"You fool!" Pegasus shouted. "I told you to scare my niece, not damn near kill her!" Croquet, another of Pegasus' employees, cringed in fear. His employer never used profanity, assuring Croquet that Pegasus was more than a little angry.
"I'm sorry, sir," he said. "But she wasn't inside the warehouse when I set it on fire- she ran in after it was lit." That comment merely enraged Pegasus further.
"Do you think I don't know that?" he asked, angrily. "Now that I have my Millennium Eye again, Torina can't do a single thing without my knowing. On the other hand, I allow you to do something on your own and you almost ruin everything!"
"I'm sorry, Master Pegasus- it won't happen again." There was a short pause. "Sir, might I ask you a question?"
"Go ahead," replied Pegasus, before thinking "Not that I don't all ready know what it is."
"If you know what Torina is doing, you basically know where she is- why don't you go get her?" Pegasus began to chuckle.
"Ah, Croquet," he said with a shake of his head. "I do know where my niece is right at this moment in time- in Domino City Hospital, complaining about the medicine she has to take for smoke inhalation. And while I could go get her and bring her right home, I do believe it's more fun to leave her wondering what I'm going to do to her next."
" Forget it, Joey, I'm not taking it. You can't make me." Tori looked Joey dead in the eye, her arms crossed in front of her chest. The medicine he was trying to get her to take tasted horrible- two month old gym socks probably tasted better than this stuff. But Joey wasn't about to take no for an answer.
"Tori-girl," he said. "If you don't take this stuff, the smoke you breathed in is going to make you sick, and quiet possibly kill you. And if you die, what do you think that's gonna do to me?" Tori couldn't take it anymore. She grabbed the cup and it's contents disappeared faster than a Big Mac at a Weight Watchers convention. She made a face and looked like she was about to throw up. She grabbed a glass of water and downed that as well. She looked at Joey, an inquisitive look on her face.
"What would you do if I died?" she asked. Joey smiled, leaned over and kissed her cheek.
"Koi," he said. "If I ever lost you, I would be forced to wander aimlessly around Domino until someone found me and put me in a hospital. And while I was there, every night the tenants would be forced to hear me calling out your name." Tori looked him in the eye and gave a soft smile. Koi, one of the Japanese words for love- hearing him say that made Tori believe what he said even more. She put her hand on his shoulder and pulled him close.
"I would never do that to you, Joey Wheeler- I love you too much." She was about to give him a kiss, when someone in the doorway cleared their throat. Yugi and Yami were standing there, sly smiles on both faces. Yugi also had something in his hand- Tori's Millennia Diamond.
"Hikaru's been going crazy," he said. "And it was just a little too much for Yami and I to handle." As he said that, Hikaru appeared from inside the Diamond and rushed to Torina's side.
"Torina, I've been worried sick!" she cried. She wrapped her arms around her aibou and held her tight. Torina patted Hikaru on the back.
"I'm sorry, Hikaru..."
"I mean, really! If you must insist on trying to get yourself killed, at least take me a long for the ride!"
"I'm sorry, Hikaru," Torina replied, again. "I didn't have time to think..." Hikaru was still rambling, not paying attention to her Hikari's apology.
"You and Yami mean the world to me, Torina!" she continued. "If I ever lost either of you, I wouldn't be able to take it! Don't you ever do anything like that to me again, please!" Hikaru tightened her grip, causing Torina to gasp for air.
"All right, Hikaru," she said to the best of her ability. "But if you'd like me to say "I'm sorry" again, you're gonna have to let me breathe!" Hikaru looked at Torina- the girl was beginning to turn purple, causing Hikaru to let go. Torina took a deep breath, then looked at her aibou and smiled. "I promise, then next time I think about doing anything remotely dangerous, I'll be sure to have the Diamond around my neck." There was a pause, until Yugi cleared his throat and walked further into the room, followed by Yami.
"Tori," he said. "Have you given any thought to where you're going to stay?" Tori hadn't thought about it at all and everyone could tell by the look on her face. Yugi grinned. "I take that as a no?" Torina gave a nod.
"Yeah," she said. "But don't worry about it, Yuge- I'll be all right. I'll hop into a hotel or something."
"You most certainly will not!" Everyone looked towards the doorway to see Yugi's grandpa standing there. "There is no way that I, as a responsible adult, can allow you to continue living on your own."
Grandpa's comment scared Torina more than anything. What did he mean by that? Was he going to have her put in foster care? Or worse- would he call her uncle? No, there was no way he'd do that- he saw her the day she told everyone about what her uncle did. No one was heartless enough to send someone back to that. Suddenly, Grandpa began to smile.
"No," he said. "I can't let you live alone, but there is something I can let you do- I can let you move in with Yugi and I." Tori's jaw dropped, with an amazed smile curling the sides.
"Really?" she asked. "I-I can move in with you guys?" Grandpa nodded, still smiling like it was going out of style.
"Of course- I don't plan on taking 'no' for an answer."
Tori was out of the hospital a week later- the doctors wanted to make sure the burns she received from the falling debris were healing okay.
"If they only knew what one of my spells could do," Tori had told Joey as they walked out of the hospital, hand in hand, with Tori sporting her custom made jacket: it was a black leather jacket she had purchased- with her own money, of course- during a trip to Mexico with her uncle, with a picture of the "Wingweaver," her favorite Duel Monster on the back- one of her most prized possessions that she happened to leave at Teá's house during the fire. "But since this entire thing's all over town," she continued. "I can't heal them without people asking questions... oh well. It won't kill me to heal normally." Joey laughed as he leaned over and kissed her cheek.
"Nah," he said. "Nothing can kill my girl- not when I'm around!" Tori laughed as well and she squeezed his hand. The two of them were heading over to Yugi's house, where she would be staying- Yugi and Grandpa wouldn't take no for an answer... not that she refused or protested. Something about living with the Moto's just seemed right. She sighed, happily; today couldn't get any better... but it could get worse.
"Pegasus! Torina Pegasus!"
Tori froze in her tracks when she heard that- she hadn't been called that since her private school/Duelist Kingdom days... and that voice was so familiar. Tori turned around... and found herself face to face with an old "friend:" a first class witch. She had her hands on her hips as she glared at Torina, a smirk on her face.
"I knew it was you, Pegasus!" she said. "And am I glad I found you- we have a score to settle." Joey looked at Torina.
"Who's she, Tori?" he asked. Tori glared at the girl.
"Naomi Ross," she replied. "She was one of the popular girls who wanted me to hook her up with rare cards. When I wouldn't she said she'd duel me for them... I mopped the field with her monsters."
"I've gotten better monsters since then, Torina," Naomi said with a scowl. "And your not gonna have it so easy this time." Tori started to take off her back pack- she had left it at Teá's the night her place burned and Teá brought it to Tori in the hospital, which was lucky; a valuable tool was inside. Tori opened the bag and pulled out two circular things... circular things that Joey recognized.
"Tori," he said. "Those are... they can't be! Can they?" Tori looked at him and nodded.
"KaibaCorp Duel Disks," she replied. "Seto Kaiba left them at the Duelist Kingdom after his match with my uncle... I haven't really gotten around to giving them back." As Tori tossed one of the disks to Naomi, Joey began to shake his head.
"Tori, you can't do this! I've seen what these Duel Disks can do- they can hurt people real bad. You just got out of the hospital, Tori-girl..." Torina put a hand to his cheek and gave him a kiss.
"I'll be okay Joey. Promise." She looked over at Naomi- she had loaded her deck into the disk and was ready to go.
//Do you want some help, Torina?// asked Hikaru.
/Nah, I think I've got her, but I'll let ya know./
//All right- be careful, aibou.// Tori flashed an evil grin.
2000/2000
(Tori/Naomi)"Well, Naomi," she said. "I'd say "Ladies first," but I'd hate to insult my best friend. So I'll just say your move." Joey stifled a giggle- Teá would have been proud to hear that. Naomi glared.
"I play one monster," she said. "Face down in defense mode and end my turn." Torina grinned.
"I play the Feral Imp in attack mode," she replied. "And I attack your face down card." Naomi growled and put her Celtic Guardian in the Graveyard. But that began her turn.
"Now I play Witty Phantom, and attack your Feral Imp!"
1900/2000
"And that," said Naomi. "Will end my turn." Tori bit her lip.
"Hmm..." she said. "I play Lady of Faith and equip her with Malevolent Nuzzler, raising her attack points to 1800, which is strong enough to destroy your Witty Phantom."
1900/1600
Naomi sneered as she put her Witty Phantom in the Graveyard. She played one card face down in defensive mode and ended her turn.
"Now," Tori continued. "I'll activate my facedown card- Skull Red Bird, and attack your face down card." It was Ansatsu. Naomi was not pleased as she sent her third card to the graveyard and hadn't made much of a dent on Torina. She drew her next card and smiled.
"Perfect." she said. "Just the card I need. I play the magic card Yami. Now I play monster face down plus these two cards face down to end my turn."
"I play one card face down, and I play the Dark Magician in attack mode," Torina said, "And attack your face down card." Naomi put her Silver Fang in the graveyard, and drew a card.
"I play one card face down in defense mode, and end my turn."
"Oh come on, Naomi!" Tori said, rather annoyed. "Are you just gonna defend your deck away?" Without waiting for an answer, Tori began her turn. "I active the magic card Turtle Oath. I offer Red Skill Bird from the field, and Masked Sorcerer from my hand to summon Crab Turtle." Naomi smiled.
"I play Invitation to a Dark Sleep in defensive mode," she said. "It's effect lets me choose one of your monsters and make it unable to attack. I choose your Crab Turtle. I also play one card facedown, and end my turn."
"I attack your Dark Sleep with my Dark Magician then!" Tori said. Torina ended her turn, and Naomi drew a card.
"I play Neo the Magic Swordsman in attack mode, and I'll equip it with Malevolent Nuzzler. Now, I'll attack your Crab Turtle," Naomi said.
"I activate Waboku to defend my life points," Torina said immediately. Naomi sneered, then winked and smiled at Joey.
"Not on your life, chick," Joey said coldly, and turned back to Torina, who was grinning at him.
"Ok, now you've done it." she said. "I wasn't gonna do this, but you've really pissed me off. I play Toon World!"
"TOON WORLD?" Joey sputtered. "Where'd ya get that, Tori?" As Torina turned her Dark Magician horizontal, she looked at Joey and smiled.
"Uncle Max and Aunt Cecilia gave the set to me," she said. "Back when the game was just a prototype." Tori them focused her attention to Naomi. "Once I put my Dark Magician back into attack, he'll have undergone a change... but until then... I lay one cared face down, and play Manga Ryu-Ran and attack your Neo the Magic Swordsman."
"It's attack strength is 600 points less then my Neo," Naomi hissed. "Can't you add?" Torina grinned, then held up a magic card.
"Not when I active my Malevolent Nuzzler," she shot back.
1900/1500
Naomi put her Swordsman in the graveyard, and Torina ended her turn.
"I play one card face down, and end my turn," Naomi said. Torina smiled.
"All right," she said, happily. "Let's do this! Arise, Toon Dark Magician!" She turned it to attack mode. It looked much like the normal Dark Magician, but he was toon-ish and smiling more.
"Now there's somethin' you don't see every day..." Joey muttered. "The Dark Magician smiling."
"Now, My Dark Toon Magician," Tori continued. "Stand down, and go Toon Summoned Skull! Attack her face down card!" Naomi put her Mystical Elf in the graveyard, and Torina ended her turn.
"I play one card face down in def mode, and end my turn," Naomi said.
"Ah," said Torina. "I have the things needed for a fusion..." She put down a Polymerization. Then she put Tainted Wisdom in the graveyard from her hand, along with Ancient Brain, and played Skull Knight.
"SKULL KNIGHT?!" Joey sputtered.
"Now I attack your face down card," Torina said. Naomi put her Swordstalker in the graveyard. "Now, Toon Dark Magician, attack her life points directly!"
1900/0
"No!!" Naomi cried. She had lost.
Tori recalled her Duel Disk, removed her deck and started to walk over to Naomi, who was sitting on the ground.
"Okay, Naomi," she said. "I've beat you twice now- can we just leave it alone and bury the hatchet all ready?" Naomi scowled as she took off her Duel Disk and chucked it at Torina, who snatched it out of the air. She then did something rather unexpected- she held out her hand to Naomi. When Naomi slapped it away, Tori managed to grab hold of her hand and pull Naomi to her feet. Naomi gave her a suspicious look.
"Why ya bein' nice to me, Pegasus?" she asked. "What do you want?" Torina's eyes suddenly narrowed- Joey was sure that he saw a wild fire blazing in them.
"Naomi," she said. "You can call me Torina, you can call me Tori, you can call me Tor... you can call me "Wingweaver" for all I care. But if you ever call me Pegasus again, the next battle we have won't be in Duel Monsters." Tori's eyes softened a bit, but not much. "As for my being nice to you- I've seen enough cruelty to last me a million lifetimes... I try not to add to it unless I have too."
With that, she walked away, Joey on her heels. Tori walked away as fast as she could, leaving Joey in the dust and not paying attention to his cries for her to wait up. He had seen so many of her tears in the past- she didn't want him to see anymore. Especially not these.
Inside the Millennia Diamond, Hikaru felt the wetness of Tori's tear upon her own cheek. Something had to be seriously wrong.
//Hikari!// she thought. //Torina, what is wrong?// Torina shook her head violently, as if doing so would help her block out the sounds of Joey's worried voice.
//It's happening,// she replied, out loud so everyone could hear. //I'm finally turning into him!// Joey finally managed to catch Tori just as she said that.
"Turned into him?" he asked. "Tori, what are you talkin' about?" Tori turned around and looked at him.
"I'm turning into my uncle, Joey," she replied. "You saw what I almost did back there- I could have really hurt her if I wanted to, just for callin' me 'Pegasus.' That's something my uncle would have done in a heartbeat." Tori was about to run away again when Joey pulled her close and kissed her. A moment later, Joey let go. "What was that for?"
"Tori-Girl," he said. "If you were turning into your uncle, I wouldn't love you as much as I do. And right now, I love you more than you will ever know." He smiled. "And even if you somehow do turn into your uncle, that will never change." Another tear sped down Torina's cheek. Unconditional love was something she wasn't quite used to... but she was really starting to like it.
"Oh Joey," she said. "You make it so hard for me to hate myself." She smiled. "Thank you for that."