#as for the second one. it happened in a dream i had where seto lost another duel to yuugi/yami

[prachelley]

Yu-Gi-Oh! except it's my poorly drawn memes

[lulue-xie]

I write something !

unquired past prideshipping / violetshipping

Post-canon / post DSOD

please note : english is not my native language, i didn’t write outside of RP since a really long time and never directly in english + i have dyslexia so, it not strange for me to forget how to write stuffs correctly, be indulgent and correct me kindly

Have a good read !

While Seto continue to be a good CEO for Kaibacorp, Jounouchi start his dream to be a pro duelist, that how they start to hang together more frequently, they have the same place to work, the same subject in head, the same event to go.

Their story start out of nowhere, it’s not like they were know to be in good term, always going to find bugs in other hair but time pass like a rocket after their graduation and help to ease the tensions.

Events that speak about duel monster but also money, where you get bored easily wearing your best clothes, start to drink a glass to much and to speak with your old classmate and rival just to realise how much you have in common, how much you love his humor finally and maybe the end of the day what not so bad and it will be the start of something new for both of you.

Jounouchi didn’t believe it will be almost 3 years since he is in couple with Seto and it’s been a hell of a roller coaster, at first because they have to ajust to each others, then because they have obligations and travel a lot, reducing their time together.

He discover multiple faces of his boyfriend during those years but one in particular always worry him when he was so far away, that part of Kaiba that was so obsess about things and paralysis him into the past, it was hard to pass by something, to not think about it.

Kaiba was so obsess about winning to the pharaoh in the past, he didn’t feel like Atem acknowledge him like he wanted, it’s almost make him crazy just to think about it, it make him construct a whole system to go in the after life, he didn’t even remember how he come back in the real world but that was the end, that was when he finally decide to turn the page about him, he understand now that his love was to much for himself and the both of them maybe, since Atem didn’t even look at him this way but something, something when he was alone at night in their house, the one he choose with Jounouchi, he think about it, he think about all the time he had and lost in this story and it make him depressed and lost in his own head.

But Jounouchi always come back with the sun, he know how to keep him outside of his own head, that what he loved the most about him, always bright and ready to bring positivity into his live, after all this time he know he can be loved at the end of the day.

***

He just come back from an other travel, get in America to play in championship for two weeks and have Isono to pick him up at the airport, the flight always wash him off but what he wanted to most was to see Kaiba’s face before to take a good shower and sleeping in his arms.

He turn the light on and can see Kaiba’s back on the couch, it was a bad sign to see, surely the loneliness start to eat him up again.

“hey, what happen ?” he say while closing the front door, manifesting his presence, standing in the entry, he can see Kaiba in the livingroom looking at him over his shoulder, even with the low light he can see shiny spots on his cheeks where the tears was not so long ago.

“Kat i just” closing his eyes one second to no break down again “you know, thinking about him” admitted it in a tiny voice before putting down his head

A softly “oh” emanate of him and he took off this shoes, let hi bag lie on the floor, before crossing the entry way to sit next to Kaiba, putting this arm around his shoulders and he lift his head with a soft hand “that ok Seto, we all miss him”

“yeah but” he don’t look Jounouchi in the eyes, too raw, too ashamed to always go back at the same place in his brain “i loved him so much and i hate the fact he still haunt me when i have you” he put his hand over his face in despair, just wanted to stop, stop all of it, stop to think, then strong arms encercle him and he feel the warm of Jounouchi body, listening to his heart make him feel instantly better

“shh ok, you have just a rough time here, time to think about other stuffs” Jounouchi start to play in his hair and they just stay like this for a moment, it could be a minute, a hour, more important is to be together again, far way from his spiraling mind, Jounouchi stop to take his hand and start to kiss his no-so-wet-anymore cheek “and you know, it's not because you loved him back, that you don't love me as much today” he give him is big sunny smile, the one that can melt any ice and Kaiba manage to give him a little smile back, feeling a lot better.

“Let’s stop that “ Kaiba say after some silence

“stop what ?” 

“To travel i mean”

“oh yeah” say Jounouchi in a little sigh, “that a good idea, i m tired anyway and want to be home with you” finally he get his welcome home kiss.

[thedorkmagiciangirl]

The Missed Thematic Importance of Anzu’s Speech

Okay everyone in the ygo fandom guess who watched Anzu’s speech to Kaiba in the sub and had FEELINGS?

And to be honest, I think all of people miss what she’s saying, especially in the original Japanese since some people are more familiar with the dub.  So I am going to explore what she says, what it means, and how it connects to Yu-Gi-Oh!’s themes as a whole.  Let’s get started.

All right, what should happen first is that we actually establish what she says, right?

Here are her speeches, manga and sub.  I’ll probably make another post about the dub version of her speech later.  I’ll be using the official Viz translation for the manga and the Crunchyroll translation for the sub, which while they have their inaccuracies are accurate enough for our analyzing purposes.

Manga:

Kaiba:Games mean conflict.  A combat between two enemies...It’s the same for all of them!  Cards...chess...the bloodsoaked wars of the human race...all these are different kinds of games...Do you know what God gave to people so they could play games in this world?  A single chip...called life.  When I threw my chip of life on the board...Yugi exposed his weakness and lost the game!

Anzu:That’s not true, Kaiba!  You’re the one who lost! 

Kaiba:What?

Anzu:You say people struggles are a game!  That’s totally wrong!  Facing yourself no matter how tough things get...and keeping up the fight...that’s what games are really about!  You bet your chip of life as if it meant nothing!  You lost to yourself!  When you realized you were going to lose, you didn’t have the courage to keep living!  Listen...real courage is protecting that chip you have in your hands...No matter what!  The moment you give that up is when you lose!

Jonouchi also chips in after this, pointing out that it was Yugi who saved Kaiba’s life when Kaiba was throwing it away.

Sub:

Kaiba:You showed weakness in the end, Yugi.  If you were willing to send me into the abyss, you would’ve won.  As a duelist, you made a foolish choice.

Anzu:You’re wrong!  You’re the one who lost the game, Kaiba!

Kaiba:What?

Anzu:Kaiba, you tried to throw away your most valuable chip: your life.  You lost to yourself!  You didn’t have the courage to face yourself to the end!  Real courage is to protect your chip - your life - no matter what the situation.  You lost when you threw it away!  Yugi saved your chip of life!

Now let’s break it down.  Anzu uses some gaming metaphors here (appropriate for this series) and other roundabout ways of speaking, so let’s put it in more direct words.  What is she trying to tell Kaiba?

Being courageous is being willing to live, and by extension, never giving up on life.  Courage is living with your failures, with loss, and with regret.  This is her philosophy.  Every time a dancer falls, she gets back up and tries again.  Every time someone told her they didn’t believe in her dream (given that she assumed Yugi and Jonouchi would make fun of it, it seems likely that this happened in the past) she keeps working at it anyways.  It’s even similar to what she says following the duel with Johnny Steps.  She yells at him for quitting because as she says, she’ll fail a hundred times but she’ll still pick herself up and keep trying.

What’s important about this is that it serves as counter to Kaiba’s philosophy, taught to him by Gozaburo.  Losing.  Equals.  Death.  In Kaiba’s philosophy a loss is final.  It’s the end.  Anzu is telling him that’s wrong, and that a loss is only the end if you make it so by gambling away your chip of life.  Indeed, it’s actually similar to what Mai says to the Other Yugi at the end of their duel in the Duelist Kingdom finals about loss.  There are two kinds of loss, one that is a stepping stone forward and one that is the end.  The difference between a loss that’s a step forward and a loss that’s the end is in your mindset.

Contradicting philosophies are a core element of yugioh as a whole, and duels are really just elaborate metaphors for showing these philosophies come into conflict with each other.

Anzu using the same analogy Kaiba did is also a rejection of Kaiba devaluing life by reducing them to chips to be gambled away.  No, she says, life is not worth so little.  The chip of life is the most valuable.  It’s to be protected.

Now, I know what you’re thinking.  Or I can guess at least.  But, Dork Magician Girl, you’re saying, Kaiba didn’t just gamble away his chip of life for nothing.  He was dueling for his brother, and Anzu didn’t know that at the time!

Good point, I say to you, reader.  But it ignores a few key points as to what happened in the duel.

1. His threatening suicide was not a strategic move.  It was one born of emotion.  Prior to his doing so, he has a vivid hallucination of failing to save Mokuba, and then Kid!Seto, in the manga, glares at him, and in the sub, yells at him.  He was not making a plan to try to save Mokuba.  He was desperate, not thinking things through, and he had other options, as I’ll point out below.  This means his impulse to try to commit suicide was just that, an impulse, and Anzu is right to point out that that should not be your impulse.  It really shouldn’t be.

2. Now this is more up to interpretation, but let me ask you a question. 

Did you think Kaiba thought Yugi would back down, or did he make that plan with the full intent of dying? 

... If he made that plan with the full intent of dying, then Anzu was right on the money, regardless of the limitations of her knowledge.  He was throwing his life away, so he wouldn’t have to live with having failed Mokuba.  And I personally think he was planning on dying.  Remember that Kaiba is more familiar with the Other Yugi than Yugi.  Remember that the Other Yugi was going to go through with it.  It’s ambiguous here what he intended.  But either way, Anzu still has a point.

In a way, it was a win-win for Kaiba; if Yugi backed down, then he won and would have the chance to save Mokuba.  If Yugi went through with it, he would be dead and wouldn’t have to live with his failure.  But the second option is selfish; it gives up all hope of saving Mokuba through another route because Kaiba would rather die than admit weakness.  (Like, he could have told Yugi about Mokuba and probably gotten him to back down that way.  The suicide gambit was not the only way Kaiba could’ve gotten Yugi to back down.  But it was the only way for Kaiba to avoid expressing Actual Human Feelings or depending on someone else to help save Mokuba. Kaiba will do anything to save Mokuba...except depending on others, asking for help, exposing weakness, or talking about feelings.  See the finale of Virtual World Arc 1 where if it wasnt for a Deus Ex Machina he would have gotten Mokuba killed because he was too prideful to go along with Yami’s plan.  Also, he’s deliberately withholding this information from them, though there isn’t a good reason for him to do so.  In the manga he says “I’ll gladly die for the cards” just to make it look like he has no other reason to threaten suicide.  Why?  Because Kaiba, that’s why.)  Anzu calls him out on this, because that is cowardice to be unwilling to face your own loss, which beside his pride, is Kaiba’s main flaw.  He cannot accept defeat, loss, or failure.  She’s right on the money, and we’re gonna go into this more later.

3.Sure, Anzu may not have known about Mokuba...but she still hit the nail on the head about Kaiba’s philosophy.  He’s not able to recover from losses.  He’s hung up on the past.  He can’t overcome grief.

The divide between looking at the past and looking at the future is another central theme in Yu-Gi-Oh!, placed at the forefront in the Battle City Arc.  The Other Yugi’s goal is to find his memories, and in the end he literally relives the past.  However, Seto Kaiba represents the opposing viewpoint, especially in his duel with Ishizu when he rejects her philosophy.

“The future is infinite!”  He says.  “The past is a series of footsteps!”

How ironic then, that in the end, he cannot stop focusing on the past, when everyone else is moving forward.

In the Dark Side of Dimensions movie, Yugi and co. sit atop a rooftop talking about the future.  They talk about their dreams and plans and eventually decide that when Yugi creates his first game, they’ll all play it together.  Meanwhile, Seto Kaiba broods alone in his lab, recreating the past through Atem’s hologram as he’s surrounded by a bunch of “sycophants” as he calls them.  The parallel here is clear.  Yugi is not alone, and he’s moving forward from Atem’s loss.

Kaiba is not.

In the end, Seto Kaiba uses his dimension cannon to go to the afterlife, with no guarantee of returning.  He cannot promise Mokuba that he will return.  He reaches the afterlife and reunites with Atem, but he may have killed himself in the attempt.  The ending is ambiguous, up for everyone watching to decide for themselves.

What I believe is that Seto Kaiba chose to live out his philosophy.  Losing equals death.  Just as Anzu warned him, in Duelist Kingdom all that time ago, he gambled away his chip of life.

[glitterytidalwavedragon]

Beyond Reason (Update)

I am so glad I decided to use that screenshot as I think that sums up Kaiba’s face through most of the chapter. But the second part to the holiday special is up! Enjoy!

Beyond Reason (F!Reader x Kaiba fanfic)

Summary: 

Everyone has limitations on what they can have in life. Seto Kaiba understood this, as he too could not have everything he ever wanted. Tragedy had always been a close friend to Kaiba, along with lost, betrayal, and the feeling of complete solitude. So when he saw you again, after so many years had past since High School, Kaiba knew you were still the only desire which he could never have. Content with watching you succeed from afar, Kaiba carried on his lonely existence, until... you decided to do the most moronic thing he could ever think of.

Joey Wheeler, of all people you decided to date JOEY WHEELER.

You were a smart, independent, strong woman who should have higher standards than WHEELER. It is not like the CEO expected you to live life like a nun, but of all people in the vast world, you picked the one which made no sense. For the brunette it went beyond all logical reason for you to date the mutt. Mokuba just happened to agree.

Now the CEO finds himself in a very odd situation thanks to his brother. Will Seto Kaiba win you over, will he fail? Or will it all come crashing down as he finds it too difficult to even speak to you when you have the nerve to be adorable.

Chapter 2 Preview:

This was a cruel joke, wasn’t it? After he spent the whole day working as hard as he did. He could barely walk into the foyer anymore as boxes upon boxes filled the area and led into the craft room. Trying to keep his anger in check, Kaiba thought, that maybe, the boxes from the things he bought had been taken outside too quickly and needed to come back inside for a day. That thought was quickly removed when he saw that none of the boxes matched the ones from the deliveries. Slowly, he weaved through the maze before him and his temper only flared higher when he saw plastic wrappers from who-knows-where all over the living-room floor along with the worse thing he could ever dream of… glitter.

For chapter 2 follow the link here -> CLICK!

New to the story follow the link here -> CLICK!

For my other Kaibaxreader fics, follow this link! -> CLICK!

[youtriggeredmytrapcard]

The second Alister duel [backstory and weird fever dream included] ;)

Send me a scene that happened in canon and I’ll write in detail how my muse felt in it!

I think Kaiba had some sympathy for Alister before this duel. Yes, he’s furious that the man disguised himself as Pegasus and baited him into a duel for his soul, much less that he almost beat him. But there is a moment of real sincerity in that duel, where Kaiba seems to empathize just a little bit, in the idea that this kid lost his little brother and hated Gozaburo and his war profiteering. Those are two things Kaiba can relate to on a personal level, and he even tells Alister that he agrees, and that he deserves to be paid for what happened. (Even if Kaiba probably knows full well that no price would be enough to make up for a lost relative.) He quickly stomps that back out under anger at being dragged out in the first place, but it’s something Kaiba didn’t have to say at all.

The duel on the plane is, backwards as it sounds, I think where Kaiba loses that sympathy.

Hallucinating during a duel is nothing new to Kaiba at this point, he just goes with it, both because he doesn’t know what else to do, and because he can’t bring himself to tell off a bunch of children. Especially one that’s supposed to look like Mokuba, which Kaiba recognizes as a trick, but he still falls for it. Still feels the urge to protect this kid, to the point that he stands between him and a tank and finally calls out Alister as they fire.

He’s pained and enraged and disgusted, coming back from the fever dream. Yes, what Alister went through was horrible, god-awful, Kaiba can’t begin to fathom it even from that brief show. Yes, he’s equally disgusted with Gozaburo for causing this-- but Alister is standing here, on top of a nosediving plane, pointing three tanks at him. The same ones that took away his brother and all of his friends. Later he summons a massive flying warship as an homage to his brother and his action figure. His goal is to wipe out all of humanity and create some kind of ‘paradise.’ To wipe out every kid on the planet along with it. Whether or not Kaiba believes in the Great Leviathan is irrelevant-- This is what Alister thinks he’s doing, and what he dares to tell Kaiba is right and just! Responding to his own grief and anger, not by lashing out against the man responsible (like he thought during the first duel, hence the sympathy), but by taking everyone’s parents and little brothers away.

You can maybe convince Seto that he should pay for Gozaburo’s crimes, but not Mokuba. I think it’s for all these reasons that Seto declares that his brother’s death was Alister’s fault. He’s trying to hit him where it hurts. Plus, Kaiba knows himself well enough to know that if he was in Alister’s position, blaming the entire world for his brother’s death is the very last thing he’d do. He’d also blame himself, for not being strong enough to save his brother.

It’s why he’s so vocal about saving Mokuba for the rest of the duel, because now Seto has to prove that he’s got what it takes to save his brother.

[revivedxfighter]

Retracing The Past

This is a drabble based on my headcanon for Harmony’s FF7 verse. I talked about it on my muse’s profile and headcanons pages. The focus is more on world building and Harmony taking the time to remember the ones who were lost when the people fought with Seto against the Gi Tribe. This also takes place shortly after the events of the main game and based on interactions Harmony had with other roleplayers over the years.

It’s also inspired by the song “How the West Was Lost” - Link

I hope everyone enjoys this piece. 

Streams of light pierce the darkness and pools on the cold earth and rocks. The offer the lone visitor light to a realm long forgotten from decades ago when triumph and tragedy came to a head. Her lone, silver eye lowers to find dark sprays and splotches, the blood spilled on the fateful day when her own people took their last stand. The remnants weathered through the seasons, but it is still here, hidden from the world above these caverns.

Yes, Harmony remembers that story. It seems to be only yesterday when her father was alive and told her that tale of where she came from. She is a daughter of a tribe of people who believed Cosmo Canyon was promised to them from the sun goddess. Oklahashi, the People of the Sun. Those were her ancestors who once roamed Gaia, just as the Cetra have. Her father, heavens bless his soul, told her about these ancient people, just as his father told him.

A black leather clad hand rests on the cave’s wall. The very hand that is not her own, but a construct made of metal and wires, courtesy of Shinra’s Science Department after her supposed death. Dread washes over her when she faces the fact that she has served as a soldier, only to be cast aside as fodder when a mission ended with a devastating explosion.  She fell for the lie that the company is the gateway to a bright future. All will be well, they say.

So many were lost here...

Harmony thought and her hand moves away from the rock wall and dip in her messenger bag. She pulls out several flowers from inside and continues on. Vibrant, lush petals contrast the dreary surroundings. Footsteps are her only company in this silent world that serves as a mass grave of that fateful battle that led to the demise of her people and Cosmo Canyon owned by the settlers and Shinra itself.  These steps abruptly stop by each bone fragment, each piece of flint and black spots, gently setting one flower beside the object. An offering to represent a missing soul. A quiet apology to all who suffered and died for what they saw as the right thing.

It explains everything now. Why she is among small number of Oklahashi left, why there is so much bitterness and misery.

Her heart aches for the lost that have died for the deception the tyrant that is Shinra conjured. The very company that claims they want to defend the settlers who claimed the wild land, who lied to the surviving members of the tribe they will be in good hands, and the guardians of this Planet who perished for peace.

Her trek ends before an unusual sculpture. A lion-like figure stands alone with an array of weapons protruding from its body. The ghastly sight of Seto’s resting place is the reason why Harmony came all this way. He was a key player in the fight. He stood with the settlers against the Gi and Oklahashi warriors. Carefully, Harmony approaches Seto, her gaze unmoving. Lips part to finally speak as though he was still alive. 

“I imagine I may be the last thing you want to see...I have not come here with ill intentions or disrespect.”  Harmony’s voice is soft, as though afraid to disturb the others who rest here.  “When I was young, I did not understand why you sided with the settlers. I’m...I’m not sure if I fully understand it now. It hurts to see what has happened to you and my people.” She stands just a short distance away from Seto. Her one eye taking in all the details of how his last moments were. He has stayed with the Gi and many of the Oklahashi, sealed away from the world. Her other eye, replaced with another construct hides beneath the eyepatch. She dares not show it unless she must. 

She has given most of her flowers to every sign of death she saw, but saved something for Seto. “So much has happened since you were among the living. Gaia has almost dealt with the same fate all of you. We were so close to losing everything.” Eye downcast, the bitter memories of fear, the loss of her dear friends, and the catastrophe that ended one era and birthed another. The Planet is healing, slowly but surely, but the new period of uncertainty did little to help those who grieve in light of Geostigma and the deaths of thousands at the hands of their own hopes, dreams, and future. 

“You son...I met him. I don’t think he was quite fond of me, and...I don’t blame him. I don’t. I have hope that things will change. I only want to be his ally and friend.” Her hand slides back into her bag once more. “I know what I say and do cannot change what has happened. Just as our actions, though our home was spared, cannot reverse everything.” She pulls out a second bouquet with an addition nestled among the flowers: A single olive branch. 

“But I am here to say I’m sorry for the anger, tears, and spite that brought us here. I may not understand your intentions, but I forgive you and I know...I know you never wanted hatred to drive the issue of whether to share the land. I hope you can forgive me and my ancestors...Just as i hope they have moved on, leaving their anger behind forever.”  She takes a few more steps closer to Seto. “I wish only peace for every spirit who still dwell here. This is the least I can do for you...If only...” A sad sigh escapes the woman and she lowers herself, setting the bouquet before the rocks that serve as Seto’s base. Returning to her feet, Harmony gives a silent bow before slowly turning away and begin her return to the outside world. 

“If only fate smiled upon all of us.”

[steve0discusses]

Yugioh S4 Ep 23: Roland Freaks Out for 25 Straight Minutes

Oh man, took a break from the blog for a bit there because I gave myself a project to do that is 160ish color panels to draw by June 30th and um...it takes a while to do that, it turns out. Every time I’m like “wow I actually have enough time to make a buffer for the blog” I get so distracted.

But anyways, I started having some issues with my wacom tablet, my mouse is a nightmare, and so...I’m just gonna look the other way and write a recap and unplug all of the wacom stuff and just stay the hell away from whatever happened to that...tablet.

maybe It’ll be fine tomorrow?

*sweats nervously*

Thank God I didn’t buy a cintique, that’s all I’ll say. 

Anyway, lets go back to Yugioh. Where were we?

That’s right. Mokuba is checking in with my favorite Kaiba, Roland, who is currently just trying to keep the company running while the official Kaibas are flying to California.

And I’ll be honest, as I was typing this I thought “and why are they going to California again?” and it took me like...10 minutes to remember that Seto dropped absolutely everything and jumped on this massive plane in order to beat Rafael at cards to win the title “King of Games” which...Yugi had already lost to Rebecca about 2 years ago prior, but don’t tell that to Seto. Or Rebecca.

Also don’t tell Seto that the “King of Games” title originally comes from being possessed by a very emo ghost that has a tendency to set people on fire with Russian whiskey and has nothing to do with whatever shenanigans went down with Pegasus.

Honestly, I like to think that in the modern version of this show, Pegasus threw the “King of Games” line out there as like a corny joke, and when the teenagers started latching onto it like it was real, he was like “Oh what?” and left it alone because he just got his left eye ripped out of his face and was very distracted by the large amount of cultists in his basement that he suddenly needed to let go.

But youknow it’s the end of the world, Kaiba’s company is being bought out by a competitor, one of Dartz’ assassins are trying to kill both him and his brother, but he has to go to California immediately to play Rafael while he has the chance. Not sure how Alister got the tip-off that Kaiba would be flying back to California so quickly, but knowing the Kaibas, they probably jump on a plane several times a week.

I’m just still baffled that Mokuba’s doing this over a cell phone. That he was like “I better call someone.” and instead of calling the Airline or the Coastguard he’s like “I’ll call Roland💗”

I’m pretty sure Roland saw that phone ringing with Mokuba in the callerID and was like “NO NO NO NO NO”

(read more under the cut)

Luckily for Roland, everyone at Kaiba corp has to learn how to fly planes in order to pass the entry exam.

For reals though, that plane just casually bumped off a mountain like it’s in Diddy Kong Racing.

There’s a lot of levels of brother’s saving brothers in this episode. You have Seto who thinks he’s saving Mokuba, but in fact it is Mokuba saving Seto by keeping this plane afloat. And then in reality, you can take another brother step backward and say it was Roland who was saving Mokuba who was saving Seto by giving the phone to that rando, and take even another step backward and say it was this Random Guy who was saving Roland who was saving Mokuba who was saving Seto.

So in reality, no brothers were really able to save eachother, it was actually that one secretary at the desk who screamed “JUST PULL THE LEVER HARDER, I DUNNO” until it worked.

But just remember that the theme of this episode is brothers saving brothers, although Mokuba is too small to really fly this plane, and Seto is too crazy to stop this duel and Roland is not really the secret inept heir of the Kaiba bloodline, and only in my little headcanon.

And also, I just have no idea who that random secretary is.

Anyways, Alister made this thing happen on the field.

Hey guys?

How many guns do you need on a tank?

Like I...

That is a hilarious amount of guns on this tank.

Like every character designer part of me is dying right now. It’s when you’re learning Maya, and you finally figure out the duplicate tool, and you just--you just strap a billion guns on a spaceship. We’ve all done this.

But like...this gunship has a face, and that face has it’s own tiny Oricalchos.

All I’m saying is that Alister is having a hell of a time in his Maya 101 class he takes at the local community college when he’s not busy working for Kaiba Corp Airlines or busy killing people for Dartz. I want to know what grade he got on this project, because in my Maya classes the only people who were this dedicated were building weird ass warships for their games or building intense 3D My Little Pony fanfic.

Here’s a list I can think of from the top of my head of challenges Seto Kaiba either quit or completely failed outright (basically the times Seto has NOPEd out or been forcibly kicked out):

-Joey Wheeler’s many challenges and also Spanish Class (as mentioned above)

-Beating Yugi in a card game

-Not joining Pegasus’ tourney initially so he could go on a vacation.

-We’ll just assume he’s only taken like a bunch of random college classes but only got an honorary degree

-Chess (like he was a Grand Master at one point but wtv, cards exist now)

-Didn’t arrest the Big Five or remove them from his mmo so they freakin died in there.

-Being the actual owner of the Millennium Rod

-Every time Yami tells him that they should be friends

-That whole story line where he was dating a dragon in a past life

-fulfilling that prophecy of killing Yami in the present timeline to end the world

-attempting to blow up his own battle city tournament before it was over because he didn’t win

-Getting all 3 Godcards

-When a possessed Tristan appeared over a mountain top to duel everyone and Seto just went “I’m out” and simply walked away

-Flying a blimp from point A to point B without it setting on fire

-Getting his Dad to build an amusement park

-Just anything to do with Noah

-the existence of magic in general

-every attempt he’s had to rebrand Kaiba Corp as “funtime games inc I swear we don't make tanks anymore, stop looking at all the tanks”

-Seto Kaiba’s entire Destiny storyline this season that he has gone way out of his way to get away from.

And like I’m sure there’s more, but I feel like half of Kaiba’s MO is that he is either Too Good To Bother With This or he has Lost Everything Very Dramatically. Mokuba at least has the right idea, by being one of the few people who has beaten Yugi Muto by peacing out halfway through the duel and stealing all Yugi’s stuff off of Yugi’s side of the table.

Anyway, despite it being like...5 seconds since we saw Roland in a weird cyber room in what I assume was Japan, we now see him with his head pressed against the glass of this helicopter being like “BOYS NO NOT AGAIN WHY”

And youknow, Roland was just trying to do the right thing, but he accidentally made things a million times worse by just showing up.

And so Alister was like “well I better crash the plane now with this gust of green energy that destroys all mechanical equipment.”

Really not sure how Alister was planning to leave this plane after this duel was over. I don’t know if he thinks that far ahead.

this isn’t even a joke I made up, Roland really did run up to the pilot and was like “Just throw down some ladders! That should work!” and it’s like...Do you not see the giant ship covered in a thousand guns right now, Roland?

And then Alister and Seto decide to have a fight about ethics where they’re both pretty wrong.

I mean it’s not the exact line but yes this is basically what Seto said, point blank, and I was like “well...at least he owns it.”

So cards happen, dragons get played (so MANY dragons) and because we had to end this arc, Alister loses the duel as we kind of knew he would.

And then Mokuba, because he knows no other life, sees an asshole older brother in pain and just wants to adopt him.

Enjoy that trauma tossed onto your already megalith sized trauma pile, Mokuba.

Elsewhere, the legendary dragons have started syncing again, which is a weird thing that they can do that none of these guys have any control of.

Mostly it just irritates whoever is holding these cards at the time.

But behold! the glory!

The glory of three tubby dragons wielding a plane!

It’s what Kaiba always wanted but he had absolutely no idea he was doing it. Will anyone tell him that he managed to summon three dragons to fly him around the sky like a mamma bird? No. No one bothers to tell him that his wildest dreams just came true.

FYI There were other stills of more of the dragons and the plane, but I kept pausing on instances where it kinda looked like they were humping the plane so I gave up.

But, at least we all get to meet up, around the smoke coming out the back of this giant plane that now...will just sit here...until someone sues KaibaCorp over it, I guess.

Like a soccermom, now Roland gets to give the whole frenemy crew a ride with...copters or whatever.

I dont’ know how Roland got here, y’all.

This happens a lot with animated shows, youknow, there’s a lot of plot threads, a lot of scenes and episodes that get freelanced out and outsourced, and people who make these shows aren’t working on the whole thing at once, they’re just going off of director notes--so there’s a good chance they had no idea that Roland...just shouldn’t be here.

But it’s OK, I enjoy whenever Roland is panicking in the background. He’s good set dressing.

Seto does not give any more explanation of this corpse.

And then, sprinting as fast as he could out of his copter comes Roland, who does what Roland does best. It’s this moment where you would usually see a parental figure reveal how much they care and adore their little children. But because it’s Roland, and these are the Kaibas, he instead takes this moment to reveal exactly how inept he is at the very last second.

Never change, Roland. I love this massive green haired disappointment.

Anyway, I’m not sure when I’ll get the next update out, since I’ll be knee deep in drawing art I don’t need to draw, but just know I’m not dead. Usually I post fanart or whatever, but all I have is this Dartz I started drawing but he just has so much hair that I don’t think that one will ever get even remotely finished.

But anyway, if you just got here, this is a link to read these from the start.

[dxmichelle]

WIP Wednesday!

Have a nice healthy dose of fic snippets!

Of Lost Swords and Shadow Magic: 

Yugi blearily blinked his eyes open to the darkened dormitory ceiling, sighing as the last remnants of his dream flitted away. It was a strange one at that, too – he and his friends had to chase after his grandfather, who had gotten himself into trouble on a “secret expedition” trip, only to find themselves in some wacky Shadow Game-esque world, hidden deep inside a pyramid – in India. Where, the last time he checked or was aware, there were no pyramids. And the only way out of this freaky pyramid game was to shoot Duel Monsters creatures out of a glorified-looking foam dart-gun.

How his brain created that after a night of studying Transfiguration theory for next week’s test was beyond him.

He propped himself up against an elbow and looked around, trying to place the random noise he had heard that tossed him out of his dream. It was the middle of the night, and the room was calm. Silent. Ryou was soundly asleep in the bunk next to him, and he could just make out Kaiba’s form in the bed across the room, through the curtains he oddly neglected to close.

Murder Most Foul:

Yugi expected Kaiba to flash him some sort of sadistic grin and let loose a number of ridiculous terms and conditions; whatever was on the forefront of his mind. Instead, Kaiba tented his fingers together in front of his face, eyes focused down at his desk, deep in thought.

Time passed, and the longer Kaiba sat there, unmoving, the more nervous Yugi became over what he would actually say in the end. He knew that Kaiba wouldn’t want the rest of the gang over, and he was asking a lot. So what would he ask for to consider inviting them into his mansion? After already accepting a three-way duel?

Cool blue eyes finally rose to meet violet ones. “When are you hoping to do this?”

“Oh…” Yugi pulled his phone from his jacket pocket and starting scrolling through the calendar. “Ideally the first of February? Téa will be on break then, and I know she was planning on coming home from New York. I wouldn’t want her to miss out on it.”

Silence returned to the office. No one moved. Yugi held his gaze to Kaiba’s. Mokuba watched his brother.

Ghost in the Machine:

“…and that’s essentially that,” Yugi said. He raised his hand to cover his mouth as he let out a rather large yawn. “Not much else of interest really happened. We pulled into Himota station and there were two cars there to take us to the resort.”

Roland turned his head slightly towards the second bed in the room. Mokuba had shifted to snuggle up against his brother and fallen asleep, awkwardly balanced along the edge of the mattress and the bed rail. “Perhaps we should continue this at a more appropriate hour.”

Detective Soto peered around him and nodded. She made a sort of pausing remark more so to her recording than to them and slid her phone back into her pocket. Her chair scraped noisily against the tile flooring, startling Mokuba awake.  He glanced up wildly at his brother, and once his mind connected with that Seto hadn’t moved or made any noise, he laid his head back down.

[merry-kuroo]

The Last Embers- A MHA Fanfic - Chapter One

Hello. This is my first MHA fanfic and its a AU. I hope y’all like it (or not. that’s cool too.) This is based off a idea I wrote about for my Intro to Creative Writing class almost four years ago and I thought it would be cool to apply this to MHA.

Summary: Less people in the world are being born with Quirks and those that have Quirks begin to lose them between the ages of 25-30. This has caused the decline of Pro Heroes and Villains. Those that graduated from Class A at U.A. have turned 25 and are beginning to witness the decline of their Quirks. How will they cope and how will it affect their relationships? Meanwhile, Izuku searches for the next successor of One For All, even when he's told its pointless... 

Chapter One: Love Like This; Kirishima & Kaminari Part I

Chapter Summary:  Kirishima wakes up one morning to find his Quirk has disappeared.

Read it on AO3 too...There’s some notes on the AU as well.

Enjoy! The chapter is below the cut :)

December 11

The first thing Kirishima Eijirou did when he woke up was activate his Quirk. His alarm would ring incessantly, then he’d sit up straight in bed and harden his arms and hands. Almost two months after his twenty-fifth birthday he hadn’t felt any different, but he made it a point to check just in case. He was still an active Pro Hero. He joined Amajiki Tamaki’s pro hero agency, when he started it three years ago. It was in the same area as Fat Gum’s agency and Kirishima had joined eagerly, thankful to be working with his senpai.

But there was the realization that he wouldn’t be a Pro Hero for long.

Bakugou had chastised him for not opening up his own hero agency instead. There wasn’t much time left for him. So, Kirishima had planned to open up his own as soon as possible and make sure his name was known before losing his Quirk. He was thankful to be ranked number eight on Japan’s Hero Billboard Chart last year with his other classmates.

This morning, when his alarm sounded, Kirishima didn’t automatically sit up in bed. He opened his eyes slowly, letting the sound of the alarm wash over him. The sun wasn’t filtering through the window like most mornings. He felt a sense of dread. Something wasn’t right.

Kirishima sat up in bed, turned off his alarm and stared at his hands. He tried to activate his Quirk.

Nothing happened. His slightly tanned skin remained still.

He waited a couple of minutes before trying again.

Nothing.

The realization didn’t hit him all at once. He leaned back until his head touched the wooden surface of his bed’s headboard. Kirishima thought back to the first day he activated his Quirk, and how surprised he was when he realized he cut himself. He thought back to how in middle school he became inspired by the Crimson Riot and his best friend, Ashido Mina. Bakugou and Kaminari flashed in his mind, from their practical exams to enjoying their youth. He remembered the little shock Kaminari gave him when they hugged, something Kirishima hadn’t felt for a long, long time.

Kirishima didn’t notice the hot tears that streamed down his cheeks. He reached for the cellphone on his nightstand. He had a couple of messages from Seto and Ashido, but he didn’t bother checking them. He went through his contacts and dialed a number.

“Hello?” A tired voice answered.

“Hey, Amajiki-senpai. Can I talk to you for a sec? I have some bad news.”

---- --- -- December 14

They were throwing a retirement party for him. Kirishima Eijirou was twenty-five years old, number eight on the Hero’s Billboard Chart, and he was retiring at age twenty-five. Amajiki had cried when Kirishima told him the news, and told him that it was unusual for Kirishima not to notice his Quirk was disappearing.

Kirishima had heard from other Pro Heroes about how there was a steady decline of their Quirks powers until they couldn’t even activate it. Kirishima had just used his Quirk the day before it disappeared and he hadn’t noticed anything unusual about it.

Well, everyone was different. The scientists studying the decline of Quirks in the human body constantly came out with new studies about the different ways Quirk declination could occur. Recently, they said there were a few people who admitted to losing their Quirk suddenly without warning. And despite the age range being from twenty-five to thirty, there were people younger than that who had lost their Quirks.

Before the party, Kirishima went to the park near his apartment. He sat on the bench and watched a few middle schoolers play soccer. He pulled his red scarf tighter. It was cold, but Kirishima didn’t mind. He had felt numb and empty the past three days, and the bitter cold was a reminder that he was still here.

Kirishima felt weird being out in public and no one recognized him. He returned his hair back to its natural state, black. It was no longer spiked up, instead falling to his shoulders. He wondered if Amajiki would recognize him when he arrived.

After telling Amajiki about the loss of his Quirk, Kirishima cried. It wasn’t manly at all, but he felt that he had the right to mourn his Pro Hero career and his Quirk. All his life Kirishima knew that he would lose his Quirk, but nothing could prepare for the moment it actually happened. Kirishima had come up with a weird analogy for it back in high school.

It was like death. Everyone dies and everyone knows that it will happen.

Then the person you love, your classmate, your parents die. You know it's going to happen and you’re not prepared? Why isn’t anyone actually prepared for when it happens? Is it just the shock when it happens unexpectedly? Maybe if everyone knew the date and time they would lose their Quirk or when a loved one died then the shock would disappear then.

Kaminari liked his analogy while Bakugou claimed he was thinking too much into it.  Kirishima noticed that Bakugou had looked bothered by it, but he never said anything to him about it.

Well, now was as good a time as any to tell his friends that he lost his Quirk. He was the second person in their class to lose it. Kirishima sent a text via group message about how he lost his quirk and that he was on the way to his retirement party.  And to make the mood light, he added a lot of “lol” and “lmao” (with extra o’s). He didn’t want to see everyone’s reactions just yet, so he put his phone on silent.

---- -- ---- Thirty minutes later, Kirishima arrived at Amajiki’s Pro Hero Agency. He poked his head in and found that no one was at the front. In fact, the agency was completely dark. “Hello? Anyone here?”

No answer. Kirishima assumed the party would be held in the meeting room. He walked to the meeting room, which was in the back of the agency. He knocked on the door but didn’t hear anything. Kirishima opened the door and jumped when two confetti poppers went off in his face.

“Surprise, Kirishima!” Ashido screamed.

The lights turned on and Kirishima’s UA classmates, Amajiki, the receptionists and interns were clapping for him. There were streamers and balloons around the room, and a three tiered chocolate cake was in the center of the room.

“Everyone!” Kirishima cried. He hated to be crying again, but he was so happy. “I just sent that message--How did you get here so fast?”

“Dumbass,” Bakugou said as he approached him. Izuku trailed along.

“Amajiki-senpai gave us a call. He wanted to surprise you and asked us to keep it a secret that we knew.” Izuku exclaimed.

“Do you know how surprised we were when we got that long message from you?” Uraraka laughed. “We were here setting up the whole time.”

“Sorry about that, Kirishima,” Amajiki said. “I thought you might want to see your friends.”

“No, thank you! Thank you very much!” Kirishima cried. “I’m so happy right now.”

“Speech! Speech!” Ashido called.

Everyone stood around Kirishima, waiting for him to make a speech. Kirishima hadn’t even thought about making a speech. What was one supposed to say when they lost their Quirk anyway?

“Uh,” Kirishima began. “First, thanks for coming out. I know how busy you must be.” Kirishima’s eyes scanned the crowd, looking for Kaminari.

He wasn’t there.

“It was a quite a shock to wake up a few days ago and find that my Quirk no longer worked. But even so, I’m thankful for my time at U.A. and the wonderful friends I made along the way. I was a Pro Hero for seven years. I accomplished my dream. Thank you for coming out today!”

Everyone clapped, then Kirishima was pulled into a multiple group hugs. Momo gave him a bouquet and Iida gave a small speech as well about how proud he was to be Kirishima’s classmate and friend. He talked to Todoroki, Izuku, Hagakure about their work. Sero and Tokoyami had given him some expensive wine.

The party was not as bad as Kirishima thought. A few of the interns cried and asked for pictures and autographs. It was the last time Kirishima would be the Red Riot, so he obliged. The chocolate cake Amajiki ordered was fantastic, and he was on his third slice when he noticed Bakugou leaning up against the wall by himself.

“Always the loner, huh?” Kirishima asked as he sauntered up to him.

“Shut up,” Bakugou said. It was light hearted. He lightly punched Kirishima in the arm. Both of them leaned against the wall and watched the party goers. “So, tell the truth.”

“Truth about what?”

“About losing your Quirk. How do you really feel?” There it was. A rare time where Bakugou was showing his true feelings. He had mellowed out slightly ever since graduation. He still wouldn’t hesitate to call someone a dumbass or yell at them, but it wasn’t as often. It still took Kirishima by surprise when he asked him about his feelings. The last time he did that was when Kaminari had left town three years ago.

“Honestly, it really sucks. I wish I had just a few more years. I think everyone at least wants to keep their Quirk until their thirty, but that isn’t the case for everyone. I’m glad I was born with a Quirk, but now I feel like I lost an important part of myself.” Kirishima picked up a piece of chocolate and plopped it into his mouth. “So, now I just need to readjust.”

“How are you going to do that?”

“I still want to save people. The fire department is having training sessions and classes. It’s still a hero type job,” Kirishima explained. He studied Bakugou’s expression. He seemed...solemn.

“Hey, is something--” Kirishima was cut off by Ashido yelling at him.

“Come on. We’re going to take a class picture!”

“What? But Jirou, and Kaminari aren’t here!” Kirishima protested.

“It’s fine. This isn’t the last time we’re going to meet up anyway. Come on!”

After taking pictures, eating more food, and playing a lively game of charades, the party ended. Kirishima bid goodbye to his classmates and they promised to meet again soon. He wished he could spend more time with them, but they still had to work, and many of them didn’t live in the city anymore. Bakugou told him that when Kaminari was back in the city, the three of them would go get drinks. Kirishima didn’t even have the heart to respond, opting to wave goodbye to his best friend.

“You don’t have to stay behind and help me clean,” Amajiki said as he folded a table cloth.

“No, it’s fine. Consider it my last job at the agency,” Kirishima laughed soundlessly.

“Hey,” Amajiki said. “Thank you, Red Riot. For everything.”

Before he could respond or burst into tears again, the door to the meeting room squeaked open. “Hello?” A singsong voice called out.

“Jirou! And Kaminari!” Kirishima exclaimed as his two former classmates walked in. Kirishima’s pulse jumped when he took in Kaminari. It had been three years since he had last seen him. His blond hair was now cut short, making him look more mature. He had grown taller and more muscular too. Kirishima stared at his left arm where dark ink sat on his skin. “What are you doing here?”

“We got Amajiki-senpai’s message about your retirement party! There was an issue with the shop, then our train was delayed. Wait, did we miss it?” Jirou asked, observing the other workers folding up the tables.

“Yeah, everyone left a while ago. I was helping clean up,” Kirishima answered.

There was a silence between the three of them. Kirishima felt tense and Kaminari wasn’t looking at him. Jirou looked back and forth between them, then she sighed.

“So, um, I’m going to help Amajiki-senpai clean up. You two should go catch up,” Jirou said. “Kirishima, your favorite cafe is right down the street, right? Kaminari told me about it.”

Kaminari blushed. “I didn’t say it was his favorite. We only ate there a couple of times.” Then Kaminari faced Kirishima. “But sure. We can go eat. My treat.”

“Sure.” Kirishima didn’t sound excited, but his heart was pounding heavily. How could he want Kaminari with him and also want him to be far away? Things were easier with Kaminari far away from him. The longing for him had become manageable over the past three years. Now, everything was back to zero.

Kirishima bid goodbye to Amajiki, and they shared one last brotherly hug. An intern gave Kirishima a box of the leftover chocolate cake and wished him luck in his future endeavors. Jirou hugged Kirishima, and he tensed up. She didn’t seem to notice. She congratulated him and told him that they would catch up soon.

“Hey, Kaminari, I’m going to find a hotel for us to stay at,” Jirou said.

“Okay, just text it to me,” Kaminari answered. He was already heading towards the door. Kirishima followed after him.

The two men made it outside. Kirishima shivered at the cold wind whipping his body. Kaminari held his hand out as tiny flecks of snow began to fall. Kaminari turned to him.

“Can we talk?” Kaminari said.

“Three years have gone by. Now, you want to talk,” Kirishima responded. He was being harsh, but he didn’t care right now.

“I know and I’m sorry. I got that message from you and--” Kaminari shook his head. “No. Let’s talk at the cafe. Remember? They have really good curry too.” Without waiting for a response, Kaminari headed towards the cafe.

And just like before, without hesitation, Kirishima followed after him.

[ayma-nidiot]

In the White Light - Prideshipping fic chapter 4

Chapter 4 – My Blackened Heart, Scorched by Flames

“Kaiba…”

“Huh?” Kaiba had remembered being in his duel with a weirdo named Alister a mere few seconds ago. So why the hell was he floating in a spacious room with two ice sculptures? “I must be hallucinating. Why else would the Dark Magician Girl be talking to me in a room that doesn’t really exist?”

“Kaiba, you have been chosen to awaken the might dragon Critias… All you have to do is remove the sword.”

“Excuse me?” Kaiba gave up trying to understand what he was doing there and simply did as he was told. He soon learned that these were not ice sculptures, but dragons encased in ice, as Critias broke free of his prison.

“Now join forces with the dragon.”

“Anything to shut you up. …There. Now can you please awaken me from this dream?”

Kaiba’s hand lingered on the top card of his deck as he simply stared into space. In the real world, he still floated – but this time, it was on the Seal of Orichalcos.

“What’s wrong, Kaiba?” Alister, Kaiba’s opponent in this match, waited impatiently at the other end of the Seal. “Are you going to play your card or not?”

Kaiba said nothing, but merely scowled at Alister as he drew his next card. Am I still dreaming? I never put this card in my deck! …Still, it looks exactly like the dragon from my dream. I just pray to all that is good that it’s not another one of Alister’s tricks.

No! Dark Magician Girl’s voice played in Kaiba’s head again. You must use that card! It’s the only way to beat Alister!

“I now play Fang of Critias!”

“What? You can’t play that card!”

“Ah, but I can!” Kaiba slammed the card on his Duel Disk, revealing a face-down card at the same time. “Now I’ll fuse my Fang of Critias with my Crush card to create a new monster! Behold!”

“Seto, I wish you would stop saying ‘behold’ every time you played a good card…” Mokuba would have frowned, had he not believed his brother now had the upper hand.

“Shut up, Mokuba,” Kaiba scolded as Critias began to fuse with the trap card.

“What the hell? You can’t fuse a trap card with a monster!”

“Looks to me like I just did, Alister! Hahaha!” Now that the fusion was complete, Kaiba ordered, “Rise up, Doom Virus Dragon!”

“Hah! Big deal. My monsters are way stronger than yours!”

“This game isn’t just about attack points. Doom Virus Dragon also has a special ability: it can destroy all monsters on the field with attack strength of 1500 or more! And now that your monsters are gone… My dragon, attack Alister’s life points directly!”

“Oh, you haven’t beaten me yet, Kaiba. Reveal my face-down card, Contagion of Madness! So while I lose 1900 Life Points, you also lose 950 thanks to my magic card!”

As the Doom Virus Dragon fell to the Contagion of Madness, Alister lost the remainder of his LP – and so did Kaiba. “It’s a draw!”

Mokuba refrained from trying to get close to his brother – that was, until the Seal of Orichalcos stopped shaking, and disappeared along with Alister, knocking Kaiba backwards. “He’s gone!”

“This isn’t over, Kaiba!” Alister’s voice temporarily remained. “I’ll be back to make sure you pay for what your father did to me!”

After Alister had disappeared for good, Mokuba asked, “Seto, what does he mean ‘what your father did to me?’”

“…It’s a long story. Apparently, Father had destroyed his village to expand KaibaCorp’s influence, and in the process his kid brother was killed. What it has to do with me, I don’t know and I don’t really care.”

“That’s mean! His little brother is dead, and you’re saying ‘I don’t care?’ So what then, do you not care about me?”

“Does not giving you all your food, clothes, and toys not count as ‘caring about you,’ ingrate?” Kaiba yelled.

“…Seto…” Mokuba instantly started crying. “I’m sorry… I’m a terrible brother.”

“No, Mokuba, I should be the one apologizing… Still, I can’t say I fully understand what’s going on, so I think I need to do some research into this ‘Seal of Orichalcos’ and ‘guardian dragon’ business. If Alister really is going to try to duel me again, then I need to learn all I can about him and what his agenda is.”

As Kaiba motioned to leave, Mokuba asked, “Can I help you, Brother? Please?”

“If you’re aware of the danger, then okay. …And again, I apologize.”

______

Kaiba had spent the week calling everyone he knew to get information and researching on the Internet. Unfortunately, half of the people he tried to call “had their souls stolen (whatever that meant)” and the other half were more useless than wet paper. Maximillion Pegasus, to whom he now spoke over video phone in his office, was definitely the latter. “So you mean to tell me you’ve never created a card called ‘Fang of Critias’ or ‘Seal of Orichalcos?’”

“That’s right,” Pegasus answered from the other end of the phone. “Just like those ‘Pyramid of Light’ and ‘Blue-Eyes Shining Dragon’ cards. I think you’ve got yourself a new enemy, Kaiba boy.”

“Ya’ think?”

“Hey now, don’t get mad at me for something that’s not my fault… It’s just the truth.”

“I don’t think I have anything else to say to you… Bye.” Kaiba dropped the phone into the cradle and rolled back in his seat. Just as he wanted to take a nap, Mokuba let himself in the office. “Mokuba, what is it?”

Mokuba offered Kaiba tea and biscuits before asking, “So did you learn anything?”

Kaiba took a sip of the tea. “Nothing, except that Pegasus is a useless son of a bi- son of a gun. Apparently, the Seal of Orichalcos isn’t one of his original cards.”

“You think some big scary god… monster… thing might be behind it?”

“Probably. But I don’t even know where to start looking! What if that smug Alister comes knocking at my door?” Kaiba gritted a tea biscuit between his teeth.

“Why don’t you try asking Yugi and his friends!”

“No. Anything but that.”

“But they’re really good at finding trouble! Especially that… um… really tall version of Yugi. I think the pharaoh dude.”

Kaiba hid his blush behind the teapot at the mention of Yami Yugi. “Hmm… You may be on to something, Mokuba. Doesn’t make me any more excited to see the Dweeb Patrol again. Anyway, thanks for the tea and biscuits. Guards!”

“Yes?” Two German men entered the office.

Kaiba gave Mokuba a few ¥10000 bills before instructing his employees, “Take Mokuba into town and get him something nice. He deserves it for being such a good brother.”

Mokuba’s face beamed. “Th-Thank you, Seto! Bye!”

When Mokuba and Kaiba’s employees left, Kaiba put his head down on his desk. The pharaoh… Why didn’t I try calling him?

________

“Kaiba… Why are you here again?”

Kaiba had awakened to the chamber in which he met Dark Magician Girl – and the last dragon was no longer there. “That’s what I should ask you. Can I have a… I don’t know, a more typical dream?”

“You’re troubled. I can tell.”

“And that’s your business because?”

“I think that helping save the world is very much my business.”

“So why should it be mine?”

“Because your company would probably be at stake if something bad happened to the world in which it resides.”

“Okay, now you have my attention. Can you tell me what I need to know?”

“Your enemy is a man name Dartz, and Alister is one of his henchmen. He’s interested in taking your company over… And if he succeeds, the fate of the world could-”

“Oh, that does it! I’m going to give that bastard Dartz a piece of my mind! Thank you, Dark Magician Girl.”

“You’re welcome! But please… Find the other two chosen ones…”

_____

Kaiba felt no grogginess as he stood right up and motioned to arise from his desk. “All right, Dartz, just wait until I- Hm?”

The video phone on his desk rang, prompting Kaiba to sit back down.

“KaibaCorp, this is the man who’s about to kill you for interrupting my otherwise great day speaking- Oh. If it isn’t the blondie of the Dweeb Patrol.”

“My name’s Joey Wheeler, you jerk, and don’t you forget it!”

“Hey, Joey, you’re supposed to be nice to him, remember?” Téa whined.

“Shit, I forgot…” Joey quickly changed his demeanour. “I… don’t suppose you could lend us one of your private jets?”

“And what makes you think I would lend you something you don’t deserve?”

“Please, Kaiba!” Tristan showed himself and begged. “We’re stuck in the middle of the desert and we don’t even know where the nearest grocery store is!”

“You made your bed, so sleep in it.”

“But we need to find Dartz’s other henchmen! Yug’s already found his guardian dragon, Timaeus… And get this, I got a dragon called Hermos!”

“Did you say ‘Dartz?’ And ‘guardian dragon?’”

“Yeah! But… um… There’s something else I gotta tell you. Yug got his soul stolen by Rafael, one of the henchmen, after he lost a duel to him.”

Kaiba remained silent for a few seconds before saying, “Did you say… Yugi lost?” He took a look around the video, and noticed Yami Yugi in the corner, looking down in shame. The dweebs must be talking about the Yugi who’s half my height. But the pharaoh… Why… did he lose?

“Joey, dammit all, you weren’t supposed to tell him that!” Duke smacked Joey upside the head. “Uh… Yeah. That’s the long and short of it, Kaiba. So pretty please?”

“Go to hell, all of you!” And with that, Kaiba slammed the phone into the cradle. “Yugi… he lost!”

Mokuba had just come back from his shopping trip and had already put his purchases back in his room. Coming back to Kaiba’s office, he asked, “Seto? What just happened?”

“That fucking Yugi lost against some fucking nobody!” Kaiba arose sharply, knocking over everything on his desk.

“H-Hey, calm down!”

In the span of ten seconds, Kaiba’s back began to burn, and he could feel strong butterflies in his stomach. “Yugi…”

“Seto!” Mokuba didn’t care that Kaiba looked ready to kill him, he approached him anyway. “Snap out of it!”

“Rafael!” A giant sapphire appeared on Kaiba’s forehead as the windows overseeing much of Domino City shattered. “You are going to pay for what you have done!”

“Brother, what’s happening to you?” Mokuba simply fell to his knees in fear of what his brother had become – a wondrous but fearsome dragon that he knew well. “Why did you turn into the Blue-Eyes Shining Dragon?”

“Raaaaawr!” In this form, Kaiba couldn’t speak – and instead he whipped Mokuba with his heavy tail, throwing the boy against the wall so hard that it shook the furniture.

“Ouch!” Mokuba began crying – loud enough for five of Kaiba’s employees to hear.

“Mokuba!” One of them led the other four to Mokuba’s side before pursuing Kaiba. “You monster! You’re not getting away with this!”

Kaiba ignored this declaration and merely flew out of the building at breakneck speed.

[mellz117]

Hi! I’m Mellz and I’m starting up Kingdom Hearts 2 on the PlayStation 2! 

Just below are links to the first parts of my previous Kingdom Hearts plays.

[ KH1 ] _ [ Re:CoM Sora ] _ [ KH Re:CoM Riku ]

It’s been a hot minute, like 3,155,763 smoldering hot minutes, which would be 6 years including leap years. Yeah it was 01/27/2014 last I touched this game, exactly 6 years ago to this day (01/27/2020) as of me starting up again. This was an accident.

Guide thingy: Things like long gaps between commentary and days will be separated by a line of dots like that ->  ……

Text relating to an image posted will have a blockquote either above and/or below the image

Dialogue exchanges will also be separated by a blockquote

Ok I'm playing on standard difficulty, if I'm having a hard time, then I just suck. If you’re reading this and haven’t experienced KH2 for yourself, why are you here? Go away, there’s spoilers for things that aren’t revealed until later.

SO LET’S JUST JUMP INTO IT

……………………………………………………………………………………………

I always liked this fancy CGI opening. There’s a lot of things I missed last I saw it.

IT’S HIM. Look how cute he is! 

So we start off with a recap of Kingdom Hearts via a dream it seems and our protagonist, my precious boy Roxas, wakes up his own home all alone because apparently DiZ didn't create a digital family for him. But KH is notorious for forgetting parents, so maybe they did. I’m not Cinema Sins so I wont ping this game for not giving Roxas fake parents lmao

In the next scene Roxas is more interested in his own hands than he is in his friends' conversation. 

blurry ring textures, blurry checker pattern. Not everything holds up well on a flat screen TV

He hasn't been paying attention so he's just as confused as the player is at this point when he finally takes his attention off his hands.

This dialogue is so early 2000's. KH1 and CoM avoided this but with the urban setting of Twilight Town it's DEFINITELY noticeable and outdated. So rumors have spread about Roxas, Hayner, Pence, and Olette that photographs are being stolen, and THEY'RE the theives. Who is the operator of the rumor mill? Seifer and his posse. Also the actual WORD is gone too, they try to say “photo” but it just DOESN’T EXIST. This is where the game gets a bit odd.

TUTORIALS GALORE. I JUST WANT TO PAUSE AND CHANGE THE CAMERA CONTROLS STOP TELLING ME ABOUT MY NEXT OBJECTIVE but no no it’s telling me how to lock on, control my camera, context sensitive buttons, etc 

This girl’s dress looks like shes wearing a bra over it 

I like how the animal AI hasn't changed at all in this entire series. And by like I mean hate, KH3 doesn't change that. Sven is as boring as this cat we have to look at.

The gang heads to the sandlot where Seifer, Fuujn, Raijin, and Vivi like to hang out I guess? Vivi is a little, solid black, wizard dwarf amongst all these regular humans and no one bats an eye. This shit is normal. Seifer with his stupid Seto Kaiba jacket, shows up to further accuse Roxas and his friends of stealing photos, one specifically of Roxas flat on his face and Seifer standing triumphantly over him (which we’re actually shown later). "That was undeniable proof that we totally owned you lamers" he says in regards to it and challenges Roxas to a rematch.

A+ dialogue

Seifer. My dude, ya dumb-dumb. If you think for one second that I'm gonna let my boy lose to you, you are sorely mistaken. 

“If you get on your knees and beg, maybe I’ll let it slide.” Seifer says and Roxas plays it slick, taking a knee and looking through a convenient selection of foam weapons. Battle ensues.

So of course I win because Seifer is a pleb, and Pence takes a commemorative ______ of Roxas's sound victory, but oh no! Something stole the camera right out of Pence's hands! Roxas gives chase, because apparently he's the only one who cares enough to do so, and confronts the actual thief, a Dusk type Nobody. Roxas is taking this creature encounter rather calmly. Like mild confusion at most.

I hate these things, they're creepy. When you do a reversal on them they like, plant their hands on the ground behind them and their legs wrap around their arms while they spaz out. Ughghdhahh

Of course Roxas's foam bat doesnt cause any damage to the Dusk, and suddenly a familiar giant key digitally manifests in his hands. DiZ is installing mods I see. I have a Keyblade mod in Skyrim, so we have something in common.

After we defeat the thief the next scene shows the gang at the usual spot with the recovered photos. Ok ok so was "photo" the only word deleted from the vocabulary or were any other alternative words taken away too? Like, if they could have said "picture" this whole time, they would have had much less stupid sounding dialogue exchanges. Whatever lmao.

“Tell us about the picture thief.”

“Not much to say. The pictures were just lying there.”

You liar. Tell them about how you fought a wormy, white boy.

Pence notices all the pics are of Roxas and speculates the picture thief wanted to take the REAL Roxas and Hayner is like

The best friendships are ones where you can take jabs at each other and know there’s no malice intended.

 In the scene thereafter, the kids go their separate ways, the evening(?) sun assaults Roxas's eyes, and whenever he closes them he gets another vision? Idk what time of day it is it always looks the same.

God ok as someone who hadn’t played CoM before playing KH2 for the first time, I must have been SUPER lost regarding who DiZ and Namine were and why Sora is in the pod. More recaps of KH1: I don’t know why they found it necessary to redub over the old voices with the new actors in these flashbacks.

Moving on. Roxas learns what the Keyblade is through his dreams. On his way to meet up with his friends, he tries summoning the Keyblade with a stick, when that doesn’t work he carelessly throws it aside and it hits this cloak clad man behind him. This dude is either completely unfazed by that is or so offended he can’t even say anything and walks away before he goes all Karen on Roxas’s ass.

We’re back at the usual spot and summer vacation is nearing it’s end. Hayner wants to go to the beach before school is back in session! You poor fuckers...

Same, dude. I’m waiting on my tax returns, looking forward to that.

SKATEBOARD

“TO DEFEAT THE HUNSSSSSSS!”

Pretzels at the beach? Salty and not refreshing. I got you fam, I’ll make enough money for a watermelon. Roxas is so poor omg... How much is 150 Munny in American currency?

Just BEAT the cargo with a foam bat. What’s IN the bag? Is it trash? Clothes? Is it potentially breakable? Next. Time to beat some bees!

So Poster Duty was my go-to job in this game in the past because you could get 100 Munny if you did well. But now that I’m older I realized how annoying it is. I had an efficient route planned out, hit as many of the 3 poster placements in that route, and be over and done with that in about 1:10....

But then Roxas goes aND DOES THIS!

FUCKING SKIPS THE ONE DIRECTLY NEXT TO HIM, DEFYING GRAVITY IN FAVOR OF THE POSTS BELOW

HE DOES THIS CONSISTENTLY!! I do have a live reaction to this but it’s too big for tumblr. I’ll have it up on youtube one of these days

Eventually I stopped sticking posters to walls and became a mailman until the game made me stop.

Black-clad man is back with his own stick! Oof, Roxas eats the pavement and is manhandled by cloaky boy. WAS THIS ROUGH TREATMENT REALLY THAT NECESSARY? You might wanna treat Sora's Nobody with a little more respect. AND YOU STOLE HIS HARD-EARNED MONEY! YOU BASTARD!

The gang is on the clock tower, very dangerously high up. Wtf what if someone falls?! Roxas feels so guilty about what happened and Hayner gets over this little fiasco pretty quickly and the next day he already has another fun plan.

……………………………………………………………………………………………

On his way to the station, Roxas crosses paths with Pence and Olette, the latter two freeze and Roxas meets Namine. Is her interest in Roxas linked to her desire to be Sora’s friend? A strange girl tells Roxas she wanted to meet him “at least once” and he doesn’t know what to do lol. Namine doesn’t stay long, leaving Roxas with his confusion. What is going through his head? A girl he doesn’t know seems to know him well enough to want to see him. Pence and Olette unfreeze after Namine is out of the shot. Pence and Olette have such a cute relationship, I’d love for them to be siblings. Pence goes shopping with her even if he might not want to. I can relate, I hate clothes shopping.

These Dusks don’t seem like too much of a threat tbh, they just kinda swagger slowly towards Roxas and grab his hand. Roxas hardly struggles to escape to the sandlot.

Chicken wuss

WE FINALLY GET SOMEWEHERE, we end up on the stained glass pillars in the Station of Serenity (?). Time to grind for like 5 minutes because this giant noodle boy already killed me once.

This thing really unsettles me. All the creature Nobodies do! They’re all twitchy and stretchy. DISGUSTING

DAMN THAT IS A HIGH FALL HOW DO YOU SURVIVE THAT?!

Upon defeat, this big noodle boy falls on top of Roxas and Namine saves him from being enveloped by darkness.

Namine really seems to like to silence him. First she shoves her hand in his face but that was too forward. This time she daintily places a finger over her lips and says her part. Black-cloak guy shows up, rough handles Namine a little bit but not as roughly as he did Roxas. AND SHOVES ROXAS INTO A PORTAL

SEIFER IS AN OPPORTUNISTIC SHITLET POSING IN FRONT OF HIS UNCONSIOUS BODY. Bitch you didn’t earn that. Hayner, Pence, and Olette see Roxas with Seifer’s gang, Hayner feels betrayed thinking Roxas ghosted him in favor of Seifer. He stays pretty salty about it for a good while

IM NOT WORKING ON THIS LIKE I SHOULD. ITS ALMOST A MONTH SINCE STARTING. In my next post we'll be "Struggling" to progress. Eh? Eh? Get it? Like the tournament?

I'm not funny.

Here’s the next part: [ _2_ ]

Below is a compilation of my live reactions and comments throughout this point of the game.

[bluejaytaco]

Superhero AU(12)

I comepletely forgot to post this here... Better late than never, I guess.

Remember, you can find this AU here on AO3 or check out the Superhero AU tag!

Sugoroku remembered the first day he met Yugi.

It was two years after Anubis was dropped off and put in his care. Seeing the subject out of his mask was a shock all on its own. The boy was so small and innocent looking. He had the type of lost eyes that would melt even the most stubborn of hearts.

It was too bad for his 'attack to kill' quirk. It really put a damper on the whole thing.

Anubis was slowly introduced to animals first. He took to them well. Sugoroku took that as a good sign; the boy wouldn't try to kill something so small and innocent. He had to remember; baby steps.

The plan fell apart when it came to introducing him to people and children. While a lot of kids went by unscathed, anyone who was even close to resembling a bully was on the chopping block. Kids in the park learned to stay away and left Anubis to play alone.

Sugoroku started checking Anubis for anything that could be a weapon. Even something as basic as a virtual pet came into question. Later, it became imperative that he make sure his nails were kept short and blunt. Anything could be dangerous was stripped from the boy. There was a firm rule of never using his powers in public or around other children; a rule that was broken only once. Sugoroku had to be especially harsh on that; he couldn't help but feel guilty when Anubis actually began to cry.

And for a while, that was good. He thought Anubis was learning. Sugoroku began feeling comfortable enough to take him out on errands to try and get him acclimated to the real world.

But then, Anubis encountered his first true target.

Sugoroku had turned his back for just a moment. He only moved to pay for some ingredients for dinner. He turned back to see no Anubis in sight.

Panic didn't set in right away. He thought, hoped, maybe the boy got distracted by some kind of sweets or saw some children and thought it was time to play. Sugoroku realized later it was an older man who had another idea of 'play.'

The moment he found Anubis, the man was bleeding profusely, babbling nonsense, and crying at the blank look on the child's face. A broken taser laid on the ground near the boy's feet. He could only imagine what the man had planned for his victim.

Sugoroku carefully walked up to the little boy. In response, Anubis turned and looked at him. His eyes widened.

And immediately filled with tears. “G-Gampa.” It was the very first time Anubis spoke.

Sugoroku was reminded of the labs. Back when Horus and Anubis were forced to interact for the second time and Horus sobbed in fear. Just like back then, he scooped the boy into his arms.

“Shhh, it's okay. You're safe.”

He thought for a while, Anubis had found a new game to play. A fun game where he pretended to be someone else. Someone soft and more like the other children. Sugoroku began calling the identity 'Yugi' in homage to that.

But Yugi never went away. He wondered now if Yugi would ever come back.

His eyes fell to Atem as the wind from a helicopter tossed his hair around. His eyes stayed on Anubis -Yugi- in disbelief as men in black suits jumped off the helicopter and grabbed Ryo and Bakura.

Atem didn't let them take the last unconscious form. He lifted the other and marched back to the helicopter.

“I can't let you take him,” Sugoroku shouted over the sound of the blades.

“No need to worry.” Atem looked up at Sugoroku. “You're both coming with me.” His eye glowed as he glared at the old man. The eye contact broke when Atem continued his stride to the helicopter, right behind the man in the suit carrying the Anubis mask.

Sugoroku felt a tremor in his gut as he followed behind Atem. There was no avoiding this anymore.

-

It wasn't often he allowed himself to sleep. And when he did, it was extremely rare for him to remember his dreams. Occasionally they would be so warped, he wouldn't even know where to begin to explain it.

Other times it was a nightmare of memories with pieces thrown in that hadn't been there before.

He was eight when he was first brought into the lab. Their new father told his brother it was only a few tests. Nothing to worry about. It wasn't that he was lying but he wasn't exactly telling the truth either.

“It will only take a few injections. If an infantile immune system can take it without worry, I'm sure you'll be fine.”

“How many infants died because of this?”

Mr. Kaiba didn't acknowledge the question. He just allowed his assistants to take his adopted son into one of the lab's rooms. The one with a tank where a boy about his age was floating in a little ball.

He stared at the boy and, in this dream, the boy stared back.

“Seto, look this way.”

He turned to look at the assistant. It was the woman who started this mess. He felt himself begin to wake up.

Kaiba felt as though his chest were on fire. Sharp pains shot through his whole body. His eyelids were heavy.

Still, he opened them slowly and stared up at the ceiling of his own bedroom. His last memory involved the taste of blood and falling to his death. Who or what saved him?

“Thought you'd rather be here than at a hospital. A few less questions to answer.”

He looked to his right. Jounouchi was sitting in a chair right next to his bed.

“You see, I only have one question: the fuck is going on?”

Kaiba looked back at the ceiling. He wondered how long he could just lay in silence. But he knew better than most just how tenacious Jou could be. And, despite what might be the hardest thing he could ever admit, the blond deserved an explanation.

“I never wanted you to get dragged into these problems.”

Jou watched him and tried to cover his surprise for how quickly the answer came.

“Becoming a Kaiba wasn't everything I imagined... And a lot of people were hurt in the name of some asinine science project. I was the last person to get those powers.”

“...Who was the first?”

Kaiba glanced at Jounouchi.

The blond just stared for a moment before he spoke again. “Atem's not really your cousin, is he?”

“Mokuba had me free him from the labs. That in itself... was a fight. He wasn't the same person you see now. We had to make sacrifices.”

“The night... we broke up.”

“That light you saw was him. He was still mostly instinct at that point and had somehow managed to get out of the labs. I imagine he was only trying to protect his food source. Like a stray cat.”

“...I remember blood on my hand.”

“You were probably still mostly asleep. You reacted by punching him and broke his nose. The reason I reacted like I did was I wanted to stop him before he could retaliate.”

“So... your response to all of this was to break up with me?”

His eyes slipped closed. “It was the only way to guarantee the safety of both of you. I didn't know him well yet. For all I knew, he would attempt to kill you for the broken nose. Keyword being 'attempt.'”

Jou snorted.

“It turns out that was one memory that didn't stick as hard as I thought. Atem's memory is of the situation, not the people involved. Even if he did remember, I doubt he would harbor any ill will.”

The room filled with a deafening silence.

“Guess an apology would be meaningless.”

“For him? Yes. The bleeding had already stopped by the time I got to him. But-”

“I ain't apologizing to y-”

“I'm sorry.”

Jounouchi stopped short.

“I didn't want it to end the way it did. I thought it would be for the best to have you as far away from here as possible. You... didn't need this.”

Jounouchi stared at Kaiba for a moment. A smile twitched onto his lips and let a soft chuckle slip out. “Seto Kaiba; the all-caring altruist.”

Kaiba's lips turned up into a smile all his own as his eyes slipped closed. “Shut up.”

“Love you too.”

-

“I don't know for certain which one he'll be when he wakes up. I've only had to use the collar one time before today. He missed a week of school because of it.”

Mokuba glanced at Sugoroku before he looked back at Yugi. The collar had been removed to make sure there were no burns on his neck. While he was covered in his own share of scrapes, there was nothing caused by the collar itself.

He looked down at the mask in his hands. “After all this time of searching, Anubis was right under our noses.” In the most unassuming form. How would Seto react?

Mokuba glanced at Atem. He'd been completely silent from the moment he carried Yugi onto the helicopter. He didn't acknowledge anyone passed a short nod or head shake. His eyes stayed on Yugi. Mokuba couldn't tell what was going through Atem's mind; there was too much to decipher in his face.

He turned back to Sugoroku. “Last time, when he missed that week, did he wake up as Yugi?”

Sugoroku nodded. “It was as if nothing happened. It was almost concerning how easy he shrugged off the loss of time. Anyone else in his position would be panic-stricken.”

“You kept this a secret from him.”

Both turned and looked at Atem. He still hadn't broken his eyes away from Yugi.

“All this time, he could have become this killer. He could have been hurt with no recollection of ever doing anything deserving.”

Sugoroku frowned. “I did what I could to protect him.”

Atem glared at him. “You failed!”

Mokuba stared at his 'cousin.' He wanted to say something to calm the rage bubbling inside. Just by looking at him, he could tell it hurt. His eyes were tearing up again. “Atem...”

“Master Kaiba? Anzu Mazaki and Honda Hiroto are at the front gate.”

Mokuba turned to the woman. “Oh. Thank you.” This was a surprise. He didn't call them. And he knew Seto was currently incapable of that. Jounouchi may have, but he would have no reason to if he didn't know Yugi was here.

Mokuba gave Atem another glance. He didn't look back and just kept his stare down with Sugoroku as the boy trotted out of the room.

Sugoroku continued to stare at Atem. The small child they left behind in those labs could have easily become bitter and angry at the world. Instead, he did what he could with his abilities. He was honorable.

“Sugoroku, this lie has gone on long enough. If you don't tell him, I will.”

Sugoroku didn't get a chance to reply. Atem was out the door right before Anzu and Honda burst in. Surely, they would demand answers.

He didn't know what he would tell them.

-

He couldn't tell the moment he took his last breath. Everything was very hazy for a second as he tried his best to claw his way out of the abyss. He remembered not being able to breathe and pain in just about every part of his body. He remembered Ryo's scream. He remembered rain.

Then... nothing.

He still tried his hardest to wake up. He could see his body in the bed as Kaiba's best doctors tried to bring him back. He could see Ryo's tight grip on his hand. He could hear the other begging him to wake up. To make this all some kind of morbid joke. To roll his eyes at how worried he was.

Bakura couldn't do anything. He couldn't feel the touches. He reached out for Ryo.

And was immediately consumed by the darkness he knew all too well. He could feel a mask on his face and a presence behind him.

“Welcome, Kuk.”

If he didn't turn around, it wouldn't be real. If he just stared at the spot where he'd seen Ryo last, he would wake up and be in the worst pain of his life.

'Life' being the keyword. At least he would be alive. Not here with the ghosts who are chained to this fucked up limbo.

“Kuk... You can't stand there forever.” Hathor spoke to him in that sweet, calm tone. He hated how clear she sounded.

“Watch me,” he snarled and continued to stare. He could open it before, maybe he could open it again.

“We can trust that Ra and Horus can take this from here.” Thoth's voice was near his shoulder.

Still, Bakura didn't look. “We can barely trust Horus to do anything. He's the idiot who fucked Anubis without even knowing it was him!” His fists clenched at his sides. “I'm the only one who can properly protect Ryo from that psycho.”

Thoth hissed and prepared for what would definitely be a harshly worded comment. But then Osiris spoke from his post.

“We can't force him to let go so easily. Leave Kuk be for now, you two.”

They did so.

And Bakura just stared at the shadowy abyss and wondered how Bast was able to connect herself to Jounouchi. Maybe it wouldn't hurt to try.

But how was Bast so easily able to leave the others behind? Was it even that easy?

Bakura took a step.

“Kuk, it would be best to stay here and wait for Ra to connect with us again.”

Hathor nodded. “With you here, there's no doubt he'll be back.”

Bakura growled. “You idiots. The only reason he was able to contact you in the first place was because I could get here. Not all of our abilities were created equal.”

“We all know.” Thoth crossed his arms. “And you decided to run off to face the one who benefitted the most from the project.”

Bakura finally turned to face him. “Don't be talking shit, Bird Boy. You and I could be stuck here together for a very long time. And I tend to hold grudges.”

A thick silence flooded the room. It locked on and refused to let go. Hathor looked between the two before she turned to Osiris.

Osiris just glanced back at her and subtly shook his head. The two would have to work this out themselves. At least according to Osiris.

Hathor didn't agree. “Kuk.”

“Stop calling me that!” His glare snapped to Hathor.

She tensed but didn't back down. “You should go. Bast was able to do it and she didn't get to live the life you did. So you must have a better handle on how this works on the physical world, right?”

Thoth turned to look at her in surprise. “He could get hurt.”

“I'm dead, Thoth. How much more 'hurt' could I get?” Bakura ripped the mask from his face and tossed it to the ground.

“You'd be surprised.”

Everyone turned and looked at Osiris. The man in the green mask wasn't looking at any of them, he just stared down at the nonexistent floor, mind far away from everything. He slowly began to turn to the other three. “Besides, we're not only worried about your pain in this situation.”

Thoth nodded at Osiris and turned back to Bakura. “Ra will no doubt suffer in this. Not to mention the reaction sure to befall Anubis when he finally wakes and becomes aware of his abilities.”

“It's not only that.” Osiris piped up once again, “I feel as though there is something more. Something worse than Anubis brews just beneath the surface.”

“I'm callin' bullshit on that.” What could be worse than the arsenic-laced lollipop that was Yugi Mutou?

Both Hathor and Thoth ignored Bakura as the woman tilted her head. “What else could possibly be out there?”

Osiris shook his head. “I'm unsure. Let's hope I'm as wrong as Kuk thinks.”

-

It wasn't often she was able to get Isis out of the house. She mostly had to convince the other woman there was an errand she had to run that would require an extra set of hands. She knew the reason was the people who watched her. While the abilities were kept under control, everyone still had a vague memory of the years back when the Ishtars were something to be feared. When they put the oldest to death for terrorizing a large portion of Egypt.

Malik and Isis never forgave themselves for that. And that regret just ran into another.

“You know, I think we should travel more,” Mai said as she watched a man eye Isis and whisper a prayer under his breath. “Maybe take a trip to America. Or Europe.”

Isis eyed Mai. “Just say it.”

“...Or maybe Japan.”

Isis sighed.

“I know you said you'd think about it but it's more than just, you know. It's getting away from all of this,” she gestured vaguely to the streets, “if only for a few weeks.”

“As beautiful as that sounds, I have a moral debt to pay here.”

Mai's eyes hardened and she opened her mouth to speak only to be interrupted by her phone. She pulled it from her pocket and watched as the screen twitched and glitched before showing her a Japanese phone number she didn't know.

She didn't need to know it. The glitch from before was enough of a caller ID. “So, you were able to crack my little code. Clever boy.”

Isis snapped her head around. Mai was holding the phone away from her ear and between the two of them.

There was an intake of breath from the other end. “So, it is a phone number.” The deep voice was almost hard to hear with the noises around the two women.

Still, Isis knew who was speaking. Her throat closed up as a lump formed that she couldn't swallow.

Mai smiled. “Indeed, it is. How are you, sweetie?”

“I would like to know why you left me your number in such an odd fashion.”

“Well, I didn't want Kaiba to find it and try to call me.”

“... How did you know I live with him?”

“I know so much about you. Horus.” Her eyes darted to Isis. She knew the boy on the other end would take her bait.

The woman stared intently at the phone and covered her mouth. Her eyes were welling up.

The line was silent. It was possible the one on the other end was stunned. Then, “My name is Atem.”

Isis sucked in a sharp breath.

Mai fought the urge to try and comfort her partner. “Sorry. Atem.”

Atem shifted slightly. “If you knew both names surely you know...” He trailed off as if he were debating on what to call Isis.

Mai chuckled. “Yeah, you could say I know her.”

“Is she there now?”

The blonde looked at Isis as the woman shook her head and clasped her hands in front of her mouth.

But the option to answer was soon taken away as Atem snorted. “I should assume so, considering you have me on speaker.”

Isis shut her eyes. The boy was more clever than she thought.

“Either way, I'd like her to know that... there's little more I want more in my life than to meet her. I feel that we're coming to a time where none of us should be separated like this. It's... it's becoming too much.” His voice sounded thick with emotion.

Mai frowned. “Atem, is everything okay?”

There was a shift again and long, shaky breath before he spoke. “I... k-zztch.. vvrckkk!” The phone let out a high pitch shriek before a garbled voice picked up.

“Horus is no longer your concern.” The line went dead.

Mai and Isis both stared at the phone with wide eyes. A stunned silence fell between the two.

Then, Isis's eyes narrowed. “I think it's time we take a vacation.”

-

Atem couldn't be sure what happened. One minute he was ready to spill everything to the woman he just met, then next his signal became corrupt and his eye picked up on something else.

It was like a projection meant for only him. A boy possibly ten years younger than him stared a little too close and smiled slightly too wide. He looked like Kaiba, with eyes decades older and hair a strange shade of blue-green.

Atem tried to back away, but the projection followed.

“Ah, so you are still alive. Pretty healthy looking too.”

“Who...? What..?”

The projection smiled even wider. “This must be all very confusing for you. I'd say 'sorry' but that'd be a lie. I'm not the least bit sorry!” He shrugged and pulled back just a little. “It's a shame I couldn't find a way into your head. Gaining powers at the source and all that. Plus, I was hoping for something a little... older than this. But, we're falling on desperate times now. We must purge everything.”

Atem blinked and shifted back again.

“I could just let Anubis take care of it but I don't know. We can't really trust a mad dog, can we? Either way; one down, four to go!” The projection blinked out and left Atem on the roof wondering what he just witnessed.

-

Yugi woke up with a start.

He wasn't sure what happened. He remembered Anubis in his room. The jackal had been gentle and pretty non-threatening as far as crazed killers go. He remembered feeling tired. And now he was in a large bed that just screamed 'Seto Kaiba Guest Room.' But that couldn't be right. His grandfather was there.

He sat right next to Anzu and Honda. All three of them looked worried. He pulled himself up and rubbed at his pounding head. “Hey, guys. What happened?”

“You... don't remember anything?” Honda frowned. “You've been gone for a week.”

Yugi blinked. “A week?!”

Anzu nodded and threw her arms around the other. “We were so worried about you!”

Yugi returned the affection with a frown. What did Anubis do to him? How was it possible so much time had gone by? Was truly he unconscious for that long?

Sugoroku cleared his throat. “Anzu... Honda... could you give us a moment? I would like to talk to Yugi alone.”

Anzu reluctantly pulled back and gave the old man a nod.

Sensing her reluctance to let him out of her sight, Yugi smiled. “It's okay. I'm not going anywhere again. I promise.”

Sugoroku clenched his jaw at that as he silently walked the two to the door. Once it was shut, Yugi's smile fell and he gripped the blanket tightly. “I guess I was a target of Anubis. Does it have something to do with being too close to Atem?”

Sugoroku turned and frowned. “You really don't remember anything?”

Yugi looked up and shook his head.

Sugoroku moved slowly and silently. He returned to his seat next to the bed and eyed his grandson. “Yugi, I wasn't... completely honest with you. I thought keeping this secret would allow you to live the rest of your life happy and without worry but... but I was just fooling us both.”

Yugi frowned. “... Grandpa?”

“Maybe there's a reason you're so attracted to Horus and why he's so infatuated with you. Because you two are cut from the same cloth.”

Yugi stared at his grandfather. His stomach dropped and his blood ran cold at what he was implying. He didn't need it said aloud. He didn't want that hanging in the air. “...What have I been doing this past week?” He barely managed to speak above a whisper.

Sugoroku took a deep breath. “I can only say what you've done in the past few days.”

The details of the situation made Yugi tremble. He didn't want to believe he was capable of something so dark. Yet... he could feel the rain and smell the blood. He couldn't see it; some part of him wouldn't let him see it.

He...

He killed someone.

The truth of it hit him hard. His grandfather wouldn't say the words but he knew in his heart of hearts it was true. Someone was dead because of him. Someone with powers like his own. He held them in his hand and...

“Where's Atem?”

Sugoroku stopped speaking, hardly realizing Yugi hadn't been listening. “Yugi-”

Words continued to fall on deaf ears as Yugi launched himself from the bed. He threw open the door, heart thundering in his ears as he ran down the hall. He could barely hear himself shouting for Atem, much less his friends chasing after him and calling out to him.

Yugi remembered the door to Atem's room. He didn't knock; his fears largely outweighing any manners hammered into his head at a young age. His eyes landed on the other as Atem climbed back in through his window. There were bandages on his arms and around his neck. But the other just blinked in surprise. “Yugi...?”

Yugi's eyes teared up as he strode across the room and wrapped his arms tightly around Atem. “You're alive.”

Atem tensed at the contact before he remembered himself and slowly hugged Yugi back. “So are you.” He glanced up as everyone crowded in his doorway. It would seem Yugi's cries alerted both Kaibas and Jounouchi to the room as well.

Atem kept his arms tight around Yugi as he looked at Kaiba. While the taller man could walk, he was still covered in bandages, moreso than himself.

Judging by Yugi's reaction, he knew he had something to do with the injuries. Atem couldn't be sure how to let him know about Bakura.

It wouldn't matter. As soon as Ryo appeared in the doorway, realization struck and all the color faded from Yugi's skin. He'd done the headcount and noticed the absent member. He noticed how worn and distraught Ryo looked.

He felt sick. He could hear his own heartbeat and the distant sounds of sirens in his memories. He felt shadows with glowing eyes engulf him. He would drown in them. And he deserved to do so.

Bakura... Bakura had smiled at him just before dying. He whispered something his brain could not process. The smile had faded when the light left his eyes. They were glassy and bloodshot when he fell still.

How could he do that? Bakura. He didn't deserve that. No one deserved that!

“Yugi...” Atem's gentle voice tried to pull him back to reality. Fingertips brushed against Yugi's shoulder as he stumbled away from the group and to the bathroom attached to Atem's room. There, his body began trying to reject the contents of his nearly empty stomach.

The group outside just stood by with a mix of concern and confusion.

Ryo and Atem looked at each other. A second later, Ryo walked into the bathroom. “Yugi?”

He shook and sat back on his legs as he stared into nothing. His arms wrapped around himself. “I... I... I...”

Ryo bit his lip. This whole situation left him with mixed feelings. He should harbor nothing but hatred for his friend right now. The moment he saw Bakura collapse, all he wanted to do was avenge him. But...

Sugoroku filled them all in on what happened and why Anubis stayed inactive. The appearance of the mask was most likely what set him off. Yugi couldn't stop it any more than any of them. Hell, he didn't know Anubis existed up until a few days ago.

And now he sat on the floor, staring off as his mind tried to process everything. Kind, gentle Yugi Mutou had blood on his hands. The blood of a friend.

Yugi sucked in a shaky breath and became to sob. “Ry-Ryo... Bakura... I-I'm so sor-sorry. I couldn't... I..”

Ryo moved in closer. He gently put a hand on his friend's shoulder. “Come on. We have a lot to talk about.”

Yugi nodded but continued to look off into the distance as he was guided out of the bathroom and back to where everyone waited.

[atemgirl94]

Pharaoh and Reincarnated Queen pt. 3

The next morning had gone by well, the girls were there to keep Mr. Motou company while his grandson was at school. He had made them breakfast and had sent word to his colleague that his daughters and their cousin had arrived in Domino. Britt had a lot on her mind again, she'd had the same dream only it was a bit different this time.

'someone was behind me...he wrapped his arms around me from behind...his words. 'found you my love.' What does that mean?' Britt thought

The other girls let her just drown in her thoughts, then they returned to their rooms. Mr. Motou sat in one of the chairs and Britt looked at him.

"Britt, is there something you need to talk about?" Mr. Motou asked

"Well...I have been having these dreams. Where I'm in Ancient Egypt, someone is calling for me. Only last night was different. I ran to where I heard It calling for me but when I got near the person was behind me...wrapped their arms around me and said they'd found me." Britt said

Mr. Motou knew the truth behind the item she had, he heard that it belonged to a Queen. He had wondered if the rumors about the Queen's spirit not able to rest were true and it seemed indeed they were. He could see how confused she was with all this so he tried to find the words to help.

"What do you know so far about the item?" Mr. Motou asked

"I know it belonged to a Queen who was very much in love with her husband. That I'm supposed to be her reincarnation." Britt said

Once he had that part he knew for sure that this had everything to do with the rumor.

"Well My grandson is going to be home soon, so just relax." Mr. Motou said

Britt nod as she went to her room, Mr. Motou knew the Millennium Puzzle was with his grandson and now the Millennium Bracelet was in the same house. He wondered if it was meant to be this way but only time would tell.

It was a few hours later when Yugi arrived. "Grandpa, I'm home." Yugi said

"Ah Yugi, our guests are in their rooms." Mr. Motou said

"Guests Grandpa?" Yugi asked

Around the time the girls were coming out, Hathor leading and Britt following with her sisters. Yugi looked at them. He recognized Britt right away from the tv.

"You are Egypt tournament Champ Britt Petrova." Yugi said

Britt looked at Yugi and she gave a smile "Please call me Britt. I don't make a big deal on the tournament." Britt said

"Oh wow, they said you got a lot of money from that." Yugi said

"Heh, well I donated half of it to charity." Britt admitted

"I was thinking you could show the girls around, they are the transfer students that are starting tomorrow." Solomon said

Yugi was more than overjoyed to have some new friends, so he did exactly what his grandfather asked. They were out most of the day and when it came to the girls first day at Domino High they were welcomed by most.

During the break Britt and Hathor walked over sitting by Yugi's desk as they noticed the others.

"Welcome to Domino High, I'm Tea Gardner." Tea said

"The names Joey Wheeler." Joey said

"I'm Tristan Taylor." Tristan said

Hathor laughed a bit "Nice to meet you, I'm Hathor and this is Britt." Hathor said

Joey started to get all fanboy like on them as he got up near them. "No way, you're the Egypt tournament Champ Me and my best bud seen on to." Joey said

Britt nod "Please it's not a big deal." Britt said

Weeks went by since that day and on a certain night they were going to be watching a tournament. Britt and her family had turned it early but Britt stopped as she looked back at Yugi.

"Let me know who wins Yugi." Britt said to him

"I will, Night Britt." Yugi said

After Britt was out of sight, Mr. Motou came in with a box.

"Yugi this package came in the mail for you." Mr. Motou said then he looked around. "Is Britt with you guys?"

"No gramps, she's in her room. Why?" Yugi asked

"A similar package came for her and her family." Mr. Motou said

Yugi took the box as he looked at it, "it's from Industrial Illusions." Yugi said

"Maybe we should call Britt out here?" Joey suggested

"No Need, I will let her know something came for her." Mr. Motou said as he went to find Britt. Meanwhile the duel tournament on tv was on its last duel Rex Raptor vs Weevil Underwood. The group watched as the tournament came to an end with Weevil winning. Around this time Mr. Motou was coming out and Britt was right behind him.

"Hey Britt, turns out Weevil Underwood won." Yugi said

"Oh wow, bugs. So, I heard you and I have a package." Britt said to him as he nods.

"Well you both should open it; the other girls are asleep so I am sure you will be able to figure out to let them know." Mr. Motou said

Britt and Yugi both opened their packages, inside both was a video tape, a glove and some star chips.

"Some kind of glove." Tea said

"And stars." Joey said

Yugi picked up the video "maybe there's some explanation on the video." Tristan said

"Pop it in and check it out." Joey suggested.

Britt took a spot to watch with Mr. Motou and the gang. She figured her video couldn't of been any worse than Yugi's. When the picture came on screen they Seen Pegasus on the screen.

"Greetings, Little Yugi. I am Maximillian Pegasus." Pegasus said

"Pegasus?" Joey said

"We just saw him on tv." Tea said

'why am I getting a bad feeling?' Britt thought

"I have heard some terribly interesting things about you, Yugi. Your impressive defeat of Seto Kaiba intrigued me so much I've decided to investigate your amazing dueling skills personally. Right here, Right now. We'll play with a strict time limit of 15 minutes, and when time is up the player with the highest life points wins. Are you ready?" Pegasus said on the screen.

Britt didn't understand what this was all about, Joey knew just like she did it was impossible for Yugi to duel a video recording. The Pegasus on the screen laughed before his eye could be seen, the room around Yugi went dark but the only ones who could move was him and Britt. The half of the Queen's soul that was locked in the bracelet took control as the eye appeared on her head when it became a shadow game. Yugi looked around seeing that no one but him and Britt were free to move. Watching the Queen seen Yugi's puzzle glow before the Pharaoh had taken control.

Right next to the Queen was her other self-watching beside her, it was the shadow realm.

'what is happening?' Britt thought as she seen that she was by her body seeing that someone else was in control.

They watched for some time and half way through the duel Pegasus smiled.

"This game is very real and the part you play is something more than you can comprehend." Pegasus said

What should of seemed like a long time wasn't when fifteen minutes was up. Pegasus had the more life points.

"Well looks like I'm the victor." Pegasus said "But if you had been able to finish the attack I would have lost."

Within seconds he moved showing the item he held.

"I knew it. You have a Millennium item." Brittania said

The Pharaoh looked back seeing her, he seen she too had a Millennium item that was familiar to him.

"A millennium eye. He cannot take an item without winning it." Brittania said

Pegasus used the power of his Millennium eye to steal Mr. Motou's soul. When the shadow game was over, Yugi had control of his body but Britt fell sideways from the way the switch had happened. She never knew about her alternate side and she was not used to her controlling the switch.

Yugi was all upset about his grandfather and no matter what he was going to get his grandfather's soul back. Joey checked on Britt as he shook her before her eyes open.

"Huh?" She said

"You fainted. You ok?" Joey asked

Yugi was really upset but then he looked over at Britt. "Put your tape in, if that was for me who knows what is in it for you." Yugi said

Britt nod as she went to her box getting the tape, Yugi took out his tape and Britt put hers in. Yugi and Britt sat right in front of the gang after that little weird incident. Pegasus once again was on the screen.

"Hello Britt Petrova, I hear you are the Egyptian tournament Champ. I wanted to make sure you got an invite to my new tournament." Pegasus said on the screen.

Britt was enraged by what Pegasus did to Yugi's grandpa. She'd never had such a problem with someone before. "I know your dueling skills are up to perfect..I wanted to test your skills for myself."

Britt's eyes widened as she knew what that meant, it wasn't anything good after what she'd seen with Yugi. Suddenly again the room went dark and she put a hand on her throat having a hard time breathing.

"Britt!" Yugi said

"hm, have to endure." Britt said as she got her deck out, her item glowed and the eye appeared on her head. Brittania had taken control for her as she glared at the screen.

"You want a duel, you have one." Brittania said

Yugi noticed this other behavior of Britt's and beside him was the Pharaoh who saw it as well. Pegasus wasn't going as hard on her as he did with Yugi, but she'd gotten his life points down enough to win in a fifteen-minute duel.

"Well now that I know how strong you are, I'm going to expect you to join my tournament." Pegasus said

'I'll make you regret messing with my friend.' Britt thought

Once that was over Britt went to bed without saying a word, for one the Queen had taken over and was not wanting to talk to Yugi to let him know any different. She kept a smile and the behavior wasn't that much different.

The next morning Britt had made breakfast since Mr. Motou was in a coma like state. Yugi was second to be up and seen her cooking.

"Morning Britt." Yugi said

"Morning Yugi." Britt said to him as she put five plates out.

The three others came back and when Hathor sat down she looked between the two.

"What happened?" Hathor asked

"You wouldn't believe me even if I told you." Britt said, "Oh you guys have packages but don't watch the videos."

They nod but they didn't push, two weeks passed and soon the cards arrived with location to the boat and everything. Britt looked over all of it and then at the others.

"Hey, we are going as a team." Hathor said

little did anyone know, Hathor had started to have a crush on Yugi.

[thecrazydragonlady]

Coffee Shops and Board Games- Chapter 7

Author’s Notes: *Cries* I managed to actually update a story. Enjoy an impromptu Puzzleshipping date!

AO3

Days Remaining Until Deadline: 8

Yugi sucked in a sharp breath before releasing it with a frustrated groan, quickly running a hand through his hair to alleviate some of his pain. It didn't help. He was still very much upset. It had been several days since their run-in with Pegasus; true to his word, Jou had kept an eye out for the recently turned baker but he hadn't made a reappearance. That, however was currently the least of his worries. His board game sat in front of him and tangle after frustrating tangle seemed to keep appearing.

Was Set going to betray the unnamed pharaoh?

Did he even want to?

What about the pharaoh's uncle? Where did he go in all of this?

Plus the rules for Zorc’s revival needed to be finalized.

Now the ideas of Ka and Ba were frustratingly mixed in and he still had to work out the rules on that.

Not to mention the character designs he had to approve.

A gentle hand touched his shoulder and he shot up a bit, surprised by the contact. Yami stood over him, the bags under his eyes not as noticeable as they had been for the last couple of days but his expression was twisted. He glanced him over before sitting a cup of coffee down in front of him, “Here aibou. You look like you need it.” Yugi smiled, accepting it. He hesitated though before raising it to his lips; earlier that week, he had attempted a sip of one of Yami’s “tar monsters” and nearly died at the pure, black death that resided inside. The artist noticed. He chuckled out, “Don’t worry. I made sure there was cream and sugar in it in ungodly amounts. No shots of espresso either. Just regular coffee.” His shoulders slumped.

“Thanks.” Yugi sipped. It was surprisingly made the way he enjoyed it when he ordered regular coffee. Yami returned to his seat across from him. Their booth was once more covered in materials.  He took a deep breath, “Alright, we’re making progress but we still have a ways to go. The advisors to the pharaoh need to be finalized in their designs and I’ve still got to come up with the rules for Zorc’s revival and we can’t forget about the betrayal of Set and his father and….”

“Yugi,” Yami soothed. “Stop.”

The game designer fell silent. He blinked at him a few times before leaning his head to the side, confused. Yami stared at him for a few seconds before standing and gathering his materials. Yugi blanched. “What are you doing?”

“I’m packing up,” he confirmed. Yugi smiled wryly.

“I noticed but… why? We have a lot of work that needs to be done.”

Yami waved a hand towards him, “You need a breather. I can practically see your brain about to implode.”

“But….”

“We’ve been working for a week straight Yugi, over twelve hours each day. We still have eight until the deadline. Half a day or even a full day won’t kill us. Trust me,” he continued, cutting him off from protesting, “if this keeps up, you’re going to burn out and then you’ll have to face Seto Kaiba without a board game. Not a prospect either of us wants to face right?” Yugi snapped his jaw shut. He ducked his head but nodded. Yami merely smiled and reached over, musing his hair which caused him to complain like a child. “So come on. We’re going out.” He didn’t leave much time for him to protest. Finishing gathering the materials, Yami grabbed him by the wrist and tugged him out of the booth and subsequently out the door of the coffee shop.

Meanwhile, Jou was grinning like an idiot and he snapped a photo of their retreating backs.

Looks like Yug’s finally going on a date with his crush, he texted to every single one of their friends.

*****

Going out apparently meant heading to the Domino City Museum. They caught the bus just in time. Yugi was very much aware that Yami never released his wrist from the moment they left the shop, paid their fare, and made their way across town. It was only after they had taken their seats that he released him.

He couldn't help but wonder if he had enjoyed holding his hand - wrist- as much as he had enjoyed having it held.

They rode mostly in silence. The bus hummed underneath them and the people around them mostly kept to themselves. He wanted to ask him where they were going but when he looked up, he found the artist staring out the bus window, his chin resting in his hand, elbow propped precariously against the tiniest of window seals. It gave him a perfect view of his profile. After many months of pining after him, Yugi swallowed hard. He would have never dreamed that he would have gotten this before; in fact, if anyone had told him over a month ago that he would be riding on the bus going to who-knows-where with the mysterious man he was crushing on, he probably would have laughed in their face. They passed through a tunnel. Yami’s eyes glowed a brilliant red in the orange lighting. He had to bite his lip and turn away, hiding his hands in his lap, as he squirmed a bit in his seat.

Finally, he cleared his throat, “Yami?” He looked over at him for the first time since sitting down but Yugi made sure to avoid eye contact with him, scratching his cheek, “I-I was wondering where we’re heading…?” He blinked.

“My bad,” he chuckled out, “Mahad is always telling me I can be a bit hasty. I'm taking you to one of my favorite spots in the city. It's where I can find inspiration when I think I don't have any.” Yugi blinked.

“Oh? And where exactly is that?” Yami winked.

“You'll just have to wait and see.” He returned to looking out the window, refusing to say anymore on the topic, which left Yugi to look around or at his hand until they finally came to the stop they were meant for. Yami stood, grabbing his wrist again. “Here's our stop!” Yugi nearly chuckled at the sense of deja vu he was having as the taller one worked his way past him and off the bus. As it roared away, he recognized where they were at. He snickered which caused Yami to scratch his own cheek this time, not looking at him.

“You get your inspiration from the museum?”

“They've got some good materials,” he countered, leading the way up the stairs. “And new exhibits are always coming through. For instance,” he motioned to a large banner declaring the newest one off to the side, “they have a special Egyptian exhibit this time around. I figured since your game is based in Egypt… maybe….” He blinked. A soft smile crept across his face and he couldn't help but chuckle. Yami pouted. “What?”

“Nothing. It’s a sweet gesture.” He gently placed a hand on his arm before walking up the stairs to the entrance. He only stopped closer to the top when he noticed Yami wasn't right behind him.

It turned out, as his turning revealed, that he was still at the bottom, eyes wide, face covered in a bit of red.

This made him become even more flustered.

Dear goodness. What in the world were the two of them?

*****

There weren't many people inside on a day like this. Yami graciously paid their way in and, without needing a guide, began leading the way around the building. There was a very distinct smell about the place. It smelled of old paper, the kind that had been sitting in a library for more years than any one could count. There were a few school groups and random visitors but the noise level was pretty low all over. They travelled around from exhibit to exhibit; Yami every now and then pulled out his sketchbook and made notes or quick doodles, sometimes turning it so Yugi could give his honest appraisal. He would nod or offer a suggestion. At one point, Yami drew a ridiculous picture of Seto Kaiba and some cabbages based off some story they read. Yugi had to cover his mouth to stifle the laughter but that didn't stop a couple of the other patrons from staring at him like he had lost his mind.

Closer to noon, they left, heading back on the bus to have burgers at Yugi’s favorite joint.

Sadly, no more wrist-hand holding occurred.

Yami stretched as they came out of the shop, content and full. Yugi readjusted his bag on his shoulder, “Guess we better head back to….”

“Oh no you don't. We are most certainly not done,” Yami cut in. He blinked at the wryly smile that crossed his lips. “The day is still young and you most certainly do not need to be frying your brains out over this game.”

“But….”

“Nope. Not happening.” This time, Yami really did grab his hand. Yugi thought he was about to shoot off into orbit. “We are still going to go out and have fun and not think about that board game of yours until we are done having fun.”

“And how long will that be?”

Yami put a finger from his free hand playfully on his chin, “Tomorrow?”

Yugi baulked, “Tomorrow? Yami! The deadline's in eight days!”

“True.”

“At least this afternoon.”

“I'll only let you have… after dinner.” Yugi blushed.

“D-D-Dinner?” Yami winked.

“Yes, dinner. For now,” he tugged him on across the sidewalk, “we are going to play some games.” He stopped, turning to face him. Yugi was forced to lean his head back to stare him in the face. There was a clear, mischievous chuckle on his lips that matched the teasing smirk there as well, “Yugi Mutou, I challenge you to arcade games.”

[imagine-nerd]

may fate decree we meet again

@mooguriklaine-art i was ur ygo secret santa! I hope u like ur present!! have a happy holidays and a wonderful new year :3

So it had not been a good idea to hold the grand unveiling of his new system in center square. The press had all the available options to cut him off on his escape and that extra security team he had hired had been the worst service he had ever received. When the time came for him to leave, it was getting both Mokuba and him out through the crowd of press together or getting Mokuba out of there safe whilst trying to fend off the press on his own. The later option was what currently had him hiding through the streets of Domino city.

He’d done stupider things before. He wasn’t worried about getting away, he’d escaped from higher stakes before and this would be nothing compared to then.

Ducking his head back into the current alley he was stopped in at the sound of nearby reporters he noticed someone in the corner of his eye. Someone stood on his other side near the back of the dead end alley. Someone with golden skin and eyes like dusk. He quirked an eyebrow at the stranger who had not been here when he had first entered the alley. The stranger looked just as surprised to see him as he was to see them. The reporters yelled somewhere in the distance, why were they so persistent?

“If you’re looking for a place to hide, I think I know a place they will never find.” the stranger’s voice was alluring as if beckoning him just like the stranger was currently. Well it was this or the press and he’d rather die a pretty death. He followed the stranger through a doorway hidden away down a small alcove, one he was sure was not there earlier.

“You’re a magician.”

The stranger chuckled, “and you’re an observationist.”

Behind them the opening to the alley closed and they were now walking down a dimly lit corridor. One that he was almost entirely sure was simply made of magic itself. He watched the stranger with a curious eye, “I thought all the magicians were dead.”

The stranger turned over their shoulder to look at him. A curious eye caught his own before they turned back around, “No, not all of us.”

“Then why hide?”

“You of all people should know the answer to that question Seto Kaiba.” The stranger didn’t offer anything else but that.

They walked in silence for a while. Eventually the corridor opened up into a bustling street. The stranger pulled the purple shawl from around their neck and handed it to him. This was the open market, a place where he could escape without being noticed with that shawl wrapped around him. They were off to a small alcove with the market just barely in view, all he had to do now was leave. Mokuba would be worried about him if he didn’t return soon.

The stranger held the shawl out and sighed, “Well are you going to take it or not?”

Accepting the shawl, he took in the stranger’s golden bangs and dark hair pulled back into a ponytail. He could see the tied tips of faded iris and maroon. A small, golden eye rested on a chain around the stranger’s neck. That meant....

“I have something to ask of you.” He didn’t want to ask for help. But if anyone could do it, it would be this person. He had no other choice

“Oh? I helped you and yet you still request something of me?” The stranger was unimpressed, maybe even offended. But he didn’t have any other options

“Please teach my brother how to control his magic.” That golden eye, this stranger had ties the millennium school of magic. If anyone could help his brother it would be them. He had spent so long searching for anyone, any magician with some level of magic skill to teach his brother but so far he had nothing.

The stranger stared at him in surprise, “That’s some request coming from you, but I will have to decline.”

“You didn’t even think about it.” No. No, they had to agree.

“I have other matters to attend to.” With that the stranger turned to head back into the magic corridor, leaving him just as surprised as he had first been in the alley. There was hesitation in their step as the wall closed up behind them. A soft breeze of magic left him with the stranger’s final words, “If fate so decrees it Kaiba, if fate so decrees.”

“... Then we will surely meet again.” Sighing, he wrapped the shawl around his head and headed out into the market. There was someone he would need to contact after years of silence. Maybe they would have answers for him.

“So you’re saying that you don’t know where this magician is?” His office was a mess, plans for his mana system were strewn everywhere. There was a large stack of reports to his right and an even larger stack of documents he had yet to touch to his left. But what held all his current attention was the man in front of him, Yugi Mutou.

“Nope, not a clue. I haven’t seen him in years Kaiba, I didn’t even know he was alive.” Yugi was a magician himself. One of the reasons Kaiba had been able to develop the mana system. But most of the magic Yugi could once do was impossible for him now. He never bothered to ask why, it didn’t concern him and he could really couldn’t care less about it. After all, both of them had lost something to magic.

“And you’re positive that you can’t teach Mokuba?”

“Yes, I am completely sure that if I tried to teach him it would not end well. We have completely different types of magic and he has a far greater amount than I do.”

Rubbing his forehead, he tried to fight his oncoming headache, “Damn it all. It won’t be long til someone figures it out and comes for him. He does not need any other reason to not be a normal kid.”

Yugi laughed, “Aside from being your genius little brother?”

He glared over his desk and stacks of papers, “I didn’t invite you here to sass me Yugi.”

“Well if fate -”

“-decrees, yes I know. Why do you magicians keep saying that? All of you, all the time. Is that your immediate answer the second you don’t know the answer?”

“Well yes, I, that’s what we're taught on. The fates have granted us this gift and in turn they guide us with it.”

“Well, I think these fates are complete bullshit.”

“Kaiba…” Yugi meet his gaze, it looked as if he wanted to say something more. But he had enough of digging up those memories on his own time. He would not share his weakness with anyone.

“I think it’s time you left Yugi.”

Yugi frowned, but got up from his chair anyway. He hesitated in the doorway of the office, “At least try and give it a chance.”

“I already have, and it failed.”

Time passed. It wasn’t long after that the new technology mana grid was implemented around the world. The lacking of magic users had left the mana once used for everyday life and tasks unusable. The new Kaiba Corp system took all that mana once used to power humanity that had now been forgotten along with the magicians and made it accessible again. The second renaissance was in motion as humanity reclaimed the advances it had to set aside to survive in the lack of magic users that had come to be.

At the center of it, he was bringing in the new era single-handedly. Yet his brother was a magic user, an untrained magician, and there was no one left to teach him. He had been out of options when that stranger appeared. If anyone found out Mokuba was a magic user, they would hunt for him. A magic user, even untrained, could do so much more than any normal person possibly could dream of doing. But there were three types of magic and if he trained for a type that did not match his own then it would kill him.

He didn’t even know what type of magic Mokuba had. They had no way for him to safely use it yet with the level of power he had. If he could just see the color of his brother’s magic he would know which of the three types he had, but for now there was nothing he could do. Nothing but wait for fate. What a joke. His brother needed help. Which meant he was going to find that magician whether fate wanted him to or not.

He searched everywhere for the magician. He would always think he spotted them in the corner of his eye, just out of reach before they would vanish again. If fate really did exist well then fate was a major asshole.

Then one day it happened. When he was looking for his answer, Mokuba was taken right out from underneath him. His whole world just taken like it was nothing.

There was a ransom of course and now he was running out of time. They had found out about Mokuba’s magic. All because of those damn rumors, that he couldn’t have created a system that re-purposed mana unless he had a magician to help him. They were right more or less, he had magicians help him, but magic was not that simple. They were baseless rumors and now he was paying the price for them. He had no idea where to find him and now his whole world would be gone.

There was a knock at his office door. It opened before he could respond and in waltzed Jounouchi Katsuya with the whole dweeb patrol right behind him. He all but screamed, what the hell did they want at a time like this!

“What -”

“Are ya doing here yada yada yada, we heard your brothers in trouble and an old friend requested we help ya out.”

“Unless you know where he is you have no reason to be here.” He turned his back towards the group, he did not have time for this.

“We don’t know but an old friend does, the one you've been looking for.” That got his attention.

“…” He turned to face the group. Yugi, his annoying friends, and the dog. They couldn’t possibly mean…

“Well are gonna wallow in the room all day or are you coming with to get him?” Jounouchi held out a hand. One he ignored when he brushed past the group and out the door.

“We're leaving.”

The dead men who had taken Mokuba were holed up in an old house near the outskirts of the city. They had left the car a block away so they wouldn’t give away their position. Approaching the house, Kaiba recognized the silhouette of the magician he’d spent the past months searching for.

“You have a lot of nerve to show up now.”

“And you’re quite rude to someone who found your brother.”

“My brother is still in that house with the thugs that did this, have you found where yet?”

“Second floor, top right bedroom, the one right in front of us actually that has a view of the street. Probably so they can watch and see who is coming.”

“All that attitude isn’t just bark and no bite. Good, now are we going inside or are we just playing stakeout?”

“We need to make sure they don’t try and just run, we need a plan to go in, what are you -”

“Screw that, my brother is in trouble and I’ll be damned if I lose anyone again.”

Standing up, he walked up to the side window on the first floor and pulled the wooden boards off it. They were rotting and falling of the nails they had been attached to so it wasn’t hard. Jumping through the window, he took a look around the first floor. It was also rotting and falling apart. But there wasn’t any sign of life down here. Which meant that the group of thugs was upstairs. Judging from the sound of the creaking floor, there were about four of them. Good, he’d had some pent up anger recently, it would be great to get it all out.

He was halfway up the stairs when someone caught his left wrist. Whipping around he glared at the magician. For the love of, what now! Hadn’t he wasted enough time already? Mokuba was up there, alone, for hours with these assholes. He was right there and now he was being pulled back?

“What now!” Hissing, he tried to yank his arm from the magician’s grasp but they held tight.

“Magic, a lot of it, whoever took your brother has some means of magic.” the magician whispered, looking up towards the top of the stairs as if waiting for something.

“You idiot, that’s probably my brother! Why do you think I asked you to teach him?” He wretched his wrist from the magician’s grasp and charged up the stairs. If anything or anyone had put even a scratch on his brother there would be hell to pay.

Approaching the bedroom, he reeled back in shock as the door burst open and four large men came barreling out of it squealing like pigs. A bright blue light came from the bedroom. Creation magic, just like hers. No, he couldn’t lose Mokuba too.

Running into the room he was nearly knocked off his feet be the sheer force of the magic emanating from his brother. His brother who had glowing blue eyes and was completely encased in his magic. No, no, no! It would kill him!

“Blue… creation magic… the same as my own.” The magician walked into the room, eyes in awe as their hair whipped around in the force of the magic.

“Please you have to save him!” He yelled over the magic, hoping the magician could do it. “Please I can’t lose him too!”

The magician said nothing. They simply stood there. For a moment, he thought it was foolish of him to rely on someone else to save what he cared about. But the force of the magic simply vanished. The light died down as the magician moved closer to Mokuba. They were saying something but he couldn’t hear it. Just like that the magic vanished and the air in the room returned to normal.

“Mokuba!” He rushed forward and grabbed his little brother. He hurriedly inspected him and was relieved to find him unharmed.

“If his magic is that powerful, it would be unwise to leave him untrained.” the magician approached, but did not come closer to where he held his brother. They laughed, “I have a feeling we’ll be seeing a lot more of each other now.”

“This whole thing could’ve been avoided if you had just said yes the first time I asked.” He was not impressed, all this trouble could’ve just been avoided if they had just done as he asked.

“Maybe, maybe not.” The magician shrugged.

“Your cryptic speech habits better not rub off on my brother.” Hoisting his brother into his arms, he went to leave. Only stopping to turn back to the magician.

“They shouldn’t, but if they do you’ll just have to become better at understanding the way I talk.”  the magician turned to face away from him towards the window, “When he is ready, all you have to do is call.”

“And who exactly am I supposed to call to find you when you drop off the face of the earth now?” What was with all the dramatics? What was the magician going to do? Simply vanish into thin air and return when he’s called?

The magician smiled at him, before a blue light engulfed him and he vanished. A small blue butterfly came to land on his shoulder. With a soft whisper it spoke, “Just call my name, Atem.”

“Atem huh?” shaking his head, he left the bedroom. “And I thought I was dramatic.”

[steve0discusses]

Yugioh S3 Ep 46-47: We Have an Extra Episode, Just Blow Up the Island, I Dunno

Yo can you even believe this season is over?

It was honestly a two-season season, when you think about it. This tournament that was only like a week in showtime but two years in watch time if it was 2001 and I was tuning in every week. Kinda nuts when you think about it.

Anyways, it’s over, and not even the Kaibas are willing to really let it end. They’re camping out in their bunker they just set to explode, just watching everyone run around like ants while the sirens wail across the island (do you NEED emergency sirens if no one else lives on this island?)

And we get one more time for the writers of this show to flip over the Kaiba timeline like pancakes and I just...

I can’t believe they did this to me, but at the same time I can totally see how they just let this one fly under the radar, just wait for it, it’s coming.

(read more under the cut)

So this sort of explains a little bit more of why Kaiba insists on building Kaibaland when it already exists, as apparently the Japanese Kaibaland was just the first of a franchise. Like seriously what child dreams of Franchising? He has Kaibaland but is like “I won’t be truly happy at all and I will try to cut people up with card games until there are more Kaibalands. That will surely make me happy. More Kaibalands.”

But then, sitting in the middle of the orphanage, he stands up in his 70′s ass sweatervest and proudly proclaims:

This borked timeline.

Back in the present Joey is feeling stressed out so he’s turned to his only coping mechanism, that’s right, he’s hassling people.

Duke, who has a million motivations to want to kill Kaiba, since he works for Pegasus, brings up the bright idea of “or I dunno, we could leave them? Like they very much caused every event of the last week to happen outside of the random ass cultists.”

And so, now that Joey has exhausted things to hassle, let them be Roland or the massive engines on the blimp-plane, he decides to board the helicopter. I kid you not, Tea turns to Joey as they’re boarding the copter and says basically along the lines of this:

WTF, show. Like what? Like whaaaat? Anyway, don’t think about how big a helicopter is on the inside, because we’re just gonna shove everyone in here like it’s a mosh pit. Good thing that no one actually packed any luggage or pajamas, so at least that will keep the weight down.

Please admire the height of Yugi compared to Roland.

What followed was an explosion that the show did for...some reason. This didn’t need to happen. This was needless anxiety and it’s like..the season’s over why are we doing this???

So this is just a very Yugioh moment where...they didn’t really HAVE to blow up the island at the last minute. They didn’t HAVE to break the engines on the blimp-plane and they absolutely didn’t HAVE to put Seto Kaiba in a jet in the same very un-aerodynamic shape of a blue eyes white wife.

But they did.

If I’ve learned anything from watching Yugioh is that you must always, at every moment, be going 400%.

Seto just wanted to make a simple visual statement of “I want to move on from the past” so he decided to uh...do a very theatrical statement that was so theatrical that everyone thought that not only he and Mokuba had died, but that they, themselves, were about to die (and they were, they absolutely were)

Please admire the way they drew Seto from the side in this scene.

Anyway, now that the completely unnecessary “lets blow up the island and destroy the ecosystem” drama is over, and Kaiba’s off to encourage Global Warming in some other part of the globe, it’s time to send Marik off on his boat. It’s time for him to go have Marik Boat Time and never ever become a spinoff series although you know I would absolutely watch the hell out of that.

So, they choose the most idyllic landscape to do it, here in the abandoned warehouse district, surrounded by shipping cranes and strangely empty cruise liners. Ah, that twilight hour sunset. The way the sunlight kisses the corners of the abandoned warehouse’s windows.

I am absolutely shocked our background artist didn't use the chance to paint it neon orange. They love neon orange so much but I guess they save the neon for dramatic scenes. This one they left a more natural Instagram creamy color palate.

(PS at this point I guess Bakura decided to go home or go to the hospital. Whichever reason he decided to bounce, he bounced without saying goodbye to anyone apparently. That or the show just decided that no one cares about Bakura so he was the only one we didn’t say a farewell too, which is hilarious since he’s one of the most popular characters on this show.

Bro broke it to me, this whole story line of the puzzle and the tablet and all that--nah. By the time we get to it I’ll have forgotten all of the lore, pretty sure. Bro did ask me if we could skip S4 and I said no we are here for the worst parts first, Bro. When it gets horrible is when we’re finally getting to the good stuff.

Then, Duke suddenly remembered that before this tournament, he was only going on a walk between laundry loads but ended up abducted twice over, stranded on a submarine, an island, and nearly exploded. That and he had to sleep on one of Kaiba’s weird cube couches and that probably sucked. But it’s time for him to pull out his colors and add some bounce sheets to his whites for the dryer.

Can you believe they had Duke Devlin for two seasons but he only dueled once? Lol.

I can’t believe there was never a purpose for Duke Devlin other than to be eye-candy. I’ve only ever really seen this trope done to girls.

Mai also suddenly remembers that she doesn’t live here.

TBH, if Mai wasn’t put in a coma, I think she would have just left the tournament after she lost. She’d have pulled out a hang-glider from her pack and just sailed away rather than spend another minute with people she isn’t absolutely required to hang out with. That seems more her jam.

And then they had to frame up this Joey/Mai ship and...it’s just so funny when you remember that Mai is like waaay to old for Joey. She’s like 24 and he’s a baby but he’s pretty sure that he’s disappointing her so much by not telling her all about how he’s crushing. He’s pretty sure she just has no idea when it’s like, no, she does, and she does not want you to acknowledge it.

As she goes off, Tea for some reason decides to make it her responsibility for Joey to go out there and I guess...mortally embarrass himself in front of his much older crush? I mean you don’t really have to admit to your teachercrush that...you like her? Like, Mai is just a teachercrush right? Like he respects and admires her, she’s pretty, and there’s no other girls but Tea and Miho? Like that’s it?

This weird ass couple. And I mean it’s a weird pairing just because it can never happen on screen, but as some of you have pointed out--it is probably the healthiest couple in Yugioh. Mostly because we know that it will never happen. Unlike everyone else where it’s like, Joey better go eat both those pieces of paper with those phone numbers on it because holy hell a 16 yo dating a 12 yo is pretty freakin wild. What are those boys even going to talk about with Serenity? How wild fractions are? How to make a replica of a cell out of Jello for the science fair? Because that’s the level she’s at.

I was an architecture student once (I know. Ya’ll who’ve read many of these have probably noticed I attempted to major in nearly every art alignment so it’s probably very confusing to figure out wtf I actually ended up finishing in school (it was Illustration) ) so I just can’t with Yugi’s house. We have seen several rooms inside this house and none of them, absolutely none, line up with the outside of Yugi’s house (which is smack dab in the middle of the inner city for some reason??? Like does Yugi have PARKING? This is the most expensive two story house in Japan, it comes with free parking.

And like...I have tried to lay it out but it doesn’t make sense. The stairs of the shop go directly into the front door. The second floor would be half a staircase, so where is this living room? And assuming that Yugi is on the top floor with the slanted roof window...how? Is it the entire floor? what is going on here?

It’s a cartoon, I shouldn’t think about it, but this house is a Dr. Who police box. Anyways, Yugi decides to sneak out of the house by going down the stairs that are again, right in front of the front door. You cannot go through the front door of this house because these damn stairs are directly in the way.

Hey check out who’s alive, it’s Grandpa. I guess he’s...fine? I guess he just woke up on the floor of Bakura’s hospital room and was like “Screw that, I’m going home.” and then just peaced out here until Yugi came back.

I respect his moon pj’s to go with Yugi’s star pj’s.

I can’t imagine being in Grandpa’s position and seeing your boy go out there and get nearly killed by crazy ass cultists again and Seto Kaiba (who put him in a coma), and then catching him Sneaking Out. Like if I were Grandpa I’d just set up camp right outside of the front door because holy hell Yugi is so attracted to danger he’s just gonna waltz around the city in the middle of the night to play cards.

++++++++++RANT ABOUT TACO BELL, FEEL FREE TO SKIP THIS IS JUST ME TALKING ABOUT THE TACO BELL MENU+++++++++++++++++++++++++

Also I looked up Taco Bell in Japan thinking that this wouldn’t be a thing (from what I’ve heard, the only food Japan cannot do is Mexican) but not only does Taco Bell in Japan completely exist, guess what the menu is like? Just go ahead and guess in your head, I’m gonna go over the menu right now because this is very important.

I was expecting it to be pretty wild with a black taco shell made out of squid ink or something but surprisingly, it’s mostly the freakin same but different meats. Like they have a few more pork options (I guess instead of chicken?) and they have a shrimp taco--which I feel like we’ve done in the States before but everyone didn’t like that. Also, you can apparently get a crunchwrap, but it’s in a triangle shape instead of an octagon. They just changed the shape and called it a “stuffed grilled giant nacho”.

Obviously, they do not have a Ranch Doritos taco since America is the only place that is fully obsessed with Ranch. I have heard from so many people from Asia that “can we just not have Ranch today? Can we have a single spread without this weird garlic sauce? And...are you dipping your pizza with it? Is there one thing you haven’t coated with Ranch Dressing?” and it’s like no. There isn’t. Would you like to try our taco bell taco that is frosted in messy Ranch dust?

Like it really feels like this is the one fast food joint where everyone else has the normal Taco bell, and weirdly WE are are the people with the weird ass version of Taco Bell. Even Japan was like “you guys do you over there with your pink Starburst flavored frozen icee and your Quesarito...we’re just gonna put some extra cheese on a taco and call it ‘double cheese.’”

But here’s the craziest thing on the menu--the Taco Bell in Japan has FRIES.

I KNOW.

WHAT????

What would Taco Bell fries even taste like? Would they taste...tacoey? I mean I know that nacho fries are a thing that kinda comes and goes but I’ve never had them actually. Its never the right moment for nacho fries when Nacho fries are still on the menu.

but, I will say they do have one kind of weird thing on the menu I see online. I say “kind of” because it’s...just weird, it’s not actually all that out there as compared to our weird things in Taco bell. They got something called the “honey cheese pocket” which was a small plain flour tortilla filled with melted Monterey Jack cheese rolled into a cigar that you dip into honey.

...I mean...it probably tastes good, but if you released a honey cheese pocket in the States and pretended that’s Mexican food, I’m pretty sure every state touching the south border would cry a single Zesty-ranch-doritos-taco-shaped-tear. I know I would, at the same rate I’m stuffing honey cheese pockets directly into my mouth.

AND...apparently you can just serve alcohol in a Japanese Taco Bell. Which is interesting, because we had that episode of Season Zero where Yugi had to find alcohol in a burger joint, which seemed really odd to me at the time, but I guess you can just serve alcohol in whatever restaurant? Anyways, Taco bell has alcohol so now Yugi can light people on fire in a Taco Bell, if he really felt like it. Go ahead and append your fanfictions accordingly.

+++++++++END OF TACO BELL RANT, BACK TO CARDS ++++++++++++

So, can you imagine having a friend who forces you to wake up at o-dark hundred in order to play cards when you already attend all of the same classes and see eachother every minute of the day otherwise? Can you imagine having a friend like this?

Then again I’m not 100% on whether Pharaoh needs to sleep. It’s pretty clear that Bakura’s ghost doesn’t sleep much (or apparently eat much) so maybe it goes the same for Pharaoh as well that he needs Yugi to remind him how to be human.

Then there was this weird review episode they slapped on at the end. I...don’t know why they put it there, it was really more of an afterthought since nothing really got added or taken away from the finale. It was just a review episode of “in case you didn’t watch this season, here’s what happened this season” But the episode wasn’t over before Tea angsted the hell out about this kid that I guess she’s...

Tea thinks in her head about Yugi more than she talks directly to Yugi. That’s really my biggest issue with this couple. Tea can be so lukewarm towards Yugi and visa versa and then occasionally Tea will just snap and obsesses over this boy, but never tells him about it directly. Except for that one time in the blimp, which was more about “please don’t die”. But have they talked about how freakin anxious she is about how he’ll die? Nah.

It just feels like the writing team had one person who really liked Tea/Yugi, and then the rest who were like “fine, wtv” and so we get a real inconsistent narrative of this pair, that only seems to come up for drama, but then goes right back to being invisible moments later. Like sightings of a giant squid.

Ah, back where they started, on a date with a ghost. I think. This might be a date? It started at 2 PM so I don’t know that counts as a date yet.

These two are a lot.

And honestly...If it was going to happen it should have happened at some point in the end of this arc. She made such a big deal about him going off to card war, and now he’s back and she’s like...ok, cool.

They’re not gonna even talk about it? Or like...maybe high five it out? High five out those feelings? Man I feel so bad for anyone that shipped these two.

But anyway,

I’d add it to the Yugioh Death Count but that’s assuming that I don’t find an excuse to use this font again.

So yeah, that’s it for Season 3 (I wrote in Season 4 just now and had to really think about it because like...it really does feel like I went through 4 seasons, at least, of this show since every season is like 50 episodes)

Originally, when I started this, I thought there were only 3 seasons of Yugioh total. This was the end goal.

But I guess I’m committed now, so we’ll start up Season 4, which bro tells me is “completely different and not what you expected” but I probably won’t post until 2 weeks from now because this is a side hobby and I don’t need to wax long about my main-life stress, but youknow how it is: the more stuff I add the more stuff adds up. However, I do cope with stress by typing, so maybe I’ll just make sooo many updates to combat it? I dunno. But the blog will be back for S4. Eventually. When I get to it.

Many thanks to all y’all who’ve left many kind comments, I’ve been kind of tasked for time lately, so I haven’t really responded to many, but know that I see them and I’m thankful for them and I tell bro about them and he finds many of them amusing and y’all are just very, very nice. Wish Tumblr had an actual comments system since the only way to reply is like...it’s weird. If I reblog my own post I run the risk of it then being out of chronological order for people wanting to read that link I put at the base of each post so...I have to either make a new post to reply or reply within the post and I dunno if y’all can even see that type of reply...it’s tumblr problems.

Anyway, I’ll have a Graveyard for next weekend, maybe an art post, I dunno. But, I’m not dead, just watching how weird the next season is and making a buffer.

And here’s that link to read all these recaps in chrono order from the beginning