Light of the Lost

Chapter 2

Hero's Come Back

When we last left our hero Yugi, he was heading to his new home with his friend Raphael. During the trip, he was going over duel monsters he'd seen and faced, trying to think of ones to put in his new deck. Just recently, the three Legendary Dragons/ Knights of Atlantis returned and chose Yugi to have their power. This brought Yugi's long since lost will to play the game back full force. Trouble is, out of all the monsters he'd seen, he could not figure out how to make a new deck! After all, it was Atem who'd altered his grandfather's deck and made it his own since Battle City.

Yugi then growled in frustration at the thought of the ex-pharaoh of Egypt. This entire mess seemed to start with that Ceremonial Duel ending in Yugi's favor. Yet, hearing Tea's plead for Atem to stay broke Yugi's heart, and with a few words to the forces that be, the spirit who was once in Bakura took his place. Yugi felt he should have known the superior smirk and what he said before walking through the gates meant something more:

(Please know this part was never part of the manga or anything. This is pure fanfiction people!)

The spirit looked back as he started to walk through the shadowed gate. "Well done young whelp, and thank you," he said with a mocking grin," it seems we all got what we wanted." Then, unnoticed by the others, the spirit of the Rings' eyes softened with, strangely enough, pity. "They called me a thief in life," he said directly at Yugi," but, I tell you this, I never stole from those who could not afford it. Slaves and nobles, hell even priests were all dead at my feat." He then cast a downward glance before continuing, "But even I, the King Thief Bakura, could never commit the crimes that fool of a Pharaoh did, and him without even knowing it. I know what lies in store for your life, perhaps when that time comes, we will have more in common, and you may yet understand what measure of hell truly drove me." With that he turned into the shadows and was gone along with the gate. All the while everyone crowded around Yami, and for the life of him, Yugi could not shake this deep feeling of dread...

It wasn't two days after their week spent in Egypt that Atem and Tea were dating. Not the Yugi was envious of that, but rather what it stood for. Life went on for his friend and him. Yet, none of them seemed to have enough room for him. It wasn't long before he started talking with Seto, mostly because the elder Kaiba found the company of his friends "as uncomfortable as a bed of nails" as he claimed, or rather preferred to find out why the out-spoken Yugi began a steady decline in public activities. Whether at school, or anywhere else, the poor boy seemed to be unable to summon any of his old spark, unless in the company of one of his three true friends. Soon after that came his grandfather's passing, and now this. 'Man,' Yugi thought, 'this whole self-pity thing is addictive.' He the looked at the cards he held in his hand. His, HIS, own Legendary Dragon Cards, he cracked a smile at that, they came to him, because they believe in him. 'So,' Yugi continued in his head, 'I've no reason to give up, only to fight harder with all I've got, especially with this new support.' His thoughts trailed once again until the car came to a stop at a rather large western style house. Ok, scratch house try mansion, only slightly smaller than Seto's place really.

"Well," Raphael said, "We're here Yugi." As they got out of the car, two men got Yugi's bags from the trunk. "The butlers will take your things to your room. For now I'll take you to the gaming room." he turned around and looked Yugi straight in the eye. "All the cards their are not owned, so you can use them to build your deck. Just don't try going Guardian on me OK," Raphael added with a grin. Yugi nodded to him as he approached the room. To say it was every duelists dream come true would be an understatement, so many cards lined the walls. 'I think I'm gonna faint,' Yugi thought, funny how such things can happen to a pro duelist. (PS. I would not do any better than Yugi in that situation, Hail to the cards!) Yugi seemed to glide though the veritable warehouse of cards ranging from the most common cards, to rare cards that rival the god cards in value. As he continued, he spotted a section that somehow felt different from the rest, warmer in a way, like when you come home to a warm fire on a cold day. Had anyone been around, they would have seen the eye of Horus glowing on Yugi's forehead, as he reached out for the cards, which would become his next deck.

Several hours later, Yugi emerged from the room, and found Raphael in the living room practicing his dueling. It was then Yugi noticed the cards Raphael was using were newer version of his old cards, judging from the better condition. "My cards are on the mantle there Yugi," Raphael said without looking up. The former Orichalcos Biker pionted to his fireplace, just right of a plasma screen TV, (sorry, couldn't help myself), and behind a rather large display case, were all his old cards on display, Guardian Eiotos (please correct me if wrong spelling) was in the center of the arrangement. Strangely, Yugi could see a soft glow emitting from the cards in the display; it seemed to strech out all the way to the deck Raphael now carried. This brought a smile to Yugi's face, seeing the bond between deck and duelist, especially from one such person as his friend. This however snapped him out of his reflecting enough to talk to Raphael. " Hey," he said in an excited tone, "I finished my new deck Raphael!" "That's great news Yugi," Raphael responded with a knowing look in his eye, " I take it you'll be needing a regulation duel disk next, right?" Yugi only nodded, and soon, both were headed to the nearest store to purchase a custom duel disk for Yugi. Granted Yugi said a regular one would do, but Raphael insisted, knowing all the while that whatever Yugi could have made would deserve the very best, just as the deck's master does as well.

Upon arrival, Yugi was once again in shock, this time at the sight of so many different styles of disks in the shop. It was fairly new, but these custom shops were all over the world now, though only the super rich ever could get one, enter Raphael. "Hey Valon, good to see you," Raphael called into the back. A clanking was heard and what sounded like a yelled answer until another of the former DOOM crew showed up all smiles. "Hey, look wha the cat dragged in eh? SO, how ya been mate? You don't call, never write..." "Because I'm over here for lunch and a duel nearly every Wednesday," Finished Raphael accompanied by Yugi laughing at their antics. "Awe, your no fun Raph, but seriously, good teh see ye man. And what's this then! Little Yugi Mouto, the high rular of games himself, graces my humble shop with his presence," the Australian biker says in an elaborate bow. This proves too much for all involved and, laughing hysterically, all go into the back and sit down in a lounge chair or two. "Man, I still got it. Mum always said I was a natural comic," Valon said after he calmed down. "Yeah," Yugi said in agreement," But then the dueling world would be out one amazing duelist, and duel disk customizer to boot." "Anyway, down to business, after all it's not Wednesday, so I'm not here on a social call, alright," Raphael said but with a smile to take the sting out of his words. "Fine, fine, let me guess. Little Yugi needs a new disk and you want me to hook him up, is that about right?" The two nodded," Well then, I got just the piece for this little bloke here." Valon then got up, went to his display case and brought out the latest model Duel Disk (think Yu-Gi-Oh! GX people we are talking sharp looking here!) but with a gold and silver paint job, complete with Horus's eye symbol engraved near the deck slot. "And don't you even think of saying it's too good for you, mate," Valon said," 'cause frankly, you just don't give yourself enough credit. Besides, it looks good on ya," he finished with a chuckle.

Not a second later, someone entered the shop saying loudly, " I'm here for a custom Duel Disk." Everyone ran up to the front, wondering just who would cause such a ruckus. The person they find is none other than...Bandit Keith Howard! "Like I'll let you buy one o' my disk ya bloody yank," Valon yelled knowing of Keith and his exploits at Duelist Kingdome. "Who said anything about buying, your going to give it to me now!" Kieth said menacingly. "You got ta be..." Valon began before he was struck with an idea. "Say Yugi," Valon said facing the young man, "How's about you take that disk of yours for a test drive on bandana boy over here, eh? And to make things more interesting," Valon continued to Keith, "I'll even let you use one of my disks, pick anyone you want. And if you win, that disk is yours." Keith was practically salivating at the prospect of winning any disk he wanted, plus boosting his reputation again by beating the Duel King for the duel disk! "Alright, you got yourself a duel!" he said putting on a black disk with silver spikes grafted on the wings.( The panels where you put your cards, everyone.)

Yugi, after preparing, draws five cards and says," Just so you know Keith, things have changed and so have I." "Oh really," Keith responds," and what could that possibly mean to me?" "It means" Yugi said in a low yet unusually strong voice, "that I have found out things the hard way." He turns slightly away so his eyes are hidden. "But," he continues," I now know it was inevitable, and I am ready to show everyone my true strength, starting today, with you!" He finishes, his eyes normally so big are narrowed, and his posture one of a seasoned duelist. He stares his opponent in the face with a confidence that rivaled his former partner if not totally blowing it out of the running.

"Now," Yugi begins," Let's Duel!"

(AN: if you're confused at the way words are spelled while Valon talks, he's Australian in the series, at least in the English Dub. Hope you enjoyed the chapter!)