Brood: Hello! And welcome to Chapter 4!

Zutsokaki: Run away as fast as you can.....

Brood: How did you get out of the closet?

Zutsokaki: You didn't lock the door.

Brood: Darn. Well, enjoy this new chapter, in which........well.......lots of cool stuff happens, like a big dance party and the landing on the island.......And what is up with that Amoura chick?

Zutsokaki: I don't know, you tell me, you wrote this story......to the misery of others.....

Brood: I will just have to hurt you again.





CHAPTER 4



Mai stretched her legs and yawned as she got out of bed the next morning. She immedietly rubbed her eyes and went to her closet and looked at the things she had hung up, trying to pick out an outfit to wear that night to the party.

/A girl has to make sure she looks her best at all times, after all........../

The very picky dresser finally decided on a forest green v-neck tank top and a denium skirt along with some sandals. She put them on her dresser so she wouldn't have to look to far for them later. Then she threw on a baby t-shirt and shorts, grabbed her purse and opened her door.

Joey was on the other side, with his fist raised to where the door was a second ago, poised to knock. His eyes went wide and then jumped back.

"Uh.....morning Mai.........I.......uh........was just in this part of the hallway and wondered if you would...........uh......."

"Accompany you to breakfast, and maybe the party tonight so you won't look bad around the foreigners?"

"Uhhhh.........I guess so.......just wanted to ask before Honda did......."

"Hmmm......I will go with you to breakfast, but I would rather show up tonight stag." She pushed past him and walked into the hallway. "After all, it's more fun if you aren't constricted to one date...." She winked and added, "But I'll save a dance for you.............."

"Your mocking me, Mai. I don't like it."

"I didn't think you did Joey....." She laughed and motioned him down the hall with her. When they reached the hall, they looked around for the others. Soon, Joey spotted Yugi's hair and they headed towards them at a table by the side wall of the room.

"Morning Yuge! So you decided to wake up this mornin'?"

Yugi looked up at Joey. "Oh hey Joey. Breakfast?"

There was a large plate of stuff there in the middle of the table, along with six plates.

"Honda and I decided to snag a bunch of stuff from the tables and put it on this tray, and then grab some plates so none of us would have to wait in line today." Yugi motioned for Joey and Mai to sit down. "We figured Mai would join us, along with Bakura, so we grabbed six plates."

Yugi looked over at Bakura, who was already eating some eggs and sausage. Everyone else grabbed a plate and piled some stuff on it, then dug in. While they ate, Yugi cast suspicious glances over at Bakura.

/I don't get it.....for the past few times we have seen him, his Yami was usually in control in some way, with a hidden agenda of pure evil! And now, he doesn't even seem under his sway. Not even a little bit. Maybe the Yami got tired of fighting Bakura for control for awhile.........../

Suddenly, Bakura sat up and looked down. Yugi immediatly braced himself and put his hand over his Puzzle. But Bakura just sat there, looking down. Yugi looked down at what Bakura was looking at and saw that something was glowing from underneath of his shirt. Bakura then pulled his Millennium Ring from under his shirt and looked as one of the arrows pointed in some direction in the middle of the room. And Bakura looked completly normal.

"Bakura, why is the Ring doing that? Aren't we the only ones here with Millennium items?"

"I don't know Yugi. Unless...." Bakura gave him a pointed glance and looked in the direction the arrow was pointing in and Yugi followed suit. Yugi shuddered a little, realizing who Bakura meant by his glance.

/Malik....he had better not be here. What would we do?/ Yugi shook his head, clearing his of the thoughts of the formidable person. By this time, the others at the table were looking at Bakura and Yugi, and saw that the Ring was pointing.

"Man Bakura, the crowd in this place is so dense that we can't tell who the Ring is pointing at....." Honda tried to see past the people, but it did no good.

"Well Honda, I don't even see how the Ring would help us right now. This place is too filled up, and it could be anyone here setting it off." Bakura started to put the Ring back.

"But Bakura, why don't you just use it as a compass and just walk around till you find the one it is honing in on?"

"I don't think it would work in here. There is just too many people, I wouldn't even be able to get around quickly enough." Bakura put it back.

"Well, this bites."

"Speaking of biting........" Joey looked at his food. "Why don't we get back to what is really important here!" He started to chow again.

"Oh really Joey! You can't eat like a normal person?" Mai glanced at him and put her fork of eggs in her mouth. "Oh Anzu, what are you wearing tonight?"

Anzu looked up from her food and sat there, sort of confused. "Well Mai, I really don't have anything on me, just my normal clothes. I really didn't plan on a party."

"Oh poor dear. Why don't you borrow something from my closet. As long as you don't ruin it."

"Like I'd ruin your clothes........on purpose."

"See if I let you borrow something at this rate, Anzu."

"Uptight much, Mai?" Joey looked at her, his eyes gleaming.

Mai nearly clocked him with her purse again, but someone got up from the table beside them, yelling in rapid Vietnamese and stamping off.

Yugi leaned over and spoke to an interpreter sitting with the people. "If you don't mind me asking, what was that all about, miss?"

She looked at her table, then leaned toward Yugi. "Just a small tiff about some Poker game that he lost yesterday. He lost a card somewhat valuable to his deck in a gaming bet."

"Oh, that's really too bad. I would be mad also." Yugi turned back to the table, and the interpreter leaned back to the table, where her companions were talking again.

Yugi and his friends continued eating and when they had finished, they got up and started out of the room. "Hey Anzu, a movie is playing in the theater this afternoon...."

"Oh, I know about that Yugi. It's one of my favorites, but I didn't really want to go since I have seen it alot. I have seen Gone With the Wind about forty times already! So..." Anzu giggled a little. "Frankly my dear, I don't give a damn."

Honda and Mai looked at Anzu in surprise. "A lady shouldn't speak in such language!"

"I agree with Mai......except for the lady part........." Honda was swifty quieted by Anzu's foot. He hopped around, holding his leg.

"Oh forget it, maybe you should all see the movie without me. Don't any of you know that I merely said Rhett Butler's famous last line?" Anzu crossed her arms.

"Well, I don't think any of us have seen it except you, Anzu." Joey looked at her sideways. He looked at Yugi, who's eyes were on the floor. The others walked ahead just a little bit, and Joey bent by Yugi's ear. "Don't get yourself down about this man, it's okay. Anyway, it is just a movie she's seen alot..........and you know she was just having fun...." Joey stood straight again. "So let's get going, Yuge."

Yugi looked up again and nodded, smiling. "What do you guys want to do until it is time for the party?"

They had caught up with the others and they turned around, thinking. Mai looked at Yugi, grinning. "There might be a limbo tournament Yugi could win....."

Yugi laughed at this, and so did the others. "You know that might just be true Mai!"

*SOMEWHERE ELSE IN THE WORLD*

Shadi was furious, yet extremely confused. He paced around his home in Egypt, trying to keep focus, even though things looked bad.

/Where could it have gone? I don't see how it could have gotten anywhere! It was around my neck, like it always is! And now, it's gone! Why!? Did it abandon me? Aren't I the worthy one for the Millennium Key? But, if it did abandon me, there would only be an important reason for it....but what would it be?/

*BACK ON THE SHIP*

Seto sat in his room, room 1, and watched TV. There was nothing on, so he just absentmindedly channel surfed. Click, click, click. Nothing. Click, click, click. Still nothing. Click, click, cl....

/Oh screw it!/ He turned off the TV and tossed the remote onto the small table by the chair he was on. He got up and walked to the doors that led to his part of the deckside and sat in a lawn chair by the rail. He looked out to the expanse of ocean and then suddenly heard the faint sound of a door sliding open, like it was sort of far away. He looked over all of the short dividing fencing and saw that just a few places down Amoura was coming to sit dockside as well. He suddenly remembered the Blue Eyes that was still in his deck now, no thanks to him and his foolishness. Seto did some quick counting and found that she was in room 5. Not too far from his room at all. He thought briefly about calling to her, but thought better of it. Seto Kaiba rarely called to anyone. Why start now? He would see her at the party anyway.

/Wait a second. I wasn't going to go. So now I am? Well, it's not like there would be anything else to do. Everyone is going to be there. That's all anyone can talk about./ He sighed and looked back out to the sea. /Things have been so boring lately. I don't even think this tournament will be as amusing as others are making it out to be./

He got up, took one last look at the quiet girl and went back into his room. He sat on his bed and pulled out his ID and flipped it on. He went to the map of the island.

/Hm....there must be a goal of some sorts. If this is an island tournament, it must be alot like Duelist Kindom. Why isn't it marked on the map? No castle to get into or anything? Or do we have to find it ourselves?/

He turned off the ID and went to his door. He thought about opening it and going to theatre, but didn't want to waste his time.

/Gods! A whole ship of activities, and nothing to do until 7:30 P.M!!/ He caught sight of a wireless phone. He picked it up and dialed his home number.

"Hello. Kaiba residence. Mister Seto is out, may I leave a message?" It was the nurse he had left.

"This IS Seto. Is Mokuba there?"

"Oh, hello Mister Seto! Mokuba has gone to stay with a friend of his from school for a little while. He should be back tonight sometime!"

"Well............tell Mokuba that I called and to stay home in case I get the time to call again, alright. And don't......lose......him........" He emphasized that last part.

"Uhhh.....well, of course not Mister Seto. I would never lose Mokuba for anything!"

"I should hope not. Goodbye." He hung up the phone and sat again. "Well," he said to nobody at all, "I can't expect him to stay at home all of the time with me gone. I am going to be gone for a long time this time. Mokuba was sure upset when I told him...."

Seto went to his TV again and turned it on. Click, click, click. Nothing. Click, click, click. Still nothing........

Honda wandered the expanse of the ship, holding some things he had bought at an actual gift shop on the ship. He had no idea why there was a gift shop there, but he made the most of some money he had happened to have on him. The group had split up earlier after lunch, when they couldn't find anything to do together. Honda was sure that Yugi had gone back to his room, and had noticed that he looked a little down about something. Joey had hinted that it had something to do with that movie, but Honda barely paid any attention to him. But Honda had found something that Yugi would love, a Dark Magician plush thingie. It looked way different in plush form than in the holographic forms, but it was cool anyway. He had also found a Petit Angel plush toy that squeaked when you squeezed it, and had gotten it for Anzu. Honda couldn't help himself and had gotten a Cyber Commander model kit for himself, deciding to put it together with the rest of his free time this afternoon. He had seen a Red Eyes Black Dragon battle toy, and bought that as well, but decided to not give it to Joey until he had been through the ringer just a bit.

/That's what he gets for beating me so many times at those games.......let him sweat.....and I can make him worry since it was the last one..../ He smiled a little and turned the corner for Yugi and Joey's hall. He knocked on Yugi's door, and he answered.

"Hey Honda, what do you have there?"

"You won't believe it Yugi, but there is a Duel Monster's Gift Shop on this ship! So I picked up a few things....." He handed the bag with the plush toy in it over to Yugi.

Yugi opened the bag and pulled out the Dark Magician plush. "Oh wow Honda, this is really neat! Thanks! I love it!" He held it at arm's length to get a good look at it. "It looks kind of......chibi, but it's great!"

"I thought you might get a kick out of it Yugi. Hey, I got something for Anzu, and something for Joey also. I had better deliver them!" Honda made to leave.

"Hey, thanks Joey! And, I'll see you tonight at dinner!" Honda smiled and walked off, and Yugi closed his door.

/Wow, this really is neat! I wonder how I will keep it with me though.....my two bags are about full...../

//You call that a good interpretation of the Dark Magician?//

/Yami?!.....Oh come on, it's really neat anyway, even if it is like a Chibi Dark Magician....../

//Maybe even a Toon Dark Magician........//

/That...is actually a scary concept Yami..../

//Just pointing out it's.......oddness. Oh, and I wanted a small favor, Yugi.....//

/And that would be what now, Yami?/

//Well, I was wondering if it would be alright with you if I....//



He darted behind another guard, and dashed into the kitchens. So far so good, he hadn't been spotted. If someone found out that he of all people had stowed away on this ship, it would get really ugly. Anyway, he needed food. He found the refigerator and opened the door. No surprise, it was a walk-in. So, he walked in. As he scanned the shelves, picking out a milk carton and some fruit, he kept a close eye on the door. He shivered a little. It was cold, but then again, it was a refigerator.

When he was ready to leave the refigetator, he opened the door and peeked out a little. When he deemed it safe, he walked out and darted out of the kitchen. He hid behind a clock and sped through a door, trying to find a place to eat. The room was big and open, and very nicely decorated. He stood in the middle of the room, taking it in. Suddenly, he heard footsteps coming in his direction. He felt panicked suddenly, and turned his head this way and that, trying to find some cover.

The steps were closer. He still couldn't find anything good enough. They sounded closer still. And closer......and closer......the boy's heart raced as he darted around the room.

/THERE! Why didn't I see it sooner?/ He ran to a slightly ajar closet door, and cursed himself for not seeing it earlier. He noticed it was a roomy closet, and filled with cleaning supplies. He crouched behind a large garbage bin and waited. The steps went into the room and stopped in the middle of the room. Then he heard something like springs creaking, and thought that whoever came in had sat down in a chair. He hoped they would leave soon, he didn't want his milk getting warm on him.

It was 5:40 P.M. Joey got up and headed out of his room. Since it was time for dinner in about 20 minutes, he decided to get to the hall and eat before everyone else, and have some extra time for a shower after he was done. He headed for the stairs to get to the hall, and then a door opened beside him. It was the door to room 1, and Seto Kaiba stepped out.

Seto looked up at the person frozen in the hall. "Ah! You! And you are here because?"

"Same reason you are, Kaiba. To compete." Joey glared defiantly at Seto.

"Fine. Just stay out of my way." Seto prepared to push past Joey and go to dinner.

"Okay with me. Just don't be too surprised when you see Honda and Anzu with Yugi and I. They were invited to this tournament also." Joey took this chance to push past Seto, who had frozen in place. Joey went up to dinner, grinning like a monkey.

Joey decided to do the same thing that Yugi and Honda did for breakfast, and grab a bunch of stuff on one big tray. He found a tray and started taking plates of food from the dinner lines. A few other people who came early looked at him strangely, but he didn't pay attention. He grabbed about six plates and sets of silverware and heaved the whole lot to a table closeby. Then he sat and waited. But while he waited, he got his plate ready and began eating slowly. Soon, Anzu showed up holding a small plush toy he quickly realized was the Petit Angel. She sat down and noticed the small piles of food on the tray.

"Oh good Joey, thank you. I really don't feel like going through the line right now. She squeezed the small toy, and it squeaked. He had to admit that it was sorta cute.

"Hey, Anzu, where did you get that toy? I don't think you had one before......."

"Oh, Honda gave it to me. He came to my room and handed it to me there. He said that there was a gift shop on the ship. He had gotten Yugi something also."

Joey blinked. "Did......he mention anything for me?"

"I really don't think so Joey."

At that point Bakura came in and saw Joey facefault, and Anzu go over to him and prod him with a fork, asking him if he was okay. He really didn't want to ask. He felt tired anyway. He hoped for a small rest after dinner. So he just went over there, greeted them, thanked Joey for getting the food, and sat to eat. A few minutes later, Mai and Honda walked in. Joey eyed them as they sat down.

"So..............Honda.............Anzu tells me you found a gift shop in the ship........."

"Oh yeah!" Honda smirked suddenly. "There were lots of things there, but nothing you would have liked......."

Joey sat up and looked Honda in the eye.

"But......." Honda said, watching Joey, "there was this really neat battle toy....but it got purchased sometime before 4:30.....so it's not there anymore........"

"Well, what was it?" Anxiously, Joey perked up a little more in his chair.

"Hm....well........I think it was the..........oh yeah! It was a Red Eyes Black Dragon! It looked really cool!"

Joey nearly slid to the floor in remorse. "A Red Eyes???? Oh man......" He looked down at this food, picking at it with his fork.

Mai looked over. "Oh come on, grow up Joey, it was a toy."

Joey stared up at Mai. "It was a Red Eyes!!!!"

"But Joey," Joey looked up at Honda. "I was at the store around 4:00, so here ya go buddy!" He pulled the Red Eyes out of his pocket and handed it to Joey, whose eyes had gone glassy, large, and watery.

"Oh.....wow......the Red Eyes........" He looked it over, and immediatly began ranting. "Look at that detail! See those teeth!? And it looks like it is about ready to wake up and attack!!!!......" He continued on and on.

Yugi walked in and sat with them as well. He watched Joey go over his Red Eyes toy and looked over at Honda. "Hey Honda, did they have any Duel Monster's cards at all in that store? I think I have a little cash that Grandpa gave to me."

"Sorry Yugi, when I got to that area of the store, it looked as if the area had been practically ravaged. Everyone wants to make their deck stronger. All of the packs were gone."

"Oh darn it. I wish I had known about that place earlier."

Suddenly Joey stopped ranting and glared evilly up at Honda. "Hey! Ya made me sweat for this, didn't you?"

Honda smiled. "That's what you get for beating me at those games......"

Joey nearly jumped up in mock indignation. "I oughta cream ya!" He grinned.

Honda shook his finger. "Be glad I gave it to you at all." The others at the table laughed. They ate the rest of the meal fairly quickly, since they were getting kicked out in about a few minutes. The whole of the ship's crew had to set up the place quickly after dinner.

They managed to eat and get out within a few minutes time. Anzu, Honda, and Bakura went down to their rooms and Joey, Yugi, and Mai went down the stairs to theirs.

"Oh, and Anzu, come up to my room when your ready!" Mai called after Anzu. Anzu nodded and they continued walking.

Joey, when he got to his room, immediatly headed for the shower. He got in and scrubbed quickly, letting the jets of water rinse him off as quickly as he had scrubbed. He grabbed a towel and wrapped it around his waist, getting out. He then grabbed another towel, drying his hair a little bit.

He strolled out into the room, much more relaxed. Joey opened his closet and picked out a red collar button up shirt and some black pants. He put on his shoes also and put on some colougne he had found in the bathroom. It didn't smell half bad. Joey glanced at the clock. Seven ten. Good, he had a little time before he wanted to leave. He went out into the hall and knocked on Yugi's door.

"Hey Yuge! You almost ready?"

Yugi's voice came from behind the door. "Yeah, almost! The door's unlocked, come on in Joey!"

Joey did as asked and went into Yugi's room. He found Yugi adjusting the collar of his navy blue shirt. He also had some light brown pants on. Yugi reached down onto the dresser and picked up the Millennium Puzzle on it's chain, putting it around his neck. "So, how do I look, Joey?"

Joey gave Yugi the thumbs up. "You look great! You and me are gonna be a couple of regular studs tonight!"

Yugi laughed and they started out of his room.

Seto Kaiba stood at his door, ready to go in his black shirt and pants, but was just standing there, thinking. Then, he made up his mind and went out of his room. The hall was empty. He strolled casually down the hall until he got to the door of room 5. He raised his fist to the door and knocked. He waited calmly for about a minute, then knocked again.

/Stupid, she must have left already........oh well........./ He then heard a small rustle towards the bottom of the door, and a very small shadow passed by the door. He also heard a small bell tinkling. Whatever that was, it wasn't her, so he turned and left for the party.

He passed many excited people on his way up to the hall, but he didn't share their excitement. Seto crowded his way into the hall. He heard many people talking in different languages, but some snippets of the conversation were in excited english.

"Did you see that helicopter land on the helipad of the ship? No, I'm not sure who was in it, did you see.......no.....me neither.....I'll bet it was important......"

Seto walked in and took a look around the transformed hall. It was dark, with a disco ball hanging in the middle of the room, and many party lights reflecting onto it. There were many fog machines as well, and crepe paper and banners in all sorts of languages hanging from the walls. Towards the back, there were tables set up with punch and other tables just for sitting down. There was a techno dance song playing, and tons of people were already dancing. Seto quickly headed for the back tables, passing lots of people who recognized him as an International Champion. Girls stared at him, and some giggling to friends.

/Oh crap. Why didn't I think of this? Why wouldn't any girl in this room NOT want to dance with the owner of a multi-national corporation, and Duel Monster's Champion? Well, it's not like I care anyway. I have to keep away from them somehow. Now I remember why exactly I don't like parties..../ He frowned darkly, and some of the girls quieted.

He sat down and looked out at the crowd on the extremely large dance floor. He kept his eyes peeled and noticed that lots of girls kept looking at him, making the guys some of them were with to get a little agitated. He got bored of this and got up to go to the punch table. There were also some cookies and foriegn foods set up there. He grabbed a small cookie and a glass of punch and sat again. He looked around at the other sitting people and after a moment, he spotted who he was looking for, dancing around a small cluster of other people closeby.



Bakura walked into the greatly changed hall and looked around for the others. He was entirely sure that they were by the back, where there were some tables and chairs set up. He headed in that direction, pulling at the collar of his white turtleneck longsleeve shirt. Bakura scanned the dance floor as he crossed the overly large room, keeping his eyes peeled for Yugi's tell-tale hair. He immediatly spotted Yugi and Joey sitting at a table close to the wall in the back, and joined them.

"Hey guys."

"Oh, hey Bakura!" Joey kept his eyes on the dance floor. "Can you believe all of the cute girls over there! Who should I ask to dance?" He continued scanning the room.

"Hello, Bakura. How are you tonight?" Yugi looked up at him. Bakura sat down next to Yugi, pushing his long white hair behind his ears.

"I am very well, Yugi. Goodness, it is warm in here. All of these people moving around is making it hot."

"Hey guys!" The three boys looked over and saw Anzu, with Mai and Honda. They came over and sat around a table with them. "You know, it took forever for us to find you in this huge and very dark room...." Mai frowned a little, and sat down with a slightly overexaggerated sigh.

"Hey Anzu, you look good." Yugi looked down at the table as he said this. He wasn't lying. She did look good in the powder blue top with short sleeves and white pants. She had most of her hair up in a messy bun, some flyaway strands artfully placed.

"Thanks Yugi! Mai helped me with my hair." She looked over at Joey, who went back to scanning the room. "Hey Joey, did you know that with that red shirt tucked into those black pants you look like you are some Latin pop-star wannabe........"

"Oh yeah, Anzu? Well, maybe I can shake it some!" He immediatly turned his head from dance floor and sauntered up to Anzu. Then, to everyone's surprise, he began to Salsa dance, shaking his hips around in ways they didn't think he knew how. The whole time, he was grinning over at his open-mouthed friends. He had even successfully dumb- founded Bakura. He quickly switched to Samba, then Lambada, then even a little Flaminco. As he swayed with amazing talent to the music, his companions remained seated and frozen.

After what seemed like an eternity, he stopped, wiped his forhead and turned to face his friends. "So, maybe I took a few lessons before I met you all........." He sat down in between Mai and Anzu, and grinned like a hyena the whole time.

"A few, Joey? That was unbelievable, especially from you!" Mai held her breath, then grabbed Joey, dragging him out to the dance floor.

Joey started to try and tug away, fighting against Mai's wonderful grip. "Ahhhh! Mai, lemmie go! HELP ME GUYS!!!" The guys just laughed, Honda laughing the loudest.

Mai pulled harder and stared into Joey's face. "Hey, I need a good dancer to be my partner! Now come and dance with me!"

After about another moment, Joey gave up the struggle and joined Mai semi-willingly, slowly and sheepishly starting to dance with the fast paced and very good Mai. Soon he got into it and danced faster, keeping his pace with Mai very well. Everyone else just looked around the floor, having a good time just watching.

About ten minutes later, in the midst of all of their conversation, a Portugese girl walked up to the group of friends and beckoned to Bakura. She had to be about six feet tall, compared to Bakura's normal five foot five. Bakura looked around and pointed to himself, questioningly. The girl nodded and walked closer, grabbing his hand and tugging a little. His eyes went very wide and scared, and glanced over at Yugi, who was stifling a giggle, and not doing a good job at it. Honda looked about ready to roar with laughter, his eyes tearing up with the effort not to, and Anzu was holding her face down, laughing silently and shaking with mirth. The girl tugged on his hand again, and caught Bakura off guard, who was watching his friends try not to die laughing. He stumbled out of his chair and caught himself from falling in time. He stood up straight, and realized the girl was still holding his hand. She pulled him towards the dance floor, and Bakura was taken away, glancing back at the treacherous group with a confused look that purely said, "Why didn't you save me? HELP!".

When Bakura was a safe distance away, the group at the table started laughing and wiped the tears from their eyes.

"You know, when you get down to it, she wasn't all that bad looking....." Honda spoke this in between giggles.

A second later, the present song ended and a slow song struck up. Yugi thought of hiding. He really didn't feel like having a scary tall long leggy thing walk up to him and drag him away. He was sure wherever Bakura was in the crowds of dancers, he wasn't liking it much.

Joey had tried gettting away when the slow song started, but Mai dragged him back and had put her arms around his neck. Joey's eyes widened, but he consented and put his around Mai's waist.

Suddenly, someone who Joey didn't expect to show up here danced by with a smaller girl. They were dancing in classic style, with one of his hands on her waist and the other holding one of her hands. Her other hand was on his sholder. It was Kaiba, and he was dancing with the French girl they had bumped into in the hallway. He kept his face stony, but he was also talking to her in a low voice. She would smile and answer, them continuing to revolve and move on the floor. Seto had obviously not noticed Joey so near to him. Joey motioned to Mai and she reluctantly followed him to the table.

"Joey, I wanted to finish that dance!" Mai pouted just a little bit, taking a place by Anzu.

"You are gonna kill me with all of that dancing, Mai." Joey then averted his attention to Yugi, who was watching the dance floor with a weary eye. "Hey, Yuge, that Kaiba sure doesn't waste any time." He motioned to Seto and the girl on the dance floor. Yugi looked over and saw them.

"Wow, I didn't expect Kaiba to show up here. I thought he would stay in his room or something tonight." He continued to watch them for awhile, then he spoke again. "Did any of you bring your ID?"

Joey immediatly held his up. Yugi reached for it, but Joey held it over his head, well out of Yugi's reach. "Way ahead of you man." He pointed it at the girl and got her stats. "Hey Yuge, get a load of this!" He showed Yugi the stats that came up for her. "She's technically a champ back in France. That's not bad. Hey, it says here that she's sixteen like us. Boy, she is small." He looked over at Kaiba and Amoura on the floor again, Kaiba taller than her by at least nine inches.

"Yeah, she is. You were right about her just being small for her age." Yugi looked over again as well.

//Yugi! Can I now?//

/Yami! Uh....in a minute....just what do you plan to do, Yami?/

//Why ask, when you can watch? I don't plan much. I just want control for awhile. You know that.//

/Alright....I will step out of the room for a moment. It's not often you see an Egyptian prince want to come out and dance....../

//Hush Aibou. Just let me out.//

Yugi grinned and excused himself from the table.



When the slow song had started, Kaiba was almost instantly surrounded by young girls, some speaking english, and others just motioning to the floor and batting their eyes. He simply looked at all of them and shook his head, getting up and heading in the direction of Amoura. Most of the girls moaned and slid off, but others followed him at a safe distance.

He stood in front of Amoura, who had sat down when the song had started. He looked down at her, and she noticed the guy standing in front of her.

"Oh, 'ello Monsieur Kaiba. Lovely party, is it not?"

"Yes it is Miss Amoura. Est-ce que vous voudriez danser avec moi?" To make a point to the other girls, he held out his hand to her, and then waited quietly.

She smiled and looked at his hand. "Je veux bien Monsieur Kaiba." She took his hand and went out to the floor, being followed by the moans of the other girls. That sound immediatly died under the sounds of the song. When they started dancing, he looked down at her and whispered to her.

"That was a very.....kind......thing you did for me. For that I thank you." It took alot of pride for him to actually say that.

"It vus nothing Monsieur Kaiba. I zink zat a card as powerful as zat vould 'ave impared my deck anyway." She shrugged nonchalantly and looked down.

"Please, call me Seto. .........and what do you mean...."impair?" He suddenly had the urge to glance to the left of him, and saw Joey dancing with Mai, and by the look on his face, had been taken prisoner, but didn't mind as much as he should have. He flicked his eyes back to Amoura quickly.

"Well, Zeto, my deck forces me to zink a little bit. I 'ave only a few overly powerful monster cards in it. I rely on my mind and my magic combinations. And so, if I began depending on a powerful creature, it would make me lose my zinking edge, would it not?"

He realized that this was a wonderful plan, and if she ever got a hold of any very powerful monster cards, her magic cards in combination with her own mind would be a deadly force indeed. "So why are you only a regional champion and national semi finalist? You seem to deserve a more prestigious title than that."

"I actually couldn't get to ze match that vould have gotten me to ze finals at ze National Tournament. I vas 'eld back by some people who 'ad betted on ze other person to vin our deul, and zey 'ad seen me practically murder my previous opponent. So zey 'eld me until I 'ad been gone long enought to call it a forfiet, for ze zake of zeir own pockets. I admittedly vas robbed a likely victory, but I do not complain."

Seto seemed shocked. "And you didn't tell the judges this at all when you were let go?"

"Oh oui! I did. Ze men vere zrown in jail for attempted kidnapping, but my previous challenger was already in ze middle of zeir finals match, so it vas too late to do anyzing."

"Injustice! And did that person win?"

"Non." She suddenly grinned and looked up at him. "I just zeemed to remember zat you asked me to dance in French. I 'ad no idea you knew French."

"I know a few languages. It could come in handy with this tournament."

"Admittedly zo." She was about to speak again when Seto was tapped on the sholder. He turned his head and saw that Yugi was standing behind him. And it wasn't the normal Yugi. It was his other self. Seto frowned.

"What do you want Yugi?"

Yami smirked and looked at Kaiba. "May I cut in?"

"No you may not!" Seto narrowed his eyes and tightened his grip on Amoura's hand. She looked up at him, then at Yami.

Seto was about to say more, but Amoura stopped him. "Now Zeto, if 'e wishes to be so polite, I would not vant to be rude and deny him. I will zee you zoon, and you know zat." Seto stood there as Yami stepped in and took Amoura's hand and waist, and they danced.

/Damn polite French people. I just can't wait to pummel that Yugi into the ground in a duel...../ He sat down close to the dancing pair, and wished he had gotten farther away from Joey. Yugi probably only saw them dancing because he was looking over at Joey and Mai now and then. He looked over by the dance floor again, and saw that Mai and Joey were not dancing anymore. He looked around and spotted them, sitting close to Honda and Anzu. /So he wasn't pulling my leg! They really are here! But how? Since when were they duelists?/ But the most that he could do was sit there, and sit he did.

Yami, after he had started dancing with Amoura, began speaking. "I don't think we were properly introduced the last time we met."

"Well, you zeem a little different zince zen." She looked him over carefully. "For one.....you are taller zan ze last time."

"It's a trick I do. You may call me Yugi Motou."

"J' ampelle Amoura LeTazuat. It is indeed nice to meet you, Yugi Motou." At that point, a swing song came on, and Yami immediatly spun her around. Amoura was taken by surprise at this and started to dance with him again. "You are a very fun dancer, Yugi!"

"I try."

She laughed at this, and they continued dancing until the song was over. Amoura went to sit next to Kaiba, and Yami sat closer to his friends.

Kaiba looked over at her. "You didn't actually like that, did you?

Amoura looked at him, a little confused. "Why vould I not? He is a good dancer." She smiled over at Yami, who returned it. Seto frowned in his direction, but Yami didn't give Kaiba the pleasure of knowing it bothered him in the least. Amoura and Seto sat and talked quietly while Joey made his way over.

Joey came and sat down next to Yami. "Hey, uh, Yuge. Any reason for the....eh.......change?"

Yami looked over at Joey. "Not really, I just felt like coming out."

"I guess some people just gotta party....."

"Hush Joey." He smiled. Suddenly, a snowball dance was announced. The deejay picked two people and then had them dance with eachother. Then he paused the music and had them go pick another partner. Then they danced until the music was paused again, and the four went to find another parter to dance with. These people could not say no.

Seto was sought out early on and had been dragged away by the Italian girl who found him first, and was always the first to be picked again. Mai and Anzu were taken by Bulgairan twins, Joey was snagged by a Mexican girl, and Honda got grabbed by a Chinese girl. Yami had walked into a shadow and hid for a moment whenever the music paused.

Kaiba, when the music paused, sped from the girl he was with and tried to get away. Another girl walked in front of him, and Kaiba attempted a way out as she smiled at him. /What shallow girls! How do I get away?/ Then he spotted Anzu leaving the guy she was with, and in an impulse, went for Anzu, artfully dodging around the girl who had gotten in his way. He grabbed her hand.

"What are you doing Kaiba?" She tried to get away, but Seto held her hand tight.

"I am getting away from these girls. Just follow my lead." Anzu silently consented, blushing just a bit. She was glad it was dark. She didn't want him to catch her actually blushing at his touch.

/Wait....SETO!? No way, that creep! Just control yourself, Anzu. It's just.........uh.......hormones......that's it. He's a guy, so therefore, I blush!/

When the music started up again, Kaiba danced with her in a pattern that took them closer to edge of the dancers. With hundreds there, it took awhile. When the music paused, Kaiba let go of Anzu and dashed into a shadow, nearly knocking Yami over, who Kaiba couldn't see. Instead, Yami sidestepped Kaiba, and Kaiba ran into the curtain he couldn't see well. Kaiba, all tangled up in curtains, struggled for a moment, then slightly tired, stopped for a moment.

"Do you need some help, Kaiba?" Yami smirked and reached down to pull some folds of curtain away from Kaiba, before Kaiba's curtained arm shot out and batted Yami over the head.

"I don't need your help, Yugi! I can do this fine on my own!" He continued to struggle with the curtains, but couldn't seem to find the way out. Yami sighed and pulled a fold here and there, doing so with enough care to make sure that Kaiba didn't know he was being assisted. Soon, Kaiba was free and not very happy.

"God dammit, I was fine before those girls made a scene!" Yami just stared back at Seto. The music paused, and Kaiba, knowing he might be spotted, looked for Amoura. But she was being asked to dance by a grinning Joey. She giggled and took his outstretched hand, and headed out to the floor with him. Mai, who had been heading for Joey, had been taken by an Asian guy who snuck up on her from behind. Kaiba simply frowned and retreated into the shadows a little more.

Yami stepped out of the darkness and sat down again. He looked out to the floor and saw Bakura, being danced with by a girl more his size. The other girl that had dragged him away against his very will didn't seem to be very near. Bakura looked a little tired, and Yami couldn't blame him a bit. Just then, Yami's sholder was tapped. The music had paused again without him noticing and Amoura was standing there. Joey was now with a Middle Eastern looking girl. Yami stood and went out to the floor with her, and began dancing.

"You managed to keep away for zome time now, Yugi."

"You took awhile to get out there, Amoura."

"I was looking for Zeto, but I saw you first."

"Poor Seto, he's hiding right now."

" 'Iding?"

"Yes. The scene to get to him was amazing. You do know of his accomplishments, correct?"

"Oui. I do indeed. But, he iz just another 'uman being, iz he not?"

"Yes, he is. It is very refreshing to see someone with that sort of take on life."

"Vell, I 'ave never been refered to as, "refreshing." It is very different, yet zomhow more pleasing zan the other compliments I usually get." She smiled and laughed a little bit. The music paused, and a large guy came up from behind and grabbed Amoura roughly.

"Come on toots. Lets get down!" He began to practically drag her away. Amoura began to struggle in his arms. His breath stank like someone's who brought something on board the ship they shouldn't have. He reinforced his grip swiftly and leaned by her face. "Your a fiesty one, aren't you? Why don't we *hiccup* go back to my room for awhile?"

Yami ran to her before another girl could grab him to dance, and there were many girls there who recognized him and wanted to do so. "Amoura!" He stood in front of the guy. "You let her go now!"

"Oh please, you think I'll listen to a small guy like you? I could break you *hic!* in half right now!" He began to take her towards the door. Yami reached for his cards and smiled at the guy. He had sunglasses on, and it was too dark to really see his face.

"There are other ways to solve our proble...." He was cut off by another angry sounding voice.

"You will not take her anywhere!!" The voice came from behind. The guy spun around quickly, dragging Amoura with him, causing her to let out a small cry of pain. It was Seto. He glared fiercly at the obviously drunken person.

Amoura opened up one eye and looked at the two guys defending her. "I zank you for zis 'elp, but now, he is just distracted enough!" As she said this she got a grip on the man's arm and immediatly he flew over her sholder, Amoura using her own back as a balance. Yami suddenly jolted, and realized that he could a magical aura closeby. It was a mystical one. It felt familiar to him. But it wasn't coming from Amoura.....

The man yelled, and made a dull thumping noise when he hit, his back bouncing very uncomfortably on the dance floor. That area of the floor cleared out and the others looked at him on the ground, a few understanding what had happened. Then slowly, talk began again in the crowds and they turned from the man on the ground, who was twisting lightly in pain. Yami stared at her in wonder. /What was that energy I felt?/

Amoura stood up straight and dusted herself off, grinning in the dark ball room. Then, she jerked in surprise, like she was just waking up from a dream. She looked around confusedly, and then saw the man on the floor, yelling curses at Yami, at Seto, and at her. She looked around once more and turned around, heading for the tables.

Yami and Seto followed her, and seated themselves next to her. She was visibly shaken.

"I did not vant to do zat to 'im......" She turned her head down to her lap.

"But Amoura," Yami said, "He deserved it, and you know it who knows what might have happened if....." Yami trailed off quietly. Amoura shivered lightly. Seto looked at her, his usual stone look on his face. He nodded. Even Seto could tell she was shaken a little. Yami continued talking to her, and she loosened up a little after that. Seto even talked a little, telling her about his brother and company. She listened to both of them, replying whenever she had a question. After a few minutes, she felt a lot better. During those minutes, the snowball dance ended and the others came back to the tables. Anzu and Joey had seen what had happened, had kept quiet about it.

Bakura finally showed up a few minutes later and sat next to Yami. "Why didn't you save me from that girl? Because she took me out to the floor, I have been doing nothing but dancing for about half and hour!"

Yami averted his eyes to Bakura, keeping his head turned away. "First of all, you would want to talk to my aibou. Next, I don't think you can help it if you have a way with the girls. It is a talent much wished for by Joey and Honda." Yami chuckled a little, and Honda, who was closer than Joey, punched Yami's arm lightly.

"You know that's not funny Yugi. I am very tired now, and I don't wish...." His hair became more angled and his eyes more hateful...."to spend time with these silly mortals anymore!" Bakura suddenly looked up, completly normal, then looked over at Yami. "Oh my....I think I need some rest Yugi!" He looked very frightened, and shot up out of his chair, suddenly looking more tired than he had been in awhile.

"Bakura! I think your Yami may be surfacing because of your current tired state! But, I am afraid, that especially in this condition, that I cannot allow you to leave my sight. You must sit back down, it is too risky for you to be around alone right now!" He glared up at the very edgy Bakura. But despite himself, Bakura took a deep breath and nodded.

"You are right Yugi. I do need to stay in the sights of you and the others." He sat down and looked over at Yami again. "But, try and keep me away from the girl. I think she is still looking for me. After that horrible snowball had started, we were separated. I don't want to go back out there." He glanced around, just in case.

"Just rest yourself here, Bakura."

Yami, remembering Amoura, glanced to his right and wondered if she had heard Bakura and his' conversation. She had turned around towards Joey, and was listening to a joke of his, and laughing. Yami turned around and sat calmly.

Anzu looked over at Joey, who was busy entertaining. She then grabbed his ID out of his pocket and then pointed it at Amoura. "Hey, don't mind me you two, just doing some checking up."

Amoura looked at Anzu. "Oh, I do not mind at all." Anzu hit the "Enter" button.

"Wow, these are good stats, Amoura. Hey, this is accomplished for sixteen!"

"Well, zere are zose more accomplished zan moi!"

"Wait a second!" The others looked over at Seto, who had been listening to them. "When I scanned you yesterday, it said you were fifteen!"

Amoura stared at Kaiba and then giggled. "Vell, I guess it vould 'elp to tell you all zat today iz my birthday!" She smiled and looked around at the others. Yami then smiled at Amoura.

"Well then, Happy Birthday Amoura." The others wished her the same, grinning and smiling at her.

Kaiba just looked at her and wondered why she would pass up saying something like that until someone else noticed. But then, what little lights were left were turned off and everyone looked around. Some people yelled in surprise, and others began to murmur in growing tension. They could hear people shuffling around on the dance floor, trying to find someone they knew. Yami grabbed the chair next to him, it landing on Bakura's sholder, him making sure that he was still in his seat.

"Don't worry Yugi, I am just fine." Yami couldn't see Bakura, but he could hear that his voice was completly normal. Yami relaxed. Mai on the other hand, was on the verge of panic. Her ranting in the darkness behind him was the big indicator.

"What's going on!? Where did all of the lights go! I can't see a thing! What's wrong!? Why are we even here! This is bad, this is really.....mmph!" She was cut off my something very quickly. Yami turned around to face her, but since it was pitch black he couldn't see her at all. But then, the lights on a large makeshift stage area lit up, illuminating the stage in brightness. Yami could see Mai now, and her hands were over her own mouth, her eyes widened in surprise.

"Are you alright Mai?" Yami said.

"Hm..? Oh, yes, I'm fine Yugi." She looked away distractedly.

Suddenly the deejay stood up from his spot and a spotlight trained on him. "My Ladies and Gentlemen, I would like to proudly present on our stage tonight, the owner of that chopper you all saw earlier this evening, the princess of song......Nakomo Yamashita!!!!" He made a grand movement with his arms towards the stage, where a single spotlight was left. A girl was in it, smiling and waving and holding a microphone.

Everyone at the tables gasped. This was one of the most famous singers in the world! Everyone else in the room began to cheer as loudly as they could, jumping and clapping wildly. Security guards came and stood in front of the stage, holding off the wild screaming crowds. Nakomo called out on her microphone.

"It's wonderful to see you all tonight! I wish you all the best of luck on this tournament! May you all be kept safe! And now, for your hearing pleasure, ME!" The crowd was just about as loud as a subway passing by your ear, as she took a pose and the music started.

Kaiba looked at the woman on stage and frowned just a little. "You know, I think I would be informed of such things....."

"But Zeto, vat if zey vanted it to be a zurprise for all of us?" Amoura stared up at him, and turned his head down to face her.

"You are most probably right. She arrived by that helicopter from earlier. Did you see it?"

It was hard to hear anyone over the screaming and the singing, but Seto heard Amoura reply, "Oui."

Anzu, behind them all, started yelling and stood up, joining the edge of the crowds and jumping. Mai looked about ready to burst as well, but she was still sitting. Honda leaned over by Joey.

"You do remember that Nakomo Yamashita is one of Anzu's favorite singers, right?"

Joey nodded. Oh sure....he remembered the nights over at Yugi's where Anzu would play that one annoying song over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over again until their heads were gonna burst. Joey closed his eyes and wished it all to end now. That was the song Nakomo was singing. Honda laughed and clapped Joey's back, roughly. "Hey buddy, not so hard, I'm a sensitive guy you know." Mai heard this and they could see her body shake in a snort. Joey gave a look, and Mai, startled at this look, immediatly stopped.

It went like that for about another half an hour. Yami kept his eye on Bakura, sometimes on Amoura, and sometimes over at the small fights Mai and Joey had. Funny...Joey was winning alot more of those than he should. Another, and more unsettling thing, was the energy he felt earlier. He was not sure where it had come from or what even happened, but he was determinded to find out. He did recognize the energy signature, but he just couldn't remember where, and it was driving him crazy. Soon though, the songs ended, and a hand was laid on his sholder. It was Amoura.

"Yugi, ve 'ave been calling you for a moment now. Ze dance vill be over in a moment. Zis is ze last dance. Maybe ve should leave now to avoid ze crowds later."

"Oh, I'm sorry I was ignoring everyone. I was just thinking."

"Ahh...lost in zought.....oui...." Seto stood up and made to ask Amoura to dance, but Yami had taken the hand on his sholder and had stood up himself. Yami motioned to the floor with a bowing motion, and Amoura smiled and followed him to the floor, having to abandon her idea of leaving early. Seto just sat down and frowned again.

"HIDE ME!!!!!" It was Bakura who had yelled, and he jumped behind Seto and Anzu's chairs.

"What the hell is your problem!?" Seto glared down at him, but Bakura pointed out at the crowds, where there was one girl alone, very tall and very Portugese. Seto looked in that direction, and Anzu started laughing. He suddenly understood and grinned maliciously. "Oh come on Bakura, one slow dance won't hurt...and I won't be your literal bodyguard....so..." He stood up and grabbed Anzu's hand. "Come on, Anzu."

"Ok Seto, but why.....?" Seto motioned to the cowering Bakura. She made a face. "This is mean, Kaiba!" She wiggled a little to get away, but Kaiba held to her hand and took her out to the floor. Anzu didn't feel much like fighting again.....

"He shouldn't be so cowardly about one girl." Seto grabbed Anzu's hand and waist and they danced.

Bakura, with no shielding left, dodged behind Joey and Honda. But then Honda spotted that Chinese girl from earlier and asked her to dance again. Bakura shuffled on his knees to the right, and was now behind Mai and Joey. Joey, who didn't know Bakura was there, sighed.

"This is the last dance, Mai......"

"Uh, yeah Joey, it is." Mai stood up and grabbed Joey's arm. "And I DO NOT sit out the last dance!"

Joey was forced out of his seat again and followed Mai out to the floor.

And then there was one.

Bakura thought of going to the punch table......and hiding underneath of it. But that would require standing and walking to get to it, so...it wasn't going to work.

A pen fell out of his pocket, and he scooted backwards to pick it up. A shadow formed over him, and then a tanned hand picked up the pen for him. Bakura stood, and took the pen back with a slight "thank you." He turned to find another hiding place, but the hand had decended onto his arm. Bakura jolted and turned around, shaking and making a chattering noise with his teeth. It was the girl. Bakura felt like he was about to faint, but she tugged him back out to the dance floor for one more slow dance.

Seto, who was watching the whole thing, chuckled evilly. Anzu had also been watching, and felt a little sorry for Bakura. He did look scared. But she giggled just a little bit.

"May I have this dance?" There was slimy voice behind Anzu. Anzu turned her head around, and faced the owner of the voice.

"Weevil!? Uh no, I'm sorry, but I'm dancing with someone already." She turned away, very disgusted.

"But whoever he is, he is surely a loser to my wonderful dueling abilities. Don't you want to dance with a winner, babe?" Weevil flashed that creepy smile of his.

"Oh, a loser huh?" It was Seto. He turned into an area of some light, and faced Weevil himself. "Really, Weevil, you think I'm a loser?"

Weevil reeled back in shock. "Seto Kaiba! Oh, I am indeed sorry to intrude with you dance with such a lovely maiden. It will never happen again, I will see to that!" He turned around and frowned darkly, muttering very mean things under his breath.

Seto furrowed his brow. "Let's hope not. And do try and keep the "loser's" to a minimum." He turned away. Weevil growled and stalked away, mumbling something that sounded alot like "world champions taking all the hot babes."

A few minutes later, when the dance was over, most of the friends were together and keeping an eye out for Bakura as they made their way to the exits. Suddenly, Amoura was nearly knocked over as Bakura ran and plowed into her, grabbing her sholders for balance. "I am terribly sorry, Amoura!" He pushed in front of her and stood by Joey and Yami.

"You are excused, Bakura!" Amoura laughed, and walked up closer to the group. Kaiba was with them as well, but he was hanging back. He stalked up quietly amid the other people and came up behind Amoura, who was talking with Anzu.

"May I escort you back to your room?" He stared into her eyes, his head bowed slightly.

"Zat is very nice of you, Zeto. But Anzu and I are going to Joey's room and possibly Yugi's for a small get-together. Maybe, if zey don't mind, you could join us!" Anzu looked a little skeptical at this, but she looked over at Joey, and he closed his eyes and nodded slightly. Seto, on the other hand, straightened up and glared at them. Without turning his head from Anzu and Joey, he replied.

"No thank you. Maybe I will just go back to my room. It's late anyway." He pushed between Joey and Mai and just about shoved his way out of the rest of the room, before Amoura stopped him.

"Zeto! You could just.....escort me to zeir rooms......"

Seto looked up, then turned around in the midst of all the people. Something flickered in his eyes, but his other facial features stayed the same. He then bumped his way back and offered his arm to Amoura. She took it and smiled up at him. "You are kind, Zeto."

He just looked down at her and offered her something remisient of a smile, obviously not happy about the whole after party thing.

Mai looked after him and rubbed her arm where he had shoved her. "He sure is grumpy when he almost doesn't get his way, isn't he?"

Yami turned his head. "He doesn't prove anything, either. Bakura, will you be joining us?"

Seto glared at Yami and Mai, and the others just watched.

Bakura, whose head was turning slowly, eyes scanning the crowded people, spun it in Yugi's direction. "No, I think I will just go to sleep. I am very exhausted. I don't think I want to do anything like this for a long time again, Yugi."

"Very well then, Bakura. But I think that I should take you down there myself." Bakura nodded and continued glancing over the heads of the sardine-can packed people.

When they had all gotten to the room halls, Joey, Honda, Seto, and the girls seperated from Yami and Bakura, who headed down to the B- deck.

Yami looked over at Bakura when they stopped in front of his room door and glared hard into his eyes. "You will stay in your room, and not come out until the morning, right Bakura?"

"Of course Yugi. I have every intention of sleeping until I have to get up and pack."

"Good. I heard that the ship docks around eight o' clock. Why don't you pack up and hour earlier than that.?"

"Not a bad idea." Bakura turned and went into his room, and Yami walked back up to Joey's room. "Wouldn't want to spend my evening with those humans anyway..............."



Yami knocked on Joey's door, and Honda opened it. He was holding a cup and stood aside to let Yami in. He looked around. Joey was sitting on one of his chairs, and Honda went and sat next to him. They began talking and laughing almost immediatly. Mai, Amoura, and Anzu were grouped together sitting beside Joey's bed and looking over a fashion catalogue. Anzu then spotted a karaoke machine and played her favorite Nakomo Yamashita songs, singing loudly to the recording. Honda promptly threw a pillow at her.

Yami smiled and sat with them as Joey got up and sang a song, recieving the same treatment as Anzu did, as he was singing loud and rauciously to the same song, putting in new and not very polite phrases. Everyone was laughing, Honda was rolling. They talked and laughed for at least another hour, singing "Happy Birthday" to a blushing Amoura, and finally called it goodnight when a vase was knocked over during a round of arm wrestling between Honda and Joey.

The water spilled everywhere, soaking Mai's jacket. As Mai tried to suffocate Joey and Honda with her jacket, Yami and Amoura helped clean it up while the others helped put away and tidy up Joey's room slightly....after the two boys got away from Mai. When they were done, they said goodnight and went to their own rooms.

The small stowaway walked down the halls, wondering what he was going to do about disembarking. Everyone on the ship was either sleeping or taking down decorations, so he had nothing to worry about, security wise. After he had eaten and the person had left, he had actually dared peeks at the party going on, and wished for not the first time that he had been invited.

He then heard a door in the hall open, and he hid around a corner, peeking over at the people exiting. It was a group of people he readily recognized as Yugi Motou and his friends. With them was a girl he didn't remember ever seeing before, but that didn't matter to him much. They were all laughing and talking, and they all seperated with promises to see each other in the morning. Yami came in his direction by one door, and just as Yami was reaching for the door, the stowaway's nose began to tickle.

/Oh please....no....not now, please not now.....oh God don't let me...../

"ACHOO!!!" He froze and covered his mouth. Yami's hand had stopped and the door he had exited had closed, leaving both of them momentarily blinded to the dark.

Yami turned and walked in the direction of the sneeze. "Who's there!?" He stood still and kept his eyes open, waiting for them to adjust to the dark. The stowaway decided it was time to run away. Just as he started to dart away, Yami's hand shot out and grabbed him by the collar with amazing precision. "I will say again, who is this?"

The boy began to struggle and squirm under Yami's grip. "Lemmie go! Let me GO!" He smacked Yami's arm roughly and broke his collar free of Yami's grip. He ran off so quickly that all Yami could do was stand there.

Yami turned back to his room and walked in. He was sure he had heard that voice before....why couldn't he remember....it was just his sleepyness...

/WAIT!!! Could it be.....it couldn't be him!.....Could it?/

The next morning, Amoura woke up and glanced at her clock. /Seven!? I got to pack quickly!/ She took some time to splash some water on her face and change clothes, and began to pack things back into her bags hurriedly. When she had packed, it was only 7:15, and she walked out to her door and opened it, ready to go up to the hall. As she prepared to leave, her foot hit a box in front of her door. It was labeled "Do Not Open Until Designated" on it. It also said in smaller letters, "Do not pack away. Carry with you onto the island." She picked it up curiously and put it on her bed, with every intention of listening to the labels.

She shut her door and went up to the hall. It was back to it's normal glamourous self, with the tables all in the correct places and everything.

She got in line and just grabbed a small breakfast she could carry with her back to her room. Amoura then put her bags in one place by her door and sat down. She spotted another, smaller empty bag on the ground. Then she looked a few feet away at another thing on the floor.

/Ah, now I cannot forget you, can I?/

Seto strode down the hall, packed and ready to disembark at any time. He had already eaten, so he went up to the top deck and stood by the rail, feeling the sea wind flow by his face. He could see a green patch on the seemingly endless expanse of blue, and knew that it was the island. Maybe what tipped him off was that it was the only piece of land around......he guessed they would get there in about another hour.

/Just a bit off schedule, but that's fine with me....../ He smiled his usual smile and walked down to the hall for awhile. He spotted Amoura's light sea-green hair flitting around a corner, but decided not to bother her, as she seemed to be in a hurry. He decided to wait in his room, just as many others were doing. When he got to his room, he thought about opening that box that was in front of his door that morning, but he picked up the phone again and dialed his number instead.

A small and worried voice answered the phone. "Hello, Kaiba residence. Mister Seto is away......"

"Save it. It's me. Where's Mokuba?"

"Oh! Seto sir....you know how I told you that he gave me his word that he would be back last night.....?"

"I suppose...."

"Well, Mister Seto sir, ...........Mister Mokuba's broken his word to me........"

"MOKUBA DIDN'T COME HOME!!???!!!????"

"Mister Seto sir, I'm so sorry, I didn't know he wouldn't come back...I thought that Mister Mokuba's word was good enoug......"

"DON'T YOU DARE MAKE IT SOUND LIKE IT'S MOKUBA'S FAULT!!!!!!!!" Kaiba was absolutly furious.

"Mister Seto sir, please try to remain calm....maybe he just got hung up somewhere..."

Mokuba was missing. And to add to that, Kaiba was more furious than he had been in a long time. Now was not the time for calm. But then....he calmed at least his voice.

"You do know....that this could mean your job."

"Oh please Mister Seto sir! Not that!"

"Don't start blubbering on me. Try and backtrack his steps and find out where he might have gone. I....will have a phone with me. The number should be on the Caller ID. Call me when you find something out. The phone I will have will only possess limited power, so don't call me unless it is very important! And do not....and I repeat....do NOT....call the authorities!"

"Why not, Mister Seto sir?"

"Do you realize what a media circus it would be if Mokuba Kaiba was announced missing? Especially with me gone! Do not let anyone else know!" He slammed the phone back on it's reciever, and then yanked it violently off of the wall. Since it was a digital and battery powered phone, it was ideal for voyages....and using on a very large island situated in the middle of the ocean. He put it in his large coat pocket and sat down, fuming.

Yugi was all packed and ready to leave just at the time a small bell sounded throughout the ship, announcing that the shop would dock soon. He quickly gathered up all of his things and ran to the top deck, and stood close to one of the areas where the steps would be let open on.

He was nearly crowded by all of the other duelists that had ascended to the top deck. Yugi gripped the railing as he watched the ship draw closer and closer to the docks on the island. He quickly noticed that it was indeed much, much larger than the Duelist Kingdom Island. The boat began to slow, and the ships crew commanded that the people stand farther away from the sides, so there would be no worry of falling overboard.

It seemed to take forever for the ship to finally slow up and stop in the docks, and some people on the docks pushed sets of stairs to sides of the ship. A crew member came up the steps and unlatched areas of the railing where the steps were attatched. He then waved the anxious people off the ship a few at a time, Yugi being one of the first because of his convienient location.

Yugi stepped out onto the docks and walked to the shore, gripping his mystery box tightly in his arms, with his bags slung over his shoulders. One thing he noticed quickly was that about five hundred feet inland was a giant screen with its back to the sun, and a very high tech projector in front of it. As the other duelists flocked off the boat, he kept a sharp eye out for his friends.

Soon enough, Joey, Honda, Anzu, Mai, and Bakura, who all had obviously stuck together, were waving down at him from the steps and grinning. After they got down, they had to fight through some rough crowds to even find Yugi again. Once they found him, they were sort of sweating and very tired. They were all holding the same kind of boxes as he was. In fact all of the duelists had boxes like that, and most of them were looking them over, and guessing what was in them.

Joey grinned at all of his friends with a look of pure superiority, being crowded by all of the other duelists. "I know what's in the boxes!"

Mai looked at him suspiciously. "Did you open the box, Joey?"

"No Mai! But think about it. This is an island tournament! How else would elimination work on this place? There are Dueling Gloves and Star Chips in here!" Joey grinned again.

"Wow Joey! I guess you are right! There has to be that in the boxes!" Yugi smiled at his friend and looked at his box again. It seemed around the right size for just that.

Anzu held her box up to her face. "Wow....I get to wear an actual dueling glove.....this is so cool!"

Honda and Bakura both seemed to like this idea. The excitement in the air grew to a near breaking point and the whole dockside and shoreside were buzzing with pure adrenaline and anxiety. Anzu quickly realized, by looking around, that there were WAY more than seven hundred duelists there.

After all of the duelists were off the ship, a guard walked up and held up his hands. It took nearly five minutes for the conversation and excited murmuring to die down, but it did. The guard then flipped a switch on the projector, and Pegasus J. Crawford appeared on the large screen.



Brood: MY GOD THAT WAS LONG!!!!!!!!

Zutsokaki: The poor readers are probably screaming for mercy by now......

Brood: Why do I allow you to live longer than you should?

Zutsokaki: Maybe because I am the support cast and co-host.

Brood: Maybe.

Zutsokaki: AND WHO IS TKAY????!!??? When I get my hands on them............

Brood: I liked that review.............hey, next chapter will be shorter, I hope, and LET THE TOURNY BEGIN! *This may take awhile..........in fact......it may take a long while....please be patient all of you.....^.^*