Chapter 12: Eyes of Blue
The mansion was so quiet. He peered around him at the winding marble pillars, walking further down the hall. His shoes clicked against the floor as he gazed up at the paintings…
Portraits that never existed… He recognized himself but he scowled at the smiling confident boy that gazed out at him. One in particular stood out, showing himself, at 9 years of age.
It was a photo of himself and his brother playing chess.
The picture was warped, depicting Mokuba sitting on the lap of a boy who could've been Seto's twin. The chess pieces warped to look monstrous as they laughed at one another.
That never happened.
He turned away from it.
"Hello?" He called. "Mokuba?"
Where was he?
The mansion wasn't THAT big was it?
The mansion usually depicted different paintings… His foster father was quite insistent on his work being displayed. Seto didn't care, all he cared was that he was still going to get his chance to burn the former portraits.
"Seto!" A child's voice called. "Brother!"
Seto stopped short, looking around him.
The hall split into three corridors. Mokuba's voice echoed through only one though.
"Hey, hey, Seto! This way!" Another voice called… one so similar to his own that sent chills down his spine.
"Tch… I'm not picking this one because of you!" He called down the corridor… this one, in the center… darkly lit, the portraits hidden by shadow. A cold breeze blew through the corridor.
A hand gripped his left shoulder tightly. For a moment, he didn't see the hallway. Only a study desk. He looked down at it, while the heavy hand squeezed his shoulder so tightly it hurt.
"Ngh…"
"I should send you back." A voice whispered in his ear… a voice that made his heart race and his body tremble. Nothing… scared him more than the voice, twisted and distorted in his ear. "You'll never rise to the challenge. You're no challenge for my son."
Seto covered his ears, rushing into a corridor peering over his shoulder.
There was a red demonic creature, staring down at him, its body made of spikes and distorted energy.
"It's not real.." He whispered before hurrying further down the hall.
He had to find Mokuba and get out of here.
This place wasn't safe.
The darkened hall was illuminated with torches. The marble tiles fading into stone, etched with hieroglyphics.
The portraits, shifting from smiling faces, from days that never were, to stone etchings of creatures of some kind. Monstrous images, jumping out at him.
"Mokuba?" He called, a chill going through him.
Why wasn't he answering?
"Mokuba, it's time to go home. I don't wanna play this game…"
His brother never responded.
He saw a shadow of a young boy flicker across one of the walls… That was all he needed.
His heart raced as he broke into a sprint.
The etchings were becoming stranger and stranger. The beasts, so lifelike, it was as if their souls were sealed within the walls of this place. This wasn't the mansion, this wasn't even home.
The corridor opened up into a large room.
The stone was different. Instead of tablets lining the walls, the stone was painted and etched, with elaborate drawings.
A man, carrying a wand of some kind with a woman huddled behind him, pointing it straight at a band of thieves.
A chariot, small statues embedded into the walls… A golden throne, encrusted with lapis lazuli and malachite.
What caught his attention was a sarcophagus in the center of the room… A brilliant white, with shades of blue, lapis embedded into every surface… And a single stone tablet.
He drew closer to it, mesmerized… yet his heart sank as he gazed upon the tablet.
A large dragon with its wings spread wide, its claws stretched as if to strike its target. It was so vivid he expected it to begin to fly.
His heart sank more as he gazed upon it… his stomach was tightening in knots… His heart racing, as he rested a hand upon it.
Something wasn't right here. This wasn't right.
She's supposed to be different…
"She was beautiful, wasn't she?"
He turned his head… seeing a man behind him. He had dark skin and a brilliant deep blue eye… He was wearing a set of ornate garb, of red and black, obsidian and rubies embedded into the jewelry he wore.
What stunned Seto and made him back up was how much this man looked like him. He sneered, brushing his dark hair out of his face, revealing an eye made of pure gold, gazing back at him.
"Who are you?" He backed up, his back brushing against the tablet. "Where am I? What is this?!"
"Oh, Seto, Seto, that will all be answered in time." The man chuckled, smiling as he came closer. "I do have one answer… I'm someone you can trust. I've known you since before you even knew yourself."
"Where's my brother?"
"Brothers."
Seto's eyes narrowed into a glare, making the newcomer laugh.
"Well, that's a look I haven't seen in awhile. You truly resent him, don't you?"
"I…" He growled. "Don't bring Noah up here. This is between us. Where… is… Mokuba? Are you one of Gozaburo's minions?"
"Do I look like I'd work for that pathetic excuse of a man?"
Seto looked him over, closing his mouth tightly.
He didn't want to. He looked up at the dragon, his heart sinking as he ran his hand along its head.
"She's perfect…"
"Isn't she?" The man rested a hand on his shoulder. "A blue-eyed dragon… a legendary, powderful creature."
"I could only dream of obtaining one… There's a card I've dreamed of for years that looks like her."
"You know… Why not just take what rightfully belongs to you?"
"Huh?"
He turned to face the man fully… as he came in close, grabbing him by the head. His breath hitched in his throat, as the man's eye began to glow brightly.
"This place… this tomb… this dragon… You're not a mere man among mortals. You ought to be a God among Men… And I can give that to you."
A pain bloomed behind his left eye, as he cried out pulling away.
"NGH!"
The tomb blended into a blur of white and blue, the man laughing as he pushed Seto into the tablet as he began to fall through it.
He awoke with a start, sitting up, clamping a hand over his left eye as he looked around him.
The same room… The same trophy cases… The same desk, the same binders upon binders of cards…
The same card pendant around his neck.
His head ached horribly, a migraine blooming behind his eyes. He took a weary glance at the clock, groaning in annoyance as he fell back onto the bed.
It was 3:00 AM.
I just… need to go back to sleep. It was that stupid history class.
He turned over, curling up tightly, gripping the pendant in his hands.
It's okay… Calm down… Calm down…
I'm not that scared kid anymore… I'm… I'm….
A king… The King of Games…
oooooo
He crept quietly into the room, stepping around the various trinkets along the floor… He had to be careful here or else he might face certain doom.
"You know, if you wanted to be efficient, you'd just wake her up." Yugi whispered. "I mean, if you wanna lose the bet and wash the dishes, by all means-"
"Shh…" Yami put a finger to his lips as he made it across Natsuki's room… the whole time, the girl was curled up in her bed, a plush of a fuzzy monster of some kind, clutched in her arms.
He felt a little guilty for what he was about to do. With a deep breath, he thrust the curtains open as sunlight poured in.
"The sun has risen as Ra has decreed it! GET UP!"
Natsuki didn't even move.
Yami crossed his arms, making his way over.
"Natsuki?"
He poked her cheek… which was a mistake as in a blur of motion, she grabbed him by the arm, yanking him down to her level as he let out a very loud yelp.
Her eyes were wide open, a glare in them.
"Do you dare awaken me from my slumber, foolish boy king?" She hissed.
"I do, otherwise I will curse you." He glared back.
"The Gods laugh at you today, boy."
He growled and stood up straight… pulling her off the bed, with much reluctance.
"Nooo!"
"Looks like the Gods abandoned you today, dear Jackal Pup." Yami laughed, throwing his head back. "GET UP!"
"Look, by all intents and purposes, I technically won the wager. I got her out of bed." Yami crossed one leg over the other, floating behind Yugi.
Yugi sighed as he tried to focus on the cards in his hand.
He had been hearing about this, all day, on and off.
"You said you'd get her up in a timely manner. Not get into an argument with a thirteen year old and actually think you'd get away with an evil laugh before she tried to bite you."
"She cheated. Therefore, I won and should not have had to wash those disgusting dishes."
"She wasn't aware of the wager, so you still lose. Deal with it, mister."
Yami huffed, before looking across the table. Yugi was currently locked in a match against Seto, the two being… oddly quiet as they played. School was over and they would be heading out soon either way.
He still couldn't shake the way Seto was looking at his cards. His gaze unfocused… and yet, his plays were still decent. Not anything spectacular like the other day but he was holding his own.
"And… I use Brain Control on Black Magician." Seto stifled a yawn. "Sacrificing 800 life points… to use your own magician and attack you directly."
"You okay? You used that same trick yesterday."
"Mn… It's just been a long morning. Sibling stuff."
"Say no more."
"No, say more! Tell him how you used me to get out of cleaning!" Yami yelled.
"You make it sound like I committed some crime, geeze. What are you, the emperor from that movie we watched last night?"
Yami huffed.
"S'not fair to use your modern sorcery against me like that…"
"I swear, if you cost me this duel-"
Yugi did the calculation on his phone, sighing as he realized he had indeed just lost.
"Thank you. Amazing. Absolutely amazing help there, oh King of Games."
"You're welcome!" Yami shouted before disappearing into the puzzle with a huff.
So, this is the "cursed" part Nat talked about. Yeah, I can see it now…
"Who are you mumbling about?" Seto asked.
"Uh just to myself. Sorry." Yugi set down his cards. "You got me though, good game."
Seto nodded, rubbing at one of his temples.
"Yeah… Sure…"
Yugi frowned.
"You sure you still want us to come over today? You don't seem well at all."
"You tell him yes. He must come." A voice whispered in Seto's ear.
"I'm fine… Besides…" He smirked. "You should see my professional deck and rare cards."
"I'd love to." Yugi smiled. "I don't get to see rare cards that often so this will be a huge treat. Only one I ever see these days is the one my grandfather has."
"Back up!" Jonouchi butted in. "Gramps has a rare card!?"
Seto winced.
Ugh he's so LOUD.
Yugi nodded.
"Yeah. One of the hardest cards to get a hold of. Blue-Eyes White Dragon."
Seto's eyes widened as did Jonouchi's.
"Hee! Here you go Seto!"
He looked at the doodle of a white dragon blowing fire at an enemy. It was just about the size of a card that Mokuba had drawn.
"One day, you'll have the real one!"
"Really?"
"Mm-hm." Yugi nodded. "He keeps it all locked up in a case with a card shield to keep it clean. We're not even allowed to touch it."
"Think he'd let us check it out? I mean, I'm sure Seto here has plenty of 'em though right?" Jonouchi grinned.
"Actually, I don't. I haven't even seen one."
"NO!"
He grimaced, pinching the bridge of his nose.
"Besides, a smaller venue than my noisy house might be better actually…"
Something's… not right here. He doesn't look well but he still wants to hang out?
"And maybe my grandpa can make you some tea. You got a headache?"
"Eh, it's… fine. I'll be fine." Seto smiled. "Shall we?"
"Sure! I'm sure Grandpa wouldn't mind!"
"Awww heck yes!" Jonouchi cheered.
Seto glared at him as he tried very hard not to break his facade.
I'm going. To duel you. To DEATH...
Besides… Maybe with enough to offer…
He chuckled.
Yes. That'll work nicely.
"Going to his dwelling… very well." The voice chuckled. "Let's pay all those Mutous a visit… Been meaning to say hello to the Captain of the Guard and that annoying Elder Priest."
oooooo
"EEEEE! LOOK! LOOK!"
Natsuki held up a capsule that had a number 5 written on it.
"I GOT A HIGH LEVEL ONE!"
Solomon chuckled, watching from the counter.
"Seems you're very lucky today, Little Jackal Pup."
"Can't wait to see what it is." Mokuba grinned. "Also… Jackal Pup?"
"Ehehe… Long story."
"I'm home!"
Both looked up to see Yugi coming in.
Mokuba frowned a bit at this.
I guess Seto canceled-
"And I brought my friends with me."
As the gang entered the shop, Mokuba couldn't help but take note of who he was with… as he stood up fully from his spot by the gachapon machine, he locked eyes with Seto.
"What are you doing here!?" They both exclaimed pointing to one another.
Yugi folded his arms behind his head, raising an eyebrow.
"And who's this?"
Natsuki smiled, gathering up her capsules in her arms.
"This is my friend, Mokuba."
Mokuba blushed, rubbing the back of his neck.
"Eheh? Pleasure to meet you all."
The gang looked at one another before looking back to Seto.
"My little brother." he rubbed the back of his own neck. "I suppose we both had the same idea."
Mokuba raised an eyebrow.
I really hope this wasn't some weird attempt to ditch our folks and Noah…
Then again, it's a lot more quiet over here…
"Well, this works out!" Yugi cut in. "Then we can all play games." He turned to Solomon. "I hope this is alright."
"Of course." He chuckled. "The more the merrier. Anything I can help your friends with today?"
"Actually…" Yugi smiled, holding his hands together. "Can we please, pleeeaaase see the Blue-Eyes?"
Solomon raised an eyebrow, a knowing smile on his face.
"Now, this is quite sudden. Someone wasn't bragging, was he?"
"Me? Never! Seto and the others have never even seen one so… please?"
Mokuba looked at Seto with a surprised look… before he noted the silvery briefcase he had with him.
His card case.
Don't you dare. He shook his head.
Seto gave him a wink when he was sure no one was watching.
He better not…
Natsuki looked to Mokuba while Solomon was rifling through his belongings.
"You okay?" She whispered. "You got all tense."
"I'm just worried." He whispered back. "Seto's… not the most social guy around."
"It'll be alright. Grandpa's really nice."
That's not what I'm worried about!
She tugged him along up to the counter as the kids huddled around it…
Solomon took out a black box, opening it carefully.
"Now, I've had this card for years. It was actually a gift from a dear friend of mine." He explained, before bringing it out.
The card was in a transparent shield… The card beneath, depicting a brilliant shining dragon, perched atop a tower. Its neck craned, the mouth opened wide in a roar, its wings opened wide and behind it, a starlit night with a crescent moon in the background.
Yugi and Natsuki exchanged a knowing smile.
While they didn't see it often… it was always a treat.
"Wow…" Mokuba whispered, looking up at his brother.
Seto's eyes were completely transfixed on the card, a look of awe on his face.
She's beautiful…
"Take her. She belongs to you."
"It's so pretty." Miho giggled. "Isn't it, Hiroto-kun?"
Honda raised an eyebrow, not understanding WHY everyone was so transfixed on this card.
Without much thought, he plucked it right out of Solomon's hands, looking closer at it.
"Hey!" Solomon admonished him. "Don't be rude!"
"Wow… it really is ordinary." Honda murmured.
Jonouchi elbowed him as he let out a gasp before Seto took it into his own hand.
"No, it's not." He said simply before handing it back to Solomon. "Only four exist of this card in the world. In fact, this edition is so rare, this particular image was only used twice."
Solomon nodded his thanks, gazing at the card.
"And this card is quite different in many ways. For one, it's printed in English, due to where my friend found it… and the other reason…" He sighed, looking at his left hand… in particular, at a platinum band across one of his fingers.
Mokuba frowned.
"Mutou-san…?"
Natsuki hurried around the other side of the counter, hugging Solomon tightly, burying her head in his arm.
"It's okay, Grandpa… You don't have to." She whispered.
Solomon kissed her head, before turning to the others.
"When my wife, Reiko, passed away, my closest friend, Arthur, flew all the way from America for the memorial."
Yugi frowned, looking down.
Grandma…
Solomon wiped a stray tear away.
"He gave me this card to try to cheer me up. It's my greatest treasure… For I feel strongly that it holds not only my friend's heart but my dear Reiko's spirit."
Anzu frowned.
She remembered her.
A woman with long, since faded green and red hair, her violet-red eyes bright with warmth and love. Always having a treat whenever she and Yugi visited the game shop as elementary school students.
She was a very kind woman… Just like Misaki-san was too.
"Wow… I-I'm so sorry, I had no idea." Honda bowed his head.
"Don't be. I'm sure to many, it's not that special, you can even reprint a counterfeit… but the genuine card means the world." Solomon smiled, warmth in his eyes as he gazed at the card. "My greatest love, encouraged my passion for games and even helped me open this store. I wouldn't want anything else to remember her by."
"That's amazing…" Miho nudged Honda. "You'd want something like that to remember me by, right?"
"M-Miho…"
"Grandpa's amazing…" Natsuki smiled.
"Yeah… he really is." Mokuba chuckled. "Right bro?"
He's not gonna. Not after that-
To Mokuba's shock… and dread, he only saw Seto's gaze fixate on that card. His eyes glazed over in a trance.
Mokuba tugged on his sleeve. No response.
"Take it. It's yours."
But… He doesn't wanna part with it-
"TAKE IT!"
The voice echoed as a fresh headache hit him from all directions. His stomach knotted up as he tried to keep his composure, his hands trembling.
I don't need it though-
"TAKE IT OR THIS WILL NEVER END!"
He bit his lip, giving a side glance to Mokuba.
I'm sorry.
I can't live like this.
He lifted up the case onto the counter with a flourish. Everyone was staring at him bewildered.
"While that's a nice sentiment…" He opened it up…
Colorful, beautiful depictions of creatures and spellcasters appearing under the case. Rows and rows of cards, all… so very rare.
Yugi's jaw dropped open.
"W-What the…?! You had all this!?"
"I had it brought to the school when the car picked us up. This is my collection." He explained. "But I'd trade it all away for one of those. I don't need them all. I have my deck, it's missing it's star though-"
"SETO!" Mokuba yelled. "What are you even DOING!?"
"Making a deal." He replied simply. "Now shush, the adults are talking."
Mokuba's jaw dropped open.
"Be quiet! The adults are talking. Children are seen, not heard."
You… slimy… piece of… You're being as bad as him!
Solomon looked at the cards, smiling, nodding.
"Those are rather lovely."
"It is an impressive offer…" Yugi rubbed the back of his neck.
I mean it's rude but… still.
"No kidding." Jonouchi and Honda muttered.
"But I decline." Solomon put the card back in its case, still having a smile on his face.
Seto's eyes widened, stunned.
No. That wasn't supposed to happen.
"THE REFUSAL WAS AMAZING!" Jonouchi and Honda exclaimed.
"W-What!? Are you sure?"
"Oh, you have an impressive collection… but as I said, this is all I need to treasure Reiko by… These cards don't have that same meaning to me. You should treasure them." He looked at Mokuba. "And share them with your loved ones. Hold them dear."
"I… I see…" Seto took a deep breath, trying to keep his composure intact. His heart sank as he closed the briefcase, removing it from the table. "Of course."
"You know… I think we need to go." Mokuba looked up at Seto with a glare. "Now."
Natsuki looked over with a worried look.
"Moki no-"
"I'll text you." He waved her off. "I'll bring my other brother next time."
Seto winced, trying very hard to ignore the looks he was given.
Mokuba noted the looks and smiled, grabbing his sibling by the wrist and starting to pull him towards the exit.
"Let's go."
"I… Right… Bye…"
They walked out, the door closing with a ring of the bell.
As soon as they left, everyone hurried over to Solomon.
"Are you okay Gramps?"
"Grandpa… I'm so sorry, I didn't know he was gonna do that…" Yugi winced. "This is my bad."
Solomon gave a gentle smile, tousling Yugi's hair.
"I'm alright… Nothing a teenager can do to bring me down."
Solomon gazed up at the door again, a slight glare in his eyes.
However… I knew that presence torturing him.
I could never forget that crooked man's voice.
Not even in this life.
oooooo
Outside, Mokuba dropped Seto's wrist as if he had been burned. He didn't even wait for the car to pull up before turning to him with rage in his eyes.
"WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU!?" He yelled. "YOU HAVE ANY IDEA HOW BADLY YOU EMBARRASSED ME!?"
"Mokuba, it was a-"
"I DON'T CARE!" He screamed louder, his voice cracking a bit. His heart was racing as he tried to calm down… but the anger was there to stay. "I was trying to keep a low profile and you didn't even warn me. Now Natsuki's gonna think I'm a liar!"
"Then you shouldn't have-"
"YOU SHOULDN'T LIE EITHER! YOU'RE A HYPOCRITE!"
Seto growled.
"Don't talk to me like that."
"Don't talk to me like that!" Mokuba repeated, contorting his face. "You know what? I'm GLAD you didn't bring them because I don't even wanna see how you'd treat Noah in front of them!"
"Excuse me!? What are you implying!?"
"GEE, WHAT AM I IMPLYING!? YOU NEVER EVEN MENTION HIM OUTSIDE OF THE FAMILY!"
"This is completely unrelated to today!"
As the car pulled up, Seto opened it, gesturing for Mokuba to get inside.
The boy pulled out his phone instead, texting on it as Seto's buzzed.
"I'm not speaking to you. We're done talking."
… Great…
"Just… get in the car."
"I'm staying." Mokuba glared. "I'm not. Talking to you. I'll have Isono pick me up later with NOAH!"
…. Great… Just freaking great.
"... Fine." He got in, trying to keep from looking back as the car pulled away. He glanced back, seeing Mokuba running into the shop.
"Tsk… Poor, poor Seto. Lost your prize, your little brother, all to some sap spoken by an old geezer. I bet he's lying about that card too. After all, plenty of people have lied before, Seto…"
Seto's eyes narrowed.
Adults lie about everything…
If there's anything he taught me.
It's that.