all disclaimers apply as usual
author's note: in response to the comment in a review about descriptive words...in a fast-moving, light, happy comedy fic like this one, desccriptive words are a bad thing...slows the fic down and distracts from the main focus of the story...the character interaction. Besides, I want my readers to engage their own imaginations in my stories...to formulate their own vision of the story. If I put descriptive words in, then I'm essentially forcing my readers to see it as I see it. I don't like it that way. I believe descriptive words are good in certain type fics, but not in this particular type. And, to another comment in the reviews: don't worry, Bakura won't get too far behind in the score. In fact, this chapter may show some of that . :P
The thief reached the pharaoh just as the king was opening the door to return inside the lodge. With the king's back to him and one arm on the door, opening it, Bakura found a chance to strike. With a handful of snow, he grabbed the upper portion of Yami's clothing and sent the wad of cold snow down Yami's back.
"eeeeeyyyyoowww, cold!" Yami yelped as he let go of the door and spun to try and get the offending snow off his skin. He couldn't reach it and with one layer of shirt tucked in, it wasn't going out the bottom either. He simply had to wait for it to melt.
Pharaoh-3 Thief-1
The thief chuckled, his evil smirk said a thousand words without muttering a single one. Once the bulk of the snow had melted and his back began to warm once again, Yami grabbed the thief. "This is NOT over."
"I never said it was." Bakura sarcastically shot back.
Yami let go of the thief with a rough shove, then returned to opening the door and entering.
The ancient ruler wanted to change out of his wet clothing as soon as he could. Sitting on the snow caused his butt to get wet through all layers! And, the pharaoh hated having wet pants! But, he had to get some distance from the thief first.
"Do you mind?"
"Mind what?"
"I'd rather not have you sticking by me like a love sick dog."
"I'm not humping your leg am I?"
"Thank Ra for that! Look, if you must know, I'm returning to the hotel room for a change of clothing. Is that permissible, mother?"
Bakura growled. Without a word, he turned and returned to the bar for another beer. If anything, the pharaoh was driving him to drink! Then he thought better of it, a little alcohol always helped clear one's mind. He'd come up with a new plan of action while the king was away.
In the hotel room, Yami quickly stripped of all clothing. "Aibou?" he said as he concentrated on Yugi.
"Yes, I'm here." Yugi yawned from within his soul room.
"Let's switch. I'm cold, tired, and I want some consistent warmth for a little while."
"Thief's getting on your regal nerves eh?"
Yami chuckled. There were times when Yugi didn't miss a beat. "I suppose. Tea and Rebecca are at the ice rink. Perhaps you'd like to join them?" Yami suggested with a wink.
"Can't skate." Yugi muttered.
"So watch. There's benches on the side."
"Fine, you win. Let's switch." Yugi replied as they concentrated. Within moments, Yugi's form once again took physical presence.
"YAMI! I'M NAKED!"
"Sorry aibou. Wanted to get the wet clothing off."
"Well you could've put a towel on or something!"
"Heheh, I forgot. I'm not as modest as you are Yugi."
"Apparently not." Yugi hmphed as he found a towel and wrapped it about himself then went about finding some new, dry clothes to put on.
Meanwhile, Joey and Tristan were on the ahem, Fluffy Fun. They had learned lesson one. Some ski bunnies really can ski. So, they looked for more promising prospects on the beginner trails. But first, they had to get down it themselves.
"Stop grabbing me Joey!"
"I couldn't stop."
"I noticed that. But, what makes you think I'm any better. We're headed straight for those trees and I don't know how to turn!"
"Then why am I holding on to you then?"
"That's what I was trying to say you dolt!"
As the trees loomed ever nearer, both decided the best course of action was no course. They both willingly collapsed in a most undignified crash.
A young ski instructor saw the two goofballs. She immediately skied over to them to see if she could help.
"Are you two okay?"
Joey and Tristan looked up from their piled heap of bodies and equipment. "Uhh, are we dead because you're a beautiful angel." Tristan commented as he took in what he could see of her features.
The female instructor laughed. "Close. My name's Angelica. Here, let me help you and give you a quick course on the basics of this sport...come join my lesson group."
"Wow, thank you." both boys drooled. Angelica removed her skis so she could better help untangle the two still stupified boys.
Elsewhere, at the pub, Bakura chugged the remaining portion of his beer. The cold, wet clothing of his own was starting to annoy him. With a growl of disgust, he opted to return to the room for a change of clothing as well. As he headed towards the hotel portion of the resort, he passed the pool and caught a glimpse of several jacuzzis. "Hmmm, seems promising." he muttered to himself as he detoured into the pool area. There, he stripped down to his boxers and prepared for a dip in the warm, bubbling water. As he neared the jacuzzis and the steam cleared, he smirked. "Very promising." He approached one of the occupied tubs.
"Hello ladies, mind if I join you?" he said with the innocent manners of gentleman (learned from Ryou no less).
Meanwhile, Yugi, in fresh, dry clothing had arrived at the skating rink. Tea and Rebecca sat upon one of the benches, resting.
"Hi gals."
"Yugi dear!" Rebecca said as she reached over and hugged him.
"Uh, hi." Yugi said as he squirmed out of her grasp.
"Yami had enough of the cold?" Tea asked with a wink.
"For now. But I don't think it's the cold getting to him."
"It's the thief." the girls replied in unison.
Yugi nodded.
"So, where's your skates?" Rebecca asked.
Yugi looked down at the snow. "Can't skate."
"Based off what we saw of Yami, he can't even walk on ice." Tea added, trying to cheer her friend up.
Yugi's eyes lit with curiousity. "Yami was here?"
"You didn't know. Don't you two keep track of each other seeing how you're of the same body?" Tea asked.
"Not always. Besides, I was sleeping."
"Don't see how, given how those two were behaving." Rebecca added.
"Yami was chasing Bakura. Bakura apparently didn't realize what ice was and ran on it. Yami saw the thief spill onto the ice. He tried to stop, but was already on ice himself. I bet both will be sporting sore butts tomorrow." Tea replied.
Yugi rubbed his own butt. "Correction, I will have a sore butt tomorrow. Well, that explains why Yami wanted out of the wet clothing."
"So where's Bakura? He followed the pharaoh inside the lodge."
"Bakura?" Yugi asked as he looked back towards the lodge. "I dunno. I didn't see him anywhere near the hotel."
Back in the pool area, Bakura was in his little form of heaven. He had three beautiful ladies massaging his aching muscles, feeding him fruit, and bringing a glass of fine wine to his lips. It was good to be a king (of thieves...:P)!
Pharaoh-3 Thief-2 (scored a much better way of relaxing! ;p)
On the slopes, Joey and Tristan were off to the side of the run...in line with the rest of the lesson group...ten toddlers with balloons attached to their hats.
"Good one Tristan. These little brats ski better than us!" Joey commented as he watched one of the tikes whoosh by in the inverted "v" better known as the 'snowplow' technique.
"Look at the bright side. We have a great looking teacher. We're trying to score points with her, remember?"
"Can't score points with no balls." Joey commented then watched as Angelica showed the group by example once again. Her curves accentuated as she leaned into gentle carving turns. "You're right Tris...great lookin' teacher."
Suddenly, a great looking skier traversed at high speed before them. The skier suddenly stopped, sliding to an immediate halt much like a hockey player. *Can't be!!! But it is! Joey and Tristan!* the skier thought as he removed his goggles for a better look at the two overtall toddlers in the ski class.
Tristan whacked Joey from his fantasy with the ski instructor. "Hey, that cool skier stopped below us and is staring at us."
"He is, who?!"
Both strained their eyes to try and get a better look at the skier. Both nearly dropped upon recognizing him. "NO FREAKIN' WAY! WHAT'S HE DOING HERE!?" Joey exclaimed.
"How'd he learn to ski like that? I mean, they don't have snow right? I mean look at Yami and Bakura...not overly fond of snow and cold. So what's this guy's story."
"Got me, but I'm gonna find out." Joey said as he took a page from the toddlers' book and began to snowplow down to the awaiting skier.
Back in the resort convention center, Grandpa Motou and Professor Hopkins took a seat for the latest speaker. This particular speaker just happened to be speaking on the exact subject of their studies...Duel Monsters and how it related to Ancient Egypt. They were most curious on how this particular person theorized and correlated the two. Both elder men had their own theories, but were laughed at by the majority of scientists, anthropologists, and archaeologists. And yet, here was a person willing to give a large discussion on it in public! Perhaps there was new information on their theories? They couldn't wait to find out! Apparently many others were interested as well or just wanted to chastise the speaker as the room quickly filled to capacity.
to be continued...