Chapter 9: Time Is Ticking Out

Walking past the school, Tea gave it a quick look before continuing on. It was early march, the beginning of spring and nearing the end of her senior year. She wished she could say she was excited, however she couldn't help but realize that the end of school was also the end to a lot of other things. She'd have to start getting ready to enter whatever college she got into and perhaps…...... perhaps she would never dance with Ryu again. This thought had occurred to her earlier that day and plagued her ever since. What school was Ryu attending? What year was he in? Would he be leaving soon?

Shaking off these thoughts, she opened the back door—well, it was really the front door, but since few people used it, it had become more of a back door—of the club, and walked into the bar area.

"Hello, Tea." Mai called, from her spot by the sink.

"Hey." Tea smiled, as she reached into the soapy water to help Mai clean the glasses. The washed glasses for a while, neither one talking, when Mai suddenly remembered.

"Oh, hey. I almost forgot. I talked to that friend of Ryu's for you."

"You mean Bakura?"

"Yea, him." Mai nodded, as he mind flipped over the previous night's events.

"Hey, what can I get you?" Valentine asked Bakura.

"How 'bout a beer and a boyfriend? I'm sick of women." Bakura sighed as he dropped his head onto the bar.

"What happened?"

"I don't want to talk about it." Bakura grumbled as he took the beer that she offered him and handed her the money.

"You know, Bakura, you seem to be pretty close with Ryu. Why don't you ask him to dance."

"No way. That boy is as straight as you can be without being a homophobic-asshole."

"Really? I don't really know much about him. He sure can dance."

"That he can."

"Where'd he learn?"

"Ah, can't tell you that." Bakura smirked.

"And why not?" Valentine asked with a flirty smile, as she leaned over the bar so her nose almost touched Bakura's.

"If I did, then I'd have to kill you…......" Bakura smirked back. "And your boyfriend would be pissed."

"Huh?"

"Nice playing mind games with you, Valentine, but you better choose another person to pump for information." Bakura laughed before walking back into the crowd of dancers.

"Anyway, it didn't work out as I'd planned." Mai admitted. "I can't find a thing on your boy. Maybe it was my timing. Well, I did find out that he's straight."

"And I already knew that." Tea groaned. "I suppose I could ask him…...... but he'd probably just pretend like he didn't hear me."

"What do you know about him, anyway?"

"His name is Ryu. He's never left New York. He's attending an in-state college. He's got an older brother, but he's out of town. And that's about it."

"You really don't know much about him do you?"

"No. And it bothers me, even though I know he's not lying to me."

"Try asking is all I can say. It doesn't hurt."

"No, I suppose not. Say, Mai, what are you and Joey doing this summer?"

"Well, we're going to start—officially—dating."

"I thought you were."

"We were but once he turns eighteen, everything'll be legal." Mai laugh, wiggling her eyebrows.

"Oh…...... I really didn't need that." Tea moaned.

"Oh come on! I'm only five years older than him!"

"Please, can we change the subject?"

"Fine, what are you doing?"

"It depends on what college I get in to. I really want to go to Juliard for dance."

"Are you serious? Do you realize how hard that is to get into?"

"I know, I know." Tea sighed. "But I do have a back up school…...... in California."

"Whoa! Talk about a change in state." Mai joked.

"Very funny. Summer is coming up fast though."

"Well, enough about that." Mai said, quickly changing the subject. "Here, be a friend and unlock the door for me?"

"Who's on door watch tonight?"

"I am for the first half. James is working the bar tonight. He'll switch with me after midnight."

"Right." Tea nodded as she went to the door to unlock it. Before long the place was full of people and Tea went over to her usual corner to wait for Ryu.

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"Ryu!" Ryou called out as Seto turned the corner and walked into the alleyway near the club. "We need to talk."

"Uh, okay." Seto agreed as Ryou pulled him into a dark corner a few feet from the door to the bar. "What is it?"

"That friend of yours—Tea, was it? She's getting way too interested in you."

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"She's asking around about you. She even got Valentine to pump me for information."

"Huh?"

"Valentine asked me where you learned to dance."

"That's hardly pumping you for information. And how do you know Tea put her up to it?"

"Look, Valentine and Tea are close. And the question may have been innocent enough, but I could tell she wanted more answers."

"I still don't see how…......"

"Just be careful if you don't want people to know who you are, all right?" Ryou pressed.

"All right! All right! I'll be careful. Not that I've told Tea anything true about myself." Seto muttered to himself as he walked down the alley and into the roaring club.

"Their relationship never ceases to amaze me." Ryou admitted as he hurried to catch up with Seto. Walking onto the dance floor of the club, the two parted; Seto to find Tea and Ryou to find a strong drink.

"Hey." Seto smiled when he finally found Tea. "What's wrong? You don't look too happy?"

"Why wouldn't I be happy?" Tea asked, turning to face him, though her eyes were still closed.

"I don't know. You tell me."

"It almost the end of the school year." Tea mentioned.

"So?"

"So, I'll be graduating soon. And I might be moving."

"Oh. So we might not meet each other again."

"Maybe." Tea admitted.

"Then let's enjoy the time we do have." Seto grinned.

"Yes." Tea smiled back. "But I have to go home early tonight."

"When? I'll keep an eye on the time for you."

"Eleven." Tea told him, before they were pulled into the dancing crowd.

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"It's eleven." Seto told Tea.

"What?" Tea asked, cupping a hand behind her ear in an effort to enhance her hearing.

"It's eleven!" Seto told her a bit louder.

"Oh! Okay, thanks." Tea nodded.

"See you next week?"

"Next week." Tea agreed, as she felt Seto remove his arm from around her waist and disappear into the crowd. Opening her eyes, she pushed her way out of the dancing crowd and marijuana and cigarette smoke. Grabbing her coat from behind the bar, She waved to Valentine and walked out of the club. She was almost to the end of the alleyway when a pair of arms reached out of a corner, covered her mouth and pulled her into the shadows.

AN: CLIFFHANGER!!! ^_^

AN2: Chapter title by The Cranberries.