A/N: More Joey/Mai, just a plain fluff oneshot really! Please review! Not my favorite work but still... I hope it's fun to read! Let me know how it could be improved.

Words: 563
Characters: Mai, Joey
Time: Anytime
Genre: Friendship/Romance

Disclaimer: Everything you recognize belongs to whoever created Yu-Gi-Oh, not me.


Joey was walking as if he owned the entire world, his chest puffed out, a proud, silly grin plastered on his face. He nudged Mai with his elbow incessantly, clearly determined to get a rise out of her. "I did beat you, you know," he said at last, when she stubbornly refused to talk.

"You didn't beat me," she burst out, impatient. "I let you win!"

"Sure you did, Mai. Sure. Keep telling yourself that, when deep inside you know I'm the better duelist!"

Now Mai merely laughed, crossing her arms and holding her head high, glorying in her high-heeled boots that allowed her to glare majestically down at him. "Say that again as if you actually believe it, Wheeler."

"I'm a better duelist than you!"

"Oh, yeah right, pipsqueak!"

"What'd you just call me?!"

Flames practically burst into life between them. They were now glowering so fiercely at each other that the spectators in the park were backing away in trepidation. Mai smirked and grabbed his hand, raising it between them in a forced handshake. "You agree to another rematch then. Right here, right now. Perfect!"

"Hey, what?!"

"Get out your deck!"

Duel disk already in place, deck and all, Mai stepped back from him and stood ready as he scrambled to shuffle his cards. But he too was raring to go within moments, his eyes shining with the thrill of battle. "Bring it on, Mai," he said, to many cheers and claps from the admiring park-goers.

"As if," Mai muttered, though she was still grinning.

"So," she said, innocently and triumphantly, "who is the better duelist?"

"I'm not saying it," Joey muttered, sitting obstinately on the ground. Mai shook her head, amused, and reached out a hand. After a moment's hesitation he took it, rather grudgingly.

"You knew I wouldn't go easy on you," she said with a shrug. "And, Joey – you know I'd never let you win, either. You did beat me before, you know."

"Told you so!"

"But I beat you this time," said Mai, still smirking.

"So?!"

Sighing in exasperation, Mai grabbed the collar of his shirt and pulled him into a quick kiss, grinning ever more broadly at his sudden shock. But when he relaxed, his arms fit easily around her waist, and dimly Mai became aware of hoots and whistles echoing from the crowd that had gathered to watch their duel.

"We're equal, you idiot," she said when they split apart, enjoying the feel of his hands on her hips. "Come on, you taught me that. It's not about who's better, it's about having fun, right?"

Out of the still-smoldering fire of competition between them emerged something vaguely familiar, something they had only barely touched on before. It felt like sunlight made liquid, coursing through her veins, burning where their skin touched. Mai had felt it only a few times in her life, and always when she was with Joey; and only now was she beginning to realize what the feeling was. The idea seemed incredible, almost silly in its impossibility, and yet…

"Equal," Joey said, nodding. "But you know – I totally almost beat you - "

"Oh, shut up, Wheeler," she muttered, silencing him with another kiss.