a/n: Yeah, it's been a while, so I decided to update. I don't own YuGiOh!


Tea looked left, then right in the semi crowded hall. No boys. No Mokuba. After that "little" bath fiasco, she had completely forgotten she'd sent them out for a snack downstairs. She would feel terribly guilty if anything had happened to them. After all, children were in her charge. Heart hammering, she strode down to the stairs, peeking occasionally in doors randomly.

"Mokuba?! Where--?"

Tea sighed in relief at the sight of shaggy black hair, in the X-ray room. Beside him, the other boy was reading quietly in the corner.

"You gave me a heart attack! Why didn't you come back?"

Mokuba shook his little head, which was still wrapped in a bandage since the accident. Tea realized he was listening to two other doctors as they talked. Something told her to listen.

". . . .doesn't seem . . . .any progress . . . . " One doctor, that Tea recognized as a radiologist, was shaking his grey head.

" . . . see the cartilage. . . ?" The other doctor pointed to an X-ray of a spine, illuminated from behind. " . . . not healing well . . . will get worse . . . .might rupture the cord . . . "

"Pushing himself too hard!" the first one said angrily, rubbing his temples.

Tea recognized the name on the charts: Kaiba's. Those were his X-rays they were talking about! Quickly, she ushered Mokuba outside, gestured for the other little boy to follow. In the hallway again, she pushed then to a quiet corner. "You weren't supposed to be listening in to that!"

The other little boy giggled. "We wen' back to th' room, but you and that man . . . ." he giggled again, and Tea felt a deep flush creep over her cheeks. They really did see her and Kaiba together--! Jeez.

Mokuba was staring down, instead. "My brother . . . they said he's not getting well . . . ."

Tea gripped his tiny shoulder. "You . . . remember him?" Her smile spread. "That's great--!-" her voice died as she saw the look on his smudged face. "What . . . is it?"

She saw him touch the bandages on his head, with a woeful look. "Big . . . fight . . . can't explain---! Please don't tell!" He suddenly shook his head, hard. "But he has to get better---! He will won't he, Tea?" Tears started to drip from his huge dark blue eyes.

"Of course he will," she helped him back his room by the hand. "One thing I know: Kaiba always never gives up."

Though that didn't make a spot of sense, Mokuba nodded mutely and fell silent. Tea took the other little boy back to the children's ward downstairs, thinking all the while, Kaiba can't push himself as hard as he has been, else, he'll do more damage! She smiled grimly. And that's the hard part; convincing him to take it slower. . . he certainly likes things to be done at a rapid pace. . . .

Mokuba plodded along, suddenly feeling very sleepy, as she entered the room the two brothers shared; her heart skipping a bit like it always did. She helped Mokuba in his bed first, he fell asleep immediately. But she was surprised when all she saw was two unrecognizable nurses, making up the bed with fresh sheets for a new patient. Tea asked them what happened, thinking he had to go for another surgery or something.

"Checked himself out." They answered, clicking.

%%%%

Tea stared up early the next morning in her bed. She had been doing that all night. Hadn't had a drop of sleep. Wondering whether Kaiba had gotten the news that he wasn't getting better, or left before the doctors could tell him.

I guess I'll go and find out . . . . She slid out, her head feeling as dense as an anvil. She splashed some water on her face to wake herself up, then put on her school uniform and gathered up her things, remembering that Mokuba, although he had begged her not to tell, had regained his memories. But why wouldn't he want his brother to know? Kaiba would be thrilled to find out . . . Tea had to wonder if it had something to do with the circumstances of the accident. Of course, if she asked, she might as well talk to a wall; she'd get just as much an answer.

They are the most tight-lipped family I've ever met . . . .secrets overflowing everywhere . . . Tea knew although the brothers loved each other very much, and it wasn't very warm, say like . . . Joey's and Serenity's relationship. Although they both would do anything for the other, the Kaiba household moved rather like ghosts, in an atmosphere full of tension. Surely, they fought like every other sibling, but since Kaiba was Mokuba's mother and father, as well as his brother, the only one he'd ever known--Tea didn't know much about the family's history--it was different kind of relationship. . . .

At school, Tea said little, and didn't eat much. She wondered why she was getting in so deep. She knew that although she was in love with him, he didn't love her back, and that was okay. Well, okay, maybe it wasn't, but that was just how life went. Countless times she attempted to make him see the light, but to no avail. She wasn't exactly ready to give up, but she was currently tired of trying.

"Tea? are you okay? You look . . . kind of pale," her friend Yugi said concerned. "Do you . . . need to see the nurse or---?"

"No, I'm just tired a little. I didn't get much sleep," she answered with her best convincing smile, but she didn't look like all she needed was just some sleep. Her usually glowing skin was sallow and her cheeks were sunken in. But soon, at her friends constant urging, she went to see the nurse. Oh well, I really don't feel well, anyway . . . I need a quick nap.

The nurse took her temperature, checked her forehead, and took her blood pressure, and finally said all she need was a good rest. Tea gratefully slid into the cool, comforting sheets of the office's cot, feeling like she could sleep for a year.

The soft tick tick of the wall clock lulled her to sleep, reminding her of that night when she had slept to the beat of his own heart, after he'd kissed and caressed her, it seemed, like forever. Tears started to leak out of the corners of her dry, parched eyes. Surely he had felt something then, even a little? It was when she'd admitted her feelings, and he had chose not to believe her or it. Either he felt like he wasn't worthy of her love, or she hadn't been convincing enough to make him believe, or . . . Tea smiled when she thought of the fact: that he hadn't "been" so crippled that night . . . .

But it didn't matter. Dreams floated around, of Kaiba coming in the nurse's office and taking her hand, lifting her up and they walked away together. His expression would be kind and gentle, totally unlike his usual harsh countenance, tenderly looking down at her as he had when she had kissed him on the neck and pulled back. Just a glimpse . . . of his inner self . . . maybe? Tea dared to dream . . . .

"Painkillers . . . and lots of them!" she heard a faint growl inthe foggy distance. So familiar. She shifted in her sleep, so that one arm was flung over her head and her shoulder-length dark hair fell partly over her face. She didn't want leave her dream . . . .

Then she felt a pinprick of wet on her mouth, and unconsciously starting kissing back, murmuring his name softly, under her breath. Her hand slid over the neck of the person, feeling sifting, cool, silky soft hair. She was still asleep, forgetting they were in school. "Kaiba . . . " then she realized what she was doing and came awake with a start.

"What's the big idea?!" he looked just as angry, staring at her, appalled. "I walked over and you grabbed me!"

"Kaiba . . ." she panted. Phew. It could have been anyone, she was so lost in her dreamland . . . "And what do you mean 'I grabbed you' ?"

"Did I stutter?" He looked her over.

"You-you . . . " She was silenced by his hand clamping her mouth shut, as the school nurse came back in, carrying bottles of Tylenol and Excedrin.

"Here you go, Mr. Kaiba." The nurse bowed. And held them out as if an offering and a bow.

Meanwhile, Tea had gathered her wits again, and she caught his coat as it swished past her. "I need to tell you something!" she hissed in a whisper as he greedily opened bottle after bottle and took, it seemed, two of each. "Don't take so much!" This time she didn't bother to keep her voice low.

He just glared and took up his crutches again. Using a cane was less noticeable, but it made him feel like an old man. "Can it, Tea."

"You have to get back to the hospital," she insisted, tugging at his jacket with emphasis, a fierce expression. "If you don't you'll---"

"Let me guess: I'll get worse." His voice dripped with sarcasm. "Thank you, but no thank you, for the analysis report, Doctor. I make my own rules." With that, he tugged himself free for her grasp, and swished out of the office, with a pained look.

With a sigh of frustration since they didn't let students scream, Tea swung out of bed, prepared to chase after him. The school nurse said with a bland expression, putting her hand on Tea's shoulder, "Do you feel better dear?"

"Huh? Oh yes, thank you very much." Tea gave her a little bow of thanks.

"Good, because school's over."

%%%%

After gathering her missed work, Tea headed for the door, muttering to herself about sleeping the whole day away. Well, now she was wide-awake and ready for battle. Though she looked like a hurricane: papers, pencils, notebooks strewn everywhere. Her friends were waiting for her.

"Are you okay, Tea? You look harried," said Serenity, her big brown eyes fixed on Tea's large blue ones. They were all looking rather worried.

"Who me? I'm perfectly fine," Tea made her voice sound even and smooth. "I just need to tell . . . a friend that---er, something." She started edging away, and saw them exchange glances.

"Tea . . . . what's going on? It seems we hardly ever see you anymore!" spoke up Yugi, and the others nodded in agreement. "It your business if you have some secret boyfriend, we don't care, but we all have been missing you lately." More nods of agreement.

"Seriously," said Joey, usually the one who was actually glad when she wasn't there.

Tea found herself welling with guilt. It was true, she had been ignoring them lately and decided to make it up to them. "All right, you all are right. So, what do you want to do today?" She put on a wide smile, and they relaxed.

"Let's see a movie. . . . no, go to da park!" That was from Joey. "No, the pizza place!" Same. "Hang out at the Game Shop?" Groans.

Finally they agreed to hang out at the mall, since it had practically everything there, and off they went. Tea changed into comfortable jeans, and a pale blue oversized sweater since it was chilly outside. Maybe I do need a short break from . . . well, Kaiba, she thought. Neither of her friends knew about her feelings for him. Yet. I'll get around to telling them, just not yet!

The wind ruffled her hair, and even though it was a relief to have good old-fashioned fun with her friends again, her mind kept straying over how Kaiba was. Their kiss was still well on her mind. It seemed they kissed every day. And then argued every day. Afterwards. Sometimes right afterwards. At one point, when all the boys were raving about some new duel cards, Serenity turned to Tea and said, "You look sad."

"Yes. . . ." Tea agreed, looking wistful, thinking of the days way back when she could entirely devote herself to fun. "I am sad." And because she desperately need to tell someone, she told Serenity everything that had happened in the hospital. . . Well, nearly everything, given her young age. Still, Serenity goggled at her for a while after she was done.

"And . . . you say he's going to get worse . . ." She waved as the boys spotted an electronic gaming store and dashed off, shaking her head ruefully. "If he doesn't get help?" Tea nodded, glad she didn't make fun of her. "That's terrible . . ." Her brown eyes looked sad now. "Well, maybe you can tell him."

"I've tried, I---"

"Since he's right there." Serenity jerked her chin without looking. Sometimes she could hear people first before others saw them.

Tea looked and saw she was right. "And you won't tell, please--?" The younger girl shook her head in agreement, and Tea got up.


A/n: well, not a cliff, exactly. Please leave a nice review.