Return of the Wild Gang Chapter 12

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Disclaimer: I don't own YGO.

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"Hir…Hirutani, I, I can't believe it's you," said Joey.

"Yeah, I've been livin' out on the streets, since my house is kind-of a crime scene," he said.

"Oy, tell me about it!" groaned Joey. He and Hirutani laughed a bit.

"So Joey," said Hirutani. The two were taking a little walk. "what have you been up to?"

"Well, thanks to you and that stolen diamond ring I got sent to jail and my girlfriend dumped me! So thanks a lot,

'Buddy!'" snapped the blonde.

She's…single? "So if you're mad at me why aren't we going at it?" asked Hirutani. Joey shrugged.

"What's there left to fight for? Besides," Joey looked down. "you're kind-of the only friend I've got right now."

How's that for pathetic?

"So what are you planning to do now?"

"I think I'm gonna scrounge up some dough, hop on a train and go stay with- I mean, start a new life," said Joey.

"You oughtta just get a job and come live with me," suggested Hirutani.

"Oh, you mean out on the streets since your house is a crime scene? No thanks!" snapped Joey again. "I doubt you could make anything worse in my life but I still don't want to take that chance!"

"Fine." Actually, once he leaves I'll have a clear field, thought Hirutani.

"Listen Man, I gotta apply for a job in da morning so why don't you take off? I'm'na just crash out here in da park." said Joey.

"Whatever," said Hirutani, bitterly. And he walked off. Joey stretched out on the same park bench he'd been sleeping on when Hirutani had woken him up before, and started snoring.

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"Joey, I told you I don't want to see you- oh," said Mai. Hirutani was at the door.

"Hey," he said seductively.

"You're that jerk-off who kidnapped me!" Mai exclaimed, ready to slam the door.

"I know. But I only did it 'cause I've got a thing for ya," he said. Mai was absolutely disgusted.

"I will call the cops if you don't get off my property!" threatened Mai.

"Nah, you wouldn't do that," said Hirutani, moving in.

"What do you mean? Are you calling my bluff?" asked Mai, now hiding behind her ajar apartment door.

"I think you called it for me," he whispered. He slipped in and was now inside her very apartment, and to top it all

off he had her backed against a wall.

"That…makes…no…sense!" she moved her head from side to side, out of range of his mouth. But she

failed…Hirutani kissed her.

Mai mustered up all her strength and shoved Hirutani off of her. He tripped backwards and fell onto her couch. Mai wiped her mouth with her wrist and grabbed the cordless phone.

"Hey! You're not calling anybody, you skank!" he bolted back up from the couch. Mai smartly locked herself in the bathroom and dialed 911.

"There's a maniac in at my house and he just harassed me!" Mai informed the person on the other end of the phone. Hirutani punched his fist at the wooden door.

"Come outta there!" he demanded. Finally, his massive hand punched a hole clear through the door. Mai panicked as she watched it grope and claw around, trying to find the doorknob lock. "Got it!" said Hirutani triumphantly. He'd just turned the lock. "You'd better be makin' yourself look foxy, 'cause-- AAAAGH!" he screamed. Mai had crushed his middle and index fingers with the brick from inside the toilet tank.

"The police are coming, you pervert! So either you get out of here or stay and let yourself get caught. Either way I

win!" said Mai. She had unlocked her bathroom window and was trying to climb out of it. Hirutani was kneeling outside the bathroom door, cringing in pain over his crushed fingers, which bought Mai some time. In her haste she seemed to have forgotten that her apartment was on the second floor, so when she was halfway through the window she looked down and got scared.

Pretty soon Hirutani could hear the cops banging on the door. "This is the police! Open this door or we'll break it down!" Mai screamed, hoping that the cops would hear that she was in danger and would bust into the apartment, in time to catch Hirutani, but since half of her body was on the outside of the building, her face was outside the building as well so her scream was not heard.

"Shut up, Wench!" roared Hirutani. He kicked open the bathroom door and ran in. Seeing Mai's rear-end and legs still dangling from the window, he pushed her all the way through, then followed her out by breaking the rest of the glass in the window. Mai screamed as she somersaulted in mid-air, all the way into a dumpster. Luckily for her, a trash bag broke her fall. She struggled out as quickly as she could, hurt and traumatized. Hirutani plummeted soon after she'd gotten out of the way. Shaking with fear and not even noticing a scrape on her left leg, Mai limped down the alley. Hirutani caught up with her, but suffered a foot in the crotch because of it. That gave Mai a head-start and she ran as fast as she could.

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Meanwhile, Joey was having no luck getting a job because everyone knew he'd been involved in criminal acts. Fed up and angry, Joey decided to sneak onto of the next bullet train and ride his troubles off with a peaceful ride.

His suitcase was still with him and it seemed to feel lighter. His muscles were building up since he'd been carrying it around for days. First, he decided to say goodbye to his friends. But not in person. Yugi's house was the closest on the way to the station so he left a letter for him.

Later that day, Yugi came home from hanging out with Tea and Tristan when he found the letter. "Huh, what's this?" he asked.

"It's from Joey!" said Yami. Yugi quickly unfolded the piece of paper and read the note inside.

Dear Yugi,

As you know, I've screwed everything up for everyone and I'm sorry. I'm leaving town forever. I'll miss you and everyone. If you get the chance, please tell Mai I love her. Have a good life, Bro.

Goodbye, Joey

"Joey's leaving!" cried Yugi. "Grandpa! Joey ran away!" Solomon called Tea and Tristan. When they heard the news they rushed to the game shop just as anxious and devastated as Yugi was.

"This is terrible," squeaked Tea.

"Gee, you think?" said Tristan, bitterly. "Mr. Mutou, what should we do?"

"Let him go."

"Huh?" everyone turned to see Yami; he'd taken over Yugi's body and was now being the voice of reason.

"Joey is searching for answers. We must trust him to make the right choice and come back." Tea nodded.

"You're right Yugi," said Solomon, scratching his head. Just then, Mai burst in the door.

"Yugi! You guys-- I--" she couldn't finish her sentence. She fainted.

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Joey had found a half-filled storage car, and while the people loading it weren't looking he let himself in and made himself comfy behind a pile of boxes.

"TRAIN WILL DEPART IN 15 MINUTES!" said an announcer.

It's still not too late. You can still go back and make things right.

No way. I can never show my face there again. I have to make a fresh start.

But wasn't proposing to Mai in the first place going to be your fresh start?

What are you, my conscience? Oh…wait…yeah, you are. But since I screwed that up I'm trying again.

But won't you miss your friends? Won't they miss you?

We'll all get over it. I thought Mai's and my love would last forever and it didn't even last a year.

Speak for yourself. You still love her, don't you?

Sure I do. But she doesn't love me. She found out that ring was stolen and now she won't marry me.

She never actually said that.

So? She pretty much meant it.

How do you know?

"10 MINUTES TO DEPARTURE!" said the announcer.

This is your chance. Go and make things right.

No. I'm leaving Domino forever. But now I know where I'm going. I'll be fine and now that I'm not with them my

friends will be fine too.

Joey stopped debating with himself and relaxed in the car. Pretty soon, some crew members slammed the door shut and Joey felt the gentle rock of the train. It was soothing and soon it lulled him to sleep.

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"Mai! It's us! Wake up!" said Tristan.

"Unghh…" moaned Mai. Everyone around her was a blur.

"Easy does it, now," said Solomon, giving her a glass of water. Tea gently eased her up.

"What happened to you?" asked Yami. "You showed up at the door all of a sudden and then you fainted!"

"That guy…Hirutani," said Mai. "he came after me. He came over to my house and…he tried to…he almost…"

"That sleazy…" Tristan's fists began to shake with rage.

"Oh, Mai…are you okay?" Tea asked. Mai nodded and wiped away a tear. "He didn't actually…"

"No. I locked myself in the bathroom."

"Thank goodness," sighed Solomon.

"I just can't believe that Joey would associate with a guy like him!" said Mai. "Show's how much he cares for me,"

she muttered to herself.

"Joey loves you," said Yami. Everyone looked up. "He left me this note: it says "if you get the chance tell Mai I love her""

"Give me that!" Mai snatched the letter from Yami. "He ran away?" Everyone nodded.

"No…" whispered Mai.

"Mai?" asked Yami.

"I never meant to drive him away! I was just mad at him!"

"It's okay…he'll come back. Don't worry," said Tristan. Mai shook her head.

"I didn't make it clear to him that I still love him," said Mai. "I implied that I didn't want to marry him, and then ran out."

"Where could he be going?" asked Tea. No one knew.

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Joey did however. The next morning the train pulled into the station. Joey decided to get off and try to blend in with the rest of the passengers, but it backfired. They had to check ticket stubs.

"Excuse me Sir, ticket stub, please?" asked one of the stewards. (A/N: Is that how you spell it?)

"Oh, of course, it's right…HERE!" (A/N: Simpsons reference.)

"OOF!" the man clutched his gut and fell over.

"Sorry, but I'm in a hurry!" said Joey. He pushed his way through the crowd and finally got onto a normal street on

which he could walk until he reached his destination. It was merely a house, but he knew who lived there. He took a

deep breath and knocked on the door. A middle-aged woman with short, curly, brown hair answered.

"May I help you-? Joseph!" she gasped.

"Hey Ma," he answered with a smile.

"Oh, my little high school graduate!" said his mom, embracing him. "What brings you all the way out here on such

short notice?" Joey didn't want to tell his mother how much trouble he'd gotten into. He was going to stall but she invited him in. "Oh, excuse me, Son. Come in, I'll take your bag…" Joey didn't want to place such a burden on his mother, even if it was just a suitcase.

"Dat's alright Ma, I got it," he said. He brought the suitcase into the house and set it down in a corner.

"Your sister is running an errand for me. She'll be back soon. And she'll be so thrilled to see you," said his mom.

Joey smiled.

"Well, to answer your question…I just had to get out of the city for a while. I told my friends not to worry, and hopped a train right over. Uh…I hope it's not too much trouble…"

"Joseph, you're my son. You're welcome here any time you wish." Joey sighed.

"Thank you." Just then, Serenity came in. She was wearing pale-blue jeans, a light-yellow sweater and her pink vest over it, carrying a grocery bag.

"Ugh! You'd think a decent bag-boy would put the paper inside plastic like I asked him to, but no! I have to do

everything my…BROTHER!" she screamed when she saw Joey.

"'ey Serenity," said Joey.

"How are you? What are you doing here?"

"I'm fine. As for what I'm doing here, I just wanted to see you guys. Plus I was getting' sick of Domino."

"What about your…our friends?" she asked.

"They'll be fine. I'll miss 'em but…"

"What about Mai?" asked Serenity softly.

"Um. Same as everyone else. She's a friend, but I'll miss her." Serenity glanced at their mother and then back at Joey.

"Say, you've never been all the way out here, have you?" she asked. "Come on, I'll show you my school, all the cool places to hang out…" she grabbed her brother and pulled him out the door. They walked down the street for a block before either of them said anything else.

"Why do I get da feeling dat dis is about more dan showin' me around town?" he asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Maybe because these are the suburbs and there's nothing to do and even less to see?" suggested Serenity. "Anyway, I know that you'd never leave your friends, let alone Mai. What's going on? Why did you really come all the way out here?" Joey looked around at the scenery. Serenity was right…parked cars and ugly houses. Yep, these were the suburbs alright. (A/N: I don't know if Japanese suburbs are anywhere as hideous as the ones we've got here in America, but oh well.)

"Well, I was planning on telling you earlier, but I wasn't sure how mom would react," he began.

"Uh-huh. Oh no…I'm not going to be an aunt, am I!" she panicked.

"What? No! That's disgusting! I'd never do something like that!" said Joey, shaking his head to get rid of the mental image.

"Good!" sighed Serenity.

"But…we would have a new addition to the family," he said. "I asked Mai to marry me." the red-head gasped.

"You did? I'm going to have a sister-in-law!" she squealed.

"Well, see, I needed an engagement ring right? So I went to work for dis gang. They'd stolen a ring and traded it to

me for some smuggled drugs…course I didn't know it was stolen at da time…so anyway, Mai accepted and we became engaged," Serenity nodded. "But soon I started getting into more trouble. I accidentally shot Yugi." A gasp from Serenity this time. "I got sent to jail and now Mai doesn't want to get married at all."

"Oh, Joey."

"She found out the ring was stolen and totally dumped me. I came here…because I have nowhere else to go."

"She dumped you? You mean she called off the engagement and won't go out with you?" asked Serenity.

"Well, not exactly," said Joey. "she didn't actually say that she didn't want to marry me…all she did was yell at me

and then she stormed off."

"So you never spoke to her after that?" she asked. Joey shook his head. "Then how do you know what she really meant! She could have been upset but that doesn't automatically mean she dumped you!"

"Really?"

"Really. I know Mai, too, Joey. This is going to sound really weird coming from me but, she loves you."

"Yeah right."

"Joey, she does! It's written all over here face. Think about it; she could have any man she wanted, including that movie star, what was his name…Jean Claude somebody? …but she chose you! You're the only one she shares that special bond with. Joey, you and Mai are…soul mates."

"You really think so?"

"I know so, Joey. So go back home," said Serenity. "Go back home and let her know how you feel. Tell her you're sorry and I guarantee she'll forgive you."

"I don't know if I can face anyone back home, Sis," said Joey. He fidgeted on the sidewalk curb- where he and his sister had been sitting and talking.

"I'll go with you, Joey!" said Serenity, full of hope and spirit. "We'll both go to Domino, and confront everyone!"

"You'd do dat for me?" asked Joey.

"Joey, we're family. We're always there for each other. And since Mai is going to be part of our family too, I have to do my part by standing by you and her!"

"So…you'll go back to Domino with me…just to save my relationship?"

"Mm-hmm!" nodded Serenity.

"Thanks, Sis."

"No problem, Big Bro!"

That night Joey did his laundry and had dinner with Serenity and their mom. He broke the news at the table. "Mom," he began. "I have an announcement; tomorrow…Serenity and I are going back into town…and we're going to rekindle my relationship with Mai. And someday…when we're ready…we're gonna get married."

"Oh my goodness," said their mother. "My little boy, all grown up and getting married." Joey blushed.

"Isn't that great, Mom? I'm going to have a sister-in-law!"

"Yes, but Joseph, you're only seventeen. You're far too young to get married."

"But I told you, I'm not getting married now," said Joey. "We're gonna wait 'til we're ready. Right now all we have to do is get back together." Serenity nodded.

"Alright," said their mom. "Good luck."

The next morning Serenity and Joey got on the train and went to Domino. Joey's heart was pounding. But no one was prepared for what happened when they arrived. The Wheelers went to Yugi's house, only to find out that the game shop was closed under private circumstances. Joey knew that meant they were worried about him. He rang the doorbell and Solomon answered.

"Joey!" he cried. "Joey, you're back!" he hugged him and called Yugi and the gang.

"Joey!" they all yelled. Soon they were in a group hug.

"Oh, hi Serenity," said Tea. Serenity just waved.

"I'm so glad you're back! We were so worried about you!" said Yugi, tears running down his face.

"Aw, sorry Man," said Joey. "I ran away thinking I could start over. But Serenity told me dat if I love Mai…and I totally do…I can't just run away from my problems. And I sure as heck can't abandon da woman I love. Speaking of which, do you guys know where she is?"

"Um," said Tristan. "While I was walking her home last night…Hirutani drove up, dragged her into his car and drove off."

"What?"

"She told us he already harassed her once. And with none of us there to stop him…I don't know if she'll be able to

defend herself." said Tristan. "I didn't know what to do! I tried to call the police but…I didn't have the license plate number and I have no idea where he's going…"

"If dat pig tinks he can run off wit da woman I love, he doesn't know jack-diddly-squat about Joey Wheeler!"

"Oh no…poor Mai!" said Serenity. Tea put a hand on her shoulder.

"Be strong, Serenity," she whispered. "Don't ever let the thought of fighting a man scare you."

"You mean…"

"Tea, Tristan, Yugi, Serenity…we're gonna save Mai!" said Joey.

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