NOTE: Yes, I'm back. I know I update these things so irregularly. Sorry! Also, there's a little part at the end that I didn't bother to take out simply because I had written it previous to writing more of this chapter. I put…work into it, so as stupid as it is, I kept it in there. Feel free to pay no mind to it. Anywho…enjoy the chapter…sort of….

Disclaimer: I don't own Yu-Gi-Oh!

Chapter 23:

Yu-Gi-Oh! Beach

July 21

What was wrong with him? Why couldn't he get his mind off her? It was wrong to be like this: he knew she didn't think about him in this way! Where had his mind fled lately? Everything had just taken a turn for the worst in his head. This thoughts had never graced him so…harshly before!

He must bemessing with my mind. I'm sure of it! It's just like him to do that. Why oh why am I so vulnerable! Ack, I need to clear my thoughts.

Ryou sat up and spun around so that his feet landed on the floor. He looked at the clock. It was not even five in the morning, and he hadn't slept a wink. He was terribly tired and he had tried for hours to get to sleep; but nothing had worked. He felt the same way during the school year: schoolwork dug itself deep within his brain at night, making his mind go crazy with plans and thoughts and worries. He usually had to force some roll play into his mind to rid himself of school. He had tried that tonight –the worst night yet with these fantasies- but it had just made everything worse. She was always there. Everywhere. Roll playing did NOT help.

Ryou stood up and walked out of his room, shutting the door behind him. He was still wearing his sleepwear –a tank-top and some shorts (he, unlike Joey, had the decency to wear something besides his boxers to sleep)- as he walked through the building. But he didn't care. No one was up at this ungodly hour. Heck, the sun wasn't even up yet!

He walked downstairs and headed outside down to the beach. There, he chose a spot against a rock, facing the ocean, and lay back against it, his legs spread out before him. The surf touched and tickled his toes as he relaxed there.

Ryou closed his eyes. Now this was relaxing. Not a thought in mind: just the wind in his hair and the sounds of the water lapping all around.

He did not even think about not thinking, otherwise that would give way to thoughts wedging themselves into his brain, and he would indeed be thinking.

All he did was relax against the rock and try to sleep.

Splash!

His lack of concentration on…concentrating?...broke. Ryou squeezed his eyes shut, GOSH DARN IT, WHO THE HECK IS UP BEFORE THE FLIPPEN CRACK OF DAWN!

He opened his eyes, ready to tell off whoever was out playing in the water. Some people were trying to sleep!

Ryou stood up and walked over to where he saw the shadow of someone standing in the water with arms spread wide. The figure lowered its arms and turned around. The moonlight shed a beam on the person, clearly defining who it was.

Ryou froze. "T-Tea?"

How was it…that he could never get away from her?

"Ryou, what are you doing out here so early?" she asked.

Ryou shook his head, "I should be asking you the same question!"

Tea tilted her head, "Well, I usually am up this early, and I couldn't fall back to sleep: so I came out here to splash around. You?"

He hung his head, "I couldn't sleep either." If only you knew why….

"Pity," she answered. She walked over to him, and suddenly kicked through the water. Ocean spray flew all over Ryou, soaking him from top to bottom.

"What was that for?" Ryou tried to sound angry, but ended up laughing instead.

"Might as well wake you up for the day! Get some fun in before all the packing!" she laughed, splashing him some more.

"Oh, not this time!" Ryou forgot his sleepiness and proceeded to splash Tea back. "But…packing for what?"

Tea stopped and put her hands on her hips, "Why the cruise, silly! Don't tell me you've forgotten already! We leave tomorrow for it! How could you forget such an awesome experience? In fact, it was that that kinda kept me up."

"I had other things on my mind…" Ryou answered sheepishly.

"Like what?" Tea inquired, splashing him again. Ryou covered his face with his arms.

After wiping away the water he replied, "Well…you know…stuff."

"A certain girl?"

"W-What!"

"Gotcha," Tea laughed. "I'm just kidding."

"Oh," Ryou breathed, "Right."

"Speaking of which…you still like Ishizu, right?"

"Why?" Ryou gulped. They were getting into dangerous territory.

"No reason. So…do you?"

"Well actually…not really anymore. Don't get me wrong!" Ryou panicked, "She's a lovely woman, but…she's just not my type I suppose. After some serious thought and summer fever…I figured it out. I mean, things can change over one month…."

Okay, so he had lied. He had never liked Ishizu in the first place. Tea had grown on him over the years, but he had never really said anything. Ryou was one to keep his feelings to himself and let fate play out what it would. If Tea liked him, so be it! If she didn't, well, too bad for him. But when the question had been brought up so long ago, he had to say something. And the first person who came to mind was Ms. Ishizu.

However, trying to push Tea and Seto together was really giving Ryou a difficult time. Fate wasn't doing this: Mai, Serenity, and he were. Maybe it just wasn't meant to be; yet they were making it happen. Ryou was quite against this.

So as of now, he decided that all was fair game.

"You can say that again," Tea stuck out her tongue, "I never would have thought that…well…so much that has happened would have happened." A certain man –blue eyes, chocolate hair (you know the drill)- entered her mind. Was she really that fond of him?

Summer was the season of love, no? But…was she really in love?

A thought hit her mind. Maybe…she could find out on the cruise. Cruises were so out of the ordinary themselves that anything could happen on them. Maybe…just maybe she could find out if she really did love him.

And if he liked her in return.

Even though they had shared…a few kisses, it meant nothing. Those were just flukes.

Right?

"Dude! Where are my flippen trunks?" Joey tore at his hair, turned away by yet another cold soul.

He turned around and knocked on Ryou's door. "'Ey, Ryou? You in der?"

"I don't have them, Joey. Sorry," Ryou answered from inside.

"Darn it!" Joey stamped his foot, "Where da heck did dey go! I can't go on a cruise wit'out my trunks!"

Joey walked down a couple doors, just starting to knock on random rooms to see where they might have disappeared to. The door opened.

"Yes, Joey?" Tea asked. Joey stopped and blinked.

"What…da heck am I doin'?" he turned away, muttering to himself about asking girls for his bathing suit.

Tea's brows furrowed and she shrugged, walking back inside.

She turned around and locked the door. "Alright Mai, where did you hide them?"

Mai, reclining on Tea's bed, laughed. "Hun, you suspect me?"

"Who else has been in Joey's room and would have enough time to dig through his clothes?" Tea inquired, throwing some things into her suitcase.

"Alright, you got me," Mai laughed again. "But I just want to hear him search a little longer. It's pretty funny. I also got Mokuba's word that he would tape all the encounters for me."

"Not all of them are destined to be funny, Mai."

"Ah, but when you plan ahead," Mai tapped her skull, "and tell everyone to do something funny, then it makes it worth it."

"Why did you get Mokuba to tape it?" Tea asked.

"Well, he mentioned at one point that he was constructing something with a couple other people about the…"highlights" of this trip. So I asked if he wanted another highlight. He was more than happy to take the chance."

"Where did you put the trunks?" Tea inquired again.

"Where do you think?"

"I'd rather not know now…. That smirk you've got is always a sure sign of trouble."

"Darling, you insult me," Mai mocked shock. "Now then. Onto bigger fish."

"I don't like where this is going," Tea busied herself purposely around the room.

"What's this I'm…digging up about you and Kaiba?"

"I don't know. What are you digging up?"

"Do you have an infatuation for him?"

"Where did you get that insane idea?"

"Denial is always the first step my dear."

"I thought it was acceptance."

"That's for your own mental problems, hun: not love."

"I never said I was in love with the moron."

"But you never said you weren't."

"So, what about you and Joey? What's going on there?"

"Don't change the subject on me!"

"I'll change it if I want to!"

"Girl, what we do is none of your business."

"…Right. Well then, whatever…happens…between Seto and me is none of yours…as if anything would happen."

"Keep living in your fantasies, Tea."

"What fantasies? I've told you the truth."

"Sure you have. You just keep telling yourself that. Now, are you going out to the beach today?"

"I was planning on it, yes. Why?"

Mai smirked. She stood up and put an arm around Tea's shoulders, "Darling, it's time for a wardrobe change."

"…Say what?"

"Serenity, what do you think?"

Serenity giggled, "Let me put it this way, Mai. I think that if Mokuba saw me wearing that, he'd flip out. …In a good way." She laughed once more.

"Perfect," Mai whispered. "Let's hope the apple doesn't fall far from the tree."

"What are you two whispering about?" Tea frowned, turning around in the mirror. "Guys…this looks hideous on me. Not only that, but it's super uncomfortable…. Ugh…who in their right mind wears this stuff?"

Mai's smile disappeared, "I wear that "stuff" as you call it."

"Well, it looks fine on you. You've got the body and the looks for it. I'm killing it," Tea stuck her tongue out at herself.

"What are you talking about?" Serenity cocked her head, coming up beside her friend, "You look great! I'm almost thinking of doing the same thing. It's fun to make Mokuba flip out…."

"Sorry, hun, I don't have your size," Mai crossed her arms, "Otherwise, I'd let you have it."

"That's okay. I'll find some other way," Serenity answered.

"Well, I say we head out on our way," Mai smiled. "Come on girls: the guys should all be outside by now. We can…show Tea off and see what types of reactions we reel in."

"I refuse. I will not throw away the dignity I have remaining," Tea pulled at the thin straps of the tiny bikini.

"Tea Anzu Gardner, I'm going to drag you out there, so help me God," Mai took her by the arm. Tea grabbed a nearby towel and threw it around her shoulders, covering her entire body. "Take that thing off now!"

"No."

"I'm going to make you take it off outside anyway, so just enjoy it while you've got it," Mai instructed.

"You're doing no such thing. I can't believe you even got me into this skimpy piece of…cloth. I'm not exposing myself to the world."

"Tea, these bikinis are selling everywhere! All the girls have them! It's not even the worst it can get! It's a halter top for goodness sakes."

"Yes, but the bottom uses strings to hold it in place! And it's practically…it is a thong!"

"And?"

"…It's not a very efficient way of keeping a bathing suit up, is it?"

"In some cases, that's the point, isn't it?" Mai threw back. Tea grimaced. Just where had Mai picked up on all this?

"Hey, where's Ren gone?" Mai looked around once they had walked outside. "She was right behind us, wasn't she?"

"Maybe she ran to the bathroom or something," Tea filled in.

"Probably. Anyway, let's get down to the beachhead," Mai prodded Tea on. Tea gulped. She had a feeling things weren't going to turn out for the best.

Yugi was lying on his towel, trying for all his life to get a tan (it never seemed to work for him, poor guy). He looked through his sunglasses as he spotted the girls coming down the beach. "Hey there! Finally got out here, Mai? …Tea? …Why are you wearing a towel?"

"Because I'm ashamed," Tea told him outright. Yugi laughed. He had known Tea for years now. He knew what this would have meant.

"I'm sure you look beautiful," he said before he thought. Tea blushed, looking as is she had a severe case of sunburn on her cheeks. Mai only laughed. It was so easy to embarrass Tea that sometimes, she did it just for fun.

"Wha's goin' on?" Joey came up from the dying volleyball game, "Tea go vampire or something? Why's she all covered up?"

"See hun? You're attracting more attention with the stupid towel on than with it off," Mai frowned. "Take it off."

"No. I'm hideous."

"Don't say that!"

Joey put a finger to his chin and stroked an invisible beard, "I see. Mai dug into her bathing suits and forced Tea into one. I see, I see…."

"How does everyone know this!" Tea asked angrily.

"We know you well, Tea," Tristan came up behind Joey, "You're so…conservative –at least compared to Mai- that it's only obvious."

"Great," Tea plopped down in the sand, "I'm predictable."

"What's going on?" Ryou walked over to the group; his curiosity peaked.

"Tea's in some sort of sexy bikini that she won't let us see," Tristan replied. Ryou blinked furiously.

"How do you know…if she won't let you see?"

"Well, that's just how. You know how she hates stuff like that…."

"Right." Ryou gulped. She couldn't remove that towel just for one second?

"Ha!" Tea laughed, "If you thought I'd expose myself now, you just lost the chance with this…horde closing in. No way, Jose."

"Hey, Tea!" Serenity called out by the patio, "Could you come over here for a sec? I need your help with something!"

"Alright," Tea nodded, making sure her towel was secure and running off.

"She's not getting away that easily," Mai started to follow her.

"Let her be," Yugi answered, "Serenity just asked for her help. She'll be back. Guard the entrance to the hotel if you don't want her running in to change. How else would she get in?"

"Good point," Mai nodded.

"Why are you so insistent about making Tea do this?" Ryou inquired.

Mai put her hands on her hips, "Because she needs to learn to get outside the box a little and act a bit more her…well, gender, I suppose. I don't know…but you know what I mean!"

"Sure we do," Joey nodded. "Right…."

Serenity beckoned to Tea from behind the upraised patio. Tea followed her to where no one could see them in the back. "What's this all about?" she asked.

"Hey, I know you're uncomfortable, so…I got your regular bathing suit. Maybe you can have some fun now," Serenity smiled, holding out Tea's changing. Tea smiled and hugged her friend.

"Ah! Thanks so much! This thing is so uncomfortable too! Seriously, I don't recommend wearing it," she took her things.

Serenity smiled, "Yeah, it looks fine and all, but when I said I'd like to try to impress Mokuba, I didn't mean that much. Not yet anyway, haha. Now, I'll bet you anything Mai is guarding the door because she doesn't want you going back inside…" Serenity took a peek out from behind the back of the patio and saw that she was correct, "…so you can just change right here. I'll keep a lookout for anyone. I brought a T-shirt out just in case so you can slip it on quickly if someone's coming," Serenity explained.

"Alright, thanks a lot!" Tea backed up near the back of the patio and turned her back to Serenity. Serenity went towards the front and bent over, peering just out from behind the concrete.

"All clear. Go ahead." Tea nodded, despite Serenity not seeing her and untied the bottom first. That was the absolute first thing to go.

Mokuba and Noa ran out the front door, almost running Mai over; ready to flop into the sea. Seto casually walked behind them, just wanting to sit in some shade and read. He had taken to borrowing his…neighbor's books, seeing as he had read those that he had brought along twice already in the three weeks that they had been here. He had first sought out Yugi, whom he trusted most to have a suitable read. Yugi had only brought one book, and Seto had read that one five times already. Next, he had gone after Ryou, hoping he had something better.

Ryou had actually had a couple good books for Seto to borrow, and he was almost finished with the last one. He was going to have to go searching again. But where to turn next? Duke perhaps? He might have something…. He didn't trust Joey or Tristan to even know what a book looked like, let alone own one.

And of course, the girls probably only read romance stories, which was out of the question. Sometimes, those books were just too…sappy for him. Sometimes, they were actually good reads, but he would never admit that aloud.

"Looking for something, Kaiba?" Mai asked him. He ignored her.

Shade, shade, shade, he looked around. The palm trees provide a nice amount, but at the same time, they were near the beach, and thus near the noise. Also, he wasn't up to sitting over there right now. He just didn't feel like being over there.

Therefore…besides going inside (where he was forbidden to go, due to some "threats" from his younger siblings), the only other really shady and isolated spot was…just off the sidewalk over there. The spot behind the patio seemed fine.

Seto walked over there, deviating from the path once it turned up onto the patio. He walked behind it and sat down, resting his back against the concrete. Just as he propped his book open, he heard a definite "click" nearby.

Being human, and therefore prone to curiosity, he placed the books down and slipped over the other side of the wall, slowly peering past it.

Two seconds later, he was back behind the safety of the concrete block.

Holy crap…does she not understand the concept of a changing room! What the heck is she doing out here…like that? Anyone could see her!

He noticed that his breathing had sped up. Why? Why? So what if in the two seconds he had glimpsed at her, she had been the most beautiful woman he had ever seen? There was nothing special about her slowly exposed chest, or gracefully curved back, or the way she slipped the bikini top off.

Nope. Nothing special about that at all. Everyday occurrence. Yep….

Feeling a rush of the disease known as "male" come over him, he felt himself going back to the corner to peer around it again.

Darn, she was slipping her other top on…. Er, well…that was to say…it looked...well, he wasn't sure at the moment. Tea adjusted the straps and the height of the top, making sure it wasn't too low. She smoothed out the shorts and looked up.

Seto flew back around the wall, scrambling over to his old spot and picking up the book in record time, flipping to his page.

A moment passed in silence. He began to relax and actually concentrate on what he was reading. What a relief. She hadn't seen him…yet he had seen her.

Another moment.

Alright, it was official. He was safe. He closed the book and leaned back against the wall, closing his eyes. He breathed quietly for a moment and opened his eyes once more.

"Seto Kaiba, a Peeping Tom. I never would have guessed."

Crap.

Crap Amighty.

Holy Crap.

…Crap.

"Excuse me?" he asked, looking up. This felt strange. Was this how others had to look up to him? How weird it felt to stare way up into the eyes of someone who was dead angry.

It was not a good feeling. Seto was going to have to watch his temper from now on.

He was about to stand, wanting to lessen the anxiety he felt, but Tea humored him by coming down to his level. She bent down, staring at him, eye-to-eye.

"What did you think you were doing!"

"I didn't do a thing," he answered, frowning. His eyes strained to stay on hers, but were quite close to flickering back and forth between her face and her clearly more exposed chest.

Tea bit her lip and crossed her arms tightly across her chest, closing the gap. "Oh, so you weren't looking in on me as I changed?"

"Why were you changing there in the first place? Are the bathrooms not suitable enough for you? Or your room?"

"Mai wouldn't let me in."

"That's a stupid thing to do."

"Yes, well…she just wouldn't. Let's leave it at that."

"Alright. Then can we let this drop since I did nothing wrong?"

"I'm not letting you get away with it! Despite your denying it, I know you saw me…twice." Seto gulped. So she had seen him both times?

"So what are you planning on doing about it?" he sat straighter, trying to intimidate her.

Tea wouldn't let the tables turn. She go on her knees –a more comfortable position- and stood up straight on them, "I-"

He mocked her position, and was still taller. She frowned. "Listen you: stop doing that! I'm trying to seem imposing here!"

"It's not going to work, is it?" he gave a sneaky smirk. Tea frowned, pulling him down to her level by the collar.

"There. Now you have no choice but to stay here. But you do have two options. One: apologize, and you're forgiven. Two: get the pulp beaten out of you."

"Right. I'm sure you can live up to that second option."

"Don't you mock me!"

"Haha, do you know how pink your face gets when you're irritated? It's so becoming," Seto chuckled. Tea's face puffed out a little. She was not taking his comments lightly. "Nevertheless, I choose option three."

"Wha'?" she was silenced when he forcefully brought her lips against his.

Option three: vent out all her anger through some…misguided passion.

"Tea, Ryou's coming!" Serenity looked behind her to make sure tea was wrapping it up. "…Tea? Where'd you go?" She stood up and walked around. There was the bikini…but where was the girl?

"Looking for some…one?" Ryou popped out from behind the wall.

Ren jumped, "Oh! …Well, yes. I'm wondering where Tea disappeared to."

Ryou walked over to the discarded bathing suit, "I see. No wonder she was itching to get out of this. It looks like nothing more than lingerie." A light blush descended upon Ryou's cheeks.

"I wouldn't be surprised if it was," Serenity remarked, walking towards the back wall. "Te-ah!" she gasped, her hands flying to her mouth.

Ryou ran over to see what was wrong. He came up behind Serenity and his eyes widened.

Seto Kaiba was…kissing Tea? …He started it? Not that that was entirely new but…this was…unprovoked? Seemingly? When did this development pop up?

Serenity regained composure, and embarrassed at finding them like this, she tugged Ryou away, who seemed unable to move.

Ren dragged him back to the front. She was quite shocked, but decided to keep it all quiet.

Ryou, on the other hand, was seething.

Alright Kaiba…this just…crosses the line.

This means war.

Bakura poured a glass of champagne in the corner of his host's mind. "Huzzah! A toast to my little Ryou, who has finally seen the greatness of war and revenge! May he ever learn from his naivety!"

"Huzzah! My trunks! I have found you!" Joey held up the swimwear (he had borrowed an extra pair of Tristan's when he went outside) and then hugged them. "But how did I miss ya right under my pillows? Ah well."

Mai stood outside the door, shaking her head. Joey was far too easily pleased.

She nonchalantly walked in, "All packed up, Joey?"

"Just about! Hey Mai, I found 'em!" he waved the trunks at her.

Mai gave a wavering smile, "That's…great, hun. So, are you pumped up for this cruise?"

"Of course!" Joey smiled, "I never dreamed I'd go on one o' dose t'ings! I mean…my family doesn't have dat much in da money department, ya know?"

"Yeah," Mai nodded, walking up to him and walking her fingers across his shoulders, "But I still love ya anyway."

"Dat's good ta hear," he grinned.

"You bet it is," she leaned over and kissed him.

"Y'all, that's gross. Close the door," Serenity laughed from the threshold. Mai turned around, frowning (having wanted to go a little further) and retorted:

"You shouldn't talk, miss, "It's fun to make Mokuba flip out…."" Mai smirked.

Joey's face hardened, "What was dat now?"

"Nothing Joey," Serenity waved him off, hoping that Evasion Plan Alpha would work out.

"Ren," Joey advanced on her, "If you and dat Kaiba kid have been doing anythin' inappropriate whatsoev'a, I have every right ta know!"

"Dinner's ready, Joe." Evasion Plan Beta. …Which was actually the reason she had come up here in the first place….

"Why didn't ya say so?" Joey whizzed past her and practically jumped over the whole staircase to get to the dining room.

"Thanks, Ren," Mai frowned. "Just be warned that next time you and Mokuba start to get cozy, I'm going to burst in on you."

Serenity shrugged, "You'll have to find us first…. We're experienced enough to know that we have to hide still from our brothers, despite the fact that they know we are dating."

"So this makes you and me," Mai counted off on her fingers, "The only girl left to hook up is our one and only Tea."

Without thinking, Serenity blurted, "She'll take care of it herself, I'm sure."

Mai raised an eyebrow, "Why do you say that?"

Serenity ran out of the room, "Last one downstairs gets the seat by Joey! I for one don't want my dinner in my face, thank you!"

"Hey, wait!" Mai called out, "You never answered my question! …And I don't want to sit next to the Pig! I love him…but no!"

"Is everyone packed up for the cruise?" Serenity stood up, asking everyone around the table. There was a murmur of agreement. She smiled, "I'm so glad we all get to have this experience! The trip has been awesome so far, and I just know this cruise will make it better! What do you say? A toast to an awesome week ahead of us?"

The rest of the group –a couple a bit reluctantly…more like just Seto- raised their various glasses and clinked them together.

"To an awesome cruise!"

What is in store for our friends on their cruise? Will things go right or not?

Will Serenity and Mokuba be interrupted by Mai?

Will Tea and Seto ever make up their minds about one another?

Is Ryou REALLY turning to the Dark Side? "Ryou…I am your Yami!" "Nooooo!"

Will Joey ever stop being a pig and keep his trunks where he can see them? All this: next time on Yu-Gi-Oh!'s Beach Bonanza-

blip

"Ishizu, I was watching that!" Marik yelled out in frustration. Ishizu smiled smugly, dangling the remote above his head.

"Too bad. My show's on."

"For all your maturity in public, you sure can act like a kid at home," Marik slumped in his seat, folding his arms.

"We now bring you the weather. Serenity, let's go to you."

"Thanks Joey," Serenity nodded. "Now, as you can see over here in the east wing, we're going to have a large chance of pranks and irritation. Hurricanes Mokuba and Noa will come down hard in the early afternoon, but dissipate out around dinnertime-"

"Wrong channel," Ishizu frowned.

"Yugi, how could you? I thought you loved me!" Tea cried out, falling to her knees, sobbing hysterically.

"Tea, you know I love you!" Yugi knelt down before her, putting a hand on her shoulder. "I would never cheat on you!"

"But…but…I saw you…with that Rebekah fiend! You two were all wrapped up in each other's arms!" Tea wept.

"No," Yugi whispered, "It was my evil twin brother, Atem Yami! He's always messing in my affairs!"

"Wait!" Tea's head shot up, "You've had more than one?"

Yugi froze, "T-That's not what I meant!"

"Come now Tea, he's obviously lying. Yugi's the type of scum who has women hanging off his every finger."

Tea looked around slowly, "S-Seto? Oh, Seto!" she leapt up and ran into his arms.

"That's right. I'll always be here for you." He lifted her chin and kissed her deeply.

Yugi put a hand to his forehead and cried out, "LA TORMENTA!"

blip

"Oh my God, you actually watch that crap?" Marik furiously pressed the channel surfing button.

"Hey! Marik!" Ishizu shot up, trying to wrestle the remote away from him. The remote dropped from their tangled hands and landed on the floor, changing the channel in the process. The two looked at the TV.

"Look! It's a bird!"

"It's a plane!"

"No, it's Duke Diceman!"

"YEAH!"

"That's right folks," Duke, dressed up in his usual brown trench coat and hat tossed some dice up into the air and caught them, "I'm here to save the day once again. I'll never let those perverts hurt Ms. Serenity."

"Help! Help, Duke Diceman! I'm being felt up by this pervert!"

"Do my ears deceive me? Was that…Ms. Serenity! I'm on the way, darling!"

"Help! Help!" Serenity cried out in a dark alleyway.

"Yes…I, Tristan the Toucher, am here, once again, trying to worm my way into Serenity's heart! MUWHAHA!"

"Begone, evil fiend!" Duke flicked his dice towards Tristan.

"AH!" the dice hit Tristan smack in the middle of his forehead. "No…you have defeated me this time, Duke Diceman! But next time, I shall return, with more lust than ever!"

"Send him to the cell boys," Duke called behind him to the policemen that randomly showed up at the scene.

"My hero!" Serenity ran to Duke. Duke smiled up to the heavens.

Next time on Duke Diceman:

"Do you really want to be saved from me, Ms. Serenity?"

Serenity blinked, "I don't know…Master Mokuba."

Duke's eyes widened, "How can she say that! Serenity! How could you!"

Next time on Duke Diceman: La Tormenta!

blip

Marik and Ishizu looked over yonder to the couch. Odion sat down comfortably with a bowl of popcorn.

"Hey!"

"Oh, you were watching? …So sorry," he smiled, turning back to the TV.

Oddwomen, Fairly Oddwomen!

"Tricks and slips and little girly things!" Mai sang, swinging her hips.

"Brothers, boys and secrets, hey!" Serenity giggled mid-song.

Oddwomen, Fairly Oddwomen-

"Cartoons," Odion sighed, "They've degraded so. What happened to good old Roger Ryou, and Bugs Bakura?" He switched the channel again. "Oh! Dr. Ryou and Mr. Bakura is on! This is a great movie…."

"I hated the book, I'll hate the movie," Marik snatched up the remote again, "I'm seeing what's on the Game Show Network."

"I'll take Manga for two-hundred dollars," Seto said.

"In what year was the first season of Yu-Gi-Oh, the season never licensed for the United States, released?" Tristan asked.

"What the heck is "Yu-Gi-Oh!"?" Yugi whispered to himself. Seto stared at his podium, biting his lip.

Bing!

"Joey?" Tristan turned to the blonde.

"Nineteen nin'y eight," Joey smiled.

"That is…correct!" Tristan called out. "And now, we come to the final Questionnaire Round. And the question is…." Bing! "This game was invented by a corporation known as "I2"'s head, Maximillion Pegasus. What is the game?"

Jeopardy Music

Bing!

"Now, we'll start with Joey, who is in third place with two-thousand dollars. Your answer?"

Duel Monsters.

"Correct! And you bet?"

$2000

"Wow, all of it! You double your money!" Joey danced at his platform.

"Now, Yugi in second place. Your answer?"

Duel Monsters.

"Correct! You were at two-thousand five hundred. And you bet?"

$500

"That puts you behind Mr. Wheeler, I'm sorry. Now, Seto Kaiba. Your answer?" Seto looked to the side.

Capsule Monsters.

"Oh, I'm sorry. That's incorrect. How much did you bet out of your fifty-thousand?"

$49,000.

"Oh, I'm sorry. But that makes Joseph Wheeler the winner!"

blip

"I'm bored," Marik sighed. "This has gone on long enough." He stalked out of the room.

"You're telling me," Ishizu sighed.

"There are five-hundred channels in television…but nothing to watch… Life's…not…fair," Odion sighed.

"You see I; I shall never be Pharaoh," Marik laughed from the other room.

Yeah…this isn't the greatest chapter, I know, but it's better than it originally was. Sorry though…I'll get the next chapter –a much better one!- up soon! Sorta…. I had to get the first part of it out (yes, I have a reason for having Ryou start to like Anzu besides my newfound like for that pairing) but anywho! After that, I tried to pull an "IluvsBakura" and pull a random act in the middle of the chapter. …Didn't work so well. It was alright…. Scary…VERY scary…but funny. I guess. It's trying to "describe life" at the beach house in a…different sort of way. Yeah…I failed, I know. And I'm sorry. And then I remembered a part I wanted to add in here, so that did make it longer, but…I had taken the time to write the stupid little shows part, so that was bonus for you guys.

I promise I'll have a better, MUCH BETTER, chapter posted for you guys soon. This was…a disgrace. Again, I'm sorry.

(PS: The title is a spoof of Laguna Beach…not that I've ever watched it.)