Hello Everyone! This is my first fic, and it's something I have been working on for a few years. Being my own worst critic I have rewritten it several times. It's still an ongoing WiP, but I hope you'll follow me through to the end! Constructive criticism is always welcome!
Quick note: This obviously takes place just after Battle City. It as originally created by me without any knowledge at the time of any of the events that took place during Season 0 or after Battle City. At the time I had only watched the 4Kids Dub, so all names and character personalities will be the Americanized version. This is also very much AU. You will see what I mean as I get farther along. Other things to note: My OC will play a big part in later chapters. There will be violence and lemon (I will post warnings on those chapters when I get to them).
Final note: Should this ever get purged by FFN because of the content, you can find this same story over on AO3 under the same title and Author Name (Yu-Gi-Oh: Tangled Web of Fate by Sesshy380).
It had been a month since the conclusion of Battle City, and school was now resuming for the students of Domino High. The schoolyard was full of students broken off into their respective friend groups, talking excitedly about events that had taken place during the break. One group in particular had a new addition. This group consisted of Yugi Muto, Joey Wheeler, Tristan Taylor, Téa Gardner, and their newest member Marik Ishtar. Marik had recently moved to Domino from Egypt in an attempt to better help the Unnamed Pharaoh that resided in Yugi's millennium item, the Millennium Puzzle. The Pharaoh, whom the group had begun to refer to as Yami, was a bit hesitant to accept Marik's offer of help and service after the events that had taken place during Battle City. However, Yugi reminded him that not only had Marik helped in banishing his own darker half to the Shadow Realm, but that he was also the heir to the secrets of the Tomb Keepers. If anyone could help the Pharaoh regain his memories it would be him. Yami agreed that he would accept Marik's help under one condition: That he stay with Yugi where he could be watched. He wanted to ensure that Marik didn't relapse and find a way to summon forth his dark self. Marik had openly agreed to these terms, admitting that he feared that it was a possibility. So it came to pass that Marik moved in with Yugi and his grandfather, Solomon, at the Kame Game Shop.
Marik was excited for his first day of going to an actual school. As a Tomb Keeper, he had quite literally lived most of his life underground. Being out in the open schoolyard surrounded by so many people that were his age, while exciting, was also a bit overwhelming. Thankfully he had his new friends that he had met during Battle City. Well, to be technical, they weren't exactly his friends. Out of the entire group, only Yugi and Joey were the only two that he truly considered friends. They were the only two that had been willing to look past the mistakes he had made. The rest he felt just tolerated him for Yugi's sake. Even Yami still appeared wary around him, even though he had already been living with Yugi for a couple of weeks now. He knew gaining their trust was gonna be difficult, but he had no idea until now how difficult.
"Earth to Marik! You in there?!"
Joey tapped Marik on the head. He hadn't even realized he had spaced out.
"Yeah, sorry. It's a lot to take in," Marik replied sheepishly.
"Eh, I get it. I was a bit nervous when I first moved here too. But don't you worry! If anyone gives ya a hard time about that Battle City crap, you jus' lemme know. I'll set 'em straight!"
Marik let out a chuckle. He tried to picture a scenario where he would actually go crying to Joey because some kid was being mean to him. He had run a criminal organization. Needing someone else to stick up for him just sounded hilariously odd.
"Don't worry Joey, I think I can handle myself," he said with a friendly smile.
The bell rang signaling for the students to head to their classrooms. Upon entering the classroom Yugi and the others began taking their seats and pulling out textbooks. Yugi had already explained the basics of day-to-day goings of the average school day, and instructed Marik to ask for help if he was unsure of anything.
"Yugi…"
The deep voice of Yami echoed inside his head, which was odd because the Pharaoh usually did his best to not distract Yugi during school hours.
"Look over there."
Yugi looked over in the direction that Yami had signaled. A boy his age with pale skin and long white hair sat looking out the window.
"Hey, it's Ryou!" Yugi replied through his link.
"No. It's not. Look closer." Yami stated, his voice full of contempt.
Yugi looked again. Yami was right. Everything about him was wrong, from the way he sat to the way he kept glancing around the room. That wasn't Ryou at all. That was the Spirit of the Millennium Ring that referred to itself only by Ryou's surname, Bakura. It was for this very reason Yugi and the others quickly learned to call Ryou only by his first name. Like Yami, Bakura was a spirit trapped in a millennium item. Unlike Yami however, Bakura was cruel and abusive towards his host. At least that's what Yugi was led to believe. Nothing about Bakura indicated he treated him otherwise. He had gone as far as cutting Ryou's arm during Battle City. He had even gotten Ryou cast to the Shadow Realm. Now he was sitting in class pretending to be Ryou…and he would get away with it too. Yugi and the others had quickly discovered that Bakura was incredibly good at pretending to be his host. Today however, he noticed that Bakura appeared to be putting in little effort to his usual Ryou charade.
"Something's off. He's not even trying to hide himself."
"You noticed it too? I wonder what he's planning this time? Do you think Marik could be a part of it?"
Yugi mentally scowled at the Pharaoh.
"When would he have had the time? You make me watch his every move. I feel like a warden watching over a prisoner. Besides, he hasn't even looked over and noticed Bakura yet."
"It could be an act."
"I highly doubt it. You need to stop trying to think he has some kind of ulterior motive. I think whatever is going on only involves Bakura."
He could sense the Pharaoh's disapproval, obviously remaining unconvinced. Yami spoke nothing more on the subject after. Yugi however, kept glancing over at Bakura. He appeared distant and melancholy. Both emotions were very not-Bakura. Even Ryou, he knew, would hide behind a façade before allowing others to see his misery.
Thank you for reading the first chapter! I hope you continue this journey with me!
Reviews are greatly appreciated :)
