Chapter 5: Joey

Akio the Dragon Master- One of those "covered in bandages one minute and then perfectly fine the next" times. XD And be careful what you type! The muses are fierce. (Muses: (flex))

kenmeishouri- If I what? Lol, your review wasn't very specific, but here's the update I gather you wanted!

dragonlady222- Very good! Wil' Yug' IS jealous.

- glomps Yuugi -- If you only know one thing in life, be sure it is this: Capey-glory is the best KIND of glory. Your funny words continue to befuddle me. It's fun!

Joey had spent the better part of his day watching a new show called Joey! and had finally dragged himself out of his house once his dad came home. He didn't want to be in the same area code as that creep, but they lived in the same apartment. Oh, cruel fate! Joey smiled a sad, lopsided smile.

And then tripped over Yugi.

"WHOA! Yugi!" Joey got up. "I'm sorry, Yug'!"

"No problem," Yugi grumbled. "I love being tripped over." He sat up. "That's twice today! TWICE! Am I really that short?"

"Well, you were lying down Yug'," Joey pointed out.

"Oh."

"So, about my new job," Joey started, sidling next to his best friend.

Yugi scooted away. "You don't need to sit so close, Tea already thinks we're gay…"

"Oi. Sorry. Anyway, about my new job." Joey grinned. "I'm a—"

BOOM!

This explosion was not any of Yugi's fireworks. Those had long fizzled out. This explosion was thunder. The two tacitly rose up in synchronization and dashed over to Yugi's house. Soon, pellets of rain fell down in a torrent, stinging their bare skin.

"Owch eech owch!" Joey whimpered as the two flung open the vitreous doors and ran inside. Solomon Motou only looked up briefly, only bothering to greet the two with an informal grunt.

"Amiable, grandpa," Yugi joked as Joey and he made their way towards the towel cabinet. "Very amiable."

"Hn," Grandpa responded.

"Oh, so now you're watching Yu Yu Hakusho? I thought you were complaining about 'those damn kiddie shows' just earlier today," Yugi teased lightly.

Opening up the cabinet with his foot, (it hadn't had a doorknob in a year, courtesy of his mother, his grandpa, one very mischievous light bulb and a spankin' new hammer,) Yugi grabbed two beige towels with some kind of gold trim. He tossed one over the counter to Joey, who promptly shook himself like a dog. Yugi giggled, but his grandpa didn't think it was so funny.

"YOU'RE GETTING WATER ALL OVER THE MERCHANDISE!" he shrieked. He promptly grabbed Yugi's towel and began to dry up the array of water droplets that had flown through the air courtesy of Joey's doggie impersonation (which, it might be added, was quite poor!)

Yugi shrugged and grabbed himself another towel, his affable personage pardoning his grandfather for his… is faux-pas the word? My, but it sounds so fancy! Yecch.

"Hey Gramps! Guess what my new job is!"

Yugi smiled. Joey still managed to ignore the spiteful people. That was good. He wished he could ignore the ugly factors in his life, too, but instead he'd ended up making a different Him. Ah well.

"I don't give a rat's ass—"

Ring ring ring.

The three looked up to see a thin sixteen-year-old male, slightly epicene, with shockingly white hair that he really ought to cut, make his way into the store.

"I don't suppose…" Ryou started, but it was too late. The fan girls were already squealing. He frowned and tried to envision them away.

"I don't suppose I could stay here until this rain is over?" Ryou smiled guiltily.

"We don't need loiterers—"

Yugi clapped a hand over his grandpa's mouth. "Of course you can, Ryou!"

Ryou smiled and thanked his friend. His warm chocolate eyes peered at the window. Pale rivulets were smattered against the glass.

"Hey Ryou! Guess what my new job is!"

Yugi rolled his eyes. "You never give up, do you Jou?"

"Well I don't understand why people keep ignoring me!"

"Um," Ryou paused. "Are you like… a cook or something…? 'Cause you like food…"

"BINGO!" Joey shouted so loudly that Yugi's grandfather jumped a foot in the air. "I am a chef! I am plenipotentiary in the kitchen!"

"And you must have gotten a new dictionary!" Yugi mused. "Enlighten me, Joey: What does plenipotentiary mean again?"

"It means invested with full power, Yug'!"

"…He has full power over all the food, Yugi!" Ryou groaned. Yugi rolled his eyes.

Joey gave them both a hopeless look. "What? Why is this so unfunny, or funny, or whatever the heck you think it is?"

"Nothing, Joey." Yugi stifled a laugh.

Despite Yugi's tepid assurances, Joey's eyes narrowed suspiciously once his two friends broke out into spare snickers. "Again, what is so funny?" Joey demanded, wishing their snickers were Snickers.

Ryou was the first to answer. "I just can't imagine you cooking without eating everything in sight."

Nodding, Yugi giggled his agreement.

Joey growled. "I'll show YOU!"

Ryou looked confused, and muttered, "Huh?" Yugi looked at Joey with wide eyes.

"Joey," he said slowly, "we were just kidding."

"Yeah, but that's it! I'm not taking this more!" Joey reached into his back pocket, and, amazingly, pulled out a chef's hat and placed it upon his head. "I'm going to make a bricolage potpourri like you've never seen!"

"Yeah," Yugi whispered, "as soon as I make out with Marik."

He had meant to say up, but all three of them laughed anyway.