Disclaimer: I do NOT own Yu-Gi-Oh!

Author's Notes: Sorry for such a LONG absence, but my PC went haywire and so had to get it fixed. And now that it is, it's time to continue with this fic! - And let me reassure you this fic is FAR from finished. I've got some more stuff coming into it. And plus there is a sequel. Count on it.

Chapter Six: What A Complicated Feeling Love Can Be

The morning sky was a light shade of blue as the sun brightened up. Its light rays passed through every window of every building lighting up even the darkest corner of every room.

There was a shuffle and creaking noise as she stirred. She rubbed her cheek against the soft pillow and opened her eyes reluctantly.

The sight that befell her was almost alarming until she realized where she was. Her surroundings were not those of the previous hotel she'd been staying at. She smiled knowing she wouldn't have to go anywhere. It was different now.

She woke up and searched the room for Joey, but found no signs of him. She laughed a little. That was right…last night. The sex was amazing but was absolutely nothing compared to the feeling of what she now knew was love. It was so…special, that she could have sworn everything she ever thought love was (which was nothing to her in the past), was all wrong. It was to feel so great when your lover was around and then so miserably depressed when they weren't. That's what it was. She'd give anything to keep the feeling. She knew it sounded rotten to be miserable but it wasn't so bad when you were. It was…wonderful.

Mai yawned and stretched her arms, going to the bathroom where a shower was. It was in the corner of the room, and there was too big a space in the whole room. She'd have to mention for him to get a bath fitted in.

She sighed and searched through the draws near his bed to find a towel. She grabbed her clothes too, and closed the door to the bathroom not bothering to lock it. Did it really matter if Joey came waltzing in? She could easily tell him to piss off. He'd obey. And if not…she smirked. She knew exactly what.

The water was hot instantly as she got in. Mai lifted her head and ran her fingers through her hair, letting the water pass through single strands to wash it free of any dirt.

"I know you're there, Joey." Mai said opening her eyes and turning her head slightly to look at him.

She was right, he was there leaning against the doorframe and looking at her eyes, rather than her body. Well, he was probably really desperate to look at her but was trying so hard to fight off the temptation.

"And who gave you permission to use my shower?" He asked raising an eyebrow.

"I helped myself. You should really stop being so stupid and dim sometimes." She mocked continuing to get washed. "Now if you don't mind, I'd like some privacy."

"Actually I do." Joey replied walking closer to her.

Mai sighed and shook her head, "Tough. I'm not moving."

"Ok then." He said, stepping into the shower himself, fully clothed. "I guess we'll just have to share."

Mai backed away from him, looking over him.

"What kind of idiot gets showered with his clothes on?" She asked laughing at him.

Joey frowned and before he knew what was going on, a whole torrent of water was being poured onto his face. Immediately, he responded by attacking the woman and pinning her against the wall. She stopped laughing to stare into his…loving eyes? It certainly wasn't a lust filled expression like before because Mai always knew a lustful stare. After all she'd put up with lusty looks for almost six years now. Maybe he was looking lovingly at her…

"A kind of idiot like me." Joey said, breaking the silence after a while.

Mai smiled and kissed him, dropping the shower head to the white surfaced floor beneath them. She pulled him closer, bringing her thigh up and rubbing it against the side of his leg. She smirked and pulled away, leaning her head against the wall while he nuzzled her neck.

"So where did you run off to this morning?" She asked as he pulled away.

"To go find a job," He answered, shaking his hair about sending droplets of water around the place, "fucking bastards wouldn't let me have it."

Mai just smiled and shook her own head, "You know Joseph, you don't have to get to get the money…"

"Yes I do." He said staring blankly at her.

There was a silence in which Joey tried to understand why Mai had said that, before he realized what she meant. He just looked at her and shrugged.

"Unless…that's your money…so…" Mai looked at the ground. She whished she hadn't blurted that out. But it was true, she'd told him last night that she wanted continue to do what she did. It was oddly pleasing…and she knew it was the only way for her to live. Something was nagging her in the back of her mind. Something was holding her back from living that so called 'dream' she had, had since she was a child. Fear…a fear of what was to come…of what was to happen to them. She had decided from the beginning that she was a woman who didn't need to be looked after but to be cared for and loved. Not looked after. That was what it felt like. He was getting money for both of them and it just made her feel completely uncomfortable. She wanted to get her own money, to pay her own way.

"You just love the sex, don't you?" He suddenly said, making her snap her head up.

"What?"

"You heard me. It's true. Godammit Mai! You made me believe…"

"Joey what are you talking about?!"

He looked helplessly at the ceiling and then at her with hopeless look. He shook his head. She was Venus, she was Calypso, she was Aphrodite, and she was amazing. But he wasn't about to let that blind him from who she really was. As he watched her wrap a towel around herself, he sighed. She made him feel so incredibly weak. So weak that he needed her to keep his strength up. It was strange yet he enjoyed this feeling of weakness and vulnerability. So the thought of her with some men…just made him mad. He didn't want her to go out and do what she used to do for a living. He wanted her with him. Joey would be the only person to caress her, to kiss her, to make her feel good---great during the night and day if necessary.

"I don't want you going out there and---argh!" He closed his eyes when the image of her sharing someone else's bed other than his came into his mind.

"Oh…and who the hell do you think you are?!" she snapped back at him, "You're telling me who to be!! You're talking about me as if I'm your property!! Like some worthless piece of junk you keep because you can't be bothered to throw it away!"

"That's not true Mai, that isn't fucking right!!" Joey yelled. He was frustrated. He was lashing out on her with his anger when his anger was purely not meant to be for her.

"Joey you just said that I-"

"I know what I said, Mai."

Before Joey could open his mouth to say something else Mai cut in, "So you think I'm just a sex obsessed woman---in fact you might think that I'm just a whore."

"No, no, no!"

"THEN WHAT JOEY?!"

"I DON'T KNOW MAI!" He shouted back, glaring at her. "It's hard enough to try and figure out what's happening to me without you knowing I love you!"

Mai froze. She stared at him. He loved her? He'd said it. He had just said the three fatal words she'd always wanted to hear.

"Y-You…love…me? But I didn't know Joey." She whispered tears stinging in her eyes.

"Yeah Mai. I do. And I know you didn't…but you do now."

When people used to go on about love when I was little, I used to think it was some fairy tale world where you transported to. I thought you'd live like a princess with a whole family and magical creatures. And then I got old and came to the real world. Joey told me he loved me. But I don't understand it---how can you love someone? I don't understand what love is…Is it the feeling of misery when he's away or is it the feeling of anxiety when he's away? Because I sure as hell know it can't be both. It's a confusing state to be in and I hate it. Maybe love is like hate…you really know when you hate someone…so love must be the complete opposite…mustn't it?

He'd left in silence leaving Mai alone to wonder what she was going to do now. Someone was in love with her. He'd said it like he really meant it. It was true any fool could say the three words and sound like they meant it but in the end they never did. But Joey…he did. He got jealous when Mai talked about keeping to her old job. And the way he was with her last night…she was falling in love with him too and that was a fact. So what would she do? Tell him and then act as if nothing had happened? No, she'd been through too much with him to just do that. It was too hard to go on and act like the past twenty four years had never existed. And she'd closed so many doors behind her she was too tired to do it all over again.

The fact was she knew she was in love too, but every time she thought about telling him she felt like being sick and she just couldn't understand why. Wasn't she meant to feel like she was floating on cloud nine? Like she was in heaven or something? Why did she feel so sick? And then she realized it. Never once in her entire life had someone said those words to her---I love you. She'd never been loved by anyone before and whenever something new came into her life she just wanted to be sick. She wanted to faint into some sort of coma and not awake until everything was not so confusing. Yeah, but that would never happen. She had to figure all of this out on her own.

She rose from the bed and looked outside at the warm day. Maybe just a little fresh air would do her some good…but before she could reach for her jacket, the door opened, revealing a very worn out Joey. He staggered in and fell onto the bed, falling asleep almost instantly.

"Joey? Where have you been?" Mai asked lying next to him and looking at his tired eyes which were fighting to stay open.

"I've been…getting a…job…" he mumbled into the pillow, closing his eyes. "I…got it…and…"

Mai smiled when she knew he'd fallen asleep. Gently, she got off the bed and pulled the blanket over him. She ran her hands through his blond rugged hair, hesitantly kissing him on the forehead.

"Sleep tight hon." She whispered.

With a sigh, she grabbed her jacket putting it on and leaving. Wrapping it around herself tightly, she walked onto the street, breathing deeply.

She loved Joey, it was obvious now. But what happened now? Were they just going to live happily ever after? No, Mai needed something to do during the day. And the only thing she could think of was doing what she did best. However if Joey didn't want her to…then what else could she do? She couldn't just stay at home (she was now willing to call their place home) doing nothing could she? But she didn't want a job either. Besides she had no qualifications whatsoever. She wouldn't be able to work.

As she rounded a corner, a car suddenly zoomed past, almost knocking her over. She froze as it skidded to a halt in front of her. Unfortunately she was in a remote part of the city and no one was around.

She was about to turn and run when she felt a sharp pain shoot through her arm. Her vision suddenly blurred as she fainted to the ground below, letting out a small gasp.

Author's Notes: Argh, sorry, I've been so pre-occupied lately. Well actually I've been procrastinating. Sorry! Any please keep reviewing if you want to know what happens to Mai! Thankies!