Okay wow, another chapter. This one holds some important info, but it's mostly filler (sorry) I'm not as happy with this chapter as I should be, but what can you do? I just needed some things to happen, but the excitement is building up. . . also I wanted at least one more lighthearted moment before things became real serious. . .after all. . .things aren't always as they seem are they?
ArraMidnight- Hey thanks for your opinion! You'll just have to wait and see though!
Growing Pain- I'm alive. . .Don't worry I'm all about the happy endings. . but I also like to make the characters go through things to get there. I also think Mai's loneliness is a huge part of her. . . and I think that everything that happened to her in her life so far won't go away for her as easily as everyone thinks. (Did that make sense? lol) I always thought Serenity was like a little sister to Mai and her part becomes more important, but she won't be as annoying. . . (Serenity isn't my top favorite character either!) Thanks for all the feedback!
5animefan- Mai is my favorite character also. . .I also like Valon and Kaiba a lot too. . . then Joey. . . oh I'm rambling. Don't worry, some good things will happen to her. . . later on. . .uh way later maybe. . .
bunbunlover- Unfortunately no matter how much I love your reviews, I can't reveal the secret of who Mai is going to hook up with. I have to give you a reason to keep reading. . .but I think I can help you. . .
-Joey's marrying Abby. . . but if you read between the lines you can tell Mai still has feelings for him. . .and he isn't as happy as he should be, hmm wonder why?
-Kaiba and Mai bicker like crazy, but for some reason he keeps pestering her. . . of course I can't tell you much more
-Well so far, Valon and Mai have some sort of connection, I can't say what it is now, but you'll know soon. . .
I can't assure her pairing, it's something Mai has to find out for herself, but it will come in time, basically she has two possibilities. . .but I won't tell you who those two are! (evil laughter) Anyway. . . I want the story to be about her journey. . .but she will end up with somebody, But who?
(I'm really saying Mai doesn't know yet. . . )
imakeeper- Hey thanks!
Disclaimer: YGO isn't mine. .. I'll never own it.
Okay enough chitchat here we go!
Kaiba leaned back into his limo. Words ran through his head and he couldn't fully concentrate on anything. It seemed like he was in a dream, one that he couldn't wake up from. He knew, he tried.
Kaiba was supposed to have power. He wasn't supposed to feel anything for anybody. It was the image he had and it was the image he carried.
He proved that tonight.
Emotionally exhausted he massaged his temples. The throbbing in his head wasn't helping him concentrate at all.
He didn't know how he should feel. He had seen Mai go crazy before . . . it was as if something had taken over her.
Is she really a threat?
Kaiba didn't know, but he wasn't willing to find out.
With this decision he decided it would be best to stay away from her.
Like every major city, Domino had outskirts. Unfortunately the outskirts on the west side of the city weren't the greatest place to be. It seemed to be permanently dark there no matter what time of the day. It also seemed to be permanently cold, as if nobody ever was happy.
It might be a true accusation.
This place was filled with old, broken houses and graffiti. Each house seemed to be painted black, but one would never know what color the house actually was. Years of darkness faded all the color into black. Many were disturbed by this thought . . . wouldn't the color fade to a gray instead of a black? Of course one must put the dirt and grim that filled the section into consideration.
So when a long black limo pulled up with four men stepping out of it in black suits, nobody thought anything of it.
This part of Domino was the place to get any deal done . . . well any unpleasant deal.
The four men were huge, with solemn faces that never saw a real smile in their lifetime.
Two more men walked out. The one was in an old white T-shirt while the other one was dressed in a black suit. It was obvious to anyone that the man in the suit was Valon, which meant the other was James.
They were hardly apart anymore.
James took the place of Raphael and Alister.
He was twice as good, and twice as bad, if that makes sense. James was a trickster and a back stabber . . . the perfect guy to be working undercover at KaibaCorp.
James and Valon glanced at the open door of the limo awaiting someone.
She stepped out and glanced at the house in front of her. It was a house like described earlier.
She took a long sigh and said, "Out of all the places in the world, I have to do this here."
Her voice was heartless, as if she had never had a happy moment in her life.
It was Mai.
She had changed from earlier, wearing long black pants with a black jacket. Her hair still clung around her, after all it was still wet.
She had only called Valon a half an hour ago. He met her at her office, but she hurriedly changed before that. Unlike most people, Mai always had a few spare outfits in her office. It was one of the reasons she had a closet . . . but then again it was her company, so she could have whatever she wanted.
But it still wasn't enough.
The three entered the building, leaving the four men to guard the limo.
The inside of the building was dreary and had a damp feeling. It was dark until Valon flipped the light switch. The light wasn't bright, in fact it was just light enough to show the dust that had gathered on the cluttered boxes and tables inside the house.
A door opened up on the other side of the house. There was a keypad that popped out of somewhere along with the door. Valon entered some numbers and a password to get the door open.
It led to a dark corridor. Mai stood hesitantly at the doorway for a moment.
"Isn't there a light switch?" she asked in an annoyed manner.
"No, don't worry . . . you'll be able to see things clearly soon." Valon called from the never-ending darkness. At least that's what it seemed like.
For the smallest moment, Mailooked back. Her head glanced toward the door on the opposite side of the house. Somewhere, deep inside, something was telling her to go back . . . but she heard her name coming from the hidden corridor again.
"I'm coming." she mumbled as she took a step into the hallway. The door silently swung close behind her.
She didn't pay any attention.
Her feet kept going forward as her mind stopped doubting her. It was if the rage feeling took control and wouldn't let go.
She had felt it before, but then she was being controlled. Or at least lied to and played with. She had been the pawn.
Now she was the one leading the pawns.
She was the one placing each piece in its final place, ready to finally make that checkmate and take down the king.
It was her turn now, and in any second she would be making the move.
Mai entered a room, finally after what seemed like years of darkness. Okay, in her own opinion it seemed like a long walk in the dark, but Mai had never really been free of her own darkness.
The light was bright and she had to squint a little bit to focus. The room had several computers in it, with a huge one near the ceiling.
There was also a huge table, which seemed to be made out of dark mahogany wood. In fact, everything in the room was dark. It was if somebody actually went through and made sure that every computer was black.
"Somebody went overboard with the color coordination." she mocked.
"Is that important?" James asked from the corner as he started the computer. Mai shrugged, so much for witty observations.
"Do you have the envelope?" Valon asked as he sat near the end of the table.
Mai looked at him curiously as she pulled it out of her coat pocket.
She had grabbed it after she had changed. She quickly handed it to him. She wanted to be rid of it as quickly as possible.
"You didn't open it." Valon said in a confused voice.
"Does it matter?" she asked very nonchalantly. Valon gazed at her momentarily and sighed. It didn't seem that important anyway.
He quickly tore it open greedily and placed the papers on the table so each one could be seen.
Everything was in here.
Kaiba's stocks, bank accounts, business profile, security codes and his life story.
"I thought he would have been more secure with these things." Mai observed as she gazed over the numbers and passwords.
"James has a talent for doing the impossible." Valon explained. A small smile crossed his face and he expected to see one of hers. All he received was a blank stare.
"What now boss?'' James asked from across the room. Mai glanced up at him. Boss. It was a word that she was used to saying, but it sounded like another language coming from his lips.
Mai glanced around the room at the other gentlemen. They had entered at various times, and some had been here already.
They were each working hard at their stations.
"Mai?" Valon asked concerned.
She continued to gaze around the room.
All of this . . . this was hers. They all listened to her . . . believed in her.
Her eyes glanced toward the table.
Her hand moved toward a paper and she picked it up. She glanced at it . . . on it was the password to Kaiba's computer . . .
Mokuba . . .
It was simple enough . . . perhaps too simple. A small smile danced across her face as she remembered the younger brother.
Mokuba looked up to Kaiba, needed Kaiba. In a way, Kaiba needed Mokuba.
Could see really destroy him like that . . . could she really ruin Mokuba's world just because his brother was a jerk to her.
Mokuba was innocent, harmless even . . . in a way like Serenity.
Suddenly Valon grabbed Mai's arm.
"Mai, we've been saying your name for five minutes, are you okay?" he asked as he pulled her into the hallway.
The door was quietly shut behind them and his soft voice was the only thing reminding Mai where she was. If he quit talking . . . she would have been easily convinced she was back in the Shadow Realm.
"Does this place have a light?" she asked as if she was a young child.
"Afraid of the dark Mai?" Valon asked her in a harsh voice. Mai shook her head.
"No. . . I just . . . I'm fine." she answered.
"I don't think you are . . . you won't answer me or anyone else. I think you're doubting yourself. In fact . . . right now, I'm doubting you. Are you afraid Mai?" he asked cruelly.
"No." she responded stubbornly.
"I don't believe you . . . we've planned this for a long time, and . . .do you think he feels something for you? We both know that he doesn't. I am the only one here for you and if you walk out because you're afraid then you will have nobody." he whispered in such a voice that Mai wished she could see him. His voice reminded her of others . . . in which she spent every moment of her life trying to forget.
"Don't do that . . . I can do this. I will do this." Mai said with a small quiver in her voice.
"Prove it . . . this is it, the last time you can back out . . . I know you can do this Mai, I feel it . . . and I know that somewhere you do too." he said.
Mai was fuming, how could he say those things to her? Wasn't she powerful enough?
"Do not ever underestimate me again Valon . . . I will not back out . . . but if you ever doubt me again, I won't be so nice about it." she replied, her voice full of rage.
She opened the door, not caring the least wether it hit Valon.
Nobody doubted Mai. She would prove them all wrong.
It was her turn . . . and she would dominate.
"James, start transferring his funds over . . . be subtle, we don't want him to know . . . Since you are in charge of his money, not a word to him . . . everyone else, decipher these codes. . . ." she demanded in a harsh voice that made no one want to disobey her.
Valon smiled, "There's my girl." he whispered.
"Two rules: You do as I say, and you will receive the benefits . . . I am a powerful woman and if you dare to disobey me or doubt me you will be punished. Second rule: Play dirty . . . but keep your hands clean . . . absolutely NOBODY touches Mokuba . . . nobody." She instructed. She was met by solemn approving faces.
They were all mesmerized by her.
Turning on her heel, she mentioned that it would be suspicious if she was away too long. Valon moved from the doorway, giving her a smile.
He was meant by a small one.
The door was closed behind her as James approached him.
"You were right. She really will get it done." he whispered.
"Told you." Valon replied with a small laugh.
"But, how do you know that she won't back off, I mean she did last time right?" he asked. Valon glared.
"I do . . . see last time she had a weakness . . . last time she wasn't in charge . . . last time she had someone to pull her out . . . she doesn't have that anymore. If she pulls out on this, she will have nobody, and she knows it." Valon explained in a lighthearted and somewhat evil manner.
"What about that Wheeler guy?" James asked. Valon groaned.
"Did you just hear my speech? Mr. Wheeler, well he's getting married . . . to a woman who is the exact opposite as Mai. It was what Joey was looking for, after all he isn't nearly capable to handle her. So I gave Miss Abby a little push in some restaurant and she landed on nobody other than Joey's lap. Later that wait Joey was mysteriously hit by a car. . . of course the two started talking at the hospital and she mentioned that she thought she was being followed . . . and the rest is history. . .they needed a little push though and I hated that car . . . " Valon explained.
"Does Mai know that?" James asked.
"Is that important?" Valon asked darkly. James raised an eyebrow.
"You feel something for her, don't you?" James asked.
Valon stood in silence for a moment, his eyes still lingering on the doorway . . .
"Get back to work James." he replied curtly.
James did as he was told. Valon turned from the doorway.
"She'll get what she wanted. She's just a little rusty and insecure . . . that has to be it." Valon thought to himself . . . hoping that he was right.
By the time Mai arrived back in her office, her natural and somewhat frizzy curls were bouncing around her head in such a manner that Mai seriously thought about getting them cut off right then.
She ignored the thought and leaned back into her chair. It had started to rain again, but then again it was nothing new.
New . . . new like the power she was feeling.
The feeling was so new and yet so old all at the same time. It confused her, but she didn't care.
She let it control her . . . the rage . . . the pain.
Her gazed was permanently fixed upon the window. She smiled as each raindrop hit the pavement beneath her window.
She saw various people running around, trying to find shelter from the wetness. A smile ran across her face, but it wasn't a normal smile. It was one full of mischief and yet . . . some sort of happiness.
"Look at them down there . . . running around . . . want to know why? It's not because of the rain . . . no. . . the rain is refreshing . . . it washes your soul . . . but them . . . those people are lost. They don't have a purpose. I wonder what it's like, to not have a purpose. I bet it feels awful to realize that you don't have a reason for living. What do you think?" Mai asked in a calm voice, as if she was really entertained. Yet at the same time she almost sounded confused.
Serenity stood in the doorway, surprised Mai even heard her approach the office.
"I think that it would be horrible . . . but I think everyone has a purpose." Serenity answered. She was a bit confused at Mai's attitude, but she didn't make a deal out of it.
Mai still gazed out the window, but she did let a small laugh out.
"What's yours?" Mai asked, her voice full of control. Serenity walked toward Mai and stood next to her, also gazing below.
"I don't know yet, but it takes a while." Serenity explained. She sounded full of hope, but to Mai she sounded childish.
"Who told you that?" Mai asked. Her voice became harsher and more bitter . . . non caring. She didn't glance at Serenity once.
"My brother." Serenity answered, full of confidence. Mai got off of her chair without removing her gaze.
Mai stood silent for a while, listening to the thunder and watching the people hurriedly run to their cars.
"Things will become a lot simpler for you once you learn it." Mai replied after some time.
"What's yours?" Serenity asked. The good feeling that Serenity used to have around Mai was gone. It was like Mai was a different person . . . as if she was shut down or cold.
Mai shrugged.
"We'll find out.'' she said.
Mai left the office shortly standing there, leaving Serenity standing there very confused.
Serenity was in the same spot when Duke entered the office.
"Oh Serenity, I was hoping to talk to Mai." he explained as he gave a bright smile. Serenity rolled her eyes and laughed.
"I'm not sure, she was in a weird mood." she answered in a happier tone than earlier.
"She does have some major mood swings." he answered.
"Hey Duke . . . " Serenity started to say as she glanced out the window again.
"Yeah?" he asked.
"Never mind." she answered, the question was gone from her head and she lead Duke out of the office.
Joey once declared that he would never wear a suit again. Of course that was at his cousins wedding and he was eight.
Now that it was his wedding, he had to wear one.
"Do I need a bow tie?" Joey asked Yugi as he stood in front of the mirror in the dressing room at the tuxedo place.
Joey had been there for a few hours, trying on some many different suits and tuxes that the words seemed dirty to them.
"Yes, you need a bow tie darling." Abby called back, answering for Yugi. She was busy throwing different jackets and things over Joey's changing room door.
Each time the outfit went over and landed on Joey's head, he sighed.
He wasn't cut out for this type of thing.
"Now . . . how about white? Would that be too much white? What do you think Tea? Oh . . . I know . . . brown . . . " Abby busily asked as the two women walked around the mens aisle of the store.
The wedding dress was already purchased, it was just getting outfits for everyone else that was the problem.
"I think it would be too much white." Tea answered, but Joey wasn't really paying attention.
"Hey Yug is my sis here yet . . . ya know so the girls can go concentrate on themselves for a while instead of me." Joey joked through the door.
"No. . . she's busy with her new internship. You never did tell me where it was." Yugi explained.
"I kinda forgot myself . . . actually." he admitted as he tried on a brown pair of pants.
It took several more minutes before Abby coaxed Joey to come out of his dressing room. When he finally did, he was dressed in a black tux with a black bow tie . . . the same outfit that he tried on about three hours ago.
"Aw!" Abby and Tea exclaimed.
"I really need the bow tie?" Joey asked in a whiney voice. The girls nodded.
"It doesn't feel like me." Joey said after studying himself for a while.
"That's because it's not." Kaiba answered with a smirk on his face. He had been looking for a new suit for a duel monsters event he had to attend. He was now seriously doubting his longtime shopping choice.
"Nobody asked you moneybags." Joey replied. Kaiba still smirked.
"I do like the bow tie though . . . it reminds me of the same thing my driver wears." Kaiba answered.
Joey rolled his eyes and threw the bow tie at Kaiba.
"Much better." Joey said as he went to change back into his normal clothes.
The bell on the door rang and somebody else walked into the store. It happened to be Serenity and Duke.
"Hey guys!" Tea called as she waved to them across the store. The two walked over there just as Joey walked out of his dressing room.
"Oh Joey . . . I wanted to see you all dressed up." she whined.
"Nope . . . should have been on time." was his reply.
"Like you ever are." Serenity whined. Joey just shrugged.
"You'll have to wait now." he answered. Serenity pouted and remained silent for the next few minutes while Joey, Tea and Kaiba all bickered about who knows what.
"How did he even get invited?" Tristan asked Yugi while looking through racks of clothes.
"I told him too . . . I mean come on he's always around and and he's helped us . . . plus Mokuba wanted to go." Yugi explained after Tristan gave him such a quizzical look that Yugi couldn't stop talking.
"Yeah helped us when it was helpful for him." Tristan muttered.
"Still counts." Yugi shot back.
"Whatever man." Tristan finished with a sigh. He knew it was a losing argument and Duke was in his line of vision. Tristan wanted to talk to Duke for a while, but Joey was always around.
"Duke." Tristan said as he approached him. Duke nodded.
"I need to talk to you about Serenity." Tristan added. Duke was ready to become defensive. After all Serenity definitely liked Duke, she talked to him all the time at work . . . right?
"What about her . . . afraid that she's finally gonna admit she loves me best?" Duke teased.
"No. . . and besides . . . no, I won't start it. Does Joey know where she works yet?" Tristan asked, cutting right to the chase.
"I don't think so, why?" Duke asked.
"Well because of you know who!" Tristan exclaimed. Duke raised an eyebrow.
"What, you can't say her name?" Duke asked. Tristan stomped his foot showing his anger.
"I don't want to . . . but if he finds out Serenity won't be able to work there . . . and she'll be upset . . . " Tristan explained.
"So he doesn't find out." Duke replied nonchalantly.
"Well don't you even find it weird that she has this huge corporation and wants a student to work there . . . "Tristan rambled.
"No." was Duke's response.
"I just don't want Serenity to become like her." Tristan said, finally getting to his point. Duke nodded and the feeling was mutual between the two.
"I'll watch over her." Duke decided with a smile and Tristan stomped away.
The group only stayed a while, but they had other things to plan.
Yugi, who was going to pay for the tux, stated that he would catch up with the group later.
The group all ran out to their cars, mostly because it was raining . . . leaving Yugi with some alone time that he was beginning to crave.
After years of being with all of them, some silence was good.
He was busy paying for the outfits when a cold breeze flew in through the store. Cold chills ran up Yugi's spine, but he ignored it as the door being open.
"Most be colder than I thought." Yugi muttered as he filled out his checks.
He didn't notice that at the end of the very long desk was a woman who was going to pick up some outfits for something.
"Here you go Miss Valentine." the cashier said and Yugi glanced up. Mai was indeed picking up something.
"Hey Mai." he called. She didn't acknowledge him at all. Yugi stared at her for a moment.
It was funny how the rain was pouring down from the sky so hard and yet Mai's hair was perfectly dried and curled.
She looked absolutely professional and carried a new aura about her. Anybody could sense it from a mile away, but it was hard to tell what changed about her.
"Hi Mai." Yugi said again as he approached her. He figured that she just didn't hear him a few moments ago. She turned around somewhat quickly and forced a smile.
"Oh . . . hi Yugi." she greeted before giving her attention back to the desk.
"I actually said hi a while ago, but you mustn't have heard me." he explained. Mai just nodded her head.
"Huh, what about that." she replied in a voice that sounded like she didn't care . . . but Yugi just ignored that part.
"So why are you here Mai?" Yugi asked. He was trying to fill up the silence in the room.
"Business." she answered nonchalantly as the cashier handed her some suits and one evening dress. Yugi didn't pay attention to what they looked like. He was watching Joey run into the store.
"Hey Yug. . .I almost forgot Abby wants to pay for everything else today." Joey exclaimed. Yugi rolled his eyes but smiled. Ever since Yugi inherited his grandpa's store . . . he was making so much money . . . plus he did win all of those championships. Yugi was glad that he could help his friend by paying for some of the major expenses of the wedding.
It took a whole month to get Joey to agree, but it was the only was to work everything out.
"So Yugi . . . you're paying for Joey's wedding . . . that's so cute. But now I'm curious . . . are you going to pay for his house and his utilities . . . or. . . and now here's an option . . . are you going to let little Joseph and Abby realize that the world graduated fromelementary schooland that there is a time when they have to grow up?" she asked. Yugi stared at her quietly for a moment.
"No answer . . . huh . . . you guys usually can't stop talking . . . oh well . . . see ya around." she said with a smile and a wave.
Joey stood speechless for a moment. He didn't know what was going on. It would be why he didn't move when Kaiba pushed him out of the way to leave.
"Don't listen to her Joey." Yugi said, hopefully comforting his friend. He knew Joey hated having Yugi pay for it . . . so much in fact that Joey was going to pay Yugi back eventually.
"What is her problem?" Joey asked aloud as Yugi finished paying for the clothes.
"Probably having a bad day." Yugi replied with a sigh. Joey stood memorized for a second.
"I don't know . . . she seemed . . . I don't know . . . different you know?" Joey asked, hoping that Yugi knew what he meant. Joey couldn't put it into words how she was different. He just felt it.
"Not really." Yugi replied and the conversation was dropped. Joey figured he was overreacting and decided that he shouldn't really care anyway . . .
Kaiba had walked three blocks before cursing madly and going back to his car. Why he didn't take it originally didn't make sense to him . . .
Something else did.
His check bounced . . . and that was something that never happened to Seto Kaiba . . . Never. Kaiba figured that somebody who worked for him messed up his account. That had to be the only explanation.
Kaiba speed through the street as he followed a black BMW until it turned into a parking lot.
He pulled up right behind it.
He practically jumped out of his car.
"Mai." he called. She spun around on her heels and looked at him.
"What?" she spat out madly. How could he have the nerve to even talk to her after what he said.
Kaiba just stared. How could he tell her anything . . . she angered him. She made him hate her . . . she was powerful.
Perhaps as powerful as him . . .
And he was drawn to her.
He didn't know why . . . maybe it was because she could actually relate to him or because she had a lot of power . . . and she was dangerous.
Kaiba was attracted to power and danger.
"I didn't mean everything I said." he said emotionlessly. Kaiba didn't apologize and that was the way he was.
"What?" she asked again. The rain had stop and a damp fog was hanging over them.
"I'm not repeating it." he responded coldly.
Mai stood quietly for a while . . . this wasn't happening to her. She wouldn't accept it. Kaiba never apologized . . . no. . . Mai shook her head and walked away.
He was going to ruin her plans . . . by being . . .no. . . That couldn't happen. She wasn't going to lose the game over feelings. It's what happened last time.
She took a deep breath and walked into the building void of emotion . . .
There would be no more Joey or Kaiba for her.
She couldn't handle it.
She had a job to do and nothing would stand in her way.
Game time had started and it was still her turn.