Okay, another loooong chapter ahead, but I hope you like it. I know I write long chapters..but I love writing this so much. to tell you the truth I hate flames and can't really commit, 'cause sooner or later I end up wanting to twist these things up. hint, hint. but no offense to those who like ex. MaixJoey fics I like reading those pairings, but can't write them.
Chapter 6- Friendship, Love and Duelling Lessons
Wing Weaver yawned as she finally finished a day's work for Lady Orchid's ice cream shop just waiting to go to sleep. Lady Orchid in her finest kimono greeted them as she and Darren walked into the apartment. Lady Orchid smiled as she motioned them to sit down on the velvet violet sofa in the corner of the living space with Cat Nip's basket up on a tall filing cabinet. Cat Nip snoring heavily as Darren and Wing sat quietly facing their new tenant.
"So..tell me how was your first day here on Earth?" Lady Orchid asked timidly.
"Well, it was alright. I guess..." Darren murmured.
"It was so exciting Lady Orchid, all these new things I never thought was possible." Wing Weaver squealed as she clasped her hands together and sat cross legged next to Lady Orchid. "All these new experiences and feelings, I never had made a cherry and banana split before! We never had those things in the convent!"
"Why thank you! You've been very busy today my dear and learning a lot of new things..I can tell." Lady Orchid answered very taken over. "You shine a very bright light Wing. Don't let that ever get away from you."
"I won't..." Wing whispered confidently, Darren sighed as he watched Wing curl up beside Orchid, a small grin spread across his face, the first time that day and swore secretly to himself to protect Wing no matter what. Wing smiled giddily as she hopped to one foot and spread her arms out wide as if she had no care in the world. "And I found out something today.."
"Oh..and what is that my dear?" Lady Orchid asked wonderingly.
"It's kind of weird..something I never felt before." Wing answered timidly as she sat to the floor. She shied away from Darren's barren look at her, mouth hanging open. "It's about a boy I met washing the tables.."
"The guy with the banana in his pocket?" Darren asked bitterly, Wing didn't seemed to notice, blushing as she looked a bit dazed. Orchid clapped her hands to her mouth as she went down on her knees to hug Wing tightly. Darren shook his head in disbelief.
"Oh Wing, I'm so happy for you!" Orchid cried as tears rolled down her wrinkled face. "You've fallen in love!"
"That's a good thing..isn't it?" Wing remarked a bit confusedly.
"Yes my child, you've found someone to claim your heart."
"It's such a warm feeling! I can't believe how good it feels." Wing swooned as she whisked off the floor. "Of all the things in fairy tales..this is true!"
"Of all the things in fairy tales.." Orchid solemnly answered. "What is his name?"
"His name is Joey. Oh Orchid, doesn't that just roll of your tongue."
"Off the tongue and into the toilet." Darren murmured darkly, Cat Nip stretching in his basket.
"For once I quite agree." Cat Nip replied smartly. Orchid darted a gaze towards the stubborn cat and slammed one of the open drawers of the filing cabinet in one gigantic push, making Cat Nip fall from his bed and onto the couch.
"Quit that smart mouthing, you dumbfounding feline." Orchid hissed. "You do not know half the things about love!"
"Oh yes, I do have a little expertise in the field of romance." Cat Nip haughtily remarked putting a claw to his chest. "If you excuse me I have a date with my supper dish..coming sweet Salmon Supreme!"
"Figures. Cats only love with their stomaches." Orchid muttered to Wing as Cat Nip scampered to the side of the kitchenette. "Go along dear, it's getting very dark it may be time for you two to go to sleep. I will wake you in the morning."
"Thank you dear Lady Orchid." Wing said with a bow. "And good night."
"Sleep well my child." Orchid waved as Wing departed to the spare bedroom, she turned to Darren who was lying motionless on the sofa staring into oblivion. "Is there something wrong Darren?"
"Nothing Lady Orchid, I'm just worried." Darren replied uneasily.
"You are worried about the one you loved." The wise woman nodded, "Go to sleep and rest your mind from the subject."
"I do not need rest." Darren answered abruptly. "We Dark Magicians are able to go without sleep for quite a few days..I tend to be a nocturnal creature."
"Very well then. Nocturnal or not shut off the lights when you're done." Lady Orchid remarked swiftly. "I tend to be a bit cranky when I do not get the rest I deserve."
"Yes Lady Orchid." Darren replied tonelessly with a curt nod.
"Oh and Dark Magician.." Orchid said as she began to her quarters, the Dark Magician sitting alone on the sofa gave a look of puzzlement. "First love doesn't mean only love.."
With that cryptic message the wise woman flicked off the lights and went to bed leaving Darren with his thoughts and in the dark.
"Good morning Joey," Serenity chimed as she and her brother went out for a walk the next day. Joey grabbed his backpack as he raced out the door, reaching for his game pack of cards and a doughnut from the table. He stretched out and yawned as they began down the block, Serenity forcing herself not to laugh. Joey couldn't see himself but he knew that Serenity always thought he looked goofy as he yawned in the morning. "Still having those nightmares again?"
"Ya mean those with the underwear trouble or the snakes trying to eat my peanut butter sandwich?" Joey grunted embarrassingly. "For your information none of them. I slept fine."
"Where did you want to go so early in the morning?" Serenity asked. "It's barely ten.."
"To the ice cream shop." Joey answered simply.
"What? You just had a doughnut for breakfast." Serenity remarked, "How could you be hungry after one of them?"
"I'm not hungry. I just wanna go there..ya hear!" Joey insisted, Serenity sighed as she followed behind her brother who seemed to have been a bit giddy on his behalf.
"Alright Joey. What's going on?" Serenity asked concernedly. "I'm beginning to worry."
"What? You can trust me Serenity." Joey remarked pleadingly. "Come on sis. What is it?"
"Is it because of that girl.." Serenity replied with her arms crossed over her chest.
"Eh..girl?" Joey asked blushing red as he fondled with his blond mop. "What girl.."
"Oh I get it..you like that girl who spread the sundae all over your pants huh." Serenity giggled slyly. Joey snarled, he didn't really like how smart his sister had been getting. He turned away and saw Yugi, Tristan and Tea running towards them.
"Hey look! There's the guys!" Joey shouted.
"Tea, What's up!" Serenity called as they waved towards them.
"What's up is right!" Tea said without breath and pointed towards Joey. "What's up with phoning us up at seven in the morning?"
"Yeah, what's going on Joey?" Yugi muttered, "Is there some sort of emergency?"
"Well it's a matter of a heart condition.." Serenity snickered, Joey sniffled disgustedly.
"Very funny Serenity." Joey sneered.
"Heart condition? I thought it would be insanity that causing you to wake us up like that!" Tristan remarked with a yawn.
"You're such a comedian Trist'.." Joey bumbled.
"Really Joey, what's going on?" Yugi asked his purple eyes showing a look of concern. "Is it something serious?"
"Nah. I just wanted to give a little wake up call to someone." Joey answered bashfully. "A little house warming party for someone. A little welcome to the neighbourhood."
"Who is it?" Tea inquired.
"Well it's um..someone I know." Joey insisted.
"It's the girl from the ice cream shop." Serenity interrupted cheerfully.
"Serenity!"
"That's so thoughtful Joey.." Yugi responded. "Is it her first day here?"
"Well I overheard yesterday, she's new to this part of town, yeah." Joey replied.
"Then let's go and welcome them in." Tea agreed.
"But don't you think it's a little early..." Tristan muttered. "Hint hint..they might be asleep."
"So what? I told you it would be a wake up call." Joey insisted as they began towards Ye Olde Orchid's...
"mmm...so tired. So sleepy." Wing snored as she dozed under the puffy covers of Orchid's spare bedroom. She smacked her lips as she looked up at the digital clock on the bedside table and panicked. She jumped from the bed and sped towards the dresser and flipped through the drawers trying to find her yellow choir dress. Unable to find her choir clothing she ripped through the other things in the room trying to find it, until she came to her bag she had taken with her from the Monster Realm. She pulled the drawstring..and looked inside to see not the white stone that White Pikeru had given her..or the orange feather from Harpy Girl's wing, just two cards with her friend's names on it. "Oh crap! Mystical Elf is going to kill me! I'll be sentenced to be away from the convent.."
"You're already out of the convent my dear.." the snide comment came from the doorway as Cat Nip's furry body bound to the foot of the bed.
"Oh gosh! I forgot!" Wing stammered as she slapped her head. "I'm already out.."
"What a bright girl this is." Cat Nip muttered under his breath. "Had a good sleep Wing Weaver? Or is it not as comfortable than your old residence."
"It's fine. Thank you for being such a fine host." Wing answered as she started making the bed and with that Cat Nip jumped off the bed and into the hall hissing to himself furiously.
Suddenly there was a sound at the door, a ringing sound that filled the air and made Wing jump in fright. Wing trembled as the mysterious sound called again, she scampered out barefoot in the hall as Darren stood straight as a stick in the living area of the apartment holding a poker from the fireplace in his hands ready for anything that came his way.
"Did you hear that?" Wing whispered gently as she crept next to Darren and touched a hand on his shoulder. The sound came again.
"It must be some sort of beast's call..coming from outside." Darren replied in an urgent whisper. He waved a hand to his side as Wing held his shoulder frightened as Darren began towards the front door.
"Don't go Darren!" Wing began to plea. "Who knows what dangerous creatures you can face from Earth! You can't fight without your magic.."
"That's true." Darren stated simply, turning his head towards the door. "But I have to try.."
The ringing became frantic wails throughout the house and as Darren held out his poker in defence he edged closer and closer towards the door. With a gruff moan coming from the other side of the apartment Lady Orchid came into view with bags under her eyes.
"Oh come on! Would somebody please answer the door!" Lady Orchid cackled holding a pillow over her head. "That doorbell is giving me a headache!"
"How can we answer a door?" Wing asked curiously. "Doors don't talk."
"Then open it and see who's behind the door." Lady Orchid instructed. "And put that fire hook down..we don't want to hurt anybody."
"But the beast who's making the noise.." Darren retorted.
"That's a doorbell.." Lady Orchid explained. "Wing! Open the door already!"
"Yes madame." Wing said with a bow and opened the door. With a shocked expression she was facing the group that had been at the ice cream shop the day before and as she looked towards the back was the boy named Joey she was talking about to Lady Orchid smiling a friendly grin. "Hello there.."
"Hey! Uh sorry for botherin' ya this early.." he began to splutter. "But my friends wanted a chance to meet you."
"Meet me?" Wing asked bashfully. "Whatever do you mean?"
"Well..er.." Joey stammered.
"We heard from Joey that you were new and we always want to find the time to greet new neighbours!" the short boy explained intricately for the sputtering fool.
"New neighbours?" Wing repeated in awe.
"Yeah." The guy in brown added. "Any friend of Joey's a friend of ours!"
"Friend?" Wing repeated.
"You know the word friend..don't you?" Joey insisted. Wing began to blush.
"Yes, I do know what a friend is." Wing answered softly. "I never knew that I was yours."
"Uh..." Joey muttered tugging at his collar. "Is it hot in here or is it just me."
"Just you." the people around him answered in unison.
"Well getting acquainted with the neighbourhood sounds like a fine idea." Lady Orchid insisted as she came up beside Wing and reached across her back. "Wing, you go with these fine individuals and have a little break from the shop today."
"Really?" Wing said her face lighting up. Lady Orchid nodded solemnly.
With a quick whoop in her head she dashed towards Joey and hugged him tightly. Joey could feel a bit embarrassed as well as content. Tea and Serenity giggling softly in the background. Darren sighed as he looked away, a bit upset at how Wing was approaching the humans. His sullen eyes caught one of the boys looking at him a bit bizarrely. He grabbed Wing's hand and pulled her away from the group of friends and looked at her seriously.
"Wing..you should be careful with these humans." Darren whispered concernedly. "You don't know who they are or if they are harmless or not."
"Why does that matter? I think they look pretty harmless and friendly." Wing implored as her eyes grew wide.
"They may look harmless, but what if they try to hurt you.."Darren warned. "You don't have anything to protect yourself with."
"Well..I have you to guide me." Wing answered lightly. Darren shook his head in sorrow. "You will come with me..won't you?"
"I can't go with you Wing." Darren insisted. "I don't trust these creatures...and Lady Orchid needs someone to help her while your gone."
"Very well then.." Wing said hurriedly tears forming from her eyes. "I don't need you following me around anyway! I can trust these people, even if you don't! I have hope..something you may never have."
"Wing.." Darren murmured putting a hand to her shoulder, yet Wing turned away and left him speechless at Lady Orchid's side. Following Joey and his friends outside with the tinkling bell at the shop's door.
"You should probably follow her..but I may be wrong." Lady Orchid suggested, turning to Darren who looked longingly at the front door.
"By the way, I'm Yugi." Yugi introduced as he clasped Wing's hand in greeting.
"Right! I forgot! Introductions.." Joey exclaimed as he slapped his head. "Wing..meet Yugi, Tristan, Tea and my little sister Serenity."
"Hi there Wing." Serenity called happily.
"Thank you so much for inviting me." Wing answered. "I don't know what to say.."
"It's nothing. We're about to be friends.." Joey said simply. "C'mon let's go show Wing the sites!"
"The museum!" Yugi declared
"Arcade!" Tristan added.
"The mall!" Tea shouted.
"Uh..not today Tea." Tristan replied. "I'm still recovering from yesterday."
"Hey maybe we could show Wing to Yugi's grandfather's Card Shop." Serenity suggested. "Maybe you can teach her how to play Duel Monsters, Joey."
"A card shop?" Wing repeated curiously. "What's that?"
"It's the best thing in the world since the invention of pizza!" Joey exclaimed. "By the way we should stop at Dominoes for a slice!"
"You up for it Wing?" Serenity asked as she glanced towards the overly anticipated Wing Weaver's face.
"Of course!" Wing answered giddily.
"Then what are we waiting for..let's go!" Tristan said leading the charge as they began their journey.
The morning went by very quickly as Joey and his friends shown Wing on the town. They went to every place on the map, from the arcade, to the museum to the music stores and corner stores where anything could be purchased. Wing marvelled as they shown her the big tower in front of Kaiba Corp which they seemed to be totally disgusted with as they told her about the company's chief executive..Seto Kaiba. Wing felt a bit sorry as she heard the story which Yugi told her, yet she still had a bit of faith left and was determined one day to go inside the tower and try to understand..
One of the last places the group stopped at was the Card Shop which Yugi's grandfather owned. It seemed less grand than Kaiba Corp.'s tower yet Wing could feel a special warmth inside the little building. She saw vast amounts of packets and cards with little pictures on it in glass cases and card game tournament posters hanging on the walls. Wing seemed pleased as she entered the shop as the kind old man at the edge of the store looked fondly as they entered the shop.
"Grandpa I'm home." Yugi called to the back.
"I got you a new customer, Gramps." Joey shouted as he put a hand on Wing's shoulder.
"A customer?" the old man asked in a kind manner. "Yugi! Welcome back..you've been out so early I didn't see you get up."
"Sorry for not giving you much notice Grandpa." Yugi exclaimed, looking over at Joey. "I guess I had places to go that early in the morning."
"Mister Moto..this is Wing." Tea introduced. "She wants to see a few of your Duel Monster decks..and some tips to get started."
"Duel Monsters? Ha ha..you got an eye for them too. I suppose." Grandpa answered. "Well most kids nowadays must find it attractive, it's very popular around these parts.."
"Can you show us some new ones?" Yugi asked.
"Oh of course my boy. Anything for Yugi's new friend." Grandpa said as he slipped into the back and extracted a pack of cards and spread them on the counter. Wing's eyes glazed over..these cards were actually monsters she knew! Many she did not actually met but many of the names were those she heard of the gallant deeds they had been blessed with in the stories she had heard..
"Wow..I know so many of them!" Wing adored.
"So you heard of this card game already..." Gramps answered impressed.
"No." Wing said simply as she gazed over the cards. Yugi's grandfather seemed a bit puzzled at her answered and stood back as Wing looked through them further. Suddenly Wing noticed something she never did before and extracted the two cards from her bag. "I have seen them before.."
"A White Magician card and a Harpy Girl!" Serenity shouted. "How did you find these?"
"I don't know..I found them in my bag." Wing answered confusedly. "They actually were presents that my friends gave me from the Monster...for me to remember them."
"I guess you've been collecting them and never really thought about it before." Gramps replied putting an elbow on the table. "I know that feeling..whatever cards you want for your deck I have plenty to go around."
"Thanks.." Wing answered with a grin and bowed to the man. Yugi's grandfather laughed and patted the girl's head.
"Aww..don't mention it." he said with a wink.
After finally getting her deck and paying the kind old man it was time for lunch and the gang went down for a pizza on the patio. Conversations erupted as friendships were made, laughing and playing was all for fun as Wing began to feel quite comfortable with them. As the boys went to the washroom the girls seemed to have a little discussion on their own.
"So Wing do you see anyone you like around here?" Tea asked cautiously.
"I like you all." Wing answered simply.
"No. I meant a guy that you like.." Tea implied playfully.
"Yugi and Tristan aren't bad." Wing said timidly. "They seem like good friends."
"What about my brother Joey?" Serenity asked. "He's kind of nice..in a weird way."
"He is nice.." Wing answered with a sigh, Serenity and Tea looked at each other. "Why are you looking at me like that."
"So you think he's nice huh?" Tea impeached.
"Of course."
"Did you noticed how he talks to you?"
"He has a fine voice.."
"Well?"
"What is it Tea?"
"Well..do you like him?" Tea asked loudly.
"I already answered that question." Wing said offensively.
"Let it go, Tea. She doesn't know him that well..stop it." Serenity sighed as she sipped her soda. Wing grabbed a slice of pepperoni pizza as she watched Tea and Serenity talk.
"But she's perfect for him." Tea said in a low voice. "And you remember how he's dealt with Mai and all.."
"I wouldn't mention her if I were you." Serenity said darkly as she pointed at Joey coming from the washroom. She stood up and waved towards him. "Joey! Come over here! It's time for you to show Wing how to play Duel Monsters!"
"Of course.." he said as he slicked his hair back and sat down next to Wing. "What should I teach ya first?"
"This is going to be fun.." Serenity whispered into Wing's ear. Wing's ear twinged as goose bumps appeared on her forearm. "Show' er what you're made of bro!"
"Alright! Party time." Joey answered cracking his knuckles. "Now the first thing you want to do is.."
After a few minutes of instruction Wing and Joey went into play. Each grabbing a pizza as the turns went by, Wing seemed to be catching onto the game pretty quickly that people began to stand and watch.
"Okay..I put my Garoozies in attack mode." Joey declared as he put down a card on the table. Wing looked at it as if to study it and gave a great yelp.
"Would this card do the trick?" Wing asked politely as showed him the Harpy Girl card, Joey's face look surprised. "I put it...here do I?"
"Yeah..whatever." Joey answered as he breathed slowly seeming utterly shocked as his head hit the table.
"Wahoo! Girl Power!" Serenity chanted behind Wing. "Beat that big bro!"
"Who's side are you on anyway?" Joey spat as he looked away from the cards.
"I'm on your side..but that's a lesson that fairy cards aren't wimpy!" Serenity chimed.
"Arrgh! Fine!" Joey sighed as he lay there.
"Wow Joey's getting beaten pretty badly..and it's to a newbie." Tristan stated as he looked to the poor boy.
"I have a feeling that this girl has a pretty good idea what Duel Monsters can do.." Yugi answered determinedly as he tried to pinpoint what seemed to be very suspicious about the girl. "And Joey knows it too."
"Hmm..ah..oh." Joey began to ponder, as he looked at his hand. With one swift move of he threw down one of his most prized cards the Flame Swordsman. "Ha! Beat that Wing!"
"The Flamed Swordsman..I only heard legends of him." Wing said in awe.
"Pretty cool card if you ask me, but look at what he just did to your life points." Joey answered smugly pointing down at his cards. Wing didn't take her eyes off the card.
"He disappeared off the face of the realm after the war against the Monster Crusades..how could he suddenly appear in front of me?" Wing muttered to herself as she remembered the historical event. Joey was left unrewarded in victory as Wing turned towards him. "Unless.."
"Hey, What's the deal? I won already!" Joey asked the speechless girl. "It's just a game Wing, sometimes you win sometimes ya lose. Monsters aren't really real anyway."
"That's what you think." Wing said quietly as she lowered her head grimly into prayer. Joey watched the girl quietly and felt a bit hurt from what she had said. Yugi looked over to the two and decided to brake the silence.
"Hey Wing, that was a brave fight you went through back there." Yugi said lightly as he put a hand on Wing's shoulder. Wing looked up at him with wet cheeks, he smiled warmly at her. "Joey's a really good player, and you got the hang of the game very quickly. I'm impressed. You have a lot of potential as a duelist."
"Thank you." Wing sniffled, she looked up at Joey and clasped his hand. "You defeated me with honour. I am in major dept to you my teacher.."
"Aw it's nothin'. You're a good student." Joey mumbled with a bit of a shrug. "Uh.."
"What is it Joey? You're as frozen as a statue." Serenity commented as her brother seemed a bit stuffy.
"Nothin', absolutely nothin'." Joey exclaimed waving his arms. "Let's get back to the ice cream shop."
"Last one there..." Tristan shouted as he began to run.
"Tristan! I'm not buying this time!" Yugi yelled as he ran at full speed to catch up to him.
"You better hurry you two or you'll have to end up buying." Serenity called after to Joey and Wing.
"If you don't spill yourself afterwards.." Tea snickered following her and left the two alone.
Joey began to pick up his cards as Wing shuffled her deck, she discovered that the transformed Harpy Girl card was still on the table. As Wing reached for it Joey already had picked it up. They joined hands for a moment until Joey turned away. He glanced at the card and looked away giving back the card to Wing.
"Um..here's your card back.." Joey said awkwardly as Wing pulled it away.
"Thank you, Harpy Girl is one of my friends." Wing answered.
"You mean your favourite?" Joey insisted.
"Oh..Yeah." Wing responded embarrassedly as she almost told her secret.
"That's really cool." Joey shrugged casually.
An awkward silence interfered as the two didn't talk to each other. Joey seemed nervous as hell as he looked at her to see her beautiful face. He could not resist anymore and turned to Wing again.
"Wing..you are such a sweet and caring person." Joey declared with his hands still in his pockets. "And I like you a lot..really really a lot. So I was wondering if you'd like to, well you know..go out or something."
"Go out?" Wing asked blankly. "We're already outside."
"You know, like a date." Joey answered. "Going somewhere alone with me.."
"We're already alone Joey." Wing answered simply.
"Aw forget it!" Joey shouted. "I would never had a chance with you anyway. You're too perfect!"
"It's not like I don't want to be with you Joey." Wing murmured sweetly. "It's just I never heard of this thing you're talking about."
"Well..do you want to try it then." Joey answered slowly moving towards her. "There's an amusement park that opens up on Saturdays, would you like to come with me?"
"Sure." Wing responded with a smile. "It'll be a date."
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