A/N: This fanfiction was made in response to a writer's challenge, posted by Schala85 in her story "The Prince of Valor". This, of course, in an AU fic which takes place in the future and the cast has absolutely no clue as to what their past lives in Ancient Egypt were, nor the powers of the Millennium Items. And for your entertainment Shadi shall give the disclaimer!
Shadi: Guess whos back? Back again! Shadi's back! Tell a friend! Oh uh...*cougs* Red Prophet does not own Yugioh, and I bet you're all very happy that she doesn't!
....¬.¬;; Okay then... Shadi is having a bit of fun....Just to make things clear I'm going to post the names the characters will go by:
Yami Malik = Mariku Ishtal
Malik Ishtar = Malik Ishtal
Yami Bakura = Bakura
Yami Yuugi = Yami Mutoh
Joey Wheeler = Jounouchi Katsuya
Duke Devilin = Otogi (Heh ^^;;; I just prefer calling him by his last name)
Grandpa = Sugoroku Mutoh
Note~ All the characters won't appear in the first chapter, so be patient!
Well with that said and done, please enjoy reading the fic!
_____________________________________________________________________________
"What exactly is this all about Mariku?" Malik asked his brother in a commanding tone, which he rarely used. Bakura and Otogi had long since fallen silent, and were awaiting the officials's answer to the question.
"Infiltration." came the one worded reply from Mariku's mouth, and a sly grin crossed his face, "The Tourniquet are going to be in for quite a surprise."
"The Tourniquet?!" Otogi stood up from his seat, his emerald eyes ablaze, "Why? This isn't a logical move for the Black Dragons!"
Malik, Mariku, and Bakura stared dumfounded at Otogi's outburst. Otogi was generally more of a quiet, passive person, never had they seen this strong of a reaction from him before.
However, as instantly as Otogi's temper had flared it returned to normal, he'd realized what he had just said to the most powerful person in Japan, and instantly regretted it.
"Why?" Mariku said in a low tone, and narrowed his eyes, "You dare ask me why?"
"I...I'm sorry sir I was just surprised. I never would have thought we'd decide to target the Tourniquet. Their leader...Yami he's supposed to be-"
"Enough!" Mariku roared, stopping Otogi's speech, causing him to turn his brilliant green eyes downward, strands of his ebony hair falling down onto his face. "I trust you'll let me explain now Otogi."
Malik mentally winced, his elder brother Mariku could be so harsh at times.
That's propbably why he's the leader of the Black Dragons, and I'm merely a shadow in his presence. Malik thought to himself, as he drummed his fingers on the arm of the wooden chair he was seated in.
"The Tourniquet now pose a great threat to us, they gave greatly increased in size and power in the last few years, their goal is to set up a new government for Japan, a Republic none the less. We cannot allow this to happen. And if that wasn't enough they have the power of the seven on
their side as well."
"The seven?" Bakura asked, his dark brown eyes widening a bit; he was obviously intrigued.
"Yes, the seven are mystical items of great power; or so that is what the ancient prophecy states.
The items themselves if wielded by the right people could bring the entire world to it's knees. And if the seven were ever united it very well could just as easily destroy it. This is why we need to get in, find out exactly what the seven items of power are, and procure them." Mariku finished sighing, and lifted a hand to his forehead.
Malik nodded at this, in this day and era it was hard to believe magic even existed once. People were to caught up in technological advances in weaponry and such.
But then again the Ishtal family had been in touch with ancient prophecies, belief in magic and, the afterlife since their origins were traced to Ancient Egypt.
Ironic actually, this was Mariku's downfall, people patronized him because of his constant support of the old ways of Ancient Egypt. People wouldn't accept there was such a thing as 'magic' until they witnessed it with their own eyes and the Ishtals had no way of doing so...that is until now.
"That's proposterous!" Otogi exclaimed clenching his hand into a fist of anger, "It's obciously some sort of hoax! A bloody trick none the less. Why put our lives on the line to do something like this?"
"Otogi I thought you knew better than to question my authority." Mariku said glaring at Otogi with icy purple eyes. "I trusted you enough to let you be in this room to hear what I have to say, so you will hold your tongue. Understood?"
Otogi paused to swallow, "Yes sir." Otogi said, he knew he couldn't risk anything else. To enrage Mariku was death.
Why is Otogi so jumpy, he never acts like this. Could something be bothering him? Malik mused silently to himself, while keeping his violet eyes trained on the floor.
"Now Bakura, Malik, and Otogi," Mariku said the last name with a hint of disgust, "you will pose as new Tourniquet recruits and get inside the building that way, of course this would be during the late afternoon. I and a few other members will create a distraction that evening, and by that time hopefully you'll have found about about the seven items of power. There aren't a lot of people guarding the warehouse, so they'll have to send all of their units on the defense to protect the items from us. During the distraction you are to obtain the items, and get the hell out of there."
Bakura nodded, ruffling his mane of white hair slightly, as he realized what had to be done, "This is why you wanted me to get the maps of that old warehouse in Domino then." This comment received a curt smirk of approval from Mariku.
"Yes exactly, that is where according, to what I've found out is where they're keeping the items of course," Mariku said, bearing a pleased look on his face. "However you three will not be going alone, there is one more person I'ld like to contact for me, her name is Rei Gomez, she should be some use to you."
Rei Gomez...I've heard that name somewhere before, but I can't place an image with it.
"Go to the Oasis Bar tonight and ask around, she should be there. Tell her it's time to return the favor she's been owing to me."
"What?!" It was Bakura's turn to be taken by surprise, "A woman? You cannot be serious!"
To this Mariku chuckled, "I never thought you to be sexist Bakura."
"I'm not! It's just that well-"
"Never mind about that now, just find her, she'll know what needs to be done. Your are dismissed." Mariku said with a slight wave of his hand and the trio were escorted from the room.
"Do you think it wise to go through with this Mariku?" a figure said after emerging from the shadows that covered the room. "As Otogi has already stated, it's risky you don't know if this is just a trick to get you involved in something won't want to be a part of."
Mariku dismissed the cloaked man's statement with a grunt of disapproval, "I trust Malik with this, he of my blood after all, everything shall go fine. Have you not read of the prophecy my friend?"
"I know it as well as you do," the cloaked figure repeated with a flash of his crystalline blue eyes, "but I don't trust in this operation, it would be best to forget about this. For it shall not end well. You may think you have everything under control Mariku Ishtal, but you don't have knowledge of everything. Even the smallest bits and pieces of the puzzle matter in the end, and you my friend, have forsaken them."
"Is that a threat?" Mariku said in a malicious tone, and rose from his seat.
The cloaked figure held up his hands to create a pleading gesture, "A mere warning is all that I came to give, but I shall advise you to heed my words." the man finished, and as quickly as is appeared the figure vanished into the darkness.
"Damn that Shadi." Mariku mumbled to himself, and quickly grabbed his cloak, exiting the room in a huff.
_____________________________________________________________________________
Why does it always have to be this way?
Malik thought to himself silently as he broke away from Otogi and Bakura and headed out of the building to his apartment.
Must I always be only second best? I'm nothing more than a shadow of my brother; everyone constantly compares me to him. Malik your brother Mariku is just what we needed to get the Black Dragons off the ground he was a miracle, you should respect him more. How come people can't see me for who I am and not just see my brother?
They all think that I'm a pampered little nothing and I always get the easy assignments of Mariku because I'm related to him...but it isn't entirely that way.
Malik finished his thoughts as he took out his keys from his pocket and opened his apartment door revealing the slightly messy domain he lived in.
Everything nowadays was so complicated, ever since the Japanese government was overthrown street gangs were all that people had left; the only true way of living. But the Tourniquet had the idea of changing all of that setting up a Republic, which angered the many that were for Democracy, which included Mariku.
Funny Malik always thought his brother would prefer, perhaps a dictatorship.
Sometimes Malik himself wondered about what things would have been like if his father and elder sister were still alive.
If it weren't for the accident that had claimed their lives so long ago, none of this would be happening now. Mariku wouldn't be in command of the Black Dragons, nor be the ruthless person leading had turned him into. And perhaps, through his sister Malik could have become closer to his father, being the one to lead the Black Dragons, and have the spotlight on himself. Malik mentally kicked himself as these arrays of thought entered his mind.
No.
That won't ever be.
I shan't dwell on the past. I shall prove myself on my own! I'll show everyone that Mariku and I are two separate people, that despite our similar looks, we are absolutely nothing alike! And I can do this by gaining the items of power.
"The seven items of power." he mused to himself, and recalled the prophecy to his memory.
The seven items of power
Shall be found by the dragons
In their darkest hour
However unseen by the fooled eye
The unfaithful servert
Shall be exposed as a spy
Great events shall be foreseen
By the oracle repaying debt
However no warning shall prevent the scheme
Of great tragedy and death
Death shall befall the jeweled
And awaken shall the shadow
To accept his rule
Avenge the fallen star the shadow shall
Risking all he has risen for
Only to loose it all
The ancient princess shall betray he lover
Forsaking her destiny
To help an unseen other
After all hope is lost
The shadow, now a storm of darkness
Finds another way to avenge the fallen star but at an obscene cost