In the morning, Seto woke up to see Tea cuddled in his arms. Smiling, he then got up. Yet, an arm was still under Tea.
"I need arm back." He whispered as he tried to pull his arm out from under her. He turned her over and his arm was free.
He crept out of her room and closed the door.
Unusual, Sofia's not up He looked at his watch and read 8:30. He turned and headed to the grandmother's room.
"Sofia?"
Inside the room, Seto saw Tea's grandmother in bed. He walked over to her and noticed that she was very pale. His stomach dropped. Oh no Touching her neck, Seto felt no pulse against her cold skin.
Tea will be devastated...
You're in a better place now, my friend He said with respect.
He quietly walked out of her room and saw that Tea just walked out of her room.
"What were you doing in grandma's room?" she said as she stretched. Seto felt uncomfortable, but had to tell her.
"Tea...your grandmother...has passed away," Seto said quietly.
It felt as if a knife cut her heart in two. Seto saw her face drain of color and pulled her into a tight embrace.
"No, you must be mistaken..." Tea said desperately. She tried to pull from his embrace, but he wouldn't let go. She began to bang on his chest, and he finally let go.
She won't believe until she sees...Tea dashed into Sofia's room...and then screamed.
WWWEEERRRRR! WWWWWEEEEEEEEERR! (heh)
"What?" Yami looked out the window to see an ambulance outside of Tea's home. Yugi sat up curiously from bed, but began to cough violently. Yami turned to his younger sibling."Yugi? Didn't you take your medicine?" Yami asked. Yugi nodded, his head jerking as he coughed. "Look up,"
Yugi looked toward the ceiling, his coughing subsiding. Yami handed Yugi his pills, his grandfather then yelled for him.
"Yami! Come down here please." Grandpa yelled from down stairs. Yami did as he was told and rushed down the stairs.
"Grandpa Sugoroku, what happened next door?" Yami asked. His grandfather looked sad.
"I just got a call from young Tea's cousin." Grandpa started. He seemed to look for a name.
"Seto?" Yami said.
"Yes...err... Seto. Well it seems that her grandmother died this morning. You should go over there and try to comfort her. I know Seto must be trying his best, being the oldest now, so just go and help out. OK? I won't send Yugi out, him being sick and bedridden," he said to seriously.
"Of course I will," Yami said.
Grandpa smiled. "That's my boy." He added as he patted Yami's head.
He left the house and saw Tea standing on the porch. She watched as the officers took away Sofia's body. Tears staining her perfect face.
He walked down the steps and over to their porch.
"Tea," Yami said quietly. She looked down at him and walked over to him. She tried to smile put couldn't. He looked into her azure eyes that were littered with tears that ran down her pink cheeks. Yami whipped her tears away and pulled her into a tight embrace. She then broke down in tears.
"Yami! It's happening way too fast! It's just Seto and me. Were all alone." She dug her face into Yami's chest. "I didn't even get to say goodbye,"
"You guys aren't alone. You've got us...Tea, you have me," Yami responded. Tea nodded, feeling her cheeks heat up from he last comment.
"That means so much...to me." She said. Yami smiled coolly and, relented
letting her go from his hug.
Seto walked down from the porch and put an arm around Tea. Yami looked at Seto with a calm expression on his face.
"If you need anything, give us a call alright?" he said and offered his hand to shake. He smiled back and shook Yami's hand.
"Thanks you." Tea said as she started to walk up the porch stairs with Seto at her side.
"Tea" Yami whispered as he watched them enter the house. He felt weird, his heart hurt...to see so many tears from such a beautiful girl...
A couple of months have passed by quick since Sofia passed away.. School has been out for the month and Christmas was just a week around the corner. She had just finished decorating the tree and house. Seto was outside, scraping the snow off the sidewalk.
Ding!
"Oh! Just in time." She said as she pulled out hot chocolate from the microwave. She poured the chocolate and let it cooled. Just to pass the waiting, she went outside to the porch and watched Seto labor over the snow. She felt a tug at her heart.
"Seto," she called. Putting on her coat and boots, she walked out to him. Seto threw down his shovel and looked at her curiously.
"I'm going for a walk. I made some hot chocolate for you, still in the microwave," Tea said. He gave her an awkward look.
"You're not going to join me?" he asked. She shook her head and smiled.
"I just need to think...," she said. He watched her walk away and onto the sidewalk.
"Seto,"
Seto looked up and saw a black clad Yami walking toward him. His face going serious.
"Is Tea home?" Yami asked. Seto bent down and picked up his shovel.
"Haven't seen her all morning," he said as he began to shovel. Yami's brows knitted. Wasn't that Tea who just left?
"Where is she?"
"Dunno," Seto shrugged. Yami thanked him and began walking toward were he saw Tea. Seto called his name.
"Stay away. She's not doing so well these days," Seto said as he dropped the shovel and walked into his house.
Yami was awestruck.
Tea walked down the street, fresh snow falling to her face. Christmas music played from shops she passed and she watched little kids play in the snow.
We use to do that...
She saw a vision of her and her friends in kid form. She and Serenity would build a snowman, Joey and Tristan would throw snowballs at the team of Ryou and Yugi, Yami was always watching out for Yugi when they were young. Sofia and Sugoroku would always watch over the children.
Grandma...
A tear trickled down her cheek, it was cold.
"Tea?"
Tea whirled around to see Yami walking toward her. Her heart lifted.
"Yami," she said with a smile. He could see the lone tear on her cheek. He whipped it away.
"Sorry. I get a little teary when I think of her," Tea admitted. Yami shook his head.
"No need. She's in a better place,"
"I know,"
They began to walk together down the street. Yami pulled out a piece of paper and handed it to her. It looked like a newspaper clipping. She read:
Chip Davis's Mannheim Steamroller
invites you to join us for this year's
Tokyo Christmas Celebration
She looked at Yami, then back again.
All ages' welcome.
Please dress formally.
Gifts are to be exchanged!
RSVP:
Tokyo Tower
6:30-11:30 pm
Call at: 574-0875 if needed.
"Wow! I would die to go!" she said, eyes glittering.
"Well then, I'd love to take you," Tea said with a smile. Tea stared at him for a moment, then smiled and nodded her head.
"Oh thanks Yami!" she gave him a kiss on the cheek, making his cheeks flare in red. He looked at her, then smiled.
Back at home, Yugi just put down the paper after reading the article in bed. He smiled maliciously. He then ran up to his room and searched his closet.
"Yugi? What are you doing?" Yami asked, not looking up from the book he was reading.
"Didn't you ask Tea to the ball?" Yugi asked. Yami nodded curiously.
"Okay, so...!" Yugi replied as he took out a white tuxedo.
"What the hell is that?!" Yami said in disgust as he looked at the tuxedo. "Oh hush! This is gonna be fun!" Yugi said with an evil smile at Yami.
"You must be getting worse brother," Yami said as he put a hand to Yugi's forehead. Yugi frowned.
