Yu-Gi-Oh! © Kazuki Takahashi
This fic is certainly not one of my best--I was wondering whether or not I should even post it. But if one person likes it, I'll be happy.
"Yugi!" Yugi's grandfather, Solomon Mutou, bellowed. "Wake up! It's time for you to start your chores!"
Yugi rolled over onto his side, moaning in regret that he had to rise so early. The sun wasn't even up yet! But his grandfather hadtaken him in after his parents were murdered, so early hours and hard work were a small price to pay from being in off the street. Yugi slipped out of his covers and off his bed, shaking his head to get the morning sleepiness out of his mind.
He removed his pajamas and pulled on his shirt and pants. He tried to brush his unruly, perpetually spiked hair, but it did not lay flat. It never did. The same was true for his grandfather, although Yugi's locks were tri-colored, while his grandfather's were gray with age.
He made his bed and climbed down the ladder of his loft in the stable to the hay-covered floor below. The cow lowed at him and he fed and milked her. Then, hauling the milk with him, he went into the main house.
"Morning, Grandpa," he said cheerfully, setting the pail of milk on the table. His grandfather, who was as short as he, put some bacon and some eggs in front of Yugi.
"Wash your hands before you eat," Grandpa began, but Yugi had already started tearing into his food. Yugi looked up and smiled apologetically. Grandpa sat down heavily in the chair across from Yugi. Though he had only woken a half an hour ago, he looked tired.
"Yugi," he said, "I know that it must be hard living here after what happened to your parents, but I really do appreciate your help around the house."
Yugi looked down. "It's the least I could do, Grandpa," he replied. He took gigantic bites of his breakfast and finished in a few minutes. "If I finish early, can I go see Tea?" he asked, shoving one last piece of bacon into his mouth for good measure.
Grandpa laughed. "If she can see you," he answered. Yugi grinned and ran off. His grandfather underestimated how quickly Yugi could really get his chores done because Yugi usually dawdled most of the day. When Yugi had somewhere to go, he could really be finished in just a few hours.
The sun began to rise while Yugi started all of his tasks. As the sun reached its zenith, Yugi rushed back into the house, covered in sweat. "I'll be in town, Grandpa!" he yelled, and then he dashed off down the street before Grandpa could respond.
It took him thirty minutes to walk into the heart of town. Yugi was always astounded by the extreme difference between the high-tech, clean city and his grandfather's archaic hovel. Still, the farm was home now.
Yugi's friend Tea was a very talented dancer who performed for tips in Central Square. Yet although she was so talented, tips were sparse and she had a harder time than Yugi of surviving. When Yugi saw her, she was spinning beautifully to the tune of a nameless musician.
The song ended, and she picked up the tips at her delicate feet. Yugi watched her frown. "Hey, Tea!" he called, running up to her. She smiled at him, and Yugi was glad to see the frown go.
"Yugi," she said, "how have you been? It's been about a week."
"You know that it's hard to get an excuse to leave the house except to sell eggs nowadays," Yugi said. "But it's nice to see you."
Tea shoved her coins into her pocket for her family's tavern. Business there was failing, as her parents' customers were usually drunks who couldn't afford to pay their tabs. "It's nice to see you too, even though you smell like a cow," she laughed.
Yugi blushed and looked at himself in the Central Square fountain. He had hay in his hair and dirt on his clothes, and the smell of cow must have come from sleeping above one for the last month. Tea put a hand on his shoulder. "Hey, I'm sorry," she said. "It's cool that you work on your Grandpa's farm."
"Thanks," Yugi said quietly, although deep down he knew that the life of a farmer or a rancher wasn't for him. He barely topped five feet, he was physically weak, and he was unaccustomed to a rural lifestyle.
His parents had lived in Ralkir City for sixteen years of Yugi's life. They were shopkeepers in South District because, being farthest from the royal palace, it was the least expensive place to be. But it was as clean anywhere else, for King Aknamkanon prided himself on keeping everything spotless—his city, his record, and his conscience.
Yugi had grown up with a love for humans, elves, even vampires… until the fateful day when Yugi returned from hanging out with Tea in Central Square and found his parents dead on the floor of their shop, their blood drained by a vampire. The investigation was dismissed quickly, as there were too many suspects and too little evidence.
Because of incidences like this, vampires were widely distrusted. Though some seemed to be stand-up members of the community—one even worked as one of the king's personal advisors—many vampires had an insatiable bloodlust and found humans to be the perfect meal.
Yet science had not yet found a way to identify a murderer by their teeth marks or their saliva. Maybe one day they would find his parents' killer… but not today. Today he had to continue living on and working as hard as he could for his one surviving relative.
"What have you been doing with your time?" Yugi asked, sitting down on the ground. Tea joined him.
"Dancing, mostly. Trying to earn some money for my parents, you know?" Yugi nodded. He knew perfectly well. "I've been helping my parents in the tavern too, when that musician over there isn't in the mood to play." The musician, whoever he was, nodded silently. "He's kind of a strange guy," Tea whispered, leaning close to Yugi's ear. "He never says anything."
Yugi smiled. You could meet the strangest of people in this city. Tea stood up and dusted off her clothes. "Hey, I have to go help my parents, okay?" she asked, looking down regretfully at her friend, who had traveled two miles to speak with her. "I'm really sorry…"
"It's fine," Yugi said honestly. "Don't think I don't understand that everyone does what they have to do." Tea nodded and walked off to her house, and Yugi did the same.
An announcement to all citizens of Ralkir City was given out early that morning. Yugi decided to leave the farm and head into the city to hear the news. He was among many other people who had gathered in North District, in the courtyard just below the royal palace, to hear the news.
Yugi located Tea in the crowd. "What do you think it's about?" he asked. Tea shook her head.
"I heard that it was something about the king," Tea replied. "Maybe he's finally gotten an heir?"
Everyone knew that King Aknamkanon had no children, though he had been trying for the majority of his rule. As far as most people were aware, the queen was barren, so an heir would be an impossibility for them unless the king decided to have an affair.
"I don't think so," Yugi said quietly. "The king wouldn't have an affair, would he? And even if he did, he wouldn't publicize it like this."
Three men walked up onto the balcony in the king and queen's place. One had long, blue tinged hair, the other had lavender eyes and light blond hair, and the last had pure white hair and strikingly pale skin. "Where's the king?" one Balisean asked, and murmuring started to travel throughout the people.
"Those are councilmembers Dartz, Marik, and Bakura!" Yugi exclaimed suddenly. That explained Bakura's extremely pale skin—he, too, was one of the vampires in Ralkir. Dartz, sporting one green eye and one yellow eye, raised his hands to silence the growing din.
"Peace, my people," he began soothingly. "King Aknamkanon passed away late last night." A gigantic roar hurt Yugi's eardrums as the people screamed in indignation and anger. King Aknamkanon was well loved. "He has left no heir, as you well know," Dartz continued, raising his voice so that he could be heard over the din of the crowd. "And therefore Marik, Bakura, and I, His Majesty's most beloved advisers, have assumed a shared role of kingship among us."
The people now quieted in curiosity. Three rule as one? This would mean the abolishment of the monarchy, a system of government that had been held in Baliseh for fifteen hundred years. "Citizens and subjects," the vampire Bakura said, "welcome to a new age!"
