I'm Sick, I Tell Ya!

Author's notes, part one: Well, that was fun. Thanks to the reviewers, who are still few and far in-between, I can still write. It's all I can do, seeing as everything costs money and I'm still incredibly broke thanks to shortened hours at work. I can't even afford to eat a fifty-cent bag of chips... But, I'm sure you're less interested in my incessant rambling and more interested in Jounouchi eventually beating the snot out of Mario and keeping Yuugi all to himself. Will he? Even I'm not sure of that one.

Oh, and special thanks to Lady Laran and K-chan with the last chapter. I'm glad all of you have enjoyed it. Oh yes. And I’ve found a new site with all sorts of Italian naughtiness: http://www.beginningwithi.com/italy/living/itslang.html. The entire site, actually, has some nifty information that will actually reveal a bit about my OC later on.

Disclaimer: I do not own Yu-Gi-Oh!. I, unfortunately, own Migliore-kun, the heartless Italian bastard. I hope Kazuki Takahashi is willing to make a trade... Also, Mario Migliore does not represent the entire population of Italy, just like Bastard Keith is not the representation of the American population (THANK GOODNESS).

And before you move on, italics with quotes represent speaking in the mind link and quotes that are between hyphens denote that characters are speaking Italian, but the conversations are "dubbed" in English, the "universal" language of fanfiction. And if you are reading this fanfiction from myfandoms.com, you are reading the censored version. If you are reading this from adult-fanfiction.org, consider yourselves lucky. Trust me, things will get a little more...intense as the story progresses.

Chapter 2: Riding Dirty

A sleek, violet Limousine awaited Mario and his new companions.

"Damn, that's one pimped-out ride," Honda commented with a low whistle.

Jounouchi held his tongue about the "pimped" remark, and instead settled for quietly snickering. Anzu promptly elbowed him.

The chauffeur gestured for everyone to file in. Taking Yuugi's hand, Mario allowed the King of Games entrance first. "I'd like to treat you like royalty, cutie."

"Wh-what...?" Yuugi stammered, a bright redness coloring his round cheeks.

""Hey, what's the deal with you holding my buddy's hand?!" A furious Jounouchi shouted.

"What? It's really no big deal. Are the Japanese usually this possessive of their friends?" Mario sneered back at the blonde.

"You guys ain't hooked up, and I was just curious as to why..."

"Oh..." Mario stroked the underside of his chin with the back of his hand dismissively, ignoring Jounouchi's tirade and Yuugi's blushing.

"Listen here, pal. I don't know where you think you are, but this is Japan. If you think you can just grab my buddy like that, you need to open your eyes before they make a rendezvous with my fists." Jounouchi clenched them tightly.

With a smirk, Mario remarked aloud while tapping his forehead, "Your boyfriend sure is crazy, and the jealous type."

Anzu and Honda snickered, watching Jounouchi and Yuugi blush at that statement.

Inside, the group listened to never-ending chatter about Mario's father, and his design company. Apparently, Ramio Migliore could also design theme park rides and restaurants in addition to clothing, thus, the family flew to Japan in hopes of more profits. Mario further explained, "Oh, and did you know that I'm a musician, too?" He pulled his guitar out from behind the seat. While it dazzled the eye with its white flame-pattern and diamonds, Jounouchi wasn't all that impressed.

"That's pretty cool," Yuugi said, awestruck.

"Would you like me to play you a melody?"

Jounouchi rolled his eyes, munching on a cookie. Honda looked like he was ready to fall asleep. Anzu simply looked out the window.

"Th-that's nice of you, but...my house is coming up soon. See that store over there?" Yuugi pointed to the building with the word "GAME" on top of it.

"Ok. Yamato-san!" Mario called. The car screeched to a halt. The driver helped everyone exit the vehicle. "So, this is it, eh?" The brunette scanned the building from the floor to the top. "It's cute."

"Uh...thanks?"

Jounouchi sighed. "Let's just get in. I'm starving."

"All right, lover boy," Mario teased. Smirking, he held the door for the others. He was unable to suppress laughter as Jounouchi shot a glare in his direction.

"Jii-chan, I'm home!" Yuugi announced. Sugoroku left the counter to happily greet his grandson and his friends.

"Welcome back, Yuugi. I see a new face with you today." Smiling, Sugoroku asked, "Is this the foreigner you've been talking about yesterday?"

"Am I speaking to Signor Mutou?" Mario bowed graciously to the old man. "I'm very honored to meet the family of the King of Games."

"As I am to meet you. My, Italians sure are polite." Of course, Sugoroku was blissfully unaware of how the foreign student acted around his grandson's friends. "I'll make some tea for you."

Mario gave Sugoroku a couple of bags of cookies. "I hope you will enjoy these. It shows my gratitude for you allowing me inside your home."

If only he could be like this all the time..., Anzu thought.

"I most certainly will! Thank you, uh...what was your name again?"

"Migliore. But you may call me Mario, if you wish, Signor Mutou."

"That's a delightful name, young man. You're welcome anytime. Just remember to remove your shoes before going upstairs," Sugoroku instructed.

"Oh, don't worry. I know this culture quite well," Mario assured with a laugh.

Is that why you re-gifted someone's bento? Anzu wanted to ask.

Mario slipped his shoes off and joined the others upstairs.

"Mama, I'm home!"

"Hi, Yuugi. I heard from downstairs that you brought a new friend." The brown-haired woman approached the boy with European features.

"Signora Mutou, I take it?" Mario bowed and gently took Mrs. Mutou's hand. "It's a pleasure to meet you. I can see where my dear friend Yuugi gets his lovely." He bent down and kissed the slender hand.

"Wh-why...thank you!" Mrs. Mutou blushed giddily like a schoolgirl.

Yuugi could only avert his gaze as his mom fawned all over this young man. He noticed Jounouchi, Anzu and Honda didn't sit too well with the "lovely" line.

"May I offer you a gift? I'm sure you'll be most pleased." Mario presented a small box of chocolates to Mrs. Mutou.

"Oh, no. I couldn't possibly... But, if you insist." She accepted the gift, although still conscious of her figure. "Thank you. You are such a kind young man. Would you like to stay for dinner?"

"Of course. You have been the more generous one, however."

Mrs. Mutou skipped happily to the kitchen. It had been a long time since she had any male attention other than Sugoroku and her son.

"Well, that was..." Honda began.

"More than a little strange," Jounouchi finished. "I mean, if someone was hitting on my mom..." Thank goodness Shizuka wasn't under Mario's radar. Yuugi being under it was too much for the blonde to handle.

Mario chuckled. "Like I said before, maybe a song will soothe you." And shut you up. He began to strum his guitar, hoping he'd win some additional praise.

As soon as the melody filled the room, Yami no Yuugi took this opportunity to contact his host. "Aibou... Aibou!"

Yuugi slipped into the link without his friends noticing. "Other me? What is it?"

"I'm not so sure about this boy, Aibou. Don't get too close to him.” Yami no Yuugi's fixed glare was as stern as ever.

"Well, I'm way ahead of you on that, but he seems to want to get too close to me," Yuugi replied, worry clear in his violet eyes.

"Yuugi, I know you're much stronger than that. You have the ability to say no when things look dangerous, and trust me, I think they will."

"...Okay." Momentarily, Yuugi shifted his gaze downwards, then met the serious deep purple orbs of his spirit form. "He seems really sweet...on the surface. But I promise you, Other Me, I'll let him know when I'm uncomfortable."

"I trust you, Aibou." Yami no Yuugi's lips curved into a little smile.

"Yuugi? Anybody home?"

The smallish gamer jumped nearly five feet when Mario had to alert him. "Oh...y-yeah! I'm fine."

"Yuugi! It's dinner time! How many times must I call you? Everyone's at the table already!" Mrs. Mutou grumbled.

"Yes, Mama!" Yuugi scampered to the dinner table, following a snickering Mario.

The young musician was given a fork, though he assured Mrs. Mutou that he could use chopsticks. Jonouchi and the others, however, knew he was showing off. Mario did have to switch between a fork, spoon, and chopsticks quite often (he knew sukiyaki wasn't to be consumed with his hands, of course), but he laughed it off.

Jounouchi couldn't keep his eyes off the tie hanging on Mario's neck. A fantasy of the boastful young man being lynched with the unnecessary accessory tickled Jounouchi's mind.

"Dude, what are you smiling about?" Honda asked, poking his friend.

Jounouchi ignored him. "You have a nice tie, Migliore-san." He bit back a snicker.

"Oh." The thought became contagious. "Oh yeah...accents your uh, neck quite nicely." Both boys kept their giggles under wraps, though not very well.

Of course, Mario saw through the peanut gallery. "Thanks," he responded in a deadpan voice. Anzu took it upon herself to elbow Jounouchi, though the thought of hanging the spoiled brat was entertaining. Yuugi, however, didn't think it was so nice...

After the meal ended, Mario bowed with much gratitude. "It was quite delicious, Signora Mutou. Doumou arigatou gozaimasu."

"Oh, don't mention it. You're quite welcome." Secretly, she hoped for another kiss on the hand. "I absolutely love your music, by the way."

Yuugi frowned. She never said that when he turned the radio on...

"Hmm, I wonder what time it is?" Anzu asked, breaking the conversation. "I just feel like we've done nothing productive."

Glancing at the clock, Yuugi answered, "It's almost eight. Guess we'd better get cracking."

Mario felt a vibration in his pocket. He took out his tiny black cell phone, decorated with a skull pattern and rhinestones. "Ack. Papa is paging me to come back. I hate to be so rude." He made a face at Jounouchi, who almost sporfled at that comment.

"Yeah, I guess we'd all better go, too." Anzu stood and stretched out a bit. "I don't want my dad to go nuts again because I was out late at a boy's house--let alone one I've known for years."

"But, thank you, Signora Mutou for giving me the honor of dining with you and your family." Mario bowed again, gently holding Mrs. Mutou's hand. He then faced Yuugi, putting a hand on each of his shoulders. He tuned out the silent growls he knew would be heard. "And thank you, Yuugi. I'll be back, soon enough." Mario grinned watching his new friend's cheeks turn a bright shade of pink.

"You're most welcome any time, my dear young man," A rather giddy Mrs. Mutou said.

"Oh, and Anzu..." Jade eyes fell upon the young girl's chest. "I'm sorry I called you a boy."

Anzu restrained her clenched fist from soaring straight into the egotistical young man's face.

Jounouchi sighed, being the first to leave the house. The rest of Yuugi's friends soon followed after bidding their goodbyes.

"Yuugi? Why don't you help me with the dishes?"

"Okay, Mama." As he gathered the plates, he asked, "Wonder what's gotten into Jounouchi-kun? He didn't seem so energetic as he usually was..."

Jounouchi stood, watching the new guy climb into his limo. He sighed as it sped away, figuring that his chances with Yuugi were shot. Of course, the young duelist was quite intelligent. Never did Jounouchi think Yuugi would fall for charmers like Mario. But like the straight-F student that he'd always been, Jounouchi always believed the excuses he made up, thus missing a wonderful opportunity...

"Jounouchi!"

"Huh?" The blonde found Honda's hand resting on his shoulder, and Anzu standing not too far from him.

"You know, you're easier to read than a picture book. I just didn't want to say anything 'cause you're so amusing."

"Shut up, Honda!" exclaimed Jounouchi.

Anzu giggled. "I know Yuugi wouldn't fall for that moron. You believe he will, and yet you call him his best friend?"

Firmly, Honda placed both hands on his pal's shoulders, and looked sincerely into the pair of brown eyes. "Don't give up, man. Yuugi's a champion, and so are you. So, what does that mean?"

"You're gonna win by a landslide, that's what," Anzu finished for Jounouchi. "And we wouldn't let Yuugi be fooled by that idiot, even if he meant the world to him." She motioned for Honda and Jounouchi to put their hands together, and lay her own on top. "And if Mario's the world, you're the universe."

Warmth surged from Jounouchi's heart to his whole body. The unsure, weak smile turned into a grin of confidence. "Thanks, guys." The universe...that sounded awesome. Without it, of course, small planets and galaxies would be nothing. Like how he and Yuugi were before their friendship...

Inside the backseat of the limo, Mario kept his phone to his ear the whole time. –"No thanks, Papa. I just had trailer trash food. I think I'm actually going to throw up. Oh yeah. Yeah... He's really cute."-

Author's notes part two: Oh no, he did not just call Yuugi's family "trailer trash"! XD Don't you just love his "Hello, Mrs. Cleaver" act? Um, anyway, that chapter sure was fun. Life is really being a dick right now, but I'll try to update every week if I can. Let's hope for total victory for Jounouchi. Ganbatte, Jounouchi-kun!