Chapter Nine: Duke's Party

A/N: I'm sorry if the last chapter stunk. I was kind of rushing it. I apologize for that. Okay, on with the fic!

Finally, the three of them had reached Duke's house and went inside to warm up. The game inventor had greeted them at the door with a smile, his bright green eyes laughing. "Hey guys. Come on in," he said happily and his Dragon Dwelling in the Cave curled lazily around his neck. The dragon looked tired but it still looked at them and rumbled its hello. Duke saw his guests' faces and then he looked at the dragon on his shoulder. "Don't mind Rocks, he's always tired. I guess that it was the way Pegasus drew him," he said and shut the door behind them, so not to let any of the cold in.

Niobe caught a familiar scent and hissed. The Blue Eyes White Dragon was here and is still here. Oh this made her upset. That Blue Eyes' taunting went on long enough. She flew off of her human's shoulder to go and look for the Blue Eyes but she knew that he was still stronger than her no matter what she did. She flew to another familiar scent then, the girl her human called Tea. Her dragon was nice and the girl was as well.

Joey watched as Niobe flew off in the direction of the other guests. He smiled as she went to Tea. At least she's not going after Draco, he was happy. "So Duke, who all is here?" he asked and took off his bookbag and hoodie. He carried the bookbag around with him and he set his hoodie down on a chair with the other sweaters, jackets and coats. "Alright, where do I stick these?" he asked holding up the bookbag. He unzipped it and showed Duke what it was.

Duke's face relaxed. At first he though Joey had a bomb or something. "Stick them under the tree, I'll give them to everyone when the party ends," he said pointing to a very large Christmas tree covered with several bows, clear glass ornaments and at the top, an angel sat with her hands around her gold heart.

Joey had carefully stuck the present under the tree and heard a giggle. "How knew that you could arrange things so beautifully?" he heard. With a look upwards, he saw Mai dressed in a beautiful Christmas outfit, a deep red velvet sweater with a deep green pair of pants; on her ears, little reindeer smiled with red noses. She smiled and watched as the tall blonde stood up.

Joey looked in her eyes and stood in awe. "Wow Mai, you look really good," he said and hugged her. A sweet scent filled his senses as he released her.

"As opposed to you, dirty pair of jeans and a t-shirt. I guess that it's better than nothing," she joked. She grabbed his arm and pulled him to the couch where the others were, drinking coke and eggnog. Mokuba sat on the floor with the dragons wrestling on the floor, except for Draco. He was curled around Seto's neck watching the others.

The group sitting on the couches was laughing, except Seto who watched his little brother. Tea and Mai were sharing a girl secret while Joey, Yugi and Duke spoke of Duel Monsters. Tristan was talking to Mokuba since the two of them never actually talked. There was a knock on the door and Duke excused himself to go answer it. "Sorry I'm late guys, I had to deal with some wrapping issues," Rebecca said as she came in the room. She set her coat down and went to the tree setting down the very messy gifts. Sitting next to Mokuba, he dragon crawled down her arm and stood next to her human before getting noticed by the others. Niobe crawled out of the pile she was in and walked to the emerald dragon, chirping her hello.

The emerald dragon chirped its reply as Wyrda moved to get close to the newest arrival. The two of them chirped, hissed and growled to each other. Niobe grew bored of talking to her companions and crawled up her human's leg. Finally reaching his knee, she felt Joey pick her up and put her on his shoulder. "I think that I'm going to have to agree with my dragon. It's late and we have to get home," he said standing up.

Duke stood up as well and showed him to the door but not before giving him his gifts under the tree from the others. "Merry Christmas Joey," Duke said. Joey smiled. The others had said their goodbyes, well Kaiba nodded in his direction as Joey put his hoodie on. He stuffed his presents in his bookbag and waved goodbye.

"Happy Holidays guys." He turned to leave but there were snickers in the room. Niobe looked at the humans her human called friends and growled softly, as if asking them why they were snickering. Joey looked up after Duke motioned upwards. "Mistletoe."

Tea and Rebecca were talking with Mai and the two of them had shoved her off of the couch. Mai blushed and rushed to Joey, kissing him for a second before rushing back. Joey blushed as well and walked out of the game inventors house. Sure Duke's party was short but it was fun; music, hanging out with good friends, that's all that was needed for them, not some big elaborate party that everyone had expected.

Joey walked outside in the snow and touched his lips. "A kiss from Mai. That's another wish come true," he said and heard a jealous snort come from Niobe. "Sorry girl. Didn't mean to make you upset. Come on, let's get home and open up these gifts," he said and raced home with a chirp from Niobe.

A/N: Okay, sorry that this chapter is blah but I was trying to think of what would happen. Anyways, please review!