A/N: Thank you all so much for the many reviews! I'm glad you all seem to be enjoying the story. I hope everyone enjoyed the holidays...whatever one you happened to celebrate. I can safely wish you all a very Happy New Year...may 2005 be awesome for you all!

Unfortunately, I will still not own Yu-gi-oh in 2005, nor did I own it in 2004. I shall never own it or claim to own it, only my plot lines and a corrupt hard drive...

Chapter 3

Serenity was shocked as she left Kaiba standing on the veranda. Her cheeks were delicately flushed pink, who knew the man could kiss? He had pulled a fast one on her for sure. What a joke, and she had allowed it! What the hell had she been thinking? At this rate she would be a stark raving lunatic, laughing insensibly at whatever trinket he graced her with just for a second kiss. This was not good, not good at all.

She nearly tripped over the long hem of her gown; this entrance she made was hardly the graceful one she accomplished the first time around. Then again, the first time around she hadn't been lip locked with a certain blue-eyed CEO seconds prior…damn him. She stopped, took a deep breath in order to calm her nerves, and then descended the steps back down to the party below.

"Hey Serenity," Tristan smiled as he headed up. "Are you alright?" He asked. His expression led her to believe that the kiss had affected her outside appearance as well as her inner emotions. Once again, damn him…

"I'm fine," she smiled weakly, not believing her own lie at this point. Then a sneaky idea hatched in her confused mind. "I would, however, feel much better if you would dance with me." She looked up at him through lowered lashes, a faint smile gracing her generous lips. She would show Kaiba that he hadn't affected her, only caused her to want Tristan more...hah!

"I thought you said that you didn't want me to bother you tonight." His answer sounded confused. Was this a test? If he danced with her did that mean he lost the right to compete for her heart.

"A girl has options Tristan," She linked her arm with his as she started descending the steps again. "I've changed my mind and I would love to dance with you, if you'll still have me?" She smiled at him expectantly as he followed her like the lost puppy he was.

Her life was such a joke. Here she was with a man who would be such perfect boyfriend material and yet, there was no spark. The spark occurred with a man who would make the worst boyfriend. Subtle thoughts of Mary Shelley's Frankenstein flitted through her mind as she imagined the making of the perfect man. He would have Kaiba's looks and sex appeal and…and what? Tristan's sweetness? Hadn't she just been thinking he was too sweet? Wasn't a little bit of sour fun sometimes? Kind of like Duke.

Duke was good looking, not as amazing as Kaiba by any means, but not hard on the eyes. For that matter, neither was Tristan. Duke also had a bit of a devilish streak to him, sometimes she found him hard to trust. He had quite a reputation with the ladies and she hated thinking she could end up being a notch. Once he had her would he grow tired of her being his 'trophy' and move on to greener pastures?

She felt Tristan's arm wrap around her waist while he took her right hand in his left. She placed her left hand on his right shoulder and they began to dance to the slow song that was playing. He was a fairly good dancer, not great, but no complaints. He twirled her around the dance floor and she couldn't help but smile up at him. He had such wonderful intentions and here she was completely confused.

Before she came to this stupid party she had figured it all out. She was going to be moving into her new place, she loved her job and she had two great men to choose between. Not that she really like-liked either of them particularly. Was it a power play? Could the blue-eyed arrogant brat be right? Was this her ego talking? Had she devised this whole challenge simply to show her superiority over the men in her life?

For the third time…damn Kaiba. He was causing her to rethink everything. She now had to make her choice between Tristan and Duke. She'd slice her own tongue out of her skull before she laughed at whatever Kaiba was planning on buying.

Kaiba walked back into the ballroom and scanned the crowd for a certain redhead. His eyes settled on her. She was on the dance floor, floating around like the perfect angel. He smirked. This angel, however, had horns. They were showing now, not to the uninformed eye but to his for sure. She was dancing with the man who Kaiba didn't even feel was competition. He knew why too. The kiss had an effect on her, just as it had him. In order to avoid him she chose to dance with that moron. He wasn't angry at her move. He deciphered that she did it either out of desperation to cloak the fact that she now knew her feelings weren't what she thought they were for these men, or to make him jealous. It was true, he hated that man's hands on her, but he also knew soon it would be only his hands on her. He didn't join this challenge to lose…

"Seto," a tug at his jacket pulled his attention from the vision on the dance floor to the imp next to him. "I don't feel too well." Mokuba looked quite green at that point.

"I thought I told you to stop eating about 20 desserts ago." Kaiba groaned, not happy at all with the shorter Kaiba. "Let's get you home kiddo."

The two made their way through the crowd. Kaiba took one last look at his angel on the dance floor. She was staring at him, he noticed,as he turned on the stair he was on. Their eyes locked and he smirked at her. She couldn't pull her gaze away from him, no matter what rationalizing she did. He gave her a knowing wink and then climbed the stairs, leaving her gawking at his back.

Had he just winked! She was so angry she could spit! How dare he? First he tricked her into kissing him, then he stared openly at her as she danced with Tristan, and now he winked at her. Damn you Seto Kaiba…she muttered under her breath.

"Is something wrong Serenity?" Tristan asked when, despite him trying to lead her around the floor she seemed to be glued in position. She also stiffened in his arms, had he done something wrong?

"I'm sorry Tristan, I suddenly don't feel like dancing. Would you mind taking me home?"

"Sure," he smiled at her. She looked very upset. Maybe if they had some alone time she would see how right they were for each other. Then she would be more apt to depend on him for his strong shoulders. He let her go, but offered his arm to her. She took it gladly. Her only thought was to get the heck out of here and out of this dress and the shoes. She wanted her sweats and a good shot of hot chocolate. Chocolate could cure just about any problem, especially for her.

"I hope this teaches you that sweets aren't necessarily a wonderful thing if they aren't done in moderation." Kaiba attempted to scold Mokuba, but ended up pitying the child as he prayed on the marble floor next to him. The 'porcelain god' was getting quite an offering tonight. Kaiba knew this would happen, had said as much, but hadn't been heeded by his little brother. Next party he would bring along a babysitter for the desserts so Mokuba could be rationed.

"I'm so sorry that I ruined your time big brother," Mokuba managed through a broken sob. "I should have listened and then you would still be there, maybe even dancing with Serenity. You should have sent me home alone...and stayed." Mokuba's sad eyes looked even more pathetic on his very pale face.

"You should know me by now kiddo, you are my priority. Besides, Serenity will be mine soon enough, no need to rush things." Kaiba stroked Mokuba's back in an attempt to soothe his tummy ache and conscience attack.

"What do you mean big brother?" He attempted to wipe his mouth on his pajama sleeve, but Kaiba stopped him, instead using a cool cloth for the task.

"Serenity issued a challenge to me tonight and if I win she's mine." He smiled at his brother. "So you see, you didn't ruin my chances with her at all."

"What kind of challenge?" Mokuba asked as he changed position from his knees to his backside on the marble floor. He now had to look up at his brother, who was sitting beside him, long legs stretched out before him.

"I have to make her laugh." Kaiba stated in a dry tone. Mokuba looked at him intently.

"But big brother, how are you going to make a girl laugh? I mean you make me laugh, but I get your sense of humor." Mokuba shook his head, his eyes dropped to the floor. "No one else does."

Kaiba ruffled the little Kaiba's hair with his hand. "I've got this covered Mokuba, I'm already thinking of something."

"Can I help?" Mokuba chirped, seemingly growing quite excited at the thought of Serenity dating his brother. "I've got great comic timing! I also have a better sense of humor than you…" He eyed his brother, wondering if he would be angry with him because he just claimed superiority at something. Seto appeared deep in thought.

"If you would like to you can help."

"OH Seto, this is gonna be great. We'll have her rolling on the floor!" Mokuba smiled at Kaiba.

"Sure we will kid, now off to bed with you." He stood slowly and walked a happier Mokuba off to his room.

Serenity opened the door to Joey and Mai's apartment. Tristan was by her side as she walked in. She had hoped he would say good night at the door and leave but, alas, nothing was going her way tonight.

"Come in and have a seat," she offered weakly. All she wanted was some peace, now that dream was a distant memory. "I'm going to slip into something a bit more comfortable. Why don't you find something to watch on the TV?" She left him standing in the living room while she made her way to her room.

What was once full of her belongings was now a stark empty room. The only thing that remained was a bed, which was not hers, as well as a dresser, once again, not hers. There were two boxes in the corner and a laundry basket full of her clothes. Once she loaded that in her car tomorrow morning she would be out of here for good. Finally…independence!

She rummaged through the basket and found her gray sweat pants, an oversized t-shirt and her fuzzy blue slippers. She quickly undressed and redressed in comfort. She pulled her hair into a ponytail and then quickly wiped the make up off of her face. Much better. She opened her door and made her way back into the living room, which was quite dark.

"Tristan, what's wrong? I mean, are the lights working?" She felt for the switch and flicked it on. She let out a startled cry as she slapped her hand over her mouth. There he was laying back on the couch, with two glasses of wine looking quite relaxed. Was that Barry White on the radio?

"Just what the hell do you think you're doing?" She demanded, as if she didn't know.

"I just…just…thought that y-you. Well, you said you were going to change into something more comfortable!" He was stammering, turning bright red and rebuttoning his shirt. She was furious!

"Get out Tristan before I tell Joey what your idea of relaxing with his little sister means…" She growled at him. "When I said comfortable I meant…comfortable!" She pulled on her shirt for emphasis. He was out the door fairly quickly and she was more than happy to slam the door on his pathetic ass. What a joke…had she thought he was sweet? Sweet as a dog in heat… She tossed the wine out of the glasses and put them in the dishwasher, and then she put the unfinished wine in the fridge. She boiled water for her cocoa and made herself a sinfully delicious cup.

She drank it in silence by the light the Christmas tree gave off. She longed to share this quiet time filled with Christmas, but what options were there?

A/N: I hope you liked it…please read and review…thank you all ever so much!