The next thing they knew, Yuugi and Yami were trying to catch their breath against a chain-link fence blocks away from the TV station.

"Yep!" Jounouchi said with a huff. "That was definitely some voodoo magic right there."

"Our magic is not voodoo," Yami reiterated after they felt their breathing even out.

Still, the way Jounouchi had said it made Yuugi worried. "You're not mad or anything?"

Jounouchi hummed, and then straightened up with a groan. "Well, what exactly did you do?"

They could hear the director's screams replay within their mind. Or perhaps they could still hear his screams in the distance. It was difficult to tell. Yami explained, "we essentially rendered him legally blind."

"Did," Yuugi swallowed. "Did we maybe go too far?"

"You said it's not permanent, yeah?" Jounouchi asked with furrowed eyebrows.

"He will regain his vision once he has learned to respect the people that work for him, or otherwise assist him."

Jounouchi grinned. "Then I ain't got no problem with it, that bastard got what was comin' to him."

Yuugi and Yami let out a shared sigh of relief. Thank goodness, they thought as one.

It is good to see that Jounouchi was not scared away by the Shadow Game.

Yeah, I was still kinda worried he would run for the hills after that.

Jounouchi idly scratched at his stomach. "I dunno 'bout you, but I'm starving. Ya reckon anywhere's still open?"

"Now that you mention it," said Yami. They hadn't eaten anything since lunch and it starting to get really late. "We are famished."

"Oh!" Yuugi gasped as a thought came to them. "There's a burger place that runs twenty-four hours nearby. Maybe we could go there?"

"Sounds good to me!" Jounouchi said with a nod. "Lead the way, Yu- uh..." he brought a hand up to his mouth. "Still haven't thought of a good nickname for the both o' ya yet."

Yuugi scratched the back of their neck as they began to walk. "You don't have to do that for us Jounouchi."

He gave them a pat on the shoulder. "I know, but I wanna. I'll have one ready by tomorrow morning, promise!"

Why does Jounouchi have to be so nice! Yuugi complained to Yami. It's so embarrassing!

I was going to say there are more embarrassing circumstances to be in, but...

Yeah, no thanks.

"Actually, now that I think about it," said Jounouchi. "How does picking what to eat work?"

The question confused Yami, from Yuugi's memories, the process seemed very simple. "I presume you can order off of a menu."

"No, I mean you two." Jounouchi attempted to clarify. "Like, do ya have different favourite foods or...?"

Both Yami and Yuugi let an "Oh," of understanding.

"I do not necessarily have a defined preference as of yet," Yami explained with the tilt of their head. "I have no memory of food I may have eaten before I was placed in the puzzle. Thus, all I have to make an opinion on what food I like are what we have already eaten together, and the memories of food that Yuugi has eaten prior. Even then, my preferences tend to align with his. Perhaps because we share the same tastebuds."

Jounouchi grimaced, "I don't mean ta be rude, but... that's kinda sad."

Yami nodded to concede the point. "On the bright side, every day has an opportunity for culinary discovery. I am certainly looking forward to our dinner. If the trend of sharing our tastes in, well, tastes continues-"

Yuugi projected the equivalent of a mental groan into their mind-space. That was bad.

I will have none of that from you, Yuugi! Yami thought imperiously and resumed his conversation with Jounouchi. "This is going to be exquisite."

"What does Yuugi really like burgers or somthin'?"

"I love hamburgers!" Yuugi said with sparkles in their eyes. "If I could, I'd eat them every meal of every day for the rest of my life and I'd die happy."

"Heh," Jounouchi lightly dug his elbow into them. "You should move to America then."

Yuugi gasped. "Oh my god, real American hamburgers! I am drooling."

"Yuugi is not lying," said Yami, bringing a hand up to their mouth. "I can feel us actually salivating."

"Ugh, gross," yelled Jounouchi, moving away from Yuugi and Yami with a shove. "I did not need that mental image."

Yuugi giggled. "Oh, come on, it's not that bad. People share mouths all the time."

"Yeah," Jounouchi conceded, "when they're makin' out!"

"Exactly!" But when they actually thought about what Yuugi said, their face reddened. "Wait, no! I didn't mean it like that!"

Jounouchi turned back to them, his face wearing a sly grin. "Yuugi, Yami. Have you guys been smoochin' each other this entire time?"

Yuugi buried their face in their hands and let out a muffled scream.

Yet Jounouchi wouldn't stop teasing. "And didn't you guys ask me about the white tape I got? What, were ya plannin' on watchin' that sort of thing together?"

"I-I believe you have made your point v-very clear Jounouchi!" Yami stuttered.

Jounouchi then pulled a very overdramatic thinking pose. "And now that I think about it, how do you actually deal with bein' in the same body? Goin' to the bathroom must be awkward."

"Ah, no!" Yuugi yelled. "Why did you have to go and mention that?!"

Yami shivered. "We do not speak of that forsaken place!"

Jounouchi finally relented as he burst out in belly-aching laughter. "And- Hahaha! You say ya- heh- like the way things are?"

"I mean," Yuugi shrugged and let out a sigh. "Yeah, it's weird, but we like it."

"Despite the moments of discomfort," Yami explained.

"I'd say it's a nine out of ten experience."

Jounouchi gave a considering hum but shrugged. "Eh, doesn't sound like somethin' I'd like."

Yami shrugged. "It is nice to never be without conversation."

Yuugi tilted their head. "Never have to worry about being lonely."

"And I would much rather this than have to spend however long trapped in a broken apart magical artifact," Yami concluded.

Jounouchi took a moment to process and answered with a nod. "A'ight, fair enough."

Dear Gods, this surpasses any of my expectations! Yami thought as he and Yuugi devoured their burger.

I know, right!? The juicy and tender beef, the sweetness of the cheese, the crunch of the lettuce, and the zesty ketchup and mustard combo, all wrapped in a big fluffy bun. It could not possibly get any better than this.

But all too soon, the burger was finished and there was none left to eat. They sat in the corner of the American-style diner, slowly processing the meal they just had. Yuugi mechanically grabbed a napkin to wipe their face, the both of them staring listlessly at the table.

"You doin' all right there buddy?" Jounochi asked around the hot chip he was chewing on.

Yami swallowed a crumb still left in their mouth. "I feel as if I just had a profound religious experience."

Jounouchi sniggered. "Well, ya certainly ate it fast enough to make it one." He offered his plate to them. "Chip?"

Yami shook their head. "No thank you. I wish to bask in the aftertaste for as long as I can."

"Then why don't ya just buy another one?"

Yuugi began to explain "We don't have the money for-"

"Wait Yuugi!" Yami interrupted and turned their head to their backpack. We still have the money from Grandpa, do we not?

"Yami, no."

"But Yuugi," Yami said plaintively, reaching out their right hand towards the bag. More hamburgers!

"I said no!" Yuugi reiterated as he grabbed their right hand with their left. We still have to give it back! What ensued was a bizarre tug of war between Yuugi and Yami which made their entire body tense and straining.

Jounouchi stood up from his seat. "Oi, oi! What's goin' on!"

Yuugi loosened their grit teeth. "Yami- woah!" But his lack of bodily focus allowed Yami to tilt their torso closer to the bag. "Yami'stryingtospendmoremoneythanweshould," he said in a rush before shifting their feet under them to push back against the floor.

Jounouchi blinked as his stance loosened. "Ya mean it ain't in ya budget or somethin'?"

Neither Yuugi nor Yami responded as they continued to fight over their body's autonomy.

Jounouchi let out a sigh. Then he grabbed the backpack over the table, ignored Yuugi and Yami falling on the seat, put the backpack next to his pack, and proceeded to sit on it. "There, Yuugi! Problem solved," he said with a grin.

Yami swiftly reorientated their body upright and pointed dramatically at Jounouchi. "Traitor!"

"Hey! That ain't a way ta speak to your champion," Jounouchi said with exaggerated pomposity.

Yami crossed their arms. "The role of a champion is to serve their master with utmost loyalty!"

Jounouchi ate another hot chip casually. "Yeah, but I'm both you and Yuugi's champion, and I made the executive decision ta side with Yuugi."

"Ah, curses," Yami pouted and crossed his arms. "My plans have been foiled, by my own friends no less."

There, there. Yuugi thought at Yami, sending the idea of patting him on the head. We can get hamburgers again another day.

"And Jounouchi wins again," he exclaimed, before grabbing another chip. Before he ate it, however, he sent Yuugi and Yami a rather concerned look. "You doin' alright Yuugi?"

Yuugi uncrossed their arms? "Yeah? Why wouldn't I be."

Jounouchi shrugged. "Just makin' sure you were alright fighting with Yami."

"Oh, no it's alright Jounouchi. I could tell he wasn't actually going to do anything I wouldn't like."

Yami continued. "Of course, Yuugi has been very kind to me. The last thing I would want to do is betray his trust. Especially so, considering I am for lack of a better term 'co-piloting' his body."

Jounouchi hummed. "I guess you can tell exactly what the other guy is thinking, so you pro'lly don't have to worry 'bout misunderstandings or whatever."

Yuugi and Yami blushed slightly.

Yuugi scratched their cheek. "Well... sometimes it's hard to tell which of us is thinking what."

Yami continued, "It is also difficult to keep our thoughts in order during periods of heightened emotion."

Jounouchi let out a huff. "You two are really somethin' else," he said and then suddenly sat up in a jolt. "I've got it, 'Yuuni!'"

Yuugi and Yami looked confusedly at Jounouchi. "What?"

"My new nickname for you two! 'Yuuni!'" Jounouchi explained excitedly. "Y'know how in English the phrase 'the two of ya' can be said as 'you two,' right? So I thought I'd take the 'Yuu' from Yuugi's name and make it so I'm calling ya my bro like 'Yuu-nii' but then change the 'nii' to 'ni' as in the number two. Voila! 'Yuuni!'"

"Uh..." Yuugi and Yami let out, their face turning slightly pink.

I have a sudden and prevalent urge to hug Jounouchi.

Me too! Unless that's just me and you think you want to because I do.

Regardless, were it not for the societal norms of this land, Jounouchi would most be thoroughly hugged!

"Too dumb?" Jounouchi asked, "I go back to the drawin' board if ya want."

"No, no!" Yuugi denied. "I... we both like it. It's just," he said with a swallow. "I've never been given a nickname before so I'm kinda, not sure how to react?" Especially since I don't have any siblings.

"But you both like it, yeah?" Jounouchi asked.

Yami nodded. "Indeed, we do, Jounouchi. Or should we perhaps call you 'Jou-nii' instead?"

He grinned. "Sure thing, Yuuni!"

The next morning, the newly dubbed 'Yuuni' by their friend once again had to deal with an enemy no shadow game would overthrow, having to shower.

Unfortunately, our opponent must be sentient to be a target, and the need for cleanliness is not.

Yeah, cool. But still, why us! We basically made a guy blind. Why couldn't we like, temporarily do the same to ourselves?

They both stood still with their pyjama shirt in their hands.

Wait. Yuugi thought. Would that work?

There, Yami furrowed their eyebrows, would be no harm in trying, and walked over to the bench where the Millenium Puzzle laid and picked it up. All we would have to do is make an illusion for ourselves.

Yeah, we could make it like they do for TV and make all the, uh, bits, pixelated.

As far as I know, that sounds plausible. Would you help me focus, Yuugi?

Oh, yeah! Then Yuugi closed their eyes.

In their shared mind's eye, they imagined the same thrill that they felt when inflicting a penalty game and focused. They ignored the faint scent of ozone and disappearing sounds of the traffic outside and brought to attention their wish of concealment. A bell rang in their ears and a gust of wind with no logical source blew through their sleep tussled hair. They let out a breath and opened their eyes, the eye of the Puzzle staring back at them.

Did it work? Yuugi asked.

Yami placed the Puzzle back on the bench. There is only one way to find out.

Yuugi took a deep breath and looked at the bathroom ceiling. "Okay," and without looking down, took off the rest of their clothes, and then stood there unmoving.

It would be better to rip off the proverbial bandage in this case.

Yeah, yeah, I just, gimme a sec.

Okay, Yuugi. On the count of three?

Yeah, okay.

One, Yami counted.

Two. Yuugi continued.

And with a collective shout of "Three!" they both whipped their head down to see to their relief, their private parts censored by large skin-coloured pixels.

"Success," said Yami, walking with more confidence than they ever had in the situation towards the shower.

Uh, Yami?

Suddenly all their confidence dropped. Yami grit their teeth and said, "Yuugi, no."

We uh, Yuugi swallowed. Still have to clean there.

They both slumped against the shower door. "Gods, damn it."