Disclaimer: Just own the words, not the folks.
Title: Duel Monsters Next Top Model (13/?)
Author: Mishiko Shinsei
Rating: NC-17 (eventually)
Pairing (s): Various
Beta: None
Spoilers: Minor for the series
Disclaimer: I don't own any of the characters in Yu-gi-Oh, just the cracked-out stories I write about them.
Summary: Pegasus is crazy. He draws two other crazies with him, Dartz and Siegfried von Schroeder. Together the three make our beloved duelists an offer they can't refuse. Warnings for crack! and slight OOC-ness.
Week 5 – Part 1
"I'm bored," the white-haired former thief grumbles, as he and Ryou make their way to breakfast.
"You say that all the time," Ryou intones, putting down the latest note from Pegasus about their continued ordeal. He'd read the rhyme inside which had promised something about 'dressing down to dress up' as well as a verse that even he'd found childish and silly.
The former thief grins mischievously as an idea crosses his mind.
"Gimmie that," he demands, taking the oversized card from his soul-partner's hand.
"Don't tear it up! I wanted to show it to every one at breakfast," Ryou demands.
"I'm not gonna do anything to it," Bakura assures, striding ahead.
'When he's in this kind of a mood, anything can happen,' Ryou sighs to himself as he follows behind.
He begins to believe his darker half as they calmly get their plates from the buffet and sit down to a quiet meal with Otogi and Honda. His suspicions start to wane even further when Bakura reads the card aloud to their table and then hands it to the other occupants for them to read as well. He is fully convinced of his innocence when Bakura even offers to share it with first the table next to them where Malik, Marik, Noa and Valon are chatting and devouring their own breakfasts.
"I should have known better," he mumbles under his breath as he watches his other head over to the main table in the corner.
Deciding not to worry about what mayhem the former thief could be planning, Ryou turns back to his tea.
"Maybe it won't be as bad as you think," Otogi attempts to soothe.
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'This is gonna be great,' Bakura thinks to himself as he saunters toward Kaiba's table. 'He'll probably rip it to shreds in less than ten seconds!'
Eager to alleviate his boredom, Bakura casually tosses the Toon Blue Eyes White Dragon greeting card onto the table. The CEO's reaction is even better than Bakura imagined when Seto immediately whips a lighter out of his pocket and sets the colorful object on fire.
"Kaiba!" Jounouchi, Yami and Yugi admonish as Amelda uses his glass of water to put out the flames.
Kaiba's contemptuous sneer is all the response they receive.
Bakura throws his head back and cackles in enjoyment.
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"Okay, give it to me! Let's go!" Ryou looks up at the order.
"I'm sorry, give you what?" the white-haired duelist frowns at the photographer.
"C'mon! Make me believe it!" the other commands.
"Believe it?"
"You know! Just…be emotional! Show me your feelings!" the professional exclaims in exasperation.
As the first model chosen for the black and white photo challenge, Ryou finds the man's gruffness off-putting. It's not as if the short, balding gentleman had explained himself very well with his barked orders.
"My feelings about what?" he inquires sincerely.
"That's it! I'm done!" the high-strung man yells, stomping off in a huff.
"Oh, my," Pegasus waves his blue pastel fan in agitation as he watches the man's retreating back. "This will definitely delay judging."
"Agreed," Dartz nods beside him. "I'll work on getting another photographer right away."
"That won't be necessary," Siegfried intones, removing his suit jacket and rolling up his sleeves. "I'm perfectly capable of filling in. That man is an overrated hack anyway. I told you not to hire him."
"Hm. So you did," Pegasus smirks behind his fan, as he observes the CEO tying his long, pink hair into a ponytail and resetting the camera and lighting to his liking.
"Now Ryou, I will be taking what's called a 'beauty shot' of your face and upper torso. I need for you to think about something in your life that has upset or saddened you deeply and show it to me," the replacement photographer instructs.
"I'll try," Ryou nods in understanding.
"That's all I ask," he replies seriously.
"Mmm. This is quite unexpected," Pegasus intones as he watches Sieg move easily through the fifth photo session with no problems. "Perhaps we should have him do more of the photo shoots, if he's this capable."
"I agree that he appears rather gifted with the camera, but we should reserve judgment until we see the finished product." Dartz replies.
"And until we see how he handles our more difficult contestants," the Industrial Illusions CEO smiles as he watches the Blue Eyes Dragon Master step onto the set.
"No," the tall duelist declares, glaring hatefully at the man before him.
"Now, now, Kaiba-boy," Pegasus interjects, waving his fan at the disgruntled participant. "If you don't take a picture, you could be disqualified."
"Which would mean that Mokuba and I can go home," Kaiba smirks. "Thanks for the further incentive not to cooperate."
The sudden series of flashes surprise both Pegasus and Kaiba.
"What the fuck?" Kaiba snarls. "I definitely wasn't giving you anything emotional to take a picture of!"
"Of course you are," Siegfried retorts, snapping even more photos of the enraged man. "Blind fury is an emotion too."
"Fuck you!" Kaiba growls, stalking from the set as Sieg continues snapping his photograph.
"I would say that he handles them very well," Dartz smiles at the exchange.
"Agreed," Pegasus laughs as Sieg sets up for the next contestant.
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"The winner of this challenge will receive a special prize chosen by Judge Crawford," Croquet informs the remaining duelists.
"Oh, joy," Yami mumbles. "It's probably a life-sized Funny Bunny plushie."
"Heh! That'd be right jolly!" Valon pipes up beside him.
"Shhh!" Ryou admonishes with a serious face. Bakura and Marik burst out laughing at his expression.
"As I was I was saying," Croquet raises his voice over the two delinquent's laughter. "This challenge was designed to encourage you to use just your face to express a strong emotion. After viewing the film, the judges have determined four finalists. Please step forward when I call your name."
"Should we yell 'Present' too?" Otogi deadpans, Bakura snickering behind him.
"It is a little 'primary school,' isn't it?" Amelda nods.
"Let's just get this shit over with," Kaiba retorts, his patience having eroded away at least an hour ago.
"To continue," Croquet snips loudly. "Mr. Mouto, Mr. Kaiba, Mr. Ishtar and Mr. Jounouchi are the finalists."
Only Marik and Jou step forth.
"Would our other two finalists care to join us?"
"Perhaps," Noah responds with a smirk. "That's if we knew which of us you meant."
Croquet looks down at his score sheet in confusion.
"He means that there's two Kaibas and two Moutos ya dumb fuck!" Jounouchi snarls uncharacteristically.
Honda touches his friend's arm, frowning lightly.
"There's no need for such hostility, Mr. Jounouchi," Croquet bristles.
"Whatever! I'm outta here. I need some food," he retorts, shrugging Honda's hand away and storming off toward the house.
"I've not yet announced the winners, Mr. Jounouchi," Croquet admonishes.
Jounouchi offers Pegasus' right-hand man a middle finger salute and keeps walking.
"Huh. Something's got blondie's knickers in a knot," Valon observes.
"The last two finalists are Yugi Mouto and Seto Kaiba," Croquet continues smoothly, refusing to allow the other's behavior to disrupt him.
After this latest affront, he is done with this charade. Now that he has finished this latest duty, he will officially resign as the contest's Artistic Director.
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"Jou?" Yugi pokes his head into their shared bedroom, glad to see the blonde duelist sitting quietly in on of the two recliners in the room.
"What'dya want, Yug'?' he drawls sullenly.
"Are you alright?"
"Just peachy," he mumbles.
"Jou…"
He's heard that tone before. Yugi's doe-eyed 'I'm just worried about you, Jou,' voice. It's the same one he used on Jounouchi when they were in high school. That voice made him give back the puzzle piece. That voice made him quit Huritani's gang. That voice made him protect Yugi instead of torment him.
But that voice can't pry these feelings from him. The complete helplessness as he watches his friends and family get tortured by three maniacs, simply for their sick amusement; the sense of betrayal of those same friends and family every time he finds himself enjoying any aspect of this farce. The rage that his favorite pastime, dueling, has yet again put those he cares about in danger.
And the sometimes overwhelming feeling that he's completely unworthy of all the attention he's getting; of the love and support from his friends, of anyone's notice. Being constantly on display and 'judged' reminds him that he's just a worthless kid from the streets, whose own parents didn't even want him.
No, Yugi's special voice won't work on him this time.
"So who won Peg-head's 'great' prize?" he defers, forcing a sarcastic smile.
"Actually, I did," Yugi admits.
"Heh! Good fer you! So what was it? The giant plushie?"
"I don't know yet. I was told my surprise would be in the study."
"So, what are ya doin' here? Checking to make sure I haven't destroyed the place?" the blonde jokes, his jovial mask completely restored.
"Partially," the shorter duelist admits. "I was also told that I could pick a friend to share my prize with, so I told Croquet that I wanted to share it with you."
Choking down that feeling of unworthiness, he responds with, "So, ya thinkin' about testing the waters, huh? Giant plushie aside, ya know I don't share."
Yugi smiles at his friend's antics, fully aware of the carefully crafted mask Jounouchi's displaying, before insisting that they go see what they've won.
Opening the door to the study, he completely comes undone at the sight before him.
"Y-Yugi?" Anzu stammers in distress. "What's going on? Where are we?'
Beside her sits an equally distraught and terrified Shizuka.
"Katsuya?" she whispers. "Do you know where Hiroto is? I haven't seen him since he left for work this morning."
"Motherfucking bastard," Jounouchi snarls.
"Now, now, Jounouchi," Pegasus intones from behind the two men. "I would almost think that you don't like your prize."
"I'll kill you, you worthless piece of shit!" Jounouchi yell, turning to advance on the Industrial Illusions CEO.
"Rubber, glue and all that, Jounouchi-boy," he titters, slamming the study door in Jounouchi's face, the lock clicking ominously.
"Open this fucking door, you manic!" Jounouchi shouts.
"You have four hours, gentleman. I suggest you use the time wisely," Pegasus announces through the door. "Ta-ta!"
Yugi moves his fiancée with him to the loveseat in the corner, folding the suddenly weeping woman into his arms.
Calming himself for Shizuka's sake Jounouchi wrestles his unbridled rage under control and joins her on the couch, offering his shoulder for her to lean on until she stops shaking.
The four sit together silently for a while, Yugi soothing Anzu with soft touches and warm kisses; Jounouchi rocking his beloved baby sister as if she were a child again. Neither Jounouchi nor Yugi want to spend a minute of their precious few hours to do anything else, but they know that they have little choice in the matter.
Nodding to each other in agreement, they sit back and quietly explain what's going on.