There's more to life than Duel Monsters.

Ch2: A Penny For His Thoughts.

Disclaimer: I don't own the cast or story from Yu Gi Oh so please don't sue me. Oh, and as this is my story, all rights reserved.


F L A S H B A C K

The Renaissance

Spain, Madrid.

The carnival was in full swing. On one of the great plazas of the city, sat a young French noble. The fountain was splashing behind him and the lights of the many torches played in his laughing blue eyes, as he entertained a beautiful lady with anecdotes from the French court.

People all around them were laughing, dancing, singing and drinking. Nobles mixed with commoners, all in their finest clothes. A dark man had been watching the couple unseen, rage building on his face every time they laughed. Suddenly, he separated himself from the crowd and walked over.

His sword flashing as angrily as his eyes, he faced the woman. A hush fell across the plaza.

"Maria, may I interrupt?"

The lady did not look so much surprised as pleased. She smiled and nodded, moving back to the now gawking crowd.

The man turned to Malik Martinez. Malik swallowed. As good as he was with the sword, he was also out of practice. The man was by all appearances heavier, stronger and looked like his blade was merely an extension of his arm.

"Golden haired lord, I demand you duel me for this lady's time."

Bravely, Malik drew his sword. He managed a brilliant smile.

If there has ever been such a thing, this is a good day to die. He thought, his eyes flashing with near insane mirth.

"Gladly." He answered with a mock bow, standing from his seat by the fountain.

Just then, a white haired young man stepped in front of him, shielding Malik from his opponent. With his opponent hidden from view, Malik studied the youth with avid interest. The young man wore common garb, and for his slight build stood his ground with amazing determination. Malik smiled wryly as he considered that this brave young man was no match for his opponent, and the intervention may now bring the price of one life up to two.

"Keep your lady to yourself, Andreas." The young man's voice rang angrily through the plaza.

In the distance, the sounds of the carnival could be heard, and the crowd watched with the anticipation of a captive audience. Malik smiled. At lest we are providing a good night's entertainment for these folks. Hey, we might even be remembered.

"Sure Degas," came the laughing reply of Malik's opponent, followed by the sound of a sheathed sword and retreating footsteps.

The young man turned around and judging by the once again oblivious laughing crowd, Malik guessed he could put away his weapon. He was relieved, but only for himself. Since the young man with white hair had been the friend of this Andreas, there could have been no danger to him.

Malik sheathed his sword. "Your friend has no manners." Malik said disgruntled.

Degas bowed. "Don't expect manners from a brigand, My Lord."

Malik looked into the earnest green eyes full of concern and felt somewhat appeased. He grinned. "I am Malik Martinez, and I am in your debt." He said bowing.

"Degas Bakura." Came the reply, with a smile.

The carnival continued all around them, oblivious to any interruption…

…Bakura looked at Marik, red eyes into deep blue. "Pay me back later."…

… A hesitant Degas swallowed as he looked into the laughing sky-blue eyes of the lord. "May I paint you, my lord?"

Malik's laughing blue eyes widened. "Certainly."

F L A S H B A C K


Yugi Moto arrived at school early. This was not unusual, but today was different, today he was early enough to be the second person in class. He walked into the classroom, noting that Seto Kaiba was sitting at the front as always.

I hope I'm not interrupting anything important. Yugi swallowed nervously as he stopped by Seto Kaiba's desk.

"Excuse me, Seto?"

"Kaiba." The reply was short, to the point and delivered without a pause in typing. "You will address me as Kaiba."

"Uh, Kaiba?" Yugi's hands fumbled in his bag. He was frowning. He doesn't have to be rude. Yugi shrugged. Maybe he's still half asleep or maybe he's busy. Where did I put it? Ah, here!

He pulled out some neatly labelled notes and handed them to Seto with a smile.

"The teacher wanted me to give you this."

When no reply was forthcoming, Yugi sighed and shaking his head moved to go to his normal seat.

Wait a second! He froze in mid step. Why speculate, when I can ask now?

"Kaiba?" He asked quietly, glancing over his shoulder. Yugi kept his shaking hands on his bag.

"Yes?" came the disgruntled reply.

"Are you going to duel in the tournament on Sunday?" Yugi asked keeping his voice light.

The pause seemed unbearably long. Yugi could hear his heart racing.

Finally, Kaiba deigned to answer. "Yes." Came the staple monosyllabic reply. "Are you?"

Yugi's eyes widened; the addition was unexpected. He managed a smile as Seto turned to regard him intently. "Of course." Yugi replied, one hand behind his head.

Seto nodded, "Good luck then," and turned back to his typing.

Yugi was stunned speechless for a few moments. Seto Kaiba wished me luck!

Yugi shook his head ruefully, sitting down. He was probably just being polite. No, forget that, Kaiba's never polite. He could have been sarcastic.

Regardless, as students filed into class, Yugi stared at the overcast sky outside, lost to the world, strategically planning how to defeat a Blue Eyes White Dragon.

Thanks Kaiba. I'll need all the luck I can get.


Seto Kaiba smirked as he sat back in his seat. He was slow to resume typing.

Yugi Moto, if I'm not mistaken, and I never am, is a veritable unknown in the game.

He was distracted by the beep that indicated his battery was charged. Seto packed up the electric cord, and then resumed his work – a long brief on company policy in dealing with the latest takeover. It was the same old firing of the inefficient, promoting of the talented and streamlining of procedures. The work was banal and his mind went back to the intriguing proposition from yesterday.

A novice is what I required, and a novice is what I have. Yugi Moto, congratulations. You are about to become one of the most famous duellists in the world.

Seto smiled and amended the last.

Well, that is if, you are able to beat my Blue Eyes White Dragon.

Decided, he went back to the brief. Seto simultaneously checked his e-mail, frustrated by more messages from Pegasus.

That man is nuts. I'll have to deal with this personally. He reflected for a moment. Perhaps that is what he's been wanting all along.

Students filed into class, opening books all around him. Seto glanced at the copy of Yugi's notes, dropped them into his briefcase and resumed typing.


Ryou Bakura sat staring at the board, oblivious to the revision going on around him.

He smiled. An uninterrupted night's sleep had been just what he needed.

Maybe I felt sleepy watching the news and went to bed. So I must've had more than twelve hours' sleep.

Suddenly a nagging thought sent an ice-cold shiver down his spine.

There was new coffee in the cupboard. And my clothes were by the answering machine.

Ryou thought back to yesterday. He had been watching the news, he remembered that much. Ryou also knew that today he woke up in bed.

He shrugged. I'm probably just edgy, blank holes in your memory tend to make you edgy.

Ryou looked down as a piece of paper was placed in front of him, face down.

The math test.

And with that thought, Ryou went back over the material revised this morning in his flat. He didn't notice the teacher's words or the boy standing nervously in front of the class.


Malik Ishtar's stomach was complaining about the breakfast he missed because he overslept, the eyes staring at him from all over the room didn't help the matter.

As the teacher introduced him, he studied the students who had empty seats next to them.

A boy with tricolour hair was sitting alone at the back, staring out of the window at the overcast sky.

A tall brown haired boy had glanced up at him with piercing sapphire eyes that had then returned to his laptop. Wait! That must be Seto Kaiba, the world's number one duellist. He's reputedly anti social, but then he has the right to be a bastard. Malik smiled. If I had a company to run, was a renowned genius, the best at Duel Monsters and was still stuck going to school, I'd be anti social too.

His glance shifted to the far corner of the room. A boy with soft green eyes stared through Malik disconcertingly.

A penny for his thoughts.

A tall boy with brown hair that was lounging around in the back row, smiling, arrested his wondering gaze.

Honda?

Malik smiled back and when the teacher finished relating his personal history, Honda waved him over.

"Hi." Malik said when he sat down beside the boy. "I didn't know you went here."

Honda nodded, then noticing that the tricolour haired boy was looking at them inquisitively from his nearby seat, proceded with introductions.

"Yugi, this is Malik, a friend from work. Malik, this is Yugi, one of my best friends." Malik smiled at Yugi. "And this is Anzu." He said gesturing to a brown haired girl who was frowning over her notes. She looked up for a second, smiled, then went back to her studying.

"Nice to meet you, Malik." Yugi said sincerely, he then turned to Honda. "Where is Jounochi?"

Honda shrugged the matter off. "He probably overslept, you know Jounochi." He then turned to Malik. "So, did you drive to school?"

"Yes," Malik nodded, "I live too far to walk. Oh, I wanted to ask you about…" He didn't get to finish as a blonde boy rushed into the classroom out of breath.

"And that," Honda smiled, "is Jounochi."

Jounochi looked haggard, as if he had slept in his school uniform. He was apologizing profusely to the teacher, who was unmoved by his pleas and gave him lunchtime detention. Unfazed, he grinned at Honda as he walked over and sat next to Yugi.

"Who's your new friend?" he asked, smiling.

"Jounochi, this is Malik. He's new here, and works with me at the arcade." Honda explained.

Jounochi nodded, shook Malik's hand, then looked down onto his desk and panicked. "The math test!"

Malik looked down too, for the first time noticing the piece of paper on his desk.

Anzu glanced up from her notes with a long-suffering sigh. She noticed Malik's pallor and smiled. "Malik, here, you can borrow my notes." So saying, she handed her notes to the relieved Malik.

"Thanks." Said Malik with a smile. Jounochi protested such unfair treatment until a smiling Yugi handed him his notes.

Malik's nervousness had evaporated to be replaced by deep contentment. This is too good to be true. He thought of his new friends. If only I could say the same thing about this math test. And with that, he went over Anzu's neat notes until the teacher ordered quiet and the beginning of the test.


Yugi sat on a bench after school, smiling as the newest member of their group asked Honda's advice on the finer points of motorcycle maintenance. Yugi was cheerfully waiting for Jounochi to appear, but something nagged at the back of his mind.

Of course! This is the boy I saw yesterday in the rain.

"Malik," he said unsure of how to phrase what he wanted to say. He smiled as a much more intriguing question popped into his head. "Do you play Duel Monsters?"

Malik smiled his wild, brilliant smile. "Of course, doesn't everyone?"

"Almost everyone." Yugi agreed. "There's a tournament on in the park on Sunday, do you want to come?"

"Sure, who's playing?" Malik returned, enthusiastically.

"None other than Seto Kaiba himself." Yugi smiled at the surprise his news elicited.

"Seto Kaiba?" Jounochi said, walking up to them, "What's mister high and mighty doing playing in an amateur tournament?"

"Jounochi's right" Anzu agreed. "There is no reason for him to compete."

Honda nodded. "Are you sure Yugi?"

Yugi nodded at the frowning faces of his friends. "I asked him and he said he was."

"Since when does Seto Kaiba condescend to give interviews?" Said Jounochi, then he shrugged. "Oh well, one more duellist to beat."

Yugi smiled at his friend's confident grin. "Be careful Jounochi, don't get overconfident."

"I can't help it if I'm good Yugi." Returned Jounochi, smiling.

"No matter how good you get, there's always someone better." Added Malik, agreeing with Yugi.

Before Jounochi could reply, Yugi changed the subject.

"Why were you late to class today, Jounochi?"

"Oh that," Jounochi's smile was replaced by a frown. "Shizuka called. She has to go to the doctor so she can figure out how long she's got until she goes blind." Then he added for Malik's benefit. "Shizuka is my little sister, she lives with my mum and I haven't seen her since she was little."

Poor Jounochi.

The group's mood changed as they offered Jounochi what support they could through helpful comments on the competence of doctors.


Seto, lost in thought, walked past the students hanging around after school.

Should I pick Mokuba up from school?

His trail of thought was suddenly disrupted by the theme from Pokemon. Seto automatically answered his mobile.

"Kaiba here."

"Kaiba boy!" came the emphatic and all too familiar greeting. "Did you get my e-mails? All of them? I know, you say I never write…"

Seto's thoughts did a double take, as he shuddered. Pegasus.

"… you should have seen his face! It was priceless!" There was a pause. "You're not really listening are you?"

"I saw the match." Well, his rating is screwed. I doubt we'll be seeing Bandit Keith in the regionals.

"Mmm, speaking of which, how is the programming going for the new cards?"

"It's done. We still have a few bugs to iron out."

"Is Weevil Underwood giving trouble again?"

"You could say that. Some of the moves for the new bug cards are incompatible. We're working to update the software."

"What about that prototype duelling disk, that you were playing around with Kaiba boy?"

"Nothing doing. It'll never be ready in time for the regionals. The launching mechanism is busted and for some reason there is a static discharge that wipes the memory periodically, so after five moves, the disk has to be reprogrammed. Also it tends to randomly summon Kareebo." Seto paused for effect. "With Multiply in play."

He could hear Pegasus laughing darkly. "So if you used it for the regionals, all duels would be limited to five turns (provided you could launch your duelling disk in the first place) and mists of Kareebo would blanket the field."

"Yes."

"Well, it's an improvement. At least there's no electric shock at the end of every turn, anymore. Kaiba boy, I so envy your position." There was a sigh. "It sounds like so much fun!"

Seto smirked. He had only recently managed to get over the apprehension he got whenever he finished a turn with that god-forsaken disk.

"Oh, Kaiba boy, speaking of business… We were speaking of business weren't we?" Seto could imagine Pegasus shrugging. "I have come across a most extraordinary young man."

"And."

"And, he is developing a new game, using the same monsters. A sort of twisted version, if you can imagine that. Oh, with dice. He calls it Dungeon Dice Monsters. I thought you would be interested. It could be as big as Duel Monsters. His name is Otogi, and I thought you might like to meet him. He's here with me right now. We just finished playing; I must say the game is very engaging, Kaiba boy. Otogi already created the software, all that needs to be done is the marketing, and perhaps a few adjustments here and there?"

"I have school." Seto said spitefully. "Saturday's open."

"Saturday it is then. I assume you have a conference room at Kaiba Corp. Let's see. If we take the helicopter, and don't wake up too early, we should be there by one."

"Don't be late."

Seto slammed his phone shut.

Hmm, it's cutting it close, but I should be able to make it to Mokuba's soccer match.

As always, pressed for time, Seto got into the waiting limousine. He still had the merger to finalize, the upgrade of the duelling software to oversee and that board meeting. If he was lucky, he could have enough time to do some work on the god-forsaken duelling disk.

I have to do something about those Kareebo.


Ryou was in a hurry to get home. The overcast sky was threatening rain and he didn't want to get caught in the downpour.

He arrived at his flat seconds before the first drops fell. Ryou walked in…

… Bakura walked out. He wore the same thing as yesterday except the warm black jacket had been exchanged for a long black coat complete with hood.

White hair can be such a drawback. Especially when you don't want to be recognised.

He checked that the money he received yesterday was still in his pocket. The Duel Monsters deck was there as well, just in case. As an afterthought he had grabbed the book on Ancient Egypt that he was currently reading.

Bakura smirked. As pointless as it is to study a culture long past, it is entertaining what the historians get wrong.

With that, he left the apartment block, pulling his hood cover his hair. He got into the waiting taxi and went off to the mall.

There, he proceeded past the lab rats in the maze of shops, into the rarely frequented corner. Here stood a dilapidated old store with the peeling red-letter sign 'awn Sho'. He proceeded inside.

The semi darkness in the shop was mainly due to no internal lighting and grimy windows. The shelves were covered with dust, proudly displaying scissors with only one blade, a shrunken head in a jar that had a small leak, and other assorted junk. A collection of doorknobs hung on the back wall. Near them was a sign 'not for sale'. Bakura regarded the two ps removed from the sign, which now leaned against the ancient cash register. As there was no bell to announce his presence he settled for drumming his fingers on the counter.

Almost instantaneously from the darkness beneath the counter, appeared a repulsive man, as wide as the grin plastered on his face.

"It's good to see you my boy! What'll it be today, purchase or pawn?"

Bakura nodded greeting, then pointed to the small p. The beady eyes of the man lit up.

"Well, I don't think we're in the market for anything at the moment. I'll call you if something comes up, eh?"

Bakura nodded again then left the shop. When he got outside, he cursed softly. Money was welcome, but when it came to caution the man was an incompetent buffoon.

So how come he never gets caught?

The thought was startling.

Perhaps he's better than he looks. A lot better.

Bakura walked over to a nearby set of lockers and deposited a beautiful and expensive pen in locker number 13. He smirked.

Now for some shopping.

After which, he walked off and soon lost himself in the crowd. Bakura took off his coat as soon as he was sure he wasn't being watched and proceeded to address the matter of Marik's clothes. He had money to spend, more like money to burn and had decided to buy Marik some clothes instead of lending. His eyes sparkled evilly as he contemplated the possibilities.


Malik walked through the mall, quietly enjoying the company of his new friends. They had met up at the entrance, Malik, Anzu and Honda dressed for work. Yugi was in his usual leather, Jounochi as always casual.

Malik was glad that Jounochi wasn't one to brood, and Shuzuka's predicament was if not forgotten, put gently aside.

"Did you see the exhibition match between Pegasus and Bandit Keith?" Jounochi was asking animatedly.

Yugi nodded reflectively, "Pegasus may not act like it, but he is a great strategist."

"But he isn't exactly the nicest guy." Commented Honda. "Bandit Keith ended up technically losing to a kid, remember? It'll take him forever to get his rating back."

Jounochi agreed sagely. "I've known guys like him. I doubt he'll take it lying down."

"Well he won't make it to the regionals, that's for sure." Honda asserted.

Yugi disagreed. "He still might. If he picks his games well, he could gain his rating back."

Malik lost interest in the conversation and his attention drifted. They were now nearing the arcade.

"Hey!" Anzu put her hand on Yugi's shoulder effectively ending what was beginning to be a heated discussion. She was pointing towards the fountain. "Isn't that Ryou Bakura, from school?"

"Yeah, it looks like him," Yugi agreed.

"Let's go over and say hi." Jounochi said genially.

They made their way over to the white haired boy. He was lost to the world, lying on the edge of the fountain, engrossed in a book. His coat and shopping bags were arranged neatly on the ground beside him.

"Hey, there Ryou, that's a lot of shopping bags." Commented Anzu.

The white haired boy glanced up, his red eyes meeting Malik's…

…Green eyes looked away from Malik's to take stock of the situation.

Malik was flabbergasted. I could have sworn his eyes were red

…Ryou blushed with embarrassment. "Um, hello." He pushed himself up to sit, fingering his bracelet nervously. The others took his cue and sat down on the ground in front of him.

So this is Ryou Bakura. Marik thought. He studied the boy intently. He looks uncomfortable, like the clothes he's wearing don't fit. But of course, they're Bakura's clothes.

"What're you reading?" Jounochi asked pleasantly.

Ryou looked surprised to find a book in his hand. "A book on ancient Egypt." He said after looking at the title.

"Can I see?" Marik asked pleasantly, trying to suppress the mischievous glint in his eyes, and act as Malik like as possible.

"Of course," said Ryou politely, feeling himself on firmer ground. He handed Marik the book.

So this is what Bakura's reading. Yes, I can see why he'd find it entertaining. He handed the book back, and turned to regard the shopping bags. I wonder what Bakura's been buying...

… Marik looked up from the shopping bags to find red eyes regarding him intently for a split second…

…He smiled friendlily for the sake of appearances and sighed in forced patience…

Malik smiled vaguely at Ryou. "Been shopping?" he inquired politely.

Ryou looked uneasily at the shopping bags. "Yes, I have bought a lot, haven't I?"

In the ensuing pause, Malik could hear that the interrupted discussion from earlier had resumed where it left off and was only now concluding.

"Provided he plays highly rated players in a couple of small tournaments, I still say that it's possible for Bandit Keith to regain his place at the regionals." Yugi said in summation.

"Hey Yugi, speaking of small tournaments, we should practice for Sunday." Jounochi stated seriously.

"Is that a challenge?"

Yugi's smile was met by Jounochi's grin. "You bet it is."

Anzu smiled in resignation, as the two stood and made their way over to the arcade. "It's been nice to see you Ryou, but I'm late for work" She said, standing and going in the opposite direction from the two laughing boys.

"I'd better go make sure Jounochi stays out of trouble." Said Honda worriedly. "I'll see you inside, Malik." Honda added over his shoulder as he hurried after his friends.

Malik was left facing Ryou. That was when he noticed that the bookmark had fallen out of the book. It was a Duel Monsters card. In fact, it was the Change Of Heart card. He handed it to a blushing Ryou, intrigued.

He smiled in what he hoped was a reassuring way. "Do you play Duel Monsters?"

Ryou seemed more nervous than ever. "No." he said, shaking his head. "That is, not very well." Then, feeling the need, added helpfully. "I have a deck."

He's very polite but he seems very shy. A penny for his thoughts.

Malik smiled, and followed his impulse. "I'm Malik Ishtar, by the way." He offered his hand.

"Ryou Bakura." Said Ryou shaking his hand. He seemed more at ease.

"I just moved here recently. It was my first day of school yesterday." Malik continued.

Ryou looked concerned. "Did you have to sit the math test?"

"Yeah," Malik shrugged. Then added with a mischievous smile. "If it wasn't for Anzu's notes, I would have failed for sure."

Ryou smiled politely. Malik groaned inwardly. He was curious about Ryou and the boy's reserve was frustrating. If I didn't know better, I'd say he looks exactly like I feel when I have one of my more inopportune memory lapses.

He tried his last resort. "There's a tournament on in the park on Sunday. It's small, but Seto Kaiba said he'd duel. Do you want to come with us?"

Ryou frowned. "I'm not really very good."

Malik smiled. "Let me see your deck."

Blushing, Ryou extracted his deck from his coat pocket. Malik looked through the well balanced, ghost centred deck. A ghost, that's just like him. I wonder I didn't see it before. He looks uncomfortable in those clothes. Funny, they don't seem to be his style. Malik handed the deck back, smiling as Ryou quickly returned it to the pocket.

"Well, judging by your deck, you're much better than you give yourself credit for." Malik smiled encouragingly. "Don't worry. There'll be plenty of novices there, and even if you play badly, there will be people who will be worse. Trust me."

"If you say so, I'll be there." Ryou bowed sitting. Malik glanced at the arcade, recalled to the present.

"I have to go and earn my daily bread." He said, laughing as he stood up.

Ryou followed his lead, putting on his coat, neatly slotting the book into one of the shopping bags, all of which he then proceeded to pick up.

"Need any help?" Malik asked, glad for any excuse to keep talking to the reserved boy.

Ryou shook his head, smiling politely. "No thankyou, I should be able to manage." And with a final "Good afternoon," Ryou walked away from Malik.

Malik watched Ryou's retreating form until he was lost in the crowd. He then turned his attention to the arcade. Malik groaned, and muttering about the evils of manual labour, happily went to work, thinking about the ghost with polite green eyes.