Promiseshipping (Mokuba x Yami no Yugi x Yugi)


Too many promises had been broken in his life.

"We'll be right back, Moki. Promise."

Yeah, right.

"We're doing everything we can for your mother. She's in critical condition, but we promise we'll get her back."

Uh-huh, sure.

"Mokuba, I promise, no matter what happens, I will never, ever leave you."

Sure, Seto-nii. Easy enough to say when you're ten years old.

"I promise I will get your brother back for you."

Really? Could Yugi really promise him that? Even the "back" Yugi, with his red eyes and talent for gaming, would have a hard time delivering on a promise like that. Mokuba wasn't ready to believe him. Wasn't ready to believe anyone. Those red eyes burn into him, like hot brands.

"Mokuba," he says. "You have to trust me. I will not lose to Pegasus. I will protect you, your brother, and your brother's dream. Can you trust me?"

No, he wants to say. But he can do nothing but sit there and tremble, the star chips clutched in his hand. So easy. It would be so easy to reach out and hand them over. So easy to trust again – so easy to be lost again.

"Mokuba," the red-eyed Yugi pleads. "I promise you. I won't lose."

But Mokuba is shaking his head.

"Everyone promises! Everyone says one thing and then it doesn't happen! No one can ever keep a promise! So why even bother trusting anyone?!"

A pause. Mokuba is looking right at him, right at the red-eyed Yugi, and yet he doesn't notice when they switch. But then he is looking into soft, purple eyes, eyes that are sad and yet determined.

"He means it," the "front" Yugi says. "I promise you. The other me will not lose. I have something at stake in this, too, Mokuba. And I know that we will win."

Mokuba can't trust him. He can't even trust his own brother, how can he trust this...this kid that has two different personalities? He must need to go to a mental institution – heck, maybe even Mokuba needs to go to a mental institution. This whole world is screwed up, and there's nothing Mokuba can do to fix it. He tries, but he knows he can't solve anything.

"How can you promise that so easily? You don't know whether you'll win! And just saying you'll try your best isn't enough!"

Red eyes now.

"Try my best? That was never my plan. I'm going to win, Mokuba, plain and simple. And I will save you and your brother at the same time."

Mokuba shakes his head. He trembles harder. But how can Yugi be so confident? How can he be so sure? How can he promise him that so easily? There's no way he can pull through!

But those determined purple eyes meet his gaze steadily. They flicker into a sharp red. Purple again. Red again. Two different gazes looking right into him. It's almost as though two voices speak to him this time.

"We won't lose," Yugi said. "That we can promise."

Mokuba drew in a breath.

"Okay," he said. "I guess...if you promise."


A/N: Aw, poor Mokuba-kun. :( Next is Prodigyshipping (Seto x Rebecca).