A/n: Hey, y'all. So I updated. Sorry for the wait. I just wasn't feeling the vibe for some reason. This chapter was hard to write, but I managed! Yeah! And thanks for the suggestions, but I got something else planned in store. Anyhoo,

Disclaimer: I don't ever own Yu-Gi-Oh! And I doubt that you…er, do…

Chapter Twenty One: A Night to Remember Part III: Love, Boys and Duels

"Eep, Duke! What are you doing -- how did you get in here?" Serenity stared up at a very drunk Duke swaying in, backing off instinctively with her hand at her throat.

"Oh that?" he said casually, looking loftily at the small keypad next to the door's frame. "I've known the password for years," he answered.

Mental note: change the password. "You didn't answer me -- never mind. What do you want?"

Sheesh, how rude. "I thought we were friends. After all I've been through to get you alone. It took me twenty chapters. 20!" He lifted something from behind him, studied it almost questioningly, and tossed it to her with a beam of delight. Automatically, she caught it with antipathy.

"What's this?" It looked like a costume. He said that it was a cheerleader costume. Erk. "Uhhh…" She closed her eyes, counted to ten. "No thanks!" But while her eyes had been shut, he had braved a step forward. He was suddenly a lot closer than before. "Duke," she said patiently, pressing her back into the wall as far as it would go, "I want to say this in the nicest way possible…but…I'm. Not. Interested!"

"Oh, I see…because you're pregnant with HIS baby. But that's okay! Look, I cut out a space for your belly…" He gestured towards the suit. He eyed her haughtily. "You should be honored. Damaged goods I don't usually accept, but…"

Even though he was being his usual self and was drunk on top of that, she couldn't help think, Is that what people are thinking of me? She prized her reputation around town. Meanwhile, she screamed, "WHY YOU--! GET OUT! OUT! OUT!!" loudly and hitting him all over with the costume.

Hearing yelling, the maids gasped, "Miss Serenity--!" but Tristan was faster. He made it there and found Duke lying on the bed face-up. Serenity was panting was exertion and stress and few feet away, missing and hitting the bed.

"Duke! What ARE you DOING?" He hauled the semi-unconscious drunken boy to his feet. Serenity still was swiping at him.

"Ow! Ow! She's Wacko Chick!" This comment seemed to make her even more inflamed. "Man, if she used that kind of energy for something different…"

"It's not getting through if you're still talking, dude." Tristan hauled him off by the scruff on his neck to find a cab. He never learns… When he returned a few minutes later, Serenity was sitting on the edge of the bed, looking shell-shocked. "Are you alright?"

"I'm fine. Is he all right? I didn't mean to... I just snapped all the sudden. He just said some…pretty upsetting things, to me, that's all." She took a handkerchiefto blow her nose.

"About the baby?" She nodded. "Does Kaiba know about it?" he said, delicately.

For once, she was glad for the walking-on-eggshells attitude. "No." she answered shortly.

"Sooo, what are you going to name it?"

She looked a bit better, "I was thinking… of 'Mia' or 'Tia.'"

"Oh, I know…. cause of Mai and Tea… And if it's a boy?"

She sobered. "Um…either… after his father, I guess, or maybe after my brother."

Tristan couldn't help snickering at the thought of Kaiba's kid being named after Joe.

"That's funny?" she said, smiling lightly.

"No, I, um, think they're good names. Good luck, Serenity." He gave her a thumbs-up sign and got up. "I'm surehe'll be thrilled."

"Thanks…for everything, Tristan." She waved and then stopped, "Oh! Do you know where Mai is? I have to ask for help…"

"Um, p'bably still somewhere inside the mansion…. See ya." He stepped outside and closed the door lightly. He followed a maid outside. Kaiba'd better be 'thrilled'… who wouldn't be? He caressed his knuckles.

Meanwhile...

I'm da luckiest guy in da world. I've got da most beautiful girl in da world, both inside and out, and bright future ahead of us. I am so glad that I asked her to marry me. I've never been more sure in my life.

Coming in from a lengthy kiss, the soft glow from the lamp next to the reclining sofa making her skin look warm, he found he couldn't take his eyes from her. The highlights in her light blond hair sparkled and caught the light, and her soft smile made it all seem more alluring. Of course, she was already desirable, even in stark plain white florescence. Is it possible… to miss her even when she's with me…? Even when we're together? But how? I mean, that doesn't make sense.

"What are you thinking?"

"Well…" he hesitated.

"Ah, so the truth comes out," she smiled. They were still in one of the Kaiba Mansion's prestigious dens, the fire going in on the electrical fireplace, a soft glow from a nearby lamp was all that lit up the wide room and the couch where they were sitting, close to one another. "Out with it. You know your directness is what I like."

"Well… I was jest wondering…about that night I asked you to marry me. I mean… why'd you say 'only if I meet you at the altar?"

Phew. "Oh… just because…I know some girls who had their fiancé run off on their wedding day. There were a real mess afterwards," she whispered.

"Sounds to me like you've been one of them."

"Me? Ha!" she laughed with real mirth. "Oh, no, no, no, no," she tossed her long golden curls so that it fell across one bare shoulder. "But, my cousin was one."

"Cousin?"

"Yeah. You'll meet all of them, at the rehearsal. You DO remember when the rehearsal is, don't you?"

"Yeah, yeah… one week from today. I'll be there."

"You'd better."

"So, what are we going to do over there, anyway?"

"At the rehearsal? Well, it'll be just like pretend of the real wedding. But, we have to fill out the paperwork--"

"Paperwork?" It was his least favorite work. "Why?!"

"For the marriage license, silly." When he groaned, she said sternly, "don't be lazy! It has to be done. You know, to be legal?"

Yeah, yeah. "How about," he said, sitting up straight, "we don't fill out the paperwork? We elope?"

She merely raised an eyebrow and propped up her head with one well-manicured hand. "Hate to break it to you, honey, but you still have fill out papers."

Aw. "But, wouldn't it be romantic?!" he said with a starry-eyed look.

She chuckled. "Yeah, but I wouldn't want all my hard work to plan this thing out to go fer nutttin."

"Yeah…I guess…and did you just mimic me?!"

"Who," she said with a dramatic roll of the eyes, sounding just like an owl. "Moi?"

"Yeah, you!" He grinned and held up tickling fingers. "Just for that, you... get... tickled!"

She smirked, "I'm not ticklish." In demonstration, she held up her chin. "See?"

"Oh yeah, I forgot."

"Anyway, you'd better bethere. I'll have my whole family there, and you'd better not disappoint me, buster."

"I will. I will. I just don't see why we have to practice, that's all."

"Trust me, we do." She paused. "The only thing we don't have to practice is for threshold, and that'll come later, so it's all good."

"Threshold?" he cocked his head quizzically.

"Yeah…you know…" she rolled her wrist, "carrying the bride over the threshold? Though, were going to living in my cottage, at least until we find another house, that is…"

"Oh, yeah…I forgot about that tradition."

"Figures." She said with another one of her smirks, and then he surprised her by grabbing her by the legs. "Hey!"

"We can 'practice' right now," he said with a grin. "So, come on. Upsy-daisy." Supporting her back, he slid his right arm underneath her knees, and she gripped his neck instinctively.

Now?! "No, don't, honey, you're going to drop me--!" she shrieked as he hoisted her up. And the wobbled uncertainly. Mai remember all too clear the last time, when she smushed him and he nearly broke into pieces. "Honey -- your back ---"

"Whoa!" He started walking forward, trying to get to the doorway she figured, when he lost his balance. She was just too heavy. Leaning forward helped -- for about five seconds. "Uh oh!"

Gritting his teeth, he managed to throw her before he fell on the hard wood floor, and she landed hard on the bedbehind the couch. "Ouch…" she rubbed her sore back, "Honey, are you all right?"

"Yeah…" came this thin little voice from her right.

She started to get up. "I told you not to try…now you've probably thrown your back out…and you can't make it…" she trailed off as he got up. "…To the rehearsal…oh honey, you're okay!"

"OW!" he said as she threw her arms around him. He really did 'throw' out his back, and they both fell over -- luckily, onto the soft bed instead of the hard floor again. "…How much do you weigh, Mai? A ton?"

"Excuse me?" She lightly hit him on the face. "Don't you know it's rude to ask a lady that?!"

"Well, you've never told me your age, so…" he shrugged, offhand.

"Trust me," she whispered in his ear, "you'll know…before we get married. Deal?"

"Deal. I guess. As long as it's not 2000, it doesn't matter to me."

"Good. Because it's not 2000." She made a face, and he grinned down at her. "What are you smiling about, you pumpkin face?"

His jaw dropped down, pretending to be insulted. "I so do not have a pumpkin face."

"Yes, you do," she giggled, a high chiming sound. "You're orange, and you're always grinning about something… like a jack o' lantern…" She started laughing now, at his exasperated expression. "Well, it's true, honey! You do! Don't be mad! And-- hey, what are you -- " she squirmed, "-- doing now?!"

"A statement so insulting deserves a tickle," he declared.

"I told you, I'm not ticklish."

"Maybe not there, but…what about…your foot?!" Deftly, he removed her boot from her slender foot and immediately, she started to squirm harder. "Oh, so I FOUND it, have I?" he said in a pseudo-evil cackle.

"No, don't--- ha ha ha! Stop!" She said, and he did, mostly because she was strong and probably would push him off the bed and that would hurt. Plus, her foot-long talons looked like she might poke an eye out. "Whew…" When she saw his befuddled stare, she said, "what's wrong?"

"Nothing…the way you were flopping around, someone overhearing would think that I was trying to kill you."

"I don't like being held, vulnerable. And you should talk!" Joey had a big tickle reflex; he started thrashing around like a fish out of the water. "I'd nearly lost my eye many times…." As she was rubbing it, she remembered something, and looked at him with a look of pleading appeal.

"Whatever it is, when you look at me like that, it's yes."

"How about before the rehearsal, I take you to the spa?" she curved her hand up his arm. "It's really relaxing, you get massages, a mud bath, and a manicure."

"I dunno, it's sounds -- wait did you say massages?"

"Yep." She grinned and tilted her head up. "By a professional and all. I tell you, it feels like your floating away on a puffy white cloud." That should sway him.

"Wait a minute -- by a guy or a girl?"

"For you? A guy of course."

"Ew! No Way."

"Oh come on. They're professionals. They're not going to cop a feel or anything."

"Still--!" He sputtered.

"Oh, all right, if it makes you that uncomfortable," she sighed generously. "Mr. Insecure-About-His Masculinity. But don't blame me when-- "

"Hey, who are you calling insecure. I'm not insecure."

Right. " -- When I claw the girl's pretty eyes out."

"You'd-you'd do that?"

"Of course."

"Wow. I'd like to see that. I never would have suspected." He said with a just-like-a-man-dreamy look and sliding forward on his elbow on the bed sheets until she pushed him. "Hey!" he nearly fell off again. "I'd think, if I didn't know any better, that you were trying to get rid of me!"

She chuckled under her breath. "If I did that, you would look awful. And that would be bad. So, okay with the spa treatment?"

"Yeah, I guess. Even though it seems girly."

"Trust me," she said, circling a pattern on the bedspread, "A lot of guys go. They love it. Even movie stars go. It's a hotspot. Action movie stars," she emphasized.

"Really?"

"Mm-hmm. So, anything else you want to ask me?" Grabbing him by his belt loop, she nudged him closer with an inviting smile. He placed one hand in her hair and played with the strands.

"Yeah, I do."

"Are you thinking…. about what to write in your vows?" she said, catching his eye.

"Vows? Ow, okay, I was just kidding…of c-course I have." Gulp.

Yeah, right. He's the world's great procrastinator. "Good. Need some help? Maybe you could give me a little sample, so I can edit."

"No…" He glanced down at her hand lying in between them and covered it with his own. "I want it to be a surprise," he explained quickly. Then, "Mai?"

"Hm?" She smirked at him to let him know she was on to him, as she tipped her head back right in front of him.

"W -- " He stopped and changed his mind. "Well, actually, maybe you could help me. What made you say yes to a guy like me?"

He said it so quickly that she had to pause to let it all sink in. "What…what do you mean, honey?" Her violet eyes frowned up at him.

"Well…you know…" He looked bashful all the sudden, rubbing the back of his thick, fluffy head in a defensive pose. "I mean… when I asked you to…spend your life with me, you seemed kind of… surprised." And we've been going out for practically three years and all.

"Well, that's because I was. Surprised that you asked so remiss, I mean." She watched his now-surprised face at her statement and her face darkened. "Ever since…the tournament at Battle City…I've been having these nightmares…. Before we met again, that is…and when I woke up in the hospital after that-that awful man did his mind-altering thing at me, and you were the first person I saw when I opened my eyes…" She looked bashful. "I saw you, and I knew."

He waited. "Knew what?"

"That you were the one." She said in a hushed tone, deciding not be hasty. The mood had taken a languidity that she liked. A few dark blond strands had swept across his face, and she brushed them back. Where they just flopped back again in his face. "You'll get a haircut at the spa too," she warned softly, her pretty face relaxing into a smile and her fingers curling ito his thick hair.

"Only if you get one…I'll get one," he countered sassily, smoothing her own hair down her back with his hand and watching it rumple again back into curls.

"Did I help... with your ideas?" She smiled up knowingly at him. She was teasing, but he returned the smile back. It was in other ways that he had changed her life after they met, and they both knew it…without saying. Neither and either of them were the same again, it could be said as a fact. It was unsaid that they impacted each other. The way her smiles were more genuine, for one. The way they laughed together. And each had left a deep impression on the other, and although not seen, it still was felt.

But that was saved specially for the wedding day, for the right moment.

"Yeah… you did…but now I got other ideas…" He let his sentence trail off and inched slowly closer to her. Now it was her turn to not know exactly what he meant, because the way he was looking at her made tiny shivers of anticipation run up and down her spine. "Tell me…" he said, bending his head so it fit perfectly with the curve of her neck. "…about the wedding. Specifically, the wedding night…" he murmured.

"Oh, I've got some ideas about that." She said coyly. "There's going to be lots of romance, that's for sure."

"Um hmm…good…"

Did he just say Mm, mm, good? "First, we'll take a long soak in the hotel's Jacuzzi…" She knew he'd been waiting patiently for that occurrence, tilting her head to the side playfully.

"Getting better…" He twisted the tiny heart-shaped locket she wore that he'd given her last Valentine's day out of the way and continued his descent down the exquisite ivory column of her neck.

"And, then…" she continued, wrapping her arms around him, "we can order room service…if you want…"

"Getting…. Better…" Tell me we can order food!

"We can order…" Should I tease him or no? Nah. "…Some food, if you want."

"What kinds?!"

"Oh…this and that. Some whipped cream…" she whispered, "or maybe…some honey…" Inwardly, she muffled her laughter; he looked all of seven.

"Oh, Mai!" In a flash, he started popping the buttons on her vest as fast as possible; outside, a maid overheard and dropped a plate of silverware while scampering away. Eh… whatever works, she thought, weak. Works for me too.

Meanwhile…

As Yugi followed the waving trenchcoat in front of him down the corridors of Kaiba Corp., he wondered if Kaiba intentionally made his company this creepy looking. No lights were turned on, only the streetlights coming in from the windows could be seen. You would think electricity wouldn't be a problem…

Still, it was all just a game of psyche-out. And as Yugi was led into a particularly wide, circular room, he came to a decision. Though as much as he hated Kaiba, it was better to let him win this match. If not, Kaiba would pursue him ruthlessly and never leave him alone. Still, he had to make it look believable. Yugi had to put on a good act, because if Kaiba suspected anything amiss, he would demand another rematch. And so forth… forever.

"What's the matter, Motou? I thought you'd be thrilled; I've heard that you'd played since the old man's death."

"Oh, yeah sure," Yugi said with a roll of his eyes. "Thrilled that you've coerced me into playing…as usual."

Kaiba continued to smile fakely as Yugi scowled. They both took their places behind the counters almost automatically. "Trust me Motou…this'll be the last time you duel me."

Yeah, yeah, 'because I'll finally have my victory.' Blah blah blah… "I hope so." Yugi stated with a glare. Throw it out for yo mama to clean. I've heard it all before. I must, he gripped his deck, let Kaiba win. But I must make it look believable.

Anyway, I'll probably lose all the same. Let him have his title. Whatever.

"I hope so." Yugi stated with a glare. I must, he gripped his deck,

As if Kaiba heard, he narrowed his eyes and opened his mouth, but before he could say a word, Tea came panting in, just before the door sealed shut. Seeing Yugi glaring and Kaiba smiling threw her off at first. Both looked up. "Huff…huff… Yugi, I've come…." She had to catch her breath.

A snicker escaped into the silence. "Motou…your girlfriend has come to cheer, I see. Girl problems?" he pointed to his cheek.

Yugi touched his own face automatically, remembering the scratch he had from Rebecca's slap. His pale skinflushed, glaring.

"Yeah, no thanks to you! Since you locked me out!" Tea declared angrily at Kaiba.

"Stuff it."

"You can't talk to me like that!"

"I'll talk any way I want. Security!"

"No, you can't." Yugi decided to bluff. "If you do, I walk out of here."

A long, tense silence took fifteen minutes.

"Fine," he spat. "But the second she talks, she's out of here. I need my concentration."

Tea took a deep breath, but Yugi cast her a sidelong look. She exhaled sharply, crossing her arms. "Fine. I won't talk."

Thank God. "Let's start."

The cards felt sweaty in Yugi's hand. He felt really unsure, since he would like nothing better than to wipe the floor with Kaiba, after what he did at his grandpa's funeral. He hoped Tea wouldn't make him mad. Kaiba rarely lost his temper, choosing to hide beneath a cool mask instead, but when he did, everyone better watch out.

Flashback!

It was a cold, rainy day. Perfect for a funeral. The sky wept as they finished in the eulogy in the church and headed out the lay the deceased to their final resting-place.

Tristan had took one end of the casket, Kaiba had taken the other. Yugi didn't know why, and he had objections. Probably to look good in front of his girlfriend he'd figured. Joey hadn't been there; he'd made some sort of excuse. But Yugi knew that his friend just didn't like coming to funerals.

Arthur Hawkins and Rebecca had been there, as well as Mokuba. And a bunch of other of his grandfather's friends from bingo, and such were looking on. Suddenly, the whole casket fell over; Tristan tried to hold thing whole thing up by himself, but Kaiba had let go, yelling angrily underneath his breath. "Stupid old man!"

He gave the excuse that he'd fallen in a hole or something, but that didn't account for all the yelling at Grandpa! And then after the funeral, he'd had the nerve to give some angry offending remarks that only Yugi could hear. While the minister had been lowering him into the ground!

End Flashback.

So, as much as Yugi would dearly love to pay Kaiba back for that little incident, he knew it was best this way. Whatever problem Kaiba had, was not his problem. He didn't want to deal with him anymore. So, he said:

"This WILL be the last time I duel you Kaiba. NO matter what the outcome. You got it?!"

He was practically snarling and Tea looked at him in surprise. Kaiba still had the same smile that made him look like a carved voodoo doll.

"Trust me. For once, I agree with you Yugi. No matter what the outcome."

There was a tense silence. Yugi saw that during his flashbacks, his hands had been playing automatically. Like they had minds of their own. Stop it! he slapped them.

"I don't know why you're so hell-bent on this, Yugi," Tea said, though it was clear and obvious she talking to Kaiba instead. "I would think that you've have other more IMPORTANT things on your mind than some petty feud."

She exchanged a smile with Yugi, who couldn't help smiling back. Across the room, Kaiba saw this and frowned, thinking they had some secret joke.

"What's so funny?" he hissed.

"And, as I was saying, Yugi," Tea said loudly, straightening her arm, "Kaiba wouldn't and won't acknowledge anything even if you danced around with a electrical sign flashing, Serenity is having your baby, you Dimbulb. Joey and Mai have already tried…the whole town knows."

Her eyes slid over to Kaiba, and they were both secretly hoping Kaiba would listen and call the whole duel off. Yugi because he simply didn't want to duel anymore, and Tea because she didn't trust Kaiba she far as she could throw him. Who knew what he had planned?

But…

"Oh, I see. I'm onto your little game. Trying to distract me by telling your lies. I assure you, Motou, it won't work."

Tea smacked her forehead and Yugi sweatdropped.

Sigh!

TBC

A/n: And let's see…that's Yugi and Tea… (checks off list) Yep! That's all of them! Okay, I'll try to make him learn by next chapter…for real! He's really in DENIAL with a capital D, isn't he?

As for the J/M-ness, I like their conversations. I think they could talk about anything and I wouldn't mind. I know I shouldn't make fun of Joey, but I couldn't resist! And the food thing, that's a no-brainer. (scratches head) lol. And the Duke thing, I'm not gonna even comment on. I think it's pretty self-explanatory.

Anyhoo, please review! They are greatly appreciated! Till then!