Author's Notes: Yay, another chapter! So far this has been my favourite just cuz there's a band in it. So, I hope you like it too. Ta.
Disclaimer: I don't own Yu-Gi-Oh!
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"You wanna go see a band tonight?"
Yami turned to Joey, who was lying on Marik's old bed. "What band?"
The blonde rolled onto his side. "White Dragon."
"White Dragon?" Yami repeated, snorting. "Kind of stupid name, don't you think?"
"Yeah, but Daren says they're really good," said Joey. "Devon says they sound sort of like Nirvana."
Yami shuddered, remembering the last time he had met those two. Daren was ok at times, but his little sister Devon was a monster. She was fourteen, loud, opinionated and obsessive. When she wanted something she'd take it, and for Yami that had meant the worst summer of his life. But he did have to admit that Devon had impeccable taste in music. In fact, his taste had been derived from hers.
"Will Devon be there?" Yami asked fearfully.
"It's her new favourite band," replied Joey. "What wrong? I thought you like Devon?"
Yami laughed. "Not even a bit."
"Well, I'm sure ya won't see her," said the blonde, trying to reassure his friend. "So are you comin?"
"I don't think I will," replied Yami. He really was in no mood to deal with that insane asylum.
"Oh c'mon Yami!" Joey said, getting up and standing over his friend. "You bin really miserable ever since ya got back. When are ya gonna have any fun?"
Yami turned away. It's true, he had been miserable since he had gotten back. More precisely, ever since he had seen Yugi with that girl. Téa. Yami cursed her name, her annoying nature. Maybe Joey was right. He really should be having fun right now, not moping around. He should be out celebrating his liberation from his roommates. Reluctantly, he agreed to go to the show.
"Alright! I'll meet ya here at seven," Joey said, clapping Yami on the shoulder before exiting. "Now I gotta go see if his highness wants ta go."
Yami laughed at Joey's nickname for Kaiba, though he didn't quite know why the blonde was going to invite him along, especially since Seto would just decline. The brunette was a total jerk, none would agree more with this than Joey, but for some reason the blonde still tried to be his friend, or get along with him. Yami had given up on Seto after their second year in the school, but Joey was still at it.
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"Well twist my nipples and tickle me pink!"
Yami heard the voice he had so dreaded hearing: Devon. He turned around slowly to find her face right next to his, their eyes perfectly level. Yami always found his height embarrassing; everyone was either taller or the same height as him.
"Hey Devon," he said, willing her away with his mind. It didn't work. It never did.
"You don't seem very happy to see me," she said, laughing.
"What was your first clue?" Yami muttered under his breath. Luckily, she didn't hear, or pretended not to. Fights with Devon were not something you wanted, or something you could win. She knew a lot and never gave up, and as for physical fights, - she was unnaturally strong for her height and weight and had been learning martial arts since she was four.
"You like White Dragon?" She asked loudly, trying to make her voice heard above the noise. However, as was custom for Devon, she underestimated the volume of her voice and ended up shouting so loud that Yami flinched and the people around them turned their heads.
"It'll be the first time I'm hearing them," Yami replied, wishing that Joey would come back. He and Daren had gone off to see if they could get some drinks and sneak them into the show.
"You're gonna love them!" She cried again, once more causing heads to turn. "They sound like Nirvana!"
"So I've heard," Yami muttered. This she did hear.
"Great," she said. "But you don't have to be so snippy with me. How was I to know that you knew what they sounded like?"
Yami said nothing. It was true; there really was no way she could know. He checked his watch. It was passed nine, and the show hadn't started yet. Apparently the lead singer hadn't shown up yet, but the managers kept saying that he was on his way. Yami was beginning to think it was going to be a no-show.
"Hey, we're back!" Joey said, pushing his way beside Yami. Daren came seconds later, standing beside Devon on the other side. Daren handed Yami a beer.
"Just something to pass the time," he winked. Yami took the drink, though he had no intentions of drinking it. The spiky-haired teen had always had bad experiences with alcohol, especially when Daren and Devon were involved. "Drink up, lad."
Yami opened it, aware of the eyes on him. He didn't want to drink the beer, but he knew that if he refused Daren would never let him live it down. He took a sip.
"Come on, more than that!" Daren prompted. Yami took another sip, then a swig. "There you go!"
Yami swallowed, grimacing. Beer was such a vile beverage. Daren smiled, satisfied. He handed a beer to Devon. Yami's eyes widened.
"She's fourteen!"
"What's you point?" Daren said, taking a swig of his own beer. "She'll be fine."
"Yeh, quit bein a wet blanket," Joey said, opening his own beer. Yami growled. He really hated it when Joey was around Daren; he always wanted to impress him.
"This band had better be good," Yami grumbled.
"They are," Devon assured him.
All of a sudden the lights dimmed, casting the room into darkness. Cries arose from the audience, though none screamed louder than Devon. The show was about to begin. A sole pillar of light shone down onto the stage, illuminating one person, someone who Yami guessed was the lead singer. The man was tall, with dark chestnut hair, his head bent so Yami couldn't see his face. He wore a long black coat, black top and pants. He was with adorned numerous chains around his ankles, wrists, waist, and neck. He looked amazing.
Soon other spotlights shone down on the stage, illuminating the other members of the band: two guitarists and a drummer. The crowd cheered louder as the lead singer reached for his microphone without looking up. He drew it close to him and the audience fell silent, waiting for the first note.
Yami couldn't quell the excitement he felt in him. This was going to be amazing! He also found it amazing that for the first time since he had met Devon, she was silent. He almost laughed, but refrained. The band had started.
The guitarists played a low, haunting tune, and Yami felt the eeriness of it wash over him. It was a strange sensation. Now the drummer joined in, hitting the bass drum every five beats, creating a pulse. Soon the rhythm became more rapid and the drummer started hitting the other drums, and then the symbols. Yami couldn't help but move his head in rhythm with the beat. But the tall one hadn't started singing yet, and if it was anything like the ghostly tune the others were playing, then Yami was sure it would be amazing.
Then the music died off, and only one guitarist played. The spotlight on the lead singer grew as the other lights disappeared, casting the rest of the band into darkness. The man had lifted his head slightly, but his eyes were still dark and invisible beneath the shadow. All Yami could see was his mouth. He was about to sing.
The first note rented the still air, casting everyone into a dazed reverie. The next notes came swiftly, creating a deep melody. The man's voice was similar to Kurt Cobain's, but a tad gruffer. He was singing slowly, lulling everyone into a trance. While he sang the other members joined in, playing their haunting tune softly. Then the drummer pounded on his drums and the guitarists slammed on their guitars, drowning out all sounds. The cries of the audience were barely audible above the music. Then the singer came in again.
His voice was much louder, angrier, raw. He had both hands cupped around the microphone stand, his long legs two feet from the stand, and he was screaming into it. The chorus ended soon, and the band returned to their passive stage. Yami's heart was racing. This was amazing! The music quickened, increased in volume, and soon the singer was screaming into his microphone again.
He had removed the microphone from the stand, and was moving around the stage, still screaming into it. He moved to the end of the stage, knees bent, arm out over the crowd. The people swarmed around the arm, feeling him. Devon was one of them. She pushed through the crowd, dragging Yami along with her. The spiky-haired teen was feet away from the singer and he could make out the details on the man's face.
He had fair skin, though it was now glistening with sweat. Almost an absence of an upper lip, but still beautiful with a gothic sort of appeal. Yami was sure he had seen this man before. But where? Then it hit him. He gasped.
"K-Kaiba!"
The singer didn't notice Yami and kept the performance going. Yami couldn't believe it. Kaiba, in a band! What this even possible? He had had no idea that the brunette could sing, or even do an amazing performance like this one. Seto had always been such a stiff! But he was in a band! And how had he not seen it before? How had he not noticed that it was Kaiba singing?
"I have to tell Joey," Yami said softly, hardly keeping in a laugh. Devon noticed him leaving.
"Hey, where are you going?" She cried, grabbing Yami by the arm. He shook her off.
"I have to tell Joey something," he said. "I'll be back."
He was lying though; he had no intentions of coming back. But she seemed to buy it, or didn't care, and went back to cheering for the band.
Yami couldn't find Joey or Daren, and this worried him. Daren often had insane ideas, and he was afraid that he convinced Joey to partake in said idea. But luckily as the last song was being played he caught sight of them in the corner, unharmed. He pushed his way towards them.
"Hey Yami!" Joey yelled, seeing his friend approaching. He was obviously drunk, swaying back and forth. Daren had been drinking too, but he wasn't yet drunk.
"How much did you drink?" Yami exclaimed, catching the blonde before he fell. Daren came closer, a big doofish grin on his face. "Both of you?"
"Not much," Daren replied. His speech wasn't garbled, which was a good thing. But Joey didn't look so good.
"C'mon, I'm taking you home," Yami muttered, wrapping his arms around Joey to keep him from falling. He turned to Daren. "Can you go get Devon?"
"What's the big hurry?" Daren smirked arrogantly.
"Please, I'm taking Joey home now," Yami pleaded.
"Why? He's fine!"
"Look at him! He's almost passed out!" Yami yelled, gaining himself a few stares. He sighed. "You know what? Stay here! But I'm taking Joey home."
Daren's eyes widened. "But you can't do that! You're the ride! How are we gonna get home?"
"You're a smart guy, figure it out!" Yami sneered, turning around and dragging Joey with him. Daren growled and chased after Yami.
"Wait! Go put him in the car, I'll go get Devon," he said angrily. "God, you're such a bitch."
"Whatever," Yami muttered, dragging Joey away as Daren searched for his sister.
It was as crowded outside as it was inside, even worse actually. By now most of the people were drunk or high, or both. Yami pushed his way through the crowd, but finding it very hard to do so, especially with Joey in his arms. He eventually made it to his car, exhausted. He put his hand in his pocket, searching for his keys. His heart stopped when he found that they weren't there. He propped Joey against the car, searching through all his other pockets for the keys. No good.
"Shit! Shit!" He exclaimed. He looked up at the sky. "Why do you hate me?"
"Cuz you're a bitch!"
Yami turned to see Devon and Daren. Both looked pissed. Especially Devon.
"I was going to meet the band, you bitch!" Devon cried. Yami couldn't help but that think that that had been his third time that night being called a bitch. He was beginning to believe it. "How many times do you get to meet a band?"
"I take it not often?"
"You're damn right it's not often!" She yelled.
"Please, let's just go home," Yami said, forgetting he didn't have the keys.
"No! I hate you!" She screamed.
"And you won't be going anywhere without these," Daren said, taking out some keys and jingling them right in Yami's face.
"My keys! Give them to me!" He cried, reaching for them. "Where did you find them?"
"You dropped them back inside. You're lucky Devon was there to pick them up." Daren replied, keeping the keys out of Yami's grasp. "Now you owe her."
Yami sighed. "Would it help if I knew the band?"
"You don't know the band," Daren said disbelievingly.
"I know the lead singer," Yami replied. Devon's eyes brightened. "If I could get him to speak to Devon, will you give me the keys back?"
Daren turned to Devon, who nodded. "Alright," he said. "But if you don't deliver I'll break your legs. And I'm not joking."
Yami nodded, taking the keys back from Daren. He unlocked the car, opened the back door and shoved Joey onto the seats and then proceeded to the driver's side. Devon hopped in the front seat, leaving Daren to push Joey's legs off the back seat so he could sit. Yami started the car.
Note to self: never go anywhere with these two again.
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End Notes: And so ends another chapter. Ahaha. Anyway, Marik and Bakura will be back at some point, but I haven't yet decided when. But they'll be back. So, please review and I'll have another chapter up as soon as I feel like it.