It had been almost two years since Mai had seen Varon. She had been the one to message him and ask to meet. Mai had promised she'd make it up to both Jounouchi and Varon for what she had put them through and now, it was time for her to truly face Varon. And she hoped, he was still willing to listen.

Varon, she realized, had been through as much as she had. He'd been alone and left to his own devices. But what was worse, was he'd lost someone he cared for, who'd cared for him. As a result of his broken hearted, vengeful actions, he'd gone from a detention center straight into Dartz hands. It was no wonder he had not been able to break free of his control alone.

She was hardly one to judge, having been left traumatized, the memories of her kind friends torn from her.

Varon entered the small diner that they'd agreed to meet at. It was breakfast time, and she was glad for it because if she had to face Varon without something to soften the blow if he was angry, she'd be ordering pancakes for lunch regardless. Facing your past was a pain.

But a necessary one.

He seemed quieter, and moved more steadily than he had when she met him back in Doma. But he also smiled, eagerness shining in his eyes. That was a good start. And she remembered him fondly in that moment. He'd always been a lover. As much as he tried to hide it from the others.

He'd bene vocal about his attraction to Mai, but that was something she'd let resolve itself. Though she noted butterflies in her stomach as he sat down and wasn't sure if it was attraction or her nerves at facing him.

Picking up the menu, she asked what he'd like to order and declared that she had a hankering for pancakes.

Varon, laughed remembering them stopping for such a meal on more than one occasion.

"Glad to see some things haven't changed," he said.

"And you're looking as cute as ever she," she surprised herself. And then stopped, because there was still more to discuss. What if he didn't accept her?

Varon smiled and looked her in the eye "Luckily that hasn't changed about you either," he stated.

The tension between them thickened and then softened. And Mai knew it was time.

"Varon, I want to say I'm sorry. I'm sorry for the way I ignored you. I wasn't a good friend to you, let alone anything else," she stated.

He put down the coffee that had arrived moments earlier and continued to listen, a more somber look on his face.

"If anything, she continued, we both owe Jounouchi. He showed us how misled we were," she didn't quite know where she was going with this.

At Jounouchi's name, Varon seemed to grew serious and nodded, stiffening his shoulders slightly.

"You were the one I could trust most when we were in Dartz control," Mai said. "I want to thank you."

She paused then look Varon in the eyes, before turning her gaze downward.

"If you hadn't been there, who knows what would have happened during those first duels. I owe you for looking out for me as best as you could, but more so I owe you for being a good friend during probably the shittiest experience either of has had."

Varon laughed at that. "You can say that again. It's very nice not being under the control of some manipulative loon." His expression saddened then. "I still question myself sometimes. Whether I'm really free, whether I'm doing what's right," he confessed.

And Mai understood so very much. "I know, it's like you've been sleeping and are waking up for the first time in years."

Varon nodded, noting her understanding.

He continued, "I'm glad I could be there for your, Mai. Truly, it's the only good that came of it all. I could tell you had a decent heart even with everything going on." He lifted his hand to gesture vaguely. "Despite the way you might feel about me."

And Mai was oh so pleased. For he wasn't angry. And he still had some admiration for her.

She lowered her eyes to meet his gaze then. "I always thought you were a good person too."

And Mai knew how much that would mean to Varon.

They then continued to sit in silence as the waitress came around with their breakfast.

"Thank you," Varon breathed, once the waitress left. His eyes stayed locked on hers for a moment, before they both began to devour their food. They'd never been much for pretense.

Mai after sometime, looked up from her half-eaten pancakes and asked "maybe we could ride together sometime. I'm heading along the coast back to Domino in a couple of weeks to see the Yugi and co."

"That'd be great," he said, but then added, with a smile, "only if we stop along those beautiful beaches."

Not wanting to part with a past that no longer ached, she said, "we can head to the local one here after breakfast if you'd like too."

And at that Varon smiled. All he'd wanted before was for her to return his affection, so he had to be sure.

But Mai beat him to it, with a coy "I'd like to see more of you Varon," and he knew, she wasn't just seeing him for the mess he'd been.

"And I you Mai," he replied, beaming.

Varon then pulled out her Cyber Harpie card and held it out to her, "I didn't know if you wanted this back."

Mai looked wistfully at the card, then shook her head, "No, I don't need it anymore." She said smiling from behind her coffee cup, "I'd beat you either way."

At that Varon, slid the card back into his pocket and laughed, "we'll see about that."

Perhaps they'd make it to the beach a little late.