Chapter 2: A Letter and a Gift

Two months after the I.C Tournament Misha was devastated.he just stayed in his room staring out the window, or doing his homework then go back to staring out the window, or have a glass of wine while staring out the window.he was completely devastated, Greg (Misha's little brother) fearing for his brother's sanity asked Eric, Troy, and Brandon S. (three friends of Misha) to come over and snap him out of it.

They all entered his room, Misha glanced at them and said, "What the hell do you guys want?"

Troy was the first to answer, he said: "We heard what happened at the finals Misha, you have to snap out of it…where is the old Misha we knew?" Misha sighed and replied, "vat Misha died the moment he lost to Seto Kaiba, if you're trying to cheer me up…you guys are two months too late."

Eric was the next to speak, he said: "Do you think that you got there all the way on your own!? The hell you did, we helped you prepare for that tournament…we helped modify your deck so it'd be likely you would last that long, so okay you lost……big deal, you still have your Barrel Dragon, not to mention your two Cyber Falcons…and your Change of Heart card."

Misha turned around to face them and snapped, "But I didn't just lose any damn card…we're talking about the fucking Blue Eyes White Dragon, one of the most rarest cards in all of Duel Monsters. Sorry but I'm to have to demand that you all leave my living quarters vis very instant!" Greg spoke up, "But Misha-?" Misha glared at Greg and shouted, "LEAVE NOW BEFORE I BREAK YOUR ARM OFF AND BEAT YOU WITH IT!!!" Greg and the other quickly exited the room, later a knock came at the door, Greg answered it…it was Brandon W., he looked at Greg and asked, "Is Misha home?" at that moment Misha came down the stairs and said, "You vanted to see me for something." Brandon W. continued, "Zach Hartzheim is challenging you to a duel at Chimera's Hobby Shop."

Misha replied, "You wasted your time coming here." Just then Greg looked at them and said, "Tell Zach I'll accept his challenge, I will duel for my brother." At that moment Misha whirled around and said, "YOU WHAT!?" Greg looked up at his brother and said, "If you're not going to duel Zach…then I WILL, I'm not afraid to lose to another person…but look at you, you're even afraid to face Zach, and you've been able to beat him thrice before." Greg looked at Brandon W. and said, "allow me to get my deck and let's go." When Greg had gone Misha looked at his cards and asked himself; "Where did I go wrong? I know there was a way I could've won or tied with him…wait that's it, my Trap Hole card…I didn't take that into option, it was face down on the field! Grrr…I'm such an idiot, well I'm not going to let that happen twice."

Misha grabbed his deck and his car keys and said, "Don't vurry brother, Misha's back and coming."

Meanwhile Greg wasn't having so much luck beating Zach; sure he was able to knock Zach down to 1550 before Zach went master on him. Zach laughed to him and said, "Did you think it was worth it coming all this way just to lose to me, you're about as weak as your brother…good thing he gave up on himself, because with him not in the loop anymore, this is MY HOUSE NOW!"

Greg looked down at the floor and was on the verge of crying, suddenly they heard: "Oh really Zach, Vhy don't you put your deck where your mouth is?" Greg looked up and saw Misha, standing tall at the doorway, Zach tapped his fingers on the table and said, "Look Brandon…It's the fallen angel Misha, why don't you got back to your room to sulk?" Brandon snickered at the comment, Misha just stared at the floor and gave a soft smile saying, "Vat Misha was SO version 1.0!" and with that Misha sat down and the original match began.

Well to shorten the story Zach lost to Misha about 3 times before running out of the store yelling, "YOU HAVEN'T SEEN THE LAST OF ME MISHA!" Misha looked up at Brandon W., Brandon said, "Um, I got to go too?" and darted after Zach. Greg hugged his brother saying, "Oh thank the heavens Misha, you're back!" Misha nodded saying, "And it's all thanks to you, you helped me see vhat a blind fool I vas…now let's go home, Mom's probably wondering where we vent?"

Back home, their mother was actually happy to see her eldest son get out of his room. She said while he was gone a couple things had come in the mail for him. One was a letter from Industrial Illusions…the other was a package from Aunt Barb. Misha ran up to his room and opened the package first, inside was a silver bracelet, very well crafted…on the front there was an eye with a gear in it and in the center of that gear was a red jewel…maybe a ruby? On the back he caught glimpse of some really strange writing, it seemed familiar to him…but he couldn't recall from where or when? He put it on his wrist, fit like a glove, suddenly he felt a chill come over him.

Next he opened the letter from Industrial Illusions, it read:

Dear Misha,

Heard about your defeat in the I.C, but maybe I can help you gain back your title as a born winner…and in the meantime help me plan my takeover of a certain company which I think you've heard of.
Write back as soon as possible…I will set up the meeting place and we can discuss more there.

Sincerely, Maximillion Pegasus

Thrilled to have received a letter from the creator of Duel Monsters, he quickly responded back.

The next morning Misha felt like he had be hit by a semi-truck, he walked into the bathroom and turned on the light…in the mirror he saw that a part of his hair going from the middle of his forehead to the left, and spiking off at the end, had been colored maroon…and what made things worse is that nothing would obliterate the streak, then he saw it…the bracelet was back around his wrist.

He distinctively remembered taking it off before bed, so how did it get back on? Was it responsible for the hair thing? With so many questions it seemed like the more things were explained, the more mysteries remained. The morning of everyone took notice of Misha's new hair style, even at school…it made him stick out more than usual, eventually he thought that it might not be such a bad thing.

Nine months after sending the letter Misha saw a limo in the driveway, it had Industrial Illusions logo on it…he knew that it was time.