I'm noticing these boys eating quite a lot in these chapters lately, but they're excess intake of calories is compensated for their running around later on. And wow, such a long update and a short chapter, but it's got lots of important plot points that will be crucial later on plus some mystery. Enjoy!
Disclaimer: Yugioh belongs to Kazuki Takahashi and whoever else bought the rights to use it, BUT any characters that are not from the Yugiverse are mine and should not be used by anyone else (I love these guys don't take them from me!)
Viva La Paris!
"Guys I can see the Eiffel Tower!" Ryo roused his dozing friends to see the lighted icon of the city before it disappeared as they descended into the city.
"Well you're certainly in a better mood." Tristan murmured while stretching in his seat.
"It's Paris," was the simple reply. They didn't realize the train was at a full stop until the other passengers retrieved their bags and were heading towards the exit. They were the last to leave and wandered around the train station, wondering where to go next. Ryo took the lead to show the others around since he knew his way around the city. They boarded the next metro and in ten minutes were crossing the streets and standing on the walkway of Les Champes-Élysées. The entire avenue was lit including the monuments on each end, the Place de la Concorde and L'Arc de Triomphe.
"This is amazing." Yugi looked at the lit street with awe, it lights gave a beautiful glow to the avenue.
"That's why it's called 'the most beautiful avenue in the world'." Ryo said.
"By who?" Joey was incredulous, sure it looked pretty…. Tristan was busy taking pictures of each end of the street with his digital camera.
Their white hair friend grinned, "Mainly by the French, but if anyone asks just say so." The group decided to head towards the Arc de Triomphe on the way peeking into luxurious specialty shops and some chain stores that they would see back home. The four walked to the top of the monument and had someone take a group picture of them.
"Viva la Paris!" they all said in unison with big grins.
"Where should we go next?" Yugi asked everyone was taking a quick break in a tiny café. Ryo suggested visiting the Eiffel Tower since by the time they got to anything else it would be closed.
"Actually there is a place we can go that'll be open." The two noticed Joey and Tristan grinning over a pamphlet. The guys showed it to them, it was a lewd woman beckoning customers into the Moulin Rouge.
"A cabaret?"
"No, Moulin Rouge, jeez, Bakura, I thought you knew your French." Joey mocked.
"Moulin Rouge…" Ryo shook his head, "Never mind, it'll be impossible to get in let alone very expensive. Plus you have to be formally dressed which none of us are."
"We'll change."
"With what? The imaginary clothes in the suitcases we didn't bring with us?"
"We'll buy some, jeez you're not the spontaneous type are ya?" They exited the café and went right next door to one of the clothing stores.
"It'll be more than a hundred euros each to get in." Ryo muttered, "You understand right, Yugi?" he pleaded.
"Yeah," Yugi checked his pockets, the card he had on him was less than a hundred after everything they bought. He did have cash, but he left it at Ryo's house wanting to use the card before taking his money and converting it. Joey and Tristan…those two were probably loaded, Tristan anyway, which explained why they were throwing money to the wind. "I feel like the only reason they dragged us here was to go to the Moulin Rouge."
"I have a similar feeling, Yugi."
The boys traded in their jeans for black dress pants and their shirts exchanged for dress shirts that were the same color as the previous article. So Joey wore a sea green shirt, Tristan brown, Yugi dark blue and Ryo thin vertical striped blue and white. They put their other clothes in the shopping bags they were given.
"Some coincidence these shirts came in the same colors as our other ones." Tristan casually mentioned.
"Coincidence or creepy?" Ryo offered, they thought about this and agreed on the latter. "So after we all go broke-"
"Oh no!" Joey interrupted, "I don't wanna hear a word from ya about money, got it?"
"But-"
"Not a word!"
"Oh fine," Ryo scoffed and rolled his eyes. They got back on the metro and arrived on the street the cabaret would be and sure enough the boys got a glimpse of the red windmill. "It looks like a big event is going on." There were many people stepping out of limos dressed in fine evening wear, women with their fur scarves and diamonds necklaces on the arm of handsome entrepreneurs. "I really have a feeling we're not getting in."
The two hotheads of the group weren't giving up that easily and got in line to enter the cabaret. "Nom?" A 'bouncer' inquired, he was a tall build wearing a suit and a diamond earring in the right ear. The man's black eyebrows shot from under his shades as the four started to laugh in a weak tone. Ryo then began the negotiations, explaining they would like to buy tickets for the event. "Impossible, c'est exclusif." He then told the non-French speakers, "No invitation, no show."
They were ready to turn around when a voice said from the side of the building, "They're on the list." The monsieur was around their age with dark brown hair and matching eyes. He was dressed in a navy suit, having a smoke before the show.
The bouncer denied this in French, the monsieur casually stood by his side, cigarette smoking between his fingers while he pointed to the list, "Voilà, c'est bien, Monsieur Laurent." Mr. Laurent made a face, but conceded, "And give them a good table for troubling them." The monsieur's gave them an arrogant grin and salute before crushing the cigarette beneath his leather shoe, "Enjoy the show, boys." And his short frame entered the building.
"Haha, looks like it's our lucky night," Tristan said. They were taken to a private section of the red cabaret theater and were seated at a round table with red satin tablecloth. The waiter told them the main courses from the Belle Epoque menu, Fresh Duck Foie Gras with Figs, Lobster Bouquet "Parisian Style", Casserolle of Scallops in Vouvray Wine, Poached Turbot with white butter and boiled potatoes and Roasted Rack of Lamb "Fine Fleur" green beans with butter. Yugi got the turbot, Ryo the lamb, Joey and Tristan one of each.
"You two are going to explode from eating so much." Yugi stated as fact. The food wouldn't be ready soon so they decided to explore the Mistinguett lounge, the walls and floor a deep ruby with a bar, the atmosphere was one of class. This was where most of wealthy party-goers were gathered. They were looked upon with disdainful glances then completely forgotten. The monsieur that let them in earlier was surrounded by many admirers, most were women. He whispered something to one of the ladies and she covered her mouth to hide her mirth. The brown eyes noticed them and he winked in their direction. "I have a feeling he's the host." The boys decided to check out the next room, the Cinema hall the staff was busy cleaning up the vast hall from activities earlier that evening.
"It's probably best if we just go back and wait for our food." Ryo suggested it seemed that was only place they were welcomed to. "Lovely place I have to say, nonetheless."
"It'll be lovelier when da girls show their stuff." Joey muttered under his breath.
"What's that, Joey?"
"Nice ta hear yer not complaining for a change."
"Someone has to be the voice of reason, Joey."
"Dat's Tea's job."
"Speaking of which, how has she been doing?" The girl of their group was accepted to the Julliard School in New York City and moved there a few weeks after school ended.
"Good, I guess…" Joey nodded behind Bakura and he got the hint, Yugi appeared very upset, "Holy crap, déjà-vu!" They didn't know what he meant until he pointed across the lounge. The Marcel kid from the train was here, conversing with the monsieur. "Heh, small world ain't it?" The discovery was observed and then they went back to the Cabaret theater, unknown to them Marcel had seen them and was not at all pleased. The monsieur was grinning at his aggravation.
"Ladies and Gentlemen," The announcer spoke in French after dinner was served, "We thank-you for coming to the sneak-peak of the Moulin Rouge's newest performance and the owners would like to give a personal thanks to Monsieur Fortesque for the entertainment this afternoon and to say farewell to him until his return to Paris in the fall." There was a polite round of applause.
"Excuse me sirs," the waiter approached the boy's table with a bottle of wine, "Compliments from Monsieur and Marcel Fortesque, their company's most popular wine." They looked around the dim room for the pair and they found them on the second landing of the theater, Monsieur gave a small wave, Marcel gave them no eye-contact.
"Oh thank-you," Yugi replied and the bottle was placed on their table, "I figured they were brothers."
"Oh really, how did ya figure that?" Joey pulled out the cork with a corkscrew left and poured the Adele Rose, letting the pink alcohol pass around the four glasses.
"Do I really have to explain? They do resemble each other."
"How? From their height? They may as well be yer long lost relatives, Yuge."
"For you information, I've grown over the last year."
"Not by a lot."
"Shh, the show's starting." Tristan hushed them and they watched the swirl of exotic feathers and the voluptuous curves of women as they danced across the stage.
"I can't believe you."
Monsieur chuckled, sipping his wine, "What's the big deal? At least we don't have to run around to keep an eye on them, they just run right to us."
"I would prefer to do so without them recognizing us."
"They believe we will be leaving until the Fall not expecting to see us around Paris, it's not a problem."
"I hope you're right."
"Just relax and enjoy the show, mon frère." The Monsieur observed under the brim of his glass a dark figure disappearing into the shadows and he smirked. "It's going to be truly magnifique."
Back in Marseille Mr. and Mrs. (mainly Mrs.) Bakura were frantically searching for the missing boys, first calling their parents then calling the local police. The detective that visited came back later that night to easily explain their disappearance. He got the information from the Marseille youth he happened to ask on the streets who admitted to selling tickets to the boys that were missing and they were traveling to Paris. The detective told the couple he would personally find them and contact Parisian authorities about the disappeared boys.
"This is the part of the plan that's going to be boring." The Marseille youth appeared by the detective when he left the Bakura's residence. "I have to follow the old biddy and fart around the city."
"I'm sure it won't be too long." The detective's eyes turned a menacing red, "This commander doesn't like to dawdle on missions."
"I can only hope," the youth's dark eyes turned a similar bright red, "It's been so long since I've had something good to eat."
And I'm starving the other one...