all general disclaimers apply
Author's Note; At least one person asked about who the female knight was in ch.5. In actuality, she's nobody...simply a made up character to suit the needs of that particular plot.
The next morning, Yugi awoke feeling rather tired. He and Yami had an arrangement in body useage, but Yugi had little interest in Vegas. He wanted this trip to benefit Yami and allow the spirit to relax and enjoy the world a little. Of recent, both he and Yami were preoccupied with destiny, god cards, and other serious matters. It was making them a bit tense, stressed, and depressed. Yugi relieved such by hanging with his friends. The spirit of the pharaoh had very little opportunity to relieve the burdens upon himself. So, Yugi didn't mind when Yami asked if he could have the day shift rather than the night this time around. But Yugi asked for one consolation...breakfast. Yugi enjoyed food more than the pharaoh and if he heard Yami correctly, Mai was treating Yami and the others to a luncheon. While Yugi was in the bathroom, showering and preparing for the day, he and Yami conversed.
"So you really have to call Seto and say THAT!?"
Yami nodded.
"Can I ask you one favor? Can I be somewhat present at the time of that? I really wanna hear this!"
Yami raised an eyebrow. /"You would enjoy me making a mockery of myself?"/
"No, not really. But this is just so unusual and you'll be slightly out of character dontchya think? And Kaiba...I really wanna know his reaction!"
/"It'll be on speakerphone. I'm sure the others will want to hear the same as well. But I have no intention of breaking my character. I am curious about Kaiba's reaction however, so I will choose my words carefully."/
As Yugi stepped out of the shower and grabbed a towel, Yami watched him amusingly. Eventhough Yami was in spirit form, Yugi could often see the ancient king. It may be a result of the wonderous, mysterious magic and power of the Millenium Puzzle. Yugi caught the feeling of eyes upon him. "What?!"
Yami snickered. /"Nothing. Just trying to remember what it was like when I was your size."/
"You don't have your memories remember. And what do you mean by your size? Exactly what are you looking at?" Yugi snorted as he became defensive and slightly self-conscious, but then saw an opening to turn the tables against the once pharaoh. "Or do you really like what you see, eh king? I've always wondered about that, seeing how versatile ancient cultures were with that topic. Wait, nevermind, I may find the answer to my own question when you call Kaiba." Yugi teased.
Yami chuckled. Yugi was indeed becoming a bold tactician. He would need those skills as he coarsed through life. A smart mind and smart mouth would make up for lack of physical strength and height. Yami had to exercise those skills in Yugi if Yugi was ever going to realize his true potential and surpass the mighty King of Games himself. The world could be a cruel place with cruel people, but one could rise above such if one simply had the bite of a swift tongue, daring heart, and cunning brain. But of course, the mouth had to watch itself carefully. Of the three, it was the one that could backfire if one wasn't careful. /"Perhaps you will get your answer Yugi or perhaps not. I don't even know the answer to that. I don't have my past memories so I don't even know what exploits I experienced. All I know is I'm going to fulfill my bet to Mai."/
"A vague answer. Somehow I expected that from you Yami." Yugi continued. "Say, how'd your date go with Tea last night?"
Yami's eyes lit in surprise. Yugi was supposed to be deep in his soul room as they both agreed to give each other privacy.
Yugi picked up on Yami's shocked expression. "I didn't snoop Yami. Grandpa said he saw you and Tea enter the hotel hand-in-hand and Joey and Tristan weren't with you two. So I assumed you and Tea had to see the sights with each other."
Yami's expression softened as he remembered dear ol' Grandpa seeing them. Before he could reply, he dove back into the Puzzle.
Grandpa Motou had opened the door. "Yugi, I've called to you twice now. You didn't answer so I thought I'd better check on you."
"Grandpa! I was only having a conversation with the spirit. I didn't hear you over the fan and our chat." Yugi replied with a blush as he grabbed the towel about himself a little tighter. Modesty was something Yugi would probably never grow out of.
"Well, when you were a bit younger, you once slipped in the shower and banged your head. I was merely worried."
"I'm fine granpa. Can I have a little privacy now?"
Grandpa Motou smiled gently and closed the door for his grandson. A little while later, all had eaten their fill of breakfast and prepared to start the day. Yugi returned to the hotel room for a moment to allow Yami to take over. As they exited the bathroom, Yami was startled by Grandpa and stumbled backwards into the bathroom door.
"Oh, I'm sorry, Yug--err, Yami. I didn't mean to startle you. Heheh, I've done that twice now to the same body, but two different people. What're the odds! But anyway, I forgot my convention badge so I had to return up here to get it." Grandpa babbled.
Yami glared at the older man. While Yami wasn't aware of it, his kingly expressions surfaced from time-to-time. Grandpa read the glare as an insult to a royal person. If it were ancient Egypt, the pharaoh could have his head for causing such trouble to the king. Yami probably didn't know such, but his expression was more than enough. Grandpa kept his distance from the ancient king as he fumbled through the pockets of the pants he wore the night before. The pharaoh may not have his memories, but he still showed his kingly behaviors whether he was aware of doing so or not and Grandpa wasn't going to push any issues with him.
Yami straightened his shirt, recomposed himself, then exited the room to meet with the others. They were to meet Mai in front of the volcano fountain at the Mirage in less than an hour.
Once they met up with Mai, she drove them to her living quarters which was a small apartment just off the main Strip.
"We will fulfill the terms of the bet here if it is acceptable to you pharaoh?"
Yami nodded.
"Uh yo, what's this about a bet Mai?" Joey asked as he suddenly realized that he and Tristan had been left out of the loop.
"Just a little deal we made at the blackjack table last night. We had to up the stakes a little."
"No Shadow Games I hope."
"Nothing of the sort Joey." Yami replied. "Since we did not fully determine a victor last night, we compromised on our wager. I owe Kaiba a friendly little phone call, while Mai owes--" Yami trailed as he realized that if he said more, he may spoil 'the moment' Mai may be waiting for.
"Mai owes--hey, what does Mai owe? C'mon Yug--err, Yami, stop keepin' me in suspense. I hate suspense! I wanna know wha---" Joey ranted as he was suddenly cut off by a pair of lips meeting his. Joey went quiet and accepted Mai's surprise though it caught him off guard. The kiss wasn't long, but it was passionate. As Mai released her embrace on the sometimes obnoxious young man. Joey lost track of his own legs and fell backward on his rump, still trying to figure out what just took place. This wasn't exactly the way Mai wanted to give her surprise to Joey, but then again, when Joey was being Joey, she didn't get the best of opportunities.
The others watched wide-eyed and then laughed once all was said and done. Joey was in shock and was slightly embarrassed, but quickly chose not to reveal his emotions at this time. It just wasn't the manly thing to do. He simply allowed the next events to play out and hoped the others would leave it be and do the same.
"Well Yami, my first part of the bet is complete." Mai replied as she reached for the phone. "Now it is your turn."
Yami took the cordless phone in hand and dialed the number, then hit the speakerphone so all could hear.
Mokuba answered the phone. "Office of Seto Kaiba, may I help you?"
"Mokuba, may I speak to Seto please?"
"Yugi...no, wait, you're the pharaoh right?"
"Correct."
"Okay, wait a sec--" Mokuba said and then they could hear Mokuba yelling across the room. "Hey brother! It's the pharaoh!"
In the distance, they heard Seto's reply. "Mokuba, how many times have I told you to stop with all that ancient nonsense."
"Okay then. It's the not-Yugi on the phone who wants to speak to you."
There was a growl from Seto then a brief silence before Seto took the phone. "Seto here. What do you want?"
Yami glanced at all present in the room as they watched him with anxiousness. Yami focused inwardly to call Yugi from within his soul room since he had mentioned he wanted in on this as well. Then Yami returned his focus to the telephone conversation.
"Cranky as usual Kaiba?" Yami opened.
"I have a company to run. You're taking up valuable time. Get to the point." Seto snapped.
"You sound as if you have a burr up your ass. Want me to remove that for you?" (author's note: for those of you who don't know: a burr is like a burdock--a prickly, sticky little round plant part)
Tristan and Joey had to stuff their faces in the sofa to hide their laughter. They could envision Seto with that particular problem all too well and to hear Yami, the normally smooth speaker use such words was equally amusing.
There was an awkward silence on the other end of the line. "Are you feeling well? Who IS this!?" Seto demanded, losing his patience quickly as usual.
While Yami had no recollection of his past life, Seto was beginning to see his own, but his visions were vague and he refused to completely believe them as being memories. To Seto, they were merely dreams along the subject everyone keeps bringing up. And Seto was unsure how much or how little the once pharaoh knew of his own memories. It was something Yami could play upon.
"You don't remember do you. Ever wonder why you, above all the others, was high priest and favored by the pharaoh?"
"More ancient nonsense. Just get to the point. Despite my respect for you, you are fast becoming an annoyance."
"Now I see why you are dateless. Clues smack you upside the head and yet you still miss them." Yami replied before letting out a sigh. This wasn't going how he planned. Seto was either playing dense, or really was dense. For such a slick duelist and strategist, he sure missed the boat when it came to matters of heart and lust, even if Yami was just toying with him. Even Yami's cool and calm demeanor was growing thin. He wanted this call over as much as Kaiba did. So, it was time to be more tactful. "Look, it's been over three thousand years since I've been with a person. Do you want to be my man toy or not!?" Yami spat out quickly as the others divebombed for the floor in sheer laughter and shock. Joey and Tristan dove for the sofa, but ended up on the floor behind it. They didn't even feel it when they smacked straight into the wall before sliding to the floor. Even inside the Puzzle, Yugi had fell to the ground, stupified. Yami even surprised himself as those words were not something he would have normally considered.
There was nothing but silence on the other end of the phone. Oh how a video phone or cell phone snapshot would be nice at this moment. It gave the others time to recoup. At first, all thought Kaiba had simply hung up. Yami decided to break the silence and find out.
"Kaiba, you there?"
More silence. Then they coluld hear a shuffle and the phone being picked up on the other end.
"Pharaoh?"
"Mokuba?"
"Wha'd you say to my brother? He doesn't look right. He's on the floor just staring at a blank spot on a wall. Is there something wrong?"
The others fought hard to hide their laughter. Mokuba's description of Seto was enough to send them back into a fit of laughter. Tristan and Joey, who were trying to get up off the floor, slid back down the wall and found themselves back on the floor, their stomachs hurting from laughing so hard.
"Pharaoh? Who's there with you?" Mokuba asked as he could now hear other voices on the other end.
Yami did not want to see his friends get into trouble, so he covered for them. "I'm watching television, a sit-com I believe."
"Oh, I see. Well, I need to get off the phone now so I can snap my brother out of it. He's got a meeting in ten minutes."
"Farewell then. Take care Mokuba."
"Bye, pharaoh."
Then the familiar hum of an open line was heard. Yami turned the phone off and returned it to Mai. "I have now fulfilled my end of the bet."
Mai nodded. The others were still rambling and laughing over the whole incident. From within, Yami could hear Yugi. He focused inward to meet with him.
//"What was THAT all about!? You weren't serious were you? Because you're scaring me. I'm not doing ANYthing with him, especially not of that nature! And I do NOT want my first time to be with the likes of him!"//
/"Don't worry Yugi. Nothing's going to come of it. I just had to be overly obvious since Seto didn't pick up on my other suggestive hints. It was just fulfillment of a bet with Mai. And I have no intention of allowing your first to be with anyone you wouldn't want it to be with. That decision is solely yours."/ Yami replied as Yugi's questions were satisfied and he returned to deep within the Puzzle.
"Well now. I guess I won't be teaming up with Kaiba anytime soon." Yami replied to the others.
"I bet the first time Kaiba sees you he's gonna try to deck you for this incident." Tristan mentioned.
"Or maybe it'll just be a smooth slap across the face, eh Yami? I mean, who really did wear the skirt or dress back then?" Joey joked.
Yami gave him a death glare. In actuality, both did since that was the common attire of all in Egypt during ancient times. But Joey didn't need to know that.
"Okay now that all that fun is over, I have one last fulfillment to complete. How about we all decide where we want lunch? It's my treat." Mai replied. She had Joey and Tristan's interest almost immediately.
While Mai, Joey, and Tristan were discussing food, Tea couldn't help but replay the recent events. She wondered about Yami. There was so much they didn't know about him, so much they needed to know, and so much, they would probably never know. She often found herself wondering how her heart wanted him. When rationalizing it all, it seemed pretty unlikely and freakish. How can an attractive teenage girl develop a crush first on a mere voice, and then a guy, who was actually a dead person, who was once a king, who lived over 3000 years ago, who didn't even know who he was, who resided within an old Egyptian artifact, who had a near double in the form of her best friend, who...Tea interrupted her own thoughts. She could feel Yami's curious stare.
He flipped her a coin. Specifically, a penny. "What's this for?"
"As the saying goes, a penny for your thoughts?" Yami replied softly, his voice hinting at deep concern.
A small smile formed upon her lips. The ever astute king picked up on her being deeply locked in her own thoughts. Unlike most males, including Yugi, this pharaoh seemed cabable of reading and understanding female mannerisms and behaviors. She didn't want to know how or why he developed these abilities, but it was a nice change from the norm even if did force her to keep on guard with her own emotions and thoughts. Oftentimes, she forgot and lowered her guard. Yami sniffed right through her carelessness this time.
"Oh nothing Yami, you shouldn't worry. Something out the window just caught my eye and caused me to reminisce." Tea lied. But it gave just enough fact to slide by Yami's mental radar. The more time she spent with the spirit, the more she learned how he ticked. Even the King of Games had weak points in his character and sharp, tuned in females, like herself, could find them more easily than others,especially if the male was one she happened to have interest in.
The look in Tea's eyes said otherwise, but Yami let it go. It wasn't his place to probe if she didn't feel like telling him.
While Yami and Tea were playing 'stare eyes', the others had finished their conversation and were enjoying the next bit of amusement...them.
Joey's snicker brought both Tea and Yami into the reality of such. Yami's eyes lowered to almost slits as he met Joey's eyes. Friend or not, Joey had a nasty habit of sliding his way into things he didn't belong. It wouldn't be so bad except for the fact that Joey's big mouth tended to intensify moments, often in a bad way.
"Tea's gotta boyfriend." Joey sang, trying to avoid Yami's challenging glare, but Yami wasn't going to let him avoid the issue. He still owed Joey for the night before. But Joey's ignorance was world renown. "So, when should we order the wedding cake eh?" Joey continued, completely unawares.
Even Tristan thought Joey was pushing it just a little too far.
"Joey, do you remember the Shadow Realm's graveyard?"
Joey said nothing. He knew where it was going. Perhaps he was pushing this guy just a bit too far. Unlike Yugi, Yami had a bite. But even Yami was a friend. Joey figured it had to be a bluff, but with the Game King, it was always impossible to tell. "Ooooh, the creepy dark place of cards." he beckoned to try and call Yami's bluff, if it was one.
Yami continued with an eerie grin. "Perhaps you'd like an express ticket back there? I hear the stench there is strong this time of year." Yami replied as the symbollic third eye appeared briefly upon his forehead.
Nothing stopped Joey dead in his tracks faster than the threat of experiencing more creepy, icky, gooey things. And this particular guy had the ability to send him to such a place. Joey wasn't stupid enough to press his luck with the pharaoh. It was much easier (and more fun) to toy with Yugi. Yami was just too unpredictable to push too far.
Unfortunately for Joey, Yami wasn't feeling overly forgiving today. He disliked being placed in embarrassing situations and even worse, he didn't like it when a lady was drawn into it as well. Of course, Yami wasn't going to send a friend to the Shadow Realm, but he WAS going to make sure Joey learned when it was okay to tease and when it wasn't, especially when it dealt with a lady. And being the King of Games, Yami had just the thing for his ill-mannered friend. A challenge that Joey would think could be an easy win and underestimate the Game King completely.
"Joey, are you famililar with the story about the tortoise and the hare?"
"Yeah, why?"
"It pertains to a challenge I'm about to give you. Are you up to it?"
"This is gonna be some sort of punishment ain't it?"
"Only if you make it to be. So you in?"
"I've never backed out of a challenge."
"Neither have I."
"So name it."
Yami led Joey to the window and pointed to the Strip. "A race."
"A race eh? How and where?"
"How--by human power only. Where--from here to five different hotel-casinos and back again. But, there's a catch."
"As usual, go on."
"We must visit five hotel gift shops and buy a gift in each. You are buying for Mai. I am buying for Tea." Yami replied as he handed Joey a fifty dollar bill. "Can't go over that amount. So, it's a little less than ten dollars per hotel. Each gift much have the hotel's name upon it. This way, we can each verify our entrance into five hotels. Sound fair?"
"I'm in. I know for a fact, Yugi's body can't run that far."
"Who's said anything about Yugi's body running."
"But you said human power."
"Yes I did."
"So, wha--, hey wait, how are we gonna know if either of us cheated? You know, like a cab or somethin'?"
"Because Joey, the minimum in the hotel gift shops for an item with their logo on it is eight dollars."
"Dang Yug--I mean Yami. That's harsh."
"But it works out nicely."
"I suppose. Okay, let's begin then."
"So be it. Ladies, if you'll excuse us. I'll return in roughly an hour."
"An hour!? Are you nuts!? It'll take that body you're sharin' an hour just to get half way down that road."
"Then you should have it easy Joey."
"Nnnyah, I don't trust you. You have something planned. You never slight yourself in a game."
"Only time will tell Joey. Ladies, will you give us the go?"
Mai and Tea walked to the door and would open it when ready. As Joey and Yami made ready, Yami gave a thumbs up to Joey and some words of encouragement...or rather discouragement.
"Hey Joey--to each his own."
It sent quivers down Joey's spine. That was EXACTLY what Yami had said the night before when he was a bit upset. The dang ancient king had something planned and it probably wasn't going to be something Joey would enjoy.
Seconds later, the two girls parted way and revealed the open door. The two young men charged for the door at the same time and hit the opening at the same time. They slammed to a halt at the opening having jammed each other at it. They were stuck facing each other in a rather close position.
"Ugghhh...so you DO swing that way eh pharaoh?" Joey mocked.
"To each his own Joey. To each his own." Yami trailed with a grin as he slithered his way downward.
"I always knew you loved me and not Kaiba." Joey teased as Yami's face was reaching a certain area on Joey.
Yami said nothing. He continued his way downward as Joey suddenly realized what he was doing and repositioned a leg to block Yami's path. "I'm not that stupid Yami. You're not taking the low road."
Mai and Tea shook their heads and laughed. Not even out of the apartment and the two were already locked in combat. Both figured that at this rate, by the time the guys finish their little tiff, it would be dinner rather than lunch that Mai would be treating them to. Losing their own patience in their little spat at the door, Mai and Tea winked at each other and approached them. Neither Joey nor Yami noticed their approach. They were too busy blocking and ducking each other's motions.
With a giggle of anticipated fun, both Tea and Mai found their mark and gave the two guys good swift kicks in their butts. The unexpected motion sent both young men sprawling onto the front porch.
Both guys turned their stunned gazes to the two ladies standing in the doorway giggling. Yami flashed Tea a quick glare, but changed it to a smirk before regaining his footing and brushing himself off. Without a word to them, both stood and dashed onto the road. The race had begun.
"That felt good. I've never kicked a king before." Tea laughed though she was stupified by Yami's expressions after. She wondered about if Yami would seek retribution or if he'd realize that it was just a fun little game that young males and females often played upon each other as a show of affection.
"I'm sure many a king needed a good kicking all through history. You finally caught up to one. Many royal mother spirits are probably thanking you right now and hailing you as 'woman who has power over kings"
"Hey, I guess you're right. Heheh, King of Games watch out.You've met your match!" Tea hailed as she planted a foot on the banister and raised an arm in conquering fashion.
As the ladies giggled, the two young men continued on their race. Yami was already strategizing while Joey was using his height and more athletic abilities to good use. He was many strides ahead of Yami. When he looked back, Yami was gone. Joey smirked. This would be an easy win.
to be continued...
