This is my first fanfic so please bear with me as I get used to all of this! I want to upload chapters frequently but you must understand that I'm in my last year of school meaning unimaginably huge piles of coursework and revision.
Reviews would be very much appreciated but if you're to criticise then I would be greatful if you could point out why. Thanks
Oh, and the chapter names are in Japanese and yes I translated it word-for-word so it may be in the wrong word order if you're actually reading it as a Japanese would, and I'm sorry but I won't be learning Japanese until next year nod

Chapter One - Arata Kaibyaku (New Beginnings)

It was a dark, cloudy night with only the wind as company, but to Yumiko this was the ideal night. The moonshine picked out her coppery highlights in her crimson hair and her blue eyes glinted like pools of swirling spring waters. She rubbed her hands together as the wind lashed against her mercilessly.
Mercy? Ha.
She brought her knees up to meet her face and rested her chin gently on her shins, inspecting the world below her with mild amusement.
Yumiko had arrived in Domino the night before and already hated the place. Being originally from England, Yumiko was used to being treated like an invisible nobody, but in Japan everyone smiled at each other and introduced themselves with a barrage of 'Hajimemashite's. Sure, Domino was a lovely place, but was this what she wanted?
Hm.
Suddenly she stood and closed her eyes to the moon, her mind taking her back to the reason she'd left her homeland.

---FLASHBACK---
'What the hell do you think you're doing, Yumiko?'
'What's it look like Dad?'
'I'm not sure, you tell me.'
'I'm going to Aki's.'
'To do what?'
'Duel.'
'WHAT?!'
Yumiko's father had forbidden his daughter to own any form of duel monster. Even doodling a Kuriboh was a sin.
'It will interfere with your studying.' her father had said, 'How will you learn how to manage my business when I'm gone if all you do all day is play with pieces of tat?'
But Yumiko had not wanted to take over her fathers bank. It had not made any difference that it had been in his will to leave the business to his only child. Yumiko had only laughed at her father's gravestone before selling the business for a respectable price. But the stress of her father's death had eventually got to her, and Yumiko decided she needed a change of scenery, a new life. And what better place to paint her new leaf in than the home of duel monsters - Japan.
---END FLASHBACK---

So here she now was in Domino, Japan. Since she had no parents left to hold her back (her mother had died giving birth to her), Yumiko had decided to skip school. She was 16 anyway, more than old enough to look after herself, right?
Haha, I laugh in the face of danger. In fact, bring.it.on.

It was gone midnight when Yumiko arrived back at her new apartment. The floor was completely clear of luggage. In fact, the only objects in the house were basic furnitures, a cutlery set and fridge-freezer holding a few frozen meals.
Tomorrow was a Monday. A new week, a new life, new everything.
As she lay between the bed covers with only the soft glow emitting from the bedside lamp for solace, Yumiko idly riffled through the few duel cards she owned including Dark Magician Girl, Red Eyes Black Dragon, Mystical Elf and a couple of random magic and trap cards. She buried her face in her pillow, mentally noting to find a game shop sometime tomorrow. She turned over to face the ceiling, holding her Dark Magician Girl card above her face. Dark Magician Girl was her favourite card by far, so maybe she should build her deck around her? Or she could build a dragon deck...or not. Her other favourite card was too rare to even wish about owning - Blue Eyes White Dragon. She knew that there were only 4 around, 3 of which belonged to the notorious Seto Kaiba of Kaiba Corp. But he was one of the best duellists around. And the other card? Yumiko did not know where that one lied.
Before eventually nodding off, Yumiko held her broach to the light. It was in the shape of an eye. It almost reminded her of Egypt. Her mother had owned it before and when her father died it had been passed down to Yumiko. Sometimes it shone when there was no light at all, when other times just holding it made Yumiko feel almost like a god. As to why, she did not know. And right now, Yumiko only cared about planning her deck and buying a new hairbrush.

Monday's sunlight filtered through the dusty curtains and onto a pair of squinting eyes.
Yumiko pulled on a strapless emerald dress, the hem slanting so that where it barely covered the top of her leg on her right it fell to below her knee to her left. She pulled on a pair of black trousers beneath the dress. She banged around the living room finding her snow white coat. It was an expensive coat with a large collar covering the majority of her neck. The bottom would have touched the floor had she not pulled on a pair of deadly high-heeled black boots. Yumiko pulled out a belt from the drawers by her bed and buckled it around her waist, showing off her perfectly slender figure.
Before heading out the door, Yumiko applied at least 5 layers of mascara and eye liner, causing her eyes to stand out even more against her pale skin tone. She grabbed her purse and exited her apartment, taking the lift down the whole seven floors.
It was 9am and Domino was in the middle of the rush hour, causing Yumiko to be crushed between various Japanese people quite frequently. To exit the crowd, Yumiko turned down a side street and found herself outside a shop name 'Kame's Game Shop'.
Perfect.
As she opened the door, a bell range signalling her entrance to whoever the owner was. A teenage boy with oddly spiked hair approached her from the back door. The majority of his hair was black and pinky-red and had blond bangs. He looked younger than Yumiko as he was a little shorter and his voice was almost childlike.
'Hello, may I help?' he asked.
'Um, yes,' said Yumiko, 'You see I'm fairly new to the whole world of duel monsters and I was wondering if I could get any tips on decks and such?'
'Of course.' smiled the boy, 'I've never seen you around here before...'
'I moved from England two days ago, that could be why.' Yumiko smiled.
The boy gasped, 'England? Wow, you've come very far then. By the way, I'm Yugi Mutou.' he extended his hand. Yumiko took his hand, 'Yumiko Kurohana, but Yumi will be fine.'
'Nice name.' Yugi smiled, 'So, do you know anything about duelling? Have any cards?'
Yumiko took out the few she had, 'I was a deprived child.' she laughed.
Yugi looked through the cards, 'Enrolled yourself at school yet?'
'Nah.' she shrugged, 'Got no parents around to make me either.'
'Really? How come?'
'Hm, they're both dead.'
'I'm sorry to hear that...'
Yumiko shrugged, 'No need, never really knew them much anyway. So, um...'
'Well, the cards you have will be helpful, but duelling's not just about power, you need strategy too.'
Yumiko absorbed information about fusing monsters, trap cards, magic effects and duelling styles until lunch when her stomach refused to be second to her mouth any longer.
'Hey, why don't you join me? I'm going to meet my friends at the mall and we'll get something to eat.' said Yugi. Yumiko accepted and they headed out towards the mall. It was lunch hour, meaning ridiculous amounts of traffic again.
Yumiko had noticed a chain around Yugi's neck earlier which had an odd pendant on it. It was shaped like an upside down pyramid and the design on it reminded her of her broach. Her hand strayed to her pocket where she pulled out her broach. It was glowing strangely as she held it in her palm.
'Hey, your pendant reminds me of something my Mother owned before she died.' Yumiko showed Yugi the broach. He gasped, 'Another Millennium item?'
'Huh? Millennium item?'
'Yes. Do you not know anything of the Millennium items?'
'No...' she chuckled nervously, 'Jeez, I must sound like a right airhead!'
Yugi shook his head, 'No, I am not surprised. The Millennium items are scattered around the globe. They are originally from Egypt and they each wield strong, mystical powers. They only work for those who are destined to have them.'
'So, I was destined to have this?' Yumiko frowned, a little confused.
'Yes, but let's talk later when you've met the gang.'
Yumiko looked up and saw they'd reached Domino's shopping complex.
Destiny? Psh, destiny my little finger.