Cruise With The Stars
Yugi gets an invitation to an all expenses paid vacation on a cruise ship with the most famous and powerful people of the world. AU
Disclaimer: I don't own Yugioh.
The last bell of the day sang the release of the senior class; Domino high school's summer vacation had started. The students rushed out to enjoy their limited time of freedom, fighting the clock before they moved on in their lives.
The people in the streets moved aside as a wave of blue uniformed teens ran through the streets, cheering and celebrating. Breaking off into their usual groups, the youths made plans and party dates. Gossiping and giggles were heard up and down the streets of Domino, as the teens reveled in the summers latest scandals.
Trouble in Paradise for Celebrity couple Jarry and Robin! Was scrawled over the newspapers and magazine covers.
The city of Domino lived for the rich and famous. If a celebrity so much as dropped a tissue, the youths of Domino would know in advance.
One particular student however gave the magazine a dark look as it was passed from hand to hand in the crowd.
A petit young man named Yugi Mutou strode quickly with the throng, avoiding the large steps of his fellow graduates, while he slipped in between their bodies. He scanned the large density of heads for the familiar gold colour hair of his best friend Jounouchi Katsuya.
It was strange that the blonde wasn't with Yugi in the first place, he always insisted he accompany his 'little buddy' and keep him out of trouble. Yugi sighed helplessly, this kind of situation made finding his friend nearly impossible. He made his way over to a fruit crate of one of the street venders had put out, climbing it carefully until he was well above the student body's heads; Peering into the mob with a better perspective.
The vender gave him a dark look, but Yugi ignored it, figuring he was light enough to not crush any of the fruit bellow him. He'd buy something from the man after he had found Jou.
Some of the passing students stopped to give him their attention, dropping their magazines momentarily awaiting his 'speech'. Yugi's face heated a little in embarrassment, but this was the punishment of being a shorter than average kid.
The oblivious students continued to stare, while Yugi looked desperately for Jou. He had a limited amount of time before one of them noticed…
One particularly tall redheaded boy raised an accusing finger at Yugi, recognition growing on his face.
"Hey! I know you!"
Said accused teen gave him an odd look before responding that they went to the same school, they probably shared some electives, but the boy didn't accept this.
"No, no. I've seen you somewhere else. Your hair is familiar, what are you a rock star?" As if the boy's words had flipped a switch, a hush went through the crowd and Yugi brushed a hand through his tri-colour locks. He supposed coloring his hair with red and gold along with his natural black might have been a mistake. A different class mate spoke up, one with pigtails and freckles, exclaiming excitedly
"I saw you on TV! Just a little while ago I think." There was a murmur of agreement and the crowds' excitement grew. More of the graduates accumulated around the venders stall. The man looked terribly confused. Teenagers interested in fruit?
Yugi swallowed a little, the sun beat on him and the vender was inspecting him again, 'looking for signs of drugs, probably'
"Ah, well I'm Mutou Yugi from class A-1" The group of students got a little closer, practically breathing in his air. Yugi decide it was time to search for Jou elsewhere, hopping off the fruit crate; he'd have to purchase some later by the looks of the slightly squished box, but not with the crowd watching him.
"Yugi? Hey! Oh my gosh! it's theGame king from duelist kingdom!" An excited uproar rose from the youths, they rushed the small teen and Yugi made a leap at an opening between two rather bulky freshmen.
Hands grabbed at his backpack and shouts of praise and awe quickly surrounded the diminutive teen.
A pen was taken from Yugi's coat.
Yugi had become unexpectedly famous after winning a gaming tournament in the popular world of Duel Monsters. The game had been industrialized and blown into great scales of popularity; sweeping the world with its curious monsters and new technological playing disks. Yugi had always been good at games; Duel Monsters was no different. He had played for fun with the kids at his school, but soon looked for more competitive players.
After entering a few local tournaments, Yugi received a rather flamboyant invitation from the creator of the game himself, Maximillion Pegasus, to a competition on his private island, to determine the best player of the world. At the time Yugi wasn't well known for his skill, but his record of wins in the World's Game Database got him an invitation anyway.
He quickly went through the competitors and made his way to the winners circle. This earned him quite a few enemies and one or two friends. It was fairly impressive that he had made it so far so quickly, but what really made him become a so-called celebrity, was the fact that he had beaten the multimillionaire at his own game!
Thus Yugi took the title the 'king of games' as his trophy. As well as a number of prizes and cash certificates. Since the time of the tournament had taken place during winter break, the actual filming of the event had only recently been aired on television. And now Yugi was faced with growing amounts of grief from the paparazzi and his new 'fan club'.
Cards and pens were shoved in Yugi's face as the crowd of the once ignorant students begged for his signature. Yugi tried to take a claming breath as the people got so close he couldn't see the street anymore. His neck prickled and his hands were clammy. Panic levels rising, Yugi was too tense to really react when a strong grip clamped down on his shoulder.
Suddenly he was torn out of the swarm and was momentarily sailing through the air. His feet hit the ground and he was whipped around by a rough tug.
He was moving now, the sun blocked his vison from seeing his (hopefully) savior. Shrieks of unhappiness followed quickly behind, and Yugi blindly followed the mysterious person as they deftly led him through the street.
"You're always so popular ain't ya Yuge?" came an accented voice.
"Jounouchi!" Yugi cried, feeling a lot more secure now that his friend was there. Jou laughed at the almost desperately thankful tone his little friend had used.
"Aww, you act like you don't enjoy it! Did you see all da babes back there?" Yugi gave a simple groan, as his response.
He was definitely not fit enough to joke around while he was running for his life. He was panting from the short sprint already, but didn't stop as a howl was heard behind them; the fanatic students apparently found a leader to guide them.
Jou pulled Yugi down a few streets before ducking into a nearby book store called 'the book nook'. A fairly quiet store that really didn't collect customers who valued video games more than the written word. About half of the senior class streaked by the door and never even glanced at it. Magazine papers went floating down the street, some with Yugi's face on them.
Soon the other half of the class soon came stumbling after the first group; they didn't know about the little 'semi-celebrity' and assumed they were all headed to some kind of massive party.
Yugi and Jou crouched behind the glass window, carefully peeking above the sill to glance at the street for stragglers. Jou gave Yugi a wicked grin and sat back on the heels of his hands.
"Well I think were safe here don't ch'ya agree?" he proclaimed rather loudly.
"Shush!" The raspy remark came from the old woman behind the desk. Jou gave a sheepish grin and the woman shook her head.
"I guess. But I personally don't want to stay in here all day." Yugi replied after finally catching his breath. Living in a musty book store was not on his to do list.
Judging it safe to leave after five minutes of recon, and a helpful push from the old lady who ran the counter, they moved at a much more relaxed pace towards Yugi's home.
"So summa is here! No more of them teachers lecturing me, or givin me anymore of those damn pink slips." Jou sighed happily.
Yugi nodded in agreement. He himself had gathered quite a few tardies over the years at Domino high school. He couldn't say he hated it, but the massive amounts of celebrity-fiends had been slightly oppressive.
"I say we hit the town; really go all out and celebrate!" Jou grinned and produced a strange excited laugh; he reached into his coat pocket and flashed what looked like a Two for One coupon at 'Ricky's Drink and Dance'. Yugi questioned if he really wanted to know what Jounouchi's idea of 'all out' was.
Yugi cringed a bit; people and anything public was something he had hoped to avoid. He had been lucky that he made it to the end of the school year without being swarmed, and that was only because the show "Duel monsters live" had just finished showing the events of the tournament.
"Not a good idea. Did you not just witness the madness that follows me everywhere now?" His friend winced, his grin deflating a little. The sheepish smile that replaced it told the small duelist that Jou had indeed forgotten.
"Eh heh, sorry, the whole 'fame' thing doesn't stick. Your just not the type to be famous ya know." Yugi decided not to respond, quite unsure if he should be insulted or relieved.
Stuffing his hands in his pockets, Yugi wondered at the marvel that was Jounouchi. He may be as obsessive as his fellow class mates when it came to the rich and powerful, but he would never treat Yugi like that.
They rounded a corner into a small neighborhood made up of old houses and large gardens. The streets here were empty, save for a few cars parked on the side. They strode to an odd looking structure that varied in colour and shape. This was the Mutou residence. It was also known as the KAME game shop, which was run privately by his grand father. The Mutou's lived upstairs and the game shop was on the main level.
Opening the gate to the back yard, Yugi waited for his friend who was 'helpfully' retrieving the mail.
'He probably wants the first grab at moms "Celeb News Magazine"' Y shook his head and they made their way into the home through the back door.
Kicking off his sneakers, Yugi announced his arrival, but no greeting responded. This signaled his mother was out, probably shopping, and his Grandfather was working the store, so the house was practically all theirs. Jounouchi had already made himself at home, slouching on the green sofa and flipping through the mail.
"That's illegal you know Jounouchi."
Said the small teen as he peered over Jou's shoulder, listening to the mumble of "bills, bills, coupon, flyer, bills" though the sudden jump the gold haired teen made smacked Yugi in the nose and he reeled back at the pain.
"Yuge, you got a letter from that Peggie guy!" he cried, glancing over his shoulder to share the news. He frowned at Yugi who was sitting on the floor and cradling his poor nose. "whats wrong with you?"
Yugi responded with a glare, but took the envelope from Jou's hands. Examining the harmless looking letter he shrugged and carefully started to open it.
After defeating Pegasus in Duelist Kingdom, the multimillionaire seemed to take a particular interest in him, sending the Mutou's rather odd letters, and new to-be-tested games. It freaked Yugi out at first but so far everything he had received had been harmless. The man was just a little eccentric though, so Yugi knew to be cautious as he opened the papers.
Nothing.
No explosions or people popping out of this mail.
Jou was watching tensely, having witnessed one of Pegasus 'gifts' previously he was deeply fixated on the possible terrifying outcome.
Yugi pulled out a plain white card. There was nothing written on the front or the back, but it was sleek and seemed to be made out of metal. Casting a nervous glance at Jou, Yugi flipped open the card.
Still nothing. A simple white sheet stared up at them.
"What the hec-" Jou was cut off with a yelp, as a bright light exploded from the card.
"CONGRADULATIONS! CONGRADULATIONS! congratulations! You've been invited! Yessir! Invited to my Wondrful! FABULOUS! Cruise Vacation for the rich and FAMOUS!"
The card was on the floor, dropped there by a startled Yugi. He growled in frustration. Somehow that man always got him.
The card was actually a holographic plate, which was broadcasting an image of a demented looking rabbit onto Yugis's couch. The 'singing-telegram' started to repeat itself and Yugi listened more closely.
Jou had hopped over the back of the couch to squint at the image. That was before Pegasus face appeared in the rabbits place.
"Yugi boy!" Jou leaped back with a screech.
"Geez! What is wrong wit this guy?"
"As my cute little 'funnybunny' already said, I'm throwing a party! And as a dear friend of mine, I insist that you come! It's going to be the highlight of the year. The must-be at social event for everyone worth knowing!" Yugi and Jou looked at each other, who was worth knowing in Pegasus's opinion?
"I'm holding a month cruise around the Kaprina Islands on my brand new liner ship. I'm opening a theme cruise vacation company, you know? This is going to be the maiden voyage for one of my best vessels."
The image of the silver haired man beamed out of the lighted couch.
"I want to introduce you to all my friends! And of course you can bring along a guest, whoever you like, just remember to tell them that I'm going to be picking you up in 2 weeks, so hurry and pack!"
The graphic switched off and the previously unnoticeable buzz disappeared with the picture of the silver haired man. Pegasus had made it sound like a command rather than an invitation.
Yugi took a deep breath and looked straight to the ceiling. Maybe if he hid in the basement, Pegasus wouldn't find him?
"You have to take me with you!"
Yugi flinched and stared at the blonde man as if he had grown a second head.
"…wha?"
"You cannot leave me in this one horse city to die for the summer! I'm going with you."
Yugi watched his anxious friend for a moment. He shook his head and sighed. 'How do I explain this to him?'
The tri colored hair boy was trying to avoid these kinds of situations. It would just make life a whole lot more difficult if he came back and the paparazzi started making claims about him sleeping with some actor or something. Picking at his socks, Yugi didn't look at his friend's disappointed face when he bluntly stated fact.
"I'm not going Jou."
Jou gasped, as if appalled by what he had said. Now the taller friend was trembling
"B-but Yugi! You have to! This is a once in a life time opportunity! When are you ever gonna get another perfect escape from domino like this! No strings attached or nothin."
Jou took a breath.
"Yugi. I'm your best pal! When we go off to university, we may never see each other again! We gotta take this chance to party now."
"Why can't we do that later? When I'm not stuck in a 'fifteen minutes of fame moment', and besides you're going to the same university I am."
Walking back to the kitchen to try and avoid this conversation, Yugi was abruptly stopped by a body slamming into the back of his legs and Yugi met his kitchen floor for the first time that day.
He groaned and irritably hissed about dumb blondes. Looking at his legs, he realized too late that Jou was trying to catch him in a trap.
Yugi tried to avoid jounouchis eyes but the puppy dog look was practically unavoidable. Especially when Jou was gripping Yugis legs like a vice grip.
"Jounouchi…I really don't want to start anything that could-"
"Don't make me beg!" it was kinda too late to say that but what else could poor Jou do?
"Please?"
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