To the Victor Go the Spoils
Plot: Seto is obsessed with his drive to best the King of Games, no matter what the cost. However, he doesn't stop to think just what that cost might be.
Timeline: A few months to a year after the end of the series. Yugi and Yami are fully separated following the Ceremonial Duel, which Yugi wins, but Yami chooses to stay and remain separate, rather than continue to the afterlife. I'm calling him Yami instead of Atem…just for my own preference.
Rating: T for dark themes: insanity, violence, language.
Disclaimer: If I owned Yu-Gi-Oh, the manga drawings would look REALLY terrible. Trust me.
And also, a HUGE thank-you to Toxic Hathor for beta-ing this.
Italics indicate thoughts or emphasis.
"Aw c'mon, Yug! She totally had the hots for me!"
Yugi laughed at his best friend as they walked through the sun-splashed streets of downtown Domino on their way back to the Game Shop. "Joey, you were sitting next to Duke. You know how girls respond to him."
Joey feigned outrage, amusement dancing in his eyes. "So? I can attract females if I want to! I'm as much a specimen of manliness as he is!"
"Yeah, but Duke's actually good-looking…"
"HEY!" Yugi ducked a smack aimed at his head, grinning.
"I'm just saying it could be a contributing factor!"
"Yeah, well so is height, and in case you didn't notice…OY!" Yugi had poked his friend in the ribs none too gently.
"See?" Yugi said, sticking his nose in the air, "Shortness has its advantages!"
"Like getting asked for ID every time you buy a movie ticket?" Joey laughed. It was true…Yugi couldn't go anywhere without his school ID proving that he was, in fact, seventeen.
"Oh that does it, mister! I'll show YOU why shortness is a good thing! RACE YOU!" And Yugi took off like a shot in the direction of the Game Shop before Joey had fully processed what had happened.
"HEY! YUG! THAT'S NOT…aw crap," Joey sputtered, kicking his own legs into gear. Yugi could beat the pants off of any of his friends in a race, and they all knew it. He tore down the street in pursuit of his pocket-sized friend, hoping that he'd show mercy around the halfway point.
...
Yugi smirked to himself as he pelted down the street, dodging the shoppers making the most of the bright spring day. There was no way Joey would catch up with him, despite his long legs. They'd never really figured out what made him such a good runner, but Yugi was perfectly willing to attribute it to his tiny stature – less resistance from the wind, he'd say.
He slowed a bit, looking behind him to make sure he hadn't actually lost his best friend in the crowd. Nope—there he is! Running at full speed and gaining. Yugi waved and then pointed at a cross-street to show his direction – a slightly longer way back that involved more turns and a cut through the park. Joey flipped him off in reply, making him laugh and pick up speed again.
Neither boy noticed a small black car ambling along the street nearby, as if the driver wasn't entirely sure what he was looking for. When Yugi had pointed, however, the car sped up slightly and made the turn before he did.
Yugi dashed around the first corner, making it to the second and crossing the street to turn left down a small side street in record time. Glancing back once more for his friend, he didn't see the pair of tall men in dark suits step directly into his path and he collided head-on with one of them.
"Ow!" He stumbled back a few steps, trying not to fall. Re-gaining his balance, he looked up at the two in front of him, glaring at him behind dark sunglasses. "I'm so sorry! I didn't watch where I was going…I didn't hurt you, did I?"
The taller of the two smirked. "No. Not at all."
"Oh, good," Yugi smiled, relieved that they weren't taking offense to his idiocy. "Sorry again," he said, starting to go around them.
A hand on his shoulder stopped him. "Actually, we'd like you to come with us."
Yugi frowned, looking up at the stony face. His expression was unreadable, and Yugi was beginning to get a little nervous. "Where? What for?" They didn't look like your everyday thieves, but there was definitely something 'off' about them.
"Someone wishes to have a friendly chat with you, that's all." Yugi didn't like the man's tone. It sounded…like a bully gleefully cornering his next victim. He noticed that the man's partner was no longer in his line of sight, which wasn't a good sign. He started to back up slowly, thinking that if he reached the main street, he could at least lose himself in the crowd. Or find Joey…whom he fervently hoped would catch up soon.
Trying to keep a calm façade, he said, "No, I really don't think I-." Suddenly, he was grabbed from behind and a hand was slapped over his mouth. Immediately, he started struggling, trying to scream for help.
"Well, then…guess we'll just have to do this the hard way."
...
Joey gasped for breath as he rounded the corner. Man, I am NOT out of shape, but I just can't run like this! Gah, Yug, you are SO DEAD when we get back! The next turn, he knew, was left at the next corner. Usually, his friend would wait across the street to make sure he knew the way…and to tease him once or twice about large creatures with slow speed. This time, there was no sign of a short, spiky head anywhere…which means he's gonna jump me out of nowhere once I get there. Joey grinned to himself. For all his innocent looks, Yugi had a solid streak of mischief.
He crossed the street and rounded the corner, expecting a short, multicolored blob of energy to come catapulting at him. Nothing happened.
Joey frowned. It wasn't like Yugi to go full steam ahead here. The street was narrow and darker than the main streets, twisting around the backs of the oddly sized stores and eventually leading to a quiet avenue right near the park. No side streets or alleys, but the pavement was rough and cracked, making it more of an obstacle course than a racing track. He looked around, seeing a few pedestrians ambling along the sidewalk, but none that resembled his friend.
"Yug?" He called uncertainly, starting down the street. "Oy, Yug!" No answer. "Okay, okay, shortness is cool! Happy?" Still no answer.
Suddenly, he tripped and almost went sprawling. Turning to glower at whatever rock had decided to pick on him, he stopped dead, abruptly feeling cold as ice as he stared at the object on the ground.
Time seemed to slow down as he picked up the Puzzle, a couple of pieces coming loose in his hand. It didn't hold the power it once had now that Yami no longer resided in it, but it was their prized possession, a reminder of the link they'd once shared.
Yugi would never leave his Puzzle behind willingly. And that meant only one thing.
Joey took off for the Game Shop at top speed, reverting to the shortest route he knew.
...
"So this is basically Capsule Monsters taken to a whole new level," Mokuba said, looking over the brand-new box as Yami finished explaining the rules to him.
"Yep, that's right. Yugi and I thought of you when we were unpacking them yesterday," Yami smiled mischievously at the younger Kaiba. "I seem to remember you liked the original game…"
"Okay, okay, can we not talk about past embarrassments?" Mokuba laughed as he met the gaze of the former pharaoh, who looked amused.
"If you say so," he conceded with a grin. "But go ahead and take that home. I'm sure your brother would love to learn another game to kick your butt in."
"Ha! He can try!" Mokuba giggled, but then his grin faded.
Yami saw the change of expression. "Your brother didn't take well to losing our duel today, did he?" His voice was laced with sympathy.
"No, he didn't. The same as usual," the younger boy sighed. "I think he's getting worse."
"Worse?"
"He broke a vase today. I know, he's broken stuff before, but…" Mokuba closed his eyes for a moment, remembering the look in his brother's eyes before he'd shouted at him to get out. Opening them, his gaze met concerned red-violet.
"It makes me wonder what he'd do if I refused. I don't want you to get hurt," Yami placed his hand on top of Mokuba's, looking troubled.
Mokuba sat back on the couch, letting the King of Games' hand warm his own. "Well…why do you accept his challenges all the time? Doesn't it get annoying to get one from him every other week?"
"Sometimes. But…" Yami paused, considering his words. "Your brother is tough to beat, Mokuba. One of the few duelists whom I find a true challenge to win against every time. Duels like that are really enjoyable, because they keep me on my toes." He laughed a bit, sounding almost apologetic. "I suppose that when you get used to winning all the time, a challenge that makes you sweat becomes the most fun."
"Yeah, I guess so." Mokuba smiled. "Has Yugi ever beaten you?"
Yami chuckled again, in amusement this time. "A lot more often than I care to admit. He's tougher than he looks. Don't let him know I told you that, though, or I'll never hear the end of it!"
A horn honking outside the door caught their attention. Roland stepped out of the short limo and waved to Mokuba. "Right on time, as usual," the black-haired boy chirped, waving back.
"Man, when he says he'll be here in 15 minutes, he means 15 minutes," Yami smiled, rising and handing him his game. "Have fun with that, Mokuba. I'll tell Yugi you dropped by."
"Thanks! Tell him I say hi!" Mokuba called as he left the Game Shop and jumped into the limo. Roland nodded in greeting to Yami as he returned to the driver's seat and drove away.
Yami sat back down on the sofa, a concerned frown overtaking his face as the sound of the Kaiba's limo faded away. Yes, dueling Seto was a fun challenge…it was Seto himself who was less than fun. The man would not stop challenging him for his title, trying strategy after strategy to try and best him. Yami would have enjoyed the new challenges, the efforts to throw him off his guard more if his rival didn't act like beating him was a life or death matter.
He sighed, leaning his head back against the cushion behind him. He knew the elder Kaiba could have a nasty temper when provoked, and lately, he seemed barely in control after he left the private duel arena they usually used. Normally his opponent being a sore loser wouldn't bother him, but Mokuba was in danger of getting hurt every time his older brother lost control. Seto would never purposefully hurt his little brother, but all it would take would be one vase thrown the wrong way to send Mokuba to the hospital with a concussion.
Maybe I SHOULD stop accepting his challenges for a time, he mused. As enjoyable as it is to duel him, he gets more dangerous every time he fails. At best, it'd pull his temper under control for a while…
CRASH.
Yami jumped up, whipping his head towards the door, which now stood open. Leaning against it was Joey – windblown, red-faced, and gasping for air like a drowning man. Yami opened his mouth to needle him on how rude scaring one's best friend was, but the panicked expression on the blond's face made the remark die in his throat.
"What…what's wrong?" With growing trepidation, he realized that Yugi wasn't with him.
Joey was still too winded to form words. In response, he held up the Puzzle cradled in his hands.
Yami felt the blood drain from his face. Wordlessly, he strode to his friend, taking the gold pyramid from him and fitting the two dislodged pieces back into their rightful places. He and Yugi never took the Puzzle off in public. It had no power now, but it meant a lot to them. The symbol of their bond with each other; their feeling that despite being fully separate, they were still two halves of a whole.
The only way Yugi would've parted with it was in a struggle that he didn't win. And judging from the look on Joey's face, and the strong evidence that he had run at top speed to the Shop, he knew that, too.
If the Puzzle had retained its power, finding him would be easy. But…but… He took a slow breath, trying to stave off the waves of panic that were churning in his stomach. Motioning for his friend to sit down, he whispered hoarsely, "Tell me what happened."
Dun dun dunnn! And the plot thickens! ^_~ I'm taking a bit of creative license and having them keep the Puzzle, but with their separation, their mental link was severed as well. Hope that doesn't confuse anyone.
Note: Mokuba's line about past embarrassments refers to the manga where he challenged Yugi to a game of Capsule Monsters in Death-T.
Next chapter: Seto visits Yugi for a private chat.
Reviews and critiques are much appreciated!