Story disclaimer: The original characters from the YuGiOh series on TV are not mine and I do not claim them as such. Amber, Justin, Kevin, Ryan, and Taylor are characters of my own imagination.
A/N: This story takes place, roughly 5 years in the future, without the new series information being incorporated as I haven't gotten a chance to watch any of the new episodes yet. Joey is 21, Mai is 29, Kaiba is 23, and Mokuba is 16. Those are the main characters from previous seasons so far. Other characters are creations of my own imagination.
Episode 1: Chance Arrivals
Damn that Yugi Moto! No matter how I tried, somehow I always lost. I was humiliated by a mere child! Seto paced the confines of his office. There is nothing for me now knowing that I will never defeat him. Luckily he is away in America. Out of sight, out of mind.
Kaiba Corp has lost my interest, and Mokuba is perfectly capable of running it himself. I have grown bored with my pathetic existence. Sometimes nothing would make me happier than to not wake up each morning, and hear the name Yugi Moto everywhere. I need to do something that will put my name back on everyone's lips. But what…
The only thing that came to mind was her. She had haunted his dreams for years, yet he knew that she would never be his; he could never hold her in his arms, or caress her hair. It was long over, and there was nothing he could do to win her back. Nothing at all.
Kaiba eased himself back into his chair and just stared out the window deep in concentration.
"Seto!" Mokuba shouted coming into his big brother's office. "Seto, you would not believe the idiocy out there! They are so incredibly stupid! I mean worse that Joey stupid!"
The elder brother rubbed his temples. "What are you going on about now?"
"Everybody! No one out there knows how to duel and just fucks around with the cards!" Mokuba was pacing now like someone who is insane. Seto almost found it amusing. "And to make it worse, very rare cards are being handled without cases!"
Seto was amused now. There were tons of people out there who only played the game because they knew someone that did and was just feeling left out. Of course they wouldn't know how to handle the cards. Mokuba was freaking out about a common problem amongst people.
"They need to be educated on the care of cards! And the rules of the game!"
An idea clicked. "Mokuba, you may be on to something." Abruptly Seto left the room.
It's all coming together in my mind now. This just might work. Now, if only there was a way that I could her back, then all would be right again.
It had been a long summer for Joey and every muscle in his body ached with exhaustion. The hot caress of the shower was a relief that eased his muscles for all but the slight annoyance of the twinges here and there. When the water started losing its heat, he knew immediately that he should have taken a bath instead.
"Wheeler!" a familiar voice called from outside the apartment.
"Ugh," Joey ran his fingers through his long blond hair. "Be there in a sec!"
"Joseph Wheeler! Come open this door right now!"
"Good God." Joey sighed. "Come one in, the door's open!"
A few minutes later he turned off the shower, wrapped a towel around his waist and went to greet his guest.
Mai was gorgeous as she had always been in Joey's eyes. Her long hair was like the refreshing golden light of the sun after a storm, and her violet eyes were more sparkling than any gem on the face of the earth. The jean jacket she always wore flared out around her perfect neck and -
Joey averted his eyes knowing if allowed then to travel any lower it would cause an arousal under the towel.
"Hello Mai." There was so much passion he had always felt for her, but they had never been anything more than friends, and as far as he knew they would never be anything more. "You look good."
Mai hadn't heard him come into the room and was momentarily startled by Joey's voice. When she turned to look at him, she was even more startled to find him only covered below the waist. "Joey! You look…" Color tinted her cheeks as she turned around to look out the window. "Wheeler! Don't you have any pants you can put on!"
A smile cracked on his face. She may not like him the way he likes her, but embarrassing her was fun enough. "Actually, I do. Mind handing them to me since you're closer?" he pointed to the bed next to the window and watched the color darken on Mai's face.
"You're such a child, Wheeler!" She chucked the pants at him and went back to looking out the window.
"So what was so important that you interrupted my shower?" Joey said kicking back on the couch. "And my pants are on so you can turn around now."
Without moving from the window Mai started talking. "There are a couple dueling academies being built in the city and I heard they need accomplished duelists to come in and teach."
"So what exactly does this have to do with me?" He tried keeping his attention off of the shapely woman in front of him and on what she was saying. Mai was nearing 30 and was still as beautiful as the day he had met her. It was as if she hadn't aged a day.
"Joseph Wheeler, are you deaf boy? They are looking for accomplished duelists. You were second in Duelist Kingdom, and you have beaten nearly every duelist around. You are just what they are looking for.
Nearly every duelist around…
"I don't know, Mai."
"Come on, Joey. They hired me, I have no doubt they'll accept your application."
Mai applied? But if I accept now it would appear that I only wanted to do it because of Mai…
"I'll think about it."
"All right. I have to go now. Meeting someone for lunch. Take it easy."
"It was great seeing you, Mai." But she was already out the door. "Might as well go see what this is all about."
"Well, Mr. Wheeler. You would be teaching the Chance class as that is the strategy you use. It is an important part of dueling for those who choose that as their strategy."
He ended up taking the job after sitting through an hour meeting that he hadn't heard a word of. Classes would start in less than a week. He had to prepare what he was going to say.
"Hello, Mai," Kaiba said sitting down at the table. "You look amazing as always."
"I didn't come here to exchange pleasantries, especially as I have none for you. What did you want?" She like most people didn't care much for Seto or his attitude towards others.
"I'm thinking about having the shrimp; what are you going to order?" He said as if she hadn't said anything. "All on me of course."
"I'm here to do business. You said it was urgent, so get to it."
"Can I not come here and talk to an old friend?"
"I'm not your friend, Kaiba. You want something, so get to the point."
The smile Kaiba gave her was evil and sent chills up her spine. The look in his eyes was nothing but lust. Why hadn't she noticed it before? She stood up and started backing away.
"That's right, Valentine. I do want something, but that requires a private room."
Mai was horrified. "You're a sick man!" She turned to leave but he grabbed her arm, turning her back towards him.
"You know you want me. I can see it in your eyes, hear it in your voice, and feel it in your pulse."
"Then your delusional! I would never be with someone like you again!"
A new voice entered the room. "Let her go!" Joey exclaimed coming over to them.
"This isn't over, Valentine," Seto vowed turning and walking away, growling something incomprehensible under his breath.
Joey watched him leave, curious of his intentions with Mai. She hadn't looked happy so all that mattered was he left her alone after that. He turned his attention back to her. "What a lunch date, huh?" Joey said rolling his eyes.
"Tell me about it," Mai sighed. "What are you doing here anyway, Wheeler?"
"Someone had to be your knight in shining armor," he joked. "No, I went and talked to the school. They want me to teach the Chance class."
Mai just giggled and Joey thought it was cute. He felt special being her knight in shining armor, though he knew it had been luck that put him in the right place and time.
"Have fun with that one, hon. You're going to get a class full of clowns that aren't serious."
"What's that supposed to mean, Mai? Are you saying I'm not a serious Duelist?" he was a little agitated now and turned to walk away. "Whatever. I got things to do."
Mai just stood there dumbfounded for a moment after he left. "That's not what I meant…"
&&&&
A/N: So what's going on with Kaiba? Is there something that Mai isn't telling everyone? What about Joey's obsession with Mai? I hope you enjoyed the first chapter of what I hope is going to be a great story though this is just a test chapter. If I get enough reviews I'll continue.