Author's note: it has been so long since I stepped foot into this world, it seems like a dream. I have finally found my love for reading and writing again, and I will finally appease the muse that has been whispering these stories in my ears for years.

I do not own Yu gi Oh or it's characters, just mine. I also do not own any of the duel monster cards mentioned save for the ones I made up. I am sure you can figure out which ones.

Night fell over the face of domino city, bathing it in a sparkly gold red glow. A lone figure sat on a lowly wooden bench, gazing at the sun fading into the dark blue waters. After several moments the figure slowly gathered herself up and moved with a purpose down the streets of domino, looking for the Kaiba corporation dome. After winning all of the needed locator cards Sharleen had activated the duel disk, found the location of the finals, and took her time making her way to the dome. She had achieved her goal early on in the competition, with each duel being easier than the last. She was getting her duel groove back. A shadow of a smile ghosted crossed her face as the thought crossed her mind. It had been a long time since she had smiled.

The breeze was cool and soothing, a balm to her still healing heart. As the dome came into view, her hair whipped around her faster, causing her to look up to find out why the wind had suddenly picked up. A helicopter with the KC logo flew overhead rapidly. From behind her, a car horn blared and she barely jumped out of the way as a car driven by a slutty looking blond and full of an odd assortment of students barreled passed her, then slowed down dramatically with a squeal of tires.

"What the fuck?" she muttered, glaring at the short spiky haired teenager heading her way.

"Hey! Are you alright?" he asked when he reached her. His arm held a duel disk as well. It took her a moment of awkward staring (awkward for the boy since she couldn't care less) and a moment for her heartbeat to die down to recognize him.

"You're Yugi Muto" she murmured.

"Uh, yeah, I am" he said with an adorably awkward smile. "Who are you?"

"Sharleen Durest" she reached her hand out to shake his.

"Oh wow! Really? The Ocean Master?" He gushed as he grabbed her hand to shake it like a crazed fan boy.

"That is what I was called," she stated with little infliction in her voice.

"Really, you are the Ocean Master?" a tall shaggy haired blonde spoke up from behind the boy, looking awed.

"I believe I just confirmed that. You all are duelist. I assume you are heading for the KC dome?" she asked, knowing the answer.

"Yes, would you like to ride with us?" The busty blonde asked with a smile that resembled a smirk.

"That would be…lovely" she said with an attempt at a real smile.

While her smile creeped them out, they agreed to let her ride with them. As she sat, pretty much hanging on for dear life on the bumper as the crazy blonde bitch drove, she could not hope but think that this was her last chance to grab the former glory she once loved basking in. Although, to be honest, she is not sure if she was happy with her choice to join this tournament. The only reason she had decided to join was because her father had insisted.

"Come on Sharleen, oh I swear in this moment, this means everything!" he had sang to her from his hospital bed. She had cracked a rare smile at how silly he was.

"Seriously though," he said with a smile, "you need this, and you made a promise." He had a shadow of sadness passing over his face before he suppressed it.

"I know Daddy" she said quietly.

Her brother, Davie, was her whole world, and she his. Although they were several years apart, they were inseparable. Davie worshiped the ground his sister walked on. She could do no wrong in his eyes. She often thought of him as the center of her universe. Before her father's cancer had settled in to his liver, she had acted as his older sister, mother, and father. She was the center of his universe. They were a magnetic force that could not be rivaled by any sun and planet. She taught him everything he knew, feed him, helped him with his homework, and brought him to every duel monster tournament she had ever participated in. When she lost him to Leukemia, she had shattered into a million little pieces and had withdrawn herself from the world. When her father had fallen ill shortly after, she had picked herself up from the ashes and started to rebuild herself. She had another sibling and father to take care of.

"Sharleen?" a voice interrupted her dream like state. She looked up into the concerned violet eyes of Yugi Muto.

"Sorry. Someone walked over my grave" she said quietly before jumping off the back of the car. Without looking back at the ragtag team, she entered the dome. As she approached, the man himself, Seto Kaiba looked back at her. He watched her the entire time she interacted with his body guards. There she is, he thought, besides Yugi, she is one I am looking forward to dueling, god card or no god card. She noticed his stare and looked right back him, causing him to make an exasperated noise and look way. She rolled her eyes and walked away.

Some drama occurred between the large group she had traveled her with and a new comer named Merick. She did not pay attention as it had nothing to do with her. Maybe she as selfish like that, but she really had no emotional ability to involve herself in anyone else's drama. She had enough shit to deal with on her own. As she watch the blimp descend from the sky, she told herself to just focus on the battles a head of her. She proceeded to walk toward the air ship and waited behind the large group of teenagers who were arguing themselves onto the ship. After the younger Kaiba allowed them passage, she was finally able to board. As she made her way to her room to toss her shoulder bag inside, she felt a presence behind her. She stopped mid stride, and looked behind her.

"I know who you are." Seto Kaiba said menacingly.

She stared at him for a moment taking in his appearance. He wore a long white trench coat that was open enough to reveal his muscular chest tightly encased in a black spandex turtle neck. Her eyes traveled from his feet, passed over his handsome face and settled on his piercing blue eyes.

"I know who you are." She said blandly.

"Everyone knows who I am" he said bluntly, without a blink, "but who knows who you are?"

"You. Yugi. That Wheeler kid. Me. What is your point?"

"I am looking forward to this." He said, smirking as he walked past.

"You just earned some creepy points." She said as she swiped her key card on her door. He looked back at her, briefly startled. "You suck at flirting." She quipped before entering her room.

Once she was inside, she threw her bag on a large bed in the corner of the room. The room was large and equipped with many amenities. The bathroom was larger than she expected and the view was incredible. The lights from Domino city twinkled beautifully from the huge portal windows that lined her room. She did not have time to enjoy the view as she was summoned to the second floor. As she made her way there, she fell behind what Seto Kaiba had deemed the "geek squad", with the man himself in the lead. As she entered room full of food, glass windows, and a weird blue eyes contraption in the front, she took a deep breath, mentally getting herself ready for the battled away.