Guardians

Note: Sorry this one took so long, guys… I got a spell of writers block. Anyway, here it is at long last. I'll be starting school soon, so they'll probably be coming in a bit slower as time goes on, but I'll still try to update relatively often. Review for me, everyone!

Chapter Forty-Eight: Back to Domino

She was greeted by Tea, who had already packed most of her things for her.

"You didn't have to d-do that for me…"

"Oh, but you'll need to spend a few minutes with Joey, and I didn't think that Kaiba'd be very patient."

"Right."

Her hand hovered over the door, poised to knock but afraid of what would happen when she did. Finally, her knuckles rapped the surface and Joey's face appeared in the doorway.

"Karmina! Where've you been?"

"Um, Joey… I…" she stared down at the floor, trying to think of how best to put it. "When I ran off y-yesterday… I was going to find Seto."

"And ya did?"

She nodded. "I did…. And…"

"It's in da news, Karmina. I already know. Ya smooched him. In front a all dem suits and everthin'."

"Oh, Joey… I'm sorry, it's just…"

"Ya don' need ta explain, I get it. Who'm I compared ta money bags? Da girls've always liked him best."

"It isn't like that, Joey. I like you… I do… but not that way. You're really my best friend… and I know that probably isn't where you want to be, but… but I still want us to be-" He slammed the door in her face. "Friends." She finished sadly. She could still remember how sad he was over Mai, and now she was the reason for his being upset. For the first time, she really realized how different she'd become. Maybe, in just the smallest way, while her kindness softened Seto a little, his cold heart affected her as well.

She knocked on the door again, wishing that he would answer it. But of course, he refused to talk to her. With a sigh she found a phone and ordered him a pizza, telling the guy to leave it outside the door. Food always cheers him up, so maybe… I don't want him to stay angry…

She left a note where the pizza man would be leaving the pizza and then rushed off to the lobby, where a very impatient Seto Kaiba was waiting.

"Didn't the mutt take it well?"

"No, he didn't… After Mai, well, I guess I'm the second girl he's lost, long term like this… I wish there was something I could do for him…"

Kaiba thought for a second, then said "I don't know why this is so important to you, but since it's going to bother you until you fix it, I think I can help. Mai Valentine, right?"

She nodded. "He was really, really in love with her, but…"

"I don't need to hear Wheeler's life story. I'm doing this for you. Anyway, I've still go Valentine's contacts from the Kaiba Corp tournament. You could try to reach her with that information."

"Really? Oh, thank you Seto!" She threw her arms around and laughed when he stiffened. "You're so uptight," she told him with a smile.

He shrugged. "Come on, our flight leaves in an hour."

"Right." She turned to pick up her luggage, but it was already in the limo. "I don't think I'll ever get used to that," she told him with a smile.

Meanwhile, Joey was telling himself that it was okay, and that he probably shouldn't have slammed the door in her face. Then he smelled pizza and went to investigate. There was a pizza waiting for him out there, and he had a good hunch who'd ordered it.

When he picked it up, he noticed a piece of paper lying on the ground.

Dear Joey,

I really am sorry… but I can't change who I am, or the fact that Seto and I… well, we're just meant to be, I think. I can't garentee that I'm right, and I can't say we're going to be together forever, but until we find out, you'll have to either forgive me or stay mad and never talk to me again. I really hope you choose the first one. The fact of it is, well, what I said the night before… I really did mean it. And I wish that there were some way I could help you find the person that will make you as happy as being with Seto has made me. Just know this; there is someone for you, Joey. Someday, someone will realize how very special you are, and they'll never leave your side, and you theirs. Until then, I hope we can still be friends, and that no more doors have to be slammed in either of our faces.

Karmina

He grinned. She's always gotta be sentimental like that. And then he ate his pizza, all in one bite.

Karmina sighed and boarded the flight, going this time to the first class section. It was… well, classier, actually. But she noticed right away that it was empty.

"Why is-"

"I paid them for the privacy."

"But… don't you have a private jet?"

"Several, actually, but they're all back in Domino, so they'd have to come pick us up, and I'd rather not wait."

She nodded. "Okay."

They sat in an uncomfortable silence for several minutes, both of them wary from relief. Their long strung fight was finally over. Little did they know that the true fight was about to begin.

The plane landed a few hours later, and found Karmina once again asleep on someone's shoulder. This time, it was a very different someone, but who was just as pleased. He gently touched her arm to wake her up and watched her face light up with delight when she saw him.

"We're home?"

He nodded. "We're home."

She grinned broadly and followed him out to a limo that was waiting for them. Sadly, that wasn't the only thing ready for their return.

Karmina pulled the door open and jumped back in shock. A tired, disgruntled, and tattered Wingweaver was seated in the back seat.

"It certainly has taken the two of you long enough to forgive one another and overcome your differences. Blue Eyes and I were beginning to think that we were doomed."

End note: Wonder what she meant by that? Guess you'll have to wait to find out! Review for me, everyone!