Yuugi x Yami no Yuugi :: Yuugiou
Fandom: Yu-Gi-Oh! DM
Pairing: Yuugi / Yami no Yuugi
Theme set: Gamma
Title: Unity / Split
Warning[s]: Spoiling of the Series.
Notes: Aside from meeting the 1sentence challenge (since I informally did it before and I should do a proper one!) this ended up a manga!canon puzzleshipping study. It's chronological, so it follows the series's existing scenes, save for some creative input for the between-arcs points.
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#01 - Ring
A bell announcing a customer distracted grandpa long enough for him to sneak into the storage room: he was looking for something to pass an hour, not a lifetime.
#02 - Hero
When grandpa caught him and told him what the carvings on the box-side said, Yuugi imagined a genie in a magic lamp, not a king protecting his people.
#03 - Memory
The true constant of his childhood was sitting at his desk, gold gleaming in his hands by lamplight.
#04 - Box
But it always ended the same, pulling apart his latest failure, counting down to zero as he put each piece away.
#05 - Run
Usually he fled from guys like Ushio, but when he saw his friends, he had to stand his ground.
#06 - Hurricane
Instead of focusing on money and knives, his hands moved in a frenzy to finish an eight-year-trial in one night.
#07 - Wings
Maybe his heart only soared from finishing, but as the eye glowed he felt lifted up, complete.
#08 - Cold
Reaching back conjured waking in his uniform, shivering from the open window.
#09 - Red
It took time to realize he wasn't alone: for months when he saw red, everything went black.
#10 - Drink
He came to trust the Puzzle for help, but it was Shadi that helped him taste the truth, imagine another within, watching over him.
#11 - Midnight
He didn't realize until much later the resentment he'd unleashed that night, when this flipside self took back grandpa's card.
#12 - Temptation
He considered the growing urge to speak to him, thank him, an impossibility: how could he ever meet himself?
#13 - View
He didn't question their solidarity until he was granted his impossible wish, and stared up into his own face from the tabletop.
#14 - Music
Over time, feelings slipped through - his rage against Pegasus, irritation at the radio, pride as he won a game - creating a constant sense of company.
#15 - Silk
Anzu's hand and reassurance were smooth relief, but, how could she ever think he was the same as his other self?
#16 - Cover
He knew what he was capable of, but he never feared him, not until the battle he had to throw off his shield, or watch someone die on his sword.
#17 - Promise
He swore to meet Pegasus in battle, but it was his grandfather's request - to balance his strength with his own - that propelled him forward.
#18 - Dream
Maybe it was the search for that balance, or Mai's words, but for once he did not sleep and let him fight alone.
#19 - Candle
The first time they spoke, in their hearts' crossroads, their focus was on the flicker of hope against the eye's power, hope they could only find together.
#20 - Talent
He'd heard or sensed his other self's confidence many times, but flaunting their tactic in Pegasus's face, speaking of courage, he referred to him - his partner.
#21 - Silence
A permanent blank lay between setting that card and waking to his friends protecting his heart - he only learned later of the panic his double felt in the interim.
#22 - Journey
His claim that they were willed to meet told him there was something more to come, to help him with, but until then he was just happy to have him there.
#23 - Fire
His heart flared long before the clown set the room ablaze.
#24 - Strength
There's the strength to break a chain, pry a peg from a table, and then there's the endurance to withstand when neither work.
#25 - Mask
He only let himself crack, admit his wish to stay together, when his other self confessed first.
#26 - Ice
He agreed to fight at his side but didn't press what they were fighting for - considering the possibilities gave him an odd chill.
#27 - Fall
His heart didn't drop from the secrets, leaked through the mask, of pharaohs and hidden tombs, but from unearthing what his other self already knew.
#28 - Forgotten
Winning his memories - focusing on that wish helped him ignore his own, slipping away.
#29 - Dance
They had their roles to play and steps to follow, but knowing he would leave he pushed his protection aside - the lines blurred, the steps merged.
#30 - Body
Their defeat would result in separate penalties - his soul banished, his trapped in puzzle and flesh - but the fear of each for the other was exactly the same.
#31 - Sacred
Fans, collectors, and thieves alike would eye the cards in his keeping, but he'd trade them all to keep the gold about his neck.
#32 - Farewells
Leaving the tower, he parted ways with friends and rivals, new and old, but his mind was already fixed on the end of his next journey.
#33 - World
He loaned his body more often, but he never seemed at ease outside his heart - was there another world, where his other truly belonged?
#34 - Formal
Yuugi offered once to call him pharaoh, after the tournament was over - he declined the honor.
#35 - Fever
Many reasons came up to postpone a simple trip to the museum, but at least there was no need to excuse the two weeks with the flu.
#36 - Laugh
But eventually smiling promises of support weren't enough, the spirit's discontent outweighed his own dismay, and they set a date.
#37 - Lies
Even after that night, they went to the slab as planned: whatever the test set, he was certain they would face it, side by side.
#38 - Forever
After the light cleared Yuugi searched for the missing heart, pushed back the sense that - be it now or later - this loss would be permanent.
#39 - Overwhelmed
Doors everywhere, threatening to engulf them, but he pushed through the confusion, guided by the certainty, he waited on the other side.
#40 - Whisper
They were just phantoms in that world, his touch a breeze on his hand, but when he finally heard his cry, the sky turned to gold.
#41 - Wait
The threat of losing against the spirit was nothing to the frustration, of leaving his other to face his fate, waiting for his name.
#42 - Talk
There were no words needed: their relief, fulfilling destiny and making it out standing, together, spoke volumes.
#43 - Search
He grappled for experiences to look forward to - travel, new sights, time with his friends - but each day brought the trip another step too close.
#44 - Hope
The breather was short, but they spent so much of it consciously together, it felt like it could last.
#45 - Eclipse
He kept his thoughts focused on the present, the fight, until he was tucked inside his heart, where his other - preparing his own deck - couldn't see.
#46 - Gravity
The weight of conflict fell heavy as his body emptied by half.
#47 - Highway
He thought he'd only have to fear loss if he won, but facing the gods, likely defeat threatened another gulf.
#48 - Unknown
With the final move, the final attack, he knew exactly what would come - it was happens afterwords that made him freeze.
#49 - Lock
The doors shut, he sealed the grief before it engulfed him - Jounouchi was right, and he would focus on the time they had, not resent the lack of more to come.
#50 - Breathe
Those first calm moments, staring across the sand, he admitted Atem was right, he would find new strength all his own - but nothing would ever replace the unity.
Pairing: Yuugi / Yami no Yuugi
Theme set: Gamma
Title: Unity / Split
Warning[s]: Spoiling of the Series.
Notes: Aside from meeting the 1sentence challenge (since I informally did it before and I should do a proper one!) this ended up a manga!canon puzzleshipping study. It's chronological, so it follows the series's existing scenes, save for some creative input for the between-arcs points.
-----------------------------------------
#01 - Ring
A bell announcing a customer distracted grandpa long enough for him to sneak into the storage room: he was looking for something to pass an hour, not a lifetime.
#02 - Hero
When grandpa caught him and told him what the carvings on the box-side said, Yuugi imagined a genie in a magic lamp, not a king protecting his people.
#03 - Memory
The true constant of his childhood was sitting at his desk, gold gleaming in his hands by lamplight.
#04 - Box
But it always ended the same, pulling apart his latest failure, counting down to zero as he put each piece away.
#05 - Run
Usually he fled from guys like Ushio, but when he saw his friends, he had to stand his ground.
#06 - Hurricane
Instead of focusing on money and knives, his hands moved in a frenzy to finish an eight-year-trial in one night.
#07 - Wings
Maybe his heart only soared from finishing, but as the eye glowed he felt lifted up, complete.
#08 - Cold
Reaching back conjured waking in his uniform, shivering from the open window.
#09 - Red
It took time to realize he wasn't alone: for months when he saw red, everything went black.
#10 - Drink
He came to trust the Puzzle for help, but it was Shadi that helped him taste the truth, imagine another within, watching over him.
#11 - Midnight
He didn't realize until much later the resentment he'd unleashed that night, when this flipside self took back grandpa's card.
#12 - Temptation
He considered the growing urge to speak to him, thank him, an impossibility: how could he ever meet himself?
#13 - View
He didn't question their solidarity until he was granted his impossible wish, and stared up into his own face from the tabletop.
#14 - Music
Over time, feelings slipped through - his rage against Pegasus, irritation at the radio, pride as he won a game - creating a constant sense of company.
#15 - Silk
Anzu's hand and reassurance were smooth relief, but, how could she ever think he was the same as his other self?
#16 - Cover
He knew what he was capable of, but he never feared him, not until the battle he had to throw off his shield, or watch someone die on his sword.
#17 - Promise
He swore to meet Pegasus in battle, but it was his grandfather's request - to balance his strength with his own - that propelled him forward.
#18 - Dream
Maybe it was the search for that balance, or Mai's words, but for once he did not sleep and let him fight alone.
#19 - Candle
The first time they spoke, in their hearts' crossroads, their focus was on the flicker of hope against the eye's power, hope they could only find together.
#20 - Talent
He'd heard or sensed his other self's confidence many times, but flaunting their tactic in Pegasus's face, speaking of courage, he referred to him - his partner.
#21 - Silence
A permanent blank lay between setting that card and waking to his friends protecting his heart - he only learned later of the panic his double felt in the interim.
#22 - Journey
His claim that they were willed to meet told him there was something more to come, to help him with, but until then he was just happy to have him there.
#23 - Fire
His heart flared long before the clown set the room ablaze.
#24 - Strength
There's the strength to break a chain, pry a peg from a table, and then there's the endurance to withstand when neither work.
#25 - Mask
He only let himself crack, admit his wish to stay together, when his other self confessed first.
#26 - Ice
He agreed to fight at his side but didn't press what they were fighting for - considering the possibilities gave him an odd chill.
#27 - Fall
His heart didn't drop from the secrets, leaked through the mask, of pharaohs and hidden tombs, but from unearthing what his other self already knew.
#28 - Forgotten
Winning his memories - focusing on that wish helped him ignore his own, slipping away.
#29 - Dance
They had their roles to play and steps to follow, but knowing he would leave he pushed his protection aside - the lines blurred, the steps merged.
#30 - Body
Their defeat would result in separate penalties - his soul banished, his trapped in puzzle and flesh - but the fear of each for the other was exactly the same.
#31 - Sacred
Fans, collectors, and thieves alike would eye the cards in his keeping, but he'd trade them all to keep the gold about his neck.
#32 - Farewells
Leaving the tower, he parted ways with friends and rivals, new and old, but his mind was already fixed on the end of his next journey.
#33 - World
He loaned his body more often, but he never seemed at ease outside his heart - was there another world, where his other truly belonged?
#34 - Formal
Yuugi offered once to call him pharaoh, after the tournament was over - he declined the honor.
#35 - Fever
Many reasons came up to postpone a simple trip to the museum, but at least there was no need to excuse the two weeks with the flu.
#36 - Laugh
But eventually smiling promises of support weren't enough, the spirit's discontent outweighed his own dismay, and they set a date.
#37 - Lies
Even after that night, they went to the slab as planned: whatever the test set, he was certain they would face it, side by side.
#38 - Forever
After the light cleared Yuugi searched for the missing heart, pushed back the sense that - be it now or later - this loss would be permanent.
#39 - Overwhelmed
Doors everywhere, threatening to engulf them, but he pushed through the confusion, guided by the certainty, he waited on the other side.
#40 - Whisper
They were just phantoms in that world, his touch a breeze on his hand, but when he finally heard his cry, the sky turned to gold.
#41 - Wait
The threat of losing against the spirit was nothing to the frustration, of leaving his other to face his fate, waiting for his name.
#42 - Talk
There were no words needed: their relief, fulfilling destiny and making it out standing, together, spoke volumes.
#43 - Search
He grappled for experiences to look forward to - travel, new sights, time with his friends - but each day brought the trip another step too close.
#44 - Hope
The breather was short, but they spent so much of it consciously together, it felt like it could last.
#45 - Eclipse
He kept his thoughts focused on the present, the fight, until he was tucked inside his heart, where his other - preparing his own deck - couldn't see.
#46 - Gravity
The weight of conflict fell heavy as his body emptied by half.
#47 - Highway
He thought he'd only have to fear loss if he won, but facing the gods, likely defeat threatened another gulf.
#48 - Unknown
With the final move, the final attack, he knew exactly what would come - it was happens afterwords that made him freeze.
#49 - Lock
The doors shut, he sealed the grief before it engulfed him - Jounouchi was right, and he would focus on the time they had, not resent the lack of more to come.
#50 - Breathe
Those first calm moments, staring across the sand, he admitted Atem was right, he would find new strength all his own - but nothing would ever replace the unity.