A/N - Okay, so here it is, a rare and speedy update! And, even more rare, something semi-dramatic happens ;)

I really hope people are still enjoying this. I'll admit to missing hearing from some of my old regulars like AvidReaderAlso, Valexa Kaiba, Lady Luck, 5animefan, jellybean-kitty, kitty kibitzer, astrya animelover6000 and the rest of you guys who have ever taken time to write a review. It's totally understandable that people are drifing away from this story given the lengeth of time it takes to update and the fact that, over here at least, YuGiOh has been off the screens for a while, but, if you're still out there and enjoying it, drop me a line - even if it's just a quick line to say - Hey, Jensti, stop being such a whiny limey and get over yourself already ;) I'm sure Shakuhachi will be first in line to do just that!

Enjoy!


The Sixth Annual Kaiba Corporation Charity Gala Ball

Andrea walked up the steps to the entrance of Kaiba Corp. already feeling the pinch of her high heels. Not that this was the first time she'd worn them but, given how few times they had ever been taken out of Andrea's wardrobe in the four years she'd owned them, they looked like new and, more importantly, felt like new. She walked through the reception area past a milling crowd of young catering staff and events organisers. The surface chaos indicated that the place would be nowhere near ready for 7.30 but Andrea wasn't about to get involved. From her experience the last minute problems tended to iron themselves out in time to avoid any major catastrophe and the organisers, who were darting here and there and barking orders in strained voices, were mostly enjoying the drama that they were creating around themselves. She approached the front desk in the hope of finding a friendly face and, peering over the computer, she found Roland sitting on the floor surrounded by a tangle of wires.

Andrea smiled. If she had been a betting lady she would have put money on finding him here. 'Good evening, Roland.'

'Oh, hey, evening Andrea,' Roland replied, barely looking up from the connector cables he was grappling with.

Andrea took off her coat and walked around the desk to hang it on a peg behind a dividing wall. She stepped over the wires, careful not to dislodge anything. 'Same old problems?'

'Every year. I swear I could take a month putting these cables back in their correct boxes and separating them out and I'd still come back to them and find them a tangled mess. It's like Christmas lights,' he sighed and looked up at her again, 'hey, you look nice. New dress?'

Andrea smiled at the compliment as she smoothed down her demure maroon dress self consciously. 'Well, it's been a while since I treated myself,' she said modestly.

'I've got to go and get myself changed too – once I've sorted out these ticket scanners. Why people try to falsify tickets to get into this place I'll never know.'

'Oh, well, haven't you heard? It's going to be 'fun' tonight.'

Roland snorted, 'Who said that?'

'Mr Kaiba.'

'What?' he sat up, 'are you serious?'

'Sure am.'

Roland thought for a moment. 'Was he being sarcastic?'

Andrea smiled and shrugged, 'I really don't think he was.'

'Wow,' there was another moment's silence as Roland absorbed this information. 'You know why it might be though? I got a call from him yesterday asking me to arrange for our best limousine to pick up none other than Mai Valentine tonight.'

'Ahh, that does make a bit more sense. Well, good for him. If she's encouraging him to leave work on time and take a day off then I approve.'

'Hold on, he's taking a day off?'

'On Monday.'

Roland blinked and then shook his head in wonder. 'Wow.'

'Is he here yet?'

'Up in his office. He said he had some research to do.'

'That sounds a little more like our regular universe doesn't it? I'd best go and find him. It's only 45 minutes until the start time on the invite. The eager ones are bound to begin arriving soon.'

'Uugh,' Roland pulled a face, 'fun - smun, I don't care what anyone says, I hate this night.'

Andrea nodded in agreement before tottering awkwardly towards the elevators cursing the invention of painful high heeled shoes.

OooooO

Seto Kaiba flicked through the New York 'Fun Day Out' guide searching for some inspiration. He hadn't asked Mai if she was around on Monday to spend the day with him but he thought that it might sound better when he did ask if he had some firm ideas on what to do. The only problem was that he couldn't think of anything. He'd picked up a large wad of leaflets that all claimed to be full of ideas but unless he wanted to visit a museum, gallery or large statue lady on an island, most of these ideas revolved around kids and family. Of course he could take Mia out in the jet plane and head somewhere special or even charter the company helicopter but after the whole episode with his car, he wanted to avoid any types of vehicle if he could help it.

His thoughts were interrupted by a light tap on the door and Andrea entered, holding a pair of shoes in one hand and the hem of her floor length dress in the other.

'Don't tell me people are arriving already?'

'It won't be long I'm afraid. Have you got everything you need? Is there anything I can do for you?'

'You could give me some ideas for a day out in the city?'

'Sorry sir?'

'Never mind,' he put the brochures and leaflets to one side and stood up. 'Let's get going.'

He took his dinner jacket from the back of his chair and slipped it on. 'Andrea, I must say you look very nice this evening. That's a new dress isn't it?'

Andrea smiled at the compliment. 'It is, Mr Kaiba, yes.'

'And new shoes? I take it you're trying not to scuff them before our guests arrive?'

'Well, Mr Kaiba,' Andrea said, pretending to dust them off slightly, 'one likes to make an effort for such events.'

OooooO

Mai Valentine was making a big effort, not that she would ever admit it to Seto. She'd spent the day shopping and had returned with just enough time to shower and get ready. She was feeling pretty pleased with herself as she hummed along to the radio and applied her makeup. The dress that she had bought was laid out on her bed next to an exorbitantly expensive pair of shoes and a ridiculously small, but perfectly matching, clutch bag. She'd agreed to buy the bag after some ear twisting from Téa (her long distance fashion advisor for the day) who had told her that it was not acceptable to either carry her usual holdall bag or to force Seto to fill his pockets with her various bits and pieces. She'd already managed to fill the thing to capacity by putting in a lipstick, purse and cell phone, if she found she needed to carry anything else, she secretly decided, she'd get Seto to put it in his pocket – that was what men were for at such events after all.

She extricated her phone from the bag and turned off the music that she had been listening to. A car was due to come for her in about twenty minutes and she had one more little job to take care of before she could turn the music back on, whack the volume up and really get herself into the party spirit.

She bought up the number she wanted and gave an experimental cough. 'Hello,' she said to herself feebly. She shook her head, not enough. 'Hello?' she had managed to affect a break in her voice that time. Perfect. She pressed the green handset button and held the phone to her ear. If she had timed this right, Joe would be downstairs setting up the tills and the drinks optics in preparation for the evening shift. The phone rang five times before it went through to the message machine.

'Hello, Joe?' Mai started once the beep had sounded, 'I'm sorry, I'm not feeling too good (cough, cough) I won't be able to make it tonight. I hope I haven't let you down too (cough) badly. I'm going to bed now to try and shake it off so that I can hopefully (cough) be in tomorrow. Good (cough, cough) goodbye.'

Mai clicked the call end button and grinned to herself before flicking the phone spinning into the air, catching it deftly and shoving it back into the bag. Done.

Mai didn't doubt that Joe would be a bit annoyed, not least because the poker game scheduled for the previous night had been switched to tonight and she was definitely expected to be there. But really, if anyone was going to be annoyed about her missing the game it should be Mai herself, after all, having missed out on the winnings last night it meant that she had been forced to open up her 'nest egg' box and make a withdrawal, something that she was always loath to do. Still, she thought as she slipped off her dressing gown and began pulling on her cream lace topped stockings, it was only a one off and the overall effect should be worth it.

She turned the music back on and then wrapped a pale cream basque around her body, tutting as she began the near impossible task of attaching all twenty hooks behind her own back. Eventually, after nearly dislocating her shoulder in her efforts, she was able to smooth herself down and pick up the dress. As her hand passed over the clutch bag she realised it was vibrating. She drew her phone out and looked at the display: 'Joe – Boss'. Mai smiled and threw the phone onto the bed dismissively.

'Sorry, Joe,' she said, 'I'm far too ill to take your call right now.'

She stepped carefully into the dress and pulled it up, sliding her arms through the little cap sleeves. She reached behind herself again and pulled up the long zip and then turned to look at herself in the long mirror. It was a long cream dress that hugged her curves in the bodice before widening out in the skirt. A trail of embroidered black flowers wrapped itself around her, starting at the left shoulder and then trailing down to taper off at the hem which pooled slightly on the floor as she stood without shoes on. The neckline curved down from her shoulders in a wide and rather elegant way, disguising her cleavage and accentuating her shoulders and neck – at least that was how Téa described it when Mai had sent her a picture from her phone. She twisted herself one way and then another and then put her hand on her hips and grinned at herself.

'Damn I look hot!' she stated happily before becoming aware of a muffled buzzing noise coming from the bed. She reached over and held up her phone just as the buzzing stopped.

'Ugh! Joe!' she hissed irritably at the phone's screen, 'I'm not coming tonight! Get over it already and think of all the money you'll save by not losing it to me.'

Mai was about to shove the phone back in the clutch bag when the screen lit up again announcing a voicemail message had been received.

Mai slipped her shoes on and picked up her bag as she accessed the phone message from Joe. Not that she really cared much for what he had to say but his persistence did seem a little unusual, even for him.

'Mai, why the hell aren't you answering your phone?' Mai frowned, rather than sounding annoyed Joe actually sounded anxious. 'Look I don't know if you're really ill or not, somehow I doubt it, but there's something you should know.'

Mai began walking slowly through to the dark living area, heading to close the curtains before turning on the lights as she always did. As she walked she felt her stomach fluttering in an unpleasant way.

'I was speaking to Elaine earlier,' Joe continued, 'she was working the lunch shift today. She said that there was someone in the bar asking after you.'

One of Kaiba's men, Mai told herself quickly, ignoring the fact that Seto now had her home address and cell phone number so would no longer need to be digging around. She shut the last of the curtains and walked over to the kitchenette to flick on the light switch.

'I wouldn't bother you with this only-,'

Mai looked around the apartment, reassuring herself that she was alone.

'only he mentioned the Icarus. I think that my brother-'

Mai dropped the phone on the counter where it bounced and fell to the floor with a clatter.

In her tiny apartment Mai could quickly see that everything was in place, the mess in the kitchen was her mess; the disordered arrangement of the furniture was her arrangement. Nothing visible had been taken - but there was something new.

On the small coffee table there was a duelling card, placed face down. Mai forced herself to walk to it. She bent down and flipped it over quickly. It was one of her harpy ladies. That it was her card and not a copy was certain as soon as she picked it up and smelt the faint traces of perfume. Its presence on the table could only mean one thing and if they'd been able to get into her apartment and then get hold of this card from her secure safe box…

Mai turned sharply and moved to the false wall. She yanked at it with all her strength and stood looking into the tiny hidden room. All still looked just as she had left it. She knelt down not giving a thought to the dust that smeared itself darkly across the delicate cream. She crawled under the desk and took out the two boxes. She opened the box for her duelling deck first and felt a strange sense of relief when she found it there. She fanned the cards out gaining comfort from their familiar designs. Then she noticed one that she knew didn't belong to her. It was a trap card that showed a large neon lit casino. Its name was 'House Wins'. On the back was some writing:

'Be sure to bring your deck, for old time's sake.'

Mai's hands began trembling.

She picked up the second box, her nest egg box, and opened it slowly. It was empty.

Breathing heavily, Mai forced herself to stand and switched on the computer. She tried not to think about what was happening as the computer booted up. She clenched her hands to stop them from shaking and managed, through force of will, to type in the web address for her on-line bank account. It too was empty.

'No,' she whispered, barely audible through her clenched teeth.

She brought up a second account and then a third. 'No!'

She slumped back against the wall feeling as if she'd been physically winded. 'No,' she repeated quietly as she slipped to the floor, 'oh no.'