Hey everyone! I'm back! *shouts of protest rent air* Well, I'll say! Geethanks! -__- Actually this chapter isn't as bad as the last Thanks again for all the wonderful reviews! Did you know this was actually intended to be a one-shot? I decided to add to it because everyone seemed to want me to. And because this one is fun to write! I've come to another conclusion as well. After the last chapter on this fic is posted, I'm going to be posting a chapter-long cast party. This is just for fun, so the cast can celebrate that they survived through one of my insane plots! Anyhow, if you'd like to send any of the YGO cast small gifts, you can do so in your reviews. Check back on this fic because I'll hand 'em out at the party. Torture items accepted as well! ^__^ Sadly, there's only one chapter left after this one to post Thanks again, and enjoy! I don't own YGO*sigh*

Thanks to:

dancingdiva~ Thanks for your review! I loved your story! I read the one about Yami/oc. Kaiba is my favorite, and I kinda like Tea. Everyone who knows me says I'm a lot like her. *twitch* Have fun with the chapter! I feel honored you'd put my story in your favs. It's not that great. I'm glad I convinced you of the pairing! ^__^

Takiaa Hart~ Thanks for reviewing! I appreciate you took the time! And I'm glad you liked it. I loved yours! Reminds me of my parents. My Dad does not understand the appeal of anime and doesn't attempt to. He's afraid of anything that doesn't feature Huell Howser. ^__^ My mother believes that anime is evil/ satanic and is the cause of the world's problems. I have to wonder, how is anime responsible for worldwide hunger? That's her newest protest when she catches me watching it.

Joey's Girl~ Hey! I've heard so much about you from Frito! I will start emailing you soon! I'd love to get to know you. I love songficsI'l have to check yours out!

Difinity~ Thanks! This isn't my firstI've been writing for awhile now. But this is the first I've ever published. Thanks for the encouragement! I like the couple too!

American Sumira~ Thanks for taking the time to review! And thanks for the encouragement! Hope you liked it!

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

Tea blushed, as she realized he'd undoubtedly been spying on themprobably heard all she'd said to Seto. And worse still, what he'd said to her. Since when did she refer to Kaiba as "Seto" anyway? She mentally slapped herself, muscles too sore to obey. She was just tired, that was all. Everything would seem much clearer in the morning, she was sure; everything would be as it should again.

"Don't worry, Tea," Mockuba said, coming to sit before the flames as well. He gave her a small smile as he approached, clearly hoping to reassure her. He forced his thick, black mane behind his ears as he settled himself on the great throw rug before the mantle.

"How worried I am depends on how much you heard," she explained to the small boy, flatly, the briefest trace of a grin flitting across her otherwise sullen features.

"Don't worry, he's always like that." Mockuba motioned towards the staircase, jabbing his thumb vaguely in its general direction, "Its not you."

"ThanksI guess" she cocked her brows. Clearly this couldn't be all that he'd wanted to discuss.

Mockuba shrugged, "I just wanted you to know, because I could see you were concerned when he stormed out."

"Yeah, I was a little, " she confessed, looking up at Mockuba, into his trusting hazel eyes. Those eyes hadn't yet lost the grace and innocence of youth. Hadn't lost that quality she found so particularly charming in young children. She realized in that moment, that Kaiba's gaze had looked something like that which she now saw. Had looked something like it tonightwith her She shook her head in sheer frustration, what was she thinking? This was Kaiba! It was absurd! And yet

"You have to understand, Seto doesn't lightly show emotion"

"I've noticed," she remarked, dryly, rolling her eyes.

"I mean, he's been trained to be that way. Trained since the day we were adopted Our adopted father used to beat Seto as part of his training. He wanted his successor to be just as ruthless as he himself was. I was too young at the time to know exactly what was going on but" Mockuba broke off with a small sigh. He lapsed into thoughtful silence starring into the flames, gaze transfixed, "It changed himhe's still my big brother, and I'll always love him, but he seems so distant anymore."

"Why are you telling me all this?" Tea prodded, gently, surveying the small boy before her with concern etched upon her features. She couldn't help feeling a bit sorry for him

"Because, you're the only person, besides me, who's ever broken through that tough exterior. The only one besides me who's ever gotten through to him. You're the only one besides me who's seen the real Seto Kaiba," Mockuba confessed to her, after a time, "That was the real Seto Kaiba, my brother, you were with earlier. That was how he used to be before he became a Kaiba."

She stared at him now in utter disbelief, "Are you telling me-"

"He cares a lot about you. He wants so badly to tell you that himself. But he came so close to actually saying it tonight, that it scared him. He just can't seem to find his tongue in situations like these. Please don't give up on him. Don't give up on Seto. Don't give up on the real Seto. He really does care."

Tea would have liked to press Mockuba further on the subject, but with that he rose, wide grin gracing his boyish countenance.

For some hours afterwards she lay awake, lying in the makeshift bed Kaiba had fashioned for her. She lay, tracing shapes with her fingers on the ceiling above, idly; trying and failing to make any sense of the bits of lose information running unchecked through her muttled brain. To process it all somehow She watched as the fire died to cinders, reflectingreflecting on all she'd learned this night.