By Aiko Hotaru

I don't own Yu-Gi-Oh! But Maat and the cards I create are mine. I also don't own SM either. CHOW!

Yami Yugi shook his head, a thousand tears threatening to fall. "You left…you had to see by cousin, Prince Rapsies, to ask him to give me away as one would say. When you left, they came…." Maat bit her lip, fresh memories starting to open their way into her heart. "I can…I can never forgive you!" she turned to run, but Yami grabbed tightly to her arm. "Tell me! Don't lock me up…." He begged, tears were falling from his eyes now. "If you ever loved me…please tell me…" He whispered, kneeling upon the ground, his touch more than gentile. She looked at the ground, the memories filling her eyes, flashing before her as she recalled that fateful day…

"It was the season before the hot one. It was just warming up to the high temperatures again. You went to speak with Prince Rapsies over the terms of him and his elder brothers, Moking and Kaiba coming to the marriage. It left me alone in the palace of the Northern Kingdom with the Dark Magician, Succubus Knight, Harpies, and the rest…. I was fine…until…" She stopped, a memory dancing in her mind eye. She could see the other monsters. The evil monsters that had come with the golden eyed demon man. The man weakened her, then entrapped and tortured. She couldn't say the tortures, the pains…they were still fresh in her mind. "I died that day! No one around, the monsters sealed away because of a freaky guy! Everything in ruins…." She cried, hugging Yami Yugi tightly.

Yami was shocked at her sudden boldness to hug him, her sudden change of heart, but did little to fight it. He wrapped his arms about her waist and allowed her the chance to cry. "Maat…forgive me…I beg you…" He whispered slightly, as she sobbed. "If I could…I would have changed that fate…but…I had to seal away the Duel Monsters….I had to!" He felt her stiffen. "Yes. I know that. But it was too late. Too late to save Rapsies! Too late for Moking and Kaiba! Too late for me!" He heard her moan. He sighed. "I…." He stopped, he had no right to hold her in this way. To hug this beauty was a sin of Rah. He'd die and her namesake would kill him as well. Pushing back, he looked into her teary violet eyes. "Maat…forgive me…" He whispered again. She began to shake her head, "I beg you…" He came forward, his nose almost touching hers. "Please…" He whispered. Her eyes closed tightly, as if expecting a slap of some kind. "Maat…I beg your forgiveness…" He stated in a soft tone before coming forth. His lips touched hers gently in a kiss of soft regret and sorrow.

The kiss seemed to last forever for both parties. But as it occurred, Maat's silk dress disappeared, leaving her in Hotaru's clothes. Her hair slowly unraveled as soft milky colored light took her. When the two parted, Maat fell against Yami's chest. "Yama…" The girl whispered. "Maatana…Maat…I love you…" She heard before unconsciousness took her captive.

TBC…