User Profile

Name: Yuugi Mutou

Appearance: It's not his height that makes this young boy stick out from the crowd like a sore thumb (though he is of a rather miniscule stature at a mere five foot even), but rather the rest of his appearance that would appear strange on any person of any age, regardless of height or nationality. The first thing most people notice is the hair on his head that defies any law of gravity, sticking up ridiculously long in multicolored spikes. The red-tipped black of his spiky hair is streaked with a juxtaposed yellow, a lock of which fall down in his face over his bright lilac eyes. So his features not only defy gravity, but genetics as well. He's small and lean ("energy efficient") but makes himself appear taller by the way he stands and has a permanent aura of innocence on his rather boyish face.

History: When Yuugi was seven years old, his grandfather gave him a curious item he had found on an expedition in Egypt-- something known as the Sen'nen Puzzle. Mutou Sugoroku left Yuugi with the Puzzle and the story that whoever could solve would be granted his greatest wish. Yuugi had always been interested in puzzles and games and instantly tried to solve it, but for eight years he could not. By the time Yuugi was fifteen, he had withdrawn to spending time almost exclusively on games and trying to solve his Puzzle, as he was bullied constantly at school. Yet one night his years of work paid off, and Yuugi finally placed the last piece of the puzzle.

Though he did not know it, Yuugi had, by solving the Sen'nen Puzzle, released the ancient spirit of an Egyptian Pharaoh who had sealed his own soul inside the item to stop the rising power of demons. Yuugi became host to this spirit, who began to emerge and take control of his body under times of stress. Yuugi was not originally aware of the presence of the spirit, and it took numerous incidents for Yuugi to become to understand there was something else sharing his body. During these games, the dark spirit challenged people who had threatened Yuugi or his friends to dark, seemingly simple challenges in which the spirit played on the other's weaknesses; the punishment for losing was often madness. Yuugi eventually understood that there was another being inside him that took control. Scared, Yuugi tried to shut the spirit out after a particularly scary duel with his rival Seto Kaiba, during which Yuugi realised the spirit in him was willing to do anything it took to win, even endangering another's life. However, Yuugi ultimately learned that he had no choice but to trust him completely.

Spirit and host quickly became partners, learning from one another. Yuugi became more confident with himself and, little by little, gained friends who could appreciate him for all that he was, fulfilling the wish he had placed in the puzzle. The spirit began to learn compassion, learning to care not only for his host but also for Yuugi's friends, whom he considered as much his as Yuugi's. After defeating the creator of the Duel Monsters cards at his own game, Yuugi earned the title "King of Games", though it truly belonged to the spirit inside the Puzzle, Yuugi's "other self". Not long after this he began to learn of the existance and powers of the seven Millennium Items, one of which was his own Sen'nen Puzzle. Forces were at work to try to control these seven items, and as the owner of one of them, Yuugi often finds himself in situations in which he is forced to fight to protect the fate of the world.

Eventually, after a trip through his memories in Ancient Egypt, it was time for the Pharaoh to leave. Though Yuugi did not think that he was ready to part from his partner, he did succeed in finally defeating "the King of Games" in a duel, proving that he no longer needed to rely on the spirit. Though he would always miss his partner immensely, and would always be watching for him-- after all, the two had shared a soul-- Yuugi had grown and changed far from the lonely boy he had been.

Personality: Yuugi's biggest strength and his biggest weakness is his complete and utter trust in everyone he meets. Before he solved the Millennium Puzzle, Yuugi was shy and reserved and a common target for bullies. Even after being constantly harrassed by the pair of Jounouchi Katsuya and Honda Hiroto, Yuugi believed that their hearts were in the right place, and they were simply trying to help him be more manly; though they had never treated him well, Yuugi even stood up for them against a larger bully despite their not deserving it. His instinct is to first trust the good in everyone before believing in the bad; although this belief sometimes betrays him, it has also led Yuugi to gain friends and allies in some of the strangest places. He always sees the light and is forever an optimist.

Yuugi has quite the determination-- almost to the point of being obstinate-- and won't back down from something he believes to be right, even when all else points to the opposite. Yuugi loves to help others. Extending from his trusting personality, he cannot back down when he sees another in need, and he'll jump in instantly and not give up until he's reached his goal and helped the other succeed-- Yuugi gladly encourages his best friend, Jounouchi, in every duel, helping him to his first win and even trusting him in an important tag-team battle. Yuugi's not without sense, though, and he knows when something is out of his league. His sometimes-childish demeanour tends to lead others to underestimate his strength. Over time, through relationships with both his 'other self' and his friends, Yuugi learns to be more confident with himself; he grows more open, more vocal, and-- though he always was-- braver.

Yuugi grows lonely easily. Having been almost-friendless for most of his life, he feels a strong, near-familial love for those friends he does now have, and he will do anything for them. With his friends Yuugi is relaxed and carefree, although sometimes he finds himself trying to keep Jounouchi in check; Yuugi knows when someone is making a bad decision, but while he will try to discourage someone, he won't prevent him or her from doing it altogether. This means that Yuugi can be left to clean up another's mess, such as after Jounouchi's fight with Otogi, but he doesn't mind. Yuugi has a strong sense of justice when it comes to his friends, and he will do anything for them. He is a constant support system for Jounouchi, for his other self, for anyone who needs a friend whether they ask for it or not.

In romance, Yuugi is very unwilling to tell the other party how he feels, as he is afraid of embarrassing himself or ruining any friendship he might have. He blushes easily, but oddly enough he doesn't feel or act awkwardly around his crushes, since he believes that he must first be firm friends with anyone before developing a crush or love-- how else can both parties trust and love each other? Yuugi once had a strong crush on Anzu Mazaki, the only girl (only person, really) who talked to him during his lonely years, but he never confessed, even backing off so she could spend more time with his other self, whom he recognised she liked better. Eventually, however, that crush seemed to fade away as he grew closer to others and spent less time only with Anzu. Yuugi is also very careful with other people's emotions, though perhaps he takes it too far; he recognises that Rebecca Hawkins likes him, and he doesn't return her feelings, but he doesn't quite have the heart to tell her straight.

Yuugi has a brilliantly tactical and analytical mind, with the ability to solve problems that would stump anyone else. He's a master of strategy and has a photographic memory; in games like chess and duel monsters, he is within a matter of seconds able to plan out a large number of moves in advance and possible results of each decision. He loves games and, though he is often overshadowed by his other self, is excellent at them and rarely loses. He's a good sport, too, and almost never feels sore about losing to an opponent, willing even to forfeit when he deems it necessary. When given the chance to duel even with his own deck, not the one he shares with the spirit of the Puzzle, Yuugi has proven himself a strong duelist in his own right.

Friends (101):

Friend of (154):