Yu-Gi-Oh! Fan Fiction ❯ The Guardian ❯ Chapter One ( Chapter 1 )

Those who know me from fanfiction.net know a far more hyper side of my personality that is, while amusing at times, something that I am trying to grow out of. I hope that this re-write of one of my first fics will show that. If you don't know me from fanfiction.net, you don't need to know anything from there in order to understand this fic. If you do know me from there, I am not posting this over there nor am I reposting a lot of things - especially early things.

Disclaimer: I own neither Yu-Gi-Oh nor anything else I may mention in the course of this fic.

 

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Sola sat in the branches of the tree, watching the Game Shop from across the road. Naid, her young modern counterpart, was fast asleep in her soul room. She heard a shout and turned ever so slightly to see Yugi Muto, Tristan Taylor, and Tea Gardner running down the sidewalk, trying to keep up with the more energetic Joey Wheeler.

“Naid.” Sola thought through the mind link she and Naid shared, rousing the teen. “Yugi and the others are here.”

“Finally.” Naid grumbled, Sola sensing a mental yawn drifting through their link. “School let out last week. What would possess them to be gone all day in the summer?”

“A social life?” Sola suggested, receiving a teasing mental glare.

“Whatever.” Naid thought tiredly. She'd been mentally awake for a long time, planning and thinking about their meeting with Yugi and his group of friends. “Look. The Kaibas are coming, too.”

“I thought the elder, Seto, does not like Yugi and the others.”

“I thought so, too.” Naid became the dominant one in their shared control of her body, seeping herself in shadows just enough so that she wouldn't be seen and jumping out of the tree, landing lightly on the pavement below. She raced across the street, nearly getting hit by a car, and listened to the conversation.

“I don't know why you're here, Kaiba.” Yugi was saying, looking innocently up at a glaring Kaiba.

“Well something brought me here!” the taller teen growled.

“Hey, don't blame Yugi just `cause you go nuts.” Joey snapped, standing between them. A subtle change came over Yugi - he stood a little straighter, his bangs were a little wilder, and the violet in his eyes and hair faded to crimson.

“I suggest we speak of this inside. I sense it, too.” he said, and Sola's heart leaped.

“Is that Yami?” Naid asked, looking over him.

“Yes.” Naid slipped inside just as the door was closing and followed them up to Yugi's bedroom. Inside all except the Kaibas made themselves comfortable waiting for Yami to explain himself.

“Something has been going on recently, extremely recently. There is another presence near us that is adept in shadow magic. There also seems to be something ominous hovering over us.” Yami said pensively.

“Is this what you brought me here to talk about?” Seto asked, outraged.

“No. I sensed a great amount of danger outside, though I'm not sure what it was.” Yami shook his head and the door flew open, hitting the wall with a bang.

“Is that who I think it is?” Naid asked, eyebrows arching.

“Yes, I think so.” Naid felt a bubbling sensation drift across their link and realized that Sola was laughing. On the way to Japan they'd run into some pretty tough people, all of whom had warned them against a white haired, brown eyed, pale resident of Domino. Ryou Bakura stood in the doorway now, panting and looking very confused.

“I have no idea what I'm doing here. My yami brought me and then retreated into his soul room rather unexpectedly.” He said with a shrug. All of a sudden his hair spiked, he stood taller, and his eyes turned amber.

“I did not retreat.” He snarled, acting as if anyone who would have believed that was a loon.

“We never said you did, Bakura.” Yami narrowed his eyes, his hand hovering near his deck.

“We're leaving.” Seto snapped, gesturing to Mokuba and heading towards the door, glaring down at Bakura, who stood in his way.

“Marik's out there. You don't want to have to go past him.” Bakura warned.

“I thought he was banished to the shadow realm.” Tea's voice shook.

“In a bazillion pieces, or something like that.” Tristan added.

“Obviously he escaped.” Naid snapped, dropping the shadows like one would a cloak. Three sets of hands reached for their decks, alert on the others' faces. “I'm here to assist. I've been tracking Marik since he escaped. He's back in Malik Ishtar's body and was coming this way. I decided to be here first.”

“Who are you?” Yami asked, relaxing a bit, his posture indicating that he was still ready to draw his deck and challenge her to a shadow game if need be.

“Naid.” she bowed slightly, then stuck out a hand to him. It was reluctantly shaken, and immediately offered to Seto, who also shook it, and Bakura, who merely snorted and relaxed his guard.

“That still doesn't answer the pharaoh's question.” He muttered, glaring at her still outstretched hand.

“For now it does. I wouldn't relax too much. There's still a psychopath out there.” Naid lowered her hand and paused. “Correction, on his way up here.”

Yami's crimson eyes flashed violet and he lunged for the door, “Grandpa!”

“Marik doesn't care about him. He's coming straight up here.” Naid said, catching Yugi around the waist and slamming the door closed with her foot. Her own crimson eyes softened to violet and she said, her tone soft and caring, “So do not worry.” Yugi nodded and pulled himself out of Sola's grip, giving her a questioning look. “I am Sola.” She supplied. The doorknob began to turn and her eyes changed to crimson in a flash, her arm outstretched and fingers tensed, barely visible shadows holding the door closed.

“What are you doing?” Yami asked, grabbing her arm.

“Off!” Naid snarled, glaring. He backed off. “I'm giving you a chance to get ready.” She glanced around the room, her eyes landing on Bakura, “and him a chance to chose which side he'll be on.”

“How…” Bakura started and the door was blown open, Naid flying across the room and hitting a wall. Marik stepped into the room, scanning their faces with a sadistic smirk.

“Are you alright?” Sola asked, worried.

“Fine.” Naid growled, stretching a bit. Marik looked her over, eyes lingering a bit at places they shouldn't.

“It seems the Pharaoh has a new servant to go along with the rest of you.” Marik said with a laugh.

“I serve no man.” Naid snapped, punching him in the jaw. He stumbled backwards in shock and the others' eyes widened.

“That was a good punch.” Joey muttered.

“Bad timing, though.” Naid muttered as Marik took them all into the shadow realm with a dramatic sweep of his arm.

“A duel then?” Yami asked.

“No. A shadow game, matching my power with yours.” Marik said, gesturing at them with the Millennium Rod.

“Is Yami fool enough to take that? Marik means he and his allies, not just him.” Naid wondered.

“Tell him, and he will know.” Sola's tone was half command. Naid placed a hand on Yami's arm to get his attention.

“Yami, I must warn you. I doubt that Marik intends for it to be one on one. If Bakura joins him, it will be their power against yours, not just his.” She said quietly.

“Will you assist me if I need it?” Yami asked, head tilted pensively to one side.

“Yes.” Naid nodded and stepped back, ready and waiting.

“I agree to your game, Marik.” Yami said, shadow swirling at his feet.

“It seems he is fool enough.” Sola muttered wryly.

“We'd better make sure he can handle it.” Naid placed her hand on Yami's arm once more and said, in ancient Egyptian so lacking in a modern accent that both Yami and Seto stiffened, “My power is yours, Pharaoh.”