A/N: Before you go on with the story, I would just like to thank the following people who reviewed the last chapter. I swear I was touched with your reviews. Thank you especially to cherry fantasy, Yami Val, and miyabi-aoi.

And just so you guys would know, I was listening to a lot of sentimental (not to mention heartbreaking) songs lately. Thus, reason behind this angsty chapters… hehe…

Chapter 12: I'm Here For You

Mahado's death shook the former pharaoh greatly. Especially after finding out what the High Priest's surprise was. As it turns out, Mahado was going to propose to him that night but he was caught in heavy traffic, his reason for being late.

It was unfair to him. How can the gods despise him so? After finally admitting especially to himself that he was in-love with Mahado, they would just strike the former high priest down dead? Was it truly his fate to be so god damn lonely all the time? He promised before that he would never trust anyone with his heart, he promised, but he failed to keep it. Where was he now? Was he not betrayed again?

"I'm sorry, Mana," he whispered to the grieving girl. It was already an hour after Mahado's burial and only the two of them were left in the cemetery. Mana met his solemn gaze and tenderly, she whispered back, "Thank you, Yami. I'm glad my brother met you in this life." Tears welled on Yami's eyes as they stood there, consoling each other, knowing both of them were greatly affected by the former High Priest's death.

"My soul is your eternal servant, pharaoh..."

"Yami, we're going to the mall, do you want to come?" Yugi asked over the closed door. They were worried; the former pharaoh has locked himself in his room for days, refusing to see anyone, eat or leave the room.

"You go on without me, aibou, I'll be fine," Yami answered, his voice slightly muffled.

"Okay Yami, do you want me to get you anything?" Yugi asked again, this time his voice lower and softer.

"No, thank you, aibou," was the spirit's reply.

Yugi sighed. Why can't things go back to how they were before?

"Mana, what are you doing here?"

"High Priest Mahado was calling me in my sleep, my pharaoh. I only wanted to help him," the apprentice answered.

"So you had the same dream, too. Am I right?" Atemu asked. Mana eyed the pharaoh in confusion. They had the same dream? Of the High Priest in danger?

Suddenly, the stone tablet containing Mahado's KA monster, Illusion Magician, started to crack as light emitted from the tablet. They knew exactly what was going on.

Minutes later, a white steed from the stable galloped its way to the late pharaoh's tomb, its riders worried over the safety of their friend/High Priest.

There were six hooded men by the blocked entrance to the tomb, cornering the lone soldier who was lucky enough to survive, unlike his companions. Atemu took the sword from the ground as the said men charged at him. With one slash, their leader fell from his steed and the pharaoh turned around to face them.

Just when he was about to meet the men's attack, Atemu paused, hearing something crack. The stone tablet hovering above them was ready to fall... and its unsuspecting victim was no other than the naive Mana who was trying (and failing miserably) to break the rock that was blocking the entrance into tiny pieces.

"Mana!" Atemu called as he practically bade his horse to Mana's direction, just in time to save the girl from the tablet. There before them, was a new monster that oddly, strangely, looks like the Illusion Magician but more familiar looking.

"My soul is your eternal servant, my pharaoh..."

It was Mahado! "He gave his life for me... for Egypt," Atemu whispered, still unbelieving that his friend was dead. Hooves were heard from behind but the Yugioh did not consider the newcomers a threat, as he did not turn around to meet the newcomers' gazes. He was busy looking at the Dark Magician's proud form, knowing it was his friend.

"Atemu..." It was Seth, his cousin, trying to catch his attention but to no avail. The pharaoh was still stunned by the fact that his High Priest was dead and was already a monster.

"Atemu..."

"Yami!"

Yami sat upright, realizing he had fallen asleep. "Yami! Yami, open the door!" The pharaoh groaned, burying his head under his pillow.

"Leave me alone, Seto," he answered back. But the knocks on the door didn't cease, nor was the CEO's efforts to bring him out of the room.

"Damn it, Yami, will you open the door? We have to talk," Seto replied, his tone slightly harsher but softer.

Yami sat upright again, noticing the CEO's honest (and stupid mistake). He groaned again.

"YAMI!"

"The door's open, you idiot!" the irritated pharaoh answered. He could sense the CEO gaping at the door in shock, obviously realizing his mistake. Honestly, if the situation at hand weren't serious enough, the pharaoh would have laughed. But this was a serious matter and the CEO obviously didn't want to leave him alone.

Seto ignored the pharaoh's ranting and opened the door, seeing the Yugioh facing the wall. "Yami?" he asked softly as he slowly made his way to the bed. No response.

"Yami, talk to me," he said, sitting at the edge of the bed, hoping the former pharaoh would face him at least. And said pharaoh did, his eyes brimmed with tears.

"What do you want to talk about, Seto?" Yami asked, although innocent it means the CEO could still trace annoyance in the pharaoh's voice.

"Anything, anything you want," the CEO answered.

Yami sat up and faced the executive, "I don't want to talk about anything, please understand. I just want to be alone, Seto," he said.

Seto took in the pharaoh's appearance. Apparently, the Yugioh weren't eating much (he probably weren't eating at all) not to mention he didn't get enough sleep at night with the eyebags evident on his face.

"Are you alright, Yami? You don't look so good," the CEO said, his concern greatly laced in his voice. The pharaoh was his first friend; the first person aside from Mokuba who understands him truly, therefore the pharaoh deserves his respect, friendship and concern.

"I'm fine," Yami answered, his annoyance already returned.

"You sure? Why don't we go out for a while? You definitely look like you need some fresh air," Seto answered.

Yami finally snapped. "Will you buzz off, Seto? This is hard enough as it is, I don't want people fussing over me as if I'm some pathetic loser, alright?" he said.

"Well this wouldn't be so hard for you if you just talked to me, I thought that's what friends are for, you told me that," Seto answered intelligently.

"And what would you say? How would you react if I told you it was my fault Mahado died? What would you say if I told you it was because of me Mana lost her brother? Tell me, how exactly would you help?" Yami erupted.

'He's blaming himself, I should have thought about that before!' Seto thought.

"Look, Yami… it's not your fault Mahado died—"

"Killed."

" – Fine, killed. You didn't know they were planning on doing that on anyone that night so don't blame yourself—"

"If I weren't stupid enough to at least called Mahado and asked him where he was then I should have known he'd be late and I wouldn't have left earlier than usual. Whatever angle you look at it, Seto, I'm to blame," Yami interjected again.

Seto shook his head inwardly. Trust in the pharaoh to act so stubborn. This would take longer than what was expected, he thought.

"It's. Not. Your. Fault."

"Yes, it is."

"I know you like arguing with me but this certainly is not the time for you to act like a child. One, everything that happened that night was not your fault, you didn't know. Period. Two, look at yourself, if Mahado saw you, what would he say? He gave up his life for you and now you're brooding here… I hate saying this, Yami, but you're acting as if you don't appreciate what he did!"

Yami didn't respond, the CEO's words hitting him hard. Tears filled his eyes. Seto, out of instincts, turned to look at the pharaoh. Finding out the Yugioh's current state, the Kaiba Corp. executive pulled him into an embrace.

"I'm sorry… I just… I don't like seeing you like this, please forgive me," Seto said.

Yami shook his head, "No, don't be sorry. I was wrong… I shouldn't have acted that way… I just wished it didn't happen… I'm in-love with him, Seto, and it hurts… it just hurts," he whispered, burying his head in the other's chest as his tears started to fall. He failed to notice the dejected look in his friend's eyes.

Seto cradled his friend for god knows how long; they just sat there for minutes uncounted. One sobbing and fighting down any remaining tears while the other was contemplating on his importance to the other.

"I'm sorry for calling you an idiot earlier. I didn't mean it," Yami whispered, his head still buried in Seto's chest, "Thank you for being such a stubborn jackass for me, Seto. I'm glad you're my friend."

"Ha-ha… continue that and I might tickle you," Seto answered back, appreciating the fact that the former pharaoh was trying to cheer himself up again.

"I'm sorry for troubling you, Seto," the pharaoh said ever so quietly, knowing the CEO heard still.

"It's alright, I'm your friend, that's why I'm here," Seto answered, "Mokuba's birthday's next week… I'm inviting you, if you want to go," he said. Yami looked up and broke the embrace.

"I'm not sure… I really don't want to—"

"Come on, Yami… it will be fun, I promise," Seto insisted. Yami looked at the CEO unsurely, seeing how the CEO really wanted him to be there.

"All right… but I don't really know if I should take that from someone who works 24/7," he answered, teasing the CEO at the same time, hoping to alleviate the tension in the room.

Yami watched his friend start the Ferrari's engine and speed away. Mokuba's birthday was next week, Seto told him. Mahado would definitely want to go… if only he hadn't died. Yami shook his head to banish those thoughts.

Mahado gave his life for him and it's his obligation to make sure he doesn't waste it away, Seto made him realize that. Yami shook his head again, what is going on with him? Mahado just died; the person he loves just died for him and now he's thinking of his friend?

'But Seto's more than just a friend to you, isn't he, Yami?' his mind asked him. Yami groaned in frustration.

"Seto will always be here for me, he told me that, because he's my friend. Nothing would ever change the fact that I love Mahado and Seto is my friend, nothing," he told himself before leaving the room.

A/N: I just realized I'm making Yami weak here but please understand, if the person you love just died because of you, how would you feel? I think his reaction to Mahado's death is natural for a human being. But still, if you believed otherwise, it's fine with me. Coming up next: Mokuba's birthday. I wonder what will happen there?

Oh yeah, by the way, about what Yami said before this chapter ended? Well, I'm warning you already, things would be really confusing (I think) in the next chapters.