NOTE: Notice the change of POV in the first part of the chapter…it has a reason! Also, as I've said before, I don't use yen. I use dollars. Thank you.

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

Chapter 22: The Truth

April (later in the month)

Joey Wheeler paced around his bunk room anxiously. Duke was out on a date with a college girl he had gotten to know at the moment. Joey, however, was waiting for a very important call….

When is that call coming! I sent the package two days ago! It should be there by now! He was going ballistic! This idea had been on his mind for weeks! It was driving him crazy! He had to tell her now!

The sudden ringing of the phone made him jump. He rushed over to the phone and picked it up excitedly, "Hello? M-"

"Hello, sir. Might you be Joseph Wheeler?"

"Yes…" Joey replied, irritably. What if she was trying to call now? He was tying up the line! "Uh…sir? Would ya mind if you kinda…hurried dis up a bit?"

"Certainly! Joseph, I'm pleased to announce that you are this month's Tokyo Lucky Lottery Winner! You have just won two-hundred thousand dollars!"

"Yeah, that's great, whatever," Joey sighed, about to hang up. He suddenly stopped. "Whoa, whoa, whoa, hold da phone der-"

"I am."

Joey smacked himself, "Ah, never mind. What did you jus' say?"

"…You won two hundred thousand dollars?"

"NO WAY!"

"Yes, way! All you need to do is come by the Lottery Office downtown on Sackhijari Avenue, and you may pick up your prize! ID is required."

"That is too cool! Say…wait a sec…. Exactly how much is going to be taken off of this prize 'cause o' da government?"

The man laughed, "You're a mighty intelligent young man!" Joey blinked. That was a first…. "We here, at the Lottery Office like giving truthful sums. The original prize was two hundred fifty thousand dollars. We took off the government tax for you already! Bt that still leaves you with-"

"Two hundred thousand dollars," Joey sighed, not believing his luck.

"Exactly! You must ace your math classes!" Joey almost laughed. Ace wasn't exactly the word he would use….

"Thanks! I'll be der ASAP," he replied, hanging up. Wow! He could not believe his luck! He had been a bit skeptical about going through with his plan (the one where he was waiting for the phone call), because of some monetary worries, but now – he was glad he had gone along with the thought! He would reserve this money until the right time, and then build off it.

He was so excited, that he had almost completely forgotten about the phone call. When the phone rang, he answered it plainly, "Hello, dis is Joey Wheeler speaking."

"Joey? Hey, it's Mai! You told me in this letter you sent to call you. What's up?"

Joey started, "M-Mai!"

"Yeah! Who else?" Joey began shaking. The time was now. He had sent that package all the way to Kyoto. He couldn't just take it back. Besides, he was heck-bent on doing this.

"You told me not to open the package along with it. Why? What's this all about, Joey?" Mai inquired.

"Mai…I know this may seem kinda…awkward…with you over der…an' me over here-"

"Joey? Are you going to get on with it?" Mai laughed. Joey gulped. Now was his time!

"Mai…open the package…now. But don't hang up!"

"Okay…" Mai replied. He heard the crinkling of package paper as Mai unwrapped it.

Mai said, "Joey, what's this?" He heard a tiny click when she opened it. She gasped. "Joey! This is beautiful! But why-?"

"Mai…pretend I'm right in front-a you…and dat I'm kinda…kneelin'-"

"Joey!"

"Mai…will ya marry me?" There was a pause. Joey was afraid the line had been cut…or she had hung up. Had they dated long enough? Of course they had! Two years was enough, right?

Finally, "M-Marry you?"

"Yeah," Joey squeaked.

"Oh, Joey, yes! An abnormal way to propose, but yes! Oh, I will! Oh, Joey, if you were here right now, I would kiss you! Wait a sec though…." Joey flinched. The doom words: Wait a second…. "You couldn't wait a month until we reached Domino again?"

"Uh…" Joey paused. He hadn't really thought about that. "Well…I thought, hey: the sooner, the better, right?"

"Oh, that's so sweet! I love you, Joey," Mai replied into the phone.

"I love ya too, Mai."

"Call you tomorrow."

"Done. See you in a month."

"See ya, darling. Bye." Joey hung up, smiling. Darling? Geez…women sure change quickly when they're getting married. Dad said Mom did…. A-course…he was drinkin' when he told me dat. He sighed. He couldn't wait to tell everyone the great news! Everyone – except Mai…and now that he thought about it, Tea, knew what he was doing and had waiting almost as anxiously as him. Tea could wait just less than a mere month, couldn't she?

On the contrary, he thought that maybe he should call her. After all, she was left out of the original secret. Then again, Tea had been acting rather suspiciously lately, herself. And her home phone was always cut off. She never seemed to answer her cell-phone much anymore either.

It was settled then. She could wait less than amonth.


May

Tea jumped up from her seat in the study at the computer exuberantly. They were coming! Finally! She ran out of the study and looked around almost frantically.

"Looking for someone?"

Tea turned around and met eyes with her fiancé, "Oh, there you are!" she smiled and ran into his arms. "They're coming!"

"…Who's coming? To what?" Seto thought a minute, thinking she might be talking about the wedding, which was only about three weeks off. "We haven't even sent those people invitations yet-"

"Oh, not the wedding, honey! The gang is graduating from college and they're coming back to Domino this weekend!"

"Oh…? Is that all?" Seto raised an eyebrow.

Tea laughed, "Don't sound so enthused, Seto! Come on! You're going to have to lighten up to them sometime! You can't be cold to them forever, can you?" she gave some pity-wanting eyes to him. Seto rolled his eyes in turn, laughing.

"Yes, but…that doesn't mean I can exactly be friends with them."

"All I'm asking is that you be nice," Tea hugged him.


The weekend came. Tea was riding in a limo, by herself, to the café that she and her friends had decided that they would dine at for lunch. They only had time for lunch today, as everyone else was busy with graduations and whatnot, but this was fine with Tea. Really, today, she just wanted to explain everything and give them all their invitations to the wedding.

She arrived at the café a little ahead of schedule, as she had planned. She didn't exactly want her friends seeing her come out of a limo just yet.

She told the driver –Jake- to go on and return, with Seto, in approximately an hour and a half –maybe two. Tea got the group an almost-circular booth seating and waited patiently. Now, she was going to reveal everything, starting with what had happened almost one year ago.

It was hard to believe this time had actually come.

Soon enough, her friends started arriving. Joey, Serenity and Mai were the first to come. Hugs were given all around, and Tea was happy to see Serenity again, despite the small problems over Spring Break. Yugi and Ryou came not two minutes after them, always being the punctual ones. Tea and Yugi embraced as the two hadn't for a good year. They had been friends almost for life, after all. Ryou hugged her as well, though not as affectionately.

Duke came next, smiling broadly. Tea greeted him warmly. Duke was very curious about the whole fiasco that only he and Serenity knew about. He wondered if Tea was going to say anything today.

Lastly, Tristan appeared: the guy who, next to Joey, was never on time. He hugged Tea in that old Tristan-like way of his; practically picking her off the ground.

They sat in the booth and talked about old times for a while. Tea was glad they were all out of college, except for Ryou, who was going on for another four years. However, his college was only a forty-five minute drive from Domino, so it wasn't all that bad.

They ordered lunch, and ate happily, still talking. Joey glanced over at Yugi frequently, who in return nodded slightly.

Tea was surprised that no one had taken notice, or regarded the ring on her finger. It wasn't very hard to miss.

Yugi sat back and sighed ever so lightly while eating. Abruptly, just about everyone stopped; putting down their food.

Tea stopped. What was going on here? She turned to Yugi, who had turned, in his seat next to her, to face her. He took Tea's hands in his, his fingers unknowingly obscuring the ring on her finger. And somehow, he didn't feel it underneath his fingers.

"Tea," he said, shaking ever so slightly. Tea quirked her head slightly. This seemed very familiar. "Tea…I've tried to tell you this for years…high school, over the phone, over AIM, anywhere at anytime, but I couldn't. But now…I think I can. Actually, I know I can. Tea…it's taken me forever to say this to you, but-" Yugi paused, and Tea began to recollect her thoughts and realized what was going on. The others were watching with waiting breath (except Serenity and Duke, who looked a bit skeptical at the moment). "Tea, I love you."


Time seemed to stop for Tea. Oh no…how was she going to deal with this now? She was already engaged! How would Yugi react? How would the others react?

"Y-Yugi…I don't know what to say," Tea looked away. "This is…really unexpected…and I appreciate it very much but…oh, Yugi, I can't return that kind of love to you. I'm really sorry," she took her hands from him.

Most of the table was in shock. They had been sure Tea would accept his love!

"But Tea, why not!" Joey suddenly put his hands on the table.

"Joey, it's okay," Yugi smiled sheepishly, "I'm sure there's a fine explanation behind it…right? I mean…maybe I was just too late. Maybe there's already someone else," Yugi looked at Tea with uncertain eyes.

Serenity and Duke were exchanging glances; each pretty much knowing hat was going on in the other's head. Mai spotted them.

"Hey, what are you two doing over there? Did you know about this!" it was Mai's turn to act like Joey, by putting her hands on the table, "Did you, huh?"

"In a word," Duke looked at Serenity.

"Yes."

"Well, sort of," Duke admitted for himself.

"Actually, I was certain," Serenity put forth. "But don't let me explain. It's Tea's life." The two had no idea how far Tea and Seto had gone exactly.

"So who is it, Tea?" Ryou asked. Yugi was pretty darn curious himself.

"Well guys…first, I'm just going to say that…" she put her hand out on the table in front of them, "I'm getting married."


Time seemed to stop once again in the booth. Tristan was the first to recover, "You're WHAT!"

"I'm getting married, Tristan," Tea half-smiled.

"Is it-" Duke started.

Serenity finished, "Him?" Tea just winked. Duke practically fell over. He had heard nothing since the two were in Tokyo: he didn't know things had gone this far. Heck, he only knew that there had to be something going on between the two! But getting married? This soon? He never would have thought!

"Who then?" Mai demanded, "WHO?"

Tea took a deep breath. She was here. She had to admit it. Now or never.

She closed her eyes for a second, just imagining the expressions of the group's faces, "Seto Kaiba."


Yet again, time stopped. Joey blinked uncomprehendingly. Mai gaped at her. Ryou's eyes were as wide as they could possibly go. Yugi stared at Tea in utter shock. Tristan practically fell over on Duke, who was not truly very surprise. Serenity was sighing in relief, from holding in her breath at the tension. Heck, she hadn't even been the one to tell!

"Whoa, whoa, whoa," Joey said, sticking his finer in his ear, "I musta had somethin' in my ear. I swear I just thought I heard you say Kaiba. Seto Kaiba."

"You did," Tea stated matter-of-factly.

"I don't believe it," Mai shook her head, "It's impossible."

Tea sighed, "Somehow, I knew this was coming. Get comfortable: I have a long tale to tell."

So she revealed the past year's events: all except for the more intimate ones, mind you.

By the end, she was sure everyone believed her. Duke had believed her in November.

"So…he actually offered you a job?" Tristan inquired.

"Yes," Tea replied, "Surprising as it is, that's what happened."

"That explains his intrusion on AIM last year!" Ryou put forth. A spark went through everyone's minds as they remembered that.

"And everything else: the phone, the computer: everything!" Tristan said.

"So when did he ask ya?" Joey asked, cynically.

"On my birthday: last month."

Yugi turned to her, "I'm happy for you, Tea. As long as you're happy, I'm happy."

Tea smiled at him, "Thank you, Yugi." He smiled back.

"So he asked ya when you were leaving him? I knew Kaiba was weird, but I didn't know he was that weird," Joey stated.

"I wouldn't be talking if I were you," Mai replied. "After all, you proposed to me in quite the abnormal fashion." She stopped and looked over at Tea, who was staring at the two back and forth.

"Well…now you know!" Joey smiled.

"When did this happen?" Tea smiled. Finally, they had gotten together!

"A few weeks ago," Joey answered proudly.

"Over the phone," Mai added.

"Hey," Joey retorted.

"The phone, Joey?" Tea raised an eyebrow, "Any more creative ideas?"

"I say he should have actually driven the five hours to Kyoto," Tristan stated, "To really prove he loved her."

"Hey, I thought of dat, but Duke wouldn't let me, cuz he said we had like…three huge tests ta study for over da weekend!"

"True," Duke nodded.

"I hope you guys aren't mad that I kept this from you," Tea looked down, "I just…couldn't bring myself to say anything. After all…with the relationship between you all and Seto…well…I thought there was reason to be worried. I'm just surprised that no one has started saying stuff like, 'You be careful Tea: you don't know what he can do,' yet," she laughed, "Especially you, Joey."

"Dat reminds me," Joey stroked his chin thoughtfully, "I should talk ta ya about dat-"

He stopped as he noticed a black limo pulling up outside the window. "Well speak o' da devil himself." Seto indeed did step out of the limo and walked over to the double doors of the café.

The group watched him saunter over to the table. Seto stopped beside Tea, "You told me to be here by now? Are you ready to go yet?"

"I suppose it is time to go," Tea looked down at her watch. "It was great seeing you all again! We have to get together once more soon! Alright?" Tea stood up next to Seto, who put an arm around her waist.

"Of course!" Ryou replied for the group. "Congratulations to you two," he smiled.

"And you two," Tea nodded over to Joey and Mai, who exchanged smiles. "Oh!" Tea remembered, "One more thing," she dug through her purse and pulled out seven envelopes, placing them on the table, "There's one for each of you. Bye guys! Later!" she waved, as Seto ushered her out.

"Bye!" they all waved back. They watched her and Seto walk back out to the waiting limo. They saw her kiss him briefly, and Seto returned the favor with both a kiss back and a genuine smile. They climbed into the limo together, and rolled off.

"I still can't believe it," Mai stated.

"Same," Ryou added.

"He looks really happy though," Duke noticed.

"So does she," Serenity put forth.

"It'll never last," Joey reclined in the chair.

"What do you mean, Joey?" Yugi interrogated.

"Yug: first of all: this is Kaiba. I really don't believe that he could…love like dat! Second: this all happened way too fast! Dating for only about five months, and only "gettin' cozy" for a year. Third: it's a celebrity marriage! They never last!" Joey took a sip of his coke.

Mai pounded his head, "That's when two celebrities get married, Joey!"

"Still," he replied, rubbing his head.

"I just hope she isn't…well…you know," Mai shifted uncomfortably.

"No, we don't know," Tristan replied.

"It doesn't seem like Tea would do this, but you can't help but wonder. She's in a financial jam…right? But, Kaiba's loaded! It wouldn't seem like Tea…but you don't suppose she's marrying him just for his money, do you?" Mai looked away. She hated revealing those sorts of thoughts.

"Tea would never do that!" Yugi protested. "That is one of the best qualities I see in her! She takes care of herself and loves people for love. She would never marry Kaiba unless she really loved him! Tea doesn't care about money!"

Everyone watched Yugi's rant. It was true though.

"So, what are these, anyway?" Serenity picked up an envelope with her name on it. The others took theirs. They opened them simultaneously.

"'You are cordially invited-'" Yugi started.

"'To the wedding of-'" Mai stated.

"'Seto Kaiba and Tea Gardner,'" Joey hit a slightly squeaky note in his voice.

"'On the date of-'" Ryou read.

"'June 2, 2005 at noon-'" Duke read.

"'At the Divine Trinity Church on Soguro Road-'" Tristan followed.

"And a reception afterwards at Raenada's on Naomu Street," Serenity finished.

"June second!" Mai stared, "That's so soon! They've only been engaged for two months by then!"

"They really must love each other," Ryou smiled, "To want to get married so quickly.

"Well they have lived in the same place for a year now," Serenity added, "I suppose they wanted to make the move for Tea permanent by now."

"Well I say good for them!" Duke raised his coke, "A toast to Tea and Kaiba!"

They all raised their drinks, "A toast!" they laughed at the matter. They drank to it.

"And to Joey and Mai," Yugi raised his cup again. They drank once more.

Joey suddenly stated, "Say…do we have to start calling him Seto now?"

The group just laughed.


There! Tea finally told them! Yeah! Sorry for the uneventful chapter, but the next…and last (WAH!) will still be very good! Wedding and MORE! Can you believe it? MORE! That is…unless I decide to post the ending as an epilogue AFTER the last chapter…which the next SHOULD be the last…and there SHOULD BE a sequel after it. In fact, I guarantee a 98 chance of a sequel! Hey, it may not be as good…but it's a sequel! We'll see where it goes! Later! PLEASE REVIEW!