A/n: La dee dee. . . two more chapters for me! I dunno if there's a sequel yet. Maybe I'll just write an epilogue. Or both. I think I'll write other JxM fics. No more SxS. Or YxT after this. I like the pairing, but...I ought to make a C2. Once I figure it out. I'm SOO lazy. z.z Mild Duke bashing in this chapter, but it's all ok. This might be a sad chapter for all you YxT fans, but it's all part of my master plan! Congrats belatedto whoever became an aunt. Babies are soo cute! (pinches lil bro's cheek)
Lil bro: I'm 13; not a baby!
A/n: Oh, that explains the 'stache. Well, let's start the enormous chapter. Get some coffee, prop your feet cause this is really long.
Disclaimer: For the 39th time, I don't own It:D
Chapter Thirty-Nine: I Tried
"So, do you guys know where your honeymoons are? Yet?" Tristan asked much later during the wedding dinner.
"We haven't decided. Yet." Mai said smiling.
"Oh, you should go to France," Serenity said brightly from across the table. "Seto and I had just taen a trip there. It was so romantic." Kaiba grunted affirmatively.
Joey choked. "When was THIS."
Hurriedly Mai went on, "Maybe. If we do, hopefully all this craziness would die down." No one needed to ask. They knew she was talking about the body-switching fiasco a while back.
There was a thunder crack outside; everyone jumped. "Yes," Kaiba said pointedly at Ishizu, who was the only one calmly sipping her tea, "so do I."
She continued to sip, teacup to her lips so her voice came out a bit muffled. "Why are you looking at me . . . ?" she questioned, innocently.
Kaiba stared at her through narrowed eyes. She knew just as well as he that she was the one that had caused the fiasco back a while ago. She's the one who turned me into a girl and made Wheeler become me! All during my son's birth. I'll never forgive her! He pursed his mouth and merely glared. But I can't prove it in front of a jury, and besides, Serenity's right here. . . .
"There's no reason," Ishizu said shruggingly, "but I am sorry for giving the ring to Rebecca Hawkins. I never knew that that would happen."
Joey groaned a kind of Well, duh! kind of groan under his breath, and Serenity frowned in puzzlement, "What 'ring'? What are you all talking about . . . ?" and looking from face to face, which was watching Rebecca in the corner, not eating, with Mokuba. Kaiba got even more scowly just watching.
Tristan hurried to explain to her, "Well, Joey here, he got transformed into Kaiba."
"WHAT."
Kaiba, who had peeled his eyes off of Mokuba, shot him a I'm going to kill you if you tell her look. But of course he couldn't say anything without giving himself away. Tristan got the message, though. Grinning, he didn't care. "Oh yeah sure. And then. . . " he said, grinning broadly.
"Joey, is this true?" shrieked Serenity, who was taken very aback.
Joey grunted. "Worst experience of my life." He shuddered. "Anyway, Sis, about France!"
Hurriedly, Serenity said quickly, "I knew that you were a girl, Seto . . . but I never knew - I never dreaamed that Joey . . . would be you! . . . "
Mai saw Ishizu's shoulders shake as Kaiba was taken aback now. "You mean . . . you knew?"
Serenity smiled angelically. "Welll . . . Of course I did, Seto. I knew that Rebecca couldn't have been there visiting me, and upon a closer look, I was sure."
"Why? Why? Why?" he sputtered, stammering. "Why didn't you say something, before?"
"Well, I was kind of mad at you then." She batted her lashes.
Ishizu snorted and finally put down her cup. "You see, all that happens when there no communication? Here, you were worrying for nothing, Seto."
He didn't agree with her, but continued to look a bit disgruntled. Later, though, he took it out on Duke during the conga line that he was roped into by punching him in the face on the "DA!" (Apparently Duke was drunk and thought Serenity wanted him to pounce.)
"Or, you can go to New York!" Téa suggested just as brightly as Serenity had, but this time it made Yugi grip his fork a little tighter. If I have to hear about New York ONE MORE TIME . . . he thought, gritting his teeth. New York this and New York that. I hate New York! Téa continued, oblivious. "There's a lot of great places there, to visit: the Empire State Building, of course the Statue of Librerty, I saw that last year . . . "
"Hmm," Joey said, interested, but Mai was less sure. "Maybe," she said doubtfully, turning a look of suspicion at her. "Hey . . . but you're not thinking of going back, though, are you? You said that you wouldn't."
She pointed dramatically and Téa swallowed. "Well, I . . . " She glanced around, as though asking for help, then finally at Yugi, who wasn't looking at her. " . . . I changed my mind? . . . "
Gathered groans from the table. Except from Kaiba, and Yugi, . . . and Duke, who had wandered off swayingly with two girls in the corner near Mokuba and Rebecca.
"Well, I think that's selfish of you," Mai declared. Téa bristled. Everyone else exchanged uh-oh glances.
"And why is it 'selfish?' " she demanded in a whisper.
Mai continued to study her napkin folding in her fingers. "Because of him. Let's get it out in the open; we're among friends. You'll be leaving him. Is your career more important than your love life?"
Everyone stared at 'him' who she was talking about, Yugi sank so low and his face turned red. He, too, was playing with his napkin as if his life depended on it. However, Téa didn't turn to stare.
She just sat down with dignity and muttered audibily, "You should talk."
Mai, on the other hand, stood up. "What did you SAY?"
Serenity began, "You guys . . . " and Joey said, "Calm down, Mai," though his expression was somehow wooden, but there was no one to hold her back, so Téa plowed on. "You found me in New York, remember? Well, what were you DOING in there?" She pointed at Joey. Yugi looked up and sat up straighter. "Leaving your boyfriend!" she said hysterically.
Oh yeah, now this is some party, Kaiba thought sarcastically through a ringing silence. Téa got up abruptly, murmured, "I'm sorry . . . Mai . . . Joey . . . I mean, I got to go now . . . " She turned and whirled out of the room.
An even deeper silence fell. No one wanted to look at one another. It seemed like a long time ago when they were just laughing and talking together.
But unlike the others, Yugi didn't feel awkward or uncomfortable. Instead, a light had been switched on in his brain. But still, he would've gone on gawking like the others if he hadn't received a sharp poke in the ribs from Ryou.
"Go on, mate, talk to her," he whispered, breaking the tension as friendly chatter rose again.
" . . . Right . . . right," he mumbled. "Excuse me." He wiped his hands, then threw his napkin on the table and hurried off.
"You could visit Egypt," Ishizu went on.
"Or England." Ryou went on.
"I hope she's okay," Serenity said.
I don't, Kaiba thought. He liked Téa the least out of Serenity's friends. Still, maybe Motou can fix that temper.
Meanwhile
Even before he said hi, Téa knew it was him who had followed her outside the balcony. She recognized his footstep. It was light.
Saying goodbye was so hard. Harder than she had thought it would be. She had just said the one things that she hadn't wanted to, and now she was too ashamed to apologize. Maybe to Joey, but not to Mai. At least, I thought that SHE out of all people would understand why I'm doing this. But how can she, when I don't?
"Hi," Yugi said in his usual soft, apologetic voice as he joined her by the banister.
"Hi," she murmured back. "I guess I've made a big mess of things, eh?" she said in a would-be casual voice.
"No," he replied throughout her forced-sounding laughter. "Pegasus did that when he threatened us with a snake-bomb earlier."
Her laughter turned real. "Yeah, I guess that that was obvious, eh?" He grinned back.
"Yeah."
They watched the traffic down below.
"Listen," he said suddenly, "I have an idea-"
"You're not going to ask me to stay, are you, Yugi?" she said sadly.
He was taken aback.
"No," he said unconvincingly.
"Good," she said softly. Leaning down so that her elbows were on the banister, she watched as the wind went through the buildings. "New York is just like this. But I guess you must've been bored with my rants about it all the time. You must've been driven out of your mind."
The wind blew through her hair. Somehow, he didn't remember ever being bored at her rants ever or being bored in general. "No," he took in a deep breath, "it must be wonderful if you like it so much."
She smiled slowly. "It was. But it wasn't just the place. It's the things inside."
"What if you go to a dance school more . . . local?" He asked. "I mean, hypothetically," he quickly added. "What if?"
"What if?" Téa repeated with a wry smile. "You think that haven't thought of that?"
"Please? I mean - I'm not asking you to stay, just go to a school more near."
"I wish," she said wholeheartedly. "Wish I could."
He gave it one last try. "What if - I asked you to stay? Would you?"
His words chimed a knowing bell in her heart. "Yes."
He took a intake of deep breath.
"But! I already said to not ask me." She interrupted. "Sorry, I'm not trying to sound confusing. I guess things have changed between us." She smiled ruefully through her tears. "I shouldn't have left the first time." The way things were.
He swallowed.
"Don't be sad. You could come visit. Or I'll come visit. Why are you staring at the ground...? Talk to me."
"I guess whatever did happen to us meant a lot more to me than you."
"Th-that's not true."
"It is. You're trying to make me decide, put the burden on me." He went on with an odd, crooked smile. "But in the end, it all comes down to you, doesn't it?"
Again the chiming bell; he was right. But she didn't want to be the bad one.
"And your final answer is no" It was between statement and question.
"That's not fair. I've spent all four years of high school with you and as well as middle school and even earlier than that. Why can't you just enjoy the last few moments we have together?"
He finally looked at her. "Do you hear yourself? The 'last few minutes'? I love you. I don't want to be so for 'just few moments.' And no," he added when she opened her mouth, "I don't want a long-distance thing."
"We. . . could try," she said apologetically. It was what she was going to suggest. But he knew her too well, was too quick. They had known each other for a long time. It was kind of shivering to know that. "I guess... you're right - it won't work."
"Stay. . . ." He reached for her cheek with a pleading gaze.
"I... Can't..." she wavered. Despite her stubborn resolve, she felt herself lean into his hand. She was falling in love but didn't want to hurt him or be hurt at the same time but both were sure to happen. Yugi didn't know anything about the boy in New York, that she was jaded because of him. "Yugi, there's lots of things you don't know-"
"What kinds of things?"
"About New York."
"Mai already told me."
"She-she what?"
"She told me about a guy who cheated on you." He dropped his hand, "Is that why you're so keen on going and talking about it and stuff?"
"Of course not! I don't even like him a little." Anymore.
"Oh. Good." He took her hand and pulled her towards him. With a real smile this time, kissed her cheek. She started to blush, as much as when he caught the garter. As did he, laughing shyly. But it was wrong to disillusion him.
"Yugi . . . I love you, but I can't stay. I AM going." She took a deep breath. "And if you don't want to try for the long-distance thing, then this is goodbye."
He'd been so sure that he had convinced her. But he was wrong.
Later
When Téa got back to the reception room, there was a conga line and Duke, drunk, was leering at Ishizu's brother, Marik, calling him Ryou with a bad tan, who piled him like a football under his arm and promised to sober him up. "Be careful, brother," Ishizu called. "Remember what your therapist said."
He scowled. "Riiight. I wiiiill. Come on, Odion." They left.
Yugi was nowhere to be found. Téa found it a sharp stab in her heart that he was avoiding her now, or gotten mad and left, but she was determined not to let her other goodbyes to go as bad. She approached Serenity first, since she was nearby and didn't want to approach Mai yet.
She was talking to Ryou and Ishizu. "So, what are you going to do?"
"Maybe we'll stick around for a bit," Ishizu said wrapping her arm around Ryou, "unless he has an assignment, and then we'll travel." Ryou was a photographer for a famous magazine.
"Are you guys going to Egypt?" Serenity asked, eyes lighting up.
"Possibly."
Téa heard Kaiba give a very Kaiba-like snort under his breath at Ishizu's answer. He'd better not ruin my goodbye to Serenity! If he does, I'll kick him! But just then, Serenity excused herself as her name was called by a relative.
"Here, I'll take him," Ishizu said as Serenity left. "Hello!" Chris gave a happy chirp of pure recognition. "I'd like to take you to Egypt, yes I would."
"Fat chance," Kaiba said. "Now give me my son."
Ignoring him, Ishizu gave him to Ryou, who was very uncomfortable under Kaiba's piercing glare. Chris, though, was amazed by Ryou's crystal-white hair, which had gotten long again, and gave it a big fat pull. "Gyayayyayah!" he declared.
"Ow ow ow ow," Ryou said, wincing. "Here, take him." Together, the two boys attempted to free the white strands fron the sticky fat fist. (a/n: eeee! Whiteness! Sorry.)
"Oh, Téa," Ishizu said, turning, "I didn't see you there. So, you're going, are you?" she said after a piercing gaze. "We should as well."
"Oh, uh, yeah," Téa said, distracted by Ryou's yelps of pain. "See you," she said, hugging Ishizu goodbye and Ryou when he had gotten free. "You guys know where I'll be, I suppose."
"Of course," Kaiba put in snidely, "Ishizu 'knows everything.' "
"That I do," Ishizu said mildly with a wink, "just like I know you're going to have another baby in, oh, ten months from now. Unless your wife's pregnant right now. It's a girl, so it's ok."
"WHAT?"
Téa snorted in amusement. Ryou said, "She's just kidding . . . . . . . . . . I think."
"Kidding about what?" Serenity said, reaching for Chris. "Come to Mama, sweetheart!"
"Oh, nothing," said Téa, thinking about Ishizu and Ryou, such a mysterious couple. Sometimes they left and no one knew where they'd gone. "I'm just saying goodbye to everyone."
"Oh, so you didn't change your mind . . . .?" Serenity, with Chris in her arms, bent forward to give her a hug. "That's too bad. And sad. We won't be able to have our 'girl talks' anymore."
"Guess you're right," Téa said in whisper. She saw Kaiba from behind Serenity's back and frowned as Serenity continued to talk about all the things she'd miss. "I'll be watching you," she mouthed, "and if you hurt her, I'll-khkkk!" Here she drew her finger across her throat threateningly as Serenity continued to talk. Kaiba looked angry as she straightened again with a big smile.
"Isn't she nice?" Serenity said as Téa walked away. "Seems confused."
"A real angel," Kaiba said dryly. Serenity missed the sarcasm. "Come on, let's go." Together, they walked off.
Meanwhile
"I don't know. . . " Mai was saying in a thoughtful way, "all of those places sounded so good. Didn't they, dear? And there's also Paris and Milan too . . . " She trailed off. Hmmmm.
"Uh huh, hold up a sec, Mai," Joey said, spotting Yugi standing by himself outside, kicking pebbles sulkily. Apparently, he didn't leave after all. "Hey, Yuge. Did ya talk to Téa?"
Yugi looked up at him with a mix of a glumness and anger. ". . . Mm-hm."
"Ehh, didn't come off as well, did it...? She's going?"
Slowly Yugi shook his head, looking back down. Joey put a hand on his shoulder and shook him roughly. It bothered him to see his best friend so down.
"C'mon . . . Yuge . . . you hafta try again. She isn't gone yet. You have to believe in that you can. Try again to convince her."
"I tried!" Yugi was suddenly angry. Mai watched them from the corner. "But it's no good. . . . that's it. I'm going home."
"You can't." Joey persisted. "You . . . er, have to make a toast."
"I don't have to. Tristan's your best man."
"He's already done his. Come on, Yuge; you're actin' like a baby here." Joey accused.
At the very angry look in Yugi's eye, Mai said quickly, "What he means is . . . you can make a toast too."
There was a tense silence as Yugi glared at them both, first Joey and then Mai. "If Téa runs away, it'll be all your fault," he accused her, and then stalked off on the road.
"Well," Mai said, after he'd gone out of sight. "Do you . . . think we should help those two out?"
"Mmm . . . nah. I know Yuge; he'll do the right thing and convince her," Joey said with confidence. "When's her flight leave. . . ?"
"I checked her purse when we were getting ready." Mai reported. "Tonight." They both stared off at the drooping sun with equal worried expressions.
"Hey," Téa called out softly and awkwardly from behind them. "Mind giving me a minute. . . .?"
"I'll go and check on things, I need to talk with the wedding planner," Mai said, briskly walking away with her chin held high.
After she was gone, Joey said quietly, "Yuge just left. You could catch him if you really tried."
Trust him to be so ...straightfoward. Téa said, measuring her tone light, "I don't think that he wants me to. Anyway, I came to say goodbye to you. And Mai of course. You two are the last ones-"
"All right, all right. You want a hug or what? Okay."
Téa sniffed. "You'll tell him goodbye, won't you. . . ? He told me goodbye, but . . . "
Joey smiled. "Course I will," he said mostly because it was the right thing to say. He really wasn't going to do it. "And don't be sad; we'll come and visit ya. I said the same thing to my mother, but this time I'm not lyin'."
She hiccupped and laughed. "I'll bet. And you and Mai better not fight with each other. Trust me; I'll hearit all the way in New York." They way they're always at each other's throats. "Anyway, 'bye."
"Smell ya later, Gardener." He smiled and she went off to say goodbye to Mai. She didn't have to go far.
"See you later, dear," Mai said, with a perfumed hug.
"Bye. . . and sorry for, well, you know." Téa smiled at her, and left. Mai turned to Joey and smiled after she had left.
"Did you see Tristan? I heard he has to be a daddy to that nephew of his since his sister got thrown in jail."
"Yeah, I saw. Poor guy."
Mai looked off into the sunset. "I'm really going to miss them. All your friends." He made a noise of agreement as he watched her. He continued not to believe this day had finally come.
And gone. It was finally night when they were done talking Relatives came and went, saying goodbye and wishing them well. Tristan, looking harrassed, came out after the crowd departed.
"Are you going back to Tokyo?" Mai asked.
"Yeah," Tristan said heavily, " So guess this is goodbye. Have fun on your honeymoon you two," he hugged them both in a bear hug, "but not too much fun." He winked.
"Jeez, Tris, you're like Mako," Joey grumbled. "Hey. . . I remember you!"
The nephew, still fat and bald, put out his cigarette disbelievingly. "Man, I can't believe that you got such a good looking chick. A guy like you!" he scoffed.
"Now you behave!" Tristan roared, but Joey just smiled sideways.
"Neither can I."
"And keep an eye out for me, make sure he doesn't dig himself in too deep a hole he can't get out of, k?" Tristan told Mai. "Be good, you two."
She grinned back. "Certainly. We always are."
"Hey, what is THAT supposed to mean, you jerk?" Joey said instead to him. "I don't dig whatever you said!"
"Exactly what you think it means! Idiot!" As they continuing arguing, Mai saw over the tops of their heads Kaiba and Serenity come out.
"See you around . . . Idiot." Joey said, smacking Tristan on the shoulder hard with a loud SMACK.
"Right back atcha. . . . dipwad." Tristan went off, pulling Joji by the leash.
"What an, uh, very interesting way of saying goodbye you two have," Mai said dryly. She was amused. Boys.
They continued to discuss where they were going when Serenity said, "Hey, you guys. We're going too."
"Oh, good," Mai said, giving them each a big bear hug, "but before you go, we've finally decided on where we're going on for our honeymoon, Kaiba."
"Eh?" he grunted. "Oh, yeah. I'm paying for it, right. Remember that this is my wedding gift," he claimed.
Mai pushed on before Joey could retort to his brusqueness, "We've decided . . . " she paused dramatically, gripping her hands together in excitement, "we're going . . . everywhere!"
"What?"
"Well, we couldn't decided on one place, so . . . there's this round trip package-"
"-that goes all the way around the world. With stops everywhere." Joey finished her sentence. "Costs about a ten million dollars, but it's worth it." He got some satisfaction at the look on his rival's face.
"T-t-t-t-ten million?"
"Why, that's a wonderful idea!" Serenity enthused. "And Seto, you can afford it. Can't you?"
"Of course," he said, pulling himself together. "But I didn't say anything about round trip. . . . " Everyone protested. "Oh, all right, I'll make it round trip." He looked like master plans have been foiled.
"No need," Mai said sweetly. "I've already booked it. We leave tomorrow."
"Fine, fine," Kaiba said grumbling at the price. Plus, I have to pay for my own. . . . I'll get Wheeleer for this. I bet it was his idea.
Serenity and Mai hugged again. "It was great, wasn't it? The double-wedding idea, I mean."
"Certainly was. Have fun on your honeymoon, you dear. but not too much fun." Mai winked and Serenity got into the limo with the driver's help with her son.
"And now, I have some . . . wedding night business to discuss with your sister." Kaiba was saying and Joey's smile fell.
"Bye, big brother!" Serenity called between giggling, and Mai was amused.
"Be good! Tee hee!" The door slammed and pulled away.
Joey paced around like a worried father.
Well, I hope he uses something this time.
"C'mon," Mai said, as a second limo pulled up. "Our ride's here."
Later
"Where are we going now?" Joey said, still looking disgruntled.
Despite the earlier thunder, the outside was muggy with the promise of a hot summer. The limo, however, was still fresh with air conditioner. It had been her father's old chaffeur, Roy. "To the - what's the matter?"
"Nothing."
"I'm sure Serenity's going to be okay, you know."
"Sis is not the one I'm worried about," he said for once in his life.
"Then who?" she questioned.
"Well," he picked at the seats, sending the smell of fresh new leather and pine in the air. "Yuge." She sighed. "It's just that . . . well. . . he said something to me."
"I heard." She sighed again. "He was pretty nasty."
"No, not that. Before, at the school campus. He said. . . . that he didn't want me to quit school."
"Well, you shouldn't."
"But I'm gonna become a police officer. They don't need school. At lease, college, that is."
"Training."
"Well, yeah, but. . . well, I know that. Anyway, he seemed really down about us, I mean me, leaving, and well . . . "
He hesistated, not wanting to say more.
"Look . . . darling . . . " she said after a thoughtful silence, "I haven't known your friend as long as you, but I do know he's not stupid. He'll be smart enough to do the right thing. And fight for what he wants in life. After all, aren't you his role model? You're older, right?"
"Yeah, well - wait a minute, what is that supposed to mean?" He was grinning.
"That's you went after and got what you wanted, isn't that so?" she said bluntly.
"And what's that?"
"Me." she said cockily.
"Well . . . then you're right." He wondered how it was she made him feel better. "I do have you."
"And do you know. . . . how long you have me for. . . ?"
"Forever?"
"That's right."
He grinned. "So, where are we going?" he asked in a different tone than before.
"Hmmm, well, we could either go to my cottage. . . . but then we'll have to get up real early so as not to miss our honeymoon flight."
"You already booked it?" He was amazed. "I thought you just said that to get Kaiba's goat."
"Technology is fast, my dear. Or, we could go to a hotel . . . " she paused. "And get up early anyway, but not as early as . . . the other choice."
Hmmm, he gazed out the window in thought. It was a tough. On one hand, he'd rather go to her cottage than some smelly old hotel. On the other, getting up early really wasn't his thing.
"So, what'll it be?" she persisted, gazing up at him lovingly.
"The. . . cottage. I always liked it there. And it has some good memories."
"It does, doesn't it?" she said softly. "But, my parents are home. . . Mom'll be a nightmare. . . ." Her cottage was situated in front of her parents' mansion.
"Oh really? Well, I don't want to deal with them right tonight. Then the. . . other choice." He was disappointed, but they had plenty of time to be there.
"I knew you'd pick that. Roy, to the nearest five-star hotel next to the airport."
"Yes, miss. Or should I say Mrs.?" He tipped his hat. "Might I offer my congratulations?"
"You may," she said, beaming inside. She had known the old man since she was five.
"Wait . . . we're moving to your place after, right?" Joey went on. "Still, it seems kind of small. . . "
"After we have kids, we can buy a bigger place," she said smoothly. "So don't worry."
"Wow . . . kids. . . " he said dreamily. "Imagine that."
They enjoyed the rest of their ride together, and then turned into a truly riveting hotel sight. Ponds and lakes and waterfalls greeted them. He had never seen anything like it, it was like stepping into a place far, far away. A place of magical dreams.
"Two for 'Wheeler,' " Mai said expertly at the reservation desk, bellhops everywhere, taking their things for the car, valets parking expensive cars out in the driveway. She had pulled on her furs and they both made a handsome couple as they went up the elevator.
"Wait!" Joey said, in an I got an idea! sort of way.
She looked up warily in the well-lit hall, "What? What's the matter? If you forgot something, room service'll bring it up."
"No! No!" he said eagerly. "Come on. The threshold superstition, remember?"
She sighed in an oh, come on! kind of way. "We're supposed to do it where we're going to live. You know," she turned to him, "the cottage? Not a hotel."
"Then. . . . this is practice. Until the real thing, okay?"
"All right, but don't blame me if you break you leg again."
"I didn't break my leg last time."
"This is the last time until the real thiiing-!" She shrieked when he gathered her up in his arms. Bellhops in uniforms gawked at them. "This way."
"All right, all right . . . which hallway?" He said turning left then right.
"Uh. . . " She checked. "That way. I think." He turned right. "Oops, no, that way."
"That way," he murmured. "I won't let you fall."
"You'd better not throw me either."
"Then what way?"
"Then left. No, your other left."
It took them a while to find the right room. She fumbled around in her keys and it took five tries, he was quivering. "Ooh, look, honey. . . there's even a 'Do Not Disturb' sign!" she exclaimed, pointing
"How . . . . nice."
"There!"
The bellhops put their suitcases inside with smirks and Joey deposited her on the bed, nearly falling on it himself. "Heavy?" one of them said.
"Are you calling my wife fat?" Joey snarled at them. "Clear outta here!"
"Sorry, sir, no offense meant," they bowed and left the room.
"You have to be careful or they'll throw your suitcase into the pool and say it's an accident," Mai said wisely. "They did it once before."
"To you?"
"Heck, no. My friend." She wrapped her arms around his neck. "Did you hurt yourself...?"
"No. I'm okay. Just need...to catch my breath again, is all."
"Good. I'm glad you're not hurt." She winked as she gave him a kiss.
A dawdling bellhop gawked.
"WOULD YOU GET OUT?"
"No, darling, I think he wants his tip," Mai reached for her purse.
"Here's one: scram!" He threw him bodily from the room. "Owow!" Joey suddenly grabbed his back.
"See, I told you! You're hurt!"
"No. . . I'll be okay. Really."
"Really?"
"Really. I'll...just...take a long, hot shower." He limped off towards to bathrooms. "Jeez! It's like a restroom."
She sighed after he had left. His stubborn attitude and wanting to show off was so typical. She hoped that he wasn't still brooding about his friends. Oh well, I'll take his mind off things.
Getting up, she undressed and put on her sleepwear, which was really just lingerie in her case, from her suitcase. Then she dimmed the lighting, after taking a look around the place. Fakes flowers were decorated around and only one real flower, a rose, was near the bedside. The view was amazing: wrap-around windows with street lights down below and falling rain. They were very high up and it was nighttime; the pressing blackness held no moon.
Perfect.
She went back to bed as the water turned off. Drawing the covers up, she threw off the comforter and kept the satin, deep-red sheets. You never know what's going to happen with him, she thought with a smile, thinking of the day.
She suppressed it when she heard his familiar sounding footstep and pretended to be asleep; in truth, she was tired. "Mai?" The fireplace was on and all the lights were turned off.
She rolled around slowly. "Are you fine?"
"Yeah." He didn't have to pretend. "Thought you were sleeping already."
"I was. You sure took a long time." She patted the space beside her. "When you said long hot shower, you meant long hot shower."
He sat down. "Yeah." He felt nervous. "I guess I'm kind of nervous."
"Me too. So'm I." She watched him, peeking from the covers. "I'm not laughing at you by the way. I guess I'm laughing out of nervousness."
He raised his eyebrows. "You are?"
"Yes, I know, weird, isn't it. Maybe it's because you're so good-looking."
He was startled. "I am?"
"Do you think I'd marry an ugly guy?"
"I guess you have a point."
She had thrown down the sheets, and sat up. Her hands were folded over on her lap and she looked beautiful. he had to catch his breath back again. The light colored her flawless skin, making it look like she was tanned.
"I didn't get to go to the tanning salon," she explained at the brief silence, "since it was so hectic in the morning."
He looked at the single white rose on the bedtable for a while. She lay down again.
"Darling? Go on and get in. Tomorrow we have long day ahead," she said softly.
"All right." He got in the comfortable, soft bed and pulled her to him. He would've just as well looked at her all night but this was just fine too. "Mai, I do love you. So deeply."
She turned around, to face him. She saw it in his eyes, but didn't need proof. He was a sincere kind of guy. "I love you too, dear. And I'm so glad we're married."
"Me too."
"But, one thing. . . that's not so great."
"What?"
She smiled at his startledness. "Now that you're my husband, you can't be my boyfriend anymore."
He watched her for a minute, "Of course I can."
"Really?"
"Sure. I mean, we're still friends; even though I know we're married. I promised ya. I'm all of those things. It's okay; I can handle it both."
"I know you can. It's why at picked you." She nodded, knowing exactly what he meant. He was her boyfriend, friend, and husband now. Watching her own hand go up and down his tanned, trim arm, she looked back up, thinking how handsome he was. His eyes were always easily his best feature on his face, she'd always thought. They turned a warm brown, when he spoke of the things he loved, and could turn as black as onyx when he was fighting for the things he loved. She snuggled up closer, smelling his soapy scent. "It was a nice cermony, wasn't it? Now. . . time to. . . kiss goodnight." She whispered aganist his shoulder playfully in his ear.
His nervousnesswas gone. Even though he had had nothing to drink, except water, her beauty was intoxicating, enough. He cupped her face in his hands gently. Traced her awaiting lips with his thumb. A miracle.
As they began to kiss, the single white rose lay precariously on the tabletop, next to the edge. Then the head, the whole head, knocked off, landing on the smooth shined surface.
TBC
A/n: A little symbolism, there. . . but don't ask me if u don't know. :P I think of them as very R x Akane. The Macho Chick and the Cute Dumb Guy. :D XD XD XD XD
J: why you authoress!
A/n: Okay, okay, you can be the Macho Chick. XD Anyway, up next: the last chappie! (throws a parade) The finale! La la la... And I'm not going to say anymore about it! You'll have to read it, around Aug. 15th! That's before I go on vacation to Florida. Mwa hahaha so y'all be a nice audience and review:D