R Amythest: Last time, on 'The True Heart of the Dice. . .'

Yami Amythest: hikari, despite my previous attempts to tell you this, you still haven't listened to my complaint. THIS FIC HASN'T BEEN ANIMATED YET!

R Amythest: *snaps out of it* oh.

Ryouji: I didn't want to call her a hag! WHY?! WHY R AMYTHEST?!

R Amythest: . . .before I get killed, I'll continue the fic.

Read print, emphasis, flashback, voice in phone, or dream Emphasis during dream, flashback, phone calls, or read print

'thoughts'

*~*~* = lapse of time and/or change of scene

[Ryou to Bakura over soul link]

]Bakura to Ryou over soul link[

{Malik to Ishtar over soul link}

}Ishtar to Malik over soul link{

*~*~*

Tea walked down the windy street, ignoring the whipping wind that threatened to invade the thin cloth of her jacket. She shivered and hugged herself, not only because she was cold, but also because she was miserable from being rejected- twice.

'Well, then, I hide them. So what? Maybe I'm hiding my opinion of you being an ugly hag!'

'Ryouji. . . why don't you understand?'

'I understand you're another flirtsy cheerleader. Now go! . . .Go.'

She fingered the small die she kept in her pocket ever since she met Ryouji. She had bought her own Dungeon Dice Monsters pieces, and the die that held the magician of faith had always been her favorite. It was a red one, a level two monster. She walked along the sidewalk, lazily staring at the concrete. She came upon a small piece of gold. It looked suspiciously like a piece of the millennium puzzle.

'What I want to know is. . . Why? Why did you date him? Am I not good enough for you?'

'No, Yugi, I didn't think that!'

'Just leave. Leave me alone.'

Tea sighed as she fingered the small cubic piece of the complex puzzle. It was one of those L-shaped pieces. She tucked it in her pocket and kept trudging.

*~*~*

"I told you to retrieve all of the millennium puzzle's pieces!" Ryou's Yami roared as he slapped him across the cheek. Ryou fell to the floor, just barely missing the lamp.

"I did!" protested Ryou. "I'm sure of it!" He inched away from his furious yami.

"Then how come I can sense a girl with the piece holding part of me inside?" Bakura challenged.

Ryou froze. 'Was Yugi forgiving enough to give Tea a piece of it? I never thought Yugi would ever give away a piece of the millennium puzzle.' His thought was rudely interrupted with another slap and a kick. "Well?" Bakura growled.

"I think Tea might have it. . ."

*~*~*

Tea burst into the hospital again, cold and dripping wet. Outside, lighting lit the sky.

"May I help you?" the nurse at the counter asked, filing through a cabinet, not bothering to look up.

"May I see Yugi Mutou?" she requested, fingering the object in her pocket.

"Sorry, visiting hours are over," the nurse said. But upon seeing the disappointed look on Tea's face, she quickly added, "But I'll give him a message or item if you wish."

"No thanks," Tea replied. She wouldn't trust anyone with the millennium puzzle- it was the last thing she had to win back Yugi's love. She opened the door and walked back out into the soaking rain.

*~*~*

Ishtar woke Malik's nap with a scream and several yelps. Malik wrestled his Yami, trying to keep the struggling spirit under control. {What the h*ll is going on?!}

}It's happened! The shadow realm. . .{

Malik didn't bother to hear more. He grabbed his millennium rod and a poncho, then ran into the wind and water.

*~*~*

"I hope you're right," Bakura mumbled as Ryou dialed a few numbers on the phone.

"Don't worry," reassured Ryou, covering the speaker with a finger.

Hello? a female voice said.

Ryou uncovered the speaker. "This is Ryou Bakura, can I talk to Tea for a moment?"

Sorry, Tea's browsing the game shop to enhance her deck. I don't know what's taking the girl so long. . .

Ryou stifled a giggle. 'That certainly was an. . . interesting excuse.' "Oh. Can you call back?"

Oh, wait, here's Tea now. In the background, Ryou could hear a few sniffles and a voice saying "Tea, dear, you're dripping wet!"

What do you want, Bakura? he heard Tea say flatly.

"Tea. . . did Yugi give you a piece of the millennium puzzle?"

No! He doesn't want to be my boyfriend, much less give me his sacred possession!

Ryou held the phone farther from his ear.

No thanks to you!

"Me? What did I do?" Ryou asked quietly.

Tell him of my meeting with Ryouji which was supposed to be secret!

"Oh, sorry," Ryou apologized sincerely.

Bakura rolled his eyes. "Ryou, you don't even use an excuse if it's plain and obvious?! And on top of that, truthful?" Ryou gave a glare at his Yami.

You think sorry's going to cut it for you this time, ring-boy?! It isn't! and with that, Tea hung up.

"What's with her?" Ryou asked, shocked.

"I don't know, but the phone call didn't tell you much, and you owe me ten bucks for the bet."

*~*~*

R Amythest: Tea! WHY DID YOU SHOUT AT RYOU?! IT ISN'T HIS FAULT!

Tea: *rolls eyes* reality check. You're the authoress. You made me do that.

R Amythest: . . . oh yeah.

Chibi Ryou: WAHHH!!!!! TEA MEEEEEEAAAAN!!!!

R Amythest: awww, there, there, Tea's going to be her normal sympathetic, friendly, kind, annoying, usual self again. . . next chapter or the one after that.

Chibi Ryou: *all tears magically dry up* otay!

R Amythest: ^_^ awww! Review!