"Ya kidding me? Of course Malik-Marik... whatever didn't let me off easy!" This shouting match bringing back some of his less than fond memories of his failings. He hadn't been able to protect Mai or his other friends, but he had come so close! "... If I just would have told my monster to attack..." Said softer and more to himself. "Dead? though? Aren't you exaggerating? I mean I was in a coma for a while- sure.. but... not dead." Or were there yet more differences to be yet discovered?

"And you can stop waggling your finger in front of my face..." Reaching out to push it aside. "Wait- you for real? Someone actually died?" The shadow realm was supposed to be worse than death and from how it affected Mai, Joey could believe it. Still- death had a terrible finality to it of which there was no recovery.

"Look-.... I..." He tried to talk his other self down. "I don't have all da facts, right? I shouldn't have assumed ya wouldn't have challenged Kaiba if ya had da chance.... can we just... start over here?"