Authors Note: I do not own any portion of Yugioh.

(So, it's been quite a long time since I last updated, but once again, the reason for that was school and life just being plain busy. I hope that now that summer is drawing closer, I'll have more time to write. Anyhow, this chapter is kind of short, and is a transition to get me back into this story . . . but enjoy, nevertheless!)

"You gave us a scare, Tea," Camille said, gently patting her friend's hand that appeared unusually thin, pale, and fragile against the stark white sheets of the hospital bed.

"I know. I'm sorry . . . I don't know what happened. Forgive me?"

Furrowing her brow at Tea's flippant attitude, Camille wasn't quite sure how to respond with anything besides a humorous, "Hey, there's no need to apologize – you did nothing wrong – well, except working too hard."

"Too hard? Did you actually just utter those words?" Tea asked incredulously. "This coming from the queen of "work, work, and then do harder work"?"

"Now don't be so surprised," Camille said, a smile tugging at her lips in spite of her concern.

Tilting her head with a mischievous smile on her face, Tea taunted, unaware of her friend's worry, "I believe I shall blame you for my tendencies of overworking myself!"

Camille's face immediately darkened and took on a more serious expression. She loved Tea dearly and the thought that she may have influenced Tea to value fifteen hour days of dancing over her health was tormenting. Firmly grasping Tea's hand, Camille looked directly into the girl's eyes and quietly said, "I value hard work, yes. But I value life more. Now, I have something I need to tell you and you're not going to like it, but I feel it's an absolute necessity that I tell you this. You may or may not take my advice, and that is your decision, but I need to make sure you know all your choices before you continue going down the path you're on now."

"Umm . . . okay . . ." Tea replied. "Shoot."

"I think you need to take some time off."

Immediately Tea's face transformed from one of amusement to one of restrained anger. "Time off? From what?"

"You know what I'm talking about Tea!"

"Dance?"

"Yes."

"No. Absolutely not. That's an insane suggestion. I won't hear of it."

"Tea – be reasonable. You collapsed on stage! You're in no way fit to continue dancing the way you have been!"

"How should you know?" Tea angrily retorted. "You aren't me! You don't know what I feel. You're just some washed up has-been dancer!" The second the words passed her lips, Tea closed her eyes and bit her and took a deep breath to collect her self. Opening her eyes to Camille's hurt expression, Tea quietly apologized. "I didn't mean it, Camille. I'm sorry. I was angry. I wasn't thinking. You know you're a wonderful dancer."

"Don't apologize, Tea. You're right. I'm not the same dancer I was five years ago. I don't have the fame now that I had five years ago. I'm a prominent member of society, yes – but I'm no longer the prima ballerina. You are. And that's why I'm concerned, can't you see that?"

"You're my friend – I know you're going to be concerned. But you have to trust me, I'm okay. I'm smart. I can make my own decisions. And my decision is to continue dancing as I have been dancing for the past two years."

"I see." Camille said, nodding her head slowly while trying to find a way to convince Tea to take a break. "Well, I suppose you have had your say – but I still haven't had mine. Now, I'm going to speak my mind and you're going to listen without interruption until I'm done."

Reluctantly Tea sighed and nodded her head as a signal for Camille to proceed.

"I'm going to be blunt. I want you to take a year off from dance –"

"What? Now you've just plain lost your mind, Camille –"

"Uh, uh, uh – not a word, Tea. I want you to take off a year so that you can get the perspective to see what you've done to yourself. I think you need to reevaluate the things in your life. I know you love dance, but I'm concerned that lately you've just been using it to cover up other things that aren't perfect in your life. And that's not healthy."

"Camille – no. I love dance because it's who I am. It defines me. I'm fine. My life is perfect. That's it."

Cocking her head, Camille asked suddenly, "When's the last time you saw your friends from Domino?"

"What?"

"When?"

"I don't know – it's been a while since I've seen them. But I talk to them frequently."

"Is your friendship the same?"

"Same as what? Same as when I was sixteen? Of course not. I'm busy. They're busy. We talk when we all have time. It's different, but it works for us now."

"How do you feel about that? Does it make you sad? Angry? And don't try to tell me you're fine – you haven't been fine for a while now."

"What is this, some damn inquisition? I'm telling you I'm fine! I'm fine, okay!" Furiously, Tea brushed back the tears that had welled up in her eyes at the thought of her old friends – of how she never saw them, and how it was because she was always dancing and dancing and dancing. Dancing – it had been her love for the longest time, and she still loved it, but not in the same way. In the past dance had been her escape into her self. Dance had been a way of becoming more in tune with every aspect of her being, but now dance had become a superficial attempt to hide from her problems and mistakes. And she was suffering from it. Immensely. And it was because of this that she finally squeezed her eyes closed in a whirlwind of torment with her self, and it was because of this that she reluctantly nodded her head and clasped Camille's hand as she said, "Okay. I'll go away. I'll stop dancing professionally for a while."

"Say it. Say, "I'll stop dancing for a year." Camille insisted, gripping Tea's hand harder. "It's the only way to fix things. You know it is."

"I'll stop dancing for a year." Tea said quietly, her body immediately tiring as she gave in to her emotions that had kept her tense and defiant. Smiling faintly, Tea raised her eyebrows and asked the question to which she already knew the answer: "Where do I go to take this break?"

"Home, Tea. You go home."

"Now I have to make travel plans and pack and do a million other things. It never ends does it?"

"Don't worry, Tea," Camille said smiling at what she saw as the first step to getting her friend back in control of her life, "I have everything all planned out. You won't need to do a thing. And come the day after tomorrow when you're released from the hospital, you'll be jetting off to head back home on a plane with someone who you apparently know . . ."

"What? What are you talking about?"

"Just wait and see," Camille replied playfully as she rose, gathering up her purse and jacket, to leave the hospital room. "I've got to get home now – but you'll find out about it all soon enough. Sweet dreams, Tea dear."

"All right . . ." Tea replied, clearly confused.

Turning to face the window, Tea stared out at the unusually bright and orb-shaped white-gold moon that glowed beautifully in the night sky. Once again, she was back to the beginning. And once again, she couldn't help but feel that she was somehow screwing up her life.

Determinedly, Tea turned her back to the moon and shook her head clear of thoughts. She was going to be fine. It was just a matter of time.