[He bites back I don't have to tell you anything. Not until you've calmed down. Is that condescension? Implying Ryou can't handle it?

Taking care of the people he loves, and hurting them...he's having trouble doing one without the other, these days. Like Yugi. Is it because he's a bad player? That he's no good at this game?

(He can't put down his sword, not yet. He needs it. But it keeps cutting people he cares about, when he tries to hold them.)

Atem stands up.]

I didn't know it wouldn't heal.

It did with Steve.

Every other time I've seen someone lose vital parts of themself, they wake up after it's grown back, not before. I can't explain why you were different.

[Well...that's not entirely true. He can explain it. It fits with what he's observed before -- that "will it cause as much pain as possible" outweighs all other conventions, all other rules. That's why Atem has to do what he's been doing. Because all playing fair gets you in Ryslig is more scars on your body and heart. The only sure things in Ryslig are fear and pain, and it was stupid not to realize that before.]

That's why.