To the Victor Go the Spoils
Plot: Seto is obsessed with beating 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.
Pairings: Mild Puzzleshipping, possibly some very twisted, one-sided Prideshipping
Disclaimer: If I owned Yu-Gi-Oh, Bakura wouldn't be quite so British. Bloody wanker! ^_~ (yes, I watch YGOTAS way too often)
Italics indicate thoughts or emphasis.
Yami sat on the couch, staring at the table in front of him but seeing nothing. He had no idea what time it was. He didn't care. All he could think about was Yugi. Yugi, held prisoner in the bowels of Kaiba Mansion, being tortured for information. On him. The guilt ate away at him, rising in his throat like bile.
He'd promised to protect him. More than once. To himself and to Yugi, he'd sworn he would protect him. And now Yugi was getting hurt. Again. Because of him. Again. And he could do nothing but wait until it was time to go to Kaiba's and give him whatever the hell it was that he wanted so he'd release Yugi. And then, somehow, he would take that bastard down for hurting his other half.
"Yami?" He'd forgotten Joey was still there. The blond sat next to him, placing a hand on his shoulder that he barely felt. "Yami…snap out of it, man. You need to rest. It's almost 2 AM."
Yami felt his throat constrict as he tried to answer his friend. "I…" he swallowed. "I can't rest. I can't. Not while Yugi…" he trailed off. Mokuba hadn't gone into specifics, but the poor boy had been so upset during his call that Yami could easily guess what kind of treatment Yugi was receiving.
"I know, dude. But there's nothing you can do about it right now—."
"That's just it," Yami snapped. He took a breath, his hands fisting in his hair. "Yugi's trapped in that monster's basement being tortured. Because of me. And I can't do anything. Ra, if the Puzzle only kept our connection…the least I could do is comfort him, but I can't even do that. I just have to sit here until 4 PM and hope that he knows I'm coming." His voice broke. Unless Mokuba performed a miracle and got him out. But knowing Kaiba, access to the code he needed was probably restricted to Kaiba himself and no other.
"Yami…" Joey trailed off, unsure of what to say.
"I swore to protect him." His breath hitched. There was a burning sensation in his throat that swallowing didn't help. "I swore that I'd be there for him no matter what. And here we are…him getting hurt, and it's my fault. Again it's my fault."
"Aw c'mon, what happened to the murderous rampage of just a couple of hours ago?" Joey said, in an obvious attempt to cheer him up. "You were ready to tear the mansion apart brick by brick!"
"I still want to." Nothing but the truth. Guilt for being responsible for Yugi's predicament and a furious desire to tear the elder Kaiba apart with his bare hands were warring inside of him. So far, guilt was winning.
Joey noticed his still-despondent look. "Yami," he said sternly. "Snap out of it. Don't get like this again." He shook his shoulder rather forcefully. Yami looked at him. "Look, man, I know how you feel. My best friend got kidnapped right under my nose. If I was a faster runner, I'd've been there, but I wasn't. It sucks that we're stuck here, but at least we can do something soon." He gave Yami a reassuring smile. "And look…I'm worried sick about Yug being in the hands of that creep, too, but I also know my best friend. He's faced a lot worse than a maniac with a creepy love for violence, and he's pulled through every time. Actually…he HAS faced a maniac with a creepy love of violence. And girly robes and a fetish for mind control."
Yami chuckled in spite of himself at Joey's description of Marik's dark half. Leave it to Joey to find something positive in this. His expression turned serious as he contemplated the following day. "What do you suppose he wants from me?"
Joey's expression turned sober. "No idea, Yami. If it were normal, asshole Kaiba we were dealing with, I'd say he wanted another duel. But insane, psychopath Kaiba is a whole new ballgame."
"He can't want a duel, though," Yami mused aloud. "I've beaten him every time, and the second I start easing up on him, he notices and tells me to step back up." He frowned. "The God Cards, perhaps? Though they won't help him much…Yugi showed us all that they're not unbeatable."
"Yeah but the idea of Kaiba with the God Cards is not something I really wanna think about," Joey said wryly.
"True," Yami sighed. "I suppose I'll take my deck just in case. I really wish I still had my Shadow powers," he added. "Here I have the perfect excuse to Mind Crush the bastard, and I can't do that anymore." He was only half-kidding, but Joey laughed anyway.
"C'mon, oh mighty King of Games. If you're gonna kick Kaiba's ass tomorrow, you need your beauty sleep."
Yami raised an eyebrow. "I highly doubt beauty has anything to do with it."
"Oh c'mon, Yami, you know what I mean!" The look on Joey's face made him chuckle once again.
"Yes, I do. But I don't think I'll be getting much sleep tonight." His anxiety for Yugi lay in the pit of his stomach, giving him a sick, queasy feeling. I'm coming for you, aibou. Stay strong. Stay strong for me. I'm coming. And I swear Kaiba will pay for every bruise on your body.
"Me neither. But it never hurts to try, eh?"
...
Yami fidgeted nervously in the back of Kaiba's limo. He didn't like taking rides from his psychotic rival, but Kaiba had called at 3:30 saying that a car would pick him up, leaving no room for objections. And it beats walking, anyway, he thought resignedly.
He stifled a yawn. He hadn't slept well. When not tossing and turning with worry, he'd slept fitfully, his head filled with nightmares.
Kaiba still hadn't told him what he wanted, which both puzzled and worried him. What could he want that involves me actually being there? A trade? Yugi for the God Cards? Or…Yugi for me? The thought was not particularly cheering.
At least Mokuba was safe. The younger Kaiba had called him earlier that morning from a friend's house. He'd been unable to find the code for Yugi's door; failing that, he'd tried to hack into the security system, but it was too well protected. How he'd managed to do that without alerting his older brother was beyond Yami's comprehension, but at least he was out of danger…at least for this afternoon, he sighed to himself.
Absently, he traced the small pouch that held his deck. It was heavier than usual; Joey had insisted he take his Swiss Army Knife with him and tuck it somewhere safe.
"Look, man, I don't trust Kaiba as far as I could throw him," he'd said firmly. "The last thing I want is for you to get stuck in a situation where you can't defend yourself. Take it, all right?"
It certainly is a handy little thing, Yami thought. He'd been impressed when Joey had unfolded it, showing him how it worked; it didn't look like it could hold so many tools, albeit tiny ones. Hopefully, I won't have a reason to use it today. Hopefully, he'll keep his promise and I'll be able to take Yugi home, safe and sound.
The limo turned down a quiet boulevard and Yami spotted the Kaiba mansion at the far end. This is it, he thought. Time to pull yourself together. He closed his eyes and breathed slowly, beginning to relax. He needed to be on his guard, but he couldn't walk in looking like a nervous wreck. That would start Kaiba off with a larger advantage than what he already had.
He had to think of this as a game. A duel. How many times had he dueled with the weight of the world on his shoulders? And he'd pulled through every one of them. Narrowly, yes, but he'd pulled through. And now would be no different. Yugi was everything to him…he would fight for him until his last breath.
The anxiety receded. His features, once worried and careworn, were smoothed into a determined frown. The limo stopped. Game time, he thought grimly. He stepped out and started up the walkway.
I'm coming, Yugi. I'll get you out of there, no matter what. I promise.
...
Seto reclined on one of the couches in the sitting room. Any minute now, he thought gleefully. He'll be here any minute now, here to continue our little game. MY little game.
He'd locked Yugi in a presently unused room down the hall near his office. If he had to use the shrimp for persuasion, he wanted him close at hand. No sense in having to run all the way down to the basement.
Not that Yugi needed to be locked anywhere at this point. The neutral expression on Seto's face became a twisted grin as he remembered the previous evening. Oh, little Yugi …you thought this was all a game, didn't you, you thought you could stand up to me…but last night's lesson fixed that, yes? We've learned our lesson now, yes, yes, we have… The midget could barely lift his head that morning, and had barely managed to request water when Seto had questioned him again.
Seto snorted. Water. Pathetic shrimp. But he couldn't complain now. Seto had been generous. More than generous. Though he'd probably have to get someone to mop the floor in that closet. Perhaps generosity was overrated.
He deserved it, he sneered to himself. He deserved it after the shit he tried to throw at me. No one could get away with insulting him. No one. Not the pharaoh, and not his precious midget. Yugi had learned that last night, too. His lip curled, the insults and defiance coming back to him. He still hadn't given Seto the key to Yami's defeat, but Seto no longer cared. Either way, he'd found a weakness. And now Yami was on his way, playing right into his hands, playing his little game without even knowing he was doing it…
"Sir?" Seto looked up, surprised, his train of thought destroyed.
"Roland. Is he here?"
"Yes, sir. He's on his way up now."
Seto merely nodded, rising from his comfortable position and schooling his features into careful neutrality. Inside, however, excitement danced. Excitement and anger and purpose and that feeling of power, that glorious feeling of power…
The door opened. There he stood, looking as stoic and confident as ever. Gods, how he hated him. Seto managed to summon a smirk. Play the game. Play my little game, he thought, calm returning. "Welcome to my castle, King of Games," he made a grand sweeping gesture. "Can I offer you something to drink?"
Yami glowered at him, humorless as usual. "Cut the crap, Kaiba. Where is Yugi? What do you want from me?"
Everything, you arrogant bastard. Everything and everything and EVERYTHING. "What, no pleasantries? Such bad manners, pharaoh. At least sit down," he gestured to one of the couches.
Yami was unperturbed. "I'll stand, thank you."
Oh, but you'll need to sit once you hear what I want from you. You'll NEED a bit of comfort after I take what is mine...mine, mine, MINE… Seto shook his head. He had to remain composed for this, had to match his rival stare for stare. "Oh, very well," he said, maintaining his smirk. "Yugi is…close by. To see him, you'll have to agree to my requests. All of them," he added, narrowing his eyes at his rival threateningly.
Yami glared right back. "And what are these requests?" he spat out.
Seto was filled with glee, imagining the look on his face. This is it! "First, you are to relinquish your title, King of Games, to me. You are not to try to win it back." Yami blinked. Not what you thought, eh, pharaoh? Didn't think I'd be going for the top prize, did you? "Second…" he paused, his smirk becoming twisted. "You and I will hold a press conference tomorrow morning, bright and early, announcing this fact." And that will shut you down for GOOD, he snarled mentally, imagining the jeers he hoped would be thrown at the spiky-haired King of Games when they found out he'd finally been beaten. "The official story, of course, will be that I beat you in a duel. And you'll stick to it. You will come to my office half an hour before the appointed time to go over the exact details, and you will have them memorized backwards and forwards for the question-and-answer session afterward."
Yami didn't move. He's shocked, Seto thought triumphantly. He MUST be. Shocked that he didn't see this coming, that he'll be thrown down once and for all, that I'LL be the one on top, on top for GOOD. And he'll NEVER BRING ME DOWN AGAIN!
Then, he spoke. "Is that all?" Seto's thoughts came to a shuddering halt. What does he mean, "Is that all?" I'm taking his pride and glory AWAY from him! He paused. Sarcasm. That has to be it. He's trying to throw me off.
Seto shrugged, feigning nonchalance. "Yes, Yami. That is…all. Quite reasonable, don't you think?"
Yami cocked an eyebrow at him. "Yes. Quite reasonable." Seto opened his mouth to sneer at him, but Yami forestalled him with an upraised hand. "Very well. I accept."
"What?" The word was out of his mouth before he could stop it. How could he accept so quickly? Doesn't he know what he's giving up? Doesn't he know that he's supposed to be HUMILIATED?
"Are you having trouble with your hearing? I said, I accept." Yami glared at him in a mix of annoyance and puzzlement. "I relinquish my title, King of Games, to you, and I vow I will never attempt to gain it back from you. And I will be at your office tomorrow morning, whatever time you'd like, to give this…press conference of yours." He crossed his arms. "Does that satisfy you?"
Seto was torn between elation and extreme annoyance. He'd expected the King of Games to put up a fight! Surely he wouldn't agree to so much without a second thought! However…Seto had won. He'd won! The King of Games was the King of Games no longer! That was him, now, himself!
"…Yes. It…satisfies me," Seto leered at the ex-King of Games. "Why don't you have a seat and savor your defeat while I retrieve your little counterpart, hm?"
Yami moved aside as Seto strode towards the doors. Good. Soon you'll be doing nothing but that…standing aside for ME.
...
Yami stared at the door as it closed behind Seto – the new King of Games – utterly perplexed.
He wants my title and a public confirmation…and that's it? He frowned. No God Cards, no physical threat, no duel…just my title?
The press conference was clearly Seto's idea of humiliating him, forcing him to concede to him in public. But you can't humiliate someone who isn't truly beaten, Kaiba, he thought. I'm proud of being the King of Games, yes, but I would happily hand the title over if someone were to defeat me honorably. Actually, he thought with a wry smirk, Technically, you've only got half a title for yourself. Yugi and I share it. He beat me that day, or have you forgotten? I've defeated him since then, yes, but in the duel that decided our fate, he won.
He decided not to enlighten the lanky CEO on that particular fact. Yugi had already suffered too much at his hands. Which brought him back to his puzzlement over Seto's idea of a deal. The title didn't mean much to him, really. Does he think it's so important to me that I'd risk Yugi to keep it? He crossed over to one of Seto's couches, leaning on the side. Maybe titles and public glory are important to you, Kaiba, he mused, but you really don't know me at all if you think this was a hard decision.
The door handle turned. Yami straightened, apprehension and hope that his hikari was all right flooding his mind. Seto entered, smirking nastily, dragging someone by the collar. Someone small, with spiky hair…
"Yugi!" Yami cried, horror-struck.
He looked terrible. Bruises covered his face, the only exposed skin that Yami could see. His nose dripped blood sluggishly, his clothes were filthy and torn, his arms bound behind his back. He could scarcely walk, his steps uneven and shaky; it seemed as though he was only half-conscious. On Yami's cry, however, his head raised and pain-filled amethyst eyes met Yami's own.
Seto tossed him forward and Yami reacted instinctively, diving to catch his hikari before he hit the ground. He's so cold…gods, he's so cold…Yami knelt on the floor, wrapping his arms around his other half, hugging him as tightly as he dared. "Yugi…Yugi, I'm sorry…I'm so sorry," he whispered.
"Y-yami," a soft, hoarse whisper answered that barely reached his ears. "You…you're here…" His head rested on Yami's shoulder, and Yami could feel small drops of wetness leak through his jacket.
"Of course I am, aibou," his throat and eyes were burning, but he couldn't cry. Not now. His eyes dropped to Yugi's bound wrists and he shifted, reaching into his pouch for Joey's knife. Dear Ra, Joey, you're a life-saver, he thought fervently. He flicked up the knife and carefully sliced through the thick twine, making sure to keep the point well away from his hikari's skin. "You're safe, now. I promise." Yugi's arms fell to each side when he finished. He returned the tool to his pouch and rubbed one arm gently, knowing it was probably cramped from being forced into one position for so long.
"You know, it's rude to dirty your host's carpet without a second thought," Seto's cold, amused voice cut through his thoughts. Yami instinctively tightened his grip on his other half, instantly feeling guilty when Yugi hissed in pain. Carefully, he shifted his arms so that they cradled his partner, and stood.
"Kaiba," he growled, glaring daggers at the man responsible for his hikari's condition. "I will do what it is you want me to do. But you lay one fucking finger on Yugi ever again, and all bets are off. And I will make you pay dearly for what you've done."
Seto laughed, and Yami was deeply disturbed at the maniacal undertone that came through. It truly sounded like he was going insane. "Oh, my dear pharaoh, once again you go making threats when you have no power to do so." Yami willed himself not to snarl at the taller man. "But don't worry. Your pathetic little counterpart is safe, as promised."
"Yugi," Yami growled, anger coursing through his veins, "is ten times the man you are, and much worthier of the title you wanted so badly." He felt Yugi move one of his arms, encircling his neck in silent gratitude. "Now, if you'll excuse us, we need to get home."
"Of course," Seto sneered, holding the door open in a mockery of respect. "You'll find the car waiting for you outside. Let no one say that the new King of Games is not generous."
"Kiss my ass," Yami spat back, marching angrily out of the sitting room and towards the front door, taking care not to jostle his hikari.
"Oh no, my dear pharaoh," Seto called mockingly. "Now it's your turn to kiss mine."
Yami stopped. Without turning, he said, putting all the venom he could muster into his words, "You'll regret this, Kaiba. Mark my words, you will regret this." And without another word, he strode to the car that was, indeed, waiting for him just outside the front door, climbed in, and settled in for the short drive home.
I'll play your game tomorrow, Kaiba. But not the way you want. You should know by now that I don't take well to people harming my hikari. You've stepped way over the line this time…and you will live to regret it. I promise.
Note: Joey's reference to Yami "getting like that again" refers to Season 4, when Yami goes into a depressive funk after Yugi's soul gets sealed away.
So, Seto's got a lovely contradiction going on, yes? His game is fun but oh-so-serious. (I seriously refrained from using the "Why so serious" line from The Dark Knight in this chapter)
Updates on this are going to slow down, by the way...I ran into a bit of Writer's Block, which isn't helping things, but I'm also starting my first "Real World" job this week! Which is awesome but of course, it'll mean less time for writing. Thanks to everyone who has reviewed; I really appreciate the support! And thanks to Toxic Hathor, who is a wonderful beta. ^_^
By the way, I know this chapter, and the next one as well, are rather long. Is that all right or would you all prefer shorter chapters? Let me know!
Next chapter: The press conference. Will it go as Seto planned?