Yu-Gi-Oh! Fan Fiction ❯ Frozen Tears ❯ Preparations ( Chapter 8 )

**NOTICE: I AM SO SORRY FOR NOT UPDATING IN SUCH A LONG TIME! PLEASE FORGIVE ME! THIS WON'T HAPPEN AGAIN! (I hope.) THANKS FOR READING THIS!

Randomasdf (Grace): Hello minna-san! It's been a LONG time since I've updated - gomen nasai! Please forgive me - I'll be back to the once a week deal soon. I promise! I'm sorry to keep you all waiting - I appreciate your patience with me! But now I'm back again! Miss me?

Bakura: Not particularly.

Ryou: <slaps Bakura upside the head>

Bakura: WHAT!?

Randomasdf (Grace): Whatever. ANYWAYS, I've been out of town lately - almost every weekend for school and sports and stuff. <starts crying> I didn't have ANY time to work on this!

Marik: A little exasperated are we?

Malik: <cuts in before Grace> Yes.

Randomasdf (Grace): No. <glares at Malik, then pauses> Special thanks go out to darkdragon and Hari ng Laro for adding me to your favorite authors list! Wow! I have 180+ reviews on FanFiction.Net! Another couple reviews and I'll have 200 (on FanFiction.Net) and 50 (on MediaMiner.org)!!! WHEE!!! Thank you to all my reviewers!

Yami: I don't think that a number in the double digits is considered "a couple".

Yugi: Don't ruin her good mood!

Yami: You're right, aibou. <sweeps Yugi into his arms and cuddles him>

Seto: You know what's pitiful?

Jou: What?

Seto: There's more fluff in Grace's author's notes than in her real story.

Randomasdf (Grace): Hey! I resent that! <pauses> Okay - maybe it's true, but I PROMISE that fluff is on its way in this chappie! Also, there will be more plot development occurring in this chapter!

Malik: You PROMISE? <fakes a gasp>

Randomasdf (Grace): <sarcastically, rolling eyes> Ha ha - very funny Malik.

Marik: <cuts in> I certainly thought so.

Randomasdf (Grace): ANYWAYS, I'm listening to "fluffy music" to help me get into the "fluffy mood". <to readers> Have you ever listened to the song "Love and Devotion"? I think the artist is Smile.DK. But that song makes me think of fluffiness between Yami/Yugi specifically (I don't know exactly why), but it could actually apply to any of the parings. It's a pretty song (in my opinion), and it's inspiring me to write fluff. ^.^

Bakura: <sarcastically> Yeah, right. Like it could ACTUALLY apply to me and my hikari. {I know that it's supposed to be "my hikari and I" but I don't see Bakura using proper grammar.}

Randomasdf (Grace): It COULD. You never know. <smirks> Remember - I have almighty powers - after all, I AM the author of this story!!! ^.^

Ryou: <sighs exasperatedly> Yami {Bakura}! What am I going to do with you!

Bakura: I have a few ideas. <winks suggestively at Ryou>

Ryou: <blinks, then blushes>

Randomasdf (Grace): Um - right. BTW, I DO NOT OWN YU-GI-OH! THAT WONDERFUL SATISFACTION BELONGS TO MR. KAZUKI TAKAHASHI!!! DO NOT SUE ME! (PLEASE)

A/N: There will be an introduction to three antagonistic characters - they are VERY minor and exist for the plot's sake (so their names are unimportant). Also, the female character will kinda be like an Anzu-type person (in Anzu-bashing fics), only slightly different (you'll see). She annoys the crap out of me - and I created her! >.< This chapter includes the festival preparations - I promise plot development! <squeals> BTW, I kind of changed Marik's personality a bit - hope I didn't mess him up. >.<

WHEE! {I have got to cut back on the sugar. >.<} I present to you - chapter eight!

~*~*~*~*~*~ = Scene Change

|-|Frozen Tears|-|

By Randomasdf

~CHAPTER EIGHT - PREPARATIONS~

The glowing Egyptian sun rose swiftly into the clear sky - its rays filtering into the palace, waking its residents.

Two sandy-haired teens stirred in each other's arms, the thin lavender sheets draped over their tanned forms. Although sufficiently covered, it was obvious that the two were unclothed, tangled in a tight embrace. Two sets of almost identical lilac eyes opened groggily. Marik and Malik stared at each other with amused, yet mischievous, grins.

"Good morning, sleepyhead," the older of the two teased.

The younger slapped his counterpart's arm playfully, sticking out his tongue and pouting slightly. Marik chuckled low in his throat. Malik's eyes suddenly widened and shot up, bolting out of bed, dragging the linen with him, and throwing on his garments sloppily.

"Ra! I'm going to be late! If the Pharaoh finds out, I'll be killed - or worse!" the slave panicked, searching frantically for his shirt.

"I very much doubt there is anything worse than being killed," Marik said through a yawn.

"Yes there is! I could be punished!" he exclaimed, rushing out the door and leaving a very bemused Marik to interpret his words.

~*~*~*~*~*~

Ryou blinked rapidly, his chocolate orbs fixed upon the ceiling as he pondered his life. Remembering the innocent kiss he had given to Bakura, the silver-haired boy smiled inwardly. He turned his eyes toward the window, gazing at the glowing sun.

`Wait - GLOWING SUN?' Ryou gasped loudly, waking his ill-tempered roommate.

"What in the Underworld is going on?" Bakura demanded, his sharp features twisted in disgruntled frown.

"Have-to go-will be late!" the younger of the two panted heavily as he raced around the room, gathering his clothes.

"Idiot," the former tomb robber retorted. His cold brown eyes followed Ryou around the chamber, observing his graceful and delicate movements.

Catching Bakura's stare, the slave flushed a slight pink. He turned his head away quickly, concealing his embarrassed expression.

`The Pharaoh's probably going to hang me for this - better yet - he might even feed me to wild animals!' Ryou thought sarcastically.

He dashed out of the room, leaving an amused Bakura laughing at his roommate's antics.

~*~*~*~*~*~

Seto stood by his large window overlooking the city as the glimmering beams of sunlight bounced off of his half-asleep figure. He sighed, his sapphire eyes wary. Running his left hand through silky brunette locks, the High Priest turned to examine his golden-haired slave -

only to find the bed empty.

Alarm rippled throughout his body as he scanned the room for the beautiful boy. Yes - Seto was now fully aware of the feelings for Jounouchi he harbored. He let out another sigh, thinking that the slave had left already.

"Looking for me?" Jou asked, his lips curled in his trademark grin, as he stepped out from the shadows.

The taller of the two chuckled lowly. "So, the puppy wants to play games, does he?" he laughed playfully.

Regaining his composure, the priest shifted his cerulean stare to the morning scene outside his window. "Beautiful, isn't it? It's amazing how many things you can learn from nature."

Jou gave him a quizzical look.

"Here, puppy, let me explain." Seto chortled, as his slave scowled at his new name.

He grasped the younger boy's wrist gently, tugging him closer to the magnificent sight. He pulled Jou in front of him, their bodies at a close proximity.

"See the sun?" He pointed at the radiant orb. "It represents humanity and hope. Humanity - because the sun rises and sets, just as life also rises and sets - always changing - you'll never what will happen next. Hope - because there is always hope for a better future - an improved tomorrow - in the horizon."

He paused, shifting, his intense cerulean irises settling upon Jou.

"Wow," the blond finally murmured after a brief moment of silence.

The priest laughed - his rich voice reverberated around the room.

"You should DEFINITELY laugh more," the slave added, a toothy grin plastered upon his face.

Seto's only response was a light shrug. He tentatively wrapped his strong arms around Jou's shoulders from behind him, causing a slight jump from the latter, but the fair-haired boy soon melted into his master's light embrace. It was amazing how they fit so well - as if it was kismet that had brought them together.

The brunette leaned in, his sporadic breaths tickling Jou's ear as he cupped the blond's face.

"I just want you to know that I'll be here for you no matter what." He turned his slave around, his heart thumping wildly. "This is all so confusing for me - doesn't it seem like I've known you forever?"

Not pausing for a response, he continued on.

"I don't know exactly how to say this, but ever since I met you, my life hasn't been the same. I know this is a rush, but I think that I lo-"

A knock came at the door.

~*~*~*~*~*~

**EARLIER**

Yugi lay perfectly still on his pallet, trying his best not to disturb the slumbering Pharaoh. Well, at least he THOUGHT he was asleep.

The small angel's deep amethyst orbs flickered silently around the chamber, his gaze landing upon Yami, who had his back turned to him.

Yami. The same Yami who had snatched away his freedom. The same Yami who kept him confined in the palace like a caged animal. But, ironically, Yugi was not mad. He wasn't quite sure WHY he wasn't mad - he just, wasn't.

Yugi sighed softly, barely audible, but still heard by the older of the two. The ruler of Upper and Lower Egypt snapped his crimson eyes open at the sound of the little one's whispered exasperation. He desperately wanted to comfort the depressed slave. He wasn't quite sure WHY he wanted to, he just, did.

"Stop your sighing." Yami's voice came out harsh and emotionless, surprising even himself.

Yugi jerked out of his trance to look over to the Pharaoh, who had sat up on the bed, a pair of scarlet irises glued upon the smaller figure in the corner.

"A thousand apologies for disturbing you, Great Pharaoh." The violet-eyed boy mumbled with his head bowed slightly.

Yami waved his hand nonchalantly, dismissing the incident.

`Hmm - this is interesting. Shouldn't he be mad? Shouldn't he have already executed me by now? What is he waiting for?' Yugi mused bitterly. `Death seems like a welcoming companion to a lowly slave like me. He should just end it now.'

He looked up, noticing the faint sanguine glow of the Millennium Puzzle.

`Indeed - why HAVE I not punished him yet? What makes Yugi so special - so different from everyone else?' the Egyptian king pondered silently.

He didn't have a chance to answer his own question as the annoying voice in the back of his mind reemerged.

`Everything.'

"GAH!" Yami yelled into his pillow, his hands over his ears, while Yugi watched on with confusion clouding over his brilliant purple eyes.

Suddenly, the Pharaoh stood up, bolting out of the room towards the one person who could help him.

~*~*~*~*~*~

Ryou and Malik stood in the entrance foyer, puzzled. The palace atrium was decorated beautifully in exotic flowers - the wonderful fragrances radiating off of the brightly colored petals.

The two slaves blinked. Once. Twice.

Sweet, yet pungent smells of roasting meats wafted in from the bustling kitchens. The floors were scrubbed and polished, gleaming brightly in early morning rays, and the walls created an illusion of pure gold.

Ryou looked down, staring at his own refection in the shining floor before looking up suddenly at Malik, his chocolate orbs wide with anticipation. Catching on, the sandy-haired teen's eyes also widened.

"The harvest festival," they muttered in unison. How could have they forgotten?

The two slaves were about to go outside when Ryou put a hand out, stopping Malik.

"Shhh - do you hear something?" the silver-haired boy whispered urgently.

The two dove behind a statue near the grand doors of the front entrance. Three sets of footsteps echoed rapidly before stopping right in front of the statue. Malik pushed Ryou's head down, hoping they wouldn't be seen.

"The festival is today, you know," a gruff masculine voice stated blandly.

"No. Really," a second, slightly higher-pitched male voice replied sarcastically.

"Stop arguing - both of you. We have a lot of business to attend to." A commanding female voice cut the two men off.

"He started it," the first voice accused. The two hidden slaves could hear him shifting his position. "Anyways, what information have you got?"

The female, who was obviously the leader, snorted. "I'm getting there, idiot. The word is that Pharaoh Yami has a new slave - a young boy name Yugi who, according to my sources, has a remarkably similar appearance to the Pharaoh."

Malik looked at Ryou, his mouth twisting into the words, "Oh no."

The woman continued. "Rumor has it that the controlling Pharaoh cancelled the harvest festival today, but he changed his decision when the little slave boy did something."

The second voice cut in. "What did he do?"

"Shut up when I'm talking, stupid. Those are minor details - concentrate on the main picture," the feminine voice snapped.

"And that would be -?" the rough voice asked monotonously.

"You are both are more dense than I thought. I shouldn't give you so much credit." Ryou and Malik could practically hear the smirk on her cold lips. "The point is - we have to carry out our plan tonight - Master's direct orders. Once we - correction - I find the Pharaoh's soft spot, the real fun will begin." A sinister chuckle escaped her throat.

The three plotters strode down the hall, their footsteps slowly dying away. Ryou lifted his head to see the back of the retreating figures.

"What the hell -" Malik started.

"- was that?" Ryou finished.

~*~*~*~*~*~

Bakura growled deep in his throat. He sat, situated in a plush chair in Marik's room.

"I don't know what to do anymore!" the former tomb robber complained, aggravated.

The dark counsel member with mauve eyes stared at the rambling Bakura. "What do you expect ME to do about it?"

The silver-haired teen met the lilac gaze with his own harsh brown stare. "I DON'T KNOW! Do SOMETHING!" He ran a rough hand through his unruly silver locks.

Marik rolled his eyes. "WELL, maybe you should stop yelling at him. I'm surprised you haven't hit him at all."

The russet-eyed teen glared at his friend. "I only yell because I care. AND, though tempting it is, I wouldn't hit Ryou - his eyes always stop me." His voice drifted off.

The former merchant laughed, his lavender orbs shining. "I guess your more in love than I thought."

"I am NOT! Whatever gave you that idea?" Bakura intensified his glare.

Marik, unfazed by the austere glare, sniggered lightly. He pulled his spiky hair down, trying to achieve the effect of Bakura's hair, while imitating his voice. Looking up to the sky, he clasped his hands together in front of his chest. "I wouldn't hit Ryou - his eyes always stop me. I love him - I'm just too much of an idiot to realize it."

Bakura growled again. "Go to hell, Marik."

He shot him an innocent (or what he thought was innocent) grin. "Oh no thanks, I'll stay right here."

The white-haired teen glowered. "Did something happen last night with Malik? You seem to be in a chipper mood," he commented.

"WELL, since you asked -"

"Forget I asked." Bakura sighed exasperatedly.

~*~*~*~*~*~

Seto looked up, wondering who had interrupted him from his confession. "Stay here," he mouthed to Jou, who was equally confused.

The brunette hefted the heavy door to reveal a tired-looking Pharaoh.

"Yami?! What are you doing here?" the priest paused, noticing the expression upon his face. "What's wrong?"

Yami's scarlet orbs flickered over to the blond slave, then back to Seto.

The High Priest understood the hint. "Jou, I'll be right back," he said quickly before following his friend into the hallway, shutting the door behind him.

"What is it?" he asked in a concerned tone.

The Pharaoh lifted his weary ruby eyes. "It's Yugi," he breathed.

"Yugi? Why? Did something happen to him? Is he hurt?" Seto mumbled rapidly.

Yami shook his crown of tri-colored locks. "No. You see -" He paused. "You see - I've been having these strange feelings ever since Yugi became my slave. I feel, well, somewhat uncomfortable around him. Not to mention that I can't stay angry at him and I haven't punished him for anything yet, although if it were anyone else, I would have executed him or her on the spot. I don't know what's wrong with me."

"Hmmm," the High Priest muttered. `Yami definitely feels something for Yugi - just like I predicted. However, I do not think that it is wise to tell him that he is in love. On the other hand, it is not wise to lie, either.'

The Pharaoh regarded Seto with an inquiring expression. "What is it?"

The sapphire-eyed teen inhaled deeply, praying mentally to Bes to keep his friend under control. "Yami, based on what you have told me, there really is only one explanation." {Bes is the Egyptian dwarf god believed to guard against evil spirits and ward off misfortune.}

The shorter teen looked at him expectantly. "Yes?"

He paused, choosing his words carefully. "Well, actually, I think I'm going to let you discover it on your own. I think it's for the best - at least in this situation." Yami scowled as Seto shot him an apologetic smile. "Think about it - I'm predicting that it will come to you during the festival tonight."

The Pharaoh, not frowning anymore, nodded. "I hope you're right, Seto. Anyways, I'd better be getting back - there is much to do."

The High Priest bowed slightly before disappearing behind the door to his room. Jou looked up at the reentrance of Seto. "What was that all about?"

"Oh - Yami needed some advice about something," he replied.

"Advice? The Pharaoh? You've got to be kidding me!" Jou looked surprised.

"Well, puppy, like I said, I am basically Yami's only friend since everyone else is practically scared out of their wits around him. However, I think that will change in the near future." Seto smirked.

"Huh?"

"You'll see soon enough. Trust me. But first, we have much to prepare before the festival - I have to gather the necessary materials for the ritual I'm supposed to perform in honor of Emutet," the older of the two explained, sighing heavily. "We'd better start the preparations now - let's head to the temple." {Emutet is the cobra-headed Egyptian goddess of harvest and agriculture.}

The blond walked behind his master, his honey-amber orbs narrowed in thought. `What was Seto trying to tell me before the Pharaoh interrupted?' he pondered.

"Oh - it was probably unimportant," Jou told himself aloud.

~*~*~*~*~*~

Yugi buried his face into his semi-stiff pillow, wiping his face, trying his best to contain his tears, as he heard the door open and shut, signaling Yami's return.

`Great. I just HAD to cry, didn't I. He's probably going to send me back to Dakha now, or worse, my father.' Soft tears trickled down his pale cherubic cheeks.

**FLASHBACK**

"Stop crying, you little piece of nothing!" A harsh slap to the face left an angry red welt upon Yugi's face.

"But Master -!" A punch in the gut.

"You will learn your place, boy!" A kick in the ribs.

Pain.

**END FLASHBACK**

A pair of ruby eyes fell upon the flustered figure, examining the boy's emotions. A sharp pain wrenched his heart in his chest, forcing Yami down onto his knees. Yugi looked up at the slight thump, his amethyst pools shining from tears. He quickly wiped his eyes.

"Master?!" The younger teen cried, astonished.

Yami struggled to pull himself up, using the bedpost for support. Violet met crimson as both boys froze, rooted to the spot.

The Pharaoh swallowed hard, not breaking the contact. "Yugi, we have to go to the throne room - there is some `business' I would like to take care of." His indifferent expression curved into a smirk, retaining his normal composure.

The little one nodded slowly, his blond bangs falling into face. Without thinking, Yami reached out and brushed away the piece of silky hair. Yugi's heart fluttered, but being as innocent as he was, he had no idea what was happening to him, setting the foreign sensation aside. Yami, on the other hand, froze. Again. What the hell was he doing?

`What's gotten into me? Ugh - I'm going to kill Seto!' {not literally}

"Pharaoh?" Yugi waved a small pale hand in front of his master's face.

Yami looked up into the slave's violet orbs, his own sanguine eyes flashing with an unplaced expression.

The little one backed away slowly from the Pharaoh's unwavering gaze - transfixed, yet terribly frightened. Yami grasped Yugi's wrist firmly.

**FLASHBACK**

Methk grabbed Yugi's delicate wrist roughly, savoring each of his son's cries of pain.

"Shut it," he growled, clawing at the child's clothing.

**END FLASHBACK**

Yugi whimpered, his eyes clamped tightly shut. The older of the two was puzzled at first, but then, as realization dawned upon him, he dropped his wrist quickly.

**FLASHBACK**

A cuff upside the head. A well-aimed kick to the spine.

"Idiot boy. You'll never be fit to rule," the Pharaoh roared.

Yami looked up with trembling claret irises, but on the inside, his hatred grew, fueling the fire within him. His father gripped his son's upper arm, bruising it badly.

"Looks like I'll have to toughen you up some more."

**END FLASHBACK**

`Wait a moment - since when did I care about others' discomfort?' Yami shook his head. `Never mind.'

"You are to stay by me during the festival today," he said aloud, changing the subject.

Yugi nodded, not know what was going on, but thankful that his master had let his wrist go as he rubbed it gingerly.

"To the throne room," the Pharaoh commanded.

The slave nodded again, following Yami, still in a confused daze.

~*~*~*~*~*~

"What are we going to do, Malik? We can't let those people do whatever they are going to do!" Ryou threw his arms up in exclamation.

"Why not?" the lilac-eyed teen answered coolly. "It's not like Egypt would suffer a great loss or anything." He shrugged casually.

The silver-haired slave stared at his friend. "Don't say that! The Pharaoh is human, after all, just like us."

"Are you sure about that?" Malik asked imperturbably.

"Stop joking around!" Ryou cried.

"Whose joking around?" The sandy-haired boy threw his companion his trademark smirk.

"Oh come on, Malik! Think about Yugi! If he gets hurt today, I will never forgive you. NEVER! I'll strangle you with my bare hands!" Ryou was becoming hysterical.

"Was that a threat?"

"Stop asking questions!"

"Whose asking questions?"

"ARGH! You can SO difficult sometimes!" the chocolate-orbed youth threw his hands up again in exasperation and stomped off toward the livestock.

"Wait Ryou! Okay, okay - I give in. I'll help for Yugi's sake, not for that stupid ass -"

"Malik!"

"Okay, okay. What's the plan?"

~*~*~*~*~*~

Bakura growled impatiently, tracing circles on the table in the counsel's hall.

"ARGH! I can't take this anymore!" he finally yelled, banging his fist upon the wood.

The Pharaoh's counsel turned to stare at him.

"I'm going out," the ex-tomb robber muttered, ignoring the incredulous gazes of the people around him.

He stormed out of the room with a snickering Marik behind him.

"What's so funny?" the white-haired teen demanded once they were in the corridor.

"Well," Marik answered, shrugging lightly, "it's OBVIOUS where you're going to go."

"No." Bakura retorted, glowering at his friend. "Where AM I going to go?"

"Figure it out, imbecile." The sandy-haired boy grinned.

"Go stab yourself."

"Moron."

"Fool."

"Stupid."

"Ass."

"Idiot."

"Marik, go fu-"

The two arguing teenagers ran roughly into two figures blocking the path, not noticing, since they were too caught up in the heat of the quarrel.

"Watch where you're going, you dimwits!" a large muscular man with a brusque voice growled menacingly.

"Yeah - you're messing with the wrong people, pushovers!" A slightly smaller, but still well-built, man raised a threatening fist.

Bakura and Marik looked at each other, bored and unfazed by the two males.

"Where are those blundering idiots?" A young woman, about the age of eighteen with short raven hair walked up to the four, hands on her hips. "Getting into more trouble I see," she said coolly, regarding them with her icy emerald eyes flashing.

Marik cocked an eyebrow at the strange female's attitude while mentally noting the abnormal clothing that the three sported. Instead of the light airy clothes that the average Egyptian wore, the two men were dressed in thick pants and woven shirts, and the girl was clad in a long dress that was made from a wool-like material.

"Aren't you people a LITTLE warm in those clothes?" Bakura asked bluntly, not caring about being polite.

The female giggled lightly, turning towards the silver-haired teen, eyeing him up and down. The ex-tomb robber glared at her, growing impatient as he tried to get past the bizarre trio.

"Actually, no. We come from afar, a country up north. We're envoys of a sort, sent here to Egypt to negotiate trade routes with Pharaoh Yami. Though, it doesn't seem like we'll be doing that anytime soon - with the harvest festival and all. What's your name, by the way? You seem like you know your way around the palace. Would you care to show me around this WONDERFUL place?" She rattled on, pausing now and then to throw flirtatious smiles at Bakura, who merely rolled his eyes and took a step away from the girl.

The two men accompanying her had long disappeared into the chamber they were standing in front of, not wanting to listen to their leader try to seduce the brown-eyed teen. The charcoal-haired female latched herself onto Bakura's arm, holding on with a fierce grip, bruising him slightly. The boy snarled at the girl, trying to shove her off to no avail. He turned to Marik, pleading silently for help. The sandy-blond teen glowered at the annoying female, grasping her wrist roughly and tugging - hard.

`She is SO DAMN AGGRAVATING!' was the common thought between the two counsel members as the girl refused to budge.

"Bakura! Do you hear something?" Marik asked suddenly, noticing the faint sound of approaching footsteps.

The ex-tomb robber was about to respond when a high-pitched voice cut in. "Bakura. So that's your name." She leaned in, whispering into his ear.

Disgusted, the silver-haired teen pushed her away. "Look lady - I'm already interested in someone else - so back off!"

He looked up just in time to see -

Ryou

and Malik, though they were wearing very different expressions. The soft fawn-orbed slave stared at his roommate in shock, confusion, and a hint of an unplaced emotion. The bronzed slave looked at the girl disapprovingly, then shifted his gaze from Bakura, to Ryou, and finally to Marik.

"What the -?" He was cut off by a stern look from Ryou.

~*~*~*~*~*~

Randomasdf (Grace): Okay, okay. Not exactly the best chapter, but I guess it'll have to do. <sighs> Since I haven't posted in such a terribly long time, I'm going to go work on the next chappie - so that I can post it ASAP. Thanks for putting up with me. >.<

Yugi: <whining> But GRACIE! There was no fluff at all!

Marik: Yeah - what's up with that?

Randomasdf (Grace): Uhhh -

Malik: You'd better give us a reason.

Yami, Bakura, and Marik: <holds up Millennium Items>

Randomasdf (Grace): <backs away slowly> Um - well - there really isn't any reason - it's just that I had to get this chapter out to explain the "bad guys" and to set things up for the festival (a.k.a. the fluff chapter). I will begin that chappie right now!

Bakura: You stink at writing stories!

Randomasdf (Grace): Gomen nasai!

Yami: <growls> You'd better be.

Seto: Perhaps if I paid you - {Wouldn't be awesome if he did? To bad he doesn't.}

Jou: Stop bribing people!

Randomasdf (Grace): This sucks. <to readers> You know something's wrong when the characters of your story don't like you - and they are controlled by you! >.<

Ryou: Maybe we should stop terrorizing Grace. After all, she's the one that's going to write the fluff.

Bakura: <casts sideway glance at his hikari>

Marik: <leans toward Malik, gesturing at Bakura> He just doesn't want to admit that Ryou's right.

Bakura: Phft.

Yami: <mutters> Tomb robber no baka.

Bakura: What did you just call me?

Yugi: Oh, it was nothing, Bakura! <smiles cutely>

Bakura: <gives Yugi suspicious look>

Seto: Just drop it already!

Malik: Who made you the almighty ruler of the world?

Seto: <glares>

Jou: Why do we always have these urges to fight with each other?

Yami: WELL -

Jou: Never mind. Don't answer that question.

Yugi: We should help Grace write the story. ^.^

Bakura: Yeah - but we should write it FOR her instead.

Randomasdf (Grace): Don't even think about it, Bakura! Only kami-sama knows what you'd turn it into!

Marik: That's EXACTLY why you should hand it over to us!

Malik: Right.

Yami: As much as I dislike those three, I would have to agree with them for once.

Randomasdf (Grace): <throws hands up> I don't believe this!

Seto: Don't believe, just do.

Randomasdf (Grace): You too, Seto? I thought you were more practical than the others!

Jou: He is.

Ryou: Maybe you'll let us write parts of it?

Randomasdf (Grace): Okay, okay. Enough with the badgering already. I'll let you all write parts of the next chapter - if it makes you happy. After all, it IS the ultimate fluff chapter - well, at least I hope it'll be.

Yami, Yugi, Seto, Jou, Bakura, Ryou, Marik, and Malik: YAY!

Randomasdf (Grace): Alright, minna-san. Before I leave you, I just wanted to say that I've had weird obsessions with knives and swords lately. I have no idea where this is coming from - all I know is that I want a dagger and sword set for my birthday. OKAY - don't ask. ANYWAYS, have a nice life! I'll start chappie nine today! Be happy! ^.^