"So, how's your eyes doing, Yugi?" Joey asked. They were back in the cafeteria, looking for the infamous article. The bruises on Yugi's eyes weren't as dark, but they were still there. His lip had healed and the swellings had gone down.
"Fine," Yugi replied like it was no big deal.
"Wonder who it is this time," Tristan said as they gazed the paper.
"Let's find out," Tea squealed with excitement.
Joey let out a muffled snort as he read the title. As they stared at him, he seemed to be at the bursting point of containing all that laughter. He managed to clear his throat enough to read,
"What is up with Tristan Taylor's hairdo?" Joey paused, took one look at Tristan and burst out laughing hysterically. "What is up with his hair?!" he shrieked. The look Tristan gave him could have stripped paint. "Keep reading," he said softly.
"First of all, what's the hair modelled after? A shark fin? Some kind of weapon? So, in self defence, he just waves his hair at everyone? What kind of idiot walks around, shaking their head at everyone? Tristan Taylor obviously. A shark would have more fashion sense, considering the fact that they don't go around copying other big, dumb, stupid animals. Actually, he should be more of a monkey, but that would insult the monkey. Does this loser actually STYLE his hair like that?! What does he use, a few hundred gallons of super-glue? If so, no wonder he only has two pairs of clothes. He wastes all his money on glue for his, precious hair. That ugly brown trench-coat, and the horrible school uniform are the only clothes he has in the whole world. My advice to you is, go crawl under a rock and never come out; freaks of nature and mutants just do not clash with normal human beings. Oh, and stop insulting the sharks. They want to copyright their fins so that losers like you can't steal their style."
Everyone except Tristan started laughing. Not because it was mean, but because it was true. Well, the hair part, any ways. While no one actually knew what his hair style was modelled after, it did resemble a shark fin quite well. So, Tristan sat gnashing his teeth while everyone laughed.
"Hey, you guys!" They turned to see a shouting Bakura running towards them. He tripped over his shoelace and plowed into a table. He decided that it might be safer to walk the rest of the way, and proceeded to do so.
"What did you think of that article?" he asked in his soft, accented voice.
"It was-" Tristan began, snarling.
"Pretty funny!" Bakura laughed. They turned and stared at the silver haired boy like he was crazy. "Who knew that an insult to Tristan could be so funny?!" he laughed.
"Yeah, it's pretty funny!" Joey agreed wholeheartedly. Even Tristan had to laugh at Bakura's reasoning. Then, Joey ruined it. "Yeah, did you know Tristan's hair is past his elbows? He looks like a long-haired hippie when it's down! That's why it's in that freaky, scary style!!" Joey failed to notice Tristan glaring at him. "Joey! You swore you would never tell! You liar!" Swiftly covering his mouth, he blushed red.
Everyone stared at him like he was a total nut-case. "Maybe I should cut my hair......." Bakura mused.
"NO!!" everyone yelled at the same time.
"Okay, okay. I won't cut my hair," he said. "See you later, guys!" Bakura walked off muttering, "See? Someone likes it! I am not weak. Yeah, well, you have longer hair than me. So there!"
"That was weird," Tea said. Yugi, Joey and Tristan just nodded dumbly, staring at the long-haired boy.
"Great, I got another detention with creepy Kaiba," Tea groaned.
"Just don't beat him up too badly," Tristan laughed, remembering Kaiba's little adventure with Tea's temper.
"Yeah! Save some for me!" Joey joked.
"Stop being so GREEDY, man! I get first dibs!" Tristan yelled. They started to fight, AGAIN. Yugi and Tea shook their heads at their comedic antics. "Grow up," they said in unison.
Joey and Tristan had fought the whole lunch hour. Now, Tea sat in detention, slumped in her chair. "Damn Kaiba, damn world," she thought bitterly. A crumpled ball of paper bounced off her head. Snarling, she turned around, only to see Kaiba wasn't there. He had chosen a seat beside her. Another paper ball hit her. She ignored it. Five minutes later, another ball smacked her in the face. It had the word, "Tea" on it. She opened it up and could barely distinguish the untidy, wrinkled scrawl.
"Tea,
Meet me at the lockers in the east wing after detention tomorrow. Come alone. Please.
Seto Kaiba"
She crunched it in her hands, shooting a frosty glare at Kaiba. What did he want now? Probably to beat her up. Wait a minute. Tomorrow was her BIRTHDAY!! She couldn't waste her time with Kaiba. She promised Yugi that she would go to his house after detention was over. She knew what she would rather do.
Kaiba sat next to Tea, a confident smirk on his face. "She will come," he thought. "I wonder if she knows what's in store for her."
Tea's birthday arrived quickly and happily. Her parents got her that new pair of boots she had wanted. Yugi said Grandpa had a surprise for her after school. Tristan kept grinning evilly and Joey seemed to be lost within himself, eyes glazed over and mumbling "pizza" constantly. People were staring as she dragged him along, but she didn't care. It was her birthday, after all.
Too bad the teachers didn't seem to share her enthusiasm. In fact, the just plain didn't care. At lunch, Joey was so obsessed with Tea's birthday, he totally forgot about the paper. Instead, Yugi reassured her that they were working on a plan to get her out of detention today, which raised her spirits a considerable amount.
After class, Yugi, Joey and Tristan accompanied her to her detention. Kaiba was already in his desk. He looked.......... different. Maybe it was the lack of his famous smirk, but Tea could have sworn his smile..... brightened when he spotted her. When Joey walked into the room, his smirk was back in place. Yugi approached the teachers desk.
"Um, sir? I was wondering if Tea could be let out of detention early today?" he asked uncertainly.
"Yugi, why would I do a thing like that?"
"Well, it is her birthday and-" Yugi began.
"No buts! Miss Gardener stays here. Sorry, but that's not a good enough excuse."
"Maybe I could convince you with a little help from-" Joey stepped in, "Mr. Money!" He flourished his hand with a twenty-dollar bill in it.
"Mr Wheeler!" their teacher exclaimed.
"Yes sir, that was wrong," Joey hung his head and back into his pocket the money went.
"Get out of the classroom, they still have a detention to serve," Yugi and Joey were told.
"You scum! Tea has a PARTY waiting for her! That is so unfair! Who do you-"
"Joey!" Tea whispered savagely.
"Mr Wheeler, if you ever speak to me in that way again, you will be suspended! Now, please LEAVE!"
"Thanks anyway," Tea mouthed at Yugi.
"You're welcome," Yugi mouthed back.
Tea sat down. She banged her elbows down violently on the desktop. Her head followed, cushioned on her arms.
"Have a good day?" Kaiba smirked.
"Shut the hell up, Kaiba!" Tea snarled.
"Ooh, I'm soooo scared," he retorted.
"Quiet!" came the teachers sharp reply.
Kaiba sat, silently mocking their supervisor. Tea buried her head in her hands. This was going to be a long hour.
When he was sure Tea wasn't looking, he watched her, concern written all over his face. Tea suddenly looked up. Kaiba snapped his head around; he could feel his cheeks growing hotter by the second. What was WRONG with him?
Tea groaned and looked upwards. Suddenly Kaiba snapped his head around so that his hair was facing her. She could have sworn he was watching her. What was his problem? He had already wrecked the best present anyone had ever given her, what more did he want? What was so great about causing her more pain and tears? What a jerk.
Kaiba mentally cursed himself. Then, he mentally slapped his face until he was sure his mind was erased all thoughts of that, that, person! She SAW him staring at her. She SAW him turn red. But the worst part was, she KNEW there was something not quite right about him.
Hell, HE knew there was something wrong with him. "Admit it Seto." A younger form of Seto Kaiba appeared, years younger than his present age. "You l-" He was cut off as an older, meaner version appeared out of nowhere.
"This idiot don't know nothing! You don't have time for this! You just feel pity! PITY!! Pity for breaking a locket?! Puh-lease! Pity for being a loser! Go back to your computer and forget about this bitch! You have yourself and Mokuba and that's all you need!" This version stood, nodding smugly. Then the real Kaiba interrupted.
"Excuse me, but why do I pity myself? You said pity for breaking a locket. I broke that stupid locket and I don't feel pity for myself," seeing his dumbfounded expression, he raised an eyebrow and added, "Well?"
The image opened and closed it's mouth wordlessly. In a huff, it vanished. The young Kaiba merely shrugged while stifling giggles and disappeared as well. Kaiba was transported back into reality........ More like dropped on his head. Now, he was certain.
When they were finally free, Tea walked out of the room and down the hall rather quickly. She was in a hurry, and with good reason. Yugi was waiting for her, she ran out the door, not once looking back.
Kaiba lounged by the lockers in the east wing. He waited for Tea. His confident smirk was back. She would come.......
4:30 came, then went. Where was she? Probably just late, he reassured himself. When 5:00 rolled around, Kaiba abandoned all hope. She wasn't coming. She was definitely NOT going to come. He walked dejectedly to the doors. Calling his limo, he slid into the back seat, graceful as any cat and shut the door.
