"Oh hey Bakura hows it goin?" Joey called out, oblivious to the air of evil that was about, or of the dangerous look Evil Bakura had in his eyes.
"It is going very well…for me." Evil Bakura sneered. He began walking closer, my heart was pounding in my throat.
Joey just kept right on talking. "Uh, sorry buddy, I was right in the middle of… something." He looked at me and winked. "How'd yah get out here anyway?"
Bakura's Millennium Ring levitated in the air and glowed brightly. Evil Bakura held up two cards and said out loud. "Flameswordsman and Gyakutenno Megami." He muttered. I felt my whole body tingle and begin to change. My hair grew longer, and turned green. My ears grew a bit pointer and I could feel gossamer wings emerging from my back. I had become my favorite card Gyakutenno Megami! I looked over at Joey and saw that he had the Flame Swordsman outfit on, sword and everything. "Whoa, what's goin on, am I havin another one of those Bakura goes crazy and attacks us dreams?" Joey commented.
"I think we both are dreaming it Joey." I answered, feeling the Millennium key glowing from around my neck. Evil Bakura chuckled and pulled out another card. "I can assure you both, that this is no dream." I stood in front of Joey, clutching the key in my hand. I was frantically trying to think of some way to defeat him, when to my horror; Evil Bakura showed us what card he had in his hand. "I think I'll use Bakura's favorite card, the change of heart card. And I'll make Joey attack you!" Joey looked at me in shock until all color was gone from his eyes and they were glowing with an evil yellow. He swung his sword at me and I ducked.
"Joey! What are you doing, it's me, stop that!" I cried.
Evil laughter hurt my ears. "He has no will of his own anymore. Joey will do whatever I wish, even destroy you! Unless you give me your Millenium key!" Evil Bakura said.
"No you stupid jerk!" I yelled. Joey took another swing at me and I flitted up to a high branch on a nearby tree. Wings could come in handy. "Come on Joey, snap out of it."
Joey began hacking at the bottom of the tree with his sword. Then I realized something else. His points were 1800 and so were mine. If Joey actually hit me, we would both be sent to the "Graveyard".
"Joey you have to stop this, if you don't we'll both get taken by the Reaper of the cards!" I cried out. Joey's eyes remained cold and dead, as Evil Bakura began laughing his evil laugh.
"Its no use, you can beg all you want, but he can't hear you." Evil Bakura said. "I'll enjoy watching him destroy you and pick up the Millennium key for myself."
"That's not gonna happen!" I said flying straight at Evil Bakura and knocking him down to the ground! I flew high above him
"You'll pay for that…" He grunted as he picked himself up. I saw him take out another card and call out, "man-eater bug!" The horrible brown creature emerged from the card and roared. "Flame Swordsman, attack the man-eater bug!" Joey began running at the man-eater bug, sword held high over his head for the strike.
"No! Joey if you hit that bug you'll be sent to the graveyard!" I cried, swooping down as fast as I could. I landed in between the bug and Joey. Joey raised his sword and prepared to strike me. I quickly remembered what it said on my favorite card. Gyakutenno Megami: This fairy uses her mystical power to protect the weak and provide spiritual support. Mystical powers? I thought to myself. I held out my hand and put it in front of Joey's face. He hesitated. "Come to your senses Joey, come back to the light. Come back to me." I said, but it came out in a sort of weird chant like the one Mystical elf uses. A golden glow formed around my hand and grew and grew until it flowed into Joey's eyes.
His pupils came back and Joey sank to his knees. "Wha… what's goin on?" He dropped his sword and fell forward, collapsing.
"Joey…" I said softly sinking to my knees too and taking his head in my hands. He seemed to be alright and breathing. Just knocked out. "I'ts going to be alright Joey, just rest here." I said, tears in my eyes left from the thought that I had almost lost him. I gently kissed his cheek, Joey didn't stir. I bit my lip and gently set him down. "Rest easy my friend, until I return." I whispered. I looked up to see the man-eater bug roaring and slowly walking toward me. I suddenly felt very angry. Very angry, what kind of sick demented person would… I picked up Joey's fallen sword and instantly, it became the sword of the deep seated in my hand. I glared at the bug and then at Evil Bakura. "If you want my Millennium key so badly, come and get it in the graveyard." I snarled, feeling the fire in my eyes as I charged the Man-eater bug and slashed at it with my sword. The last thing I saw before being transported into the graveyard was the anger ridden face of Evil Bakura.
I opened my eyes and did not doubt that I was indeed in the graveyard. An eerie mist filled the whole area and tombstones were everywhere, as far as the eye could see. I shivered and looked all around me in a paranoid manor, thinking that any minute now the reaper of the cards was going to come for me. I started flapping my wings and began flying fast just above the ground, sword held tightly in hand.
"Thought you could escape that easily did you?" Evil Bakura said, looming in front of me.
"This ends now." I said tossing my sword to the side.
"Then you've finally given up?" Evil Bakura said.
"I'll do the only thing I can to protect the key from you, go back to my world." I said, concentrated and the door appeared.
"You wouldn't dare…" Evil Bakura gasped. "You'd never be able to come back here. You'd lose your friends; you'd lose Joey, forever.
And Mako… I thought. Then shook my head and put the key in the door. It opened up into my room, for real not a dream this time. I began walking through the doorway, key in hand, ready to make the ultimate sacrifice.
"Oh no you don't I'll have your key yet!" Evil Bakura said and grabbed me by the arm that held the Millennium Key. I kicked him hard in the side, making both of us fall over. Then, I sensed another presence beside me.
"Push him through the door!" Bakura shouted, his form appeared beside me and grabbed the evil spirit by the shirt. "If he goes through to your world, then he'll disappear, remember no magic can exist in your world!"
"Unhand me you lowly mortals!" Evil Bakura cried and tried to get up. I got up myself and kicked him in the side. "You'll pay for that wench!" He grunted. And grabbed hold of my legs, causing me to trip and fall on my face. I began crawling and kicking out at him. Bakura meanwhile, was still trying to push him through the door. When the evil spirit was only a foot away from the door, it began drawing him in like a black hole. "Noooooooooooooo heeeeeeeeeeeeeelp meeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!" He screamed as he tried to crawl away from it, to no avail. Bakura let go of his evil spirit and backed away, as he too, felt the pull from the door.
"What's happening Bakura?!" I called out.
"The door's been open too long!" he cried. "It's pulling everything in until it closes!
During our shouting, I was shocked to notice that the evil spirit had begun clawing his way away from the door. "I'm going to make you mortal scum suffer for what you've done to me. Oh yes, you'll be begging for death by the end!"
"I'm going to jump at him and hurl us both into your world!" Bakura told me and braced himself.
"No Bakura don't it's too dangerous what if you get stuck there!" I shouted.
"Don't worry about me, just hold the door open, and whatever you do, don't come in through the door, your key will go back inside your body and we'll both be stuck there!"
The evil spirit rose to his feet and chuckled evilly.
"I'll enslave your soul for the rest of eternity!" He sneered, his eyes glowing in the darkness. His white hair flowing backwards as he walked forward resisting the force that threatened to pull him into my world.
Bakura chose that moment to hurl himself at the evil spirit, sending them both sprawling backwards. Right through the door.
"Bakura!" I yelled and ran to the door. I held it with trembling fingers as it tried to close behind them. Then, I looked over and saw that the evil spirit was writhing in agony. His very body seemed to be smoking and evaporating into the air.
His screams were horrible and I had to cover my ears. Crap! What if my mom or sister hears that and comes into my room!? I thought. Then I looked over at the real Bakura and gasped. His hair had turned black, and he looked like a real human! In the flesh, it reminded me of the time Inu-Yasha turned from half demon half human to full human.(Disclaimer do not own Inu-Yasha) What would happen if my mom came in the room and saw all of this?
"I'll haunt both of you…" The evil spirit hissed as it swirled into the last of a puff of smoke. Bakura was lying on my bed, unconscious. I guess the adrenaline really got to him. Up to now, I hadn't noticed how sweaty my palms had gotten.
I held the Millenium Key in my left hand, just inside the door. I grabbed Bakura by the foot and dragged him back through the door. I took one last look at my home, before closing the door.
I grasped my Millennium Key and concentrated on the back seat section of my limo. The door appeared before me and I opened it, dragging Bakura's unconscious body with me. I gently laid him down inside the limo and draped the picnic blanket over him. "Why did you have to ruin my perfectly good picnic?" I whined softly. Then I lost my anger and brushed a strand of white hair out of his face. "Sleep well Bakura." I whispered and gently closed the door of the limo. I then looked at Joey's sleeping form on the forest floor. I rebuilt the fire till it was like before and I carefully lifted Joey's head and placed it on my lap. I sighed with relief that everything was ok now and began stroking Joey's head and running my fingers through his hair.
Then, I frowned and closed my eyes. Everything wasn't fine. I was still thinking about Mako. Even when facing the evil Bakura he was on my mind. I wished I were on the Hammerhead sleeping peacefully to the soothing rhythm of the waves. Not in the cold rough woods. I missed Mako. He is kind, loves the ocean like me, passionate, and we have the potential to create a great life together. But that was the conflict inside of me. I looked down at Joey and couldn't help but love him too. He's sweet, funny, fun to be around and affectionate. And I couldn't help but thinking that I would be so happy with Joey too.
I shut my eyes and tried to clear my mind, but to no avail. It was a decision that would not be easy to make. I would think about it later, and hopefully make the right choice, Joey began to groan and move. I patted his head gently as he sat up.
"Wha what happened?" Joey asked rubbing his head.
"Uh, you ate too much food and fell asleep." I told him.
Joey laughed. "Fa some reason that happens ta me a lot." He answered. "But, I coulda sworn I just had one of those Bakura goes crazy and attacks us dreams!"
"Oh you and your Bakura goes crazy and attacks us dreams." I snickered. "Bakura's so nice, he wouldn't hurt anyone, now how about some cake?" I said changing the subject and glancing back at the limo.
"Dude cake! I'm all for that!" Joey cried, snapping up and grabbing the picnic basket. "Mmmm strawberry!" He cried with his mouth full, spewing crumbs everywhere. I laughed. Gotta love Joey.
"It's getting pretty late, wanna get going?" I asked him.
Joey looked up at me with frosting all over his face. He shrugged and handed me the picnic basket. "Sure, this forest is creepin me out anyway." Joey replied.
As we headed back inside the limo I looked inside the picnic basket. "Sheesh Joey, you didn't leave me that much did yah?" I said in a mock stern tone.
Joey embarrassingly rubbed the back of his head and blushed. "What can I say, you're an awesome cook." He answered. As we got inside, I hoped that Joey wouldn't notice the unconscious Bakura in the back. As it turned out, Joey sat right behind me in the second row of seats and fell totally asleep. I was starting to wonder if he was narcoleptic. Just keep driving. I thought to myself.
Later, I pulled up to Joey's place and parked. "Joey, your home wakeup." I whispered, gently shaking him. He just snored and turned his head away. I sighed and wished I had brought the feather pen with me. "Come on Joey, you don't want to sleep in the limo do you?" I said, climbing over and sitting beside him. Joey turned his head again and leaned it against my shoulder. I would have been content to just sit there and keep him comfortable, but I had to get Bakura to his place yet. I smiled and thought of instead of it being Joey leaning against me, but it being me leaning against Mako, with his arm around me… Then I shook my head and began shaking Joey a little harder. Why can't I stop thinking about them both, what is wrong with me! I thought to myself. "What a night." I muttered. "Joey!" I cried, but he just ignored me and snored even louder. Then I thought for a minute. "Joey, you better get up right now or I'll eat the whole pizza without you!" I yelled, thinking that would surely get him up.
Sure enough…"Whoa! Did somebody say pizza? I'm there!" He jerked upright and looked around the limo. "Come on, lemme have some pizza, where is it where is it?"
I smirked. "There's no pizza Joey, I was just trying to get you up."
Joey pouted and folded his arms across his chest. "Man, I wanted pizza…" he whined.
I smiled sweetly and said, "Goodnight Joey."
Joey smiled and hugged me. "Night Jade. See yah lata." He went inside and I drove away.
After a little while, I could hear Bakura stirring in the back seat. "Oh…what happened?" I heard him ask. "And where am I?"
I pulled the limo over and sat next to him in the very back seat. As soon as I sat down I looked Bakura straight in the eyes and let the stress from the whole evening release. "DO YOU REALIZE YOU RUINED AN EVENING I WORKED SO HARD TO PLAN TO KEEP MY MIND OFF MAKO AND SPEND SOME TIME WITH JOEY!!!?" I growled at him.
Bakura backed away to the far end of the limo. "Er…Terribly sorry, did I? I can't remember a thing, what happened?"
I sighed and felt sorry for yelling at him. "Actually, it wasn't you; it was the evil spirit of your Millennium key. Don't worry now though. I think he's gone for good this time." I told him and explained what had happened through the course of the night. "Sorry for yelling at you, I have a lot of stress to vent and I shouldn't have taken it out on you." I apologized. "It wasn't even your fault at all."
"It's alright mate. I understand. Now what's all this about Mako and Joey you mentioned earlier?"
I sighed and held my head in my hands. I told him all about our fishing trip. How I felt torn between Mako and Joey. They were both so wonderful. No matter how much I tried to not think about it, the choice I eventually had to make kept looming in my face. "What do you think I should do Bakura?"
"Well, why don't you make a list of good things about each person and see which one appeals more to you." He suggested as I began driving him back to his place. "It's a tough decision, you should think long and hard about it before you decide for sure."
"Yeah, I know." I answered and sighed. "I hope when I choose one, I can still remain good friends with the other one."
"I don't really know about Mako, but I'm sure Joey would still want to be friends." Bakura added.
I pulled into the driveway and let him out. "Goodnight Bakura." I called out to him.
"Goodnight Jade, er sorry the evil spirit wrecked your evening." He answered.
"Don't worry about it Bakura, just glad he won't be coming back to bother you ever again." I said. I drove back to the Moto apartment, put away the picnic things and slowly crept into my room. My backpack was lying on the floor and I opened it. I took out the tiara that Mako had given me and placed it on my head. I smiled and admired it in a little mirror on the wall. "That was really sweet of him…" I thought to myself.
The rest of the week went by pretty quickly, until Yugi came home one day.
"Hey Jade, there's a school dance this Friday. Want to come?"
"Sure Yugi, the rest of the guys are going right?"
"Yup." Yugi answered. "It's going to be a wicked cool night." Yugi sighed.
"Why, planning on asking Tèa to slow dance with you?" I teased. Yugi blushed and nodded.
"It would be nice to spend a fun evening where nothing goes wrong." I said to myself.
I parked the limo outside Domino high school that Friday night and walked inside. "Hey Jade, you look awesome! The new cloths look great! Tèa said. I had gone to the mall earlier and bought some new cloths, just for the dance. I now wore a dark blue tube top that had a red dragon on it, with tan Capri pants and tall thick black sandals with a star shaped hole through them. Tèa had on her pink jacket with yellow tube top and pink shorts with black knee socks on and pink matching sandals.
"You look awesome too Tèa, lets get out there and dance!" I exclaimed. We entered the gym and saw Yugi, Joey, and Tristan sitting at a table off to the side.
"Hey you guys!" Tèa said waving.
"Hi Tèa, you look really pretty tonight." Yugi complimented her.
"And you of course look great as usual." Joey smiled and said to me.
"Awe, thanks you guys." We both said and smiled.
Tristan, I could see, was sulking. "What's the matter Tristan? No date?" I asked him.
Tristan folded his arms across his chest. "Serenity's operation is tomorrow, why couldn't they have pushed the dance further back, then I would have asked her to go with me. She's such a babe."
Joey got Tristan into a headlock. "I'll send you ta the hospital ta see her!" Joey sneered.
"Come on Tèa, let's… go dance." I whispered to her.
"Good idea." She agreed and we both walked out to the dance floor. We both began to dance, with Tèa showing me some cool new moves.
"That's it Jade you've got it!" Tèa laughed. I did too, this was fun!
To everyone's surprise, Mai was there too. She danced over to us and smiled. "Nice moves you two, but let me show you some of mine!"
"Hey Mai! How's it goin? You look gorgeous tonight!" Joey cried out and waved. Mai smirked and winked at him. I clenched my fist in anger. I only looked great, while Mai looked gorgeous? What was that all about? I suddenly remembered the dream Joey had on Mako's boat. I quickly lost my anger when we began dancing together, I didn't want it to ruin my evening.
"Wow Mai, you are a really good dancer!" Tèa exclaimed.
"Yeah, where'd you learn to dance like that?"
"I get around." She answered. All the other kids began cheering us three on as we danced with excitement.
Just then, a techno song came on and Joey and Tristan jumped out of there seats. "Alright Joey, lets show these girls how dancing's really done!" Tristan exclaimed.
"It's break dancin time pal!" Joey cried. The two began break dancing right in the middle of the floor. Twirling around on the ground and trying to do handstands, it was actually going well, until they crashed into each other and fell over.
"Wow, I so saw that one coming." Tèa commented.
"Yeah, I wondered how long it would take those two to crash into each other." I agreed.
"Oh I wouldn't worry about them. Those two are so hard headed; it must not have hurt them at all." Mai assured us.
Joey and Tristan didn't seem to think so. They were whining and rubbing their heads.
"Watch where yah goin next time doofus!" Joey exclaimed.
"Me! You watch where you're going lamebrain!" Tristan countered.
"Sheesh, you losers don't know how its done, let Johnny Steps show you how!" A tall black guy with dreadlocks said, walking over to us.
"We're doing fine on our own Johnny so back off." Tèa countered.
"You know that guy?" I asked her as Johnny began dancing.
Tèa nodded. "Yugi and I were at the arcade when he challenged me to a dancing video game. I totally beat him even though he cheated but he insisted on having a rematch. So Yugi challenged him to a duel and was winning when Johnny decided to run off so as not to lose. I told him that as long as he never gave up, it didn't matter if he lost. Then Johnny ran off anyway."
"Hah, sounds like he's the loser." Mai commented.
"I'll show you how it's done Johnny, one last time!" Tèa shouted and started dancing right beside him. We cheered her on and Johnny ended up sulking muttering something about being beaten again.
Just then, a slow song came on, and Yugi shyly walked up to Tèa. "Want to dance Tèa?"
He asked her.
"Sure Yugi, I'd love to." Tèa answered.
I started walking toward Joey, to ask him if he wanted to dance with me, but Mai beat me to it and wrapped her arms around his neck. "You wouldn't mind if I danced with Joey this time would you?" She smirked at me.
I glared at her and went into the hall to get a bottled water. What was I supposed to say? No, get away from my man, you can't dance with him? Joey is his own master; he doesn't need me to tell him what to do. I'm sure nothing's going to happen; maybe she just wanted one last dance with him. I quickly bought the water bottle.
I was assuring myself that nothing was going to happen when I went back into the gym. When I looked over at Joey and Mai I dropped my water bottle on the floor in horror. She had her arms wrapped around his neck and he had his arms wrapped around her waist and they were kissing passionately. I couldn't believe my eyes. I rubbed them and stared again. Joey wasn't exactly breaking away and telling her not to. So those dreams he had were based on feelings he had for Mai! Tears rolled down my cheeks and I sank to my knees. How could he do that to me, after all we'd been through, after how much we were supposed to care about each other? "Joey how could you do this?!" I yelled and got up. I had to get out of there. Had to drown out the pain, had to get away. I ran out of the gym and into the pouring rain. A storm must have started while we were inside dancing. Great, just great that's all I needed.
The cold wind whipped through my hair as I blindly ran away. Tears stung my face as the rain fell like needles upon my skin. I didn't care about the physical pain, anything to lesson the emotional pain. The stab in the chest that I felt Joey had given me. Then I started thinking. Did he plan for Mai to be there? He did seem awfully excited when she showed up.
I found myself at the docks, amidst the tied down ships. I sat at the edge of it and dangled my legs over the side, almost touching the water. I didn't want to think about anything. The rain fell harder and I was starting to go numb from head to toe. I shivered, wanting so much to be warmed and comforted. Then, I couldn't take it anymore. I sat there and cried as hard as I could. Letting out all my frustration.
I heard footsteps behind me but didn't even turn around to see what it was. It was only when I felt a strong hand on my shoulder did I turn around. "Jade?! What are you doing out in this storm?" It was Mako, dressed in a yellow raincoat and black rain boots. He must have had to dock his boat because of the storm. I couldn't even answer him; I was so upset that I was hyperventilating. "What ails you my friend? Did someone hurt you? I'll harpoon the wretched landlubber who dares to lay a hand on you!" Mako cried angrily.
"No one hurt my body, its just…" I trailed off and began sobbing uncontrollably again. I felt so sick to my stomach, blubbering right in front of Mako. But he didn't seem to mind, or find it annoying or weak. Mako helped me to my feet and wrapped his arms around me. I can't tell you how much his embrace comforted me and made me feel better, even a little bit. "Come on, let's get you dried off." He whispered to me. I didn't want to let go of him, didn't want the comfort that his embrace gave me to go away. Mako seemed to understand what I wanted even though I hadn't said a word to him. He lifted me up as if I weighed nothing and walked aboard "The Hammerhead." I wrapped my arms around his neck and leaned my head against his chest. Mako carefully walked down the steps and placed me in his huge hammock and wrapped a towel around me.
"It's not a fit night out for any creature, not even those from the mighty oceans are at ease tonight." Mako commented. He went over to the stove and put on a pot of tea. He hung up his yellow raincoat and took off his boots. I wiped my eyes and calmed down a bit, now that I was out of the pouring rain. I looked over at Mako and laughed as he shook himself off like a dog and wrung out his hair. Mako walked over to me and smiled. "Nice to see your shining smile, like the eye of the storm." He told me, sitting down beside me on the hammock. "Now will you confide in me and tell me what is wrong?"
I took a deep breath and spilled my guts out to him. Told him about Joey's dream about Mai, explained what happened at the dance and how I had run out of it crying. I told him how I felt betrayed and hurt. "I thought he cared about me, and then he just goes off with Mai pretty randomly. What's up with that? I mean, I know she had feelings for him, but I thought he wanted to be with me…" I said, tears forming into my eyes again. The pain was still there, Mai's smirking face was still fresh in my memory. My heart felt like an empty black hole waiting to consume me. Mako calmly rubbed my back and I found myself burying my head into his chest as he gently took me in his arms. We just sat there, him gently rocking me and murmuring sweet words of comfort.
The tea was ready and when I drank it, I felt a lot better. "You never had your slow dance this evening." Mako commented.
"How do you suggest I remedy that?" I asked him softly and smiled.
Mako put his c.d. player on and he pressed the skip button till he came to song six. He still had his "Spirit, Stallion of the Cimmeron." Cd in and the song started playing.
Mako walked up to me and gently took my hand in his. "Will you honor the King of the sea with a dance my dolphin queen?" He asked me.
"Of course I will Mako." I answered him. The lyrics to the song he chose were so much like the situation at hand. "Just hold on one sec." I told him. I quickly got a random stool, stood on it and wrapped my arms around his neck. He smiled and wrapped his arms around my waist. I felt so comfortable, sheltered in his arms. Then the singing itself began.
"I can't believe this moments come,
It's so incredible that were alone,
There's so much to be said and done,
It's impossible not to be overcome,
Will you forgive me if I, feel this way
Cause we just met, tell me that's ok
Take this feeling, make it grow
Never let it, never let it go."
As we drew closer and closer together, I could feel our two hearts beating together. To the same rhythm as if it was meant to be. And the more I let my mind wander, the more I thought about how Mako had always been nice to me. Had cared about me from the moment we met. No matter how much I told him that I was with Joey, he never gave up. He always offered me a place on the Hammerhead, and wanted my company. As the song ended, we gazed into each other's eyes and I felt something stir in my heart.
"Mako, before, I promised you that I would think about coming with you to sail on the ocean." I started to say.
"Yes?" Mako asked, hope filled his eyes and I could tell that he was tensing up.
"Well, I've made my decision." I whispered and smiled.
Mako smiled too, put his large calloused hand gently on the side of my face, and drew me in for a long passionate kiss.
Author's note: Ok now before you tie me or Joey to a stake, light the wood and start roasting marshmallows at the flames, wait for the next chapter. I'm not giving anything away, but rest assured, it's going to be a great finish! The next chapter will be the last one but don't worry; I have a sequel in mind already. Oh yeah, disclaimer, do not own the song.