A/N: You know, many of my friends on here (SuperNova 23 XD) are probably shaking their head saying "Woman, are you crazy? You have like ten other stories you need to be working on." To which I'm replying, "I must get rid of all excess creativity so I can work on what needs to be worked on. Then again, right now, this is more about having some fun. The following is an idea that just came to me last night. As the title states, this is The Road to Eldorado YU-GI-OH Style. Now, I'm not gonna go on explaining why I'm doing this. Let's just get to the good stuff.

Warnings: I'm bringing in a character from Tsubasa Chronicles, but she will only be in the first and second chapter of this story, you know, to bring about the plot. I also use all the English names for everyone in the YU-GI-OH series.

Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters affiliated with YU-GI-OH or Tsubasa Chronicle. (Don't worry this is not a crossover...well not really.) Anyway, I hope you all enjoy the first chapter.

Chapter 1

The Last Day of School

Friday May 18th, 2012

7:30 a.m.

"Ah, what a beautiful day!"

Joey Wheeler stretched both his arms above his head, sighing in content as the rays of the sun warmed his boyish face. His chocolate brown eyes sparkled in their usual splendor as he started down the bustling streets of Domino City with his school bag in hand. His attire consisted of a navy blue jacket, which he left unbuttoned to reveal a white t-shirt underneath, navy blue pants, and his favorite black and yellow tennis shoes. As he walked, a soft breeze blew through his messy blonde locks, pieces of said locks falling into his line of sight. He whistled softly, his arms still locked behind his head as he caught sight of Tea and Tristan waiting for him in the town square.

"Hey!" Joey called out, sprinting toward them as a broad grin lifted the corners of his mouth. "It's the last day of classes!"

Tea and Tristan turned, smiling as Joey exclaimed, "Are you excited!? After today, high school will be a thing of the past. No more homework, no more crappy lunches..."

"No more listening to you rant on and on," Tristan interjected, a sly smirk on his face and a gleam in his dark hazel eyes.

Joey growled at him, clenching his fist in the air. "Tristan, one of these days that mouth of yours is gonna get you into a heap of trouble and I won't be there to bail you out."

Tristan scoffed loudly. "I'm usually the one that has to bail you out, Wheeler." A laugh fell from his lips as the smirk on his face turned into a devious smile. "Remember when you hit on our history teacher last year?"

"I thought she was a student!"

"Guys, break it up," Tea cut in, stepping between them while jabbing her elbows in both their ribs. This earned immediate complaints from both of them, but Tea shook her head saying, "Today is the last day we'll spend together as students. I want to enjoy it."

Joey sighed. "You're right, who knows where life will take us after this."

"Yeah," Tristan agreed, nodding his head. "We're all going our separate ways I guess."

For a moment the trio found themselves locked in a tense silence. Thankfully for them, Yugi Muto, a.k.a. the king of games, chose that moment to arrive on the scene.

"Hey guys!" he shouted, breathing heavily while pressing his hands to his knee-caps. "Grandpa held me up a little."

Tea smiled. "No worries Yugi, I definitely don't want to rush this day."

Joey frowned a bit, noting the sad look in her sapphire eyes. "Come on Tea, don't talk as if this is the last day we'll ever see each other. There's still graduation day and summer vacation and then..." the blonde trailed off then, his brain failing him.

"I know," Tea replied, her gaze falling to the ground. "I just...hate goodbyes I guess."

Her words struck a chord and caused another awkward silence to envelop them. A year earlier, the pharaoh, Atem rather, took his journey to the afterlife, leaving Yugi and the rest of the gang behind. The group move forward from this, but the mention of "goodbyes" left the group with a feeling of loss, even though everything had truly turned out for the best. Dealing with anything resembling the events of that day, een in the smallest of ways, was a difficult task for all of them.

Unbeknownst to the others, Joey felt the most lost, knowing that his friends would all reach for the stars. Yugi was the king of games, Tea was heading to New York to become a prominent dancer, and Tristan, believe it or not, was preparing for culinary school.

But Joey had no immediate plan. He wanted to continued dueling, but he didn't want it to turn into just a silly hobby. He desired the glory Yugi had; the glory said young man had no true purpose for anymore. Joey wanted to be recognized and respected. He wanted what any true duelist wants...to be the best.

Unfortunately, life had a way of cheating him out of the things he truly craved for, thus leaving him without much of game plan to go on. It's not like he could just leave his dad behind. Granted the man was a useless and pathetic drunk, but he was still his father. Joey didn't take comfort in the idea of abandoning him.

He wasn't all that fond of staying either, but his choices were limited. His grades hadn't been fantastic. As it stood, he barely graduated. It wasn't from lack of intelligence, more because he was never ambitious about his studies. Of course now, Joey was regretting that he didn't try harder. At least then he would have an actual excuse to leave Domino and his father. At this point, the only colleges that were gracious enough to accept her were colleges around the community.

Joey yawned loudly then, deciding that now wasn't the time to worry over such things. He would live moment by moment, day by day. Nothing more, nothing less.

With that thought in mind, he smiled his widest grin. "Come on! Let's go guys!"


Later, outside the principal's office.

8:59 a.m.

Seto Kaiba groaned loudly, seething in self-loathing at not realizing that May 18th was doomed to be a horrible, no good, very bad day.

His day started out normally enough. He woke up, albeit from a nightmare that routinely came every other Thursday night. He showered, brushed his teeth, put on his school uniform, etc. After this routine, he ate breakfast with his twelve, nearly thirteen year old brother Mokuba, and then traveled off for an early business meeting before school.

School...honestly it had been a complete waste of time, but a necessary waste for he had to set a good example for his younger brother. Thankfully, today would be the final day wasted for the rest of his natural-born life...he hoped.

Today would also be the last day he would be forced to set eyes on Yugi and the lunatics he called friends...of course if some villain just happened to fall out of the sky, the young CEO of Kaiba Corp. was fairly certain that Yugi and company would find him and plead with him to help save the world...again.

Time had allowed for Kaiba to tolerate them, even accept them as aquaintences...with the express exception of the mongrel.

Joey Wheeler continuously rubbed him the wrong way. Kaiba could respect and deal with the blonde to a certain extent, but on most occasions well...let's just say that the two of them argued constantly. It was always one thing or another. Sometimes it was Joey trying to be friendly in which Kaiba responded by shrugging it off and Joey would respond to that by getting angry. Other times, Joey might challenge him to a duel. Kaiba would call it a waste of time but engage in a duel with him anyway just to prove his point as he would win within the hour. Joey, once again, would get angry. There were many other times when Kaiba actually provoked these reactions with an antagonistic grin or a snide comment.

In any case, this was a daily occurence between the two of them. Kaiba had learned to deal with it without much thought or trouble.

But today...Kaiba had dared to hope, even believe that this day would be different. Yes, he dared to think that Joey Wheeler would leave him alone on the last day of school.

No such luck.

Joey attempted to say hello during home-room in which Kaiba shrugged in his usual nonchalant way. Normally, the mutt would then roll his eyes, follow that eye roll with a few choice words and then Kaiba would return the jibe, causing Joey's temper to flare up for a bit and then life would go on from there. No big deal.

However, Joey chose today of all days to be unpredictable.

"Moneybags, you could at least attempt to say hello when someone speaks to you."

Kaiba inwardly groaned at this annoyance. "Why should I?"

"Well, after today there's a good chance none of us will ever see ya again," Joey replied, crossing his arms in front of his chest."

"I think I prefer it that way," Kaiba stated, rolling his sapphire eyes.

Yugi tugged on Joey's sleeve. "Come on Joey, just leave him alone. Do you really want to fight today?"

Apparently he did. A fuse snapped in Joey's head and he slammed his hands on Kaiba's desk screaming, "You always turn your nose up at people. You really think you're better than everybody else don't ya!? Just cause you're rich and own a company doesn't give you the right to put yourself on a freaking pedestal!"

"I'm surprised you even know what a pedestal is, Wheeler," Kaiba muttered, crossing his arms over his chest.

Joey narrowed his gaze, his eyes glowering. "I may not be as smart as you Kaiba, but that doesn't make me stupid, it makes you a complete nerd!"

Kaiba outright laughed at that. "You aren't seriously calling me a nerd, are you? Get real, Wheeler. You've always been the loser. In studies, in Duel Monsters, and pretty much in life."

Yugi stepped forward then. "Hold on Kaiba, that's out of line..."

"Stay out of this Yug," Joey cut in, his gaze never leaving Kaiba's. "At least I have a life. You on the other hand practically live at Kaiba Corp. The only friend you have is your brother and at this rate you're gonna end up alone. It's not like your brother can stay glued to your side forever."

Kaiba's hands clenched into tight fists. Wheeler was treading on thin ice now.

"He's gonna end up resenting you for always choosing work over him!"

"Joey stop it!" Tea shouted, coming up behind Yugi.

"Yeah, man, cool it," Tristan pleaded, noting that a crowd was beginning to surround them.

Yugi's violet gaze was locked on Kaiba's hands. They were shaking now, which definitely counted as being a really bad sign that a fight was about to go down. He glanced up at Joey, he was practically seething in rage too, but not for the reasons everyone else thought. Yugi could see that there was something more bothering him, but that he was just directing all his pent up aggression towards Kaiba.

"You know nothing," Kaiba muttered suddenly, rising to his feet. "You understand nothing."

Yugi tried to warn Joey to back down, but the blonde wasn't having it. "I understand nothing, no you understand nothing! You have no idea of just how lucky you are, but instead of being thankful for what you have, you chose to put others down and act emo all the time! Just what is your deal man?"

"Shut up!" Kaiba fired back, malice so thick in his gruff voice that Joey actually flinched a bit. "If you know what's good for you, you'll sit down at your desk and stay away from me Wheeler."

"And if I don't?" Joey questioned, regaining his composure. "What are you gonna do..."

Without warning, Kaiba slammed his fist straight towards Joey's awaiting face. However, when Joey dodged, that punch ended up smacking into Tristan's nose.

Yugi and Tea both gasped. "Tristan!"

Tristan fell onto the floor, his nose clearly broken and bleeding profusely. Kaiba didn't get the chance to even attempt an apology (like he would ever give one at all) as Joey reeled back his fist and attempted his own punch. Kaiba grabbed his wrist and punched the blonde hard in the stomach, but that didn't stop Joey from fighting back. He elbowed Kaiba in the ribs, kicked at his shins, and pretty much slammed his whole body weight into him. At the same time, Kaiba grabbed his heavy silver briefcase, directing all his rage at Joey's head when he swung the briefcase.

Easy to say that the teacher walked in on this display and ended it before the two teens could kill each other.

Which was why Kaiba and Joey were both sitting in the outside the principal's office.

"This is all your fault," Joey whispered, glaring at the floor.

"I'm not the one that initiated the fight," Kaiba argued, his gaze also locked on the floor.

"You hit Tristan in the face!"

"I was trying to hit you because you wouldn't shut up! Your friend got in the way."

"Jerk."

"Retard."

"Double jerk!"

"Retard to the infinitive power."

"..."

"It means you are a retard, have always been a retard, and will always be a retard," Kaiba explained, rolling his eyes. "Now shut up, retard."

"Is that the only name you can call me?" Joey questioned, seething all over again.

"No, there's moron, idiot, block-head, dolt, cretin, dunce, simpleton, fool, need I go on or are you just asking me to say what I really think of you?"

"Shut up."

It was during this display that the new guidance counselor, Ms. Yuuko, stepped out of the principal's office. She had long locks of jet black hair and crimson red eyes. Her skin was pale, almost deathly so, but she was still very pretty. She wore a crisp black business blazer, black pinstriped pants, and black pumps.

The two boys didn't notice her at first, but after a clearing of her throat, they both snapped to attention.

"I've talked the two of you out of expulsion from the graduation ceremony," she began, motioning for the two of them to follow her down the hall. "However, this leniency has some conditions."

"Sounds fantastic," Kaiba muttered, sarcasm leaking from every word as he rose to his feet. Joey followed, grumbling about his bad luck.

"You see, I have a task that only the two of you can complete." There was a sly smirk on her face, but Kaiba and Joey couldn't see it. "Tell me, children, what was the reason for your squabble."

Joey groaned. "Kaiba started it." He sounded like a two-year old.

"Wheeler here addressed me," Kaiba answered, sounding far older than he actually was, "I responded in my usual way and then he instigated an argument, hitting below the belt and such."

"No way, I asked you a simple question," Joey argued, glaring at the back of Kaiba's head. "You're the one that started hitting below the belt first!"

"I was only stating the truth."

"Being a complete butt is what you were doing."

Yuuko rolled her crimson eyes. "Children, children, enough. I have the full picture." The smile on her face widened. "I believe this task will help in settling your differences."

"We don't need to settle our differences," Kaiba stated bluntly. "We don't need to see or talk to each other ever again."

"At least we agree on that," Joey muttered, nodding his head.

Yuuko laughed. "You two have more in common than you'd like to believe." She turned left, opening the door to her "office". "I will show you."

Kaiba and Joey exchanged confused glances which turned into glares in two seconds flat.

"Come children," Yuuko called, "we have business to attend to."

Kaiba narrowed his gaze. He didn't trust this woman. There was something...off about her.

Joey felt the same about the situation, but there was no way he was about to agree with Kaiba on anything else, so without any hesitation he followed after Yuuko. With express irritation, Kaiba followed as well, figuring he may as well get this task over with.

However, seconds after entering the room, they found themselves being surrounded by a blinding light.

"Aaaaaaaaaaah!" Joey screamed, covering his eyes with both his arms. "What the heck is going on!?"

Kaiba used one arm to cover his eyes, squinting as he tried to see what was happening and getting nowhere. After a moment he closed them completely.

Looks like another villain just fell out of the sky.

The light finally disappeared, allowing for the two young men to open their eyes. The scenery around them had drastically changed from hallways, classrooms, and offices, and into the middle of a courtyard. Straight in front of them stood a tall Japanese style building that resembled a shrine. A deck extended out from the building, leading to a small bridge that went over a wide creek. On either side of the central path were small fields of fragrant flowers and grasses. The sky was dark, filled with clouds as if it were about to rain.

Yuuko stood on the bridge, having somehow changed out of her business attire and into a black kimono styled dress. Her hair was now pinned up into a high pony-tail, with tendrils of her bangs falling over her face and shoulders.

At that moment all the two teens could do was just stare in awe and ask...

"What the heck have we gotten ourselves into?"


A/N: And that ends the first chapter! At first I was gonna make it a little longer, but I decided that what happens from here probably needs to be at the beginning of the next chapter. The next chapter, will involve some time travel and will take us into the main plot. I hope you enjoyed this first chapter. Not much humor in this chapter, but next chapter...except some funny stuff. Thanks for reading. If you like it, review it!