AN: Here's the final chapter! Send lots of reviews and opinions if yall have any. And if you want more adventures, don't hesitate to ask!
Chapter 4
Unmasked: Joey vs. Inu-yasha!
The sun seemed to set early on the fourth day of the Tournament.
"So are you psyched about your match tonight?" Mai asked Joey as they walked into the arena.
"Yeah. Hey, I really wanna thank you for your help with that card yesterday."
"What are friends for," she replied, nonchalantly.
"So," Joey said, "What ever happened to that boyfriend of yours?"
"He went back to his ex wife," she said. Joey just stood there a second. But then he caught up with her.
"So, how are things with Kagome?" Mai asked him.
"Not so good," Joey said, "I think we're drifting apart."
"Gee, that's too bad," Mai said, though in her heart she was jumping for joy. "I'm sorry."
"Don't be. I'll get her back, don't worry." he said, parting to head towards the ring.
"Whatever makes you happy, Joey," she said before she started the climb to her seat.
Kagome helped Keade out of the taxi and up the stairs of the stadium. As they entered, they were stopped by Kaiba's hired goone squad.
"Excuse me, Miss Higurashi, but we would like you and your party to come with us to Mr. Kaiba's special box. He has reserved special seats for you."
"Gee," Kagome said sarcastically, "That was nice of him." They followed the henchmen to the elevator to Kaiba's box. As they entered, they were met by Seto Kaiba.
"Hello again Kagome," Kaiba said to them. "Please, have a seat. Tonight's match should be rather interesting."
"And where might Inu-yasha be? We have already figured out that he is the Mysterious Masked Duelist." Keade said to him, taking her seat.
"He's taking his place in the ring." Kaiba pointed out. Kagome looked and indeed the Masked Duelist was taking up his corner in the Ring opposite from Joey.
Joey stared at his opponent and like wise did the Mysterious Masked Duelist stare at him from behind his cowl. They knew each other well. They both loved Kagome and they both were willing to fight for her there before thousands of Duel Monsters fans.
"Well," Inu-yasha said to himself, "this is it. I've made it all the way to the finals and so has Joey. Too bad he's been dueling those losers that Kaiba set up for him. I'd a whole lot rather that we'd both made it on our merits. This victory will be just as sweet in any case though. Kagome will be mine again and Joey will be…What will he be without Duel Monsters anyway? I mean what is it that drives this guy to fight on? Could it be Mai, or Yugi, or is it the game itself. I mean this has been really fun, winning those cards for Kagome. I won them on my own, with no help from Kaiba, unlike Joey who had to have all his matches rigged to win. Could it be the love of the game that gives him the courage to fight on even though he's got no hope against me?"
"This guy's good, no doubts there. He's beaten some of the best duelists I've ever seen. Meiko, Rex, and a lot of others. It's got to be Inu-yasha. He's the only one besides me who'd duel so hard for Kagome. I almost hate to do this to him but I'm not going to just stand by and let him have her. Then again, they were together a long time before she and I were. Considering what's been going on the last couple of days, I'd say she still has feelings for him. I don't know, maybe they belong together more than she and I do. I can't think about that now. Can't let it distract me. Gotta concentrate on the duel and on unmasking this han-you dog.
"Welcome Ladies and Gentlemen," the announcer said, "to the Mid-summer Tournament Finals!" The crowd cheered. Yugi, Tea, Tristan, and Mai were giving it their all for Joey, but they were no match for the roar of support for The Masked Duelist. "In this corner," the announcer continued, "A young man who has placed Second in Duelist Kingdom, and Fourth in Battle City! He's a master of fire, and senior at Domino High! Joey Wheeler!!!!"
Joey looked at his friends, who were cheering their hearts out. He knew he would win, he just knew it.
"And in this corner, hailing from part unknown, fighting for fame, glory, and love: The Mysterious Masked Duelist!!!" The stadium erupted with more cheers. This nobody had become a somebody; a local hero. Now the two Duelists faced each other, and waited the results of the coin toss…The announcer took a coin out of his pocket. He tossed it, Joey calling for Heads. The coin flew into the air…It seemed to fall forever…until…
"Joey Wheeler wins the toss up!" The announcer said. "Both opponents will meet in the middle, and come out Dueling!"
"Alright," Joey said, meeting with his opponent. As he looked into his yellow eyes, he knew for certain it was Inu-yasha. Until he blinked. Then, his eyes weren't yellow. They were brown. That was the clincher. "I know it's you, Inu-yasha," Joey said to him, "SO take off that mask and let's fight like REAL Duelists."
"Fine by me," the masked one said, removing his cowl. He shook out his boound up black hair, and gave a nasty grin. Although it did make the women in the stands start swooning over Inu-yasha's good looks.
"You dog," Joey whispered, "You waited till the night of the New Moon to do this."
"Aint' my fault that tonight was the same night as the New Moon. Now let's get this over with."
"Fine."
The women in the audience swooned as they watched the Masked Duelist, now known as Inu-yasha, take off his mask. Three girls in particular.
"Oh my gosh!" Yuka exclaimed. "That the guys Kagome used to-"
"He's the Masked Duelist?!?" Eri cried. "This is SO not fair!"
"Kagome gets all the hot guys," complained Ayumi.
"Ok then," Joey said, looking at his hand. "I lay a monster in face down defense mode, and play the magic card Hinotoma to take five hundred from your Life Points."
Inu-yasha's life point counter dropped to 3500, and the audience boo'd Joey.
"I'll finish my turn by layin these two cards face down on the field." Joey said when the uproar died down.
"My turn," Inu-yasha said, "I play The Hunter With Seven Weapons in attack mode, and equip him with Lightening Blade. And I lay the Field Magic card Sogen on the field, making him a total of 2000 attack points. And I order him to attack your face down card!"
The Hunter charged forward with the sparking sword in his hands at the card. But before he struck, Joey said, "Reveal face down cards! Skull Dice and Graceful Dice! You shouldn't have forgotten about my cards, mutt."
"Feh, you think I care?" Inu-yasha said.
"Go Skull Dice!" Joey said. The winged creature rolled a three. "Only 300 points?! No fair! Graceful Dice, roll!" and this creature rolled a one. "This ain't good," Joey groaned. That only raised his Fire Princess's defense to 1600. He watched as the 1700 point Hunter slashed his monster, and his Fire Princess appeared briefly before she disintegrated.
"Ha!" Inu-yasha scoffed. "Your secret weapons didn't work. How confident are you now?"
"I can still beat you, dog breath!" Joey said. But his insult got him many boos and hisses from the crowd.
"Poor Joey," Yugi said. "Everyone thinks he's the bad guy."
"Well, he kinda is to them, Yugi," Tea said. "I mean, Inu-yasha's been the underdog in these matches because he's new and had another reason to duel besides the money."
"Who's side are you on, Tea?" asked Tristan.
"I'm only stating the obvious," Tea said. "I'm still rooting for Joey."
"He's gonna need it," Mai said, watching the monitors carefully.
"Look how Joey tuants and belittles Inu-yasha," Kaiba said to Kagome from the private box. "How could you possibly compare a superhero like your dog-eared friend to a bully like Wheeler?"
"They have their faults," Kagome snapped, "But I care about them both."
"You guys are making Inu-yasha look good on purpose anyway," Shippo said, sticking his head out of Kagome purse. "Joey always calls Inu-yash that stuff, even when they're getting along."
"And why do you think that is?" Kaiba asked the kitsune "He's always mocking him, even when they're supposed to be such good friends."
"Inu-yasha's like that too," Shippo said. "He calls Kagome stupid."
"That's not helping, Shippo," Kagome said nervously, stuffing his head back into her bag.
"The point is," Kaiba said, "The only thing driving Wheeler in this match now is for petty jealously, while Inu-yasha is fighting for someone he loves. If it's one thing I've learned from your friend Yugi, it's that The Heart of The Cards doesn't tolerate petty rivalries."
Kagome thought about it. Joey, what are you fighting for? If not for me, then…what?
"I can't get any good cards!" Joey said to himself as he watched another monster get creamed. His Crimson Sentry was blown away by Inu-yasha's Hunter. "No matter what I do, what I play, he nails it. What am I doin wrong? Gotta think…Hert of The Cards, don't fail me now….Wait! That's it! The Heart of The Cards has always worked for me when I've had someone to duel for. Who am I playin for now?" Just then, he heard a voice coming to him from across the stadium. He looked up and saw Mai waving to him.
"Come on Joey!" she cried, "I know you can beat him!"
"Mai…" he said. He was confused. Where was Kagome? He looked around, and didn't see her. But then he looked up, to Kaiba's private box. He saw her and an old woman in there with Kaiba. Kagome looked worried…but not for him…She was looking at Inu-yasha. The look in her eyes…It was the look she'd given him on their first date…But then Joey looked to Mai again. She was cheering for him with all she had.
"I was fightin for myself before," Joey realized. "Now, I don't even have a reason to fight for Kagome. But I can fight for Mai! Even if it's to show her that I won't let her down!" He turned back to Inu-yasha , who stood patiently glowering at him.
"Well?" Inu-yasha said, "You gonna take your turn?"
"You bet I am!" Joey said. He closed his eyes, and concentrated. Heart of The Cards…Heart of The Cards… He drew, and looked at the card. Yes! Pot of Greed! Just what he needed! "I play Pot o' Greed, and draw two more cards. Now I play Hinotoma, and lay a card facedown on the field." Suddenly, giant fireballs began pummeling Inu-yasha and his life points again.
"You're not even trying to protect your Points," Inu-yasha said, drawing a card. "Gravity bind," Inu-yasha mumbled to himself. "I'll need this for later. I lay this card on the field."
"Reveal face down card, Just Desserts!" Joey said before Inu-yash could react. His life counter went down as a wicked looking goblin grabbed at his chest. Inu-yasha cried out in pain. This was what he hated about this game. Whenever he got a hit to his life points, he got a physical hit, too.
"That's enough, Kaiba!" Kagome shouted at the rich boy. "You're hurting him!"
"That's the way the game's played." Kaiba said, watching the duel.
"Well I can't stand it!" she cried. She jumped out of her seat, and rushed out the doors.
"Kagome!" Keade and Shippo both cried. Keade started to get up. That headstrong girl….
"You're gonna get it!" Inu-yasha shouted as he recovered.
"Now you're actin like your old self." Joey replied.
"Feh, I play Swords of Revealing Light," Inu-yasha said, glowing swords surrounding Joey.
"If that's all, I'll take my turn," Joey said drawing. "I play Final Flames, and Masaki in attack mode, equipped with Scroll of Bewitchment and Salamandra!" Flames erupted around Inu-yasha, burning him. And his counter went down 800 points. He was down to 2300. Where as Joey's points were virtually untouched. "I gotta start bringing down his Life points," Inu-yasha said to himself. "Fine then!" he drew, "I equip Hunter with Horn Of The Unicorn! Attack Masaki!" The Hunter charged, and though first the Swordsman resisted, the Hunter slashed again, and obliterated him. Joey grabbed his side, and cried out as he took 1900 points damage.
"How did it…take so much?" Joey asked weakly.
"The Hunter's special ability is that it gains 1000 points during damage calculation."
"Dang it…"
"Joey's lost half his Life Points!" Yugi exclaimed.
"This isn't good," Tristan said. "At this rate, he'll lose in a few turns!"
"You can do it, Joey!" Tea cheered. "I hope…"
Meanwhile, Kagome came running out of a side entrance, and up to the side of the ring. She grabbed a lower rope, and watched Inu-yasha stand back up from where he had fallen before.
"Inu-yasha," she called to him, "Are you okay?"
"Kagome…what are you…? Shouldn't you be…?" he said.
"Inu-yasha stop it! You and Joey are hurting each other all for Kaiba's sick enjoyment. You don't have to do this!"
"Yes I do! It's the only way I can get you back."
"Is that why you've been doing this?" she demanded, "Inu-yasha, I never stopped loving you."
"You what?" he asked, shocked.
"I love you, you idiot! Now get out of there before you get yourself seriously hurt!"
He looked at her for some time. She loved him? She actually loved him? He looked over at Joey, who was still in pain from the attack, and then at the sky. It was getting lighter outside. It would be morning in a few hours. He had enough time to beat Joey…but…did he really want to anymore?
"Hey," Joey said, "What's you doin there?"
"Conceding the match to a better duelist." Inu-yasha said, bowing his head. "I can't do it. I forfeit," he added laying his hand on the deck. The audience gasped with shock! Their hero was giving up just as he was about to win?!?! The crowd boo'd and hissed and cried, 'Rip-off!', but Inu-yasha didn't care anymore.
"Truce, Joey?" the han-you said, extending his hand.
"You got it buddy," coming forward to shake hands, but he stumbled, and fell.
"Joey!" Mai yelled, running from the stands. She rushed down the stairwell to the ring, and climbed in. She knelt next to Joey, and helped him sit up. "You big lug," she said, almost crying, "Are you okay?"
"Yeah…Mai…" he said to her. Then, he put his arms around Mai. She was caught off guard. But not so much that she didn't hug him back.
While they were making up, Inu-yasha climbed out of the ring and stood next to Kagome. "Can you forgive for acting like an idiot?" he asked her.
"What do you think?" she said as she leaped up and kissed him. This made the crowd erupt in cheers again, some crying, some just clapping, some screaming and whistling their heads off.
"Guys!" called Yugi as he Tea and Tristan ran down from the stands. And coming from the elevator was Keade and Shippo.
Later as they exited the stadium, Kagome stopped and walked over to Joey.
"Hey. This goes without saying, but-"
"Don't worry about it." he said, smiling. "But you know that I-"
"I know. And maybe somewhere, it could have worked out. But I still had fun."
"Me too," he said, squeezing Mai's hand a little.
Just then, a long black limo with the KC logo pulled up, and Kaiba stuck his head out the window. "Congratulations, Inu-yasha."
"But I didn't win." Inu-yasha said.
"Really. It looks like you did. You have Kagome, don't you?"
"But…You didn't really wanted me to beat Joey?"
"What would this love story had been without a villain?" Kaiba said. Then, he took something from his breast pocket, and said, "Wheeler, as per the Tournament Rules, here is your check for five million yen."
"Alright!" Joey said, accepting the slip of paper. "Now I can pay off my dad's bills, pay for school, and get me and my sis our own place."
"Invite me to the house welcoming party." Kaiba said sarcastically as he rolled up the window and drove away.
Later, as morning dawned at the Shrine, and Inu-yasha reverted back to his white haired, dog eared self, Mai turned to Joey, and said, "You know, you could have saved some of that money and moved in with me." she hinted.
"Yeah well…" Joey said blushing, "That's something to think about."
"Well, we'd better get going," Inu-yash said, taking Kagome's hand.
"Going? Going where," she said.
"Back home," Inu-yash said. "We still have Jewel Shards to collect, and we need to take Keade home."
"Oh, so now that you think everything's back to normal, you just want to collect shards?" she asked furiously.
"What else are we gonna do?" he asked. "It's not like we're gonna get married or something!"
"But you said you love me!"
"I do, but I'm not the marrying type."
"Why you! SIT!!!!" And he was instantly thrown to the ground.
"What did I do!?!" he cried in pain.
The End
Chapter 4
Unmasked: Joey vs. Inu-yasha!
The sun seemed to set early on the fourth day of the Tournament.
"So are you psyched about your match tonight?" Mai asked Joey as they walked into the arena.
"Yeah. Hey, I really wanna thank you for your help with that card yesterday."
"What are friends for," she replied, nonchalantly.
"So," Joey said, "What ever happened to that boyfriend of yours?"
"He went back to his ex wife," she said. Joey just stood there a second. But then he caught up with her.
"So, how are things with Kagome?" Mai asked him.
"Not so good," Joey said, "I think we're drifting apart."
"Gee, that's too bad," Mai said, though in her heart she was jumping for joy. "I'm sorry."
"Don't be. I'll get her back, don't worry." he said, parting to head towards the ring.
"Whatever makes you happy, Joey," she said before she started the climb to her seat.
Kagome helped Keade out of the taxi and up the stairs of the stadium. As they entered, they were stopped by Kaiba's hired goone squad.
"Excuse me, Miss Higurashi, but we would like you and your party to come with us to Mr. Kaiba's special box. He has reserved special seats for you."
"Gee," Kagome said sarcastically, "That was nice of him." They followed the henchmen to the elevator to Kaiba's box. As they entered, they were met by Seto Kaiba.
"Hello again Kagome," Kaiba said to them. "Please, have a seat. Tonight's match should be rather interesting."
"And where might Inu-yasha be? We have already figured out that he is the Mysterious Masked Duelist." Keade said to him, taking her seat.
"He's taking his place in the ring." Kaiba pointed out. Kagome looked and indeed the Masked Duelist was taking up his corner in the Ring opposite from Joey.
Joey stared at his opponent and like wise did the Mysterious Masked Duelist stare at him from behind his cowl. They knew each other well. They both loved Kagome and they both were willing to fight for her there before thousands of Duel Monsters fans.
"Well," Inu-yasha said to himself, "this is it. I've made it all the way to the finals and so has Joey. Too bad he's been dueling those losers that Kaiba set up for him. I'd a whole lot rather that we'd both made it on our merits. This victory will be just as sweet in any case though. Kagome will be mine again and Joey will be…What will he be without Duel Monsters anyway? I mean what is it that drives this guy to fight on? Could it be Mai, or Yugi, or is it the game itself. I mean this has been really fun, winning those cards for Kagome. I won them on my own, with no help from Kaiba, unlike Joey who had to have all his matches rigged to win. Could it be the love of the game that gives him the courage to fight on even though he's got no hope against me?"
"This guy's good, no doubts there. He's beaten some of the best duelists I've ever seen. Meiko, Rex, and a lot of others. It's got to be Inu-yasha. He's the only one besides me who'd duel so hard for Kagome. I almost hate to do this to him but I'm not going to just stand by and let him have her. Then again, they were together a long time before she and I were. Considering what's been going on the last couple of days, I'd say she still has feelings for him. I don't know, maybe they belong together more than she and I do. I can't think about that now. Can't let it distract me. Gotta concentrate on the duel and on unmasking this han-you dog.
"Welcome Ladies and Gentlemen," the announcer said, "to the Mid-summer Tournament Finals!" The crowd cheered. Yugi, Tea, Tristan, and Mai were giving it their all for Joey, but they were no match for the roar of support for The Masked Duelist. "In this corner," the announcer continued, "A young man who has placed Second in Duelist Kingdom, and Fourth in Battle City! He's a master of fire, and senior at Domino High! Joey Wheeler!!!!"
Joey looked at his friends, who were cheering their hearts out. He knew he would win, he just knew it.
"And in this corner, hailing from part unknown, fighting for fame, glory, and love: The Mysterious Masked Duelist!!!" The stadium erupted with more cheers. This nobody had become a somebody; a local hero. Now the two Duelists faced each other, and waited the results of the coin toss…The announcer took a coin out of his pocket. He tossed it, Joey calling for Heads. The coin flew into the air…It seemed to fall forever…until…
"Joey Wheeler wins the toss up!" The announcer said. "Both opponents will meet in the middle, and come out Dueling!"
"Alright," Joey said, meeting with his opponent. As he looked into his yellow eyes, he knew for certain it was Inu-yasha. Until he blinked. Then, his eyes weren't yellow. They were brown. That was the clincher. "I know it's you, Inu-yasha," Joey said to him, "SO take off that mask and let's fight like REAL Duelists."
"Fine by me," the masked one said, removing his cowl. He shook out his boound up black hair, and gave a nasty grin. Although it did make the women in the stands start swooning over Inu-yasha's good looks.
"You dog," Joey whispered, "You waited till the night of the New Moon to do this."
"Aint' my fault that tonight was the same night as the New Moon. Now let's get this over with."
"Fine."
The women in the audience swooned as they watched the Masked Duelist, now known as Inu-yasha, take off his mask. Three girls in particular.
"Oh my gosh!" Yuka exclaimed. "That the guys Kagome used to-"
"He's the Masked Duelist?!?" Eri cried. "This is SO not fair!"
"Kagome gets all the hot guys," complained Ayumi.
"Ok then," Joey said, looking at his hand. "I lay a monster in face down defense mode, and play the magic card Hinotoma to take five hundred from your Life Points."
Inu-yasha's life point counter dropped to 3500, and the audience boo'd Joey.
"I'll finish my turn by layin these two cards face down on the field." Joey said when the uproar died down.
"My turn," Inu-yasha said, "I play The Hunter With Seven Weapons in attack mode, and equip him with Lightening Blade. And I lay the Field Magic card Sogen on the field, making him a total of 2000 attack points. And I order him to attack your face down card!"
The Hunter charged forward with the sparking sword in his hands at the card. But before he struck, Joey said, "Reveal face down cards! Skull Dice and Graceful Dice! You shouldn't have forgotten about my cards, mutt."
"Feh, you think I care?" Inu-yasha said.
"Go Skull Dice!" Joey said. The winged creature rolled a three. "Only 300 points?! No fair! Graceful Dice, roll!" and this creature rolled a one. "This ain't good," Joey groaned. That only raised his Fire Princess's defense to 1600. He watched as the 1700 point Hunter slashed his monster, and his Fire Princess appeared briefly before she disintegrated.
"Ha!" Inu-yasha scoffed. "Your secret weapons didn't work. How confident are you now?"
"I can still beat you, dog breath!" Joey said. But his insult got him many boos and hisses from the crowd.
"Poor Joey," Yugi said. "Everyone thinks he's the bad guy."
"Well, he kinda is to them, Yugi," Tea said. "I mean, Inu-yasha's been the underdog in these matches because he's new and had another reason to duel besides the money."
"Who's side are you on, Tea?" asked Tristan.
"I'm only stating the obvious," Tea said. "I'm still rooting for Joey."
"He's gonna need it," Mai said, watching the monitors carefully.
"Look how Joey tuants and belittles Inu-yasha," Kaiba said to Kagome from the private box. "How could you possibly compare a superhero like your dog-eared friend to a bully like Wheeler?"
"They have their faults," Kagome snapped, "But I care about them both."
"You guys are making Inu-yasha look good on purpose anyway," Shippo said, sticking his head out of Kagome purse. "Joey always calls Inu-yash that stuff, even when they're getting along."
"And why do you think that is?" Kaiba asked the kitsune "He's always mocking him, even when they're supposed to be such good friends."
"Inu-yasha's like that too," Shippo said. "He calls Kagome stupid."
"That's not helping, Shippo," Kagome said nervously, stuffing his head back into her bag.
"The point is," Kaiba said, "The only thing driving Wheeler in this match now is for petty jealously, while Inu-yasha is fighting for someone he loves. If it's one thing I've learned from your friend Yugi, it's that The Heart of The Cards doesn't tolerate petty rivalries."
Kagome thought about it. Joey, what are you fighting for? If not for me, then…what?
"I can't get any good cards!" Joey said to himself as he watched another monster get creamed. His Crimson Sentry was blown away by Inu-yasha's Hunter. "No matter what I do, what I play, he nails it. What am I doin wrong? Gotta think…Hert of The Cards, don't fail me now….Wait! That's it! The Heart of The Cards has always worked for me when I've had someone to duel for. Who am I playin for now?" Just then, he heard a voice coming to him from across the stadium. He looked up and saw Mai waving to him.
"Come on Joey!" she cried, "I know you can beat him!"
"Mai…" he said. He was confused. Where was Kagome? He looked around, and didn't see her. But then he looked up, to Kaiba's private box. He saw her and an old woman in there with Kaiba. Kagome looked worried…but not for him…She was looking at Inu-yasha. The look in her eyes…It was the look she'd given him on their first date…But then Joey looked to Mai again. She was cheering for him with all she had.
"I was fightin for myself before," Joey realized. "Now, I don't even have a reason to fight for Kagome. But I can fight for Mai! Even if it's to show her that I won't let her down!" He turned back to Inu-yasha , who stood patiently glowering at him.
"Well?" Inu-yasha said, "You gonna take your turn?"
"You bet I am!" Joey said. He closed his eyes, and concentrated. Heart of The Cards…Heart of The Cards… He drew, and looked at the card. Yes! Pot of Greed! Just what he needed! "I play Pot o' Greed, and draw two more cards. Now I play Hinotoma, and lay a card facedown on the field." Suddenly, giant fireballs began pummeling Inu-yasha and his life points again.
"You're not even trying to protect your Points," Inu-yasha said, drawing a card. "Gravity bind," Inu-yasha mumbled to himself. "I'll need this for later. I lay this card on the field."
"Reveal face down card, Just Desserts!" Joey said before Inu-yash could react. His life counter went down as a wicked looking goblin grabbed at his chest. Inu-yasha cried out in pain. This was what he hated about this game. Whenever he got a hit to his life points, he got a physical hit, too.
"That's enough, Kaiba!" Kagome shouted at the rich boy. "You're hurting him!"
"That's the way the game's played." Kaiba said, watching the duel.
"Well I can't stand it!" she cried. She jumped out of her seat, and rushed out the doors.
"Kagome!" Keade and Shippo both cried. Keade started to get up. That headstrong girl….
"You're gonna get it!" Inu-yasha shouted as he recovered.
"Now you're actin like your old self." Joey replied.
"Feh, I play Swords of Revealing Light," Inu-yasha said, glowing swords surrounding Joey.
"If that's all, I'll take my turn," Joey said drawing. "I play Final Flames, and Masaki in attack mode, equipped with Scroll of Bewitchment and Salamandra!" Flames erupted around Inu-yasha, burning him. And his counter went down 800 points. He was down to 2300. Where as Joey's points were virtually untouched. "I gotta start bringing down his Life points," Inu-yasha said to himself. "Fine then!" he drew, "I equip Hunter with Horn Of The Unicorn! Attack Masaki!" The Hunter charged, and though first the Swordsman resisted, the Hunter slashed again, and obliterated him. Joey grabbed his side, and cried out as he took 1900 points damage.
"How did it…take so much?" Joey asked weakly.
"The Hunter's special ability is that it gains 1000 points during damage calculation."
"Dang it…"
"Joey's lost half his Life Points!" Yugi exclaimed.
"This isn't good," Tristan said. "At this rate, he'll lose in a few turns!"
"You can do it, Joey!" Tea cheered. "I hope…"
Meanwhile, Kagome came running out of a side entrance, and up to the side of the ring. She grabbed a lower rope, and watched Inu-yasha stand back up from where he had fallen before.
"Inu-yasha," she called to him, "Are you okay?"
"Kagome…what are you…? Shouldn't you be…?" he said.
"Inu-yasha stop it! You and Joey are hurting each other all for Kaiba's sick enjoyment. You don't have to do this!"
"Yes I do! It's the only way I can get you back."
"Is that why you've been doing this?" she demanded, "Inu-yasha, I never stopped loving you."
"You what?" he asked, shocked.
"I love you, you idiot! Now get out of there before you get yourself seriously hurt!"
He looked at her for some time. She loved him? She actually loved him? He looked over at Joey, who was still in pain from the attack, and then at the sky. It was getting lighter outside. It would be morning in a few hours. He had enough time to beat Joey…but…did he really want to anymore?
"Hey," Joey said, "What's you doin there?"
"Conceding the match to a better duelist." Inu-yasha said, bowing his head. "I can't do it. I forfeit," he added laying his hand on the deck. The audience gasped with shock! Their hero was giving up just as he was about to win?!?! The crowd boo'd and hissed and cried, 'Rip-off!', but Inu-yasha didn't care anymore.
"Truce, Joey?" the han-you said, extending his hand.
"You got it buddy," coming forward to shake hands, but he stumbled, and fell.
"Joey!" Mai yelled, running from the stands. She rushed down the stairwell to the ring, and climbed in. She knelt next to Joey, and helped him sit up. "You big lug," she said, almost crying, "Are you okay?"
"Yeah…Mai…" he said to her. Then, he put his arms around Mai. She was caught off guard. But not so much that she didn't hug him back.
While they were making up, Inu-yasha climbed out of the ring and stood next to Kagome. "Can you forgive for acting like an idiot?" he asked her.
"What do you think?" she said as she leaped up and kissed him. This made the crowd erupt in cheers again, some crying, some just clapping, some screaming and whistling their heads off.
"Guys!" called Yugi as he Tea and Tristan ran down from the stands. And coming from the elevator was Keade and Shippo.
Later as they exited the stadium, Kagome stopped and walked over to Joey.
"Hey. This goes without saying, but-"
"Don't worry about it." he said, smiling. "But you know that I-"
"I know. And maybe somewhere, it could have worked out. But I still had fun."
"Me too," he said, squeezing Mai's hand a little.
Just then, a long black limo with the KC logo pulled up, and Kaiba stuck his head out the window. "Congratulations, Inu-yasha."
"But I didn't win." Inu-yasha said.
"Really. It looks like you did. You have Kagome, don't you?"
"But…You didn't really wanted me to beat Joey?"
"What would this love story had been without a villain?" Kaiba said. Then, he took something from his breast pocket, and said, "Wheeler, as per the Tournament Rules, here is your check for five million yen."
"Alright!" Joey said, accepting the slip of paper. "Now I can pay off my dad's bills, pay for school, and get me and my sis our own place."
"Invite me to the house welcoming party." Kaiba said sarcastically as he rolled up the window and drove away.
Later, as morning dawned at the Shrine, and Inu-yasha reverted back to his white haired, dog eared self, Mai turned to Joey, and said, "You know, you could have saved some of that money and moved in with me." she hinted.
"Yeah well…" Joey said blushing, "That's something to think about."
"Well, we'd better get going," Inu-yash said, taking Kagome's hand.
"Going? Going where," she said.
"Back home," Inu-yash said. "We still have Jewel Shards to collect, and we need to take Keade home."
"Oh, so now that you think everything's back to normal, you just want to collect shards?" she asked furiously.
"What else are we gonna do?" he asked. "It's not like we're gonna get married or something!"
"But you said you love me!"
"I do, but I'm not the marrying type."
"Why you! SIT!!!!" And he was instantly thrown to the ground.
"What did I do!?!" he cried in pain.
The End