Author's Note: Hey all. This is my first fanfic and I'm super nervous about it! :X Please read and review, but no flames please. Concrit is appreciated. This story takes place right after the end of the final duel between Yugi and Atem when the gang is heading back home on the ship that brought them. I hope the characters aren't too OOC, I really tried to stay true, especially Kaiba. Anyway, enjoy and don't forget to review! Thanks so much.

Seto Kaiba stared at the screen of his laptop, wishing the words in the document he was reading would stop blurring together. He glanced at the clock in the bottom corner of the screen. 1:27 am. With a deep sigh, he closed the page since it was obvious that his brain had finally caught up to his tired body and was ready to sleep. It was just as well. He hadn't been able to concentrate on work anyway. After everything that had happened today, or well yesterday technically, with Yugi Moto and his alter ego, Seto's mind was still grappling with the notion that the little runt had dueled and beaten an ancient Egyptian spirit who had inhabited the boy's body for the past four years. Seto shook his head. It hurt to even think about it.

Glancing across the room to where his little brother slept soundly in the large bed, Seto was reassured to hear Mokuba's soft snore, though all he could see of the kid was a lump in the blankets topped by wild black hair. As always, his brother's inherent innocence brought a ghost of a smile to Seto's lips. Pushing his long fingers through his own chocolate locks, he looked at the security video monitor that displayed all of the common areas of the ship that was taking the hodge-podge group home. Everyone seemed to be in their rooms and the ship appeared quiet. He stood and stretched his long arms over his head, trying to work out the various knots in his shoulders, when he noticed a shadow in one of the camera images. Peering closer, he saw Yugi's little cheerleader, Tea, sitting in the galley by a window, the moonlight casting her shadow on the floor behind her. What in the world would she be doing up at this hour? Seto paused. Like I care. He turned off the monitors and removed his long white trench coat. Methodically, he began taking off his various buckles and belts and unbuttoned his black silk shirt, untucking it from his black leather pants. Why is she down there by herself? It was unlike the little friendship-obsessed female to be without at least one of her posse of twits. She took it pretty hard when the Pharaoh went back to the Afterlife. The irony of his even entertaining such an outrageous thought was not lost on him. Why do I care if she's down there without her friends, probably crying over the one she lost? He didn't. It would do that girl some good to be away from those idiots for a while and learn to deal with the hardships of life on her own. But as he stood there, Seto could not get the image of her out of his mind. How many times had Tea helped his brother? How often did Mokuba sing her praises? And how often had she told me off over the years? Gritting his teeth, Seto stalked out of his stateroom to go check on an annoying cheerleader who would probably bite his head off as soon as she saw him.

Seto approached the galley, not bothering to hide his annoyance as he stomped down the narrow corridor. Stupid cheerleader. He stepped into the doorway and stopped in his tracks. The scene before him brought a strange feeling to his chest. The lights were off, bright moonlight providing more than enough illumination. The effect was like an old black and white movie. There sat the girl, the beautiful star, on a stool staring wistfully out the window at the sea. Her dark curtain of hair was pulled into a messy bun at her nape, allowing the moonlight to caress the soft curves of her face. Her eyes, those large oceanic eyes that normally spit fire and spirit at him, were unfocused and dull. She probably didn't even see the waves or the night sky. She was just staring vacantly, her mind obviously miles away, probably on a not-too-distant island where she'd left her Pharaoh. Seto just stood there, feeling a surge of uncharacteristic sympathy and protectiveness for her. She didn't appear to be crying, yet she looked so very vulnerable. Normally, it was in his nature to take advantage of such blatant weakness but as he looked at her, he wanted to offer her comfort. I'm losing my mind. Seto Kaiba did not offer comfort to anyone. Even Mokuba only received gruff reminders to toughen up when he was troubled. Yes, being a workaholic must have finally caught up with Seto, for as he stood there he wanted nothing more than to go to Tea; to touch her chin with his fingertips until she met his gaze and to tell her everything would be alright. And when a soft sigh escaped her lips, he wondered what it would feel like if she did that against his own. So deep into the fantasy he took several steps toward her before he realized what he was doing. Snap out of it idiot. Since when did he let some girl tug his heartstrings and turn him into a sentimental fool? Never! Angry at himself and at her, Seto crossed the room and stood looming above her. She didn't even look up. Even angrier now, he began to growl at her.

"What are you doing?!"

He was satisfied with her surprised shriek. She looked up at him with a shocked expression, her blue eyes wide and her mouth open. Better than that blank stare, anyway. It was enough to keep him going.

"Do you have any idea what time it is?! What kind of idiot woman sits in the dark all by herself in the middle of the night?! Haven't you learned by now that things like that are dangerous?! Not to mention, stupid!"

That seemed to snap her out of her shock. Her eyes narrowed, filled with the spirit he was used to seeing from her. She huffed and stood to face him, all hellfire and fury.

"Kaiba! How dare you yell at me like that when you're the one sneaking around! I wasn't bothering anyone and I know everyone on this ship! The only one being an idiot that I can see is YOU!"

And with that, Seto's anger evaporated. He tried to hold onto it, but it just vanished. In truth, he had been worried that nothing would wake her back up from whatever funk she was in. He still couldn't figure out why he seemed to care so much, but if there was one thing Seto Kaiba trusted, it was his instincts. And right now, they were telling him that she was spoiling for a fight to release some of her mixed emotions. He smirked at her. That always seemed to goad her in an argument.

"Look, if you want to sit around moping, do it in your room where no one has to witness it. It's pathetic, really."

"What would you know about losing someone you care about, Kaiba? You're a cold-hearted jerk who cares for no one but himself! What would you know about grief?"

Tears were pooling in her eyes as her voice cracked on the last word. He took her insults in stride, knowing she needed to vent. He waited for her to break down crying, as most females would do, begging for pity that he would not give. But of course, Tea was not most females. She stood there stiff and proud in defiance of him, never letting her tears fall. Seto knew she would never humiliate herself in front of him. Never sob all over him. Though she had appeared frail before, she had an iron will that refused to give him any power over her. He respected her for that, however grudgingly.

Seto turned to leave. He knew Tea wasn't about to throw herself overboard or anything. She had come here to seek peace and he would leave her to it. He glanced over his shoulder as he came to the doorway, just to check on her one more time. She was sitting down on the stool again, but instead of gazing out the window, her head was down, shoulders slumped, as though the weight of her mourning was more than she could bear now that she had uttered it out loud. With the moonlight shining behind her, he saw a twinkle drop from her face to the floor. Just one tear. For a man Seto practically hated. It should have made him angry…that she should cry for the Pharaoh now when Seto had purposely tried to hurt her just moments ago. But for some reason, that wave of sympathy hit him again. He should just keep walking. He was tired and needed to go to bed. He needed to keep walking away from her.

He couldn't.

Seto strode back to where Tea sat and knelt before her. Not really knowing what to do, he reached up and drew his knuckles along her cheek, wiping away moisture. She jerked her head up, gasping. Her eyes flew wide again and she looked to Seto like a frightened doe. She must think I've lost my mind. She's probably right. His hand lingered against the soft skin of her face. He waited for her to freak out on him and slap him away. But she just sat there, probably in shock, and stared at him. He met her eyes and though he was no romantic, he could swear there was electricity in the air between them. What the heck am I doing?! He honestly didn't know. Kaiba was not an impulsive person. He always thought everything through to the tiniest detail. But there, in that moment, Seto wanted something he'd never wanted before. He wanted to take this woman into his arms and kiss her. He wanted to hold her, to feel her against him. What would she do if he tried? Would she scream and accuse him of taking advantage of her? Or was she caught in the same moonlit spell as he? She certainly hadn't slapped his hand away from her face, or moved from in front of him. Seto dropped his gaze to her lips and remembered the sigh from earlier. He wanted to feel that. He leaned in close to her, making his intentions very clear, until there was merely a hairsbreadth separating his mouth from hers. He looked up and met her gaze again, and was shaken to his core by what he saw. She wanted this. It was there, in the heat of her heavy-lidded eyes and the breath she held in anticipation. She wanted him to kiss her. But why? His inquisitive and mistrustful mind wanted to know her motivations, but Seto didn't listen to it. He closed the distance between them and brushed his mouth gently against hers. Both of them gasped, but neither pulled away. He repeated the ghost of a kiss again. And again. Until she released another sigh and pressed her lips fully to his. And he knew he'd never forget the feeling as long as he lived.

Sooo......what did you think?