Chapter Text
It wasn't intended to be a time-traveling machine.
Seto sighed, yet again. His leather suit felt stiff now that he wasn't in the pod anymore. He's standing on carpeted floor- colorful with drawings of cute monsters on them- a playground of some sort. He knew this place- years back, this place looks exactly like this.
Seriously. He did not intend it to be a time-traveling adventure. Or anything of the sort.
Eyes twitching, he felt so ashamed of himself because he just got to fail like this. Of course, the Quantum Cube was still very unstable since the first time he used it- and Yugi had scolded him multiple times about it, but he couldn't help it. He was curious! About the possibility of the other dimensions. About what was hidden.
It was for science. It was supposed to be just for research. He promised himself and everyone to not ever use it again to cross dimensions and risked his life. He was just going to take little peeks to other worlds and gain new knowledge, new stuff to take notes about. Knowledge to make his tech stronger.
Honest to God, he did not expect time-traveling. At all.
And certainly, he did not expect to end up in such a familiar yet distant place.
"Um, y-you-"
Another twitch to his eye, oh God. His voice sounded so small. He remembered that was how he sounded, back then. He sounded so scared too. What face was he making? He knew for sure he did not look pleasant right now- He's starting to form a migraine- he must be frowning, from all this mess.
Truly, this wasn't his intention at all. Truly, he did not mean to meet him of all people-
"Are you- Kaiba?"
Seto closed his eyes and gritted his teeth. Should he just lie? Honestly, that might be even more unbelievable, considering the way he's standing right in front of him like this, with his full dimension-travel-suit all geared up. And besides, he believed he didn't change much across the years- It would be even more believable to just say the truth.
Took another sigh.
Finally, Seto opened his eyes and turned to look at him.
Purple eyes, as big as ever, the working apron that was always a size too big. Mouth-agape like he hardly believed it, hands clenched in front of his shirt as if to ground himself from the shock. Hair still as wild and maybe wilder.
It was Yugi, alright.
Only about six years younger- or so.
And this gaudy carpeted floor was definitely Kame Game Shop's little playground before they renovated it to be more tech-friendly.
In other words, damn.
"...Yes. I am. Kaiba Seto. As you know it."
Calm down, Kaiba. Seto told himself, over and over. The earpiece he wore that was supposed to let him hear Mokuba or Yugi- his Yugi- or whoever it was in the control room- was entirely silent. Of course, they were six years apart now. Damn.
"Kaiba..." teen Yugi marveled at him, "...You look different- I mean, uh- Cool outfit!"
"...Thanks."
Did this Yugi not realize that he's significantly older? His Yugi did say he got a baby face, but- really?
"Are you- Really Kaiba?"
What do you think? Seto wanted to say, snippily- but held it back. This Yugi didn't know anything. And they both knew their heated rivalry era- Not that they aren't Rivals now- But five to six years ago... it was a crazy period of time for both of them.
This Yugi wouldn't expect to date his rival 6 years to the future now, would he?
"Yes," Kaiba decided to say the truth. He knew Yugi had to endure a lot far crazier things in his daily life, he assumed time traveling wouldn't be much of an issue? Maybe. "I'm the Kaiba from another world. There are many similar worlds out there. I am from one of them. I am not the Kaiba Seto you know."
Yes, to be fair, he didn't precisely know the exact dimension this was in. It was six years ago, but was it still the same dimension he lived in? Who knows. Maybe he could confirm it if he got out of the store, but he really didn't want to make a scene and make things get more complicated. Hopefully, this wasn't the same dimension he lived in, because it would make every movement risky. Still, he must progress with high alert and caution. He didn't want to accidentally destroy the world now, would he.
This Yugi blinked at him, confused at first. He gripped the Puzzle dangling on his chest, as if seeking some kind of reassurance. Oh, right- The Puzzle- Of course it's still there.
"Okay..." Yugi- This Yugi eyed him suspiciously- He stepped a bit closer. Seto suddenly felt awkward at the stare. Yugi came closer and inspected him. "...You look- Older."
You just realized now? "Yes," Feeling awkward from Yugi's stupidly big purple eyes, Kaiba turned away from that gaze and looked at his surroundings, "I assume you are sixteen this year?"
"...Yeah. Seventeen, actually." Yugi came back to his field of vision, a frown on his face. "What are you planning? If you're from another world, how do you recognize me? Is it something to do with Shadow Realm? Are you seeking help from danger? Does the Other Me have a connection to this? Does the Kaiba- of this world- got a say in this? Is he okay? The Kaiba- of this world, I mean-"
Ah, this barrage of questions and unnecessary worry... Yugi was still Yugi even in different timelines, after all. Seto couldn't help but smile at that.
Holding his hands up in a stop motion made Yugi halt. "Don't worry," he tried saying it in his calmest tone as possible, even showing him his smile. "What happened to me wouldn't affect him, and we are not in danger. I miscalculated something and ended up here, but I will figure something out and leave soon."
Yugi stared at him as if he just grew two heads. Must be surprising to see Kaiba Seto, his certified Rival, being civil with him, and even reassuring him like this. Sigh. Okay. He shouldn't get him weird ideas. He didn't want to accidentally cause a time paradox or changing the future completely.
Seto decided to keep things low for now. Letting himself think about how to figure out this problem. He needed a proper working space, firstly- But he couldn't go to his lab, and he couldn't go roaming around outside Yugi's home either. The less people know about him being there, the better.
"Are you home alone right now?" Seto glanced at the backdoor behind the counter that leads to Yugi's home area. "Oh! Um. Yes. Currently, Grandpa is going on vacation and Mama's visiting Dad in the UK..." Perfect timing. Seto nodded, he needed to find quiet quickly so he could think.
"I will have to stay here for a while. I don't want to bother you like this, but no one else needs to know my whereabouts here, I can't go anywhere else." It's better to let Yugi know not to tell anyone. He didn't want any of the geek squad or anyone else coming here and bringing him more headache to deal with. He needed somewhere to think quietly and peacefully, and enough space for tools to tinker something in the Time-Dimension Travel machine control tabs in his suit... Then-
"I need to be in your room, and I don't want anyone else disturbing us. Don't let anyone in your house while I'm here. Keep the curtains closed too. I want just you and me here, understood?"
Silence.
Pause.
Yugi spluttered, red-faced, whisper-shrieking, "M-my my room?? W-Why?? I mean- It's o-okay- But, uh. Um. Just. The two of us..." His hands scrambled to clench at the Puzzle. Seto could hear his heart beating fast from far apart.
...Oh boy.
Sometimes Seto forgot that Yugi used to be like this. This was a six years younger Yugi. Shy and awkward, too kind to refuse you, too nice to say no. The one putting his heart on his sleeve. And most importantly, the one who crushed hard on him he shrieked like a teenager fan meeting his idol for the first time.
It's such a contrast from the mischievous smirks and half-lidded flirty eyes his Yugi always gave him.
...Will this be a problem?
Seto couldn't decide should he laugh or cry in this situation, but he could see the awkward road full of landmines ahead from here. If he did something wrong, will the whole world change completely? Will the relationship between this Yugi and his Kaiba change?
Sigh.
...Just until he figure out how to return. It will be fine. Just stay low. Don't give him weird ideas. Don't give him hope.
He will return like nothing happened.
-TBC