Authoress Notes: This story is being redone. Read all of it, as some of the changes are subtle ones. But DO NOT read on unless it has a note like this at the top-it means that chapter hasn't been rewritten yet. This prologue is all-new, except for parts of part trois. I hope you enjoy this longer and more coherent version of Put him outta my Misery.
Warning: This story contains an OC. My main reason being, I feel it better to write my own character and show her assimilation into the character's world instead of writing a canon character out of canon.
Second warning: This is AU. I utilize the existing universe in different ways than the manga or anime. This is fanfiction and there is no pretension of anything else.
Please note, I don't particularly use English dub or the original names. I mix and match to suit my own aesthetic sensibilities. Anytime I feel you might be confused, I'll mark it and add an explanation.
Third warning: Joey's narration in this prologue is done seriously. Yes, I know it isn't his usual demeanor-but he has a reason to be that way.
Feel free to ask questions in reviews-more than likely I'll address it in the next chapter and write a personal e-mail if given an address.
Disclaimer: No, I don't own YGO. No, I am not getting paid for this. No, this disclaimer is not the same as my old one. I'm so nice I'm even giving you a new one of these evil things.
Put him outta my Misery
by Livi {ania}
Prologue
-part un-
(out of time)
The Millennium Items (or Sennen Items, if you prefer) are rather frankly, mysterious. It is an inherent trait with them. They're inanimate with only their spirits to speak for them, and frankly…they're spirits tend to have amnesia or be completely out of their minds. There is no one to speak of their past, their conception, their anything. It isn't exactly a winning combination for everyday familiarity. Thus, the general mysteriousness.
In recent times, the seven born of the massacre of Kuru Eruna have become better known, but one shouldn't assume those are the only ones out there. Remember the fact no one knows basically anything about them? Except maybe the keeper of the Ankh and Scales, and he knows how to keep a secret. They weren't the first to be made, or the last, although they certainly were the pinnacle of their art. The pharaoh's priests had outdone themselves. Now, they can get a nice little pat on the back before all those vengeful spirits smack 'em.
Of course, each batch has their own characteristics (so on and so forth), their own legends, their own special background. Each as mysterious as the last.
These mysterious bits of magick imbued gold were about to touch two lives, one previously touched and one clean of involvement. Both of those lives thoroughly hating mystery.
-part deux-
(2003)
It was a nice, normal day, when a young gaijin[1] girl opened a gift from her pen-pal and put the strange golden anklet inside on. A few seconds later, she was shocked when no matter how hard she tried she couldn't remove it. "Wha-?" She exclaimed, quickly reading the accompanying letter.
Ayashi-kun,[2]
This happened to come into my possession, but it doesn't belong to me. It may not belong to you either, but I have a feeling it does. Please be careful and good luck in all your endeavors.
Ishtar Isis
She stared morosely at the piece of jewelry hanging delicately around her leg. "I don't even like gold," her voice came out mournfully. Somehow she didn't feel happy with this…thing…touching her skin. She suddenly doubled up in pain, and felt stronger flashes. A few impressions later, she slumped over, blonde hair spilling everywhere.
And the anklet searched for its spirit, using its host's own life to do so.
-part trois-
(two years earlier)
The day didn't start out so bad, just so you know. The weather was nice, I didn't get into any fights, and I ran into Mai. The highlight of those three being I ran into Mai. I'm actually kind of disappointed about the whole no fights thing. It was actually rather premature of me. But now I happen to be getting ahead of myself. It's still better than babbling on about stuff I'm sure no one besides me cares about.
But then things just went…wrong, if you allow me to be cliché. Actually, everything bit the orangutans in the big one (If ya get my drift).[3]
My dad's a deadbeat, a bum, a hobo, whatever term floats yer boat. He's also a drunk most of the time. Every once in awhile he gets a DUI and goes to AA meetings, but he always seems to fall of the wagon. He's also a bit of a mean drunk. If you take the 'a bit' part of that sentence in a sarcastic sort of way. His fuse got short, and I always seemed to hold the match. A truly useless talent. Well, it did serve one use. Not one I much enjoyed though.
I can't remember everything. I think I suffered some brain damage that carried through afterwards. I just have faint flashes of memory, incomplete and incoherent.
Fists and feet. Kicking, biting, blood filling my mouth; copper and salt and gagging it all down.
That voice in my head telling me to fight back. My body sluggish, not responding.
SLAM!
What was that, a chair? Has he been watching wrestling?
Fists striking, hitting, something falling on me and retaliating.
Grunting and moaning and anger and hate and confusion and-
Crap it.
Slump, fall, bleed, can't think can't think can't think can't
pain pain pain pain pain pain pain pain pain pain pain
Nothing.
End. At least, for now.
"Hey, Joey?"
END PROLOGUE
[1] A gaijin is a foreigner.
[2] The –kun suffix is polite, but more familiar than –san. Used for friends (mostly younger than oneself). Ayashi is my original character's last name, not first. Ayashi-kun would be used to address her by a casual friend.
[3]A friend came up with the original phrase 'that bites the monkeys.' (That sucks.) Variations have been created upon that, and 'biting the orangutans in the big one' is a very rude phrase among our circle.