Chapter 1

Mai leant against the door frame and stared out across the garden. Joey was tending to yet another flowerbed, restoring it to what Mai could only assume was its former glory. She watched as the sweat slowly dripped off of brow as he toiled in the mid-September sunshine. Most of what he was planting now wouldn't show its bloom until the following summer, but the more he got done before the winter frost set in, the stronger the garden would be come spring. Or at least that's what Joey told her.

A slim smile filled her face as she watched him wipe the sweat away. It was enough to make her cross the garden and kneel down beside him.

'You know I'm starting to think you love this garden more than me,' Mai's voice made him jump. 'I thought the reason you asked me to stay round this week is so we could spend more time together. If I knew I was going to be playing second fiddle like this I wouldn't have bothered.'

'I'm sorry Mai,' he gave a nervous laugh, 'but this whole gardening thing is in my blood.'

'So is howling at the moon according to you, but you don't do that every chance you get,' Mai pulled her face into a mock pout, 'oh no wait, my mistake, you do.'

'I guess I really am a true Lutoni, huh?' Joey scratched the back of his head.

'Yeah, you are,' she smirked, 'but if this is what it means to be a true Lutoni, I don't think I'd change it. I've always liked the fact you're so passionate about things and these are just two more things for you to be passionate about.' She paused for a moment. 'So are we still going to that thing tonight?'

'You mean the gathering for the sake of a gathering?' Joey gave an amused half laugh. 'Of course, I promised you, them and Cat we would go, remember? And I don't break a promise if I can help it.' He paused for a moment. 'Do you mind helping Catilin get ready?'

'Joey she's more than capable of getting herself ready,' Mai rolled her eyes. 'You really need to stop babying her; she's only a few months younger than you, you know. And a lot more intelligent at that.'

'But she needs me,' Joey shook his head, 'I promised I would take care of her no matter what.'

'You also promised she would be able to move back into the Northern Palace when she was ready to live on her own again,' Mai folded her arms. 'Well she's ready. She's more than ready. The only thing stopping her from doing so is you.'

'Maybe, but...'

'I know you're worried about her, but it's not like you won't see her all the time anyway. The Northern Palace really isn't that far and it's what's best for both of you. The longer she stays here, the more dependent she becomes on you.'

'And that's a bad thing?'

'Joey...'

'You're right Mai. I know you're right, but... I can't shake this feeling that something bad will happen if I let her go too soon.'

'Like I said you're just worried about her, but she really will be okay on her own.'

For a few moments Joey was silent. Then he got to his feet and brushed himself down.

'We should head inside now, it's about to rain.'

Mai nodded and followed him back up the garden. Just as they reached the safety of the doorway the first spits of rain began to fall.

'How do you always know that?' A rye smile pulled across her lips.

'The same way I know everything,' his gaze turned back across the garden, 'it's in the air.'

'You're worried he's not going to make it, aren't you?' The image of the pharaoh appeared beside him.

'Well it's not like it's anybody's birthday,' Yugi shrugged as he rummaged through his clothes.

'But it's also not like he's stood you guys up recently, have a little faith in him, he'll be there.'

'You're right.' Yugi forced a smile onto his face. 'But I still feel like this gathering should be for something. Like some kind of late birthday celebration for Téa or an early one for Kaiba or something. I just feel like... something's wrong somehow.'

'Careful, you're starting to sound like Tristan.'

'Well maybe Tristan has a point,' Yugi sighed as he cast aside yet another of his tops and tried on something else. 'I mean, I know he's been singing the same tune for almost six months now, but maybe there's a reason for it. Maybe he's right. Maybe things are wrong and he's the only one able to pick up on it because...' he shrugged and shook his head. 'I sometimes think if he pulls any further away from us he'll actually leave Domino City and never come back. Right now I think the only thing keeping him here is the First.'

'You don't know that.'

'Don't I?'

After discarding another three tops, Yugi finally pulled on a black sleeveless one, before grabbing his blue jacket.

'I really need some more clothes.' He sighed as he checked out his reflection.

Yugi made his way out of his room and down into the Kame Game shop. Téa and Duke were waiting just inside the entrance. For a moment Yugi's heart sank, then Tristan pulled himself through the door and shot them all weak, apologetic smiles.

'Sorry I'm late; I got a little caught up at Madam Odens' place.'

'You still visit her?' Téa rolled her eyes.

'Just because I'm training to be a Guardian now, doesn't mean I'm going to turn my back on one of the few people who actually listens to me,' Tristan folded his arms. 'So when does our lift get here?'

'Now apparently,' Téa laughed as they all heard the sound of a car pulling up outside of the shop. 'Great timing, huh?'

'Hey guys,' Mokuba grinned as he entered the shop, 'you ready to get the first official gathering for the sake of gathering underway?'

'You bet,' Yugi made his way towards him. 'So has Kaiba decided whether or not he's going to be there?'

'He's been really busy lately, but he said he might swing by later if he has the time.'

'So in other words no.' Tristan folded his arms. 'Well colour me surprised.'

'You know my brother's doing us a huge favour letting us have Kaiba Land for the evening like this, the least you could do is cut him a little slack,' Mokuba shot Tristan a look.

'He is right Tristan,' Téa placed a hand on his arm, 'and you might enjoy Kaiba Land a little more if you left that chip you've been carrying around with you behind.'

'Whatever,' Tristan rolled his eyes, 'can we just get going already?'

'Aren't we waiting for Joey and the others?' Mokuba frowned.

'They said they'll meet us there.' Yugi shook his head. 'Joey said it would be easier that way.'

'I wonder what Jumping feels like,' Tristan tilted his head to one side as they filed out of the game shop. 'I mean the Teleportation kind of Jumping, not the ordinary up and down kind.'

'Hasn't Joey used it to take you to Sil more than once?' Téa shot him a look.

'Well, yeah, but that's different. I mean...' Tristan shook his head. 'It doesn't matter. Let's just get going already.'

'I can't believe he's doing this to you.' Tao shook his head. 'Why now? Why does he have to do this to you now? What, did he wait until the moment I agreed for you two to marry just to throw it back in my face?'

'He didn't do this to spite you,' his sister shook her head. 'He did this because he's the kind, gentle, loving man I've always known him to be. The man I love with all my heart and soul.'

'More's the pity,' Tao rolled his eyes, 'and what about this child he's dumped on you?'

'It's not his,' she stared down at the baby sleeping in the crib, 'just some poor wretch he took pity on. And he's not dumped it on me either. The moment I saw her... She just feels like mine.'

'She's not yours,' Tao took hold of her shoulders and forced her to look at him, 'promise me she'll know that. Do not raise her in a lie.'

'And I won't; if I love her like she's my own how can it be a lie?'

'Because it is.'

For a few moments there was silence, then his sister pulled away from him and lowered her gaze.

'Sometimes you frighten me Tao.'

'I'm sorry, I don't mean to.'

'I know.' She pressed her lips together for a moment. 'So can I still marry him?'

'What?'

'Simüte... can I... can I still marry him?'

'Answer me one thing first,' his face took on a serious expression, 'you could have fallen in love with anyone Nima, why did it have to be him?'

'Because he's my soul mate, like Neska is yours.' She tilted her head slightly and smiled. 'If anyone should understand about that kind of love, it should be you brother.'

'Fine,' he rolled his eyes, 'you can marry him.'

'Thank you brother,' she threw her arms around him, 'I promise you won't regret this.'

'I'm sure I will,' he stroked the back of her long, black hair, 'but I just want you to be happy.'

'Welcome to Kaiba Land,' Joey grinned at them both, 'and for the next few minutes it's all ours.'

Without hesitation Catilin giggled and took off into the park. A part of Joey couldn't help but sigh in relief; less than an hour ago he'd made the suggestion to her that she and her household should consider moving into the Northern Palace. She had gone really quiet afterwards and Joey was half worried she might dip into one of her episodes. Her energy now proved otherwise and he relaxed a little.

'Do you really think she'll be okay moving out on her own?' Joey watched Catilin as Mai wrapped her arms around his waist.

'She'll be fine and like I told you before, it's not like you won't see her all the time anyway.' Mai rested her head on Joey's shoulder. 'Plus she's not exactly going to be alone, alone, is she? I mean, she'll have her staff... her dressers...'

'But she won't have me.' Joey sighed. 'I'm supposed to take care of her.'

'You're not her father you know,' Mai moved herself round him so they were stood face to face with her arms around his shoulders.

'I know, but sometimes I wonder if I'm the closest thing she's got.'

'In some ways I think you are. But all good parents know when it's time for their children to leave the nest.'

Mai's face filled with a soft smile and she pulled him into a kiss. The feel of her lips against his own made some of his doubts about Catilin moving out melt away. He still wasn't about to do summersaults and cartwheels over it, but it was starting to feel like the right thing to do. As their kiss ended he noticed Mai glanced about nervously before shuddering.

'Are you alright?' Joey frowned at her.

'Yeah… yeah I…' she shook her head. 'It's nothing.'

'Hey I thought I was the only one allowed to say that,' he smirked.

'So when are the others getting here?' Mai's face filled with a half-hearted smile as her eyes did a nervous sweep of the empty park.

'Any minute now.' He frowned at her in concern. 'Are you sure you're alright?'

'I'm fine.' She stared back up at him, the smile on her face wavering as she did.

Joey was about to press her further, when several familiar smells entered his nostrils. Figuring Mai was just unnerved by the emptiness of the park; he grinned and allowed himself to have a little fun.

'Five… four… three… two… one…' he counted down.

The second he hit one the voices of their friends became loud enough for Mai to here. Almost instantly Catilin bounded back towards them.

'You two always do that,' Mai shook her head. 'Just for once I'd like to be the one with a sixth sense.'

'It's not a sixth sense Mai,' Catilin giggled, 'its heightened normal senses.'

'Same thing if you ask me.'

Catilin giggled again, before waving at the approaching group. Most of Joey's friends had accepted Catilin as one of them now; the only real holdout was Tristan. Then again Tristan's attitude towards everybody left a lot to be desired lately, so it was hard to tell if his hostility was really hostility or not.

'Hey guys, how you been?' Téa was the first to make it to them.

'Hey Téa,' Catilin grinned at her, 'Veronie says I can finally move into the Northern Palace, isn't that great?'

'Are you sure she's ready for that?' Tristan frowned at Joey as he and the others came to a stop.

'Why wouldn't she be?' Joey turned his gaze away as some of the doubts he thought were gone resurfaced. 'I mean this is probably about as stable as she's going to get. She's healthy and strong and... Well she has to move out sometime, right?'

'Yeah, but...' Tristan folded his arms and shook his head, 'I guess it is your choice. You know her best, right? So if you think she's ready for it.'

'Don't you think I'm ready Tristan?' Catilin blinked at him. 'I mean, I think I'm ready. I was a little surprised when Veronie told me; I didn't think he was ready for me to move out. But I'm ready.'

'You didn't think I was ready for you to move out?' Joey frowned at her. 'What's that supposed to mean?'

'You like taking care of me hiet braysta,' she giggled, 'I didn't think you'd want to give that up so soon. But I'm happy. I'm happy because you believe I'm ready.'

'So then why did you go so quiet before?'

'Because I didn't want you to take it away again.' Catilin shrugged. 'So what are we gonna do first?'

'Huh?'

'Well we have this whole place to ourselves, don't we?' Catilin grinned. 'That's what you said, isn't it? That we have this whole place to ourselves?'

'Yeah, we do.'

'So tell me, what are we going to do first?'