If Yami Bakura had won this duel it'd have totally derailed Pegasus's Duelist Kingdom plans. I can see an AU where that happens and Pegasus has to find a way to get everyone's souls/the Puzzle back so his plans can continue, and meanwhile Bakura is planning to get off the island ASAP and disappear. (And depending on when Kaiba landed on the island he might appear too...)
Jou has commitment issues in that (in his mind) marriage is a symbol of inevitable tragedy and downfall of a relationship and therefore he is scared of committing to something he sees as a dumpster fire breakup
Yugi has commitment issues in that he will pledge his life to someone if they give him a pencil
honestly the best thing about yu-gi-oh is how healing fucking hurts. nobody has an easy time becoming a better person. it sucks. kaiba has to be in a months-long nightmare coma to become 3% less evil. jounouchi still has the same dangerous enemies and shitty family life he always had but now those enemies think he's easy pickings. bakura's boldest attempt to stand up for himself and his friends gives him a permanant scar through his hand. these kids are killing themselves to be better people in a world that has given them nothing