Hello everyone! This is my first foray in the Yu-Gi-Oh! section, so hopefully I won't make too bad of a first impression! Yes, the title has a non-existent word in it, but that's done on purpose as you will see.

Anyway, a few housekeeping items that I should probably get out of the way: 1) I have no idea where this takes place time-line wise. Sometime after Battle City is all I'm really counting (it's been a long time since I've actually seen the series, so please don't hurt me if there are continuity errors). 2) I am using the English dub names (because I am, unfortunately, much more used to them), however I will be employing the Japanese ages. 3) They are most likely in Japan. I say most likely because I'm actually not too sure where they are myself. I think right now they're in Japanamerica since I've mixed up both cultures into one (you'll see what I mean, if you pay attention to that kind of stuff). I apologize if all of this confuses people.

Either way, please enjoy!

Disclaimer: I don't own Yu-Gi-Oh!

The Bestest Big Brother Ever

Prologue

Friday, November 12
3:46 PM

"I'm home!" Serenity announced as she stepped inside, kicking off her shoes.

"I'm in the kitchen!" her mother called from a different part of the house.

Abandoning her school bag by the door, Serenity walked down the hall and turned into the kitchen. Her mother stood at the stove, stirring a wok.

"Mmm! Smells good!" the auburn-haired girl chirped as she peered over her mother's shoulder. The older woman was stir-frying noodles, vegetables and strips of beef.

"There's a cherry pie baking in the oven right now, too. It'll be for dessert later."

"I love cherry pie!" Serenity exclaimed happily, a big smile overtaking her face.

"Yes, I know. That's why I made it," her mother answered with a soft smile of her own.

"Thanks, Mom! You're awesome!"

"Oh, that's right, Serenity, your birthday's next week. Was there anything that you wanted in particular?"

Serenity's eyes widened in surprise and her eyebrows rose slightly before they furrowed back down into a frown. This had been the question that she'd been waiting for her mother to ask. However, now that the moment had come, she wasn't so sure if she should really ask for what she wanted.

I should just ask for those CDs I wanted, or that nice pair of boots I saw the other day… No, no, no! Serenity, you've been preparing this for a month now! You HAVE to go through with it! she thought to herself.

Taking a deep breath, she braced herself and opened her mouth.

"Actually, there is something I really want."

"What is it, honey? You've been doing very well in school this year, and you've been studying so hard for your entrance exams that your step-father and I talked it over and decided that deserve to get anything you want for your birthday," her mother said with an encouraging smile as she turned off the stove. "Well… within reasonable monetary bounds, of course…"

"Well, what I want won't cost any money at all, actually…" Serenity started, pausing slightly as her mother raised a questioning eyebrow. "What I really want is… to stay with Joey and Dad for a while."

"…What?" her mother asked, looking at her daughter in shock.

"It's not that I want to stay there permanently or anything!" Serenity blurted out. "It's just… I haven't seen Joey since school started and I really miss him. I haven't seen Dad for a long time, either and it would mean so much to me! And I promise that I'll work ten times as hard in school! Also, winter break's coming up soon, so I could go then. That way I won't really be slacking off from school or anything! And I'll come home for Christmas and—"

"That's enough, Serenity."

The girl clamped her mouth shut, staring down at the floor, expecting the worst. Why had she even tried?

"… Is that what you really want, Serenity?" her mother asked quietly.

"… Yes… Just for a few weeks… Please."

For a long moment, her mother didn't answer and all that Serenity could hear was the sizzling of the noodles in the still-hot wok and the ticking of the clock from the other room. Finally, her mother shifted, removing the wok from the stove, and started shovelling the stir-fry onto a plate.

"I'll talk to your step-father and your father about it, and I'll let you know what we decide."

Serenity's head shot up and she could barely stop herself from yelling out: 'YES!' It wasn't a definite answer, but it was not a complete rejection either. Nearly springing forward, the girl threw her arms around her mother in a tight embrace.

"Thank you, thank you, thank you! You're the best! No, the bestest! I love you!"

"Now, now Serenity, you're going to make me drop our dinner on the floor. Don't thank me just yet, anyway. We haven't decided yet if you're going… And 'bestest' isn't a word, honey."

Sorry the prologue is so short, but it is just that: a prologue. I have the next chapter more or less written out already, so I will post it in a week or so.

Also, for those of you who are bound to ask: Serenity will be turning fourteen (Grade 9), making Joey and Kaiba seventeen (Grade 12), and Mokuba twelve (Grade 7). So, if Serenity seems a bit immature or too naïve, please keep in mind that she's fourteen in this story. I don't think I was much different from how she was when I was that age, so… yeah.

Anyway, please leave a review and any constructive criticism is greatly appreciated. Also, all flames will be treated as review fodder (it only racks up my review count). See you all soon!

-FireEdge-