NOTE: Okay, first things first. If you are new to reading my stories, then you are unaware that I use Noa in all of my stories. Yes, and I've made a story behind his coming back. If you wish to know how he came back, just read Ch 1 in Forgotten, Forbidden Love (my other story). And while you're at it…you can read that one too! (PS: You might be wondering where Serenity is, because she didn't graduate from high school, and Tea is left alone. Well, she's in some special school (for advanced students) in America. Yeah, that's where she is…we're going to say that.)
Disclaimer: Alright, let's look at the statistics here…. I am just a fourteen-year-old living in ALABAMA! I mean, come on…I'm fourteen, in Alabama! Not the regular place and age to own a show, for crying out loud! Therefore, as stated many times before, I don't own Yu-Gi-Oh!
Chapter 2: Chat Session
Tea sat, with her head bent down, on a park bench in the city park. She'd been so embarrassed yesterday, standing in front of Kaiba wearing that stupid waitress uniform. Come on! He probably expected her to be in college or something! They, her head popped up. What had Mokuba said about him seeing her in the community center? She didn't see him…. Oh boy…that was something to worry about.
She sighed, and put her head back, so that it hung over the top of the bench. What a nightmare. But why was see even giving any of this another thought? Who cared if that jerk knew? It wasn't like she would ever see him again. (Naïve fool….)
Mokuba walked along a path in the park, thinking about Noa and his plan to "Get Seto "hooked" up with a girl." Noa was back in the limo, waiting. Mokuba had just wanted some fresh air. Then, up ahead…just guess whom he saw.
Tea.
Mokuba ran over to her, calling out her name, "Hey, Tea!" Tea looked up and her face paled. Great, she thought, why do I always jinx myself? She started to get up, but Mokuba reached her before she could go anywhere.
"Wait, don't leave. I just wanna talk," Mokuba stated, sitting down. Tea, reluctantly followed suit.
"What did you want to talk about?" she asked, knowing exactly what.
"Well…um, how should I put this?" Mokuba started.
"You don't have to say it. I know what you want to know. You wish to know why I was working in that restaurant; why I'm not in college, like the others," Tea turned her head away and some tears formed in her eyes.
"Well, yeah, actually," Mokuba replied.
"Let me just say that I would be in college, had my life not turned around on me," Tea declared.
"What'd you mean? Life turning on you?" Mokuba looked up at her.
Tea turned her head back around, "Mokuba, my life's not as peachy as some people think. Actually, it's kinda like your life was a LONG time ago."
"Huh? How can your life be like mine?"
"Mokuba…" she had to let it out. She hadn't told many people this secret. Only her closest friends. It was bugging the heck out of her. She had to tell someone verbally. She had to tell someone who could relate to her in a way. "Mokuba, I'm alone now. My parents are…dead. They died almost three years ago…in a car crash." Here, the tears started running freely. Mokuba looked at her in shock. He put his hand on hers for comfort.
"Don't worry…it should turn out okay. I mean, it has for three years, hasn't it? Look at my family…we're okay," he tried consoling. It didn't work too well.
"I know you're doing your best to relate…but that's impossible. You've grown up in a family where everything is provided. You have now two people to look after you. You have people around you. You can afford the best, and everything needed to live a happy life. Me, I can't. Not anymore," Tea said, the tears still falling.
"Oh…" Mokuba said. He knew that not many people were as wealthy as him. But, Tea made it sound like she was on the streets. It couldn't be that bad. She had a job…. She had money from her parents. She had been pretty well off three years ago.
"I couldn't go to college, because I couldn't afford it. After my parents died, we lost all the money coming through that. And that was a good deal of money. Now, I've had to sell some things and buy this small apartment. I wasn't ready to get all of this responsibility. Bills…paying for their funeral…finding work…rents…it's a nightmare."
"But, Seto said he saw you at the community center a couple days ago, on that dance stage," Mokuba replied, confused.
"Ha," Tea laughed slightly, "I don't even know why I wasted my time trying out for that loser show. That's what I was doing: trying out. Of course, like all the other auditions, I was rejected, for "need of further practicing." Come on! Is thirteen years of dance too little? I mean, half of their dancers stunk compared to me! They even admitted to me, while I waited for the audition, that they had…what, up to five years of practice?"
"Oh…that's harsh…." Mokuba replied.
"Yeah. So, now, I'm just trying to make do with the little I have," she sighed, relaxed a tad now, after spilling it all out.
"I see…." Mokuba didn't know what else to say.
They sat there, for some time, just thinking. Then, Tea started a…happier conversation, while breaking the silence.
"So…how are Kaiba, and Noa?"
"They're fine. Noa's sitting in the limo right now, just relaxing. Seto's at home…doing who knows what. Probably sleeping…." Mokuba broke off.
"Sleeping?" Tea checked her watch. It was almost noon, "He actually sleeps this late? That doesn't sound like him at all!"
"Yeah, sometimes. Usually on Sundays only, though, because Noa and I have our little "wake-up" traditions on Saturdays," Mokuba broke out laughing.
"Really? That sounds pretty funny…." Tea added.
"Oh, it is. Especially seeing Seto's face when he sees that he's been tricked!" Mokuba declared. He didn't know why he was telling her all of this. Maybe it was just that he wanted to cheer her up. And the only good thing that he thought could cheer here up would be some funny stories about their "wake-up" calls. Tea seemed to enjoy it.
So, being the kindhearted soul that Mokuba was, he began telling about the different Saturdays that had been "Seto-pranked" over the last three years. Tea laughed all the time. Mokuba told her of the stereo incident; the glass of water prank, and many others.
Noa sat in the limo and looked out of its window. Why had Mokuba been gone so long? It was a simple walk in the park to get some fresh air. How could that take forty-five minutes?
The boy pushed the intercom button, "Jeff," he called to the chauffeur.
"Yes, Mister Noa."
"Keep the limo stationed here, until both Mokuba and I return. I'll be leaving for a little while.
"Yes sir." Noa opened the door, stepped out, and shut it. Then, he walked along the path in the park.
He saw plenty of people, crowding the sidewalk, and running around: mothers and fathers with their toddlers; little kids on the swings and climbing trees…and teenage girls sitting on benches, watching him wherever he went. He rolled his eyes and sighed. Now Noa knew what Seto had gone through. After all, everyone knew the Kaiba brothers.
Suddenly, he was joined. There was a teen girl walking next to him, just looking innocent and all that, like she was going in the same direction he was, by accident. Noa walked a little faster. She sped up too.
Finally, Noa had had enough, "Why are you following me?"
"Following you?" the girl replied, stopping, "I'm just walking in the same direction, that's all! What would make you think that I was following you?"
"Well, let's see…maybe because you walk at the same pace I do, and turn every corner that I turn!" Noa retorted.
"Maybe I just am going the same way!" she said, reddening.
"Maybe you just want me to notice you, like al these other lovesick freaks out here!" Noa gestured around. Some of the other girls gasped and murmured amongst themselves.
"N-no!" she exclaimed.
"Well, congratulations. You got me to notice you. And you know what? I'm not too happy about it…."
"You there. Get lost! He's with me!" a feminine voice cried out behind them. Noa turned around. Tea walked over to them.
"Well, what are you waiting for? I told you to get lost!" she said.
"Why? You don't look like you're "with him,"" the girl replied, crossing her arms. Noa was slightly confused. What was Tea doing?
"Look, if you don't go away, Noa here's going to call security," Tea said, taking his arm to juice up the act.
"You…you're on first name terms?" the girl stepped back. Now Noa saw what Tea was up to.
"Yeah, Tea and I are on "those terms,"" he replied. The girl pouted and walked away. They walked to the corner, turned it, and Tea let go of his arm.
"Geez, you can't go yelling at girls like that! It gets you into more trouble than you need!" Tea said, smiling.
"Well, it wasn't my fault…but thanks anyway. How'd you come up with that plan so fast? It was a good one too…. I ought to use that more often," Noa said.
"Having me act as your girlfriend in those times? Sorry, but I won't always be there," Tea said. Noa smiled, thoughtfully, as Mokuba strode up to them.
"Mission accomplished?"
"Yep. And I think it went quite well," Tea remarked.
"There you are!" Noa said, seeing Mokuba, "You know, you're the whole reason I was in that mess! If you had come back to the limo, I wouldn't have had to--" Noa was interrupted.
"I was talking to Tea," Mokuba said. Noa didn't speak again. He understood. Tea must have been really embarrassed yesterday, he thought.
"Well, we ought to get going. Seto might be up by now and wondering where we are," Mokuba said. Tea shared a giggle. Noa was stumped. "I'll fill you in, Noa."
"Okay. Thanks again, Tea," Noa said. Even though it was a small act, it helped A LOT, "You're too kind to us."
"That's what friends are for. But, I'm not the only one to thank. I have to thank Mokuba for his heart of gold," she smiled warmly, and turned away, as the others did. As she started walking the opposite way, she stated, "If only your brother was like that. Then, maybe…."
Mokuba and Noa, on hearing this (though they weren't meant to) spun around, "What?" They really wanted to know what she was going to say. Then maybe….
Tea turned around, "Huh? Oh…that…um, I've got to go…work interview…I think," she stammered, blushing and ran down the path.
Mokuba and Noa turned to face each other. True, they hadn't heard what she was going to say, but they had a pretty good guess.
"I think…" Noa started.
"We've found her," Mokuba finished.
"The one to put the plan into action," Noa remarked.
"And she's already started it," Mokuba said. They walked back (without any girl problems) to the limo and rode home.
Well? Did you like it? Hehe, I did. Sorry it was so short. I couldn't think of any other ideas to put in here! Originally, it was only supposed to be a chapter about Mokuba and Tea talking. But, then, inspiration struck me with the Noa thing. That made it longer! Yeah! Anyway, please review!
