Their 12th birthday arrived with as much fanfare and fun as the other birthdays before it. The party was held at You-Show Duel School, which was closed on account of four of its regular students celebrating their birthday with the rest of the students, and a few extra friends.
In this life, Serena, Rin, and Ruri were born as Yuzu's cousins. This fact didn't stop the boys from befriending each of them, and ultimately inviting all three (plus Ruri's older brother, Shun) to the party. Honestly, Yuri was surprised that the girls and Shun were as close to Yuzu as they were. Shuzo was the middle child of ten, after all.
Big family. My dear brothers are going to have a hard time learning the names of all of their future in-laws, Yuri thought with an almost malicious glee. Watching them squirm will be very amusing.
The party was one of the best ones Yuri's had in the past few lifetimes. Dynamic duels, smiles that Yuri never would have dreamed of seeing at Academia and, in Yuri's opinion, the best part of the whole thing: the birthday cake mother had ordered from the best pastry in town. Layers of chocolate, vanilla, and red velvet, wrapped in delicious frosting and topped with the most quality whipped icing available.
It was heavenly.
Yuri nearly ate the whole thing by himself.
Just when the party was reaching its end, their mother pulled the four brothers aside to give them a very unexpected gift from their father.
Yusho couldn't make it to their birthday this year, as his flight home from a tournament in America had been delayed by bad weather, but despite his absence in most aspects of their lives, Yuri and his brothers did not doubt his love for them. His regular video calls were enough for them, and he never forgot a birthday, always finding a way to make sure that their gifts, at the very least, made it home to them on time, even if he didn't.
This birthday was no different. Yuri knew Yuya especially was looking forward to whatever gift their father found for them this time. No matter the life, Yuya's adoration for Yusho never diminished.
"Your father won't be home until tomorrow at the earliest, but he wanted me to give you these today. Happy Birthday. Yuto. Yugo. Yuya. And Yuri," their mother said, pulling her hands forward from where she had hidden them behind her back. To each brother, she handed a small box, not unlike those fancy, special ones for gift cards.
Yuri felt a pull, so powerful and familiar that it was almost painful to resist a second longer. It seems that he wasn't the only one feeling it, either, because Yugo, Yuya, and Yuto did not wait even a second after receiving their gift before practically ripping the decorative box in half to see what was inside.
Yuri felt like the last piece was finally placed into the puzzle that made up his being. He opened the box.
[STARVE VENOM]
Yuri picked up the card, cradling it gently in his hands like it was something precious.
And it was.
Despite the hell he went through because of the spirit in this card, Starve Venom meant too much to him for Yuri to ever truly hate the dragon.
Keeping a firm grasp on the card, Yuri turned his attention to the note inside the box.
[Happy Birthday, Yuri! If you're reading this, it means that I was unable to make it home in time for your party. I'm sorry I can't be there for you boys like most fathers, but I hope this gift will let you forgive me this time, at least. I found this card along with three others in a small shop during my time in America and thought of my dear sons and their love for dueling. And all of them just so happen to match the clans you all use for your decks! Hopefully, they will bring your dueling to new heights! With much love, Your Father :) ]
Yuri felt a small, genuine smile pull at his lips. Their father didn't realize just how long Yuri and his brothers have waited to hold these cards in their hands once more.
In every life, no matter where they are born or the circumstances they found themselves in, their dragons always made their way to the brothers. This life took a little longer than usual, but Yuri will be sure to give the man an actual hug when he gets home in thanks for finding their ace monsters and sending them to Japan. Who knows how long Yuri and his brothers would have had to wait before getting their dragons if Yusho hadn't. None of them had plans of going to America anytime in the future.
Yuya shot forward and wrapped their mother in the most exuberant hug Yuri has seen in years. He had tears in his eyes, but those crimson eyes held nothing but tears of joy. It'd been a while since Yuri had seen Yuya look so... happy.
"The lack of sleep must take more out of him than we thought," Yuri thought, as he also wrapped his mother in a loving and thankful hug, feeling Yuto and Yugo join in. "We should bring that up when we talk tonight."
Yoko gave them one final squeeze and then leaned back with a proud smile.
"I'm glad you boys liked it. Your father was so worried you wouldn't," she pat each of them on the head and steered them towards their friends, "Now, go and enjoy the rest of your party, boys! You only turn twelve once, so make the most of it, okay?!"
Yuri laughed at the irony, and left to challenge Serena to another duel.
Feeling the added weight of the new card in his deck, Yuri thought that this twelfth birthday was one of the best.
YOU ARE READING
After Leaving the Bridge
General Fiction"Me and Gongenzaka were flying. But then he fell." Many lifetimes after the conclusion of The Bridge Between, Yuya is starting to remember his time in the Bridge Between during his life on Earth, just like his brothers did before him. What his broth...
