8. Evil Scheme
The island definitely had a different feel at night that seemed either peaceful or menacing, depending on how you chose to look at it. Akira preferred the dark because it was easier to hide her tears when her fears ran rampant across her face. She wanted to trust Joey, but every time she tried the image of him kissing Mai would haunt her. Sure, it appeared that Mai was more into Valon since they had arrived on the island yet what ifs remained to plague her. Then again he had promised to return to her and he had…if what he said was any indication. Okay so make that doubts and fears. She should have just stayed and heard him out, but she was afraid that the kiss had meant something completely different than what she wanted it to because she loved him. Akira blinked as she looked deeper within herself with the realization that those were correct terms. She loved him. Sure she had admitted it to herself before, but to fully realize it as more than that of a close friend twisted her heart in a way that hurt. Just as she hurt him. Pain made it difficult to breathe at the memory of his expression when she… Oh god, he thinks I rejected him. What if he…I have to talk to him.
Akira hurried down the steep stairs that Yugi had climbed years ago to face her brother. A few times she barely caught herself from falling down them, but continued on recklessly. Somehow she had to find him no matter what her current duties were. Just too much time had passed to deny her heart any longer no matter what they had left to deal with. Some things are too important to let them sift through your fingers like grains of sand. What she didn't anticipate was the sudden wall she ran into…wait not wall chest, she realized when muscle-bound arms grabbed her. Akira squirmed against the heavy beating of her heart and the twist of her gut when those arms wouldn't let her go. Past memories crowded her mind with fear as she pleaded "Let me go!"
"Now why would I do that when I need you to bait my trap?" He laughed harshly then hissed in pain when she bit the hand that he tried to cover her mouth with. A red hand print decorated her cheek as it throbbed in pain from his harsh treatment. Akira whimpered as fear clouded her mind when he dragged her into the darkness.
--
"What do you want, Bandit Keith?" Joey growled at the man in his path.
The evil brute laughed. "Now now, Wheeler, is that any way to treat an old rival? All I want is a rematch with no tricks."
"Considering it's you, then yes. As to the rematch, I'm not interested." He decided then tried to step past him.
"Even to save your girlfriend?"
Angry brown eyes glared at him only to have a familiar card necklace dangled in front of him. "What did you do to Akira, Keith?"
"Nothing yet except to ensure that she's not going anywhere any time soon." Keith smirked. "Unless you refuse to duel me; in which case I can't insure the outcome."
"Alright as long as I'm dueling you and not one of your goons."
"You're not exactly in a position for demands, Wheeler, however that was my intention. Now if you'll follow me, your girlfriend is waiting for us at the perfect site for our duel."
Joey only growled to mask his sudden anxiety at what a slug like Bandit Keith had planned and what condition he'd find Akira in. Nothing prepared him for the sight of his love hanging over the edge of the cliff where Kaiba had defeated him years ago with his duel disc prototype. An ugly bruise marred her cheek, but the helpless look in her eyes were too much to bear in their echo of the brokenness he'd seen in them before. Then again, the flare of anger in her eyes was an improvement when she struggled against her bonds once she saw Joey. A muffled scream made it past her gag when the rope attached to the duel arena slipped. "Akira, don't move!"
"I'd listen to your boyfriend if I was you, Kaiba-girl, since the duel isn't the only thing that will decide your fate."
"What do you mean, Keith?" The blond demanded then gaped at the sharp edge the main rope rested against and how frayed the rope already was.
"All I'm saying is that even though the cord is strong, I'm not sure how much it will take. Then again she is so light that there shouldn't be a problem--if she doesn't struggle too much. Of course if you lose, those shears will close and cut the rope. Pretty smart huh."
"For an idiot." He growled then took his place opposite of Bandit Keith. "Now shut up and duel."
"Not so fast, dog, the wager is four star chips so that the winner gets into the castle."
"And here I thought that the stakes were already too high." Joey spat, but he slapped the chips down then drew his beginning hand with a quick look at Akira.
Akira nodded with the hope that trust would shine in her eyes despite her desire that a plan B was available should they need it. After all, a slime like Bandit Keith couldn't be trusted to do something underhand like cut the rope himself should he lose. A dry chuckle, that almost sounded like a sob, left her throat when she thought of his already underhanded scheme. Joey had to win in order for her to keep her promise to her brothers. Never had she felt so helpless as the rope chaffed her wrists.
--
"Say I wonder where Joey is?" Mokuba mused.
Yugi shivered and tried to keep his worry in check as he reminded himself that there were no sinister plots this time. k snickers 'Yeah right!' "I'm sure he's okay. Probably found someone to duel."
"Who knows for sure since with Joey anything can happen." Seto pointed out.
"Um, guys? Looks like Yugi's partially right, but I don't think he's okay with Akira hanging over the edge like that." Rebecca said anxiously after she had looked up at the disturbing sight.
"What?!" The boys chorused when they followed her gaze, but the view hadn't gotten any better when Akira's muffled shriek reached them.
"C'mon, we gotta get to them now!" Mokuba exclaimed as he ran off.
Seto growled as he snapped open his phone and pressed a number. "Pegasus, we have a problem."
"Now I'll sacrifice my monsters to summon Red Eyes Black Dragon in order to attack your Canon. That should take care of…what?" Joey cried out in surprise as the canon stood unharmed.
Bandit Keith laughed. "Guess ya wasn't expecting Negate Attack. Better luck next time. Oh and my cannon had a special effect which freezes your dragon for two turns. That should give me just enough time to destroy…erm…defeat you."
He growled then placed two cards facedown. "I end my turn then."
"Thought you might. In that case I have all that I need to destroy your dragon. Go, Force Raider, attack!"
Akira winced as Joey's life points suffered from the blow, but his smirk surprised her after Keith ended his turn. "Normally that would hurt, but Emergency Rations will help along with another handy card called Monster Reborn and I bet you can't guess who I'm callin' back to play."
"Please not…"
"Yep. Red Eyes Black Dragon only this time with a little added bonus card that'll help me recreate it into Red Eyes Black Metal Dragon."
"No way."
"Awesome move, Joey!" Rebecca admitted.
Joey turned to see their friends run out of the forest. "Hey, guys, you're just in time to see me crush this punk."
"Hmph. I'd like to see ya try or little Kaiba-girl will go splat."
"I don't think so, you pathetic lowlife."
"NO!" Said lowlife exclaimed when he saw Akira get up from the ground. "How the hell did you…"
She spat blood to the side then wiped her mouth before answering. "Let's just say that the damsel in distress act gets old and you really should learn how to tie a better knot."
Joey blinked then said slowly as the implications seeped in. "So you're sayin' that you didn't really need me."
"No, I'm saying thank you for distracting that wannabe duelist long enough for my mind to clear so I could figure out a plan B." Akira replied then smirked at his opponent. "Oh and thanks for using a bungee cord, Keith, that helped me out a lot."
"Gee thanks for trusting me, Kira." Joey muttered under cover of Keith's stream of curses when he was grabbed by one of Pegasus' men.
However, she heard him and decided to let things slide no longer. "Joey, I do trust you. It would have been just like Keith to cut the damn rope anyway when he lost and I got tired of hanging around."
Brown eyes gazed at her with relief and something else she chose not to ignore when he winked. "Thanks, Kira, I needed that."
"You're coming with me, runt." Croquet said as he tried to pry the man from the consul, but was stopped by a command.
"Wait. I want to see if Joey can actually beat this creep." Seto said with a smirk.
"Yeah. Let's end this once and for all." Yugi seconded to which the others agreed so Croquet allowed it, but kept a firm grip on Keith's shoulder.
"And no more cheating or I'll whup your ass!" Akira grinned maliciously, which seemed to scare the man as he nodded.
After Joey's win, Akira walked up to the prisoner angrily then downed him with one punch to his face. "Never mess with a Kaiba."
"That was awesome, Kira!" Mokuba crowed then glomped his sister like he hadn't in weeks. "The way you used the cord to swing forward then flipped just as it snapped was totally awesome."
Seto's eyes blazed as he lightly thumped her on the back of her head. "Don't ever do that again! You nearly gave me a heart attack and here I thought Yugi was the one to get himself into situations."
"Like you haven't, Seto." Joey smiled tightly then added his own glare. "Though if I ever see ya do something so stupid again, Kira, I'll…hmmm"
Akira smirked into the kiss as she pressed her lips harder against his to silence him. In a rare show of dominance she shoved him against the arena wall and plundered his mouth with her tongue. She ignored the gagging noises from her brother and cries of "Get a room!"
Joey panted when they reluctantly parted with hope in his eyes. "Does that mean…"
"That I trust and love you, Joey, as well as a promise of what will happen should you leave me again." Truth shone in her eyes as she brushed her lips against his once more with a whispered "And I will always need you, Joey Wheeler."
"Glad ta hear it." He grinned then rested his forehead against hers with a sigh. "That aint gonna happen again, Kira, cause I just love you too much. An the other stuff we'll just get through together."
"Finally!" Yugi's exclamation broke the romantic mood, which produced a whack on his head from Rebecca and a chorus of real laughter from the others.
Perfect indeed.
