The autumn days of Domino City offered the citizens with cool breezes and leaves changing in the parks, backyards, and streets. The weather before mid-October was perfect for jogging or just being outside. Yugi Motou was currently sprinting from the usual group of people who he spent the most time with. Ushio had learned to get smaller guys in his gang if he did not want to give the short boy a moment's peace. Yugi knew two of the runners were chasing him and catching up. He turned quickly and ducked behind an alley wall; the runners passed, believing their target to have escaped into the monorail nearby. Yugi huffed out a breath and checked his surroundings.
The runners had chased him out of school today and he had to take an alternate route to avoid them finding his house. The up-side to having Ushio as a bully was that the bear man never knew or figured out where Yugi lived. Yugi left the alley and found himself in the uptown district of Domino where a cupcake could cost over 700 yen. He made his way down the sidewalk feeling people giving him odd looks. He guessed they saw him running or were staring at his hair. Yugi stopped at a clear store window and examined himself.
His hair stood up in spikes, even though he never put gel in it, and had jagged blond bangs, whereas the base of his hair was black with magenta tips to the ends. His face was soft and heart shaped, he still retained the childish contours of himself as a toddler. The most shocking thing to Yugi where his eyes, the giant bug eyes he had; he liked that he had his grandfather's eye color, although his were more illuminated, but he wished they were smaller. Yugi also knew of his height problem. He kept telling himself it was hereditary, but he knew that it was not, that his father…
Yugi shook his head. He decided to go home. Yugi observed the ritzy side of his city; it did seem cleaner but fake in a way. The women walking around him were all dolled up with huge purses and sunglasses, but he could see through the huge smiles.
As Yugi found the bus stop he heard a somewhat raspy voice behind him.
"Yugi! Yugi! Heelllppp!"
He turned and saw none other than Mokuba, brother of Seto Kaiba, barreling toward him with some burly looking moron trailing behind. Mokuba crashed into Yugi, but with reserved strength, Yugi caught the child before they both fell.
The burly moron stood stock still in front of them with menacing intentions in his eyes. Yugi saw that the moron had a duel disk, one of the affordable models, and Mokuba was sporting one as well. The situation became obvious at that moment.
"What can I help you for, sir?"
The moron looked at Yugi, with little care.
"That fucking brat cheated! No way in hell that runt beat me at my own game."
He snorted and gave Mokuba a glare. "And now runt, you're gonna get yours."
He came closer, until Yugi got in front. The man gave an absurd look as Yugi spoke, "I don't think Mokuba cheated, he is one of the best duelist I know for his age and he has straight As in all his subjects. Part of Duel Monsters is knowing the strategies and Mokuba has at least eight that are unbeatable."
After this, the man gave Yugi a sneer that was far from non-threatening.
"I know that freaky hair. You're that kid who won against Pegasus, huh?"
Yugi nodded.
"So, the great "King of Games" needs to defend his little cronies."
Yugi stepped back with Mokuba behind him. He felt the shaking coming from the boy and knew Mokuba had to run. Kaiba and Yugi did not get along, but he would be damned if anyone hurt Mokuba, and Kaiba would damn him if he let Mokuba get hurt.
"How about this," Yugi bent down and took out his own duel disk and cards, "you play me and if you win, I'll give you all my best cards and Mokuba's?"
Mokuba nudged his shoulder but Yugi stood his ground.
"And if you win, shrimp?"
"You let Mokuba go."
He heard a clearing of the throat. Mokuba gave him a weary look, but Yugi gestured for him to listen.
As the man had his White Fang attack Yugi's Feral Imp, Yugi yelled out, "Run!"
Mokuba got the message, but his face held dread in it. He did not want to leave Yugi alone with the moron, knowing the man would pound on him if he did, but he had no choice; Seto probably had the whole city bugged looking for him.
When Mokuba disappeared, Yugi felt his cheek burn and his head turned sideways. The man towered above him and had that look that Ushio had every time Yugi was on the ground. He knew what was coming next. Yugi stood up and did not run this time.
The man had punched him a couple of times before Yugi found his footing and gave a righteous kick to the balls. The man squealed, but Yugi grabbed his belongings and got on the next bus. The sky had darkened quite a bit, so he knew his grampa would be worried and inquiring him as soon as he walked in, Yugi sighed and just let the bus take him.