WELCOME BACK!
Thank you everyone who waited so patiently for me to update. There was a gremlin hanging around somewhere, and he messed up my disk. Hence, Chapter Three was very late. Then I had SEVERE WRITER'S BLOCK for chapter four! (Oh, the Drama!) I give all credit for this chapter finally being out to Mamono. Thanks for the help, girl! (Go read her fics, after this!)
Thank you to everyone for the reviews! Now for the replies!
Emily 10: I'm glad your enjoying the story, and I hope you like another fic I'm going to be working on (hopefully soon) about the Kaiba brothers. No, I don't think I believe in the 'Curse of the Bambino', at least not in this case. (Sighs. Why didn't they just take Pedro out?)
Mamono: Thanks! I was going for fluff! Mission accomplished! (Expect more, soon!) You're entirely welcome! You were kind enough to mention my story at the end of one of your chapters, so there you go!
YAMI GIRL3: I was showing my support for the Boston Red Sox (see above). I love it when Joey's being a sweetie too, another reason to finish this fic!
Calcifier: Yes, I'm a Red Sox fan, and thank you for not holding that against me! I'd hate to think the playoffs had lost me some reviewers! Updates will hopefully be more regular (say, at least once a week). I'm glad you're enjoying the story!
Saphirus*Falcon(): Thank you! I plan on letting people know where I got the idea for this fic very soon! No, boys don't seem to think about the actual dancing part of a dance, until after they get a date for one! (No offence to any guys who might be reading this!)
Thank you, also, to Millenium mutant, Saiyan-Kitsune-Foxfire, Gingerpen, and anyone else who has reviewed since the posting of last chapter!
Aura Black Chan: Hey, what's up?
Yugi: Oh, um, I was just wondering….
Aura: (getting suspicious) 'Bout what?
Yugi: (hesitating) Well, err, I was wondering if you really plan to send Joey to live with his mom?
Aura: (sighing) Why is it none of you bothers to finish reading my chapters?
Yugi: (defensivly) I did!
Aura: (puzzled) Did you read what I put at the end?
Yugi: You mean 'GO RED SOX'?
Aura: No, I mean before that.
Yugi: You mean the part where you apologise to the readers for the late chapter?
Aura: (getting frustrated now) No, I mean after that.
Yugi: (look of understanding) Oh, you mean the part where you say you don't own any of the movies we-
Aura: (getting a headache) Please, just go back and reread the end. PLEASE!
Yugi: (a few minutes later) So you haven't decided yet?
Aura: Nope. Neither has Joey.
Yugi: Oh, alright then.
Aura: Would you mind doing the disclaimer while you're here?
Yugi: Okay! AURA BLACK CHAN DOES NOT OWN YU-GI-OH!
Aura: (sighs) I swear, the yelling is just to agravate me.
Like No Father
Chapter Four: Learning to Dance
As the train finally slowed to a stop, he got up, stretched, and yawned. Gathering his things together, he started to leave, making sure it was the right stop, and that he had left nothing behind.
Stepping off the train into the fresh spring air, he inhaled deeply, and smiled. Now all he needed to do was find them!
The large clock that dominated the entryway to the train station read 11:29. Thirty minutes before his train was supposed to arrive. They weren't here yet!
"So much for being early being a good thing." He mumbled under his breath.
Releasing a small sigh of frustration, he went to a nearby concession area, and got himself a soda, burger, and fries. At least he wouldn't be hungry while he waited.
Finding a bench in an open area, he set down his bags to wait, hopefully not for too long. He noticed the clock only read 11:32 now. Great. That was just great! Time always seemed to move much slower when you were waiting for something you wanted. The last few weeks had certainly demonstrated that!
"Are you sure?"
"Yep."
"Not even a little?"
"Nope."
"What about-"
"Look, Tea! I can't dance! Okay?" Joey finally snapped at his friend. He liked her really, but she could be a real pain in the ass sometimes!
It was the next afternoon and they were back at Yugi's, still a bit red eyed from the previous night. Their movie marathon had not ended until three A.M., when Peter Falk had whispered to a young Fred Savage 'As you wish.'" By then they had long since stopped caring who married Buttercup, or if Robin Hood survived the Pit of Despair. Hell, by then Joey thought that Maid Marion would have done much better to go after the Holy Grail herself, and who cared if the Nazi's took over Guilder! They were ruled over by the evil Lord Fezzik! That shrimp deserved to die just for saying 'Inconceivable' as if it were going out of fashion! And what was Indiana Jones doing trying to duel with King Richard anyway? Wasn't Indigo supposed to do that? The movies had made no sense to him!
Yugi came over with some strong coffee for all of them.
"You'd think we all went out drinking last night." He mumbled as he passed them each a mug. "Has either of you seen Tristan or Bakura today?"
"Nope, and I don't expect to." Joey took a large gulp of coffee. "Tristan said something about sleeping until noon tomorrow when he left."
"What about Bakura?" Tea asked.
"He's actually still upstairs." Yugi told them. "His dad is going to be away until the end of the school year. When Grandpa heard him talking about it with us the other day, he insisted that he stay here till his father came home."
"Oh, that was so nice of him!" Tea exclaimed.
"Yeah, well, don't think Bakura just said yes right away." Yugi continued. "He tried to say no, that he was used to it and it was fine, but Grandpa wouldn't take no for an answer. He finally agreed, as long as Grandpa let him help out in the shop and stuff."
"You know, I wondered why so much of Bakura's stuff was here for just an over-night." Tea mused. Then, somewhat puzzled, "But if you knew where he was, why did you ask if we'd seen him?"
"Oh, I just wondered if he'd managed to get up yet. It turns out he was up later than all of us."
"Wadda ya mean?" Joey asked.
"Grandpa told me when he came down to start breakfast this morning that Bakura was awake and still going. Didn't you notice how clean it was down here this morning?" he asked in a lower voice. "He never went to sleep! He stayed up and cleaned the kitchen, and everything in sight, I think!"
Joey and Tea looked around. Yugi was right, the place did look clean, cleaner in fact, than before their movie marathon!
"Wow." Was all either of them could muster.
Joey got a somewhat sly look on his face. "Do ya think Bakura would clean my bedroom?"
"You couldn't afford me, I don't think." Said a gentle, friendly voice.
"Yikes!" Joey and Tea jumped about a foot in the air as their pale, almost ghostly friend came up quietly behind them.
Bakura smiled good-naturedly at them, before turning to Yugi. "Is there anymore coffee?" He asked still sounding tired.
"Sure! Sit down! I'll go get you some!" Clearly the coffee was taking affect on Yugi.
"Eh, so, ah how much of that didja hear?" Joey asked, uncomfortably.
"All of it. It's alright though!" he continued quickly at the sight of Joey's look of shame. "I told Mr. Moto I wanted to help out while I was here. I just don't think he expected to see me cleaning at four in the morning." He paused to yawn and stretch for a moment. "Really, I think I startled him earlier."
Bakura took the chair next to Joey, and they started chatting.
"So, have you figured out what to do about your problem?" he asked.
Joey frowned slightly. "Yeah, I asked Tea, and she practically gives me the third degree because I can't dance!"
"I did not!" Tea said indignantly. "I was just surprised since they teach some basic dance in gym class! I just thought that you would at least know how to dance a little!"
"Err, well actually…"
"What is it Joey?" Yugi had just returned with Bakura's coffee, which he accepted gratefully.
Joey mumbled something incoherently into his mug.
"What was that?" Tea asked.
He took a large swig of coffee before he answered. "I kinda skipped those classes, actually." He finally admitted.
"WHAT?" they all practically shouted.
"Hey, there weren't any girls in my class that year! No WAY was I gonna learn how to dance holding hands with a guy!"
His three friends started laughing, although not too loudly.
"Alright Joey," Tea finally said a moment later. "I'll teach you how to dance."
"Thank you!" he said with a look of exasperation. You'd think she enjoyed torturing him!
"Your welcome." She replied, then looked thoughtful for a minute.
"I promised my mom I'd help her with something later, and I have a dance lesson tomorrow that's going to run most of the afternoon, so how about right after school on Monday?"
Joey practically beamed. "Aww, thanks Tea, you're the best!"
"No problem." She smiled back. "By the way, what are you going to wear?"
"Huh? For what, you teaching me how to dance?"
"No, actually, I was thinking about when you take Serenity to the dance."
"Oh, that!" he finally answered. "Oh, uh, let's see, uuuhhhhmm…."
"Is something wrong Joey?" Yugi asked.
"No, it's nothing!" he said. "It's just that, well, eerrmm…"
"You don't have anything to wear to this, do you?" Tea said
"Not unless they don't mind me wearin' jeans and a tee-shirt." He mumbled.
"Hmmm." Tea mused for a moment. "I think we're gonna need a little more help."
That Monday at Three O'clock, Joey was waiting for Tea at the Mall. She hadn't said why to meet her there, "I thought she was gonna show me how to dance!" He thought to himself. "Where da heck is she?"
"Joey!" Tea had just arrived.
Unfortunately, not alone.
"Tea! What are they all doin' here?!" he demanded, indicating Yugi, Tristan, Bakura and someone else he couldn't see clearly yet. It was awfully bright out. "I thought you were gonna teach me how to dance, not publicly humiliate me!"
"Relax Joey!" Tristan spoke up. "We're here for moral support and encouragement!"
"As if that will help."
They all turned in the direction of whoever had just spoken. It's not as if they didn't already know who it was.
"Kaiba." Joey let the name of the arrogant, young duelist hang in the air. Seto Kaiba though, only just smirked. Then he turned to Tea.
"You really think that you can teach this oaf how to dance?" he sneered. "I'd pay big money to see that, but fortunately, if you're planning on doing what I think you are, I won't have to."
Tea glared back at him, not the least bit put off, or intimidated. "Oh, give it a rest Kaiba!" she shot back. "Just because you'd probably give any girl who danced with you frost bite is no excuse to be nasty!"
A minute ago Joey had wanted to punch Kaiba's lights out. Now all he could do was laugh!
"Hahahaha! Eh, good one, Tea!" he cheered.
"Laugh all you like mutt," Kaiba continued in a lower, nastier tone "but she'd have better luck with a trained monkey, and your just barely half way to that." With that, Seto Kaiba turned and left, heading towards the main entrance of the mall.
"Why that low-down-" Joey began, but never got to finish.
"Never mind him, hon. Let's just get going." Came a familiar, friendly voice from somewhere behind him.
"Wha, Mai? Why're you here?" Joey asked, mildly astonished.
The tall, blonde Mai Valentine smiled at him. "Tea called me the other day and told me you had a fashion emergency, right before inviting me to come along."
Joey felt himself flush. Did he really want Mai to be watching him learn how to dance?
"Err, it's no big deal, really. I just need something that don' look like I live in it." He tried to say in an off hand tone. Mai always made him nervous.
"In other words, Tea was right." Mai continued as they went in the mall. "You need major help."
"Hey!" Joey tried to sound offended, but he knew she was right. He had looked through all of his clothes and found nothing even remotely decent enough to go to a dance in.
"Don't worry Joey! This is gonna be fun!" Tea told him brightly.
"If you say so." He mumbled. Were Yugi and Tristan snickering at him?
"Okay, here we are!"
He was stunned.
They were standing in front of the arcade!
Then he realized what Tea had planned.
"You want me to get up in that dance thing and learn there?" he asked.
"Yep, and don't worry, I'll be right there with you." She smiled at him. "I told you this would be fun!"
Well, he guessed it wouldn't be too bad. There weren't too many people around yet, and he could always stop to get a soda if he needed to, not to mention the enticing smell of fresh pizza coming from the back. Tea was right. This could be a lot of fun!
"Okay, what do we do first?" he asked.
"Hey guy's!" said a friendly voice from just behind them.
They all turned, and were greeted by the sight of two of their friends from school, both exchange students from America.
"Oh, hi Mamono! Hi Kristina!" Yugi, ever friendly, greeted them. "What are you guys up to?"
"About the same thing as you guys, I think." Mamono answered. "Only we had planned more on Air Hockey, than dancing."
Joey frowned. "How'd you know that's why we were here?"
Kristina took on a slightly sarcastic look, as she folded her arms across her chest. "Well, you are standing in front of the Dance Dance Revolution station, so it was sort of a tip-off."
"Oh, well, um, we just thought we'd try a few things out with this thing! That's all!" Joey had suddenly gone a deep shade of red.
"Mmhmm." Mamono answered before turning to the rest of them. "Hey, did any of you guys see Kaiba in school today?"
"No, but we just caught the live show, so to speak, on our way in." Tristan answered. What either girl saw in Seto Kaiba, he would never understand. Yet, almost immediately after the two had started at Domino High, they had insisted on befriending the rather intimidating young CEO. Even though Kaiba had fiercely denied it, at first, they had all noticed when he had actually seemed to show an interest in getting to know them.
Tristan smiled at the memory. It was somewhere around the time Kaiba had decided to put his ever-present book down, and trade barbs with the sharp tongued Mamono, and the spirited Kristina. Mamono had gotten got quite a few good one's in too, as he recalled. So had Kris, the 'Mistress of one-liners', as Joey had once called her. Oh well, Kaiba was always on the look out for a 'worthy dueling opponent', as he put it, and he'd lucked out. He'd found two.
He shook his head, realizing he'd missed most of the conversation. Bakura was just telling Kristina something about how it wasn't unusual for Kaiba to not show up in school every now and then, because of Kaiba Corp.. Yugi, meanwhile, was reassuring Mamono that he had looked well, if not a little more intense, and it was probably nothing to worry about.
"Well, if you guy's are sure." Mamono said, but not looking convinced.
"Come on," Kris urged. "He's a big boy, he can take care of himself. Besides, if it were something really serious he'd tell us, right?"
"Yeah, I guess so." She brushed her gingery hair out of her face, and smiled at them. "I'm sorry, we didn't mean to interrupt what you guy's were doing."
"Eh, that's okay!" Joey answered brightly. "See you guys in class tomorrow?"
"You bet!" Kris called cheerfully as they walked away. He heard them say something about getting pizza.
Pizza.
Man, he was starving!
Tea, however, recognized the look on Joey's face and intercepted him.
"Forget it." She told him. "No snacks until we get in at least an hours worth of practice."
"Aww, c'mon Tea! I'm starving!" he whined.
"Do you want to get sick all over the floor?" she asked him.
"What, you expected better from the mutt?"
Oh god, not twice in one day.
Tea turned fiercely on Kaiba. "What's that supposed to mean?" She asked frigidly.
Kaiba features had turned into an unpleasant sneer. "Only that it's common knowledge that a dog will eat it's own-"
"Seto!" a young voice cried out. "Look who I found!"
Mokuba Kaiba had come running up, closely followed by Mamono and Kristina.
The tension that had been building between the two teens suddenly evaporated. For the most part, anyway. It was amazing how they had come under the mutual understanding that no matter how much they disliked each other, they wouldn't get into it in front of his little brother.
"Fancy seeing you here!" Kris greeted him. "Playing a little hooky today, were we?"
"Don't be absurd! I had an appointment today. That's all."
"See? Toldya he was just fine!" she said, turning to Mamono.
"Hey, were you guy's gonna dance or something?" Mokuba spoke up.
Joey suddenly got an idea.
"Yeah, actually you're big brother here was just gonna show us some dance moves. Ain't that right, Kaiba?"
Kaiba's face took on a neutral expression for a moment. Then, he smiled. Rather like a shark, before it attacks. "Of course Wheeler, if you insist." He then turned to Mamono. "Would you care to dance?"
She smirked at him. "Only if I get to chose the music."
"Fair enough." He agreed.
As Mamono went to pick something out, and Kaiba said something to Kristina and Mokuba, Joey nudged his friends over a bit.
"This should be good!" he said.
"Uh, Joey you should know something." Tea said, an ominous tone in her voice.
"Yeah, what is it?" Kaiba and Mamono were just climbing up on the 'stage' as the music started. Joey recognized it as 'Kung Fu Fighting'. A really good song, one of his favorites.
"Well, you may have skipped those dance lessons in gym class, but Kaiba didn't."
"What?" he said as he began to understand Tea's words.
"Yeah, he was pretty good too." She added.
Joey looked up to see for himself just how good he was, and cringed. He'd seen a movie once with Fred Astaire. Right now he thought Mr. Astaire would have asked Kaiba for lessons. He just couldn't believe what he saw!
There was Seto Kaiba dancing with Mamono! He was moving to the fast paced, energetic song as fluidly and gracefully as if it were part of his own natural rhythm. It was amazing! He didn't seem to miss a step! Even worse though, was how brightly Mamono was smiling at him! She was really good too, seeming to move in perfect time with both the music, and Kaiba.
'Everybody was Kung Fu Fighting, (c'mon, hua whoo-ha)
Those kids were fast as lightning.' (Ha, whoo-cha)
In fact it was a little bit frightening, (Hua, hua-hua)
But they fought with expert timing. (Ha)
By the time the song ended Joey felt sick. He would never be able to listen to that song in the same way, again. He just couldn't believe how well Kaiba could dance. It didn't seem fair!
As Kaiba walked past them with Mamono, he stopped in front of Tea. "Funny, she doesn't seem to be frost-bitten." He said in a low drawl. Then, walking quickly over to his brother, who was now chatting with both Kristina and Mamono, he asked if they were ready for pizza.
Joey slowly sank into a seat behind him. This just wasn't his day.
"Come on, Joey. Forget about it! You don't have to be as good as Kaiba to be good enough to take Serenity to the dance."
He looked up at Mai's kind words. She was kneeling at eye level in front of him, with one hand gripping his shoulder.
"Besides," she went on, "She didn't want you to take her because of your dancing ability. She asked because she wants to go with you."
That brought a small smile to his face. He released a long sigh.
Mai was right. He wasn't entering a dance competition, after all. He just needed to know enough so he didn't step on his sister's feet every two seconds! Getting back to his feet, he turned back to Tea. "So are we gonna dance, or what?"
"C'mon Joey, you can even pick out the music." Tea gently pulled him over to the console. Looking over the selection, he quickly found one he liked and started up the machine.
"Alright, this is going to be really simple at first." Tea began as they got up on the stage. "Just hold my hands like this at first." Tea demonstrated holding her own hands up and slightly out at about shoulder height. Gently gripping her hands, he waited for her next instructions.
"Okay, now what you want to do is stay in the same general area so you don't bump into anyone. Sort of in a small circle, okay?"
"Right, got it. Small circle, no bumping people."
"Good. Now, just watch my feet as we go for now, okay?"
Joey looked down and saw what Tea meant. If he didn't pay attention, he would end up breaking one of her toes! He just had to watch where she was going, and follow her lead. It was a little awkward, though, with them standing apart rather than together.
"You're doing great Joey! Just try to follow the beat a little more, okay? It should help. No, no, don't step too far back! That's better, now slow down your pace just a little. That's it! You're getting it!"
He couldn't believe how easy this was, even if they were about three feet apart. He was starting to get comfortable with how to move his feet around, when Tea suddenly looked up at him, (she'd been watching his feet) and said, "Okay, now you lead!"
"Excuse me?" You'd think she'd just asked him to jump on her shoulders.
"It's okay, you can do it!" She then moved his hands around so he was holding one of hers at shoulder height, and the other was on her waist.
"Alright, if you insist." This felt like a bad idea to him.
It was.
As soon as Joey tried to lead Tea, he immediately stepped behind her right foot as he pushed her back a little too hard. Then, as he tried to pull her back towards him, they both ended up tripping and landed hard on the floor. Owie.
Tristan and Mai came over to help. "Are you guys okay?" Tristan asked them, as he helped Tea up. "You looked alright for awhile, until-"
Mai gave him a sharp nudge in the ribs. "Don't worry about it, hon." She said as she pulled Joey to his feet. "Everyone messes up at first."
As he got up, he turned to Tea. "Are you okay?"
Tea tested her weight on her right foot, and smiled. "I'm fine, it's no worse than when I stumble in dance class. Wanna take a break?"
"Eh, do you even have ta ask?" He couldn't believe how tired he was! It was only dancing, after all, not a marathon!
They headed for the tables, and spotted Yugi and Bakura headed for one of the larger ones with pizza, sodas, and chips.
"You guys looked ready for a break, so we went ahead and got our food." Yugi told them as they sat down. Joey gratefully took a couple slices of pizza from the tray, along with a large handful of chips. As he reached for one of the pitchers of soda they had brought over, he noticed Bakura was staring at his lap, blushing deeply, and touching nothing. Nudging Yugi, he indicated their friends' strange behavior and gave him a questioning look.
"Oh, we bumped into Kristina again when we were getting our food." He told them.
"Oh? What'd she have to say?" Tristan was focused on his food, and hadn't noticed Bakura blush even deeper.
"Nothing much." Yugi told them. "Just that she and Mamono were going back to the states soon, and wanted to know if someone wanted to get together before then."
"Yeah, that sounds like fun! What'd they have in mind?" Tea was pouring herself and Mai sodas.
"Actually," he glanced over at Bakura "she asked Bakura if he would like to go to a movie with her before then."
Tristan looked up at his no longer pale friend, and smiled. "Hey, way to go, man! So, what did you say?"
"Not much." He answered.
"Well, what did you say?" Tristan pressed on.
"Oh, uh, I think I said something that might have sounded like yes," Bakura continued, not looking up. "Because the next thing I know, she was smiling, and giving me her phone number so I could call her later."
Mai was now looking at him confused. "Is there something wrong? I mean, you like her, right?"
"'Course I do." He mumbled quietly, still staring at his untouched food.
"So, then what's wrong with you going out with her? She seems really nice."
He finally looked up at Mai. "I don't know how to talk to a girl on a date."
To her credit, Mai didn't laugh at him. Instead she turned to Tea, and asked "Are they always this hopeless?" This caused a few sounds of protest from the guys.
"Yeah, unfortunately." Tea uttered.
"Look, Bakura, just talk to her about anything that interests her." Mai told him. "It's not that hard. I mean, you guys must have a few things in common; otherwise she wouldn't have asked you. C'mon, what do you know about her?"
Bakura thought for a moment. "She likes Duel Monsters." He finally said.
"Well then, there you go! You have something to work with." She told him encouragingly. "Just talk to her about that, and go from there. She's not going to take your head off if she doesn't have a good time." This got a small smile from him. He even seemed to chuckle at it a little. Tristan gave him a weird look.
"Just trying to imagine Kristina coming after me dressed as the Reaper of Cards if she doesn't have a good time." He admitted, sheepishly. This got everyone laughing.
Mai got up and wiped her hands on a napkin. "Okay, I'm gonna go wash my hands. When I get back, we can go start looking for something decent for you to wear Joey."
"Uh, Mai, I dunno if I mentioned this, but I'm kinda a bargain basement shopper."
"And I am the ultimate bargain hunter!" Mai informed him. "Didn't you know? When the dueling circuit dies down for a while, I work as a personal shopper. Why else do you think Tea called me?" With that, Mai turned and headed for the ladies room.
As Joey watched her leave, he couldn't help but think this could either be very good, or very, very bad.
A.N.: For anyone who might be wondering, actor Cary Elwes played both Westley in "The Princess Bride", and Robin Hood in "Men in Tights". Interestingly enough, he was the first and only British Actor to ever play Robin Hood in a movie. In other words, Joey was more awake than he realizes if he picked up on that. Yes, I know Mai has said Dueling is her way of making a living, 'without ever having to actually work', but her being a personal shopper makes sense, and fits her character.
I apologize for this chapter being so late, but I hope the length of it makes up for that. Besides, Mamono would have killed me if she had to wait one day longer. (No, Hon, you weren't annoying me!) Speaking of which, expect to see more of her in another fic I'm going to be working on involving the Kaiba brothers. (More of Kristina too, if she doesn't mind! She is better known as Dark Shadow Flame! Go read her fic 'Ties of Friendship'.) I will try to have the next chapter out by this weekend.
Review please!