It was a moonlit night. The full moon hung in the sky, bright like a lantern lighting a path to the heart of men's souls. Such conditions alighted the wreck, the twisted remains of the white motorbike shining in the pale moonlight.
"We recovered one individual sir, a fifteen-year old boy. He's a little banged up but he can talk." He gazed out across the sea, the still water like glass reflecting the moon on its surface.
"And his arm?"
"A strange mark, sir. Like a pair of wings." He turned away from the window, his face composed, serene, a facade.
"As head of the Public Security Maintenance Bureau, I must speak to this boy."
"I'll take you to him at once."
He stepped into the small room, the walls stark white; a sterile contrast to the rest of the detention center. His shadow eclipsed the moon's light, shrouding the boy in darkness. He was young, lanky and far too thin. He was dirty, bloody, and the dragon's mark adorned his arm clear as day.
"Satellite trash!" One of the guards struck him and he jerked, a sharp gasp escaping his lips.
"Yuusei..."
"Now now, there's no need for that." He crouched down in front of the boy. "What is your name?" The boy lifted his head a little, obviously in pain. The boy fixed him with an intense gaze, unshed tears shining in his eyes.
"Jack." The boy drew quick, shallow breaths. Probably a broken rib or two. He smiled reassuringly and laid a hand on the boy's shoulder. He whined in pain.
"Well, Jack. Smart boys like you should know Satellite residents aren't allowed in this city." The boy glared at him, his hands twisting in the manacles. "Reckless. You caused my men a lot of stress; and this..." He held out a Red Demon's Dragon card, "where did you get this?"
"...my father."
"Can you duel?"
"I have a deck."
"Can you use it?"
"I won my freedom with it! I beat him, I'm king!"
"You're a king are you?" His smile was gentle, fatherly. He reached out to touch the simple metal ring suspended from the boy's neck by a chain. "You left someone back in Satellite?"
"Who the hell are you and why do you care?!" The boy's lavender eyes were clouded, he was lost and afraid. Perfect.
"Jack..." He sank down until he was eye-level with the boy. "You can't have much money. As head of the Public Security Maintenance Bureau, I simply cannot allow a boy to wander the streets of this Neo Domino city without a warm home to return to. Will you do me the honor of being my guest?" The boy stared at him; unmoving, conflicted. He smiled again, friendly and inviting. "Guard, release him at once. I will take full responsibility for his actions, and request medical assistance for his injuries." The boy jerked as the manacles were unlocked. He rubbed his pale wrists - red from the cuffs.
"I...I don't know what happened. The duel...I left Yuusei behind...I'll never see him again." The boy's lip trembled. So soft, so young, so vulnerable.
He nodded, placing a heavy hand on the boy's shoulder again. "With triumph and power comes great sacrifice. You are king, chosen to come from Satellite. This boy, Yuusei, is nothing. Here in this Neo Domino city, you will have whatever you desire..." He released the clasp of the chain and removed it from the boy's neck, depositing both chain and ring in his coat pocket. The boy was staring at him, sedate. The drugs were taking their effect then.
"It's his bike..." Well, not completely sedate. He smiled again, reaching out to pat the boy's head and pulled back when he burst into tears. He rolled his eyes and waited impatiently for the boy to calm down. The boy shook and sniveled and wiped his face in the manner of a young child. He smiled to himself; the boy utterly lacked self-respect. The boy was thin, without a scrap of fat on him - probably hungry. He couldn't have asked for better circumstances. The holy Signer would be under his control within a matter of days.
"Sorry..." the boy apologized, his eyes downcast and his expression guilty.
He smiled and held out a hand. "You've had a long day, Jack. Please allow me to insist on your presence at my home." The boy took his hand and he helped the boy to his feet. The boy gripped his hand tightly and leaned heavily against his chest. The guards bowed respectfully as he made his way to his private transportation with the boy practically glued to his side.
The boy was a better patient then he had first anticipated. He let the doctors tend to him with little complaint, enduring treatment he had likely never before experienced in his short life. The boy's only complaints came when he tried to leave the room. He remained with a sigh, enduring the less-than-charitable looks of the doctors as the boy gripped his hand. The boy's injuries were rather light considering the remains of his bike. With no existing medical records, the doctors wanted to be through in their treatment. He was immensely pleased to learn the boy was relatively healthy, especially for a Satellite resident.
"He told me he loved me..." He frowned as the boy continued to babble. He whimpered weakly as one of the doctors placed an IV. "Yuusei..." The boy tightened his grip, tears staining his cheeks. He frowned and patted the boy's head - disturbed when the boy moaned. Well, for every great plan there must be sacrifices.
"That's all we can do for now. He should be fine but we'll leave a nurse tonight." With emotionless faces and mechanical actions, they packed their equipment. Within minutes he was left alone with the boy. He pulled his hand free, much to the boy's protest. The boy whimpered and gripped the edge of the sheets. He lowered his hand to the boy's head and petted his soft hair until he relaxed enough to stop making those dreadful noises. He frowned and withdrew his hand. He turned sharply and walked over to the window, looking out on the city below and all the perfect people asleep in their perfect world of dreams or toiling away in their perfect jobs.
"Who are you?" The boy spoke quietly and a little slurred from the sedatives.
"Rex Godwin, head of public securities for this Neo Domino city," he replied cheerfully without turning around.
"Where am I?" Pity...he would have to request a more through neurological exam. This would all be much more enjoyable if the boy were competent. He turned around facing the boy with a smile.
"This is my home, now your home as well." He gestured grandly, watching the boy like a bird of prey delighting in his victim's look of confusion and terror.
"No! You're lying! I have a home, I'm from Satellite!"
The strike was unpleasant; the boy was nothing but skin and bones. He frowned as he replaced his glove. "Never," he commanded leaning close, "acknowledge you are from that place. Satellite residents are forbidden within the city."
The boy stared at him in surprise, his chest heaving beneath the bandages. "Take me back then!" He smiled again, chucking softly. The boy glared at him defiantly but his eyes betrayed his fear. He took a seat on the bed and ran a hand up the boy's chest. The boy jerked and the corner of his mouth twitched, baring his teeth. Such uncivilized behavior. He would have to correct that. He leaned over the boy and placed his hands on his shoulders, pressing the boy into the bed.
"You cannot go back. You have been chosen by the gods to come from Satellite to this Neo-Domino city. You will lead the people of this city because you are king. I cannot permit you to return to Satellite." The boy stared at him with wide eyes. He smiled a gentle smile and lifted a hand to stroke the boy's cheek gently. He lowered his head and kissed the boy gently. The boy gasped and stiffened underneath him. He stroked the boy's cheek again as he shifted to press his knee between the boy's legs. The boy mewled and moaned beneath him, even lacking the strength to rub against his leg. He stroked the boy's hip and kissed him again. When he looked up, the boy was passed out cold. He smiled widely, straightened his cloths and pulled out his handkerchief to wipe his mouth. With that done, he turned on his heal and made his exit, passing a shocked nurse on the way out.
"Sir?" His assistant appeared out of nowhere. How charming.
"Yes?" He folded and replaced his handkerchief as she consulted her clipboard.
"You have a meeting with Akutsu-san tomorrow morning to discuss his proposal. He's already forwarded the files on his project and asks that you review them before the meeting."
"Then I will tend to that now." He brushed past her, intent on locking himself in his office.
"Director...? Just one more thing." He stopped but didn't turn around, waiting for her to speak.
"Sir, if I may...the boy that was brought in a few hours ago?" Her voice trailed off, she was unsure of the questions she wished to ask. He turned around, his face composed but not friendly.
"The boy is a former Satellite resident and is now my charge. I trust you to look after him and provide him with anything he requires. You are dismissed." His tone was harsh and his manner forestalled any further questions or protest. She bowed deeply and ran off in the direction he had come. He smiled to himself and turned again, headed toward his office.
Once there he sank into his chair with a sigh. It had already been a long night and he wasn't looking forward to meeting with the enthusiastic lead engineer of Kaiba Corporation's M.I.D.S. program. Do what must be done, he told himself. He opened the folder on his desk, removed a stack of papers and leaned back.
"How is he?"
He sighed again and leaned forward, placing the papers down and neatly folding his hands. "A little torn up. The members of Security chasing him have already been disciplined. How long have you been here?"
"Oh come now Rex..." The light fell on his visitor and he flinched. The man laughed, "still so unused to seeing me in your office, after all I've done for you." His face was gentle, his violet eyes caste in an eerie shadow beneath tri-color hair. "You couldn't make it easy for the kid. Not after everything you've already put him through."
"Please don't offer me advice to the tune of keeping up appearances, Mutou-sama," he replied respectfully. "You above all people should do well to remember how important this boy is to all of us."
"Your precious Signer." Yuugi created for himself a seat atop his desk. "I'm not exactly sure what you're planning Rex, but you'd better be careful. It was...difficult, to convince the boy to come here."
"What a nice way to put it. After all-"
"Hey!" Yuugi cut in, leaning over him in a manner intended to be threatening. "Don't comment on something you don't understand."
He eyed the other man and nodded. "Well, I just never would have expected this kind of behavior from you."
"This conversation is over. Let me know when you need another kid brought up from the trash." He slid off the desk and swept out the door without another word. He watched the other man go and barely stopped himself from shuddering when he caught sight of Yuugi's shadow. His thoughts turned to the boy sleeping just a short walk from his office. He leaned back in his chair and wondered just what kind of person the boy was...and how easy it would be to bend the boy to his will.