Hey there, everyone, It's the Rainwalker here. While working on Yu-Gi-Oh GM I got an excellent idea for a Christmas story in the Yu-Gi-Oh universe. I make it no secret I'm a Polarshipper. I find the dynamic between Joey and Mai fascinating.
In this story, it's been a couple years since the departure of the Pharaoh. Yugi and the gang have gotten on with their lives. Mai Valentine is the CEO of a growing women's fashion, jewelry, and perfume company called Mai Girl. Yet for all her success Mai is missing something even as she's become cold, and calculating. However three ghosts are about to teach Mai the spirit of Christmas and show her where she's gone wrong. Get ready for "Mai's Christmas Carol" coming up next.
Disclaimer: Yu-Gi-Oh and all canon characters are strictly the property of Kazuki Takahashi. I'm just using them for a while but will put them away when I'm done. All original characters in this story are strictly my property.
Mai's Christmas Carol.
In a Winter's day in Los Angeles, California things were busy as always. People were going about their activities of preparing for the joyous, most wonderful day of the year. However in one particular house, in a trendy upper class section of L.A, one woman sat at her mirror combing her hair. This was Mai Valentine, a woman who was still a top rate duelist, but now so much more. Mai Valentine was now a successful businesswoman. After the events of the Orichalcos and Paradias she had taken some time to do some traveling and made the acquaintance of certain people which had allowed her to create her now million-dollar company, Mai Girl Inc. It sold trendy and fabulous looking women's clothing, jewelry, and perfumes. Mai Valentine looked herself over in the mirror, and smiled in that old familiar cocky fashion. "Lookin' fabulous, girl." Mai said to herself smugly.
Mai sighed and continued to brush her hair dressed only in her nightshirt.
Last night the dreams had come again, dreams of a time, and people, she wanted to forget. There was nothing that could be done. She had more important things to worry about now. She was the CEO of a major company and had no time for the past. Mai got up and walked across the large bedroom to a closet. She opened it up and pressed a button on the wall near the closet. The clothing on the rack started moving forward and around in clockwise fashion. It took time but Mai finally selected the business attire she wanted to wear today. After slipping the medium length skirt on, boots, blouse and jacket. She went over to another mirror near her bed and looked over herself. The shapely, wavy blonde-haired woman, now 27, nodded in satisfaction. Mai heard a knock at the double doors to her room. "Miss Valentine?" a contralto voice called.
Mai sighed in consternation. She wanted to admire herself a little longer before having to dive to the doldrums of running her company. But the real world waited for no one, Mai reminded herself. This company was what allowed her to afford this place and live her globetrotting lifestyle without getting a real job. It may not have been Seto Kaiba big but in two years it was becoming a major player in the fashion industry.
Mai always had had an incredible knack with fashion, jewelry, and perfumes. At first Mai had been absolutely overjoyed at the chance to put her love of her favorite three things in the world to use. And it had been a stroke of pure luck when she'd met the people who had helped her found and make her company a success.
There was another knock at the door. "Miss Valentine?" came the voice of Mai's assistant.
"Yeah, yeah I hear you, Janice, I'm coming," she said in mild annoyance.
Mai walked over to the doors and opened them. Janice Brown was a black woman in her mid-twenties. Her long black hair had been partly dyed with streaks of blonde and were tied into braids that fell down past her shoulders behind her. The black woman was pleasant enough to look at with her brown eyes, and business attire. She helped keep the house clean, and also cooked for Mai. So in a sense she was more than just a personal assistant she was also the maid and the chef of this house. Mai paid her a reasonable enough salary. And she was tolerable because she never asked for much. "Good morning, Miss Valentine," Janice said in the most cheerful tone she could muster.
"Good morning, Janice." Mai commented nonchalantly.
Janice said, "This morning I'll be preparing a peach yogurt along with wheat muffins with a honey glaze on them, and orange juice."
Mai nodded, "An acceptable and healthy breakfast. Get on with it, Janice."
Janice bowed and said, "Yes, Miss Valentine."
She turned to leave when she said, "Oh and, Miss Valentine, a reminder, you a have meeting with your company accountant at 3 p.m. today. And after breakfast we need to head to where the big Christmas extravaganza is for the dress rehearsal."
"Yeah, yeah, yeah we need to make sure everything goes down accordingly. Sure, fine whatever." Mai said looking around seeminbgly not paying attention.
Janice's face furrowed. "Miss Valentine, you do realize that if this works out Mai Girl Inc. will become even bigger than it is now?"
Mai nodded and said, "Sure, okay."
Mai was looking forward to the fashion show but her mind was even more intent on the meeting with her accountant. For all the success her company had, there was something that was bothering Mai. Recently, Mai couldn't place her finger on it, but it seemed that her company was making less money than it actually should. Her accountant Sebastian Fulheimer had told her nothing was wrong, and the rotund curly, black-haired man had proved competent enough. But there was something that Mai couldn't figure out. Mai was good with money but when it came to accounting work Mai was no expert at that. Mai saw Janice roll her eyes and sigh in annoyance. "Miss Valentine," she said trying not to grit her teeth in annoyance.
Mai looked at Janice and said, "All right, Janice, anything else I should know about?"
Janice thought for a moment. "Oh yes, William wants to see you when we get to where the extravaganza is taking place. He needs to talk to you about something important concerning the show. It seems some of the clothing has not shown up."
"What?" Mai said in annoyance. "Ugh, if it's not one thing it's another! Fine I'll talk to William about it when we get there."
Janice said, "Um, Miss Valentine, a personal request."
"What's up?" Mai asked in mild annoyance.
"Well tomorrow is Christmas day. And I realize the fashion show is tomorrow, but I would like to take tomorrow night to go out with my family for Christmas dinner."
Mai sighed in annoyance. Ever since she started making money hand over fist everyone wanted something from her. Even her own personal assistant. Mai thought for a moment and said, "All right, but you'd better be here in the morning and here for the fashion show, understood?"
Janice sighed sadly and said, "Yes ma'am."
The two women headed into the small but luxurious kitchen. Mai took her seat at the elegant glass dining table she ate at. She saw her paper was there ready to read. Mai took the paper and opened it up to the business section. Reading the paper was one of the few comforts Mai had for all her success. It allowed her to tune out reality while keeping in touch with it at arm's length.
Mai, at first, thought to ask about if she was due for a trip to the gym until she remembered she had gone through a particularly intense session yesterday. Mai still wanted to keep her figure so she could be as fabulous as the models that showed off her clothing lines. Still, it was no secret Mai hated Christmas. Christmas had never been a very happy time for her. Christmas was supposed to be a time for family and friends. Mai had some friends, but no family. And she couldn't think about them. She had a company to run, her only real joy these days came from going clubbing with her few friends. But right now, there was money to be made and a reputation to be upheld. Mai browsed over who was in and what companies were doing what. Mai found it no surprise KaibaCorp was in the news again. They were about to introduce the Mark II Duel disk which was going to be capable of supporting a new type of monster called XYZ monsters that Pegasus was debuting next month.
"And the world goes on without me," Mai whispered out loud.
"What was that, Miss Valentine?" Janice asked.
Mai sighed and said, "Never mind, Janice, just get me some breakfast."
Mai heard nothing more from Janice. Somewhere in the back of Mai's mind she thought that she should consider paying Janice more. But Mai quickly dispelled that thought. With everything she had with her company's finances and everything else she couldn't afford to pay Janice anymore than she actually did. In Mai's opinion, a reasonable salary of $25.00 an hour was fairly good for her personal assistant. Mai continued to read the paper until breakfast was served. Mai ate her breakfast without any complaint. Mai was more concerned with her business and finances than anything else. Once she was done, Mai set the paper down and wiped her mouth with her napkin. Mai got up and looked herself over. Mai said, "All right, Janice, get my car ready I'm off to the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum."
Janice nodded and answered, "Yes, Miss Valentine."
Mai walked out the front door, taking care to lock it, and over to the left side of the parking garage beside the house. A few minutes later the door opened and Mai's convertible pulled out with Janice at the wheel. Janice moved over as Mai got into the driver's seat and took the wheel. Janice fastened the seat belt in the passenger seat before the two set off into the day.
X X X
It took a couple of hours to reach the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. L.A. traffic, as always, was a mess. And Mai quietly grumbled to herself about how she wondered if putting her business' headquarters here in L.A. was such a good idea but Mai quickly set that thought aside. She knew there was no other place to put it where she could garner attention. Mai and Janice finally pulled into the parking lot of the Coliseum. A security guard recognized them and tipped his hat respectfully. "Good morning, Miss Valentine," he said in genuine respect.
Mai felt a certain sense of satisfaction. One of the perks of being a CEO of a company that was becoming a major force in the women's market was men and women both looked on her with awe and respect. And it wasn't like she didn't deserve it. On the contrary, she'd worked hard to turn this company into what it was. And if this Christmas extravaganza went off without any issues then Mai's company would be set for years to come. All the major fashion magazines and all the major fashion critics were coming to judge Mai's clothing lines and jewelry. Mai's perfumes would be given out as samples to the guests and critics that were scheduled to attend this incredible event. Mai felt her stomach churn the way it did at a dueling event. Mai wanted this to work above all else. Mai brought herself back to reality as she said, "Good morning."
The car pulled into a parking lot and soon found a space. Mai and Janice got out. Janice covered the car before Mai activated the alarm system. The two entered the coliseum and made their way onto the main field. The stage was being worked on by the various engineers and mechanics along with the lights and the various pyrotechnics that were going to be utilized in this.
Just as they entered a man with a balding head, a pair of thick rimmed glasses dressed in a white button-up tailor's shirt, slacks, and leather shoes wearing measuring tape around his neck walked up to her. This was William Hennessey.
Mai and the fashion designer had met in Paris shortly after she'd left Valon to go on her world tour to clear her mind. William was one of the founders of Mai Girl Inc. He was in charge of turning Mai's designs into actual pieces of clothing. He had a deep understanding of fabrics and matching up clothing with the right attire. Mai also knew that he was a gay man who was currently engaged in a happy monogamous relationship with his boyfriend of 5 years who was an executive for a major financial firm that had a headquarters here in L.A. "Oh, Mai, there you are," he said in a tone of consternation.
Mai asked, "What is it, William."
The man sighed and said, "What is it?" the man sighed and rubbed his hand over his face. "What isn't it would be the more appropriate term!"
Mai's face furrowed, "What's the problem, William?" Mai asked trying to keep calm.
William explained, "Some of the dresses I've been working on are missing along with some of the fabrics we use. Worse still the van with some of the dresses is stuck in traffic. And according to the techs one of the main strobes is malfunctioning again. And what's worse is they checked it last night and it was working just fine."
Mai rolled her eyes and snapped, "Oh dear, God, if it's not one thing it's another!" Mai calmed herself before she continued. "All right I'll get someone to take care of it. You see to the models. And where's Clarice?"
William said, "She's here and she's been ready for some time along with Angelica."
"Well that's a couple things that are going right at least." Mai muttered to herself sourly.
Mai took a breath before she said, "Come on, Janice, I swear when I find out what's going on here somebody is going to get their ass canned!"
Mai walked over towards the backstage area. As soon as she entered the scene before her was one of controlled chaos. The models were busy getting measured for the various pieces of clothing. With today being the dress rehearsal before the big extravaganza tomorrow Mai was on edge. Her mind raced with fear and frustration, running this big company was becoming harder and harder. As much as Mai wanted to bring in some more help, she just didn't know who she could trust to run Mai Girl Inc. "Damn it," Mai swore not for the first time.
And then Mai spotted, in one corner, a woman with caramel skin, brown eyes, a delicate looking face, a very petite looking nose, and long curly black hair. This was Clarice Johnson, Mai's top model. She'd been one of Mai Girl Inc's top girls since the company was founded. Mai saw a blonde girl with alabaster skin dressed in a gold gown being measured by one of the tailors. This was Angelica Norton, another of Mai's models. What separated Angelica from Candice was that the blonde had often been seen after most of the models were gone up on the stage honing her catwalk technique. Candice on the other hand was something of a party girl. She liked going out after her job was done and partying a lot. Mai had another conundrum with those two. On the one hand Clarice had become the face of Mai Girl fashions. But on the other hand Angelica had a work ethic that was incredible. So many difficulties involving money and the company, Mai thought.
On the one hand Mai wanted to give Angelica a shot at being in the spotlight. But with her company being in the position it was Mai wasn't certain that having two top models would be such a good idea. When it boiled down to it Mai liked having the kind of wealth she did. Money and her company had become a big part of her life. And unfortunately that left no room for much of anything else. Mai walked over to Clarice and called out, "Clarice?"
The mixed race supermodel turned to Mai and said, "Miss Valentine, come to have a once over of everything?"
Mai nodded and answered, "You'd better believe it, now Clarice, this is going to be an important event. If this goes through the attention that the company receives will ensure you have a job for years to come. So I want you to get out there and really work it."
Clarice smirked and said, "Come on, Miss Valentine, I'm the face of Mai Girl, why would I screw up now?"
Mai nodded and said, "That's good to hear."
Mai then turned and walked over to Angelica. "Angelica?" She called."
The woman who had her long blonde hair tied up in a bun turned to Mai and said, "Oh hello, Miss Valentine."
Mai nodded and said, "Angelica, you've been one of my best models for Mai Girl fashion. I expect you to really get out there and work it. This is important because the company has a lot riding on this."
While Angelica looked visibly nervous she nodded. "I'll get out there and I'll work it. I'll show I can be the very best you got."
Mai turned away nonchalantly and said, "Good I'll be holding you to that, hon!"
Mai turned and walked away. Mai soon found some technicians. After being screamed at by Mai they got to work on the lights that had been malfunctioning.
The rest of the time Mai spent at the Coliseum proved to be filled with the usual dull drivel as Mai watched the girls time and time again do their routines on the stage. Mai felt boredom start to overtake her. Although she liked making money the dull monotony of running this company everyday and preparing for this extravaganza was wearing on her. Mai, not for the first time, wondered if perhaps there was something she had missed. Mai shook her head, she had money, she had a home in one of the more reputable neighborhoods here in Los Angeles, what more was there for her?
Mai's mind started to drift and she immediately clamped down on it. She couldn't afford to let her mind go like that! It would make Mai think of him. And Mai didn't want to think about that, it brought up too many awful memories. Mai couldn't think about that, all that mattered was her company and the amount of profit that came from the attention brought by this fashion extravaganza. Mai turned herself back to the present as she watched the fashion show rehearsals. Mai suddenly realized she hadn't prepared a speech for when she was up on stage. But then again Mai wasn't much for written speeches. She'd known people in her life who'd been like that and they'd always driven her crazy because they'd been so fake and full of themselves. "Miss Valentine, are you all right?" Janice said from Mai's left.
Mai turned to see Janice staring at her with genuine concern. "Yes, Janice, I'm fine." She said nonchalantly.
"No disrespect, ma'am, but you seemed distracted there for a moment."
Mai sighed and said, "It's nothing, Janice."
Janice nodded and said, "Reminder, ma'am, you have a meeting with your bookkeeper later on today."
Mai waived it off and said, "Yeah, yeah, yeah I haven't forgotten."
And that was the last thing of note for Mai until a few hours later when Mai and Janice arrived at the downtown Mai Girl Inc office.
When they pulled into the parking lot. Unfortunately the garage elevator to the main floor was out at the moment so that meant Mai was going to have to take the long way around to get into the company offices. Mai walked out of the parking lot Janice right on her heels. As they passed by they heard someone call out, "Merry Christmas! Merry Christmas!"
Mai sighed in consternation. No doubt it was some penniless homeless person wanting a handout. To her surprise instead it was a chubby looking man dressed in a Santa Claus coat wearing a rather elegant looking top hat. The man's face was a shining beacon of merriment that made Mai want to go home to brush her teeth. This was a man who's merry attitude, in her opinion, was likely to give people cavities, and she knew this man.
He was Clyde Bettsworth, he was the head of the Los Angeles chapter of the Salvation Army. Mai knew this man because every year he went around the business district of L.A. asking for people to donate to the Salvation Army. Over the years Mai had seen the bell ringers at the various malls throughout California. But the most annoying thing was this man had a way of getting to people's soft spots. And Mai was determined never to let anyone get that close to her again…and with good reason.
Mai rolled her eyes in mild displeasure. "Merry Christmas, Mr. Bettsworth," Mai said trying to sound friendly.
The man raised an eyebrow, "My word, someone's in a bit of a mood, Miss Valentine. Come now show the Christmas spirit."
Mai was starting to grow impatient/ "Bah, humbug! Now what do you want, Bettsworth, I'm kind of busy!" She snapped.
The man explained, "I was wondering, Miss Valentine, if you would be interested in contributing to the holiday fund? This Holiday season there are so many people cold and hungry out on the streets."
Ain't that the way it always goes, Mai thought her cynicism boiling over.
Mai took a long breath before she began. "Bettsworth, in case you didn't notice I'm rather busy running a company that's quickly becoming quite prominent in the fashion world."
The man said, "But surely with the amount of money you have, you could afford to give a little something to the Salvation Army Christmas fund? All money I can assure goes 100% to those we seek to help."
Mai felt herself becoming more and more agitated. This guy was really beginning to annoy her half to death. Mai said, "I have more important things to do with my time at the moment. I've got a company to run if you'll excuse me."
Before the man could say anything else Mai slipped by him and headed into the office building. Mai was feeling very uncomfortable at that moment. Why should she help people who were too lazy to help themselves? And more importantly she had problems of her own with her company not making as much money as it should. Why should she contribute to anything when her own company was having financial difficulties of its own? Mai muttered to herself, "Chump!" as she walked down the main aisle.
Various sales representatives of Mai Girl fashions greeted her. Over the loudspeakers Mai heard the merry sound of Jingle Bell Rock as sung by Bobby Helms. But the music didn't do much for Mai's sour mood. Janice as always was keeping up with Mai her notation book open and a pen in hand. That was one of the few eccentricities that Mai appreciated. Janice was a competent employee who made sure Mai kept her schedule on track. Mai reached the set of elevator doors. Mai pressed a button. A minute later the center elevator doors opened. Mai stepped in Janice right behind her. Mai turned around and faced the room she was in as the elevator doors closed. Mai muttered to herself, "What the hell is wrong with people, asking me for me money when I'm not even sure of how much I'm making?"
Janice for her part remained completely silent. On the left side of the elevator digital numbers read which level they were on. Mai pushed a button for the 40th floor. That was her executive suite, she knew Sebastian Fulheimer would be waiting there. Sebastian was competent enough and had been since he'd applied for the company. The man was good at his job and yet something deep within Mai had told her there was always something about the way he smiled that put her off a bit. Almost as if he knew something she didn't. Mai hated those smug type of people, they absolutely annoyed her to no end. Finally the elevator stopped at the 40th floor. Mai sighed and said, "Here we go."
The elevator bell rang and the doors opened. Mai stepped into the lobby outside her office. Her private secretary, an older woman with graying blonde hair was busily typing away at her computer. The woman looked at Mai and nodded before she said, "Good afternoon, Miss Valentine, Mr. Fulheimer is waiting for you in your office."
Mai nodded and said, "Thank you, Gracie, I'll take it from here."
"Yes ma'am." The woman answered in acknowledgment.
Mai and Janice walked across the very trendy peach colored tiles which matched up with the walls quite nicely, Mai thought. But then again when this office was being designed Mai wanted it to be as trendy and as color coordinated as her clothing was. Mai walked up to the set of oak double doors that were painted a soft and inviting brown color. On the door big bold letters read 'Mai Valentine - Mai Girl Inc. CEO'. No matter how many times Mai saw those letters on the door she always felt that sense of smug pride in herself. She, with her fashion skills and her designers, had what was turning Mai girl Inc. with its clothing, Jewelry, and perfume lines into a power house. Mai opened the doors. Before her was a rich velvet blue carpet a soft oak executive desk with paperwork, a penholder, computer, and a very elegant looking leather chair. Had anyone looked closer they would've seen that harpies had been carved into the wood of the chair. This chair had been custom made for Mai. In her leftmost drawer Mai kept her harpy Deck which she had never gotten rid of. They were sentimental keepsakes, though Mai had no time for dueling these days. Behind the desk were a set of glass windows that stared out on Los Angeles. The view of the skyline seemed to stretch forever. In front of the desk were a couple sets of chairs. A smaller less elegant desk with a couple chairs was nearby. Mai kept this desk for in case she had to access her company systems for one reason or another. Sitting in one of the chairs in front of the main desk was a robust looking man dressed in a white button-up shirt, black and grey tie, a grey vest, grey slacks, and black shoes. The man himself wore a set of round wire rimmed glasses. The chubby man was plain looking and nothing to write home about. A crooked smile flashed across the man's face and Mai for a moment felt her blood boiling. A quick look at Janice and she saw the woman giving Sebastian Fulheimer a cold stare.
Mai knew that Sebastian and Janice didn't like each other. Though they publicly put on professional faces, Mai had heard them arguing in private and some of the things the two had spewed at each other made it clear to Mai sooner or later one of these two was going to go. Mai needed everyone in her company to get along. Mai put on her most pleasant smile and said, "Hello, Sebastian."
The man got up and smiled, "Ah, Miss Valentine, excellent, right on schedule, marvelous."
Mai walked over to her desk and took her seat. Mai put her hands on her desk and braced herself for an hour of complete and utter boredom. Mai said, "All right, Sebastian, you know the assignment I gave you. What have you been able to uncover?"
The rotund accountant, "I've gone over the books again and again with a fine tooth comb, Miss Valentine, and I can assure you that everything is in order. All the books are up to date everyone has received their proper pay." The man then smiled and said, "Although if you ask me I think you need a new personal assistant."
Janice started to speak but then held silent. Mai saw the man smirk slyly. What are you doing Sebastian? Mai wondered.
"Go on." Mai stated.
The man said, "According to the books I think you pay her way too much, I on the other hand wouldn't ask for such an exorbitant amount of pay as I already get a fine stipend as your book keeper and accountant."
Mai had to admit reluctantly that Janice did earn quite a bit for an executive assistant. And Mai was looking for ways to increase the profits of her company. Sebastian continued, "However, by my best estimates, if this fashion extravaganza we're planning is successful then I expect a 110% increase in our profits starting early next year."
Mai said, "So you think that my nagging feelings are just my imagination and things should clear up for us by next year?" she asked.
Sebastian smiled and said, "Yes, that's it exactly."
Mai sighed and said, "And you're certain that there's no shortage in company profits?"
Sebastian said, "I'm absolutely positive, miss Valentine, you can trust me on this."
"Yeah right," Mai heard Janice mutter under breath. Mai gave the woman a warning glare. Janice shut up.
Mai sighed and commented, "All right, is there anything else I should be made aware of?"
The rest of the meeting went by without any events. When it was finally done Mai got up and left the office. She glared at Janice. "What the hell is the matter with you, Brown?" she snapped angrily.
Janice sighed and explained, "Miss Valentine, you know I'm loyal to you, and I'm telling you for your own sake, you shouldn't trust Sebastian Fulheimer! There is something about that man that reminds me of a weasel. The guy is up to something. I know schemers like him, and I know how they look at their intended prey."
Mai guffawed and said, "Sebastian is an accountant with no imagination. There's no way he'd ever be plotting against me!"
Janice said, "Ma'am, you know my grandmother and mom marched in the civil rights movement of the sixties. They raised me on the lessons of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. especially the lessons on how to judge people based on content of character. And I'm telling you there's something conniving about Fulheimer."
Mai snapped, "That's enough, Janice!" One more word out of you about Sebastian I'll terminate you here on the spot!" Mai snapped nastily.
Janice took a step back and then sighed and answered reluctantly, "Yes, Miss Valentine."
Mai said, "And there'll be no more talk about Sebastian, he's a competent accountant and that's final!"
Janice said nothing as she marched off to the elevator Mai on her heels. Since there was no important paperwork that needed to be seen to at the moment Mai decided to drop off Janice at the house and then take a drive around town before dressing up and going to meet a friend of hers at the Dance Le Fab. What Mai didn't know was that very soon her life would be turned on its head.
I apologize if the first chapter is kind of slow. Things will pick up in the next chapter I can assure you. Well since the Orichalcos incident it seems Mai has come up in the world. But it looks as though all is not right at Mai Girl Inc. And Mai seems to be so caught up in matters of money and her company that she can't seem to see that there may be dirty dealings going on around , all that is about to change. Get ready because in the next chapter the supernatural really starts to kick in. Come back next time for another chapter of Mai's Christmas Carol. See you next time Yu-Gi-Oh fans.