https://youtu.be/coDP_yI2vHw

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Without any hesitation or thinking, you ran to Yami's arms in absolute relief and happiness. He seemed to take it well, as he is the one who opened his arms in the first place and wrapped his arms around you moments after.

"Sorry we worried you, (y/n)." Yami apologized as he tightened the embrace just a little.

You never felt so much relief in so long you were almost alienated at the fact you ever felt this way.

"You really scared me there, not gonna lie." Your voice managed to speak out and you heard Yami laugh,

"Yeah, I figured as much," He nodded and pulled you back, "Are you alright? Last I heard from Mokuba you had severe pain."

"Oh.." You blinked and realized what he had meant. Your stomach dropped and your eye grew wide; he was referring to when the Seal literally malfunctioned because it didn't get what it wanted-

"Oh...Oh yeah I am fine! Totally!" You lied, "I...uh...packed painkillers! Darn...these back pains..." You laughed as you snapped your fingers to form hand-guns. "...Took them once I came over here and waited for the pain to go like a....a bazooka. Yeah. A bazooka."

Yami raised an eyebrow,

"Is that right?"

"Yes. Totally."

"And...may I ask, what is a bazooka?" Yami asked,

"you...you don't know what a bazooka is?" You blinked to watch him shake his head,

"No. What is it?"

"It's like....a giant explosive gun..." You tried to explain what a bazooka is. Wow, here you are, talking with some ancient spirit about a modern gun - almost like the duel and anxiety you had never existed-

Oh God, the duel.

You stopped talking and stared at the floor as you remembered how you were throughout the duel. You never talked to anyone, not even Mokuba. You basically ignored everyone and stared at the duel-

how selfish you thought to yourself,

"Hey, what's wrong?" Yami asked, "...Is it that I asked too many questions about this explosive thing?"

"No...." You shook your head lightly and bit your lip, now feeling guilty for treating everyone like that. "...s-sorry for...uh...ignoring your friends....I want to apologize to both of you for that."

"What?" Yami blinked, "You ignored them?"

"Yeah.." Your teeth practically bit through your lip, "...I...I did...but I didn't mean to...I was really scared that....uh...Marik would take your puzzle..." Your fists clenched as your heart started to race,

"...Yugi wants me to tell you it's alright." Yami spoke, "And honestly it's alright from me too, it's very hard to socialize when you're in a drastic situation like what Yugi's been through recently. I am sure everyone understands." He consoled as he patted your back, warmth went down your spine and you felt a little more confident.

That isn't weird at all...

"....you and your consolements.." You gave a tiny smile, "...but the least I can do is apologize to everyone..." You took a deep breath to calm your beating heart and looked at Yami, "I mean, you aren't really the one directly involved with me and your friends n stuff..."

"That's true..." Yami chuckled and looked up with a big sigh, "That sucks..."

"How?" You tilted your head in confusion,

"I actually wanted to stay with you alone longer..." Yami admitted,

Did....did your ears hear correctly?

Your face turned red at his response, "U...Uh...w...wouldn't it be best if we went back to the others? They would get worr- Yeah they'd get worried!" You stuttered only to hear Yami hum in thought,

"I agree on that, but, there has to be one little favor I need if we're gonna go." Yami's head went down and his crimson eyes met yours, "If we're gonna go, you're gonna come with me to the finals."

Wait what- Oh shoot the finals

OH SHOOT THE TOURNAMENT.

"Forgot the tournament existed already?" Yami laughed, "Figured, have you been able to duel recently?"

Your heart stopped as you practically flinched, "OH SHOOT I HAVEN'T." You yelped and covered your mouth.

"Oh?" You could've sworn you saw his eyebrow quirk as he leaned closer to you with an interested look on his face, "Mind if I could follow you around to watch?"

You blinked, "...with everyone else, right?"

"......nope. Just you and me." Yami smirked. Your mouth dropped even farther than before - what is he saying?!

"U...Uh...didn't you just say we're heading back-"

"Honestly, I'd rather watch you with no one around - more 'me' time with Yugi and no one to butt in on anything." Yami rolled his eyes and pulls out his phone, "Plus, I can easily tell my friends to continue dueling without me."

By the gods it's like watching Kaiba say "I have money I don't care". How is it that this ancient spirit has so much trust in you? You barely know the guy...you think...?

"Uhm....am I the only one trying to figure out why you would go with some girl you just met over the friends you've made for the past like, I don't know how long?" You asked once more, you felt like you needed to get some form of answer out of him. In a way, Yami nor Yugi never responded to your question about how he's so comfortable with you compared to everyone else.

"I've been always wanting to watch you duel, (y/n)." Yami responded, "And also I am prepared for the finals, so what's the point?"

"And you've talked with your friends about this before coming to me, right?" You asked with an eyebrow raised,

"...(y/n)," Yami sighed and smiled at you, "You aren't some girl I just met, you're a close friend that I haven't seen duel at least once." He answered, and before you had any time to react, Yugi was staring at you with the same verklemped look on his face. It was silent for about a minute or so before Yugi spoke,

"To be fair..." Yugi cleared his throat, "...I never heard Yami say that too." He said as he opened his phone, "Welp...gonna tell the gang I'll be with you then!"

"Wait- hold -" You managed to grasp reality and stared Yugi down, "I mean...this is your body, okay? Your body, your choice - you don't have to do it if you don't want to-"

Yugi laughs in response, "Oh come on, I have to admit, I am just as curious as Yami - I do want to see you duel so I can help you reach the finals, even with me if the chance arises in the future!"

I'm sorry, duel with the King of Games?!

"You're too optimistic." Your eyebrows scrunched as Yugi finished typing to his friends and soon closed his phone.

"Welp, the slots for the finals aren't gonna stay empty forever! Let's go let's go!" With that, Yugi took your hand and pulled you out of there to get all your chips.

And you actually did.

It took probably less than 30 minutes to get the chips you need; for some strange miracle, the chips you needed were from either newbies or people with such a big ego they didn't focus on strategies. Thankfully, cause of you dueling before all this chaos happened, it further benefitted you from getting your hands on all the chips. Well, there were a few that caused some trouble with you, but you managed to outthink them and continue gathering for your final collection. Keep in mind, you did all that while repressing the urge to let the Seal eat their soul. Thankfully there aren't any cards that have this Seal or you're in big trouble.

You laughed internally, no way, right? That'd be ironic.

As you dueled and kicked practically anyone's butt, you noticed how focused Yugi. Heck, you would even say he was entranced with you when you dueled. At certain moves you'd make, Yugi would seem to be talking to someone and would get really excited for you and appear to talk more to whoever it was.

You had a feeling you knew what it was but you didn't want to get your hopes high or anything. Though, it wasn't long before you managed to get your hands on all the chips and put them together with Yugi to determine where the finals are located at. As you walked, you felt some sort of presence wandering about you. You shrugged it off as you were focused on Yugi, who is currently excited for you.

"YES!" Yugi cheered with pure delight as he walked with you over to the location. "(y/n), you're a really good duelist!"

"you think so?" You asked and watched Yugi frown,

"Of course! You didn't get those chips because they willingly gave it to you!! Where did you learn Duel Monsters anyway?" Yugi asked,

"Oh..." You blinked and looked down, "...my grandfather taught me actually."

"He did?"

"Yeah, for as long as I can remember actually...." You tied your hands behind your back, "Almost like I've dueled my entire life, aha." You giggled to yourself,

"So I am not the only one who has some form of personal connection to Duel Monsters?!" Yugi gasped and his eyes glistened,

"You have personal connections with the game too?!" You gasped as Yugi laughed with excitement,

"Heck yeah I do! Duel Monsters is amazing! I get to learn so much about the cards, like the traps, and the strategies; like I could talk for hours about it-" He paused and looked down, "...but....uh...no one would really listen."

"Not even..." You tried thinking of his name then it clicked, "...Not even Joey or Tristan?"

"Believe it or not, when I first met Joey and Tristan they actually bullied me about it." Yugi laughed nervously, "Joey even almost threw the last piece of the Millenium Puzzle out the window-"

"HE DID WHAT?!" You gasped and stared at Yugi in shock,

"But-" Yugi continued, "Joey saved my life from a gang that a teacher was involved with...but that was after I stood up for Joey cause he was the original guy they were after-"

"Holy - when I see you three together I didn't think of this sort of origin history.." You mumbled as Yugi laughed,

"Right?"

"What about Tea?" You asked, "How did you meet her?"

"Oh, she scared off Joey and Tristan once and stuck by my side...that's basically it." Yugi shrugged,

"So that's why there are times when they don't get along..." You sneered as Yugi laughed,

"Nah, that's just how they are! Even so, now they are wonderful friends of mine, and yours too!" Yugi said with a gleeful and genuine smile.

oh that, that struck something in you.

"Don't get too cocky, friends are temporary, especially with me here with you~"

Your eye slowly lost its spark, of course you knew that. You just didn't want to accept it.

As if timing couldn't get any better, before Yugi noticed you seem to lose happiness, his phone buzzed. Yugi blinked and pulled out his phone and smiled, "speaking of Tea!" He pressed answer to the call and put it on speaker, "Hey Tea! What's up?"

"Yugi, you wouldn't believe what just happened!" Tea spoke through the phone, "We dueled with someone who claimed to be Mai's boyfriend! Well, Joey did...but even so we still met him!"

"What in the- Mai has a boyfriend?" You gasped as Yugi's mouth dropped. Who knew out of all the people around the world; Mai had a boyfriend.

"Oh..(y/n)'s there..." Tea's voice shifted, "...Yugi, why did you want to go with (y/n) anyway?" Tea asked, now uncomfortable. You weren't dumb, you could tell.

She probably hates you.

"Oh Tea, you wouldn't believe it!" Yugi's eyes practically sparkled, "You should've seen (y/n) duel! SHE'S AMAZING! Like, HOLY COW! She managed to get all the chips in about 30 minutes!!"

"30 MINUTES?!" Tea shockingly gasped,

"YUP!" Yugi nods viciously,

"...but...you just met her...how could you..." It was a murmur only you catched before Yugi spoke,

"(Y/n) and I are gonna be heading to the finals location now, so we'll see you guys soon!" Yugi said gleefully as he hung up the phone and slid it back in his pocket.

"You know, (y/n)," Yugi smiled, "Yami has never been so active before..."

Yami? You perked up and looked at him to see him staring at you, "...in what way?" You asked,

"I mean, right now he's floating around you, watching your deck and heck, even you right now~" Yugi sneered with a sly smirk.

Wh-

So that's the presence you've been feeling -

Your face turned red and pure embarrassment came over you, "Uh..." You gulped, how long has he been staring? Yugi suddenly bursts into laughter which startled you,

"Now...now Yami's embarrassed!" Yugi laughs to the point where tears come out of his eyes. He soon wipes them and continues walking with the occasional coughs.

"...(y/n)," Yugi sighed,

"Mhm?" You responded, now slightly calm,

"...you know, it's not common I leave my friends be and hang with some 'girl I just met'," Yugi quoted those words, "It's really fun and adventurous being with you, and you're a friend to me. Heck, I never saw anyone as invested in you as Yam-"

As if you blinked, you saw Yami standing next to you, his eyes wide and his cheeks red.

"...Yami-"

"WOW AHAHAHAH. LOOK AT THAT." Yami pointed ahead, "THE LOCATION IS UP AHEAD. LET'S GO." He walked quickly over to the location.

You watched him leave like a child.

Which you found adorable as you quietly strolled behind Yami.

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https://youtu.be/vOAe2BON9aI