Chapter 37, everybody! In which Yugi is pelted with fruit—"It was a run-by fruiting!"—Mrs. Doubtfire

Yuko13, thanks for the review! Sort of—she's trying to keep him from slipping off, and since activity brings out Chaos instincts, she's trying for that. Although I suppose it's not too far off to say that Yugi probably did put his foot in his mouth….It's definitely something…but we will have to wait to see what it is….

Angiembabe, thanks for the reviews! Glad you're liking the story thus far! You are correct on both counts, but Yugi doesn't realize it yet—he's spent all his life being pretty much ignored by everybody except his brother, so this all is pretty new for him, and he has to get used to it. And thanks, I'm glad that scene came off that way! I wasn't entirely sure how it came across, so I'm glad you liked it. :D

Blanket disclaimers are in Chapter 1 (I do not own Yu-Gi-Oh!, I do not own Avatar, I do not own Don't Starve, I do own Chaos Creatures, etc., et al…).

"Hey! Cut it out!"

"No, you cut it out!" Kelsey hollered, selecting a fruit with a much harder shell—Yugi had found this out the hard way, unfortunately.

"Look, whatever it is, I'm sorry, all right?" he yelled, ducking behind a log as she pitched.

"Not good enough," Kelsey announced. "Now, guys!"

Yugi glanced up to see Joey and Tristan tossing fruit in their hands and grinning wickedly. And there in another tree, Anzu and Cory, and then more Chaos—

"Oh no," Yugi moaned.

He spent the next several minutes ducking and dodging and cursing, wondering what on earth he had done to prompt this sudden stoning with fruit—would that be considered a fruiting? He had no idea.

But he seriously needed to get out of this mess—this literal mess. Oi, he'd need a bath later.

So he ran for the instigator.

Kelsey managed to bop him on the head with another hard fruit before he pinned her arms to her sides and held her in front of him.

"Stop shooting!" he called. "I have a hostage!"

It was hard to see the others, considering he was so busy trying to hold Kelsey in such a way that kept the thrashing to a minimum, but they looked like they were hesitating. Joey and Tristan exchanged glances.

Joey suddenly grinned and held up another fruit. "It's what Kelsey would have wanted," he declared happily. "We should honor her memory!"

Yugi and Kelsey both froze. "Wait, what?" she managed to get out, before the fruit splattered in her face.

The orchard was deathly quiet.

"Seriously?" Tristan asked Joey.

"I saw an opportunity, and I seized it," Joey replied.

Kelsey did a slow take to Yugi. "Get him," she said.

Yugi had absolutely no idea how much time had passed, but he and Kelsey and Anzu and Cory had ended up locked in fruit-based warfare with Joey, Tristan and the others—or maybe everyone was just pelting each other with fruit. That was probably it.

What stopped it dead was when Joey hollered, like he was in pain, and fell flat on his back.

"Woah! He's hit! Chaos down!" Tristan yelled.

"We didn't hit him that hard!" someone else called.

"Are you okay?" Anzu asked Joey, more concerned with his immediate well-being.

"My back itches!" Joey managed.

It suddenly dawned on Yugi what Joey was doing flailing around on the ground—he was trying to scratch at a spot he couldn't reach.

"That's it?" Tristan asked, sounding a bit disappointed.

Anzu, meanwhile, simply grabbed Joey's ankles and dragged him over to one of the nearer trees. "Hey, what are you—actually, that feels pretty good," Joey said.

"Rub against those roots," Anzu commanded, dropping Joey next to a tree. "You need something hard to rub against to relieve that itch."

Yugi exchanged glances with Kelsey, who shrugged.

Anzu's reasoning became apparent when Joey followed her advice.

Rubbing against the bark relieved Joey's itch, yes.

It also freed his wings.

Big black sleek wings, like a bat's or a dragon's, with a span over twice Joey's height.

There was a long silence as what just transpired registered on those present. Joey was stock-still, as though what just happened hadn't yet come together for him yet.

And then the silence was broken.

Joey's wild exaltations echoed around the orchard, with other Chaos congratulating him and complaining that they still had to wait—

Yugi felt as though a weight were lifted off his shoulders. It was starting. He'd be able to slip away soon enough.

And there was the weight making a triumphant, crashing return.

It's for your own good—you have to.

Why?

That single word made him grit his teeth in irritation.

Mostly because he didn't have a good answer anymore.

"There you all are."

Everyone turned. There was Wilson, standing very prim and proper, one set of arms crossed, the other on his hips, one eyebrow half-raised.

"Hasn't Miss Elsie taught you not to play with your food?" he asked, his voice even. "Look at you all—you're a mess."

Yugi wasn't sure why he did it, but the impulse was too sudden to ignore. Other Chaos joined in, and within the span of five seconds, Wilson was covered from head to toe in fruit pulp and juice.

The Chaoslings were laughing, and Yugi couldn't help but join in; he hadn't felt this good in ages.

That joy was short-lived.

Wilson picked him up by the scruff of the neck. One-handed. Oh boy….

"Laugh all you want," Wilson said evenly, but with a very dangerous edge to his voice. "You all are getting baths, and you are getting Miss Elsie's special treatment."

Yugi felt his insides shrivel up.

"What?" he managed, finally.