Yu-Gi-Oh! Duel Monsters
Team Zero: Kings

1: Arrival

The dome darkness of the sky was only brightened by the pink rim outline that circled its way around the horizon to the west. Birds could be seen in the dim light form what remained of the sun flying off across the cityscape.

Street lamps flickered as they gobbled up the electricity needed to become glowing beacons in the darkness of the night, helping any passing traveler to find his way. The square boxes that adorned the sides of the tall, sinister looking tower-like buildings began to also glow with a warm, yellow illumination as the inhabitants flicked on their lights.

Domino City, the place where champions were made, lived, worked and played. The calmness of this place never would suggest to one that such power could be waged within these concrete walls.

No one could predict what would happen next though.

While Domino City was a lovely place, filled with much. The prospect of the future always looking bright, but yet, no one ever knew what would be coming next. A single man never could view the future, wrapped in the darkness beyond the horizon. The secrets that were held, kept from any mortal eyes to see, lay in the abysmal obscurity before them. The only thing known for sure is that, once again, the sun would be rising in the east sending its light across mankind, then drift slowly down in the west, being swallowed up by the horizon.

But there were those who sought the future, what it might hold. What would be to come for him, his friends, his loved ones, and everyone he knows? This dark haired kid was striding his way out of the Domino Airport accompanied by his two team mates and their cheerleader.

Ronin Endo, Reku Yamashita, Akina Oshiro, and Sachiko Meade walked in the looming silence down the street, each having a large bag thrown over his or her shoulder, or carried down at the person's side.

Their faces showed no joy, they showed no pain; they were emotionless. Drained of all life so it seemed. The four of them were exhausted though; the long plane trip was just as it was last time. The departure from the large metal bird was the same.

Their path to the hotel was the same. The city was the same. But, this time, the feeling was far from the same. The feeling of anticipation that flowed in all of them was enormous.

They were here to claim their prize.

Their most recent tournament victory had granted them the right to face three legends of their time. Yugi Motou; the King of Games. Seto Kaiba; the second ranked duelist in the entire world. Joey Wheeler; the third place duelist of the world.

A soft 'ping' echoed through the corridor of the hotel as the elevator came to a complete stop on the desired floor. The metal beast slowly opened it mouth to let its contents out into the carpeted hallway. Down the beige colored walls, light fixtures, pictures and various plant arrangements decorated the place, giving it a warm and home like feeling. The hallway, though carpeted with an odd blue carpet, had a long and very expensive looking red rug that ran the length and back of the hall.

Out of the elevator, Team Zero made their first steps into the new world. Just like the man first making his first impression on the moon, the four of them walked carefully, so as not to disturb the environment more than necessary. Though a jingling sound did soon begin to sound as Ronin fumbled in his pocket for the key to the room.

His hand emerging from his pocket with the golden key in his grasp, the four of them came to a complete stop at a door they were told was their room by the lovely desk clerk downstairs. A rough clanking came as the key was inserted into the door and then slowly turned, the lock on the other side clicking as it gave way to the tangible password.

The large, wooden door slowly opened inward into the first hallway of the room. The four kids gasped at the massive upgrade in room quality they were seeing this time compared to their first visit to Domino City. The four of them gazed at the luxurious room they were accommodated with, even if it was just for a short amount of time.

"Wow, Kaiba really out did himself this time." Ronin whistled in amazement.

"I doubt it." Reku shook his head, taking a few steps into the room. He bag that held his luggage sliding off his shoulder and landing on the carpeted floor of the hallway. "This is probably nothing but pocket change to him."

Slowly the other three walked into the room. Glancing around the actually had to agree with Reku. Despite how expensive the place was this was probably nothing to someone like Seto Kaiba. It was the same place that they stayed at during the Tournament of Kings, but this was definitely and upgraded room from what they had.

The room opened up from the door leading into a small hallway where there was a large metal coat rack against the right side wall. On the left were doors for small closets. After the hallway it opened up into a large square living area. Luxurious furniture adorning the walls of the rooms, accent lighting and a tranquil tone came from the area. In the dead center of the room was a furnished, wooden table with four chairs, one on each side. The decoration on the table was exquisite, made by the hands of a skilled wood worker. On one far wall were large sliding glass doors, which lead out to a balcony over looking the city of Domino.

Opposite from the hallway were two more sets of doors. These most likely led to the bedrooms of the room.

"Yeah, pocket change." Ronin agreed finally, changing his mind. He wished that his pocket change could afford something like this. Unfortunately he could barely afford to by new packs of cards for himself.

"Either way, it's ours for the time being." Akina smiled wide as she let her own baggage fall to the floor next to Reku's. "For the short time we are going to stay here, I think we'll stay pretty well kept."

She began to walk into the room, noticing another door off to her left. Reaching out and turning the knob, the latch clicked opening the door to a full bathroom. Shiny white titles running all the way around the room, the floor being covered with gold lace, hunter green rugs. Very expensive.

Sachiko proceeded into the room farther than Akina, the two guys following behind her. When she reached the far end she turned the knob on the left hand door of what they were assuming to be the bedrooms. They were pleasantly surprised when they were indeed the sleeping quarters. One for the gals, the other the guys.

The rooms contained: two beds, a small wooden desk and large, spotless windows over looking the night skyline of Domino City.

The room was perfect. Anything they could ever need and more located in the little bit of space this hotel room took up in the grand scheme of the entire building. Pocket change or not, the four of them realized that this type of room they were not going to get to stay in very often in their lives. They would have to savior the moments they were in, taking in all the sights and luxuries that room had to offer.

"Well, it'll be fun none-the-less." Joey's voice carried from the leather-covered couch in Seto Kaiba's office. Sitting on the arm of the couch with his feet resting on the floor on either side of him, the bond haired boy smiled wide when he received a warm smile from a tri-haired kid that sat across the room from him.

"That is will indeed Joey." Yugi Motou, the reining top duelist in the world, nodded back to his friend. Crossing his arms across his chest, Yugi looked up at a large, shiny wooden desk surface that sat at the front of the room. Behind the desk was the big CEO of Kaiba corp. as well as the second best duelist in the entire world; Seto Kaiba.

The brown haired, blue-eyed businessman locked his fingers together, resting his chin on the bridge they were making. The expression on his face told Yugi that he was rather bored with the conversation that was going on. Lifting his head, he frowned at Yugi once before spinning his chair around to look out the large windows that sat at the back of his office.

"This game is not about 'fun', only the strongest duelists in the world can make it." Kaiba repeated his typical phrase. "And in a duel against us, those three had better not think this just to be some friendly game for fun."

"Oh Kaiba-boy, you need to lighten up." Pegasus, who was sitting in a nice leather chair at the far end of the room, spoke up. Running a hand through his white colored hair, the red suited man closed his eyes, grinning all the while. "If you are as talented as you say, you shouldn't have even a single problem facing anyone of these three."

"I won't." Kaiba's voice rang out from behind the large backed chair, the business man not taking his eyes off of the city that lay beyond the windows in his office. "I won't be losing my duel."

"Just make sure to have some fun with it too, Kaiba-boy." Pegasus continued to grin before his eyes opened, dropping to the carpeted floor. "Look who's talking. I lost to that duelist; Hygin and he made me look like I was nothing but an armature." Looking up, his eyes rested on the spiky headed kid that was sitting on the couch, facing the stuck-up businessman. "When I lost to you and your other self, Yugi, did I really lose all of my talent in dueling?" Curling his fingers into a fist, he let his head drop again to the carpeted floor. "Maybe…"

"Either way, it's late, and we will be having those duels tomorrow." Kaiba spun around in his chain, looking at the three other people decorating his office. "So I'd suggest you get out of my office and go rest up." Shifting his eyes to his right, he looked at the blond haired duelist that was still sitting on the arm of Kaiba's couch. "And for you Wheeler, I'd suggest making a deck that is semi-playable and doesn't do such a wonderful job of showing off your pathetic dueling skills."

"Kaiba!" Joey growled, clenching his hand into a fist and holding it up to threaten the brown haired CEO. "Why you…"

"Just let it go Joey." Yugi smiled kind of dumbly, trying to calm down his best friend. "Your deck and dueling skills are great. You'll be fine. But Kaiba is right; we do need to get going as it is late at night." Standing up, the tri-colored haired boy looked at Kaiba.

"And tomorrow this will all be over and we can get on with our lives." Kaiba grunted, glaring back up at the raining King of Games. Not another word was spoken, just the intense glares between the two of them. A billions words silently exchanged in milliseconds within the very close distance between the two rivals.

Pegasus, Joey and finally, Yugi exited Kaiba's office, closing the door behind them as they left, each of them going their separate ways. As the door clicked with its latching, Kaiba turned to a computer sitting on his left hand side. Jerking the mouse quickly, the screen lit up and he continued to do some work.

Finally getting settled in, the four member team sat around the large wooden table in the middle of the hotel room, each of them except Sachiko was looking over their decks. Conversation was focused mainly on the upcoming matches, and what they were expecting to see. The last thing any of them wanted to do was embarrass themselves in front of the entire world. If they could even put up a decent, respectable fight, that would be enough. But of course, their goal was to win the duels!

"I wonder how well that would work." Reku was mumbling below his breath, pulling out a few of the cards that was in his deck, laying them out on the table he observed them for a second, pulling out other cards from his deck and laying them down with them.

"Remember, those three watched everything we did during the tournament." Ronin looked up from his own stack of cards, staring at his black haired friend. "No doubt every card we played was recorded, and I'll bet the three of them were studying our strategy come that final battle with Chime. They know what kind of combo's we had to pull off to win that game." Looking back down at his deck, he looked as if he was considering something himself. "We have to change it up enough that maybe, just maybe, we can catch them off guard slightly. Throw something new at them."

"Don't worry dear." Sachiko reached out, patting Ronin on the shoulder. "I'm sure you'll do just fine. You, as well as you all," she looked around the table at Reku and Akina as she spoke, "are very quick at thinking on your feet. You've been put in some pretty hellish duels, and managed to come up with a way to win." Brushing a lock of her sandy blond hair out of her tranquil green eyes, she smiled at them. "And besides, we all support each other. We'll always be there for one another."

"Yeah." The three of them nodded at Sachiko's comments, looking around at each other as well. They did have a strong bond, and they had been through so much together, they could get through this too. They knew they could!

Still though, as the gentle breeze blew through the open side glass door that lead to a small outside patio, it carried with it a chilling omen to one of the four of them. A deep frown dragging down the corners of her soft, pink lips.

Pushing her chair back, Akina moved across the living area, stepping out on the deck and leaning against the cold metal railing. Her hair blew slightly from the breeze, drifting out and landing on her face.

"Akina…?" Reku grew worried, pushing himself away from the table and power walking across the room and out onto the patio behind her. Reaching around her, he wrapped his arms around her stomach and leaned his head against hers. "Are you ok dear? You seem a bit stressed."

"I'm fine." She sighed, grabbing the strands of her hair with a swipe of her delicate, slim fingers and moving them off her face.

"And what kind of bull crap are you feeding me?" Reku joked, rocking back and forth with her in his tight embrace. "You are not fine, and it is just that much easier for me to tell when you are worried about something when you are lying to me."

"Reku…" She began, pushing herself up slightly. Letting go of her, Reku stood back and watched as she turned around to face him, looking deep into his brown eyes. "I'm just not strong enough to do this. I have to be the weakest member of this group, and my deck shows it with its stats. I'm going to screw this up, embarrass myself, embarrass the team." Breaking his gaze, she looked down at the space between their bodies. "Embarrass you."

"Why would you feel that you would embarrass us?" Reku asked, grabbing her hands in his, holding them down in her sights. "You are just as strong as the rest of us. This team is the combined strength of us all." Looking up, Akina stared at Reku again as he spoke softly to her. "This team would be nothing without you dear."

Back in the room, Sachiko stared intently at Reku's back through the open doorway. Their words couldn't be made out from inside the room, with the breeze, background noise of Domino City, and how quietly they were talking obscuring any recognition of words.

"What do you suppose they are talking about?" Sachiko asked, leaning against the table.

Ronin, who was still working on his deck as if nothing had happened around him, shrugged and glanced over his shoulder. "Dunno. Reku's probably just calming Akina down. Bet she's just a bit nervous about the up-and-coming duels"

"And you aren't the least bit worried?" Sachiko smirked, cocking her eyes playfully at the young boy sitting next to her.

"Are you kidding me?" Ronin began to chucking, puffing his chest out in an attempt to show his own might. He held it for a good but, building up his own ego before he drastically shrank it. "I'm scared shitless…"

The computer monitor being the only source of light left in the large, long office room, casting eerie shadows racing across the wooden walls. Kaiba sat intently staring at the bright screen. On it, a white background page with three images lining the left side of it. Next to it, writing in a large list form under big, bolded letters.

"Team Zero. Endo Ronin, Yamashita Reku and Oshiro Akina." The names slipped slowly through his lips, being lost within the void of the room and the absence of sound. "A strange team. They have powers that seem to rival the god cards, and yet they are so humble about them." Leaning back, Kaiba heard the soft squeaking of his chair as he shifted his weight.

His eyes drifted to the corner of his eye, staring out the glass windows that were the back wall of his office. Down below was the lit-up city that he called his home. The tranquility of the night making the city quite the sight to take in.

"Even as amazing as they are…they weren't good enough the last time we saw them. Hopefully they increased their skills. But…" Moving his attention back to the brightly lit screen, he narrowed his deep brown eyes, glaring at the three pictures. "If they use those cards, it could be trouble."

"I'm going on a soda run." Ronin announced, sticking his head out through the open doorway leading to the balcony, interrupting Reku and Akina who were still there. "You guys want anything?" He asked, giving a goofy smile.

"Sure man, thanks." Reku smirked back patting Ronin on the head. "It is very gentlemanly of you to do this. Shows you aren't such a hard ass."

"Silence." Ronin's face grew stern, glaring daggers at his fellow team mate. "I'll cut your pay if you continue to mock me."

"Ok then." Reku pondered playfully, holding up his hand and began to count fingers. "I get nothing for doing this job, and if you cut my pay…I'd be getting….less than nothing…so I would owe you money." Reku's smirked a bit stupidly at Ronin. "Which I ain't got any money to pay you with because you're a lousy boss and refuse to pay me."

"You do realize that didn't make a lick of sense, right?" Ronin smirked, pulling his head back through the doorway and standing up straight.

"Of course." Reku stated, walking back into the room himself, followed closely behind by Akina who has remained silent as the two guys joked with one another.

"Would you mind if I came with you?" Akina asked, directing her question to Ronin who was a bit shocked at first, but smiled back.

"Sure, company would be appreciated."

"I could use a walk; I'm still a bit stiff from the plane ride." Akina admitted, stretching her arms over her head then off to her sides. "So let's go."

Soon the two of them found themselves standing quietly in the speeding elevator, listening to the soft, rhythmic humming being created as the machine fell a couple of stories to the ground floor. A soft ping entered their ears as the elevator stopped; releasing the pressure that was keeping the doors clamped so tightly shut, and opening them to the world outside.

Walking out into the carpeted corridor, the two of them found the lighting on this floor gentle, soothing, bathing everything in a rusty yellow color. Walking down the bare walled hallway, the two of them soon found a glass door off to their left side. Through the glass window, the two of them could see the large, glowing machines filled with carbonated beverages, and smaller black machines with various snacks packaged within.

"For being such an elegant hotel, this part of it seems a bit run down." Ronin stated as he pushed open the glass door, cringing slightly from the loud squeal that came from the door hinge.

"Many people here probably don't eat this junk food." Akina said in her quiet voice, walking into the room behind Ronin and assisting the door in closing quietly.

"Probably right. They must go out to high-dollar restaurants to get their midnight snacks." Ronin spoke as he dug into his pocket to find the change needed to make the machine released the canned liquid.

Then silence washed over the two of them again, drowning away in the jingling of Ronin's pocket, and the soft, stable humming coming from the machines. Looking up at Ronin, Akina sighed, grabbing his attention instantly.

"Ronin, do you not want me to duel tomorrow?"

Ceasing his moving, Ronin stared at the young, sandy blond haired woman. "Why wouldn't I want you to duel tomorrow?" He watched helplessly as her soft blue eyes began to cloud up, before they were jerked out of his sight and she could no longer look at him. "Akina, you are a part of this team. You are a valued member. I don't quite understand where this whole question is coming from."

"I just," Akina sank back, leaning against the off pale colored wall that stood behind her. Her head still tilted down, focusing on the white tiled floor that was beneath both of their feet. "I just don't want to embarrass you and Reku. You two are guaranteed to do such a good job here, but I'm afraid my tactics aren't going to be good enough to even put up a three minute fight."

"Thought so." Ronin turned away from her, sliding the small metal disk in his hand into the machine. He continued to do this as he spoke to her. "You are just like us, no different. We are all scared to do this. The pressure of the stature our up-and-coming opponents has is enough to crush the hopes of any duelist."

Pushing his finger against the large rectangular, plastic button on the machine, he waited calmly as the machine processed his order. Clanking and creaking as the machine spit out the can in a small opening down at the bottom of it.

"But the point isn't necessarily to prove we are the best. The point is that we are here to show that we are good at what we do. Remember, this is our prize for the last tournament. Even if we were to lose in the first turn," bending over, Ronin grabbed the can out of the machine and straightened back up, "the bragging rights will come from the fact that we stepped in the ring with the world's best duelists."

"Thanks Ronin." Akina spoke softly, looking back up at him. "Reku said pretty much the exact same thing, but the encouragement that I'm not the only one scared is reassuring." Smiling, she walked over and took the can out of his hand. "We'll all just have to do our bests."

"That is all that can be expected." Ronin smiled back, inserting another coin into the large machine.

Stepping back into the elevator, the two kids watched as the thick metal doors clamped shut in front of them, causing the elevator to begin its ascent from the basement floor of the complex.

It hadn't gone up but one floor, when the elevator screeched to a halt, causing the doors to open up to pick up another passenger. Though neither of them was expecting the passenger that they were actually picking up.

Standing outside the elevator was a long faced, white haired man dressed nicely in his red suit. Without looking up, the man took a few short strides into the elevator, turning around so that his back was to the current occupants. Finally looking up, he watched the doors slowly seal shut in front of him.

Reaching over, he pressed the button on the side panel, causing the elevator to rush up the shaft once again.

Akina and Ronin looked at each other dumbfounded. Finally, working up the courage, Ronin stepped up beside the tall man and looked at him.

"Um, Mr. Pegasus?" He spoke, unsure of what kind of reaction to expect from the man.

Looking down a bit startled to hear his name, the man instantly smiled at seeing the young man standing next to him. "Ah, Ronin-boy. What good timing that we'd be riding the elevator at the exact same time. Are you and your team ready for tomorrow? Should be fun."

"Were a bit nervous." Akina admitted, walking up on the other side of the man, the cans of soda still being held in her crossed arms. "But I guess we are as ready as we are going to be."

Surprised by the sudden new voice, Pegasus looked on his right side at the young woman. Double checking, he looked over his shoulder to make sure no one else was going to sneak up on him; looking back once he saw the empty carriage behind him.

"Well good luck with your matches." Pegasus spoke in his typical higher toned voice, showing nothing but a good mood in his eyes.

Looking concerned, Ronin tapped the man on the shoulder. "Are you ok? You looked like you were really sad when you got onto the elevator."

"Yes, it is true I am a bit under the weather." Pegasus looked away from him, staring at the steel door. "It's nothing of concern though, unless." Gaining an idea, he turned looking back down at Ronin. "Would one of you care to honor me with a duel? I won't be dueling during the actual matches tomorrow, but tonight I've got some time." Turning his head, he looked down at a wide eyed Akina. "If you would want to that is."

"I would be the one honored!" Akina squealed, grabbing onto the man's arm. "I would simply love to be your opponent." Looking over at Ronin, she saw him cock his eye at her strange, sporadic behavior. "Though I'd have to stop by my room and grab my duel disk first."

"What a drastic change she had from the depression she was in just a few stories down." Ronin sweat dropped at his hyper teammate. Shaking it off, he spoke up himself. "Yeah, we could go grab our friends. I'm sure they would love to see the duel as well."

"Wonderful!" Pegasus exclaimed, throwing his arms up into the air, a large grin stretching from ear to ear. "The more the merrier. What say you guys meet me on the roof in about, ten minutes or so?"

"We'll be there!" Ronin exclaimed back, simultaneously as the soft ping rang through the metal box. The doors opening up, letting Ronin and Akina off on the floor they were expecting. Turning, they waved back to the red suited man still in the elevator before he was obscured from their sights by the doors closing once again.

Turning, the two kids practically ran back to their room, pounding on the door for the occupants to let them in. Opening the door a second later, Reku was met with a handful of aluminum cans as Ronin and Akina pushed passed him leaving him with all the drinks.

"We've got to go." Ronin announced, standing in the middle of the room while Akina ran into one of the back bedroom where her luggage was stored. Emerging a few moments later, she had her duel disk and was latching it onto her arm.

"Why?" Reku asked, stumbling into the room and setting the four cans of liquid onto the table where a mess of cards was still scattered. "What happened?"

"We met Pegasus in the elevator." Akina spoke, grabbing her deck off of the table and fanning it open to take one last look at it. "He challenged me to a duel up on the roof in about ten minutes."

"Pegasus…?" Sachiko looked over at Ronin a bit surprised. "The creator of Duel Monsters. That Pegasus wants to duel Akina?"

"Pegasus isn't a very common name I would believe." Reku spoke, walking around to Akina and wrapping his arm around her shoulders, tightly squeezing her into his embrace. "That's great honey. Go out there and do you best. We'll be right there rooting for you."

"Just hope these changes to my deck are going to be enough." Akina sighed, folding the deck back up into a stack and beginning to shuffle it. "But I can't back down now, I've got to go out there and do my best." Sliding her deck into her duel disk, she looked up at the door of the room. The sandy blond hair strands that had fallen across her soft skinned face were brushed aside with a swoop of her hand. "Let's go!"

"The first duel of our trip." Ronin pondered, watching as Akina, followed closely by Reku, walked towards the exit of the room. "It is kind of odd how it happened, but this would be a chance of a lifetime to actually get to duel Maximillion Pegasus. Good luck…Akina."

Pegasus stood on the roof of the large building, the gentle breeze blowing his flowing white hair out back behind his head. Looking down, his stared intently at the duel disk that was resting clamped onto his arm. The brown stack of cards he called a deck was locked tightly into place in the deck holder.

"My special deck." Pegasus sighed, thinking about all of the cards he put into it. "This deck I've worked with since I created the game of Duel Monsters. Advancing it, perfecting the ultimate strategy of it. But," looking up, Pegasus focused on the door that lead to the stairs coming out of the elevator. The only way on or off of the roof. "Ever since I lost to Yugi and his other self in the Duelist Kingdom, I seem to have lost my flow. I want, no, I need to do this to see if I still am capable of dueling at all." With his left hand, he reached up, brushing his hair aside and touching the left side of his face. "Even without this."

The door began to creek open, and Pegasus's opponent came walking out, a determined look blazing in her eye. The look of a duelist.

"Ready Pegasus?" Akina asked, holding up her left arm with the emerald green duel disk on it. Humming, the duel disk activated, snapping the arms of the device up and together, sliding them down to the side of the device and locking them into the place. A clicking noise could be heard to confirm this.

"Of course!" Pegasus cried back, his duel disk mimicking the motions his opponent's did, sliding out and then clicking into place on the front of the device to create the duel plate where the cards would be played.

"Let's duel!" They both cried, the life points shooting up to 4000 for the start of the game.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Sorry to everyone for the sporadic updates to my fics. Life has twisted and turned its way into pissing me off. But since I reached the end of the first section of my Team Zero: The Last Guard fic, I decided to distract myself from that and finally write this. This takes place 5 years ago from my current fic, just a short time after my Team Zero: Orichalcos fic.

Isn't it always nice to go back in time to fill in those gaps?

I just wanted to clear that up so no one wondered what was going on. This is, well, obviously nothing you probably didn't already know about. Thus a filler, side fic. But it should be fun if you continue to read. Have a nice day!

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX