all general disclaimers apply
Once all had received their orders, the group discussed the matter further.
"Joey, hurry up with the ketchup please. My fries are getting cold!"
"Yug, I would, but the stuff just won't come out! Why doesn't this place have those little packets anyway. Hey Tristan, Tea you both used to work here, demand it!"
"Yeah, sure. We'll just go and do that just for you Joey."
"Some friends you are."
"C'mon all, we're off topic again!"
"Sorry Yugi."
Sadly enough, this was about as far as the group got the entire evening. But, teens tend to enjoy gossip and merely hanging out anyway so it was no loss to them. Just enjoying each other's company made for as good a night as one with an agenda.
Once all had said goodbye and went their separate ways for the evening, Yugi returned home and asked his grandfather what he had promised his friends-namely to ask if they could come to the gaming convention as well.His grandfather agreed as long as they had permission from their own parents. Yugi also asked Yami's question. Once a viable answer was received, Yugi opted for a nice warm bath before going to bed. As Yugi placed the Millenium Puzzle down atop his pajamas, the spirit reappeared in his more 'seeable' self.
"Do you mind!" Yugi said as he noticed the spirit's presence just as he was stepping into the tub.
"What do you mean?" the perplexed spirit asked.
"I'm naked!" Yugi replied with a blush.
"So you are. And?"
"And, you should respect one's modesty."
"Then should I join you in doing the same?"
"Taking your clothes off?"
The spirit nodded.
"NO!" Yugi protested as he slumped into the bath and quickly covered himself in bath suds. "Standard manners would mean one simply turns and looks the other way."
"Oh. Perhaps I should give you privacy then?" Yami asked with a slight blush as he prepared to return to the puzzle.
"No, you don't have to go that far. I like your company regardless of where we are."
Meanwhile, outside the door, Yugi's mother was gathering laundry from the nearby rooms when she heard her son talking to himself.
"Yugi dear, are you okay?" she asked through the closed door.
"See what you did Yami!" Yugi shot at the spirit. "Uh yeah, fine mom. Just taking a bath and uh, yelling at the dj on the radio for his stupid news report." Yugi replied to his mother.
"You just lied to your mother Yugi." Yami commented in an almost whisper.
"I fibbed, not lied."
"It's one and the same. You do not know how long she was listening. And a radio is not present in this room. She may yet catch you in this lie."
"Yami, you know there are times when you really are an annoyance. You have lots to learn about manipulating parents."
Yami smirked. He was learning to enjoy teasing the younger teen whom he shared a body with. "Actually, it must be a rather simple task considering the fact you say you can. That's quite an accomplishment for you."
"Oh, now we're Yugi-bashing are we? You can dish it, but can you take it?" Yugi challenged as he prepared for a verbal duel against the spirit.
The spirit chuckled. Teasing was yet another way of strengthening their bond. "I'll leave you to your bath. You should be relaxing, not stressing in a bath. Besides, verbal dueling is my second best ability besides gaming." Yami replied as he found a comfortable seat upon the bath ledge.
"Knew you couldn't." Yugi muttered as he flashed himself a victory sign. Yami flashed him a death stare and opted for a change of subject.
"Your grandfather affirmed that this 'convention' is in a city called Las Vegas in the United States. Why did he refer to it as the 'Sin City'?"
"Oh cause that's where there's partying all night, blowing large wads of money, semi and maybe even totally naked women, lots of alcohol, and other things that can corrupt a decent person's mind."
Yami thought about it a moment. "Why would you say that? A decent person can do such things and still remain decent. Much of what you mention has been with civiliazations for as long as civilizations existed. Their forms may be slightly different, but their concepts and effects on a person are the same. "
Yugi saw the opening and dove for it. "You sound like one who knew." Yugi said with a wry grin.
Yami immediately saw where Yugi was headed. It was a classic verbal trap. "Yugi, I don't know if I was or wasn't. Does it matter?"
"Oh now c'mon Yami. Whether you remember your past or not, you were a mighty king of a powerful civilization. It's almost a given that some of that stuff happened to you...perhaps a harem or some princess from some exotic land..." Yugi droned before Yami finally cut him off.
"Perhaps. I'll neither confirm nor deny any of it since I don't remember. It matters not anyway, if it is an acceptable norm for the position of a king. Anyway, enough about its nickname, what makes this city so special?"
"Oh, as Joey said, there's gaming galore, particularly in the form of the casinos. They're houses for all sorts of gambling, gaming, and general partying. A teenager's heaven!"
"Sounds like a place that will suit me. But how can it be a teenager's heaven if teenagers aren't allowed in most of the venues?"
"Yami, teenagers live to rebel. Sneaking into places and bending rules are part of every teenager's life. Now, look,here's the plan, I know granpa will give us some money. I'm not sure how much though. But I'm sure you'll be able to make best use of it. So, I will retreat into the puzzle. You use my body and assume your own form. You should be able to get into the casinos that way."
"Yes, but your grandfather said your friends can come along if they have the permission and money to support their own trip. This of course we know will occur. It will complicate this plan of yours."
"No it won't. I will have my body by day. You have it by night. The casinos are open non-stop. This way, you sleep by day, I sleep by night, and my body...well...lets just give it a few hours rest in the morning okay?"
"It may work. We'll how do you say...play it by ear once we arrive."
"Right. And if you happen to get lucky...well, just be sure to use those things I have hidden in my sock drawer. I really wouldn't want to even try to figure that one out to explain it."
"Do you put the gaming tokens in them?" Yami said as he tugged out Yugi's wallet from his pants on the floor and unravelled the one Yugi had kept there.
"YAMI! You can't be THAT naive! I'm not talking about the money or gambling part. I'm talking about manhood here."
"Yugi, I'm not going to do that. It's your body."
"But it's yours at night. It's been how many thousands of years since you---"
"I stand by my moralistic judgement Yugi."
"But you can seduce girls. There's some sort of firey passion you have. Even Tea melted at the mere voice of yours and she didn't even know you existed! I can't even say hi to one."
"You do so. Tea is a girl if I'm not mistaken?"
"The only one."
"Incorrect Yugi. You spoke to Mai too."
"Stop being picky. I mean girls I don't know well. I'm trying to make a point here."
The spirit chuckled. Yugi was easy to rile. "Easy. I know that. I was merely picking at a bone."
"Well pick on somebody else's bone. You've picked mine pretty clean now."
Again Yami chuckled. The kid had a sense of humor when he was rattled. Too bad that didn't follow when he was calm and happy. "Your grandfather mentioned that we will be staying at a place called the Luxor. That name sounds like something I should be familiar with. He also said I'd feel at home there. What does he mean?"
"Oh, yeah, you haven't seen the pictures of that place. It's a living pyramid. I mean well, not exactly living, but it's a hotel shaped like a pyramid. Lots of Ancient Egyptian stuff in and around it. Even a replica of the Sphinx. Of all the places in Vegas, it suits one with your background best."
"Interesting."
"Actually though, we'll be able to see almost the entire world there. Most of the hotels in an area called The Strip are themed after something or some place. Ancient Rome, Venice, Paris, New York, and many more. When I'm done with my bath I'll show you some of the places. My mom has a travel book. I think she went there once, but she won't admit to it."
Later that evening Yugi showed the spirit some travel books and answered more questions that Yami had for him. In fact, the once pharaoh always seemed to be full of questions whether it was himself, a place, a thing, they never ended. Perhaps he was learning. He grasped the modern world so quickly that it was actually scaring Yugi somewhat.
"You know what Yami...whenever you do get your memory back and if you're still around...will you answer some of my questions?"
"Of course."
"Even if they could possibly give away some knowledge that us modern folks don't know?"
"Perhaps."
"I mean, I really wanna know if there's any alien connection to you guys. Like how the heck did you have all that knowledge to build pyramids and other parts of the world did as well...all at the same time. It's a bit coincidental and baffling to say the least."
"Aliens?"
"Like on those Star Trek shows we watch. Beings from outer space."
"I see. Hmmm...I wish I knew. I feel like I have amnesia only I haven't been hit hard in the head."
"Maybe you were. Heheheh, and you just don't remember it." Yugi joked.
Yami smirked. Again the humor. "Joey is really rubbing off on you Yugi. I don't know if that is a good thing or not."
"Be glad he's not here right now. He'd likely have a fist in your face for that."
"Not entirely. He'd have a fist in your face."
"Oh, so you're saying you'd cower behind the puzzle and make me take the hits?" Yugi mocked.
"I know how to fight Yugi. It is you who needs to learn. What better than to throw you right into the fire."
"You're a cruel bastard sometimes Yami."
"Only if there's a lesson to be taught. Perhaps it's a pharaoh's priviledge?"
"I'm not touching that one Yami."
The pair droned on in conversation until Yugi's eyes became so heavy that he succumbed to the power of sleep. Even Yami opted to sleep rather than stay awake all night as he usually did.
The next morning Yugi's friends all let Yugi know that their parents gave them permission to come along (naturally). Tea's parents had just one concern and of course arranged to reserve a room for her own self.
In a few short days they would all be winging their way halfway across the globe to a city that never sleeps (and I'm not talking about New York).
to be continued...
