#implied spiritshipping

“It’s been a while,” Yugi greeted. “Though it might be shorter for you…”

“You remember that? So, you knew all this was going to happen already?”

Yugi shrugged. “Pretty much.”

“No warning, huh?”

“Well, we didn’t have much time for deep conversations when we’ve met in the present.”

“Ah…True…”

“Also, there’s probably rules against that kind of thing, less we mess up the timeline.” Yugi leaned forward, resting his cheek on his hand. He was such a strange mix of confidence and shyness. A mixture of his younger self and who he became thanks to that other soul. But Judai was the same, wasn't he? Not quite who he was before but collecting bits and pieces to add to who he had become. “So, what brings you back to Domino?”

“Oh…uh…I got a tip about a handful of missing duel spirits only to find a branch of a poaching ring I had been chasing for the past six months. Took that down and now I’m just taking some time for myself.” 

“Finally,” Yubel added at the back of his mind.

“That’s good,” Yugi mused, sipping at his coffee. “You need to slow down when you can or else you’ll be run ragged by the time the bigger challenge shows up.”

“I don’t know how much bigger you can get after defeating darkness incarnate,” Judai chuckled.

“Still. You need to rest between adventures so you’re stronger for the next, bigger or not. It keeps you safe but also keeps others safe too.”

Judai scratched the back of his neck, a sheepish grin rumbling across his face. “Okay. I will, I will.”

“How have you been? Beyond your adventures I mean.”

Judai shrugged. “Good…”

“You don’t sound sure.”

“Mostly good.”

“That isn’t much better.” Yugi didn’t push it much farther than that. Not verbally at least, even Judai could tell what that piercing look in his eye meant. Yet his smile was still ever so kind as always. And maybe that’s how he got Judai to spill all his guts.

“I honestly don’t know what’s up.” Words traffic jammed in his mind as they all tried to rush out at the same time. “Like before…Dueling lost its fun and all, but I was aware of that. And thanks to you–” 

“Kuri!” Winged Kuriboh pipped up from his deck. 

“And Winged Kuriboh,” Judai added with a ghostly smile, “I was able to get that…that spark back. And for the first time since I got back from…” he shook his head. He was already saying too much. No need to complicate things further. “It had been a while since I felt I could smile, genuinely, and enjoy myself like I used to.”

Yugi nodded along. 

“And I’ve been doing a lot better since then. But these last few months I…That…Like I feel something’s missing again, but it’s different this time. Dueling makes me feel better for a bit, so I know I’m not falling into the same hole but…It doesn’t last.”

Yugi took a few more sips of coffee, ruminating on the information. Judai tried to do the same with his tea to try and calm his nerves, only to cringe finding it lukewarm. 

“Have you talked to any of your friends about it? Maybe they’d have some insight.”

“Eh…About that…”

“Judai.”

The King of Games sounded like Johan. Something prickled at the back of Judai’s throat. “I’ve been…busy.”

Yugi gave an unimpressed look. “Look Judai. I don’t know you as well as your friends, but I think that’s what your issue is. I know you’re kind of like how I was, with another soul in you–”

Judai nearly dropped his mug. “You can see Yubel?”

“Not quite. Sometimes I could catch a glimpse. But really it was Atem—my other soul—who could sense them. Th-That’s besides the point. I understand there is comfort in that and that you’re never truly alone thanks to it. But…that doesn’t mean you don’t need friends outside of yourself.”

“I-I talk to them…sometimes.”

Yugi quirked a brow and this time Yubel joined him in his judgement.

“I do! Most of them at least…Time zones and scheduling is difficult. Genuinely. But…”

“But?”

Judai tapped along the mug’s handle, eyeing the cooled amber liquid instead of Yugi. “I don’t know…Maybe it’s for the best.”

“And why do you say that?”

Judai couldn’t help laughing at the whole situation. A little on the hollow side, but he’d take what he could get at this point. “You’re starting to sound like a therapist.”

“You need one,” came Yubel’s unhelpful quip. 

Yes, because I’m sure a therapist would totally take it well when I bring up how I was a genocidal tyrant in another world or that fused my soul with a duel monster spirit that got me into all this in the first place.

He cringed almost immediately at how harsh it came across even if it was fact. Yubel was stunned and their pain radiated through Judai’s body. They said no more and retreated further towards the back of his mind.

“Judai?” Yugi called, eyebrows furrowed. “Not to interrupt you two but…It would probably help talking about it. I know this is more than just friends drifting apart in adulthood. Given how I found you on your graduation day, something went down to change you from the bright-eyed boy I first gave Winged Kuriboh to.”

Judai bit his lip. “It’s complicated. And a long story. And–"

“You’re talking to the guy who was the vessel for a 3000-year-old ancient Egyptian pharaoh. I used these excuses too.”

“Fine,” Judai gritted out. He squeezed his eyes shut, took a breath, and laid everything out. How the pressure started to build in his second year when everyone was relying on him to save the day. How in his third year he finally found someone he could rely on but that was also when Yubel showed up, stole that person from him and he abandoned his friends in search for him, almost getting them killed. 

“And that wasn’t even the worst part,” his voice was shaking now. “I…I…did a lot of bad things after that. Trapped in my own mind. And everything was my fault to some degree. Yubel’s pain, Johan getting taken, everyone else dying or almost dying or temporarily dying or whatever. And all those monsters…There is no forgiving what I did to them. At least with my friends I never meant to hurt them. But the monsters…”

“Hey,” Yugi murmured, reaching across to envelop Judai’s clenched fist. Everything quieted. But only briefly until Yugi let out a sigh. “Come on, let’s get some air.”

Judai nodded slowly, allowing Yugi to guide him out into the street. They found a corner just a little ways from the cafe, away from the small crowds that often accumulated in the plaza. Pharaoh wandered out of his bag but remained seated on the ledge behind them. Judai gave the cat a pained smile. Wordlessly, Yugi offered him a tissue. 

“I do talk to them…” Judai emphasized once he dislodged the lump in his throat and ran the tissue along the edge of his eyes. “Over text. Say ‘hi’ and ask how things are going sometimes.”

Yugi gave an understanding nod. “I know what it’s like feeling like a danger to the people you love.”

“Really?” Judai huffed. 

“3000-year-old pharaoh remember. Suddenly I had a lot of enemies coming for me. And naturally, my friends more than once got caught in the crossfire. Brainwashed, souls stolen, and just being nearly killed in general.” He fell silent, staring off to the side. “It hurts and it is hard not to feel responsible. But Atem and I couldn’t have defeated the evil we did without their support, nor could I have ever put his soul to rest without them. Even if it was just a verbal reassurance that we weren’t alone.”

“I don’t know…I’ve gotten along fine this far. I love my friends but…I don’t know…I was always saving them. And I’d do it in a heartbeat but…what I guess I’m trying to say is, I never had a Jonouchi I could constantly rely on. Not that they didn’t try to help but…”

Yugi raised a brow. “Are you sure about that?”

Judai tilted his head, eyes squinted until it dawned on him and that lump returned. “I don’t know if he’d…”

“You went through this all for him yet you’re going to throw everything away now?”

Judai furiously shook his head. “I fused with the thing that tortured him. Imprisoned him. Took over his body…Violated him at every turn…”

“Have you talked to him about it at least?”

“Well…No. Last time we saw each other, the world was kind of ending and I was still lost. Like even more lost than I am now, I mean.”

“And you fought together? 

“Yes,” Judai drew the word out, side-eyeing Yugi who was forever calm and collected, lazily reclining on the edge of the flower bed.  

“And it’s thanks to him you succeeded?”

“Yes.”

“You see what I’m getting at?”

Judai pressed his lips together until the muscles hurt. 

“You miss him, don’t you?” Yugi’s voice went soft; a hint of pain laced amongst the vibrations. “Don’t try to hide it. I know that look. I see it regularly on myself.”

“It hurts,” Judai choked out, “when I think of life without him, but it also hurts seeing a life with him. I dragged him into such a mess, there is no way I could–”

“Bonds are the strongest power of all, Judai. Talk to him, let him decide if he wants you in his life. You will only hurt him more if you keep going on like this. That goes for all your friends.”

Judai swallowed thickly. It’s not that he hadn’t considered that this was what was missing, but still, maybe it was better it stayed missing.

“Think about it,” Yugi said, handing him a brochure. Judai blinked down. 

“A duel tournament?”

“All the champions from around the world will be here in Domino for the next two weeks. One of the partnerships is with the Marufuji League. Now might be as good a time as any to take that first step.”

Judai gave another hollow laugh. “I thought you said, ‘think about it.’”

“You should, but you should also know everything has fallen into place almost perfectly. And like I said, it runs for two weeks starting tomorrow. So, you still have some time to think.”

“Thinking hasn’t exactly been my strong suit.”

Yugi shrugged. He pulled a notepad out of his bag and scrawled something on it. “I have to get back to the game shop, but here’s my number. I think you need someone to talk to outside yourself, might as well have someone who did the whole hero thing too. If you ever need anything, just ask.”

Despite how heavy he still felt, Judai cracked a smile as he stared down at the numbers. “Here you go saving me again, huh?”

“I wouldn’t say ‘saved'. You’re the one who has to actually take that step. But I’ll help you where I can.”

“Thank you…really,” Judai whispered. Yugi parted with a tap on his shoulder, and one last kind smile.