A Legacy Unfinished
Disclaimer: needless to say, if YGO belonged to me, this wouldn't be called a fanfic and I wouldn't be posting this on
Summary: Sequel to 'Identity'. The legacy carries on in a new timeline – modern Domino. Ryou and Seto face new problems the legacy holds in store for them. Semi-AU Duellist Kingdom and Battle City S/R YY/R
Chapter Title: The Invitation
Warnings: yaoi, OOC, semi-AU, weirdness of character and DK, BC plot changing! If you don't like, DON'T READ! No one's holding a gun to your head and FORCING you to read this! And all flames will go to burning Anzu/Tea, and assisting Baku and Marik in their evil schemes.
Author's Notes: I think it would be safe to say that people were generally okay with the ending of 'Identity' . . . and I was afraid that people didn't like it.
Before I forget, when I say 'Alternate Universe', I mean that the yamis are in separate bodies from their hikaris. Yami is Yugi's older brother, Bakura is Ryou's and Marik is Malik's . . . like inside 'Identity'. The yamis are the Duellists, but they're all there, okay? I know the gang calls Ryou by either 'Bakura' or 'Bakura-kun', but in this he's still going to be Ryou and Y.B. will be called Bakura.
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Chapter Four: The Invitation
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A fragile, beautiful young woman sat forlornly at the window, gazing outside. Her pale hair shone in the moonlight, and her dark eyes were distant . . . sad. A white dove settled on the windowsill in front of her, cooing softly. She reached up a pale hand to stroke its feathers, lost in thought.
"Not even a goodbye . . ." she whispered. "Why are you so cruel . . .?"
The dove cooed again, a comforting sound in the silence. A tear slipped down her pale cheek, falling down onto her lap. The door opened quietly and a male voice spoke.
"Still awake, my love?"
The newcomer walked over to the window and took her in his arms gently. She closed her eyes as he rocked her back and forth in a comforting motion. He stroked her pale hair as she had the dove's feathers, murmuring to her quietly. A whisper sounded again in the darkness.
"My love . . . my only love . . ."
Why are you so cruel?
Seto's eyes shot open and he sat up, clutching his chest. His heart was beating painfully and he felt a sudden wave of grief overcome him. The woman seemed so sad and so lost, trying to find her love. He brought a hand up to his face when an unfamiliar, warm sensation accumulated there.
He touched his eyes and cheeks gingerly. It was warm and wet . . .
Tears.
Why was he crying because of a dream? There was no reason for him to cry. It wasn't like the woman meant anything to him. But the dull ache in his chest didn't go away and the tears in his eyes didn't dry up. He just felt so . . . grief stricken. Like some part of him had been ripped away and was out of reach.
Not even a goodbye . . .
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The phone rang.
Sleepily, Ryou dragged himself up from the pillows, reaching for the phone on his bedside table. Picking up the receiver, he held it up to his ear and murmured a quiet greeting. The voice on the other line was familiar.
"Ryou?"
He jolted awake at the voice, heart pounding.
"Y-Yami?"
"Ryou – I wanted to apologise," Yami said hesitantly. "I didn't mean to put pressure on you or anything . . . gomen nasai."
"Iie, Yami, I should be the one apologising," Ryou stammered. "I shouldn't have run away, gomen. It's not your fault."
Ryou heard Yami breathe a smile and he couldn't help but smile himself. They sat in silence for a few moments before the sound of beeping was heard in the background. The albino blinked, then realised that there was another call coming in. He apologised to Yami and they hung up. As soon as he did, the phone rang.
"Moshi moshi?"
"We need to talk."
"Kaiba-kun?"
"Do you have time now?" Kaiba asked.
"Is something wrong?"
"Stop answering my questions with questions!" Kaiba snapped. Then his voice softened. "Look, do you have time or not?"
"Well, yes, of course I do, but . . ."
"Then I'll meet you in front of your apartment in fifteen minutes."
The CEO hung up before Ryou could voice a protest. He sighed as he hung up, glancing at the digital clock on the table. 2:00 am. Did Yami or Kaiba ever sleep? He was so tired, but the CEO was going to be here soon. Reluctantly, he dragged himself out of bed and pulled on a sweater and jeans.
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". . . She is not doing well . . . we request your presence in the capital immediately . . . prepare for the worst . . ."
The letter was clutched tightly, creasing it into a ball. The hand that held it was shaking badly. A wave of panic rose, stumbling out of the door to the stables, where a proud black stallion waited patiently. Mounting the stallion, a hand patted the powerful side and words were whispered.
"God speed, Senkou. Like the wind."
The wind whipped through untamed hair, hooves pounding on the dirt road in the dead of the night. Hands gripped the reins tightly, shaking. The stallion did not need directions to know where to go. Its mind was at one with its rider, knowing exactly what to do and where to go.
"Please be safe . . . please . . ."
Ryou shook his head roughly, trembling. He was standing just inside the glass doors of his apartment complex, waiting for Kaiba to arrive. What was that about? His heart was still beating painfully, just like the person was in the dream . . . was it even a dream?
He raised a hand to his chest, breathing deeply to try and calm his heartbeat. The panic felt so real. He could still feel the whipping of the wind through his hair. And the name of the stallion . . . Senkou. It seemed to be so familiar.
"Ryou!"
The albino looked up and hurried out the door to greet Kaiba, who had just skidded his motorcycle to a halt in front of the complex. The brunette removed his helmet, looking the other in the eyes. His sapphire ones were troubled and deeply disturbed. Ryou instantly became concerned.
"Daijoubu ka, Kaiba-kun?"
"We need to talk somewhere privately," Kaiba said abruptly.
"Kaiba-kun . . ." he began.
"We need to talk."
"Why couldn't we over the phone?"
"This is much too important." He was handed another helmet. "Get on."
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He had finally made the connection he needed for answers. The albino woman in his dreams . . . she had the same hair and the same eyes as Ryou did. There was no mistaking the likeness. It wasn't the first time he had seen this. Every time he opened the book Ryou had lent him, he had had all these visions.
Scoffing at himself, he had thought it stupid. They were only pictures that had come to mind because of what the book had said. It wasn't anything important. But then the dream had come so suddenly and so realistically he couldn't avoid it.
He felt Ryou wrap his arms around his waist tightly, like he had done when the CEO had driven him home after the accident. The other boy was tired, he knew, but this was much too important. They needed to discuss this in a safe place.
"We're going to the lookout," he said curtly. He felt Ryou nod.
The lookout was a small, pagoda-like structure built on top of the hill overlooking Domino City. It wasn't very far out, but it was far enough for them not to be overheard. At this hour, no one would be there.
The drive there was uneventful, the roads and highways deserted in the early hours of the morning. He was pretty sure Ryou had dozed off, but the grip around his middle had not slackened. When they arrived, the lookout was indeed empty and thankfully so. Kaiba turned off the ignition and Ryou stirred.
"Are we there already?" he mumbled sleepily.
"Hai."
"What did you want to talk about so urgently, Kaiba-kun?"
"Come with me."
They went underneath the pagoda's vast and ancient-looking roof, making over to the edge of the railings overlooking the city. Kaiba frowned, making Ryou hesitate. The CEO wasn't pleased about something.
"The book you lent me . . ." Kaiba began, "is there any truth to it?"
"I-I should like to think so," Ryou replied. "It is, after all, the history recorded over the ages about this city. But why the sudden curiosity?"
Kaiba leaned on the railings, the breeze picking up his neat hair.
"Certain – things have been happening when I read the book," he said slowly. "I am not one to believe in these things, but it is too coincidental."
Ryou held his breath, mind going back to the dream that had flashed before his eyes. He edged closer to the CEO and they were almost touching now.
"There's always this feeling of dejavu when I read it," he continued. "It's almost as if I've experienced it before. But just then, I had a – a dream of sorts. About a woman, an albino woman . . . someone who looked like you."
"Boku?"
Kaiba's eyes bore into his. When he had told him about the woman, his voice had dropped to a whisper. This struck a chord within Ryou's mind and he remembered that same tone whispering in his dream.
"God speed, Senkou. Like the wind."
Kaiba turned to stare at him.
"What did you just say?"
Clapping a hand over his mouth, Ryou realised he had just spoken the words aloud. They seemed to come so naturally to him, as if his mouth had formed the words before and were merely repeating them . . . or as if he had heard it before. And the name – Senkou – it sounded so familiar.
"I had a brief dream before you arrived," the albino said quietly. "In it, someone was reading a letter. Something about a woman not being well . . . and then there was this black stallion. The person whispered to it and they left."
"What would this mean?"
"Do you think that – that maybe the book wants to tell us something?" Ryou whispered. "Maybe . . . maybe it's trying to give us a message."
Kaiba snorted contemptuously.
"Don't talk of such nonsense, Ryou," he said. "A book is an inanimate object."
"But you were the one who came to me," Ryou pointed out quietly. His eyes were deep in thought. "Besides, you said it yourself – it is much too coincidental. It must be trying to tell us something . . . but how can we find out what? This isn't normal."
Between the two of them, Kaiba and Ryou weren't stupid. In fact, they were far from it on their own. If it were left up to others, it would probably take another person to inform them of what was happening. But the CEO and the albino were top of their grade and their minds worked more quickly.
"Would the history teacher . . . would he know?"
"About what? The dreams?"
"Iie. The stories." Kaiba's fist rested on the railing. "The stories of the sixteenth dynasty. The Mutou rule. I'm fairly certain that's where all the scenes are coming from."
"I think so."
"And if he doesn't, he'll lose his job." Kaiba smirked.
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Yami went downstairs into the kitchen, pulling on his school jacket sleepily. He hadn't slept all night because he was worried about Ryou. Who would call him at such an insane hour? Well, beside him, of course. But Yami had a right to call – he was Ryou's boyfriend after all.
Sitting at the kitchen table was his jiichan and Yugi, eating breakfast placidly. He yawned, alerting them to his presence, and sat down, pulling a plate and dumping a piece of toast onto it. He began buttering it when jiichan spoke up.
"You got a package in the mail, Yami."
"Sou ka?"
Sugoroku motioned vaguely at the rectangular package on the table. Curiosity wiped any sleepiness from Yami's mind and he quickly grabbed the box before Yugi could get to it. It was addressed to him very clearly, but with no return address. He raised an eyebrow at the logo in the top right hand corner of the box. Industrial Illusions?
"Isn't that the company who produced Duel Monsters?" Yugi asked, peering at the logo as well. "And the guy who created it is the president?"
"Pegasus J. Crawford," Sugoroku supplied helpfully. "Open it, Yami."
"Hai . . ."
He removed the box from the brown paper and opened it carefully. Inside was a maroon, fingerless glove with what looked like a metal cuff. There were star-shaped sockets around the cuff, ten in total, evenly spaced out. He blinked, then put aside the glove and turning to the other contents. There was a videotape and two gold stars.
"Nanda kore . . .?"
"Maybe the videotape will tell us something about it," Yugi piped, grabbing it and running to the living room. "Come on jiichan, niichan!"
He pushed the tape into the VHS machine and pressed the 'play' button. The screen flickered and began to glow brightly as the video started.
"Mutou Yami." The screen showed a silver-haired man dressed in a black suit with a scarf. He was smirking from behind the veil of hair that covered more than half his face. "You have been invited to the Duellist Kingdom tournament I have organised to start tomorrow. Inside the package, you will see a glove and two star chips. These are your proofs of qualification. Tomorrow afternoon, you and the other Duellists will gather at Domino Port to be taken to my island."
"Sounds interesting," Yami said with a grin. "Wonder who else is going to be there?"
"Bakura-kun maybe. And Kaiba-kun!"
Yami grimaced. His two biggest rivals were also very accomplished Duellists – both with ridiculously over-inflated egos and horrible attitudes. He had scores to settle with both of them and they were all connected with the way the two of them had treated Ryou. And for being so arrogant and annoying, of course.
"I have allowed for each contestant to bring one spectator along," Pegasus continued. "After all, there should be witnesses to what will be the most legendary battle of Duel Monsters. The creator of the game, me, and the champion – the winner of Duellist Kingdom."
"Hey, does that mean I can go too?" Yugi asked excitedly.
"Aa, Yugi," Yami agreed. "After all, we're partners, aren't we?"
"What about school?"
"Ack, jiichan!" Yugi complained. "Don't remind us!"
"Come on, aibou," Yami said affectionately. He ruffled his 'partner's' hair. "Let's go, or we'll be late to school."
The TV screen went black and Sugoroku ejected the tape while Yami and Yugi wolfed down their breakfasts and left. He was proud of his two grandsons. They got along better than most siblings and had inherited his love of history and games. Yami especially was gifted in the gaming area, while Yugi excelled in history. He had to admit that he had raised very fine boys with very little help.
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Domino Port was crowded with Duellists of all ages. There were primary school boys who were busily discussing cards and strategies, teenagers who boasted about powerful cards and adults who just stood by and glared at the other competitors. Yami and Yugi mingled among them all, trying to see if there were any other people here who they knew.
And then Yugi saw it. A mop of unruly blonde hair came into view as they neared the boarding ramp. Yugi ran over, calling out excitedly.
"Jounouchi-kun! You're here too?"
Jounouchi turned around at the sound of Yugi's voice and grinned, flashing a thumbs-up sign to Yami, who returned it. He wore a Duellist Kingdom competitor's glove with two star chips lodged in the star-shaped sockets. Yami blinked.
"Did you get them in the mail as well?"
"Actually . . ." Jounouchi grinned sheepishly. "I didn't get any of this in the mail. I duelled a kid for them."
"Nani?"
"You see . . . my imouto, Shizuka, needs the prize money for an operation. If she doesn't have the operation, then she'll go blind. And really, three million dollars . . . it's more than enough to cover the operation and all her other needs while in hospital."
"Jounouchi-kun," Yugi said sympathetically, resting a hand on his friend's arm. "Gomen nasai . . . I didn't know. But you and niichan work hard, ne? I'll be cheering for both of you!"
"Yami-kun! Yuugi-kun! Jounouchi-kun!"
Running towards them was Ryou, with Bakura trailing behind, glaring at Yami. The tri-haired teen smiled warmly at Ryou, hugging him as the albino collided with his chest. Yugi, Jounouchi and Bakura blinked in surprise.
"When did this happen?"
"Why didn't you tell me, niichan?"
"Let my otouto go, yarou!"
Ryou detached himself from Yami, smiling blissfully as the other answered for the both of them. Bakura yanked his younger brother by the arm, away from Yami, scowling angrily. He wasn't about to let Yami get anywhere close to Ryou during the tournament.
"I never knew you guys swung that way," Jounouchi blinked.
"You don't know anything, baka," Bakura sneered.
"Niisan . . ." Ryou cautioned, hitting him on the arm lightly.
"Why didn't you say anything before?"
"We – uh . . . kinda wanted to keep a low profile for a while," Yami admitted. He smiled at Ryou, who blushed. "Until we thought you guys should know."
Bakura's scowl deepened and he turned to Ryou accusingly.
"I thought you and Kaiba were an item."
Yami frowned. Kaiba and his Ryou? He knew the CEO was up to no good when he was at Ryou's apartment. As Ryou's blush deepened, Yami started to feel almost insanely jealous. How dare Kaiba try and cut in between them like that! He stalked over to Ryou and tugged him away from Bakura, still frowning.
"What does he mean by that?" he asked quietly.
"Kaiba-kun came to take me to school the other day . . ." Ryou whispered, eyes wide as Yami's eyes flashed. "You knew about it – remember? When I sprained my ankle? Yami-kun, you aren't . . . mad at me, are you?"
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Jounouchi and Yugi watched this new development in confusion. First Yami and Ryou – now Kaiba and Ryou? How many guys were after Ryou anyway? He looked very upset at the moment, and Bakura was smirking. After Ryou's whispered plea, Yami's eyes softened.
"Iya, I'm not mad." He looked over Ryou's shoulder and glared. "Kaiba."
Ryou spun around and came face to face with Kaiba Seto, who was being tailed by a black-haired boy with grey eyes. The boy bounced over to them, grinning widely. He immediately turned to Ryou, who looked at him with wide eyes.
"Konnichiwa!" he chirped. "You must be Bakura Ryou! Niisama told me about you! I can't believe you're here! Are you a duellist too? Too bad for you, niisama is the world champion!"
"Mokuba, that's enough." Kaiba put his hand on the boy's shoulder and pulled him away from Ryou, who was blinking in surprise.
"Kaiba-teme," Jounouchi growled.
"Kisama wa?" Kaiba raised an eyebrow. "They let dogs enter tournaments? Oh wait, you must be a spectator."
"Oh that's it! You're so gonna get it this time, Kaiba!"
Yugi and Yami held back Jounouchi, who was flailing his arms and kicking his legs, trying to reach Kaiba in vain. The CEO smirked and turned to the two albinos, nodding at Bakura and watching Ryou. The younger teen flushed.
"Glad to see your ankle has recovered, Ryou," Kaiba said.
"U-Un, arigatou Kaiba-kun." Ryou smiled at Mokuba. "Is he your brother?"
"Hai!" Mokuba chirped. "Name's Mokuba! Nice to meet you, Ryou-kun!"
Ryou smiled at the child's outgoing attitude, which seemed to be exactly opposite of his older brother's. Mokuba had a wide grin on his face, an eerie cross between a genuine smile and Kaiba's smirk. He still had qualities that reflected Kaiba's, but he made them much cuter and more likeable.
"Nice to meet you too, Mokuba-kun," Ryou said politely. He motioned to the others. "This is my niisan, Bakura, and my friends Yugi-kun, Jounouchi-kun and Yami-kun."
"Hi!"
Yugi and Jounouchi returned the greeting, the blonde having calmed down enough to not be restrained anymore. Yami only nodded curtly, still glaring at Kaiba. Mokuba looked around at them all, counting in his mind. He then turned to Jounouchi in question.
"Didn't you bring anyone with you?" he asked. "I mean, Ryou-kun must be with Bakura-kun and Yugi-kun with Yami-kun and I came with my niisama. Who came with you, Jounouchi-kun?"
"I'm waiting for Honda," Jounouchi replied, looking around.
While they waited for the said teen to arrive, Yami approached Kaiba. Ryou was currently busy being picked on by Bakura and Yugi and Jounouchi had gone into the crowd to find Honda. Mokuba clung to Ryou's shirt and conversed with them, gazing up at Ryou with admiration.
"You've got nice colour hair," he said. "It's the same length as mine, but yours is much nicer. Niisama thinks so too . . . well, he didn't say it, but I think he does. I know my niisama well enough . . . are you niisama's friend? I think you should be his friend. He's lonely all the time and . . ."
"Keep away from Ryou, Kaiba," Yami ordered.
"Who I choose to associate with is none of your business," Kaiba replied.
"When it comes to Ryou, it is," the other retaliated. He glared. "I'm warning you now, Kaiba. If you dare lay one finger on Ryou at all, I will hunt you down personally and murder you. I don't want him to associate with the likes of you."
"Omoshiroi." Kaiba matched his glare evenly. "We'll see."
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End Chapter Four
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Author's Notes:
Kami-sama! This fic is back! I was watching Battle City again and decided that I had to write this fic again. Especially when I watched the episode where Seto acknowledged Ryou (and said his name! Kami-sama! Squeal) and he's so cool . . . Ryou's so cute!
And so starts Duellist Kingdom . . .
REVIEW!
Relinquished