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((going to store, bbl))

Seto wasnt thinking straight. He was too focoused on Joey. His jealousy, guilt and rage were taking over his thoughts and his mouth. As she spoke he gritted his teeth harder. He stood up, slamming his fists down on his desk. "No he cant! He belongs to me!" He yelled angrilly. His eyes widened slightly, surprised by his own actions. He sighed and sat back down, rubbing his temples with his eyes shut. "I didnt mean that..." He mumbled.

Since Joey didnt agree with her, Sam childishly crossed her arms and looked in the opposite direction of Joey. "hmph." Of course she didnt know what he ahd been through so she thought he was being immature and holding a grudge. She was loyal and protective of her brother. She didnt want them all to think he was a bad person cause thats not how she saw him.

Mai decided to answer again since Sam didnt seem like she was going to. "In a week, I'm sureyou'll recieve a personal invitation, same with kaiba."

[[That's so cool! Very lucky indeed. The only other card I remember with the word 'Kaiba' in it was the Kaiba Seahorse (I think that was it XP )]]

Akiko recoiled slightly when Seto outbursted like so. Now she was getting somewhere. But the more she heard his answers, the less she believed he raped Joey. He wouldn't be so jealous if what he told Joey this morning was true. "An outburst like that makes it hard to believe it was more then a 'freudian slip'," Akiko said not believing for a second that he didn't mean it. "You looked troubled, that's why you wanted to talk to me- right? Well I can't help you unless you tell me the truth. It's hard to believe that you took advantage of Joey last night. So tell me, was it just a lie you told him or is it true?" Akiko said. She was done beating around the bush- she needed him to start cooperating. It was the only way she could help him.

Joey crossed his arms and looked down at the ground. "I wish they would hurry up," he said impatiently and annoyed. Deep down, it was killing him that he was acting this way. But he still wasn't quite himself. A lot has happened these passed few days.

Atem looked at Sam and tried to keep her attention away from Joey. "After this, do you still want to go out?" he asked. They still had the day to themselves. "We could go to that card shop in the mall. I know Grandpa has cards but it doesn't hurt to check in there as well. Just don't tell him ok?" he said with a smile. Sam was always able to draw a smile on him.

[[It was a normal/weak card if I remember. Maybe I have it- I'll go take a look later. It was one of those first cards that came out lol- old school? tee hee]]

Akiko smiled a bit. So he didn't do it- now things were making sense. Seto really didn't like looking weak- but he had to realize he was human, and humans make mistakes and have feelings. "It must have taken a lot of resistance to not do anything to him while he was intoxicated," she said. She had to give a little to help him out. Telling him that would hopefully make him not feel so weak. "You told Joey that so you wouldn't have to see him anymore?" she asked in a calming voice. She figured it out, but she needed Seto to openly say it. Now that she knew that he didn't do anything to Joey- she knew that Joey was on him mind. The jealousy made sense now.

"It's blackmail on you too for Grandpa. He wants our friends to only shop there as well," he said with a chuckle. He needed some new cards as well- but he was more concerned about rearranging his deck more so then new cards.

Joey looked at Mai and said, "He dated her so the rumor would stop spreading. Not like it mattered, it was true in the end." He didn't mind telling Kaiba's secrete at all. He was going to tell Mai his own secret too as well. Though he was nervous about doing so. That small bit of a crush he had was still there. He was nervous about telling his friend because of acceptance. He was scared to tell Mai because of disappointment and rejection. But he knew it didn't matter- he wouldn't date her or any girl any more.

[[Oh snap, your right. I remember why I get that confused- I had a friend whose last name was Kaiser (we called him by his last name since his first name was the ever so popular 'Mike') and at one point I would acidentally call Kaiser Kaiba and Kaiba Kaiser. He did like that card, even though he didn't like Yugi. He just liked the fact it's name was Kaiser -_- Even better, Kaiser is really gay lolololol]]

It was a lot that Seto just admitted. "Well, if there is one thing I know for certain, when Joey says he loves or hates someone or something- he usually means it. However, Joey can sometimes jump to conclusions. It wasn't so much of a lie, he just felt something strong with you," she said looking at both ends. "Well for one thing, lying to him like you did may make you feel that way. And maybe just the fact you miss him," she said. She actually felt bad for Seto. She knew, as did everyone, that he always wanted to look and be powerfull. It was killing him that he felt this way. He didn't have to beat himself over this. "Why wouldn't it work Seto?" she asked actually unsure herself. She paused for a second and decided to take a risk and say, "If you feel worse, maybe you should go and talk to Joey. Perhaps tell him the truth? I know he's difficult to reach sometimes, but just telling him your not interested now may be a better thing to do then leave him to think you screwed him over. And if you do have feelings for him, then maybe you should persue him and take things slowly." She was glad she was at least able to make Seto realize and openly say how he felt. Seemed her studies in psychology for her medical career was coming in handy.

"Yea it is," he said. He was about to tell her about himself when he decided not to at this moment. "Hey Mai, can I talk with you later?" he said. He wanted her to know he needed to talk to her. She also was so confused by now- she had a right to know what was going on. Especially with him.

"Then I'll keep mine," he said. "Besides all of us, do you think we'll see anybody else from past tournaments? Perhaps Marik will hear word of it?" he said. He mentioned Marik since now he was fine with him. He hasn't seen him since Yugi and him were still in one body. They were fine with one another after diminishing the evil that was in his Millennium Item.

[[I wanted to see what Sam thought of other past duelists ^___^

Good night]]

Akiko backed up a bit from his angry reactions. Well, that didn't last long. But she wasn't expecting to get very far with this- she wasn't a miracle worker anymore. She started walking to the door but turned around. "I won't tell anybody- it's your business after all. However, if anything, you should at least tell Joey the truth. That you didn't rape him. Because that really did hurt him," she didn't bother to hear his reply if he had one. She opened the door to exit. Yugi was right near the door and she smiled. "I'm ready- let's go," she said- back in her happier tone. Her eyes too were back to normal.

Joey rolled his eyes and grunted playfully, "Might as well just date a girl if I'm going to date Marik." He then realized what was said between him and Sam and he looked at Mai. He looked away a bit then back at her, "That was on of the things I wanted to tell you..." He was a bit more comfortable with just talking about it- but was still nervous about what Mai would say.

Atem listen to the list Sam gave him. "Sadly, I wouldn't be surprised if Weevil and Rex were both there. They shouldn't be a problem though. Mako was a good duelist- I would like to see him there at the tournament," he said. He then looked a but puzzled when he said, "I never knew what happened to Pegasus either. It was like he disappeared off the face of the planet until now." He did look a little weary about him. But without his eye- he was just a normal human being. He didn't mention Vivian for two reasons, one- he didn't know what type of duelist she was and two- he could see the jealous spark in Sam's eyes. Hi expression changed to a serious look when he remembered another duelist, "Bandit Keith, if he's there- I want you to just be careful and stay near." He was a great example of somebody who was dangerous without an item. He didn't trust him, and he knew he was definately there since it was in the states.

[[I threw Keith in there but I'm pretty sure he technically kinda died XP]]

Akiko let him basically drag her awy from the door. She giggled a bit and said, "I'm fine, no worries." As they walked to the parking lot, she said, "Well, it has to do with Joey. But I can't say- he's making me keep it a secret. He kind of attached a 'you'll regret it' after telling me not to say anything." She felt really bad not being able to tell him, but she knew she shouldn't. She knew if she told anybody- Joey would eventually find out and it would not only cause more controversy, but Seto would have her head for it. She was good at keeping secrets, but she didn't want to keep any from Yugi. "Just, don't even tell Joey ift was about him. It's just going to upset him," she said. They approached their friends.

Joey turned pale when he first heard Mai say that. He then let out a sigh of relief when he realized she was kidding. He laughed a bit as she wrapped his arm around his shoulder. "Yea? You mean that?" he said in reply to her comment about the best being gay or taken. He looked over to see Yugi and Akiko. "Why did Kaiba want to talk to you alone?" he said omitting any type of hello. He was worried what Kaiba was telling her or said about him or anything.

"Who said you needed an excuse?" he said jokingly as he wrapped his arms around her. He knew Sam wasn't a push over, it was just an instinct to protect her, to be a bit overly protective you could say. He took a quick glance at Mai- also thinking she was serious until he realized she was busting him. Moments later, Yugi and Akiko arrived to rejoin the group. Before any hellos were said, Joey jumped in. He was curious too, except he was thinking more on the lines of him and Sam.

"Oh, um," Akiko stumbled on words. She wasn't the best lier- she hadn't even thought of an excuse. "It was about the whole.... rumor thing. I dunno, I zoned out a bit. I think he knows that the press is going to find out sooner or later about his sexualiy," she said trying to think of the most reasonable excuss. She couldn't help but feel horrible. Joey really wasn't raped- but he believes so and she can't tell him. There was no way she could tell him and he wouldn't say or do anything about it. Besides, it would put Joey in harms way as well. Seto was obviously confused and aggrivated. He needed to find these answers on his own.

Atem felt relieved, he believed Akiko. He turned back to Sam and said, "Why don't we go off now to the Mall?" They could walk there since it wasn't that far from here. Besides, being with Mai in the car once was enough for a long time.