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Maximilian lay calmly in the darkness. The bitter taste of painkillers still lingered on his dry swollen tongue but there was nothing to be done about that. He was immune to any poison his doctors could come up with. The pain still ached along his every vein and made him dizzy with exhaustion. If he were not already blind he realized he would have blacked out several times in the last few minutes alone. But now there was only a disorienting pause in his thoughts when the pain came jolting in. His body was far too weary to react any further.
And so I die again, he thought to himself. He had felt deaths fingers brush his cheek so often in this life, but there were dozens of past lives he could sense had ended for him in worse ways than this one.
Think back to the mind that thinks, look to the one before memories, and the one before that, and the one before that, ...who is it?
The answer was always the same for him. He was always the same, through the ages he had always met death alone.
He indulged himself in a small moment of regret. He wished there was more he could do for little Yugi and his regal spirit half Yami. The injury he had felt in Yugi as he left the room was nearly enough to crush his heart. Knowing what Yugi felt was worse than any other suffering Pegasus could endure. The poor boy was devastated and far too young to be facing such a situation.
No one should have to see this...
His own weakness and treachery disgusted him. He hoped sincerely that Yugi could have a happy life, royal destiny or not. Some vague memory dispelled any doubts he had for Yugis future. That spirit of his, that long dead Pharaoh, he would protect Yugi better than anyone could.
The inky darkness grew thicker upon his thoughts and he quieted his mind to listen. He lay still, not being able to move at all, feeling nothing. He could not tell where his limbs were, or if he was still sprawled against the soft pillows. He did not know if his head was laid back or was resting on his cheek. He listened and tried to feel something, anything. The pain was suddenly gone! But so was the throbbing of his heart. He couldn't tell if he was still breathing...
There, a movement, as tiny as the beating of a moths wings.
No, not free yet. Not yet...my darling Cecilia,.. I won't be long...
Her name was like a prayer to him. He let the heavy blackness take his care worn mind.
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