"I don't know how I got myself into this," said Joey. "I mean, what did I do to deserve this?" Tori began to chuckle, a sly smile curling her lips. She and Joey were sitting at their normal lunch table, waiting for the rest of their friends and discussing they mornings events.
"I can tell you exactly how you got yourself into this, Joseph Wheeler," she replied. "You had a power struggle with Seto Kaiba, so when he challenged you, there wasn't any way you'd back down." Joey couldn't believe it- Torina had known him for less than a month, yet she had him perfectly profiled. He was about to comment, when another voice joined the conversation.
"Back down from what?" asked Teá. Joey and Torina looked up to see her, Tristen and Yugi standing over them, lunch trays in hand. Torina looked at Joey and flashed a sly grin.
"You want to tell them, or should I?" Before Joey could reply, Torina started to tell the whole story. "Last period in History, we had just gotten done taking notes and had the last five minutes free. Joey and I were talking about duel monsters, when Kaiba comes over and starts in on Joey- something about a Dueling Monkey." As she said that, steam started rolling out of Joey's ears. "I'm guessing by the way everyone was watching that this happens often... that and the fact Kaiba made a 'what are you gonna do this time?' comment."
"So what did Joey do this time?" asked Tristen. Torina's smile widened.
"You know the big dance competition next month?" Everyone nodded. "Well, Mr. Wheeler entered himself in the partner's bracket." Everyone started to laugh... until they saw Joey wasn't smiling.
"Oh no," said Yugi. "You're kidding, right Tori? This is a joke, isn't it?" Tori shook her head.
"Nope, sorry- I wish it was, but no." Joey looked back down at the table as his friends shook their heads.
"So, what are you going to do, Joey?" asked Tristen. "You weren't exactly blessed with the gift of dance, you know."
"I could learn!" Joey said, defensively.
"In six weeks?!" Joey sighed and looked over at Teá, who instantly began to shake her head.
"Forget it, Joseph Wheeler!" she cried. "I don't have the patience to teach you anything! I refuse." There was a pause before she added, "Besides, I'm entered in the singles competition and I won't have time to practice mine and teach you. Anyway, you'll need a partner and I can't participate in two events." Joey was about to hang his head in defeat, in realization that he had once again screwed up, when Tori put a hand on his shoulder.
"I can teach you, Joey," she said. Everyone turned to her in surprise.
"You dance?" asked Yugi. Tori nodded.
"Yeah, I love it! But the only way I could get Uncle Max to let me take lessons was to convince him I hated it- he wouldn't let me do anything that he thought I'd enjoy." She then became serious. "Joey, if you really want to do this, and show Kaiba you can do it, I'll be more than happy to teach you- but I have to warn you, it's not gonna happen over night and it's gonna take a lot of heart." Joey looked at her and shook his head.
"I appreciate the thought, Tori," he said. "But what's the point of learning a dance if I don't have a partner?"
Suddenly, Tori began to laugh and as she did so, Joey found himself smiling- he didn't know why of course, but figured it was her laugh: he loved the sound of it.
"What's so funny, Tori?" asked Teá. Tori continued to chuckle as she brushed her bangs out of her face, revealing the scar given to her by Pegasus during the Duelist Kingdom Tournament. Yugi noticed that she didn't do it on purpose- usually she tried to keep her forehead covered, because of the scar. Now, it was like she had forgotten it was there.
"Joey," she said, shaking Yugi from his thoughts. "I wouldn't go through the hassle of teaching you everything and then leave you without a partner! I'll be your partner." Just then, the bell rang, signaling the end of the lunch period. Tori stood up and grabbed her tray. "I'll see you at my place at four, Joey. And you..." She indicated Yugi, Tristen and Teá. "Show up if you can."
"Why do they gotta come?!" cried Joey. "They ain't learnin' nothin'!" Tori's soft smile turned into a sly smirk.
"You'll find out, Joey." As Tori headed off to her next class, Teá smiled, having a pretty good idea of what her friend had in mind.
"I can't come tonight," she said. "But you boys have fun." Yugi and Tristen looked at each other.
"Yuge," said Tristen. "I'm scared." Yugi nodded.
"Me too."
A few hours later, Yugi, Tristen and Joey found themselves outside of Tori's warehouse. Music was coming from inside and it mixed with the cool March air- it sounded like a Latin/country song, one Joey thought he had heard before.
"Shall we go in?" asked Tristen. His companions nodded and he pushed open the door.
The inside of the warehouse had changed since the boys had last been there: the cardboard boxes that had once lined the way to Tori's bedroom were replaced by actual walls, painted a light blue. In the doorway was a wooden pole coat rack, with Tori's jacket- a black leather one, with a picture of some sort of fairy on the back- hanging on one of the hooks, her blue Nike sneakers at the base and a small table. On the table was a note, which Joey picked up and began to read.
"Hey guys," he read. "I'm out in back, working on stuff for the contest. I just had the place remodeled, so I'm including a map- please don't get lost and wipe your feet! Tori."
So the guys went in- after wiping their feet, of course. Tristen grabbed the map and studied it.
"Ok," he said, pointing at a spot on the end of the map. "So we're here... and we need to get here..." He poked at a spot on the other end.
"Sounds simple enough," Yugi said.
"Then what are we waiting for?" Joey asked.
"This way," Tristen said, pointing to the room to their left. They went in one room and out another.
"Did this place seem this big the last time we were here?" Yugi asked at some point. The other two shrugged.
"It should be right in... here?" Tristen said. They were back where they started. All three sweat dropped.
/Yami!/ Yugi said.
//What's wrong?// asked Yami.
/We got lost./ Yami chuckled through the link and came out.
"Follow me," he said, still chuckling. Five minutes later, they were in the back room. Tori was in there, wearing her customary "Hikari" symbol t-shirt and black slacks, but added dancing shoes and a sweat band to her attire. She looked at the boys and smiled.
"What took you guys?" she asked.
"The great navigator here lead us in a big circle," Joey said. Tristen's eyes flared up as he clenched his fists and advanced towards Joey
"Why you-" Yugi rolled his eyes.
"Guys? I don't think Torina invited us over for you two to argue," he said. They stopped, looked at Yugi, then at each other and nodded.
"Sorry," they said immediately. Tori just laughed. She had to- Yugi and Tristen were gonna kill her when they found out why she brought them there.
Before she could say a word, Hikaru appeared from inside of the Millennia Diamond and rushed over to Yami. Tori could tell that Yami and Hikaru's love was a true one- the two of them were all over each other when they got together. As the Yami's "greeted" each other, Tori got down to business.
"All right guys," she said. "This is the first of many long and tiring practices- Yugi's grandpa told me about when he taught you to play Duel Monsters, Joey. This is gonna be something like that." Joey gave a nod, cueing Torina to look over at Yugi and Tristen. "And as for you guys... well, I'm gonna need you two to demonstrate the steps for me." Yugi and Tristen gave her a blank stare.
"You mean we dance with you?" asked Tristen. Tori shook her head.
"No- you dance with Yugi."
The Yami's laughed at the boys' reactions, then went back to talking.
"Yami," said Hikaru. "There's been something bothering me. How did you remember me so quickly? It's taken me ages to remember what I have!" Yami stopped to think about this a moment.
"Well," he replied. "When I saw you kneeling next to Torina, I suddenly remembered something. It was, I believe a few days before my duel with Seto..."
They were out in the market place (under disguise of course) when an out of control chariot driver came hurtling down the street, directly at a girl trying to get to a booth. Hikaru, being closer to the action, pushed the girl out of the way, leaving herself in the chariot's path. Suddenly, Yami pushed her out of the way, then rolled to safety himself. Hikaru knelt next to the girl.
"Are you alright?" she asked. The girl, obviously frightened, looked at Hikaru and nodded.
"F-Fine," she said. "Just shaken- thank you" Then, she ran off.
"Well, my love," Yami said, a smile curling his lips as he helped his wife off the ground. "So much for a quiet day out, eh?" Hikaru smiled and gave her beloved husband a kiss.
"I can never say my life is boring," she replied with a laugh. She didn't know what she would have done if she hadn't found him- probably still be living with her uncle... but that didn't matter now. Nothing mattered except her husband and the life they had together.
Torina kept a straight face as long as she could, but found herself unable to control it any longer. She burst out laughing and almost fell to the floor.
"Oh my gosh!" she cried. "I wish I had a camera! The look on your guys' faces was absolutely priceless!" Joey noticed that she had tears streaming down her face as she laughed. "You guys didn't honestly think I'd do that, did you?" she continued. "I'm not my uncle you know!"
"Then why are we here?" asked Yugi. Tori looked over at him, wiping her eyes as she did so.
"A dance competition is a lot like a Duel Monsters tournament, Yugi- you need to trust in the heart of the music and in yourself... it also helps to have some friends around to encourage you."
"So you brought us here to support Joey?" asked Tristen. "Nothing else?" Torina's smile widened.
"Well, and to get drinks and help the pizza delivery boy find his way back here."
As Yami and Hikaru watched the dance lesson with amused smiles, much to Joey's annoyance, they talked.
"Funny..." said Hikaru.
"What is, my dear?" asked Yami. She shook her head.
"Well, I had thought our Hikari's would have gotten together, but it would seem that Torina and Joey are becoming quite close."
"Yes it does," Yami replied, with a shake of his head. "Yugi doesn't seem to mind, though. In fact, I swear he's been encouraging it." Hikaru looked at him, a smile forming on her lips.
"I seem to recall" she said. "A certain Pharaoh liking to set people up."
"I recall a certain Queen helping," Yami said smiling back. Neither seemed to notice Yugi watching, and smiling as well- while he had seen Yami happy before, it was never quite like this. He was glad.
Two Weeks Later...
"Okay Joey," said Tori. "First of all, I'm teaching you- I need to lead. And second of all..." She looked down at her feet for a second, then back at him. "Remind me to wear steal toed boots during our next lesson." Joey smiled sheepishly as he rubbed the back of his head, ruffling his hair as he did so.
"Sorry, Tori," he said. "I didn't mean to." Tori sighed, shook her head and smiled back. There was no way she could stay mad at Joey, even if she wanted to.
"All right, Wheeler- let's try this again. Tristen, get ready to restart the music." Tristen nodded as he put his finger on the play button of Tori's CD player.
"Ready when you are, Torina," he said and waited for Joey and Torina to get into position. Tori stepped in front of Joey and crossed her arms in front of her, her left hand on her right shoulder, her right hand at her left side. Joey took her left hand in his right, and her right hand is his left. Both took a deep breath.
"Okay, Tristen," they said.
The Big Night...
"Tori, I'm not sure if I can do this..." Joey looked more than a little nervous as he watched Kaiba and his partner tear up the dance floor, also known as the school gym. He was choking on the bow tie he was wearing with his black tuxedo. Tori, dressed in a navy blue dress with black flowers printed on it, put her hand on his shoulder. When he looked at her, she was giving him a soothing grin.
"It'll be all right, Joey," she said, softly. "Just remember the steps, the fact that you lead now, take deep breaths... and don't step on my feet!" Joey began to laugh as a voice came over the loud speaker.
"Next up, Joey Wheeler and Torina Peg." The pair looked at each other. This was it- the big night.
"I can't wait to see how they do!" Teá said, excitedly. "I haven't seen what Tori's come up with yet- I bet it's gonna be great!" Yugi and Tristen looked at Teá and smiled.
"Tori's got a pretty interesting style, Teá," said Tristen.
"Yeah," agreed Yugi. "Your gonna love it... here they come!" Joey and Tea came onto the floor and got into their starting stance. As the music filled the room, Tori and Joey moved to the left- maintaining their stance as they did so- with light, quick steps. Every few steps, Joey would let go of one of Tori's hands, allowing her to spin out to either the right or left side, then returning her to her original stance. As words began to join the music, Joey spun Torina around to face him. Their hands still together, they brought them up in front of their faces, then slowly spread them out to the sides.
The pair stood still for a second, gazing into each others eyes, before Joey released Tori's left hand and, with his right hand above her head, twirled her around. Right after the last spin, Joey put his right hand behind Tori's back, dipped her down and slowly brought her back up. Then, Joey put his hands on Tori's waist, as Tori put hers on his shoulders. He then lifted her into the air and spun around twice, before setting Tori back on the ground- they were now standing next to each other, with Tori to Joey's right, the hands that weren't locked together were out stretched to the sides. As the song sped up, so did they- Joey rolled Tori into him, then they switched hands and Tori spun out to his left, and back in once more.
Maybe it was the moonlight
The scent of you on the breeze
Maybe it was your shadow that fell over me
Such a beautiful stranger
Eyes darker than coal
Your first look crossed the desert
Into my soul
Mi corazón perdido en ti
My heart is lost to you
You have captured my love completely
My heart is lost to you
Oh my heart is lost to you
As Joey and Torina continued their dance, Hikaru and Yami watched from a hidden part of the gym- up in the rafters.
"I don't think either of them know," Hikaru whispered suddenly. Yami looked at his wife, eyebrows raised.
"What do you mean, Hikaru?" he asked. Hikaru looked at him and smiled.
"Yami, those two look like they've been together since they were born... but I doubt either knows how they feel about each other, let alone how the other feels for them." Her smile widened. "Joey and Torina are perfect for one another- they both can be completely clueless at times." She was silent for a moment, causing her husband to worry.
"Hikaru? Is everything all right?" Hikaru looked at Yami and smiled.
"My love, I think I have figured out why Tori and Yugi are not in love, even though we are." Yami gave her a confused look, causing her smile to widen. "Do you remember Juno, Yami?" Yami's confusion remained for a moment, but then he began to smile.
"Ah, Juno," he said. "Yes, that was my best friend... looked a lot like Joey, if my memory serves me well." Hikaru nodded.
"He was like... well, like a brother to me, remember?" He introduced me to you, much like Yugi introduced Torina to Joey."
"I remember, but what are you getting at?"
"The roles have been reversed, Yami- Joey is the love of my aibou's life, while Yugi will someday become the brother figure she needs." Yami's smile widened as he began to nod.
"That is a job Yugi shall not only be good at, but will also be proud to do. We just have to wait for that day to come."
As the spirits talked above him, Joey felt the strange feeling he'd been having return, but stronger than ever. He didn't know what was going on, but as he looked into Torina's eyes, his heart began to flutter. This girl was something else.
Maybe it was the music
The way it moved with your hair
Or the heat of the moment
That hung in the air
But when I saw you there dancing
Mesmerized by the gaze
There was some kind of magic
That led me away
Mi corazón perdido en ti
My heart is lost to you
You have captured my love completely
My heart is lost to you
Oh my heart is lost to you
The dance ended with Tori and Joey holding hands and taking a bow. They instantly looked for their friends in the crowd- all of them were applauding like there was no tomorrow. Tori looked over at Joey and smiled.
"Nice dance, Wheeler." Tori and Joey turned around to see Kaiba and his partner standing behind them. "But," he continued. "We'll just have to see what the judges say." Just then, one of the judges, the school principal, tapped on the microphone.
"All right, kids- lets quiet down," he said. "Time to announce the winners of the dance competition." The crowd began to cheer; Yami and Hikaru grabbed each others hands and held them tight; Torina closed her eyes. "And the winners are..." The principal opened the envelope. "Joey Wheeler and Torina Peg!"
Tori's eyes shot open and she looked over at Joey, a huge smile on her face.
"We did it, Joey," she said, happily. "We really did it!" Joey smiled back at her- now it was Tori's turn to her have her heart flutter, and boy was it ever.
"Did you ever have a doubt?"
"You guys were great!" cried Teá, after Joey and Tori collected their prizes- a small trophy with a dance on top for each of them and a gift certificate to a restaurant. "You really showed Kaiba!" Tori smiled and nodded.
"Yeah... Teá, I've got my stuff. Are you ready?" The boys looked at them, completely confused.
"Ready for what?" asked Tristen.
"Teá and I are finally gonna have that sleepover," said Tori. "So, I'm heading over to her house." Before departing with Teá, Torina walked over to Joey and gave him a kiss on the cheek. "Bye Joey- I had a great time." And she left, leaving Joey and co in complete awe.