It's a New Day

The heavens had never been painted with such brilliant as well as spectacle shades and hues of the most majestic colors you could ever hope too image. The celestial winds felt as soothing as a mother's touch on her newborn skin. A magnificent snow white bird soared effortlessly leaving a glittering rainbow across the skies as it sang in a dreamy voice.

He was happily watching all this laughing without a care on a cloud. Cradle beneath his wings leaning his head against his chest was little Yugi. His heart inside his chest fluttered like a butterfly first emerging from its cocoon from the boy sweet touch. He felt at peace that nothing could ruin this sweet and prefect moment.

Out of the blue the dreamy landscape was drastically altered as the skies became as black as tar and blood poured with white lighting flashing dangerously all around them. He tried to pull Yugi closer too him but the boy then slipped all the way through his fingers as if he were a ghost plummeting too raging vortex underneath.

"YUGI!" He went to spread his wings to save him and was shocked too see only blood-spattered stumps. "NO!" he cried as Yugi screamed a voiceless scream as the swirling torrent of bleeding darkness swallowed him whole and exploded like a red giant. The whole world them became a devastated inhospitable environment as the life was stolen from it in a single second. A malicious chortle was heard echoing vociferously in the deathly silence of the destroyed dream as the young prince body became so besieged by the raging feelings he explode into smithereens.

"YUGI, NO! AHH!" screamed Yami as he woke with a cold sweat. His heart was racing fast and his breathing was intense. He never experienced anything like this before. Never had he had such a dream that it made his body act in response like this. If he wasn't so bewildered by all the things happening to him, he be in reality be in awe, by the fact his body was having such unusual sensations. They were so different from the customary deadened in addition to purposelessness he had become accustomed too having.

"Yami? You ok? What's the matter? You're screaming like someone was killing you. Here have some water," Yugi said as he gave him a glass of water. Yami swallowed it all as fast as lightning. Then he placed his trembling white hands on Yugi face and just cradled his face.

"Are you ok, little one? You've not been harmed?" he asked in such a way Yugi thought he was going to have a heart attack. Kneeling beside Yami he took his hands into his and placed them over his heart. "I'm all right, my friend. You're having a nightmare is all. It's over now just settle down and take a deep breath ok?"

"It felt so real. Like someone was trying to rip me apart from the inside. The pain was so excruciating I felt like I was going to explode. I couldn't tell what was real and what wasn't," Yami told him shamefully with his head hung low.

"Yami we'll have bad dreams. But what's important too remember we're the ones in control of the dream. Dreams can't hurt you in less you let them,"

"Mahad once told me dreams are sustained by one's memories of their waking life. The first part of my dream was happy then it was shattered like a stain glass window. I wish I paid more attention in my lessons. I would've have been able too determine what this dream meant," he replied bitterly

"One who is "Mahad" and two dreams don't always mean something, Yami. Sometimes a dream is just that a dream. Nothing more and nothing less,"

"Mahad is one of my father's …employees. He the only one I could really have a discussion with next to my older cousin Seto. On the other hand neither could be of assistance to me with my predicament. They were as unable to help me as I am to help myself, to alter my cursed fate," he sighed miserably then got a weird look on his face.

"Yugi I'm feeling a very weird feeling involving my legs. It's very soggy and smells ghastly. What's going on?"

"Oh boy. Yami, I think you wet your bed. Come on get up let's see," he said as he helped the young teen up and indeed the young prince had soiled himself and the bed as result of his nightmare.

"Oh this is so humiliating! Never in my life have I'd this happen too me. I'd be ruthlessly punished for embarrassing myself in addition to Father in such a sickening manner. How could I've leaked such a fowl smelling liquid? I've never had this happen before," he said as he went too the closet door and prepared to shut his hand in it.

Yugi ran too him and stopped him in the nick of time from breaking his hand. "Yami it's no big deal if you went your bed. Everyone does it at least once in their lives. Many children do it and Joey wet his bed till he was 14! Don't let him know I told you that. I'm really not that surprised. I mean you drank two pots of tea and three cups of coco and with your nightmare, you just didn't feel yourself needing to go. Look go too the bathroom and clean yourself up and I clean up your bed ok? Look I'll meet you in the kitchen in 15 minutes and we'll have some warm milk it put us both back too sleep ok?"

"Ok Yugi we'll do as you command. I'm really delighted you're ok," he said as he went into the bathroom and the sound of hot water was almost immediately heard. Yugi surpassed his concern as he ripped the sheets off the bed and went to the laundry room.

After Yami had cleaned himself up Yugi tried to get him to go back too sleep seeing how it was 2:00 am. However Yami refused to go to sleep in less he was absolutely in no doubt Yugi was ok. Yugi ended up getting a moth-eaten sleeping bag out of the closet and Yami slept the rest of the night next too Yugi's bed, in the company of a teddy bear Yugi had also retrieved from the closet.

Yugi was up in the early hours of first light. Grandpa was busy making a very large breakfast and looked like he was the only one who slept decently last night. "Morning, Yugi. How did our new house guest sleep last night?" he asked at the same time as he added a number of eggs into the frying pan.

"Grandpa, only you could sleep through a scream that sounded like WWIII was about too go in too motion. Yami was sleeping very peaceful then something really bad happened in his dreams. He woke up screaming like someone was driving a burning hot knife all the way too his soul. He wanted to harm himself because he wet the bed. I couldn't get him to go back too sleep alone he ended up sleeping right next too my bed. He just wouldn't go to sleep in less he knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that I was ok," Yugi relayed to his grandfather as he set the table.

"Yugi, maybe we should call someone. If Yami has been through some type of abuse you and I both know the abuser won't stop till he found him. You can't protect him by hiding him,"

"Grandpa I know you speak the truth. But you promised me you let me try and help him before we took action. Please let me at least try first," he begged him as he finished setting the table.

"Ok. But I want both of you too come straight home after school today. You and Yami both come right back too the game shop for a week safe and sound then while see about let you both go about a bit alright?"

"Ok, Grandpa."

"Yugi? Mr. Moto?" called a somewhat frighten voice from the hall.

"In here Yami. We're just about to have breakfast. If you like the rice cakes form last night you're going to find this irresistible," Yugi told the young prince as he came little by little into the kitchen.

Yami sat down at the old elliptical wooden table. He gazed curiously at the food before him. It was very vibrantly colored and smelled breathtaking and in fact looked worth swallowing. Turning to face Yugi he asked, "What is all this?"

"Let's see we have freshly squeezed orange juice, French toast, eggs, sausages, and Grandpa's trademark chocolate chip, blueberry pancakes sprinkled with a hint of cinnamon and glazed in honey. Enjoy it!" he said as he began to happily eat the mouth watering delectable before him. Yami in next to no time joined the two short men and was contentedly munching away. His taste buds became lost in an astonishing new seventh heaven of overwhelming sensations.

It seemed all too soon the wonderful paradise had to be stolen from him by a necessary evil known too human children as "School". Yami started too follow Yugi out the door but stopped when he saw the three new faces. Since he been out cold last night he hadn't properly met them. For some unidentified explanation he felt his legs become very weak and he was almost unable to stand.

"Come on, Yami. Its ok these are my friends. They won't hurt you. Come on," Yugi coxed Yami as if he where a small pup afraid to leave his mom. He slowly walked over to them despite he thought he was going to fall flat on his face at any moment on his jell-o like legs.

"Hey guys, this Yami. He's going to be staying with me and Grandpa for awhile. Yami these are my best friends. Joey Wheeler," "Hey how you doing?" asked the fair-haired teenager. "Tristan Taylor," "What's up dude? How you feeling after going toe to toe with those jerks?" asked the tall russet haired schoolboy. "Last but surely not least Tea Grander" "It's a pleasure too meet you Yami," Tea said respectfully too the boy as she reached out to shake his hand. However he looked confused by the gesture. He stared at her hand not understanding what too do next.

"Um we better get going guys. Come on!" Yugi interject quickly as they started walking to their high school. They where'll walking at a very brisk pace all except for Yami. He was walking much slower and taking in ever detail of the world around him. Every sight, sound, and smell was as if he had just been born fresh from his mother woman and was seeing the world through the eyes of a child for the first time. It was so breath stealing all the wonderful things he was encountering.

From the elderly couple walking their little dogs, a morning jogger in a bright pink outfit, a young mother pushing a stroller with her little baby cooing happily inside, all the way to a bunch of preschoolers being helped across the street by a kindly redhead lady in a bright orange vest holding a strangely shaped sign. He could perceive the sound the charming songs of the birds in the ash trees lining the sidewalks, flamboyantly bedecked with dazzling chalk drawings. One of the tiny squirrels was trying to pick a chalk drawing of an acorn which he actually found himself astonishingly chuckling at. The smell of the bright emerald grass as well as stunning flora sent his nostrils for a trip past the moon from the invigorating scents.

Yami was so lost in this new world around him; he didn't realize he was standing in a middle of a red light. He was just so enthrall by the buildings surrounding him, he didn't hear or see the crimson Mercedes coming at him at 45 mph!

Yugi who had been just talking with his friends realized that Yami wasn't with them anymore. He looked over his shoulder and was about to yell his name when he saw Yami about too become road kill.

"YAMI! LOOK OUT!" he yelled loudly to his new friend who was staring at the gargoyles on the nearby gothic clock tower.

"Yugi? Huh? Ahh!" he screamed as he became frozen like a deer caught in the path of a semi headlights. He knew he be ok if the rampaging beast struck him down, but it would blow his cover, nevertheless he was feeling an out of the ordinary feeling going all the way through his body as the mad beast continued to stamped closer too him. He closed his piecing amethyst eyes tightly waiting for the inevitable beast ferocity. But it didn't come. Instead he felt someone tackle him and then the pair rolled till they hit the metal guardrail.

"Hey! Tell your stupid friend not too daydream in the middle of the road, punk! I'm not about to let my sweet new ride be ruined by some spacey idiot!" yelled the blonde young man from his car with the wind blowing his American flag bandana in wildly in front of dark sunglasses that concealed his angry blue eyes.

Joey grunted furiously for the driver vulgar response. "Hey pal! You're the one who nearly caused a hit and run driving like a manic in a school zone! The posted speed limits 20 mph pal! You could've had at least the decency to see if the guy is alright, not worry about your stupid sports car!"

The man just snorted and speeded away as fast as he could. The last thing they saw his license plate that said "Bandit K" in big bold azure letters. "Man what an ass! Man I hate guys like him people who think they're better then everyone because the got a lot of dough! You ok Yami?" Joey asked as he helped him up and dusted him off.

"Yami! Joey! You guys ok?!" yelled Yugi urgently as he along with the rest of the group ran too their sides. Yugi ran right too Yami who was still in shock and white as a ghost. "Yami? Yami? You ok?"

"Yugi? What was that beast and who was that vile man inside it?" Yami asked at last as he looked at the gang who all looked at him with a strange look in their eyes.

"That dude was a Mercedes with an asshole driving it. You're telling us you never seen a car before?" asked Tristan with an eyebrow cocked in astonishment.

"No I've never seen anything like that. They don't have them in my home. Um let's forget it please! Thank you Joey for saving me from that thing," he told him as he started to run away.

"Wow! That boy is one strange dude! I mean where on Earth can someone live and not know about cars?" asked a stumped Joey as they ran too catch up to the young teen.

"I don't know Joey. But I think it be best if we just don't press him to talk about his past too quickly. We need too gain his trust first and then we'll let him in his own time talk about his past," Yugi told his friend as they struggled to catch Yami who ran fast as the wind.

Yami had reached the school but was shocked too see both males and females mixed together and actually having fun together. While he did admit they all looked the same in their uniforms he could still distinguish the vast diversity in the midst of the herds of youths. This was unquestionably different then what he had grown up with.

"Hey Yami, could you slow down a bit, please? Some us our not as in shape as you're in," panted Joey and Tristan with their faces red as beets and covered in sweat. They looked about ready to drop dead form just running three blocks.

"Oh please it's no wonder you both have Ds in P.E. with how bad a shape you're in. I don't know it, but it would most likely help if you two weren't such couch potatoes all the time and actually exercise more then just flipping channels on the television," Tea said sarcastically as she arrived positively glowing. She flipped her short brown her which glisten in the morning sweet sunrays of life as she gentle touched Yami shoulder which caused him jump in surprise.

"Tea?" he asked startled by her touching him.

"Hey look you ok Yami? I mean none of us really know anything about you but is something on your mind? You seemed to keep spacing out and it's not very polite and it almost got you killed ten seconds ago,"

"No Tea nothing on my mind," he fibbed to her while looking away, then he looked back and replied with full honest to the whole gang, "I'm just taking in the sights of the city is all. There'll so new and different from where I'm from. Even this Academy of yours is different," he explained.

'How is our high school different from schools where you're from, Yami?" asked Yugi courteously with a heartening smile on his sweet face.

"Well in my culture we got very strict laws about gender issues. Boys and girls do not under any circumstance interact or even made conscious that there is another gender till between the ages of 16 and 18. Girls are strictly brought up with the females and same with the males. Depending on the background of person will determine when they can meet the other sex. This goes alongside with our marriage laws. All marriages in my culture are arranged. Some of the matches are done by the parents; others are done by my father employees. In addition girls as well as boys are also specified firm guidelines as what they can and can't do. Father says it's too maintained order over chaos and the only thing marriage needs is beauty and good breeding," Yami confessed sadly with his head hung low.

That's has got too be the most sexist immature in addition to ridicules piece of bull-shit I've heard in my life! We're not in the middle ages anymore! This is the year 2007 and women in most country can kick ass and do a hell of lot more then just stand there looking pretty and be doormats to the men! Does your dad expect each and every woman on Earth to be like the "Stepfrod Wives?" Tea furiously exclaimed at their new friend statement.

Yami gave her a very strange look not getting the pop culture reference the young girl had just made. He however did like that she was against the ideas and was very flamboyantly showing it. It was a nice change like the food that had been so bland to see someone with a personality. As they day wearied on he saw each and ever person was very different from the other.

He found Joey to be incredibly corky along with rather amusing. Like when they were leaving study hall and he by accident got his left foot stuck in the janitor mop bucket and slide all the way into the vending machine outside the teacher lounge. Despite the fact that it was hilarious he was concerned his fleshy new friend was hurt. However he in next to no time joined everyone in a fit of laugher as free goodies poured out.

Tristan himself was wonderful too see him act as well. Yami found him to be most interesting when he was trying to have a discussion with two extremely attractive females at lunch time. But he must have offended them in some manner, because they dumped their wonderful food on him.

Tea was the most outrageous female Yami had ever met. She had brains because in Math class when the teacher called her and another student up too do a particularly difficult formula for him, she got it hers right and faster too then the other. She also wasn't' afraid to speak her mind and take action if treat like a "damsel". He found this too be most unusual from what he was brought up with.

However what Yami loved best was just being with Yugi. Despite that he had too be the shortest kid in school and obviously been picked on a great deal he was still a very optimistic pure heart soul. He gave his lunch away too a kid who lunch was stolen from him by some bullies and helped a freshman find her class after getting her locker open and getting her books.

During a time know as 'free period' which was the last period of the day before the kids were allowed to leave, he found out something that did shock him. Many of the kids used this time too take out thin colored squared paper out and seemed to engage in some kinda of ritual. From what he could tell Yugi was very good at whatever this strange ritual was because it seemed he was victorious every time it was played out. He was able to catch word like "Magic, Trap, Monsters, and Life Points" after watching this puzzling conundrum for quarter of an hour he got up from the window sill which he been off sitting at and went to see what Yugi was doing.

Yugi was sitting at desk facing a young white haired youth that he been introduced as Bakura. They were in the middle of some kinda of battle with these color full squares paper. His eyes went wide when he saw what was printed on the squares where the Divan Beast of Xanadu! How did the people of this strange world know of these creatures? Had his father great omnipotent powers and the Heart of Xanadu one way or another stop working? Was Xanadu being prepared to be laid siege too by the humans? Was this some kinda training?

"With the Horn of Heaven blasting its celestial tune your Man Eater Bug is no more, Bakura and with that your Life Points drops too zero ending the duel. Good game! You almost had me with that Change of Heart card two moves ago," Yugi told his friend happily as they shook hands.

"Oh Yugi don't be so modest. You've never lost a Duel ever. You're not known as The King of Games for nothing my friend. Still I hope one day there is a duelist up too your caliber who can school you in dueling and that I'll be able too see it!" laughed Bakura.

"Yugi,"

"Oh hi Yami would you like too play some Duel Monster with me? It the best game ever invented!"

"Game?"

"Yeah game you know something you do for fun? To kick back and enjoy yourself? You know shooting the breeze with your friends?" Joey asked but could clearly see that Yami didn't know what the word game meant.

"Your new friend must be some loser, Wheeler if he doesn't know what Duel Monster is. Everyone on the planet knows this game and the only ones who either don't have a mind at all like you or must have grown up in a cave in the middle of nowhere," snickered a cold unemotional voice from the doorway. Everyone looked up and Yami looked in shock.

"Seto? What are you doing here?" he asked apprehensively.

"Hey you and the rest of the dweebs call me Kaiba got it? No one but Mokuba has the right too address me by my first name got that you moron?"

"Hey Kaibutt don't be so hard on him! He's new in town and doesn't know anyone!" Joey snapped at Yami cousin twin.

"Shut up you dog. You're just a joke Wheeler always have and always will be," Kaiba scoffed at Joey.

Yami felt that raging fire like feeling inside him again. Without thinking he yelled loudly too the departing young man, "Seto Kaiba! I challenge you too a Duel!"

Everyone stared at Yami as if he was crazy. Like he willing walked up to a firing squad and told them to shoot him. Kaiba was one of the best Duelists in the world, hell his company made billions ever five seconds from sales of the dueling equipment he made.

Laughing like this was the most absurd challenge in the world only too have Yami continue too stare unmoved made him realize the teenager was serious. "You want too duel me? You've got too have a death wish kid. But if you really want to be humiliated beyond belief fine with me I could use the practice. So where is your deck kid?"

"I've never actually played this game before, never even heard of till I got here. Yugi if you be as kind as too let me have access to your deck. I will show this ignominious scoundrel the ways of true honor and respect!"

"Oh this is rich. I think I'm going rip my spleen in two from laughing so hard. If you started preaching Yugi's stupid mantra of the "Heart of the Cards," I'm going to lose both my spleen and appendix from laughing so hard! You dweebs meet me on the roof in five minutes so we can really duel and the whole school will see you be broken in two.

"Yami you just dove head first into red water!" exclaimed Joey to his new friend.

"Yeah that's Seto Kaiba. He the best of the best! His whole life is one duel to the next! No one has seemed to beat him and his three Blue Eyes White Dragons he got!" Tristan exclaimed however Yami won't be put off.

Fast as wildfire the whole school gathered to see this strange newcomer duel Seto Kaiba. While Yugi and his friends where they too support Yami another friend of theirs Duke Devlin got a very reluctant Bakura to help him handling the betting ring for the duel.

Yugi had briefed Yami as quickly as he could about the game and told him all about the Heart of the Cards. The stage was set for a duel of epic portion. Kaiba threw Yami a bright red disk and slipped a matching one on his wrist.

"Ready to face your doom kid?" he asked insanity loomed within his cold blue eyes ready to slaughter disillusion adolescent before.

"More then ready let's duel!"

"Fine me first. I hope you can handle this!" as he sent the disk flying with an angry outburst of color as his monster emerged from the magic of this device. The students cowered in fear because of the life likeness of this hologram was way too real for them. It was like it was real really real! But Yami was unfazed. He knew that while Battle Ox looked real it wasn't because no matter how real Kaiba tried too make it Yami had actually meet the real thing countless times in Xanadu and this was very pitiful in comparison to him.

The duel was soon underway and everyone was stunned by how well Yami was doing. It seemed impossible for someone who never heard or played the game before was actually causing Kaibutt to squirm in those rich shoes of his. What was also amazing Yami kept talking to the holograms as if he really knew them! Like they were real people he knew! They didn't know if he cracked or was trying to phych Kaibutt out. He didn't even twitch so much as an eyelash when Kaiba bust out his BEUD.

"Oh like she's really supposed to scare me? Come on I mean sure she got three heads big deal. I've seen much scarier things then that, Kaiba," he taunted him. Yami never felt like this before. He didn't know what it was but he was unafraid even with that three headed super powered up dragon in front of him. He felt like Yugi was inside him with his caring heart guiding him with each turn of the card. He felt no he knew that the cards wouldn't fail him.

"Ha! Talk all you want! But you got nothing on your side of the fields and I've got more life points then you! One blast from my BEUD and you and that smart mouth of your's are ancient history! Next turn you're done!" he grunted angrily.

"He's right. I've got nothing at all. All I've got in my hand are four pieces of Exoida. Shimon has a bond with this creature. He says he has great power but it has to be balanced out in five pieces. What are the chances I'll draw the final piece? I'll fail like I failed all my life!" he thought as he tried to reach for the deck but it seemed to sense his doubt and fear and pulled away. "No! I can't fail! But I can't do this by myself I'm not strong enough"

"Let us help you, Yami. Never be scared to ask for help. I promise I'll always be here for you," said a voice as a hand placed itself over his.

"Huh Yugi? How are you all in my mind?" he asked confused.

"Friends are always there with you no matter what Yami. Believe in yourself and your heart. You can do this. We're all with you," as multiply hands now where on his hand each glowing with a strange symbol. Feeling his confident being renewed he smiled and draw the card.

"You're good Kaiba; nevertheless this Duel is going to go to me! I summon Exoida the Forbidden One!" all jaws dropped too the ground as the legendary beast was summon too the felid. Yugi smiled wide at Yami for accomplishing gaining self -confidents as well as faith in himself from the duel.

Smiling broadly the prince then commanded to his monster, "My dear friend Exoida casted away your chains of misery and let loose your power in the joy of an honorable battle. Blue Eyes Ultimate Dragon I'm sorry to have to annihilate you in such a manner. But I must as do as the rules articulate. Exoida OBLITRATE!"

Kaiba buckled too his knees from the shock of his humiliating defeat. He just muttered over and over again that it wasn't possible. Everyone lifted Yami high in the air cheering loudly but he slipped off and walked over too Kaiba extending his hand too him.

"You did your best. It was an honorable defeated. Don't wallow in self-pity. Just try too doing better next time,"

"Get out of my face, you moron!" he said as he shoved the stunned prince too the ground. He snatched up his tech and left in a huff.

"Did I do something worng?" he asked too Yugi as they walked back too the game shop.

'No all you did was bruised his pride and deflated his ego a bit. Don't worry Kaiba always bounce back. But he won't get any better if he doesn't let anyone in and he continues to hide amongst his machine. Letting one's heart become stone and denying your own humanity isn't very good Yami. Once the damange been done its' almost impossble to repair in less that person willing too do for themselves. Come on we got to get home and help Grandpa in the shop. I can help you build your own deck if you like,"

"That would be …nice. I like that. Yugi to be perfectly honest this has been one of the best days of my life ever. Duel Monster is a lot of fun and playing it I don't know it did something for me. Something good,"

"I glad to hear that Yami. Still how it's you're so good at something you had no idea of before two hours ago?"

"I don't know I guess you could say it felt a lot like home. Like the people I know from home I mean," as the two young boys reach the game shop. As they closed the door behind them a strange musical breeze was heard as it came and went carrying away a few more feathers.

The Heart of Xanadu was singing its song louder now and glowing more brightly. It seemed too be smiling happily despite the fact the one who was wearing it was scowling as he looked upon his son empty room with a murderous look in his steely eyes.