DISCLOSER: I DO NOT OWE YU-GI-OH
Chapter 4
The Club
Yami and Marik arrived at the Gravitation around four or so that afternoon. Yami headed straight to bar, for he did not see Joey there at that time, and started to check to see that everything was being stocked or need to be stocked behind the bar. Even if Joey got here a little earlier than him, sometimes Joey's newest live in Mai, distracted him and some things did not get done like there should have been. Marik blew a kiss to Yami as he walked to the dressing rooms to get his stuff ready for his set later on in the evening, so that left Yami behind the bar by himself at the time.
Joey came walking up with a box in his hands full of bottles to finish stocking up the bar for the night "Hey, man what's up?" looking at Yami clean a couple of dirty glasses that looked dirty to him at that time. Yami did not answer Joey, for his mind was on the latest problem that showed up on his doorstep this morning. Joey seeing that Yami was not there set the box down and started to wave his hand in front of Yami's face to bring him back "Earth to Yami….Earth to Yami you in there?" All of sudden seeing this hand waving in his face and turning to the owner of the hand "O, Hey Joey. What's with the outfit?" looking up and down at him. For Joey's part, he was wearing leather black pants that flared at the knees and silk white pirates shirt, with the strings in front lose to show his muscle chest, black leather vest, with a single white rose in the breast pocket.
Joey started to get nervous look on his face, and a small blush added a little more color to his checks, looking down at his own outfit in saying. "Do, I look ok, in this outfit? What I mean is that…well?" in part, Joey started to fidget under Yami's glaze. 'Now why is he is so worried about how he is dresses?' Looking Joey in the face and crocking his head to one side, crossing his arms in front of him, "Why do you want to know Joey?" With a twinkle in his eyes. A great blush crossed Joey's face and trying to look his best friend in the eyes but could not quite pull it off and ended up looking at the stage an the other end of the club. "I…I am…" taking a deep breath and swallowing the lump in his throat than sweat actually appeared on Joey's forehead.
Yami for his part kept quite but kept looking at Joey to finish on what he was saying. "I… am… going to ask Mai to marry me tonight while she is onstage dancing. She is doing a dancing to "White Wedding" By Billy Idol, and I will ask her then." All the stress made Joey look so scared that it looked like he was going to be sick right there. True to Yami's state of mind, this was something good for once in his life on this day.
Chuckling at Joey but at the same time proud of Joey. "I am sure you will do fine. Mai is a lucky girl, and so are you." Walking over to Joey and patting him on the back. Just than, Kaiba walked up to the bar, glancing over at Joey once and his steel blue eyes looking at Yami. "Everything ready for the night?" is all he said, with no emotion in his voice at all. Yami just glanced at Kaiba "Yes ready" and turned to finish putting the rest of the bottles away that Joey had brought to the bar earlier.
With a flip of his dark blue trench coat started to turn around to walk away and said to Joey as he walked off "By, the way Wheeler, this will be the only night you can disrupt Mai's dance and the last." With that statement, Kaiba walked back to his office. Joey got a big smile on his face after Kaiba walked away. Yami just chuckled shacking his head at Joey.
Before the club opened, Marik came back out to sit at the bar and to be close to Yami as he finished setting up the bar for the night. Looking at Joey who was trying his best not to fidget too much, but kept looking at the stage and sweat was falling freely down his face by now. Marik flipping a thumb to Joey as Yami walked over to him, and leaning a little more on the bar to be able to talk to Yami. Chuckling at what Marik was asking, and shacking his head at the same time. "Joey is going to ask Mai to marry him while she in on stage tonight."
Yami said watching Joey trying very hard not look to nervous at all. Honda and Duke came over and started to tease Joey about his big dance scene tonight, which make Joey worst than he was. Yami watched his friends tease Joey for a bit "Will you two stop, he is bad enough and I still need him tonight to help, but than I might give him plastic glasses instead to use for the night." Joey just gave Yami a dirty look and kept looking at the stage trying to ignore Honda and Duke as they tried not to laugh at how nervous Joey was. Shacking his head at poor Joey. Marik for his part stayed quite, but was smiling very big at Joey. Honda and Duke went back to the door to leave Joey to his doom as they were calling it as they walked away laughing.
The club opened on time, and the customers started to come in. The DJ started the music and the dance floor started to fill up, as well as the bar. The help of having to service drinks to the customers seem to help Joey a little bit, for he was able to put a smile on his face as he severed drinks to the customers with not to much mistakes.
Out of now where the lights dimmed a little more in the club, and a low sub white light filled the stage and then someone set up the dry ice to make the stage look innocent and then slowly the song started then out walked Mai on to the stage. Do to Mai's part she had her hair piled up on her head with flowers weaved in her hair with a white vale that fell over her face. Mai's dress was all white that fell in the back to her heels, the front was cut short to her knees. Her body slowly flowing with the song as the beat of the song filled the club. Everyone pretty much had stopped dancing to watch Mai's dance.
At that point, Joey froze at the bar not able to move at the site of Mai on stage. Yami smiling very big walked over to the frozen Joey and started to push him out behind the bar "Is it not your turn lover boy?" chuckling at Joey's blank face. Joey at the point got a very determined look on his face and walked to the stage where Mai was dancing. Yami kept servicing drinks but not as many, for everyone was watching the stage was well as Yami.
Marik catching Yami's eye, he walked over to where Marik was sitting "You think he can do it?" looking back to the stage. Yami looking to the stage also "I am sure he can, if he really wants her, he will do it." Is all he said and started to mix drinks again.
Then right in the middle of Mai's dance the color of the light changed and the music changed to "Burnin' For You" By Blue Oyster Cult. Mai stopped dancing looking around to what is going on with a puzzle look on her face. Yami took a chance to look around the club, and everyone was watching to see what was going on too. Than Yami even spotted Kaiba standing by his door watching the stage also. True to Kaiba's form, he was standing there with his arms cross his chest with not an emotion on his face at all. However, that was not the case his mind was a different story. Watching a confused woman on the stage, 'I still can't believe Wheeler asked to do this, and I agreed to it. I hope he don't screw it up.' Just kept watching the stage.
Back on the stage as if on cue the blue light narrowed to one bean of light and shined to the back of the stage. Mai turned and followed the light, with a still confused look on her face. Then drapes started to move and there stood Joey holding a single white rose in his hand. Mai's eyes widen at the site of Joey on the stage with her. Joey slowly walked up to Mai, even at that point, everyone could see that Joey was nervous about something. Mai true to nature put her hands on her hips looked at a very nervous man on stage with her and said the first thing that came to her mind "Joey what are you doing?" starting to get a mad look on her face at Joey.
Joey just kept walking up to Mai not saying anything just stopping in front of Mai and looking her in the eyes and handing her the white rose. To Mai's surprise Joey got down on one knee and took Mai's hand looking up at her in the eyes. Then the music went lower and than "Mai, here I kneel in your presents and everyone here as a witness to my love to you. The first day I meet you, I knew in my heart that I wanted to spend the rest of my life with you. Now, I know we have are differences, but even after are differences love is still there in both are hearts." Still looking at Mai, which she had tears start to fall from her eyes and a small happy smile graced her face. "What I am saying Mai." Joey shacking his head "No, what I am asking Mai is are you willing to share your life with me, and spend are days together forever? Mai will you marry me?"
Out of now where a ring appeared in Joey's hand for Mai to see and waiting for her answer.
It would seem everyone in the club was holding there breath waiting for Mai to answer. Joey still on his knee waiting for Mai's answer holding a ring in his hand to see if she would accept his offer. Mai looked at the man kneeling at her feet, with love in his eyes for her, that it ran so deep that Mai's tears were flowing so freely that now she could hardly see at all. Then with the hand holding the white rose slowly reaching for the ring that was being held before her, in Joey's hand. Slowly the rose fell as Mai took the ring out of Joey's hand and with the biggest smile on her face as her voice said one thing "YES" it was all she needed to say and then the club cheers real loud at that answer of Mai's. When everyone looked back on stage, Mai and Joey where sharing a kiss.
At that point, Kaiba, turned and walked back in to his office 'Well Wheeler did it. Back to work now, 'and closed his door to all happens that now filled the club.
Honda came over to the bar when he saw Yami and Marik sharing a kiss also. Chuckling at the two of them "You two better stop, that or Bakura is going to get jealous at you two for having too much fun with out him." With a smile on his face as he looked at Yami and Marik kissing. Marik was the first to come up for air, looking at Honda standing there, with a big smile on his face. Marik slowly walked over to Honda and leaned over the bar and whispered in to Honda's ear "Would you like a taste?" instead of saying anything Honda got beet red, started to shack his head and pointy saying "Serenity" and walked off saying something about friends and them being perverts.
Marik started to laugh as Yami walked up to him "You know every time you do that he ends up as a red popsicle for the rest of the night". Flipping his thumb to Honda as he turned away. Marik just turned and looked at Yami "Hey he started it and it is fun to tease him, just too bad Serenity is not here that would make it even better". With a smile on his face. Yami watches Honda walk back over to the door, where Duke in seeing Honda's red face started to laugh at him. Yami shook his head at his friends his family in how they were all part of his life.
Marik catching Yami's eye "I have to go back stage to get ready for my set". However, his eyes went to the door as if looking for someone to come through the door. Yami seeing where he was looking "Don't worry, Marik you know Bakura never missed on of your dances yet, and he will be here in time to see you dance." But there was a little bit of worry in his voice also, but gave Marik a smile. Marik nodded his head in agreement on that statement, headed back stage to get ready.
Joey, who was now back behind the bar, all the stress that plagued him was gone when Mai said yes, now ready to get back to work. Seeing Yami looking towards the door of the club, and knowing that Bakura was not there yet. He had to ask "Yami?" turning to look at Joey "O'Joey congratulations on you both". Giving his friend, a big hug "Thanks man, I am just glad Mai said yes, that was a damn hard thing to do". Than Joey got back to the question that he wanted to ask when he first started. "Yami where is Bakura usually he is here by now?" do to the question Yami said, "He will be here soon". Is all he said but on his mind was a different story 'I hope he gets here soon, and not stuck at the police station all night. Man they can be pricks about keeping people there forever.' "Earth to Yami….Earth to Yami? Man what is going on with you?" asked Joey as he was washing glasses for the next round of drinks.
Yami tuned Joey back in and trying to think of how to tell him all about what had happened this morning "I will tell all you guys after the club is closed. Besides that we need to celebrate both you and Mai's engagement tonight." Saying with a smile to show Joey what ever was going on it was not that bad and could wait for the end of the night.
At the police station two people where walking out after keeping them there forever, having one sign so many papers, the hand was so sore that it could not be used any more well at lest for a while. Bakura walking up to his car, and turning to look at the young woman who followed at a slower pace, for her mind was else where. Not, saying anything at all, but opening the car door so she could climb in.
Tea's mind was in a muddle and could not slow down at all, just kept going over the events that happened at the police station. Bakura getting in and starting the car to take Tea back to Yami's house. Looking at the quite woman who looked so lost in thought, that if you poked her, she would not feel it at all. Thinking to him self as he drove down the road 'Once I get Tea to the house and make sure she is in the house, I need to go to the club. Yami needs to know what is going on as it is.' Casting a glance to Tea sitting there looking out the window, not saying anything, not even a single tear fell out of her eyes at all.
'There where times I thought she would cry, or at lest let the tears come, but she did not do that at all.' Shaking his head a little at that thought 'What ever has happened to her, she is beyond broken, and she needs something but what to release all that has happened too her.' Pulling up to the house, Tea opened the door and climbed out to go in side, now waiting for Bakura, but at the same time waiting for him to open the door. Bakura walked up to the door in opening the door "I am headed to the club. You can use my bed again if you want to." Just watching her nod her head in hearing him and walking in the now opened front door.
Bakura closed the door and walked back to his car to head to Gravitation to let Yami know all that had happened that night, plus to watch Marik dance also.
After Tea walked in, she found Yugi and Ryou sitting in the living room watching a movie. Both heads turned toward the door when Tea walked in. Ryou looked at the woman standing there looking ready to fall apart, but something keep her together 'Whatever hidden strength she has is on the edge of falling apart too. She looks lost on what she is going to do.' Yugi for him he saw that Tea was in trouble and did not know where to go at this point. "Tea is there anything wrong?" this snapped Tea out of her daze to really see the two boys sitting on the couch. Taking a deep breath, "Did Matthew go to sleep for you two? I know it was not easy to keep him here, while I left to go to the police station?" Walking over and sitting in one of the chairs in the living room.
Both nodded there heads at her, but it was Ryou who answered, "Yes, he is asleep, but he did cry for a bit, and then he saw the Mac & Cheese and that did help big time. Went to bed with not too much problem." Tea raised an eyebrow at that. Yugi chuckled at that and answered her unspoken question "Had to find Puppy that silly thing ended up under the bed. But, did not find it till every last place was looked at in the house."
Ryou just smiled and wrapped his arms around Yugi in doing so looked at Tea "Yea, he swore that he could not go to sleep with out him." Rolling his eyes, "We had to walk around the house saying "Here Puppy" and looking and trying to think where that silly thing went." Yugi graced Ryou a smile "And, who's cute ass ended climbing under the bed for that silly thing?" hugging Ryou back and nuzzling his neck at the same time. Tea just smiled at the two love birds sitting there on the couch "Well at lest you did find it. And for a matter fact Matthew was right he can't sleep with out Puppy until he is in his arms at night." Chuckling at the thought of them walking around the house saying 'Here Puppy'.
Standing up Tea looked at the two of them one more time shacking her head "I am going to get a shower, to get cleaned and try to get some sleep after wards". Walking towards the bathroom. In an after thought, Tea threw back over her shoulder "By, the way if you two are going to have fun, please turn on the radio or something". Walked away to the bathroom. On their part, they just laughed at that and were headed to Ryou's bedroom hand in hand.
Tea walked in to the bathroom and looked around to see what was in there and saw a radio sitting on a shelf . Using her telekinetic ability to turn the power on, and hearing the music on the radio did not fit her mood right now, so she also changed the station at the same time. Not, willing her mind not to think of anything after all that had happened, today and started the shower as she messed with the radio. Standing there and letting the water flow over her in hopping the water would wash away all her problems. 'If only it was that easy' getting out of the shower and drying off.
Tea walked out of the bathroom and turned to go down the hall to check on her sleeping son. Walking down the hall, hearing music coming from behind one of the closed door. Smiling at the door, and keeping a tight hold on her shields as she walked by. Getting to the room that Matthew was in and opening the door and quietly closing the door behind her and walking up to the bed. Looking down at her sleeping son in the bed looking so peaceful, like not everything that had happened in the last three years had even effected him at all.
'But, I know better than that. Try to keep him safe, and trying to stay on step ahead of his father has not been easy for either of us.' Slowly reaching a hand down to brush his hair off his forehead, and making sure he was not to cold or to hot. 'As peaceful as he looks, I would think that coming here was a good idea for us both.' (Maybe it is a good idea) ' I don't know yet' (What about the house?) 'The house is gone.' (Do you think he did it?) 'I know he did it.' (Just be glad you came here first and not there first) 'That is true.' Coming back to her thoughts, and looking down at the little boy who meant the world to her, and she would do anything to keep him safe.
Leaning down and kissing Matthew on the forehead, and not even disturbing at all, and started to walk away very quietly, "I love you Sweetpea." Walked out the door closing it behind her very quietly as she walked out. Walking back to the living room, hearing it was quite in the house now, and no noise to disturb the air in the house at all. Smiling to herself, Tea went and laid down on the couch and thought Bakura would like his own bed for the night. As sleep claimed her, on thing was on her mind where Charles was now?