"What the hell are you thinking, Téa? Getting involved with someone like Kaiba?" Yugi's purple eyes flashed. He reminded her painfully of Atem with his chin jutted out and shoulders thrown back.

"My involvement as you put it, is none of your concern," she hissed. She knew she should calm down and take a breath. Try to remember that all of this was because Yugi was in pain and denial. But she was so tired. She came back to Japan to be with her friends and now, her friends were tossing her aside.

"He threatened me," Yugi pushed.

"He threatens everyone!"

"Over you!"

Téa was stunned into silence for a second. She didn't have an explanation for that one. She shook her head and replied, "Look, Kaiba and I are…reconnecting. That's all. Besides, you were always the one telling us to give him a chance. You trusted him! Atem trusted him!"

Yugi scoffed and turned away. "That was different."

"Yea, we were only having our lives threatened during those times!" Téa seethed.

Yugi took a deep breath in, extended his hands placatingly. "Look, I didn't come here to fight. I came here to apologize and ask for another chance."

She pushed down the flames threatening to spew from her mouth.

"Ok. I'm ready for that apology," she tried evenly.

Yugi finally met her eyes. "I'm sorry for making you uncomfortable. I realize that I came on strong and I'm sorry that freaked you out. If you gave me another chance, I promise I'll be better."

Téa rubbed her forehead. "Yugi, I appreciate the apology. I do. And I want us to move forward." She took a calming breath and lowered her tone. "But the only chance I'm willing to offer is one to be my friend again. Nothing more."

Yugi was silent for a minute. "Because of Kaiba? Or because of Atem?"

Téa flinched but stood her ground. "Because it's what I want."

"You're seriously telling me that either or both of them have nothing to do with this?" Yugi snapped.

Téa's fists clenched. "No, they don't."

Yugi glared down at the ground and didn't respond.

She hated this divide between them. She had foolheartedly hoped that Yugi would simply never act on his feelings so she wouldn't have to deal with it. Perhaps that made her a coward or selfish, but she just didn't know how to improve this situation. "For what it's worth, I'm sorry," she tried, breaking the silence.

"I think I just need some time then. Away from you. To…move on…or something." his voice monotone. The anger had seemed to drain out of him, reminding her of the crestfallen boy back in Duelist Kingdom. A boy with no self-confidence.

"I think that would be good for both of us," she replied, her voice tight.

She watched a Yugi turned on his heel and walked away from her. Her throat closed as she felt tears start to slip down her cheeks. She knew that no matter what, this had altered their group forever. There would be no going back to normal after this.

She turned and entered her apartment, kicking off her nude heels. She was having such a great night, the best in a long time, and now she couldn't wait to just crawl into bed and forget about it.

Heavy panting filled the room as sweat dripped down her back. She moved fluidly balancing on her knees as she moved her hips sensually.

"Damn, girl. Hot moves."

Téa broke from her trance as she turned to look at Mary. She hadn't seen her in the dance studios mirrors. She had been too focused on the movements of one of the routines for the Kaiba Corp. auditions.

"Hey," she greeted, breathless.

"Practicing for Mr. Kaiba?" Mary wiggled her eyebrows suggestively.

Téa rolled her eyes. She kept getting comments like this ever since the dance team auditions announcement came out and that paper's gossip on them. It was either that or jealous glares.

"We're friends, Mary. Sorta."

Mary scoffed, grinning. "Sure." She held up the newspaper. "I go on romantic dinner dates with all my friends," she said sarcastically.

Téa got up from the dance floor, brushing off her black shorts. "What are you talking about?"

Rather than answering, Mary held out the newspaper. Téa recognized the gossip section of Domino's Updates, the city's most popular newspaper. She scanned the page until she found in the corner piece a picture of her and Kaiba at Chez Vachon. It was just the two of them, and she had to admit, it looked romantic. They were both leaning towards each other, her smiling and his face looking…soft. Or what soft could pass for Kaiba she supposed.

"It's not what it looks like," she started. "This was Mokuba's birthday dinner. He just gave me a ride home."

Mary clucked her tongue. "Oh, did he? And did you…ride anything else?"

Téa whacked her with the paper, scolding, "Mary! No! It was strictly platonic!"

Mary shrugged, but her grin remained. "Sure, babe. Whatever you say."

"Did you just come here to bother me about this?" she asked.

Mary shook her head and she tossed Téa her phone. "Check your voicemail."

"Why?" narrowingly catching the device.

Mary rolled her eyes. "Just do it."

Téa's eyes narrowed. "Did you listen to it?"

"Of course."

"I gave you the password for emergencies." Téa gave her a disapproving look.

Mary smiled sheepishly. "This was an emergency."

Téa opened her voicemail and saw a message left from an unknown number. She put the phone up to her ear and listened. Then let out a loud squeal.

"I got a call-back for the dance team!"

Mary lunged and wrapped her in a hug. "I got mine right after your phone rang! I'm so excited! Sorry, but I had to check your phone to make sure!"

Téa laughed and returned the hug. "I forgive you under the circumstances. Let's celebrate! This is going to be great to know someone else there. Now, I won't be nearly as nervous!"

Mary gave her an evil grin. "I know just the place."