Disclaimer: I do not own Yu-Gi-Oh! This story may contain context of foul language, and in the future content that contains the context of a mature audience. So viewer's discretion will be advised.

Love or Lust?

Prologue

By: Huasheng

of

Huasheng Productions©

"NO! I DON'T WANT TO LEAVE!" Serenity yelled trying to get out of her mother's grip. "I DON'T WANT TO LEAVE JOEY!" Serenity's yelling continued as her mother put her into the car.

"DAD! Let go of me! Serenity can't leave us! Let me go so I can take her away from mom!" Joey too was trying to release himself from his drunken father grip.

"Don't be stupid, Joey." His father said taking another gulp from his beer bottle. "You don't want to live with Serenity, she's a girl, and she's just like her mother. She's a whore!" Joey couldn't hear such horrible words be spoken about his only sister.

He kicked his father in the kneecap, the impact of the kick left Joey father's release his son and fell to the ground, holding his knee. Yet he was strong enough to still put the beer bottle up to his mouth and drink the alcohol from its cylindralic form.

Joey ran towards the car that had already been set in motion, his hands reaching out as if he could just grab his sister from his mother. The car began to excellerate faster and Joey's breath began to fail him. Joey could still see his sister through the glass of the back window, her eye full of tears and her mother still trying to calm her down. Joey was destined to stop once the car in question was out of sight.

Joey fell to the floor, at only the age of eight, he had been through a traumatic event. His eyes filled with tears as he yelled his sweet sister's name into the clouded sky. "SERENITY!" just as if it had been on queue, rain began to cascade down from the gray, dark sky, soaking Joey down to his undergarments.

Serenity slumped into the seat of the taxi, her eyes filled with huge tears that rolled down her rosy pink cheeks. Her hands tried to push the enormous balls of water, although it made no difference since dozens of more tears came spilling out. Her mother tried to comfort her, though Serenity pushed her mother away, obviously she blamed her for the tears that fell from her eyes.

"Go away! I hate you!" Serenity yelled at her mother.

"Serenity, I didn't mean to take you away from Joey, it's just that I can't take him with me." Her mother tried to explain the situation.

"WHY?! I hate you! Stay away from me!" although Serenity was only six years of age, her voice was strong and powerful.

Her mother eventually got Serenity under control and comforted her on the plane voyage that was heading to Egypt.

Serenity opened the clay door to her new home. Obviously dismay clouded her thoughts, as her face molded into mush. Her mother followed her as she pulled in their suitcases.

"I don't like this place! I want to go back to Domino!" Serenity whined, as she stood up straight with her arms crossed in front of her chest. "I hate this place!"

"Give it some time Serenity." Her mother said starting to unpack the suitcases that she brought into their new home. "Why don't you go play outside, I hear somewhere around here there's a little brother, and her older sister you could play with." Her mother said trying to cheer Serenity up from the loss of her brother.

Serenity made no response and just exited the house. She made her way out into the sun, its rays shinning down onto her arms and face. Her eyes wondered around franticly trying to find a place where she could embrace as her own. And there it was – a swing set. Serenity's eyes brightened at the sight.

She ran on over to it happily, a smile wide on her face. She jumped onto the single swing and began to push off from the ground and than extended her legs so that she could travel farther than before. She loved the feeling of the wind that caressed her face softly, it was an escape from the humid weather that was a usual for the residents here.

She just swung on the swing for sometime, until she heard a soft boyish voice, "Hi there! My name's Marik! What's yours?" the boy asked sweetly, and at the same time, unbelievably excited that he might make a new friend to play with in his childhood years.

Serenity didn't feel like talking, but the boy seemed nice enough, and there was something about his big, childish, violet eyes that just swayed her to answer, "My name is Serenity Wheeler."

"Hi Serenity! Where did you come from?" his white hair blew in the breeze of sand that made Serenity squish her eyelids together.

"I came here with mom from Domino City. She came here from work, and took me with her." Serenity's eye saddened at the thought of what she had left behind.

"I've lived here my entire life! It's been so lonely. But now that you're here, we can be friends, right?" there was a sense of anticipation in his voice. Serenity gave him a big nod that brightened his smile and his eyes.

"Do you want me to push you higher?" Marik asked sweetly.

"Yeah," Serenity actually was happy for the first time in a long while, and it was all thanks to her new found friend, Marik. It was the beginning of a beautiful and long lasting friendship.

10 Years Later...

"I don't want to leave mom!" Serenity had grown much and so did her maturity level, this time when she had to leave someone she cared deeply about, she wasn't pushing or kicking anyone.

"I'm sorry honey, but we have to, I'm being transferred." Serenity's mom tried once again to calm her 16-year-old daughter down as she packed the things that she unpacked years ago from the same boxes she used today.

"Why is it that you always have to take me away from the things I care about the most! Years ago you took me away from Joey, and now you're doing the same by taking me away from Marik! Why do you keep hurting me mom? Are you doing this on purpose?" Serenity's eyes began to water and soon enough she was going to weep.

"No, of course not honey!" Serenity's mother left the boxes and walked on over to her daughter and put an arm around her to comfort her. "It's just that I'm not needed here anymore, Marik is now old enough to take care of the millennium items by himself. We need to leave" her mother tried to explain, wiping away some of her daughter's tears away from her face.

"So what? Why can't we stay, this is my home now, I love it here! I don't want to leave Egypt! I don't want to leave Marik." She trailed off as a truckload of tears fell from her eyes.

"Look Serenity, I've seen the way that boy looks boy looks at you, his damn puberty has been in affect way to long." Her mother squinted her eyes as if Marik was in front of her and she was giving him a cold stare.

Serenity pulled herself out of her mother's embrace and her tears turned into anger. "Is that why we're leaving? Because you think Marik has other things on his mind about me?" Serenity was outraged.

"Of course not honey. We're leaving because I won't be able to support us if we stay here. A job is waiting for me in Domino City, and your brother is waiting for you there too." Her mother said as a smile curved her motherly face.

"What?" a smile was seen behind Serenity's tears of anger and sadness.

"You heard me honey, I didn't want to ruin the surprise but, I couldn't keep from seeing you smile." Her mother's eyes had widened as a few tears of joy filled her eyes also.

Serenity's smile seemed as if her mouth was going to fly of her face. "I love you mom!" Serenity hugged her mom so tightly as if she wanted to suffocate her. "I'm going to go tell Marik!" with that she left her mother's embrace and ran out the door to their paradise – the swing set where they first met.

Serenity ran out, and her eyes immediately turned to the swing set, where she saw the 18 year old Marik swinging on it slightly, in his eyes there was sadness, he obviously wasn't pleased that his best friend was leaving.

"MARIK!" she yelled as she ran on over to him. Marik got up from the swing and smiled at her beautiful face. Once Serenity got to Marik she was out of breath. "Marik, I—"

Marik stopped her from talking as he placed a single finger upon her cherry red lips. Her beautiful hazel eyes dazed off deeply into his strong-willed, powerful violet eyes. And than Marik spoke softly, making Serenity listen closely, "I'm going to miss you, Serenity."

"I'm going to miss you too." Her eyes watered, and it hurt Marik to see her in this state. Marik's fingers found there way to Serenity's cheek and he brushed away softly her fresh tears. Serenity's eyes were needy and innocent. Her eyes compelled Marik to bend down a bit and let his tender lips, meet her soft ones. The kiss they shared was sweet and precious, it was the first kiss they shared together, their first kiss overall.

Once Marik left her simply beautiful mouth, they looked into each other's eyes again, and went into an embrace that they shared for quite sometime. Marik's arms held Serenity tightly from her waist and one of Serenity's arms were around Marik's neck and the other around his waist, gripping on his strong back.

Their interaction was put to a halt when the both of them heard Serenity's mother's loud voice, "SERENITY! It's time to go, we're going to be late for our flight!"

The two of them pulled away from each other's chest, but their arms were still tangled around each other, and than looked deeply at each other one last time before they would have to leave each other for good.

"Don't forget me," Marik sad softly, obviously trying to hide the tears that were begging for release.

"I could never forget about you." She too had to fight the tears, but she wasn't emotionally strong enough. Marik once again pulled Serenity in for a long, passionate kiss. His hand found their way on to her cheek and her hand was placed on top of his. Serenity's mother saw it, and yet did nothing to prevent it. Once they pulled away from each other, so did their arms, but their fingers never left the other ones. Serenity began to walk slowly away from him, still she was holding his hands strongly, never wanting to let go, but eventually she did, and never looked back again, knowing that if she did that she would run back to him and never go back with her mother. But her brother was waiting for in Domino City and she wanted to see him with all of her heart.

On the plane, Serenity's eyes didn't rest for one second. Her eyes filled with tears and she ruined the flight for the dozens of passengers around her, not once letting the memory of her first kiss leave her thoughts, that was the only thing that let her stay in one piece and from going into a total emotion breakdown.

Joey waited anxiously in front of the terminal his mother told him his sister and her would exit from. Flowers in his hand for his mother, and a box of Serenity's favorite chocolate for her, along with a hug that's been needed for 10 years and a mouthful of memories to share with her.

Joey eyes brightened with such a delight when he saw his little sister, who wasn't so little after all in ten years. His sister was just as happy. Utterly happy that she left her suitcase where it was and ran to her brother fiercely into a much needed embrace. The both of them had tears of joy in their eyes. Along with their mother, who watched from afar as she pulled Serenity's suitcase along with her own.

Joey had seen his mother struggle with the suitcases, so he left his sister's arms, briefly, and went to assist his mother, he still had love for her even though she was the one that had taken his precious sister away from him. But she had a reason, and he was glad that she did take her away from their father. He was always drunk and never gave a damn about anything other than his whores and liquor. Joey was glad that Serenity didn't have to grow up to watch such horrible things. The only thing that brought him grief was that his mother never took him away from his father as she had done for Serenity. But he had forgotten about those thoughts and for good reasons too. He excepted the past, but just wanted to talk with his sister, he wanted to know what her favorite food was now, what her hobbies were. She was sixteen now, obviously she wasn't the same person that she was 10 years ago.

Joey placed the ladies' suitcases in the back trunk of his van, and helped them into the seats of the car. The car ride home was loud, very loud. Both Serenity and Joey still loved doing what they used to do in the car when they were young. Singing along with the radio to the songs they knew. But the singing wasn't peaceful, oh not at all, the keys would usually be off by a mile and it was loud. They did it the entire way home, singing along with the tape Joey made especially for them. It was filled with the songs they loved when they were children.

Once they got home, the two, mother and daughter were surprised that the father was no where to be seen. Apparently, Joey had moved out from his dad's hell hole parse, and got his own job so that he could pay for the rent of his own apartment. Now that his mom was here, they could move into a bigger place and live happily ever after. Or so they thought.

2 Years Later...

"GET OUT JOEY!" Serenity yelled at her brother as she shut the door behind that led to her bedroom.

"Serenity, open the door." Joey said helplessly, his forehead leaning against the frame of the door and one his fist resting against the wooden door itself.

"I thought I told you to get the hell outta here? What? Can't you hear?!" Serenity was infuriated that her older brother had the nerve to still be in the apartment they spent years in.

"Serenity, listen to me. I never meant for that to happen—" Joey was interrupted.

"What? You didn't mean to get Mai pregnant! That you didn't mean to blow off all your money off on her frickin' needs. The fact that you decided to abandon us, your only family, for that... for that ... WHORE!" Serenity yelled at the door and than stood up and kicked one of her stuff animals, pretending that it was her brother.

"Look Serenity, we've been through this, it wasn't her fault alone, it' takes two to tango. Besides, you're going to be an aunt, doesn't that matter to you?" Joey tried to get through to his sister.

"Yeah, I'm going to be the aunt of a bastard child! Yep, that makes me proud." Serenity said sarcastically, still taking out her anger on the stuffed bear.

"Serenity please, you're my sister, and I love you, but I can't stay with you, Mai needs me, and I need her." Joey wasn't helping the situation at all by saying that.

"Of course, you want to be with her so she can fuck you every night? Right? Well go right ahead! Forget the fact that we need you. That I need you ... that mom needs you! You know she's sick! And yet you keep on cutting wire of her lifeline." Serenity broke down onto the floor of her pretty pink room, and began to weep. Joey heard it.

"Serenity please open the door. I love you Serenity, but I need to do this, I—"

"You're just like that bastard father of ours! You willing to give up your family, give me up, just so you can get laid! I HATE YOU! GET OUT OF OUR LIVES! WE NEVER WANT TO SEE YOU AGAIN!" Serenity's patience was growing thin, and her anger was just about to burst out.

"FINE!" Joey kicked the door a couple of times and than left. The slamming of the door could be heard by Serenity. She opened the door of bedroom, realizing that she really had lost her brother. She ran out after him, leaving the door to her apartment open, not caring if anyone would have gone in or not. She ran down the stairs since the elevator was occupied, her brother was in it.

Once Serenity finally reached the first floor, through the glass windows and doors of the foyer she spotted her brother outside with Mai, getting into a red convertible. It started to move, and Serenity feared the true reality of the world – her brother had left her, forever. She ran out after it screaming Joey's and Mai's name, but the convertible never came to a halt and there was no response from either of them. Serenity was compelled to stop since her lungs needed air.

She fell to the sidewalk, holding her head in her hands, obviously crying her eyes out, and not caring that people were starring at her. It was if it was a remake of what had happened to Joey when he watched as his only sibling was taken away from him.

Serenity sat at the side of the hospital bed, by her mother's side. Holding her mother's soft, delicate hand, she caressed it, concerned by her mother's well being. She saw that her mother started to come around, as her eyes began to flutter, not opening completely, but it took a lot of strength for her mother to keep her eyelids up.

"Go to sleep mother, you need to rest." Serenity said it softly not wanting to bother her mother. Once Serenity's mother was asleep once again, she placed her hand back into place and left her mother briefly to speak to a doctor.

"Dr. Robertson," Serenity said from the other side of the hallway trying to get the doctor's attention. The doctor walked up to her frantically.

"Yes Ms. Wheeler?" the doctor was obviously tired from his long day's work.

"Dr. Robertson, is she... is she going to be alright? I mean, will she get better?" Serenity's hand found it's way to her forehead, where she rubbed it restlessly.

"Well Ms. Wheeler, the good news is that she will recover."

"Thank god." Serenity was relieved beyond belief.

"But," there was a pause, "I highly advise you to keep her away from stress—" he was interrupted when the sound of a voice from the intercom that was heard in the entire hospital called for Dr. Robertson, stating that it was an emergency and that he should make his way to the ER.

Serenity made her way back to her mother, and looked through the glass of the ICU. 'She can't stay here anymore. We've got to leave Domino. But where?' Serenity thought to herself as she watched her mother toss and turn in her small hospital bed. 'This is all Joey's fault! I HATE HIM! I hate him.' Serenity's eyes, like many times before watered up and tears came streaming down. 'No. I've got to stop crying!' Serenity said to herself wiping away her tears. 'I've got to be strong! I've got to be strong for mother, and myself, if I want to make it in this world I'm going to have to change. No more nice girl that's as gullible as a 2-year-old! I've got to learn to stand my ground and not be pushed around! If someone pushes you, than you push right back!' a new Serenity was born that day through the sight of her sick mother.

Serenity packed the last of their belongings into the box, while the movers loaded the boxes into the large van that Serenity and her mother had rented for the day. She got one last look at her peaceful bedroom, where she had so many good memories with her friends and family. One last look at the kitchen, living room, and bathroom. That was it. She closed the door behind her and locked the door as she helped her mother down to the elevator and into their car, and than headed to the airport for Toronto, Canada. In Toronto, Serenity's grandmother waited for the both of them in anticipation and excitement.

The flight was quiet and lonesome, neither of the Wheeler woman spoke, either to weak and tired or too sad.

Once the plane landed a man was there to pick the ladies up, along with their belongings. He took them to their new home. The home where Serenity's mother was raised in, where she spent all of her childhood days, and most fondest memories.

They were settled into their new home, feeling rather lonely and disturbed, well only Serenity was. Her mother seemed the happiest in years. Until one day when Serenity got an e-mail.

Hey Serenity,

I heard that you've grown over the years. Haha, anyway forget about that. I've also heard that your mother wasn't doing very well. I hope she's fine now. Still don't know who I am, well let me give you a hint. "Don't forget me." "I could never forget you." Ring a bell? How are you Serenity? As I said years ago, I've missed you, missed you a lot for a matter of fact. I'm just glad that I got a hold of you, it sure took me sometime. If you haven't known, I moved to Domino City, I was offered a job, and I knew you lived there so I had no other choice to say yes. But I didn't tell you since I wanted to surprise you. But I really couldn't tell you anyway, from the lack of technology in Egypt. But when I came to Domino, I found out where you lived, and than found out that you moved to Toronto so, here I am talking to you right now. You really know how to make a guy worry, and run too.

So tell me, how have you been? Still as stubborn as you were when we were children? It doesn't matter. I was disappointed when I found out you didn't live here anymore. To tell you the truth I could have killed someone, but I'm just glad that we can at least talk, if not in person, than my e-mail at least.

Luv ya lots,

Marik

P.S. You can reply, if you want to, at

Serenity's eyes filled with tears of happiness when she read the letter, and Marik's e-mail address brought her to laughter too. Serenity's grandmother walked into her room, and saw her grandchild on the computer, laughing, she saw shocked.

"Mary! Call an ambulance! Something's wrong with Serenity! She's laughing for a change!" Her grandmother yelled as loud as she could so that Serenity's mom would come to see a smile on her daughter's face in a long time.

After that day Serenity kept in touch with Marik, and wrote to him everyday, and she was always in her usual happy mood.

Five years had past, and Serenity still never missed a day of communication with Marik. But in one e-mail, Marik had asked Serenity a question that changed her life forever. It took Serenity many words of persuasion, and fake tears to make her mother agree to the terms. But her mother eventually knew that her daughter would be happier with Marik so she sent her off to Domino City to live with Marik and possibly get a job and make a living there. And that's when the real story begins... TO BE CONTINUED...

Author's Note: You guys like? Well, Serenity is going to be a lot different than she is in the anime show. She's going to be determined, intelligent, and willed, for all of the traumatic events she's been through made her that way. Anyway, you guys like? It's going to get really good! I promise! Read and Review people, thank you. All comments greatly appreciated.