diatu | the strangest duel [closed to Yugi and Atem]

[How the hell could he have so many conflicting feelings for the same person? He'd just about burst a blood vessel from some of the nonsense this morning, and yet...

So he appeared in the courtyard as agreed, scowling.]

I understand you even less than I understand Mokuba sometimes.

Edited 2019-02-16 20:37 (UTC)

[ the reverse is also true. yugi still didn't know exactly where he stood with kaiba. they had clashed several dozen times in the past, but the pharaoh had fielded most of the encounters. and the last time they had met kaiba wanted nothing more than to resurrect his old friend. so where did that leave them? yugi tried not to think too in depth about it, because of the feelings tied to everything that happened between them. ]

[ meeting in the courtyard yugi gave kaiba an almost sheepish smile. he knew what he had done and he was pretty proud of it, especially since he didn't need to see kaiba on the other side of the bulletin board to know he was seething. ] I was just having some fun, Kaiba. [ really, that was all. ]

Yeah, this headache is a real highlight of my day.

[He'd reviewed the messages over and over upon learning who they were from, and there was a real turmoil brewing within. His whole world had turned upside down and he was still struggling to keep up.]

Atem isn't the only one I need to rematch anymore. You're just as capable of being a thorn in my side, though I may have to learn another field of battle.

[He'd been bested and he knew it. And hated it. And with what Yugi had said the first day...Kaiba had had the chance to wonder what he'd been missing.]

I learned chewing on mint leaves can help with that. I can have Peregrin get you some if it's a real problem. [ he had been so serious in his request that yugi couldn't help but inject a little silliness into the mix. it might not be immediately appreciated, but maybe over time kaiba would learn to relax a little. ]

And you're just now learning this? [ he cants his head, still smiling, though he's masking a lot more feelings than he lets on. ] I do my best no matter the challenge. [ and he's clearly capable of thinking outside the box. ] For what it's worth I'm sorry. I know you were only trying to test out the bulletin board, but it's far from perfect. Kind of like a chat room, you know? I'm sure there might be ways to make it more concise and even enchant the messages we post so only certain parties can read them. I was thinking about talking to one of the professors about it, but maybe we can do so together.

In a sense, I had tunnel vision. But you were always there, weren't you...

[This was going to give him an even worse headache. He'd thought back on all their interactions over the years, and though Atem filled most of them, there were times when he'd seen a glimmer of something else. Something he'd flinched away from.]

Heh. Once we learn that spell, it should be simple to replicate while restricting the results to certain parties. But if that means you'll be sending me 'memes' at 3 AM...

[He rolls his eyes, but it's not meant derisively.]

I'll just have to answer in kind.

...yeah, I was, [ gives a snort as he turns and looks aside, a few moments of silence passing before yugi decides to take a couple of steps in that direction. ] we did share a body. [ my body, he's tempted to remind kaiba, but it would hardly make any sort of a difference. ]

It couldn't hurt to bring it up to get things to move along even faster. It's a public forum right now, but even on the internet there were ways to create private chats and implement rules to already existing ones. Heh, well it's no fun if you know that's what I'm going to do. [ he wouldn't have bothered kaiba with that, though the prospect was surely tempting. ]

Yeah? [ he's not sure he means that, but he'll shrug it off with a smile. ] I would have liked to see that. [ he wanders around the area idly, eventually stopping at the bench, which he takes a seat on. ] You still owe me a game of chess.

Precisely. And all it shows is that you have sense beneath all that nonsense.

[He actually respects you now, Yugi, as stubborn as he is about showing it.]

Mm. It's possible to write out the game on paper, but this world is bound to have a board---though they've probably fused it with magic, knowing them.

That actually sounds like a compliment. [ he smirks for all of a second, though it fades as he sinks back into the bench and shuts his eyes. ] I could have done it over the bulletin board, but it would have taken forever to draw everything... though I suppose we could have just written our moves back and forth. It's not too hard to picture the board. [ he cracks an eye open. ] I'm surprised you wouldn't be excited about that. I'm sure the pieces can come to life and actually do battle. Think Duel Monsters but with chess pieces.

Tch.

[He'll never acknowledge it as such. Never. But he looks at Yugi with interest as he describes the game.]

I'm still not thrilled about magic in general. But it does have possibilities, I'll give it that.

Heh. [ he looks aside, nothing bothering to press the issue. he'd already annoyed kaiba plenty for one day. ] It's not that bad, Kaiba. [ he'll take out his wand and point it at the bench across from him, giving a flick of the wrist as he calls out the spell's name; levitate. the bench lifts off the ground, shakily at first, but seems to steady after a moment. ] Here, Kaiba, have a seat. [ with another flick and the word attract uttered the bench came toward them, right under kaiba to force him to take a seat. it was set down after that and yugi gave kaiba a smile. ]

What---

[And then there's a bench nudging the back of legs, forcing him down onto the bench. In an instant, his wand is in his hand.

He could totally handle that spell if he tried. But his magical proficiency lies elsewhere thus far. He swivels and points to the grass between them, drawing a glyph with his wand and speaking an equation a mile a minute. The grassy patch flattens into a square. With another glyph and equation, cut square pieces of the patch switch colors, precisely resembling a chess board.]

Still up for a game?

[ yugi takes out the notebook he had bought and tears a bunch of paper from it, throwing it into the space between them. ] Think you can change these into the various pieces? Maybe dragons for you and magicians for me? Shouldn't be too hard for you, right Kaiba?

[ he crosses one leg over the other and uses his wand to lift their benches off the ground permanently, or at least for the duration of their game. ]

Please. It's as simple as 3D modeling.

[Not really, but he proceeds to do so anyway, filling the air with glyphs and calculations for a few minutes while the little pieces take shape. He can still improve upon them with further study, but they'll do for now.

He jolts a little as they rise up, a slow smile spreading on his features. It's just like climbing onto the platform before a climactic duel.]

Perfect. White or black, Yugi?

[ he lets kaiba use his magic to change each of the pieces of paper in the pieces for their game, but since there are a lot of pieces it's bound to take some time, so yugi fishes into his pocket for his dice. he tosses them alongside the board to reveal a ???, a ???, and a cat. a creature emerges with the head of a goat, the body of a lion, and a tail of several snakes. ] Hey there Peregrin. I thought I'd introduce you to Kaiba. [ he patted the seat beside him and his familiar leapt up on to it, which caused it to rock in the air. ]

Black. [ that means it's your move, kaiba. ]

Very well.

[He casts one more incantation to change the pieces to their respective colors, then levitates his piece.]

My turn!

[And so the game begins. While they deliberate, he sneaks a glance at Peregrin. Sara, the ever present black cat who'd been quiet so far, watches carefully from her position on the bench, black tail flicking suspiciously. Kaiba occasionally pets her while plotting a move.

He tries to ignore the obvious distraction, but...]

...Peregrin?

Edited 2019-02-18 01:38 (UTC)

[ yugi sets his hand on his familiar's head, gently patting him as he studies the board and plans out his first couple of moves. obviously not everything will go according to plan, but he's also prepared for that too. peregrin moves from beside yugi to take a seat on the far side of the bench, which causes it to tilt and yugi finds himself sliding into his friend. he gives a laugh, inevitably leaning on him as he uses his want to make his own move, calling out the piece name and place on the board he wants it to move. ]

My familiar. I got him on arrival and he can take the form of, well, just about anything... though it's all up to the dice. Say hello, Peregrin. [ the creature opens one eye and makes an exclamation, but seems more interested in resting than conversing. ]

Let's make this interesting. For each piece we capture we can ask the other a question.

He suits you.

[Kaiba considers this proposition. He can focus on winning for the sake of his pride, or capturing pieces while defending his own for the sake of his curiosity. It's a difficult choice. But he chooses to play at his best and let the rest fall where it may.]

Very well. I accept your challenge.

[He's getting the hang of this piece moving spell, and soon there's a piece knocked off the board, meaning he has an opportunity to ask. He starts with a small thing that's bugging him at the moment.]

You seem excited about this. Do you have a certain goal with learning magic here...something you really want to create?

Edited 2019-02-18 01:59 (UTC)

[ he's already thought of a few different game plans, but the end game requires him to set up the board in a specific way. kaiba gets a nod for his comment, his hand returning to peregrin's head for a pet. ]

I thought you might.

[ yugi moves each of his own pieces with ease, a flick here and a flick there, the spell itself uttered under his breath, since he's not exerting himself much. ]

No. [ his hand stills. ] I'm simply excited because this is new and I enjoy learning new things. Magic is something fantastical back home, at least raw like this, so getting the opportunity is something I thought I might take advantage of. Do I have an end goal in mind? Besides getting back home to my friends and family? Not really. [ atem's being here has made things more complicated, and he's still not sure what he wants to do in regards to that, but kaiba hadn't asked about him, so he keeps that to himself. ]

[ a few more moves and yugi captures one of kaiba's pieces. ] ... [ he should start small, shouldn't he, but- ] As soon as we're able to go home will you?

[Kaiba nods distractedly. It's the usual he expected from Yugi. But when he loses a piece of his own, he falters. The answer had been simple, but...

He can be honest. Yugi is one of the few who would understand his situation and not hold the information over his head.]

Mokuba needs me. He's been doing well with every responsibility I've tried him on so far, but I don't want my life for him. And my shareholders have a habit of creating messes while I'm gone.

[Again. He tries to keep the emotion out of his voice, but doesn't entirely succeed, much to his frustration. A few turns later, he captures a piece, and there's a question he's struggled with since giving his own answer.]

But where does that leave Atem?

[ he listens, unsure if he’s getting the whole truth. he certainly knows things generally happen to mokuba, kaiba corp., or both in his absence, but that’s not the problem. like him he knows there’s something he’s not saying. ]

[ yugi doesn’t look the least bit pleased by the sudden jump in question severity, but he’d ask for this in proposing the game. he changes his strategy though, and goes on the offensive, because he’s going to purposely capture as many pieces of kaiba’s now instead of merely trying to win as he normally would. ] I don’t know, Kaiba, why don’t you tell me.

[ he captures one of kaiba’s pieces and uses his wand to bring it over to him, so he can crush it in hand. ] Atem is free to do whatever he likes. He can make his own decisions now without having to be completely mindful of me and my own, since we don’t share a body anymore.If this place is going to give him another chance to live, then I hope he makes the most of it. I just want what’s best for him. He deserves that and so much more. [ he clenches his hand even further around the fallen knight. ]

Where does that leave you? You talk about Mokuba and how you don’t want him to follow in your footsteps, at least in regard to your habits, but if you continue to act recklessly you’re going to leave him with no choice. [ if something happens to you, kaiba, then what? ]

Edited 2019-02-18 04:20 (UTC)

[And this is what he gets for touching the fire. Yugi's anger burns him, his words slicing through his defenses like the magical knives from their duels. The truth batters him...it's like the pharaoh's Mind Crush all over again, but this time he's not likely to be rendered comatose. Anger flares up within him, at the thought of that searing pain again.]

He wouldn't---

[But he'd pleaded with Seto to promise to come back, hadn't he? He'd begged him to stop.

Seto Kaiba had been willing to gamble his life in pursuit of a goal so many times. The castle tower. Even taking the killing blow for Yugi in that last duel.

He reaches up to his chest to grasp the locket...and finds nothing, as he hadn't been wearing it that fateful day. Flummoxed, he presses his fingers into his sternum and forces himself to breathe. The guilt crashes over him in waves.]

I can't let that happen. But...then what?

[ he wouldn’t have gone there had kaiba not jumped the shark. though, he supposed this talk was inevitable too. and yugi is certain that mokuba had pleaded with him time and time again, because who did they have but each other? a couple of friends, sure, who would do their best to be there should something happen, but they needed each other more than anything. like atem was the other side to him he believed the kaibas shared a similar relationship, keeping the other in check. ]

...

[ he doesn’t say anything because he doesn’t think he needs to. no doubt in his mind that mokuba would immediately adopt some of kaiba’s bad habits following some tragic accident, aiming to keep their company at the top no matter the cost. yugi frowns when he sees kaiba reach for the locket that’s not there, a pang of guilt squeezing his heart as he regrets having pushed back so hard, but... kaiba needed to open his eyes and see what he was turning his back to. he’d always criticized them for chasing the past, but that’s exactly what he was doing. ] He’s not the future, Kaiba, you, your brother, and your company are. [ he looks down and shuts his eyes. ] He helped us all change for the better and we need to take what we learned and move forward. It’s going to hurt, that’s inevitable, but that’s only because he left such an impact on us and because we cared so deeply about him. [ but atem being here certainly complicated all that, not that he was really complaining. maybe kaiba could settle up, so to speak, and yugi could finally express how he felt about, well, all of that. ]

We can be there for each other too, Kaiba. You don’t have to hurt alone.

Edited 2019-02-18 05:12 (UTC)

[Kaiba's still reeling from the force of this revelation. His breath catches in his throat, and he feels his head is spinning until a familiar warm weight drops onto his shoulders. He reaches up to rub Sara's head, feeling some of his equilibrium return.

Finally, he looks up, and he sees Yugi in a new light. He hadn't heard Yugi's words before, that night in the rain, or the night on the dueling platform...but he felt this pain too. Who will be there for Yugi in the end? The dweebs, sure, but...

Damnit. He doesn't want to care. But it seems inevitable.]

We haven't lost him again yet. But when that day comes...

[He chuckles hollowly.]

My headache won't be over, not by a long shot. You're better at this, and I'll just have to keep challenging you.

[ yugi chooses to end the spell at that very moment, so their benches are set back down on the ground. he crosses the space in between them a takes a seat alongside kaiba, though he doesn’t immediately look up at him. ]

We don’t have to think about that right now, Kaiba. You’ll only make yourself crazy. What’s going to happen... it’s going to happen no matter what... but that’s not necessarily a bad thing. [ he grasps the front of his robe, fingers tangling in the material. like kaiba, it’s a reflex, since he used to look to the puzzle for strength. ] We can make the most of this, all of us, to talk through the problems we had with the way things went down. I don’t really think anybody... [ he pushes his hand closer, nails digging in so the pain keeps him grounded. ]

We’ll talk. We’ll all talk. A lot of things were mistakenly left unsaid.

[Kaiba doesn't immediately flinch away when Yugi comes closer, which is a start. He listens in a daze, still reeling from the truths he's been forced to confront.

He eventually looks over at Yugi, giving a shaky nod. Yugi's right. He doesn't understand how they really feel, and his guesses were obviously wrong. All he knows is the dread and anger in his heart...and if they're anything like him...

He has half a mind to suggest having this meeting over drinks.]

All right. I want to understand.

And by the way...

[He hesitates a moment before extending his hand. His awkward expression and soft words bear a mix of emotions---shame among them, but grudging respect dominates.]

Good game.

w/ Yugi, post meme war

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