a/n: Five years later, this is what's goin' on. There are a few more chapters after this, but I'm finally nearing the end. At... thirty-six chapters and still counting. lol
FIVE YEARS LATER...
Kai leaned against the car, her arms folded. Her fingers drummed impatiently on her arms as she sighed, waiting for her friends. Her scarlet hair was as wavy as ever, tied back in a bushy ponytail. Her emerald eyes were full of excitement as she awaited her best friend.
Yami sat on the hood of their car, a smile on his face as he watched her. The Millennium Puzzle still hung from his neck, the cobra still wound around it. He couldn't wait to see his friends either, but Kai's anticipation of seeing Carlos outweighed his by a long shot.
A week ago the two of them had called their friends, telling them to come to New York City. They had something of great importance to tell them and it couldn't wait. Kai remembered how aggravated Carlos had sounded when she wouldn't tell him what it was she wanted him to come for.
Now they waited outside the Red Lobster. Tea and Yugi were the first to arrive, pulling up in a nice convertible. As they got out, Yami jumped down off the hood and came to stand beside Kai. Though that didn't last for very long because she immediately shot over to Tea, wrapping her arms around the brunette's neck. Both guys found themselves pressing their hands to their ears and wincing as the girls shrieked with excitement.
"Oh my /god/, it's been way too long!" Kai exclaimed, holding her friend at arm's length.
"I know! You look great!" Tea said, smiling broadly.
"I think I've gone deaf," Yugi muttered, rubbing his ear vigorously.
Yami chuckled, removing his hands from his ears. The two looked at each other and grinned. "You've grown," Yami said, eyeing his friend's new height.
"Yeah!" Yugi said excitedly. "You look pretty good, I bet you feel the same way, right?"
Yami chuckled. "More than you know."
"Really? Fill me in!" Yugi said, grinning.
The Pharaoh folded his arms and leaned against the car. "Not yet. Kai will go ballistic if I tell anyone before Carlos gets here." The two laughed as they watched the girls squeal and hug each other.
Another car pulled up and Tristan stepped out, a girl with long brown hair accompanying him. The girls shrieked and ambushed the newcomers, throwing their arms around them.
"Serenity! How are you?" Tea cried, pulling away from the girl.
"I'm good, you?" Serenity asked.
"So you're Serenity?" Kai asked, pulling away from Tristan.
"Yeah, Tristan told me about Yami and you. You're Kai-Tara, right?" she asked. Yami and Yugi joined the group, each shaking Tristan's hand in turn.
"Please, call me Kai. Everyone does," she replied, waving her hand.
"'Cept for Yami, who calls ya' 'hon,' right?"
Kai turned and squealed as Joey stepped out of his car. She ran over to him and flung her arms around his neck, pushing him back into his door. "Joey!" she cried, holding onto him tightly.
"Gah! You're stranglin' me!" he choked, trying to push Kai away. She giggled and let go, looking over at the blonde who had taken a seat on the hood of Joey's car.
Kai grinned at Joey and folded her arms. "You gonna' introduce me to your girlfriend?"
"Mai Valentine," the blonde said, brushing her hair over her shoulder. "Joey told me you and Yami have some big surprise. How long are you going to make us wait?" she asked, smiling.
"We have to wait until Carlos gets here," Kai said.
"Carlos, Joey was telling me he was jeal..." Mai started but Joey clapped a hand over her mouth.
He gave a nervous laugh and said, "I told her you two were best friends." Mai pulled his hand from her mouth and gave him a look.
Kai raised her eyebrow, but said nothing about it. She smiled as Yami came over and greeted Joey and Mai.
"So you two are finally together?" Tea asked, folding her arms and grinning at the blondes.
"Eh, shut up, Tea," Joey said. "You're with Yugi."
Everyone spun around and stared at her. "You are?" Kai asked, looking at Yugi for the first time. "Oh my god!" she cried, stepping up to him. "When did you get taller than me?"
Everyone cracked up and didn't stop laughing until another car pulled up. A black convertible with an Italian sitting behind the wheel. Carlos took off his sunglasses and rested his elbow on the window, grinning at the rest of the gang.
"Carlos!" Kai screeched, dashing over to him. She didn't even wait for him to open his door before wrapping her arms around him.
"Well, you just can't stand the fact that I'm here, can you?" he said, putting his arms around her tightly. "Okay, will you let me get out of the car?"
"Yeah, okay," she said, backing up, smiling broadly. She waved at Elaine, who was sitting in the passenger side.
As soon as Carlos was on the other side of his car door, Kai was on him again. He wrapped his arms around her and spun her around before holding her at arm's length. They studied each other for a moment, grinning. Carlos' hair was as black as ever and still slightly messy. On his upper lip was a thin mustache.
"You look great!" Kai said, beaming. "You must have girls all over you!"
"Yeah," he said, smirking. "You don't look half bad yourself."
"I know," she said, playing with her ponytail briefly. They laughed and embraced again as Elaine got out of the car.
"So what's the big surprise?" she asked, swinging her purse over her shoulder.
"Of course! Okay, okay," Kai said, backing away from Carlos. She ran over to Yami and looped her arm through his. The gang all looked at each other before gathering around. "You wanna' say it or should I?" Kai asked Yami, prodding him in the side.
"I don't know," he replied, taking hold of her hand.
"You do it," she said, grinning.
Yami sighed, before putting his arm around Kai's shoulders. "All right. I suppose you all want to know what the big surprise is," he said, looking at the gang.
"Isn't that why we're here?" Carlos asked, folding his arms.
"Yeah, come on. I'm dying from suspense here," Mai said as Joey put an arm around her. She held onto his hand as he caught sight of Tristan placing an arm around Serenity. "Down boy," Mai said, grinning.
Yami chuckled. "Kai and I are engaged," he announced. Kai held up her left hand, the diamond ring reflecting the sunlight.
There were numerous squeals of delight from the girls and cheering from the guys. Carlos, however, was simply stunned.
"You're... engaged?" he asked, staring at his best friend. His feelings for her had never wavered, even over the time they had been apart. How could she be getting married to anyone but him?
"Yeah! Isn't it great?" she said, leaning her head on Yami's shoulder.
"Yeah! Congratulations, Kai! And Yami!" Elaine said, elbowing her brother subtly.
"So who's best man?" Joey asked.
"I think it's only fair if that's Yugi," Yami said, looking at his friend. Yugi beamed and agreed instantly.
"And the maid of honor?" Elaine asked, grinning. "Me, right?"
"No, sorry," Kai said. "We're not exactly doing this traditionally. I'm not going to have a maid of honor, more like a second best man. That's you, Carlos!"
"Say what?" he asked, raising his eyebrows.
"You're going to be my best man," Kai said, beaming.
"Oh, yeah. Sure," he said, giving her his best smile. Not only was he going to go to the wedding of the girl he was in love with, he was going to stand next to her as she kissed someone else at the alter. How much worse could this day get?
"Well, when's the wedding?" Serenity asked.
"Next month. We still have to get everything ready and stuff," Kai said.
"You don't have a dress?" Tea asked incredulously.
"Not yet," Kai replied.
"Well, we have to fix that. But first, let's grab lunch. I'm starved," Mai said.
"Yeah, me too!" Joey agreed.
"Joey, you're always hungry," Tea said, grinning.
"Can't forget me!" Tristan said. Everyone laughed as the headed for the door of the Red Lobster. Almost like the old days.
a/n: I like these next chapters and I hope you do too. Don't forget to review o' course!
FIVE YEARS LATER...
Kai leaned against the car, her arms folded. Her fingers drummed impatiently on her arms as she sighed, waiting for her friends. Her scarlet hair was as wavy as ever, tied back in a bushy ponytail. Her emerald eyes were full of excitement as she awaited her best friend.
Yami sat on the hood of their car, a smile on his face as he watched her. The Millennium Puzzle still hung from his neck, the cobra still wound around it. He couldn't wait to see his friends either, but Kai's anticipation of seeing Carlos outweighed his by a long shot.
A week ago the two of them had called their friends, telling them to come to New York City. They had something of great importance to tell them and it couldn't wait. Kai remembered how aggravated Carlos had sounded when she wouldn't tell him what it was she wanted him to come for.
Now they waited outside the Red Lobster. Tea and Yugi were the first to arrive, pulling up in a nice convertible. As they got out, Yami jumped down off the hood and came to stand beside Kai. Though that didn't last for very long because she immediately shot over to Tea, wrapping her arms around the brunette's neck. Both guys found themselves pressing their hands to their ears and wincing as the girls shrieked with excitement.
"Oh my /god/, it's been way too long!" Kai exclaimed, holding her friend at arm's length.
"I know! You look great!" Tea said, smiling broadly.
"I think I've gone deaf," Yugi muttered, rubbing his ear vigorously.
Yami chuckled, removing his hands from his ears. The two looked at each other and grinned. "You've grown," Yami said, eyeing his friend's new height.
"Yeah!" Yugi said excitedly. "You look pretty good, I bet you feel the same way, right?"
Yami chuckled. "More than you know."
"Really? Fill me in!" Yugi said, grinning.
The Pharaoh folded his arms and leaned against the car. "Not yet. Kai will go ballistic if I tell anyone before Carlos gets here." The two laughed as they watched the girls squeal and hug each other.
Another car pulled up and Tristan stepped out, a girl with long brown hair accompanying him. The girls shrieked and ambushed the newcomers, throwing their arms around them.
"Serenity! How are you?" Tea cried, pulling away from the girl.
"I'm good, you?" Serenity asked.
"So you're Serenity?" Kai asked, pulling away from Tristan.
"Yeah, Tristan told me about Yami and you. You're Kai-Tara, right?" she asked. Yami and Yugi joined the group, each shaking Tristan's hand in turn.
"Please, call me Kai. Everyone does," she replied, waving her hand.
"'Cept for Yami, who calls ya' 'hon,' right?"
Kai turned and squealed as Joey stepped out of his car. She ran over to him and flung her arms around his neck, pushing him back into his door. "Joey!" she cried, holding onto him tightly.
"Gah! You're stranglin' me!" he choked, trying to push Kai away. She giggled and let go, looking over at the blonde who had taken a seat on the hood of Joey's car.
Kai grinned at Joey and folded her arms. "You gonna' introduce me to your girlfriend?"
"Mai Valentine," the blonde said, brushing her hair over her shoulder. "Joey told me you and Yami have some big surprise. How long are you going to make us wait?" she asked, smiling.
"We have to wait until Carlos gets here," Kai said.
"Carlos, Joey was telling me he was jeal..." Mai started but Joey clapped a hand over her mouth.
He gave a nervous laugh and said, "I told her you two were best friends." Mai pulled his hand from her mouth and gave him a look.
Kai raised her eyebrow, but said nothing about it. She smiled as Yami came over and greeted Joey and Mai.
"So you two are finally together?" Tea asked, folding her arms and grinning at the blondes.
"Eh, shut up, Tea," Joey said. "You're with Yugi."
Everyone spun around and stared at her. "You are?" Kai asked, looking at Yugi for the first time. "Oh my god!" she cried, stepping up to him. "When did you get taller than me?"
Everyone cracked up and didn't stop laughing until another car pulled up. A black convertible with an Italian sitting behind the wheel. Carlos took off his sunglasses and rested his elbow on the window, grinning at the rest of the gang.
"Carlos!" Kai screeched, dashing over to him. She didn't even wait for him to open his door before wrapping her arms around him.
"Well, you just can't stand the fact that I'm here, can you?" he said, putting his arms around her tightly. "Okay, will you let me get out of the car?"
"Yeah, okay," she said, backing up, smiling broadly. She waved at Elaine, who was sitting in the passenger side.
As soon as Carlos was on the other side of his car door, Kai was on him again. He wrapped his arms around her and spun her around before holding her at arm's length. They studied each other for a moment, grinning. Carlos' hair was as black as ever and still slightly messy. On his upper lip was a thin mustache.
"You look great!" Kai said, beaming. "You must have girls all over you!"
"Yeah," he said, smirking. "You don't look half bad yourself."
"I know," she said, playing with her ponytail briefly. They laughed and embraced again as Elaine got out of the car.
"So what's the big surprise?" she asked, swinging her purse over her shoulder.
"Of course! Okay, okay," Kai said, backing away from Carlos. She ran over to Yami and looped her arm through his. The gang all looked at each other before gathering around. "You wanna' say it or should I?" Kai asked Yami, prodding him in the side.
"I don't know," he replied, taking hold of her hand.
"You do it," she said, grinning.
Yami sighed, before putting his arm around Kai's shoulders. "All right. I suppose you all want to know what the big surprise is," he said, looking at the gang.
"Isn't that why we're here?" Carlos asked, folding his arms.
"Yeah, come on. I'm dying from suspense here," Mai said as Joey put an arm around her. She held onto his hand as he caught sight of Tristan placing an arm around Serenity. "Down boy," Mai said, grinning.
Yami chuckled. "Kai and I are engaged," he announced. Kai held up her left hand, the diamond ring reflecting the sunlight.
There were numerous squeals of delight from the girls and cheering from the guys. Carlos, however, was simply stunned.
"You're... engaged?" he asked, staring at his best friend. His feelings for her had never wavered, even over the time they had been apart. How could she be getting married to anyone but him?
"Yeah! Isn't it great?" she said, leaning her head on Yami's shoulder.
"Yeah! Congratulations, Kai! And Yami!" Elaine said, elbowing her brother subtly.
"So who's best man?" Joey asked.
"I think it's only fair if that's Yugi," Yami said, looking at his friend. Yugi beamed and agreed instantly.
"And the maid of honor?" Elaine asked, grinning. "Me, right?"
"No, sorry," Kai said. "We're not exactly doing this traditionally. I'm not going to have a maid of honor, more like a second best man. That's you, Carlos!"
"Say what?" he asked, raising his eyebrows.
"You're going to be my best man," Kai said, beaming.
"Oh, yeah. Sure," he said, giving her his best smile. Not only was he going to go to the wedding of the girl he was in love with, he was going to stand next to her as she kissed someone else at the alter. How much worse could this day get?
"Well, when's the wedding?" Serenity asked.
"Next month. We still have to get everything ready and stuff," Kai said.
"You don't have a dress?" Tea asked incredulously.
"Not yet," Kai replied.
"Well, we have to fix that. But first, let's grab lunch. I'm starved," Mai said.
"Yeah, me too!" Joey agreed.
"Joey, you're always hungry," Tea said, grinning.
"Can't forget me!" Tristan said. Everyone laughed as the headed for the door of the Red Lobster. Almost like the old days.
a/n: I like these next chapters and I hope you do too. Don't forget to review o' course!