A/n: Well, as you can guess from the title, it's as I've promised before. To somebody. A very faithful reviewer of mine. :) I hope you all enjoy and get it. Some answerings:
forcesofthedark - that's cool! Congrats! I wish I was an aunt! That'd be coolest.
svakee2000 - oh, probably for 40 chappies. About.
Seto's Princess - It's OK...They're not my fav. pairing, but pretty cute.
ScrewedforLife - (laughs amusedly at penname) Uh, oh yeah. Seto's gonna be HAPPY, HAPPY, HAPPY!
SeRiNiTyXrYoU4eVuH - Meep. Your every wish is my every command.
Starlet36 - Thanks alot! That was such a cool compliment!
Funky Egyptian - Gee, thanks! And I love love love drama too! (hugs drama to death; Drama: X x)
Disclaimer: Don't own YGO. It's dangerous! 'Kay.
Chapter Thirty-Five: Joey's Revenge, Guilt and Leaving
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"Aw, isn't that the cutest scene," Mai said sincerely, not joking around for once. "There's nothing like watching proud new parents cuddling a new child." Her eyes narrowed, dreamy. "Makes you wonder if your parents were like this, when you were born, or if you're gonna be like this when you're a parent..."
"Yeah."
"Hm...I think my parents were...and I think that I'm gonna be like that, if...I do give birth."
"Yeah."
"There's nothing like a baby to bring a couple closer together," Mai said wisely. "...Isn't that right, Téa?"
"Yeah."
"All you've said so far is yeah." Mai pushed. "Are you all right?"
"I'm all right!" Téa looked agitated, much to Mai's great surprise.
"Ok, ok! No need to YELL!"
"Téa, it was an accident." Ishizu said, gesturing in front of her. "As you can see, Serenity is fine."
They all watched the cozy/happy-family scene for a moment. Serenity was singing softly to the baby.
"...Yeah, I guess." Téa calmed down and changed the subject briskly. "I guess Kaiba didn't wind you caring whether it was a boy, or not, eh?"she said with rather a scoff.
"Seems like it." Inside, Mai thought: Hal Le Lu Yah for that.
"Of course not," Ishizu said, her earrings clinking as she cocked her head. "I predict great things for them, that everything's going to be fine for them from now on. And wasn't I right about the gender, was I not? I predicted a boy, and it was true."
"Uh..." said Mai. She did?
"Er..." said Téa.
"Oh...right, I didn't tell you two, only Serenity. I guess she didn't tell anyone." Ishizu wandered off someplace in the hospital.
"What a strange family," Mai said, staring after. "Weird genes."
"Ishizu? She's O.K. Oh yeah, shouldn't you go and look for Joey? He should be back to normal, since the others are, right?"
"Oh yeah! And if not, I can always check in with Rebecca," Mai said dryly, with some apprehension. Together, they left their peeping spot and raced down the hallway.
They passed Rebecca, who was, strangely, being chased by receptionists. Téa knew why, but didn't say. Mai asked her if she knew where Joey was, and she said that she was just by the bathrooms. They finally found him, sure enough, just getting out of the MEN's bathroom. "Darling!" cried Mai. "That IS you, isn't it?"
" 'Course it's me. Who else?" he said, grinning and holding his arms out as she hurled herself into them.
"Yeah, it's him," Téa observed, "his fly's down." she moved away so they could have their little reunion.
"Don't mind her, dear." Mai said as Joey looked down and zipped up anyway. "She's just a little...guilty."
"What fer?"
"Who knows. She wouldn't say. But she'll get over it. She has Yugi." Mai smiled a geniune smile, "So, some Adventure you had, eh? I'm glad you're back."
"You are?"
"Yeah-" Mai decided to imitate Téa's yeahs. "You're not the same if you're not in your proper body."
"I'm glad ta be back in my own," he said honestly, "Fer a while I wasn't sure who I was. Talk about a total out-of-body experience."
"Oh, you're you, all right-" she rose in tiptoe. "Shall I remind you how lovable you are?"
"Definitely," he agreed, and bent her over backwards on his arm, like in the movies, much to her surprise. Just then, they were interrupted by Mrs. W loud voice coming towards them. From her upside-down position, Mai saw that Mrs. W look even more diapproving, if possible. "Errr..."
"You'd better go and visit your sister, Joseph, I have to go and finy my purse that SOMEBODY threw out the window!" She threw him a very dirty look and stalked away.
What a bitch, Mai thought, righting herself up again, with his help. He had forgotten she was still upside-down! "What was she talking about?"
"Ah, she's always givin' me dirty looks; no big deal. Let's go an' visit Sis."
"You should stand up to her."
"What am I supposeda do, punch her?" Joey said. "She hasn't left da hospital yet, right?"
"Yeah, Serenity's still here, I think."
"Yeah, she is!" Rebecca said from her hiding spot as Mai was still wondering why Mrs. W and Joey seemed to hate each other. "Oh, and she was talking about earlier, when I tried to punch her out. I didn't know she was your mom, sorry."
"Ah, dat's okay," Joey actually grinned. Knew there was a reason . . .
"You shouldn't grin," Mai chided. "She's your mother."
"Your mother and you don't get along."
"Yeah, well..."They arrived at the hospital room as Mai was still fumbling for an answer. Rebecca gamboled inside. I hope he doesn't pick a fight with Kaiba.
Joey indeed didn't seem scrappy for once - he actually knocked first. "Oh, big brother!" Serenity said in delight, excitement and happiness. "Come in and hold your new nephew."
"Did someone already call Momo? He should be here, too," Rebecca said, looking about as if she expected him to materialize out of thin air. Probably so.
"I did," Kaiba said sternly, "and he's is not 'Momo' please don't call him that."
"Otay," Rebecca grinned annoyingly, "Soso."
"Oh, er, I already did, Sis," Joey was saying in a hasty way that gave the humble impression that he didn't want to intrude. Mai pretended to examine some 'get-well' flower bushels and multi-colored bouquets. "Right, little guy?"
"You did?" Serenity frowned, squinting. "...When?"
"Uh..." Joey, who didn't want to tell about the 'soul switch' loooked at Mai for help.
"I'll hold him,"She declared, holding out her arms. "I've already called dibs." She gently supported the head, making sure it wasn't lower than the body. "Heeey, cute-stuff, yes! Can you say Aunty Mai?" Since he was so cute and little, she wanted to bear-hug him squealing, but restrained the urge.
"My ansty."
"Close enough, I'll let it pass."
"He called me 'uncle', sis," Joey said proudly without thinking.
"He did?" Looking amazed, Serenity took her baby back. Mai was getting a squeezing look in her eye. "He keeps calling Seto 'Yunkel' for some reason..."
"Er...yeah."
"That's because Joey-" Rebecca was cut off as Serenity looked surprised, then puzzled. She turned to Mai, who gave her a look that said she'll tell her later.
"You don't want to know," Mai said with a wink.
"And how are we today?" the doctor said as he and Mokuba went in. He was the same doctor who'd gave Serenity the 'good' news. "So, you finally believe her, eh?" he said, checking her vital stats; Everyone laughed, they could guess to what he was referring to. "Well, Ms. Wheeler...You're fit to be discharged, in a week or so."
"In a week?" she looked horrified.
"Just eating 'pickle this' and 'pickle that' wasn't enough during your pregancy," he said sternly. "You should've known better and ate a well-balanced diet. It's your own fault."
Kaiba grew angry for it sounded like he was guilting her up, but she wasn't worried about that. "Y...your wedding, Mai...Joey...I'll miss it."
"Cantcha let her go just dis once, Doc?" Joey asked. "My own Sis not at my own weddin'...it'll be awful." The doctor, however, shook his head and left.
"You're right, dear...we can't have that!" Mai exclaimed, getting to her feet, "So, we'll postpone it. Right, dear?"
"But, but..." Both siblings looked stunned. "All your planning..."
"Yeah, well, your health is more important," Mai declared. "Isn't that RIGHT, Kaiba?" She suddenly turned to him, making him jump. He'd been deep in thought.
"Er...yeah, of course," he said unsettled, feeling ruffled. She's just as dramatic and theatric as him...And I didn't think that that was POSSIBLE. "Mokuba, I thought I told you you weren't allowed to get a nose ring and a tattoo!"
"I didn't get a nose ring; I got THREE eyebrow rings!" Mokuba flipped his long black mane over his shoulder, which was silved and white streaked now. It seemed fitting with his all-black garb and boots.
Seto sighed, putting his head in his hands, needing coffee. Fatherhood is so hard...
"I think it looks COOL!" Rebecca said, looking dazzled. "Awesome."
"Really? Oh, is that HIM?" Mokuba said, looking over as a nurse came to take baby Chris to the nursery. "Wow, he looks just like Seto when he was little...maybe I'll think of him as a little bro. I've always wanted one!" He stuck out a finger, tickling. "Soon, we can get you some nice tattoos - a bow - "
"It's a boy, Moke," said Joey. "You know dat."
"So?"
"No tattoos!" Serenity said, looking alarmed. "Neit. Nein. None."
"Aw...They're not gonna be real, 'Ren-"
"No fake either!"
They're perfect for each other, everyone was thinking at Rebecca's dazzled staring.
"Okay, okay..." Mokuba pouted. "Say, big bro, didja see today's paper? It has you in it!" He threw a copy of the Daily Domino with "KaibaCorp. Stock Gone Way Down" written on it.
Time fer me ta make my exit...Joey started sneaking out the front door.
"My reputation! WHEELER!" Kaiba exploded. He pointed to the headline: "Philanderer or Father?" with a picture of him - actually, Joey - with some women around him. "What did you DO? You. Made. Me. Look. Like a Womanizer!"
"Of course not - nobody thinks you're ah, a womanizer!" Joey looked around. Mai was sticking her head in the bushels to keep from laughing, Serenity was giving the raised-eyebrow stare, Mokuba was beaming as if proud to have the best brother in the world, and Rebecca was still looking admiringly at him. "Gee...Rebecca... what doncha jest ask him out awready?" Joey went on, changing the subject.
Rebecca turned red, and Yugi poked his head through the door, asking, "Have you seen Téa?"
"She probably went home, she wasn't feeling good," Mai answered him.
"You guys, ah..." Yugi fidgeted slightly. "Be nicer to her, eh?" Without another word, he nodded thanks and went off. The door closed with a rather loud click.
"Oh! I don't know what I'm gonna do!" Rebecca cried out suddenly, moaning and making them all jump. "Yugi...he is so nice and smart and gentlemanly-like! But Momo...he so daring and STUDLY and EXCITING! They both have COOL hair, though..."
" ' Studly' and 'exciting'?" Kaiba's eyebrow twitched at such crassness; Serenity put her hand on his shoulder; Mai practically screamed with mirth into the bushels of flowers. Joey looked at her, then back and started to grin.
"Aw, don't worry, Becks," Mokuba said with a wink, "I'll go out witcha!"
"Re-really?"
"Sure!"
"Ooh, yay!" She clapped her hands together, then stopped when Kaiba stood up. The Daily Domino slid to the floor.
"But...but Mokuba..." After spending a whole day in the little brat's body, she was the last person he EVER wanted to see in his whole life.
"Oh! And, Soso, you can me c'n have lotsa fun, now, too!" Rebecca said, hugging his leg. "We can do psychoanalytic tests and ink blots and find your 'inner little boy'!" she squealed and chirped.
"No! Mokuba!" Kaiba tried to shake her off whilst reaching out. Mokuba shook his waist-length mane, flipping it over his shoulder.
"See ya la-ter, big bro!" He raced down the hall.
"Can't we TALK about this?" Kaiba raced after him, Rebecca still clinging.
"Oh, whew," Mai said, finally coming out.
"Thanks for watering my plants, Mai," Serenity said with a roll of her eyes. "Rebecca is a nice girl, isn't she?" she beamed. "I think we're gonna get along just great."
God might strike me down, but... I hope dat she drives him as crazy, Joey thought, as he drove me. He smirked. Heck, even worse dan me! Muahahaha. Erk. He hit the back of his head. Still feelin' da evil...
Meanwhile
She went down the aisles of the babies, looking at each rosy, bright-eyed face. No rosier or bright-eyed than Him, though. Cooing, cuddling, she picked the baby up. He started to cry, not recognizing his mother's scent. She gave him her finger, and his wide teal-blue eyes focused on it. A shiny object. A shiny, golden object. It slid form her finger to his own little one. His little hands, not pudgy like the other babies in the nursery, but longer and thinner. The ring fitted around his index finger. A perfect fit.
Chris's eyes got a tiny bit wider, then closed. Peacefully. The ring flashed, then disappeared into his finger. He made a little snuffling noise through his nose, like a rabbit's nose twitching. The woman set him down, gently in his crib.
Then she left. It had been a perfect fit, after all.
Meanwhile
Téa shifted around things in the hallway closet, the bow on her hair and apron bobbing as she bent. Finding what she sought for, she took them out and listened. Hearing nothing, she stuffed all of the things she had taken out in her quest for the items, back in the closet. "Oof!" she threw herself against the door to shut it.
It is risky, to pack her, but...my parents'll throw a fit! Setting out her patterned suitcases, all in a row, she examined some dresses closely. They didn't look too moth-eaten. He's so rich, he can probably afford to buy me new ones. The "he" she was talking about was Yugi. She had to pack before he got back. Pack before he gets back...pack before he gets back...
She chanted this like a mantra as she stuffed the dresses in one of the larger suitcases. They were old, but they'd have to do. She heard footsteps. Shoving everything behind a couch, flimsily, she turned and straightened.
"There you are-! What...are you doing...?" he asked, his eyes moving towards the couch. Like he already knew, she thought desperately.
"Uh...just cleaning," she said, fidgeting and looking down to avoid his gaze, "cleaning...the closets! Yeah." Yugi continued to survey her quietly. He could do it now from eye-level; he was a lot taller, still slender; lanky. She started to sweat bullets."Well...I just finished. So...I guess I'll turn in." She faked a huge yawn, throwing her arms up over her head. "Unless, are you hungry? I made some dinner. Come along." She ushered him towards the kitchen, away from the couch.
"Ok, be there in a sec." He made like he was going to the bathroom. Then when she disappeared, and not feeling an ounce of regret while doing so, he doubled back, took the hidden suitcases, half-open, and threw them outside in the bushes. But quietly, so she wouldn't hear. "What're we having...?"
TBC!
A/n: Yeah, I hope y'all got all that! If you didn't, what a bummer. Pbbt to you. I esp. liked the rebecca part. Sweet, sweet 'venge for Joey. And yes, she DOES drive him crazy w/ her psychology tests and quizzes. And Mokuba and her wind up having super genius childern, all girls. More mini-Rebeccas. Poor, poor Seto. Just a little future reference, since I'm not gonna mention any more MxR much. Anyway, they don't really really drive him nuts, like in 'torturing' way. He's used to it 'cause I made 'Ren kind of loopy, so. So, I'm not mean:P Next: Téa's like 'OMG, where'my suitcase?'; Mai fixes Joey a snack; SxS have couple of unknown eavesdroppers...the usual. Review, pweez!