A/N: Sorry for taking so long to update this story! Please forgive me... I've been so busy and stuff... Sorry again...

trefenwyd12: Thanks! Yeah, I like Tea's disposition better this way too... Oh well, too bad we can't do anything about it for the real show!

wind princess 4eva: Thanks. Okay, if you want me to tell you if you're guess is right or not, you can email me! karikaiba@yahoo.com Hehe, k, well thanks. Ummm, I just like that name for a horse. And it's the first thing that popped into my mind, as I've always used it before too. Do you object? I think it's a kewl name!

Jujubie: Thank you! Hmmm, I don't think 'interestinger' is a word, but it can be in our dictionary! Thank you so much! Your review made me so happy! Wow, k, thanks! Yeah, your story is really cool! It's so creative! And go Seto/Tea! Please update your story soon!

Chikin Wang: Hmmm, maybe. You'll see! ^_^ Thank you!

Hieiandbotan4ever: You'll find out soon too! Sorry about the delay for this chapter. I'll try to update faster next time...

MarikzAngel: You do? Thank you! K, I really do have to update faster, don't I?

annoymus: Thanks! Sorry about taking so long...

Aviastar: K, well, you'll also find out soon enough! Yeah, thanks again for the cliffhanger thing. You did? Ah, well, thanks anyhow.

CrissyKitty: That's okee! Thank you for the review anyhow! Yeah, about that new story... I think it was you that wanted this story to be Tea/Yami right? (But this is okay for you now, right?) So I've decided to write another story set in ancient Egypt, with the pairing of Tea/Yami. Does that sound good to you? I'll try to post that story up soon too.

WingedWanderess: K, thanks!

YGO FAN: Okee, thank you! Glad it does make some sense.

Lunar Dragon 209: I'm glad you want to read more! I hope this chapter is of some interest to you!

Kathiana: I do? Thanks! Maybe I should have a bit more romance in my story...

--- (Josie): Thanks! Cool account name by the way.

Hikari Kitten: Ok, thanks!

Shy-Lil-Dreamer: Ah, okay, so you say... Well, that's for me to write out later! Okay, thanks. I'll think about that... I think I'll make a triangle for my new story that I'm writing if that suits you. Yami/Tea/Ryou. Is that good? Anything else, suggestions, comments, requests are always welcome! Thanks!

Thanks to all who reviewed! Special thanks to my BFF, Arya, for her help! And yeah, I'm having a feeling that this chapter isn't that productive. Next chapter I'm really going to develop the action... I'm holding out the cliffhanger until next chapter! I know, mean of me... Sorry, I couldn't resist...

Disclaimer: I do not own Yu-Gi-Oh!

Chapter Nine: Ponderings

Back at camp, Yugi, Ryou, Joey, Tristan, and Kaiba were still discussing what exactly was wrong with Tea.

"But what could be so big that she wouldn't want us to know? We've know her for a while now, doesn't she know that we're reliable and will be her friends until the end?" Ryou asked.

"Obviously something," Yugi said, "And maybe she doesn't realize that we'll be her friends no matter what."

"But are we sure about that?" Joey asked a bit nervously, "Can we guarantee, that no matter what happens we'd be her friend? Are there not things that we can each do to make others shun us, hate us?" They all sat in silence for a moment, thinking that over.

"But what are the chances of that happening?" Tristan said, "Slim to none, so why are we worrying about that? We should think of things we could do for Tea to show her that we care, and that we wish to help her."

"Easier said than done," Kaiba muttered, "And what would you propose we do?" Again they sat in silence, thinking it over.

"You know what, I think it's been enough for all of us tonight," Yugi said, "I'm getting a bit tired, and we'll need to conserve our energy for tomorrow, right? After all, tomorrow's the day we'll duel Pegasus."

"Oh yeah!" Joey exclaimed loudly, "I almost forgot about that! But what about Tea, she didn't come back yet."

"Leave her to her space," Ryou said, "She'll most likely be back very soon. A refreshing nighttime walk would do anyone some good."

They all quietly cleaned up the campfire area and spread their sleeping bags across the ground and settled in.

"Kaiba, aren't you going to rest? It's getting late you know, and even you need rest," Yugi said.

"I'm going to stay up a bit longer and wait for Tea," Kaiba said, settling down by the campfire.

"Suit yourself, Kaiba," Joey said, "'Night everyone."

Everyone else echoed their 'goodnights', and slowly fell asleep. It was getting considerably later into the night as Kaiba waited, staring into the fire. He watched the flames do their intricate dances, playing with the air as the smoke drifted into the air, as he sat thinking. He suddenly stood up, and decided he would go looking for Tea, as it was getting apparent that she wasn't about to return any time soon and he wanted to keep her company. Everyone else was asleep, and he expected to be back before dawning broke, so he just left the camp.

Kaiba wondered where he should search first. He thought that she'd probably be by a lake or stream of some type, probably just thinking things over as she usually does. He thought she probably fell asleep too, so caught up in her thoughts that she had forgotten about the time. So he leisurely walked around the woods, thinking that since no one had ever been on the island before, Tea too would not know where to head. He assumed he'd stumble across her soon enough.

*****

Pegasus sighed in his castle, viewing what exactly was happening on his island. He had various hidden security cameras and microphones all throughout the island, stationed very carefully and systematically. He spent a bit of time watching and listening to Yugi and his friends' conversation, chuckling at what he thought to be their stupidity at Tea's strange behavior. They were so naïve at times.

Then on one of the cameras he saw his daughter walking at the foot of his castle, seemingly searching for something. He watched her for a moment, searching for what he knew to be a supposedly secret entrance to their home. He glanced at a nearby picture of Cecilia, his deceased wife. He created Duel Monsters, he was the owner of Industrial Illusions, and he possessed the Millennium Eye. At the rate he was going he knew that he would be able to achieve anything he wanted, once he had a few pawns in place. A few people to help him along the way; Yugi, Kaiba, and of course Tea. He wasn't exactly sure how his own daughter was going to help him, but he had foreseen that she would assist him greatly in bring back his dream.

Pegasus looked back at the video screens that monitored all that went on upon his island. He was anticipating Yugi and his friends' arrival for the next day. Then all that he needed would soon be in place. He had not too long to wait to achieve his ultimate goal; what he had been trying to do for some time. He knew that he could easily beat Yugi and Kaiba who would both blindly accept any requirements for the loser of the duel to yield to, being as they both wanted their family member's soul back.

He saw that Kaiba had left his the camp, surely in search of his little girlfriend. It was such a pity that he planned to permanently ruin Tea's relationship with all of her friends soon. He knew that they would probably never forgive her for lying and hiding the fact that she was their worst enemy's daughter. He supposed he could have paid more attention to her in the past after his wife (and her mother) died. But he just became so secluded after that, but that didn't mean that he no longer cared for her. He had cameras set up all over the castle as well and knew what Tea was doing from day to day.

Pegasus had even decided to keep all her beloved but troublesome pets, thinking that they would be of help to him in the future, and he knew that that would prove to be true. He had trained her dog, Niko, to become a guard and attack dog, and he had lost his once friendly disposition. The same went with her horse and birds. He managed to get them to dislike people after having his servants treat them badly, and he knew that once Tea saw the state her pets were in she would be devastated and probably do something drastic to get them out of his clutches. He wondered if they remembered her and if they would still be loyal to her. Ah, well he would find out soon enough. He then turned off the screens and left the room.

*****

Kaiba had given up on his stroll to find Tea. He turned around and began walking in the direction of the castle, having second suspicions that Tea may have gone there. He had no idea why she would go there, but she had been acting so differently the past few days, or basically ever since she arrived on this island. The more he thought about it, the more strange the situation seemed to him. It really did seem like Tea knew this island they were on, but how was that possible? Well, many things seemed possible with Tea, being that so little was really known about her.

He finally found himself back at the camp and found the boys right where he left them, soundly sleeping and lightly snoring, with Joey's mutterings about food in his dreams. He then left the camp, knowing they wouldn't be awake any time soon. He continued to walk in the direction of the castle, thinking things over along the way; from Tea, the tournament, his company, Mokuba, Pegasus, and well, basically everything. Then he found himself at the foot of the castle and wondered what he should do. He began to walk around the perimeter of the castle, hoping to find something.

A/N: I know this chapter was sort of pointless... sorry... So yeah... But next chapter I promise will reveal who had saved Tea and get into the action. Please review! Thanks! ~Kari