Disclaimer: I don't own Yugioh. Enough said.
"So, this is it."
"Yes, it is."
"I wish you didn't have to sound so certain. I wish this wasn't goodbye. "
"We cannot change our destiny, Tea. You must accept this."
"But I don't want this!"
"Yes, you do."
"And who's to call this destiny anyway?!"
"It does not matter."
"I'll miss you."
"But I will be with you."
"God, we sound so foolish. I'm only moving away to . . . to London . . . an entirely different city, country, and continent."
"You do not have to be afraid of being scared, Tea. Accepting what you feel takes more courage than suppressing an emotion that may be perceived as weak."
"But I feel weak . . . how can I be strong at the same time? Is that not a paradox?"
"Last call for Flight 207."
"Dear god, this is it."
"Yes, it is, Tea."
"I – I . . . goodbye . . . Pharaoh."
"May I get you something to drink, miss?"
"What?" Tea questioned blankly as the neatly dressed flight attendant rolled her tray of drinks to a stop by Tea's seat.
"Would you like a drink?" The flight attendant asked again.
"Oh . . . no . . . nothing for me. Thank you, though."
"If you don't mind my saying, you look so sad – going a long way from home, are you?" The flight attendant smiled kindly at Tea, taking sympathy on the girl's dejected behavior.
"Am I that obvious?"
"Well, you've been staring out that window completely motionless for the last hour. Now, I know that some people love seeing the sky from this perspective, but it doesn't look like you're captivated with the view, which isn't much considering how the sky is as dark as black velvet."
Tea paused a moment, as if she were at a loss for something to say. Quickly the flight attendant held out her hand and said, "My name's Ivy. What's yours?"
"Tea. Tea Gardner."
"Well, Tea, it's a pleasure to meet you. I should continue making my rounds, but if you need anything at all, please, let me know. Okay?"
"All right. Thanks a lot, Ivy."
"No problem."
As Ivy continued to push her cart of trays down the aisle, Tea sighed despondently and glanced around the plane; the seats around her were, for the most part, vacant.
Just like me . . . empty.
Returning her gaze to the window, she saw the faint reflection of herself in the glass against the pitch black sky. She looked pale, almost ghostly, as if she were only a portion of her real self, which she found bitterly amusing.
This is it. Domino City is really behind me. London really is in front of me. How did I get here? Why am I here? I shouldn't be here. I should be back there, with them. Honestly, I should just get up and tell the pilot to land this plane because I should not be onboard. Hah! I could just see it now – me, walking up to the front of the plane, knocking at the pilot's cabin door and then politely sticking my head in and asking him to land the plane. Wouldn't that be a kick?
With these thoughts, Tea's shoulders began to shake as images of her friends, her family, school, her home came flooding back to her. Burying her face against her hands, her elbows fell against her knees and she felt the wave of tears struggling to overtake her.
Damn the day I got that scholarship! Damn the day that mom and Mrs. Tretbar ever heard of that dance school! If she hadn't heard of it, I never would have tried out to get in and I wouldn't be on this plane right now!
Tea slowly felt herself being pulled back to that day.
"It'd be wonderful for you, dear. Don't you agree? It's a very prestigious school – one of the finest in the world. You've always wanted to become a famous ballet dancer, and if you could get a scholarship, which they offer to talented young ladies such as yourself, then so many more doors would open up to you."
"Ah come on, mom, I know that this is all part of your master plan to get me out of the house as soon as possible."
"That's a silly thought, Tea darling. Now stop kidding around and be serious!"
"I don't know. I just don't think I'm 'Livingston Academy of Dance and Fine Art Studies' material, you know?"
"Oh that is nonsense, Tea! You are incredibly gifted! Why don't you believe it? If you don't believe me, won't you at least believe your dance teacher, Mrs. Tretbar?"
"Well . . . it wouldn't hurt to try out, right? And it would be an incredible opportunity. And both you and Mrs. Tretbar want me to . . . and I want to. I really do. It would be my dreams come true. Livingston! Could you imagine?"
With the sound of a man snoring quite nasally, Tea returned to the present moment. Glancing at her watch, she groaned as she realized she still had another hour and a half until she would arrive in London. Sinking back down into her seat, she felt herself again fall back to her memories.
"Open the thing, already!" Joey exclaimed in frustration. "We wanna know what's gonna happen to ya. We wanna know if we're gonna get to throw ya a party or not. So what are ya waiting for? Open it!"
"Easy there, Joey. Let her take her time. This is going to change her life, so the least you could do is not rush her!" Tristan said, poking Joey in the ribs.
"Stop it, you guys! You're making me nervous." Tea said, shifting her feet as she turned the package over and over in her hands, while mentally reading the return address: Livingston Academy of Dance and Fine Art Studies.
"Don't worry, Tea – we're here for you." Yugi smiled encouragingly and flashed the thumbs-up sign.
"Well, guys, here goes nothing . . ." Tea slowly opened up the package and pulled out the letter. In shock she began to read it aloud:
Dear Ms. Tea Gardner:
We at Livingston Academy of Dance and Fine Art Studies are immensely pleased to notify you of your acceptance to our school. We feel that you will contribute greatly to the world of dance, and thus, we could not be more pleased to offer you a full scholarship for tuition, board, and all other necessities for the duration of your stay at Livingston . . .
"Wow, Tea! That's great news!" Yugi grinned broadly. "I knew you could do it!"
"Yeah, way to go, Tea!" Joey added. "Ya really showed those hotshots your stuff, eh?"
"This calls for celebration!" Tristan laughed. "Who's on for pizza?"
"Passengers, this is your pilot speaking. The plane will be landing shortly, therefore, please remain in your seats and fasten your seatbelts. Thank you."
Tea felt her mouth fall open slightly; she was almost there.
"I guess this is goodbye, Tea."
"Yeah, I guess so, Tristan."
"So . . . I'm going to miss you. You better stay in touch, okay?"
"I wouldn't dream otherwise!"
"Haha . . . good. Um, man this is kind of awkward."
"Just a little bit, Tristan. Just a little bit."
"I'm sorry I can't be there to see you off tomorrow, but you know, I've got to help my dad move and -"
"Don't worry; I know."
"Right. So, um . . . hug?"
"Of course!"
"Hey, hey, ya guys! Don't be getting all emotional on me. She's just going away for . . . for a couple years." Joey brushed his eyes quickly.
"Aww . . . is tough Joey going to miss me? Are those actually tears?" Tea teased.
"Naw, ya know. I've just got, er, something in my eye."
"Don't lie, Joey." Tristan said, patting him on the back. "We're all going to miss her."
"Yeah . . . it's just going to be different without ya around, Tea, ya know, watching out for us."
"Yeah, making sure he doesn't get himself killed by doing something stupid!" Tristan added jokingly.
"Hey!" Joey replied with an offended tone.
"Just telling it like it is, man."
"I'm really going to miss this, guys." Tea felt her eyes start to water up. "Arrrrg!!! I said I wouldn't cry!" She felt her heart wrench and, with a wave of frustration overtaking her, she wiped furiously at her eyes.
"Don't worry, Tea. Like I said that day – whatever happens is for the best." Joey said supportively.
"He's right, Tea. We're all here for you!" Yugi finally piped up. "We'll miss you, but, you know, we'll still see you on vacations. And we'll write letters! And talk on the phone! It'll be almost the same!!"
"Yeah . . . almost." Seeing that the guys were struggling to cheer her up, Tea suppressed her sadness and chirped, "London will be tons of fun. You guys will have to visit me there, okay?"
Noticing Ivy walking down the aisle, Tea quickly called out to her.
"What can I do for you, Tea?"
"Nothing much – it's just that I was wondering how much more time until the plane lands."
"Well, it's about 1:37 a.m. right now if you go by London time . . . so I think it will be about ten more minutes, give or take a couple."
"Ten more minutes . . . that's absolutely incredible." Tea shook her head in a daze.
"Is there anything else that you need?"
"No thanks, Ivy. I'm as fine as can be, given the situation."
Patting Tea's shoulder, Ivy gave her a benign smile and then moved on to check on the other passengers.
Ten more minutes and then I'm in London. There's no going back now, I guess.
Tea leaned her head back against the seat and thought back to just a few hours earlier when she had said goodbye to Yami. She still didn't quite understand the whole situation concerning Yami and Yugi, the whole spirit connection and ancient Egyptian past, but nevertheless, she loved both of them dearly. She had said goodbye to Yugi the same time she had said goodbye to Joey and Tristan, but she had said goodbye to Yami separately. It was Yami who had taken her to the airport. It was Yami who she had last spoken to in Domino City.
She loved all of her friends equally, but her connection to Yami was different. Somehow it was fitting for him alone to see her off. She couldn't explain it; she could just feel it so strongly that it was almost tangible.
"So I guess it's just me and you now."
"Yes."
"It's too bad Joey and Tristan couldn't be here."
"Or Yugi."
"Right. I always forget the whole spirit body sharing thing you two have going on." Tea said with a slight catch to her voice. "But Yugi could be here, if he wanted to be."
"But he has said goodbye to you. And now it is my turn. I shall miss you, Tea."
"And I'll miss you, Yami."
"I know."
"So, this is it."
"Yes, it is."
"I wish you didn't have to sound so certain. I wish this wasn't goodbye. "
"We cannot change our destiny, Tea. You must accept this."
"But I don't want this!"
"Yes, you do."
"And who's to call this destiny anyway?!"
"It does not matter."
"I'll miss you."
"But I will be with you."
"God, we sound so foolish. I'm only moving away to . . . to London an entirely different city, country, and continent."
"You do not have to be afraid of being scared, Tea. Accepting what you feel takes more courage than suppressing an emotion that may be perceived as weak."
"But I feel weak . . . how can I be strong at the same time? Is that not a paradox?"
"Last call for Flight 207."
"Dear god, this is it."
"Yes, it is, Tea."
"I – I . . . goodbye . . . Pharaoh."
"-and thank you for flying with Worldwide Airlines."
Startled out of her reverie, Tea stood up and straightened her skirt and jacket. Picking up her carry-on bag, she moved into the aisle and began walking toward the exit. Stopping suddenly she glanced behind her, as if Joey, Tristan, Yugi, and Yami were behind her. Instead all she saw was the seat she had occupied, which now was quietly empty.
Narrowing her eyes slightly and tossing her hair, Tea put up an air of importance.
I'm sixteen and in London. I should be happy. I will be happy.
Even as Tea walked off the plane with her head held high, inside she felt herself on the verge of breaking. Mentally she saw everyone, mentally her shield collapsed and mentally she was sobbing.
Physically though, she was the epitome of confidence and grace.
"May I help you with your bags, miss?" An airport attendant with a British accent had approached her and was holding out his hand in offering.
Goodbye, Yugi, Joey, Tristan, Yami. Goodbye. I'm sorry, but you all are the past now. I have to do this now. This is my time. This hurts so much, but I have to say goodbye. I have to let go . . . this is a new life. New chances to take. New doors to open. New destinies to find . . .
"Yes, that would be wonderful. Thank you very much, sir." Tea smiled winsomely and held out her bags.
