Chapter 11 – Heartless

Opening her locker up, Tea placed her book inside and let out a small sigh. She was early, as usual, so the hallways were almost completely deserted. It was nice and quiet for her to begin another school day. Until, that is, she saw somebody out of the corner of her eye enter the hallway.

"Hey Tea!" Yugi exclaimed as he ran up to her, waving his hand as he ran. "Where were you yesterday? We tried calling you a couple times, but you didn't answer! What's up?"

Turning around, Tea smiled at her friend and closed her locker door. "I was working at the orphanage," she answered. "Why? What did you guys need?"

"Oh, we didn't really need anything," Yugi replied, leaning against the locker. "Joey was taking us all out to eat, and he wanted you to come along."

"Yeah, and then you go off and disappear like that!" Chuckling, Tea watched Joey and Tristan walk up to the two. "Man, where were you?"

"I just said, I was working at the orphanage," Tea repeated.

"Orphanage? What orphanage?" Joey asked, looking quizzically at Tea.

"The one I told you about," she scolded. "I swear, Joey, you don't listen to a thing I say."

"That's not true!"

"How was it?" Tristan asked, eyeing the two suspiciously. "The orphanage, that is. Is it any fun working there?"

"It's a lot of fun!" she stated. "Jade, the owner, is really cool and easy-going. She's always having the kids do projects and stuff, and you can tell she really cares about the kids. All the kids think of each other as their family. It's really nice."

"Are the kids any good? There always seems to be one brat in a group of good kids."

"No, they're all generally good. One just arrived recently, however, and she's not really speaking to anybody. However, Se…Umm, there's one other student that works there. He's worked there for a couple of years, so he tried comforting her, and I think it worked out well."

"Wow, sounds like a nice guy," Yugi commented. "Have you tried talking to him?"

"A couple of times, yes," Tea answered, hoping she wasn't giving too much information away while trying not to laugh at the irony of their conversation…or more like who the conversation was about. "He's kind of rude at times, but I think he's had a bad past, so I just let it go. On the whole, he seems pretty genuine with the kids."

"Are there any other workers there?"

"Nope. Only the three of us work there, and since the other guy and me are students, Jade is the only one there with the kids all day and night."

"Wow. Sounds like a rough job."

"It isn't, really. I mean, it's kind of hard to see these kids without parents, but they seem to be trying to make the best of their situation. It's actually pretty inspiring. Speaking of which, how are your community service projects going?"

"Man, it sucks!" Joey shouted, grabbing a few kids' attentions since the hallway had since become more crowded. "I've been doing yard work for my next-door neighbor, and the guy's a total asshole! I'm thinking of joining Tristan over here, but I don't know if the teacher will let me change this early on. It sucks!"

"What are you doing, Tristan?" Tea asked. "I don't think you ever told me."

"I'm helping to organize festivals and stuff in the park," he answered. "It's pretty awesome. There are some kids from Economics class that also signed up for it, so we always talk about school and stuff. Maybe if I become good friends with them, they'll help me out with the course!"

"Have them help me out too!" Joey stated. "I need so much help in that class, it's ridiculous!"

"Then why don't you just stay after school and ask the teacher for help?" Tea asked.

"Grrr, but I hate that teacher!"

"Joey, you have to pass the course. I don't like all my teachers, but I'm at least passing the course with a decent grade."

"Geez Tea, you're starting to sound like my mom," Tristan commented. "Maybe this orphanage thing is getting to your head, ya'know?" he added jokingly. Remembering Kaiba's comments on being a parent, Tea blinked in surprise and felt herself become slightly paler. "Whoa, it was only supposed to be a joke!" Tristan exclaimed, seeing her reaction.

"No, it's okay. It's just…the kid who works there with me said that he doesn't think of himself as a parent to those kids, yet he acts like it."

"Well, maybe this is your way of showing you care for us," Yugi said, smiling up at Tea. "See Joey? She only yells at you constantly for your bad grades because, deep down, she loves you!"

Tristan and Tea both burst out laughing at this as Joey's face began to turn beet red. "You guys are so obnoxious!" he shouted, growling in mock frustration. "But seriously, I guess I should appreciate it. I mean, some people have friends that don't really care like that. I guess I should be thankful. But that doesn't mean you're my mom either!"

"It's okay Joey, I would never think of replacing your mother." Tea giggled, reached out, and grabbed Joey's cheek, shaking it like a mother would. "Why would I ever want to replace your mother, Joseph?"

"What's the deal with you guys today?!" he shouted, swatting Tea's hand away. Everybody in the group burst out laughing at this, and Joey said, "You know what, I feel like I'm dealing with Kaiba here or something."

Tea immediately stopped laughing and gasped slightly at his remark. "Wait, why am I surprised? Kaiba treats these guys like crap; of course Joey would say something like that. They…didn't see what I saw." Glancing behind Joey, she saw Kaiba walk up to his locker, the usual, cold demeanor set in his face that dared any and all to even get near him. That same face that had turned to gold the moment he saw the kids at the orphanage. That same face that showed compassion and care to Lilith and all the other orphans…

Unfortunately, Joey noticed her eye movement and had turned around to see what she was looking at. "Moneybags!" he shouted, making Tea regret ever looking at the CEO. "What are you up to on this fine, lovely day?" A grunt was the only response Joey got as Kaiba opened his locker door up and began sifting through his notebooks. "What, not in the mood to be arguing with somebody who's got more friends than you'll ever have?"

"I don't need friends," was all he stated before placing a book in his locker. "And, as a matter of fact, no, I don't feel like arguing with a dog today. So I'd rather you just left me alone, got it?"

"I am NOT a dog, Kaiba!" Joey shouted, his fists clenching and unclenching in rage.

"Come on Joey, it's not worth it," Tristan warned, knowing this would go unnoticed but saying it out of habit. The entire group frowned, however, when Joey's growl turned into a smirk.

"No, I don't wanna argue either. But Kaiba, I gotta ask you something. What are you doing for community service?"

Tea's eyes widened. "None of your business," he stated coldly, closing his locker door and picking his backpack back up, which had been carelessly placed on the floor in front of his locker. Joey wouldn't have this answer, and she watched in surprise as Joey ran up to Kaiba and grabbed the collar of his shirt.

"No, I think it is my business, Kaiba. After all, community service is supposed to help the community, and aren't I a part of this community? So what are you doing, Moneybags?"

"I told you, none of your business," the CEO repeated, grabbing Joey's hand and slamming it into the nearby locker, receiving a groan of pain in response.

"Yeah, you probably just gave some charity organization some money, didn't you?" Joey countered. "That's right; I noticed your name wasn't called for that community service project in class, which means you already did something. But with how heartless you are, I'm sure you just flung some money around to make yourself look better! You probably don't even give a shit about the community, Kaiba!"

Tea wanted more than anything in the world to go up and slap Joey for saying such things. "Kaiba…you've made yourself out to be so cruel. Why don't you just tell them that you work at the orphanage? Why don't you show them you have such a good side? Imagine what they would think, seeing you working there! You could avoid so much hatred Kaiba! But no, he said he didn't want me to say anything, so I'd best not push the subject now."

"Weren't you the one bitching about helping your neighbor five minutes ago?" Kaiba asked, tightening his grip on Joey's wrist. "If you're going to yell at somebody on community service, I would suggest learning to practice what you preach. Now, as I already said, I'm not in the mood for arguments, so why don't you run back to your geeky, little friends and leave me the hell alone?" The group watched Kaiba let go of Joey's wrist, turn around, and begin walking away, and Tea involuntarily let out a sigh, thinking it was over.

After being harassed by his friends, Joey was obviously not in the mood for Kaiba's attitude, for in a split second the group all shouted in unison as Joey ran after Kaiba and body slammed him to the ground. Taken off guard, Kaiba fell to the cold, tile ground hard, and Tea could hear his head connect with the floor hard. The entire group ran forward, Tristan and Yugi pulling Joey off and Tea trying to help Kaiba up. Her heart nearly stopped as she saw a pained expression cross Kaiba's features before he slowly opened his unfocused eyes.

"What is going on?!" a sudden voice shouted, grabbing all of their attention. Mrs. Asuka was standing in the center of the hallway, looking down in horror at them. "Mr. Joseph Wheeler, what is the meaning of this? Get off of Mr. Kaiba now!"

Tea watched as Joey slowly stood up and walked over to the side. Mrs. Asuka glared at him as if daring him to make another move before walking up to the CEO. "Mr. Kaiba, are you alright?" She heard him groan slightly before slowly moving his hands to push himself up. "Mr. Kaiba, there's no need to push yourself. Tea, run to the nurse and tell her to expect somebody. As for you, Mr. Wheeler, you'll be explaining your actions in detention this afternoon. Yugi and Tristan, you had nothing to do with this, correct?" Both shook their heads no in response, and she stated, "Then you may head off to class now. However, I'll be interrogating you both on this as well."

Tea glanced back to see her friends leaving for the classroom, Joey leaning against the wall and watching as Mrs. Asuka tried to make Kaiba stand. Her eyes widened in shock as they landed on the CEO, for his eyes were badly unfocused, and it looked as though he couldn't feel his entire body. Turning back around, she began to run towards the nurse's office, knowing full well that Joey was going to get an earful from her that night.