Mark of the Assassin

In the end, the police arrested Kokurano for molestation, scamming and several different charges. His main accomplices were charged with assistance, and all ended in juvenile detention. A rule quickly spread around school:

Thou shall not fuck with the little archmage.

Blowing Kokurano straight through a window had earned Yugi huge cred, and everyone wisely agreed messing with him or his friends was simply suicidal. Yami had a good laugh over it.

"Some things don't change with time, uh?"

Then, a few days later, Joey went missing. He didn't show up at school, and Yugi trusted Tristan when he said he wasn't home either.

"Trust me on this: his dad is an abusive drunkard. He doesn't sleep at home if he can afford it. Most of times, he lives with my family, but he hasn't shown either."

"He is surely in trouble." Miho shuddered. "Miho is scared. She hopes nothing bad happens to him."

Tea turned to Yugi.

"Out of curiosity, would you know a spell to locate him?"

"There are several. I'll need something belonging to him, though."

Tristan handed him a switchblade.

"Back in the days, he and I used to run with gangs. That's where we learned to brawl. I left as soon as I got in high school, but Joey never really let go of the act. It used to be his."

"Good. It will do."

Then rain started to fall and the teen looked up.

"Perfect. The spell works better on running water, but it's rain which produces the best results."

His friends got their umbrellas. Yugi didn't. Instead, he let the rain wash over him. He always liked the feeling. Soon, puddles formed on the ground. The teen located a deep-enough one and focused on Joey's picture. Then he dropped the switchblade. The ripples ran over the surface and it was no longer a grey sky the water reflected. It was his friend, standing at the side of several delinquents as they harassed a meek upperclassman in an arcade. Yugi recognized the place.

"Found him. But we better watch out. The rest of the gang is there."

They followed him to the arcade, wisely staying behind as he neared the entrance. He didn't have to get in, however. It was Joey who came to him.

Joey rubbed his arm. Ever since that morning, it had started itching and the feeling was gaining in strength.

"I'm getting out. I need some fresh air."

"Yeah. Whatever, Wheeler."

The itching had become a burn. He had to leave and find some water before it got worse. He folded his sleeves… and couldn't help but gape at the symbol glowing on his arm. It was a claw, sharp and deadly. He had just gotten out when the pain exploded.

"It burns!"

He fell on his knees, desperately holding his arm as the rain fell on it. But it wasn't enough. Not until two hands dragged him away from the arcade and applied cold water on the mark.

"It's alright, Joey. It's alright. Hang in there. You'll be fine."

"Yu… Yugi?"

"Yeah, that's me. Hang on."

Joey relaxed. Yugi was holding him. He would be fine. In the meantime, Yugi's mind was reeling.

'The Rear Claw!? Orion! Joey is Orion! Of all people…' A chuckle escaped him. 'Figures. Fitting that Orion would reincarnate as a part-time delinquent. He was an assassin, after all. He was also the one who taught me to use weapons.'

Soon enough, the mark stopped burning and glowing to reveal a beautiful viridian color – the same as Yugi's mark. The teen took his friend and dragged him along. Joey didn't have the strength to resist. They went to Kame Shop. Sugoroku was only half-surprised to see them.

"You look like you ran into problems. Anything serious?"

"Don't worry, Grandpa. We didn't have to approach that gang."

He summoned flames to dry himself and Joey and handed his friend tea. The rest of the group took the snacks the elderly man had brought them. Joey looked at the Mark.

"Damn, that thing hurt! What was it? It looks like yours."

"The Mark always hurts when it appears. We all go through the same thing." Yugi reassured. "As for what it is, you'll remember soon enough. The next weeks are going to be disturbing but Joey? Don't worry about the dreams. It's a normal occurrence with us."

"Why are you being so cryptic?"

"Because you wouldn't believe me if I told you. Best that it comes back on its own."

"Fine, I trust you. But what does it mean?"

"That you're not alone."

The words felt reassuring, and Joey badly wanted to believe them. Tristan crossed his arms.

"Speaking of, what were you doing with these guys? I thought you'd cut ties with Hirutani."

Joey grimaced.

"He threatened you. If I didn't go back to his gang, he promised he'd invade your homes and beat you and your family. I trust Yugi to handle himself. You, Tea and Miho? Sorry, no. And, when he'll realize where I went after I left, he's going to take it poorly. I better come back."

"You won't."

Everyone turned to Yugi. The teen's gaze was harsh, and Tea was suddenly reminded of the ancient and powerful man she had glimpsed facing Kokurano.

"Yugi… What are you?"

"I can't say yet, sorry. I know we're friends, but that secret isn't one I can share with anyone."

The group frowned, but the teen wouldn't bulge. He turned to Joey.

"Hirutani threatened to invade our homes and beat us. Actually, that's an excellent idea. Do you know where their base is?"

Joey's eyes lit up.

"I do. You sure you can handle them?"

"I'm tougher than I look."

"No argument here, but still…"

"Joey, I will be fine. They won't lay a finger on me."

Miho scoffed.

"Miho thinks you're a braggart."

"It's not a boast if you can make good on it."

"Miho will believe it when she sees it."

"You're on."

They would strike Hirutani's gang tomorrow. Joey decided to stay at Yugi's house. For his part, Yugi mentally contacted Shadi, who agreed to watch over Tea's house while Oath-Keeper Dragon watched over Miho's house and Dragon of Silence protected Tristan's home. If the gang tried to make good on their threat, they would be in for a surprise. But nothing happened that night.

The next day, Yugi and Joey went to Hirutani's hideout.

"You were right about the dreams: they were weird."

"What did you dream about?"

"Believe it or not, the Crusades. I don't remember all of it, but I was part of an order protecting a territory and we killed any leader who tried to annex us. Our boss had a strange key and a couple of guys wanted them back: a mage and an archer. What's weird is that the archer could talk to birds."

Yugi tried to remain stoic. Of course, Joey would dream of his first incarnation. To remain polite, the whole operation to recover the Millennium Key from the Assassin Order had been a clusterfuck. He and Jeremy against an entire order of trained killers, with the crusaders having their eyes on the Assassin Territories and the Grandmaster of the order having not just the Millennium Key but also the ring in which Shadi had been sealed a century ago. Fortunately, Orion had figured something was off with the Grandmaster and had turned on the Order, helping them along. The operation had ended a success, even though Orion had died from the injuries sustained against the Grandmaster as he fought alongside Sinuhe and Jeremy. It had earned him a place at their side, the Viridian Dragon branding him with its Rear Claw.

Hirutani smirked as he saw the pair enter.

"How kind of you to bring us a plaything, Wheeler. So, back for good?"

Joey's fist met his face.

"Nope. We're sending your asses to juvie!"

Three gangers turned to Yugi with tasers. Yugi simply drained the devices of electricity and coalesced it in a sphere in his arms. One of them paled.

"Oh shit, he's a mage!"

Yugi made sure the voltage was harmless before throwing it back. The thugs collapsed on the ground. Joey smirked.

"And this is why the biggest rule at school is to not screw with Yugi or us. He'll end you."

His body was moving with surprising fluidity. As Hirutani tried to hit him, he couldn't help but find his movements sloppy. The gang leader had no technique. He, on the other hand, naturally fell in a form and struck at lightning speed. Snap the elbow, crush the knee, bind the arm and put him in a chokehold, then press one spot to make him collapse like a ragdoll. Easy.

What bothered him was that he didn't remember learning to fight like that.

"So… normal as well?"

"Yes. It's just muscle memory."

"And you're sure I shouldn't be afraid?"

"Certain. Trust me, those memories and skills mean you're not alone."

"Memories…"

Now he thought about it, the dreams had been a bit too real to be "just" dreams. Was it what they were: memories? Well, if they were true, he decided he liked them. Who didn't dream of being a kickass assassin as a kid?

The next day, he decided to drop by the gym. His whole body felt like it was itching. Maybe practicing what his dreams showed him would help. He'd have to get his hands on daggers, though. In his dreams, the assassin always wielded a pair of iridescent daggers.

As if he'd read his mind, Yugi came to find him as he left the dressing room. In his hands were the very daggers he kept dreaming about, sheathed in black leather.

"Damascus steel." The teen explained. "Known for its sharpness, and extremely hard to replicate. Have fun!"

And he did. He started moving, daggers in hand. It was a bit clumsy at first but, the more he practiced, the more his movements gained in fluidity. He covered most of the gym, chaining punches with stabs with grapples with slashes, alternating wielding and grip. To Yugi, the show was beautiful. To Joey, it was like rediscovering a favorite hobby.

"Can I keep them?"

"Of course. The Damascus Daggers are yours."

They went to the arcade a few days later. Though Tea and Miho were a bit reluctant at first, they changed their minds when they saw the dance pads. The boys stayed solely to watch the show, and they were served. Miho beat to the rhythm like no one was there, moving her body without restrain as she laughed. Tristan looked completely lovestruck. Tea, on the other hand, danced with skill. She had taken dance classes and it showed: her moves were perfectly synced with the beat, each step controlled as she danced along. Joey wolf-whistled in appreciation. Tea mimicked elbowing him, but she was still smiling. The three teens cheered as they ended the sequence.

While they were getting refreshment, Yugi was playing a fighting game. His brother's voice echoed in his head.

"I like these. It isn't a question of luck, only skill. Your victory isn't tied to the whims of Fate."

"And you like these kinds of games."

"I enjoy Fate spicing things a little but, if you want a genuine challenge, games that rely solely on your skills and your wits are preferable. If you lose, it wasn't because you got unlucky. It was because you still have progress to make."

"Yeah, that's logical."

And Yugi was definitely skilled. Sure, he never beat the top score held by KAI, but he still repeatedly beat a particularly-stubborn challenger called RYU. The teen grumbled.

"If he could leave me alone… The others are waiting for me and he's holding me up. Here, won. Alright, I'm calling quits. Joey and the others waited long enough."

He made three steps before finding himself face to face with an Asian man. The way the man glared clearly told he was hostile and the small teen was his target. Yugi focused wind – and got a sucker-punch in the stomach. The teen folded, breath short. Yami mentally held him.

"Brother! Are you alright?"

"Already healing." Indeed, a green glow was already on his stomach. "He, however…"

A wind blast hit the thug exactly where he had hit the mage. The spell sent him flying against a machine. Joey appeared at that moment.

"Hey, Yugi, are you – What the shit happened!?"

Yugi stood and glared back at the thug.

"Next time, don't hit a mage."

The thug rose with a grunt.

"What the hell is a mage doing at a fighting game? You should be playing Dungeons & Dragons like the rest of the nerdy kind! Save fighting games for real martial artists!"

"Real martial artists? You aren't one." Yugi fired back. "Clearly, you are missing one key thing all martial artists possess."

"Oh yeah? And that is?"

"Discipline."

Joey snickered. He wasn't the only one. Yami was outright laughing inside the Puzzle.

"Good to see your tongue remains as sharp as your magic, Little Brother!"

The thug spat.

"That does it! I challenge you to a duel, fist against fist! You talk about martial arts. Let's see what you're worth in a real fight!"

"You see me challenging you to a mage battle?" Yugi retorted. "As I possess no fighting skill besides my magic…" It was a lie, of course. In a pinch, the Scepter of Silence was a rather good quarterstaff. "I invoke my right for a Champion."

The thug raised a brow. Other people, including the rest of the group, gathered.

"Wait, you can do that?"

"If you can't defend yourself or don't have the means to follow the rules of a duel? Yes. I don't know how to fight with my fists, but Joey here does. I choose him to fight in my stead."

Joey was about to protest when he took a good look at the situation. If he refused, either Yugi would turn down the challenge and simply blast the thug or he would pick someone else – likely Tristan. Besides, that bastard of a thug had hurt his best friend. It didn't matter that Yugi could return any blow tenfold. It was personal.

"Challenge accepted." The blonde declared. "I will fight in Yugi's stead. What are the rules?"

"Very simple." The thug explained as they moved outside. "We will fight with a knife in our mouths."

"That's it? Easy."

And he put one of the Damascus Daggers between his teeth. He had had a similar dream before. A training session on a narrow walkway against a fellow assassin while both had a knife in their mouth. A lesson in balance and caution. The thug put one of his own knives in his mouth.

"Speaking of, cool knife. I'll take it if I win."

"Go fuck yourself! These daggers are mine!"

And, just like that the fight started. The dream of training easily came back to Joey's mind.

He was fighting Amin, this time. This was going to be problematic. Amin was one of the most agile of their class. The narrow walkway was his favorite training ground, and Orion had often watched him tightrope and cartwheel its length. But, if his fellow student was the most agile, he was better with knives. The pair faced each other. Then the bell rang and they lunged.

The thug didn't have half the technique of the assassin apprentice. As he saw the walkway in his head, Joey had no trouble dodging each punch, even if they were barely more than two feet apart.

They had knives in their mouth. As they threw swing after stab, each assassin-in-training had to be cautious not to cut themselves. It would be painful, and the pain guaranteed they would fall in the water. At least, it was water instead of stakes, this time!

Keeping the Damascus Dagger steady was easy. The blade was an old friend. A faithful friend. It would not betray him. Deeming the farce had lasted long enough, he made his move.

Amin suddenly spun, exposing his back. Orion, seeing an opening, dived in. Big mistake. The Masyaf-born apprentice shot his foot and caught the Greek teenager right in the stomach. Orion spat the dagger and fell in the water. He had lost.

"Hey, start punching instead of dodging around! Coward!"

"This isn't cowardice. This is strategy."

And he opened the soda can in his pocket. Its content spilled to the thug's face, causing him to open his mouth and drop the knife. Joey hit him in the face with enough strength to send teeth flying. The thug wiped his face and ragingly grabbed the knife. But Joey was faster. With one hand, he grabbed the wrist and twisted. With the other, he snaked his arm around the thug's, pushing to sprain the elbow, then put the Dagger on his throat.

"You are a shame to martial artists all over the world. Leave my friends alone, or I swear I will go for the kill next time."

The thug lumbered away, arm and ego bruised. Everyone applauded the blonde. The few schoolmates the group had who were present quickly passed the word around. Soon, there was a new rule at Domino High:

Thou shall not fuck with the blonde knife-fighter.

Joey, meanwhile, had a different issue. He had a new dream, that night. And, this time, it clicked. He woke up with a huge smile. Yugi and his grandfather were downstairs, breakfast ready on the table. The young mage instantly noticed the change and greeted him.

"Good morning, Orion. How does it feel to be back?"

Joey grinned from ear to ear. The words had been spoken in a Persian-Arabic dialect that was specific to a particular region of Syria. He knew it well, and for a good reason: it was his native tongue. He answered in it.

"It feels great. Took me shorter than usual to remember. It's good to see you again, Sinuhe."