Their situation looked hopeless. Paradox had not only stolen Stardust from him, not only was using her against the three of them, but was the reason for their current predicament. Yusei didn't doubt the King of Games' prowess, didn't doubt that somehow Yugi would make a miracle happen and survive this turn, but because of him all they have on the field was a couple of face downs and a monster with 0 attack points. If only he'd been more careful when Paradox had first appeared...
"This is all my fault..."
"No, Yusei, it's not. Stardust Dragon is your card, but you're not controlling it – at least not yet." Yusei was shocked. He wasn't even aware that he had spoken out loud. The determination that was present in the King of Games' voice threw him. The sheer force of will that was present in just those few words was astounding.
"What do you mean?"
"I'll place two cards face down to end my turn." Paradox said, a look in his eyes that gave nothing away, other than the fact that he thought he was going to win.
"Then it's my move now – so get ready!" The King of Games drew his first card in a dramatic fashion, in a way that commanded their rival's attention. The look in his eyes only spoke of determination. Apparently Yusei wasn't going to get an answer out of him now.
"Very well. Let's see what you've got, King of Games."
"Yugi," the name was almost whispered, and the King of Games turned to look at Yusei, a questioning look in his eyes, "my cards are your cards." The King of Games smiled, and Yusei could've sworn his heart stopped beating for a second.
He didn't think it had really started to beat again until the Dark Magician and his apprentice
were out on the field. Maybe it was then that the reality of the situation struck him, that Stardust Dragon, his card, could be their downfall.
"Listen...If Stardust needs to be destroyed for us to have a chance, then destroy it."
"Yusei..." The King of Games looked at him with something in his eyes, and Yusei could feel himself getting pulled deeper into their depths, losing himself, drowning, drowning, drowning... Then Yugi looked away.
And got his Stardust Dragon back with a smirk on his lips.
"Yusei?"
"Hm?"
"Call me Yami."
"Alright, Yami."
They'd won. Against impossible odds. Against the terrifying realization that this could be the end of the game they loved, and all the people they loved with it. Yusei had never been so relieved to be a victor.
"We did it." Yami said softly, as if almost afraid to break the silence that had befallen Yusei. Amethyst eyes looked at him, a hand coming to rest on his shoulder, a warm weight tying Yusei to the man in front of him. There was a gentle smile on Yami's face, and Yusei was sure that a similar one was present on his on face.
"That we did." There was something in those eyes. A spark swirling in their depths, slowly turning into a flame, a flame that Yusei found, was difficult to look away from.
Not that he wanted to.
The hand was still on his shoulder. A gentle weight, and something in the back of Yusei's mind was telling him that the hand had been there too long by most social standards – been there far too long from a guy he had only met a few hours beforehand – but he found himself not caring, in fact if anything, he was welcoming the feel of those fingers.
Yusei was about ask if this thinghe was feeling was mutual, if he wasn't imagining this, when–
"Yusei, shouldn't we starting trying to get back to our own time –am interrupting something?"
Jaden came running over.
"Not at all." Yami moved away, hand going over to congratulate the brown haired duelist with a pat on the back, and a smile much wider plastered on his face.
Yusei's shoulder suddenly felt far too cold.
"Well, I guess it's about time we get back to where we belong."
"Yeah. Wouldn't want to worry the others if I'm gone too long." Yusei chuckled. He could already guess that Crow was pulling his mother hen act because of how long he'd been away. He never was good at functioning away from his friends.
"Well, I'll see you around then." Yami said such determination and for the briefest of moments
Yusei could've sworn that those eyes flickered down to his lips before Jaden was in front of him mumbling how he had to get back to tell Jesse what had happened and the moment was over too soon because Yami was chuckling as Yusei stumbled and –
And maybe, Yusei thought as he got back on his duel runner with Jaden in tow, Yami watching them both, waving and with a look on his face that struck at Yusei's very core, he hoped just a little too hard for the world to once more be in danger, just so he could see those amethyst eyes again.