Chapter 8

Let's Dance!

Joey and Anzu stood on the side of the dance floor while various vampires, bunnies, robots, and other creatures tried to dance about in their costumes.

"Let me just say this again, this is not a date!" Anzu insisted. "This is just two friends hanging out together. Just because we couldn't get dates doesn't mean..."

"Yeah, yeah, you said that back at my house." Joey was visibly angry. "And, uh, thanks for getting out there with me. I know we all planned to meet up and come here together, but I couldn't sit there and watch Honda make googie eyes at my sister."

"I don't get it. Honda is one of your best friends. Shouldn't you be glad that they're dating?"

"I know him, that's the problem. I know what he's thinking, and believe me, they not all pure thoughts."

"You don't think Honda would...ya know?" Joey just looked at her. "At least, you have to trust Serenity. She wouldn't do anything improper."

"It's just, sometimes;" Joey was having trouble finding the right words. "I don't think she understands...guys. I don't want anyone taking advantage of her."

"You're worried about her, so you want to protect her. That's your job, you're a big brother. There is nothing wrong with that. But you do have to trust Serenity to make the right decisions."

Just then Serenity and Honda came into view from across the dance floor. Serenity was wearing a poodle skirt and matching sweater, Honda was in jeans, white t-shirt, and a greaser jacket. They made their way across the floor to where Joey and Anzu were standing.

"Why did you two leave so early? Is something wrong?" Serenity asked innocently.

"It's my fault, I wanted to get here early and scope things out before the crowds arrived." Anzu was covering for Joey. He might have been appreciative, if he wasn't distracted by the fact that Honda and Serenity were holding hands. "Hey, where are Yugi and Anna? Didn't they meet you at Joey's house?"

"Oh, they called and said they were running late, so they asked us to go on ahead. They should be here soon." Serenity explained.

Joey couldn't stand it anymore. "Honda, may I have a word with you? Over here..." Joey led Honda over to a secluded spot and wrapped one are around his shoulders. "Since you're new at this, and since have lots of experience with the ladies, I thought I'd give you a little advise." Honda wasn't buying this for one minute, but he thought it best to not rock the boat. Joey continued, "So let me just say, if you touch my sister, I'll kill you."

Honda was taken back a bit, but he had no doubt that Joey was serious. He didn't exactly know how to answer such a threat. Luckily he didn't have to. Before he could say anything, there came an awe and hush across the room. The two boys peered through the crowd to see that almost everyone was staring at Yugi and Anna as they entered. The couple was wearing matching Egyptian costumes. The details were authentic, down to the headdresses, jewelry and linen tunics. Yugi was a little embarrassed to be wearing a skirt, but he was relieved that no one was looking at him.

"Wow! Who's that?" One young man said to another. "And how did a guy like him, get a girl like that?"

"I guess being a Duel Monster Champion has its benefits." Answered the other young man.

"Remind me to dust off my duel deck when I get home."

Yugi and Anna easily found Serenity and Anzu, and Joey and Honda quickly joined them.

"You two look great!" Serenity applauded them.

"When did you have time to make these, they are so elaborate?" Anzu asked while inspecting the fabric of her dress.

"That's easy, I don't sleep." Anna was serious in her response.

"Not at all?" Anzu replied.

"Not really. So I had plenty of time to sew."

Another thing Yugi didn't know about her. He had learned in the past few weeks that she was much more complex then he had originally thought.

"But, hey, this costume is absolutely fantastic!" Anna was pointing out Anzu's Dark Magician Girl outfit.

"Oh," Anzu was a little embarrassed. "It's nothing special; it's left over from the musical we did last year. I played the lead and they said I could keep the costume."

"I can't believe I missed that. You guys are going to have to tell me how great she was." Anna directed the question to Yugi, Joey, and Honda.

"Don't ask them, they slept through half of it." Anzu accused.

"Hey, no one told me it was going to be a lot of singing and dancing." Joey tried to explain his actions.

"Speaking of which, I came here to dance!" Anna grabbed Anzu's hand and they ran out onto the dance floor. Serenity tried to coax Honda and Joey to join them, but she met too much resistance, so she left them there. The three ladies mingled amongst the dancers and proceeded to boogie. The guys watched as their bodies moved and pulsed to the music.

"Do you think all women inherently know how to dance?" Yugi asked.

"I don't know, but they sure make it look easy." Added Joey.

After a few songs, Serenity motioned for the boys to join them on the dance floor. Joey and Yugi tried to act like they were busy doing something, anything, so they wouldn't look bored or nervous. Honda looked at Serenity, then at Yugi and Joey, then back again.

"Guys, I'm at a conundrum," Honda said to Joey and Yugi. "I could either go out there and dance with three hot chicks, or I could stand here and look pathetic with you two. It's a hard choice, but I think I'm going to have to go with the hot chicks. If you two were smart, you'd join me." And he headed off to be with Serenity.

The night waned on and after a few hours the girls wandered off the ladies room to 'powder their noses' and do the most essential of girl things, gossip.

"Wow, he's cute!" Anna said inspecting the picture Serenity gave her. "You said he's American?"

"He lives in America, but he sometimes comes to Japan." Serenity explained.

"He must be racking up a huge phone bill calling you every week."

"He can afford it, he created Dungeon Dice Monsters and he's doing pretty well."

"Looks, money, and he knows how to accessorize. And you're going out with Honda, why?" Anna smiled so Serenity knew she was teasing.

"Honda is really sweet."

"So, you like them both?" Serenity blushed at Anna's words. "That's okay, if only we all could have men fighting over us. So which do you like more?"

"I don't know. Honda is a gentleman and he is fun to be around, but there is something about Otagi. He's more adventurous, more thrilling. Do you know what I mean?"

"Oh, the 'bad-boy complex'" Anna was grinning from ear to ear.

"The what?"

"The bad-boy complex. It's when you know you should be with the stable, average guy that you wouldn't mind taking home to your mother. But secretly down deep inside of us all we're always attracted to the risque, no-good scoundrel that you pray your mother doesn't find out about. It's just a woman's nature. We want what isn't good for us."

"So, you should always go for the nice guy? Is that why you're with Yugi?"

"Well, neither of us had a choice in that, but I don't think I got too bad of a deal." Anna smiled.

Just then Anzu entered the restroom with a shocked look on her face.

"Hey, where have you been? I thought you were right behind us?" Anna inquired.

"A guy just asked me out." Anzu was awe struck.

"You go girl!" Anna pronounced.

"Do you know him?" Serenity asked.

"He's a cute guy from my math class. I didn't even know he liked me."

"Well, did you say yes?" Anna pried.

"I can't remember, my mind is a blank."

"Then you better get back out there and find out." Anna was smiling from ear to ear as she turned Anzu around and directed her out the door. "See, all you had to do was show a little leg, and the boys come running."

Later as the evening wore on Yugi and Anna found themselves sitting at a table. Anna was drinking punch and Yugi had his eyes fixed on the dance floor. Anna knew what he was looking at and it upset her, but she knew it was something she had to overcome if they were to marry.

"Who is that guy? He's been dancing with Anzu half the night." Yugi asked.

"He's someone from her math class."

"Do you think he likes her?"

"I know he asked her out."

"He did?" Yugi glanced at Anna as he posed the question. She wasn't even looking at him. In fact, she looked distraught. He suddenly realized what he had done, so he tried to recover the situation. "That's good. She should go out and umm...date."

There was an awkward silence between them for what seemed like the longest time.

"Yugi?" Anna spoke. "Would you do something for me?"

"Of course, anything."

"Dance with me. There is only one slow dance left and I want you to dance with me."

Yugi became very nervous and stumbled over his words. "I...uh...it's not really my thing...and I...kinda...don't know how."

"Then I'll teach you. It's just a box step, it's simple."

"I've got two left feet. I'm not coordinated, at all. I'll just embarrass you."

"You can duel in front of millions of people, but you're afraid to dance?"

"Dueling is completely different. And I'm not afraid; I'm just not good at it. Believe me, your feet will thank me."

"All right," Anna looked disappointed. "But I'm going to teach you because we are going to dance at our wedding. If not, I'm going to immediately divorce you."

"I think I can do that. As long as it's not here."

"Then I guess there is no reason to stick around. We can go, if you want."

Yugi agreed and the pair made their good-byes to their friends and walked back to Yugi's home. Anna changed into her normal clothes and slipped out without any fan fair and without anyone seeing her. Yugi wanted her to take a cab, but she didn't, instead she walked. She wasn't afraid of the dark or the bad element that might be lurking, and it gave her time to think. She had a great time dancing with the girls and Honda. Honda couldn't dance well, but he tried, that's all that matters. Yugi wouldn't even do that. He was so meek and shy, not at all like when he is dueling. Anna was beginning to wonder how much of him was Yugi and how much was the pharaoh. And considering the situation, the pharaoh might be with them a long while, so she better get to know him. It was these kinds of things that consumed her mind as she returned to her apartment, and settled in for the long night.