Chapter 56
Following a rather awkward, but pleasant elevator ride, Marik and Vicki made their way onto the blimp. They headed to their respective rooms, Vicki standing in front of Mai's whilst Marik went to the one next to hers. Vicki was about to bring her hand up to knock on Mai's room door when she heard Marik's voice ask, "Vicki?" making her turn to face him.
"Yes?" responded the brunette teen girl.
"I just want to thank you for being willing to wait for me and for your company. I enjoyed it very much."
Vicki felt her heart melting as she gave the Egyptian a warm smile. "It was my pleasure. I've found your company to be quite nice as well." She fell silent, listening to herself. Remaining behind had not been her intention, yet it panned out that way. 'It would have happened considering my limited mobility and with some of the boys so intent on having a race. It certainly was nice to spend time with Marik now that he's repentant. After all, we will be going our separate ways in a matter of hours.'
A tinge of guilt pricked the tan-skinned young man in the chest at the possibility of Vicki's friends questioning her whereabouts. He reached into his pocket for his room key. "Well, I won't keep you. I'll see you and your friends when we disembark the vessel."
Vicki nodded. "Sounds lovely."
Marik swiped his key in the slot of the room door. It slid open, and he disappeared inside. Vicki tapped lightly on Mai's door, then shifted her weight to her left ankle, rolling it around a little to loosen it up. 'Please let someone be in there.'
"Who is it?" Mai's voice asked.
Vicki mentally let out a sigh of relief. "It's me, Vicki."
"Hang on a sec."
Vicki stuck her pinky finger in her mouth to nibble on its fingernail whilst waiting for Mai, pulling it out when she heard the door sliding open. Plastering on a smile, she entered the young woman's room to see her seated on the bed, reading a magazine. "Hey, girlie girl."
Mai glanced up at the teen girl from the magazine, giving her a "happy to see you "smile. "Well, hello, babydoll. Happy to see you made it here in one piece."
"You bet. No way was I gonna give Money-bags the satisfaction." Vicki put on her best pokerface to disguise her anxiety at the possibility of the blonde young woman overhearing her conversation with Marik. 'Not that I have anything to hide. I was just being amiable, but who's to say she'd buy it? Then again, I can't deny the warmth I felt around him—this Marik, not the psychotic version.'
Mai's smile disappeared and a frown appeared in its place as she eyed Vicki up and down, almost as if she were studying the teen. "Do you care to enlighten me on what took you so long?" she asked, interrupting the brunette girl's thoughts.
'Oh blast! She knows.' Vicki squirmed a bit at the blonde woman's maternal, suspicious tone. She twiddled her thumbs as she gave an innocent pout. "Who, moi (me)? You know flights of stairs and I are not exactly the best of friends, and besides, my joints would never allow me to partake in your little race, even if I wanted to."
Mai's expression softened a tad. "I knew that." The skepticism returned to her voice as she continued, "Is there anything else I should know about?
Vicki gave a coy smile. "That all depends. What is it you'd like to know?" She couldn't resist giving a discreet eye roll. 'I swear, this feels like an interrogation in a courtroom.'
"Well, I thought I heard voices before you knocked."
A pained expression lazily formed on Vicki's features. 'Drat! Just what I was afraid of.' She bit back a gulp before lightly tapping her forehead. "Marik was just thanking me for walking with him as we came back on here. He said he would see everyone when we arrived at Domino. Nothing more, nothing less." Her tone in the last statement left little room for questioning.
Mai blinked in surprise at the abruptness in the Scottish girl's voice. 'Something seems off, but she must have her reasons.' As much as the feeling had nagged at her, she knew it was in her best interest to just drop the subject. She shrugged her shoulders. "Well, okay. If you say so."
Vicki looked relieved, feeling as if a weight was lifted off her chest. 'The last thing I want is for her to blow my interaction with Marik out of proportion. After all, it's too soon for anything other than friendship.'
Mai glanced up at the ceiling and gazed at it for a long time as if she were seeking advice from it on how to change the subject. The last thing she wanted was to create unnecessary tension so thick it could be cut like a knife. 'Not to mention it quite frankly drives me crazy.' She then looked back at Vicki with a thoughtful expression on her face. "Well, why don't you sit down and relax? After all, we have plenty of time to kill."
Vicki's face relaxed into a tiny smile. "Great idea, actually. My feet are killing me." She wandered over to the opposite side of the room and perched on the bed, resting the satchel down next to her. 'Ah, that's more like it.'
Mai laughed her trademark chuckle. "See? Don't you feel much more comfortable?"
"Aye, that I do." Vicki stretched out her legs a bit before opening her satchel. She pulled out a sheet of paper, a pen, mailing envelope and book to press on. Folding the piece of paper, she tore it in half, then scribbled down her contact numbers, penning her name beneath them before folding the paper in half. "Hey Mai, I have something for you."
"Oh?" Mai quirked an eyebrow in mild curiosity. "What is it?"
"Just a little something to ensure we don't lose contact with one another," responded Vicki, sliding the piece of paper over to the blonde young woman.
Mai took the paper, unfolded and perused it, her lips slowly spreading into a grateful smile. "Oh, cool. Thanks, hun. Yes, we definitely have to keep in touch." She proceeded to tear beneath the line Vicki's name was written, being careful to only do so along the blank space.
"Think nothing of it. " Vicki smiled, looking pleased with herself, then her smile faded and she looked serious as a thought occurred to her. 'I need to do the same for Marik, too. He and his folks are most likely heading back to Egypt after we land, and who knows how soon I'll get to see them again.' Letting out a light sigh, her expression became wistful. 'Goodness, I haven't realized until now that I'm going to miss Marik. With the beginning of his fresh start, it would have been nice to have more time getting to know this version of him.'
Swallowing a small lump that had formed in her throat, Vicki shook her head, willing herself to think more about the positive aspect and how to use it to her advantage. 'Wouldn't want to end up a weepy mess. There might be plenty of time for that later. Only one thing left to do.' Picking up her pen once again, she wrote down her telephone numbers and mailing address. She reached into the satchel for an envelope of wallet-sized photos, pulling them out and glancing through them. Choosing the one she liked best, she flipped it over and wrote in the back of it: "To Marik, this picture was taken on my 16th birthday. I want you to keep it and think of me. Consider it a gift."-Vicki. Completing the message with a drawing of a heart, she placed the photo in the midst of the paper, folded each end over it before slipping the contents inside the envelope. After sealing it, she wrote on the front: "Marik Ishtar" then put it, along with the pen and book in her satchel, closing it up.
Mai finished penning her contact information on the small piece of paper and then slid it over to Vicki. "Here you are, honey bun. Those are my numbers. Save them so you'll know it's me calling."
Vicki's eyes brightened and she snapped out of her slump. She picked up the paper, slipping it in her pocket. "Thank you."
"Don't mention it."
(Alcatraz Tower)
Kaiba wandered down the hall of the control room with a small smile forming on his lips. His face lit up like a Christmas tree and his gut was filled with giddiness as he anticipated what was to come. Despite the grumpy and bitter feelings controlling him throughout the second half of the tournament, accomplishment for finding a way to make the most of his obstacles outweighed them both. 'The moment I've been waiting for has finally arrived. It's time to send all reminders of Gozaboro Kaiba into oblivion!'
The young CEO clenched his fists in an attempt to calm the burning rage as the image of his adopted father entered his mind. He quickly shook his head to rid it of the image as he felt his spirit rapidly becoming cross. 'The sooner I destroy the tower, the better.'
Mokuba stuck his head outside the door, taking a quick peek. He scrunched up his brow and twisted his mouth to the side. 'Hmm, looks like everyone is gone. Good. Seto can proceed when he's ready. Speaking of…' His eyes widened and he let out a barely audible gasp when he noticed he was getting left behind. He had to sprint to catch up with his elder brother. A frown crossed his child-like features at how tense the elder Kaiba's demeanor seemed to be. It was all he could do not to choke from the deafening silence. "Hey Seto, are you okay? What's on your mind?"
Kaiba felt a tiny smile forming on his lips as the little boy's concerned voice filled his ears. He recalled all the times he had vented Mokuba's ears off about their adopted father's abuse, slavish mentality and the occasions his plans were foiled. While there was much gratitude towards his younger brother for being a patient listener most times, he opted not to divulge the details. "It's nothing, Mokuba. Activate the detonators at once. " He pressed several commands on the consoles.
"Okay…" Mokuba hesitated a bit as feelings of doubt arose inside of him. "You sure you want to go through with this?"
Kaiba let out a heavy sigh, clearly annoyed at having his orders questioned, not to mention the delay. "Mokuba," he began, trying his hardest not to let his irritation show. "I explained to you before this is the only way we can put the past behind us. Besides, the blimp leaves now. To show what a generous person I can be, I gave those dorks an extra five minutes to embark it, so they've had more than enough time to get on board."
'Uh-oh...' The edge in the CEO's voice made Mokuba's expression resemble that of a meek little mouse. He knew when his elder brother spoke in such a tone, it was best to just respect his wishes. "Okay, okay. I'm on it!" Inhaling and exhaling a deep breath, he entered the necessary commands.
Kaiba stood still with his arms folded as he watched his younger brother at work. He heaved another sigh, one of satisfaction, wincing at the tinge of guilt eating away at him for snapping. 'Perhaps I was a little too hard on him. If that's the case, he's the one person I'll apologize to in a heartbeat…no, Kaiba, now is not the time to start second-guessing yourself.'
For the final touch, the Kaiba brothers then removed their lockets from around their necks, placing them against the buttons and causing the device to make a beeping sound.
"The detonation process has begun. KaibaCorp Island is set to self-destruct in approximately one hour!" a feminine computer voice blared.
Kaiba smiled widely as the countdown began, feeling giddy with excitement. 'This is it. The destruction of the past in order to rebuild my future.'
(KaibaCorp aircraft)
Marik sat at the desk in his room, looking pensive as he reflected on his battle with the darkness that once consumed him. He knew he wouldn't have been freed from the sinister force had it not been for the ancient pharaoh's forgiveness and willingness to assist him in his quest to reclaim his body, not to mention Odion's prompt arrival. 'I'm forever indebted to him. I must somehow show him my gratitude for granting me this chance to correct the wrongs I've committed. ' Although he had been prepared to sacrifice his life in order to defeat his dark side, he knew he would be lying if he said he wasn't grateful to be in the land of the living as opposed to the land of the dead.
All of a sudden, a sharp jolt pricked the cornsilk blonde young man in his heart and a sensation of inadequacy washed over him, making him nearly double over in pain. He bit his lip to keep from crying out while waiting for the discomfort to ebb. Little by little, his physical distress began to fade, but the feeling that something was lacking remained. It was almost as if the forces of heaven were telling him he was far from done redeeming himself. 'It's an ongoing process, I suppose. Apologizing for my past transgressions and helping the pharaoh to fulfill his destiny was an excellent start, but it doesn't completely erase the pain and suffering I've inflicted on him or his friends.'
Marik's countenance grew solemn as he proceeded to wrack his brain for other ways to prove his remorse was genuine. The cynical part of him would have believed he had already done enough, but his conscience wouldn't allow him to be content with the bare minimum. 'I have observed how loyal the pharaoh is to his friends and his uncanny ability to turn enemies into allies…he has with me. Perhaps he would be willing to accept the gift of friendship from me, too. Of course, he may consider it farfetched given the fact that I've tried to assassinate him. In that regard, I'm also prepared to disappear from his life completely if that's what he wishes…no, Marik, think positively. You've already been forgiven, and in order to truly move forward, you must forgive yourself. It can't hurt to find out.'
To say Marik had suffered a major depletion to his level of confidence due to his ordeal would be putting it mildly, although it was justified. Deep down he knew he couldn't afford to doubt himself, so he didn't flinch at the "counsel" his inner voice gave him. His mind then landed on Vicki, which caused his heart to race and roast like a fiery furnace. 'My feelings for her were purely lust at the beginning, but after experiencing her compassion, I must say I truly like her. I almost wish we didn't have to leave so soon, but I believe in my heart we will meet again.' For a moment, he felt his spirit becoming somber, which was revealed in his lavender-colored orbs, but then they brightened as an idea came to him. 'Somehow I'm certain she won't oppose this arrangement. '
Rising up from the chair, Marik stretched his legs a bit before wandering over to the nightstand. He pulled the drawer open, smiling slightly when he spotted a notepad and pen inside. 'Perfect. Just what I was hoping to find.' He retrieved the items, closed the drawer, then went back over to the table, sitting down again. Pulling a sheet from the pad, he picked up the pen, writing down his contact information, then his name beneath it. That done, he folded it multiple times before stuffing it in his pants pocket. A dreamy expression lazily made its way onto his features as he visualized what a correspondence with Vicki would be like: confessing his love to her and asking her to be his girlfriend, proposing to her when they both became of legal age…
'No! You're thinking too far ahead! Focus on building a friendship first!' shouted a voice inside the teen boy's head. It was all he could do not to growl at it. Instead, he merely willed it to fall silent and released a heavy sigh. 'My conscience is right. How foolish of me. I don't see her agreeing to anything more than friendship at this point. Not that I don't see myself taking the relationship into romantic territory, but it remains to be seen whether she will become the unobtainable fruit or not.' His eyes then drifted towards the holes that remained in the wall, feeling a pool of bile rising up inside his stomach, for he was clearly sickened by such a sight. Sure, he had taken his anger out on used dishes plenty of times in the past, but there was only so far he was willing to go. 'How am I going to convince Kaiba or his employees that vandalism crosses the line for me?'
Marik ran a hand through his slightly mussed hair and clenched his fists, growling softly to himself. As much as he hated taking the knack for the trysts his evil half had committed, he hated feeling so powerless to rectify them even more. 'I have to think of something and quickly. I may not care for Kaiba very much as a person, but that's irrelevant right now.' He rubbed the bridge of his nose and released a light sigh, knowing it was just another task necessary to redeem himself. Resting a hand beneath his chin, he tore his eyes away from the damaged wall, looking pensive as he pondered what to do to get himself out of the mess created by the sinister personality. 'If only there was some paint on this vessel…I would eliminate the holes from the wall myself. Then no one would suspect anything. '
Marik's eyes popped open wide and he gave a small smile as an idea suddenly came to him. While it wouldn't be what his musings suggested, it was the next best option and only viable one. 'It's the least I can do.' Reaching into the pocket on his left side, he pulled out his wallet and took out a wad of yen bills, putting the wallet away afterwards. He then ripped another sheet of paper from the notepad and picked up the pen once again. After he took some time gathering his thoughts, he wrote: "I take responsibility for the damage to this room. I'm truly sorry it has occurred. Please accept these funds as a token of my apologies and use them to purchase the tools necessary to make repairs."-Marik Ishtar
Placing the money in the center, Marik folded the ends of the paper over it, releasing a sigh of satisfaction. His shoulders, along with his chest, felt lighter, as if a massive burden had been removed from them and he had been absolved from guilt. 'At least I'll be able to rest peacefully tonight without this coming back to haunt me.'
The friendship gang gathered in the kitchen room, munching on snacks they raided from the refrigerator and cabinets. They had opted to fend for themselves, since there were no announcements about refreshments being served after the conclusion of the tournament. Given the fact that no one had eaten anything since breakfast, the temptation was far too great to resist when their stomachs were pained with hunger.
Bakura and Vicki shared a small container of cream puffs whilst Joey crunched loudly on some potato chips. "Who needs Rich-boy or his goons when we could throw our own little party?" quipped the blonde before pausing to shove another handful of potato chips in his mouth.
"You said it," agreed Tristan, who was holding a half-eaten gigantic sandwich in his hands. "After all, when you travel to many places on your own like we have, you learn how to find ways to survive the best way you know how." He took a big bite out of his sandwich, allowing a piece of lettuce that was falling out of it onto his plate.
Tèa shook her head and rolled her eyes at the two boys' ravenous eating as if to say, 'Really?' As much as she was trying to keep a straight face, she felt a giggle threatening to escape. "You two are right. I mean, our parents aren't around as much, and there are those who don't even have parents anymore, like Kaiba and Mokuba." Her voice grew wistful at the last statement and a lump formed in her throat. Not wanting to turn into a weepy mess, she quickly swallowed it, then picked up her daifuku to nibble on.
Yami gave Tèa a look of concern at hearing the emotion in her voice before looking thoughtful. "Yes, the Kaiba brothers were forced to mature quickly." His expression then grew pensive as he considered his rivalry with the CEO and his poor social skills, not to mention his inability to trust. 'While I remember very little about my past, something tells me I've found myself in the same predicament. That said, I never allowed my hardships to turn me bitter.'
Duke swallowed his bite of chow mein, then tilted his head to the side with a look that read, 'So we're talking about Kaiba now? Oh-kay...' He bit back the words, instead settling for, "Not to mention there are countries where we would already be considered adults if we lived in any of them."
Serenity merely listened to the conversation with a smile on her face as she made work of some mochi. Having finished off the pastry, she spoke up, "Like Vicki, when she lived in Scotland."
Vicki, who had been busy stuffing her face with her share of the cream puffs, gave an affirmative nod whilst gulping down the last bite of the pastry. "Exactly right, Serenity. While I rather enjoyed it, trust me when I say the responsibility isn't all sunshine and roses."
"Oh, I definitely know that," Joey commented dryly as he crumpled up the empty potato chips bag and went to toss it in the trash can. "Seriously, though, I know how real the struggle is." He had felt a shift in his mood at the mention of Kaiba's name, but then a confused frown made its way onto his features upon noticing how the blimp seemed to be still as a statue. "Now that you mentioned Kaiba before, I wonder what's going on. He was the one who rushed us but we ain't gone nowhere yet."
"Yes, I do find it rather odd," agreed Bakura with a frown that matched the blonde's.
Joey went over to the counter and tore a sheet from the roll of paper towel, using it to wipe his greasy hands. He tossed it in the trash before turning to face the group with a purposeful look on his face. "Well, I don't know about you guys, but I'm gonna go see what's up." He scurried out of the kitchen room without waiting for a response.
Tristan gobbled up the remainder of his sandwich, then gaped at his best friend's quick exit. "Joey! You could have waited for us, dude!" He put the plate in the sink and chased after the blonde.
As if on cue, the remainder of the gang dumped their dishes in the sink and followed Tristan, all the while making mental notes to return to tidy up the mess afterwards. The last thing they wanted was for pesky creatures to invade the kitchen and possibly the entire blimp.
The distance between Joey and the other teens was fairly sizable, although lucky for them, he remained in their view. They picked up the pace as much as they could, slightly closing the gap.
Joey appeared to be in his own world, but the footsteps he heard returned him to reality. 'Huh?' He glanced over his shoulder, freezing in his tracks upon spotting his friends. Looking sheepish, he let out a nervous laugh. "You guys caught up with me, huh? I knew you would. Now what do you say we find out what's going on together?"
"Sounds good to me," came Tèa's response, just as a frown was making its way onto her features. "Although it would have been nice if you had just waited for us in the first place." There was mock irritation in her voice in the final statement.
"Aye, you forget some of us can't walk as quickly as you can," added Vicki.
Joey flinched a bit at the scoldings he received from the two brunette girls, then he gave a wave of his hands. "Okay, okay, I get it. No need to bite my head off. Was just testing ya. Now let's get going." He turned away from the group and continued walking, this time keeping his pace slow.
The group of friends plastered on small, grateful smiles as they followed the blonde down the hall. Tèa felt her feelings of annoyance melting away, and was replaced with the same curiosity Joey had.
Soon, the friendship gang was entering the bridge where Roland and Ben stood. The middle-aged men had their arms folded across their chests, looking as if they were waiting for someone. Upon hearing the footsteps, they dropped their arms to their sides and faced the group of teens. "Well, hello there, ladies and gentlemen," greeted Roland. "What can I or Ben do for you?"
"Hello yourself," Joey remarked with a bit of attitude. From the corner of his eye, he could see Tèa shooting him a look of disapproval, but he turned away, staring straight ahead at the older man. "It's been fifteen minutes. When are we leaving? Why is this blimp sitting like a lump? Are you trying to get us killed?" He didn't bother to keep the impatience from dripping into his voice.
"Jo-ey!" hissed both Tèa and Serenity.
Roland brought up a fist to cover a cough before calmly eyeing the blonde. "This blimp isn't going anywhere. Not without the Kaibas. Is that clear?"
Joey's eyes bulged out and his mouth fell open. He was about to rush forward and pull the gentleman by the collar when Tristan jumped in, "You're saying you want us to go and look for him? Why should we do that when he was the one who rushed us? If he wants to risk getting himself killed, that's his problem, not ours."
Joey took several deep breaths to calm himself. "My thoughts exactly." He then looked thoughtful as he considered the CEO's persistent nature. "You know something? Kaiba may be many things, but stupid isn't one of them. He's probably boarding his private jet as we speak."
Tèa blinked in mild surprise at the blonde's subtle defense of Kaiba. "Joey…" Serenity felt a tiny smile forming on her lips.
Roland was silent as he drew his lips in a straight line. He couldn't argue against the possibility, as he knew of his boss' tendency to be one step ahead, but the suspense made it difficult to share the same amount of confidence. "Well, we can't take that chance!"
Tristan let out a big sigh as he realized the older man wasn't going to budge. "He's not giving us much of a choice. I guess we'd better go and look for those guys."
Joey rolled his eyes as if to say, 'Oh for crying out loud.' He put up both of his arms in surrender. "We're just way too nice."
Vicki had been listening to the back and forth between the boys and the middle-aged man. There was a part of her that wanted to groan something like "Oh great" since the idea of going on a wild goose chase didn't exactly appeal to her, but she knew her conscience would nag at her to find out the plans of the Kaiba brothers at the very least. 'Besides, Mokuba would suffer as well if this evacuation plot fails. Ugh, I could just wring Money-bags' neck for dragging the poor lad into this.' With a scowl forming on her face, she clenched her fist, punching the palm of her other hand, then her face relaxed into a grin as an idea came to her. "Perhaps not. Leave it to me."
"Huh?" Everyone turned to face Vicki with looks of mild surprise etched on their features. "What gives, Vicki?" asked Joey.
"You'll see." Untying the satchel, Vicki reached inside, pulling out her mobile phone. Scrolling through the saved numbers, she clicked on the contact for Mokuba, putting it on speaker as it began to ring.
Huge grins formed on the lips of Tristan and Joey. "Vicki, you think of everything!" Joey complimented, making an effort to keep his voice low. It took everything he had not to run over to the teen girl and glomp her. 'Don't wanna creep her out. Not to mention she's on a phone call now.' Tristan and Duke crossed their fingers as tightly as they could.
Vicki smiled to herself at the blonde's comments, but dared not to respond, for fear of being distracted. 'Please, please pick up.'
After four rings, a voice answered, "Hello? Mokuba speaking."
Vicki let out a sigh of relief, and seven other sighs echoed. Keeping her attention on the conversation, she responded, "Hi Mokuba, it is I, Vicki."
"Oh, hi Vicki! What's up? Is everything all right? I wasn't expecting to hear from you."
"Well, I…" Vicki cut herself off, pondering the best way to explain the situation. A corner of her lip quirked up when a viable one came to her. "While I won't exactly say we're having a problem, we're sort of in a pickle."
On the other end, a slight frown of concern crossed Mokuba's child-like features. "Really? What's wrong?" His stomach twisted into a knot and he felt his heart pounding like mad. 'Gosh, I hope it's not serious, like the blimp running out of gas or something. Time is running out fast.'
Vicki drew in a deep breath, then exhaled it. "Roland doesn't want to leave without you and your brother, so we're pretty much stuck here unless that changes. What should I tell him? Are you guys on your way on?"
"Oh boy…" The other line went silent, almost as if Mokuba needed some time to process what the teen girl told him. The sound of light breathing invaded her ears, so she knew they hadn't disconnected. "Tell him it's all right, he can get going. Seto and I are getting ready to board our own jet in a minute, so no need to worry about us. But you guys need to leave like right now. Forty minutes left to go."
Vicki's mouth made an O shape before she breathed a light sigh of relief. "Are you sure?"
"Positive. We never planned to go back with you guys. We have important business to take care of. So get going. We'll be just fine."
Vicki scrunched up her brow. "All right, then." She was about to say goodbye when she suddenly heard a loud rustling noise on the other end, followed by some voices, making her nearly drop her phone. She tightened her grip on it slightly, clutching her chest with her other hand as the all-to-familiar glacial sounding voice blared, "Tell Roland if he doesn't get going, he'll be out of a job! Is that clear?" His voice rose with the last three words.
Vicki let out a slight whistle whilst suppressing a chill that went down her spine. "Loud and clear enough to nearly explode my eardrums," she answered dryly. She heard snickering from Joey, Tristan and Duke, which she shut her eyes to drown out, lest she would have been tempted to join them.
Kaiba let out a huff before continuing, "And as for you geeks, don't think you've seen the last of me, especially you, Yugi. Our battle is far from over."
A wry smile formed on Yami's lips. "You're on, Kaiba."
"Just what is this business you have to take care of?" asked Joey. "Another tournament?"
Kaiba released a small chuckle. "You'll just have to wait and see, Wheeler. If you and your cronies are lucky, you lot will be among the first to know when it is complete, and maybe I'll allow you to take a peek. Now goodbye." CLICK!
Vicki rolled her eyes as she hit the "hang up" button. She slipped it back into her satchel and closed it up, redirecting her attention to her friends. "That was rude, but I half expected it."
"Ditto," agreed Tèa.
Yami stood still with a stoic expression on his chiseled features. He more or less expected to be reminded of the rematch his rival so desperately coveted, as he clearly felt even more strongly about it than before. 'I can use the time he's taking care of his affairs to make extra preparations. Although I now possess all three Egyptian God cards, I expect our match to be demanding.' The spirit of his vessel appeared next to him, prompting him to turn to see what the teen boy wanted. "Is everything all right, Yugi?"
"Oh yes. I just wanted to say I noticed Kaiba sounded a little happier during the phone call. It's refreshing to see, given his surly and temperamental mood."
Yami's brow furrowed slightly and a reserved smile graced his lips as his nemesis' farewell replayed in his mind. "I've noticed as well."
"I hope this means he can put his anger about losing to Ishizu aside and move on."
Yami nodded. "Agreed." His alter-ego's silhouette disappeared before anyone could question his pensive state.
Serenity ran a hand over the creases in her shorts. "Maybe so, but hey, at least we now know what we should do," she pointed out.
"Thanks to Mokuba." Joey turned to Roland, giving him an "I told you so" look. "Well, you heard what Rich-boy said."
Roland squirmed, looking slightly uncomfortable. The sound of his boss' thundering voice echoed in his ears, making him shudder. He never liked being on the receiving end of the teen boy's wrath. "Right. Ben, it's time."
"I'm on it." Ben wandered over to the control panel, pressing a button. The engine started, roaring so loudly the girls had to step back and cover their ears. Joey let out a massive sigh of relief. "Finally! Time to get out of here!"
Roland set his mouth in a line before taking a quick glance at his wristwatch. His eyebrows arched up in alarm at how much time had passed since Kaiba initially ordered everyone to board the aircraft, then he put on his business-like expression. "I suppose you're right, Mr. Wheeler. " He directed his gaze towards his colleague. "Are we ready for take-off?"
"Yes." Ben pressed another button, which caused the blimp to rise up off the ground. It soared into the air, gradually increasing in height until it was passing through the clouds.
Joey started grinning from ear to ear, resisting the urge to start dancing around the area. "Yahoo!" he yelled at the top of his lungs, causing Tèa to cringe and give a slight eyeroll, which he merely ignored. "This is more like it."
Vicki shivered a little as the change in altitude produced a ticklish sensation in her abdomen. A tiny smile crept upon her lips at her involvement in speeding up the process to find out what was going on with the Kaiba brothers. "Soon we'll be home sweet home." Her smile suddenly faded, and a mixture of emotions wrestled within her. 'While it's great to be heading home, I can't say I don't dread what's to come.' Bowing her head slightly, she clasped her hands together and closed her eyes. 'Dear God, please help me to remain composed while bidding the Ishtars and Keren farewell.' That done, she reopened her eyes and exhaled through her nostrils.
Roland retrieved the microphone and cleared his throat, making the teens face him with their best attentive expressions. Satisfied that he had their attention, he then brought the microphone to his mouth to deliver his address. "Attention, duelists and guests! The KaibaCorp aircraft is en route to Domino City, Japan and is soaring at an altitude of 4000 ft. If all goes according to plan, we will arrive at our destination before nightfall. In the meantime, have an enjoyable trip!"
The middle-aged gentleman had just completed his sentence when Joey pumped a fist in the air and yelled out, "Hell yeah! That's what I'm talking about!" The excitement drained from his demeanor and he looked serious as he realized there would be another test of the passengers' endurance. 'My stomach feels fine right now, but I don't wanna jinx it.' He turned to face his friends. "Well, guys, I'll be in my room if you need me." He exited the bridge.
Tristan and Duke looked aghast upon realizing they were being left behind. "We're coming!" Tristan yelled after the blonde, before he and Duke ran after him.
Yami chuckled softly to himself as he watched the two teen boys catch up with Joey, admiring their healthy energy levels. 'It's as healthy as their appetites.' His smile faded and was replaced by a serious expression. He turned to face Tèa. "Well, I think I'll retreat to my room as well. Care to join me?"
For a moment, Tèa looked surprised, then her face relaxed into a small smile. She used it as a mask for the swarm of butterflies in her stomach and the fact that she was melting into a puddle. "Sure! I'd love to."
Yami smiled at the brunette. "Good. Let's go."
Tèa smiled back, then she and Yami left the bridge together. Tèa had the strongest urge to hold the ancient pharaoh's hand, but she decided against it, not wanting to scare him. 'Besides, now that he has the necessary tools to unlock his memories, it would be dumb of me to think he'd want to be more than friends. Oh well…all I can do is enjoy his company for as long as I'm able.'
Vicki watched the pair for a bit, smiling to herself. 'They look so cute together. I know there will come a day when this amnesiac pharaoh will be leaving us, but either way, I wish Tèa happiness.' She felt a small tinge of jealousy at the fact that she had yet to find a potential soulmate, only for it to fade as quickly as it appeared. 'There is still time. The forces of heaven will lead me to that special someone.' The reminder produced a hopeful feeling inside of her, which showed in her eyes. Putting on her best pokerface, she turned to Serenity and Bakura. "Well, I think I'm gonna wash those dishes we left behind in the kitchen as they unfortunately won't wash themselves. "
Serenity gave a nod of understanding. "I'll help if you want," she offered.
"I will as well," chimed Bakura. He knew it wasn't advisable to aid with such a chore as he wasn't completely healed, but he figured whatever task Vicki had him do wouldn't hurt his sore arm too much. 'As long as I'm careful this bandage doesn't get wet under any circumstances.'
Vicki shot the two teens a grateful smile. "Thank you, I appreciate it."
Bakura gave a warm smile in turn. "My pleasure. Let's get to work."
"Now you're speaking my language." The trio of friends proceeded to make their way to the kitchen together. Vicki allowed a sly smile to form on her lips as an idea of how to liven up such a mundane task came to her. 'Good thing I brought my portable CD player and speakers, not to mention a few of my favorite CDs.'
(Odion's room)
Having heard Roland's announcement, Marik sat at the desk just several feet away from the bed. He had begun to feel lonely in his own room, and he couldn't stomach the sight of the wreckage inflicted by his evil side any longer. He looked pensive as he thought about what he had done to take responsibility for it. 'Even if I fail to appease Kaiba, I can be satisfied knowing I did my part.'
The cornsilk blonde young man directed his gaze towards Odion and Keren. He couldn't help smiling at the sight of his elder adopted brother just sitting by Keren's side as she convalesced. His smile then faltered as he was hit by another pang of guilt at his attitude towards their relationship during his quest for power. 'My actions nearly destroyed their relationship, and to think I was the reason they became acquainted in the first place…' The amount of guilt increased twofold upon being reminded about how the young woman entered the picture.
Marik quickly shut down the negative train of thought as he recalled the words of wisdom given by his conscience about forgiving himself, not wanting it to put a damper on his mood. 'It's an ongoing process. Consider all the things you've done right, like showing compassion when she was assaulted by your Rare Hunters. Just focus on the good of the situation and continue to turn your negatives into positives.' He put on his best neutral expression so he wouldn't be questioned about what was troubling him before softly clearing his throat to get the attention of the couple.
"Yes, Master?" answered Odion, as he and the young woman turned to face the tan-skinned teenager.
Marik drew in a deep breath, then exhaled whilst gathering his thoughts. He didn't want to give the impression he was hanging onto the past, but he wasn't about to downplay the seriousness of his infractions, either. "I must sound like a broken record now, but I can't say enough how much I regret my transgressions. I know my selfishness had created so much tension and strain between you two, and I'm truly sorry for that. I want you to know I wish you true happiness."
Odion gave his younger brother a warm smile. "Thank you, Master Marik."
"You have no idea how much it means to me," added Keren, fixing one of the slightly bent ends of her pillow. She barely managed to hold back a wince of pain caused by the maneuver. She mentally swore, annoyed with herself for not being more cautious.
Marik returned the smile. "Of course. In fact, I look forward to the day Keren becomes a true member of our family…should you choose to take that particular route." He sounded hesitant, as if he were unsure whether his elder brother was considering a more committed relationship with the Israeli or not.
A small gasp escaped Keren's lips, whilst Odion gave a light nod of understanding, inwardly smiling at the reformed tombkeeper's "blessing" despite having yet to mention taking the next step. "I'm glad to hear it, and I hope that day does come to pass." Of course, he knew it would have been out of the question if he had approached the idea during his master's semi-antagonist days, but he didn't doubt it would be a viable option once the cornsilk blonde returned to his normal state. 'It remains to be seen if Keren wishes to enter a marriage.' His voice then grew firm as he continued, "The previous actions you speak of are all in the past now, and what matters most is you have seen the error of your ways."
Marik nodded. "I know."
Keren wore an expectant expression on her face, which also showed in her eyes. The two brothers' conversation brought back memories of the promise Odion made to her in the days Marik had been so intent on carrying out his diabolical scheme, as well as when it was about to come to fruition due to things backfiring. 'I wonder what's going to happen next. Is Odion going to propose to me soon? I definitely see myself marrying him, especially now that everything is all right. Perhaps I'm a romantic fool, but I'm hoping he does after we've ironed things out.' She put on a nonchalant expression, so as to not give her inner thoughts away.
A small smile then formed on the lips of the tattooed faced man. "And I wish you happiness for when you find someone you love."
Marik's cheeks became hot at that. He had thoughts of saying there was someone his heart was set on, but decided against it, not wanting to jinx things. 'After all, a friendship has yet to begin with Vicki, which would be the first stage.' He simply responded, "Thank you, Odion." He licked his lips, pondering a way to tactfully change the subject. It came to him when he remembered one of his reasons for entering the room. Focusing his attention on Keren, he inquired, "How are you feeling? Is your back still hurting you?"
Keren felt a smile escaping her lips at the cornsilk blonde's concern, but it failed to reach her eyes. "Aye. It appears as if the effects of the medication have worn off, but I'm fine as long as I'm careful with my movements."
Marik frowned slightly. He never liked the idea of the young woman being in distress. "Should Odion or I call one of the medics?"
Keren scrunched up her brow in thought. While requesting pain medication strong enough to knock her out for the remainder of the journey sounded tempting, she generally didn't like to rely on it. "No, that won't be necessary. I just need to continue to rest it." That was what she hoped, anyway. The idea of returning to Egypt with an injured back didn't appeal to her.
"All right, then. Let us know if it gets worse."
"I will."
(Alcatraz Tower)
Kaiba watched with a gleeful smile on his lips as the computer displayed twenty-five minutes left to destruction. It took everything he had not to break into laughter as well. 'Now that I've given those dorks some clarity, they should be long gone from this island. If not, Roland will have me to deal with.' His ice-blue eyes hardened at the thought of his employee disobeying his commands, then they brightened as he thought of the events that were to come. 'In a matter of minutes, the unpleasant memories of Battle City will be behind me, including when my plans to be crowned the Duel King was foiled by a novice, and Wheeler actually placed higher than me. More importantly, all reminders of my adopted father will be destroyed forever.'
*Flashback Begins*
After completing another grueling day at school, Seto went to his room to drop off his bookbag and change into more casual clothing. Once he was dressed, he stood in place panting several times, then threw himself onto his bed, placing a hand beneath his chin as he looked pensive. 'School was such a drag today. I had trouble staying awake. If Gozaboro hears I almost fell asleep in class, I'm gonna be dead meat. Oh well. At least I can take a nap before dinner. Then maybe Mokie and I could play a game of chess before bedtime.'
Feeling his eyes droop, the young boy laid his head on his pillow. Succumbing to his exhaustion, he closed his eyes and allowed sleep to claim him, snoring softly.
Seto slept soundly for more than two hours before being roused by a light knocking on the bedroom door. Pulling himself into a sitting position, he rubbed the sleep out of his eyes, then stretched his arms and released a long yawn. "Who is it?" he asked, clearing the drowsiness out of his voice.
"It's me, Mokie," answered the voice on the other side of the door.
The little boy's sweet-sounding voice brought a smile to Seto's face, perking him up like an energy drink for a pro-athlete. "Just a second." He climbed out of bed and went to the door, pulling it open. "Hey Mokie. What's up?"
"Sorry for waking you up, Seto, but Gozaboro told me to get you for dinner." Mokuba gave his older brother an apologetic smile.
The older boy gave a smile of his own whilst good-naturedly ruffling his younger brother's wild black mane. "It's okay. I definitely don't want to be late for dinner, so your timing was good."
Mokuba looked relieved. "I'm glad. Now let's go."
The two boys exited the room, took each other's hand and made their way to the dining hall together. They both inhaled a deep breath, then exhaled as they entered to find their adopted father seated at the head of the table with a scowl on his face.
Seto felt his blood running cold and his heart dropping into his gut. 'I'm in trouble. I can feel it.' Reluctantly letting go of his younger brother's hand, he pulled out the chair seated in the midst of the table and sat down. Mokuba pulled out the chair next to him and took a seat as well. He twiddled his thumbs while his brother eyed the spread laid out on the table. As if on cue, his stomach growled.
The silence in the room was so deafening one could hear a pin drop. Seto had to pinch himself to keep from falling asleep once again. Just when he thought he would choke from all the tension, he heard a loud, "Ahem!" He and Mokuba glanced up, gazing Gozaboro square in the eye.
The middle-aged business tycoon studied the two boys, almost as if he were sizing them up. They grew fidgety under his scrutiny. He shot them a scathing glare, which made them freeze so they were as still as statues. Then, he began his spiel in his usual stern tone. "Seto, I've been informed by your tutors that you appear to have trouble remaining alert. That is unacceptable and will not be tolerated. "
Seto gulped before peering down at his plate. He knew he couldn't deny the tutor's claim. It was true, he did have trouble focusing that day, but with good reason. 'Class was so boring and overall, the amount of work feels like overkill. It would be dumb of me to tell Gozaboro that, though.'
Gozaboro cleared his throat again, prompting the young boy to give him eye contact once again. "As a result of your laziness, you will be attending school on Saturdays as well. Afterwards, you won't be allowed television, video games, and ALL types of distractions will be confiscated."
Seto's mouth dropped open as the realization hit him on how restricted he would be. "But I work hard and I don't much time for those things anymore." From the corner of his eye, he could see Mokuba giving him a sympathetic look. He discreetly reached underneath the table and grabbed ahold of the little boy's hand, squeezing it.
Gozaboro shot his adopted son a withering glance. "Not hard enough. Your lack of free time is how it should be if you are to become president of KaibaCorp one day. You will be working nonstop. Rest is for the weak."
*Flashback Ends*
The teen CEO's eyes twitched and he clenched his fists to calm the burning rage inside of him. 'That was the beginning of his tyranny, but no matter. I can practically taste his total destruction.' He took another glance at the computer. It read twenty-two minutes till the tower's destruction. Shaking his head to rid it of any trace of the unpleasant memories, refusing to let it spoil his mood, he turned to his younger brother. "Let's go, Mokuba."
A small grin formed on the raven-haired young boy's face. "You got it, Big Brother."
The Kaiba brothers exited the control room, making their way to the private jet together. They both remained silent and appeared to be lost in their own thoughts. Mokuba couldn't help smiling whilst a feeling of closure proceeded to bathe him. 'At first I thought blowing up the tower was a little bit much, but I think I get it now. Anything belonging to Gozaboro is such a trigger for Seto, and with good reason, too. '
Mokuba kicked a tiny pebble into a patch of grass, which nearly hit a large beetle. He gave a tiny smirk at the creature scampering away as he and his elder brother approached the Blue-Eyes White Dragon shaped jet, prompting them both to stop in their tracks. They climbed inside and sat in their respective seats, then fastened their seatbelts.
Kaiba pressed several knobs and peeked through the window, gazing around all directions to get a feel of his surroundings. When he saw nothing blocking his path, he pressed down one of the brakes as he pulled the control wheel towards him, which lifted the plane off the ground. "Hold on, Mokuba!" he yelled out when the jet soared high into the air.
"No need to tell me twice." Mokuba leaned back and placed his arms on the armrests, enjoying the feel of the wind blowing at his hair. Excitement bubbled up inside of him, manifesting itself with a wide grin forming on his features. "We're finally gonna build Kaiba Land! I can't wait!" It was all he could do not to pump a fist in the air.
The young CEO smiled slightly at the young boy's enthusiasm, then his smile faded to be replaced by his typical all-business look. "Opening a theme park isn't all fun and games, Mokuba. It takes hard work and determination as well." He wanted Mokuba to be prepared and not get discouraged when the task proved to be different from what he had envisioned.
Mokuba resisted the urge to let out a sigh at his elder brother's stiff attitude, camouflaging it by shaking his head in utter amusement. 'Some things never change. It's times like this I miss the Seto who enjoyed having fun on occasion.'
(hours later-Mai's room)
Taking a peek outside through the glass window, a corner of Vicki's lips quirked up slightly when she saw the blimp had landed and the sky was still fairly light. Not that she expected to see rare hunters around whenever she took her leave, but she knew they were not the only threat prone to putting her safety at risk. 'I think I'll walk home with Tèa…that is, if she has no plans with Yugi.'
"Attention all duelists and guests, we have landed at Domino Pier! Please be sure to gather all personal belongings before exiting this vessel! Ben and I will not be held responsible for any missing items!" Roland's voice announced over the PA system.
Mai put away the magazine she had been reading and then glanced up at Vicki. "I guess this is it." She stood up and stretched before walking over to the other side of the room to begin doublechecking for different items, making sure she didn't leave anything behind.
"Aye. Thank you for letting me hang out in your room." Vicki peered down at the outfit she was currently wearing, looking sheepish as it had nearly slipped her mind to show her appreciation. "Also, thank you for lending me the extra clothing. I'll wash it and return it to you."
Mai gave a slight wave of her hand. "Ah, don't sweat it. After all, you're like my little sister, which is one reason why I always look out for you. And don't worry about returning it to me. You can keep it."
Vicki's eyes widened and her mouth dropped open, a slight gasp escaping in the process. "Really? You mean it?"
Mai shot the teen girl an amused look. "Of course I do, silly. Like I said before, you're a little sister to me, and besides, it flatters you more than it does me." She spoke slowly, as if wanting to make sure she drilled it in Vicki's skull.
Vicki bit back a gulp at the young woman's insistent tone that left no room for refusal. Her eyes then lit up like a Christmas tree. She dashed over to Mai, throwing her arms around her waist. The blonde looked taken aback at first, but she returned the embrace. "I owe you one."
Mai ended the hug and lightly tapped Vicki on the nose. "No, you don't. Having your friendship is good enough for me."
"If you're sure. I'll be right back." Vicki disappeared into the bathroom where she had left the original outfit she wore. Retrieving it from the curtain rod, she ran her fingers over it, looking pleased to see it was completely dry. 'Definitely can't forget this…not after Mr. Roland's warning.' She exited the bathroom with her clothes in hand, placing them on the bed as she retrieved her satchel. Pulling it open, she took out a plastic bag and put her clothes inside it, placing it in the satchel. She then closed it back up, slung it on her shoulders and went to stand by the door. " I'm ready whenever you are."
"Great. Let's go." Mai picked up her duffle bag and wandered over to Vicki, taking out her key to swipe. Once the door slid open, they exited the room. As they stepped into the hall, they spotted the other occupants (minus Kaiba and Mokuba) walking out of their respective rooms as well. Whilst Joey bent over to retie one of his sneakers, Mai turned to Vicki with a wry smile on her face. "Looks like our timing was perfect. "
"Indeed."
"Hey, look! It's Mai and Vicki," pointed out Tèa.
Joey stood upright after he was done tying his shoe and his lips spread into a grin upon noticing the two females. "Hey you guys! Ready to blow this taco stand?"
Mai giggled at Joey's choice of expression for them leaving. "You bet!"
Joey gave a thumbs up sign as his grin widened. "Awesome!"
Everyone gathered around and slowly formed a line, which turned out to be rather sloppy. After making sure there was adequate space between each individual, the passengers walked down the halls, engaging in small talk every now and then.
(Domino Pier)
One by one the duelists and spectators exited the large vessel, making their way down the stairs. Joey heaved a massive sigh of relief at the familiarity of the scenery as he and the remainder of the friendship gang approached the Ishtars and Keren. He took a quick glance at his watch, smiling widely when he saw it was only ten past five. 'Sweet! Just in time to grab me some grub!' Unable to resist, he did a fist pump and cheered, "Yeah, we made it!"
"And in one piece, too," added Vicki whilst buttoning the top of her bolero jacket.
"Thank God," piped up Tèa. She just wanted to put the tournament behind her.
The group of friends fell silent as the atmosphere became solemn. They focused their attention on the Ishtars, along with Keren, not blinking when they saw Odion's arm draped around her shoulders.
Yami and Vicki stepped forward, the latter pressing her thumbs together as she gathered her thoughts. She gazed up at the sky, mentally praying the words she wished to say didn't escape her. 'In any event, I think I'll allow Yugi to go first.'
Ishizu directed her gaze towards the ancient pharaoh, donning a look of gratitude. "Pharaoh…it's because of your selflessness and bravery my brother Marik was saved from the evil that once consumed his heart."
"How could I ever thank you?" inquired the cornsilk-haired young man. He had the strongest urge to get down on his knees, but didn't want to appear too overdramatic. 'Not to mention, based on Keren's little anecdote, it won't be necessary.'
"The time has come for you to uncover the great mysteries that surround your past," Ishizu continued.
Marik felt his heart blazing as he recalled how quickly Yami agreed to assist him in his quest to banish the evil. The gesture filled him with hope when he considered the gift he had to offer. "Pharaoh, you saved me from myself and showed compassion without hesitation. I hope this means in spite of all I've done, we can be friends."
Yami gave the reformed tombkeeper a warm smile. "Yes," he confirmed, before extending a hand.
Marik took the pharaoh's outstretched hand in his for a firm handshake, making the girls go, "Awww" and the boys stare agape.
Mai blinked slightly, but even she couldn't help being moved by the amicable scene before her. 'Yugi has such a big heart. He never ceases to amaze me.'
Vicki swallowed a small lump that was beginning to form in her throat. She inhaled a deep breath, then exhaled through her nostrils. 'Now is not the time to lose your composure.'
Marik released Yami's hand and then focused his attention on Vicki, feeling his heartbeat speed up. "Vicki, words alone are not enough to express my gratitude for the strength you gave me. However, there is something I meant to say to you earlier, but the words escaped me."
Curiosity filled Vicki's eyes as she gave her best "Go on, I'm listening" look. "What is it?"
Marik took a deep breath whilst wiping the sweatdrops from his hands on his pants leg. "You have always intrigued me, even when I was controlled by my dark half, but sad to say my feelings for you were twisted at the time. Not to worry, though, that is no longer the case. The kindness you extended when I was in danger of being overpowered by my evil side has made me grow quite fond of you."
Vicki froze as her eyes opened so wide it looked like they would roll out of their sockets and fall onto the ground. She clearly wasn't expecting such an admission, but then a knowing expression replaced her surprise when the reason for the awkwardness hit her. 'So that's why he seemed so ill at ease when he came to thank me after his duel with Yugi. I can't say I don't understand.' Her face relaxed into a smile. "I've taken a liking to you as well," she admitted, chuckling lightly when relief crossed the cornsilk blonde's features.
A look of surprise accompanied the relief on Marik's face. "You have?"
"Yes." Vicki's smile faded and was replaced by a serious expression. "It's just a shame we have to part ways so soon after I've realized what a good person you truly are." Her tone of voice remained steady, but only by a thread.
Marik gave a rueful smile meant to camouflage the guilt that threatened to manifest itself in his eyes. "I know. That's my regret as well. However, I do believe our paths will cross again in the near future, and there is a way to ensure the bond that has begun to develop between us doesn't die." Reaching into his pocket, he pulled out the medium-sized folded paper and placed it in the palm of Vicki's hand, clasping her fingers over it. "I want you to keep this. Make sure you don't lose it."
It was Vicki's turn to don a look of pleasant surprise. "Thank you. I believe I have something for you as well." Unzipping one of the zipper compartments on her satchel, she placed the note inside, zipped it up, then opened the main part, retrieved the envelope, closed her bag up and handed the envelope to Marik.
"Thank you so much." Marik accepted the envelope from the cocoa-haired teen girl, sliding it in his pocket. On impulse, he leaned forward and lightly pecked her on the cheek, which caused her skin to tingle and her heart to nearly stop.
'Goodness, at this rate I'll be lucky if I survive after he and his folks do leave.' Ignoring the heat travelling through her face, Vicki got a shifty look in her eyes and pecked both of Marik's cheeks in turn, making his skin change temperature. She heard a couple of teasing "Ooos" behind her, which she stifled a giggle at. 'The chaps probably think I'm loony at the very least. No matter, though.'
Ishizu and Odion wore smiles on their face as they observed their younger brother with the teen girl. It brought so much joy to them that he appeared to have found his ideal soulmate and they dared not to disrupt the tender moment. Keren felt her heart turning into mush. 'It's best to leave them be for awhile. After all, Marik hasn't experienced true happiness in years.'
Marik's expression then became serious. "I'm afraid it's time for us to leave now, but I promise this won't be the last you see of us."
Ishizu mentally sighed in relief, for she was trying to figure out the best way to inform him the family should get going. 'Ra knows how much I hate to so soon, but I would have had to eventually.' Clenching a fist, she placed it across her chest. "Goodbye my king. I know we will meet again very soon."
Marik lightly touched Vicki's cheek before giving a small curtsey before Yami. "Farewell for now."
Odion and Keren each gave the friendship gang a final salute, eliciting a reciprocation of the gesture. With that, the Ishtars and Keren wandered away from the group to board Marik's ship.
"Bye guys!" Serenity called out.
"Yeah, take it easy," chimed Tristan.
Joey gave the peace sign, directing it Marik to let him know all was forgiven. "Smell ya later." He looked thoughtful as he watched the family sail towards the sunset. "If anyone had told me there was a nice guy inside that psychotic evil nutcase, I wouldn't have believed them. But seeing him with Yuge and Vicki? I stand corrected."
Mai chuckled lightly. "You certainly have a way with words, Joey."
"It's a gift."
Duke bit back the playful jab that was trying to force its way from his lips as he faced his comrades. "I guess it's time for me to say goodbye."
Tristan shot the ebony-haired teen a confused frown. "Huh? Why's that, dude?"
"I just can't stay in one place for too long. Besides, the Battle City tournament gave me an idea of an upgrade I wanna add to Dungeon Dice Monsters. Don't worry, we'll meet up again." With a furtive grin threatening to form on his lips, he reached into his pocket for a folded piece of paper and placed it in the palm of Serenity's hand. "Bye, Serenity."
"Bye Duke." Serenity released a slight startled sounding gasp as she took a peek at the small piece of paper in her hand.
Tristan's eyes narrowed and his face turned a dark shade of green at the piece of paper. "What the hell is that?!" He quickly snatched the paper up before the young teen could react and unfolded it to take a peek, his eyes hardening into steel. "He slipped her his phone number! Smooth move, Duke! What makes you think she's gonna call you?!"
Vicki released a heavy sigh, then wearily rubbed her forehead and rolled her eyes as if to say, 'For heaven's sake!' She gave the pointy-haired teen a funny look. "What, do you see her as some sort of prized possession or something?!"
"No, of course not! I just—" Tristan cut himself off. He grimaced and released a growl through clenched teeth, frustrated at his inability to come back with a decent retort.
Duke let out a loud laugh of triumph at how Vicki indirectly put his "love rival" in his place. Once he calmed down, he brought up his hand to give a casual wave before walking away. "Later," he called over his shoulder.
"Yeah, much later, Dice Boy!" Tristan yelled, staring hard at the young man's back whilst inwardly shooting a string of curse words at him. He took several deep breaths to calm himself before looking serious. "Everyone's going their separate ways. Makes me wonder what's next for me."
Tèa gave the brunette teen boy an understanding look. She wanted him to know she could relate with how uncertain the future was. "Well, you have time to figure it out. Remember, we still have to finish high school."
Tristan furrowed his brow in thought. "Hmm, that's true. I just have to see what fate has in store for me. But for now…" A sly grin then formed on his lips as he retrieved a folded piece of paper from his pocket to place in Serenity's hand.
Serenity got a bewildered expression on her face as she peered down at the item in her hand. "What's this?"
Joey looked as if a blood vessel would burst in his forehead. "Tristannnnn," he blared in a warning voice. He tried to glare at the pointy-haired teen, but failed miserably and burst into laughter instead. Tristan laughed along with him, partially out of relief he was spared the blonde's wrath.
Mai cleared her throat, making the group of friends face her. "It's my turn."
The friendship group shot her questioning looks, wondering what the young woman meant. "What's that?" asked Yami.
"You mean you're leaving, too?" It took everything Tèa had to keep the chagrin out of her voice. 'Seriously, she's hard to stay in touch with.'
Mai felt a pang of guilt striking her in the chest, which she successfully hid with her pokerface. "I'm a wanderer and now that Battle City is over, it's time for me to move on. After all the craziness that went down, I really need to get away to clear my head."
The group gave a nod of understanding as they knew she was referring to the entire saga with Marik. Although they no longer feared and loathed him, they knew one never just got over the trauma overnight.
Tears began to well up in Serenity's eyes as she was overwhelmed by a choked-up feeling. She swallowed the lump in her throat before releasing a deep breath. "Mai, you're like a sister to me. I wish you didn't have to leave, but I get it. It's more important that you take care of yourself. I just want you to know how much I appreciate everything you've done for me."
Mai felt her heart melting like frozen ice at both the girl's words and wavery voice. Her expression softening a smidge, she brought up a hand to wipe Serenity's tears away. "I should be thanking you, Serenity. When I was trapped in that awful place, you took great care of me, and I also owe your brother for rescuing me. Thank you both so much." She then directed her gaze towards Yami, shooting him her warrior look. "Yugi, in the next tournament we will have our rematch."
Yami shot the blonde young woman a reserved smile, biting back a chuckle. "I look forward to it, Mai. I'm happy to see your fighting spirit hasn't diminished."
"Huh…like that'll ever happen." Mai then turned to Joey, exchanging a loving gaze with him.
Joey shuffled his feet, then squirmed a little as he gathered his thoughts. "Mai, would you..." His voice trailed off and the words became stuck in his throat, making him unable to form them. "Never mind."
Mai tilted her head as she got a "well this is awkward" feeling, which she shrugged off. "Well, I'm off now. See you around. Take care of yourselves!" After giving one last wave and blowing a kiss at Joey, she sprinted away from the group.
A look of longing flashed in Joey's eyes as he watched his female companion leave. He had the strongest urge to run after her, but his legs wouldn't move. 'I guess it wasn't meant to be. Goodbye, Mai.'
Tèa let out a groan of frustration. "Joey, why are you always such a dork? Go tell her what you have to say before you lose your chance!"
"Yes ma'am." Joey felt a burst of adrenaline burst through him at the brunette's admonishing words. He ran away from the pier to its parking lot, sighing in relief when he saw Mai still there, sitting in her car. Dashing over to the blonde young woman, he put up a hand and waved it, making her glance up at him with a curious look.
Joey exhaled a massive breath as the look on his face became serious. "Mai, I know I can be impulsive and say dumb things sometimes, but I really care about you. Will you be my girlfriend?" He put on his best pokerface, bracing himself for rejection ranging from amicable to utter scorn.
Shock appeared on the young woman's features. Then, as she searched the teen boy's face, she saw a tender look in his honey-colored orbs, causing her heart to melt. Although aware of the age difference, she knew it wouldn't matter in just over a year and they wouldn't have to hold back then. 'It's the perfect time period for a courtship.' Removing her hand off the steering wheel, she reached over and took Joey's hand in hers, squeezing it gently. "Awww Joey, I'd love to be your girlfriend."
Relief crossed Joey's features, then his lips curled into a small smile as he returned the gesture. "Really?"
"Of course. It would be nice to have someone by my side for a change. Besides, what you did for me shows how much you care. It so happens that the highlight of the tournament was getting to know you, and this moment is just the icing on the cake. "
"Same to you." Joey's inner child was screaming for joy, and he was tempted to do so aloud, but he opted to show some restraint. His smile grew wide and he just stood there, grinning like an idiot.
Mai let out a giggle, then her expression became stern whilst she released the grip on his hand. "But don't think this means you're off the hook. I still plan on kicking your butt in the next tournament." She didn't want her male companion to think dating him meant she would stop being a fierce duelist.
Joey gave Mai a wry smile. "And I don't want you thinking I'll make it easy for ya."
"Good. You'd better not. " Mai then glanced at her watch. "I should get going now, but don't be a stranger. Vicki has my phone numbers and I told her to give them to you."
"Sounds good. Take care of yourself."
"You bet."
Mai reversed out of the parking spot and made a sharp turn, driving away. She sped down the streets of Domino, looking pensive as an image of the blonde young man's face materialized in her head. 'Joey has come a long way. When I first met him, he was an okay duelist with a big mouth. Now he's a great duelist with a great mouth, and a big heart, too. Who knew he could be so romantic?' A small smile formed on her lips as she pondered the journey to completely restoring her mental health.
~THE END~
A/N: And that's the conclusion. I hope it meets your approval. I was a little worried about how it would turn out, considering I took such a long break from working on it and was at risk for my skills becoming rusty in the process. Even so, I was determined to give it my all. Of course, I'm also glad the story is finally complete. In some ways, it has been my baby, as there were parts I was eager to put my own spin on and was satisfied with how the majority of them turned out.
Where do I go from here? I know there are characters whose stories are not complete, and I believe in giving closure. I also haven't forgotten the promise I made to die-hard Kaiba fans, and my word is my bond. However, it remains to be seen how long it will be before I write another YGO fanfiction again, as I have other projects to tackle, not to mention paying attention to real life.
All that said, I want to thank everyone who stuck with me till the very end and especially those who took the time to leave reviews.
In loving memory of Kazuki Takahashi (October 4, 1961-July 4, 2022)
