Chapter 3: Hello Little Girl

"Are you sure this is legal, Mai?" The brunette complained.

"No, no I'm not sure this is at all legal. In fact, I know it's not. And I told you; here, my name is Valentine."

"I don't see why you bother." Valentine's friend shrugged.

"Legal reasons."

"Why don't you just stop letting in the underage drinkers and clear out the drugs? It's safer and you don't need to mess with fake names."

"Tea. It's called money." Valentine sighed. "The more drinks I sell, the more money I make. And if people know they can buy and use drugs freely here, more people come....... and the more people buy from my bar. See?"

"You really are such a scrooge, Mai. I mean, Valentine."

"What do you think pays for my clothes, my car and this figure, hon? Not to mention taxes and what not. Life ain't cheap." Valentine argued as she wiped off the bar. She was on bar duty for the whole night, instead of door watch for the beginning half and bar tender for the rest. A few regulars trickled in, then more and more. Soon the club was roaring with life and noise.

"Why'd I let you talk me into this, Valentine?" Tea complained.

"Come on. You were so stressed with the end of summer coming up. Enjoy this last month while you've got it. And then come back on school year weekends. Relax Tea. Nothing will happen."

"I hope so." Tea sighed as Valentine watched the door as more regulars walk in. "In all honesty, the only reason I came with you is that I was bored! What with Yugi always at those sessions to get help with that other side of his and Tristan driving all the way to California to see that car show, you and Joey are the only two people I can talk with. Uh, Valentine? What are you looking at?"

"Over there." Valentine whispered with a nod in the direction of the door. "See the two guys that just walked in?"

"Define see them. Sure I see two human figures, but faces? Not in this light."

"You'll get used to it. Soon you'll be able to identify people by voice and dress, as you'll never see their face in this club. Anyway, watch out for the taller guy. His name's Ryu and he's a brilliant dancer. Thing is, he doesn't dance with the same woman twice."

"Really? So, what's the big deal?"

"Just watch out for him, all right?" Valentine pressed.

"Okay. Okay." Tea promised, before shoving her words to the back of her mind. "I'm gonna go dance."

"Okay. Have fun." Valentine smiled, before going to serve another customer. Walking around the floor, Tea watched some of the regulars dancing. There were swift, intense dances that left the participants drained and weary, and there were wild, passionate dances that moved with an erotic rhythm. Rolling her eyes at one couple, Tea headed over to a deserted corner so she would be out of the way. After a few minuets, she felt a presence behind her and stiffened.

"Hey." A masculine voice whispered in her ear. "You must be new here."

"H-how can you tell?" Tea asked nervously biting her lower lip.

"I've been watching you." The man behind her shrugged. "You got a name?"

"Tea. And you?" Tea asked.

"Ryu."

"I've heard about you."

"That's nice." Ryu whispered. "Would you like to dance?"

'Mai said he never dances with the same woman once, but I'll probably never be back here again, so.......' "Sure." Tea smiled as she moved to turn around.

"No." Ryu commanded. "Let me teach you how to dance. Close your eyes."

"Alright." Tea agreed, closing her eyes. Ryu wrapped his hand around her waist and pulled her closer.

"Now listen to the music....... and just move with it." Ryu told her. Listening to the blaring music, Tea felt the pulse of the music travel up her legs and through her body. Bobbing her head to the beat, she felt Ryu guide her. Rocking to the beat of the music and making sure to keep her eyes closed, Tea raised her arms up and began to speed up her movements, till she was moving faster than she had dreamed possible and Ryu was keeping perfect time with her. The song finished and Tea collapsed against Ryu's chest, breathing hard.

"You like that?" Ryu asked gently.

"It was great." Tea grinned. "I've never danced like that before. Can we do that again, or am I stuck with ballet for the rest of my life?"

"I'd love to dance with you for another song, but I have to go home now."

"You don't have to lie or sugar coat the truth. I already know you never dance with the same person twice."

"Is that what you've heard?"

"That, and that you're an incredible dancer. Which you are."

"So are you." Ryu sighed, before gently kissing Tea's neck gently. "When will you be back here?"

"Next Friday. But why do you ask?"

"Let's just say, sometimes....... I like to do the unexpected. See you Friday." Ryu whispered before kissing her neck again.

"Wait!"

"Yes?" Ryu asked over the new song that had just started.

"How will I know you?"

"Don't worry. I'll find you. And keep your eyes closed." Ryu laughed in her ear before leaving. Tea's eyes snapped open and she turned around in hopes of finding her dancing partner, but he had already disappeared. Slightly dazed, Tea wandered over to the bar and found a seat.

"Tea?" Valentine asked. "Tea?"

"Huh? Oh, hey."

"Are you all right? You look sort of spaced out."

"I'm....... I'm fine."

"Did you get too close to the druggie's corner?"

"No."

"Than what happened? Honestly girl, you're starting to scare me."

"Sorry. Ryu just danced with me is all."

"Tea! I told you to stay away from him!"

"I did; he came to me. And he said we'd dance again."

"He's just playing with you, you know that. He never dances with the same woman twice."

"I know. But it'd still be nice." Tea smiled.

"Dear God woman." Valentine sighed, giving her friend a Pepsi. "You just stay here and I'll call Joey. He'll take you home and you can sleep off whatever drugs you managed to get into your system."

"Okay." Tea nodded, still not listening. Closing her eyes, she imagined Ryu's voice and touch.

'You must be new here.'....... 'I've been watching you.'....... 'Don't worry. I'll find you. And keep your eyes closed.'

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Ryu?" Ryou called to his friend. "You're leaving a bit earlier than usual. Your curfew get tightened?"

"No, I just don't really feel like dancing anymore tonight."

"Oh. Well, all right than." Ryou shrugged. Hurrying out of the club, Seto ran his hands through his streaked hair.

'Jeez!' He thought. 'She was beautiful, and she was an amazing dancer, but what possessed me to ask her to dance next Friday? I have a record; a motto! I'm well known! Not to mention, I have a reputation to uphold! But NOOO! I have to go and chose to dance with her next Friday! Why?!

'So she's beautiful. But she wasn't looking for me and she's nice but not too nice. UGH! Stop this, Seto! Pull yourself together! Fine! Whatever happens happens. Besides, Tea might be a lot of fun.'
AN: The title is a song by the Beatles.