a/n: Hi all! Yay-erness, I'm about to surpass DTMSY's mark! And it's only ten chapters earlier or so. I wanna thank all those who stuck w/me since chappie one. Not very many, so that makes 'em EX-tra special! (sweeps hat off to them) Don't mind the fancy schmancy format, I was kinda bored.
Phew, that's was a lot. X-----X. My minimum's 15, so that's cool. See ya at the end---!
Disclaimer: Its seems automated that I don't own Yugioh! ™ See the TM? That means it's copyrighted! Jeesh !
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& Chapter Fourteen: Brothers and Sisters &
Chapter Fourteen: Brothers and Sisters&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&
M-a.
Joey stood still, lost in his own little world; staring into space, while, in contrast, Mai was in hysterics; pacing, her boots clicking this way and that. "Oh my God! OMG! Why didn't I think of it before! It all makes perfect sense now! That strange vibe I felt when I met her…..after getting back….." She trailed off as she suddenly realized who she was talking to, but it was so exciting! Ten times as exciting as her own wedding! They were talking about a baby! A BABY for crying out loud!
"You must be really baby-crazy to be excited," He commented, watching her hands wave about excitedly. "Me, I didn't even know she had a boyfriend !"
Now it was her turn to blink at him. "…..Huh?"
" I didn't even know she had a boyfriend," he repeated, going over to a small, square kitchen window to state out in pensively. "It would figger she'd give it away for adoption, though. She did it before!" he muttered.
"What do you mean?" Mai wanted to know sharply. What the hell was he talking about?
He turned back from the window, suddenly, looking very large; looming, with suspicion. "You were talkin' about 'Ma' too, right ?"
"Ohh, phew...Um…….Never mind, honey!" " Mai decided not to tell him, unless she was sure that her thoughts lay true: that was Serenity who was pregnant. It would just cause him unnecessary stress and anguish if it wasn't. I guess it could be the old lady, Mrs. W……she thought, with slight sigh of disappointment
&&&& Meanwhile, &&&&
&& next afternoon &&
"Oh, look," Kaiba said casually, on the sidewalk amid all the Santa Clauses asking for donations to the needy or the ones who were really stalkers from the Enquirer in disguise, "There's the Moto residence………"
"Oh no, no, we're so not going there," Serenity shook her reddish-brown head frantically and determinedly, not liking the oh-so-familiar competitive glint in his eye. "The last time was a disaster! Remember?"
"Why, I'm hurt." He drawled, "For what else would I want to see my good friend Yugi except to spread a bit of good cheer?" It was true he wasn't so hell-bent on beating Yugi at his utter defeat anymore, but only just... Now, he was just more subtle going about it. Her face displayed its skepticism. "You don't believe I'll behave myself, shorty? We're just going to see how're they're doing with…..the store," he insisted, tugging on her arm. "Checking on the competition, and all of that….."
"'checking on the competition' yeah you're right about that! Okay, but don't bother Yugi too much," she said, but going with him; and one eyebrow twitched. "And. Did. You. Call. Me. 'Shortstuff?" It was one of his names for her, (he had a thing with names) when he wanted to annoy or tease her. (It worked, only Rebecca was the same height now.) Either that, or 'Red', because of the color of her hair, and the color she was always turning into.
Sometimes, for variety, he combined them both; polymerized them into: Strawberry Short Cake.
- Used only in the summertime, though -
"One of Mokuba's getta--terms thing." he said with a dismissive wave. "Means-- means 'woman'." Cars swished by as they waited at the crosswalk arm-in-arm.
"When I asked you to try and understand him better," She lectured as they rounded the corner of a brick wall, private and out of sight from any stray peepers, "that wasn't what I meant!" She sighed as a car swished by, and they crossed together. "And 'geta' is a shoe...you mean, 'ghetto' !" Her suede covered shoulders shook.
"Whatever," He dismissed. "And I'll call you whatever I want, love." A private brick wall was a little to the left. He bent and hoisted her right up against him. At 20, the last three years together he made him smile more often and the hard planes and angles around his face had softened. "You're getting a bit heavy, love...and did you just growl at me?"
"No, that was...I'm sort of hungry." She could hardly be more embarrassed. "And who are you calling fat!"
Even he was surprised by her sudden, abrupt, mood swing. She'd been having a lot lately. Been more touchy, testy. It must be a girl thing. In her furry snow-white hat, which contrasted with big brown eyes, she looked like a Christmas caroler from Victorian era. Still, holding her small, shapely female little body, he could all too well remember. Sometimes they were both too busy to hardly spent any time together, and he felt guilty (ugh) because of it. They had a lot of time to make up for...
"Don't worry love, I'll love you even when you get small enough to fit in my pocket." Then she pushed him down for a sweet kiss. "What's was that for?"
"I dunno...sometimes you talk too much, you know, 'blah, blah, blah...'" Her lovely delicate features widened into a shy smile, long-lashed eyes squinting in two perfect arcs.
"Talk too much, do I?" He growled and twirled her around once, her laughter pierced the air. He pretended to be insulted as he set her back down. "Well, then I'll just waste my talents on someone else then." She decided not to try and push her luck. Else, he would figure out the truth. Luckily, he moved on forward to the Game Shop again. Then again, maybe not so lucky...
&&&& Meanwhile &&&&
"You know, Yugi," Tea murmured, her artistic eye surveying around the Game Shop with scrutiny at the customers, "I'd been thinking on how to improve this place."
Not busy for the moment, Yugi turned to her curiously. "We kinda have a limited budget here, Tea...so we can't have any more additions done..."
"No, no. See, instead of expanding and making everything more technological-like, how about we go the opposite direction--you know, make everything more homey and old fashioned. You know, more work..." He didn't like places with too much high tech stuff either; considering they'd almost been done in by VR a million times. "But other people like that stuff..."
"Not all," Tea said enthusiastically, her bright blue eyes shining as they did only when he was around. "I bet some people would like being de-high-teched, I bet!"
"...Ok."
She didn't seem to notice his hasty, yet reluctant agreement. "Let's see...we could have a warm juice bar over there, throw in some comfortable cushion for people to play their games...or maybe we could do a mix, Yugi! You could do that magic act thingy that I saw you do yesterday with the kids... Half and half. I gotta write this down." The bow clip on her long brown braid fluttered as she zoomed away. Personally, I'd rather just crawl into my bed and mope, he thought while he watched her go.
But since it meant so much to her...He groaned as Tea opened the front door and sort of sank behind the counter. Not again!
"And you better quit with the names or I'll, I'll," A suitable threat came, and she tugged at his blue coat meaningfully. "I'll call you Tall-ly and Bluey!" That was the worst thing Serenity could think of. "Hi, Tea! Ummmm...We were just in the neighborhood…."
"I bet." While Serenity was bundled up like an Eskimo against the cold weather; hats, scarf, mittens, Kaiba was wearing the same thing since the last two years. Summer or Winter. "Hi, Serenity. Come in, Serenity." Tea said pointedly, stepping back; gave Kaiba the evil eye of hate.
"Merry Christmas and ho ho ho to you too, Gardner." he snipped while he stepped inside the indoor heat of the Game Shop anyway and swept the room with his gaze. The place was pretty full, at least fuller than usual, mostly young kids and teenagers.
"He didn't mean to call you that, he was just imitating Santa Claus," Serenity explained hurriedly at Tea's loud exclamation of, "Did you hear what he just called ME!" and physically restrained her from getting the broom.
Actually, I was. Kaiba thought with a smile as he made his way towards the back. There, he spotted his quarry. "Hey. Motou!"
Yugi stood up finally, slowly. "What do you want, Kaiba." he said.
Tea stopped short a little distance off, watching the two. I never saw Yugi glare before...it's sort of scary, she thought catching her breath. "W-what's going on?" she whispered to Serenity, who sighed.
"He's talking about a promise he made to Mr. Motou," she explained, looking ill.
"Yugi's grandfather! But why?" Usually Yugi was nice to everybody in the world, even Kaiba, except nowadays.
But Kaiba didn't notice. "I would have thought you would know by now, Motou," he said, smiling smugly. "Don't tell me, you're still keeping that stupid pact?"
At seventeen, he was nowhere the billionaire's height, but did come above the shoulder now. "Shut up," he hissed, shaking with rage. Extraordinarily, his fists were clenched, as if he wanted to hit him. "I want you out of here, Kaiba. NOW."
Kaiba seemed unfazed. "You're the only one I respected as a duelist." His eyes were narrowed. "And now, you've stopped because of your grandfather. Boo hoo. How sad. Well, Time to get over it!"
No, Yugi's promise to his grandfather Serenity murmured to Tea, who stood agape.
That did it. Although Tea had been pressing Yugi to move on after his death, Kaiba's 'way' was too much. Tea watched, for clues, and got none. "Kaiba, Yugi said he didn't want to duel you," she cut in , stepping forward aggressively. "So beat it!"
The CEO ignored her, but Yugi turned in surprise, as if he didn't know she'd been listening. "You'll have to duel sometime again, Yugi. It's in your blood. And when you do, I'll be there. To crush you in defeat, that is." He vowed, then turned and swept out of the room.
"What a jerk," Tea muttered, before turning to Yugi. It was nothing new that she remembered, and she expected he would be glad to see him go, but instead, he looked worried most of all. "Yugi? What's going on?"
"Stupid Kaiba..." Yugi knew he was right. It was in his blood, pulsing and always calling out to him. It was only a matter of time, before...he broke his promise, his vow. "Maybe I'll tell you later, Tea."
"Gardener. Where did Serenity go?" Tea shook at the sound of his odious voice, but anything to get him out. "Next door." They heard the musical cling as the front door opened and shut.
&&&&&&&& Meanwhile &&&&&&&
&&&&&&&& Later &&&&&&&
"Oh, honey, guess what," Mai said as she sat down in the Wheeler kitchen, the last few rays on sunlight left touching her golden cape of hair as she sat on his lap and pushed a salty fry in his mouth in the living room of his house. "Your sister told me all about your little 'talk' you two had together, the other day. When you took her on a ride. That was so sweet! You know," she added, purring at him, " I always thought thoughtfulness was very sexy, you know."
"Oh, really?" He swallowed and looking down at her smile and "mm-hm" and returning it. "Well...you know...I'm just dat kind of guy."
"Oh, okay, that's good," she touched the side of his face, drew his chin to face her. "'Cause we're getting married see...?" Their faces met and kissed hungrily.
Or else, they would have, if it weren't for the extra pairs of eyes watching them,all the sudden. Green and navy. Not one for liking an audience, "Beat it, twips," Joey said, making a shooing motion to both. Mokuba shifted his eyes to a spot on the floor but Rebecca stared at them both all the more, the glasses twinkling on her little face. "Hey. Four-Eyes. Hard o' hearing, or what. Did--mmph!"
Mai, who had no such qualms, had covered his face with a big smacking kiss. (a/n: whoo!) "I was just wondering, if you guys would-would like to give an interview for my school's paper," asked Rebecca, as Mai slid off him with a cat-like smile and Joey exclaimed, "Mai!" "Ooh! What kinda red would you call that, Mo-mo?" she inquisted, gesturing to Joey's face.
"Maroon."
"Mm, I'd say fuchisa." Mai smiled, and said to Rebecca, "Of course we will give an interview. We have to put an announcement in the paper, anyway."
"Oh, good!" Rebecca said, whipping out a pen and notebook. "You just said, Mai, how you like him when he's supportive of others. On a scale of one to ten, how would you rate him? And why? When did you first meet? And how--" She began firing questions, some of them mundo personal.
"Jeez. What kinda paper is this for," Joey grumbled. " 'Star?' "
"I don't know," Mai said thoughtfully, eyeing him and crossing her arms. "I would like to KNOW when our anniversary is, do you remember!" Now, it was her turn to look large and looming.
"Uh." He tried to look innocent and send a scathing glare at the little pigtailed girl at the same time. "Jeez...if this is what it's like ta have children..." He groused, getting up to avoid Mai's piercing gaze. "By da way...who were you talkin' 'bout earlier dis morning!" A good offense was the best defense, was his motto. It worked, now Mai was the one looking slightly shifty.
Mokuba suddenly smiled brilliantly, as Rebecca whispered in his ear, "I don't think he knows, does he?" "Oh, Joey...I know somethin' you doon't knooowww..."
"Good fer you."
"It's about," Mokuba said playfully. "Your sister."
"Eh?"
"This'll hit you like a kick in the head." Mokuba's grin spread ear to ear. "Well, she's-----"
Just then, the front door opened with a bustle and a click, and they turned, idly, as Tea and Serenity came in, shivering. The wind was howling, but Tea called out, "Hi, guys" and all heard her. Mai, meanwhile, got up and hurried over to Serenity, who looked ill. Her back hurt, her feet felt swollen; a headache bit and gnawed. She didn't get morning sickness, but nighttime sickness. Maybe it was the pained look on her face, the anxious clutching of her stomach, but it was clear to Mai's razor-sharp gaze as it landed on her.
"Hey, there you are, I---" Suddenly Mai stopped in midstep, gaping like never before. "OH MY GOD. YOU'RE PREGNANT! THAT'S SO GREAT!" she blurted, excitedly giving the girl a big fat hug, which didn't help alievate the nausea, not one bit. Serenity's green face went straight to chalk white... She hadn't seen Mai since she'd gone to the hospital; they'd only talked on the phone; and seeing the faces of other people: Tea's eyes postively brimming with horror at her, Mai's enthralled, lit up face, Mokuba stamping his foot, disappointed, and snapping his fingers, Rebecca whipping out a notebook and quickly jotting, and...Joey's grin turning into...
"Er, maybe I should've waited to shout it...sorry!" Mai apologized; grimacing over Tea's yelling.
"My God!" Tea breathed in horror. "What do you mean, 'it's great', Mai! Pregnant at seventeen! How could you be--be so irresponsible!" She continued her tirade, even though the small auburn haired girl was trying to hide someplace. "Did you hear this? Joey? Joey, what do you think of this!"
Joey was stock still, his clothes and and skin slowly turning a pale, stone gray. The living room's light hit in just the right way to leave only a statue in its wake. He was silent, eyes pointing straight ahead, looking like he would never smile again..
"Joey...? How many fingers am I holding up?" Tea snapped her fingers crisply on his face a few times. Nothing.
"He looks like when he did when he got hit by Marik's Winged Dragon of Ra," Mokuba remarked, grinning maliciously. He was mad, at Mai, for not letting him spill the news first.
"Ooh!" Rebecca adjusted her glasses seriously, her pink sparkly pen waving at she took notes for her psychology class's project. "That's a clever one...there!"
"All right, ENOUGH!" Mai said, put out. She didn't not want to hear about Marik, and especially, his Winged Dragon of Ra. "You two, out!" She nodded at Mokuba and Rebecca, who 'awwed' and did so. None of this did made Serenity feel any better, she began to tremble with fear. His face...Serenity thought, shaking with fear. She wanted to crawl into a hole and die. Just by that look.
"What's wrong with him, Mai?" Tea had finally stopped shouting. Sort of. "Looks like he's gone into shock, or something!" She took off her coat, which she still had on and put it away in the hall closet.
"No...it's whenever he gets confused or shocked, he goes into...this daze," explained Mai. "It can go on for hours. Only one thing gets him out faster." She leaned over and kissed him softly on the lips and pushed back. At that time, he blinked once with a "Huh? What?"
"Now remember, honey," Mai whispered fiercely, her face still very close to his, "You promised your sister you'd be supportive of her. And right now, she needs you to be supportive!" With that, she backed off, and gave him a look that said she'd be very disappointed in him if he didn't, Tea pushing Serenity forward, almost with relish.
Meanwhile, Serenity whispered to Tea, pratically pleading, "I-I...don't feel well...please...I need to go lie down...!"
"You will, after your brother talks to you." . Serenity struggled mightily, trying to hide, but the brunette was stronger and she stopped abruptly when close. "There" said Tea, firmly planting her in front of him with a go ahead and let her have it, Joey sort of look.
Looking at her brother's devastated withered expression, full in the face, Serenity couldn't stand it any longer and began to ramble incoherently while sobbing. "I'm-sorry-Joey-I-didn't-mean-it-!-It-was-an-accident-I-don't-mean-to-hurt-you-like-this-I-swear-I-know-I-should've-saved-myself-for-marriage-and-not-lost--" Suddenly Tea's hand clamped over her mouth, but not her terrified, tearful expression of fear. With her holding Serenity in place, she looked like she was sacrificing a young virgin to the gods...except, that wasn't the case.
"Sis, I uh..." There, he got stuck. Like a needle on a broken record player, Mai jabbed him in the ribs with her elbow after the fiftieth "sis I uh." "Ahem. I mean. Serenity. My biological sister..." He cleared his throat, looked at her straight in the eye sternly, like a father would. "I know you didn't mean it, sis, I mean, Serenity, and I know was an accident. Accidents happen to all people. That doesn't mean you should feel guilty when you look back. You have to learn from them. And I know you have learned your lesson already, so I won't lecture you."
Mai watched from the corner. Though Joey was saying all the right things, she noticed with amusement he had a glazed look in his deep brown eyes and he wasn't blinking.
"And I did promise to support you in anythin' you did..." He faltered a bit. "An' I mean to stick by it---Serenity. I'm your brother, and you don't have to be afraid, because no matter what... I'll be here for ya. Fer real this time and I mean it."
Serenity's big brown eyes over filled with water and Tea looked disappointed. "R-really? S-so...y-you're not...mad?" she said, bursitng into a watery smile.
"Of course, not...sis." He added a painful smile. But his word was enough for her.
"Oh, thank you, big brother! You have no idea what this means to me! I'd hug you, but I...need to go throw up right now." She embraced him anyway, and then rushed from the room. They could hear her footsteps upstairs.
"I'd better go see if she needs anything..." Tea muttered in disgust, leaving with Serenity's coat in hand that had ripped off when she was pushing her. They heard her softer footsteps.
Mai exhaled loudly, feeling a stab of guilt. She was the one who'd blurted it out like that! And usually she measured what she said! Whoops. "Honey, that was so good of you to say. It meant a lot for her, a lot...I'm really proud of you. That was so sweet." She said, going around to face him.
Even in the darkness that Tea had turned off the kitchen lights, her heart went out to him. He was trying so hard to be strong. "There, there..."
"Now...I hafta...be related ta him!" He bawled.
TBC
A/n: Oh, poor guy. His sis made him cry! Some later reviews...
A/n: Next---Joe confronts Kaiba. Pole involved.Kai still doesn't know what th' heck he's talkin' 'bout. So 'magine his surprise. R&R