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He didn’t know if it was for better or worse that he couldn’t fully witness The Pharoah’s send off. He’d almost missed the whole thing, arriving just in time to see his rival ascend the steps to the Afterlife.
Seto had called out, a force from his lungs guided by something unknown to him at the time. The Pharoah had turned, eyes widening ever so slightly at the sight of him, an emotion too confusing and intense to figure out flickering over his features before he simply smiled, an almost sad quirk to his lips before turning his head again, standing taller now as he took his first step into the light.
As the ground around them began to shake, Seto took a step forwards, a plea so foreign to him trying to claw free of his throat. Mokuba’s hand took his however, a familiar steadiness in his eyes as he pulled, grounding his brother.
As the cave began to shake, Seto sent one last gaze towards the fading light, allowing himself to say a good bye that he hoped the other would hear.
Now, two days later in the confines of his own house, He let himself cry.
He didn’t realise until it was too late, until he watched the Pharoah, no, Atem, walk away, that he…
No. Admitting the words, giving it a name, that would tear him apart.
He took to his desk, hoping, praying to gods he had sworn his whole life he never believed in he could distract himself with a project before he noticed a corner of white, peeking from underneath his files.
Taking hold, he pulled it out gently, finger running over his name written in a font he didn’t recognise.
Carefully, he turned it over, opening the envelope with precision before taking a deep breath.
Dear Seto,
If you are reading this, I have left your realm and entered my final resting place.
Writing this feels… odd. But I know you deserve a real goodbye; one I could not offer in your world.
Before we begin that though, I wish to tell you that out of everything I learned in the modern world, you taught me so much. About the wrongs and rights of human beings themselves, about the power that can only come from one who is fully confident in himself.
You showed me that a love for somebody means doing anything necessary to keep them safe, even if it requires sacrificing yourself.
Your soul, whether you believe it to be connected to the Priest of my time or not, felt like it belonged near mine.
I am sorry I have left you with unfinished business with me, I know you would like another, or maybe one hundred more, chances at taking my title. I also know that you won’t acknowledge it as Yugi’s title now. I know you better than you think.
Getting to know you, to see your soul develop and grow, to see the person you become, Seto, was a pleasure.
I do not wish for you to forget me, but I do wish for you to move on. Find a new rival, somebody who can stand either by your side or across the pitch as your equal.
But this is not what I wanted to address.
Seto laughed at that, a bitter sound, hands shaking as he refrained from turning the page, eyes burning with tears, threatening to fall. Atem had no right to leave him something like this, something so selfish. If he couldn’t say goodbye and pour out his feelings, what right did Atem have, ancient Pharoah or not?
Anger coursing through him, his bitterness thick in his throat he turned the letter over.
I learned one more thing from you, Seto Kaiba.
I learnt how to love.
And I know, love comes in various forms. I learnt many of them through everybody I met.
But from you, from your actions, I learnt what it truly means to love somebody.
I did not want to tell you in person, lest you reject my feelings and create a reason for me to stay. I did not wish to leave you here, but I knew it was the only thing I could do. Our fates, our souls, have been connected for millennia, it is not fair for me to keep the strings that bind us so tight.
So, the point I am trying to make in this letter, I suppose, is that I love you, Seto Kaiba. And I am sorry to leave this burden upon you when I have left.
But know that I will wait for you, that within my afterlife, your soul will always have a place. I do not want to see you here early, I do not wish for you to rush to join me if this is a mutual feeling.
I wish for you a happy life, one lived with ease with Mokuba by your side. With any friends you make along the way. Do not let yourself be consumed by grief, by fear, by anything that would hold you down or create a home for the shadows in your heart.
But I know as I write these words, you will do something beyond my imagine. You are an incredible soul with an amazing brain and such strong drive. I am aware that you may still hold surprises for me yet, that I may in fact witness these surprises myself.
I wish I could ask you, honestly, to not attempt such wild and crazy things. But as I have stated, I know you and I would not want to be the one to quell your fire.
Stay safe in your world, Seto, do whatever it takes to make any dreams of yours take flight and if by some miracle, higher power or your own stubborn strong will we should ever meet again, I will be awaiting you.
Forever yours.
The sting to his heart at the emptiness where his name should be made Kaiba drop his head to his desk.
He couldn’t help the laugh crawling from his throat this time, letting it fall from his lips as he shut his eyes. Seto allowed himself to sit with the feeling of loss, to mull over the words spoken to him, to bring down all his defences in the comfort of his own presence, the darkness of his room, letting tears fall.
It did not take long however, before he pulled a sheet of paper towards himself, planning and ideas written down hastily as he smirked.
“I hope you are waiting Atem, because we will meet again.”