Welcome back! Now for my favorite part: Responding to reviews!

Seething-Z: Yes, earlier I did an RP on Gaia Online with a similar plot. In fact, I was using that RP to get ideas for a story. Thus, this fic was born! Although I included some minor details not mentioned in the RP. Either way, enjoy:Huggles:

Now where was I? Oh yes.

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--Yugi to Yami --

Yami to Yugi+

The following week, the change in Joey was plain for his little sister Serenity to see. His room was looking less and less like a pigsty with each passing day. And was he actually using the shower? Serenity had long forgotten the last time he took to cleaning anything. Curious, she approached his room and knocked on the door.

"Umm, big brother? What are you doing in there?"

Joey laughed, turning off the roaring hairdryer as his sister spoke.

"What's it look like I'm doing? Hang on a sec, I'll be right out."

Serenity nodded to herself, looking back to the door before leaning against the wall. For the first time in months Joey was actually making it to school on time. But every time she commented on it, he didn't seem to come up with a reason.

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Before long, school had started. Yugi and Tea couldn't help but stare as Joey walked into class mere moments before the bell.

"Hi Joey!" Tea chirped, "Something come up?"

"Eh, you know how it is." Joey shrugged, "Tatiana's been helpin' with my homework some, so I found a little more time for other things. She just transferred here, so take it easy on the…you know…" He gestured toward the Millennium Puzzle.

"Sure Joey." Yugi nodded.

"Thanks Yuge. I don't want her thinkin' I'm a magic-obsessed weirdo." Joey sighed in relief.

"OK hush you two," Tea told them, "The teacher's coming."

All three promptly turned away and straightened up as Mr. Takahashi (1) entered through the door and assumed his place at his desk.

"Attention class." Mr. Takahashi exclaimed happily, "We have ourselves a new student transferring all the way from Tokyo. Please give a warm welcome to Miss Tatiana Kyle."

Tatiana walked casually to her desk and sat down, oddly enough, next to Joey. She promptly opened her notebook and began to draw something.

"Now how did it go again?" She asked herself as she drew.

Yugi craned forward to take a good look at the drawing: a five-pointed star with a waxing crescent moon in the center. (2) He felt more than heard Yami shudder at the symbol.

That symbol! I have a bad feeling about this girl, Yugi.+

-- Take it easy Yami. Besides, we promised not to make Joey look weird. --

All right. But if anything goes wrong, I'm coming out, OK+

-- Deal. --

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School got off relatively normal, but Yami refused to let his guard down. So when Joey and Tatiana were off on their first official date at the new steakhouse (3) he and Yugi agreed to go there as well, at a separate table to keep from spoiling Joey's date.

From his table he could just barely overhear what they were saying.

"This place is incredible! Thanks for the invite Joey." Tatiana told him, after taking a sip from her iced tea.

"What can I say?" Joey laughed, "The new girl gets all the perks around here."

Tatiana laughed, then paused and stood up.

"I'm going over to the salad bar, see what they have there. You want me to bring you any-?"

Before she could finish, someone crashed into her, causing him to drop his plate on the floor.

"Ouch." Tatiana groaned, backing away. "Sorry about that."

The man –who, as luck would have it, was Seto Kaiba himself— scoffed and glared at Joey.

"Just great. One mutt wasn't enough of a nuisance for me, so you had to go get another one?"

Joey growled and stood up, glaring back at Kaiba.

"Leave her alone, rich boy! It was an accident!"

Kaiba didn't even flinch, shoving Joey back into his seat.

"Bad mutt! Sit. Stay."

A few giggles were heard in the crowd as this happened. Tatiana, on the other hand, could only stand back and watch, jerking her head away as the last punch hit.

Kaiba was hurtled back a few inches, barely standing his ground as a now-furious Joey stood up. Fire was in his eyes as he approached Kaiba.

"Don't…ever…call me that again!"

Yet, in some inhuman manner, Kaiba was nowhere near terrified of the fuming Joey standing before him. He simply straightened up and turned away.

"See you later, mutt."

At that point Joey was so ticked-off at Kaiba that he wanted nothing more than to rip the guy to shreds, which he would have if it weren't for Tatiana clutching his arm.

"Not now Joey. He's not worth it."

As Joey finally calmed down, he eyed Tatiana.

"Thanks. Sorry this date turned out the way it did."

"Don't worry about it," Tatiana smiled, then looked toward Kaiba, "It wasn't your fault, really."

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"Later, Joey."

Tatiana waved him good-bye, then entered her house and closed the door behind her. After being greeted by the little white furball that was her puppy, Luna, she entered the living room and began to wipe some dirt off her dress.

"Hey Tatiana." Interrupted an unknown voice, "Sorry about your date."

Tatiana froze, looking to the couch and the black-haired girl sitting there.

"Who are you?"

Kim emerged from the shadows, a hand on her hip.

"Relax. You'll get used to it."

Tatiana casually brushed some stray hair aside.

"Oh, it's you again. That was a close one."

"Yep." Kim motioned to the other girl, "You're familiar with my subordinate Julie, right?"

"To be honest Kim," Tatiana winced, "we just met."

"Oh well. Julie, Tatiana. Tatiana, Julie. There." Kim laughed, "But enough about that. Julie here was at a nearby table during your little 'accident.' Now, as a kindred spirit, I feel it's only fair that I explain how you can get even."

"Get even?" Tatiana's eyes widened in shock, but then narrowed, "Come to think of it, Kaiba was a real jerk back there."

"Exactly," Kim smirked, "which is why Julie and I decided it's time we all taught him a lesson. Meet us tomorrow at midnight, and I'll tell you all about it."

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A reference to Kazuki Takahashi, Yu-Gi-Oh's creator.

I made this symbol up myself. It's kind of a good luck charm, but you'll find out more about it later.

See Chapter One.