Chapter 31

Arados made a deep throated noise of frustration and crashed down on the Motos' couch. He couldn't believe the others had insisted he not help them look for Lus. It wasn't fair, he was pregnant… barely pregnant… not an invalid. Sulkily he half thought about disobeying and going after them, but the look in Téa's eyes warned him she wouldn't allow him to get away with it. Instead he had no choice other than to sulk and mope about.

'You know they have every right to do this to you,' Téa was gentle but firm.

'Would you still be saying that if I were Hercules?'

'If you were a pregnant Hercules then yes, I would, because technically you are.'

'You must be able to see why this is unfair,' he folded his arms, 'I'm physically stronger than any of them; I can fight and take care of myself just fine.'

'That's not what they're worried about and you know it. This is about more than just you, you know.'

'I know, but…'

'You can't think the way you used to Ara,' she sighed, 'you have another's life to consider now.'

'Come on, it's not like you really know that much about being pregnant,' as soon as the words were out of his mouth he realised just how horrid they were.

Téa's face became strangely tense and she appeared to swallow with a tight awkwardness. For a few moments a silence droned on between them and Arados felt more than a little guilty for his remark. After all, he knew how difficult things had been for Téa and just how sensitive the whole pregnancy issue was for her.

'Well,' she cleared her throat, breaking the silence as she did, 'I guess its something we both have to look forward to, now isn't it?'

'I guess…'

'You're going to make a wonderful parent, you know that Ara?'

'Yeah right,' he rolled his eyes, 'I'm going to be terrible. I mean, the child's going to be messed up before I do anything.'

'Why?'

'Because he has me for a mother.'

'And Taylor had Kaiba.'

'So?'

'So he's not messed up now, is he?'

'I don't know,' Arados shot her a look, 'he's not exactly fine now either, is he?'

'Well I know there have been other circumstances,' Téa tilted her head, 'things are a lot more complicated than they should be.'

'But that's just our lives; they're always going to be complicated.'

'I know,' Téa shot him a sympathetic smile, 'but you'll be fine, don't worry. I'm sure everything will be just fine.'

Mai had no idea how she managed to hang onto the melting wooden mast, as the wind, rain and sea water stripped away her skin. All she kept thinking to herself was how she had to work out the new rules of the game. She had to beat Kasey, but not hurt her. But what if the only way to beat her was to hurt her? The thought kept circling round her mind, forcing her to weigh the value of her life against the value of Kasey's.

Before those thoughts had a chance to take any real weight in her mind, the air was cut by a surreal war cry. Out of nowhere a figure ripped down through the illusion, returning the area around them to that of the MacTay home. Feeling more than a little startled, Mai took in only one fact; between her and Kasey now stood Kashmana. Mai's heart did more than a little flutter to see him. She couldn't help it; he'd imprinted the image of the knight in shining armour so clearly in her mind now…

'Someone's given her a power boost,' Kashmana broke into her thoughts.

'I know,' she began chewing on her lower lip, 'was it the Teen?'

'The Teen wouldn't have had the capability, unless he managed to work out how to tap into the First's powers.'

'You don't think the Teen's managed to do that yet?'

'Check the power signature for the boost,' he glanced back at her, 'that'll tell you everything you need to know.'

For a moment she closed her eyes and was almost instantly hit by a sense of darkness.

'Ni,' she gasped.

'Exactly.'

Almost as soon as he'd said it, Kasey disappeared. Stumbling backwards slightly, Mai felt herself swooning. Almost instantly she felt Kashmana's arms around her, keeping her upright. Her heart began beating strangely, as she lifted her eyes up to meet his.

'You saved my life,' Mai half wondering if she should kiss him.

'I know,' he smiled softly at her, 'but it was a very worthy life to save.'

'What do you mean?'

'What life is worth more than that of the First's Win?'

Feeling more than a little embarrassed Mai pulled herself away from him. She knew she was falling for him and worse still she knew she didn't mind it.

'We need a plan for getting the First back,' she gave a nervous cough. 'It's been too long now, I'm not sure I want to live on my own for much longer.'

'Live on your own,' Kashmana stared quizzically at her, 'or live without him?'

'Is there a difference?'

'Yes,' he moved himself in close to her and almost appeared to breathe in the scent of her hair, 'one means you can't live without him, the other that you could live with someone else. Someone else you were in love with.'

'Who said I was in love with anyone else,' she swallowed hard, not wanting to pull herself away from him, but knowing she had to. 'Or that I could be?'

'We can't ignore these feelings anymore Win Mai.'

'I thought… I thought you said…'

'I know what I said Win Mai,' he took hold of her and pulled her round to face him, 'but I can't deny these feelings; I wouldn't be a true MacTay if I could.'

'But you are a MacTay.'

'I know and that just means I can love with a passion even the First couldn't muster.'

'Kashmana…' she somehow managed to pull herself away from him, 'I can't… I can't do this to Joey.'

'And yet he can send a child to kill you?'

'He's not the one… I mean, that's the Teen.'

'But the Teen is a part of the First,' Kashmana's voice was breathy, as he pulled her back into his arms.

'Why are you being so disloyal?'

'I'm not. I'm just being true to my feelings. Our feelings.'

'Kashmana…'

'Mai…'

'Don't…'