A/N: Whoot! Chapter 2! In two days! I'm on a roll! And I'm starting to like this! AND- this one doesn't have a sad ending. It's sort of like happy-go-lucky. (Which is rare for me).

Warnings: Nothing really to warn. Possible Season 4 spoilers though.

Song: Strong Enough- Cher

Pairing: Mai/Valon

Mai only stayed with Valon after they had both gotten their souls back simply because she had no where else to stay.

It wasn't that she didn't like Valon; she did. She just didn't like him the way he liked her. He was just a friend to her. A friend that had been there for her when she needed him. He was a friend that was a good friend to have around but just didn't feel quite comfortable with sometimes. Sometimes, when she wanted to be alone, to just be surrounded by the sound of silence, he would always be there. Talking. It didn't matter what he was there to talk about he was just there to talk. And, quite frankly, she found it quite annoying.

It was to be expected, she supposed, to be annoyed by anyone who you stayed with for too long. Though, it never seemed to happen for Yugi and his friends. Maybe because they weren't constantly down everyone's throats asking where they were, why they were there, and why they didn't do something else.

That was the problem with Valon. He cared too much and liked asking too many questions. It was great that they were friends and all but still, sometimes she needed personal space. He was too overbearing. And he tried too hard. Very hard. He tried too hard at life, in general, and he tried too hard to be impressed by Mai in a way that she wasn't impressed at all by him.

If she liked him, she believed that time would take its course and eventually, they might have something together. But Valon didn't want to wait for that. He seemed ecstatic enough when she left Joey to go with him that he wanted to make use of their time before she might decide and run off with Joey again.

But that behavior was only pushing her away.

They were sitting opposite of each other in diner that happened to be placed by the road they were currently traveling down. They had stopped there this morning for some coffee and a bite to eat.

Mai only ordered coffee, not feeling very hungry, and often found herself idly stirring the hot brown liquid with a spoon that didn't match her fork as she stared out the window to where their two motorcycles were parked. In front of her, Valon was wolfing down a large helping of breakfast. It sometimes amazed her how often he reminded her of Joey, though he would never admit to it, they both ate like fat and starving pigs.

Joey, she reminisced. Sighing, she lifted the cup to her lips and took a sip of the bitter coffee.

She looked up to Valon and decided to talk to him about something that had been bothering her for a while.

"Valon?" she said tentatively, wondering how to start.

"Mmm?" came his mouthful of food reply. She shot an annoyed glare at him.

"Swallow first," she ordered, feeling quite like a parent as she always did when Valon displayed a profound lack of maturity. He did as she told him.

"What is it?" he asked, leaning back in the booth and crossing his arms across his chest. He stretched his legs and Mai could feel his foot accidentally bump against her leg.

"Oops, sorry," he apologized, removing his leg. Mai rolled her eyes and took a deep breath.

"I've decided… I'm going back." He stared at her with those wide eyes of his, seeming frozen in time except for the fact that his chipper smile quickly disappeared. Mai counted to ten full seconds before he reacted.

"What?!" he exclaimed, slamming his hands on the table, causing the whole diner to become silent.

"Do you seriously not have any manners?" she asked, face slightly reddening when the diner slowly erupted back into conversation again.

"Don't change the subject!" he barked. She sighed impatiently.

"I said I've decided to go back."

"Go back? Go back where? To Joey Wheeler?"

"That's not what I meant!" she hissed, red indignation darkening her face. "But I suppose that would be the idea if I'm going to Domino." His tense shoulders relaxed slightly.

"Why Domino? What have you got there?"

"I've got an apartment."

"You have an apartment?"

"Yes!" she said, feeling her wounded pride. "Besides, I need to go back and face everyone again. And to apologize." Her voice had gotten noticeably softer. Valon removed his hands from the table and contemplated her.

"Apologize to Joey?" he asked skeptically, crossing his arms.

"Well… yes. I do owe him an apology. You know that."

"Why didn't you apologize to him before you left?"

"Because!" she snapped. Then, her eyes averted, downcast to the table. "Because I wasn't ready to then. I wouldn't have been able to handle facing him." Valon arched an eyebrow.

"And you're ready to face him now?" he asked doubtfully.

"I happen to think so." He still looked doubtful. She sighed. "I'm a big girl, Valon."

He drummed his fingers on his arm for a few moments before answering. And finally, he sighed. Not exactly in defeat but in acceptance.

"I know you are, Mai. I guess I've seen this coming for a while now." He clicked his tongue. "If you think you're ready, if you're think you're strong enough to handle seeing him..."

"I am Valon. I've needed to do this for a while now. Trust me on this," she persuaded with him.

"Why are you asking for my permission?" he said, louder than the soft tone the conversation called for previously. "You're a big girl, like you said. If you know you're ready, then you're ready. I'm not your dad. I don't hold your hand everywhere you go." He flashed her a big grin, letting her know that he wasn't sore about the ordeal.

She beamed at him.

"Thanks Valon," she said gratefully. His smile disappeared.

"And why are you thanking me for? I told ya' I'm not your dad who can tell you what to do and what not to do." He aimed for a more serious composure but they both could tell he was joking again.

"Thank you for understanding."

"No problem, sweet cheeks. Hey, uh, waitress, can we get the ticket here?" he yelled across the room. Mai rolled her eyes at him.

"You are so rude."

"Watch it, mate, I might not let you go." She only laughed at him.

Outside, they were both getting ready to mount their bikes and go their separate ways.

"Do me a favor," he said, coming up from behind her. "And don't get yourself hurt."

"I promise," she said, putting on her helmet.

"And you have to call me everyday. So I know you're not dead or nothing." She laughed.

"Fine, fine," she said vaguely, mounting the bike.

"And another thing," he said. Mai turned to face him and saw a very determined look in his eye.

"Yes?" she asked uncertainly.

Instead of saying anything just yet, he took her face in his hands and kissed her full on the mouth. He pulled away after a few long seconds, grinning mischievously.

"Make sure you tell Wheeler that you're mine." She laughed at him and started up the bike. Before she knew it, she had left Valon in a trail of her dust as she raced toward Domino City.

Now that was the Valon she liked. Daring, funny, and sure of himself.

It was all good fun to write. Hope you enjoy! More coming soon! Promise!

Review, please!

Nuit Songeur, out!