Yuei opened his eyes. There was nothing. In fact, there was no one either. He looked down, only to see he was floating in space? Yuei looked back up, and there was a temple. A highly degraded temple, that had people standing atop it. But, were those people? "Hey, I'm Yuei! Who are you?" No one answered. Rather, the people on the temple looked worried. They looked like people he already knew. "WAIT! Artifact Labrys, is that you?" Yuei ran closer to the temple, and saw a purple woman standing atop. There was a green man, and a blue woman. Yuei stopped at the steps in front, and looked up. "Guys, it's me, Yuei!" There were several people up at the top, all yelling. They all looked lost, as if their memories were wiped clean.

"Yuei," a dark figure appeared. It was transparent, and had a gas like substance flowing from it's body.

"You aren't people. You're all spirits."

"Yuei, these spirits have all been waiting for you."

Yuei was shocked. He put his hand on the shoulder of the figure, but it sank through. "Why were they waiting for me?"

"We've all lost our memories. We thought that when you came you would have them all, but we were mistaken."

Yuei looked up at everyone, staring at Labrys more than the others. "Why can't they see me? Or hear me for that matter?"

"I can only see you because I am here. Everyone is in your deck, I am not."

"Who are you?"

"I am Tanji, that's as far as my memory goes. You would better know me as Artifact Emeici." Yuei saw a glowing on his belt. A pocket that he made to hold his extra cards. "It's time for you to go home."

Yuei looked at Tanji. "But what ab-"


"-out your memories?" Yuei woke up, his head popping off the pillow, and looking around for any sign of Tanji. "What happened?"

"You tell me."

Yuei looked next to his bed, seeing that his mother was there. "HOW DID I NOT NOTICE YOU?"

"Why were you flailing in your sleep?"

"WHY WERE YOU WATCHING ME?"

Yuei's mother shrugged. "I just heard a lot of noise, and decided to check on you."

Yuei sat up, and slipped out of bed. "Did anything else happen?"

"You got another package in the mail."

"Kaiba Corp?"

"Yeah." Yuei's mom pulled out a small box. It had the same Kaiba Corp symbol as the first, a Blue-Eyes with a Kaiba man in front. "It's too small to be holding the 12 cards that was in the other. There must be just a few."

Yuei took the box out of his mother's hands, and opened it. There were two pendulum monsters in the box. He picked them up, and looked at them. "Artifact Tessen, and Artifact Pata." Yuei looked in the box again, and there was another note. He pulled it out, and read it. "I want to see you put these cards to good use. Put the pendulum monsters, as well as all your focus cards, into the deck. I'll meet you outside the school at noon." Yuei read the note out loud.

"Yuei, you can't."

"I have to!" Yuei turned around and stared at his mother. "Yoshida-Kun wants to duel me! He's the owner of Kaiba Corp. Mom, if I do this, I can help pay for college." Yuei's mother shook her head.

"He didn't guarantee you anything."

"I'll be famous! I mean, Kaiba Yoshida himself wants me to duel him!"

"But what about the cards? You can barely use one focus card, but he wants you to put all twelve, and the pendulum monsters in."

Yuei looked down at the two in his hand. He turned to the door, looking at the poster covering it, a giant Blue-Eyes. "I have to. If I can beat Yoshida..." Yuei stopped, and stared further. "I'll work on the deck at school." Yuei ran out of his room.

"Yuei! Change!"

"I always sleep in my school clothes!" Yuei ran down the stairs, grabbing his school coat on the way out.


Yuei ran through the streets, trying his best not to knock anyone out of his way. He jumped over the small obstacles, and moving around everyone he could. Yuei quickly made his way to the school, looking for any sign of Jack on the way there. No doubt Jack wanted a try at a duel with his focus cards. Might as well get it out of the way. Yet, try as he might, the brown-haired boy was no where to be found. "YUEI! HURRY UP, You're gonna be late for class!"

Yuei turned around, and saw his friend. "Hey, Ayumi!" Takagi Ayumi was, and had been, friends with Yuei since they were both kids. She was short, just barely able to reach up to Yuei's five foot eleven. "Hair's still brown, surprised you haven't dyed it again."

Ayumi walked up to Yuei, giving him a quick embrace. She let go and pushed him away. "You nerd. I haven't dyed my hair in a week." Ayumi tugged on Yuei's shirt, pointing at the school. "Hurry up, we're gonna be late."

Yuei grabbed Ayumi's hand. "Ayumi, I swear. You're like a delicate flower, blowing in the wind."

"Just hurry up, nerd." Ayumi was blushing, trying to look away from Yuei. "We need to hurry to class." Ayumi tugged harder, and Yuei followed.

"Ayumi, stop being so strict!" Yuei didn't appreciate it, but Ayumi pulled harder.


"We're here to teach you about the best of games. We aren't just talking Duel Monsters, we can teach you any game, and the advance techniques that go with them. So hurry on down to Kaiba Game University, where we'll beat you into shape!" The teen in front of the camera gave a thumbs up, and winked at the camera.

"Aaaaaand, cut. You did good, once again, Mister Yoshida." The man behind the camera gave a thumbs up.

"Thank you, Johnson." The boy walked out from in front of the screen, and slid on a jacket.

"Shall I book another appointment to make your hair blue?"

"No, Johnson. As much as I enjoy having blue hair, I think I like would like the few streaks over a full head." Yoshida zipped up his hoodie, and slid his hands in the sides. "I'm going to New Domino High."

"Sir, sorry for intruding, but why?"

"That was your first mistake. Don't make a second."

"Y-Yes Sir." Johnson turned around, and walked out of the room.

"Finally, peace and quiet." Yoshida climbed up a step ladder. "Sometimes I wonder why I'm so small. Four foot six, I can't believe it." He reached up, and grabbed his deck from the display. He looked at the cards he had in the deck, his grassy green eyes speeding past every card. Dragon Horn Hunter, a pendulum monster that raises the attack of Normal monsters. Performapal Kaleidoscorp, a pendulum monster that raises the attack of light monsters. Decoy Dragon, and Kaibaman; two of his favorite cards. Yoshida scrolled through the deck, until he saw his Blue-Eyes White Dragon.

Yoshida slid the card sideways, revealing two copies underneath it. His face started to contort, staring at the Blue-Eyes. "No…" Yoshida put his foot backwards, knocking the step ladder over, letting himself fall to the floor. He crawled away from the cards that sprawled themselves out, and curled up into a ball. He cried, letting his grief fall over him. "Dad, I'm sorry."


Yuei turned to stare at Ayumi. She was looking at her deck, shuffling through the cards. Yuei looked down at his desk. There were all twelve focus cards, two pendulum monsters, and a clutter of spell and trap cards. "Come on! I need to have a balanced deck!" Yuei put his head on the desk, and started to think of all the ways Yoshida could beat him. Yoshida-Kun could be using a zero turn kill deck, or a banishing deck, he could've slipped Exodia into the deck. How can I win?

"Something on your mind, prettyboy?" Jack pulled on Yuei's arm, and watched as Yuei lifted his head. "Man, it looks like you haven't slept in days."

"It's like I haven't slept in years." Yuei started to slump back over, but Jack kept him lifted up. "Jack, how do you do it? You're big, you're strong, you're smart,"

"I'm good at building decks," Jack interjected. "If you're having a problem with your deck, let me help." Jack thrusted his thumb upwards, pointing at himself.

"Overconfident child."

"HEY! You only beat me because of pure luck!" Jack went to the corner, rambling to himself. Yuei looked back at the cards on his desk. I can't let him know that Yoshida challenged me. He'll spend more time rambling than working on my deck. Yuei sighed as he stood up, and walked over to the corner of the room.

"Jack, could you help me with my deck?"

"Could I? Of course I can! I mean, you beat me once, and I did tell you I'd do you a favor if you won."

"Yeah, like two years ago."

"Whatever!" Jack stood up, and walked to Yuei's desk. He picked up Yuei's deck, and stared at what was already there.

"How's it looking?"

"I KNOW EXACTLY WHAT TO DO WITH THESE! But you have to explain these cards to me, so I can make the deck work better." Jack held up one of the focus cards, and handed it to Yuei.

"Deal."


"Master Yoshida," Johnson opened the door of the long, black car. Yoshida stepped out, and looked to his deck.

"Thank you, Johnson. Now, my Duel Disk." Yoshida's face was full of agony, pain from years past.

"Of course, Sir." Johnson popped open the trunk, and pulled out a black square. He threw it at Yoshida, and watched as it was caught in the air. Yoshida put it on his arm. A black band wrapped around his arm, and two sides shot out.

"Thank you. I'll see to it that you get an extra few days off."

"I appreciate it, sir."

Yoshida walked towards New Domino High, one arm raised to his shoulders, his opposite hand putting his deck in place. "This should be quick." Yoshida walked up to the entrance, and stared at the door. He paused for a moment. My Blue-Eyes deck, can I handle it?

Yuei came running out of the school, stopping right in front of Yoshida. "I see you're ready, Yoshida-Kun."

"The question is, are you ready?" Yuei looked back at his friends. Everyone was in shock. They were whispering to each other, wondering why Yoshida-Kun was here, and why he was talking to Yuei.

"Yoshida-Kun, I am ver-"

"Please, it's just Yoshida. Don't be so formal. After all, I'm only here to kick your butt." Yoshida pointed towards Yuei, and gave a thumbs up. "I can guarantee that I'll win this duel. Let's see how much of a fight you can put up."

"I'll put up more of a fight than you think." Yuei slid his backpack off, and reached in. He pulled out his Duel Disk and slid it on.

"An old style Duel Disk? Think it can handle your new pendulum monsters?" Yoshida laughed, everyone behind Yuei following. Ayumi walked up to Yuei.

"Yuei, are you sure you can do this?"

"Ayumi! What are you saying? Of course I can." Yuei started to walk to the courtyard. "Yoshida, follow me." Yuei signaled for Yoshida to follow him, waving his hand in the air. Yoshida nodded, and walked slowly. Yuei directed them both to the courtyard out front. "This is where we'll be dueling, is it ok?"

"It's fine, but there's a problem." Yoshida snapped his fingers, and a red blade appeared in front of his Duel Disk."

"Duel Mode, engage" Both disks spoke at the same time. Yuei's disk bent itself into shape. The field around them started to turn black, and buildings started to rise out of the ground.

"This is my action field. Cross Over: Heartland." Yoshida looked up. "As soon as the duel officially starts, the action cards will be scattered around us. Do you know how they work?"

"Of course I do. One in your hand at a time, and use them whenever their effects say you can."

"Good job. Of course, it's to be expected from your family." Yoshida ran his fingers through his hair.

Yuei stared at Yoshida. "What do you mean?"

"I know your family. After all, they've been fighting my family for years." Yoshida pointed at Yuei once again. "Now, Let's go."

"Y-Yeah, Let's get this duel goin'"

To Be Continued...