This is something random I've had floating around in my head ever since the Orichalcos era. I wrote it down, but as usual, never got it typed up till I came across a similar one in the wonderful world of Yu-Gi-Oh! fanfics; this finally beat into my brain that if I wanted people to actually read my stories, I had to make them available. Sooo…here it is. Enjoy!
Disclaimer: I do not own Yu-Gi-Oh!
Forgive Me, I Did Not See
It had been two days since the legendary Atlantis had returned to its rest beneath the waves. They had come through so much - joy and despair, separation and reunion. They had fought their most epic battle, and survived. What most did not realize was that they had not come through relatively unscathed, as may have been the case in other situations. Two of them were still coping with the after-effects of the entire terrible experience.
Yugi lay in bed, arms folded behind his head as he absently watched the moonlight filtering through the skylight window of his room. For the thousandth time, he mentally retraced the events of the past few weeks. Some of it still hurt to think about - Yami's betrayal in using the Seal of Orichalcos, the sacrifice he himself had made to save his counterpart, and later, the duel between them…Yugi felt his eyes grow moist, and he hut them tightly. Now he regretted those hateful words he had had uttered, no matter how needful they had been. It was the act, not the intent, that Yami had understood, and Yugi knew he had hurt his partner deeply. He could hear his own voice, saying spitefully, "The last thing I need is your pity, Pharaoh!" Even then, he had felt Yami's shock at his words.
Sensing that his other self was reflecting on the same thought, Yugi opened his eyes and levered himself up slightly. Yami, in spirit form, was seated at his desk, also gazing out at the star-strewn night sky. Yugi opened his mouth to speak, but before he could begin, Yami did so.
"It feels strange, doesn't it? To be finally free of our most challenging adversaries."
Yugi nodded in thoughtful agreement. "Mmm. But we're not done yet; we still have to find your memories."
"I hope I'll be able to do better this time." Yami's voice was soft.
"Pharaoh, that wasn't your fault!"
"It was, Yugi. I appreciate your concern, but I cannot deny the truth. You tried to stop me, yet I did not heed your warnings. I was consumed by my own power - power I realized, too late, that I did not have." His amethyst eyes were deep and remorseful as he looked at Yugi. "Why did you do it? Why did you not let me face the consequences of my actions?"
Yugi could feel the other's pain, and decided to tell the truth. He sighed heavily. "Well, the blunt, honest truth is, I'm more expendable than you are. The world lost me, and we still won; if the world had lost you…Dartz would probably have taken control." He looked down uncomfortably. "Actually…I'm the one who should be apologizing. After everything I said to you…during our duel…it must have killed you to hear that from me."
Yami nodded, not speaking.
Yugi couldn't take this anymore. Here he was, calmly discussing what went wrong, when all he really wanted to do was scream out his feelings. Instaed, he simply broke down, sobbing. A moment later, Yami was sitting beside him, his arm around Yugi's shaking shoulders.
"I'm sorry, Pharaoh," Yugi cried softly.
Yami drew him into a close embrace. "I know. I'm sorry, too."