Rags to Riches

Find Rags

Atem booked it on the bike back home, quickly leaving the bike under the stairs of the 3 story building, he jetted to the mens bathroom, he pushed on the window, but it was stuck!

"Oh no!" He shouted frantically. He dashed over and banged on Serenity and Luna's window, "I told you i'm married!" Luna shouted, "Luna, it's me!" Atem cried out, "Atem! You scared me!" She pulled the curtains back and popped open her window, "I'm locked out." Atem said as he looked around, "After the other night, Arthur nailed the men's restroom window shut." Luna explained, her window had bars on it, so Atem couldn't squeezed through them if he tried. "Keep Frank busy, I'm climbing up!" Atem said as he latched onto the water pipe, like a monkey he headed upwards.

Luna dashed to the front of the store, "So, how was the party?" She asked as Frank and his boys came in, "Later..." Frank hissed at the woman, "Hey Frank, check it out!" Serenity said as she placed a gorgeous silk pillow on the countertop, Frank rolled his eyes, "Idiot! Straight to bed, you two!" He barked at his sons, "I'm checking on Charlie." He huffed as he started walking up the steps, "Wait! Frank I made your favorite dish!" Luna said with a creamy milkshake in hand, Frank snarled at her as Serenity dashed up the stairs, "Frank I wanted to talk with you about...about...." She started as Frank looked at her with mild interest, "What what, spit it out already!" He snarled, "What do you want for breakfast?" She asked, "The omelette you had the other day was very tasty, right?" She explained very little. Frank furrowed his brows, "Yeah sure, it's fine. Whatever! Move!" He spat at the woman blocking his way, "Move? This way?" She asked following his movements as he shoved her aside, "Move!" He snarled as he finished walking up the steps and into Atem's room, "I didn't hear you knock." Atem said relaxing on his bed with a plain white shirt on, comic in hand. "That's because I didn't." Frank hissed before walking down the steps, heading back to his own room. Atem let out a breath of relief, tossing off the blankets to reveal his red suit bottoms, patting his pockets he didn't feel his demo, "My CD." He cursed as he ripped his suit jacket from behind his pillow, "No no no... That's not good." He said as he came up empty handed.

"Gramps, if you could just please..." Yugi begged as he tried to give his grandfather Rags CD for the 5th time that day. "I don't have time. The Hades is thinking about signing with another label. I have to meet with him." His grandfather spoke calmly, "But this is the Rags guy from the party last night." Yugi said, "Yugi, I am the guy that's always looking for the next best thing. But clearly Rags isn't ready for the big time, or else he wouldn't ran out like he did. Besides, I'm more concerned about you. Isis tells me you've been missing meetings." Solomon looked at his grandson who huffed, "Isis needs to mind her own business. You're changing the subject. Rags is amazing, and if you give him a chance you can see he has a lot to offer..." Yugi said once more, Solomon shook his head, "Yugi, I don't want to talk about Rags anymore. We're about to launch the biggest record of your career, and you're getting distracted." He tried to once again to change the topic, but Yugi was as stubborn as him, "And you're not listening." He said with a frown, Solomon sighed, "It's my job to make sure my grandson's head is on straight." He said standing up and patting Yugi's shoulder. Yugi looked at him, "Your job as my Grandpa or chairman of Millennium Records?" Yugi hissed lightly, trying to watch his tone. "We'll talk about this when I get back." Solomon growled out, grabbing his laptop and a notebook. "No problem." Yugi frowned as his grandfather left, he had a plan to weed Rags out if it was the last thing he'd do!

Atem scrubbed a table as he placed a dirty glass into a dish tub. He made sure his tables were sticky free as he smiled at his handy work. The bell above the Diner rang out as Atem shoved his dish tub towards the main counter, "Hey you!" A sweet voice barked up, Atem turned and saw Yugi, "Hey, Yugi. What are you doing here?" He asked, but Yugi was just as fast with his own question, "Where were you last night?" He demanded out of the other male. Atem shrugged and coughed weakly into his hand, "Caught a cold, stayed home, watched a movie." He said, he winced, he was indeed a horrible liar. "Really? What did you watch?" Yugi said placing a hand on his hip, "Can't remember the name. Reese Whiterspoon was in it though...Cried my eyes out." Atem said, as Yugi rolled his gorgeous purple eyes, "Right." He said, his voice was thick with sarcasm. Atem sighed, "You're right when you said you weren't a good liar." Yugi piped up, Atem winked at him, "Helps to practice, though." He said as they sat down at a table. "Anyway, you totally missed out." Yugi began, "I know, I wanted to hear you sing." Atem pouted as Yugi's eyes widened, "No, not me! This Rags guy perform, he killed it!" He said excitedly, "Really?" Atem asked confused, "Really!" Yugi said, more like gushed, "This guy Rags killed it?" Atem asked with a raised eyebrow, "The dude can sing. And he's not too bad at the kissing stuff either." Yugi said dreamily, Atem looked shocked, "He kissed you?" He said, "Just laid one on me, no time to react. Really...There was nothing I could do." Yugi sighed softly, remembering the sweet kiss. Atem rolled his eyes, "Right. So why did you come here today?" He asked as he relaxed, "I was hoping you'd be able to help me. Rags left a CD. No contact info, no nothing. But what he did have was a track of the song he performed last night...And this." He gently handed Atem an earbud, a gently melody played, as Atem's voice rose through, of course Atem wanted to tell Yugi that he was Rags. "Can I tell you something just between you and me?

When I hear your voice, I know I'm finally free

Every single word is perfect as it can be

And I need you here with me

When you lift me up, I know that I'll never fall

I can speak to you by saying nothing at all

Every single time, I find it harder to breathe

'Cause I need you here with me"

"The song is great." Atem commented, Yugi sighed happily, "That song someday is gonna lead me straight to Rags." He said with a smile planted on his face. Atem cleared his throat, "Wait, you want to find Rags? Why?" He asked, "Atem, you should have seen him, he sang about something that was more than Are you crazy...It was really inspiring." Yugi said as he took the earphone back from Atem's grasp. Atem took a deep breath turning away for a moment, "Yugi, i should tell you...I'm Rags." He said calmly as he turned back to see Yugi rocking his head back and forth, both earphones in his ears. Atem blinked, Yugi hadn't heard him. "He's amazing, Charlie seriously, you gotta help me find this guy. Sometimes it feels like the whole world wants a piece of Yugi Muoto. But not you, Charlie. Please help me find Rags." Yugi begged softly. Atem nodded, "And how do you plan on finding him?" Yugi smiled, "That song, you and i are the only two that have heard it. We'll hold an audition. Whoever sings Here with Me. Is the real Rags...So are you in, or out?" He asked once more, a face of pure determination sketched on his face. "In." Atem said standing up.

"We're up on Perez..." a woman said as a light blinked on, "That's great. Guess what? We're on MTV homepage too. Guilty Group is having a sample sale." Isis remarked as Yugi shrugged at her, holding a mic, clearing his throat, he spoke clearly, "Millennium Records will sign the first person who proved they're Rags. We're scouring the internet, we're holding auditions...I know he's out there somewhere, and I won't stop until I find him. Are you Rags?" He finished as the red light blinked off.

It was like magic as the phones at the Millennium Records office went absolutely nuts! "Yes! Hello? Great, she's on her way." As a gal said into her phone headset. "Thank you. The venue is available." Another piped up, Yugi was thrilled, "Yes! Let's go check it." He said snagging Atem's arm, "Let's go." Yugi said dashing out of the large building.