#💎 Vice Treasure (Mokuba Kaiba)

[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 (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' enhances 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 strait 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 hasn't 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 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!

#💎 Game Treasure (Yugi Muto) #💎 Vice Treasure (Mokuba Kaiba) #💎 Game's Glimmers And Glitz (Yugi Headcanons) #💎 Vice's Glimmers And Glitz (Mokuba Headcanons) #tw long post #(this is such a big aspect of my portrays of these two i thought id finally write it all out #(I hope everything made sense and im always down to answer any questions too!

[universestreasures]

@devildukem & @shacchou your boys got some mad catching and throwing skills my god. Thanks to them for making sure my boy didn't get left behind <3

#💎 Vice Treasure (Mokuba Kaiba) #devildukem #shacchou #(I feel like this needs to be recreated in a thread LMFAO #(i randomly had this in my yt suggestions so i had to share #(Love how Kaiba just says “CATCH!” #(AND THEN DOES THE SUPERHERO LANDING POSE LMFAOOO #Youtube

[universestreasures]

One thing I love about Manga Mokuba that I am so sad wasn't shown in the original anime (It was shown in Season 0 though) and was sorta downplayed following Death-T was the fact that Mokuba IS A GAMER IN HIS OWN RIGHT. He may not be as 'obsessed' with them as Seto is, but it's clear that he really enjoys gaming and is passionate.

I do think its a shame we never saw him participate in any more games after Death-T in the manga (I don't really count him dueling Atem in Duelist Kingdom), but considering the focus on Duel Monsters (a game Mokuba is not as proficient in compared to Seto), it makes sense. Though, I still woulda loved the idea of him continuing on his gaming jouruney, which is something I am exploring with my own portrayal (like Mokuba hitting up the arcade scene like he did in Season 0, meeting his Buddyfighter friends, one day developing his own Capsule Monsters Chess virtual system, and becoming the world champion of that game).

Anyways, Mokuba is a true gaming gremlin and we love him for that.

#💎 Vice Treasure (Mokuba Kaiba) #💎 Vice's Adventure Log (Mokuba Analysis) #(Gamer Mokuba deserved more content honestly. #(like i would love to see him and seto play a game together like they did as kids ;;;;

[universestreasures]

The Kaiba Brothers (Yu-Gi-Oh! R Chapter 14)

For @shacchou (Only the tagged blog may reblog!) <3)

#💎 Dottr Creations (Mun Edits) #💎 Vice Treasure (Mokuba Kaiba) #💎 President With A Blue-Eyed Lighting (Shacchou) #💎 Vice President Of Kaiba Corp (Mokuba Visage) #💎 The Vice & His Dragon Loving Older Brother (Mokuba & Seto) #(Surprise ani! Have our boys looking so snazzy in their matching outfits!!! #(Love these outfits sm! and had to give mokie and seto their blue and silver and purple and gold aesthetics #(These feel like outfits to me Mokuba would want made just so the two can match #(and 100% everyone in KC would be going AWWWW in secret LOL #(I decided to add a bit of a drop shadow and a simple colored bg and a bit of shading helped to make it pop

[universestreasures]

@lcstsons (Motoki !!!)

Mokuba, as per his appointed position, had just finished reviewing the list of invited participants for the soon to begin Battle City tournament. The list of names didn't really interest him personally, filled with duelists with names he recognized along with nobodies. Well, except for one. It was the name of the person the youngest of the Kaiba Brothers had sought to speak to, having gone to the other's room inside the house and just letting himself in without knocking.

"Hey, Motoki. I gotta ask you something." He starts, still holding the list in hand as he approaches his twin brother. "You so sure you want to compete? You know if you enter the tournament, you'll...you'll probably have to face Seto and that new Egyptian God card of his at some point. You saw how powerful it was at the test of the new duel disk system, and even if you're family, we both know he won't hold back..."

It wasn't like his eldest brother to hold back during a match period, no matter the opponent. Though, Mokuba is blissfully unaware his brother refused to fight him during Duelist Kingdom, something he may not ever come to learn due to his brother's protective nature and habit of keeping him in the dark. "This...This is his chance to become the King of Duelists and settle the score with Yugi. Do you really want...to stand in the way of that?"

#lcstsons (Motoki) #💎 Vice Treasure (Mokuba Kaiba) #💎 Vice's Game Of Double Trouble (Mokuba Triple Threat AU) #(LETS GOOO #(Funny enough we know Mokuba is the one person seto cant fight but Motoki? not so much #(Mokuba has baby privilege LOL

[universestreasures]

The Lockets (Drabble)

Expansion/Spin Off From This Thread With @shacchou (Hope you like this Ani <3)

The young boy didn't expect her to come, if he's being honest. Since Gozaboru Kaiba passed away, Mokuba had cut off all contact with Lady Suzuha. It wasn't because he was grieving over the abusive man. No, it was because his focus had...shifted. He didn't want her to see him like this, to see him do what he thought he had to in order to regain what he lost...

His big brother's love...

Now that the puzzle of his big brother's heart had been broken due to the Penalty Game he suffered at Yugi Muto's hands, and his brother left in a coma for weeks now, everything had shifted. Mokuba was starting to act like himself again, as if he too had been consumed by the demon of games just like his older brother for the last half of a year. That was why he reached out to, really, his closest friend, to one of the only good things that being adopted by his stepfather had given him. And thankfully, she responded and hurried over quickly, overwhelmed with concern and worry herself after having heard the news about his brother's condition.

The two were in one of the many living spaces inside the mansion, arts and craft supplies spread all over the massive table in the middle. The two children often did this activity when they met up, this time being no different. He had something specific in mind that he wanted to do, something that had his immediate focus as he worked diligently on his project.

"M-Mokuba, dear?" The voice of the young lady pulled the youngest Kaiba out of his focus, purple hues staring at hers that could be seen above her signature pink fan. "Are you sure...this is what you called me over for? I-I mean, making arts and crafts with you is certainly a delight and one I rather missed. However, considering...recent events, I...I thought...I thought you called me over so that you could...have a trusted ear to talk about what happened..."

Her inquiry causes him to freeze in place, almost dropping the rope he had been working with. He should have figured this would happen. His friend was rather perceptive, not that Mokuba was any good at hiding his emotions to begin with. Unlike his older brother, he wore his heart on his sleeve for all to see, and she had seen right through him.

"I...I..."

"It's alright if you'd rather not discuss it. I...I know things are hard for you as it is right now. I simply wanted to express my own thoughts. If you simply want my company as we make artistic creations together like we always do, then that is alright. I am here for you today. No one else."

"...Thanks, Suzuha." Mokuba gives her a weak smile. He appreciates her understanding. It was true he did want to talk about it, but...not right now. Not when he had something he needed to finish first and his own thoughts and feelings together.

The room is filled again with silence as the two return to their work. While he worked on his project, she seemed to be painting a tea set of some sort. Perhaps it was a gift for Lord Amanosuzu. If that was the case, then they both had a similar idea in terms of what the purpose of making their crafts was.

As soon as he is about to put the finishing touches on his twin creations, he looks up as he notices Suzuha had gotten out of her chair and was above his shoulder, examining his work closely. "My, my! These are quite lovely, Mokuba dear! Are these for...you and your brother?"

"That's the idea...but I'm not sure if he will-" His words are cut short by the gentle gloved hand of the older young lady being placed on his shoulder, Suzuha's reassuring smile providing a comfort he had been lacking in his life for so long now; the smile of someone who cared about him deeply.

"Of course, he will like it! No, he'll love it! It's a handmade gift from you, his dear little brother! What sibling wouldn't adore such a thing filled with one's true feelings of brotherly love?"

"L-Love...?"

The word sounded so foreign escaping his lips, as if it was the first time he'd ever heard such a concept. His brother had told him brotherly love was a waste, something that only held one back. Those words stuck with him, even as he desperately tried anything and everything to get it from the older Kaiba since his spiral. That's why he had doubted even doing this in the first place, but yet he persisted anyway, creating something with his whole heart that was broken into many pieces by the events that had transpired.

Seems like the more things change, the more they stay the same, huh?

Before he can continue his response, he and she are both directed to the door. It then opens, revealing both one of the mansion staff and someone that caused both Suzuha and Mokuba's eyes to widen in surprise.

"Master Mokuba, Sorry to interrupt, but Officer Ryuenji is here to see you."

"Hey. Sorry for dropping in like this. I just wanted to make sure you were doing alright, Mokuba."

Before Mokuba can attempt to comment on the other's words, the ruby hues of the other focus on the other individual in the room. A hand goes over Tasuku chest as Mokuba watches him do a slight bow, like a prince would greeting a princess. "Lady Suzuha? Is that you? What a surprise! I did not expect to see you here today. I was not aware you and Mokuba knew each other."

"O-Oh! Y-Yes!" Mokuba's eyes widen just a bit at the sudden stammering in her voice, something he has never seen before from his friend. Suzuha whips out her fan, quickly covering the light blush forming in her cheeks with it. "We've been friends for years, T-Tasuku! Our fathers...were acquainted, and that's how we got introduced. My being here today is just one of many I've had with Mokuba dear over the years. I was not aware you were acquainted with him as well, but considering the celebrity that you are, I guess it's no surprise."

Mokuba and Tasuku both take a sigh of relief at her conclusion,both seemingly deciding to go along with it. Considering all the work Tasuku and the Buddy Police had done to keep the Death-T incident from going public, Suzuha becoming privy to it would put that in jeopardy. Not only that, Mokuba didn't want his friend to know his part of it, a part he felt like he had to do as a last-ditch effort to get the older Kaiba's attention at the time.

"Thanks for coming to check on me, Officer Ryuenji. I appreciate it."

"Please, just call me Tasuku. I think you and I are well acquainted enough to not speak so formally to one another."

Tasuku then took a seat, watching the two go back to their crafts as he did not want to intrude it seemed. It was a new thing for Mokuba to have 'friends over' like this, people who actively wanted to see him and were not trying to get anything out of him. It was...nice.

Was this...the feeling that comes from true friendship and unity with others? The very thing that Yugi seemed to have harnessed to beat his brother?

Mokuba then picks up the last part, the last piece, to his creation, the one item from the past he's treasured and preserved throughout the years. It was something he had clung to, a spark of hope he always held onto despite the darkness that came into his life. It was important to him, more than anyone including his brother, knew..until today that is.

"Mokuba? Is that...?" Tasuku questions, looking over along with Suzuha at the item the youngest in the room now held in his hands.

"Mhmm...It's an old picture of me and Seto before we were adopted by Gozaboru. We looked pretty different back then, huh?"

"You look the same to me, dear Mokuba. It is your brother who is the different one here. I..I have never seen Seto Kaiba...smile with such heart before. Not even during events we've both attended or any promotions I've seen. It's... polarizing, to put it mildly."

"Yeah...It was...a different time, a time before...all of this. That's why this picture is very dear to me, probably the most important thing I own now. And..."

Mokuba begins to do the unthinkable next, slowly starting to rip the photograph in two. His actions shock the other two in the room, both almost going to say something before he continues on and starts to place half of the picture into one of the lockets, precisely the half of the photograph he is featured in.

"I'm going to share it with him, share with Seto my most treasured memory, so that he will...come back to me someday."

Once he finishes the process with the other locket, the boy moves to leave the room, telling his guests he needs to do something. With that, he runs down the long corridors of the Kaiba Mansion, not stopping until he reaches the most guarded part of the house: his brother's chambers.

The maid moves aside to let him in, bringing Mokuba face-to-face with his brother for the first time in weeks. Just looking at him like this, in a coma and stuck in a wheelchair like a lifeless husk, pained him like nothing else. However, he pressed forward anyway, for he had something important to do.

"Big Brother...I...I don't know if you can hear me, but...I...I want to give you something, something to help guide you back to me...A piece of my heart..."

Mokuba then places one of the lockets he created, the one containing his own picture, around his brother's neck. He then puts the remaining one, the one containing Seto's picture, around his own neck, the boy then clenching it protectively like he was a dragon protecting a treasured gem. He can feel his heart start to ache and his body start to quake along with it, his emotions that he had been trying so hard to manage in order to stay strong finally taking over him.

Before he can realize it, his knees buckle, sending him down to the floor and his face into Seto's lap. Water flows from his eyes and land on the white fabric of his brother's clothing, his cries starting to echo throughout the mansion. His friends, immediately upon hearing it spring into action, both stopping in their tracks upon meeting the maid when having reached the entrance. The woman told them to leave the young master on his own for now, to allow him his feelings he's been holding in to come out freely without judgment.

"Mokuba..."

"Mokuba..."

And so the two listened and waited outside the door as Mokuba's cries continued for what seemed like forever, the cries being some of the most painful they'd ever heard. Little did they knew that this was not even close to displaying the amount of anguish the young boy felt, an anguish that had been building up for years upon years that all just spilled over the second his brother went into that coma. For he had been through so much, seen so much, all since that fateful day that changed everything for him and his older brother...

"Seto...Come back...Come back to me...Big brother...I...I miss you...I...I need you...I need you here with me...I don't know who I am without you...So, please...Please I'm begging you...Come home soon..."

#💎 Crystalized Hidden Gems (Drabble) #💎 Vice Treasure (Mokuba Kaiba) #💎 Heiress Treasure (Suzuha Amanosuzu) #💎 Wonder Treasure (Tasuku Ryuenji) #💎 President With A Blue-Eyed Lighting (Shacchou) #💎 Vice's Monochromic Alternate Path (Mokuba Manga Verse) #💎 Heiress's Game Of Life (Suzuha Yu-Gi-Oh! DM Verse) #💎 Wonder's Game Of Life (Tasuku Yu-Gi-Oh! DM Verse) #tw long post #(Only Ani may reblog if she likes because it's connected to our thread <3 #(I've had my idea for this drabble this entire week but only today did i have time to actually write it out #(I had the idea to include this info in the thread proper at some point but it take away from the main focus of it #(So i said ill put it in a companion thing #(Also a good chance to help me flesh out mokubas friend group dynamic #(I did not intend for Tasuku to be here when i first thought of this idea but i thought it be cute so i added him #(ANYWAY I HOPE ANI AND ANYONE ELSE WHO TAKES THE TIME TO READ THIS MONSTER LIKES IT #(I THINK THIS IS MY LONGEST WRITING THING IN A WHILEEEE

[universestreasures]

Mokuba's Character Arc Redemption Arc

your story had a pretty rough start and you did some things you're not proud of, but you made the choice to change. i won't go through how important it is to accept responsibility and keep striving to improve or whatever because you know that already. what i think you should know is that your fuel does not need to be shame. you don’t need to stand over the bathroom sink with your blood in your hands until you can no longer make out your reflection. you will look at your face and you will see the person you used to be, but that person no longer exists. today, you are looking, and that makes all the difference.

Tagged By: No one. Found this from an old post of mine and decided to yoink.

Tagging: @shacchou @chxmpionofjustice @acollapsar @waterlord @blasterdiablo @adversitybloomed @hhorakhty @spydcddy @ofkawai @devildukem and anyone else who would like to do this!

#💎 Vice Treasure (Mokuba Kaiba) #💎 Vice Plays Along (Mokuba Dash Games) #(1000% his arc in the manga! #(the anime not so much since he didn't do any of the bad stuff from the early manga in that verse #(but 1000% he redeemed himself manga wise and i love that for him tbh

[universestreasures]

The growth man....Kaiba Brothers got some of the best development in Yu-Gi-Oh! it's insane.

You don't know how much of a gift it was for Mokuba to be able to embrace his brother and feel his brotherly love for the first time in years ;;;;

#💎 Vice Treasure (Mokuba Kaiba) #💎 The Vice & His Dragon Loving Older Brother (Mokuba & Seto) #(I could make a whole post about manga Kaiba broes development since imo they have a much more impactful arc than the anime #(even though i love the noah arc a lot that explored them #(but kaiba going from who mokuba essentially calls a demon to this? 11/10

[universestreasures]

@shacchou

"Knock, knock, knock, Big brother! Yugi's here to see you!"

The younger Kaiba's playful introduction to his arrival to the president's office was to be expected at this point, and yet he still can't help but feel a bit embarrassed at it. Yugi noticed that despite Mokuba's maturity as he grew up and began high school, he still had that youthful mischievousness of his younger days. And while his antics can be a bit much for the game developer at times, he knows it's Mokuba's way of self-expression that signified he has become comfortable with his being here and working together with him and Kaiba on the Spherium project. That's what really was crucial at the end of the day, even if he wishes things could be toned down just a bit.

He steps into the office with a bright confidence and joyous smile, Mokuba closing the door behind them. He really had been enjoying this process so far. Never did he think he'd ever collaborate with Kaiba, considering their history, but it is one he is truly grateful for. He always wanted to get to know him better, and while he certainly would never be called his 'friend,' being Kaiba's business collaborator and opponent in games more than sufficed. Atem surely would be proud of them, Yugi likes to think.

"Hey, Kaiba." He greets him with a light wave of his hand. "I had an idea I wanted to propose to you. Why don't we discuss the next steps for the project over lunch at a local restaurant today? We've both been in the office working so hard lately, that I thought a change of scenery would be good for us both."

Yugi can see Mokuba from the corner of his eyes nodding his head rapidly, expressing his agreement with the idea. He was always concerned his brother was working himself too hard and practically living at the office these days, after all. These were concerns Yugi had grown to have as well, another reason for his suggestion of a change from their usual meeting.

"There's this nice game cafe downtown that doesn't get that busy this time of day that I think would be perfect. So, what do you say, Kaiba? You up for my proposal?"

#shacchou #💎 Game Treasure (Yugi Muto) #💎 Vice Treasure (Mokuba Kaiba) #💎 Game's Dark Side Story (Yugi DSOD Verse) #💎 Vice's Dark Side Story (Mokuba DSOD Verse) #(YUGI SETO TIME! #(I am so excited to see them interact in this space! #(yugi and seto needed more screentime together so here we are gonna let them enjoy a game meal and business talk #(Mokuba gets to cameo in this thread at the start cause he gotta but he'll let the two guys enjoy their lunch #(Mokuba supports this collaboration sm #(also chance to FINALLY USE THE OLDER MOKIE ICONS <3

[universestreasures]

what is your core theme?

The Faithful

you place your trust in your ultimate goal. commitment is running through your mind at all times. you must adhere to your moral codes. you must be good to people around you. you must be good at all times. never show hesitance, it is unbecoming of you. hesitance shows distrust. you tell yourself to love your goal at all times. you believe in your goal even if it swallows you whole. it tells you what you need to hear, you assume, because it wouldn't say anything else. it is the core of your best interest. should you follow anything other than your goal, you aren't sure what would happen. it is pragmatic to continue, is it not? your painting is "last prayer" by eric enstrom.

Taken From: No one. Found this and wanted to share.

Tagging: @shacchou @ofhardknoxxx @devildukem @tophatz (Any muse!) @thuganomxcs @infintasmal (Any Muse!) @adversitybloomed @thcsevoices (Any Muse!) @hhorakhty and anyone else who would like to do this!

#💎 Vice Treasure (Mokuba Kaiba) #💎 Vice Plays Along (Mokuba Dash Games) #(THIS IS 100% HIM. HE'S SO FAITHFUL ;;;;; #(AND HIS GOAL IS BECOMING STRONGER TOHELP HIS BROTHER SO LIKE #(YEAH

[universestreasures]

HE LOOKS SO SAD. SETO HOW DARE YOU LEAVE HIM BEHIND ;;;;;

#💎 Vice Treasure (Mokuba Kaiba) #(I'M ICONING MOKIE AGAIN CAUSE I HAVE NOT DONE SO YET BUTTTTTT #(LOOK AT THOSE FACES #(HE'S ;;;;;;;;;; AHHHHH CRIES #(THIS IS THE MOST DEVASTATING THING MOKUBAS HAS EXPERIENCED SINCE HE TOLD HIS BROTHER TO GET RID OF HIS HATRED #(LIKE BRUH ;;;;;

[universestreasures]

@adversitybloomed Sent: A 𝑭𝑶𝑹𝑻𝒀 𝑹𝑨𝑵𝑫𝑶𝑴 𝑸𝑼𝑬𝑺𝑻𝑰𝑶𝑵 (Accepting!)

❛  has no one ever given you a compliment before?  ❜ ( for Mokuba )

Seems his shock at her kind words had gotten noticed, Mokuba not meaning to get the older women concerned about him. He was an emotional kid, one who was unlike his brother in that he could not hide his emotions well. Yes, the younger of the two Kaiba Brothers wore his heart on his sleeve, a trait that, much like the face of coldness his brother wore, had positive and negative effects.

"It's not that it hasn't happened, Miss Mulan. It's just...it doesn't happen very often, especially for anyone who isn't my big brother or my friends." Mokuba rubs his arm then, avoiding her gaze. "I...I don't get noticed much a lot of the time by anyone who isn't my brother, Yugi Muto and his friends, and my friends from Aibo Academy. Seto is the one everyone has an eye on, after all. It's...It's been that way for as long as I can remember."

Not that Mokuba didn't think his brother didn't deserve the attention, of course. Seto was an incredible person, and if anyone was his biggest fan, it was the young boy. Still...that admiration he has for his brother and the fact his brother was the one people paid attention to most of the time might feed into his own insecurities he's had since he was young: that he was worthless and unwanted.

"B-But i really appreciate you giving me a compliment! It...felt nice."

#💎 Heroine Blossom Who Has The Heart Of The Phoenix (Adversitybloomed) #💎 Vice Treasure (Mokuba Kaiba) #💎 Vice Answers (Mokuba Asks) #💎 Vice's Monochromic Alternate Path (Mokuba Manga Verse) #(Mulan already going all mom mode we love to see it ;;;; #(but legit telling mokuba any kind of compliment means the world to him

[universestreasures]

What kind of love are you? Love as a Threshold

Your love does not ask for much. Your love does not take. Your love is free, and unquestioned, and here for wherever needs it. When you fall in love, it is as gentle as a breath in the night. It is quiet, and it is effortless. It is tender. If your love was a house, it would readily welcome all who come through. If your love was a hearth, it would warm the hands of whoever stopped by, whether for a day, a month, a year, or forever. When you fall for someone, it is without strings, without conditions, without need. You love for the sake of loving, for the sake of caring for those who need it. You love with a giver’s heart and a giver’s hands and are made so much stronger for it. Being loved by you is to always feel at home. Your love may not always be well-received by those unprepared to linger, but it is unforgettable all the same.

Tagged By: @thuganomxcs (TY Jayvid)

Tagging: @shacchou @hhorakhty @devildukem @ofhardknoxxx @thcsevoices (Any muse! ) @prideraiised (Any muse!) @chapeliier @tophatz (Any muse) @enterpainment (Any muse!) and anyone else who'd like to do this!

#💎 Vice Treasure (Mokuba Kaiba) #💎 Vice Plays Along (Mokuba Dash Games) #(This fits Mokuba well I think. #(especially the home thing #(I think this applies to his platonic as bonds too. #(he is such a giver its not even funny. so selfless

[universestreasures]

@shacchou Sent: A Heart For The Positivity Meme (Accepting)

💞 (for Mokuba) My muse will say something nice about your muse

"Just one thing? Man, I can say a lot of nice things about you, Bro!" He really could. The list in his mind was rather endless, but Mokuba settles on one thing in particular that stuck out right now.

"I...I always like how you've supported me, in your own way. Like...I know you don't really get the whole 'friendship thing' I have with my Buddyfighter friends, but...you always let me go and see them when I want and even let me have them over sometimes. Or whenever I've pitched an idea or wanted to help in a project at Kaiba Corp, you always do your best to try and hear me out at least! You've always got my back, just like I always got yours! We're a team, Seto. Now...and forever!"

#💎 President With A Blue-Eyed Lighting (Shacchou) #💎 Vice Treasure (Mokuba Kaiba) #💎 Vice Answers (Mokuba Asks) #💎 Vice's Monochromic Alternate Path (Mokuba Manga Verse) #(THESE BROTHERS MAN ;;;;;;; #(I LOVE THEM SM ;;;;;; #(Feel free to reblog this Ani <3

[universestreasures]

@shacchou Sent: Actions Speak Louder Than Words (Accepting)

care, sender takes care of receiver when they're sick. (for Mokuba)

Everything happened so suddenly that he honestly couldn't realize it before it was too late. Mokuba had woken up that morning not feeling too well, his forehead feeling a bit warm and his throat slightly dry, but it wasn't enough for him to really register he was 'sick'. It was only after he got to school that the symptoms started to get worse, the fourteen-year-old overheating and couching rapidly before eventually passing out on the floor beside his desk.

He was then brought to the nurse's office with help from his schoolmate Akatsuki and his buddy monster Byakuya. The human happened to be walking in the hallway towards the restroom at the time of the incident and quickly rushed in to help his friend upon hearing the commotion, the ninja monster manifesting in a flash from his card to help carry the youngest Kaiba brother as well. Such good friends both of them were. Mokuba would owe them one later.

It was after the nurse began her examination that the son of the Cho-Tokyo police commissioner managed to snag Mokuba's cell phone from his locker. How did he unlock it? Well, that was a ninja secret for Akatsuki to know and for his big brother to never find out he used.

Regardless, he knew he was in the right by using it in a situation like this. The ninja was well aware that those associated with his friend were hard to contact through means other than directly through a secure line like that phone, and they certainly should be informed of what was going on in a timely manner. So, he took it upon himself to do the school's job of contacting both Seto Kaiba and Isano about the situation, his voice laced with urgency as he retold what had happened to the best of his ability.

Not too long after making his call, the suited bodyguard arrived inside the nurse's office. He had been temporarily reassigned as Mokuba's chaperone by the Kaiba Corp CEO after pulling a reckless act (as Seto would call it) one day following a Buddyfight at Castle. So, naturally, he had stationed himself outside the school grounds since they did not permit him entry during most times of the day. His presence there wasn't surprising. What was surprising was who came barging in not too long after the suited man's arrival.

For Seto Kaiba, the most powerful man in the entire city, appeared in the flesh before them all, the sight almost causing the poor nurse, and probably the rest of the school's staff, a heart attack of panic. Isano, knowing his boss's preferences well when it came to matters pertaining to the younger Kaiba in situations like this, prompted everyone else, including the nurse, to leave the room. That left the two brothers alone, with one of them unconscious and having a fever that was astronomically high.

What ended up awakening Mokuba not too long after his brother's arrival wasn't the commotion that said arrival had caused. It was instead the fact that his body felt suddenly a bit cooler because of a wet rag that Seto had placed on his forehead, a technique Mokuba can faintly remember their father using when he was little. Purple hues slowly begin to open as his consciousness returns, with this blurry vision slowly focusing on the sight of his brother who was looking over him.

"Big...Big brother...? Is that...you...?" Mokuba's voice was weak and strained, as if scissors had been applied to his throat. A few coughs escape him next, his body warming up and his heart rate starting to increase as a result. "Wha...What happened...? Last thing I remember was...being in math class..."

His head tilts up to examine his surroundings, not quite recognizing the room. This was the first time he's had to visit here, which was a good thing. He, along with pretty much everyone else around the boy like the staff, Mochi, or his brother, were usually better at catching when he was starting to get sick like this. Though, considering how busy things had been as of late for everyone, it made sense his subtle symptoms earlier had managed to sneak under everyone's noses. What was important was he was getting help now before things got even worse.

"Wait...Am I...still at school? And...how did you...how did you know I was-" He is stopped by his own coughing again, his voice echoing throughout the small room with an intensity unlike any other sickness he's ever had.

#💎 President With A Blue-Eyed Lighting (Shacchou) #💎 Vice Treasure (Mokuba Kaiba) #💎 Vice Answers (Mokuba Asks) #💎 Ninja Treasure (Akatsuki Kisaragi) #💎 NPC: Ninja's Showoff Of A Buddy (Byakuya) #💎 Ninja's Game Of Life (Akatsuki Yu-Gi-Oh! DM Verse) #💎 Vice's Dark Side Story (Mokuba DSOD Verse) #tw illness #tw long post #(Not sure if this idea is what you were thinking when you sent this #(but i decided to take this chance to use that plot idea that when mokuba got sick really bad and kisara's gonna come in later on. #(so this is the initial day he got sick and we both know Seto is the type of guy #(to drop everything if his brother is hurt #(hence the scenario here #(also i bet this is one the only times Seto can go: mokubas little 'friends' have a use LOL #(cause they did the right thing to contact him right away when the school probably woulda taken a while #(feel free to respond to this or not as always with asks Ani <3

[universestreasures]

That Haunting Emptiness (Drabble)

Prequel Drabble To This Thread With @shacchou

Looking back, he should have said more. Mokuba was well aware of how important this entire endeavor, this entire search for Atem, was his to Seto. He...He needed to find him; to have that final duel and resolve the rivalry they had developed over the years. It was just something his brother wouldn't just 'get over'. When his brother was obsessed with something, he was obsessed with it till it was seen through. This Mokuba knew well by now.

But...he still can't help but feel regret deep down in his soul for not trying harder to stop this. The chance of success with an untested prototype, no matter how brilliant the design, was not certain. Mokuba knew that. Seto knew that, and yet...his brother still went and did it anyway, left this realm for the world of the afterlife to see his rival again.

This left Mokuba on his own truly for the first time since his brother's coma. Sure, they had times they were separated, such as when they had that confrontation regarding their past where he sought aid from his friends, but...Seto was always there. He was always in the same realm as him. That wasn't the case here, for the two brothers were whole realms apart, separated by the barrier between life and death.

And despite his best efforts to run Kaiba Corporation in his brother's absence on top of his work at school, he...he wasn't handling it well. As the days turned into weeks and the weeks turned into months, Mokuba's condition physically and mentally worsened. He was barely eating, barely able to sleep, barely able to live. How could he...when his brother, his other half in many ways, his major reason for living, was not with him right now with no guarantee of a return?

Regardless of the circumstances, however, the young boy remained hopeful. His faith in his brother was unmatched, stronger now than it had been years before. His brother would come back. He had to. He couldn't...

He couldn't abandon him...not again...

Mokuba found himself in Seto's office, having taken residence there in his temporary role as acting president. Mochi was in his lap as he stared aimlessly at the computer screen, sitting comfortably there as he petted the soft fur of her back. Normally he wouldn't bring his therapy cat to work daily, but it had become a necessity. Having her around gave him a sense of company when his friends, such as his Buddyfighter crew or the Blue-Eyed Maiden herself Kisara Utahara, could not be present. It was company he desperately needed during these times.

In addition to his feline companion, Mokuba had other items with him. On top of his and Seto's pendents that he wore hidden one of Seto's old blue ties, he also had been given the responsibility of holding onto Seto's physical deck, considering his new Duel Disk system used virtual cards. This included his three trusted Blue Eyes White Dragons, cards Mokuba had always loved. Having those mementos, along with bringing his scrapbooks to work, made things both easier and harder for him. He missed his big brother so much, more than he ever has in his entire life.

Why wasn't he back yet?!

Mokuba's purple hues are then widened as he hears the sound of panicked footsteps from outside the office door, soon enough glancing upon Isano who appeared to look distressed. His face was pale, sweat dripping down his face. Something was wrong, very wrong.

"Master Mokuba! You're needed at the Space Station! Mr. Kaiba...Mr. Kaiba is...!"

The vice president doesn't even let him finish. He's out the door as soon as he hears his brother's name, leaving Mochi in his care. He is pushing through every person in his way, not caring about anything more than being quick. He had one goal in mind: seeing his brother.

"Where is he?! Where is my big brother?!" Mokuba demands as he arrived at the control center for the station, his voice not sounding too unlike the CEO's.

"H-He's up there still, M-Master Mokuba, b-but you should-"

"Then send me up there right away!" He says as he makes his way to the elevator, slipping through the coated scientists who were attempting to block the entrance.

"B-But sir! There is something-"

"I said send me up there, now!!!"

His voice, one akin to a dragon's roar, silenced the workers, all of them moving silently as Mokuba sits down and prepares himself for the ascension into space. Truth be told, he's never actually been up here himself. The elevator only had a single seat, after all. Not only that, he had been wanting to wait for a special occasion to see it for the first time, like his fourteenth birthday that wasn't too far away from now. Seems like that plan would have to be thrown away, for the current situation was more pressing.

As he is locked in and the chair starts moving up towards the stars, his heart raced out of his chest. He isn't sure what he's feeling right now other than the adrenaline. He should be joyful, happy that his brother was back, but Isano and the staff's expressions made him doubt. The boy shakes his head, suppressing all of those thoughts as he approaches the top, the top of the elevator his brother had created.

Upon reaching the station, he jumps out to head to the room where his brother's prototype should be. Despite never having step foot in here, Mokuba had been present during the entire design process. He knew the entire layout by heart. It's why it doesn't take him long to find the room, the doors slowly opening with no sound in the room other than the sounds of the computers humming.

And that's when he sees it, before his very eyes, his brother's prototype...and the person that was inside of it.

"Seto!!!!" The name escapes his lips easily as breathing as soon as the sight of his brother reaches his now watery eyes. Mokuba wastes no time running to his side, pressing the buttons on the side to open the pod. "Thank goodness you're back! I knew you'd come back, Seto! After all, we promised that we would always stay to-"

It is at that moment when the boy's blood runs cold, the euphoria he felt due to his relief all but drying up in an instant. For before him was indeed his brother, but...not in the way the younger brother had hoped. Seto's body was in a rough shape, his clothes torn and covered in a red liquid that Mokuba soon saw coming from the corner of his brother's mouth. The smell of the iron from the blood hit his nose, confirming that what he was seeing was...

"No, no, no! Big Brother? Big Brother!?" On instinct he holds his brother's hands, feeling their coldness immediately upon contact. The tears from his eyes flow into streams, flowing down his cheeks like a river. This...This wasn't...

"HQ? HQ?!" He calls out to the monitor in the room, praying that someone can hear him. "Someone...Someone send a doctor! A doctor up here, now! Seto...Seto needs help! The transport must have been too intense for his body! Hurry, or else he...!"

"Master Mokuba. There is something...we've been trying to tell you."

It is then that Isano, holding Mochi in his arms, appears on the screen, his signature sunglasses having been removed as the other Kaiba Corp employees behind him hung their heads low. Never had Mokuba seen his brother's right hand man without those glasses on, an unpredicted sight that made the pit in his stomach grow larger by the second.

"Master Seto...His..."

"Don't...Don't..." His grip on his brother's hands tightens as his gaze shift's to Seto, his eyes shut and unable to look back at him.

"His heart rate was... non-existent the second we saw him re-enter the station. I...I am sorry, sir. There is...nothing we can-"

"Shut up..."

"But Master Mokuba-"

"Just shut up!!!! My brother isn't...My brother isn't dead!!! He...He can't!!!! He promised!!!! He promised me we would always stay together! Always!!! That he'd come back to me after his stupid duel with a dead man!!! He'll...He'll prove you all wrong!!! Just watch!!!"

His arms then move to hug his brother, not caring that his off-white suit was to be stained with the color of red roses. Tears fall from his eyes and onto his brother's face, his breathing heavy and his body shakes. This...This couldn't be...

"Seto...Come on...Wake...Wake up...Show them that you're gonna be okay...Wake up...Wake up!!!"

But...his pleas went unanswered, no matter how much or how long he cried next to his brother's empty husk. Nothing he nor Kaiba Corporation's resources could do could change the situation. Nothing could change the reality...that Seto Kaiba was...was...

"Seto!!!!!!!!!"

---------------------

Mokuba screams awake, scaring his feline companion who had been attempting to wake him up the moment he started talking and yelling in his sleep. He was not up in the space station, not next to his brother's corpse, but instead back at home...in Seto's bedroom. He had taken to sleeping in there since his brother left, a way to feel closer to the person he wished was at his side.

Mochi finds her way closer to Mokuba, performing her usual repertoire of soothing behaviors to try and help him calm such as kneading his palm. His breath was heavy, his body was shaking, and he felt like sick to his stomach. A hand was over his mouth, as if trying to prevent himself from throwing up as the flashes of what he witnessed replayed in his mind over and over.

He couldn't get the image of his brother, cold and covered in blood, out of his head...

The ever-resourceful kid moves to his phone, checking if any correspondence or updates about his brother's status had been made. Thankfully, or unthankfully depending on how one might see it, there was nothing. His brother...was still missing, but he wasn't...

He drops the phone then to instead open the pair of lockets around his neck, staring at the pictures of himself and his brother intensely, the pictures he clung to during desperate times like this. Seeing Seto's smile, the smile he cherishes, does a bit to help quell his panic. Though, that sight nor Mochi's assistance could do little to fix the fear that had surged through him, the fear for the future that had manifested in the form of this night's nightmare.

A future where Seto...broke his promise. A future where he...died and left him all alone...just like his mother and father did so many years ago...That's what he feared more than anything, and the current situation only made that fear he's had for years...worse...for it seemed more probable now than ever before.

But...Mokuba, despite his struggles and traumatic experiences, was a strong kid, a strong kid because his brother had allowed him to become one through his guidance and selfless protection. It was because of Seto that Mokuba was still able to have hope, still able to believe in the impossible. And it was that feeling, one that slowly was coming to the surface, that guided him to stand up from the bed with Mochi in his arms. He goes to open the curtain in Seto's room, purple hues staring at the stars he could see through the city's skyline.

"Big Brother...I believe...I believe that you're still alive...I don't know when but...we will be together again...I...I just know it..." Despite the shakiness of his words, his conviction is clear. "And I'll wait for you Seto...I'll wait for you...forever if I have to...Just...Just please come home...someday. I...I need you here, just like...I know you need me, too."

It is at that moment, without the boy's knowledge, that a supernatural phenomenon occurred. The boy's strong feelings for his brother, ones of familial love and hope, seemed to have awakened someone. Or more accurately, the parts of the soul of someone who cared for Seto as much as he did.

For inside his brother's deck, sealed protectively in the suitcase on the other side of the room, his three dragons began...to faintly glow, a glow that would soon...light the way for these two brothers to....be reunited.

#💎 Crystalized Hidden Gems (Drabble) #💎 Vice Treasure (Mokuba Kaiba) #💎 President With A Blue-Eyed Lighting (Shacchou) #💎 Vice's Dark Side Story (Mokuba DSOD Verse) #tw long post #tw character death #tw nightmares #tw ptsd #tw blood #(THIS WAS...A DOOZY TO WRITE NGL #(BUT OH I HOPE I PROTRAYED IT WELL CAUSE IM ACTUALLY HAPPY WITH HOW THIS TURNED OUT #(AND HOW I CONNECTED IT TO ME AND ANI'S PRIEST SETO THREAD #(THIS IS A SCENARIO THAT...I NEVER WANT MOKUBA TO EXPERIENCE OUTSIDE OF A DREAM BECAUSE...GOD #(LETS LET THIS KID BE HAPPY #(But him having nightmares about this fear of his makes total sense #(considering what the kids gone through and knowing seto almost died in transcended game as well ;;;; #(anyway y'all send mokuba some hugs and love he needs it after i put him through this ;;;;;;