Chapter 7

The next day they actually managed to get to Burger World. It was a normal afternoon. Yugi and Tea were sitting on one side of the booth while Joey, Tristan, and Alex squeezed in the other side. "I'm telling ya guys! My social work prof has it out for me!" Joey exclaimed. Joey was in the police foundations program with Tristan, but one of their required classes was a social work class.

"Well maybe if you ever actually did the assignments, the prof wouldn't crack down on you so hard," Tristan said putting more ketchup on his fries.

"Hey! I resent that comment! I do work!" Joey said over Alex's head back at Tristan.

"Joey does work?" Alex mock gasped. "I think the shock may give me a heart attack!"

Joey flicked a fry at her. Alex tried to punch him in the arm but he caught her fist without looking. Then she tried to kick him under the table, but as soon as she thought it her foot was trapped. She huffed and yanked her arm and leg back.

Alex looked around the table. All her friends knew how to handle themselves in a fight. Tea certainly did better than she did last night. "Teach me to fight."

Everyone turned to look at her but no one spoke. "Teach me to fight," Alex repeated herself. "I don't want a repeat of last night. I never want to be a damsel in distress again, besides you all know how to fight. Why should I be the odd one out?"

"Alex, we've been training for years," Tea said gently.

"But you had to start at some point. One day, once I've trained for years I can be as good as you too," Alex insisted.

"We can protect ya though," Joey said. "You don't have to learn how to fight."

"I think it's a good idea," Yugi cut in. The group turned to look at him. "One day none of us may be there if Alex is ever attacked again. I know you don't like it, but no matter how hard you try it's still a possibility Yami," Yugi said obviously talking to an invisible Yami. "There's no harm in Alex learning to defend herself against vampires."

"What does Yami have to say about this?" Tristan said.

I still don't like it.

But you know I'm right. Alex is one of us completely now. Which means she's a target. We can't leave her defenseless, especially if she wants to learn.

…

"He agrees with Alex and I," Yugi finally declared.

No I didn't.

Too bad they don't know that. And you didn't explicitly say no.

Alex beamed. "Great! When do we start?"

"Next weekend," Joey said. "Tomorrow's Halloween. But first, I gotta finish these fries!"

Across the street eyes watched the laughing group from a shadowed corner.

"Tea I need your help!" Alex said breathlessly on the phone.

"What's wrong?" Tea asked.

"I have absolutely no idea what to wear to this Halloween party tonight!" Alex moaned.

Tea blinked. Then she burst out laughing. With all the danger in their lives, it was nice that the urgent help only consisted of figuring out a party outfit. "I'll be over at your place in five minutes ok?" Tea giggled.

"Thank-you!" Alex said. After she hung up she threw her phone on her bed and continued to poke through her closet looking for ideas. Sadly though, there was the same amount of inspiration as the first three times she looked. None. Finally though there was a knock on the door.

Alex flew to the door and threw it open while saying, "Oh my Ra, Tea you are here in the nick of…" she trailed off though when she found not Tea at the door but just a box. Looking both ways down the hallway she saw no one. What on Earth…? she thought. She nudged it with her foot but when it didn't attack her she picked it up and brought it inside.

Settling in on her couch she opened it. On the top there was a note. An outfit fit for a queen. No signature. She was so wrapped up in the mystery that she jumped five feet in the air when another knock sounded at the door.

Once again she got up and opened it. "Hey Alex!" Tea said coming in. "I brought over some stuff for you to try on. I also brought my own costume so we can get ready together!"

"Thanks Tea, but this just got dropped off at my door," Alex said motioning to the box. She showed Tea the note, which Tea frowned at.

"This is strange Alex," Tea said frowning.

"I know," Alex said. They stood contemplating the note for a moment. "Oh I know!" Alex said. "It must be from Seto or Mokuba. Those two love to give me things and sometimes they forget to tell me things are coming!"

Tea relaxed, "That's probably it! Well? Have you checked what's inside yet?"

"Not yet," Alex said. She went back over the box and pulled out the tissue paper.

"Oh my God it's beautiful," Tea whispered. She was right. It was a white dress made of a light fabric, like finely woven cotton, overlaid with a transparent fabric and cinched with a heavy gold belt that had a piece of golden fabric draped from it. There was also a huge golden necklace inlaid with oh my Ra are those REAL rubies?! And two golden arm bands with more gauzy, transparent material, this time in red. Finally at the bottom of the box was a golden circlet.

"It looks like an outfit from Ancient Egypt," Tea said.

"It looks like a queen's outfit," Alex added.

"But all the gold pieces and jewellery look real, not like those plastic cheap things you see in costume stores. Kaiba really went all out," Tea remarked.

"Yeah…" Alex murmured fingering the dress. But he's never bought me a Halloween outfit before… And it's pretty excessive for something I'll only wear for one night…

"Go put it on!" Tea said giving her a light push towards the bathroom. "I'll bet you'll make it look killer!"

Alex gave her a weak smile before she went to put the costume on.

"Where are those girls? Party started over an hour ago!" Joey complained.

Tristan shook his head. "Man when was the last time you had a girlfriend? Don't you know it takes them forever to get ready?"

"Well, yeah, but still…"

"Dude an hour is nothing. Do you remember that one girl I went out with that was always late? Like three hours late?" Tristan asked.

"True," Joey said. "But Yug, weren't you and Tea going to hang out before the sun went down and the puzzle forced Yami out?"

"Yeah, but that's ok," Yugi said smiling. "She and I hung out this morning and she already showed me her costume."

"Speaking o' costumes, what does Yami think of yours Yug'?" Joey asked with an evil smile.

Yugi grinned. "He's rolling his eyes," he said from behind a set of fake plastic fangs.

Tristan was dressed as Batman, Joey was wearing a pirate costume, and Yugi went with the ironic choice of a Dracula outfit.

"Hey guys!" Tea said running over.

"Hey Tea! Nice witch costume!" Tristan said.

"Thanks!" Tea said. Then she turned to Yugi. "Sorry we weren't here sooner, I know the sun's going down and you have to go in a minute."

"That's ok," Yugi said giving her a small kiss. "At least I got to see you."

"Hey, where's Alex?" Joey asked.

"She was right behind me, she just got caught up talking to one of her gymnastics friends in the other room," Tea said. "She'll be here in a minute."

"Well," Yugi said looking out the window at the setting sun. "It's time for me to go." He drained his drink and put his fake teeth in his pocket.

"Bye Yugi," Tristan and Joey chorused. Tea gave him a quick kiss. Then the puzzled glowed and Yami stood before them.

"Good evening everyone," he said.

"Hey Yami!" Tristan said.

"So Tea, did you and Alex ever find something for her to wear?" Joey asked.

Tea let an evil grin spread across her face. "Ooooo you bet we did," she said turning her grin on Yami.

"Why are you looking at me like that?" Yami asked frowning. But before Tea could answer Alex walked through the door. The dress was even more beautiful on her than it had been in the box. It fit her like a glove showing off all her curves and almost shimmered as she walked. The red and gold accents made her skin glow and set off her green eyes.

"Hey Yami? You might wanna put your eyes back in your head and close your mouth," Tristan said. Tea giggled as Yami did as instructed with a brilliant blush.

"Hey guys!" Alex said.

"Why hello Your Majesty," Tristan said giving her a mock bow.

Alex blushed. "I thought Batman was supposed to be tough, not charming." He just chuckled.

"You look beautiful Alex," Yami breathed. Her answering smile made his breath catch.

"Well I don't know about you guys," Tea said knocking back her drink, "But I'm ready to dance!" With that she grabbed Alex's hand and pulled her onto the dance floor. The boys smiled at each other before joining them.

Later, after the party had dispersed and the friends went their separate ways in the wee hours of the morning, Yami was walking Alex home in a companionable silence.

Well, actually, Alex was skipping. Not walking. But it was a beautiful night, she'd had a couple of drinks, a good day, with great friends, and an amazing boyfriend and she was damn well going to skip if she pleased. Yami just smiled fondly and watched her as he walked slightly behind. At one point she turned and catching his smile, smiled back at him.

When they arrived at Alex's apartment Yami gave Alex a quick goodbye kiss and turned to leave but she caught his hand. "Yami, is it hard for you to be around me?"

Yami blinked. Where did that come from? He wondered. "Of course not, why would you think that Alex?"

Alex bit her lip. "You told me once that my blood is the hardest to resist that you've ever come across."

Yami smirked. "That's true. But it doesn't mean it's hard for me to be near you. I keep myself well fed enough that I can tune out your blood most of the time. The only times it becomes difficult are when one or both of us are feeling particularly strong emotions. Anger, love, lust, etc."

"Oh," Alex said. "Do you have any idea why you react more to my blood than other people's?"

Yami shook his head.

Alex attempted to process what he had told her. The alcohol was making it a little difficult. Eventually though a devious smirk appeared on her face. "So if I did this would it make it harder for you to resist me?" she asked stalking towards him.

Yami frowned. "What is thi-" He was cut off by her lips connecting with his. Now that he'd finally given in to his feelings it was impossible not to melt into her affection and be swept away by it.

This kiss was longer than other ones they'd had. Yami's hands moved so that one was cradling her neck and the other was gripping her hip tightly while she wound her fingers into his hair. She smirked at his growl. She felt the wall come into contact with her back but she was more focused on the tongue that was tracing her lips.

Eventually they had to part for air but Yami was quick to trail a line of kisses across Alex's jaw and down her neck. "Yami," Alex moaned tilting her head back and shivering. That must have broken the last of Yami's control because there was a sudden twin sting on her neck.

Alex tensed and waited for the pain, but it didn't come. Instead she felt her blood burn hotter. The desire that had been sweeping through her doubled. She felt amazing. If Yami and the wall hadn't been supporting her weight, her legs would've given out.

Then the feeling disappeared as quickly as it had come and a wave of cold air hit her. "Alex, are you ok? I'm so sorry," a panicked Yami said from a couple of feet away.

"I'm not sorry," Alex gasped trying to hold herself up. "What was that?"

"When a vampire drinks from a human they can make the human feel whatever they want. Pain, lust, love, numbness. Because I bit you during a lapse of control you felt what I felt."

"Wow. We need to do that more often."

Yami grimaced and allowed himself closer to be able to support her. "We're not even going to talk about it until your red blood cell count is replenished. Can you stand now?"

"Spoilsport. Yeah I'm ok," Alex said. "Are you sure you don't wanna come upstairs with me Dracula?" she whispered in his ear.

Yami shivered but stayed strong this time. "Good night Alex," he said firmly leaning down to give her one last peck – and it was just a peck this time. She pouted but did indeed go inside without further argument. He watched as she went inside and up the stairs to her apartment before he melted into the shadows and left.