DISCLAIMER: This is a work of fanfiction produced for entertainment purposes only. Yu-Gi-Oh! and all related characters are the creations of Kazuki Takahashi.
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Part 16: Devlin and Serenity
By Shadow's Mirror
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"Hi Duke!" As Serenity approached, smiling her usual happy smile, Duke Devlin's horde of fangirls all glared at her. Luckily, Serenity had her full attention on Duke and didn't notice them.
"Serenity! Hi! Well, this is a nice surprise." Duke smiled at the girl. His eyes quickly scanned the area. "Are you here alone?" He made an effort to look relaxed, despite the excitement running through him. Serenity was here. Serenity was talking to him. Serenity was all alone and he had a chance with her.
"Oh no. I got a new mobile phone the other day, but it was faulty, so Joey and Tristan are at the shop getting it replaced. I was waiting for them when I saw you over here, so I thought I'd say hi." As Serenity spoke, Duke forced himself not to sigh.
"Joey… and Tristan too, huh? Well that's… really great, Serenity." He pasted on a fake smile to cover his disappointment. "So, are you going home after that? Maybe I could give you a call or something later?" After Joey and Tristan were out of the way.
"Well… actually Duke… I was hoping that you could maybe help me with something." Serenity looked up at him, her wide eyes filled with hope.
"Sure, Serenity! Anything, for you. What's the problem?" Somehow, Duke managed to hold on to his normal casual coolness, despite the fact that inwardly he was dancing and beaming from ear to ear. Serenity had asked him for help! Serenity needed him! Not Joey. Not Tristan. Him!
"Joey needs a costume for school tomorrow and, so he doesn't have to make one himself, I was going to get him one as a surprise. I've picked one out, only I'm not sure how it would look on him. It's hard to tell what it's like when it's just hanging up. I really need someone to try it on." Duke blinked. The request was one of the strangest he'd ever heard, but it was just like Serenity to want to do something nice for her elder brother. Duke was disappointed that the favour was ultimately for Joey, but if it would get him into Serenity's good books, he was willing to do anything!
"Sure! I'll be glad to help you, Serenity!" As Duke started to step forward, his fan girls began to follow.
"Oh, but I can see you're busy…" Serenity smiled at the fangirls, making them all blink in surprise.
"Huh? Oh… Hey ladies! You don't mind if I help my friend Serenity for a few minutes, do you?" Duke smiled his patented 'just wait here so you don't cramp my style' grin. The girls all sighed and reluctantly nodded. They all knew that look. "Great! Okay Serenity, I'm all yours!" Duke smiled at the younger girl and offered her his arm. Serenity smiled as she slipped her arm into his.
"Wow! Thanks Duke! This is really nice of you! It's this shop over here." Serenity led him away. His fangirls all sighed as they watched him leave. Some of them started to sniff sadly.
Meanwhile, on the other side of the mall… "Hey Mai, Téa, look who we found!" Joey and Tristan were back, and they weren't alone.
"Yugi! Ryou! What are you doing here?" Téa grinned at the two boys. They grinned back.
"Bakura wanted to come." Ryou didn't need to say another word.
"Yami and I just came to get a few things," Yugi explained.
"Yami's here?" Mai was still getting used to the new 'physical form yami' development.
"Somewhere. He caught sight of Bakura, Marik and Malik and went off after them. He said something about 'keeping them from consigning everyone to the Shadow Realm'." Yugi shrugged.
"So what's going on? Where's Serenity?" Joey looked around, frowning when he didn't see his sister.
"Over there. With Duke Devlin." Téa grinned as she jerked her head in the appropriate direction.
"What?!" Both Tristan and Joey looked as though they'd like to hit something. Preferably Devlin.
"If he lays one hand on my sister…" Joey's eyes blazed as he clenched his fists.
"Oh relax, Joey. I'd say Serenity can handle him just fine. Look." Mai's eyes gleamed with amusement as she directed everyone's attention to the show starting on the other side of the mall.
Mai had set her plan up with the costume-shop owner in advance and apparently Serenity had played her part to perfection. Right on cue, the door opened and Serenity emerged with Duke Devlin behind her, trying desperately not to attract too much attention. Unfortunately, his attempts to sidle along the walkway and keep to the shadows only made him all the more obvious. Everyone in the vicinity stopped what they were doing and stared in surprise at him. More than a few of the observers started to laugh. When he glared at them, they laughed even harder.
"Okay, now you've seen me walk around in it... can we go back inside the shop now?" Duke tried to remain calm, but he was getting more desperate by the moment. If news of this got out… he'd never hear the end of it! He only hoped that no one recognised him in the oversized tan dog suit with the white belly, tail and floppy ears. Although, he had to admit, the black leather collar was rather cool.
"Hmm… In a minute. I'm still not sure if it's right." Serenity looked him up and down, managing not to laugh by reminding herself of why she was doing this. She quite liked Duke as a friend, but she agreed with Mai and Téa that he needed to be taught a lesson about dealing with girls. Which brought her to stage two of the plan. "I know! Let's ask your friends their opinion!" Grabbing Duke's paw, she started leading him over to where his fangirls were staring in shocked confusion.
"What? No! Wait! Serenity!" Panicked, Duke tried to pull away, but it was already too late. His fangirls were suddenly all around him, doing what they did best.
"Ooh! Duke Devlin! You look so cute in that outfit!"
Unfortunately, what they did best was draw the attention of everyone in the vicinity and make sure that everyone knew exactly who he was!
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