The gang finally pulled up at the arcade after one near collision and multiple bruised knees. Ryou almost sighed relieved, folding his scooter and walking in. Tristan went around the back to park, Marik following to admire the motorcycle out of action. Yugi jumped off his board and kicked it up into his hands, walking in and Joey followed suit. Mokuba skated through the doors and took a seat before taking off his roller-blades, before watching Yugi kick Joey's butt at DDR. After the song, ironically entitled 'Hikari', Yugi celebrated as Joey collapsed.
"And the king of games reigns supreme!" Joey suddenly jumped up, pointing a finger at Yugi accusingly.
"Let's settle dis old school, I challenge you to a duel!" Mokuba sweat-dropped, unable to believe the mutt was really as stupid as his brother said.
"Joey, is that really the best idea?" Realizing him mistake, Joey tried to work his way out of it.
"Um...Mokuba as you can see I was pointing at da millennium puzzle, hence meaning I was challenging Yami."
"That's a pretty big word for you Joey." The latter screamed as Yami crossed him arms giving the blonde a sympathetic smile. Joey sighed, knowing this was not gonna end well. The pair both grabbed their decks, walking over to one of the ginormous old dueling arenas. Ryou walked over to watch, Mokuba grinning at the albino. Taking a minute to survey the scene, Ryou sighed.
"He really is an idiot." Joey somehow heard, shouting at Ryou from over 3 meters above.
"I have a chance!"
"No you don't!" Yami smirked, the rare chance to teach Mokuba something more or less and tease Joey presenting itself.
"Now Mokuba that's not in the name of good sportsmanship. I'm sure Joey has some form of luck based strategy that can defeat mine and Yugi's deck, even though it has the three Egyptian God cards and all 5 pieces of Exodia within it." Joey looked pale, as the last fact registered in his mind.
"SINCE WHEN DID YOU HAVE ALL 5 EXODIA PIECES?"
"Joey we do live in a game shop. It wasn't that hard." The blonde shook his head is disappointment as his 'chance' flew out the window. Drawing his first hand of the game, Joey put on a straight face and focused; a completely different person as he dueled. Yami grinned, drawing his own hand. Looking through his cards, Joey grinned.
"Alright pal, I go first. I summon once monster in face down defence mode and place one card in my spell and trap zone." Yami smirked, and Joey knew his time was up.
"Okay, I'll make this quick." No more than 10 minutes later, Joey's life points hit zero and the duel was over. The stands lowered and the pair both met with the others, shaking hands. "Good game Joey."
"One day..." Yami smiled patting the blonde's back.
"Yep one day. Maybe not today, maybe not tomorrow, maybe not in this lifetime, but one day." Joey glared, smirking.
"Yes great great great great great great great great-." Yami groaned, as Ryou sighed.
"Joey the millennium items stop the aging process completely, and put the spirit inside into a form of sleep similar to cryopreservation, thus making the spirits no older than us. It's a completely false statement to call Yami your- " Mokuba pulled on the albino's sleeve and Ryou looked down at him.
"Ryou, Joey isn't a super genius; he doesn't understand a word you're saying." The blonde grinned sheepishly, but Yami looked just as confused as Joey.
"Cryopreserva-?"
"Ah." Ryou sweat dropped. "Forget about it Yami." Joey laughed, wrapping an arm around Yami in a friendly headlock.
"Really Ryou, Yami's poor 5000 year ol' brain can't handle da pressure." Yami tensed, glaring at the other, crimson eyes burning with fury.
"Joey unlike yours, my '5000 year ol' brain' can actually understand year 10 math, and unless you want it broken I suggest you remove your arm from my neck." Joey hastily pulled his arm back as Yami stormed off, arms crossed as he vanished into of the maze of arcade games.
"Yami wait!" Mokuba quickly followed the Pharaoh as Ryou sighed in disappointment. Joey hung his head in shame as Tristan and Marik walked over. It took Tristan only a second to realize what had happened, sighing.
"You should know better by now Joey." Marik raised an eyebrow.
"Why? What happened? Where's Yugi and Mokuba?" Ryou crossed his arms, scolding Joey as if he was the blonde's father.
"Yami and Mokuba. Joey was poking fun at Yami."
"Well what's the problem with that?" Tristan glared at Joey, the blonde about ready to shrivel up.
"Joey doesn't know when to shut up." Joey stormed off after Yami, wiping his eyes with his sleeve.
"I'll go say sorry!"
"I'll come with." Marik jogged to keep up with Joey's longer strides. Before long they found the pharaoh and Mokuba at one of the newer games and Joey couldn't help but smile. Yami stood focus completely on the small black haired boy, as he explained how to play the game.
"So you use the red button to jump and- Hey Joey!" The blonde froze as Yami looked over to him, but you could tell the incident was already far from his mind. Though Joey knew better, deciding to be on the definite safe side.
"I'm sorry Yami." Crossing his arms in thought, for a terrifying second Joey had actually crossed the line.
"I'll forgive you on one condition." Joey almost passed out relieved and Mokuba laughed. Tristan and Ryou walked over having overheard the whole conversation, Ryou sighing. Marik looked around confused raising an eyebrow.
"What condition?" Mokuba grinned at the Egyptian boy.
"Joey pays for a round of laser tag." A sly smirk grew on Marik's face, as the gang unknowingly entered his world.
"I'm sorry guys, but you're all about to get your butts kicked." Mokuba jumped up and down like a kid of a sugar rush.
"The game's not over til it's won Marik!" Yami grinned and ruffled Mokuba's hair…right as Seto Kaiba walked into the arcade.
"Yugi Muto you better not be brain washing my brother again with your heart of the card crap." Yami rolled his eyes as Mokuba jumped around to face his brother.
"A-ah Seto." The brunette looked down at his brother, frowning.
"I had a very interesting call from your tutor today Mokuba. Why weren't you there?" Joey jumped to the kid's defence, purely to annoy Kaiba.
"Give da kid a break Kaiba, he already learns five days a week." Mokuba laughed as Kaiba glared at the mutt. Before the debate escalated to a fight, Yami cut in.
"Kaiba, Joey was just about to host us to a game of laser tag. If either Mokuba or myself get a higher score than you, we forget this incident and allow Mokuba to stay at the arcade with us. If we both get a higher score than you, Mokuba no longer has to take extra lessons on weekends. And if we both lose to you, the Egyptian God cards are yours."
"Done. I'll pay for the game since I know the mutt can't afford it." Joey went in for the kill, but Tristan grabbed his fist. The brunette smirked and made a remark that should not be repeated, before walking off to pay for the laser tag. Tristan held Joey's hands behind his back as the blonde screamed curses at Kaiba's back.
"Deep breaths. Breathe. Go to your happy place." Slowly he calm down and everyone sighed, the blonde still cursing Kaiba under his breath. Mokuba sighed disappointingly.
"Thanks Yami, but how am I ever going to get enough points to beat Seto?"
"Remember Mokuba while your brother in the King of Pricks, and quite good at duel monsters, you're the Ruler when it comes to arcade games and lasers." A light of hope appeared in Mokuba's eyes, his confidence over 9000. "Plus if you follow Joey and Tristan around you'll get the points." The latter two growled as Mokuba smirked.
"HEY!" Yami smirked as Kaiba walking back over.
"Alright you idiots I've paid for the game, let's go." The group followed Kaiba as he led them into the laser tag, everyone grabbing their vests and guns. A geeky looking boy with red hair met them at the door; his voice sounding like someone ran sandpaper down his throat as he ran through the rules in a monotone voice.
"No hitting punching or swearing. This simulation is not designed to encourage violence." Ryou coughed to hide a laugh and Tristan grinned.
"Yeah right." The boy didn't seem to register they'd spoken, more zombie than man.
"Alright Seto Kaiba, group of 8. Have a blast and enjoy your game." The group entered the game field, but before gunfire began Mokuba realised a problem with the boys counting.
"Guys there's only meant to be seven of us..." Seto scoffed, rolling his eyes.
"The people that run this building are idiots Mokuba, they always make mistakes."
"Shut up priest." Everyone jumped at the cold voice of Yami Bakura. "Pharaoh, I better not had been the only one who sensed it." Yami sighed disappointedly, turning to face the group.
"No one fire your weapons, this is a shadow game." Joey and Tristan's eyes widened, Kaiba's rolled, Mokuba looking up at Yami in confusion. Malik took over, causing Joey to walk away from the psychopath slowly.
"Why Pharaoh I never thought you to be as devious as to make a shadow game out of this."
"It wasn't me Malik, and it wasn't Bakura either." Everyone seemed to glare daggers at the blonde Egyptian, who let out an ear-splitting cackle.
"Don't look at me! I'm on a good behaviour bond." Yami eyebrows furrowed in confusion and everyone tensed.
"Then who-" The barrel of a revolver found its way against Yami's back, sounding strangely real as the wielder cocked the gun.
"Hello, your majesty."
