Yu-Gi-Oh! Fan Fiction ❯ Broken ❯ Broken ( One-Shot )

Broken

By Iyasu

Disclaimer: I do not own Yu-Gi-Oh! or Broken by Seether feat. Amy Lee.       ~*~*~*~*~*~  

Joey looked around at the walls of his home, the dark, gloomy walls reflecting his mood. He was alone. He lay back on his bed, thinking of why he was in America and not in Japan, and the reason was Mai. After Battle City, they had begun to talk more than they had ever been. At first, it took him a long time to get her to trust him once again; after all, it was partly his fault that had put her into Marik’s trap with the Shadow Realm. But eventually he broke through her barriers once again and they grew closer than ever. They were best friends. Hell, she meant everything to him. And then she ran from him, going to England. He didn’t know why she had ran, and Mai had told him that he had done nothing wrong. He held up a picture that she had given him, taken right after Battle City. She was winking and smiling in the picture, holding an Amazoness Paladin and his Red-Eyes in her left hand. She was making the peace sign with her right. He put the picture down, remembering the day it had been taken.

  ~*~*~*~*~*~  

“Damn you, Mai!” Joey yelled, chasing Mai down the street. “Give me back my Red-Eyes!”

Mai ran down the street laughing. “But Joey, you said that you’d give anything for me to wake up, and I woke up, so give me the Red-Eyes.”

The two had run past him, nearly knocking Malik over. “Yeah, well, when I said anything, I didn’t mean my card!” Joey increased his speed, soon catching her around her waist. “Give me back the card.”

Mai cast a look of help at Serenity, who immediately gave Mai her assistance. “Come on, Mai! I have to take a picture of your victory in gaining my brother’s card.” She stepped forward, giving Joey puppy dog eyes. “If you would please let her go? I’m sure that she will give it back after I’m done.”

Joey tried to resist her, but found that he couldn’t and released Mai. “I’m holding you to your word, Sis.”

“Sure, Serenity, couldn’t have done it without your help, you know,” Mai replied before striking a pose. She was winking and smiling with her right hand making the peace sign while holding her Amazoness Paladin and Joey’s Red-Eyes Black Dragon in her left. After the picture was taken, Serenity and Mai laughed, congratulating each other on their trick, as Mai bolted again from Joey.

  ~*~*~*~*~*~  

Her laugh. That was one of the things that loved about her. Joey could still hear it ringing in his ears. But now, he’d probably never hear it again except in his memories and dreams. “Mai, what was it that made you leave?” He asked the walls. “Was it something that I did? If you were hurt, you could have come to me... I would have helped you. I would have rid you of your pain...”

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

I wanted you to know

That I love the way you laugh

I want to hold you high

And steal your pain away...

I keep your photograph

I know it serves me well

I want to hold you high

And steal your pain...

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Joey blinked back tears, not wanting them to fall. He knew that if he did, he would admit to himself what he didn’t want to admit... that she was gone forever.

  ~*~*~*~*~*~

“Mai,” Joey asked opening the door to see her standing there, “you haven’t been acting like yourself... especially around me. Did I do something wrong?”

Mai shook her head. “No, you haven’t done anything wrong. You’ve just been yourself. I’m sorry, but I’m going to England. I came to say goodbye Joey. My plane’s leaving today.”

Joey just stared at Mai in shock, absorbing what she had just told him. He didn’t even hear her echo ‘I’m sorry,’ before she walked briskly to her car, not even saying goodbye to her. He watched her convertible until it vanished from his sight, then shut the door. Joey slumped to the floor, his back up against the wall, staring blankly at nothing in particular. “Mai...”

Serenity walked into the room and saw Joey sitting on the floor, pale with shock. “Joey! What’s wrong?”

“Mai...” he replied. “She’s gone...”

“Oh, Joey...” Serenity kneeled beside him and hugged him tightly.

  ~*~*~*~*~*~

Tears began to stream down his face, unchecked. They came, no matter how much he had tried to stop them, refusing to be held in anymore. He curled up as if he were a child, knowing that he had finally been beaten and was now broken.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

‘Cause I’m broken when I’m lonesome

And I don’t feel right when you’re gone away

You’re gone away...

You don’t feel me here anymore...

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Mai stood at the window of her living room, looking outside. It was storming, but she loved it. It was exactly how she feeling now. She didn’t want to be here, but here she was. Mai was used to having to leave those that she had cared about, but leaving Joey had been the hardest thing she had ever done. Maybe it was because she trusted him; that he had broken through her barriers. Maybe it was because they had grown close. Or maybe it was because he loved her and she knew it. Mai shook her head slowly, her violet eyes glazed over with unshed tears. “Joey... I know that I hurt you, and it kills me knowing that I did. But I couldn’t let you love me, for I was meant to be forever alone. I couldn’t let you know that I love you as well... that is why I left... even though you shall never know...” She trailed off as a loud clap of thunder came. She smiled bitterly. I guess that I have a lot to learn... She thought of when she had finally realized that she loved Joey as more than a friend.

  ~*~*~*~*~*~

Mai and Valon had begun going out after everything settled with Dartz, and she had thought that everything was going great between them. She was wrong. She barely even saw Valon much anymore. She pulled out her keys and entered their shared condo. She was surprised to see that Valon was already there, sitting on the couch, apparently waiting for her. “You’re here early, Valon.” she said, closing the door behind her.

“Mai, we need to talk.” Valon said softly.

A feeling of impending doom instantly hit Mai. She took a deep breath and sat down beside him. “What is it?”

Valon looked her in the eyes. “I’m sorry, Mai, but I want to break up. I’m in love with Sakura.” Right after he said that, a girl with black hair emerged from a back room and stood beside him, taking his hand.

Mai nodded slowly, putting on a mask of happiness. “I’m happy for you, really. It was great while it lasted.” She rose to her feet and hugged them both, “You two look great together.”

“Are you sure you’re okay Mai?” Valon asked with concern.

“Yeah, I’m fine. Now what are you standing around her for? Go have some fun, you two!” She smiled and waved them out of the condo before leaving herself. Mai went to Joey’s and knocked on the door, tears beginning to slide down her face.

It opened, and there stood Joey. “Hey, Mai, what’s up?” Then her saw her tears. He pulled her inside and they went to his room. “Mai… what happened?”

Mai flung herself onto his bed and buried her face into his pillow, sobbing. She felt Joey sit on the bed and began to stroke her hair gently. “Valon... broke up with me...” she said between sobs. “He’s with... Sakura now...” She began to sob harder.

“Mai, I’m so sorry... don’t cry,” Joey whispered.

“But-I-I really thought that...”

“I know, Mai.” He continued stroking her hair, waiting for her sobs to subside. They did, eventually, and she looked up at him, her face streaked with tears. Joey pulled her onto him until her head lay on his chest, and hugged her. “You and Valon just weren’t meant to be, that’s all. It happens sometimes. And if it helps, I love you.”

She smiled and reached up to touch his face. “Thanks... I love you too, Joey.” And she knew, that as she said it, she meant every word.

  ~*~*~*~*~*~

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

The worst is over now

And we can breathe again

I want to hold you high

You steal my pain away...

There’s so much left to learn

And no one left to fight

I want to hold you high

You steal my pain...

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Mai sighed, coming back to reality. How ironic it was that the one who had opened her heart would be there one to break it, however unintentional it may be. She left the window and moved to her couch to sit, even though she was still looking out the window. Mai knew that she would bury her feelings for him before she chanced seeing him again, that is. She felt a twinge in her heart, and brought her hands up to her chest. It hurt to attempt the feat, but she knew that she must. It hurts so much! She cried out mentally, beginning to sob. Mai was broken and lonesome, and she knew it.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

‘Cause I’m broken when I’m open

And I don’t feel like am I strong enough

‘Cause I’m broken when I’m lonesome

And I don’t feel right when you’re gone away...

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Joey opened his clenched eyes, his beautiful amber orbs tinged with hurt, and also love. Mai’s face hung suspended before him, as if she were standing at his bedside, looking down at him. Please, if you won’t let me be with you in person, let me be with you in spirit... He could still feel Mai through their bond that had developed between them. He was surprised that he still could, after what had happened. He knew that she had left because she had felt that she had had to, and that her decision had not only hurt him, but had hurt her as well. A strange golden light shined into the room, and in the light stood Mai. Joey reached up to touch her face, gasping in awe when he felt her skin under his touch, not even questioning how it had come to pass. Her eyes closed, and he felt her tears course down her beautiful face. Joey pulled her down and held her in his arms. They stayed like that for some time. Then Mai opened her eyes, her violet meeting his amber. With no movement of her lips he heard her say clearly: ‘I love you...’

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

‘Cause I’m broken when I’m open

And I don’t feel like I’m strong enough

‘Cause I’m broken when I’m lonesome

And I don’t feel right when you’re gone away...

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Mai saw the same strange golden light as she sat crying. She felt Joey’s presence, it reminding her of their bond. She had not broken it. She knew that it would be the end of her if she had. She felt something stroke her face, and turned to see that it was Joey. Mai let herself be pulled into his strong arms, wanting them to never let her go. The golden light washed over them both as they sat on Mai’s couch, gazing into each other eyes. She watched as Joey closed his eyes tightly, the tears pouring down his face as well. She snuggled close to him, not wanting him to cry. As she watched him, she heard him say with no movement of his lips: ‘I love you too...’ The light grew brighter, and suddenly vanished. Mai saw that she was alone once again, and sobbed harder. Everything in her body yearned to run to Joey and beg him to forgive her for causing him such pain. But she knew that she could not... she could not, and their broken hearts would never heal.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

‘Cause I’m broken when I’m lonesome

And I don’t feel right when you’re gone away

You’re gone away...

You don’t feel me here anymore...

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*