Yami Yugi Summons Black Magician Girl

Why the Ceremonial Duel is Utter Bullshit

Obelisk can't be targeted by spells, traps, or card effects.

So how the hell is Yugi able to use Crumbling Axe against it?

The whole thing is predicated on bullshit.

A Wee Bit of Homoeroticism?

I felt it the moment I touched your card, your pulsing, throbbing soul!

Yami Yugi Gives Kaiba Advice

My Boys

Aren't they darling?

To Those Who Say Yugi Isn't Atem's Reincarnation

Yami Yugi Can Be Such a Dork!

Dat face!

Eve of Battle

Attack of Chaos

This is the First Time We've Met

Darkness Before Dawn - Prologue

{} Flashback

\/ /\ Dream

Japanese school year

1st trimester: Second week April – Last week July

Summer vacation: Last week July - Last week August 

2nd trimester: First week September – Last week December 

Winter vacation: December 25 – January 7

3rd trimester: First week January – Last week March

Spring vacation: March 25 – April 7

Summary: AU. Yugi begins his freshman year at Domino University. Between the bullshit classes, bullies, mountains of homework and the mysterious lookalike who can match wits with him in games, Yugi must learn to walk the fine line between work and play, light and dark and happiness and tragedy.

Warnings for graphic themes of physical and sexual abuse. If you are easily offended or upset, this isn’t the story for you.

Sunday, April 3, 2005

Domino City, Kantou Region, Japan

The rain poured down in a torrent from fat, iron gray clouds, plipping off of green leaves and soaking the good earth with fresh, life-giving moisture. The raindrops splashed and slid off of the sleight roof of the old three story house that sat on a spacious lot, its white walls standing out in stark contrast against the grays and browns of the thick wood of tall old growth trees that flanked it.

In his third story bedroom, whose wood plank floor was littered with dirty laundry, boxes and half-read manga, eighteen-year-old rising university freshman Mutou Yugi sat clicking through all the old family photos he had spent the day scanning into his new computer.

‘Rain again,’ he thought, large lilac eyes casting a baleful glance at the gloomy weather outside his window.

The next photo made him pause and stare, moisture filling his eyes as an image of his younger self, ensconced in his parents’ arms, smiled at him from the screen.

‘Our last photo together before…’ Yugi thought as he closed his eyes against the lachrymose flood.

{

July 12, 1995

Kame Game Shop

Yugi and Grandpa were spending a rainy evening watching a movie while Yugi's parents were out for the evening act of a kabuki play. The joviality of the movie was disrupted by the shrill warble of the house phone.

Grandpa paused the movie and, with a pat on Yugi's spiky little head, rose to answer the phone.

Yugi sat waiting for Grandpa to return so they could resume their movie. From the other room, just audible over the pelting raindrops outside, Grandpa’s voice drifted into his hearing.

“Yes, this is he… What?! Oh, gods!”

Yugi thought he heard a sob, but that was impossible, for his jolly Grandpa never cried.

“Yes… Thank you.”

The click of the phone being hung up, barely audible over the swishing and soughing of the rain and wind against the walls and windows.

A few minutes later, Grandpa returned, lilac eyes dull and unfocused and features somehow looking older than they had a few minutes ago.

“Yugi, my boy, I'm so sorry…”

The rain was a torrent in his ears.

}

Blinking his eyes to clear away the noisome moisture, Yugi clicked through. Since that rainy night ten years ago, he had lived at the Kame Game Shop with his grandfather. Now that he was in college though, it was time for him to begin to make his own way through the world. Hence, his having decided to rent this house and live off campus, away from prying adult eyes.

“Hey, Yuge!” called a voice from downstairs.

“Yeah, Jou?!” Yugi called back, grateful that his voice didn’t waver.

“Ya got ¥1,056* I could borrow? I’ll be good fer it bah Friday, I sweah!” the voice called.

‘Really, Jou?!’

“Hang on!” Yugi called, grabbing his biker wallet off the desk and fishing out the requested yen.

Yugi made his way downstairs and found best friend, roommate and resident deadbeat Jounouchi Katsuya, sprawled out on the couch, blond mop looking as though it hadn’t seen a comb in years, watching a raunchy anime. Wrinkling his nose in distaste, Yugi simply tossed the folded bills into Jou’s lap.

“T’anks, pal!” Jou grinned up at Yugi, mirth flashing in his roguish brown eyes.

“Anytime,” Yugi replied with a roll of his eyes. “I’m taking my shower.”

“Go fer it,” returned Jou, already engrossed in his hentai once again.

*Roughly $20 USD

After soaping himself and rinsing off, Yugi sank up to his neck in the steamy water. Usually, the evening bath was a chance for him to relax and unwind. Tonight however, his whole body was taut with the excitement that only comes with starting at a new school, where he was about to embark on his college career and learn his master passion: video game design.

Yugi sighed unhappily as he remembered the required classes he faced as an underclassman before he could actually pursue his major: computer programming and 3D geometry. OK. Those he understood. You had to know how to code if you wanted to design video games and knowledge of geometry helped with creating 3D objects.

However, he couldn’t help but wrinkle his nose in disdain at the last and most frustrating requirement of all: liberal arts. This broad category was an umbrella for several other academic pursuits, such as literature, philosophy, math and the social sciences.

Literature? The furthest Yugi had ever ventured into literature had been manga and translated American comics. Philosophy? Snore City! Math? Yugi had barely scraped by in high school with a D- in that subject. This left the social sciences. Out of those, the least burdensome choice had been psychology, so it was this that Yugi had (very hesitantly) chosen to fulfill the liberal arts requirement.

‘Why the hell do I have to learn psychology to design video games? The two have nothing to do with each other! Why do schools always have to pull this shit?!’ he thought, splashing the water spitefully with his hand.

With a deep sigh, Yugi banished all thoughts of confounding required courses from his mind and resolved to enjoy his soak to the fullest.

Later…

Finished with his bath and now clad in his blue cotton PJs with yellow star pattern on them, Yugi was just setting up his new school email address, changing it from studentnumber@domino.edu.jp to blackmage@domino.edu.jp, when his attention was snapped back to the real world by the vibrating phone on his desk.

Yugi picked up his phone and couldn’t help the smile that broke out on his features when he saw the caller ID: Grandpa, aka Mutou Sugoroku. Yugi flipped his phone open and hit Answer.

“Hi, Grandpa!” he chirped.

“Hello, Yugi. Just thought I’d call you to wish you luck on your first day at school tomorrow,” Sugoroku’s gravelly voice sounded over the phone.

“Thanks,” said Yugi, frowning as he remembered what his first class tomorrow would be. “Hey, can I ask you a question?”

“Of course,” replied Sugoroku.

“When you studied archeology at Domino, did you have to take a bunch of classes that had nothing to do with your major as an underclassman?” Yugi asked.

“Heh heh heh! Yes, indeed! I had to take Classical Western Literature and Art Appreciation before I could actually begin taking the archaeology and egyptology courses,” Sugoroku answered, confirming Yugi’s suspicions.

“Ugh! Well, you’ll be happy to know things haven’t changed that much. I have to take Psychology before I can study video game design! Isn’t that the worst?!” seethed Yugi.

"Now, now, Yugi. Instead of complaining about what you can't change, the best thing to do is just put your head down, work hard and get through it," advised Grandpa in a kind, but firm tone.

"I know. I know. Ganbare!" said Yugi with a longsuffering smile and roll of his eyes.

For Grandpa was a member of that practical elder generation that believed in working hard to get through a tough situation instead of complaining or commiserating about it, and certainly instead of explaining the wherefores to confused members of the younger generation.

“That’s right. If you work hard, you’ll master it and before you know it, it’ll be out of your way,” counseled Sugoroku.

“Yes, Grandpa,” said Yugi with a lopsided smile.

“Besides, even if you do have required courses, it doesn’t change the fact that you’re in university, where you don't have to worry about being expelled because of your hair,” teased Sugoroku.

Yugi couldn’t help but smile at Grandpa’s last point. His hairstyle had caused him no end of grief from teachers in high school, due to his unusual starfish shaped black locks with purple fringe and long, angular blond bangs that framed his angelic features. In university, there were no dress or hair codes, which meant that Yugi would finally be able to relax and just study his passions.

“You’re right. Thanks, Grandpa,” he said, feeling somewhat better about the situation.

“You’re welcome, Yugi. Now remember, study hard and don’t let Jounouchi borrow you into debt,”Sugoroku’s merry voice teased.

“Ha ha! I won’t,” said Yugi, wincing as he remembered the money he had lent to the blond earlier.

“I’m going to let you go now. Don’t stay up too late,” Sugoroku advised.

“I won’t. Love you, Grandpa. Bye!” said Yugi.

“I love you too, Yugi. Goodbye,” replied Sugoroku before hanging up.

‘Grandpa’s so awesome. He always knows how to cheer me up,’ Yugi thought as he absently picked up a deck of cards and began flipping through it, gazing down tenderly at each card.

{

Monday, September 4, 1995

Kame Game Shop

Tears flowing from his huge, round eyes, Yugi clung to the green denim of his grandfather’s overalls.

“P-Please, Grandpa! I can’t go to school!” the little boy sobbed.

“Why ever not, Yugi?” asked Sugoroku, knowing that he needed to handle his emotionally fragile grandson with kid gloves, while somehow still holding him accountable for his behavior.

“What’ll h-happen while I’m gone?” Yugi sobbed. “What if I c-come home and you’re not theeeereee?”

‘Oh, so that’s the problem…’ Sugoroku thought as he gave Yugi a squeeze before gently disengaging his clinging arms and kneeling down so that he was at eye level with his grandson.

“Yugi, I’ll make a you a deal,” Sugoroku proposed, gazing gravely into Yugi’s eyes.

Grandpa’s voice and gaze actually snapped Yugi out of his tears, causing the boy to stare back, lilac communicating with lilac.

“What k-kinda deal?” Yugi asked.

“Go to school today and when you get home, I’ll be here with a brand new game,” proposed Sugoroku, deliberately appealing to the boy’s love of the thing for which he was named.

“A new game?” asked Yugi, tear bright eyes now shining with interest. “What kind?! What kind?!”

Sugoroku smiled at Yugi, aged eyes twinkling.

“You’ll just have to find out when you get home,” he said wisely.

“I can’t wait!” cried Yugi, voice rising with excitement.

“Then why don’t you start off to school so you can get home that much sooner?” suggested Sugoroku.

“Great idea, Grandpa!” chirped Yugi, running to the genkan to step down into his shoes.

“I’ll see you when you get home, Yugi,” said Sugoroku.

At this, Yugi’s little figure froze and the boy turned around, fixing Sugoroku with an imploring gaze.

“Promise?” he asked, holding out his hand, little finger crooked.

“A solemn promise,” answered Sugoroku, kneeling down and hooking pinkies with Yugi.

“OK, Grandpa. I’ll see you tonight,” said Yugi with a return of good cheer.

With that, they unlinked their pinkies and Sugoroku watched as Yugi ran out the door, just in time to catch the city bus that would take him to school.

Later…

“Grandpa, I’m home!” Yugi called as he shut the door behind him and stepped out of his shoes. “Is that the game?!”

This at the sight of several cards laid out on the dining room table at which Grandpa was seated, lilac eyes twinkling.

“That it is, Yugi. This is a brand new card game called Duel Monsters. It was created in the United States by an entrepreneur named Pegasus J. Crawford and has just been released in Japan. It’s a great game. Would you like to learn to play?” asked Sugoroku.

“Yeah!” cheered Yugi, pausing only to dump his backpack.

“Alright. We’ll just go over the basics for now, then play one game before you do your homework,” said Sugoroku.

“Aw, OK…” conceded Yugi as he sat in his chair.

Sugoroku spent the next hour going over the cards and explaining the different archetypes, equipment, magic and trap cards, attack and defense points and the rules of the game. After Yugi understood them pretty well, they had a short duel, which Grandpa won easily. However, Yugi was so enthralled with the game that he didn’t mind losing.

“This is my favorite card,” he declared solemnly as he held up a card upon which was printed a wizard with long purple hair, dressed in matching armor and pointy helmet.

“Then you must keep him in your deck. If you treat him and your other cards well, they’ll always look after you,” said Sugoroku.

“And you too, Grandpa. Your cards will take care of you forever,” smiled Yugi.

“Yes, they will,” smiled Sugoroku.

}

As he peered down at the cards, which had different monsters, dragons and wizards on them, Yugi thought back to last Monday’s freshman orientation, which he and Jou had attended to enroll in the university and get their class schedules.

{

Monday, March 28, 2005

Domino University

At long last, all the boring speeches and distribution of schedules and maps was over. Now it was time for the fun part: picking out clubs and circles to participate in during the school year. The clubs all consisted of stuffy, boring pastimes that kindled neither Yugi nor Jou’s interests. The circles were all pretty much the same. Then their eyes fell on one table, a bit apart from the others, behind which sat a young man with fluffy, snow white hair and large, disarming brown eyes. Upon seeing two potential members, the young man instantly smiled warmly at them as they sidled up to the table.

“Welcome to my humble table. My name is Bakura Ryou. Are you interested in signing up?” he asked cordially.

“Yup!” replied Yugi and Jou simultaneously.

“I’m Mutou Yugi,” Yugi introduced himself.

“‘N I’m Jounouchi Katsuya. Ya prolly heard a me…” Jou began.

“Defending regional champion?!” Bakura gasped, cutting off Jou.

“Well, I did finish third…” replied Jou.

“Mutou Yugi wants to be in my circle?! Oh, I believe I shall swoon!” cried Bakura, gazing at Yugi with starstruck eyes.

“Er… Um…” Yugi stammered, uncertain of how to react in the face of such unmitigated fanfare. “I-Is there some paperwork we need to fill out?”

“Oh, you needn’t bother. Just show up in the library in Building 3C after class next Wednesday with your deck,” smiled Bakura.

“What ‘bout me, third place finishah?” asked Jou, interposing himself between Yugi and Bakura.

“Hmmm? Oh, yes. Of course. The more the merrier. Here are the requisite papers. Just bring them along with your cards,” answered Bakura, absently shoving the papers into Jou’s face without ever removing his eyes from Yugi, who could barely contain his laughter.

}

‘Even with the bullshit classes, college is gonna be so awesome!’ Yugi thought as he tucked his cards safely into his backpack for tomorrow.

Why the Anime Version of the Theft of Yugi's Puzzle Works Better than the Manga's

Why was I so gullible?

Nine times out of ten, I prefer the manga’s version of events over any changes an anime adaptation might make. The manga is, after all, the author’s original idea; and who knows the characters better than their creator. However, YuGiOh presents a glaring exception to this rule in the stolen Puzzle arc.

Many of us are familiar with the anime version of this story. After returning from Duelist Kingdom, everyone is settling back into the humdrum of daily life. Well, except for Yugi, who is just getting to know his Other Self whom, for simplicity’s sake, I shall refer to as Yami from here out. 

Yugi and Yami are finally able to interact freely and Yami enjoys teasing Yugi like a big brother would by suggesting putting the Puzzle on a chain. It's so much fun to watch. 

So in the anime version, Yugi goes out on the town, but stops at a table being manned by a hooded fortune teller who offers to read Yugi's future if Yugi will but give him the Puzzle. Yugi does, with disastrous results, almost getting himself and Yami killed. 

First time manga readers may be surprised to learn that originally, this was the same arc as Otogi’s introduction. In the anime version thereof, Yami Yugi had to duel in Dungeon Dice Monsters to save Jounouchi’s honor after Jou lost a game of Duel Monsters to Otogi and was forced to wear a dog suit.

In the manga version, Yugi goes to Otogi’s game shop, the Black Clown, where he's framed for shoplifting by someone Otogi hired slipping some merchandise into his back pocket when he isn't looking. Yugi is manhandled into the back office and, despite his protests, stripped of his goods, including his Puzzle and is then forced to play DDM against Otogi to get it back. 

Why this is inconsistent is because, in the original YuGiOh manga, Mokuba and his little punk friends also tried to steal the Puzzle, but the moment they reached for it, were confronted by a snarling, snapping Yami. So where is he this time? Why does he come out the first, but abandon Yugi in the second? In this version, one could lay blame to Yami for the whole thing since he neglects Yugi. 

This is why the anime version works for me: the whole thing comes about due to Yugi's naiveté. To clarify, I don't say this because of any malice toward Yugi, but rather because it's consistent with how he has acted thus far. 

1. In the early manga, he gives the Puzzle to Professor Yoshimori and Kanekura to display in Domino Museum for the day, completely oblivious to any idea that Kanekura might have designs on the Puzzle for a quick profit, and is thus very lucky that Shadi retrieves it for him.
2. Yugi lends Kaiba his grandfather’s treasured BEWD card and Kaiba steals it, leading to Yugi's grandpa almost being killed.
3. Yugi gives his Exodia cards to Haga, who treats them to a little swim in the ocean, almost getting Yugi and Jou killed.

Thus, we see over and over again Yugi's naiveté causing him to fall into the hands of his enemies and only getting out with luck or Yami's help. Yugi giving the Puzzle up to a disguised Bandit Keith is thus very consistent. Thankfully, it's also the last time he does this.

It seems to take almost losing his Other Self in an inferno to cure Yugi of his foolishness, which leads into another rant. Why would Yugi, who has spent most of his school career being picked on by bullies, be so trusting? Surely, since he's seen the ugly side of people, he would be warier and more judicious about whom he would entrust the Puzzle he calls his treasure to.

A Treatise on the Dynamic Between Yugi and Atem

This treatise is in response to some posts I've seen which say that Yugi was always strong on his own and never actually needed Atem/Yami no Yugi in his life and that the Pharaoh was little more than a parasite who used Yugi to gain his own ends while not benefiting Yugi at all. This is not meant in any way as a slam against Yugi, who is my second favorite character to Atem. It is merely to show how Yugi and Atem affected each other and that they both needed each other and benefited greatly from knowing and interacting with each other.

Pharaoh Atem

As we all know, 3,000 years ago, Atem sealed his soul, along with Zorc and the Thief King, into the Millennium Puzzle and Ring respectively and used his name as the key to lock everything away in a last ditch attempt to save the ancient world.

The Egyptian view of the soul was that it was broken into different components, such as the ren (name), ba (personality), ka (vital spark), akh (light) and sheut (shadow). This is evidenced by Atem’s own words.

“The light (akh) within my soul will be inherited by another who is worthy.” 

Now, this leads me to an interesting thought. Those who have read the Millennium Arc will remember the flashback showing how Sugoroku obtained the Puzzle from Atem’s tomb. I won’t go into an exhaustive recap, but basically Sugoroku ends up being shot in the back by one of the men he’s traveling with and is dangling from the edge of a bridge, about to fall into the darkness, when… 

“I’ve been waiting for you, Shimon.”

If Atem was sealed away in the Puzzle and lost all his memories, then who is that guy, who obviously remembers his vizier from Ancient Egypt? My theory is that this is the light of Atem’s soul that would be passed onto the other who was worthy. Who would that be? 

Mutou Yugi

Not much of a pharaoh's reincarnation, is he?

Thanks to Atem’s intervention, Sugoroku survived and was able to smuggle the Millennium Puzzle out of Egypt. The decades passed with Sugoroku marrying and raising his son. Eventually, Sugoroku’s son married and had his own son. I wonder if, when Sugoroku laid eyes on the child, he remembered what had transpired in the Pharaoh’s tomb those many years ago. 

The evidence to me points to Yugi being the reincarnation of the akh, the part of Atem’s soul that held his love and kindness. The akh also held Atem’s memories and knew what was about to transpire, which is why he saved Sugoroku, so that the reincarnation of his vizier would be able to eventually bring about the birth of the one he would reincarnate into. 

When we first meet Yugi, he is very quiet, kindhearted and very vulnerable to bullying due to the fact that he won’t stick up for himself. It’s as though his kindness is unchecked by any sort of sense of self-worth. 

Honda and Jou start out as bullies.

Kindness, unchecked by self-worth, is a weakness, the person being little more than a doormat at best, a martyr at worst. Yugi’s own kindness was a liability to him, as evidenced by him letting Ushio beat him up to save the two boys who had bullied him earlier. While some might admire this behavior, I see this as bordering self-destructive.

Is this kid right in the head?

Guess not.

So basically, we have Yugi, who is all goodness and light, bordering on being a selfless martyr. Now, let’s check out his twin and polar opposite.

Yami no Yugi/Mou Hitori no Yugi

Yugi, before he's had his morning coffee.

Eventually, we get to the part where Yugi assembles the Puzzle and sets Yami no Yugi free. Well, just by looking at him, it’s obvious he’s a pretty malevolent entity, at least toward those who harm Yugi and those Yugi holds dear. 

Penalty game! Greed, the Illusion of Avarice!

Yami no Yugi thinks nothing of driving people to insanity, blinding them, or even blowing them up if they “trespass in his soul.” 

These are the dark actions of a dark soul, unchecked by any sense of kindness or morality. If the light of Atem’s soul was reincarnated as Yugi, his dark half, or sheut, was what was sealed inside the Puzzle, with no memories of who he was, only 3,000 years of darkness and isolation. 

Yin and Yang

When Yugi solved the Puzzle and he and Yami no Yugi started interacting with each other and dueling together, slowly but surely, each one started to affect the other. At first, the transformation is mostly apparent in Yami no Yugi, who begins to change from a malevolent entity into someone with a bit more mercy and compassion. It happens slowly at first and there are definitely some starts and fits in his transformation, but it does happen.

I think the first big step in this transition is during Duelist Kingdom, when Yugi duels against Kaiba for entrance into Pegasus’ castle. We all know what happens here. The point is, Yugi sees what his Other is about to do and his so horrified by it, that he’s able to summon enough strength to force the spirit to stop short of murdering someone. 

Other Me, don't!

Although this is an important first step in Yugi’s journey toward greater strength, he still has a long way to go and is painfully aware of this, as evidenced in his conversation with Anzu after they get into Pegasus’ castle and Yugi gets punched out by Bandit Keith during an altercation in the hallway.

Another great leap in Yugi and his Other’s character development is the first time they truly work together as a team in the duel against Pegasus. Yami no Yugi is struggling against Pegasus’ Mind Scan, which allows Pegasus to see what cards he has in his hand. Yugi calls out to Yami no Yugi and is overjoyed when his Other finally answers his call. Yugi offers to switch minds back and forth with Yami no Yugi, thus confounding the Mind Scan. 

Seeing his toons defeated, Pegasus uses the Millennium Eye to turn the duel into a dark game, an oppressive atmosphere that only Millennium Item masters can withstand. Yugi shows great courage in dueling in a shadow game. However, at this stage, he is still young and very vulnerable and can’t last long in the oppressive environment, thus forcing Yami no Yugi to take over. Before he passes out, Yugi leaves a facedown card that neither Yami no Yugi nor Pegasus has seen. Yami no Yugi becomes a witness to the power of unity when their friends are able to project their spirits into the shadow game and block Pegasus’ Mind Scan.

I think the first time Yami no Yugi learns to acknowledge kindness as a strength is when Yugi duels Jounouchi at the pier during Battle City. Earlier in the duel, Yami no Yugi struggles to drag Jou’s mind out of the darkness, but is unsuccessful. Seeing Yami no Yugi’s distress at how things are going, Yugi offers to intervene. Jou begins attacking Yugi with illegal direct attack cards, hitting him without mercy. Seeing that Yugi is in trouble, Yami no Yugi makes to take over again. However, unlike in Duelist Kingdom, Yugi is determined to finish the entire duel on his own. In a move that may be considered brave or foolhardy, Yugi removes the Puzzle, thus relegating Yami no Yugi to the side lines and continues on his own. Yugi is able to drag Jou’s spirit out of Malik’s possession through the power of kindness alone, relying on his longstanding friendship with the blond to reach him. 

By the time we reach the duels on Kaiba's blimp, Yami no Yugi is much more merciful than he once was. He refuses to continue his duel against Yami no Bakura when he switches and shows Bakura Ryou suffering in the shadow game. He only continues once the dark entity takes over again. 

We see this again during the final duel with Marik, when the vessels are separated from their Others and are erased bit by bit with each hit to the Other's life points. Yami no Yugi refuses to continue the duel because Malik is about to be destroyed due to the hit on Marik’s life points. 

Had something like this happened in the previous arcs, I wonder if Yami no Yugi would have hesitated or if he would have plowed through Bakura and Malik to seize that all important victory. 

During the Millennium Arc, we see Pharaoh Atem appalled when Bakura’s Diabound attacks innocent citizens during his first battle with Atem. Now what I wonder is, is this how the ancient Pharaoh was, or if this is still Yami no Yugi with Yugi's purifying influence on his soul. 

And of course, we see Yugi’s growth to strength in the Millennium Arc when he duels Bakura in the crypt so he can find Yami no Yugi’s true name.

It’s good to see that Yugi has gained enough strength to be able to duel on his own. No doubt Yami no Yugi would be proud if he could see Yugi dueling right now. Where I differ with other fans is that I don’t believe Yugi would have been able to handle this on his own if it had happened way back in the early manga/Season Zero days. Yugi gained strength gradually through his interactions with Atem, just as Atem learned to be kind and merciful through his interaction with Yugi.

Conclusion

Through their two year journey together and in each of their duels, Yugi and Atem were both able to gain something from the other until they were whole enough to go their separate ways. This was evidenced in the Ceremonial Duel when Atem was able to lose gracefully to Yugi, who had matured enough as a duelist to be able to create a whole new deck and even defeat Atem's Osiris.

In the beginning, Atem and Yugi were both incomplete souls, each possessing something the other lacked. Through their cooperation and close bond, two souls were made whole.