YUGIOH
Falling From Grace
Chapter 16.
The bell rang, and all the kids poured from their classes. Yugi looked worried, wondering where Joey was.
Tristan smiled, saying, "Don't worry about it. You know Joey, always skipping classes."
Tea was there too, but didn't look very happy. She was still angry on Joey's lack of resistance, and that Kaiba wasn't miserable. She was especially angry at the last comment Kaiba made to her, that she wasn't being a friend.
'How dare he accused 'me' of not being a friend. I am so a friend! I'll be with them tonight, he'll see!' She thought....not caring over the fact he probably wouldn't be there to notice, anyway.
As they headed out of class, Joey rushed over to them from out of nowhere, saying in a hurry, "Hey guys, how ya doing? We going to your place, Yugi? Let's get out of here!"
They all looked at Joey strangely, who practically ducked between them....as if trying to protect himself from something. Looking at what was making Joey so fearful, their eyesight followed where Joey was looking, to find Kaiba standing not too far off. His arms were crossed, and he didn't look happy. But he didn't approach them, either.
"Uh....okay, let's go." Yugi said, looking at Kaiba strangely, who continued to give them death glares.
After they left, Yugi asked, "Joey....what was that all about? What did you say to Kaiba, this time?"
"Uh....nothing. Tea, can I talk to you for a minute?" Joey asked, suddenly dragging Tea aside to speak to her in private.
"You didn't tell them anything, did ya?" Joey asked.
"No, Joey. But....why weren't you fighting back?" Tea asked, not looking happy about it.
"I....it just....he took me off guard, okay? It's not like this is something he does every day, you know. I....I....I dunno how to react to it." Joey said, looking very confused and embarrassed.
"Why don't you try telling him 'no'? Maybe he'd get the hint. Joey, if you don't say something, he's going to keep coming at you. Do you want that?" Tea asked.
"Well, I did tell him....sorta...." Joey answered, awkwardly.
"Sorta?" Tea asked, disbelieving.
"Well, he wanted me to come over, and I....kinda ran to you guys, instead. I think he got the message....right?" Joey asked.
"That's why he was so angry with you, when we left?" Tea asked. She groaned, "Joey, Kaiba is not going to let up until you 'tell' him you're not interested. Right now, you're putting out some real confusing messages to everyone around you. And until you tell him no, you're basically leading him on. That's only going to make him angrier, when you eventually reject him. Joey, do you want Kaiba to get that pissed off? You know how he can get." Tea said.
"Yeah, I'll....I'll just tell him to go away." Joey said, not sounding very convincing.
Tea shook her head, ready to head back to the others. But Joey grabbed her arm quickly, and begged, "Please don't tell the others....please??"
"I wont, Joey. I'll leave that up to you. But they're going to start to wonder, too....especially if they end up catching you two, the way I did." Tea said.
Joey nodded, saying, "It wont happen, again. Kaiba just took me off guard. Next time, I'll just tell him I aint that kind a guy....cuz I aint."
Tea smiled at that. 'Good....the jerk will finally get what's coming to him.' "Well, come on....let's join the others. They're going to start to wonder."
They headed back to the other two, as both Yugi and Tristan looked at Joey with concern. "Is everything okay?" Tristan asked.
"Hey, fine." Joey smiled, and continued to walk. The others kept up, but Yugi and Tristan now looked over at Tea, waiting for her to explain.
"Relax, guys....it's nothing." Tea smiled. "Joey's fine. He just had a personal question about his sister, that's all."
"Really??" Tristan suddenly blurted, becoming ten times more interested. "What is it about??"
"Will you stay out of my sista's business, all ready!" Joey snapped, grabbing Tristan by the collar.
"If this has anything to do with her wanting to date anyone, then it IS my business!" Tristan snapped back.
Yugi smiled and shook his head, as they once again began to fight over Serenity. But in the back of his mind, he was still wondering why Joey seemed so scared to be around Kaiba. It wasn't normal for Joey to show fear around him....those two fight all the time.
As they continued to walk down the street, a limo pulled over to the side. Kaiba narrow his eyes watching them....watching Joey. 'This isn't over by a long shot.' He thought, all ready making plans on his next move.
x-x-x-x-x-x-x
It was nighttime at the game shop. Yugi, Tristan, Joey, and Tea were all there, having fun, going through some more cards Mr. Motou got in.
"Wow, I can't believe someone just gave all these up!" Yugi said, looking through some loose cards.
Joey grinned ear to ear, scrounging through them. "Hey, no sweat. More fer us! Next tournament, I'll be number 1!"
"Well, I guess it's better to be number 1 than number 2." Tristan said, elbowing Joey and thinking he was being so cleaver with his toilet humor.
"Oh, dude....that's just gross!" Joey snapped, as Tristan laughed.
"Oh, look! It's a Magician of Faith!" Tea beamed, ignoring the guys. "I love this card...."
"Yeah, it's kinda like you, Tea." Yugi smiled at her.
She looked over at him with delightful surprise. "You think so?"
"Of course." Yugi smiled at her. "You're always here for us, and giving us faith and strength in our friendship."
Tea smiled back, pushing all those guilty thoughts behind her. It was all over now, and she could just forget the past, forget what Kaiba said to her, and forget about all the shady things she did with Marik. Everything was normal again, and she could move on like nothing terrible ever happened.
"Hey look, Tea....remember this card?" Yugi asked, handing a card to her from the pile.
Tea took the card and looked at it, as that terrible sinking feeling came back to her.
"It's Saggi the Dark Clown." Yugi said, happily.
That instant, Tea felt like the entire world was vanishing around her, and the darkness of the card was swallowing her whole. She tried to cry out for help, but couldn't find her voice.
Snapping out of it, Tea found herself engulfed in darkness all around her, now....even the floor. No one was left....she was all alone in the dark. "W-where am I?"
"You are in my realm, pretty one...." A soft alluring voice said to her.
Tea turned quickly in the direction of the voice. Of all things, it was Saggi the Dark Clown standing there. "My lovely little flower....it is time you paid your dues."
Next week: Uh-oh....Tea faces Saggi! What's the evil clown have in store for her? And what's going on in the real world? Action and suspense begin to pick up in the next exciting chapter!
