Here we go; chapter 4

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'It's always so beautiful.' Isis gazed up at the night sky; riddled with stars. She glanced next to her where Seto sat on the edge of the palace's roof, watching her.

'It is.' He smiled, but didn't look up at it. 'You know, you haven't given me an answer.'

'Isis blinked. 'To what question?'

'To the one you gave me in your scrying room.'

'I gave you?' Isis frowned.

'Yes. After you said you couldn't be with you. That I needed to take a bride for Egypt.'

Isis went white. 'Seto please, we've had a wonderful couple of weeks together, but-'

'Marry me Isis. Egypt needs a Queen like you and I want you always by my side.'

'Seto...I-I can't. I'm not royalty, I...what would the guardians think?'

'You worry too much.' He kissed her on the forehead. 'They're delighted.'

'You asked them?!'

'I did. And they all gave their blessing.'

Which explained the sideward looks they'd been giving her today. 'Seto...' Isis looked away. 'I'm scared.'

Kaiba blinked slowly as his eyes opened in reality. Then he scowled. This was the first dream he'd had of Egypt since Ishizu confronted him in his office. He'd thought they would end after he hadn't had any dreams for a couple of nights, but obviously not. He supposed the dreams still had something to tell him. And he wasn't impressed about that. He might have admitted his love for Ishizu, and he might tolerate being talked about as having a past self-whether he believed it or not was another matter; he wasn't too sure on that account himself-but that didn't mean he would like having these dreams about Egypt again or like having to take advice from them.

He looked down at the sleeping form next to him and his eyes softened. Ishizu lay curled up against him, one arm flung up behind her head and the other curled around his hand. Gently Kaiba brushed away the hair that had fallen in front of her face.

On a stifled groan he lay back. With a bit of luck it was only a once-off and his nights would be dream free again tomorrow night...they'd better be.

***

'Come on in Tea.' Mai called at the knock on the door.

Tea slipped in and over to the blond who was sitting amongst a mess of pictures on the floor. 'What are you up to?' She ditched her bag and knelt down next to Mai.

'Sorting out the pictures from when I was a kid. I don't have many, but I've got more than I thought I had. I should have done this years ago but...it hurt too much.'

'Is this a response to last night?' Mai had told her what had happened over the phone that morning when she asked if Tea wanted to go shopping and have a drink somewhere to catch up before she went to the orphanage. Tea had been surprised at the overnight turnabout to say the least.

'...I guess so...You're early by the way.'

'I figured we might as well get onto it. And I need to get some clothes more suited for Japan instead of New York.'

'That's more than a morning's shopping.'

'Well, we can at least make a start.'

Mai smiled to herself as she heard the 'we' not 'I.' It was wonderful to feel wanted. 'Umm, let me just clean these up and get something else on, shouldn't take me too long.'

'No, just half an hour.' She laughed as Mai scowled at her. 'I'm in no hurry. Truth be told; I mainly wanted to spend some girl time with you. Its gonna be so nice having another girl around with the gang all the time, and not just me.'

'Don't know how you survived all those years keeping the boys in line.'

'Neither do I.' Tea sighed dramatically. 'But they do tend to grow on you...speaking of the boys, where's Joey? Don't tell me he's still asleep?'

Mai grinned and shook her head. 'He's in the shower.'

'Uh-oh! I know from numerous sleepovers that he caterwauls in there. Block your ears!'

Mai laughed. 'I know. I found that out quickly enough. It's sweet.'

'Oh dear, a sure sign of a woman in love; her guy can do no wrong. I'm dreading when the honeymoon period ends.'

Mai smiled at her. 'If it does. We've been through enough that I don't know if the joy will ever wear off, and I've been as angry at him as anybody can be at someone that hasn't committed a crime against them, so I don't think being angry at him again is going to have any impact on us.'

'No, fights are usual for you two. And you've got stars in your eyes.' Tea observed and was surprised when Mai actually blushed. 'I've never seen you this happy.'

'I don't think I've ever been this happy.' Mai murmured, which brought her back to the pictures. 'My parents died when I was little, and I was shifted around family after that. Some were good to me; others treated me like a pest or burden and thought I should be ever grateful for everything they did for me. Pah! As if! If they would have given me any love with that I might have been. I went to live with my father's oldest brother when I was twelve. He was supposed to have custody of me after my parents died, but he kept putting it off. He couldn't put it off any more so I went to live with him. I lived with him and his wife for four years. They were always fighting when they were together, which wasn't alot when you think about it, and they filed for divorce when I was fourteen and got the divorce after a nasty court battle, but one which only ran for a few months. I ran away when I was sixteen.'

Tea swallowed painfully. She'd never heard Mai's story before. She pitied the child and hurt for the woman.

Mai shrugged. 'I didn't see my aunt-my oldest uncle's sister-in-law that is-again after she walked out, apart from one nasty scene about a month later. I haven't heard anything from any of my family since I left.' She eyed Tea. 'You don't have to pity me; it's just the way things are.'

'Pity? No. I pity the girl you were but...I hurt for you.' Impulsively Tea hugged her.

Mai squeezed her briefly and let go. 'I'll get these cleaned up and then we can go.' Mai began stacking the photos up into piles, glancing at the ones on top of the piles as she did so. One was of her and her parents, there was one of her and her last class of primary school, and one of her as a gangly teenage astride a horse when she lived with her mother's sister. She's actually liked living with them, but had only been there for a few months before she had to move on again-because she was supposed to be in her uncle's care, not theirs. If she would have picked one family to live with, it would have been them.

There was another picture of her with her father's younger brother-a sailor-aboard his ship which she lived on for half a year before she went to her other uncle. And then one of her aunt and uncle. Mai shook her head over this one. They were so civilised and proper, with not a hair out of place. Horrible, Mai shuddered. She much preferred heated emotions to their cold ones, except when they were in a fight-then she'd stayed well out of the way because it was all out war. Her uncle looked sophisticated and stuck up in a suit with his sleek black hair. The only thing that didn't fit into his look were his purple eyes; the Valentine trademark. Mai turned to study her aunt and found herself frowning. That-

'You ready?'

'Yeah.' Mai shook her head to clear it. 'Let me just get a jacket and my bag, then let's go clear out those shops!'

***

They had a wonderful time. But since time was short they wrapped it up a half past eleven and loaded all their bags into the car. They hadn't even stopped for a bite to eat but had shopped for two and a half hours straight.

Joey reeled in mock shock as Mai bundled herself and her bags through the door. 'How much stuff do girls need?! I'm not gonna have any room left for me in the closet!'

'That's what the extra room is for.' Mai kissed him on the cheek as she passed.

'ARGHHHHH!'

'You ready to go?'

'Yep. Doesn't take much for me to get ready!'

'I know.' Mai retaliated in a disapproving tone.

'Yeah well...was that a hint?!'

'Not at all.' Mai returned breezily, walking past him to take the last load off Tea and dump it in their room.

'Huh! Well, anyway. Hey Tea! Uh-I guess we'll have to talk properly later.'

'You can take me out to lunch.' She patted his cheek, knowing he hated it and was pleased with the responding growl of annoyance. She gave Mai a grin and hugged her. 'Actually, what about dinner and a movie tonight?'

'Aren't you still catching up on sleep from jetlag?' Joey queried.

'Yep. So I figure a late night won't make much difference to my already skewered clock. What do you think?'

'A movie and food-do you even have to ask?'

'Mai?'

'Sounds good to me.'

'Cool. I'll have a look what's on and give you and Tristan a call later. See ya. And Good luck.' She added as she walked out the door.

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