Truth Isn't What You Want to See

This little one-shot came about from a rabid plot bunny that kept running around once I heard of Ebony Kuroneko's contest on deviantart. Basically, the contest was somebody/something walks past a reflective object, and that object refects the person's/thing's true self. Entries could be art, story, or poem; multiple entries were allowed. I did not win the contest; WSJ did with Darcio as runner-up. Congrats to them.

So, first off I drew an art piece, entitled "Truth Isn't What You Want to See." Yep, same title. It's basically a shot where Dark Magician looks into a mirror and sees a Kuriboh as his true self, and Dark Magician Girl is highly amused. In this piece, the two big "symbolisms" are the mirror, named "Veritas," and the title of the artwork. "Veritas" means "truth" in latin. To me, it's also a minor reference to Pilate in the Bible, who says "What is truth?"

This, then, leads into the symbolism of the prose piece with entitled the same name as the artwork -- "Truth Isn't What You Want to See."

Obviously, I make a lot of references to truth. In the fanfic, I mention "truth" fourteen times, not counting the title. [Random note: 2 * 7 = 14. I love these things, don't you?]

The title has some pretty blatant signs that there's some hidden meaning -- which there is. Both pieces were named the same, but the subject matters were practically opposites. The artwork poked fun at the concept of seeing your true self; the prose dabbled into philosophy, existance, and angst about one's true self.

The title itself comes from the poem "Music of the Night," which comes from Phantom of the Opera. It's the original poem before music was added.

Close your eyes, for your eyes will only tell you the truth
And the truth isn't what you want to see
In the dark it is easy to pretend
That the truth is what it ought to be...

It was also slightly inspired by Lizeth's fanart named "Close Your Eyes."

So, basically now I'm just going to explain the fanfic.

The echoing of "This is truth" is based on the ancient Egyptian mantra where, at the Judgement, the person must state that he has done no wrong. Basically he lists a whole lotta stuff like "I have not robbed, I have not stolen, etc." And then the forty-two gods, who are listening and judging him, state whether this is truth or not. It's in the basic style of Coming Forth By Day.

"I have no soul; therefore I do not exist" is based on the saying "I think, therefore I am." Rather, Ryou is saying that even if he thinks, if he has no soul, he does not exist. (Yami) Bakura has taken over. Though Ryou has control over his thoughts, because his soul has been stolen away, Ryou does not exist.

So what does Ryou and the doubter see in the mirror? He sees nothing. If a mirror reflects the soul, and Ryou no longer has his own soul, there is no soul to reflect -- to show back -- there is only blankness where Ryou's image should have been.

Therefore, the meaning of the title now becomes clear. Refering to the poem, both the artwork and the fanfic portray this:
   That your eyes, and the mirror, can only tell the truth. They cannot lie.
   But the truth is not always what you want to see.
   But in the dark, when you close your eyes, you can pretend.
   ...That the Truth is what it ought to be