They panted and collapsed on the grass, thankful to be out of the cave and Tyler cried in joy and relief.
"Thank you! Thank you so much for rescuing me!" He said happily.
"That's okay kid. Just maybe next time, dont go exploring dangerous caves okay?" Joey said with a thumbs up.
"Right! I promise to be more careful. You wont see me in any more caves!" He said happily.
"We should take him home and make sure he gets there." Tea said.
"Its okay. I can make my way home from here. When you return my father is sure to give you all a big reward for saving me! I'll be sure to let everyone know what you did! Thank you!" Tyler said happily as he ran off towards the town waving good bye to them.
"What a cute kid." Tea said happily.
"Almost makes you want one hey Tea?" Mai winked to which tea blushed.
"Not yet! No thank you!" Tea said with her nose in the air. They giggled though.
"Okay… well I guess we can hand in that quest later. Should we go back to town or keep going to the mountain?" Duke asked.
"Umm… well it's not far. Weve got further to walk to the next town we might as well hand in and then keep going." Yugi suggested.
"Okay. Let's go back… and not pick up another quest that involves caves?" Tea asked.
"Agreed." They all said in unison, giggling.
Four hours to the next town turned into five as apparently the game hadn't anticipated how sore their feet were getting after so much walking and they needed to take frequent breaks. But eventually they reached the town. It was a modest town made of logs and straw, built on dirt paths and farmland. They were able to afford a room for the night after pitching in and purchase time in the bath house as well which they greatly enjoyed. Unfortunately though it was a joined bath house. The boys were going to let the girls go in first but the girls were insistent that it wouldnt matter too much so long as they all wore towels.
Duke didnt mind he actually loved the idea and so did Joey and Tristan but Yugi and Atem were a little uncomfortable. Still they went ahead, undressed and wrapped a towel around themselves. All worries were washed away though as soon as their feet touched the soothingly warm water and they sank into the bath eagerly.
They leant against one another as the steam made their hair heavy and the pain of the days adventures sapped away.
"This is so nice." Yugi said to him breathlessly.
"Yep." Atem agreed.
Trustan and Joey were already splashing one another playfully while Duke sat with his arms draped over the edge of the bath. The girls were still getting ready and hadn't joined them yet so for now Yugi just relaxed against Atem, who equally shared his weight onto him.
"Hey boys save some for us." Mai said a of a sudden. They looked to see her standing in nothing but a towel and Tea stood behind her, also in only a towel.
Yugi blinked widely upon seeing her and looked away quickly, choosing to close his eyes and keep leaning against Atem.
"Mai, join us. Yhe waters great!" Joey said as he splashed her.
She laughed and climbed in, splashing him back playfully.
"Mind if I join you guys?" Tea asked them.
"Not at all, go ahead." Atem said politely. Yugi felt her climb in beside him but he refused to look.
"That feels so good. I cant believe how much walking weve done today." Tea said as she massaged her feet.
"I know we're used to this kind of activity but it is pretty unreal at the same time." Atem chuckled.
"At least this time you dont have a duel disk to lug around." Tea joked and Atem laughed.
"No not this time. But I do have a staff which is just as awkward."
"Hey, guys come play!" Joey called to them.
"I'm good here." Yugi said quietly as he rested.
"Yeah me too. I think I'll just sit here for a while." Tea said happily.
"Okay. Atem, Duke?" Mai asked.
"Yeah alright. Bring it on!" Duke said cockily as he joined in.
"No I think I'll stay-" Atem began to say when they all teamed up to splash him, drenching both he and Yugi in water and disturbing their comfort.
"Okay, if that's how it's going to be." Atem said as he stood to join in.
Yugi shook his hair annoyedly and leaned back again as he watched them all playing. He couldnt stay mad for long though, they looked so happy splashing around, especially Atem. It was rare for him to show so much calm and happiness.
"Its so nice isnt it?" Tea asked him.
"Hmm?"
"Seeing everyone so happy and at ease. I know we were pulled into this world without permission so to speak but it's nice we can still have fun though, you know?"
"Yeah. If it wasnt for how we got put into this world I'd say this is actually a good game. It's super easy to get sucked into it, especially know how little time has passed back home. I mean it's been like an hour and a half back home but like 8 hours have passed here." Yugi said.
"That's so weird to think about. Its gonna be hard to remember that what happens here isnt real." Tea said as she sunk a little further into the water to lean her head against the edge. "They could give us a pillow though." She joked.
Yugi smiled and gulped. He stretched out his arm for her to lean on but looked away as he did so.
"Here, you can use me as a pillow." He said stiffly.
"Oh thank you!" She said as she moved herself so her head was resting against his chest. He blushed heavily and tensed. He only meant for his arm to be used not his body but now she was there he wasnt sure what to do. He couldnt move her, he could relax too much, he couldn't move his arm or hed touch her in likely places he shouldnt be touching her and she was just in a towel with nothing else on underneath and both of them were in the water together this close…
He breathed slowly, trying to calm his mind and she nestled against him. Her hair smelled nice, soothing him. He noticed she was wearing the owl necklace still and that made him smile.
Silently he almost wished the others weren't here. Not that he had any plans of what he could do if they weren't but regardless, if they were alone like this he believed hed feel a little calmer.
"Yugi, are you excited for your special training?" Tea asked.
"Huh? Oh yeah. I mean I'm nervous too. I'm not too happy about leaving you guys for a while but I'm sure itll be worth it, and then I can join you guys when it's over." He said happily.
"I'm sure itll be worth it. Your going to be so strong and cool. I mean not that your not already strong and cool but … uh you know what I mean." Ahe giggled.
"Yeah, I know what you mean." Yugi laughed.
"Were going to train hard too. When you join back up with us, all of us are going to be a force to be reckoned with." Tea said happily.
"Right! And after that we'll be able to figure out how to get back home and find out why we were sent here so forcefully." Yugi said.
"Agreed. Though, I dont entirely mind for the moment. This is nice. We wouldnt be able to do things like this back home."
"What visit a bath like this?" Yugi joked.
"Kinda. Enjoy one together like this." Tea said sweetly.
Yugi blushed again and smiled.
"Right… yeah. Your right. This is nice." He said quietly.
"Ooohhhhh, look at the love birds over there!" Tristan sang as he noticed them. Yugi and Tea both blushed heavily, immediately separated from one another, looking at anything but anyone else.
"Yugi and Tea sitting in a tree!" Joey began to sing.
" G!" Duke, Mai and Tristan continued.
"Shut up guys, it's not like that." Tea scolded them, pouring.
"Uhuh, sure it's not." Joey winked.
"I think I'm ready to get out now anyway and get something to eat." Yugi said as he stood and climbed out of the bath.
Atem watched him leave feeling almost guilty for the part he played. He knew Yugi liked Tea but perhaps pushing them wasnt the healthiest idea.
"You know, food actually sounds good to me. I'm gonna get out too."
"Aww okay." Joey said before he was quickly tackled by Tristan.
He found Yugi getting dressed with the towel draped over his hair, oblivious to his presence as he pulled up his robe.
"Hey Yugi." He said gently to him.
"Hey Atem." Yugi said as he towel dried his hair. "You okay?
"Me? Yeah I'm fine. Are you?" Atem asked as started pulling on his own clothes.
"Yeah I'm good. Just getting a little hot for me in there."
"Hey.. um. I'm sorry for putting you in that situation, Yugi."
"What situation?" Yugi blinked.
"With the singing. I didn't think they were going to draw attention to you both." He said. Yugi blushed and folded the towel neatly.
"Its okay. I know they were playing. No hard feelings." Yugi said finally with a smile. "Wanna come get some food?" He asked.
Atem smiled and nodded.
"Yes, that sounds good to me."