"Say what?" Yami was taken back. He and Tea had never spoke to each other for quite some time. There was still some thought that he had cheated on her. But then again, there could be another side to the story. Right now, his emotions were hard to tell.
"I'm pregnant." Tea stood, not moving an inch. Seeing Yami brought back hard memories." I know you chose not to talk to me ever since that Halloween incident. I can understand that. I just came here to tell you that." She then turned around, stuffing her hands in her pockets, making her way to the sidewalk.
Suddenly, the same nauseated feeling came over. The force to vomit rose in her throat. She felt weak as she fell to her knees, vomiting on the sidewalk.
"Tea," Yami made his way towards her, wrapping his arms around her. "It's ok Tea. Just let it out."
Tears streaked down Tea's face. Yami must've noticed it as he used his fingers to wipe away her tears. There they sat on the sidewalk gazing into the dark roads. There weren't any streetlights for blocks around. All was silent except for the heavy breathing from Tea.
"How did you find me?" he whispered.
"I called Kaiba…" Tea looked down at the sidewalk, on the mess she had made.
Yami grinned at that thought before resting his head on hers.
"Are you still mad at me?" Tea's voice tensed as she felt tears threatening to break free once more.
"How could I be mad you?" Yami whispered. "I know that it wasn't your fault. Those fucking bastards, Bakura and Marik…"
Tea had cut him off. "I'm so sorry Yami. I could've easily fought off Bakura but I was drugged that night…"
Yami turned Tea around, gazing down at her like how a father would do for his child. He then leaned forward and gave her a soft, quick, passionate kiss. He hated it when she felt sorry for herself. Actually, he couldn't stand it when his friends feel sorry for themselves. His voice seemed a bit harsh and demanding, but firm nonetheless. He cupped Tea's chin. "Don't apologize ever again---for anything." He then helped Tea up off of the sidewalk, his voice sinking back to its calm state. "C'mon, let's get you in the house."
They both made their way back inside the house, Yami's arm wrapped around her waist. They entered the living room, sitting on the couch. Yugi came into the living room with a cup of tea, handing it to Tea who eagerly took it.
"I don't wanna pry on why you two have been apart for so long," Yugi started off the conversation. "But I just had to ask…what made you come back Tea?"
Tea gazed at the floor trying to think of a way to explain it to Yugi. Finally, she just blurted it out. "I'm pregnant."
Yugi smiled. "Wow. That's great Tea. You both are gonna be parents and soon and…"
"Yugi, stop." Said Tea.
"What's wrong Tea?" Yugi tilted his head to the side. "Was it something I said?"
"It's just…" she looked up at Yami before turning her gaze towards Yugi. "Yami might not be the father."
"What does that s'posed to mean?" Yugi was getting confused. Yami remained silent, gazing out at the window, not paying attention to either Yugi or Tea but seemed to be immersed in the conversation.
She sighed sadly, her hands shaking so badly, she had nearly spilled her tea.
"Maybe you should tell him." Said Yami, his back facing towards them, his eyes gazing out the window.
"Tell me what?" Yugi looked up at Yami.
Tea took in a deep breath. "There was an incident on Halloween night. Bakura had asked me to join him in the balcony. So I decided to go along with him. He's my friend…our friend…or that's what I thought. Suddenly, after I drank the wine he gave me, I started feeling weird. I just had this need to get it on with someone. Yami was pushed out of my mind and there was Bakura. Pretty soon, we did it. Bakura didn't seem himself though. It was that stupid shadow inside of him. And then…Yami…" she couldn't take it anymore as tears dripped down from her face. Yugi reached his hand out to Tea, pulling her close, trying to comfort her.
"The scene was rather bizarre. Bakura stood there while she just laid there plastered." Said Yami.
"You didn't have to give away the details. She's already had enough." Yugi glared at Yami, still holding Tea."
"I'm just a bit worried that it wouldn't be my kid. If it turns out to be Bakura's kid…" he didn't say no more.
"You're gonna leave me?" Tea asked in a shrill voice, breaking away from Yugi's hold.
"Whoa," Yugi looked up at his friend. "Take it easy Tea. Yami isn't going to leave you."
"What's going on?" a gruff voice called out. Yugi's grandpa, with his robe slowly made his way down the stairs. "It's already past one."
"Nothing grandpa." Yugi smiled, nervously racing towards the stairs. "Yami and Tea decided to sleepover and had a bit of trouble with the kitchen."
"Oh?" Yugi's grandpa squinted at Tea. "Hey Tea. How have you been?"
"Pretty good actually." Tea smiled.
"C'mon grandpa." Yugi helped his grandpa back up the stairs. "Let's get you back to bed." He then turned to the two. "Where do you two wanna sleep?"
"Why don't we just sleep in the same room?" Tea suggested.
"Suit yourself," Yugi replied. "I'll sleep on the floor, you and Yami could sleep on the bed."
"Forget it." Said Yami. "We'll sleep outside."
"Outside?" Tea looked up at Yami, who still gazed out at the window.
"Are you sure about that?" Yugi looked down at them.
"I'm sure." Yami looked up at Yugi. Get my shirt in the room." Yugi nodded as he made his way up the stairs.
Tea looked up at Yami who seemed to be staring back at her. "Why are we going outside?"
"Don't ask anymore questions." Said Yami, leaning against the wall. Suddenly, Yugi came back down the stairs, tossing Yami a blanket and his shirt. Before going back up the stairs, he whispered to Tea.
"Don't mind Yami. He's been like this since Halloween." He then disappeared in his room leaving the two alone in the living room.
Yami took Tea by the wrist, whispering. "Come. Let me show you something." Putting on his shirt, he took the blanket in one hand and Tea in the other, he slowly led her to the backyard, the cold air surrounding them. The full moon casted its light in the backyard. There are a few trees surrounding the area. Between two trees was a hammock that swung slightly from the night breeze.
"Yami…" Tea eyed the hammock. He led her to the hammock, climbing in first before helping Tea get on. Tea rested herself next to Yami, her head nuzzled against his chest. She felt Yami's fingers caressing her hair.
"My love…" he watched Tea fall asleep in his arms. "My wife."
Nine Months Later…
Months had passed by. Tea's stomach had swelled up into the size of a basketball. Everyday, she felt nauseated and had vomited every morning.
Now days, she would lie on the bed or go in the park with Yami. Practically everyday, she would feel weak and have no appetite.
One night, the two watched a late-night movie on t.v while Yugi and his grandpa went out to Ginza. A sudden feeling controlled Tea. She quickly got up but couldn't move, collapsing to the floor, holding the arm rest of the sofa with one hand and her stomach with the other hand, vomiting right onto the carpet.
She heard the t.v being turned off, the room lighted up from the lamp. Yami looked down at Tea from behind, wiping up her vomit with a rag, tossing it in the trashcan.
"Stay here." He said, hugging her for a second before going up the stairs. He then returned with a pillow, blanket, and bucket. Placing these on the floor, he then made his way to the kitchen only to come back with a glass of water. Handing her the glass, Tea took it but her hand started shaking so badly. Yami then grabbed her wrist gently, as if to stop her.
"Tilt your head back. Tea tilted her head back. Cupping her hand in one hand, he used his free hand to slowly pour in the water inside her mouth. Tea rinsed her mouth, spitting it into the bucket. She did this several times before finally drinking the rest down. Yami laid her down on the floor, covering themselves with the blanket. Yami wrapped his arms around her, surprised to feel the baby kick.
"Yami?" Tea's voice called out in the air.
"What is it?
"If the baby isn't yours, would you leave me?" she asked in a childish voice with a hint of fear.
"It doesn't matter if I'm not the real father," he whispered. "I won't leave you our child." He slowly got up to turn off the lamp, come back and kiss his wife.
It was almost six in the morning when Yami woke up to a startled scream. He looked down at Tea, who held her stomach.
"The baby…" she started to say. "I think it's coming."
Yami nodded, getting up. He grabbed his car keys from the kitchen table.
Yami, what's going on?" Yugi lowered the newspaper looking up at Yami.
"Yugi? How long were you here?"
Since 4a.m. Woke up kind early and here I am.
"Well, I think the baby's ready to…you know."
"I'll drive." Yugi took the car keys from Yami's hand. "Someone has to watch Tea in case she might get a contraction." Soon, Yami got inside the back of the car with Tea laying on his lap. Yugi got in the driver's seat, starting up the car. Luckily, the hospital was about five minutes away. Finally, they reached the hospital as Yugi parked right in front of the entrance.
Yami turned around, gazing at the couple. "You've guys just go. I'll park the car and call the others."
Yami nodded, helping Tea out of the car. They rushed into the hospital, Yami holding Tea's hand throughout the way. Unfortunately, Tea felt weak, falling to her knees on the floor, holding her stomach, groaning in pain.
"Tea." Yami knelt before her, his eyes darting around. "Where's the doctor? Somebody get a doctor quick!"
Soon, a few doctors flocked in while one brought in a wheelchair. Yami helped Tea up, sitting her on the wheelchair. He then followed behind the doctors to one of the hospital rooms. The doctors laid her on the bed, getting a few tools out.
"All right miss," one of the doctors looked down at Tea, placing on his mask and gloves. "It should take a little over 15 hours for the process. Just take it slow and breathe."
"Start breathing kid." Another doctor called out. Tea started pushing, breathing heavily. Yami sat on the chair beside her, holding her hand, hoping to comfort her.
The agonizing hours pass by. Sweat rolled down Tea's forehead, her face turning red. Finally, in the sixteenth hour had come by. "I think we've got a head." The doctor looked up at his assistant before turning back to Tea. "Don't worry Tea, just take a couple more breaths and it'll be done."
"Just a few more," whispered Yami, who still held Tea's hand. Suddenly, a loud baby's cry sounded off in the room. The doctor's washed off the baby with a small hose and sliced off the cord.
"Well congratulations," said the doctor. "You know have a baby girl."
"That's great." Yami smiled.
"Doctor," one of the nurses called out as she checked the monitor. "The patient isn't responding."
"Say what?" the doctor examined the life monitor, then to Tea. He saw the lines on the monitor going up every 15 seconds.
"What's going on?" Yami looked up at Tea, who just laid on the bed, not moving. "Tea? Tea?" he started shaking her slightly, worried that she wouldn't wake up.
"Sir," the doctor approached him. "We ask that you would leave the room for a while."
"But…but…Tea…" Yami started to say.
"Look, we don't know what's wrong with her right now. We'll try to revive her. I'll get back to you once we find out what's wrong with her."
Reluctantly, Yami stood up, looking down at Tea. He then leaned towards her, kissing her on the forehead before leaving the room, making his way to the lobby.
"Hey Yami, how did it go?"
Huh?" Yami looked up seeing Yugi, Tristan, Joey, Serenity and Li hanging out in the lobby. "Oh…the baby came, it's a girl."
"Aw, that's so cute." Serenity gushed.
"Why such a long face Yami?" a familiar voice called out.
"What the?" Yami whirled his head around, trying to figure out who said that. He then turned his gaze to the one reading the newspaper.
"Oh c'mon," Tristan snatched the paper away. "At least be a friend and congratulate Yami on having a new kid."
"Bakura?" Yami was shocked to see him here. After all this time, he had never forgiven Bakura for what he had done to Tea. He knew that Bakura was disguising himself, concealing his dark side.
"Why yes," Bakura looked at Yami strangely. "I would be very cruel to not be here for my friend on this very special day."
Yami clenched his fist as the two stared at each other. He then turned to the others. "Tea didn't really wake up after she had given birth. At first, the doctors thought she just passed out but now they don't know."
"Oh no." Serenity was shocked.
Li placed his hand on her shoulder. "Don't worry. Tea will be fine."
It was finally 9:17 in the evening. The doctor had approached Yami. His fingers running through his hair, silent for a moment or so before finally speaking.
"Tea appears to have some serious stomach problems which aren't an after effect of giving birth but mostly caused by an overdose of stress. Usually, stress is one of the factors for getting such problems with your body."
"Will she be okay?" Yami blurted out.
"That, I'm not so sure. The doctors have been trying to revive her but she doesn't seem to show some signs of consciousness."
"Oh my God…" Serenity leaned against Li.
"If you want, you can visit her," the doctor then took out his gloves.
"Yeah," Tristan went past the doctor. "Why don't we visit her right now?" the rest followed behind him. They made their way down the halls, finding Tea's room. There she was, laying there, almost lifeless, an IV bag attached to her arm. There was a monitor that still showed the same vital signs as how it was earlier.
"Tea!" Serenity cried out, almost in tears. She rushed to her side, shaking her violently. Almost in such hysteria, Li had to pull Serenity back, embracing her, trying to calm her.
"Take it easy sis," Joey sat on one of the chairs. "She'll be fine. The doctors didn't say anything about her dying."
"The doc said something about Tea getting problems because of stress." Said Tristan.
"You can just wonder how she got that stress." Said Bakura, glancing towards Yami.
"What the hell does that s'posed to mean Bakura?" Yami returned that stare back to his ex-friend Bakura.
"Well," Bakura smiled. "It's just that poor Tea had to suffer so much because you forced her to go back home ever since that incident."
Incident?" Joey looked up at the two. "What incident?"
"That doesn't really matter." Bakura simply smiled. "I'm not sure who would it hurt more. Yami or Tea."
"I don't see what's so funny about that." Li looked up at Bakura.
"Sorry, it's just…well…"Bakura scratched his head. "I try to prevent myself from crying by making jokes."
"Yeah?" Li replied. "Try to come up with other jokes next time."
Yami sat on a chair beside Tea, holding her hand in his before caressing his face with her hand. Yugi sat on the edge of Tea's bed, looking her over, not really saying anything.
"Well guys, I'll be going." Bakura waved slightly.
"What's the rush?" Joey looked up at his friend.
"Well, there are things that I have to deal with," he then opened the door. "But I'll stop by tomorrow." He then took one last look at Tea before closing the door behind him.
Yami watched Bakura leave. He then looked up at the rest, surprised that they were all staring at him.
"All right Yami." Tristan had his arms crossed over his chest. "What's up with you and Bakura?"
"Yeah," Joey looked up at Yami. You seem pretty jumpy ever since Bakura showed up in the hospital."
"Look," Yami clenched his fist, looking up at Yugi for a moment before finally speaking. "It's just that I don't trust Bakura anymore. It looks like none of us could keep the silence any longer." He the went on to tell them about Bakura's plan to drug Tea a few years back and the Halloween incident.
"Oh shit." Serenity couldn't believe it.
"I bet it's that stupid shadow that's doing this to him." Tristan pounded his fist on the wall.
"You got it wrong Tristan." Yami still held Tea's hand. "The shadow is him."
"This is bad…real bad." Li looked down at Tea. "Not only for Tea but for Yami as well."
"Excuse me," the nurse peeked in. "Visiting hours are over."
"When can we come back?" Serenity looked up at the doctor like a child.
"Well, visiting hours start at 10 in the morning to midnight." The nurse replied. "Right now, the patient needs her rest."
Serenity gazed up at Li, who did all he can to assure her that everything would be all right. She rested against him, a bit shaken up.
Yami approached Serenity, placing a hand on her shoulder. "She won't die Serenity…"
"Huh?" Serenity looked up at Yami. Li stepped back to let her have this rather personal conversation.
"She won't die." Yami looked down at Joey's sister, hugging her. "I know that. We all know she's been through a lot and managed to hold on. The death of her parents, the time she was kidnapped. She'll get through this."
"You're right Yami." Serenity smiled weakly.
"Besides," he forced a smile. "We'll come back tomorrow. We'll all come back."
"Thanks Yami…" Serenity smiled.
The clock struck 2 in the morning, the room dark, the only light came from the full moon that shone through the window.
The door slowly opened as one man in a long black jacket with dark sunglasses and black clothing. Another wore a cloak as they approached Tea.
"Well Bakura," Marik handed him the millennium rod. "It's your show. You call the shots."
"There's no need for the millennium rod." Bakura replied, taking a seat beside Tea. With his thumb, he made a small cross on her forehead. He then used that hand to tilt her head back, the other wrapping around her neck. Softly, he chanted a few ancient words and suddenly, a dark aura surged through his arm and into her body. A soft moan escaped from her. Her eyes opened though instead of showing life, it showed of the undead.
"Her friends should be easily fooled if she disguised herself as the bitch she always was."
"She will betray Yami." Smirked Bakura.
"And what of the child?"
"Well, she's inherited the physical traits from both Yami and I but there is one thing she had definitely inherited.
"And what would that be?" Marik wondered. Bakura smirked, leaning towards Marik, whispering something in his ear. Marik's lip curled into a twisted grin. "So, a child prodigy huh?
The next morning, Tea sat up on the bed feeling confused, dazed, as if she got out of a headache. Minutes pass by as Yami, Yugi, Serenity, Li, and the nurse came in, the nurse caring for the baby.
"Tea!" Serenity cheered over and over as she ran to Tea's side, hugging her. "You're ok after all. Oh I knew it so. I just knew it!"
Tea smiled, hugging her friend back. "So it is…" she said calmly. Yami sat on heir bed, kissing his wife on the forehead. The nurse handed Tea their new daughter.
"So what's her name?" Yami stroked Tea's cheek, glancing at Serenity who hopped off the bed to stay with Li.
Tea smiled, gazing down at their child. "Miyako…"
Yami smiled. "It's a beautiful name." He then noticed Yugi staring at Tea quite suspiciously. "Yugi, is anything wrong?"
Everyone started to stare at Yugi strangely, especially Yami. Finally, he got up and the two went out the door.
"All right Yugi, what is it?"
"Yami, Tea doesn't seem like herself. When she looked at me, I thought I sensed something evil. I think something happened to Tea."
"Well, we have to keep an eye on it now don't we?"
~*To Be Concluded*~
~*PREVIEW (not spoiler): On the final chapter, death gives off a sudden kiss giving death a whole new twist to its name as five characters meet up at an apartment roof one late night.
~*That's all you'll know for now.*~