A/N: Here is the next chapter of Surviving Through Changes. Hope you'll enjoy it. Also, just want to thank Kori Neko Tenshi (otherwise known as Black Cat Angel) for being such a great friend. This one is dedicated to you my sista.

note: Sorry for the late update on this one. I planned to post it more than a week ago and comepletely forgot about it.

Disclaimer: Nothing from Yugioh or Sailor Moon is mine.

Chapter 26

The Setting Sun

(With Mai)

Mai Valentine tapped her manicured fingernails on the duel board as she leaned against the platform. Her opponent was less than challenging and she was very bored.

"Okay, it's your move Mai."

"Thank heaven," she thought in sullen anguish. "Oh, Harpy's wipe that ugly creature off the field." Her three harpy ladies did just that and her opponent's life-points dropped to zero.

"No!" he shouted.

Mai sighed. "Wow, that was a real challenge. Ranks right above filing my nails."

"But I was ranked number four in the district finals!"

"Yeah, yeah, that's great hun," she replied just as she grabbed her deck and turned away. The platform lowered to the ground and in that moment, Mai decided to call it a day, seeing as the sun was beginning to set. She found a quiet spot on a hill that had a great view of the ocean and laid down in the grass. The sky was a portrait of brilliant colors, but the beauty in it didn't satisfy Mai at all. She found herself sighing again.

"I don't get it," she thought in frustration. "Trashing hot-shot duelists is usually as fun as a fall clearance sale. Why can't I enjoy it anymore?"

As her violet eyes gazed at the different hues in the golden and crimson sky, her mind drifted into a little daydream. In seconds, she saw Joey Wheeler's smiling face in the sky.

Mai clenched her fist as she shot up from the ground. "It's all because of that obnoxious Joey! How could I let such an amateur beat me?"

Calming down a bit, Mai leaned her weight on her arms. Her fingers idly played with the blades of grass that were slowly growing. She finally settled her gaze on her clenched fist.

"I've got to get even with him somehow," she muttered quietly. At the same time, she heard a bit of rustling behind her. When she turned she found another annoying brat standing behind her, but this time she recognized him.

"It's me, Rex Raptor, the Dino Duelist ," Rex stated angrily, "and I'm itching to finish that match we started on the boat."

Mai thought back to how she'd beat Rex on the boat ride to Duelist Kingdom. She challenged him in order to get his deluxe suite. After winning, she kicked the little punk out of the room. It was that simple.

"Funny," Mai remarked. "I thought I already knocked you on your Jurassic butt."

"Think whatever you want, but your about to get stomped either way!" Rex exclaimed.

"Do you honestly think I'm going to waste another minute on a pea brain like you?" Mai asked now agitated. "Beat it Dino breath, shoo, shoo."

Rex practically growled in response. "Pea brain! I'll have you know that I was a finalist in the Regional Championship and I've already won five star-chips."

Mai simply lifted up her gloved hand and turned her wrist slightly. Rex gasped.

"What? How did you get eight star-chips in such a short time?"

"By defeating clowns like you who think they can challenge a chick and get some easy stars," Mai replied as she got up from the ground. "I've only lost once, but as soon as I find that punk Joey its payback time."

"Joey Wheeler?" Rex questioned. "How could you lose to him?"

Mai glared at him. "I'd love to see you try and…"

"Wait a minute…that's it!"

A devious plan began to take root in Mai's mind as she smiled. "Okay Rex, I'll duel you…that is if you do something for me."

"And why should I?" he asked.

"Because I won't duel you otherwise plain and simple," Mai stated. "Oh well, I guess you won't be getting the five chips you need to gain access to Pegasus's castle."

Mai began to walk away, but Rex stopped her just as she'd suspected.

"Yes?" Mai asked.

"What are your terms?"

In a helicopter headed towards Duelist Kingdom

Mina P.O.V.

The time was five o'clock in the evening when I glanced at the time on one of the monitors in the helicopter. The sun was beginning to set and the first day of dueling on Pegasus's island was probably still underway, though some had probably stopped for the day.

However, seeing that I wasn't on the island right this second, I kept my mind off Duelist Kingdom and the task at hand. Right now, my mind was focused on the long list of worries I'd brought on myself.

Worry number one would be my father. The only chance for me to save him now would be to win against Pegasus at the end of the tournament. As of now, that worry was put to rest by other worries.

That brings me to worry number two, Seto Kaiba.

(Flashback)

We had just escaped from the house through the same way both Kaiba and I had come in through. That's right, the trap door.

But along the way, plenty of guards awaited us. I had to bring them down with my gun, though I never aimed to kill when I shot them. That may have been the reason why it had taken so long to get outside. However, once we saw the light of day, I knew that we didn't have far to go until we were safe.

"Kaiba," I had inquired, "do you see any guards around?"

"No, so far so good," he replied while holding up his gun. During our time in the tunnel, he'd taken one from a guard I'd wounded. He in turn, helped me by wounding some guards also.

We both stepped out of the hole with slow steps while making sure no one was behind us. There were distant voices in the tunnel, but they weren't close yet.

"Over there!"

My gaze shifted over to the side of the house. Three guards were headed our way on our right. On our left there was no one coming, but I was worried that there might be someone waiting for us. My suspicions were confirmed when four more guards came toward us in that direction.

"Kaiba, we're going to have to split up," I told him, though my voice was shaking slightly. "Think you can handle yourself?"

"The real question is if you can you handle yourself," Kaiba retorted. I sighed and told him that I could take care of myself just fine, but he was persistent in staying with me.

"Are you worried about me Kaiba?" I questioned.

At that comment he scoffed. "No, I just don't want your blood on my lawn."

"Too late for that," I commented while glancing at my arm. Kaiba had tried to bandage it earlier, but my arm was starting to bleed again and it had already dripped on his lawn.

The guards were coming swiftly then, and at that point it was do or die.

"Please, don't get yourself killed," I whispered before taking off to the left. A faction of the guards took off after me and the ones coming for Kaiba followed him when he darted to the right. Unlike myself, Kaiba ran straight for the guards.

"Idiot," I thought while jumping onto the edge of the concrete fence. I hid behind the trunk of a tree that was taller than the fence and positioned my body so I could shoot properly. The guards who'd been after me tried getting onto the tall fence, but figured I'd already escaped their clutches. However, as I watched Kaiba, I saw that he was handling himself pretty well. He'd already taken almost all of the guards around him out with his gun. The guards who'd been after me were headed toward Kaiba at that point. Kaiba wasn't paying attention when one lifted up his gun.

"Venus Crystal Power!" I screamed in my mind. After swiftly transforming, I forced all my might into a crescent beam attack as the guard pulled the trigger. Before the bullet could get to Kaiba, my beam cut through it and rendered the fragments useless as they landed by Kaiba's feet. However, my work wasn't done. I had to use my love chains to hold the other guards back from firing more rounds at Kaiba.

"WHAT'S GOING ON!" One guard shouted angrily.

"IT'S SAILOR VENUS!" shouted another. "SHE'S STOPPING US!"

Kaiba stood motionless while staring at my chains.

"Run Kaiba," I thought desperately. "Go now!"

Seconds later, he took off and climbed up a tree that was by the fence that was adjacent to this one. He was too far away to see me as he jumped down onto the other side, but I saw him easily as he ran. I didn't know where he was headed, but I was satisfied enough with the results of my actions that he'd be alright.

(End Flashback)

But now…I can't help but wonder if I made a mistake by leaving Kaiba by himself. For all I know, there could have been more guards waiting to kill him.

"Not now Mina," I told myself sternly while trying to keep control of the helicopter. "Stay calm and don't worry."

Obviously doing so was not an easy task and even if I could calm down, my mind would still be erratic. That's common in a scatterbrained person and believe me, I'm scatterbrained at times.

Still, even Kaiba wasn't the main thing I was worried about. At this particular moment, someone else weighed heavily on my mind.

"What was I thinking?" I asked myself in sudden terror as his face flashed before me. My eyes watered as I realized the danger I'd put him in.

Worry number three was a friend who made a promise to me. His loyalty to me was astounding, especially since we'd just met, but he trusted me and wanted to help me. Unfortunately, I didn't trust him enough think he would keep it and decided that I would test him.

"I've betrayed him again," I thought angrily while wishing the helicopter would move faster. I'd be at Duelist Kingdom in an hour, but that time seemed to be moving at an agonizingly slow pace.

Somehow, I just know that Joey is in horrible danger. My instincts have been wrong before, but the feeling I have now is too strong for me to ignore. This feeling isn't just me being a panicky crazy lady. This feeling I have…there's no way to describe what it is. I just know that Joey is in trouble.

"Pegasus must know," I stated aloud as I felt my hands tremble around the control stick. "He must have figured it out somehow."

Presently, I don't know how Pegasus could have found out. Knowing him though, he probably had spies watching me. They probably saw me writing that note and probably watched me as I gave the note and the card to Artemis. Does that mean that they already have Joey? Is Pegasus going to kill him because of me?

"Not now," I ordered myself silently. "Focus on getting to the island first."

Back on the island

5:15 p.m.

Joey P.O.V.

After searching around the area for an hour, its safe to say now that Mokuba is officially gone.

"Did you find him?" Tea asked upon my return. Tristan and Yugi had just returned as well.

"No luck," I stated while glancing at Artemis, who was stationed by Tea's feet. Tristan and Yugi said the same and Tea sighed.

"Great, it looks like they've got your grandpa and Kaiba's little brother," Tea proclaimed irritably while picking up Artemis. "Now what will we do?"

Yugi frowned and turned his gaze toward Pegasus's castle. The rays of lingering sunshine were partially hidden by its tall towers.

"This is just one more reason why we have to win ten star-chips and get into that castle."

"No doubt," I added while gazing at my dueling glove. As of now I still only had two stars. I need to duel someone else and…

My eyes caught sight of abandoned duel monsters cards.

"Well, if it isn't my lucky day," I exclaimed happily while kneeling down to get the cards.

"Hands off," Tristan ordered, "those are mine." I frowned in disappointment.

"Cool Tristan, I didn't know you where training to become a duelist," Yugi stated.

Tristan kneeled down and snatched a card out of my hand while smiling. "Yeah, well I figure if a spazz like Joey can handle his own in the game then I bet I'll be an expert at it."

Sure he'd like to think that, but dueling isn't as easy as I make it look.

Suddenly, I noticed something about one of Tristan's cards. It looked familiar.

"Lava Battle Guard?" I wondered while examining it. "I recognize this monster."

"Haven't I seen that card in your deck Joey?" Yugi asked as I stood.

I shook my head. "Not this one." I reached into my jeans pocket to retrieve my deck while making sure I avoided grabbing the card Mina told me to keep. After making sure I didn't remove it from my pocket, I quickly shuffled through my cards.

"I think I got something just like it," I said to Yugi as I shuffled. A moment later, I found the card I was looking for.

"Here we go, Swamp Battle Guard."

"Hey that does look a lot like my card," Tristan commented.

"Yep, they could be long lost brothers," I replied while examining both cards. "Of course, that doesn't mean yours packs the kind of wallop mine does."

Tristan glared at me. "His wallop is just fine."

"Suuuuuuuuuuuuuure!" I taunted. "That's what they all say."

"Man, my Lava Battle Guard has never let me down," Tristan replied curtly. "Try him out for yourself, you'll see."

I smiled. "Thanks man, they say that these cards work best together."

"You know," Tea cut in, "I can see a resemblance between you two and those muscle heads." She and Yugi laughed soon after the comment and Tristan blushed.

"Oh, laugh it up," I exclaimed irritably. "I take that as a compliment."

"You shouldn't," Tristan stated. "Those battle guards look gruesome."

I rolled my eyes. "Oh, shut up Tristan. We've got no time to listen to miss sassy over there anyway."

"Miss sassy?" Tea questioned. "I am not sassy. Right Yugi?"

Yugi just nodded. "Yeah, Tea you're not at all sassy…nope not one bit." Yugi would've babbled on, but I decided that now was the time to find another duelist to duel.

"Let's go guys," I said while taking off ahead.

A few minutes later we stood in an open meadow where other duelists were gathered. As of now, there weren't a whole lot of duels going on, probably because some had called it a day, but I certainly wasn't ready to call it quits just yet.

"Wow, after all of the crazy duelists we've run into, its nice to see some normal kids for a change," Tea commented mildly as Artemis climbed up her arm and made himself comfortable on her shoulder.

"You said it," Yugi agreed. He sure is sucking up to her a lot today.

"So, how bout' it tough guy?" Tristan asked. "Are these guys puny enough for you to take on or do you want to look for some three year olds?"

"Come on, be nice," Tea ordered playfully. "You know Joey is just bidding his time until he finds a dueling monkey to challenge."

"SAY WHAT!" my mind screamed as the others laughed. Oh great, I feel a headache coming on thanks to this nonsense about dueling monkeys. Who do these guys take me for? An idiot?

Unfortunately, that prospect is very possible if not already evident by how these people love to make fun of me.

Tristan continued to cackle as he spoke. "Dueling monkey? Nice one, Tea."

"That's it!" I exclaimed angrily. "Just one more word about dueling monkeys and I'm gonna…"

A familiar laughter stopped me from speaking further as a feeling of dread crept over me. I don't know why I have to keep dealing with this.

"Please tell me that's not who I think it is," I muttered before hesitantly turning my head around. My eyes narrowed suspiciously when I noted the woman standing behind me.

"How are you Joseph?" She asked when I cringed. "Glad to see me?"

"Ecstatic," I replied in a sarcastic tone. Anyone who'd actually be glad to see her is a moron in my book. They'd also be the kind of person who had not regard for their own well-being.

"So, Joey, is Yugi still fighting all your battles for you?" Mai tauntingly questioned. "Everyone knows that if Yugi hadn't been there to hold your hand you wouldn't have beat me. Isn't that right Yugi?"

"That's not true," Yugi stated immediately. I inwardly groaned, already feeling on edge due to everything that's happened today. Anything else and I'll probably lose it.

"Oh, really," Mai continued, "then I propose he steps out of your shadow here and now. If Joey thinks he's so tough, let's see him play for himself."

The headache that had started earlier was increasing tenfold now.

"I'm waiting for your answer Joey," Main rambled. "Do you have the guts to step up and face the duelist I've arranged for you?"

That was a surprise. "It's not you?"

Mai chuckled slightly as a shadowy figure stepped out from behind a tree. He was short, wore a red cap over his brownish-red hair, was sporting a tan vest over a long-sleeved t-shirt and khakis, along with black sneakers, and he had a sly grin plastered on his face.

The kid laughed. "I'm dueling on Mai's behalf. Recognize me."

"That's Rex Raptor!" Yugi exclaimed.

I only shrugged. "Is this twerp supposed to scare me or something'?"

"Don't you remember Joey?" Tea asked. "Rex placed second in the finals."

I inwardly groaned. Of course I remembered, but I was trying to convince Mai that I didn't care who she wanted me to face. I wanted her to know that I was determined and that I could step up to any challenge.

"Well Joey, you got to ask mommy's permission or what?" Mai asked.

"No way!" I shouted. "This is my fight."

"But Joey…" Tristan began.

"What are you trying to prove," Tea cut in.

Tristan sighed. "Really bro, pick your battles."

I didn't listen and watched as Mai laughed. "By the way, if little Yugi offers any of his backseat dueling then Joey is disqualified and the match automatically goes to Rex. So, what do you say Joey? This is your chance to prove yourself, unless you plan to back out."

"Of course he does!" Tea exclaimed. "Joey can't…"

I put my arm out in front of her as a means to silence her. "No, that's the way I want it, just me against him."

"What!" Tristan exclaimed.

"It may cost me all my star-chips, but I don't deserve to keep them if the only reason I win is because of Yugi's help," I stated. "All my life people have been trying to help me cause they think I can't help myself. Well, I don't need to be babied this time."

Tristan groaned in response. "You've lost it Joey. Believe whatever you want, but I won't just stand here and watch you throw your chips away." He turned his gaze toward Mai and Rex. "I hope you guys don't mind, but little Joey won't be coming out to duel today. Maybe once he grows up we can arrange a play-date."

I balled my hands into fists as he finished. At that point, I'd had it with his insults and degrading comments. Enough was enough.

"THAT'S IT!"

Before I could think about it, I turned around and shoved Tristan as hard as I could. He fell onto the ground but it wasn't long until he was glaring up at me.

"Hey, what'd you shove me for?"

My hand was still clenched in a fist as I answered. "Didn't you hear what I just said wise-guy? I'm tired of everyone thinking they gotta come to my rescue."

"But that's not how it is," Yugi cut in. "Friends look out for each other…"

"Keep out of this Yug," I interrupted, not in the mood for his usual speech. "Just let me do what I gotta do."

"Great idea," Tristan muttered sarcastically. "Do what you gotta do, even if it means losing the chance to help your sister."

My body stiffened as I was reminded of my reason for being here. Her angelic face flashed before my mind as I slowly unclenched my fists.

"Serenity, don't worry, I'll make you proud."

Around that time Tea tried to get Tristan and me to calm down, but the brute stormed off without another word. It wasn't all that surprising seeing that Tristan never really believed in me in the first place. Yugi tried to stop him soon afterward, but I told him to just let him go.

"Ah, some trouble in paradise?" Rex asked.

"That's none of your business!" Tea sneered, but I again moved my arm out in front of her. She stopped talking mid-sentence.

"So what's it going to be Joseph?" Mai asked. "You gonna run off with your friend or are you ready to start acting like a real duelist."

"I'm still here ain't I?" I replied with a smirk, though I don't know why she keeps calling me by my full name. There are only two people that call me by that name. Mai isn't one of them, so the sound of it coming from her mouth angered me.

"Yugi, no offense, but I want you to keep out of this one."

Yugi sighed. "Alright."

Rex chuckled. "Alright then, its Dino feeding time!"

A/N: And that's it for this chapter. Hope you all enjoyed it. Please review.

note: I've got a poll on my profile now that basically asks which of my stories do you like the best. If it's this one, feel free to go to my profile and vote for it.