Return of the Wild Gang Chapter 07, a yu-gi-oh fanfic

Return of the Wild Gang Chapter 07

Disclaimer: I don't own YGO.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"Mai," whispered Joey. He feared for her life. Then, he heard Keith cackle. He whipped his head around. I've gotta be careful! he thought. He couched down, nearly squatting in a puddle. He sank below the level of the car windows and began to creep on all-fours to wherever Keith may have been hiding.

"Ha ha ha ha ha!" he heard again. All of a sudden a shot was fired, crashing into the door handle if an SUV right above Joey's head. He ducked, soaking his shirt as he threw himself flat into the puddle.

Oh no, Keith must have a gun. thought Joey. Well, two can play at dat game! he took his gun out of his jacket pocket, and crawled around behind a beast. He thought he saw Keith's feet scurry behind a pick-up truck, so he ran over to it and climbed in. The truck had over an inch of water in it, and Joey winced when he sat in it. He hunkered down and aimed his gun. But Keith was nowhere to be seen. Lightning flashed and lit up the sky. Joey only saw Keith for an instant, but he did catch a glimpse of where he was headed to hide.

"Give it up, Dweeb! You work for us, now!" shouted Keith. He stood on top of a rack on a car and fired at Joey. This time he shot out a tire.

If Keith keeps wasting bullets I'm in da clear. But dat won't help if I can't see him long enough for me to fire at him. Luckily for Joey, Keith tripped over a fender and stumbled out into the middle of the parking lot. He hit the ground hard. "Bingo!" said Joey, triumphantly. He aimed his gun at the helpless figure, ready to pull the trigger. Then, to his surprise, Keith jolted back into action, and shot out every single one of the bright lights in the parking lot. Lighting only flashed in little bits, so Joey couldn't see. He's smarter dan I thought!

"Behind you, Dweeb!" said Keith. He pushed Joey off the truck and onto the asphalt. Joey got the wind knocked out of him, which slowed down his reflexes. Keith jumped from the truck as well, attempting to land on Joey, but instead, Joey kicked out and sent Keith flying into a van. He hit his head hard, and drooped unconscious. Joey sat him upright so that he wouldn't drown face-down in a puddle. Then, even though he could not see anything, he shouted,

"HIRUTANI! WHEREVER YOU ARE, I'LL FIND YOU, AND IF YOU HURT MAI, I'LL HURT YOU TEN TIMES MORE!" Lightning illuminated the sky once more, also revealing Hirutani's body, along with Mai's, on the rooftop.

"Don't make me push her," said Hirutani. Mai, still blindfolded, somehow sensed that something was about to happen to Joey. She elbowed Hirutani in the stomach, and ripped off her blindfold.

"Joey! Just forget about me!" she pleaded. Lightning struck a tree and severed it. It slowly began to fall. Joey barley heard its creaking before he screamed.

"Dyaaa!" he threw himself under the falling target on the ground, wrapped his arms around Bandit Keith, and dragged him out of the way. The tree smashed through the wooden fence and flattened a car, but Joey had managed to save a life. Then, he looked up at the rooftop of the store, and saw something horrific. Hirutani raised a metal bar over his head, striking a pose that Joey witnessed in another brilliant flash, and brought the bar down…hard…right on Mai's head.

"Ugh!" was all Joey heard before the darkness fell upon the wet parking lot.

"NO!" screamed Joey. Joey ran towards the store, dashed around to the back and found a fire escape and climbed it. Hirutani bailed and jumped into a car, jump-started it and drove off. When Joey reached the first turn of the fire escape's stairs, he slipped and banged his shin into one of the sharp, metal steps. He cringed in pain, clutched at his leg and rolled up his pant-leg to inspect the damage, though it was hard to tell in the rain. He staggered up, leg still stinging with pain, and made it to the top of the Jewel. Lightning flashed, showing him where Mai was. She was lying unconscious in a puddle of water…face down.

"Oh no…" he whispered. "No…no Mai, no!" he ran over to her, falling to his knees, and turned her over so that her face was out of the water. She's not breathing. he thought. "I take the time to save Bandit Keith's life and end up letting the one person who I love more than anything in da whole world drown!" he shouted. "Mai…no!" Even though he was soaked with rain, he could feel tears sliding down his cheeks. If only I could give her mouth-to-mouth…but I missed da class! he thought, hating himself for ever skipping school. "Oh Mai, I'm sorry…" he sobbed. "I'm sorry I got you into dis mess, I'm sorry I ever asked you to be my wife…I know I don't deserve you. I'm just…so pathetic!" he cried. Then, placing a light kiss on her lips, he whispered "I love you."

While he cried, holding his love, the rain began to let up. The sky stopped pouring on him, and he felt someone stroking his cheek. He opened his eyes slowly, to see Mai, her eyes open and a smile on her beautiful face.

"M…Mai?"

"Stop your crying already," she said weakly. "you look like a big baby." The clouds opened up and beams of sunlight fell on her face, warming her cold, wet body.

"I thought you were dead," he whispered. She wiped his tears. Joey lifted her up into his arms and carried her down the fire escape.

"Oh no! My ring!" cried Mai. "That cheat! Keith stole it!"

"No problem, Mai," said Joey. He walked over to the unconscious Bandit Keith, felt around in his vest pocket and found the ring. "Ta-da!" Mai smiled. Joey set her down on her own two feet, took her hand, and slid the ring back on her finger. Just then, the wind picked up and Mai shivered. Joey hugged her. "I got ya," he coaxed. She rested her head on his chest and sighed. "Uh Mai?" he asked.

Mai looked up. "Hmm?"

"Let's get out of dis parking lot!" he said. Mai nodded. The couple walked back to Tristan's house and picked up Joey's suitcase. Then, they went to Mai's apartment, Mai told Joey he could move in, but she still expected him to provide. After they took SEPARATE showers, Mai found Joey curled up on her couch, sleeping soundly. Then her phone rang.

"Hello?" it was Tea.

"Mai, Yugi's been in the hospital for a week and now he's finally being released," she said.

"That's great! Joey is staying with me by the way. He's here, sleeping on the couch," said Mai.

"Ha ha! Awesome. Well, we're all meeting at Yugi's house later today around 5, sort-of a 'getting-out-of-the-hospital' party. Can you come?" asked Tea.

"Sure, Hon'."

"Yay! Well, see you then!"

"Bye," Mai hung up the phone, and Joey stirred.

"Uhghh…who was dat, Mai?"

"Tea. Yugi's out of the hospital and we're all going to his house later," said Mai. Joey's face lit up.

"He's OK?" Mai nodded. She walked over to Joey and sat on his lap (he had one now that he'd sat up).

"I hope you come clean about shooting him," Mai said sternly. Joey nodded.

"Mai, I promise you, I will never, ever pick up a gun again. And that is a marital vow." he took the gun out of his pocket and opened a window. "This is for us," he said. He dropped the gun and watched it fall into a dumpster in the alley.

Later that day, Joey and Mai met everyone at Yugi's house. Mai had decided to wear something a little more respectful than one of her crop-tops and a mini-skirt, so she war some black flood-pants and a lilac tank-top. Joey wore his school uniform pants and his white T-shirt.

Yugi was overjoyed to see Joey. He ran up to him and hugged his friend. "Joey, I'm so glad you're here!" he cried.

"Me too," said Joey. He kneeled down to reach eye-level with Yugi. "And, uh…" he whispered. "I'm really sorry I shot you."

"It's alright," said Yugi. "you only did it by accident…and you were trying to protect me. Besides, I got stitches, check it out--"

"Whoa! OK! No one needs to see that, Yugi!" said Solomon, immediately pulling Yugi's shirt back down.

"Joey, hey!" called Tristan. He and Tea were sitting on Yugi's couch together. Joey and Mai strolled over to chat.

'Joey seems to be doing much better,' said Yami. Yugi nodded.

During the whole party, Joey and Mai were never a foot apart (except when one of them and to use the bathroom). They were inseparable. Everyone at the party, including Tristan, gave them their blessing.

"Mai, I think we really are ready for dis," said Joey. Mai only responded with a kiss. The couple and their friends spent the rest of the night talking, snacking, and even planning the wedding together. Tea and Mai went around the hall corner to talk about girl-stuff, like how Serenity would be Mai's Maid of Honor. Mai thought that was a fine idea, and later found out that Tea didn't want to do it because she honestly felt that there was a sisterly bond between Mai and Serenity. And now they really would be sisters-in-law.

"And no showing your scar at the wedding!" said Tristan to Yugi, who had just gotten a lot of attention from the guys. "I don't want anyone being grossed out!"

"You just worry about being the best 'best man' you can be, and I'LL worry about bearing those rings!" said Yugi, playfully punching Tristan.

"Oh, you little-- you're dead!" shouted Tristan. He rose up off the couch, flipping Yugi off of his lap.

"Ow! My stomach!" screamed Yugi, drawing attention from his mother and grandpa, who rushed over.

"Oops…sorry Yugi," said Tristan, helping him up. He thought he heard Yugi mutter a curse under his breath, but he had a good reason to.

"That's OK…" grunted Yugi. The friends and family laughed and laughed.

Meanwhile, Hirutani had skipped town, and was on his cell phone with one of his flunkies. "Hey, so did they take him out?"

"No," said the man on the other end.

"Dang it!" snapped Hirutani. "Whatever. When the time is right…we'll get him. For good."

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------