He left her. She could hardly believe it. She stood alone; dumbfounded that Kaiba had actually kissed her and then ran off without a thorough explanation. He didn't give her a justified reason for leaving, just that it 'wasn't her fault.' What wasn't her fault? That Kaiba took a liking to her? That they had kissed? These were the questions she needed answers to.

Only a few brief moments had past since the slamming of the door, and Tea found herself racing toward it, whipping it open and popping her head out, swishing it from side to side in hopes of catching Kaiba.

He was nowhere to be found.

Impossible. He had only left moments ago. There was no way he had made it to the end of the alleyway and onto the street in that time, not even in a full sprint. It was as if he vanished. Maybe he did? This place was virtual after all. Maybe he had walked out the door and found himself settled somewhere else?


Kaiba found himself somewhere else. When he had shut the door to the bar his environment changed and the virtual world had transported him to a different portion of the city. The first thing Kaiba saw after his dimension had altered was the skyline of New York City. The snow had ceased falling and the sun was now falling toward the horizon. The scenery was beautiful, the colors of the setting sun bleeding into the sky like spilled watercolors, but Kaiba didn't have time to concern himself with the view, he needed to figure out where he was.

After glancing around, he realized where he was. He stepped forward and peaked over the edge of the railing, grimacing when he noticed he was over a thousand feet high, standing atop the Empire State Building. As much as he hated to admit it, Kaiba was a bit terrified of heights. There was a certain limit where he felt fine, but this high up? Nope.

He wondered if Tea would be able to find him. Would he even want her to find him, especially after his abrupt leave? He shook his head and decided to ignore his thoughts, stepping closer the railing's edge and leaning up against it. It didn't matter if he fell. This place wasn't real anyway….

Did that mean the kiss they shared wasn't real? He shook his head, harder this time, attempting to purge what had just happened from his brain. The act was futile, Tea still leaked into his thoughts. It was as if his brain had a broken pipeline and she was the rushing water, invading his surroundings. He blamed the virtual world. Since he was in Tea's mind she would of course be present in his, right?

Overall, he just wished he never kissed her. Not only had he overreacted, but now the air over them would be extremely awkward. Kaiba wanted to blame his intoxication for all of this, but he knew that his feelings for Tea were still ever-present. Neither of them would be able to erase what had happened or how they felt. Sure, they could blame it on the virtual world, but once they got back to the real world the memories would stick. Kaiba decided that they'd just have to keep it a secret. Yugi could never find out. No one could.

He leaned over the ledge despite his fear, and looked down. It was a straight shot to the street. He recalled the time when Noah and his awful excuse of an adoptive father, Gozaburo, trapped them in the virtual world during Battle City. During their escape, Noah had opened up a portal from the outside so he and Yugi could be transported back to the real world. That time, he and Yugi had jumped from the virtual Kaiba Corp. tower. Kaiba wondered if he could create a portal home with his mind and jump from the Empire State Building….

It was moments like this where he seriously needed a smoke.

Kaiba rarely smoked, only when he was stressed, nervous, or just needed something to help him think. Kaiba hated smoking, but unfortunately he had picked up the habit from Gozaburo, who had often smoked around him when he was younger. The habit was unavoidably passed down and Kaiba just brushed it off as another one of Gozaburo's burdens he was forced to carry with him.

Reaching into his pocket out of pure routine, he was shocked when he felt a hard edge prick his finger. Feeling around, he discovered a small cardboard box. He pulled it out and sure enough, cigarettes. But how was that even possible? He didn't have cigarettes on him before. Did the virtual world actual give into his cravings and make them appear?

Kaiba just stared at the box, finding it hard to believe the virtual world would give into what his mind wanted. He had built this technology to work solely for Tea's mind and what it desired. So, how had it worked for his? Did Tea alter the reality to let the environment change according to the will of others?

After staring at the box, he frowned, realizing he couldn't use these cigarettes anyway. He didn't have a damn lighter. He tossed the box over his left shoulder and heard them skid across the concrete floor. He dug into his pockets just to be sure he didn't somehow have a lighter.

Of course this place would give me cigarettes with no lighter…

Kaiba folded his arms and leaned over the railing, frowning at the sliver of sunlight that was left shining over the city. He exhaled and saw his breath dissipate into the air. The wind had picked up and had brought with it a deep chill. Kaiba wished he could just jump, get this whole ordeal over with and behind him. Would the portal to the real world open up if he did, or would he be screwed, stuck in Tea's mind forever?

Timid footsteps from behind made the thoughts disappear, as Kaiba spun around to face whomever it was that approached him.


She didn't know how she did it, but she did it.

The moment Tea left the bar behind, there was a nagging feeling to seek fire. The feeling was overwhelmingly primal, as if her survival depended on the element. And even though thoughts of Kaiba burned within her mind, she couldn't help but give into this random sentiment. It was the strangest thing, but she allowed herself to be moved by instinct instead of going out of her way to search for Kaiba.

The sunset was the first thing that caught her eye as she stepped out onto 60th street. Her instinct had screamed at her to follow the sunset and go to the highest point to reach it. The second thing that caught her eye was the overshadowing presence of the Empire State Building, glaring down at her from well over twenty blocks away. It reminded her so much of the Kaiba Corp. building and how it dominated Domino City's skyline.

She needed to get there, because that's where he was. He had to be there.

Tea was the only body on the subway, but the train moved as if it were filled to capacity. It didn't take long for her to exit onto 33rd street and sprint toward the skyscraper. Entering the building and dashing for the elevator, she didn't even give her floor choice a second thought as she jabbed the top floor button. Though her ride up had been longer than she anticipated, it was well worth it in the end. The elevator doors opened and seeing brown hair getting tousled in the wind put a smile on her face. She did it. She found him. He was standing just a short distance from her, leaning over the edge of the railing. He had always been brave, but leaning so close to the edge of a one hundred story building was something she would never do. It didn't surprise her that he'd have the guts to do it.

Tea quietly stepped out onto the top floor of the observatory deck, feeling the chill of the wind eat at her bones. She made her way to him but stopped just as she was about to step on a pack of unopened cigarettes. Bending over to pick them up, she heard him whip around, noticing her presence. Their eyes met and his were as cold as the whirling air around them.

"Why did you follow me?"

"I didn't."

"Then why are you here?"

She wasn't sure how to answer that. Fire? Was that a reasonable response? Probably not… She shrugged, "Instinct I guess?"

"This virtual world is centered around your mind, so I suppose that doesn't surprise me."

There was an undeniable awkwardness between them. She wanted nothing more than to make it disappear. He turned around and faced the direction of the sunset once again.

"Kaiba…. I'm sorry."

He didn't turn to look at her.

"I already told you it's not your fault."

"Then tell me what's wrong."

"Nothing is wrong, just drop it, Tea."

He used her first name. Something was definitely bothering him.

Tea made her way to the railing, leaning over it just as he was, but refused to look down. She wanted to distract herself from how high up they were, so she offered him the pack of cigarettes. "Are these yours?"

He glanced at the box but kept facing forward, "No."

"Oh, well, do you have a lighter?"

For some reason, this made him turn and face her. There was a bizarre look upon his face that Tea couldn't quite place. He didn't respond so she habitually searched the pockets of her romper. To her surprise, there was a lighter in one of the pockets. She flicked it on and a small flame appeared and disappeared right away as the wind blew it out.

Fire…. Was the virtual world trying to lead her to Kaiba through cigarettes? She wanted to laugh out loud but she stopped herself. At this point, she didn't know what to think.

Tea pulled out a cigarette and held it out for him. Giving her an incredulous look, he deliberately took the cigarette from her fingers and placed it to his lips. She pulled his face in to light the end and he cupped his hands so the wind wouldn't blow out the flame. Once his cigarette was lit he backed away and she lit hers.

They stood there, leaning over the railing of the Empire State Building, smoking cigarettes and watching the sunset together. Even though this place was virtual, everything seemed to be all right with the world.

Minutes had passed and they were both almost halfway done with their smoke when Kaiba broke the silence, "I didn't know you smoked."

"I didn't know you smoked," she shot back, and he instantly shut up. The silence filled the air around them once again and it felt almost as thick as their smoke. Tea refused to let the silence seep in. "There's a lot you don't know about me, Kaiba."

"That's fine. I don't need to know."

She turned her gaze away from the sunset and toward him. "But you want to know."

He was silent.

"You don't have to keep hiding from me. I know you like me. If there's one thing I know about you it's that you don't just go around kissing random girls for fun."

He snorted, "And how would you know that?"

"Because I know you never let your walls down, but you let them down for me, and there's a reason for that."

He turned to her, "And you think it's because I like you?"

"Yes."

He laughed, "Don't be ridiculous, Gardner. We were both drunk. It's not a big deal."

"You made it a big deal when you walked out on me."

He turned away from her again, taking a drag from his cigarette and blowing the smoke into the wind.

"Quit avoiding the subject. Why did you stop kissing me? Why did you leave me?"

"Just shut up, Gardner."

"Is that your best response, telling me to shut up? Avoiding the truth? You do realize you're affirming my beliefs."

Kaiba just rolled his eyes.

She glared at him, "Fine. I don't care. You don't want to admit it, that's fine by me."

"You do realize this isn't our true reality, right? None of this is real. So that kiss we shared," he paused, but it was like he was trying to convince himself of what was true, "it wasn't real."

"But it still happened."

"It doesn't matter, we're in a virtual reality and everything here is technically in your head. I think it's best if you start believing that." His words were like icicles stabbing her in the chest. How could he think it wasn't real? It was….

They didn't talk after that. They just let the sun sink into the horizon and turn the world dark. Kaiba flicked his cigarette butt over the ledge. His eyes followed its path until he could no longer see it. He let a heavy sigh leave his lips as he closed his eyes. Tea observed him. His face looked strained, like he had been contemplating something. Suddenly, his eyes shot open and without out warning Kaiba briskly crawled over the other side of the railing. He positioned himself so his back was facing Tea and he was overlooking the skyline. If he fell, it'd be almost as if he were skydiving.

"Kaiba!" Tea screamed, dropping the end of her still lit cigarette from her mouth, "What're you doing?" Extreme panic set in, and she couldn't hide it from her voice. She always knew Kaiba was impulsive but what stunt was he trying to pull by doing this? Tea recalled when Kaiba and Yugi had dueled on top of Pegasus' castle and how Kaiba almost committed suicide so he could win. Was he doing the same thing now? Attempting to kill himself because he just couldn't fathom his feelings for her? Tea's exposed skin prickled as she felt a strong wind blow by mixed with the thoughts of Kaiba on the ledge.

"Open a portal to the real world, Tea." Even though Kaiba's voice sounded cool and collected, Tea could see the whites of his knuckles as he gripped the railing as tight as he could. He was undoubtedly nervous. Who wouldn't be?

The wind picked up, shaking the railing. It practically knocked Tea off her feet and she was standing on solid concrete. She was shocked that Kaiba was still hanging on.

"I don't know what you're even talking about, Kaiba! You're scaring the shit outta me! Come back over the other side before you get yourself killed!" There was no way she was capable of talking him down calmly. Tea was severely panicking. She didn't want to reach out and grab him in the instance that he might let go or lose his balance. She honestly didn't know what to do.

"When we were stuck in Noah's virtual world, he was able to open a portal for Yugi and I to jump into. I know you can do the same. You did it before when we jumped from your bedroom window. You just have to focus."

"And how exactly am I supposed to do that with you dangling over the edge of one of the tallest buildings in New York!?"

Kaiba didn't say anything. His face appeared stone cold. This time Tea got a true glimpse of the fear he was trying to swallow. He didn't want to do this; he was just trying to probe her for a way out.

She tried breathing normally to calm herself down. Her voice came out shaky and edgy, "I promise you Kaiba we will find a way out, just not this way."

He refused to speak. His jaw was clenched tight.

"It doesn't have to be like this. We can get to the real world some other way." She knew her words weren't reaching him. Heck, they weren't even convincing to her!

"I want to leave now, Tea. Just open a portal!"

"I can't focus with you like that! Just come back over, please! I can think clearer with you not on the ledge!"

He turned his head to glare at her. It was the first time he looked at her since he had crawled over to the other side.

"Kaiba, I'm serious! You could get hurt!"

He narrowed his eyes, "How?"

"Remember the rattle snake bite? That felt real, didn't it? I don't need you dead, please!" Maybe he was trying to push her mind to its limits? If he jumped, she'd be forced to think fast, drawing up a portal for him before he hit the ground. It was all part of his plan, but Tea refused to have any part in it. She was done with his mind games.

She tried to sound as stern as she could, "Kaiba, get back over here. You aren't helping yourself or me by trying to force your way through this. Believe it or not, I want to get out of here too. I'm ready to go home. So, please, don't try stressing my mind to get what you want."

He swallowed and then looked away from her again. They didn't speak for what felt like a minute and Tea was beginning to worry he'd let go. Eventually, he let go of the breath he had been holding in. His exhale came out ridged, mixed with pent-up tension.

"You're right," his voice was quiet and low, "I shouldn't force you…." There were hints of regret in his voice, as if he was sorry, but he didn't say it. He began to twist his body around so he was facing her and not the skyline.

Tea held out her hand to help him over. To her disbelief, he took it. Such a surprising thing for Kaiba to do, he never accepted help from others. Maybe he was beginning to see she wasn't an opposer, but a friend.

Carefully, Kaiba lifted one foot onto the railing. Tea could feel his grip tighten around her hand. Both of their hands were slicked with sweat, indicating how tense they both were. Kaiba began to move over the railing, taking it slow to be sure he didn't lose his balance. Just then, an extremely strong gust of wind blew through the observatory and Kaiba lost the balance he had been so careful with. His foot slipped off the railing and they both screamed. Kaiba stretched his other arm up to grasp onto Tea's free arm just in the nick of time.

"KAIBA!"

He was dangling over a hundred stories in the air with the violent wind whirling him around like a ragdoll. He tried to gain footing, but every attempt ended in failure. His clutch on Tea's arm was slipping as the sweat on both of their hands had increased.

"Kaiba, you're slipping!" Tea cried, "I don't know how much longer I can hold on!" She grunted as she tried yanking him over to the other side of the railing. Her effort failed as she found herself almost completely bent over the rail. She could feel the lower half of her body rise with every gust of wind, making her afraid she'd get pulled over the other side.

Kaiba shrieked as his body sunk slightly lower with every gust of wind. "Tea, you need to pull me up!" Another blast of wind whipped past him and he lost his grip on Tea's hand. He was now holding onto her by only her arm. "NOW!"

"I'm trying," she shouted, "but I'm losing my balance! You're too heavy for me to lift!"

"Then create a portal!"

"I can't!"

"You're going to have to try!" He looked down and his voice became increasingly panicked, "Please!"

Tea was utterly shocked by the desperation in his voice. This was rare for Kaiba, however, their situation was also exceptionally rare and she knew she needed to quickly come up with a portal. She felt Kaiba's grip on her arm lower until his grasp was wrapped around her sweaty hand. The perspiration caused his hold to slip, and Kaiba screamed at the top of his lungs as he fell.

"KAIBA!" The mixture of their screams sent electrifying chills circulating throughout Tea's body. Tears sprung from her eyes, following Kaiba on his voyage toward the solid concrete below.

As she watched Kaiba descend at an alarming rate toward the ground, she knew there was only one thing left for her to do. And for the second time during this virtual world journey, she jumped.


A/N: Quick disclaimer: I know that the observation deck on top of the Empire State Building has guardrails so people can't just climb off like Kaiba, but for the sake of this story please just roll with it.

Sorry for such a long wait in-between chapters. I hope you've enjoyed reading so far! Thanks so much everyone! Please let me know how I'm doing!