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Post by cypsiman2 on Oct 12, 2012 12:47:53 GMT -5
"Why bullshit? I've known Yuugi since we were kids, way longer than you."
"Doesn't matter if you're in total denial about him." Jounouchi beamed a bit, proud of how he'd managed to work in that bit of subtext regarding Anzu and her relationship with Yuugi.
"So long as I keep your bad influence away from him, there's nothing to deny." Anzu remembered one time when Jounouchi tried to pass a porno tape to Yuugi and was very thankful that she'd intercepted before it was too late.
....
"Grandpa!" Yuugi exclaimed, his voice higher than ever as he struggled to get his shirt back on and in place. "I, I was just, ummm..." Yuugi's face was at its peak redness.
"Quite understandable Yuugi." Sugoroku rubbed his head as he got back up. "I would have done the same thing at your age. Just...find a better time and place next time."
"Right!" Yuugi nodded so hard it looked like his head would come off.
"In any event, looks like the computer's finally done, so let's see what we can find."
....
"...Bet you Yuugi's checking out his boobs as we speak." Jounouchi shot off.
"Enough!" Anzu put her foot down, literally. "Jounouchi, can you stop being a pervert for five seconds so we can figure out what we're going to do?"
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Post by Scribbler on Oct 13, 2012 18:55:03 GMT -5
“Sure.” Jounouchi plunked himself down in a chair and stared at her expectantly. “Dazzle us with your brilliance. What the hell are we SUPPOSED to do?”
Anzu had to admit she didn’t know. “Um … how about we … figure out who else is affected?”
“And how exactly is that conversation supposed to go?” Jounouchi deadpanned. “Hi, insert-name-here, are you a woman today?”
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Post by cypsiman2 on Oct 13, 2012 21:18:22 GMT -5
"Look," Honda said, irritation getting to him, "We already know that Yuugi, his grandpa, and Otogi have been transformed, but my dad wasn't, so I'm getting the feeling that whatever happened was targeted at our little circle." Jounouchi and Anzu stared at Honda. "Hey, this noggin of mine does more than just hold my hair up."
"Right." Anzu said, feeling a bit embarrassed for underestimating Honda. "So then, that would mean..."
"Kaiba." Jounouchi had a positively devilish grin on his face. "Oh man, if Kaiba's a girl now, he must be going through hell itself right now."
....
"Who is this?" Seto heard Isis Ishtar say from the other side of the line.
"Seto Kaiba."
There was a pause. "Is something wrong with your throat? Your voice sounds more strained than usual."
"My voice is not normally strained." Irritation crept up Seto's spine, proper support only able to achieve so much after all. "Mokuba and I have been targeted by a vicious and malicious magical prank."
"A magical prank?" Isis's tone indicated intrigue. "Forgive me Seto, but are you certain that you are not simply ill?"
"I wish this were a matter of illness; unfortunately this body of mine is more than healthy." The word 'abundant' danced about in Seto's mind, almost driving him to distraction.
"What exactly do you mean, Seto?" Seto seethed; without providing her this specific information, he could have no expectation of any useful help at all, but if he told her and she knew nothing after all...
"Mokuba and I awoke as females today." Bite the bullet, it was his best chance for victory.
"...Oh my."
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Post by Scribbler on Oct 14, 2012 15:26:16 GMT -5
“Is that all you have to say on the matter?” he demanded after a silent few minutes. A silent few minutes in person was awkward; a silent few minutes down a phone-line was torture.
“What do you wish me to say?” Isis asked in that curiously formal tone that only came when one was not speaking a native language. “You have my condolences if that is what you desire. Being as I am female myself, I can imagine you are confused by the differences between your current and previous bodies, but I am not sure this is the response you called to receive.”
“No,” Seto said tightly. “It isn’t.”
“Then what is?”
“In a perfect world I’d like you to provide an answer, a remedy and a target for me to vent my frustrations on.”
“Ah, but this is not a perfect world.”
“Right now I’d say I’m more familiar with that fact than even you.”
“Hmm.” There was no censure in her voice, but images of her psychotic brother filled the static between them. “I have never before heard of such a situation as you have described.”
“Don’t you have any means of researching phenomena like this?”
“My forte is Egyptian magic, Mr. Kaiba, and specifically that which relates to the Unnamed Pharaoh and Tombkeepers. I am not a catch-all receptacle for all magical ills everywhere, nor can I explain everything of a supernatural nature. There are some things beyond my remit. My advice first of all would be to establish whether you and your brother are the only ones affected this, ah, ‘prank’.”
“You’re talking about Yuugi Mutou and his band of merry idiots, aren’t you?”
“That is not quite the way I would have phrased it, but yes.”
“Wonderful.”
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Post by cypsiman2 on Oct 14, 2012 15:44:11 GMT -5
With how old the computer and the connection were, it was slow-going for Yuugi to search the net, nor did it help that he wasn't sure what terms exactly to enter into the search engines.
As such, Yuugi and his grandpa had barely even started when the phone rang; Yuugi checked the progress bar, saw that little to none was forthcoming, and answered the phone. He cleared his throat. "Hello?"
"Where is Yuugi?"
"Who, who is this?" It sounded like a woman, an angry woman. Wait..."Are you with the Cult of Hathor?"
"Why would I be involved in such blithering nonsense?" That tone, Yuugi recognized it, there was only one person he knew who would react that way.
"...Seto?"
"So I take it you've been targeted by this puerile prank as well. What about the rest of your followers?"
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Post by Scribbler on Oct 15, 2012 16:20:12 GMT -5
Even in the midst of the strangeness, Yuugi found himself saying, “They’re not my followers, Seto, they’re my friends.”
“Whatever.” Seto could not have been more dismissive. “Have they been afflicted?”
“By what?”
“By the flu. What do you think?”
“Seto –”
“Just answer the question, Yuugi.”
Yuugi sighed. “Jounouchi, Honda and Otogi have been.”
“Not Mazaki?”
“Anzu seems fine.”
“Seems?”
“She’s still a girl.”
“For what that’s worth.”
Despite himself, Yuugi felt a prickle of annoyance run up his spine. “Why are you calling, Seto?”
“Because I’m interested in make you all co-CEOs of Kaiba Corp.” Sarcasm dripped off Seto’s tone like molasses off a hot spoon. “Do you have any idea what’s going on or how this happened?”
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Post by cypsiman2 on Oct 15, 2012 17:09:08 GMT -5
"Well, the Puzzle is missing and it was replaced by a statue of Hathor."
"Who?"
"The Egyptian Goddess of women and motherhood, and apparently there was a fanatical cult dedicated to her."
"...I doubt Isis has any connections to such a thing."
"What?"
"Do you even have any independent evidence that this cult of yours still exists?"
"I'm trying to look it up on the net, but our connection's really slow and I'm not even sure I'm using the right search terms."
"Is that so?" Even over the phone, Yuugi could tell that Seto was sporting his cold, proud smile, though what that looked like now he hadn't the faintest clue. "As it so happens, I have an experienced team with cutting edge computers and connections. If there's even a trace of possibility behind this cult, they will find it." Seto hung up.
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Post by Scribbler on Oct 15, 2012 20:32:47 GMT -5
Yuugi stared at the phone for a few seconds.
“Yuugi?” Sugoroku looked at him expectantly. “You have that I-just-talked-to-Kaiba shell-shocked look.”
“It happened to him too.”
“I gathered that.”
“He’s going to look into the Cult of Hathor thing.”
Sugoroku snorted. “I take it he didn’t ask you any specific questions about it?”
“Not really. He seems to think his research team can handle it.”
“Since Hathor had the biggest religious following of any Egyptian goddess for several thousand years, good luck to him. It’s a very small contingent called Hathor’s Vengeance we’re looking for.”
Yuugi blinked at his grandfather, processing just how big a task Seto had set for himself simply because he hadn’t bothered to concede that someone else might be helpful outside of immediate questioning.
“Oh.”
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Post by cypsiman2 on Oct 15, 2012 23:25:51 GMT -5
"There, at least we've got you two semi-decently dressed up now." Anzu said with an appraising look at Jounouchi and Honda; Jounouchi was taller but his more slender build left Anzu's clothes baggy on him around the chest and hips, while Honda's thicker arms and thighs left his sleeves and leggings tight.
"I don't believe this." Jounouchi said, grousing.
"We know you don't, but so long as you don't start up that dream crap again..." Honda tugged on his sleeve.
"No, not that; I just never imagined I'd be sympathizing with Rebecca Hopkins."
"Save it; they're just for until we can get you guys properly sized clothes." Anzu bristled at the mention of the American girl who'd loudly and repeatedly expressed her affections for Yuugi; they were friendly despite that detail, but still...
"Yeah, yeah." Jounouchi muttered. "Let's go meet up with Yuugi, see if he was as screwed over as me on this whole deal."
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Post by Scribbler on Oct 16, 2012 15:48:45 GMT -5
The spirit rose to consciousness slowly, like a corpse in a pond. Given that his corporeal body had perished thousands of years ago and he was nothing more than a collection of memories held together by magical glue, the comparison was far from accurate. His mind surfaced in a haze that made thinking difficult, but he was aware that things were … not right.
“Aibou …”
“Shhh, love.” A cool hand stroked his forehead; or at least the memory of a cool hand, since he had no forehead nor ability to tell if someone else’s hand was warm or cool unless he was sharing Yuugi’s form. “Don’t struggle.”
He tried to open his eyes, but the lids felt strangely heavy. His limbs, too, were hard to move, and he was struck by a desire not to bother. It was far easier to just lean back and allow the pleasantly deep voice to lull him back into sleep.
“That’s the way,” said the owner of the hand. The gravelly nature made it hard to distinguish whether it was male or female, but the touch was too gentle and soft to be male. “Relax and let me take care of you.”
“Yuu … gi …”
“Hush now. Just relax.”
The advice was compelling. The spirit could do nothing but comply and fell gratefully back into sweet, soft darkness.
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Post by cypsiman2 on Oct 16, 2012 16:00:43 GMT -5
"Yuugi?" Yuugi nodded as Jounouchi, Honda, and Anzu all stared at him; the three of them decided to meet up with Yuugi at his house, figuring that it would be more secure than Honda's. "Is that really you?" Yuugi nodded again in response to Anzu's question.
"You're not stuffing, are you?" Yuugi blushed intensely as he shook his head no. "Great." Jounouchi said. "I really am the only one getting screwed over on this whole deal."
"Sure seems that way." Everyone turned to the door and saw a woman in a classy, yet audacious outfit standing there. Then they noticed the familiar hairstyle, green eyes and eyeliner, and the earring shaped like a die.
"Otogi?"
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Post by Scribbler on Oct 16, 2012 16:23:42 GMT -5
“You think anyone else could pull off this outfit without looking like a drag queen?”
Jounouchi’s shoulders attempted to climb into his ears. “Royally. Sucks. ASS!”
“What does: the situation or you?” Otogi swept past before he could respond. “Answers, Yuugi. Now. I know you have them and I want them, so give. What in name of all that is holy is going on here?” He cast his eyes over them all, alighting on Anzu. “Not you too?”
She shook her head. “I wasn’t affected.”
“Thank goodness. You’d make a butt-ugly man.”
“Should I feel offended or complimented by that?”
“Whatever you please.” He turned his attention back to Yuugi. “Answers now?”
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Post by cypsiman2 on Oct 16, 2012 16:39:18 GMT -5
Yuugi took a deep breath, the rise and fall of his bosom distracting him for a moment. "Grandpa and I, we think a cult called Hathor's Revenge is behind this." He showed everyone the statue of Hathor that had replaced the Millennium Puzzle. "Kaiba's looking into it right now, but he hung up before I could give him any of the details, so I don't know how well he's going to do."
"...Can I have a closer look at that?" Otogi had a strange look in his eyes as he held the statue in his gaze.
"Sure." Yuugi handed it over, truthfully thankful to have it out of his hands.
"I think I've seen this before." Otogi turned the statue over in his hands. "In my father's notes, there was a picture of a statue just like this one. In fact..." He brought the head of the statue right in front of his eye. "Yes, I'm sure this is the exact same statue."
"Seriously?" Honda said, the possibility of a real answer elating to him.
"Yes, but we'd have to go back to my home to check those notes, and there's no way I'm taking you guys there until you are presentable." Otogi turned to Anzu. "No offense, you did your best I'm sure."
"None taken." Anzu had no idea how to react to something so bizarre; truth be told she was still coming to terms with how cute a girl Yuugi was.
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Post by Scribbler on Oct 16, 2012 19:59:12 GMT -5
“What the hell are you suggesting?” Honda asked suspiciously. “If this is some excuse for you to indulge your freakish cross-dressing fantasies, you can forget it. This is bad enough without you farting around trying to put me in a skirt.”
“But you have such great legs now.” Mischief danced in Otogi’s eyes.
Honda’s brows lowered until he looked quite malevolent. “Fuck. Off.”
Otogi sighed melodramatically. “Girl or boy, you have no taste.”
“This isn’t a case of taste,” Honda snapped. “Or fashion, or being ‘presentable’, or anything else irrelevant like that. This is about spontaneously losing my dick and wanting it back!”
The whole room fell silent.
Anzu cleared her throat. “Well, uh …”
Honda’s ears reddened but he stood his proverbial ground. “Well it is. Just because the rest of you guys – GUYS – seem to have forgotten that part, or just don’t like talking about it, doesn’t make it any less true. I don’t want tits – and frankly, dude, your obsession with having them is freaking me out –”He tossed his head at Jounouchi. “Sure, I’m all about the sweater-meat, but only if it’s NOT MINE. I want pecs. I want an Adam’s apple. I want my dick back!” His delivery had sped up and he was breathing faster as he finished.
“Are you done?” Otogi asked sourly.
“Not until I get Little Hiroto back.”
Anzu blinked more rapidly. “I so didn’t need to hear that.”
“Dude, you actually call it ‘Little Hiroto’?”
Honda’s ears turned completely red. “Shut up, Jounouchi.”
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Post by cypsiman2 on Oct 16, 2012 20:29:39 GMT -5
"Okay, let's try something novel and be serious in the face of a serious situation, because that's not something this group's ever done before." Otogi's biting sarcasm achieved the desired results. "Are you three the least bit comfortable wearing the clothes you are right now?" Yuugi and Jounouchi shook their heads right away, Honda grimly followed along. "Right, that means right now you're all more irritable than you would be otherwise and there's plenty to be irritated by in this involuntary sex-change we've undergone as is. So, we are going to get into my limo, visit a private tailor I've contacted, and she is going to get us all something comfortable to slip into so that we can keep our minds focused on solving the real problem instead of tugging at our sleeves or pulling our skirts up. Any objections?"
"...No." Honda muttered. "Your lead better pan out Otogi."
Yuugi explained to his Grandpa about their plan, and he declined going with them, hoping to find some more clues in the tomes and on the computer. Jounouchi and Honda followed Otogi to his limo straight away. "Don't worry Yuugi." Anzu said, her hand on his feminine shoulder. "We'll get through this."
"Thanks Anzu." Yuugi had no idea how to deal with the fact that his change in gender seemed to have no effect on his crush on Anzu whatsoever.
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