Thanks to ShadowPrincess96, kitty tokyo uzumaki, Assassin Rowan, AyaKagami, kluna, mobileholmes, Cielheart Ie'chan, YukitoNO1, Chrysanthemum and Sadistic pb, Little-Angel-7698 and My Puppys Dragon for the reviews and a special thanks to my beta firstForward for fixing the mistakes.
Mai
Two weeks had past since Bakura had called Mai and Seth still hadn't heard anything from her. He was glad about it because Malik and Marik had warned him about this blond woman that supposedly loved his dad. It was a problem but he was sure he could deal with it. That was if he was at home. He had already told Joe that if such a woman showed up in the afternoon she should try and make sure that she would stay far away from their daddy. Seth hoped that she would show up on one of the days where he was at home after school. Of course he had passed that funny little test. It had been like a joke to him that he was supposed to waste his time by writing down those easy things. The headmaster had been impressed with him and he was immediately put into first grade and was currently seated next to a boy that constantly needed his help. If not with schoolwork then with waking him up whenever he was about to get caught napping in class. He also had nearly constant detention for being late.
But Seth liked him nevertheless, he was funny, energetic, as well as caring and a great friend. He had helped Seth as some kids had tried to tease him for having his dad pay for him to be in his first class just to show off that he had a smart kid even though he was a dummy. Jaden had been about to punch him but Seth had still stopped him explaining that it had been his paps and dad that each had really donated a bit as far as he knew but that it had nothing to do with his placement. He had switched between 3 of the 5 languages which all of them he spoke fluently by now and had then asked the boys that had teased him if they had understood anything or if he should use a different language for them. They had stared at him and ever since, he was called a bookworm but Seth didn't mind considering that they had a point, he was constantly reading even during the lessons. Unless they did an experiment in science then he kept a close eye on Jaden, making sure that the building wouldn't be blown away. Jaden had a talent to transform the easiest experiments into a dangerous bomb. But Seth still enjoyed science and the teacher who they were allowed to call JoJo was really fun, wild and energetic. Seth actually started to wonder if it had anything to do with the first letter of someones name seeing that Joe-Joe, JoJo, Joey, as well as Jaden all were crazy but fun.
After school Joey picked him up everyday and three days a week he drove Seth to Kaiba Corp. to help his paps with work. Mokuba had left for college and Seth had gotten his position. But Joey was worried that he was too young and his fathers had made the agreement to only let him work 3 days a week for a month and then see how he got on and how he enjoyed it and then either let him do more work or cut down further and maybe get a nanny for when Joey leaves. But Seth was sure that he would rather do some work in Kaiba Corp. and to be honest, he wished he would get more to do as it was sometimes a bit boring. Seth knew that his dad was getting a bit bored during the mornings too. He worked a lot on his new book and Seth already had caught up on reading it since he sneaked into his room every night while Joey was talked into staying with Seto. Some nights the laptop hadn't been in his room and Seth knew that his dad must have been working on it that evening. But he still had caught up at least to what was written the last time he had sneaked a peek and to him it was clear that this story proved his theory that his dad loved his paps and he also believed that even his paps wouldn't be able to find a way to talk it down. Or at least he hoped he wouldn't. But it was far from being finished and Seth doubted that it would be done by the time Joey would leave.
During the afternoons his dad was busy minding Joe-Joe and the two did lots of things. His dad had lots of creative ideas for making fun paintings. Not only using paint but he used lots of other things like glue and glitter and he even made paper with Joe-Joe once, putting color into the paper and some even had feathers in the paper. Seth had been home that day and he had to admit that it had been fun to help them make their own paper and make some as well. There was no point in painting on it since it was already decorated when it was done. Seth also loved to play with his dad and his sister in the garden. Even though he still preferred to read, sometimes it was fun to play with them and not have any responsibility for his sister because his dad was keeping an eye on her. The first few days Seth had looked out for her too but by now he knew that his dad could handle her, maybe even better then he could. After all, he had puppy eyes that were more effective than hers and he was faster with using them. He also got the girl to eat lots of healthy food by either renaming it with funny names or getting her interested in it by cooking it together with her. By now Seth was a good cook as well and he loved it just like he loved starting to writing stories down. His dad kept encouraging him and he had tried to change the dragon tale he had started into a proper book. Mostly he changed the puppy eye forest. It was funny for little kids but he still would love some real danger in there, danger that even dragons would need to be careful of but of course they got out of that problem.
He still hadn't gotten to finish his tale since Joe-Joe had fallen asleep soon after the dragons had met the princess. She had just given them something to breath underwater, but he hadn't even mentioned what since Joe hadn't interrupted and he didn't know if she had something specific in mind. Their new godparents had then brought them up to bed. Yami had brought him up and Bakura had brought her up. He still didn't seem satisfied but maybe Seth was wrong, maybe he had called Mai again and talked her out of coming again.
It was Friday afternoon and Seth had just walked into Kaiba Corp. to start his work there. He worked Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. He was just inside as he heard someone screaming, "Don't you dare kick me out, I need to talk to that asshole, it took me long enough to get the time to come and he'd better get notified that I'm here or I swear you'll regret it."
Seth looked up at the woman that was standing there in a purple and black outfit that showed too much to be allowed anywhere near his paps. He walked closer and asked, "What do you want here?"
The blond woman looked down at the kid and then smiled and said, "You must be Seth, right?"
"Yes, and you are?" He asked, surprised that she had recognized him, he was sure that he had never seen that woman before.
"I'm Mai, a friend of your dad. And I need to talk to Seto." She said.
Seth nearly groaned in displeasure. He had just started to hope that he wouldn't have to deal with that stupid woman that wanted his dad and now she was right in front of him. It surprised him though that she was there instead of with his dad, wasn't it smarter to try and flirt with the guy she wanted when the rival wasn't around? "What do you want from him?" Seth asked, letting her hear anger in his voice on purpose.
She looked at him at that and then looked down on him with her arms crossed. Seth knew that Joey would have come down to his eyelevel because the different in height was intimidating but this woman didn't care, didn't know, or maybe even wanted to be intimidating towards a kid. "Listen kid," She said, not sounding angry but more like Seth himself knew he did when telling Joe-Joe for the millionth time one day that magic didn't exist. She sounded patient like she had to spell out the obvious to make sure that the stupid kid would get it. Seth was furious about that. "I know you only want the best for your sister and want to get her a family and I also believe that by now you might like Seto and Joey, but Joey is like a brother to me and I waited long enough now to see how things would turn out. And I don't care what you wish for or what is the best for you and your sister, and I care even less about what that rich boy up in his office wants, all I care about is that Joey doesn't get hurt and unless that stupid boy up in his office loves Joey too he will get hurt and that's why I'm here and need to talk to him. Got it?"
Seth stared at her. Had she just said that Joey was like a brother to her? That meant that she would be against Bakura and ultimately on his side since Seto and Joey were in love with each other and it was obvious that she believed that Joey was in love with Seto as well. Seth smiled a little and said, "In that case, follow me please." And walked with her to the elevator and since Seth was with her no one stopped her anymore.
"So you don't mind me beating the crap out of Seto Kaiba?" Mai asked, surprised.
"Let's say I would mind you beating the crap out of him, but I actually would be grateful if you could beat some sense into the guy. They're both in love with the other but neither one dares to tell the other. And unless I get one to admit it both will be miserable." Seth informed her.
"So, Seto is in love with Joey as well? I wouldn't have guessed it, the way they always fought." Mai said.
"That was the point of the fighting I think, Paps didn't want anyone to know since he believes his love to be unrequited." Seth explained.
"So you hope now that I can show him that it isn't and help you?" Mai asked, a little weary. Bakura had warned her that the boy was a smart little miniature priest that she would have to look out for, as well as not to wear long earnings around the girl especially when the boy was there too. He might make the girl pull on them and with her major cuteness no one would resist her. Mai doubted that she could fall for any cute girly face. She wasn't some stupid guy that fell for cute little faces.
"Yes and no. I hope you'll help Dad as well. He loves Paps and Paps loves him and they both are what the other needs. Dad needs some stability. I don't know what is wrong with him that he moves so much but I'm getting the feeling that Paps knows and I'm sure that he is the one that can help him better than anyone else." Seth said to her.
"So you call Joey Dad already and Seto Paps?" Mai asked, only slightly surprised, the kids weren't with them for that long and already they called them like that. But maybe the boy just wanted the familiarity to make the two men love them more and make it easier for him.
"Yes. Because to me they are already. I love both of them and I'm sure that Dad loves us just as much. And if you want him happy, you'd better help us kids get them together." Seth said as they reached the top floor of the building. He stepped out ahead of her and asked Seto's secretary if he had a moment and was allowed in. But instead of walking in himself he stepped back to let her walk in on her own.
Mai was surprised that Seth didn't stick around but obviously was sure of himself that after seeing that she wanted the best for Joey, she would go along with his plans. Mai watched as Seth left for his own office which was on the same floor. She had to smile a little, he was cute in the little suit he was wearing. Like a miniature businessman.
After that she walked right into Seto's office without even knocking on the door and said, "I heard you married my Joey?"
"No, I didn't." Seto said, "I married Joey Wheeler and he isn't yours."
"You know what I mean, so stop your stupid games." Mai said.
"What do you want from me and how did you get in here anyway?" Seto asked.
"A smart little brat let me in. And I'm here to let you stupid arrogant rich idiot know that if you dare to hurt MY Joey I'm going to shove my boot up your stupid ass." She said as threateningly as she could.
Seto looked at her and then said, "You better not call Seth 'brat' in front of Joey, he'll rip your head off if you do. He loves the kid and so do I, so I'd advise you to watch what you say about him in front of me as well from now on. I only warn you because I know that Joey is rather fond of you." Seto said, completely calm.
Mai was surprised that Seto complained about the 'brat' comment instead of the insults that she had thrown at him. "Did you even listen to what I said?" She asked, glaring at the man in front of her.
Seto simply kept his eyes on his laptop screen. He had only briefly looked up as she had walked in to see who it was but had gone right back to work and was only half listening to her rants. "I'm listening more or less but I don't really care. I'm not doing anything that Joey hadn't agreed on and I do not intend to hurt him. Meaning that you can keep that ugly boot of yours where it is."
Mai continued to glare at him and asked, "You do realize that you're hurting him anyway if you married him just to get the brats and don't really love him?"
"Since he agreed to this arrangement I don't see why you assume there to be a problem with it." Seto simply stated, still only looking at the screen of his laptop as well as typing on his keyboard.
"The problem is that he loves you, stupid." Mai said and sat on the corner of his desk, surprised to see him falter in his typing for a moment and his eyes widen, even if it was for less than a second.
"I doubt that you are correct with your assumptions." Seto said, sounding a little angry and Mai wondered if he was angry because she was there, because she sat on his desk, because she had threatened him or maybe because she had hurt his feelings by reminding him about his doubts.
"You might doubt it, but I know that I'm right." Mai said, hoping that he would be listening to her.
"You're not the first who was sure about him loving someone and then was wrong about it in the end. Did you know that he was tied up 4 times with someone he wasn't in love with because some idiot thought he was?" Seto asked.
"Yes, the fourth time being two weeks ago with you." Mai said, glad to see him falter once more at her words. "I didn't come because of Bakura calling me for reinforcement. I came because Joey's emails sounded more and more upset to me. He loves you and is getting depressed the closer his move gets because he doesn't really want to leave you but he also doesn't want to stay with you when you don't love him."
Mai watched Seto lean back into his chair and take his eyes off of his laptop screen as he looked at her. "And what exactly makes you so sure that he loves me?" he asked.
"The fact that I know him you idiot. He is like a brother to me, he saved me in more than one way. I'll never be able to properly repay him but I wouldn't be here and messing around if I wasn't sure that I'm right about this. I love Joey like a brother and I will not let you hurt him." Mai said, using her most threatening voice again.
"So I guess he never actually said it then." Seto said, sounding not at all surprised.
"He doesn't need to spell it out for me." Mai stated with an angry tone.
Seto looked at her for a while and then said, "And why should I even trust you? Apart from the fact that you still could be wrong?"
"Because I'm Joey's friend and wouldn't want to mess things up for him. And I know him better than you do." Mai explained.
"But you would mess things up for me, wouldn't you?" Seto said.
"I wouldn't bother seeing that I don't give a damn about you." Mai said, hoping that Seto would listen to her.
"If you wish to leave this building using those ugly boots of yours you better do so now, I have work to do." Was all Seto said.
"You're kidding, right? You have to talk to him." Mai said, unwilling to give up.
"All I can promise," Seto started to say, "is that if he ever would say something like that, and I doubt that he ever will, but if he does, I won't hurt him. And now leave or I'll call security to throw you out."
She looked at him for another moment before stomping out to get to Joey, maybe she could talk some sense into him.
Please review
And I have the next chapter already with my beta so I can safely say that in the next chapter Mai will get turned into a scare crow while playing make over with Joe-Joe and Mai will make poor little Joe-Joe cry but only by accident when she says something on the phone that Joe-Joe doesn´t like.
And by the way, you have me spoilt rotten with your reviews. For a second I thought today while making the list with the names up there "What just 11?" But then I thought bad Lily, 11 is more than you used to get for your other stories and still A LOT and you should be happy and I am happy about every single one, but I guess I got spoiled and now I feel bad for being spoilt...please forgive me for the second of weakness! *stands in a corner being ashamed of herself* *comes out of corner and thinks that you might rather have me write you another chapter than standing in a corner* *decides to write a nearly kiss scene again for chapter 27 just to make up for my moment of weakness*
Also, AyaKagami didn't like the 'money hungry headmaster' in the last chapter, I would like to say that I didn't mean him to look like that he was inspired by a headmaster I had once. He came new while I was there in the school and within two years we got the playground re-done, 10 ping pong tables, a big break room for rainy days a 'no girls room' a 'no boys room' (comfortable rooms for the breaks with a chouch and stuff just for one gender and the other gender wasn't alowed in so girls or boys could talk more privately...like girls about boys or stuff), we got a computer room (didn't have one at first -_-) and a whole lot of other cool things because he talked lots of money out of everyone and it all went to the school. And I mean this headmaster here was only trying to get the playground re-done and Joey was agreeing I think that it needed to be re-done. So yes, he tries to get lots of money out of all the people but only for the best of the school and the children there, so he isn't getting that money for himself and that for isn't really money hungry, after all it isn't his. Just wanted to make that clear just in case someone else got the wrong impression. The school is like I said a private school and not for rich kids but rather average kids and not that expansive, so the money from the school fees is just for teachers payment and stuff and all the extras they try to raise otherwise. And he is trying to get as much money for the schools benefit as he can. Which in my book makes him a good headmaster. I probably should have made that more clear, sorry if I made him look bad.