"Oh yeah, this is perfect!" exclaimed Jou.
"I'm not so sure," murmured Anzu, looking around her. Leather vests, leather trousers, leather belts – and mostly black. "Do you really think –" she began, turning to Yami. She looked at his outfit more closely. Then she looked at the clothes around them again. "Never mind," she sighed. This was evidently where Yami had bought most of his wardrobe from.
Seto hunched his shoulders, trying to become invisible. It didn't work. "Remind me why I am here watching Yugi get new clothes?" he muttered snidely to Jou.
"Cuz I asked ya to come," was the cheerful answer. Seto winced. He didn't like being reminded that he was so open to Jou's persuasion.
Yami smirked. "Would you mind taking a look through that pile beside you for vests, Anzu?" he asked. "My arms are full."
Anzu did as he asked. "What about this one?" she asked, holding up a dark red one. "It matches your hair. His hair." She frowned at the vest. "Both of your hair."
"I doubt that last comment was proper grammar," Seto remarked dryly.
"Ah, come on, Seto! You know what she meant!" retorted Jou.
Yami ignored them, looking over the vest. He shook his head. "Too large."
"Are you sure that they do clothes for children here?"
"I am sure that they have clothes for Yugi," Yami informed Seto with a scowl.
"Still, Yugioh, perhaps you should try somewhere else."
Yugi looked puzzled. /Yugioh?/
//King of games. I never lose either, little aibou,// Yami informed him. Yugi grinned up at him.
"Hey, your majesty, whadaya think of these?" called Jou, holding out a pair of black trousers. Yami looked them over.
"They're too large for him, Jou!"
Jou blinked. "Ya sure?"
"Yes!"
"Okay, if you think so…" Jou muttered.
There was silence for a few minutes while the teenagers searched for garments that would fit Yugi.
"How about this?" asked Anzu, holding out another dark red vest, much smaller.
Yami smiled, nodding in satisfaction.
"And these ought to fit," said Jou, bringing over a pair of black trousers with a gold belt. Yugi clapped his hands in delight.
"Pretty!"
Jou facefaulted. "Kiddo, no male says 'pretty', okay? It just ain't done!"
Anzu tried to cover her giggles, as Yugi looked downcast at being told not to say pretty.
"But… is, pretty," he explained haltingly.
"Well, maybe, yeah, but you aren't supposed to say so!"
Yami chuckled. "Don't worry about it, aibou. After all, the belt is pretty!"
Seto tried to distance himself from the conversation. He knew that at any moment, Jou would appeal to him to agree, and if he did, Yami would make a fuss. 'Not that I'd say something just to please my puppy,' he thought uncomfortably.
"Well, I'll take Yugi to try these on," said Yami. Anzu and Jou handed their items to Yugi, and Yami carried him into the changing rooms.
He came out again, blushing as he carried Yugi.
"Yami? Is something wrong?" asked Anzu in concern. He ignored her, and stalked out of the shop, leaving their choices of clothes in a pile on the floor.
They followed him out, trying to get him to explain what was wrong. He kept silent, his lips pressed together, as he went into another clothes shop. He went over to a table and picked up a set of boxer shorts.
"Wait, doesn't the kiddo have –" started Jou. Yami shook his head, his face growing redder. "What, not any?" yelped Jou. "Man, no wonder you're blushing!"
Yugi looked at him in surprise. "Why?" he asked. Seto smirked, as Jou blushed redder then Yami ever managed. Yugi frowned, puzzled.
//Don't worry about it, aibou,// Yami reassured Yugi with a smile. Yugi returned it, and picked up the boxers out of Yami's grasp.
/Pretty too!/ he exclaimed through their link. Yami smothered a laugh.
//Yeah.//
Jou and Anzu helped Yami find some more boxers that would fit Yugi, and finally they made their way to the till, where Yugi handed over the boxers while Yami held out the credit card that Seto had given him. Seto had almost escaped during the search for Yugi-sized underwear, but Jou noticed him leaving and caught hold of his trenchcoat. Given the choice between rip his favourite coat or stay and watch Yugi's new clothes being bought, he'd agreed to stay – but not gracefully. Now he glowered at the cashier, who was shooting frightened glances at him.
"H-here's your purchases, sir!" she told Yami, holding out a plastic bag. Yugi took it from her with a sweet smile and a polite, "Thankyou." She forgot her nervousness enough to smile back, at which Yami's eyes narrowed dangerously.
//She'd better not try anything,// he muttered, half-forgetting that Yugi would hear the thought.
/Silly!/ Yugi laughed up at him. Yami met his eyes, then imitated the pout he had worn earlier at being told not to say pretty. The cashier forgot her scare enough to smile at the cute sight.
"Did your younger brother lose his clothes somewhere?" she asked chattily. Yami and Yugi looked at each other blankly.
"Yes. He's just been on holiday abroad with their mother, and the airport lost all of his luggage," said Seto without a pause. The others looked at him in surprise, and Jou nodded with a smile.
"Ya see, Yams – I mean, Yami?" he muttered as they all left the shop. "Seto's brains are good for something!"
Yami smiled. "Yes. Thank you, Seto."
Seto looked straight ahead. "I only did it so that you wouldn't raise questions in that woman's head," he said coldly.
"And… to help," Yugi said carefully. Seto glared at him. Yugi grinned. "And to help," he repeated more firmly, as Anzu giggled at the look on Seto Kaiba's face at being caught out in a good deed.
*
He stared at the screen in front of him. "Is the boy ready?" he asked in a bored tone of voice.
"Yes, sir," came the response from behind him.
"Excellent. Take him out to the warehouse, and send him for the final test in – hmm – better make it three days' time."
"Sir? I mean, yes, sir!" the lackey corrected himself instantly, sweating at the thought of what could happen to him for daring to question his orders. He didn't seem to notice, but tossed over his shoulder casually, "After all, we can't have the boy leading people here if something goes wrong, can we now?"
The man bowed, and left the room, breathing a sigh of relief. "Get the boy to the warehouse!" he snapped at one of the servants. "and make sure that he can't find his way back here. But he'd better be in good physical condition – he wants him to be ready to go in three days."
*
Noise.
Trainer!
"Well, little freak, you're going to go outside. Make sure that you do as I taught you, or I'm gonna hunt you down and break every bone in your body!"
Nod.
Laugh. "Yeah, you know what I'd do to ya if you tried anything, don'cha?"
Closer.
"Maybe I'll remind you anyway…"
Nooo…
"Stop."
"What the –? Oh. It's you. What do you want?"
"Ryou is to be in good condition for his assignment. If you harm him and he is unable to succeed, I will ensure that he knows who is at fault."
"You're bluffing…"
"I cannot bluff. You know that."
"Fine! Take the little freak out of my sight!"
"I am here to observe whether he is in good condition. I am not allowed to escort him elsewhere."
"Hah!"
Leaving.
Relieved.
"Thankyou."
"I told the truth. You are to be released for the final test in three days."
"Three?"
"You are going to be moved elsewhere, so that if something goes wrong you will be unable to lead anyone here."
Silence.
"Ryou – do you remember the two scientists who named you? The two who take care of your body when you are injured?"
Nod.
Quietly. "Have you seen them recently?"
Shake.
Sigh. "Neither have I."
Pause.
"I – am not sure what I should do. I have my orders… But…"
Whisper. "Help."
"Yes." Firmer. "I will help you, Ryou. But you must wait, and take your chance. There is more going on here then you realise, perhaps."
Leaving.
Think. More?
What?