Oh, how I just love Spring Break. It's rare that I get a week of doing just about nothing and sleep! But sadly, it's all coming to an end. At least I managed to produce this chapter.
Chapter 26: Me, Myself, and I
"Arisa, what are you doing?" Kara asked as Arisa, standing on the tips of her toes, place a hand on top of Kara's forehead.
"Well you don't have a fever…" The blonde said as she pondered. Just what was she thinking trying to get Joey and Kaiba to be friends? For one, she had a chance of getting water and oil mixing together. And two, from what had happened at Kaiba Land, Kaiba and Joey were definitely not on good terms. And Kaiba wasn't exactly affected by Joey's tragic result from yesterday either. In all honest opinion: It was about to get worse before even considering getting better.
"For the last time, it's going to work. Sure it'll take a lot of work, but when was the last time the best plans were a success without any work put into it?" Kara explained, clearly the more enthusiastic of the two, as they were getting near the high school.
"Kara, you're my best friend and I love you. You're like a sister to me, but honestly, this is the biggest, the stupidest, the craziest plan that you've ever come up with!"
"Just crazy enough to work!" Kara explained. "Now we have to think, just what would definitely bring the two together…"
Arisa pondered, "Well, there is the whole 'rematch' thing Kaiba's been bugging Joey for."
"Hmm…that can work."
"Small problem Dr. Wilson!" Arisa reminded. "Joey doesn't want anything to do with Kaiba, let alone wanting to duel him. If you were at Kaiba Land the other day, you'd know."
"That…is a problem…" Kara sighed. Just when they were about to take one step forward, they were pushed two steps back. "What would make Joey want to duel Kaiba?"
"Well, there is the fact that he's finally beaten him, but he doesn't seem to care about that anymore. He's basically had the duel in the bag and said 'fuck it' and lost."
"But isn't there anything he'd want from Kaiba. A card, I mean?"
"Not really…" Arisa said as they were finally at the high school. "Okay, we'll talk about this later. You can do whatever, but right now I'm going to the girls' room to make sure that this isn't some nightmare and that you haven't lost your sanity." And with that the blonde walked away, leaving Kara alone to think about her plan. While she appeared confident in front of Arisa, she was definitely not without her doubts. Even if Joey and Kaiba managed to stay in the same room without killing each other, that was only dealing with the result. She could sense that Seto Kaiba had other issues. Issues that went beyond what she had learned at the last group meeting.
"What's wrong, Kara?" A voice asks, concern being evident.
She sighed to herself. "It's just trying to get two people who'd rather die than to spend one second with each other to become at least friends, Kisara. It's a lot harder than it sounds…"
"It does seem difficult, but you must stay strong." Kisara explains. "From my experience, Kaiba seems to be a bit paranoid. Arrogant and conceited as well, perhaps."
"True, but I just know it that deep down, there's a caring, kind, sensitive person just wanting to come out. But he keeps it inside." A tear began to come out from her eyes. "It's a horrible thing to see, you know?"
"I may not understand how people act in this day of age, but I feel that you have feelings for him."
Kara blinked, "What?"
"Kaiba. You care about him, do you?"
"Great… First Arisa, now you too? Am I that obvious?"
"Umm…Kara? Are you okay?"
Kara blinked as she saw a few familiar faces. Embarrassment rushed to her face as she tried to wave it off. "It's nothing. I was just in deep thought."
Duke replied, "Were you that much deep in thought?"
Tristan added. "Yeah, you're starting to act like Yugi!"
"Speaking of Yugi…" Melody searched around. "Where is he? Come to think about it, ever since Joey got shot, hardly anyone's heard from Yugi!"
"I hope he's okay…" Téa looked around. "Our circle of friends has been disintegrating. First Joey's shot up at the hospital, Yugi's disappeared, and Arisa's…" She stopped herself. Since when was she concern about her anyway? "Well…it's not that bad…"
"Téa…" Kara glared at her. She knew about Téa and Arisa's problems with each other. In fact, she was about to dub them the female Joey and Kaiba, with Tristan/Duke as Joey/Kaiba-Lite. For friends, there were certain rivalries and resentment forming…
Somewhere…(?)
"Where am I?" Brown eyes opened as Joey looked around. The last thing he remembered was that he was at the big house with Yugi, Syd, and Kaiba… His eyes narrowed as it all came back to him: Kaiba managed to piss of Tyrell, who tried to shoot him. But Joey had pushed him out of the way, leaving himself to take the bullet instead. "Not a thank you…" He said to himself. "Not one fuckin' 'Thank you…'"
"No shit, Sherlock!" A familiar voice said, as Joey looked up. The voice should've been familiar, as he was looking at himself, instead of the black jeans/white shirt he was wearing, this Joey was wearing a black and white jersey and baggier black jeans. Save for a matching black beanie on his head. "Here ya are once again helpin' out Rich Boy, an' does he even thank ya? Hell no! Man, ya should've let that bitch get shot up! It was his own damn fault!"
"But what about Mokuba?" Joey heard his own voice again, only more timid and whiny, as he and what appeared to be his darker half turned over and saw another Joey, dressed the same way as the original Joey, but his clothes were a bit tattered and ragged. "How would he feel if he found out that his brother, his only bit of family he had left was killed?"
"Man, shut yer weak ass up!" The darker personality said. "Yer saying that he should've sacrificed his life for one person who hates him and has made it a hobby to fuck wit him?" He said in a roaring tone, fists balled up as the weaker personality cowered into a ball.
"I…Iwasjustsayin'…" He cried.
"THIS IS WHY WHELLA'S GETTIN' PUNKED OUT! WHEN HE HAS THE CHOICE TO DO THE SMART THING, LIKE BEATING THAT PIECE OF SHIT FATHER OF HIS TO A MUTHAFUCKIN' PULP, HE HAS TA LISTIN' TO YO WEAK ASS AND GETS PUNKED!" Joey's evil counterpart grabbed the tattered loins of his timid counterpart, whose tears were now running down his cheeks.
"…pleasedonthurtme…"
He shook his head. "Naw Muthafucka, I ain't gonna do that…" He said as he then screamed. "I'M GONNA FUCKIN' KILL YA!"
"Noo…" He cried as he closed his eyes. However, no impact came to his face as when he opened his eyes, the fist that was about to connect to his face was stopped by another version of Joey. This time, his hair, unlike the three of them, was slicked back as he was dressed in a nice blue suit.
"Put him down." He said in a calm voice. "You should know better than anyone that violence will make things worse. And you are the last person who should be criticizing anyone for giving bad advice!"
Bad Joey dropped Timid Joey as he glared at the new arrival. "What'chu talkin' bout?"
"If I recall correctly, the last time Joseph listened to you about what to do about Kaiba, he ended up falling flat on his face. To add insult to injury, he also had to spend time in detention… Lately, he's been taking my advice, finally, and so far has managed to do well."
"Man, I can take Kaiba!" Bad Joey pulled out a pair of pistols and aimed them at his more rational counterpart. "Let's see Moneybags shoot off 'notha dog joke with his mouth full'a lead! Hmph, pansy-ass muthafucka…"
"Now you're really starting to act like a fool." Rational Joey commented as the original Joey tried to maintain the peace.
"Guys?"
"Man, who the fuck you callin' a fool, ya fairy-assed muthafucka?"
"Can't we all just get along?"
"Well if the shoe fits…"
"Guys?"
"Man, I'll take ya the fuck out!"
"Please…"
"Resorting to threats again, eh?"
"GUYS!"
All three Joeys turned around to see the original just moments away from having a migraine. "How can I think with all you guys actin' like a buch'cha idiots?"
"Sorry Joey…"
"My apologies…"
"My bad, my bad…"
"Look, from the way things are going I'm 'bout to wake up any minute now an' I'm gonna being in a whole lotta pain. Any advice on what I should do?"
Bad Joey stated, "I'll tell ya what you should do: Getta Marretta and bust one in Kaiba's punk ass! Do everyone a favah and deal with that elitist piece of shit once an' for all!"
"Or you could completely ignore the first suggestion and play it safe." Rational Joey added.
"Go with him! Go with him! His plan sounds safer?" Timid Joey placed in his two cents.
"Man, if ya can't stop kissin' other people's asses, than shut the fuck up! Bad Joey snapped at his weaker half.
"I suggest you find some class! You're in definite need of it." Rational Joey states as Joey sighed. The room was starting to bright up. Was he waking up? While he wondered what was going to happen now, he was thankful that he wouldn't have to hear them argue anymore…
See, I told you he was going to wake up, but I didn't say that I wasn't going to leave it right there! Yeah, I know. Hit me with every obscenity in the book if ya want. Next chapter the gang's all here…well…except for Kaiba of course.
