Proxima Centauri - Wow, what a long response! I didn't think you'd write so much in reply to my question. But hey, it just gives me the excuse to write more here.
I pretty much agree with the points you mentioned, like the idea of getting rid of the darker Yami character and the extra Millenium item part. It's just been overdone by other authors and makes the OC more Mary-Sueish, something that most authors would like to avoid doing.
Romance involving Kaiba? Hah, the chances of that happening is like seeing him becoming extremely chummy with Yuugi and his friends. It's not impossible, but highly improbable. His past history with his adopted father and his own personality would make it extremely difficult for him to relate to anyone else, especially to the opposite sex. It may be easier with his past self, though, since he didn't have as much hardship in his life. But then again, I don't see even the priest as the kind of person to easily fall in love with anyone. Even his relationship with Kisara can be questionable, depending on how someone looks at it.
Ah, I remember your writings seem to involve Bakura quite a bit. I do agree that writing romance stories for him isn't exactly a piece of cake. It's slightly easier writing someone for the Omote Bakura, seeing as his personality is more gentle and approachable. But Yami Bakura? I really don't see him as the kind of person who is capable of love ... sorry. He's just has far too much hatred in him and only seems to think of revenge against the people who caused him such pain.
Maybe Youlan realized the flaws in this story and that's why she decided not to continue writing it.
Chapter 4
When class was over ...
"Yuugi ..." Ruri called out happily as she stood in the doorway to his class.
"Ruri?! What are you doing here?"
"Oh, nothing. I just have something I'd like to ask you."
"What is it?"
"Hmm ..."
"YUUGI ..." A voice filled with jealously spoke, surprising the two siblings. They turned around and sweatdrops appeared on their foreheads. It seems that the male students in the class had surrounded them while they were talking.
"Yuugi ... aren't you a bit too treacherous? You already have Anzu so why are you trying to get a new girlfriend?
"That's right! Are you trying to put your foot into two boats now?"
"Yep! You've a girlfriend with such a good figure. Shouldn't be counting your blessings instead of trying to get your hands on such a cute girl?"
"Uh ... Uh ..." Yuugi didn't know how to explain the situation and Ruri was no different. They were simply staring back at their classmates, who were burning with flames of envy and spite.
'Ah ... How did we get into this? I only came to see Onii-chan to talk to him about something ...' Ruri thought, feeling very vexed.
These boys really are quite annoying. Ruri, let me borrow your body for a moment.
/ What are you planning to do?! /
Yami Ruri didn't answer her as they switched places. She gave Yuugi a knowing look, one tha t his other half caught. He also switched places as well.
She then bluntly shouted to the boys, "Are you done yet?! I only came here to speak with my brother. Why are you all making such a fuss out of it?!"
They were surprised as they repeated, "Brother?!"
Yami Yuugi commented, "Forget about them, Ruri. Let's just go. It's not a good idea for us to discuss anything here."
"Hmm ... You're right. Let's go, Brother!"
They both left the classroom, leaving the boys standing there with their mouths gaping open.
The pair headed up to the top of the school.
"Ruri, do you have something on your mind?" Yami Yuugi asked.
"Hmm. Lately, I don't know why but I keep having the feeling that something is about to happen." Yami Ruri said slowly.
"What will happen?"
She replied with a serious expression, "I just have an ominous feeling. Just like the impression I felt in the past when 'that incident' was about to occur."
"That incident?! Really?!" His face became gloomy at the thought.
"Well, it seems that it may happen in the next few days." She turned towards him. "Brother, you know how accurate my intuition is. I think it's best that you prepare yourself as well. But, I still hope that my premonition is wrong this time. What happened in the past hurt us both so much, so I don't wish for us to experience that terrifying thing once more."
"Yes, I don't want to see that either." He became silent for a while before asking, "Do you have anything else to tell me?"
"No, I don't. But my other half has something to say to your other half."
"Then ..."
They both switched places with their other personalities at the same time. Yuugi asked his sister, "Ruri, what is it that you wish to tell me?"
"It's just that ... I don't know how to choose a club to join."
Yuugi nearly fell over in surprise when he heard her say that. 'Don't know how to join a club? Then how did you survive elementary and junior high?' He thought. "Alright, let's go talk to Anzu. She's a member of the dance club."
"Thanks!"
In the dance studio, the president of the dance club, Anzu, was directing the new male members of the club. They weren't following her directions very well, as they were moving very clumsily.
"That won't do! This won't work! How many times do I have to tell you?! You should dance like this ..."
Anzu demonstrated the dance steps again, but everyone could see that she in a bad mood.
"Oh ... Sempai! Have mercy on me! I really can't do this."
"That's right! Those floor movements or whatever you call them ... are causing me so much pain ..."
"Can't we take a break? My bones and joints are aching!"
The male members were all complaining.
"NO! You're all a bunch of useless boys. We've just danced for twenty minutes and you're already grumbling. You're a disgrace!" She scolded.
"But we just can't do all that."
"Can't do it?! If you couldn't perform these moves, then you shouldn't have joined the dance club!"
The group of male dancers then obediently closed their mouths. None of them wanted to be kicked out by the president of the club. If they were excluded from the club, then they would lose the opportunity to dance with Ruri.
"Sheesh ..." Anzu peevishly said. She was actually very pleased to see so many people wanting to join the dance club but they were a bunch of talentless people. Once she thought of that, Anzu sighed again. She wondered why some were so talented and could learn faster than others when they all were the same grade level in school. 'Just look at those two. While the boys are groaning about having to learn the floor movements, they only needed twenty minutes to learn the moves. In one day, they had memorized the standard and proper gestures, movements and steps. Compared with those talentless boys, they're simply ...'
"Anzu-san? Are you feeling well? You don't look too great ..." Ruri had picked up a cold towel to give to her.
"Huh? Thanks." Anzu accepted the towel. "What's giving me a headache are those guys!" As she spoke, she pointed a finger in their direction.
"Eh ..." Ruri glanced at them and shook her head as well. She saw the boys all lying out on the floor, appearing to be very tired from the dancing.
"Looking like that, how can I let them dance for the school? Once they step onto the stage, I won't be surprised if they destroy the club's reputation." Anzu commented dryly.
Ruri chimed in, "I think so too."
The other girl sighed. "If they could be like the other you and the other Yuugi, it would be just great. Those two definitely have the talent for dancing."
"Oh? Haha ... I think they would be very glad to hear that." Ruri smiled.
"That reminds me. I'm suspicious ... How did the other you convince the other Yuugi to dance with her? I thought he would never agree to it!"
"About that? Honestly, I have no idea how she persuaded him. She only told me to 'Leave it to me.' and then somehow gotten her brother to agree."
Anzu sighed. "It's a pity. We're still one male dancer short. If we had another male dancer, the dance number we're performing would be even more marvellous."
"Still missing a person? Why don't you ask Onii-chan's friends?"
"Oh, that's a good idea!"
In the evening, after he had finished taking care of the trivial matters in his company, Kaiba sat in the sitting room as he held the Sennen Rod in his hands.
He was thinking, 'Where did I see that girl before? I keep feeling that she's someone familiar ... where did I meet her?' Looking down at the rod, he asked it, "Do you know?"
(AN: Hey, Kaiba ... do you have a problem? How could you ask something that isn't alive such a question?
Kaiba: Why do you care?)
As if in response to his query, the rod began to glow brightly. Kaiba stared at it for a moment, then a small smile appeared on his face.
"So that's how it is. It's her ... she's also been reborn."
He put down the rod and headed towards the window, glancing up at the clear moon.
"The beautiful princess of Egypt, Tameri ..."
Closing his eyes, Kaiba began to recall the memories of over three thousand years ago ...
Three Millenia Before
He was the priest in charge of the Temple of Light in ancient Egypt, Seto. Possessing the powers of the Millenium Rod and the White Dragon, he later started a rebellion against the Pharaoh. In the end, he had lost to the Pharaoh at the time, Atem.
When the officers surrounding the Pharaoh wanted to execute him, a beautiful princess stopped them. That princess ... was Tameri. He was surprised. Why would she want to save him?
She only smiled softly in response and looked at the Pharaoh, who didn't say anything to her. He told the military officers to leave them and turned around himself to return to his chambers. Before the Pharaoh disappeared, he simply told her,
"Tameri ... I will comply with your wishes."
In gratitude, she replied, "Thank you, my brother!"
He had asked her at the time, "Why did you save my life?"
"Because, you still have another task to do ... I can't let you die. If you were to die, we won't be able to resist the danger in the future."
"Danger?!"
"That's correct."
She then called over her attendants and had them tidy him up. She also had the Millenium Rod and the stone slab of the White Dragon returned to him.
"These belong to you, so take them back."
She walked away from him, heading towards the inner chambers of the palace. He watched her form disappear slowly into the darkness, leaving him behind as he stood in his place.
At the time, he had made a resolution to himself that he would one day repay her kindness. Later on, he would discover that it was the Pharaoh himself who had asked his younger sister to save his life. Since that moment on, he began to feel a strange emotion towards the Pharaoh as well ...
(AN: It's not what you're thinking!)
The next morning, Kaiba was taking care of his documents as he usually did as he sat in his seat.
"Kaiba!"
"What?"
He glanced in the direction of the voice and was shocked. "Tameri?!"
"Shhh!" Yami Ruri quickly covered his mouth with her hand. "Come out here!" Not caring if he was willing or not, she dragged him out of the classroom. He didn't know why himself but he didn't want to resist her in the first place as he let her take him up to the roof of the school. "It's been a while, Seto. I didn't think you'd remember my name from three thousand years ago so soon. I am truly happy!"
"I'm not delighted to say the least." He replied callously.
"Hmm ... You're still so cold. Even after three thousand years, your personality is the same as always."
"Humph ... enough nonsense!"
"But ... I like that aspect of you the most ..."
"How nauseating."
"Hey? Don't you feel honored by it? After all, there aren't many out there that I am fond of, other than my brother."
"Humph ... I tire of hearing this rubbish. What is it that you want?"
"I do have something that I need your help on. Can you partner up with me for a dance?"
It took Kaiba a while before he could respond. "What did you say?!"
"I said, can you dance with me when the anniversary of the school's founding comes?"
"You ... that'll never happen!" He replied angrily. 'You want me, Kaiba Seto, to dance with you in front of a big crowd? I would rather stay at home and deal with the big pile of documents.'
Yami Ruri appeared to look puzzled. "Why not?!"
"You ... Don't think of making me do such a humiliating thing!"
He didn't know when she had moved close to him as she pleaded, "Please! Consider it as you helping me out here. I'll find some way to repay you later."
Kaiba was not moved by her words. "It's out of the question! I told you, I will never do such a disgracing thing!"
"Please! Just help me this time and I'll pay you back later."
She then tried the method she once used on a stubborn Seto in the past -- acting like a spoiled child. As she expected, Kaiba heart softened at her pleas. It wasn't because of the conditions she had mentioned but for some strange reason, he just wanted to agree to her requests.
"Fine."
A big smile appeared on her face. "Really?! I'm so glad! You better not go back on your promise now. I love you the most, Kaiba!"
"Humph."
She deftly ran down the stairway, searching for her friends to tell them the good news. As for Kaiba? His heart had shuddered when he heard her say, "I love you the most." He was absolutely sure that there wasn't anything wrong with him too.
"Just like what happened three thousand years ago ... I've agreed to her demands too easily."
He also went down the stairs to continue dealing with all the paperwork he had on his desk.
Postscript by Youlan --
Youlan: It seems like the leads in this chapter are Yami Ruri and Kaiba.
Yami Ruri: The last chapter was like that too. Are you trying to kill us from exhaustion?
Youlan: Is it that serious?
Kaiba: Of course it is! We have to be shooting scenes every day and I already have dark bags under my eyes!
Youlan: The reason why I have you all working is because I think highly of you all. Just look at Jounouchi. I don't really care about him getting his parts in.
Jounouchi: What did you say?!
Kaiba and Yami Ruri: Fine, we'll accept the work grudgingly.