The Scars that Remain

Consumed by Darkness

Yami, known by many as 'the Pharaoh', found himself wandering in the Stone Wilderness, a place where the spirits roam with their spine-shattering voices polluting the air. The surrounding area perfectly reflected his current persona: empty and haunted. His iron will to face the boy he betrayed prevented him from backing out, even when he was accompanied by balls of light attempting to steer him away from his destination.

The spherical lights represented not the gentle spirits that tried to protect him from danger, but the malevolent spirits that acquired an undying thirst for revenge; many who faced the Pharaoh and suffered the bitter taste of defeat. As soon as Yami entered the circle, a collection of lights collaborated to form the body of a young boy.

A young boy with a similar hairstyle to the Pharaoh's own; a young boy who was considered a friend and a partner to him, even after his soul was taken away. The young boy, known as Yugi Muto, opened his eyes to see the one who betrayed him, wanting to know if it was really the Pharaoh.

The darker half called out his partner's name, relieved to know that Yugi was alright. However, the Pharaoh's touch was like an apparition passing through a human body. He then turned to see the back of his partner. Confusion reigned in Yami's mind. How could this be? Yugi, wearing a frown, turned his head to face his darker half staring at him in bewilderment.

"You came all this way just to see me?" Yugi asked.

"Of course," the Pharaoh replied with a sombre tone. "I wanted to say how sorry I am."

"Sorry?" Yugi responded, turning his head away from his other self. "What do you have to be sorry about, Pharaoh? What could you have possibly done to hurt me?"

Words failed the Pharaoh upon hearing Yugi's words. He was sure that Yugi was confused over the fact that he had to apologise. "Yugi... I..."

Yugi's posture remained the same. "Go on, tell me what you did to cause me so much pain." Yugi exclaimed with a hint of sarcasm.

"Yugi, I played the Seal of Orichalcos in order to win the duel against Raphael, remember?"

"Yeah, I do." Yugi answered, hurt by the thought of his darker half's betrayal. "Clear as day." Yami swallowed hard, trying to dislodge the lump in his throat, before he opened his mouth to speak again.

"As do I. Yugi, I am so sorry for what I had done that day. No words can truly express how deeply I regret my reckless decision. No words can excuse my thoughtless, unspeakable, despicable actions, no matter the reason was for wanting so desperately to win."

The baritone voice cracked under the pressure of having to face up to its owner's misdeeds and lack of judgment.

"I have not forgiven myself and I doubt I ever will for what I did to you and my monsters. Including my friends. As much as I wish not to lose my friends and their trust, I deserve to... for my greatest mistake. I will do what I must to make it up to you if you would give me the chance to, but I would understand if you choose not to."

Yugi had not been mentally prepared for this moment. Having someone apologise for their mistakes was the one thing, but forgiving the very person who ignored and betrayed you was a completely different story. He knew he had to tell the Pharaoh how he truly felt about what happened that day, regardless of how much it may hurt.

Wearing the same frown as before, he turned his head to face the young King, whose eyes were dulled from the look of grief and remorse.

"Yami... I appreciate you coming all this way to see me so you could apologise, but I... I'm afraid I can't accept your apology." Yugi then turned around, body and all, to look into Yami's eyes; his face, however, still unchanged. "It simply isn't enough."