Yu-Gi-Oh! Fan Fiction ❯ Daze of Paradise ❯ All For One, One For All ( Chapter 8 )

Authoress' Notes: Sorry for the long wait, everyone! (Caitlin: My yami is lazy…) >_< Anyway, this chapter is a necessary evil. Why? You'll see.

Disclaimers: Caitlin and I don't own Yu-Gi Oh!

Warnings:The usual. In this chapter: a little bit of angst.

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Chapter 8 - All For One, One For All

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"Veni, vidi, vici."

("I came, I saw, I conquered.")

- Julius Caesar

It was their last day in Hawaii. The sun was out in full force, the ocean's waters sparkled like billions of brilliant gemstones, and the sand was warm and comfortable under Joey's back as he lay there on the beach so relaxed he could almost fall asleep.

He adjusted his sunglasses and propped his head up with his hands behind it, enjoying his last few hours of beach time immensely.

"It's been a lot of fun, hasn't it, Yugi?" Joey mused quietly. His best friend was stretched out on his stomach nearby flipping through as Duel Monsters magazine. The young light glanced over at him with a smile.

"Yep! And I sure needed the break from school, too. I hate to go back and yet there's something in me that wants to return to the classes and homework and everything else." Yugi admitted. "Maybe I've been in the sun too long."

Joey laughed. "Nah. I think we're all a little homesick, Yug. Besides, now that we're refreshed and relaxed, we'll be able to work harder and think clearer, right?"

"That's the most intelligent thing I've ever heard you say, pup." Seto's shadow fell across both teens as he walked past with a deck chair folded under one arm.

"Blah, blah, blah, rich boy. What would you know about relaxing anyway?" Joey retorted, ignoring the name-calling even though he felt a curious tingling sensation whenever the tall, dark-haired CEO used it. "We - including Mokuba - usually have to knock you unconscious to get you to relax."

Kaiba set up his chair then sat and got comfy, opening his book to read again. "What does it look like I'm doing right now then?" He inquired evenly, looking for his place to start reading.

Joey rolled over onto his stomach and plucked the book right out of Kaiba's hands, perusing the cover curiously. "The Three Musketeers by Alexandre Dumas?" He read aloud in surprise. "You actually read this stuff? For fun?"

Annoyed and feeling slightly defensive, Kaiba growled and snatched it back. "Yes, actually, I do. It's called a book, Wheeler, though I doubt you have ever even touched one let alone read one." He glared at Joey hotly and the blonde teen glared right back, unfazed.

"I'll have you know I've read that, Kaiba. And The Man in the Iron Mask, and The Count of Monte Cristo." Joey informed him primly. "I happen to like reading - when I'm not duelling, or playing video games, or doing homework." He added.

Yugi snickered next to him and Joey let out a laugh. "You're certainly well rounded, Joey!" The Keeper of the Puzzle exclaimed, giggling more.

"Alright. So you've read it. Big deal. It's not War and Peace, after all. Read that and I might be impressed." Kaiba told him smugly. He had to swallow a laugh when Joey's eyes crossed and he made a distressed noise.

"Oh, ugh. No way! I read the first twenty-five pages of that and I nearly chipped a tooth on the floor when I dozed off and fell out of my chair." Joey shuddered dramatically. "I'm sure it's a great book but it bored me to tears."

Kaiba made a noncommittal sound and focused his attention on his book, definitely not wanting to show that he was reluctantly impressed (a little) since even he had only read about fifteen or so pages before he'd had to stop and go splash cold water on his face to wake himself up again.

"I read The Lord of the Rings a couple years ago." Yugi said. "I really liked that series." Joey nodded in agreement.

"Definitely on my top ten list."

Yami joined Yugi then, handing his aibou a can of soda and popping open one for himself as he sat next to Yugi on the warm sand. "List of what?" he inquired.

"Books that we've read." Yugi told him.

"Ah."

Ryou and Malik, with their yamis right behind them, came over next, carrying a large, and heavy cooler filled with ice and beverages between them. They set it on sand behind the group of teens and gathered around it, joining their friends. The girls went flying past in their bathing suits and rushed into the water with squeals of delight - Tea, too. She'd quit her job the day before in order to spend the last day of their trip with her old - and new - friends.

For a complete change of pace, while the girls were splashing around and playing in the water, the guys - all eight of them - lounged about the rapidly warming sandy beach. Even the often-hyper Malik was quite happy being lazy, lying contentedly next to Marik on a shared beach towel and letting the sun work on the wonderful tan he was born with.

Around noon, someone's cell phone started ringing insistently from one of the girls' beach bags.

Joey dug through it, discovering it was Mai's phone, and yelled out to his former girlfriend. "Hey, Mai! Your phone's demanding attention!"

"So answer it, Joseph!" She yelled back. "Tell whoever it is to go away! We're on vacation!"

With a shrug, Joey answered the phone. "Hello! This is Mai Valentine's cell phone. Can I help you?"

Unable to resist, Kaiba smirked over his book at Joey and needled him. "You'd make a good secretary, pup. Want a job?"

Scowling darkly at him, Joey stuck out his tongue while crossing his eyes at Kaiba before the voice on the other end of the line caused him to return to the conversation.

"Whoa, whoa, whoa! Dee? That you?" There was a pause and suddenly Joey's face paled and he sat up straight, his voice going low and concerned. "Aw man…yeah. All right, I'll tell her and she'll call you back. You're at home? Okay, yeah. I'm so sorry, Dee. Yeah. Bye." Joey pulled the phone from his ear slowly and pushed the 'off' button.

Kaiba frowned, unwillingly concerned.

Yugi sat up and laid a hand on Joey's arm. "Joey? What's wrong?"

"That was Mai's other cousin - Kala's older sister. Bad news from home, Yug." Joey watched his friends in the sea, laughing and thoroughly enjoying themselves. "Gods. I hate having to ruin this vacation. Look at them! They're so happy…" Joey pushed himself up to his feet and rubbed a hand over his face. "Damn it all…" He started toward the girls.

Yugi glanced at his darkness quickly then got up and followed the blonde at Yami's grave nod.

"Yami?" Ryou asked. "Do either you or Yugi know what happened?"

"No, Ryou. We just sense something very bad has happened to someone in Mai and Kala's family." Yami sighed. "Correction - Yugi sensed that."

They all watched as Joey called the girls in from the water back to shore and then spoke to them quietly for a moment. Mai's hand rose to her face to cover her mouth as if to hold back a cry and Kala began to sway on her feet and would have fallen over if Yugi hadn't wrapped an arm around her waist and held her up. Serenity joined him on her other side and together they led the petite young woman back to the cabin, Joey and Mai right behind them. Tea looked a little out of place for a moment before jogging over to the others.

"Oh, you guys…it's just awful!" She said in a tearful voice, dropping down onto her knees in the sand. "Joey said that Kala's sister, Diana, just called and told him that their mother was in a bad accident! She didn't make it to the hospital…"

There were gasps from Ryou and Malik, and Yami made a sad, concerned noise.

"Are Kala and Mai okay, Tea?" Ryou wanted to know. "Is there anything we can do?"

She shook her head. "I don't think so. Joey's with Mai and Kala and so are Serenity and Yugi." She sniffled and wiped away a few stray tears. "I feel so bad for them both. I know how hard it is to lose someone like that."

Yami had a distant look on his face, which meant he was conversing with his light. {Do you require assistance, aibou? Shall I send Ryou and Malik?}

{No, it's all right. I can handle this. But thank you, Yami. I'm just going to put her to sleep so Kala can rest. She'll need her strength to deal with everything in the next little while.} Yugi replied.

{Yes. Please pass along all our sympathies and remind her that her friends are always with her, aibou. If you need us, call.}

{I will.}

Yami blinked and returned his attention to his surroundings. He looked up at Kaiba. "What time is it, Seto?"

The blue-eyed CEO looked at his Bulova watch. "Nearly two o'clock."

"Hmm…well, I suggest we all pack everything up and perhaps begin to pack our belongings as well." Yami decided, rolling gracefully to his feet.

"I guess we will be leaving somewhat sooner than expected, huh?" Malik began rolling up the beach towel, shoving Marik off unceremoniously. "This sucks on all counts, guys."

No one could argue with that statement.

The rest of the day passed as a blur of activity. Numerous phone calls were made as well as arrangements for Kala and Mai to fly immediately to Seattle, where Kala's mother had lived and where the funeral would take place.

Everyone else was flying home the next morning as had been intended. They all saw the two girls off, piling condolences, well wishes, and reminders of friendship on them as well as hugs before letting Mai and Kala get into the cab that would take them to the airport.

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The flight home was quiet and subdued, since no one was in a particularly happy frame of mind.

Since they had two extra tickets, Tea had accepted the one that would have been Kala's (at her insistence that Tea take it) and Yami opted to make the trip outside the Puzzle, taking the ticket that would have been Mai's. Bakura and Marik returned to their soul rooms for the journey, much to their hikaris' relief. Ryou because Bakura plus flying equals disaster and Malik because it kept Marik's wandering hands off him for at least a little while.

Back in Japan, while Seto was on his cell phone calling for a limo to come and pick him up and to let Mokuba know he was home, the remaining group said their farewells and made plans to hook up on the first day back to classes.

"Keep in touch with us, Joey, and let us know how Kala and Mai are doing, alright?" Yugi said as he and Yami got into their shared cab with Malik and Ryou. "And welcome home, Tea! Stop by and visit, okay?"

"I will! And thanks, Yugi!" She waved at them as the cab pulled away.

Joey sighed. "Well, I guess we'd better grab a cab, too, huh? Either of you have any place you wanna stop before we head home?"

"Not me." Tea shook her head. "I'm just jet-lagged."

"I'm tired, too, big brother. I just want to go home." Serenity agreed. "And I want to phone Tristan to let him know I'm back."

Joey grinned at that. "Sure thing, sis. I bet he's really missed you while you were gone, too." Serenity blushed prettily and gave her brother a light punch in the arm for his teasing.

"Don't waste your money on a cab, Wheeler." Kaiba's voice spoke up from behind the blonde and he jumped slightly, having nearly forgotten Kaiba was there.

"How else do you expect us to get home, money bags? Walk?" Joey retorted sarcastically.

Kaiba grunted, ignoring the slight curious hurt feeling that he had at Joey's words. He was trying to be nice here, couldn't the blonde see that? "No, moron. I'm offering to give you a ride. It's on my way home, anyway, and it's not like my limo doesn't have room." He hastened to justify his offer at Joey's (not to mention Tea and Serenity's) surprised and dubious look. Just then a long, shiny black limo pulled up and the driver got out to open the trunk and load his boss' bags. A door opened and Mokuba stepped out, glomping his older brother in a flash.

"Seto! You're home!"

"Oooh. Yes, Mokuba. Didn't you believe me when I told you that on the phone?" Kaiba teased, his entire expression softening - as it always did around his little brother. The younger Kaiba growled and stuck out his tongue at Seto.

"Hey, Joey! Hi, Serenity! How was Hawaii, guys? I bet it was real hot and pretty, huh? Did you take lots of pictures?" The kid bounced over to Joey and his sister and gave them both hugs in greeting, too, as he piled questions on them.

"Not too bad, kiddo!" Joey grinned, ruffling that mop of black hair affectionately. "Hawaii was fabulous and yes, we took lots of pictures."

"Awesome!"

"If Kaiba doesn't mind, Mokuba, once the films' been developed, perhaps you can come over and look at them." Serenity invited.

That sent Mokuba into a happy dance and had Seto rolling his eyes and saying in that commanding CEO voice of his, "Let's go, Mokuba." Mokuba bounced over to the limo and crawled in. Kaiba crossed his arms over his chest and gave Joey a questioning stare. "Are you coming or not, mutt?"

"Fine. Since you're being so gracious about it…" Joey shrugged and handed his bag to the driver before climbing in, followed by his sister and Tea, and finally Kaiba himself.

Tea was unusually quiet - well, compared to the girl they'd known before. Mokuba, sitting next to his brother across from Joey and the girls, regarded her with an expression that was reminiscent of his older brother's usual glare - cold, distant, silent, and demanding of answers.

"I see you picked up some extra baggage, too." The younger Kaiba said. Tea looked down at her lap, twisting her purse strings in her hands. Joey sighed.

"She's not the same as she was when she left, Mokuba. We all had a long talk and we've forgiven her." The blonde told him. "She needed some help getting home so we lent a hand - just like friends do."

"But she really hurt Yugi! And Yami!"

"I know Mokuba. I…I really am sorry, though. I didn't realize what I was doing and I couldn't see what was right under my nose." Tea spoke up, her voice quiet.

Mokuba thought about that, then looked up at Kaiba. "Did Yugi and Yami really forgive her, Seto?"

Kaiba, who'd pretty much been ignoring the conversation, looked down at his younger sibling then over at Tea. He still didn't like her - though it probably had more to do with all the times she'd told him off then anything else -but he nodded to Mokuba anyway.

"Well, okay. If Yami and Yugi can forgive you, Tea, then I can, too."

"Yep!" Joey grinned. "We all deserve second chances, after all. And it's just like my best buddy to be willing to offer one to anybody." He gave Kaiba a meaningful look. "Isn't that right, money bags?"

"Whatever."

The limo pulled to a stop outside Mai's hose and the driver retrieved their bags while Joey and the girls climbed out one by one.

"Thank you for the ride, Kaiba." Serenity thanked him softly as she slid out and he nodded.

"Yes, thank you, Kaiba." Tea paused as she made to get out, holding his icy gaze unwaveringly. "We haven't always seen eye to eye, you and I, Seto Kaiba. But I think we've both changed and maybe someday we'll be able to get along - for Yugi's sake, at least." Having said her piece, Tea got out and accepted her bags from the driver.

Joey looked at Kaiba, his head tilted as if he was trying to puzzle something out. "I may never understand you, Kaiba, but I don't think I'll ever give up trying. You always manage to surprise me somehow." He glanced at Mokuba and flashed a smile. "See ya, kid! Keep this one out of trouble, okay?" He jerked a thumb at the older Kaiba.

"You bet, Joey!" Mokuba giggled at the concept of Seto in trouble. Rolling his eyes, Kaiba reached out and gently cuffed the blonde upside the head, pushing him out the car door.

"Get lost, mutt. And give Kala my condolences when you speak to her. Mai, too."

Joey sobered and swallowed the retort he'd been about to blast Kaiba with for the swat. "Yeah. I will. Thanks for the ride, Kaiba. Oh, and money bags?"

"What now?"

"It's been a pleasure." Joey grinned and Seto felt a tug somewhere deep inside his chest. "See ya 'round school, Kaiba." Joey grabbed his bag and sauntered off toward the house, satisfied he'd finally gotten in the last word with the High Priest of the Gods.

Mokuba moved to sit across from Seto as the limo pulled away from the curb. "Condolences? What happened, Seto?"

With a sigh of resignation, knowing his nosy little brother wasn't going to let up until he got the entire story out of him, Kaiba related the entire week's events to him on the ride home.

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Authoress' Notes: I know it's short… but like I said, it's a necessary chapter. More sooner than later! I swear! Please R/R!