TL: Blargh. This was hard to write, but I wanted to make up for my disappearance, so all I have to say is… YOU'D BETTER ENJOY THIS!!
Jou: Sorry, she's a little cranky now because she's worried she'll miss the Edward Elric Show.
TL: I've got a thing for blondes. I know it's sad. But now—Read on!
Yami rested quietly in the privacy of his Puzzle, mulling again. You could probably pour apple cider from his brain after so much mulling. But still he continued onward. This time he worried not only about Yuugi's social life, but his own. Yuugi was his aibou—he was supposed to be protective of him in return for the occasional use of his body, but these thoughts were unrelated to that matter completely. Also probably illegal.
But he couldn't deny he enjoyed them. They were like…what were they called now…"guilty pleasures". The guilty part was the main issue here. There was no doubt, Yami cared for his innocent little aibou, which was exactly why he had refused to allow the images that appeared in his head.
Yuugi was beautiful in Yami's eyes: his pure body, his small frame, his trusting eyes and his quick smiles. But beyond that was Yuugi's innocence, a factor of Yuugi's personality that was so foreign to Yami as to be fascinating. Yami and his hikari really were two opposite halves to a whole, a light and a dark. And what does the darkness desire but light to give it life?
"Yami. Pharaoh."
"Um, yes?"
Sugoroku stared him down from across the table. "It's been nearly a week. Granted, you have gotten better at imitating Yuugi's voice, but something really needs to be done about this."
"I agree." Yami looked nervously from side to side.
"Thus," he continued, "I think it's time for you to take responsibility for your charge's state and try to find a solution."
Yami swallowed. This sounded like unpleasant work.
"In other words… Go find the pendant!"
"Oh, yes. Right, I'll go get Yuugi and we'll go looking." Sugoroku looked smug as Yami dashed downstairs with an excited dog at his heels. The old man could be quite intimidating when he so desired.
Yami approached the amusement park gates, Yuugi tugging at his leash and falling in circles trying to bite it. One of the two guards looked up with a dull expression and pointed at the tumbling dog. "Sorry, we don't allow dogs in the park," he said automatically and without feeling. Yami continued to walk through the gates, reaching into his pocket for the entrance fee (Sugoroku had lent him the money). "Excuse me, sir, but we can't let you go in," the guard continued, with a bit more urgency. "Excuse me—are you listening—" Yami put the money on the counter and hopped smoothly over the turnstile, fumbling with Yuugi's leash to pull it under, and paying no attention to the protesting guard or stunned gate attendant. He walked away nonchalantly, Yuugi bouncing at his heels.
"That went well, I thought," he remarked idly to his friend. Yuugi panted in reply. "I learned it from some people in the TV. Although they usually had a long black coat on, or one of those horrible guns you modern-day humans like so much." Yuugi continued to pant.
Not exactly to Yami's surprise, Yuugi's helpful nose led them straight to the lost-and-found booth. A request of the attendant produced a large tray of lost jewelry and watches, producing a blinding shimmer in the spring sun. Yami poked through the tray, looking for a hint of tarnished bronze, but to no avail. Discouraged, Yami left the park after being severely upbraided by park security and banned from the property for some long amount of time.
"Thanks for nothing, Yuugi," grumbled Yami, disgruntled by the unpleasant meeting. The dog looked guilty and nuzzled Yami's ankle. He could see the apology in Yuugi's eyes. "Sorry, I'm just disappointed. I shouldn't blame it on y—hold on." He broke off and rose from the couch where he had crashed upon return to Kame. "I'm going to the museum," he announced, and left the shop with a determined expression set across his features.
It was late in the day, but the Egyptian exhibit hadn't quite closed yet. Yami scanned the exhibits, showroom after showroom, but there was no metalwork resembling the dog pendant. Greatly discouraged, Yami decided to look in the gift shop for a bookmark or small trinket to make the trip worthwhile. It was here that he saw the horrid pendant, tied on a different leather thong and under the glass case at the checkout. Yami gaped, groped for his money, and compared. He had a substantial 3000 yen left, but the price tag read four times as much. Sugoroku would gladly lend him more money—gladly meaning not too reluctantly and with only a week of the evil eye, but… Yami groaned. He had a lot more walking to do.
TL: Filler/cliffhanger. No wonder I didn't feel like writing it. Ah well, it's there and it's coherent and it will link the last chapter with the next one. That's all that really matters right now…
