Lego: Welcome, one and all! I'd like to bid hello to both Millennial Star readers who continue to support me with this story and to new readers who are just barely joining us. I promise to stick with it this time, I really do. First off, I want you to know that both Kel and Kiara have gone through revamps and that this story has more of Kel's past, Kiara in general, and all other major players. Also, I will include the general disclaimer in this chapter for the entire story, so any other disclaimers will be presented on a chapter-by-chapter basis. I'll also include a section of small notes on a chapter-by-chapter basis. Please always note that I enjoy any and all reviews, and will accept questions, constructive criticisms, and tips. Please enjoy Tears of a Lotus!
Notes/Warnings: ". . ." is regular speech, '. . .' is mental communication, / . . . / is memories, and italics are thoughts though it can be the mind responding to verbally spoken comments. This is an OC story. Don't like, don't read. Since this is fanfiction and involves characters who weren't there before, things from canon will change. Don't like it? Deal with it. As a smaller note, I will mostly stick to the dubbed names, though there are a few exceptions.
6/30/12 Edit: Changed a term in here as the characters at this time do not know Yami is a former pharaoh.
7/1/12 Edit: Realized that Kel's prophecy was missing a line. Inserted it.
Disclaimer: I do not own YuGiOh. I own the idea for this story and Kel.
Tears of a Lotus
Chapter 1: Gods Who Vex
"It's almost time."
The cool, desert breeze tugged at Ishizu's concealed hair as the Egyptian turned to face Shadi. "I trust you have spoken with her."
The spirit shook his head, his pupil-less eyes revealing his irritation. "She refuses to see me."
The Egyptian's deep blue eyes narrowed and a frown crossed her lips. "You must see her." She removed her veil. "The Pharaoh's destiny requires her presence."
"I will try again." The spirit inclined his head. "I wish you a safe trip to Domino."
Ishizu turned back to the sandy, Egyptian horizon. Twinkling stars poked through the dark abyss.
"Goodbye." Her hand went to the golden trinket at the base of her neck. She received no answer and knew he was gone. Her last words weren't meant for Shadi anyway. "My Pharaoh, aid will come."
BREAK BREAK BREAK BREAK BREAK
Piercing violet eyes stared down from the great height, encompassing all that occurred below. Kel allowed little emotion to leak from them, preferring to keep others out.
Two sets of teens—four in one set, five in the other—wearing the Domino High School uniform stood facing each other in the center of the abandoned street. Joey Wheeler and his brunette friend held their place at the front of the smaller group with the only girl and short Yugi Moto a few feet behind them.
Across from them, the five thugs—or bullies, if one preferred to call them that—cracked their knuckles and smirked at the obviously weaker group.
"What do you want?" Joey growled in Japanese, his Brooklyn accent ringing clear.
"That pretty piece of jewelry," the foremost teen—most likely the leader of what appeared to be a gang—said. Kel fingered the golden, teardrop-shaped trinket around her neck as Joey moved to shield Yugi even more.
"You can't have my Millennium Puzzle," Yugi squeaked, obviously trying to sound braver than he looked—even his tri-colored hair quivered. Kel's mouth twitched as she reached up to wrap a section of golden hair behind her ear.
"That's what you think." The teen closest to the leader bypassed his superior and slowly approached the group of four.
Joey rushed forward, swinging widely at the bold thug. Two other gang members joined their companion and struck out to stop the blonde from going any further. The male brunette bent his knees and shoved off the ground in an attempt to help his friend out, completely oblivious to the final fighting member—after all, the leader couldn't possibly spare a moment to help his subordinates out. The final member snuck around to get to the two most vulnerable of the four.
Without a thought, Kel leapt off the roof and braced herself. Her bent knees absorbed most of the impact with the cement, leaving her without pain. Rather than straighten, she maintained her pose in order to shift into her fighting stance. Her new opponent froze with wide eyes even as Yugi and his friend whirled around behind her.
"I do not believe it is polite to sneak up on people like that." Kel bounced her fists up and down in front of her, voice taunting him to come forward. The thug frowned and growled at her.
Come and get it, big boy. . . . As if responding to her inward thoughts, the thug charged forward with a fist raised. A smirk lit Kel's lips. Men, after all, could be so stupid.
Kel dropped to the ground and slid to the side, catching herself with her palms and throwing both feet out. They caught the thug's legs and sent him crashing to the ground. Kel jumped to her feet and darted around him, shoving a shocked Yugi and friend to the side.
"Get out of here, you idiots. You'll only be in the way." Honestly, didn't they know they were in the middle of a fight? Sunlight poured down from the sky and brought out the silver streaks in Kel's hair as she dipped down to avoid a blow to the head. The thug's momentum sent him stumbling forward when his fist didn't make its mark. The girl screamed and jerked to the side right before the thug reached her.
Kel rolled her eyes and leapt onto his back to keep him from rising. "Get. Out. Of. Here. Now."
Wide plum eyes stared back at her from Yugi's pale face. A heartstring twanged slightly at the fear Kel had caused him, but she shook it off. Right then, that wasn't very important. A growl from the thug sent Yugi and his friend scurrying away down the street in the direction they'd originally come from. Kel turned cold eyes onto the male below her.
"Now you've gone and upset me." Long fingers reached down and pulled her dagger out of its sheath. "I don't appreciate that."
The thug jerked underneath her at the sight of the silver blade and a whimper spewed from his lips. Kel's violet eyes narrowed as the dagger came down with a near-silent whoosh. The hilt slammed into his temple with a thump, successfully knocking him unconscious.
Kel's eyes swept over the fray of people up ahead, scanning for anything she could find. Joey and his brunette friend had succeeded in knocking out a single gang member, though another one tended to what looked like a broken nose, curled up on the ground some feet away from the fight. The blonde and brunette still contended with the final thug while the leader looked on from a safe distance. Kel slipped into the mouth of the closest alleyway, eyes ever watchful. The shadow from a nearby building hid her from any remaining witnesses, regardless of the side.
Despite what Shadi had said about Yugi, she still wasn't sure she wanted to be involved in it. She had come to Domino as asked, but meant to merely watch from afar. She had only allowed herself to assist in this fight because they were horribly outnumbered. They could take care of themselves now . . . right?
Fate seemed determined to spite her. The leader moved forward and slammed a fist into the brunette's nose, effectively removing him from the fight.
"Tristan!" An exhausted Joey looked down helplessly at his friend.
Kel winced. The idiot was going to get himself killed by being so distracted. Joey cried out in pain as a fist connected with his jaw. He crumpled to the ground with a groan.
You are going to regret this. Even as the thought came to her, Kel rushed forward and leapt onto the final thug's back. The impact sent him to the ground, leaving Kel to use her momentum to crash into the leader's chest. She shoved him down and let a fist catch him in the face. Surprised eyes met hers, though she only returned it with a glare.
"Get off of me, you freak." He struggled against her and rolled out from underneath her. His eyes jumped from object to object wildly and he seemed to be in a panic. They seemed to say, "This wasn't in the plan."
Kel put all of her weight onto her hands and kicked out, feeling a foot connect with his face once again. He cried out as he fell to the ground, landing on his back. She darted to her feet and jumped, slamming into his stomach with the force of an elephant behind her. His eyes widened and his mouth opened though no sound escaped from it. Kel spit on him and pressed a foot against his throat, closing off his air. She held it there until his eyelids fell in unconsciousness.
"You're crazy." Joey sat up, a hand rubbing his swollen jaw. "I've never seen someone fight so viciously."
Kel stepped off the unconscious gang leader and dusted herself off. "What does it matter to you?"
The brunette—Tristan, Joey had called him—rose into a sitting position with Joey's support. He seemed dazed from the blow to his face.
"Joey! Tristan!"
Kel looked past the two injured males to see Yugi and his female friend approaching at a slow jog. Worry emanated from both of them in waves that nearly made Kel sick.
"I'm fine, Yug'." Joey allowed the girl to help him to his feet.
"We were so worried." The girl reached over and offered her assistance to Tristan as well.
Kel nonchalantly walked around the small group as Yugi fussed over his two friends.
Joey's eyes followed her amidst his reassurances to his much shorter companion. "Where do you think you're going?" His voice held a sharp note that Kel couldn't ignore.
"Wherever I please." Violet eyes dared him to defy her.
Four sets of eyes stared at her, though none as intensely as Yugi's. He held a hand protectively over the Sennen Eye that adorned the upside-down pyramid around his neck. Kel looked away from them as an unwanted memory surfaced within her. She coaxed her heart back to its proper place and shoved the past away.
"Do I know you?" Yugi cocked his head to the side, an innocent expression of confusion on his face.
"That depends, Yugi Moto." Kel turned her body to face them and folded her scarred arms—a set of three claw marks ornamented both biceps and shone a bright white against her tanned skin.
Neither party seemed surprised at her words though both Joey and the female gave her hard looks. Yugi's eyes, on the other hand, strayed to her scars where they stayed rooted.
"Kel Shadow." She rolled her eyes at her employer's grandson and shifted her weight to one foot.
"Wh-What?" Yugi seemed perplexed by Kel and she could sense a hint of fear in him as he stared her in the eyes.
Another eye roll. "My name. Remember it well."
A strange glow lit Yugi's eyes and he grinned. "Yugi Moto. These are my friends, Joey Wheeler, Tristan Taylor, and Anzu Mazaki."
Kel eyed them all equally but refused to say anything. Anzu brushed brown bangs out of deep blue eyes and regarded Kel with a dark expression.
"Pleasure to meet you all," Kel finally said. "Now if you don't mind, I have places to be." She turned away for—hopefully—the last time and walked at a steady pace. Hurried footsteps stopped her from making it too far.
"You just saved us from a pretty bad beating. Please let me treat you to something." Hopeful eyes looked up at her from over her shoulder.
"I do not believe that would be wise." Kel refused to turn around, though she tilted slightly so he could see the dagger strapped to her pants. "I'm far too dangerous for you." She walked away even as Yugi called out after her. I don't care how nice you all might be. I will not bend to Shadi's will that easily. Besides, I don't belong here.
Kel stuck a hand into the lavender pouch on her right hip and pulled out that annoying cell phone—she had a bone to pick with Ishizu.
BREAK BREAK BREAK BREAK BREAK
"No, Tristan, Kel is not a bounty hunter," Anzu said with a frown.
"Well why not?"
Yugi shook his head at his friends' conversation, though he didn't join in. How could he when his mind wouldn't leave the new girl alone? He didn't understand why she had to be so cold. Joey already didn't like her because she reminded him of Kaiba.
A sigh escaped him as he glanced at his walking companion. The spirit of the Millennium Puzzle, nicknamed Yami, had a frown, a furrowed brow, and wrinkled eyebrows plastered on his face. Yugi had a feeling he knew why, but he thought he'd ask anyway, albeit mentally—Yami could only be seen or heard by a wearer of the puzzle unless he switched places with Yugi; thanks to the item's magic, the spirit didn't even have to wear Yugi's form unless he really wanted to, which helped immensely in introducing the spirit to his friends.
'What's wrong?'
Yami jumped, glancing at the shorter teen. In the background, Joey and Tristan argued between bounty hunter and vampire, their voices gradually rising in volume.
"She's familiar," Yami replied aloud, vibrant violet orbs flashing. "I know she is. I just don't remember why."
Yugi suppressed another sigh. As he had suspected, another person appeared familiar to him, just like the spirit of the Millennium Ring had. Unfortunately, due to his friend's lost memories, Yami could never place any of them.
"She's obviously bothering you, too." Yami leveled him with a sharp look.
Yugi winced slightly. 'I can't understand why she wouldn't want to come with us. I mean, honestly, she took the time to help us out. What's so bad about that?'
"Most people don't go out of their way to help strangers and even if they do, they don't really want to continue any sort of acquaintanceship."
Yugi sighed and gave his yami a you're-not-helping look. Anything else he might've said was interrupted by a rather loud comment from Joey.
"No normal human could jump down from a roof like that and still be able to fight. She has to be a vampire. And she fought viciously."
"Vampires are pale and can't go outside under the sun," Tristan countered, "not to mention vampires don't exist."
Yugi heard Anzu mutter something about needing female friends.
'No matter what, I hope we run into her again. I'd like to be her friend. I think she needs one.' Yugi brushed blonde bangs out of his eyes.
Yami smiled at him as he flicked one golden bang away from his face. "You're very kindhearted." He faded into the Millennium Puzzle just before the Kame Game Shop came into view around the corner. The arguing teens walked up to the two-story building and continued around to go in through the back.
Anzu held back to walk with Yugi. "Are you okay? You look upset."
Yugi waved her off as he held the door open for her. "I'm fine. You don't need to worry about me."
"I have every reason to worry about you. Isn't that what friends do?" She nodded her head in his direction and went through the open doorway.
Yugi couldn't help the grin that split his face. Of course his friends would worry about him. After all, he did get into a lot of trouble because of the puzzle. It was only natural that they should feel that way.
The door clanged shut behind him as the small group kicked off their shoes. Yugi followed Anzu through the small living room and up the flight of stairs.
"Well, yeah, but . . . still." A pout rested on his lips and he would've said more if it weren't for the box sitting in his way. His foot caught the edge of it and down Yugi went. Each jutting stair pressed into the poor teen's back and sent blasts of pain through him.
Yami chuckled despite his partner's pain and Yugi mentally glared at him.
'Oh, shut up, you.' The short teen pulled himself to his feet and called up to Anzu, ignoring her confused face. "I'm fine. Don't worry 'bout me." His lower back popped as he scrambled up the stairs. He landed a moment later with a sigh on the bed in his room. Its soft mattress encompassed him and he almost closed his eyes.
Anzu plopped down in the only plush chair in the room. "So, what shall we do now?"
Yugi shrugged as best he could from his position on the bed. Joey and Tristan fell silent and the former adopted a thoughtful look.
"Maybe we could . . . have a duel?" Joey looked up hopefully at Yugi.
The shorter teen slowly sat up. "Sure." A thought struck him and he made a face. "Why don't you set it up? I'm going to go talk to Grandpa a moment." He bounded out the door and down the stairs, nearly falling when he got to the bottom. Stocking-covered feet slid across the tile floor with the ease of a bird on the wind.
Grandpa waved a customer out of the shop and turned to his grandson with a smile. "If you keep doing that, you'll scare all my customers away."
Yugi blushed in embarrassment. "Sorry." He leaned against the counter, recovering quickly. "Do you know a girl by the name of Kel Shadow?"
Yami's presence suddenly increased as he fazed out of the puzzle to stand beside Yugi, violet eyes fixed on the elder Moto.
"Of course I do," Grandpa said with a smile, wiping his hands on a nearby rag—for what reason, Yugi could only guess. "She works here on weekdays during school and on Saturdays."
Yugi's jaw dropped. "No way. How long has that been? How come I've never seen her around?"
His grandfather chuckled. "She's only been here a couple of months, but you're always gone on Saturdays during store hours." He pursed his lips. "Kel doesn't seem to be the most social of people. She avoids people as often as she can."
Yugi frowned. According to what they had witnessed earlier, that seemed to be the case. He glanced at Yami out of the corner of his eye and found a similar expression on his face.
"I take it you've run into her?"
A blush adorned Yugi's cheeks. "Yeah, actually, earlier today. She didn't really want to have anything to do with us. She even called herself dangerous." The frown returned. What I don't get is why she helped us in the first place.
Grandpa sighed. "That sounds like her." He turned away and ran his fingers over the edge of the counter. "Took me forever to get her to agree to come work for me." He glanced over his shoulder toward his confused grandson. "If you run into her again, you should try harder to be her friend. I think she needs one."
"I agree." Yugi nodded. "I'll do my best!"
A couple walked into the store and Grandpa greeted them with a wide smile. Yugi slipped out and darted up the stairs, a newfound determination and bubble of glee settling into his veins.
"Alright, so let's get this duel going."
BREAK BREAK BREAK BREAK BREAK
The lavender-colored cell phone snapped shut and its owner shoved it into her pouch. A growl escaped Kel as she angrily grabbed at her golden-blonde-streaked-silver locks and roughly pulled the mess into a high ponytail. How dare that woman ignore her like that. Hot blood pumped through her veins and spurred her toward the museum.
Kel burst through the front doors of the museum and proceeded to a door marked "Employees Only." In a matter of seconds, she had gone down the stairs and crossed the sandy-colored tile to where she knew Ishizu's office lay. The door handle created a nice hole in the wall and the thud it made temporarily satisfied the enraged blonde.
Violet eyes on fire, Kel slammed her hands down on Ishizu's desk, though the dark-haired woman seemed unfazed. "What sort of nonsense are you trying to pull here?"
Ishizu moved a pile of documents out of the way of Kel's trembling hands but didn't raise dark blue eyes from the table-top. "I'm afraid I don't know what you're talking about, my princess."
Kel hissed at the mention of her title, sweeping any and all paper products onto the floor. "Don't play games with me, Ishizu. I know you paid those boys to attack Yugi and his friends." Her breaths came ragged as the fire of her temper burned higher and higher within her.
"Ishizu is not the one behind this, Your Highness."
Kel whirled around and met the blank gaze of the resident spirit. "Shadi." Vibrant violet narrowed and her voice dropped. "I should have known." She folded her arms, squeezing to keep herself from reacting violently, then backed up so both Ishizu and Shadi stayed in her vision. "You came up with this plan to bring me closer to Yugi and Ishizu agreed to actually pay them. Clever."
"You cannot keep fighting us. Your destiny demands it."
An intense glare erupted from Kel's eyes as she slid her dagger out and tossed it in Shadi's direction. It harmlessly impaled the wall right behind his see-through form.
"My destiny has nothing to do with the Millennium items," Kel snarled. "Do you not remember my prophecy, Shadi?" Without waiting for a response, the blonde tore off her violet halter top and let it fall to the floor. Ishizu immediately looked away despite only being able to see part of the tattoo—Osiris the Heaven Dragon (though not Osiris himself, it represented him) spread his wings across the bottom of Kel's shoulder blades and spiraled around her midsection.
Eyes on fire, Kel recited the blasted prophecy that had haunted Kel her entire life. As though in synchronization with her words, the tattoo glowed a soft red that matched the dragon's scales.
"A child born of sun and moon
Will one day come to claim the throne.
She will bring peace
To the land of her fathers.
She will take her legacy
And purge the world
Of the blackness that threatens it.
Marked as Osiris's Heir,
She will save us all.
Fight the blackness
And destroy it
Or be destroyed.
Then shall she be swept
Into the depths of the land of the Gods.
The skies will weep with her pain
And the sun will shine on her day of glory.
Evil beware Osiris's Heir."
The blonde stooped to retrieve her top and pulled it over her head, covering the cursed tattoo, and walked straight through Shadi—it didn't bother her as much as it unnerved him—to recover her dagger, which slid back into its sheath. She had almost reached the doorway when the infernal spirit spoke.
"Then perhaps we should consult Osiris on this matter."
Ice descended upon Kel and rooted her to the floor. She glared at Shadi's infuriatingly blank face over her shoulder. "Why should be bother him with such a trivial matter? As a god, he is very busy tending to more important issues."
"As his heir, you are his most pressing affair." Blank blue eyes narrowed just slightly as the turbaned spirit laid a hand on the Millennium Ankh.
A low growl issued forth from her lips before Kel turned around, leaning against the wall behind her. "Let's get this over with."
Shadi knelt on the floor, pressed his hands together, and closed his eyes. Ishizu joined him, a hand on her Millennium Necklace. As the male began to chant, Kel rolled her eyes.
After having dealt with Shadi and Ishizu for quite a long time, she had discovered three things she hated most concerning the two of them; misuse of powers, manipulation, and consulting Osiris.
Ishizu used her Millennium Necklace for everything, and Kel had learned that was not an exaggeration. Shadi, believing himself to be doing the gods' will, manipulated everything around him to move destiny forward, or so he claimed. Any time Kel refused to go along with their plans, the both of them insisted upon consulting Osiris. There were times Kel had managed to get out of such endeavors, but others she couldn't, such as her current situation.
A red mist settled in the room and pulsed like a heartbeat. A figure decked in red robes materialized between Kel and the two kneeling Egyptians. He kept his back to Shadi and Ishizu, instead facing Kel. A sly smile adorned his lips as he slowly approached her and held out a hand.
"Dearest Kelekiah." Osiris took Kel's hand when she didn't reach out for his. "To what purpose have you called on me today?"
The blazing fire within her heart shrunk a little in response to her chosen deity's appearance (even though he dared to call her that name), though she kept silent and leveled him with a steady gaze.
"We have called upon thee, my lord, to ask what you would have Kel do." Shadi's voice held a reverence he reserved only for the Egyptian gods.
Osiris didn't even turn around. He kept crystal blue eyes focused on Kel. "Concerning what?"
"We wish her to take part in Yugi Moto's destiny."
Osiris's eyes flashed though his face made no change. The smile widened slightly. "I believe such an endeavor would be to your benefit. Do as Shadi wishes."
Without lowering her eyes, Kel bowed over their locked hands. She said nothing and straightened, the fire flaring as Osiris released her hand.
"Be a good girl, my heir." He slowly faded, taking the dissipating red mist with him.
Kel whirled around and let loose the hardest punch she could. Her fist went straight through the wall. She ignored Ishizu's plea to control herself and tore through the doorway. She took the stairs three at a time, threw open the door at the top, and burst out of the museum.
The sun highlighted her golden hair as red colored her cheeks. Her fists shook at her sides and her eyes burned with rage. "I have my own destiny. Yugi can deal with his own."