Author's Note:
Heart: Hey guys, sorry for the MAJOR delay, things around here have been pretty hectic. On the bright side, cross country season has ended so we can spend more time on this than running before and after school. I can't guarantee a regular updating schedule but if you can bear with us, that'd be great.
Evil: Another announcement, another fan fiction may be coming out soon. It's still in debate on whether or not it'll be published due to the fact that we already have so much on our plates. It's a Kingdom Hearts one centered on Squall (yes Squall not Leon. Heart doesn't like the random name change apparently) and Cloud.
Heart: Yep, also, please congratulate Evil! She ran and got 3rd place in our District meet and represented our school along with another runner at the Region meet. Though they didn't advance to State, we are very proud of them.
Evil: Thank you, thank you Heart. Disclaimer! We don't own YuGiOh or any of the songs typed in this story. They belong to their respective owners; all we do is manipulate them with our imagination.
Heart: Well, that should be it, ENJOY THE STORY LOVES!
Chapter 12: Messengers with Bad News
As another Monday slowly rose into the horizon, students and teachers alike filed into Domino High; dreading yet another horrid day of paperwork and lectures. The agitated slams of lockers and loud chattering of students clamored across the halls in uneven symphony, yet strangely comforting to the small girl pressed against the wall. Humming a cheery tune with a small grin on her face, Yugi waited for the crowds to disperse becoming a murmuring silence so she could walk in peace. Once it was safe, she extended her walking staff and tapped it against the ground in gentle, soothing rhythms. Today was the day. The day Millennium would come over to her house. Though, an anxious nagging kept disrupting her joyful thoughts, will they find out?
Suddenly, two sets of familiar foot falls made their way to her. It didn't matter if she couldn't see; she knew when they were near. They had that affect on her, the warm feeling of kinship.
"Hi Tristan! Hi Serenity! Guess what?! Dad and Anzu left this morning for a business trip and won't be back till Wednesday! This is perfect! The parentals won't bother us while Millennium comes over!" Skipping into a hug, she excitedly chattered more about the event with obvious elation.
Giggling at their friend's giddiness, Tristan and Serenity replied simultaneously, "Yup! No creepers breathing down our necks tonight!"
The trio continued in laughter and idle conversation, ignoring teacher's calls of annoyance to hurry along.
"Uh, oh guys. Slut alert!" Serenity whispered, seeing an undesirable and her groupie strutting provocatively in six inch heels and outfits that would make a nun scream 'Satan will come for you bitches!' Holding in more laughter, the trio bit their tongues and sauntered by slowly.
However, as fate, or a rich slut with more boob than brain would have it, they were stopped and stared down for another round of bullying. "Oh look! It's the freak that can't see! The idiot with a sword for hair! And a pitiful looking whore wannabe!"
Her groupie, looking bored, decided to interrupt, "Who cares about those losers?! Like, have you seen that totally HOT new transfer student?"
Momentarily, distracted, Tea swerved to respond, somehow not tripping over her gigantic heels. "The one with black hair and green eyes? Didn't he transfer from some pretentious school, or like, something?"
With wide eyes and stage whispering to his friends, Tristan couldn't help but remark on their surprisingly high-ish vocabulary. "Look guys! The dumbass, slut cougar knows the meaning of pretentious!"
"What was that?"
Hands on their hips, the girls glared as if their eyes could kill. Not wanting to stick around, the brunette boy screamed as he took Yugi's hand before running off. "It's ANGRY!" (A/N: If you've seen either Steve Erwin or Gabriel Iglesias, you'd understand this reference.)
Together, Yugi and her friends sprinted down the halls blindly trying to evade Tea and her groupie with their heels poised as weapons above their heads. Somewhere along the way, Yugi was torn from Tristan's hand and turned a corner on accident. Panicking, she continued running as the harsh bangs against the ground sounded closer and closer. Oh gosh! A blind girl can't run! Where do I-
SLAM!
"Whoops! You okay there?"
Yugi froze. She was in the arms of someone distinctively tall, male, and had a hauntingly familiar voice. "I- I'm fine! Th- thank you?" She stammered nervously, exiting his awkward embrace. "Who may you be?"
"I'm-"
"So YOU'RE the new transfer student!" Click, click, click. The sound of heels padding loudly signaled the arrival of no one other than, dun, dun, DUN! Tea! "Hi, I'm Tea" Cue wink!
The unknown savior pushed Yugi aside gently, and if she could see, she would've witnessed the boy bowing respectively towards the brunette. "Duke Devlin at your service ma'am. I just transferred here from Nightingale Academy."
"Wow! Isn't that like a rich kid school?" She asked dumbly, her voice getting annoyingly higher and higher the more she checked out the newcomer. However limited her brain could function, she still noticed the little tri-color haired girl huddled into the transfer's side. Putting on a sexy smile (or so she thinks! *cough*), she moved closer to Duke, chest out, eyes narrowed. She purred, "Why don't you leave that freak here alone? You know, so you can hang out with a real woman like me. I could show you a REALLY good time."
Yugi, becoming increasingly uncomfortable with the position Duke was put in, tried to speak up. "I-"
"Well, when you put it that way…" He murmured, his voice turning husky, "I refuse. This 'FREAK' is the reason why I transferred here." Duke said coldly. "She is a great friend to me and I don't appreciate sluts like you degrading such a wonderful person. So you can just shove your ego up your ass and go to hell!" Wrapping an arm around the small girl, he turned her around and strode furiously away from the dumbstruck brunette. "Ironic because she'd probably like that, right Yugi?"
Breathing a sigh of relief, Yugi laughed. Now that Duke would be by her side at her own school now, she felt comforted. Another thing to look forward to especially when she had intimidating parents to go home to. But what she didn't count on was the fact that Duke somehow managed to be in every SINGLE one of her classes. According to him, smarts, good looks, and money can get you anything from a female counselor. Throughout the day, he left the same impression on EVERYONE at school, a mixture of awe, envy, and even admiration. The fuzzy feeling of being stared at magnified as she walked down the halls with him and made her shiver violently. Crowds parted for them, and even her teachers were less cruel just by his mere presence. A good thing or a bad thing, she didn't know but all she did know was her excitement for after school never waned. As the seconds ticked by, numerous times she called on her raven-haired sidekick for the time and how much more was left till school let out. Amused by her blatant anticipation, he more than happily obliged to her.
RING!
With the sound of the bell, Yugi immediately jolted from her seat and launched into the overcrowded hall, her walking stick beating harshly and irregularly rapid against the floor. Duke, following behind silently, held a smile upon his face, one that made each girl swoon as he passed. Multiple times, he had to prevent the girl from tripping over her own feet and into others until they reached the safety in the wide-open spaces of outside the school. There, they met up with an all too familiar duo.
"Hey Yugi baby!"
Grinning, she replied, "Hey Tristan, hey Serenity!"
"How'd you know I was here Yugi?"
"Ah, ah, ah! A magician can't reveal her secrets!" She said coyly. "Haha! Hey! Did you hear about me and Duke's confrontation with Tea and her groupie?" Considering Serenity had the whole gossip system wrapped around her pinky finger, it wouldn't come to a surprise if she already knew.
However, Tristan beat her to the punch, somehow knowing how girl gossip worked. "No way! You really said that to Tea?! Man, your first day here and you're already screwing with the higher ups, you've got some guts brother-in-law!"
"Yeah Yugi! You scored big time! A fiancé who's actually got some guts around here!" Winking, she put her arms around the younger blushing girl. "I think, though he's almost a total stranger, he's worth it huh, Yugi?"
The raven-haired boy stiffened, knowing full well that they were speaking about him and their secret engagement. With stoic fear, he turned quietly faced the group; his face the epitome of a failing mask of hastily disguised uncertainty. "What are you-?"
"Don't worry dear," Yugi said with a cheerful smile. Reaching forward to Duke's general direction, her hand met the smooth skin of his cheek and stroked it with her thumb; releasing comfort in her touch. "I told them. They know and understand everything."
Slightly relieved at her choice of understanding friends, he shook off the mask and returned to his normal charming self. "Well alright then. If you trust them, I trust them." He pulled off Yugi's hand from his face and held it between his fingers. Timidly, he drew her towards him into a hug. "So, shall I drive you home? I already called Solomon."
"But what about my friends? Aren't they coming with us?"
"Oh no, don't worry Yugi." Tristan interrupted. "I've got things to do, so I'll be late. I'm taking Serenity home as well." Catching the change of his voice at the end of his sentence and the awkward moment that followed, Yugi didn't even have to guess that the brunette boy and her sister-friend were blushing madly. It was obvious; they had encountered an odd confrontation between each other maybe even before they met up with her and Duke.
Saving the day, Duke responded with friendly zeal, "Then it's settled! We'll see you guys tonight eventually!" And with that, he led the younger blonde away, leaving the other two in alone in their private thoughts.
Sporting a red convertible, Duke opened the door for Yugi with butler-like fashion and helped her. As they drove to Yugi's mansion, they sang along and laughed with the radio blasting. Carefree luster were their companions as they screeched and waved their arms around and about. The wind joined them in their outrageous dance, flowing across and kissing their skin in a mute harmony. Glancing from the driver's seat, Duke reveled in the joy and blatant excitement radiating from Yugi it was contagious. No sooner, they had reached the mansion in record time due to Duke's speed and surprisingly accurate skills on the road. Out of the corner of his eye though, he spotted a black limo gleaming lazily from they way they came. Grinning, he escorted his fiancé from the car straight to the music room. Waiting there were Jaden and Chazz under the close watch of the ever-faithful Solomon. Together, they settled into an easy chatter as they patiently waited for the band to arrive.
Ding, dong.
"I'll get it Lady Yugi." Stepping deftly through the maze of rooms and hallways, Solomon made his way to the grand oak door. Looking through the peephole, he spotted an unusually large group of teenagers, all wearing the inconspicuous dress of a 'normal teenager'. However, since he had seen them only three nights before, he knew these were the people to allow in. Cautiously, he opened the door and stepped aside." Welcome to the Motou Household. Right this way please."
However, as Millennium stepped through the door, their mouths drop in awe. They thought their own house was grand, they were gravely mistaken. Each room they passed held the splendor of a modern age king. Marble pillars lined the walls, glass tables and white and black leather couches were littered neatly in almost every room. Stainless steel fixtures and sculptures stood stoically staring out to the new guests and lights so soft, and pure emitted rays of angelic feel. But it felt too grand. Each object was grand in monetary value but it didn't feel like a home. Not one like they had imagined for the small girl they barely met anyway.
"Don't worry. You get used to it." The butler murmured. "Even I was a little surprised by Lady Yugi's stepmother's modern taste in décor."
"Step?" Bakura asked surprising the band. They knew he was one not to pry or even get into the private affairs of others, well, at least pry openly. "Are her parents divorced?"
Turning away from the group, he responded gravely, the weight of his words resonating slightly through the empty halls. "No. She passed when My Lady was young. A shame, her mother was very talented." And without another word, he turned on his heels and swiftly strode to their destination in a stooped depressing manner. Turning into a butler fit for Dracula instead of the stoic grandfather-like gentleman they had met at the door.
Sharing a look, the band mates followed warily behind the old man through the maze of wonders. After an almost endless wonderings, the butler stopped abruptly at a lonely door tucked away in the farther edges of the mansion. A door the color of pure white marble stood in front of them, releasing sounds of muffled conversation and laughter.
"Here we are. This is Lady Yugi's music room. Ring the bell if you require anything." Opening the door, the band once more fell into awe. Pearl white leather couches rested away from an ink-stained piano and was surrounded by three thick walls of shining glass. In the mind of the young violet-eyed singer, he spotted the falling sunset as though they were apart of the outside world.
Slowly, Yami took in the scene before him. Seated at the grand piano was the grinning girl he secretly wished to see, to hear her sing again. Smiling, he strode forward only to freeze as he glanced at stranger seated beside her. He was raven-haired and held a gaze of glowing green orbs impossibly dizzying to look at. By the reactions of his female band mates, he could tell by their standards he was gorgeous. Jealousy rose in the pit of his stomach, tainting his thoughts with unnecessary violence. But in seeing the bright smile Yugi was wearing, he pushed it down and took it like a man.
Duke rose from the bench, not noticing the group's entrance. "Hey Yugi, I need to take this call. I'll be back in a bit alright?"
"Sure, just close the door on your way out. Don't want to disturb anyone!" She giggled as her friend passed by the band nonchalantly and without the crazy fan acknowledgment they were used to. "Oh you guys are here! Thank you Jii-chan!" Smiling even brighter, she greeted the newcomers who looked like a pack of lost puppies. ""Hi guys! Just make yourself comfortable anywhere."
Awkwardly, they spread out across the room, seating themselves lazily across the furniture. Seto sat away from the pack, fiddling around on his laptop with Joey seated at his feet smiling goofily while the rest of the couples planted themselves in a familiar gesture of affection. Yami, the loner, took a seat next to Yugi, blushing at his apparent lack of a girlfriend.
Stretching out like a cat, Yugi addressed the group in a professional manner. "So, what's our first order of business guys?"
Nervously, Yami responded, his band mates isolating them for the moment. "Well the debut of 'Hero' is next week's concert in Tokyo and we want to show you what we've come up with."
"Okay, show me then."
At this, Bakura and Marik's heads shot up at attention. "Uhh, but we left the instruments at home…"
Suddenly, a voice yet to reach puberty stepped in. "Instruments are behind you bros."
The band whipped their heads around, except Seto too preoccupied with his isolation device, and find Jaden and Chazz lounging across a couch on the far side of the glass room. Shrugging, they stood once again and prepared for their unofficial performance.
The rolling and crashing of guitars filled the room like a storm. Rising and falling like the waves of a dangerous storm. The beat of the drums boomed like an unsteady earthquake, making way to an uncanny revolution. Rasping and singing like that of a male siren, Yami enchanted all who occupied the room. No one escaped their spell drawing them nearer and nearer. Passion overflowed the band members. They were no longer in a wondrous music room. They were in nirvana; playing to the dance of their inner souls. No world existed but theirs as they synchronized their sounds and their hearts into the song created just for them. Dripped in sweat and tears of an intense emotion, they rode on with the wind of their inspiration; leaving behind the blind girl to helplessly sit back and hear them as they sing. Yugi listened as they freed themselves into the melodies and harmonies of her own longing for the 'hero' she imagined. She dropped her head back, relentlessly falling into their musical trap. Colors overflowed her black world, flowing along with the fast pace of the song and dissipating eagerly as the song came to an end.
For a moment, she remained still, savoring the song with her ears before she clapped along with her brother and his girlfriend-to-be. "Great job guys! Perfect vocals!"
"You really think so?" A blushing Yami asked nervously, the adrenaline still flowing through him. His eyes glistened as he gazed at Yugi. She still wore the bulky glasses from the night they met, but he still found a breathless beauty in her. Simple yet complex, maybe beneath the cover of her eyes. Steadily, he made his way back to her, gently sitting beside her. Wait, I hardly know her, get a grip on yourself man!
"Of course! But Bakura cut the guitar solo in the beginning short. It's WAY too long!"
Angered by her comment, the white-haired boy tensed. "Hey! Look SHRIMP- Owww Ryou!" He screeched as his girlfriend assaulted him with her elbow in his gut. To deep into his rage, he didn't notice the uncontrollable laughter Jaden and Chazz were trying to conceal. The affairs of the older intrigued them, especially if the dominant was put in their place by the weaker.
Still blindly looking in a general direction, she said confidently, "Other than that, the song is what I hoped it would sound like. Thank you guys!"
"Well, you did write the lyrics." Yami sputtered.
"Well, I just-"
"Hey Yugi!" Just then, Duke entered again. "Sorry for taking so long. It was one of the game shop franchises. Apparently, there was something wrong with one of the systems but turns out it was just dust build-up. What a rookie mistake, I swear! Oh!" Finally catching sight of the band, he greeted them graciously with a bow of respect. "Hello, welcome!"
"Who's the pretty boy?" Bakura retorted, still clutching the guitar.
"Let me introduce myself. I'm Duke Devlin. Good friend to Yugi Motou and archrival to Jaden in videogames. Nice to meet you all."
"Well, pretty boy. Leave. We have work to finish."
Ignoring Bakura's harsh remark, Duke strode towards Yugi and wrapped an arm protectively around her. Yami, visibly jealous, scooted his chair closer to the piano in vain to remain in Yugi's line of sight. (A/N: little does he know!)
"Nope! I'm fine old man!" Duke replied.
"Bakura! Leave him alone!" Ryou interrupted before her boyfriend could react. Playfully but forcefully, she jabbed her arm into his stomach and in answer she received grumbles and mutterings of defeat. "This isn't your house."
Giggling, Yugi directed their attention to the task at hand. Turning to Yami's general direction, she asked, "So, do you have any other material that I can work on?"
"Well, no-"
"Umm. Do you think you could read this?" The white haired girl shyly asked. With her hands shaking, she pulled out a folded paper and offered it to the girl at the piano. Immediately seeing the danger in this, Chazz stood abruptly and plucked the paper out of Ryou's hand. She walked carefully around her and made her way to Yugi and Duke. Both reading silently the contents of the paper to the blind girl, they tried inconspicuously to keep her secret hidden.
"Hmmm…. Chazz, can you join me in this one?" Without another word of approval, Yugi sang quietly. Then slowly, like the gentle tides of the ocean waves, her voice rose above the others. Captivating every one as they suddenly silenced their conversations. The girls together created something so melodic, so innocently pure; the outside world seemed to have come to a standstill just to hear them. Like the night she first sang with Yami, she fell into her darkness with ease. This time though, she wasn't afraid. She felt the comforting embrace of the one she wanted to see for so long, to trace the contours of his face for another final time. A burst of hope filled her as the song came to a soft end. The arms that held her released her with a slight reassuring push; 'we will meet again' those crimson eyes spoke as they disappeared into the abyss. Silence met them after she and Chazz closed the somber melody with one elongated note; ringing until it had become almost nonexistent. Tears filled her eyes, this simple beauty she encountered her stirred the hidden sorrow and inner demons she had so long ago forced down. "That was beautiful Ryou."
Blushing madly, Ryou looked up from here embarrassment. "Really?" Yami wrapped an arm around the red-faced girl in wordless encouragement, knowing she would understand. "Thank you."
"If its not too much trouble." Duke said rising from his seat. He strode purposefully towards the instruments and selected an old, beaten guitar. Signs of everyday wear tinted its dark mahogany colored wood as it glistened tiredly in the bright light. "I kind of have an idea on what beat the song could be sung with."
"Yea right! Gamers know only what gamers know Pretty Boy!" Bakura spat, clearly unappeased by the fact more outside help was intruding even more than what he deemed necessary.
"Shut up Bakura!" Curiously, the tri-color haired singer turned to Duke. He measured him through his steady gaze, finally when his curiosity got the best of him; he called on the raven-haired boy. "So? Show us your idea."
Strumming gently at the strings, chords of an easy melody bursted forth, one so simple and repetitive, it soothed the burdened soul. Throughout it was unchanging, but soon, passion flew as it cresendoed; still playing the same rhythm. Many across the room, save Seto still oblivious, sighed in content as it lightly touched their inner peace.
When Duke finished, Yami sneered pointed at his fellow band mate. ""I think you should retract that earlier comment Bakura!"
"…"
"We should call it 'The Messenger'" Malik suggested. "All in favor?!"
"AY!" The group yelled.
Laughing at their group approval, Yugi felt something nagging her in the back of her mind. She replayed the song with its new beat altogether with her voice. Then she replaced her singing with Yami's voice and immediately found the problem. 'His voice it TOO deep for the song! It requires someone with a raspy tune. Listening to the band around her, she analyzed how each could suit the song and found disappointment. Then, she heard one voice above the rest, the obvious choice despite his seemingly bitter attitude. "There's one problem though." She addressed Yami. "Well … It's just that the song feels as if it's meant for someone with a higher range. I mean no offense Yami, but your voice is too low for it . . ."
"But… But!"
"Oooh! Rejected!" Bakura shouted, screaming like a child delighted at an excitable toy.
Before any argument could erupt between the lead singer and the guitarist, Yugi intervened quickly. "I want Bakura to sing it!"
"Mande?!" (A/N: It's a form of 'what' in Spanish. Short for 'mandame' as in 'what do you need from me' or 'what me?' Rough translation and is lingo here in South Texas.)
"Come on Necromancy! Don't be a wimp!" Chazz and Duke shouted simultaneously. Jumping up and down and hooting like football players at a game, together they goaded the downcast white-haired band member till he reached his limit.
"I'm not a wimp Pretty Boy!"
"Then sing the damn song Necromancy!" Duke spat back.
Standing abruptly, Bakura prepared himself for a fight. His body tensed, waiting for the other male to provoke him. To the others watching, it looked like two lions fighting over the last scrap of meat. "Look Pretty Boy! I don't take lightly to-"
"Please Bakura! For me!" Ryou said as she gripped his sleeve lightly and batted her brown, doe-like at her boyfriend. Secretly, in the back of her mind, Ryou knew Bakura would sing; no one could resist her doe eye attack. "I want to hear you sing my song…"
Failing to resist her unfair assault, the guitarist turned away red-faced and strode out of her grip towards the acoustic in Duke's waiting hands. After a few moments of vocal preparation and guitar tuning, Bakura swerved and faced the rest of the group, still blushing slightly.
When you feel you're alone,
Cut off from this cruel world,
Your instincts telling you to run.
Listen to your heart!
Those angel voices!
They'll sing to you,
They'll bring you right back home!
When life leaves us blind,
Love keeps us kind!
It keeps us kind….
When you've suffered enough,
And your spirit is breaking,
You're growing desperate from the fight.
Remember you're loved,
And you always will be.
This melody will bring you right back home.
When life leaves us blind,
Love keeps us kind.
When life leaves us blind,
Love keeps us kind!
Ohhhhhh,
Ohhhhhh,
Ohhhhhhhh.
Blushing madly, Bakura stubbornly refused to face his audience. Strumming the last note tenderly, he resumed avoiding their stares and glared murderously at the floor. "Ummm... I'm done now!"
"That was beautiful!" The girls of the band squealed sobbingly. All three looking like huge eyed chibis crying over-exaggerated streams of tears down their cheeks. "Don't you think so Yugi?"
"I told you so Marik! Can't believe you doubted my mad skills! Just kidding!" Yugi cried cheerfully at the crazy haired blonde to bring him out of his moody bubble and into the immediate conversation.
Glaring, he responded from his resting place on the couch, loosely stretching as he spoke. "Fine, you win this one short stuff! I'll just stay below you as your lowly subject of your awesomeness! Please teach me your all powerful skill! Ha, yea that was pretty good. What do you think Yams?"
"I admit, it was VERY good. A wonderful performance by our resident death metal rocker now turned acoustic hippie!" His voice cracked hoarsely in laughter. Yami couldn't help it; Bakura was so red and embarrassed that the psychotic serial killer look was almost worth insulting him for.
"Do- don't patronize me! You'll regret it!"
Joey, rising from her spot next to Seto, skipped merrily towards the white haired man. Circling him teasingly, she proceeded to annoy him in his suffering with her Jersey accent slipping slightly. "I'm patronizing you! What will you do to a girl like me? Haha! You can't do anything cuz I'm a girl! That and Seto will kill you with his suing skills until you're less than penniless!"
"She's not wrong!"
"Grrrr…. You suck Seto!"
Sneaking up behind Bakura, Duke glomped him half-heartily as he pet the white haired man's wild tangles like that of a small kitten. Mockingly, he added to the fire teasing the man more. "Don't worry Fluffy! I'll only post it on YouTube after you've performed it live! Then Yugi and I will sell merchandise of it! Posters, cup holders, body pillows. . . And we'll make millions off of you!"
"That's it! You messed with the wrong guitarist Pretty Boy!" Swiftly, he reached behind him where he placed the acoustic. Holding it high above his head, he resembled an avenging muse, hell-bent on wrecking havoc on the other insignificant inspiring muses. However, Duke struck the last cord in his self control. He would HIT this BOY with the guitar if it was the last thing he did. "You're going down!" And with that he swung mightily at Duke-
Amused, Jaden interrupted the scene in front of him as though he were watching TV and pressing the 'pause' button. "You break it you buy it. That's an antique and it's worth more than you and your life Fluffy!"
Stopping in mid-swing, Bakura turned his head to the brunette lounging in the farther corner of the room. With his eye-twitching, he, though already probably already knowing the answer, asked cautiously. "How much more?"
"Like, even if you were some badass thief with a huge bounty on just for your toes, you still couldn't even top that."
"You heard them Necromancy! Put the guitar down or you'll end up selling yourself to slavery!" Duke chuckled smugly.
"No!" Jaden cried suddenly, a brilliant idea taking form in his head decided to make itself known. "Keep calling him fluffy! He hates it!"
In reply to the comment, Bakura shot daggers at each and every one the people in the room laughing hysterically at the younger Motou's wit. 'I'm not supposed to be the center of attention right now! I'm supposed to be watching the girl! Which by the way, where is she? Glancing around the room ignoring every one else's snide joke at him, he spotted Yugi quietly rooted to her place at the piano bench. Now that he thought about it, the girl hadn't moved from there in such a long time. She just sat there aloof and appeared to be mirroring when everyone else would laugh. And why was she still wearing those freakishly huge glasses? Strange… I'll keep a close eye on her; I just have to be discreet about it.
Bored by all the bantering and joking, Chazz nudged Jaden silently, hoping not to disturb the conversation. "I'm bored. Can we play the Xbox?"
"Nope." Scratching his head and blushing, he wanted to make a good impression on her. "The Xbox broke last week, so we're out of luck there. Unless. . . . You brought your cards?"
Shooting up in excitement, she practically dragged the brunette out of the room playfully. "Yea I brought them. Let's duel!" And with that, they exited unnoticeably out of the glass walled wonder room; however, knowing Jaden's footsteps, Yugi knew her brother had gone.
The others still oblivious to the younger's disappearance, still continued on until all the jokes in the world had been used to make fun of the poor white-haired man and their conversation was left to awkward chuckles and snickers. But, two blondes had one idea that would satisfy the quickly becoming bored group.
"Let's play video games!" Marik and Joey shouted, both posing as though they had massive guns pointed at each other and at any moment either could be obliterated.
"But Kuriboh said their Xbox broke." Yami said fuming.
Duke, listening in, took his hand off of Bakura's head and silently stepped back to Yugi at the piano bench. "Hey Yugi. I have my PS3 in the back of my car. Can I plug it in at the lounge?" He spoke loudly; making sure the others could hear and snap a spaced-out Yugi back into the present. During the duration of the band's visit, the girl had become suspiciously withdrawn.
Smiling brightly, she responded to her fiancé's request. "Go for it! You practically live here!"
Suddenly, a weird, awkward silence fell into the room. The band members stared hard and curiously at the two huddled together. They all knew of Yami's unconscious attraction to the young girl so another man in the equation was… undesirable. Yami, attempting to break the silence, spoke. "Umm . . . You guys aren't dating are-"
However, Duke, excited and oblivious, jumped up and fist pumped in the air. Taking no notice of the suspicious glares and Yami's comment, he continued on. "Yes! Black Ops here I come!" Glancing at the band, he offered them a chance to play. And with a chorus of 'Hell yeas', they followed Yugi and Duke to the lounge; another spacious room filled with white, black, and silver modern furniture. A crystal chandelier hung neatly high above them, twinkling calmly and emitting yet another subtle, ethereal light into the room. A huge flat screen TV loomed before them, reflecting each and every one who entered. They all seated themselves on the surprisingly comfortable leather couches around the TV and waited until Duke finished setting up the game system. Four assumed power over the controllers and played competitively against each other. Duke, Yami, Marik, and Bakura hunched over their handhelds and stared murderously at the screen as if the figures would at one moment jump out and into reality. Round after round, they continued till they sighed into a comfortable break.
Yami, spotting Yugi looking forlornly at the screen from her seat on the floor, pushed her gently with all the affection he could muster in his touch. "Hey Yugi, do you want to play as well? You can take my controller if you want." Smiling, he held the controller in front of him waiting for an answer.
"Umm... No... It's ok. I don't know how to play. Plus there's no room on the couch for me to sit." Nervously the girl twisted a lock of her wild, curling purple hair between her fingers. She "looked" up at Yami, and grinned sheepishly, "I'm bad at videogames anyway. I would just ruin all the fun."
The singer blushed slightly as Yugi responded hesitantly. Now more than ever, he wanted to teach, say, or do anything for the girl he barely met. "It's ok; I can make room on the couch. I'll even teach you how to play! Come on! We all sucked at one point so we wouldn't hold it against you."
"Oh no please. It's alright. I-"
And for what seemed like the hundredth time, Duke interrupted once more, annoying others and rescuing Yugi. "Oh no you don't! You're not getting out of this one Yug!" With uncharacteristic grace, he rose from his seat on the couch and swept her up off the floor. The black-haired boy ignored the looks and shouts he received from Yugi, Yami, and fellow gamers as he momentarily blocked the screen. He nimbly made his way back to his vacant seat and sat Yugi on his lap. "Now put your hands on mine and let the master show you how it's done!" He said with an impish grin on his face.
Yugi now knowing she had no other choice but to comply, placed her slim, pale fingers over Duke's and smiled affectionately as she muttered a playful jibe. However, this was not missed by the violet-eyed singer. Narrowing his eyes, he rose to the challenge of "the master" of videogames. "The master, huh? We'll see about that!"
As the same four played another round along with the addition of Yugi, they each found themselves absorbed with the obsession of competition. The men sat stonily and sometimes cried out in victory when an awesome kill was executed or groaned in despair when their plans failed and ended in death. Shots rang out, grenades boomed, and the clang of metal on metal cried out into the room, making Yugi jump at each loud noise. Only Duke, her emotional anchor, kept her from blindly fleeing the room. Despite her slightly frightened state, Duke and Yugi were victorious and smugly beat Bakura's nearly perfect score.
"What the F %&!" Bakura screamed in rage. "DAMN YOU PRETTY BOY!"
"Don't be jealous Fluffy. It's not my fault you have no skill! Besides, jealousy is very unbecoming on the mind don't ya think?" And with a wink, he turned back to Yugi.
"I'm not done with you yet Pretty Boy! Another round!"
Yugi, giggling, replied crudely. "Eww disgusting! We are in public Bakura and who knew you batted for the other team?! Ryou will be very unhappy!" (A/N: personal joke between me and a friend of mine.)
"Haha good one Yugs!" Duke chuckled.
Bakura, however, didn't find it amusing. He was though, surprised that such a crude remark could leave the mouth of an innocent-looking girl, it almost left him speechless. "Shut up!"
While Yugi and Bakura were jabbing at each other, Duke started another round and hatched up a mischievous plan. "Ok babe, you're on your own!" Swiftly, he slipped his hands out from under Yugi's and made sure hers were secured onto the small black controller and placed them onto her hips.
"WHAT? NOOO!"
With that, the match started and left Yugi startled. Even though Duke was trying to speak directions quietly into her ear, she was pressing buttons insanely and had no clue what to do! Who could blame her? There's a reason blind people don't play videogames, she thought. In her character's wild shooting, she managed to shoot down Marik's and Yami's avatars once but was killed a multitude of times in the duration of the match.
"Wow. . . Yugi, you suck at video games." Duke said.
Shaking her head, she shoved the controller back into Duke's waiting hands. Adjusting her glasses further up the bridge of her nose, she sighed heavily. "I told you didn't I."
"But at least you got two kills. . ." Ryou said sympathetically.
"You mean, even though I suck at this, I still get two lucky shots right?" Yugi replied breezily and was met with silence, confirming what she had claimed was true.
"Why lie? Yes you suck Yugi. Can Ryou and I play too Duke?" Malik said calmly.
"Sure. Just let me connect two more controllers and I'll give mine up to Joey." Gently, he lifted Yugi off of him and into his now unoccupied spot on the couch. Duke turned to find Joey seated on the floor in front of him munching on chips, more than likely provided by Seto. "Here Joey, play for a bit. Meanwhile, I'll keep Seto over there company." He said smiling as he made his way towards the manager silently fiddling with his phone. Together, they faded into idle conversation and stared into their own isolation devices (A/N: isolation devices are what my teacher calls portable electronics; iPods', phones, mp3's, etc.).
"Let's have a tournament! Band members, are we all in?" Bakura declared excitedly. And without waiting for an answer he yelled out impatiently, "Alright, two man teams! Here's the match ups!"
Team Match Ups:
Psychos with Guns- Tomb Robber (Bakura) and Tomb Keeper (Marik)
Sharp Shooters- Hikari (Ryou) and Violet Rose (Malik)
Pharaoh's Throne- Pharaoh (Yami) and Puppy Love (Joey)
"We're all set! Ready! Start!"
In the Video Game
Pharaoh stood alert hidden behind the walls of an abandoned building. Somewhere hidden in the Spanish mansion were the two enemy squads, the infamously insane Psychos with Guns and the stealth duo Sharp Shooters; all with the goal of killing and remaining the last one standing. Silently, he signaled his partner, Puppy Love, to move forward and scope out ahead. With her M14 firmly in hand, she treaded softly in front of him and-
BAM BAM BAM!
Suddenly, they were assaulted by an array of bullets and driven back into the room they held shelter in. Pharaoh and Puppy Love crouched on either side of the door way, returning fire as best they could but no matter what, the sounds of gunfire never ceased. Instead, it became rapidly louder and closer.
"Puppy Love, let's make a run for it! You take one way and I'll take the other! We'll meet up outside by the old rusted car. On three. One."
"Two"
"Three!"
They parted separately, shooting over their shoulders occasionally for safety measures. Pharaoh took the long way out, making himself a moving target in order to ensure that his partner made it out alive. Swerving through the maze of rooms and courtyards, he finally exited the building and spotted Puppy Love in position behind the rusted truck. He sprinted across the lawn as the gunfire tailing him sounded once more and threateningly becoming impossible to lose. Pharaoh nearly collided into the truck next to his partner; he rolled onto his knees and aimed at the doorway he came from.
"Let's take these bastards down Pharaoh!"
"Took the words out my mouth!"
"Ready? Go go go-!"
Blood sprayed in front of him as Puppy Love fell dead in front of him. Confused, he rose swiftly only to be shot down by his enemy, Tomb Robber, shooting wildly with his beloved MT 40. Not long after, Tomb Keeper ran out from behind him and shot mercilessly at Pharaoh even though he was already dead.
"Nice work, eh Tomb Keeper? Bastard didn't see us coming!"
"Neither did the hussy working with him. Robber, let's continue on before-!"
A single shot rang out, and caused deathly silence. In front of Tomb Robber lay his comrade, killed by a headshot. Swiftly he hid in the back of the truck and scanned the area around him. His blood ran cold as he spotted his enemy hiding in the trees. The Sharp Shooters, stationed a mile out, had their sniper rifles pointed at him. Any sudden movement he made could be his last; he had to choose wisely. Shoot or flee.
"Shoot. What the hell, I have nothing to lose; these chicks have nothing on me."
As promised, he threw out his gun and pulled the trigger. And was shot dead before the bullet could leave his gun.
"Well that was a success! Wouldn't you say so Violet Rose?"
"I dare say I would call it a success Hikari! Hold up! There's one more squad out there. Who names their team the Rich Bitches?"
"I dunno. Let's go own their asses!"
"Right! Hikari, you go east and I'll-! Crap! Gunfire! Run!"
The duo ran due east, abandoning their original plan and flew into the building out of firing range. They regrouped, reloaded, and prepared for action. Cautiously, they sneaked through the building, Violet rose in the rear and Hikari as point; avoiding windows and exposed areas carefully.
"Who the F #& was that Violet?"
"I have no idea, but- . . . Dude, are those dogs?"
"F #& yes! Shoot them all down!"
Back to back, they took down the dogs one by one until there was none left. Breathing heavily, they leaned against a pillar for a momentary reprieve. However, they didn't get to rest for very long before shots rang out again.
"God damnit! Run Violet! I'll take north, you go west!"
"Wait no! That's a land-!" An explosion rocked the area, sending large amounts of dirt and debris everywhere and ruthlessly took the lives of the Sharp Shooters. Fire and charred earth was left in its wake, leaving an end to the game and the other squads except the victors; the Rich Bitches.
Back to Reality
"Mine." Malik said sullenly as the TV screen read 'Defeated by the Rich Bitches- Devil's Eye and Blue-eyed Destroyer'. "Who the hell are these bastards? I'm gonna wring their necks!"
Interrupting Malik's tirade, Duke coughed loudly, bringing the attention to all unto him. "You owe me for those dogs. Do you know how hard it is to hack into the system, rewire the game play, and program them from your phone?" Laughing, he turned back to Seto who was still fiddling with his isolation devices. "Great idea on the landmine bro! I didn't think you had it in you!"
Shrugging, Seto smirked. "I game once in a while."
"Well you keep doing that!" High fiving the blue-eyed creep, he fell back into his seat as the doorbell rang.
"Oh well. I'll just go and get that." Solomon said. Somewhere along the tournament, he reappeared and was entertained by the youngster's idea of fun.
"No, no, Solomon. I'll get it!" Duke said rising from his seat and softly pushing the old man into a comfortable chair. "Besides, if I'm going to do a hostile takeover I might as well make the locals get used to my face!" Cheery and oblivious to the unbelieving stares he was receiving, Duke winked and strode out of the lounge to the awaiting, unknown visitor.
"That boy is really something. It's nice that he gave me a break from my job though. My aching feet. . ."
Narrowing his eyes, Bakura voiced what the other members were thinking. "Yes he is. You guys seem REALLY CLOSE Yugi. Are you guys together?"
Unbeknownst to Yugi, but clearly visible to everyone else, Yami became very agitated and red with anger. He clenched and unclenched his hands, waiting fearfully for an answer from the silent girl.
"No! Of course not! We're-!"
"Childhood friends!" Solomon interrupted abruptly. "They've known each other since grade school and still kept in touch when Duke left to America when he was nine!" He pulled out a large manila envelope from an unknown pocket in his jacket and offered it to the closest band member near him, which happened to be Bakura and Yami. "Look at these! This was young Duke's seventh birthday!"
"Jii-Chan!" Yugi cried. After the mysterious pictures were handed off to Bakura and Yami, he sneaked ninja-like over to Yugi who was now isolated from the group.
"Whoa! Pretty Boy had braces?!" Bakura exclaimed.
Joey peeked over the white-haired man's shoulder and laughed at her discovery. "And he looked fifty times better then you Fluffy! You looked like you had oversized train tracks across your face!"
Making sure no one was listening, Solomon tapped Yugi's shoulder, signaling her to whisper whatever she was inquiring about. "Solomon, where did you get those photos?! We barely met last week!" She hissed barely audibly.
Though Yugi's whispering was almost silent as a breeze, the old man still hadn't lost his hearing. Especially since he needed it to know when he could sneak desserts when the master's of the house were around. "But with the way you two act, it looks more personal than you intend. Plus, Photoshop works wonders!"
The door burst open suddenly, revealing Duke and the surprise visitor none other than Tristan. He and the green-eyed gamer were still deeply involved in their conversation to take much notice that they intruded on everyone else's.
"Hostile takeover?! Bro I'm in! When do we start Duke?"
Clapping his hand onto the brunette's back, he chuckled before continuing. "Today! First, we must get everyone accustomed to our faces! Which, I know you already have covered. Then we kidnap Yugi and hold her for ransom, when in reality, she's in on the gig too!"
"Sounds like a plan!" And with that, they sealed their 'plan' with that guy's only handshake and laughing off their ridiculousness.
"So how come you were late to your first meeting? Met up with a girl, huh?" Duke inquired jokingly.
Yugi, glad to hear her best friend arrived, responded to Duke's directness. "Come one Duke! Don't grill the guy with questions, he's a convert!"
"True! Since you have a motorcycle I shall forgive this insubordinate action! Tristan you are hereby forgiven!"
"Haha it's cool! I actually just got off of work just now!"
Yami, becoming bored of picture looking and relieved of the relationship status of Yugi and Duke, politely inserted himself into the conversation. "Where do you work?"
Tristan, too happy to answer, replied happily. "A repair shop downtown called Hyper Drive. The name's pretty cool, and the pay's good! Don't tell the school though! Students aren't supposed to have jobs."
"Hyper Drive?" Duke said slowly. The color in his face drained into a deathly pallor, his hands shook, and sweat slipped down his brow. He propped himself against a couch to keep his unsteady legs from betraying him. The name of the repair shop brought up too many buried memories; all haunting behind the lids of his closed eyes each night he slept, all begging to be remembered.
"Yea!" Tristan continued, somehow oblivious to Duke's stressed reaction. "My boss is totally crazy! He has me working odd hours and not to mention he's extremely forgetful!"
"Doesn't sound like I'm going to call him for repairs anytime soon. . ." Bakura said sullenly. He recently crashed his beauty of a bike and was hoping for a good mechanic.
The brunette, however, came to his boss's defense. "He isn't that bad! When's he's working on cars and motorcycles, his passion comes out and he really does a great job on repairs! One time, this bike was totally demolished and he brought it back to life!" A light bulb lit over the boy's head. He reached into his pocket and pulled out two crushed business cards and handed them to Duke and Bakura. "If you happen to get a bike, he can tell you the best places for spare parts, I guarantee it! And if you stop by sometime for any questions, request my boss. His name is Bruno!"
Author's Note:
Heart: FINALLY DONE! YEAH I F #$%^& HATE MY LIFE!
Evil: No she doesn't. What she means is, she hates it when she gets sidetracked often. And so do I. . .
Heart: =.=… I'll get you later. Sorry if it's a little lengthy but I wanted to try it out. *shrug* Hope you guys liked it.
Evil: The videogame part was my idea! XD high five!
Heart: *high fives* belch! I realize, I have no time for my other fan fiction so that will have to wait until Sightless Music is done. T~T
Evil: It's alright. . . Sucks to be you! HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!
Heart: o_= *twitch twitch* Nevermind, I'm going to kill you now! *Pulls out bat* Satan will come for you b*&^%!
Evil: You can try! *Pulls out light saber*
Both: Hope you enjoyed! We don't own anything but our souls! *epic battle royale begins*