Credit cards were wonderful things, or so Pegasus J. Crawford thought. What a fabulous, marvelous invention of modern society: a single piece of plastic, representing your bank account and social status. With just a card, one avoided to touch dirty money that could've been touched by anyone's greasy, slimy hands; one paid quickly- and discretely- without having to carry a wallet with heavy, loose coins around; and a golden, diamond or platinum card showed one's position in life: not every card was accepted at this particular warehouse, where the cheapest object started at a thousand dollars.
The clerk didn't bat an eye at Pegasus' eccentric personality; he was used to deal with millionaires who brought their own servants or secretaries to sign their bills and to carry their purchases. He was used to deal with celebrities going over the top and behaving like kids; he was used to hard core rockers and speed metal musicians with their outrageous demands and incredulous spending patterns.
No, the hard-working, average Joe Schmoe with his debit card wouldn't be able to set a foot in here; he would be ushered out friendly, yet quickly- he might upset the shopping millionaires. Pegasus snorted. His wealth came mostly from his family, and the fame he enjoyed with his invention: Duel Monsters, the card game played all around the world. His own company, Industrial Illusions, was thriving well from the sales of starter decks, booster packs and the like; he didn't have to worry about not having any money anytime soon. So much the better; Pegasus didn't think he was cut out to live the life of an average man. He was used to his wine and cheese, his servants, his Funny Bunny comics, his private jet, and his own island- Duelist Kingdom- of course. Money made life so much easier. Much money made life even easier.
For all the money in the world though, there were things that Pegasus couldn't buy. His wife to be for example: Cyndia, who had all but died in his arms. He had been so desperate to get her back that he got involved with the Sennen Items, leading him to be Mutou Yuugi's adversary, his enemy, and no money ever could soothe his defeat, his pain, his anguish, no money could buy him relief, happiness or love.
Pegasus wasn't the man to stay focused on the past for too long, though. He wanted to look forward, wanted to look to the future, and his positive mood reached its peak during Christmas. That was the most wonderful time of the year, when he could spoil himself like a kid in a candy shop, basking in the lights and decorations, and the warmth and well-wishes of people around him. He liked Christmas as it fueled his spending spree, the over the top, flamboyant spending of well-earned dollars; and after the wonderful holiday of Christmas, it was New Year already again; time to close off the year, and start fresh with a new one!
This was, however, the first time he wasn't doing his shopping alone. Next to him was the Spirit of the Sennen Puzzle, or Yami as he referred to himself, getting tired of being called Nameless Pharaoh or Other Yuugi. Pegasus thought that Yami suited him, for the simple meaning of his name; 'dark', just like those red eyes, just like those long lashes framing those eyes, just like his hair and face, radiating a darkness that was both depressing and excillerating. The darkness in his partner was attractive, but also rebuking. How did one deal with a Pharaoh who had lost everything including his name, and who shared a body with a boy? There was nothing he possessed, nothing he had to lose, nothing he could call his own.
The American didn't know if he was feeling pity or possessive toward the Spirit. He never referred to him as Spirit, only as Yami; the Pharaoh had given permission himself to call him that. Funny how Pegasus had been ecstatic when he was given the permission; Yami was the living embodiment of money being unable to buy everything. He couldn't buy him a body, he couldn't buy him his own name, he couldn't buy him his own memories back. Maybe that was why he was flinging his credit card around as if he was trying to max it out in one day.
He had bought him clothes- no way he was going to look at him another day in that stupid school uniform he always was wearing- and jewellery, he had bought him a pricy book series about the 'hidden treasures of Egypt', archaeological encyclopedia, a state of the art laptop and a whole bunch of classical music CD's, and he had bought some of them for himself too- it was also funny that a man who adored kiddie cartoons could fall for the intricate beauty of classical music, something he'd never thought to listen to himself. It had started out by coincidence, just background music as he had laid the Pharaoh down on his bed and had undressed him. Those crimson red eyes had been blazing with indignation, with haughtiness and disdain, but also with curiosity and anxiety. Chopin had seemed to soothe him, to relax him, the piano accords slowly drifting more into the background when passion and lust had overtaken the both of them, soft breaths releasing into the wind of the open window, a cool summer breeze caressing both their naked bodies.
It was amusing that almost everything in this exlusive warehouse was outmatched by the solid golden Sennen Puzzle he was wearing. Pegasus had never tried to estimate the Item's worth, but it had to be more valuable than he could ever imagine. Why was he holding onto his magnificent credit card, buying all these things, when the one he loved...yes, he loved him, was wearing something he couldn't even approach with his spendings? And was money and gifts really something Yami cared about?
"We can go to Egypt if you want to," Pegasus said. "First class, of course. We can book ourselves a nice, luxury resort and enjoy the sun."
"Hm-m," the Spirit gave a non-committal answer, and his hand went to the chain of his Puzzle, as if to remind Pegasus what he was wearing- but the American didn't interpret it as such, it was a small reminder that Yami wasn't the only one to decide; it was Yuugi who 'owned' the body, not the other way around, and the Pharaoh didn't want to impose on his aibou any more than he already did. If Pegasus had the means for it, he would've made sure that Yami had his own body, but he was once again confronted with something that his credit card couldn't magically take care of.
"Why don't we sit down at the restaurant," he suggested. "We've been walking for hours."
Actually, he had dragged Yami with him to take a look at all the gadgets, and everything that remotely interested the Pharaoh, had been gift-wrapped and set aside for Croquet to pick up later; he was to stack them under the ridiculously high Christmas tree. Pegasus knew how to take an opportunity when it presented itself; and he was going to take it and milk it for all that it was worth. The Christmas tree had been placed next to the fire place, which would be nicely lit as soon as they got home, and there would be a lot of blankets folded on top of the couch. Pegasus had arranged everything for a nice evening together; he wanted the golden flames of the fire to reflect the golden bangs framing Yami's face, and he wanted to see his face being lit by warmth, eggnog and passion. Luscious red cheeks, those pouty lips of his parted, inviting him to kiss...
"How do you like it here?" The American asked as they sat down. The coffee they served were from real Arabica beans, not that slop that any Starbucks served. The spoons were real silver too, he noticed.
"It is impressive," Yami said, holding a mug of hot chocolate to his lips. They had been at several departments of this warehouse; Yami had seen the diamond studded wallets, the platinum watches, the haute couture fashion brands, the best of the best, the priciest of the priciest, and Pegasus hadn't blinked a single time when whipping out his credit card. His voice was neutral though, flat; maybe Yami wasn't really impressed by credit cards, warehouses or gadgets that he couldn't fathom the meaning of.
However, Pegasus was ready to accept that as a compliment coming from the nameless Pharaoh. This was a special time of the year, and he was awarded some time with Yami; he had to use that to his advantage as much as possible. If his credit card didn't work, his plans for at home would; he wanted to be close to him, to undress him slowly, to kiss his collarbone and to be close enough to inhale the scent of his hair. After all, it wasn't about being impressed, it was about spending time together. Happiness couldn't be bought. Love couldn't be bought. A lesson that he learned a long time ago.
"Not as impressive as you," Pegasus said breathlessly. "You're priceless."