Chapter Nine

Back at the Hotel the old man takes a seat at the kitchen table, his wife, an old woman also in her sixties pours him a cup of coffee.

Old woman: So what do you make of those kids?

Old man: They aren't tourist that's for sure.

Old woman: I sensed the power of the second half of the white stone.

Old man: They could be after the first half then.

The old woman walks over to the counter and picks up a butcher's knife.

Old woman: We will kill them all if we must.

Inside their room Joey paces wildly leaving Honda to figure out what could be wrong with him.

Honda: Okay I give up what's up?

Joey: Nothin'

Honda: Uh oh, I know that "nothin'." You might as well spill the beans.

Joey takes a seat in a chair near the wall.

Joey: Please promise you won't tell anyone. And I mean no one!

Honda: Hey, hey! All right I promise.

Joey: Okay. Honda, I'm gay.

Honda was taken back by the confession and he was quite sure what his face must have looked like to Joey but he still couldn't help but a make it.

Joey: Don't look at me like that!

Honda straightened himself out and relaxed, most of the shock was almost gone but he still couldn't believe it.

Honda: Gay? Whoa.

Joey: Yeah, well actually I'm more bisexual, at least I figured that out when I first looked at Mai and had the total hots for her. But before I met her I always thought I was gay.

Honda: So you like girls and guys huh?

Joey: Yeah, or I like guys and Mai. I really don't know.

Honda: Wow, I never would have guessed.

Joey: Yeah well I was good at hiding it.

Honda: Does anyone else know?

Joey: Besides the guys I fucked, No one else.

Honda was amazed at how well he took it, well besides from the first few seconds but that was just shock. He couldn't believe one of his best friends is gay. He quietly hoped he wouldn't get any more surprises like that any time soon.

Honda: Well what can I say I'm still your friend Joey.

Joey: Thanks.

Honda: Is that the reason why you were pacing around like that? You thought I wouldn't approve?

Joey: No.

Honda: Well then what the hell?

Joey: I like someone and I didn't want it to get this far but now . . .

A sudden panic rushed over Honda 'Could he be - -'

Joey: No, not you!

Relief.

Honda: Oh good. Then who?

Joey: Yugi.

Honda thought he was about to fall over with a heart attack! This is just too much on a young man's senses!

Honda: Yugi!

Joey: Don't say that so loudly!

In the next room, Kaiba heard Yugi's name from the mouth of one of his low level friends. 'Hm, gossiping behind each other's back, huh?' he thought as he pressed his ear to the paper thin wall. This is another reason why he had no room for so-called friends. They do nothing but smile in your face and then speak daggers behind your back. 'Why Yugi counts on them is beyond me.' He thought as he listened in. As a matter of fact whatever info he gets out of these two numbskulls would be valuable for rubbing it in perfect little Yugi's face. He silently listened on.

Honda: You're in love with Yugi?

Joey: Yeah, I can't help it.

Honda: How did - - what - - how did it happen?

Joey: At first it really did start out as friendship, or me teasing him because he was so little and he needed to get tough. Then after we all really became friends I found myself wanting to do nothing but look after him.

Honda: That's understandable.

Joey: Yea? I don't know when it turned into something else, all I know is that I never met anyone like him. He's so special and I wanted to protect that and then there is a part of me that wants to have that all to myself. I never had anyone in my life who cared about me the way Yugi did. All but Serenity and she was out of my life for a very long time. I had no one.

Honda: Why don't you just tell Yugi this? Even if he doesn't feel the same he will understand.

Joey: I'm just so scared. Sometimes I muster up the courage to say something then something else happens and I can't. The thing is I've kept myself in check for a long time but being here it's so fucking romantic and all it does is bring out my loneliness.

Honda: Ah I see.

The bright look on Honda's face somewhat disturbed and interested Joey, what could he have up his sleeve?

Honda: You're suffering from what I call TRS!

Confused, Joey had no clue what the hell that is.

Joey: Hey I always wear protection!

Honda: No you dolt! TRS stands for "Tropical Romance Syndrome"

Joey: What?

Honda: It's simple. It's easy to keep feelings in check when you are at home and doing your usual routine. Whatever feelings you have for someone go into that routine. Your feelings for Yugi were a part of that routine. Therefore, it was easily in check.

Joey: Okay I'm still confused.

Honda: Listen. You were out at sea on a beautiful ship now you're out in a beautiful tropical paradise it's natural that you want to share it with someone you care about and since you care for Yugi you want to share it with him. This place . . . well not this hell hole but outside is one big romantic post card.

Joey: Yeah and it sucks to be here without someone you love.

Honda: Exactly! Oh great I have no one too! Now I'm lonely. Why didn't you bring your sister along!

Joey: As if I'm gonna let you touch my sister!

Honda: So what should we do?

Joey: I don't know, we probably don't have long here and I actually feel good getting all that off my chest. Now I'm hungry!

Kaiba heard the door close in the next room, he limped back to his bed and gently set himself down. 'So the underdog is in love with Yugi huh?' Right after Yugi left with Tea Kaiba thought about calling Roland and getting a plane out here to take him home but now this trip may get more interesting. 'Besides I still have to find out what that mysterious man was talking about and that white stone' Kaiba thought as he rested back into bed.