Next day Akiza didn't appear during any class at the duel academy. She wasn't found in her dorm either. Thomas Kaiba became an object of interest for most of hte student's because of many scratches all over his face. As always he remained impervious to anything with his cold, emotionless look.

He had his own theory. And he decided to check whether he was correct.

Akiza was sitting near the lighthouse watching the sea. Since the last night she couldn't stop thinking about young Kaiba. Why did he approached her? Why obviously she is now more scared of her powers than he was? She was thinking about it all the morning. Amongst all the students he wasn't talking about her behind her back. He stood tall, challenged her to a duel. And won. And in the end it was her own doing that made her lose to him. And why was she afraid of him? Why did she felt so embarrassed when she felt into his arms after he defeated her? Why was she so afraid that she couldn't take the class today? Akiza wiped tears from her eyes.

Suddenly she felt someone's hand on her shoulder.

It was him.

"I had a feeling I would find you here, Akiza" said Thomas.

"You" gasped Akiza "Just leave me alone. I want to be alone" cried Akiza hugging herself. She felt tears in her eyes. And felt even more embarrassed than ever.

"I know you want to be alone right now" replied Thomas softly "that's precisely why I'm bugging you right now"

Akiza forced herself to look him in the eyes. Those cold cobalt eyes that usually were looking down at everyone... were now warm and somehow... trustworthy.

"Why?" asked Akiza trying not to let her tears to be seen.

"Because what we want isn't always good for us, and others" replied Thomas. "I have issues with my foster father and sometimes I want to choke him in his sleep. And that feeling is mutual. As you can see we both are still alive".

Akiza couldn't help but to smile hearing that response.

She didn't even realize when Thomas Kaiba approached her resting his hands on her shoulder.

"Listen Akiza, I know things are really hard with your... talents, but you will only hurt yourself and others if you keep things up like this"

Akiza shook her head "Why are you telling me this, why do you even care?"

"Someone has to" replied Thomas "obviously no one else is going to care" he sighed "Look, you destroyed this guy's deck and you hurt him in the process. So I was intrigued it, but then I see how others treat you, call you a monstrosity, gossip behind your back. I can see you are suffering, which leads you to anger and hatred... and I guess I felt sorry for you" for a moment he didn't know what to say "you know... when I was an orphan I felt similar way. Why was I abandoned? What have I done to deserve this? And guess, what did I realize?"

"No idea" replied Akiza. She couldn't now resist to listen to him.

"I did nothing wrong" replied Kaiba "I was abandoned because my parents didn't want me. Just as you are hated because people are afraid of your powers, however that's not an excuse to use your powers in order to hurt others. This way you will only prove their point" he sighed "I don't want you to hurt others and I don't want you to hurt yourself Akiza. Easy as that"

Akiza couldn't just take it anymore. Her eyes were glittering from tears before, but she couldn't help it anymore. She was crying. Thomas gently hugged her as she hid her face in his chest.

"It's okay Akiza" said Thomas "it's okay"

It would seem that Akiza Izinski found a friend who obviously didn't consider her as a monster.

"But you know" said Thomas "I totally won that duel"

Akiza snickered. He had some emotions inside after all.