Tea was having a blast! A surprise party was prepared in her honour! Grandpa's surprise was giving her access to any 3 cards she wanted. Naturally, she went for fairy type, taking the Dark Witch, Harpy Lady (after watching Mai duel, who wouldn't want it?) and the Cyber Shield. Speaking of Mai, she was there as well as Bakura and his other being, Mokuba, and of course, the usual gang. Tea discovered why Joey seemed to be chuckling evilly the whole day. When she did, oh Lord how she wished she didn't. A Flame Swordsmen walked through the door. Tea was dumbfounded. It turned out to be a whining Joey, complete with sword.
"My, Joey," Mai grinned wickedly, "I didn't know you looked so good in tights......" Mai winked. Joey just blushed.
"Your lucky it's Tea's birthday and I'm happy or else I'd kill you!" Joey muttered.
"Bring it on tights!" Tristan shot back.
"Why you-" Pretty soon, everyone was watching the Flame Swordsmen, a.k.a. Joey Wheeler trying to kill Tristan.
Joey was in a bad situation, he was choking from Tristan's hands wound tightly around his throat, while trying to bash him with his "Flaming Sword of Battle." Luckily, it was made of plastic. Tristan's head must've been SORE as Joey's "sword" connected with a hollow sounding noise, over and over and over.......
Tea was really starting to enjoy herself. When the doorbell rang, Yugi, being the polite host, went to answer it. A tall figure in a long, blue, trench coat stood in the doorway, towering over the shorter boy. He barged in, bowling Yugi in his haste to cross the room. Tristan went to push him out, followed closely by Joey. As Kaiba struggled against Tristan's iron grip, he shouted, "I just need to-" Then he noticed Joey. A smirk came over his face. "Nice tights, Wheeler. Do you just wear them when your with your boyfriend here, or have you decided to include the midget in the fun?" Kaiba smirked.
"THAT'S IT!!!!!" Joey howled, as he lunged forward, instead hitting the doorway and backing away slightly, clutching his nose in pain.
"Let me talk to T-" Kaiba was cut off as Joey's sword connected with his face. He was about to teach that punk some manners, but decided against it and to just leave it. He started to the door, but was blocked by a familiar figure.
"Whaddya want, Kaiba?" Tea asked, eyebrow raised.
"Just come outside," he said, as he lead her outside.
"If this is-" Tea began as soon as they stopped, but was cut off by Kaiba.
"Look, I just thought, that I'm.............sorryforbreakingyourlocket," he spilled out.
"I don't have time for- Wait. Did you just say your sorry? When are YOU ever SORRY?!" Tea said a sarcastic smile on her face.
"Now," he spat. "Here, I...... felt bad for hurting you." He fumbled in his coat-pocket and nearly dropped it. In his hand, he held a badly wrapped package. As Tea examined the poorly wrapped package, she smirked. The great Seto Kaiba can create holograms of duel monsters and other amazing pieces of technology, but he can't decently wrap a package.
"Hmm, maybe I was wrong about you. Maybe I shouldn't have wr- Oh shit."
Tea clapped her hands over her mouth, suddenly afraid. But Kaiba made no move towards her. She could almost hear the click as the pieces of the puzzle came together. His eyes held a mixture of emotions. She thought she saw a glimmer of tears and hurt, but as quickly as it came, it was gone, and replaced by anger.
"Happy birthday," he snarled as he threw the package at her. He turned and walked back to his car, leaving a very disturbed and worried Tea.
"Seto," Tea began, but he ignored her. Suddenly his shoulders went rigid and he began to shake. It certainly wasn't from cold, but a cold, cold anger burned his soul.
"Don't you ever call me by that name again," he snapped as he turned around, eyes blazing. He continued on his way to the limo. "Drive," he ordered, voice breaking slightly. He rolled up the dark, soundproof window, before, losing himself in his own world of painful thoughts.
Tea stood alone, in hurt silence. She knew she had no right to be hurt, yet his words were stinging. She looked down at the messy package. Huh, it wasn't unfair to Kaiba. God knows he deserved it. After all the people he hurt, herself included, it was only justified that he feel some pain. Wondering what was in the package, she slowly unwrapped it. The guilt and regret washed over her in one big wave of hurt.
Nestled in a ball of expensive paper, was a locket. It looked exactly like the one he broke, except it was solid gold. Also, it lacked pictures on the inside. On the outside........... was a picture of Kaiba. He was smiling. The inside, instead of the reassuring message from her friends, it had a sorrowful one from Kaiba.
"Tea,
I know that you hate me,
But I just had to apologize.
So, sorry for breaking your locket,
Here is a new one.
Feel free to do whatever you want with it.
Seto Kaiba
"I'm such an idiot," Tea said. "I can't believe he came to apologize! He came to me because HE felt BAD!! Because he hurt me! And what did I do?! I destroyed his only chance of being human!!" Tea's wild tantrum was cut short, as Yugi poked his head out the door.
"Tea? Are you alright?" Seeing Tea's quiet tears made Yugi suspicious. He had watched the scenario, through the window, along with Joey and Tristan. Joey, had to be locked in a room- well, closet to be more exact, (no room deserved to be torn apart like that), as the urge to kill Kaiba was upsetting some of the guests. He had hurt her and was going to pay............ as soon as they let him out of the closet. Tristan bravely offered to stand against the door, to prevent any wild attempts made by the furious swordsman.
Tea stared at the empty road. Tears glimmered, then fell splashing her shirt with wet dots. She failed to notice the short, spiky-headed boy approaching her. It wasn't until she felt a light touch on her arm, did she turn around.
"Tea?" Yugi asked softly, unsure of the reaction he was going to get.
"Yugi!" she cried and hugged him like a little girl holds a beloved teddy-bear. Yugi felt like his head was going to pop off, but he knew Tea needed him, so he tried to deal with his bursting lungs. His puzzle flared, and suddenly, a taller, more sturdy Yugi had appeared.
Because of the height difference, he could hold Tea more normally. Well, he was still short, but tall enough.
"Are you alright?" he asked, his deep voice filled with concern.
"No," she answered, her voice hitching on suppressed sobs, "he came to apol-apologize, but I h-hurt him!"
Wondering how that was possible, he led Tea back to the house. The guests were leaving now. Well, all but Mai and Bakura.
"Tea doesn't look too good," Bakura had said. "I'm worried."
Mai was too. "Yugi, is Tea alright? Why is she crying?"
"I don't know," Yugi answered, having changed back into himself outside. "I think that it has something to do with Kaiba."
"Kaiba?! I want to know exactly what that creep to her! Besides, we could always have Joey dance around in his tights for some entertainment!" Mai grinned wickedly, and winked at the closet that Joey was currently residing in.
"Take that back!" Joey had snarled. That's when Joey had snapped, his self control in shreds. He bashed the door viciously and managed to knock Tristan off balance. The one second that it took Tristan to regain his balance was all Joey needed. The door burst open with a bang. Tristan was thrown forwards as Joey lunged out the door. He wanted to make Mai sorry she opened her big yap, but also to tear Kaiba limb from limb. He decided on Kaiba. Raising his "sword," he started for the door. Tristan intercepted him.
"Lemme GO!!!" Joey yelled.
"NO way!"
They decided the only safe place was to lock Joey in Yugi's bedroom. Tristan was there, guarding the door- just in case Joey somehow managed to escape being rolled in a blanket and tied up, being tied to the bed and a barricade of a dresser and a desk pushed against the other side of the door. No dice.
"LET ME GO!!!!" Joey hollered as he rolled desperately around, trying to get the blanket off him. He succeeded in banging his head against the bed post. He screamed in frustration. Suddenly, he heard Mai's voice.
"Hey, Tights, if we let you out, then will you be a good little dog?" Mai struggled to keep the laughter out of her voice, and to keep Yugi, Tristan and Bakura's muffled laughter under control.
"I'LL KILL YOU ALL!!!" Joey yelled, remembering all too well the stinging insults Kaiba had inflicted upon his ego. "WHEN YOU'RE SLEEPING, I'LL KILL YOU ALL!!!!!"
"Temper, temper," Mai said as she wagged a perfectly manicured finger at the door, as if lecturing a naughty child, and not a furious teenager. "No need to get all worked up."
When Joey finally calmed down, which took over an hour, Tea told them what had happened. She wouldn't tell them what had set him off, knowing the casualties would be far too great. A hysterically laughing Joey was all she got as an answer.
"You're upset over that? Geez, Tea, that's not that bad. You made it look like he slapped you or something!" Joey wheezed.
Even Yugi, Mai and Bakura thought that was funny. By the time they were done laughing and exchanging presents, it was around midnight. Grandpa, having dozed off in the middle of the party, drove her home. She was prepared to get quietly ready for divorce, but oddly enough, all the lights were on. Her mother was waiting for her as well. What was going on? Then, Tea's mother spoke.
"Your father moved out. We're getting a divorce."
