Chapter Six:

Joey scowled at Kaiba, even after he'd apologized to Yugi for losing his temper with him. He was gratified to see the angry look on Yami's face. He could trust his lover to stand up for him, that was for sure.

"First, let's eat some lunch. I already called room service and they brought us up some sandwiches and soda." He let go of his anger and came around the counter, holding a tray with four glasses and a small bucket of ice that held three bottles of alcohol.

"What is that?" Yugi asked as he set his burden down on the table and took his seat next to Yami-and unfortunately Kaiba as well.

Yami reached out and lifted up one of the bottles high enough to read the label. "Wild Grape Smirnoff?"

"Yep."

"You don't drink," Yugi said.

"Not usually, but this is a special occasion. You haven't had a drink since you turned twenty-one." He glanced at Kaiba. "In America you have to be twenty-one, but we all know it's twenty in Japan, so Kaiba can play if wants to. Which I doubt he does."

"I'm sitting here, aren't I?"

"What's the game?" Yugi repeated.

"Uh-uh, let's eat, first." He lifted the lid off the covered tray. Three small, neat piles of sandwiches sat under it on a sectioned plate that kept them from being mixed. Tuna and swiss, club with bacon, and chicken breast greeted them. They ate their fill while Joey teasingly exaggerated Yami's attachment to the game floor and Yami defended himself. Yugi giggled and soothed things by stating-mostly likely truthfully-that he'd had a hard time quitting, too.

"Until Seto punched that guy," he added.

Kaiba grunted and finished the last of his club sandwich. Joey had noticed he'd taken off the tomato slices and set them to the side of the plate. He almost appeared human with that evidence of likes and dislikes. Once they were all finished, Joey reluctantly not eating as much as he would have so as not to make the others have to sit and wait, cleared the table with Yugi's help and explained his game.

"It's called 'I've Never'. It's a popular American drinking game. We each take a glass-" He handed them out. "-and pour some of the alcohol in them then we take turns claiming something we've never done. Like, I've never stolen someone's credit card or something like that and whoever in the group that has has to take a drink, admitting it to everyone."

"So we end up learning all the bad things everybody's done," Yugi said with a trace of worry.

"It doesn't have to be bad things, Yug'. For one, you'd take like three sips or something. It can be anything at all, good or bad. And I chose smirnoff 'cause it's not that hard of a liquor so we won't get drunk very fast. So, want to play?"

"I will play," Yami said, studying the glass in front of him.

"Me too, I guess," Yugi agreed.

"How 'bout you, Rich Boy?"

Kaiba looked up at him with a hard sort of calculating look. Joey merely looked back at him, challenging him with his eyes to not duck out. Finally Kaiba shrugged his shoulders, which Joey took to mean he was in. Picking up the first of the bottles and opening it, he scooped ice into each glass and filled them each half way, emptying the first bottle.

"There's more in the fridge, if we keep playing until we run out."

"I wondered what reason you had stopped for these drinks for," Yami said.

"Okay. I'll go first to get us started off, then we'll go across table then right, so it's Yugi, then Yami, then Kaiba and back to me." He thought for a minute, then grinned and glared at Kaiba at the same time. "I've never walloped anyone with my briefcase and then had my goons whale on his buddies when they tried to help."

"Joey!"

"Sorry, Yug', but I have to have some sort of apology for it."

Yugi sighed in exasperation. Kaiba looked back at Joey and without the slightest change in expression, raised his glass and took a drink. Yugi rolled his eyes.

"That was before the Mind Crush."

Joey saw Kaiba's eyes narrow slightly. Yami, on the other hand, smiled faintly. Joey shrugged his shoulders. Kaiba had never said he was sorry, so this was better than nothing.

"Your turn, Yug'."

Yugi looked thoughtful, before directing a wicked smirk at Joey. He must have picked up that look from Kaiba. So Joey told himself, he actually knew better.

"Sorry, Joey, but my loyalties have shifted a little. I've never stolen anyone's Puzzle piece with the claim I was doing it to make them more of a man."

Joey groaned and took a drink. "Damn, talk about revenge. I said I was sorry."

"When was this?" Yami asked.

"Before you woke up. Before Joey and I were friends. Anyway, I accepted your apology, Joey. Your turn, Yami."

Yami looked a little out of place, but didn't take long to think. "I've never used the Blue Eyes White Dragon card."

Kaiba frowned and picked up his glass. He took a drink and thunked his glass back down.

"Maybe you should take the whole bottle," Joey said. "You've used it enough to drink the whole case in the fridge."

"Okay, Seto's turn," Yugi said.

"I've never worn a dog suit."

Joey choked. "Where the hell-"

"Devlin broadcasted that duel."

Joey scowled at Kaiba's smirk. He took his drink. "I've never-"

"I'm not going to play if you guys are just going to use this to fight with each other," Yugi said warningly.

"Nor am I." Yami looked between them. "Did you forget your promise to Aibou not to fight?"

"Yeah, but it's hard." Joey winced at the disappointed/angry look Yugi was giving them both. "Sorry."

"You, too, Seto," Yugi said severely.

Kaiba looked at Yugi for a long time. Finally he looked away. "Whatever. I'm sorry."

It wasn't exactly heartfelt, but Yugi immediately smiled. Joey had to admit, if only to himself, that there was no other way Kaiba could more clearly express his feelings for Yugi than to apologize for anything, let alone for something mean he'd done to Joey.

"No more fighting," Joey promised. "I've never used a Millennium Item."

Yugi and Yami took their drinks. "I've never been possessed by my Duel Monster."

Joey sighed and took a drink. "Thanks, Yug'. Like that wasn't embarrassing enough."

"I'll wipe that evil grin off your face, Aibou. I am privy to all of your secrets up to the time we split."

Yugi looked at Yami, horrified. Now Yami had the evil look.

"I've never had a dream about being in my underwear at the Duel Monster's tournament."

"YAMI!"

Joey started laughing as Yugi's cheeks turned pink. "Wow, Yug'. Was that an exhibition match?"

Yugi's cheeks turned redder and he took a drink jerkily. "That was a bad dream, thank you. Like going to school in your underwear."

"I've never flashed the priests at a ceremony."

There was an astonished silence before everyone looked at Kaiba, who was looking at Yami with a smirk. He folded his arms.

"You have only yourself to thank that I have Seth's memories, Pharaoh."

Yami, starting to blush, took a drink. "To clarify, I was four!"

"Now that's exhibition," Joey said with a grin.

"Turn, please," Yami muttered. He was now as red as Yugi and was looking at the table.

"Okay, safe topic. Um, um, I've never cheated on a test."

To everyone's surprise, Yami took a drink. "I have never claimed to be a pure Pharaoh. Instead of studying for my history exam during my lessons I played a game with one of the nobles' children. The next day, I chose to cheat and look up an answer rather than receive bad marks and disappoint my mother."

They all looked at Yami. Joey had never heard him speak of his mother before. In fact, she had not been present during the Memory Game they had played. It seemed both of his parents had not been alive to witness his coronation.

"I've never run a multi-billion-dollar company before.".

Kaiba took a drink and looked at Yugi. "You've run the Kame Game shop."

"That's why I said multi-billion-dollar company."

"I have never-"

"Say something to embarrass Kaiba, Yami. He's the only one who hasn't blushed yet."

"Hmph," Kaiba grunted. "There is nothing anyone could ever say that would make me blush."

"Maybe we should make Kaiba have to drink at stuff Seth's done," Joey said. "I'm sure Yami knows plenty of HIS secrets."

"Seto's not Seth," Yugi said.

"I do believe it is my turn. I have never worn a bondage outfit."

Joey started choking again. "Yami! Betrayal! I said Kaiba! Holy hell, you're gonna get it next time." He took his drink. Seeing that Yugi and Kaiba were staring at him, he flushed. "That was for-"

"We don't need details," Kaiba growled. "Besides, Yami, like you don't usually look like a bondage slave with the chains and-"

Yugi smacked Kaiba's arm. "Hello? Kind of wearing the same thing."

"Hah. Smooth move, Kaiba. Come on, it's your turn."

"And no more memories from my days as Pharaoh," Yami said. "If I cannot use Seth's, you cannot either."

"Fair enough," Yugi agreed.

"I've never used the Dark Magician."

Yugi and Yami sipped from their glasses. Joey glared at Yami.

"Now you're gonna get it. I've never had my lover dress up as a police officer in a sex game."

Yami's face colored again and he took a drink. Yugi was looking mortified, too. "Is this going to be about sex from now on?"

"I'm quite certain I can live without knowing about your sex life, Wheeler."

Joey shrugged and refilled their glasses, emptying the second small bottle. "Yami is the one who turned it that way. I said you could say anything, good or bad."

"Was that good or bad?" Yami asked.

"Very good, Yami, you know that."

"Okay, okay." Yugi was looking redder by the second. Joey smiled inwardly. Making Yugi go into a terminal blush like he'd promised he'd do before seemed to be all too easy. And then Yugi shocked him.

"I've never had an erotic dream involving Joey and a shower massager."

Yami squeaked. "Aibou!"

"Hey, not my fault you didn't close the link when you went to sleep. By the way, this was after he and Joey got together but before he moved out with him."

"I think I would have gouged out my mental eye, or whatever it is you have."

Yami took a drink. Ignoring Kaiba's remark, Joey switched tactics and smiled at him. "I thought we acted that one out."

Yami was rivaling Yugi for deepest blush. "I've never referred to Kaiba as a blue-eyed babe!"

Yugi nearly dropped his glass. He was studiously not looking at Kaiba as he took his drink. Kaiba, on the other hand, was looking at him with a raised eyebrow. Joey started laughing.

"Your turn, blu-"

"Don't you dare, Wheeler, or you're going through the window."

Joey just waved his hand, still laughing. The night was definitely going to get interesting if Yami and Yugi continued this war.

"I've never been pantsed in the locker room during gym."

Joey stopped laughing abruptly. He took a drink. "Like you didn't like the view, Moneybags," he grumbled. "I've never been defeated by Pegasus."

Kaiba growled and took a drink. "He cheated."

Joey looked at Yugi, refilling their glasses for the third time. The third bottle was now empty. Yugi was toying with his glass, looking thoughtful. "I've never had sex with handcuffs."

Yami and Joey took their drinks. "Oh, I see how this is going to go," Joey said with a look at Yugi. "And don't use that innocent expression, it doesn't work anymore. We all know better."

"I thought you didn't discuss your sex lives," Kaiba said to Yugi.

"We don't. But Joey said something about a police officer, so I guessed."

"Wasn't hard to," Joey said.

"I've never had sex in a limo," Yami said abruptly, with a shrewd look at Yugi.

Yugi blushed again and took a drink. Kaiba did as well before folding his arms again. Though his expression remained the same as always, Joey thought he detected a faint look of embarrassment on his face. Hmm...

"I've never used foodstuffs in a way other than to eat."

"Oh, man," Joey groaned as he and Yami took their drinks. Now feeling more than a little tipsy, he looked at Kaiba with a raised eyebrow of his own. "Well, well, someone curious about those sex lives we don't discuss?"

"I would not ask about anything sexual relating to you or Yami if my life depended on it except that I'm simply playing the game you set up."

"Uh-huh. I've never had sex in an office."

Yugi sighed and took a drink along with Kaiba. Joey laughed, definitely realizing the alcohol, however mild, was beginning to get to him. Yugi was starting to look flushed in a way that had nothing to do with the awkwardness.

"Wow, public sex. I don't think I would have thought of that from either of you."

"Let's try and return to safe ground," Yugi pleaded. "I've never initiated a Shadow Game."

Yami took his drink. "Perhaps it is best to move away from sex. I've never attended a public school. My schooling was with private tutors."

Yugi, Joey, and Kaiba all took their drinks. Yugi set his glass down a little heavily. They were definitely getting a little drunk, while Yami and Kaiba didn't seem affected. With Yami, Joey suspected it was the fact that Egyptians drank alcohol on a regular basis and his body was his old one returned to life. As for Kaiba, he either drank privately or hadn't had as much as the rest of them. Joey got up to get another bottle out of the fridge, the third one empty now that he'd filled their glasses for the fourth time. He wobbled slightly. When he got back, Kaiba took his turn.

"I've never had sex with Yami."

They all looked at him. He sneered in a way that almost looked like he was enjoying himself. "I'll admit to liking making the old King of Games blush."

Joey took a drink. So did Yugi. Now Kaiba looked surprised. Joey, who wasn't, watched them carefully. Kaiba's plan had backfired on him.

"What the hell?"

Yugi flushed and looked down at his hands. "One time, during senior year, right after Yami got his body back. I had a crush on him, but that was before you asked me out and before they got together. I don't think of him that way anymore, I swear."

There was a long, awkward silence. "Um, Yug', you could have just let that one pass."

Yugi glanced at him, then at Kaiba. "No. I guess...I should have, but..." He trailed off and looked at Kaiba. "A-Are you upset?"

Joey tensed, expecting Kaiba to fly into a jealous rage. The uncomfortable silence continued for a second.

"Yes," Kaiba said finally. "But as you and I weren't together, it's none of my business. I knew you weren't a virgin, you mentioned that."

"Yeah, but-"

"I'm not holding it against you, Yugi," Kaiba said flatly in a way that made it obvious he didn't want to talk about it. "Your turn, Wheeler."

"Um..." It was getting harder to think. "Okay, are we still embarrassing each other? I've never had sex in a dueling arena."

Yugi whimpered as he and Kaiba took drinks. He'd only said that on a whim, but apparently the two-the uptight billionaire and the clean-cut angel-were both into sex in public places. Joey laughed, realizing he was starting to sound a little hysterical as he got more drunk. The suddenly influx of alcohol was catching up to him. They would have stop soon, and he mentioned that.

"Okay, how about we make this our last round," he said. "I don't know about the rest of you, but I'm getting a little drunk."

"So am I," Yugi agreed. "Okay, last round. So I'd better make it good. Uh, I've never used sex toys."

Yami and Joey took their drinks.

"Oh, no, really? I just said that as a... Oh, never mind. Your turn, Yami."

"I've never, um..." Maybe Yami was a little drunk, since he hadn't stumbled speaking before. "Ah, I don't know, I've never, um...had sexual fantasies about...me."

"Why would you?" Kaiba said as Joey and Yugi took their drinks.

"I couldn't think of anything else."

"I noticed you didn't take a drink, Kaiba."

"Mutt, this is just a guess, but I suppose that would be because I've never had any sexual fantasies about him."

"Why not? He's a living, breathing sex dream."

"I appreciate that description, Joey," Yami said sarcastically.

"It was a compliment, Babe."

"Oh, god. Let me end this." Kaiba shook his head. "I've never..." He looked at Yugi thoughtfully and smirked. "I've never masturbated in my lover's bedroom while he wasn't home."

Yugi's cheeks got the reddest yet. "I shouldn't have told you about that."

He took a drink, as did Yami and Joey. Kaiba frowned at them.

"Do you two ever go for a day without?"

"Yes," Yami said calmly as he set down his glass.

"We did last night," Joey agreed. "Did you?"

"Aren't we done with sex questions?" Yugi asked. "The game's over."

"And I'm glad for that," Kaiba said.

"Oh, I don't know. I thought it was kind of fun, even if every one of you had to bring out my dirtiest secrets."

"Happy Birthday, Yug'."

Yugi stuck out his tongue and stood. He swayed dangerously, saved from falling by Kaiba standing up quickly and grabbing his arm. Yugi giggled, his cheeks definitely flushed and his eyes glassy.

"Ooh. I think I drank the most."

"Actually I think Yami did," Joey said, "but since his liver's a good, old Egyptian model, he's fine."

"Yugi, you should go to bed," Kaiba said. "Before you pass out."

"Okay."

"We should retire as well," Yami said. "We're going to the haunted house tomorrow, aren't we?"

"Oh, yeah. Um..." Joey scratched his head, trying to remember the information through his alcohol-fogged brain. "Yeah, it opens at six. New guests eat dinner, are introduced to the house, that kind of thing. And I think we're all going to be sleeping in tomorrow."

He stood and didn't bother to try to clear the table. He'd probably drop the bottles and tumblers and send broken glass everywhere. Yami got up as well and it was he who braced Joey as they said their goodnights and headed for their bedroom. Kaiba took Yugi into theirs and shut the door. Once in the bedroom, Joey tried to strip off his clothes, saved from falling about half a dozen times by Yami who finally shoved him down on the bed and did it himself.

"Hm, being undressed by you..."

"Think of other things, Joey."

"Yeah, you're right. I'm so tired I'd probably fall asleep in the middle of it and smother you."

Yami smiled and got himself undressed. Joey noticed he didn't try to put pajamas on either of them, leaving them both in their boxers. Yami seemed stable enough, but maybe he was drunker than he seemed. Joey managed to heave himself up the right way as Yami crawled into bed with him. Yami turned off the light and lay down, curling up against Joey's side. Joey kissed the top of his head, then couldn't help but start snickering.

"Man, those two have got a thing for public sex. I might have to tell everyone I know. How'd Kaiba like to wake up to that as a front-page headline?"

Yami chuckled softly. "I think that might be something that would end your friendship with Aibou, Joey. Not to mention you might suddenly disappear because Kaiba killed you."

Pleased that Yami had laughed instead of reprimanding him, Joey grinned. He wasn't that surprised, since Yami felt about Kaiba the same way he did. "Yeah, probably. Did you really flash the priests?"

Yami groaned and smacked him. "Yes, I did, and that is something you will not spread around either or I will be the one to kill you."

Joey laughed, rubbing his arm. Yami hit hard. "I wouldn't, since you know every freaky sex thing I've ever done."

"Of course I do, you did them with me."

"Yeah. You know, you really are a kinky little thing."

"Thank you. Must you use the term little?"

"Yep. Little sex kitten."

He grunted in pain as Yami struck him again, even harder than the first time. "Okay, okay! Uncle! Man, what would people think if they knew how much you abused me?"

Yami chuckled again, more darkly than before. He shifted against him. "They'd probably ask me for obedience-training tips."

"Ugh. Hearing dog remarks is even worse out of your mouth."

"Never call me kitten again and I shall never use another dog remark."

Joey thought about that for a minute, then grinned in the dark. "Okay, it's not that bad."

He winced in anticipation of a third hit, but Yami merely sighed. He felt him lean up and kissed him back, awkwardly in the darkness. It was not a very good kiss, since Joey was fast falling asleep. He wasn't even aware when Yami moved back and was soon out like a light.

tbc...