Ummm...Gomen. I am sooooo sorry that I haven't updated in like two months. Lemmie give you guys some reasons of why I hadn't updated

1: I've been working

2: I recently have been getting obsessed with Bleach, which means Ichigo Kurosaki for me.

3: I have been working on a new story project on my other account, so I kinda neglected this story.

I know this chapter could be a whole lot better, but I needed to get this done. I am sorry for not updating, and to tell you that I will not be updating too often, but I will try to keep up.

Disclaimer: I do not own Bleach

This chapter will be in Joey's POV

"Okay bring 'em on! I'm taking on the next player we see!" I was itchin' to duel now. Both Elisa and Yugi had both dueled and won. Now it was Joey Wheeler's time ta shine!

"Are you sure about that, Joey?" Elisa sounded a little quiet. And my eyes widened in surprise; for as long as I've known her, Elisa has never been quiet. I locked my gaze with hers and she blinked frantically, "I mean, it's not like you couldn't win, I'd just say...be careful." She stammered.

I nodded with a determined grin on my face as I ran forward onto the cliff,"Here I stand, the next Duel Monsters champion!" I shouted, full of confidence. But then I furrowed my brow,"I better be the champion" I whispered. 'for Serenity's sake, she's always counted on me, even when we where kids.' I thought of the time when I took her to the beach when we found out that our parents were gonna split up, 'I'm your big brother Serenity, I'm going to take care of you. I'm going to win this tournament and the prize money. I'm going to make sure you don't lose your eyesight, and show you that beautiful ocean one more time, I promise.' The ocean air blew my blonde hair around.

"Look there." Tea interuppted my train of thought. I looked to where Tea was pointing.

"Duel Monster stadiums. Look at 'em there all over." Tristan was in awe.

"You said it; lots of dueling going on" Yugi agreed.

I smirked, "Right. I'm going in." I felt a tug on my jacket and I look down to see Elisa grinning sheepishly at me.

"I know you can do this. You have been training for weeks for this opportunity. I...uh...believe in you, Joey." She averted her eyes and walked to Tea.

The others wouldn't believe this; but I have been paying attention to how 'Lisa has been acting over the past couple of days. I've noticed how she would blush slightly when she looked at me, and she barely looked at me anymore. How she would laugh nervously or stammer when she didn't mean to say something. Actually, does 'Lisa, like me? I mean like like? I don't know, I've never had anyone like me before...

"Yo! Wheeler!" Elisa snapped. She glared at me with her eyes, they were filled with a blue fire that I've never seen before. "Listen to Tristan."

"You sure you wanna do this if you lose you give up your only star chip" Tristan said, almost expasterated.

"That's right" Tea agreed.

"I think he knows that, guys." Elisa sighed.

"Don't panic; you can do this Joey. You do know that, don't you?" Yugi said

"I hope you're right Yugi; this'll be my first official duel and I can't afford to get knocked out at the start" I grinned down at my buddy.

"True but not everyone here is a pro, I'm sure you can find some one on your level" Yugi said

I grinned at Elisa, who just smirked, "Hello, not me, big boy. Lemmie stress it out for ya, beginners."

I just sighed, "Fine." I looked around in the area, "Eh, I guess I should think about what kind of field my cards are best suited for, they're mostly monsters and fighter types, I guess this makes this makes this meadow region my kind of turf."

"That's right Joey, see? You know what you're doing" Yugi said

"Maybe." Elisa snickered, and I glared at her. She blushed and looked away quickly.

"Give it up crybaby you lost! Now give me your star chips"

Hang on a sec, I know 'dat voice. I thought, my brown eyes narrowing.

"A voice that annoying can only belong to, Mai." Tea scoffed. We looked to see the obnoxious blonde walk to us. I could see the jealousy in Elisa's blue eyes.

"Well, look who's here" Mai grinned.

"Wow, Mai's already won two more star chips" I automatically said, hey, I couldn't help but be impressed.

"Two chips my ass." I heard Elisa scoff.

She makes jealousy cute. I heard myself think, wait, why'd I think that?

"Hey Yugi, are your duels going well?" Mai asked, a smile placed on her face.

"I get it." Elisa whispered and I looked at her, "She is trying to make Yugi duel her, by giving him compliments."

"I'm making progress" Yugi said, ignoring the comment that Elisa brought up.

"So you have three star chips do you? I might be up for a duel myself" Mai grinned at his gloved hand and the three star chips that had made their home in those holes. But, Tea, the jealous girl she is, reacted to the touch. Elisa even ganged up with her.

"Take her, knock her out of the contest and off the island" Tea was pissed, and everyone knew it.

"Yeah, and I'll be right there to help ya." Elisa grinned almost sadistically. And I sweat-dropped.

"Hm…You know, I'm definitely in the mood for a duel right now, so get ready because I choose to challenge you, Joey." Mai smirked and pointed, Ah crap. She's pointing at me.

"Huh! You challenge me?" I sweat-dropped.

"Do you have the guts to accept? Get it? I wanna play you kid" Mai crossed her arms.

"Guess you heard about my skill" I tried to play it cool, but my voice broke slightly.

"Don't flatter yourself, I overheard you, Elisa, and Yugi talking on the boat and I know he gave you the only star chip that you have, my motto is take out the weakest players first and considering that you wouldn't even be here if Yugi hadn't given you one of his chips you've got to be the weakest duelist on the island" Mai smirked.

"Damn, you really are starting to irk me." Elisa said.

"Hey, do you have to be so… insulting?" I struggled to find the right word.

"This time she was being truthful" Tea deadpanned.

"Sorry, but I agree." Elisa also commented.

"Huh!" I sweat-dropped, I thought you liked me, Elisa!

"Mai's ruthless, don't duel her first" Elisa gave me a look, "Do you want to lose?"

"Don't you get it? If you lose this contest you're out for good" Tristan exclaimed.

"Yeah right!" I scoffed.

"Yugi, you have to stand up for Joey, you have to fight her in his place" Tea commented on behalf of me.

'Ey, I don't need to be protected! Damn you, Tea.

"This is his decision to make, show Mai what you're made of" Yugi looked up at me.

Elisa sighed and crossed her arms, "Hey, this is your decision, and if ya choose to duel her, then do it. Just know I'll be right here, cheering you on." She smiled at me.

"Right, she thinks I'm a pushover but she'll see" I grinned and clenched my fist.

"Yugi! Elisa!" Tea exclaimed, obviously shocked.

"You can't be serious, Joey" Tristan added.

"I've never been more serious, see? This is my chance to prove myself, to show everybody, don't forget gramps trained me! I'm mean sure gramps didn't get a chance to finish my training and granted I wish I had a chance to practice more before getting thrown into a tournament this huge with so many heavy hitters, but honest I think I can take her" I was rambling on now. Great.

"Man, you better be right, for your sister's sake" Tristan sighed.

"Yeah, you better not screw this up Joey" Tea said.

"I accept, let's duel" I frowned at the blonde duelist.

"Get ready to lose" Mai replied smoothly.

Both Mai and I were in our respective positions, ready to begin the duel.

"Go get her, Joey!" Elisa shouted, "Kick some ass!"

"Kick her butt!" Tristan added.

"Yeah!" I pumped myself up.

"Since you have one measly star chip, I'll bet one of mine against you" Mai scoffed and placed one of her star chips down.

'At least this region'll give me a field advantage, I thought,but then my brown eyes widened "Huh? Oh no! what are all those mountains doing on my field!"

"The field we'll battle on is forty percent forest, forty percent mountain and the last 20 percent is meadow so deal with it or surrender" Mai explained coolly.

"Calm down Joey, you'll be okay! Your monsters will still get a field power bonus on the meadow part of the field" Yugi yelled out to me.

"Oh, yeah, listen Mai, not for nothing but I gotta ask you one question before we duel" I said, looking at her directly in the eyes.

"Hm, what?" Mai muttered,

"Why did you decide to take part in this tournament? Tell me Mai, why is it you duel?" My eyes narrowed.

"Why is it I duel? For all the comfort that I crave, designer clothing, and purses, anything to avoid real work, hot cars, and super charged, meant for living large!" Mai cried out in excitement as she imagined the objects that she craved.

I smirked,"So that's why you want the prize money? How selfish"

Mai snarled, "How dare you and try and judge me, who do you think you are? You pathetic little snot!"

"Hey, you're only dueling for things, but for your information some of us fight for the people we love" I was unfazed by her little outburst.

"You'll show her, Joey. Show her why." Elisa murmured.

"So to start the game off, Masaki the Legendary swordsman" I smirked, thinking that this could be a good start for me. "The field power bonus will bring his power up over 300 points"

Masaki the Legendary Swordsman-Atk: 1430; Def: 1430

"Hey, I made my first move" I grinned. But then when I waited for Mai to make her move, my eyes widened.

Mai started meditating and had all her cards face down so she couldn't see them.

"What do ya think you're doing?" I asked warily.

"Dividing my card, I have to mystically choose which one of them is the best" Mai explained, as if it were the most obvious thing in the world.

"Huh! What are you a psychic?"

"And the best card would be…The Harpies Lady! And her strength is boosted by the mountains field power bonus" She flipped a card over, showing the monster card.

Harpies Lady- Atk: 1690; Def: 1820

"I'll still take it on, attack!" I called out to my monster and watched as it attacked, Heh, I got this, no contest.

"Joey wait! Land monsters are at a disadvantage to flying monsters, monsters than can fly have a magical resistance against monsters that can only walk on the earth" Yugi exclaimed.

"Idiot!" Elisa shouted, she seemed really ticked off, was it because I was duelin' Mai?

"So Joey blew it already?" Tea seemed worried.

"No, but he attacked to soon before he thought about what her monster was capable of" Yugi replied in a solemn tone.

"My samurai's sushi!" I exclaimed as the harpie destroyed it.

Mai- 2000

Joey- 1410

"Oh cards speak to me!" Mai meditated "And I'll choose again…without looking"

"How she doing that?" I sweat-dropped.

"He's losing it" Tea said

"Guess that mop head wasn't ready for this duel" Tristan added

"Hey, Joey, think about what you're doing before you move again" Yugi called.

"He needs to focus." Elisa's eyes narrowed.

'How can she read the cards when they're lying face down? What do I do? Maybe this one' I gritted my teeth, "Tiger Ax! My field power bonus should raise it's attack power, so it can take on the harpies lady head to head" I replied.

Tiger Ax- Atk: 1690; Def: 1430

"You're not thinking, it's still resistant to Magic" Yugi shouted.

Huh?

"Right, Tiger Ax is another handicap earth monster" Mai said as her Harpies attacked Tiger Ax and destroyed him.

Mai- 2000

Joey- 1020

"It'll take more than your land based wimps to beat my Harpies Lady, now I'll play this lovely card without even looking at it, I'll give you a hint, it's a equipment magic card, that well help me defeat your next card in one turn" Mai smirked.

"Don't even think about listening to her, Joey! She's just provoking you." Elisa said.

"Again with all that Psychic stuff" I sighed 'Can she see my cards too, since I can't see what she's playing I got to get defensive'

"Running scared huh? Well let me show you my surprise, Cyber Shield to juice up my Harpies Lady!" The shield attached to Harpies Lady and her attack points went up to 2190.

"No, How's she doing that?" I gasped.

"Ha, this is so much fun, in case you were wondering the next card you were thinking of won't work either"

"Mai has ESP that has to be it, I'm gonna lose this duel match and the chance to save my sister!" I was now starting to lose hope.

"This game is mine! You can't win against me" Mai cackled.

"She's right, she's too much for me" I clenched my fists and looked down in shame.

"Joey, settle down, remember what my grandpa taught you about how to play duel monsters" Yugi called up to me.

"Don't let her rattle you! She's just trying to psych you out" Elisa yelled.

"Stay out of this! Your brainless cheerleading isn't going to help him against the superior power of my Harpie Ladies, don't you guys get it yet? Friendship doesn't win duels, never will, hasn't helped him, he's defeated and he knows it" Mai snapped.

"Not true!" Tea replied.

"No? I beg to differ, there can be only one champion, on this island on this game, someone can be your best friend today and your worst enemy tomorrow, once the competition forces you to face your friend in a duel, where's your friendship then? That's why the only person a duelist can trust is himself, I hope that your defeat today teaches you that lesson kid"

"He's losing it!" Tristan shouted

"He needs help! Yugi help him!" Tea yelled

"Joey, don't lose faith." Elisa murmured, her blue eyes wide.

"Don't listen to her Joey, we're here to help you, just like you're always there for us" Yugi said

"Huh!" Mai exclaimed

"What?" I looked at my friend.

"Trust me on this, she's just trying to divide and conquer a strategy that's been used for centuries, believe me, I know" Yugi explained.

"When you get that look in your eye, I believe everything you say" My eyes widened.

"Do you really think Yugi wants you to be the grand prize winner! He's a duelist too you know so eventually you'll have to take him on" Mai snapped angrily.

"That may be, Mai. But dueling against those you care about to see who truly is deserving of the prize, is worth it." Elisa said, calmly.

"She's right, we will have to duel" I sighed 'We are a team, but I also have to win the contest for serenity' "What do I do? Maybe Yugi and Elisa are right about this thing, I have to stop listening to Mai's Nonsense and start using my head, I just gotta concentrate on how to win the game" 'There's gotta be a way to beat Mai, If she's not psychic then there must be something else she's doing' I thought as I concentrated, I smelled something 'What's that strange smell, I never noticed that smell when my eyes were open, I smelling a bunch of different perfumes, coming from…her cards, huh, that's it!' I grinned as I figured it out, "I see through your card trick! You sprayed all your cards with different perfumes and by smelling each different scent you can tell which cards are which even if there face down. So you don't have to look in order to play your cards that way you can psych the other player out"

"How can an amateur punk like you see through my aroma strategy? It's just impossible"

"I gotta admit Mai, you really had me buying into the whole psychic power shtick; I was too freaked out to think things through because of that, but you're not a psychic at all! You're just a big fake!"

"Alright Joey!" Yugi said.

"That was great." Elisa high-fived Tea.

"Go get her, Joey" Tea called.

"You da man!" Tristan yelled.

"Guys! You were right!" I grinned down at both Elisa and Yugi.

"Just because you saw through my little psychic act, doesn't' mean you're going to beat me in a duel" Mai smirked.

"I think you're wrong, before you were winning by confusing me and trying to pit me against my friends, but now my mind is clear, and I know who to trust, all you got left are your cheap tricks and I won't fall for em anymore, I'm gonna blast your Harpies out of the sky with this" I replied and summoned my Baby Dragon card, the same card that Elisa gave me.

"Good Card, Joey" Elisa grinned, the same look came into her eyes that I've been seeing for the past couple days, and where the others thought I was a clueless idiot.

"I summon Baby Dragon" I grinned.

Baby Dragon- Atk: 1200; Def: 700

"Ha! That wimpy card is your grand play, I only wish it was worth some more so when I devastate you, it would do more damage to your life points, my card will be elegant egotist, it's magic will make duplicates of my harpies ladies, harpies lady 1, 2 and 3" Mai chortled.

"Oh no! it's three times the trouble" I gasped, but then my eyes narrowed, Shoot! How in da hell am I gonna beat these things?

"Now what? He was struggling when there's was only one" Tea blinked in shock.

"Don't give in Joey! You still got all kinds of moves left" Elisa encouraged me, she obviously knew what she was doing, giving me this card.

"What moves would that be?" Tea said

"I don't know, ask an expert, ask Yugi" Tristan said and looked at Yugi

"It's Joey's duel he has to figure it out" Yugi replied

"I don't have any cards strong enough to beat three harpie ladies" I frowned in realization.

"Ha! I'm going to keep using the magic of elegant egotists to double my harpies again and again, but while my harpies multiply I cant attack you, so it's your move" Mai laughed.

"An army of harpies, how the heck do I fight an army?" I groaned in frustration.

"Don't give up Joey! Think hard about her strategy she's been using one monster and strengthening that one monster card with a lot of magic, but there is a serious flaw in dueling strategy, Joey" Yugi said.

"Using magic on one card, that's true, she's just been using the Harpies Lady every turn, but if she has mostly magic cards, maybe the harpie ladies are her only monster cards, I bet if I can beat her harpies she won't have any monsters left to play" I thought about what Yugi said, and if I was right, then I could win!

"That's right Joey, now think, what card in your deck will help you win?" Yugi said

"Which of my cards, you tell me" I replied without thinking, 'Wait, maybe you did' I thought, "The time wizard, the must've been the kind of tight spot Yugi was talking about, now if I could just remember what gramps taught me about the way to use a magic card, it's my only chance but do I have them in my hand?"

"If I had known how long it was going take you to make a move, I would've brought a magazine" Mai sighed.

"Uh-oh, the time wizards not in my hand, I'll have to draw for it" I swallowed thickly as my heart began to quicken and I began to draw my next card. "All or nothing! Alright! It's the time wizard!"

"What good is that thing?" Mai asked, bored.

"Don't you know, the time wizard can make the time go faster, causing my baby dragon to grow into Thousand Dragon!" I shouted.

"Right Joey and that's not the only affect your time wizard will have" Elisa added.

"Baby dragon transform into thousand dragon!"

Thousand Dragon- Atk: 2400; Def: 2000

"So now you have a bigger dragon, big deal, my harpies still have greater attack power! Attack it my three harpie sisters! What happened to my Harpie ladies?" She gasped out.

"I warned you, 1 millennium has passed in the playing field and your harpies have become old and decrepit, face it Mai it's over for you and your ladies" Yugi smirked.

"I believed and the cards came through for me! Awesome! Go Thousand Dragon! Attack" I shouted out. Thousand dragon attacked and destroyed all three harpies at once dropping Mai's life points to 0

"He did it! Joey won!" Elisa cheered.

"I knew you could do it!" Tristan yelled

"Thanks guys!" I grinned and gave a thumbs up.

"How could I ever lose to such an amateur?" Mai looked down in shock.

"Hey Mai I tried to tell you, there's more to duel monsters than just kicking the other guys butt, if you're ever gonna be a real champion you gotta learn to care about some one other than yourself, isn't that right? Yugi?" I asked.

"Right." Yugi said.

Mai had left by now, leaving the rest of us in our thoughts, well more my thoughts than anyone elses.

Elisa was chattering excitedly with Yugi and she met my gaze and smiled softly before quickly averting her gaze from mine. I smiled, now, I knew. I really did like Elisa Kura, and it wasn't just as a friend either

A/N: Yeah, kinda suckish I knw, but it's done and I'm giving you guys something halfway decent.

Review and you get Kuriboh plush dolls.