Yu-Gi-Oh! Love Selflessly – Epilogue
As the helicopter's blades slowed to a halt, Emiko clicked her seatbelt open. She swung the door open, swinging her legs outside and shifting Mokuba so she could easily carry him. She draped his arms around her neck, letting him rest his head on her shoulder as she linked her hands under his legs to support him. He grumbled a little. Seto, stepping out of the pilot's side of the chopper, grabbed his silver briefcase and her backpack, coming around to join her. They walked through the Kaiba Corporation building in silence. Their soft footsteps echoed far through the empty halls. They stepped into the elevator, taking it all the way to the ground floor. As they stood inside, the only sound being the elevator whooshing by the various floors, Emiko looked up at Seto and said quietly, "I'm sorry I disobeyed you." He looked down at her out of the corner of his eyes.
"I went to Duelist Kingdom," she said quietly so as not to wake Mokuba, "When you told me to run." He sighed, "That doesn't matter now. What matters is that you and Mokuba are both safe." She said, "Yeah. I guess you're right." She smiled up at him. The elevator doors slid open and the security guard said, "Ah, Mr. Kaiba. Miss Kaiba. You've returned-" Seto cut him off and said in a low voice, placing his index finger over his lips, "Yes. We'll be taking one of the limos home. I'll send for someone to pick it up tomorrow." The security guard said, "Yes, sir. Understood." Seto and Emiko walked past him into the small parking garage attached to the side of the building. Seto dug a set of keys out of one of his pockets and they approached one of the limousines. Seto opened the door and Emiko gently set Mokuba in the back seat, pulling the seatbelt over his head and making sure he was secured before hopping into the passenger seat next to Seto.
The drive home was peaceful and quiet. The lights of the city flickered by as Emiko rested her head on the window, watching the Kaiba Corporation building grow smaller and smaller as they drove back home. She thought, "Last time we had such a calm ride home was that night after Seto's duel with Yugi. It seems like such a long time ago even though it's only been a few weeks, if it was even that long. It's crazy how time flies sometimes." The car swayed and turned, finally reaching their long driveway and Seto pulled up next to the front door, taking the key out and putting it into one of his pockets. Emiko stepped out and once again picked up Mokuba as she had before, carrying him inside. He opened his eyes and groaned tiredly, "Where are we?" Emiko smiled at him.
"Home."
He smiled back and closed his eyes again. Seto said, "Let's get you to bed, kid." They walked up to Mokuba's bedroom and Emiko set him on his soft, plushy mattress, untying and slipping off his sneakers and his bandana before pulling his sheets and blankets up to his chin, humming the tune of his favourite lullaby to him the whole time. Seto stood in the doorway, watching as she sat on his bedside and brushed his messy hair away from his face. She finally stood up and walked out, slowly shutting the door behind her. She and Seto walked out to their dark living room, both sitting together on the large, leather couch. He let out a long sigh. She said, "I don't know if you realize this, but," she took a breath, "we missed having you around." He said, "I know." She continued, "We're...I'm glad you're back." He said, "Yeah." She said, "You know, now that we're back home, we should do something together. Something we've wanted to do for quite awhile." She glanced over at him, smiling sweetly. He looked at her through tired, half-lidded eyes and said, "Like what?" She shrugged.
"I don't know," she said, "Maybe we could...start work on a certain theme park you once promised that we'd make together?" He chuckled, remembering all those years ago at the orphanage when they would build elaborate sandcastles and theme park rides that they had seen on TV. She said, looking back at her lap, "I-I mean, we don't have to." He said, "Emiko, that sounds like a great idea." She looked back up at him and they both smiled. Emiko held her locket in her hand, clicking it open, looking down at the photograph inside. He said, "I'll make the necessary arrangements. For now, I think we should get to bed. Don't you?" Emiko nodded. They both stood up, sharing a much-needed hug before retreating to their rooms for the night. Emiko changed out of her sweaty and slightly dirty clothes, taking a quick, warm shower and slipping on her lovely, white nightgown with the Kaiba Corporation logo embroidered into the collar. She turned off her lights, got into her bed, sleeping peacefully through the night.
A few days passed and Emiko sat at her desk, her hair tied back in a loose, low ponytail, composing her latest melody in her journal. She closed her eyes and hummed the new tune softly, but her thoughts were interrupted by Yugi, Téa, Tristan, and Joey walking through the doors, happily chatting. Yugi said, waving at her, "Emiko! Hey!" Téa said, "Hey! Are you writing a new song?" Emiko nodded and said, "Yeah. It's...well, after the whole Duelist Kingdom thing, you could say that I was kind of inspired." Joey leaned over her shoulder, causing her to jump slightly, but he grinned and said, skimming through the lyrics, "I can tell this one's gonna be a real hit, Em!" Emiko smiled and said, "Thanks, Joey." She chuckled and shut her notebook. Yugi said, looking around, "I've been meaning to ask you, what happened to your brother? I haven't seen him in classes lately." Emiko said, "He dropped out of high school so he could focus on Kaiba Corp." Tristan said, "Wow. Risky move, there." Emiko said, shrugging, "Yeah, but I'm sure he'll be fine." Yugi said, "Wow, seems like you and your brothers are closer than ever before, huh?" Emiko nodded.
"Yeah," she said, pulling her hair out of its updo and letting it fall over her shoulders, "and I kind of have you to thank for it, Yuge." Yugi smiled and Emiko said, "By the way, how is your grandpa?" Yugi said enthusiastically, "He's doing great! Well," he pulled a flyer out of his pocket for the newest addition to Domino City, "there's this new game shop that's got him a little worried, but other than that, he's doing fine." Emiko looked at the flyer and asked, "A new game shop?" Téa said, "Yeah, and it just opened, too. They were really pushing this one game about dice and dungeons or something." Joey said, "You mean they got that new Dungeon Dice Monsters game?" Emiko looked the flyer up and down, thinking, "This new Dungeon Dice Monsters game could be fun. It kind of looks like something Bakura would be into." Tristan teased, "When did you become an expert?" Joey said, "It's a little thing called the newspaper, genius." Téa laughed, "What? You never read the newspaper!"
"Hey," Joey snapped, "I read it on my paper route sometimes!" Téa asked, "Wait, why are you delivering newspapers?" Joey said, "I just need a little extra spending money so I can save every penny of the prize money Yugi won at Duelist Kingdom for my little sister's operation!" Tristan asked, "How is Serenity doing?" Joey said, perking up, "Great! The doctors say she'll see as good as new in just a few weeks!" Emiko and Téa both cheered. Yugi said, "That's awesome news! Serenity's lucky to have such a great brother-" A loud squeal from the next-door classroom cut the conversation a little short. The group stood up and went to investigate. Walking into the classroom, they spotted the source of the commotion: a boy about their age with bright green eyes, his silky, jet-black hair tied into a messy ponytail, surrounded by several fawning girls as he performed tricks using a cup and dice. Emiko, Yugi, and Téa sighed. Tristan turned to a couple of boys sitting nearby and asked, "Hey, who is that guy?"
"That's Duke Devlin. He just joined the class today," one boy said. The other said, "Yeah, and he owns that new game shop that just opened up." Tristan looked back at the gathering and said, "Wow, he's got it all." Joey grumbled, "Man, if there's one thing I can't stand, it's a guy who'll do anything to get a girl's attention. He's nothing but a big show-off." Emiko sighed. Téa snickered, "Oh, and here I was thinking you just didn't like guys who were more popular with the girls than you." Duke stood up and walked over, calmly intruding, "Sorry to butt in, but are you Yugi Muto, champion of the Duelist Kingdom tournament?" Yugi said, "Um, yes. That's right." Duke said, "I've heard quite a bit about you, Yugi. Your Duel Monster's skills are said to be legendary." He turned to Emiko and said, "Now, aren't you lovely?" Emiko sharply inhaled through her nose, reeling a little. He said, bowing politely, "The name's Duke Devlin. And you are?" Emiko said nervously, "E-Emiko. Emiko Kaiba." Téa let out a long sigh. Duke said, "Oh, related to Seto Kaiba?" She nodded. He smirked.
"Well, it's certainly an honour to meet you both."
Joey said, "Hey, dice-boy, what have you heard about me? Joey Wheeler?" Duke sighed, "Nothing at all, but how about we play a little game so you can show these ladies just what you're made of?" Joey said skeptically, "Game? What kind of game?" Duke said, "It's simple, really. A cup and die are all we need." He set the die on the table, then placed the cup over it, explaining, "I'll bet you that I can move the die from the table into my right hand, all without touching the cup." Joey laughed, "You're nuts! Unless you got some kinda psychic powers, there's no way-" Duke interrupted, "How can you be so sure? Why not take a look if you don't believe me?" Joey mumbled under his breath as he lifted the cup, revealing the die. Duke reached down and grabbed the die.
"I moved the die from the table into my right hand and never once touched the cup," Duke said, "That means I win." Emiko said, "Hey, hold on-" Joey barked, "You're nothing but a dirty con artist! How about I challenge you to a real game! Duel Monsters!" Duke said, fidgeting with his hair, "As you wish, Joey, but since this game is your specialty, I do have one small condition." Joey said, "Okay, but no funny business." Duke shrugged and said, "I'm afraid I don't have a deck of my own." Joey sneered, "Not my problem. You're the one with the new card shop." Duke continued, "My condition is this: we both open up all-new card packs and create whole new decks. That's fair." Yugi protested, "No way! If you're not playing with your own cards, then the game is just pure luck! Besides, there's a lot of cards that we haven't even seen before." Joey confidently said, "No problem! I agree to your condition, Devlin!" Duke said, "Excellent. I'll see you after school, then. Meet me at my game shop." Emiko opened her mouth to protes, but Duke added, "Oh, and one more thing. Why don't we add some stakes to this little duel of ours?" Joey said, "Stakes?" Duke nodded and said, "Yeah. Make things interesting." Joey's eyes narrowed.
"Let's say if I win," Duke said, folding his arms, "then you'll have to do whatever I say for an entire week." Joey said, "Alright, but if I win, then you'll have to close down your shop for good!" Duke nodded confidently. Yugi said, "I still don't think this is a very good idea." Joey said, "Come on, pal of mine, have some faith!" Duke turned back to return to his desk and said, "See you there. Oh, and I hope your friends will tag along, too. I wouldn't want them to miss this event." Emiko sighed.
The rest of the day was uneventful. As the group parted ways to get ready for Joey's big duel, Emiko said, "Sorry, guys, but I won't be able to watch. I have plans with Seto and Mokuba this evening." Joey asked, "Wait, what? Plans?" Emiko said, "Yeah. We're going to be working on a big family project." Yugi asked, "What kind of family project?" Téa said, "Sounds like fun!" Emiko said, "Well, it's more of a business meeting than anything, but I already agreed to be there. It's kind of a secret for now, but I'm sure you'll find out soon." Yugi said, "Alright, well, we'll keep you updated." Emiko said as she unhooked her new bike from the bike rack, "Text me if you need me, guys. Good luck, Joey!" Joey said, "I don't need luck, but thanks anyway, Em!" Emiko hopped onto her bike and rode straight to Kaiba Manor, no longer needing to take the long detour home. She smiled, feeling the cool breeze hitting her face as she pedalled.