Updates ... OMG! I really have Sugoroku on the brain! I can't stop jumping ahead to work on future sections with him. He is just so cool, (among other things) but you, unfortunately, have to wait to read them. Sending this out to you all a little earlier this week since I won't be home over the weekend. I have a dog show to go to.

PyroDragon2006 ... The attack on the citizens was a hard line to go to. I had trouble writing those last two chapters because of my vivid imagination. Basically, when I write it, I see it. The only thing worse is to think that the war could have killed millions more if the Japanese hadn't finally said, "Okay, we give up." They're back up plan for homeland invasion, was that every last man, woman and child left should attack every chance they got with what ever they could find. Not a pretty sight to imagine.

Scarab Dynasty ... Special thanks to you for reading and reviewing my one shots on Yugi and Jonouchi. Whoo hoo! You rock! I loved the 'Drepressed city, poulation one' line too! I'm glad you enjoyed both because I really enjoyed writing those. : )

Snow Weaver ... Don't worry Snow. From here, things begin to turn in a new direction for Sugoroku!

Okay all! Time for a whole new world to emerge. As usual, I thank you all for reading and reviewing when you can. It just totally makes my day!

Trixie21

Okay, you all know the drill. I have to take up valuable space and time to say that I do not own any part that is the coolness of the Yu-Gi-Oh universe. That honor goes completely to Kazuki Takahashi. Authoress as she bows subserviently before her shrine of great creators... "We're not worthy! We're not worthy! We're not worthy!"

This Old Man: Sugoroku's Story

Part 1: Japan

10. Changing Lands…

The Americans had come.

For Sugoroku, the American occupation was a bittersweet event. On the one hand, it signaled the end of their life in the hills, and a return to the comforts of city life, which for him had always been little anyway. But at least they did not have to huddle, three together, under one blanket in the rain, or steal from the houses on the edge of the city to survive anymore. There was a moment of thrill when they looked out at the bay, and saw the American Naval ships sailing serenely to the undestroyed portion of docks still safe to moor too. Osamu announced, "We can return now" and off he went, leading Sayuri and Sugoroku back through what remained of the streets, to where their home once sat.

On the other side of it, the American forces served as a reminder to the boy, that the Emperor's confidence had brought about the attack that resulted in the terror, carnage and destruction he had witnessed back in March.

A part of him despised their presence because of what they had resorted to in order to end the war. Yet a part of him was glad to have them because it ended the hardship with which they had struggled to live for so long. It was a most confusing dilemma.

The Mutou home had managed reasonable well, because of the amount of brick and metal Osamu had used to reinforce it. But there were some wooden portions that had not survived the ravaging fires that had swept through that shocking night back in March. With no school to attend any more, Sugoroku found himself at his father's constant call to "hold this", "lift that", or "stack the bricks here" as they set to work for the next week, rebuilding the little home. It was tiresome work and the young man quickly found himself loathing this manual labor. He would have given anything to sneak away, just once or twice a day, to go play any available game he could find, but his father's eye was on him, and the older man kept him working very nearly from dawn to dusk to waylay any irresponsible behavior.

Sugoroku kept his growing disdain for such work to himself during that time of reconstruction, but when his father announced at the end of the week, that he and Sugoroku would go the following day and look for work at the new hospital centers being built, and perhaps manage to stay on doing cleaning chores, Sugoroku felt a flash of anger surge through him.

Almost four years at that military school had taught Sugoroku that he was above such dirty work. His teachers had repeatedly told him that he had a mind as sharp as any samurai sword, so why should he have to lower himself to menial labor? Besides, the headmaster's bullying of him with the bulk of the classroom chores had long since refined Sugoroku's distaste in cleaning. He'd had enough of that to last two lifetimes.

When he had broached the thought to his father, Osamu was at first surprised, but this was quickly followed with a puffed, angry look that well reminded Sugoroku of a round red beet.

"Mutous work, Sugoroku. They work hard. It is hard work that kept a roof over your head and food in your stomach. You talk about working above your station. You are a boy of only 16, there are no more schools to speak of and the military is gone, so how do you propose to find a job that satisfies your empty head? Without high classes, no university, and no money to afford them even if they were still here, you cannot get the learning you would need to get a job behind a desk. To go about speaking of your military school would be foolish with so many Americans walking our streets. True enough that they give us food and water, and are organizing the people to rebuild the city, but do you think they would show leniency if they found out what you were taught because you are a boy? Boys your age were dieing before them in waves and because of them, the American's own people fell too. No Sugoroku. There is no easy road for us. There is only hard work and you would do well to remember that if you wish to survive the next few years."

"But if I can do more than that, then why shouldn't I?"

Osamu slapped his hands on the newly built table causing the cups of water to jump slightly.

"I will tolerate no disrespect at my table. My word is final Sugoroku. Tomorrow we will find honorable hard work."

Sugoroku could swallow no more of his father's rule and quickly moved away from the table as he stood up.

"Sugoroku," his father warned.

But the mind of even the average teenage boy can only stomach so much authority, and it took only that one call of his name, and the boy was out the door and down the street.

The unfairness of it all! If he had talents that could make life easier, why couldn't he use them? Who was his father to tell him that he had no choice? There was always a choice. Hadn't they drilled that in his head enough during the strategy games to know, that if one looked hard enough at a bad situation, a better option was always available? Options that increased success... Options that brought honor... Options that could bring fame... Options that made life easier...

Who was he to tell Sugoroku, that he could not look for a better option? He was sixteen years old, very nearly fully adult, not some little child. If he wanted to find some better, easier way to earn money, he would do so. That was his choice.

As Sugoroku slowed his steps, he looked up, and saw in the distance from the area of the docks, a flag waving slowly in the muted colors of the evening. Even without full light he could make out its colors. Red, white and blue. The flag of the United States.

That was it he thought.

The Americans.

They had not come to take over Japan. They had no wish to make it their own or rule over it. They had come to stop a war. Though they had come for the country's surrender, they had also come to be sure no further war would be waged in the future. It was only days ago, that word of a great ceremony had been held on one of the American ships, to bring about the officail ending of the war.

Men of importance from many sides had been present for this 'signing,' and from that moment on, there were now constant talks and meetings with these many men and those that the Emporer had choosen to represent him.

The Americans were even now, drafting new rules of leadership for a democratic legislation, making the title of emperor only honorary for their culture so that no one man held such sway ever again.They were at this very moment, beginning the stages of the reconstruction of the country and its infrastructure.

They were mobilizing the people across the country to organize, and begin the rebuilding of their lands and cities and lives.

Schools would be reestablished, and the children that attended them would grow up in the next 20 years under the eyes and instruction of those that would be following the guidelines set forth by the now dominant power that was America. These children would grow to see a new life, a new world, emerge from the ashes.

The earlier turmoil he had once faced over his confusion with this powerful nation slipped out of him, and in its place came an understanding, that these were not truly takers. They were merely men who fought because they had to. They did what they had because they were given no option. And now that it was done, they wanted the people to be able to live normally again. Yes, it would take years to get back to it, but they were helping and laying those foundations even only days after the offical surrender of Japan.

They gave food when there was none. They gave clean water when none could be found. They gave guidance and direction to the very people they had fought against for so long. They gave them assurance of a better life and of freedom.

Of course these last two things would not be fully realized for a long, long time, but the potential was there.

Yes, the United States had taken many Japanese lives, but so too did the Japanese take many American lives, and if not for his own country attacking the American Naval base in Hawaii, those lives might never have been lost in the first place.

The Americans were offering their help to rebuild despite it all, and though it would be no easy undertaking, the people of both sides were ready to try. Some would welcome it. Some would have difficulty changing - like his own father. And some would take a philosophical look and say that it was life, and neither think here nor there over it.

Sugoroku would use it.

As the flag waved once more before his eyes, the boy took a deep cleansing breath, and made up his mind.

Tomorrow he would go down to the docks and wait. Something was bound to come his way, and it would be far easier than the life his father wanted for him.

He would make sure of it.

Next Chapter: East Meets West…

R and R's gratefully appreciated: )