Author's Notes: I know you were expecting Johnny Steps, but I had other plans. He might still make an appearance later on. That wasn't his arcade anyways; it was the mall one. So you never know! Well, here's the next chapter, which was in demand! I hope you like it! Enjoy! ^_^
Chapter 6:
At The End Of The Day
"UNDERWEAR DEPARTMENT?"
The sliding doors opened as the group entered the department store. Five red-faced boys entered.
Téa took a seat on one of the benches outside. "Have fun, boys!"
Yugi motioned for Yami to follow him. "Well, I really don't know what you guys wore back in Egypt, but here we have two selections. 'Boxers or Briefs' Most men choose boxers, briefs aren't good for your uh, 'health'."
"Why do they make them then?" Asked a perplexed Yami.
Yugi led him to an area with tons of men's boxers. "Well, some guys like them because they like to wear tight clothing and if they wore boxers, you would see them bulging out." He picked up a package of boxers. "Actually, I've noticed that you wear lot's of tight clothing. I myself am stuck wearing tiny briefs because of my choice of clothing. But I sleep with boxers. It's safer."
"I usually wear nothing." Yami stated plainly.
Yugi dropped the package he was holding. "I did not need to know that." He picked up the package he had dropped and handed it to Yami. "Well, you'll have to do like I do then. Wear briefs with your clothing and boxers at night. You'll be more comfortable that way, and don't tell me you sleep in the nude."
Yami raised an eyebrow. "Well, actually I –
Yugi placed his hand over Yami's mouth. "Don't say it!"
Yami removed his hand. "I used to sleep with my clothes on because before today I didn't have a body of my own!"
"Oh …"
***
Ryou felt his face flush. This was so embarrassing. He guessed that Téa was getting revenge on him for sticking her with Bakura for the whole day. "Well, um, Bakura … what did you wear back in Egypt?"
Bakura looked over at his red-faced partner. "Nothing."
Ryou blinked a couple of times. "Then …"
Bakura reached for a package of boxers hanging on a rack. "Look, I am not going to wear anything that resembles women's clothing! I was stuck with this when I was in your body and I'll stay with it in my body!" He waved the package furiously in front of Ryou's face.
"Well, glad that's over with!" Ryou sighed, wiping sweat from his brow.
***
Marik chuckled lightly as he watched the four boys making fusses over what to wear and what was better. He spotted Téa alone on the bench outside and decided to join her. He brushed some of his bangs out of his face and leaned back against the bench, resting his arm across it. "This is boring. I wonder what happened to my sister?"
"She's probably still shopping. We girls can last almost an entire day in a store and not get bored. We always find something the peeks our interest." Téa crossed her legs and leaned back against Marik's arm. She sat back up. "Sorry. I seem to be doing that a lot today." She laughed.
Marik smirked. "I don't mind."
Téa blinked. "You sure?"
"Well, it's not you're laying your head on my lap or anything, It's just an arm! Just because I'm a guy, doesn't mean you can't relax. We are friends, right?" He asked.
Téa sighed. "I guess so." She leaned back. "It's much better then this, right?" She grinned as she shifted so she was lying with her head on his lap.
Marik's eyes went wide. "You're asking for it!" He laughed. He leaned forward. "Would Cleopatra like some grapes?" He teased, holding his fingers above her mouth, pretending he was holding a grape.
Téa giggled. "Marik! You are so silly!" She playfully whacked him in the chest.
"Ahem!"
Marik and Téa looked up at saw the rest of the group staring at them. "Uh, hi guys!" They both said.
Yami raised his eyebrow and crossed his arms. "Did we interrupt something?"
Téa's face flushed red. "Yami! Please! We were just joking around!" She sighed as she got off of Marik's lap and the bench. "So, you guys ready? We just have to shop for shoes now and then we can go home."
Marik stood up, brushing his pants off. "Téa, I think you need a dandruff shampoo!"
Téa turned on him and shouted. "You idiot! That's not dandruff! That's my cotton jacket!" She bowed her head and lifted some of her hair strand up to his face. "Do you see a speck at all?"
Marik laughed and raised his hands up in defence. "I was just joking!"
Téa looked up at him, her once neat ponytail coming out of the scrunchy. "Oh, just look at my hair!" She tore the scrunchy out and let her hair fall down, framing her face. She tucked the band in her purse and looked up at the guys. "Well, are you ready?"
Everyone nodded, but Bakura just remained stiff. He was glaring at Marik. He hated that boy very much. First he made him hurt Ryou, then he controlled their souls and finally he was forced into a duel and lost, vanishing from the ring. He was lucky he had made it so his body would end up in the puzzle or he would have been lost forever. Just watching that blond Egyptian freak having a good time made his stomach churn. He clenched his hands tightly, balling them into fists. If he could, he would strangle him right now. Once again he felt a familiar hand on his back. I wish she would stop touching me! He growled. He looked down at her. "Yes?"
"I was just wondering if you were ok. You seemed so tense a moment ago. Try to relax, huh?" She moved her hand up and down his back, rubbing it gently and then removed her hand. "Come on, let's go together. I need to make it up to you after what happened the last time, huh?" She teased.
Bakura looked away. "Whatever …"
Téa ignore him and walked into the shoe store.
Yami looked up and around. "These are shoes? They aren't the kind I am use to wearing."
Yugi rubbed his head, chuckling. "Yeah, well, these are what we call 'comfortable shoes' also known as 'running shoes' come on, let's see what size would fit you best!" He grabbed Yami's wrist and dragged him inside.
Ryou and Marik followed in silence.
Téa ran her fingers across a black pair of sneakers with a red and white trim. "Look, Bakura! This would match the top I picked out for you, eh?"
Bakura walked up beside Téa and looked up at the shoes she was holding. "I guess." He took the pair off of the shelf and looked closely at them. "What are these numbers for?"
Téa peeked over his shoulder. "Oh, that's the shoe size. We need to see how big your feet are first!" She glanced around the vicinity, searching for a sales person. She saw one off to the side watching the customers. She put up her hand and waved. "Excuse me! Miss?"
The sales lady smiled and approached Téa and Bakura. "Yes? How may I help you?" She asked, a smile never leaving her face.
"We are interested in purchasing these shoes for him." She placed her hand on Bakura's arm; he looked down quizzically at her. "But we don't know his uh, exact shoes size."
"Not a problem!" She motioned for them to follow her over to a leather stool. She pulled out a small metal plate. "Just take your shoe off and place your foot on the foot holder."
Bakura looked down at Téa, who was nodding. He complied and slid of Ryou's old shoe he was wearing, which was a bit too tight for him. He placed his foot on the holder.
The woman crouched down and began to take the measurements. "Hmmm, you seem to be a size … 8." She walked over to the shelf and pulled out a pair of size 8 shoes in the style they were looking at earlier. "Here you go!"
Bakura took the shoes roughly out of the woman's hand.
"So who will be paying of this? You sir, or your girlfriend?"
Téa went beat red. "Uh, we're just friends. And I'll pay for them!"
Bakura looked over at her. "I have money, you know."
Téa shrugged. "I know, but I … I want to make up for earlier. I shouldn't have been talking about you behind your back. I feel so bad!" She bowed her head in shame. She felt a firm hand placed on her shoulder and looked up in surprise.
Bakura gave her a half smile and brushed a strand of hair away that had fallen in front her eyes. As he pulled way, his hand brushed against her cheek without meaning too. "I like your hair down." He whispered as he walked over to the counter.
Téa touched the side of her cheek he had accidentally brushed against. Her cheek felt hot now. "Um … thanks for the compliment, …" She mumbled as she dazedly approached the counter.
Ryou, who had been hiding behind a shoes rack the entire time, was smirking. Maybe things were going better then even he planned. Maybe … Téa would be good for him. If he ever learned the proper way to treat a lady, that is. And there was no doubt in Ryou's mind that Téa was a true lady. Tomboyish yes, but a lady nonetheless ... He suddenly heard his name and bolted up right; afraid he had been caught.
Yugi had snuck up behind Ryou. "Sorry …" He laughed. "What are you doing here anyways?"
Ryou blushed. There was no way he was going to tell Yugi, his former psychotic spirit of the ring was becoming attracted to his best friend since childhood. At least, he hoped he was becoming attracted. He was so hard to read sometimes. "Uh, just waiting for you guys!" He laughed nervously.
Yugi looked at him oddly. "Uh, right then. Well, we're ready to go now. I was able to convince Yami to by something other then tight heeled leather shoes!" Yami had settle on a blue pair of sneakers, size 7.
As the group finally left the store, they bumped into a very familiar couple.
Joey was lying back on a bench, arms hanging over and mouth hanging open. He looked like he was dead. Mai was sitting next to him, filing her nails. She looked up and smiled. "Hey, guys!"
Yugi smiled. "Hey, Mai! Is Joey, ok?"
"He's fine. I think he's just tired. We're ready to go home now. Are you guys coming too? Maybe we can give you a lift! My car can hold many! Oh and Marik, your sister told me to tell you that she had to leave early and she would meet you at home later."
Marik nodded. "Thanks. Well, let's get going. Who in their right mind would pass up a free ride?"
Everyone except for Marik, Yami and Bakura sweat-dropped.
***
Outside of the mall, the group dragged their tired and aching feet to Mai's car. They piled up their packages and slumped down in the car's soft seats. Yami was sitting in the window seat next to Yugi who had fallen asleep, using Téa shoulder as a pillow. Téa was resting her head on the back of the seat, leaning slightly against Bakura. Bakura was looking rather tense with Ryou slumped over and leaning against him on the other side of him. Marik was up front with Mai, playing with the radio dial, trying to find something catchy. Joey was also up front, next to Mai and completely passed out. They had to carry his body and throw him in the front seat. He never woke up. They even had to check his pulse and breathing to make sure he was alive. He was.
Mai looked back over her shoulder. "Ready?"
Everyone mumbled.
"Here we go!" Mai slammed down on the pedal causing everyone to fly backward.
Marik was slammed up against Joey, gripping the seat in a death hold. "WHAT THE HELL?" He shouted.
Mai turned up the music Marik had chosen. "Let's have some fun!!!"
"AHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!" Everyone cried (Except for Joey) as Mai swerved around, missing and dodging other cars in her way.
Téa couldn't move her head up; it was pinned back against the seat from the force of the speed and wind. "Mai, slow down!" She cried out through gritted teeth.
"Hey! Joey doesn't have his seatbelt on! We forgot all about that!" Ryou shouted; now wide-awake.
"What's so bad about that?" Yami shouted over the howling winds and screaming.
"Well, if Mai hit a bump … Joey would …" Yugi stopped when they hit the mother of all bumps and he heard Téa scream. Before he could react, Joey was flying over their heads, still asleep and in fact, snoring.
"EEEK! JOEY!" Téa cried covering her eyes.
Mai hit the breaks. "Everyone, out!"
Everyone jumped out of the car and gulped when they saw a now very wide-awake Joey with his head through the pavement, cursing in loud mumbles. Mai and Yami pulled Joey out by his legs.
Joey stood up and approached Mai. "That's it! First you almost make me fail my test, and then you make me shop till I Dropped AND NOW YOU ALMOST FRICKING KILL ME BECAUSE YOU CAN'T DRIVE!!!" He panted, trying to catch his breath. "Now, what do you have to say for yourself?"
Mai laughed nervously and closed her eyes. "I lost some of my packages along the way … we'll have to shop again tomorrow." She opened her eyes when she heard silence. "Joey?" She asked, shaking the now frozen boy. "JOEY?" She cried shaking him harder.
Marik moved his hand up and down in front of his face. "I think he's gone into shock …"
Everyone piled back into the car, Marik and Ryou helped Joey back in. They couldn't move his limbs or anything. It was as if he had glanced at Medusa and became solid stone. The ended up laying him across the extra seat at the back that Mai had to pull out.
***
The sun started to set as everyone was finally dropped off at their proper homes. Yugi and Yami were the first. Yami had to pry Yugi's hands off of the back of the front seat and Marik and Ryou had to carry Joey into his house, assuring his father he was alive. Finally it was Téa's turn. She stepped out of the car and did the most unusual thing anyone had ever seen. She kissed the ground. "I never thought I would see land again!" She cried.
Mai smiled sheepishly. "I'm so sorry, Téa! But when the bridge was closing, I thought we could make it across before it was too late. I didn't think we would get stuck and end up rolling back wards through rush hour traffic. And I didn't think the car we go over that bump and fly. It's usually very stable! But I had to make so many stops!"
Téa twitched at the memory. She had almost killed Ryou with the way she was squeezing his neck, shouting 'WE'RE ALL GOING TO DIE!!!' "Um, thanks for the ride, Mai. I think … well, it was fun, I guess." She gave a lopsided grin. "Take care you two."
Ryou smiled. "Thanks for everything Téa! And I do mean everything!" He winked. "Good night!"
"Night!" She laughed as she waved goodbye.
Ryou nudged Bakura.
Bakura growled. "Night …" He mumbled.
Téa sighed. As the car sped off, hitting a few mailboxes along the way, she touched her cheek again, remembering the day's earlier events. 'I like your hair down'. "What did he mean by that?" She wondered once again feeling a blush creeping up on her cheeks.
To be continued …
