Work Text:
Seto Kaiba was sitting in his spacious office at Kaiba Corporation, engrossed in his work as always. The tall skyscrapers of Domino City gleamed in the afternoon sun outside his window, a testament to his hard work and ambition. His life was filled with innovation, competition, and success, but it was also characterized by loneliness.
As he reviewed the latest financial reports, his thoughts drifted to the time he had spent in the virtual world with Atem, the ancient Pharaoh of Egypt. They had been rivals, pushing each other to their limits, but they had also formed a unique bond. Since Atem's departure to the afterlife, Seto rarely thought about their time together. He had been too absorbed in his work and the success of his company.
Just then, a knock on his office door interrupted his thoughts. Mokuba, his younger brother and the only family he had left, entered with a warm smile.
"Hey, Seto. I was thinking... It's been a while since we've seen Yuugi and his friends. How about we invite them over for dinner this weekend?" Mokuba suggested.
Seto raised an eyebrow. "Yuugi, that puppy, and the others? What's the occasion?"
Mokuba shrugged. "There really isn't any occasion. Just an opportunity to catch up with old friends and spend time with loved ones."
Seto paused, considering Mokuba's proposal.
In another time, this conversation would never have taken place. It would never have crossed Mokuba's mind in a million years to ask Seto to have Yuugi and his friends, including Jounouchi, over at the mansion.
But a few years had passed, and Seto had made amends with them in a way that had created a bond that no one would believe. He still didn't get along too well with the rest of Yuugi's friends, but he shared a particular relationship with Yuugi, as if they had something in common.
Seto realized how much he had neglected relationships that could have meant something to his life, relationships that indeed held a meaning he had taken too long to understand.
"You know what? It's not a bad idea."
On the night of the dinner, Seto's mansion was filled with laughter and conversation. Yuugi, Jounouchi, Anzu, Honda, and even Bakura had gathered, along with Mokuba. Seto was still not entirely accustomed to such cheerful gatherings, but at least he no longer made a fuss every time they set foot on his property.
Mokuba was having a good time. They sat around a long table, sharing stories of their latest adventures and reminiscing about their past times dueling.
Amidst the lively chatter, someone knocked on the door. Seto went to open it and was surprised to find Atem standing there, dressed in modern clothing instead of his usual Pharaoh attire, his hair tied back.
He looked...
"Atem," Seto said, surprised.
Atem smiled warmly. "Mokuba invited me. I thought it would be nice to catch up with old friends."
...beautiful.
Seto nodded, his heart beating strangely in his chest. He led him inside, and the ancient Pharaoh was greeted with cheers and hugs from the others. Seto couldn't help but notice how his presence lit up the room.
As the night went on, Seto and Atem found themselves sitting together on the balcony, gazing at the stars. The sounds of their friends' laughter reached them from inside.
"You know," Atem began, "I've missed this. Camaraderie, friendship. It's something that feels different in my time."
Seto nodded, finally allowing himself to reflect on his past. He could understand it; he had been so focused on work that he had forgotten the importance of family, friends, and loved ones.
Atem intertwined his fingers with Seto's, and their eyes met. "It's never too late to reconnect with the people who matter most."
Seto smiled, a rare expression of vulnerability on his face.
They leaned in to break a silence that had been kept for far too long.
Atem's smile mirrored Seto's. They returned to the party, hand in hand. In that moment, Seto Kaiba realized that, although he had achieved incredible success, it was the bonds he shared with his family and friends, both old and new, that truly made him rich.
And in that moment, surrounded by the people who mattered most to him, Seto Kaiba felt like the luckiest man in the world.