Chapter Two- Intended Found

Joey surfaced the next day and eagerly climbed out. He looked forward to spending time with Mai and revealing her destiny. Once his clothes had appeared, he got to his feet and headed for the café Mai had described to him when he had admitted to being a tourist and which he had found after wandering for a little yesterday. He didn't give a hotel address and knew that probably seemed suspicious. Ah, well, she'll find out why soon enough. He walked down the sidewalk and saw the blonde outside the café, looking around; most likely looking for him. "Mai!" he called, waving his arm.

Mai turned and smiled. "Hey, Joey," she said once he was closer. "I'm glad you found the place."

"So am I. I have a couple of places I'd like us to go to."

"Like what?"

"Well, the pet store for one. I might decide to get a pet." The two walked in and grabbed a table, once they had gotten their food.

"Really?" She looked him up and down. "You seem like a cat person to me."

"I do? Heh, I thought I was a fish person."

"Maybe, but caring for a fish is expensive, more than a dog or cat."

"True. That reminds me, do you have a pet Mai?"

"No, but I'd like one someday."

"What's stoppin' ya?"

"It's the city. Don't get me wrong, I like people. I've always imagined myself living somewhere with wide open spaces in close proximity to a city with a pretty dog for company."

"Wide open spaces, huh?"

Mai nodded. "Cities like this feel a bit…crowded. Sometimes it feels like the skyscrapers are closing in on me."

"That's how I feel sometimes."

"Really, Joey?"

"Yeah. I prefer wide open spaces myself and that's why I chose to live in the city I live in now. It's spread out so no one feels crowded."

"I'd love to see your city."

"You can."

"Really? When? I'll ask for the time off."

Joey sipped his soda. "Mai, the thing is, if you come to my city, you have to stay and live there."

"Stay? What is it, a prison?"

"No, no. There's a reason I said stay and live there." He leaned forward and gestured for her to do the same. "Mai…I'm a merman."

Mai blinked and laughed out loud, drawing scattered looks from other patrons. "You're joking."

"No, I'm not," Joey said in a low voice. "I am a merman and you'll be a mermaid."

Mai laughed harder. "Me, a mermaid? That's funny."

"I'm serious," Joey said angrily. "Look, some humans are destined to be merpeople and one special one is to be a mate. That person's intended come to land to find him or her and anyone else who has that wavelength. Once the merperson locks eyes with such people, the humans must avoid contact with seawater until their affairs are settled."

"And you're saying I'm your intended?"

"No, I'm afraid not. It's someone else and they live here. Mai, I can prove what I'm sayin' is true. Merpeople can talk to fish and hear them speak. Actually, we can talk to any water creature."

"Is that why you want to go to the pet store? To prove your claim?"

"It is. I also want to explain what my people call The Transition."

"Well, let's head to the pet store and see if it's true." Mai got up and Joey followed. He knew it was true and that Mai was humoring him. Once she hears the fish talk, she'll believe me.

Kaiba gave a low roar of fury. The stocks were still falling and yet another employee resigned. The stocks are falling so fast that I'll have no choice but to sell within probably a week, maybe week and a half. Kaiba turned away from his desk in disgust and looked out the window at the people on the sidewalk, all bundled up in their coats and yet happy to be alive. He felt jealous: Here he was trying to keep his company afloat and yet he couldn't get any joy out of life. It must be nice to work without trying to keep a company alive.

"Mokuba," he said, catching his brother's attention from his homework. "Let's leave early and walk home. Maybe some fresh air will inspire me on how to save the company."

"Sure, big brother." Mokuba put his work away and pulled on his coat as did Kaiba, and they left the office.

Meanwhile, Mai and Joey were in the pet store. They took their time getting to the fish tanks and, as they got closer, Joey could hear the fish speaking to each other and smiled at it. They entered the tank area and Joey automatically went to one and began to talk to them in a murmur. He glanced back to see Mai standing in the center, staring at a different tank with her mouth open. He went to her, having an idea of why she seemed shocked. "Mai?"

"I hear them," she said in soft awe. "They're talking the way you and I do." She turned to Joey with a small smile. "All right, I believe you. You're a merman and I'm a mermaid."

"I knew you'd change your mind."

"So, this Transition. What happens?"

"Mostly you have to get your affairs in order before touching ocean water otherwise you have to wait a year before you can be human again. As soon as you touch seawater, you'll instantly change like I do."

"I see. Could I see you change, Joey? It'll give me an idea of what to expect."

"Sure. Now, merpeople don't have clothing stores and I've never been in one."

Mai's eyes lit up. "I love shopping, especially for clothes. Come on." She took Joey by the arm and led him outside.

The sidewalk was full of people and Joey, still being pulled, felt himself bumping into people. He kept saying, "Sorry," or "Excuse me." The humans did nothing more than smile in a reassuring manner, seeing that he couldn't help bumping into them. "Mai, could you let go so I can stop bumping into people?"

Instead, Mai pulled him closer to her. "Sorry, I get excited about clothes shopping and I don't want to lose you in the crowd," she said. The side-by-side walk helped to avoid other bumps…until a tall human bumped his shoulder hard and his cold voice said, "Watch where you're going."

Joey turned to snap at the man and when he looked up into his eyes, he felt that tingle and his heart pounded. He's the one! Joey thought.

"Seto?" said a voice and Joey looked to see a boy behind the brunette and that tingle happened again.

"Coming, Mokuba," the man called Seto said before turning and walking away.

Joey gaped after the pair and he didn't move and speak until Mai said, "Joey? You okay?"

"Who are they?" he asked, sounding a bit breathless.

"They're trouble. Trust me, you don't want to mess with Kaiba."

"Kaiba?"

"Seto Kaiba and his little brother, Mokuba. Word says their company is failing and that puts Kaiba in a bad mood."

"The company's failing? That's great."

"It is?"

"He's the one, Mai. He's my intended!"

"You're kidding."

"No. When a merperson meets someone who can become a merman or mermaid, they feel a tingle and if it's their match the heart will also pound. Both brothers caused me to feel that tingle and when I looked at Seto, my heart pounded."

"Oh! So, they'll both be mermen."

Joey nodded, his eyes slightly glazed. Seto Kaiba. You and I are meant to be together and we will.