AN ~ Due to the request of a fan I had planned to repost this in its original form, but then I saw all the mistakes I had made…sooo there are changes as well as clarification which I will have to apply to the rest of this. Then with school starting and everything-time just passes when you have to study-including a mild case of writer's block. Ugh then I sprained my ankle and couldn't get up the stairs so I had to stay at my parents' house for awhile. Yuk anyway, I'll try to get this fixed and up quickly; just wanted to post this revised chapter to show you that I haven't forgotten. ~k~

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Disclaimer: I don't own a thing except for my own characters, the idea, title cause I'M NOT Changing it despite the other stories I found by this name cause it would totally ruin the spirit of my story and anyway this is for fun and not profit just to make that clear.

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1. Scars of the Heart

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Among the crowds of Domino stood a tall girl with a particularly perturbed expression on her moderately scarred face as her blue eyes scanned the buildings. She huffed in frustration then blew a heavy lock of brown hair from her eyes as she scanned the instructions once more. Just why there had to be so many differences between countries she would never know. Of course it didn't help that his handwriting was nearly unreadable. Oh well she could stop for directions, she internally decided when she saw a sign for the Kame Game Shop. Tortoise…how odd. The girl shifted her bag to her opposite shoulder then crossed the street to it. In any case she could get some advice and after that, who knew. After all, recent events in her life have proven that anything could happen.

A bell announced her presence to an old man behind the counter. His faded purple eyes smiled as he greeted his new customer. "Good afternoon, I'm Solomon Moto. How may I help you today?"

She smiled politely in response. "Actually, I'm new to Domino and I seem to have gotten turned around. However, since I'm here, I thought I'd see if you had any Duel Monsters cards."

"You are in luck then as I have just gotten a new shipment of cards today." Solomon said as he considered her for a moment with an odd expression in his eyes, but seemed to shrug it off. "May I look at your deck in order to see what cards would benefit you most?"

"Oh sure." She reached into her jean jacket pocket and pulled out a well used deck. The fond way she placed it into the old man's hand went straight to his heart.

"Did you know, missy, that you can tell a lot about a duelist through their deck?"

Her pert nose wrinkled in obvious distaste of the term as she corrected him. "Sara."

"Excuse me?"

"My name is Sara…not missy."

Solomon chuckled as the teenager shuddered then sobered at the expression of pain in her eyes. "Ah I understand. Painful memories can be triggered by the most unexpected things for they leave their own scars. I have a few of my own whenever I look at my grandson, Yugi. The innocence of his eyes remind of his mother and her love for his father until they were taken from us."

Impulsively she laid a hand on the old man's arm. "I grieve with thee."

"Now that was so Star Trek, gotta love it!"

The brash New York accent startled her in pulling back her hand like it was burned. Sara turned to blink owlishly at the blond who seemed contrite. "Hey, sorry. I didn't mean ta startle ya or anythin' I was just sayin'…"

Sara shook her head. "No, it's alright I shouldn't be so jumpy; it's just that…anyway I couldn't think of anything better to say."

Solomon glanced up from the interesting deck for a moment to see her look down at her new shoes uncomfortable and took that as his clue to introduce the other teens, who were now regarding the newcomer with open curiosity. "Sara, this is Joey, my grandson's novice friend. Yugi is the shorter one."

She laughed at the boys' indignant 'Hey!' but couldn't resist the urge to wink at the smaller teen. "Yeah I kinda figured that one out since he looks so much like you, Mr. Moto."

"Please call me Grandpa-everyone seems to. Oh and Tristan is the other boy and the girl is Téa. Everyone, this is Sara. She is new to Domino and I am sure she could use a few friendly faces to show her around."

"Sure thing, Grandpa!" Curious deep purple eyes regarded her for a moment then he asked her where she was from.

"America. A cousin took me in when my parents died, but she didn't have room for my brothers so they went to live with an uncle in Kyoto." Her blue eyes grew distant as she remembered the past and she swallowed hard before she could continue. "I lost track of them when Niene took a job at a publishing company in New York, then our uncle died, and later I lost Niene in a fire…"

Her fingers had strayed to the scar on the side of her face until she pulled them away and clenched her hands at her side as she forced her mind to return from the past with a shake of her head. "Anyway recent circumstances have allowed me to return to Japan and with it, I hope, my chance to find my brothers."

Solomon held up a card that had more wear than the others and looked into her eyes. "I suppose this card is especially special to you then."

Sara reached out to take it gently and stroked it lightly with her fingertips with a nod. "My older brother gave it to me on the last night we were together. Because of the legend that surrounds this card, we each made a promise to each other that we would meet again. That memory has helped me through the loneliness of our separation and all the darkest times after the fire. It is because of my promise and his dream that I duel-I have pulled every trick of the game that I could to build my deck to a level that can compete with the one my brother is on."

"If you haven't seen him since you were small, how do you know what level he would compete on unless…" Téa trailed off then her eyes widened as she finished her thought. "Unless you already know and that is why you're here."

The blue-tipped brown head tilted to the side as the older teen regarded her then she smirked. "For a cheerleader, Téa, you're smarter than you look."

"Thanks, I do say so-HEY!"

Sara laughed then returned her attention to the old man. "So do you have anything can help?"

Solomon sighed as he pushed his glasses up his nose then pushed the paper he had been scribbling on across the counter to her. "There are a few that could further boost your deck, but you have done a fine job already in putting it together so there isn't much I can do for you. I have a few of these in stock, but the higher starred ones you will have to wait for."

"I just might wait for them anyway." She replied as she folded the paper then tucked it into her pocket along with her recovered deck. "Not like I won't have time later to spend money on the more frivolous things in life. I still have time before the upcoming tournament in any case."

"So where will you be staying at, if I may ask?"

"Tsubasa's. My sponsor felt that working with Rae Tsubasa would improve my own talent to a degree that would compete well in the art world."

Téa practically squealed in delight. "I love that place, the paintings just touch your soul! Rae is so nice; you'll like her I'm sure. I can take you there if you need help to find it since it is on my way home and all."

Sara blinked in surprise if not a little fear at her exuberance then she surprised herself when she managed a grin. "I think I'd like that. Funny thing is, that's the main reason I came in here…I got so turned around out there and my sponsor's handwriting absolutely sucks. Thanks, Téa."

"Hey, no problem! I have really needed more female friends anyway."

"So you're just gonna replace us, Téa?" Tristan asked as he finally found his voice to Yugi's amusement as Joey exclaimed dramatically "Say it isn't so!"

Téa shook her head then reached out to tug on Sara's arm. "Come on. Let's give these lugheads a chance to get over themselves since I got other things I need to do this afternoon anyway. See ya later, Yugi!"

"Kay, Téa. It was nice to meet you, Sara!"

"We could come with you girls and keep you outta trouble." Tristan tried, but only got laughter for his trouble.

"Oh you,ve got it bad, Tris."

~ks~

The word 'Tsubasa's was elegantly scripted in black across a deep purple background beside the door in an almost French flavor. It wasn't a large gallery by any measure, but it had a certain mystic quality to it that sent delightful shivers down her spine. It felt instantly like home the moment she walked through the door and inhaled a delicate spicy scent that tickled her nose. All sorts of art in many mediums caught her eye as she drifted closer to them for closer examination. The pure raw talent awakened within her a need of her own to dabble in paints beyond her own usual medium to a point that it was almost an ache to create. She drew in a sharp breath with the intensity of it that scared her.

"You must be Sara." A sudden melodic voice from behind her startled her, causing her to stiffen. "I'm sorry, I didn't intend to scare you."

"And you're Rae." She stated unnecessarily and kicked herself mentally for it.

The young thirty-ish woman laughed which caused her dark green eyes to sparkle with amusement. "Come on, I'll show you your room and then we can have cookies; they're fresh from the oven."

"A girl after my own heart." Sara said in an attempt to lighten the moment as relief coursed through her.

"I like you. I think we're gonna get along just fine. So what kind of art do you do? Max sent me some of your pencil drawings of his dragons that just entranced me. With a bit of guidance, I think you will become something truly remarkable!"

Warmth stole across her cheeks and rendered her speechless in a way that made Rae chuckle. "You remind me so much of my sister which tells me that you will be more than comfortable in her room."

Sara cleared her throat awkwardly. "He told me about her and the accident saying that I should know, but didn't want to put you through the details."

"Yes well, Max is a friend who I met a long time ago through someone I saw as a sister until we lost her. Theirs is a story more tragic than even Romeo and Juliet." Rae swallowed then managed to smile through the mist that overtook her eyes. "He is sweet man, just greatly misunderstood. Ano, grief does strange things to people sometimes."

"Grief and I are well acquainted."

Rae brushed the tear that stole down the other girl's scarred cheek then patted it lightly. "Those that we have loved will always remain in our hearts. Just remember that you're not alone anymore and if there's anything you need to talk about, I'm here."

"Thank you." She whispered and that was enough for her heart was overwhelmed with the changes that seemed to be happening so fast. Sara only hoped that she could keep up with them.