Wowsies! haha! yo! ya wanted an update! here it is! WOOHOO! i hopes ya likes it! this was very harrd to write... so, i hope it is good. Anyways. Enjoy!

DIZCLAIMER: brain farted.

SHIZUKA WAS READY. Although her mind screamed in protest, she convinced herself that she was ready.

Her heart told her she was ready. She had no idea where her sudden courage came from, she wondered if it's what Mai had told her earlier.

"So don't try to do this for me," she had told her, " You might meet your destiny."

Shizuka felt bad for Mai, she never knew her sister felt that way for many years. She walked down the stairs with grace and poise. Waiting at the bottom of the stairs where Jonouchi and Yugi.

Yugi smiled and held out his hand, "Walk this way, my Lady," he said. Under her mask, Shizuka gave a small smile, she was glad Yugi didn't say, "You look beautiful," she felt like it would be trying to hard to make her feel better.

Mai then followed afterwards, Shizuka gasped. For Mai never looked more beautiful than today, she wore a violet dress. As she walked down the stairs, she held her head high in determination, she not once glanced at anyone.

Jonouchi held out his hand, but Mai didn't seem to notice his hand. She headed towards Shizuka and Yugi, she sighed. "How do I look?" she asked. "Beautiful!" Yugi said.

Mai blushed, "This is our first time wearing fancy dresses…" she turned to smile at Shizuka, who smiled back.

Without any hesitation, everyone headed towards the carriages. Shizuka closed her eyes as the carriage began to take off. She prayed that everything will go well.

LATERS…

Seto Kaiba was annoyed and bored. Since 7 o'clock he had been dancing nonstop with all the female guest. And that's all he's done.

No, that's not all he's done, he's also been ignoring all their squabble. For that's all every single girl did. Talk. Talk. Talk….and talk. It suppressed his hunger, but it made him more irritated. When was this going to end?

He has found that most of these women were not virgins. They didn't tell him, but he could sense it. Of the few girls that WERE indeed virgins, they were, however, not pure minded.

He twirled another girl who suddenly snorted in laughter. Seto scrunched his face in disgust, the girl actually snorted and accidently spat on him, "Oh! You are such a great dancer my prince!" she squealed.

Seto ignored her. He glanced up at his father's throne and wondered if his father was having a laugh.

Meanwhile his father was observing his son. Wondering if he had already chosen a girl. So far, it seems that he hasn't…or maybe he has…and he just didn't see the sign of interest.

"He isn't smiling," Anzu suddenly said, "He keeps frowning…" Anzu wondered if Seto was truly heartless. She still hasn't forgotten what Seto had told her the other night. She wondered what convinced Seto to go to the ball. She hoped that in some twisted way, that Seto found it in his heart that he wanted to fall in love…and settled down. For Seto was lucky that his father is letting him find love….that a typical arrange marriage.

MEANWHILE….

Seto smelled foul play. He glanced at the corners of his eyes to catch anything suspicious. Yet he found nothing. But he could sense it, he could smell it.

He growled under his breath, but he decided to bow as he accepted another girl for a dance.

MEANWHILE…

Shizuka was terrified. She saw how many of the girls had taken off their mask. She assumed it was because the prince wanted to admire their beauty and see their laughter. This wasn't good. This wasn't good at all.

Mai held her hand, "Whatever you do," Mai whispered from the corner of her mouth, "Don't take off your mask,"

Shizuka nodded, but it was easier said than done. What if someone was persistent? Or worse! What if she ended up with the prince and he insists as well or threatens to throw her in the dungeons because she refused to take of her mask.

She wished Yugi or Jonouchi was here, she would have asked them to dance with her. So that she could be safe. But Yugi and Jonouchi had to scout the area in case of any suspicious attack.

A young man bowed in front of Mai, "My Lady," the man said, "I have never seen a more beautiful woman in my life." He held out his hand, "May I ask to have this dance?"

Mai smiled, but Shizuka sensed something off about her smile, "Certainty," she said and she took his hand.

Shizuka stood there, looking around like a bobbling idiot. She had no idea what to do, should she ask someone to dance? Or should she get some food to eat? The longer she stood, the more she wanted to run for it. She couldn't though…no matter how her mind was telling her so. Her heart insisted that she stayed.

She nearly had a heart attack when a young black haried boy bowed at her, "Hello there!" he said, "You look bored,"

Shizuka blinked, this boy…he looked familiar…

The boy nodded leaned in and whispered, "You don't have to lie. I'm bored too." He said, he held out his hand, "You wanna play instead?" he asked.

Shizuka smiled in relief, "Yes," she said, "Yes, please." The boy smiled and looked around, as if he was being watched, "I hope no one notices we're gone." He grabbed her hand, and dragged her away.

MEANWHILE…

Seto was about to scream in frustration. How he wanted this all to end. He couldn't take it anymore. He wanted to devour everyone and just be done with it. He was so frustrated to the point that he could have said to his father that he didn't want the throne anymore.

The girl gave a high pitched giggle, "Seto, have I ever mentioned how handsome you are! Hey, you don't look so well? Are you ok? God, I do hope you don't have the flu like my Mama Anh had the other day…GOD! It was awful!..."

Seto shut his ears away, GOD can this woman talk. He was surprised to know that this woman wasn't a virgin. The way her mouth runs….urgh.

"Here… come this way…" he heard a familiar voice say. He turned, his eyes widened in shock, he couldn't believe it…

MEANWHILE…

The boy wanted to go somewhere where it's quiet. Shizuka couldn't blame him, it was noisy in the hall.

"Here! Come this way!" he said. Shizuka nodded and picked up her skirt and started to jog after him.

She stopped suddenly to catch her breath, she then looked around for the dark haired boy. He was no where to be seen.

She turned as she heard a woman say, "….mentioned how handsome you are? Hey, you don't look so well. Are you ok? God, I do hope you don't have the flu like my Mama Ahn had the other day…"

Shizuka couldn't help but to look at who the heck was talking so loud, she spotted a short, plump youn lady dancing(more like babbling) to a tall, handsome young man.

Shizuka stood still, oh so still she looked like a mannequin.

She felt her heart beating fast. She couldn't keep her eyes off him. She wondered… who is that man?

oooh! naughty me! haha left ya on a cliffie! bad LadyRistu! bad! teehee! hopefully, there is more tomorrow! until then, mi fellows amigos! Read n' review! :D