Here's the first chapter. I'd like to start it with a bang and that's what I'm going to do. All these duels are based off the manga. In fact, this whole story is based off the manga. The characters and everything! Hanaski is a real character, you can look up Hanaski Tomoya and find his character easily. Also, this is a remake of the story Yu-Gi-Oh, but with Yugi and Atem switching roles. Atem plays as the main character and Yugi plays as the spirit. I think you should get the idea from the character list from the beginning. Review please!
Mokuba was in bed asleep. He had been exhausted from the meeting with The Big Five, five of Seto's best employees who help keep the company working smoothly. Though, since Seto was comatose, the company had been slipping. Stocks were piling up and the company was close to going bankrupt. Seto was usually the one keeping the money in tact, but he not now since he is currently in the hospital. Mokuba has had restless nights since Death-T.
To make the situation worse, Mokuba could no longer hang out and have fun like he used to. There were piles of homework unfinished and many rich investors wanting to buy off Kaiba Corp. Mokuba knew he had to protect his brother's company with his life until his brother wakes up. At times he felt like the whole weight of the world was on his shoulders. He felt like he shouldn't have to put up with this. He was twelve years old for crying out loud!
A creak was heard from outside of Mokuba's room. Mokuba snapped his eyes wide open and sat up on the bed. His whole body shook while scanning his surroundings. A sigh left his mouth as he laid back on the bed while hugging his pillow. His arms were shaking as if the cold air just hit him. The door cracked open and a shadow emerged through the door. Mokuba clutched onto his pillow tightly as the shadow crept closer and closer.
Mokuba figured if he fake-slept, this figure would go away, but luck wasn't on his side. He felt his body being grabbed, a hand clamped around his mouth and a pistol pointed to his head.
"Give us the key, you little shit head," a deep voice threatened that sounded like one of the men of the Big Five. Mokuba narrowed his eyes and shook his head rapidly. A low chuckle escaped the man's lips. "Bad choice, kid." A gun shot was heard.
"AHHHHHH! SEEETOOOO!" Mokuba cried with tears escaping his eyes, sitting upright on his bed. It had only been a dream, a horrible nightmare. Mokuba clutched onto his legs and bawled in a loud cry as a figure emerged into the room, turning on the light.
"Mokuba! Are you alright?" Atem asked with worry that filled his eyes. Ever since Seto had been comatose, he had taken up with filling Seto's position as Mokuba's protector. Mokuba needed an older brother, especially when running a company on his own and developing nightmares because of it.
"I WISH SETO WERE HERE!" Mokuba cried as Atem walked onto the bed and brought the boy into his arms.
"Shhh-shhhh," Atem shushed, soothing Mokuba as he rubbed his hand up and down the boy's back. "there, there."
"IT'S NOT FAIR! WHY WON'T HE WAKE UP? THE COMPANY'S STOCKS ARE PILED, THE BIG FIVE WANTS TO SELL THE COMPANY, AND... I CAN'T KEEP THIS UP, ATEM!" Mokuba cried into Atem's PJ shirt, clutching onto it.
"You want me to come sleep next to you?" Atem asked as Mokuba looked up with tearful eyes and nodded. Atem pulled himself under the covers as Mokuba snuggled his face into Atem's chest, like he once did with Seto.
"Seto used to tell me that nightmares were made to scare kids and keep them from having good dreams," Mokuba sobbed as Atem chuckled in response.
"I guess I can't disagree with him there. You're stressed Mokuba! You're having to keep a company running on your shoulders and you shouldn't be having that," Atem said softly, still rubbing Mokuba's back. "This is all my fault."
"NO! Don't say that!" Mokuba wailed out. "Seto needed help and you helped him! When he wakes up, everything will turn out good. They always do!"
"I hope you're right," Atem sighed while glancing at the stars out the window.
The next day, Atem was came to school school with dark circles under his eyes, which was not natural since Yugi always put his brother to sleep. However, when babysitting was involved, especially with a Mokuba having nightmares and stresses, anything was possible. Atem even brought himself a thermos of coffee to keep him up throughout the day. Unfortunately, even that wasn't enough.
Joey and Tea were dueling. Tea had beaten Joey for the one-hundredth time in a row and he was throwing a fit. Everyone was laughing over the whole commotion, even Hanaski. The only one who wasn't was a sleepy Atem who's head was on the desk snoring away, well not snoring, but talking.
"Sorry Joey," Tea smirked as she left the desk. Joey was still up for another game.
"ALRIGHT! WHO WANTS TO PLAY! I'M HERE TO PLAY CARD GAMES AND KICK ASS, AND I'M ALL OUTTA ASS!" Joey grinned manically.
"Right, like the fact you were beaten by a girl for the one-hundredth time in a row," Tristan teased with his arms crossed.
"WHY I OUTTA..." Joey glared, throwing a fit before hearing his sleepy friend.
"No Tea, I want you to to pick up Yugi later," Atem whispered in his sleep.
"Damn, he talks in his sleep?" Tristan asked confounded.
"What, and it took you this many years to find out?" Joey smirked in a teasing manner.
"It's not like he sleeps in school everyday! He must have not gotten any Z's lately," Tristan glared, glancing at his sleeping friend worriedly.
"Poor Atem," Hanaski said in a worried tone.
"I will send you to hell if you don't get him a ride," Atem muttered quietly again.
"Might as well wake him up before he dreams about kissing Taylor Swift," Tea smirked as she brought out her iPod and placed her ear buds in Atem's ears. She maxed up her volume and played one of the songs on her playlist before Atem jumped from the desk bug-eyed.
"AHHHHHHHH SHIIIIIT!" Atem cried aloud as he tripped from the desk and toppled over while still sitting on the chair. The ear buds had jerked out of his ears in the process. Tea and the rest of the gang gawked up laughing. "TEA GARNER, I'M GONNA KILL YOU!"
"Somebody woke up on the wrong side of the bed," Tea teased as Atem responded with a death glare.
"Geez man, you never sleep in class, especially during free time. What's up?" Joey asked while helping his friend up.
"Mokuba's been receiving nightmares since Kaiba Corporation is nearing bankruptcy," Atem replied as his friends showed gasps.
"Damn," Tristan responded.
"How long has he been having nightmares?" Joey asked.
"A month or two, I think. The whole company is in jeopardy and it's taking a toll on Mokuba. There's only so much I can do," Atem admitted while placing his hands on a desk, holding his body upright.
"What have you been doing? That's what I'd like to know," Tristan asked with crossed arms.
"I've been staying over at the Kaiba Mansion for the past several nights," Atem replied before letting out a yawn.
"Since when do you participate in babysitting?" Ryan asked with a devious smirk. He had just appeared to join in with the group.
"Hey Ryan," Hanaski greeted with his grinning face.
"Ryan, you missed Tea kicking Joey's ass!" Tristan smirked.
"Interesting, but I like a good duel without the bitch," Ryan smirked rudely.
"I have an idea, how about you kiss my f***ing ass!" Tea glared as Tristan grabbed the back of her shirt to keep her from throwing a fit.
"That'd actually be more entertaining," Ryan replied before facing a sleepy Atem. "You sure look sad."
"Thanks for the compliment," Atem thanked sarcastically. A loud yawn escaped his mouth. "If Mokuba doesn't get rid of these damn nightmares, I'll never get any sleep."
"Then why bother? It's not like he's your brother," Ryan asked while crossing his arms. Atem glared down at his chest while clutching onto his shirt, which held an item under it. Ryan cocked his eyebrows.
"I owe it to him," Atem said, glaring at the desk. "I owe it to Seto."
"You don't owe that mother f***er a damn thing! Seriously, I don't know why you bother helping some d***head who stole and ripped your grandfather's card, sends him to the hospital, f***s you and your friends on some mother f***ing tournament, and f***s with his brother on top of that. I say ditch the d*** and send the kid to the humane society," Ryan said in a grimly tone.
"That's enough!" Tea yelled in front of Ryan as he rolled his eyes.
"I'm just saying."
"Ryan, I know you're only trying to help and I thank you for that, but..." Atem said before letting a sigh escape him. He buried his hands into his face. "I've got other things to worry about and not just Mokuba."
"You mean Serenity?" Joey asked as everyone stared at the blond. "She's going blind if the operation isn't done by next year."
"Have you and Atem found a way to get some money in?" Tea asked.
"Atem is thinking about trying to win the money in Duelist Kingdom. He's already got work and school off. Still, winning that money is only a slim chance," Joey replied. He sighed sadly. "She chatted with me this morning. She wants to see me really bad."
"Then you should go," Atem suggested. "I'll come with you too."
"Atem, you've got alot on your plate as it is. You don't need to..."
"I want to!" Atem said boldly. "Seto isn't the only person I owe. I owe it to Serenity to see her. What she needs right now is hope, hope that she will be able to see again."
"Ok man. We'll be seeing Serenity tomorrow. Sound fair?" Joey asked as Atem nodded before giving out a yawn. "Do me a favor and get some damn sleep!"
After school, Atem walked on his way home to catch up on some sleep. Joey was right, Atem needed sleep and bad. Then, his cell phone rang from his pocket. Atem checked the caller ID which read Kaiba. It was Mokuba! Atem answered the call.
"Hello?" Atem answered.
"Atem, could you take me home?" Mokuba asked before a yawn escaped from Atem's mouth.
"Sure."
"Atem, you sound exhausted. Is it because of last night?"
"Don't worry about it, Mokuba."
"Atem listen, if you're tired, I'll let you rest at the Kaiba Mansion. It's the least I can do."
"Mokuba..."
"Atem, you hold my brother's key and if anyone gets a hold of it, Kaiba Corporation is history!"
"I understand."
"Than gets some damn sleep!"
"Fine, Mr. Persistent. I swear, you're worse than my mom."
"If you were Seto, I'd be getting onto him too! Even he sleeps more than you do!"
"I'll pick you up from school and get some shut-eye," Atem promised before a smile appeared on his lips. "Goodbye."
"Bye!"
Atem hung up the phone as soon as he made it home. He got out his keys and turned on the motorcycle before driving off on his way to Mokuba's school. He took off, driving several blocks down the street. Somewhere in Domino City, there was a huge school that was titled "Ranger Middle School." This was a private school for mostly rich or upper class kids. It was unusual for people like Atem to be found hanging around this area, so when he parked, everyone gave him stares.
Atem sighed while parking his motorcycle and leaning against it. Children were rampaging out of the school and into the parking lot where their parents were waiting to pick them up. The rest of the kids took the buses, or limos or cabs. Mokuba burst out running by Atem before hopping onto the motorcycle.
"Thanks a bunch!" Mokuba thanked Atem as he gave a smirk in reply.
"Hey Mokie, who's your friend there with the cool ride?" a random friend of Mokuba's asked.
"He's a friend of my brother's," Mokuba replied.
"I thought you said your brother didn't have friends."
"I thought that too," Mokuba grinned before Atem drove off. "SEE YA!"
Atem rode his motorcycle several blocks down the road to the Kaiba Mansion. He parked his ride right by the mansion before him and Mokuba entered inside with Hobson's help, who opened the french doors. Atem gave Hobson a smiling nod. He had recovered from the electrocution in Death-T. Surprisingly, Hobson never held anything against Atem, even after the electric chair ride. Mokuba did find that story hilarious, especially the part where Jouji peed on the poor butler.
Atem walked upstairs into Seto's old bedroom. Mokuba let him sleep there since he was extremely exhausted. Atem plopped onto the bed before kicking his shoes off and pulling himself under the covers. He yawned, stretching his arms before turning his body over to his front side on top of Yugi's spirited body. Atem was out like a light as soon as his face was buried in Yugi's neck. Yugi was out too, since he was asleep the whole time Atem was at school. Apparently, both Atem and Yugi haven't recieved any good sleep since they were trying to help Mokuba with his nightmare issues.
Mokuba did the usual, caught up on his homework and worked on Kaiba Corp. on his brother's laptop. He felt bad for being the cause of Atem not having any good sleep. Mokuba sighed deeply while typing out some stuff on his laptop. He was stressed from everything that was happening at Kaiba Corp. He had just overheard the Big Five plotting to sell the company to Industrial Illusions, owned by Maxamillion Pegasus. Mokuba knew they'd be after the two keys, but they'd have to force it out of both Mokuba's and Atem's neck before taking control of the company, let alone sell it.
Mokuba closed the laptop and dragged his feet across the floor. He happened to have heard the doorbell ring. Mokuba held a deep glare on his face as he answered the door.
"What do you guys want? I told you I ain't selling my bro's company," Mokuba declared.
"We know that, we just thought we'd tell ya that Pegasus agreed to our deal," The first member of the Big Five replied.
"Well, tell Pegasus I reject!" Mokuba ordered.
"Who said you had a choice, kid?" The second member asked rhetorically as Mokuba glared even deeper before two of the members grabbed Mokuba by each arm.
"LET THE F*** OFF ME!" Mokuba yelled, resisting the hold.
"We need the keys, kid!" The first member glared while holding Mokuba's chin toward him. "And we're gonna get them..." He smirked before revealing a pistol in his hand that was pointed toward Mokuba's chin. "now... hand 'em over or I'll shoot your guts off."
Mokuba was scared and shaking, but he kept his firm glare. He said, "I'll show ya if you assholes let go of me!"
The first member shrugged as the two other members released Mokuba. He dug into his shirt and revealed the small key that seemed to be the size of a quarter if not bigger. The members of the big five grinned devilishly and lustfully as Mokuba showed a devious smirk. He popped the key into his mouth and swallowed it before showing an evil grin.
"You son of a bitch!" the first member shouted as he was about to shoot Mokuba when the third member stopped him.
"Wait, we'll get the key, we just have to wait till he goes on number two," the third member smirked as he took Mokuba with a firm hold by his two arms.
"LET GO OF ME, KIMO!" Mokuba yelled.
"I'm afraid not, Mokuba," Kimo smirked with a devilish chuckle. "You have one of the two keys. The question is where's the other one? You know that answer too, another thing."
"YOU'LL NEVER GET EITHER KEY!" Mokuba smirked, still trying to resist the hold and run off somehow.
"We'll see," the first member smirked evilly before they heard a gun shot. Kimo had been shot behind on his right shoulder blade.
"AW SHIT!" Kimo cried, releasing Mokuba out of reflects from the gun shot.
"MOKUBA RUN!" Atem cried out to Mokuba as he scrambled onto his feet and ran away as fast as he could. Atem was on the stairwell with a pistol held with two hands.
"NO!" Kimo cried out, trying to catch Mokuba again, but the wound from the gun shot was so painful, he tripped. "Ah shit. AFTER HIM!"
Two men chased after the boy who ran quickly down the sidewalk. The other two pointed their guns at Atem, who was pointing his pistol at them. The two men grinned manically with cockiness to them.
"You've got nowhere to go, dolt," the first member of the Big Five smirked. "Now do us a favor and put the gun down like a good lad."
"Sorry, but I don't take orders from men who assult and abuse my friends," Atem smirked.
"You're a bit old to be that close with a twelve-year-old," the second member of the Big Five mocked.
"He's my friend, because he is the brother of my other dear friend, who is in the hospital at this time."
"Seto? Seto Kaiba?" The first member mocked.
"We know our boss never makes friends with anyone," the second member declared with a sickly grin.
"So he says, though I suppose I'll be fair and say he's also my rival," Atem smirked while eying down at the bottom of the staircase. "By the way..." He then jumped off the staircase. "THINK FAST!"
"SHIT!" The first member shouted before they started shooting and missing, seeing that Atem protected himself behind a huge chair with wheels. He pushed it toward the two men who dodged it just in time.
Atem was able to distract the men long enough for him to escape from the mansion. Though, before he could do that, he tripped on Kimo who was still wounded from the gun shot. As Atem was tripping something slipped from under his shirt and made a clinging sound on the sidewalk.
"Aw shit," Atem said as Kimo's eyes widened over the small key around Atem's neck.
"AW SHIT! THAT ASS HAS THE SECOND KEY!" Kimo cried to his men as they ran out of the mansion and were about to shoot Atem when they realized they ran out of bullets.
"F***!" The first member cursed as Atem got up on his feet and ran off to his motorcycle. He quickly turned the key to his ride and drove off out of the mansion. Hobson closed the gate right after Atem left from the property.
"YOU HAVE GOT TO BE F***ING KIDDING ME!" Kimo glared.
"Atem, you must protect Mokuba at all costs! You both have the keys!" Hobson ordered as Atem gave a nod. "I'll hold them off!"
"Thank you!" Atem thanked the butler.
"No, thank you! You've helped Master Kaiba more times than I can count. Just promise to protect his brother."
"I will, Hobson!" Atem promised and left in his motorcycle. He caught Mokuba hiding inside the game shop. Since Solomon ran the store, the Big Five lost Mokuba, not knowing that Solomon was protecting the boy. They were clueless about Mokuba and Atem and Atem's background story. They did not see or expect Mokuba hiding behind the counter.
When Atem walked inside the game shop and into the living room, Uka gasped in horror, seeing all the scraps and scratches on Atem's knees and arms from when Atem slipped on Kimo.
"MY BABY! What in the world happened?" Uka asked like the world was coming to an end. She ran to the kitchen and got out a wet washrag and soap.
"Atem, are you okay? I thought you got shot," Mokuba asked in a worried tone, who had been waiting for Atem in the Living Room.
"SHOT?" Uka screamed in shock.
"Those mother f***ers, I'm guessing they're the Big Five. I can see why you don't trust them," Atem said before stomping his foot to the floor. "F***!"
"Atem!" Uka rebuked.
"Sorry," Atem apologized while his mother was washing the blood from his arms and knees. "Neh!" Atem cringed from the pain. He continued, "They also found out I have the other key."
"Shit," Mokuba muttered.
"Key? Atem, what's going on?" Uka demanded, not focusing on the fact that Mokuba just cursed.
"You know Kaiba Corporation?" Mokuba asked.
"You mean the largest gaming company in Japan... or was. I heard they're nearing bankruptcy," Uka wondered.
"That's the one. The Big Five is trying to sell out the company and... actually already have. They just need the two keys. I have one of them and Atem has the other," Mokuba explained as Uka stared at her son like he was a target in a shooting rang.
"At least they didn't get your key," Atem sighed in relief before clutching his fist. "And over my own dead body are they getting mine."
"Of course not," Mokuba smirked devilishly. "I swallowed mine when they were about to force it outta me."
"Smart move," Atem smirked before sighing and taking the key from under his shirt. "I'm gonna need to find a place where they'll have to kill me to get this key."
"You better, otherwise Pegasus will own Kaiba Corp."
"Wait, Maxamillion Pegasus is the buyer?" Atem asked in shock as Mokuba nodded. "Damn."
"Atem! Language!" Uka rebuked.
"Uh... sorry."
"Pegasus will probably know that I have the key," Atem thought before a sigh slipped through his lips. "I'm... gonna have to refuse the invitation. Especially if the Big Five are gonna play dirty. Though, I will inform him of what they did. It is possible that he is unaware that the Big Five had him buy off the company without your consult. Though, I still don't trust him, period."
"Neither do I," Mokuba said before glomping Atem in a hug. "Thanks... for saving me."
"Of course," Atem said before embracing the boy back, returning the hug. "You'll need to stay with me. It isn't safe at the mansion anymore."
"Are you sure? I mean..." Mokuba wondered before looking at Uka. "Would it be a burden if I stayed over here?"
"Of course not!" Uka replied with her hands on her hips. "Knowing those men have guns, I agree with my son's logic, and if I agree with Atem, then it must be true. You can ask dad."
Atem rolled his eyes while Solomon chuckled, "she's right. You should stay here, Mokuba. I doubt the Big Five know Atem lives here."
"And when in doubt, you can always stay with Hanaski. His family is like a welcome party," Atem said half jokingly.
"Thanks alot," Mokuba thanked Atem with his bright smile.
The bell to the game shop rang, revealing a group of Atem's friends, who were wanting to visit their friend. Tristan, Joey, Tea, and Hanaski gasped when they saw Atem with bleeding parks on two of his arms and busted knees. Tristan gave a whistle.
"What the hell happened to you, man?" Joey asked confounded.
"JOEY!" Uka rebuked.
"The Big Five tried to kidnap me and f***ed Atem up big time!" Mokuba replied.
"What's with your kids and your negative language?" Solomon rebuked.
"Sorry Gramps," Joey apologized before looking at his friend. "Man, that's just low."
"You're telling me," Atem glared while balling up a fist. "I swear if I were Kaiba, I would've hired men that could be trusted!"
"To my brother, he will hire men who are after money. He always says to never trust anyone," Mokuba said as Atem rolled his eyes.
"Figures."
"In other words, Kaiba's a p***," Joey said.
"Joey!" Uka rebuked.
"I'll have a chat with a Mr. Pegasus. I will get to the bottom of this if it's the last thing I do," Atem promised as he got up from the couch and walked to his room with Mokuba following along. He got his laptop and brought it downstairs where his family and friends were just in case Pegasus tried anything funny.
"Hey Atem, I just got something from the mail that belongs to you!" Solomon called out as Atem nodded.
"It's probably Pegasus' invitation. Put it on the table," Atem told his grandfather as he put a small box on the coffee table in front of him. He had furrowed eyebrows when Pegasus appeared on the screen on web cam.
"Ah, hello Atem-boy. Good to see you again," Pegasus greeted.
"Mr. Pegasus, will you stop calling me that? It sounds weird," Atem asked politely. "I need to talk to you about something. I don't know how involved you are on whether you're just buying off Seto's company or more, but his employers just attacked Mokuba and I this afternoon."
"Oh my, how horrible! I promise you I was not involved in this whatsoever. If I knew this would happen, I would've prevented this," Pegasus responded in horror. Though, Atem wasn't sure if this was an act or not. He didn't really care.
"Then you understand that the Big Five sold off Kaiba Corp without the vice president's consent. Since Seto's in the hospital, Mokuba is taking over in his brother's place. They have been trying to sell off the company, despite Mokuba's refusal, since day one. I don't know if you're planning to buy off the place despite this or not, and honestly I don't care, but as long as you and the Big Five don't have the two keys to the company, buying off the company is only on paper," Atem informed the president.
"I understand that and I promise I had no intention of buying off the company if it was not under the vice president's consent."
"THAT'S A LIE!" Mokuba shouted angrily, looking over the couch Atem was sitting at.
"Oh, Mokuba-boy's at your house?" Pegasus asked.
"He's under my guide and protection, no thanks to the assholes that f***ed up his house," Atem said in a glaring manner.
"Language," Pegasus said mockingly while shaking his head. "Though, I can see why you should be angry at me. I suppose being the key holder, you have alot on your mind."
"Stop f***ing with me, Pegasus," Atem glared, knowing Pegasus knowing this knowledge had alot to do with the Big Five. "I hope you understand that I won't be participating in the tournament. I have alot on my mind and I suspect to meet the Big Five at the Tournament as well. I can't put Mokuba in anymore danger than he already is."
"Hm, I see, but I'm afraid you can't refuse. You already signed the paperwork and I already paid to set up the tournament and set you up with the items you'll need."
"That's too damn bad."
"Then how about a duel then shall we? If I win, you'll join the tournament and I'm sure you'll find a way to protect Mokuba. You've already done more than you should, judging by your lack of sleep," Pegasus forcefully offered. Atem scrunched his eyebrows. "And if you win, I'll reject buying off the company."
"I'm not one that gambles a company," Atem said with a hint of darkness in his voice.
"Not unless it's a shadow game," Pegasus smirked as Atem glared even deeper. He knew Pegasus would go through deep lengths just to force him into the tournament. Uka became cock-eyed after hearing the phrase "shadow game."
"Brother, I have a bad feeling about this," Yugi said.
'I agree. Pegasus has the power of the millennium eye and we don't even know its power as of yet. Perhaps this duel can help us find out more about this power,' Atem thought as Yugi nodded in agreement. 'Besides, if we don't agree, we'll be given a penalty game.' Atem glared at Pegasus deeply. "Fine. I already have my deck ready anyways."
Atem took out his deck and shuffled it. Uka stared at Joey and Tristan and asked, "can you duel on web cam?"
"Just like duelin' in real life," Joey shrugged. Though, he knew this was a shadow game, so anything could happen. What really worried him was the outcome of the duel.