Maybe by lotsa.
Summary: what if yugi had met kaiba in his children's orphanage then were reunited in high school? Which would have changed? What would be changed if anything?
Hello, this story's been botherin' me to be wrote. Evil plot bunny! So bear w/ me & tell me what y'all think! Pleeeeese? (beg beg beg beg) I'd like to continue.
Cairo, Egypt: 1988
Sirens skimmed along glossy pyramid walls. The sun was high in a cloudless, royal blue sky. A crowd shook their heads sadly, watching while workmen sweated to get any surviving beings from the collapsed tombs. The head chief sighed, shaking balls of sweat that dripped into the pale sand, as he turned to a nearby medic. "Are there any more survivors from the archaeological team that went inside today?"
"None. Anubis judges their souls now. Ra-giving, they suffocated first." He uttered a quick prayer for the innocent victims' bodies that had been just dug out. A man with wild, spiky blond hair that was matted with the rust of blood from his wife, whose short, black hair was gray with dust. Their ragged khaki clothes made nearly unrecognizable.
"They didn't die because of the collapse," stated an accented voice that made the chief and medic both jump, for a white, turbaned tall man had just appeared in thin air. His long, grey-white robes flared mysteriously for the air was still. "The pharaoh's curse has done it's duty." Eerie, cerulean eyes were fixed on the young couple's bodies with true fascination at a clutched shimmering golden box in their arms. [A/n: that is the M .Puzzle's box]
A moment of silence was held in respect. Suddenly, the wind howled like an animal "We found another one----!" a muffled call came from deep within the ground. Gasps all around, as a wail pierced. The dirty workers emerged with a sooty, smudgy baby, with once dark blond spiky hair now nearly all black in the back from soot and blood. The medic rushed over as the crowd cheered and thanked the merciful gods' miracle.
Orphanage, 1993
A fat tear ran down eight year old Yugi's soft cheek. I still remember, he thought sadly, hugging Joel the Labrador near his face. A long pink tongue licked it away and he giggled.
"Don't cry, you're all right," said the nurse. "How did you get this 'goose egg' on your forehead this time?" She held an ice pack.
Ow, that's cold. Yugi sighed sheepishly. "We were playin' a game where you haveta run back and forth from wall to wall, without being caught by It.. I got tired of puttin' up my hands to stop myself from runnin' 'cause every time they hit the wall, they hurt! So last time I didn't, an'......my head smacked the wall!"
"Smartie, don't you know your head's most important than your hands?" the nurse scolded teasingly. Yugi was the most accident-prone boy at her orphanage. Three time a week he'd pay her a visit. She brushed his long golden bangs in front of the bump to hide it. "Here's a lolly, now run along; it's lunchtime."
"I'm gonna save this for later," he told Sam, stuffing it into the pocket a his thin white shirt. Candy was an particular treat here. The two pals ran into the 'cafeteria' which was also the class room, the play room and the sleeping room.
"Here, Yugi we saved you a seat," the other boys made room, and Yugi happily knelt. "Cool bump!" they said, staring.
"Yeah, it feels really weird." Yugi was delighted by the attention, brushing his hair back to show it off, grinning.
"No, no, Sam can't be here while we eat," the headmistress cocked her head at Yugi with a small smile. "Come on Joel ,out!" she pushed him out with a foot. "Now everyone, we've a new boy here....." They all stilled, with curiosity..
"No, two new brothers," she said at the doorway; they saw her reaching behind and pull two boys out. Well, actually, one and the other was clinging to the boy she pulled out, Yugi corrected himself. He dropped his gaze. I remember how everyone stared at me when I came, and how I didn't like it! he thought ruefully.
"Seto and Mokuba."
What strange names! Curiously, speculatively, Yugi pushed past the other kids to see. He heard Sam whimper, other than that, it was silent. A skinny boy with plain brown hair in a blue vest with a yellow shirt and jeans, with a TINY boy with messy long blackish hair stood unmoving. Tinier than me, Yugi thought happily. We could be very good friends!
"I'll leave you to get acquainted." The headmistress left with a rustle of skirts. Immediately everyone began whispering loudly. The taller boy looking sad, while the littler one looked scared. He kept burying his face and staring fearfully at them.
Yugi smiled friendly at them; the tall one's gaze flicked over him and smiled back a little in return. But the little one began to whimper. Sam whimpered along with him, which made the other kids laugh. "Don't you cry," Yugi heard the taller one whisper fiercely to the littler one. I still don't know who is who! Yugi thought. 'Seto' must be the bigger one.
Yugi saw how older boy's eyes flash angrily at them. "What's he crying about; is he a wittle crybaby?" One of the strongest boys asked.
"No, because your ugliness would scare anyone!" Seto answered fiercely. Is he crazy? Thought Yugi. He is half his size! Still the new boy was glaring dangerously, fists half cocked as though expecting a fight.
Lucky, the teacher reappeared. "Are we all acquainted?" Everyone grumbled. "Good! Now you two new boys, sit over here."
Yugi saw a helpless look come over the elder's brother face because they were made to sit apart. "No, I HAVE to sit next to Mokie!" he was protesting.
The teacher told him that she knew best and he was going to get time-out if he didn't be quiet. Yugi supposed he was embarrassed by that, because he fell silent. Meanwhile, his brother was made to sit next to Yugi. Seto kept staring at the two of them, and it Yugi feel paranoid. He smiled again at the little boy, who looked like he was about to faint from fright..
Except for the girl's giggles at how cute the older new boy was, they ate silently for once, at first. Yugi saw Mokie struggle with his carton of milk and reached for it to help. "You have to twist it like this," he explained. The boy's eyes flicked over his, again and again out of curiosity, sniffling. What a weird looking kid! Thought Mokie. He seemed friendly, though....
"Hey, Yugi, don't talk to that crybaby," one of the boys called. "He's got...." He paused for effect. "Cooties!" The girls yelled, "Ewwwww!"
Yugi saw Mokie's face crumple; he saw Seto start to get up. "No, not anymore," he said quickly, touching the little boy on the arm then slapping the other boy with a grin. "Now you have it!" Soon everyone was giving each other 'cooties' and slapping each other, squealing in laughter. Even Seto was, Yugi saw. Mokuba just looked confused with one tiny finger hooked in his mouth.
"Boys and girls!" the teacher yelled over the din, clapping her hands to get their attention. "Who started this?" They all pointed at Yugi and Mokuba, who shifted nervously. "I'm surprised, Yugi and Mokuba! As punishment, you have to stay indoors and clean while the others go out to recess." She nodded, then the others cheered and stormed out the banging door.
Only Seto stayed behind. "I'm staying with my brother." He hissed to the teacher.
"Fine," she said leaving, glad there was one less to look after outside.
Yugi was saying, "Don't cry, the teacher's really is nice. Don't think of it as punishment...."
"B-but, I got into trouble already!" Mokuba wailed as his brother put his hand on his shoulder and buried his face to him. "I don't like this place...."
"Ssh, later, Mokie." He turned to the strange looking kid. "Yugi, was it? For saving my brother from humiliation from that stupid kid; we'll help you clean up this mess."
"It was, uh no problem!" Yugi said, sweat dropping. But they started to pick up plates and stained papers napkins. "How come......you two don't look alike if you're brothers?" he asked curiously.
Seto's face darkened and Mokuba said, hostile, "We do too! At least we don't have your weird hair! What kinda hair is that?!" he taunted. "Right big brother?"
"Mm." Seto agreed, laughing at Yugi. He was impressed when the kid didn't cry or lash out in anger, instead just smiled sheepishly. At least there's some kids who are nice....and have some brains!
"Well, it does look silly. My name for it is the firecracker hair." Yugi straightened out the sleeping bags. "W-what's a fuh-fffirecracker....?" Mokuba was humbled too by this kid's niceness. While Seto told him, Yugi sat down, exhausted. His health was fragile, and he felt sleepy. Soon, they finished and strolled outside, walking slowly, watching the other kids play kickball.
Yugi saw a strange light go into Seto's face as he said, "I think I'll play some, too." And went to join. Mokuba asked shyly, "Aren't you going to play too....? I can't 'cause I'm too little." He looked sad and started to sob.
"Cry all you want...." Yugi told him, sympathetically, though a bit uncomfortable.. Today had been a hard day for him, having to leaving his familiar home...he knew all too well about that. He helped him to the playground swings.
"I can't...big brother'll get mad if I do..." Mokie hiccuped. "I miss m-my-" he started to gulp.
Yugi looked back to the game and said comfortingly, "I'll stay with you, I'm not real good at kickball. Oh, your brother's up." Mokie head shot up eagerly. Seto was scowling fiercely, instead of the friendly face Yugi saw before. Even from the distance of a good five yards it was clear.
"That's his 'game face.' " Mokie whispered to him eagerly, his depression forgotten for the moment. I know what's going to happen next! He leaned so far forward in anticipation, Yugi had to push him back to keep from falling off the swing.
" 'Game face?' " Yugi repeated. "It looks like a......scary face to me...." he remarked. The ball was pitched, and for a skinny boy he could kick really far! The ball went over the players' heads for a classic home run, while people cheered and Yugi saw him grin and run around the bases, slapping hands while the losing team threw down baseball hats in dejection. "Wow! That's certainly better than I c'n do!" he breathed.
"I know," Mokie said smugly, tiny chest swelling in pride. He saw Yugi staring admiringly at his brother, and instantly liked him. He recognizes big brother's greatness! He thought, feeling a bit better. Even though he did look like his head was in a frozen explosion.....Seto, you were right! This won't be so bad like I thought, Mokie thought. "You sure look weird, but you're so nice too!" Mokie said, smiling cheerfully.
"Uh, thanks," Yugi said, still looking at the game. "C'mon, it's time to go in for bedtime." He said, as the teacher screeched at them all inside.
A month had passed, and Seto sure had gotten popular. Not that I'm jealous......that he's only been here for a month and I've been here for years and barely no one has noticed me, Yugi thought, staring at the ceiling in his sleeping bag. It was morning, but today he felt lazy. Seto had tons of friends now, but he still preferred to be alone. Even all the girls liked him, Yugi thought.
What would it be like to be popular? Yugi thought, enviously. He shook his head hard to get rid of that, feeling Sam's lick on his bare foot. Maybe Mokie's right! Maybe the reason I don't really have any friends is because I'm too weird looking! Joel woofed and put his furry head on Yugi's knee. Joel doesn't care how weird I look....all he wants to be is fed!
Chuckling at that, Yugi got up and put on shoes, just as Mokie ran around the corner.
"Oh! Yugi, you're up!" he said. "The teacher went out for something, she said she'll be right back. Your breakfast is right here."
"Thanks, Mokie." Hm, thought Yugi. When the teacher goes out, that usually means that a new 'customer' is coming. A 'customer' was a family willing to adopt them, he told Mokie, who listened with wide, dark eyes. "I hope they pick me, I've always wanted a loving family!"
"Checkmate," Seto said to the strongest boy. He had been listening to their conversation. "I win again."
"Whoa....." the boy ran a grubby hand through his short, frizzy hair. "I didn't even see that coming! You are awesome!" Seto smiled smugly. "I bet you could even beat even Yugi!" At the sound of his name, Yugi looked over from across the room.
"Do you play well, Yugi?" Seto said pleasantly, clearing the board for a new game.
"Uh, sort of," Yugi said modestly. He had an uneasy feeling. "But....maybe later; I'm the mood."
Everyone looked at him surprised. Yugi....turn down a game....?!
"What's wrong?" Seto looked concerned as his friend sat down across from him on the table. "Uh, well......I don't want you to h-hate me if I win....which-I'm-probably-not-going-to," Yugi said quickly. "I haven't played in a long time 'cause of that."
The brothers exchanged glances. "Yugi, of course we won't hate you, right, big brother?" Mokie said earnestly.
"Right, Mokie. It's just a friendly game." His brother answered. "So, white or black?"
"White, please." The game was set and they played while talking. "So, do you hope this family'll to be to your liking, Seto? Since you've turned down.....five of them...." Yugi felt a pang of jealousy. "Since you're so neat and quiet and smart...."
"Hm. I doubt it." Seto answered, rubbing his chin boredly. "They all...." He whispered out of Mokie's earshot, "refused to take Mokie. But don't tell him 'cause he'll feel guilty."
"Wow, you sure are lucky to get picked," Yugi said, not bothering to hide his jealousy. "I wish someone would pick me....I want a loving family, any family; I've waited so long." He sadly looked at Joel, who woofed and wagged his tail.
Seto frowned at the animal; he detested dogs. "You shouldn't just settle for a 'loving' family, Yugi." He paused to let that sink in while Yugi stared at him with big purple eyes. "The only thing....I want is to get out of here!" An unpleasant scowl settled on his face.
"W-why? Why do you want to get out in such a hurry?" Yugi wondered, petting his pet.
"Look around." Seto nodded to the television. "See those people on TV? They have riches and jewels and real money. While here...." he made a scoffing noise and slammed his fist on the rickety, plastic table. "This place is a dump!" he hissed.
"I don't think it's that bad.....check." Yugi said, while Seto looked down in surprise.
"Wow, big brother, no one has ever said that to you," Mokie said, awed.
"Yes...." Seto mumbled, staring at Yugi who smiled friendly back at him. I promised not to hate him if he wins...but I didn't actually think he would! He thought.
Yugi could see the slight darkening of the other boy's eyes, and his uneasy feeling returned. The other kids threw tantrums when he beat them, and screamed so loudly, that he'd vowed never to play again. But Seto wasn't like them...was he? Yugi hoped he'd act like the others when they got beaten by him all awed and shocked.....
I can't let myself be beaten by him after I did the challenging! Seto thought. Plus, Mokie was staring at him with big hopeful eyes; he couldn't let him down. His hands felt sweaty. Let's see if I go over there, he c'n block me.....but if I go over there, he'll capture me with his knight. Yugi thought, He looks scared....maybe I'll let him win. He is my friend after all...we'll play later when he doesn't have to show off for his brother, Yugi thought. He caught the other boys' eye and nodded.
"Look! Over there!" Seto gasped suddenly, pointing. As Yugi and Mokie both turned around, he quickly swept up Yugi's last knight. All's fair in war......and chess, he thought, hiding the piece with his others. A sudden wave of guilt hit him, he'd never felt it before. It made him feel rotten.
"Wow, brother, Yugi has no more pieces! You've won!" Mokie gave his brother a hug. Yugi smiled, too, seeing Seto's face smile un-genuinely and guiltily avoiding Yugi's eyes.
Later, at night, Seto asked Yugi why he didn't say something. "I know you saw me."
"Well, Mokuba looks up to you, and I know that's important to you." Yugi said sleepily, snuggling under his covers. "Besides, I could tell you felt guilty...."
"Yeah...." Seto admitted, not adding that he never felt guilt before. "And?"
"Annnd....that's great!" Yugi laughed at his joke, throwing the covers over his spiky head. "Real great that you felt rotten!! Ha ha ha!"
Seto flushed, ashamed. "Must you always be so happy, Yugi?" he muttered grumpily. I mean, we're in a dump! He thought. "So annoying! I suppose you want repayment."
"Yeah, that'd be cool!" Yugi was only joking' he had the worst case of the giggled for some reason, but Seto sat down seriously.
"We'll play a real game, now, with no one but us around," he said setting the chess game on his bed. "No cheating, I promise."
Yugi looked surprised, then smiled sunnily. "Yah!" They agreed with a high-five. They played all night, game after game. Their light bothered everyone's sleep, but no one would complain because Seto was the most popular kid, he was the fastest runner and the smartest in class, but had a quietness and was moody from time to time. Soon, the score was tied 5 wins to 5 wins, and they both fell asleep, reluctantly.
In the morning, the both had dark circles and bags under their eyes, but neither cared about their appearance. In an afternoon about a week later, Seto fixed the broken old Nintendo in the corner that some kid had stepped on and crushed. Yugi saw him do it with his own eyes, taking the console apart piece by piece, and what he called 'rewiring'. The thing hadn't worked for nearly a decade, and Yugi was awed completely when the super Mario brothers started bumping heads on screen.
"Is there anythin', anythin' you can't do, Seto?" Yugi said, sincerely awe-struck, eagerly sticking an old controller in the console and blowing off the inch thick dust. Time to get playing!
Seto boasted, smiling proudly, "Nope. C'mon, let's play already." With everyone outside, they had the game all to themselves.
"No doubt everyone's gonna want to play after they know it's fixed," Yugi murmured, wide eyes fixed on the screen.
"Hm." Seto answered, eyes glued on the screen also. He didn't like to talk while playing video games. Mokie wandered in.
"Are you two STILL playing?" the younger boy tossed his always messy hair. "You guys are gonna b'come video game characters! Eat, you missed breakfast playing." He dripped some milk on the already dirty floor while setting some sandwiches down.
"Ha! Me a video game character! That would be funny!" Yugi laughed, making Luigi jump around. He was his favorite. "Boing!" He's just playing around, and yet he still manages to get all the coins, Seto thought, duly impressed. Amazing.
"Actually," Seto went on casually, "It's not impossible. They said that in the future, they'll be creating character in 3d form. Wouldn't that be cool!" he said excitedly, picturing it. "So realistic!"
"I'm not sure I want them to be that real," Yugi mused. "That'd be mundo-scary and weird!"
"You're weird!" Seto gave him a playful but hard push. Stunned, Yugi fell back, un-moving and Seto pressed 'start' in alarm. "Are you okay?"
"Yeah, fine..I just hit my head on my book bag." Yugi rubbed his head, taking it and opening it up while Seto turned off the Nintendo, confused. At his puzzled look, Yugi explained, "I had something hard inside of it and that's what hurt."
"Yeah? What is it?" Seto looked only mildly interested, letting Mokie gobbled up his sandwich. He ate like a bird. A shimmering gold box emerged from the dark purple bag. "Wow, it's gold!" he exclaimed, forgetting to be quiet.
"Ssh! It's a secret," Yugi scolded, and he nodded and fell silent. But his blue eyes were wide as were Mokie's who had stopped eating their sandwiches to gape, bologna hanging from his lip. The box was richly engraved with markings he had never seen before. Seto's eyes were glittering from the reflections cast off. Yugi saw a greedy glint, and protectively hugged it to his tiny chest. "Hey, I'm not gonna sell it, so back off!" he said angrily, violet eyes flashing red.
Seto looked surprised that the mild mannered boy would yell at him like that. He sure is strange: so happy yet skilled.....smart! how can a person be happy and skilled....well, like him? He felt his hackles rise. "Whatever..."he said loftily, feeling his chest swell with hurt.
"It was....a heirloom from my parents.....they died," Yugi said, looking away with watery, tear filled eyes. "A long time ago."
"How?" Mokie asked immediately curious.
"In a tomb collapse in Egypt." Yugi answered, Seto saying 'In Egypt," at the same time. There was a short pause. "How'd you know?"
"I read the papers," Seto said with a haughty sniff. "So what' inside that box, a mummy?" he laughed, taking it and trying to open it.
"No....." Yugi took it back and it opened easily under his touch. Something that looked like a crumbled golden boulder lay inside. "It's a-I think it's a puzzle."
"Puzzle?" Seto looked interested, he loved puzzle games. Then he saw the pieces. "Oh, you mean a jigsaw puzzle." He felt ridiculously disappointed. "Feh. That's easy!" he scoffed, while Mokie peered interestedly at it.
"Not quite, I haven't been able t' solve it yet...Hey!" Yugi yelled as Joel came over, at grabbed at the box, shaking it like a rag doll. "That's not a toy! Give it back!"
"Ugh, dumb mutt." Seto stood back disdainfully while Yugi chased the canine outside. The pieces glinted at him from the worn carpet. If it really is from Egypt, then there's a good chance it really might be gold, Seto thought. It'd be so easy to pocket just a piece from naïve, trusting Yugi. His hand reached for one as he thought this thought.
But then...Yugi would know. He would know even if a million other people were in this room, that it was him who stole it. Seto remembered thinking that maybe Yugi wasn't all he seemed. No, he thought, putting his hand into his jeans pocket. I will be rich....someday...but not from stealing from an orphan. His lip curled.
Yugi returned, panting and gasping, one hand clutching the box while the other clutching his chest of the baggy white shirt he always wore. "Finally....got it....." he managed to put all this pieces back while Seto watched with an eerie smile fixed on his face, lost in dreams of being filthy rich. After, Yugi turned to him, an the smile become genuine. But Yugi wasn't fooled. "What....is it?"
"Nothing. Come on, I challenge you to another round of video games before the others mess it up again." They both laughed and settled down.
One morning not long after that, Yugi propped himself on his elbows by the window, looking out like he sometimes did. Another family had just taken another little boy and girl. He would miss them, they had come to the orphanage after him as well.
I wonder if anybody will want me. What if I have to be here forever? Meanwhile, Seto always get picked out of all of us and turns down all of them.....the others think it's because he would miss them too much. I know I would.
Yugi frowned suddenly. And the last one agreed to both brothers! Both of them! So there must be another reason to turn them down, he thought. The couple had seemed really nice, he thought dreamily petting Joel's fuzzy head.
I won't go without my doggy even if someone DID want me.....Yugi's thoughts were suddenly interrupted by a motor he hadn't had in his memory before. It was a low growling sound, powerful and roaring.
Could it be a 'customer'? Yugi squashed his nose against the window. Just then Mokuba face appeared on the other side. He always did that.
"Hee hee! You look funny like that!" Mokuba's laughter was muffled. Yugi stuck out his tongue and crossed his eyes, making him laugh harder so that the little boy fell over. "Ow..."
"Mokuba...." Yugi groaned, afraid he'd knocked himself out. The little boy was even more accident prone than even him, and besides it was cold outside. He'll probably catch the flu....Again, thought Yugi, stretching stiff limbs in a hurry. The longest car he'd ever seen rolled by the window just then, shiny and black. A man dressed in all grey and black came out and opened the side door.
"Nice car, huh?" a reverent, confident voice startled him. He looked to the left and saw Seto, his eyes glowing, in the dark where he'd been brooding. "I bet that man goes swimmin' in money like Scrooge McDuck, you remember?"
"Looks more like a funeral to me." Yugi mumbled, following his gaze. Seto wasn't paying attention to him. "Why are they dressed in black like that and that fat man is in burgundy...."
Seto fanned away his words like buzzing gnats. "This is it. I must prepare." he whispered half to himself before turning and leaving so fast that Yugi felt a whoosh of air. "Move it mutt," he pushed the golden Labrador with a toe, quite sharply.
What did he mean by that....? Yugi felt a dread press against his stomach. He squinted at the license plates, moving his mouth to form the words that he recently learned to read... Joel started to whimper, loudly. He shushed him, listening to the feet clatter upstairs as the teacher called everyone to order. "Kai" "ba..."
To be continued.........
so what do y'all think plz review i would like to continue with this. So plz! R&R i think yugi and seto would've been friends if they met there.....next: the day everything changes....think bout it. R&R