Really sorry this took so long, but i honestly had a hard time writing this. No idea why. Special thanks to my beta battousaisgirl16 for helping me write this chapter.

Enjoy :)

Chapter 52

To be honest, Yami didn't know what to expect. He wasn't sure what the card would do inside the seal, and at the moment it wasn't his biggest concern. It was hard enough to stay upright. Wind blew all around him pushing at him from all sides. What happened? He didn't expect this when he activated that card.

When he finally was able to look around he couldn't see the Seal or the rooftop. He found himself in what looked like a graveyard. Had he been knocked back into one of his memories? No, Rafael was still standing across from him looking as confused as Yami felt.

Voices came out of the fog around them. Yami looked around trying to pin point the source. The voice grew louder as two figures began to form in the distance.

"Rafael!" the voice continued to call.

"Cerys?" Rafael said.

The first of the figures came out of the fog. It wasn't Cerys but . . . Rafael? Yami blinked, but there were two Rafaels. The one from the fog was younger and was clearly upset about something. Past Rafael continued on, passing the present Rafael who looked confused as well, and finally stopped at some stones in the mist. Yami's stomach turned when he realized they were grave stones. Past Rafael stood in front of grave stones staring down at them.

"Rafael!" The second figure appeared from the fog revealing Cerys, also younger. She approached Past Rafael. "Are you alright?"

"Alright? How can anything be alright?" Past Rafael said. "I return and I find a world of people who don't care about anything except themselves."

"I know." Cerys stepped closer. "But not everyone is like that."

"Really? Who?"

"I'm not like them."

"One person doesn't excuse the rest of this world."

"I suppose not." Cerys said. "but there has to be something we can do."

"And have it come crashing down around us, like our lives. This isn't when we were children, Cerys. No matter what we do, this world is too far gone for us to fix it. Nothing lasts forever. Especially not lives."

"I know." Cerys said softly.

"I'd like to be alone Cerys, please."

Cerys hesitated, then stepped forward and gave him a hug.

"I will always be here for you, Rafael. I promise."

She walked away, glancing back often before she disappeared into the fog.

Past Rafael did look back towards her once, a slight smile tugging at the corner of his lips.

"You're both wrong."

Yami looked around to see Dartz emerge from the fog. Yami braced for an attack, but Dartz ignored him. He was also an image from the past.

"Oh." Rafael's confusion left his face. This part of the memory he remembered.

"Who are you?" Past Rafael said.

"I remember this." Rafael said. " This is the day Dartz revealed the truth to me."

Yami watched on as the past Rafael and Dartz talked together. Dartz repeatedly told Rafael life was cruel and the sooner he realized this then he could move on. The Past Rafael began to dig up the graves of his family members while Dartz over and over told him to embrace the darkness. This was finding truth? Of what? Yami grew more and more confused as he watched the scene before him.

Past Rafael emerged from the graves clutching two small skulls. The grief on his face was evident as he cradled the skulls in his arms.

"That's the truth." Rafael said. "I finally had the proof I needed that I was truly alone in this world."

Past Rafael let the skulls fall back into pit he had just dug. He turned to face Dartz. Dartz grinned and dropped a dark-duel-disk on the ground before him. The tool seemed to glow in an evil glow. Past Rafael walked forward to accept the gift. Light suddenly appeared and Gardian Eatos glowed over the grave sight. She motioned for him not to take the dark-duel-disk.

"Forget the creature." Dartz said. "there is nothing for you back there. If you want to change the world, you must move forward."

Past Rafael glanced back again at Eatos, but continued to walk toward Dartz. He picked up the dark-duel-disk and slipped it on. Eatos bowed her head in sadness.

"Now, there is only one last step for you to take. You must activate this." Dartz handed him the Seal of Orichalcos.

Eatos' head shot back up and she again began to motion for Past Rafael not to play the Seal. This time Past Rafael didn't look at her as he slid the Seal into the dark-duel-disk. The seal surrounded him. He bent over clearly in pain.

"Don't fight it." Dartz ordered. "let it flow with in. let it in every fiber of your being."

The green seal appeared on Past Rafael's forehead and the green circle reached out all around him. When it reached Eatos, the monster burst into flames. Screaming in pain she began to dissolve into ash.

Past Rafael tried to run towards her, but Dartz grabbed his shoulder.

"She's being upgraded for you." he said. "Behold your new monster."

The still flaming monster fell into hole Rafael dug. Nothing happened. Then suddenly hands appeared, rotted and bandaged. The familiar form of Dreadscythe crawled out of the grave.

The scene before them faded into the mist until only Yami and Rafael stood alone in the fog.

"Do you understand now, pharaoh?" Rafael said. "I became a member of Dartz team to change the world."

"By darkening your monsters and destroying lives."

"Sacrifices must be made. The world must be cleansed before it can be reborn."

"I suppose betraying your friend was just another sacrifice."

"I didn't betray Cerys."

"Really?" Yami demanded. "The moment she had second thoughts you took her soul like any other enemy. What did you even say to her to convince her to join Dartz?"

"She knew it was the right choice."

"Let me guess. You said it was either Dartz or nothing? Did you threaten to leave her alone if she didn't join your cause? Abandon her in a world you deemed evil and unfeeling?"

"Your tricks will no work Pharaoh. Showing me my past has done nothing to change my mind."

"I didn't show you your past, Rafael."

"What? Then what did we just see?"

"I don't know. Maybe your cards are trying to tell you something."

The fog around them began the clear. Whatever had triggered the fog seemed to have run its course. Yam could see the green of the seal through the mists.

"It doesn't matter. I will still defeat you Pharaoh."

"Where have I heard that before?" Yami muttered.


Airi breathed a sigh of relief when the inside of the seal cleared and she could see Yami again. Something had changed. The only monster on the field was Deathscythe. Airi frowned. If she remembered Underworld Circle effects all the monsters should have been destroyed. Chills ran down her spine. What was this monster? Considering the odd stuff that happened inside the seal she should be happy this was the only weird side effect.

Yami also seemed confused with the events of his card, and was asking Rafael as much.

"By discarding a card from my hand I was able to keep Dredscythe from being effected by your stunt. Dreadscythe is created to be indestructible. Even I can not get rid of it."

Airi watched him carefully. He was still acting like the confident opponent, but something seemed to have changed. What had happened inside the seal?

Rafael continued. "It is still your move, Pharaoh."

Airi glanced at Kaiba to see if he had any comments about choices of names, but he seemed more interested in Rafael's monster than name calling.

"Thanks to Underworld Circle, I have access to every monster in my graveyard."

"There is no turning back." Rafael said. "They're gone. My cards are sacrificed and gone."

"That was your own choice." Yami pointed out.

Rafael's old determination seemed to flash again in his eyes. "I don't need any other monsters."

"That's the darkness speaking to you." Yami said. "I bring back Dark Magician from the graveyard." the purple clad monster again appeared on the field.

"Maybe Yugi's got a shot after all." Kaiba said. Airi glanced at him to be sure he was the one who said it.

"Yeah." Mokuba said. "Now he has access to his graveyard, he can kick some major butt."

"I set a face down and end my turn."

Rafael drew. "You're finished."

"I think not." Yami said. "I also summon Jack's Knight to the field."

"Wow." Mokuba said. "He can bring back monsters on Rafael's turn!"

"You're puny monsters don't scare me. Dreadscythe, attack Dark Magician!"

"I activate my trap card Zero Gravity. All monsters on the field are forced into defense mode."

"Yeah!" Tristan cheered. "Stopped that zombie in it's tracks."

"Not so fast." Rafael pointed at a facedown no one had noticed. "I activate the trap card Spirit Haunting." Guardian Dreadscythe rose back into attack mode. With a slash of it's scythe it cut down Dark Magician and Jack's Knight. "the effects of my trap allow me to take out all the mosters on your side of the field."

"Both of them?" Tea gasped.

"Come on." Airi muttered.

"My turn." Yami drew. "I bring back Dark Magician Girl From the graveyard." the monster returned. "I play the magic card Altar of Restoration, which lets me bring back another monster from the graveyard by discarding two cards. I bring back Eye of Timaeus."

The large dragon returned to the field, towering over all the other monsters.

Yami continued. "I merge my two monsters together to create Dark Magician Girl the Dragon Knight."

"That again?" Rafael scoffed. "You really haven't learned."

Yami glared at him. "Attack Dreadscythe!"

Timaeus opened his mouth and blasted a stream of fire at the bandaged monster. The group cheared. Airi didn't she didn't like the calm expression on Rafael's face through the fire and smoke. It wasn't going to work. Sure enough when the smoke cleared Dreadscythe was still on the field.

"Oh come on." Tristan groaned.

Rafael laughed, discarding another card. "I told you Dreadscythe is indestructible."

"Then why did Yugi attack?" Kaiba said. "He better not let that chump beat him."

"Again." Airi muttered. Kaiba glanced at her, but she refused to meet his eye.

Yami set a facedown and ended his turn.

Rafael drew, and Yami brought back his Queen's Knight. Summoning on his turn seemed to be annoying Rafael.

"Your strategy isn't going to work." He snapped. "I discard a card to activated Orichalcos Sword of Sealing."

The sword shot across the field and buried itself inside Timaeus. The dragon let out a roar of pain. Airi flinched, tear's pricking her eyes at the sound. She glared at Rafael. How could he not hear the real agony playing the seal was causing?

"Dreadscythe, attack Dark Magician Girl the Dragon Knight."

The scythe came down, cutting through Dark Magician Girl and Timaeus. Yami's cry mixed with the dying monsters. Airi could feel his pain through the seal. Though faint, it still struck her deeply.

"His life points are at 10." Tea whispered.

"It will be alright." Airi took a deep breath. "it will be alright."

Tea slipped her hand into Airi's. The girls's shared a look. Smiling, Airi gave her hand a squeeze.

"Finished Pharaoh?" Rafael asked.

"Never." Yami growled. "I reveal my trap card, Reduction Barrier, which reduces the damage by 10 percent." the life points when up, but barely. "I will not stop fighting until my lifepoints are gone."

"Suit yourself. But your soul will belong to Dartz."

"That's not you talking, Rafael." Yami said. "There is still good inside of you. You can find it if you try."

Rafael remained silent.

Yami drew. "I bring back Big Shield Gardna from the graveyard. I play Pot of Greed." he drew two cards. "I play the magic card Spider Web, which allows me to use a card from your graveyard.

Rafael flinshed. "Don't touch my monsters."

"I didn't say I was. I choose Monster Reborn."

"How?" Rafael gaped as the card appeared on Yami's side of the field.

"You still won't listen to me Rafael, but I believe there is a why to get through to you. I play Monster Reborn to bring back Gaurdian Eatos."

"What!" Rafael shouted. "How dare you!"

Yami looked behind him and all turned to see he was looking at the unconscious form of Joey draped over Tristan's back. With a determined nod, Yami turned back to the field.

"I summon the Claw of Hermos."

A giant brown dragon appeared on Yami's side of the field.

"How?" Tea gasped.

"Great job, buddy." Tristan muttered, readjusting Joey on his back. "I knew you'd come through."

"I merge Hermos with Queen's Knight to form Goddess Bow. And I equip this bow to Gaurdian Eatos. Since Eatos was removed from your graveyard, your monsters loses attack points."

"If you attack now both will be destroyed."

"Why should you care? You turned on your monsters and your real life friends. Watching two monsters destroy each other shouldn't bother you at all. You have the Orichalcos after all." Airi could hear the edge to Yami's voice. He was speaking from experience.

Rafael looked between the two monsters.

"Eatos, attack." Yami said. "And she'll continue to attack each time Dreadscythe revives itself.

It was like the game was stuck on repeat. Eatos would fire and arrow at Dreadscythe and Rafael would discard to keep it alive. Each time Dreadscythe returned Eatos fired again and over and over. Rafael ran out of cards and Dreadscythe's screech echoed around the seal as she faded away. Only the monster's mask remained floating in midair. Eatos picked up the mask and held it close to her chest. Slowly she ascended into the air and disappeared from sight.

"What the?" Most of the group was confused.

Airi watched Rafael, who had fallen to his knees. He stared down at his duel-disk in horror.

"Now do you see what you've done?" Yami's voice was even, non accusing, only stating fact.

Rafael's hand went to his graveyard, then to Cerys's earring which he gripped tightly in his fist. Finally his eyes rose to meet Yami's gaze. He then looked passed his opponent to look at Airi. She felt uncomfortable in his stare. Villains who steal brother's souls should not be looking at her with understanding and regret. What in the world was going on? This wasn't the same guy Yami had been dueling this whole time.

"You do understand." Rafael said.

"It doesn't have to end like this." Yami said. "you can change if you face the darkness and acknowledge what you've done. Then you can be rid of the Seal's influence."

"Noble idea." Rafael said. "Unfortunately you've forgotten we're dueling in the Orichalcos seal. Someone has to be taken."

Yami tried to speak, but Rafael lifted a hand. His gaze still on Airi.

"It is my turn Pharaoh." Rafael drew. "I activate Underworld Circle to bring back Backup Gardian Grarl." The monster reappeared. "I play Soul Charge, allowing me to summon more monsters from my grave yard."

One by one the monsters returned. Bigshield Gardna, Guardian Elma, Gaurdian Kay'est all returned to the field. Airi realized they were all the monsters he sent to grave yard to protect his life points. With a jolt she realized without those cards in the graveyard Rafael would lose life points.

"There." Rafael smiled at his monsters. "They're all free. I'm sorry my friends."

"No." Airi looked in horror as the Seal began to slide across the root towards its prize.

"Rafael-" Yami stopped, looking up at the sky. All eyes looked upward to the clouds. Guardian Eatos descended.

"What the?" Kaiba said, but no one had an answer.

Eatos landed and stood among the other guardians. One by one the image of the Seal disappeared from their foreheads. Airi watched as suddenly figures appeared around Rafael, seeming to block the Seal from coming closer to him. A man and woman, two small children, and Cerys appears. Tears appeared in Rafael's eyes as he looked at each of them.

"I said you had light still in your heart." Yami said.

"What's going on?" Tea whispered to Airi.

"Shh, just watch." Airi hissed back.

All the figures and the monsters suddenly began to ascend towards the sky and soon disappeared. With a crack, Seal disappeared from around Rafael. Airi blinked, taking a deep breath as she realized her connection with Yami was back in full. The Seal hadn't worked. There was a way to beat the Seal? Rafael was still there, so possibly. What had just happened?

Yami stepped forward, and extended his hand to Rafael. The other man looked up at him with confusion. Yami didn't pull his hand back and finally Rafael accepted. Airi couldn't stand it and ran forward ahead of the others. Yami turned, arm extended to accept her hug. The others congratulations and questions on what had just happened turned into an inaudible mumble as she hugged her friend. She felt Yami's fingers grip her shoulder, as if assuring himself she was there as well. Smiling, she held on tight. He was there. He'd again dodged the Seal.

"Miss Muto."

Airi released Yami and turned to face Rafael. Up close, he towered over her. But there was an awkwardness that seemed to shrink him more to her level. She wasn't sure what to make of him, but Yugi was still gone. She waited for him to speak.

"I," Rafael suddenly seemed lost for words under her stare. "I'm sorry."

She nodded, throat feeling tight.

"Can some one tell me what just happened?" Tea said. "Wasn't there supposed to be a light show after the Seal?"

"And why is he still here?" Tristan adjusted Joey's limp body as he pointed at Rafael.

"I have an idea." Yami said. " I believe the Seal is fueled by the darkness in a person's heart. Rafael was able to face the darkness in his heart and his soul was spared."

"Again with the soul mumble jumbo." Kaiba groaned. "You won Yugi. Why can't you ever just said that simply."

Before anyone could comment, the building began to shake.

"An earthquake?" Tristan said.

"With our luck, no." Airi said.

"I'm afraid it is much worse." Yami said.

The shaking intensified and cracks appeared all around them.

"Run!" Rafael said. "While you still can!"

Too late.

Right under their feet, a crack ripped the building apart. Yami and Airi reached for each other, but missed.


A/N: Sorry for another cliffhanger, but i promise the next one will be up really soon.

Thank you so much for reading and being amazing.

Thank you and God bless.