Disclaimer: *starts crying* I don't own Yu-Gi-Oh, but when I do.....Yami will be mine! *_*

To Reader: How's everyone today? I'm sooo happy for no reason. @_@ Yeah...anyway...thanks for reviewing! Not to get all sappy, but your reviews really do inspire me to write to the best of my ability and I really want to thank you for that. *takes a bow*

Chapter Seven: The trials of Love

"A cat?"

"No! It's a dog!"

"Yeah, I could definitely see Joey as a dog!"

Tea laughed at Tristan, Grandpa, and Mai who were trying to guess what Joey was pretending to be in a game of charades (a game where you depict a certain character through body motions). As he continued to dance around the bonfire, that they had just started, Tea stopped laughing and thought about how Yugi was doing. She didn't know how the idea came into her head, but ever since he left the group to go for a walk along the seaside, Tea couldn't help but worry about him. She sighed softly and quietly crawled away from their little game to go look for Yugi.

"You guys suck! I was trying to portray Silver Fang!"

Tea heard Joey scream in the distance. She only chuckled and continued her search for her missing companion. As she walked toward the seaside, she found him sitting on the sand. As he continued to stare at the calm waves rush against the sand, he didn't notice Tea walk up beside him.

"Yugi?"

He didn't look up.

"Yugi?"

She repeated a little louder as she sat down next to him.

"Ohhh...sorry, I didn't know you were there." Yugi said plainly as he rubbed his eyes.

"Are you okay?" She asked as he looked back toward the ocean.

"Fine." He answered quickly.

Tea wasn't convinced by his sugar-coated attitude. She knew something was bothering him, but that something was hidden deep in his soul. She wished he would be more open with her about certain things, but she guessed that it was his own business and his own business should be left alone.

"Yugi..." He looked at her. "You can tell me anything."

Yugi sighed and said, "I know Tea...."

"Then....what's on your mind?" She asked as he cleared his throat.

"I was just thinking," he looked at her. "What if we were still on the boat when Pegasus' men were on board? I mean...they could have harmed you and the others....because of me..."

Tea looked at him. She wasn't expecting something like that to come out of Yugi's mouth.

"Well, we're safe, Yugi, and that is all that matters right now." Tea said as he frowned.

"Yeah...but what if we get off the island and they try to do something in Domino City?" Yugi asked.

Tea shook her head and said, "I'm not worried about it, you know why?"

He shrugged his shoulders slightly.

"Because I know that I have you to watch over me and the others.....no matter what the risk."

Yugi's face softened once he heard this explanation. She smiled and put her hand on top of his.

"Tea," she squeezed his hand. "Thank you."

She leaned over and kissed his cheek. "Believe me Yugi, you don't owe me any thanks."

He blushed and stood up, as did she. "We should get going."

"Yeah, before they get worried about us." Tea replied as they followed the smoke that was produced by the fire that they made.

~MEANWHILE~

"Alright guys, I'm going to bed." Tristan said as he stood up and yawned.

"Yeah, it's getting pretty late." Joey stated as he looked over to the others.

Grandpa was already sleeping, while Mai was lying on the sand with both hands behind her back. Tristan yawned again and sat down near the cozy fire. "Goodnight." He stated as he put his head on his arm, to act as a pillow, and turned his back toward the fire. As he started to close his eyes, he heard Joey start laughing uncontrollably. He sat up and looked at him. Joey only continued to laugh.

"What's the big idea?" He asked as Joey wiped his teary eyes and stopped laughing.

"Ohh...I was just thinking to myself that Mai and I are in a bad position right now." He said as Tristan and Mai looked at him with confusion. "No because...if you lay a great big fart into the fire....we're gonna be toast!" He broke into a laugh again.

Tristan frowned and threw a stick at him. "You're an idiot."

"Don't blame me," Joey cried out, "blame the prunes you had this afternoon! They're the ones that gave me the idea in the first place!"

Mai sighed, while Tristan just shook his head and went back to sleep. Joey smiled and controlled the last few giggles that were trying to leave his mouth. As he regained control of himself, he copied Mai's actions (putting both hands behind his back) and smiled at her.

"Nice view, huh?" He asked as he looked up toward the stars.

"Yeah." She answered as he smiled.

Joey sighed and looked back up toward the stars. "What are you thinking about?"

"What?" She asked as he cleared his throat.

"You seem deep in thought about something," he continued, "is something bothering you?"

"Ohhhh.." She closed her eyes tightly. "I was just wondering if we will ever get off this island."

"Hmmmm...." He replied as she opened her eyes again.

"Do you think we will?" She asked as he smiled.

"Yeah." He smiled. "You just need to have faith."

"Faith?" She asked mockingly. "I rather take my chances by sailing away on the raft we built then depend on 'faith' to save us...."

"You see Mai," he looked at her. "That's your problem."

"What do you mean?" She asked as he shook his head.

"If you don't trust and believe in something faithfully....what are your chances of them believing in you?"

Mai was dumbstruck. "I don't need anybody to believe in me."

Joey sighed and sat up. "Are you sure?"

"Positive." She answered hastily.

"What if they believed in you anyway? They didn't care that you didn't care." He said.

{A/N: Say that five times fast (They didn't care that you didn't care)......@_@}

"We're not talking about getting off the island anymore are we?" She asked ironically.

"Way past that." He said as she sat up and brushed the sand out of her hair.

"Is this about the duel between Yugi and I?" She asked.

He didn't answer.

"Listen...having somebody 'believe in me' wouldn't have helped me win the duel!" She said angrily.

"You're wrong." He said as she cocked an eyebrow up. "Yugi would have lost that duel against you, he only won because he knew that his friends believed in him and knew that he would succeed."

Mai frowned and stood up. "I don't need this."

"Why? Scared of the truth?" He asked as he stood up.

Her eyes began to water. "Yes, the truth hurts."

Joey didn't want to make her cry. He just wanted to get through to her. She turned away from him and started walking away. She stopped when she heard Joey mumble something.

"Mai....I didn't mean to make you cry..." He said as she turned away.

"I'm not crying." She said as she wiped her eyes. "It's...allergies."

Joey hid a smile and looked at her. "Funny, it's the first time I saw you complain about your allergies."

She folded her arms and started walking again.

"Where are you going?" He asked as she stopped and sighed.

"For a walk." She said softly. "I don't want to wake the others up with our voices."

"Wait...." Joey said as he walked up to her. "Don't go too fa-"

Joey was cut off by Mai, who turned around and hugged Joey firmly. As she did so, Joey stood there and hugged her back. That's when he heard cry again. He moved her chin up, so she could look at him.

"Don't cry, babe." He said as she shook her head.

"I'm not....crying...Joey..." She put her face into his chest. "I'm.....not....."

He smiled and held her close, that is, until she looked up and smiled weakly.

"Do...you...really believe in me?" She asked.

He smiled back and bent down toward her face. "Yes."

"Joey, you don't have to....waste your....time-"

She was cut off by Joey, who brushed his lips on top of hers. The sensation and longing of one another burst freely in the kiss they shared. As they continued to pull each other into the kiss, they didn't notice the two distinct voices in the distance.

"See? Camp was this way!" Tea said as Yugi rubbed his neck.

"Well......I thought...."

His words faded away once he saw the scene before him. He was speechless.

Tea, on the other hand, had to interrupt their private moment by stating, "is this part of the game?"

They broke apart and looked at Yugi and Tea, blushing furiously. Tea giggled, while Yugi pretended that he didn't see anything. Joey wiped his mouth and looked at the two. "Ummmmm..."

"Yes?" Tea said, enjoying the scene before her.

Mai stepped in and cleared her throat. "Mind your own business, Tea."

Tea frowned and sighed heavily. "Whatever you say."

"Exactly." Mai said as Tea stuck her tongue out.

"Well, I love to sit here and chat all night, but I'm catching some sleep." Joey said , trying to avoid the images of the kiss. "Good night."

"Good night." Tea and Yugi said as they retired to their designated parts of the camp.

"Sweet dreams." Mai whispered in his ear before he sat on the floor.

He blushed and watched Mai walk over to the other side of the fire, away from the group. She looked at him one last time and turned around to get some rest. He smiled and whispered, "sweet dreams."

~To be continued.......~

How was it? I know Joey was a little OOC, but I needed him to be a strong-willed person in this chappie. Please, tell me if you liked it or not. Thanks!!!!