Obon where his best friend was truly dead. "Why does it hurt so much?" Yugi asked out loud clutching his chest. "I mean, I have really great days. I almost forget the pain, then when I am here, in our room." Yugi sighed looking around. "I get reminded that you are actually gone."
A knock came on the door. "Yugi?" Solomon, Yugi's grandfather called out.
"Yes?" Yugi wiped his eyes and face, making sure the tear stains were gone.
"Can I come in?" Solomon asked.
"You can come in." He said once he was satisfied with how he looked.
Solomon had a box and a sad smile on his face when he entered the room. "How ya doing?" He asked his grandson.
"I'm fine." Yugi gave a fake smile.
"You can't lie to me, my boy. I've known you for seventeen years." He placed the box on Yugi's deck and stood in front of him.
Yugi sighed and gave a small smile. "I know, grandpa." He looked up at his grandfather. "I'm just missing him today."
"The Obon is reminding you, correct?" Yugi just nodded. "I figured as much, that's why I brought you this." He pointed towards the desk.
"What is that?" Yugi asked, standing up and walking over to the box that was placed on his desk.
"It's stuff to make a lantern." Solomon smiled as he pulled somethings out of the box.
"I don't want to make one for dad."
"It's not for your father. It's for Atemu." Solomon pulled out a book. "This is what I use to help me translate heiroglyphics, I figured you could use it to write things for him, in Egyptian."
Tears were on the corners of Yugi's eyes, he looked inside and noticed that there was picures of Yugi and his friends, the Millenium Puzzle, construction paper, and colored pencils. "Grandpa." He looked at the elder. "You think he would like one?"
"I do." Solomon nodded.
The tears fell from his eyes as he hugged his grandfather tightly. "Thank you."
Solomon held Yugi close, even though it wouldn't take the pain away or bring Atemu back, it helped Yugi.
That night Yugi worked long and hard on making a lantern that would be perfect to send off at the festival, he worked late into the night and fell asleep at his desk. He awoke the next morning and continued to work on it. He wanted to make sure it was perfect for Atemu, perfect for the one he missed the most. Finally around two in the afternoon, he finished. The lantern was shapped like a pyramid, with a small basket on the bottom, to make sure it floated and could have a candle in it. Around the pyramid shaped lantern he had pinned a picture of himself, a picture of his friends, and some Millenium Puzzles he made out of construction paper. He wrote his name and Atemu's in heiroglyphics and also pinned it on the lanlord. Finally he needed to start on the note and between reading the book and what he remembered from the Pharaoh's memories, he could manage to write it in the heiroglyphics.
Come night fall, Yugi had gotten dressed in his kimono and met up with his friends, keeping the lantern in a box. "Hey Yugi!" Tea greeted him. "You look nice today."
"Thanks, you do too." He noticed she wore a pink kimono with a white sash that wrapped around her waist perfectly, showing off all her curves.
"You got a lantern?" She asked him.
"I do."
"Your dad would be so proud of the man you became." Tristan added.
"Thanks, but it's not for my dad this year." Yugi smiled softly.
"Who then?" Joey asked confused.
"Atemu."
Everyone's mouth dropped and they looked at Yugi with sadness in their eyes. "Wow." Tea finally said.
"It's been five months and you've been so strong Yugi." Joey placed his hands on Yugi's shoulder. "I know Atemu is proud of you."
"I know he is and if he is here, with us right now. He would be standing right by my side." Yugi smiled thinking of the warmth that once filled his heart and mind, though it wasn't there anymore, it felt nice to try and remember it.
The streets leading to the pond was filled with bright colors of orange, yellow, and red. Signs for food, festival games, and vendors selling items you can send off with your lanterns, made it look like a real festival. In Japan they didn't mourn the dead during this time, the dead came back, to visit, and now it was time to guide their way back home with the lanterns. Once Yugi and his friend arrived at the pond, Yugi pulled out his lantern. "Oh Yugi!" Tea gasped. "It's beautiful."
"Thank you." Yugi smiled looking at the pyramid lantern once more. "Do you think he'll like it?"
"He'll love it." Tristan smiled, wiping the one tear from his eye.
Joey handed him a lighter and smiled. "Time to help him home."
"Again." Yugi sighed as he grabbed the lighter.
"It's okay, he'll be back."
Yugi lit the candle and placed the lantern in the water. He reached in his pocket and smiled when he pulled out the letter. "I wrote this for him and hopefully I wrote it right." He chuckled lightly as he pinned it to the lantern and finally he let it go. "I miss you." Yugi stood up and watched as the lantern took off into the water, joining the rest of the lanterns that were in the water already. "Until next time, Atemu."
