There might be a r/t catfight. I never wrote about a catfight b4 XD & yugi deserves 2 girls to fight over him! XD & sorry yami-fans, but he won't be 'back', since tea likes him both; & this fic's complicated enough. So hes dead……again. XD Well, he IS a spirit…..But there's a reason why 'back' is in 'quotes'…..(mysterious music) BTW, the same goes for the other spirits as well.:(
So at first this chappie might seem confusing, but I'll try to make it as clear as possible. So read all of it get it, okies? See ya at da end!
& Oh, Me, Oh ,Mai! %
"Thanks a lot, sis," Joey said over his shoulder as he walked away with his unsuspecting girlfriend while Duke kept saying:
"It wasn't me! I didn't do it! This time….." to everyone, even to passerbys in the airport at the group went to the car.
Tea saw Serenity's eyes start to glisten and wondered why. Tea still didn't know about the proposal and all Serenity had said before was, "Oh, you brought Tea with you, Mai? That means only Bakura and Tristan are left!"
Then everyone had stricken looks written all over their faces. " 'Left?' For what?" Tea mumbled, wondering what sort of event Serenity had meant. Sounding like if he were saving her, Joey had said, "Uh, she meant for a surprise reunion party!" to Mai when she had questioned it also.
But I doubt that's what it was originally……..! Joey's always up to something!
"RIGHT, sis?" At her nod, Joey had said thank you and Duke had begun yelling, "It wasn't me! I didn't say it!" like he still was now, sounding rather like a car alarm, KaibaCorp-tisized. More annoyingly so. Serenity looked like she was going to burst into tears, and oblivious, Joey tied Duke's ponytail to a rolling cart stuffed of suitcases pushed by two uniforms. As he sailed away, Tea whispered worriedly. "Serenity? Are you all right?" Teardrops were rolling down the young girl's cheeks, and she didn't cry for no reason…..
"I just have to get this reunion party organized now!" she cried in answer, reaching for a hanky. Tea gave her one from her pocket.
"Thanks….."
"Don't worry! I'll help you." And Tea was true to her word. Within a matter of minutes, she and Serenity shopped for groceries, cooked at the Motou house for the celebration party for Mai's return..
Serenity informed Tea of the planned proposal. Rebecca was supposed to be helping, but she was 'cleaning up' with Yugi while the others helped Mai settle in her cottage; she still had a bit of jet lag and was sleeping for a catnap.
Meanwhile, Tea felt fine; the trip from New York had been pleasant. Now everything made sense, Mai couldn't find out about the surprise proposal until it was time for it. Then it'd be too late! But Tea was never shocked as she was to find out that Mr. Motou had died the past summer.
"What?!" a pot of gravy crashed to the tile floor. She'd thought it odd the old man hadn't been here….like usual......
"Guess you didn't get the funeral invitation we sent you….." Serenity spoke softly, as if Mr. Motou's ghost might overhear their conversation. She gestured to the door that led to the Game Shop next door, stirring. "Yugi's planning to sell the shop; in fact, it's already been sold…."
"WHAT?!" Another crash, louder. Rebecca poked her head through the other door, the one that led to the living room.
"You guys need any help?" A pretty, petite 16 year old with green eyes and sparkling blond hair, Rebecca's grandfather had been a friend of Yugi's grandpa for a long time. They had both attended his funeral. "If you don't, could you two keep it down?"
Serenity chuckled, seemingly innocently, but it really was at Tea's expression. "Actually, could you phone the others? The food nearly done. Phew I'm tired," she finished, all in one breath, looking fatigued. Rebecca nodded reluctantly. She knew all of Yugi's friends pretty well over the last two years.
Tea stared in the distance for a moment after her, then looked concernedly at Serenity. The also petite girl's face was flushed, and she was perspiring in the hot kitchen. "Here, I'll take the lasagna out." She did so, quickly and efficiently, in her athletic top and tennis shoes. Maybe I'd better go change….. "Is um….Kaiba coming to this little party, Serenity?" she questioned uncomfortably, setting the piping hot dish on the counter.
"Yeah, but---I don't think I'm going!" Serenity laughed at the thought of him being stuck alone. "Serenity! How dare you bail out one ME?!" "I'm too tired!"
I guess they're still together…..
"And yes, we're still together," Serenity said, her tone irritable-sounding, for a good reason, she'd hit her pet peeve. "Sheesh!"
"Looks like you've learned a couple of things from him, too," Tea observed, going into the living room. Surprisingly, it was still a mess. "I thought you two were cleaning up?"
Rebecca giggled loudly. "Oh, Joey said we ought to have the party on the campus, in the dorm room, instead." The dorm room was pretty big, could fit them all easily and then some. "But he also said not to tell Kaiba…" she added, with a frown of perplexity. "What did he mean….?"
"Uh, never mind," Tea said. "I'm glad to see some things hadn't changed!" She murmured, not having explain, then spotting Yugi, who was sitting by the telephone, looking forlornly out the window with the shades drawn. Something about that sparked an adrenaline rush in her. "C'mon, Yugi, let's go and have some fun," she clapped her hands together.
As if calling her dog, or something,Rebecca observed, eyes narrowing as she pushed up her round wire rimmed glasses, to give the eagle eye.
When he didn't react, she pulled him to his feet. "C'mon, we have to go and bring the food to campus, since King Joey decrees it," Tea went on with an eye roll, as he reluctantly went into the kitchen and starting hauling stuff to the van outside. Jeez, I haven't been away that long for him to change….
Meanwhile Rebecca followed the other two at a much slower pace, pretty mouth turning down at the corners. Yugi seemed way too perky whenever Tea's around…..
%%%%%%
Well, it seems nothing has changed. Much. Except, for the fact that they've all played a round of "Personality Musical Chairs."!
After a much needed, refreshing nap, Mai Valentine was sipping a tall glass of lemonade, perched on a comfy chair in her boyfriend's dorm room he shared with Yugi and Duke. They all had splurged the winnings from previous duel monster tournament to afford a suite on campus, and it really was paying off.
Yugi's depressed…..she thought with an artful eye, and Kaiba's happy? Sadistic, but still happy…The tall guy was busily keeping an eye on Duke who hasn't changed a bit, I see, she thought barely hiding her grin. Still chasing after Serenity even though Joey's told me he seeing triplets at the same time……always very interesting…..
Meanwhile, Rebecca Hawkins, a girl she barely really knew, was practically throwing herself all over Yugi, who paid no attention except for polite, mild interest. Mai told this to Tea, when she came up, hold a plateful of lasagna. "You'd better watch out…..Yugi's gotten pretty darn cute lately," she teased the brunette.
Tea looked on the verge of throwing her lasagna in the air. "Oh stop it, I'm not going to do what we discussed on the plane, and that's final," she said stubbornly.
"Oh, come on, make his day, his month, his year." Mai snatched a piece of cheese, having fulfilled her two year earlier prophecy of gaining Joey's appetite. "Go out with him….."
Tea didn't answer, just openly glared in a way that could've, would've put even Kaiba to shame. "You promised…." Mai said in a singsong, taking another piece of food.
"Oh, all right! But don't say anything to him, okay? I'll ask him." With that, Tea sped away, before she was asked anything else.
Serenity soon took the sofa next to her, looking exhausted. Mai watched as immediately Duke went to take a rickety rocking chair that was beside her, and just as immediately Kaiba predictably took it before he could sit down. Serenity's eyes were closed in tired bliss so she didn't see it, but, unaware, Duke practically sat on his lap before he realized and jumped back up if stung by a bee.
Mai choked on a swig of her lemonade in holding back laughter, making Serenity open her eyes and look to see what was going on, just in time to see--actually, hear---Kaiba growl and Duke slinking off, taking the chair beside Mai's chair, innocently eating.
Mai gave a rueful head shake that said, "You never learn, do you?" with before turning back to Serenity, who was in her boyfriend's arms in the rocking chair, half asleep. "So, Serenity……what WAS it that you were talking about in the airport?" She took a sip casually,. " ' Awwww!' by the way."
"What?" she said innocently, not meeting her friend's eyes. "Did I say something….? I don't remember…."
"Liar," Mai said amiably, as Kaiba scowled at her for 'interrupting' as Tea took a nearby seat with her plate, joining their little group. Joey had said he needed to 'take care of something' before the party and wasn't back yet. Good thing…for he and Kaiba always fight like little boys whenever together….kind of when siblings who hate each other fight. Meaning, they liked to play pranks, especially humiliating ones, the more the better, on each other. Boys….
"What're y'all talking about?" Tea asked, taking a bite, eyes round with curiosity at Mai, avoiding to look away.
"The little secret y'all are keeping from me," Mai said lazily, stretching. "And don't bother to deny it; Serenity definitely said something, remember?"
%%% Flashback %%%%
"Oh, honey, you got me flowers?" Mai squealed, throwing her arms around him in a tight hug.
"I missed you so much," he murmured, holding on as she pulled back a bit.
"Aw, I missed you too….I couldn't stop thinking about you……" He picked her up and twirled her around, making her shriek her chiming laughter..
"Yeah Whoo! Give us a show!" Duke said enthusiastically as he and the rest walked on them kissing, pumping his fist. The newly appointed class clown, since Joey had become more 'serious', he added aside to a couple of old ladies sitting, "Demonstrating CPR techniques," he explained, pointing his thumb back.
Joey said, while Mai laughed, "Cantcha all gives us a bit of privacy?"
Immediately, everybody started whistling and looking up at the ceiling in an effort to be casual. Even the ladies….laughed, that is.
"Verry funny…." He released her so she could hug her old friends in succession and chat. That's when Serenity said excitedly:
"That's great! Now we have only to get Tristan and Ryou for the---"
%%%%%% end flashback %%%%%%
"Well, what were you going to say for real?" Mai sipped at her lemonade, watching each face as they turned away innocently at the ceiling. "Oh come on! You all know I detest secrets!"
"Let's talk about something else," Tea suggested after a silence.
"I thought we were friends," she said, playing her wild card up her sleeve. Tea's eyes wavered.
"Well….." she began.
"Don't!" everyone shouted, as the front door just opened.
"Don't what?" Joey came in, seeing everybody poised as if to catch a baseball. "Hey, what we all playing, a game of tag?"
Serenity cleared her throat. Mai sure is snoopy…..her sense of 'smelling' out a secret has gotten keener than before! "No, we were all just getting up to….uh, eat!" Everyone made hearty sounds of agreement.
"Yeah! I'm starving!"
"What's for dinner?"
Smack! Duke stumbled, nearly to the floor as a blow hit him squarely on the back. Kaiba smirked down, as everyone headed to the dining table. It was a tight fit, but everyone managed to squeeze in as plates full of rich smelling food was served. Everyone complimented the chef, then started digging in eagerly.
"I wish Tristan was able to come," Serenity sat down, picking at her food. Somehow, after cooking it, she couldn't eat it. "With his new girlfriend."
Smiles all around, they knew it was a kind of semi joke. Yugi didn't have much of an appetite, either, he studied his food like he had to write a term paper.
"Is Mokuba coming?" Serenity asked Seto, who was also inspecting her food. At her look, he took a quick bite.
"Yes." And that was it. At fifteen, Mokuba had recently entered his 'teenage' phase, dressing all in black, rather like Yugi (who he had gotten to be good friends with by the way), except he wasn't mourning anybody away. Except maybe his childhood sweetness. He had become quite a handful lately, and he grimaced, just thinking about it. I don't want to even think about it….
Tea changed the subject. "So, are you planning to open your clothing line here in Domino, Mai?"
"Hm, probably not," was the answer.
"So what're you going to do?" All eyes rested on her interestedly.
"Hm, I haven't really thought about it…..probably take some college classes here," she smiled at Joey, who smiled back, but hers was a I'll-make-you-tell-me-later-when-we're-alone smile. "Isn't the new fall semester getting started, or whatnot?"
"Yeah," Rebecca answered, happily eating away. "I've signed up for an archeology class of course," Everyone murmured, of course, "an A.P English class, BIO 202, and an art class." Arched eyebrows all around, and complete silence, except for the music playing softly. "It's a general studies requirement," she said with a shrug.
"Hm, maybe I'll take one of those," Mai murmured. She spotted Yugi just picking away at his food. "Hey Yugi, hun. How're you doing?" she asked sympathetically, knowing about his grandpa's demise. She met the old guy a couple of times, and he was decent.
"Yeah, how're holding up?" Tea put in. "Sorry I didn't get to come to Mr. Motou's funereal."
"'S okay," Yugi said softly, automatically cutting his food. Across the table, Kaiba looked down at his old rival with interest. In respect, he had waited until after the funeral to challenge him, and been emphatically refused. But he hadn't minded. Nor been surprised.
Eventually he'll break down…he thought without much malice, since Yugi was his brother's only friend now. Still, he was his rival; something he didn't tolerate. But he could be patient.
"You're not……" Tea took a bite, studying her best friend's avoiding gaze, "going to sell the Game Shop for real, are you, Yugi? You can't!"
"It's true, T," Duke answered, his tone belligerent. "The old shop's just been wiped out by the competition. What?" he said as four pairs of eyes glared at him. His store was one of the 'competition' and Tea could decipher this, remembering from the past. "It's not my fault." He pointed a long finger accusingly across the table. "Kaiba's company is practically forcing all of us out!" The CEO just narrowed his stone-blue eyes in reaction. "Be mad at him, not me!"
Ignoring him, Tea continued, "You can't give up, Yugi. That shop sold more than just games. It holds memories for all of us."
There was a short silence as Joey paused in his eating, thinking. She's right, Yuge….he silently told his friend. But it's hopeless…… "I've already tried tellin' 'im dat, Taye," he muttered. "But he won't listen!"
Yugi's hands went still, staring down at his untouched, cold lasagna, his mouth pursed in a line.
Tea looked at him, shocked speechless. Yugi......
"He won't see da truth!" Joey grumbled. Earlier that month, they had a big fight about it, but Yugi had been strangely stubborn. He was going to sell, and that was final!
Yugi excused himself to use the bathroom and then practically raced toward it. Dead silence.
"Nice..... Who're you…… Jack Nicholson, mutt?" Kaiba said under his breath, mocking him right down to the accent, " 'You can't handle da truth!' "
"That's not what I said!" Joey had learned to control his temper around the arrogant CEO for the sake of Serenity, but he was angry at Yugi, also. That's why everyone looked surprised; he'd been doing such a good job too. Actually, it was more like, mildly surprised.
"Seto….." Only one person called him that. Only one person could call him that. He scowled. Everyone kept their poker faces.
"Saw. Ree. " Tighter words were never spoken. "for calling you a MUTT..alright?!" Mai snickered very softly. Oh boy, she thought. I can't stand any more! His face is priceless! "coughPerrocough…."
"Yeah, whateva! 'Pology accepted. I'm gonna go see if he's all right," Luckily Joey didn't speak Spanish. Or did he? As he left, he knocked over his glass of water. Still he didn't stop and turn. "coughcaballocough….."
%%%%%%
As the evening wore down, Mai did see Mokuba come after all, he had changed so much, she barely recognized him. Or course, it had been two years….
Now…..what IS this little……she approached Joey, who had said Yugi was 'all right', but everyone knew he wasn't, poor thing……thing he's hiding from me. I can be very persuasive… heh heh heh......
Tea had left as well, hopefully, to talk to Yugi. Which she had. Rebecca was getting ready to leave, when Mai told her to meet with her to make her schedule for the semester. Duke had also left, offering her a ride, since she didn't live on campus. Let's see, now where was I?
"I'm going to get you for this mutt," Kaiba was still steamed about water being thrown all over his clothes. Mostly it was in the pants area. Serenity was busily clearing away the clanking dishes, out of earshot. Mai watched them with interest, making sure not to distract them.
"Hope you're not goin' out like dat, Kaibe," Joey was saying, having a tendency to shorten people's names to one syllable because that's all his puny brain can hold according to Kaiba's theory, "People are gonna think you got too 'excited'! Ha, ha!" he didn't bother to lower his voice, and sensing trouble, Serenity came over.
"Humph," Kaiba said, confident he knew he had the upper hand, "the only thing I get ''excited' about….." he grabbed Serenity in a tight, loving embrace, "is your sister!"
Point, set, match, thought Mai. Welcome to the little boy's Olympics.
"Gah! Get a room!" Joey shoved them both back and slammed the door. After a pause, Mai dipped a chip in dip.
"You know what you just did, didn't you?" She munched on it slowly. He looked blank, watching her in puzzlement and distraction.
"Shoved them….. in a closet…..?" She licked her fingers off with a smile, sleder shoulder shaking.. "And closed the door…..?"
"………!!!!" He hastily opened the door, ".AHH! GET OUTTA DERE!!!"
TBC
A/n: yeah I know……Tristan has a girlfriend?! XD lol Who is it? It's sooooo easy! XD I mean, really. YOu'll haveta find out :P
Anyway, I think I might up the rating……for future chappies that is. I dunno….
Maybe thy were a little immature….but I've been to college campus so I know! BTW Kaiba takes classes there, sort of distance learning type…..lol
& Mariks1andonly, I loved 'A red red rose!' It had everything: romance, suspense, action, comedy….XD I liked when Seto called Serenity an 'angle' and said he put an 'add' in the paper because of her. XD just like him to use math terms. I recommend it highly to any SxS fan and I wish for more chapters! Write on! . :D
Next: the secret is spilled! Literally! Um, not what you're thinking! What are you thinking? If your thinkin' what I'm thinkin' were in trouble! XD Well, R&R!