April 18th, 2014
Domino City Pier, Japan
6:30 P.M.
On a warm spring evening, two teenage boys stood at the edge of the Domino City Pier as they waited for their ship to come. They were twins, looking very similar with their large tricolored hair of red, black, and blonde with large, deep, purple eyes and similar punkish clothes. However, there were some distinct differences, one twin being tall and incredibly handsome while the other was shorter and had a more innocent look to his face. The small twin looked up at his brother.
"When is the ship suppose to come, Atem?" he asked. "The invitation said to be here by six twenty...but I don't see any signs of the ship."
Atem shrugged his shoulders.
"I don't know, Yugi. You know as much about this as I do."
He took out a piece of paper he had folded in his pocket.
"All it says that we, along with eight other people, were invited to come to this private week-long duel monsters tournament on a private island owned by U. N. Owen, who has constructed this tournament in the name of the card game's creator, Maximillion Pegasus. We, along with the other competitors are supposed to meet up here at six twenty to get on the boat to the island."
Atem looked around the area.
"Though I have to admit, it's strange that we were the only ones who got here on time."
Yugi nodded, sitting down at the edge of the pier.
"Yeah, and it's strange that it will only have ten competitors total, including us."
He paused.
"...I wonder why Mr. Owen is having this private tournament. And why on his isolated island..."
Noticing that Yugi seemed nervous, Atem put his hand on his brother's shoulder.
"It will be alright. After all, I need the extra practice after our last tournament with Kaiba almost beating me last time. Trust me, it will be good for us to go."
A dark look appeared in Yugi's eyes for a second as he stared off to the distance.
"Yeah... Kaiba really has been at your throat a lot lately. I wonder if he was invited to this tournament like we were."
"And right you are, Mutou."
Both Yugi and Atem quickly turned around to see a tall teenager with a long silver coat and dark brown hair approaching them. His blue eyes met theirs, an obsessive determination within them.
"I was expecting you two to be here, Mutou brothers," Kaiba said as he sat his suitcase on the ground. "It wouldn't be a private tournament without you two. Especially you, Atem."
Atem narrowed his eyes.
"Good to see you too, Kaiba," he replied with a hint of sarcasm. "I hope you have a better sense of sportsmanship since our last tournament. After all, you almost lost it after that last turn."
Kaiba sneered.
"That's because you cheated, Atem! I would have been victorious if you didn't draw Magician of Black Chaos when you did!"
"And how is it cheating by getting a card by lucky chance?"
There was a long, tensed silence as Kaiba tried to come up with some sort of reply.
Suddenly, the sound of a motorcycle came roaring down the pier, as one was heading straight at them. Coming to a park, the motorcyclist took off his helmet, his wild brown hair spiking out as his gray eyes glowed in the moonlight.
"Well, looks like I made it just in time," he said in an Australian accent. "I was thinking I was going to miss the boat, but looks like I'm wrong."
He got off the motorcycle and smiled.
"...You guys are waiting for that Owen guy's boat, right?"
Kaiba narrowed his eyes.
"Of course. Do you have any idea who you are talking to?!"
The Australian blinked, his eyes shifting between Kaiba, Atem, and Yugi.
"Uh...other duelists? I mean that is kind of obvious if you are going to that private tournament..."
He smiled.
"Anyways, name's Valon. Australian duelist trying to make his mark in Japan. You?"
Atem walked up to Valon.
"I'm Atem Mutou, King of Games. This is my twin brother Yugi and my archrival, Seto Kaiba. Pleased to meet you."
He shook his hand.
"Glad to meet you too, mate," Valon replied. "Suppose you can tell me how this whole thing operates as this will be my first Japanese tournament."
"Well, technically it isn't fully a Japanese tournament," Yugi corrected him. "Mr. Owen is an American."
"Ah...I see."
Valon stretched his arms.
"Doesn't matter. I will still make it to the top anyways."
Atem gave a competitive smirk. "I look forward to seeing your skills."
"Uh...excuse me!"
Everyone turned to see a dark-skinned teenage girl with ravishing green eyes running towards them, carrying a large backpack on her shoulders. She stopped before them, panting heavily as her dark hair fell in her face.
"...Sorry to interrupt you, but I'm afraid I may be late for my boat," the girl said with heavy breaths of air.
She looked up, her eyes widening once she saw Atem, Yugi, and Kaiba. She gasped.
"Oh! I guess I'm in the right place..."
Valon raised an eyebrow.
"Are you here for the private duel monsters tournament?"
The girl nodded enthusiastically.
"Yep! My name is Mana. I'm a newer duelist who's only been in a few tournaments."
A large smile came across her face.
"When I got my invitation, I was so excited! But I got lost on the way here...so I was afraid that I might have been too late..."
Atem gave a friendly smile.
"You didn't miss much. Yugi and I have been waiting for over ten minutes now and Kaiba and Valon just now arrived. In reality, you're here just in time."
A small blush came across Mana's face as she rubbed the back of her head.
"Glad to know."
"Indeed it is."
Behind Mana, a boy with long white hair and ghostly pale skin came by.
"The bus I was taking was stuck in heavy traffic, making it a hell to get here," he said. "Glad to see I wasn't the only one having problems with travel."
He sat his backpack down.
"Name's Bakura. Hope you remember it well when I defeat you all in this short tournament."
Kaiba glared at him.
"'Bakura?' As in Bakura the King of Thieves? The duelist who is supposedly a skilled thief?"
Bakura made eye contact.
"Perhaps. And was it to you, Second-Rate Seto Kaiba?"
Kaiba clutched his fists.
"Hey...easy now," Mana said, as she stood between the two of them. "We shouldn't get in a fight before we go off to this fancy private island!"
"Yes, because a fight wouldn't be the same without me!"
Out of the shadows, a teenager with spiky blonde hair jumped out, landing on all fours. Everyone flinched, his crazy violet eyes glaring up at them.
"Little old Melvin here would be very sad if he was not included in a fight!" he exclaimed. "Especially one that is really violent!"
Both Bakura and Kaiba gave disgusted looks.
"Melvin, would you cut it out."
Another teenager, looking identical to Melvin only with his blonde hair smoothed down, came by. He dropped a large black suitcase on top of his brother's head, in which Melvin cried out slightly in pain. He let out a heavy sigh.
"Sorry about that. My brother has...issues, and there is really little I can do about it."
Melvin growled slightly as he stood up, glaring at his brother.
"I'm Marik Ishtar," the sensible twin continued, trying to recover from that embarrassment. "I look forward to competing against you in this tournament."
"Uh...sure." Valon couldn't help but stare at Melvin. "So long as he stays away from me, I'm good with that."
Melvin gave a twisted smile. "Is that a threat?"
Valon narrowed his eyes.
"It will be if you keep acting like that."
Marik groaned.
"Sorry...I don't know why he was invited, but I guess Owen was desperate for duelists..."
"It would seem, as he is letting you unknown duelists come," Kaiba commented.
"Oh great! Of all the people who could show up..."
From where Bakura and Mana came, a blonde haired teenage boy and blonde woman approached the group.
"Kaiba, you just had to be invited!" the guy exclaimed angrily. "My first big tournament, and it had to be one with you!"
Kaiba smirked.
"Nice to see you too, mutt."
"It's Jonouchi, you asshole!"
Seeing Atem and Yugi from the corner of his dark brown eyes, Jonouchi's anger quickly vanished as he turned to them.
"Hey, Atem and Yugi! Looking forward to the tournament?"
Atem nodded.
"We are. And you?"
"Who wouldn't!?"
Jonouchi approached them, a fire of determination glowing in his eyes.
"And I plan on coming up on top! Just you wait, my old friends! Jonouchi is about to join your ranks!"
Yugi gave an uneasy smile and small laugh.
"Yeah... We will wish you luck, Jonouchi."
In the background, the blonde haired woman rolled her violet eyes.
"How immature... But I guess anyone would be excited for their first real tournament."
Bakura studied her.
"And who are you? I don't think I've seen you in any tournaments I've been in."
The woman smirked.
"I'm Mai Kujaku, a duelist who only enters the finest of tournaments. Like this one."
"Ah, a girl who only goes for the best?" Valon commented with a smile. "You must have a lot of high standards for a pretty girl like yourself."
Mai narrowed her eyes.
"Watch it."
Valon's smile grew.
"Whatever you say, beautiful."
At that moment, the sound of a ship's horn came in through the pier. All ten of the contestants looked out to see a large luxurious ship coming towards them. It soon docked before them, and a one of the crewmembers came out to greet them.
"Are you all here to be taken to Mr. Owen's island?" he asked.
Everyone nodded. The crewman smiled.
"Glad to see that everyone is here, seeing that there is ten of you. Come on aboard, it will be a long journey to the island."
He started to head up into the ship, the others following carrying their luggage with them. Once everyone was on, the ship left the pier, making its way to the far away island.