I don't consider this story a time travel story. I already have two of those on this account. It's my favorite genre convention. What I consider this story is a many-worlds story. That is to say, the world where my particular version of Yami lives is parallel to the one where "Paved with Good Intentions" exists. There are gates, and all Yami did was open one, and usher the Yagami family through.
That they happen to be about ten years behind the GI timeline is just a happy coincidence.
Actually, it's not. I totally did it on purpose. Just so that I could write scenarios like this one:
"He…he didn't…shut up, Yugi! You watch your mouth, you sonuva—and what're you laughin' at?!"
It wouldn't have taken a very observant person to know that Joey Wheeler was playing up his frustration. He seemed used to this sort of behavior; he fell into it too naturally. In spite of the sharpness of his tone, his face was happy and his eyes were bright.
Not an iota of actual irritation was directed at Seto Yagami, or any of the others.
Nonetheless, he was a convincing actor. Yugi flinched away from him, but couldn't help but smile. Yuki Yagami didn't think of herself as a master at reading people, but she had a pretty strong idea that this was what he'd been after in the first place; this was what he'd wanted. In a way, it taught her something. Taught them all.
The mood in the room had been entirely too bleak, so what had Joey done? Brightened it. It was just that simple to him, and considering the laughter on nearly everyone's lips, it seemed like he was right. Maybe it really did work like that.
"Good work," Yugi said to Seto Yagami, patting his shoulder. He picked up the boy's cards, shuffled them with the speed and surety of a casino dealer, and presented the deck to its new owner like an award. "These are yours. You've earned them."
Seto gave a tiny little smile and a quiet "Thank you" as he took them, and even bowed at the waist. The quaint propriety of it seemed to surprise everyone but Seto's parents, who glanced sideways at each other and smiled.
Joey was grumbling. "I had him. Dead to rights, I frickin' had him." He looked at Yuki and Kohaku. "I swear to God, I was playin' to win. He brought it on, askin' us not to go easy on him. But…shi—er…sheesh. Yeah. That's what I was gonna say." He glared at Seto, who looked up at him blankly. "First-time player, huh? S' a buncha garbage, is what that is."
"I'm…sorry?"
"Wrong!" Joey cried suddenly, and Seto flinched. The blond had an accusatory finger pointed at him. "Never apologize for victory. You win, you feel the superiority. You look at me and you say, 'It's not my fault you suck.' Say it. C'mon, Chief, say it."
"…It's…it's not my fault you suck."
"Yes!" Joey nodded, clearly pleased with himself. "S'right. Damn it. It's not your fault I suck." He glared down at his cards. "It's the frickin' Time Magician's fault I suck. And here I was, thinkin' luck was with me for even unwrappin' the damn thing."
Yugi laughed. "Your entire strategy always amounts to luck, Joey. It's not like this is the first time that's happened. The Time Magician isn't exactly a foolproof strategy no matter what position you're in."
"Blah, blah, blah," Joey muttered, waving a dismissive hand in his friend's general direction. "You rely on luck, too. You just slap the word 'faith' on top of it to make yourself feel better. It's stupid and you're stupid and I'm thirsty. Winner oughtta get me a soda, 's what he should do." He crossed his arms and pouted, until Seto asked where the refrigerator was. Yugi started to answer. Joey snorted with laughter, shaking his head. "Jokin', Chief. Jokin'. I got it. Oi, Yugi, you play him next. I wanna see what happens. And no cheatin'! Hear me in there, bitch-face? No backseat duelin'! Kid's new at it, 'n you'd be frickin' ruthless, usin' magic 'n shit. Knowin' your ass, you'd put him through one o' them penalty games're whatever."
Yugi blinked, then shivered, then smirked. "Now, now, Joey. Have I disillusioned you that badly? I'm not a monster."
"Uh-huh." Joey rolled his eyes. "Try that on a day you haven't scared Mokuba half to fuckin' death 'n sent his brother into a homicidal rampage. I might believe you, just for funsies."
"My, but you are protective of them, aren't you?"
"Not really. Those two don't need protectin'. But see, there's this thing I picked up on a while ago, friend o' mine taught me. You might know 'im. General philosophy is don't be a dick. I know you ain't all that interested in playin' by the rules, 'cuz you're like, Bizarro-Yami or whatever, but we—" he gestured around at himself, Tristan, and Yugi (and Téa, too, although she probably didn't think he had) "—look out for that kid. Last thing he needs is magic puttin' him through the ringer again. 'Specially from somebody he's s'posed to be able to trust. Betrayal ain't high on his 'Hey, Sounds Like Fun' list right now."
Yami raised an eyebrow. "I've upset you," he murmured thoughtfully.
The blond crossed his arms. "Yeah. Kinda. Yami I knew, yeah, he pulled some shit, put some people through penalty games. Teachin' lessons and crap. But you? Fuck, man, you begged Kaiba to put lead in your skull. So right now? I don't really trust you to play right by us. I been around people like you before, 'n they put a bad taste in my mouth."
"My, my…such severity." Yami bowed. "I'd have thought you, of all people, wouldn't be so…protective of the boy. I'm impressed." Joey sneered derisively, but Yami just shrugged. "…Very well, then. I'll tone it down, as you might say. Perhaps you are right. I've faith in the boy's ability to bring his brother to our side, but perhaps I would do well not to…rock the boat any further, so to speak."
Joey stared for a while, scowling. "Perhaps," he snapped, and walked away toward the kitchen. They all noticed that when Joey left the room, Tristan stood up. He was watching the spirit that might still be his friend with suspicion, and more than a little hostility of his own.
But the look on young Seto's face was an entirely different animal.
Yami looked at him.
"…Are you good?" the boy asked, lifting his newly-won deck of Magic & Wizards cards. Yami crossed his arms, a curious expression on his face. "He called you ruthless," Seto continued, "but…are you good?"
There was a beat of silence as the world seemed to do a double-take.
A grin spread on Yami's face that would have frightened a shark.
"Why don't we find out, youngling?"
There are a number of reasons I started this project. I wanted to see how the Seto and Mokuba I've been molding throughout the Good Intentions series would react to having magic in their lives again. I wanted to see how the gang would react to the Yami they might have had, if the anime had been more like the manga. I wanted to see how the Kaibas would treat their parents if they met again.
But I also just wanted to have fun with it. I had fun with this one, and I hope you did, too.
I'll catch you next time.
