Disclaimer: I don't own YuGiOh. I'm not making any money. Nuff said.

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HIKARI STRONG

Chapter Seven

Joey growled, feeling extremely angry that the villain had gotten away. A nudge brought her out of her rage, and she turned to the large black dragon that had come to her aid. He reached up to it, and the dragon nuzzled into her hand, an assurance that he would always come when she called. Then he faded into a curtain of sparkles. Curse of Dragon and Change of Heart disappeared the same way. Joey and Yugi exchanged glances before running over to Ryou, only to have Bakura beat them there.

"I think my arm is broken," Ryou said, wincing.

"Of course it is you idiot!" Bakura scoffed. "What were you thinking? The one time you choose to show some backbone and it's against someone far more powerful than you!"

Ryou glared, shoving his dark away. "Shut up, Bakura!"

"No," Bakura refused. "You need to know how much of a moron you are. A stupid, impulsive, ridiculous, moron!" He then grabbed Ryou's face and kissed him hard on the mouth. When he pulled away, Ryou was beet red, and the rest of the group looked like a bunch of fish out of water. "Don't you ever put yourself in danger like that again!"

"Are you alright, aibou?" Yami asked Yugi as he wrapped the smaller boy in his arms.

"Yeah, Yami, I'm fine," Yugi replied, hugging Yami back. The Pharaoh buried his face in his look-alike's hair, kissing the top of his head.

"Would someone please explain to me what the hell all of that was?" Seto demanded. Joey could tell he was angry and she couldn't help but feel she had something to do with it.

"We have to get Ryou to a hospital first, Kaiba," Tea told him firmly.

"Not to mention we need to contact Marik and Ishizu," Yami said, still holding Yugi tightly. "They need to know what's going on."

Everyone nodded except Seto, who gave a snort. "Fine," he said, folding his arms. He directed a horrible glare at Joey. She suddenly couldn't remember feeling so small.

After they had dropped Ryou and Bakura off at the hospital - Bakura refused to leave the boy's side - they all headed for the Kaiba mansion, where Ishizu and Marik stopped by. They got a hold of Tristan and Duke as well, who showed up later.

"It appears it's just as we feared," Ishizu said, putting a hand on her chest. Marik patted her shoulder.

"Did the woman say who she worked for? Or why she wanted Yugi, Ryou and Joey?"Marik asked. Everyone shook their heads.

"Man, I knew I shoulda went with you guys," Tristan said.

Yami shook his head. He was still possessively holding Yugi, as if at any moment someone would try to steal him again. "There was nothing you could have done, Tristan," he told him in a defeated tone. "Marik and Ishizu were right. Only Yugi, Joey and Ryou have the power to face this." He looked at Ishizu. "Am I right? Is there really no way we can help?"

Ishizu looked at her lap. "Not that I have seen, my Pharaoh."

Everyone jumped as Seto made a feral noise, throwing his cell phone down on a nearby table with a loud slam. "This is fucking ridiculous!"

Joey sighed, beginning to play with a stray thread on her jeans. She still felt guilty about kissing Seto like that, but what else could she have done? She thought about telling him she hadn't meant it, or that she never wanted it to be that way, but she knew she would just end up sounding like a fool.

"Joey?" Tea asked, interrupting the blonde's thoughts. "Can I talk to you in private?"

Joey was reluctant but nodded. She knew what this would be about, and honestly wasn't in the mood. However, she followed Tea into the kitchen anyway.

"Joey," Tea said, leaning against the counter. She was looking at her shoes, shifting back and forth. "Joey, how much do you know about Yugi and the Pharaoh?"

Now that was surprising. Joey was sure this conversation would be about her. The blonde shrugged. "They're close. Real close."

"Oh," Tea said, still not looking up. "Do you think that...they have the same thing...as Ryou and Bakura?"

Joey sighed. She knew Tea liked Yami, but Joey had always had a feeling that Yami and Yugi had something. Something that went beyond partners, friends even lovers. Just the way Yugi talked about the Pharaoh was all the clue she needed. "It...wouldn't surprise me, Tea," Joey told the brunette, leaning on the counter next to her.

"You know, I was actually bringing you in here to ask if you were okay," she said, her voice choking. "But, watching the two of them...I just..." she sniffled, and then laughed. Joey really hoped she wouldn't turn into that, and hoped even more that she would just turn back into a boy. "We're a mess, Joey. You and me. I shouldn't have teased you about Kaiba, earlier. It's just...I've never had another girl to really talk to. You're sister's too young, and even then you never get to see her. And Mai's great, but she's older and she's not one of my best friends, you know?" She smiled up at Joey and the blonde almost felt guilty about giving her a hard time. She had always thought Tea was okay with being the only girl. It had never occurred to Joey that she had felt like an island.

"Yah, we are a mess," Joey said, forcing smile. "At least da guy you want's in love wit' anotha' human bein'. Mine's in love wit' himself. Or da Blue Eyes White Dragon."

That made Tea laugh. She then gave Joey a serious look. "To be honest, I agree with Ryou, Bakura and Mai."

"You guys are nuts, too," Joey argued. "No way he likes me. And even if he did, how would I know it's not just 'cause I'm a girl now?"

Tea shook her head. "You should have seen him during the whole Dartz thing. While you didn't have your soul? If he wasn't such a stone cold prick he would have acted as bad as Yami over Yugi." She said the last part a bit sadly, pausing for moment before continuing. "Did you know there was a point while your body was without its soul, Tristan was carrying you on his back. You almost slipped off and without skipping a beat, as if it were instinct, Kaiba caught you."

Joey blinked. No one had ever told her this. "Why didn' any of ya tell me?"

"Well during Kaiba and the Pharaoh's battle with Dartz, we still thought we was a jerk when he attack you and Yugi. But, looking back on it now, there was one attack he sent out where Yami just flipped. He told Yami to relax, but it was the way he said it more than anything. Like he wanted Yami to know he would do nothing to hurt you guys." She looked directly at Joey. "He would do nothing to hurt you."

Joey snorted. "Yah, he's a real gentleman."

"I mean it, Joey," Tea said seriously. "He cares about you. He cared about you when you were a boy. I think when you came back before the final battle with Dartz and the Leviathan, he was happy to see you. Sure, he teases you, but I think he's just stuck in middle school where the boy picks on the girl he likes." Joey frowned at this. It made her think that she'd always been the girl in her's and Kaiba's spats. "I mean, he's a genius, but he's not exactly socially smart."

Joey sighed. "Whateva', Tea. I personally think Kaiba ain't capable of lovin' anyone but his brotha'."

Tea shrugged. "Sorry. I was trying to halp. I think Kaiba needs soemone like you. You stand up to him. You call him out on his mistakes. You're probably the only one that can get him as riled up as he does you. Plus you should have seen the way he was looking at you in that miniskirt."

"Pervert," Joey mumbled. "If he likes me at all, and that's a HUGE if, he probably just wants ta get in my pants."

"Well," Tea remarked slyly, "they do say dragons mate for life."

Joey rolled her eyes. "They also say ya can't have ya cake and eat too. Which make no sense, by da way. I mean, if ya eat'cha cake, ain't'cha havin' it?"

Tea stared for a minute before bursting into laughter. "Yeah, I guess you're right."

"If you ladies are done," said Duke's voice. Joey glared at him. "Marik's offering to treat us to Burger World."

"Sounds awesome and wonderfully normal," Tea replied before looking to the blonde beside her. "You coming?"

As much as much as Joey would have loved to escape from a certain angry CEO, she knew she needed to face things like a man...er woman. "Nah, I'm good."

"You sure, Joey?" Duke asked again. "Everyone else is going. Well except Mai and Kaiba. Mai says she's gotta get home to Valon, and Kaiba's having a rant about the bad press the whole mall fiasco is giving his company." He rolled his eyes.

"No thanks, I'll be fine."

Duke shrugged. "Suit yourself." As he left, Tea looked at Joey.

"Are you sure you'll be okay?" she asked with concern. Joey was almost liking this whole being a girl thing. She liked that she was getting to know one of her closest friends much better. It made her remember that she wasn't alone in this.

Joey nodded reassuringly. Tea then took Joey's hand and gave it a reassuring squeeze. Joey walked out of the kitchen, bidding her goodbyes to her friends. They discussed seeing Ryou after school the next day.

"Aw, man, I forgot about school," Joey thought aloud. She looked at Tea hopefully. "Well, i guess I'll just have ta wear the guys' uniform."

"Oh, no you don't," Tea said. "I made sure to sneak one in earlier today. If we're gonna pull off the whole you were girl in disguise that decided to reveal yourself, then we gotta make the full transformation."

"Couldn' I just stay a 'girl in disguise?'" Joey pleaded.

Tea shook her head. "They'd just make you change anyway," the brunette told her. "Now, you have my number. Call me if you need anything."

"I am not doin' the whole talkin' 'til midnight thing, Tea."

Tea pouted. "Please, Joey? For me?"

"Did Serenity teach ya dat? Ya know I can't handle it when girls do dat!"

Tea giggled. "You're a girl now, too. Maybe I'll teach you." Then she said in a low whisper. "Then a certain someone would be putty in your hands."

Joey glared as a blush inflamed her cheeks. "I'll kill ya, Tea. I swear I will."

"Yeah, yeah, whatever," she smiled before wrapping Joey in a hug, holding the dazed girl for a bit. When she pulled away she finally exited the mansion after the others.

"Everything okay?" Tristan asked.

Tea waved a dismissive hand. "It's a girl thing, Tristan."

Tristan rolled his eyes. "What are you gonna do if Joey turns back into a guy?"

Tea frowned. Of course she'd thought about that possibility, but it wasn't something she liked thinking about. She didn't like to think about a lot of things.

Duke elbowed Tristan hard. "Don't ruin this for her! Sheesh!"

"Don't worry, Tea," Yugi said with a smile, "I'm sure it wouldn't change that much between you and Joey. I'm sure no matter what this is going to make you better friends."

Tea smiled. It was true that she was sad to find out about the relationship between Yugi and Yami, but she would never do anything to ruin her friendship with them or the others. Her boys - and now one girl - meant the world to her.

"Thanks, Yugi," Tea said sincerely.

"I just hope Kaiba doesn't take out his anger on Joey," Marik said, looking at the mansion over his shoulder. He turned back to the group. "He wouldn't really hurt Joey would he?"

"If he does I swear I'll kill him," Tristan promised, balling his hands into fists.

"Just because Joey's a girl now doesn't mean you have to protect her," Tea said. "Not just because of her new powers but she's still Joey. She doesn't play around. Also, I don't think Kaiba would hurt a hair on Joey's head" Kaiba protects what's his, Tea thought. And if as possessive of Joey as he seems to be...

"I have to agree," Yami said. "Plus if Kaiba does remember anything of his previous life - no matter how much he denies it - the last thing on his mind will be hurting Joey."

Everyone stared at him, blinking over and over. "What do you mean, Pharaoh?" Marik asked.

"Oh," he said, seeming embarrassed now. "I was thinking aloud. It's still hard for me to remember that Yugi isn't the only one that can hear me."

"Come on, Yami," Yugi said insistantly. "What did you mean? We won't tell Joey. Or Kaiba."

"Kaiba wouldn't believe you anyway," Yami said dismissively. "Joey however, I'd rather not get her hopes up. Kaiba's difficult to say the least."

"What the hell are you talkin' about?" Tristan asked. "Why would anything about Kaiba get Joey's hopes up?"

Tea frowned, but it was Duke that spoke. "Dude," the raven-head said. "Are you really that stupid?"

"So you know?" Yugi asked Duke.

Duke shrugged. "It's painfully obvious. How could I not know?"

"My thoughts exactly," Tea said.

"Well I don't know okay?" Tristan said in frustration.

"He's going to freak out, you know," Marik said about Tristan. They all stared at the Egyptian and he sighed. "I was inside Joey's mind for bit, remember? So yes, I know too."

"Why does everyone know but me?" Tristan demanded.

"You're oblivious?" Duke offered.

"You're in denial?" Tea added.

"You have a short attention span?" Yami said.

"Yami!" Yugi gasped in shock.

"What? He does."

Tristan frowned. "Could you please just tell me? I'm getting a headache."

Tea sighed. "Fine. But you have to promise, Tristan. Promise me you won't confront Joey."

"Or kill Kaiba," Yugi said.

"Or set fire to the mansion," Duke added.

"Or commit any other illegal and/or reckless act in you irrational rage," Tea finished.

"Come on, guys. I'm capable of acting calm."

"Pft. Sure, Tris," Duke said, twirling a strand of his hair.

"Oh, just tell me," Tristan begged. "Joey's my best friend. We've been together since we were in middle school. Trust me. I can take it."

The rest of the group exchanged looks, as if trying to vote on who would tell Tristan. Finally, Yugi sighed. "Joey likes Kaiba."

Tristan's eyes became the size baseballs. "What?!"

"Joey likes Kaiba," Tea explained. "As in likes him, likes him."

"What?!"

"He's actually taking this better than I thought," said Marik.

"What?!"

"Is he going to be alright?" Yami asked.

"What?!"

"Stop it!" Tea yelled, smacking Tristan upside the head. "You sound like a drunk chicken!"

Marik blinked. "How on earth do you know what a drunk chicken sounds like?"

Tea flipped her hair out of her eyes. "Trust me, you don't want to know."

Duke turned to Tristan. "Are you better now or do we have to get a sedative?"

Tristan rubbed the back of his head. "Can you blame me? It's not everyday you find your best friend is in love with a robot!"

"Oh, hush, Tristan," Tea said, rolling her eyes. "Kaiba isn't entirely emotionless. We've seen that first hand with his brother. He's just selective about who shows it to." she avoided Tristan's disbelieving face and turned back to Yami. "Now that that's out of the way, what were you saying, Yami

"Oh, right," Yami said. "Well Kaiba is the reincarnation of the High Priest Set, and Joey is Juno reborn, more than ever now he is a she." He paused for a moment. "Well, at first they didn't get along either. After Kisara passed on Set close himself off, not trusting easily or wanting anything to do with anyone new, especially someone as forward as Juno."

"Kisara?" Yugi questioned.

"Set's first love," Yami explained. "She was quiet and very kind, which was good for who Set had been at the time. But after her death - though her spirit lived on in the Blue Eyes White Dragon, Set was cold. It was rather frustrating, seeing as no one could get through to him. No one but Juno." He grinned a bit. It was a proud grin, the kind he got when one of his friends won a duel. "She was persistent and didn't quite follow protocol. She tested Set's patience on several occasions. He often would complain that I should send her packing back to Rome, but I wasn't blind. I saw what was happening. And when they're arguments became less boisterous and more snarky, I knew I had been right." His grin became a smirk. "And he really thought I would never find out."

Everyone was staring, enthralled in Yami's story. "Find out what, Yami?" Yugi asked.

Yami laughed. "I actually wasn't that surprised to find out about Joey's feelings for Kaiba," Yami replied. "You see, Set and Juno were lovers."

Everyone blinked. "What?!"

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I think I ran into YGOTAS territory for a minute.

And yeah, over used plot point is over used. Don't care.