Disclaimer that I will only write once: Once again I don't own a thing except for Akira and the mention of my other oc Kana as well as the plot.

AN Midquel to my 'Hidden' series as well as the last story of Akira Kaiba's saga (tears). It's been fun, but all stories have an end even though we already know the end. Thing is this I had this plot idea before Hidden Strength, but that story wrote itself first. This one was a bit of the struggle, but sailed when I hit on the right beginning sigh. Anyway on with the story. k

1. Breaking

The bell on the game shop door jangled merrily with a tone that felt foreign to Yugi ever since…He shook his head then stepped from the back-room to greet the customer. Instead he saw someone he wasn't quite ready to see. Akira Kaiba turned expectant eyes to Yugi which narrowed slightly when he forced a bright smile on his wan face. "Akira, I didn't expect to see you so soon."

Her uneasiness grew at her friend's nervous twitches. "You called me, Yug, remember? So are you gonna tell me or do I need to buy a vowel?"

"Uh…yeah. Right." Yugi laughed though there was a suspicious gleam in his eyes as he handed her a plain white envelope. "Joey left this for you earlier. He hoped you'd understand."

Slender fingers trembled a bit as they took it from him then lifted the flap. Blue eyes widened then grew darker as they darted across the sloppy lines several times just to make sense of the words. Yugi bit his lip when tears began to shimmer in them before they escaped down pale cheeks. A sudden spark of anger grew into flames within their dark depths when the lined paper was clenched in her shaky hand. He stepped forward to comfort his friend, but Akira turned on her heel then stormed out of the shop.

Yugi sighed heavily as he rubbed his own eyes. "That didn't go well."

She couldn't believe that he was gone. He had promised that she'd never be alone and--and that he loved her. Sure it was only in the friend sense, but lately it had seemed to be more. A desolate tear dripped onto the paper and blurred the words: I'm sorry, Kira, but I can't do this anymore. For so long I supported my friends and lost some of myself in the process. I need to find out who I truly am and the only way to do that is to leave. I'm not sure when I'll be back, but I will always return to you. Please take care of your brothers and Yug for me. Always, Joey.

Blue eyes stared unseeing across the pond they had spent so much time at together. This had been their spot from the time that… Akira shook her head in an attempt to stop thinking about the past. He left her and there was nothing she could do to change it. A sudden pain shot through her head and drove away any other thought except for the sudden memory that invaded her mind. The pain left her doubled on the grass and panting against the painful memory that held her immobile for many moments. Finally it passed leaving her pale and shaky so she laid on the grass with her eyes squeezed shut wishing that she didn't have to remember her past now that it had begun to come back along with the feeling of being alone.

--

Akira sighed as she carefully refolded the note then hid it in her box of mementos from days gone by. Her fingertips traced his happy face then laid the framed photograph inside before she closed the box with another heavy sigh. She still couldn't believe that half a year had gone by since Tristan died and only a month after that when Joey left her with this unbearable pain. If only she had told him even if it had taken his leaving to realize what was in her heart. Akira rubbed her weary eyes as she pushed away the thought. If onlys wouldn't bring him back just like the dead. Another tear slid down her pale cheek when the phone broke her from her dark thoughts. "Hello?"

The frown deepened when silence greeted her over the phone lines despite her annoyed prodding. After another moment a heavy sigh echoed hers which prompted her to speak. "Look I have better things to do than listening to you breathe. Call back when you have something to say."

Brown eyes closed in pain before slamming down the phone in frustration. It was just too soon and probably too late to say what should have been said long ago. An annoyed voice from behind him called "Hon, come on before I leave ya behind."

--

"What a blast! That movie was so awesome! Aren't you happy you came with us, Akira?"

"Considering that you kidnapped me and practically drug me from the office." she huffed softly at her little brother's hurt expression then ruffled his hair. "Yeah I'm glad I came, Mokie."

"Good. Now we really need ice cream!"

"Haven't you had enough sugar, Mokuba?" Yugi laughed softly at the younger teen's hyperactivity, which was so much like a certain blond. He sighed as he barely heard Mokuba's denial when he thought of his absent friend. So many things had changed with how the group had reformed then broke apart. Ever since Joey had left Akira had become emotionally distant from even her brothers before the rumors started.

"Are you even listening to me, Yugi?" Gray eyes challenged him.

"Sorry. I just thought of something." He answered, distracted when he saw his other friend frozen in front of the newsstand.

'It can't be true.' She thought dazedly as she stared in shock at the picture of Joey in a lip-lock with a busty blonde. 'Mai.' A pang in her heart stole her breath and caused her to sway slightly. Or was it her imagination that the world tilted? No, it couldn't be right, because tabloids always stretched the truth. Right? They couldn't actually be together. Sure Joey had a crush on her a long time ago, the way Téa had told it. He wouldn't, but it didn't matter. It's not like there was anything between them other than friendship. Or so she had thought. She shook her head. Anyway, he left and couldn't bother to tell her in person let alone stay in touch…unless she counted the strange phone calls that had started only a couple months since he had left. Not like it mattered, but still it was just like…

Akira drew in a sharp breath and another as her fingernails dug into tender palms. Blue eyes darkened under the screen of tears when a lightly tanned hand settled on her shoulder. "Are you okay?"

She blinked then saw concern in her friend's amethyst eyes. "Y-yeah, Yugi, it's not like we…actually. I-I never re…knew that…"

Akira struggled with her words and the sympathy in those luminous eyes nearly drove away the shards of her control. She shook her head and forced a smile on her pale lips. "Never mind. It doesn't matter anyway."

"Akira, maybe we should go. The last thing our brother needs is more sugar." Noah coaxed as he slid a currently solid arm, thanks to technology, around her shoulder.

"N-no I'm fine. I-I really need a double chocolate mocha cone about now." Her smiled widened more. "Let's go."

"Okay." They three boys sighed as they watched her stalk off then exchanged concerned glances before they followed her down the sidewalk.

That night another nightmare tormented her only with an added twist. The busty blonde mocked her of what she would never have as she satisfied him in front of her eyes. Akira panted when she broke free of the dream, but the erotic images still played in her mind. She shook her head then nausea forced her to run for the bathroom to empty what little she had ate before crying herself to sleep. Her shaky legs somehow carried her down the many stairs into the already lit kitchen. The wan face of her brother winced at her appearance. "Couldn't sleep either?"

"What was your first clue, big brother?" She asked hoarsely then refilled the teakettle before setting it back on the stove.

"Well the dark bags under your eyes does't help matters and you haven't been eating properly again."

"You're one to talk, Seto." Akira sighed as she picked out a teabag to place into her favorite mug.

"Guess so and it's all his fault." Seto growled as he got up to warm some more milk.

"No dispute here."

The two siblings enjoyed the calming effect of their chosen drinks for a few more moments, lost in their own thoughts.

"He called me you know, just to see how everything was going and if you were okay. Told me that what the tabloid stuff was crap and blown out of proportion."

"What did you tell him?"

"That he needed to talk to you, but he's still figuring things out."

"You don't have to protect me, Seto. I will be fine." She hissed in the attempt to convince herself.

He winced at the bang of her mug when she stood. "We're only concerned for you, Akira, as Yugi and Mokie are. Heck even Bakura and Pegasus are worried with all the headaches you seem prone to lately."

"They're nothing. Just like I'm… Y'know I'm going to bed. You should too cause you look no better than me and you work way too much as usual. Goodnight." Akira spat then stalked out of the room. They had no right.