Original Yu-Gi-Oh Series
Parallel
Chapter 050
Originally Written: Saturday, April 23, 2022 1049AM to 1132AM
. . . . .
Little Yugi took his Battle City winnings and placed them in a bank account for safe keeping. Joey slowly healed at home, upset that he wasn't there to cheer Yugi and Seto on during their duel. Even his broken, alcoholic father left him to rest after learning he nearly died. Tristan worked on his bikes, trying to figure out why Bakura was upset with him. Bakura routinely met up with Yugi, talking, planning, and learning. Tea danced so much she wore out the sole on her favorite pair of practice shoes. Duke's father got so tired of watching him fret that he dragged him into helping him run the cafe and bakery they were setting up. It worked out, because as far as Duke was concerned, if he ever saw anything related to Duel Monsters again, it would be far too soon for his liking.
Marik, who unofficially changed his name to Yami Marik, dragged Seto to one of his personal hideouts to heal. He took Mokuba with him, though the boy wouldn't have let him do anything else. Ishizu and Odion took a temporary reprieve back home in Egypt, to learn, regroup and plan.
Pegasus took what was left of the Big Five, Kaiba Corporation and Duel Academics under his wing at Industrial Illusions. He kept it all safe, until Seto Kaiba woke up again.
And Solomon? Solomon set up the shelves for his dear old Kame Game Shop, waiting for Little Yugi to step inside for something more than a place where he would be cared for and noticed.
Yugi was a little tyke who got separated from his parents the first time he walked in. Back then, Yugi liked to point out that Solomon looked like his father, so thought he was safe. Solomon never corrected or spoke on it, and so Yugi continued visiting, but stopped talking about it. He let Yugi visit, and allowed him upstairs to his home.
Yugi first brought Tea Gardner. She always seemed to be spinning or moving. Dancing. Solomon wasn't sure if she was aware of it. Every move she made had a purpose. She was the embodiment of elegance and strength. Elegance and strength she slowly inspired Yugi to find for himself. The first time Yugi spun on his head brought him much amusement. All that hair made for a soft cushion.
Then Joey Wheeler and Tristan Taylor joined. Ryou Bakura, and Duke Devlin. Occasionally Mai Valentine stopped by to check the selection. Mako Tsunami would call every few days. He didn't know Yugi didn't live here, yet he managed to call when Yugi was here. His old friend Arthur Hawkins called occasionally. Not for him, but for his granddaughter Rebecca. She finally realized Yugi wasn't eight years old, but wanted to continue chatting with him anyway through her sudden shyness and embarrassment. Maximilian Pegasus sent first class snail mail disguised as small nothings under a pseudonym, and Solomon would reply with his own letter. Many days he heard Yugi rant about his struggle with getting Seto Kaiba to enter the shop, but when he figured it out, the payoff was glorious. Mokuba trailed behind Seto, looking around in wonder and amazement. Mokuba declared that one day, he was gonna open up a store like this too.
Solomon always had treats and snacks prepared. The kids kept stashing money in his fridge or a cabinet every so often as well. When he could, he'd sneak it back into their school bags. It was just another game he enjoyed.
One day, Seto came by himself after store hours. Solomon was cleaning up behind the register counter. Seto took a while to look at him. Eventually Solomon showed him what he was looking for. The eye on Solomon's forehead was the same Seto had seen many times before on Seto's own, but Solomon's magic was his own, much stronger than Pharaoh's and Seto's and infinitely more tamed and controlled than Ryou's.
Seto asked him for training, and Solomon obliged. Seto wanted to learn to attack, like a weapon. Solomon didn't care who was teaching him to think such a thing, but he would have liked a chance to put that individual over his knee. Weapons are weapons. People are people. People are never weapons. He trained Seto to shield and heal instead. If he wanted to learn to attack, he'd need to do so on his own. Sometimes he'd be too busy or suffering from the aches and pains that came with old age to teach, so he would loan Seto a book or two to read instead.
Another day, long after the end of Battle City, Rex Raptor and Weevil Underwood visited. They took a look around and made a few purchases. They were quiet enough for teens their age, and certainly much more subdued than Yugi initially described them. They left him a few gifts on the counter. They didn't know where Joey or Yugi lived, so they hoped Solomon would give them the gifts.
Yugi and his not-so-little gang of friends stepped into Kame Game Shop day after day. It was their home away from home of course. Solomon really couldn't ask for more.
Solomon was ready when Yugi stepped into his store with Ryou Bakura by his side. There was an understanding in Little Yugi's eyes that wasn't there when he was younger.
Caring takes a lot of energy, and sometimes it's not always a two way street with equal give and take. Caring is love. It is strong. It is light. It is dark. It is heavy. It is never weak. It's a hug that never lessens in intensity. A garden that must be tended to with all of one's being, one's soul, one's heart, one's life. Or it will die.