Chapter 2 - Friendship Turbulence

The scene begins with an outer view of the Kame Game Shop, and then everything wipes away to the gang in the downstairs living room, where Yugi, Mr. Muto, Téa and Tristan stood in a circular formation around an exhausted looking Yami Joey. All four were staring intensely at their possessed friend, each reflecting upon the current situation just as intensely. Much to the grief of Yami, the gang had reviewed and re-reviewed the events which lead to his possession of Joey's body over 20 times already. Despite this, the incident seemed even more unbelievable with each recap.
 
A long silence had taken over the room, one which held a strong tension and inhibited any concentration. The room's atmosphere remained unchanged until Tristan finally spoke. "Ok, so tell me; what happened again?" The tall teen said with a confused look, while crossing his arms and leaning against a corner table. The entire gang fell over in a face fault, including Yami Joey; however Téa was quick to recover as she grabbed Tristan's jacket, pulling his face to hers and scolded him. "Tristan, how many times must we go over this!?" Tristan pulled away in fright, stumbling back and onto the floor as the agitated Téa let go. His face then broke into an equally distressed expression as he returned her hostile vocal tone. "Well excuse me for wanting to get things straight; I mean it isn't everyday one of your best friends gets possessed by a five thousand year old Spirit!" Everyone looked at Tristan with mortification; the irony of his statement instantly causing them to break into a cold sweat.
 
Tristan rose off the floor and began dusting himself off. Téa turned away from him with an irritated groan, covering her eyes and holding her face in her palm. Yami Joey cleared his throat, deciding to move pass on explanations of how he got in Joey's body for now. He felt that it would be more constructive to begin to focus onto the discussion of how they were going to safely exorcise him. "We need to find a way to remedy this situation as soon as possible" Yami said, fidgeting a little awkwardly, as he had yet gotten use to Joey's larger body.
 
After hearing Yami's sound suggestion, little Yugi decided to interject with his agreement and observations. "You're right; who knows what might happen if you stay inside Joey's body for too long. For all we know, it might even cause Joey to vanish; that is if we're not already too late." Yugi said, looking down with a tone of depression at the mere thought of losing his dear friend. Yami felt a pang of jealousy emerge from within, but he let it pass as he too felt equal concern for Joey, no matter how badly their last meeting ended.
 
"You mean we might lose Joey forever?" Téa asked with disbelief and fear of such an outcome. "Yes, unfortunately that may be the case." Yami stated without much emotion, but still with empathy. "Oh man" Tristan uttered, he too was beginning to feel the weight of the situation bear down upon them all.
 
Yami Joey looked at Mr. Muto before continuing. "I believe it would be best if we called upon Professor Hawkins' expertise, maybe he can help us with this mystery." Mr. Muto nodded and added "Yes I believe you're correct, I'll go call him right away." Mr. Muto then began ascending the stairs until Tristan called after him "Hey wait, why are you going upstairs when there is a phone in the den?" Mr. Muto's stopped in his tracks before turning around to address Tristan's question.
 
In a cold sweat, Mr. Muto nervously smiled as he began scratching the back of his head. "Well, I thought it might be best to use the one in Yugi's room. After all this did occur there and I feel I can get a better understanding of the situation by phoning Arthur from in there." The old man said before rushing up the stairs in a hurry. Everyone sighed in appall, knowing all too well that Mr. Muto was just going upstairs to see the channel that started this all.
 
"Didn't one of you guys think to turn the TV off!?" Téa asked with a groan. A blush came across both Yugi and Yami Joey faces. Yugi was too concerned over Joey to do it, and Yami was too scared to approach the television after two females began to perform with one another. The two shook their heads no, causing Téa to sigh and place her face into her palm yet again. "Boys, sheesh!" The young brunet uttered with frustration.
 
While everyone tried to calm down and collect their thoughts, the sun began to set outside. Meanwhile, proudly sitting on top of a roof four houses down was a decorative weather vane. The polished, aluminum cast, poultry themed ornament pointed northeast as it casually tittered from side to side in place. As the sun descended lower in the sky, the weather vane began reflecting its radiant light. With only a slight change in the wind, the weather vane projected a bright golden beam through one of the game shop's windows. There it was cast into Yami Joey's eyes, painfully blinding him.
 
It was at that moment Joey gained back his body. "Huh, what happened; what's going on?" Joey asked with a bit of confusion. While it had been nearly three hours since he and Yami fought, to Joey only a few moments had elapsed. Yugi and the others blinked in shock that Joey was back, knowing it was him from his all familiar accent. "Joey, is that really you?" Téa asked before taking a step towards him. "What, yeah of course it's me! Who else…" Before he could finish his sentence, Téa had grabbed him by the collar; her fierce anger very obvious. "How dare you show Yugi the scrambled channels?" She roared before she started slapping Joey mercilessly. Neither Tristan nor Yugi dared step in, each backing away in fear and turning blue in the face as Joey received his punishment.
 
This brutal display continued until Joey's brain was so rattled he forgotten how to shut his eyes. As Téa unleashed her Amazonian fury, outside a slow passing car sputtered down the street. In the driver seat sat an aging dance instructor and former idol. He wore a white polyester suit, a black tope and 5 kgs (11 lbs.) worth of gold chains and medallions. He was just as out of touch on his choice of music as he was on fashion. He sat in his seat grunting and muttering lyrics to an outdated song, grinning as he admired himself in the rearview mirror. He then scowled upon seeing a piece of broccoli caught in his yellowed teeth. The foreign plant matter had been there for almost a week before he had notice. As he started to flick it with his tongue, the old man adjusted the mirror in an attempt to better see what he was doing. As he leaned forward, the sun's rays caught on one of his many trinkets, reflecting into the mirror and into the Game shop's window.
 
Yugi noticed the bright beam hit Joey in the face, causing his friend even more discomfort. Yet again Joey and Yami's minds were swapped, thus it was now the Pharaoh who was on the receiving end of Téa's relentless rage. Yami Joey's deep voice began to sound with pained grunts and whimpers, alerting Yugi to the switch. "Wait Téa, that's the Pharaoh!" Yugi cried out in concern, causing Téa to stop mid slap. Her hardened, angry expression changed to one of curiosity as she leaned in to inspect her victim. The young man in her grip groaned and went limp; his cheeks ruby red and smoking while his eyes spun around. "Oh yeah, then if he's the pharaoh, what's two times two?" Tristan interrupted, his tone laced with moronic skepticism. "F-four." the baritone pharaoh managed to call out, despite the world being upside down and dizzy for him. Tristan concentrated as he counted on his fingers, then placing four of them up in front of him. "Yep he's right, no way that's Joey."
 
Both Yugi and Téa stared at him in disbelief, but they quickly turned their attention to the injured Yami. "Oh no, Pharaoh!" Téa exclaimed before pressing him into her bosom and hugging him. Téa slowly lowered herself and him to the floor, as she sat on her knees and laid his head in her lap. She fanned his face, trying to comfort her unintended victim. "I'm so sorry!" She said with worry, not knowing exactly what else to do. After a few moments he started to regain full consciences, and slowly sat up, rubbing one of his bruised cheeks. "P-please forgive me!" Téa stuttered and apologetically bowed. "It's alright Téa, I will be fine." He said, still rubbing his cheek as it throbbed and tears seeped out of the corner of his eyes.
 
The view changed to the outside of the game shop. Everything was bathed in a brilliant amber tint, shadows became longer and hints of violet rose up, overtaking the skies above. The scene fades back to the group inside the shop. Téa was nursing Yami Joey's cheeks with antiseptic-analgesic spray. She dabbed his cheek with a clean wash cloth, causing him to blush a little over being treated like a child. Yugi and Tristan sat on the couch reading a tabloid magazine. On the cover was a picture of Seto Kaiba in sunglasses, and he was holding his arms crossed against his chest. The featured main article was composed of out of context meetings, false information and allegations centered on Pegasus and Kaiba. It shamelessly pointed towards a romantic relationship between the playboy billionaires.
 
One of the pictures featured Kaiba and Pegasus on the latter's private Yacht, cruising in the North Atlantic. Pegasus was sunbathing in a speedo while Kaiba stood by staring down. Another was taken in Paris France of Pegasus in a hot tub drinking Wine, and his servant offering Kaiba some. The whole matter was just Kaiba being himself by not taking 'no' for an answer, or letting something like Pegasus being on vacation get in the way of business. Kaiba hunted Pegasus down to the ends of the earth, and through the Bahamas to secure Pegasus' signature on important contracts to further develop and fuel the next generation of holographic duel monsters technology.
 
"I don't think I will ever get that image out of my head" Tristan said with a drawn out sentence, toned in disgust in reference to Pegasus in a speedo. Yugi just chuckled nervously; he for one wasn't overly bothered by it. "Will you two stop reading that tabloid garbage; why don't you go see if that old pervert has called Professor Hawkins!" Téa scolded the two, as she applied the wash cloth to Yami Joey's other cheek. "I'll go, I'll do it!" Tristan said with a gleeful tone and started towards the stairs. Téa's expression hardened with suspicion. "Hold it right there buster!" She called out with venom. "You just want to see that channel; well you can just forget about it!" She said with a sigh as she finished administering Yami Joey's treatment. "Never mind, I'll go; and I'll be turning that thing off while I'm at it!" She said with a huff before pushing past Tristan.
 
Unfortunately for Tristan, he was about to open his mouth at the wrong moment. "Hey, how do we know you aren't the one who's interested in that channel, huh?" The view switched to Yugi and Yami Joey who winced the moment an air cracking smack was heard, followed by a loud thud that shook everything. The shaking finally settled as the view turned around to Téa stomping up the stair. Panning down, the view changed to Tristan on the ground. He had one leg twitching in the air and a large hand print across most of his face. As Yugi started down at his friend with worry, Yami Joey comforted him by hanging an arm around him. The spirit was very pleased as he allowed himself to indulge in the ambrosia-like embrace. However, it took all of his self-control not to pull Yugi into his chest, hold him tightly and steal a kiss.
 
The scene wipes away to a red corvette convertible, speeding down the road and around corners. The view changes to the driver of the car, Mai Valentine. After many months of painful inner dialogues, Mai was finally ready to confess her true feelings to Joey. She planned to tell him everything in actual words, and if the moment presents itself possibly with actions as well. The amethyst eyed blonde had a look of fierce determination; this quickly broke into devilish smile that left a foreboding ambiance of what was to come. Mai pressed her foot down harder on the gas petal; causing the engine to roar as she raced towards the Kame Game Shop, knowing it would be the best place to look for Joey.
 
As the blond bombshell made the peaceful public roads loud and dangerous, Téa was going ballistic on Mr. Moto. The fiery tempered brunette chased the elderly man down the stairs, kicking him in the buttocks mid-way. "You dirty old pervert!" she howled as he ducked behind Tristan for protection. "I was only admiring the artistic direction of the film!" The perverse old man lied, trying to excuse his behavior. "Did you even call Professor Hawkins yet!?" Téa bellowed, glaring at him while the crowd of men huddled collectively behind Yami Joey in fear. The reluctant human shield looked behind his back with surprise and dread as he was placed between Téa's wrath and Mr. Moto, Tristan and poor Yugi.
 
"Now, now; there's no need to fret, I called him." The old man assured her peeking from behind Tristan. "Arthur is boarding a private jet right now as we speak, and he'll be here by morning!" Mr. Moto squeaked in fear, yet again ducking behind Tristan, who also tried the same to Yugi who was now squirming to escape the older boy's grasp on his shoulders. "Hey come on you guys, get from back there!" Yugi cried as Téa stomped off growling. "I'm going to go find the aspirin; you boys are giving me a headache!" Téa stormed back up the stairs, and when she was out of sight, the men all sighed with relief. Yugi finally broke free of Tristan's grip, and turned around frowning with disappointment as he stared at his grandfather and friend for their cowardly behavior. "Geez you guys, you act like she was Kaiba and you were Joey mocking him in a Blue-Eyes costume!”
 
Everyone, including Yami couldn't help but imagine it in their minds. Depicted in chibi style, a collective thought bubble formed. Inside of it Joey was in a Blue-Eyes White Dragon costume with his face showing though the mouth. The dirty blond haired duelist was acting like a giant monster, stomping from side to side, roaring and flailing his arms in the air. Next to him stood a very unamused Seto Kaiba, who quickly produced a sickle from hammerspace. The chibi Kaiba pulled the sickle back, causing the chibi Joey to place his hands out in front of him in a pleading wave. The Chibi Kaiba then delivered a gruesome swing that sliced through the chibi Joey and the thought bubble, causing everyone's face to turn blue. Tristan grabbed his throat, Yugi crossed his arms and held his balled up fists to his chin, Yami Joey's hair frizzled out like he was just electrocuted and finally Mr. Moto placed his right hand over his heart. The thought bubble they had all shared started to split, and then it slid apart with a squeak before each half burst into puffs. After their joint fantasy was over, all four shivered with terror.
 
The scene faded to black, and then to the outside of the game shop. Téa and Tristan had reluctantly decided to head back to their homes, hoping to be there before it was completely dark. Téa leaned against the game shop's door as she secured her left boot. Tristan lazily stretched his arms above his head, groaning before breaking into a yawn. Téa pushed herself off the door and began to stomp her foot, getting it snuggly into her boot. Tristan stretched one final time; this time his shoulders popping before he straightened up and both homeward teens looked up towards the sky. Vivid shades of amber, gold and crimson blended with sapphire and amethyst as the sun descended into the glowing horizon.
 
"Sorry again about having to leave Yugi." Tristan said as he rubbed the back of his scalp, wincing when he felt the bump he received earlier. "Yeah, we're real sorry we couldn't stay or be of any more use." Téa said with a little angst, feeling generally bad that there was really nothing they could do in the first place. "It's ok you guys" Yugi beamed at them with optimism. "We'll fix this, we always do; right Pharaoh?" Yami Joey jumped a little in surprise; he wasn't really expecting to be called upon, especially by Yugi. "Heh?" He paused for a second. "Oh uh, y-yes, yes I believe so" Yami Joey stuttered before clearing the throat of his involuntary host, and coughed into his hand as well.
 
"I'd like to know why you and Joey switched places all of the sudden." Tristan said while crossing his arms in deep thought. "Yeah that was strange." Yugi commented before facing Yami Joey. "What do you think happened?" Téa questioned as well. "I'm not sure." The spirit said before pausing. "One moment I was feeling the warm rays of the sun on my face, the next moment I was feeling the pain of Téa's strikes." Yami's sentence trailed off with an awkward discomfort, as both he and Téa shied their sights away from each other. She blushed as he cleared Joey's throat yet again.
 
As the group of friends prepared to say their final goodbyes, the roar of a V8 engine shattered the calm and serine of the community. Everyone looked up and into a pair of oncoming halogen head lights, blinding and as menacing as a Blue-Eyes wielded by Seto Kaiba himself. The car seemed to be heading right for them, giving rise to panic between them all. As the car turned into a drift, Tristan hid behind Téa and Yami protectively placed himself in front of Yugi. "Pharaoh!" The frightened Yugi cried out, instinctively wrapping his arms around the taller boy. This sent Yami's head spinning as his heart sored with joy. Everything at that moment seemed to shut down, and all the spirit could feel was the utter bliss of Yugi's touch. It wasn't until the car came to a screeching halt that he finally snapped out of it. He then was shocked by just how close the car was; only mere centimeters from him and his friends.
 
As the adrenaline wore off and quiet filled the air, everyone was astonished at who the driver was. With her amethysts eyes and plush lips, Mai Valentine cheerfully broke the silence with her sweet voice. "Well hey you guys!" She said with a smile, happy to see her friends once more. "Mai!?" they all called out with surprise; stepping back as the top heavy blond bombshell opened her car door. She confidently stepped out onto the sidewalk wearing a 500,000¥ pair of 6-in (15.24 cm) stiletto heeled, thigh-high boots. Mai gracefully swung her curvy hips around the car door, shutting it behind her. "So how do you guys like my new car? This baby goes 200 kilometers in less than 5 seconds!" She said with a boast of pride.
 
"That thing should be banned from public!" Tristan roared sourly from behind a very annoyed Téa. "And you should grow a backbone! What are you doing hiding behind me!?" She hissed, removing his hands from her shoulder and upper arm before giving him a swift, sharp jab to the ribs. He let out a small pained grunt, clenching his teeth as his eye twitched to watery tears. Mai closed her eyes breaking out into a sweet giggle. Yugi just chuckled little nervously at his friends, a cold sweat rolling down his left temple and cheek.
 
The view changes to a close up of Mai, who opened her deep, sparkling lavender eyes which took on a serious, determined look as she turned to Joey. She walked towards him leaned in, revealing some of her abundant cleavage in doing so. "So Joey, would you like to." She paused for a moment as she placed a hand seductively on Yami Joey's broad chest. "Take a little ride with me?" Everyone, including Yugi could understand what the sun haired goddess was implying in subtext. Yami felt a restricting heaviness come over him as he filled with a new rush of adrenaline, unsure of what to do. He knew Mai has a very intimate understanding that there were things in the world not explained by modern-day science; after all, she was the pawn of Dartz and his cult only four months earlier. Would she be able to believe that he was not Joey, but the 5,000 year old spirit of a pharaoh, who, only several hours before called the Millennium Puzzle home and Yugi his host?
 
"So, how about it hon?" She asked again sweetly, growing anxious for an answer. 'I must make her believe I am Joey' he thought to himself before saying. "Huh yeah, dat would be huh swell; yeah I'd love to." He said, trying his best to imitate Joey and his distinctive Brooklyn accent and mannerisms. Yugi and the others looked over at Yami Joey in surprise. Tristan only stifled away a snicker with the help of Téa, who pinched and yanked at a large section of skin from his side. "But Joey, what about us all going out and grabbing something to eat?" Yugi said in a surprisingly authentic and believable manner. "Oh, oh yeah, we were just heading out when you got here." Téa chimed in and nervously chuckled, still twisting Tristan's love handle, which in his agony, was unable to mutter any additions to their act.
 
Understanding what they were attempting, Yami Joey followed their leads. "Oh, yeah sorry, I guess I can't think straight on an empty stomach ya know? I guess I gotta catch ya another time, gotta feed da beast first." Yami Joey said keeping his pronunciation as natural sounding to his host as humanly possible. "Oh?" Mai said with surprise at the sudden turn around. "I know; why don't I give you all a lift since I'm here?" Yami Joey's eyes widened as he barely managed to prevent himself from letting a surprised vocal tic escape his throat upon hearing the offer. Téa loosened her grip on Tristan's love handle until she let go, stepping forward to accept the offer. "Oh that is so generous, we would love a ride." She said nervously, seeing no other real options to escape the situation their lie has trapped them in. "Just please drive slow." Tristan commented, holding his side with a twitching eye as the area throbbed immensely.
 
The group of friends looked at each other uneasily; the view then rose to the sky and faded out. Within seconds the view faded back in, returning to ground level and being eclipsed by Mai's Vanity License Plate "Harpy-Gurl" as the car sped forward hill-hopping. The view changes to a side angle anchored to the right of Mai's Italian, left sided driving corvette. Joey was in the right, passenger side, while Yugi sat behind him with Tristan behind Mai and Téa seated in the middle of them both. Tristan held onto the back of Mai's head rest as Mai tore through the back alleys as she improvised a shortcut. "I don't know how much more of this I can take you guy!" Tristan called out as he buried his face into the back of Mai's seat, closing his eyes in fear.