AN: so here's chapter two. thanks to all my reviewers of course! passes out cookies enjoy!
Ch 2 Nightlife at the Nightlight
"so you're awake?"
Yugi blinked trying to clear the lingering sense of vertigo.
"yes, where am I?" he asked. "who are you?"
"the Nightlight." was the reply.
"the doctor said you could stomach some broth if you wanted…" the man left it hanging in an obvious question.
"Yugi," Yugi supplied. "my name is Yugi Mouto. And yes some broth sounds wonderful."
The man nodded, stood up and swept out of the room before Yugi realized that he hadn't had either of his questions answered.
"well bother," Yugi pouted. "what is the Nightlight and more importantly where?" he said to himself. and who is he? He didn't give his name either.
A few moments later the door reopened and the man slipped back inside with a tray containing a steaming bowl of broth and a glass of water.
"thank you. But you never answered my questions." Yugi said, curiosity over coming good manners.
The man chuckled. "noticed that did you? Very well. You're in the Nightlight speakeasy." Yugi's eyes went a bit wide at that. A real speakeasy? " And as for my name, its Yami."
"Yami," Yugi rolled the word around on his tongue and decided he liked it. "it fits you."
"glad you approve," was the sardonic reply.
"oh I didn't mean…what I just meant was…" Yugi floundered, unhappy that he had upset his host until Yami laughed. A rich baritone laugh that made Yugi feel warm all over.
"relax little one it was only a jest." Yami said comfortingly.
Yugi blushed. "oh," he said sheepishly and reached for his bowl of broth.
"how did I get here?" he asked when he had gotten the bowl settled on his lap.
"my friend found you floating in the wreckage of your boat. He gave you to me and I brought you here." Yami replied. He hesitated, "was there anyone else on your boat?"
Yugi shook his head. "no it was only me."
Yami sighed in relief, he wasn't sure what he would have said if Yugi hadn't been the only one. "what happened?" Yami was curious, a rare occurrence, and he wanted to know everything he could about his look alike. "aren't you kind of young to be out on a boat alone?"
Yugi pouted. "I'm eighteen," he said.
Yami stared. There was no way. He just looked too innocent to be eighteen. "really?"
Yugi turned red. "I'm just sort of small for my age."
Yami mentally kicked himself for embarrassing him "hey I'm sorry." he offered uncertainly.
Yugi smiled. "it's ok I get that a lot." he said cheerfully. He fidgeted then. "I really should let my grandpa know I'm ok."
Yami frowned. "well I would let you go. But my boss would have to be assured you wouldn't turn this place into the Fuzz.(1)" Yami said.
Yugi shook his head. "no I wouldn't do that. Even my grandpa doesn't agree with prohibition." Yugi giggled. "he makes gin in the bathtub.(2)"
Yami grinned at that. "well in that case how about you send a message that you're ok to your grandpa. You can't leave just yet, doctor's orders, but that way he can stop worrying." he suggested. He handed Yugi a piece of paper and a pen, who used his food tray as a table to write the note.
When he was done Yami put it in envelope. "where to?" he asked.
"the Corner Café over on fifth street." Yugi replied.
Yami nodded. "I'll have one of Seto's errand boys run it over." and he once again slipped out of the room.
Yugi settled back. His life certainly had taken an interesting turn since he had smashed his boat. His grandpa was sure to kill him but on the whole he figured meeting Yami was rather worth it. Yami, his crimson eyed doppelganger, handsome, caring, and most likely dangerous as well. The door clicked open and Yugi looked up expecting to see Yami. Instead two light haired men entered bickering loudly. The first had wild long white hair and russet colored eyes and the second had spiked sandy blond and cold lilac eyes. Yugi gasped, he was not the only one with a doppelganger it seemed.
"I don't care about that; he can't just skip out on his work…I hate bartending." the white haired one was saying.
"what do you expect me to do about it" the other shot back. "I…hey the mini-Yami is awake!" he said spotting Yugi.
"oh, hello mini-Yami!" the white haired one grinned. "where is your look-alike?"
"uh, he just left." Yugi said, unnerved by the slightly insane gleam in the duo's eyes.
"so mini-Yami tell me how is it that you managed to get into his good graces so fast?" the sandy haired one asked.
"uh…well. That is…" Yugi stuttered.
"are you bothering him, Marik?" Yugi sighed in relief to see Yami standing in the doorway, arms folded across his chest.
Marik chuckled evilly. "of course not, we were being good weren't we Bakura?"
Bakura put n a look of artful innocence. "oh very good." he agreed.
"do we get a reward now Yami?" Marik purred stalking up to Yami in a predatory fashion, Bakura hard on his heels.
Yami looked coolly at them. "out." he said firmly.
Marik pouted but he and Bakura slipped past Yami and out through the door anyway.
Yami sighed. "I'm sorry about those two," he apologized. "they've taken one to many bricks to the head if you get my meaning."
Yugi giggled. "they look just like two of my friends," he informed Yami.
"well damn, and here I was hoping that I was the only one who has cute look alike!" Yami said in mock disappointment, smiling when Yugi blushed cutely. "I sent your message out little one." Yugi yawned. "now rest." he added.
Yugi settled back only to think of something and sit up again. "Yami is this your room?"
Yami frowned "yes is there a problem?"
"where are you going to sleep?" Yugi asked worriedly.
Yami chuckled. "I'm not, I have to get back to my own work. I rather imagine Bakura would try to kill me if I left him bartending for much longer." was the wry response.
"oh, ok. Goodnight then Yami. And thanks for saving me." Yugi said sleepily.
Yami smoothed Yugi's bangs away from his face, "of course."
Malik stared worriedly out into the darkening street, night had almost fallen and there was still no word from Yugi. The Corner Café had just closed up shop and Malik, being chef, dishwasher, and janitor was finishing up sweeping while Solomon Mouto put the chairs up on the tables. He had paused to look out up the street half hoping to see Yugi running up to greet him. As it was there was a boy running toward the café but it was not Yugi. Malik looked startled as the boy slowed his headlong pace and stopped only about a foot away from him.
"is this the Corner Café?" he asked breathlessly.
"yes," Malik said.
The boy drew himself up. "I have a message for Solomon Mouto."
"he's busy I'll take it to him." Malik responded.
The boy nodded and handed it to him. "can you make sure he gets it quick?" the boy asked worriedly. "Yami will be so angry otherwise."
"yeah sure," Malik said wondering who this Yami was and why he'd be sending Solomon a message.
The boy gave a short wave and sped back down the street in the same headlong pace he had set before. Malik shook his head and went inside to locate Solomon.
"hey gramps," he called. "Got a message here for you."
"is it from Yugi?" the old man's eyes were filled with hope.
"no don't think so, the kid who delivered mentioned some guy named Yami." Malik said handing the letter to Solomon who took it dejectedly.
But when Solomon read the first three lines he felt like leaping up and dancing for joy. "he's ok Malik! It's from Yugi and he's ok."
Malik, unrestrained by an elderly body, did dance for joy. "oh thank god!" he shouted. "where is he? What happened?"
Solomon quickly scanned the note. "it seems his boat wrecked and he was rescued by a man named Yami who works in a speakeasy somewhere in town." he said.
"damn why does he always get all the fun?" Malik pouted. "still when I get my hands on him I'm gonna wring his little neck."
"who's neck?" a soft voice asked. Malik turned to see Ryou standing in the doorway.
"Yugi!" Malik replied.
"he's ok?" Ryou asked.
"yeah and laid up somewhere in a speakeasy." Malik said.
"a speakeasy? He should be careful, those place are filled with criminals." Ryou bit his lip worriedly.
"ah don't worry Ryou. Not everyone in those places are dangerous. Yugi can look after himself." Malik slipped a comforting arm around his friend's shoulders.
"your right, Malik. Lets just hope he gets home soon." Ryou agreed.
"and when he does…"
"Malik!"
"oh fine!"
Yugi sat bolt up in bed. It took him a moment to recognize his surroundings. Relieved to see he was still safe in Yami's room, not trapped on his sinking boat as he had been in his dream, settled back trying to get comfortable. The muted sounds of jazz music and revelry drifted in from beneath the close door making Yugi less sleepy and more curious. Not really wanting to return to his nightmare Yugi slipped out of bed, deciding to go find Yami.
He opened the door and walked down the short hall toward the flood of light and sound. The main room of the speakeasy was filled with people either sitting at one of the many tables or dancing near the stage. Directly across the room he spotted the bar and person with familiar tri-colored hair. He made his way cautiously across the floor to the bar. People paid little attention to him and he quickly reached the bar and sat down. Yami immediately came over to him.
"feeling better?" he asked.
Yugi nodded.
"well in that case, what can I get you? It's on the house." Yami said reaching for a glass.
"uh can I just get a club soda?" he asked. "alcohol and I don't get along to well." Yugi admitted sheepishly.
Yami smiled. "sure thing. Believe it or not my boss only ever gets water. You're at least a bit more adventurous than him." Yami whispered conspiratorially.
"I heard that." this came from a tall brunette with cold blue eyes, sitting a few chairs down.
"I figured you would." Yami said. Yami leaned in closer to Yugi. "that's my boss so don't tell him I told you that." he said in a false whisper.
Yugi giggled while the brunette rolled his eyes. "I won't Yami," Yugi promised putting on the most falsely sincere face he could manage. "as long as you don't tell him that I drink club soda!"
Yami laughed out right at that. "better watch out for this one Seto!" he called cheerily to his boss.
Seto snorted amusedly. "oh great, two people with Yami-humor!" he said in an annoyed tone.
Yami just smirked and Yugi laughed softly.
"so has Yami corrupted mini-Yami already?" this was Bakura who had come up.
He and Marik took seats between Yugi and Seto.
Seto sighed. "so it appears." he said.
Marik and Bakura cackled, making Yugi edge away from them nervously.
"are the safe to be around?" Yugi asked Yami uncertainly.
"if they're unarmed," was the casual reply.
"and we're always armed." Marik added.
Yugi gulped. oh great.
"quit harassing him you two. He's not used to your insaneness yet." Seto said in a long-suffering voice.
"sorry boss," Bakura said in mock contriteness.
"won't happen again," was Marik's equally insincere response.
"out you two!" Seto ordered tiredly, "now, before you scare off all my customers."
The two left laughing evilly.
"the lights are all on but nobody's home," Yami said tragically.
"I don't know about all on. I think a few have burned out." Seto said standing up. "close up Yami."
"sure thing," Yami replied. "try and get some sleep or I'm gonna tell Mokuba on you." Yami said sternly.
Seto waived a dismissive hand and disappeared into the crowd. Yugi took his opportunity to study the place around him.
"is it always like this?" he asked Yami who was busy mixing drinks for other customers.
Yami handed the drinks over to them and turned to Yugi. "usually, unless there is something big going on and then its packed." Yami said. He looked Yugi over. The boy was still very pale. "you best get some more rest. You're starting to look like death warmed over."
"thanks," Yugi said sarcastically.
"gets some rest. Then, if you're feeling up to it, I'll take you home tomorrow." Yami said.
Yugi nodded and slid off the bar stool. He was glad that he could go home again but was also worried. Would he ever be able to see Yami again? "Yami would I ever be able to come back again?" he asked.
"of course, I'll give you the password tomorrow. Now to bed with you!" Yami said.
"yes sir!" Yugi said smiling, worries alleviated, and he slipped off back to Yami's room.
"goodnight, Yugi," Yami said softly watching Yugi go, confusion evident in his crimson eyes.
1 period slang for the police.
2 belive it or not people actually did this.
AN: ok read and review please. let me know you love me!