madimpossibledreamer

            As the duel continues, Yami feels his fury rising, but then, so does Yugi’s.  It reassures him that this is a righteous cause, if even his calm, forgiving partner is angry.  Still, there’s something different about Rafael than most of their opponents.  How can someone so misguided play with such respect for his own deck?  Part of him is starting not to care.  All the people Rafael and his buddies have hurt are crying out for justice.
            But the duel drags on, as Rafael continues with the same confidence that he’s going to lose, and the absolute dismissal like he isn’t even a threat stings in a way it’s never done before.  He’s always been underestimated, so why is it this hurts?  And their plan makes him sick.
            Destroying the world, based on an assertion everyone is evil?  How dare he judge?
            Rafael plays Exchange, and he doesn’t realize, not at first, what he’s been given.
            It’s the Seal of Orichalcos.  He can’t play that.  Not that card.
            “We’ll have to rely on the heart of the cards,” he muses, but Yugi’s uncharacteristically silent.  Even if it saves the world, though, he can’t use it.  No matter how tempting, the power to save the world, to save his friends, he can’t.  With all of his strength, he continues to resist, calling on his cards to do what he cannot.  But it seems a losing battle, and he growls.
            Yami feels a flash of impatience from Yugi before he’s forcefully shoved out of the way, and when he realizes what’s happening, Yugi’s standing in his place.
            “Yugi!  What are you doing?” he asks, reaching forward, but there’s a distance between them that he’s never felt, and Yugi doesn’t turn, doesn’t even acknowledge his presence.
            “You’re going to pay for all the people you’ve hurt, Rafael!” he yells, and there’s something wrong with his voice.  There’s a sneer to it that isn’t right.  It isn’t his partner.  “I play the Seal of Orichalcos!”
            “Yugi, don’t—”  The Pharaoh realizes, belatedly, that he’d been considering playing it himself, that it hadn’t seemed the absolutely dangerous idea that it does now.  It plays on our weaknesses, our uncertainties.  It clouds our mind.  I’d thought that Yugi was unaffected, but it seems like I was wrong.  And it’s too late.  The Seal grows, shutting him out as Yugi had shut him out, and he’s the outsider staring in.  “Yugi!” he screams, hitting against the seal, but there’s nothing he can do.  It’s Yugi’s duel now.