Kamilah: Hello! I'm glad you decided to drop by and look into this story. But first, I wanna give some background info:
This story is based on some true events that happened in my life. I am using the personality of people in my life as a foundation for the characters, so a lot of them may seem OOC. Though I did my best to transfer each person from my life into the character most like them.
Disclaimer: Yu-Gi-Oh! is the intellectual property of Kazuki Takahashi. However, the plot and storyline is my intellectual property. You may not use it without my approval.
Warnings: Cursing, shounen-ai. If you can't stand it, then you should leave.
(AN: The yamis and the hikaris have the same bodies. They are addressed depending on which soul had taken over. Yami=Yami Yugi, Bakura=Yami Bakura And Marik doesn't have a "yami" or "embodiment of anger", whichever you prefer to call what he has in the manga/series. What Ryou has in this story is similar to what Marik has in the manga; his yami is developed throughout the story; Bakura does not exist simply because of the M. Ring.)
Just so you have an idea what some of the plot will be like: I had a friend a while ago who in the summer going into eighth grade decided to go internet dating. She met some people online, but they weren't exactly the best people. It really messed up her life, and it had a chain effect towards all of her friends, including me. It really f*cked up all of our lives. Many of us suffered mental and physical abuse as a long-term result of her Internet dating.
Try to bear with me at the beginning; the intro is a bit slow due to the complex situation. Please review at the end and tell me what you think. An honest opinion would be great. Flames are accepted as long as you give me a good reason to insult my work.
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If You Still Believe
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~Chapter I~
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Yugi's POV
I always hated summer because there was no school. I enjoyed school because it was always fun for me to learn new things. I also liked it because it was the only time I could hang out with my friends freely.
Most teenagers despise school because they claim it obstructs their freedom. For me, however, it is quite the contrary. It actually gives me more freedom of choice to do what I want.
My grandfather is very overprotective. He doesn't let me do the same things that most other kids can do. He's also very strict about my behavior.
Last year, in seventh grade, I had the greatest social life I've every had. I never used to have any close friends because I was so quiet and somewhat shy. But over the past year, I've made some really good friends, like Anzu, Honda, Ryou, and Jounouchi. I've even learned to like Jounouchi's sister, Shizuka.
We've all become really close. Every day, we'd sit together at lunch and talk about whatever was on our minds. Some of our favorite subjects of discussion were Millennium items and Shadow Magic, simply because they were so interesting. I've missed my friends and our conversations during the summer, but now everything will be back to normal since school's started again.
I woke up this morning teeming with excitement. I couldn't wait to see my friends, meet my new teachers, and start the brand new eighth grade curriculum.
It turned out that all of my friends and I had the same lunch period. We have quite a few classes together because we are all in the highest-level Math course, Track 1 (Math is the only subject that offers a higher level course in eighth grade). We are all students with highest honors, which means we have a grade point average (GPA) of 3.75 or higher. But Ryou, Jou, and I are the only ones in our group who have maintained a 4.0 (straight A's) average all throughout Middle School.
When my groups of friends gathered around our usual table for lunch, I immediately noticed something about Ryou. I couldn't put a finger on it; it was as if his aura were different, its pureness slightly tainted.
And it got weirder. Ryou, normally somewhat talkative and always eager to contribute to the conversation, remained oddly quiet during lunch. He seemed almost. . .spaced out.
When the lunch period ended, I approached my friend. I was worried about him.
"Hey, Ryou," I began tentatively. "Are you all right?"
Ryou seemed to snap back into the real world, from whatever "world" he had been in before. "I'm fine, Yugi. Why do you ask?"
"You seem a bit preoccupied today," I explained. "How's everything going with you and your father?"
"Everything's fine," he replied. "I was just thinking about this message board I discovered this summer. It's called the 'Palace'. There are so many interesting people there; I've already met this girl named Isis. She's really cool." (AN: Yes, it's 'Isis' as in the goody girl we know as 'Ishizu' in America. However, Yugi and Co. don't know Isis or Marik yet in this story)
"You're chatting with people online who you don't know?" I asked, feeling lines of worry crease my face.
". . .Yes," he admitted. "She's really neat, though. She's thirteen, just like us. She and I have a lot in common."
"I see. . ."
"The bell's gonna ring soon. Cheerio, Yugi!"
"Bye."
I had a terrible feeling about this Internet thing. I knew it was risky and dangerous. This supposed 'Isis' could very well be a fifty-year-old man sitting on his souped-up computer, smoking pot and drinking beer. He could be a hacker, a criminal, anyone. . .
I made a mental note to talk to Ryou tomorrow about the Internet and the 'Palace' message board where he's meeting these people. I think it's a good idea that he avoids getting involved with people like this online.
I have a bad feeling about this.
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Kamilah: Okay, the boring stuff is over now. *sigh of relief* Now, by clicking on to the next chappie (when I post), you can start reading the more interesting stuff! I'll update ASAP, so keep your eyes open! Btw, I'm really sorry this chapter was short. ^_^U The next one WILL be longer, though!
Please REVIEW! And like I said, flames are totally acceptable if you give me a good reason when you insult my work. If you have any questions, comments, and suggestions, please include them in your review.
Chapter II Preview: Ryou meets Marik! Ryou begins to think he has feelings for Isis. Will she accept Ryou's love, or will someone else win Isis' heart?