A/N: To say that it's been a long time since I've written a Yu-Gi-Oh fanfic is an understatement. To say that it's been a long time since I've written a Seto Kaiba fanfic is a downright lie. Anyway, yes, I have decided to continue my endeavors in this section, pathetic as my previous projects were.
I'm trying to shorten my A/N's throughout the story, which is probably why all the important stuff is packed into this first chapter. Let me start by saying that this fanfic is dedicated to Alice, Michelle and Becky, the three most obsessed Kaiba fanatics I know. You guys better review! XD
Second up, as of this point in time, "Guardian" is not finished. However, I'd say it's about 75 complete, so I felt secure about posting the beginning. Needless to say, the story focuses on Seto Kaiba (why else would I dedicate it to these people) and also a bit on his relationship with his little brother. I consider it something of a preview/rough draft for another Kaiba-centric fic I'm working on, which I will not tell you about right now.
Oh yeah, just another brief note. I am aware that Jounouchi's name is actually Katsuya and Honda's name is actually Hiroto. Frankly, I'm just being a conformist when I use their last names. Oh yeah, for anyone who wants to know, Jounouchi Joey, Honda Tristan, and Anzu Tea. Why did I use their Japanese names? Because frankly, their dub names piss me off.
Now a couple of notes on this fanfic: (1) some characters may seem OOC because I didn't bother very much with character development in this story, (2) the writing pace is rather fast because I decided to get straight to the point in a lot of cases rather than beating around the bush with irrelevant details and dialogue, and thus the story is shorter than it could be, (3) the rating is mostly for Jounouchi's mouth, and (4) no, this is not my best writing, and no, I do not care. Honestly, you can't expect someone who's written 14 pages in three days to do their best. I'm just trying to get this done before my inspiration runs out.
Brief note on this first chapter: I tried to simulate someone's thoughts in a dream, which explains the sentence fragments. When was the last time you had a dream and your vocabulary consisted of SAT words?
A random ending note: the apple I'm eating is kind of clear in the middle. Does that mean it's spoiled?
I will put anything that I've forgotten into future A/N's. On with the story! (Sorry you had to endure such a long note)
Disclaimer: I do not own Yu-Gi-Oh or any of its characters. However, I do own this story and the ideas it conveys, so steal and die.
As always, reviews are appreciated and flames are ignored.
Guardians
BEGIN
He could not see the sky, yet he knew it was there. Just as he could not see the sand, but he knew it was there, and the sun, and the Sphinx looming in the distance. He could not see them, but they were there. They were not important, though.
And then the temple. Always at the bottom. And the three men, always at the top. White cloaks, pale faces, blue hair. Blue like the sky, the sky he could not see, but it was there. It was not important, though.
Always at the bottom. Why not at the top? Middle one offers a hand. At the top, take the hand. No longer at the bottom. Always at the bottom.
Portal of light, spinning light, yellow light, dancing light. Beautiful? Waltzing light. Waltzing. Like butterflies. Do butterflies waltz?
The blue sky, the golden sun, and he could see them now. They were important now. But the sand? Sand was gone. Grass, green grass in its place. Soft, like a bed, like a feather bed. Birds? Over the water. Strange birds, with human faces. Looked familiar.
Grass. Fields, endless fields, endless green fields. Rolling like waves. Oceans, blue and sparkling, like the sky. He could see the sky. It was important now. And the sun, it was important too, and the fields, and the grass, and the water.
They flew, and he flew with them because he had wings now. Powerful wings, the wind strong underneath. Over the fields and the water. Endless green fields. Shimmering blue water. He had wings, and so he flew.
He raised his head and roared a challenge to the sky, because he had wings, and power now, too. The power to destroy. Destroy at will. Power. He liked power, he wanted power. Now he had power. Challenge to the sky. Wings and power. He had them, and the other three had them too.
No longer weak. Power, lots of power, power to destroy. Weakness was gone, human weakness was gone. He had power, and wings. He could fly, and so he flew. He had wings, so he flew.
Over the water again, again over the water. Looking down, he saw. It was like a mirror, a big mirror, like glass. Broken glass, remember? Broken glass. Broken mirror? No. A big glass mirror, and they were there. He knew what they were. What were they? They were—
Seto Kaiba opened his eyes.
What were they?
He blinked, waiting for his eyes to adjust to the darkness. A few moments later, he was able to discern the ceiling of his bedroom, the first light of dawn seeping through his closed window visible as thin grey streaks on the rafters. He turned and peered at the clock on the bedstead. It was almost four o'clock.
He kicked back the covers and slowly got out of bed. Dressing in the dark, he allowed his mind to wander back to the dream. It had been plaguing him night after night for about two months, and yet he still could not grasp its significance. It was actually not the dream itself that irked him; it was the feeling he had every time he awoke, a persistent, nagging feeling that he had changed, that something had happened to him, that he had become something different—something powerful. But he never knew what it was.
What were they?
He sat back on the bed, staring out the window at nothing. He had heard about recurring dreams, and how they were supposed to have some sort of symbolism or message or something-or-other, but what sort of allegorical significance could a temple in the Egyptian desert have? Especially concerning his miserable existence?
If there was anything Seto Kaiba hated, it was something he could not understand, and this dream certainly fit into the category. Watching the steadily-lightening sky outside his window, he remembered the sun, and the sand. The desert sand.
He would have to get to the bottom of this mystery soon, or he would have to start seeing a psychiatrist. He knew where that temple was; it was one of the inexorable facts that one always knows when one dreams. Egypt, behind the Sphinx. Why the temple was located there was something he did not know…but intended to find out.
The sudden roaring sound exploded like a bomb inside his head and he leaped to his feet, spinning completely around once before finally straightening, glaring at the alarm clock buzzing dutifully to announce the arrival of four o'clock. Reaching over, he slammed his fist carelessly down on the little machine and silence fell once again. Rising, he slipped on his coat and headed for the door. Another day in Seto Kaiba's life was about to begin—but he had to do something first.