Chapter 1: The wish and the puzzle

The school bell ringed out as some students ran out to enjoy a game of basketball. Every student left the classroom, all except one who was stacking cards alone.

"Hey Yugi", one of the male students called out as her tower collapsed and she looked towards him, "Don't play by yourself, come on out play basketball with us."

"Yeah… but what if the team I join loses?" she said in small timid voice and a small smile.

"Yeah that is true", he said before walking out of the classroom leaving her sitting alone in the empty room.

As Yugi gather up her playing cards she wished that she could play a game with everyone every now and then. She always bring some type of game with her to school.

"Ahh I know, I'll try to solve the treasure I always carry around!" said Yugi as she pulled out a small gold box out of her bag.

"Though my treasure is inside this box. It's an absolute secret", she said to herself, "It's a puzzle. Though you can see it, it's something never seen before. The answer is…"

But as she was about to open the box, it was swiped out of her hands. She turned her head in surprise to see that it was Joey Wheeler who snatched her box.

"Joey!" she softly yelled.

"Yugi, what are you looking at all by yourself?" he said while staring at her box, "Can see but never seen… looking at things that don't make sense."

"Please give it back", she yelled as she tried to reach for it, but Joey held it up high where she can't reach. Joey threw into the air towards the where Tristan Taylor was standing there and caught it. Joey then ran towards the door to join his friend and took the box into his hand again. Yugi quickly made her way in front of the two.

"Come on you always stay in here all by yourself, so forget about this silly box and come out an play", said Tristan.

"Yeah this box is boring so why don't ya forget about it or trying getting it back with all your might", said Joey after he took peek inside, but both Joey's and Tristan's eyes went into shock to what they saw next.

"Please give it back I hate fighting and violence and that box mean so much to me please give it back to me", said Yugi with tears rolling down her cheeks. They both were in shock to see her in tears, but soon return to reality when the box was taken from Joey's hand by Tea Gardener.

"Tea", shouted the two them.

"You two should be ashamed of yourselves bullying a girl until she cried", Tea shouted as she stood next to Yugi, "If it boring then give it back!"

"We weren't bullying her we only wanted her to play with us", cried Joey.

"Then maybe you two should next time try asking her in different way!" screamed Tea.

"YES TEA!" shout the two boys as they quickly left the classroom in huff.

"Here Yugi", said Tea as she handed the small box to the young girl. Yugi wiped the tears from her eyes as she turned head towards Tea, then looked at with a small smile across her face took back her box back and sat back down at her desk.

"Those two are really getting on my nerves, are you sure your okay Yugi", Tea said in concern.

"Yeah I'm fine and I don't think Joey and Tristan are bad people they just didn't know how much this box means to me", Yugi respond with a soft smile.

"By the way what in the box anyway?" Tea asked as she stared at the small box.

"I'll tell you but you have to keep it a secret", said Yugi in a little childish tone, with small wink.

"I promise", said Tea who stare at the golden with curious eyes. Yugi took the lid off and Tea's eyes widened as she stared at a bunch gold pieces. "It's pretty what are these pieces for?"

"It's puzzle, an ancient puzzle from Ancient Egypt. See these markings on the front of the box. From my interpretation, what's written here is, "The person who solve this can ask me to fulfill their wish". I've been working on it for quite a long time, but I'm not giving up yet and never will.", said Yugi with a determined smile across her face. Tea smiled at her determination, but then started to wonder why it meant so much to make her cry.

"Hey if you don't mind me asking, but why does this puzzle mean so much to you", asked Tea. Yugi's eyes widened at her question. She looked down at the pieces with sad eyes nearly on the verge of tears. "You don't have to tell me if it makes you upset!"

"No its okay I'll tell ya. This puzzle means so much to me because my mom gave it to me", said Yugi with a sad smile.

"Your mom?" asked Tea.

"Yea it was my grandpa who found the puzzle years ago. He gave it to my mom when she was little and dare her solve it, but never got close to solving it. Then she passed it on to me for my 7th birthday and told me that she knew that I was the one that could solve the puzzle. After that I was determined to solved the puzzle and make my mom proud of me, but then the accident. A few months after getting the puzzle, both my mom and dad were in a horrible car accident that killed my dad instantly and put my mom in intense care at the hospital. I didn't really cared that my dad died, he never cared about me. My mom was the only parent I could rely on beside my grandpa, but the next thing I knew was she was gone. She passed way couple days after the accident. So I promised myself that wouldn't give up on puzzle no matter want and so I can have my wish granted", said Yugi with a determined smile and eyes on the verge of tears.

"Your mom sound like she was an amazing woman and hope I you finish the puzzle", said Tea.

"Thanks she was amazing", said Yugi.

"Hey want is your wish?" said Tea with a curious smile.

"Sorry but that's my absolute secret", replied Yugi with a giggle.

"Man I can't believe Tea had to ruin our fun", said Tristan as he and Joey walked down hall.

"Yea we weren't bullying her, we just her to play with us", said Joey.

"By the way what was in that box anyway?" asked Tristan.

"It was some kind of puzzle, but she won't finish it", said Joey as he opened his hand revealing a small gold piece with an eye in the center, then moved towards the open window and threw the piece out and into the pool.

"Now maybe she'll give up on that puzzle and play with us", said as they continued to walk.

"But we did make her cry wouldn't that be considered bullying?" asked Tristan.

"I wonder why she cried like that over such a little box?" Joey thought until he and Tristan were knocked to grounded and snapped back to reality. He looked up to yell at the person who knocked them down, until he realized who had knocked them down.

"Ushio", replied Tristan.

"Who's a bully?" asked Ushio with a stern look in his eyes.

"No one lets go Joey!" said Tristan who grab Joey off the floor and started to run away.

Later after school

"Hey", a voice called out to her as she was leaving. Yugi turned to the voice to see Ushio standing behind her.

"Ushio", Yugi answered trying not to show any signs of nervousness.

"Your Yugi Mouto right? There something I wanted to ask you, aren't you being bullied by anyone in your class?", asked Ushio as walked towards her.

"What? That not true", answered Yugi.

"Just wait. Since your such a nice girl it no wonder that answer in such a manner. But now you can rest easy now, because from now I'll be your bodyguard", said Ushio.

"Wait a second, truthfully there isn't any trouble going. Please excuse me", said Yugi as she turned and ran out of the school yard and toward her house.

"What was up with that guy?", Yugi thought as she ran. She wasn't very comfortable being confronted like that. Yugi didn't stop running till she was near Kame Game Shop, a.k.a her house. "I'm home grandpa", Yugi called out as she walked through the door.

"Your late Yugi", said her grandpa from behind the counter.

"Sorry I was caught up at school", answered Yugi,

"Let me guess you be work on the puzzle again", asked her grandpa while his granddaughter answered with a nod, " 8 years and still haven't given up."

"Who said anything on giving up, I made a promise to mom and I attend on keeping it to get my wish", answered Yugi as started heading upstairs to her room. After finishing her homework, she went right back to work on the puzzle for almost 8 hours.

"She definitely my daughter's child, she has her mother's spirit. She doesn't give up easily, you would be proud of her Haruko", thought her grandpa as he watch his granddaughter work hard on her puzzle before walking away.

"Not this piece. When I finish the puzzle I'll finally get my wish. My wish for friends, friends who won't betray me and stick by me no matter what. Thats one of my wishes, but I wonder is it alright to wish for something else along with my wish for friends", Yugi thought as worked on her puzzle. She grabbed a piece of the puzzle and clutched it in her hands and stood up from her desk chair and walked in front her wall mirror. She just stood their staring at her reflection, she was about a couple inches below Tea's height so she was pretty short for her age, her skin was pretty pale, she had child-like violet eyes and had long black hair with crimson-violet tips along with golden bangs that look like lighting blots. She had already gotten changed for bed into a oversize white shirt and a pair of black shorts. Yugi was actually a bit of a tomboy, she doesn't really wear girly clothes that often and she wore the boy version of the school uniform, but did also wore the girl version of the uniform on some occasion and she was also flat chested which didn't help with her appearence. She just shut her eyes tightly and thought to herself again," I know I'll probably sound a bit greed when I ask for this,but if possible along with my wish for friends, I wish for someone just for me, someone to love me for me. But it might be impossible for that wish to come true, who would ever fall in love with me," she open her eyes and for a moment she thought she saw someone in her mirror standing next to her, but it was gone. She looked towards the wall clock and decided to get some sleep, after put the puzzle piece back on the desk and turning off the light she crawled into bed, threw the cover over her and started falling sleep with a handmade stuff Kuriboh in her arms, not realizing that her un-finished puzzle was glowing.

The Next Day At School

"Yugi," a voice called out to her just as she was heading into the building. Yugi turned around to see Ushio standing right behind.

"Ushio what is it?", Yugi asked in a timid voice.

"I need you to come with me for a bit, I want to show you something," Ushio replied with a stern look across his face. Yugi was so nervous she just answered with a nod and started to follow him. He guided her to the other side of the school, just she turned the corner her eyes were shocked at what lay before her. Joey and Tristan on the ground, leaning against the building, bruised and in pain.

"Joey, Tristan!", she yelled as she ran towards them, but Ushio stopped her before she got any closer.

"How is this, as your bodyguard I've dealt out punishment to these bullies", Ushio answerd with a cruel smile across his face.

"I never asked for this, this is just cruel! Joey, Tristan are okay?", Yugi yelled as kneeled in front of the 2 injured boys.

"Yugi are satisfied now?", Joey spatted at Yugi while in pain.

"What? Your wrong I would never ask for something this cruel!", Yugi yelled in complete shock.

"Move Yugi, I'm not finished dealing out their punishment", said Ushio as he shoved Yugi to the side. Then he kicked Joey right in the stomach. Yugi went into complete shock, she couldn't stand seeing this torture go on any longer. She quickly got to her feet and stood right in front of Joey and Tristan with her arms spread out.

"Stop! No more!", yelled Yugi, even though she was trembling in fear inside.

"Oh my Yugi. Are you covering for them? Your pretty strange this is your chance get revenge. Punch them! Kick them!", yelled Ushio.

"Theres no way that I would do that to my friends!", Yugi yelled. Joey was shocked at this girl's words. She consider them friends after the way they treated her.

"Really these two your friends. They were the ones who bully you and took your puzzle", said Ushio while glaring into her eyes.

"That wasn't bullying. Joey did that because he want me to play with him and toughen me up a bit", said Yugi.

"You really are a strange girl, but oh well it time for you to pay me. Bodyguard charge is 2000 yen", replied Ushio with a wicked smirk across his face before walking away.

"2000 yen!", Yugi shouted in shock.

Later that day after School at the game shop

"What am I going to do? He said 2000 yen, there no way I could pay that much. What should I do? What's wrong with me? At such a time and I'm working on the puzzle", Yugi thought to herself as she worked on the puzzle. "This isn't the right time to be working on the puzzle, but I feel as if I always knew how to put it together. What's going on? I feel so awful, but slowly the puzzle starting to fall into place."

Click

Click

Just as she placed her next piece in she realized that her puzzle was almost complete.

"It's done! Now if I place the final piece my puzzle will final be completed", said Yugi with excitement and joy filled her voice. She was finally able to fulfill the promise she made to her mother. But when she reach into the box for the final piece, she felt nothing. "Huh? The final piece where is it?!"

She jump out of desk chair and started looking around her room for the final piece, but it no where to be found. She felt all her hopes, all her dreams and her promise fall apart right before. The only place she could possible think of where her missing puzzle piece might be was the school. She quickly placed her nearly completed puzzle in backpack, ran out of her room and down the stairs and ran out the door at full speed back towards the school.

"Please Ra, please if I don't get the final piece, I'll never be able to finish the puzzle and my wishes will never be fulfilled. Please let it at the school!", Yugi thought as she got closer to the school gates. As Yugi got closer to the school, she noticed someone standing in the courtyard and it had to be the last person Yugi wanted to see, Ushio.

"Yo Yugi", said Ushio

"Ushio", replied Yugi in fright wondering why of all times did Ushio had to be here.

"So you brought my money, that's a good girl so give it to me now", said Ushio with smug look across his face.

"That not why I'm here. I just looking something I might of left behind here. It's has to be here and besides their no way I could possible pay that much", said Yugi. As soon as she said this she felt a tight and painful grip on right wrist and saw Ushio's hand gripping her wrist.

"If that how it is, it's look like you need to be punished", said Ushio gripping her wrist even tighter. Yugi started to tremble in fear and stared at him in complete terror. He started dragging her to the same spot where he beat up Joey and Tristan, while she was trying to claw his hand off. Once he got there, he let go of the girl's wrist and punched her across the face. He punched, he kicked, he did whatever he had to cause the girl torment. He kicked Yugi once more into the wall and watched her fall to the ground barely conscious. "That enough for today, we'll continue this tomorrow."

"Hey"

Just as turned to leave he heard a voice call out to him. He turned around to see Joey and Tristan.

"Well if it isn't the bullies", said Ushio. Joey turned his head only to see Yugi barely conscious and in pain and ran to her side.

"Yugi, hang in there!", Joey yelled.

"I will complete the Millennium puzzle, I promised on your deathbed that I would complete the puzzle and make you proud mama", whispered Yugi as a tear escaped her closed eyes. Joey's eyes widened in shock realizing why she cried earlier when he took her puzzle. It was because of her mom. He turned his head, seeing her bag on the ground that fell off during the fight and the puzzle that fell out of the bag. He turned his head back towards her and gently grabbed her wrist and placed her missing puzzle piece that retrieved from the pool in her hand and closed her fingers around it, before stand up to face Ushio.

"Ushio I always respected you, but now this is too much. Hurting a sweet and innocent girl like Yugi is going too far", yelled Tristan sending a hateful glare towards Ushio.

"You two really think you can take on me, well let see what you got!", Ushio yelled backed. At that moment Joey and Tristan charged at him with everything they got, ready to fight. They tried their best to fight Ushio, but he was too strong for them.

"I wished on the puzzle for true friends who would stick by me no matter what and I would stick by them no matter what", Yugi thought to herself.

"This is what happens when someone tries to go against. Remember that!", yelled Ushio as walked away laughing. Yugi started to open her eyes slightly as she slowly turned her behind only to see Joey and Tristan knocked unconscious, on the ground in pain like her. But she was probability had more injures than them.

"Joey, Tristan! What can I do, I can't move. Please someone help me!", Yugi mentally screamed to herself, feeling completely useless right. But then she felt something in hand, she slowly opened her hand revealing her missing puzzle piece. She looked back toward her puzzle and slowly started to place the final piece.

Click

The puzzle started to glow and shot a beam of light on her and then she felt herself falling into a deep sleep as she fell into darkness. 'He' was finally free.

"It's game time", a deep, baritone voice called out. Ushio turned towards the voice only to see that everything around him changed. He realized his body was hanging by a rope on top of a dome roof of the school.

"What is this?!", yelled Ushio. He look towards the top of the roof and saw a figure standing at the top next to the pole. Something started to shine at the top revealing the shadowy figure. A young man looking about 16 or 17, but almost an exact look-a-like of Yugi. The only differences were that his eyes looked sharper and were a crimson red, he was taller, his hair went up into gravity defining spikes with 3 of his golden bangs shot up like lighting bolts and of course he a boy, with the Millennium puzzle glowing as it hanged around his neck. This was Yami. But Ushio didn't notice the difference ."So it was you, Yugi!"

"Yo Ushio. I have what you want right here", Yami said in a confident voice. Mentally he was anger at Ushio for causing his host so much pain. But he had to keep his cool, if he was going win his game and get his revenge.

"So you had the money all along, you should of given it to me in first place it would of cause a lot less problem for you, so hand it over."

"But it would be boring just to give the money, why not play a game for it."

"What the hell a game!?"

"But this won't be any ordinary game, it's a shadow game."

"Well this is starting to sound interesting, I won't lose no matter the game, I accept."

"That's so like you Ushio, well then let's begin", said Yami before sliding down the roof with a trail of playing cards following down. He was also tied with the same rope that Ushio was tied with. He slid down until he reach the same level that Ushio was hanging. "The rules are simple, we each take turns drawing cards, you can only the number the card indicates while the other person descends the same, the one who makes it to the wins the prize."

"Well if that easy I'll start, 10 of diamonds. How do you like Yugi", said Ushio before climbing.

"Well I got a Jack", said Yami, leaving Ushio speechless as he climbed.

"2 of spade, I'll soon be passing you."

"Well we can't have that now, Queen of spades"

"What?!", screamed Ushio as he descended even lower, "3 of diamonds."

"9 of hearts."

"6 of clubs."

"Jack of spades", said Yami as he climbed. He chuckled has he watched Ushio coward in fear who was barely hanging on the roof. "What's wrong Ushio, got nothing left, one more step and I win."

"Shut up the card I draw will turn this all around", said Ushio before he drawing his card. But Ushio spoke too soon as staring at the card in shock. "J-joker!?"

"Well too bad Ushio, a joker is a miss. My turn."

"What's with all of this!? You planned out all this didn't you?!", yelled Ushio before Yami picked up his next card."

"Ace of diamonds, I win."

"I won't forgive you!", yelled Ushio as he started climb up the roof.

"Breaking the rules now are we? Doing that will only result in dire consequences", said Yami in a confident know how all of this would end.

"Shut up!", Ushio yelled as he tried to punch Yami, but dodge it and started to fall back.

"I knew you wouldn't obey my rules."

"Why don't you just die!", Ushio yelled as ripped the rope holding Yami to the roof. Ushio laughed as he watched Yami fall off the roof and went towards the pole to claim his prize, but. "What this isn't money!"

"The door of darkness is open."

With that said the pole broke off the roof and Ushio started to fall along with the pole. As Ushio fell, he saw Yami hanging on to the Millennium puzzle that he pinned in the building.

"The shadow game reveals a person's true nature. You'll forever lost in a world of darkness created by your greed and desires."

"What? It's not like I'm going to die, I'll just get wet", said Ushio staring at the river, but all of sudden monsters shot out of the water, ready to devour his soul. As Ushio screamed in terror, but that was all an allusion.

Once their shadow game ended, Yami started walking back to the game shop. Leaving Ushio cowering in fear at the front of the school. Once he got back to the game shop he went straight to Yugi's room, he changed into same clothes Yugi wore to bed and let the girl takeover, but once that happened she started to fall backwards and he quickly caught her in his transparent arms realizing she was unconscious. He gather her into his arms and carried her to her bed and gently laid her on, placing the cover over her and her kuriboh in her arms. He kneeling down and started to stroke her cheek and she started to smile softly.

"Mama, I did it", Yugi mumbled in her sleep. Yami smile at her, thinking how adorable she was. He moved his hand to stroke her hair as leaning in closer to her face.

"Just rest now, everything is alright now and we'll meet again princess", Yami softly whispered, before giving her a small kiss on the cheek and disappearing into the puzzle.

At school the next day

Yugi walked into the school holding her now completed Millennium puzzle close to her as hanged around her neck. She overheard some of the girls talking about Ushio being hospitalized. She actually doesn't remember much of what happened the day before, but she didn't let it bother her.

"Hey Yugi", Yugi turned towards the voice to see Joey, who still had scratches on his face like her.

"Morning Joey", Yugi repelled with her usual smile.

"Yugi I have treasuren after seeing yours, want to see it?"

"Sure."

"Too bad, just like your it can seen, but not seen", said Joey thinking he sounded pretty sappy.

"You can see it, but you can't see it?"

"Give up, it friendship you can see, but you can't see it even though were friends right?"

Once Yugi heard those words, she realized that he wanted to her friend. This brought tears of happiness down her cheeks and big smile across face as she repelled, "Yes."

"Well lets get moving class is starting", Joey repelled as he started feeling embarrassed for all the stuff he was saying, but truly he wanted friend. Just as he turned ran to class his shoe went flying. Yugi caught his shoe and started running after him.

"Joey you dropped your shoe", Yugi yelled as she ran towards their class.

"Thank you Yugi", Yami called out from within the puzzle. Yugi came to a stop and turned around wondering who and where that voice came from. But she smiled to the unknown voice, feeling safe and at easy hearing that voice.

"Your welcome", Yugi softly answered, before heading for her class. Unknown to her that this was just the beginning of her destiny and her quest for true love.

This is my first fanfiction and I think I did pretty good job on this

Hope you liked it

Please review and also I accept constructive critistism

Next chapter coming soon