Seals of Fate
The Sequel to Cards of Destiny
By Rowan Cousland
Chapter One
Just Another Ordinary Day
The alarm clock went off at 6:30 in the morning. Just as it always did. She got up and dressed herself in her school uniform (which she ultimately despised) of a white blouse with a pink jacket, blue bowtie, blue pleated skirt, brown dress shoes, and tied her curly hair back into a high ponytail. Just as she always did.
She was able to get downstairs just in time to grab a bagel thermos full of coffee, and plant a goodbye kiss on her father's cheek. Just as she did every morning since school had started.
Just another ordinary start to an ordinary day for Kayla Edwards.
Her father, Jonathan, sat in the living room reading the newspaper. All that would be in the news this week were the results of the Battle City Finals, and any disclaimers Kaiba Corp. had towards all the injured duelists and return date delays. Even thought the tournament was long over, people were still worried about it.
Kayla remembered that tournament as if it had happened just yesterday. She'd gone into it as a girl determined to save her brother in his hour of need. Though she hadn't gotten as far as she would've liked to, her mind was opened to the darker side of the world she lived in now. When she'd left the tournament, she'd left an entirely different person. The gold and turquoise bracelet she now wore was proof of that.
"I'm heading over to Yugi's after school, Dad." Kayla said, slinging her brown messenger bag over her shoulder. "We're going to be having a movie marathon tonight. Just thought I'd remind you."
Jonathan brought the newspaper down with a smile. "Thank you, Kayla. But I remember."
A knock at the door signaled that it was time for Kayla to go. She opened it to see the ever cheerful face of her friend, Tea Gardner.
She poked her head into the doorway, giving a wave to Kayla's father. "Hi Mr. Edwards!" she said.
He waved back to Tea. "Hello Tea. Always a pleasure to see you. Have a good day at school you two."
"We will." The two girls said in unison. Tea latched onto Kayla's arm, and began pulling her out the door and led her down the stairs of the apartment complex "Come on Kay." Tea said. "We need to stop by Yugi's and pick him up."
"Again?" Kayla asked. "That's the fifth time this month!"
"Joey overslept, so Yugi ended up not getting a ride to school today." Tea said.
"Of course." Kayla sighed, adjusting the strap of her bag. "Alright, let's get going. I don't want to be late again because Joey can't set an alarm clock."
Tea laughed at that, and began to lead her friend down the sidewalk towards the Kame Game Shop, where their friend Yugi Motu lived with his mother, and his grandpa.
Solomon Motu was outside his store, sweeping away the autumn leaves. He greeted the two girls with a wave. "Hello Tea, Kayla. I expect you're here to pick up Yugi again. He'll be out in just a few minutes."
As if on cue, the short, card game enthusiast, Yugi Motu, came bursting out of the shop doors in his uniform of a blue jacket and pants, and a white button up shirt, with one of his tennis shoes half way on, and papers falling out of his backpack. In his rush, he'd kicked up most of the leaves and dust Solomon had swept up. Seeing this, he quickly turned around and said sheepishly, "Sorry Grandpa. I'm in a hurry."
"No problem at all Yugi, as always. You kids have fun at school today." The old man replied, not even fazed by the scattered mess.
"We will. Don't you worry about that." Tea said, now latching onto Yugi's arm. "Come on. We need to get going if we don't want to be late." She began dragging him behind her, making Yugi blush. A passerby would've mistaken his red face for a tomato.
The three friends eventually found themselves reacquainted with the rest of their gang, Joey Wheeler, Tristan Taylor, and Ryou Bakura, in the student parking lot of Domino City High School. Joey, Kayla, and Tristan were the oldest in the group, all three of them of them now being in their Junior year. Tea, Ryou, and Yugi were now Sophomores. Conveniently, they all ended up in the same classes again.
"Alright, so homeroom first period with Miss Ross, English Second Period with Mr. Lee, Geometry with Mrs. Jackson Third, Lunch, Gym Fourth Period with Coach Damon, Art with Mrs. Keeler fifth, and Study Hall at the end of the day." Tea said, reminding them of their schedules.
"We know, we know." Joey said. "It's the middle of October, Tea. I'm pretty sure we've got our schedules down."
"It never hurts to be prepared." Tea said, folding up her schedule, and slipping it back into her jacket pocket.
"Hey Yuug, ya up for another session of Duel Monsters durin' Homeroom?" Joey asked.
Kayla smiled to herself. Duel Monsters had become an obsession between the friends. It was truly fun and all, but the rare times where they did something else, like the movie night, Kayla was sometimes grateful for.
"We'll have to wait and see Joey…. I, uh…. Didn't exactly finish my book report last night." Yugi said, his face returning to its frequent blush.
"Neither did I." Joey admitted shamelessly. "Doesn't mean I'm going to do it." he said.
"How could you not finish it?" Tea asked. "Romeo and Juliet is the easiest story ever! They fall in love, get married, have sex, and die all in one week."
"Hey! I haven't gotten that far yet!" Joey shouted.
"Doesn't surprise me." Tristan muttered, getting a laugh from the rest of the group, and a punch in the shoulder from Joey.
"Seriously Joey? We were supposed to finish that book three days ago." Kayla said.
"Well I've been a bit occupied." Joey protested. "I've been fixin' up my car."
"I was busy too." Yugi piped up. "My puzzle fell apart last night, and I was up all night trying to fix it."
"You need to get some duct tape or super glue for that thing." Tristan said.
"Believe me, I've considered it." Yugi muttered.
With that said, the bell rang for school. The gang of friends made their way through the doors of the school to their homeroom for the morning announcements.
Kayla found herself in the back of the group, walking with Ryou, whom had remained silent all morning.
"Hey Ryou, you ok?" Kayla asked.
Ryou lifted his head, tossing his mess of pale hair out his eyes, and revealed who she was really talking to now. The sharp gaze in his deep brown eye showed that she was now talking to Bakura, the spirit of Ryou's Millennium Ring.
"I'm just fine, Kayla." He said, faking Ryou's voice in case someone around them could hear him. He placed his arm around her shoulders, and brought her close to him.
"Do you have to possess him during school?" Kayla whispered. "He's missing out on a lot of learning you know."
"Oh don't get yourself so worked up." He snapped. "It's only for his first class, and then your friends can have your precious Ryou back. Until then, you'll just have to endure it."
"Why only first period?" Kayla asked.
Bakura smirked. "Oh, you'll find out."
"Hey!" a sharp Brooklyn accent shouted ahead of them. "Either hurry the hell up, or get a room already!"
A blush crept across Kayla's face. She clenched her fists. "Joey!" She shouted, slightly embarrassed.
"Oh, you're in for it now man." Tristan said, stifling a giggle.
"Shit!" Joey shouted, running down the hall towards their homeroom, with an angry Kayla trailing after him, ready to smack him.
Just another ordinary day for Yugi Motu, and his friends.