Chapter 9
Mai's POV (point of view)

"Love?" He grabbed my arm. I shook him off and continued down the hall. "What's dat supposeda mean?"

I was embarrassed. And when I'm embarrassed, I tend to get, well, nasty. People were edging around us and away from us. "Forget it," I hissed. "Now come on, we have work to do.".

"Tell me what you meant.".

"Nothing. I wouldn't love a coward." I sniped nastily over my shoulder. "So don't get your hopes up."

He looked at first hurt then angry. "Hey, wait a minute. Who kissed who first, huh?" He looked angry enough to knock me out and smugly triumphant at the same time.

"S-So?" I lifted my chin defensively though my voice betrayed me. "kissed me back!" I hissed..

"Well, you called me .. . . cute!" he said smugly..You

I flushed as I remembered that, then shot back, "W-w-well, at least I didn't fall down! DOPE!" I guess we where making quite a scene because I heard somebody mutter jeeringly, When's the wedding? in Spanish. I shot him such a look of hatred, that the poor man nearly peed his pants. Imagine! Us an old married couple. Well, we certainly are acting like one . . . . .

He blinked. "Say wha? I didn't fall. .. .. . .When did I fall?".

"Yes, you did." I paused, recalling. "And then you said . . . .. uh, what was it again?" I told the ceiling. "Oh, yes. 'Uno mas.' " I looked at him in puzzlement. "Since when do you know Spanish, Joseph?".

"I don't. What does dat mean anyway?" he looked just as confused..

"One . . . .more.".

"I-it d-does? . . .. oh, I rememba. I saw it in a movie . . .cept I didn't know what it meant.".

"Goof!" I smacked him in the side of the head. "It could've meant anything, then!".

"Ow! What was dat for?" He rubbed his head. "I didn't touch ya!".

" 'Cause you're an idiot, you idiot!" I poked him hard in the shoulder..

"Am not!" He poked me back..

"Are too!".

"Not!".

"Too!" And so on we went for quite a while. I felt a bit amused of myself by all this, getting in a argument three year olds have. I don't know; I was pretty riled up. We would've continued shouting in each others' faces if Tea hadn't come to the rescue just then..

"Sheesh, morning, Noon and NIGHT!" she complained, glaring at us both, her hands on her hips. For some reason I wanted to laugh at how ridiculous we must've sounded. I don't know, maybe it was nervous laughter. But when I glanced at him, I thought I saw a spark of humor and his mouth twitching a bit at the corners. He thought it was pretty ridiculous, too.

Still, we hung our heads and made a show of the shameful as Tea lectured us. I'm sure he was thinking of when we threw a pie in her face like I was. After probably hours, she finished and was brushing past us when I caught her arm. "Tea, wait. We need your help."

"What! You're planing to trap Kaiba?" Tea's eyes were round and saucer-like after she heard us.

"Exactly," I said, nodding. "So will you do it?".

"Me?Me pretend to flirt with t-t-t-that statue?" she sputtered in rage. "You two are out of your minds if you EVER think I'd-".

"Okay, okay," I said calmly. I had planned to do it all along, anyway. "Then just keep Serenity busy and out of the way, then. You can at least do that." I said like I'd just thought of it..

Tea frowned, thinking. Then, "No! I would love to prove what a jerk Kaiba is, but he's no idiot. What if he finds out what you two are planning to set him up? He'll be furious!".

"So?"

"So, you'll invite his wrath! He'll be looking for revenge." Tea crossed her arms and narrowed her eyes. "Probably he'll think if something really evil. . . . .".

"Ooh, I know!" Joey said, jumping up and down like a kid. "He'll turn into a fifty two foot . . . . . Kaiba-zilla! Rowr!".

Tea smiled slightly. "And he'll run down and up Domino, spurting flames!" she added..

" 'Course," Joey quipped, "No one'll notice any thing out of th' ordinary. Everybody'll be like, oh, hey whussup?".

Tea laughed, but I didn't crack a smile. Not that it wasn't funny imagining Kaiba stomping buildings flat and rampaging on houses, but it was too close to . . . .what had happened in Battle City . . . . .flames bursting out of a dragon's mouth . . . . .. .

Flashback.

Alone. Black. Cold. Struggling helplessly to move but my arms and legs were crushed by something. But it was a different kind of feeling. I felt utterly vulnerable, like I've just been thrown out of a safe haven, a protective bubble. My protective bubble. My fate was up to others, instead of me. .

And that scared me out of my mind. "Have a happy one way trip to the SHADOW REALM .. . . . Mai!" MWA HAHAHAHA.

Blackness, . . . . never ending tortue began . . . ..and then I really was going out of my mind.

end flashback

I don't know how much time had passed. I think I was aware of the other poking me and waving their hands in my face. I heard Tea whisper, "She's totally out of it!" and Joey answer, but I couldn't hear him. I swayed, then suddenly came out of my trance and caught myself.

"Oh . . . ." I managed a smile. "Hey, guys . . .. sorry for zoning out there. . ." like it was nothing. They were both staring at me in worry and concern. "What?" I said innocently, puching a lock of hair out of my face.

Tea spoke first. Her voice sounded hushed like she was speaking something forbidden. "Are you okay? You were standing like a statue, there for an hour!"

I checked my watch. She wasn't kidding; it was nearly 7. There was a small window to the side, outside it was black night. I remember it being sunny . . . . .I think I would've went into another state of shock. Snapping out of it, I said firmly, "I need to take my medicine. Mind one of you get me a glass of water?"

Joey went, and I took a prescription bottle out of my purse. "Don't look at me like that, Tea," I said lightly. "I'm not dying or anything. I get migraines every once in a while." I knew she liked to talk about herself, so I added, sitting down on a sofa, "Do you?"

"Me? I used to when I was little. But I didn't stand like that for an hour!"

"Must be why my legs are tired, then," I joked, swiftly changing the subject. "So, you just distract Serenity for our plan, okay?"

She half frowned half scowled. "I don't like the idea of deception . . . . .still, I even worse like men who would cheat. I can't believe you're just gonna throw yourself at him."

"Still, it's a good test, huh?"

"Yeah, I guess." She was still looking at me funny, and I hoped her over perceptive radar wouldn't kick in. Me and her hung out every once in a while, she was a good shopping partner. And except for her temper tantrums, she was pretty decent.

I nodded. "Where is she now? Do you know?"

"Downstairs, watching the rest of the duels with Yugi. . . . .which reminds me . . . . ."

Normal 3rd-person's POV

"Whoo!" Serenity cheered, clapping her hands along with the crowd. "That was awesome!"

Mokuba hopped down. A few months ago he'd had a hair cut a/n: Imagine that but his black hair was still messily sticking in all directions as always. But his litlte face was beaming as he came down.

Yugi nodded. "You've come a long way," he said friendly to the boy.

"Thanks, Yugi." Mokuba really appreciated that, coming from an expert like him. "That guy was tough. But I thought he was about to cry!"

Serenity laughed then said, "I wish I good be as good . .. as the two of you . . ." she sighed.

"Well, it takes practice. A lot of practice," Yugi said as the announcer called for a short intermission as they changed backgrounds and fields. "Do you know how to duel, Serenity?"he asked questioningly.

"A little. S- that is, Kaiba is teaching me. or at least trying to teach me." She chuckled, then to Mokuba she said, "Do you kind getting me a Coke? I'm kind of thirsty . . . ."

"Sure." The little boy agreed with a nod as he disappeared into the gathering crowd. Serenity turned slowly back, uncertain how to ask. . . .but he was one of Joey's best friends.

"Yugi. .. .? You don't think .. . . Kaiba's such a bad person like Joey does. . .do you?" She wanted his honest opinion.

"Uh . . . ." He looked uncomfortable. Everyone seemed to put him on the spot lately. "Well . . . .. I think he's doing a lot better than before, that's for sure." He said with a nod.

"Yeah, that's true. . . . . ." She was grateful for his honesty. At least not everybody though he was a bad person. Or else Yugi was just being nice, as usual. She accepted the drink when Mokuba came back and another duel started. She watched the two boys' gaze riveted on it. They pretty good friends, though Serenity suspected they would be better friends if Seto hadn't detested Yugi so much. He still detested and resented him, though not as bad as before. Mostly he avoided him since Yugi had defeated him in Battle City.

It was humiliating for him, but Serenity suspected that it also brought about a respect for the short boy. Maybe one day they would put the past behind them . . . .

Ah me, the eternal optimist, she thought. There was still that tiny hope that refused to be smothered and squashed, that her brother would get along with . . . . .

. . . .not just Seto, she realized. Others, too . . . . there was always a hint a of suspicion, even when Joey smiled and greeted people. It took a long time for him to trust fully . . . .. Her eye fell on Yugi's spiky head. But he trusts Yugi, doesn't he? Of course, he's his best friend. At first when Serenity had met the shy, short boy, she had had questioned their friendship. They looked and were so different, she couldn't believe it. Yugi with his unusual appearance, and Joey your regular school kid. And their personality, she shook her head. Whereas Yugi was a bit shy and quiet, Joey was lively, and outspoken even from an early age. Even though, there was a strong bond of trust between them, which Serenity had seen in Mokuba and Seto.

Plus, while Yugi is, well . . . .forgiving kind, almost to a fault, she thought, Joey . . . well, isn't so forgiving. Her brown, long lashed eyes were troubled as she looked away. Even though he had given his approval, she still thought he wasn't being completely honest. She swallowed, the sound a heavy thud in her throat and hugged her jacket tighter to herself, which Seto had given her as a present. Joey still hasn't forgiven me. She bit her lip and pushed the dark secrets out. He still hasn't forgiven . . . .dad for abusing him, mom for leaving him, and me for betraying him for his worst enemy. What kind of sister am I? she thought, miserable with guilt. He must secretly hate me . . . .I know it . . . .!

"Serenity! Hey!" Mokuba looked up seriously. "What's wrong?" he asked. "You look sad. Are you sad? What are you sad about?"

"No, I'm not." She answered with a smile. "I just, uh, bit my tongue, that's all."

"Ouch." The little boy gave her a sympathetic wince and turned back, on another subject already. "See that guy? The with the blue hair? He's got a Ragiki, that's a really powerful trap card."

"Really? What does it do?" she said in an interested voice, while he launched into a long explanation. Still, the heavy feeling wouldn't leave, though she tried to hide it. Just then, Tea came down the stairs nearby.

"Serenity . .. ! Why don't after this we go back to the room? I need to talk to you." Tea said, trying not to sound nervous.

"Sure, Tea." The girl's face was so happy to see her, Tea felt a pang of guilt for deceiving her. Especially by her own brother. . .! She sent a silent mental message to them. Oh, boy . . . .you'd better not screw this up, you two . . . .she thought, hiding her grimace with a friendly smile.

TBC!