FireCacodemon: Welcome back to another chapter of Heart of the Plush. A Yu-Gi-Oh! story I've been meaning to write for a long while and finally doing so. As stated in the previous chapter: Yu-Gi-Oh! belongs to Kazuki Takahashi. Enjoy the chapter.

Chapter 1

Atem sat in his soul room and looked around, his memories and the power of the Millennium Puzzle remained hidden behind one of the countless doors. Occasionally Yugi would come and visit him in his room or he would visit Yugi in his room during the night. The only thing he knew was his name, nothing about his past or anything like that. His reason for being trapped in the Millennium Puzzle was a mystery. Fate placed him hear so he believed that he had some sort of mission which needed to be complete before anything else happened. The concept of Duel Monsters had caught Atem's interest as he watched Yugi play the game, even with additional rules added such as Tribute summon and Fusion summon. Different methods of summoning which wasn't added when they first started to play the game, rules which made the game more fair to a standard. Seto Kaiba now couldn't summon his Blue-Eyes White Dragons without sacrificing at least six monsters if he didn't use monster effects or spell cards let alone trap cards too. His trusted monsters such as Kuriboh, the Dark Magician and the Dark Magician Girl were always going to be with him when they duelled together, when they played the game for fun or to help save the world. Since the Millennium Puzzle was solved, Yugi was dealing with attacks left right and centre as they battled for Atem's hidden power.

"I should probably silence my mind it wouldn't be fair on Yugi if I kept him up all night," Atem sighed to himself as he tried to push away all the unanswered questions. Thinking about them wasn't going to help anything. Yugi needed sleep, not Atem's thoughts threatening to invade his little dream. He needed to settle down in order to let Yugi get the sleep he needed. Tomorrow was when Joey and his friends were going to come over to pick up Yugi before school, it would be best not to let Yugi greet them with tiredness lingering around his body. Atem decided to try and settle down in order to let Yugi get the sleep he deserved.

Heart of the Plush – Chapter 1

The morning came sooner than expected and Yugi was already up and running around with the energy from breakfast. Getting changed as quickly as possible while Atem sat down on the bed and watched his light frantically running around looking for this that and everything else. It felt like the decision of his friends coming to pick him up had sparked off something in Yugi which caused him to panic. The usually calm Yugi was buzzing around the room and all Atem could do was to watch him pull the socks over his feet, grabbing his shoes and slipping them on, he ran over to the mirror to adjust himself.

"They're going to be here soon," Yugi panicked. Atem blinked in confusion.

"I'm afraid I don't understand..." Atem spoke from the bed causing Yugi to turn and to look at him.

"Oh, sorry Pharaoh, I thought you were asleep?" Yugi smiled at Atem. "Did you sleep well?"

"Sleep was not with me. I spent most of the night pondering about my purpose here, my forgotten memories and the 'power' I'm said to have." Yugi frowned hearing the words from the spirit. Countless times people had come after Yugi and his friends for Atem and this so called 'power' that he had. It would be surprising to have a week without anything unexpected happening or someone or something after Atem. Atem watched Yugi before looking away from the teenager and let his mind bring up the questions he had last night. Yugi watched Atem and couldn't help but feel sorry for him, he only knew his name and that was it. It wasn't like Yugi himself could tell Atem anything to help him about his past. No one knew anything. Yugi smiled and walked over to Atem and sat down next to him.

"Hey, come on. After school we'll have a good look around in text books and the museum to see what we can find," Yugi gently placed his hand on Atem's shoulder. Atem looked over at Yugi and sighed deeply.

"I'm sorry for bringing your spirits down," Atem apologised.

"I would be in the same position as you are if we were in the opposite shoes."

"Would you?"

"Anyone would be if they only knew their name."

"I guess...with the lack of identity, one doesn't know where they belong and will feel isolated."

"Did you pick that up during school?"

"I did, yes."

"Well, when everyone comes over we'll be able to help you." Atem smiled, Yugi and his friends always brought a smile to Atem's face. The warm atmosphere that the four (sometimes five or more) friends created while hanging out during school, saving the world together, revising together, playing games together or just chilling out together. The atmosphere created was warm and inviting to anyone who could feel it. Even some of the people who originally wanted Atem's power turned into one of their allies, something that they didn't expect.

It wasn't long before the jungle of the shop bell rang and the loud voices of Joey filled the building Yugi and Atem couldn't help but laugh at the sound of Joey's voice, swiftly followed by Anzu's* voice scolding Joey for being so loud in the morning and Tristan's laughing as Joey's voice came through once more. Yugi looked at Atem and they knew that today was going to be another exciting day with their friends. Yugi grabbed his deck and placed it in his bag before heading downstairs to greet his friends and head off to school. Atem returned back into the Millennium puzzle as they left the Kame game shop.

"Have a good day at school Yugi," Solomon said.

Heart of the Plush – Chapter 1

Domino High school was buzzing with the sound of chatter about a new student arriving. Word spread quickly like a wild fire in a dry forest, it wasn't known as to which class the new student was going to be joining or what they were like as an individual. What drew people to the word was the simple fact that new students were often the most interesting students around. The desire of getting another possible player on a team was also a major highlight of being a new student and what they had in their qualities. While many new students often found their friends and place in the school quickly there was still the fact that there were some students who failed to find the schooling 'needs' as quickly as others have. Possible due to how they were themselves or any other influence on the student. Female students wanted the new student to be a male so that they could analyse him for his qualities and good looks while the male students wanted a male so that they could have another male friend to hang out with. If he was good at sports, recruit him into as many teams as possible without much hassle. On the other hand, if the student was a female, the males would have the chance to judge her from the physical appearance and nothing more. Female students would have another female friend to hang out with, talk about boys and do other girly activities such as make-up the beauty of each other. There was the handful of students which neither cared what the new student was. Some were seeking a friendship that brought new traits, qualities and new sights that others could easily connect to and talk. Then there was the main trait that everyone looked for...were they a duellist?

Duel Monsters, the popular game around the world and which individuals who had their whole life revolving around the cards. Some were collectors and only wanted certain cards such as Fiend-type monsters, Fairy-type monsters, or Dragon-type monsters. Others were interested in their price on the market so that they could make some money on the 'top card' that all duellists were using. There were others who collected the cards because of their art or who didn't understand the rules of the game or who simply didn't like the competition that some duellists gave. Friendly duels were what made some people play while not actively seeking to be famous from the game itself. With the individuals all gathered under the collection term of duellist, many students wondered what type of duellist they were. Were they going to be a collector? Were they going for the Pro label? Were they just into it because their friends and family were into it? Many questions buzzed around the new student and no question had a definite answer. The school bell rang.

Heart of the Plush – Chapter 1

A gentle knock on the door was heard, drawing Yugi and his class' attention. The teacher, Mr. Taka smiled and walked over to the door.

"I'm so glad to see you found the classroom okay," he smiled as the door opened. "Please come inside, class this is Yami Serene. He'll be joining our class. Please give him a warm welcome and treat him kindly."

"Thank you sir," the clacking sound of shoes filled the classroom as the students fell quiet. A young male around the age of 16 walked through the doorway of their classroom wearing the Domino High school uniform like they all did. The individual had light skin with the height of about 163 centimetres tall give or take. His eyes were a crimson colour which caused some students to shuffle backwards slightly on their chairs just from a small glance from the student. His hairstyle was similar to Yugi's hair with crimson tips and blond streaks shooting up through his star-shaped haircut. He walked next to the teacher's desk before he took a small bow in front of the class.

"He looks similar to Yugi..." Joey whispered to Tristan and looked between the two of them.

"No, he looks similar to Atem..." Tristan corrected his blond haired friend. Joey nodded and they both glanced over at Yugi.

Yugi himself looked shocked; it was like looking at Atem but not at the same time. Instead of crimson, Atem had magenta eyes and magenta tips in his hair, just like Yugi did. His mind buzzed with confusion before he felt Atem in the Millennium Puzzle, soothing Yugi to calm down.

'Yugi, please calm down.' Atem said to try and sooth Yugi through the mind link.

'Right...sorry Atem, Yami's appearance caught me off guard.' Yugi mentally apologised to Atem who couldn't help but chuckle.

'It's quite alright. I'm shocked too about Mr. Serene's appearance and how similar it is to ours. Calm yourself down and think of him as another student.'

'Right, thanks Atem.'

'I'm happy to help.' And with those words, Yugi felt himself feeling a lot better.

"Mr. Serene, tell us a little about yourself," Mr. Taka smiled at Yami.

"I'd rather just sit down sir." Mr. Taka nodded and pointed Yami to his seat. The student nodded and made his way to the empty seat and gently placed his brown backpack down. Taking the seat out from behind, Yami slid into the seat and lifted the flap off his bag and removed a few pens and a lime green notebook out from his bag and onto the desk. He was well aware that the students were watching him but thankfully Mr. Taka drew the class's attention back and started his lecture on the Japanese culture. The class ignored him for the rest of the lesson as they took notes and answered questions.

Break had arrived, most of the students had already left the classroom, the remaining students were; Yugi, Tristan, Joey, Anzu, Ryou and Yami. The five students were watching Yami as he removed bits and pieces from his bag, such as needles, a sewing needle, thread and a lot of fabric. It was interesting to see what the teenager was doing but it confused them all greatly. Yami pulled out what looked to be a scrap book from his bag and put it on the desk (what little space he had left) and flipped the book open, turning to a page he started to get to work. The five friends were lost on what they should be doing and what Yami was doing. The other students in the class didn't really want to talk to him yet but that was probably going to change the following day when everyone was used to his presence. It was a common sight. What wasn't a common sight was someone who looked to be making something from the fabric which wasn't clothing. Ryou looked interested in what Yami was doing.

"So, what do you think he's making?" Anzu asked the group of friends. Joey looked away as Yugi pulled out his duel monster deck and placed the deck of cards on the table.

"Whatever he's making, he's happy so we best not disturb him," Tristan said as he watched Yugi as he shuffled his deck. Ryou couldn't tear his eyes away from Yami.

"Come on guys, he's a new student. We're going to have to show him the ropes around here," Ryou told the group. Joey and Tristan couldn't help but burst out laughing.

"Ryou, if you want to go up to him, then be our guest." The two teenagers laughed out the words. Ryou couldn't help but sigh he knew what it was like to be the new kid around the school and it wasn't very fun. He looked over at Yami who was already sewing together the pieces of fabric he was cutting out previously.

"At least I'll try and be a friend." Ryou separated himself from the small group of friends and made his way over towards Yami. The teenager gave Ryou a quick glance before they returned back to the work in front of him. Ryou took note on the form of the project before his mind clicked to what he was making on the desk. A brown furred body with tiny green claws with white tips for the hands and feet, Yami had already moved onto the eyes of the Kuriboh and was quickly making them so that they could be sewn on quickly onto the body of Kuriboh before Yami even attempted to sew the claws onto the brown furred duel monster. Ryou wanted to say something but seeing Yami work instead put Ryou off the idea of even saying a single word to him. There was something about the aura around Yami which seemed to put a lot of people off striking up a conversation with him. Yami himself; ignored Ryou standing next to him and focused on his hands and the project. Ryou could feel the eyes of his friends watching his every movement as he was over by the teenager who revealed nothing about himself. The aura surrounding Yami was there to try and put people off coming over to him and bothering him as he worked. Yami knew that Ryou wasn't going to leave his side unless he said something. Mentally sighing; he placed down the incomplete Kuriboh eye down onto the table and turned to look at Ryou.

"Can I help you with anything?" Yami asked the white haired teen. He jumped and turned his attention back towards Yami and smiled.

"I was just wondering...if you wanted to hang out with me and my friends. They're all really nice, I promise you." Ryou did his best to keep his cool; it was always intimidating to talk to a new face for the first time.

"No thank you." A short reply came and answered Ryou's request. Yami turned away from Ryou and returned back to work. Ryou could just feel Joey laughing behind him at that.

"But..." Ryou started before he was stopped by Yami by a single glare.

"Please leave me alone," Yami nearly growled at Ryou. The teen jumped back slightly at Yami's tone of voice, the irritation from Yami wasn't something that Ryou or anyone else was expecting. Ryou nodded quickly and left Yami's side and returned to the group of friends.

Heart of the Plush – Chapter 1

Pegasus was sitting down in his chair while watching some children's cartoon shows. His mind was half hoping Yami would provide a lot of prototype plush Duel Monster. The idea itself was brilliant; a good way to extend the Duel Monster franchise to everyone, even little infants who still had to get into the game itself. He was impressed as well with the Kuriboh plush that was made, even though it was just a prototype, he was well aware that Yam could easily perfect Kuriboh and carry over the skills to the other plush Duel Monsters which were going to be made. Yami himself seemed to be a charming young man, something Pegasus enjoyed in a person. On the other hand, Pegasus wanted Yami to do terrible. He didn't want Yami himself to use the idea of Duel Monsters to make soft plush versions of his Duel Monster cards, to be fair that it was only the monsters which were going to have plush versions made, not the spell of trap cards which were possible such as Toon World could probably have been done along with some other spell and trap cards. If Yami failed, then Pegasus could easily take the idea and then claim it as his own idea; mass produce them and then sell them as part of Industrial Illusions. Then there won't be any more competitions between who was doing what. Yami would have given up the idea of his Duel Monster plush but would probably come back to bite him by creating action figures. Pegasus knew that Yami wasn't going to back down from his dream of opening up a shop. Pegasus wanted Yami to stop others from regaining popularity among the customers. All he could do for the time being was to wait.

FireCacodemon: Thank you for reading, don't be afraid to leave a review, favourite or follow. I hope you enjoyed the chapter and have a good day/night.