Mai Choice

As they walked around, Mai was impressed by the size of rooms and hallways, all built to the pharaoh. They walked over to a throne.

"This was my father's throne," pharaoh said.

"How long did you rule for?"

"My rule barely began, before I had to smash the millennium puzzle into pieces."

"Millennium Puzzle?" The pharaoh showed her the pyramid at the end of his lace.

"Yes. It also symbolizes that I am worthy of its powers and that I am the pharaoh. Because Yugi put it back together, it shows that he is worthy of it as well." They both walked to the balcony. "If I ever do return, I will one day take a wife. And, after she bares my child, I will show my whole kingdom right here, like my father did with me. If you come back with me, you can be my queen. And, everyone will gather as far as you can see, just to see you."

"I'm not sure if I want all of that attention, hon."

"Didn't you tell Yugi that it was easier for you to remove your clothing, then reveal your true self? It will not matter how much attention that you would like because I can see your true self."

She jumped back, "What?"

"I can see it with the aid of the millennium puzzle. It is also an ability that Yugi naturally has, but the millennium puzzle magnifies it."

"So, Yugi can see who I am?"

"Yes. He always had been able to. Even if I left, he would still be able to see the true you."

"And, if I left with you, would he be able to remember both of us?"

"Yes." They started to walk towards the bottom of the pyramid. They both got onto a horse and traveled into the night.

"If I left with you, then Yugi would forget us."

"Are you sure that is what you feel in your heart?" They both looked up at the night sky and saw Yugi's face appear. It smiled before it vanished.

"Was that-?"

"The puzzle can respond to strong emotions."

"Do you think it'll happen...again?"

The pharaoh smiled, "We'll see." He snapped the reigns and the horse started to sprint across the dessert. Mai was enjoying the ride throughout the cool night and how the grains of sand reflected the moonlight back into the sky. There was no need for torches. The traveled through towns and by pyramids. Eventually, the pharaoh slowed the horse down in one of the towns. He stopped the horse and helped her down. The smell of desert flowers filled the air. His amethyst eyes were looking into her eyes and they kissed. They held hands as they walked through the town. They stopped for a moment as the pharaoh plucked and offered a desert rose to her. Mai smiled as she took the rose from him. The sky lit up with the memory of Yugi handing her the bunny. As they both looked, Mai had a big grin on her face. She will never forget how cute that bunny is. And, she hoped that she would never forget that moment when Yugi gave it to her.

"If we left, would Yugi really think of us as friends, forever?"

"Mai. Mai! Mai, wake up!" Yugi was panicked. When he woke up, Mai was unresponsive to him. Her pulse was also weak. He did not know what to do.

Pharaoh and Mai looked at one another. "I will always think of Yugi as my friend, after I return home," as they both got into a boat. Pharaoh sensed that Yugi had awakened. If Yugi called out for him, he would not be able to ignore it for long. As the pharaoh rowed, Mai started to think about what she would be leaving behind.

"Do you think that any of them would forget me after I leave? Joey, Serenity, Téa, Yugi...?"

"That depends on them, Mai."

"I like Téa as if she was my own sister. And, that goofball Joey, ...he has a good heart."

"He's a great friend to Yugi. I like him."

"I like him, too. But, when I first met him, I thought he couldn't even fight his way out of a paper bag. I was REALLY wrong about him. I hope his sister will come out of his shadow one day because she's way tougher than Joey."

"And, Téa's a sweet girl. After we met, she started to show that she could stand on her own without thinking what others think about her."

"You've been a bad influence on her."

Mai let out a wicked smile, "I know."

"But, ...I wonder if Yugi and I will always be friends."

"Pharaoh!"

Yami appeared next to him, "Yes, Yugi?"

"What's wrong with her!?"

"She's stuck within the millennium puzzle."

"We have to get her out."

"What if she does not want to come out?"

"Yami...? You can't mean that."

Mai thought about how being with Yugi and his friends made her feel good, as she watched the night sky.

"I feel like I was always meant to be alone. Even after meeting Yugi, Joey, and their friends, I'm afraid that it might really be true." The sky reflected all of her memories of Yugi and his friends. "What if I lose them? If I lose them, would it really be true?"

"Everyone I ever liked either left me or hurt me!"

"Yugi? I can be nice, but I'm a bad person. I'll only just let you and all of your friends, down."

"I don't believe that, Mai. You've always been there for us. And, you'll always be my friend, no matter what you do."

"It's just me, Mai." Mai was so shocked by the reply, she blinked. "That's what I meant."

"I'm here because...because you're waiting for me. I came to bring you to your friends."

Mai gasped, "I went to Yugi because he was waiting for me. Was he waiting for me because he thought that I am his friend? And, I wonder if I asked him to bring me to my friends, who would we go see?" She looked at the Pharaoh. "Pharaoh? If I was always meant to be alone, then it would not matter if I stayed with you or go back to Yugi. I really would always feel lonely." She cast her eyes down. "Do you know how to stop the pain in my heart?"

"I suppose the love you have for your harpy ladies is not enough."

"It's enough, but...I don't ever want the good feelings that I ever had to go away."

The Pharaoh held her hands, "They don't have to. In fact, they'll be many more."

Mai starred into the pharaoh's eyes and smiled, "I think...I think I've made my decision."

"Mai!" Yugi noticed that her pulse became weaker. "Mai, no!" Yugi's tears were falling onto Mai. "Mai..."

"Yugi," Yami said. "I have to go back into the puzzle now. She has made her decision."

Yugi ignored Yami's disappearance as he patiently waited for Mai to make her decision. "Mai, ...you have to bring me back to our friends. Remember? Please? Remember." The room was silent. "Mai, ...please don't go! Stay!" His crying became inconsolable as he could barely feel her pulse. "MAI!"

"Yugi?" Her eyes opened half-way and she looked at him. "I...I wanted to say good-bye..." She weakly lifted her hand, "Forgive me? I was a bad date, tonight. And, I almost went home with some pharaoh, instead of you."

"Mai!" He gave her a big hug.

"It was the strangest dream." As she starred at him, she knew that she was not looking at the Pharaoh. She started thinking to herself, "I'm sorry Pharaoh, but this is all too strange for me. If all of this happened earlier in my life, I would've taken it." Yugi smiled at her. "But, I think I'll give this a chance for Yugi." Yugi kissed Mai. Mai smiled, "You know...it's too early to wake me up without offering me breakfast in bed," she winked at him.

"Sorry."

"We'll go out for breakfast. But, first things first." She grabbed Yugi and pulled him into the bed with her. They rested in one another's arms for another hour before Mai took them out for breakfast and reutrned Yugi home.

THE END

Epilogue

Two months later….

"Mai…I'm not sure that I can do this."

"Yes, you can." She smiled, "Are you ready?"

"No."

Mai laughed, "Just release the brake. That's all you need to do today." Yugi did so and the car started rolling forward.

"Oh, my God! I'm, I'm driving!" Mai was smiling at him. "Mai! I'm driving!" He pressed his foot on the gas and turned the car in a circle. Next, he stopped the car. "Mai! I did it!"

Mai laughed, "I knew you could. Even with that box I strapped to your foot."

"Thanks, Mai."

"Anything for a friend of mine." She leaned over and gave him a kiss.

Yugi blushed, "I…I got the prom pictures back." He took them out and gave them to her.

"These are awful, Yugi/"

Yugi smiled, "I bet no other night will be like this this, though." The pictures had nothing below Yugi's eyes, and nothing above Mai's eyes, not even her eyebrows. But, in the picture, they were looking at one another with the exact same expression.