AN:

IsbelCortez: hey, you're the one that told me Yugi's a pervert and proceeded to prove it to me. As for Yugi dressed as the Dark Magician- that's old hat- no creativity- at least Joey is an idiot (albeit well meaning) and can be excused for his lack of creativity- plus it was a couples thing- he had a plan…

Midnightblue08: thx, reviews almost always encourage me to hurry up (so long as it's not blatant rushing), besides- I'll be fair, the Seto as Sephiroth idea I stole from a fanart I found- then it was just a matter of thinking what FF girl could Serenity pull off without too much hassle.

Shinki: (love the name actually, heh). Thanks for reviewing, as for if Mai dumps Joey, I dunno, probably not, but I cannot dictate to my muse, only from. Joey as Mai said, can be completely sweet when he's not trying to, and that is the sole reason Mai puts up with him.

Materialgirl69: (So many jokes spring to mind about that name), Honestly I'm more into Joey Mai than Yugi Mai, but it was an option expressed to me by a friend whose actually seen the end of the series (I haven't watched an episode in- well, a while- but the fic idea came and I had to act…) but at the moment I also kinda feel sorry for poor single yugi, I may have to do something for the poor guy- and all my current YGO OCs are male except for one- and I couldn't put Yugi with a girl with even more attitude than Mai- not without giving him back Atem somehow… although- nah, no need to bring yaoi into this…

End AN

"Not here, Joey might see," Yugi heard Serenity's voice after getting away from Tea and her insistence that the book he was reading for his costume was over the top. He started to move towards it when he heard the second voice after a long pause.

"I'm sure Joey doesn't expect me to be in costume here,"-

'Seto!' Yugi realized immediately. You don't get threatened by a guy that many times without recognizing his voice even in a crowded room. 'Wait- Seto and Serenity?' Yugi's brain felt like being a little slow on the pickup at the moment, possibly from the terror of Tea's wrath. Yugi flinched when he thought privately what Joey might think of the situation. Yugi had to fight the best friend gear that told him immediately to run and tell Joey because it was followed immediately by the realization, it's not his business so long as Serenity's happy- and that's exactly why she hadn't told him either, because right there he was seconds from telling Joey, and if he hadn't stopped to think- motivated as much by fear of the idea of going near Tea before she calmed down- he would have, and he knew it. In fact he still felt he should in large parts of him. It almost felt like a disloyalty not to tell him…

"Let's go somewhere else…"

Serenity led Seto through the crowd; Yugi had to duck under the large wing as part of Seto's costume- which drew attention to him.

"Yugi?"

"Ah-…" 'Damn you brain kick into gear, there's no one to discuss this with anymore,' "Serenity, hi, oh- Hi Seto- is that Sephiroth you're dressed as?"

Seto quickly hid the shock in his face and put a hand at the Nodatchi in his costume, "Yeah," he managed politely, "I find I can relate to his methods."

'Was that a smile I just saw?' Yugi didn't realize that had been a joke at first, only after Serenity saw the smile and laughed did Yugi join in, "Yeah I suppose. So," he dragged his word, "How long have you-"

"Just a couple months," Serenity assured, "You know how rash Joey can be though, I thought I wait before telling him."

"Yeah, we ran into Mokuba just after you ditched us, he was dressed up like Seto was in Battle City, and it brought back some bad memories in Joey."

Seto actually winced a little, relaxing as Serenity pulled up against him again reassuringly.

"So, is that why you've been nicer to Joey lately?"

"It's not the only reason, if that's what you think."

Yugi smirked at that one, "I'm willing to trust you; I think I've proved that time and again."

"So, are you going to tell my brother," Serenity asked, not quite suppressing all the nervousness she meant to.

Yugi looked down, "I want to, but I do understand your side too, it's not his business so long as you're happy."

"To be frank it's not his business regardless, but I can sympathize with his desires to protect a sibling," Seto added.

Yugi paused, stricken by the comment for a moment, then broke out in laughter. "Yes I suppose you and he have that in common don't you." Yugi stopped laughing after a moment and suddenly became a little serious, "How do you think you would react in Joey's situation."

Seto smiled at that question, "I've given that quite a lot of thought, that said, I'll just tell you this, I'm glad Joey doesn't have the resources I do at his disposal."

Yugi smiled and was just about to start laughing when he really thought about that for a moment and his smile vanished completely. Seto led Serenity off since it looked to them like Yugi had nothing else to say, but after a moment Yugi opened his mouth again, "Crap, he's serious isn't he, damn… I think Seto's right. I feel sorry for Mokuba?"

Yugi spotted Joey coming off the dance floor; he was spouting apologies like a scorned diplomat. Yugi moved towards them and began to hear their conversation as he came closer.

"I swear, I never seen her before, she just tried to cut in."

"No I know that," Mai rounded on Joey, but after a moment composed herself, "Look, I'm not mad at you, I'm mad at her."

"Well who is she?"

"Just some low talent trying to look important by cutting in on my-… date."

"Don't sound so enthusiastic," he commented dryly on her pause.

"Sorry."

Joey stepped closer, and took one of her hands, "Want to try again, if only just to show her up?"

Mai smirked, "Someday you may be half as smart as you think you are. Tell you what, you lead."

Yugi backed off as they headed back out on the dance floor. He tried to spot Tristan in the crowd. He saw Tristan standing like a wallflower, looking for someone else timid he could try to ask to dance when some girl approached him-

'Why if it isn't the King of Games, Yugi. Hi, I'm Eileen," she lifted up a hand, seeming to forget the paw shaped gloves she was wearing for her costume. She looked down and giggled in a shudder inducing inauthentic way. "Meow," she joked, "Care to dance?"

"What- I?"

Yugi barely had the option to pocket his book as she took his other hand and yanked him onto the dance floor. Eileen led Yugi across the dance floor, intentionally directing him towards Joey and Mai.

"Oh Yugi, you're such a great dancer," she lied, projecting her voice as she forcibly led him through each step. Yugi struggled to produce a smile on his face as she spun him then pulled him closer. Yugi caught a glimpse of his friends, noticing Joey wince as Mai seemed to fume.

Yugi looked back at Eileen who pretended to be oblivious and Yugi gave her a nervously twitching smile. "So, Eileen, what brings you to Kaiba's Halloween party?"

"Ooo, do you think Seto's here? Could you introduce me?"

"Ah- I don't think he'd-"

"So you do know him personally- not just professionally."

"Not the way you seem to imply."

"Oh?"

Yugi surprised Eileen by stealing the lead, her masquerade-style mask slipped a little by the sudden change in pace. "Look, Seto acknowledges me as a skilled duelist, and nothing more, we've met repeatedly under various circumstances, and been forced to learn quite a lot about each other, I personally consider him a friend, though I doubt he thinks the same of me." He explained.

"Then why do you consider him a friend," she asked, sincerely curious this time, her airheaded act coming down a notch in the process. She took a hand to adjust her mask, then took Yugi's hand again, she continued to let him lead.

"Like I said, we've grown to know a lot about each other, and while he would say I know nothing, I happen to think I know him pretty well by now," Yugi stopped mid-thought, then smiled, "Rather well at least, enough to say if he needed to trust me with his secrets he could."

"What sort of secrets," she pried.

"I never said he has trusted me- intentionally," he added under his breath so she couldn't hear, "only he could if he did."

"Oh of course, you couldn't tell me- then they wouldn't be secrets would they."

Yugi sighed; she clearly heard what she wanted to…