Chapter 18 : Amongst Friends
When they arrived, Yuko rushed inside his house (Yusei's home) through the front door and quickly made his way upstairs to where his clothes were scattered around his bed. As he began to get changed into his more appropriate clothes, he heard the door slam shut from downstairs, assuming that Akiza and Yusei had just entered, followed by a familiar groan from the downstairs couch.
"God damn it, Crow! If I have to tell you one more time not to slam that bloody door then I'm gonna...", he began grumpily, but was cut off by another voice coming from the bathroom, "I'm right here taking a shower. Stop yelling at me, it wasn't me that slammed the door this time!".
Yuko chuckled to himself, as it seemed that Jack had just been awakened by Yusei and Akiza, but Jack had mistaken them for Crow. Yuko decided to keep on the white shirt from the Duel Academy uniform and put his black jacket on over it (with scorch marks and ripped off sleeves). He then looked around to see if anyone was looking before he got change into his light blue jeans.
After having successfully gotten dressed, Yuko threw his rucksack over his bed and went over to his night stand to recuperate his deck box. He attached it on to his jean belt, while checking the time on his watch. 11:30am.
Yuko's expression began to enlighten as he found that he still had time for some morning coffee, and so he dashed back downstairs, when all of a sudden, he clashed into Jack who was wearing his grey, no-sleeved shirt (More like his PJ top).
"Hey, watch it Yuko!" shouted Jack, but as he was about to shout some more, he noticed the ice pack still wrapped around Yuko's head. "What happened to you?" he asked, his voice now sounding a little worried.
Yuko moaned from the impact of having crashed into Jack, and looked up at his blond friend with a light grin. "It's nothing, I got into a fight at some point yesterday", he replied, not wanting to reveal how he had tripped and hit his head against the bath wall after seeing Akiza in a nude state.
Jacks eyes widened. "A fight!? Who were they? I'll make them pay!" he yelled angrily, and raised his fist.
Yusei quickly placed his hand over Jack's shoulder. "It's Ok, Jack. Me and Akiza took care of it", he claimed, and winked at Yuko without Jack noticing.
Yuko smirked as Jack calmed down and huffed. "Fine...but next time your in a fight Yuko, just remember that I got your back, and that you can just call me over to settle it", he boasted proudly, in his posh british accent. Yuko nodded and moved to one side so that Jack could continue his way upstairs and get changed.
Yuko then turned to face Yusei. "Thanks", he whispered, and Yusei nodded as if to say "No problem".
The trio (Yusei, Akiza and Yuko) eventually got all their gear together and were ready to set off, when Yuko began to feel convinced that bringing the criminals duel disk along wouldn't be such a bad idea. He turned to face Yusei and Akiza who were ready and waiting for him.
"I've just forgotten one thing. Just wait one more minute", stated Yuko hesitantly, and ran back upstairs to where Jack was still struggling in putting on his suit. He smirked at the sight, but continued his way over to where he had placed his rucksack, so to empty all it's content on to the ground. He then looked under his bed and opened the box where he had put the criminals duel disk, and quickly snuck it into his rucksack, zipping it up and hurling it over his shoulder so to carry it on to his back.
"Just in case things get messy", he told himself, and ran back downstairs leaving Jack to his moaning and groaning as he was "suiting-up".
As the three friends left the house, Yuko stopped and spun round to face Akiza and Yusei. "Umm, do you guys mind if I quickly go and get some...coffee before we go?"
Yusei and Akiza exchanged glances, and both began to smirk at the remark. "Sure, there's no rush. We were actually planning to hang around the garage and make a few adjustments on our duel runners!" stated Yusei cheerfully.
"I'll be back in 30 or so minutes", yelled Yuko gleefully, allowing the happy couple to obtain some alone time as he dashed off, eager to arrive back at the Cafe La Green.
When Yuko arrived, he found that there wasn't many people seated at the cafe tables, since morning was almost over. He decided to take a seat over at Jack's usual spot, and began waiting impatiently, until he heard two arguing voices from behind him. He spun round to find Carly and Stephanie, glaring at each other as if they were having a staring contest.
Yuko sighed. "Oh boy. Maybe coming here today wasn't the best idea", he thought, and slowly got up, half hoping that he may be able to calm the situation down.
As Carly noticed Yuko get up, she walked over to him so to grab his arm tightly and began pulling him towards Stephanie.
"See. This guy's name is Yuko and he's another one of my friends! I told you that I had more guy friends than you", said Carly proudly.
Stephanie turned red with anger and grabbed Yuko's other arm. "Are you kidding me!? Yuko is a much better friend to me than to you!"
Carly tugged harder. "Your friend! He cares for me and helped me pick a super sexy bikini which Jack was totally in love with!".
Stephanie huffed and tugged harder on Yuko's other arm. "Well, when that cruel boyfriend of yours rejected me, Yuko bought me lunch and comforted me, listening to everything that I had to say! Now that's what I call caring, which shows that he's a better friend to me!"
Yuko moaned to himself and interrupted the argument. "Stop! You girls are both my friends, and plus how did this argument even start anyway?" he said, now feeling a little frustrated.
The two girls looked up at Yuko and were about to continue the argument when they noticed the ice pack wrapped tightly around Yuko's head, causing them both gasped.
"What happened?" asked Stephanie, letting go his arm.
"Yeah, did you get beat up or something?" said Carly, also letting go of his other arm.
Yuko sighed. "It's nothing, just a small accident", he said calmly, and placed his hand over the ice pack, trying to adjust it back in place over the sore bump. It stung lightly and Yuko made a face as he yelped a little, causing Stephanie to cover her mouth with both hands. "I'll get you come hot chocolate right away to comfort you!" she said worryingly, and rushed inside the cafe.
Carly then took hold of Yuko and sat him back down on to his chair. "An accident? Was it a fight? If so, I could call Jack to take care of those bullies", suggested Carly, who looked as worried as Stephanie had been.
Yuko shook his head and smirked. "Naa, don't worry about it! It's not important. However, what I do find important is why are you and Stephanie arguing all of a sudden?" replied Yuko, a little annoyed that his friends were not getting along.
Carly huffed. "She started it! Plus, why'd you stand up for her!?"
"I was standing up for both of you...in a way. Anyway, I honestly think that you guys should stop treating each other as enemies. Stephanie just got turned down by Jack, try and leave her alone for a while. She is just getting to grips with the fact that Jack told her that his heart belongs to you!" explained Yuko, now even more annoyed and frustrated.
Carly's eyes widened with surprise. "J-Jack said that?"
Yuko nodded, and noticed Carly's eyes brighten and her face flushed light shades of pink. "You can go see him now if you want, he needs help with putting on his suit", continued Yuko grinningly.
Carly smiled, still red from blushing and took out some money, giving it to Yuko. "Here's for the hot chocolate, and I really hope that you get better soon", she said reassuringly. She then took off her glasses and kissed Yuko gently on his forehead.
Yuko suddenly began to also blush uncontrollably and Carly giggled at the astonished reaction. "That's payback for making me blush", she said cheekily, putting back on her glasses, "and you can tell Stephanie that...I'm sorry for starting the argument, and I didn't mean to offend her".
Yuko nodded and watched as Carly ran to the direction of Yusei's house, waving at Yuko as she left (who waved back still red as ever). A few seconds later, Stephanie came back holding a shiny, brown circular tray carrying a white mug of hot chocolate, and placed it in front of Yuko. "Here", she said kindly, and looked around curiously. "Where's that Carly girl?" she asked, with a puzzled expression.
Yuko chuckled. "She left and told me to tell you, that she was sorry for starting the argument".
Stephanie's expression bewildered as she looked at Yuko confused, for it seemed strange for Carly to simply give up on an argument, but she then nodded and smiled at Yuko gleefully. "How's your head feeling?"
Yuko smirked and winked at her, causing Stephanie to slowly develop a slight blush. "It's fine. Don't worry about it", he claimed, and thought it best to hand her the money for the hot chocolate. However, she refused it and claimed that once again it was "on the house". Yuko nodded in appreciation and Stephanie left smiling back at Yuko so to go deal with some more cafe customers.
Yuko smiled to himself. "All's well end's well", he thought, and took a small sip of his delicious, free hot chocolate.
After having finished the mug's content, Yuko was ready to leave, and quickly got back to meet up with his friends. He had now decided to take off his ice pack from his head and put it into his rucksack, since Yuko didn't like to be pitied much.
He rejoined Akiza and Yusei who were in the garage, Akiza smiling as she noticed Yuko enter casually through the garage doors. She lightly nudged Yusei who was laying on his back, working on a duel runner just above him. "Yuko's back, Yusei!" she stated, in a strangely excited voice.
Yuko looked down at where Yusei lay and whistled in admiration as he caught sight of the cream colored duel runner which Yusei's was hastily working on. He instantly caught sight of the fact that the duel runner had a few silvery attachments connected to it and two rather large exhaust pipes at the back of it, but found that it didn't have a same sort of curved up seat like Yusei's runner did so that you could rest your back.
"That a sweet ride your fixing there Yusei!" complimented Yuko, and crouched down to poke Yusei's left leg, indicating his rather cheerful presence.
Yusei crawled out from underneath the duel runner and got up so to push the runner slowly off the lifting platform.
"Yes it is", he said, wiping some sweat off his forehead. "I wish it was mine".
Yuko stared at Yusei puzzled. "What do you mean? It's not yours? Who's is it then?"
Yusei spun round to meet Yuko's gaze with his kind, cobalt colored eyes and smiled cheekily. "Come on, Yuko! Don't you recognize it?"
Yuko looked back at the duel runner and took a few steps back to see the overall structure of the duel runner.
At first, there was nothing familiar that popped into his mind, until a few seconds later, he froze and noticed a small Kuriboh key ring attached to the far handle bar. His eyes widened as he realized, that the duel runner in front of him, it's colors beaming brightly in the midday sun, was in fact his duel runner.
Yuko began to smile. His eyes began to widen with amazement and astonishment as he was almost unable to contain the excitement that was now quickly building up within him. He couldn't believe it! How long had Yusei been working on it? Yuko immediately ran over and hugged Yusei tightly (almost squeezing all the oxygen out of his system), tears of joy falling from his chestnut eyes. Akiza started giggling as she watched Yusei getting joyfully constricted by Yuko happy and emotional state.
"Yep. Even with the new coat of paint, you still recognize it. Do you like it?" asked Yusei grinningly, almost choking out his words.
Yuko quickly let go and nodded quickly, wiping a few tears away. "H-how did you...When did you?" he stuttered, having so many questions to ask, but Yusei cut him off and patted Yuko on the back so to save the panic of endless questions.
"Yesterday, after we had tested our new duel runner engine, Crow thought it would be a good surprise to go and get your duel runner from your garage apartment.
Yuko shrugged. "Did you have to mention my crappy apartment out loud so that Akiza could hear", moaned Yuko, causing Akiza to giggle on.
Yuko smirked. "I must say, your house really is nice, compared to what I had which was a tent in a subway system".
Yuko chuffed, but let Yusei continue.
"Anyway, so me, Crow and with some help of Jack, managed to transport your duel runner here and that's when I got Akiza's text message. It was a shock to me at first when I read it and so to cut you off some slack, I decided to fix your duel runner, add a few parts to it and I coloured it so that it was match your hair".
Yuko kept on smiling, even more than before and thanked Yusei over 100 more times! Yusei was flattered, glad to see that he had made his friend so infinitely happy, and the trio of friends all put on their helmets (Yuko's being cream coloured as well).
When Yuko took a seat on his now newly modeled duel runner, a familiar sensation instantly spread through his entire body. He instinctively turned on his runner and pushed hard on the throttle, causing his runner to race out of the garage doors and speed majestically on to the New Domino City Highway so to make their way towards the direction of the Arcadia with great determination, followed closely by Akiza and Yusei.
Yuko: Phew! This chapter took quite a while to publish! Thank God it's finally posted! ^_^ I hope you all didn't find it too long or boring and PLEASE don't forget to Review your thoughts, Follow or add to Favourites! :D
Carly: It's not fair! I want a duel runner too!
Yuko: Just use Jacks!
Carly: He won't let me... :(
Jack: Carly! I've already told you! Duel runners are dangerous for girls! I don't want you to get...to get hurt.
Akiza: Aww, how cute! ;3
Crow: (in a sarcastic tone) Oh Jack! I didn't know that you could be so...caring!
Jack: Crow...you are soooo dead! _
Yuko: Oh boy...here we go again :P