all disclaimers apply as usual
As Tea and Rebecca returned to the lodge for some hot chocolate, Yugi joined them, but he felt extremely awkward being outnumbered by females, especially one that kept googling over him, excused himself. He was going to find the game room where he could play some arcade games. As he passed the pool room, he stopped short. He could've sworn he saw a flash of lengthy white hair!
*Hmm, could that be...Bakura? Nah...gotta be Yami's paranoia kicking in.* Yugi thought as he shrugged and prepared to go on his way. But, upon hearing that particular name in Yugi's mind, Yami immediately stirred.
//Aibou, did you say Bakura's in there?//
/Yes. And I was right, you are paranoid!/ Yugi replied with a giggle as he stepped back for a better view, which was rather difficult seeing how the most windows were steamed over. Yugi managed however to find a clear line of sight. /Let's see, in a jacuzzi with one,two...no, three women who are feeding him what looks like grapes and a glass of wine or champagne. Why are you so interested in Bakura's business?/ Yugi teased.
//Oh. No matter.// Yami blandly replied.
Yugi chuckled. It WAS a matter. The pharaoh was a terrible liar! Yugi continued on his way towards the game room. /You're jealous!/ Yugi teased.
//Am most assuredly not!//
/Oh yes you are. Bakura's being treated like a king in there!/
The thought of the term 'king' with the name Bakura in the same sentence immediately sent venom into the pharaoh's voice. //He's NO king.// Yami sternly corrected.
/Sorry Yami, my bad./ Yugi half giggled
//It's not funny aibou.//
/Yes Yami, it is./
Yami said nothing, sometimes even Yugi could be an unsupportive annoyance.
After hearing nothing but silence for many seconds, Yugi figured the spirit had returned to whatever it was he was doing (likely pouting in his soul room) before Yugi mentioned the thief's name. So, he continued onward to the game room.
On the slopes...
Joey slowly wedged downward, fighting his own legs that wished to go in opposite directions. Tristan, not wanted to be left alone, followed suit. Eventually they reached the other skier.
"Took you two long enough." the other skier mocked.
"What are YOU doing here?"
The other skier looked at his skis and poles. "I guess I'm skiing. What are you doing here?"
Joey growled. He hated when people stated the obvious. "I'm not that dumb."
"I hadn't noticed."
Tristan nudged forward in case he had to restrain his friend, but it turned out the skis on Joey's feet did that for him. As Joey's hand balled into a fist with ski pole still attached, his feet forgot they were attached to two long boards.
"Uh, Joey?" the other skier said with a little concern in his voice. He enjoyed riling two, especially Joey, but they were also friends.
It was too late. Joey tried to launch, failed completely and ended up spread eagle on the cold snow.
"Uh Joey...I don't think getting intimate with the trail is going to make you a better skier." Tristan laughed. The other skier joined him. Joey was indeed in a rather compromising (and uncomfortable) position.
"Ha Ha. Not funny. Now help me outta this mess!" Joey exclaimed as he suddenly realized he could do little on his own.
"It's simple Joey. Push back with your arms. Wedge yourself up, upper body first."
"Easy for you to say. That'll put me in a split."
"You have little choice. The grade of the hill and direction of your fall gives you little option as to how to position yourself." the experienced skier commented.
"That's gonna hurt." Tristan threw in.
"No shit Sherlock." Joey spat back.
"After this I guess you won't be getting lucky with a lady anytime soon. Well, more for me." Tristan taunted.
"Hey Tris--"
"Yeah?"
"I'd start skiing if I were you. You'll need a head start. Because once I'm outta this mess, I'm gonna---"
"Okay, now let's not get that far you two." the other skier interrupted. He really didn't want to see a cat brawl with two doofballs in the middle of a sport both sucked at.
After several very long minutes and wincing pain, Joey eventually righted himself and stood. Brushing snow off himself, he quickly returned to his original question to the skier. "Exactly why are you here again and don't you dare give me that skiing answer again."
"The archaeological convention. My sister's a speaker. I don't wish to get in her way and I find the subject a bit repetitive due to my upbringing so I decided to take in the sights and sounds of the rest of this place."
"Well that explains part of it."
"Just part?"
"How'd you learn to ski like that?"
"Oh, that...heheh, well, funniest thing happened on my wanderings through the desert one day..."
"Ha Ha."
"My sister has been doing a lot of speeches and lectures in Europe. I had to find things to do. I kept seeing people walking about carrying long boards. I asked one about it, he described the sport as skiing and told me where to go to experience it and well, that was it...I was hooked."
"I guess we can believe you. But I gotta ask...if you were looking for something to do, why not sample all the varieties of women in Europe? It's always something I've wanted to do, but I know I'll never tour Europe so..." Joey trailed.
"Sis had a VERY strict rule...under no circumstances was I to engage in intimate relations with the local females. Punishment for such would've meant castration for me."
"But then your line would die out wouldn't it?"
"Sis says that since the pharaoh is awake now, our line has technically been released of its duties. There would be no need for an 'heir.' Therefore, my private parts can come under threat."
Joey and Tristan cringed. "You've got a mean sis there." Joey replied.
"Nah, just an overly protective one who knows how to control a male."
"She'd be perfect for Kaiba!" Joey squealed.
"You should tell the pharaoh about your sis's potential punishments. I bet Yami would find it fascinating that your private parts are no longer of use thanks to his resurrection." Tristan added.
"Yami, err, Yugi's here?"
"Yeah, we're all here. Tea's with Rebecca, somewhere doing whatever girls do. Yugi and Ryou went off somewhere together, though they were Yami and Bakura when we saw them leave." Joey continued.
"The thief with the pharaoh!? You sure that was wise?"
"No, but this way they can work out the tension and whatever else is up their butts without the rest of us getting into trouble with them."
"This I've gotta see. Mind if I hang with all of you?"
"You willing to teach Tris and I the finer points of this sport?"
"Sure."
"Then it's a deal."
Meanwhile, Yugi, having bested several games now, was growing bored. He yawned and headed for the hotel room. Once there, Yami quickly summoned the boy. //Aibou?//
/Yes Yami?/
//Would you like to switch?//
/Very much. Otherwise, I might do something we'd both regret...listen to speeches in that convention./
//Yes. It is best we switch then. I will save us both from unnecessary torment and boredom!// Yami hailed in heroic fashion.
Both boys got a laugh out of that.
Concentrating once again, the two boys switched places. Yami looked about for a moment, but he knew his plan of action. He grabbed the heavy ski jacket, goggles, and gloves and headed for the pool area.
"Bakura, your presence is requested." Yami commanded flatly.
"Request denied." Bakura smirked back. He saw the winter gear the pharaoh was carrying. There was no way he would give up his toasty soaking for cold, wet snow again.
"Let me put it another way. It's not a request. It's an order."
"From whom?" Bakura asked in sarcastic innocence. He knew Yami couldn't say 'king' in front of others. But even if he had, Bakura had never followed the orders of a pharaoh before and he wasn't about to start now.
Yami ignored him and went to phase two. "Hello ladies, excuse my intrusion, but this man is a thief. Perhaps I shall inform your parents that you are in the company of a thief and scoundrel?"
Bakura spat the wine he'd just put into his mouth. "Is there something wrong with your eyes Yami!? These are women, not girls. They even have wine!"
Yami shook his head. "They are wealthy girls, high school age. They 'borrowed' the wine from their parents' stash, correct?" Yami asked the ladies within the jacuzzi.
Slowly they nodded.
Yami then returned his gaze upon the tomb robber. "Slopes, NOW." he demanded.
Bakura lept out of the jacuzzi. He was famaliar with the modern day rules about fraternizing with minors. He wanted proof of Yami's claim, especially since if the ancient ruler was correct, the thief would end up dragged back into the cold. Yami showed Bakura one of the girls' ID cards he noticed on the table as he entered. It was a high school id from some prestigious private school. Bakura muttered a string of ancient Egyptian curse words before responding to the debate winner. He stood side by side to the former pharaoh and spoke into his ear so that the ladies could not hear their conversation. "Fine king, have it your way. Allow me to return to my room to get warmer attire." he muttered softly as he picked up his clothing and wrapped a towel about himself. Yami's grin was like that of the cheshire cat.
pharaoh-4 thief-2
Yami followed the tomb robber back to his room. He didn't trust the thief afterall.
"Must you follow me like some lost puppy?"
"You have that reversed. I am not whining like you are."
"Tsch!" Bakura spat as he entered his room, got his warmer attire, and headed back out of the room...with Yami in tow.
As they exited the elevator on the main floor, they ran into Rebecca and Tea who were just about to go into them.
"Well hello you two. Still alive eh?" Tea joked.
"Say your last words to the pharaoh here because he won't be coming back after this."
"Now, now. Play nice you two." Tea said, ignoring the thief's threats.
Yami yanked the thief away without a word.
"Are they going to be okay?" Rebecca asked as she watched the two depart. She was concerned for Yugi.
"Don't worry. Yami won't let anything get out of hand. He may hate the thief, but he plays by a specific set of rules. He won't let the thief cross them either. He's also very protective of Yugi. No harm will come to them. And Bakura needs Ryou so he'll also keep in check. It's all one big game of 'one-up'"
"How can you be so sure? They seem like they are at each other's throats."
"It's all show."
"Like in the wild, males sizing each other up for a domination match?"
"Something like that. Like you said Rebecca, men and penises."
"Who would've thought those two would stoop to such a level though."
"Not getting laid for over 3000 years probably does something to a guy. Besides, they're still young, virile males influenced by the hormones of the bodies they share with Yugi and Ryou. They're gonna compete whether they are aware of it or not." Tea joked as the two ladies giggled.
Yami led Bakura to the ticket counter where the two acquired lift tickets and rental coupons.
"You're kidding!" Bakura moaned as Yami handed him a lift ticket and rental coupon.
"Well, this is a ski resort. We may as well see who will master this sport first." Yami remarked as they walked towards the rental shop to get their equipment. In moments they were outdoors preparing to hit the slopes. Bakura was the first to get his ski boots on. He then tried to take a step...he fell flat on his face! Yami broke out laughing before he realized that he was in the same situation. The boots were stiff and prevented any motion of one's ankles.
"What is the meaning of this!?" Bakura hissed as he tried to figure out the boots. "These are boots right? Why can't I walk?"
"Stiff. Apparently a necessity in this sport. Limited lower leg movement must enhance the performance of the skis."
"Damn things." Bakura said as he crawled to his skis. He stood and clipped the boots into the skis.
Yami did the same. He slid the skis back and forth a couple of times to get a feel for them. It seemed easy enough.
"Fine, let's go." Bakura said as he grabbed his poles and looked at the pharaoh. He'd let the pharaoh make the first move in case there was yet another embarrassment to be had.
"Uh, right." Yami jabbed the poles in the snow, but forward motion seemed difficult. "These skis are designed for downhill. So, how are we supposed to move on flat?" Yami pondered as he realized that the stiff boots being locked into the skis gave no motion whatsoever.
Two little kids skated by on their skies.
"Apparently that is how." Bakura said as he watched the two boys head for the chairlift.
"You first thief." Yami smirked.
"You're the king. You go first oh mighty highness." Bakura shot back.
Yami growled. There were times he hated being reminded of that.
to be continued...