Lu: Well, here's the next chapter. This is mainly SetoxSerenity, with bits of YamixTea scattered throughout. No JoeyxMai though :(

Yami Lu: Oh, boo-hoo, cry, weep, that's so depressing. Not.

Chapter 22 – Slip!

They reawoke in the pod room. Yami immediately got up, and walked over to Mokuba.

"Mokuba, where is Tea?" he asked, grabbing onto Mokuba by the shoulders.

"She's over there," said Mokuba, pointing.

"Tea!" cried Yami. He ran over to her, and flung his arms around her. Tea looked startled for a moment, but hugged back. Yami pulled away, smiling.

"You're OK," he said. Tea nodded and laughed.

"Why wouldn't I be?" she asked, giggling.

"No reason," said Yami quickly.

"Hey, Yami! Guess what? My sister's comin' tonight," said Joey.

Kaiba's heart leapt. Serenity was coming to his tournament? Then he thought about it logically. 'Of course she is. Joey wasn't going to let her stay at home with her father. And she would want to watch her brother. I wonder if she remembers the other week... I sure do,' he thought.

Later that evening, Serenity arrived. She greeted Joey with a big hug.

"Hey sis! What's happenin'?" said Joey.

"Not much. Camp wasn't as good as I thought it would be. But, I'm here now," she said.

"Hey Serenity!" said the rest of the group. Kaiba stood there in silence. She looked at him, smiled slightly, and walked off with her brother.

Later that night, Mai, Tea and Serenity were playing truth or dare in their room.

"Truth or Dare?" said Mai to Tea.

"Umm, truth," said Tea.

"OK, who do you like?" said Mai. Tea blushed. She liked Yami. But she was very embarrassed about that. But this was Truth or Dare, and she had to tell the truth.

"OK, I like... Yami," she said quickly. Mai was stunned.

"Well, I like Joey, so I guess we're both pretty weird," she said, and laughed.

"At least your crush isn't 5000 years old," muttered Tea. Serenity immediately became comforting.

"It's OK, Tea, you can't help who you like. Anyway, he is pretty cool," said Serenity.

"I suppose," sighed Tea.

"Anyway, Mai, it's your go. Truth or dare?" said Serenity

"Dare," said Mai confidently.

"OK, I dare you to kiss Joey in front of everyone - Yugi, Tristan, Ryou, Duke, Mokuba, Kaiba, and anyone else who happens to be there," said Tea. Mai nodded. All of the people Tea had mentioned in the first place already knew that she and Joey were together.

"Where? On the cheek?" asked Mai.

"Yeah, wherever you feel like it. I'm not going to make you do proper kissing in front of Kaiba," said Tea. Mai nodded.

"Although you're a little late. Joey and I were... well, you know... the other night, and Kaiba walked in on us. I think he was watching us before that. But he seemed sincerely sorry about it, and he didn't tease us, like he would normally," said Mai.

"I know, I think he's actually accepting our invitation to be friends," said Tea.

"Anyway, I'm really tired," yawned Mai. "I'll see you in the morning, Tea. You too Serenity."

'Kaiba and Joey? Friends? This could mean... me and Seto... who knows?' she thought.

The next morning, Serenity was the first up.

'I'm gonna go and find Kaiba,' she thought. She got changed, picked up her jacket and went out onto the street.

'I need another walk,' thought Kaiba. He grabbed his trench coat, and exited his hotel. It was raining. 'Oh well. At least I'll get some exercise. I don't think running around in the virtual world counts as exercise.'

Serenity was blinded by the rain. She couldn't see anything for all the raindrops in her eyes. 'Maybe I should go back,' she thought, and turned around abruptly.

Which meant that she walked straight into Seto Kaiba.

"Oh my god! Seto, I'm so sorry," she said, helping Kaiba back onto his feet.

"Serenity... I've gotta ask you something," he said, not letting go of Serenity's hand. "Are you ever going to tell Joey?"

"Yes. I heard from the other girls last night that you guys are kind of becoming friends. If that is so, I would be willing to tell Joey today," she said. Kaiba smiled.

"Does that mean...?" he started. Serenity smiled, and kissed him. The rain was still pouring down. They pulled away, and started walking down the street in a content silence. But, the rain had covered the footpath, and Serenity slipped.

"Ahh!" she cried.

"Serenity!" said Kaiba. He reached his hand down to help her up. She took it, and Kaiba pulled. But as she got up, her ankle gave way.

"I think it's twisted," said Serenity weakly. Kaiba thought for a moment, and bent down. He picked her up, and he walked towards the hotel. He kicked the door open. Inside stood Yugi, Joey, Tristan, Tea, Mai, Ryou and Duke, discussing something.

"Where is Serenity?" asked Joey in a frustrated voice. Kaiba cleared his throat. Joey swung around and saw Serenity. "Serenity!" he cried, running over to her. He stepped back and surveyed the couple. "Thank you Kaiba," said Joey, and reached out, offering to take Serenity off him. Kaiba didn't hand her over.

"Err, Joey, I've gotta tell you something," started Serenity.

"What is it?" asked Joey.

"I'm in love with someone," she said. Joey stared at her.

"Who?" he asked. The look on his face was somewhere between curious and disapproval. Duke and Tristan, standing in the background, both looked very hopeful.

"Umm... Seto," she said, blushing bright red. Joey's jaw dropped, and he started looking from Kaiba to Serenity. "I'm sorry Joey. I just do, I can't help it," she said, desperately looking at Joey with pleading eyes.

"I promise, Joey, that I will take good care of her. She is the most beautiful girl I have ever seen, and she's smart and talented too. Just give me a chance with her," said Kaiba. Joey looked at Kaiba, and then gulped and nodded.

"I can't stop Serenity datin' who she likes. But Kaiba, if you hurt her, I swear..." started Joey.

"I promise that I will never hurt her," said Kaiba.

"Can you prove dat to me now?" asked Joey. "OK, you give me one of your Blue-Eyes." Kaiba looked confused, but shifted Serenity's weight onto one of his arms, and took out his deck. He quickly shifted through it, took out one of his Blue-Eyes and handed it to Joey.

Joey smiled, took out a lighter, and held it up to the card. Kaiba didn't take his eyes off the card, but didn't seem to be overly depressed or angry at the fact that Joey was about to burn his card. Serenity looked angry, but she couldn't stop Joey. This was a matter between him and Kaiba.

Laughing, Joey lowered the lighter, and pocketed it. He handed Kaiba his card back. Kaiba was, by now, utterly baffled at Joey's actions.

"I just wanted to see whether you'd let me do it," explained Joey. "Kinda like a test."

Behind Joey, Duke and Tristan were looking crestfallen. They both had a crush on Serenity, but Serenity had made it obvious on many occasions that she only liked them as friends.

"Anyway, what happened out dere? Why were you two out so early on a mornin' like dis?" asked Joey.

"I wanted to speak to Seto," said Serenity.

"And I simply wanted a walk," said Kaiba.

"We bumped into each other. Then I slipped and twisted my ankle, and Seto carried me back here," said Serenity.

"OK, I'm just glad you're safe," said Joey. "I was so worried."

Yugi watched all of this with a smile on his face. He had known that Serenity liked Kaiba, and was pretty sure he returned her feelings. He knew that Serenity would be good for Kaiba. And he knew Kaiba would never hurt Serenity on purpose. He was glad that Joey understood, and was accepting Kaiba for who he was.

/Yugi, I have to ask you something/ said Yami from within the soul room.

/Sure Yami. What is it/ said Yugi cheerfully.

/Umm... can I talk to Tea some time today/ said Yami, not looking into Yugi's eyes and blushing as brightly as the sun.

/Sure, Yami. Don't get nervous. She likes you too. Just tell her/ said Yugi approaching Yami and patting him on the shoulder. Yami didn't look him in the eyes.

/There's no point Yugi. I don't have my own body. She's not going to want to go out with someone who can only see her when they possess someone else's body/ said Yami sadly. Yugi was startled to see a small drop of water well up in the corner of Yami's eye. Yami lifted his hand up and wiped it away. /Yugi, am I... crying/ he asked.

/Yes, Yami. You're upset and sad/ said Yugi quietly.

/But why/ asked Yami, another tear rolling down his face.

/You obviously like her more than you know. Yami, I know it must be incredibly hard for you, only being able to see her when I let you take over. But she's going to like someone else unless you make a move. Tristan and Duke are probably gonna start looking for someone now, and since Tea's free.../ began Yugi.

/No/ shouted Yami.

/There you go. Just try/ said Yugi, smiling.

They were interrupted by everyone else going into the boy's bedroom. Yugi followed them.

Kaiba lay Serenity down on the bed. She looked tired but content. She smiled at him, and he smiled back. Joey looked at both of them.

'Well, Serenity seems happy. And Kaiba doesn't look like he means to hurt her. I suppose it could work out...' he thought.

"Seto, what time is it?" asked Serenity suddenly.

"Umm... 8:25. Wait a sec. We're meant to be in the pod room in 5 minutes!" he shouted, leaping up.

"Let's go!" shouted Joey, grabbing his deck and running outside.

"Goodbye, Serenity," said Kaiba. He squeezed her shoulder. She smiled. Yugi followed Joey. Bakura, Kaiba, Duke and Mai ran out after him.

Lu: What do you reckon? And, for anyone who doesn't know, Mind Game is being updated! So that's another one of my stories to review if you like JoeyxMai and YamixTea.

Yami Lu: Or you can go and read, like, err... watch TV! They're the best invention ever!

Lu: So not true. The best invention ever are those mobile phones that have the internet and TV! Review!