Chapter 6

Did someone just knock . . . ?

Mai released Joey, who promptly slid to the floor. Raising on tiptoe, she quickly looked through the peephole if someone was there. No one was.

". . . Gracias . . ." he mumbled, dazedly lifting one finger, "Uno mas . . . .?"

Cute. Very cute. "Get up, Don Juan." She grabbed his hand and pulled him to his feet. "-Someone's calling for you outside!" Before he could react, she pushed him out the door and closed it shut behind him.

"...Huh? ...Wha?" Totally disorientated, but Yugi didn't notice becauseJoey usually was that way.

"Oh, Joey! There you are!" Yugi sighed with relief, running down from one end of the hall. "You have get downstairs! It's your turn!"

"..Huh? ...Wha?" he could only say again as he was ushered to the elevator

"Oh . . . " Yugi muttered, looking at the overcrowded elevator. "Looks like everyone's using the elevator . . . come on, we have take the stairs . . . what's the matter, Joey? ...Are you okay?" he asked concernedly, seeing the dazed expression on his friend's face. "Tea told me what happened. I'm sorry you had to find out about it now . . ."

That brought him back; to reality. "...Thanks. . ." Joey mumbled automatically, and they hurried downstairs in silence. His brain felt like if it were whirling around in his skull. Too many things happening at once, one after another. "Wait . . . did you just say I'm battlin' . . . Kaiba?"

"Yeah." Yugi said with an apologetic look. "Well, his kid brother that is. Mokuba entered, too."

"What . . . ?" It was like the information went to one ear and straight out the other. . . . They found the dueling room, overcrowded with other people. Large mainframe computer stations were set up. "We don't even get a dueling arena . . .?"

"No, too crowded and takes too long. For the finals, yeah. But now for the elimination rounds, we use the computers. It's just like a regular duel, on a video game." Yugi gave his friend a reassuring pat as he sat down.

Joey blinked sleepily. Why are the lights so bright? It reminds me of the school's, he thought. That made him want to take a nap right away. "Yuge . . . I don't feel well .. ."

"Here, I'll help you . . ." Yugi said brightly. "Let's see . . . choose your language . . ." Come on, focus, he told him silently. The rules were simple: one monster each and automatic kill. "Now . . .let's put your deck in this slot . . ."

"Um . . . I don't have it . . ."

"I have it, you gave it to me to keep for you, remember?" Yugi threw another worried look at him. He sure is acting funny . . .wonder if he's alright . . . "Come on Joey. You gotta forget about your sister and Kaiba for a minute and concentrate!" he urged.

He was silent as he looked away with a scowl. "Did . . .did YOU know about them, too Yuge?"

Yugi knew "them" meant Serenity and Kaiba. "Uh . . . well, sort of. I mean, I suspected and all . . ." Yugi tried to be honest, watching the screen as it sorted monsters from the rest. "Here, you have to pick your deck master."

In other words, he knew. Listlessly, he picked out the REBD and confirmed it. His arms felt a hundered pounds each. The words fuzzed, he could barely make out "Choose which card to set or play." Next to them, other duelists at computer stations were doing the same.

I can't believe Yuge suspected at least 'something', and never mentioned it. He only played halfheartedly, thinking of Mai and what she said. "Name one thing Yugi's ever done wrong." And he couldn't name anything. Until now.

He shook off the horrible thought. It isn't Yuge's fault! "I bet one of the reasons you're so mad is because you're jealous that your little sister found love before you did, huh?"

Love. His hand tightened on the mouse. Serenity hasn't found love. She's much too young to be in love! All through the years, he'd found ways to shield her from the evils of the world, and all his work wasted . . . . . in an instant. I'd planned she'd be with a nice decent warm-blooded guy. Not that cold shouldered reptile! GRR. GRR, GRR, grr.

He fought the urge to hurl the mouse at the computer. He didn't want to scare Yuge. I bet they're laughing right now about how everyone else knew and how dumb I am!

"Joey. . ..?" Yugi looked at him with very worried eyes. His friend had suddenly turned an unearthly shade of pale.

"I don't feel good. I think I'm gonna be sick . . ."

"You'd better go lie down. You look like you're going to faint!" Quickly, he helped him up.

"I can get up!" Joey shook him off more brusquely than he intended. "Dat's a . . good idea. I'm too . . . angry -to concentrate . . . . sorry Yuge . . . .I give up . . .. ." he half stumbled, half walked out, throwing him a reassuring smile before heading outside.

Yugi looked back at the screen. The moves were timed and there was only 5 seconds left. . . . Joey wanted to be in this tournament so bad, he thought woefully. It didn't seem right . . . . .

Darting a glance around, he placed his hands on the keyboard. Quickly and determinedly. /Aibou, are you sure you should be doing this. . . ? You might get disqualified . . ./

/That's okay, as long as Joey has a chance/

Later

"Those guys sure give me the creeps!" Tea whispered loudly, looking over one shoulder at the guys in suits. Her ice cream cone dribbled, wetting her finger. "Oh, yuck!" she groaned.

"Well, you know what they say: you know it's serious if a guy lends you his bodyguard." Mai said teasingly, as the three walked down a busy mall to watch a Spanish movie. Serenity took Spanish but didn't know it really well. Luckily, it had subtitles.

"Guys . . .please stop teasing." Serenity said in her soft voice, looking away. "This is serious. Maybe I should go make up with Joey; he took it worse than I'd imagined."

"Yeah, I just saw him in the hotel, going down the hall like the walking wounded." Tea licked her mint strawberry splash cone, all time favorite.

"Oh really?" Serenity looked anxiously at her. "That's it. I'm going back. I'm not in the mood to have fun anyway."

"Hold on," Mai said, shooting a glare at Tea who rolled her eyes. "I just saw him too, and believe me, he's fine."

"You did?" Serenity looked up, anxious, but with a hint of speculation also. As his sister she could detect things yet unknown about him. "...Is he still angry?"

"Furious. But he just needs to cool down, you know for the night. Tomorrow, you ought to talk with him."

"He . . .. was so angry. That's the first time he'd ever scared me so. I can't believe . . ." Serenity clasped her hands together in front of her face. " . . . he'd embarrass me . .. by acting like that .. .. I'd hoped . . . ." she shook her auburn head. "I don't know what I hoped for."

"Look everything'll be alright in the morning. So stop worrying okay, hun?" Mai put a reassuring arm around the girl's slender shoulders. "Now let's talk about that gorgeous boyfriend of yours. Mainly his gifts. What'd he buy you? Dish, dish!" Serenity's cheeks glowed.

Tea wasn't finished. She wasn't Joey's sister but she had an uncanny ability to spot a secret and fish it out. She licked her ice cream thoughtfully and gave Mai a piercing glare. "When you saw Joey . . ."she sad unblinkingly, " . . .. what else happened?"

"I have no idea what your getting at." Tea could see as Mai looked away stubbornly, just like Joey always did Well, she wasn't going to let this chance pass her by . . . .

"O-oh! Something did happen! I can tell by the way you're turning RED!" Actually she wasn't but Tea persisted. "I knew it! Told you so!" Tea said triumphantly, waving her cone. She nudged and winked at her, imitating her from before. Mai gave her one of those 'very funny' twisty mouth smirks.

Serenity watched the two of them quietly and interestedly, notincing the taller girl was quiet. "Is it true, Mai? D-did something happen betwee-?" she asked gently.

"No!" The way she crossed her arms over her chest, it was clear that she wasn't going to say any more.

" . .. .oh. because . . . ..I think it'll be great if you two . .. got together. He'll probably kill me for saying this but . . .. I know he likes you." Serenity said timidly.

"Tch! Like, duh! . . .. now come on and let's watch some sexy Spanish hotties."