Disclaimer: I don't own Yu-Gi-Oh! Or any of the songs I used/will use. Everything you don't recognize as belonging to someone else, belongs to me.
Um...sorry this took so long...it turned out 9356 words for just this half of the chapter. Please read and enjoy!
Thanks for the reviews from:
Kiyama Mae Kawakami
CharmedBookworm
Quest of the Dragon
And anyone who wishes to yell at me for the wait has my full permission! I'M SO SORRY!
Last timeJake was the first to speak up, "Well, since we had to cut dancing short last week, how 'bout we try something else. We could go to one of the karaoke bars and rent a room for just the seven of us. How does that sound?"
After a moment everyone nodded. The rest of the morning they spent getting ready to go after Yugi made reservations at the only bar that wasn't completely booked. And the only reason he got that was because the guy working there recognized his name (he was famous because of his win in Battle City, Duelist Kingdom, and in various other matches) and immediately booked the last room. As much as he hated the attention he got because of it, being well known did have its advantages at times.
That afternoon they headed out. For tonight they were going to be just regular people looking for a good time.
On with the story...
It was a quarter after six before they arrived at the "Starry Night Karaoke Bar." As soon as they went inside, they were immediately led back to one of the bigger rooms
"Wow," Jake said as they stepped into the room and looked around. All the others had to agree. While they had seen fancier places, they had to admit that this room was really good, especially since they'd only reserved the room that afternoon. The room was painted a royal blue color with silver swirls painted all over the walls at random spots. The karaoke machine stood on a platform directly across from the stage with the microphone was standing right in the center. They also saw some extra microphones sitting beside the karaoke machine, six extras to be exact.
"If you need anything else, just push this button," the guy who led them back gestured to the red button beside a set of light switches. After he saw them nod and took their first orders, he left the room, closing the door behind.
After a moment of silence Jake grinned and shouted, "I'M GOING FIRST!" And everyone else was very glad that the room was made so no one outside the room could hear them, otherwise Jake could easily get them kicked out with how loud he was.
Jake quickly ran up to the stage and over to the song selector. Jason, Derek, Damien, Selene, Yugi, and Yami all sat down on the half-circle couch.
After clicking the buttons for a few minutes Jake's face spit into a grin and hit one more button before moving to the center of the stage. Jason quickly moved to the light switches and managed to turn down all but the stage light.
Jake grinned, silver-blue eyes glinting with humor, and said into the microphone as he picked it up, "I would like to dedicate this song to our dear, dear friend, Adam Mutou." A moment later and music started, and Jake sang along with the lyrics.
"Since you've been goneWell I feel like I've been chewing on tinfoil
Since you've been gone
It's like I got a great big mouthful of cod-liver oil
Well, I'm feeling like I stuck my hand inside a blender and turned it on
You know I've been in a butt load of pain
Since you've been gone"Jason, Derek, Damien, Yugi, and Yami all looked at each other in confusion. This song almost made it sound like he missed Adam, but judging from Jake's grin and the fact that Selene was trying to stifle her laughter, that wouldn't be the case.
Selene, for her part, had heard him playing this song a few times when she'd had to go drag him from his room because he'd been late for training. She also wasn't going to spoil the surprise for the others.
"(Since you've been gone)I couldn't feel worse if you dropped A two-ton bowling ball on my toes
(Since you've been gone)
It couldn't hurt worse if you shoved a red-hot cactus up my nose"Jake, himself, was having a hard time not bursting out in laughter at the sight of all his friends', minus Selene's, confused faces at the lyrics of the song he'd chosen, and Selene's bottled laughter was funny enough in itself because that was a sight rarely seen with her. That was the whole reason he'd chosen this song. It was definitely one of his favorites by Weird Al.
"Since you've been goneWell, it feels like I'm getting
Tetanus shots everyday
Since you've been gone
It's like I've got an ice cream headache
That won't go away
Ever since the day you left me
I've been so miserable my dear
I feel almost as bad as I did
When you were still here!"At that, the whole room burst into laughter. Selene and Jake finally letting go of the hysterics they'd been holding in and everyone else because they finally knew why Jake had chosen that particular song to dedicate to Yugi's 'father.'
"That was brilliant," Selene gasped out between laughs, wiping tears of laughter from her emerald eyes. "That was the perfect song Jake."
Jake, having finally gotten over his hysterics, said while jumping off the slightly raised platform, "I know. I am a genius." His jokingly pompous air just caused those who'd gotten some degree of control over their laughter to lose it immediately, and his indignant and hurt expression at their laughter didn't help the matter at all.
The thing that finally got their attention was a knocking on the door. Jake, being the only one not laughing every few seconds, went to open it and came back around the couch with their drinks.
"Okay, who's next?' Jake said, picking up his Coke.
"I'll go next," Derek said, light brown face out of his face. He stood up and walked to the stage. He grinned as he flipped through the list of songs, and finally he saw one he really liked, he'd heard it on the radio once and had been sure to get the name of the song. It had fit Jake perfectly.
Derek hit the select button and moved over to the microphone. As the guitar music he recognized from the beginning of the song started up he said, "I would like to dedicate this to someone we all know and get annoyed with...Jake."
"All day staring at the ceilingMaking friends with shadows on my wall
All night hearing voices tell me
That I should get some sleep
Because tomorrow might be good for something
Hold on
Feeling like I'm headed for a breakdown
And I don't know why"Everyone but Jake immediately started to snicker quietly. Much as he wasn't that crazy, they knew that it was hilariously like something Jake would do just to freak someone out.
"But I'm not crazy, I'm just a little unwellI know right now you can't tell
But stay a while and maybe then you'll see
A different side of me
I'm not crazy, I'm just a little impaired
I know right now you don't care
But soon enough you're gonna think of me
And how I used to be...me"Jake looked indignant to the jab at his sanity, but it was all for show. He knew exactly what they were talking about, even he knew he went a little crazy at times. How else could you classify toying with his dagger earring like he wanted to throw it at the source of his irritation when he was pissed off?
"I'm talking to myself in public
Dodging glances on the train
And I know, I know they've all been talking about me
I can hear them whisper
And it makes me think there must be something wrong with me
Out of all the ours thinking
Somehow, I've lost my mind"With that verse, a certain memory came to the forefront of everyone's mind. It was when the Venators had visited Yami and Yugi and they'd all gone to the mall. Selene, knowing it would prove to be amusing, had dared Jake to act like he was talking to someone that wasn't there in the middle of the crowded mall, and he had to do so loudly. Jake, being Jake, had accepted that dare.
One woman in particular had actually taken out her cell phone and had started to dial the number of, presumably, the nearest hospital, when Yugi had intervened, telling her that their friend was already on medication and been released for the day. The woman had given the laughing teenagers an indignant and horrified look before walking away in a huff.
"But I'm not crazy, I'm just a little unwell
I know right now you can't tell
But stay a while and maybe then you'll see
A different side of me
I'm not crazy, I'm just a little impaired
I know right now you don't care
But soon enough you're gonna think of me
And how I used to be
I've been talking in my sleep
Pretty soon they'll come to get me
Yeah, they're taking me away"
Another time, Jake had done the same thing at a bookstore, but no one had seen the person who'd called the hospital. They'd spent hours that day trying to convince the doctors that they were playing and that Jake wasn't, in all actuality, certifiable. Though afterwards they'd all expressed their doubts to Jake about that.
"But I'm not crazy, I'm just a little unwell
I know right now you can't tell
But stay a while and maybe then you'll see
A different side of me
I'm not crazy, I'm just a little impaired
I know right now you don't care
But soon enough you're gonna think of me
And how I used to be
Yeah, how I used to be
How I used to be
Well, I'm just a little unwell
How I used to be
How I used to be
I'm just a little unwell!"
Everyone burst out laughing as the song ended. Even Jake couldn't help it even though the song had been sung to make fun of his past antics. Given the chance, he'd do the same to anyone of the others.
After a few moments, they managed to get a relatively decent hold on themselves and Derek put the microphone down before heading over to the couch where they were all sitting.
"Well then," Derek said, taking on an impatient tone that sounded nothing like him, "who would like to grace us with their singing voice now?"
Everyone laughed for a moment and Derek took that time to take a sip of the Dr. Pepper he'd ordered. He had a strange feeling that he would be going up again very soon.
Jake suddenly grinned. He ran up to the stage and scrolled down to a song he knew would be perfect for what he had in mind. Before selecting the song, he ran over to the speakers and plugged in two more of the microphones and dragged them over to the center with the third. Then he ran off stage and grabbed the startled Jason by the arm while saying, "C'mon, you're coming up with me."
Despite many protests on the blonde's part, he was still dragged up on stage and a microphone was forced into his hand. Everyone else, meanwhile, was laughing at the amber-eyed boy's misfortune. That is, Derek was laughing until Jake came up to him and dragged him up on stage as well, stuffing a microphone in his hand in the same manner he'd done to Jason just moments ago. Jake finally took up the third mike and said while moving near the machine so he could hit the start button.
"We will now sing a very odd edition of 'Another One Rides the Bus,'" and hit the start button. Immediately the music started and he moved back to his place between the shocked Jason and Derek. Jake started singing to the first verse.
"Riding in a bus down the boulevard,
And the place was pretty packed
Couldn't find a seat, so I had to stand
With the perverts in the back
It was smelling like a locker room
There was junk all over the floor
We're already packed in like sardines
But we're stopping to pick up more
Look out!"
Jake nudged both Derek and Jason as he was singing and this seemed to get them out of their shock because they joined in at the next part, just like he'd planned.
"Another one rides the bus-ah
Another one rides the bus-ah
And another comes on
And another comes on
Another one rides the bus
Hey!
He's gonna sit by you
Another one rides the bus!"
Jake looked pointedly at Damien as they sang together and he got the silent message. He was singing the next verse.
Everyone else, meanwhile, was still stifling snickers at the fact that Jake, who was smaller than either of his two lovers, but he'd managed to drag both up on stage without any trouble.
"There's a suitcase pocking me in the ribs
There's an elbow in my ear
There's a smelly old bum sitting next to me
Hasn't showered in a year
Well, I think I'm missing a contact lens
I think my wallet is gone
And I think this bus it stopping again
To let a couple more freaks get on
Look out!"
As Derek finished his verse, all three prepared to sing the next part. It was a silent agreement that Jason would sing the last part.
The song also brought back memories of when they'd all been crammed into a bus while visiting Yugi. All seven, Yugi and Yami included, had wanted to go to the movies and the nearest movie theatre that showed what they wanted to see was playing across town. They, being the brilliant people they were, had decided to ride the bus. After all, how bad could the public transportation be here? Obviously a lot worse than they'd anticipated. They'd all been forced to the back of the bus because all the seats were taken. Unfortunately, they'd gotten on a bus that hadn't been cleaned since gods only knew when. It had smelled like a mix of spoiled milk, a locker room, and, most disturbingly and disgustingly, a very faint trace of sex. They'd decided to walk home after that.
"Another one rides the bus-ah
Another one rides the bus-ah
And another comes on
And another comes on
Another one rides the bus-ah
Hey!
He's gonna sit by you
Another one rides the bus
Another one rides the bus-ah
Another one rides the bus-ow
Another one rides the bus-hey, hey
Another one rides the bus-hey-y-y-y!"
Selene smiled as she gazed up at the three lovers on the stage. They were all so different, but at times like this she could clearly see why they were together. They just seemed to fit despite looking and, at times, acting completely different.
Jason took a deep breath as he got ready to sing his verse. Mentally, he was cursing Jake for dragging him up here against his will.
"The window doesn't open, and the fan is broke
And my face is turning blue
I haven't been a crown like this
Since I went to see The Who
Well, I should've got off a couple miles ago
But I couldn't get to the door
There isn't any room for me to breath
Now we're gonna pick up more, yeah!"
All three of the men on the stage got ready as the last part came up, two mentally thanking the gods that Jake had, at the very least, chosen a song that they knew well.
"Another one rides the bus-ah
Another one rides the bus-ah
And another comes on
And another comes on
Another one rides the bus-ah
Hey!
He's gonna sit by you
Another one rides the bus!"
Everyone off stage clapped and laughed as the song finished and Jake took the hands of Jason and Derek before bowing deeply, causing the other two, who were taller than him, to bend down if they didn't want their arms to be pulled out of socket. Finally they all managed to get off stage, though Jake looked reluctant to allow the other two to do so. He'd obviously had fun dragging the two up on stage.
Jason and Derek both sat down, glaring good-naturedly at their partner. They would get him back later.
"Hey Jake!" Yugi yelled, jumping up and moving to the red head. He whispered quietly into Jake's ear. Jake's face immediately broke into a grin and he nodded. Yugi moved up on stage and unplugged one of the microphones and coiled up the wire while Jake moved over to the computer and started looking for the song that Yugi had suggested.
Meanwhile, someone had knocked on the door again and this time Selene got it. She took the four pizzas from the guy and closed the door again. They'd ordered one cheese pizza, a pepperoni pizza, a meat pizza with sausages and pepperonis, and an ultimate with everything but peppers and anchovies on it. She set it down as the music started. Yugi was the first to sing.
"Uh huh...extra cheese
Uh huh, uh huh...save a piece for me
Pizza party at your house
I went just to check it out
Nineteen extra larges
What a shame
No one came
Just us eating all alone
You said 'Take the pizza home'
'No sense letting all this go to waste'
So then I faced
Pizza all day
And everyday
This cheese around the clock
Is getting me blocked
And I sure don't care
For irregularity"
Jason and Damien nearly chocked on their own pizzas they were eating. Everyone started laughing because this song also reminded them of an instance when they'd been visiting Yami and Yugi and Jo had come over.
They had ordered cheese pizza that night for dinner, and all eight pizzas had gotten eaten, most by the black holes that made up Jo's and Jake's stomachs. Jake, fortunately, had remembered to take some stomach medicine right afterwards. Jo, though, hadn't. He had spent a few hours of the next day bent over the toilet seat because he'd eaten too much pizza to cope with the ice cream they'd eaten afterwards. Needless to say, Jo was more careful after that.
Jake grinned as he prepared to sing the next part with Yugi.
"Tell me
Why'd you have to go and make me so constipated?
'Cause right now I'd do anything just to get my bowels evacuated
In the bathroom...I sit and I wait and I strain
And I sweat and I clench and I feel the pain
Oh, should I take laxatives or have my colon irrigated?
No, no, no"
Yugi nodded at Jake as they finished the chorus. Jake was going to sing the next. He also planned a little surprise, it was perfect timing.
"I was feeling pretty down
'Till my girlfriend came around
We're just so alike in everyway
I gotta say
In fact, I just thought I might
Pop the question there that night
I was kissing her so tenderly
But woe is me
Who would've guessed
Her family crest
I'd suddenly spy
Tattooed on her tight
And son-of-a-gun
It's just like the one on me!"
As Jake sang the last line, he pulled down the right side of the collar on the red sleeve-less shirt he was wearing to reveal the sun wrapped around the moon tattoo that was tattooed on each of the Venators and Yugi right beneath the right collar bone. It was one way to distinguish friend from enemy. The tattoo was made of a special kind of ink that was created by the group Selene and everyone worked for. It made sure that no one could impersonate someone and try to sneak in.
Everyone cracked up at this. Each of the Venators had, at one point in time, made several cracks at the tattoos, Jake especially seemed to joke about those things.
Yugi and Jake prepared to sing the last part together. Since there were only three verses they would sing the third one together.
"Tell me
How was I supposed to know we were both related
Believe me, if I knew she was my cousin we never would've dated
What to do now? Should I go ahead and propose
And get hitched and have kids with eleven toes
And move to Alabama where that kind of thing is tolerated?
No, no, no, no, no, no, no
No, no, no, no, no, no, no
No, no, no, no, no"
Selene felt a faint flush appear on her face at the eleven toes comment, and everyone else just laughed. This was funny because it reminded them of one time when the Venators had dragged Yugi and Yami halfway around the world to visit Las Vegas a year ago. Jake, Damien, and Yugi had convinced them all to go to the local hypnotist. Jake had volunteered Selene to go up there. They had a 'Shake Your Booty' contest, had them act like dogs with the girl up on stage being the owners, and at one point had Selene counting her fingers and toes while she couldn't say the number five. She'd been teased afterwards and they even bought a video of the performance, but they backed off when Selene had casually mentioned some blackmail pictures she just happened to have several copies of, all stored in very safe locations. The humiliation of the video she could live with, especially with much more embarrassing pictures of the others posted all over the internet, handed out to all the people who also worked with the group, and shown in any other very visual way she could think of. Not that any of the others believed she would do that, they just didn't feel like teasing her anymore. That was all.
"I had so much on my mind
I thought maybe I'd unwind
Try out that new roller coater ride
And the guide
Said not to stand
But that's a demand
That I couldn't meet
I got on my feet
And stood up instead
And knocked off my head, you see
Tell me
Why'd I have to go and get myself decapitated?
This really is a major inconvenience, oh man, I really hate it
Such a drag, now...can't eat, I can't breath, I can't snore
I can't belch or yodel anymore
Can't spit or blow my nose or even read Sports Illustrated
Oh no
Why'd I have to go and get myself all mutilated? (yeah, yeah)
I gotta tell ya, life without a head kinda makes me irritated
What a bummer
Can't blink, I can't cough, I can't sneeze
But my neck is enjoying a pleasant breeze now
Haven't been the same since my head and I were separated
No, no, no!"
Jake and Yugi both bowed as they finished the song. Everyone clapped while laughing, clearly enjoying the song that referred to several very funny memories. Jake even commented on it.
"So," Jake said a grin threatening to split his face while he walked over to the fiery tempered girl, "what did you think of our song? I especially liked the bit about the guy getting married to his cousin. You know, and have kids with eleven toes?"
Selene's right eye twitched slightly and she glared before a very evil grin suddenly spread over her face. She stood up, pushed the now very scared Jake against the wall, and jammed her two inch heal, boot clad foot into his stomach, just enough to pin him there. Then she said while smiling in a very innocent yet very, very scary way, "I suggest you back off. Other wise I will personally remove this," she jammed the edge of her heal into his groin lightly for a second before moving back to his stomach, "with a blunt, wooden, splintery spoon. First," she leaned over to whisper so only the red head would hear, "I'll carve off your balls, and then I carve off you dick. After that, I'll lay you on a bed of red-hot needles that will slowly dig deeper and burn your flesh while I carve out your bowels with the spoon I used to castrate you," she moved her head back in said in her regular voice, "understand?' Jake nodded and she smiled before taking her foot off his stomach.
As she turned to walk away, Jake, who knew he would get killed for what he said next but thought it would be worth the pain, said, "You don't have to get mad at me just because you can't count."
Selene's whole body froze for a moment before she turned around and tackled him. The two wrestled for a moment before Selene managed to pin Jake face down on the ground. She was straddling his back and had him in a not yet tightened chokehold where her right arm was against the front of his neck and her left was across the back. Both hands holding the opposite arms' elbow so all she had to do was move her fists slightly and he wouldn't be able to breath, but she wouldn't kill him of course. Unfortunately for Jake, both of his arms were pinned under his body from where he'd attempted to protect his groin because he was afraid of Selene's very hard knee.
"You give up?" Selene asked, still not choking her teammate.
Jake nodded as best he could with his face shoved into the ground and his neck in the chokehold.
Selene released him from the chokehold she had on him and stood up while smiling. "Good," she said before moving back to sit on the couch. Jake stood up, a silly smile gracing his features. He'd gotten the exact reaction he'd been going for.
For the next twenty minutes, the all sat around and ate while discussing different memories that came to mind while the songs had been going on. It wasn't until Derek looked over at Jason and saw him finishing off his second Cherry Coke that a grin spread over the brown and scarlet-eyed man's face. That gave him inspiration for a song to sing, dedicated to Jason of course.
"What are you doing?" Yami asked as he watched the brunette stand up and head over to the song selector. Derek just threw a grin over his shoulder and climbed up onto the stage and scrolled up to the song he wanted, he'd seen it when he went after the song 'Unwell' earlier.
After finding the song, Derek moved to unplug one of the two microphones from the speakers and coiled up the cord. Then he took up the remaining microphone and moved over to the computer. Before he hit the button he said into the microphone, "This song shall be dedicated to our sometimes quite caffeine addicted friend, Jason!" And he hit the select button and the fast tempo music started immediately.
"Oh yeah...
Coming at ya...
I'm addicted to stress
That's the way that I get things done
If I'm not under pressure then I sleep too long
And I hang around like a bum
I think I'm going nowhere and that makes me nervous
Everybody's out to get me but I feel all right
Everybody's out to get me but I feel all right
Everybody's out to get me but I feel all right
Everybody's thinking 'bout me
It's the little things that get you
It's the little things that get you when you weren't paying attention
It's the little things that get you
It's the little things that get you when you weren't paying attention"Immediately everyone cracked up. Jake, who had been taking a swallow of his Coke at the time, even had some Coke start to come out of his mouth he was laughing so hard. Jason, however, just flushed slightly. He remembered exactly why Derek had dedicated this song to him.
"Trying to cut down on my caffeine consumption
So when I get up I just have one cup of coffee
And I like to have another cup of coffee with my breakfast
And on the way to work I like to get a cup of coffee
Like the kind of cup of coffee that you get with the donuts
But I never get the donut I just have the cup of coffee
And when I get to work I have a cup of coffee
Cause I like to have coffee when I'm talking on the phone
But it usually grows cold and I need to get another cup of coffeeAnd its lunch, and I have an espresso
And when I get back its not morning anymore so I haveA diet cola and another diet cola
But then I'm feeling fine and I'm feeling pretty sharp
And feeling pretty wired and I'm getting things done
But right about two I get this little tiny migraine
It starts behind my eyes and it moves to the back of my neck
And it moves to the bottom of my spine
But it doesn't get there until 5 or 6 o'clock
Which is the end of the day so I'm fine!
So I'm fine so I'm fine
Except when I have to work late when I have to work late
Which I usually do"
Jason loved to tinker with different things to find out how they worked, how to make them better, and how to use them for something completely different. As such he would, at times, rely solely on caffeine to keep himself up at night. That, as they all recalled (Yami knew because Yugi showed him the memory), could prove disastrous.
"I'm addicted to stress
That's the way that I get things done
If I'm not under pressure then I sleep too long
And I hang around like a bum
And I think I'm going nowhere and that makes me nervous
Everybody's out to get me, but I feel alright
Everybody's out to get me, but I feel alright
Everybody's out to get me, but I feel alright
Everybody's thinking about me!
((Talking to trumpet player))
Hey, how ya doing...
Looking good...
You been working out? Yeah I can tell...
Alright... see ya later..."
Jason had been up for three nights in a row once when he'd been completely immersed in a project. He'd relied on Cokes and coffee to keep him awake and moderately aware of what he was doing. When he had just about finished the project, Jake had brought him another cup of coffee. What he hadn't known was that Jake had purposely put a lot of sugar in it. In the resulting energy boost, he'd finished the project in record time before proceeding to annoy the living shit out of the group because he couldn't settle down. It was a unanimous decision that Jake was never allowed to make coffee for anyone...ever again.
"I love to work I love to run I love to play real hard
I love to steal little things from the grocery store
Like a piece of bubble gum or sometimes I just stick
My thumb in a peach and leave it there
I love to work I love to run I love to water-ski snowboard
Jet ski skydive parasail hang glide rollerblade mountain bike
Bungee jump well I mean I'd love to do these things if I ever had the time
I love to work I love to work I love to workout after work
I love to spend a little time with this woman I'm seeing
Except uh, we never get the time to spend together
So we call each other up and we talk about work
But I think id really love is to get up by myself on a tiny little island
In the middle of the ocean with just me a book and a cellular phone
And a personal computer in case something came up
And I'd eat and I'd drink and I'd run and I'd sleep
And I wouldn't do nothing but swim all day
Except I don't know how to do laps in the ocean
Where there are sharks! Where there are sharks! Where there are sharks!
And there's this kind of anemone that sticks in your foot
And the poison goes up to your brain and you die
And sand fleas! Sand fleas! Yuck!
But actually I think would be really relaxing
Just me by myself in the middle of the ocean
And that's what I'd really like to do more than anything else
Except I'd probably hate it"Derek inwardly laughed as he saw his slightly shorter lover flush a light crimson color. He could also tell by the looks on everyone's faces that they remembered the exact memory that he wanted them to. That had been one hilarious ordeal.
"I'm addicted to stress
It's the way that I get things done
If I'm not under pressure then I sleep too long
And I hang around like a bum
And I think I'm going nowhere and that makes me nervous...
Everybody's out to get me, but I feel alright
Everybody's out to get me, but I feel alright
Everybody's out to get me, but I feel alright
Everybody's thinking about me!
Everybody's out to get me, but I feel alright
Everybody's out to get me, but I feel alright
Everybody's out to get me, but I feel alright
Everybody's thinking about me!"Derek bowed and set down his microphone before hopping off the stage. Jason glared and tackled him as soon as he landed on his feet. Everyone else just sat cheering as the two young men wrestled playfully. After a moment, Jake jumped up and joined them. The small wrestling match finally ended with Selene, Yugi, and Damien moving to separate them before they decided that there were better things they could be doing while tangled up on the floor rather than wrestling. Jake in particular seemed disappointed. Apparently he was just about to start that too.
After they dragged all three young men to the couch, Yugi suddenly seemed to perk up with an idea. He gestured toward Selene to get her attention, and he leaned over to whisper something in her ear. Selene very suddenly looked like she wanted to burst out laughing but managed not to. She nodded before moving back to the stage, much to the confusion of everyone else.
Selene jumped onto the stage and walked quickly over to the song selector. After scrolling for a minute, while everyone but Yugi was looking at her confused, she smiled and went to pick up the microphone before hitting the select button.
Instantly some upbeat music started. They recognized the tune they'd once heard from the radio, but they couldn't remember the song. After a few moments of upbeat music, the lyrics started and Selene sang along, emerald eyes glinting with suppressed humor.
"I won't tell you what I'm thinking'Cause it's not the same thing you're thinking too
You could say I got a best friend
And she's always telling me what to do
She's out of sight but easy to find
She's in the front of my mind"Everyone recognized the reference to the voice Selene quite often joked about having that warned her of what certain people were like. It also warned her when something was about to happen. Everyone of the group had something similar (though the thing actually existed between Yami and Yugi), but other than Yami and Yugi's mind link, Selene's was probably the strongest voice. But what was so hilarious about this song?
"The little voice in my head won't let me forget
The little voice in my head is never mislead
All of this noise is what keeps me from making a mess
The little voice in my head just won't let me get with you"Everyone started having to stifle snickers right then. Selene's voice often told her how to react to certain situations and while she could control it sometimes, push it too far and it will be a very painful experience. They all remembered a time while the Venators had gone to the mall with Yami and Yugi. Selene had been standing outside while Damien was in the bathroom, Yugi and Yami were paying for some cards they'd bought, Jake was across the street looking at joke stuff, and Jason and Derek were with Jake to make sure he didn't get into too much trouble.
Unfortunately, one poor young teenager spotted Selene and thought she was alone and up for grabs. Boy was he mistaken. The cocky orange-haired idiot strode right up to her and started to flirt with her. She told them later that she had tried to tell the guy to back off but he wouldn't listen. Right at the moment Damien rounded the corner on his way back and everyone else had been exiting his or her respective shops, there was a huge commotion. Evidently, Selene had ended up twisting the guy's arm around his back and dislocating his shoulder when he had tried to put his arm around her, thinking she was playing hard to get. Needless to say, no one but her own group dared approach her after that.
"When I see you I admitI start to lose my grip and all of my cool
You smell so sweet just like my perfume
What have you been doing since I left youYou're always here in my thoughts
But that doesn't mean that it's on"
And that reminded them of another time that Selene's voice had gotten the best of her. It was after they'd gone clubbing on the of the Venators first visits to Yami and Yugi. They were walking back and it was rather late at night. Suddenly, a woman dressed in what had to be simply two pieces of cloth, just enough to cover what had to be covered, came out of the shadows and started to flirt with Damien as he was up front. From what they could guess in the short time the woman was conscious, she was a prostitute and was trying to sell her goods to Damien. This, to say the least, had pissed Selene off to no end. Selene had very nicely tapped the woman on the shoulder and when she turned around to glare at Selene, Selene reeled back and punched the woman right in between the eyes. Everyone had stared in shock as Selene calmly picked up the now unconscious prostitute and walked back the way they came. She came back a moment later with her arms empty. They could only guess that she's given the woman to the bouncer of the club so he could get her to the police.
"The little voice in my head won't let me forget
The little voice in my head is never misled
All of this noise is what keeps me from making a mess
The little voice in my head just won't let me get with you
I know I sound insane, like I'm playing games
'Cause all I really want is you
But there are some things a girl won't do
The little voice in my head won't let me forget
The little voice in my head is never misled
All of this noise is what keeps me from making a mess
The little voice in my head just won't let me get with you"Selene bowed as she walked off stage. The guys cracked up at her prim and proper act after she'd just sing such a song. Selene cracked a grin and said, "Okay, who's next?"
"I know, I know!" Jake suddenly shouted and he leaned over and started to whisper in Yugi's ear. Yugi's amethyst eyes lit up with suppressed glee. This was going to be fun. Selene threw a cautious look at the two plotting men, as did the other three.
"Hikari?" Yami asked cautiously, he never knew what to expect when Yugi got that glint in his eyes.
Yugi suddenly turned to Yami and stood up. He made his eyes wide and innocent and said, "Come on Yami, please, just one song?"
Yami gulped and just stood up, knowing better than to fight Yugi when his tenshi was bound and determined to do something. Yugi smiled gleefully and dragged his Yami onto the stage, shortly followed by Jake, Jason, Derek, Selene, and Damien (who was dragged up by Selene). Jake went to plug in the extra six microphones while Yugi went and found the song. After helping Jake hand out microphones Yugi gestured to Selene who then started the music. Instantly the upbeat music started. As soon as the lyrics started, Jake, Yugi, and Selene started singing, shortly followed by the others.
"Bring in the noiseBring down the house
We came here to turn the party out
Say c'mon c'mon let's raise the roof
And give 'em proof that we can get loose ya'll" For the next verse Jake stepped up, ready to sing. As he took the spotlight everyone could feel the happiness almost radiating off him. This was the type of thing that Jake absolutely loved to do. They all joked that if he'd led a normal life the red head would have grown up to be a prank designer or spy of some sort.Then Jake sang, the spotlight casting shadows on his red sleeveless shirt and black jeans.
"Bring in the noiseBring down the house
We came here to turn the party out
Say c'mon c'mon let's raise the roof
And give 'em proof that we can get loose ya'll"Yugi got ready to sing next. As he stepped forward the light shone off his leather-clad form and, despite the fact that the leather was black, gave him the appearance of an actual angel. He would always be one who worked well with others and everyone was glad he would be able to accomplish his dream of becoming a teacher.
Then Yugi sang, his voice helping them to lose themselves in the song.
"We need to get downThe scene is so so right
Everybody's in the house tonight
Loose your mind
Let your body take control
You've got that feeling in your soul"It was Selene's turn to sing next. Selene stepped forward, her natural grace and confidence, not arrogance, clearly showing in her walk and stance. They all believed that if Selene had been allowed a normal life the emerald-eyed girl would've grown up to be a dancer or gymnast of some sort because she had the perfect balance and grace for it.
As Selene sang, the spotlight glinted off her silver sleeveless top and cast shadows on her black, leather hip-huggers.
"I've got that feeling babyYou know it drives me crazy
And all I want to do is hit the floor
I want to shout it ya'll
So make it louder ya'll
And turn it up some more"As Selene stepped back she nudged Damien forward, clearly telling him that it was his turn. As Damien stepped forward his quieter demeanor was a stark contrast to Selene's fiery temper. Everyone was in agreement that if Damien's friends and family hadn't abandoned him he would've grown up to be a great writer.
As Damien sang they could all see the stark contrast of his white t-shirt to his black jeans and ebony hair.
"Bring in the noiseBring down the house
We came here to turn the party out
Say c'mon c'mon let's raise the roof
And give 'em proof that we can get loose ya'll"Damien stepped back, correctly guessing that the next part was going to be a chorus and thus not nudging anyone else up. Anyway, it was just two lines of chorus and one of the others would undoubtedly nudge someone up.
"Bring in the noise Bring in the noise"Grinning, Jake nudged his lover Jason up. Jason, knowing it would be fruitless to argue, stepped forward. The first thought on everyone's mind as the blue-jean clad inventor took the stage was related to their own about the others. It was something along the lines of if his adoptive family hadn't been such idiots the man in front of them would've grown up to be a famous scientist or inventor.
Spotlight casting shadows on his navy colored shirt, Jason began to sing.
"Just shake it girlAnd enjoy the ride
Do what you feel inside
'Cause it's your world
All you wanted more
So baby go and get yours"Yami stepped up next to sing after a not-so-subtle nudge from Yugi. Throwing his partner an exasperated look, Yami stepped forward. Everyone watched as the former pharaoh and soon to be doctor took the stage reluctantly.
The light shone on him accentuating his ruby eyes and shirt against his black leather pants.
"I've got that feeling babyYou know it drives me crazy
All I want to do is hit the floor
I want to shout it ya'll
So make it louder ya'll
And turn it up some more"
Relieved, Yami stepped back as the last one who had yet to sing was 'signaled' by his lover that it was in fact his turn. It was obvious why he had such an affinity with music as soon as Derek took the center stage. The brown and ruby eyed man's voice blended perfectly with the music. He would've been a great musician had his brother not died.
With the lights shining on his white t-shirt and black jeans, the light-haired brunette sang with the music.
"Bring in the noiseBring down the house
We came here to turn the party out
Say c'mon c'mon lets raise the roof
And give 'em proof that we can get loose ya'll"Derek then stepped back and, as none of the voluntary participants stepped forward or nudged someone else forward, prepared to sing again, correctly guessing that this would be for all of them to sing.
"Bring in the noiseBring in the noise
Bring in the noise
Bring in the noise
I've got that feeling baby
You know it drives me crazy
And all I want to do is hit the floor
Bring in the noise
Bring down the house
We came here to turn the party out
Say c'mon c'mon lets raise the roof
And give 'em proof that we can get loose ya'll"After the last note finally ended, the four unwilling participants gratefully stepped off the stage, glad that that was finally over. The three volunteers, however, look sad that it was over, having enjoyed the song.
"Drink and food time," Jason said, gesturing to their still unfinished pizza and drinks. Everyone nodded in agreement, thinking that they could use the break.
As they ate, Jake looked carefully around the room. He was glad that everyone looked so happy. He took a sip of his drink before he got an idea for another song to sing.
Jumping up like a kid who'd had too much sugar, he ran to the stage, attracting the attention of all his friends at once. He unplugged all but one of the microphones before running over to the computer. He scrolled along until he found the song he was looking for.
Before hitting the start button, he turned around and said to the audience, "I'd like to dedicate this loving song to all of our friends who we've met over the years. You all may, in your mind, dedicate this to someone in particular when you hear it! Enjoy!"
Jake turned and hit the start button. He started to count the beat before the song started.
"For everything you doI'd like to swallow you
And everyday I'm gonna blame youEven if you justify
Every fucking bullshit lie
It only makes me want to break you
You pull me down
And you crucify my name
You make me insane
It's broken now
Don't ever look my way
Don't even ting I'm playin'
'Cause I fucking hate you
You're such a liar
And I love you HANG you
You're all BUT SATAN to me
When you repeatedly
Take advantage of me
The only though I get of you sickens me,"During the song, everyone was, just as Jake had suggested, dedicating this song to at the very, very least of one person. The first ones to come to mind were people like Akuma and Adam. Anyone could guess why.
"Everybody knows your fakeYou're everything I fucking hate
And I'm everything that you could never be
You pull me down
And you crucify my name
You make me insane
It's broken now
Don't ever look my way
Don't even think I'm playin'
'Cause I fucking hate you
You're such a liar
And I love to hang you
You're all but Satan to me
I fucking hate you
You're suck a liar
And love to hate you
You're all the same to me
(Fuck you)
(Fuck you)
(Fuck you)"
The images going through Jake's mind during the song included images of his own relatives who'd been to stingy to even consider taking him in. They included images of Damien's ex-friends and ex-family, Selene's father, Jason's adopted family, the man who'd killed Derek's brother, Akuma and his crew, and Yugi's father. This song perfectly expressed his feeling toward each and every one of them. This was also the perfect way to vent his temper.
"You pull me downAnd you crucify my name
You make me insane
It's broken now
Don't ever look my way
Don't even think I'm playin'
'Cause I fucking hate you
You're such a liar
And I love to hang you
You're all but Satan to me
And I fucking hate you
You're all the same to me
Fuck you (fuck you)
Fuck you (fuck you)
Fuck you (fuck you)
Fuck you (fuck you)"
As soon as Jake finished, Selene stood up and said, "My turn."
Selene stood up and took the microphone from Jake. She walked up to the computer and scrolled down the songs until she found the song she was looking for. Smiling, she pressed the start button and moved to the center of the stage.
"How to stay paralyzed by fear of abandonmentHow to defer to men in solvable predicaments
How to control someone to be a carbon copy of you
How to have that not work and have them run away from you."
Yugi smiled as he heard the song. He knew about Selene's life, and he also recognized that that, to a certain extent, was how she used to be. Not completely, but close enough. He should know considering that he'd felt the same way before.
"How to keep people at arms length and never get too closeHow to mistrust the ones who supposedly love you the most
How to pretend you're fine and don't need help from anyone
How to feel worthless unless you're serving of helping someone."
Damien shook his head sadly as he listened to the song that Selene sang. He knew from being around her for so many years that this was how she felt sometimes. She may have confidence and strength, but he'd learned to see that that was just a mask. She may appear very confident and strong, but inside she could sometimes be the little girl that wished for her mom and protected Yugi when he needed her.
He remembered when she also hadn't trusted any of the other Venators or himself worth a flip. It had taken ages to deserve any trust from the emerald-eyed girl.
"I'll teach you all this in 8 easy stepsA course of a lifetime you'll never forget
I'll show you how to in 8 easy steps
I'll show you how leadership looks when taught by the best
How to hate women when you're supposed to be a feminist
How to play all pious when you're really a hypocrite
How to hate god when you're a player and a spiritualist
How to sabotage your fantasies by fears of success."
As Selene sang, she remembered times when these things all applied to her quite a bit. She used to hate life. Her only reason for living was so she could protect others and reap her vengance on her father. Then she'd met the others and her whole life had changed. This song was just a dedication of how she used to be.
"I'll teach you all this in 8 easy stepsA course of a lifetime you'll never forget
I'll show you how to in 8 easy steps
I'll show you how leadership looks when taught by the bestI've been doing research for years
I've been practicing my ass off
I've been training my whole life for this moment I swear to you
Culminating just to be this well-versed leader before you."
Selene was definitely a well-versed leader in many aspects of life. She could be very stubborn and tempremental, but she was the best leader they had.
"I'll teach you all this in 8 easy stepsA course of a lifetime you'll never forget
I'll show you how to in 8 easy steps
I'll show you how leadership looks when taught by the best How to lie to yourself and thereby to everyone else How to keep smiling when you're thinking of killing yourself How to numb a la holic to avoid going withinHow to stay stuck in blue by blaming them for everything
I'll teach you all this in 8 easy stepsA course of a lifetime you'll never forget
I'll show you how to in 8 easy steps
I'll show you how leadership looks when taught by the best."
Selene bowed as everyone clapped. Once she was about to sit down, Damien grabbed her and pulled her into his lap, suprising the young woman that he loved.
Smiling at the couple in front of him, Yugi jumped up and said, "It's my turn now!"
...to be continued...
AN: This is about half of this chapter...so I guess that there will be at the very least of two more chapters after this. Sorry again about how long it took...did the length make up for that at least? Please review!