Thank you so much for all the support.

Oh, remember that ship I don't ship that I mentioned? It kinda starts here. It's more implied than anything and you can make it into whatever you want (friendship, romance, mind-slaves). I'm kind of sappy, and I don't like leaving people as third wheels.

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

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HIKARI STRONG

Chapter Ten

"And then Kaiba saved you?" Yugi asked after Joey finished her story. The blonde nodded, looking at the table and not being able to handle the small smile on her face. They were at the arcade now, Ryou fresh from the hospital with a cast on his forearm. The group had already signed it all over the place. In the boldest writing was written 'Property of Bakura'. Joey snorted at that.

"Hmm." Tea said, eyeing Yami and Bakura. Duke and Tristan were off playing a shooting game, so getting rid of them wasn't an issue. She looked at Yugi and Ryou. When Yugi nodded Tea gave a relieved smile.

"Yami, would you mind getting me a refill?" Yugi said, handing Yami his cup. Yami rose a brow.

"Alright," he said. Ryou turned to Bakura with his own cup.

"No," Bakura said flatly. "I refuse to spoil you like that."

"But, Bakura," Ryou begged, his best puppy-dog eyes in place, "my arm is broken."

"And your legs are perfectly fine," Bakura retorted.

Ryou frowned. "Fine. You are absolutely the worst boyfriend ever. Apparently the Pharaoh can beat you at everything."

"What?!" Bakura growled, standing up. He snatched the cup from Ryou. "I'll show you!" He stomped, heading for the drink fountain after Yami.

"Works every time," Ryou said, a satisfied smile on his face. He looked right at Joey. "Now care to tell us the rest of the story?"

"Huh?" Joey asked, eyes shifting.

"Joey, you're smiling more than you did when you won your Red Eyes from Rex Raptor," Yugi told her, grinning himself.

"Come on, tell us what happened," Tea nudged. Joey sighed.

"Well...he was...nice to me. He...held me while I was crying and..." Joey blushed. "Andthenhekissedmeandaskedmeoutonadate." She finished quickly.

"He asked you out?" Ryou asked, smiling.

"He kissed you?!" Tea squeaked.

"Aw, Joey that's awesome! I'm so happy for the both of you!" Yugi said excitedly "So when's your date?"

"Friday," Joey managed to say as Tea hugged her tightly. "Tea...I can't...breath."

"Oops, sorry Joey," she said, still grinning like a crazy person. "So where's he taking you? Oh my gosh we have got to figure out what you're gonna wear!"

Yugi and Ryou laughed at how uncomfortable Joey appeared. Joey grumbled but inside she felt her heart swell. Among Tea's squeals, Yugi and Ryou's teasing, Yami and Bakura bickering and Tristan accusing Duke of cheating in the background, she thanked her lucky stars that she really did have amazing friends.

"Hey guys," said a voice above their table. They looked up to see a familiar blond Egyptian.

"Hi, Marik!" Yugi greeted cheerfully. They were then distracted by a clatter and turned to see Yami and Bakura in a violent tussle. Ryou rolled his eyes.

"Um...what's going on?" Marik asked, blinking at the sight.

Yugi shook his head. "Don't ask," he replied. "What brings you here?"

"Just needed to get out," Marik told them "Ishizu and I are staying around to make sure we can help however we can, but it gets dull at the hotel." He diverted his gaze. "I don't...like being cooped up for too long, you know?"

Tea smiled. "You know what you need?" she said, standing up. "A game that really gets you moving around."

Marik rose a brow. "If you mean DDR I don't think I stand a chance against you."

Tea took hold of his hand. "Come on. I'll go easy on you." She took off toward the DDR platform, dragging a protesting Marik behind her.

"Is it just me," Yugi asked, pointing at Tea and Marik, "or are they flirting?"

Joey shrugged. "I think Tea and Marik are kinda in da same boat. They feel left out...lonely." She looked back at Yugi, who had his worried face on. "Don't worry about it, Yug'. They'll be fine. I think it's nice. It distracts Tea from playing Barbie with me." A sudden crash caught the hikaris' attentions.

"You insolent cretin!" Yami yelled as he hid behind a turned over table. "How dare you attack me this way!"

"You're the asshole here!" Bakura shouted back, throwing balls - which vaguely resembled the ones from Skee Ball game - at the Pharaoh. "You're making me look bad!"

Joey got up, hands slamming on the table. Ryou and Yugi jumped. "Oi!" she hollered, getting Yami and Bakura's attention. Duke, Tristan, Tea and Marik were looking on as well. No one had ever seen the two yamis so sacred. Joey glared. "Pipe. The FUCK. Down!" she told them.

Instantaneously, they straightened up, putting everything back into place before doing what Ryou and Yugi had asked them to do in the first place. They came back, glaring at each other.

"Here you go," Bakura told Ryou before stomping off to play the most violent game in the arcade. Ryou simply rolled his eyes and took a sip of his drink. He grimaced.

"Of course," Ryou said pushing th drink away. "He got me diet."

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"I cannot express how apologetic I am, Your Highness," Juno said, kneeling before the Pharaoh. "But please allow me to explain."

"Why should we?!" demanded Set. Juno knew he was angry, and he had every right to be, but she had had to lie. If she had told the truth they would have sent her back. However, now the entire country of Egypt was furious with her, not to mention her lover.

"Calm yourself, Set," the Pharaoh told his cousin. He looked down at the blonde before him. "Your betrothed has sent a timeline in which he will accept you back. If he doesn't get you he threatens my land with war." He paused. "Why should I not adhere to his demands?"

Juno rose to her feet, her scarlet eyes glowing bright. A gold circle with symbols appeared around her and she threw her arm out. "Red Eyes, come forth."

The Red Eyes Black Dragon rose from the circle, roaring as it fly to the high ceiling of the throne room, circling once before landing beside Juno.

Set reacted on instinct. "Blue Eyes White Dragon!" he called, his summoning disk glowing bright. A large white dragon with piercing sapphire eyes appeared, roaring its arrival as it landed by its master.

"Set, stop!' Atem commanded, standing. Set's glare never left Juno, who reached out her hand to stroke the black dragon's scales. If only it was more comforting. The Pharaoh stepped down from his throne. "You have shadow magic?"

Juno shook her head. "It's...difficult to explain, Your Highness," she told him. She raised her eyes to Atem. "I am called a Hikari."

Everyone appeared confused and began to murmur. Set folded his arms across his chest, narrowing his eyes. "Explain," Atem said.

"Hikari's are much like those who can use shadow magic, except they use light. Some are born with this power, others obtain it somehow. They are not many of us and those who have shadow magic would...would see to take our powers. Especially mine. My power is...extremely rare and highly sought after." She looked at the floor, choosing not to divulge the power she had. She could not show them her true power at the moment, anyway. It would be far too dangerous. Instead, she went on to say. "Our powers are not shadows. Our powers are the light at the end of the darkness. Shadows will always seek the light. A hikari merely has the power to open the door."

Atem stared for a moment before speaking. "I see."

Juno swallowed before kneeling again, biting her lip. It was not like her to beg, but pride was not an option now. "Please, Your Highness, I have no affection for my betrothed, nor him for me. My father was blinded by his prestige and his ignorant need to marry me off." She boldly turned her gaze to Set, but continued speaking to the Pharaoh. "I do not want him. I do not want him to have my power. If you allow him to take me I can guarantee I will not survive whatever ritual he was waiting for me." She looked back at Atem. "Nor will I be the last one whose power he takes."

After some time and discussion, the room began to empty, leaving Set and Juno alone with their dragons. The creatures roared at each other, as if heckling. Juno stared at the ground.

"Why did you not tell me?" Set demanded, approaching the blonde. Juno bit her lip. "Well?" Juno closed her eyes, her hand falling on her abdomen protectively.

"You would not have understood," Juno told the priest quietly. "You would have turned me away."

He took her by the shoulders, causing Red Eyes to cry out threateningly. Blue Eyes screeched in return. "I never should have trusted you," Set said harshly.

Tears flooded Juno's eyes as she pushed the priest away. "If you really wish it, I will go. I am sorry I lied but I felt I had no choice."

"And then you were caught," Set said bitterly. "Would you have ever told me otherwise?"

Juno turned away from him, tears flowing freely from her eyes. She should have known. He would never love her. She put a hand back on her abdomen and used the other to muffle a sob as she made her way to the doors. She jumped back as the giant Blue Eyes landed in front of her, blocking her escape.

Set grabbed Juno suddenly, pulling her toward him, his dark blue eyes narrowed. "You are not leaving," he told her firmly.

Juno gave a blank laugh. "And why not? You obviously do not want me. Why should I stay?"

"Because as angry as I am with you, I will not lose you." One of his hand trailed down to Juno's abdomen. "Nor will I lose my child."

Juno paled staring at Set in disbelief. "How did you-?"

"I heard one of your serving girls talking to one of mine," Set explained. He glared. "Pray tell why you would keep that from me?"'

Juno turned from him. "I found out right after the Pharaoh received the message from Victarion. You have been so angry with me the past few days. I figured you did not want me. That...that you wouldn't want us." She gasped as Set's mouth was on hers, his arm around her waist, his other hand grasping blonde locks. When he pulled away his eyes had softened, and Juno swore her heart stopped.

"You are mine, Juno," Set said gently. "I protect what is mine. Had you told me all of this before, we could have avoided all this nonsense."

Without another thought, Juno threw herself at Set, kissing him fiercely. He lifted the Roman girl off her feet as he kissed her back. Juno suddenly found herself being laid on the steps of the throne room, Set pushing her dress up out of the way.

"Set," Juno protested as the priest discarded his garments. "We can't"

"There are two dragons guarding the doors," Set growled, pushing Juno's legs apart. "We most certainly can."

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Joey woke a little more calmly from this dream than the one she had before - though somewhat disappointed that she had woken up before the good part. She was intrigued and left with several questions. Sure, Juno had been able to explain, somewhat, the power of a hikari, but what about the power she couldn't show? Was it because she had been pregnant? Would it have hurt the baby? And who was Victarion? Was that Juno's fiancée?

Joey shook her head as she got out of bed, deciding to discuss the matter with Yugi and Ryou some time. She wondered if they had dreams as well, or if it was different for them. She obviously wasn't the kind of hikari they were.

The school day was, fortunately, not as eventful as Joey's first as a girl. It appeared almost everyone had gotten over the whole 'Joey Wheeler's a girl, ohmigawd', though some of them still stared and murmured.

And then there were still some cat-calls...

"Hey sexy thing how'd you like to play a 'card game' with me?"

"How about I shove your 'deck' down your throat!" Joey screamed back, shaking her fist, Yugi and Tea both holding her back.

"Joey, come on," Tea said, struggling to stop the much stronger girl from killing the boy who had dared to hit on her. "We have to get to gym."

Once they were finally safely away from the boy, Yugi parted ways with the girls, waving as he went to his own gym class.

They entered the locker rooms and changed into they're gym attire. They were then informed that today would be co-ed, which Joey wasn't sure how she felt about. Her interaction with guys lately - who weren't her friends of Seto - had not been entirely pleasant.

"Hey, Wheeler," called on of the boys as the began to enter the room. "I hear we're playing basketball. I hope you girls are ready to lose!"

Joey growled but Tea was the one to answer. "Just because we're girls doesn't mean we can't kick your butts!"

"Yeah right," the first guy's friend said. "You know, Wheeler, the fact that you were a girl this whole time explains why you pretty much suck at everything. Gah!" The guy suddenly fell to the ground, landing on his face. "What the hell?!"

"You really should watch where you're going," Seto said, brushing past the jerks. Yugi wasn't far behind. Joey was suddenly extremely happy for co-ed gym.

"Like hell, Kaiba!" the fallen guy hollered, scrabbling from the floor. "You pushed me!"

Seto scoffed, "Why would I waste my time doing something like that?" He turned his back to the guys making his way over to Joey.

"Ya didn't have ta do dat, ya know," Joey told him. She wanted to smack herself for blushing as she looked at Seto in his gym clothes. She'd never seen that much of him before. Damn turtlenecks and trench coats.

Seto shrugged, his face giving away nothing. "What are you talking about? He fell."

Yugi laughed and Tea grinned. Joey stared at the floor and smiled. The teachers announced they were going to start dividing the teams, trying to put boys and girls as evenly as possible. Joey and Yugi high-fived when they ended up on the same team, some of the students having to be benched.

"You guys are goin' down!" Joey yelled to Seto and Tea, who were on the other team. "We got da King of Games ova' here!"

"That doesn't mean anything," Tea yelled back playfully. "In case you forgot Kaiba's ruthless."

"Yeah, well just 'cause Rich-Boy's like seven feet tall don't mean he can play basketball," Joey pointed out. She smirked at Seto. "Hate ta tell ya, Kaiba, but I'm pretty much a badass at sports."

Seto raised a brow, resisting the urge to respond to Joey's challenge with something totally not related to basketball. Certainly something that would end in sweat and panting, but definitely not appropriate for an audience. "Whatever you say, Pup."

The game was intense from the start with Tea and Kaiba's team getting the ball. Though he was short, Yugi easily slipped through the players to get the ball away, before passing it to Joey so she could shoot. She would have made it if a couple of assholes hadn't pushed her down.

A whistle blew. "Foul!"

"I'm about ta foul them in a minute!" Joey growled as Yugi helped her up.

The teacher rolled his eyes. "You two! You're benched!" he then turned to Joey as the boys walked over and switched place with a couple who had been sitting out. "Cool your jets, Wheeler, unless you wanna join them." Then he walked away. Seto's eyes twitched, looking like he might kill someone. Or sue them. Or both.

"Hm. Dat makes one teacha' that treats me 'bout da same," Joey said blankly. She looked over at Seto. "Kaiba?" She attempted. When he didn't respond she sighed and grabbed the collar of his shirt and yelled. "Pipe down ya psychotic bastard!"

That seemed to snap the CEO out of it. He stared at Joey for a minute before removing her hand from his collar. "You're the only yelling, Pup."

"You're da one lookin' like ya gonna sink someone ta da bottom of da ocean," Joey replied, folding her arms. She then waved her hand dismissively. "Don't worry 'bout them. They're jerks. They been jerks ta me since freshman year."

Seto's eye twitched again. "Excuse me?"

"Did I not just say don' worry 'bout it!" Joey yelled. "Look, just focus on the fact dat Yug' and I are about ta kick yer ass, okay."

Finally, Seto's murderous demeanor seemed to be replaced with his usual cold and competitive nature. "I don't think so," he told the blonde.

Joey grinned, happy to finally have the CEO distracted. She turned on her heel and walked back over to her team. "Yeah, yeah, whateva', Moneybags."

The game continued without any other violence, but it was still pretty intense. Joey had made several baskets for her team, but Tea was a dancer and therefore coordinated footwork was came as easy as breathing. Not to mention that even though Yugi was the King of Games - and was definitely holding his own, Seto was pretty much flawless. Joey was starting to think that CEO was good at everything. Toward the end of the game it was a tie. Joey had been passed the ball and was in perfect shooting distance. There was just one person she needed to get past. Seto Kaiba.

"You're not going to get pass me, Joey," Seto told the blonde. She could have sworn she saw the faintest flicker of a smile.

Joey smirked. "Wanna bet?" she said confidently, dribbling the ball casually. There was a bit of a stand off, which the rest of the two teams watched in anticipation. Joey wasn't much for analyzing statistics or anything else having to do with business, but being in a gang gave her one edge: the art of escape. In a swift movement, still dribbling the ball, she whirled past Seto and jumped up, making the basket just before the time buzzed.

"That's game!" Yugi yelled, rushing over and hugging Joey tightly. "That was amazing Joey!"

"Yeah," Tea said, high-fiving the blonde. "I think you taught a couple of boys not to underestimate you. Boy or girl."

"Damn straight," Joey said, her hands on her hips. She turned to Seto. "You're not gonna go all crazy and try ta kill me 'cause I beat'cha in basketball are ya?"

Seto rolled his eyes. "Please, it's just a sport," he told her. At seeing Joey's smug expression he smirked and leaned closer to her. "Besides, you and I have a date on Friday, and I have a much better punishment in mind." With that he walked away, still smirking. Joey blushed.

"Hey! What makes ya think that's gonna happen?!" When Seto didn't respond, the blonde stomped her foot. "Hey ya rich bastard I'm talkin' to ya! Don'tcha ignore me! I cook yer food!"

Yugi bounced of after Seto. "Bye, guys. Joey don't forget about the bake sale tomorrow after school!"

Joey smiled a bit. Ryou had already agreed to do a bake sale fundraiser before the mall incident. Seeing as Ryou was going to be in that cast for a while, he wasn't quite capable of handling the booth on his own. "Sure thing, Yug'!" Joey called back.

Tea rolled her eyes. "I'll make sure she gets there, Yugi," she told the small boy.

"Hey! I'm perfectly capable of rememberin' on my own!"

Both Yugi and Tea laughed. It was nice to know that no matter how crazy their lives got that some things would never change.

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Well...I figured I'd let Joey get a one up somewhere. Why not?