Into The Shadow's Reach

Solomon's heart ached to see the internal struggle that Yami was waging in front of him...the mad urge to bolt, to flee, to run until his lungs burst, to claw his way through the anguish into sweet, sweet oblivion, or distraction, or anything as long as it wasn't this sickening sensation that he was only one step away from total collapse, and a breath away from going completely mad. Yami was wheezing, forcing the breath out from his chest that seemed strangely frozen, and it made him feel sick and light-headed. Trembling, he sank down into the wooden chair, elbows splayed awkardly to keep him from melting to the floor, hardly aware of the tears that were sliding down his twitching cheeks. He felt like he was drowning in the overwhelming tide of memories, the breaking waves of rage and bitterness, and harsh realization of how truly lost and alone he was.

"Yami?" Solomon's compassionate inquiry made him jerk in alarm, and he wrenched his head up to face him, anger blazing forth at the intrusion of such a private, vulnerable moment.
The old man only gave him a tired look of kind understanding, as he sat down across Yami, forcing back the chuckle at seeing Yami's eyes bulge with indignant shame.
"Exactly how long do you expect to carry this misery and not destroy yourself?" Yami looked up at him, the violet eyes storming with so much naked pain that Solomon winced.

"You don't understand, sir." Yami's soft answer was barely above a whisper, as he drew himself away in a gesture of retreat.

"I'll understand it better if you explain it to me, Yami. It's obvious that you're suffering. Can speaking of your pain possibly make it more unbearable than it is now?" Solomon's completely rational answer of the obvious made Yami blanche, as he shifted uncomfortably. "I honestly don't know, sir. I've been infused with this for so long, that I truly do not see how any healing is possible. I feel like I am damned to live this way forever."

"Utter nonsense!" groused Solomon as his scowl deepened beneith his bushy mustache, to hide his fear over the sheer hopelessness that seemed to bleed out from Yami's slumped, defeated posture, and the dead accepting resignation that bowed his head so sadly.

"You do not know what I have lived through, sir." Solomon sighed, with a shake of his head. "My boy, if you have lived through it, then it should be over with, correct?"

"But it isn't!" Yami drew a trembling hand across the scars that crowned his neck, not noticing the narrowed eyes of Solomon as he stared at the horrible aftermath of a cruelty he could not begin to fathom. Yami stewed in his anguished thoughts. Even after all this time, it was still just as vivid and alive as it was when he was first sealed away, and he honestly did not know if he was drifting into depravity or madness. Both prospects terrified him.

"Yami, I am not trying to force you to relive something that you honestly aren't ready to face, and I'm not interested in your suffering for any selfish purpose. I want to know about it because it's hurting you. Now, are you going to tell me what's breaking you apart, or are you going to force it down until it consumes you?" Solomon berated himself when he saw the tremor that rattled Yami's tense frame at the horrible thought his last words gave him. What if the Puzzle had succeeded in consuming him already?

"I fear that I am too far gone to come back to myself, sir." The despair in Yami's voice as the poor king crumbled even further made Solomon lean forward, grip the shaking fist in between his own, and attempt to draw Yami away from the churning torment he was so readily drinking in. It was Yami's strangled cry of alarm that stopped him.
With panicked hands, now slimed with sweat, Yami shoved him away, with a pleading shake of his head.

"Don't. I will tell you everything, sir. But, please, please, don't...I can't stand being touched...it's too overwhelming... it only leads to more pain..." Independent of his will,
Yami's fingers clawed at his scars, as his eyes took on the sickening glaze of rising terror and madness. Solomon hastily backed away, as Yami started quivering anew,
his eyes going wide and unseeing except for whatever horrible nightmare that was storming across his pounding heart and panicking thoughts. The pounding of his heart,
the raging, searing fear, the cloying despair, and the roaring chorus of all the memories bleeding into one high pitched scream forced him to fold into himself, in blind submission, as his legs finally gave way, and he slid quietly into a heap under the table. He vaguely heard Solomon crying his name, felt the old man's hands attempting to force him onto his back, but the shadows that had been waiting for his collapse finally overwhelmed him and took him under completely.

Normally, Seto Kaiba and compassion were as well linked as oil and fire-volital, and completely out of character for his icy veneer, and general distain for the world, and the luxury to afford it. He had no intentions towards the meandering people around him but to ignore them if they weren't gracious enough to go away on their own. He paid them little mind as he resumed his rapid-fire stacatto typing on his labtop, and was soon lost in his latest business plans for his company.

So, he was quite annoyed when he heard the cheery, and much-irritating greeting of Yugi Moto, complete with a happy wave and an inocence he would normally associate with some form of fluffy, defenseless bunny in a cartoon. Still, annoying as the runt was, he was harmless, and not truly deserving of the sneer Seto found himself biting his cheek to keep down. He settled for a nod, and a grunt of acknowledgment, hoping that Yugi would get the hint without forcing him to be blunt. The whole reason why Seto had perched himself on the park bench on this nice day was to be alone and get some damn work done. He sighed inwardly when he saw Yugi slide onto the park bench, and begin eagerly chattering about something Kaiba could care less about...duel monsters and what not, complete with a neat little summary about Tea's latest dance competition, and Joey Wheeler's latest detention. Yugi looked as if Kaiba had kicked him when his only reply was a sarcastic, "Yay," before he turned back to his labtop, with a pointed look at Yugi to leave. "Um...well, you look busy...So, I'll guess I'll see you around, Kaiba. Good-bye"
Yugi awkwardly muttered as he slunk away in wounded embarrassment. He was only trying to be friendly after all!

Seto did not trouble himself to look up from his work, but the flurry of motion caught his eye, and he instinctively jerked his head up to see what had caused the blur of frenzy. He watched to see Yugi abruptly stagger a few feet and then collapse, with a cry, landing on his knees, and curling up in a defensive gesture. Seto studied him for a moment with a raised eyebrow, wondering what the hell he had tripped on and why he wasn't getting back up, when the troubling thought occurred to him that maybe he couldn't. Yugi felt as if something inside had shattered, and the dismay from the sudden,
blinding pain almost made him faint. He lay there, face down and panting, wondering if he was dying, or if he had had a stroke.
It made no sense, but his mind was so besieged by the effort to breathe, that he did not trouble himself beyond that. He heard footsteps, saw a shadow darkening over his face, and heard the irritated sigh, as he was abruptly drawn up in strong arms and rolled over on his back. Seto's face was cloaked by the bright sun overhead, and Yugi had to shake his head a few times to make out the icy eyes narrowed into concerned slits, and the normally stern mouth drawn downwards in a rare show of worry. "Yugi? What the hell is wrong with you? Are you hurt?" Seto's demand was only answered by a confused shake of head and a helpless shrug as Yugi attempted to speak. "I don't know, Kaiba...all of the sudden, I felt this hurt, and I fell. It's gone now, but it felt so.
weird." Seto's eyes narrowed even more as he snapped, in irritation. "Do you need a doctor?" Yugi shook his head. "Um, no, I'm alright." Seto barked out the order of "Wait here," as he spun on his heel to retrieve his labtop. With a curled lip, he came back to Yugi's side, and Yugi was shocked when he offered a hand to help Yugi rise. "Um, thank you." Seto only sighed, and hauled Yugi to his feet, even lingering at his side to make sure he was steady enough to walk. Yugi felt faint, but otherwise, alright. Seto crossed his arms in irritation,
and scowled as he barked out. "Well, Yugi, get moving. I don't have long to drive you home." Yugi's jaw dropped as he looked up at Seto in absolute shock. He would have been less suprised if the sun rose in the west. "Thanks, Kaiba, but you don't have to drive me anywhere"
"I am well aware of that, Yugi. Which is why I told you to get moving." The gruff reply made Yugi nod, meekly, uncertainly trailing

Kaiba's long strides over to the majestic car, as Kaiba unlocked the doors with an efficient button on his golden keyring. Without looking at Yugi, he glided into the front seat, and Yugi uncomfortably slid into the front seat with a gulp. This was certainly unexpected...