Yu-Gi-Oh 5Ds: The Judgement of the World
Written By: Lady Lunar Phoenix
Beta By: Lady Lunar Phoenix
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For the first few moments there was no other sound in the elevator after the initial lurch as the box rose up. Just three kids staring at the moon for the first time, as Rua, Ruka and Crow all stared in open mouth, unabashed awe at the guy next to the control panel. Processing the thick red, black mane of hair with their trademark unique blond bangs that framed the face. The amethyst colored eyes alight with amusement as Yugi, in all his black leather, began tilting his head towards the controls.
"So what floor?" Yugi drawled out with patient amusement.
"We're trying to see Kaiba," Yusei answered from the right corner where he had taken up for his own place to stand. Book ending the sliding doors of the elevator with Yugi while the twins were in the center though closer to Yugi and Crow hung at the back. Patting himself down while Yugi nodded and pressed a button on the control panel.
"You're brave to face him directly," Yugi noted before hitting another button.
"Um... Lord Yugi?"
Was that Rua? That squeaked out, meek voice that came from somewhere didn't sound like the normally cheerfully, enthusiastic boy. Rua was 'literally' shaking as the Original, undefeated, King of Games redirected his gaze down to the boy. It was a dream come true, the impossible dream that no fan ever dared to have. After all these years, the interviews, the investigations, the hunts to find the Original King of Games and here he was. In an elevator in Neo Domino!
Rua was clutching his backpack with the autograph books as though it was a flotation device and he was in the open sea.
"Yes? Uh, you want something?" Yugi asked tilting his head to the side before dropping down so he was more on eye level with the twins. In fact, were they even breathing? The pair seemed to have stopped all function and were in glass eyed, blue screen, crash mode.
"CAN I HAVE YOUR AUTOGRAPH!?" Crow blurted out, and with that out in the open the twins nodded like bobble heads on the dashboard of a car. But hey! They were breathing again, inhaling enough air that the pressure in the elevator seemed to adjust. They lived!
Yugi blinked in surprise before breaking out in laughter, "oh, yeah that thing. I guess I forgot that people 'like' having my signature. Sure, what would you like me to sign?"
The twins instantly redirected their focus onto their bags, tearing into them the second that the word 'sure' came out of Yugi's mouth, revealing a number of books with haphazard abandon. Ruka neatly slid the two books she carried out of her backpack. Rua slid his three out with far less neatness, abandoning the bag all together to get the books out. Yet then seemed to recall that there was a need for pens, thus shoving the books under his arm and bending down to reclaim the bag. Ruka was anxiously struggling to get the zipper open so she could get to her pens, Rua's were at the bottom of his bag, all the while Yugi watched them with serene amusement.
"Five different books? I take it those are for friends?" Yugi offered, when Ruka shyly held out her opened book, thanks to only needing to handle the two. Yugi took the book and accepted the pen from Rua, "and your name is?" he asked as effortlessly removed the cap single handedly.
Crow, meanwhile; was tearing through his pockets as he realized there wasn't anything on him to write on. A glance showed that the elevator was making a steady clip up while Ruka shyly gave her own name. He glanced desperately at Yusei who could only give an apologetic, for Yusei, shrug. Would the King sign something else? Would he sign like a headband or an article of clothing?
"Yeah women are lucky they have purses so they can always find something to have signed," Yugi agreed glancing at Crow's desperation while he signed off on Rua's own book. "Let me finish with the books the twins brought for their friends and I'll see what I have on me."
"Books?" The twins' voices were confused as he finished theirs until the light bulbs went off and the pair realized...
"You don't mind?" Ruka asked nervously as she swapped her book for Patty's. There was no reason for him to 'have' to sign more , and she feared they were pushing their luck.
"Mind? Why should I?" Yugi asked innocently as he handed Rua his book back then held out his hand. "Now which friend is this for?"
"My best friend Patty!" Ruka answered promptly as Kuribon chatted with the Kuriboh hovering in the air in the other corner next to Yugi.
"Best friend huh?" Yugi replied as he lifted up the book with its cute little puppy caricatures in the corners of the inner pages.
"Yes, sir!"
"We were hoping to meet someone in the art or sound departments," Rua explained as he hugged his book to his chest while holding the other two in his free hand waiting for the chance to get another book signed.
"Oh, well you're out of luck here. KaibaCorp handles turning the artwork into holograms, so the artists are all in America. The sound department works off site because of how it is soundproofed coupled with the original construction of the building itself. The only thing 'here' is the R&D department because Seto has always been so hands on. Actually once the elevator drops you off, it'll take me to that floor," Yugi explained with all the formality of a tour guide. Finishing Patty's book with a small flourish of the wrist before handing said book back to Ruka.
"Then shouldn't it let you off first?" Yusei coolly interrupted, as Rua handed over Tenpei's book.
"Would be nice, but then this building was built for Gozoboro. This elevator only goes up to the top floor first, Seto 'has' a key that lets him override that feature, but 'he' has the key." Yugi explained briskly, with this almost nostalgic, bittersweet smile, "symbolic of how he always 'heads for the top' of anything."
"That's for Bob," Rua handed over the last of the autograph books, his mind lost on how he was even going to 'explain' this. The gang, no, the whole 'school' was going to flip when they learned that the twins had managed to meet the One True King! It wasn't as though Yugi was ever aloof or distant, all the stories about him talked about his kind and giving nature. However; he 'did' get chased around by fans a lot after his very delayed growth spurt kicked in. Causing him to get a bodyguard and often hiding from people who wanted autographs. He hadn't been seen in over 20 years! Long before the twins had been born in fact. So this random chance that allowed them to meet the man 'himself'?!
Meanwhile Ruka opened her book and stared at the signature processing the fact that it existed. There in black ink was Yugi's name!
'I appreciate your ever kind hearted nature, thank you for being a fan; Mouto Yugi.'
Being praised by the King! She was amazed her heart didn't short out given how fast it was beating. The two Kuri's above her head sounded cheerful in their conversation and knowing that the King could see Kuribon made him even more magical. The King also having Kuriboh as his travel companion made her feel an even stronger kinship with him, even though she knew there really wasn't any.
Rua was over the moon, as he accepted each autograph book that Yugi signed. He didn't really want to stop looking at Yugi, who's very presence had instantly pushed knowing Yusei and Jack down a peg on the the respective 'cool' meter. His hands were shaking as he reached up to take back Bob's autograph book. Black leather, spikes and that vivid outrageous hair, without knowing the true King one could easily mistake Yugi for dangerous. Yugi towered over Yusei, easily over all of them actually, even without the thick soled boots with heels he was currently wearing.
Meanwhile Yugi stood up, his eyes first focused on the twins with a quiet amusement before looking up and giving Crow his attention. "I don't have any paper on me, but I can do this..." he finally offered and reached down to his deck.
Which was already a full stop moment for Crow and the twins as their minds tried desperately to figure out why he would have spare paper with his deck. They watched in rapt attention as Yugi went about shuffling through the deck as though looking for something.
Because, no way.
Yugi glanced over the cards in his hands, noting the twins fixation and found himself chuckling, "I don't just carry my own cards. Sometimes a card speaks out to me, looking for a home and I take it with me until I find it. I'm sure Ruka would understand," he explained serenely.
"Since you can see duel spirits, too?" Ruka asked timidly, tearing her gaze from Yugi just long enough to look at the Kuri's.
"Sure, Maha is my most loyal and faithful servant. I love him like a true brother," Yugi answered watching as she looked on in awe and shifted her gaze to Kuriboh. "Oh, no Kuriboh is my precious friend, but he normally looks after children for me when I'm not around."
The only sounds in the elevator was the soft dings of the elevator bell as it ascended, the shuffling on Yugi's deck, and the beating of three hearts at that point. Or at least it felt that way to the trio in question, as Yugi finally raised an eyebrow.
"Ahh well this is going to be interesting, so who do I sign this to?" Yugi asked looking up at Crow patiently, Rua's pen still in his hand.
"Hogan, Crow!" Crow fairly gasped out in anticipation, watching Yugi nod and begin writing on the top card in his hand.
A. Signed. Card. From. YUGI!
"This card is going to be interesting, keep it with the other cards in your deck," Yugi began as he wrote. "It's not assigned yet, but not all spirits have a card of their own, and it seems this card belongs to one of them. Be patient, one day a Spirit will answer and use this blank to become a new card for you to use."
Yugi held up a pure white card the same size as any other duel monster card, quickly fanning it dry in the air, revealing that it was blank on both sides. Colored only by the black ink of the pen Yugi had been writing with. While Crow reached for the card as though he was being handed his own first born child straight after birth. Both hands extended, palms up in complete humble obedience oblivious to Yugi's clear amusement.
"Its just a card for now..." Yugi pointed out, glancing at Yusei out of the corner of his eye for help.
"You going to be ok Crow, the three of you look ready to pass out." Yusei asked, leaning against the wall, his posture as indifferent as ever. Like he wasn't in the elevator with the LIVING LEGEND Yugi!
"Have you been here all this time?" Rua asked.
With Ruka nodding and adding, "the stories have been that you've been sight unseen for over 20 years."
"I've been around, just been globe hopping if you will," Yugi explained with a faint smile. "You'd be surprised, but there are parts of the world where I can dress like this and 'not' stand out in a crowd."
The elevator reached the top, as a soft chime warned everyone the elevator made its small jolt that came with its stop. Followed by the most disappointed wail from the twins ever heard by living ears. They stared up at the elevator's screen hoping desperately that they were stopping because someone else was getting on board with them. Even though they knew in the back of their minds that the elevator was unique and only a distinct few could ride in it.
Sadly the elevator doors began sliding open, revealing the top floor where the CEO and owner of KaibaCorp's office was located. "Can we ride down to the R&D department with you?" Rua asked desperately while Yusei placed his hand against the sliding doors to keep them open.
There was some doubt in his mind that he would get the three out of the elevator in time, otherwise and they 'would' be taking a trip down to R&D. If they weren't arrested first, after all they 'were' in a private elevator belonging to the CEO of the company. Sure the Kaiba family could be expected to have the privilege to use this elevator, but not two teens off the street and a pair of twins. Not only that, but Yusei had yet to forget that he had left Jack and Carly on the ground floor and who knew what manner of chaos the pair had created for everyone involved.
"Now now, don't abandon Yusei here, you don't want him to face Kaiba by himself do you?" Yugi chuckled in amusement. "Kaiba may be intimidating, but he's not one to yell in the presence of children after all."
The twins weren't convinced, and it was obvious in the slow walk they made out of the elevator, though Crow didn't budge. He was too busy staring at the white card in his hands with wide eyed amazement and child like glee. Ruka had taken a backwards glance to see if Kuribon was coming with them only to see Crow still standing there.
"Crow?"
"Hey Crow?"
The redhead slowly began to walk forward, in a funny form of echo relocation style adjusting his direction each time he heard his name. Once the twins got Crow moving they kept repeatedly saying good byes to Yugi, waving their free hands while holding onto their signed autograph books with the other. Kuribon was waving her farewell with both the tip of her tail and a wiggle of her foot, while floating backwards.
Yusei watched the kids as they walked ahead towards the office doors ahead, oblivious to the world around them. With Crow just as useless following them, lost in his own child like pleasure. It was a happiness that Yusei didn't believe in raining on as he watched the mounting disbelief and alarm in the two secretaries in the room. "Mouto, Yugi..."
"Yes, Yusei?" Yugi could be heard walking to the back of the elevator as Yusei turned to look at the Duelist.
"Mouto, Yugi disappeared over 20 years ago, meaning that by now you 'should' look in your 40's," Yusei pointed out taking in the youthful appearance that Yugi possessed. This wasn't an 'oh Asians look different when they aged' thing either. Yugi simply looked too young to have been missing for over 20 years. "Who are you really?"
Yugi didn't even look fazed by the accusation that he wasn't who he was, instead he merely smiled and shrugged. He leaned against the back wall of the elevator before giving a casual, "Twenty-two years or so? I've been out of time as of late, and catching up is proving rather difficult."
Yusei's frown deepened, as his distrust grew from where he stood and the more darker his thoughts turned the more it seemed to please 'Yugi'. The man rolled his head to the side slightly, with the look his fans recognized from his duels with Kaiba. It was haunting in how it taunted Yusei, challenging him without words or sound.
Do you know me?
Think you can out play me?
"Carly's a good girl, I'm glad I chose to send her those figurines." Yugi noted aloud causing Yusei to stiffen.
"You can't be Yugi," Yusei repeated, even as he stepped back from the elevator onto the top floor of the building. "People don't just disappear for two decades and show back up looking the way they did when they first left."
"Now now Yusei, there are people who think what Aki and Ruka do is 'impossible'. Would you still deny the ladies' their gifts or condemn them as monsters?" Yugi countered easily.
Aki wasn't here yet he knew her name and abilities? Releasing the doors Yusei let them slide together cutting him off from 'Yugi'.
"Say 'Hi' to Kaiba for me."
The Mark on his arm burned to life without pain, warm like wires, or the motor of his ride yet the heat didn't hurt. He reached up and grabbed at the mark hidden under both glove and sleeve, noting that strange feeling of approval that came from it. While his eyes stayed locked on and through the doors to where 'Yugi' had been standing.
Yugi's voice had carried approval in his tone, if Yusei hadn't known better, and maybe he didn't, it sounded as though he passed some unspoken test.