Disclaimer: Do not own the show, the characters, or YGO merchandise. If I did the world would be a better place now. (Just kidding.)

Italic : means that the person is thinking to him or herself.

P.S.- Italic is for a song too.

To Reader: I just wanted to say that I am sorry for the long wait. It's been a bad two weeks. *Looks up at the sky* Why have you forsaken me!? Oh...sorry about that. Anyway, thanks for reviewing!!!!

Chapter Three: Breaking out the Seam

"I switch my Dark Magician to attack mode and use my magic card, Raigeki, to destroy your monsters on the field." Yami said nonchalantly. "Now my Dark Magician can attack directly at your life points."

"No! The rest of my life points!" Joey exclaimed as he hung his head in defeat.

Mai sighed heavily as she watched Joey's face sadden from the loss. She actually felt sorry for the blonde. It seemed that the higher Joey rose to victory, the harder he fell in defeat. She sighed again and looked over to Tea, who was looking out the window at Duke's shop. She couldn't believe that Tea actually still had feelings for Duke. In her opinion, she didn't even know that Tea liked the weirdo.

That's when Tea turned around and looked at Mai. She looked miserable. Mai tried to crack a smile at Tea, but her lips were frozen. Tea smiled at Mai's attempt and asked, "How's the duel?"

"Huh? Do you even have to ask?" Mai replied, trying to put some humor in her response.

Tea smiled and looked over at Joey and Yami carefully. She knew, from the looks of it, that Joey lost. She heaved a sigh of sympathy and walked over toward Joey. "Nice duel." She said softy. {Yes, she's a good liar too.}

"Yeah." Joey replied as Tea put a hand on his shoulder.

"Don't worry Joey, it wasn't a total loss." Yami reasoned. "I almost couldn't beat you this time."

Joey smiled and gave a thumbs-up sign. "Watch out next time, you may not be so lucky."

"I'm looking forward to it." Yami said as he folded his arms.

Joey was about to say something when Serenity walked in. She looked pretty upset. Automatically, Joey stood up and asked, "What's wrong?" {A/N: It's a brotherly thing.}

"I was off my game today." She said as she pulled up a chair next to Joey.

"At least we have something in common." Joey said as she gave him a puzzled look.

~Later~

Tea yawned softly as she finished the rest of her homework. After closing her book and returning it to her bag, she looked around to see what the time was.

"It's seven o'clock." Yugi's grandfather said instinctively.

"Thank you." Tea said as she stood up and grabbed her bag. "I should get going."

"Do you want to stay for dinner?" He asked from the kitchen.

"No, my parents are probably waiting for me." Tea lied.

'Or I'll be waiting for them......'

As Tea reached for the door, Tristan quickly asked her to wait for him. She turned around to see the brown-haired boy stuff papers in his backpack to catch up to her. She sighed and put her hand on her hip.

"Hold on, I'm coming." He said as he walked up to her.

"Ready?" Tea asked as he nodded.

"Bye guys!" Tristan said as he held the door open for Tea.

"See you tomorrow." Joey said as they left the Game Shop.

As they started walking down the street, Tristan looked over to Tea with curiosity.

"So....did you have fun?" He asked as she glanced at him.

"Sort of..." Tea said as they turned the corner.

'Is he following me or something?' Tea asked as she saw Duke walking down the same block as them.

He wasn't alone though. From what she could see, a blonde-haired girl was wrapped around his arm. She clenched her teeth together, cursing the day she had ever met Duke. As Tristan spotted Duke coming toward them, he looked down at Tea.

"Stay strong...." He whispered.

Tea gave him a confused look. 'I swear it's a conspiracy against me.'

As she neared the creator of Dice Monsters, her stomach began to turn. She felt that as her heart was telling her to stay calm, her head was telling her to..... "RUN!"

That's when she heard the voice that she grew to love.

'...........and then hate.'

"It's a true story....." Duke said to the young blonde.

"You're so funny Duke!" Tea heard the blonde exclaim.

'Oh...you'll find out how funny he CAN be....' Tea said as she rolled her eyes.

"Oh, what do we have here?" Duke asked as he stopped in front of Tristan and her.

"How can I help you, Duke?" Tristan asked as he stepped in front of Tea.

"You can't, but maybe Tea can...." Duke said as Tristan tightened his fists.

"Oh really? Well.....she can't help you either." Tristan said as he walked away from Duke with Tea.

"Why don't you let her speak for herself." Duke asked from behind them.

Tristan turned around and glared at Duke.

"Maybe because Tea doesn't speak to trash." Tristan said.

This remark made Duke's eyes flicker with odium. He walked forward and stared at Tristan.

"You want some of this, punk?" Duke asked with a "gangsta" accent.

"Actually, no." Tristan said as Tea tried to hide a smile.

"....what are you smiling at?" Duke asked as he turned to Tea.

"Oh-" She was cut off by Tristan.

"Lets just say that she is picturing me kicking your a##." Tristan replied.

"Is that a dare?" Duke asked heatedly.

"....more like a challenge to you..." Tristan said.

That's when Duke threw the first punch. The blow hit Tristan's right cheek. Tristan backed away and held his cheek. Tea looked at both of them with shock.

"Stop it!" She yelled as she forced herself between them.

"No way that midget gets away with hitting me!" Tristan yelled as he tried to move Tea out of the way.

"No, Tristan!" Tea said as she looked at him. "You're no better than he is if you do punch him."

Tristan glanced at Tea and then back at Duke. He sighed heavily and put his fists down. Tea swallowed hard and looked at Duke, who looked over to her. "What the heck is your problem?"

"He was asking for it." Duke responded as Tea glared at him.

"As were you if I let him go." Tea said as he looked at her.

"Sure." He said as he rubbed the fist that he hit Tristan with.

"Come on Tristan, lets go." Tea said softly.

"Wait! We're not done yet." Duke said as she looked at him.

"Believe me, we are." Tea said as he walked forward.

"I need to talk to you...." He said as she rolled her eyes.

"Not now." She said as she turned away from him.

"Tea..." He said as she held back her anger.

"What? What do you possibly want to tell me at a time like this?" She asked calmly.

He looked at Tristan and then the blonde. "I can't tell you in front of them."

"Then don't tell me at all." Tea said as she tugged on Tristan's sleeve, as a signal to leave.

"I still love you....." Duke spat out. "I always will."

Tea bit her lip and turned around again to meet his emerald eyes.

"I loved you, Duke." She said softly. "But after today.....I'm through with you."

"I can change." He said, avoiding Tristan's glare.

Tea looked at his look of plea. She couldn't give in, not to him.

'No, he can't change. He just wants to use you again.'

"I'm sorry Duke, but changing is not enough for a person like you." She said coldly.

With that, she turned and walked away with Tristan. As they passed the next block, Tristan clapped his hands together. She looked at him and smiled.

"You really impressed me today." He said as she blushed.

"I impressed myself." She said as he smiled and walked her to her door.

"See you tomorrow," he said as he flashed her a smile.

"Alright." She said as she watched him go. "Oh, Tristan!"

He turned around and looked at her.

"Thanks." She said.

"What for?" He asked as she put her hands on her hips.

"For today." She said as he shrugged his shoulders.

"It was nothing." He said as he waved at her. "Besides, what are friends for?"

She smiled and waved back.

'They're for kicking the crap out of annoying ex-boyfriends, if you ask me.'

She chuckled and walked into her house.

~To be continued......~

Yes, I know that was stupid. This chappie really had no storyline whatsoever. I just wanted to show you that Tea is over Duke and ready to move on (To Yami.) Sorry about this.....I feel really bad for posting a bad chapter, especially when you have been waiting so long.