His head hurt.
The black-haired pirate groaned, opening his eyes and shielding his eyes from the bright sunlight. Wait – sunlight? That wasn't right. He'd been on a winter island last time he'd checked, and winter was far from this warm.
He shrugged his heavy coat off of him and looked around. A beach? How had he ended up on a beach? Had he sleep walked again?
Scratching the back of his head, he frowned. Absolutely nothing about this island looked familiar to him at all. The large buildings were not something he was used to seeing. Was this something to do with the World Government?
Glancing around the beach, his frown only deepened when he noticed no one seemed to be giving him a strange look. They all seemed to be preoccupied with enjoying the day and themselves.
Well, there was no time like the present to find out what was going on, right? So he rose to his feet, dusting off his hat and hoisting his bag over his shoulder, making his way onto the busy streets of… wherever this was.
His eyes caught a name, and he frowned. Domino? He had never heard of this island before, and he thought he knew plenty of excellent navigators.
Even though he was confused as hell, there was nothing wrong with exploring, right? Maybe he'd find an answer as to how he got here.
Letting out a sigh, he put a hand on his stomach as it rumbled loudly at the scents coming from the food stands set up near the beach. Well, at least he'd be able to get some food.
"I'll take an order of your noodles," he said, pulling out a few coins and handing it over to the man as he handed over a container of the delicious smelling food, disappearing in the large crowd. And not hearing the man's shouting for him as he gazed around curiously. Were those carriages driving along the street? How did those work?
"Hey, did you hear? Yugi Mutou and Joey Wheeler are in a duel!"
"Aw man, the first duel of the tournament! This is gonna be great!"
A duel? A tournament? Well, that he could get behind. He did love watching a good duel, so he followed the teenagers in front of him, and was stunned at what he saw.
Creatures were being commanded by the humans. Creatures he'd never seen before.
What sort of place was this?
The man watched with wide eyes as the teenagers won, and then the creatures just… vanished.
Now he was starting to wonder if he had actually died and fell into some sort of strange, alternate reality.
He backed away from the crowds then, turning and heading down an alleyway to hopefully get his head on straight, after discarding his empty food container in a nearby dumpster. It wasn't long before he heard the distinct slam of a body meeting metal, and he took off in the direction it had come in. He didn't know anything about that weird duel, but he did know the sound of a fight, and with any luck, fighting would be the same here as it was where he come from.
Instead of a fight, he found two young women standing over two unconscious bodies.
"Oh, hello ladies! I came by to help, but it looks like you have everything under control!"
Reika shook her head in amusement as she watched her grandfather sweeping outside and swaying to his own, excited beat.
"He's been looking forward to something like this for years," Aunt Kumi said when she noticed Reika staring at the older man. "Well… a tournament he'll actually be conscious for anyway. And since Yugi is called the King of Games, it adds a little more excitement, doesn't it?"
"Or pressure on Yugi to succeed and keep his title" Reika said, lifting the coffee cup to her lips. Aunt Kumi didn't realize just how important this tournament was. Yugi needed to win this tournament so they could stop the Rare Hunters.
Kumi let out a hummed laugh. "Regardless of whether or not Yugi wins, he has succeeded in my opinion," she said.
Reika couldn't help but let out a choked laugh around her coffee. "That's exactly what I would expect you to say."
"Well, I am his mother. Speaking of, he hasn't come down for breakfast yet. How strange." Kumi frowned then, glancing at the staircase. "Reika, do you think you could – "
Solomon was suddenly sprawled out on the ground, clearly having attempted to do some sort of ballerina leap, and failing spectacularly at it.
Kumi sighed. "I've got him. Maybe you can try talking to Yugi."
Reika winced at her grandfather's look before quickly moving up the stairs and frowning when she heard something smack against the wall and the distinct sound of her cousin muttering from behind the door.
"Yugi?"
"Oh – come in Reika!" he said in an usually chipper tone, and when Reika pushed the door open, she understood why he'd been faking.
Clothes were strewn all over the room, his sock drawer almost totally empty, and he'd begun pulling things out from under his bed that had a thin layer of dust on them, and Reika frowned immediately when she saw the state of the room.
"Uh… why does your room look like bomb went off in your sock drawer?" she asked, closing the door behind her.
Yugi laughed sheepishly, kicking one of the boxes back under the bed with his foot. "I can't find my gloves. Do you think yours will fit me?"
"Your gl – Yugi, why do you need your gloves? It's summer, and you're going to be out in the heat all day dueling."
He held out his hands, covered in small burn scars from touching the scalding hot Millennium Puzzle back in the warehouse. "To cover the scars," he said quietly.
Reika inhaled sharply. Compared to her own, it had been hard to notice Yugi's once he'd gotten out of the hospital… but she knew that to Yugi, they may as well have been neon pink marks on his skin.
"Don't cover them. The scars are nothing to be ashamed of," she said quietly, although she wasn't sure if she was talking to Yugi or to herself.
"What?"
"You heard me," she replied sharply, taking his hands. "Your scars are a symbol of bravery, Yugi. A symbol of a warrior. They're nothing to be ashamed of."
"You don't understand."
A bitter laugh rose from her throat and she avoided his gaze. "You're wrong."
"Wha – "
"You're not the only one in this family with a scar they're still getting used to," she snapped before exhaling through her nose and lifting her shirt just slightly so he could see the beginnings of her scar. "I have a scar too. It… it goes up to my shoulder."
"Reika, what the hell? How did that happen?"
She ran a hand through her hair, inhaling slowly as she dropped her shirt back over the scar and turned back to him. "I got in a fight. Jumped between a friend of mine and the man that was attacking him."
He looked flabbergasted, staring at her with his jaw hanging open. "I – what – Reika. When did this happen?!"
"A few days before I came home. Don't give me that look," she said when she noticed Yugi's face turned into a frown. "It's been taken care of. I'm fine."
It wasn't a lie. It wasn't a lie. It wasn't a lie.
"Why didn't you tell us?"
She pressed her lips together, nudging one of Yugi's shirts over with her foot, revealing his bunched up gloves below, tossing them to her cousin before shrugging. "We had more important things to worry about."
A splutter escaped him again as he slipped his gloves on, before he finally sighed. "I guess you had your own reasons for doing that… I'm just glad you're okay."
She gave him a small smile. "I'm glad you are too. I gotta head out, I'm meeting Akio, but good luck today. Oh – and your mom wants you downstairs for breakfast."
Yugi nodded with a smile. "Thanks Reika. You're the best."
"I know I am," she teased, giving him a wave before leaving the game shop.
She exhaled sharply as she stepped into the fresh air. The city was practically buzzing with excitement of the Battle City tournament starting later that afternoon.
And yet, the people of Domino City had no idea just how much danger was lurking beneath the grandeur of Seto Kaiba's tournament.
Reika paused outside TAIDR headquarters, taking one last look at the excited city, before disappearing inside the building, and the excitement of Battle City was replaced with a sense of urgency and concern – and Kenji's gait as he made his way toward her was enough to tell her something was wrong.
"Reika. Right on time. We need you on surveillance today. With Battle City starting we know the Rare Hunters are going to be more active than ever. And we've still got portals popping up all over the city… and they've started spreading."
Reika sighed and took a seat at one of the computers. "Of course. Has there been any information about what's causing the portals to open up yet?"
"No, nothing yet. It's so odd. The computers are still showing them as natural, but there's absolutely natural about this. There can't be. No one should have this sort of technology besides us."
Reika frowned, resting her chin against her hands as she watched the numbers and words scrolling across the screen, Kenji's footsteps growing quieter as he left the area.
"I don't like this…" Azila murmured, appearing next to her.
Reika looked over at her spirit companion, giving her a quizzical look. "I don't either, but if it's affecting you, that's even worse."
Azila's voice was quiet, distant. "I could swear I've felt that aura before… when I was still alive. And actually… even after I had passed and they sent my spirit down to watch over the Puzzle."
"What? But you've been dead for three thousand years!" Reika's eyes widened. How could this phenomena be so old?
"I know, and yet we never thought the Shadow Games would return, but here we are," Azila retorted, her eyes focused on the computer screen. "Someone – or something – is returning. I need to continue thinking about this, Reika."
"Wait, Azila hold on – "
But the spirit vanished.
"Azila?"
When there was no answer from her companion, Reika exhaled shakily, closing her eyes and resting her palms against them for a brief moment. The downside to being an agent like this was that there was no one she could explain her worries to, until she'd met Azila, but now, Azila had gone silent too.
Letting out an exhale, Reika did the only thing she knew would bring her a small bit of comfort. Opening up the database of pirate crews they were keeping tabs on, Reika carefully entered three simple words:
Straw Hat Pirates.
The computer screen blinked for a moment, searching for her captain.
Straw Hat Pirates:
Last known location: Mock Town, Jaya.
Updated: 9 hours ago.
Reika let out a sigh of relief. It appeared, for now, that no one had been transported to Domino. It gave her mind a small bit of hope that things weren't as bad as it appeared they were.
There was an unsettling quiet in her mind as she packed up her belongings at the end of her shift.
Buzz buzz.
She glanced down at her phone and smiled at the text message that greeted her.
Reika! I met the leader of the Rare Hunters. He has the ability to take control of people. I'll explain more when you get home, but he mentioned looking for you. Please be careful.
"Reika, you alright?" Akio asked.
Reika looked up from her phone. "Yugi met the leader of the Rare Hunters. This guy apparently can control minds. They're after my item too."
"Oh, well this just gets better and better, doesn't it?" Akio said with a sigh. "But it lines up with what Bandit Keith said during his interrogation. I'll come with you when you leave. Keep you safe."
Reika chuckled, rolling her eyes. "Fine, but I've got to pick something up before I head home."
"Sure Reika, whatever you need."
It didn't take them long to browse the accessories store and for Reika to find a pair of black fingerless gloves for Yugi. There had been a gnawing in the back of her head all day regarding the scars. Reika could hide her scars easily with shirts. Yugi couldn't do that, and she knew he would get too hot wearing full gloves.
"Let's talk about something other than work for a change," Akio said with a grin as Reika stood at the counter checking out. "How did you manage to snag someone like Seto Kaiba?"
"Seriously? Even you're asking me that question?" Reika said with a small sigh and a shake of her head as the exited the shop, heading back to Kame Game. "It wasn't anything that special, honestly. Just two friends that grew into something more. That's it."
"What's he like when he's with you?"
Reika rolled her eyes. "Okay, now that isn't any of your business. Seto is Seto, and I would never ask him to be anyone else."
"Well, isn't that sweet?"
Reika's spine stiffened, violet eyes narrowing at two men that appeared out of the shadows, wearing dark purple cloaks, embellished with a familiar symbol.
"Master Marik has been keeping an eye on you," one of them said with a smirk. "You have something we need. Why not just hand it over?"
"No."
"We thought you might say that, but we really don't wanna hurt a girl. So c'mon, just hand over the bracelet."
"Still no," Reika said, rolling her eyes. "Tell your boss if he wants the bracelet, he'll have to take it by force."
"We were prepared for such matters," the Rare Hunter said with a cruel smirk, reaching out in an attempt to grab her. She sidestepped him, slamming her foot into his back and shoving him down an alleyway. No sense in having a fight out in public like this.
"Alright fine, we'll do it your way. But you're not going to win," she said with a bored sigh as his companion joined him down the alley with a swift kick from Akio.
Akio hummed, stepping next to her and rolling her wrists to loosen them up for the fight. "I've been waiting for a good fight. Haven't had one in a while."
Both of the Rare Hunters got up with little problem, Reika nailing one of them in the stomach and back against the wall as he tried and failed to yank her back with him. He managed to get up again, staggering with heavy breath, aiming a punch at her that got her on her left arm, where her bracelet lay.
"I'll never give up the bracelet, as long as I live," she hissed dangerously. "I'd rather die than give it up to someone like you."
"Master Marik warned us you might be combative. We're prepared to take your bracelet in by any means necessary," the man said, blood beginning to drip down his nose and grabbing for her bracelet again.
Reika slammed her foot into his stomach again, and he fell into unconsciousness just as Akio slammed her new friend against the nearby dumpster.
For a moment, she and Akio stood there, panting from exertion and staring at the men, who remained still.
"Akio, are you okay?"
"I'm fine. Are – "
"Oh, hello ladies! I came by to help, but it looks like you have everything under control!"
Reika tensed, spinning on her heels and putting up her arms at the new voice, before her hands dropped to her sides in shock.
"Ace?"
"Eh? Oh! I know you! You're a member of Luffy's pirate crew aren't you?" Ace asked with a wide grin that mirrored his younger brother's. "Wait, so if you're here, that must mean Luffy's here somewhere too, right?"
Reika's face fell slightly. "Ah… actually that's kind of a long story Ace. I had to step down from the crew temporarily."
"You what? Where's your sense of loyalty?"
She flinched. She knew that was going to be brought up. IN a world where you were either on the side of the pirates and Revolutionaries or the Marines… loyalty was something everyone believed in.
"Reika's loyalty was to her family rather than piracy. Her grandfather had fallen ill and she came back here to care for him," Akio said, glaring at the man.
"I'm still loyal to your brother and I plan on returning to them as soon as I can," Reika added. "Right now though that's a little… complicated. "
"What?"
She gestured to the Rare Hunters on the ground. "Gotta stop those guys before I can think about returning to the crew. They're targeting my family so…"
"You need to help protect them," Ace finished for her.
"Yes."
"It's precious that you think you're going to win this war, Item Holder," a voice suddenly sneered from behind them.
The trio jumped, all going into a defensive stance as one of the rare hunters stood up, eyes dull, with the symbol of the Millennium Items glowing on his forehead.
"Well well. So we meet again, Reika Mutou," the Rare Hunter said, "I have to admit, I'm surprised you and your friend made it out of that fire. You're stronger than I anticipated."
"That's what they always say," she replied with a roll of her eyes. "What do you want?"
"My name is Marik Ishtar."
She froze at the name. Ishtar… as in – oh no. "And I should care because…?"
"Because if you aren't careful, that bracelet of yours is going to disappear in the blink of an eye."
"You literally just tried to steal it five minutes ago and now both of your goons are unconscious. I'm not that concerned," she scoffed.
Laughter, cracked and warped, sounded from the mind-controlled man, face twisted into an unfocused smirk. "I like a challenge, what can I say? You and your little cousin may have won the battle today, but remember, the war is far from over."
Reika narrowed her eyes. "Then we'll be ready."
"Good. I expected nothing less from the person that inherited the bracelet."
With that, the Rare Hunter dropped back to the ground, unmoving. Reika exhaled, pressing her fingers to his neck to confirm the lack of a pulse, and exhaled heavily, scratching the back of her neck.
"Well, there's no sense in calling Kenji. Looks like Marik took care of them," she said as she ran her fingers through her hair.
"What the hell was that?" Ace asked. Reika had almost forgotten he was there.
"That…" Reika said with a sigh, "is the reason why I have to stay here instead of going back to Luffy's crew. They're called Rare Hunters. They're after ancient artifacts. My cousin is the owner of one of the most powerful of them."
"I've never heard of anything like that before," Ace said with a frown. "Pops never mentioned that."
"Well that's something that you're not privy to. But I can get you home," Akio suddenly said. "Or… back to whatever island it was you were on."
Ace didn't seem to be all that convinced, so Reika gave him a smile. "It's alright Ace. Akio is my best friend. You couldn't be in better hands. I'm sorry I couldn't give you more answers. Good luck in finding Blackbeard. I'll tell Luffy you said hello next time I see him."
"Yeah. You too Reika. Stay safe from… whatever all of this is," Ace replied, giving her a wave and heading off with Akio.
Reika let out an exhale and retrieved her shopping bag, before making her way back to the game shop, and much like she had that morning, she found herself in Yugi's room once again.
"What's up, Reika?"
"I was thinking a lot about our conversation earlier. With the scars and everything… I realized that I can hide mine easily. You can't. I shouldn't be spouting off crap about bravery if I'm not brave enough to show mine… so I got you these. They'll hide your scars but your hands won't get too hot in the sun."
Yugi stared at the gloves, then up at her, eyes widening and tearing up.
"Reika… thank you."
"Of course. Hey… you want to go sit on the roof like we did when we were kids? Might be nice to forget about Rare Hunters or scars for a bit."
Yugi grinned. "Yeah!"
Within moments, Reika and Yugi were seated on the game shop's roof, looking up at the stars, a bag of chips between them, and the thoughts of Rare Hunters and waning veil between the worlds drifted away with the breeze.