NOTE: Only a few chappies left….

Disclaimer: I don't own Yu-Gi-Oh!

Chapter 18: Emotional Outbursts

March (last full week) (cont.)

"Serenity? Is that you?" Tea inquired; her eyes wide.

"The one and only!" Serenity smiled.

"Wow! Hey there!" Tea stood up, and walked out of the booth to give her friend a hug, "What are you doing here? Aren't you supposed to be in America?"

"Ah, but, it's Spring Break over there! And, since it's the first day I'm back, mom decided to take me out to dinner!" (A/N: We're going to say that Mrs. Wheeler moved to Domino, or something along those lines, okie? I really don't have a good explanation right now….)

"Spring Break already? Wow…without being in school I don't remember when anything is anymore," Tea confessed. She suddenly dropped her voice, "Are the others here?"

"No. Their Spring Break is next week, unfortunately. But, I will see Joey next weekend before I leave!" Serenity piped up.

"That's great! You know, I saw him pretty recently…if you call December recent," she said.

"Yeah, he told me," Serenity replied. "What were you doing in Tokyo, again?"

"Dance audition," Tea replied.

"Did they give you word back yet? Did you make it?" Serenity inquired.

"Yes, they gave back their word. And I was accepted-"

"Wow, Tea, that's great!" Serenity beamed.

"But…I didn't join."

Serenity frowned, "You what?"

"I didn't join them, Serenity. I couldn't."

"Why not? Hasn't it always been your dream?" Serenity was getting confused.

"Yes…but some things got in the way…. Let's just ay more dreams came up," Tea smiled.

"Like what?"

"Like…" this was the moment of truth for Tea. The second person she was going to tell…the first in matters of a relationship with Seto…, "a guy."

"Really? Wow, Tea, I'm so happy for you!" Serenity replied, enthusiastically, "So…was he the guy you were with?"

"You…saw him?"

"Yeah, but I couldn't really see what he looked like. He didn't look pretty handsome though," she smirked.

"That he is," Tea laughed.

"You wouldn't happen to be talking about me, would you, ladies?" Seto came up behind Tea, and kissed her cheek. Serenity eyes widened. She as dating SETO KAIBA!

"Um…uh…" Serenity looked like a fish, opening and closing her mouth like that, "Tea…could I have a word with you?"

"Certainly," Tea replied. Now that the secret was out, all she had to do was explain it. Seto took her hand a squeezed it for good luck. As Serenity led Tea away, Seto sat down at the booth and waited.

Once a good distance from Seto, Serenity turned to Tea, "Tea…was THAT Seto Kaiba?"

"Yes, that was," Tea nodded, "And I owe you an expl-"

"But…but…how? Why? When?-"

"Who, what, when, where, why and how? I'll answer them all," Tea said. Serenity still wasn't taking it in.

"But…did you lose a bet or something?"

Tea looked at her as if a large hibiscus had just sprouted from her face spontaneously, "No! Where would you get that idea?"

"Certainly he must have forced you into this then-"

"No, Serenity-"

"But…it just isn't possible!" Serenity retorted. Tea was taken aback. She hadn't expected Serenity to act this abruptly. Heck, Duke had taken this better than she was taking it…though he still didn't know they were dating.

"Look, Serenity, I'm going to answer your questions now, so listen well. Get whatever stupid thoughts are in your head: out," she hadn't meant to be so harsh, but it seemed to have the effect she wanted. Serenity snapped out of her reveries, and started listening.

"Okay, here we go," Tea took a deep breath. She had been prepared for this for a little while…, "Who? Seto Kaiba and me. What? We're dating. When? It all started back in June when we met at the restaurant I was working at, and he and his brothers were my customers. I had then run off. Soon after, Mokuba found me and talked with me. Later, Seto helped me through a little jam, and I invited him into my house. It just so happened that I started to break down, and that's when he offered me a job. And not only a job: but a place to stay: his home-"

"So that's what all that was about that one night you rushed off, and Kaiba came online," Serenity said.

"Yes. Now, to continue: where? Well, it started around my house: we ended up starting to fall for each other around his place…and it definitely sky-rocketed the feelings when we went to Tokyo together, by chance-"

"Joey never said ANYTHING about Kaiba being there-"

"Because I never told him. Duke was there, and he already knew about me living with Kaiba. We had met about a month earlier at some party that Seto had invited me to. I made sure that Joey didn't know anything about me and Seto. Call me stupid, or secretive, but I didn't have the guts. Now: why? Well, we're dating because; duh…we're in love-"

"Tea…just a quick question," Serenity interrupted.

"Yes?"

"I know…I'm probably going out on a limb here. I know this doesn't sound like you. I know I'm probably totally wrong…but I have to make sure. No offense or anything…but: you're not dating him because…." She paused, "because of his money, are you? Still no offense but you-"

"I understand, Serenity. I understand that that idea could easily form because of the circumstances with me being…yeah. But no, Serenity. I'm really in love with him."

"Is…is he really…in love with you?" Serenity asked, seemingly disappointed. Tea didn't know why Serenity would seem disheartened by this, but she carried on.

"Yes, Serenity, I do believe he is very much in love with me - unless he's a really good faker. This brings me to how. Had he wanted me gone, he could've just let me go to the dance team," Tea said, making Serenity look up at her. Tea continued, "It was because I told Seto that I had been accepted that he finally came out and said he loved me. That's why I stayed home, Serenity. I couldn't leave him. And I knew he didn't want me to leave. So I stayed-"

"But what if it doesn't work out?" Serenity blurted, "Then you'll have wasted your dream for nothing!"

Tea stopped. She had a point. However, Tea had been one step ahead, "I was aware of that, Serenity. I wondered whether it would all really work out. And somehow, I knew it would. I know it will. But…just in case, I asked the team if they could have me on a reserve waiting list: just in case…."

"Well…that's good," Serenity replied. Tea was confused. Why did the girl seem so downcast?

Actually, it was America that had changed Serenity Wheeler.

We all know that before she had gone to the boarding school, she had disliked Seto Kaiba like everyone else in the group. However, her American friends had shown her a new side to him. It seemed that over there, he was as big a hit as someone like Usher (is that how you spell it? I wouldn't know…). He was talked about constantly; and he wasn't even from the country.

It turned out that Serenity's new friends had found out that she personally knew him, AND they were bezerk on seeing WHY she didn't like him the way every other girl did. And then: they had started reforming...or influencing her…into their ways. And that's when Serenity Wheeler started falling more for Seto Kaiba. And the feeling also grew because she knew him personally.

Had her brother found out: he WOULDN'T have been happy.

One of her goals this Spring Break had been to somehow find him in the city; and maybe see if she could "flirt" him into her life.

Poor, poor Mokuba….

"Well, Serenity, maybe we can get together this week!" Tea then piped up.

"Yeah…" she replied a little solemnly. Seeing Tea's face, she perked up, "Yeah!"

"Great! I'll call you when I get a free space. Gotta make sure I'm home to cook meals," Tea returned. Serenity quirked a brow, "Oh….my job is the Kaibas head cook."

"Oh, I see," Serenity smiled.

"Serenity…you won't tell anyone, will you? I'm…going to break it to them soon."

"I won't tell, Tea. I promise," Serenity said. And she meant it. "Well, best get back to your dinner…and mine. See you later!" Serenity backed up to leave. Tea did the same. Serenity suddenly stopped, "Tea?"

"Yeah?" Tea turned back.

"You and Kaiba just on a date or is it something special, tonight?"

Tea smiled, "I took him out for his birthday dinner."

"Oh," Serenity smiled, "Okay, later!"

"Later!" Tea called back and backtracked to Seto. He saw her coming and scooted in, so that she could sit. She slid in next to him, and laid her head against his arm, sighing deeply.

"Everything okay?" he asked.

"Yeah…. She just seemed to take it…the way I thought Joey would: not her."

"They are related, are they not?" Seto smirked.

"Yeah. I guess she had to have some of him in her," Tea replied.

"Any of your other friends back?"

"Not until next week."

"Are you going to tell them?"

"Depends."

"On what?"

"Whether I come into extreme proximity of revealing us and all. I mean…look at the way Serenity took it: and she's one of the calmest of the group. Imagine how Joey might act. Duke only knows half the tale…. I just don't know anymore," she cuddled further into him. Seto wrapped an arm around her.

"It'll all be fine," he kissed the top of her head, "Let's just enjoy the rest of the night."

Tea smiled, "…I love you, Seto. I hope you know that."

"And I love you," Seto whispered back to her. Tea turned to meet his lips when suddenly their table was approached by the waiter, ready to take their order. Talk about bad timing.

Seto scowled slightly, but looked up at the waiter, plastering a small…and presumably fake, smile on his face.

"May I take your orders?" he asked.

You can take my fist, Seto thought. Tea nudged him in the ribs. Whether she was waiting for him to order first; or she was a mind reader…or even if he had said that quietly aloud to where only she could hear, Seto would never know. However, he took her up on her nudge and ordered.

As soon as the cursed waiter had left, Seto turned back to his girlfriend, "Now where were we?" This caused Tea to smirk, just as Seto planted his lips on hers. What a couple….


Serenity sat inside looking out the window. She could just barely see the couple from her seat. She smiled slightly when she saw the waiter interrupt their almost kiss. He happened to also be their waiter. She'd make sure to tip him extra for that. However, when he left, her smile turned into a scowl when she saw the two take up where they had left off.

Forget the extra tip.

Sure, Serenity was happy that Tea had found someone to be with in her friends' absence, however…did it have to be Seto Kaiba? They seemed so happy together…. But maybe…maybe there was a chance. Maybe she could wedge herself just in between the two, and have Seto fall for her instead. It didn't seem like a reasonable plan, but if she never tried, she'd never know. She also had been true to Tea when she said she wouldn't tell anyone. After all...if her plan worked: why tell them the wrong information?

It seemed sort of cruel to go against her friend for a guy; however…friends did have chasms sometimes. This just happened to be theirs. And Serenity was heck bent on getting Seto to fall in love with her.

Sorry, Tea, but I have to do this, Serenity thought to herself.

The only problem was: she had only a week to do it.


Mokuba and Noa lay on two different couches in the main living room, flipping television channels.

Mokuba suddenly asked, "You think Seto's having a good time tonight, with Tea?"

"Yeah: of course," Noa replied. Who wouldn't have a great time with her?

Mokuba looked sidelong at his brother, "What's your problem. Lately you've been getting touchy over the subject. What's up?"

"Nothing."

"You…aren't really in love with her…are you?" Mokuba hoped, thinking back to the conversation from a month ago.

Noa kept silent. He didn't know what to say.

"Noa?" Mokuba inquired, "…Is that a yes?" Noa didn't answer: still. "Even after all we did to get them together? You're just going to try and pry our work apart?"

"Look, kid," Noa suddenly stood up, his fists clenched, "sometimes: plans backfire. This just so happens to be one of those times. Just like the assassination attempt on Hitler-"

"Assassination attempt?"

"Yeah…the bomb was unknowingly moved and his life was spared…just because it was moved behind a stupid table leg…. ANYWAY, the point is that plans don't always go…well, according to plan! I didn't expect this: and you didn't either. So…just leave me alone!" Noa stomped out of the room. Mokuba dropped the remote.

What was with the emotional outburst? Okay, so the kid had always had a hidden soft side…but did Noa have to take it out on him?

And this really was a problem…if Noa was going to try and take Tea from Seto. He hadn't seen his brother this happy in years.

So…did this mean that one brother had to be miserable while the other one was jubilant? This was NOT good….

Mokuba bit his lip. And he was the only one who could do anything about this….


Noa stomped up the stairs to his room. He passed Tea's on the way and walked faster. Why were emotions such a problem!

Noa entered his room and slammed the door shut, making part of the house shake. He collapsed onto his bed and stared up at the ceiling. Thoughts swirled in his mind.

Were you right, father?

Do emotions only bring pain?

Do they make you weak?

Are emotions for the weak?


Thus ends another chapter to DWTD. Kinda short, but it qualifies. I originally thought it would be shorter. Guess I was wrong. Seems like we'll have about…four chapters left. Yeah…unfortunately only about four. Possibly five if you're lucky. So enjoy it while you can! And PLEASE REVIEW! (I'd like to get this fic up to at least 200 reviews before it ends!) Thanks!