Chapter Three- New Experiences

Yugi slid her foot into a boot and moved her toes around a bit. She pulled it off, put it back, and reached for a different size. She had insisted to Tea that she didn't need help in picking out shoes. Tea had nodded and amused herself by trying on shoes herself.

Yugi put on her new boot and stood to see how it felt. She found that she liked shoe shopping. It was a satisfying feeling, one she hadn't felt before. Must be a girl thing. One that I like and won't fight. Really, I shouldn't fight any girl things. After all, I can't be a boy again. She sat, pulled off the boot, put it in its box, and kept it. She went to the sneakers and looked them over. She saw ones she liked and others she didn't. She tried on a few pairs, chose one, and moved on to a different type of footwear. She picked up a flat and turned it over, looking at it from every different angle. She ran a finger over the small raised heel on the bottom.

"Yugi?"

She glanced back at Tea who had come up behind her. "I was just wondering why some shoes have different heels."

"Some women want to be taller than they are."

"They risk breaking their ankles or neck if they're too high."

"Yes and that's why others choose smaller ones like the one you're holding."

She looked at it. "We don't wear flats like this to school, right?"

"Uh, yeah. That's right." Tea had forgotten that Yugi would be wearing a girl's uniform when school started.

Yugi nodded but put the flats with her sneakers and boots. "Perhaps I can wear them on a date," she said as if talking to herself.

"A date?" Tea asked, a little amused.

Yugi blushed and looked away. She hadn't meant to say that out loud! She had been imagining being out on a date with Atem. The two of them going to the movies, having dinner or lunch together, maybe even just enjoying each other's company.

"Yugi, you have a crush on someone?"

Yugi kept her back to Tea as she gathered up the shoe boxes. "Actually," she said. "I'm in love with Atem."

"Really?"

"I have for some time. I just haven't told him yet." She turned around. "And please don't say anything? Promise?"

"I promise not to say a word."

Yugi smiled. "Great. So, let's check out and maybe get something to eat."

"Sure." Tea followed Yugi to the front with a smile. So, she loves Atem and before today, too. I hope she tells him. They would make a cute couple.

Yugi signed the receipt and the woman handed her the bag. "Thank you, miss," she said.

Yugi smiled back. "Thank you, too." That's the second time I've been called miss, the first time in the clothing store. No one's treating me like a kid, I'm being treated like the young woman I am. I usually have people thinking I'm in elementary school just because I'm short and look younger than I am, but now I look a little older and I think my breasts helped with that. After all, little girls don't have breasts.

"So, how does being a girl feel?" Tea asked as they sat at an outdoor table.

"Not bad. Still getting used to my body, though."

"Of course."

"I will be giving Bakura a talking to when I see him again."

"When will that be?"

"Could be as long as a week. They could come home early, though."

"I'm guessing you won't be giving him a taste of his own medicine." Tea nodded at the charm.

Yugi's hand flew to it. "That's right. I'm holding on to it and will be hiding it to make sure no one else changes gender."

"Good idea. I'm glad you find being a girl not bad."

"Well, I'm not being mistaken for a little girl. It feels great not having to correct anyone like I used to."

"But you were maturing, Yugi. You were just a late bloomer. You still might be."

"I know that, Tea, but it still feels nice to address as a woman instead of a kid." She saw Tea nod and then said, "So, where are we going next?"

"Well, we need to pick up some essentials like razors and shaving cream."

Yugi's eyes lit up. "Oh, I definitely want to get those."

Tea smiled. "I thought you would."

Yugi's eyes scanned the shelf of cream. Which scent do I want? She noticed Tea also looking and guessed she was either low or out herself. The brunette selected a peach scent with moisturizer and added to the cart that already held two packs of disposable razors.

"Is shaving the only way to remove the hair?" she asked as she put a raspberry moisturizer in the cart.

"No, but if done right, it's painless and easy."

"'If done right?' What do you mean?"

"You have to use light smooth strokes up the legs. Press a little too hard and you'll end nicking the skin."

Yugi winced. "That would hurt."

"It sure does, but it beats waxing. That's putting liquid wax on the hair, applying a special paper to it solidly, and then you yank that paper off and it'll rip the hair out."

"Ouch," Yugi said. "Shaving does sound easier."

"It is once you get familiar with it. Okay, next is deodorant. You can't use what you used to use." Again, Yugi was faced with choices. She decided to use a solid as she was familiar with it and decided on powder fresh.

"Tea, could we…look at makeup?"

Tea blinked. "You want to look at makeup?"

"Why not? A little gloss or nail polish couldn't hurt, right?"

"Right. Okay, pads first then makeup."

"Uh, pads?"

"Yeah; for when you get your…period." Tea whispered the last word.

"Oh. Yeah." That's one bad thing about being a girl. I can't avoid that so it's best to be ready for it.

Tea selected two packs, one for light and regular days and one for heavy days along with medicine for cramps before heading for the cosmetics. There, Yugi selected pale pink lip gloss, a basic makeup kit, and blue nail polish while Tea added cotton balls, nails polish remover, and makeup removal wipes.

"Well, I think that's everything at least for now," Tea said as they walked home.

"Thanks for your help, Tea. I really appreciated it."

"You're welcome and if you have any questions, feel free to call."

"I will." Yugi set off for home, a bit laden down with her bags. I needed a lot of things all at once, so of course it's a lot. Next time won't be as bad. Who knows? Maybe I'll get to like shopping. Yugi smiled as she opened the front door.