Game, Set, and Match
Part One








Yuugi sighed before turning over on his back, trying to find a more comfortable position for his musing. His Sennen Puzzle seemed to jab its pointed corners into his flesh no matter what he did, almost as if subconsciously trying to bring his attention to something escaping his notice. A very apt comparision--now if he could only figure out what was eating away at his insides like this...

Perhaps it had something to do with the fact that "he" hadn't been to school for a week. Well, his body had been there, it was just his mind that had been elsewhere...literally. Part of his confusion was over exactly why his other half had requested some time to go to school with the others. Sure, Yuugi could sort of understand--it would be hard to live an existence leading from duel to duel, with only vague trickles of a regular life flowing to you as your other half went through his day.

It wasn't that he begrudged the time to his other half. It wasn't as if he was fond of school anyway--all it did was take time away from what he enjoyed doing, which was gaming, and his scores were so low already that there wasn't much damage his other side could do to his grades and position in the class.

No, what really threw him into this maelstrom of confusion was that little tickle of happiness in the back of his mind. The other half of his splintered psyche was deliriously happy, in a way he had only felt when he had watched the other part duel.

Except this time he had no idea why...

***

"Jounouchi! If you don't stop waving that filthy mop at me, I'm going to kill you!" Anzu angrily exclaimed as Jounouchi continued some story which somehow involved brandishing the mop used to clean the pool around for emphasis. Jounouchi had been rather inordinately pleased when Yuugi came to school as himself, for some odd reason this morning.

Jounouchi paused for one devious moment before purposely sticking the mop as close to her face as he dared.

Anzu turned an interesting shade of purple, causing Yuugi to back away from his blonde friend. Having known Anzu for as long as he had, he wisely knew when to get out of the line of fire. Apparently Jounouchi was learning, though, as he got a head start on running as fast as his legs could carry him, laughing the whole time. Anzu took off after him like a flash, grabbing up the insulting mop on her way as she followed Jounouchi through a crowd of scrubbing students.

Yells of, "Hey watch it!" "Get back to work!" filled the air, before a crash overtook all other noises. Yuugi winced, he could imagine what had happened all too well; the floor of the school pool was still slippery. Now Anzu's voice rose above the growing murmuring and cheering. "Take that! How do you like it?! Huh, huh?!"

The girl walked back to her section of the pool, wiping her hands with an air of satisfaction before she quietly began scrubbing once again. Yuugi watched her with reluctant admiration. Sometimes he wished he could be more open about things like that. One thing that could be said for Anzu was that she was never afraid to stand up for herself, or anyone else for that matter. Plus she looked so hot in a black bathing suit. However...

Yuugi sighed and went to go join the growing crowd of people around Jounouchi's prone body.

"Jounouchi-kun, are you okay?" He asked, bending over to give his best friend a hand. The muscular blonde sat up, holding his head before managing a weak grin.

"Sure...never better. Damn...my head..."

Yuugi couldn't help himself, he laughed. Jounouchi mock frowned.

"What's so funny, huh?!" He pretended to threaten his diminutive friend before dissolving into rich laughter of his own.

Even when Yuugi stopped chuckling, a fresh bout ghosted through his head, causing him to smile. It was nice to know that his other half appreciated his friends just as much as he did.

***

Cleaning out the pool was not something that could be considered fun. However, it did have its benefits, Yuugi couldn't help but think as he watched Anzu out of the corner of his eye. It wasn't every day he got to see his crush in a bathing suit, and while it wasn't exactly as revealing as her usual choice of a bikini, it was still enough to grab his attention. Out of tune humming assaulted his ears, and he turned his attention on Jounouchi.

Jounouchi obviously had no qualms about showing off his well-formed body, judging by the speedo he was wearing. Yuugi supposed that getting into regular fights must be pretty good exercise. He shook his head, not understanding why Jounouchi wasn't more popular with the girls in their class.

He's so good-looking he really shouldn't have any trouble getting a date...

Yuugi dropped his mop. Okay, where on earth had that come from?! Why did it seem he was musing more upon his best friend's looks, good or otherwise, when there was Anzu in a bathing suit not more than two feet away from him?! Resolutely he turned his attention back to her, trying to derail his train of thoughts.

"Hey, Yuugi, you've been cleaning the same spot for five minutes. Does Anzu have something on her face or something?" Jounouchi's breath tickled his ear, causing him to jump. His reactions were muted, as though through a wet blanket, but definitely there...almost as if...

"D-d-don't sneak up on me like that!" He finally managed to wheeze out.

"Okay," Jounouchi replied, stung. "I was just wondering if you were alright, you've been starin' into space for about ten minutes."

"I'm fine. Sorry for snapping at you." Yuugi apologized.

"Hey, it's fine. Just wanted to check. You know you can always talk to me if you have a problem."

Not about this one, I don't think.

"Well it's not as if you've been doing any work, Jounouchi!" Honda called, causing Jounouchi to bristle. He went over to confront his long-time friend, leaving Yuugi alone to piece together his thoughts. Like putting together a particularly challenging puzzle, everything came together.

Mou hitori no boku...?

(Yes?)

You wouldn't, I mean...you couldn't have a crush...err, like Jounouchi-kun, could you?

(What would you say if I did?)


To be continued