Author's Notes: Now we start to see how things would have been different... Enjoy^_^


Chapter Two - Childhood Christmas

"Before I let you see more, there are a few things you should know," the Time Caster stated. "A little background, if you will, for you will not see everything that will become your memories after this change is complete. What you are seeing will replace the memories you have know; you will not remember what is no longer the past.

"Now, for that background information. After Roman almost destroyed the city, your father went to Director Kevin Carmine and explained the whole thing. Roman was thrown in the Facility, and your father regained his position with MIDS. After a few more months of research, he was able to harness the power more effectively, and it became the main power source for Domino City.

"Just after your first birthday, your mother became pregnant once more. Nine months later a baby girl was born; her name is Kai.

"This sets the stage for what you will see next. It's Christmas Eve the year you turned four years old; your sister is three."

The black began to lighten around Yusei, the Time Caster disappearing with it. Before Yusei appeared a new scene: A living room came into view, one that had been decorated for Christmas, with toys scattered here and there as well. Yusei recognized it as the style of room typical for the Tops. Floor-to-ceiling windows stretched across the back wall through which Yusei could see that night at already fallen. A Christmas tree was standing to one side surrounded by brightly wrapped packages of all sizes and shapes. A fire burned merrily in a fireplace situated across the room from the tree. Paper cut-out snowflakes were taped to one wall as well as to the windows, with the remains on a coffee table located between two comfortable-looking couches. From the kitchen issued the delicious aroma of Christmas cookies baking; on the counter tops were seemingly endless rows of an endless number of different kinds of cookies just begging for someone to eat them. From somewhere, soft Christmas carols were playing.

Then people started fading into the room as well. First was a young woman with chocolate brown hair pulled back in a messy bun and eyes to match in color. She was just removing the last sheet of cookies from the oven. Yusei recognized her as his mother from the framed photo Crow had found at the old Reactor while he himself had been dueling Roman. Next a man faded in. He had jet-black hair and bright blue eyes: Yusei's father. Across the coffee table from this man appeared two children. The boy had black spiky hair like his father, but the child's eyes were a much darker shade of blue. He was wearing blue jeans with a black t-shirt and white socks. Next to the four-year old Yusei was a girl with brown hair so dark it was almost black and dark brown eyes to match her mother's. She wore a simple red dress. Both Yusei and Kai were holding a pair or scissors and a sheet of white paper each. Their father was laughing as he pulled off two pieces of tape with which to hang the newly formed snowflakes.

"All right, you two!" their father was saying as he returned to his seat opposite his children. "Last ones! Then it's off to bed!"

"Awww!" the two complained in unison.

"He's right," their mother, Kara, chimed. "Santa can't come until you two are asleep! You wouldn't want him to pass you by because you weren't in bed, would you?"

Without another word, Little Yusei and Kai dropped their scissors and paper, and both rushed up the staircase to get ready for bed. A moment later the two appeared at the top of the stairs; Little Yusei was wearing dark blue pajama pants with a long sleeve shirt of the same color that buttoned down the front, and his sister was wearing a simple white night gown. The two came rushing back down, hugged and kissed their parents goodnight, and rushed back up to their rooms. Hiero and his wife soon followed suit after unplugging the Christmas tree lights and putting out the fire in the fireplace.

Time sped up, and dawn quickly broke through the windows facing east. Little Yusei and Kai were the first ones up, barely after dawn.

"YAY! IT'S CHRISTMAS!" they shrieked as they came crashing down the stairs, sounding like a heard of elephants. Christmas stockings were soon dug into, new toys and candy everywhere in moments. Their parents came down the stairs and were instantly mugged by their two children.

"SANTA CAME, SANTA CAME!" they shrieked, hugging their parent's legs.

"We see, we see!" Hiero commented. Little Yusei and Kai broke away from their parents, running back to where they had emptied the contents of their stockings.

"Can we PLEASE open presents now, too?" Kai begged.

"You know the rules, Kai," her father stated. "No presents until after Christmas dinner! Besides, you have plenty of new toys to keep you occupied until then."

Again, time seemed to speed up to the watching Yusei, as dinner preparations were made. The next scene before his eyes was a splendid Christmas dinner: Ham, turkey, sweet potatoes, mashed potatoes, green been casserole, sweet corn, fruit salad, dinner rolls; there was enough food to feed a small army, and it was more than Yusei had ever seen before! Martha had always done the best she could, of course, but there had never been such a meal as this! The sight of so much delicious-looking food made his mouth water.

When the four were finished feasting, all lent a hand to clear the dishes from the table. While their parents finished putting the rest of the food away, Little Yusei and Kai took the presents from under the tree and sorted them into four piles according to who would be receiving them.

"Alright, Kai," her father finally stated, "now we can open presents!" At his words, wrapping paper, ribbons, and bows all went flying up in the air. In a matter of moments, all the presents had been unwrapped - except two very special ones with Yusei's name on the tag.

"Thanks, Mom and Dad!" Little Yusei and Kai chorused.

"Ah, don't thank us yet, Son!" their father exclaimed. "Your mother and I have one more, very special present for you, Yusei!" He stood from his chair and walked over to a closet concealed under the staircase. He returned with two packages, one small and square, the other large and oblong in shape. The oblong package, Yusei soon found, was a duel disk that fit his arm perfectly. The other was -

"A Duel Monsters deck!" Little Yusei gasped, eyes wide with surprise and excitement.

"So, do you like it?" his father asked.

Yusei jumped up and threw his arms around his father's neck. "I LOVE IT! This is the best Christmas EVER!"

Hiero laughed, returning his son's embrace. "I thought you might!"

"Will you teach me how to duel?" he asked excitedly, still sitting on his dad's lap.

"Of course I will! Merry Christmas, Son!"

"Merry Christmas, Daddy!"


"Take a good, long look at your sister, Yusei," the Time Caster spoke as the scene froze. "You won't be seeing her again. The next scene you will see is after you turn six; Kai died of cancer when you were five, leaving you as the only child. Your mother never did have any more children." With his words everything faded to black once again. "She won't be the only one, either. The cure for the type of cancer she died from was found in minerals below the city after it split. Without that split, no one ever thought to look for anything under the city."

Yusei was silent; he had no reply to the Time Caster's accusation. When he finally spoke, he changed the subject. "Show me my friends; I want to know if they are as happy as I."

"As you wish."

Once again the black began to lighten. Another living room - once again in the Tops but one not quite as prestigious - appeared. Two little kids of the same age with short orange hair were running around, and a third - a baby - was lying on the floor. The boy was wearing blue jeans with an orange t-shirt; the girl, a dark green, long sleeve dress that went down to her knees. Yusei recognized the boy as Crow; the other running child must have been his twin sister. Presents had already been opened as evidenced by the torn wrapping paper and boxes strewn about the room. Both Crow and his sister had a shiny, new duel disk strapped to their left arm, and Crow was challenging her to a duel.

This scene faded, and, in its place, appeared another. This living room was in a townhouse. A young child with ice-blue hair and golden eyes was teaching a younger boy with yellow hair and green eyes how to duel: It was Kalin and what must have been his younger brother. Kalin, too, wore blue jeans but with a grey, collared shirt. His brother was dressed the same, except his shirt was black. As Yusei watched, a little girl in a white dress came toddling into the room; she had blue hair a little darker than Kalin's and green eyes to match her other brother's. Here presents had already been opened as well; as the little girl toddled into the room, she tripped on a box, falling flat on her face. When she started crying, Kalin jumped up from his seat on the couch, picked her up off the floor, and held her until the tears stopped.

This scene soon faded, too, with another living room in another townhouse coming into view. Once again, wrapping paper, boxes, and bows were strewn across the floor. A young child with blond hair and violet eyes was sitting on the couch next to a man Yusei assumed to be his father. Jack - for this is who the boy was - was looking through his own new deck of Duel Monster cards. He was also wearing blue jeans but with a white, collared shirt. A woman sat in a rocking chair holding a baby with brown hair and hazel eyes.

Yusei smiled as the scene faded to black, knowing his friends were all happy as well. Once again the Time Caster stood before him.

"Are you sure you still wish to continue this?" the cloaked figure asked again. "There is still time for you to change your mind."

"What reason would I have to change everything back to what is was? All of us are happy now; why would I want us to go back to misery?" Yusei questioned.

"If that is your wish, then let us continue."


Author's Notes: Anyone think that Yusei made a mistake yet? Lol.

Note: Christmas traditions in this chapter are based off how my family has always done Christmas, down to the dinner!

Anyway, thanks to the few who reviewed last chapter^_^ Reviews make my day!