Thank you kzqueen!

Wedding Flashback…

In thrall to her oblivion, Téa moaned.

Seto's tongue traced a wet path along the side of her neck… he remembered?

Yes, he did. His inner Columbus couldn't resist that itch for discovery. And just like that, she forgot everything. No Great Bear, aircrafts or evil designs to declare a war against him. Colours tinted her cheek, she regarded him. Dishevelled hair, stubborn jaw line, faint colours of candlelight scorching his high cheekbones, reflecting day old stubble, on an impulse, she rubbed her chin on his growth. Seto growled. Wild with passion, he viewed her with lustful intensity. He was looking at her. His gaze soft but full of longing. Her leftover resolve jumped out the proverbial window. What was it about him that drove her to insanity? Was this madness? Or its method? World shifted behind her eyes. Impressions from a distant past brightened. The line between the reality and the fantasy blurred. She was seventeen again, a teenage girl madly in love with him. No hold ups. No restrictions. With Seto possessively in her arms, she kissed his forehead. Her lips in accord to her hallucinations trailed wet kisses all over his face.

"Stop." He laughed. "It tickles."

She was kissing the hollow of his neck. His sensitive spot! Teasing him! Turning and taking her with him, so that her head rested on his chest, Seto fondly stroked her hair.

"OW! OW! Ouch."

"Hold on." He said. "Don't move." Disentangling his fingers from a small knot.

"You're pulling my hair."

"Not on purpose. Now stop moving. Don't… don't turn that way idiot."

This craziness was them... subtle in lust but more explosive than love. Theirs were spontaneous mishaps, fights, and arguments, and tattered hopes, and battered faiths with bruised egos. Crazy absolutely crazy!

Few minutes of shuffling, cursing and tugging later…the tug-of-war between his fingers and her hairs ceased. So much for romance! Seto gave up the whole 'fondly stroking her hair' idea and settled for hugging. Hugging was easy with less hassle. Time flowed freely like the unclenched grains of sand. A tranquil bliss washed over them. He gazed at the limitless sky as Téa wrapped an arm around him. He gently rubbed her arm, comforting her with his touch. Countless bright stars gleamed in the dark. Her heart beat in perfect harmony to his. Together they listened to the silent song of the night.

At last! He was at the much deserved peace. All seemed well. World seemed wonderful. And all because she was where she belonged! Where she had always belonged- With him, in his arms, on his chest, in his heart.

However, his pragmatic brain stirred the peace. Seto knew this perfection was temporary. Out of hallucination, Téa wouldn't hesitate to rage a war against him. Her knowledge of Absinth-pearl drinking would only contribute as an additional factor towards his demise. No matter what he did, his ruin by her hand was a certainty. He was doomed if he did and doomed if he didn't. In truth, he was tired. He was tired of searching her, chasing her, convincing her, and fighting these unnecessary battles. Granted, he wasn't an easy man to live with but she wasn't exactly a pushover either. The Rationalist in him wanted a closure with the businesswoman in his arms to pursue an effective relationship. The question was, could he exploit her drunken state? One look at her and he got his answer. She was his. He would exploit first, explain later. That settled. His reverie broke as she thanked him.

Puzzled, he looked at her. "Hn? For what…?" he asked.

"For the gifts, the anagram… and… this beautiful night." That took him by surprise. Was she back to normal? He feared. "I maybe a drunk, Seto. But I'm not an ingrate. Escape me? Never - Beloved! While I am I, and you are you, So long as the world contains us both. While the one eludes - Must the other pursue? - Bet you didn't think I could decode the anagram," she asked, challenging him mischievously.

She was flirting. And he was enjoying it. He turned sideways, placing her on the mattress, careful not to hurt her scars. He stole a quick kiss from her lips. His breath hitched when she upped the game and delicately nipped his left ear. An appeal escaped his throat when she skilfully raked her nails through his chest. She wriggled beneath him. He laughed- a little preoccupied between her breasts, enjoying the spoils. They entered the dangerous world of sensations. Riding on raw desires, they would've consummated if not for Téa's dig.

"I'll make you a deal. Kiss me ten thousand times. But for every kiss, say you love me."

Head out of the clouds, Seto paused. She was drunk. What was his excuse? He discontinued his ministrations. Téa broke the embrace. Confused and frustrated she looked at him. He avoided her gaze. She frowned, feeling hurt, and misread his self-control as rejection. World shifted behind her eyes again. This time, harbouring the wound deep. Way deep! The day when he'd walked out on her after their love-making session, and she stood wrapped up in only a white satin sheet, ten years ago. She was taken back to that morning of 13th November.

"No, Téa. I'm not denying you…"

Hand on his chest; she stopped him. The absinth induced hallucinations making her bitter. Angry patterns of grey and blue and red danced behind her eyes. Leaving her cold! Very cold! "Did you miss me?" – Her clear cut question left him speechless.

And so began her descent to madness. Seto, since discovering her delirium, silently feared this accusation all evening. There was no more hiding behind the corporate masks or civil nonsense.

"Cared if I lived or died? Ever thought of finding me?"

This was so unfair. She was so unfair. How could he give her an answer? She wasn't even sober. What could he possibly say to make her feel better? There was nothing he could do except listen to her accusations silently. So he did!

"Were you at peace when I left?" Tears brimmed in her eyes. "I loved you, Seto. I always have and I always will."

Her honest confession took his breath away. Every moment away from you felt like an eternity, Téa. He wanted to tell her. You're with me now. That's all that matters. We were young. Stop being so hard on yourself. He wanted to assure her. But he couldn't, so he just stood there, watching her break… all over again.