This next one is kinda weird. I was planning on having Hanaski have some major part to this, but this is based on the manga and not the anime, so I wasn't sure. I think I've figured out how to put this story together. Review please!
Hanaski was in his bed reading a comic book of Zombire with a bright smile on his face. He continually flipped the pages to read more from the story. It was getting exciting! Mrs. Tomoya entered the room with her brightest smile as she knocked on the side of the door. Hanaski looked up with raised eyebrows.
"What is it, Mom?" Hanaski asked.
"Your grandfather just came by for a visit," Mrs. Tomoya replied as Hanaski jumped off his bed excitedly.
"Where is he?"
"He's downstairs with your cousin Imori," Mrs. Tomoya replied while walking downstairs. Hanaski froze while biting his bottom lip.
"Imori," Hanaski muttered in some sort of darker tone. He turned his head and peered toward his window. A sigh escaped his mouth before he ran to the edge of the stairwell and saw his grandfather with Imori. "He is family, even though he's a jerk," He concluded before walking downstairs to where his cousin and grandfather were at. "HEY GRANDPA!"
"Hanaski, boy have you grown!" Hanaski's grandpa grinned before giving his grandson a tight bear hug.
"Remember me?" Imori asked with a fake smile that could also be known as a smirk.
"Actually yeah, I do," Hanaski glared before releasing his grandfather's grasp. "So, what brings you here?"
"I came to show you boys something incredible," the grandfather replied as he and the two boys sat around the table. He pulled out a container with two other boxes on top of it. They were tied together by rope. "This is a shadow game from China. It's sealed by the yin. Once the seal is broken, a shadow game must be played and one's soul must be sacrificed. It takes three months for the soul to be devoured by the dragons of this game."
"That sounds awful," Hanaski said.
"Is that even possible?" Imori asked curiously.
"It is. That's why the seal should never be opened or chaos shall bring about. When light and darkness are not balanced, destruction is brought about this world," the grandfather warned.
"Whoa," Hanaski muttered.
"So, what's the game called?" Imori asked excitedly.
"Dragon Cards, but as I said, this game should never be opened," the grandfather warned. He took the game into his hands. "Not unless it's really important that's worth sacrificing a soul."
"Dad, stop scaring the kids with your fantasy stories," Mrs. Tomoya glared as her father chuckled in return.
"Anyways, it's time for me to put this away in a safe place," the grandfather decided as he took the Dragon Card game and left into the guest room. Mrs. Tomoya followed her dad to make sure he got himself unpacked.
Imori's innocent face turned into a smirk as he stared at Hanaski with deviousness in his face. Hanaski returned it with an untrusting glare.
"Did you hear what grandpa said? That game has power unimaginable. With it, I can become the ruler of the shadows," Imori thought.
"Grandpa said not to open it and even if you did, that kind of stuff doesn't exist. You know Grandpa likes to tell fairytales," Hanaski said, but after the adventures he became involved in with Yugi, any fairytale could be true. He just didn't want Imori to do something stupid.
"Yeah right!" Imori disagreed with darkness in his eyes. "I've heard stories of the King of Darkness and Light. Said that they would have great power over everything. With that power, we can do whatever we want."
"Well, I'm not gonna take that chance if it is true," Hanaski declared before removing himself from his seat. Imori smirked at his cousin as he left into his room.
That night, Hanaski slept soundly before hearing a creak from the floor. He got up and rubbed his eyes before seeing a shadow moving across the floor from under his door. Hanaski quietly stepped toward the door and opened it carefully. He saw Imori walk into the kitchen with an item in his hands. Hanaski narrowed his eyes and quietly snuck into the kitchen where Imori was located.
Imori stared at the Dragon Card game with lustful power in his eyes. He untied the rope and broke the seal. Hanaski gasped and ran to his cousin after it was too late.
"Imori, what are you doing? You know grandpa said no!" Hanaski cried in a whisper.
"Grandpa is stupid for not grasping the power of the shadows. I can be the ruler now by collecting souls and sacrificing it to the dragons!" Imori grinned as Hanaski stepped back in a gasp. Imori glared deeply at his cousin with lust of power. "And I'll start with you."
At the game shop, Atem and Yugi heard a scream that pierced through the night. Atem jerked up with fear in his gut. He knew the owner of that voice. The question was how could Atem hear Hanaski's screaming when he lived ten blocks away? Yugi held onto his brother with shaking arms.
"It must be the millennium puzzle. It senses Hanaski's endangerment. It also senses a great darkness about as far as Hanaski's house," Yugi said as Atem looked directly at his brother.
"You heard it too?" Atem asked as Yugi nodded fearfully. "Then I suppose we should go to Hanaski's place."
Atem got up and dressed himself before sneaking out of his room and into the Living Room. He heard a sound that came from behind. He turned quickly and saw his grandpa still in his PJ's. He seemed very wide-eyed and confused. It was not like Atem to be sneaking around at night, even when he was in a bad crowd.
"What are you doing up so late?" Solomon asked. He peered at the clock. "It's midnight."
"Yugi and I heard Hanaski scream not too long ago," Atem explained as Solomon nodded. The teenager held the millennium puzzle with one hand. "Yugi says that the puzzle senses Hanaski's endangerment and even I sense a great deal of darkness from where Hanaski lives."
"I see," Solomon nodded. He threw Atem the keys to the house. "Be back as soon as you can and be careful."
"Thanks," Atem thanked before exiting from the game shop. It was a good thing his grandpa took out the bell to the game shop when it closed.
Atem took the keys to his motorcycle and turned the switch to start his bike. He made sure he was several feet away from the house before doing so. He took off in his motorcycle and drove on his way to his friend's house. Yugi sat behind his brother while pleading and hoping that Hanaski was okay. More than likely, Hanaski was in grave danger and the boys knew it.
Meanwhile, Hanaski and Imori began the game of Dragon Cards. They drew one card and threw the other one down in the discard pile face-up. Imori was good at paying attention. He could guess which dragons Hanaski was going to summon like a book. Hanaski was focusing on beating his cousin at this game. He didn't want to seal Imori's soul, but if his cousin was willing to take the risk, so was Hanaski.
"I SUMMON MY DRAGONS!" Hanaski declared boldly as his fire and metal dragon appeared from the shadows.
"I summon my two water dragons!" Imori smirked as two water dragons emerged. Hanaski gasped and glanced as his two other dragons. Fire could never stand against water. "You were pathetic before and still are!" Imori smirked evilly as he threw his hand forward in command. "ATTACK HANASKI'S DRAGONS, MY WATER DRAGONS!" The two water dragons attacked Hanaski's Fire and Metal Dragon and thrashed them to the ground. Hanaski lost and fear was shown on his face and body. Tears started building up as he watched his cousin stare at him with lust and power. "Now, I shall take your soul as an offering. At least you were useful in some way, right Hanaski?"
"NO! DON'T DO THIS! PLEASE!" Hanaski cried as Imori's dragon fazed through his body and captured his soul. Just when this happened, Atem had barged the door opened and stared in horror as Hanaski's soul was taken and his body limped onto the floor.
"HANASKI!" Atem cried before catching his friend's unconscious body and stared at Imori with hatred. "What have you done to him?"
"I offered his soul to the darkness," Imori smirked darkly. He glanced at the puzzle around Atem's neck. "I feel a great deal of dark powers inside you. You must be the carrier of the millennium puzzle. I read it holds a great deal of power and the one who solves it will be the ultimate ruler of the darkness."
Atem didn't care about power or ruling, right now the only thing that was on his mind was saving his friend. He stared at Imori with pure hatred and anger. He stared at Hanaski's limped body that was nothing, but an empty shell now. Atem made a firm line on his lips while carrying Hanaski and laying him on the couch. Imori held a smirk while staring at Atem, who was filled with anger.
"I WILL MAKE YOU PAY DEARLY FOR THIS!" Atem declared while pointing his index finger at Imori. "How do I get Hanaski's soul back?"
"You have to beat me in Dragon Cards, which won't be easy. I already kicked my cousin's butt at it. If you're one of his geeky friends, this won't be hard to beat you," Imori replied.
"So... you're his cousin? I pity Hanaski for having to be related to a despicable person like you! What you did, is UNFORGIVEABLE! I will avenge my friend and defeat you to gain his soul back!" Atem declared as Imori smirked darkly with a deep chuckle.
Imori and Atem sat across the table from each other. Each of them drew six cards to start things off. Atem did have to read the instructions on how to play Dragon Cards before playing. Luckily, Imori didn't mind waiting for Atem reading on how to play before beginning. Atem and Imori took turns drawing and discarding their cards to summon two dragons.
The only problem with playing against Imori was that either Atem's or Yugi's soul would be taken if Atem lost. He decided to risk his own soul and bet it on the line. He wasn't going to risk Yugi's soul. Atem also placed the millennium puzzle around Hanaski's neck in case he lost. Yugi's spirit was still next to Atem even through the puzzle was at a curtain distance. The only limit was that they couldn't switch places.
Imori smirked deviously, reading all the discard cards. He knew exactly what dragons Atem was going to summon. Just like Hanaski, Imori could figure out which dragons Atem would summon and know the exact dragons to counter against them. Finally, their dragons were set.
"I SUMMON A LEVEL 5 WATER AND WOOD DRAGON!" Imori declared as his Water Dragon and Wood Dragon were summoned up from the shadows.
"I SUMMON A LEVEL 4 EARTH DRAGON AND A LEVEL 5 METAL DRAGON!" Atem declared as a Earth Dragon and Metal Dragon were summoned up from the shadows. Each of the two dragons came face to face.
"You're pathetic!" Imori mocked. "I USE MY WATER DRAGON TO DRAIN YOUR METAL DRAGON JUST LIKE I DID WITH HANASKI!"
Imori's Water Dragon drained the Metal Dragon with its blasting power. Atem smirked deviously, knowing how to counter this attack. He declared, "I can use my Earth Dragon's special power earthquake. This can absorb water!"
Imori glared furiously. He had forgotten about Earth Dragon's ability. Metal Dragon powered up the Earth Dragon while it protected the Metal Dragon. Imori's Water Dragon was useless. Atem smirked with his arms crossed. This game was becoming more tense by the second. Though, it didn't matter to Imori, he had other plans up his sleeve. His Wood Dragon was powering up by the minute thanks to the Water Dragon.
Atem gasped as Wood Dragon was powering up and ready to attack Earth Dragon. Imori smirked deviously.
"Did you really think I could be beaten that easily?" Imori asked rhetorically. His face then turned to command. "Wood Dragon, attack Earth Dragon!" The Wood Dragon planted its roots on the Earth Dragon and absorbed its power. Atem gasped with sweat pouring from his face. "Your Earth Dragon will be sucked dry after I get done with you!"
"You son of a bitch," Atem muttered as Imori chuckled darkly in response.
"Now my Water Dragon can attack your Metal Dragon!" Imori announced aloud as his Water Dragon emerged. It started it's attack, but the Metal Dragon survived it. "WHAT? IT SHOULD BE GONE!"
"Your Water Dragon lost its power due to the Wood Dragon using its strength," Atem said glaringly. "And here I thought you knew this game." Imori glared at that insult before Atem had Metal Dragon begin its onslaught. "Metal Dragon, use the last of your strength!"
Metal Dragon flew into the air and aimed for the Wood Dragon. Imori gasped and cried, "NO! YOU BITCH!"
Wood Dragon was destroyed by Metal Dragon. Imori gulped as Atem glared deeply at the young boy with revenge in his eyes. He was not letting Hanaski go down in vain. Atem was willing to gain Hanaski's soul back with everything he had.
"THIS IS FOR HANASKI! YOU SHOULD BE ASHAMED FOR MESSING WITH THE POWER OF DARKNESS!" Atem spat boldly with harshness in his voice. The Earth Dragon emerged from behind him as Imori gasped in fear. "EARTH DRAGON HAS EMERGED! DESTROY WATER DRAGON!" The Earth Dragon emerged boldly and destroyed what was left of the Water Dragon. Imori cringed in fear as he watched his Water Dragon being drained and destroyed. "You have messed with power out of your control and used it against a dear and loving friend. As punishment, your soul shall be the one taken!"
"NOOOOOO!" Imori cried with tears in his eyes as the Earth Dragon fazed through him and took his soul to offer it in the jar. As Imori's soul was offered into the jar, another soul emerged as well. Atem guessed this was Hanaski's soul. He took it and returned it to Hanaski while removing the millennium puzzle from his neck.
"Please, please wake up," Atem begged while cradling Hanaski's body that was almost his size. "I can't lose another friend like this again."
At that moment, Hanaski's eyes fluttered opened and stared at dark violet eyes that were filled with concern. Hanaski's eyes widened, wondering how Atem got in the house, but was glad he was there. He embraced Hanaski with joy written on his face. Hanaski held Atem around the waist.
"I thought I lost you too," Atem whispered in happiness. "Are you okay?"
"I'm fine. What are you doing here so late? Not that I'm not glad to see you," Hanaski asked in a happy tone.
"He felt the great darkness inside this place," a voice replied from the shadows. Atem looked behind him and saw an older man no older than his grandfather. He wore dark PJ's, gray-white hair almost covering his forehead, a mustache under his nostrils, and wrinkles on the sides of his cheeks. Atem showed a suspicious face. He kept a firm hold on Hanaski.
"Who are you?" Atem asked.
"My name is Ronald Duncan, Hanaski and Imori's grandpa. I apologize for Imori. I suppose I should've seen this coming," Ronald sighed in depression. He sat on the couch beside Atem. "What's done is done and Imori can only blame himself. I warned him not to mess with that game."
"How did you know I felt a dark presents in this house?"
"China isn't the only history I know about. I also know of a great historical legend in Egypt too. Yours is a special case. The one who solves the puzzle will be granted power unimaginable. The same can go for anyone who gets a hold of a millennium item. There are seven of them in all: the millennium key, the millennium eye, the millennium ring, the millennium rod, the millennium necklace, the millennium scale, and, of course, the millennium puzzle you wear around your neck," Ronald explained as Atem turned wide-eyed.
"I've met two people who carry millennium items besides me," Atem said. His eyebrows furrowed while Hanaski looked up at his friend in question.
"Two? I know about Shadi, but who..." Hanaski asked.
"Maxamillion Pegasus. While I was talking with him about entering Duelist Kingdom, I noticed he was hiding a millennium item behind his hair. It would be missed if you don't look close enough," Atem replied as Hanaski stared in amazement. Ronald nodded at this statement. "I'm guessing it's the millennium eye."
"Be aware. As I said, you're a special case, but not everyone is. Most of anyone who has tampered with the dark powers has been known to use that power for great evil."
"Shadi said something about the powers being used in the wrong hands before attacking me. If It wasn't for my puzzle, he would've destroyed my soul room."
"At least it explains why he tried to destroy your mind room," Yugi said with his eyes furrowed. "That means... Pegasus might be one of those people who uses its power for evil."
"Do you think Pegasus might be using his powers for evil?" Atem asked.
"He most likely is," Ronald replied as Atem and Hanaski gave glances.