Weee!! I'm glad so many people are enjoying this story. I understand things are a bit confusing but, I promise if you just wait around, things will start to make sense. People are e-mailing me asking for the identity of the mysterious boy…and I have to say I'm torn from telling you and between continuing on with the charade. Hopefully in this chapter some of the confusion surrounding the boy's identity will be cleared up.

Disclaimers: I do not own the wonder that is Yugioh….if I did I'd be rich and kicking back in my BMW and not writing fanfics….

Notes: To all my wonderful reviewers!! Thanks for keeping me motivated!! Does anyone want to see a return for the Bishi adventures in this story (see the beginnings to the ITA chapters)? If so E-mail me!

Seto: NO!!DON'T YOU DARE!!! IF YOU LOVE US YOU WON'T LET HER DEGRADE US!!!
Wufei: SHE MADE ME WEAR A SKIRT
Quatre: ….I got chocolate -

Ryou: So did I ;)

Joey: Nobody loved me….

Trowa:……

Marik: Nothing happened to me!! (destroys world)

Yami: I got stoned…and then drunk…

Seto: You hit on me…..
Yugi: I got locked in the closet, but that won't happen to me anymore cause Grandpa say's I'll be getting a growth spurt soon, and I'll be just as tall as he is

Yami: Aibou,…you're grandfather is also short…you won't be getting much taller…

Yugi: (runs into the closet and cries)

Gah, they took over any way! - () eh-heh-heh….anyway now its story time, I swear!

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Chapter 5

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"Ronan!" Mako called from the ship, "Ronan! There's something wrong with the ship's radio! Can you come here and take a look?"

Mako watched as his brother jogged down the jetty to where the ship was docked. It was incredible what a few months had done for to the youth's body. Still standing a few inches taller than Mako, Ronan, as he had been affectionately christened, had filled out rapidly. He no longer was skinny, eating a well balanced diet and being out in the sun helping with the ship's maintenance, and setting the various nets and traps; had left Ronan with a dark tan and the beginning sculpting of a muscular body to match his older brother's well toned form.

Ronan had been well received by the town that he now called home. His neighbor's treated him like had always been there, and sometimes Ronan himself would forget that he and Mako were not biological brothers. But they cliqued together and balanced each other so well. While Mako was definitely the more carefree of the pair, Ronan was shy and more reserved, but always there to share in his brother's antics.

The brothers were never separated. Once Ronan had arrived, he followed and observed Mako around their small sea-side village, causing him to be affectionately nick-named by Kaede, " Shadow".

Ronan had also proved to be a quick learner, as he picked up the basics of sailing and ship repair very easily. He was a hard worker, whom would not finish a job until completed. Once Mako had found Ronan hard at work repairing a few of their fishing nets; the only problem was that Ronan had been working on the project well into the night. Mako had to pry his younger brother away and coax him to go to bed and leave the nets until the morning.

"Oniisan?" Ronan asked as he climbed over the ships rail.

Mako pointed at the small radio that was in the ship's cabin, "Its on the fritz again, little brother. I know that you'll enjoy playing with it."

Ronan's bright blue eyes lit up, "Of course I will brother! But I still say if it keeps breaking down, we should get a new one." the sable-haired boy said as he eagerly began dismantling the radio.

"Because, I know you enjoy fixing it," Which was true, Ronan did seem to have an affinity for technology, and a deft ability to repair them.

Ten minutes later, Ronan proudly presented Mako the fixed radio.

"A new record." Mako observed.

Ronan fiddled with the tuner knobs making sure the radio was picking up frequencies. "Hopefully this time it will stay fixed."

The older of the pair nodded, "Hopefully it will hold out until we get back."

Ronan shut the back of the radio and began to tighten the tiny screws into their appropriate holes, "Where are we going?"

"To the tournament in Hawaii. You know the Duel Monsters on-."

Ronan dropped the screw driver, and it clattered noisily on the deck. Mako watched Ronan retrieve the fallen tool, "What's wrong?"

Ronan look apologetically at his brother, "Sorry, for some reason I got very tense."

"Its alright, you're just tired. You were up late reading again, weren't you?"

Ronan gave a devilish smile, "Guilty."

Mako smiled, he couldn't be angry with Ronan. The boy was growing and adjusting well to his new lifestyle, so Mako was happy to allow Ronan to indulge in simple pleasures.

"What is Duel Monsters, onii-san?" Ronan asked, "Is it a sport of some sort?"

Mako stared at his brother in awe. Had he been so wrapped up in Ronan's arrival and the adjustments that had followed, that he had not told Ronan about Duel Monsters?

"It's a game, brother. I card game. Would you like me to show you?"

Ronan nodded excitedly.

"All, right. Lets get out my deck and I'll teach you all about it."

------

Mako pulled a small carved wooden box from his nightstand, and produced a deck of brown and black well-worn cards. He flipped them over and allowed Ronan to shuffle through the deck. Ronan's eyes seemed to grow brighter as he studied each brightly painted character on the cards.

"Ready for me to teach you? I know you'll like this."

"Ready Onii-san."

Mako cut the cards and placed a small pile on Ronan's right side, and then similar pile on his own right.

"Right, so first draw five cards…."

-----

"…and then once you've set a card in defense mode, you're life points can't be touched, because if your monster's destroyed you don't loose anything; and if I attack your defense and my attack points are lower than your monster's defensive point's I'll lose points. First to 0 looses."

Ronan nodded as he followed Mako's instructions. The game seemed interesting, and he wanted to see how good his brother was; but since Mako had started explaining the game, rules, card types, and card positions, Ronan felt his stomach twist into knot. An uncontrolled feeling of anxiety had crept over him, and he could feel a cold sweat form on his forehead.

"Ronan?"

Ronan looked up a Mako,

"Is there something wrong? I've been asking you to make your move, kiddo."

Ronan nodded and quickly threw down a monster, hoping to appease his brother.

"Is there something wrong, Ronan."

The brunette teen looked at his brother, "No, Mako. I'm sorry Its just that.."

"What?"

Ronan wiped his forehead with the back of his hand, "Its just that when I hold these cards, I'm sad." Meeting his brother's gaze, Ronan gave a half hearted laugh, "Stupid, huh? I don't know what's wrong. I guess I'm just tired."

Mako placed his hand over Ronan's, "If you aren't feeling well, maybe we should call Kaede…"

Ronnan shook his head, "No, no. Its alright. Lets play!" Ronan said as he looked at his monster, "Flying Fish", "Umm…I guess I should have put that one face-down and in defense.." he said looking at Mako's much more powerful "Amphibian Beast".

Mako nodded, "Don't worry. It'll be easier for you to catch up. We're not playing by 'Battle City' rules…"

Ronan's head shot up, "Battle City? What's that?"

Mako looked over his hand, "It was a tournament that took place almost two years ago. Don't worry about it. I'll teach you those techniques once you master the basics."

Mako placed monster card face down, and then put a magic card down, and ended his turn.

Ronan stared at his hand, deciding that he didn't want to loose any more points, put "Aqua Madoor" in defense mode, and laid "Torrential Tribute". Mako declared his attack on the next turn, with "Great White" and was surprised to find his attack foiled by Ronan's defense.

"See you're learning quickly."

"Tell me about Battle City, onii-san." Ronan asked.

Mako smiled as he recalled the fond memories he had, "Well, it was a tournament held by Kaiba Corporation, and duelist came the world over to compete. It was a wonderful tournament because whenever you won a duel, the loser had to give up their strongest card. So in away it helped you gather and strengthen your deck. I got far in the tournament, but I was beaten by one of my friends, Joey Wheeler, but it was a good match and I was glad he beat me."

"Why were you glad?" Ronan questioned.

"I guess I was happy to have lost to my friend, rather than some stranger. Battling him strengthen our friendship. He went on to place fourth in the finals. Of course, Yugi Mouto took first place." Mako chuckled for a minute, "most rewarding was Seto Kaiba himself placing third in his own tournament."

Ronan felt himself involuntarily flinch, "Why was it rewarding."

Mako drew a card, "Eh, Kaiba was a jerk, to put it simply. It was good to see that pompous brat taken down a peg. Your move, brother."

Ronan drew a card, and made his move, attacking Mako's face down card, with his Aqua Madoor.

"Very good, Ronan, but remember when you flip a card from defense to attack, you can not put it back into defense until your next turn; Which leaves your Aqua Madoor vulnerable to attack by my Great White."

On his move, Mako declared his attack on Ronan's Aqua Madoor. While Mako celebrated in his victory, and babbled on about Duel Monsters, Ronan could not help the sad feeling that was growing in him. He could not explain it. He felt cold, lost, and a sense of failure. Was Mako winning against him in a game he barely knew or understood making him feel this way? Had he always been a sore looser or this competitive?

Ronan put his hand over his deck, as Mako had instructed him as the appropriate way to signal surrender,

"I concede Mako. I don't wish to play any more."

And with an apologetic look, Ronan left his stunned brother and turned in for the night.

----

"He got sad?" Kaede said in a surprised tone.

Mako glanced over his shoulder, making sure that Ronan was still in his room, "Yes," he whispered into the phone, "He was all excited to play, but the minute he picked up the cards, his mood totally changed."

"Did he say why?"

"No. He did not understand it either. He even apologized for being upset."

Mako waited worriedly for the doctor's response.

"It could be possible that the game triggered a memory."

"Nothing before has brought back any of his memories," Mako responded, "Why now?"

"The mind is a complex thing, Mako. Who knows why a game of Duel Monsters has sparked a memory or forgotten feeling. Whatever the reason, tell Ronan to keep a journal of feelings and dreams, they might hold clues to reclaiming who he is."

Mako sighed heavily, "What if those memories are those of pain and sadness? Why should he remember those? What if he's a totally different person afterwards, What if-"

"Mako, that's not our decision," Kaede chided, "I know you worry about him, but I doubt that his memories would make him stop loving you."

Mako ran his fingers through his hair in frustration, " I hope you're right."

---

"Nii-sama! Nii-sama! Where are you?"

Ronan turn around startled, "Who's there?"

"Nii-sama! Why have you left me?" the bodiless voice wailed.

The boy turned around in the dark swirling blackness, "Where are you? If you tell me who you are, I can help you!" he called out.

He saw a light in the far distance….a crowd cheering…and the child's voice,

"Nii-sama! Hurry!! If you don't go, I'll never see you again!"

Ronan moved towards the light, the crowd's roar growing as he neared. He stepped through the blinding light, and the crowd cheered. Looking around the teen found himself in the middle of a coliseum.

"Nii-sama!!"

Ronan turned to see a dark haired child waving at him. The boy was wearing a blue and yellow shirt with jeans…but he had no face. Infact as Ronan found on closer inspection no one in the crowd had a distinguishable face or features.

"Its time," A nother voice said from behind, "To face your destiny."

Ronan turned to see another faceless figure standing across the ring from him in a battle stance. A shining metal object was attached to his arms.

Ronan stepped backwards, fearful that the figure was going to attack him, "Destiny? What destiny?"

"Accept it! Its time to duel!!" The figure yelled, as the metallic object began to glow.

The figure drew a card, and in a blinding burst of light with a terrible roar, a ferocious red snake-like dragon appeared.

"What is that?!" Ronan cried as he fearfully backed away.

"You still run? After all that you have seen? Why won't you accept your past?" The figure yelled over the red dragon's roar.

"I have no past." Ronan said defensively. "I do not know what you're talking about!!"

The figure turned to the red-dragon, "Slifer!! Make this fool accept the past I speak of!"

The dragon advanced on the terrified Ronan. The boy ran fearfully towards the black haired boy, only to bang into an invisible wall separating him from the youth who seemed desperate to get to him.

Finding no way through the wall, Ronan fearfully looked over his shoulder at the looming double-mouthed dragon. He could feel the monster's warm breath on his shoulder. Slowly it began to open one of its mouths, showing the razor sharp teeth, and extending its long tongue outwards as it came closer towards Ronan.

"STAY BACK!!" Ronan screamed as he instinctively covered his face with his arms.

The dragon ignored his plea and a flame of energy began to form in its mouth.

"STOP!! HELP!!" he screamed once more, "PLEASE!! SOMEONE HELP ME!!"

The dragon let loose the ball of energy at its defenseless target. Ronan watched as the flaming missile came barreling towards him, he screamed once more…..

"STOP!!" Ronan cried as he sat bolt upright in his bead. Sweat was pouring down his face, and his breathing was rapid. A dream. He thought. Where did that dream come from?

He laid back down in his bed, trying to ease his breathing. It was then he noticed that his hand was clutching his night-shirt in the direct middle of the material. For some reason he felt confused. Not because he was unsure why he was holding the material, but because he could not understand why it did not make him feel better. I feel like something's missing. I used to have something that rested here. What was it?

Footsteps outside his door alerted him that Mako had heard him. The bedroom door opened, and Mako came in with a worried look.

"Whats wrong, Ronan? I heard you scream."

With a frustrated sigh, Ronan met his brother's eyes, "I don't know. I don't know what's wrong with me."

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TBC

Woot!! Anotha chapter down!! Hope you all liked this one!

Hopefully, this chapter cleared some things up for you all! See ya next time!

Yugi: Hello (bangs on the door) Hello? Anyone? I'm stuck in the closet…….the knob is too high…