Zero. This was the number on the display screen of Tea's calculator.
"Oh, damn it! Let's go again!" The petite brunette's normally perky voice was filled with tension and annoyance. She was fresh out of life points, and luck.
I have to win. Just once. I can't let him...anyone but him. Power of friendship...Power of frie-
"I think two duels is plenty. This power of friendship thing doesn't seem to be working too well for you, Gardner." Kaiba laughed with malice.
"It's okay, Tea. Everyone loses when they're new. Especially to someone as seasoned as Kaiba. Let's go back to Grandpa's shop and build you a stronger deck! Plus, if the teacher catches us staying after school, we'll get detention." Yugi Moto was a sweet kid. He always made Tea feel better, but today she could not be helped.
"Yea, Tea. Just let it go. Kaiba ain't worth it." Joey wanted to help Tea, but also hated Kaiba with a passion.
"Please, Kaiba. Just, please." Tea's eyes pleaded with Kaiba. She wanted this so badly. She knew he was an amazing duelist. Probably the best she knew, other than Yugi - of course. However, she hated his guts and would not let him win.
Not to mention the whole "power of friendship" thing. Her belief in this magical, enigmatic force known simply as "the power of friendship" was beyond strong. Some might even call it foolish, juvenile... crazy.
Tea Gardner was a friendship fanatic.
"Did you hear me or are you deaf? Two is enough, Gardner. Now if you'll excuse me- " Kaiba started to rise from his chair.
"You are not excused, Kaiba! Sit your snobby ass back down and watch as I kick it. Come on!"
"I have more important business to attend. Babysitting an obnoxious little girl is of very low priority to me" Pushing his seat back, Kaiba neatly collected his cards and fancily shuffled them into his deck. Tea watched intently as he picked up his cards. Seto Kaiba owned the rarest card in the world; three of them in fact. The Blue Eyes White Dragon.
(He's not more skilled than me. The power of friendship didn't fail me either! He just has better cards. I'd give anything, anything for that Blue Eyes White Dragon!)
"Give me that card!" Tea lunged at Kaiba with all of her hundred-pound might, reaching out to grab his rarest, most powerful card.
"Crazy bitch." Kaiba's hard fist connected with Tea's face just as her delicate fingers made contact with his prized card. Instantly dropping to the ground; Tea was out cold.
"You're in fer' a world o' pain, Mr. Tough Guy!" Wasting no time, Joey's fists went flying at Seto. He was not about to let Kaiba get away with hitting a girl. Even if he was exquisitely rich and powerful. This girl isn't just any girl; she's the adorable, cute, optimistic and sweet Tea Gardner. The blonde boy with a Boston accent had always had a little crush on her, but knew they could only be friends.
"Think again, mutt." Kaiba swiftly side-stepped Joey's punch and elbowed him, causing Joey to fall head-first into a garbage can. Yugi watched in horror as two of his best friends were single-handedly knocked out by his arch rival.
"Would you like to try anything, Moto? I know you'd love to kill me for hitting your girlfriend and lap dog." Kaiba stared at Yugi intently, waiting for him to make a move at any moment.
"Kaiba, I'm only going to say this once. Don't ever touch Tea or Joey again." He noticed a hint of guilt in Kaiba's eyes. Even an inkling of sorrow. Not even Seto Kaiba, though he was a callous and heartless bastard, wanted to hurt Tea. He had always hated Joey, but simply found the girl to be an annoying pest.
"As I said earlier, I have more important matters to attend." Kaiba smoothed his school uniform jacket, and walked out of the high school classroom, as if nothing had happened.