universestreasures - Tumblr blog

[universestreasures]

Evening Break-In (Drabble) (For: @shachou )

Nothing was working. Tossing, turning, fluffing his pillow, and putting on relaxing music, none of it helped him fall asleep. It seems like he was too on edge to fall asleep peacefully. Though, considering what day it was tommorow, it made sense. For tommorow was the anniversary of the passing of him and Seto's father, the blood relative Mokuba missed dearly to this day.

While his memories of his mother were nonexistent due to her dying when he was no more than a few weeks old, his memories of his father were few and far between but still strong enough for him to still recall to this day. He remembers how he used to take both brothers to that park Mokuba still often frequented, how he used to care for him when he was sick, and the warmth of his arms when he gathered him into them. Yes, his father truly was a kind and loving man, the complete opposite of the monster who ended up taking in both brothers that fateful day.

With such a day almost upon him, it was no wonder he couldn't sleep. His mind was flooded with a blend of emotions and memories, ones that inhibited his ability to relax and enter the realm of dreams. And with all his other options to help having failed, it only left him with one option; the very option that was sure to do the trick in helping him to finally fall asleep.

He slowly crawls out of his bed then, making sure to grab his Blue-Eyes White Dragon plushie with him. His steps are slow and precise as he makes his way out of his room, checking to make sure the coast is clear of any security guards. The younger Kaiba has a sneaky feeling if he gets caught 'snooping around' at night that he'd be sent right back to his room, rendering his efforts pointless. Thankfully, he's gotten quite good at sneaking around the mansion after many years of doing so. He had to get good at it. It was the only way he could have caught glimpses of his brother back then, for Gozaboru Kaiba intentionally kept them apart for many years.

His careful steps eventually make their way to his brother's room. By a quick look at a nearby clock in the hall, he is certain Seto was in bed by this hour. While he was prone to all-night work sessions (more than any human should, if you asked Mokuba), he is pretty certain tonight wasn't one of those evenings. His thoughts are confirmed as soon as he gingerly cracks the door open to reveal through glimmers of moonlight his brother is indeed fast asleep in his bed, meaning the conditions had been meant for what he had in mind.

After slowly closing the door behind him, he makes his way to the grand bed before him. Mokuba then stares at the elder Kaiba asleep, lying on his side facing him, his face looking rarely peaceful for once. His brother, due to his job and his own disdain for showing any weakness, always had to appear strong before everyone, Mokuba included. So, it was a nice change to see him look…well relaxed, even if it was in a sleeping state.

Not wanting to wake his brother up, Mokuba is careful as he climbs onto the bed in order to lay beside his brother. Truth be told, the kid wasn't a fan of sleeping alone. He had spent the majority of his younger years sleeping next to someone, whether it be his father or Seto, and he had gotten used to it and preferred it. It's why he always slept with the very dragon plushie he still had in his arms and a weighted blanket to simulate that feeling. Though, that didn't always work in guaranteeing he'd fall asleep easily, with tonight being one of those times his usual setup failed him. That's why he was here, seeking comfort from the only family he could rely on.

Before lying down, he pauses for a moment. This…This had been the first time he'd done this since they were little, wasn't it? While he certainly tried to do so many times while their stepfather was alive, his attempts had been unsuccessful for one reason or another. Would the same thing happen here? Would Seto, as soon as he finds out what he's done, reject him? Well, there was only one way to find that out.

At last, he makes himself comfortable next to his brother, careful not to touch him directly. Even just being near him like this felt so… peaceful; a wave of nostalgia washed over him. Mokuba recalls back to when he and Seto sometimes had to share a bed at the orphanage, or when he would willingly invite him to be beside him. Those were the times he cherished deeply, and while such moments were few and far between these days, he was okay with just being in his brother's life. They had been torn apart by their stepfather's cruel actions, but thanks to the help of Yugi Muto, they had managed to come together again, stronger than ever.

"Good night...big brother." The sentiment is expressed internally as he manages to tuck himself under the covers hugging his plushie tightly to his chest. He could feel faint waves of Seto's warmth hit him from their close proximity, and as they always do, they made him feel safe and secure. No nightmares would be gracing his dreams tonight, not when his brother was there to protect him from them.

Purple eyes, which he had closed as he made himself comfortable, then began to slowly open as he felt movement. Before he can even react, Mokuba is suddenly pulled forward towards Seto's chest in a protective embrace, much like previous times he had slept in his brother's bed. Was his brother awake, or was he still asleep and did the movement on instinct? From this position, he can't tell, but...maybe it doesn't matter. His brother wanted him there consciously or subconsciously. Who was he to question it?

A small smile graced his features as he leaned into Seto's hold, Mokuba nuzzling him as if he were a kitten with its parent. The warmth of his brother was cast over him like a blanket, instantly making him feel completely secure. His eyes slowly begin to close tightly as his consciousness begins to drift. Seems like, at long last, he was able to leave the land of the waking to enter the realm of dreams, dreams that thankfully were as peaceful as he felt in the safety of his brother's arms.

[universestreasures]

Mokuba's Fashion Style (Teen/Young Adult)

As a teenager / young adult, Mokuba's style has completely changed while still maintaining many of his signature elements. His styling was done by one of his friend squad members, being Lady Suzuha, who herself is a fashion expert. Mokuba's love of patterns is still very much present in his new looks, but his color palate is much more condensed, mainly focusing on his signature purple, neutrals like white and black, along with occasional pops of color like red, blue, or yellow. He also has taken to wearing makeup (some purple eyeshadow), earrings, and jewelry and other accessories like ties, belts, and sometimes gloves and hats. His clothing is still usually in layers and is very breathable (but not as baggy as before) despite how it might appear. His appearance can be either more formal, casual, and something in between. Unique or abstract pieces he can also seen be worn, as he has come to like to play with his appearance a bit . He is often described as having 'matured' while still looking like himself, which is what he was going for.

DO NOT REBLOG

[universestreasures]

screencap redraw stuff I did for Arc-V

[universestreasures]

Mokuba's Fashion Style (Pre-Teen)

As a pre-teen, the two words to describe Mokuba's fashion sense are: colors and patterns. He is rarely seen wearing anything completely solid, unless it is a supporting piece (like for example blue jeans). He prefers his clothes to be comfortable and lose fitting, and has pieces he can remove if needed (like a jacket for example). He is very much the embodiment of what is known as 'kiddy core', and while he can wear some more 'fancy' or professional clothes, he very much dresses like a regular kid of the 90's and we stan him for that.

DO NOT REBLOG

[universestreasures]

[universestreasures]

“Do you remember? The first time we met, you gave me this game…”

-

Thinking about Yugi and Anzu friendship throughout the years and now they’re chasing their own dreams but it all started with a game they played together <3

I want to convey the feeling “Let’s play again someday,” in this.

-

I don’t mind if you want to tag this Peachshipping

[universestreasures]

Truths Of The Kingdom (Drabble) (For @shachou )

"Here's you go, Mokuba." Yugi smiles as he presents the neatly presented box of Capsule Monsters Chess capsules, filled with a selection the younger Kaiba hand-picked himself from what availability was in the store. "Those creatures you picked out are great choices."

"Thanks a lot, Yugi." Mokuba says, taking the box and placing it neatly inside his own golden suitcase that resembled his big brother's own silver one. "Your gramps had some super rare ones even I couldn't pull from the capsule machine! He's sure lucky when it comes to collectibles."

"Yeah, he does. Gramps has some of the most amazing pieces of gaming memorabilia I've ever seen! And each one he takes care of well and cherishes with all his heart, just like I know you will do the same with those capsules."

"Don't worry. I'll take good care of them. They're going right into my capsule display case in my room at home."

However, with how many Mokuba was getting as of late, perhaps he might need to get an additional one. He had been increasing his collection steadily, wanting to get his hands on just about every capsule in existence. It wasn't just for mere bragging rights, but rather as…research for a project he wanted to develop, a secret project not even his big bro knew about.

He then closed up his suitcase upon securing the merchandise inside before picking it up to prepare to take his leave. Mokuba had to be back at the mansion for dinner with his brother, considering it was one of the nights he had the evening off. Meals with his brother were one of the times they were guaranteed to spend time with each other during the day. So, he did well to make sure he didn't dare miss one.

The sight of something on a shelf, something Mokuba can't recall having seen on display before before, stops his exit, the young fourteen year old turning around and pointing to the object of interest.

"You still…have that dueling glove, Yugi?"

"Oh, this?" He says as he moves to take the object down from the shelf, putting the unique article of clothing on one of his hands. "Yeah I still have it. Atem and I had a lot of important battles while wearing this glove. Every experience I had are all still memories I cherish. So, I thought I'd finally put it on display as a memento of my time on that island."

"Hmph. Well, glad you at least got something good out of that whole thing…" The younger boy's voice is laced with obvious disdain. His time on that island is one he couldn't call enjoyable in the slightest. The only good part of it was reuniting with his brother, and even then, that could have happened anywhere.

Yugi, seeming to notice the sudden change in mood, shifts his expression to a somber smile. His eyes look down at the glove then as he appears to be contemplating something. "What you're saying may be true Mokuba, but Duelist Kingdom had as many good memories for me as bad ones. There were times back then I doubted myself, doubted whether I could save my grandpa and both you and your brother."

"…What...did you just say about my brother…?"

"Kaiba never…never told you…?"

"Told me what? What has my brother not told me?!" His hands have long since abandoned his briefcase, instead having placed them on the counter as he closed the distance between them again. "What do you know, Yugi?! Tell me!"

"I-I don't…I-I don't know if I-"

"I don't like being kept in the dark about things, and if you know something Seto hasn't told me, then you should tell me! I…I never thought about it till just now, but I never…asked him why he was on Pegasus' island to begin with. I guess I was so happy to see him again that I just didn't even think to ask. I-If that's what you know Yugi, then please tell me! I deserve to know what happened to him!"

A period of silence fell over the shop as Mokuba continued to stare at Yugi, his body language emphasizing the desperation of his words. He just had to know this information, and considering it had been held up until this point, he is doubtful Seto would tell him if he asked. There was no other option than to seek it from Yugi, for he could think of no one else who would know all the details and relay them to him accurately other than him.

A sigh from the duelist's mouth breaks the silence, Yugi looking back at the Kaiba then. "…I understand. You…You don't deserve to be kept in the dark. Let's…Let's talk in the back. You'll want to take a seat for this."

Mokuba nods as he follows Yugi to the back of the shop, picking up his belongings to take with him. He texts Isano, who was patiently waiting outside for him to finish, that he will be a bit longer than anticipated. He then takes a seat next to Yugi on a couch out back, giving the other his full attention as he begins to tell the story.

"I guess...it's best to start at the beginning." Yugi says as his eyes close, recounting the events in his mind. "The same night that you were taken back to the castle by one of Pegasus' men, your brother arrived in that helicopter we all went home in. I gave him his deck back, and not long after, Jonouchi challenged him to a duel."

"My bother dueled Jonouchi?! But he was such a wimp! Why would my brother waste his time?" Mokuba then pauses for a moment, realizing how what he said might have come off. "N-No offense to him or anything! He just wasn't remotely in my big bro's league back then, and that's the reason I'm confused as to why my brother would even accept his challenge to begin with."

"Your brother wanted to test out his new duel disk prototype because he planned to use it in a duel against Pegasus."

"Against Pegasus? So you're saying my brother came to Duelist Kingdom to duel Pegasus?" Mokuba's question is met by a nod from the other, the teen moving a hand under his chin as he takes a few moments to think. "I guess that makes sense. That creep was trying to take over our company! If my brother crushed him in a duel, then his entire plan would have fallen apart! Just like my bro to take action."

"Y-Yes, but...that wasn't his main reason for wanting to come to the island to duel Pegasus."

"I-It wasn't? Then what was, Yugi?"

"Not what Mokuba, but rather...who."

As soon as Yugi looked over to stare directly at Mokuba, the truth hit the young teen like a truck. You would think that such a sentiment would be obvious, but...it was one he did not even think to consider due to how his brother had treated him prior to Atem's penalty game. And that failure of realization stung...like a bug bite that just kept burning and burning with no signs of letting up.

"...Me? He came to Pegasus' island...to save...m-me?" His breath was shaky as tears threatened to spill from his eyes. The sight prompted Yugi to place his hands gently on his shoulders in order to provide some comfort.

"Of course he did. Mokuba...your big brother loves you. You’re everything to him. I know that probably there were times when it didn’t seem that way, but I know deep down in his heart…he never stopped loving you.”

It was those words that caused the dam to break; for water to finally flow from Mokuba’s purple hues. Any words he wanted to say in response were drowned out by his tears. What was spoken was a truth he wanted to be true deep down in his heart, but for many years he didn’t feel it. For who Seto had become due to their experiences under their stepfather was unrecognizable to Mokuba, and he believed he truly had lost his brother’s love for many years until their reunion on Duelist Kingdom island.

But Yugi wasn’t one to lie. In fact, he was the most honest person he could think of. It’s why he pleaded with him to share this tale in the first place. So, if he believed that sentiment, then it must be true, even if believing it was still hard to swallow considering his brother’s past actions. For he would never forget all the horrible memories he tried to suppress, the ones that would haunt him as nightmares in the dead of night.

“If he did…” Yugi continued after allowing the younger a few moments to let his emotions out. His hands slowly released from the other’s shoulder and his gaze shifted downward. “He wouldn’t have…risked his chip in our duel.”

“His chip…?” Mokuba’s blood ran cold as he remembered something his brother told him once, one of the many 'life lessons' he had been told as a kid. His face turns pale as he looked at the other with a desperate and horrified expression. “You don’t mean his…”

No vocal response is given as the air in the room suddenly feels much 'heavier' than before. Nothing but silence filled the room as the duelist deliberately seemed to avoid Mokuba's gaze. This atmosphere...it could only mean that...what he suspected was true.

That his elder brother...risked his very life to save Mokuba's own...The most selfless act that one could consider...Seto had always been selfless in his protection of his younger brother, but this...? This was...on a whole other level.

It's at that moment that Mokuba can hear a small sniffle reach his ears, but not one that had come from himself. For it was Yugi that had created it, his own purple hues now also being filled with tears. He could not understand why though, despite knowing his brother's rival was a rather empathetic person. So, he decided to ask.

"Yugi...? Why are you...why are you crying too?"

"I was...so scared that he was going to die if I went through with our final attack..." He doesn't elaborate on the details of 'how' Kaiba would have died, for saying it out loud would be much too painful for him. "I had to...stop Atem, who was only trying to help me so we could save my grandpa from Pegasus, from winning the duel..."

"You...You let my brother beat you? Even though...Pegasus had your gramps?" That certainly would explain why his brother said his duel with Atem wasn't over yet shortly before they departed the island. However, Yugi's words still left an important aspect of this unexplained, leaving the teen confused. "My brother...He did...horrible things to you and your friends. Why show him mercy at all? You know...if things were reversed, he probably wouldn't have-"

"Because...I didn't want him to die, Mokuba." Yugi's words cut off the youngest Kaiba's, his words dying in his throat under the weight of the other's sorrow. "I couldn't have let him die...I couldn't let anyone die because of me, especially...not someone I consider and cherish as friend."

Yugi then moves to moves to stand up in order to access a lavender tissue box on the nearby counter. He takes it and brings it over to Mokuba, offering him some. They both took this moment to dry their eyes before continuing on.

"I regret having to fight him at all if I'm being honest with you. I didn't know why he was dueling me at that point, but I should have known it was for an important reason. He had a fire in his eyes like nothing I'd ever seen from him before, a fire that reminded me of Atem's." Yugi then clasps his hands together as if trying to stabilize himself and control his emotions. "We were both just...trying to save our family members from Pegasus. We should have...We should have been fighting him together as comrades, not battling one another as enemies...Maybe if we did...he wouldn't have had to duel Pegasus all on his own."

"So my brother did end up fighting Pegasus after all, then? And since you said earlier you had to save my brother, I guess...I guess I know how that turned out..."

It's no wonder his brother didn't want to discuss it. When it came to losses, his brother didn't handle them well. He never has, even when they were kids before Gozaboru taught him his 'final lesson'. Hearing that he did lose, though, did bring another question to his mind.

"But...how could he have lost? He had the upper hand because of his duel disk, right? That jerk Pegasus must have cheated or something!" Little did he know that last sentiment was technically correct, but that wasn't the key detail that Yugi was going to focus on.

"He...He didn't use it in that duel."

"Why not?! My brother never changes his plans! Unless he...had no choice..."

Mokuba pauses his thought there, trying his best to recall back to what he can remember. One moment, he was in Pegasus' dungeon, then he saw a golden flash of light, and then the next he knew, he was waking up in a bed surrounded by Yugi's friends. That means there was a huge gap of time he wasn't around for, and if his brother was there to save him, then...

"Where was I during all this, Yugi? Because...I don't really remember how I got into that bedroom in the castle..." In response to his asking for more information, Yugi looks to the side again, avoiding his gaze. That signaled to him that whatever happened had to be heavy, but considering what he's already heard in this talk, he imagines it can't get much worse.

"Come on, Yugi. You've already told me this much! I want to know everything, no matter how painful it is to hear! And I promise I won't ask you to talk about this again! So, please...!" The pleading nature of his tone does little to convey his desperation. He was already this far into this, he wasn't about to turn back now. Seeming to realize that, a sigh escapes the duelist's lips before continuing on.

"Pegasus...did the same thing to you as he did to my grandpa. He...trapped your soul in another place...a soul prison, using his Millenium Eye."

Hearing the name of that item caused something inside of the boy's mind to click into place, like a puzzle piece. He remembers a quick sight of a weird eye behind Pegasus' white hair just before everything went black. That must be what Yugi was mentioning. It just had to be.

"With your soul in another place, your body was...under Pegasus' control. He...He used that to his advantage to stop your brother from using his duel disk, for Pegasus wanted you...to be the one to operate it for him. And your brother...refused to fight you, Mokuba. So...they dueled on a table instead."

He sits there, eyes darting to his locket as he processes yet another bombshell of information. His brother was always...hesitant to play games with him when he started to get older. Mokuba could never quite figure out the reason why. Games were something they used to enjoy when they were younger, after all. Though, games were not just 'fun' for his brother anymore, sadly. They were seen as battles, a clashing of souls, and looking at it from that point of view, made everything become clear to him. How could he not have seen this before?!

"Seto..." His brother's name is all he can say, his eyes fixated on the locket that he opened so that his brother's picture was staring back at him. Mokuba then listened intently to Yugi recount the rest of the tale, his hands seeming to grip the picture and hold back more tears with each passing detail. Pegasus using his brother's precious Blue-Eyes against him...His brother's own trapping in a soul prison...How Honda got him out of the dungeon... All of it he became aware of, and he...he could barely handle it.

Following the conclusion of the story, Mokuba bowed his head and expressed his gratitude to Yugi, promising he owes him one for this. Yugi, being the kind of person he was, said to not worry about it and instead said he hoped he gave him what he was looking for. Upon hearing that, the vice president decides to take his leave, making sure to pick up his briefcase and telling the duelist he'll see him again when his gramps gets new capsules in stock.

No words are exchanged as he got into the car with Isano, the teen simply deciding to remain silent as they headed back to the mansion. Upon arrival, still nothing came out of his mouth. His head is kept down down as he headed to his room. He then opens the door then, placing everything to the side before plopping onto his bed face first and pressing a button to close the blackout curtains around it to block everything else out.

Mochi, as always, is there at his side, curling up right underneath his left hand that Mokuba naturally start to use to stroke her soft fur. He uses his other hand to text one of the maids, telling them that he wasn't going to eat dinner with his brother tonight. The reason he gave, that he didn't have much of an appetetie, was both a truth and a lie. It was a lie in the sense that he certainly was hungry, but it was a truth because he couldn't focus on eating when he had much more on his mind.

His heart was a mix of emotions he couldn't quite label. Frustration. Sorrow. Agony. All of those were certainly part of it, but what he felt more than anything was a pain in his chest, akin to a stab through his heart. He hid his face in his pillow as time went by, crying into it heavily as a million thoughts ran through his mind.

Some things he thought were about himself. How could he let himself not question this for so long?! How could he have been so blind to his brother's feelings again?! How could he not see what was right in front him?! What was said through actions and not words?!

Other things he thought were about his brother. How could his brother keep this a secret from him when he expressed he wanted things to be open and honest between them? If he kept this a secret, what else has he not been told? And did his brother still see him as that scared, pathetic kid who clung to him desperately to survive back at the orphanage when Mokuba was a full-blown teenager now?

The thoughts and tears continued to consume him as time passed, the younger Kaiba losing track of it altogether. He ignored the growling of his stomach. He ignored the crustyness of his eyelids. He ignored all signs to stop and take care of himself, signs he always made sure to scold Seto for ignoring, to instead drown in a storm of his own emotions, one that seemed to have no end in sight.

TO BE CONTINUED.

[universestreasures]

𝐌𝐎𝐎𝐃𝐁𝐎𝐀𝐑𝐃 𝐌𝐄𝐌𝐄, seto & mokuba // asked by @universestreasures

[universestreasures]

Skipped day 4

Magi week day 5: underrated character

[universestreasures]

[universestreasures]

NO! THE REVERSE UNO! IT'S NOT POSSIBLE! NO ONE'S EVER BEEN ABLE TO USE THAT!!!

Hey. Hey L. You activated my trap card.

(but seriously hope you're enjoying your new space and I'm so hype for all the fun we're gonna have. And you are amazing. )

Rarity, you fool, now you've activated my trap card!

[universestreasures]

Mokuba Kaiba (Teenage / Young Adult)

Going into his teenage years and after a huge growth spurt (he is now 5'6 as opposed to him being 4'7), Mokuba decides to fully change up his style other than just a hair cut and wearing a suit at work. With the help of his fashion bestie Suzuha Amanosuzu, he is now embodying the look of a true gamer, the aspect of himself he hones following the events of DSOD / the end of the original anime's storyline. Not only does it feature his signature picture locket, he is also now sporting a purple shoulder cape, blue vest with a golden KC for a button, golden KC earings and light purple eyeshadow, a black and white collared shirt, black gloves, white and black sneakers, and a white belt with a hanging Level 5 capsule.

Art By: My Wonderful Boyfriend @throneofein <3

Coloring / Character Design By: Me.

Note: Please do not reblog or repost this art, or use this design! This design was made by me for my Mokuba specifically for my own use, and this art was posted with permission by the original artist!

[universestreasures]

Yugi sends Anzu some pink roses but forgets to sign his name oops.

the  thing  is    that  even  if  there  was  no  note  attached  to  the  blooms  of  pink  aromanticising  her  studio  ,  the  flowers  smell  of  him  ..  for  -who  else  could  they  be  from  ?   in  any  case  ,  with  a  gentle  smile  adorning  her  face  ,  she  made  a  mental  note  to  send  him  something  in  return  one  of  these  days  .

[universestreasures]

Yugioh - Kisara Character Sheet Pics!

From the Yugioh Guide Book from my collection! Kisara needs more luv too, so here are some of her scans!

*scanned/edit by me*

[universestreasures]

@shachou 💜

#wholesome fatherhood (•ˆ⌣ˆ•)

[universestreasures]

Hearing the other's words evoked a sense of Deja Vu in the younger twin. He could almost see himself, clad in a purple robe much like the burgundy one Motoki had on, saying similar words to Seto in the control room of Death-T. What his brother was trying to do...was just what Mokuba himself had tried to do by facing Yugi during that event and for the same reason: to get Seto's approval and acknowledgment.

It was no secret to anyone the eldest Kaiba was...not exactly in the best headspace up until recently. The difference between them was night and day...for the most part. While Mokuba and Seto had 'patched things up' as it were, Motoki and Seto had not, despite Mokuba's best efforts to get the two to do so. As for himself and his twin, their relationship too was strained, but at least they talked to each other sometimes.

The fractured nature of their bond was clear for anyone to see at a quick glance. For only Seto and himself were wearing the card-shaped lockets that contained a picture of all three of them from their youth. Motoki had refused, or accurately outright rejected, Mokuba's hand-crafted gift. It was something he could imagine the old Seto doing, which didn't make it any easier on him to be reminded of those times.

"Motoki...I...I get where you're coming from. Believe me, I do, but..." He says, gripping his locket like he always did when he's in need of a little more strength or courage. "...this isn't the right way to go about this. It...It didn't when I tried."

There was nothing he could have done back then. He knows that now. Only Yugi had the power to change the situation, and thanks to him, Seto had been 'freed' in a sense from the 'demon of games' as Mokuba called it. This time was different, though. Not even Yugi's powers could fix their fractured family. It was up to Mokuba to do so, which is why he had decided to be the mature one here and say what needed to be said.

"Honestly, if you and Seto just both had a heart-to-heart, brother-to-brother, then I think things will work out. I know you two don't really like talking about...how you feel and stuff, but...I think there are things you two need to hear from each other directly. I-I can even be a mediator if needed!"

Mokuba then looks down to his locket still in his grasp, and slowly opens it up to reveal a portion of the picture of the three of them from the orphanage, one brother on each side of the locket. "I just...I just want us to be a family again...Is that so bad?"

What was the point in having a Keep Out sign on his door if it was only going to be ignored by everyone else? It had been enough of a fight to get Seto to relent to giving the twins separate rooms, was it really so much for Motoki to ask that he had the privacy to go along with it?

With a frown, he shoves the deck he had been building into the drawer of his desk, shifting his body to shield the rest of the cards he was looking through from view. He wouldn’t put it past his twin to go and rat to the eldest Kaiba brother the sort of cards Motoki was building his deck with. It would be just like Mokuba to give Seto another unfair advantage.

Motoki listens to his brother with an unamused expression, clearly irritated by Mokuba’s intrusion. When his brother seemingly finishes his plea, Motoki can’t help but scoff.

“Yeah, that’s why I’m gonna compete.” He couldn’t possibly expect Mokuba to understand; Mokuba had always had Seto’s favor, he’d always been the sensitive one, the baby who needed looking after. Motoki had always been more independent, less reliant on their brother to take care of him. But somewhere along the way, this had led Seto to the belief that, apparently, Motoki didn’t need him at all, and he could fully devote all of his love and attention towards Mokuba instead.

To say Motoki was tired of the blatant favoritism would be something of an understatement.

“If I’m the one to defeat Yugi and face Seto in the final match instead, he’ll have no choice but to acknowledge me. He won’t be able to just brush me aside anymore, especially if I beat him.”

[universestreasures]

Inferiority Complexes

As far as my YGO DM muses go, Yugi & Mokuba are not only the youngest of my current line up, but are also the two who possess heavy feelings of inferiority regarding themselves and someone they care about a lot / look up to. With that comes shaky self-confidence and high self-doubt. However, how their feelings manifested, the intensity of those feelings, and how they are eventually overcome are different, and I want to go into that in this post (prepare yourself it's gonna be a lengthy one)

So, let's begin with Yugi, whose feelings are pretty blatant in the text (both anime and manga wise) and are a big part of his character growth / central arc. Yugi, unsurprising to anyone, feels a sense of inferiority to Atem, someone he looks up to and sees like an elder brother. So, when did this all start?

Well, pretty much as soon as Yugi figured out there was 'someone or something else' who shared his body and was the one doing the majority of the big feats in terms of the plot (Manga wise that's Death-T and Anime Wise that's in Duelist Kingdom). Atem always appears as a source of strength for Yugi when something is too tough for him to handle emotionally or physically. Even when he was unaware that Atem wasn't just an alternate personality of his but in fact his own person, he still was very much aware of the strong presence taking him over in times of adversity. And that fact...made him feel so weak and pathetic in comparison, that he Yugi Muto, wasn't strong enough to handle whatever he had to face.

This fact of him feeling like the 'lesser Yugi' damages Yugi's own low amount of self-confidence that he had even before completing the puzzle. He's never seen himself as anything special, partially due to his own humble nature. Even after the main story is done, he still feels that way. That low self-confidence leads to self-doubt and needlessly beating himself up for being so 'weak' to the point there are moments he gives into what others, such as Marik, have said about him only being Atem's 'vessel' and nothing else. As if that is the only thing he is good for, that he is the 'weaker' Yugi.

Sometimes he even questions if he should just 'vanish', that everyone would be better off if he wasn't there or that people would prefer Atem being around over him. We see this in the anime when Anzu is dueling in the Noa Arc, Yugi thinking that she is calling out for Atem and not him.

But it is Atem, along with the rest of Yugi's friends, who help him through these complex feelings, Atem especially. He teaches Yugi about strength and courage, a trait Yugi has had all along inside of him that he was unable to truly see. For example, he stood up to Ushio to defend Jonouchi and Honda even before Atem appeared, to stand up to a bully and protect people he called 'friends'. That kind of strength, the strength of kindness, is Yugi's strength, and it is through seeing Atem and teaching that fact to him, along with the encouragement of his friends, that allows him to really see it for himself.

This is why Yugi takes steps, such as during Battle City, to prove his own strength to himself. He wants to prove he isn't as weak as he thinks he is, to use what he's learned from his partner and stand on his own because he knows one day he will have to. This is done mainly through his battles with Otogi in the manga, possessed Jonouchi in both versions, and Yami Bakura in the Dark RPG. They were battles Yugi had to primarily or entirely fight on his own. And those battles showcased Yugi's own unique strength that wasn't just 'an inferior version of Atem's' or even a 'copy', which is shown well through Yugi's own unique deck he used against Yami Bakura.

This all cumulates in the ceremonial duel, where Yugi proves his strength and truly is able to overcome his insecurities to fulfill his last mission as Atem's vessel / partner. And he takes as much pride in that victory as he does sadness, for it was the last step in his journey. After that fight, he no longer sees himself as inferior to Atem, but rather his equal. For he knows that duel was evenly matched, and if he didn't predict Atem's final plan to win, he would have lost.

Lastly, he gets to prove to everyone who did believe those negative thoughts he had about himself to be true in DSOD, such as with Kaiba. Kaiba at the end acknowledges him as a true duelist, and that meant the world to Yugi. It really helped cement that new found self-confidence of his, especially because Kaiba has always been someone Yugi's respected and was Atem's rival.

Overall, Yugi's inferiority complex is a key part of his character arc. It is something he overcame with time and the support of his loved ones, and I for one as a Yugi mun cannot be more proud of my boy. I'm sure Atem is proud of him too, as we can no doubt see by the end of their duel and I suspect he felt when seeing Yugi again in DSOD.

As for everyone's favorite little bro, Mokuba feels a sense of inferiority to Seto, which isn't probably that surprising considering how he views his big brother and just what his brother has accomplished. Unlike Yugi who developed his feelings in the midst of the story, Mokuba's feelings have been pretty much a part of him since he could remember. Though, they are just as deep-rooted and potent as Yugi's, if not more so.

Mokuba's feelings began when he first developed his admiration for his brother. Seto was a genius, a capable young boy most would consider a prodigy. From Mokuba's POV, everything his brother was able to do was impressive, be it from grades, to ideas, to his talent for gaming. This feeling was probably shared by their parents and many other adults, to the point I am 100% certain Seto was a prime adoption candidate who probably refused if they did not want to take Mokuba too (which I imagine most if not all did not). And while he felt no feelings of jealousy to his brother for all that praise or attention he got (jealousy is a feeling Mokuba's never felt towards Seto ever), he did sorta start to see himself as...lesser in comparison.

Though, this is Mokuba 100% being unfair to himself. You must keep in mind Mokuba and Seto are 5 years apart in age, and Mokuba was only 5 and Seto was 10 when they were dropped off at the orphanage. That's a huge gap in terms of development, and Mokuba had not gotten as much life experience as his brother or time to learn and hone any really major skills (because I do think Mokuba is a fast learner when he puts his mind to something and is very motivated, similar to his brother).

But this reality goes over Mokuba's young mind (and it still does, even after knowing the logic). After all, if his brother can do all those things, surely he can too, right? So it must be an issue with HIM. It's part of why, more often than not, Mokuba sees himself as a burden to his brother, that his own lack of 'competence' or 'specialness' holds him back. He blames himself for them not being adopted by potential nice families who wanted Seto and not Mokuba, because if he was just 'better' than they surely would want both (even though that's not at all how that works, but again, little kid logic).

This is why, even at a young age, Mokuba tries to prove himself and can often be reckless. We see this in Death-T primarily in canon with him wanting to challenge Yugi (which was also motivated by getting his brother's approval), but I imagine he did this with just about anything he tried to do. He wanted to sorta 'catch up' to his brother, even though there was never a 'race' between the two of them to begin with.

These feelings of inferiority intensify after they are both adopted by Gozaboru. I imagine Gozaboaru, much like other parents, only really was after Seto. He had no interest at all in Mokuba. Why would he when Seto was the one to be the heir?

I imagine Mokuba didn't get the same harsh treatment his brother did from Gozaboru, because it was almost like he wasn't 'there' to begin with. Mokuba was isolated from his brother I imagine through a lot of their childhood, so he wouldn't be a 'distraction'. Sure he got educated too (I imagine he was just sent to regular school much like we see him in the manga going to), but it was not anything special. It was more like 'good enough' as opposed to anything extraordinary. And he was no doubt compared to his brother constantly, whether it was by staff or by people at school. That only made what he was feeling worse and led to both beating himself up needlessly (like Yugi does) and contributing to his nightmares at times.

On top of all of that, as Seto and him (manga wise anyway) got further and further apart, he sorta got the vibe from his brother that Mokuba was no longer 'worth his time'. He wasn't anything attention-grabbing anymore, hence leading to Mokuba's early manga actions (because I 100% think everything from the first Capsule Monsters game to his match with Yugi in Death-T was all to get Seto's attention and not his true nature. Why else would he just suddenly change personality traits upon Seto's loss, when he didn't get mind crushed?).

Even after repairing his relationship with his brother post Manga Duelist Kingdom, his feelings of inferiority were not addressed (he hasn't brought them up to Seto directly before cause he doesn't like to burden his brother and it's hard to talk about for him) and only grew as his brother accomplished more and more. He almost like saw himself at the bottom of the hill with his brother at the top, with the distance being too great between them. That distance was indeed one of his motivators for him to start working harder, to start taking a more active role in Kaiba Corp, and to start honing his gaming skills without the use of cheating.

So, with all that said, how does Mokuba overcome these feelings? Well, aside from working hard as I mentioned, I imagine it will be a slow process that is helped by both his friend squad and his brother. Mokuba's Buddyfight friend group (AKA my Gao, Tasuku, Suzuha, and Akatsuki) are the first real friends (outside of Yugi's gang) he's made that see him as NOT Seto Kaiba's brother but rather his own individual. They constantly lift him up, support his efforts, and are there for him. They've done a lot for him personally to feel like he's worthwhile and that he's not as 'weak' as he thinks.

As for Seto, any kind of praise or showcase of being 'proud' of him helps. This can be done in many forms, including being given important tasks at Kaiba Corporation, such as running things in his absence post-DSOD until he returns. I do imagine if Mokuba ever told his brother about his feelings, that Seto would tell him something along the lines of that he doesnt' need to feel that way or that he should not compare himself. Being seen in such a way by his brother would help greatly, along with I imagine if Mokuba is able to beat him in any sort of game and his brother expresses that he did 'good'.

In conclusion, I do not think it will be till Mokuba is an adult that those feelings he has will completely go away (I imagine they pop up every now and again too, like any deep-rooted feeling). It is only after having stood on his own two feet, having proved himself, having gotten that approval from those around him, and having probably bested his brother in a game that his view shifts from being 'lesser' to that of an equal, a true Kaiba in his own right (something he didn't have to 'earn' btw but he thought he had to). And I hope to get to explore that journey of growth through all my threads!