A Clash of Conflicting Classes

Hello again! Sorry it's taken me so long to update. Um . . . unfortunatly I haven't yet figured out how to read the reviews on my story, but thank you to those of you who reviewed, I appeciate it a lot.
Anyway, on to part 2!
EDITED FOR EASIER READING (I don't know about you, but this small font gives me a headache.)

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Half an hour later, Joey hung up his apron and washed his hands and face while Mai waited outside. He skipped out of the bathroom and hugged her tightly. She returned the embrace. Neither of them knew that they were both thinking about the same thing: how they could tell the other that they felt closer than just friends.

The pulled away and Joey took her hand. “C’mon. I know this great place down the street where we can eat.” It was a bit pricy, but what the hell, he thought. He didn’t know how long he’d get to enjoy time with Mai.

“Are you sure you want to pay for the food? As part of the Spring Show I can get us discounts at a lot of the places here. And this place,” she added, looking up at the sign, “Doesn’t look like somewhere you go every day.”

Joey flushed slightly, and Mai giggled. She pulled him inside before he could protest and sat him down across from her. Dinner flew by as they talked about lots of thing. Reminiscing, catching up on old acquaintances, talking about life in general.

“. . . and I finally got accepted, and everyone says I’m a natural. Makeup and cameras just love me.”

“That’s the Mai I remember. Always the center of attention,” he teased.

She glared playfully. “So, we’ve talked about everyone - even your sister. Except you.”

His face fell slightly. “Not much changed, really. Got out of high school, got a job at the garage. Nothing exciting.”

She frowned. “And your dad . . . ?”

“Still living with him. He’s getting better, although it’s partially cause he can’t get his money off of me anymore. I don’t know where he gets it, but I seriously hope it’s not illegal.”

Concern filled her eyes. “Why don’t you move out already? You don’t have to take it from him anymore.”

He sighed. “I can’t just leave him there,” he said lamely. He didn’t want to talk about the real reason he couldn’t get away from his father. Mai, luckily, sensed his discomfort. She let the subject drop, and, after a slight argument over the bill, which she won, she suggested that he find her a place to stay for the night.

“You don’t have a room –”

She predicted his question. “I came a day early, so I don’t have my registered room for the show yet. I’ll get it tomorrow, around noon. But for tonight, I need a place to crash.”

He nodded as they walked out. “Well, my place would probably not be a good idea,” he said quickly, “but there’re plenty of good hotels around here. What’s your limit?” She named a monatary figure. “Good. Gives you a lot of choice.” He began to lead her around. The first place was nice, but unfortunately booked solid. So were the next few places they checked.


As they headed down a narrow street full of twists and turns, Joey groaned at the sight of a barrier ahead. “Parade,” he murmured. “C’mon, we’ll go back and around . . .” he began to lead her back the way they’d come, and turned a few corners, putting them out of sight of the parade. “We can –”

He cut off his sentence as he spotted two punks who’d followed them into the dead-end. They certainly didn’t look friendly, with piercings everywhere and dirty clothes. Both had very evil looks in their eyes, especially when they looked at Mai. They advanced towards her, and Joey quickly moved in front of her protectively. In a moment, they had each flipped out a knife. The taller one of the two chuckled as he came closer. “Well, well, well, if it ain’t Katsuya with a pretty girl. Looks like we’ll get the reward from Hirutani as well as a rich little whore.”

Mai drew in breath fast. She’d had people try to take advantage of her before, but those had been rich softy unarmed men in bathrooms or private hotel rooms, not punks armed with knives. And the last thing she wanted was for Joey to get hurt. Speaking of whom . . . she looked at him and her eyes widened. His whole demeanor had changed. The look of determination was back in full force, and his whole body was tense except for a confident smirk on his face.

“Heh. You really think it’s going to be that easy? Even unarmed I could still take the both of you down. It might even be fun. However –” quick as lightning he pulled a switchblade from his pocket and flipped it open. “That would put you in a very dangerous position,” he said, addressing this last comment at Mai. “So let’s do this quick.”

Mai closed her eyes for a few minutes until the sounds of the fight stopped. When she opened them again, one punk was out cold on the ground and another was being pinned to the wall by his collar, a foot above the ground. She trembled slightly and took a few steps backwards as she heard Joey’s voice. “Just cause I’m not part of it anymore doesn’t reduce my status, bastards. I’m still the best in Domino, and nobody touches me or anyone under my protection, got that?” He called the terrified teen a few more names while the would-be-attacker stayed silent, eyes wide with fear and pain at the spreading bruises on his face. “Got that?” The punk nodded and Joey dropped him like a stone.

Mai stood there, frozen. She had seen Joey threaten Kaiba before and try to attack various people on account of various insults, but she had never seen him like this before. In a single moment, it hit hend hnd her mind became a whirlwind of thoughts.
That’s why he’s always so shy around me, because we’re on completely different social class levels. He grew up with that, constantly being reminded of his place at the bottom of the ladder, while I floated around on the top, oblivious. I’m such an idiot. It took this to show me what he’s been seeing all along. How am I ever going to make it up to him?

She suddenly realized that Joey was standing there, a few feet in front of her, his hands reaching out to her, his face showing pain and guilt. She had been staring at the defeated gangsters while he had been worried, scared out of his mind over what her reaction would be.

What if she suddenly realizes how different we are? What is this makes her realize that I’m just a street rat compared to her, and she leaves? I don’t think I could bear that . . . the thought that she would leave me forever, because of what I am . . .

But she fell forward into his arms and clutched at his familiar green jacket, tears of fright falling onto his shoulder. For a moment he blinked, startled, but then he relaxed, wrapping her gently in a comforting embrace. “Don’t worry, it’s ok, everything’s fine, no one’s going to hurt you. I promise,” he added with sincerity in his voice. She looked up, her eyes meeting his.

“Joey, I’m so sorry, please, please forgive me . . .”

He looked at her as if she was crazy. “What? What could you possibly do that you’d ask me to forgive you?” He pulled her away from him just slightly and put his hand under her chin, raising her head so he could look at her eyes.

She almost burst out crying again. How could she have lived for so many years without this? Those warm, compassionate brown eyes, the way he held her, the way her chin rested on his fingers . . . she remembered Marik for a moment, remembered the nightmare of Joey leaving her and the way Marik had also held up her chin . . . but his touch had been harsh and cold, and his eyes had held nothing but the enjoyment of causing evil. Joey was the opposite in every way. Even his strong confidence and determination was different than Marik’s.

A sudden memory hit her, and the tears abated. When she had applied for the fashion school, she’d had to see a sort of psychiatrist who had basically outlined her personality. Under “mating” he’d written: “Miss Valentine is a very demanding and had an overbearing ego. She can be very gentle and kind, but do be that way she must be under the influence of someone else who possesses these qualities to a great extent. Her ideal match would be with someone who will satisfy her every need and care for her like a personal servant.”

Well, he’d been right for the first bit, but not the second. She couldn’t stand people who were that weak that they’d devote everything to someone else. But she’d fond her perfect match, and he was the kindest, gentlest, most caring person she could ever imagine.

She met Joey’s gaze and finally responded to his question, stumbling over the words. “Because I didn’t realize what was happening. I lived in my own world, and I couldn’t see how lucky I am, and how unlucky other people are. Here I’m standing terrified of a couple of punks, and you probably face people like that every day, besides your dad, and I never made any move to help you. I acted as bad as Kaiba . . .”

Joey interrupted her there. “Mai, nobody’s as bad as Kaiba when it comes to being a cold-hearted bitch. But please, Mai, there’s nothing to be sorry about,” he added more gently. “We live in different worlds, that’s all. Most people at your level never even meet people on mine. No one could expect you to help.”

“But I did meet you! I should have seen it!” Mai started to cry.

Joey saw this. “Mai.” His tone was firm and commanding, and she suddenly stopped, partially in surprise. When she started going on like this usually no one dared to stop her. But something about Joey’s eyes, suddenly pools of sadness, stopped her in mid-rant. “Stop blaming yourself. Nothing’s your fault. If it’s anyone’s fault, it’s mine for leading you down here when I know what kind of people usually hang out around here. Please, Mai. Don’t pity me. I can’t stand pity.” His voice trailed off and his eyes broke from hers as his hand dropped from her chin.

She couldn’t stand the hurt that she saw there. Damn, she thought, why do I always have to screw everything up? Why do I have to hurt whe when I’ve just realized how deep our relationship could go?

So she did the only thing she could think of. Pulling Joey closer, she leaned in kis kissed him, a long, deep, apologetic kiss.

At first, Joey was startled. What was she doing? She’d just told him that she finally understood the differences between them, and now she was kissing him, not even playfully but passionately? He suddenly brushed his thoughts aside, her emotion downing him in his own. Feelings that he had locked up deep inside his heart suddenly burst out.

Mai felt his powerful arms wrap around her and press her tighter against him. She felt better than she had ever felt in years. Suddenly she had gone from being alone to never ever wanting to leave Joey’s side.

Joey was having a similar revelation. All his life, no one had cared about him except for his friends, and they had left, going their own ways. So except for the few brief years of high school, he had never felt that someone else actually cared about what happened to him as long as he lived, and many didn’t even care about that.

Two people stood, locked in their embrace, for the first time feeling needed, wanted, cared for . . . and loved.

Unfortunately, both had to come up for air. Panting, they smiled at each other, and Joey led Mai out back into the main street, still holding her carefully. She was immensely thankful for that, he way he recognized her sudden fragileness and acted like a walking stick that would never break. It seemed to Mai that she was a porcelain doll and could break at any second, while Joey was a strong and yet gentle hand that protected and guided her.

“You know,” she smiled softly, “Everyone always told me I’d be the demanding one in a relationship.”

Joey laughed at that. “I’m sure you’ll recover your inexhaustible supply of wit soon enough,” he joked and ducked as she swung at him. He was purposely slow, though, and she caught him on the cheek. “Ouch,” he said, wincing playfully and rubbing his cheek.

Mai ned.ned. “That didn’t hurt, you big baby.”

Joey put on an indigent look. “But my pride is wounded,” he said dramatically, putting a hand to his forehead. “My dignity has received a mortal blow, my self-esteem has plummeted, for I have been punished by the all mighty Amazonian warrior . . .”

She smiled widely. “I’m surprised you remember one of my favorite Duel Monsters.”

“How could I forget that duel against Marik?” His face fell slightly. “That must have been so hard for you. You never like to talk about it . . . I’m sorry. Forget I said anything.”

Mai shook her head. “No. It’ll haunt me forever if I don’t tell someone. It was horrible. Especially when I thought you had left me, when Marik trapped me in the Shadow Realm . . .”

Joey didn’t let her finish, but kissed her again quickly. “Mai, I promise, I’ll never, ever leave you. Ever.”

She smiled and nodded. “I know. You were ready to sacrifice anything to help me. When the Egyptian God attacked, you were going to protect me. We’re both lucky that Yugi protected us, because he could take the force of the attack and survive.”

“Yeah. Good old Yug.” They were silent for a while, each remembering different things.

Mai was the first to break the silence. “No more hotels, Joey.”

A quizzical look covered his face. “Huh?”

She nodded. “I don’t care what your father might do. I want to stay with you tonight.”

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