Okay, It's a slow Saturday, so I figured I should do something constructive, like study for exams, but I don't want to, so I'll do this instead, it's more fun.

Thanks for all the reviews everybody, I feel so special. 

Chapter Three:  Tea's stalker….Yami?  Plus a cute lil' moment with Ryou.

*          *            *         

~1 month after last chapter~

            "Hey guys?" Yugi asked his friends.  He, Joey, Tristan and Yami were hanging out at the Game Shop, a regular occurrence.

            "Wut's up Yug?" Joey replied. (A/N: my apologies, I suck with dialects)

            "Have you noticed that Tea's been spending a lot less time with us lately?"

            "No kiddin'.  I asked her if she was gonna hang wit us here, but she said she had a 'prior engagement'."  Joey paused for a moment, as if realizing something. "Hey, you know what?  She's been sayin' that a lot lately."  Yami frowned.  Tea had been disappearing a lot over the past month.  She would spend time with them during school, but after school and most weekends, she was nowhere to be found.  Tristan interrupted his thoughts.

            "Maybe she's got a boyfriend she doesn't want us to know about."  He joked.  Joey's response to that suggestion was to smack Tristan up side of the head.

            "Shaddap.  Tea wouldn't do that to us, we're her best friends, she knows she'd hafta introduce us to any guy she met.  We're like family."

            /Yami? / Yugi's voice came through their mind link.

            \Yes Yugi? \

            /What if she really does have a boyfriend? /  Yugi was obviously upset by this.  He still had a little crush on Tea, and Yami had feelings for her as well.

            \I wouldn't worry, Yugi/ Yami replied. \Joey's right, we would have met him by now.  She's probably just busy. \ 

            /Yeah you're right.  Working at the museum must have her working every waking moment. / Yugi cheered up immediately.  Out loud Yami spoke to the other two, who were watching Yugi and Yami, and wondering what they had been talking about.

            "Tea is probably just busy."  He explained.  "She has been working quite diligently with Isis at the Museum."  Joey made a face at Tristan.

            "See?  I told ya."  Tristan was indignant.

            "Told me what?  You didn't even say anything!"  They were about to enter another argument when the bell at the door rang, and Tea walked in carrying a picnic basket.  She was wearing a light blue sundress with sandals.

            "Hey guys.  What going on?"  Yugi brightened quickly, and greeted her.

            "Hey Tea!  How's it going?"

            "Not bad.  The new wing in the Museum is almost finished, so we'll be able to work on the exhibit within the next week or so."  Tea sat down on a stool that Yami had fetched for her, smiling in thanks as she sat down.

            "That exhibit has kept you quite busy Tea." Yami started. "We've barely seen you all month.  You must be working hard."  A look flitted across Tea's face so quickly that Yami was the only one to see it. Guilt?  Why would Tea be feeling guilty?  Was it because she hadn't been around?  Or was it something else?

            /You're being paranoid Yami./ Yugi's mind-voice spoke. /If something else had been going on, she would have told us.  You said so yourself. /

            "What's with the picnic basket Tea?" Yugi left Yami to his musings and focused instead on the basket of food Tea had brought in with her. 

            "Oh this?" Tea asked, gesturing to her basket.  "Just a picnic lunch I was going to." 

            "Cool.  Can we come?"  Joey asked as Tea smacked his fingers as he reached for the food.

            "No.  It's a private affair."  Joey was persistent.

            "Who with Tea?"  Yami asked.  Tea thought he was being a little suspicious.

            "Just me and a few people."  Tea was being evasive, something she never did, unless she was hiding something.  Yugi was starting to think that Yami was right.  Maybe there was something else going on?

            "You got a boyfriend you don't want us to know about?"  Tristan teased.  Tea blushed.

            "No!"  She said vehemently averting her eyes.  "It's just Isis and a few other people she knows.  It's a museum thing."  She spoke quickly.  Too quickly.  Yami thought.  Tea smacked Joey's hand away again.  "Stop it Joey.  That's not for you!"

            "Come on Tea!"  He whined.  "I smell cookies.  I know you baked something and your food kicks ass."  Tea softened and reached in for a sugar cookie and gave it to him.

            "Now go the Hell away."  Joey cheered and retreated to a corner to enjoy his cookie.

            Tea looked at Yami, but seeing his eyes, she quickly changed her gaze and checked her watch instead.

            "Shit!" she swore, not realizing she had.  "I'm late!"  Yami started, realizing something. Tea never swore. Especially not twice in less than five minutes.  Now he knew something was going on.  Tea was halfway out the door, when she turned briefly and said goodbye.

            "I'll see you later!" Two minutes after Tea walked out the door, Yami got up as well, and grabbed his coat.

            "Where are you going Yami?"  Yugi asked his other half.  Then Yugi's eyes widened as he read Yami's thoughts.  "You're going to follow her?"

            "Geez, Yami." Tristan added. "I don't know how they did things back in ancient Egypt, but nowadays stalking is illegal.  If you like someone the ideal thing is to ask them out on a date, not terrify them into getting a restraining order."  Yami glared at Tristan, who backed and turned his attention to Joey instead who, by the way, was still enjoying his cookie in the corner.

            "I'm not stalking her Yugi." He reassured. "I'm just a little worried about her.  She was being very evasive, and I just want to make sure she isn't in any danger."  Yugi looked skeptical for a moment, and then relented, hoping Yami didn't do anything stupid to make Tea angry and hate them both.  Tea, when she did get angry, was a very dangerous person to be around.

            "All right, but don't do anything stupid."  Yami response was a look that suggested 'I am Pharaoh.  I don't do stupid things,' and then walk out the door.  Yugi had a very bad feeling.

*          *            *

            Tea was relieved to be out of there.  She was sure at any second; Yami would give her the third degree about where she was going and whom she was hanging out with.  If he had found out that the 'others' she mentioned were Ryou, Bakura and Malik, he probably would have killed her and then gone after Malik.  It wouldn't have been pretty.

            It really wasn't any of Yami's business who she was friends with.  Malik wasn't that bad, especially since getting Camilla.  In two hours after getting her, he had gone from malicious sociopath to happy well-adjusted sociopath (A/N: Tee hee, I like that ^_^ ).  It was incredible what a pet can do for some people.  Even Ryou, who was still having occasional problems with Bakura, noticed a difference in his violent yami.  He was still rude to a fault, but at least he wasn't spontaneously sending people to the Shadow Realm because he didn't like the way they looked.  He seemed more content to play with Camilla than take over the world, which was an unusual but welcome change.  That puppy was a Godsend, and Tea was beginning to think there some sort of Fate involved. 

            "Hey Tea!"  A voice called out.  Tea turned.  It was Ryou, and an indifferent Bakura.

            "Hey Ryou.  You too Bakura."  Ryou smiled happily, but Bakura merely grunted in response.

            "Whatever woman." Bakura was determined to avoid all forms of politesse in any social situation, but hey, at least he acknowledged her presence this time.  He usually looked away as if her hadn't heard anything.  Another major improvement; she'd have him socializing in no time.

            "Can I carry that for you Tea?" Ryou offered, indicating the basket.

            "Thanks.  This thing weighs a ton."  Tea gave him the basket and Ryou carried it with ease.  Physically and mentally, he had become a lot stronger lately, but that was to be expected.  Dealing with Bakura, you had to be in shape in order to either fight back or run like Hell.

            "Good Lord Tea, what do you have in this thing?"

            "Not enough considering how much Bakura and Malik eat.  Besides, I told you it was heavy."  This was too much for Bakura.  All these good manners were driving him crazy; and a crazy Bakura is a dangerous Bakura.  He grabbed the basket from Ryou's hands and walked ahead quickly.

            "Quit complaining.  It's not heavy at all."  When he was out of hearing range Ta turned to Ryou.

            "What was that all about?" she asked him, puzzled.

            "I'm not quite sure.  I think it may have something to do with him not having killed anyone for a while.  He's getting a little…uh..."

            "Antsy?"          

            "Close enough.  It may also be because of his losing a duel to Yami two days ago.  He'll be upset for a few days, then he'll get over it."

            "Yami does have a tendency to upset a lot of people just be walking into a room.  Then he talks and it gets worse."  Tea spoke with bitterness in her voice.

            "What happened?"  Ryou questioned.  Tea sighed.

            "Not much.  I stopped by the game shop to apologize for not being around, and the Yami starts looking at me like…like... remember when Mai thought Joey was cheating on her and she was giving him this look like she was trying to stare a hole through him because she didn't believe him?"

            "Oh yes, that was quite an uncomfortable moment."

            "Well that's the way Yami was looking at me."

            "I assume you didn't tell him that our picnic group included Bakura and Malik?"

            "Hell no!  If I had, he wouldn't have let me leave.  He still thinks Malik is no good and out to get him.  And let's not even start on why he hates Bakura."

            "So what did you tell him?"

            "I told him that I've been busy at the Museum and the picnic was me Isis and some people she knew.  Which isn't a total lie.  She does know you guys."  Tea paused.  "That was a bad move wasn't it?"

            "I should think so.  You aren't a very good liar, even with half-truths, so he probably thinks something else is going on."

            "I know, Tristan thinks I have a boyfriend I'm not letting them meet."  Ryou laughed lightly.

            "I suppose in a manner of speaking, that's quite true.  If you want to get technical, you have two boy-friends you're not telling about."  Ryou jumped out of the way as Tea tried to smack him.  "Oh come on Tea!  It was a joke!"  Tea huffed and crossed her arms over her chest.

            "It wasn't a very good one.  Not to mention a creepy little double entendre."  Ryou came back to her side and wrapped a friendly arm around her shoulders.

            "It's not such a disaster.  As long as Yami doesn't find out, that is."

            "If he does, I'm using you as a human shield."

            "You could probably get Malik to set Camilla on him as well."  They both laughed at the thought of Yami running from the small golden retriever.  The former Pharaoh didn't like dogs too much, and dogs didn't exactly adore him either.

            Tea hugged Ryou affectionately.  "Thanks Ryou.  I feel a lot better."

            "Any time.  Hey, where's Bakura?"  It appeared that the aforementioned yami had indeed disappeared.  "Oh dear, I'd better go look for him, before he hurts somebody."

            Ryou ran off leaving Tea on by herself.  Without her picnic basket, I might add.  So much for the day getting better.  Tea decided that she should at least enjoy the peace and quiet while she still could, and sound in the sunshine, a light breeze fanning out her hair.  She smiled happily and forgot about everything.  Yami, Malik and Bakura and the chaos they all inflicted were completely put out of her mind.  It was just her and the sunshine. 

*          *            *         

            Yami followed stealthily behind Tea a safe distance and behind some bushes.  He was far enough away that he wouldn't be spotted, but close enough that he would be able to hear anything she said to anybody.  The 'anybody's' in question were Ryou and Bakura.  Ryou wasn't a problem; Yami could tolerate the quiet, harmless boy, but Bakura he couldn't stand.  Evil people just pissed him off.  He couldn't believe that Tea was talking with them and actually seemed on friendly terms with the two.  That was just wrong.  He tried to brush it off as Tea simply being polite because she was Tea; Tea was friendly to everyone, simply for the sake of being friendly.  He wondered if he should show himself and chase off the tomb-robber to be safe.  Wait a minute!  Ryou took Tea's basket!

            [Calm down, it's Ryou, he's being polite, he does that a lot.  It's nothing to worry about.]  Then he heard them speak.

            "Good Lord Tea, what do you have in this thing?"

            "Not enough considering how much Bakura and Malik eat.  Besides, I told you it was heavy."

            [WHAT!!'  The food was for who?]

            "Quit complaining.  It's not heavy at all."  Now Bakura had the basket, and he just walked off with it!  Something was not right.  Why would Tea be on a picnic with the two people he despised the most and not tell him?  Why did she allow Bakura to just walk off with her food?  Then he heard his name mentioned by Tea.

            "Yami does have a tendency to upset a lot of people just be walking into a room.  Then he talks and it gets worse."  Why did she sound so bitter?  Had he done something that upset her?

            "I assume you didn't tell him that our picnic group included Bakura and Malik?"  Yami's shock factor went through the roof.  Bakura and Malik?  Something was really wrong.

            "Hell no!  If I had, he wouldn't have let me leave.  He still thinks Malik is no good and out to get him.  And let's not even start on why he hates Bakura."

            "So what did you tell him?"

            "I told him that I've been busy at the Museum and the picnic was me Isis and some people she knew.  Which isn't a total lie.  She does know you guys." 

            [Tea lied to me.] Yami thought to himself.  That's why she had been so nervous when she was at the Game Shop earlier. [What has Malik done that made her have to lie?] (A/N: Suuure, blame the former bad guy.)

            "I suppose in a manner of speaking, that's quite true.  If you want to get technical, you have two boy-friends you're not telling about."  Yami's jealousy factor shot up twelve notches at this.  [He better not mean that the way it sounded.]  (A/N: Whoo evil psycho threesome!  Nevermind, I have strange thoughts, and strange friends.  Luv ya Jeb!)He couldn't help but feel slightly satisfied as Tea tried to hit Ryou.  At least she had the sense to be insulted.  If she hadn't been, Yami would really have started worrying.

            "Oh come on Tea!  It was a joke!"

            "It wasn't a very good one.  Not to mention a creepy little double-entendre."

 [No kidding.] Yami thought, shuddering.  That was a situation that would bring nightmares to anyone.  The jealousy came back as Ryou wrapped his arm around Tea's shoulder.  [Stop touching her Ryou!]  Yami's mind screamed.

            "It's not such a disaster.  As long as Yami doesn't find out, that is."

[A little late for that.  And get your arm off my Tea!]

            "If he does, I'm using you as a human shield." 

            "You could probably get Malik to set Camilla on him as well." 

[Who the Hell is Camilla?] Judging by their laughter, he figured Camilla was some sort of vicious creature.  He felt slightly hurt that Tea would laugh at him.

            Yami's thoughts went from raging to hurt as he pondered what had been said between Tea and Ryou, and looked up when Ryou ran off, calling out something about keeping Bakura out of trouble.

            He watched as Tea's face changed expressions as her thoughts shifted, then finally smiling and twirling about in the sunshine.  Yami wondered, as he often did, if she was thinking about him.  Little did anyone know that Tea was being watched, and it wasn't Yami that was watching her.

*          *            *

Ooh.  Stalker!   Another one.  I wonder who it is?  Just to let you know, I will have Yami encounter Camilla in the next chapter, and it will be fun…for everyone but Yami.  Plus Tea and Malik get a little friendly…and boy does someone get pissed off by that.  And Hey!  Ryou has a GIRLFRIEND?  Yes, it is a blatant attempt at idealized self-insertion, but hey, I'm the author, I can do that.  I just a name for her.  Ideas?