Disclaimer: looks at the Millennium Necklace, but doesn't hold it I predict that I will never in my life own Yu-Gi-Oh! Wow, not that hard. I didn't even need it….

Chapter Four- The Beans Have Been Spilled

Ishizu and Marik re-entered the hall (Shadi had, yet again, disappeared from view after their talk. But, he still managed to hang around, unseen.).

"I'm not sure about attending this party after all, sis," Marik said, "With this gathering of the Millennium Items idea."

"There's nothing to be afraid of, Marik," Ishizu reassured her brother, "Remember, Shadi said that they'd all have to be in very close contact, and some happening from the past would have to happen again for the past to reopen."

"Still, that's an easy thing to do," Marik replied.

"In some ways, yes, but achieving to do something from 5000 years ago is quite a task. Even if most of the items were gathered at very close quarters, you and Shadi would try, at least, I hope, to stay away from the tight-knit gathering," Ishizu looked at him. "You two should be more educated than to step in a ring of Millennium Items."

"Well, that would include you too, IF you hadn't decided to give the Millennium Necklace to Yugi. That doesn't really help much, now, does it? It helps the chances of that risk occurring. I do not wish to travel back to the past." Marik reported.

"If I've told you once, I've told you a hundred times. It did not work for me anymore. It had to be given to Yugi. It's his destiny to help the Pharaoh and reclaim all of the items," she peered at her brother intently.

"What are you looking at me for? You're not seriously thinking…no! I won't. He can't have it!" Marik backed away.

"Marik, what's wrong with you? You've been taught all your life to help the Pharaoh, and now you deny him?" Ishizu interrogated.

"Well, maybe someday I'll give the Rod away, but not now! I feel that I can't give it up, just yet. I wouldn't give it to him tonight, anyway! Not with this threat hanging over our heads!" Marik told.

Ishizu looked at him gravely, then full of pity, "Marik, I do believe you are going back to your old ways. You're acting like an ancient Egyptian doing anything for a god. It's like you almost worship the Rod and won't give it away, even when you truly should. It's like it's almost brainwashed you…like before…."

"No, of course not! Yugi rid me of that menace in our duel! You have to remember that!" Marik protested.

"Yes, but spirits can come back easily. Look at what's happened to poor Bakura these many times. But now, I think that spirit's gone for good." Ishizu stated emphatically. Bakura stood outside the doorway in hearing range.

"Am I now?" he smiled evilly. The Millennium Ring glowed softly around his neck.


Tristan reached Duke and Serenity's corner.

"Hello, guys," he said coldly. Duke dropped Serenity's hand.

"Oh, hi…Tristan…weren't you eating…or something?" Duke tried desperately.

"I'm finished now. May I cut in?" Tristan inquired cunningly.

"Well…"Duke started.

"Sure," Serenity said.

"Great!" Tristan grabbed Serenity's arm and led her over to the center of hall where a group of people were dancing (not the romantic kind of dance. That would happen later.). As Serenity was being dragged, she thought to herself, what is it with men and dragging poor girls around? It's almost like they like me a lot or something. Poor Serenity didn't know how right she was. Duke just sulked in the corner.


Seto, Noa and Mokuba Kaiba walked up the stairs to Kaiba's private office on the next floor, above the partying hall. He opened the door to the office and strode over to his desk. There was a curtain behind it. It was currently drawn open and revealed the dance hall below. Mokuba and Noa took seats in some expensive looking armchairs, waiting for Seto to take his seat. Seto walked over to the window and was just about to close it, when he noticed someone in the middle of the hall. She was dancing with a group of young duelers, and there was a short kid next to her. He watched her professional and graceful movements, envying the spiky-haired kid next to her. He pulled just a bit to hard on the pull string to close the curtain, and they fell off.

"Oh well, they were cheap junk anyway," he said, not caring. Money wasn't a big problem for him. Of course those "cheap curtains" which he had just torn down were about $1500 dollars. He sat down in his office swivel chair and turned to face his brothers.

"Well, is everything going smoothly down there?" Kaiba asked reluctantly.

"Yep, everything's in order," Mokuba replied.

Kaiba looked up at them, "Yes, that's good. So, I've seen you two "loitering" around a lot. What have you two been up to?"

"Who, us?" Mokuba gulped.

"Who else?" Kaiba smiled sneakily. He was on to them.

"Way to go," Noa muttered almost silently to Mokuba, "Well, we were just talking with the duelist down there. We asked them how they enjoyed the tournament."

"Yeah!" Mokuba played along.

"Really, now. And, what did they say?" Seto looked at them intently.

"They…uh," Noa stuttered.

"They really liked it. It was a good challenge they really felt like they needed. Also, they really enjoyed it because, well, it was duel monsters. It's all the rage now, as you know. Everybody's into it," Mokuba fibbed, and tried hiding it, but was failing immensely.

"You two are very good liars, you do know that, don't you? It was quite a good story. Had you told someone besides me, they would've fallen for it. But I can see right through those angelic faces of yours. Now, no lies this time. What have you been up to?" Kaiba admitted.

"Honestly, we're up to nothing," Noa replied, putting his hand across his heart.

"I second that!" Mokuba said, also crossing his heart.

"Right…well, you're dismissed. Just make the announcement that everyone should start filling into dinner now," Kaiba commented, "I'll be down in a minute."

"Okay!" Mokuba ran out of the office, followed be Noa.

"Gees, that was close!" Noa said as they raced down the stairs.

"Now I feel kind of guilty," Mokuba replied, "lying to Seto like that. He knows, too, that we're up to something. That makes it even worse."

"What's better, blabbing our prank to Seto, or seeing his face when he's under the mistletoe with you know who? Who knows? Maybe we'll maybe even make him happy," Noa replied reassuringly.

"Yeah, you're right," Mokuba stated, "We will probably make him happy." They reached the bottom of the stairs and opened the door leading to the hall. Just as they opened it, they yelped and jumped backwards in surprise, not expecting Joey to be standing right in the doorway.

"Joey, what are you doing here?" Mokuba asked.

"Oh, nothing. I just wanted to compliment you on your decorations. I really like what you've done with the place," Joey held up a thing of mistletoe.

"Oh, that, yeah…." Noa stuttered.

"What's it for?" the ultimate prankster inquired.

"Nothing, just some good, clean fun," Mokuba replied.

"That's good," Joey replied seriously, "I LOVE IT!" The boys looked at him stunned.

"It's the perfect trick. Tell me, now, does Kaiba know?" Joey asked, smiling mischievously.

"Well, not exactly…."Mokuba started.

"Perfect," Joey replied. Then, he looked at them suspiciously, "Was part of this prank for him?"

"In a way, yes," Noa said.

"Beautiful," he commented, "Keep up the good work. I'll be your eyes for some places and scope out some suckers," he said eying the plant.

"Here then," Mokuba took out a camera, "If you're going to be part of this, you'll need one of these for those…moments."

Joey took the camera, "Gotcha. In the meantime, let's say this talk never happened. I know nothing. Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm going to find Mai." He winked, tossed the piece of mistletoe back to the boys and strode off.

"Well, that was unexpected," Noa said.

"That was very unlike Joey," Mokuba replied, but it got some guilt off my chest. I feel sort of better knowing that Joey now knows. He is the ultimate prankster, you know."

"I'm sure. But, can we trust him?" Noa inquired, walking up the stage steps.

"Of course. He's Yugi's best friend, and all of Yugi's friends can be trusted," Mokuba replied. He then walked up to the microphone and made the announcement for dinner. There was a murmur in the crowd, and slowly, everyone started filing into the dining hall, just next to them. Seto looked out from his office window.

"They were a little late to the stand. I wonder what held them back…."


So, Joey's discovered their plan. How…unlike him. Yes, the characters will be very unlike themselves in this fic. Seto will DEFINITELY be different. Joey…so-so. Yeah. That's about the size of it. Review, and happy reading!