Aya Too Blue

𝙀𝙥:1 𝙃𝙚𝙖𝙧𝙩 𝙤𝙛 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝘾𝙖𝙧𝙙𝙨 ̷w̷̷h̷a̷̷t̷ ̷p̷̷o̷̷s̷̷s̷̷e̷̷s̷̷s̷̷e̷̷s̷ ̷y̷̷o̷̷u̷ ̷t̷̷o̷ ̷s̷̷t̷a̷̷y̷ ̷b̷̷y̷ ̷m̷̷e̷?

Long ago, when the pyramids were still young, the Egyptian Kings played a game of great and terrible power. But these Shadow Games erupted into a war that threatened to destroy the entire world. Until a brave and powerful pharaoh locked the magic away, imprisoning it within the mystical Millennium Items. Now, five thousand years later, a boy named Yugi unlocks the secret of the Millennium Puzzle. He is infused with an accent of magical energies, for destiny has chosen him to defend the world from the return of the Shadow Games, just as the brave Pharaoh did five thousand years ago. 

Sitting at a makeshift table, two boys played what seemed to be a card game. “Hey, Joey! Earth to Joey! Hey, are you there? It’s your turn.” The purple-eyed boy shouted at his friend across from him. Standing to the left of “Joey,” a tall male with brown hair styled into a point, suddenly wrapped his arms around his shoulders. “Aw. " Isn’t he cute when he’s thinking?” cooed the brunette. “Hey Tristan, Yugi here’s teaching me how to play Duel Monsters.” The blonde known as Joey replied. “Drooling Monsters?” “Duel Monsters, ya nimrod!” Joey shouted, shoving Tristan back towards a girl in a pink uniform. “Sheesh.”

“They’ve been at it for hours. Joey’s starting to get the hang of the game, but Yugi’s like an expert.” The girl in the pink uniform with a brown bob said. “Okay, Yugi. It’s time to duel,” Joey said while placing down a card with 800 ATK points and 400 DEF points. “See, each card has an attack number and a defense number. First player to eliminate their opponent’s life points wins the duel.” The girl explained the rules to Tristan. “Pretty good move, huh, Yugi?” “Yup, pretty good move, but not good enough.” Taking a card from his hand, Yugi placed down a monster card with 1500 ATK points, beating Joey’s monster. “What?! Thanks a lot! A card that powerful totally wipes me out.” Joey complained.

“Man, he really sucks.” Sitting on top of a desk where a blue-eyed brunette sat reading, spoke a girl with (h/l) and (h/c) hair. “Don’t you think so too, Kaiba?” The girl now turning her attention to the boy below her. “Hhm,” the boy replied, showing no interest in entertaining the conversation. ‘As stoic as usual,’ the girl thought while deadpanning, turning her attention back to the little group, missing that the boy was now paying attention to the group as well.

“Whoa, you stink at this game, Joey.” Tristan laughed. Yugi, speaking up, replied, “Nah, you did fine, Joey. I just have better cards. See, my grandpa owns a game shop, and I get all my best cards from him.” Joey excitedly slams his hand on Yugi’s desk. “Your own game shop! What are we waiting for? Let’s Go!” “Ok. Maybe I can even get my grandpa to show us this super-rare card he’s got.”

‘Rare card? Could they have found the card that I've been searching for?” At the mention of a rare card, the blue-eyed boy peered over. “You hear that, Kaiba?” The girl still sitting on his desk turned her attention back to him. “His grandpa has a super-rare card.” Now pointing towards the door where the group had just exited from, she asked in a sly voice, “wanna follow and see what this card is all about?” 

[Time-Skip to Turtle Game Shop]

“Grandpa, I’m home,” Yugi announced while entering the game shop. Catching the attention of a short old man from behind the counter, “And I see you’ve brought company.” Walking behind Yugi was his group of friends. “Gramps, could you show my friends your awesome, super rare card?” “Rare card? My special card? Hmmm…” Yugi’s grandpa thought for a moment. “Pretty please!” Joey jumped in, begging. “Hmm…. Hah hah! How could I refuse?” taking out a small brown box from behind the counter. “You kids are in for a treat. I don’t take this card out too often. Ready? Here it is.” Taking the card out the box, he showed the little group the special card within. “The Blue-Eyes White Dragon, so rare, so powerful, I never let it leave my hands.” 

“Awesome,” Joey said in admiration of the card. “Hmm. Doesn’t look all that special to me,” Tristan stated while plucking the card from his hand. In a panic, Yugi’s grandpa grabbed the card in a hurry, “Ahh! This card is priceless. There are only four of them in all of the world.” Yugi’s grandpa explained to the small group of high schoolers. “Speaking of priceless, I'm ready to trade.” Joey exclaimed happily, Yugi’s grandpa shifted away slightly, “Not for this card!” He angrily stated to Joey. “Huh? Nah. I didn't mean that card. I meant, show me some other cool cards to get me started,” said Joey. 

RING! Surprised by the sudden entrance, the group turns to see a blue-eyed boy holding a silver briefcase walking inside the game store, and trailing behind him was a (h/c) haired girl who seemed slightly uninterested, instead choosing to look around the store. “Hello, can I help you?” Yugi’s grandpa politely asked the newcomers. “If you can’t, it certainly wouldn’t surprise me,” the boy rudely remarked. Hitting the boy's arm slightly, “Don’t be so rude,” the girl remarked, huffing in disappointment. The boy rolled his eyes in return, promptly ignoring her. “Seto Kaiba, and (Y/N)?” Yugi had questioned the sudden appearance of his two classmates. “Kaiba!?” Joey shouted out also in surprise, “Doesn’t he have a big fancy company to run? What’s he doing down here?” Tristan commented, “And isn’t (Y/N) that girl that follows him around all day?” 

Irritated at the small comment, “Hey! I don’t follow him around all day,” (Y/N) glared at the boy.  “Not that it’s any of your business, but I came to see the card,” Kaiba jumped in before the girl could escalate the situation. “Hey, are you into Duel Monsters, too?” Joey happily questioned the boy, “This is perfect. Maybe we could all duel together sometime.” 

“Me duel you? I would have more of a challenge playing solitaire,” responding to Joey's question, Kaiba and (Y/N) walked up to the group. “What?” Joey questioned.

 “I am the number one-ranked duelist in the country, and the favorite to win the Duel Monsters Championship. You wouldn’t last 2 minutes in a duel against me.”

“Ooh, I’m shakin’, maybe you’d like to settle this with fists instead of cards?”

“Whoa, take it easy, Joey.” Yugi now stepping in between the two taller males. “But Yugi, Kaiba’s asking for it.” 

“Now, does this shop have any worthwhile cards or not?” Kaiba looked towards Mr. Mutou, spotting the Blue-Eyes White Dragon card. “Can it be? The Blue-Eyes White Dragon in a dump like this!” Kaiba rushed toward the front desk, leaving (Y/N)’s side. 

‘It is, the card I've been searching for,’ Kaiba thought, “well enough window shopping.” Mr. Mutou pulled the card back, interrupting Kaiba’s thoughts. “Is there anything else I can help you with?” 

Kaiba snarled at the old man, “(Y/N), bring the case.” Doing as requested (Y/N) brought over a silver case, placing it firmly on the front desk before opening it and showcasing its contents to Mr. Mutou, him gasping in surprise. “Listen, old man, give me your Blue-Eyes White Dragon card, and I'll trade you all of these,” Kaiba brandished the case stocked full of duel monster cards, the small group gasping in awe at the sheer amount. 

“Ah, nice, but no thanks,” Mr. Mutou refused 

The group, now in shock, questioned him. 

“Fine, if you won’t trade, maybe you’ll sell it; name your price, I can pay anything you ask.” Kaiba leaned forward, getting agitated. “I’m sure you could, but this card is worth more to me than you could ever offer. Not because of its power or that it’s so rare but because of what it means to me,” Mr. Mutou calmly explained to a surprised Kaiba, “This card was given to me by a very dear friend, and so I treasure this card as I do this friend, so parting with it is completely out of the question.” 

(Y/N) glanced towards Kaiba, hearing an angry no come from under his breath. “You’d feel the same even if it were a common card, right, Grandpa?” Yugi chimed in, “Exactly, this precious card is bonded with my heart.”

Hearing this, (Y/N) quickly closes the case, “Fine, I’ve heard enough of your nonsense,” Kaiba explained, turning around to leave (Y/N) just behind him, “senile old fool.” 

The pair now driving off away from the shop ‘Heart in the cards… Ridiculous! These cards are all about power, and one way or another, his Blue-Eyes White Dragon card will be mine’ 

Sigh ‘what a hassle, this won’t end well’ (Y/N) thought as she stared at Kaiba from the corner of her eye; concern dancing throughout her features. 

[Time-Skip to Kaiba Corp]

“Gentleman, there's a little something that I'd like for you to pick up for me at the game shop,”

“Gladly, master Kaiba,” a sly voice answered.

Back at Turtle game shop the next morning.

Ring “Good morning,” Mr. Mutou responded to the bell, turning to see two tall figures and one small man. “My Master Seto Kaiba challenges you to a duel,” the small man states, “You will come with us now.”

“And if I were to decline?” 

“I’m afraid I must insist,” the small man answered while the two men behind him stepped forward. 

‘Young Kaiba doesn’t understand, but I'll teach him a lesson about the heart of the cards, ’ Mr. Mutou thought, now glaring at the men in front of him. 

“Man, I hope he has some cool cards today,” Joey exclaimed to the small group as they walked to the game shop. “Me too,” Yugi agreed. 

“Okay, Gramps, I'm back to get more cards!” Joey shouted, and the game shop's bell rang as he walked through the doors. “Hey, hey, gramps!” Joey shouted once again, “Grandpa, I'm home.” Yugi soon followed after. “Maybe he went out,” Téa said after hearing no response and seeing no activity within the empty shop. “Maybe, but why would he leave the door unlocked” Joey countered. 

Ring ring, a ringing could be heard coming from the phone hanging on the wall, catching Yugi’s attention. “Hello, game shop,” Yugi answered the phone. “Ah, Yugi perfect,” “Kaiba!”

“Your grandpa’s here visiting, but he’s not feeling well. Why don’t you come by my office and pick him up.” “Kaiba! What have you done, Kaiba!” Yugi shouted in desperation. 

[Time-Skip to Kaiba Corp]

Running through the entrance of Kaiba Corp, the group runs to the elevator, going all the way to the top floor. As the doors opened, lying on the ground was the body of Mr. Mutou, “Grandpa! Grandpa, are you okay?” Yugi ran towards his body, crouching down, Mr.Mutou lifting his head to speak to him, “Yugi, I failed. I wanted to teach that boy Kaiba a lesson about the heart of the cards, but I lost” 

“How’s the old man feeling, hm?” Standing by an open door stood Kaiba and (Y/N)  

“Kaiba, you sleaze! What have you done to him?” Joey stepped forward, fist balled up. “We had a duel, that’s all. With each of us putting up our most valuable card as the prize,” Reply smugly, “But I guess playing against a champion like myself was just too much stimulation for the old fool.”

“Kaiba, you should be ashamed of yourself,” Téa stepped up and pointed an accusatory finger at Kaiba before turning it towards (Y/N) “both of you, actually.”

“It was fair. And look at the sweet prize I won.” Pulling out a card from his pocket, Kaiba showed off before tearing it in half, surprising all who were present, “Grandpa’s most treasured card!” Yugi chimed, “Yes, the Blue-Eyes White Dragon is a rare and powerful card, and this one will never be used against me. Mr. Mutou slowly reached out in desperation, “My Blue-Eyes White Dragon!” before falling back down, “M-My treasure!” “Grandpa!” Yugi shouted, worried for his health, “Hold on!” Yugi turned his attention back to Kaiba, “How could you do such a thing?” 

“Yugi, here…” Mr. Mutou said, grabbing Yugi's attention, “Take this.” 

“Huh? Grandpa?” Mr. Mutou presented a deck of cards to Yugi. “I built this deck, I put my soul in these cards, and taught you everything I know, Yugi. Take them. Take my cards and teach him respect! Teach Kaiba respect for the Heart of the Cards, Yugi.” 

“But, Grandpa, you need help! I’ve got to get you to a doctor!”

“Sounds like an excuse.” Kaiba interrupted, “Your friends can care for your grandfather. While you and I duel. Unless you’re afraid?”

(Y/N) took this opportunity to chime in, “Don’t worry too much, I’ve already called for an ambulance, and all medical treatment will be on us” 

Hearing the declaration from the girl calmed the group slightly, but did nothing to resolve their flames for Kaiba. 

“Take him, Yugi!” Joey shouted, “We can take care of your grandpa while you take care of creepy Kaiba, you teach that rich, spoiled brat what a real duel’s all about!”

“For your grandpa, Yugi,” Téa jumped in 

“I don’t know…” Yugi responded unsure 

“Trust me, you’re like the best player I've ever seen, and you’ve got the millennium puzzle!” At the mention of the Millennium puzzle, a strange look swept across (Y/N )'s face as she placed her left hand across her chest, a golden ring shining. “I know you can! We all do.” 

Yugi, now feeling confident, turned back to his grandfather, “Okay, grandpa, I'll do it.” “I know you will, my boy.”

After hearing Yugi agree, Téa pulled out a permanent marker. “Everyone, put your hands together.” After drawing a closed-eyed smiling face across the back of their hands, “and I'll mark us with a special sign.”

“Huh? What gives, Téa?” Joey questioned, looking at the back of his hand 

“It’s a symbol of our friendship. So when Yugi’s duelling, no matter how tough it gets, he’ll know that he’s not alone. We’re all right there with him!”

“Sorry to interrupt your little moment, but the ambulance is about to arrive, so we should get Mr. Mutou to the ground floor and meet them there.” (Y/N) Said already opened the elevator for the group. Once reaching the ground floor and getting Mr. Mutou into the ambulance, Téa turned to Joey.

“Joey, Tristan, and I will take Yugi’s grandpa to the hospital. Why don’t you get back in there and cheer Yugi on? 

“Okay! Take good care of him, Téa,” Joey responded, rushing back to the elevator where (Y/N) waited, taking them both back up towards where the duel would be held. 

At the stadium stood Kaiba and Yugi, each in their respective positions across from one another, standing on huge platforms overlooking a digital field with giant lights hanging above them, showcasing their life points. 

“I designed this virtual stadium myself. Impressive, hm? I think you’ll agree, it adds a bit more life to the game. We each begin with 2000 life points. First player to hit zero loses. Are you ready to play, runt?” Kaiba mockingly explained to Yugi as they set up to begin the duel.

“Play time is over, Kaiba,” Yugi shouted as a strange soft glow emerged from his Millennium Puzzle. 

“Ah, what the?” Kaiba took a step back, surprised at what he was seeing. Yugi was now standing a few centimeters taller than before, bangs pushed back and sharper eyes. “Now, Kaiba, prepare yourself, because it’s time to duel!” Even his voice seemed to have gotten deeper. 

“Virtual systems ready. So let’s begin.” Kaiba says as he places a card down, “I attack with the mighty Hitotsu-Me Giant. Brace yourself, Yugi, you’ve never duelled like this before!” as a giant green cyclops forms on the playing field.

‘He’s brought the monster on the card to life!’ Yugi surprised by what he is witnessing.

“It’s my virtual simulator!” Kaiba explains, “It creates lifelike holograms of every Duel Monster.” 

“So this is how you beat my grandfather!” pulling out a card from his deck. “Well, now it’s my turn. I call on the Winged Dragon, guardian of the Fortress!” Yugi said as he placed the card down, and formed on the field a blue dragon with white spikes traveling down its back. 

[Change in POV]

Finally reaching the top floor where Kaiba and Yugi’s duel was being held, Joey runs from the elevator you follow closely behind. Upon entering the arena

“Wha? Monsters?” Joey abruptly stops, seeing the two holograms on the field, “real monsters?” “No,” you responded to Joey’s question, stepping out from behind him after almost colliding with his back from the abrupt stop, “not real monsters.”

“Fireball attack!” 

Seeing as the duel has started with Yugi attacking, you move to sit close to Kaiba, only to run into a familiar little boy. “Big Brother!” the small boy shouts out to Kaiba, “Mokuba, let’s hurry now, the duel has only just started,” reaching out to grab his hand, you both continue closer to Kaiba.  

“Hah, well played, Yugi, for a beginner. But how will you deal with this?” Kaiba says, placing another card down, now appearing on the field, a white clown donned in blue and purple attire with red accents and a painted face, laughs eerily. 

“Saggi the Dark Clown, but that card hardly had any attack strength.” Yugi recognizes the card Kaiba has just played. 

“True, your Winged Dragon’s attack is 1400, while my Dark Clown’s is only 600, but if I combine it with this card…” Kaiba says as he places a card from his hand down. 

“Ah, a magic card!” Yugi now understands Kaiba’s strategy for playing Saggi the Dark Clown.

“Exactly, the Negative Energy Generator. It multiplies my monster’s attack by three.” Playing the card Saggi, the Dark Clowns' attack points skyrocket to 1800. “Dark Clown, attack with Dark Light!” Following Kaiba’s command, Saggi unleashed the attack on Yugi's Winged Dragon, destroying it and bringing down Yugi’s life points by 400.

“As you can see, combining cards can be very effective,” Kaiba said, now taking the lead in this duel. 

Turning away from the duel to look down at Mokuba, “See, I told you, not to worry, Seto always has a trick up his sleeve,” smirking down at the young boy who has now stopped clinging to your side. “I guess you’re right, big sister, big brother Seto would never lose!” Mokuba looks up at you, seemingly now released from his worries about the duel. 

Now, having uplifted Mokuba’s spirit, you turn back to the duel at play, paying close attention to Yugi as he places a card down in defence mode. ‘But I wonder how long will I be right for,’ worry washes over your face for a split second before you turn your attention back to Kaiba. 

“Dark light attack!” Kaiba orders Saggi to attack Yugi’s forming monster on the field. 

“You’re not faring any better than the old man did, Yugi. Your deck is just as weak and feeble as your grandfather.” 

“My grandpa is a great man, and a better duellist than you’ll ever be. He entrusted me with his cards, and I can feel his heart in this deck. I doubt you have that kind of faith in your cards, Kaiba.” 

“Wha?”

“But I believe in my grandpa’s deck,” Yugi said as he drew a card from his deck, “and my faith rewards me, with Gaia, the Fierce Knight!” Yugi places the card down, having Gaia appear on the field. “With a destructive power of 2300!” He unleashes an attack on Saggi the Dark Clown, destroying him and lowering Kaiba’s life points to 1300. 

“Way to go, Yugi!” You turn your head to see Joey loudly cheering for his friend. 

‘Seto won’t go down that easily,’ You turn back to Kaiba, already knowing what card he’ll play next. 

“Ha. This’ll be over sooner than you think,” drawing a card from his deck, “I call on the Blue-Eyes White Dragon!” A large white, almost blue dragon manifests itself on the field. 

“Ah? No Way!”

“Impossible! We all watched Kaiba tear that card in half!” Joey yelled in both surprise and anger at the display of a new Blue-Eyes White Dragon.

“Surprised? Did you think your grandfather was the only one to possess a Blue-Eyes White Dragon?” Kaiba finishes as the Blue-Eyes White Dragon goes in for the attack, destroying Yugi’s Gaia the Fierce Knight, taking Yugi's life points down to 900. 

“Hah, your Fierce Knight is destroyed. Faith or no faith, you will fall before my superior monsters, Yugi. Power is what this game is all about, you fool. Faith is for losers, like your pathetic grandfather. In your entire deck, there’s not a single card that can stand up to a Blue-Eyes White Dragon.” Kaiba now pulling out another card from his hand 

“So what hope do you have against two?” A second Blue-Eyes White Dragon appears on the field. “Why don’t you just admit defeat, Yugi?” 

‘I wonder how will you get out of this one, Yugi. ’ You stare at the boy as he plays his next card, “Swords of Revealing Light! It stops all monsters on the field for three turns.” Three blinding swords come down on Kaiba’s Blue-Eyes White Dragons, trapping them between their blades. 

“How desperate. What possible good will a three-turn delay do you?” Kaiba laughs at the absurdity of Yugi’s play.

…

Yugi stands there in silence. 

“Quit your stalling, Yugi. Or you will forfeit the match.” Kaiba tired of the silence 

“I never forfeit,” Yugi responds, drawing a card from his deck. 

“Draw any card you like, it won’t change a thing. My dragons may be frozen for another two turns, but my new monster is under no such spell!” Kaiba plays a card from his hand, “The Judge man with an attack power of 2200!” Kaiba uses this card to attack Yugi’s face-down card. 

Now appearing on the battlefield, a tall figure cloaked in purple, “Dark Magician! Attack!” The Dark Magician fires off an attack, shattering the Judge Man, lowering Kaiba’s life points to 1000. 

“Your Judge Man falls.”

“Oh, a sacrifice that doesn’t even phase me. And though neither dragon can move, for one more turn,” Kaiba picks up his next card from his deck. “My next card is… the third Blue-Eyes White Dragon.”

Now appearing alongside the other two dragons, the third Blue-Eyes White Dragon appears, “Now my dragon attack” 

The Blue-Eyes White Dragon attacks the Dark Magician, bringing Yugi’s life points all the way down to 400. “So tell me, Yugi, how’s your faith now? On my next turn, all three Blue-Eyes White Dragons are free to attack! This Game’s over, no matter what card you draw. You can’t possibly stand against my three Blue-Eyes White Dragons; it’s over, Yugi. You were never a match for me.”  Kaiba said, assured of his upcoming victory. 

“Draw your last pathetic card so I can end this, Yugi,” Kaiba, tired of Yugi waiting around 

“My grandpa’s deck has no pathetic cards, Kaiba.” Yugi now brandishing a card to Kaiba 

“But it does contain… The unstoppable Exodia!”

“Ah, No Way!” “Agh! Impossible!” You and Kaiba both shout out in disbelief. 

“I’ve assembled all five special cards, all five pieces of the puzzle,” appearing from a magic circle on the field, golden limbs emerge one by one before the entirety of Exodia has breached through the circle.

“Exodia! It’s not possible. No one’s ever been able to call him.”

“Exodia! Obliterate!” 

Exodia charges up a golden ball of energy before blasting it at Kaiba and his Blue-Eyes White Dragons, destroying them, bringing Kaiba down to 0 life points. 

“Seto!” You screamed as you let go of Mokuba’s hand, rushing to the edge of the platform. Mokuba followed closely, screaming for Kaiba as well, but you couldn't hear your surroundings. Worry clouded your senses; your eyes stayed on Kaiba, not wavering.

A pulling sensation from your finger drives your attention to Yugi. You watch as a magic eye appears on his forehead. You look down at your ring as a soft glow emits from it as familiarity washes over you.

‘Could it be? After all these years, is it truly happening?’ The thought crosses your mind as worries for the future take hold.

“Kaiba, if you truly want to know, open your mind!”  

“There, Kaiba, maybe now you will begin to see.” 

[POV Change]

“Mr. Pegasus, sir, Seto Kaiba, our undefeated champion, has been defeated in a duel, sir. By someone named… Yugi.” A dark figure in an open doorway speaks to a man clad in red attire 

“Hm.” 

A figure stands just before the red-clad man, their (h/c) hair falling across their back as they turn away from the door to look at the man beside them.

“Is it finally time…”

“Father.”

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