--Strawberry Pancakes--
Yugi's pick-up sputtered and choked as it made its way up the off ramp toward Domino City and Yugi could have sworn it was saying 'I think I can' up until it rolled to a stop, 'I can't.' Yugi blinked a few times before stepping out of his truck slamming the door behind him. "You piece of Crap!" He kicked the front tire missing by inches only to have his toes come in contact with the hubcap. "Mother fu--" his curses were cut off by the smooth sound of a horn behind him.
"Glad I followed you. I didn't think that would make it this far." Jounouchi smiled handsomely as he stepped out of his corvette.
"What are you doing here?" Yugi sighed, rubbing his foot, not bothering to hide his relief.
"I wanted to see how far that truck would get you." He teased.
"Why are we friends?" Yugi sighed.
"Because I can give you a ride." He nodded his head back toward his car. "We'll get there faster and have time for breakfast." Almost as if on cue Yugi's stomach let out a rumble and he gave a goofy smile. "Alright, it's settled we are going to Ihop." Joey grabbed his friend's arm and pulled him toward the corvette and shoved him into the passenger's side.
"Wait, My clothes, my computer." Yugi reached frantically for his truck. Jounouchi walked back to the truck and grabbed Yugi's things and tossed them into his car through the top and hopped in. "Thanks." Yugi said dryly, happy he caught his laptop before it could hit anything.
"No problem, man." Jounouchi smiled brightly and turned the car back on, Blink-182 blaring from the speakers, and he drove off. Yugi shook his head, Jou would never grow up. He supposed that was what he liked about his blonde friend. It was refreshing to have a good friend like him. "I love this song!" Jou turned the volume dial and began singing. "What's my age again, what's my age again?" Yugi let out a laugh and sang along with him.
After the last song on the CD Jou turned the volume down and glanced over at Yugi, "So what will you say to him when you see him?"
"I have no clue. I thought I was going to yell at him but now that I know who he is, I guess… well I guess I'll just see when I get there." He rang his hands together in his lap and glanced out at the Kaiba Corp. Building and shivered. "It doesn't help that that building towers over everything."
"It's cool, don't worry about it, we'll have a quick breakfast and then we'll go together."
"You don't think I could lose my job over this, do you?" Yugi asked as they exited the car. "Writing is all I have. I love it. It's something I've been doing forever."
"I don't know, I hope not." Jou said. "Don't worry, I'll still read your work. I think you are really great, Man. Don't tell Seto I told you this but I've caught him reading your books on occasion."
"Are you just saying that?"
"Now why would I lie to you?" he winked and led Yugi into the restaurant.
"Oh, I don't know, maybe to cheer me up." Yugi looked up at Jou with soft eyes.
"Nah, to cheer you up I'm gonna buy you this cake." He smiled through the glass counter at a white carrot cake with orange frosting carrots on top then turned to the cashier, "Table for two and that cake." He winked causing the cashier to blush and giggle.
"Right this way, Sir." She moved from behind the counter and led them to a small table. They ordered and she skipped off happily.
"What is it with you?" Yugi smiled at the wonder that was Jou. "You've always been so lucky."
"I Guess." He shrugged. "Seto says that I am his good luck charm."
"A little more than I needed to know, but thanks." He paused. "So have you met with Yami?"
"Not in person. Seto said that Yami and he were rivals in high school and so he wants to see Yami lose for once. He told me that they are very much alike."
"That can't be good."
"Yeah well, if I can win Seto over, than so can you. With Yami I mean."
"Yeah right, after the way he talked to me on the phone before? I doubt it. I don't think we'll get along very well. I mean he insults my writing and bothers me on my vacation." Yugi glared. "Oh, I think I know what I'm going to say to him now."
"Leave it to me to bring the best out of you." Jou winked and paused as he watched a short stubby man in a long grey coat walk in, his hair in disarray, and his breath coming out in short huffs as if he had run here. "He looks suspicious." Yugi glanced over and squinted a bit.
"Nah, he always looks like that, stress from the job. Hey Jenkins!" Yugi waved him over. "Have a seat."
"I better not, Mr. Mouto. Mr. Atemu wanted me to bring him back a stack of strawberry pancakes. Odd character, that one." He panted.
"Gee, they are all out of Strawberries, I got the last stack. Too bad for him." Yugi smirked at winning that little game, and then frowned at Jenkins's long sad look. "What?"
"It's just that I'll have to go find an Ihop that has some left. Mr. Atemu isn't one to change his mind, and I doubt he'll like it if I can be empty handed. I Better hurry." He turned to leave.
Yugi sighed. "Alright, take my stack, I'll order something else."
"Oh thank you, Sir."
"Yeah, yeah." Yugi looked at a waiter. "May I get a to-go box?" the waiter nodded and promptly left the dining area. "Jenkins, tell me about Yami Atemu."
"We'll, he is very handsome. I must admit that he is a very sexy man." He blushed. "Don't tell my girlfriend."
Yugi let out a small laugh, "of course not."
"He's very arrogant, and a perfectionist. A real… pardon my language…Jack Ass." He bit his lip hard. "I'm sorry."
"It's alright, Jenkins."
"Your box, sir." The waiter smiled and set the Styrofoam box in front of Yugi and walked off while Yugi shoveled the stack of strawberry soaked pancakes into the box neatly.
"Here you are." Yugi closed the box and shoved it toward Jenkins. "Tell him to choke on them."
"W-hat?" Jenkins's face dropped and Joey's eyebrows crinkled at the sight of him, Jenkins looked as if he has swallowed his own tongue.
"Don't worry about it, Jenkins, just go." Yugi waved him off and looked back at Joey.
--
Yami drummed his fingers on his desk and stared at the clock. His breakfast should not have taken that long to prepare. A knock came at the door. "Jenkins, get in here already." He snarled.
"Is that how you are going to act?" Tea stuck her head in the door and smiled. "Morning, Yami."
"How can I help you?" he smiled softly at her.
"Well I've been dying to see you. The eleventh floor isn't the same without you." She cocked an eyebrow. "So this is your new office? It's cute…" she scoffed. "What's it gonna take to move you back up?"
"Kaiba getting his head out of his ass."
"I don't find that too funny." Kaiba stepped into the room and pulled Tea aside. "Don't you have a job to do?"
"Yes sir." Tea bowed and walked out.
"I came to see how you were doing."
"I am very busy, please, leave." Yami looked down at a list of names.
"You know it's okay to quit. I won't judge you. I mean come on, two weeks; there is no way you can pull that off."
"Then I propose a new deal."
"I'm listening."
"One writer, One week, and I will make him the next Stephen king of the romance world."
"Yugi? There is no way. He is a good writer but his stuff is bland, it lacks fire."
"On week. And if he isn't as popular as Stephen king, or Nora Roberts then I will quit editing. And I'll leave Japan and tell the world that you are the best."
"No. I have a better idea, you fail and you become my personal butler." Yami's nose wrinkled in disgust. The humiliation alone would kill him.
"Deal." He smiled confidently. "Now, I have work to do, get out of my office." Seto only smirked and walked out of the office. He passed Jenkins and stepped onto the elevator.
"Uh-oh." Jenkins swallowed hard and walked through Yami's open door and placed his breakfast on the desk.
"Thank you!" he snarled. "And cancel all my appointments for the week. I will only need to see Yugi."
"Yes, Sir."
"The moment he returns to Domino. We don't have much time." He opened the box and smiled softly. "My favorite." And for that moment Yami's world was just fine. "You may go
now. And shut the door behind you." Jenkins nodded and closed the door and smiled at the possibility of a heart within the new editor's chest.