Joey Makes Another Slightly Idiotic Mistake

Joey Wheeler and Tristan Taylor walked among the racks of cards. Dust drifted up down from the untouched highest shelves. Joey couldn't hear or see Yugi's grandpa. And he somehow doubted that Yugi's grandpa was still in the shop. Suddenly Joey heard something.

He whipped around. Tristan jumped back in surprise.

"Tristan, did you hea dat?"

"No, what the heck are you scaring me for?"

"No, really I heard something," Joey trailed off, thinking that maybe the quiet shadows of the shop were having some adverse effect on his mind. He turned around in a slow circle and then backed after Tristan, who was already moving away.

"You're an idiot Joey," Joey stopped and held his breath. Sort of a muffled thud met his ears.

"There, I heard it again,"

"Well, if you're so sure you heard something, why don't you go check it out yourself, you wuss?"

"I think I will thank you!" Joey turned away from Tristan and headed in the direction on the sound.

He regretted it immediately as Tristan's back went around the next corner, leaving Joey alone. He walked as quietly as he could (which isn't very quietly) toward the general direction of the thud. The door of the storeroom was partially open. Joey pressed his ear against it. He could no longer hear anything.

This left him with three options. One: he could go back and tell Tristan that he was a wuss and wouldn't go in the back room. Two: That he heard nothing and was making a big deal about absolutely nothing. Or three: he could actually go and investigate the storage room.

He decided on the less humiliating third choice. Carefully he began to push the door open. There was no sound from inside the room, but like a sixth sense, Joey could tell there was something here.

"Mai? Ryou?" he called to the two that had gone in the back room. If he had to bet on anybody he would guess it was Ryou that was doing this. Not Ryou exactly, but his Yami. Joey could never trust Yami Bakura again. Not after his soul was almost destroyed. He didn't think Mai had anything to do with it. Mai was the type of person that if she wanted or needed anything she would just tell you, and in Joey's case order you to do it.

There was no reply to his whispered call. He crept to the back rows of the storeroom; the shadows seemed to be thicker here. Joey gave an involuntary shiver. Something was making the hair on the back of neck stand on end.

He rounded a corner and froze. Something he hoped never to see again met his eyes.

Bakura stood over Mai. Or Mai's body. The body was a slightly off white color and it was breathing. Joey had to strain to keep his breathing quiet. He knew Mai's soul was gone, and he knew who had taken it. Bakura's hands were cupped in a circle around his millennium ring. His eyes were closed in concentration. Almost as if he were in slow motion, he bent down and picked up Mai. Joey hissed out his breath through gritted teeth, he couldn't stand the fact that the "Lord of Thieves" was touching her. He knew where Bakura was taking Mai. The Shadow Realm. He had been trapped there once before. It wasn't pleasant.

His mind raced. Do something it screamed at him. You can't let Bakura take her! Joey knew perfectly well he could, but his normal insanity stopped him.

"Bakura!" Bakura's eyes snapped open. He shot Joey a look that would have frozen fire. His lip curled in agitation.

"Wheeler," he acknowledged Joey's presence and began moving away.

"Stop right there!" Joey's voice shook.

"You think you can stop me?" Bakura hissed. Joey did not think he could even delay Bakura, but he tried to look fearless.

"Yeah, I believe I can," he said loudly. Stall for time! Maybe Tristan or somebody would hear and come. Buy time! He had no clue what he was doing.

"Hmm, you must be quiet confidant in yourself Joey Wheeler. In fact I would be fooled if your hands weren't shaking," said Bakura with the air of someone commenting on the weather. Joey was at a loss for words. He stumbled over what to say.

"Well, I think I've figured out a way ta-,Yugi!!!!" He yelled. Immediately he felt his voice fizzle into nothing. Bakura's hand held a ball of yellow light. He shot Joey a look of pure venom.

"Yugi!" The ball mimicked quietly in Joey's voice. He felt his throat constrict. Bakura had taken his voice. The white-haired Yami advanced on Joey. Still holding Mai's limp body. His lips curled into an ugly sneer. Joey stumbled backwards, searching with his hands for anything that would come to his aid.

What would stall Bakura? What does he like? Not me, not Mai, definitely not Yugi, not Ryou. Duel monsters? He'll play, I don't think he likes them much. He likes millennium items. Joey's brain was on overhaul. He thought his mind was going to explode. Mind! That's it, Bakura likes mind games, and traps…

Joey opened his mouth to speak, but no sound came out. His breath flew between his teeth, soundless. Bakura, who was almost on him by now, grinned.

"You want to say something, don't you?" Joey nodded. He should never have gotten himself in this position. "Well, if you hadn't said anything before, you wouldn't be in this position now," Bakura seemed to read his mind.

In Azerbaijan a child touched his first book. In France a hooker got refused. A frog croaked thirty miles away. Joey was convinced he was going to die.

He felt frozen in place. Bakura reached up a hand and placed it on Joey's neck. The little ball of light bounced in the air above Bakura's shoulder. Slowly the hand began to constrict; Joey gasped for air and tried to scream. But could only produce a broken gurgle. Bakura's smiled widened. Then he began to withdraw his hand.

"I'll let you say what you have to say. But, no yelling, because if you do they will be your last words," He reached one long finger forward and traced the vein down Joey's neck, feeling his life blood pulsing beneath the skin. Bakura reached above him and literally squashed the ball of light. Joey felt a tingling in his throat. Bakura was playing with him. He was right, Bakura did like mind games. His voice was back.

"Listen, Bakura,"

"That would be me, yes,"

"You like ta play games, dontcha?"

"Continue,"

"Well, if we play, say Duel Monstas, and I win then you give Mai back her soul,"

"And if you lose?" His face was expressionless, so Joey rambled on.

"Then you can keep both me and Mai,"

"Hmm, I must admit, it's a tempting offer," Bakura tapped his chin with one finger, considering it.

"It is? I mean, it is," he asked.

"For once Joey, you came up with a good idea,"

"Bakura, I didn't-," Joey gulped and stopped. Bakura had a sort of smile on his face, as if he knew something Joey didn't. Joey suddenly regretted suggesting any sort of game. Bakura played to the death.

"You didn't, really?"

"I-," Bakura held up a hand to stop him.

"How about I let you choose what card you want to be. Just like last time," Joey nodded his face white. Beads of sweat blossomed on his forehead. "Okay then, well. If you get to choose your piece, I get to choose the playing field,"

"Yeah, so we're playing Duel Monsters?" Joey hoped he sounded better than before.

"In a way. Only I choose the rules,"

"That's n-not right," Joey stuttered afraid to argue.

"It isn't?" Bakura said innocently. "Well then, how bout once a choose a rule, it cannot be changed?"

"That woiks," Joey nodded.

"Do we have a deal?" Bakura extended his hand. Joey considered. He had an ogre's choice. Die fast or die slow. This would be a duel with all new rules; there would be no Yugi, Tristan, Tea, or anybody else to help him. This would be over his and Mai's soul. She would hate him more than she already did for using her as a bargaining chip, if they made it through this.

"Deal," Joey extended his hand.

"No Joey, don't!" Yugi and Tristan stood in the doorway.

They grasped hands and shook on it.

Thank you to reviewers Gremlin, Kaiba'sgirl (you rock!), Kiki Jones (I love you!!!!!), and Reiko and Yami Reiko!

I LUV YOU ALL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!