Yu-Gi-Oh! Fan Fiction ❯ Dreams Come True ❯ Chapter Twenty Five: Cliffhangers are Princess Yuy's specialty!!! ( Chapter 25 )

Chapter Twenty-Five: Cliffhangers are Princess Yuy's specialty!!!!

Mina laughed as they stumbled into the clearing, letting go of Joey's jacket and pushing her sopping wet bangs out of her eyes.

"What happened to the others?" Joey asked, and Mina looked around.

"Must have gotten lost… Oh, drat!" She stomped her foot angrily, shivering a bit as the chilling rain got to her. Joey immediately shed his jacket and tossed it at her, smiling brightly.

"Don't worry `bout it, we'll find each other. We agreed that if we got lost we would find our way back to the place where we got separated."

"And, uh, do we know where that is?"

"Nope!" He stated cheerfully, and she couldn't help but laugh again. He sat down on a flat-topped rock and scooted over to make room for her, and she sat down as well.

Meanwhile, Seto had heard voices across the hedge and was looking over at the pair, brow furrowed. Was he going to…

"Mina?" Came Joey's voice suddenly, after a short period of silence.

"Yeah?"

"Why are you with Kaiba? What's so great about him?"

Seto's breath was sharply sucked in. Yes, he was going to. Mina wouldn't let him down though, he thought.

"Everything, Joey…" She said, startled baby blue eyes fixed on him. "I-I-I couldn't say it out loud. I dunno, it's really hard to explain! The way he smiles at me, the way he talks to me, the way he holds me and kisses me…" She trailed off, turning a pretty shade of red. Joey snorted.

"He's a creep." He stated, and Mina jumped.

"He is not, Joey Wheeler. And I could safely say that I love him!"

Her companion was silent, and tense electricity flashed between them in the lull after her words. Seto, on the other side of his hedge, relaxed. If he knew Joey at all, the blonde wouldn't push it.

"I…could love you more than he ever could." Joey said softly, suddenly taking Mina by the wrist. The girl's eyes were startled again, and then they softened to a near sadness.

"I doubt that, Joey." She said, smiling at him with apology.

"No-you're wrong. I could show you, Mina… Just give me a chance! Notice me already!"

Seto smacked his forehead. Why did Joey bother? Didn't he get the hint?

Mina looked very upset.

"No, no, Joey, I'm sorry. Where were you three months ago?" She whispered, and suddenly stood, pulling her wrist from his grasp and walking towards the hedge a few steps. "Seto…isn't like anyone else I've ever dated. There's something about him that makes me love him so fiercely… I…think about him with every beat of my heart, every breath I take. I see his smile every time someone grins at me… Oh, don't you see? I need him….and….I think he needs me too…" She pleaded, gesturing with her hands.

Joey stood too, face set. He walked over to her and stood over her, looking into her eyes. Seto clenched his jaw.

He better not…

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

Pegasus smiled briefly as he watched the screen, taking a sip of his red wine.

He better…

~*~*~*~~*~*

Joey did not disappoint. Before Mina could react, he had leaned down and kissed her.

Every part of Mina rebelled against the action, but she couldn't bring herself to smack her childhood friend.

Unfortunately, Seto did it for her. He had taken their preoccupiedness as an opportunity to jump over the hedge, and taking careful aim as so not to hit Mina, he swung a nasty right hook and hit Joey square on.

Mina stifled a yell, looking from Seto to Joey in shock.

"You…dumb mutt…," snarled Seto. Mina had never seen him this angry. "Can't you take a damned hint? She told you no. Want me to tell you too?"

Joey got back on his feet with no small agility and wiped the trickle of blood off his chin.

"Jerk. She deserves better, and you know it."

With a growl, Seto lunged for Joey again, but the blonde boy blocked the punch. However, he didn't see the knee until it slammed into his stomach. With a grunt, he fell to his knees, one eye closed painfully.

"SETO, STOP IT!" Mina yelled, grabbing onto Seto's arm and holding it back-not having much success. "Don't, oh, stop, you're hurting him!!!"

"Mina, leave me alone!" He said, suddenly flinging her off in one swift motion, his hand hitting her cheek with a resounding slap.

The sound brought utter silence to the clearing, and all that could be heard was the occasional deep breath from Joey and the astonished sound coming from Mina. Seto-realizing too late-turned around, his face frozen in a look of horror.

"Mina…" He said hoarsely, his fists relaxing.

Her eyes were full to the brims with unshed tears, and the feeling of fear was strong in them too.

"Seto…wh-wh….what.. are you doing..?" She murmured and stood up, backing away from his offered hand, her face pale except for the red mark on the left cheek. "I…don't understand…" came the whispered plea, and Seto was reminded of his dream "Why are you doing this to me?"

Why are you doing this to me? My God. What did I do???? Mina. My Mina. I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry.

Mina backed away another step, looking at Joey.

I'm sorry.

And with no further sound, she turned and ran, wiping her tears off hastily as she did so, praying he wouldn't come after her.

And in his dining room, Pegasus poured himself another glass of wine and toasted the stricken looking image of Seto on the screen, smiling.