The Alternative

Chapter One

            Disturbing yet admirable.

The elegant, Victorian architecture deemed as such. Beautiful paintings littered the proud walls, acting as a type of welcome to any who entered. No other person took up space in the majestic hallway. It was a little too grand of a greeting.

Room 47. That was what the nice lady at the desk had said. 5th floor. His two friends would greet them there, he supposed. It wouldn't matter much anyways, but deep inside the thought of seeing two old friends would cater a smile to his face.

"YUG! HEY YUG, OVER HERE!"

Yugi Mutou quickly flung his head around to catch the gleaming faces of his two best friends from High School. His legs kicked into action as he ran over to them, dropping his baggage and embracing them in a group hug.

"Jonouchi! Honda!" He called out with the cheesiest of grins glued to his face. "I'm so happy you're here! I was starting to think this place was haunted."

"Ah bud, I'm so happy to see you!" Jounouchi cooed while taking a moment to caress Yugi's head with a noogie. "Tomorrow marks off the beginning of 'move-in' day. Honda and I are Resident Advisors, so we had to be here a week earlier than everyone else."

"Yugi! It's been so long, how have you been?" Honda greeted once Jonouchi released his friend.

Nostalgia hit Yugi in the face harder than wind while speeding down a high way. Jonouchi's perfectly styled blonde hair and honey brown eyes seemed to have transported Yugi back in time to when they had first met. Honda's spiked brown hair with chocolate eyes to match was the perfect balance, and produced so many comforting memories at a second's notice.

"I've been alright! Glad to be here, that's for sure! It's been a long summer...a rough one at that." Yugi snaked his hand through his tri-colored hair in attempt to soothe the spot that Jonouchi had grinded into.

"Ugh, I can imagine. I can't wait to hear the whole story! Based off what you were saying over the phone, it sounded a little...exhausting. Let's throw your stuff down in our room and we can talk over some dinner, yeah?" Jonouchi suggested.

"Sounds good to me! I could go for some food," Yugi agreed with a precious smile.

The three made their way into room 47, which turned out to be a suite anyhow. It opened up into a living room, eventually pouring into a smaller hallway where three separate rooms laid.

"This is big," Yugi stated in astonishment, eyes wandering all the while.

"For sure, look! This here is my room," Jonouchi introduced while opening the door to his tiny home. The walls were already swimming in posters of super models and Duel Monsters. It had only been a week and yet junk was littered all over the floors. The realization alone made Yugi chuckle.

"Don't even give that dump a second glance, Yugi," Honda boasted. "Check out my place!" With a swing of the door, a much more organized area revealed itself. A single motorcycle poster laid above his neatly made bed. Everything else was packed away nicely and in orderly fashion.

"A real dime, Honda. Probably as clean as my mom's kitchen," Jonouchi teased.

Yugi giggled sweetly while grabbing the knob to his room. He took a peek inside, noting that it was the same size and lay out as his two friends. He tossed his luggage inside and met the guys in the living room.