Disclaimer: I don't own Yu-Gi-Oh so don't sue! However, I do own Mina.
Wow, it's been a while since I've updated (well, a while for me anyway) but I'm finally off for study leave (yey!) so I can write at the weekends because unfortunately I have to revise during the week. Also I deleted the Kaiba's Crisis story so I'm feeling happy today.
Anyway…
Yami deoki: it's about time you got onto the story and stop boring everyone about the exams, which I have to take!
Deoki: you're just writing them, don't forget, I'm the brain behind it all!
Yami deoki: whatever!
Deoki: well on with the story…
Yami deoki: hold on a minute!
Deoki: what now!
Yami deoki: do I get to kill anyone in this chapter?
Deoki: no, the first death is in the next chapter, so you can write all you want then, but take notes because this chapter may inspire you as to why this character will be killed
Yami deoki: who is it anyway and who's doing the murder? (Whispers in her ear) really! Well, I know exactly how to get rid of that of that person, hmm…oh it will be perfect! (Runs away into a corner to plot the first murder)
Deoki: ok…(turns back to everyone) like I was saying, I hope you enjoy this chapter and thank you to wanderer and kaibas child for your reviews, unfortunately you have to wait until the next chapter for the death…sorry! (Also conversations between yamis and their hikaris and thoughts will be in italics)
Twisted Deceit
… … …
Chapter 2 – The Announcement
"It's after 6, I'm gonna wait for Joey now grandpa!" Yugi shouted up the stairs as he was exiting through the empty shop, "I'll lock the door, don't wait up for me!"
And with that, Yugi, left the shop, locked the door behind him and waited for Joey. He looked at his watch and moaned, "the day that Joey's on time for anything will be the day that Kaiba calls him his best friend! Still, I shouldn't complain, he is giving me a lift after all. I just hope he didn't forget" and he folded his arms and waited patiently until he felt something from his Millennium puzzle…
Yami: Yugi, are you alright? You seem a bit uneasy about something.
Yugi: no, I'm just waiting for Joey and Mai to give me a lift to Tristan and Serenity's… and I'm also curious about what they want to tell us
Yami: I wander what it could be?
Yugi: don't know. But I will say this, don't go picking a fight with Bakura, the last time you two got into an argument I ended up blind stinking drunk and passed out and I don't think that Ryou is eager for a second round either! So please behave yourself and just ignore him if he does come out.
Yami: I'm sorry Yugi, but he had it coming, I'll show him who can hold his drink!
Yugi: only it wasn't you who had to hold it, it's me. You were only knocking it back. But I forgive you nonetheless, just don't argue with him, you know he's a loser, it's a shame Ryou can't get rid of him!
Yami: like I said, I'm sorry, it's just that I can't resist a challenge… is that a car I hear? Is that Joey?
Yugi: yep! Fashionably late as usual!
A blue open topped car pulled up and sure enough there was Mai in the passenger seat and Joey behind the wheel. Of course Yugi just had to ask, "what took you so long?"
"I'm sorry, it wasn't my fault this time! There was an accident in the centre of town and the traffic had to be diverted." Said Joey looking quite offended
"Sorry Jo, don't take it personally" apologized Yugi
"Nah, forget it, I'm always late anyway, I can't help it…are you gonna get in, or just stand there?"
"Sure lets go!" said Yugi as he jumped into the back seat. He then turned to talk to Mai, "so do you know what Tristan and Serenity summoned us for?"
"What makes you think I would know?" replied Mai
"Well, you and Serenity are very good friends and women in general have a habit of telling each other everything!"
"I hate to break it to you Yugi, but I don't know what it is she wants this time…but I think I've got a pretty good idea" said Mai with a mischievous look on her face
"Why, what do you think it is?" enquired Joey
"Let's just say I think the two of you should get your tuxes dry cleaned" smiled Mai
"Why" chimed both Yugi and Joey
Mai put her hand on her head, "you two are so dense it's almost unbelievable!"
Joey and Yugi just stared at Mai for a few seconds until Joey had to look back at the road as he nearly hit a lamp post…
"You still don't get it do you?" sighed Mai, "ok, here's what I think…I think that Tristan and Serenity are going to tell us that they're getting married!"
Joey slammed down the breaks, and as luck would have it, they were right outside Tristan and Serenity's house; and even more fortunately, there were no other cars driving down the street behind them
"Are you trying to kill me!" Shouted Mai as she was rubbing her neck
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to stop so suddenly," Joey parked the car properly, then unclipped his seatbelt to massage Mai's neck
"What was that all about!" shouted Yugi who was also nursing a sore neck
"Tristan and Serenity are… are… getting married!" shouted Joey with a dumbfounded look on his face, "I don't believe it! My little sister! I still remember when she was just a baby!"
"She's a fully grown woman Joey…you have to let her go sometime, if she wants to get married, then that's her choice! Anyway, I didn't say they're getting married, I just said I think they are!"
"What do you mean you think…who else have you been thinking with!?" shouted back Joey…
Meanwhile, Yugi continued to sit in the back and polished his Millennium puzzle with his jacket
Yami: should I say something?
Yugi: no…I think we should just leave them alone, Joey's just very overprotective of Serenity, he just thinks of her as his sweet and innocent little sister, but if they are getting married, he has to accept that she's an adult now
Yami: I guess you're right
"What were you doing at Kaiba's house!?" continued Joey
"I went to see Mina while you were at work…is that a crime!?"
"No, I just…" she cuts him off
"Yesterday while I as there, the conversation of Tristan and Serenity came up because Serenity phoned to invite the Kaiba's over and we were discussing what it could be that they wanted. Mokuba agrees with me and thinks that they're getting married; Mr high and mighty Seto thinks that – to use his words – Serenity has been 'knocked up' (Joey's getting even more angry now) and Mina agrees with us both and thinks that they're not only getting married, but also that Serenity's pregnant!"
Joey is about to start again, but Mai puts her finger to his lips and continues…
"Let me finish… Seto, Mina and I decided to have a bet; we each bet 50 bucks that we were right; therefore the winner gets back their own money plus an extra hundred. Since Mokuba didn't enter the bet, he's the one who's keeping the money for us. I'm sorry I told you but I didn't think you'd get this upset, I thought you'd be happy if Tristan and Serenity got married… and besides, they haven't even told us yet and it's probably not what we think!" Mai takes her hand away from Joey now, as he seems a bit calmer
"What happens if it's not what any of you said?" Joey asked in a calm manner
"Then we just get our money back!" laughed Mai
There was silence between them for a few seconds until Joey broke it
"I'm sorry, I shouted at you and for overreacting like that" apologized Joey
"That's ok, I know you still think of Serenity as your baby sister and I don't think you'll ever stop, but you have to accept that she's a woman now…but I shouldn't have got you all worked up and I'm sorry too"
After they accepted each other's apologies, they leaned in and kissed… of course, Yugi was still sitting in the back
Yami: do you think they know we're here?
Yugi: nope! It's come to my attention over the years that the lovers involved in a lovers quarrel tend to ignore everyone else around them
Yami: I think we should get out
Yugi: I agree
Just as Yugi jumped out of the back, Joey and Mai broke away and Joey got out of the car to open the door for her
"Oh Joey, you're such a gentleman… is it any wonder why I married you" and they kissed again
Yugi just rolled his eyes and walked towards the door
"Hey Yug' wait up...sorry, you had to see that man!" said a more normal Joey
"No that's ok Jo…I'm glad you're both ok now though!" said Yugi with a beaming smile
"Thank you Yugi," said Mai as she took Joey's hand
The three of them walked up to the door and Joey rang the bell. Tristan answered and brought them in. As soon as they walked in, the aroma of the food hit them and made Joey's mouth water
"Hmmmm smells good!" Joey announced, "What's cookin'?"
"I don't exactly know… I was helping out earlier, but I kinda burnt a few things…so Serenity kicked me out of the kitchen" complained Tristan
"Typical man" sighed Mai
"Hey! I'll have you know that some of the finest chefs in the world are men!" said Tristan in an 'I know better than you' kind of tone
"Too bad you're not one of them…sweetheart!" scolded Serenity who emerged from the kitchen and practically threw herself on Joey, "It's great to see you big brother, I'm glad you came"
"You honestly think that Joey would turn down a free dinner!" laughed Yugi
"Shut up Yugi!" Joey looks into the living room sees almost everyone there, "Are we the last to arrive?"
"No, we're still waiting for the three Kaiba's," replied Serenity
"I should have known they'd be late…they probably want to make a dramatic entrance. Besides, its not like Kaiba could fit through the door anyway as his head's so big he'd probably get stuck!" laughed Tristan, although, no one else was laughing with him, in fact, they looked a bit horrified at him as he stood in the open doorway…
"What's the matter…why do you look so serious? (He finally clicks on)…he's standing right behind me isn't he?"
Everyone in the room nods including the ones in the living room who joined the others in the hall. Tristan turned round and was face to face with Seto Kaiba himself with Mina and Mokuba standing behind…
"You know, maybe I shouldn't come in, you wouldn't want my head to damage your cheap door frames!" Seto said with quite a menacing voice
"I was kidding Kaiba, I was just worried about tonight and took my anger out on you… I do apologize" [a/n: yami deoki: like hell he apologized!]
"Yeah…whatever" replied Kaiba in his usual flat monotone voice as he walked into the house, "and for your information, we were late because we were avoiding the press"
Seto pushed passed Tristan, went into the living room and sat on the nearest armchair in his usual manner with his arms folded and one leg over the other. Mina and Mokuba still stood in the doorway and rolled their eyes at Seto's behaviour.
"Ignore him…HE'S JUST ACTING LIKE A SPOILED LITLE BRAT!" shouted Mina so that Seto could hear
"Shut up Mina! The only one in here who's spoiled is you," muttered Seto
"Yeah, whatever…(she turns back to everyone else and whispers) I guess he has a right to be in a bad mood this time"
"Why?" asked Ryou
"Because some photographers managed to get over the wall earlier and took a picture of him naked in the shower through the downstairs bathroom window, cause his own shower upstairs is broken" she quietly giggles to herself, but Mokuba can't contain his laugher
"Hush you, we shouldn't be laughing, the paparazzi are getting worse they really are. Plus Seto threatened to sue the magazine if they publish the picture, so you can guarantee that more press will be round tomorrow!"
"How did you get here without the press following you?" asked Tristan as he looked down the street and then closed the door
"Lucy the maid, and our chef and trainee chef Tony and James dressed up as Seto, Mina and I and went out in the limo to draw the press away from the house. We left about 20 minutes later in the normal car so they don't know where we really are or that we're here!" answered Mokuba feeling very proud of himself, "It was my idea!"
"And it worked like a charm, so Lucy, Tony and James will be paid double in their next pay check to compensate for the annoyance they have to put up with tonight…and speaking of money, are we still on for tonight Mai?" asked Mina with a raised eyebrow
"You bet your ass I am, I could do with the cash, how about Mr sunshine in there, is he still up for it?" asked Mai
Before Mina could say anything, Seto came back into the hall
"Of course I'm still, as you say 'up for it' I never turn down a challenge, even if I don't need the money" cockily replied Seto
"What money are you talking about?" asked Duke who just sneaked out of the kitchen
Mokuba was just about to answer again, but Mina put her hand over his mouth and stopped him
"Never mind, it's just a little wager the three of us are having, it's nothing you need to concern yourself with!" Mina quickly spat out and turned to Serenity, "Anyway…when is dinner being served?"
"It's ready now so if you all go into the dining room, I'll bring out the champagne" smiled Serenity
"CHAMPAGNE!" said everyone except Tristan
"I guess this night won't be such a waste after all," remarked Seto
"What's with the champagne? What's the occasion?" asked Ishizu as she sat down next to Mokuba
"Tristan and Serenity have something special to tell us tonight, weren't you told?" asked Yugi
"No, the message left for me was that I was invited to dinner… I didn't ask why!"
"Same here!" commented Duke, Téa and Ryou
"Hey, congratulations Ishizu… Yugi told me that you got promoted to the homicide department," commented Mokuba, "How long have you been in the police now?"
"About 9 years…although I quite liked the smaller cases, the paper work always bored me and I wanted something more, I don't know…challenging I suppose, so that's why I love working the bigger cases in homicide. But thank you asking" smiled Ishizu
"It's strange that you're in the police and it's a known fact that your brother is a dodgy dealer isn't it?" remarked Ryou
"Yeah, I know and since I've been promoted, Marik won't even speak to me! But unfortunately there's nothing I can do…oh by the way" she looks down the table to Mina, "I'm sorry I wasn't at the premiere, it's just that I was stuck in the office until after 12 so I couldn't go"
"Oh that's ok, don't worry about it, it can't be helped if you're stuck at work and Yugi told me you weren't coming so it was alright" smiled Mina
"What's with the fancy table sis?" shouted Joey over the others
Tristan and Serenity entered the dining room carrying several bottles of champagne, water and lemonade between them
"Since we were having twelve for dinner, we needed a bigger table, so we rented this one and our own is currently in storage" answered Serenity
Tristan opened some of the bottles and placed them in the middle of the table while Serenity sat down at the end of the table with Ryou, Yugi, Joey, Mai and Téa on her right and Ishizu, Mokuba, Mina, Seto and Duke to her left.
"Aren't you going to pour us all a drink?" snapped Kaiba
"You're not helpless, and this ain't a restaurant!" barked Tristan
"Give it a rest Seto, I'm not in the mood to listen to your complaining" moaned Mina
"Whatever!" he sulked
Everyone grabbed for a bottle of something, including Ishizu and she poured herself a drink of champagne, "do you want some Serenity?" she offered
"No, I'm just gonna have water, but thank you anyway" Serenity politely replied and poured herself a glass of water
Seto looked over to Mai with the cockiest smirk known to man
"Don't even say it!" growled Mai
"I didn't open my mouth, but now that you mention it, I am always right and that money is as good as mine!"
"I must say Mai, it is looking up for us" added Mina as she winked
"What money do they keep talking about?" whispered Ryou to Yugi
"It's just some stupid bet they've got on and you know what the three of them are like, they never give in!" quietly replied Yugi
"Speaking of their bet" said Joey as he looked up and down the table, "hey you two, what did you invite us all round for? Other than this delicious dinner of course!"
Everyone was now looking up and down the table between Tristan and Serenity (including Seto as he wanted to know the fate of the money he bet) in hopes of getting an answer…
"Should we tell them now?" Serenity asked Tristan
"I think now's as good a time as any" smiled Tristan as got up and walked to the other end of the table to stand with Serenity
Serenity stood up, wrapped her arm around Tristan's and the two of them looked down at everyone looking back up at them
"We invited all you guys round tonight so that we could tell you…" he lets Serenity finish
"That we're engaged and are getting married!" smiled Serenity who now had almost turned hyper
"And we wanted you guys to find out at the same time" finished Tristan
Before anyone had a chance to say anything else Mai took this opportunity to gloat. She sat back, folded her arms and returned the smirk, which Seto had given her earlier, "So who's right now!?"
"This isn't over yet!" Mina quietly said across the table in hopes that she still had a chance to win it as Seto was now out
The room was surprisingly quiet given the announcement that was just made. Everyone's attention was divided between the couple at the head of the table, the three in the middle discussing money and of course Joey who looked like he was about to burst, but with anger, not excitement. When he stood up, the room went completely silent and everyone was staring at him. Yugi and Mai quickly shot a worried look at each other given his reaction earlier to the possibility of an engagement let alone an actual engagement now. He left his seat and walked toward Tristan and Serenity but he didn't shout at them, in fact, he did the complete opposite. Instead he just pulled Serenity into a hug…
"Congratulations Serenity, I'm so happy for you!"
"Thank you big brother" she whispered into his ear as she tightened his hug
When she let go, Joey shook Tristan's hand and drew him into a quick hug, "congratulations man…who'd have thought that my best friend would end up being my brother in law! Just one thing though," he whispered, "If you hurt her, you'll be sorry"
"Will do man, but you can guarantee it won't come to that!" smiled Tristan
"Good! Well congratulations again then!" said Joey as he returned to his seat
"How come you didn't flip out this time?" asked Mai
"Because you're right, I've finally realised that she's not a little girl anymore and besides, look at her," both Mai and Joey look at Tristan and Serenity now, "she's happier than I've ever seen her and if she's happy that she's with Tristan, then so am I" and he just smiled at Mai who returned his smile as there was nothing more to be said.
The room was then silenced once again by Yugi as he tapped his glass with his spoon, "I'd like to make a toast to Tristan and Serenity to congratulate on their engagement and to wish them a very happy life together. So if you all raise your glasses…to Tristan and Serenity!"
"Tristan and Serenity" echoed everyone as they all took a drink
"Thank you Yugi, that was sweet!" said Serenity as Tristan kissed her cheek returned to his seat
"Can we eat now?" complained Seto
"Go ahead, I'm not stopping you!" said Tristan as he sat down
Everyone began to eat and conversation was buzzing around the wedding and everyone seemed to be excited for them, everyone except for the two at either end who didn't say very much that night. Duke looked like he was utter shock as if he was just told that his best friend had died and Téa, well, she just looked like she hadn't heard anything and sat with a blank face, although whenever anyone spoke to her, she forced out a weak smile.
Of course, Mina wasn't exactly gonna lose her bet without first finding out if anything else needed to be announced that night…
"Ummm, Serenity, I meant to ask you, are you feeling ok now?"
"Why shouldn't I be ok?" asked a very puzzled Serenity
"It's just that last week, when you were off sick, you said you had a sore stomach…but you're looking better now and you were the other night as well…but I was wandering, since you're drinking water and most of us are having champagne if you're…" stuttered Mina before she was cut off by Seto…
"How did you win an Oscar with stuttering like that?" smirked Seto
"Shut, up! You're just jealous…"
"Serenity, she wants to know if you're pregnant," stated Seto in a very direct manner
Again the room went silent and all eyes were on Serenity including Tristan, Duke and Téa
"I'm not pregnant! The thing with the sore stomach was a monthly problem and as you're a fellow woman Mina, I'm sure you'll understand and the reason I'm not drinking champagne is because I just don't like it and I'm not drinking the lemonade because I just don't want any and because that bottle is for Mokuba! Trust me…I'm not pregnant!" quickly replied Serenity
The room was still silent, but the silence was quickly broken by the sound of Mai clearing her throat to get Mina's attention…
"Are you happy now? It looks like I won" smiled Mai across the table
"Well guessed Mai…very well played" smiled Mina in return, "Well a deal's a deal…Mokuba, give her the money"
Mokuba reached into his pocket, pulled out the money and stretched across the table to give it to Mai
"Well done Mai, you got one up on not only my big sister, but also my brother…very well done!" beamed Mokuba
"Put it there" said Mina as she stretched over and shook Mai's hand "as Mokie already said, very well done…isn't that right Seto" she said while elbowing him in the ribs
"Yes…excellent work, I'm so thrilled for you!" [a/n: he's so sarcastic isn't he?]
"I'm guessing you're not gonna tell us what that was about?" asked Tristan
"Not really…no" replied Mina
"Fair enough" stated Tristan as he got back to his dinner
Duke was the first one finished his dinner and it wasn't too long before he got up to leave the table…
"I'm going for a smoke, If you need me, I'll be on the porch" mumbled Duke as he walked off
"Did he say a smoke?" asked Mokuba
"That's what I heard… since when does Duke smoke?" also asked Ryou
"I didn't know he did," replied Yugi
Mina watched him as he got up and watched him go out the door. No sooner had he left, she also got up…
"Where are you going?" asked Seto
"I'll be back in a minute," said Mina as she also headed out the front door to talk to Duke
"Who's…oh, hi Mina…is there something wrong?" asked Duke
"Not with me, but it's obvious there is with you"
"What makes you say that?"
"You've been looking miserable all night and it's getting depressing now!" replied Mina
"Well, I didn't exactly hear brilliant news tonight!" said Duke as his eyes watered up
"You're going to have to let Serenity go at some point you know. Face it Duke, she doesn't want you, she wants Tristan and the sooner you realise that, the better, or it's going to drive you mad!"
"What makes you think that I still want Serenity, I could have heard bad news before I came here and it's just been on my mind," remarked Duke
"It doesn't take a good actor to tell a bad one so I know you're lying to me Duke. And I'm not the only one who's noticed. It's been almost 5 years since you and Serenity broke up and you still haven't gotten over it because somewhere in the back of your mind you always believed that it would go wrong and she would go straight back to you! Well guess what, she's not going back to you. She and Tristan are serious and are about to get married so you need to get it through your head that you can't get her back before it drives you nuts!" shouted Mina
"I know that I can't get her back, but I just never wanted to believe that there would never be another chance. I was young and stupid at the time and I shouldn't have let her go. If they were still just 'together' then there was a chance that they would break up and she would come back to me and…" cut off by Mina
"Don't give me that shit! I don't know what else to say to you other than let it go, you need to get out. There are lots of girls out there who'd be happy to go out with you, hell, I'll even go out on a date with you if it means seeing a smile on your face!"
"Thanks for the offer, but I'm afraid I'll have to pass…you know, of all people, I thought that you would understand how I feel"
"Why do you say that?" asked Mina
"Doesn't it bother you that Tristan is marrying Serenity?"
"Listen to me Duke, Tristan and I broke up a few months before you and Serenity did, we only went out on five dates, I didn't sleep with him and I only kissed him in public once for the cameras. He and I weren't meant for each other and thankfully we discovered that early on before we got to a point where we hated each other. Tristan and I are just friends now and I don't have feelings of any kind for him anymore, although I won't deny that I think he's good looking!"
Duke just laughed
"Let me finish, by ending when we did, we saved our friendship and you're damaging your friendship with Tristan and Serenity by getting on the way you are. I let go of Tristan 5 years ago and kept him out of my life in that respect and I couldn't be happier for them as they are made for each other. And I think it's about time that you did too. Face it Duke, the two of you weren't meant to be together and you never will…just let her go," said Mina more softly than before
There was silence between them for a few moments as Duke just stared down the street with his cigarette in his mouth until he smiled and looked back at Mina
"You're right Mina…if Serenity is happy, then I'm happy for her" smiled Duke
"That's better…do you want to back inside before Joey eats our dessert?" laughed Mina
"Sure, why not!" smiled Duke as he threw the cigarette down the drain
Mina and Duke went back into the house and enjoyed the rest of the night with others not knowing the darkness which lay in front of them…
Well that's chapter 2. It turned out longer than I thought but most of it should be relevant for later if I stick to my original draft.
Please Please Please remember to review, I accept flames and constructive criticism and it would be greatly appreciated, thank you :-)
Yami Deoki: look out for the next chapter, I've already written half of it and I get to kill the first person (evil laugh) so you can guess if you want
Deoki: just note that she's evil and mean especially with what she does to someone in a later chapter
Yami deoki: shut up! You wanted a murder mystery and you're gonna get a murder mystery! And don't worry; I'll keep to your stupid little romances just so that you don't annoy me!
Deoki: whatever just hurry up and finish the chapter!