CHANGE OF HEART
Disclaimer: I do not own Yu-Gi-Oh!
A/N: Edited and reposted! I only fixed a few grammatical errors, nothing too drastic a change, Hope you all enjoy. Again, LOL.
Prologue: Rivalry
Ancestry is a very powerful force to behold, more than most people give it credit for. It's the one thing you cannot get rid of, no matter how hard you try. It's in your blood, flowing through your veins. Ancestry is what makes up who you are, it dictates how you live. You can never escape it, no matter how many years may pass. It is always there, ever lurking in the shadows. Always present, but never seen. How does one contend with such a force? How can you fight what is always within you? Does ancestry equal fate? Can one still choose one's own destiny despite what the past dictates?
He stood no more than 5 feet away from her, sword at the ready. They were in a clearing in the woods, secluded from all who may interfere. She had chosen a good place for this. He looked at her through the blood in his eyes, flowing from a wound on his forehead. She sneered at him, not looking the least bit fatigued. Where does she draw her strength? The young man thought to himself. Without warning, she lunged forward and made an attempt to stab him with her daggers. He was barely able to dodge the fatal blow but she still managed a deep cut on his stomach. She was fast, agile, and accurate. Not to mention skillful with a blade.
"Your hesitation will be your end," she coolly stated, licking the blood from her dagger in a taunting manner.
"And your arrogance shall be your demise," he responded in the same tone. He was a man of little words, making him all the more mysterious and sinister. He was deliberate; his every move calculated and precise. Every action had a purpose. He was one of the most skillful fighters in all of Japan. All who challenged him often left with one less limb than before. However, he had met his match with this girl. This damned prideful girl, with a foul mouth to boot.
She smirked in response as she lunged again but this time, he was ready, as he quickly dodged to the left. However, she had anticipated his reaction and planted a well-placed kick to his midsection, directly on the wound she inflicted earlier. She span around and rushed towards him, daggers poised to strike the final blow. As she neared him, however, he deftly flicked his blood in her direction and smirked as his blood droplets become as hard and sharp as glass shards. They only inflicted minor cuts but managed to slow her down enough so that he could regain his bearings and dodged her attack once again. Stabbing her daggers to the ground, the girl recited a quick chant and the ground beneath the boy quaked and cracked open. He jumped away only to be met with another kick to his kidney. As he fell, he swung his sword and was satisfied as she grunted in pain. He quickly stood up and saw her clutch the leg she had used to kick him.
They stood apart once again, staring each other down, weapons at the ready.
Mutou and Mazaki, two of the most powerful clans in all Japan. Both families were well versed in the ways of magic and were very adept in the ways of the sword. If they were to cooperate, they would easily rule Japan. However, their rivalry ran deep. One could never best the other. They had always fought over one thing or another, whether it was over money, property, or just plain reputation. It was the latter that these two are now striving to protect.
"Is that all you can do? Dodge, Mutou?" the girl smirked. "You will pay for insulting my family and I intend to exact your punishment. You cannot evade me for long."
"As if a girl like you can do anything," he responded. "You are as egotistical as the head of your family. I will teach you the meaning of respect."
"Let your sword do the teaching then," she replied, rushing towards him again. She refused to be defeated by this smug, insignificant little cur. What did he know of respect? In her mind, respect was earned, not given. And he and his family had not earned a single ounce of it. Not at all.
He met her, move for move despite his wounds, his heavy sword clashing against her lightning-quick daggers. At last the end was near as the girl knocked his sword away and pierced his stomach with one dagger and his left lung with the other, both fatal blows. Blood spurted from his mouth and she grinned, knowing she has finally won. He never should have underestimated her, a woman of the Mazaki clan.
"Let this be a lesson to your family, Mutou," she growled, as she twisted the daggers, causing the young man to groan in pain. "If you can point a sword, then you had better be prepared to die by the sword."
"Heh. T-the same goes to you, M-Mazaki," he sneered. He then put his arms around her, holding her close. With his last strength, he called forth his sword and it flew, piercing her heart, but penetrating his, as well.
"Y-you bastard," she groaned. Before her last breath, she saw the Mutou boy smirk in response.
And so they laid. His arms around her, her daggers in his body, the hilt of his sword entering her backside, while the point of the blade protruded from his. It would have been beautiful if it weren't so tragic.
As centuries flew by, the opposition between the Mutou's and the Mazaki's had always remained. It had become more subtle, but it was there nonetheless. They never knew why for it was just there. It was an instinct, just as a mother must protect her child, so did Mazaki and Mutou fight. However, it did not always end in such tragedy. On the contrary, in many cases, they ended up leading long and healthy lives. But they would always be destined to meet. In every generation, no matter what their predecessors did to separate themselves, they would always end up together.
How do you stop something so relentless? The ball may be in motion, but can you control where it goes?
Hey! This is my first adventure fic, but second written fanfic. I appreciate any comments you guys may have. Thanks for reading!