A/N~ Long time. I know. Sorry.

Chapter 9

Yugi leaned against the door, attempting to remain fearless in front of the darkness that remained of his darker half. It didn't make any sense. Perhaps he had been wrong about the colors. Anyone who took an art class knew that all colors put together made black. So this would mean that his other self was completely fixed.

A dark chuckled flushed away those thoughts.

"M-Mou Hitori no Boku?" Yugi tried to keep his voice steady.

The smirk which delicately decorated his other self's face quickly changed into a sneer. "Do not dare call me that. You have not the right nor the privilege."

Yugi grinded his teeth together. That one hurt a lot. He had never realized that his oth- his darkness did not enjoy the title he had given him. He had never protested before. Yugi had become rather fond of the title and the relationship which it held. He took a shaky breath. "What is wrong?" He questioned. Perhaps the best way to fix the spirit was by facing each personality and emotion head on.

A snarl passed through the spirit's lips. "Do not dare classify me as a mere emotion!" He roared, his eyes turning darker if that was even possible.

This was not right. Yugi did his best to block the thoughts and feelings he was experiencing from his darkness. This was not a personality characteristic that Yugi was accustom to or had even seen before. This was not his other self. Was it the shadows playing tricks on him? He winced as he felt the power of the spirit trying to pry into his mind.

"I didn't mean to classify you as an emotion." Yugi said apologetically. "I just…." His eyes torn away from the figure in frustration.

Another chuckle could be heard. "You think that you can just bat those eyes of yours and always get your way, do you not?" The spirit approached him and Yugi felt himself cringe. He stood in front of him before grabbing his chin and forcing him to look into his black eyes. "But soon you shall learn that only I am entitled to get my way. And that shall also mean the end of you."

Yugi flinched, staring at those eyes. It was like looking into a black hole. It sucked everything in and didn't allow anything back out, even light. And that was exactly what his other self was doing. Nothing was showing but evil and pure darkness. "W-who are you?" Yugi stammered, shuddering a little and backing out of the forced embrace of the spirit.

Another sick chuckle. The spirit stepped back and lifted his arms as if ready to deliver a small hug. "I am Pharaoh."

Yugi just gave him a startled glance. "No you're not."

"Oh but I am." The spirit's arms fell back to his side as he began to circle Yugi like a wolf ready to pounce. "This is who I am in all my glory. Though I suppose this is who I once was." He gave a menacing look at the hikari currently trying not to shake under his terrifying glare. "But that twas a time far before your filthy hands ever touched my puzzle."

Yugi tried hard. He really did. But he couldn't help it when a tear formed in his eye. He refused to let it fall. He kept his head high and refused to look at the spirit.

"Does it not bother you that you were correct all along about my true self?" The spirit asked.

Yugi frowned. "What are you talking about?"

"I am speaking on the idea that you believed I was evil. Doesn't it bother you that you were cor-"

"I never said you were evil!" Yugi snapped, turning to him sharply.

Before he had realized it, he was on the floor. His cheek stung something awful. Out of complete instinct, his hand lifted to his cheek, flinching at how hot it was. He looked up at his other half who was snickering down at him. "Never interrupt a Pharaoh when he is speaking."

More tears formed in his eyes. This time he could not keep them back. They rolled down his cheek without anything to stop them. Yugi shuddered with a silent sob. His darkness had never struck him before. Not ever. This was not his darkness. This was evil. Yugi took a shaky breath and tried to calm himself. This is not Mou Hitori no Boku. He would never hurt you. He strides to protect you, not harm you. This is not your other half!

"Perhaps I am not the darkness you are so used to. Although how can you know me? I've been locked away since my rebirth. And you are the reason I was locked away." Those black eyes kept a steady glance at the boy pulling himself to his feet.

Yugi was not weak. He stood strong and stopped his tears. "I didn't lock you away. You did it to yourself! You protected your people and saved the world!"

"That was not was I was referring to." The darkness snickered. He circled Yugi once again. "You locked me away. Twas you that changed me into something I was never meant to be. I was Pharaoh. I was a God. You stripped me of that!" He growled. Yugi remained still, unsure of what he was talking about. "People would cower before me very presence. There was not a game I could not win. I was destined to be locked away for all eternity. But then you came along."

"I freed you." Yugi pointed out. "And you became my-"

"Don't you dare say it!" The spirit barked. "You may have unlocked this prison but you locked away a part of me forever. My ability to control everything around me. The part of me which ruled Khemet. You locked away all of it!"

Yugi was starting to become angry. "I gave you freedom! You know you wanted that!"

"I wanted freedom. I did not want rules. I did not want some…" He looked Yugi up and down with an expression of disdain. "commoner to tell me what I could or could not do. You made me compassionate and careful of my actions."

"You're welcome!" Yugi shouted at him, angered. His Mou Hitori no Boku should have been happy to learn those characteristics, not displeased. The spirit lifted another hand to hit him but Yugi was much quicker. He grabbed his wrist and growled at him. "I will not hear anymore of this Mou Hitori no Boku! You are my darkness, my other half. This is not you. You were already compassionate. You locked yourself away to save your people and the world. I didn't make that part of you. You already had it within you!"

The millennium symbol appeared on the spirit's forehead, his eyes deepening their blackened hell. "You dare raise you voice to me? You dare point out my flaws?"

"They aren't flaws, Mou Hitori no Boku. You may think they are but they aren't. Those are all the things I like about you. They are all your strengths." Yugi smiled a little through his tears. "Please don't be upset. There isn't a part of you I don't like. I like every part of you."

"I shall do my best to change that!" A wave of dark magic pushed Yugi back and he was forced to fall on his back. He blinked in surprise, his heart hammering in his chest. He sat up only for a moment before the spirit grabbed his arm and proceeded to drag him across the floor. "I shall instill a sense of fear in you even if it destroys me."

"Let go of me! Mou Hitori no Boku! You're hurting me!" Yugi growled and struggled. He would break through to his other half. He struggled hard no longer fearing for his safety anymore. "Mou Hitori no Boku I'm sorry."

The spirit halted all movement and looked down at him with his beady eyes. "Excuse me?"

Yugi struggled and broke free. He stood up quickly, ready to fight if he needed to. "You heard me. I'm sorry."

There was a frown on the spirit's face. "What?"

Yugi sighed and looked down at his feet. "I'm sorry that I called your actions evil. I was just upset."

"Keep your mouth shut!" The darkness snarled.

Yugi shook his head. "I won't. I have to get this out. This is all my fault and I don't think you know how sorry I am. So here it is. I am truly sorry. I didn't realize that my words affected you so much. I didn't realized how much my thoughts and feelings affected you. I should have been more considerate of your position."

There was silence.

Yugi looked up and was a little shocked at what he saw. There were still black orbs staring back at him but they were not as evil and they were not angry. They held a look of absolute confusion. "Mou Hitori no Boku?"

"I do not understand." Those orbs flinched in confusion.

"I am sorry. And I hope you forgive me." Yugi said genuinely. He made certain that his voice did not strain under the tears he knew where in his eyes.

Black orbs flinched again. "No I understood what you said. However, I seem to not understand the meaning of those words. I do not understand why you are saying this to me now. What is the point? I could destroy you. What do you gain for saying this to me?"

"Nothing." Yugi admitted.

Black orbs narrowed on him and he backed away.

"What are you afraid of?" Yugi asked, stepping forward. His darkness was afraid. He was confused and afraid. Yugi had to admit that he did not like this. He could barely sense his other self through this entire encounter. Now that feeling of emptiness was growing. In a state of panic, Yugi started walking towards his other half. "Mou Hitori no Boku?"

The darkness stepped back and closed his eyes. He gripped his head hard and fell to his knees.

"Mou Hitori no Boku!" Yugi cried out in alarm. He rushed over to aid his other half, watching as the millennium symbol that had been burning so brightly on his forehead completely disappeared. Yugi settled down next to him and placed his hands on his darkness's shoulders. "Mou Hitori no Boku?"

There was a tear. Yugi felt it so clearly that it made him dizzy and sick to his stomach. His vision darkened. His link with his other self was falling apart; completely this time. Yugi panicked and shook his other. The spirit squeezed either side of his head and screamed. He actually screamed. He was in pain.

/ Mou Hitori no Boku!/ Yugi cried out through their link.

The spirit in front of him went rigid and started to fall to his side. Yugi quickly grabbed him and held him close. What was happening? What was going on? Everything was getting worse. His other half was not getting better. He was getting so much worse! Yugi cradled the body close to him. He felt cold, so very cold.

Out of the corner of his eye there was movement. Yugi twisted his head to see the shadows stirring around them. A small whimper came out of his mouth against his will. Yugi swallowed hard and stood, lifting his other half as best he could. He proceeded to drag him towards his soul room. /It's going to be okay Mou Hitori no Boku, I'll fix this. I promise. I'll fix this./

Yugi found his way over to the locked door of his other's soul room. When he turned the knob, he was surprised that the knob actually moved. It opened and Yugi dragged his lifeless other half into his own room, safe from the shadows. They snarled and growled in their confines, wrapping their way around the spirit's soul room door. Creaking could he heard from the door as the wrath and anger of the shadows became apparent. Yugi placed his other half against the wall and rushed over to the door. In the best voice he could muster he whispered. "Go away!" and the door was slammed shut.

The hikari turned his attention to the lifeless form of his darkness. He knelt by the man and placed his hand on his forehead. His darkness was freezing. Yugi gasped and pulled at his own hair, unsure of what to do to help his other half. "Mou Hitori no Boku." He whined slightly. He took off his jacket and placed it around the individual.

The dark half remained still. Not only was he still, he looked paler than ever. Yugi stared at his body. He knew spirits didn't breath but it didn't change the fact that his Yami's soul looked….dead. The irony of that fact hit home and not in a funny way. What if he lost his darkness? What if he had failed to do his job as the lighter half?

At a loss of what to do, Yugi snuggled up to his other half and cried. He cried hard for the first time in a while, especially since this entire disaster started. He held his darkness against him tightly. He had done this. This was his fault. And now he was going to lose his closest friend. He sobbed pathetically, hating himself for it.

/A-aibou?/

Yugi's head jerked up. He wiped his tears away quickly. / Mou Hitori no Boku?/

/C-can't…..move/

Their bond was weak but it was still there. Yugi gazed over him and wrapped his jacket around him tighter. /It's okay. I have you. You are okay./

/No, hikari. I…am dying/

TBC

A/N~ So Yami's personality may need some explanation. So this is the part of Yami from season 0 the part that really is evil. This was the side of him he showed mostly when ruling his country. This is because as a king, he was not to show sympathy or weakness so this personality was developed. However, when meeting Yugi, it was locked away because Yugi taught Yami compassion and forgiveness. This is why this personality hates Yugi and does not understand why Yugi forgives him. He is evil and therefore does not understand forgiveness.