Disclaimer: All Yu-Gi-Oh! characters and references belong to their respective owners. The song And Forever belongs to the artist and the company that recorded it and was used in this story with the best of intentions. Story elements © Hideki LaShae. No money was gained in the writing of this story.
WARNING: This story contains sensitive cultural practices and references that might offend some readers. The views and opinions of the cultures which condone these practices are not shared by this author, but they are included in this story for awareness purposes only.
Time to Duel, Mariko!
By
Hideki LaShae
Chapter Twenty-Five
Dancing in the Moonlight
"Well, the Battle City tournament is officially over now, isn't it, Kaiba?" asks Téa.
Seto glares at Téa. "Didn't I already give you permission to call me Seto?"
Téa blushes slightly. "Sorry, Ka-Seto… Now will you answer?"
"Yes… my tournament is over," says Seto.
"So… Marie… how about we hit the clubs tonight?" asks Téa winking at Marie.
Marie smiles. She turns towards Seto. "Seto? Come dancing with Téa and I tonight! We'll make it a party to celebrate the end of the tournament!"
"No… Every time I take you out dancing, you get us into bar fights," says Seto glaring at Marie.
"Hey! It's not my fault you have terrible luck picking nightclubs! If we didn't go into the gay clubs, then I wouldn't have to protect you from all those weirdoes that keep hitting on you!" exclaims Marie.
Seto's eyes widen. "What?"
"What?" replies Marie.
"You thought they were hitting on me? Marie! Those guys were not gay! They were trying to get me out of the way so they could rape you!" exclaims Seto angrily.
"Well then I'm really glad that I punched them first!" shouts Marie.
Seto bursts out into laughter. He pulls Marie to him and holds her as he laughs.
"So, Seto, will you please go out dancing with me and T-bird?" asks Marie.
"I am not going out dancing with you, and you are not going out dancing without a proper escort!" exclaims Seto firmly as he stops laughing.
Marie's eyes widen. "What? You're… forbidding me from going out alone?"
"Yes…"
Marie shoves Seto away from her.
"I suppose if you must have a dancing date with T-bird then my mansion will have to suffice," says Seto.
"And everyone must attend!" exclaims Marie happily as she turns towards everyone else.
"I cannot attend," says Odion, "I must return to Egypt… to my duty…"
Malik nods. "Thank you for your assistance, Odion. I will be staying here. I have things I still need to do."
"I won't be attending either, Marie," says Isis glancing at Ishizu, "I must return to the Necklace until I am needed again. I am sorry, Ishizu… I was never meant to exist like this. I am truly sorry." With a flash of light from the Millennium Necklace, she disappears.
"And I… apparently… was never meant to exist. When you are ready to give me my own physical body, Marie, then I will talk to you again," says Mariko vanishing with a flash of light from the Millennium Scale.
"Stubborn jerk!" exclaims Marie.
"Hey, Mai… would you like to join the Hot Rods?" asks Téa, "I think you'd make a great dancer… a beautiful Mustang!"
Mai shrugs her shoulders. "Why not? What have I got to lose?"
"So… standard clubbing attire, Hot Rods!" exclaims Marie smiling, "And yamis, hikaris, I will expect you all to be present at the party tonight. Your friends can attend as well, Yugi. The party begins at seven tonight! Come on, Mokie, Seto! Let's go home!"
Seto, Mokuba, and Marie head off to return to the mansion leaving everyone else standing outside Kaiba Corp's laboratories.
"Big brother… why did you decide to have a dance party here?" asks Mokuba as he sits on Seto's bed.
"Mokie… you've never seen Marie dance like she does when we're out on a date," says Seto searching his large closet for the perfect outfit to wear to the party he never planned on hosting.
"Of course I've never seen her dance like that! I never knew you two actually went on dates! How many have you gone on?" asks Mokuba, "Why were you hiding it from me? How long has it been going on?"
"Our first date was the night I defeated her in a duel. After she tucked you into bed and sang you to sleep… she begged me to grant her one request. So she dragged me off dancing," says Seto grabbing a shirt from his closet and stepping to the doorway to throw it onto the bed.
The shirt lands gracefully over Mokuba's head.
"Hey!" exclaims Mokuba ripping the shirt off his head and setting it beside him as he scowls at Seto.
Seto looks at the floor and fidgets uncharacteristically. "I've taken her out dancing at least half a dozen times, but I've never danced with her… I don't know how to dance…"
Mokuba bursts out laughing.
Seto glares at his little brother. "What is so funny?"
"There's nothing to dancing! All you have to do is move to the music!" exclaims Mokuba through fits of laughter, "I'm sure Marie could teach you in a few seconds!"
Seto blushes and turns back into his closet. "I never should have told you that!"
Mokuba clamps his hand over his mouth to quiet his laughter, but his body still shakes with his silent chuckles. "I'm sorry, Seto! But it is funny! Everyone can dance to the kind of music they play in dance clubs! You just move and it's considered dancing!"
"I don't want it to be considered dancing! I want it to be dancing when I'm out there with Marie!" exclaims Seto from inside the closet, "I considered taking dance classes so I would know what to do, but I couldn't fit them into my schedule with school, you, and Kaiba Corp."
Mokuba calms himself after hearing that statement. "You really are worried about this aren't you, Seto?"
"I don't want to embarrass her. She is a wonderful dancer!" says Seto solemnly. He pulls a pair of pants and a jacket from his closet and he steps out into his room.
"She loves you, big brother. You won't embarrass her," says Mokuba. He smiles at Seto.
"How can you be so confident about that?" asks Seto.
"I know Marie too, you know!"
Seto smiles at the outfit he's selected to wear to the party.
"So what else have you and Marie done on your dates?" asks Mokuba.
There's no one else, you're the only one for me
Yes, this time my love's the real thing…
Seto looks at Mokuba with a raised eyebrow. "Do you want to know the intimate details of my love life?"
"Hey, I'm not asking if she's given you a blow job or anything!"
"Mokuba!" Seto's entire face turns bright red. "That's it! I am definitely restricting your TV!"
Mokuba continues on completely unfazed by his big brother's interruption. "I'm just asking where else you go on dates. Have you taken her to the standard dinner and a movie?"
"I've taken her to dinner a few times. We've gone out to clubs so she can dance and I watch her. Sometimes we would just sit together in the living room and talk over hot chocolate or watch a movie," says Seto, "However, most of our courtship has been taking place through Kaiba Corp's website. I have a special message board set up there that only we know about. We would send each other messages through there and we would talk about everything, well, nearly… there were two things she hid from me. She was ashamed of herself for allowing her body to be circumcised. She mentioned to me that Ishizu gave her the 'Mark of the Tomb Guardian' as she called it, but she didn't tell me that it had marred her beautiful skin. I thought it was a necklace or a pin or something stupid like that."
"Are you upset that she has the tattoos?"
"No!"
"They attract your attention to something you'd like to be looking at anyway, right?" Mokuba grins at Seto.
Seto blushes. "Shouldn't you go get ready for the party?"
"What should I wear?" asks Mokuba, "I've never been to a dance club before and I don't want to be overdressed!"
"Wear that outfit that Marie bought for you in Cairo," says Seto.
"Okay! Have you tried on that costume she made for you yet?" asks Mokuba.
"We just got her stuff from my office this afternoon," says Seto chuckling, "and you haven't left my side since! I'll try it on tomorrow and we can play with Marie… She promised to dress in the Dark Magician Girl's full attire when she saw me dressed as the Blue-Eyes Ultimate Dragon!"
"And she hasn't yet seen me as the Rabid Horseman! She fell asleep when I tried it on!" exclaims Mokuba.
Seto smiles at the memory of holding a sleeping Marie in his arms. "You should go get dressed. The gang will be here soon."
Mokuba nods and runs off to go get dressed for the party.
Seto starts to change into the outfit he selected for the dance party. "Tonight, Marie… I will dance with you."
The door swings open, and Mokuba, dressed in a forest green silk shirt with black suede pants, leads everyone into the reception hall where Seto normally holds his boring business parties.
The room is more than large enough for their party, with a darkened dance floor and brightly light tables filled with food set to the side. The room has been decorated with strobe lights that flash various colored lights out onto the dimly lit dance floor. A large stereo system has been set up in the corner of the room and already blasts loud music.
Everyone looks around the room in awe.
Mokuba sighs. "Marie! Could you quit dancing for my brother? Our guests have arrived!"
Marie spins around on the dance floor with a flash of white. She stops dancing and approaches the group in the entranceway. She smiles as she looks at them. She knows at least half of them are evaluating her choice of dress for this evening. She wears a sapphire blue muscle shirt that has been cut off to reveal her tanned stomach along with a midnight blue miniskirt. She still wears Seto's sleeveless white trench coat, which nicely matches the knee-high white boots on her legs. She tugs carelessly on her white palm gloves. "Welcome to Kaiba Mansion!"
"Thanks for inviting us, Marie," chirps Yugi happily. He, as well as Yami who stands just behind him, wears a midnight blue leather shirt with buckles everywhere, some for decoration and some to keep it on his body. Both boys also wear black jeans, a black neck belt, and black wrist belts.
Yami, however, wears an additional three arm belts on each arm. He nods his appreciation to Marie.
Marie nods in return.
Seto stands up from his chair where he had been watching Marie dance before the others arrived. He strides over to the group with confidence. He wears a tight sapphire blue T-shirt beneath a sleeveless white jacket. His jacket isn't nearly as long as the one Marie wears. His jacket only reaches his thighs and it has silver chains crossing over the front of it to hold the jacket pressed tight to his muscular chest, but the jacket's front doesn't close like a normal jacket where the material beneath would be hidden. His jacket still leaves the T-shirt visible even though it's closed as well as it ever will be. His card-shaped locket dangles around his neck. And besides his plain black shoes, the only other thing he wears is the tight, tattered sapphire blue jeans. He smirks. "I'm glad to see you all made it. Marie would be upset if you didn't show up! Make yourselves at home. And don't worry about eating everything, mutt… I have the kitchen staff on standby!"
"I'm not a mutt!" exclaims Joey growling at Seto. He wears a black leather jacket, white T-shirt, and black leather pants.
Mai leans against Joey. "Just ignore him, Joey…"
Joey looks at Mai and smiles. "You think that will work, Mai?"
"I know a few things that will keep your mind off his attitude." Mai smiles and runs a hand, encased by a white palm glove, through her blonde tresses. She wears a lavender halter-top to match her eyes and expose her finely shaped stomach. She wears high-heeled, white knee-high boots and as she leads Joey towards the buffet table, her loose white miniskirt sways around her hips.
Seto's eyes meet Yami's, and he nods his head.
Yami smirks.
"Let's get this party started!" exclaims Bakura grabbing Ryou's wrist and pulling him onto the dance floor. He wears black leather pants and a black leather vest that he's opted to leave open to expose his pale skin.
Ryou wears a white silk shirt with blue leather pants. He gasps as Bakura pulls his frail body up against the strong tomb-robber's figure and doesn't waste any time before starting to grind with him.
"Would you like to dance, Serenity?" ask Tristan and Duke at the same time. They both look at the pretty brunette who wears a loose, red pleated skirt with white pumps and a white button-up shirt that she tied at her mid-riff.
Serenity smiles. "Um… well…"
Tristan wears his usual outfit, a white T-shirt beneath a black jacket with blue jeans, and Duke wears a cropped red tank top so that his stomach shows with low-riding, tattered black jeans.
"She can't just yet!" exclaims Téa, "The Hot Rods get the first dance together!" She wears a pink lace-up vest with a purple leather skirt and pink pumps. "Hey, Bakura, Ryou! Do you mind giving up the dance floor for a few minutes? The Hot Rods always give a show!"
Bakura grumbles, but when Ryou kisses him, he allows himself to be pushed back off the dance floor.
"Would you boys all mind taking seats along the wall?" asks Marie smiling happily.
"Do we have to?" asks Malik tugging on the black netting muscle shirt that Marik wears.
Marik tugs on Malik's ripped black T-shirt causing it to rip even more. "We can sit down. That doesn't mean we have to pay attention to their stupid dance!"
Malik's eyes light up at that suggestion as he feels Marik's hand move down to grab his butt through his ripped blue jeans.
Marik whispers into Malik's ear as he rubs himself through his black leather pants. "I just came here tonight for a chance to fuck you senseless."
Malik blushes and pulls Marik over to the chairs to share one and begin their make-out session.
Ishizu sighs and shakes her head at her brother's antics. She strolls out onto the dance floor, her cream-colored loincloth-style skirt billowing behind her to reveal the tan briefs she wears. The cream-colored, cropped tank top she wears reveals her soft skin, tanned by the Egyptian sun. The gold she wears… wristbands, armbands, a choker necklace, and spike earrings… reflects the light and makes her almost glow. If she were in Cairo, she would have come barefoot, as would be tradition in the types of clubs she frequented with Marie, but here she opted for a simple pair of tan ankle-high, suede boots.
The boys all take up seats along the wall while the girls gather in a small circle to quickly decide the dance to do.
Mai, being a proficient dancer and frequenter of the night club scene, would have no problems with the dance selection, and luckily for Serenity, Téa taught her a few additional dance steps while helping her pick out her clothes for this evening.
Marie moves to stand in front of Seto. "Camaro!"
Téa steps in front of Yami and Yugi who sit close by each other. "T-bird!"
Mai walks in front of Joey. "Mustang!"
Serenity glances at Tristan and Duke who sit on opposite ends so she stands in front of Mokuba. "Stingray!"
Ishizu takes up the position in front of Malik and Marik who share a chair and a short supply of oxygen. "Jaguar!"
Could it be true, could it be real?My heart says that you're the one…
The five girls begin to dance as a new song starts. It is a dance of love, a dance of seduction. Each girl brings something different to their joint performance. Marie brings courage and strength. Téa brings out her love, trying desperately to let her movements and her heart shine through to the one she loves. Serenity brings purity and innocence as she shyly moves her body in decidedly sexy ways. Mai brings the seduction to a new level as she dances for Joey alone. Ishizu brings confidence that the future will hold many more moments like this.
"Sometimes I feel so all alone. Finding myself callin' your name. When we're apart, so far away. Hopin' it's me that you're thinkin' of. Could it be true, could it be real? My heart says that you're the one. There's no one else, you're the only one for me. Yes, this time my love's the real thing," comes the singers' voices through the speakers all around the room, "Never felt that love is so right. The world seemed such an empty place. We need someone we could give our all. Baby, it's you, we'll be together now and forever."
Marie steps up to Seto and kisses him as the last notes of the song fade. "I love you, Seto!"
"I know, Marie." Seto smiles and pulls her into his lap. "I love you too."
Mai grabs Joey's hands and drags him onto the dance floor with her. "Dance with me now! You can eat later!"
Joey smiles and nods his blond head. "Sure, Mai!"
"Mokuba… would you like to dance?" asks Serenity blushing slightly.
Mokuba blushes. He tries to speak but no words come out. He simply nods his head.
Serenity pulls Mokuba onto the dance floor.
"Mokuba!" calls Seto.
"Yeah, big brother?" replies Mokuba looking back at the older teen.
"You be careful about where you're putting your hands! I don't want to have to beat up the mutt when he attacks you for touching his sister!" exclaims Seto with a smile.
Mokuba blushes even redder and turns away from Seto mumbling.
Serenity giggles. "Joey's a bit protective."
Ryou and Bakura move onto the dance floor again to start their 'sexual dance of doom' as Bakura calls it when he whispers seductively into Ryou's ear.
"Yugi… would you like to dance?" asks Téa blushing.
Ishizu steps up beside Téa. "Yami, Pharaoh, would you like to dance as well?"
Yami and Yugi glance at each other for a brief moment before both replying. "We'd love to!"
The two couples head out onto the dance floor.
"Marie… would you like to dance?" asks Seto nuzzling her head with his own.
Marie looks around. "I guess I could ask Duke or Tristan."
Seto's eyes widen, but he quickly hides the hurt he feels. "Why couldn't you dance with me?"
"You don't like to dance," says Marie, "You've never danced with me before, no matter how many times I've dragged you to the dance clubs. All you would ever do is watch me dance. You never once came to join me on the floor, and when I asked you… you always said you were comfortable where you were. I didn't think you would want to dance with me here. I… I thought you considered dancing to be… a sign of weakness… or something. Am I wrong?"
Seto kisses Marie's forehead. "I didn't think it was a sign of weakness. I just didn't want to make a fool out of myself in a public place where there might be photographers. I don't know how to dance, Marie. I always wanted to dance with you and feel your body close to mine, but I couldn't allow myself to be humiliated in public if I did something wrong. We're not in public now, so it doesn't matter. I would like to dance with you."
"I would love to dance with you!" exclaims Marie pulling Seto into a passionate kiss, "You should have told me you didn't know how to dance! I can teach you! I will make you a dance floor dream yet! You wait and see!" She climbs off Seto's lap and pulls him onto the dance floor as a slow song starts to play. She wraps his arms around her waist and wraps her own arms around his neck. She pulls herself up tightly to him. "Just follow my lead."
Baby, it's you, we'll be together now and forever…Seto stares into Marie's eyes as they dance around for several minutes, never noticing when the beat picks up again. After a good ten minutes, they realize the slow song is over, and they separate.
Marie starts to show Seto some dance moves and Mokuba and Serenity quickly join them for the lesson as well.
Téa heads off to drag both Duke and Tristan onto the floor to dance with her while Yugi and Yami giggle and attempt to dance to the fast beat together.
Ishizu scolds Marik and Malik for making out and trying to undress each other.
Marik just swats her away as Malik attacks his exposed neck.
After several dances, Mai finally lets Joey go pig out at the buffet table while she drags Duke away from Téa.
Seto heads off to get drinks for him and Marie as Marie steals Téa from Tristan for some intimate dancing.
"T-bird! Dance with me!" exclaims Marie.
"Camaro… I'm teaching Tristan to dance!" exclaims Téa.
"Later, T-bird! Dance with me!" orders Marie.
Everyone stops to watch Marie and Téa dancing together, their bodies moving seductively, hips occasionally grinding into one another's.
Yugi gasps at the almost lip-lock as the last chords of music fade away.
Marie and Téa fall to their knees laughing.
Seto walks up with three glasses of champagne. He passes a glass to each girl.
"Remember doing that dance at camp! All the other girls freaked out cause they thought we actually kissed!" exclaims Téa calming her laughter.
Marie takes a drink of her champagne. She lets Seto help her to her feet, and they move over to sit down again. She cuddles up to him. "Thank you…"
"For what?"
"For letting me have this party!" exclaims Marie.
"They are your friends, so I suppose in time they will have to become my friends as well," says Seto. "I was thinking by Valentine's Day."
"Valentine's Day?"
Seto smiles. "I'll choose the date of our wedding, and I will allow you to choose the theme of the wedding. Any theme you want. The date I choose is Valentine's Day!"
Marie's eyes widen in comprehension. "Our anniversary!"
Seto nods.
"Well… let's see… there are two wedding themes we could do… Ancient Egypt where we dress you up as a Pharaoh. I'm sure Yami wouldn't mind… or we could do Duel Monsters!" exclaims Marie.
"Both are acceptable to me," says Seto.
"And would there be any limitations on my wedding party?" Marie smiles at Seto.
"There are no limitations at all." Seto returns the smile.
