I am baaaack~ This would be my first Yu-Gi-Oh! fic, so please enjoy. It is also the first of three stories. The Lover's Duel is about Yami Yugi (Yami) and Téa (Anzu) where Yami is separated from Yugi. It takes place in my timeline. I own nothing except for Cherise, Carmilla, Téa's old boyfriend, Byron, and a few others that will play a part later on. Yu-Gi-Oh owned by Kazuki Takahashi. I will call Yami Yugi: Yami, so hope there's no confusion. =/

Ages:

Yami Yugi- 27
Téa- 24
Seto- 29
Serenity- 23
Joey- 26
Mai- 25
Tristan- 28
Yugi- 22
Mokuba- 19
Duke- 25
Rex-21

A Lover's Duel

Chapter Four: A Protective Brother

"Yo, Duke."

"Well, if it isn't Joey the Puppy." Duke teased before smiling at Serenity. "How's it goin, Serenity?"

"Fine. Thanks to Seto, I get to be a part of a wedding!" She stated, hugging Seto before returning to her drink. She blinked and looked at Joey. "What does he mean, big brother, by 'Joey the Puppy'?"

"Let's say for a week I was his lap dog, but Yami saved my hide, only letting me be that for a few moments." Joey explained, rubbing his head.

Yami replied, chuckling at the memory of Joey wearing that dog suit. "That was kind of funny, though."

"No, it wasn't. Those darn cheerleaders scared me more than Mai." Joey shuddered at the memory.

"You humiliated my big brother? Geez, what a real jerk." Serenity scoffed. "What else did he do to you, Joey?"

Joey mentally smirked while pretending to shake. "He even ordered me around like a dog, too." 'Beware, Dukey. My sis can really get ticked off when she wants. Don't let that soft and sweet face fool ya.. Oops, too late.'

"HOW COULD YOU! OOOH! Why didn't I see what a jerk you were to my brother?" Serenity nearly snarled, slamming both hands on the table before storming off.

"Serenity, I.. I didn't.." Duke stuttered, frowning. "Man... I blew it."

"Yeah. Serenity has a bad of temper as I do on my bad days.. But, worse. And even though she may look forgiving, it's really hard to get forgiveness from her." Joey explained, eating a few fries before sighing and standing up. "I'll go cool her down, eh? Kaiba? Don't think about messing with my little sister or I'll give ya a good poundin!"

"I do what I want to do. However, I was just going to soften this guy up. If anyone's gonna be a jerk, it's me." Seto explained calmly and giving Duke a right hook before heading off to calm down Serenity.

"What a punch... He seems to be well-rounded." Yami said as he shrugged at Yugi. "It's hard to believe that's the same Kaiba that wanted to duel me non-stop. I think your sister helped changed Kaiba."

Mokuba nodded. "He isn't even engrossed with developing new machines. Well, he is, just not as much as he used to ever since the duel disks were huge hits."

Joey frowned and glared into his food. "That Kaiba... So help me if he hurts Serenity... There will be no forgiving my actions."

Téa leaned over and whispered to Yami. "I believe Joey's a little protective. I can tell that there's something stirring up between Serenity and Kaiba. That would be the only main reason Joey's so on edge around Kaiba."

"I think Seto better tread carefully." He replied as he saw that Mai and Joey were already arguing again, entwining his fingers with hers before seeing both Bakura and Marik Ishtar walking around and chuckling. "Today must be a special day. First we meet up with Duke, who's still unconscious it seems, and now Marik and Bakura."

Tristan blinked and waved the two over. "Hey you two. Marik, how's Ishizu?"

"She's great. By the way, she told me that you and Téa are getting married." Marik said, smiling.

"Yeah." Yami chuckled when Yugi looked down at the puzzle. "Hard to believe I was sealed in there for so long with no memories of who I was. That was until Ishizu told us that day about me being the Pharaoh."

Yugi nodded. "I still remember finishing this puzzle. At first I admit I was a little afraid, especially how you would've done anything for my grandpa."

"Well, I was just picking up on your determination and I guess it kind of over powered me." Yami explained as Seto returned with a red-eyed Serenity.

"Serenity! You alright?" Joey asked. "What this jerk do now?"

"Nothing... He's the one that actually found me." Serenity explained. "I somehow winded up dueling some wierdo... And the guy took St. Joan, the card you gave me, Téa." She sniffled. "As if it weren't enough, the guy also took Forgiving Maiden, my favorite card."

"What?! Okay, what did the creep look like? I'll give him the pleasure of meeting my fist!" Joey growled.

"I couldn't see his face.. Perhaps Seto did..."

"I did. I have it covered, but you can get a good hit in, being her brother and all. I'd do the same in your place." Kaiba said.

"Whoever did that is a real loser. Picking on a defenseless girl is a bad idea. I'd like to get ahold of him too." Mai said. "Mess with my friends and you'll get me mad."

Serenity ran to hug Mai. "Thanks, Mai!" She smiled just before bodyguards of Seto's walked up holding someone between them.

"Wait.. Isn't.. that.." Yugi started.

"Rex Raptor!" They all stated.

"Uhh, hey guys... Wait.. Who's the girl next to Mai? She's the one I beat." Rex stated before blushing. "She sure is cute."

"Watch it you jerk! That happens to my sister! I owe you a good face rearrangement for taking her cards." Joey threatened, stepping in front of his sister and landing a good left hook to Rex's face. "That's for Serenity. Now give her back her cards, you snake."

Rex shook his head after falling to the ground from the impact of Joey's fist. "Your sister? The one you were fighting for at the Duel Kingdom?"

"Rex, you weasel! I should have figured you were behind this! That's enough, Joey, lets just get outta here." Mai coaxed, bringing Serenity with her and Téa. "Let's take our purchases and go somewhere safer."

Téa nodded as she and Yami took Serenity from Mai, who went to go drag Joey away with the help of Tristan and Duke. "It's alright, Serenity. They'll take care of Rex."

"That's good.. I'm actually kind of.. dizzy.." Serenity said before falling unconscious.

"Serenity?" Yami asked before feeling her forehead. "Joey! Got a problem!"

"What?" Joey asked.

"Serenity's ill!" Téa said as Joey rushed over and moved aside so he could take his sister.

"Serenity? Hey, sis, you alright?" Joey asked worriedly before glaring at Rex. "What did you do to her? So help me if you did anything, DinoBoy! Eh, we have bigger things to worry about. Let's get her to a hospital." He took her into his arms and got ready to run when Seto motioned to the limo he had. "Thanks." He muttered before handing her in to Yami and Téa, nearly going back to wipe the ground with Rex, but Tristan and Duke shoved him inside the limo as they awaited Seto.

Seto gave directions to the closest hospital and stepped in, glancing between Joey and Serenity. "Rex is getting taken care of as we speak. I made sure that he'll never duel again. Also, I got back her cards he took."

Joey nodded. "I'll never be able to thank you enough, Kaiba... Really, there has to be something I can do to repay you." He said, watching his sister.

"Don't bother. There's nothing of use from you I don't already have. I really hate being a charity case and I should've stopped it after I saved Téa." Seto grumbled. "Let's just say, you already paid it off by saving Mokuba so many times."

"Bro, stop being a fridgid guy. These are my friends at least. Surely you can't warm up to them like me?" Mokuba asked before shrugging. "I give up. Trying to get you to see you have friends, despite what you think, is too hard." He looked out the window and sighed in relief. "We're here. Let's get her inside and quickly!"

"Don't tell me twice. Yami, mind holding Seren until I get out?" Joey asked.

"Why not me?" Tristan asked. "After all, I'm out first."

"Don't think I was blind to how you and Duke fought over her on the blimp during the Duel City Finals. If I give her over to either of you, you'll just think I'll let that show that I let you. Yami's more trustworthy of the two of you, since he doesn't really love Serenity, except for maybe being the closest to a sister." Joey explained and helped hand his sister out to Yami, being followed by Mai and Seto, who paused before leaving the limo. When he was out, Yami handed her back and followed behind him, Mai and Seto as Tristan and Duke brought up the rear.

"Welcome to Domino Municipal Hospital. How may I help you?" The nurse at the counter asked, smiling.

"My sister's very sick and I'm worried. She's been sick in the past as a girl and a few years ago had eye surgery to help correct her vision." Joey explained, staring down at Serenity as he mentioned her being sick when she was a girl.

"Name?"

"Serenity Wheeler."

"Alright, we'll take over from here. If you don't mind laying her over there and waiting, it won't be too long." The nurse replied, pointing at a bed before calling up a doctor.

"Hang in there, Seren.. I'll always be here, like I promised... Nothing will get between us, except for maybe a few walls and stuff." Joey promised before heading to the waiting room, keeping an eye on his sister. "She didn't look sick, though.."

"Well, she mentioned being dizzy right before she went unconscious." Téa mentioned, sitting by the standing Yami, who stared out the window before heading to the entrance. "Something up, Yami?"

"Yeah. Duke and Tristan are going at it and I'll make sure the two know why they're here." He explained, grinning slightly before walking out with Seto and seeing Tristan was about to knock Duke out, he darted over and dragged Tristan off, stepping in between the two. "Lay off. Relax, Tristan."

"I want to show that creep that he needs to lay off Serenity!" Tristan reasoned.

"And you don't?" Duke shot back over Seto's arm.

"Shut up, you two.. You're as annoying as Joey.. What makes you two think she wants that? To be fought over?" Seto asked calmly.

"Exactly. My sister's not a prize to be won, you idiots. Tristan, seriously, you never stopped trying to get her to noticed you... Even during the first rounds of the Battle City tournament, you tried everything to woo her. Don't think she didn't tell me about how you lied to her about my first duel and how hurt she was. As for the finals, I wasn't blind to see how you two seemed to always be bickering about her when she wasn't around." Joey snapped, walking slowly towards the four. "I'm not stupid. She's my baby sister, for God's sake. Let those two go at it, Yami... Let them make idiots out of themselves... Mai.. So, any news?" He asked, switching to worried brother.

"The test results are back and they want you to find out from them, even though they told me and Téa what was going on. Believe me, you want to know." Mai said sadly as she gave Joey the directions to Serenity's room, watching him dash off before turning to Tristan and Duke, who were trying to get around Seto and Yami. "I can't believe you two acting like neanderthals. Serenity's sick and all you two want to do is fight? Seriously, grow up already. Oh, Yami, Téa needs a shoulder right now. Strong as she is, she needs it."

"And you don't?" Yami asked, noting how Mai looked ready to cry herself as he walked up with Seto, leaving the two to resume brawling if they wanted.

"I'm used to it by now. Let's just get to Serenity's room and leave the little idiots to humiliate themselves, along with us and Serenity." Mai explained, leading the two to Serenity's room, where she went to comfort Joey if he needed it and Seto took a chair by Serenity.

Yami walked over to kneel next to Téa and took her hands. "What exactly is wrong with her?" He asked the doctor gently.

"Well, Ms. Wheeler is sick with something called lupus erythematosus, lupis for short, but it's nothing serious at the moment, just lots of fluids and rest and she'll be just fine. She also need to watch how much time she spends in the sun, eat healthy and be sure to excercise. It should be gone within two weeks if she keeps to this. Seeing her records from how quickly she healed from her eye surgery, I would actually put it that she'll be fine before the end of the week." The doctor explained.

"Thanks, Doc." Joey said, relief clearly visible on his face as he shook the doctor's hand and stood on the opposite side of Seto, taking his sister's hand as she slowly woke up. "Hey, sis... Gave me a scare.."

"..Sorry.. Am.. I alright?" She asked, slowly gaining her voice back.

"Yeah, nothing a lot of rest and stuff won't cure." Joey explained, smiling a little just as Tristan and Duke bolted in. "Jeez, you two, not so loud. Seren just woke up and I don't want to get her stressed again." He whispered angrily. "Ignore these two if you want, sis."

"Why? What happened?" She asked innocently.

"Nothing that you need to know, Serenity." Yami answered, sending his fiancée a look that told her he'll explain it later.

Téa nodded before she glanced at the clock, remembering she had to get to work at the shop. "Get well soon Seren. When you get out, let your brother know to call me." She smiled and gently hugged her before heading out the door, Yami following after saying his own farewells. "It good that Serenity's not seriously ill."

"Yeah. That's the last thing Joey needs to worry about." He replied as they were stopped by Mokuba.

"Want a lift to the shop? I'm sure Seto will be staying overnight with Joey, so they can each take shifts watching her." He suggested.

"Beats walking." Téa said as the two climbed into the limo and the driver drove off.

"I was wondering when the wedding's gonna happen so I can be sure not to plan a big meeting that day." Mokuba asked.

"Probably after Serenity's better, sometime next week." Yami said, recalculating the whole planning due to Serenity getting sick.

"That way she's still a part of it." Téa replied, yawning a little and snuggling into Yami's chest, falling asleep.

Alright, shortish, but I have a brainblock right now. Lemme know what ideas ya guys have and I'll be sure to note ya and stuff.
~~Kagomee-H.