Disclaimer: All Yu-Gi-Oh! characters and references belong to their respective owners. The song Invisible belongs to Clay Aiken and the company that recorded it and was used in this story with the best of intentions. Story elements © Hideki LaShae. No money was gained in the writing of this story.

WARNING: This story contains sensitive cultural practices and references that might offend some readers. The views and opinions of the cultures which condone these practices are not shared by this author, but they are included in this story for awareness purposes only.

Time to Duel, Mariko!

By

Hideki LaShae

Chapter Fourteen

If I Was Invisible

What are you doing tonight?
I wish I could be a fly on your wall…

Joey walks down the hall with Serenity, and they step into the room where Mai still sleeps.

"She looks so peaceful," says Serenity sitting down in the chair by the bed.

Joey kneels in the floor by the bed and gently brushes a strand of Mai's blonde hair away from her eyes. His hand softly caresses her cheek before he pulls it away. "I wonder what kind of torture she's going through in the Shadow Realm…"

"I hope it's not too painful for her," says Serenity.

"Me too…" Joey stares at Mai, completely unable to tear his eyes from her beautiful face now that she has no chance of catching his amorous gaze.

"You like her, don't you, Joey?" asks Serenity.

"Yeah… I do. She's my friend, Serenity," says Joey still keeping his eyes on Mai's face.

"I don't mean like that," says Serenity.

Joey turns towards Serenity and leans his back against Mai's bed. He looks at his little sister. "What do you mean?"

"You like her! You've got a crush on her!" exclaims Serenity smiling.

"No, I don't!" exclaims Joey as a pink tinge creeps to his cheeks.

"There's no use denying it, Joey!" exclaims Serenity, "I'm your little sister! I know when you like someone! I think it's great that you like Mai! She is rather sweet, at least she was to me!"

Joey smiles. "Thanks, Serenity!"

"I'm going to go check on Téa and Marie," says Serenity standing, "Then I'll come back to sit with Mai. You should head to your room soon to get some sleep."

"Sure thing, sis," says Joey as his smile widens.

Serenity walks to the door. She stops and turns to Joey. "You be sure to tell her. She might still be able to hear you!"

Joey blushes as Serenity leaves the room. He stands and scoots the chair closer to Mai's bed before he sits down in it and takes Mai's hand gently. "I'm trying to bring you back, Mai, from… from wherever it is that you are. I'm so sorry that I couldn't prevent this from happening to you. I wanted to, but that Marik creep! I couldn't fight off his shadow powers. I'm so sorry."

I called out your name
You don't hear a sound…

"I'm sorry, Mai!" Tears fall from Joey's eyes and land on the sheets beside Mai.

For several minutes, Joey cries beside Mai. He cries because he was unable to protect her. He cries because somewhere she's in pain. He cries because he can't rescue her from that pain. He cries because he never told her how much she means to him. He cries simply because that is all he can do at the moment.

Mai doesn't move except for the slight rising and falling of her chest as she breathes, but Joey longs for her touch. He wishes that she would reach up and gently brush away his tears. Then he would force a smile as a new wave of tears falls from his eyes. Then, a kiss… so gentle and sweet as to leave Mai begging for more.

Joey wipes his tears on the short sleeve of his shirt, and he takes a long deep breath. "Mai… I really like you… like a friend, and yet as so much more. I want you to come back! Please!"

Tristan and Duke step into the room.

"Hey, Joey! I thought we'd find you in here," says Tristan, "Where's Serenity?"

"She went to check on Marie," says Joey wiping his eyes again quickly.

"Joey, what's going on with you?" asks Duke, "You haven't been acting like yourself since this happened." He walks up to the bed and gently strokes Mai's golden-blonde tresses.

"Hey! I'm still me!" exclaims Joey.

"No, Joey!" exclaims Tristan walking up and sitting on the edge of the bed so he can see Joey, "You've been far too quiet and reserved! You haven't been chiding Kaiba like you normally do! You barely ate… you still ate really fast, but not nearly the amount you normally would! What's going on, Joey? You can tell us!"

"I… I think… I'm in…" Joey sighs as he stares at Mai. He tears his eyes away from her and looks at Tristan. "I have no idea what you're talking about Tristan. I'm the same person I always was. I'm just feeling a little sick right now. I think I may be coming down with the stomach flu or something."

"Well… I guess there's nothing we can do about that but drag you down to see Kaiba's doctors," says Duke.

"No… I'll be fine in a couple of days, I'm sure," says Joey, "I'm tough enough to take this."

I would be the smartest man…

"Are you sure, Joey? Maybe we can help you," says Tristan.

"No… I'm fine." Joey stands up and stretches. He pushes the chair back. "I was just telling Mai about that stupid virtual world… you know, in case she can hear us."

"Want some help?" asks Duke.

Joey nods.

Duke, Tristan, and Joey stay with Mai for nearly an hour telling her some of the finer points, although quite exaggerated, about their experiences in Noah and Gozaburo's virtual world.

Serenity walks into the room yawning. "Joey… you should get some sleep! You have to duel in the morning!"

"Hey, yeah! You're right!" exclaims Joey, "The last stage of the finals begins tomorrow!" He steps up to Serenity and pulls her into a quick embrace. He kisses her forehead. "Good night, sis. Good night, Mai."

"Good night, Joey," says Tristan.

Joey walks back and grabs Duke and Tristan's arms. He pulls them towards the door.

"Good night," says Duke smiling at Serenity.

"Good night, everyone," says Serenity as Joey drags them out the door.

"Good night, Serenity!" exclaims Tristan as he's dragged down the hall.

Joey wakes up first, and he slips down to Mai's room. He steps into the dark room and sees Serenity sleeping comfortably in a plush chair. He walks up to the bed, glancing at his little sister occasionally to see if she's going to wake up or not. He whispers to Mai, "I'm sorry this had to happen, Mai."

Serenity turns in her sleep.

Joey nearly jumps as he turns to look at his still sleeping sister. He turns back to Mai and caresses her cheek. "It didn't work last time, but maybe it will this time, sleeping beauty."

Serenity slowly opens her eyes as she wakes up. Her eyes snap completely open as she sees her brother, sitting on the edge of the bed with Mai, leaning down towards her. She knows that she shouldn't watch, that she should pry her eyes away from the scene playing before her, but somehow she can't.

Joey leans down and brushes Mai's lips gently with his own. He kisses her gently, and backs away for just a moment before closing his eyes and kissing her again, hoping for some reaction from her, secretly hoping she would kiss him in return. He sits back upright.

Why can't I bring you into my life?

"Joey?" asks Serenity quietly.

Joey leaps from the bed and turns towards Serenity. His cheeks turn a deep crimson as he sees her wide awake and staring at him with a pale blush on her face. "Serenity?"

"I knew you really liked her, but don't you think she should be awake when you kiss her?" asks Serenity blushing even redder.

"Hey… it worked in that stupid fairytale I always read to you!" exclaims Joey turning his face away so as not to show his sister just how embarrassed he was at her having caught him stealing a kiss from a sleeping woman.

"Sleeping Beauty? Is that how you see her? As a sleeping beauty that just awaits a kiss to awaken her?" asks Serenity, "That needs to be a kiss from her true love… someone who loves her and that she loves in return."

"Maybe that's why it didn't work…"

"You don't…?"

"Maybe she doesn't," says Joey.

Serenity smiles. "Maybe she does… Maybe she just isn't sleeping beauty. She's in the Shadow Realm after all, and it may not work like that book."

Joey chuckles. "It was worth a shot. That's why I keep doing it."

"You've…"

Joey holds up two fingers.

"You know… big brother, the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting to get a different result," says Serenity standing.

Joey sighs. "I know. But I don't know anything else to try."

Serenity walks over and wraps her arms around Joey's waist to hug him compassionately. "Somehow… we'll get her back."

Joey wraps his arms around Serenity's back and cries silently into her hair. "I just want to see her happy… I want to tell her how I feel… even if she breaks my heart."

"She won't," whispers Serenity.

If I was invisible
Wait… I already am…