Chapter 15- Ohana Means Family...
Yugi doesn't remember having a mama. He doesn't remember having a papa, either. Nee-chan says their mama died when he was just a tiny baby, and their papa…
Nee-chan doesn't like talking about him. Neither does Grandpa.
But that's fine with him. He doesn't need a mama - he's got *Mama and Aunty Mana and Ko-nee-chan and Nata-nee-chan and Grandpa and Aunty Suzu and Aunty Anzu and Uncle Adam and Uncle Todd and Renny and Ryou and Jou-nii-chan and Tee-nee-chan and Tri-nii-chan, and they're all wonderful and he loves them so much!
(Yugi doesn't understand why Mama gets a funny look on his face when he calls for him. Or why Aunty Mana or his nee-chans laugh. Nata-nee says he couldn't say Mama's full name as a baby, so he calls him Mama instead of Mahad.)
Yugi has a very big family. He's a very happy boy and he loves his family. So when he learns that their family is going to grow again, and that he's going to get two more brothers, he's so excited!
Well, technically they're cousins, but the nice lady in the purple jacket had said that their mamas had been sisters who had been so alike, they might as well be half-brothers! (She'd used a lot of big words around the other adults, but had been nice and explained it to him when he asked what that meant).
Yugi was sad to learn that it would be a while before he could meet his new family. He was even more sad when his nee-chan explained that the man who took their family was being very mean to them. (That made him mad, no one was allowed to hurt his family!)
He is determined to love his new brothers as much as he can. He will love them and give them hugs and be nice to make them happy!
They will be a great big, happy, and loving family! He'll make sure of it!
"I can't believe that it's been here this whole time and we had no idea." Youko grumbles, "it's embarrassing."
"Well….we did have a lot going on over the last several years, and it doesn't become important for a while yet. We still have time to learn." Hinata says soothingly, though she too looks embarrassed and annoyed.
Both girls are helping close the shop up for the afternoon. Something they do often to help Grandpa out around the house, and as Youko had been organizing and restocking the shelves, she had found a certain game. A game that will be very important in their lives in the next few years.
Sitting there innocently on the shelf are packs of Duel Monster Cards.
Youko is fighting the urge to bang her head against the wall. Because how could they have missed it all these years? They help unpack them, goddamnit! They put them on the shelves and everything!
Sure, it's the first version, so it looks completely different from what they're used to, and, well….it may say Duel Monsters, but it's written in kanji and….well, they're still learning it. Even if they've got a much better grasp on the written Japanese language, it's still a hard language to learn. (And as Hinata said, they have had a lot of shit going on in their lives since they've been reborn)
Still… the fact that it took one of the packets accidentally ripping for them to realize just what game Grandpa keeps sending new orders out for is just embarrassing…
"I wanna blame Mahad and Mana for not telling us, but I doubt they actually knew when it started or was out even too…." Youko grumbles as she quickly finishes her last section. "Well, we may as well ask Grandpa to show us and start learning. We can make it a group thing and have everyone learn. I'd rather they all knew and not need it than to not be prepared and it hurt them."
Hinata nods, pushing a little crate filled with 1000+ piece puzzles into a corner. "Sounds like a good idea. Or maybe ask Seto if he wants to teach us? I think… he knew Duel Monsters before being adopted, right?"
"Yeah, It was one of the things he really loved and focused on while stuck with Gyoza-chan." Youko murmurs as she starts sweeping the floors. "Mokuba even drew him a blue eyes, since it's Seto's favorite card."
"Right! I always thought that was so cute… Mokuba the little artist," Hinata smiles wistfully. Then she takes a deep breath. "I really hope this mess will have a happy ending".
Youko makes a little noise in the back of her throat in agreement. "They deserve more from the gods than broken hearts and frozen spirits."
They both keep working silently, the mood having gone from light-hearted complaining to serious in seconds flat.
Youko closes her eyes. She needs to do something. To get this feeling of frustration and powerlessness out of her system. She wants to scream, knows Hinata won't judge her for it, but those are usually reserved for their room at midnight, robed in the safety of a silencing spell.
So she sings.
"You're alone, you're on your own. So what - have you gone blind - have you forgot-ten what you have and what is yours?"
It's a song she remembers well from before, one that filled her with both sadness and hope. A special kind of strength. In the middle of the first verse Hinata joins her.
"You've got it all. You lost your mind in the sound. There's so much more… you can reclaim your crown. You're in control… rid of the mon-sters inside your head. Put all your faults to bed…"
They turn to look at each other determinedly and clasp their left hands together.
"You can be king again".
"It'll be okay. We'll get them home. Watch, it won't be long before you're yelling at Seto for being a prick," Hinata says, giving Youko a small grin towards the end.
Youko gives a watery laugh, "Yeah. Pretty soon I'll be hearing "Duel Me!" at all hours of the day." She says with a laugh, before going back to work.
She just needs to distract herself. To think of other things, so the worry doesn't suffocate her.
It's not that she doesn't trust Fujioka-san (she had had the hardest time not screaming when she heard that name) to get them out of the man's grasp. She does. Fujioka Kotoko is good at what she does, no doubt about that, and they have ways of collecting the evidence they need. (Isono Roland, bless his heart, is much less loyal to the man than he thinks he is).
It's just…
Gozaburo has a lot of contacts, too. A lot. And much bigger access to certain resources on top of all sorts of underhanded tactics Uncle Adam and Fujioka-san talk about in quiet voices with the other adults. Things that make Suzuki swear quietly and mention "calling in favors" and "pulling rank on the rat" more and more often.
(And how interesting it is, to know they're in a cross-over world and her aunt's maiden name happens to be Ootori…)
She wants to believe, to hope, that her cousins will be free sooner or later. That they'll get them out of that cold house and into the warmth of a real home.
She just hopes that they'll still be whole by then.
Distractions. She needs to keep busy, needs to think of something else…
Fortunately, Hinata comes to her rescue.
"So… if our lawyer is named Fujioka Kotoko… and Auntie Suzuki was an Ootori… what are the odds that we'll eventually meet a very energetic host club and a very done cross-dressing girl?"
Fangirling and theorizing. That's something she's good at, at least.
Youko is nervous.
She's excited too, but mostly nervous.
She can barely keep still or calm.
She's about to meet Seto and Mokuba. Her cousins.
She's about to meet the Kaiba brothers.
Yes, she's internally fangirling like there is no tomorrow.
Yugi is excited too. He's next to her bouncing in his seat, copying his big sister.
Both siblings look up at their grandfather when they hear his deep chuckle. "My, I can't believe you both still have so much energy. You barely even slept last night."
"How can we sleep Grandpa? We've been waiting to meet our cousins for so long!" Yugi exclaims with wide eyes and a large smile.
Youko has to hold herself back from bundling him up in her arms and cooing at him. He's just too adorable.
There will be time for that later. Right now they're seated in a meeting room at one of the district government buildings, waiting for Seto and Mokuba with Fujioka-san stationed outside to function as the welcoming committee.
The case is grueling and takes a lot out of them, Gozaburo doing everything he can to make every little thing drag out. It would have worked, too, if Fujioka-san didn't know how to play the games of law and wit better than him and his literal army of lawyers.
It's been almost 3 weeks since the first meeting that took place between Grandpa, Fujioka-san, and her cousins.
But despite everything, they've finally gotten to this moment. Their first meeting.
Youko thinks she may faint.
"Now I know you're both excited, but remember what I said back at home. You must be careful and be on your best behavior." Grandpa says in a calm but serious voice.
"Yes Grandpa."
He smiles warmly at them both. "That's my Little Sun and Star."
Any further conversation is stopped by the door opening and Fujioka-san waking in followed closely by another man, who is most likely Gozaburo's lawyer, and then two smaller figures.
Youko has to bite her cheek because there in the flesh are Seto and Mokuba, and they are so tiny!
She wouldn't say Seto is scowling, but he definitely doesn't look like your average 10 year old. There's a particular kind of weariness to him. He's tense and scans the room, walking ahead of Mokuba with his little brother's hand grasped firmly in his own.
Similarly, Mokuba looks tense - nervous - and walks close to Seto. But unlike him, there's still a hint of light and curiosity in Mokuba's eyes. Like he still dares to hold on to hope. It's clear that he's been shielded from a lot of the bad things in Gozaburo's manor, even if he understands that their situation is bad.
It makes her blood boil. Youko wants to rip Gozaburo to shreds, make him pay for all the atrocities he's committed.
She takes a deep breath, trying to calm down. She can feel her magic and something darker move to her rage. She can't let things get out of control. She won't let anything ruin their chances of saving these two children.
It takes her a few minutes to calm down. Luckily, she doesn't miss anything, just the adults talking to each other. It's only when there is a lull in the conversation that she decides to greet the boys and make them relax.
Youko hops out of her chair, Yugi scrambling right behind her, and goes up to the two brothers with a bright smile on her face. (Because she is happy to meet them)
"Hi there! I'm Mutou, Youko! It's so wonderful to finally meet you!" She chirps happily, her grin widens when Yugi copies her happy greeting.
Mokuba's eyes absolutely light up at the greeting and a brilliant smile forms on his face. He takes a half-step out from behind Seto. "It's you!" He says and gods above, he is so damn adorable, Youko doesn't know how she's even staying put.
Fujioka-san laughs and steps aside, gesturing between them. "I guess few introductions are needed here, then. Seto-chan, Mokuba-chan, these two are Youko-chan and Yugi-chan, your biological cousins. Next meeting we're hoping to introduce you to a few of the adopted ones. Youko-chan, Yugi-chan - meet Kaiba Seto and Kaiba Mokuba".
Seto nods stiffly at them, then bows. "I've heard that Youko-san was the one who 'found' us. It is a pleasure to meet you".
"Please don't be so formal! We're family Seto-nii-san!" Youko exclaims. She better start now with enforcing that family is family and there is nothing formal about it. Among other things.
He looks startled at the exclamation. Like it's not something he's used to - informality between family.
Her heart just keeps breaking with every moment spent with this boy.
(She's faintly aware of something similar happening between their younger brothers, Yugi dragging Mokuba to a corner of the room where he's been allowed to set up some of his favorite toys to show his cousins. If Grandpa had allowed it, she thinks he'd happily give them all away to them, to share the comfort and fun they bring to him).
She carefully reaches out and takes Seto's hand in hers and giving it a little squeeze, smiling at him. "Let's get along well, eh, Seto-nii?"
He looks at her like she's a being from another planet and, well… she thinks she should have expected that kind of reaction. The poor kid is so starved for affection and love and positive contact it's borderline tragicomic.
But then he raises his other hand to lay over both of hers and the smallest of smiles (an actual, genuine smile that reaches his eyes and makes him look so much more like the 10 year old he is) is sent her way.
"Okay," he says, nodding.
And then, miracle of miracles… he squeezes her hands back.
Her heart melts.
Yeah, she loves this kid already and she's going to protect him no matter what.
Seto isn't quite sure how to react once he meets Mutou Youko.
On one hand she's a stranger, but she's also family. Both his old family and Gozaburo have taught him that those two might as well be interchangeable when it comes to behaviour towards anyone who's not your parent or sibling. Always be polite, always remember the proper honorifics, never speak up unless spoken to… a lot of rules, basically, a lot of distance.
On the other hand, it's because of this tiny, overly-enthusiastic girl who spends no time on proper and dances all over the rules he hates, but which have been ingrained into his behaviour, with a cheerful smile and a warmth that just pours and pours and pours from her, with her every breath and the little skip in her step, even in the presence of adults.
Mokuba was right, during that first meeting, when they saw a picture of their supposed cousins. Mutou Youko doesn't just look like the sun, she is one. A sun that shines with love and care instead of light and heat, but feels so much warmer and more comforting.
They sit down by the table and chat about nothing (places they've seen, the coming seasons… safe things of no consequence, and nothing about their mothers).
(Good).
And then, out of the blue, she suddenly perks up and rushes to a bag standing in the corner, returning with a little box full of familiar cards.
"Do you play duel monsters Seto-nii? Hinata and I found the cards while helping in the gameshop, Grandpa started teaching us all but it's slow going for myself. Maybe you can help me?" She asks curiously.
His heart almost skips a beat and he has to remind himself to remain professional, to remain calm, show as little emotion as possible lest Gozaburo's goons snitch.
"I don't have time for such childish frivolities anymore," he says evenly. Youko just smiles at him patiently.
"But did you play it when you did have time for games?" She asks, looking up at him with big, purple eyes. "Because I really need help, the rules just won't stick for me".
She pulls out the cards and shuffles them into two decks, Yugi and Mokuba suddenly appear across from them ready to play. (Well Yugi is, he's bouncing in his seat eagerly)
"I'm just so bad at it." She says despairingly, "I can never remember when I can or can't use certain monster affects or spell and trap cards. Or even when I think it's okay to attack, my monster ends up destroyed instead!"
He doesn't do it because she's looking up at him with such pleading eyes. Nope, not at all. And certainly not to show off. Honest truth. He just… she starts playing a game with her own little brother and he's 5 and he's got a better understanding of the rules than her.
He just can't watch that, it's the saddest thing he's ever seen in his life.
"I can do okay sometimes, but I just….I need help when I duel. I just don't have a mind that's made for strategy and a game like this….it's not fair, I love this game and I suck at it." She says pitifully, big, teary eyes looking up at him, silently begging.
… she's a better manipulator than most of the members of the board of Kaiba Corp and she's probably not even aware of it.
"You've got dangerous eyes, Chiisana Hi*," he tells her when he finally scoots closer and lean over to look through her cards. She looks up at him in confusion, but he doesn't offer an explanation.
"Well first off…"
And that's how the next few hours go. They end up playing duel monsters and talking strategy. Well he and Yugi do while helping Youko and Mokuba try and learn the game.
With his help, she does amazing. She's a decent duelist, she just needs help with the technicalities of the game and reminders of card effects. She learns the basics of the battle phase quickly, but everything else she seems to struggle with remembering.
What she really needs is just a little helper of some sort that can tell her when cards can be activated or used.
(He wonders if there's something like that out there, or something he could do to help her and others who struggle…. Little visual or audio cues, maybe…)
They have an amazing time playing and getting to know each other. Youko and Yugi talk about their friends and the things they do. Mutou-san joins them eventually and gives advice as he tells them stories of his adventures when he was younger.
It's a good day.
He just wishes that it didn't have to end so soon.
Gozaburo is just outside the door, probably spitting fire and smoke with his glare, but added security keep him out this time.
Youko holds on tight to his hand, hesitating. Then she looks up at him and smiles warmly. "Say, Seto-nii… are you afraid of the dark?"
He doesn't let the confusion show on his face, even if she catches him off-guard. "Why do you ask, Youko-san?"
She shrugs. "No reason. I've always found it kind of comforting, myself. Makes it easier to hide".
"Some would argue that the darkness is scary because of what could hide in it," he counter-argues, almost out of habit. Always be ready with a response, don't let them see you falter.
She shrugs again and the smile suddenly, out of the blue… takes on a cold, borderline sinister edge, and he actually has to stop himself from flinching away.
"I'm not afraid of the monsters hiding in the shadows, Seto-nii," she says calmly. "Not when there are monsters prancing around like peacocks in broad daylight, acting like they run the world".
(Gozaburo flashes before his inner eye, but he shuts it down quickly. Show no fear, feel no fear, he's stronger than that).
"But well, with the darkness… there might be bigger, badder monsters hiding in it, true… but if you are hiding with them, just biding your time… who knows? If you call for them, they might remember you as one of their own and respond."
She lets go of him and smiles that cheerful smile again, and all ice and danger is gone from her voice when she speaks again, reaching up to open the door.
"It was nice to meet you, Seto-san. I'll bring my chess-board next time so we can actually play and not just talk about moves and techniques."
He looks at her, dares not let the confusion get to him. And then, seconds later, he gets it.
She's a sneaky, clever, little thing.
And the most convincing liar he's seen since the day Gozaburo took him and Mokuba in, before the mask of kindness fell and revealed the ice demon beneath it.
They can't let Gozaburo know they have hope. They can't let him know just how much freedom he can already taste, how close it feels, no matter how much he tries to make the case drag.
She says her goodbyes to Mokuba and they leave in silence, Gozaburo spitting words of insults at them before turning around… and then he trips over his own shoelaces.
He falls straight on his face, has no room to react or catch himself, the crash echoing in the empty hallway.
"Don't laugh. Laugh and he'll unleash hell upon you. Keep it in," he thinks to himself, though it's difficult. Mokuba's shaking next to him, seemingly in the same situation as him.
Gozaburo gets up, spitting out curses as blood gushes down his face.
Later that night, when they're back at the mansion, they learn that Gozaburo (or Gyoza, as Youko calls him) broke his nose, badly. It was reset, but now it is misshapen.
Seto and Mokuba have a good (silent) laugh once they're alone.
Yes. It was a good day.
*Inspired by Very-Merry-Sioux's Yugioh au "Tiny but Terrifyingly Cute" post: very (dash) merry (dash) sioux. (tu)(mb)(lr). c-o-m / post / 162238618898/i-was-just-thinking-about-tiny-and-terrifyingly (remove the spaces and extra stuff and add the dots and dashes)
*Little Sun
A/N: Hey everyone, and welcome back for more Caught in the Game ^_^ Hope you've all been well since last time.
So nothing much really happens in this chapter, aside from bonding. Give us ALL of the Kaiba-Mutou bonding. Oh, and we see Yugi's POV for the first time! Hooray! And last but not least, we actually introduce Duel Monsters to the fic. Only took 15 chapters and a prologue XD
I really don't have all that much to say about this chapter. We had a couple ideas we ended up scrapping (we originally had a phone-conversation between Youko and Seto instead of her and Hinata in the storage room) and a couple of spur of the moment additions.
A reviewer asked if we would have more OHSHC crossovers now that we've introduced Kotoko to the plot. Without spoiling our further ideas too much, well… you can't just drop the name Fujioka and NOT include Haruhi at some point. Same with Kyoya and mentioning the Ootori name. Just be aware that we're changing a few things for that fandom, too, that don't align with canon.
As usual, a huge thank you to everyone who reviewed, followed, favorite and gave us kudos. They're the highlight of our day whenever they tick in ^_^
Thank you so much for reading. See you guys next time!
NordicTwin
A/N:
Hello my ducklings! I hope you all have been doing well! Welcome to the next chapter of Caught in the Game!
Not too much happening this chapter. We do get to see adorable little Yugi's pov of things (and good lord is he precious), show some family bonding, and finally introduce duel monsters! (It only took forever ;)
There were many ideas that we tried and scrapped for this chapter. We like this version the best and it came out the easiest.
Concerning crossovers, we will definitely have some things but whether they're minor little mentions or more active parts of the story, well, you'll have to wait and see. ;)
As you've seen, there are vague allusions and and references to possible things and all that. I won't say anymore though to leave you curious and guessing.
Shoutout to all of the people who viewed and all of our current followers and faves and our new followers and favorites (MiserableSOUL660, FluffyPizzaPie, halyyy, Plexi Pink, Rosalina2405, MoonOfSeptember, Warlord of Chaos, NexusGal, vaittiare01, mangaecv, xForeverGamerx) And thanks to everyone who left Kudos!
And EXTRA thank yous and love to The Otaku Lady Priya, GlaresThatKill, ren7720, cherry-888, mangaecv, Flaremage, and Waves for the reviews/comments!
Please, PLEASE leave us comments and reviews, especially if you have any questions or are confused! We love them so very much! We get so motivated to write when we get reviews!
Thanks again to the amazingly talented and lovely Moirei for Beta-ing for us, as always :)
Also! Our side story, Beyond the Game, is up! So any missing scenes or the like will be posted there! And don't forget to check out the CitG tumblr blog (caughtinthegame dot tumblr dot com) as well, we post links to the chapters and if we remember, we post chapter progress. We will also post other little things now and then when we can.
And our other SI story called "Judgement of Our Sins" for the Seven Deadly Sins/Nanatsu no Taizai series has been posted! Please check it out! All three of us are super excited for it and to share it!
Anyways, that's all for this chapter. Stay safe and have a good rest of your day, week, or month(s). Until next time my duckies!
C. S. Stars
Edited/Beta by Moirei
Finished & Published January 22, 2018
Self-Insert (SI) fics we recommend that you check out! (We plan to rec a few different ones each chapter)
Dreaming of Sunshine (Naruto) by Silver Queen (ongoing)
Summary- Life as a ninja. It starts with confusion and terror and doesn't get any better from there. OC Self-insert. No pairings.
(C. S. Stars- The very first self insert fic I ever read. My main inspiration for self insert fics in general. I read this and my mind exploded with ideas, what other fandoms could this work with, what could I change, etc. This is an amazing fic that shows the effects and changes brought on by the oc. Silver Queen (who is an amazing writer and so talented) has many twists and turns that surprise you when they happen. Even better, fans of DoS have made a forum for the fic and share their own theories and other things.)
Monachopsis (Yu-Gi-Oh!) by Panda-chan31 (ongoing)
Summary- "The subtle but persistent feeling of being out of place". Guess that makes sense, seeing as I was reborn into the world of an anime. And being reborn into a world where you know what's coming... It's terrifying. Slight S/I, inspired by Silver Queen and Lang Noi.
(C. S. Stars- The first ygo SI I found (out of two), my definite main inspiration and motivation to go ahead with settling CitG and actually writing it. Panda writes an amazing perspective of the world from her oc, especially with how she is involved in the world. A good read, a great read even. Her characterization of Seto is flawless.)
Tell It To the Marines (One Piece) by Tsume Yuki (ongoing/Hiatus)
Summary- Because sometimes a tale is too tall not to tell. Even if no one will ever believe her, this isn't Riskua's first shot at life. It is her first time as the 'big sister' of the nuisance that is Monkey D. Luffy however. Self Insert. (slow burn on the pairing)
(C. S. Stars- The brilliant Tsume Yuki has written many fics for many fandoms and all of them are incredible. I've been following her and her fics for almost 6 years now. I highly recommend ALL of her fics honestly. She shows marvelous characterization for all the characters, and is very realistic with what happens.)
Lucky Child (Yu-Yu Hakusho) by Star Charter (ongoing)
Summary- When a Yu Yu Hakusho fan dies and is reincarnated in Keiko's body, she's faced with a difficult decision: stay true to her former self, or follow the script. Not-Quite-Keiko must choose between sacrificing her identity to honor the anime or forging a destiny of her own making—but can she afford to be herself when one wrong move could rewrite history? [SI!Keiko] [Updates Saturdays]
(C. S. Stars- My first fandom and anime love. This fic is beyond amazing and held dear to me. Star does the most amazing job of characterization and showing cause and effect of things. She takes a very unique approach to her fic and it works so wonderfully. Give her work a good chance please! She is also an amazing inspiration. (Especially with crossover elements ;) I recommend Lucky Child the most out of all self insert fics.)