Note to the Reader:

Before you begin reading Forbidden Love: The Original Version, it is important for you to know that a revised edition of it was released on June 29, 2009. The new version is in no way a sequel or new storyline, but keeps the plot almost entirely intact. Its purpose is to turn the original story into an overall smoother, more sophisticated work. It accomplishes this through slight changes in dialogue, character, and detail. Some scenes were added, deleted, or altered.

Having given you this information, I recommend that you visit the new version, as opposed to this one.

To the updated work: .net/s/5175203/1/Forbidden_Love

This copy of the story will remain on for any who prefers it to its newer counterpart, any who wishes to seek the differences between the two, and any who wishes to spoil the plot for his or herself, since the revised edition is not yet complete. I, however, advise against this act.

I apologize for any confusion that resulted from the publication of the new Forbidden Love. It was a rather disorganized process, but I hope that all is clear now.

Thank you for your time,

~Anncatz

Disclaimer: I do not, in any way, own Yu-Gi-Oh.

(Please note that this story takes place after Battle City.)

Chapter 1: Autumn Duels

Serenity Wheeler watched as an orange colored leaf drifted down from a nearby tree. She then looked up to her older brother, Joey, who was holding her close to him and gently running his fingers through her hair. She smiled. "Isn't fall wonderful, Joey?" she asked him.

Joey didn't reply, but just smiled back and continued to run his fingers through Serenity's long, brown hair. The two of them were standing in the park, spending some time away from their everyday lives, relaxing.

"I love fall because it's so pretty," Serenity went on. "The trees are such nice shades of yellow, orange, and red. Everything is beautiful. I wouldn't even be able to see the beauties of this world if it wasn't for you. You have no idea how grateful I am to be able to see again, Joey. I'll never forget what you did for me. You're the best brother a girl could have." She sighed, then closed her eyes and laid her head on her beloved brother's chest.

Meanwhile, there was another passing through the park. He was tall and thin with brown hair and bright blue eyes; none other than the young and cold hearted CEO of Kaiba Corporation, Seto Kaiba. He glanced at Joey Wheeler, who happened to be one of his greatest rivals, then looked to the girl that he held close to him. 'Wheeler's gotten himself a girlfriend?' Kaiba asked himself. He looked at her closely then realized who she was. 'No. That's his sister. What was her name again?' He tried to recall her name, but that thought went out of his mind when he felt Joey's harsh glare upon him. Kaiba glared back then hurried on his way.

Serenity opened her eyes just in time to see Kaiba leaving the park. "Joey," she said, "wasn't that Seto Kaiba?"

Joey nodded.

Serenity was aware of the rivalry between her brother and Seto Kaiba. "You know, it was quite rude of us not to say hello to him."

"Are you crazy, Serenity?" Joey asked. "Seto Kaiba is heartless! He doesn't deserve respect; especially after all he's done to me. Don't you remember what I've told you about him?"

"Yes, I remember. But everyone deserves a little respect, Joey, even someone like Kaiba."

Though he really disagreed with his sister, Joey nodded, saying, "I guess so."

Seto Kaiba sat in his home office, typing something, when his little brother Mokuba poked his head into the room. "Hey, Seto?"

Kaiba turned to his brother. "Yes, Mokuba?"

Mokuba pulled out his deck of Duel Monsters cards. "Do you think you could show me a thing or two about Duel Monsters? I want to be a great Duelist like you someday. I know how to play and all, but I'd really like it if you could show me some strategies and stuff. Please, Seto?"

"Not today, Mokuba. I'm sorry, but I've got some business to take care of. Tomorrow I'll show you some things, ok?"

Mokuba seemed a bit disappointed, but then he lightened up. "How about we go to the park tomorrow? It's supposed to be a really nice day and there'll be no one around and-"

Kaiba interrupted his brother. "No, Mokuba."

"Aw, c'mon, Seto. You need to get out. For days now you've done nothing but sit at that computer and work. Please, please, please can we go?"

"All right... We'll go, Mokuba. But I've got to finish my work now, ok?"

Mokuba smiled at his brother. "Ok, Seto!"

Kaiba and his brother were walking slowly through the park, looking for a good place where they could play cards. They soon found a picnic table, but it was unfortunately occupied by...

"Look, Seto!" Mokuba exclaimed excitedly. "It's Yugi Muto!"

"Hmm?" Kaiba looked to the picnic table. It was indeed Yugi Muto, Kaiba's respected adversary, along with all of his friends. This, of course, included Joey Wheeler and his sister Serenity. There was also Tristan Taylor, who was very close to Joey, Tea Gardner, the voice of reason in the group, Bakura Ryou, the sweet and shy one, Duke Devlin, an intelligent game creator, and Mai Valentine, a young woman supposed to be Joey's girlfriend.

Yugi, who had heard Mokuba yell, turned around to see the Kaiba brothers. "Hi guys!" he said happily. "Whatcha doin'?"

"Seto and I can here to play Duel Monsters," Mokuba replied. "Looks like that's what you came to do too, huh, Yugi?"

"Yup. Why don't you two join us?" Yugi offered.

"Humph. Why would we join you, when none of you are worthy of our company, especially that dog, Wheeler?" Kaiba said coldly.

"Don't mind Seto. Besides, I've got a great idea. How about we have a dueling tournament?" Mokuba asked eagerly.

"Mokuba," Kaiba began, "you can't have a tournament with ten people."

Mokuba thought a moment. What his brother said was true. "Well then, how about this? Say you and I were dueling and it ending up being a REALLY close match. Since it was a close game, we would both advance to the next round. But only one pair of duelists could do that. So the two who get the closest will advance. Do you get it, Seto?"

"Of course I get it."

"I think that's a very good idea, Mokuba," Yugi said. "It ought to be fun too. What do you say, Kaiba?"

Kaiba looked at all of them. Everyone seemed to be eager to duel. He shrugged. "Ok, I'm in. I could be all of you anyway."

"Wait, Seto, you've got to help me first," Mokuba told his brother.

"Fine, I'll show you some things..."

When Kaiba had finished fixing Mokuba's deck a bit and teaching him a few things, names were drawn to decide who would play who.

The first duel was between Bakura and Tea, in which Bakura emerged the victor.

Kaiba got a fairly easy win from Mai, spending the whole duel coldly telling her how bad her moves had been.

Mokuba was against Serenity, and disappointed his big brother by losing the game.

Tristan and Duke played each other, both saying that they would win it for Serenity, which made the girl blush. Duke got a narrow win, but not quite as narrow as the duel that came after theirs.

Yugi and Joey, the two best friends, had to duel. Yugi won, but since it had been close, they both moved on.

In the second round, the first match was between Yugi and Duke. It was quite an embarrassment to Duke, considering that he lost badly.

Kaiba's second opponent was one he didn't expect to be up against. Serenity Wheeler, the very girl he had seen at the same park yesterday, trying to remember her name. They sat at the picnic table, drew their cards, and then started the game. Serenity went first, playing a very weak monster in attack mode.

"Well?" Joey said, glaring at Kaiba. "Aren't you gonna say something mean already? I mean, you made fun of my girlfriend's moves, so why don't you just make fun of my sister's?"

That was true. Serenity's move was rather stupid on her part. However, Kaiba ignored Joey and didn't say a word to Serenity. This went on for the entire duel.

Kaiba won, but was surprised at how well Serenity had done. Not too well, but much better than he expected. They stood, then shook hands. Kaiba gave Serenity one of his very rare smiles. "Good job," he complimented her. "You did a lot better than I thought you would."

"Thanks, Kaiba," Serenity said happily.

"Who knows, you may be surpassing the puppy-" -he threw a glare a Joey- "-in no time, uh... What's your name again?"

"Serenity."

"Right." When Kaiba turned to the others, he noticed that they were staring at him. He grunted, then asked, "What are you staring at?"

"Oh, nothing," Yugi said. "I suppose we should get on to the next duel then."

It was Bakura and Joey. A close match indeed, so they both advanced to the next round.

In the third round, Kaiba had to duel Joey. Kaiba loved this, and made fun of Joey's every move. Kaiba was the victor, and Joey took his loss very hard.

In the match between Yugi and Bakura, Yugi won, which left him to duel Kaiba in the final round.

It was a very grueling match, and very narrow too, but Kaiba finally managed to beat his greatest adversary.

Kaiba laughed. "See, Yugi? After all those times of losing to you, I finally pulled it off. Guess you're not so good now, huh?"

Yugi shrugged. "I don't know, Kaiba. Things may have been different if I would have let my other half take over."

"Yugi, you know I don't believe in that rubbish."

"Think what you want, Kaiba, but the Millennium Puzzle doesn't lie."

"Hey guys," Tea piped in, "how would you all like to stop and get some ice cream?"

"Oh, I'd love that, Tea!" Serenity exclaimed. She then looked to Kaiba. "Why don't the two of you come with us?"

"Mokuba and I don't have time for things like that," Kaiba explained. "Come on, Mokuba, let's go home."

"But Seto!" Mokuba said stubbornly. "I'm in the mood for ice cream. I want to go with them."

Kaiba looked to his brother, then to Serenity. For a moment, he stared into her hazel eyes. He could tell that they both wanted him to come along. He sighed, and then reluctantly agreed to go with them.