Here's another chapter. hope you like it!!! It also gives a tiny number of clues and answers to your questions, I hope.

Dedicated to all my wonderful reviewers, I LOVE YALL!!!!!!!!!

Disclaimer: I don't own Yugioh, blah, blah, blah.

The Day That Joey Left

By Anime Queen



Chapter 3

@...@ - Seto's thoughts

*.* - Joey's thoughts

%...% - Tristan's thoughts

. - Tea's thoughts

(.) - Yugi's thoughts

"Have you kept your part of the deal?" Seto asked the cloaked figure in front of him.

"See for yourself." it replied, producing a holographic image in front of Seto's eyes.

"Leave me alone, you bitch!" he saw Joey Wheeler shout at his girlfriend.

"That would do," Seto sighed contently.

"So where are the goods?" the figure asked impatiently.

"How do I know this isn't just computer animation?"

"Don't you trust me?"

"No I don't."

@Man, this is one tough choice. I'm risking a lot here. But at least that punk Joey and his little friends got what they deserved. This was worth it, even parting with my Millennium Rod@

Seto could tell the figure in front of him was getting impatient. The atmosphere around it became dark purple, and the wind began to pick up.

"Ok, fine, a deal's a deal," Seto reluctantly said as he handed the Rod into the creature's outstretched hand. The form bowed low, and then disappeared in a puff of green smoke.

@Now onto rescuing my brother. I'll deal with Mai later@

Yugi and the gang almost reached the end of the forest, always getting closer to winning the star chips they needed to enter the castle and rescue Yugi's grandfather. Only this time, everyone seemed more preoccupied with the way Joey has been behaving.

He was always so sweet. How could he have said all that to us? We're his best friends

%He's no longer my best buddy, that's for sure. And the way he talked to Tea! Unbelievable. I never knew that Joey was capable of anything like that!%

"That's not Joey in there, Yugi," Yugi heard Yami, unheard to anyone else, speak to him from the Millennium Puzzle. "Whatever is inside Joey's body - it's not him."

(Man, how can Yami sense those things? And he's always right, too. I refuse to believe that Joey's gone)

"He's not gone," Yami said again from the Puzzle.

(How do you know all this?)

"That's not important. Right now, we need to figure out what's happened to him, and then we can think about how to get the old Joey back."

(Tea seems to be taking this so hard)

"What did you expect?"

Yugi looked over at Tea and Tristan, walking behind him and Joey. Tristan had his arm around her shoulders, and was talking to her in a hushed tone.

"Listen, Tea, Joey's been a real jerk to you, I'm sorry."

"It's not your fault, Tristan," she replied, staring at the ground.

%Man, I wish I knew what to say to her.%

"Tea."

"You've been trying so hard to make me feel better for the past hour, I feel like I'm overreacting," she cut him off, and for the first time, she smiled.

%She's smiling at me. Man, she has a great smile.%

Tea must have caught him staring at her, as she turned her face down to the ground again.

"Listen, I don't think this is the right time to say this, but."

Tristan stopped walking, and Tea looked up at his face, expecting him to continue.

"I like you, Tea. I've liked you forever. But I knew I never had a chance with you. I. I just thought that you should know."

Tea's eyes registered surprise. For some time she was completely silent.

Tristan liked me? Why didn't I see it before? Oh. because I had Joey and then nothing else mattered. Now I don't have Joey anymore, but Tristan is still here.

Her thoughts were cut short as Tristan lowered his head close to hers, and she could feel his breath on her face. It was moments before his lips were on hers, kissing her hungrily.

Oh my god, Tristan's kissing me Tea tensed in alarm, but then she relaxed, letting his tongue into her mouth. Her arms traveled up to his neck as she responded softly at first, then with more passion. Tristan's arms were locked around Tea's waist.

%This is amazing. She's actually kissing me. This is the happiest moment of my life%

Tristan's a way better kisser than Joey Tea found herself thinking. What am I doing, comparing them? But it is wonderful being held by him

Finally they slowly pulled apart from each other. Tristan hadn't wanted to, but he didn't want to scare her. He looked down into her eyes and was relieved to see that she was smiling. A faint blush crept up her cheeks and she quickly looked down. She still had her arms around Tristan's neck, and he still held her waist.

Why didn't this happen sooner? Oh, that's right, Joey.

Tea sighed contently and rested her head on Tristan's shoulder. He ran his fingers through her hair and held her close for a few moments.

"We. should get going." he heard Tea say, but she didn't move.

He loosened his grip on her and brought her chin up with his index finger. Leaning down, he brushed her lips softly with his own.

Tell me what you think!!! I've worked so hard on this chapter. I've been trying to practice writing romantic scenes, I'll need that for my upcoming novel, (don't think I'll be posting it up here, though), so if there are any romance experts, email me at anniki2003@aol.com please!!!!! And always remember to R&R!!!