#💎 Game Treasure (Yugi Muto)

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Happy Sunday friends!

Just putting it out there (in case you didn't know) that Yugi's birthday is on Tuesday (Aka the 4th), and that he will be accepting birthday asks! So, if you want to give our resident King of Games a birthday wish or what have you, feel free to!

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@shacchou LMFAO

obsessed with this interaction tbh

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Inferiority Complexes

As far as my YGO DM muses go, Yugi & Mokuba are not only the youngest of my current line up, but are also the two who possess heavy feelings of inferiority regarding themselves and someone they care about a lot / look up to. With that comes shaky self-confidence and high self-doubt. However, how their feelings manifested, the intensity of those feelings, and how they are eventually overcome are different, and I want to go into that in this post (prepare yourself it's gonna be a lengthy one)

So, let's begin with Yugi, whose feelings are pretty blatant in the text (both anime and manga wise) and are a big part of his character growth / central arc. Yugi, unsurprising to anyone, feels a sense of inferiority to Atem, someone he looks up to and sees like an elder brother. So, when did this all start?

Well, pretty much as soon as Yugi figured out there was 'someone or something else' who shared his body and was the one doing the majority of the big feats in terms of the plot (Manga wise that's Death-T and Anime Wise that's in Duelist Kingdom). Atem always appears as a source of strength for Yugi when something is too tough for him to handle emotionally or physically. Even when he was unaware that Atem wasn't just an alternate personality of his but in fact his own person, he still was very much aware of the strong presence taking him over in times of adversity. And that fact...made him feel so weak and pathetic in comparison, that he Yugi Muto, wasn't strong enough to handle whatever he had to face.

This fact of him feeling like the 'lesser Yugi' damages Yugi's own low amount of self-confidence that he had even before completing the puzzle. He's never seen himself as anything special, partially due to his own humble nature. Even after the main story is done, he still feels that way. That low self-confidence leads to self-doubt and needlessly beating himself up for being so 'weak' to the point there are moments he gives into what others, such as Marik, have said about him only being Atem's 'vessel' and nothing else. As if that is the only thing he is good for, that he is the 'weaker' Yugi.

Sometimes he even questions if he should just 'vanish', that everyone would be better off if he wasn't there or that people would prefer Atem being around over him. We see this in the anime when Anzu is dueling in the Noa Arc, Yugi thinking that she is calling out for Atem and not him.

But it is Atem, along with the rest of Yugi's friends, who help him through these complex feelings, Atem especially. He teaches Yugi about strength and courage, a trait Yugi has had all along inside of him that he was unable to truly see. For example, he stood up to Ushio to defend Jonouchi and Honda even before Atem appeared, to stand up to a bully and protect people he called 'friends'. That kind of strength, the strength of kindness, is Yugi's strength, and it is through seeing Atem and teaching that fact to him, along with the encouragement of his friends, that allows him to really see it for himself.

This is why Yugi takes steps, such as during Battle City, to prove his own strength to himself. He wants to prove he isn't as weak as he thinks he is, to use what he's learned from his partner and stand on his own because he knows one day he will have to. This is done mainly through his battles with Otogi in the manga, possessed Jonouchi in both versions, and Yami Bakura in the Dark RPG. They were battles Yugi had to primarily or entirely fight on his own. And those battles showcased Yugi's own unique strength that wasn't just 'an inferior version of Atem's' or even a 'copy', which is shown well through Yugi's own unique deck he used against Yami Bakura.

This all cumulates in the ceremonial duel, where Yugi proves his strength and truly is able to overcome his insecurities to fulfill his last mission as Atem's vessel / partner. And he takes as much pride in that victory as he does sadness, for it was the last step in his journey. After that fight, he no longer sees himself as inferior to Atem, but rather his equal. For he knows that duel was evenly matched, and if he didn't predict Atem's final plan to win, he would have lost.

Lastly, he gets to prove to everyone who did believe those negative thoughts he had about himself to be true in DSOD, such as with Kaiba. Kaiba at the end acknowledges him as a true duelist, and that meant the world to Yugi. It really helped cement that new found self-confidence of his, especially because Kaiba has always been someone Yugi's respected and was Atem's rival.

Overall, Yugi's inferiority complex is a key part of his character arc. It is something he overcame with time and the support of his loved ones, and I for one as a Yugi mun cannot be more proud of my boy. I'm sure Atem is proud of him too, as we can no doubt see by the end of their duel and I suspect he felt when seeing Yugi again in DSOD.

As for everyone's favorite little bro, Mokuba feels a sense of inferiority to Seto, which isn't probably that surprising considering how he views his big brother and just what his brother has accomplished. Unlike Yugi who developed his feelings in the midst of the story, Mokuba's feelings have been pretty much a part of him since he could remember. Though, they are just as deep-rooted and potent as Yugi's, if not more so.

Mokuba's feelings began when he first developed his admiration for his brother. Seto was a genius, a capable young boy most would consider a prodigy. From Mokuba's POV, everything his brother was able to do was impressive, be it from grades, to ideas, to his talent for gaming. This feeling was probably shared by their parents and many other adults, to the point I am 100% certain Seto was a prime adoption candidate who probably refused if they did not want to take Mokuba too (which I imagine most if not all did not). And while he felt no feelings of jealousy to his brother for all that praise or attention he got (jealousy is a feeling Mokuba's never felt towards Seto ever), he did sorta start to see himself as...lesser in comparison.

Though, this is Mokuba 100% being unfair to himself. You must keep in mind Mokuba and Seto are 5 years apart in age, and Mokuba was only 5 and Seto was 10 when they were dropped off at the orphanage. That's a huge gap in terms of development, and Mokuba had not gotten as much life experience as his brother or time to learn and hone any really major skills (because I do think Mokuba is a fast learner when he puts his mind to something and is very motivated, similar to his brother).

But this reality goes over Mokuba's young mind (and it still does, even after knowing the logic). After all, if his brother can do all those things, surely he can too, right? So it must be an issue with HIM. It's part of why, more often than not, Mokuba sees himself as a burden to his brother, that his own lack of 'competence' or 'specialness' holds him back. He blames himself for them not being adopted by potential nice families who wanted Seto and not Mokuba, because if he was just 'better' than they surely would want both (even though that's not at all how that works, but again, little kid logic).

This is why, even at a young age, Mokuba tries to prove himself and can often be reckless. We see this in Death-T primarily in canon with him wanting to challenge Yugi (which was also motivated by getting his brother's approval), but I imagine he did this with just about anything he tried to do. He wanted to sorta 'catch up' to his brother, even though there was never a 'race' between the two of them to begin with.

These feelings of inferiority intensify after they are both adopted by Gozaboru. I imagine Gozaboaru, much like other parents, only really was after Seto. He had no interest at all in Mokuba. Why would he when Seto was the one to be the heir?

I imagine Mokuba didn't get the same harsh treatment his brother did from Gozaboru, because it was almost like he wasn't 'there' to begin with. Mokuba was isolated from his brother I imagine through a lot of their childhood, so he wouldn't be a 'distraction'. Sure he got educated too (I imagine he was just sent to regular school much like we see him in the manga going to), but it was not anything special. It was more like 'good enough' as opposed to anything extraordinary. And he was no doubt compared to his brother constantly, whether it was by staff or by people at school. That only made what he was feeling worse and led to both beating himself up needlessly (like Yugi does) and contributing to his nightmares at times.

On top of all of that, as Seto and him (manga wise anyway) got further and further apart, he sorta got the vibe from his brother that Mokuba was no longer 'worth his time'. He wasn't anything attention-grabbing anymore, hence leading to Mokuba's early manga actions (because I 100% think everything from the first Capsule Monsters game to his match with Yugi in Death-T was all to get Seto's attention and not his true nature. Why else would he just suddenly change personality traits upon Seto's loss, when he didn't get mind crushed?).

Even after repairing his relationship with his brother post Manga Duelist Kingdom, his feelings of inferiority were not addressed (he hasn't brought them up to Seto directly before cause he doesn't like to burden his brother and it's hard to talk about for him) and only grew as his brother accomplished more and more. He almost like saw himself at the bottom of the hill with his brother at the top, with the distance being too great between them. That distance was indeed one of his motivators for him to start working harder, to start taking a more active role in Kaiba Corp, and to start honing his gaming skills without the use of cheating.

So, with all that said, how does Mokuba overcome these feelings? Well, aside from working hard as I mentioned, I imagine it will be a slow process that is helped by both his friend squad and his brother. Mokuba's Buddyfight friend group (AKA my Gao, Tasuku, Suzuha, and Akatsuki) are the first real friends (outside of Yugi's gang) he's made that see him as NOT Seto Kaiba's brother but rather his own individual. They constantly lift him up, support his efforts, and are there for him. They've done a lot for him personally to feel like he's worthwhile and that he's not as 'weak' as he thinks.

As for Seto, any kind of praise or showcase of being 'proud' of him helps. This can be done in many forms, including being given important tasks at Kaiba Corporation, such as running things in his absence post-DSOD until he returns. I do imagine if Mokuba ever told his brother about his feelings, that Seto would tell him something along the lines of that he doesnt' need to feel that way or that he should not compare himself. Being seen in such a way by his brother would help greatly, along with I imagine if Mokuba is able to beat him in any sort of game and his brother expresses that he did 'good'.

In conclusion, I do not think it will be till Mokuba is an adult that those feelings he has will completely go away (I imagine they pop up every now and again too, like any deep-rooted feeling). It is only after having stood on his own two feet, having proved himself, having gotten that approval from those around him, and having probably bested his brother in a game that his view shifts from being 'lesser' to that of an equal, a true Kaiba in his own right (something he didn't have to 'earn' btw but he thought he had to). And I hope to get to explore that journey of growth through all my threads!

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YUGI HAS HIS OWN SPECIAL DARK MAGICIAN NOW ? AND A BUNCH OF RETRAINS OF HIS KEY CARDS HE USED IN THE LAST ARC INCLUDING MY BOY MARSHMELLON? A DARK MAGICIAN SPECFIC MIRROR FORCE TOO?!

A YUGI INSPIRED ARCHTYPEEEE AHHHHHHHHHHHHH

HOW DID I NOT HEAR ABOUT THIS UNTIL NOW?! (I'm shocked @abysseeker didn't shout this at me considering the OCG / TCG news master she is) WELL I GUESS I KNOW EXACTLY WHAT YUGIS POST DSOD DECK WILL ENTAIL NOW. LOLLL GOTTA GO BUILD THIS IN YGO PRO CAUSE ITS NOT IN MD YET.

Oh boy, Kaiba ( @shacchou) is gonna get to face a bunch of new cards in their upcoming duel in that lunch thread. He will get to face versions of the cards that beat Atem xD

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@shacchou

"Knock, knock, knock, Big brother! Yugi's here to see you!"

The younger Kaiba's playful introduction to his arrival to the president's office was to be expected at this point, and yet he still can't help but feel a bit embarrassed at it. Yugi noticed that despite Mokuba's maturity as he grew up and began high school, he still had that youthful mischievousness of his younger days. And while his antics can be a bit much for the game developer at times, he knows it's Mokuba's way of self-expression that signified he has become comfortable with his being here and working together with him and Kaiba on the Spherium project. That's what really was crucial at the end of the day, even if he wishes things could be toned down just a bit.

He steps into the office with a bright confidence and joyous smile, Mokuba closing the door behind them. He really had been enjoying this process so far. Never did he think he'd ever collaborate with Kaiba, considering their history, but it is one he is truly grateful for. He always wanted to get to know him better, and while he certainly would never be called his 'friend,' being Kaiba's business collaborator and opponent in games more than sufficed. Atem surely would be proud of them, Yugi likes to think.

"Hey, Kaiba." He greets him with a light wave of his hand. "I had an idea I wanted to propose to you. Why don't we discuss the next steps for the project over lunch at a local restaurant today? We've both been in the office working so hard lately, that I thought a change of scenery would be good for us both."

Yugi can see Mokuba from the corner of his eyes nodding his head rapidly, expressing his agreement with the idea. He was always concerned his brother was working himself too hard and practically living at the office these days, after all. These were concerns Yugi had grown to have as well, another reason for his suggestion of a change from their usual meeting.

"There's this nice game cafe downtown that doesn't get that busy this time of day that I think would be perfect. So, what do you say, Kaiba? You up for my proposal?"

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@shachou LMFAO

Whether platonic or romantic, you can’t deny this is them

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@gildinbainas (Continued From Here)

If anyone knew Atem well and understood his heart, it was Yugi. The two of them had shared a body together, fought side by side in countless battles, and both had grown stronger from learning from the other. They were as close as two people could be, really. That's why he wasn't at all surprised with the king once again showing his reclusive nature when he returned to this world, However, Yugi couldn't get over this strong feeling in his heart, a feeling that drove him to hunt down Atem at his workplace today before he had to go to his meeting at Kaiba Corporation.

"I know, Atem. I know you're doing just fine in your new life, and I'm really happy for you. You know all I want is the best for the people in my life." He even hoped that for people who had once been his enemies, such as Pegasus and especially Kaiba, who he had been collaborating with on his new gaming project and had seemingly taken Atem's former role as his Duel Monsters rival. That was just the type of person Yugi was.

"I didn't come here because I was worried about you. N-Not that I don't think about your well-being or anything! I just know you can handle yourself. You always have." He then takes a seat next to the other, turning his attention towards him so he can finally speak his reasoning. "I actually came to see you because....I missed talking to you and spending time with you. That's all. It's...It's not been the same without having you always with me, even after two years."

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Yugi & Anzu (Yu-Gi-Oh! Duelist: Chapter 19)

A Rarity's Birthday Day Festival 2024 🎁 (For TC, AKA @relevc )

ONLY THE TAGGED BLOG MAY REBLOG!!!

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Yugi & Kaiba Acknowledging Each Other

Pyramid of Light (2004) & Darkside of Dimensions (2016) @shachou (Only the tagged blog may reblog!)

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@hhorakhty

The gift of kindness you’ve given me and the courage I’ve given you will remain with us. And that will forever bind us together.

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@tophatz Sent:

“ it’s okay, you know. if you need to vent. " (( Anzu @ Yugi! ))

Of course, she'd notice he'd be acting off. Anzu had been Yugi's oldest friend. She had been with him since the beginning, seeing him throughout this journey he's had with the Millennium Puzzle and the spirit within it. If there was anyone he could talk to about how he was feeling, it be her.

Yugi takes a deep breath, preparing himself to speak. He wanted to make sure not only what he wanted to say, but also that the other spirit inside of his body wasn't going to listen in on this. Usually, his parnter was rather quiet during school unless something came up, and from what he can sense, it appeared his soul was currently drawn back into the puzzle for the time being, the very puzzle Yugi's hands were now clasping as he looked at Anzu.

"I'm just...worried about the Spirit of the Puzzle." His voice is soft, laced with concern and worry. "He...He said he didn't care if he got his memories back or not to me the other day. While I...I don't want him to leave, I...I can't help but worry that he'll stop wanting to try and find out his past...for my sake."

The spirit sharing his body was selfless and protective. Yugi knows that much from his actions. While he certainly never wants the other to leave, for he's become like family to Yugi, he can't help but feel selfish even saying things like 'I want you to stay with me forever' to his face when deep down he can just sense that shouldn't be the case.

"He...He doesn't even know his own name, Anzu! His name! He doesn't know anything at all about himself! He should know who he is and where he came from, but...he knows how much I care about him and like having him around. I just..." He looks down at the puzzle again before moving it close to his chest as if to hug it. "I just don't want to hold him back...back from figuring that out."

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Truths Of The Kingdom (Drabble) (For @shachou )

"Here's you go, Mokuba." Yugi smiles as he presents the neatly presented box of Capsule Monsters Chess capsules, filled with a selection the younger Kaiba hand-picked himself from what availability was in the store. "Those creatures you picked out are great choices."

"Thanks a lot, Yugi." Mokuba says, taking the box and placing it neatly inside his own golden suitcase that resembled his big brother's own silver one. "Your gramps had some super rare ones even I couldn't pull from the capsule machine! He's sure lucky when it comes to collectibles."

"Yeah, he does. Gramps has some of the most amazing pieces of gaming memorabilia I've ever seen! And each one he takes care of well and cherishes with all his heart, just like I know you will do the same with those capsules."

"Don't worry. I'll take good care of them. They're going right into my capsule display case in my room at home."

However, with how many Mokuba was getting as of late, perhaps he might need to get an additional one. He had been increasing his collection steadily, wanting to get his hands on just about every capsule in existence. It wasn't just for mere bragging rights, but rather as…research for a project he wanted to develop, a secret project not even his big bro knew about.

He then closed up his suitcase upon securing the merchandise inside before picking it up to prepare to take his leave. Mokuba had to be back at the mansion for dinner with his brother, considering it was one of the nights he had the evening off. Meals with his brother were one of the times they were guaranteed to spend time with each other during the day. So, he did well to make sure he didn't dare miss one.

The sight of something on a shelf, something Mokuba can't recall having seen on display before before, stops his exit, the young fourteen year old turning around and pointing to the object of interest.

"You still…have that dueling glove, Yugi?"

"Oh, this?" He says as he moves to take the object down from the shelf, putting the unique article of clothing on one of his hands. "Yeah I still have it. Atem and I had a lot of important battles while wearing this glove. Every experience I had are all still memories I cherish. So, I thought I'd finally put it on display as a memento of my time on that island."

"Hmph. Well, glad you at least got something good out of that whole thing…" The younger boy's voice is laced with obvious disdain. His time on that island is one he couldn't call enjoyable in the slightest. The only good part of it was reuniting with his brother, and even then, that could have happened anywhere.

Yugi, seeming to notice the sudden change in mood, shifts his expression to a somber smile. His eyes look down at the glove then as he appears to be contemplating something. "What you're saying may be true Mokuba, but Duelist Kingdom had as many good memories for me as bad ones. There were times back then I doubted myself, doubted whether I could save my grandpa and both you and your brother."

"…What...did you just say about my brother…?"

"Kaiba never…never told you…?"

"Told me what? What has my brother not told me?!" His hands have long since abandoned his briefcase, instead having placed them on the counter as he closed the distance between them again. "What do you know, Yugi?! Tell me!"

"I-I don't…I-I don't know if I-"

"I don't like being kept in the dark about things, and if you know something Seto hasn't told me, then you should tell me! I…I never thought about it till just now, but I never…asked him why he was on Pegasus' island to begin with. I guess I was so happy to see him again that I just didn't even think to ask. I-If that's what you know Yugi, then please tell me! I deserve to know what happened to him!"

A period of silence fell over the shop as Mokuba continued to stare at Yugi, his body language emphasizing the desperation of his words. He just had to know this information, and considering it had been held up until this point, he is doubtful Seto would tell him if he asked. There was no other option than to seek it from Yugi, for he could think of no one else who would know all the details and relay them to him accurately other than him.

A sigh from the duelist's mouth breaks the silence, Yugi looking back at the Kaiba then. "…I understand. You…You don't deserve to be kept in the dark. Let's…Let's talk in the back. You'll want to take a seat for this."

Mokuba nods as he follows Yugi to the back of the shop, picking up his belongings to take with him. He texts Isano, who was patiently waiting outside for him to finish, that he will be a bit longer than anticipated. He then takes a seat next to Yugi on a couch out back, giving the other his full attention as he begins to tell the story.

"I guess...it's best to start at the beginning." Yugi says as his eyes close, recounting the events in his mind. "The same night that you were taken back to the castle by one of Pegasus' men, your brother arrived in that helicopter we all went home in. I gave him his deck back, and not long after, Jonouchi challenged him to a duel."

"My bother dueled Jonouchi?! But he was such a wimp! Why would my brother waste his time?" Mokuba then pauses for a moment, realizing how what he said might have come off. "N-No offense to him or anything! He just wasn't remotely in my big bro's league back then, and that's the reason I'm confused as to why my brother would even accept his challenge to begin with."

"Your brother wanted to test out his new duel disk prototype because he planned to use it in a duel against Pegasus."

"Against Pegasus? So you're saying my brother came to Duelist Kingdom to duel Pegasus?" Mokuba's question is met by a nod from the other, the teen moving a hand under his chin as he takes a few moments to think. "I guess that makes sense. That creep was trying to take over our company! If my brother crushed him in a duel, then his entire plan would have fallen apart! Just like my bro to take action."

"Y-Yes, but...that wasn't his main reason for wanting to come to the island to duel Pegasus."

"I-It wasn't? Then what was, Yugi?"

"Not what Mokuba, but rather...who."

As soon as Yugi looked over to stare directly at Mokuba, the truth hit the young teen like a truck. You would think that such a sentiment would be obvious, but...it was one he did not even think to consider due to how his brother had treated him prior to Atem's penalty game. And that failure of realization stung...like a bug bite that just kept burning and burning with no signs of letting up.

"...Me? He came to Pegasus' island...to save...m-me?" His breath was shaky as tears threatened to spill from his eyes. The sight prompted Yugi to place his hands gently on his shoulders in order to provide some comfort.

"Of course he did. Mokuba...your big brother loves you. You’re everything to him. I know that probably there were times when it didn’t seem that way, but I know deep down in his heart…he never stopped loving you.”

It was those words that caused the dam to break; for water to finally flow from Mokuba’s purple hues. Any words he wanted to say in response were drowned out by his tears. What was spoken was a truth he wanted to be true deep down in his heart, but for many years he didn’t feel it. For who Seto had become due to their experiences under their stepfather was unrecognizable to Mokuba, and he believed he truly had lost his brother’s love for many years until their reunion on Duelist Kingdom island.

But Yugi wasn’t one to lie. In fact, he was the most honest person he could think of. It’s why he pleaded with him to share this tale in the first place. So, if he believed that sentiment, then it must be true, even if believing it was still hard to swallow considering his brother’s past actions. For he would never forget all the horrible memories he tried to suppress, the ones that would haunt him as nightmares in the dead of night.

“If he did…” Yugi continued after allowing the younger a few moments to let his emotions out. His hands slowly released from the other’s shoulder and his gaze shifted downward. “He wouldn’t have…risked his chip in our duel.”

“His chip…?” Mokuba’s blood ran cold as he remembered something his brother told him once, one of the many 'life lessons' he had been told as a kid. His face turns pale as he looked at the other with a desperate and horrified expression. “You don’t mean his…”

No vocal response is given as the air in the room suddenly feels much 'heavier' than before. Nothing but silence filled the room as the duelist deliberately seemed to avoid Mokuba's gaze. This atmosphere...it could only mean that...what he suspected was true.

That his elder brother...risked his very life to save Mokuba's own...The most selfless act that one could consider...Seto had always been selfless in his protection of his younger brother, but this...? This was...on a whole other level.

It's at that moment that Mokuba can hear a small sniffle reach his ears, but not one that had come from himself. For it was Yugi that had created it, his own purple hues now also being filled with tears. He could not understand why though, despite knowing his brother's rival was a rather empathetic person. So, he decided to ask.

"Yugi...? Why are you...why are you crying too?"

"I was...so scared that he was going to die if I went through with our final attack..." He doesn't elaborate on the details of 'how' Kaiba would have died, for saying it out loud would be much too painful for him. "I had to...stop Atem, who was only trying to help me so we could save my grandpa from Pegasus, from winning the duel..."

"You...You let my brother beat you? Even though...Pegasus had your gramps?" That certainly would explain why his brother said his duel with Atem wasn't over yet shortly before they departed the island. However, Yugi's words still left an important aspect of this unexplained, leaving the teen confused. "My brother...He did...horrible things to you and your friends. Why show him mercy at all? You know...if things were reversed, he probably wouldn't have-"

"Because...I didn't want him to die, Mokuba." Yugi's words cut off the youngest Kaiba's, his words dying in his throat under the weight of the other's sorrow. "I couldn't have let him die...I couldn't let anyone die because of me, especially...not someone I consider and cherish as friend."

Yugi then moves to moves to stand up in order to access a lavender tissue box on the nearby counter. He takes it and brings it over to Mokuba, offering him some. They both took this moment to dry their eyes before continuing on.

"I regret having to fight him at all if I'm being honest with you. I didn't know why he was dueling me at that point, but I should have known it was for an important reason. He had a fire in his eyes like nothing I'd ever seen from him before, a fire that reminded me of Atem's." Yugi then clasps his hands together as if trying to stabilize himself and control his emotions. "We were both just...trying to save our family members from Pegasus. We should have...We should have been fighting him together as comrades, not battling one another as enemies...Maybe if we did...he wouldn't have had to duel Pegasus all on his own."

"So my brother did end up fighting Pegasus after all, then? And since you said earlier you had to save my brother, I guess...I guess I know how that turned out..."

It's no wonder his brother didn't want to discuss it. When it came to losses, his brother didn't handle them well. He never has, even when they were kids before Gozaboru taught him his 'final lesson'. Hearing that he did lose, though, did bring another question to his mind.

"But...how could he have lost? He had the upper hand because of his duel disk, right? That jerk Pegasus must have cheated or something!" Little did he know that last sentiment was technically correct, but that wasn't the key detail that Yugi was going to focus on.

"He...He didn't use it in that duel."

"Why not?! My brother never changes his plans! Unless he...had no choice..."

Mokuba pauses his thought there, trying his best to recall back to what he can remember. One moment, he was in Pegasus' dungeon, then he saw a golden flash of light, and then the next he knew, he was waking up in a bed surrounded by Yugi's friends. That means there was a huge gap of time he wasn't around for, and if his brother was there to save him, then...

"Where was I during all this, Yugi? Because...I don't really remember how I got into that bedroom in the castle..." In response to his asking for more information, Yugi looks to the side again, avoiding his gaze. That signaled to him that whatever happened had to be heavy, but considering what he's already heard in this talk, he imagines it can't get much worse.

"Come on, Yugi. You've already told me this much! I want to know everything, no matter how painful it is to hear! And I promise I won't ask you to talk about this again! So, please...!" The pleading nature of his tone does little to convey his desperation. He was already this far into this, he wasn't about to turn back now. Seeming to realize that, a sigh escapes the duelist's lips before continuing on.

"Pegasus...did the same thing to you as he did to my grandpa. He...trapped your soul in another place...a soul prison, using his Millenium Eye."

Hearing the name of that item caused something inside of the boy's mind to click into place, like a puzzle piece. He remembers a quick sight of a weird eye behind Pegasus' white hair just before everything went black. That must be what Yugi was mentioning. It just had to be.

"With your soul in another place, your body was...under Pegasus' control. He...He used that to his advantage to stop your brother from using his duel disk, for Pegasus wanted you...to be the one to operate it for him. And your brother...refused to fight you, Mokuba. So...they dueled on a table instead."

He sits there, eyes darting to his locket as he processes yet another bombshell of information. His brother was always...hesitant to play games with him when he started to get older. Mokuba could never quite figure out the reason why. Games were something they used to enjoy when they were younger, after all. Though, games were not just 'fun' for his brother anymore, sadly. They were seen as battles, a clashing of souls, and looking at it from that point of view, made everything become clear to him. How could he not have seen this before?!

"Seto..." His brother's name is all he can say, his eyes fixated on the locket that he opened so that his brother's picture was staring back at him. Mokuba then listened intently to Yugi recount the rest of the tale, his hands seeming to grip the picture and hold back more tears with each passing detail. Pegasus using his brother's precious Blue-Eyes against him...His brother's own trapping in a soul prison...How Honda got him out of the dungeon... All of it he became aware of, and he...he could barely handle it.

Following the conclusion of the story, Mokuba bowed his head and expressed his gratitude to Yugi, promising he owes him one for this. Yugi, being the kind of person he was, said to not worry about it and instead said he hoped he gave him what he was looking for. Upon hearing that, the vice president decides to take his leave, making sure to pick up his briefcase and telling the duelist he'll see him again when his gramps gets new capsules in stock.

No words are exchanged as he got into the car with Isano, the teen simply deciding to remain silent as they headed back to the mansion. Upon arrival, still nothing came out of his mouth. His head is kept down down as he headed to his room. He then opens the door then, placing everything to the side before plopping onto his bed face first and pressing a button to close the blackout curtains around it to block everything else out.

Mochi, as always, is there at his side, curling up right underneath his left hand that Mokuba naturally start to use to stroke her soft fur. He uses his other hand to text one of the maids, telling them that he wasn't going to eat dinner with his brother tonight. The reason he gave, that he didn't have much of an appetetie, was both a truth and a lie. It was a lie in the sense that he certainly was hungry, but it was a truth because he couldn't focus on eating when he had much more on his mind.

His heart was a mix of emotions he couldn't quite label. Frustration. Sorrow. Agony. All of those were certainly part of it, but what he felt more than anything was a pain in his chest, akin to a stab through his heart. He hid his face in his pillow as time went by, crying into it heavily as a million thoughts ran through his mind.

Some things he thought were about himself. How could he let himself not question this for so long?! How could he have been so blind to his brother's feelings again?! How could he not see what was right in front him?! What was said through actions and not words?!

Other things he thought were about his brother. How could his brother keep this a secret from him when he expressed he wanted things to be open and honest between them? If he kept this a secret, what else has he not been told? And did his brother still see him as that scared, pathetic kid who clung to him desperately to survive back at the orphanage when Mokuba was a full-blown teenager now?

The thoughts and tears continued to consume him as time passed, the younger Kaiba losing track of it altogether. He ignored the growling of his stomach. He ignored the crustyness of his eyelids. He ignored all signs to stop and take care of himself, signs he always made sure to scold Seto for ignoring, to instead drown in a storm of his own emotions, one that seemed to have no end in sight.

TO BE CONTINUED.

[universestreasures]

@shacchou Sent:

Seto wasn't a stranger to ruthless work sessions that extended over several days and all-nighters; both his mind and body having adjusted almost flawlessly to functioning on scarce hours of rest, oftentimes coupled with the performance-boosting effects of caffeine. His role within Kaiba Corporation went far beyond the mere managerial, and as such his agenda was always packed with a wide array of commitments that involved the company's internal and external affairs. Sometimes though, on rare occasions, his body made certain to remind him that —contrary to what he insisted on believing— he had his limitations. On that particular evening, said reminder happened to take place in a rather overpowering manner, lingering behind blue eyes that had to make an effort at staying open and wrecking havoc on what was usually a quick-thinking mind. Regardless, during his usual meeting with Yugi to discuss matters pertaining to Spherium, he maintained his usual stoic disposition, not allowing even a hint of exhaustion to appear upon his countenance. That was, until their meeting was abruptly interrupted by the sound of Yugi's phone, who had apparently forgotten to mute it prior to entering the meeting room. As the other quickly moved to silence the object, Seto stopped him by telling him —with a hint of irritation in his voice— to simply answer the call. An unwise decision, considering what happened next. After Yugi left the room in a hurry to speak to whoever was on the other end of the line, Seto leaned back against his seat, crossing his arms over his chest soon after. Although the silence was initially welcomed, it swiftly allowed for another wave of exhaustion to take over him, forcing him to close his eyes for what he intended to be only a moment. His body, though, had other plans; unavoidable ones. He did not even realize how, but in a matter of seconds, he had fallen asleep.

It was his grandfather who called him that evening. The gaming legend and collector wanted to ask for yet another update on how his grandson's project was going. Considering his own passion for games, his gramps was always interested in learning the new developments for Yugi's own personal game, one he eagerly awaited the day he could play with his grandson. Though, there was not much the King of Games could say on the matter, not when he had signed an NDA upon him and Kaiba Corporation's partnership being solidified.

He had planned to just call him back after the meeting, knowing they would talk soon after upon his return back to the game shop. That was...until the CEO stopped him and told him to answer it. The response from Kaiba, laced with an obvious irritation, was surprising to him. Yugi knew how busy his business partner was and how important these meetings were to the project's continued development and success. That's why he usually silenced his phone before arrival to prevent any and all distractions. However, he couldn't help but smile a bit upon turning around to follow that direction from the other. It wasn't like his rival to allow him to take some of their time to handle personal matters, after all.

Was it because he saw it was his elderly releative on the other end that had prompted him to allow Yugi to answer it, or did he simply need some more time to prepare for their meeting? The answer would be unclear, for things with Seto Kaiba were never so straightforward, but the gesture was appreciated all the same. Yugi is quick though to answer his grandfather, once again reminding him that it was going great and that yes, he would be home for dinner right after this was done and he didn't need to worry about him.

Upon satisfying Grandpa Muto and silencing his mobile device to prevent any more surprise interruptions, he places his phone in his back pocket. Keeping it there would prevent him from getting distracted. Yugi entered the office again, intending to express his apologies for the interruption in addition to thanking Kaiba for allowing him to take the call. Those intentions, along with his movements, stopped altogether once the sight before him flooded his purple eyes, a sight he had never seen before in his entire life that he had to blink twice just to confirm what he was seeing was real.

"Kaiba...fell asleep...?"

The thought is expressed internally, not wanting to disturb the other. This development was surprising, but also not at the same time. He noticed as soon as he entered the room just how exhausted the other looked, even if he hid it well. The fact their meeting had been moved to the evening, rather than an earlier time of day so that Mokuba could join them, just solidified how busy and no doubt overworked the elder Kaiba was.

Seeing him like this, calm and peaceful in his sleep, actually brought a small smile to Yugi's face. It made him feel happy that his rival finally listened to his exhausted body and was getting the rest he needs, even if the duelist was confident this wasn't an intentional thing on Kaiba's part. After all, falling asleep like this was a form of 'weakness' from the other's point of view, something he didn't like to show in front of others. Guess he should feel honored he got a glimpse of this rarer side of the CEO.

He then carefully and quietly makes his way to sit on the other side of the rather large office. A text is then promptly sent to his grandpa, saying he might get home later than intended and he'll keep him updated. For it was Yugi's intention to sit and wait for Kaiba to awaken, no matter how long that would take. After all, who was he to wake him up?

"Rest well, Kaiba. You've earned it..." The sentiment is silent as he watches over the sleeping duelist, patiently awaiting his rival's return from the depths of slumberland.

[universestreasures]

@relevc

I lied I have more yugioh

I guess this is yugi at one of anzu’s performances, head over heels in love ofc

[universestreasures]

@relevc Sent:

   ❛  if life was an ice cream , you’d be the flavor I’d choose every time.. in fact , are you sure you’re not a neapolitan ? because you’re every flavor of wonderful .  ❜ ( to yugi , from anzu with love 💖 )

"A-Anzu..." His words come out as a stammer, his cheeks turning the same shade of pink as the strawberry component of the ice cream flavor she just spoke of. It wasn't uncommon for her to say sweet and sentimental things like this, but something about felt...different.

Was she...flirting with him...?

Regardless of her intentions, his face shifts from one of shock to a smile. The blush on his cheeks still remains. In fact, it gets slightly more pink as he does what he does next. He gently places his hand ontop her own, his eyes meeting hers as he responds to her words with ones of his own, straight from his heart.

"If anyone's any flavor of wonderful around here, it's you, Anzu. You've always have amazed me, ever since we met. You were...my first real friend, after all. And I'm..." He pauses for a moment as the look in his eyes gets even softer. "...very thankful to have you in my life. I know we don't see each other as much considering how busy we both our chasing our dreams, but...I'm glad when we can just meet and hang out like this."

It is then that he removes his hand and stands to his feet, offering the dancer his hand. "Say, why don't we get some ice cream, on me? A new place opened up not too far from here that Mokuba says is the best around."

[universestreasures]

Never forget Atem is canonically Yugi's wingman and I love that honestly.