Dousing the Flame

Taking the Next Step

A/N: Thank you all for your support! You are amazing! Hope you like this chapter :D

/Thoughts/

Yami smiled as he watched Yugi. His amethyst eyed doppelganger had fallen asleep on the couch next to the fireplace. The book he had been reading was left open on his chest, completely forgotten as deep sleep beckoned Yugi to let go of the conscious world. The youth had been asleep for over an hour when Yami went to wake him up. 

It was late afternoon on the first day of winter break and Yami wanted to ensure Yugi could sleep that night. The professor knelt next to the couch beside the youth. He leaned forward and caressed the bridge of Yugi's nose a few times. Yugi twitched, his small hand rose to itch away the tickling sensation. A mischievous grin crossed Yami's face. The professor retrieved chocolate sauce from the cupboard and drizzled some on Yugi's fingers before going back to caressing the tri-colored youth's nose. The small nose twitched and Yugi's hand flew up to rub the tickle away; sticky chocolate sauce instantly smearing all over the pert nose.

Amethyst eyes flew open, "I smell chocolate!" He looked down at his sticky chocolate covered hand and at the bridge of his chocolate covered nose, "Oh..that would be why." He glanced over at Yami who could hardly breathe from laughing so hard. Yugi sucked the chocolate off of his digits, immediately catching the attention of Yami. Crimson eyes were hypnotized by the sight. He could only look away by forcing his head to turn.

Yami cleared his throat and returned to the kitchen, "I will get you a wet cloth to clean up."

"Thank you." Yugi smiled at the crimson eyed man that just pranked him.

Yami's smile widened when he returned. Yugi sat on the couch, his eyes crossed, and his tongue trying futility to reach the chocolate on his nose.  The professor shook his head and handed the wet washcloth to Yugi. The youth sighed, resigning to use the cloth to clean the sticky mess on his nose. 

"Yugi, I was thinking," Yami began. Amethyst eyes looked up from ensuring the chocolate was gone and locked on the beautiful crimson. "Would you like to invite your friends to the mountains for a week over the winter break?"

Yugi's jaw dropped open, "Are you serious?" Yami nodded. "That would be so much fun! Do you know of a hotel or cabin for us to use?"

Yami nodded again, "Actually, my family has a series of cabins in the mountains. We usually rent them out throughout the year but I happen to know two of them are open this week."

"Let's do it! Would you mind if I go call my friends to ask?" the excited youth bounced on the couch.

"Not at all!" Yami chuckled and shrugged. Yugi wrapped his arms around Yami's shoulders before running off to locate his cell phone.

\/\/\/

The group pulled up to the two cabins that Yami had reserved for them. Their mouths gaped open when they crossed the thresholds. Each cabin had stunning wood floors, a large welcoming fire already roaring in the stone fireplace, a couch and two comfortable looking armchairs that sat in front of the fireplace. The cabins both contained two bedrooms with king size beds. Yami and Yugi decided to share one of the cabins and Joey, Tristen and Duke would share the other.

"The couch pulls out into a very comfortable bed," Yami explained to the group while pointing to the couch resting in the center of the room. 

"Whew, I was afraid for a minute that I was going to be stuck sleeping in the same bed as chainsaw Tristen here. I swear! His snores sound like a chainsaw," Duke joked.

"Hey! I don't snore that loud," Tristen snapped at the ebony haired Dice King. 

"I can hear ya through da wall, Tristen!" Joey piggy-backed off of Duke's comment.