Joey was nervous. He finally found balls to ask Mai out. "You can do it Joey." Tea said to her frined. They were at the main hall of Kc 3 Blimp. It was the first day of Battle City finales and Mai and everyone had problems. Maybe that wasn't right time to ask her. But, if he doesn't do it now, someone else will. "Maybe you are right Tea."

"Of course she is." Yugi said. Joey looked around. All his friends were around him to support him. Yugi, Tea, Tristan, Duke and Serenty. He took a big breath. "Okay, I will."

"Now is your chance." Duke said.

"Ha?" Joey asked and turned. Mai was walking in. She was looking like always. With her purple skirt and top-shirt. "Chance for what?" She asked.

"Grrrg." He coughed and knelt in front of her. She didn't say a single word. She was too surprised. "Mai, I want to ask you something. Would you be my girlfriend?" He saw sure she will say 'yes' and hug him. He already imaged their future together. She took a big breath. "No." She whispered. Everyone in the room were in shock. Before Joey could say anything, a voice from the door interrupted him. "WHAT A HELL?!" On their surprise, that was Kaiba. Mai immediately wrenched her hand out of Joey's who was stil kneeling. Kaiba fast ran to them. "Mai, what's going on?!"

"Seto," She said. "It's nothing. Really." He seemed to calm down a little bit.

"This has nothing to do with you, Rich boy!" Joey shouted and lifted.

"Joey! Stop it!" Mai yelled and turned to Kaiba. "Joey asked me out but I said 'no'."

"She doesn't have to explain herself to you Money bags!" Joey hissed.

"Joey, I said 'no' because-" She paused and came closer to Seto and stood by his side. "Because I already have a boyfriend."

"Wait a moment! You and Rich Boy! Since that happened?

"She doesn't have to explain herself to you Mutt." Kaiba said and looked down at that man who he called 'low-ranked duelist'. And how much pain he just caused to him. He was proud.

"You...!" He hissed through his teeth and Duke and Tristan had to grab him before he would kick (try to kick) Kaiba. "Pathetic as always Wheeler." He smirked.

"I will kill you!" Joey yelled.

"Enough!" Mai shouted and ran away. Seto tried to go for her but she said: "No. I wanna be alone right now."

"Great Mutt. Now you got her upset." Kaiba said angrly.

Though they didn't see Mai, they heard her voice yelling: "Know what?! Change my mind! Only sex can solve this! So better draw yourself in my room or you'll be sorry!"

Kaiba smirked and put his hands in his pockets. "I guess I have no choice." He said with a voice full of pleasure and started walking. Duke and Tristan still had to hold Joey because he would really try to kill Kaiba. After he went away, they let Joey go. "I'm sorry dude." Tristan said. Joey said nothing and sat on one sofa. He looked down. Kaiba again was successful of destroying something.

"You can find someone better than her." Tea said. "Though, he is really her type."

"What do ya mean?" Joey looked up with a strange expresion on his face.

"I meant..." She didn't find a word to make it less painfull to Joey.

"Handsome?" Duke asked.

"Rich?" Tristan asked.

"Smart and intelligent?" Serentiy asked.

"Great duelist?" Yugi asked.

"I meant to say dark and tall with those gorgeous blue eyes..." Tea answered. Though, everything what others have said is true.

"Wait! All of you think that of Kaiba?!" Joey was tottaly pissed off now.

"Well, that's truth. We can't say anything different." Tristan said.

"Except he is arrogant, selfish, heartless, spoiled bastard!"

"Wow, Joey. Those are pretty bad words." Tea said. "You can't force to Mai to be with you. Or not to be with Kaiba."

"But what does she see in him?" Joey asked. "Know what? Better don't answer."

"We're sorry Joey." Serenty said and sat beside her brother.

"But why him? Why not me? He has no feelings. I can give her more than him."

"If that's so, Mai will come to her sense and go out with you." Tristan said.

"I guess."

Mai's room...

In that time, Mai was lying down on her bed, only in her bra and covered with a soft blanket. Beside her was the man she loved. Though she enjoyed this and didn't wanna ruin the moment, she had to ask: "Seto?"

"HHhmm?"

"I need a favor."

"I already gave you credict card."

"No that."

"I also gave you personal car."

"Um.. Not that. This favor is... kinda, hard to make."

He turned so he was looking and looked at her. "You wanna yacht? No problem at all."

"Would you stop guessing and let say?" She asked. He nodded. "It's about Joey." He didn't want to listen about that Mutt and he knew where this was going so he came out of the bed and started clothing himself. "Oh! Come on!" She called.

"Mai, I would do anything for you, but now you crossed the line. I can give you money, I can give you a car, I can call the island after you but I won't do anything for that Mutt."

"But what if..." She lifted up and come closer. He frowned a little bit. Then she whispered something in his ear. His eyes suddenly wide opened. And Mai knew that her plan will work.

NEXT DAY, THE BLIMP, MAIN HALL...

"Attention deulists!" Roland shouted. "Now will choose duelists for the nex duel!" When Seto and Mai arrived the gang was there and the two came to them. "Do I have to?" Kaiba asked.

"Yes." Mai said and pushed him closer to Joey.

"Listen, Wheeler, I'm s-ss-s-ss-s-s-s-s-s..."

Everyones' exspresions changed. "Call me crazy," Duke said. "But didn't Kaiba just tried to say that word on 'S'?"

"I think he did." Tea said. "I knew you have it in you!"

"I'm... s...o...rr...y for my behavior last night. It wasn't okay from me to mock at you." Then he fastly turned to Mai. "Can I go now?"

"I guess."

All duelists (except Bakura because of his last duel with Yugi, Oden, becaus eMarik took hhis mind and Ishizu didn't apper) werre standing together. Joey, beside him Serenty, beside her Duke, beside him Tristan, beside him Tea and beside her Yami. A little further were standing Kaiba and Mai. Joey fastly looked at them with eyes full of rage. "The first duelist is... Duelist number 4! Miss Mai Valentine! And she will face... Duelist number 5! Marik Isthar!" (They already know real Marik. Odeon lost the last match to Joey.) Joey didn't like Mai because of what happend yesterday, but he couldn't let her face Marik. "Miss Valentine and mr. Ishtar, please come with me. Others may come through the other way. "Mai! Wait up!" Joey shouted and ran to her.

"What is it Joey?" She asked.

"Mai, I just want you to know, it doesn't matter what happned between us yesterday, you can't duel."

"And why would I listen to you? Let me tell you something, Mai Valentine never says 'no' to a challenge!" Before he tried again, she already left. He knew he couldn't stop her anyway. When they climed up to a dueling arena, Kaiba, of course sood on the other side so he doesn't have to listen to them. Joey wanted to go to Mai and wish her luck, but she went to that Spoiled Rich Boy. "Wish me luck." She said.

Kaiba smirked. "As you need it." She simled back and gave him very small and very fast kiss. But everyone noticed, thought it lasted less than a one second.

LATER, MAI IS DUELING AGAINST MARIK, PART WHEN MAI TAKES WINGED DRAGON OF RA BUT SHE CAN'T READ THE ANCIENT TEXT AND USE IT

"Ha! Now I owe The Winged Dragon of Ra!" Mai exlaimed.

"Then use it, poor little girl." Marik just laughted.

Mai looked at the card. And then she realized, she really couldn't. "What is this?"

"You can't read the ancient text. But I do. And Kaiba also does." Marik smirked.

"Nonsense!" Kaiba said.

"Just accept that you are conected with an ancient past!" Yami shouted. Though he knew that Kaiba will deny it.

Suddenly, stone tablet appeared behind her and soon she was nailed on it. (Like in real anime.) Joey wanted to run there, to help here. But didn't after he heard those words: "Seto! Help me!" Joey froze. He was just watching how Mai's prince on the whtie horse, or in the white coat, immediatelly ran to her. Kaiba glanced at the card. And soon realized that he really can read it. He didn't wanna accept it, but he felt that strange feeling in his chest that told him to go above his huge ego and help Mai. "Just speak with me." He said. She nodded.

"What?" Marik shouted. 'How would guess that heartless bastard would help her!? Me and my big mouth!'

"No, Kaiba!" Yami shouted. "That's wrong! You haven't enough power to summon it!" But he ignored him and turned back to Mai.

("" means that two characters speak in the same time) ""Graet beast of the sky, hear my cry, tarnsform thyself from orb of light and bring us victory in this fight. Envelop the desert with your glow and cast your rage in front of our foe. Unlock your powers from deep withih so that together we may win! Appear in Shadow Game as we call your name! Winged Dragon of Ra!"" And the huge beast appeared in front of them in all its glory. The big light almost got them all blind. But Marik was the one who suffered the most. His big plan was ruined now. Just because of his big mouth and wanting to piss off Kaiba he lost everything. The Ra's power crushed him and he fell on the ground. His life points reached zero. The Shadow Game stopped and all the creepy fog disappeared. "NO! My plan was perfect! You ruined everything!" He yelled and pointed his finger on Mai, who was free now as the duel finished. Kaiba's plan was ruined too. Okay, maybe not ruined, but changed. His plan was to defeat Yugi, won Slifer The Sky Dragon and then face Marik. Maybe this will be easier. If he dules Mai first, who doesn't know how to read ancient text, he'll win The Winged Dragon of Ra. Though, it would be hard to defeat Mai but he already has Obelisk the Toromentor. So with two Gods he'll easely win Yugi's one.

"Wait! That's cheating! You Must not help her!" Marik shouted and lifted up.

"And you also mustn't fake your identity." Kaiba said. "Oh, well."

"The winner of this match is Mai Valentine!" Roland shouted. "I guess" He whispered.

"Since I won," Mai said. "I think I should keep this." She pointed at 'Winged Dragon of Ra' card in her hand.

"NO!" Marik yelled and provided his Millenium Rod at Mai. "I summon the great powers of Shadow Games! Lock her mind forever in Shadow Relam!" He expected her to be on her knees and begging for help. But it was pretty opposite. She was standing on her feet. Looking completely normal. "But- But why my powers don't work?" He wondered.

"He is crazy. Let's go Mai." Kaiba said and pulled her away with him. Not wanting to stay to listen that creep or geek squad. 'Ha! Of course! It's because of him!' Marik thought. 'It seems that he accepted his Antient past and unlocked ka. I can't do anything while he is around.'

"I can't belive Mai just actualy beat Marik." Joey said.

"It wasn't her, Joey." Yami said. "It was Kaiba."

"But, how could he read ancient text and you couldn't?" Tea asked.

"Because I don't remember my past." Yami frowned.

"Now what?" Duke asked. "You have to beat both Mai and Kaiba?"

"Yes. But I'm sure Kaiba has a new plan to beat me." Yami sighted.

"Well, he can't do that while we all are with you." Tea said. "Friends forever!" Then she put her hand on Yami's. Then Joey on her's. Then Duke on Joey's. Then Tristan on Duke's. And then Serenity of his. "With us, you can lose."

Both Yugi and Yami wanted to believe in that. But they knew that this will be their strongest task.

Please review