* * *
Tea tried to subtly pass her self as a nail-chewing addict as she pushed her fingers through her lips to scratch her teeth. They always itched like crazy whenever she had too much sugar. The irritated enamel spread from her front teeth, to the back. She began to grind her teeth roughly, the tingling slowly lessening.
A sudden tap on the shoulder sent her jumping. Tea spun around and saw Kaiba with his usual grimace. She wondered if her was born with that face or it got stuck like that along the way. With as sigh, she pressed her hand to her heart and looked at him. "Kaiba! You scared me half to death!"
"Mm? Maybe I should do that again?" He snickered as he sat down.
"Ha-ha. Very funny, Seto Kaiba!" She noticed several napkins spread across Kaiba's side of the table with doodles of structures. "What are those? Are you making a new Kaiba Corps. building?"
He shook his head. "No. I'm thinking of designing a new amusement park when I get back to Domino."
"Another one? Wait a minute! You're going back?" Tea tried to keep in the note of disappointment from seeping into her voice.
"Yes. I'm just temporarily staying here until I'm sure that this Kaiba Corps. will run successfully without me. I'd then return to Domino with Mokuba to tend to the first one."
"And when will this be?"
"In a year or so. I'm still making plans. "He exhaled sharply and combed back his hair. Suddenly, he looked a lot older and tired. Even his rough, ice eyes had lost its edge.
"A year, huh?" repeated Tea, trying not to sound displeased. "That's a short while."
He shrugged as he massaged his tender neck.
"Are you sore?" Tea seemed concerned.
"Yes. I think I'm sure that occurs when a certain 18-year old girl happens to be riding on your back while choking and squeezing you." He shot an irate look.
"Hehe," Tea looked sheepish. "Sorry 'bout that."
He scowled as he turned his gaze towards the window. "Looks like the rain is stopping. If we hurry, we can make it to my place in time before it starts up again."
"Really? Yes!!!" Tea looked extremely happy about going out, why, Kaiba hadn't the faintest idea until it hit him.
"Oh no you aren't!"
"What?"
"You just want another ride!" He frowned. "Sorry to burst your bubble, but I have a feeling I don't want to be a hunchback the rest of my life!"
She pouted. "But how will I walk . . . ?"
"There's something called feet, as you recall, and you don't have to wear shoes to use them! Besides, couldn't you just break off the other shoe to make it even?"
Tea wrinkled her nose in thought. "I did think of it . . . a few minutes after I gave them away."
Kaiba rolled his eyes. "What is it with you and charity?"
"I don't know. It's just fun! You have to be a little generous to people who don't share the amount of wealth you have. You should try it."
He crossed his arms. "I think I did, considering you donated my clothing for me."
Tea reddened. "Uh . . . Let's hurry and go before the rain gets harder. C'mon!" Without further ado, she jumped and proceeded to the exit.
Kaiba sighed. "I guess that means I'm left with the bill . . ."
* * *
In unison, the thickening raindrops smashed against the wet concrete. Tea and Kaiba tiptoed across the sidewalk, gingerly stepping in the cold puddles. Heavy mist was woven into the atmosphere, making it hard to see anything a few yards ahead. Without much of a choice, Kaiba dodged into the shelter of a narrow green awning and grabbed Tea in it.
They watched others struggle to keep up with the crowd, or get a taxi. Some tried to shield themselves with briefcases or newspapers. Kaiba never thought that he'd be in the place he was in now, cold, and wet with no proper clothing.
He was snapped right back into reality when Tea began to press herself against him. He noticed that the shade was too thin and it would be impossible for two grown people to squeeze under unless they were squashed together.
Reluctantly, he allowed her in by making room and leaving part of him out in the rain. It still, was of no use, so he tried by slowly putting his arm around her waist.
Tea's teeth chattered from the cold, and from the idea of Kaiba holding her, which, she secretly thought, was pretty sweet. So then, she too, cooperated and linked arms around her neck so that they were both safe from the water. It was very strange, but at least she wasn't soaked and had his body heat to warm her up.
In their position, it seemed as if they were ready to do a dance. A slow one maybe. Vivid thoughts of ballroom dancing with the regal Seto Kaiba made Tea giggle. Though it was funny, a slow blush creeped across her cheeks. She dismissed the thought and wondered about dinner.
Meanwhile, Kaiba was beating himself up mentally, because of what they were doing. 'Just wait,' he told Tea in his mind. 'I'll be the toughest boss you'd ever had!'
But soon, their minds both drifted on the same subject as they were in an awkward state of silence while embracing one another. Never, in a million years, had they dreamed of this moment in rainy New York huddling under a canvass covering, and more importantly, with each other.
* * *
Really sorry it took awhile! I wrote this chapter a hundred times before I felt like I got it right. If it's not up to your expectation, then I apologize and will ::sigh:: re-write it. Please review!
Summonedskull007
Tea tried to subtly pass her self as a nail-chewing addict as she pushed her fingers through her lips to scratch her teeth. They always itched like crazy whenever she had too much sugar. The irritated enamel spread from her front teeth, to the back. She began to grind her teeth roughly, the tingling slowly lessening.
A sudden tap on the shoulder sent her jumping. Tea spun around and saw Kaiba with his usual grimace. She wondered if her was born with that face or it got stuck like that along the way. With as sigh, she pressed her hand to her heart and looked at him. "Kaiba! You scared me half to death!"
"Mm? Maybe I should do that again?" He snickered as he sat down.
"Ha-ha. Very funny, Seto Kaiba!" She noticed several napkins spread across Kaiba's side of the table with doodles of structures. "What are those? Are you making a new Kaiba Corps. building?"
He shook his head. "No. I'm thinking of designing a new amusement park when I get back to Domino."
"Another one? Wait a minute! You're going back?" Tea tried to keep in the note of disappointment from seeping into her voice.
"Yes. I'm just temporarily staying here until I'm sure that this Kaiba Corps. will run successfully without me. I'd then return to Domino with Mokuba to tend to the first one."
"And when will this be?"
"In a year or so. I'm still making plans. "He exhaled sharply and combed back his hair. Suddenly, he looked a lot older and tired. Even his rough, ice eyes had lost its edge.
"A year, huh?" repeated Tea, trying not to sound displeased. "That's a short while."
He shrugged as he massaged his tender neck.
"Are you sore?" Tea seemed concerned.
"Yes. I think I'm sure that occurs when a certain 18-year old girl happens to be riding on your back while choking and squeezing you." He shot an irate look.
"Hehe," Tea looked sheepish. "Sorry 'bout that."
He scowled as he turned his gaze towards the window. "Looks like the rain is stopping. If we hurry, we can make it to my place in time before it starts up again."
"Really? Yes!!!" Tea looked extremely happy about going out, why, Kaiba hadn't the faintest idea until it hit him.
"Oh no you aren't!"
"What?"
"You just want another ride!" He frowned. "Sorry to burst your bubble, but I have a feeling I don't want to be a hunchback the rest of my life!"
She pouted. "But how will I walk . . . ?"
"There's something called feet, as you recall, and you don't have to wear shoes to use them! Besides, couldn't you just break off the other shoe to make it even?"
Tea wrinkled her nose in thought. "I did think of it . . . a few minutes after I gave them away."
Kaiba rolled his eyes. "What is it with you and charity?"
"I don't know. It's just fun! You have to be a little generous to people who don't share the amount of wealth you have. You should try it."
He crossed his arms. "I think I did, considering you donated my clothing for me."
Tea reddened. "Uh . . . Let's hurry and go before the rain gets harder. C'mon!" Without further ado, she jumped and proceeded to the exit.
Kaiba sighed. "I guess that means I'm left with the bill . . ."
* * *
In unison, the thickening raindrops smashed against the wet concrete. Tea and Kaiba tiptoed across the sidewalk, gingerly stepping in the cold puddles. Heavy mist was woven into the atmosphere, making it hard to see anything a few yards ahead. Without much of a choice, Kaiba dodged into the shelter of a narrow green awning and grabbed Tea in it.
They watched others struggle to keep up with the crowd, or get a taxi. Some tried to shield themselves with briefcases or newspapers. Kaiba never thought that he'd be in the place he was in now, cold, and wet with no proper clothing.
He was snapped right back into reality when Tea began to press herself against him. He noticed that the shade was too thin and it would be impossible for two grown people to squeeze under unless they were squashed together.
Reluctantly, he allowed her in by making room and leaving part of him out in the rain. It still, was of no use, so he tried by slowly putting his arm around her waist.
Tea's teeth chattered from the cold, and from the idea of Kaiba holding her, which, she secretly thought, was pretty sweet. So then, she too, cooperated and linked arms around her neck so that they were both safe from the water. It was very strange, but at least she wasn't soaked and had his body heat to warm her up.
In their position, it seemed as if they were ready to do a dance. A slow one maybe. Vivid thoughts of ballroom dancing with the regal Seto Kaiba made Tea giggle. Though it was funny, a slow blush creeped across her cheeks. She dismissed the thought and wondered about dinner.
Meanwhile, Kaiba was beating himself up mentally, because of what they were doing. 'Just wait,' he told Tea in his mind. 'I'll be the toughest boss you'd ever had!'
But soon, their minds both drifted on the same subject as they were in an awkward state of silence while embracing one another. Never, in a million years, had they dreamed of this moment in rainy New York huddling under a canvass covering, and more importantly, with each other.
* * *
Really sorry it took awhile! I wrote this chapter a hundred times before I felt like I got it right. If it's not up to your expectation, then I apologize and will ::sigh:: re-write it. Please review!
Summonedskull007
