A/N: Hey all. Things are starting to get crazy again so the updates may be fewer and further between. Thank you all for your continued support. it means the world to me. Thank you! *hugs* I do not own the song in this chapter! It is "Highway to Hell" by AC/DC
I walked down the hall towards Seto's room. I know our concert is tonight, but it would be nice to know if we have to go running off to the next location immediately following the concert which I honestly have no idea where we are going after this. I paused as I neared the next corner. It sounded like a heated conversation between Seto and Joey. I peered around the corner not wanting to interrupt their conversation nor get in the way of whatever Seto might be bitching about now.
Joey was leaning against the wall; his head slightly down; his blonde bangs hiding his eyes making him look like a kicked puppy. Seto was leaning in close to Joey, one arm propped up on the wall near Joey's shoulder.
"You are useless, Wheeler!" Seto snapped at the blonde. Great. What did poor Joey do or not do this time? I stiffened; ready to fully round the corner at any moment to prevent Seto from being such an asshole when something caught my eye. It was Joey…he is…smiling..no. That's not a smile. He is smirking.
"Your personality is completely useless Kaiba. You have about as much personality a rock and I'm not talking about those cool looking geodes," Joey retorted; his head raising to make eye contact with the manager. I winced. Seto's not going to be too happy about that comment.
"I would have been better off with a chimp for my assistant!" Seto growled out between his teeth. Honestly, what did Joey do? "A chimp would be smarter than you, smell better than you, and probably at least get something right every once in a while unlike you."
"At least if you had a chimp for an assistant, it could teach you how to do your hair," Joey's hand reached up and shook Seto's neatly styled hair; sending the strands spiking up in strange directions, "This perfectly neat hair is unnatural man." I bit back my laugh. Joey's in for it now.
Seto grabbed Joey's wrist tightly and leaned in closer to the blonde, "Don't touch my hair," Seto hissed.
Joey smirked again pulling his wrist out of Seto's grasp, "Fine."
Seto leaned away and eyed Joey; the cerulean orbs gliding up and down Joey's entire form. I watched Seto reach into his coat pocket and hand Joey something, "I listened to the recording. It sounds good. Take it to the local radio station. After that, don't forget to pick up what I told you to pick up. It is important that you don't forget."
"Calm down. I won't forget it, but what if the radio station does not believe that I am your assistant?" Joey asked while staring at the object in his hand.
"If you are as smart and resourceful as you claim to be, you will figure it out," Seto smirked folding his arms across his chest, "Although, I am sure I will have to make a phone call later because the studio will kick you out or call the sheriffs to come and pick up the lunatic claiming to know Clash of Gray."
Joey growled, "I will figure it out without your help."
"There are four words you should really remember before you go, pup," Seto's smirk grew wider.
I watched Joey roll his eyes, "What are they?"
"Don't. Drop. The. Soap." Seto burst out laughing.
"That's enough, Seto," I narrow my eyes at him as I fully round the corner.
"Hey there, Yami!" Joey greeted me with a friendly smile. I nodded to him.
"Do you expect we will be heading to the next location after the concert tonight?" I asked my manager.
"No," Seto responded briefly before turning to head towards his room. Wait. Is that all I get? I stared after Seto; his long jacket sweeping the ground as he walked towards the door to his room. No. I don't think so. I follow after him.
"Then when are we leaving?" I push back.
"I don't know, Yami," Seto snapped spinning to look at me. I blink at him at a loss for words, "I am trying to work out the logistics of something. I don't know when the flight will be," he turned away from me and swiped his key card through the lock. Logistics? What the hell is he talking about? Our tour schedule is set. What could he be planning that would change anything? I caught the door before it closed.
"What are you talking about, Seto? Our tour dates are already set up," I barge through the door. Seto sat in one of the arm chairs in his room resting his head in his hands. What is wrong with him?
"Yami, I don't know. Just give me time to figure it out. I will let you know as soon as I do. Just focus on the concert tonight. Let me worry about everything else," he responded. His head rose from his hands to look at me. "Was there something else?" He asked.
I shook my head, "No. I am only asking that you tell us a bit earlier than a few hours before the flight."
"Fine," he responded, "Out." He pointed at the door. Seriously, what is his problem? I narrow my eyes at him before turning to leave the room. I pause before reaching the door.
"Seto?" I glance over my shoulder at him.
"What?" was his simple response.
"If something is wrong…you know…I'm..here for you. I'm here if you need someone to talk to," I offer. I turned a little further to face him. I watched a brief flash of appreciation appear on his face before it disappeared.
"I'm fine," He growled. At least you can't say I never offered to help him. I walked through the door taking my leave from his hotel room and heading back to mine.
\/\/\/
I have to hand it to Seto, this venue is amazing! We are performing at the Colosseum tonight! The Colosseum was wired with lights and speakers to improve our performance. We were set up on one of the highest levels of the Colosseum. The fans were poised around on the ground floor; each of them squeezed in like a can of sardines. I do not think there was room enough to shift your standing position without stepping or elbowing someone.
The sun began to set as we came up on our last song for the night. With the orange and red sun rays that were cast on the Colosseum, the structure looked like it was on fire.
I threw the microphone into the air and spun away from it. I know we have the hands free sets, but this is a bit more traditional for us and we like it this way. Bakura took a few steps forward and caught it behind his back; a smirk played across his lips as he rose the microphone to his mouth. He let out a maniacal laugh which echoed through the Colosseum. Bakura shifted his guitar to rest against his back while I shifted mine to the front of me; preparing to play it. I nodded to Yugi, allowing him to play the first notes of our last song. He smiles as his fingers danced across the strings.
Bakura's fingers traced his long black trench coat as he started to sing.
Livin' easy
Lovin' free
Season ticket on a one way ride
Askin' nothin'
Leave me be
Takin' everythin' in my stride
The albino shook his head sending his long silver hair flying in every direction.
Don't need reason
Don't need rhyme
Ain't nothin' that I'd rather do
Bakura stepped forward. He rose his arm above his head pointing his finger. His arm smoothly moved downward as he pointed at the floor. He eventually went low enough to kneel.
Goin' down
Party time
My friends are gonna be there too
Bakura stood and circled Yugi and I like a trouble causing vulture before going to stand in the center of our performance area. We all joined him for the chorus. Other than the chorus, Bakura had this song to himself.
I'm on the highway to hell
On the highway to hell
Highway to hell
I'm on the highway to hell
No stop signs
Speed limit
Nobody's gonna slow me down
Like a wheel
Gonna spin it
Nobody's gonna mess me around
Bakura tapped his heel as he brought the microphone even closer to his lips.
Hey satan
He tapped his chest and waved his arm to the side of him towards the rest of us.
Payin' my dues
Playin' in a rockin' band
Hey mumma
Look at me
I'm on the way to the promised land
Yugi and I each took a position on either side of Bakura. The albino made his way over to me and leaned in close; sharing the microphone with me for a few seconds.
I'm on the highway to hell
Highway to hell
I'm on the highway to hell
He turned and walked towards Yugi. He went behind our petite guitarist and leaned over his shoulder to share the microphone with him.
Highway to hell
Don't stop me
Bakura smirked stepping aside to let Yugi and I to play a few notes on the guitars without any singing. After a few seconds of our playing, Bakura approached the edge of our performance platform and what does he do? He flips everyone off. He has definitely taken on the band bad boy persona. So fuck it. He can have it. I'm not going to bother trying to get him to behave and improve his stage presence. I don't think he would listen anyhow.
Bakura tossed his hair back and continued to sing.
I'm on the highway to hell
On the highway to hell
Highway to hell
I'm on the highway to hell
(highway to hell) I'm on the highway to hell
(highway to hell) highway to hell
(highway to hell) highway to hell
(highway to hell)
And I'm goin' down
All the way
I'm on the highway to hell
The crowd erupted into applause while chanting and screaming Bakura's name. We all bow to the crowd before exiting the performance platform we were on.
Seto smirked at me as I came off the stage, "Nicely done." I arch an eyebrow. Is he actually complementing us? What is he up to?
"You feeling okay, Seto?" Malik gaped at our manager; his mouth hanging nearly to the floor.
"I'm fine!" Seto growled. There's the manager we all know and hate.
"What was with the compliment? You never compliment us," Marik spun a drumstick in between his fingers while watching Seto.
"I wanted to. It was a good performance…now where the hell is that pup?!" Seto growled between his teeth, "Wheeler, where are you?"
"I'm here, Kaiba. Keep your pants on," Joey appeared smirking at our manager.
"Did you get them?" Seto spun on Joey; looking ready to attack the blonde. Joey nodded. He reached into his back pocket and pulled out a long slim black plastic case and handed it to Seto.
"What's that?" Ryou asked curiously tilting his head to the side.
"At least you did one thing right, pup," Seto smirked at him before meeting my eyes. His grin grew wider. I glance behind me to see if he was smirking at someone else. Nope. That smirk was meant for me. What? Did I do something? What am I missing?
"Yami," Seto took a few long strides closer to me.
I sighed, "What is it?"
"Here," he handed the black plastic container to me. My fingers traced the object before opening it; my curiosity peaking when I saw to pieces of paper. I pick one of them up to read it. Ra…..What….? I almost dropped the plastic container. My eyes rose to meet his and Joeys. They were both smiling at me. I swallowed the lump that threatened to overtake my throat.
"Happy birthday, Yami," Seto actually reached forward to pull me closer and hugged me.
"Thank you," I whispered to him.
"You and Yugi leave tomorrow morning to return to Egypt for two days. I am sorry that I could not do more. That is the only amount of time that our schedule would allow," Seto explained. I fall to my knees blinking at them in astonishment. I'm..going home for a few days. With Yugi!