Darkness consumes the light

DARKNESS CONSUMES THE LIGHT

by Sansi

Chapter 9: Broken hearts

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It was unusually chilly for that time of the year in Yugi’s room and the teen trembled from head to toe. Hugging his small frame tightly he took a quick glance to the window to confirm his earlier presumption. The window was closed.

That night had something freaky, unnerving and the light felt it in every fibre of his being. Ever since the tri-colour haired boy had received the sacred millennium puzzle he became very sensitive to magic, especially shadow magic. However, Yugi lacked in practise and he couldn’t exactly pinpoint what was wrong.

Somewhere in the back of his mind, the young man recalled a recent memory where he was watching horror movies with his friends. A particular scene came to his mind. Rooms always seemed to get colder when a ghost or another supernatural creature was present.

’Nonsense’ Yugi berated himself.

Quickly shacking his head to get rid of the thoughts that wanted to consume the light’s subconscious, Yugi concentrated to occupy his mind with other, less scary things.

Watching his room carefully, he observed if something was out of the ordinary. However the room looked like always, more or less tidy. His bed, desk and closet … there was no difference to what it looked in the daylight.

Yugi wasn’t afraid of the dark or the night. True, before he met Yami he hated the darkness, feared the shadows and other creatures, which might linger there. But now, the tri-coloured hair teen knew better than to be afraid of things just because it was something unknown.

Still, the creepy feeling one got when being watched never completely left Yugi. Closing his eyes while forcing his heart with his will to stop beating so fast, he could feel a familiar smell feeling his nostrils. An exotic, spicy scent.

In any other situation the light would have gotten the strange feelings, which consumed him every time he was near his other; but things had changed, not necessary to Yugi’s liking.

”No need to hide, Yami. I can tell that you are still here. Haven’t I told you to leave me alone?” the hikari demanded, annoyance tainting his voice. Thoughts raced through his head and a part of him was ecstatic with joy. Was his yami going to stay?

Unsurprisingly, he got no response.

”Don’t play dumb with me, Yami. I can feel you in this room. At least you could show yourself. I don’t like people hiding behind my back, watching my every move.” Yugi rolled his eyes. He was getting really pissed. Why did everyone treat him like a child?

The deep and rich voice of the pharaoh hailed through the room. It bounced around the walls, making it impossibly to know where the source was. “If I’m such a pain for you, you simply could have ignored me.” The yami stated, hiding his hurt rather well.

”Didn’t I tell you to leave me alone? Is it just me or do you never respect my wishes or me for the matter” the smaller teen replied, not saying anything to his other half’s remark. In the back of his mind he hoped for a positive answer and the darkness didn’t disappoint him.

”No, Yugi. I did as you told me. You wished for me to leave, so my presence wouldn’t bother you anymore. As you see, only my soul, not my body is here. I think that is fair.”

”Then explain to me, oh almighty pharaoh, why did you come back at all? I thought you couldn’t get away from me fast enough. I was always just … a … a task ... for your majesty! A task! Now, that you have fulfilled your job, you treat me like a dumb little piece of shit.” the light sneered, his eyes narrowed dangerously.

”Why do you say that? Didn’t I prove that I care for you, Yugi? I always believed that you could see behind people’s façade and see their real face. Didn’t your heart tell you how much you mean to me?” Yami questioned softly, his voice near the edge of cracking. His light never talked to him like that and it made him wonder if their whole relationship was now breaking down on them. That would fulfil his greatest fear. Rejection from his hikari hurt him more than any physical wound ever could.

Yugi restlessly looked around, trying to spot the ruby-eyed man. The light wanted … NO! … needed to see the truth behind those words. He craved the bronzed face, wanted to lose himself in those crimson orbs. Yugi hated himself for it, but deep down he knew that he missed his yami.

”Show yourself!” he demanded impatiently, but in truth the tone was nothing but a mask for his begging.

”No Yugi. I won’t unnerve you anymore with my presence. I caused enough trouble as it is. You are better without me” he replied softly.

”Then everything you told me was a lie! You didn’t care for me as you always claimed! I was just a duty for you! Everything you saw in me was the little kid you had to protect. You never treated me as a person, never as a friend and never ever did you think of me as a partner!” Yugi shouted frustrated, tears welling in his eyes.

There was a long pause and Yugi was about to break down, giving in to his tears.

”Do you really believe so?” Yami questioned tenderly, voice barely above a whisper.

Yugi hesitated. That moment could change everything. He could turn the tables around and his pain and loneliness would be over if he just could come over his emotional pain.

But he couldn’t.

”Yes.”

”… Then it’s probably better this way. Despite what you might think about me Yugi, you are my best friend and I always saw you as an equal, my aibou. I care for you more than for every other person I ever have met, in this life and the last. You were you are my soulmate, Yugi.”

The light’s stomach did a flip-flop. Those were the words he always wished to hear. Why was everything so hard and complicated? Though his heart burst with joy, his head reasoned that it didn’t matter anymore. The spirit would be leaving him again and there was no guarantee he meant what he had said in the way Yugi wished. It was better if Yami left and probably one day he would be able to forget and move on.

”I hate you, Yami. You betrayed me …”

With each word, Yami felt like a knife was twisted in his heart. But he was here because of Yugi, he could deal with his personal pain later.

”What is that you feel for me then? Don’t you care for me at all?”

Both were aware that Yugi’s next words could turn their whole relationship around. Despite Yugi’s love for his yami, the pain and hate blacked out all other feelings he might feel for the ancient pharaoh.

”Nothing. To tell the truth, I have never been better. I have Tea …” Even while speaking Yugi regretted the words flooding out of his mouth like a river. Why couldn’t he stop? But he knew the answer. The owner intended to hurt his darker half, wanting him to feel all the pain and suffering he had been through.

”Yugi, the shadows are controlling you. You were too long under their influence. Please tell me you don’t mean what you said.” His soulmate reasoned calmly.

Yami’s calm attitude upset the owner of the millennium puzzle even more. ”You are a fool, Yami.” Yugi hissed. “Why can’t you accept that I never cared for you? All you ever caused were problems. Pegasus, Marik and everybody else … without you my friends, grandpa and I would have never been in danger! If they hadn’t been after your puzzle … I’m not controlled by anybody and I will prove that to you and anybody else. Everything I do is out of my free will. Mark my words, pharaoh!”

Yami didn’t respond, much to Yugi’s irritation and annoyance. He had bet that Yami wouldn’t give up that easy.

”I will prove it to all of you.“ the former light repeated, more to himself than Yami. Was he trying to convince himself as much as his darkness?

”I won’t give up on you, Yugi. If you believe me or not, you mean a lot to me and I never give up on the people I love. Remember that … my hikari.” the yami said with so much tenderness in his voice that Yugi’s stomach twisted into knots. Had Yugi been in his right mind, he would have been ecstatic after that declaration. But the new, darker Yugi pushed his ‘weaker’ feelings aside.

With those last words Yugi could feel the presence of the darker half vanishing. After that encounter his feelings were in turmoil and he fought to get his composure back. His very being was split in two and his heart was fighting his mind.

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Thank you all so much for your reviews, but please don't stop now with them.

Evilpixie: I'm glad you liked that part. I took me a long time to come up with that scene. Thanks for the review!

Red Dragon of Egypt: Yugi won't be too happy if his koi is all bloody. See!!! I really tried. I knocked some sense into Yami, but his hikari is the trouble maker now! TTFN TA TA FOR NOW

DracOnyx: You wouldn't have expected that Yugi is stubborn now, would you?! Hope you enjoy this chapter!

Zoe: I won't if people continue reviewing! Thanks!

maggiemay: I'm pretty sure he is both, but most of all he is a little naive. He may be the king of games, but he don't know about 'love'. I didn't think of it before you mentioned it, but you are right. There were a lot of scenes in Sailor Moon. I would do nearly everything to see Yami and Yugi together in the end. *sighs dreamly*

Arainaina I can't promise you that! But be assured that you'll like the end