Chapter 21 Yami
"All drivers return to your lots. All drivers, all routes, return to your lots." The radio announced. "We are closing the system."
Yami exchanged a look with Yugi, then looked at the driver, Naldo.
Naldo picked up the handset, "Dispatch, come in." He waited a minute or two before getting a response. "Dispatch, this is M7. I'm still on 66, and I have passengers."
There was silence for a minute. Then, "M7, can you off load at Rosslyn?"
Naldo looked at them and sighed.
"Where is Rosslyn?" Yami asked.
"Not near Manassas." Naldo frowned. "Dispatch, that's not going to work. I have Japanese tourists."
"It's Okay." Yugi said brightly. "We'll find our way back."
But Naldo waved him quiet, and Yami agreed.
Sitting on a bus for more than six hours had worn even Yugi's energy. He was clearly trying to keep a positive attitude and just as clearly, near the end of his endurance. "Love, sit and be quiet." Yami pulled Yugi next to him.
As proof of his lover's waning spirit, Yugi sat.
They listened as Naldo discussed the issue first with dispatch, and then with a supervisor. Finally the radio crackled to life once more. "M7? OK, return to Manassas. Terminate at Target."
Naldo grinned at them. "See?" He clicked the radio. "Thank you, dispatch. Exiting 66 at Exit 60. M7 out." He began turning the wheel as they inched forward in traffic. "Now, I'm not promising the roads will be any better." He chuckled as he checked the cars around them. "But they can't be any worse!"
"And if they are, we'll find a way around anyway!" Yugi replied with renewed enthusiasm. "Wow, is it me, or are there a lot of trees around here?"
Yugi and Naldo started yet another long conversation this time about the local greenery. The city streets weren't in considerably better condition, but there were fewer cars and more plows, it seemed. They were moving slowly, but they were moving. And Yugi was apparently correct - there did seem to be an inordinate amount of trees everywhere they went.
Yami watched Yugi with pure awe.
To call Yugi his hikari was not enough. It was more as if Ra himself chatted away, not simply providing light to see but actually lightening the spirit of all around him. Yugi made every day a joy, every dream seem possible, every negative the beginning of a positive.
'Great Ra, even I, Pharaoh, am too low for this gem you have given me.' Yami prayed silently. 'I shall treasure this light for all eternity.'
"Okay!" Naldo cheered. "We are now in Manassas! On a regular day, I'd say we were about five minutes from where I picked you two -" he looked confused as he glanced at one of his instruments. "Wait, when I picked you up, weren't there four of you?"
"The Ishtars." Yami tried to resist smiling. "Yes. I believe they're...resting."
"I'll get them!" Yugi popped up. "Marik takes forever to wake up. Marik? Malik? Guy, we're almo-!"
Yugi's voice switched abruptly to Japanese and Yami had to laugh.
Naldo looked at Yami. "What's he saying?"
"Is this bus equipped with a security camera?"
"Yeah." The driver frowned. "Why?"
"Some of Yugi's expressions don't translate easily. It may be easier to view the tape. But, please, do it after we leave. Here." Yami gave him a business card. "You may contact us here, if there are any damages."
"Damages?"
"Honestly!" Yugi huffed, plopping down next to Yami again. "You'd think they had nothing else to do with their time!"
"What were they doing?" Naldo asked.
"Uh..." Yugi turned bright red.
Author's End Note:
Standard reviews welcome. Even if you don't feel comfortable commenting, I would deeply appreciate a ":-)", ":-l", or ":-(". I feel a bit alone on this one. From the stage, the lights are blinding and you don't know if anyone is watching if the audience is silent. Let me know you're out there, please. Thank You. SJ