I awoke sore and with a headache the size of an elephant.  "Where am I and what the heck is going on?"  I groaned as I sat up.  The blindfold was taken off of me and I heard many male voices snickering.  I squinted as my eyes adjusted to the darkness.  I recognized where I was.  It was a huge cave with graves all around it.  Remembering that, I had a hunch that it was Bandit Keith, Bonz and the rest of cronies that hung around, that had brought me here.

                Sure enough I saw Bonz and the other guys right in front of me laughing in an annoying way I was sure only Weevil could.  But where was Bandit Keith?  I looked around and saw that he was sitting on one of the rocks that littered the cave, smirking that devilish smile of his.  I couldn't help but kind of like him.  Bandit Keith was my favorite bad guy on Yu-Gi-Oh.  I thought he would look wicked awesome on a motorcycle he had that biker look about him. 

                "Welcome duelist to the arena of lost souls!"  Bonz exclaimed, laughing in a creepy way.

                "Yeah, I'm really scared."  I said sarcastically.  I stood up…about two and a half feet taller than Bonz and glared at the little freak, which I couldn't remember, was a boy or a girl.

                "Well you should be terrified; no duelist ever gets out of here…alive."  Bonz said, still trying to creep me out.  "Fork over your star chips and make things easier on yourself."

                "I don't have any star chips."  I answered, and then grew red in the face when I remembered what happened before.  "Is that why you guys practically kidnapped me and brought me here?  So your zombie deck could get the field power bonus?  And by the way…who's got the busy hands??!!"  I yelled, making fists in anger.

                "Looks like we got a firecracker here huh boss? hehehe."  The tall boy said blushing and his nose began to bleed in the characteristic anime style whenever a character thinks a perverted thought.

                I narrowed my eyes and slapped him across the face.  "Keep your hands off me!"

                They all began laughing all except Keith who snapped his fingers.  "No star chips huh, frisk her boys I think she's lying." 

                I narrowed my eyes and clenched my fists even tighter.  "Just try it…"  I warned.  "I'll hit whoever gets close enough.  Not to mention kick a few choice jewels…"  I sneered.

                Keith walked over to me and smirked.  "You've got some spunk, making threats when you're out numbered and out muscled."  He stated.

                Very outmuscle…I thought, looking at his cool clothes and muscular beefy build.  I couldn't help but stare at him as he came closer to me.  He'd look so cool on a motorcycle… I thought to myself.  Suddenly, his stupid henchmen, grabbed me from behind while I was caught off guard and began fishing through my pockets!  And they even turned me upside down and began shaking me!  Change, pens, and all my cards from my deck came crashing down to the ground but no star chips.

                "Uh…looks like she wasn't lying boss, what do we do now?"  Bonz stammered as I was put down.  I angrily gathered my cards back into there deck and put my stuff back into my pockets.

                Bandit Keith tilted his sunglasses and grinned even wider.  I definitely didn't like the way he was looking at me…at all.

                "I have a different idea instead of dueling her Bonz.  You guys clear out."  Bandit Keith told them. 

                "Ok, whatever you say boss."  Bonz snickered with the rest of them and went deeper into a tunnel.

                I began backing away.  "Come on…you don't want to do this Keith…"  I began saying.

                "How did you know my name?"  He asked frowning.

                Good question, how do I know his name besides the fact he's an anime character?  I thought to myself.  Then it hit me.  "You're the intercontinental champion from America right.  I'm Jade, I'm from America too.  Your pretty famous."  I said.  Maybe If I kept him talking, then he would lose track of his train of thought. 

Then I remembered something about Bandit Keith I had read online.  He had a self esteem problem, hence why he was so mad at Pegasus for humiliating him on television, and a drinking problem.  I felt kinda bad for him and maybe I could talk to him.  I thought I'd better do it quick, as he had started to make his advance on me again.

"So you've heard of me huh Jade, that's a pretty name for a pretty girl."  He said and chuckled.  "You're a lucky girl too, you won't just meet me, and you'll be the lucky one to get something more from me hehehe."

"It must have been hard on you, huh Keith."  I said, ignoring the fact that his statement terrified me.  "Being defeated by a little kid because that fruitcake Pegasus cheated using his Millennium eye."

Keith frowned.  "What's it to you?  And how do you know his weird looking eye helped him to cheat?"

Instead of answering his question, I kept on going with my own.  "The drinking didn't help did it?  It just made it worse because drinking is an expensive habit.  Your self esteem must have been flushed down the toilet."

Keith made a fist and stopped walking toward me.  Good thing too, as I had come to as far as I could go, the wall was on my back.

"Shut up!  How do you know all this about me?"  He shouted angrily.

"Well, I can't do both, which do you want, me to shut up or to tell you?"

"Wise ahh…"

"Shhh! This fic is rated PG! no swearing!"

"Oh fine!"  Bandit Keith said exasperated.  Then, I saw something change in him.  His eyebrows lowered and he sighed and sat down.  Maybe I had gotten through to him.

"Keith…it's ok…if you want to be upset.  I mean, I think your cool, just don't act like a stupid jerk."  I said softly.  "I bet you could win even without cheating or taking other people's star chips."

"You know what, your right."  Keith said getting up and smiling at me.  "Maybe I should turn over a new leaf, thanks for showing me the light."  He told me.  I thought he was sincere about it, but yet…something didn't seem quite right.  Keith wouldn't just change himself right away…  I was in a daze thinking about it as Keith came closer and held out his arms.  I shrugged and hugged him.  Maybe he did see how cheating wouldn't win him nothing. 

Keith held me tight…and his grip tightened until he snickered evilly.  "Sucker…"  I heard him whisper.

I cold chill went down my spine.  "Uh…Bandit Keith, you can…let go of me now…"  I grunted, trying to squirm out of his arms.  "I...I'm in love with another person…And it doesn't feel right…"  I told him. 

"Oh it'll feel just fine in a few minutes baby."  Bandit Keith said in a low tone as he drew his face nearer to mine.  What a lusty bastar…darn, gotta keep the pic pg!

Crap!  He hadn't changed at all and now he had me trapped.  I swore silently under my breath.  "Don't do this to me Bandit Keith, please don't, I think your so cool, oh gods!"  I exclaimed, frightened out of my wits as Keith pressed his lips against mine and began licking the inside of my cheek.  His breath reeked of beer as I tried to punch, push and claw him away from myself.  But he was too strong for me.  I felt panic scream into my mind as I realized he had me trapped.  I felt him raise my arms and… shackle them above my head? 

"What the heck are you doing to me?!  I cried out as I kicked at him, only to have him shackle my legs too.   I was now chained to the wall and at the mercy of Bandit Keith who seemed to have a girl problem as well as an alcohol problem.  I wondered when the last time he had a girlfriend was.

"Heeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeelp meeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee Maaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaako!"  I cried as loud as I could.  "Maaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaakooooooooooooooooooo!"

"I'm coming hold on!"  That grunting voice sounded like an angel to me because I knew it was Mako coming to my rescue just like a real hero!  Proof that chivalry is not dead!

I almost burst out laughing as I saw Mako come in from the tunnel that Bonz and the other two henchmen had gone into.  Mako had the two taller guys in a headlock with both arms, and had Bonz latched on to his right leg, trying in vain to stop Mako from going into the chamber.  "Please stop!  The boss wouldn't want you in here come on stop walking!"  Bonz cried and grunted from the effort.  As if that scrawny little freak could hold back Mako.  Hahaha!

"Are you alright?!"  Mako called, peering into the darkness and trying to find me.  "I woke up and followed your footprints after you didn't return and saw more footprints that looked like trouble so I tracked them in here.  That's when these three spineless jelly fish tried to attack me!  And after some persuasion on my part… (I noticed he tightened his grip and dropped the two guys, then kicked Bonz off of him) I got them to tell me where you were."  I smiled as he saw me but then I saw a dangerous look in Mako's eyes and I heard Bandit Keith growl under his breath.

I realized I wasn't in such a good position, being chained to the wall like some kind of sacrifice with Bandit Keith standing nearby.  I hoped Mako didn't think I was…

That's when Mako noticed him.  "So it is you, Bandit Keith!  "You bottom feeding sea snake!  How dare you touch her like that!  What have you done to Jade?!  If you've harmed her in any way!..."  Mako trailed off clenching his fists in anger.  I had never seen him that angry…not even when Joey and Tristan had taken his fish.

" "Mako!"  I cried, finding my voice and struggling against the chains that held me, to no avail.  I needed a key or something. 

Bandit Keith smirked and twirled the key around his finger.  "Looking for this?"  He smirked and let his hands wander along my color bone and he would have gone lower, had I not swiftly bitten him.  

Keith cursed under his breath and began rubbing the bitten finger.  "Oh I'm sorry Tsunami, was this girl I was having fun with, with you?  If you want to play with her you'll need the keys."  Keith said in a mocking tone.  Then, he gritted his teeth and snarled.  You want the key shark boy?  Come and get it…"  He said, and then Bandit Keith did something I didn't expect him to do.  He punched me across the face! 

I couldn't believe it.  He had actually hit me.  That abusive lushjerk!  At first I didn't feel any pain from the initial shock.  "He actually hit me…"  I murmured to myself.  I hadn't thought his self esteem was that bad, hitting someone defenseless to make himself feel better…

After the initial shock which only lasted a few seconds, the pain started making its way to my head.  I cried out in pain as I felt how hard he had actually punched me.

I heard another smack.  Mako had punched Bandit Keith across the face himself and was now holding him by the shirt collar.

"How…dare…you…hit her like that you Slime bucket!  I'll turn you into shark chum!"  Mako shouted.  He was intensely angry now.  I was actually afraid, I'd never seen him that angry before and there was something in his eyes that frightened me.  I wouldn't have been Bandit Keith right then for anything…

My eyes never left the two and I didn't even notice that my face was bleeding from the punch that Bandit Keith had given me. 

"You will pay dearly for that!"  Mako shouted and was about to strike him again when Bandit Keith grabbed his fist in midair. 

                "Let's settle this one on the dueling arena, that is, if you're not afraid."  Bandit Keith sneered.

                "Mako Tsunami fears no one!  I accept your challenge in honor of Jade and my long lost father!  Mako shouted, getting on his dueling gauntlet and getting out his deck.  The dueling arena came up out of the ground and Mako and Bandit Keith stepped forward.

 "Whoever wins this gets to keep the prize…her."  Bandit Keith said, pointing at me and grinning. "You'll have to win against my machine deck if you want to walk away with her!"

                "Jade is not a prize to be won!  No one owns her.  However, if she were to go with me of her own free will…that would be another matter entirely."  Mako said and flashed me an assuring smile.

                I smiled back at him, placing my trust in him that he would win.  He had to…for me.

                And thus the duel began.

                At first Bandit Keith began winning the duel.  His high level machine monsters dominated the arena.  That is, until Mako pulled out the Umi card and flooded the field with sea water.  Keith's machine's soon rusted and began losing points.  That's when Mako pulled it out of his deck The legendary fisherman.  Once it was on the field with Umi, Mako became unstoppable.  I could see in him, a fierce determination that could hold no equal.  Here was a guy who once he was set on doing something, never gave up at it.

                I cheered him from the sidelines.  I wondered where Bandit Keith's cronies had gone to, because they weren't there now.  It wouldn't matter anyway; Bandit Keith would still steal their star chips so that he himself could compete in the finals.

                "I can't believe I ever thought you were cool you selfish jerk!"  I yelled to Keith, remembering how he did steal his friends' star chips. 

                "Shut up dweeb!"  He called back to me. 

                "Oh get a freakin vocabulary book!"  I shot back.

                "I use the ritual card fortress whale's oath to summon my most mighty denizen of the deep my fortress whale!"  Mako cried out.  I watched as it wiped out Keith's slot machine, taking his life points down to zero.  "Now you brainless sea slug, the key if you don't mind!"  Mako said and held out his hand.

                "Hey boss, we just spotted Yugi Moto the only duelist to ever defeat Seto Kaiba and he has this really dorky looking blonde guy with him it would be so easy to steal his star chips!"  Bonz said running in with the other two guys behind him.

                "Joey…"  I murmured.

                Keith smirked and threw the key to Mako who caught it with one hand.  "She's not worth it anyway Tsunami, keep dreaming about that boat of yours…"  He said and without another word, walked after his little buddies.

                "She was well worth gutting you like a halibut and you never forget it landlubber!"  Mako called back.

                I turned my head away and blushed so that Mako couldn't see how red my face had gotten.  "Your living proof that chivalry is not dead Mako!  But um, can you unlock these chains now Mako?"  I asked, rattling the chains a little. 

                Mako began walking over and I smiled again in admiration.  He did it all for me…I was really lucky.  "I'll have you out of there soon."  Mako told me.  He began rummaging through the chains looking for the lock.

                "That's good, man I feel so helpless, and I wouldn't stand a chance if someone decided to tickle me or something."  If I could have clapped my hand over my mouth I would have, but it was too late now.  Stupid Stupid Stupid! I thought to myself.

                Mako smirked and looked at me with a mischievous expression on his face.

                "Oh don't you dare…"  I said with a hint of a giggle already.

                "And what do you plan to do if I should go ahead?"  Mako teased me.

                "Absolutely nothing because I'm chained to a wall, but once I'm free I'll soo get you back eeeeeeeeehheheeh Aaaaahaahahk Mako!!"  I squealed as Mako began tickling me under the arms fast.  It was torture I was just too darn ticklish and he had me trapped so I couldn't even defend myself.

"My father used to do that to me all the time when we went fishing out on the boat."  Mako grinned.  "I loved spending time together with him."  He continued torturing me and I just couldn't stand it. 

"Come on Maahahahaako have a heahahahart!"  I cried as Mako began tickling up and down my sides and belly.  I had always thought that I'd be the one doing the torture, but hey, Mako seemed to be enjoying himself and who was I to complain?  And there was something about the way he had me helpless…hehehe whoa time out, not that kind of fic lol.

                Mako eventually stopped and used the key to free me.  I winced as the tight chains were removed from my arms and legs.  I began flexing my arms and legs and rubbing the spot where the chains had confined them.

                "Are you alright?"  Mako asked me, concerned.  "That stingray didn't hurt you too badly did he?"

                I thought it was so cute the way Mako was concerned for me.  Then I felt badly that I was supposed to be the one trying to help him yet I was the one who needed help.  "I'm fine Mako, lets just get out of here and go back to sleep."  I said.  He nodded and began to lead the way out of the tunnel.  "Mako…"  I began.

                Mako turned his head toward me.  "Yes?"  He asked.

                "I…want to thank you.  For saving me from Keith and all, I'm sorry you even had to come down here in the first place."

                Mako smiled widely.  "Do not be sorry Jade!  It gave me a chance to make sushi out of that Bandit Keith and it also was not your fault!  It was those pirate penguins who should be taught some manners!" 

                I smiled and laughed at the pirate penguin's part and let him take my hand to help me out of the cave.  I could have sworn I heard him whisper…"I won't lose you too."  But that could have been just me.

                When we were completely out of the tunnel, I breathed in the fresh air and smiled.  "It feels so good to be out of there."  I commented.

                                Mako nodded in agreement as we walked back to the dying fire.  It had been around midnight when I was caught by Keith and his cronies, and now it was around one thirty.  Great, I'd probably never get to sleep now.  I thought to myself as Mako added more wood to the fire. 

                I watched him and found myself lost in deep thought.  Where would our adventures take us?  I knew my love for him would never change, but would he begin to see me the way I saw him?  Would our feelings for each other deepen?  I couldn't say for certain, I could only hope.  I sat down, leaned against a nearby tree and sighed.  That's when I noticed the poem I had sketched out in the sand earlier.

                "Oh my gods did he see that?"  I whispered to myself, wiping it away with my foot.  Hopefully he hadn't…yet.  I would tell him how I felt eventually, but it was too soon now.  I almost jumped when Mako sat down across from me.  Good thing I had rubbed the poem away. 

                I almost laughed at him; he was blushing crimson and rubbing the back of his neck like he had some embarrassing question to ask me.  I just smiled sweetly at him.  "I wonder if I could ask you a favor."  Mako said and grew even redder.

                "Sure thing Mako what is it?"  I asked him, knowing in my heart if he had asked me to get the moon for him…I would have er… at least tried lol. 

                "I have not slept in a good bed for a long time.  My back starts to ach up on me from time to time and…"

                "Mako would you like a massage?"  I asked him.

                "Well I er… if its not…"  Mako stuttered.

                "Mako."  I started.

                "Er…yes?"  He asked.  Man he was really blushing.

                "It would be pretty cool if you turned around so I could actually give you the backrub."  I told him.

                He face faulted.  "Oh right!"  He said and turned around.  I smiled and began gently yet firmly massaging his back.  I felt Mako relax against my touch and sigh with pleasure as I massaged his aches away.  I felt him leaning against the massage and slowly falling asleep.  I hummed a sweet melody to him, loving this tender moment.  "At least you'll have something comfortable to sleep on tonight.  I said as I cajoled his head up on my lap.  I began running my fingers tenderly through his crazy hair and massaging his neck.  "If only he knew."  I whispered to myself.  A song came to my head.  The one by Aerosmith.  I hummed it and smiled down at Mako's peaceful sleeping form.

I could stay awake just to hear u breathing
Watch u smile while u are sleeping
While you're far way dreaming
I could spend my life in this sweet surrender
I could stay lost in this moment forever
Every moment spent wit u is a moment I treasure

~Chorus~ Don't wanna close my eyes
Don't wanna fall asleep
Cuz I'd miss u baby
And I don't wanna miss a thing
Cuz even when I dream of u
The sweetest dream would never do
I'd still miss u baby
And I don't wanna miss a thing

Laying close to you
Feeling your heart beating
And I'm wondering what you're dreaming
Wondering if it's me you're seeing
Then I kiss your eyes
And thank God were together
I just want to stay with u in this forever
Forever and ever

~Chorus~

I don't wanna miss one smile
I don't wanna miss one kiss
I just wanna be with u
Right here with u just like this
I just wanna hold u close
Feel your heart so close to mine
And just stay here in this moment
for all the rest of time
Baby,Baby

~Chorus~

I felt myself slowly nodding off too, lulled to sleep by the warmth of the fire and the warmth of Mako on me too.  I wondered if this was what it felt like, to hold heaven in your arms.

Stay tuned for chapter 3 peeps!  Disclaimer I do not own the song Aerosmith does!  Sorry for not updating sooner, I was unfortunately having some computer troubles but they are all gone now.  Thanks for reading!