Chapter 1

Joey stood over Mai's bed and gave a heavy sigh. The battle city tournament was over, Marik defeated and he should have been happy. The problem was the evil which had controlled Marik had prevented his good side from releasing those trapped in the shadow realm. It was the last thing he'd done before his destruction, but it couldn't have been a crueller blow. It meant Bakura was still missing and Mai's mind was still trapped. It killed Joey to think there was nothing he or Yugi could do about it.

At his request the others had left him on his own at Mai's bedside. He needed some time to apologise for failing her, but the words just wouldn't come out of his mouth. He was so wrapped up in his own thoughts he neglected to hear the approaching footsteps.

'How is she?' The sound of her voice made him jump.

'The same, Sis,' he turned towards her, 'I'm really worried about her.'

'We all are, Joey.' Serenity sighed. 'But there has to be something we can do, right?'

Joey couldn't find the words to answer her question. Truth was he didn't know and that frightened him. After a few moments Serenity sat down next to him and the silence continued. Minutes passed by, but as far as Joey was concerned the world might as well be standing still. He felt as though a piece of him was trapped in the shadows along with Mai and he didn't know how to get either of them out again. After what felt like an age a young girl with blonde hair and brown eyes entered. She was wearing a nurse's uniform, yet she didn't look much older than his sister. But it was more than that; there was something familiar about her face even though he was certain he'd never met her before.

'Who are you?' Joey frowned. 'And what are you doing here?'

'I'm a nurse obviously,' her voice was almost too bright and cheery, 'and I'm here to see how Mai's doing, if that's okay.'

'I might be being paranoid here, but aren't you too young to be a nurse?'

'Appearance can be deceiving,' an almost false smile pulled across her face, 'I assure you I'm a lot older than I look. Trust me; I'm at least old enough to know what I am doing here. Now if you please, I would like to check on the patient.'

Without waiting for permission she began to examine Mai. She appeared to know what she was doing and there was something about her confidence which all but calmed Joey's uneasiness about her. But just as she was about to finish she paused and, for the longest time, just stood there in a strange kind of trance.

'What's wrong with you?' Joey found himself grabbing hold of her shoulders.

For a moment her face filled with a look of confusion, quickly replaced by one of embarrassment. She then muttered an apology under her breath and hastily backed out of the room.

'She was weird Joey, what do you think was wrong with her?'

'I don't know.' He found himself staring at the door. 'But it better not have anything to do with Mai, I mean she's got enough problems as it is.'

'You don't think there's something wrong with Mai, do you?' Serenity sounded worried. 'I mean more than there is already.'

'I hope not.'

He didn't know what it was, but there was something about the nurse which put Joey on edge. It was something he couldn't quite put his finger on. Something he had felt from the moment she'd entered the room and it was making him feel even more worried by the second. He was about to ask his sister if she felt the same, when Tristan and Duke burst in.

'So how's Mai?' Tristan's voice was almost too loud for the question being asked.

'Still the same.' Serenity lowered her gaze. 'There was a nurse in just now checking on her, but she didn't tell us anything.'

'When?'

'Just before you came in. Didn't you see her?'

'No and we were outside for a while, figured we'd give you and Joey some time alone.' Tristan shook his head. 'Plus I needed to remind Duke of a few things.'

'Yeah right.' Duke rolled his eyes.

'You say something?' Joey turned to face them. 'I'm sorry I was a million miles away.'

'So what's new?'

'Hey watch it.'

'Well he is right Joey.' Serenity giggled.

'I thought you were meant to be on my side.' He shook his head. 'Anyway I was thinking about that weird nurse.'

'She was a bit strange, but I wouldn't say she was weird.'

'Are you sure there was a nurse in here, cuz we didn't see her leave.' Tristan frowned.

'Yes I'm sure.' A feeling of agitation spiked through Joey. 'What, are you calling me and Serenity liars now?'

'No, nothing of the sort.'

'But you've gotta admit it's weird.' Duke folded his arms. 'That neither of us saw her leave, I mean.'

'Yeah, well there was something a bit freaky about her anyway.' Joey shrugged. 'Ah forget it we've got bigger things to worry about.'

'Like what?' Tristan threw him an inquisitive look.

'Like finding a way of helping Mai.' Joey stared down at her. 'Or had you forgotten her minds trapped in the shadow realm?'

'But what can we do?' Tristan sighed.

'How should I know?' Joey snapped. 'But there's got to be something.'

'We could always ask Yugi.' Duke tilted his head in thought. 'I mean, it doesn't take a genius to know that guy understands this stuff a lot better than we do.'

'Yeah, well you go find him if you want,' Joey perched himself on the edge of the room's empty bed, 'I'm gonna stay here and keep an eye on her for a while.'

'Come on Duke,' Tristan gave Joey an odd look, before turning to leave, 'let's go get Yugi.'

With that they both left and silence returned to the room.

'Are you alright Joey?' Serenity's voice broke into the empty train of thoughts he was having.

'Yeah I'm fine.'

'Do you mind if I leave? Only I need to see Téa about something.'

'No you go Sis,' he shot her a weak smile, 'I'll be fine.'

He watched as she left the room, before focusing his attention back on Mai. A part of him felt bad, really bad, that she was like this. It was a deep sense of guilt for not being able to fulfil his promise to her and it clung to him like a bad smell. A shuffling of feet behind him made him turn. Expecting to see that his sister had return, he was surprise to find the young nurse stood there instead. For what felt like the longest heartbeat in the world neither of them said anything, but it didn't take a genius to know the silence wasn't going to last.

'Joey?' She began unsure of herself. 'Are you Joey Wheeler? I mean, that is what you call yourself, right?'

'Yeah,' he frowned at her choice of words, 'what do you want?'

'I need your help.'

'For what?'

'I can't tell you,' she murmured with a strange level of confusion. 'I just do is all.'

'Well maybe I don't want to help you.' Joey folded his arms.

'Ah but you do.' Her eyes glinted strangely.

'And just why would that be?'

'Because I can help you.' A look of excitement crossed her face.

'How?' Joey almost couldn't hide the curiosity he was feeling.

'I can help you get Mai back.' She breathed. 'But only if you promise to help me.'

'No way,' he turned from her, 'I don't trust anyone who says that.'

'But I can. I can help you.' Her voice peaked with excitement. 'I can help you if you will help me. I promise and I never break a promise. Not to anyone.'