In the last chapter, basically, if you have forgotten, Tea was doing her spring cleaning when she found her school photo. She retraced her memories of her friends and of course, Seto Kaiba. She also marvelled at a book/momento box and thought about her diseased grandmother. On the other hand, the Kaiba brothers heard the report on an up & coming earthquake.
Nothing much happened I know, but I assure you that it is getting better!
Home, to Téa, would only be what she made of it deep down, behind those blind emotions which evaded her real true feelings.
Occasionally she wondered, if someone had asked her, "Do you believe in true love?" She would most likely nod showing that she did. Such simple mindedness, No different to her parents at all, no.
Téa was, in fact, the primary witness of her parents' infatuation even after so many years. But she never felt like that she had being at the receiving end of their love. She saw herself as a by-product you sometimes get after a violent chemical combustion as it was.
However she had not seen all. All she could make of her parents' passion were judgments based on jealousy.
Nothing ever stays the same, nothing ever has, and nothing is ever as guided and transparent as they seem. She has not experienced; likewise she has no right to judge.
Gently knocking on the painted white door, Téa leaned in & listened with both her ears pricked for sounds. She did not expect Ms. Tanaka to rise this early, it was seven-thirty in the morning after all. To her surprise & relief, this well-aged lady did actually wake at this time of day.
"Good gracious Téa! What are you doing in front my door at seven-thirty?" Inquired Ms. Tanaka as she scanned Téa tip to toe. "Oh, I see! You are good for some jogging?" She paused and tilted her head at that, "Well, darling, I am not fit for any exercise as of old."
Téa giggled, "Nope, I am not here to ask you to jog with me!" She looked at the old lady for a moment then exclaimed, "This is such a pretty dress!"
"Oh," Ms. Tanaka acted as if she was surprised, "Teenage girls like you don't often appreciate flowery dresses like this one." She said, "So Téa, darling, why are you looking for me so early?"
"Mmm. I thought that since I am going for some serious hiking, will you buy some grocery things for me? I only need a cob loaf, a flour loaf, four hamburger rolls, two knot rolls, a 500g net margarine, those of my favourite junk foods, and any green veggies that you think will make me healthier."
Téa rested her index finger just below her bottom lip as she stared at the not-so-high ceiling, "bring me some meat as well, as much as I want to control my weight, humans are omnivores!"
She let her hand fall to her side but brought it up just as quickly, "I almost forgot! If you bought that many bread, they would for sure give you a free everyday loaf which I would pass on to you as a 'thank you gift'!"
At last she shut her mouth & beamed at Ms. Tanaka as if she had just helped her through a terrible episode of life. She laughed when she saw the blank expression & continuous blinking on the lady's face. "It's okay," said Tea with a motherly tone, "I've already written a list!"
Swiftly, Téa pulled out a short shopping-list from her pocket. There she simply scrawled down "A week's bread & cheese."
"Thank God!" Ms. Tanaka uttered. "But I suppose you don't want the dress of mine, I thought there was at least one youth on the planet who had taste."
"Alright, I've got to get going, thank you!" Téa called back delightedly while waving good-bye.
Slip in hand, Ms. Tanaka softened her eyes as she watched Téa's lissome figure trace a brisk line down the stairs, & thought to herself:
Don't know how she became of her, but it's certainly not her grandmother who she inherited from.
"Ouch!"
Before Téa knew she fell head first onto the muddy earth.
"If i recall correctly, two seconds ago I was still standing on top of this mountain. How could I trip over when no one had pushed me? Has the dust from cleaning got into my mind?"
But what she felt & heard next answered her question: vibrations of the earth beneath her followed an unpleasant low-pitched grawl. Images began to move in front of Téa's eyes, unsure of her position, she lost balance and rolled quickly down the steep hill...
Somewhere in the city Seto Kaiba's limousine wove through evacuating people at an amazingly slow speed.
"Now if you don't drive any more faster, not will you be fired but my lawyers will be waiting to see you about endangering Mokuba & myself!" Seto Kaiba couldn't have yelled any louder.
Too many things were going on at once: Mokuba was on the verge of tears, they were in the middle of "only the driver knows where", people were yelling and shouting and crying and pushing around them, but worst of all, an earthquake was hitting Domino.
Damn it! Seto Kaiba cursed in his mind. How could he be stupid enough to let himself in such an awkward postion? He knew that he shouldn't have trusted the local weather forecast. His technology would have warned him way before when this happened. But all was too late, when it hit, he & Mokuba would still be stuck in this god-awful limousine, with this subhuman driver wetting his pants.
Seto Kaiba fiddled with his laptop once again, all was in vain, network was not responding. Something must have damaged the server.
"Se-Seto.. are w-we go-goin to be ookay?"
"Have I ever let you down? Trust me, Mokuba."
"Ido trust in you-u! Bu-but it's not you who-who is driving."
The shock was severing, most people have evacuated out of the streets, a few foolish people have abandoned their vehicles. Fragile buildings were toppling over the main roads, the chances of getting to his mansion was slim.
"Stop it! Damn it! Stop the car! Stop right here!" Seto Kaiba managed his most outrageous yell. There were neither cables nor building around this secluded area so if they just stayed inside the limousine, nothing should be able to hurt them.
"Why, why do we s-stop, big, b-brother?" Mokuba shrank into a ball. "W- wouldn't the, the ground s-swallow-w u-us?"
"Don't scare youself." But he had to admit, he was pretty nervous himself. The last time Seto Kaiba encountered an earthquake was in his childhood when Mokuba was not born. He was safe in the arms of his parents.
Mokuba stared out the window. "Look! There's a person there! By the mountain! She seems to be h-hurt."
Seto Kaiba averted his gaze to where his little brother was pointing. There was a person there, and not in good shape, but who ever he or she was, that person was at least 50 meters from where the limousine were. Seto Kaiba was not ready to risk his life for someone he doesn't even know let alone care.
"I th-think we should hel-help her..." Mokuba said.
"She is safe there." Kaiba cut his little brother off.
"Bu-but the t-trees..."
Okay maybe I shouldn't just leave someone to die when I had the ability to save it. At least Yugi and his followers are not here to watch. They'd probably think that I am a kind person. While thinking to himself, Kaiba opened the door of his limo.
"Be careful, Big Brother!" Yelled Mokuba, fixating his gaze on Seto as if his big brother would suddenly disappear if he stopped watching.
Cursing under his breath about this misfortune, Kaiba trudged difficultly towards the figure lying in grass. As he approached closer, something familiar about the figure hit him. It was for sure a female now. But who is she?
Wait a sec, isn't that Tea Garnder?! What is she doing by the mountain? Or should I say on TOP of the mountain? Judging by her wounds she must have rolled down during the shock.
Kaiba quickly picked her up but before he could walk a big tremor abruptly shook the ground beneath him so that he fell forward. Kaiba peered at the limo as he steadied himself again. Even though the windows were tinted, but he could swear that he felt that idiotic chauffeur laughing at him when he plunged down.
Mokuba couldn't wait till Seto got into the limo, he was already shouting exclaimations. "Oh my god, this is Tea! What happened to her? She's so lucky that I saw her! What should we do?"
Seto's mind was clouded. The last thing he needed was to have one of Yugi's best friends beside him. Worse, she is the one who Yugi likes. Seto felt bitter. She had all the best friends, grades and life in the world that even he had to help her.
The earthquake was becoming more violent. Seto refused to think. Mokuba was staring at Tea's resting form. The chauffeur was doing god knows what...
Windows of the limo clattered as if chattering amoungst themselves of this uncanny experience. The laptop beside Seto's feet plunged heavily onto his foot. Ouch. Fingers groped handrails for security. They clutched it so tightly that blood was unable to reach the tips so they became pale.
Below the mountainside a tree was lifted off the earth, it knocked over another bendy sickly tree & they tumbled down together.
Suddenly a devastating wave had the concrete protrude up & sent the limo flying forward two meters. The landing was pretty rough and it stirred Téa: Oh, do I have to get up this early? I am not done with sleeping yet.
But slowly opening her eyes she saw a tinted glass in front of her. What? Am I not in bed at home? Oh yeah! I was hiking... and then...
"Hey-y Téa you are awake!" Said Mokuba happily.
Tea nearly jumped. "Mokuba? why are you here?" She turned around, "Kaiba?!"
"Don't you see? You are in our limous.." Another big tremor shut Mokuba off.
The tremor caused a small bump of the limo and it seemed to have knocked some sense into Téa. "Oh my god, we are in the middle of an earthquake!"
"Calm down, Gardner. It was slow enough for you to realize but I wish that you wouldn't come to realization of it at all." Scoffed Kaiba.
"What is that supposed to mean?" Said Téa sarcastically.
In an impulsion Téa tried to get out of the limousine but was forced to slump down again when ache all over her body protested for the first time since her revival.
"Téa! Don't move, you are hurt! Exclaimed Mokuba.
She looked at herself and was suddenly caught in self-pity and shame. Being in Kaiba's limo was just very... uncomfortable.
A few hours had passed quietly inside the limousine. Far off in the distance, over the deep murmurs of seismic wave surrounding them, they could hear heavy objects smashing onto the ground. There were also the sounds of a mixture of grief and protest and wonder poured out by the voices of countless invisible people in that same low crying murmur.
The sun was setting. It was getting late. Soon it was going to be dark.
In the limo, someone was constantly shifting, someone's stomach was growling, someone else broke wind & it was definitely Mokuba who was making tiny squeaky sounds.
"Have we any hope of getting home today?" Téa forced something out finally when she couldn't bear the thick atmosphere no more.
"Have you any idea when the quake is going to cease?" Spat Kaiba.
Tea was getting very frustrated, "look Kaiba, I am trying to be friendly but you are constantly ruining my mood!"
"So are you."
Biting her lip, Téa fidgeted once more. I guess I am demanding too much from him. I still havn't got over the shock of being, well, invited into his limo.
Without any warning, the tremor stopped. Noise in the distance began to fade. The eardrums of everyone in the limo was suddenly unused to such silence.
Everyone gave off a wavering sigh, fingers loosened from the handrail slowly & stiffly. Kaiba kicked the quake-beaten laptop away from his toes. Before anyone else could manage to release the tension that had been built up in their heartstrings, Mokuba blurted, "Are we safe now, big brother? I want to go home!"
"DRIVE!" Kaiba simply commanded and the vehicle started to move at once.
"Aww... lighter... lighter..." Mokuba was applying some kind of unknow liquid onTéa's wounds and the stinging sensation was just a bit too much for her.
Téa looked at her new surroundings: things were very simple & curt in this room. The comfy double bed she was sitting on was covered with brand new looking white sheets. Curtains welcomed a flourish of tranquil moonlight. She stared absently at the luminous cresent slightly above the middle pane of the French window while Mokuba helped her with the wounds. A familiar sensation suddenly took over her soul.
I can't seem to remember the first night when I looked upon the icy moon & feel its cool luminance light my darkest lonely hours. For years the moon had being the only nightly companion to coo me into sleep & to shower darkness away from my atrium.
On cue it hit her that she had being out the whole day & never once had she seen her home during or after the earthquake. She turned to face Mokuba who she anxiously started at for the next few minutes. Bouncing straight up after he had finished the treatment Téa was ready to leave.
Mokuba stared at Téa curiously, "why are you getting up? You need some rest."
"Thank you so much Mokuba," replied Téa, "but I have to go home now, it is enough trouble for both you and your bother."
"No," persuaded Mokuba big-eyed, "he wouldn't mind if you stayed here tonight, it's getting really dark outside and it wouldn't be safe if you left alone."
Just as he finished speaking, Kaiba came in the guest room. "Thought you'd be needing these." He mumbled indifferently. Kaiba walked passed Mokuba and Téa where he headed stright to the conjoint bathroom. As soon as he went in he came out again, not casting any look on Téa he directed himself to the door. "Mokuba, is it done?"
"Umm, Kaiba," murmured Téa nervously, "thank you for your hospitality. I wouldn't want to cause further inconvenience so may I ask if I can leave now?"
"No." He replied curtly.
Téa was getting angry at Kaiba's rudeness once more, "Why not?"
"How stupid of you to ask. You saw how bad the conditions of the roads were. What? Did you expect me to send a chopper for you to get back to your kennel as well? Not in this lifetime, nor the next, Gardner!" Grunted Kaiba impatiently as he stomped out of the room.
Téa watched him go while trying to restrain tears from pouring out. She could vaguely hear Mokuba's comforting voice saying something along the lines of "sorry", "he didn't mean it" & "you can stay here tonight and go back tomorrow".
What Téa did feel was that she never wanted to see Kaiba or enter his household again. She wished that she could dig a hole right there & then & hide inside its darkness and never come out again. Never had she been humiliated like this. Her cheeks were burning but her hands were cold. Her heart was icy. No more warmer than Seto Kaiba's. Not at that moment anyway.
Daisycutters: So my little chapter is finished, what do you think? Good? Better? Bad? Worse? Whatever you think, I'll try to get the next chapter out quicker this time.
Raigeki-Star: Thank you for your compliment. I hope that you haven't lost the interest in my story yet since I am such a slow updater!
Caeli Et Terra: Wow! You really think that my writing is this good? I don't write or read very often so I don't know what kind of stories people enjoy butI feel so proud now. Hoho getting on top of herself And hey that wasn't the ending-ending. Just one chapter, two more have being updated. See?
What the ..??: You'll find out if you keep on reading! Here's the chapter.
Sojin Jang: Thank you for your tip. You've certainly got a point. But the choice is mine, right?
Dark Hole Star!: Most of the reviews seem to agree with you but you are right. I should only listen to myself and write what I am comfortable with.
Yushi : Hoho feel less sorry for Tea now. I've given her a chance. A very BIG chance in fact.
kaji: Oh yes I am going to update alright. But your email doesn't seem to be working.
Lunar Dragon 209: Thank you thank you! You are the most enthusiatic reviewer! Love your attitude, it motivates me to write more! Hope that you are satisfied with this chapter.
belle-fille1: Hey you write not bad yourself! There are a couple of your stories that I like very much! You'll find out what happens next if you keep on reading of course! Surprises are just around the cornor. Hoho
LadySilverDragon2: Hope that you are not confused anymore. Here's my third chapter. I don't think it's half as confusing as the previous ones. Have fun reading.
Random Insane Person: You really love the way I write? Thank you so much! I love Tea too & Seto also! We have something in common so hope that you'll like this chapter!
Azurite: Oh my god, such compliment from a great authoress like you! Your "Blue Eyes and Apricots" is real cool, someone was right about it being too feminine though. And what was the heads-up thing you were talking about? o.O
Darkness Falls1: Oh dear, a few people seem to have gotten confused over the 1st chapter. Silly me. How should I make it better? Oh well, it's taken me so long to get this chapter out so revising now won't be a good idea...
Dragon Faere: Thank you! You've seriously got some idea of what this story is about. Hoho Hope you'll enjoy this chapter. Not that sad but still a little depressing. Why?! Am i a pessimistic person?
Vaz1201 and Demona: Now I am beginning to think that there are quite some reviewers supporting my couple. Yay! Search for this couple and there should enough for you to read on FF. But hey, there's quantity but not as much have quality.
Atlantis2: Really? Did I really achieve the effect of a tear jerker?! Finally I've had the chance to update in my long weekend. Yep, it is well worth the time alright! Sadly I've to say, the girl IS probably who you think it is, but wouldn't you be disappoint as well if she wasn't? In my opinion you write awesome fics as well!
Cocoa1331: Thank you for making this one of your favourites. Hope that it can continue impressing you in the future.
So everyone, bye for now. I'll be looking forward to all your reviews. I am very hungry of feedbacks right now. Until next time, see ya!
Oh and i have to give credits to Lei who has helped me with my writing. (The first part of this chapter in italics.) And also the great author H.E. Bates for a few sentences that I just can't seem to construct nicely. Hoho