DIMENSION: ANIME (The One That Saves to Pay the Day)
Skeezy's Hotel
"I am sure Yugi will help, that was just Tristan butting in," Joey insisted as he heard his phone ring again. "Mai?"
"Tristan is the only one who spoke any sense. I will figure my own way out," she said, "or live with the consequences."
Damn it. He was on a role, why did Tristan have to say that? "After everything is said and done, you can pay us all back if you want." It was gonna be expensive and risky to get Mai out, but he had to do something before she got mixed up in Skeezy's actual business. "Mai. It's not farfetched, and I'm not trying to scare you. You do something, anything that annoy's this guy, and he'll kill you or make you disappear." She didn't look too surprised. "Mai?"
"I'm not the person you knew," she answered. "He likes me for me. I act tough, but I don't stand up to people. I just can't. I lost something, that part of me, a long time ago. He could do anything and I'd just take it."
"Loud but scared." Joey got it. "I saw a young girl, tracked her in her middle school. Got distracted just a few seconds, and lost her. She's still missing. I don't think she'll ever be found, and you know why." She looked empathetic, but that was it.
"You got tonight to hang out with me, Joey Wheeler. I haven't had another duel outside of Skeezy for a year. He doesn't like me joining tournaments myself or talking to many people. So, you wanna duel me or not?"
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Joey thought he just had to loosen Mai up again. He talked about his dueling and how the duels he played lacked heart anymore. He tended to stay on paying circuits of dueling when he lost his career. Mai told him about what she had done over the years. They shared what they could over the God's Brew.
It was good. Potent. Just what he needed. They both slid so comfortably into the conversation. Joey even found himself explaining about Atem. And if that weren't enough. "You could have asked it from me, Mai."
"Ask what?"
"To come see you. I wanted to. I wanted to know that you were okay after getting your soul back."
"I wanted to be better first, Joey. Then, it felt awkward to see you. I just felt too much shame. I can never make up for what I did."
"I knew the risks. I wanted to save you no matter what 'cause I loved ya. Did I say that out loud? God's Brew is apparently strong. Sorry."
"Saying anything about that time with you would be wrong. I was like 24 and you were this little guy in high school. You were too young, Mister."
"Not . . . too young now, am I?"
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The next morning
Joey kind of waited next to Mai in the bed. He knew he had a serious problem. Although he didn't mind the angel next to him? He knew he messed up.
No idea how. They were talking last night about getting her out with Yugi and Tristan. Then Tristan said something stupid. He was trying to recover. Then, they were both just kind of enjoying the God's Brew and the company. ///Joey: Did I tell her how I feel, is this why I'm here?///
Last night, thoughts and words seemed to form into each other. ///Joey: Or, did she just feel like she owed me? Could she have actually said something more? Did she have better memories? Oh man, what if she's just like me and doesn't remember anything?///
This was bad. This wasn't the time for this kind of thing. Mai was in a jam, a serious jam. If she didn't remember and thought something happened, she might not trust him. She had a serious issue with trust.
Joey snuck out of bed. ///Joey: If she doesn't seem any different, if I make this scene different, then I'll know./// He picked up the clothes off the bed and floor. He took one of the pillows and threw it on the floor haphazardly. Like he'd ever make up a bed on the ground? He looked around the hotel room and found an extra blanket. He spread it around the pillow.
He took all his clothes and threw them on the bathroom floor. Mai would probably use like a hamper if they had one. He looked around and found one. He stuffed her clothes in there.
He tucked himself back over on the floor and waited. Soon, he heard Mai starting to move around. He saw her face immediately looking out for him above. "What?"
"Uh? Nothing." She sighed. "Do you know why I'm naked?"
"Um?" He teased to keep the lie in control. "Mai, were just friends. Maybe after this whole-" He stopped as she threw her pillow at him.
"I'm not coming onto you. You stay there and don't peek," she demanded as he heard her footsteps hurry to the bathroom.
///Joey: There's my answer. If she had remembered, she would have had a brilliant smile when she looked over then said something like 'Wheeler, what're you doing on the floor, Goofball?'///
She'd never go through with any plan he would try if she knew. Even now, because of the Orichalchos thing she had too much guilt and shame to get his help. ///Joey: I've got to get her out or she's dead. She'd either find out about what he did and get pinned as an accomplice so she couldn't ever leave, or he'd get tired of her.///
Joey felt like scum at the same time. They were with each other, and she should know that. But? ///Joey: Promise Mai. Once your safely away from this guy, I'll tell you the truth./// Until then, he needed her working with him.
Best way to keep lies under wrap? "That God's Brew is real strong, I don't remember anything from last night. Ya think something happened there, Mai?" He raised his eyebrows comically. ///Joey: Bring up the truth like it was a total joke.///
"In your dreams. You were on the ground and everything. I was . . ." She paused. "Nah. It was fine."
There. Suspicion over. "Hey, Mai." Still, he wasn't a moron. "Once your better off and start getting into tournaments, come get me. I'd love to join one with you again."
A little smile. "We'll see, Wheeler."
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Domino City
Yugi pulled himself away from his breakfast when he saw who was finally starting to call. "Joey?"
"Yug? I need some help. I need to get Mai to Domino for a bit."
"Joey, you've been following this for a long time. This guy sounds intense. Are you sure bringing her to Domino City isn't going to be easy for him to find?" Especially since it's where Joey lived too.
"She'll stay off the streets. You could put her in a hotel for a couple of months maybe while I figure out how to bring this whole thing to a close finally? Is that okay, Pal? I promise I'll pay it back in the future."
Pricey but yeah. Yugi could swing that. "You don't have to pay me back, Joey. As long as she stays out of sight. I don't know how this will end though. We never get mixed up in these kinds of situations." At least not anymore. They were all pretty settled down. Yugi worked on his games. Tristan worked for his father. Joey used to be a cop but now he dueled professionally. And? Téa was happy with her career.
"Oh, and one more thing? There's something I need to tell you, Yug, but not over the phone. It's a face to face kind of talk, okay?" Joey informed him.
"You bet. When will you be here?"
"I don't know. I need to convince her to come still. Also? Don't tell Tristan where she's at. I don't need him involved in this. Okay?"
"Good idea, Joey." Tristan deciding to go to her spot and talking about the past wouldn't help things. "Although, you didn't tell any of this to your sister, right?"
"Nah, not a word. Why?"
"I bumped into your sister yesterday and she looked terrible. You might want to give her a call," Yugi told him. "I'll see you when you get here."
"Got it, Yug. Take care."
"You bet. Bye, Joey." Yugi hung up and took a deep breath for his next call. Oh, even being on the phone he blushed. He tried to call at least twice a month to Téa. If he didn't, she did.
He used to be able to talk to her everyday. New York City though, it was a long distance relationship from Domino. Still, she'd be taking a whole two weeks off to come down there and see them soon. Those two weeks were always magical. ///Yugi: You shouldn't be like this. How many years has it even been?/// He should have moved on. Done something, but he just didn't want to.
He was waiting for that miracle day that would never come, when she came back to stay. He didn't want to be married, engaged, or even have a girlfriend when miracle day happened. ///Yugi: I swore the first year apart I'd be over this. Then the second. I knew by the third it'd be ridiculous. By five, I was downright swearing it.///
Crazy. He was close a few times too. He'd gotten a date a couple of times, set up by Joey or Tristan. They swore he needed to try. Then that very night, right before the date, Téa would call.
She didn't know about the dates, they didn't tell her. She had no way of knowing. Yet, she always said something like 'Sorry to call Yugi. Just found myself thinking I should really call you for some reason. How are you?'
If he was supposed to move on, she wouldn't call every time he had a chance to move on.
He dialed her number and heard her sweet hello. Soon he'd be able to see her in person. "Hi. It's Yugi. I just wanted to say that Joey won't be able to make it this year, but I'll be right here with Tristan." They talked for a few more minutes before she had to go back to work.
"I can't wait to see you soon too," Yugi insisted. "I know I missed out last year because of the traveling advertising for my game, but I won't miss a single day this time! Can't wait to see you. Bye. Téa."
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