8 years ago...
"Mommy!" Tea called out as she ran into the house. "I'm home!" She yelled but screamed when she saw the sight before her.
Her mother, badly beaten on the ground, surrounded by a group of men dressed in black suits with black sunglasses. She recognised one of them men as her mothers' boyfriend, Michael.
"Mommy!" Tea cried out. All the men turned to her.
"Tea, run!" Melani wheezed, coughing up blood.
Tea turned to run but a man had already grabbed hold of her hair. She cried out in pain as she was pulled back and slammed into the ground. Michael hit her across the face and Tea cried.
"Shut up!" A man yelled and Michael hit her again before he fisted her hair and yanked her head up, forcing her to look at her mother. Tears were falling from Tea's eyes and blood was coming out of her mouth.
"Now watch as we rape your mother, you pathetic child" Michael hissed in her ear before he walked to Melani who struggled in two other men's hold. Michael removed Melani's clothes before he forced himself into her. She screamed and Tea yelled in response to her cries.
"Please! Stop hurting my mommy!" Tea cried. She was backhanded by another man who took Michaels' place just a few seconds ago. He was ruthless to Tea's long brown hair. The lounge room was filled with the pained cries from Melani and the terrified cries from Tea. When Michael finished, he pulled away from Melani and another took his spot. He walked back to Tea who was still sensitive to her mothers' cries. He punched Tea in the face, finally having enough. He kicked her in the stomach and grabbed her hair before throwing her into a wall. Tea cried out in pain and fell to the floor. Another man helped Michael beat Tea as three others were having fun with Melani. When the fifth man was finished with Melani, Michael walked to her broken body on the ground. He pulled out his gun and shot her four times in the stomach, twice in each leg and one in each arm to drag out her suffering. Just then, the sound of sirens entered their ears and Michael spun around and pointed his gun at Tea.
"Nighty night, Tea" He said in a sickeningly sweet voice and pulled the trigger.
Click.
Michael looked at his gun in confusion.
Click.
Click. Click.
"Argh!" Michael groaned and started fumbling with a full magazine.
"We don't have time Michael. Just leave her here to die! We have to report back to boss!" A man said. Michael glared at Tea before they escaped the house. Tea struggled to get onto her left arm after her right one was broken. She had a few broken ribs, a concussion, cuts and bruises. A large gash ran across her back that would no doubt scar. She struggled to her mothers side who was just hanging onto life.
"T-Tea" Melani breathed out. Tea sobbed as she curled up to her. "Whatever...happens, be...hap-py" Melani managed to get out.
"B-But-"
"I won't be around to protect you...anymore honey and I am so sorry for that. B-But, whatever happens, be strong. I love you...Tea" And with that, she was gone.
A few months later...
Tea was taken to an orphanage after she was completely healed. She looked around as she fingered the silver locket around her neck. Inside was a picture of her mother and father. She had never know her father. He had left her mother before she told him she was pregnant. All she knew was that her fathers' name was Daisuke.
Just then, a kind looking woman walked towards her.
"You must be Tea Mazaki" She said. Tea nodded her head. "Well, Tea, my name is Kim. Let's go meet the other children, okay?" She asked.
Tea looked at the female police officer who nodded before she looked at Kim. She held a hand out to Tea who stared at it before slowly taking her hand and was led through the two story, cramped house and out to the back yard where they saw a few other children playing.
"Children, come in and meet our newest member to our family" Kim said. The others all looked towards them before running over. "Everyone, this is Tea Mazaki. Make her feel welcome and introduce yourselves" Kim said.
"My name's Sophira Ties!" A girl with deep blue eyes and long, light blue hair said.
"I'm Raven Knyte" A girl with long, black hair cut with a fringe and piercing red eyes said.
"I'm Akito Hikari" A boy with wild red hair and green eyes said.
"I'm his twin, Riku" A boy with messy blonde hair and blue eyes side.
"And I'm Yugi Moto" A boy with purple eyes and tri-coloured hair-blonde, black and purple. Tea looked at them and nodded her head slowly.
"Now you kids play nice and I'm going to start cooking dinner" She said and disappeared. Riku, Akito and Raven ran off while Sophira and Yugi stayed behind.
"So what do you like Tea?" Sophira asked. Tea looked at her, confused.
"She means what do you like to do?" Yugi asked. Tea shook her head.
"Do you like to swing?" Sophira asked. Tea nodded slowly. "Alright then, let's go swing!" Sophira exclaimed before she grabbed Tea's hand and dragged her to the tri-set of swings. She hopped on one and Yugi hopped the other. The only swing left was the one in the middle. Tea walked to it and sat down. They swung with Sophira's gleeful laughs filling the silence. Yugi smiled but it faded when he saw the tears in Tea's eyes.
"Tea?" Yugi asked as he stopped. Tea stood from her stilled swing and walked to the lone sakura tree in the far corner of the backyard. She sat down under the tree and stared up at the falling blossoms.
'I can't momma' Tea thought. She shook as sobs racked her body. She curled into a ball by bringing her knees up to her chest and hiding her head in between. Her arms clasped around her legs as she cried.
All the other kids stopped what they were doing to watch Tea cry. They were all placed in there at a young age. They could still remember their parents but they didn't remember what happened to them. They all watched her cry and they were all saddened by the sight. Yugi sat down next to Tea and just sat there, making sure his arm was touching hers so she knew he was there for her. When her sobs became whimpers, and her whimpers became sniffles, Yugi spoke.
"Are you okay?" He asked. Tea nodded her head without lifting it up. "Is it about your parents?" Yugi asked. Tea nodded.
"At least you know you're not alone here" Yugi said. Tea lifted her head, questioningly. "Everyone here has lost their mommy's and daddy's" He said. "I lost my parents when I was 5" He said sadly. "They died in a car accident" He murmured before he smiled back at Tea. "Don't worry Tea. We all understand and we'll help you feel better. Because that's what friends do!" Yugi said, smiling. Tea stared in awe.
'Friends?' Tea wondered. Yugi stood up and held a hand out for her.
"Friends?" Yugi asked. Tea looked at his hand and him before she placed her hand in his and gave him a tiny smile.
Months later...
Kim had decided to take everyone to the ice cream shop across the street from the orphanage. Tea smiled at her friends. They had all gotten close since she opened herself up to Yugi. He coaxed her to play with them when they played. She still hadn't talked though and everyone had assumed she was mute.
Yugi raced Akito and Riku to the end of the path leading from the door to the street. Yugi got there first and spun around, waving.
"I won, I won!" Yugi cheered. Kim laughed as well as the others but it stopped when a car honked. They saw the car speeding towards an unsuspecting Yugi who as still waving with a big smile.
"Yugi, look ou-" Kim tried but it would be too late.
"YUGI!"
.
BAM!
All Yugi could register was screaming at first before he opened his eyes.
"Tea! Tea, answer me! TEA!" Kim screamed. Tea had screamed Yugi's name while she ran to him. She ran in front of the car without hesitation and pushed Yugi out of the way with all her strength. Yugi fell back and hit the gutter out the front of the ice cream place but Tea couldn't completely get out of the way. The car hit her and she was sent flying back a few metres. Kim had already called an ambulance and turned Tea onto her back. Her leg was broken again as well as some ribs on her left side which the car first met impact. Raven and Sophira were on the ground next to Tea with Kim. Riku and Akito helped Yugi up before they ran over to Tea. The ambulance soon arrived and they took Tea away.
A few months later...
Since the incident, Tea and Yugi became even closer. They were the bestest of friends. The incident brought the other kids at the orphanage closer too.
Anyway, a man walked into the orphanage. He was an old man. He talked to Kim and she brought him to the kids.
"Everyone, meet Soloman Motou. He's Yugi's grandfather" She said. Everyone's eyes widened. Mr. Motou bent down in front of Yugi.
"I'm sorry for taking so long grandson. Being in Egypt, I didn't get the news of your parents until just recently" He said. He had met all the other kids.
"Yugi, since he is the only relative you have left, you will go with him" Kim sad. Yugi's eyes widened and he spun around to look at Tea. She smiled softly as his eyes welled with tears.
"B-But I don't wanna leave!" He yelled and looked up at Kim before he looked at the ground and cried. Tea walked to him and placed a hand on his shoulder. He looked up at her with wide, innocent eyes.
"Yugi, you need to go" She said softly.
"But I don't wanna leave you" His voice cracked. Tea touched his cheek and started singing.
"Will you miss me when I'm gone?
Will you remember all the good times we've had?
The hardest thing about leaving is saying goodbye.
We'll always be the greatest of friends.
I'll miss you more than I can say.
And when I'm blue, I'll just dream about you.
I'll be only a memory away.
We'll always be the greatest of friends.
I'll miss you more than I can say.
And when I'm blue, I'll just dream about you.
I'll be only a memory away.
You're something special to me.
Friendship is something that money can't buy.
And if you need me, you know that I'll be there for you.
We'll always be the greatest of friends.
I'll miss you more than I can say.
And when you dream, I'll be there for you.
I'll be only a memory away.
We'll always be the greatest of friends.
I'll miss you more than I can say.
And when you dream, I'll be there for you.
I'll be only a memory away"
Yugi grabbed Tea in a hug and held her close as she held him close.
"I'll miss you Tea" He whispered. She smiled through her tears.
"I'll miss you too Yugi" She whispered. Then, they were hugged by the others.
"I know we'll see each other again" Tea whispered. Yugi nodded and everyone let go. He grabbed his things and he left with his grandfather.
A few months later...
"Tea, this is John and Gladus Gardner. They want to take you home" Kim said. Tea looked up at the man and woman. Tea noticed the evil glint in their eyes.
This was bad.