Thanks everyone for the wonderfully kind reviews! Seeing as this is my
first Yugioh fic, I'm really happy that the Pegasus fans are enjoying it!
CKthePhantomess, Steve-Otaku and SweetCandie, I promise that I'll be
careful with the feelings of dear Pegasus. Sakuya, you know it's not in
Yugi's nature to be cruel. He just has a highly protective Yami, that's
all. Thanks for the kind words everyone! The encouragement really boosts my
confidence in this new fandom. *g*
To clear up confusion, I'm relying soley on the American dubbed (yeah, DUBBED) version. To resolve conflict, though, I've combined Pegasus' name. Hey, he's rich and from a wealthy family. Methinks long names are not uncommon. So, I refer to him as Maximillion Pegasus J. Crawford. Hope that doesn't shatter anyone's ideals. It really helps me to clarify things. =)
So You Know: Whether Yami or Yugi are in the soul chamber at the time, the interior monologue is distinguished with :: blah blah ::
Also, I'm open to suggestions. If I screw up any details, remember that I'm relatively new to the fandom. I'll just factor in the corrections. =)
* * * * * *
Part Three
* *
"Ugh, I can't believe all this homework! I'm gonna croak from math overload!"
Yugi suppressed a snicker. Joey was an absolute mess, carrying his books like a curse. "Really, Joey, I'm in the same class. It's not that bad."
"If you say so, Yug, but my back keeps sayin' somethin' else."
"Well if you weren't always caught playing duel monsters in class -"
Joey groaned, shifting the massive pile of books in his hands. "I wasn't playing! I'll have you know that I was trading for better cards, that's all." He grinned. "The better ta kick your -" But Yugi had stopped in their tracks, nearly causing Joey to fall over him. He teetered a little, rocked backward, then planted his feet firmly again. "Yugi, what's the big . . . deal . . .?"
There, standing as though he always met them after school, was Pegasus J. Crawford himself. Joey felt his jaw tighten at the sight of the man who'd stolen Yugi's Grandpa's soul. Anyone who forced poor Yugi through shit like that just wasn't on Joey's list of favorite people. As Pegasus lifted his right hand in a modest wave, Joey dropped his books and leapt in front of Yugi. "What do you want, ya damn soul-stealing thief!"
Pegasus dropped his hand limply, the eager smile melting effortlessly into the smug look every dualist at the Tournament had grown accustomed to seeing. "Oh . . . just passing through. Enjoying the scenery." He stared pointedly at the pile of school texts on the ground. "Such manners your doggie has, Yugi-boy. If you can't housebreak him properly, I'm certain I could pay for a trainer."
Joey sneered. "Aw, cram it, Pegasus! You lost to Yugi fair and square, so get lost!"
Yugi all the while was staring at the silver-haired man curiously. His hair was arranged to cover the Millennium Eye as usual, but behind the curtain of silver hair, a black shape which must have been a patch was affixed. ::Yami, I don't sense anything menacing from him anymore. No power at all.:: He felt Yami's agreement, and then the low words, ::I'll handle this, Yugi. I'm not sure why he's missing the Millennium Eye, but I'll take no chances with this foe.:: Yami then emerged, his eyes taking on the confidence of endless experience as he gently moved Joey aside and stepped forward. "What business have you here, Pegasus. I have no obligation to duel you."
Pegasus nodded curtly, "Indeed, I didn't come to challenge you. I came to mend a few things and then be off again." He smirked. "Surely you, the spirit within the Millennium Puzzle, don't see me as a threat. Well, not as much of one obviously." He strode toward Yami Yugi and held up his hands. "See? No tricks." Then he leaned close to Joey, a look of consternation on his face. "Hmm. but what's this? Aha! Sir, did you know this valuable card was stuck in your ear?"
Joey swatted the offending presence away. "My dad used to pull the same stunt, and it wasn't impressive then."
Pegasus' brow furrowed a little, but he merely handed the card to Yugi. "Yes, a Blue-Eyes White Dragon. I heard Kaiba destroyed your Grandfather's copy of the card, so I give this to you in its stead."
Joey leaned over Yugi's shoulder to stare at the card. It seemed genuine, but Joey glared at Pegasus again. "Ok, so who'd you rip off ta get this?"
"Really, as though I don't keep extra copies of every card ever manufactured. I'm not quite that pathetic, Joey Wheeler, that I would stoop to stealing this simple card." Pegasus sighed softly and nodded. "Well, there you go. Now," he turned on his heel sharply, "I bid you good afternoon."
"Wait."
"Hmmm?"
Pegasus glanced over his shoulder to see Yugi looking at him curiously. "If this is for my Grandpa then you should give it to him yourself."
The older man chuckled, slipping his hand into his pocket. The idea of actually visiting someone whose soul he'd stolen was not the most promising of thoughts. "I . . . don't think so."
"That is, if you truly wish to make amends."
The two stared at each other, Yami trying to inspect every possible motive while Yugi waited for some sort of a signal. Pegasus smoothed his jacket. He already knew the city by heart, but for him a short walk had always been a good way to make conversation. He put on his best indolent and, most importantly, innocent expression. "Very well, then, may I ask where your Grandfather lives?"
"Not where he lives, but where he works." Yami Yugi nodded reassuringly to Joey, though the boy was fuming. "Right this way."
The day was sunny, the wind was scarce, and Pegasus felt a little better with each step. He'd nearly left the encounter as a lost cause, but now he felt he might actually be getting somewhere. He closed his eyes, wondering why he didn't come to the beautiful city more often, and took a deep breath of the not-so-fresh air. "Your pollution makes the city smell quite unique." He received only silence for that remark, something he'd received in large doses the entire stroll. He wondered why. Perhaps he was not acting according to their strange customs, their peculiar concept of friendship. He thought back, trying to remember how they'd acted on the island and in particular what words they'd said that he could shuffle and deal as his own; but alas he'd not paid their words any mind back then. He'd been focused on other things. For an instant he tried to use his Millennium Eye to reveal their thoughts, but after a moment he remembered it was no longer there. He wanted to reach up again and caress the gaping wound, but kept his composure. His hands began to shake, so he slipped them into his pockets.
While Pegasus kept his thoughts to himself, Yami and Yugi exchanged a detailed conversation concerning the entire situation. Yugi was concerned about bringing a man like Pegasus back to his Grandfather's shop, but Yami has assuaged his fears. ::The Millennium Eye is gone, Yugi, and though he retains some of the energy from it I am quite sure he cannot steal any souls or access the other magic which he once wielded. I will protect your Grandfather myself if I must.::
"But what if he decides to attack. I shouldn't have invited him. I should have just -"
::There is no need for your pain, Yugi. I will defend anyone who needs defending, and eliminate any who harms your loved ones. This I promise you.::
Joey could hear Yugi speaking to himself, but couldn't make out any words. Pegasus seemed uninterested, but obviously heard too. Why couldn't they just hang back and talk? Did they have to chat at the enemy's elbow?
Finally the threesome stood outside the comic shop owned by Yugi's Grandfather. Pegasus chuckled to himself, "Ah. That explains it. A comic shop. With cards. No wonder."
Yugi stared dumbfounded. "Well, my Grandfather is a great duelist."
"He might'a joined the tournament if you hadn't attacked him."
Pegasus rolled his eyes. "Really, you two are so testy." He patted Joey on the head before he strolled into the store.
"Hey, watch it!" Joey was seething as Yugi quickly followed Pegasus into the shop. "That guy has serious issues."
To clear up confusion, I'm relying soley on the American dubbed (yeah, DUBBED) version. To resolve conflict, though, I've combined Pegasus' name. Hey, he's rich and from a wealthy family. Methinks long names are not uncommon. So, I refer to him as Maximillion Pegasus J. Crawford. Hope that doesn't shatter anyone's ideals. It really helps me to clarify things. =)
So You Know: Whether Yami or Yugi are in the soul chamber at the time, the interior monologue is distinguished with :: blah blah ::
Also, I'm open to suggestions. If I screw up any details, remember that I'm relatively new to the fandom. I'll just factor in the corrections. =)
* * * * * *
Part Three
* *
"Ugh, I can't believe all this homework! I'm gonna croak from math overload!"
Yugi suppressed a snicker. Joey was an absolute mess, carrying his books like a curse. "Really, Joey, I'm in the same class. It's not that bad."
"If you say so, Yug, but my back keeps sayin' somethin' else."
"Well if you weren't always caught playing duel monsters in class -"
Joey groaned, shifting the massive pile of books in his hands. "I wasn't playing! I'll have you know that I was trading for better cards, that's all." He grinned. "The better ta kick your -" But Yugi had stopped in their tracks, nearly causing Joey to fall over him. He teetered a little, rocked backward, then planted his feet firmly again. "Yugi, what's the big . . . deal . . .?"
There, standing as though he always met them after school, was Pegasus J. Crawford himself. Joey felt his jaw tighten at the sight of the man who'd stolen Yugi's Grandpa's soul. Anyone who forced poor Yugi through shit like that just wasn't on Joey's list of favorite people. As Pegasus lifted his right hand in a modest wave, Joey dropped his books and leapt in front of Yugi. "What do you want, ya damn soul-stealing thief!"
Pegasus dropped his hand limply, the eager smile melting effortlessly into the smug look every dualist at the Tournament had grown accustomed to seeing. "Oh . . . just passing through. Enjoying the scenery." He stared pointedly at the pile of school texts on the ground. "Such manners your doggie has, Yugi-boy. If you can't housebreak him properly, I'm certain I could pay for a trainer."
Joey sneered. "Aw, cram it, Pegasus! You lost to Yugi fair and square, so get lost!"
Yugi all the while was staring at the silver-haired man curiously. His hair was arranged to cover the Millennium Eye as usual, but behind the curtain of silver hair, a black shape which must have been a patch was affixed. ::Yami, I don't sense anything menacing from him anymore. No power at all.:: He felt Yami's agreement, and then the low words, ::I'll handle this, Yugi. I'm not sure why he's missing the Millennium Eye, but I'll take no chances with this foe.:: Yami then emerged, his eyes taking on the confidence of endless experience as he gently moved Joey aside and stepped forward. "What business have you here, Pegasus. I have no obligation to duel you."
Pegasus nodded curtly, "Indeed, I didn't come to challenge you. I came to mend a few things and then be off again." He smirked. "Surely you, the spirit within the Millennium Puzzle, don't see me as a threat. Well, not as much of one obviously." He strode toward Yami Yugi and held up his hands. "See? No tricks." Then he leaned close to Joey, a look of consternation on his face. "Hmm. but what's this? Aha! Sir, did you know this valuable card was stuck in your ear?"
Joey swatted the offending presence away. "My dad used to pull the same stunt, and it wasn't impressive then."
Pegasus' brow furrowed a little, but he merely handed the card to Yugi. "Yes, a Blue-Eyes White Dragon. I heard Kaiba destroyed your Grandfather's copy of the card, so I give this to you in its stead."
Joey leaned over Yugi's shoulder to stare at the card. It seemed genuine, but Joey glared at Pegasus again. "Ok, so who'd you rip off ta get this?"
"Really, as though I don't keep extra copies of every card ever manufactured. I'm not quite that pathetic, Joey Wheeler, that I would stoop to stealing this simple card." Pegasus sighed softly and nodded. "Well, there you go. Now," he turned on his heel sharply, "I bid you good afternoon."
"Wait."
"Hmmm?"
Pegasus glanced over his shoulder to see Yugi looking at him curiously. "If this is for my Grandpa then you should give it to him yourself."
The older man chuckled, slipping his hand into his pocket. The idea of actually visiting someone whose soul he'd stolen was not the most promising of thoughts. "I . . . don't think so."
"That is, if you truly wish to make amends."
The two stared at each other, Yami trying to inspect every possible motive while Yugi waited for some sort of a signal. Pegasus smoothed his jacket. He already knew the city by heart, but for him a short walk had always been a good way to make conversation. He put on his best indolent and, most importantly, innocent expression. "Very well, then, may I ask where your Grandfather lives?"
"Not where he lives, but where he works." Yami Yugi nodded reassuringly to Joey, though the boy was fuming. "Right this way."
The day was sunny, the wind was scarce, and Pegasus felt a little better with each step. He'd nearly left the encounter as a lost cause, but now he felt he might actually be getting somewhere. He closed his eyes, wondering why he didn't come to the beautiful city more often, and took a deep breath of the not-so-fresh air. "Your pollution makes the city smell quite unique." He received only silence for that remark, something he'd received in large doses the entire stroll. He wondered why. Perhaps he was not acting according to their strange customs, their peculiar concept of friendship. He thought back, trying to remember how they'd acted on the island and in particular what words they'd said that he could shuffle and deal as his own; but alas he'd not paid their words any mind back then. He'd been focused on other things. For an instant he tried to use his Millennium Eye to reveal their thoughts, but after a moment he remembered it was no longer there. He wanted to reach up again and caress the gaping wound, but kept his composure. His hands began to shake, so he slipped them into his pockets.
While Pegasus kept his thoughts to himself, Yami and Yugi exchanged a detailed conversation concerning the entire situation. Yugi was concerned about bringing a man like Pegasus back to his Grandfather's shop, but Yami has assuaged his fears. ::The Millennium Eye is gone, Yugi, and though he retains some of the energy from it I am quite sure he cannot steal any souls or access the other magic which he once wielded. I will protect your Grandfather myself if I must.::
"But what if he decides to attack. I shouldn't have invited him. I should have just -"
::There is no need for your pain, Yugi. I will defend anyone who needs defending, and eliminate any who harms your loved ones. This I promise you.::
Joey could hear Yugi speaking to himself, but couldn't make out any words. Pegasus seemed uninterested, but obviously heard too. Why couldn't they just hang back and talk? Did they have to chat at the enemy's elbow?
Finally the threesome stood outside the comic shop owned by Yugi's Grandfather. Pegasus chuckled to himself, "Ah. That explains it. A comic shop. With cards. No wonder."
Yugi stared dumbfounded. "Well, my Grandfather is a great duelist."
"He might'a joined the tournament if you hadn't attacked him."
Pegasus rolled his eyes. "Really, you two are so testy." He patted Joey on the head before he strolled into the store.
"Hey, watch it!" Joey was seething as Yugi quickly followed Pegasus into the shop. "That guy has serious issues."