//Notes from Me// Well, here we are, Chapter Five.

Disclaimer: I DON'T OWN YU-GI-OH! The plot is mine. References to Yu-Gi-Oh episodes are… someone else's. No more new characters from here on. (Awww) Hope you all enjoy this one! R&R!

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Dueling Hearts

Chapter Five: Unspoken Attraction

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"Joey? Joey! Come on, get up!" Tea pleaded, gently slapping his cheek. It had been five minutes since the attack and Joey still hadn't moved a muscle. His breathing was shallow and he sported a rather large bruise on his forehead. It seemed he'd hit a stone when he fell.

Tristan dropped down and began to jostle him. "C'mon buddy! You gotta get up!"

"Not so hard Tristan," Bakura cautioned. "If he's had a concussion…"

"Concussion?" Mai suddenly exclaimed. "Those can be dangerous can't they?"

Bakura looked up at her, surprised that she cared that much. "Yes, but as long as he's bruising then there's no internal bleeding."

Mai seemed to relax a bit and turned away. She seemed to relax, but in fact she felt like she was about to fall apart. She realized she couldn't keep up her charade much longer. The longer she was around Joey and his friends, the more she found that she liked being considered a friend. She wasn't certain, but it seemed that Joey was warming up to her. Their last exchange was so strange. It seemed that there was a lot that they both wanted to say, but she didn't claim to read minds. Now he was unconscious and she didn't get to thank him yet. What if there was really something wrong with him? What if he was hurt worse than they thought? She turned to Yugi, who had become "normal" again.

"Is he going to be alright Yugi?" she asked anxiously.

"It seems that way Mai. Looks like he just banged his head pretty bad," he answered gently.

"It seems…it looks like…what if he doesn't wake up?" she said, wringing her hands, staring at his prone form.

Yugi laid a hand on her arm. "Mai, don't worry. He will, I'm sure of it."

Mai let out a shaky breath and dropped her hands. She tried to force a smile but failed. She couldn't help worrying. She cared too much.

"Well, he's not getting up anytime soon," Tea sighed. "He just needs to sleep it off I guess."

"Guess nothin'!" Tristan exclaimed. "Is he gonna be okay?"

"Of course he's gonna be okay!" Mai cried, desperation glowing in her eyes. "And he is gonna wake up, Tea! You just didn't try hard enough!" With that, she ran to Joey and dropped beside him. She bent low to his ear. "Listen up Joey Wheeler!" she hissed. "I know you must love it in dreamland, or wherever you are. And I KNOW you've loved being waited on while we've tried to get your lazy behind off this grass! But I haven't thanked you yet, and I'm not about to leave and be called ungrateful! Now GET UP!" she cried and rocked his head with a good, hard slap. Tea gasped.

"Why did you do that?!" she shouted. Mai glared at her.

"Shut up! This is…"

Joey groaned and his eyelids shivered. "Thnziddeda…" he muttered groggily.

Mai whipped her head around. "What was that?" she asked.

Joey's eyelids lifted slowly and a tiny half grin turned up the corner of his mouth. "Thanks, I needed dat."

"Joey!" Tea exclaimed.

"Well, that's one way to do it," Tristan said scratching the back of his neck.

"That was a bit rough Mai," said Bakura

Mai smiled slightly, then sighed and smacked Joey in the head.

"Owww…" he groaned.

"Don't ever do that again. You scared us," she said simply and got up. Joey seized her hand and held her eyes a moment.

"I thought you were gonna thank me," he grinned. Mai read the expression on his face. How you thank me is up to you…

Mai took a deep breath and looked him in the eye. "Thank you Joey. Really, thanks a lot." She drew her hand away and looked in her palm. Inside it were eight golden star chips. This situation was very familiar, and it reminded her of the first time he touched her…

((((*))))

Yami approached her, holding her rescued star chips in his hand

"Yugi, I don't know what to say," she murmured, completely humble. He opened his palm, exposing the golden chips.

"Here, these star chips are yours," he replied smoothly. Mai couldn't look at him. She didn't like people fighting her battles. "They're yours. Take them."

"Go on," Tea urged.

"I'm sorry, but I can't accept them," she answered, assuming her former attitude. "I fight my own battles." Yami stared at her solemnly.

"Mai! Yugi battled for you! He risked his life in that duel!" Tea said sternly, as if Mai hadn't been paying attention throughout that last battle.

Mai turned to the brunette with mild anger in her eyes. "I know, but…"

"Heh, guess dere's no point in arguin'," Joey suddenly interrupted. "She's way too thick-headed." He approached Yami and took the star chips from him. "But if she'd rather be booted off the island, I'll take 'em!" He grinned and laughed at his own joke.

Mai saw red and growled at him. "You think me losing all my star chips is FUNNY, Joey Wheeler?" She shouted absolutely infuriated. Joey just grinned crookedly.

"I thought ya didn't want 'em Mai," he chuckled. Mai grabbed at the star chips and he stretched his arm up to keep them from her. She growled in frustration and reached for them.

"Give 'em BACK!" She yelled.

He smiled a softer smile and transferred them into her hand with a gentle high-five. "Of course you can have 'em. Dey're yours."

Mai's jaw fell open as she stared at the tokens in her palm. She looked back up at him, incredulous. "Really, Joey?"

Joey shook his head slowly. "Didn't you learn anythin' from this duel? If you just keep puttin' up defenses, then dey'll only get between you and the other people who are tryin' ta be yer friends." He looked at her with sincerity in his smile. "So can't ya let yer shields down? Just dis…one time?" Yami nodded in approval. Mai just stared at them, a new respect stirring for both of them, and something else. Something she hadn't felt for anyone before.

((((*))))

She felt tears prickle behind her eyes and gave a deep sniff. That's when it started, when he touched her hand as a friend. And now, after seeing him show what a true friend he was, she wanted to embrace him, but in the position he still lay in, the act would appear quite scandalized to those around.

"Well, as long as you're awake, get your butt off the ground!" Tea exclaimed, shoving him with her foot.

"'Kay, fine. Don't need to kick me around," he answered, getting shakily to his feet.

"Legs work Joey?" Yugi asked. Joey grinned back at him.

"Yup, good as new." But just as he finished he began to sway on his feet. Tristan caught him from behind and steadied him.

"Hey, you okay buddy?" he asked, standing him back up.

Joey gave him a lopsided grin. "Yeah sure, I'm fine, see?" Thus saying he took a confident step…and began to fall forward. Mai ran over and shouldered him up.

"Looks like you aren't going anywhere Joey. You need to take a rest," she said, sitting him down on a rock.

"I agree, that last battle really took a lot out of you," Yugi said. "We should just set up here for the rest of the day and take a break."

"All right, all right. Just as long as ya don't start babyin' me," Joey muttered, holding his head. Tea and Tristan began to set up while Bakura and Yugi started talking to Joey. Mai just stood off to the side staring at them. She'd never seen a group of friends so tight. And never in her life had she ever been part of such a group. She'd never felt wanted due to her attitude. But she knew that the one thing that made her a stronger duelist was that attitude. To remain with this group and become a real friend to them would mean leaving that behind. And she didn't think she could do that, even if she was in love.

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"You're sure you aren't coming with us?" Yugi asked. Mai nodded and shouldered her khaki bag.

"Yeah, I'm sure. I'm sorry but…I have to leave, and finish my own game. It's not that I haven't enjoyed my time with you all, but as I've said before, I need to fight my own battles…and travel solo," she admitted, not looking at anyone. She turned away. "Thanks again for all you've done for me."

As she started off, Joey ran up to her. "Hold up a second Mai!"

"What?" she turned her pulse quickening. What was he going to do? He paused before her, his big brown eyes searching hers. Don't leave yet, they said. Mai couldn't stand the look on his face, but she would be a coward if she looked away.

"Don't be a stranger," he said after a moment. "And take care of dat arm."

She smiled. "Yes Doctor Wheeler." He grinned ruefully and held out his hand. She stared at it for a moment, then reached out to shake it. No more words passed between them and she dropped her head.

"See ya later Mai!" Tristan called, catching her attention.

"Yeah," she sighed and turned away. "Maybe."

As she walked away, Joey's eyes fixed on her back and felt a strange smile cross his face. Yugi came up to him.

"It was going to happen," he said simply.

"Yeah," Joey sighed. "But she's…probably better off on her own," he asserted, trying to sound like he didn't mind.

But he knew Yugi knew how he really felt. Lousy.

"Hey c'mon buddy!" Tristan laughed, jumping on Joey from behind. "Don't look so glum! She'll probably be at the castle y'know!"

"Yeah, I know but…wait a minute! Why should that mean anything to me?" he asked, going defensive. Please don't have them know!

"Oh, Joey," Tea said, shaking her head with a smile. "We all know she wants a rematch from you. She just didn't want to now because you fought for her. She still wants to prove she's better than you."

Joey heaved a sigh. Thank you God. "Yeah I guess she does." He knew that wasn't what he wanted, and he doubted she did. He had caught something in her eyes, a softer look. He didn't know for sure, but he hoped she would tell him something before this tournament would end.

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As Mai climbed the hill, the spicy scent of tears assailed her nose. She did what she had to do, so why did she feel so lousy? She knew the answer, but she didn't want to face it. She didn't want to admit that she might have made him feel lousy too. If she didn't admit it, she wouldn't have to live with it. She faced the fiery sunset in front of her, the light making her tears look like blood. Inside, she felt her heart bleeding, and wondered if maybe, just maybe she'd ever see sunset light in his eyes.

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Short I know, but hey, you'll LOVE the next one! Review!