A/n: It's an effort (wince) to get that cute lil baby out of Ren so she won't be all bleah! at the wedding. But SO much has to happen ! Eep! Here where the humor kicks in. As a humor-rific author, I'm so excited! XD Yiiiiii! XP
Oh yeah, I use the dub names 'cause I revel in it. Duh. Except for "Ryou" It just so cuter than "bakura"! Anyway, Yami Bakura is gone to rest in heaven, like the Pharoah, or in hell...But I think heaven 'cause that way he can be w/Yami 4ever! In DisneyLand, you'll recall. I can just see Y.B sayin' "Curse you Pharoah!" down Splash Mountian, and the reply: "Curse you MORE TombRobber!" all the way down the Tower of terror. LOLOLOLOLOL.
FYI; I finally learned how to put accent thingys! Finally Tèa doesn't sound like a drink!
Disclaiming Time: I don't own, or use this fanfiction for money. I wish tho, that'd be cool. #.#
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Chapter Twenty Eight: Tensions in the Air
"Big Br-o! C'mon, get u-p! You've been locked in your room for six days no-w." Mokuba pushed his blue-black hair out of the way and pulled on his big brother's bedsheets. "Don't cha think that's enough time to sulk for!"
"Mmph. Go away, Mokuba," came the answer just as Ishizu's voice chimed in with the two siblings.
"I agree, Seto . . . you should get some fresh air before you wither away."
Kaiba quickly poked his head up through the tangled mess of green bed covers and mint-green sheets with money signs print on all over them. His rude greeting was no less than expected of him between the two: "Ishizu! Mokuba! I thought I told you not to let her in-!"
"That was last week," chirped Mokuba, "Besides, she came in by herself." He rocked back and forth on his toes, beaming; Ishizu asked for he had been feeling well. "Yeah, except sometimes I get a craving for Egyptian food once in awhile."
Ishizu peered at him closely, then nodded, and then finally turned to his brother. "Nice PJ's." She waved her arm once and he was dressed. "There; that'll do."
"H-how did you-?" I thought I told her not to do anymore magic on me! Witch!
"I didn't see any 'hocus pocus' going on,did you?" she said, grinning at his obession of snubbing magic. "Why, you must be going simply mad. Now, let's go. Outside. Time to see Mr. Sun and Birds and Society."
Leave me alone. Ignoring her and his little brother, he flopped back down over his bed again.
Ishizu and Mobuka exchanged Looks. Time to call out the big guns. "Serenity's in labor!" she called.
It worked.
Meanwhile, Joey and Yugi were meeting the sun and birds outside Domino University, having just cleared a whole group of the most grueling morning they'd ever had. The pretty campus was always well-kept, and well swept free of trash among rolling green lawns. "Geez, Yuge. I dun think I passed that last one." He stopped. "Mebbe the university is not fer me. I neva was good at school."
"Oh, you can't drop out, Joey!" Yugi said, suddenly desperately. He was stunned by the wide violet eyes. "You have to finish and get a degree!"
"Jeez, calm down, Yuge! What's so important fer more ta get a degree for?" Anyway, I'll be much too preoccupied with married life to go to school anyway, so . . .
Yugi watched his old lifetime friend scuff his toe on the ground, looking much discouraged. "Well . . . I mean . . . " he sighed. "I've always wanted us to go to college together, you know, and graduate together. You know, living in the same dormitory, sharing what we did that day . . . "
"We already do do that, Yuge."
"I know, I know, but . . . . if you leave, it won't be the same without you. I mean, to graduate." Ah, why did I say that? He probably feels guilty now!
But Joey smiled. "Aw, that's nice, Yuge. And I wanted to do what you said too, but . . . no longer. I'm gonna be marrying soon. I ain't gonna be living in the dorm in campus much longer." He opened the said dorm. " Hey, maybe you can come live with us!" he joked.
"Really?" Yugi brightened, after just being sad a few seconds ago.
"I was jokin.'" Jeez. Can't he take a joke?
". . . Oh." An awkward silence. "Look, forget about what I said, Joey. Okay? Just forget about it." He walked away.
Hm, wonder what's bitin' him all da sudden? I thought he was getting better.Still, he admitted, putting his things away and slamming back into his car, it will be sad to say goodbye. I do feel guilty fer not spendin' time with him much; I've been so busy...
Ah well. He'll get over it with Tèa by 'is side! Joey decided to put it in the back of his mind, and whistled as he went through his front door of the Wheeler's house. "I'm home!" he called as he grabbed his coat from the coatstand next to the door, and put it on instead of taking it off. I have to go, anyway. "Hey, what're you two nimrods doin' here?"
"Oh hello to you too," Duke said, bounding up excitedly. "Hey, listen, man. Me and Tristan-" Tristan cleared his throat loudly- "Oh fine, just me have been 'dicussing' all about your upcoming bachelor party." Wuss.
Joey shot a look at Tristan for clues, "What d'ya mean, bachelor party?"
"What, you don't want one?" Duke said in surprise, sure he was joking, "Tough! We're throwing you one anyway!" He's going to be with the same old ball-and-chain!
"Don't look at me," Tristan said, not taking any responsibility.
"I told ya, I don't want one! I definitely don't need it." Joey threw the jacket he just put on back down on the sofa.
"Why not?" Duke said silkily, "It'll be good practice..." Tristan's fake-cough sounded like a laugh. "You're turning into a beet, Joey my man . . .beetred . . . "
"Ah, shaddup." Joey looked around. "Where's sis?"
"In the bedroom," Tristan said promptly.
"Tèa left you two clowns alone wit 'er?"
"She said that she needed to run to the store," Tristan shrugged, "But if you ask me, dude, she needed to go out and get some fresh air. Tèa practically hightailed it outta here!"
"Why?" Joey said automatically, as a high pitched ringing noise met his ears. "What the-?"
"That's the bell Tèa gave Serenity to ring if she needs a cup of green tea," Tristan explained while grabbing a struggling Duke with a headlock, "No; it's my turn, man! You did it the last time!"
"Uh-" said Joey watching them struggle. My friends get weirda and weirda, I swear. "Maybe I'd betta go." These two clowns'll give sis a scare!; I bet she doesn't know Tèa ain't here. He made for the direction of the stairs towards Serenity's bedroom. The incessant ringing noise kept on, then stopped.
"Joey? Is that you?" Serenity's voice asked. "Where's Tèa?"
"She went out. It's just me and the guys here."
"Oh . . . never mind, then. I'm sure," she said just as he was about to ask You sure, sis?
"Anyway, I got stuff to do," Joey said to the other very-disappointed looking friends. "See ya."
"Hey, wait a minute. Your bachelor party?"
"I told ya, Duke, I don't want one-"
"No, now listen. Name one good reason why not. Just give me one good reason." Tristan stared amusedly at the two. Usually, he would've told Duke to take a hike, but this was interesting to see Joey squirm and admit he just would be uncomfortable and not have a good time. "And I don't mean because your wifey won't let you-"
"An' what's dat supposeda mean?"
"Nothing," Tristan said as Duke interrupted, "Because she's turning you into a girl, that's why! That's why you're hair looks like a girl's. I bet she made you grow out your hair like that."
But no: "Fine, I tell ya why," Joey said, glaring at Duke smirking, "I would like to have one but Mai'll drive me crazy with questions about it aftawards. She gets horribly jealous, and then never admits to being jealous in da first place-"
"Okay, okay," Duke said, breaking off the tirade by waving his bangled wrists. "Sheesh. I said, one good reason. Just trying to help you out, man." Joey grunted, disagreeing, but left anyway. Duke sat down, rubbing his hands fiendishly and grinned widely.
"You're gonna do it anyway," Tristan stated, sahking his head at the evilness.
"'Course. And don't look at me like that; I've already talked to Mai about it, and she says it's okay, as long as it's one girl, and it's someone she knows."
"Uh oh. What that little feeble brain thinking of a scheme this time?"
"Tèa." Tristan choked.
Meanwhile
Joey saw Tèa as he was passing by the shops near Downtown Domino, she had a parcel full of medicine items; she had a cold. "Hey, Joey. Off to see Mai?" He nodded, seeing that Yugi, who was right next to her, was avoiding his gaze. "Hey, who's that?" she pointed.
There was the unmistakable noise of Kaiba: "You lied; Serenity's NOT in labor!"
"Bonkers," Joey said, not in the mood to get angry right now. "Barking mad. See ya two." He went in the opposite direction again.
"Hey, isn't that Ishizu?" Tèa whispered softly to Yugi after Joey left. "Wonder what's going on?"
"Think we should say hi? To Ishizu?"
"No, no, she told me that she was going to talk some sense into him, at least try," Tèa readjusted the shoulder strap of her purse. "It's weird though . . . " And that Joey actually showed some restraint! He must be growing.
"All right, but here; I'll go and get the medicine ready . . . you go and get some bed rest . . . "
"No, no, the medicine is for me. You just get to the shop; I'll be there in a while," she smiled as he nodded and left with a wave.
Tèa watched amusedly as a pack of reporters, from the local tabloid The Daily Domino, attracted by Kaiba's yell, started to chase them down the street towards the museum, waving cameras and microphones dangling from their wires. Well, I hope Ishizu does do it, she thought, walking away strollishly. I'll ask her about it later, how it went.
"Quickly. In here," Ishizu said as the flock of reporters went by in the window. Hyenas, he thought, panting because he hadn't gotten much exercise lately. Vultures. What gives them the right to chase me? "Now. You must admit, that did get you out of bed," she said, having the nerve to smile, referring to her "white lie."
Kaiba shot her a scating glare and made for the double doors. "Thanks to you, a whole bunch of newspapers heard me say that. Now, they'll be even worse rumors flying around!" He took the handle and grunted; it was because he was weak he could barely get them open.
"You could at least listen. I did save you from the reporters."
"Go and brew some voodoo spell. I'm outta here."
Ishizu didn't even bat an eye. She was too used to his rudeness for too long. "Too late," she quipped, than clasped her hands in front of her white dress together. "Serenity came to my house a few days ago," she said quietly. "She told me everything."
He stopped bitterly. "And what did you do? Fill her head up with nonsense, I suppose," he said coolly as her. "And don't you already 'know' everything? Why bother conversing, then?"
The barb didn't hit. "Anyway . . . ," Ishizu said, sidestepping, "You were much too harsh on her. It was wrong of you not to be supportive. But, luckily she is of the forgiving sort." A laser-like glare. "And we are 'bothering' to converse so to get through your thick skull." Okay, maybe it did sting a little.
"I don't care if she is 'forgiving,'" he siad scathingly, making sure the door was closed and no one was nearby. Except for a museum visitor and her little boy, the place was empty. "Just because I didn't dance around. I told her how I felt about having kids yet."
Ishizu nodded, as she had with Serenity; letting him talk.
"Months . . . ages ago." I feel like an old man.
"You're not an old man," Ishizu answered. "But that's the point," she sharply sighed, knowing he wasn't going to like what she had to say next. Oh, well, when does or did he ever? " 'Months.' 'Ages.' It doesn't matter-"
"It does matter!" She flinched as his rage built up. "My life is ruined. And all thanks to her."
"Seto . . . " Ishizu said after a pause, "I am your friend. And I may having been fibbing earlier, but I wasn't lying. Serenity is going to give birth soon. And do you want to greet your child with hate and resentment? Whatever your arguements, she is still the mother of your baby."
He watched as the visitor let her son go and walk into a glass display case; he started bawling and Kaiba felt like doing the same.
"If you don't listen to me, you will regret it," Ishuzi said lightly, even though she knew the matter was deeply serious, more serious than he could ever imagine.
"Are you threatening me?" he said threateningly.
"No. It is a thing called 'karma'."
"Which is a bunch of baloney."
"There a lot of truth in that 'baloney.'" Cautiously, she stepped so they were facing each other. "So what do you say? After all she's sacrificed for you, all she's asking for is for you to be understanding."
She had sacrificed a lot. He stared down for a moment, ". . . Fine. What should I do?"
Ishizu beamed suddenly in a way that sent tremors of fear, "I thought you'd never ask! Now, you need to show that you have accepted the truth. Let's go buy something for your new son!"
Ugh, shopping? Brr . . . a son! Brr.
Meanwhile
"I hope you're gonna clean that up before she gets home," was all Duke said when Tristan sprayed his soda all over the foyer's wooden floor. "It'll so ruin my mood."
"Tèa? Tèa? You know she's never going to do it," Tristan said, scrubbing away. "Not unless she was drunk, or something . . . " Duke smiled. "Uh oh. You're not serious."
"Guys! I'm home, you can go away now!" Tèa called from the kitchen. Poor 'Ren. She must be starving and eating her pillow cover. Tèa put away her medicine for later, and grabbed a package of the finest pickle-flavored potato chips.
"Say, Tèa? Could you c'mere a minute? Before we leave," Duke said.
I can't watch, Tristan thought. He knew Tèa wasn't stupid enough to get herself drunk, especially by a nutcase like Duke, why doesn't he just get one of his fangirls to do it? Tristan watched as Tèa appeared, looking already highly suspicious.
"What?" she said, eyeing them both and back again.
"You must be thirsty; have some green tea."
"It's SO not going to work," Tristan said under his breath as Tèa sniffed suspiciously at the cup. "Give it up already, you loco!"
"Go and do something Dudley Do-Right with your straight-arrow pals," Duke hissed. Tristan shot Duke an evil eye, then left, shrugging.
"What was that all about," Tèa said, a strange humming in her ears. She was already sick because Mai had made her run around in the snow that night, and plus Serenity's sick because she caught my cold and everytimes she sneezes, the baby pops out . . . a little further . . . "I swear, she's gonna burst, she's so big," she slurred.
"Mm-hm . . . " Mwa hah hah . . .
"You'd better go check, maybe she's already giving birth!" Tèa giggled, "Why ish the room spinning?"
"Must be an earthquake, m'dear."
"More like a loop de loop. You know, from the shirkissh? I need to lay down." Without warning, dizzy from her cold, Tèa flopped down. She giggled again. "Where's Sshrenity? I have to check . . . "
"First, let me ask: we're throwing a party for Joey. And you're going to jump out of the cake!" Man, is she sooo drunk.
"Cake? Me? Tee-hee . . . that's silly!" She swung out at him, he ducked to avoid it.
"It's true . . . we have to get ready first . . . and the party is gonna be soon." he bent to pick her up.
"Get off me! Don't touch me!" Tèa said, suddenly sounding sober again. He thought fast. But then she said, "I have to get my costume on first . . . "
Maybe it was the word "costume" that affected him pretty strongly or maybe it was the way she was clinging on to him, for support; she did look very vulnerable, not with her usual guard up. And the quiet! "Boy, are you pretty when you're not flapping your jaws all the time."
"I am? Wooooooooooooooow. . . ." Now her voice was heavy and slurred. "And you're-Duke!" she shrieked. "What. Are. You. Doing!" Rolling away furiously didn't work, she was still pretty much under.
"You're telling me!. Yech. You kiss like a wet sponge."
"WHAT- Erf. Geroff me." She pushed at him, just in the nick of time, as a spiky outline on the front door appeared holding a bouquet. At first, Yugi thought Duke was forcing her to do something she didn't want to do - rage built up inside. But then he saw her equally startled expression, from the floor, and Tèa's lipstick on the both of them. He bolted. "Oh, sheez. Now look what you did, you oaf! Yugi! Yugi!" she called, staggering to her feet, simultaneously smoothing her wrinkled dress. I can't believe he saw that. How humilating! What he must think! She finally caught up with him.
To her disbelief, he was smiling. "Oh, hi. Sorry for bursting in on your boyfriend like that!"
He is angry. She could hear it in his voice, the way it didn't match the hearty smile in his face. "Yugi . . . I uh . . . it's not what you think. Achoo!"
She sneezed hard, grabbing a handkerchief from her purse. "He's not your boyfriend?"
"Ugh, no. Gross."
"Then why were you -?" It had to be the worst moment of his life. "I mean, uh . . . never mind. It's none of my business!"
"Get back here! Yugi!" Tea sighed raggedly, rolling her eyes. "Look, I need to know what you're feeling- I can't read your mind anymore!" They were shouting angrily at each other when Duke showed up, huffing and puffing.
"Look, man, I didn't know that you liked her! If so, I would've never asked her to strip for Joey's birthday. I mean, whatever." He sneezed, having apparently caught her cold.
"Strip? Me? For that!" Tea said, outraged. She looked like she would like to strangle him, and she wasn't the only one. "Are you totally insane!"
Yugi stared daggers at Duke. Tèa sniffed and wiped her nose, feeling like she might pass out. I would give anything for a bed right now . . .
"You can hit me if you want," Duke was saying, pointing to his chin. Yeah right, Tea thought.
To her surprise, Yugi cocked his fist and let 'er swing...
Meanwhile
"Are you DONE yet?" Joey said, crossing his arms and scowling at his reflection. In another mirror in her bedroom, Mai was primping up with a can of spray and a hairbrush. "I dunno why you haveta get all gussied up if we're going to da spa, anyway." I c'n just imagine what the guys would say if they knew that I was going there . . . they'd laugh till they choke!
"Just go and wait outside for just a few minutes," Mai did not ignore his grumpiness. "I'll be ready, in a sec. . . "
He ignored her suggestion and instead stared at all of the different colored bottles and array of brushes. "Why d'ya have to wear so much stuff?" he said, picking up a metal slim eyelash curler and staring at it suspiciously like it might bite. "This looks like it might beused for torture."
"If you don't put it down, it will be. Why so grouchy? Here, this might cheer you up." She handed him a photo, and smoothed down the front of her black blouse.
"What is it?" A bunch of girls, all blonde and violet-eyed, stared back at him, wearing private boarding school uniforms. " . . . "
"Me and my cousins when we were in grade school. Mya sent it today. She's the one on the left. Guess which one's me," she beamed.
"Uh." He held it up to the light to see better. "This one . . . ?"
"Right! You're pretty good; most people can barely tell us apart."
"Yeah well. . . . shows how much I know you," he said, sweating.
She grinned, knowingly. "That's Missy and Mya, and that's Roxanne." She shrugged, taking the picture back. "Some say she's the black sheep."
"Huh." For some reason, he was drawn to her.
"But I'm the black sheep," she said micheviously, winking. "So, what's wrong. You don't want to go to the spa today?"
"Yeah . . . " He fidgeted with the eyelash curler; it was still stuck. "Listen, d'you think I'm a bad friend? 'Cause the other guys . . . . and Yugi . . ."
"Of course not, why? What did he say?"
"I dunno. It just sounded like he was down in the dumps."
"Oh. Well, that's expected."
"It is?"
"Well, think about it. Tèa's going to be leaving soon? Right after our wedding?" Mai shook her head. "Poor unarticulate thing; he can't say how he feels."
"Well . . . I guess so."
"Anyway, speaking of which, don't forget: the rehearsal's today. You. Didn't. Forget?"
"Um, um, of course not. I just didn't remember. But I do now!" She was throwing him Looks.
"Good. My cousins'll be there, and I've told them all about you!" She was suddenly happy. "Ugh, my mother's going too . . . "
"Dat's not cool." They both remember how Mrs. V, Mai's mother, had sneered when they announced their engagement. "Don't tell me she's gonna go to da wedding too!"
Mai rolled her eyes. "As if. But, me and her are sort of alike. Cunning, you know . . . "
"I hope not." Brr. A mother in law . . . brr.
"What about your mother? Is she coming too?" she inquired.
"I hope not." He shuddered. "Hey, maybe we oughta invite dem both and let them meet, and they'll bicker all throughout the wedding!" We oughta to have a blast, then! (sarcastically thought)
She gave him a Look that said "I don't think SO!" "I do wish Daddy would come, he'd like that, but Mother would never allow it . . . " She looked sad. "For the rehearsal or the real wedding..."
"Ya mean he's not gonna walk ya down the aisle? Or give you away? He seemed nice . . . "
"Yeah, but like I said, she won't allow it."
Joey made a mental note to talk with the old guy later. I hope his hearing aid is on, when I do! He vaguely recalled trying to ask his daughter's hand in marriage ("What? You want a CARRIAGE?").
"Daddy used to spoil me mercilessly," Mai said, waxing nostalgic. To make up for not being there. "I was his 'princess.'"
"Princess, eh?" He smiled and stuffed his hands in his pockets, having finally rid off the curler. I'll make him come and surprise her! It'll be a good wedding present to my new wife. "I think that fits. You do act like a princess sometimes."
"Yeah? Well, you'd better treat me like me one," she poked him lightly in the chest, "forever. And I mean forever!"
"No, I won't. Nah you're not my princess," he said to the surprised look in her expression, "you're my queen."
"Ah," she said in a realizing sort of way, as he ran his fingers through her hair, "very good answer," she said coyly.
"So, you'll promote me to king?"
"Right after we're married. Right now . . . you're my knight in shining armor." she said smilingly, giving him one was her best kisses ever.
Meanwhile
"Please, Grandpa." Rebecca Hawkins was imploring while she walked down the road. "I want to help."
Arthut Hawkins looked disapprovingly at his only grandchild. Since her own parents had died, he had been afraid she'd fall into the "wrong crowd" since she was a teenager now, but she had excelled at DCU, Domino City University; he decided she deserved a break and some fun. "Okay, I will do it . . . but just this time, okay?" he said, dressed in a police uniform.
"Really? Reaaallly, Grandpa?" Rebecca hugged him excitedly. "Ooh, this will be so cool! Now, I need someone- someone like . . . hey, who's that?"
Both stared interestedly at the scene, it was Tèa - Rebecca's eyes narrowed - with Duke and Yugi, and Yugi had just thrown a square punch.
Duke was so surprised when Yugi punched him, he almost didn't feel it. "?" Then the pain registered. "Ow!" He grabbed his face.
"Ow!" Yugi grabbed his own hand. Never having thrown a punch before, he had twisted his wrist. I can't believe I did that . . . now I know why Joey likes it.
"Yugi! Duke!" Tea exclaimed, aghast and white-faced, when Rebecca and Arthur came running up.
"Mr. Motou!" Arthur said disparingly. "I fear your grandfather is rolling in his grave right now!"
"Let me guess: the two boys fighting over you? My, Tèa aren't you popular?" Rebecca jeered.
"Oh, shut up, Rebecca," Tea went over to check on Yugi's hand. It was red and bleeding, cut open on the first and second knuckle. "What were you thinking? You're hurt!" she exclaimed at him.
"I didn't think he was really going to do it," Duke was saying to Rebecca and Arthur. He was all right.
"Ooh, yay! You're okay!" The little girl cheered. "Perfect! You can help me! Come on!" and before he could say anything, she dragged him out of the scene.
"So fickle, so young, eh?" Arthur said over his shoulder as he went over to do the thing Rebecca had said.
When they were alone, Tea said, "Yugi y'know how insane Duke is! He could've gotten angry and knocked you out!" Seeing she was only making him feel worse, she added, "Not that he didn't deserve it . . . "
He sighed. "That was a lucky punch. But very good, eh?" They laughed, then she swayed a little. "Are you all right? What's wrong?"
"I'm just still a little dizzy . . . "
"Here, I'll carry you back to the Wheeler's; I think D-Duke's not there." Well, he told me to punch him! I hope I didn't knock any teeth out. I think I broke my wrist, though . . .
He helped her all the way to the Wheeler's, where he got her settled in Joey's old bedroom. "And what was that about a party?" she murmured sleepily, covers up to her chin.
"Uh . . . " Best she doesn't know. "I dunno. You know Duke, always the party guy." He laughed, a fake laugh.
"Don't." She covered his hand with hers.
"Don't . . . what?"
"Make jokes. Pretend." She yawned sleepily and closed her eyes on the pillow. "It doesn't fool anyone but you."
"Tèa, I'm sorry I got so jealous. It was because I'm in love with you." She went still, sleeping.into a deep sleep and he watched her, noticing how still pretty she was even with sweaty sticky hair stuck all over her forehead. Brushing it away very carefully, he even more carefully pecked her cheek, and turned out the lights and left.
"Anyone in the mood for a pineapple with cheese with anchovies and pickle topping?" Serenity's voice came in from the other side of the wall, ringing her bell.
"Pizza?" Yugi said, glad that she hadn't come in and woke Tèa. Or seen anything.
"Or . . . that," she said, shrugging.
TBC
A/n: Hope you enjoyed. Review! Oh yeah, Next: Ishizu's little 'karma' spell goes into effect... if ya know what I mean...which you don't, right? Well, you'll find out! Boo ha! R and R.