A/N: Hello readers! I'm going to keep this intro short and sweet as possible! This is a new story that I'll be trying out. Please note that the characters within this story will be older than they traditionally are.

Title: The Dance of Life

POV: Yugi/First Person

Pairing: Yugi x Tea

Setting: Present Day America – Pennsylvania

Rating: T+ - M

Summary: Yugi and the old gang have graduated high school and their lives have changed drastically. Fresh from a messy break up, Yugi feels unsure about everything in his life, from what he wants to do for the rest of it and who he would like to spend it with. Yugi and Tea have grown apart over the years, despite promises that such a thing would never happen. Both have moved to the United States, for very different reasons. Yugi's grandfather is getting older, and is not doing too well. Tea is following her dreams of becoming a performer, but has not been very successful on her journey. When fate brings the two of them together again, will the love they once shared for one another be rekindled?

Disclaimer: I DO NOT OWN YU-GI-OH!

Chapter 1

We need to talk.

Great, the dreaded "we need to talk" text. I already know exactly what it means, and it certainly isn't good. I don't hesitate in typing back my reply of: OK. How about after class? Just as I am about to shove my phone into my jean pocket, it vibrates again.

I didn't have classes today. Can I come over?

I sigh and stare at the bright LED screen display in front of me. Things haven't been right between Aurora and I since my grandfather became sick with Cancer. I honestly think that she is annoyed with how busy I constantly am. I never seem to have time for anything anymore. With grandpa being sick, I've basically taken over the game shop. We were lucky enough to be able to find space available that was also affordable. Only problem is, we had to move the game shop to America. It isn't really a problem, actually. I quite like it here. The food is great and the people are friendly. Everything is so reasonably priced, too! Still, it's hard to believe that I'll be done with college soon and turning 23. What's even harder to believe is just how much things have changed. I actually enjoy sports now, well if hiking and biking count as sports, that is. The town that we live in is Stroudsburg, located in Pennsylvania. Who knew mountains could be so relaxing and beautiful? I often find myself going on adventures to clear my mind. There's something so refreshing about going on a walk through the woods. So many discoveries to be made and nature to enjoy. Back when I lived in Japan, I never would have dreamed of coming to a town in the Poconos.

My phone pulses again in my hands and I panic slightly, for reasons I am not sure of. Just an email. I search my mind for a response to give Aurora. Yeah sure. I'm home now so come over whenever.

I look out the window of the game shop. We, Grandpa and I, live upstairs, above the game shop, similar to our set up in Japan. The shop is decently sized and so is our home. It looks like it is going to rain. Of course. I begin unpacking some of the new Magic packs that were delivered earlier. As I walk to the front of the store to hang a poster for our weekend tournament, I see Aurora across the street with someone. Strange. It isn't one of her girlfriends from class. I squint and move closer to the front door. There's a tall man with tight jeans on and a pair of black Vans. Darth Vader is on the back of his hoodie and his hands are wrapped around Aurora's waist. She holds a Starbucks cup in her hands and giggles as this mystery guy kisses her. I watch in amazement as she turns to face him and the two begin to make out. My heart plummets. I feel as if someone has taken my stomach and scrunched it up, thrown it into a dryer, and hit the repeat cycle. Oh my God! So she didn't have class today so that she could spend some time with another guy! And I guess that we need to talk because she's into someone else! I feel sick. I don't know what's worse: the way I feel, or how happy she looks.

My phone vibrates on the counter where I left it when I was stocking the shelves and hanging the signs. It's her. Is it alright if I come over later tonight? My friends want to meet up for a project for my Shakespeare class.

A ridiculous amount of rage consumes me and it takes every fiber of my being to not burst through those doors to the shop, run across the street and make a scene on Main Street. I take deep breaths and try to control my anger. I can't. I find myself thinking of the Pharaoh Atemu. He never would have dealt with this kind of mess. People feared him and respected him. He was a strong and powerful leader and always got his way. I wonder why I cannot be like him? I ball up my hands into fists. Maybe today is the day that I should be like him. Without thinking anymore on the subject, I act on instinct and burst through the doors of the shop. I march across the street to the Starbucks. I don't even stop to look for oncoming traffic, which is very dumb of me, I must admit. Aurora notices me instantly and approaches me.

"I'm sorry, Yugi. It isn't what it looks like, I pro –"

"You know what Aurora? I don't care. I don't care if you've fallen for someone else. I don't even care that you'd rather be with him than me. What I do care about is being lied to and deceived." I watch in the corner of my eye as the young Star Wars guy that she was with before starts to inch away and walk in the other direction of Main Street. Awesome, stand up guy.

"Yugi, I – "

"I am glad to see how hard at work here you are with your friends getting ready for this Shakespeare class project thing!" I am practically spitting out my words. Her eyes fill with tears, but I could care less. I don't feel bad for this skank and nothing she says or does can change that. It's one thing to fall out of love with someone, but to lie and cheat is completely unacceptable and I for one, am not deserving of it at all. I'm always seen as this "super nice pushover" guy and I'm really growing sick and tired of it. I give an inch, and people take a mile! Girls like Aurora are a dime a dozen. They're all over, in every part of the world. "I'm sorry my grandfather is dying, Aurora. I am really sorry that I have tons of shit to do and take care of. I thought, you know, being my girlfriend and all, that you would be understanding and supportive." I feel a stinging in my eyes and a burning in my throat. "But, hey, I guess that the last year we've spent together didn't mean enough to you to try and hold on or work things out. I admit, I could have been a better boyfriend, but I was a great one in the beginning before Grandpa's test results came back. I don't deserve this, and you don't deserve me."

I turn to leave and she grabs my arm. I shrug her grasp off and she hold tightly onto my hand. "You're right, Yugi." She cries. "You're right about everything. I'm a bitch and a liar and I don't deserve someone as nice and loving as you! But, it became so hard. I tried. Please believe me that I tried. But I was so sick of taking a backseat to your grandfather and the stupid gaming shop. I was so tired of being ignored for a new game or convention or competition or whatever the fuck it was that had your attention over me!" Aurora takes in deep breaths and her tiny shoulders heave with each inhale. How typical of her to blame everything on me and play the victim. I'm out of here. I pull my arm hard and my hand is released from hers. I walk away and into the street.

"Have a nice semester," I say as tears fill my own eyes. "and a nice life."

Business is booming on the weekends, especially Friday nights. Tons of kids and adults of all ages swarm the shop. Some are regulars and join the weekly tournaments that play until 11 and others browse the new releases and merchandise. Xbox One is super popular here. Gramps and I sell probably one a day, which may not seem like a big deal, but in a little mountain town such as Stroudsburg, it actually is. Some of the college students come in from the bars or restaurants and look around. Tourists and out-of-towners do the same thing. I enjoy it, the weekends at the shop. I get to meet new people and make connections. Sometimes, I get hit on and score some numbers from the college girls who come in with their friends or brothers. Tonight, I could care less. It's times like these that I really miss my old friends and wish that they were still around. Tristian and Serenity are engaged. I see all of their disgustingly cute pics on Facebook and Instagram. Joey and Mai have gotten together, finally and exclusively. After several random hook-ups with one another, I guess they realized how meant to be they are, because now, they're inseparable. They travel all over the world, driving fast cars and living life fabulously. Joey never went to college. We're lucky he even graduated high school! Ha, school just wasn't for him. It isn't for everyone. Joey is a professional race car driver. He loves to go fast, and he always has. Finally, he gets to live out his dream with the woman of his dreams who lives life just as fast as he does. Atem is finally at peace, enjoying the afterlife with his old friends and family. Not a day goes by that I don't miss him dearly. I think out of everyone, I miss him the most of all. Well, maybe not out of everyone…

Tea and I never had the chance to hook up like Joey and Mai did. I don't know if she was in love with Atem, or what it was, but ever since he went to rest, things were awkward between us. I'd try to ask her out or romance her and she would always appear to be somewhere else. We went on dates before, but I never had the balls to kiss her or even attempt it. It's probably my biggest regret, aside from wasting so much of my time with Aurora. I wonder what happened to Tea. I know that she moved to the US too to follow her dancing dreams. I believe she went to New York, to attend her college of choice, Julliard. I know that she was accepted, but she never knew how she would be able to afford the tuition. I tried hard to stay in her life and be a part of it, but it was just too much for me seeing all of the guys that she was frequently with on social media, and when I met Aurora, I wasn't really focused on any woman but her. For a while, I had even forgotten about Tea and how much I missed her. I could always send her a friend request on Facebook…but I won't because I am way too chicken shit for that. After all, we don't have anything in common anymore, I'm sure. She probably has some hot, talented and successful boyfriend, hell, even a fiancé or husband by now! Who knows? She was always beautiful. Falling in love with Tea, was easy to do…

"Yugi!" Brandon enters the shop and makes the bell sound. He plays with it every time he comes in. I don't mind though. Brandon is a cool guy. We go to bars together and hang out doing nothing. Come to think of it, I probably spent more time with Brandon than I did with Aurora. It was just easier. Aurora was always wanting to go out and be seen. She had to have her friends see her with me. She enjoyed going out to expensive places and every weekend, we had to go on some sort of expensive trip – either to one of the mountain resorts to ski or to the beaches in New Jersey. Sometimes, I swear she enjoyed my money more than my company. She loved my body, more than my personality. I can't believe I never noticed how shallow she really was before, but I guess I was blinded by her knock out looks. Even still, looking back on it now, Tea's body was way better than Aurora's. I can't help but think back to her generous breasts and wide hips. Aurora didn't have much to offer in the boobs department, but her butt was something else.

Brandon is dressed in a button up flannel with tighter ripped jeans and Toms boots. He's insane for not wearing a hoodie. He always says he's "used to the mountain air", and I always laugh because I don't think I ever will be.

"Got plans tonight?" He leans over the glass counter that displays the most expensive collectibles. "I was thinking of hitting up that Gentleman's club over in Pen Argyl. Wanna come? We could grab some drinks and see some lovely ladies?" He does this weird eyebrow thing that he always does. I guess it takes place of a creepy, suggestive wink or something. He runs a hand through his sandy, blonde hair before looking at me. "Oh, I almost forgot about Aurora. Sorry man, I know she won't go for that sort of thin – "

"We broke up. She was cheating on me." Before Brandon even has a chance to respond, I say "I'm down. Let's do it."