Sayonara (It's goodbye),
By Winterwing3000
That ring... is hers?! Her eyes widened in realization but decreased when the thought of 'how' came to mind. The thought of how this person she barely knew could've acquired one of her own personal items. Tea stopped in her steps while Seto continued slowly down the hall before stopping himself when he saw that his guide had halted. The tall boy had on an impassive face, but raised a brow before speaking. "Anything wrong?" he asked monotonously. "No," She started to deny, but blurted out after a moment of uneasy silence. "Well, actually yes. I have a question. Where did you get that ring from?" The dancer didn't want to say that it was hers automatically. There could be thousands of the identical rings in the world and she might not have even noticed. "That would be none of your concern." He returned icily.
His previous question wasn't supposed to be responded to. He had only asked out of boredom. Seto sighed inwardly as she repeated her question. "Where did you get the ring Se--." "If you wish to address me, I prefer my surname... Gardner." The CEO sharply corrected her. Taking in a deep breath to calm her shaking nerves, she nodded. "Where did you get it, Kaiba?" Tea asked patiently. Seto narrowed his azure eyes. "As I've said before, where I received this ring it is none of your concern." Inside, Tea was fuming. Okay, things weren't as friendly with the new kid. But DID he have to butt into the middle of her sentence and ignore her queries? "Would you please just tell me?" She asked exasperatedly. Taking his silence as a no, Tea decided to put the question into another use since she knew that she was treading on thin ice. "Then could you just say yes or no to this?"
Seto looked at her for a while before his brow raised yet again, signaling to her to ask. This girl had brought on a small spark. She's got spunk even though she knows that he was losing his patience with her. When lunch break called, many females in his class walked up to him and constantly invited him to join them for lunch. When he declined them with a simple 'no' and a hard glare, they backed off like kittens meeting with a large dog. Not one decided to ask him again and all left him to his own thoughts. All of these people hadn't the nerve to question the Seto Kaiba after they were personally told to stay away from him. But she was one of the first people to ever step up and was determined to win. After all, Tea Gardner, the little girl he met what seems like centuries ago, still was a fiery and compassionate female, even though he doubted to admit that.
Tea blinked a few times to suppress the minimal shock. Calm down, she told herself. You brought this on yourself and you're going to finish it. In any case, if it is he, both of us could pick up the friendship between us once more. But what is this sickening pit growing in her stomach? Was it because she was nervous? Scared? Worried? "Okay... are you Seto Hishuoma from the orphanage of Domino City?" Tea inquired in a soft and tentative voice. Seto narrowed his sapphire eyes dangerously. Never has anyone, other than the nosy reporters, brought up his past and lived to tell about it. No, he hadn't sent his men to murder the people who know of it, he only never spoke of it to anyone. Seto had promised his younger brother and himself that the past was the past and he should look ahead into the future. To linger in the past would only bring your demise quicker than one would anticipate it. And now, here's a girl, a year or two younger than him, asking him of his past.
The brunette dancer held her breath as she waited for the answer. Tea shuddered involuntarily when she looked up and saw his eyes. They were like ice, dark blue ice that artic snow covers. Ice that equally matched, if not, overly matched his aura. What was he thinking that would turn his eyes into something so cold? Could it be that she had offended him with her question? Or was it just that he was thinking of his foster parents that had adopted him a few years ago? Who were his foster parents again? Kaiba. It was his last name, his new last name. Funny how that name rings a bell. Where had she heard it before? The DCT (Domino City Times) magazine, something about a game corporation that was changed from a military machine making company called Kaiba Industry? Kaiba Foundation? KaibaCorp? Yes, KaibaCorp. Recently changed throughout Japan after a sixteen year-old boy had taken over. But wait, a sixteen-year-old boy. And if her female instincts were right, then could the boy next to her be the Chief Executive Owner (AN: is that it? my dad tells me it is...) of the chaining company?
"I refuse to comment." Seto ground out from his clenched jaws as he saw the previous billionaire of KaibaCorp, Gozabourou Kaiba. The tormentor of his childhood, the coldest person or known better to him, the coldest family member he could have. Tea frowned at his answer. Was this guy trying to ignore her or was he trying to anger her? She had patiently questioned him and only wanted a few answers. How hard was it to understand that this was very important to her? Didn't her father once said that she was as easy to read as a book? So couldn't Seto Kaiba notice that? All she needed was one answer, a simple one-word answer. "Why? Can't you just give me the real answer? Can't you just tell that your answer hold a significance to me?" She shouldn't have sounded so desperate; it was as if she were begging on her knees. Tea bowed her head as her sapphire eyes turned glassy. Seto stood and watched as the girl lowered her head to her chest and soon droplet fell at a slow momentum onto the tiles underneath their feet.
Was this girl in such need of his answer to her haunting questions? Why was he suddenly feeling so pitiful? Was it because of their early years of acquaintance? Was it because he scared of trusting someone with his friendship? Was it because he valued their friendship that much that he needs to hide from it? From hurting the both of them if their bond should break at a point? From extinguishing someone that he really needed in his life but pretends to be opposite? Sighing inwardly, Seto kept an impassive face and said in a low baritone, "If you're that desperate for my answers, meet me after school." As the words were finished, Seto turned away and stalked off to class. The class bell echoed from the clock tower and students filed in, leaving Tea looking over a sea of heads to one specific chocolate-hair boy that stood out from the crowd.
At last, the dismissal bell rung and students noisily filed out of the classroom. Teens filtered the hallway as Tea slipped into the crowd, forcing her way to her locker. His last few words spoken to her still echoed in her mind. "If you're that desperate, meet me after school." Breaking out of the mob of students, she slipped herself in front of her locker. What did he plan for her? Was he planning to make friends again? That couldn't be possible. She replaced her shoes into her worn out, but extremely comfortable, sneakers. He has detached himself from people entirely, from the solitude that he had emitted. And it shows when he refused to work in the groups they were assigned in, telling the teacher that he was fine on his own. Was he the same old boy that she met so long ago? More importantly, how much of this new Seto did she know of? Tea sighed lightly and took out some books needed for this night's assignments.
Not much, that's for sure. She has been observing him out of the corners of her eyes and the brunette girl was pretty sure that he knew that she was watching him. It wasn't easy to keep track of what he was doing since most of the time, even though they were in the same class. He always took the back seats, in the shadows. Evidently, he proves to be the same boy that she knew many years ago from his outer appearance. The dark caramel colored hair, the midnight blue eyes, and of course, the ring that he wore around his neck. Though she swore that it used to be on his finger, but then again, his hands HAD grew larger so it wouldn't fit. His hands... she would bet anything she had that they were warm and soft as they had been when they were young, warmer and softer than his regal appearance and his callousness. The coldness that lingers around whenever she was around him. A tremor traveled up and down her spine. It was unusual for someone to be so cold without a reason and Tea highly doubted that Kaiba had any reason to be so cold to everyone.
Why was she thinking of such things anyways? It wasn't any of her business, but yet, this new Seto Kaiba wasn't easy to loose interest in. He had good looks, great body, probably a large ego, intelligent and is rich. He was most definitely rich. She had confirmed this when she took out the 4 month-old newspaper from her bag that she had accidentally took instead of her 'Princess Dairies 2' novel. During break, Tea took the liberties to read the ancient paper and saw Kaiba's name nearly on every page other than the comics and sports. His picture was there too. But with another little boy, who looked not much older than 10, who Tea presumed as Mokuba Kaiba from the brief profile on the younger Kaiba. Seto Kaiba was proven to be one of the wealthiest CEOs in the world with his corporation spread throughout many countries. One was built in the Big Apple, or New York. The place where she one day hoped to go and study dance. To dance at Julliard was her long life dream, at least at the moment. But now, that wasn't the issue. Seto Kaiba's offer was. And the only problem was should she take it. Tea was really in need of the responses to her questions but then again, Kaiba didn't look very comfortable while they were conversing on that topic. Closing her locker, Tea tied her summer jacket around her waist since the sun was beaming brightly outside.
As she walked out the white metal doors, Tea deftly skipped down the small three steps and landed on the ground, her feet not making any sound when it came in contact with the gravel floor. Taking in a deep breath of fresh air, which was better than the dusty smelling classrooms, Tea came to realize that she didn't even know where Kaiba was and where he was expecting to meet her. Maybe he had wanted to go to his house? Or meet up at a café around the block? Even her house was a possible option. Frustrated, Tea swept up her brown hair and tied it into a low ponytail with her black hair-tie. Calming down, the dancer looked around for any possibilities of finding the CEO and saw a—black Lamborghini at the gates?! What? Who would own such a car? All the teachers had their own cars in the parking lot two blocks away and the principal lives in a walk-able distance from the school. So who could own such a car? No one here is old enough to even have a driver's license. (AN: does anyone know the age where people in Japan could licenses?)
Walking up to the front gates, Tea saw no sight of Kaiba and decided to check out the car. As she drew nearer, the passenger window scrolled down to reveal a Seto Kaiba sitting in the driver's seat leaning slightly to the side and turned his head in a small angle. The brunette female just stood blinking a few times. Did he want her to get in the car? Her in that car, she never imagined that it could be possible in a million years. "Me?" She squeaked, pointing at her, dumbfounded. Seto narrowed his eyes and said gruffly, "Yes you." Hesitantly, Tea opened the door and slid into the seat, tucking her blue skirt underneath her legs and placed her bag on her lap. The brunette boy moved the shifter and pushed on the gas pedal as the passenger hastily fastened her seatbelt. Soon they speed down the quiet road, leaving many pairs of curious eyes at the school's front yard.
The whole trip had been a silent one. Tea had decided to keep quiet and concentrated on what was more important in front of her face. Where they were going. The dancer had absolutely no clue of where they were. It was positive that they were out of town and near the destination that they were supposedly going to because Tea doubted that anyone would live this far out from the city. She suppressed a yawn as she put her hand on the doorframe and propped her face on her palm. They've been traveling for nearly an hour and with nothing to do, Tea felt herself listening to the purring of the engine, her mind clear as a blank page. Seto was seldom to glance at Tea. He hadn't known why he was taking this girl to his house just to settle a small conversation about him and his past. He could've easily brushed her off during lunch and ignore her for the rest of his life, but no. His mind told him otherwise. He had to do it for something's sake, apparently hers and his. Her reason was to find out whether they were friends of the past. His reason was to rid her of her friendship, not that he wanted to, but it was for his well-being and his company's.
Seto stole a glance at Tea only to find her in a sleepy expression. Her brown bangs were gently covering the top of her eyes and her light eyes were half closed, staring out into the empty road. Her cheeks were in a healthy pink as well as her small pouted lips. He had a sudden urge to reach over and feel the soft skin on her face. Realizing what he just felt, he mentally scolded at himself and his hormones. Seto gripped onto the steering wheel tighter, his knuckles turning paler on the dark tanned skin. After another few moments of quietness, a pearl-colored side of his house came to view along with a mass of healthy-grown green trees. Speeding up just a bit over 60 mph, Seto couldn't wait to exit his car and stop himself from looking at the girl next to him.
Finally stepping onto the brakes, Seto pushed a button on his key chain and waited for the garage gates to open. Slowly, the heavy white doors slid opened vertically, revealing more expensive and famous cars parked inside. White lights turned on as the doors closed, blinding Tea for a moment before seeing purple and orange dots everywhere. Seto pulled the key out of the ignition, grabbed his briefcase from the backseats and exited the car, the dancer doing the same. Her azure eyes widened at the sight of the many rows of expensive and exotic cars. From a BMW 325 Lease to a Roll-Royce. Even the new and not out models were in the garage. "Unless you prefer to talk things here, then come with me." Seto said, smirking at her. He wasn't surprised that a girl like her would be amazed with the many convertibles and race car models that he had bought with his own money. After all, she WAS just an average commoner and he was superior to her. Tea flushed lightly before holding her head up high and walking after him.
Stepping carefully onto the carpet of the large living room, Tea looked around. Couches and loveseats took up most of the space in the middle of the room, a coffee table in the middle of it all with a chandelier above it. Three curtained windows filled each of the two rice-colored walls; the other two were doorframes leading the carpet into the other rooms. Luscious plants were taking residence at the corners of the room and tiny blossoms decorated the greenery. A complete SONY television set with stereo was sitting at the furthest wall. Seto continued his way to the door adjacent to the entertainment set and Tea took one last glance before walking quickly after him. They soon entered what seems to be a library. It was huge, if not, enormous. Elm shelves were built into the three walls and books categorized by language. Cylinders, with one-opened end, covered half of the roof with light bulbs in them. Seto stood at the nearby mahogany table, leaning on it with ankles crossed. Tea stood only a mere three feet away from him.
..Sayonara, sweet memories
It's goodbye
Sayonara, don't look back
Don't ask why ..
"So are you Seto Hishuoma?" Tea inquired softly, carefully looking into eyes that mirrored her own. "If I were?" Seto said coolly, crossing his arms against his chest. "Then I would welcome you back to Domino." She replied. "And if I weren't?" He gave her a stem glared, a challenging look. "Then I would ask where you bought that ring that you were around your neck." The brunette girl dared back, her confidence growing by bits and pieces. "Am I to refuse to answer you?" The CEO said in a low and threatening tone. "You won't. If you do, then I will tell you." Tea bit back at him. Though not showing his shock, inside, Seto was. No one other than his late adoptive father would have said such thing. No one else would've snapped back at him with such fierceness and determination. A smirk quirked at the end of his lips as his facial expression darkens. "Would you?" Seto started to circle around her, inspecting her in every possible angle. Tea visibly gulped as she felt his eyes dangerously examining her body. She felt as if a leopard was chasing her. "Y-yes, I would and I should since you're a coward not to admit it yourself."
..The time to come will come
And you will go alone
Keep to your heart
Sayonara ..
"Oh? A coward am I? But I am not the one trembling from head to toe, now am I? It seems to me that it is the exact opposite and that I have the upper hand. So answer me again, would you dare to tell me?" Seto said tauntingly, his eyes narrowed in sick amusement. Gathering some courage from the belief that it was he, Tea nodded. "You're just hiding behind denial Kaiba. Every time I say that name, something always come to your eyes. And I bet you're wondering what. It's hatred; it's fear and darkness fused together." Seto snorted. Fear? This girl was talking nonsense. If he were who he was back at the orphanage, he would agree with her. His fear for being separated with this little brother, the fear that clings onto him like Mokuba. But now, he was different. He was a new person; no longer was he the weakling at the hellhole that he had to call home for the past five or six years of his life. He holds no fear for whatsoever in his mind. This Kaiba fears nothing as long as he has what he needs, which is easy to acquire with only a small price.
..And so my friend
Now it must end
Now you are grown
I can't stay on
Think of the memories we've known ..
"You can't keep running from the truth Seto. It would only give you and I even more pain. So why don't you just admit it. Acknowledge the truth and let us be friends again! Even since you've left, I've been hoping and wondering each day if you think of me as I you. I've been wishing to talk to you, longing to see you. Is it really that hard to accept your childhood friend after only a few years?" Tea said, her eyes welled up with unshed tears. "You have my ring for proof and the pictures of you're little brother, Mokuba. Even the card locket around your neck is recognizable. Are you are you and I am me." Seto's sapphire eyes slanted. "I'm not the same boy you knew. I'm not hiding in the past like you. I'm looking ahead into the future, not staying and hoping for a miracle. That's an old memory that I've banished from my mind. It would only be a disadvantage to my success. And I can't afford to be your friend so just give up this friendship between us.
..Carefully feeling your way
You're getting stronger each day
How can I find words to say
I'll miss you ..
"You are the one who is in denial. You are the one who doubts me for what I am today and not back then. I don't have time for friendship nor do I need one. The Seto Hishuoma you once knew is now an old memory to the world. If you leave the past alone, it would be for the better. From now on, there would be nothing between us and there never would be something between us. We've chosen different paths a long time ago and we've walked out with out decisions. So now, are you satisfied? You've got your answers and I would like you to leave my business to myself. I do not need another person to interfere with my life. What I need is what I have and what I will gain." The CEO said, turning to face her. By now, Tea's eyes were filled with tears and slowly they rolled down her cheeks. Never in her life did she ever felt this hurt. Sure there were times when she remembered her father that had left her with her mother. But he would always ensure her safety and happiness by calling ever month or so.
..Sayonara, sweet memories
It's goodbye
Sayonara, don't look back
Don't ask why ..
However, this was different.
It was as if her heart had been shattered. Tea felt for once, emotionally rejected. She felt lost in the sea of depression and grief. When did he become so harsh, so cruel and ruthless? When did he become inconsiderate of her feelings, of their relationship? Why hadn't she just forgotten about him so that she could've spared herself from this hurt? Her arms trembled as Tea drew herself into a hug of small security. She felt small in the room with him, under his menacing stare. When did she lose the sense of protection? More importantly, why did she lose the sense of protection? This felt different from the many times when other people rejected her. But why? For whatever reason did she become so insecure? Was it because of him? Was it because he broke her heart with such agonizing words? Wiping the tears with the corner of her pink sleeve, Tea tried to calm herself down.
..The time to come will come
And you will go alone
Keep to your heart
Saynara ..
Crying wasn't going to solve anything. She needed to accept the facts that things change. That people change as time passes. So they can't be friends how different was that? However, it wasn't that they can't be but it was that he doesn't want to be. Just because of his selfish reasons. Just for his benefits. Just for what he sees fit. He didn't care what she thought of it because she was a fool. A fool to believe that they could be friends even though she could see with the human eye that he had changed. A fool to deem that he could still be a friend to her after loosing contact with each other. Tea's lament ceased after coming to one conclusion. They weren't meant to be friends. They just met by chance, by Fate. The dry humorous Fate had decided to twine her life with his and then ruin it, just for they own sense of pleasure.
..Carefully feeling your way
You're getting stronger each day
How can I find words to say
I'll miss you ..
So now, she had a decision to make.
"Well, I guess this is goodbye huh?" Tea mumbled as she took a calming breath. "Hn." He said nonchalantly. Seto had watched the wretched girl weep her whole heart out. At the moment that he had looked at her, the brunette boy saw something inside her eyes break. Seto pitied the girl. She was just wasting tears on a silly friendship that wasn't needed, at least not just yet. Okay, he admits. He didn't pity her. He was breaking into pieces inside just to see her like this. So wounded inside and out. Tea looked like a baby bird that had broken its wing during flight. Her determination, her flare, her glow had disappeared at the very second he said those things. Seto didn't want to, but he needed to for their sake, for his company's sake. That was more important than her. He knows it himself. Power of business and publicity was what he needed the most right? Didn't the original owner of KC teach him that? "Then I think we should start from the beginning." She said.
..Sayonara, sweet memories
It's goodbye
Sayonara, don't look back
Don't ask why ..
Seto knew the true meaning behind this. She wanted them to act as if they never knew each other, to start over and erase the old memories from their lives. He tilted his head a bit to acknowledge this. Tea gave him a small-saddened smile before extending her hand to him. "I'm Tea Gardner. It's nice to meet you." Reluctantly Seto took her hand and shook it, saying, "Seto Kaiba. Likewise." The quick handshake ended as they lapsed into another pregnant silence. Sighing inwardly, he reached up to the tiny ring and yanked the binding off his neck. Seto clenched the small reminder in his hand and then shoved it in her face, unclasping his grasp around the small jewelry. "Yours now I believe." He said coldly, waiting for her to take it from him. Tea looked uncertainly at the golden ring in his palm before covering her pale soft hand over his rough tanned fingers. Seto's eyes widened a small fraction, staring into those sea blue-grieving eyes. "No." She said softly with hardness in the back. "No," Tea repeated and continued in a sterner tone. "You keep it. Keep it and treasure it as you did."
..The time to come will come
And you will go alone
Keep your heart
Sayonara... ..
"Thank you for your friendship of the past Kaiba. I hope that one day we could be friends once more." Tea said, giving him a hopeful smile before removing her hands from his and turned around. A fresh bash of tears washed up to her eyes and fell quietly, darting down to the carpet as she walked to the door. Seto wanted to reach out and draw her into an embrace but thought better of it. He had recommended that they should split up and she had decided that they should start anew. The boy gripped tightly onto the little ring, hand trembling. The girl clung onto the last memory that she had of him.
"Sayonara, sweet memories. It's goodbye... "
AN: Ahh! The chapter that many people wanted has been made and updated! So how was this? A little over dramatic? Or was it just ooc? I figured that Seto was a tiny off and Tea a bit over drastic. And basically, this was an angst chapter to end the whole thing. Song's from Galaxy Express 999 and usual/legal disclaimers apply. But tell me what you think of it! Comments or constructive criticism welcomed!
Crystal Koneko: I'm sorry that it was an evil cliffie to the last chapter, but this might be the last chapter to this story, so the longer the review, the more I might consider writing a sequel to it. Deal?
KeikoGurl: Tampering with Seto's and Anzu's past? Well, to be truthful, we don't really know much of their childhood aside from Seto being from an orphanage after his parents died and being adopted by Gozabourou after staying there for a few years. For Anzu's past, it's liked a dark cloud that stays in the sky but never leaves a drop of rain onto the earth. It's just mysterious and undefined that I had a sudden URGE to write it for her. However, I'm not planning to include their appearances in the Egyptian past since in the USA dub version of Yugioh hasn't even reached the end of Battle Royal/Duel Tower. Of course Azureshipping is the best! I support it all the way! Lol... bad things follow if I don't update? Highly impossible, I'm the best at ruining people's lives and I consider it my job. Anyways, review?
Maze of Illusions: Again with the evil cliffhangers, I just love them, don't you? And thank you for the praise. Talents for writing these types of fics could be awaken by anyone, so maybe you should think about writing your own, ne? Anyways, thanks for liking everything in the story. It really made me spend a lot of brains cells to generate such a short and odd fic like this. Be sure to leave me a comment or anything!
unknown: Wow, I'm surprised that nearly everybody hated my cliffhanger! Well, not exactly 'hate' but think that it's evil or had some sort of badness to it. But it has significance to the story, like a glimmer of hope. And thank you too for the honor! I've seem to lost touch on this story since I'm constantly busy with two chapter stories and new ideas that just come to mind. And as you've seen yourself, I'm not planning to stop till now. It started out as a one shot, but I decided to give it a shot and wrap it up in a clean way. I might consider of using your idea, that is if I wanna write more in the future that is .
And thanks to all of the others who reviewed! Stay tuned while I weigh the possibilities of a sequel to this story!