AN: DM here. Wow, I'm really writing this one, huh? I think this chapter is super-cute, but if you've got issues with the pairing in general (ages and all), you may not be okay with it. Just a little warning.

-Stay With Me, For A Little While-

by Dark Mrowlidash

Chapter Three: Explaining My Feelings

"This place needs to be completely clean," Mokuba said to himself as he picked up things from the floor of his room. "I wouldn't want her to see this mess!"

Mokuba's cleaning occupied his mind, he made sure to not miss a speck of dust, not a toy was left out. He didn't stop for his favorite TV show. He didn't even notice Seto walking by.

His goal was for his room to be spotless. For her.

Upon putting up the last stray object, he walked to the doorway and stood in it for a few seconds.

"Not bad..."

He walked over to a chair and sat down, before immediately springing back up, problem apparent. Yes, he'd invited Mai over, but had he asked Seto if it was okay? He didn't think he would say no, but then again, he didn't know for sure.

"Seto?" he called, walking out of the room.

Mokuba found Seto in the kitchen, going about the preparations for a breakfast of some sort, regardless of the fact that breakfast time had passed.

"Mokuba? Oh, hey. Sorry about not fixing breakfast earlier.. I was—"

"Busy?" Mokuba supplied, not really too angry considering that he wasn't very hungry.

"Yeah. So what's going on, you called?"

"Can I have a friend over?"

"Who? Yugi, one of them?"

"No..." Mokuba said with a high level of unease.

"Well then, who?" Seto asked, turning to face Mokuba for the first time.

"Her name's Mai Valentine. She's my new friend," Mokuba said, hoping that would be enough.

"Mai Valentine. I dueled her," Seto immediately remembered. "Why does she want to come over?"

"It's not like that—I invited her. I told you, we're friends."

Seto paused for a second. Mokuba seemed to be convinced that Mai Valentine wasn't coming over to steal Duel Monsters data, and when he thought about it, it did seem unlikely that anyone could steal from him anyway. He chose to move on to the next question, which Mokuba thought he would have asked first.

"She's not a kid like you, you know, Mokuba. How did you even become friends? How old is she, anyway?"

"I don't know how old she is.. but we're friends because she's nice, and uh.." he blushed, looking away.

Seto didn't know what to say to that. It was sort of obvious how Mokuba felt about this Mai, but how did she feel about him?

"Well, if she's your friend, she can come over. I have nothing against you having company."

"Thanks, Seto!" Mokuba gave his brother a hug before bounding out of the room.

Seto blinked and turned back to his cooking. "It seems that at some point I'll have to get to know this Mai a bit better..."

It was through the haze of light slumber that Mokuba heard the doorbell ring, but the second his mind processed the sound, he pulled himself up off the couch and sprinted for the door...only to stop in front of it.

'What if' questions flooded his mind—what if this horrible thing happens, what if I say that stupid thing by accident? He froze in fear of what could possibly take place upon opening the door, at least until the bell rang again.

"go on, Mokuba.." he whispered to himself, and that was all it took. He pulled the door open and there she was. Mai Valentine.

"Mokuba!" she said cheerfully. "Hi."

"Hi," he said. "Come in."

Mai walked through the door in just about the opposite of the state she was in the last time she'd crossed that threshold. A light smile played across her lips.

"I would introduce you to Seto, but you've already met," he paused, "so let's go to my room! We can play video games—I'll even let you have first controller."

Mai nodded. "Sure thing, kid."

This time, Mokuba took her hand without hesitation, leading her through the hallway and up the stairs.

The smash of a computer-generated enemy rang through the room, and the two players smiled at each other.

"We beat it! That's the first time I've ever beaten this game," Mokuba said, laughing. "You're good at this."

"Maybe I should give up dueling and become a full-time gamer!" Mai said brightly, setting down the controller.

As the credits rolled on the TV screen, Mokuba and Mai turned their attention from the video game. Mokuba, however, could feel the nervous butterflies filling his stomach. Now what was he to do? No video game to distract him, and Mai was just sitting there...

"Mai?"

"Yes?" she replied sweetly.

Mokuba swallowed, hard. This was not going to be easy. Looking away for a second, he gathered his thoughts and continued.

"We're really good friends now, right?"

"That's right, kid."

"Good," Mokuba said, smiling. "I really like you, Mai."

"I like you too."

Awkward silence. Mokuba was practically dying. He didn't exactly know how to articulate his feelings.. but he couldn't give up now.

"How much do you like me?"

"A lot, Mokuba. We're friends."

"I like you a lot too.." he said, voice threatening to give out on him, "but I think I like you more. More than a lot."

It was finally sinking in. Mai blinked once.. twice, but before she could say anything...

"I think.. no.. I-I.. I love you," Mokuba said in a rather broken manner. The message was still clear though.

Mai's eyes widened. She had been expecting him to say he liked her... like that. But—love? Wasn't love a bit strong?

"Mokuba.." she began to say, looking at his face, his eyes which would not look up at her. "you don't really love me. It's just a crush, that's all."

"No!" he exclaimed, on the verge of tears.

Mai tried to soothe the boy. "Mokuba, you don't know about love."

"Yes I do! I feel happy when I'm around you, and when you talk to me I feel warm inside, and when you look at me I want to hug you and—that has to be what love is!" Mokuba could no longer hold back the tears. They began to flow down his face in streams, and his little frame shook as he sniffled.

Mai didn't know what to do. She was, however, partially shocked. She'd told Mokuba that he didn't know about love.. but he did.. in his own way, he did. And that made her wonder.. Did she?

"Come here," Mai said, extending her arms. The crying boy immediately scooted closer, and she pulled him into an embrace.

Mokuba snuggled into her, almost forgetting that she was the source of his sadness in the first place. He wanted to be near her. And he wanted to know...

"Mai.. how do you feel around me?"

"Well.." she said, giving Mokuba a squeeze, thinking.

And then suddenly, she knew what to say.

"I feel happy when I'm around you. And when you talk to me I feel warm inside. And when you look at me.." she was quiet as Mokuba looked up at her intently. "..I want to hug you."

"So..." Mokuba said, completely unsure.

"I guess... I guess that means I love you too, huh?"

Mokuba stopped crying, sniffling for a few moments before slowly wrapping his tiny arms around Mai.

Mai smiled, pulling Mokuba into her lap, all while he clung to her like a lifeline. Now that he was higher up, she could easily look into his adorable, grayish eyes. She leaned in, and gently pressed her lips to his forehead.

Mokuba was still. He was obviously scared, but at the same time, he wanted to explore his new situation further. So he looked back at Mai, eyes sightly crossed in an effort to draw her again.

And she was drawn. Mai, without even thinking, leaned in again, and then lingered, her nose bumping lightly against Mokuba's. She wasn't breathing, but then, she was moving. Her lips connected with Mokuba's lips. And she kissed him.

And then, eternity passed. Mokuba pulled even closer, Mai kissed deeper. Both of them wanted more of the other and sought their desire, as long as they could.

When the kiss was broken, Mai released Mokuba. The boy was so amazed and awestruck that he fell back a bit. That was his first kiss. He was dizzy.

Mai watched Mokuba's expression. He went from slightly confused amazement to lazy pleasure, attaching himself to her again, hugging in a contented fashion. She stroked gently through his hair, and he burbled something inaudible, most likely another confession of love.

They stayed like this for a while, until finally, they separated, Mokuba turning off the video game console and Mai standing up. For some reason, it was time to part, they both felt it.

"So I'll see you tomorrow, Mokuba?"

"Yeah.. I'd like that."

And then, Mai added to that, "How about we meet up at my place tomorrow? You know, the hotel in town? They've got in-room video games, I wouldn't mind ordering some."

Mokuba nodded. "Sure."

"I'll give you a call tomorrow, okay? With more details."

"Kay," Mokuba said, altogether still dazed.

Mokuba walked behind Mai, who apparently knew her way out. When they reached the door, they exchanged goodbyes and smiles. He continued to watch Mai as she went on her way down the street, and for a little while after she was out of view as well.

When he finally closed the door, it really hit him. Mai loved him too, and she wanted to see him again. Things could not be going better, he thought.

He walked back over to the couch, lying down, all too eager to let his imagination play his first kiss over and over in his head.

Mai's mind was racing as she stepped into the hotel elevator.

She'd just told a little boy she was in love with him. And then she'd kissed him, in a fashion certainly not meant for someone that young. And to top it off, she'd invited him over to her place—to play video games, she'd said, but did she even mean that?

"Just what am I planning?" she asked herself as she pressed the button for her floor. "And how did I get here?"

The past hour replayed in her mind as the elevator rose. She heard Mokuba admit his love. She heard her own positive reply to said admission. And she saw the boy's gentle figure, innocent eyes.. and felt his warm, soft lips.

She was suddenly ashamed. "What kind of monster am I, to be attracted to him like that? It's no fault of his, he's just a boy, but as for me...?"

The elevator 'ding' made her jump, just a little, but as the doors opened, she remembered what she'd said...

"But I do love him... I feel it.."

She walked toward her room.

"But then again.. does he want what I want?" Mai said quietly, and then added, uncertain, "whatever it is that I want?"

Opening the door with the key, she stepped into the room, letting the door swing shut behind her.

"I need to know.. how I really feel. And how.. how he'd react to that. If I really want him... like that.. And if he would.. want me too.."

She sat down heavily in a chair, exhaling and slumping down.

"This is so wrong," she finally said. "But it doesn't feel like it.. not that much. Is that good? Or bad?"

She let her eyes slip closed again. She didn't want to think about it.

End Chapter Three