A/N: hey friends! my major exams recently ended, so i managed to steal time to sit down and do up a chapter (:

thanks for all the ideas, suggestions etc. you guys have been awesome awesome help! (: -fireworks and applause-

honestly speaking, i'm not a fan of how my story is flowing i.e. i hate it how i tore seto and tea apart :/

but damage has been done, and all the more i think it'll be interesting to see if i can rectify this? (this isn't a spoiler hahah!)

anw, hope you guys will enjoy this chapter!

and

Merry advanced Christmas! (:

much love, fika1603 3


"Any developments?"

Caroline peered up from the report she was studying. She frowned slightly as she answered almost placidly, "Doctors are still doing tests on some of the potential donors. These things are not like instant noodles, you know."

The look he threw her was a cross between a wry smile and a scowl. "You always had a lousy sense of humour." The lithe brunette glanced around the room. "Where's Seth?"

"At the playing corner, with some of the other kids," Caroline replied absent-mindedly, still perusing the documents at hand.

"Other kids?"

The blonde CEO of Lobo Industries released a heavy, frustrated sigh as she glared at her supposed fiancé. "Yes, other kids. Honestly Seto, you don't seriously think that Seth's the only one to suffer from all this?"

He snorted defiantly as he turned to exit the room. "Of course not."

Yet, as he walked down the hospital corridors, while outwardly nodding in response to greetings by the fearful staff, his mind lingered on her words. Other kids, just like Seth... his face hardened slightly. Whatever did these kids do to deserve such suffering…

Just before he entered the playing corner at the end of the corridor, he paused. His azure eyes silently observed how a little girl who could not have been more than three gleefully running around, enthusiastically trying to feed a slightly older boy something she had pretended to cook. She was pasty pale, but her bright laughter seemed to bring a radiant glow to her face. At a further end of the playing corner, he caught sight of his Seth on a rocking horse, playing pretend with a sallow-faced boy his age. Compared to the rest of them, Seth looked much healthier, as if nothing was wrong with him.

Seto's face hardened further as he surreptitiously left as he had arrived.

XO XO XO XO XO XO XO

"No! No no no no no!"

Tea glared at him incredulously. "Joey! Stop being such a baby! A blood test won't kill you!"

Joey shot her an equally furious look. "It's okay, I know my blood type already! And besides, I wasn't sleeping during Biology. O can't give to AB, sorry!"

"You WERE sleeping during biology!"

"Was not!"

"Yes you were! Or you'd know that you're wrong!"

"Eh, I am?" Joey actually doubted himself. His face scrunched up as he thought hard, attempting to recall the chapter on blood type. Finally the answer dawned upon him, "OH."

Tristan cheekily interjected, "Joey actually figured out something. This calls for a celebration!"

"Oi Tristan, who you calling stupid?"

"I didn't say that, Wheezer!"

"You implied it. And oi, it's Wheeler!"

"How about the both of you shut up for once?" Tea interrupted in a half-resigned tone. Boys, they never change, do they? she sighed inwardly.

To her surprise, they actually did. Instead, they were peering closer at the announcement in the newspaper: Kaiba Hospital launches public donation drive for leukemia-stricken boy; $25 000 reward for suitable donor. All of a sudden, the boys were excited to go.

"You know, it's not everyday you get that much money from Kaibanks and friends," Joey laid out his crystal perfect reason.

Tristan probably sounded more noble, "Apart from the money, it'll be nice if we could actually help that kid." He frowned. "Though I wonder who the boy is, though. Poor kid."

"This proves that being rich isn't everything! Money can't buy you health!"

"Well, it technically can since the kid's dad is using money to buy someone's bone marrow for the kid," Tea sent Joey's sudden spurt of moral leadership spiraling downwards deep into the ground. "Anyway, so let's just give this a try!"

"Don't worry Ti, I'll split the prize money with you. 50-50. Don't even leave crumbs for the guy who's trying to pick up my little sister." Joey gleefully looped arms with Tea's and started dragging her away, turning to stick his tongue out at a livid Tristan along the way.

"Oi Wheeler, don't you dare!"

"Dare too!"

"Dare not!"

"Dare too!"

"Okay, halt!" Tea held up her free hand to bring the two bickering boys to order. "I dare the both of you to shut up while we cross the road. Are you up for it?"

XO XO XO XO

Seto strode into the spacious room he called his second home, his secretary dutifully trailing after him with stacks of files in her arms. If Misa secretly harbored any complaint about her employer's attitude, she kept it well-hidden.

"Coffee, Mr Kaiba?" she offered customarily. He declined with a wave of his hand and continued to peer out of his full-length office window at the Domino City 'lowlifes'. Misa sighed as she set the files on his desk. It did not go unnoticed, unfortunately.

"You're paid to do this, Misa," the young CEO coolly warned over his shoulders.

"Yes, sir, I know," the retort slipped out of her mouth, and Misa was slapped with a pang of regret. "It's just that it's hard for me to not be worried about you, what's with everything that's going on."

Her employer actually threw her a terse smile. His uncharacteristic action only served to disturb her further. "You've been spending too much time with Mischa," he concurred almost disapprovingly.

"Well, it's hard not to." Despite herself, Misa still eked out a mumble. Straightening herself up, she regarded her employer kindly, "Are you sure about this, Mr Kaiba? I'm not questioning your capabilities. It's just that… it is a lot of money. KaibaCorp's latest project has yet to kick off proper. And the economy nowadays look rather bleak…"

He merely snorted scornfully at her concern. "I know what I'm doing, Misa. KaibaCorp will be fine. So will your job." For some reason, Seto hastily amended his words the moment he said them, "I only fire disposable, useless trash. Even if KaibaCorp is affected, people like you and Mischa are the least probable to enter the retrenchment list."

"You have a lot of loyal employees behind you, Mr Kaiba," Misa affirmed softly. "Our best wishes are with Seth."

The twenty years old CEO appeared to be struck momentarily by her words, but almost instantly reverted to his cool demeanor. "Thank you, to everyone," he grunted. "Now can you please get the head of the research department here?"

Misa smiled warmly in response. "You know, Mr Kaiba, ever since you found Seth, you've become warmer. I'll take my leave, sir."

Seto pretended not to hear her words.

XO XO XO XO

Tea and Tristan nursed their chocolate malt drink in the hospital waiting area. Every few seconds or so, they would throw a furtive glance at the room where the blood test was conducted. They were greeted by a long queue upon reaching the hospital, and soon discovered they each had the option of signing on as a general blood donor or eventual bone marrow donor. The three of them agreed to forgo the $25 000 prize and settled for the former.

Tristan checked his watch. "Anytime now…" he muttered, counting off silently as he stared at the door of the room again.

"Three… two… one…" Tea joined in.

A loud, anguished wail was heard and soon their tall blond friend dashed out of the room over towards them. Wordlessly Tea handed him a hankerchief to sob into.

"There, there," she patted his back, attempting to bite back a smirk. "It was just a needle, Joey. It won't kill."

"But it hurts!" he countered vehemently through tears.

Tristan looked at him in disgust. "You had stitches in various places before, you know."

"But I was sedated and unconscious, maybe," Joey glared at him, all traces of sobs and tears gone. "And I wasn't wide awake to see my blood flowing out of my body into a bag."

"It's for a good cause," Tea offered to lessen his misery by reminding him of his noble deed. "Maybe then all your bad karma will go away?"

Joey just sulked and angrily poked a straw into his malt drink tetra-pack as his two friends laughed at his expense. When they showed no signs of apologizing, he stood up and stomped away towards the exit. Tea and Tristan exchanged looks, allowed themselves one more laugh, before they ran after him.

"Mama Tea?"

Upon hearing the familiar voice, she froze. Carefully, she turned around. The boy who was supposed to be her stepson once upon a time was peering up at her in surprise. Tea acutely noted his clothes.

"Seth? Are you okay? What happened to you?" she asked, rushed, as she bent down to give him a hug.

"I don't know," the little blond boy admitted sheepishly. "But Mummy and Daddy said I have to stay here until I'm all healthy and strong again." He flashed her an innocent, earnest grin. "But I like it here! I have so many new friends!"

"I see," Tea responded kindly, with a reassuring ruffle of his hair. "I'm sure you will be all better soon too!"

Seth nodded excitedly. "Then I can see Mummy and Daddy get marwied!"

The last two words hit Tea like a thunderbolt; the shock that crossed her features must have been evident, since Seth looked on worriedly at her. "Mama Tea?" he asked curiously. "Mama Tea?"

"N-no, I'm okay," Tea stammered. She hurriedly gave him a wan smile, and gave his shoulders a gentle squeeze. "Well, tell them cong…congratulations from me. But you, you must take care of yourself, okay, Seth? You must get well, okay? Promise?"

"Pwomise!" Seth gleefully linked his pinky with hers, and gave her a quick hug. "I want to go play again. Bye bye Mama Tea!"

Even as she waved goodbye to the little tot with her biggest smile, the lead that had dropped in her gut a few moments ago continued to roll and become heavier. She stood rooted where she was as the reality of Seth's words sank in.

Seto and Carol… getting married? She could scarcely bring herself to believe it. Suddenly his words rang back in her ears: You should have just let me marry Carol last time. At least with her, I know Seth won't be hated.

Tea shut her eyes tightly to prevent any traitor tears from slipping out. He's really doing it, she realized reluctantly. He's really doing it… all because I…

She felt a gentle hand on her shoulder. "It's not your fault, Ti. Kaiba just showed his true colours."

"But, Joey –"

"Ah come on, don't try to defend that dumb prat!" Joey barely bothered to hide his vexation. He held out a hand. Tea took it soundlessly. As he led her to the exit where Tristan was, his voice softened, "You have us, Ti. We won't ever hurt you. I'll even protect you. Just give me time to call on my Ultraman brothers."

Tea had to laugh at that, and playfully punched his arm. "You go UltraJoey."