"Mai! What is it?"

Mai bumped into Tea, who was just about to knock as she came storming out. "What happened?" Tea demanded.

Mai glanced at Yugi who was watching with wide, concerned eyes. "He tireado una mesa a el," she muttered, so Yugi couldn't understand. Tea stared in shock.

"You what? Why?" Just then Joey came out. And the two of them started arguing, right in the hallway. Finally Tea couldn't take it anymore. "STOP!" They both stared at her outburst in surprise.

"All you two do is argue! Usually I don't care, but all this is ruining this tournament for the rest of us," Tea said fiercely, indicating towards Yugi and herself. "So, you two, Joey and Mai,are going to call a truce for, at least, the rest of the trip. It's not fair that others have to put up with your constant bickering."

"But she-but she-"

"He-he-" They protested at the same time.

"I don't care! This is gone too far, look, one of us is hurt," Tea said angrily. They both hung their heads like ashamed children while still managing to glare at each other. "So either you two stay away from each other or call a truce. But this is getting old."

"Fine," they mumbled together finally.

"Now shake hands." Tea ordered in a no-nonsense way.

They did so reluctantly. " . . .Truce. . "

"Good. Now-"

Mai was scowling at the ground, but then she suddenly gave a wide smile. "You know, Tea," she interrupted, "You're absolutely right." Everyone stared in shock. "This is getting old. So let's all start off with a fresh new slate. That way, this trip can be a lot more better; if we're all friends." She said sweetly.

Tea looked stunned, but pleasantly surprised too. Joey, instead was suspicious. What she up to?

"So I'm gonna try not to ruin this for you all, and if have, I'm sorry. Even though I'm not into dueling anymore," Mai paused, side stepping a little way off. "I shouldn't be so selfish. And I'm sorry, Yugi, for ruining this for you." She added, looking directly at him.

"Heh. That's okay, Mai." The little guy answered good-naturedly. While Tea was looking over at him, Mai gestured towards a cart stacked with trays with pies on them with her head. In silent agreement, Joey nodded, and they stood so the cart was blocked from view. "If you don't mind me asking, why did you quit? You were really a difficult opponent." Yugi said.

"She said it was for babies," Joey tattled.

"Liar! I never said that!"

"Okay, okay, you guys," Tea said, holding up her hands. "Truce, remember?"

"Oh, that's right." Mai took a white cream pie in front of her, her expression turning wicked. "And in honor of our truce, we should do something together, right?" she added, glancing over at Joey.

"Right, Mai." Together they started advancing on Tea with pies in their hands.

"Guys, this is so not funny!" Tea said sharply. They continued to advance, each wearing identical wicked smiles; each holding a cream pie. "You two are so immature! Don't even think it!" But she started back away, her eyes narrowed. "You don't have the guts."

It seems that every time she says that, something bad happens, Yugi thought, shaking his head in warning of what was coming.

"Oh, don't we?" Mai raised her pie back behind her.

Tea glared. "You two so deserve one another." Splat!

Later

"Is she . . . is she still after us?" Mai looked around a corner, feeling like a twelve year old kid. They were hiding in the crowded lobby, dodging bell boys as they pushed luggage around. They gaped at the two foreigners hiding, especially at the woman, grinning like a child.

" ' Don't have the guts. ' " Joey scoffed, wiping some cream from his hair and licking it.

"I know, right? There we are, holding two pies, and she's still trash-talking." Mai shook her head, taking another look at the stairway. "Talk about stupid!"

Still, they both watched the stairway intently, and after a few minutes relaxed with sighs of identical sighs of relief. "Still, she was pretty mad. . . . "

"And she's scary when she's mad." Mai said almost thoughtfully about Tea. He nodded like an old experienced veteran. "I Never saw steam come out of anyone's ears before like that!"

"An' poor Yuge," He looked away with a small sorrowful shake of his head. "He got caught in the middle."

Mai laughed. "Yeah! That was funny." He gave her a look. "Well, it was! Here he's just minding his own business, trying not to do anything bad, and he gets hit with pies the worst!"

"And that's funny?" he said frowning.

"You have to look at it in a different way. You're biased, he's your friend." She brushed some crumbs off her coat, walking away. "I'll have to leave a big bill to clean that hallway . .. . but oh, it was worth it." She laughed breathlessly. "Man, I haven't had so much fun-"

She suddenly stopped and her smile faded. There was a silence, as he waited patiently for her to continue. They now in a wide, dim hallway, near the gift shop. A few people passed by, carrying shopping bags that caught her eye. Hmm, that reminds me, I have to do some shopping . . ..

"Well? Go on, ya haven't so much fun since?" he prompted. "And what do ya mean, I'm 'biased?' "

She decided to choose his second question. "Oh. . .um . .. you know what I mean." She stepped in the shop, browsing and talking. "That you two, Yugiand you,see each other as can do no wrong, through rose-colored glasses." As if in demonstration, she picked up some pink sunglasses off the shelf and tried them on.

"Tch. Dat's not true!"

"Is it? Name one thing he did wrong? Ever?"

"Lots of things. Umm . . .. " Joey frowned, thinking back. "Welll . . . ."

"See? Like I said." She took off the glasses. "Rose -olored."

" . . . . . . . .So wat's wrong wit dat?" he said defensively.

"Or . . .is it that you can think of something, but don't want to say? Don't get me wrong, Yugi is great guy and I like him and all. He was getting hit by pies mostly because to help Tea out." There was a silence as a mischievous look came into her eye, picturing them together. "Maybe I'll play a little matchmaker with them," she mumbled proudly to herself. "I mean, I already got Serenity and K-" Abruptly, she clamped her mouth shut with a hand.

"What?" he demanded sharply.

Uh. Oh. "Um . . .did I say something-?" she said innocently. Just then, the clerk called out to them, asking if they were in the tournament. "Yes." Mai answered, grateful for the interruption.

"Todos estan afreda para escuchar un mensage." The clerk said, pointing outside.

"Oh, gracias. Come on, Joey, they're giving a message to all duelists outside." She said pulling him outside.

"Forget about dat!" He said impatiently, not to be put off. "What were ya about to say?Serenity and who got together?"

"N-never mind! I said, ' I got Serenity and .. . k-quiet from here., you know, from Spain.' You know, like 'peace and quiet'?" Mai looked at him to see if he was buying such a lame excuse. Good thing he's so dense, she thought relievedly as he seemed to accept it, albeit in confusion. Practically everyone knows about them except for him! But I'd better be more careful. "Now let's go see what the big deal is."

"I can't looking like this-" he said suddenly grumpy, referring to the marker drawing on his face.

"Please! You went all the way down to the shop, didn't you?"

"From Tea's wrath!"

"Oh, don't be a baby. Here, let me see your face." She took some tissues out. "It faded, you can barely read it." she chided, wetting the tissues with something from a small bottle. When he squirmed, she ordered, "Now hold still!"

"No! I'm NOT usin' make-up!"

"Hold still! It's not makeup. This'll only take a second." The tissues slowly turned black with marker. "There. See? All fixed." And it was true, as he looked at himself in the small mirror.

"Whoa . .. what'd ya use?"

"Extra strength makeup remover."

"Daaaang! I washed my face, like 20 times last night, an' it barely budged! How come ya didn't say somethin' bout dis earlier?" he said accusingly.

"What's this?" she asked suddenly, pointing to a locket around his neck. "I didn't notice this before." . He picked it up and gave her a glare.

"Well you're probably gonna make fun of me, but it's a picture of my sis, for yo information."

"Aww . . .big macho tough guy who has a picture of his little sister around his neck . .. ." she fluttered her eyelashes with a dreamy expression. "That's sooo sweeeeeet!"

"Yeah, yeah, yuk it up." Joey turned away and left the store in a huff.

"Wait! Can I see?" Mai caught up with him out in the wide hallway again.

"No."

"Oh come on. Don't be mad. I helped you with your face, remember?" Finally he relented, and she took the small, rectangular gold locket and it opened with a snap. Inside, there was Serenity, looking very young, about six or seven. She was smiling and waving towards whoever took the picture, her brown hair much shorter than it was now. Looking at it, Mai was remembering exactly what Serenity had said when she'd asked for a favor. "Could you . . .distract him? I want to be the one to tell him, but not yet! . . .. does that sound like a coward?'

Closing it, she murmured, "You and your sister must be as close . . . ." she trailed off, not sure how to finish her thought.

"Yeah like peanut butter and jelly. We tell each other every ding." He smiled fondly.

That's what you think. . . . . .Suddenly it wasn't funny anymore. Serenity couldn't tell her brother because she was scared of what will happen, and she was partially to blame. Because of her and Kaiba's relationship, the secret had damaged her relationship with her brother. Even though he's still clueless about it. The question was, will it be worth it in the end?

I know how much he hates Kaiba. But will he get over it for Serenity's sake? Would he? She looked up at him, had to since he was taller, except when she had high heels on. I could tell him the truth .. . .and possibly save a lot of damage from being done. Mai wanted to believe that it wasn't any of her business what happened, but she was already . . . too. . .

She looked up at him, had to since he was taller, except when she had high heels on. . Mai wanted to believe that it wasn't any of her business what happened, but she was already . . . too. . .

"I'm already too involved . .. " she murmured to herself, as he looked back at her. He'd been looking wistfully over where the others had gathered.

"What?"

She didn't answer, torn up. To tell or not to tell . . . . .. he saw a look of indecision on her face and wondered what it was about. I hope Yugi's there to listen to the message, he thought. "Too involved? With what?" he pestered.

"Nothing . . . I'm sorry . .. " she muttered. The hall was now empty, as everyone had gone outside. His face softened slightly at her apology.

" 'Bout what?"

"Everything. The marker . . . .kicking you . .. and . .. ." What'll happen when you find out, she thought guiltily but didn't voice it.

"Hey dat's all right. We called a truce, right?" He smiled in reminder. "Sooo . . . . we're friends, right?"

"R . . .right."

"And . . .friends tell each other every ding, right?"

He still suspects something, she thought. She could by the way he was looking at her watchfully. Something about that made her think he wasn't as stupid as he appeared. "R-right . .. . "A black smudge was still on his cheek. "Wait, you have something . . . " she said slowly, reaching up. Mistake. As she stared up in his dark hazel eyes shaded by thick longish blond hair, still feeling guilty, Serenity words came back to her. "Distract him some way . . ." Something about that made her think she was played for a fool. "You had something on your face. . ." she said backing off. He grabbed her wrist. "W-what?"

A slow lopsided smile spread. "Is the great and terrible Mai . . . blushing?"

"Oh, get off yourself!" She sniped, wrenching away and walking off. Despite herself, she could feel a slow heat creep up her face. Well I wasn't! Stupid oaf for making me feel this way! Then she turned back, not satisfied with the way she'd just acted. "You did have something on your face!"

"Right," he said loftily like it didn't make any difference. "Calm down. I was jest teasin.' "

"...Oh. I knew-"

"Hey guys, where were you?" Yugi interrupted, coming around the corner. "You missed it. The director said. . . .oh sorry, we're you in the middle of. . .?"

"Naw. Go ahead, Yuge. What'd he say?"

"That early tommorrow the eliminations'll be held. Since so many people are participating, the rounds'll be in a quick death mode."

"Huh? What dat supposed to mean?"

"Well"

"If you'll excuse me, boys, I have to get my beauty rest." Mai interrupted, walking away. "Good night."

"Good night," Yugi echoed after her, then continued, " Sort of like deck master rules. We each get one monster, excpet it's attached with life points. And you have to keep it alive. First one who let it die, loses."

"Eh?"

"Come on, and I'll explain . . . and pay attention . . . . ."

TBC