A/N: Well this is it, the last chapter of Yugi's Depression. I only wish that it received more reviews. Stay tuned for the upcoming sequel! And also, Joey doesn't return in the finale chapter, but will make his return in Chapter 1 of the sequel. And in Rafael's story he was 12 when he received Eatos and then 15 when he first met Dartz. I hope you enjoyed reading this story as much as I did writing it! One last thing, the island part of Raf's story will be covered in the sequel rather than this one.
Last Time
Once Yami descended the last step, he ran over to Rafael. "You don't know how happy I am to see you, Rafael…" Yami answered happily.
"Don't worry, I know you need help." Rafael answered calmly.
Yami looked puzzled, before he realized that Rafael's Guardian monsters probably told him he needed help. He smiled in understanding before shaking his head. "No it's not me that needs help, Rafael." He explained.
This time Rafael looked puzzled before he spoke. "You don't need my help?" He asked, bewildered.
Yami nodded. "Right, but I have a very close friend that does." He stated.
"Who?" The muscular, Guardian duelist inquired.
"Just follow me." Yami instructed as he re-ascended the stairs.
"Fine." He answered sharply, climbing the stairs, following just behind Yami.
Then Yami slowly opened the door, Rafael entering ahead of him.
Yugi slowly looked up, and his eyes widened in joy and for what seemed like the first times in weeks, he smiled a really happy smile upon seeing the bury, muscular duelist…
End Flashback
Yami smiled as well, seeing that Yugi was finally smiling again and his depression was probably over now, at last.
Tea, seeing the boys probably needed time alone, exited the room going downstairs and sitting on the couch.
Rafael's eyes locked on Yugi, and he gasped in surprise. "Hey…you're that kid I captured instead of the Pharaoh…" He said, astonished.
"Yeah, that's right. I let the Seal of Orichalcos take my soul instead of Yami's." Yugi calmly explained.
Rafael sighed and approached the small duelist. "Sorry kid, I…well I…wasn't exactly in the right mind back then." He apologized.
"It's all right, Rafael. Don't worry yourself, I'm fine." Yugi assured the larger, older duelist.
"How can you forgive me so easily, kid?" Rafael asked, stunned.
"Because I know it wasn't your fault. You really didn't want the Pharaoh's soul did you, Rafael?" Yugi queried, getting a strange sort of insight into the man's soul.
Rafael gasped in shock, as he staggered backwards out of surprise. "How did you know?! Tell me!" He shouted, more surprised than angry.
Before Yugi could answer, Yami intervened before a fight could erupt between the 2 of them. "Calm down, Rafael. What he's trying to say is that he knew the real you wouldn't want to take my soul, right aibou?" Yami asked the smaller child.
Yugi nodded, smiling.
Rafael sighed. "Sorry. Anyway, what's your name, kid?" He asked as the 2 hadn't been officially introduced before.
Yugi smiled at him. "I'm Yugi. Nice to officially meet you, Rafael." He said cheerfully.
"Heh…you remind me of my little brother, Sonja…He's a lot like you." Rafael replied, with the slightest hint of a smile.
"Really? How is he doing?" Yugi chirped, not realizing of Rafael's story.
"I…don't know." Rafael answered, tears suddenly filling his eyes before they ran down his cheeks.
Immediately, Yugi's face changed to show deep concern. "What's wrong, Rafael?" He asked softly.
"Long story, Yugi. Here, take a look at these." Rafael answered, pulling out his cards of Backup Gardna, Guardian Grarl and Guardian Eatos. Each of them were heavily bent and worn, along with numerous discolored spots on them, due to the fact that Rafael had used them so many times and because they were very old.
"Whoa! Your cards are almost completely worn out!" Yugi exclaimed.
Rafael nodded, before he spoke up again. "I've played these cards hundreds of times, and even though their falling apart, I'll never replace them! I've sworn to protect them the way they protected me! Cuz 12 years ago, these monsters saved my life!" Rafael stated, a lot of pride in his voice.
"Saved your life? But how, Rafael?" Yugi asked, curious.
Rafael sighed. "When I was a kid, I thought nothing could ever hurt me. My life was perfect…but then Dartz told me that nothing's fair and no one gets what they deserve. And of course like a goddamn idiot, I believed him that life was sad and pathetic…but it's not, Yugi. I oughta know. I used to have everything a kid could ever want…until one day, when everything was taken away from me by that bastard Dartz…"
"What happened to you, Rafael?" Yugi asked, concerned for Yami's former enemy.
Rafael wiped away a few tears as he continued. "After Julian and Sonja gave me Eatos for my 12th birthday, something went wrong."
Yugi's eyes widened in worry. "What went wrong, Rafael?"
Rafael sighed and walked over, sitting down on Yugi's bed, as he'd grown tired of standing.
In response, Yugi sat down on the floor beside Yami, both boys sitting cross-legged on the floor, waiting for Rafael to continue.
"The ship we were on was being driven straight into a tidal wave and there was no turning back. Next thing I knew I was reaching out to save Sonja…I couldn't do it. That was the last time I saw my family…" Rafael finished, the tears coming once again.
Yugi ran to the older duelist, embracing him in a gentle hug.
Rafael gladly returned it, realizing that Yugi truly cared about him as did the Pharaoh.
"Then what happened, Rafael?" Yugi asked gently.
Rafael chuckled softly. "I'd rather save that for another day, Yugi." He replied, smiling at him.
Yugi smiled back, wiping away Rafael's tears.
"So, anyway Pharaoh…" Rafael began.
"Yes, Rafael?" Yami asked in reply.
"Who is it here that needs my help?" The Guardian duelist asked.
"Yugi does." Yami retorted quietly.
Rafael nodded, turning to Yugi. "What did you need me for?" He asked gently.
Yugi smiled shyly. "Because I missed you." He answered.
"Me? But why?" Rafael asked confused.
"I'm not sure." Yugi responded.
Rafael smiled, getting a slight idea of what the little one wanted. "You want to be friends, don't you?" He asked, smiling.
Yugi nodded, shaking the older duelist's hand as a sign of their friendship.
Rafael smirked playfully. "So how old are ya? 8?" He guessed, even though he was way off.
"I'll be 18 on my next birthday!" Yugi growled indignantly. He hated being thought of being really young just because he was really short.
"Seriously?" Rafael asked Yami in disbelief.
Yami nodded, chuckling. "Yes. His birthday is in June." He replied.
"Damn! He sure doesn't look 18. I mean I'm at least a foot and a half taller than the little man." Rafael replied.
Yugi glared at the Guardian duelist.
Rafael chuckled, still teasing. "It's true." He replied.
"How's the weather up there?" Yugi snickered, making fun of Rafael's height in that because he was easily over 6 foot, he could see the weather when he was outside.
"Oh, real funny." Rafael muttered.
"Yeah, I thought so." Yugi laughed.
Yami chuckled, heading down the stairs to where Tea had been waiting.
"So how'd it go? Is Yugi ok now?" She asked anxiously.
Yami smiled happily and nodded. "He's finally out of it, thanks to Rafael."
Tea smiled happily back. "I'm glad, Pharaoh." She said.
"So am I Tea. So am I." Yami answered.
"Rafael?" Yugi asked, calming down from his laughter from his playful teasing at the Guardian duelist.
"Yeah?" He asked back.
"Think we'll ever be more than just friends? Like how I am with Joey?" Yugi asked hopefully.
Rafael nodded. "Someday we will."
Yugi grinned. "I look forward to that."
Rafael grinned back. "So do I, little man." He teased.
Both boys laughed, finally happy for the first time in weeks…
THE END!!
