Disclaimer: I don't own Yugioh!

Chapter 21

All Mixed Up

It was the postman delivering a parcel that woke Téa. She blinked and glanced around the room, quickly discovering she was on the floor with her head resting on the bottom step, groaning from the pain in her neck she pushed herself up on to her feet. Finally on her feet she opened the door, raising a hand to her face as the postman stared and she instantly winced, she accepted the parcel and quickly shut the door. She placed the parcel on the side table and looked up at the mirror. She could see why the postman had looked at her funny. She looked terrible. Her eyes were bloodshot and puffy, there were streaks of red running down her cheeks from the tears, her face was pale and from sleeping on the step her hair was a mess. With a sigh she wandered to the phone and dialled Joey's phone number.

She only had to wait a few minutes before she heard Joey's voice on the other side.

"This is Joey,"

"Joey its Téa," her voice was cracking and she took a deep breath to calm herself.

"What's up Téa is it Seto? Is everything alright?"

"Joey he's changed," she said clenching her fists.

"Changed, what do you mean he's changed?"

"I mean he's changed back to normal, he's Seto Kaiba CEO of Kaiba Corp once more."

"Shit!" said Joey and he dropped on to the sofa, he stayed quiet thinking over what Téa had said.

"I didn't want him to go back, I knew he would but I wasn't ready Joey, I wasn't ready to lose him. I got too attached to him, I love that sweet little boy."

"You took really good care of him Téa, you were always going to get attached when you put so much of your heart into caring for him." Joey was right and Téa stared at the toys piled high in the far corner and a tear trickled down her cheeks as loneliness set in her heart.

XXX

He fixed his tie, the knot had to be just right too big, then it showed a lack of care and attention but too small gave a rushed and untidy look. The knot had to be perfect, today was a big day.

"Mr Kaiba you ready?" Seto gave a curt nod and he turned towards the door. He had only been back in his body around three hours but in that time he had quickly searched through his company data base and was pleased with the work Mokuba had taken, he'd also arranged a press conference to show the world he was back and to prove to Merino's men that nothing would stop him from owning the number one company in the world.

The second he walked into the open, camera flashes lit up the room, Seto ignored the calls of his name and he stood behind the podium and looked out among the press, questions were being shouted at him in all directions but he continued to ignore them, in the distance he could see the playground Téa had taken him too. He closed his eyes to rid the memory, now wasn't the time to think about that, he had to sort out the mess Merino had placed him in.

"You're all aware of my recent condition, and I'm here to set the record straight. I'm back, my company is as strong as ever and the hooligans who attempted to take over it are locked away in defeat. I am back and I will be rectifying the problems so this situation never happens again."

"Mr Kaiba the reports state you were reduced to the age of a three year old! These men completely belittled you, what's stopping this from happening again!" asked the reporter, Seto sneered at the woman, she was dressed head to toe in green and there seemed to be a bad smell lingering under her nose.

"Yes I was transformed into a three year old, and I've taken precautions for this to never happen again…"

"You were kidnapped, your brother was forced to run your company while you were in your - predicament." Said the same woman.

"The police are looking into the case, I'll speak no more on that subject..."

"You can't overlook what's happened Mr Kaiba, these men had the power of time!"

Seto looked past the woman back to the park, it was becoming clearer day by day how easier it was to be so young. Pain was in his heart and he nodded his head to Roland and the press conference was over. He had to get away from that park, he had to get away from the thoughts in his head. The minute he was out of sight from the reporters he ran. He could hear Mokuba shouting his name but he continued to run, he didn't look back as more images swarmed through his head. The little girl in the park, the snake tattoo on that thug's arm, the trash cans they ran into, the sofa in the room he was held in, the visions flooded his sight and they tightened around his lungs, he couldn't breathe but he kept running, running to where he didn't know. Téa's smiling face appeared in front of him and as a child he ran to her, beaming as she held him close, all he could smell was apricots as he slid down the wall no longer able to breathe.

He lost track of time over how long he'd been sat there, on the dirty floor, in his best suit, hiding from everyone, while he tried to think over everything. The park and the reporter had proved to him that the events in the last few weeks were something, and something serious at that. Back in his office the brown bear was sat on his chair, he could have easily thrown it out but he couldn't bring himself to do it. The bear was actual proof it had happened.

"Seto!" the sound of his voice brought him out of his thoughts as he gazed up at Mokuba. "I've been looking everywhere for you. You ran straight past me, didn't you hear me call your name?"

"I'm afraid I didn't Mokuba." He said hating himself for lying to his brother.

"I want to give you something," Mokuba said as he rummaged inside his pocket. "I took some pictures when you came to visit Kaiba Corp,"

He accepted the photo and stared at the image in front of him. His arms were wrapped tightly around Téa's neck, his face was lit up with a giant grin. He glanced at himself a little longer before he looked at Téa. She truly was beautiful, but it was her eyes that he couldn't look away from. Bluer than the ocean and so full of life, they were enticing and he could feel himself being drawn into them.

"Why did you choose Gardner Mokuba?"

"Same reason you chose her as my babysitter. I trust her, I know she'll do everything to keep you safe, she's fun, I knew you'd enjoy spending time with her, I knew how generous she was and I really liked her. She'd make a great mum and you adored her."

"She was practical and I knew her, it also helped that you liked her. That's why I chose her as your babysitter Mokuba."

"Big brother, she truly adored you and you adored her too. I guess I just hoped that once all this was fixed that you two would become a couple, I'd love her to be part of the family."

Seto said nothing but he looked down at the picture. "She's a nice girl Seto, give her a chance, get to know her, maybe this could be a good thing?"

"Leave me be Mokuba," Seto said and Mokuba sighed, he stood and walked away but as he turned he grinned, Seto was still looking at the picture maybe there was hope after all.

After another hour sat on the floor Seto finally pushed himself up and walked back to his office, his cool exterior hiding how he felt inside, he was a mess and the minute he walked back into his office he locked the door and crashed out on the sofa, his feet dangled over the edge as he stared at the picture again. He was happy, he believed his parents had gone away for a few weeks and he'd be staying with a friend. In reality his parents were dead. When was the last time he allowed himself to think about them? He'd been so young that he couldn't remember his mother's face until now. Raven black hair framed her face, but he had her eyes, bright blue eyes - his mother was always smiling, always pinching his cheeks and leaving a soft pink mark on them from her lipstick. On a Sunday he would climb into bed with his mother and father and they'd have breakfast in bed. Every Sunday morning until she died.

"These memories are beginning to be a nuisance," he muttered out loud to nobody as he ran his hands down his face. In a way Téa reminded him of his mother; caring, sweet and a smile that could warm an icy heart. Life had been perfect before they died he mused. They left him to look after Mokuba alone, to protect him from Gozaburo and he had, he'd done all that but he couldn't help but wonder if they'd be proud of him. He'd become the most successful teenager around but he knew they'd be worried, his stress levels were too high and he was already aware of his high blood pressure and could he really say he was happy? No. But he had been happy though, he was happy around Téa but was it only happiness he felt when he thought of her now? Was it more? He just didn't know what to think anymore.

I'm so sorry that it's taken so long for this chapter, and I'm sorry it's not really really long either but it's here! I hope you like it...