*AN: Konnichiwa, minna! Gomen nasai for not updating recently. Like I've said before, I've been really really busy. A lotta stuff has been going on...Anywayz, I managed to crank out this next chapter for all of you who have been waiting patiently. ^-^ *Sakura dies from exhaustion* ^ ^; Thank to all who have reviewed, its much appreciated! ^-^ Ok...well on with Chapter 2 then! Remember to R&R!*
Chapter 2- Whispering Waves
"Oi, Mai! Why are you so late?" Jonouchi Katsuya called out as Mai pulled up to the Kame Game Store in her violet convertible. All her friends were waiting outside the doors, bech attire in hand or resting on the concrete sidewalk. She put the car in park and waited for her friends to load the spacious trunk and back seat.
"Gomen nasai, minna." she apologized distractedly. "I slept in." She heard the trunk slam shut and Jonouchi shout:
"I call shot gun!" he cried racing for the passenger seat next to Mai.
"No way!" Anzu shrieked darting for the same spot. The blond-haired boy just barely made it first, his large hand grasping the silver handle of the passenger door.
"Ha ha!" he shouted triumphantly, smirking at Anzu. But the brunette girl had not yet been defeated.
"Move it, retard!" she shouted kicking him in the shin.
"Aaaaiiiieee!" Jonouchi cried releasing the handle to clap both hands on his shin and dance around in pain. Anzu flashed a small, satisfied smile and got into the car. Yami, Malik and Honda hopped into the back seat and Yugi and Ryou perched comfortably on the trunk, their legs dangling in the back seat. Both were staring at Anzyu with slightly frightened looks on their faces. Jonouchi was still flailing about and shouting.
"I say we make the blond baka over there run." Malik commented. A mischievous smile crossed Mai's pretty face and she glanced over at Anzu to gain her opinion. Anzu giggled and nodded and Mai shifted the car into gear, pressing the gas pedal and zooming off. Suddenly noticing that he was being left behind, the tall tenth-grader's eyes nearly popped out of their sockets and he instantly dashed after the quickly disappearing car.
"Gah! Iie! Come back!" he shouted sprinting as fast as his legs would take him. he could see everyone in the car turned around and laughing.
"Errrg! Damn you, Mai!" he shouted his body tiring, not allowing him to keep up. he fell to a stop and watched the amethyst car disappear, cursing with what breath he had left. *I'll get her....oh yeah. She'll think twice about leaving me behind....*
The day was warm and as perfect as could be. The happy golden sund cast its fiery rays down on the world making the crystal blue ocean sparkle and the sand glitter in warm welcome. Not a cloud was in sight, giving all the view of the blushing blue sky. The duelist gang cheered and laughed piling out of Mai's car to sprint towards the water; stripping off clothes to reveal swim attire as they ran. Mai, Yami and Anzu were left to gather the remaining beach supplies and find a clear spot to set up. After sticking two large umbrellas in the sand, laying out various beach towels and blasting the radio, Mai stripped off her clothes to reveal a violet string bikini and stretched out on her towel. Closing her amethyst eyes she sighed, hearing her friends splash around and shout playfully. She feel her legs itch but she ignored it, concentrating on relaxing and maybe getting some rest. The laughter of her friends rang in her ears. Loud. Very loud. Her legs itched again, more severe this time. She squeezed her eyes shut, the laughter echoing loudly, threatening to burst her ear drums. The deafening roar of the ocean crashing against the shore joined the laughter, booming louder and louder. Mai's flawless legs felt dry and scaly, itching miserably. She desperately tried to ignore it, squeezing her eyes closed and clenching her teeth. Her head pounded and her ears screamed with pain.
"Mai....." A vague whisper just barely sounded through the booming in her ears. The itching became unbearable now, the blonde woman could almost feel scales forming from her skin.
"Mai....." the voice came again, louder this time. It was so familiar.... Suddenly, an image of the green-eyed merman blinked before her closed eyes. Water....she needed water...
"Mai!" Anzu's voice rose above her pounding head and she felt someone shaking her. Her eyes flew open and she bolted upright. Breathing short, distressed breaths she gazed around wildly discovering everyone was looking at her, quizzical expressions on their faces. She looked around confused. What was everyone staring at?
"Nani?" she asked.
"Are you alright?" Anzu asked, looking at her with a concerned expression on her face.
"Hai. What's wrong? Did something happen?"
"You were moaning like you were in pain or something and nearly pulling your hair out." Yami answered.
"Oh. Gomen nasai., I must've fallen asleep." she said tring to shake her friends' concern. Soime looked at her disbelievingly but went back to what they were doing anyway. Mai sighed and glanced down at her legs. They were smooth, shaven and perfectly normal. But then why did she feel if she didn't get to water soon that they would crack and bleed? She reached for the sun tan lotion and started applying in to her skin. *This should help. Maybe my skin's just a little dry.* she thought. But even after she did, the itchy, dry feeling refused to go away. She clenched her teeth, willing herself to ignore it, instead watching Yugi, Jonouchi, Honda, Malik yami and Ryou engage in a fierce game of beach volleyball.
"Mai...." The ocean whispered her name.
"Nani?" she asked whipping her head around.
"Huh?" Anzu asked, pushing herself to her elbows and turning her blue eyes to Mai.
"Did you call me?"
"Iie."
"Oh." The blond beauty turned away looking back at her volleyball playing friends but not seeming to see them.
"Are you ok, Mai?" Anzu asked, worry dripping from every word.
"Hai." she said plastering a fake smile on her face. Anzu settled back down onto her towel, the worry not leaving her. What was with Mai today?
Mai scratched absently at her legs, her eyes focused on her friends but not seeing them. * That was strange.* she thought. *I could've sworn someone called me....*
"Mai..." There it was again! She looked around for anyone who might've called her; but there was no one. No, it wasn't someone calling her. It was a whisper, but it rang in her ears. She smiled to herself as she watched Jonouchi dive for the volleyball. Completely missing and landing flat on his face, a mouth full of sand, she giggled to herself. Finally, unable to bare the intense irritation of her legs, she stood and started towards the water. Then she seemed to go into a trance. Nothing but the the crashing waves of the sea roared in her ears. The crystalline blue depths the only thing she seemed to see.
"Mai...." The ocean boomed in her ears making her head throb. She quickened her pace; the only thing that mattered was getting to the water. Everything would be better there. She ran the last few feet, splashing into the water and diving in.
"Mai...."
* * * * * *
"Oi! Mai-san! Lets get something to eat!" Anzu called out to the ocean, hoping Mai would hear.
"How long has she been out there" Ryou asked. fishing out some money from his clothes that lay on the beach towel.
"All day!" Honda replied. "She hasn't come out once!"
"Doesn't she get tired?" Yugi commented.
"Guess not." Malik put in.
"Mai-san!" Anzu called again.
Mai swam. Where? Where was it coming from? That whisper..... The warm, crystal water swirled around her body enveloping her in love. How long had she been out there? Not long.... In need of air, she kicked her legs and broke the sparkling surface. Filling her lungs with air, she pushed her wet blond mop out of her face and tread water. She glanced around confused. Why did it seem to be getting darker? She turned her head around to look upon the vast ocean she saw the beauty of the sun setting. Golds, pinks, oranges, and some blues and violets burst though the sky. The sun was setting?! Just how long had she been out here?
"Mai-san!" Her name rang through the air, riding a clear high voice. She spun around in the water and saw Anzu and the others waving her into shore. *They must need something.* she mused starting to swim towards them. Suddenly, her head screamed in pain and she felt all energy leaving her body. Her breath quickened and she could barely keep her head above the surface. What was wrong with her? The ocean fought her, attempting to drag her back into its depths. It was like it wasn't going to let her leave. She fought frantically but her legs creamed with exhaustion and refused to obey her. She screamed and was dragged beneath the surface.
An ear-splitting scram rang through the air and the group of duelist watched Mai slip beneath the surface.
"Mai!" they all screamed in unison. Without even thinking, Jonouchi sprinted down the beach and towards the water.
"Jonouchi!" the others cried. but the blond boy ran as fast as his legs would carry him. Mai's golden head had not yet appeared from beneath the surface of the now foreboding water.
"Mai!" he shouted diving into the water and looking wildly around for Mai. He kicked his legs hard, propelling him through the waves his brown eyes scanning the water for the woman duelist. But the only thing that greeted him was vast crystalline water. *Damnit, Mai, where are you?!* he cursed desperately, his lungs threatening to burst if he didn't fill them with air. And then he saw her. Her long golden hair catching his eye. She was sinking, being dragged down to the undertow! His lungs screaming, he dived down deeper, kicked his legs as hard as he could. His chocolate eyes fixed on the woman. He stretched his masculine arms out and just barely took hold of her hand. Pulling her towards him, he wrapped on arm around her waist and used the other to aid his legs in propelling himself upward. He desperately fought to break the glittering crystal barrier above him. he needed air!
He gasped for air as he broke the surface, he heard Mai do the same. He glanced down at her, her long hair was plastered to her forehead and her violet eyes were halfway open.
"Mai." he gasped in between hard, ragged breaths glancing down at the exhausted woman as he kicked hard towards shore.
"Jonouchi....?" she whispered.
"Hold on, Mai." he breathed coming up on shore. Stumbling onto shore, he dragged her to dry ground and lay her down on the sand before dropping down next to her gasping for breath.
"Mai! Jonouchi!" the others cried racing over. Jonouchi's chest heaved and blackness swarmed before his eyes. He relaxed, finally, giving into the exhaustion, still grasping Mai's hand......
Mai walked along the streets of Domino City in deep thought. her amethyst orbs were fixed on the ground, her legs seeming to have a mind of their own. What had happened today? Anzu had told her that she had spent the entire day in the ocean! And what of the voice? Who's was it? Where was it coming from? After dropping off her friends, she had decided to go for a walk instead of home. these things she now contemplated as she unknowingly headed back towards the beach....
In the shadow, silently creeping after the blond beauty, Jonouchi followed. Where in hell was Mai going? The woman's eyes were downcast and she seemed to be in deep thought. Questions swarmed in his head. What was up with her today? She was acting so weird. How had she been capable to stay in the water all day? Up until the very end.... He gripped the cool key ring hard in his hand. they were Mai's keys to her car. He had stolen them to get back at her for driving off without him. But now...he couldn't bring himself to play the cruel joke on her. not now. ..not after today... He would return them to her now and apologize. As he watched her now, his heart seemed to melt. The full moon danced upon her skin and hair making her glow. *God, she's beautiful.....* he thought. How he longed to be waling next to her now, holding her hand, belonging to her.... yet, he slunk in the shadows behind her. Hi mind reeled with confusion when he realized where she was headed. She was back at the beach! What the hell what she dong back here? Didn't she have enough of swimming? He watched in confusion and horror as she seemed to be mesmerized by the ocean. She walked straight for the water, her amethyst eyes glazed over, not even bothering to remove her clothes. *What is she doing?!* he thought frantically as she stepped slowly into the water and eventually diving under.
"Mai!" he cried sprinting after her. " Mai!" He dived into the water opening his eyes and searching wildly for her. Almost lost in the darkness of the ocean, he caught a glimpse of gold and...purple? He swam towards it, but being exhausted from before, he quickly tired. But he pushed himself deeper and deeper after the female duelist. His lungs screamed and his head pounded. Darkness swarmed before his eyes once again and he watched as the wisp of gold disappeared.
*Mai.....*
*AN: Dun dun dun! And the mystery continues! ^-^ I hope you enjoyed this chapter, remember to R&R!!!!*