Out of the dark.

Be a man.

Seto POV

It had been almost a week since the fire incident, both Mokuba and Serenity were back home. I was glad. I hated hospitals, the way they smelled, the constant heaviness of the air, hospitals just were not my thing.

Joey, had called his group of friends over the morning after the fire. I couldn't remember the exact conversations but the main feeling was, if this wasn't an accident, then Mai had to have been a part of it. Somehow.

At the same time, it seemed contradictory. Mai had been in contact with everyone, including Joey and myself. According to my investigation team, she was still in Europe on a Duel tour.

Mai had called Joey and cried, asking if Serenity and Mokuba were okay after if it had been confirmed by the news Joey wasn't home.

Everyone agreed the woman seemed crazy enough but would she go through with attempted murder?
———
I was working when I got a phone call from Mai, I ignored it. In fact, she had called me at least twice, every hour. There are few people I will answer the phone for, she was not one of them. My secretary called my line and told me I had a visitor.

"If it's Mai Valentine, tell her she better leave my building-"

"Sir, it's Mr. Wheeler." My secretary cut me off.

"Oh- send him in. He doesn't have to wait."

"I know that Sir, I just wanted to give you a heads up. I know you're very busy today." Jane, my secretary, had outlasted 6 of the last secretaries I hired. She was a kind faced woman in her 30's and although she interrupted me from time to time, she was exactly what I needed in help. Jane was aware that Joey and I had been seeing a lot of each other but never made any waves or mentioned it to the other employees.

"Thank you, Jane. If you'd like, take an early lunch. Or head home for the day,"

"Yes sir, I'll let you know what I decide." Jane answered before hanging up the phone.

A few seconds later, Joeys smile brightened my office.

"Hey there handsome," he smiled and held up a paper bag and some to go boxes, "I brought ya some lunch."

"If I hadn't been ignoring your ex girlfriends phone calls all day, I wouldn't have known what time it was."

"Is she still tryin with you too? Man I thought she'd stop. I'll take care of her." Joey groaned as he dropped the food boxes on my desk, " do me a favor,"

"...I'm already going to eat if that's what you're worried about." I said slightly confused. Joey never asked for anything.

"Lemme borrow your desk. Just for a second."

"... you're not taking my chair."

"Fine just scoot over." Joey complained. "Or I'll just sit on the desk." He was already moving things, closing my laptop before I could save anything, and tossed it over to the extra chairs in my office.

"What the hell, Wheeler!? Stop, don't throw my stapler too! What are you doing! If you worked for me I would fire you!!" I yelled.

"Yeah yeah, whatever." Joey waved his hand as he sat on my desk, putting his feet on either side of my desk chair. "Ya wouldn't fire me anyway,"

"The hell I wouldn't!"

"You'd have to hire me first." Joey grinned.

"Whatever, what's the point of you throwing all of my stuff off my desk?"

"Oh, yeah," Joey grabbed my desk phone and started dialing.

"Who are you- no. No! You can't! Don't! Do not call her I don't want to talk to her!" I groaned, I knew he was calling Mai.

"Too late, ringin, just stay quiet, lemme do this-" Joey silenced as soon as the other line picked up, putting it on speaker.

"Kaiba, it's about fucking time you've returned one of my calls. Who do you think you are ignoring me! I need to know what's going on with Joey! I still care about him!" Mai whined through the phone.

I opened my mouth when Joey put a finger to his lips, signing for me to be quiet.

"Kaiba!? I know you're there!"

"Actually, it's me." Joey finally spoke looking at the phone.

"...Joey?"

"In the flesh Harpie lady, well not really the flesh because I'm lookin at a phone."

"Oh my god. Are you okay? How's your sister! Kaiba!? Is he there!? How's Mokuba!? I'm sorry about everything, I miss you so much."

"Well, uh, I miss ya too but I can't say that it's enough or in the same way. I uh, I'm seein someone and I'm happy. I didn't call to rub it in or nothin, I just wanted ya to know before it broke the internet."  There was nothing but silence. "Did ya hang up?"

"It's Kaiba?" Mai asked seemingly already knowing the answer.

"Yeah, I'm- I'm sorry."

"Kaiba?"

"Yes Ms. Valentine?" Seto finally spoke.

"I had nothing to do with the fire. I was angry and hot headed when I lashed out at everyone. I've already apologized to everyone but the two of you." Mai sounded defeated but not upset.

"Thank you. You understand, you're still being investigated?" I wanted to confirm.

"That's just like you Kaiba. Of course I know." She paused, "so when did you become official? I didn't see anything."

"We haven't yet, since ya asked." Joey said looking at the phone. "Probably this week. I'm tellin ya because I don't want the angry ex girlfriend thing, Kay?"

"Oh Joey," Mai sighed, " I think it's best this way. I wanted to further my career and you were fine with the game shop."

"I want it understood, that if this, any of this conversation is leaked, I will destroy your reputation Mai." I calmly said to the microphone. "Any bad mouthing Joey or myself, it won't be pretty. Remember that."

"Calm down Seto," Joey made a face at me.

"Seto? Wow you guys are serious. Look, hun, I'm not out to ruin anything. It didn't work out with Joey and I. That's a fact. I don't want him hurt anymore than you do. Now do me a favor Kaiba?" Mais voice seethed.

"What?" Seto asked curiously.

"BE A BIG BOY AND PUT YOUR BALLS BACK IN YOUR PANTS WHERE THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO BE." Mai seemed to shout.

Joeys face got all red and he tried to suppress a smile.

Mai continued, "I don't think it needs to be said but I'll say it anyway. I'm not exactly surprised, but, I'm happy you're both happy, more for Joey than yourself Kaiba, but, whatever. I should be back in Japan in a month. I have to go to Australia next. Well, this was a nice chat. I have to go mentally process this. Bye boys."

Dial tone. "Well, that went better than expected." I said surprised.