Disclaimer: I don't own YuGiOh. I'm not making any money. Nuff said.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
HIKARI STRONG
Chapter Thirteen
Tea left early the next morning, saying she needed to check in with her parents and take care of some chores. Seto had already left for the day and Mokuba still had to attend his school, seeing as a giant rhino had not been thrown into the building. Joey took the opportunity to head for the Game Shop the talk to Yugi and Yami.
"Heading out, Miss Wheeler?" Roland asked as she left the house. Joey nodded. "Would you care for a ride."
Joey shook her head. "No dat won't be necessary, Roland. Thanks though."
Roland cleared his throat. "I'm afraid I must insist, Miss Wheeler," Roland said, opening the door to the car next to him. Joey blinked. "Mr. Kaiba has made it clear if we let you go anywhere by yourself we're fired."
Joey frowned. Of course he would take those measures. She sighed in defeat, deciding she would kick the CEO's ass later. "Fine. Can you take me to the Turtle Game Shop?"
"Of course Miss Wheeler."
"You can just call me Joey, ya know," the blonde said. She wasn't sure what she hated more: the formality or the fact that she was being called 'Miss'.
"Very well...Joey."
000000000000000000000000
"Hey Joey!" Yugi greeted as he let Joey inside. Joey looked around, seeing Grandpa stocking some of the cards on the back shelf. Joey shook her head. Stubborn old man, she thought.
"Hey, Yug'," Joey replied before making his way to help the boy's grandfather. He took the product from him and began to place it on the higher shelve. "Ya gonna kill ya'self one o' these days, Gramps."
Solomon Muto snorted. "I'll have you know I'm perfectly fit for my age," he complained folding his arms.
"Why don't you go take a break, Grandpa," Yugi suggested. "Joey and I will handle the store for a bit."
Solomon looked annoyed. "Fine. Thirty minutes. That's it!" He left the shop heading through door that led to the Muto's apartment.
Yugi chuckled fondly as the old man left, turning to his friend. He waited for Joey to finished putting the stock away before asking, "So how's it going?"
Joey folded up the empty box and put it in the trash. She leaned over on the counted. "Good, good," she replied, her gaze not meeting Yugi's. "Um...where's Yami?"
Yugi shrugged. "He's in the shower. I swear he can be a real diva sometimes." He rolled his eyes but his smile betrayed him. He looked back at the blonde. "Why do you ask?"
Joey ran a hand through her hair. "I kinda wanted ta talk him about somethin'." She looked at Yugi, who looked curious. "It's about Juno."
"Oh," Yugi said. "Did you have another dream?"
"More like a nightmare," Joey replied, wishing she could block out the night before.
"Ah," Yugi said, looking at the floor. "You know...you can always talk to me. I don't mind listening."
Joey managed a small smile. "Well, I had some questions," she told the boy.
Yugi nodded. "Oh...I understand."
Joey looked at her friend, feeling guilty for making him feel so dejected. "You can be there when we talk, ya know." She told him. "Yer my best friend, Yug'. No matter what. Okay?"
Yugi beamed, telling Joey she had said the right thing. She fiddled with the shrunken Millennium Scale at her neck. She hadn't really like wearing it - even in its smaller form it was heavy - but after her nightmare last night she didn't feel right not having it.
Yami came down soon after that, his hair fully dried and styled as usual. He looked at Yugi and Joey before asking, "Hello, Joey, what brings you here?" Upon noticing how uncomfortable the blonde seemed, he added, "Is everything alright?"
Joey sighed. "Look, Tea's probably gonna come looking for me so I'll cut right ta da chase," Joey said, trying to keep herself from chickening out. "What happened to Juno?"
Yami's face fell, and he would not meet Joey's gaze. "Joey..." he trailed off.
Joey closed her eyes, standing up straight. Her hands were shaking. "What about da baby?" Deep inside she seemed to know the truth.
Yami's face shot up. "How did you know she was pregnant?"
Joey took another breath and told the two boys about her dream, trying to keep from choking on her words. Yugi walked over to her.
"Oh, Joey," Yugi said, putting a hand on her arm comfortingly. Joey sniffled.
"The baby didn't survive did it?" Joey asked, tears trailing down her face.
Yami looked at his friends sadly. "I'm afraid not," he replied, approaching the counter. He kept his gaze down. "Set was never the same after that. He was colder than ever. He blamed me for not arriving sooner." Yami buried his face in his hands. "And he was right. I could saved her. Her and their child."
"No, Yami," Joey told him. "It wasn't your fault. Ya couldn't 've known Juno went back for Set." She wiped her eyes as she whispered, "It's so terrible what happened to them."
Yugi gave Joey's forearm a reassuring squeeze. "Well, maybe this is a second chance." He said hopefully. "Maybe you and Kaiba are meant to be together. To make up for what happened! And this time the story can have a happy ending!"
Joey looked at her friend, a small smile gracing her features. Yugi: always the picture of positivity. She pulled the boy into a hug. "Thanks, Yug'. I hope yer right."
Yami seemed touched by Yugi's speech as well. "I do as well," he stated.
"Knock, knock," called Tea's voice as she entered the shop. She grinned when her eyes fell on Joey. "You ready to play dolls?"
"Unfortunately," Joey said, knowing there would be no point in arguing. "I guess I really ain't got a choice."
"Not at all, girlfriend," Tea said, grabbing Joey's wrist. "Kaiba's is so gonna thank me when Mai and I are through with you."
"Mai?! You said nothin' about Mai!" Joey complained. "Let me go you crazy broad!"
Yugi laughed as he watched his friends go, turning to his confused looking other half. "Oh, Kaiba and Joey have a date tonight."
"Ah," Yami answered. A smile crept across his face. "I really do hope if all works out. Kaiba isn't Set and Joey isn't Juno, but I see them being as good to each other. I wish them every happiness."
Yugi walked over to Yami wrapped his arms around the taller male's waist. "Me too, Yami."
Yami wrapped his arms around his light, Kissing the top of his head. "I love you, Yugi."
Yugi smiled. "I love you, too."
0000000000000000000000000
Joey was not pleased. Here she was, struggling against an overly excited Tea while they adjusted and readjust her outfit. Mai kept trying to hike her skirt higher, and Tea would have to pull it back down. It didn't help that suddenly Joey was also cramping like a mother fucker.
"Here," Tea said, handing Joey a blue pill and a glass of water. "Take this and stop whining."
Joey glared. "Seriously, how do women deal with this? How do you go ta school of anythin'?" She swallowed the pill with a gulp of water.
"Because, despite what you've always thought, women are badass," Tea said, pulling the skirt of Joey's dress down again and narrowing her eyes at Mai.
"Oh, come on, I thought we said we were gonna make Kaiba faint," the older blonde said folding her arms.
"We are," Tea said reaching over to hold her hand over the warming flat-iron. She picked it up and began straightening Joey's wild hair. "Do you really want Joey to look like a hooker on her first date with the man of her dreams."
Joey blushed furiously. "Another word Tea and you'll be dreamin' perminantly."
Tea rolled her eyes and smiled. "You know you love me."
Joey smiled a bit. "Yeah, yeah, I do." She looked up at the two girls in front of her. "Thanks for all this, guys."
"Anytime, Joey," Tea said sincerely.
"Of course," Mai added, coming over with a box in her hands. "Now stand still so we can make you gorgeous. I mean, trust me, your pretty now, but when I'm done with you you'll be drop dead sexy."
Joey looked away at Mai saying she was pretty. She had been a fairly good-looking boy, but she had never used sexy to describe herself.
"And you better give us all the juicy details, okay?" the older blonde said with a wink.
"Mai!" Joey yelled.
00000000000000000000000
Seto looked at his watch. They weren't running late, but he was getting impatient. How long did it take a girl to get ready? It had been almost an hour and a half.
"Come on, Wheeler, I don't have all night!" he shouted up the stairs.
Mokuba rolled his eyes. "Big bro you're never gonna get any if you keep talking to her like that."
Seto wheeled around, staring at his younger brother. What were they teaching kids in school these days?!
Tea and Mai came down the stares, looking extremely smug. Not even Seto's scowl could phase them. Tea turned to the younger Kaiba. "You all ready to go to Yugi's?"
Mokuba nodded excitedly. "Sure am!"
Seto cleared his throat. "Is Wheeler ready yet?"
Mai put a hand on her hip. "What she sees in you I'll never know," she said flipping her hair. Tea rolled her eyes before clapping her hands.
"Presenting the heart-stoppingly gorgeous Joey Wheeler!"
Seto was sure his heart did stop. The beautiful girl before him could barely be recognizable as his Joey Wheeler. Her hair was shiny and straight, giving it more of a feathered texture than the messy Seto was used to. She wore a tight red dress that stopped just above her knees. Not even the fact that Joey tripped in the high heels she was wearing could ruin this image. The CEO strode over and easily caught the blonde in his arms. He couldn't help but smirk.
"Careful, Pup," he told her, helping her stand aright. He stared at her a bit more, taking in every inch of the sexy specimen before him. Hell, Seto had half a mind to say fuck the date and carry Joey back upstairs.
"Kaiba," Joey said, breaking the brunet from his thoughts. "You can let go now."
Seto looked to see that his hands were still on Joey's waist. He pulled them away as he cleared his throat. "Shall we go then?" A sudden clicking and flashing caught them off guard. "Mokuba!"
"Come on, it's not every day you go on a date," the raven-haired boy said, putting the camera back in his bag. "In fact, I don't think you've ever been on a date. We're you just waiting on Joey of something? I mean you have liked her since Duelist Kingdom."
"Mokuba!"
"Okay, we'll just get going then," Tea said pushing Mokuba out the door. "See you, Joey! Call me later!"
"Yeah, hun," Mai said following them out. "Don't do anything I wouldn't do!" She winked again before the three left the mansion.
There was a bit of an awkward silence where Seto and Joey avoided each other's gazes. Finally Seto offered his arm to Joey. "Come on, then."
Joey took his arm but frowned. "Yer a regular prince charmin', ya know dat?"
000000000000000000000
Dinner was at an Italian restaurant downtown. It wasn't so fancy that Joey felt uncomfortable, but the two them weren't overdressed. They made a little small talk for a while over bread sticks and salad, but Joey finally broke.
"Duelist Kingdom?" she asked, not looking at Seto. The brunet looked up from his food, seeming to think about his answer.
He sighed defeatedly. "I already thought you were attractive," he explained. "At the time, however, I was more occupied with getting my brother back. I didn't time for anything else." Their eyes met for a moment. "Battle City was an entirely different story. I was...ashamed about my feelings, which is why I tried to keep you out of the tournament. If it weren't for...certain incidents, I would have been happy that Rare Hunter hacked the system." A small smile graced his features. "I was a little proud when you threw off Marik's control at the docks. I saw a part of you I had failed to see. I saw a fighter."
"Yeah 'cause the fact I kept tryin' to kick yer ass was no indicata'," Joey interrupted.
Seto rolled his eyes. "You know what I mean," he told her. He turned from her gaze again. "I realized then...how important you were to me. It terrified me. My step-father," he said the word like it was coated in vinegar, "taught me emotions were a weakness. I continued the tournament to try to stomp you out of my system. It would have if...if you hadn't almost died. If you hadn't woken up then came and challenged me to a duel."
"Yeah I remember you even took dat way too seriously," Joey reminded him, though she was smiling at his words.
Seto shrugged. "If I remember correctly, you weren't slacking off either."
"Dat's because you need yer ego brought down a couple levels," Joey replied. "Didn't work, but, hey, I gave it shot."
The brunet rolled his eyes. "Are you going to let me tell you what I realized that day or are you gonna keep barking?"
Joey sighed. "You and yer dog jokes," she said in frustration. "Fine, fine, go on. Lay it on me."
Seto almost said something along the lines of 'I'd like to lay on you,' but decided is best stopped their bickering before it escalated. He sighed. "Honestly, I realized how much I needed you that day." Joey perked up at that, her brown eyes wide. Seto smiled again. "Life without you would be quite dull."
It wasn't the most romantic way to say what he meant, but Joey understood it. In fact, if the table hadn't been in the way she would have tackled the CEO and kissed him for all it was worth. Instead, she boldly reached over and grabbed Seto's hand.
"Ya could'a just told me, ya know," she said in an amused tone. "I liked you too. In fact...before we face off against Dartz, ya know, when I told ya I didn't have anyone else to annoy -," When Seto let out a quiet chuckle Joey's heart pounded - "I almost told ya. I wasn't sure if we'd make it out and I wanted ya to know. But I couldn't bear ya laughin' at me."
Seto squeezed Joey's hand. "We're a real mess," he said happily.
Joey laughed. "Yeah. I have a feelin' this relationship ain't gonna be all sunshine and daisies." She slapped her hand over her mouth, realizing what she had said. A fiery blush attacked her cheeks.
A smug expression appeared on Seto's face. "I'm fine with that. Perfect's boring and if there's one thing I hate more than losing it's being bored." He caressed Joey's hand with his thumb. "I'm guessing you want dessert?"
Joey grinned. "Do ya have ta ask?"
0000000000000000000000
The ride back to the mansion consisted of more conversation, mostly talking about old enemies and new Duel Monsters cards. There was even some laughter involved, and then there was kissing. First soft and tender, then greedy and heated. When Seto's lips began to trail down Joey's neck, her breathing hitched.
"K-Kaiba-,"
"You're beautiful, Joey," Seto whispered. "I almost hope you turn back into a boy just so I can see what you look like all dressed up like that."
"Yer a real piece o' work, Moneybags - eep!" Seto suddenly pulled Joey into his lap, continuing to suck and nibble on her neck. "Kaiba-,"
He pulled away, taking her chin in her hand. "Call me Seto, Pup," he breathed before smashing their lips together. Joey's mind went blank as she kissed Seto back, feeling his hands all of her. Visions of Juno and Set flashed through her mind, and her hands wondered just as much, her fingers running through soft brown hair. Joey moaned as Seto's tongue explored her mouth, his hand trailing up her back.
It was when she felt his hand on the zipper of her dress that she came crashing back down to reality.
"Seto," she breathed, pulling away. He panted as well, pulling his hand away, putting it on Joey's hip.
"My apologies," Seto said. "I guess we're going too fast?"
"Well, kinda," Joey said trying to explain. "But...mostly, well...I'm still..." She trailed off. To be honest, Joey wanted Seto right then and there, limo-driver be damned. However, she wanted their first time together to be hot and sensual, and being on this stupid period kind of ruined that image.
"Oh," Seto said diverting his gaze as he understood. He cleared his throat before looking back at Joey and placing another kiss on her lips. "Stay with me, tonight," he whispered.
Joey frowned. "Seto, I just said-,"
"I won't try anything," Seto explained, holding her close. "I just...I want you with me. I want to wake up with you next to me."
The familiar words along with Seto's deep, sincere tone, struck a chord in Joey. "Maybe this is a second chance," Yugi words rang in her head. "Maybe this time there will be a happy ending!"
Joey snuggled into Seto, burying her face into his shoulder. "Of course," she said.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Holy crap I'm drowning in fluff help me!