all general disclaimers apply

A/N: I have scanned two images of the two hotels mentioned in this chapter and placed links to them within this chapter (though not in this version below) . I can't place them on ff.net, but I have this story also placed on my website which contains this chapter with the links to the images. The url for my Yugioh fanfiction section is : http://www.flamindragon.net/ygof.html/

Aww, Craps! Part 4

It didn't take long for Joey's stomach to begin talking to his brain.

"Yo Tris, have any food left?"

"No."

"Awww, nuts!"

"That's exactly what they're servin' Joey. Why not ask one of the flight attendants for some."

Meanwhile Tea and Yugi were seated together (it was his grandfather's idea...honest!). Tea was thumbing through the inflight magazines while Yugi was looking out the window. On occasion Tea glanced his way.

"Is Yami taking any interest in this? The view's pretty incredible."

"Huh? I don't know. He's quiet." Yugi said and then concentrated his thoughts inward in response to the voice he heard within the puzzle.

//"I'm here Yugi. Just enjoying the tranquility of the engines."//

/"I don't see how an engine is tranquil Yami."/

//"The sound is monotone. It's soothing...like the soft beating of a heart."//

/"I guess that means you'd rather rest in the puzzle then?"/

//"You seem to be doing fine with Tea on your own."//

/"I'M WHAT!?"/

Yami only replied with a snicker. Yugi left it alone.

"Well Tea, he's relaxing. He's enjoying the sound of the engines."

"Oh. Perhaps he'll come out later?"

"Maybe." Yugi replied as he grabbed his bag. It contained many games. "You in for a game?"

"Sure. As long as you and Yami don't double team me. It's just you right?"

"I think Yami has other interests right now." Yugi said as if the message was more intended for the spirit rather than Tea.

One seat behind them, Yugi's grandfather grinned in satisfaction. Perhaps his grandson would see true love sooner or later.

In the seats in front of them Joey had successfully procured a bag of peanuts. With a big grin, he ripped open the bag with too much force. The peanuts went flying in all directions. "Awwww man! It's a conspiracy I swear it!" Joey rattled.

"Hey look, even the nuts know how to fly." Yugi commented as a few landed on him and on his tray.

Joey flipped himself backward to look over his seatback. "Those are mine. Give 'em here."

"Yeah and another nut knows how to rattle his big mouth." Tea deadpanned.

"Hey, I resent that Tea."

"I would hope so Joey."

Yugi returned the few peanuts that landed in his area back to a whining Joey.

"Sit still Joey. Geesh. You act like you have ants in your pants." Tristan commented moments later.

"I can't. Some of that peanut salt must've landed on the seat cause it's now in my shorts."

"Is there anything that you can't get in trouble with?" Tristan groaned.

A while later the pilot's voice came over the speaker. "We are now over the western coast of the United States. Below is Los Angeles. We will be landing in Las Vegas in roughly two hours."

Yugi took this time to try to get Yami to enjoy at least a little bit of the flight.

/"Yami?"/

//"Yes?"//

/"Why don't you take over now. We'll be landing shortly. Just enjoy it a little and I could get a little peace and quiet."/

Yami chuckled. //"Joey right."//

/"Easy one."/

//"He could wake the dead with little effort."//

/"Don't remind me."/

//"So be it. Rest now partner."//

Tea could almost immediately see the switch. While Yami hadn't changed Yugi's outside physical appearance, he did hold Yugi's body differently. He used correct posture and his facial expressions were more confident and determined.

"Well hello Yami. Nice to see you come out."

Yami nodded politely as he glanced out the window. He could see snow capped mountains in the distance. "They're beautiful. While I can't remember much, I do know I have little experience with snow and large mountains."

Tea joined him in looking out the window. "Yeah, Yugi tends to shy away from snow and mountains. He's not much for sports, not even snowball fights."

"Perhaps someday I can convince him otherwise."

Tea giggled. "He'll protest tremendously. We've tried with no luck."

"Ah, but Tea, I have a trump card."

"Trump card?"

"I can control his body too."

"Quite true Yami."

Soon the plane prepared for arrival. All readjusted their seats and buckled their seatbelts in readiness for the landing. Yami watched as the ground swelled ever larger in the window. It didn't take long for him to notice a very familiar shape among the structures they were approaching. Once on the runway, as the plane taxied, Yami could make out details of that feature he saw from the sky.

"Look Tea, this pyramid isn't made of rock at all."

"That's the Luxor. We'll be staying there."

"It's not a home for the dead?"

"Heheh, not at all. This is a hotel, a place for the living. They made it a replica of the one of the Great Pyramids of Egypt except it's made of glass and metal."

"And a Sphinx too?"

"Sure is isn't it."

"Fascinating. This trip will indeed be very amusing."

*More than you know. I'm dying to see your true self, King of Games.* Tea thought.

Joey started singing New York, New York as he caught a glimpse of the hotel themed after such. Tristan begged for the plane to screech to a halt to let him out.

Soon all had disembarked, found their baggage, and hailed a taxi. They were within the Luxor within minutes.

"Wow, it's massive!" Tristan commented as he looked upward. The Luxor has the largest open space atrium in the world. All followed his gaze upward, aside from Yami who was gazing at the various Egyptian statues, heirogyphs, and other items surrounding them.

Joey quickly dulled at looking at empty space (he sees enough of that in his own brain). His sight caught other beautiful items. "Hey Tris...look! The female workers here are dressed in egyptian type garbs. Maybe we can get into a toga party or something."

"Joey, you need to study history better. We need to go to Caesar's Palace for a toga party. Togas are Greek and Roman, not Egyptain."

"Actually they can be Egyptain too. The three great ancient cultures actually intermingled at certain eras in time." Yami commented.

"Told ya so." Joey replied with a taste of victory.

Soon Yugi's grandfather gave them their room assignments. Joey and Tristan would share a room, Tea would have her own, and he and Yugi would share another room. All were next door to each other. They all went to get settled and plan what to do next.

Yugi's grandfather was now alone with Yugi...err Yami.

"So, you're the pharaoh within the puzzle correct?"

Yami nodded.

"I never got to thank you for saving me back when I was in the Egyptain ruins. Thank you." Yugi's grandfather replied with a slight bow in homage.

"It was part of my destiny...and yours too." Yami replied as he urged 'granpa' back into a normal stance.

"I also thank you for keeping my grandson safe. He hasn't come home beat up since he solved that puzzle. I know it's you protecting him."

"Yugi keeps me safe too. He's risked his life several times for me and the puzzle."

"You two are two peas in a pod...inseparable now."

Yami looked away. It was hard to say if that would be true. Their futures seemed destined to part.

/"Yami...stop with the mushy stuff with my granpa...let's see if you can take on your own form."/

//"Anxious aren't we?"//

/"Yes!"/

"Excuse me a moment Mr. Motou. Yugi wants to see if I can really assume my true appearance."

"If you do, please allow me the honor of seeing it firsthand."

Yami nodded as he headed for the bathroom where he could use the mirror to see if the transformation had taken place or not.

//"Yugi, this is going to take concentration from both of us. You have to concentrate on the aspect of invisibility while I focus on visibility."//

/'This isn't going to hurt is it?'/

//"No. It should be no different than us switching consciousness in your body."//

/'Cause if it does, I'll be sure to let you know.'/ Yugi threatened.

//"Fine. Okay, let's focus now."//

As they did so, Yami's magical powers surfaced as a golden eye shined briefly upon his forehead. Soon after, Yami was staring at his real self in the mirror.

/'Wow.' We don't look all that much different at all. I mean I knew we didn't, but seeing it for real...it's like I'm looking at myself when I grow up.'/ Yugi commented from within the puzzle.

"We are not that much different partner--in body or mind. I've said that before. I just hope someday you realize it in your heart and gain courage to find yourself."

/'Well let's let granpa see you. Just don't give him a heart attack okay?'/

"He's seen me before. Though only as an apparition." Yami replied as he opened to bathroom door and entered into the main room.

Yugi's grandfather stopped unpacking and took in the view of the real form of the pharaoh within the puzzle.

"Impressive. Though Yugi's style of clothing does little for you."

Yami glanced at what he was wearing. Yugi had worn a white printed t-shirt with the logo 'duel monsters' on the front, blue jeans, and sneakers on the plane.

"Hmm, no, this isn't me at all. But, we did pack for the both of us." Yami replied as he found one of the suit cases, plopped it on the bed and opened it. He quickly found his favorite attire but slightly modified it due to the heat of the day. He dug out a black sleeveless t-shirt, black denim jeans, the black collar for his neck,an armband, wrist bands, and his usual studded boots. He then returned to the bathroom and changed. Upon reentering the main room Yugi's grandfather nodded in approval.

"Yes, that suits you more. Though you take on the color of black rather than gold. It seems unusual for a once-pharaoh."

"Technically I'm dead. Black seems to fit the occasion better. Too much gold draws too much unwanted attention. Besides, Yugi hates it. He prefers to be unseen. But, I do have another sleeveless shirt in a more pharaonic color." Yami replied as he found his metallic gold shirt. "Thank goodness for basketball stars and their strange styles eh?" Yami joked as he held up the shirt. It also contained a Nike logo upon it.

Granpa was about to continue the conversation but was interrupted by a knock at their door. Yami answered it.

"Is Yugi--err, uhhh---" Tea stammered as she met the King of Games face-to-face.

"Hello Tea." Yami replied as he made way for her to enter the room. She did so, but couldn't take her eyes off his. His deeper voice fit his more formal way of speaking as well. While Yugi and Yami looked similar, there was something intoxicating about Yami's eyes and his deep skin tones. Yugi's eyes were wider, suggesting innocence and goodness. Yami's were more slender and alluring...suggesting a hint of passion and heat. They made Tea want to melt.

"Uhh, I just met with Joey and Tristan, and well...we were wondering if Yugi, or well, you would like to browse the Strip with us so we can get ideas of what to do these next few days." Tea rattled out quickly.

Yami nodded. "Sure. The Strip?" he asked with a slight tilt of his head and his eyes hinting playful amusement. His mind was thinking something else, perhaps enhanced by Yugi's raging hormones.

Tea picked up on Yami's thinking and blushed. "Heheh, no, not that Yami. It's what they call the long road that contains all these theme-oriented hotels. Each one has different stuff in it and outside. Some even put on free shows both in and out of their hotels."

"Sounds fascinating. I'll go."

"Yes, you all go. I have to register for the convention and attend a meeting anyway. It's boring stuff that you kids wouldn't be interested in anyway. Just be careful out there." Granpa added. He noticed the strange magic between Tea and Yami. While he rooted for his grandson to win Tea's heart, he knew Yami could win it easily, but would do so for Yugi...hopefully.

Yami followed Tea out into the hallway as they met Joey and Tristan.

"Whoa...it's the big Yugi again." Joey said as he quickly checked his size and attire. Nope he wasn't the six inch Flame Swordsman again. This was real.

"It's Yami, Joey. You can call me Yami. And nice to meet both of you face-to-face."

"I feel like I should be bowing or something." Tristan muttered. Yami put forth such a regal presence. But then again, a once-pharaoh would.

Yami chuckled. "Only if I command you too. How's that?"

"You wouldn't would you?" Joey asked.

Yami chuckled and gave no reply as he and Tea began walking down the hallway.

"Hey, wait for us!" Joey yelled as he and Tristan had to hustle to catch up. "He wouldn't would he?" he whispered to Tristan who simply shrugged.

"Is it me or is there something between those two?" Joey whispered to Tristan as they waited for an elevator. Yami and Tea were still together in their own private conversation.

"Well, we know Yugi likes her."

"Yeah, but she doesn't act like this around Yugi. Just when Yami's around. She seems all ga-ga over him." Joey whispered.

"You sound jealous Joey." Tristan taunted in a quiet tone.

"I don't swing that way Tristan."

"Could've fooled me."

"Hey!" Joey said as he assumed a fighting stance.

"Hey you two, knock it off. Can't you two act mature for even two minutes!" Tea yelled. She hated playing the motherly role, but with these two goofballs, she sometimes didn't have a choice.

They all stopped once they here the ding of an elevator arriving to take them to the main lobby, out the door, and into a whole world of fun.

to be continued...