Yugi sighed to himself as he waited at the corner for the school bus to arrive. As he watched Tristen cheating Backura out of more money with his latest deck of rigged cards and Teia chatting to Mai, he clutched his French book tightly against his chest.

"I told you to study for that test," a voice said inside his head. "But no. You just had to see Joey and Tristen experiment with Teias new rabbit and the microwave."

"Youre not helping Yami," Yugi snapped quietly. "The vet said that Fluffy wont suffer complete brain damage and Im sure it wont mind having all four legs amputated and one ear missing. Besides, Joey said that hed bring me an excuse to get out of the test today."

Yugi glanced around again. Teias conversation with Mai was now resulting in her sobbing violently and pointing angrily at Tristen who had just won all of Backuras lunch money.

"Cmon Joey," Yugi muttered to himself as he still couldnt see his blonde friend. "Where are you?"

Yugi yelped as something suddenly reached out of the bushes and dragged him in.

"Joey!" Yugi cried as the taller boy raised a finger to his lips, motioning at him to quieten down. "Whats the big idea?"

"Im providing your excuse," Joey smiled. "Listen, in just a few minutes the bus will come and go. Then well be free!"

"You mean skip school?" Yugi said, raising an eyebrow.

"Smell that fresh air!" Joey said, becoming very dramatic. "Look at that blue sky! Its too nicer day to waste at school. Today is a day for fun!"

"Forget it Joey," Yugi sighed. "Well get caught."

"No we wont," Joey smiled, placing a reassuring hand on his friends shoulder.

"But today is Domino Cities Tournament of Posies," Yugi protested, shrugging the hand off. "Well be watching the parade from school and we wont even have classes apart from French for the first lesson."

"School is school," Joey said. "With everyone paying attention to the stupid parade, no one will notice were missing. The French teacher will probably assume that were sick and will jump around for joy because Im not there. The day is ours. Just look at those poor saps! Cmon Yugi. I guarantee itll be fun so whats it gonna be? School or fun?"

Yugi pondered for a moment as he watched the school bus pull up at the corner. Watching the children board it as if they were prisoners, he made his decision.

"I choose fun!" Yugi cried, leaping up into the air.

"Then let the party begin." Joey cheered.

Ten minutes later:-

"I dont know Joey," Yugi gave a bored sigh as he and Joey sat on the kerb outside a small convenience store, sipping squishees. "Is siting outside the convenience store all the fun you had in mind?"

"No..." Joey murmured, also bored.

"Okay," Yugi said thoughtfully. "Whats next?"

"How about..." Joey said before an idea came into his head. "A squishee race. Ready? Go!"

At Joeys mark, both boys began to furiously slurp down their frozen drinks, each one determined to finish before the other. Before a minute had passed, Yugi gave a sudden yelp and fell to the ground, clutching his head in pain.

"My brain!" He screamed, rolling around in pain. "My poor frozen brain!"

"And Joey Wheeler remains the undefeated and undisputed champion of the world!" Joey cheered as he finished his squishee without any problems.

"Kid!" A grumpy shop clerk yelled, coming out of the store. "Please move your friend or place him in the trash receptacle provided."

As the clerk retreated back to his post and Joey began to hurl Yugi off the ground, a large shiny police car drove up and came to a stop near the entrance. Joey yelped and quickly pulled Yugi into the side alley before a large police man stepped out of the car.

"Whats the big idea Joey?" Yugi snapped, coming out of his brain freeze.

"Its sergeant Leopold," Joey said. "Hes the roughest cop in town."

"Oh no," Yugi moaned as he recognised the name. "Were so dead!"

Inside the store:-

"Hello Leopold," the shop clerk greeted his usual customer. "Working as a truant officer today?"

"Yeah," Leopold nodded. "But Im here for a clamato juice."

"Good," the clerk nodded. "May I also inform you about the two school-aged rapscallions hiding outside?"

Leopold turned just in time to see Joey and Yugi dashing out from the side alley and down the street.

"Come back here you little maggots!" Leopold screamed as he burst from the store and began to chase the two children. "You can try to run and you can try to hide but your butts are mine!"

"Is this your idea of fun Joey?" Yugi cried as he raced behind his friend.

Three minutes of panicked running later:-

"Did we lose him?" Yugi gasped, exhausted, as they turned yet another street corner.

Joey peered round the corner but quickly snapped his head back when he saw Leopold just about to turn the corner. Thinking quickly, he grabbed Yugis collar and pulled him into the nearest shop door. The shop they just ran into happened to be a costume shop.

One quick change later:-

Joey and Yugi nervously stepped outside, making sure not to make eye contact with Leopold, who was stood on the corner trying to figure out where his prey had gone.

Joey was dressed in a brown wig and had stuck a matching false moustache below his nose. He wore a very funky looking orange shirt with embodied moons and stars that shimmered when they caught the light. Flared blue jeans covered his legs and pure white disco shoes supported his feet.

Somehow, Yugi had managed to pull on a wig of long straight black hair. He wore a small sleeveless purple top that was also embodied with small sequins. The outfit was completed with a matching skirt, that came down to his ankles, and rather wobbly red high heeled shoes. He had added finishing touches with some false eyelashes, lipstick and large pearl earrings.

"Excuse me," Leopold said to them. "Have you seen two worthless little punks running around here?"

"Aint no kids round here, man," Joey said in a brilliantly disguised voice.

"Uh, no," Yugi nervously squeaked. "We didnt see Joey and Yugi."

"Hmm?" Leopold said as he stared down at a nervous Yugi. "Okay. Thanks."

Once he had gone:-

"You almost got us caught Yug," Jeoy said to a still sweating Yugi as they began to walk in the opposite direction to the large policeman.

"Sorry," Yugi apologised. "I was scared."

"Just relax," Joey smiled. "Well get out of this."

"Joey," Yugi said, nervously fiddling with the ends of his wig. "Am I pretty?"

Meanwhile:-

"When I find those twerps," Leopold snarled to himself as his eyes darted left and right. "Im gonna tear em a new pie hole."

Unfortunately, he didnt notice the door opening as he passed the local bar and found himself walking straight into an already drunk Kaiber.

"Whoa," Kaiber slurred as he pointed to two figures at the other end of the street. "Sonny and Cher! My hallucinations are improving. I usually see Captain Twinkie after a drink. Can you see then too?"

As Kaiber passed out on the pavement, Leopold glanced down the street and saw the two people he had spoken to outside the costume shop. As he suddenly realised that he had been tricked, his face turned pure red and steam was actually visibly coming out of his ears.

"I knew you were too attractive to be Cher!" He screamed as he ran after them down a nearby alleyway.

"Joey," Yugi cried. "Hes gaining and Ive got a run in my stocking!"

"We just need a big distraction," Jeoy puffed, glancing desperately around. "Something like..."

As they reached the end of the alleyway, an unusual sight of marching elephants greeted them.

"The parade!" Yugi and Joey cheered in union as they dashed to hide in the flurry of dressed up elephants, large banners, cheerful music, amazing acrobatics and millions upon millions of assorted posies.

"Hold on," Joey said to Yugi as they both clung to an elephant leg. "I think weve finally lost him."

"I dont think so," Yugi screamed as he pointed up at the elephants back. "Look!"

Joey nervously glanced upwards to spot sergeant Leopold. He had somehow managed to climb onto the elephant and was now staring down at them with crazed fury.

"You worms are about to be put on the hook!" He snarled as he began to slide down towards them.

"Joey," Yugi screamed. "Im scared!"

"Me too!" Joey said as he began to let go of the elephant. "Jump!"

Taking a deep breath, the two duellists let go of the elephant and landed with heavy thud on the ground.

"Now those are some big elephant patties!" They heard a voice gasp in wonder.

"Youre the expert," they recognised the second voice to be a very grouchy Pegasus.

"GRAMPA!" Yugi screamed as he got out of his daze and saw the small car about to drive right into him.

"Hey," Yugis grandfather said, taking a good look at his grandson. "Werent you two on Lawrence Walk?"

"Its me," Yugi said with a hint of frustration in his voice. "Yugi!"

"Oh yeah," Grampa said as he recognised his grandson and leaned over to snatch him off the road. "I gotcha boy."

Unfortunately, the car kept on going and slammed right into Yugis outstretched legs.

"Oh no," Grampa cried as he flew forward. "There goes my new hip."

"Whew!" Yugi sighed. "Im lucky that mini-car runs on two AAA batteries."

"I got you Gramps," Joey said as he casually reached out and safely caught Grampa.

"Youre toast!" Leopold growled as he caught up on the two school boys. "Your shenanigans end here!"

"No way," Joey said, putting Grampa down. "You got nothin on us."

"Nothin?" Leopold repeated, his face going redder by the second.

"Look," Joey pointed as Yugi cheered behind him. "Were at school dude!"

After rejoining their classmates:-

"Well Yugi," Joey said with a satisfied smile. "I think weve helped your grampa enough. Being the mansons official posies parade Sonny and Cher impersonators has been an honour we wont forget soon."

Yugi said nothing but silently slipped away from Joey, pretending that he didnt know him.

"Nice dress Yugi," Teia laughed as Yugi stopped beside her.

"Thanks," Yugi muttered as he slid back towards Joey.

"I cant believe we made it!" Joey cheered, not realising that Yugi had been gone. "Just another victory for the boy, the myth, the legend they call..."

"JOEY WHEELER!" The school principal barked out as he approached the celebrating couple. "Leopold tells me he spotted you two outside the convenience store, which is not on parade route! Youre busted!"

On the bus home:-

"Aw man," Yugi complained. "Weve got a whole month of detention!"

"Yeah, Im sorry," Joey said. "Im pretty used to it, but its gonna be rough on you."

"Dont be sorry," Yugi smiled. "Ive never had so much fun. In fact, I had so much fun that Im cutting school tomorrow."

"Ah, Yugi..." Joey started.

"No," Yugi quickly interrupted. "Dont try to talk me out of it!"

Joey smiled and leaned back in his seat.

He just didnt have the heart to tell Yugi that tomorrow was Saturday.

THE END