I wish Marik was here, Nadina looked out her window at the one star that shined brilliantly in the midnight black sky. I wish he was here to see his sister on one of the most exciting days of her life.

It was the night of the Christmas dance. After this dance it would be Christmas break. Nadina shivered as she stood up from her cushioned windowsill and closed the window to the cold winter night breeze.

Even though Kaiba was only…Kaiba, to Nadina, she was still very conscious of a very natural desire to find favor in his sight. She knew her good points and made most of them, with the taste and skill which was a fortune to a now poor and pretty girl.

Tarlatan and tulle were competent for occasions such as these, so she enveloped herself in them on this very night, following the sensible English fashion of simple dress for young girls. Got up charming little trimming of fresh flowers, very few trinkets, and all manner of dainty devices, which were both sensible and very becoming.

"It's not the most expensive or fancy, but very sensible and becoming. It would be unjust ask Kaiba for anything new or expensive." Nadina reasoned with herself as she put on her own silk brocade ball gown that she had arrived in the first day to Kaiba Mansion, which Kaiba had it cleaned and made back as good as new. Being a girl with sense in fashion of dressing for occasions like this, she covered the dress with a cloud of fresh illusion, out of which her white shoulders and golden hair emerged with a most artistic effect. Her hair resembled spun gold while her skin like heavy cream.

Her hair, she had enough sense to leave alone, after gathering up the thick waves and curls into a tasteful knot at the top of her head. Delicate golden strands dangled down, framing her pretty face.

"I suppose it's not as fashionable." She allowed as she contemplated herself in the mirror, with an innocent yet profession air. "But it's becoming, and I can't afford to make a fright of myself." She had said the same to the Téa, Serenity, and Mai, when advised to puff, braid, curl, or cramp her hair, as the latest style commanded. "It doesn't matter whether Marik is here or not to see me. I want him to be proud if he sees me, not ashamed."

Instead of asking Kaiba for any ornaments of any sorts, Nadina looped her fleecy skirts with blushing, blooming clusters of roses, and framed the white shoulders in delicate green vines. The effects of fresh flowers instead of jewelry made her all the more charming, flattering, and went well with her figure.

She surveyed her white satin slippers with girlish satisfaction, and chasséd down the room, after fastening a wreath of red rosebuds in her hair, interweaving strands of hair with the garland of flowers. Diamond tiaras, whether fake or real, was in fashion for this Christmas dance. But not having one of her own, she made do with the fresh blossoms that looked just as attractive.

She looked unusually radiant and graceful as she glided away, the blue lapis drops styled like a cluster of roses dangling from her earlobe, and because being taught not to ever since she was small by Marik, she seldom ran.

"Wow, Nadina." She met Mokuba on the way to the living room. "You're a living portrait!" His eyes was large and his jaws slightly agape. "I can't wait until big brother sees you. You reminded me of one of those large pictures that they hang in museums."

"Thank you, Mokuba." She retrieved her shawl from the hall closet. The gauzy, silvery-white embroidered shawl hung loosely from her elbows. "That's a very sweet thing to say. I bet you're not going to have any girl problems when you grow up."

"Sweets for the sweet." Mokuba chimed saucily, winking. Nadina laughed aloud, while wondering if the younger had picked up the line from the older Kaiba.

Nadina waited for Kaiba inside the living room, and at once arranged herself under the crystal chandelier, which had a good effect upon her hair, until she thought better of it, and went away to the other end of the room, as if ashamed of the girlish desire to have the first view a propitious one. It so happened that she could not have done a better thing, for Kaiba came in so quietly, as it was his way, that she did not hear him; and as she stood at the distant window, with her head half turned, and one hand gathering up her dress in the British belle way, the slender, white figure against the wine red curtains was as effective as a well-placed statue.

Fresh and sweet as a rose, was Kaiba's first thought as he stared at the lone figure who glowed from the moon's silver light.

Nadina turned and caught sight of Kaiba standing by the doorway. She turned from her position by the window and crossed over to him.

"Good evening, Kaiba." She said winsomely, an engaging smile curved on her lips.

"Good evening, Nadina. You look wonderful."

"Thank you," she managed to say shyly. Lowering her eyes from his deep gaze, she fidgeted with her gloves. "I used the flowers you sent for me…" She said nervously, not sure of what to say or how to act with Kaiba looking at her that way. "I replaced the tiara with the roses…I hope you don't mind, and maybe if you mind, I'm sure one of the girls would lend me—"

"No." Kaiba's voice was abrupt. "I like you in roses." He said more gently. Nadina lifted her head to face him.

He looked just as wonderful and the thought of entering the ballroom on the arm of such a personable man almost caused Nadina to pity the other girls from the school with the bottom of her heart.

"Here are your flowers." Kaiba walked over to her, her corsage in his hands. He snapped the dainty silver bracelet over her wrist.

"Oh, how pretty! Thank you." A wave of shyness overwhelmed her and she lowered her eyes to the delicate dozen of mini red roses at her wrist. Kaiba looked as uncomfortable as he felt, he kept checking his watch and looking around, as if expecting some unexpected visitors.

"Well, shall we leave?" He finally said, offering his elbows. Nadina took it gratefully, placing her hand delicately at the crook of his elbows.

"Any minute now, Mokuba's going to prance on us with his camera." She whispered.

"Don't worry," the usual smirk played on Kaiba's lips. "I have already taken the film out of the camera."

"Aw, to ruin the poor boy's fun. It's obvious that Mokuba is more excited about this than the both of us put together." Nadina teased, feeling more comfortable with Kaiba now than before.

"I must warn you, though." Kaiba's voice took the serious tone. "I don't dance."

"You mean you don't know how to dance?" Nadina's face reflected her surprise.

"No. I know how to dance. I don't dance." Kaiba opened the limo door for her and missed the crestfallen look on her face.

"Oh." It was hard for Nadina to hide her disappointment. This was a dance, after all. What is she suppose to do for the next four hours if Kaiba refuses to dance?

"But unlike all the asinine and tedious dancing that our school has been accustomed to before, this Christmas dancing requires ballroom dancing. Which, if you could find yourself a couple of partners, you will do fine, I'm sure."

"I suppose so." Nadina answered dully, knowing that there was no way that she would be dancing with anybody else. Born from a traditional family, she knew that it would be incorrect to accept another guy for an escort or partner if he was not a male cousin or brother or if they hadn't been engaged. She had already pushed that rule to its limits, allowing Kaiba to be her escort and living his in house with only Mokuba as a source of chaperon, she felt that he was an exception, since her naïve heart accepted him only as a brother and nothing more.

"And here we are, then." Kaiba's low voice informed her as the limo stopped in front of the hotel. He got out and held out a hand for her. She placed her own hands in his and daintily stepped out.

"Nadina!" She heard her voice as she stood beside Kaiba, who was telling the driver where to pick them up later and when. She turned and saw Serenity, Mai, and Téa waving at her, all of them lavishly gowned and sparkling tiaras sparkling atop their hair.

"Wow, you look wonderful." Téa complimented in awe. "I'll bet that there's not a girl here that can outshine you tonight."

"I swear I'm jealous." Mar sniffed good-naturally, giving the Ishtar heiress a friendly wink. "Another blonde, even prettier with more golden hair than I have."

"Mai, don't say that," Nadina was embarrassed. "You guys all look beautiful. Your dates must be proud to be your escorts."

"Yep, I can't wait to see how my big brother Joey would dance tonight." Serenity said in her sweet voice. "I spent all of my time teaching him how to dance. Don't be too demanding with him, Mai, he still hasn't quite got the Cotillion down."

"With Joseph as my escort," Mai sighed. "Who can expect too much?"

"Speaking of escorts…" Téa looked past Nadina at Kaiba. "Your date looks pretty hot tonight." She whispered, leaning in with the circle of girls.

"Hon, I heard that you rejected Duke Devlin just to go to the dance with Kaiba, is that true?" Mai also leaned in.

"Well…" Nadina felt her complexion darken to a deep blush.

"Hey!" Joey's New York accent rang out. The girls looked over. "C'mon you guys! Let's get into the hotel" He shivered. "It's freezing out here!"

"Yeah, aren't you girls cold?" Tristan chimed in as he waved impatiently at the girls, clad in less than the guys were.

"Oh, whine, whine, whine," Mai scowled. "That's all you boys do."

"Hey, it's not our fault it's like fifteen below zero out here!" Duke snapped, rubbing his hands together, obviously sore at seeing Kaiba and Nadina together.

The apparatus in the ballroom had been entirely concealed with garlands of both fresh and artificial roses. The center of the dancing floor had been left for dancing. Tables holding two to eight had been arranged around the four sides, with each two tables screened by latticework, also festooned with roses. Nadina stepped into the ballroom and just gazed in her dazzled, rather exotic way.

"Wow, Nadina," Bakura commented. "You'll fit right in. Who'd have thought that roses would be the theme of this year?"

"Yeah, I thought it was diamond." Joey complained. "If I had known it was roses, I wouldn't have to spent all those big bucks getting Mai that tiara."

The group of friends sat down on a table held for eight, which Mai and Joey sat face to face. The others just came as a group of friends—more or less, anyway. It was Tristan who had finally convinced Joey to bring Serenity with them, which Joey finally agreed, but refused Tristan to be her escort, declaring that she was too young and was now doing a big brother's duty of watching her like a hawk.

Nadina and Kaiba settled down at a table for two near them.

This is so amazing. I'm all dressed up… Nadina felt like she was in a dream as she looked around the lavishly decorated room. A red tablecloth overlapped a white one diagonally on their table as two tall silver candlesticks was placed in the center, each on an end of a ravishing centerpiece of roses, fern, and lace.

But being her first social event, Nadina was self-conscious at herself in roses and not in tiaras, like all the other girls were in. She had no idea that she looked luminously beautiful in her gauzy white silk, like a white rose freshly plucked from a dew-damp garden. Nor did she see the soft shining of Kaiba's eyes every time his eyes swept past her.

"Excuse me, Nadina." Kaiba all of a sudden jumped up from his seat across from her, interrupting her dreamy trance as she floated away with Clair de Lune, softly playing in the background as the couples enjoyed beverage before dancing. Several couples were already on the dance floor dancing slowly to the music.

I wish I could just have one dance… she thought wistfully as she watched those couples dance romantically with the moon shining in their eyes. She then turned toward where Kaiba was headed and found him talking to an older man, apparently looking like a business acquaintance. She watched as Kaiba reintroduced himself to the man and polite enthusiasm masking onto both of their faces. They shook hands and headed off together toward the coffee lounge. She sighed. It seems as if though Kaiba had caught the man staying at the hotel for the night and probably won't be back until after the dance was over. She hoped that he would remember to pick her up.

"Miss," she was interrupted with courtly waiter in a black tux. "Would you like a rose?" He offered her a white rose. "It's offered to every lady that is attending the dance." He added at her slightly confused look.

"Oh, thank you." She took a rose and fingered the satin ribbon tied to the stem, before dipping it into the tall vase on the table.

Another waiter stopped by five minutes later and inquired if she would like a very light dessert with her coffee after lighting the candles on the table.

"Today we offer Crème Brûleè, chocolate mousse, blancmange with very light vanilla flavoring—" Her eyes lit up. Not from wanting the sweets, but from the surprise of hearing that they actually serve blancmange. But the waiter took up her eyes lighting up as an invitation.

"I think you'll find it pleasing, Miss." He said with an encouraging smile.

"Thank you." He set down the dainty small cut-glass crystal dish before her along with a small frosted-glass pitcher of sweetened cream. Nadina wasn't hungry, or even close to it, but somehow, the idea of focusing on a dessert is better than watching all the other couples dance.

I'm dressed up as a princess… But all alone… How lonely… She thought miserably. The whole ballroom was romantically dim, the only light was the scented candles that laid about here and there. But the dome shaped ceiling of the room have been painted especially for utopian under-the-sky dancing, because the whole ceiling looked breathtaking. Like it was the midnight sky shining over them. The stars glittered and were just as bright as real stars and it looked like a real night sky.

"Hey, you guys." Joey whispered from their table to his friends. "Look at Nadina, she's been alone for the past half an hour already. Where do you suppose Kaiba is?"

"I don't know, Joey." Yugi looked over thoughtfully through the lattices that separated the tables. It was hard to see in the dimness, since each table was only lighted by the two candles. He finally managed to peek through the rose covered latticework and saw that Nadina was looking lonely and blue.

"But you're right." He agreed after sitting back down.

"Kaiba just gone and left her?" Téa looked shocked.

"That Kaiba," Mai scowled fiercely. "What kind of a date is he? I knew he would pull something like this to that poor innocent girl."

"She looks so sad…" Serenity put in softly. Then she turned to her brother. "Big brother, why don't you ask her for a dance?" Turning to Mai, she put on a pleading face. "You wouldn't mind, would you, Mai?"

"Mind?" Mai huffed. "Of course not. In fact, I would refuse to recognize Joey as my date if he doesn't!"

"What?!" Joey squawked as he freaked. "How did I get stuck doing this?" He sent a look over to his best friend. "I suck at dancing, buddy." He said hopefully.

"Hey," Tristan held a hand up for surrender. "I would, old buddy, but remember? I already have a date?" He defended, motioning toward Serenity and then jerked a thumb over to Duke Devlin. "Ask Duke!"

For once, instead of his usual glare, Duke grinned widely and jumped up.

"Somebody's got to do the left-behind job." He said smoothly.

"And this was the guy that insisted he was also escorting Serenity." Tristan whispered back to Joey, who everybody could see the smoke coming form his eyes.

"Devlin, you're never dating my sister ever!" Joey threatened.

"Aw, c'mon, Joey," Duke winked saucily. "You don't want to dance with Nadina and you don't want her to be alone now, do you? Don't worry, I'll take care of everything." He turned and took a deep breath, putting a charming smile on his face and muttering under his breath to himself, "Now, Duke Devlin, you're going to show Nadina that she should have picked you to be her date."

"Oh boy, this I got to see." Mai declared as she pushed her chair back and walked over to the rosy divider. "Duke getting rejected!"

"Hey, I wanna see that too." Joey got up, followed by Serenity, Tristan, Yugi, and Téa.

"Nadina, you look lonely." They heard Duke say.

"That's a great opening line. What an idiot." Téa muttered. "Now she's going to reject him for sure."

"Nah…" Tristan said easily. "Just watch. Duke declared to me one other day that any girl he wants, whenever he wants, however he wants, he gets."

"The nerve!" Mai's eye twitched.

"Now we'll never let him live it down if he couldn't get Nadina." Joey grinned wickedly.

"I see Kaiba has just gone and left you." Duke's voice continued.

"Idiot." The girls gritted their teeth.

"—would you like to have a dance with me?" All the guys leaned closer.

"No, thank you, Duke." They heard Nadina politely refuse. "But it would be unright for me to leave my date to go with another when he was the one that escorted me here."

"B-but he has left you, hasn't he?"

"Kaiba's a very busy man. I'm sure he has good reasons."

"Aww…rejected!" Joey pumped a fist into the air as he and Tristan high-fived. Téa glared at them.

"Guys, he's coming back!" Ryou whispered breathlessly, racing for his seat. There was a scramble as everyone bolted for their chairs. When Duke came back, head hung, dejected and low, everyone was seated innocently, chatting lightly about Duel Monsters.

"What's wrong, Duke?" Mai looked over at him and acted surprised that he came back so soon. She took a closer peer at his face, "Don't tell me…"

"She rejected me!" Duke burst out, loud enough to make everyone jump.

"Yeah, yeah, we already know that!" Joey hissed, looking over Duke's head at Nadina. Duke's eyebrows shot up and his eyes narrowed.

"How did you know?"

"Well we—"

"We could tell from your expression, of course." Tristan took over with a smooth and sober look. "And take our words, Duke, we feel just as bad as you do."

"Sure, sure." The creator of Dungeon Dice Monsters grumbled. He slumped down in his chair and sulked for the rest of the night.

Kaiba was deep into a conversation going well his way when he looked up from the coffee lounge into the adjacent ballroom. He looked through the couples on the dancing floor and his midnight eyes searched the one girl that had occupied his mind the whole night. His eyes finally found her, sitting alone at their table. The candlelight emphasized her ethereal beauty and made him remember the first time he saw her under the Ishtar Estate.

"—and if we take on the offer, the stock will increase by the minimum of 5% but the products produced would have to be—"

"You must excuse me, Mr. Kaguera." The elder businessman was suddenly interrupted.

"Why, of course, Mr. Kaiba." Kaiba offered no explanation. "Perhaps we could discuss this some other time in private."

"Perhaps." Kaiba looked back and gave him his cold signature smile. "I'll be looking forward to it."

Blancmange, the last time I had it was with Kaiba back at Ishtar Estate. Nadina thought as she eyed the pretty dessert, molded into the shape of a fancy heart. And it ended up with Marik seeing both of us together.

"Are you trying to move the dish with your gaze?" A mocking, deep voice spoke from behind her, making her jump.

"Kaiba!" He seated himself egotistically down.

"Blancmange, I see."

"Care to have a taste?" She offered him a second spoon with the same insolent attitude. He took the spoon.

"I doubt it would taste as good as the one you made." At the unexpected compliment, Nadina felt her heart skip a beat as her face grew warmer.

Was that a compliment? She averted her gaze and turned to once again stare at the crystal dish.

"Except this time," Kaiba's chillingly soft voice continued. "Do you think it would be sweet…or bitter?"

She raised her eyes up to meet his piercing gaze. He knows what I'm thinking about. He knows I'm remembering back.

Seeing her stiffened at him bringing back the past, Kaiba dipped his spoon into the dessert first and offered it to her as a peace offering.

"Tell me," he said more gently, his voice loosing all its cool and taunting tone. It sounded earnest and almost anxious. "I need to know."

At the sound of Kaiba's voice, Nadina's heart softened. She gingerly took the spoon. The same rich sweetened taste melted on her tongue, causing her to close her eyes to savor its richness.

"Mmm…" She opened her eyes and stared right into Kaiba's dark eyes, as dark and as blue as the midnight deep ocean. They stayed that way for a moment, before each simultaneously turned away. Kaiba coughed lightly and Nadina fidgeting with her corsage.

"So, what was it?" Kaiba's whisper floated to Nadina like part of the air.

"It was sweet."

"Good." Kaiba stood up abruptly and offered her hand. "Want to dance?"

"I thought you don't dance."

"I can change my mind if I find it worthwhile." Nadina modestly placed her own hand in his, her heart warmed by the way Kaiba hid his compliments behind rough words that only she could pick up. But as they walked out to the center of the floor, something dropped from Kaiba's clothes and landed on the floor with a small tinker. Kaiba dove for it, but Nadina was quicker. She was just about to hand it back when she realized what she was holding.

Her earring.

"Kaiba," she finally managed to say without trembling. Seeing the earring was almost like seeing back to the summer. "My earring. You kept it all this time?"

Kaiba hastily looked at his watch, avoiding her gaze. A bubble of laughter seem to erupted inside Nadina. And to remember how she had felt when Kaiba discovered that the Blue-Eyes-White-Dragon had never left her after he left. She thought now how silly it was to feel embarrassed when Kaiba found out.

"Seto Kaiba," she hid a smile. "And you were making fun of me with your eyes that day you found out I always carried your Blue-Eyes with me! And here you are, carrying my earring with you the whole time."

"I was going to return it to you today." Kaiba defended himself by lying. But his date caught the slight color change on his fine dark features.

"Oh, sure. I believe that."

"Hey—" He started objecting before she as by his side, taking his elbow and toward the dance floor. She tiptoed up and whispered, her breath soft and tickling on his neck.

"I like that." She said before giving him a mischievous smile.

"You are so impudent sometimes." Kaiba ran a hand through his hair, his voice exasperated, though relieved that she wasn't going to pump him anymore on that topic. It was true, he had kept her handkerchief and earring with him ever since he left, but no need to let her know.

"And you are in denial."

A soft melody struck up and the couples in the room began dancing to the slow, inviting melody. Kaiba took over smoothly, bowing and taking her knuckles. He didn't exactly bow, but the angle of his body as he bent to lift a guest's hand in greeting clearly made every girl feel royal.

"We will continue this later." He said before taking her hand and placing his other hand on her lower back, swept her out to the dance floor, and began waltzing her to the music. She began gliding back and forth, as light as feather.

This is like a dream…

If she were to represent the Ishtar name for just one dance, she would do them proud. Not once did she falter in the intricate steps. She had to admit that her partner was just as faultless in his execution of the dance pattern. She followed his strong lead with easy grace.

Next came a lively polka and Nadina's soft dance slippers moved in fast steps as Kaiba twirled her around. They did a fast slide and a few breathtaking leaps, followed by another even more intricate turn. The people that weren't dancing applauded as they outshined all the couples on the dance floor. As the most handsome pair on the floor, they stood out. When the Cotillion began, she rested her hands lightly on Kaiba's shoulders. The white gauzy silk swirled around her ankles, making a soft whispering sound.

Across the room, she could see Téa and Tristan dancing. Téa was so graceful, that she appears to float. Her face flushed and her eyes grew all sparkly. Nadina was surprised at how good Tristan was at ballroom dancing. Dancing beside them was Joey and Mai, along with Duke and Serenity. She watched as Joey's piercing gaze burned a hole on Duke's back. She turned back and focused on the dance and relaxed in her partner's embrace. Nadina loved the Boston, a slow, gliding dance pattern after the waltz, and she felt as if she were floating.

"You like it?" Kaiba's throaty voice said beside her ears.

"Loving it." The world seems to have all disappeared. Now, nothing matter to them besides each other. They waltz and whirled on the dance floor, oblivious to any other couples beside themselves.

The Boston ended—Nadina could hear the guests clapping politely—yet, Kaiba's hold didn't loosen on her and continued to swirl her around the room. Their lights steps and turns, along with Kaiba's lead, Nadina found herself and Kaiba on the half-circle marble balcony away from all the other guests. Here, the grounds were blanched in moonshine, a dreamlike landscape touched by enchantment. They could still hear the sweet strains of music.

With the moon on his hair and his eyes dark and mysterious, Kaiba took Nadina in his arms and glided her over the marble in gallant, divine, enrapturing loops. Her skirt skimmed the reflecting white, clear, marble as a soft winter breeze lifted her hair like the tender touch of a phantom lover. But no, this was very real. Kaiba's hand on the small of her back was warm and reassuring.

He spun her over their open-air ballroom until the stars at the rim of the sky wheeled and blurred.

Is this what love is about? Nadina asked herself. A moon-drenched waltz at midnight? She wished she could bottle this moment in a crystal jar but knew she could never capture this feeling any more than she could gather moonbeams in a net.

They waltzed and melted into one another's arms until at last Kaiba slowed, as if reluctantly realizing that the dance was over, but he did not realize his hold right away.

They stood on the marble balcony, the full moon as their background as well as millions of stars, glittering like diamonds on black velvet, staring into each others' eyes and loosing themselves in the deep soulful pools. It was silent besides the rustle of her skirt and the chirping of the crickets from the lawn under them.

Nadina's breath caught as she stared up into Kaiba's face.

"I've been wanting to do this for a while now, especially that day under Ishtar Estate." The willowy CEO's words drifted around them like a breath of warm air. He slowly leaned down and she lowered her eyelids. His lips were soft and gentle as he brushed the side of her face with a kiss. Not on the lips, as a lover would have done, but a kiss from a friend that was so tender and warm that it surpassed the kiss of passion.

He pulled back and Nadina opened her eyes.

"A girl never forgets the man who gives her her first kiss."

"You had wanted to do this?" Her voice blended in with the cool winter breeze. Moonlight spilled across the rolling meadons and gave the night a ghostly quality.

"Yes, that day you helped me escape. It was the first time I've ever laid my eyes on you."

"Why didn't you that day?"

"I didn't want to take be taking something so innocent and precious from you."

"Thank you, Kaiba." Her lilting voice was sweet and earnest.

"It's nothing." Kaiba was embarrassed. "You're shivering, let's go back inside." He took off his tux jacked and draped it over her shoulders as he led her back in. They sat back down at their table.

But Nadina's wonderful evening was crushed as she laid her eyes for the first time that night on none other than Ryou Bakura.