"Er… I guess I'm going to sleep to…" Joey said uncomfortably.
"Uhm, okay." Mai for the second time in a few days was lost for words. She smiled as Joey blushed, leaving the room. Within seconds another body strutted into the room only a bit bigger.
"So Joey's your new boyfriend?" He laughed loudly, to Mai's irritation.
"No, you idiot. I had my friends over." Mai traced the rim of her glass slowly, avoiding the eyes that questioned her.
"Hmm, frustration...I catch a lie." Keith's face now serious as Mai angrily shot glares at him.
"You moron! After what happened between us, I would think you'd now better… shows what you really are inside." The frustrated woman spat.
"Whatever. Well, I guess this changes things between us?" Keith questioned.
"What? …Nothing happened…and so early into a relationship?" Mai's brows knitted together.
"Joey was blushing when he left your room, Mai." Sternly Keith looked at her. Mai got up, leaving the room spitting acid before she shut the door.
"I'm glad this happened before anything major happened, now I can end this before I got buried completely into it." Slamming the door, The blond angrily ran to the outside, wind angrily tossing her tresses every way. She shivered, wrapping her arms around herself. Mai had not realized how cold it got in the seas.
"Couldn't sleep either?" Joey asked.
"Joey! I thought you went to sleep?" Mai asked startled.
"Naw, I just have a lot on my mind." Joey gazed interested as the waves violently slapped the boat.
"You two, huh?" The stars and heavens smiled at the two, showing them in moonlight giving them an unnatural glow.
"Yeah…" Joey's brows knitted in frustration at his thoughts. Mai dared to catch a glance at him before asking.
"What are you so angry about?" Mai asked, as Joey shoved his hands into his pockets.
"Ah, I wish I could see my sis' in her operation. I hope I can get this money to her on time." Joey's eyes teared up, Mai wondered if it was the winds or his emotions taking place.
"I hope this doesn't sound harsh, Joey. But haven't you talked to your other friends about this? I mean I barely know you or her, as well as my ignorance to the entire situation." Mai gently smiled, looking into Joey's eyes.
"Naw, they know. But no matta what anyone says, I'm always gonna worry bought her… as well as other people to." Joey looked into Mai's eyes as well. Mai gave him an encouraging yet sympathetic smile. This part of Joey, Mai had never seen. It touched her dearly to be able to see it though. Even she knew he always showed his tough side to anyone that would come to him. She shivered once more, as she averted her gaze to the mountains on the archipelago's surrounding the distance of the boat off into the distance and the moon across the velvety sky.
"You want my jacket?" Joey asked, looking at her shivering body.
"No, you keep it. I'll be fine." She smiled at her gaze of the scenery.
"No, you're cold. I'm not gonna let a lady freeze herself off when I got a perfectly good jacket for her." Joey said stubbornly as he draped his jacket on her, leaving only his white undershirt on.
"Joey…" Mai said, ready to take the jacket off.
"You take that jacket off, and I won't wear it." Joey smirked determinedly.
"…. Thanks." Mai smiled widely.
"Hey, that's what friends are here for."
Little did they know, they were being watched the whole time.
"Maybe when we get back to Domino I can meet your sister some time." Mai smiled.
"Yeah… I'm worried; I haven't seen her since my parent's divorce. I know it will be kinda weird if I see my mom again."
"You'll be fine, you're a tough guy." Mai laughed at Joey's cheesy grin.
"Thanks, Mai. You've really come through, heh since I first met you. And now look, your givin me advice!" Joey chuckled.
"… Well I do owe you guys a few favors." Mai smiled at the times the not so little Yugi proved to be a man, and how Joey always stuck up for her in front of other guys, even when he knew he could risk getting seriously beaten.
"Oh, so that's it, just for owing us?" the blonde teen joked.
"Of course!" she laughed.
For some off reason as the two joked and laughed at each other, Mai felt a closeness to Joey. She felt like she knew him for many years the way they were both talking. She enjoyed his company and loved it when he looked at her, even though she couldn't believe that she actually blushed at his certain actions. A long pause went between the two, as they simply watched the stars twinkle above as if laughing with them in delight.
"So you up to hangin out when we get back to Domino sometime?" Joey looked at her, she thought she saw a hint of hope but shrugged it off.
"Of course, you dork! I need someone to amuse me!"
"Hey!" Joey looked over as Mai smiled. //She looks real pretty when she smiles, not that she's not pretty when she's not. // Mai snuggled into Joey's jacket more, taking in the strong spicy cologne he wore.
"Sure is a pretty night out here." Mai commented.
"Yeah." The two remained awkwardly silent as they took in the reality of their thoughts. //Am I growing an attraction for Joey? Humph, good maybe then Keith will learn not to mess with a girl like me! //
"Well, I'm heading back to my room, thanks for everything Mai."
"Joey, wait." Mai supported herself on her tiptoes and kissed the blonde on the cheek, sending him into a red frenzy across his face, he smiled, waved, then headed back to his room in complete happy bliss. Mai jumped when she heard a sound behind her, seeing a whirlpool appear on the ground in front of her. A man emerged from the vortex; he wore white robes and a matching turban around his hair. When he opened his eyes, Mai found herself in complete awe; his eyes were a striking sapphire that pierced through ones soul. She immediately felt intimidated by the other. His key-like necklace shone eerily in the moonlight. Mai decided to speak up as he stared at her, occasionally blinking.
"Who are you and what do you want?"
"I have come here sensing one worthy to protect and keep an item. My senses have driven me here, to you. Are you Mai Valentine?"
"… I refuse to tell you who I am until you tell me who you are!" Mai said attempting to sound brave, but was really nervous.
"I am Shadhi. Keeper of the Sennen Items of the lost pharaoh. My purpose is to find the destined to be the rightful keepers of the other Sennen items as well. For a group of men may enter the tomb in which they reside and all chaos will ensure. I have some here sensing the ownership from you." After the mysterious man explained himself as well as Mai's purpose, her face contorted into a scared and shocked look.
"Me?! Destined to own a Sennen Item?" Mai's shimmering violet eyes widened.
"Yes, you are the keeper of the Sennen scale. I trust that you will take responsibility and not allow any other the hunters to achieve it. But first, I must journey through your mind to make sure you are the one." Shadhi advanced forward to Mai, as she blinked in fear afraid of what he really meant by 'journeying through her mind'. She watched in utter fear as he took off the giant golden Ankh from around his neck, placing it on her forehead. The next thing she knew, she had blacked out. When she awoke, she was in her suite, under the blankets. She rose up to a sitting position, shaking her head and hair. //Must have been a dream…// she looked over to her nightstand to see a medium sized golden scale.
"ACK!" Mai screeched, realizing it wasn't.