Decided to rewrite this story, hopefully I can make some improvements. I've made a few changes to the characters and the direction of the story. Hope its to everyone's liking. Reviews are more than welcome as I'd love to hear your opinions.
'A card! My Kingdom, my guardian. For a card!'
'You're a monster!'
'Yes, I KNOW!'
Yami
Chapter One
Begin
Yami
'The abyss, so endless, so unrelenting. For I have been here for as long time, I bet the world has changed, changed for the better I hope. That is, if there is still a world. I wonder. I wonder a lot these days, nothing much else to do. Wait, maybe? Wait for what I don't really though, anything, anyone, anybody. I just wonder'.
Nova Roma and her enemies will return, you do remember what the Prince foretold, the prophecy, the key to the empire?
These words are etched into the hearts of our empire as our great Prince protects us from evil, our great King conquers the lands of the barbarians.
ALL HAIL KING ALEXANDER
ALL HAIL PRINCE MAR
Alexander III the Great, the King of Macedonia and conqueror of the Persian Empire is considered one of the greatest military geniuses of all times. He was inspiration for later conquerors such as Hannibal the Carthaginian, the Romans Pompey and Caesar, and Napoleon.
Most know Alexander as the greatest orchestrator of conquests this world has ever seen. He held the world in the palm of his hand, but something eluded him right up until his unexpected death. Upon his arrival in Egypt, he fathered a son. His greatest accomplishment, never coming to fruition the son he never knew, born in a foreign land.
His name was Mar and his existence was truly an abomination.
...
Present Day Domino City
A pair of crimson eyes opened slowly as the darkness encapsulated a young boy's form. He blinked as his eyes struggled to adjust to the lack of light. The young man shivered as the coldness reached into his soul.
Suddenly a man appeared in front of him. He had olive skin, he wore a white cloak that concealed the top half of his face via a hood in darkness.
"Do not fret", the boy gasped softly as a bead of sweat ran down from his brow. "Every question has an answer", he looked down at the duel of titans below them.
The young boy nodded softly.
"Now, what are you most afraid of?" asked the figure in a curious tone.
"Disappointment? Such a pity." spoke the strange man.
The boy attempted to retort but his words died in his mouth.
"What are your dreams for the future?" he asked, again answering his own question.
"Such ignorant direction, my, my, lots of work must be done." judging the young blonde with a keen eye.
"Lastly, what is your purpose?" he asked pausing for his answer this time.
The young adult swallowed the lump in his throat.
'I don't know.' he thought answering him truthfully.
He was engulfed in a blinding light his vision becoming impaired.
….
Yami
Beep Beep Beep
The same man awoke in a cold sweat as his alarm urging him to wake, the sunlight appeared in through his window. He smashed his hand on the annoyance halting its racket, stepping out of his bed and onto the floorboard. It was a simple room. A desk with a very high-end desktop system on it, a nightstand next to his bed, side table and wardrobe were all stationed around the room a tennis bag with a racket handle sticking out of the zip lock. A small book shelf was stationed in the room with a large majority of the books being about history and computer systems.
He sat on the edge of the bed, ignoring the small bead of sweat rolling down his cheek. Sighing deeply, much like he hadn't gotten any sleep at all he looked out the window of his room, the high angle over the city was breath taking this early in the morning. The city was just coming back to the day-life.
He ran his hand through his golden locks as he mentally prepared for the day ahead. Grabbing his glasses and placing them over his red eyes he blinked as his phone began to ring on his table. The phone buzzed with the contact 'Kaiba Corp' presented on the phone.
Beside his phone rested a small deck of playing cards.
….
Yami
The blonde now sported his work uniform, which consisted of a white button up shift with a black tie. Over the top he wore blue jacket with a high collar and also a pair of black dress pants and a pair of black shoes. He had his black laptop bag slung over his shoulder, trailing at the backs of his legs, complete with a pair of sensible black reading glasses framing his crimson orbs and a leather strapped watch wrapped around his right wrist.
He stepped out of the door to his apartment complex with his smart-phone glued to his ear. He walked around to the corner entering the adjacent car park.
"No excuse, finish the project Naruto." a voice panged from a smart phone.
"I'll have it finished by today." Naruto spoke into the phone as he came up to his car.
He grabbed his keys out of his back, unlocking the car and sitting in the driver's seat and placing his bag on the passenger seat.
"Yes sir no problem." he swallowed the lump in his throat. "Oh, I almost forgot, it's not that important but my step brother doesn't have a ride home today." he gripped the steering wheel with his free hand.
"Would you be able to tell Kiaba that I have to leave work early?" he asked.
"No problem, I'll tell him but he isn't going to like it."
"Thank you, I don't see him until the company board meeting on Friday. I'd best get going now," he sighed. "Thank you again, bye." he hung up the phone placing it on the dashboard shaking his head.
….
Across down-town in a more suburban area of the city many children were making their way to school, however a select few, as sure as the clock would strike twelve everyday paid a visit to the local 'Duel Monsters Game Shop'. The store was run by a local man and his grandson, the pair lived in a small apartment above the shop.
The door to the game shop opened and some teenage regulars walked through all sporting a school uniform, which was predominately blue. The group of four huddled around the front desk. An elderly gentleman stood behind the desk with a kind-hearted expression, beaming and the young budding duelists.
"Hello there children, how may I help you?" asked the shop owner, sporting button up overalls and a trademark bandanna sold at the shop.
"We're just dropping by before school grandpa." addressed the boy called Yugi.
His extremely extravagant hair features multiple layers including long blond crooked, pointy locks for his fringe; the rest features a set of five large spikes and two smaller spikes colored black with a magenta sheen along the edges. So far, he is the only character in the franchise to have his hair divided into three colors. He wears the Millennium Puzzle on a lace around his neck.
"Oh I see, so what's new?" he enquired with a general curiousity.
"Nothing much gramps, Yugi here was just showing us all about duel monsters." explained Yugi's friend, a boy called Joey.
Joey's outfit consisted of a long green open jacket with a raised collar, a white T-shirt underneath and blue jeans.
"I'm sure he's teaching you everything that I taught him about the game." he said with a slight chuckle. "I'm a pretty good teacher, you know." he winked at them.
"You play as well gramps, would you, teach me, please!" begged Joey slapping his palms together.
"No way anyone would teach a dolt like you." joked Yugi's other friend called Tristan, who resorted to chuckling at his friend's expense.
Tristan sported a long brown coat with a raised collar, a white buttoned shirt underneath and black jeans. His brown hair is arranged such that a large portion spikes out from the front of his head.
"You're one to talk, you lose your TV remote like most people lose change." argued the fourth friend in the group a girl called Tea.
Tea had reddish brown hair done in a convient short-style. Her school uniform color differs; her coat is orange and her tie and skirt are green.
Yugi's grandfather chuckled, Solomon grabbed his beard playing with it in between his fingers.
"I'll think about it, but for now you kids best get off to school!" he urged gesturing to the door.
"Not a bad idea, c'mon guys or we're gonna be late", Tea spoke in a hurried tone dragging Yugi out the door, the two other boys trailing behind them.
….
Yami
Later that Day
"Okay Yug! Just because we're friends, doesn't mean I'm gonna go easy on ya'!" announced Joey, throwing his deck down on the standard school desk table. Yugi laughed and slammed his deck down as well drawing his first five cards.
"Bring it on!" he challenged puffing his chest out.
Their friend group stood around them.
"Okay, seeing as I'm a nice guy and all, you can go first." said Joey gestured toward the board with slight smirk.
"Alright then, here we go." said Yugi as he looked over his cards as Joey drew his hand.
"I'll place this card face down in defense mode and I'll place one card face down", smiled Yugi, his spiky fringe bouncing as he adjusted his chair.
"I'll summon The Rock Guy (800, 2000) in defense mode." said Joey proudly slamming the card down unnecessarily.
"Wow, good move." said Yugi praising his beginner friend.
"You realise that it isn't called The Rock Guy?" asked Tristan mockingly pointing out the name on the duel monsters card.
"Shuddap! Then I'll place The Mystic Swordsmen (1000, 800) in attack mode." he laughed in triumph.
"Good move again Joey." said Yugi. "But you can only play one monster per turn unless you have help of a magic card. You'll have to save that card for another turn." explained Yugi with a smile.
"This game is so hard!" he bellowed picking his card up with a sour look on his face.
"You really need to read the rules Joey." said Tea with a sigh and a head shake.
"I think I'll skip this turn", said Yugi eyeing his hand. "I can't do much this turn but watch." he watched Joey's eyes light up at the notion of his turn skip.
"Alright! I'll beat you this turn! Now before the rules interrupted me. I'll place The Mystic Swordsmen (1000, 800) in attack mode", he announced placing it next to his defensive monster. "Now I'll attack your face down card, the one in defense mode!" he yelled loudly so the entire class could hear.
Yugi revealed the monster to be Mystical Elf (800, 2000).
"Wait that means the difference is deduced from my life points. I've just lost half of'em!" he exclaimed as he removed the monster from the field.
"Actually Joey, the Mystical Elf has a special effect." he started explaining. "Whenever she's placed face up on the field every light spellcaster monster gains 800 attack and defense points including herself, so you've lost more than half I'm afraid. You only have 200 life points left." he chuckled earning a laugh from Tristan.
Yugi 2000
Joey 200
"Wow you stink at this game." he mocked playing with his hair.
"Okay, my turn?" asked Yugi with a slight smile.
Joey nodded with a sigh and a frustrated grunt.
"Okay then, I'll summon Blackland Fire Dragon (1500, 800) in attack mode." he announced.
"Wha! That's so strong, I don't have a monster in my deck that can beat dat'" yelled Joey leaning back in his chair.
"I'll attack that defensive monster with my dragon." Joey groaned and removed it to the graveyard.
"It's okay Joey, you don't lose any life points for when monsters in defense mode are destroyed." explained Tea as Joey laughed.
"Alright! I survived, to bad Yugi." mocked Joey tapping his feet excitedly.
"Don't forget about my Mystical Elf (1600/2800) she's more than strong enough to attack you directly and for your life points to be reduced to zero." he explained fishing his cards back into his dueling deck.
"Sorry Joey but Yugi's the better duelist I guess." said Tea patting him on the back in consolation.
"Aw man! Why!?" he groaned at his lack of skills.
"That was awesome, you picked up the concepts of this game really fast." commented Tea praising his hard effort.
Joey smiled at the compliment.
"Thanks, but it was really all thanks to Yugi he helped me at lunch today." he chuckled as he shuffled with his deck compiling it back into a neat pile.
"Yugi! You taught him! You gotta teach me!" yelled a boy sitting on Joey's side of the table making everyone laugh at his dramatics.
….
Yami
After Naruto had graduated from high school two years ago he was lucky enough to be offered an internship at Kiaba Corporation. Thus, a deal was struck between the two, sealed with a contract that all Kiaba corp employees are subjected to in some form or another.
The company would pay for Naruto's tenure at Domino University, whilst he completed a double degree in computer and information sciences. In return Naruto would spend a few days a week working in an apprenticeship role at Kiaba corp in the new game developmental sector of the company, receiving some money for his trouble to pay for daily life of course, living by one's self was not lavish or affluent.
After the morning was finished and lunch had rolled around, Naruto now sat in the local Kiaba corp cafeteria on a small single table, his laptop bag next to him. Different tables and groups of people sat around him, all of which were dressed very formally, much like himself.
In front of him was a blue tray with food and drink, his friend and co-worker sat from across from him. He had long black hair and black eyes, he was dressed in a blue suit and white white button up, complete with a pair of maroon dress shoes and tie. His hair was tied up at the back, his long ponytail hidden behind his suit jacket and his bangs framing his face.
"You'd aught to fix those glasses of yours, you don't have much of an excuse." said the man taking a sip of his ice tea.
"Well I was up all night getting my deck ready for tonight, don't act like you don't like to duel Itachi. I make more money dueling than I do right now working for Kiaba." he reasoned taking a bite of his pasta.
"You're lucky that Kiaba was in a meeting with another game company, otherwise you would've been caught out." said Itachi picking up some red capsicum from his plate.
"Well I wasn't, I get here late and leave early, not a bad day if you ask me." said Naruto with a slight smile.
"You're leaving early? Have you finished programming the new software for Kiaba?" asked Itachi placing his fork on the empty plate.
"Yeah, I just have to polish a few of the codes and systems. I'll email it to him by the time I leave." he explained as he also placed his cutlery down and taking a sip of his coke.
"So what's your excuse?" asked Itachi slightly curious at his reasoning.
"I have to pick up my younger brother from school. Dad's having trouble again with his heart, he's in the hospital again so I'm picking up some of his slack." he sighed placing his hands underneath his chin in a thinking pose.
"He tells me that he's been taking his medication, but I beg to differ with the way he's been going lately." he shook his head gaining a empathetic look from his friend.
"You can only control what you can, it is what it is." resigned Itachi with a slight nod, reassuring Naruto.
"I guess, although this isn't really fair on those two, he's still so naive and she's still young." he breathed out a long breath as he looked to his side.
"Don't underestimate their ability to comprehend, children are far more intelligent than most give them credit for." he hummed as he rubbed the side of his face.
"Tch, that's a very you thing to say." he joked as he stood up. "I'll see you later." he grabbed his tray and headed toward the bin.
"Hey!" Naruto stopped in his tracks and turned to his friend. "Congratulations on making the finals, I'll be cheering you on from my stuffy office computer." he joked with a small smile.
Naruto gave a soft smile back and walked off.
….
Yami
The sun had started to make its way to the west and the cool summer air had begun to take settle in a cool change. The late afternoon had changed the complexion of a city to a healthy orange glow, complimented by myriad unnatural sources of light.
Naruto dove a slow twenty kilometres down the street toward the main car park of Domino high. He slowed down and gestured for a father and his daughter to pass, in return the main held his hand up as a sign of thanks and continued the walk home. He pulled up in the school car park, parents were ushering their children out of the front door and the older students were walking in their friend groups, some of the seniors to their cars.
Naruto pulled out his phone from the dashboard compartment and opened the unread text.
'Don't need to be picked up, at a friend's house'
He paused for a second gathering his thoughts, he had reshuffled his entire day for him and he had just blown him off.
"For fuck sakes Joey!" he growled angrily as he pulled out of the car park and headed home.
He had to prepare for tomorrow night not to mention balance his time with lectures notes and study.
"What's the matter with that kid", he sighed as he turned on his indicator and returned back the way he came.
….
Yami
Later that Night
Naruto opened the door to his apartment, pulling the key out as he stepped into the main seating area. The main room was simplistic, complete with a coffee table a stand for the television and a blue leather couch in front of it. He threw his bag on the kitchen counter and made his way onto the tiled floor. He opened fridge door grabbing a newly purchased carton of milk and taking a large drink.
Around his home there were photos of him and his family, he and his brother shared the same blonde hair, however his striking red eyes had been a trait that he had inherited from his grandfather. His little sister having the same hair as their mother, brown, silky hair. They were a broken family, and Naruto had seen himself for a better future because he was old enough to comprehend the poor living environment, which had become toxic for everyone.
A custody argument, fights over himself and his siblings, his father's deteriorating health and his mother's inability to admit her shortcomings. In a way, the photos reminded him of the happy times he and his family had, had, however they also told a very sad story.
All good things come crashing down around, are you ready?
His body became ridged and he dropped the carton, the milk spilling all over the floor, yet he remained still as the fridge door closed brushing against him as it did so. Still as a the night he let out a sharp breath as he felt something within him stir.
He slowly turned his head toward the counter and there, something out a fantasy novel sat a golden box, decorated with strange markings. Swirls and wings with a strange eye centred on the front end of the box. He chuckled and shook his head in defiance, refusing to believe the happening's before him. He cautiously walked over to the box tapping it and stepping back quickly, testing its veracity.
His hypothesis was proven to be untrue, it was indeed very real. A strange light erupted from the box as the lid was thrown to the ground by an invisible force. He winced as he fell to the ground watching in awe as the light traveled toward his room.
Silence washed over for a few select moments until one by one his dueling deck, concealed in the top draw of his desk began to ominously float out of his open door. Each of them having a separate glow and differing colour.
He watched as his dueling deck floated around, forming a barrier around him.
'Master', 'Hey,' 'This is weird', 'We can talk', 'Hello master!'
Naruto's glasses slipped off the tip of his nose as the box began to illuminate a red colour, similar to that of his irises.
"Shits whacked." he said as he eyed the strange red luminescence that bathed his apartment in red pooled into the shape of a dueling card.
His cards settled down on the floor, scattered vicariously around him. He swallowed a lump in his throat grabbing his glasses as he gathered himself up on his feet.
His breathing became laboured and lost its rhythm as he coughed. Slowly he stepped over his cards and toward the receding light in the box. Peering over it into the contents at first, jumping back swiftly then gaining some courage and looking into the box.
His crimson orbs widening at the contents of this strange box.
"This is all a little too real." said Naruto as he picked up the card from his dream, The Kyuubi.
He felt a presence from the card, a dark, strange and all the familiar form of something, something dark from the shadows. He looked at the card in his right hand and then back into the box.
"I've waited a long time to meet you Naruto." spoke a feminine voice from inside his mind. He quickly dropped both items on the table and jumped back, startled and unnerved.
"Do not be afraid my child, I mean you no harm, come let's talk", the voice spoke again as a ghostly figure appeared from the other side of the counter. "Do not be afraid my dear Naruto, I am your Guardian Angel, my name is Mercury", the spirit introduced herself.
Chapter End
….
I hope you've all enjoyed that, please leave a review and let me know what you're thinking. Like last time, any card suggestions are taken into consideration.
Naruto's Duelling Deck
Curse of Dragon
Red Eyes Black Dragon
Mystical Elf
Meteor Dragon
Battle Steer
Magician of Faith
Maha Vailo
Great Mammoth of Goldfine
Swordstalker
Rude Kaiser
Ancient Tree of Enlightenment
Millennium Golem
Neo The Magic Swordsman
Skull Stalker
Summon Skull
Axe Raider
Guardian Angel Mercury
Dragon Seeker
Berfomet
Barrel Dragon
Metal Dragon
Fiend's Hand
Monster Reborn
Gift of the Mystical Elf
Dark Energy
Elf's Light
Change of Heart
Megamorph
Solomon's Lawbook
Metalmorph
Mimicat
Dragon Treasure
Bright Castle
Magic Jammer
Mirror Wall
Polymerisation
Shadow Spell
Invisible Wire
Magic Jammer
Mirror Wall
