//Notes from the Authoress//: Introducing our mystery character: Laoa. He's my creation so no copying, 'kay?
Disclaimer: I don't own Yu-Gi-Oh! If I did, I sure wouldn't be typing this story. But I will be making up a few cards/monsters of my own, so don't try to find or hear of them in the shows. AND DON'T COPY THEM! If I misname any original monsters, forgive me.
((*))= flashback
words= thoughts
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Dueling Hearts
Chapter Two: Attack of the...?
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The morning bloomed through the mists hovering over the campsite. Tristan walked to the knotted sleeping bag that contained Joey. "Hey buddy, wake up. It's morning." Hr bent down and shook him gently. Joey moaned and turned away, snoring. Tristan jostled him again. "Come on lazybones, you've got to get up."
"Tristan, what are you doing?" Tea asked, clearly annoyed and exhausted. Her hair was tousled in all directions and her eyes were dark and tired.
"I'm trying to get this bum outta dreamland, what's it look like?" he answered.
"Do you have to do it so loud?" She glared briefly at him and walked over to Joey. She shoved him with her foot. "Joey Wheeler, you've caused me enough trouble sleeping last night! Now get up!" Joey continued to snore even louder than before. Tea lost it. "Get your butt outta bed!" she yelled, kicking him in the side. His eyelids twitched and lifted slowly. A lazy grin spread over his face.
"Mornin' Tea. Sleep well?"
Tea growled and stomped off to the campfire where Yugi and Bakura were already eating.
"Guess I'll take that as a 'no'," laughed Joey as he stood and stretched. He felt unusually buoyant and awake, even though he looked like he would fall asleep again any minute.
"Hey Joey, you okay?"
Joey looked down at Yugi, who had suddenly appeared next to him. "Yeah Yug', I'm fine. Why?"
"Well, your face is really pale and there are big circles under your eyes. How've you been sleeping?"
"Not very well," he admitted, running a hand through his mess of blond hair. "I been having these dreams... but I feel great." He stopped himself before he told all to his little pal.
Yugi frowned slightly. "Well, either way, you look beat. Come on and have some breakfast."
Joey followed Yugi to the fire, settling between Bakura and Tristan, deciding he didn't want to brave Tea this early in the morning.
"So Joey," Tristan mumbled around a bite of broiled fish. "What were you giggling about last night?"
"Huh? Gigglin'?" Joey asked, perplexed.
"Yeah, you kept me up half the night hearing you laughing in your sleep," Tea complained. "So what did you dream about that was so amusing?"
"Well, uh... I..." Joey's mind raced, trying to think up something believable. "I dreamt that... I beat the PANTS offa Kaiba! Oh, yeah, I CREAMED 'im!"
Tea snorted, "Well, that MUST have been a dream!"
Tristan laughed and nudged Joey. "Yeah, no offense Joey, but, in your dreams!"
"But in Kaiba's nightmares!" Bakura chimed in, setting off the whole group laughing. Joey sighed in relief. Thank God they'd bought it. He felt too weird to tell them what, or who, he'd really been dreaming of. Tristan would never let him live it down.
--
After a while, Joey and Tristan put out the fire and everyone got ready to leave. "Let's hope we'll find some duelists up this early," Yugi said.
"I know we will! I got a feeling, I tell ya!" crowed Joey, earning a whack on the head from Tea.
"If you don't pipe down, EVERY duelist will be up this early!"
"'Ey, okay, sorry!" Joey grumbled, rubbing his head. So sue him if that dream left him a little more than giddy.
Oh God, that dream. He couldn't even remember when he'd first had it. But once it had him, it refused to let go of him. It began as a simple dream; just a lovely kiss with a lovely girl. But soon it took form and feeling. Last night, it was passionate and incredibly intimate. The scenario didn't shock him, though. In fact, he figured this fantasy would seem commonplace if it were any other girl he dreamed about.
But Mai Valentine wasn't just another girl. She was a secret, an enigma. One moment she was haughty and self-assured, and in the next, she was a subtly friendly, quiet girl. Even after her drastic change of heart towards their group, Joey never thought he would get stuck on her.
He'd always thought she was pretty. His eyes had nearly rolled out of his head when they met on the boat. When he got a taste of her personality, he'd backed off a bit. She came across as cold, friendless and ruthless. He knew she would stop at nothing to get the grand prize. To others, who only saw her primped, pampered exterior, she might have come across as a ditz. But Joey knew better. She was smart; crafty and conniving, but very smart. That phony psychic trick had him fooled for a while, but discovering her secret only made her seem smarter. It was a good strategy he had to admit. She scared a good number of duelists before he exposed her, and she didn't seem to care how many more she would trick.
Yet even that bit of ruthlessness attracted him. It made her big, mysterious eyes glimmer with determination. It was eye-catching to see her spine straight with her pretty neck held high. Even seeing her beautiful mouth turned up in a smug grin was enough to make him blush.
"JOEY!"
He barely heard Tea cry out before he fell over something big. Someone else cried out as he and the thing hit the ground. He groaned and the thing groaned with him. He looked down and felt his face blaze.
It was Mai.
She lay on her back and looked up at him, her eyes wide and surprised. It only took a moment to realize the compromising position they had ended up in. Beads of sweat ran down Joey's temple. "Mai..." A split second passed while they regarded each other before Mai's eyes burned with indignation.
"GET OFF OF ME YOU DOLT!" She shouted, the force of her voice sending Joey scrambling to his feet. He stood stupidly for a moment, rubbing the nape of his neck.
"Eh, sorry Mai. I-I wasn't lookin' where I was goin'..."
"Yes! I noticed that!" she huffed, struggling to her feet.
"Here, let me help you," said Yugi, helping her to her feet.
"Thanks Yugi, I got it," she said a little impatiently, dusting herself off. She winced as she brushed over her left elbow.
"What's wrong?" Yugi asked. Joey felt a pang of concern and went to her. She turned away from them.
"Nothing, it's nothing. Just a scratch," She insisted, covering the torn elbow of her purple jacket. As she began to walk away, a tiny trickle of crimson seeped through her fingers. She winced again.
"Wait a sec Mai," Joey said. "Here, lemme see," he said, moving her hand from her arm. "Wow!" he exclaimed when he saw the damage. The knob of her elbow had been skinned wide open, the wound looking a bit like meat. "Geez Mai! I'm sorry! Really...whoa! Yugi, gimme the first aid kit would ya?"
"Sure."
"Joey, it's fine, I'm okay," she grumbled, shaking her head. She tried to ease out of his grasp, but he held her firmly. Tea peeked over his shoulder.
"Oh! You obviously haven't seen this Mai!" she said, looking at the raw skin. "Here sit down." She motioned to a rock and Mai sighed, giving in at last. Yugi placed the first aid kit at Joey's feet.
"You want some help Joey?" he asked, putting down a shallow bowl of cool water for them.
"Nah, I got it covered. Just wait over there with the others," he replied, dipping his hand into the kit. Reemerging with a small pair of scissors, he turned to Mai again. "Hold still," he said, turning her arm gently. He gripped the ruined sleeve and began snipping it off from the elbow.
"What are you doing?!" Mai yelled, enraged that he was further ruining her favorite jacket. She didn't pull away though; the last thing she needed was another wound.
"Makes it easier to work this way," Joey answered, not looking up. He discarded the torn piece of cloth and began to rummage through the first aid. He found the disinfectant and bandages. With a damp cloth he cleaned the dirt and grass on the surrounding skin. Dampening a wad of gauze with the smelly disinfectant, he positioned it over the wound. "Now hold still. This is gonna hurt a little."
"I've had cuts before, I know it's-OW!" She yelped, pulling her arm away from his hands. "THAT HURT!"
"'Ey, 'ey! I told ya to hold still! It's no good if I can't clean it up," He said, gently catching her arm again. She huffed and turned her face away from him. Joey shook his head and moved the gauze to her elbow again. At the stinging touch, her hand suddenly found his and gripped it firmly. He looked at her face and saw her eyes were pressed together, her top teeth grinding into her lower lip. Brave girl, he thought and smiled. His smile disappeared when he noticed that the front of her already low-cut shirt had been torn. Did I do that? he wondered. The curves of her breasts were slightly visible and Joey tore his eyes away from the sight. It would not be beneficial to his health if she saw him staring. The cleaning went smoothly after that, and he wrapped it in a pristine white bandage.
"There, how's that feel?" he asked, releasing her hand, which he had to admit felt very right in his.
She looked at him, mild confusion spinning in her. She never thought he could be so concerned about anyone. He'd always been brash and cocky, so why the big change. "Uhh... fine," she fidgeted with the hem of her short skirt. "Thank you." She mumbled, studying her shoes.
"You're welcome," he answered, tearing his eyes away from her nervous hands resting on her perfect legs. He cleared his throat. "C'mere," he cocked his head towards the other waiting for them to finish. He rose and began to walk towards them.
Mai sat there a moment, debating whether or not she should. Maybe it wasn't good for her to get attached to these people. Her feelings for Joey, however uncertain they were, had already softened her a little too much for her comfort. Then, an inner need to be near him again seized her and she too rose. She sat between to Bakura and Tea, not too close, yet not too far away from Joey.
"Here you go Mai," said Yugi, handing her an extra canteen. She took it and nodded thanks, making sure her eyes didn't meet Joey's.
He sighed. You clumsy oaf, he thought, frowning. She doesn't want to be near you after what happened. What did you expect?
"Look Mai," he muttered, certain his face was red. "I'm really sorry I hurt you. And your shirt, I-"
"Joey," she interrupted, deciding not to let him beat himself up over it anymore. "You didn't hurt me. It wasn't your fault."
"Yes it..."
"No," she interrupted firmly, buttoning her jacket over her torn shirt. "It was someone else."
"Someone else?" said Tristan. "Who?"
"I...I don't know..." she whispered, clearly shaken up a bit from remembering.
"Hey," Tea piped up, "Where are your star chips?"
Yugi and Joey stared at the empty gauntlet. They hadn't noticed that they were missing.
"What happened?" asked Bakura. Joey leaned forward, itching to discover who'd done this to her. They were in for a beating for sure.
"Well, I was walking around looking for a duel, when I heard something moving in the bushes..."
((*))
"Hm?" Mai stopped at the sound. A soft rustling in the blooming bushes. She stopped for a moment and looked about. The silence that followed was stifling, and she began to feel a bit paranoid. "Who's there?"
"You are a duelist, yes?" crooned a low, dark voice. It seemed to echo inside itself and sent a shiver through Mai's body and she looked around. She swallowed hard and straightened her shoulders.
"Who wants to know?" she sneered, finding her feet again.
"Laoa..." the voice whispered sweetly. There was a great weight thrown into Mai's chest and she slammed into a tree. The cloth of her jacket yielded to the hard bark and a deep, sharp pain dug into her flesh. A harsh tearing sound quickly followed the pain. She opened her mouth to cry out, but the blow had knocked all of the wind out of her. All she could manage was a small, choking gasp.
Then, as suddenly as the assault had come, her attacker was gone. Mai stood there for a moment, stunned and frightened. When her senses regained control, she glanced about, trying to see if anymore attacks were to be made. Her arm screamed and the neckline of her shirt hung in ribbons. It was then that she looked down at her dueling gauntlet. All of her star chips had disappeared...
((((*))))
"I looked all around and retraced my steps, but they were gone. All of them gone just like that!" she cried, and put a hand on either side of her head, leaning forward onto her knees. "Maybe I'm only playing for the money, but I worked really hard for those chips!"
Joey felt his blood boiling in his brain. How any guy could be so low as to hit and run someone like that was absolutely unbelievable. His hands clenched into fists that trembled on his legs. He felt a need to throttle the jerk, to beat him silly. "We'll find 'im Mai," he gritted through his teeth.
Mai's head snapped up. "Really?"
"Of course we will," he said. "No one steals from our friends like that and doesn't regret it."
"Sure," Yugi chimed in, "We did it once, we can do it again."
"No problem," added Tristan and Bakura.
"Look, you guys shouldn't really. You've already saved my star chips once. I should do this on my own."
Tea laid her hand on Mai's shoulder. "You know that would be useless Mai. Without star chips, you can't challenge anyone. Besides, we want to help you out, right guys?" Everyone nodded eager assent. "Now, did you see what this guy looked like?" she asked helpfully. Mai hung her head.
"No, all I heard was his voice, and I know his name is Laoa."
"Well, then we better get going! Let's go find this Laoa jerk!" Joey exclaimed, putting his right hand in front of him, palm down.
"Right!" the group shouted, placing their right hands atop one another's. All eyes turned to Mai, who looked a little uncertain. Then, she allowed a smile to cross her lips and laid her hand atop Bakura's.
"YEAH!" they all shouted, throwing their fists up in the air.
--
"Joey?" Yugi called, catching up to his tall friend.
"Yeah Yug'? What is it?"
"Could you hang back here a sec?" he asked.
"Am I goin' to fast for ya buddy?"
"No, I'm fine. I just want to talk to you."
Joey stared at his friend. Yugi looked so solemn, and he usually was very cheerful. "Uh, sure Yug'. What's up?"
"It's about Mai, really," Yugi began, his crimson-violet eyes boring into Joey's.
Oh man, I knew this would come! he thought, but waited for Yugi's inevitable question.
"This whole attack thing feels really strange. I have a weird feeling, and my puzzle feels...lighter. What do you think this is about?"
Whew. "Well, I dunno. Could just be another eliminator like that psycho Panik." Just the thought of that brutal, cowardly bastard made his face flush with heat. "Boy, I'd like to get my hands on this jerk! No girl should be treated like that! Espec..." he trailed off, realizing how deep into his thoughts he was letting Yugi into. Looked like Yugi would find out even without asking.
Yugi smiled gently. "Especially someone like Mai?" He looked at Joey's anxious face and saw how red it had become. "I get it Joey."
"You do?"
Yugi nodded. "I...I've kinda suspected it for a while," he admitted.
Joey's sighed and his voice dropped to a very low whisper. "Well, just don't let it leak out or travel. I wanna tell her myself."
"No problem Joey. I won't even tell the cards," he laughed, and Joey joined him, happy that the serious moment had passed. "It's nice to see her join up with us, even for only a while.
"Mm-hm," he replied, his attention returning to Mai, walking only a few feet ahead of him. "You think she'll stay?"
Yugi shrugged. "If she wants to. She's so independent, maybe that's why she never travels with anyone. She feels that they slow her down."
"Yeah I guess," Joey said, his good mood dropping another point. After this was over, she might disappear again.
"HEY!" Tristan called. "Are you two slowpokes comin' or not?"
Joey shook his head smiling, "Yeah, yeah we're comin'!" he called back. They quickened their pace, and through some coincidence, Joey found himself walking next to Mai. She glanced at him for a split second, then looked down. Her pulse pounded in her throat. Now what to do?
"How's your arm?" he suddenly asked. He found it much easier to look at her now that she'd changed into a new shirt, though it still didn't hide her fully. But that was nothing new.
"Huh? Oh, it's fine. Still a little sore," she said, unable to look at him. It wouldn't do for him to see her blush.
"Look Mai, I'm really sorry."
"Joey stop apologizing," she said, finally meeting his eyes with an impatient sigh. "I told you it wasn't your fault."
"Yeah, but I still ran in to you. I shoulda been watchin' where I was goin'. Ah, I'm such a nimrod!" he grumbled and shoved his hands into his pockets.
Then something unexpected happened. Mai began to laugh, not high and mocking as usually was heard from her, but warm and truly amused at his choice of self-insult.
"Yes you are!" she said between laughs, mussing his thick blond hair. "But I won't hold that against you!" Joey stared at her, his jaw resting on the grass, shocked that he'd felt those fingers in his hair.
"Mai... are you bein'... friendly?"
Wrong question. Joey found himself on the ground, his head hurting something terrible. Mai stood over him red-faced and seething.
"Yes I WAS! I'm capable of being friendly Joey Wheeler! I'm not some cold- hearted statue y'know!" she shouted and stalked off.
"Heh, gotta teach her about jokes I guess," he mumbled, letting a lopsided grin spread over his face.
"Joey, you okay? We saw her sock you, what'd you do?" Yugi asked as he and Tristan helped him to his feet.
"Yeah man, what happened?" Tristan asked.
"I dunno..." Joey mused, the grin never leaving his face.
"Guys!" called Tea. "Come up here!"
Tea was standing with Mai atop the hill path they'd been trekking for the past two hours. The rest of the group went to join them and everyone grinned at what they saw. In the middle of the grassy clearing below sat a crystalline spring bubbling with fresh water. Tiny flowers dotted the carpet of grass. Everyone agreed that this would be the perfect spot to stop for lunch.
"Well, let's set down everyone," Tea announced, assuming the esteemed role of High Organizer. "Tristan, see if you can find some firewood. Yugi, fill up the canteens from the spring. Bakura, you're with me. We'll try to find some fruit or something."
"'Ey! Whattabout me?" asked Joey.
"Gee Joey, I thought you'd enjoy doing nothing. It's what you do best," Tea smiled sweetly.
"'Ey, I do plenty 'round here!" he shot back.
"Don't panic Joey. I'm sure you can find something to occupy your time!" Tristan called as he disappeared.
"Grr... I think they did this on purpose Yug'," Joey moaned, turning to his friend anxiously.
"Don't worry Joey. I didn't tell any of them."
"I know ya didn't, but... I think... ah, I dunno. If they do find out, I don't want them setting us up," he admitted, stooping down to help Yugi fill the canteens.
"I know Joey," Yugi laid a hand on his shoulder. "Don't worry, I'll look out for you if they start to suspect anything."
"About what?" asked Mai, who suddenly materialized behind them.
"Dyaahh!" Joey yelped as he lost his balance and fell into the spring. He resurfaced, sputtering and coughing, and gazed up into Mai's amused face. "Geez, don't DO that! It's not fair sneakin' up like that!" Mai chuckled and Yugi turned away, trying to hide his laughter. "Ohh, yeah, REAL funny ain't it?" he grumbled, climbing out of the water.
"Yes very," Mai smiled, a very genuine one at that. "I hope you got the canteens filled before Mr. Graceful took a plunge Yugi." At this Yugi couldn't stop himself and started laughing out loud.
"'Ey, it ain't that funny Yug'! Cut it out! Oh, maybe you'd like to have a drink, eh?"
"HEY! Joey wait a minute! NO! No, put me down! HEY!" Yugi yelled, but to no avail. In he went with an even bigger splash than Joey. He came up, hacking out hysterical laughter. Mai doubled over and fell to the ground, trying to catch her breath.
"So this is what they call 'male bonding'!" she said between gasps of air. She looked up and saw Yugi and Joey, dripping wet, both of their faces alight with evil grins. "OH NO, nonono! Don't you dare come near me! Get away!" she shrieked, leaping up. She tried to run but Joey grabbed her shoulders and held her fast. Yugi grabbed her feet and hoisted her up, writhing and screaming for mercy, between them.
"TO THE SPRING!" he said and they marched her over to the pool.
"NO! THIS IS A WHITE SHIRT!" she screeched, trying to free herself.
"It wouldn't be any fun if it weren't," Joey said simply, the grin suddenly becoming more villainous. They were just about to drop her when Yugi's puzzle began to pulsate. He stiffened visibly and dropped Mai's feet. Joey stared at Yugi with concern and let go of her shoulders.
"Well it's-"
"SHH!" Joey and Yugi silenced her simultaneously. Yugi turned to his right and closed his eyes, letting the wind breathe over him. He opened them and glared.
"Guys! What's wrong?" asked Tea, who'd just returned with Bakura, their arms laden with food.
"Someone's near," Yugi hissed, his eyes narrowing into slits.
The bushes whispered softly in the wind, the only sound breaking the thick silence. Mai let free a soft whimper of apprehension and took a barely perceptible step towards Joey. He noticed her nervousness followed her gaze to a section of flowering bushes. They shifted a little more noticeably and he felt his pulse quicken. He stepped forward.
"Arright! Who's out there?" he demanded. "C'mon! Show y'self!"
A laugh was his answer. Deep, low, and cloyingly sweet, it spoke to Yugi of an ancient evil in its history.
We're getting in over our heads. His inner spirit warned. This might be more dangerous than we thought.
--
// Like it? Hate it? Please don't hate it (puppy eyes)! Chapter 3 coming soon! By the way... my Kuriboh army needs more reviews! They will come for you if you fail to heed my warning! BEWARE! They are armed with rubber chickens! MUAHAHAHAHA!!//