The Lost Pharaoh
Chapter 4: The Beginning
The place was empty and quiet, just how he preferred it when he was working. It was the opposite of how he felt when he strived for business, but he was a different man when he was studying artifacts. He had to be diligent with his work, or how would he have gotten to be the famous Professor Arthur Hawkins. Smiling despite himself, he lay the papers of notes on the table and stood up for a stretch. It was time for a break.
Arthur strode out of his private office slowly walking through the exhibits. He had to make sure everything was perfect, or close to perfect, for the day when his museum opened, which was only a week away.
If only I didn't have my museum I'd have more time to work on that orb artifact and figure out its secrets. No doubt it holds the key to Egyptian history and the most powerful pharaoh there was...Then again, if I didn't have this museum I wouldn't be making as many friendly...contacts as I have now who are dying to make deals with me.
Arthur stopped in the second to last exhibit room, barely scanning the exhibit because he was too lost in thought. It dawned on him that he hadn't gotten a call from one of the best dealers of all, Hamad Uragiri. He was famous all over the nation for his collective works, artifacts, ancient translation books he wrote and more. Arthur had been excited when he had gotten a letter in the mail a few days ago from Hamad himself, who wanted to meet with him if he could, or make some kind of arrangement. Arthur didn't know what to expect from the multi-billionaire man, but he found he didn't care. It was an honor and would be extremely good for his new museum.
The letter did say, however, that Hamad was particularly interested in the new finding that was being held secret...naturally, the orb. It was supposed to kept quiet until Arthur deciphered it, found any missing artifacts or secrets it held, and then made sure he got credit for it all, but of course the most famous tomb raider had found out in his own ways. It was then that Arthur realized he had given the orb project to none other than Sugoroku Mutou the day before the letter arrived to him. He had all ready made a deal with Sugoroku to keep it for one month and if he tried to take it back he'd not only be breaking a contract with a "client/friend" but Sugoroku could get suspicious that Arthur wasn't telling him everything, which he wasn't. And if word got out Arthur Hawkins backed out of a deal, he wouldn't get people like Hamad calling him.
He knew that Sugoroku was a very patient man, and worked very hard at his game shop and digs, when he was called out (mainly by Arthur who provided him a job as a digger since nowadays only really well-known diggers got jobs), but what he held in his hands was something so priceless men would die to have it. That was what scared Arthur, was that Hamad would find out whose possession the orb was in and instead turn to Sugoroku to make a very wealthy deal to get the artifact and add it to his collection. That would in turn make Hamad even more famous to have such an artifact so the price for it was unimaginable, at least for Sugoroku.
What scared Arthur even more was that Sugoroku might say no, because although the man worked hard for reasonable pay, he believed that getting wealthy by buying or selling ancient artifacts wasn't the right way. He believed that whoever found and worked hard to decipher the artifact should get the credit and have it stored in a highly secured government facility or highly guarded museum. If Sugoroku found out Hamad tied in with Arthur, he may not give the orb willingly to his museum but try and give it to another, and Sugoroku did have his ways as well.
Arthur sighed and leaned against one of the walls. He probably was being paranoid. Most likely Sugoroku wouldn't be able to decipher it like all the others...however, it wasn't Sugoroku that worried him most, it was his grandson Yuugi. Just the other day, Arthur had found out from his client helping him on the dig that Yuugi had disappeared after seeing him at the edge of the river and reappeared in the same spot hours later, and he had seemed absolutely sure he had checked all around the area. And from the last dig, Arthur knew that the river led down to the crevice in which the artifact was discovered.
Yuugi couldn't possibly have discovered though, even my client didn't think so. He would have to have fallen down the waterfall, or part way down and climb the side of it in order to get to the crevice, which was hidden from view quite well. And Arthur knew from past experiences that Yuugi had been afraid of heights, as long as he could remember, so he wouldn't have even dared climb a cliff that high. Somehow, even with those facts, he still felt an uneasiness and he always went with his instincts.
Arthur was also famous for his instincts whenever a situation appeared to him. Unless everything fit the puzzle then he would forget about it, and this situation had a missing piece. He figured he could ask Yuugi some questions when Sugoroku brought the orb back to him, he'd just ask Sugoroku to bring Yuugi along. Until then, there were several small unsolved mysteries that Arthur had to figure out so he would have to wait a month and hope that Sugoroku figured something out.
XXXXX
The watch read that it was a little past eight. He was thankful that the meeting with Arthur didn't take as long as he thought it would, so he kept his promise to Yuugi and was remotely on time, maybe just a little early. Yuugi was most likely putting together his deck to see what new cards he needed to buy and what his strategy, or strategies, would be to defeat the next competition. Sugoroku knew that he had not told Yuugi he knew of his letter from the competition, because it was he who had signed Yuugi up. Sugoroku knew his grandson was very talented in Duel Monsters, though Yuugi didn't think he was that much better than the average player.
He defeated Maximillion Pegasus at his own game for goodness sake! He's a master at the game, even better than I am and I was the one to first teach him. And what about Ryuuji...his new game Yuugi defeated too, that's how they became friends. I wonder who he's up against this time.
Sugoroku smiled, feeling very proud of the young man his grandson had become so far. He was kind, very intelligent, clever and one could say almost famous. Most knew who he was, and although it was just a game being known when one's younger is sometimes a sign of success for the future. Yuugi hadn't had trouble with any bullies since he made friends with Jou, Honda, Anzu and especially Ryuuji and Kaiba, whom he defeated as well in a Duel Monsters game. Since then he had been respected by all those who used to pick on him for his smaller size. Sugoroku was very happy for him, he just wished he could be around more often. He was either too busy with the gameshop, or off on a dig with Arthur. And now would be no different either. Sugoroku had a new and very challenging project ahead of him.
Perhaps I could ask Yuugi if he'd like to help me with it, just so I don't exclude him since he's always home alone.
The small ounce of guilt that welled up inside of him made him feel less like working on the project. Part of him wanted to rush back to Arthur and tell him he couldn't do it, but he also knew Arthur paid quite nicely. Sugoroku wasn't fond of money, and he had more than enough to sustain Yuugi through college, and himself, and that was enough for him. Still...he could save up the extra money to take Yuugi to some far away place for a vacation, just the two of them. He had to make it up to him somehow.
Pushing the more positive thoughts forward, Sugoroku took out his key and pushed it into the door. He opened it and stepped inside, expecting it to be empty and Yuugi to be in his room. Sugoroku opened his mouth to call his grandson and stopped as he saw Yuugi sitting on the stool some ten feet away staring at him. He was going to ask why Yuugi was downstairs and hope that he wasn't waiting up for him, but then he noticed that someone unfamiliar was sitting beside Yuugi.
The boy with crimson eyes appeared to be a couple years older and wore very stylish clothes, much like Yuugi's though not exact. They had similar hairstyles, though the other boy's hair was darker with crimson and blonde streaks and Yuugi's was practically multi-colored like his mother's with natural purple, blonde and semi-red highlights. It wasn't that they looked alike, they just seemed to have much in common, even aside from clothes and hair.
Sugoroku finally registered that he was standing in front of the door with wide eyes just staring intently, and partly confused, at the two boys. Yuugi had a very clear look of concern and guilt etched into his features, probably thinking that Sugoroku would be mad that he hadn't asked to have a friend over, and the other boy looked somewhere between worried, guilty and questionable. He could tell Yuugi was about to open his mouth to explain, he probably would've done it sooner but he seemed at a loss for words.
"Grandpa, I..."
"Ah, Yuugi, who's your friend? I've never seen him before," Sugoroku smiled cheerfully.
"Uh he...this is Yami, grandpa. He's an exchange student who just moved here and we met in school," Yuugi quickly gained back his focus.
"Oh, how nice," Sugoroku smiled politely.
"Um...well, see...Yami had a family that he was going to stay with, but it appears they...they went on vacation because they thought he was coming later, and so I kind of...well, I told him he could stay here with us," Yuugi finished, ready to take whatever his grandpa would say next.
Sugoroku hesitated before putting down his suitcase and spreading out his arms.
"That's wonderful!" he smiled cheerfully, approaching Yami and giving him a tight squeeze. "So nice to meet you...uh, Yami is it?"
"Uh yes, thank you," Yami said, blinking with confusion but smiling nonetheless.
"What? I mean...You're not mad?" Yuugi exclaimed wide-eyed.
"Mad?" Sugoroku laughed. "This couldn't have happened at a better time. I was worried that you would be alone again, since you know I have two jobs, and actually, Arthur just gave me a new, very challenging project that I was thinking of having you stay over at a friend's house for a while. I guess I won't have to worry now!"
Sugoroku clapped his hands together, put his suitcase and light jacket away before heading to the kitchen.
"Do you both have any preference for dinner, or should we go out?"
Yuugi snapped out of his transfixed daze and quickly shook his head.
"No going out! I mean...," he stuttered seeing the surprised looks from both Yami and his grandpa, "let's give Yami a welcome home dinner."
Sugoroku's eyes lit up, "Wonderful idea, Yuugi. And then maybe you could show Yami around the place, if you haven't all ready, maybe show him the shop...Oh! I should probably make him a room in the old guest room, soon to be a guest room again!"
Sugoroku quickly made his way up the stairs to clean out the office for Yami and make the room a guest room once more. Yuugi watched his grandpa go feeling more joy than he had in a long time. Sure, he had felt joy winning duels, being with his friends and defeating the horrible Maximillion Pegasus...but that was a different kind of joy. When Yuugi was with his friends it was the joy of hanging out, relaxing, having people to lean on. And winning duels was a sense of accomplishment. When he had defeated Pegasus it was a relief to free the prisoners from his grasp, more than claiming a famous title.
But when Yuugi was with Yami, it was all that he felt with his friends and something else. He couldn't quite place it...He assumed it was that they were supposed to meet and help one another. Yami was helping Yuugi find his inner strength and get more confidence and courage, and Yuugi was helping Yami become real again and to get his palace and Egypt back until there's no more threat of evil. However long that would take didn't matter.
Yuugi was taken from his thoughts when he felt Yami brush up against him, standing by his side. Yami glanced down at him and raised an elegant eyebrow slightly.
"And you were worried, Yuugi?"
Yuugi smiled bashfully, "I guess your timing was perfect."
Yami smiled back as they stood there for a couple minutes just staring back at one another, still shocked that it was so easy. Yuugi's grandpa didn't even ask any questions, like from where Yami was an exchange student.
"Well, I guess I better start dinner," Yuugi said, heading toward the kitchen.
"Can I help?" Yami asked intrigued.
Yuugi nodded, a small grin apparent on his face, "Of course."
The two set off for the kitchen. Yuugi decided his grandpa would probably cook something simple, like spaghetti, so he pulled out a pot, poured water in it and began to boil it. Yami was watching over his shoulder with curiosity and wonder. Yuugi really couldn't wait for the next day when he'd take Yami to the movies and other places, it would be a very entertaining experience for both of them.
"Yami, could you get the pasta out of the cupboard. It...um, looks like long, hard strings," Yuugi stuttered slightly, his cheeks slightly pink.
Yami nodded and searched the cupboard for the description. Surprisingly, he found it just as the water began to boil. Yuugi dumped in the uncooked spaghetti and began to stir, occasionally letting Yami get the feel of stirring it. By the time Sugoroku came back down to announce that the guest room was ready, the spaghetti was nearly finished. Sugoroku walked into the kitchen quietly, smiling with knowledge that his grandson always knew what to do when he couldn't. When he walked in he was greeted by a strange surprise. The exchange student, Yami, was watching the bubbles boiling over the pot full of spaghetti with...interest? Yes, that was it. And he was occasionally touching one and jumping back because of the slight, fast flash of pain he felt from the steaming hot liquid.
Where is he from anyway?
Sugoroku decided not to ask any questions until later. For tonight, they were celebrating the arrival of their new guest. Hopefully, Sugoroku would learn all he could about the boy. He seemed to be good friends with Yuugi seeming hard to believe they met only a few days ago. Sugoroku shook his thoughts aside to help Yami with finishing the cooking while Yuugi was probably setting the table.
"Here, let me help you," Sugoroku smiled, turning off the stove and pouring the hot water out.
"Thank you," Yami nodded gratefully, a polite smile on his face.
"So, Yami, where are you from?" Sugoroku asked, not facing him directly.
Sugoroku didn't see Yami's eyes widen and look around helplessly.
"I...I'm from a very distant...place," Yami tried to explain in a normal, calm tone. Inside he was afraid he'd say something to ruin his cover-up identity.
Sugoroku looked up with a somewhat raised eyebrow, "Oh? And where would that be?"
"Well...I...I was actually born in Egypt because my father worked as an archakalgist," Yami stated firmly.
Sugoroku nearly dropped the pot full of spaghetti, but quickly gained his composure.
Did he just say...? No, I must have heard wrong.
"Wow, so you know a lot about Egypt then," he continued.
Yami nodded, "Yes, I do."
"But where is it you live now?"
"A...far away region...with umm...exploding mountains and..."
Sugoroku blinked, "You mean volcanoes?"
Yami smiled and nodded, "Yes, those. We...have a very different way of speaking there and I'm not fully used to everything here."
Sugoroku nodded, "How did you meet Yuugi?"
"He freed me," Yami said without thinking, "...umm...from the torturous house I was living in. The people were always going away and I didn't appro...like that because I barely even knew my surroundings. I happen to bump into Yuugi on the way from the to...school, and we just clicked as if fate guided him to me."
"Oh...," Sugoroku was surprised by the maturity in his voice.
Although a bit strange, he definitely was a friend he could approve of. His language was most intellectual. Sugoroku would just have to get used to it, after all, the boy would be staying with them at least a year.
Sugoroku smiled, "Yes, Yuugi is very friendly. I'm not surprised you two clicked right away. So, I'm assuming you're from Hawaii, because of the volcanoes and because you said it's a far away place, is my guess right?" Sugoroku smiled.
Yami laughed, hiding any nervous feelings, "You're right. Hawakii is my home."
"Yami!"
Yami turned as he heard Yuugi calling him into the other room. Smiling at the grandpa, he walked out of the kitchen leaving a very stunned and confused Sugoroku. Shaking his head, Sugoroku carried the pot of spaghetti out of the kitchen and to the small dining room out the other door to the kitchen. Yuugi had apparently called Yami in there to reach the glasses in the china cabinet. The table was nicely set and Sugoroku put the pot in the center as they sat down. Yuugi helped dish some out for Yami before himself, and Sugoroku just sat there for a few minutes watching them.
Yuugi appeared very happy. In fact, he acted more like himself around Yami. With his other friends, he acted almost the same though he was the rational one out of them. Sugoroku noticed that with Yami, Yuugi could be as he was with his friends, joking and having fun, but also there was a serious and mature mode as well in which they could probably talk about anything and help solve each other's problems.
Once they all began to eat, Sugoroku decided to try and treat Yami like Yuugi's long-time friend, as he did with Jou, Honda and Anzu.
"What have you two been doing today?" Sugoroku asked.
Yuugi looked up, swallowed and smiled, "Well, first I took Yami around Domino just so he could get a good feel of the place."
"Ah," Sugoroku smiled, "so that's why Yami is dressed very stylishly."
Yuugi blushed, "Grandpa! How'd you know it wasn't just his own outfit?"
Sugoroku laughed, "I know you too well, Yuugi. You can't fool your old grandpa. Now, what else did you do?"
"Well," Yuugi said thoughtfully, pausing with fork mid-air, "we just spent the day around downtown. I wanted to go to the new Duel Monsters shop to find out more about the contest and see what cards I need. I know I have really good cards right now, but I think I need some more trap and spell cards, depending on my strategy and my opponent."
Sugoroku nodded, "Are Jou and Anzu going to help you prepare?"
"Yeah, they said they'd help. I also told Yami about it and he said he wanted to help too," Yuugi smiled at him.
"Ah, so Yami, do you know what the duel monsters game is?"
It was a moment before he answered, contemplating if he really knew it. Sure, he knew more than everyone else and knew just how powerful they could be...especially his Slifer, but did he know the game?
"Yes, I do know quite a bit about them, but I'm sure I'm not as good as Yuugi," Yami finally answered.
"Well my grandson is a master at the game," Sugoroku laughed as Yuugi blushed again, glaring playfully.
Yami smiled, "I believe that."
"Oh, I almost forgot, would you both like something to drink?" Sugoroku asked, standing up.
"Sure," Yuugi answered. "I'll just have a glass of water, grandpa."
Sugoroku nodded, "And you Yami? We've got water, milk, orange juice..."
Yami's head snapped up, "Orange juice would be nice."
Yuugi just barely choked when trying to swallow, looking over at Yami and back where his grandpa had entered the kitchen again. He still had yet to tell Yami orange juice was a drink. What was he going to do? What would his grandpa say? He started to panic on the inside when his grandpa came back and set their filled glasses in front of them. Yuugi paled a bit and watched as Yami lifted the glass and poured it over his spaghetti. He slowly but surely turned his head toward his grandpa, whose eyebrows were raised so high Yuugi couldn't see them anymore. Yuugi laughed nervously.
"Um...it's a custom for him," Yuugi tried to smile normally.
Sugoroku nodded and didn't question further. Yami hadn't seemed to notice either of them as he was continuing to finish his dinner. Yuugi inwardly sweatdropped, trying his best to keep a straight face.
After dinner, Yami helped Yuugi clean the dishes and then they headed up the stairs for bed.
"Goodnight grandpa," Yuugi called.
"Goodnight," Yami called after.
Sugoroku walked to the bottom of the stairs, "Sleep well you two."
Upstairs, Yuugi collapsed against the wall and sighed with relief. Yami had walked into the guest room and turned around and smiled.
"Yuugi, your grandpa did a great job."
Yuugi stepped up beside him and saw that indeed the storage room was a beautiful room, larger than Yuugi's with a queen-sized bed, a small table with a lamp. The closet had been emptied for Yami's clothes, which he now had two outfits. Yuugi knew he had to take him shopping for school clothes as well. After tomorrow was the first day Yami would be excepted to his school. Suddenly, Yuugi stood dead cold.
"Yami, I forgot to call the school and tell them about you coming with me to my classes," Yuugi said worried.
Yami smiled, "Don't worry Yuugi, I've all ready taken care of that. I sent a letter like you told me to my viziers and told them I'd be going to school with you as well. They sent the school a very convincing note, pretending to be my parents."
Yuugi sighed with relief, "Good, thank you Yami. This room is definitely better as a guest room. Besides there was room in the attic for all of grandpa's things."
"What were they?" Yami asked, sitting on his bed.
"Grandpa's works on his archeological digs. Most of them are just maps and notes on translations for many different artifacts. Actually, I think he had some from when he was trying to find your tomb," Yuugi said in a hushed voice.
Yami's eyebrows furrowed, "My tomb? Why would he want to find my body, to resurrect me?"
Yuugi's eyes slowly dimmed.
"No, Yami. Actually, your body would probably...have been put on display in Professor Hawkin's museum...," Yuugi bowed his head.
Yami's smile too faded, "You mean that I would have just been for money, not peace?"
"Not with my grandpa!" Yuugi exclaimed, his eyes beginning to shimmer. "I mean...he wanted to find your tomb because he loves ancient Egyptian history. He has kept all the artifacts he ever found, most are in the attic. They're not really important, at least not to any museum, but my grandpa loves all his findings. He didn't want to give your body to the museum, but he also was too curious about you not to try looking for your tomb. He would've done everything he could to have your body buried, I promise you that Yami..."
Yuugi hadn't realized his eyes were watering with tears until he felt Yami's finger brush against his eyes and wipe most of them away. Yuugi lifted his head to see that Yami had kneeled in front of him while Yuugi was explaining.
"It's all right Yuugi," Yami said softly, a gentle smile replacing his frown. He rubbed his finger along Yuugi's cheek affectionately. "It doesn't matter now, you got to me before your grandpa or any archakologist."
Yuugi suddenly burst out with laughter despite that his cheeks were still wet with tears. Yami gazed at him puzzled, trying to figure out how his speech to make him feel better made him laugh. When Yuugi calmed down his eyes sparkled as he stared into Yami's.
"Yami, it's pronounced arch-ay-ologist, archaeologist...," Yuugi giggled again.
A grin slowly spread across Yami's face, "Yes well, then I can't wait for you to come with me to Kemet, Yuugi. It will be pay-back for your teasing me."
Yuugi's giggling subsided as he realized Yami was right. He was teasing Yami because he didn't understand their customs, but Yuugi, as much as he knew about Egypt from his grandpa and studying it in school, did not know their customs either. Slowly, Yuugi's lips curled until they reached a perfect pout.
"You better not be mean to me, Yami," Yuugi huffed and crossed his arms.
"Well that all depends," Yami smiled, a gleam in his eye, as he stood up offering his hand to Yuugi.
Yuugi took it and stood up with him, "On what?"
Yami squeezed Yuugi's hand tighter and pulled it close to his chest, leaning down to his ear.
"On you."
"Me?" Yuugi asked.
Yami pulled away and smiled, "Yes, on you and how much fun I have here."
Yuugi beamed brightly, "You've got a deal."
They shook hands, just like the first day they met. Yuugi held their grasp a little longer to stare into Yami's eyes.
"Someone else can still tease you though, right?"
"As long as you don't," Yami grinned. "Otherwise..."
Yami softly grabbed Yuugi's chin to bring them nose-to-nose, staring intensely into Yuugi's big, bright eyes. He didn't even have to finish his sentence, they were so close that Yuugi could see the amused look deep within the deep crimson eyes, knowing that Yami was all ready planning something. Finally, Yami slowly let him go, still smiling.
"I should go get my garments from your room."
With that, Yami left the room. Yuugi watched him go, intrigued that Yami could be so teasing. He pictured the pharaoh of Egypt to be this stern, powerful and strict, and much older, man. Yami had truly surprised him, but Yuugi certainly wasn't complaining...well, not yet. He had no idea what Yami was planning for him, and he found he didn't really care. He would deal with Yami's playful side if it meant going to Kemet and getting to see the viziers, high priests...It would be the experience of a lifetime, just like when he found Yami and it turned his world upside down. Not that upside down was a bad thing. In fact, it just meant that life was now completely different with Yami around, but it was definitely turning out to be a very good thing.
Yuugi smiled to himself. They were definitely meant to meet, there was no doubt about it. He really hoped his friends wouldn't question the new mysterious friend, nor Yuugi's disappearance when he went to Kemet. He supposed he'd have to tell his grandpa sometime that Yami wasn't real...after he of course became fully real, so his grandpa wouldn't call the police and worry sick about him. Until then, Yuugi would just enjoy the fun of hiding a very big secret from his grandpa, friends, and everyone else. At the moment though, he had to get some sleep. Tomorrow was a big day.
XXXXX
The bright rays flickered softly through the curtains, as bright as summer rays were supposed to be in Domino. Sugoroku awoke from bed, as early as the previous day. He didn't have to work today, since the shop was only open on Mondays thru Saturday afternoons, with the exception of yesterday. He did, however, have to go grocery shopping.
Sugoroku lifted himself out of bed, got dressed and as usual walked past Yuugi's door, peering inside.
"Yuugi, I'm going to go shopping and then maybe stop by to visit some old friends."
Yuugi's small form turned over in the bed and he rubbed his eyes sleepily.
"Mmm...all right," Yuugi mumbled. "I'm going to take Yami around some more."
"I'm sure he'll like that," Sugoroku smiled, "just be home by dinner."
Yuugi nodded and his head plopped back down on the pillow. Sugoroku closed the door, then went across the hall to the door on the left and knocked lightly. He heard a soft voice mumble something so he opened the door to peek inside. Sugoroku had to be careful not to laugh out loud. Yami's body was sprawled out, the covers barely on his lower half since most of it was on the floor. He noticed that Yami wore silky pajamas, probably another one of Yuugi's choices. They were covered in little stars and staffs, though very small he looked almost younger in them.
"I'm going out for a while," Sugoroku said quietly after he snapped out of his trance.
Yami lifted his head to glance at him, a sleepy smile on his face and nodded.
Sugoroku smiled back, "You take care of Yuugi now, and don't let him convince you to buy anything you don't want. He can be really persuasive sometimes."
Yami laughed lightly, "Don't worry, I'll be careful."
Sugoroku waved and closed the door, sighing contently. It all ready seemed like Yami had been staying there for a while.
Yuugi always has a great choice of friends.
Sugoroku picked up his jacket and left the two sleeping boys.
Yuugi heard the door close and sighed happily. He was so relieved his grandpa liked Yami. Of course, if Yuugi really liked Yami his grandpa would approve with just that, but it made Yuugi feel better about the situation. He climbed out of his bed and lifted his arms over his head to stretch as he yawned. It was Sunday all ready, the weekend passed by too fast. He was having so much fun with Yami it was like time just stopped. He hoped that Yami could stay for a long time...in fact, he couldn't see Yami leaving, but he also knew deep down inside that Yami needed to be back on the throne for his people. And Yuugi couldn't live there with him because of his grandpa, friends and his future of going to college.
If only there was a third choice...
Quickly, Yuugi pushed the thoughts aside, not wanting to think any unhappy thoughts. Yami had just gotten there the previous day so they'd have many more fun weekends. Not to mention school would be just as interesting. Yuugi smiled despite himself. He couldn't imagine a 5000 year old pharaoh sitting in a school desk learning about Egypt...
The door opened quietly as he stepped out, his feet treading softly on the carpet as he headed toward the room on the left. He put his ear to the door and listened for a couple minutes, making sure he heard the soft sounds of breathing before he slowly turned the knob and opened the door. Yuugi tip-toed into the room to see Yami sprawled out on the bed with most of the covers off his body. He was wearing the pajamas that Yuugi and Haruki picked out for him. Yuugi swiftly covered his mouth so as not to laugh and wake Yami up.
On tip-toes, Yuugi walked around the bed to the opposite side where Yami's head was closest. He saw Yami's chest rise and fall gradually proving he was definitely in a deep sleep. Yuugi giggled to himself and opened the bureau beside the bed cautiously. Inside it was a long rope, something of his grandpa's with which he used for climbing down into places on digs. Slowly, Yuugi slipped his hand beneath the covers and slid it under Yami's legs to the other side.
Then, without touching him, Yuugi grabbed the rope and lifted it over Yami's stomach till it reached his side again. He kept winding it around the sleeping figure, unaware of a crimson eye peeking open. Finally he brought the end of the rope to his hand and turned for a minute to find something to tie with. He barely registered a soft tug until he was pulled without warning right onto the bed.
Yuugi yelped and in doing so, tried to squirm out only to entangle himself in the rope as well. Yuugi was now covered in the rope, not very neatly. He was lying across Yami's legs, and slowly he looked up into Yami's shining eyes.
"Yami! You were awake?" Yuugi exclaimed.
Yami chuckled, "You don't think a pharaoh would be prepared for such attacks, Yuugi?"
Yuugi glared at him playfully, "Yeah...well, you're stuck in the rope too."
Instead of looking as if Yuugi had gotten him back, Yami's smile only grew. Yuugi felt his legs move up and before he knew it Yami was standing up while Yuugi was on the bed completely trapped.
"How did you do that?" Yuugi asked, squirming to try and untangle himself.
"Practice," Yami answered, smiling. "Now I know what your grandpa meant when he said you were persuasive."
Yuugi stopped struggling to look up at him taken aback.
"Grandpa said that?"
Yami nodded, "Yes, and I assume you were doing that because you wanted to make me agree to something, is that right?"
Yuugi sighed and ceased struggling. Instead, he decided to try and pull off his irresistible look, as Anzu called it.
"Yes Yami, I did. I wasn't sure if you'd trust me to go shopping with me again so I was going to try and make you promise you'd come with me if I let you go."
Yami at first seemed unfazed but he smiled and approached him.
"Yuugi, of course I'd go shopping with you. I had more fun yesterday than I have in over 5000 years. And that's the truth. I know you like to tease me because I am so new to everything here, so...," Yami sat on the bed beside Yuugi's tied up body, "I'll let you go and shop with you, if you promise not to tease me in public."
Yuugi's eyes widened. Yami just turned Yuugi's whole plan on himself. He'd have to figure out a way to outsmart him sometime, but for now he was at Yami's control.
"Fine Yami, I won't tease you public...but does that mean I can tease you here when it's just the two of us?" Yuugi asked in a pleading voice.
Yami smiled, "Of course you can Yuugi, this is your house after all. However, I advise you to remember that I will not forget every ounce of teasing you do to me here, so that when we go to Kemet I may be justified."
Yuugi pouted, "...All right..."
Yami smiled and untied him so he could get up. Yuugi sighed defeated.
"I'll go get dressed in my room while you get ready, all right?"
Yami nodded as Yuugi bounded out of the room. The next shopping spree would most definitely be an even better experience than the first.
TO BE CONTINUED...