#Yami's locked up for a little while but he left Atem a nice parting gift for him to deal with

[sennenpharaoh]

"..."

He's staring down a worn down and exhausted Atem. They have been apart for quite a while. Yugi, Mana, others... how many have seen him? This darkness? And how many, he wondered, have figured it out?

"How fitting, for it to just be the two of us after everything that's happened. And how pitiful, truly, for you to continue on your godsdamned spiel, bluffing your way into their good graces. You won't admit who I truly am, even when no one else is around to hear it. Those around you will eventually see right through you, and see me... see you... for what you truly are. Hell, I already believe some of them have figured it out. What are you going to say to them? What will you--"

His speech was cut short when he noticed his body began to fade. He wasn't disappearing, but... it appears his time outside has come to a halt.

Now's his chance! With a flick of his wrist Atem used what remaining strength he had to conjure not knives... but chains. Binding chains that wrapped all around Yami, keeping him confined.

"What in the... what have you done to me?"

"A little present from a close friend." Atem stood up, revealing a Nightmare Binding Magic Card. "I'm sure this looks familiar."

"You... Dare..." Yami could only struggle in increasing anger as his eyes flared up. "You dare side with the bastard who defeated you?! Who took everything from you?! Who brought out the worst in you?! Who turned you into the weak Coward you are now?!" He glared daggers into Atem, pure burning anger dripped in his voice.

"You had your chance! You had your chance to finally pay him back when you took that guardian's sword and you could have ended this! But no."

"The only one who's done... is you. This time... you're locked up for good."

Yami let out a painful laugh. "You can lock me up all you like, but you know the truth. Everyone is learning the truth. And sooner or later you will admit it. My words are your words. My truth is your truth. My darkness is your--"

With a flash in Atem's eyes he swiftly flicked the card, causing the chains to completely envelop Yami, turning the spirit into a cloud of darkness which immediately shot into Atem's chest. The sudden surge of dark magic was overwhelming, causing Atem to clutch at his chest, collapsing to his knees. He could feel the dark cloud begin to suffocate him, the dark voice echoing in his mind. Everything that once came out of that spirit's mouth now rang inside his head, but this time...

"That creature... is nothing but a Parasite."

That... that was his voice!

"She deserved to suffer for what she has done to me!"

Stop it! You should be locked away! That spell should resolve, why aren't you locked away yet?!

"Aibou, everyone... I should be keeping them safe, not relying on them! Had I still my magic, my gods..."

No! No he will not say such nonsense! He placed both hands against his own mouth to stop himself from speaking. Struggling against himself, a body exhausted from using what limited magic he had, he physically couldn't take it anymore, and he collapsed the rest of the way to the floor. In his weakness his hands slowly moved away from his mouth long enough for...

"I wanted to come back, and became weaker because of it."

"I should never have made that wish..."

To hear those words come out of his mouth unconsciously but... almost naturally... Atem didn't want to hear it. This was Yami's final move before he was locked away, it just had to be! There's no way that he himself would ever say something like that!

"That's not true." He curled up, eyes squeezed shut. Hands pressed against his ears, not wanting to hear any more of what just happened. "That's not true! That's not true! That's not true!" He kept repeating the same phrase over and over again, each time feeling his face flush and his eyes... ah, of course. Like clockwork. Just like always. At least... no one's around to see this.

"It's not true. It's not true. It's not... true..."