Disclaimer: … I still don't understand this… Dude, if I had any rights to Yu-Gi-Oh, my fan fiction would become Yu-Gi-Oh reality! Therefore, I do not own Yu-Gi-Oh!
Author's Note: Hey peoples! Just got back from vacation, so sorry once again for the late update! You people are probably used to it by now, though. Seems like all of you basically said one thing anyway: Put Mai in! (Then get her out of the way!) That's kewl with me, except this is gunna turn real PWP without her! Hmmm…. I got an idea! Away you go! Read!
Chapter Six: First Problem- …Solved?
"Joey? It's me, Mai. How come you haven't called?" Malik had already fallen fast asleep by the time I had checked my answering machine. I had obviously 'forgotten' to call Mai all this time… oops… "I cleared my whole weekend just to see you! Oh well. Call me back."
Beep… "Joey! Come on! Pick up the phone! Ugh! Call me back!"
Beep… "JOEY!!! WHY WON'T YOU PICK UP?! I"
"Messages deleted." The machine had enough of the racket too. Okay, so maybe I didn't feel like talking to her. Besides, I don't want to wake up my lover- I mean guest! Wow, Mai would kill me if she knew I thought of him that way… and held him close to me at night…
That's when the guilt set in. Guilt pierced my heart like a dagger; not only had I kissed someone behind her back, but I even slept with him! I can't do this anymore… Mai's my true love, that's how it has to be. Besides, what would my friends think? They'd probably be okay with the gay thing, but being in love with someone who has tortured us all at least once might not blow over so well. I guess there's only one choice left: send Malik packing and forget any of this ever happened.
I never thought it was even possible to feel pain this great. Tears formed in my eyes and my vision immediately clouded over. I blinked them away, trying to ignore them. I found sobs are harder to ignore, I broke down in my living room and let the tears flow and sobs choke in my throat, burying my face into my arms and soaking the sleeves of my green T-shirt.
I wasn't the only one who couldn't ignore my sobs. Malik had been woken up, dark circles shone under his violet orbs. He saw me in my condition and rushed to my side. "Joey? What's the matter? Why are you crying?"
I peered up at him, his dark figure a complete blur until I blinked away tears, sending them down my cheeks. I turned away from him, not wanting him to see me in my current condition. "I'm such a bastard!!" I yelled aloud, not knowing what else to say.
"That's not true! I don't think that!" Malik's confused expression rose to his features once again, only now confused on how to comfort me. "Who told you that?!"
"No one… I just…" I tried to explain more calmly. "I can't be with you anymore…" But I also can't live without you… "I can't do this to Mai… she doesn't deserve this! You don't deserve this! Both of you… would be so much better off if none of this ever happened…" My words were now muffled as I continued to sob.
Malik's expression grew more perplexed. "But… I can't…" He turned away from me as well, equally ashamed of his tears. "What am I supposed to do with out you?"
I swallowed my tears and thought for a moment. "I'm sure Bakura would let you in… you two seemed to be pretty good friends anyway, I'm sure he'd let you hide out there"
"That's not what I mean you fool!" (A/N: I had to put something like that in there. He says that a lot!) He said turning back to stare me in the eye. "I think you know as well as I do that…" He looked away again, unable to stand locking gazes with me that long. "…that I mean I can't live without your love, not your protection…"
The tears may not have stopped flowing, but my sobs had been silenced. I took him by the shoulders and looked at him with a determined expression. "Look, I know it'll be hard… but it's better in a long run." He just gazed at me, shocked, unable to choke out any words, so I continued. "I'll hurt for a while, but I'll get over it. And you'll hurt for a while, but you'll find someone you deserve, not some cheating bastard like me."
Silence fell over us as I released my grip. Malik's shocked expression relaxed into an understanding one. "Is that what you really want?" He questioned calmly.
"No." I gave my answer honestly. "But we can't always get exactly what we want. I just… don't want to cause any more pain."
He nodded his head knowingly. "I guess you're right…" He stood before me and turned to leave. "I'll be gone by morning." With that he walked off down the hall to the room I had originally planed for him to sleep in, closing and locking the door behind him.
I knew he was going to do exactly what I was. I headed off to my own room, snuggled under the covers, and cried myself to sleep.
The next day I awoke around noon to the ringing of the telephone, but I didn't pick it up. Instead, I ignored it and let it ring, dreaming of the one I could never possibly have. He had probably left by now… It's better this way, right? I wish I could stop thinking so much about him…
Another ring. When does the pain stop? I want to go back to sleep. At least there in my dreams I can be with him.
And the phone rings again. Doesn't anyone know when to give up? "Hello?" I heard my sister answer in the other room. "Joey's not up yet, but I can fix that. JOEY!!!"
Her screech had surprised me, causing me to jump and fall out of my bed with a thud. "What d'ya want?" I asked in annoyed tone.
"Mai's on the phone. She wants to know if you want to go on a date today."
Hell why not? It'll help me get my mind off him. "When and where?"
"That hamburger place… Burger World? The one Téa works at. In a half hour should be fine."
"Sure."
"He'll be there." I drained the rest of the half of the conversation I heard out as I dragged myself to my feet. I can't just pretend the whole thing with Malik never happened. Would that still be lying? Either way, Mai has a right to know, even if she doesn't want me anymore after that. Is anyone else here really confused?
I quickly got changed and ran a brush through my hair before heading off to Burger World.
Mai was already waiting for me in a small booth when I arrived. She greeted me with a smirk. "So little Joey finally shows up, eh?"
"Sarcastic as always, I see." I replied, still only half awake.
"What's the matter? Not you're goofy self today?"
I replied with a solemn look. "I'm too depressed to be me."
Her smirk turned to a sympathetic frown. "What's on your mind?"
Well isn't this great? Now I've got to give another speech. I let out a deep sigh of depression as well as nerves. "Mai, there's a reason I haven't been answering your calls."
"Oh? That was my next question anyway." She leaned back in her booth in order to get more comfortable. "Alright, let's hear it."
"It's like this; A couple nights ago I was strolling in the park coming back from your place."
"Go on."
"And I found Malik. He's was crying his eyes out, he told me his darker half was abusing him, so I volunteered to let him stay at my place." I enlightened the intrigued blond.
"Well wasn't that sweet of you." She replied in a tone that didn't clarify weather or not she was being sarcastic.
"Yeah, but that part's not important." I averted my gaze to a blue jay outside before continuing. "He made me breakfast, I took him out to eat"
"Joey, the story's cute, but get to the point."
"Right, sorry." A blush spread across my cheeks as I remembered my adorable Egyptian. "Everything was so new to him, I just found him really cute…"
"And?"
"And I fell in love with him!! Is that what you wanna hear so badly?!" I yelled, frustrated that my story was rushed.
Her face went black before twisting into a grin. She began chuckling to herself and finally just burst out laughing. "You? In love with another guy? You've got to be joking! Really, Joey what's the point?"
"I'm serious!! In fact I'm still in love with him!!!" I said as I slammed both my hands down on the table.
She fell silent as our food arrived. (Hey! I don't remember ordering…) She casually picked up her soda cup and sipped at the straw. "So? It's not like you fucked him or anything." (A/N: Well it had to be rated PG13 for something!)
"Does kissing count?" I asked, grabbing my burger and shoving it down my throat. "Or sleeping in the same bed?"
"You slept with a person who controlled you mind and forced you into a life-or-death duel against your best friend?"
"Pretty much." Would have given him a hickey, too if he hadn't stopped me. "Mai, I'm sorry. I didn't know I was going to fall in love with him."
"And I'm sorry for rushing you." She gave me a wink. "I already knew the story. Malik's gone now, right?"
"How did you"
"Serenity. Listen, I know your heart's no longer with me. I understand. It's like you said. What was it? 'I'll hurt for a while but I'll get over it'?"
"Hey, wait a minute"
"All that worrying for nothing, huh? Don't worry." She gave me an understanding smile. "If I'm not the one you truly love, then what's the point in being with me?"
"Yeah, you're right!" I said, standing up in realization. "Hey, how come you're not hurt in any way, shape, or form?"
"Uh… heh, that's not important!" She said, a blush spreading across her face.
"Out with it."
"Okay! I've been seeing someone else too!"
"Who?!"
"Your friend Tristan, okay?! Now go out there and grab Malik before it's too late!" (A/N: I think Tristan and Mai make a really good couple for some odd reason, I don't know why… maybe I'll right my first hetero fic about them!)
"You were cheating on me?!"
"So were you!" She got up and started shoving me out the automatic door. "Come on! Go out there and grab that boy!"
"Right!" I started running off in some random direction before stopping myself in my tracks. I looked back at Mai, who was happily waving to me, attempting and failing miserably to picture Tristan by her side. "I'll never get it." I waved back with a confident smile before running in the direction I knew he'd be; Domino City Park.
The sun shone brightly, dancing over my love's tanned skin and reflecting off his violet eyes as he gazed into the stone fountain where we had met a few nights ago. He had heard me coming and perked up and smiled at the sight of me, but quickly realized what had happened and turned back away.
I stopped before him, pausing to catch my breath. "Malik! I… told Mai… and…" I said between breaths. I quickly caught it in time to finish my sentence. "Look, I know I was a bastard for cheating on Mai like that." (A/N: Yes, I enjoy using the word 'bastard'.) "I'm sorry for all that. But I'm even sorrier for something else."
"And what might that be?" he replied, still turned away.
"Hurting you in the process…" Silence fell over us for a moment before I started up again. "I never want to hurt you like that again. I just"
Words were pushed back down my throat to make room for a tongue that filled my mouth. My eyes widened in surprise as well as delight. He pulled away from me and took in a deep breath. "That didn't take long!"
"Don't tell me; you were in on this too?" I asked, once again in need of catching my breath.
"Of course! Me, Mai, and Serenity all were!" He gave me a warm smile that made my heart melt.
"Why?!"
"'Cause I think you're sexy when you're all worked up!" (At least he's honest, right?)
He ran his lips across mine again, pulling me into another deep kiss. When we parted, I asked "Does this mean I can give you a hickey now?"
"Sure!" He replied joyously. "Just not in public."
"Hooray!" I practically danced around the whole rest area of the park until Malik interrupted me.
"As soon as you vanquish the dark overlord, a.k.a. my yami."
I stopped for an anime-like fall. (Well, it is anime so I guess it's not so-like. Whatever!) "You mean there's more!?"
"Well, yeah! I don't want to live in fear of my yami forever!"
"Fine, I'll play the knight and save you from your evil yami. Let's go." I grabbed him by the hand and started pulling him out of the park.
End Note- Okay, so Malik and Joey don't get their fairy tale ending just yet, but just might next chapter. Sorry people! I've got so many other fics in mind, and I don't really want to start any of them until I finish this one. All good things must come to an end sometime, right? That's the plan, anyway. Okay, pop quiz! Question One: Will Joey vanquish the dark overlord? Question Two: What is Mai and Serenity's relationship anyway? Question Three: Just how for will Malik and Joey go in the final chapter?! All these answers coming up next chapter! Answer what you think in a review, please! Make me feel warm and fuzzy inside!