NOTE: Keep voting! Oh, and this chapter starts the "one-a-day" thing…each chapter is about one day in the month. Okay? It'll be shown in italics at the beginning! Enjoy! (PS: Y'all asked for a JoeyxMai romance thing…well, here it is! Of course, being the beginning of the plot, it's not much, but it's there!) Oh, and don't hurt me if the chapter stinks. I mean, the beginning may sound a little corny…but I think it gets better…I had no other ideas for this chapter…. However…watch for the little twist at the end…. The VERY end….
Revised: July 27, 2004Disclaimer: I don't own Yu-Gi-Oh!
Chapter 4: The First Day
July 1
Joey woke up suddenly. He looked around the room. That's weird, he thought, everything looks…lower than it was last night. Joey looked down at his legs. He had been kneeling in his sleep. Whoa! Why had he been kneeling? Oh, yeah, that's right. His dream:
Joey's Flame Swordsman was kicking every monster's butt that he came up against in Kaiba's virtual world game. It had just come out in arcades and in Kaiba Land. Joey had surprised himself by actually playing the game, since he hated Kaiba so much.
Then, the game switched gears. It wasn't a game anymore. It was a search and rescue mission. The mission: find his true love and save her. That started his adventure. Monster after monster, he battled his way around. Sometimes, he was just traveling in circles. But, eventually, he found the girl. She happened to be: Mai Valentine. Just before he had woken up, Joey was just about to tell his love to her. That's when he woke up…regretfully.
Joey smiled and reddened. That had to be the most awesome dream of his ever! It had been even better than the one where he was in a world made of chocolate covered donuts!
Suddenly, his door opened. A tired looking Yugi came in. The spiky-headed boy rubbed his eyes and looked warily up at Joey.
"Can you keep it down, Joe? It's 6:00, and you've been talking for the past half an hour!"
Joey blushed, "You mean…you heard all that?"
Yugi yawned, "Who didn't? A megaphone wouldn't have helped you at all, because you would've been louder!" The boy laughed slightly, "Of course…it's probably best to tell Mai you like her, in your sleep, rather than while you're awake…."
"AH! I said that! Out loud? To where everyone could hear me! Yug! Why didn't you wake me up?"
"You seemed to be having a good time…wherever you were. However, I doubt you woke anyone else up. I'm just a light sleeper. The rest of those four-leaf-clovers are down-to-earth, heavy snoring freaks," Yugi and Joey shared a laugh at Yugi's jealousy. "Anyway, even if Tea is up…which she probably is…and Ryou…they would probably be downstairs eating. Maybe Kaiba's down there too…which would be a good thing on your part."
"Yeah, you're right," Joey agreed, "Tea and Ryou wake up WAY to early. I mean, come on! They don't even sleep past eight! Talk about your mixed-up life. And then there's…" Joey looked around; certain Kaiba would walk through the very walls, or something, "Kaiba. We can only assume he's up now…working away at his company," Joey mumbled.
"I thought Mokuba and Noa took everything from him…at least, that's what I inferred yesterday. Oh well. I guess, since I'm up," he looked at Joey sternly, who smiled cheaply, "it'd be best to get ready for a day of--" he yawned, "fun."
"Don't sound so enthused, Yugi," Joey laughed.
"Well, best head down to breakfast," Yugi said.
"Wait for me!" Joey leapt out of bed and followed Yugi down the stairs and into the dining area. They entered, and saw Tea and Ryou (as predicted) sitting at the table, eating, and chatting. They were both still in their nightwear: Tea was in her flowered, short-sleeve pajamas, and Ryou was in his striped ones.
As soon as they saw the two enter, Ryou and Tea greeted them.
"Hey guys!" Tea waved.
"Top of the morning!" Ryou smiled in his British way.
"Sup, yo?" Joey sat down in a seat next to Ryou. He had purposely sat there, so that Yugi could sit next to Tea if he wanted. Joey knew of his big crush on her. As predicted, Yugi took his chance and sat down next to her.
"Hey Yugi!" Tea smiled, "Yugi…you don't look so good…. Did you not sleep very well or something?"
"I might've if foghorn over here hadn't been mouthin' off in his sleep the whole night," Yugi gestured over to Joey. The four laughed; even Joey, though the "insults" were directed towards him.
"Is it just me, or does Yugi seem to have a more care-free air when he's sleep deprived?" Ryou inquired, finishing the last of his orange juice.
Tea leaned on her elbows, "What was he revealing last night?" She laughed.
"Hey! I revealed nuttin'!" Joey threw back.
"Actually, he's right. It's the same old stuff: donuts…Mai…duel monsters…Mai…did I mention…Mai?" Yugi chuckled again. Ryou and Tea couldn't help but laugh along. Joey blushed in embarrassment.
Suddenly, a waitress came into view, "What'll y'all be havin'?" she asked in a heavy, American, southern accent.
"Uh…" Yugi looked at Tea's unfinished plate, to see what they had, "French toast? And…milk?"
"Hun…it ain't s'pposed to be a question. Jest tell me here whatcha want," she marked it down on her pad, "And you, there, kid," she pointed at Joey.
"You got pancakes?"
"Yup."
"Hash browns?"
"Sure do."
"Eggs? Scrambled…."
"Uh huh."
"And then French toast and some juice…any kind, I don't care," Joey threw off.
"Mighty fine appetite you got there, hun," she turned around, and could be heard in the kitchen, "Lou! I got a large order fer ya! Cakes, tater hash, and scrambled chicks! Double, an' sep'rate the French toast, and get a glass o' cow and juice!"
Joey and Yugi were wide eyed. Never in their lives had they heard their orders transferred into something…that sounded inedible.
Ryou laughed, "You'll get used to it. She's quite nice actually. She just moved in from America…from…Arkansas, was it?"
"Yeah. Don't worry…she said she's trying to get rid of the accent…and the phrases," Tea laughed. As soon as Yugi's plate came, Tea's was cleared. Yugi ate his toast in no time at all, and they were still waiting for Joey's order.
It was just when a certain blond came in, that Joey's breakfast came. They all looked up to see Mai walk in.
"Hey Mai!" Tea called out.
"A bit early for you, isn't it?" Yugi inquired, seeing her yawn.
"Yeah, well, same goes for you, right?" she sat down next to Joey…for no specific reason…(or was there one?)
Ryou looked slyly over at Tea, who looked cunningly over at Yugi, who nodded slightly, and stood up, "You know what? I feel kinda weird sitting here in my pajamas. I'm gonna go get ready and everything," Yugi said.
"Well, seeing as I'm done, I'll do the same," Ryou stood up and pushed in his chair.
"Me too. There's really no point in staying, seeing as we've finished breakfast and all. See you two later, bye!" and the three of them walked out of the dining area.
"Well, talk about your cheery greeting," Mai huffed.
"Yeah…it was weird…. I mean, they stayed while Yug ate his breakfast, and then they waited for mine…."
"Reckon they didn't want ter go and leave ya alone, hun," the waitress (whose name was Jessie) walked in. "Whatcha like, ma'am?"
"Uh…" Mai looked at Joey's plate for a hint (there was plenty to hint), "pancakes? And orange juice, please."
"More of them dern questions. I dunno what's up with y'all, but it sure's confusin' me," she walked back into the kitchen, "Cakes and squeezed oranges, Earl!"
"Yes'um!" Earl responded.
Joey looked at Mai's confused face, "Tea and Ryou said you'd get used to it. She's s'pposed to be really nice."
"Yeah…" Mai faded off. "So…Joey…anything new?" Mai started a lame conversation, poking at her food.
"Nom, na sinc yeseray," Joey spoke with a piece of toast in his mouth.
Mai closed her eyes, "Joey, you're an animal."
Joey swallowed, "What kind of animal?"
"I don't know! Just an animal!" Joey looked at her, still wanting to know. "Fine…a…flamingo…I don't know!"
"A flamingo? I was expecting a pig or something…but a flamingo?" Joey looked at her and tried holding back his laughter.
"Well, I don't know…it's my favorite animal…."
"Ooohh," Joey looked at her cheerily. That cheery look melted into a warm one. Mai turned to look at him, her large purple eyes wondering.
"What're you looking at?"
"Nothing," Joey answered simply, but continued staring at her.
"Nothing? So, I'm a nothing to you?" she pursed her lips.
"Ah! No! That's not what I meant!" Joey put his head in his hands.
Mai giggled, "You know, you're cute when you're frustrated. Dangerous, sometimes, but cute."
Joey's head popped up in confusion, "Huh?" Then he reddened. His face was about two inches away from hers. "You…you think that?" he inquired softly.
"I do," she replied back, just in a whisper. Her head moved slightly towards him, just as his did.
Suddenly, Joey saw something in the corner of his eye.
Mokuba and Noa stopped in the doorway, and looked at them slyly, "Um…are we interrupting something. We'll just leave then…" Mokuba was about to drag out a trying-not-to-laugh-by-holding-it-in-and-failing-miserably Noa.
Mai's head shot back, "No, no, you're not interrupting anything! Why would you interrupt something?" she gave a fake giggle. She took two quick bites of toast, dropped the last ¾ of it, drunk about half her glass of juice and sped out of the room. She whipped past the two Kaiba brothers and walked briskly up the stairs.
"Well…um…sorry about that, Joey," Mokuba said, sitting down across from him. Noa sat next to his brother.
"Sorry about what?" Joey still had a tid-bit of red in his face as he bit into an egg.
"'Sorry about what' he asks!" Noa mimicked, "As if we didn't know! Joey, give it up. Everyone but Seto and Mai know that you like Mai…a lot!"
"Who told you!" Joey quickly threw at them. He realized his mistake and recovered, "I mean…where'd you get that crazy idea?"
"Never mind, Joey," Mokuba said as Jessie came in and took their orders. They seemed to have just as big an appetite as he did. Joey was quite amazed.
"I like your style, kids," Joey said, biting into more of his pancakes.
"Learned from the best!" Mokuba replied, smiling.
"Who, Kaiba?" Joey looked up at them.
"No, you!" Noa replied. "Even though Seto does eat a lot…."
Joey chocked on some of his French toast, and quickly grabbed his almost empty glass of juice, "Kaiba what?"
"Seto eats a bunch. Why?" Mokuba looked at Joey quizzically.
"That's…that's really hard to believe," Joey looked down at his food, now seeing a similarity between him and his enemy. He didn't like it. "I'm not so hungry anymore," he said, pushing his plate away. Then something twitched in his head, "Where is Kaiba, anyway? Shouldn't he be up about now? I mean, it's 8:00!" Joey said, looking up at the clock on the wall.
"Only eight o' clock?" Mokuba turned around to view it.
"Nah. Don't expect Seto up for another few hours," Noa replied.
Joey had just been taking a drink; when he spewed it back out…not into the cup, but all over the Kaibas. The two looked at each other slowly, in a sort of, disgusted fashion.
"Sorry 'bout that," Joey replied, wiping his mouth, "But what'd ya mean about Kaiba sleepin' in for another few hours?"
"Just what we said," Noa replied, wiping himself off, as best he could, "He sleeps in if he gets the chance. Sometimes we don't see him till two in the afternoon. Most of the time he sleeps till twelve. We're lucky if he's up at ten. But on Saturdays, we make the rules, and wake him up at eight." Mokuba sniggered at this, thinking of the many times they had woken up their brother, in many different ways.
Joey smiled, "I'd like to see…er…hear that. You gonna be doin' that this Saturday?"
Mokuba looked over at Noa, "Well, we thought about not doing it, since we wouldn't be doing our usual "thing" on Saturday, but I guess tradition just can't be changed." The two brothers smiled.
Joey leaned back in his chair, "Beautiful."
It was near noon. Now, the whole gang was up, and had eaten. Now by "gang," I mean everyone except Seto Kaiba. He was still…asleep. And by some unexplainable phenomenon, he unconsciously planned to stay that way. That is…until he heard all the racket in the hallway.
Seto groaned and lazily got out of bed, ready to give those geeks a piece of his mind. He opened the door. Still a little on the "waking-up" side, he held the bridge of his nose, and closed his eyes, so that he could adjust them without looking painfully into the streaming sunlight.
"Will you geeks keep it down? Some people are trying to sleep here! Have you no sense of mannerism? Also--" Kaiba was interrupted by a familiar female voice. He didn't have to open his eyes to know who she was.
"Pipe down, will ya? It's about time you got up anyway. It's noon for gosh sakes!" Tea retorted, stepping out of her room, holding a towel.
"Tea! Stop your yappin' an' come on!" Joey shouted from the bottom of the stairs.
"Coming!" she sighed. Seto finally opened his eyes. He finally saw Tea. She was wearing one large, white T-shirt; to where you could barely see the hot pink shorts below it. Seto raised an eyebrow at this attire.
Tea saw this look; "I'm going to the beach…all of us are going to the beach…well…save you, right now." Suddenly, Mokuba and Noa popped out of their rooms and began running down the hallway.
"Come on Seto! Hurry up!" Mokuba shouted.
"See you at the beach!" Noa replied.
"What makes you think I'm coming?" he replied to the disappearing bodies.
"You have no choice!" Mokuba called back.
"You either come, or we'll be forced to take action!" Noa said, as they ran out the door, a floor down, and out onto the sand. Tea walked after them.
Everyone was out on the beach (except Seto, of course). Coming out from the front door of the beach house, one walked onto a small strip of sidewalk, that lead one way to the parking lot, and another way to the patio.
On the patio (it was a very large patio), there was a drink stand, with a counter and stools. There were also picnic benches, and a grill. Not to mention a large free space of sidewalk that could be used for mingling and dancing at special get-togethers. The patio wasn't far off from the beach, but was surrounded by a white, metal railing.
The beach itself was dead ahead of the beach house. The house itself was elevated above the rest of the beach. The sand rolled down to meet the water below. Towels from the rest of the gang, and some umbrellas were set up on the elevated part of the beach.
Serenity and Joey were splashing each other in the water, and chasing one another. Mai was lying out on her towel, supposedly getting a tan. Yugi was sitting at the water's edge, having the water lap up on him, while watching the Wheelers. Duke and Tristan were just sitting in the shade of some umbrellas, watching Serenity, whom had sparkling water droplets flying around her, with utmost interest.
Mokuba and Noa walked up to the edge of the beach (before it fell down to the water's elevation). They set down their things and just stood for a moment. Mai was lying near them, getting her tan. Suddenly, she looked up.
"Noa Kaiba, I'm impressed!" she laughed.
"What?" Noa quickly looked himself up and down, wondering what was wrong with him.
"I swear, I think you're the only guy I've ever seen wear purple trunks out in public. Way to go!" Mai laughed some more. Noa's head shot up in slight embarrassment, and he looked away reddening.
"Is it a crime to wear purple?" he inquired, folding his arms. "I happen to like that color." Mokuba was just standing back, watching the moment in happiness. He thought it was always funny to see his stepbrother made fun of, for some reason or another.
"Answer me this," Tea suddenly came up from behind. Noa, Mokuba and Mai turned to look at her, "Isn't purple a close color to pink?"
"Yeah…" Mai stated.
"So?" Noa threw back, "You saying that I like pink too?"
"Not that you don't," Mokuba muttered.
Noa rounded on him, "Watch it!"
"No, no. What I'm saying is, if pink is close to purple, and you take into account the saying, 'Only real men wear pink,' then I see no problem with his…suit. Actually…it makes him a true man, I guess," Tea explained.
"Well…I guess it makes sense…according to the saying," Mai replied.
"R-real…m-man?" Noa stuttered, feeling like he had just received the compliment of all compliments…being that it was from Tea Gardner…his newly found crush.
"We never said we didn't like it," Mai responded, "I just found it interesting. It's nice to know there are still men out there who don't care about what other people think of them, and go on wearing or doing what they want, even if it is abnormal…not saying you're abnormal or anything…just…ah, never mind," Mai ended.
Noa laughed, "Don't worry, I get it."
Mokuba put an arm around his brother, "I guess that makes you totally opposite Seto."
"Meaning?" Mai inquired.
"Meaning that Seto cares immensely what people think about him…what he wears…all that stuff. In other words--" Mokuba was cut off.
"He needs to lighten up and enjoy life, before he becomes even more of an enclosed shell than he already is," Tea tapped her foot lightly on the sand.
"You were saying?" a cold voice came up from behind.
"Big brother! You decided to show!" Mokuba ran over to Seto. Mai and Tea turned around slowly. And if they hadn't been scared enough by his cold voice intruding on their conversation; otherwise, they would have gasped. It was the first time they had ever seen Seto Kaiba in anything but pants and a trench coat (save yesterday, however, they were preoccupied with the surprise that he was actually here.).
Today, he was wearing a white, sleeveless shirt and his black trunks…not that he'd need them. He didn't plan on going swimming. He just would have felt weird being the only person in real shorts. He also had some shades on, so that the intense beach sunlight wouldn't bother him while he read…because he was also carrying one of the three books his brothers had packed him, in his hand.
"What are you two looking at?" he inquired, seeing them practically gape.
"Umm…nothing," Tea started looking in other directions frantically, "I was just looking for a place to put my towel and all that…and that spot," she pointed to a place about twenty feet away, "WAY over there, looks pretty good to me. See ya!" and she ran off to her "spot."
Seto sighed. This was exactly why he hadn't wanted to come out here. Women always swooned over him. But, with his brothers warning that they would take measures if he hadn't come, he decided to save himself the embarrassment, and come himself. He knew his brothers meant it, when they said they would force him out. They had done other things like that before…and he wasn't about to take any chances.
A voice suddenly interrupted his thoughts, "Look, Kaiba, if you're done scowling, could you move? You're blocking the sun, here," Mai stated from the ground. And then, in a less audible tone, she murmured, "And believe me, you're no sunshine substitute."
"Excuse me?" Kaiba said, referring to her muttered comment.
"What? It's a simple question, can…you…please…move?"
"That wasn't what I meant."
"Yeah, I know. It's just fun to annoy people…especially you," Mai snickered. Seto threw a dirty look at her, and walked off, to a few palm trees nearby.
He sat himself down under one of them, popped open his book, and stared at the first sentence. Somehow, he just couldn't bring himself to read. He mind was running over all of the jokes thrown at him these last two days from the nerds.
This was another reason he didn't want to be here. All they did was annoy and humiliate him. If Mai hadn't been a girl, and Joey hadn't been near (he didn't want to upset the mutt anymore than he already was; since that'd make even more misery for the poor Kaiba), then she would have been unconscious right now for her remarks.
Since he didn't feel like reading too much, Seto decided to watch the freaks…and his brothers, on the beach:
Mai was still tanning. Duke and Tristan were trying to push each other under water, and keep the other from coming back up. Tea and Yugi were splashing each other. And his brothers and the Wheelers were playing volleyball in the water with a beach ball.
Wait…. Kaiba took off his sunglasses to get a better look, just in case they were messing up his vision. His brothers were associating themselves with the Wheelers? Oh no. He was NOT going to stand for that. He was going to intervene. Without thinking, Seto took off his shirt, and walked down to the water. He waded in; still partially unaware of what he was doing. Mokuba and Noa were a good distance from the beach itself.
The four volleyball players didn't notice him come up, "Mokie, Noa, I…need to speak with you."
Mokuba turned to see him, "Wow, Seto! You came in by yourself! And we didn't have to drag you in and/or threaten you!" Noa fell under the ocean water, laughing.
Seto suddenly realized, fully aware, that he was indeed in the water, "Uh…yes…Mokuba, I really need to talk with you two…back on the beach."
Joey was now laughing, "You mean you two also threaten him? Besides waking him up, too?"
"Yeah, pretty much," Mokuba turned to face Joey. Then he realized who had heard. He turned back to face a red-faced Seto, "Oops…hehe…slipped out, didn't it?"
"Mokuba…what have I said about associating with dogs? It makes you look like your talking to yourself because they don't have the brains to answer," Seto replied, fuming at what his brother had revealed about certain habits of his.
Joey popped up, "Hey! That…was an insult…" he looked a tad confused.
"My…maybe he does have a brain cell in there," Seto retorted. Then he noticed Noa missing, "How long has Noa been under water?"
"I don't know…how long is he supposed to be?" Mokuba inquired.
"How long can he hold his breath and laugh at the same time?" Seto started to get a worried look on his face.
"I…don't…know…" Mokuba's eyes widened. Seto quickly dove underwater to go fetch his brother. It was a good five feet deep here. Seto opened his eyes, and blurrily scanned the ocean floor. He saw a large mass lying on the bottom. Seto swam over and picked up the limp body. He broke to the surface.
Immediately, Noa began coughing and spewing water. Seto hit his back a few times to help the process. Joey looked on in shock; Mokuba in worry; and Serenity in concern. Finally, Noa was able to speak again…in gasps, though.
"Man…that water sure is nasty. What a great first time experience at the beach!" and the kid wasn't being sarcastic. All in all, it taught him to not fall underwater, while laughing, again.
"Just don't do it again! You could've died!" Seto retorted. Joey was pretty shocked. It was the first time he had ever seen concern cross Kaiba's face.
"Yeah, well, been there, done that," Noa pretty much shrugged it off.
"WHAT?" But it wasn't Seto whom had spoken…it was Serenity. They all looked up at her.
"You just shrug off that accident like it was no problem? You know you only have one life! Even if you were…reincarnated once, it was by lucky chance! You were able to be rushed to some virtual reality pod, and saved! Well guess what? There's none of that here! So I'd expect someone as bright as you to actually concern yourself with your life, and know what the consequences would be! Argh!" Serenity ended her speech and waded off back towards shore.
Everyone watched her in amazement. Serenity had never spoken so outwardly to anyone, like that. Even Seto was amazed at her gull. Noa was in shock. Slowly, he was registering every word that she had said.
Serenity calmed herself walking back to the beach. She didn't know why she had just mouthed off like that…and especially to Kaiba's brother! In front of Kaiba, himself! Of course…the reason might have been…that the minute she noticed where the boy had drowned, and was looking at the spot directed next to Mokuba, her heart had fluttered….
Whew! Long chapter there! Okay, I don't really think it's one of my favorites…because it seemed kinda boring to me. However…I did just think up…and really liked that little twist at the end, for Serenity starting to like Noa! Ah! Coolio! However…we all know that unless my mind switches gears, he'll have to reject her, because he's not on her list of men…in my voting ballot.
Anywho…it seemed to have no plot really…to me. What about you? What did you think? You tell me in a review. I won't be surprised if you guys hate, despise, and want me to just trash the whole thing. Oh well…easy come, easy go. Sorry if I sound so…pessimistic. It's not like me. I just don't think I really liked this chapter. Sure, it was kinda funny…but…oh well. You tell me. Please review, and vote too!
Of course, I assure you…better chapters are to come…in about 10 more chapters of course…poopy…I come up with the best ideas but have to wait…double poopy.