Hi, I'm new to this site and this is my first fanfic. I hope you like it. If you want to flame me, then go right ahead. I don't really care! If you do like it, please review! If you don't review that's fine, I'm not going to flip out about it. Thanks!
This fic takes place after everything and it might contain some spoilers.
Disclaimer: I don't own Yu-Gi-Oh, but if I did...evil laughter
Snow slowly drizzled over the city. The sun that once happily shone light upon this dark area was covered by many clouds. The city wascolored gray and the snow made it impossible to see. One might try to risk going outside, but most people are sensible enough to stay inside. Of course the day's events are always a mystery and one will never know where they may end up by the time the day is through.
In a run down apartment of the West Side lived a woman. Her door was slightly ajar, but only because it was broken. Snow drifted into her house and landed on the old orange carpet. She looked over and tried to ignore it. Instead she focused all over her attention to the television. It was a 12" television, but it had color. It was good enough for her. The woman kept changing the channels. She was unsatisfied with the days programming. "Yes, it was their fate..." a pyshic on the tv reported. The woman almost changed the channel, but for some reason she didn't.
"Fate, what does she know about fate? What does anybody know about fate?" the woman muttered to herself. She crossed the room and stood in front of the shattered mirror on the other side. It was laying in pieces across the floor. She gazed at her reflection in one of the pieces. Her long blonde hair hung over her shoulder just like it always did. Yet, something was different about her. Maybe it was her blank expression, or the sudden paleness of her skin. According to her it was the darkness of her eyes. The happy aura that came from her eyes was gone. Now they were just violet orbs with no feeling. "Mai, you are really getting to yourself." she muttered.
Mai shut off the tv, she was sick of hearing about fate. She sighed. 'What is fate, really?' Mai thought. She looked around her apartment. It held to many bad memories. Everything held bad memories. "I have to leave." Mai said. Her decision was final, she would run away. Again. Mai pulled out a box that was under the couch. Inside were just a few things, a picture of her parents, her dueling glove, and her duel deck. She held the deck in her hands, feeling a sudden rush of anger she threw the cards across the room. Tears streamed down her face, and she picked up the cards and put them in the box. Why she kept these reminders was a mystery to her. She put the box in her box and went outside.
The snow had turned into light hail. Mai was freezing in her short black skirt, white halter top and purple vest. Her purse was black and hung from her shoulders. Mai knew she had to face the cold. The sidewalks were in need of maintenance. They were filled with cracks and they were extremely slippy. Slippy sidewalks aren't a good combination with heels. She continued walking past the run down buildings. Mai was usually concerned with ignoring the people that stared at her. Today nobody was really outside. Mai preferred it this way. She looked up, as she heard a voice. The voice was being surrounded by a large crowd. "Now this might be entertaining." Mai said aloud to absolutely nobody. She walked towards the crowd.
"Now listen, it will be fine and I will get there in time! We just have to find somebody who can fix this!" a small boy cried to the guy standing next to him. Mai wanted a closer look, but she couldn't push pass the people watching. "I don't know what you people are doing, but there is nothing to see here! I'll fix the limo myself!" a commanding voice yelled over the crowd. "Oh well..." Mai stated, she wanted to know that somebody else in the world was feeling worse than she was. As selfish as it seemed, right now Mai did not care. The crowd started dispersing. Then Mai got a quick glimpse at the two stranded males.
"Mai! It's been such a long time!" the small boy yelled excitedly. "Yeah, it sure has Mokeuba..." Mai replied, she was at a loss for words. She never wanted to see any of them again. Not after she had betrayed them. Mai promised herself that she would never hurt them like that again. "Mokeuba, what are you doing?" asked Seto. He was covered in oil, and not in a good mood. "I'm talking to Mai!" Mokeuba responded happily. Mai couldn't understand why he was happy, but he was. "I suppose that you want a ride or something..." Kaiba said unenthusiastically. "No, I am fine! I was just passing through!" Mai replied sternly, she did not want to be in that position right now. "Whatever, I don't have time to cart around Yugi's friends. You did have the right idea though, going against them. Of course when you joined up with the guy who wanted to take over my company, that was extremely stupid." Kaiba told Mai rather bluntly. She was speechless. "Well anyway, I am having another tournament, and since you aren't a pitiful duelist you are invited." Kaiba said as he handed her the invitation. She just looked at it. It read:
Due to your dueling skills, you are among the elite few invited to the new Kaiba Tournament. It will be held in Domino City on Thursday Feb. 13. It will last a few days, and more information will be given on the 13th.
"Bye Mai!" Mokeuba exclaimed. Mai waved and turned to walk away. She put the invitation in her purse. She hasn't dueled for the longest time, and a little extra money would be nice. "No." she sternly told herself. She could never go back, she could never see them again. 'He did save your life several times, the least you could do is visit him.' Mai thought. She looked up at the sky. It was still a dark gray and it was growing darker. Mai had always wanted to forget her past, a key reason why she joined Dartz. She did tell him that their paths would cross again. " I have to go now, before I change my mind!" she said aloud.
She caught a taxi and told the driver to take her to the airport. "Are you crazy, flying on a day like today?" the driver asked her. "Some might say I am, but I really don't think so!" Mai argued and that finished the conversation. The tournament was only a few days away. Mai ran inside the airport and there was only one last flight to Domino. Mai ran up the secretary. "Listen lady, I don't care what you do or how you do it, but I need to get on the plane to Domino TODAY!" Mai threatened. "Well luckily for you there is an empty space! It costs $250 and it's in middle class! A woman called today and cancelled this reservation, so you can have it." the secretary informed Mai, she was indeed afraid of Mai. "I'll take it!" Mai responded. She slapped down $250 on the table. It was all she had, after this Mai had absolutely no money left to her name. The lady handed her the ticket. Mai sat on a bench, after all the flight didn't depart for another 4 hours. She stared out of the windows and she watched the snow. "It doesn't seem so bad." Mai reassured herself. Right now she was trying to ignore the doubt and the what-ifs that flooded to her mind. Mai Valentine had no money to her name, she hadn't dueled in ages and she had absolutely nobody else in the world who cared about her. Mai concluded that she wasn't risking a thing, because they wouldn't even know she was coming. Somehow this brought comfort to her.
"What do you mean you can't come? You already cancelled your ticket? I can't go to America by myself! I'm too afraid! Mom, don't hang up..." a girl cried. She was talking on the phone. This caught Mai's attention immediately. The whole lobby was looking at her, but she was to distraught to care. The girl wheeled her suitcase over and sat on the bench behind Mai. She was sobbing into her hands. It was a pitiful sight. 'Maybe I ought to help her.' Mai pondered. She usually didn't want to get involved. She didn't want anymore friends. Of course this was a lie that Mai was unable to face. The girl did look awfully lonely. Just as Mai was about to say something, a man ran up to the girl. "Serenity! I can't believe you're here! What's wrong?" the man asked. "Oh...I'm supposed to visit Joey...and I can't go to America by myself...and my mom can't go...and...oh Duke..." Serenity explained in between sobs. "Were you going to visit Joey in the new Kaiba tournament?'' Duke asked. "Yeah." she whispered. "Well listen, so am I! I'm not going until Wednesday, so why don't you stay at my house for a little bit and then I can take you to Domino!" Duke suggested. "Oh..I don't think Joey would like that...but since I'm stranded here, I guess I have no choice." Serenity replied. Duke flashed her a big smile. Mai knew that Joey wouldn't want Serenity to stay at Dukes. 'I'm sure they all told Serenity what I did, and I can't face her again. I don't think he would even trust me with her. I guess I will let Duke take her...' Mai thought, but then she did something quite unexpected. She stood up, turned around and told Duke, "I have to agree with Serenity, Joey really wouldn't want her to stay with you. I'm going on the next flight, so I can take her!"
''Mai?" Duke asked, he was surprised that she was right there eavesdropping on them. "Yes!" she replied. Serenity smiled immediately and hugged her. Mai patted her head. "Listen Serenity, it's up to you. I know that your brother would be upset if you went with Duke." Mai said. "Yeah well, I'm sure that Joey would trust Serenity with me. After all I have no chance to turn evil and steal people's souls." Duke replied coldly, after all Mai just ruined his fun. "That may be true, but what happened happened. I've moved on!" Mai yelled. "You don't sound so convinced!" Duke yelled back. Mai stopped in her tracks. He was right, she was still afraid. Mai was afraid of herself, and she was afraid for her friends. She kept a great distance between them because she never wanted to hurt them again. Actually, it was one person in particular that she didn't want to hurt. Her eyes were brimming with tears and she suddenly became lightheaded. "I'm sorry I wasted your time..." Mai muttered. She slowly walked away, leaving a very confused Duke. Sadly Serenity was even more confused.
"What just happened?" Serenity asked. "I..um..well...I have no clue!" Duke responded. Duke ran after Mai, pushing people out of his way. "Mai wait!" he screamed. She stopped in her tracks. "Listen, Mai I'm sorry. Joey trusts his life with you and he would lose it for you and I'm sure that he would want Serenity to go with you." Duke apologized. "It's okay, really. I just...well...um never mind. I would love to take Serenity and we will see you in Domino!" Mai responded. Serenity and Mai walked toward the plane and Serenity made a mental note to ask Mai what happened. They got onto the plane and waved at Duke. Mai was ready.
Wow, that's Ch 1! Hope you liked it...(next ch. will be about Yugi and Joey most likely)