She was, of course, every bit a rose as one woman could be. She had all the full, rich beauty of the blossom, yet the surprise and danger of the thorns. No, she was more dangerous then a simple thorn. She was the snake that hid under the flowers, ready to bite at the hand that finds it's resting place.

And I wouldn't want it any other way.

Mai Valentine and I had been through a lot. We were so in debt to each other that it would take an eternity to repay each other. So whenever she asked me to do something, I would do it, just like she would do for me.

But nothing prepared me for what she would ask me that one night. We were at a large mansion party, the kind rich snobs had to show off how unnecessarily extravagant they were, and how foolishly they could squander their money. Anyway, Jean Claude Magnum happened to be there, Mai's old "lover", if you could call him that. The only person who that asshole irritated more then me was Mai. She wanted nothing more to do with him ever since she killed his ass twice dueling. But when his goon squad showed up, it was time for us to leave.

She grabbed my hand with a vice like grip and led me through dark passageways that almost seemed to twist on itself. The moon cast eerie shadows that danced like ghosts on the carpet and walls.
"Mai, we can't escape by going into the house. We need to get out."
"Knowing Magnum, that's what he's planning. We've got to do something else." She responded, moving further into the labyrinth of hallways and rooms.

When we eventually stopped, we were in a study. There was only one large window; Mai and I had to duck to avoid a searchlight passing through the room. The furniture in this room consisted of a massive desk full of doodads that were utterly useless, bookshelves of very scientific, and therefore boring and useless books, and a large, full-length mirror.
"Joey. You know what would happen if Magnum found you and not me?" Mai asked.
"I would think he'd try to make me tell him where you were."
"Except that Magnum is a wuss. Do you think he'd let you go if you didn't know where I was?"
"Why are you asking?" I changed the subject. Mai responded by touching the mirror. Shocked, I watched the surface of it ripple as if it was water.
"Awesome!" I shouted.
"Don't touch it." Mai ordered. I immediately obeyed. It was something that Yugi or someone who knew that magic stuff would be interested in.
"So, what does that mean?" I asked innocently.

It took me a second later to realize what she was planning.
"You're going to..." I started, but then she cut me off.
"If they find you alone, they'll let you go. I...I'm not going to lose to him. I've known Magnum for more then the two times I told you about. And those meetings led to occurrences that I...I won't speak of now. Suffice it to say that I won't lose to him, not now, not after I gained so much. So I'm going to chance the unknown. But...but I won't chance you to it. You're going to stay here." She ordered.
"No!" I said. "I don't want to lose you by having you jump into some mirror just to escape. You're strong, you can fight him! I trust you!"
"If you trust me, then why won't you let me do as I please?"
"Because it's not my trust in you that I'm worried about, it's the realization at the mirror's other side."
"You're...so kind to me, Joey, especially when I've been such a bitch to you."
"Just because you've been a bitch doesn't mean you haven't been kind." I said, touching her cheek. "Sometimes, life needs a bitch."
"Yeah, you're right." She says.
"We can fight together!" I offered. She shook her head violently.
"No, Joey. It's too dangerous for you. I...I know...you don't like me. I make you uncomfortable, and you get really nervous around me." She said sadly. I looked at her for a long time. What was she saying? Didn't she know that I really cared about her? I thought women were supposed to know these things.

"Joey, please." Mai pleaded with me. I had never seen this side of her before; she actually wanted me not to help her.
"I can't risk having the unknown swallow you up. Listen to me, and don't follow." She winked at me, and then disappeared through the mirror, a still pool rippling as she passed through and disappeared from view.

I stood there for a minute, not having the energy to curse her or wish her luck. I didn't want to lose this dark rose that was called Mai Valentine. She didn't want me to get hurt; I had to respect that, but I...I had to be selfish once. I didn't want Mai to be hurt, and at the very least, I wanted to know if she was all right.

"Better go on Mai, you've got a bandit on your tail." I said, remembering part of a line from a Charlie Daniel's song. I knew she'd be mad at me, but I had to tell her something, face to face. There was something that was so important that she know that I would risk hell and damnation just to tell it to her.

I wanted to tell her that she was strong. She didn't know me as well as she thought. For one thing, she should know that I never wanted to see Jean Claude Magnum again, even if it was just his goons. She should know that I'm both brave and foolhardy enough to risk everything for an adventure in another dimension or wherever the hell that thing led to. And even if she was right about me being nervous around her, and sure, maybe I was a bit uncomfortable and flustered when she and I talked.

But that didn't mean I didn't like her. And that was the thought that filled my mind as I jumped through the mirror.