Authors Notes:

Hey. I'm back and this had been completely rewritten and completed! I will update every week on a Monday but to make up for nine years of silence, here are 3 renewed chapters. Please tell me what you all think!

Disclaimer: I don't own Yugioh or any of the songs in this story!

Chapter 1

"That was a good rehearsal guys!" a nineteen-year-old teenage boy said excitedly putting his microphone away. He had platinum blond hair, which contrasted against his rich colour of his tanned skin. His eyes were lilac with a little innocent sparkle and his eyes are lined with a black liner in his Egyptian style. He was wearing tight black skinny jeans that hung around his hips with a plain, black leather belt. He wore simple black boots over them. His top was plain white that showed off his navel and had a hood. Completing the outfit was a gold choker, a bangle on either side of his biceps and wrists. There were also gold earrings that hung down his ears like a diamond shape.

"Meh. It was ok." The honey blond boy shrugged from packing away his drum kit. He was wearing a plain white t-shirt and baggy, faded blue jeans. He had dark, brown eyes that were watery and was quite tall.

"Well I agree with Malik. I thought it was very good, I mean I do see your point Jou we definitely need more practise…" A white haired boy said. He was very pale, almost like an albino. He was wearing grey, straight jeans that hung around his waist and a plain white shirt. His eyes were a wide, chocolate brown and he was shorter than Jou, who was taller than Malik and was roughly the same height as Malik, only take off an inch or two. Joey rolled his eyes playfully, whilst Malik gave him thumbs up to show his thanks behind Joey's back.

"I agree Ryou. But we mustn't put ourselves down. Practise makes perfect! Now… who wants food?" Beamed a short, tri-colour haired boy, who had just entered the room. He was shorter than the rest of the group by at least a head on Ryou, which made him look younger than his years, yet they were all nineteen years old. His eyes were a bright amethyst and were wider than the others were. His hair is spiked up like a star and had blond bangs, black roots and hair going all the way to his tips, which were the same colour as his eyes. He was wearing tight, black jeans and a tight black top. His name was Yugi. Joey brightened at hearing the word food

"Oooh! ME! I want food! What ya doing?" Joey said brightly. Yugi laughed.

"I'm going to do one of my famous casseroles." Malik beamed.

"Yes! That's one of my favourites." Malik chirped. Ryou nodded too.

"Well you and Jou can go and pack the rest of these instruments away and set up the table, while Ryou and I will go make dinner." Yugi said with a final tone in it and walked off into the kitchen. Ryou got up and paused when he got to the door and turned to them, smiling sweetly.

"Try not to kill each other whilst we're in the kitchen." He warned to the two before he followed Yugi into the kitchen.

"What are we gonna do? Throw knives at each other?" Joey muttered to himself. Malik laughed.

"Not a bad idea! Why don't we find out?" Malik said mischievously. Joey grinned but shook his head as they got to work. Malik thought about how he met Ryou as he left, they both were each other's first friends. As when Malik got there, Ryou was already there.

Malik was 6 years old when he entered the orphanage. He remembered looking at the place like it was prison. All he wanted to do was roam the streets dammit! Then a small long white haired boy caught his eye. The boy looked like he was drawing. He was curious what it was so he walked away from the woman who had escorted him in and plopped himself down next to Ryou.

"Hello. My name is Malik. What's your name?" The boy blushed slightly.

"I-I'm R-Ryou." Ryou stammered. He giggled.

"Ryou why is your hair long like that? You look like a girl!" Ryou looked at Malik with tears in his eyes and turned away. Malik felt immediately guilty, he hasn't meant to upset him!

"I'm sorry Ryou. Please don't be sad. I want to be your friend!" He got up and gave the smaller boy a hug. Which Ryou eventually returned. Since then they became friends and protected Ryou from the other boys who bullied him.

Malik pulled himself out of these thoughts and sighed inwardly. That was years ago. He was glad he went to the orphanage in the end; otherwise, he would probably be still on the streets or even in jail by now if he thought about it… He gently picked up and put Ryou's guitar away on the guitar stand. He smiled and went to help Jou some more.

When Ryou got to the kitchen, he saw Yugi already had nearly everything out. Ryou blinked. For such a small person, he could sure move fast. Yugi spotted Ryou.

"Pass me the sausages please Ryou?" Yugi asked sweetly. Ryou went into the refrigerator, pulled out a packet of sausages, and handed them to Yugi.

"Thanks." Yugi resumed cooking.

"It's my turn tomorrow." Ryou said happily.

"I know. What are you thinking of doing?" Yugi said without looking up from cutting up the sausages into smaller pieces.

"Well I was thinking of something like Bolognese." Ryou said thoughtfully.

"Mmm. That sounds good… I want that now." Yugi said looking wistfully at the cooking pot.

"No! Keep going with your casserole. I really fancy that tonight." Ryou said happily. Yugi grinned.

"Okay… Just for you. I will." Yugi giggled.

"Poor Malik and Jou…" Ryou joked. Yugi laughed, turning to cut up some carrots, whereas Ryou stirred the cooking pot.

"They'll be fine. I'm sure they could go one night without eating." Ryou snorted.

"Yeah... Hell will freeze over first!" Yugi and Ryou looked at each other, burst out laughing, and continued with making dinner. Ryou grinned as his thoughts turned to how he and Yugi first met.

He and Yugi were only ten years old when they met. He was sitting down talking to Malik when the door opened and a little tri-colour haired boy came into the room. He and

Malik stared at the boy, who looked really upset and scared. He immediately got up and went up to the boy.

"Hi I'm Ryou, do you want to play with us?" He gestured to himself and Malik, who was staring at Yugi curiously. Yugi nodded timidly and together the three of them went off together and became the best of friends.

Ryou shook his head out of these thoughts and thought about how lucky he was to have three amazing friends. Yugi smiled softly at Ryou.

"Penny for your thoughts." Ryou looked at Yugi and grinned.

"I was just remembering how short you were when we first met you… But then you're still short now!" Ryou giggled as an elbow poked his side. Yugi poked his tongue out at Ryou.

"You know good things come in small packages!" Ryou laughed.

"Okay Yug, you keep telling yourself that…" Ryou laughed as another elbow poked his side.

In the dining room, Malik and Jou were discussing their next gig as they set up the table.

"So remind me when we were doing our next gig?" Jou asked Malik as they were putting the knives and forks down onto the already mostly set table.

"Friday night. It's at the club called Angels." Malik said enthusiastically setting the plates down. Jou grinned up at Malik.

"Yes! I love it there, the manager's awesome!" Jou said happily.

"And we can drink before and after the show. I know we got limits, but at least we get to calm down some nerves." Malik said.

"Yeah that is great... Hey! Have you heard anything about the Battle of the Bands coming up soon?" Jou asked. Malik shook his head, as he and Jou sat down after they finished setting up the table. He put his hands under his chin, while he looked thoughtful.

"No… otherwise Shadi would have told us by now." Malik said mournfully.

"I suppose so…" said Jou glumly. Their manager Shadi was a great person. He was like a father to him unlike his own. Jou shook that thought away. He had banished all memories and thoughts of his father at the orphanage. That's how he came to meet his friends.

He was 13 years old when he ran away and was placed into the orphanage. He was all busted up and the first person he saw was Yugi, who looked at him concernedly as he then got his two other friends to get a First Aid kit and then they all sat there and patched him up. They never asked questions, which he appreciated at the time. He eventually told them the whole story a year later. Since then they have all been inseparable…

Malik pulled Jou out of his thoughts.

"Oh hurry up! I'm starving." Malik moaned. Malik got his wish as Yugi and Ryou walked in, Yugi holding some bread and Ryou holding a big pot that had the casserole in. Yugi was pouting, which meant Ryou had insisted on carrying the big pot again.

"Mmm. smells wonderful." Jou said, his stomach grumbling loudly. Malik laughed. Yugi and Ryou set down the dinner and as each of them helped themselves, they began to eat…

Ah! That was amazing Yug. Thanks." Jou sighed contently patting his stomach. Malik agreed. Ryou nodded too.

"How is it still improving? I thought it reached its best the last time you cooked it." Ryou complimented. Yugi beamed at them all.

"Thanks guys. I'm glad you all liked it." Just then, the phone rang. Yugi sighed as he got up.

"I'll get it. Malik, Jou can you please get the plates and place them in the kitchen? I'll do the washing up later." Yugi asked regretfully at Malik and Joey.

"Yeah. After all we need to burn off some of the food we just ate." Malik said.

"Speak for yourself." Jou grumbled. However, he too got up and started collecting the plates. Yugi rushed to the phone.

"Hello?"

"Hello Yugi, it is Shadi. Sorry to bother you at this time." A deep voice came over the phone.

"No. It's fine. We just finished eating anyway. So what can I do for you?" Yugi said happily

Okay. Well I have some good news and some bad news." Shadi said. Yugi frowned. He didn't like where this was going…

"What's the bad news?" Yugi asked a little worried.

"There's no need to sound worried! But… I cancelled the gig on Friday night." Yugi gasped.

"What?! Why?" Yugi asked frantically.

"Didn't I just tell you not to worry? Never mind that, the good news is that you are still performing on Saturday. But it's not a gig." Shadi said almost excitedly.

"Okay?" Yugi asked confused.

"I decided that you should all go and compete in the Battle of the Bands this Saturday night." Shadi said calmly.

"…"

"Hello?" Shadi called down the phone.

"I'm here." Yugi whispered down the phone. He was clutching the phone tightly. He wasn't quite sure he heard quite right.

"We're competing?! But… But… Are you sure we're ready?!" Yugi exploded out.

"Yes I do. I am confident that you are all ready and can win the tournament." Shadi said

"Wow!" Was all Yugi said.

"Well now you know of the current events for the next few weeks, I will see you on Saturday night. Have a good evening!" At that last word, Shadi hung up. Yugi just stood there shocked. Ryou, who had watched Yugi's expression go from happy to shell-shocked in a matter of seconds, rushed to Yugi.

"Yugi? Are you all right? Who was it?" Ryou asked. He knew he was throwing too many

questions at Yugi, but he was curious and concerned.

"I-" Yugi tried. But the words just wouldn't come out. He couldn't believe it! This was everything that he, Ryou, Malik and Jou have ever dreamed of!

They were all 18 when they all left the Domino Orphanage. They now lived in a 2-bedroomed run-down flat and worked hard to feed themselves. They eventually all found work in a seedy club. However, the manager was a good man. He paid them all he a fair wage. Malik was the singer; Jou was a bartender and he and Ryou worked as cleaners. Every night they would talk of their dreams of being a world famous band and eventually they all saved up enough money to buy the best instruments they can afford. They taught themselves to play and practiced hard. Once they thought they were good enough, they summoned up the courage to play at the club they worked at. The manager, being nice as he was quite fond of them all agreed and when he heard them practice before the performance, he called over a friend of his, who was a band executive and scout. When the executive realised the band's potential as they performed that night, they were offered a chance to play all over Domino. Which they agreed to. However, they were sad to leave their manager, who didn't mind, as he said they were too good for the place anyway. They then played all over Domino and became a local hit in their side of town. Thus the band Fallen Light came to be.

But their dream was to make it big, so they could get out and not struggle to make a living or when they are going to eat again. Yugi thought of their dreams and didn't even hear Ryou as he shouted for help.

"JOU! MALIK!" Ryou yelled for the two. Ryou heard a yelp and clanging and suddenly the two running towards the door as they ran into the room. Ryou turned to them and before he could get a word out, he burst out laughing

"What?" Jou said irritably

"What. The. Hell?" Ryou was clutching his sides in laughter as they started to ache from him laughing too hard.

"Well if you tell us what you're laughing at, we might just tell you." Malik said pouting

"Y-you arm yourselves with that?!" Ryou couldn't help it; he just burst into hysterical laughter. Malik and Jou had run into the room, looking a little flustered and each was armed. However, what they had armed themselves with wouldn't have helped the situation had it been serious. Malik is holding a rolling pin and Jou is holding a plate.

"Well when you have someone shout your names in a panic, you would come with whatever you could find." Jou defended himself

Yeah, but I would have found a knife or a frying pan or something. Not a rolling pin and a plate." Ryou said calming down a little. Malik pouted.

"Ok so what did you shout us for?" Ryou stopped laughing as he turned to Yugi.

"Well I think Yugi's gone into shock." Ryou said sombrely. Malik and Jou looked at Yugi.

"Yugi?" Malik said quietly. Ryou and Jou looked worried.

"Let's sit him down." Ryou suggested. Malik nodded. So between Ryou and Malik, they guided him to the sofa and sat him down slowly.

"Yugi? Bud can ya hear me?" Jou tried.

"I-I" Yugi tried. He has seemed to lose his voice.

"What's got you in this state Yugi?" Malik tried again now looking worried.

I- Shadi" Yugi began.

"SHADI CALLED?" Jou shouted, interrupting Yugi. Malik turned round and hit him with the rolling pin.

"Don't interrupt" Malik scolded Jou, who pouted, rubbing his head gingerly, before turning back to Yugi.

"Go on." Malik prompted Yugi.

"S-Shadi called and h-he said our gig had been cancelled." Yugi said rather hurriedly.

"Cancelled?" Malik looked confused. Shadi had never cancelled a gig before. But that alone couldn't have put Yugi into total shock.

"So why did he cancel our gig?" Ryou asked, who like Malik, was feeling confused.

"Go on Yugi" Malik encouraged.

"W-well he said that was the b-bad news." Yugi could barely conceal his shock and now excitement was starting to take its place.

"BUT IN ITS PLACE WE ARE GOING TO COMPETE IN THE BATTLE OF THE BANDS!" Yugi shouted. Time just seem to have frozen for a moment in the apartment. Only Ryou seemed to have registered what Yugi said.

"R-Really?" He beamed. Yugi just nodded, again losing his voice. Reality seemed to be catching up with the other two as well as Jou at last found his voice.

"Woah-Woah! Back up a bit!" Everyone looked at Jou.

"Did you just say Battle of the Bands?" Jou whispered. Yugi nodded again. Then Jou

Fainted. Malik looked down at him.

"I think you killed him. But don't worry; I'll gladly help bury the body-"

"He's not dead Malik!" Ryou said hotly. Malik shrugged.

"Whatever." Then he grinned.

"So. What song are we going to perform on Saturday?"

Ryou and Yugi looked at each other and grinned excitedly as they went into a conversation of what song they could play at the first round of the Battle of the Bands.