Author's Notes: Well, here we are again with another old fandom revived. Somewhere on this account is an old original Yugioh series fanfic that I never finished. Well, I can safely say I really improved as a writer since then. And since then, we have found ourselves with Yugioh 5Ds. This series just grew on me so much, as did all of its characters. So, I thought it would be interesting to take a different look into the series. This is slightly AU, though I mention various things in the series. (Aki having a D-wheel and the Fortune Cup are just examples.)

Please note that this story will be getting very violent. If you are a bit squeamish and dislike blood, I HIGHLY recommend you do not read this. But, I welcome everyone to give it a try. =) Enjoy.

Memento's Inception

Chapter One

Warning Signs

Spring had finally come to the the newly restored Neo-Domino City. The last bits of ice and snow were starting to melt off the buildings and streets, breathing a new life into the now peaceful city. The sun was warm as people ventured outside for the first time in months, looking to take in the fresh air and good old vitamin D. Families walked along the streets, taking pets for long walks. Some found joy in mounting their runners, heading out to take on some of the newly built courses of the city. Large puddles from the storm the night before littered the ground, though with how the sun was beating down, they would only be a distant thought within a few hours. The sounds of various duels could be heard echoing across the clear blue sky, making it all seem more like a serial dream than actuality.

The change to the city was a welcome one after all the hate and tension that had built after the Momentum incident. The politicians and higher ups finally thought it time to stop placing blame for something on the Satellite that was not their fault. If a person were to ask why there was so much animosity between the two, not a single person could actually give a straight answer. Therefore, it was during the rebuilding after the 'incident', that it seemed only right to completely finish what was started. The bridge's were finished and finally, there was no longer a need for any hatred or segregation of the people.

"And that brings your life points to zero!" Ruka exclaimed happily, watching as her lion beast Regulus let its final attack claim her brother's life points. The open square outside the Poppo Clock Shop almost seemed to have a wonderful and light festival air for so early in the morning. People were gathered about the fountain in the middle of the square, watching various children and teens have quick and friendly duels. Vendors were out, peddling things like flowers, fresh fruit from the country and even simple things like balloons.

Watching as the twins dueling up a storm at a small table outside the shop was the former King. Jack Atlas sat quietly with a firm look on his face, sipping away on a small cup of tea. His deep violet eyes glanced over each of the duels with a judgmental gaze. Over the back of his chair, he had draped his trademark long coat, enjoying the sun just like everyone else. To any and all passerby, Jack was just another person enjoying the the games. He had long since lost his title and fame of being considered a duel king.

Shaking his head as he watched the young boy fall to the ground, Jack placed his china cup back to the table. "Rua! That was unacceptable! You're showboating cost you the victory!" he scolded, his broad voice calling above the crowd.

"Jack, there is no need to be so harsh." A voice muttered from beside him. Aki sat with her hands in her lap, a similar cup of tea placed before her, though seemingly untouched. She sat comfortably in her red overcoat with her legs crossed with her black mini-skirt. Her soft red eyes stared with a questionable gaze and the former king while the soft breeze brushed her matching scarlet hair away from her face.

Wincing at his sudden throw down to the cobblestone street, Rua pouted at the sound of Jack's words. "But this time I wasn't! I swear! I was setting up the combo perfectly to take her down, but-"

"Stop making excuses Rua," Ruka sighed, removing her duel disk from her arm. Ever since the dark signer battles, the young girl had become a much stronger duelist. In fact, her twin noticed the change as soon as she had her legendary dragon card returned to her deck. It was like a piece of her that was missing for years came back to her, breathing a new life into her drive to duel. Despite putting on the fake grump act, Rua was happy to see his sister smile about winning in a duel.

But Jack shook his head again in disagreement. "Combos are good when you know what you are doing!"

As the blond stood from his chair, Ruka quickly slid into his place. The girl loved to see when her brother was always scolded by the older duelists whenever they held practice duels. Even though it was a learning experience for both of them, it was always her brother who were told what was being done wrong. Setting down her disk beside her on the table, she reached for the tea pot and a spare cup.

Letting a smile cross her face, Aki watched as Ruka poured her tea, quickly added three cubes of sugar to it. "You really are getting much more confident with your dueling Ruka."

Ruka stuck her tongue out a bit as she blew on her tea. "Thank you Aki!" she smiled as she took a small sip of her drink. Though, her smile faded slightly and she looked out at the square. Jack was now kneeling next to her brother, going through his cards to try and find easier ways of bringing down an enemy rather than showboating. "I just wish Yusei and Crow were here to have seen it. They said they would come out as soon as we started, but they never showed up. Have you seen them?" she questioned to the the psychic sitting beside her.

And yet Aki just shook her head, "Sorry Ruka. But its been all quiet. Crow is out on a delivery. But its just up the street, so he decided to walk. And Yusei...well," she paused, looking out to the square once more. Now that she thought about it, she had yet to see Yusei that morning. Normally if she swung by while he was in the garage, he would pop out to say hello at least, being covered head to toe in a thick layer of motor grease and usually smoke stained clothes. There were more explosions from that garage of late with him developing new technology for the d-wheels, the neighbors had become accustom to their windows rattling. Even though Yusei would apologize profusely for the smoke and loud noises, the people always just shook it off.

Aki just never truly understood how Yusei could just get along with everyone. He was so driven by his dueling to the point that someone who might just meet him, that seemed to be the only thing that mattered. But she could see it in his eyes that it was so much more than just a card game. The way his stunning blue eyes would just light up when something good happened to someone close to him proved that there was much more to Yusei Fudo than he let on. He was smart and brilliant when it came to engineering. Yet, there was something missing from the puzzle that was truly who he was.

It took a wave of Ruka's hand in front of her face to cause the woman to snap back. "Aki, why did you just trail off like that?"

Bringing her gaze quickly back to the teal-haired girl, Aki just smiled, "Oh. Uh," she found herself stuttering, feeling herself grow slightly flustered. "Nothing. I mean, um. I haven't seen Yusei the morning actually."

"I think he pulled an all-nighter last night," Jack interrupted, forcing the girls to cast their gaze up from each other. The blond signer stood next to the table, his arms crossed with a disapproving look in his eyes. "He's been trying to tune up all of our bikes with some new parts. If Crow and I didn't bring him food, I think he would forget to even eat at this point. He only cares about getting the new engines working on the bikes."

Ruka glared at the blond, "Hey! You promised Martha to keep Yusei from pulling all-nighters! She is gonna be angry with you when she stops by later."

Jack shuttered at the thought. He remembered that conversation he, Crow, and Yusei had with their caregiver before they had decided to move into the old garage shop. Martha had agreed to this idea they had on the condition that they would take care of each other and not do anything stupid. Granted, to ask the three of them to not do anything stupid was like asking newborn pups to not make a mess. If it wasn't exploding engines, it was duelists showing up to duel the new 'king'. Though, so far he thought they were doing a fine job of up-keeping their new place. Though the idea of having the woman dropping by whenever she wanted was something Jack really wished he hadn't agreed to. But if it meant she would help with the rent on the place, then so be it.

"Bring all this stuff inside," he told firmly, motioning to the tea cups and pot. "Martha should be here in a little while for lunch. We should try and make this place look presentable." Turning away from them, Jack started off towards the rear of the building. "I'm going to go get Yusei."

"I'm coming with you Jack," Aki told firmly, walking up beside him.

Turning his lip up at the dishes on the table, Rua glared. "Hey! We're your guests! Why are you making us clean?"

The blond paused in his steps. "If you do that, I will teach you one of my signature counter-moves after lunch." As Jack started off again, he couldn't help but smile at the sound of clattering plates and cups as the boy hurried and screamed that Ruka should follow his example. The two chuckled to hearing Ruka shouting to not break anything.

It took two steps from the signers before the square trembled beneath their feet. The explosion rattled the windows and silenced every ounce of activity within the busy market. A massive wall of smoke burst through the doors of the garage, billowing high into the air above the shop and lingering in the crystal blue sky.

Rushing from the building, leaving a train of thick dust behind him, was the familiar figure of Yusei. The young duelist was in his normal outfit of jeans and his t-shirt, though any design was covering in a thick layer of smoke and dirt. His long black spikes were heavy with the debris of the explosion while a large pair of work goggles covered his eyes. As he staggered out into the bright sun, the signer hacked and coughed, waving a hand in front of his face to rid any smoke from in front of him.

Jack shook his head as the others joined him, though shock was written all over their faces. "Guess the new math didn't work out so well." he muttered, disappointment etched on each word. "Back to the drawing board."

"Yuesi!" Ruka's voice called as she watched the young man continue to cough up a lung from the smoke he inhaled. The twins and Aki hurried towards him, while the blond king lazily brought up the rear. "Are you okay?"

Letting out one massive cough that wracked his form, Yusei's attention was quickly brought to the others. Pulling up his goggles to the top of his head, a pair of deep blue eyes pierced through the dirt. A perfect shape of the brim of his eye wear had been left where the goggles had been, though the look of disappointment was written all over his face. Looking back to the billowing column of smoke and then back to the rest of the group, he sighed.

"I think I miscalculated the power output again," he spoke quietly, removing his gloves from his hands. "At this point, I might as well go back and start from scratch on my math. Something isn't adding up."

"Huh?" Rua raised a sharp eyebrow at his mentor. The raven haired man continued to mutter to himself, trying to figure out where exactly he had gone wrong in the work on the engine. He was whispering calculations under his breath, verbally scratching things out and starting from the top once more. "The math? Yusei, Ruka asked if you were okay!" The boy spoke firmly as he quickly approached him. He had his normal confused pout on his face, which normally followed anything he couldn't truly understand. Stopping directly beside him, he began to tap his foot impatiently. "So, are you okay or not? With all the science talk you are saying, it sounds like you hit your head hard."

Giving him a look over, Yusei's gaze quickly snapped out of his muttering mathematical thought. He looked up at the sets of concerned eyes, shocked that he had not given them any word besides his jumbled thoughts. "Rua. Everyone," he spoke softly, bringing his ungloved hand up to his eyes. He rubbed them gently, trying to chase away any form of sleep that lingered. "I'm sorry."

"There's no need to apologize." Aki smiled, watching the young man set his blue eyes to her. Even through the think layer of dirt that covered him from head to toe, she could tell from his eyes that he was truly exhausted. Ever since the idea came to the three boys to create a new and more powerful engine for their bikes, he had started working non-stop. And from just looking at him standing there, there was a wave of exhaustion lingering above him. "Are you sure you're okay?"

Glancing over himself quickly, Yusei looked for any signs of damage to his persona. "Nothing a shower can't fix." He admitted, a grin coming to the corner of his blackened lips.

"Another all nighter ending in an explosion," Jack muttered to himself. Even though he did not mean it, his words quickly smacked the smile from Yusei's face. "What are we doing wrong?"

But Rua stomped his foot to the ground in protest of the former king's harsh words. "Yusei is the one doing all the work Jack! What is this 'we' stuff?" He exclaimed, puffing his cheeks out in frustration.

"What did you just say you little-"

"What happened here?" a voice echoed from behind, causing the heads to turn. There, standing in shock and awe of the cloud of smoke towering above them, was Crow. The man wore his uniform for work, his leather motorcycle jacket with a hat to help keep his unruly red hair in check. His various metal pieces of jewelry shimmered in the sun while his eyes were wide from shock. Stuttering to find some kind of words, he let his mouth hang agape at the sight before him. It took him a moment before he threw his hand out in front of him, pointing an accusing figure at the tall blond in front of him. "Jack! What did you do?"

Letting his nostrils flare and his eyes narrow sharply, the former king started over towards the redhead. "Why do you think I did something? I'm not the one covered head to toe in ash and smoke!"

Yusei just smiled as he saw his friends let the sparks fly. It had always been the same ways ever since they were little. No matter what it was, whether a broken toy to something just not working out in a duel, Jack and Crow would always pin the problem on each other. Perhaps it was because their personalities just clashed to the point where Yusei had just learned to stay out of their fights. Or it could have been because of the last time he got in the middle, he was the one who ended up with a black eye and a knee to the stomach. Either way, there were just some things that would never change between the three friends.

"And another thing!" Crow roared, bringing his finger to just about an inch from Jack's face.

"Don't you even..." Jack retorted, returning the gesture.

Clearing his throat a bit, Yusei put up a hand. "Guys, enough." The words were far from harsh and were still in a soft-spoken nature that he could on occasion have. But there was still force behind them. Jack and Crow instantly halted there insults, looking back to the where their friend and other companions stood. "It was a miscalculation in my math that caused the engine pressure to build and unfortunately explode." He smiled, cutting through the grim that covered his face. "Sorry."

The two stood silent for a moment, looking over their spiky-haired best friend. It took a second, but the two men backed off each other, muttering words of apology with sheepish looks on their faces. Crow was the first to move towards the twins, Aki, and Yusei, while Jack quickly took up a pace behind him. "Are you at least okay?" the red head asked, looking him over. "Ya know, besides needing a shower?"

Nodding, Yusei let out a small yawn while attempting to smile. "I'm fine. D-wheels are fine," he stretched out his back a bit, letting it crack. "Just a little tired."

Aki placed a hand to the young man's shoulder, despite the dirt that would now cover her hand. "Why don't you go grab a quick shower and we'll clean up the mess in the garage." She suggested, causing Yusei to look at her. His blue eyes grew wide with surprise at the idea, unsure of what exactly to say. The girl couldn't help but smile at those brilliant eyes, despite them making her go weak in the knees every single time. Though, she would never admit that to anyone else. She wanted to be there for him, just like he had been there for her.

"But I," Yusei started, but was silenced by a quick shove as the two twins started pushing him.

"No buts!" The twins spoke in unison, continuing to move him along. Giving one last strong shove, they pushed him into the door frame of the house. "Go!"

Shaking his head while keeping the smile strong on his lips, Yusei nodded. "Alright. I'm going."

Releasing the older duelist from his grasp, Rua put his fists to his hips. "Hurry up! Remember, we're going to the open air market later!"

"Right. I'll be quick," he called back, disappearing into the house.

Author's Notes: Slow start is slow, but I promise for some interesting story twists. Its always tough to start writing in a new fandom with characters you haven't begun to develop. Hopefully I can get some more characterization between the next few chapters. So, here's to a new story beginning!