Disclaimer - i do not own Yu-Gi-Oh, only a few minor characters and the plot.
Tea walked into the deserted classroom, where is everybody? She thought as she went and sat in her chair. She was in the first column, three back from the front. Yugi and the others weren't there yet; the only other person in the room was Seto Kaiba. He owned the Kaiba Corporation, and half of Domino city. He was about six foot tall with short dark brown hair and cobalt blue eyes that were usually cold and hard. Kaiba wore his school uniform, black trousers, a dark green shirt and a dark blue trench coat. At the moment he was typing on his laptop, as he usually did during form time.
"Morning Kaiba." Tea greeted as she got a book out of her bag, she didn't expect an answer. He rarely spoke to anyone and when he did it was usually to patronise them or challenge them, maybe even to fire them. The only person Tea knew that he cared about was his little brother, Mokuba.
"Damn." Kaiba muttered under his breath, Tea looked up from her book and glanced at Kaiba. I wonder what's up with him. She mused. She got up and went to stand behind him, glancing over his shoulder at the complex figures and writing. It looked like one hell of a mess,
"How can you read this?" Tea asked, not really thinking about whether Kaiba would answer or not. He fixed the screen with an icy stare, he didn't particularly like Tea or anyone else in this school and he hated it when people tried to be nice to him.
"Actually it isn't supposed to look like this, my secretary made a mess of it." Kaiba replied coldly as he tapped some buttons on the keyboard, trying to get the spreadsheet back to its original state, that's the last straw! That secretary has to go! Kaiba thought to himself, smiling slightly at the thought of seeing the look on her face as he fired her. He sighed, the figures refused to move where he wanted them.
"Why don't you try this?" Tea suggested as she leaned over Kaiba's shoulders, her fingers flying delicately over the keyboard. The figures and writing were instantly put into two separate columns, which is the way Kaiba liked his spreadsheets to be. He tensed his shoulders,
"If I want your help I'll ask for it." He snapped, Tea sighed and put her hands on his shoulders, gently massaging them and relaxing Kaiba's tense muscles.
"Jesus Kaiba you really need to lighten up." she joked; Kaiba shrugged her off roughly, though secretly he had been enjoying the massage. He went back to tapping on his keyboard in silence and Tea went back to her book, still wondering where the guys were, I didn't get here that early did I? she wondered.
"Yo Tea! Where you bin? We looked everywhere for ya!" Joey stated as he walked into the room. Tea put her book down and watched as Yugi, Tristin, Bakura and Duke entered the room.
"Hi guys, I looked around but couldn't find you so I came here." Tea replied as Joey sat in the chair behind her, Tea turned side ways as Bakura sat in front, turning the chair to face her desk. Yugi sat opposite Bakura, in front of Kaiba and Duke sat behind Kaiba. Tristin usually sat in front of Yugi but for now he decided to sit on Yugi's desk. Kaiba held back a sigh of annoyance as they began to talk, interrupting his work. All of the boys wore the same school uniform as Kaiba, except they all had white shirts and short royal blue jackets and Yugi wore the millennium puzzle on a chain round his neck.
"So, how's Serenity doing? I heard she was having a hard time at her school." Tea asked; Joey shrugged his shoulders. Serenity is Joey's younger sister who lives with her mother while Joey lives with his father. Joey had short blonde hair, which almost covered his dark brown eyes,
"As far as I know she's fine, but I ain't seen her since school started." Joey replied as he leaned back on his chair, Yugi was about to warn Joey about leaning on the back legs of his chair when he lost balance and fell backwards with the chair, this was followed by hysterical laughter from the gang, and even a rare amused chuckle from Kaiba.
"What you laughin' at rich boy?" Joey asked coldly, he and Kaiba got on like cats and dogs. They hated each other; Kaiba momentarily stopped typing and turned to look at Joey, malice glinting in his eyes.
"I'm laughing at you monkey boy, I thought every one knew that these chairs weren't made to lean back on, but then I guess it would take intelligence to remember that, and I know that you are lacking in that department." Kaiba replied with a small smirk on his face, Tea tried not to laugh. She knew it wasn't a nice thing that Kaiba had just said but it was amusing to hear Joey called monkey boy.
"Why you! I'm gonna tear you limb from limb you little!" Joey shouted as he launched himself at Kaiba. Tristan and Duke held him back as he struggled to get at Kaiba, who ignored Joey and went back to his stock reports, savouring his small victory. Tea sat and watched Kaiba as Tristan, Duke and Joey stopped fighting and sat down. I can't figure him out, why is he so cold? She wondered, Kaiba felt her gaze and looked at her coldly. She held his gaze for a moment and looked away, he seems so lonely.
Tea was now in her normal clothes, a cream shirt, shorts, long white socks that went over the knees and white trainers. She walked nervously up the steps of Kaiba Corp and through the glass doors, catching a glance of her neck length brown hair and sky blue eyes in her reflection as she went inside.
"Can I help you Miss?" a security guard asked as she walked in, looking around for a front desk, Tea turned in surprise as the tall man in a black suit walked towards her.
"I have an application form to hand in, do you know where I go?" she asked. The security guard gestured for her to follow him and led her to the lift, they waited for the lift to arrive and Tea stepped inside,
"Go to the top floor and knock on the wooden doors at the front." He ordered. Tea thanked him and started her journey up to the top floor. As the lift stopped she was confronted by Mokuba, Kaiba's younger brother, waiting to get in and go down.
"Hey Tea." He greeted cheerfully as she stepped out of the lift. He was wearing a yellow and purple stripped top and dark blue jeans with white trainers, his long black hair sticking out all over the place making him look mischievous with those shining dark brown eyes.
"Hi Mokuba." Tea replied to the short boy as he bounded into the lift. Tea went to the double door and knocked, there were no other doors here. This must be an office of some sort. There was a familiar cold voice ordering her to enter and as she pushed the doors open she saw Kaiba sitting behind a large oak desk in a black leather chair, leaning over reports, with the glass wall behind him over looking the city. "I have an application form for you." Tea stated as she walked over to the desk, Kaiba grunted and pointed to a tray beside him with his pen, he didn't even bother to look up. Tea put the white sheet of paper in the tray and left without another word, she knew Kaiba didn't like talking while he was working, if he even likes talking at all.
The doors closed and Kaiba looked up, was that whom I thought it was? he wondered as he looked at the form. It was; Tea Gardener had applied for the job, great, just what I need. A secretary full of crap about love and friendship. No thanks. He thought as he picked up the form and held it over the bin, but something stopped him from dropping it, that wouldn't be fair, she could be the best person for the job, unlikely though. He thought as he put the application back in the tray with the others. It would be foolish to throw away the best worker just because of personal dislike. He decided as he picked up the pen and continued his work.
"Hello Tea." Bakura said as he caught up with her. She was walking down the street, probably on her way to the old hide out, which was where she lived at the moment. She had had an argument of some sort with her mother,
"Oh, hi Bakura." Tea replied as he caught up to her. They continued to walk together, talking about the normal daily events. The shops were closing now; it's almost time. Bakura thought as he looked at his watch, Bakura was average height with long spiky white hair and his eyes were hazel brown. He wore light blue trousers and a jacket with white trainers and a blue and white striped T-shirt beneath the jacket.
"I have to go, I promised some one I'd meet them in the park." Bakura excused, Tea smiled and watched him run off down the road, the girl's county high would have finished a few minutes ago.
Bakura reached the park and sat on the swings. She walked through here every night and sat on the bench to read for an hour. Bakura looked around for her, he was a little early. He sat gently rocking back and fourth as he waited and then she was there, her long light purple hair flowing in the wind, he dark blue eyes shining, a straw boater on the head and a yellow dress and jacket. She is the most beautiful creature in the world! He thought to himself, oh, shut up and stop moping! said a voice; it was Yami Bakura, though Bakura called him Ryou. Bakura sat terrified; Ryou was his best friend at times but his worst enemy at others. She sat down and opened her book, reading out loud in a soft whisper.
Bakura continued to swing slowly, watching her constantly until she looked up and he looked away quickly. I wish I could talk to her. He thought to himself, he suddenly noticed that she was looking at him and he had forgotten to look away, he felt himself going red as he hopped off the swing and walked away, he didn't go far, just to a bench further down. That was close, far too close! He thought. Oh, for God's sake! Ryou sighed from inside his head; don't you see she is still watching you? he continued.
Bakura looked back and saw her looking, she looked back to her book momentarily and then back at him to see if he was still watching, and he was. She smiled sweetly and waved, he froze, Ryou, what do I do? Bakura asked in a panic, feeling his body tense. Just relax and wave back. Ryou ordered. Bakura lifted a hand and waved stiffly. The girl stood and walked over with her book, looking down at him shyly.
"Hello. May I sit here?" she asked sweetly, Bakura gulped and nodded nervously, feeling himself shaking. She sat down and turned to look at him with those pale purple eyes that shone in the sunset. She had her book on her lap, it was one that Bakura had read before and enjoyed immensely.
"The Handmaid's Tale. I've read that, it's an amazing book." Bakura said enthusiastically, forgetting his nerves for a moment, he could talk about books for hours. The girl agreed and they spent a short time talking about the book.
"You know, I've seen you here day after day and I don't even know you name." The girl said questioningly, he seems so shy, and he's really cute too. Have I seen him before? The girl wondered,
"Oh, sorry. I'm Ryou Bakura, though I prefer to be called Bakura." He stammered shyly, holding a hand on the back of his head with his eyes closed, his nose slightly wrinkled as he smiled shyly,
"I'm Liviana Pegasus." She replied smiling sweetly, Bakura took her delicate hand and kissed it, he was like an English gentleman. Liviana blushed, making her looked even more beautiful in Bakura's opinion. Oh please! Spare me the mushy stuff! Ryou sighed within Bakura, shut up Ryou, can't you go somewhere or something? Bakura replied. Bakura thought for a moment bout what to say next,
"Pegasus, not a relation of Maximillion Pegasus, the inventor of Duel Monsters?" Bakura asked; it seemed a harmless enough question. Liviana nodded as she put her book back in her bag.
"He's my older brother." She replied, I hadn't realised he had a family! Liviana leaned back with her bag on her lap,
"He left home years ago because he started up his business and since them he's been working and never had time for us, but now that I'm in high school I chose to go and live with him because mother has no time for me. Not since she met her new boyfriend, I don't feel safe around him." She continued. She looked at her watch and got up, pulling her bag onto her back. It was time for her to go now, Bakura kissed her hand again and she left quickly. Her brother's limo should be waiting at the gates for her.
Bakura walked in the opposite direction with his hands in his pockets, in one of his pockets was the millennium eye that he had won in a duel from Pegasus, Maximillion that is. Bakura doubted that he would be able to see Liviana again if her brother found out; they didn't exactly get along.
"Come on Yugi, hurry up." Grandpa said as they walked down the dark high street. Yugi's Grandpa was called Solomon Muto, though all of Yugi's friends called him Grandpa or Mr. Muto. Grandpa was quite short, around five foot tall. Yugi was about four foot five at the moment, though he was over due a growth spurt. Grandpa was quite large; he had a beard and moustache and grey hair that spiked up, a little like his grandson's. His hair was covered by a black cap like old English men used to wear, and still did in some places. Grandpa wore his usual grey dungarees and white shirt.
"Coming Grandpa!" Yugi replied from a few feet behind. Yugi had innocent looking purple eyes and his hair was three colours, it spiked up at the back with two colours, it was black at the back with purple at the front and his spiked fringed was blonde, and somehow this had happened naturally. Grandpa stopped to allow Yugi to catch up with him. "Hey, did you hear that Grandpa?" Yugi asked, as he got closer to Grandpa. They were by a dark alley way the was near to the game shop that Grandpa owned. Grandpa listened. A weak groan, there was someone in the alley,
"Yes, stay here." Grandpa ordered as he stepped towards the alley, but Yugi stopped him before he could walk into the darkness.
"No Grandpa, you can't go by yourself. Either we both go or we both stay." he argued, thought I'll come back once he's asleep and see anyway. Yugi thought. No Yugi, it isn't safe. Yami Yugi said with concern. Yami was Yugi's best friend and they both cared deeply for each other. Don't worry Pharaoh, you'll be right with me. Yugi replied.
"All right, come on." Grandpa replied, knowing that Yugi wouldn't take no for an answer, I don't want Yugi to get hurt. he decided as they both walked down the alley. The alley was dark and they could barely see where they going. Suddenly Yugi saw a shape, it was a boy, perhaps his own age. He had shoulder length hair and was wrapped in a cloak, he seemed to be unconscious and Yugi noticed some liquid on the floor around him, wait! I know him! It's…
"Marik!" Yugi cried as he ran to the teenager's side. He opened his eyes slowly; they were out of focus and he barely seemed able to keep them open. Yugi went down on his knees and cradled Marik's head.
"Come on, we'll take him to the shop." Grandpa said quickly as he approached. Yugi nodded and they pulled Marik to his feet, staggering towards the shop. Once there Grandpa took Marik while Yugi unlocked the door. They then took Marik up to the spare room and put him in the bed. Yugi looked down at his trousers and saw they were dark red at the knees; it was blood he had knelt in earlier.
"Yugi are you all right?" asked Grandpa as he looked at Yugi's knees, Yugi nodded and pulled Marik's cloak off,
"I'm all right, but Marik is another matter." Yugi replied. There were two short swords on Marik's belt and he had a gash on his right arm, but other than that he seemed okay, what was he doing in the alley? Yugi wondered as he looked at the two blood covered swords, more importantly; whose blood was I kneeling in in the alley?
"Where am I?" Marik wondered as he sat up, he felt a little sick. He had collapsed in the alley after fighting off three of the Neo Ghouls. They had once been his followers and apparently their new leader saw him as a threat. Shit! I have a headache! Marik winced as he put a hand to his head. His arm was in a bandage and there was blood showing through. The sun was shining through an open window; it was summer and almost time for the holidays, though that didn't matter to Marik. He got up and walked to the door, it wasn't locked so he wasn't a prisoner.
"Oh, you're awake." Grandpa stated as he walked into the living room. Marik remembered this man; he was the Pharaoh's Grandfather. Marik bowed to him as he stepped into the room. "Go and take a shower, the bathroom is there and there are some clothes of Joey's here that he never wears that may fit you." Grandpa said kindly as he handed Marik some black trousers, pants and a tank top. Marik walked to the bathroom and stepped inside,
"Thank you for your kindness." He said as he closed the door. Grandpa watched him go inside and went into the bedroom, there was blood all over the sheets where Marik had lost blood from the cut on his arm and the swords, now clean, were leaning on the wall near the draws that sat beside the door. Grandpa took the sheets and replaced them with some new ones. Marik walked in with his old clothes and the damp towels,
"Straight in the washer." Grandpa ordered. Marik nodded and put the items in the washing machine in the kitchen, which was behind the sofa and to the right of the stairs. Marik looked at the clock, it was three in the afternoon. Have I really been out that long? He wondered in shock.
"How are you feeling?" Grandpa asked kindly; Marik looked so lost and alone. He was like an abandoned puppy with those big brown eyes and his now clean light platinum hair. He had a series of gold loops around his neck and some gold bands on his left arm; the ones on his right arm had been removed and replaced by an untidy bandage. Grandpa stepped forward and re-tied the bandage.
"I'm okay, thank you." Marik replied simply, he was a little nervous at the moment. Grandpa led him to the sofa and sat him down, handing him a hot cup of tea. Marik took it and sipped at it slowly, I wonder where Ishizu and Odion are. Grandpa wondered as he watched Marik drink.
"Do you have anywhere to go?" Grandpa asked; Marik shook his head slowly, looking at the cup. "Then you'll stay here." Grandpa decided as Yugi, Joey and Tristan walked in with their school bags. Joey looked shocked to see Marik, though Yugi had told him earlier.
"No, I couldn't possibly," Marik argued, he was cut off by Grandpa though,
"You are staying here. I won't have you wandering the streets at night all by yourself." He stated firmly. Yugi sat on the chair to the right of the sofa, Tristan took the other chair to the left and Joey sat beside Marik, still a little nervous about him. Marik got to his feet and knelt before Yugi,
"Pharaoh, I thank you for you kindness." He said humbly, Yugi blushed a little and tried to think of how to stop him doing that.
"It's fine Marik, you don't have to do that, sit down please, you don't have to kneel every time you see me." He stammered awkwardly. Marik did as he was told and sat on the chair silently while Joey whistled to break the awkward silence that followed. Grandpa took the finished cups to the kitchen and Marik followed.
"I really must repay you for your kindness, tell me what I can do." Marik begged, Yugi heard this and went to the kitchen door, leaving Joey and Tristan fighting about something or other.
"I know, why don't you work in the shop? I don't like the idea of Grandpa being on those high ladders and carrying those heavy boxes on his own." Yugi suggested. Marik turned in surprise and was half way to his knees when Yugi held his hands out to stop him, "No, don't do that." He ordered. Marik got to his feet and bowed, Yugi didn't like this either, but it was better than the kneeling. Grandpa looked thoughtful, it's a good idea. I have been looking for someone to help me run the shop.
"All right, but I won't let you work for free, I'll pay you fifty dollars a week." He decided. It wasn't much, but the card shop wasn't the most popular place in the world, although it did get busy sometimes. Marik nodded in agreement and left the room; he was going to bed again.
"Hey Yug, come on, what's keepin' ya?" Joey shouted from the kitchen. Yugi went back to the living room where Joey and Tristan were watching a duel on the duelling channel. It was a channel where you could watch past duels and current ones if there was a tournament on at the time, but there were no tournaments at the moment. "Hey look, it's Mai." Joey said excitedly as a blonde woman placed a card on the duel disc. Joey looked at her perfect figure and determined purple eyes; I wonder where she is now. Joe wondered as he watched. He had not seen this duel, but it was from the Battle City Tournament that had finished almost a year ago. He still remembered standing in the road watching Mai drive away; I hope she comes back some day.
"Joey… Hey Joey, are you in there man?" Tristan asked as he waved a tanned hand in front of Joey's eyes. Joey looked over, still not paying attention,
"Hm?" he groaned, Tristan rolled his eyes and went back to watching the duel. Yugi laughed softly and sat back on the sofa with his two friends. There was a noise, what is that? Yugi wondered as he got up and walked towards the noise, it was coming from Marik's room. Yugi! Yami objected as Yugi put his hand on the door handle. Oh, come on! Something could be wrong! Yugi excused as he opened the door a crack. Inside Yugi saw Marik training with his swords. He swung gracefully at invisible opponents and used gymnastics to flip and twist to dodge invisible attacks.
"Pharaoh." He said in surprise as he bowed to Yugi. Yugi hadn't realised he had been so obvious; he opened the door and stepped inside.
"Hi, sorry, but I heard the noise and thought you might be having some sort of trouble." Yugi stammered. Marik nodded and wiped his neck with a small towel. He had taken the tank top off so the upper half of his body was clear, revealing the large tattoo on his back. It was a cross like the millennium key that Shadi wore and at the top end was a picture or the Winged Dragon of Ra, to the right was a picture of Sliphur the Sky Dragon and to the left was a picture of Obelisk the Tormentor. Yugi had these cards in his deck now, making him almost invincible.
"Sorry if I concerned you, I always train before I sleep." Marik replied as he sat on the edge of the bed, his tanned skin looked soft in the light from the lamp on the bedside table. Yugi sat beside his new friend,
"What are you doing back here? Where are Odion and Ishizu?" he asked. Marik looked at the two swords that were on the bed beside him.
"Ishizu is living around here some where, she works in the Egyptian exhibition at the museum and Odion lives with her and works as an archaeologist. I can't go to them, I won't risk them getting hurt. I should leave here. If they come for me they will kill you to get to me." Marik replied as he looked at the swords with cold eyes, I trained the Neo Ghouls; they can kill anyone! Marik thought bitterly as he remembered the days that he had tried to take over the world.
"Who's after you?" Yugi asked. Marik started, he had forgotten the Yugi was there for a moment.
"The Neo Ghouls. Their new leader sees me as a threat. They have hunted me for weeks." Marik replied, his shoulders slumping in exhaustion. Yugi put a hand reassuringly on Marik's shoulder,
"Don't worry, you'll be safe here." Yugi assured, smiling confidently. Marik smiled gratefully and yawned, he looked like he hadn't slept for days, "You should get some sleep, I'll see you tomorrow." Yugi called as he hopped off the bed and ran back into the living room. Marik got off the bed and rolled underneath it, he felt a lot safer under it than on top of it.