Chapter 2:

Joey, Tea, Tristan, and Duke sat around the table giving Yami worried looks, who, for his part, was staring down at the table avoiding their gazes. Tristan was standing, leaning against the counters, and asked, "So let me get this straight. That 'Seal of Orichalcos' thing infected you with some kind of virus? I thought it was just a duel monsters card."

Yami spoke but did not lift his head, "Duel Monsters is more than just a game. It was played in ancient times by sorcerers that used magic to summon monster spirits. That magic was infused with today's cards upon their creation."

"Ok. I understand that, but how can a card affect things outside of a duel?"

Duke shrugged, "Beats me. I'm lost."

Yami sighed, "I'm not sure, Tristan, but out of everything we've witnessed I doubt anythings impossible."

Tea voiced her thoughts, "We've see this kind of thing before, with cards affecting things outside a duel. This shouldn't come as any surprise."

Something dawned on Tristan, "Like when Bakura summoned those monsters into reality at duelist kingdom!" He hmmed a moment then spoke again, his voice taking on a worried tone, "That was some pretty crazy stuff... What will this mean for you then?"

Yami continued to avoid their eyes, "I'm not sure. Anything's possible. Given the nature of the seal there's no telling what might happen, but we can be certain it won't be good. Its possible I could go mad."

Joey punched the table, startling Yami; he lifted his head to look at Joey, who gave him the look that told him the Joey was worried an frustrated that he couldn't do anything to help. It was the look he had always given when he talked about how he couldn't help Serenity with her operation. In the end he had helped, but only because Yugi gave him the Duelist Kingdom prize money. It was the same look he got whenever one of his friends were sad. Now he stared at Yami with that look, knowing there was no way he could fix things. Seeing the startled look on his friend's face, he sat back down and ran his hand through his hair, "I'm sorry Yu-... Pharaoh. I didn't mean to startle you. You're going through enough right now."

Yami cast his gaze back down, "Yeah..."

His thoughts drifted back to Yugi as a silence passed around the group. He remembered the look on the boy's face, that disappointment in Yugi's eyes was an image that haunted him, chilling his bones and making him shudder. It was because he knew he'd been wrong to play the card. If he hadn't they still would have lost, but both of them would still be here. Yugi paid the ultimate price for his mistakes.

"Don't blame yourself. He choose this. It wasn't your fault."

"What?!" He exclaimed. Looking around, he was in his mind space now. It was dark here now. He was in the hall between his two minds. A bright green light shown from behind him. Turning around, he gasped at the sight of his door. The Seal of Orichalcos glowed on his door. Green lines of corruption spread out from it. Symbols glowed in random places along his walls. The voice that had spoken to him was melodic. It was sweet and calm and made him feel that way too. It seemed to resonate from everywhere at once, but was soft and caring at the same time.

"Who said that?" he asked, to nobody in particular, hoping it would answer him so he wouldn't be so alone here.

"Wake up." It said.

"Wait. Who are you?"

"Wake Up."

And with that he opened his eyes to reality. Yami looked up at his friends, their faces were a mix of worry and fear. What had happened? He was startled by their expressions, it mixed with his confusion and displayed itself clearly on his face.

Tea moved forward, like she wanted to hug him, but stopped and asked, "Pharaoh... Are you alright?"

Her question didn't register yet. All he said was, "What... happened?"

Duke piped in, "You went all wide-eyed and that Orichalcos thing appeared, then you closed your eyes and weren't responding to us... you weren't responding at all."

"We thought you weren't going to wake up." Tea admitted, blushing slightly at the concept of how foolish that thought was.

"I'm fine. I think I just need some rest." Yami said, hoping to drop the subject.

"Its late. We should all get some rest." Tristan nodded. Everybody agreed and they headed off the bed.

Yami lay there that night wondering why he hadn't told his friends about what had happened.

"Because you can't trust them." The voice was back. He was still in reality, but he could hear it as clearly as he could in the mind space. The others were fast asleep, so he replied to it, "What do you mean?"

"They're not your friends, Yami. They're his friends."

"Who's?"

"Yugi's. Can't you feel it? They don't like you. They don't like you because they blame you."

Yami replied with depressed silence to this statement.

"I don't blame you, Yami. It wasn't your fault."

"But... it was."

"No it wasn't. That foolish boy choose his fate. There was nothing you could do."

"I-I could have stopped him! But I didn't! I failed! I failed Yugi, his friends, and the world!" Yami shouted in rage, inciting the symbol to appear and fade once he'd calmed.

"You couldn't have stopped him. You've not failed, but if you continue on the path you're headed you will."

"How do I prevent it...? What path should I take?"

"Use the seal... Use it and capture souls. Redeem yourself."

"That seal is evil."

"No, Yami...The seal is the ultimate good. It will bring the the Great God back to Earth so that he may fix everything."

"But-"

"Hush now, Yami. You're tired, aren't you?"

"yes... Yes, I am."

"Then sleep."

"But... Who are you?"

"Sleep."