Tea stood looking out her balcony, well, technically Anzu's balcony. Though, I guess if you looked at it from a purely ownership level it was Tea's as well, considering she and Anzu were the same…sort of. It was all too confusing for her own good, best not to think about it.
Tea sighed and rested her head on the stone railing. Why was her life so bloody complicated? What, it just could lighten up at all? She wanted to go home, she wanted to be back in her own house so badly, with Trisket and Mokuba there with her on the couch. With a laughing Yugi desperately trying to keep Jyo from doing something stupid. A failing cause in itself but attemptable.
Yugi…he wasn't going to turn into this was he? He wasn't going to become some power hungry madman right? Anzu closed her eyes, she wanted to be home. She wanted to be back in her own time, the time where she could make sure that this part of his personality never had the chance to develop. That was what she did after all; Tea was the moral support of the group, the cheerful one, the lively one, the happy one. Would they be ok without her? Were they ok right now?
So many questions that were currently unanswerable. Would they ever be answered? Would she ever make it back?
Tea reopened her eyes, a small tear gliding down her cheek. She wiped its remains away and stood up strait, one tear was all she had time for. One tear was all she could spare.
"Anzu?"
Tea smiled at the innocent voice calling her name, though, she still was unsure how she was hearing it. Sighing and shaking her head Tea focused her hearing on where the sound was coming from only to have her attention drawn a couple of floors below. Turning around to face her cracked open door Tea leaned her back against the railing and once again let her sight wander. She watched as it led her down the hallway and through a doorway, then once again down a flight of stairs only to have to procedure repeated. Just as before her vision seemed like it was looking through a crystal ball, or a cat's perspective, with certain things heightened. Eventually her sight led her right to where her hearing had wanted it to go, showing her Mekubo.
He was looking for her, three floors down and was talking to a guard. She should probably head down now before he became too frantic. She heard a creaking noise but kept her attention on Mekubo. It was maid, undoubtedly here to ask her if Anzu would be joining the others for lunch.
"My Lady, should I walk you down stairs to meet with the other Lords or will you be dinning in your room today?" asked the woman politely.
Still focusing on Mekubo's and the guard's discussion about where Anzu could be and where Mekubo should head next, Anzu answered back. "Yes, I will go down I suppose, but don't worry about walking me, I will manage," Tea decided to cut off her sight with Mekubo and turned fully to the maid, "You just have a nice lunch."
The maid smiled, "Thank you My Lady, and you as well. I will see you at dinner then."
Tea smiled as the maid walked out the door and headed into the hall. Though, she smiled even larger at the thought of gaining control of her powers. Not only had she been able to fully concentrate on Mekubo's conversation but her own as well. There was no split in the middle; each had somehow had her full-undivided attention. Damn, she was getting good at this.
With another smirk Tea headed out her own door and into the main dinning area.
Seth really didn't want her to show up, like, really, really, really didn't want her to. After the talk with Queen Asmara all he could seem to think about was her, it was driving him crazy. And of course she showed up, probably just in spite of him. That was what drove him crazy about her. Not only could he never tell what she was thinking but to top it all off, she seemed to always know what he was. Then she would decide to go the extra mile and do the exact opposite of what he knew she knew he didn't want her to do.
Stupid woman.
"Anzu," he said silently.
She looked in his direction, wait, was that…a blush?
"Seth," she bowed her head politely.
What the hell? He debated asking her if she had a fever or something, but decided against it. Like hell if he cared, "Are you sick?" what the hell was going on? Since when did his mouth move without consulting with his brain first?
"What?" her blush grew deeper, "no. Why would you care anyways?"
There was no sarcastic tone in her voice, just curiosity. Damn, did she enjoy messing with him or something? Seth had no idea how to react, so, he decided to do the one move that never failed him, he smirked. He pulled off an evil, know-it-all smirk that never failed to rile her up. It was after all, his secret weapon with her.
Her rosy tinted cheeks paled and her wide eye's narrowed, "Damn bastard," she spoke defensively as if he had said something unforgivable to her.
The smirk grew. Had to love the smirk, it had never failed him.
"Big brother?" came radiating through the halls, interrupting the current glaring session, though, neither moved their gaze.
"Big brother have you seen An…Anzu there you are!" yelled Mekubo joyously as he entered the large room.
Tea, deciding it would be more fun to piss off the Priest by ignoring him and adoring his little brother, turned her gaze and swept Mekubo into her arms. Damn he was big; she made a quick glance at Seth. She suppressed a grin, ok; her aching back was worth it, just to see the look on the morons face.
"Big brother, what's wrong?"
Seth's smirk fell as Tea's smirk grew.
"What have I told you about flea's Mekubo?"
Tea cut in, "Yes Seth, have you taken that bath yet?"
Seth reached out for his brother and yanked Mekubo out of Tea's grasp, "Sleep with dog's and you end up with flea's."
Tea grabbed Mekubo's other arm and pulled him back towards her while staring strait into Seth's eyes, "Oh, did you manage that all on your own? A++ for you."
Seth continued to pull harder on Mekubo's arm and the small boy was again dragged from the middle, where he preferred to be. "Bite me," growled Seth.
"I see your finally admitting your flea problem," smirked Tea. This conversation had nothing to do with Mekubo, no, this was all about dominance and she'd fall on the ground dead before she let Seth gain the upper hand over her.
"And this right here is the dinning area, where you ate just last-oh, hey Lady Anzu, High Priest Seth," said Tori as he walked into the room. A sight that made Tea want to gag, General Akito and his nephew Ravn, soon followed him. Not that she had ever met Ravn or anything but she wasn't willing to take any chances. Burned once, shame on them, burned twice, shame on her.
"Lady Anzu, High Priest Seth, I do believe you remember General Akito and his nephew. Though, I know the High Priest has met Ravn, I don't believe you have Anzu," said Tori.
Ravn stepped forward; he seemed to be in his early 20's and had short blond hair cut around his ears. It sort of reminded Tea of the hairstyles from her time, only a bit shaggier. He also wore about three earrings on each ear, give or take a few, the last one's hanging down in gold hoops. He wore flowing robes that did nothing to hide his nice figure or chiseled build. Ravn took a low bow in front of Tea, "My Lady, I am honored to meet you," raising his gaze he gently grabbed Tea's hand and placed it in his own. Tea immediately noticed the bright jewelry decorating his fingers. Bringing her own hand up to his lips he placed a gentle kiss and released his hold.
Tea couldn't help but blush, it's not everyday something like this happened to her. Of course, it wasn't everyday that she was thrown thousands of years into the past but that was beside the point. "Um, yes, it is an honor to meet you as well Lord Ravn," she stuttered.
He gave a devastating grin, "Please my Lady, call me Ravn. Lord Tori was just showing my Uncle and I around if you would like to join us. As enlightening as it is to have Lord Tori around it would be even better if you were to join us," spoke Lord Ravn calmly.
"I-" Tea started but was cut off by a certain unexpected someone.
"She can't, she promised to spend the day with me," said Mekubo defensively while stepping in front of Tea's body like some sort of bodyguard.
Ravn gave off a small laugh, "It seems you are busy then, maybe some other time?" he looked at Tea but again Mekubo answered before she had the chance.
"Some other time," he said while giving off a miniature version of his brothers famous 'get out of my way or I'll squash you like the insect you are' glare.
Before Tea could apologize for Mekubo's actions Tori had whisked them out of the room and continued on with his tour. Tea immediately turned to Mekubo her hand on her hips, "What was that about?"
Mekubo just stood there with his arms crossed over his chest, "What was what about?"
Tea's eye's narrowed, "Why were you so rude to him Mekubo, that's nothing like you at all?"
"I wasn't rude, I was just telling him you already had plans for today," he answered back.
Tea wasn't sure what to say to that. Mekubo was rude, and he knew it, but why did he even act like that? It was nothing like Mekubo at all. Usually if Mekubo was rude it was to defend his brother, everything went down hill when it came to the elder of the two brothers. But Seth hadn't even been part of the conversation, which Tea was positive Seth was happy about. He hated people and preferred to have nothing to do with them if there was anything he could do about it. So what was with Mekubo?
"I don't remember saying we had plans today Mekubo," she said suspiciously.
"Well I really wanted to go down to the gardens today and have a picnic," he answered back.
Tea gave a quick glance in Seth's direction but the man was as useless as he normally was. He just stood there, watching everything play out. Damn it all, his freaking smirk was back! She suppressed a growl, "So you made plans for me?"
"I figured you wouldn't mind, you'd much rather spend time with me then with that Ravn guy right?"
"What I would rather do or rather not do is not the subject matter right now Mekubo," she gave him a disapproving look.
It was quiet; she could see his resolve starting to waver. He knew what he did was wrong, that much was certain, but as to why he did it Tea had yet to figure out. Mekubo shuffled his feet a bit while looking at the ground, finally he looked back up at Tea, "I'm sorry Anzu, I just…I shouldn't have done that. I'll go tell Lord Ravn I' sorry too if you really want me too."
"I think that would be best," she answered back, her parenting voice softening once again.
"Are you still going to spend the day with him?" he asked almost to quietly for her to hear.
Tea continued to watch him, "Oh, I don't know, I was thinking of a walk through the gardens and maybe a picnic."
The boy's eye's immediately lit up, "Really?"
"Only if you apologize to Lord Ravn though, and promise not to do anything like that again," said Tea.
"Oh I promise, I wont do it again," he said excitedly.
She sighed, "Alright, then I promise, but you don't have to apologize right now, it would be best if you did it at dinner."
"I'll go get a basket!" The boy quickly sprinted out of the room and into the kitchens, leaving Seth and Tea alone once again.
Before Seth even had a chance to defend himself Tea turned and punched him in the arm. "Bitch what the hell was that for?"
"Why didn't you stop him?"
"Stop him from what?" he answered back, trying not to show that his shoulder still hurt.
"What do you mean from what? Mekubo never talks to people like that! This is why he shouldn't hang around you, you are a horrible influence on someone as young as him. You don't give a crap about others and it's rubbing off. Mekubo is to sweet to end up like you Seth," she continued to glare at him and without giving him a chance to defend himself she walked into the hallway, not even wanting to be in the same room as him.
Seth wasn't quite sure what to say, it was there again, that look. It was the look she gave when she wasn't kidding anymore. It was the look she had when she was under Alec's mind games, a look saying she had given up, that she truly didn't care. It was the look that said, 'I can't stand to look at you any longer'. He had gotten that look many times and felt nothing, but for some reason whenever Anzu was the one to deal it to him, his whole body shook in an unknown sensation.
He couldn't describe it, and he really didn't have the time to try and figure it out, all he knew what that he didn't like it. He didn't like how his heart would momentarily freeze in fear of what she would say next, or quiver when she would walk away in hatred. No, he didn't like it, he couldn't say why he didn't like it, but he didn't.
Who the hell was she anyways? Telling him to stay away from his own brother? She wasn't his family, his blood, she had no say whatsoever. Hell, look at her family, they were all worse then anything she could ever accuse him of. A father who sold his soul and his family's freedom for power. Brothers who try to control that power through murder. No, she wasn't one to talk about family.
"Seth? Where is Anzu?"
Seth was brought out of his thoughts by Mekubo's curious voice. He was about to answer when he noticed something different about his brother's posture. It was almost…angry. Mekubo's eyes were in slits and his stance was rigid, something Seth recognize from his countless negotiations with other countries.
"What is going on?" asked Seth in a rigid tone. Seth was never harsh with his brother but something was out of place and if Mekubo thought he could dominate his brother…Mekubo had another thing coming.
With that one phrase Mekubo snapped, "How could you not stop him?!"
"Wha-"
"How could you not stop him?! Why did you not cut in? She doesn't belong to him, you were here first! She's yours! And you did nothing!" yelled Mekubo furiously.
Seth was speechless, what the hell was Mekubo talking about? Him? Stop? Who was he trying to stop? What belong to him? Seth was about to ask those exact questions when he looked at his brother's face, fresh tears were pouring. Mekubo was crying. It wasn't over something Anzu did, there was no blame to place but on himself. He had never made Mekubo cry before, at least not that he knew of, but here Mekubo was…crying. He had made his brother cry, and he didn't even know why!
"I'm leaving," and with that Mekubo was gone to go find Anzu.
Seth just stood there shocked, what was going on in his life? Mekubo was mad at him and he cared that Anzu was, why was his world always upside down when that damn woman was around? Seth moved over to a chair and slumped down in it, placing his head in his hands, just wanting the world to leave him alone, if just for a bit.
Tea debated what to say to Mekubo, he was acting strange again. The boy's mind was entirely elsewhere which was rather odd for him. "Want to talk about it?"
She watched him frown, "There is nothing to talk about," he answered back.
"You sure?"
"Yes," was his short reply.
"Ok, we don't have to talk about it," she waited a couple of minutes, knowing her Mokuba was never good at keeping his emotions buried and wouldn't last much longer by his own devices, hopefully his past self was the same. Reaching forwards she pulled an apple from the wicker basket and took a bite from it.
"Would you really go with him?"
She stopped mid chew, that was what she was waiting for. Finishing her bite Tea looked up towards the sky, "Go with whom?"
"…Ravn."
"If his Uncle wasn't with him, perhaps," she took another bite, waiting for him to say what was really bothering him.
"Why?"
"Because he was nice to me, obviously that is harder to find around here then one would guess," she answered back smoothly, again without looking at him.
"Is it because of Seth? Is he not nice enough to you?"
It was odd, Mekubo sounded genuinely curious, had he not seen her and his brother in the same room before? Cause she was under the distinct impression that he had. Tea decided she was going to have to be extremely careful with her wording. "Yes and no. He's not the best towards me but then again, it's not like I expect him to be."
"If he was nicer to you would you talk to him more?"
All right, now this conversation was just crazy overall. "Mekubo, what are you trying to get at?"
"I'm not trying to get at anything, I was just curious…so would you?"
Tea tried really hard not to sigh but it was just so tempting. Where was he coming up with all these questions? "I guess if he was nice to me, ya, I'd talk to him more. But Mekubo I don't think you get it that that isn't going to happen, this is your brother we're talking about. One, he hates me, two, he hates people, three, he hates talking unnecessarily, four, there are some things even you cannot convince your brother to do."
There was a silence between them, then Mekubo looked up at her, "It could still happen."
Tea rolled her eyes, "Ok, maybe if he hit his head and had serious brain damage or something."
"But it could still happen though," he smiled this time.
"Brain damage," was her only response.
"But could still happen," he started laughing and picked up the basket with the remaining food and headed over to the horses.
Tea stood up and fed her remaining apple to her own horse, "Brain damage," she practically sang back.
Mekubo mounted his horse, "But still in the range of possibilities."
Tea smiled and mounted her own horse after nuzzling its nose, "Bodily pain and irreversible damage to your kin."
"Yet still possible."
Yami stood with Ravn and Seth in the gardens, incredibly deep into the lands if you thought about it. They were on the border of the flowers and trees, an oasis being their meeting place. He had been so out of sorts of late, he just wasn't sure what to do anymore. This was not how a Pharaoh was supposed to handle himself; he was supposed to be sure, a fighting figure for the people to trust. He glanced over to see his general and both Lord Tori and Lord Jyo behind him. Neither of his two Lords looked too pleased.
"Why are we meeting all the way out here Pharaoh?" asked General Akito.
"I thought we could get more done without any distractions," he answered back. In truth he didn't want to run into Anzu, or the accusing glances she was sure to give him. He turned to Seth, "have you spoken to Lady Anzu about the new division of mons-Guardian members?"
"No, she was busy," Seth answered back, but before anyone could add to the Priest's comment laughter filled their ears. It was a woman's and it seemed a small boy's as well.
"Oh please, you can't catch me," laughed the woman.
"Yes I can, I'm Seth's little brother, there's nothing I can't do!"
The sound of horses soon followed the laughter, and then a deep chocolate brown horse came leaping through a set of nearby trees, "Brain damage!" Tea laughed.
Another brown horse, though lighter in color, soon came from the same direction, only there was a small boy with long and wild black hair riding on his back, "Still possible!"
Tea came running up to him and circled his horse in an incredible speed, making sure to confuse him and his rider. She leaped out of the way before Mekubo could grab her. She laughed harder, she started to race again, still not noticing their audience, "Brain-" but the rest of her sentence was lost as she made eye contact with Yami.
Mekubo, utterly oblivious at the moment, grabbed a hold of Tea's reigns and smiled, "I win, hey, what's wrong?" he finally looked in the direction she was staring at, "Oh."
"What are you doing here Anzu?" asked Yami. He winced, that was not the tone he wanted to ask her in.
His tone had made her mad, why did he think he could speak to her like that? Tea stayed on her horse, knowing it was probably driving Yami crazy that she had the higher ground, "Converting others to my monster ways," was her sharp reply, but before Yami could manage anything the same gold light filled her eyes and leaked to the outline of her body. As soon as the light receded, so did she, leaving nothing but a very confused horse.
Yami sighed, how is it he could never say the right thing to her? Was this how Seth felt all the time? No, Seth meant to be mean to her, Yami didn't…well always anyway. Was he in the wrong? He had been so caught up in the possible end of the war that he didn't even think about his own troops? His own country? Anzu was right, he was wrong, he needed to fix this. Stepping forwards he grabbed the reins of Anzu's horse and mounted it. Turning towards his comrades he answered their unasked question, "We'll finish this later," and with that, he rode off towards his fortress, where he knew she had to be.
Seto started at the screen, not sure what to think. Consciously, he was trying to push aside the fluttering feeling in his stomach, but subconsciously it kept popping up. What was going on, he wasn't some immature little school brat with no control over his emotions-hormones, he meant to say hormones, not emotions, defiantly not emotions. The only emotion that existed when it came to Tea was how much he couldn't stand her. She was annoying, demanding, inferior, bitchy, hormonal, whiny, second rate, noisy and all the other adjectives that he couldn't think of right now.
He was going to concentrate on the damn movie and get a good laugh as Gardner fell on her ass.
Focusing back on the movie he listened and watched hoping it would be over soon, yet, the phrase adorably sexy kept floating through his head no matter how hard he tried to push it out.
Serenity was the first to talk, "So, what exactly are we doing and why do we have to dress up like this?"
Tea shook her head in disappointment, "Because it is an old tradition of mine, just because you all are weird and don't celebrate Christmas like I do doesn't mean I'm giving in without a fight, besides, Mai absolutely loves this."
"So," asked Serenity again, "it's still like three weeks till Christmas, why today?"
Mai spoke this time, "Because you are all stingy and this was the only day we could get everyone together, that, and could you imagine trying to get everything done on Christmas Eve?"
"Shall we start?" asked Tea.
"You know it girl!" yelled back Mai.
"Alright, I'll preheat the oven, Becca, you grab one of my recipe books and Serenity you help her. You two can pick out what you think looks good and Mai, lock the bloody doors…and windows…and block the chimney for now," Tea turned to her crew," oh, can't forget the music!" She grabbed her remote for the stereo and Christmas Music came blasting out of it.
A grin spread across all their faces. Mai smiled and started singing 'Jingle Bell Rock' loudly, Tea quickly joining her, while Serenity kind of hummed it and Rebecca just stood their laughing, though somehow also singing it. It was like a worker be house, everyone was working, laughing, singing and dancing. It was incredibly funny to watch let alone be part of.
"Tea!" laughed Rebecca as Serenity finally decided to start singing along with everyone else, "why are there only pictures and no recipes? How are we supposed to cook?"
Tea slid over, her socks keeping her from stopping as she braced herself to hit the table with her hands. Catching herself she looked up, "Oh, I know all my recipes by heart, that's just so no one can steal them, just pick what looks good."
Rebecca licked her lips as she turned the page, "That page looks really good, doesn't it Serenity?"
Serenity looked over from her own recipe book and licked her lips, "They do, what are they called?"
"Over-Night-Rolls, hey Tea, what about these Over-Night-Roll things?"
Tea looked over her shoulder, "That's fine, we'll start with those, you are usually supposed to let the yeast rise over night but if we start them early enough we should be fine, just write a list down."
Mai stepped into the room, "Everything's bolted shut, Joey doesn't stand a chance," she said while grinning.
Serenity looked up, "Joey? What would he be doing here?"
Tea rolled her eyes, "About a year ago, a little bit after we met, Joey somehow figured out about my Holiday Cooking days. How I set aside one day before that holiday and get all my baking done. Well, you know Joey and his stomach, ever since then he tries every holiday to break in and steal all my food, which is part of the reason we're doing today three weeks in advance. I'll just freeze everything till Christmas."
Rebecca's eye's widened, "Locking the doors? The windows, the chimney? A little drastic isn't it?"
Mai sighed at their naivety, "No, he tried to brake down her door last Thanksgiving, and jumped threw a closed window just this last Halloween."
Serenity's eyes widened, she knew her brother had a one-track mind but to jump through a closed window?
A sudden knock was heard; it was coming from the front door. Almost in synchronized order it happened, Tea froze, Mai froze, Rebecca froze, and Serenity froze. Joey hadn't found out already had he? Tea gulped, there was no way. They had been impossibly discrete, Yami's grandfather didn't even know. Then again, he would just tell Joey…just because he was an old man didn't mean he wasn't conniving.
The knock was heard again, it was somewhat quiet for one of Joey's knocks. Tea gulped, it could just be a trick, or maybe something that Tristen had came up with. Once Joey had figured out he was going to need some help to outsmart Tea he had recruited Tristen and Yugi, and on rare occasions Yami's grandfather. Manipulative old man.
Tea looked over at her friend, motioning for Mai to check the window.
Mai's face was shot and she mouthed the words, 'No way in hell' to Tea.
Tea stomped her foot and growled, pointing to the window, 'Now' was what she mouthed.
Mai glanced at the window, then back at Tea, then back at the window. Finally coming up with a conclusion she picked up a piece of paper and a pen. After a few seconds Mai held the picture up. It was a stick figure drawing of a guy, who was undoubtedly Joey, and a woman, who from the big hair and tight skirt could only be Mai. The man was in the middle of crashing through the window and tackling the woman, leaving her unconscious and on the floor in the next picture. Mai through down the paper and motioned with arms no way, and mouthed, 'not again!'.
Tea looked at her other two comrades and picked up a newspaper and marker from a drawer. She wrote 'pick a card' on it. All four looked at each other and agreed it was the only fair route. Grabbing the deck from the drawer she shuffled the deck and spread them out on the already cluttered table. On the count of three they each picked up a random card. Mai held hers out, the Jack of spades. Serenity held hers, the nine of hearts. Rebecca was next, the three of hearts. Tea looked at her card and sighed; she had the four of diamonds. Poor Rebecca. The girl gulped and placed her card down solemnly.
She lost fair and square, moving over to the door she felt something soft and gentle on her shoulder. It was Tea's hand, "I'll do it," was all she said before she walked to the door. Turning back around she smiled, "You shouldn't have to deal with a lunatic on your first Holiday Cooking day."
Laughing, Tea turned around, the rest of the women hiding behind various objects, ready to attack should Tea be mauled or something. Swinging the door open Tea started her speech, "Joey listen, I'm trying to help the drama department today by going over their music and costumes, can you come back tomorrow?"
"Sure, but I didn't know we were doing a play," that voice definitely wasn't Joeys, or Tristen's, or Yugi's.
She opened her eyes to see Mokuba's curious gaze fixed exclusively on her, "Um, Tea, why are you dressed like a Christmas tree? Are you sure that's a costume? And why is Mai holding a book over her head behind the couch like she's ready to attack?"
"Mokuba!!" yelled Tea.
"Mokuba?" asked Rebecca as she came out from behind the door.
"Mokuba?" asked Serenity as she jumped out from a curtain, a fire poker still in hand.
Mokuba's eyebrow went up, a perfect imitation of his brother, "Glad to see you all know who I am."
Tea immediately swept him up in her arms, "Oh I'm so glad it's you, I though for sure it was the mongrel, I mean friend of mine, Joey."
Mokuba laughed, "We really need to get you looking through the peep hole in your door."
Tea laughed, "Guilty as charged, I really never look through the blasted thing."
Mokuba stepped inside the cozy house, "So what are you doing in here?"
Serenity and Rebecca looked at each other, ready to shoo the nosy boy out of the house. This was a girl's only day and that was that!
"We're baking, you wanna join?"
"Tea!" yelled Serenity.
"What are you doing? After everything we just went through to try and keep Joey out you want to invite a boy!" yelled Rebecca.
Both girls looked at Mai, trying to get her on their side. Mai, who was holding the camera, looked at the two girls, and then at Tea, then at Mokuba who still had no idea what was going on. The camera started at Mokuba, "So kid, you wanna help me lock up the upstairs windows?"
Serenity and Rebecca fell over, "You are totally kidding me," whispered Serenity.
They looked back up at Tea pleadingly. Tea just shrugged and pulled the still utterly confused Mokuba into her arms, "What, you going to tell me you can resist this face? Besides, Mokuba isn't a normal boy, he's a Kaiba. He won't divulge anything unless there's something to gain, and well, there isn't. Not if he's already here," she said logically.
Rebecca looked over at the still confused Mokuba, "Ok, I guess he can stay, it might be fun seeing a boy stumble around in the kitchen."
Mai laughed, "Worse then you and Serenity? Highly doubtful."
Rebecca stuck out her tongue towards the camera.
"Alright, but he has to help me pick out the recipes," she quickly lunged towards Tea and pulled Mokuba out of her loose hold, dragging him into the kitchen.
Rebecca, finally noticing Mokuba wasn't in the room straitened, "Oh no he isn't, he's helping me!" she stomped into the kitchen.
The camera turned to Tea; Mai's voice was the next thing that was heard, "Like, I thought the kid was helping me?" she placed the recorder onto the nearest surface table and turned around. Rolling up her sleeves and pulling out her earrings she walked into the kitchen. Tea just stood there, wondering what to do. To help, or not to help, that was the question.
She heard a scream and what sounded like clothes being ripped, then a loud, "No, he's mine!" come from the room.
Not to help. Definitely to not to help.
"Aw, my little boy has suitors, he's growing up so fast. It seems just like yesterday I was teaching him that not all girls have their natural hair color. Wait, that was yesterday," laughed Tea.
"Tea! You have to help me!" yelled Mokuba as he ran from the kitchen and into her arms, "they're going to kill me. You have to do something!"
Tea looked down at him, tilting her head slightly and blinked in confusion a couple of times, "Why?"
Another scream was heard from the kitchen, "Like I called him first!"
Mokuba looked back over at her, "Why? That's why, there going to rip me into shreds!"
Tea shook her head, "Mokuba you're a big boy now, you're going to have to learn to deal with women some day."
"But-but, Tea!"
She just laughed, "Relax I'm kidding, I'd never place you up against those three, well maybe if you were your brother but just because that would be hysterical."
"So you're going to help me?"
"Sure, why not," she sighed.
He let out a worried laugh, "You really had me scared there for a minute…hey Tea, just out of curiosity, who would you vote for?"
"What do you mean?"
"Between my brother and those three?"
Tea placed her finger on her chin, actually thinking about her response, "I think…I think it would have to be your brother."
Mokuba's face was shocked, "What?" he could barley get his worlds out.
"Ya, defiantly your brother," she said again, as if reassuring herself.
Before Mokuba could ask why Mai came running into the room, obviously looking for something, or someone. He eyes made it to Mokuba and he froze, gripping on tighter to Tea. Serenity and Rebecca were again by her side, staring strait at Mokuba. Mokuba made a whimpering noise, and with that encouragement, they charged.
Mokuba gripped onto Tea tighter, still unsure why she wasn't moving. Opening his eye's he saw Tea just standing there smirking, he gulped. Wasn't she going to do anything? Finally, when they weren't a foot in front of her she made a stop signal with her hands. Mai was the first to crash as she tried to derail herself by hitting the couch. Serenity was the second, slipping on her socks and falling face first on the ground. Rebecca was unfortunately unable to stop and headed strait towards Tea. Hand still out, the brown haired girl stopped Rebecca as the she slid into Tea's outstretched palm, similar to an elder sibling holding off her annoying younger sister, while the younger sister clawed for the cake in the elders hands. Holding her back, Tea let go of Rebecca's forehead as the girl fell to her knees. "Mokuba's going to help me, but I'll ask him if he wants to trade off some time with one of you alright? Alright."
With that said Tea linked Mokuba's hand with hers and the two walked into the kitchen, leaving behind three very bruised friends all wondering how she always managed to do that.
The day continued like that. With flour decorating the kitchen walls, sugar mashed in everyone's hair and dough currently being licked off of fingertips, life was grand. Mokuba hopped over to the last recipe book, staring at a large picture. Tea noticed this and walked over, "What's up Mokuba?"
He looked up at her wide-eyed, "My brother used to love carrot cake. He's really picky though because no body makes it the way he likes it, mainly because no one knows the recipe. But sometimes he finds something similar to what he says our mom used to make, but it's never quite right. At least that's what he says anyway," the poor boy's face seemed to suddenly be cased in an ever-present shadow.
Tea looked at him solemnly. Tea could see how much Mokuba loved his brother, and she could only fathom how much it hurt the kid to see how Kaiba buried himself in his work. Tea glanced around, seeing that everyone was still occupied with whatever they were doing. Mai and Serenity were painting the sugar cookies and Rebecca was moving the camera around the room.
She turned back to Mokuba, "Has he ever told you what it tastes like?"
"Um…not really, just that it tastes sweeter then most and is really, really moist. I think he also said it had a honey flavor in it too," he answered back, not even thinking about why she was asking.
"What does the frosting taste like?" she asked again.
"I don't know, why?" he asked, finally realizing she was asking about his brother.
Tea reached over and grabbed her phone, "Call him and ask."
"What? But Tea he's at work, and he's working, and I'm sure he doesn't want to talk about it anyways, and did I say he's at work?" he pleaded.
Tea placed the phone into his hand along with a piece of paper and pen, "Though it has been a while since I made it, I have an old recipe that sounds familiar to what you described but…it probably wouldn't be close enough for your brother, so ask him some more about it. I can't alter it at all if I don't know what to change now can I?"
With that Tea stood up and walked away, leaving Mokuba alone to dial his brothers number. Mokuba looked at the phone, then at the piece of paper in front of him, and finally at the pen by his side. Should he? Could he?
"Tea, I think we have a problem!" yelled a voice.
But the camera's direction was changed before any decision could be seen. Soon what was shown was the door, then the window, then a glance through the window.
It was snowing.
What's more, standing in the middle of the snow, banging on the door was Joey in all his mighty glory. "Oh crap," said Mai as she too looked out the window.
"Maybe he'll go away," whispered Rebecca.
Tea sneered, "Ya, as soon as Kaiba manages to get a muzzle on him."
"Ya'll open up, I know you are baking. I can smell it all the way out here!" he yelled, "Don't make me call for reinforcements, cause we can do this the easy way or the hard way!"
"Maybe we could call the police or something, he is trespassing after all," Tea said quietly.
Mai sneered this time, "Please, as soon as Joey convinces them to take a bite out of your angel/strawberry-shortcake we'd be even worse off."
"Well you got a better idea?" she asked, pulling the curtains closed as Joey looked towards the window.
Serenity looked around, "Maybe we could just give him some?"
Mai and Tea just looked at her and blinked rapidly in confusion, "Excuse me?"
Rebecca looked at the two women before her, "Why not, that sounds like a good idea to me."
Mai smacked her head while Tea just shook hers, "And it only sounds like a good idea because you've never taken Psychology. It's called reinforcement, give them something once and they expect it every time. Soon he would tell Tristen, who would tell Yugi, who would tell his grandfather who would tell everyone who walked into his shop. Need I go on?"
Mai supported her, "Besides, he'd be winning if we gave in."
"So what do we do?" asked Serenity.
Suddenly Mokuba was behind them, looking through the window as well, "Hey, what's going on? Hey look, Joey's here, why haven't you let him in?" Mokuba jumped off the couch and headed towards the door, ready to open the wooden barrier.
"No!" yelled all four girls as they lunged for Mokuba, the camera dropping somewhere on the ground.
Tea was the one that managed the capture as she held onto his ankles, "Do not open that door Mokuba, we have to develop a plan first."
Mokuba was utterly confused, had Tea just tackled him? "But why?"
Tea looked around the room as soon as Mai picked up the camera. "Mai, hide, somewhere, anywhere. Serenity run upstairs and don't make a sound. Rebecca, go into the kitchen and get that batch of cookies you and Serenity made by yourselves…the one's where you forgot to put the sugar in, but don't come out till I call you."
Tea turned around and reached into the coat closet, pulling out a white robe she wrapped it around herself, while pulling off her Santa hat. Scanning the room once more she stared at Mai, "Mai, I can still see you!"
Turning back around she faced Mokuba, "Alright, don't say anything. Just smile and nod, unless he asks you something directly, but don't say a word about what we're doing."
With that she opened the door and sidestepped, letting Joey fall flat on his face, "Hello Joey."
He quickly stood up, "Where's the food?"
Tea grabbed his arm before he managed to get any further than the doorway, "What food?"
"You're baking," he said while trying to step around her.
She once again was in his way, "No I'm not, oh…I get it, you think I'm having one of my baking days today right?"
"Only because you are," he said triumphantly.
"Really? You sure about that?" Tea pulled Mokuba out from behind the doorway, Mokuba just smiled like he was told to do.
"Wh-what's he doin' here? You said no guys allowed!"
"Only on my Holiday Baking days," she answered smoothly.
Joey looked around confused, the curtain quickly covered the camera lens as he looked towards Mai, then his voice was heard again and she refocused the recorder, moving the curtain, "Why do you have socks like that on?"
Tea looked down at her feet, "Laundry day."
"And that smell?" asked Joey just as fast.
"I'm helping Rebecca learn how to bake for a boy she likes, apparently everyone likes him and she has to get the upper hand some how," she said casually, "hey, you want to try one of her batches?"
"Handmade cookies? Course I do!"
Tea turned and yelled towards the kitchen, "Hey Rebecca, can you bring your latest batch in?"
Joey looked at her, "Latest?"
"Ya, she's had a bit of trouble, I actually haven't had the nerve to taste them yet. It's a good thing you've got a resilient stomach right?"
"I don-" but he was cut off by Rebecca.
"Here they are," she handed Joey one, but being Joey he took one right away, completely disregarding Tea's earlier warning, he froze mid chew desperalty trying not to hurl.
"Oh look he likes them, that's good because I have like three other batches for you to try, I'll go get them, though you might want to be careful with the second batch, I dropped a huge egg shell in there," she turned around and bounded of to the kitchen.
Tea clapped her hands together, "I'm so glad we have a taste tester now, I thought for sure I was going to have to brave it."
Joey looked at her, then at Mokuba, then at the tray of leftover cookies, then finally at the door, "Actually, I promised Yugi I'd help him out at the shop today…I uh, gotta go. I'll be busy all day too, so don't call me," and with that their troubles were gone, strait through the door and currently running down the street.
Tea and Mokuba immediately started laughing, Mai joining not seconds after. Rebecca walked through the door while holding her sides as Serenity almost fell down the stairs. It was to perfect. "Alright everyone, back into the kitchen, we have work to do," said Tea while rubbing her sides.
It wasn't till everyone left that the smile from her face faltered. Tea turned around, her eye's showing her once hidden fear as she looked out the window towards the falling snow. It was coming down harder now. She just stood there, watching it fall, seemingly to afraid to look away.
"Tea?" called Mokuba's voice, "are you coming?"
Shaking her head she whipped her eyes to make sure no tears came out without her knowing, and she headed back into the kitchen, Mai, alongside with her camera, running back in before Tea saw.
Once they were there Tea noticed the small piece of paper she had given Mokuba, it had writing on it. Mokuba had built up the courage to call his brother and ask about their mom. He really was growing up. Picking up the piece of paper she read the scribbled notes to herself. Mokuba walked up to her, "So, will it work, he didn't really want to talk about it much."
Tea smiled, "Ya, my recipe is similar, I think I can figure it out from these, but I'll defiantly need your help k?"
He shook his head, happy to oblige.
"But…I might need one more," turning around she grabbed Rebecca's hand and pulled her towards them, "You wouldn't mind helping us out would you?"
Rebecca smiled, "With what?"
"A present," was all Tea said as she winked at Mokuba, "So preheat the oven to 400 degrees for me and I'll grab the recipe," and with that she turned around and headed out of the kitchen.
Soon she was back with a small dark green metal box in her hands, clutched protectively. "What's in the box Tea?" asked Mokuba.
She reached out and opened the small tin container, "It's my favorite recipes, the ones I promised myself I'd only show to family," reaching in she scanned the few recipes that were in there, pulling out a tattered note card filled back to front.
Mokuba's eye's widened, "But Tea, Rebecca and I don't really have family's, let alone y-" but Tea stopped him with her finger on his lips.
"You two are the best family I could ever wish for," and with that, she placed the note card on the counter and turned to pick out a few bowls.
Mokuba's eye's watered, but he didn't cry, even though he wanted to. Rebecca on the other hand held nothing back, as the tears flowed freely. Her parents both had died and all she had left was her grandfather who she knew wasn't in perfect condition, to have Tea say she considered her family was just…perfect. Without another thought Rebecca turned around and grabbed Tea from behind, hugging her with all her might, never planning on letting go.
Tea relaxed a bit as she felt the hug, turning she looked at Mokuba who slowly walked over to her, looking at her strait in the eyes. She reached out a hand and ruffled up his hair in a loving, almost motherly way. He lunged at her too, arms wide open, "Thank you Tea," was the only thing he whispered.
Tea smiled and slowly pulled the two crying children from her waist, "Come on, we have a cake to make."
The rest of the film showed four happy girls as they smiled, laughed, and threw things and each other, and one very, very happy little boy.
Seto stared at the screen utterly shocked. Tea…she considered Mokuba a family member? She looked after him, fed him and treated him as if the boy was her own. She loved him so much, as much as he loved him. She truly did.
He had never seen this side of her before…no, that was a lie. He had, he just chose to ignore it, or pretend that it was some way to get under his skin. No, it was truly part of who she was. Loving, kind, compassionate and everything he always wanted Mokuba to have, everything he had always wanted to have.
Seto looked down at the boy in his arms. Mokuba had fallen asleep some time ago but Seto had kept watching. He couldn't stop, he didn't want to stop.
Seto slowly undid his covers and placed Mokuba under his comforter. Seto slid under them too, just now realizing not only Tea's effect on Mokuba…but also on himself.
Sliding into the sheets Seto closed his eyes, but was woken by a small meow. Smiling, he reached down and scooped Trisket into his palm, hauling him up onto the bed. Apparently he had grown a soft spot for strays. Placing the small creature on his chest, Trisket's favorite spot, Seto closed his eyes once more. Strangely enough, his day seemed to be a whole lot better.
Firevixen73- I'm back! So sorry that took so long but school has been horrible! I haven't had the chance to do anything, and now finals are coming up! My first year of college finals, let's just hope I don't die, cause if I do, I wont be able to finish the story and then you guys would never know what would happen. So I hope everyone liked it, sorry again for the long wait and please review. The keep me sane, and a sane writer always better then a non-sane one.
Please Review! I need you all to tell me what you like and what I should maybe change, you all are the best! Thank you so much!