Chapter Warning: I don't necessarily know the age limit for reading about drinking but this chapter is very liquor heavy and there is some drug usage. It is not excessive but I'll warn you guys nonetheless.

*Also – Japan does not have a Last Call so you can drink in Japanese 24/7 if you find a bar opened that late.*

Chapter Five

Feeling the thrumming rhythm of blaring techno deep within him, Yami could feel his uneasiness grow as he followed Yugi into the night club. They had arrived early to avoid the line, but the entrance was still very crowded. Two bouncers were joking with each other at the entrance, as if their appearances weren't at all intimidating. Yugi squeezed Yami's hand as they pushed through the crowd towards the doors. Neon blue and pink lights invitingly flickered in streaks on the panes of the heavy doors, and as they sneaked on by the walls ahead were just as trippy. Black walls were streamed with blue, pink, and lime green streaks as the room opened to a large dance hall. A bar of an icy theme was placed along all the walls besides the farthest. The very back wall was a DJ with a strip stage for those who needed to take off their clothes to dance. Even with night young, two girls had stationed themselves next to one of the poles closest to the DJ. Yami wrinkled his knows as he looked at the fuzzy pom pom shoes, fishnet stockings, and lingerie clothes. Now he understood why Yugi was so vehement in finding their old clothes from Duelist Kingdom.

Yugi pulled on his arm and Yami caught his big eyes. He was trying to tell him something.

"WHAT?" Yami yelled, getting closer.

Yugi smiled and got close to his ear, "Tea said her and Joey were at the bar on the side. Let's go meet them!"

Sighing, the elder boy let his boyfriend pull him through the throng of half naked people. One man had goggles on with skull and cross bone lenses. The leather straps were detailed with bronze clockwork pieces. 'How interesting….I kind of like that,' Yami thought before the man with the accessory was swallowed in the growing crowd.

He hadn't been out in such an exciting environment before. Even Yugi, who had been a fan of inviting his friends over for movies and games, had never shown signs of enjoying such a scene before. In fact, with all the Michael Buble and Neyo CD's he assumed Yugi was more of a soft spoken music lover. Now don't get him wrong, Yami loved all types of music, rock especially. When Yugi showed him alternative and rock his mind was blown. He had always been a fan of orchestra and instrument enjoying the skillful music of the strings, but the guitar and heavy bass really excited him.

Suddenly someone jumped on him and he suddenly snapped to attention. Tea's skinny arms wrapped around him strongly and even through the music he could hear her say, "YAMI! I missed you so much! How have you been?"

He grinned as she pulled away, "Hey, what are you talking about? I spoke to you yesterday."

"Yeah! Over the phone! That doesn't count!" she huffed and Yami noticed her flat ironed hair had bright pink highlights in it. Glitter dusted her eyes and high cheek bones making her shimmer in the twisting baby blue lights. She looked gorgeous.

He scratched the back of his head and smiled his dashing smile, "I'm sorry, I've been too busy at the game shop. You should stop by; I added an extra spot for tournaments."

She grinned and Yugi was pulled into a squeeze so that they both were facing him, "Now that Yugi is back in town you have no excuses! Oh my God, this club is so awesome! I didn't think I'd ever be able to go! I can't believe you love raves Yugi!"

"Neither can I actually." Yami's smile dropping to a half smirk, wondering for a split second how much America changed him. Joey came from behind the two with Tristan already sampling the bar's merchandise.

"YUG!" they both shouted, enjoying the sight of their long lost friend, "Man we're so glad you could make it! Sorry the weather still sucks, it's going to be snowing all week!"

Yugi laughed, "No it's alright, I missed you guys!"

Yami casually sat on a stool at the bar close to the reunion so he could be far enough to be a part of it but not close enough to converse. Everyone was so happy to see each other, and he felt his uneasiness slowly fade away. In that brief moment, despite the odd seizure like dancing of half naked people and the crazy harmonics of a digital voice, Yami felt completely normal.

"Thirsty fellow Vampire?" a female voice purred at him and he turned to a lolita bartender. She was fairly pretty with her white make up and rosy red lips. She looked friendly despite the gothic exterior and Yami suddenly felt playful. Putting on a lady killer grin, he leaned forward just a bit.

"Possibly, what would you suggest?"

She gave his smirk right back, and placed her arm along the smooth glass bar top, "Looking for something strong, hm? I got just the thing."

Turning around in a fluid spin, a glass shimmered suddenly in her hand. With a twist of a few bottles, and a splash of another, she turned back with a blood red drink on the rocks. She looked at him with playful eyes, and as he went to reach for it, she pulled it back, putting a cherry on top. He grinned at her theatrics, gave her a ten, and told her to keep the change.

Taking a swig of the concoction he noted the strong cheap liquor, possibly vodka, mixed with the tang of orange and cranberry. The lack of sweetness surprised him and he turned back to the bartender who had disappeared to the other end to tend more customers. He hated sweet drinks and the fact that his drink was a bit bitter was a pleasant surprise.

"Yeah! Yami's getting his party on!" Tristan yelled, another beer in his hand. He casually slipped an arm around him in a masculine bear hug and Yami had to take caution not to spill his drink. Joey was suddenly at his side as well, "Man, this place is weird. Why did we come here again?"

Joey knocked Tristan lightly on the head, "Yo, don't be a downer. It's for Yug and Tea. Besides – it ain't like we paid for anything but drinks."

"Yeah – I'm glad they're having fun." Tristan said, "Who wants a shot?" Before either Joey or Yami answered Tristan swaggered off to the bar. Yami chuckled and turned to Joey.

"So, how have you been? How is your sister?" he asked, casually taking another deep drink.

Joey grinned, "Aw man, we're doin' good! She's all studyin to be a pharmacist, helpin people like her you know?" Yami nodded and he kept his idle chat up.

Yugi danced with Tea on the dance floor, slinking to the rhythms of the digital beats, the masses of people around them mixing to and fro. Tea had brought him to the very center, so close to the DJ that their clothes vibrated with the music. It was so easy to get lost in a place like this, it was fantastic. After a tough study session, going out and releasing your mind was always the best cure. He and Tea had taken some shots before they had headed to the dance floor, their sour burn still lingering in his throat. He could feel the alcohol begin to take effect as his blood swam through him faster. The music slowed just a tad and his skin prickled to the feeling of people rubbing up against him. He had always been a lightweight with drinking, making him what his friends would tease 'a cheap date' but he loved it. With only a few shots of strong liquor he was good to go for the rest of the night.

As the rhythm sped up, he let his body move freely to the beat. People around him swirled glow sticks and balls that flashed with multicolored lights around their bodies, creating the illusion of dancing lights. They wore masks, fishnets, bunny ears, black bras, stripped sleeves, and even leather type of clothes.

"Hey there," A hand on his shoulder suddenly interrupted his thoughts. Opening his eyes, which he hadn't even realized he closed, he saw a young man dancing off beat beside him. The boy that was dressed like a punk version of the Mad Hatter from Alice and Wonderland held out a few vials in between his fingers, "20 each."

Yugi shook his head but the guy persisted, "Don't worry, it's not strong. It will help you and your friends relax."

"No, I'm good." Yugi said again, then turned away from him.

Suddenly, the man grabbed his arm and Yugi glared at him, "You know what…" the guy grinned and then slipped a vial in Yugi's leather top, "You're a cutie, this one is free." He tried to give him a kiss but Yugi pushed him away. Taking the vial out of his vest he handed it back. The man just smiled and vanished into the crowd. Frustrated and not even feeling his buzz anymore, Yugi looked around for Tea. He could see her through the crowd, especially since he was small for his size. Carefully he dodged the light sticks and began to make his way through.

"No – no – man, you know what, what do you call a blonde with two brain cells?" Tristian yelled a bit too loudly, laughing between words. He and Joey were definitely toasty, and Yami watched them in amusement. They had relocated to a booth just beside the floor so that the dominatrix waitress could bring the booze to them instead of the other way around. Joey and Tristan sat on the same side bellowing and loving the jokes. Yami sat across from them with one hand cocking his head up with a humored grin on his face. The boys had a bit of rounds but Yami, for some reason or another, had never really been able to get drunk in his life in Modern Times. Whether it be from a magical feat or just genetics of a new body, he'd never know.

"Ummm….oh I KNOW this!" Joey scratched his head.

Tristian gave him a devious look, "Get it? SHE'S PREGNANT!"

"WHA?" They busted into laughter again. Yami snorted, shook his head, and turned to the dancing crowd. Looking at his watch, he noted the time 2:05 am. He grinned at remember how Yugi hated the watch with their leather outfit. Apparently it didn't match, but in Yami's book, he already found his soul mate so who cared if he matched? Yugi, on the other hand, loved being cute, whether deliberate or not. Once he had brought home baby sheep pajamas and their grandfather freaked out.

"Hey, Yami?" Tea emerged from the crowd around them. She had to grab onto the table to escape the throng of people behind her.

Yami looked up and noted the concerned look in her eyes, "Where is Yugi?"

"I can't find him," She frowned and brushed some bangs from her face, "He was right beside me the whole time and now I don't know where he is. I'm sure he is still dancing…"

Yami stood up and gave Tea his seat, "No worry, I'll find him." She looked up at him with a friendly smile but the worry still shown through her eyes. He smiled back, "I'll be right back."

Not hesitating, he walked into the crowd as if he owned the place. The feeling of sweaty people smothered him but a part of him was more focused on his other half. Usually he could sense Yugi clearly, especially in such a close distance. However, as he made his way deeper and deeper into the crowd he realized he couldn't. There wasn't a small tinge of that mental connection anywhere. The rhythm in the air and the screaming fans made it near impossible to concentrate. A sense of light dread began to fill him. The uneasiness from when he entered the club wasn't because of his nervousness, which he had originally thought, but from the alien aura around the place. It was thick with the essence of apathy and anxiety. He was instantly reminded of the shadow realm. Why were they here? This was a bad idea.

Fighting through the crowd his search became much more urgent.

Minutes seem to crawl by as the infinite crowd of people shifted unpleasantly around him. Finally, he saw him. Leaning on the stage, Yugi seemed to be resting after a hard work out. A man in a weird costume was standing beside him, too close for Yami's comfort, speaking to him and massaging his back. "Hey!" Yami snapped, but he couldn't hear him. Feeling a sense of rage, he broke through the crowd and pushed the man away from his partner. Normally he wasn't so violent, but this whole place had him on edge.

"Don't touch me!" The man shouted at Yami and raised a finger to him. Yami smirked at how stupid the man looked in an outfit he now recognized from some movie Yugi showed him years ago about a rabbit and a tea party. Disregarding the fellow, he ducked down to speak to Yugi.

"Yugi," he whispered, knowing Yugi could hear him now that their close proximity has brought back his senses, "are you alright?"

"Help – me – " he was breathing heavily, "I'm hallucinating."

"What?" he asked, but then the Mad Hatter took a swing at Yami. Pushing Yugi out of the way, Yami caught the arm of the attacker and threw him into the stage Yugi had been leaning on. Grabbing him by the collar, Yami pulled the Hatter back and tossed him to the floor in front of him. "How dare you even think of fighting me. I'll…." The anger swelled within him as his pride took over. He was a pharaoh, even in this time, and he would not stand for someone attacking him. The man laid on the floor for a moment, dazed. No one in the crowd seemed to care about the fight; they were too spaced out in their own world to notice.

As Yami stepped towards the guy, Yugi grabbed on to his arm. "Please, I'm scared…"

Taking his partner by the shoulders, Yami used the stage to guide them out of the crowd. Yugi's hand trembled on his and his eyes were screwed shut. Whether it was his anger or the people finally going home, the journey back to the table was much easier. "We need to go." Yami shouted as soon as he was close enough to the table. Whether it was his sharp tone or the expression on his face, his friends shot up.

"What's wrong?" Tea worriedly grabbed at Yugi but Yami instinctively hugged him closer, "Here, I got some water."

"Let's give it to him outside," and with than Yami stormed to the door. Making it through the exit was much easier. He could feel eyes on him, but no one seemed worried. As they walked farther from the club, Yugi's legs began to give, "Here, it's okay," Yami softly spoke then looked around. Finding a bus bench, he half carried his partner to the seat and sat him down. Tea handed Yami the water bottle she had taken from the club as he kneeled in front of Yugi.

"Yugi, love, can you look at me please?" his free hand caressed his face. All the anger in him began to bleed away as his partner's skin paled, "Don't be afraid, I'm here to protect you."

"I….I don't want to. I'm scared." A tear escaped his closed eyes.

Unscrewing the water, he put it up to Yugi's lips, "Here, it's water, please drink this for me." His partner listened, first sipping the water and then gulping it. Once the bottle was done, Yami gave it back to Tea, "Can you tell me what happened?"

"I was dancing and a weird guy came up to me. He tried to sell me drugs but I told him no. When I tried to find Tea everything started blurring together. I tried ignoring it but then I felt snakes crawling on me and…and…everyone was staring at me…" More tears fell down soft cheeks.

Yami pulled him into a hug, feeling the moisture gather on his neck. With a sigh, he tried to clear out the rest of his anger before he went back to that club and hit the creeper again. Suddenly, Tea noticed something on Yugi's shoulder. Peeling off a large star shaped sticker, she examined it. "You guys weren't wearing these things when you came in…I wonder if the guy put it on Yugi?"

"How did he not notice that," Tristian asked as he smacked the star out of Tea's hand. She yelped in surprise and glared at him.

Letting the sticker fall, she said, "Maybe he got laced with something, I heard you could drug someone with stickers but it wouldn't be very strong."

"Really? Stickers? How does that work?" Tristan asked.

Joey shrugged, "I dunno, but anythin' is possible."

Yami sighed, "Should we take him to the hospital?"

"I don't think so…" Tea said thoughtfully, "my health teacher said that sticker drugs were super uncommon because they never worked in clubs and stuff because of the sweat and the amount needed to actually cause someone to trip out. His dose wasn't very strong or he would be doing way worst right now…"

"Yeah but look at him Tea! We should take him to the doctor!"

"Look" she snapped, "I've been in the club scene before. I think he will be fine, especially that Yami is here."

"I'm okay guys…" Yugi suddenly whispered, "I just want to go home…"

"Alright," Yami said, and without asking put Yugi on his back and stood up. Yugi clenched onto his shoulders tightly, snuggling into the comfort of his neck, "Let's call a cab."

Author's Note: Sorry for the rather abrupt ending but I'm in a hurry. I felt this chapter was very run on but I wanted to have the party scene going on. Anyway, have a great day! =D