A/N: My first in my series of vignettes. (Note- in case you're wondering, I got the idea from Scribbler with her "As the Deep as the Sky" fic. Only, there are key differences, I think. For one- I can't write within the time span of only one song. I'm really slow and it's simply not done. So I had to put it on repeat until it was remotely finished. I made it short on purpose- trying to fit within the character of a vignette)

Disclaimer: It's a moot point. I do not own.

Warnings: Season 5 Spoliers. This is not Yaoi. The devotion Yami feels here does not go as far as a romantic feel. For future reference. There may be suggestive material in future chapters. Not this one, however. Oh, and my taste in music might be different from any normal standard of taste. Please do not criticize. You're suppose to put music player on shuffle, which I did.

Song: Sweet Sacrifice- Evanescence

Character: Pharaoh Atem/Yami

He was nothing but a man. A man who had been pharaoh of Egypt, saved the world from total destruction and chaos four times, and he was a man who had laughed in the face of fear many a countless times.

Well, perhaps he didn't laugh. Fear wasn't a thing to be laughed it. It was to be respected, definitely not laughed at and definitely not feared of. A fear of fear only caused a person more distress than was necessary.

All the same, he had risked his life for the good of humanity many times without even a single thought of his own well-being. He couldn't allow fear to even simply penetrate his own vocabulary. Such things would only prove to distract him from his present course.

And at the moment, his present course was to duel Yugi and lose. That way, he would be able to enter the afterlife finally after being locked away for five millennia. It was the right path. It was the only path. Otherwise he would have to repeat the whole process over again. So a final reprieve of all that he endured should be enough as a reward to his deeds.

But somehow, it just didn't feel like enough.

Of course, his memory was still fuzzy of what happened in his original life. And though he still felt a strong bond between those close to him who were lost in the passage of time, he just didn't know any of them. So in the span of the past four years, the empty void that had plagued his heart over five thousand years was replaced with the kindness Yugi and his friends offered to him.

Him, an ancient pharaoh who was still just getting used to his birth name.

Atem watched as Yugi prepared his duel disk. The young boy, oblivious to the pharaoh's unwavering gaze, seemed to be so naïve about what was going on around him. He was confident he would win, just like Atem was sure he would, but even though it was destined for the pharaoh to return to the afterlife, what if, perhaps, if Atem didn't want to go?

The compassion Yugi had shown him over the past few years, he was sure, could not be replaced with anyone he would meet in this afterlife. After all, Yugi was one in a kind.

Atem didn't want to leave him. He wanted to stay by his side forever, protect when need be, and to be simply there for him when he needed him.

But, Atem knew that Yugi didn't need him anymore and that was why he had to go. Yugi had to face the world on his own, as many people do. This duel would be so much more than him returning to his final resting place. It would be a Rite of Passage for Yugi to adulthood.

Yugi didn't need him anymore. Maybe he wouldn't be ready to face that fact, but Yugi definitely didn't need Atem any longer. So, it was impertinent that he left. Besides, if Yugi needed any kind of support, consolation, or a simple shoulder to cry on, he had his friends. Friends that could stay by his side constantly. Friends that could stay in this world. Friends that could help Yugi whenever he needed it.

Atem couldn't help him any longer. He had done all he could so now it was his time to go. He knew that and he was ready.

But all the same, Atem would willingly sacrifice his immortal spirit in order to remain with Yugi forever.

But he knew that wouldn't help Yugi. Yugi needed to learn one final thing and that was to let go. To sacrifice one aspect of his life in exchange to gain another. And there were certainly more important things in life for Yugi than an ancient pharaoh. Yugi needed to learn that and he would when Atem left him here in the present world.

It was for Yugi's sake rather than for his own that Atem was going through this. Yugi needs this, he kept reminding himself.

And with all his talk of fear, Pharaoh Atem was afraid of never seeing Yugi again. So afraid, he found himself trembling violently and his eyes stinging with unshed tears.

A note: in the final episodes of their duel, I was a complete sap (like always) and crying my eyes out until they were red and sore. There was so much there that it still remains as one my favorite scenes to this day.

Review! I love reviews!

Nuit Songeur, out!